"Are your people ready?" The head of the resistance was speaking to Colonel Reynolds. Jack had insisted that Reynolds command the mission. General Landry and Colonel Reynolds probably though he was just being nice but Teal'c and Daniel knew he wanted to be free to go after Carter, without the restraint of being responsible for the team.
"We are. My team will accompany you to the capital building. General O'Neill, SG-1 and two of your men will be positioned at the prison. When we've gained entry to the chancellor's chambers I'll let General O'Neill know he can infiltrate the prison." The rebel leader nodded and turned back to his men. Messages were sent out on several radios to begin a preplanned set of attacks at key locations around the capital. Jack checked his weapon and vest one last time.
Jack sat absolutely still behind a barrel in the alley just outside the prison gates. The two rebels, whom he called Bill and Ted, were crouched behind him pressed against the wall. Teal'c and Daniel were within earshot but he couldn't see them crouched behind low bushes on the other side of the main gate. The plan was to blow the power to the city at the beginning of the assault. The main gate would then be accessible, as would the cells. It was close to midnight local time. When the lights went out, placing the whole city in darkness, Jack knew the assault was beginning. It wouldn't be long until the capital building was secured and he could go in for Carter.
The sound of gunfire and the whir of the local weapons filled the city. Jack was growing more restless waiting for Reynolds. The gate unlocked when the power went down and Jack felt like he was losing valuable time. He crawled closer to the gate and clicked his fingers to signal Teal'c and Daniel. They all met at the edge of the main gate. Jack looked inside to the main grounds and didn't see any movement.
"They've probably gone inside to keep an eye on the prisoners." Jack continued sweeping the grounds as he spoke.
"Did Colonel Reynolds call?" Daniel peeked past Teal'c to watch Jack.
"No, but we're losing time. Let's get inside and be ready to spring as soon as we know the rebels have power." Teal'c nodded his agreement and Daniel decided there wasn't any reason to stay behind. Jack pushed the gate open. The sound of the metal grinding seemed loud to them and they waited to see if anyone in the compound reacted to the noise. The grounds continued to appear empty so they moved along the brick wall towards the right side of the prison. According to Reynolds the side door was the furthest point of entry from the cells but closet to the wardens office. Jack intended to take control first and rescue second.
Jack placed a small charge around the lock. He shielded his eyes from the bright light produced by the small explosive as the knob fell off. The men filed into the hall quickly, in case the bright light in the pitch black had drawn someone's attention.
The stairs were just inside the door and the warden's office was at the top of the stairs. Jack led the way and Teal'c took rear. The two rebels were little more then boys and the nervousness flowed off them in waves. Jack sighed and tried to remember he'd once been this naïve, the first week of basic training.
Jack listened at the door. He could hear the warden inside muttering. Jack hoped that meant he was alone and talking to himself. He signaled Teal'c and stepped back. Teal'c took the door down in one swift kick. Jack and Daniel followed him into the room while Bill and Ted propped the door up and attempted to prevent anyone from entering until Jack was done.
"Nice night for a candlelight dinner, huh?" The warden stood from his chair as Jack approached. He looked down at the plate of food and candle sitting on his desk as Jack spoke.
"Who are you and what do you want?"
"I'm the guy taking over command of this prison and I want a few of the prisoners released. We can do this the easy way or we can do it the hard way." Jack stepped closer to the fat balding man who had some type of yellow goop on his chin. "Which way it goes down depends upon how well you've cared for my friends."
"You can't just walk in here and take command! I was appointed by the chancellor himself!" Small bits of food flew out of the man's mouth as he spoke. Jack's lip curled as a piece of something white landed on his vest. Jack flicked it off with his finger and looked back up at the man.
"You mean your uncle?" Jack glanced over at the rebel he'd nicknamed Ted. The fat around the wardens nose wrinkled as his lips puckered into a sneer.
"Our relationship isn't relevant. I am in charge!" Jack's radio clicked three times. He brought one hand up to the radio while the other stayed on the gun pointing directly towards the wardens fat gut.
"I'm here Reynolds."
"We have control of the capital building and the chancellor has been removed from office. You're free to go in and take control of the prison."
"Thanks Reynolds. I'll check in with you once everything is secure here." Jack stepped closer the disgusting man. Jack nudged the wardens fat belly with the nozzle of his gun, directing him to sit in his chair. His belly shook like Jello when Jack nudged him. The thought brought images of Sam smiling as she ate a bite of Jello into Jack's mind. He was even more anxious to get down to the cells as the image of her smile faded.
"Any more stupid questions or demands?" Jack glared at the man slumping in his chair.
"No." Jack pulled a piece of paper from his vest pocket.
"We want these prisoners released. In a couple hours more of our men will be here to help us maintain control of the facility." The warden slowly reached up and took the paper. He unfolded it and leaned closer to the flame of his candle.
"Most of these people are out back." The man shrank from Jack, as much as was possible for someone of such bulk. Jack didn't need to ask what was out back. He'd understood the man's tone and physical reaction. Jack's face dipped, bringing his chin closer to his chest, and his eyes narrowed.
"For your sake you'd better not be saying what I think you're saying." The words were barely more then a growl. Daniel walked around the desk and moved the curtain away from the window.
"I can't see anything, it's too dark." Daniel leaned closer to the window and tried to see beyond the window.
"It's the prison cemetery." Ted spoke again. Jack knew the venom in his voice belonged to one who knows someone buried out there. "Few of the graves are even marked. They just dump them out there, like trash." The warden shivered in fear as Jack's eyes hardened.
"I hear voices in the hall." Bill spoke for the first time. Teal'c moved closer to the door and nodded in agreement with Bill's assessment.
"Show time Bub. Tell your guys to stand down. We'll only hurt those you force us to hurt." The warden pushed himself up from his chair with a grunt. He waddled to the door. Sweat beaded on his brow as he looked at Teal'c and the weapon held directed towards his chest. He slowly opened the doors. His voice refused to cooperate so he waved the men into his office. Teal'c and Bill quickly and quietly convinced the men to walk towards Jack. They sat in two chairs facing the desk. Bill and Ted tied them to the chairs using rope from Jack's pack and gagged them using the smelly socks off the wardens feet.
"Let's make our way downstairs to the cells." Jack edged towards the door.
"I will stay here, since I no longer have socks." The warden held his head as high as his thick neck would allow.
"I don't think so. You're our ticket to get your men to cooperate." Jack reached out and pulled the warden's sleeve.
"You can't possibly expect me to wear shoes without socks!"
"Would you prefer for me to shoot your feet off and still have you walk downstairs?" The warden's eyes widened and his face paled.
"You wouldn't dare." The words were a whisper.
"I doubt you want to know what I'm willing to do, especially if the people we're looking for are out back and not downstairs." Jack was surprised to find the warden was capable of getting even paler. He slipped his feet into his dress shoes, scowled, and moved through the door.
They didn't meet guards again until they got to the row of cells. The guards were slow and didn't seem to care much about doing their job well. They quickly agreed to enter an empty cell, allowing the invaders free access to the cellblock. The men moved quickly down the twisting passage collecting guards and bringing them back to be incarcerated. Only two guards put up any sort of fight and they were quickly subdued, earning a black eye and a split lip for their effort.
Once all of the guards and the warden were locked in a cell, with the door held tight using SGC ties and guarded by Bill, the men moved through the prison. They found three mostly empty cells and twelve cells bursting with prisoners.
Jack ordered Daniel and Ted to check every prisoner in the first of the mostly empty cells. Daniel was looking for Sam and Ted was looking for the eight rebels being held prisoner.
"She's not there." Daniel stood in the entrance to the cell.
"Neither are any of the men for whom I am searching." Jack nodded and looked down the hall.
"So what do we do with these men?" Ted looked at the pitiful creatures still huddling in the corner.
"Should we not free them?" Teal'c eyed the men in the cell with pity.
"We don't know why these men are here and we don't have time to decide if they are being held for just or unjust reasons. We'll leave that up to the rebel leaders. Their people will be here by morning. Tonight we find the people we're looking for, secure the remaining prisoners, and make sure they have food and water."
"But Jack, what if they're being held just because they were working against a corrupt government."
"I expect a lot of them are here for lousy reasons but a few might be here because they're mass murders and I for one don't want to be responsible for releasing the wrong one. We leave that for the new government. We're here for Carter." There were no other arguments. Jack opened the next cell. Daniel and Ted encouraged the prisoners to move from this cell to the one across the hall, which they had just finished searching. All but four of the prisoners were capable of moving across the hall. Of the four who were crumpled on the floor one was dead and the other three had injuries so severe they were not able to bear their own weight.
Daniel and Ted carried the dead man to the cell where the guards were staying. They laid his body just outside the bars so they would see him every time they glanced towards the door and freedom. They helped the other three men to the third cell, which was sparsely populated. Daniel laid bedrolls out for the men as Ted helped them lie down.
Jack was getting restless again. He wanted to find Carter now and all this compassion was taking time. He worked at calming his impatience by counting to ten and then twenty. Daniel and Ted checked all the prisoners in the third cell. They moved them all back to the second, now packed cell.
Daniel and Ted skipped the fourth cell and went to the fifth. The fifth cell had few occupants, all of whom were mobile.
"Rogity?" A thin man wearing broken glasses across a large thin nose squinted his eyes at Ted.
"Yes?"
"We're here to free you. With the help of our new friends we have taken control of the government. You are free." The man began to weep. Ted helped him walk to the steps leading down to the cells. Rogity sat there, overcome with joy, and wept quietly as Ted went back to help Daniel check the rest of the prisoners. Once all of the prisoners in that cell had been checked Daniel and Ted moved back to the fourth cell. They opened the door while Jack and Teal'c stood guard between the two cells, discouraging any attempt at escape.
Each prisoner walked quietly from cell four to cell five, passing by both Daniel and Ted. Once all of the men capable of walking had changed cells Daniel and Ted entered cell four to examine those who remained behind. Jack and Teal'c secured cell five as Daniel knelt next to a thin man wearing a long filthy shirt. Daniel lifted him up and carried him back to the cell with the other injured and sick prisoners. Bill was guarding both the imprisoned guards and the new infirmary. Ted arrived with a woman who was barely breathing and so thin Daniel was sure her arm would break if touched.
The process of clearing out one cell by moving prisoners into an empty cell proceeded as the team moved down the hall. Those who were too injured to move into a cell were helped into the infirmary. Three more imprisoned rebels were located but there was still no sign of Sam. None of the rescued rebels had seen her.
After all the mobile prisoners had been moved from cell ten into cell nine Daniel saw blond hair attached to one of the three prisoners left sitting against the wall. He quickly moved over to the prisoner and knelt down.
"Sam?" There was no response. The prisoner didn't acknowledge Daniel's presence. Daniel reached out and moved the blond hair away from the person's face. Daniel hadn't been prepared for the elbow that swung up and connected with the bottom of his jaw. He screamed as he bit his tongue, causing blood to fill his mouth.
"Daniel?" Jack stepped into the cell as Ted carried another man out the door and down to the infirmary.
"Foun er." Daniel's mumbled as he held his tongue, attempting to stem the blood loss. Jack moved over to Daniel and knelt beside Sam.
"Carter." She didn't respond to him either but her breathing got faster and shallow. Jack reached out for her face and she raised her hand to swat his hand away. He grabbed her wrist out of instinct. She twisted her arm but was unsuccessful in her attempt to free herself. She began fighting harder. Her right foot connected with Jack's rib and he grunted. Jack fell back and Sam began to lunge. As Jack prepared to grab her, the whine of a zat filled the cell and Sam was stopped by the blue energy enveloping her.