Chapter 4
A/N: This chapter was really long so I broke it up into two parts. There's a lot of foreshadowing in this chapter so stick with it!
The guard led SG1 and Lo'jess down another rock hewn passageway about 300 yards. At that point the passageway forked out in 3 different directions. The guard led them through the passage that was the farthest to the left. After another 50 yards the group began to pass cubicles carved out of the rock. A few women began appearing from the cubicles and eyed the men of SG1 with lust. Some of the more wanton women approached the group and began touching the men. From all around them they heard comments like "That one is mine!" "Oh, he's big!" "I want that one!" "Hey! I love you"
All of SG1 felt very uneasy as the guard led them down yet another passage that branched off the one they had been on. No women came out and there were no more comments made to the group.
Finally the guard stopped in front of a cubicle. "These are your quarters." He stated. "You will not get any food, blankets, medical supplies or anything else until you have earned the tokens to buy them"
At that point he began unlocking the chains that held SG1 and Lo'jess and indicated that they should enter their new quarters.
The opening to the cubicle was about five feet wide and there was no door, no bars, no barrier of any kind. The chamber was about 15 feet square, lit by two torches on either side of the room that cast eerie shadows about the compartment. In the center of the room was a pit that still contained a cook pot hanging from a metal tripod. In the right corner of the compartment a 3 foot square area was separated from the main living area with a wooden screen.
Jack indicated the screen and said to Lo'jess "And I assume that is the, uh"
"Toilet area." Lo'jess supplied.
"Ah"
There were four wooden pallets, each about 3 feet off the floor and attached to the walls with chains, but no blankets or bedding of any kind. A wooden bucket sat in one corner of the room.
"We will need water." Lo'jess indicated the bucket. "I will show you were to get it."
Jack nodded, Daniel picked up the bucket and the entire group followed Lo'jess out of their 'cell.'
Lo'jess led them farther and deeper into the mine until they began to hear running water. They soon came to an underground spring where Lo'jess said that everyone got their drinking water. He then led them to another area where a community bath was hewn into the stone. There were four baths, each about 10 feet square and 3 feet deep. "They only change the water once a week," Lo'jess seemed apologetic "but it is better than no baths."
"Ok, this is great, Lo'jess, but how do we get out of here?" Jack's irritation was clearly showing in his voice.
Lo'jess looked at him with confusion in his eyes as he said gently "There is no way out"
"Oh, there's always a way out." Jack said. "We just have to find it"
"Here is not the place to discuss this." Lo'jess said with fear in his voice.
Just then a loud bell rang through out the mines, clanging 3 times, pausing and clanging 3 more times.
"What does that mean?" Asked Sam.
"All of the workers are being summoned to the great hall. We must go at once"
Lo'jess and SG1 were among the last to arrive in the great hall.
One of the worker/slaves was kneeling on the stage before Claudio as the Supreme Ruler addressed the group gathered in the hall. "This man was caught stealing!" He indicated the man kneeling before him. "You have been summoned to witness his punishment."
Claudio nodded slightly at Dra'coe who stepped up to the kneeling man.
Dra'coe, smiling a wicked, toothless grin, took the man's left hand and placed it on a large block of wood, then he pulled out a huge, thick sword and with one swift movement sliced off the man's hand. The man screamed in pain, blood spurting everywhere.
"He'll bleed to death!" Daniel shouted to Jack over the noise in the room.
"Not our problem, Daniel" Jack said with a warning tone in his voice.
Although Daniel wanted to do something, anything, he knew Jack was right. They hung to the back of the room, said nothing and watched in amazement.
Claudio pulled out a small, cylindrical hand device and waved it over the wounded man's wrist. It appeared to cauterize the wound instantly.
"Carter, is that a Goa'uld healing device?"
"No, Sir. It's technology I've never seen before."
Claudio again addressed the workers assembled in the Great Hall. "For anyone breaking the rules the punishment is swift. Now back to work!" He barked.
The group of workers mumbled softly as they shuffled out of the hall and back to their work stations and Lo'jess led SG1 back to their compartment.