CHAPTER 5
A/N: This is a long chapter, but it was a lot of fun to write. I hope you like it!
As SG1 approached their cell, after returning from witnessing the punishment, Sam stopped dead in her tracks. "Sir!" She said, with an urgency in her voice.
The rest of the group stopped and looked at her expectantly.
"Do you feel that?" She asked.
"What, Carter?" Jack sounded annoyed.
"A breeze"
"Yeah, so"
"Sir, there can only be a breeze in here if there is another opening to the cave somewhere"
"Shh! You mustn't speak of this here!" Lo'jess warned. "We must return to our compartment"
Once back in their cell, Lo'jess explained that the next day a guard would come for them and take them to their assigned areas to work. They would work a 12 hour day and then be given tokens for the day's work. They could then go to concession area and purchase food and other necessities. They could go to the bathing areas, cook their own meals in their cell, and relax before the next day's labor.
"Well, that's slightly better than some of the other times we've been slaves." O'Neill tried to make a joke, but no one laughed so he continued. "If we are allowed to roam around to go to the spring for water, the public baths, the concession areas, then maybe we can wander around and find where Carter's 'breeze' is coming from."
"You must be very cautious." Lo'jess warned. "The best time would be early in the morning before the other workers wake up."
"How are the prisoners awakened each day?" The question came from Teal'c.
"A rapid ringing of the bell that lasts for several seconds."
"O'Neill, I would suggest that we wait a day or two until we understand the worker's and guard's schedules before we attempt to find an exit."
"Judging from what we have seen so far, we could easily end up dead, or much worse,"Daniel glanced at Sam "if we are caught wandering around unauthorized areas. I think Teal'c is right, we need to proceed with caution."
"Sir, didn't the Protectorate say that the Goa'uld send a cargo ship every third lunar cycle?"
"You are correct Major Carter. Teal'c stated.
"Ok," Jack began "What if we find the exit to this cave that Carter's breeze indicates must be here, and then ring aboard the cargo ship when it's here to collect the naquada?"
"Sir, without any weapons taking over the Tel'tak... "
"Carter, I didn't say it was an easy plan! I just said it was a plan."
"I noticed that the Jaffa guarding the entrance to the cave serve Aires. He is not a powerful system lord. If his cargo ship goes missing he will not waste his resources to go after it. That is in our favor." Teal'c added helpfully.
"Ok, so, um, one of the first things we need to find out is when the next cargo ship is expected and once we know that we can begin fine tuning the plan." Daniel added.
"Lo'jess, how long is a lunar cycle on this planet?" Sam asked.
"32 days"
"Well, we have to be out of here in under 64 days then." Jack said, looking meaningfully around the group.
Lo'jess looked confused and asked the Colonel "Why must you be free in less than 64 days?"
Jack got a pained look on his face and began to rub his forehead with his right hand.
"Lo'jess" Sam began patiently, "We have to be out of here in less than 64 days because I will not be pregnant."
"And I won't let that slime ball Dra'coe touch her!" Jack added and then realized that his own personal feelings for Sam were showing. He decided he didn't care. He had to make the 'amator' thing believable didn't he?
"But, how can you be so positive that you will not be pregnant in 2 lunar cycles?" Lo'jess asked Sam.
Daniel and Teal'c were getting uncomfortable with this line of questioning and both got up and moved around the compartment, checking out their new 'home'.
Sam looked at Jack for help but he shrugged his shoulders and looked down uncomfortably at his boots. She also understood the importance of keeping up the 'amator' charade and thought it best not to tell anyone that where they came from it was forbidden for Sam and Jack to be lovers.
"Well, for one thing, the Colonel, um...Jack and I are ...ah, ...well, in our society, making love is something that we are not ...ah, that is, um, it's very private between two people."
"We can ensure that you have privacy." Lo'jess offered earnestly.
"Well, even if we have privacy, I still can't get pregnant."
"Why not?"
"In our world, the women who travel through the stargate, like I do, are required to have a small device surgically implanted in their arms. It prevents pregnancy." Then she added softly, more to herself than to him, "among other things."
Thankfully, the conversation was interrupted by a young woman and her mother who appeared in the doorway. "I heard we had new dwellers and we came to welcome you to our neighborhood." The young woman said. Then she added "My name is Kahtana and this is my mother Brenita." The young woman appeared to be about17 and her mother, Sam thought, looked to be about 40, but she suspected she was probably only about 35 or 36.
The mother stepped forward. "I know that you will not receive any tokens until tomorrow so I brought you some fire chondrite for your fire pit and some rice. I know it is not much, but it will sustain you until tomorrow."
She handed the gifts to Sam, assuming that as the woman of the group, she would be the one to handle all the domestic chores.
Sam thanked her and placed the fire rocks in the pit in the center of the room and the dry rice in the pot that hung over it. She then looked at Lo'jess as if to say 'what do I do now?'.
Lo'jess took one of the torches down from the wall and put it to the small stone shards in the fire pit. The stones instantly flamed up like charcoal briquets that had been soaked with lighter fluid. Next, Lo'jess carefully poured an amount of water into the pot with the rice and began stirring it with a stick.
Brenita, the mother, turned back to look at Sam and said "Which of these men is your amator?"
Jack saw the confusion in Sam's face and quickly took a step forward. "That would be me. Jack O'Neill."
Brenita's face broke out in a big smile "It is nice to meet you Jack O'Neill." She said.
"You can just call me Jack."
"Very well, Jack" Brenita turned back to Sam. "He is very handsome. You are very fortunate indeed."
Sam looked positively uncomfortable as she gave Brenita a watery smile.
"So," Brenita turned toward Daniel and Teal'c "you have no Amators?"
The men shifted uneasily under her stare.
"Um, not exactly..."Daniel began.
"But Major Carter takes care of us." Teal'c added firmly.
Sam understood exactly what Teal'c was trying to do. During the Gulf War she had gone bar hopping with some pilots from her squadron. The guys Sam was with had told the working girls in the clubs that she was the girlfriend of all them, so they would leave them alone. The girls in the clubs were dismayed, but left the pilots alone. Teal'c was now trying the same tactic.
"Well, of course she takes care of you" Brenita began, "you are family if you are living together in the same compartment, but it is not the same as having an amator. My amator died a few years ago. Now it is just my daughter Kahtana and my two sons."
Kahtana stepped forward, clearly interested in Daniel, "I have no amator either and I should already have two children by now." She said as she played with the collar of Daniel's BDUs.
"Uh, ok, this is um..." Daniel was clearly flustered. 'She's just a kid!' he thought.
"Daniel Jackson and I have recently lost our mates. It is still very painful and too early for us to consider taking new mates. I am certain that Major Carter will take care of us until we are ready to again take mates."
Daniel nodded thinking 'thank you Teal'c!' and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the understanding in the young woman's eyes.
Khatana looked into Daniel's eyes and asked "So you are called Daniel Jackson?"
"Just Daniel is fine." He smiled weakly and took a step back from her.
"Very well, Daniel, I will wait until you have had time to grieve for your lost amator, but then you will be mine, yes?"
Daniel looked uncomfortably around at the other members of SG1 and finally gave a slight nod.
"Good. If you need anything else, my mother, brothers and I are right across the passageway."
"We will see you in the morning." Brenita said and the two left the compartment.
"Well, that was too weird." Daniel said. "Now I guess I know how you feel, Sam."
"Its not quite the same. I don't think Kahtana could take you by force if you said 'no' to her." Sam quipped, trying to make light of the situation. But no one said anything, they just thought of the creepy Dra'coe licking Sam's face and telling her that she would be his.
Suddenly two strong, young men appeared in the doorway to the compartment.
"I am sorry to have startled you." the one began, "but our mother, Brenita, asked us to bring these items to you." He held out four blankets with 5 ceramic mugs balancing on top of them. His brother held out 5 ceramic bowls, some spoons and a wooden bucket.
Brenita suddenly re-appeared behind her sons "I noticed you had only one bucket." She began, "you will require a second bucket for washing. I am sorry I do not have pillows for you. The blankets are old, but they will serve you well. You may keep them, as I do not need them. You may also keep the bowls and mugs. Kahtana makes them." She said proudly.
"Thank you very much, Brenita." Sam said, truly impressed with the woman's generosity.
Brenita looked at her again and said "I am so sorry, I asked your amator's name, but what is your name?"
"You can call me Sam." She said smiling at the woman.
"Sam." Brenita tried out the word. "I like it!" She declared. "Sam, do you know where you would like to work in the complex?"
Sam looked confused. "What do you mean? I thought we all just work in the mines."
"Oh no!" Brenita looked shocked. "This is a self sustaining city. The men work the mines and the women have other jobs. As I said, my daughter, Khatana makes pottery. I work in the garment area, sewing the clothes we all wear. Do you sew, Sam?"
"Oh, god! No! Where I'm from I'm a scientist and a warrior."
Brenita looked confused. "Perhaps you could work in the laundry. It requires no special skills."
Daniel snorted as he tried to stifle a chuckle, Jack had a big grin on his face and Teal'c raised one eyebrow and inclined his head slightly. Sam was not amused and decided this was the time to distract everyone from her discomfort. "So," she said, addressing Brenita's sons "How often do the Goa'uld send a cargo ship to collect what you have mined?" She already knew the answer, but figured it was a way to find out when they were next expected.
The question took the young men off guard. "Ah, every third lunar cycle." One of them replied as if she were a complete moron.
Sam nodded and continued "How long until they come for their next ...collection?"
The young men eyed her suspiciously but one of them finally replied "We had a collection 22 days ago."
Jack picked up on the uneasy feeling this line of questioning was receiving and decided he needed to lighten the mood. He stepped up to Sam and put his arm around her shoulder as if they were an old married couple. "So, Brenita, once we get settled in and have earned some...ah..tokens, can we have your family over for dinner, to, ah, repay you for your hospitality?"
Brenita smiled a warm, friendly smile at Jack and said, "That certainly is not necessary, Jack, but we would be pleased to dine with you."
"That's great!" Jack replied in tone that said 'You are dismissed.'
"Well, we will leave you so you may get settled in and rest." Brenita smiled at Jack again, and indicated to her sons that they should leave.
"Goodnight and thank you again!" Sam said
"You are most welcome, Sam."
After Brenita's family left, SG1 and Lo'jess ate the rice Brenita had provided, washed the dishes and placed them on a high shelf carved out of the rock wall.
"It will get cold in the caves at night" Lo'jess explained "so, we will have to keep the fire burning all night."
"Ok, Carter, you take first watch, I'll take second, Daniel, you've got third and Teal'c you take the last watch."
"What about me? I can take a watch too." Lo'jess sounded hurt that Jack did not assign a watch to him.
"It's alright, Lo'jess, we're not just watching that the fire doesn't go out, but we want to make sure no one comes in here and tries to hurt us while we are sleeping." Daniel gently explained.
"I can do that too." Lo'jess still sounded hurt.
"I'll tell you what, after you have seen us stand watch a few times so you know what to do, we'll let you have a turn." Daniel said while looking at Jack and imploring him to play along. Jack shrugged and Lo'jess accepted that as a confirmation that he would indeed be added to the watch bill.
"Sir, we have a problem with your plan. The Goa'uld won't be back for 74 days and we have to be out of here in 63 days."
"I know that, Carter."
"I believe that Colonel O'Neill's plan can still succeed. We will have to lay in enough supplies that we may survive outside of this complex for 11 days. While the plan is risky, I believe it has a greater potential for success than attempting to reach the Stargate."
Jack smiled at Teal'c's approval of his plan and said "Not to mention the little added bonus of stealing a cargo ship full of naquada!"
Everyone sat in silence staring into the fire for a time when Lo'jess finally spoke. "There is a privacy curtain above the opening to our compartment, that may be rolled down while we sleep. I will show you."
Lo'jess stood, walked to the doorway and rolled down a gray canvas curtain. He turned and looked at the group "Jack and Sam should take that pallet." he indicated the pallet on the left side of the compartment "It is the largest. I will take that pallet." Lo'jess indicated the pallet on the right wall near the screened off toilet area.
"Daniel Jackson and I will take these pallets." Teal'c indicated the bunks that he and Daniel were sitting on that were located across the back wall of the compartment. The bunks were nothing more than a heavy wood slab attached to the cavern wall with chains on each end. 'At least,' thought Daniel, 'they are up off the floor'.
The members of SG1 looked around at each other uneasily. Finally Sam spoke. "I'll wake you in two hours for your watch sir."
Jack nodded.
Lo'jess extinguished the torches attached to the wall, stirred the fire and handed the stick to Sam before crawling into his bed and pulling the blanket over him.