On a Slow Ride Through Molasses – part ten
Daniel stepped from the vortex and onto the metal of the gateroom ramp.
"We need a medical team!" He shouted the words urgently up at the figure of General Hammond standing in the control room window.
"Where is the rest of your team, Doctor Jackson?"
"Following. Jack's hurt, and we need to keep the gate open." Daniel hurried to get as much information out as possible. "There are refugees on the way."
He spun on his heels, waiting impatiently for Jack and Teal'c's appearance behind him, barely aware of a firm hand on his shoulder until it shook him slightly. He turned back to find the frowning face of Hammond beside him.
"Please explain what's going on, Doctor. Why are you so many days overdue?"
Daniel nodded, still unable to keep his eyes from flicking back to the gate as he spoke. "We were imprisoned as soon as we arrived on the planet, but the local resistance rescued us. Their world is under the control of Cronus, so we offered them sanctuary here until we find them a suitable planet to relocate to."
"Just how many people are we talking about?"
"Only a little over one hundred, General. Mainly women and children. They're good people, sir. Without them Jack would be dead by now."
"You say the colonel is injured? How badly?"
Janet hurried up to them, reaching their side just as Daniel replied. "Sam thinks he has a skull fracture. Teal'c should have brought him through by now."
"A skull fracture? He shouldn't be moved." Janet's eyes also turned to the gate as if willing her patient to arrive.
"We didn't have a choice. Cronus knew we were on the planet."
Hammond nodded. "Very well. We can debrief properly later." He raised his voice. "Prepare to receive refugees."
The SF's relaxed slightly, although their weapons were still at the ready, while the medical team took its place at the foot of the ramp.
The slurp of the wormhole was a welcome sound for Daniel, but his expression shifted from one of anticipation to surprise as the first figures appeared. Jaahn led them, his weapon firmly pressed to Sam's head, with Steffen hard on his heels, his beefy arm locked around Lou's neck.
The SF's weapons snapped up as Jaahn paused at the top of the ramp.
Jaahn's voice was raised enough for everyone in the room to hear. "Put your weapons down. I don't really need to tell you the consequences if you don't, do I?"
The words were so unexpected that Daniel was unable to understand what he meant. "What's going on? Where's Jack?"
Several more figures walked through the gate, each carrying a weapon. Daniel gave General Hammond a quick glance and saw his eyes fixed on the edge of the large circle. He followed the direction of the general's gaze and gasped as he realized Lou's left side was still in the vortex, being held there by Steffen, He was shivering, his lips tinged blue by the cold.
"Release my people and you won't be harmed." The general's voice was firm, but Daniel could see the tell-tale signs of deep concern in his face. "I'm told you want to leave your planet. We will have no problem finding you a suitable world. There is no need for violence."
"Where is this place?" Jaahn ignored Hammond's words as he walked down the ramp. He was looking around, his face reddening with anger. "Where is your city?" He turned furious eyes back to Daniel and Hammond, Sam wincing as the weapon was pushed harder against her head. "I say again. Have your soldiers stand down. For every time I need to ask this, I will execute one of your men, beginning with Major Carter." He smiled coldly. "Major Ferretti will be last."
Hammond nodded. "Very well." He gestured to the SF's. "Stand down." He then raised his voice. "Colonel Dixon?"
"Sir? Colonel Dixon's voice came through the speakers.
"Lower the blast screen and seal the base. Inform the President and go to threat level foxtrot alpha six"
Teal'c watched the activity around the Chaapa'ai, noting the number of guards, before returning to their hiding place.
So far they had managed to elude the searchers easily, especially after the rain began and the men hunting them showed even less enthusiasm for the task than they had before.
"Lieutenant Nguyen." He spoke the words softly, knowing they were sufficient warning for the young man of his return. Ducking his head, he squeezed his body through the narrow opening in the hillside and into the small space between the rocky outcrops. Once out of the rain, he shook himself, brushing as much of the water from his arms and legs as he could before going any further.
He peered into the gloom, just able to make out the two figures huddled against the back of the tiny cave.
"How is O'Neill?"
"He hasn't woken." Nguyen lightly touched the colonel's forehead as he spoke. "But his temperature seems to be down a little."
"That is good." Teal'c reached into a pocket, pulling out a container of water and two of the yellow colored fruits that reminded him somewhat of the Tau'ri's apples. "The guards at the gate are not vigilant. We should be able to make our escape within a few hours."
The young man gave a tentative nod. "That's good, sir, but where will we go? We can't gate straight home, not when we don't know what's happening there."
Teal'c nodded. "I am aware of that, and have another destination in mind - one where we will be able to receive assistance not just for O'Neill, but also against Jaahn."
"And where might that be?"
Hooded eyes starred up at him out of the darkness.
"If I told you the planet's designation, O'Neill, would it be of any use to you?"
"Might be. You'd be surprised what I know."
"P4G-625"
There was a gleam of teeth in the blackness. "Okay, I'll give you that one. Give me a clue."
"Indeed, Human."
"Oh for cryin' out loud!"
Teal'c allowed himself a wide grin, knowing it was hidden from his companions.
Janet glanced anxiously towards Lou Ferretti. He had been pulled from the vortex only after all the men had arrived. He was leaning against the edge of the ramp, shivering constantly, the side of his uniform that had been in the wormhole covered in a thick layer of ice.
General Hammond was in fierce discussion with the man who was clearly in charge. Their words occasionally drifted over to where she was standing, still with her medical team and surrounded by the gateroom guards. Even without their weapons they were a reassuring barrier against the invaders.
Janet caught Sam's eye and gave her a small smile. Her friend was now being held in the grip of the massive man who had used Ferretti to ensure they didn't close the gate. The doctor's glance turned to his face and she was startled to find her eyes meet those of the man. He gave her a mocking grin and a half nod. Janet returned it with an angry glare.
The general had reluctantly given the order to his men to hand over their weapons and at least the SG teams no longer appeared to be in immediate danger.
The rest of SG-3, their hands cuffed, were corralled over in the far corner of the room, kneeling in a posture which reminded Janet frighteningly of hostages she had seen on television. Daniel had been pushed over to join them, and had made a remark that Janet didn't understand - something about the cuffs being familiar. The comment had earned him a backhanded blow across his face and a thin line of blood was even now dripping from his split lip. Every so often he raised his shoulder and turned his head to wipe the blood away, only managing to smear it across his mouth.
"Doctor Fraiser." Janet's attention was drawn towards Hammond as his voice carried across the room. "You may treat Major Ferretti. Take one of your staff with you and whatever supplies you need."
She didn't hesitate, grabbing a medical kit and gesturing to her head nurse to accompany her. She was about to go to the major when a hand stopped her as one of the men grabbed the kit, rifling through it and removing any sharp instruments before pushing it back into her arms. She didn't bother to protest, just started walking, Captain Milligan following hard on her heels. They wove their way between the groups of alien men, avoiding eye contact wherever possible. The crawling sensation Janet felt up her spine grew as she caught some of the muttering that was clearly aimed at them. Some words didn't need to be in a familiar language to be understood by a woman.
She didn't like these people, not one little bit.
Finally they reached Ferretti's side and each took an arm, guiding him down to rest awkwardly on his side on the cold floor.
Janet looked up at the leader, attempting to keep her tone unemotional. "I need you to untie his arms."
He answered quickly and emphatically. "No." Before she could protest he had already turned away, clearly dismissing her from his thoughts.
She glared at the man's back then looked at the man standing beside him holding Sam as a deep bodied laugh rose from him. Their eyes met once more and she shuddered at the contempt she saw in them.
Lou's shivering had increased. She quickly took his vitals, worried at how low his temperature was. He was bordering on hypothermia. Without removing the cuffs they couldn't take off his damp outer jacket, so they did the best they could. Janet wrapped a survival blanket around his chest while Captain Milligan took another and cocooned his head and neck in it.
Janet rolled Lou's left sleeve up, exposing the pale skin of his arms, and she gave a sigh of relief. She had been concerned the extreme cold had caused frostbite, but it looked like the thick outer coat, plus his uniform jacket, had been enough to prevent it. He was lucky – a few more minutes and frostbite would have been a certainty.
"How are you feeling, Major?"
"Damn cold." Lou raised his head a little, looking around as much as possible given his position on the floor. "Did Jack come through?"
"No, neither have Teal'c or Lieutenant Nguyen, and the gate's shut down."
Captain Milligan repositioned the blanket around Lou's head as his head slumped back to the floor.
"Hell." The word was softly spoken, but Janet heard the depth of feeling behind it.
"Daniel said he had a head injury?"
The major nodded. "Yes, but that's not all. Daniel didn't know – he had already come through when Jaahn told us." His voice rose as he spat out the next words. "Those bastards were giving the colonel some drug the whole time. He'll die unless he gets treatment."
"What!" Janet's voice rose to match Ferretti's. "How soon?"
"I've no idea. That's all he told us." Lou paused, thinking. "He did say there was an antidote."
The doctor stood, anger rushing through her and subduing her natural caution. "Stay with Major Ferretti." She ignored Lou's hurried protests and turned, moving rapidly through the crowd until she reached General Hammond's side.
The man they called Jaahn had clearly been aware of her progress across the room. Janet straightened as much as possible, pleased to see there wasn't much difference in their height.
"Where is Colonel O'Neill?"
She waited, her arms crossed over her chest, while Jaahn stared at her. Just when she thought he wasn't going to answer her, he spoke, his voice filled with malice.
"The colonel won't be joining us. He chose to remain on my world."
"He was injured and drugged. I doubt he chose to do anything."
"Drugged?"
Janet turned to the general. "Yes, sir. Major Ferretti just told me, and I want to know exactly where the colonel is, what he's been drugged with, and what effects it has." She spun back to Jaahn as she spoke, taking another step closer to him. The rebel leader involuntarily took a step back before standing firm, a frown replacing the smirk that had been the predominant expression on his face up until now.
"You are in no position to question me, Doctor." He gestured to another of his men. "Kelvin will escort you back to your place, or if you so chose, you may join the others." He indicated Jones, Rutledge and Daniel, kneeling in their uncomfortable position, their hands tied. "The general will accompany you. Major Carter will remain here."
"And I will remind you, that you have limited supplies and no exit from this room except back the way you came." Hammond gave a pointed look at the heavy trinium strengthened iris. "And there is no way on God's Earth that barrier will be removed from the gate without authorization from my superiors. Threatening me or my men will not make any difference. It was out of my hands the moment I locked down the base."
"There is more than one way out of this room, General." Jaahn nodded towards the door. "I did not come here to turn around and run home with my tail between my legs. I wish to speak to these superiors of yours."
Janet watched as the general stiffened. "Our government does not negotiate with terrorists and I will not arrange a meeting while you hold my people hostage."
The other man nodded slowly, his eyes roaming the room, coming to a halt back on General Hammond.
"Very well. If you refuse to assist, you are of no use to me, and as you so rightly pointed out, our supplies are limited."
He raised his weapon and shot it pointblank at the general. The energy blast was loud in the confined space of the gateroom, its echoes reverberating for long seconds after he fired.
There was a collective gasp from the SGC personnel as their CO fell backwards, his limbs splayed haphazardly on the cement floor.
"One less month to feed." Jaahn grinned and turned to Sam. "Now, shall we begin again?"
TBC