On a Slow Ride Through Molasses – part thirteen

Jack smiled disarmingly at the men surrounding him. "Hey there. Hope you don't mind us dropping in?" As he spoke he did a quick survey of the room, looking for signs that anyone other than SGC personnel or Jaahn's men were present. He gave an inward sigh of relief at the notable absence of Jaffa. Then his eyes fixed on the crumpled figure of George Hammond, a dull dried red stain darkening his shirt front and he forgot any attempt at light hearted banter. He snapped out his next words.

"What's the situation, major?"

"The base is locked down and the enemy is contained in this room, sir." Carter managed the quick response before Steffen clasp a large hand over her mouth, his fingers digging cruelly into her cheek.

"I see Daniel lied when he told me your world only had one Circle, Colonel. I wonder in what other respects he has been less than truthful." The enemy leader, Jaahn pushed his way to the front of his men, their ranks parting easily to let him through. "The question now is, why would you give yourself up in this way?" He stopped in front of Jack, one hand on his hip, the other holding a weapon that was distressingly familiar – a standard issue Berretta. "Search them."

Jack stood as still as possible as he was roughly patted down by a man he recognized as Kelvin. Alongside him, Teal'c suffered the same attention from another man. A few minutes later Kelvin gave his commander a quick shake of his head when his search had no results and Jack caught the brief nod he got in return. The look on Kelvin's face gave his intention away, but even with the warning Jack could do nothing to prevent the sudden blow to his groin as Kelvin jerked his knee up sharply, dropping him where he stood.

"Crap!" For what seemed like the hundredth time in the last couple of days Jack emptied his stomach, this time over the floor of the gateroom, rolling weakly to avoid the resulting mess. He didn't even have the luxury of cradling his injured body parts, groaning as his arms were grasped and he was pulled upright once more.

"Now, we shall begin." Jaahn smiled and gave another slight nod.

Jack tensed then tried to double over as Kelvin's fist buried itself in his stomach. His legs, already weakened by sickness and the long climb down from the surface refused to hold him any longer and he sagged, his chin dropping to his chest.

"Why have you come here in this way?"

He wanted to answer. There was no secret about it, but he couldn't get the breath to form words. Another blow to his stomach had him gasping, unable to even summon up a moan.

He could hear Teal'c's shouts as if through water as his head filled with pain. The words were muffled and indistinct, but he could guess their intention. Now, if only they'd listen to him and stop for a second, they would get the answers they wanted. But they won't stop.

This part of the plan was going down hill fast.

His head exploded.

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"Give him time to answer!" Daniel shouted, struggling fruitlessly against his bounds as he surged to his feet. "He can't answer!"

His words seemed to do what Teal'c's had not. Jaahn looked over to him, his lips curved in a triumphant smirk. His answer was chillingly clear even over the sound of the blows.

"But you see, Daniel, I don't care. I don't actually need him to answer. Your colonel is dead anyway. All Kelvin is doing is hastening his departure. Of course, if the Jaffa decides to give me the information I require I will allow O'Neill the dignity of a few relatively pain free hours." He paused for a moment, twisting his head to give Teal'c a stare. "You will cooperate?"

Daniel fully expected his teammate to refuse and was taken completely by surprise by his nod of acceptance.

"I will."

"You will explain how you escaped my planet? And how you came here? And why?" Each question was punctuated by the sound of a hard fist connecting with Jack's soft flesh.

"I will."

"Very well." Jaahn nodded once more to Kelvin and the big man took one final, devastating swing, this time connecting squarely with Jack's head. Blood peppered his clothes as he was released, falling unconscious to the floor with a thump.

"Bastard!"

Jaahn swung back to him, frowning. "Why? He is no longer in pain. I don't see the problem."

"You didn't need to do that."

The smirk was back. "No, true. But it was very pleasurable."

Daniel leaned forward, trying to see his friend but finding his view blocked by several of Jaahn's men. "At least let Doctor Frasier help him."

"I wouldn't let the good doctor help your general, why would you think I would let her treat the colonel? O'Neill is much more of a nuisance to me. The quicker he dies the better." He turned his back, facing Teal'c again. "But I've been distracted. Please, explain."

Teal'c's voice was unemotional, as if he was giving a report. "We came to offer you a trade. You cannot leave this mountain. You are trapped here and soon will run out of water, am I not correct?"

Jaahn merely nodded. "Go on."

"If you agree to take Colonel O'Neill and myself as hostages, we will order the iris opened. You and your men can return to your own world."

"And why would I want to do that?"

"Cronus will reward you well for our capture. You cannot take this world, and he is uninterested in the other Tau'ri. It is O'Neill and myself that he wants."

Jaahn's eyes narrowed. "You know this, how?"

"We contacted him before coming here and presented him with this proposal. He was very interested to hear you hadn't informed him of our presence on your planet and had allowed us to escape once already."

Daniel saw Jaahn's face go visibly pale. A soft mutter of conversation rose from his men as they listened as Teal'c continued.

"Rather than die here, I suggest you take our offer. Cronus's Jaffa are already on your world awaiting our arrival. In case of treachery on your part we have left our companion, Lieutenant Nguyen, concealed near your gate with orders to shut it immediately with a remote device should anyone other than your men and the colonel and myself exit it."

Daniel kept his face impassive, trying to fathom Teal'c intentions.

"What would Lord Cronus want with a dead man?" Jaahn gestured to Jack and Daniel couldn't help a gasp at his words. Was Jack already dead?

"He has a sarcophagus on his ship, does he not?"

Jaahn nodded slowly. He was about to speak again when Steffen shoved Sam to one side as if discarding a piece of rubbish, and walked up to him. Daniel couldn't understand what was being said, but it was obvious from the tone and the faces of the men standing around the room, that it wasn't complementary. Daniel felt a measure of satisfaction at the clear indication of mutiny in the ranks. What had been intended as a fast strike had turned into a siege with no prospect of victory and Jaahn's men had clearly had enough.

At least if they took Teal'c's offer, something could be gained from the debacle.

God, what was he thinking? If Jaahn agreed, Jack and Teal'c would be placing themselves in the hands of a Goa'uld with a more than normal interest in them.

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Jack blinked away the wetness covering his eyes in red spots and found his eyes locked on those of his commanding officer. Hammond was lying with his head turned a little to the side and Jack clung to the image like a lifeline tethering him to consciousness.

He was going to see the end of this.

He was…

But he could feel his grip on the lifeline slipping as agony flared into life in the back of his skull. It seemed it was a race to see which one killed him first, the poison or the now obviously serious head injury.

A motion caught his attention and his gaze shifted to the general's hand, raised slightly as if in salute.

Jack did the only thing he could – he blinked in acknowledgement.

Then he bit back a scream, as he was lifted, feeling the metallic taste of blood in his mouth as his tongue caught between his clenched teeth.

Bitter cold hit the back of his head and he shivered violently, his body convulsing as he was carried into the wormhole.

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