Again - many thanks for the great reviews. Jackie & I are very glad you seem to be enjoying the story so much. I've been off work sick for a couple of days and then had the weekend so you've had plenty of updates, but it's back to real life tomorrow I'm afraid, so you may have to wait for the next one. Sorry about that. - Flatkatis
Soldiers of Misfortune – part 16
Jack left the shop the back way, leaning heavily on the staff as he joined the crowds. Soldiers had taken up various positions along the streets and the people moved quietly, averting their eyes from their conquerors. As they entered the square the soldiers were even more prominent. The wooden platform erected in its center also had a dozen soldiers on it, armed and ready.
Jack slowly threaded his way through the crowds, towards his goal. The more people that entered the square, the more tightly packed they became and this made his journey harder. Eventually he got into a position close to where the museum lay - just a couple of streets away from it and with enough people behind him to shield him from the soldiers.
He caught sight of several soldiers approaching the crowd to his left and one face in particular stood out.
"Damn. Soolek," he muttered, as he drew himself down, disguising his height in the crowd. He hoped that the alien wouldn't recollect their faces … but then again those blue meanies seemed to have nothing wrong with their memories and SG1 had stood out to him right from the start. He watched with dismay as Soolek and the soldiers took up position on the steps of the building just to his left and began eyeing the people with interest.
So far Jack hadn't spotted any of his team. He just hoped they'd made it safely to the museum. More and more people were surging into the square, the crowds jostling away from the soldiers, obviously frightened of being singled out.
Jack drew on all his skills to keep one eye on Soolek and yet out of sight.
Something drew Soolek's attention in the crowd and Jack was alerted by it. The alien's grim face smiled evilly as he pointed something out to one of the other soldiers. Jack risked standing taller and followed Soolek's line of sight.
"Crap, Daniel."
Soolek had obviously spotted his team-mate in the crowd and recognized him, if the expression on the alien's face was anything to go by. Jack watched helplessly as Soolek alerted the other soldiers and they began to disperse along the edge of the crowd. Jack could only hope they would wait before doing anything and not go into the crowd to pick Daniel off.
Jack cursed as he realized he had no alternative but to show himself to Daniel to warn him and he began to push his way through the mass of people with determination. He found Cairen and Ream were close by as well. He got within a couple of bodies from the man before speaking.
"Daniel, don't turn around," he urged.
Daniel visibly jumped, his head looking left and then right, but he didn't turn.
"Jack?"
"In the flesh. Now listen to me. Soolek's made you. He's behind us on the edge of the crowd and he's got company." Jack moved closer to Daniel as he spoke and was now directly behind him.
"Has he seen you?" asked Daniel.
"By now he will have, but I don't think he's noticed Cairen and Ream. He probably doesn't know their faces."
"Oh God, what now?" asked Daniel, swallowing nervously.
"Don't panic. I don't think they'll risk making a move yet. It's more likely they'll wait until the crowds disperse then pick us up." 'I hope,' he added silently.
"Cairen, Ream, don't wait here. Split away and try and get to the museum. Make your way forward and out to the left. You'll have to double back, but I think that's your best chance. You made good time getting here, chances are you'll catch one of the others, but for Christ's sake don't draw attention to the building, okay?"
Both men acknowledged his words with a whispered 'good luck' before doing as they were ordered.
Daniel watched as they eased their way through the crowds until they were lost from sight.
Jack pulled Daniel with him as he moved further into the crowd.
"Got a plan?" enquired Daniel hopefully.
"Working on it."
They didn't move far, just enough so that Jack could keep Soolek in his sight and a little nearer to the edge. He knew for certain that Soolek had spotted him as the alien's eyes narrowed with hate, staring straight at him.
The activity around the platform was beginning to heat up. The crowd began parting on the other side to allow soldiers through as they dragged a group of rebels up to the platform.
"Daniel, when I give the word I want you to get down and crawl, and I mean crawl, your way out. Keep your head up and damn well make sure you go straight," said Jack as an idea began to take hold.
Daniel responded quickly. "I'll follow you."
"No can do. I couldn't crawl if my life depended on it."
"What are you going to do?" Daniel turned and looked directly at Jack, fearing what was coming.
"I'll be busy going the other way. Don't you worry, you keep going. You've got to get the others out." Daniel looked ready to argue and Jack sighed heavily. He was watching Soolek out of the corner of his eye and saw the alien's attention go to the platform. "Now," he urged and pushed at him. "That way. Go!"
Daniel dropped obediently, but didn't move.
"Daniel, get your ass moving. That's an order," growled Jack.
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"Jack …" pleaded Daniel from the floor.
"Move damn you," snapped Jack and kicked at Daniel to get him going.
Daniel heaved a ragged breath and began to crawl. He just hoped Jack knew what he was doing. The terrible feeling in his guts began gnawing at him, but he knew he couldn't risk Cairen and Ream being stranded at the museum. He crawled as fast as he could.
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Jack watched Daniel disappear from sight. He could track the man's progress a little way as the people exclaimed and looked downwards at whatever was squeezing around their legs. He just hoped the Karmine didn't spot it.
He stood for a few more minutes, anxiously scanning the crowds, hoping that Teal'c and Sam had both made it to the museum. He realized he could stand here forever and not be able to spot them. He finally decided it was time to make his move …
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Teal'c and Jourin had managed to get to the museum and found a side entrance they were able to force open. Even before they were in Sam and Alenor joined them. They hurried inside, glad of the high windows that at least let some light into the dark interior.
"Any ideas where to look first?" whispered Sam as they crept around.
"Daniel Jackson did not say," Teal'c answered.
"We'll stick together. It's not that big a building," decided Sam.
They made their way through various rooms, some large, some small, containing glass cased displays of the planet's historical objects – 'history in a bottle' as Jack had called it once, Sam remembered with a pang.
"Daniel would love this," she said out loud.
Teal'c nodded. "Perhaps Daniel Jackson has already gone through.".
"Maybe, but we made good time here," said Sam, not convinced. She was worrying about Jack. Out of them all, at the moment, he was the most vulnerable.
They soon found what they were searching for. The Stargate stood in a large dark room, looking huge and forbidding, but a more welcome sight they had yet to see.
"Thank God, a DHD," said Sam, letting go of a breath.
As they checked the DHD they heard footsteps approaching and Sam gave the signal for everyone to hide. A moment later Cairen and Ream crept hesitantly into the room and the others came out of hiding, heaving a sigh of relief, which was short lived as Sam realized they were alone.
"Where's Daniel?" she asked in alarm.
They explained briefly what had happened.
"God help them," muttered Alenor.
"He may or may not, but I shall," said Teal'c.
Sam made to move with him, but Teal'c forestalled her.
"No Major Carter, you must go with these men. Get them to safety. That is what O'Neill ordered. They cannot go alone."
Sam warred with her conscience. She wanted so badly to go with Teal'c, but she knew where her duty lay. She nodded, her eyes showing her distress.
"Dial it now, so that I know it will work. You must hold the gate open from the other side. We may need to get through quickly."
Sam gave Teal'c a brief hug before quickly dialing the co-ordinates. She trusted the Jaffa to bring Daniel and the Colonel home. She gave him one last look, a silent plea, before she pushed the gawping men through the event horizon and followed them.
Teal'c was glad he had seen Major Carter and the others depart safely. Now he had only to find Daniel Jackson and O'Neill.
Carefully he made his way from the museum. Making sure the door he'd forced was closed, he made his way to the square.
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Daniel saw the legs were gradually thinning a little as he neared the edge of the crowd. He was sore from being accidentally kicked and stood on, but he was in one piece. He cautiously rose and slowly edged out of the crowd that were close to one of the buildings surrounding the square and then ducked under cover. There was no way out behind him, but the steps were shielding him from the Karmine. His heart was hammering as he searched the crowds, keeping one eye out for the soldiers as he looked for the silver gray hair of his friend.
He couldn't spot Jack where he roughly thought he'd left him and his attention turned to how he could get passed the soldiers guarding the street he needed to get into. He had just started to scan the crowds again when a shout from the nearest soldier made him jump, but the Karmine ran the other way, joining several others running in the same direction until they were lost to his sight. This gave Daniel the break he needed and he took it, moving quickly around the building and into the street, ducking into the first alley he came to, to catch his breath.
He judged he was only a short distance from the museum now. He cautiously peered out of the alleyway, getting ready to leave when a hand grasped his shoulder. He jumped and almost screamed out as another hand was clasped over his mouth.
"Hush. It is I, Teal'c."
Daniel's hammering heart settled down a little as he recognized the voice and he spun around to find the huge Jaffa standing there, just his presence adding instant comfort to him.
"God, you almost scared me to death," he whispered.
"I am sorry Daniel Jackson."
"That's okay. Where are the others?"
"Major Carter used the Stargate successfully and I came to look for you and O'Neill when Ream and Cairen told us what happened."
"Jack's not back yet?" asked Daniel. He frowned, wondering where Jack was. It had taken him an age to crawl out and then he'd been stuck at the steps for a while … "Oh God!" he exclaimed as the thought occurred to him, "I think they've got Jack … or at least have gone after him …" The sickening realization of why the soldiers had raced off, suddenly leaving their posts, hit him hard.
"You must go to the Stargate, Daniel Jackson."
"Not without you and Jack," said Daniel, facing the Jaffa and squaring his shoulders with determination.
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Teal'c regarded the man solemnly. He knew O'Neill would never forgive him if his actions got the archaeologist hurt, but he also knew that Daniel Jackson would never forgive himself leaving if O'Neill did not return … nor would Teal'c himself.
He nodded at the young man and together they moved cautiously from the alley.
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