Chapter Seven. Let's Get This Party Started!

Teal'c needed to get everyone out of the village and he needed to do it without getting caught by the curfew patrols. So, he brought the sheriff and some of the guards with him and the guards watched out while he and the sheriff made their way through the village. The townsfolk packed a few belongings and very quietly made their way in small groups past the patrols and headed toward the clearing by the Stargate. When they got to Lisel's house, they were overjoyed to find that Vala was there. But Vala went into hysterics when she saw Teal'c and it took a few minutes before they could get her to stop crying and tell them what happened. Teal'c was quite upset to find that Daniel was still being held in the castle dungeon.

"For what purpose is he being held?"

"He made a deal with the Queen. If she would let me go, he would cooperate and tell her what he knew. She thinks we're all spies and she's keeping him to get more information. But that's not the worse thing. She's got a dragon and she had me tied to a stake and threatened to feed me to it if Daniel didn't talk. He promised he would. So, she let me go but he's still locked up in there and we've got to get him out!" Vala was crying again and Teal'c held her as she wept.

The sheriff was upset, "So, now the Queen knows about our plans?"

"No! He told her some fabricated story about Apophis abducting his wife and making Sha're his wife and forcing him to come here to spy on this Queen. He tried to convince her that he's working alone, but I don't think she bought it. I think she let me go so that I would lead her guards to you."

The sheriff said, "I know how to get around the patrols and I brought along a large number of guards that do not support the Queen. They'll stop the patrols, if they have to. We've been evacuating the village and Lisel was our next stop. Ma'am, pack your things. We'd better get going."

Vala cried, "But we still have to get to Mitchell and Sam and let them know what's going on. They took our things and I couldn't find a radio to ask for help! What are we going to do?"

"I will radio Mitchell and fill him in on the latest development. Do not worry, Vala Mal Doran. We will rescue Daniel Jackson and liberate the people of this world."

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Cam heard Teal'c on his radio and said, "Teal'c, are you ready?"

"Colonel Mitchell, we have a new development. Vala Mal Doran has been released but Daniel Jackson is still a prisoner. I am sending her and Lisel and the last of the townspeople to the Stargate. Sheriff Miller will be escorting them."

Sam started for the path to the village and yelled back, "I'll find them!"

"Teal'c. Sam went to meet them. Let me know when the next stage of our plan is ready."

"I will Colonel Mitchell."

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Teal'c watched to make sure the last of the refugees made it to the forest. He then met up with the Three Bears and they set charges in places in the village that would cause the most commotion. Between the C-4 that SG-1 carried in and the bombs that the Furlings had manufactured, it promised to be quite a show.

Then, he set off for the castle, keeping to the shadows as he made his way up the street leading to the Palace gate. He found a quiet place in the dark, and radioed Mitchell, "Colonel Mitchell, I am in position. The Furlings are in place, also. We await your signal."

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Sam met Vala, Lisel, the last of the townsfolk and the Sheriff about half way up the road to the village. Vala was obviously upset and she told Sam the whole story about what happened.

"Was he injured?"

"Not when I left but that Goa'uld is crazy and who knows what she'll do to him. She was very angry."

"We'll get him, Vala. I promise we won't leave him behind."

"I'm going with you!"

"I wouldn't even try stopping you!" Sam smiled and gave Vala a hug. "Let's go get him."

Mitchell and Sheriff Miller organized the refugees in groups of 20 so that if they had to evacuate, it would be done orderly and without panic. They explained everything to everyone and the crowd seemed satisfied with the plan.

"There's a chance that you may not be able to return here. But, If all goes as planned, the Queen will be gone and you'll live free again. If you can't return, we'll find you a place of your own where you can start over."

Snow White approached Cam and said, "I am Tok'ra. Let me go with you. We don't know what kind of shape Daniel will be in and I have a healing device."

"Good idea!"

When he got the radio message from Teal'c that the next part of the plan was ready- Sam, Cameron, Vala and Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs headed for the castle and the secret passageway.

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Daniel was sitting in the dark when he heard a commotion out in the tunnel. He jumped up, hoping that somehow, it was Sam and Mitchell and Teal'c coming for him. The sound of guards approaching dashed his hopes but he knew he couldn't give up. The door opened and he was roughly pulled out and pushed down the tunnel. He expected to be taken up to see the Queen, but instead, they headed down the path he'd taken before with Vala.

'Well, I guess this is it. I sure hope Vala got away.' He thought about all the times he'd died before but had come back to life. 'I doubt Oma will be able to do anything more for me.' He made peace with it and bravely went forward.

When he got to the bottom of the steps, he could see that the large chamber was lit up. There were several torches on the walls that cast strange shadows around the room but no amount of light could cast away the oppressive gloom that was ever present.

He immediately looked over to the cage to see what the dragon was doing. It was lying there watching all of them. Especially him.

The Queen was standing in the center, near the pole and she watched, smiling as the guard chained him up with his hands above his head and his feet together at the bottom. This caused the dragon to growl and that sent shivers up Daniel's spine. 'Hold it together, Jackson. Help is on the way. I hope!'

"Dr. Jackson. Here is where we find out how brave you really are." She smiled at him but it never reached her eyes. They were like sharks eyes, black and lifeless and as she stared at him, he could only stare back. He wasn't sure what she had in mind but he hoped that his rescuers would hurry up and get him out of there!

The Queen said, "You told me that Apophis sent you. That Heru-ur had taken some of his territory. How strong is Apophis? If he came here, could I defeat him?"

"He's not as strong as he used to be." 'Not since he died,' he thought. "He has a large army but I don't know how big an army you have so I can't answer your second question."

The Queen said, "Fair enough, since you haven't seen my army. But, he doesn't have a dragon, does he?" She turned to look at her dragon and Daniel watched as the beast seemed to whine like a dog. 'He knows that she controls the food. And he's getting anxious. Come on, Mitchell. Where are you already?'

He said, "No, your Majesty, he doesn't have a dragon. But he does have a Mother Ship and he doesn't have to get close to start bombing your planet. Your dragon won't be able to stop him."

"You're right. My pet can't fly into space. But if we don't fire on the Mother Ship, Apophis will think that we are harmless. He won't fire on us unless he has to because he's after slaves. He won't want to kill them and eventually he'll come here. When he does, my dragon will finish him!"

Daniel had nothing to say to that. She was right in her strategy, but he wasn't going to tell her that Apophis was already dead and that there wouldn't be a fight.

She walked over and stood in front of him and said, "Tell me where the spies are? And give me the gate address to your home world. I want to know what kind of place it is. I will make slaves of your people and they will serve me. "

"There are no spies and I'm not giving you the gate address."

"You will tell me or you will die!" She was just about frothing at the mouth with her anger!

"I told you the truth. There are no spies." Daniel was starting to shake and he broke out in a sweat. He was weak from hunger to begin with. It had been two days since he'd eaten last. Combine that with the fear running through his veins like ice water and he was feeling a bit rough.

The Queen stopped and smiled. "Fine, Dr. Jackson. We'll see how long you last. I'm going to leave you here with my dragon for the rest of the night. That will give you more time to think. You will tell me what I want to know, Dr. Jackson. If you do, I'll spare your life. If not, I'll open the gates and let him have you for breakfast!"

With that, she swept up the stairs to her private quarters, laughing all the way up, sounding like she'd gone completely insane.

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Teal'c waited in a dark passageway for the right time to start the next part of the plan. He watched as the queen went through a set of doors and down a hallway and entered her private chambers. She must have felt extremely confident in her abilities as she didn't even post a guard outside her door.

"Foolish woman." Teal'c voiced his contempt for her as he quietly went through the double doors and approached the doors leading to the Queen's private chambers. When he got right in front of it, he reached around and took off his pack. Then, he set down the secret weapon.

Quietly, he said, "Little Pot, Boil."

Within seconds, the pot started to fill with oatmeal. The hot cereal continued to rise to the surface, bubbling it's way over the side and overflowing onto the floorTeal'c smiled and quietly walked back the way he came and when he got to the exit doors, he looked back to see that the oatmeal was rapidly spreading across the floor. He went through the door and took a chair and braced it under the door knobs so that it couldn't be opened from the other side.

Then, he ran for all he was worth. When he got he the stone steps leading back down to the village, he radioed Mitchell. "Colonel Mitchell, you may enter the secret passageway and rescue Daniel Jackson!" Then he ran to catch up with the Three Bears who were ready with the bombs.

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Sam, Vala and Cameron had just reached the secret entrance to the castle with Snow White and the Dwarfs. Doc took out a large key and opened a wrought iron gate. They went down a path, lower and lower until they reached a wall that was covered with ivy. Cam pulled the vines away to reveal a steel door that looked like it hadn't been used in some time.

"Don't let it fool you," Doc said. "The hinges are oiled once a month to make sure the door will open in case of an emergency.

Cam radioed Teal'c, "Ready Big Guy?"

"We are ready," came the reply.

"GO!"

Seconds later, the sound of explosions could be heard echoing through the air. The sky lit up like a New Year's celebration.

"We need to wait a few minutes so that the guards inside the castle head for the village to see about the explosions," Sam said.

"Well, I think we got their attention." Cam started pacing.

Soon, Doc used the key and opened the steel door. It didn't make a sound as they swung it open to reveal a dark tunnel. They quietly entered, using their flashlights to see their way into the dungeon. When they got to the first door on the left, Cam shone his flashlight in but he couldn't tell if anyone was in there. He said, "Knock, knock. Anyone home?" There didn't seem to be anyone inside. "Isn't this the place?"

"Yes, he should be in there!" Vala could barely keep her voice down. "He could only be in two other places. The throne room or down with the dragon!"

"I'm voting for the Throne Room." Cam didn't want to meet the dragon but he'd go there to get Daniel if he had to.

"Vala, lead the way. You're the only one who can show us where he is."

As they went down the hall, they heard someone at the next door and stopped to see a woman peering out at them.

"Hello. My name is Cinderella. If you're looking for Daniel, he was taken a while ago. I think the Queen took him down to the dragon. When the guards came up to check on the prisoners, they were talking about it. It sounded like she was leaving him down there until morning. Then she was going to feed him to the dragon."

"Okay, Sam, can you get her out of there?"

"Of course," she said as she grinned at him.

Soon, Cinderella stepped into the tunnel and Cam had Doc take her out to the hillside to wait.

When they got to the stairs, Cam asked, "Okay Vala, which way?"

"There," she said as she pointed to the steps leading down.

"Okay, I want the Dwarfs to stay here and watch for any guards. I don't think there will be any but I want to make sure. The rest of us are going down and hopefully we'll get Daniel and be back up here in a few minutes."

Mitchell turned and started toward the steps. "Here goes!"