10
Chapter 2: Crossing Moray
Sam left the home at the edge of the city after receiving the map of the city. Of course, she couldn't read the text, but Ehl was kind enough to mark the turns and general path that Sam needed to take. Ehl also marked the Holding facility on the map.
The main turn Ehl was concerned with was marked with a transport dealer on one corner. However, because the street also led to the Holding Facility, it had an unusually high concentration of Weard. Ehl told Sam that the Weard could still single her out for attention. Sam's best course of action was to avoid the attention of the Weard.
Ehl's last gift had been a hand bag to throw over her shoulder. Ehl said that she could keep one of her weapons in the bag and accessible over the dress. Sam also thought it was a good place to keep the copy of the map, her knife, her canteen, and few power bars. It was large enough to hold it all and made her look even more like a local. Sam liked it. She thanked Ehl one last time and headed out.
The early morning traffic was fairly light. A few of the transport vehicles were present, but most of the locals seemed to walk to their destinations. They took their time and chatting up with their neighbors. Sam made sure to smile and wave at the other locals as she made her way deeper into the city.
One thing that kept bothering Sam was the lack of media. At this level of technology, these people should have some sort of local media to spread common messages across the local population. At the very least, the local government should have a method for passing on information to the people.
Ehl had told her how the people would rise up in protest when the government did something horrible. But everywhere Sam looked, there didn't seem to be any form of media. Ehl didn't have any kind of radio or television in her home. They had text and writing. Where where the newspapers? The magazines? At this level of technology, Sam would even expect a kind of cell phone or table device. But she could see nothing. All information seemed to pass from mouth to mouth. It made Sam wonder if this society was at a crisis point.
Before the American Revolution, writings decrying the King in England were common, but hidden from plain sight. Revolutionaries did not want the loyalists to get word of what was going on in the colonies. But the public newspapers were still written and slanted toward loyalist views.
Here in Moray, Sam couldn't even find the public newspapers or equivalent. The people were definitely not loyal to the government. The Weard were entirely a government organization and the people hated them. Sam wasn't sure what to make of it.
Around high noon, Sam noticed that one of the Weard was taking too much notice of her. It was not a good notice either. He was leering and trying to figure out how to mentally rape her. Sam was having a hard time not reaching for her knife. At that point, Sam had decided that the gun was too fast for scum like him. She wanted him to suffer.
But Sam's reason prevailed and she instead pulled into a small open shop. She kept her hands on the strap of her bag.
"What can I do for you, lass?" The shop keep greeted her with a warm smile.
Sam returned the smile, "I am hoping to avoid that overly obnoxious Weard following me. You can just nod and smile."
"Ah, I know exactly what you mean, lass," the shop keep said. He kept his smile on as he randomly showed her some fruit. "I can see the man. He still has an unusual interest in you."
"A creepy interest. I prefer to avoid him," Sam said while pointing at another fruit.
"Yes. He is not the first to single out women on the street. The Weard think they can get away with disgracing our women. They are no more than tòraiche. If only they could be sent to the Tràill Slubhail, instead of good men," the shop keep said as he smiled and picked out yet another fruit. "He seems to be moving on."
"I'll wait just a bit more. Just to make sure he is gone," Sam replied.
"That is a good plan, lass. Where are you headed? That one may try to follow you and find you before dark," the shop keep said, his smile gone now that the Weard was no longer watching.
"I am making my way to the Holding Area," Sam replied. "I intend to find a home before dark."
"The Holding Area? Have the Weard taken someone from you?" the shop keep asked concerned.
"They have. I intend to get him back. With violence if necessary," Sam replied grimly. She was finding that most of the locals were on her side more than she first thought.
"Well, if you make it all the way to the Holding Area, it is located in a plaza. Across from the Holding Area is a small shop run by a woman named Catrina. She is a good woman and has no love of the Weard. Her home is above her shop," the shop keep said.
"Thank you," Sam replied. "I will seek her out."
The shop keep nodded, and then sighed, "But I want to warn you, lass. Once the Weard has emptied the Holding Area to the Tràill Slubhail, your man is likely gone. None have ever returned from that place. None of the clann believe what the Slaugh-lùl say… that the men taken there are well cared for anymore."
"Thank you, again. I hope to reach the Holding Area before it is emptied, but I can press on to Tràill Slubhail, if I must. As I said, I will use violence if necessary," Sam said. "He will survive. He must." Sam didn't want to even consider any other option. Jack would survive. He had too. She needed him too much.
"As you will, lass. I wish you fair travels," the shop keep said as Sam departed.
With the new information, Sam pressed forward in her travels on the streets of Moray. It was in late afternoon when she finally began to see the cross roads where she needed to turn. Ehl had been right. The Weard were in strength on the cross roads. Most of them looked bored.
As Sam was watched, several of the Weard accosted several of the women traveling across the cross roads. A few of the local men tried to get between the Weard and the women, but are immediately accused to trying to interfere with an official inquisition. One of the Weard had grabbed a woman's breast as he loudly demanded to know where she is heading.
Sam decided at that point to avoid the cross roads. She sees a small road leading off of this one. She slipped unseen into the small street. She made her way down a ways before consulting her map. She marked the new street and found that it paralleled to the road she wanted to turn on for several blocks. She could turn onto the street she wanted at any point.
Sam eyed the new street. She found that it is similar to an alley. It didn't have access to the businesses that the main street would have. But it did have privacy. She smiled and made her way down two blocks before she tried to head to the main street.
Sam's way was blocked by a Weard. He appeared to be alone at the end of the small connecting street. As Sam considered her options as the Weard tried to make a grab at a passing woman's ass. Sam abruptly changed her mind. Her options had changed to one.
Sam moved back to the cross roads of the two small streets. She examined them both minutely. She nodded at her decision that THIS would make the perfect ambush spot. The balcony down the first narrow street was invisible from the one the Weard was located on. Sam stalked down the narrow street to the next cross roads and gently settled her basket with her pack. She quickly removed the bag and dress. She now stood in just her t-shirt, weapons belt, BDU pants, and boots. She added her vest and gloves. Her last addition is her knife.
Sam gave an almost gleeful smile as she set out to remove one of this world's raping assholes. She walked back to her ambush spot. She climbed onto the balcony with a few stones to use as a lure. Then she peeked around the corner towards the Weard.
Sam let out a very feminine laugh and tossed a stone to make noise on the ground. She watched the man turn around and leer down the street before stalking down to find the source of the laughter. The man didn't even hesitate as he neared the cross roads. He just walked into the new street fully expecting to find the woman he intended to molest in the dark, narrow street. Sam wanted to laugh at his confusion when he couldn't find anyone. She waited until he was in position below her. Then she jumped. She used both of her hands to grab the man's head and hold on tight as her body swung with force past the man. Using the weight of her body and her grip on the man's head, Sam snaped the man's neck. He dropped to the ground dead.
Sam felt grimly satisfied with her kill. But she also wanted to send a message to those in power that it was NOT okay to let these assholes molest women for no reason. Or AT ALL. She was staring at the body and took note of the man's radio. An ironic punishment came to mind.
Sam went back to her gear and found a frequency device. She used it often to find sources of radio, light, or radiation. She went back to the body and used the device. It zeroed in at his hip.
Sam looked but could only see his stun gun. She pulled it out of the holster and tried the device again. This time it zeroed in on the stun gun.
Interesting. They track their guns. Sam examined the gun and removed the power device. That often turned off signals. But the signal was still there. Sam looked at the weapons more closely and noted that inside the housing for the power source, was a small sticky electronic device. She removed it. Her frequency device zeroed in on the sticky device. It was a tracker of some kind. She set it aside and went back to the body.
With the tracker further away, Sam discovered that the radios were a two-part device. She found the second part and examined it. She felt confident that she could modify it easily. She moved back to the tracker and shoved it up his nose. Next, Sam pulled down the man's pants and cut off his balls. She placed the detached balls on the man's chest.
Sam quickly washed her hands of the blood and cleaned her knife. Then she modified the radio to emit a piercing, screeching wail. It almost sounded like a lament. It definitely fit Sam's version of a Banshee who predicted death. Smiling at the product of her work, Sam grabbed up the stun gun and quickly left the area.
When Sam made it back to her basket of gear, she quickly redressed and packed her gear. She loaded her basket on her back and took off down the narrow street to the next cross street. She had just turned when she noticed activity by the body. She smiled and ducked out of sight.
This small street did not have a Weard guarding the entrance. Sam made the main street and moved unnoticed among the locals heading in the direction of the Holding Area. Sam took satisfaction in seeing the number of Weard jogging past her towards the dead body. Her message was definitely being seen and heard.
It was only as Sam neared the Holding Area at twilight that she realized it had also become a distraction. There were no Weard in the Holding Area. She quickly took in the plaza that the Holding Area was located on. She found several shops on the opposite side. She went to the first one.
A woman was starting to close up the shop.
"I am looking for Catrina. I was sent to her for shelter in the dark," Sam said quickly. She had noted that darkness was closing fast and no one else was in the plaza.
"I am Catrina. Come inside," Catrina invited her inside.
Sam helped her close the shop up before turning back to her. "Thank you. I had to come a long ways. I had hoped to be here before dark, but was delayed."
"At the cross roads, most likely," Catrina said with a frown. "The damn Weard are getting bold."
"Bolder than you think. They were accosting women in the middle of the day. When men tried to stop it, they accused them of interfering in a government interrogation," Sam told her.
"What were they interrogating for?" Catrina asked angrily.
"At the time, where the women were going. I think they may have changed their questions later," Sam replied with a soft smile.
"Humpf," Catrina grumped. "Come this way. You said you were sent to me?" she asked.
"Yes. I need the assistance of a shop keep to keep a Weard from taking too much attention in me. He is the one who sent me to you when he found out where I was heading," Sam said.
Catrina nodded, "The shops try to keep in touch. Why were you heading here?"
"The Holding Area. I need to observe how the guard schedule is set and kept. Look for weaknesses. I intend to attack it," Sam said grimly.
"Well, I can definitely help you with that. During the day, I can even have you assist me in the shop so you can watch the Holding Area," Catrina said sadly. "You lost a man to them," Catrina stated it as a fact. It wasn't a question.
"Yes," Sam replied.
"Come. After dark falls, you can still watch. It is easier from the roof," Catrina said.
Catrina showed Sam a room to place her things and then took her up to the roof. The twilight had made the night sky glow. Sam could see all the stars that had fueled her imagination for so long. It made her heart hurt. She liked to share the campfire off-world with Jack as they took in the untouched night sky.
Sam sighed and turned her attention back to the Holding Area. The squat building was an eyesore. It had a vehicle entrance with a fenced area and a doorway to the plaza. Other than that, it was unremarkable. It had no tower positions. No guards. No other notable defenses. However, this planet was a more technologically advanced. The defenses may not be noticeable.
"That's odd," Catrina said out of the blue. "The Weard should be out in force and starting to leave the building. Where are they?"
Sam smiled. Catrina noticed the smile.
"You said earlier that the Weard would change their questions later. Why did you say that?" Catrina asked.
Sam sighed and decided to get comfortable. "Because I am not from around here." She pulled the dress off over her head and stretched. "I avoided the cross roads by taking a side street. I watch a Weard molest a passing woman. I decided to make a statement. I setup an ambush. I killed the Weard man. I stole his stun gun. I cut off his balls. I then set his radio to wail."
Catrina looked alarmed, "You stole his stunner? They track them."
"Not this one. I found the tracking beacon and left it on his body. I checked it and this one is untraceable," Sam reassured her.
Catrina lost her alarmed look and instead looked intrigued, "Can you show me?"
"Yes." Sam pulled out the stun gun. She removed the power cell. "It was stuck to the side of the power cell housing. It was about this long and this wide." Sam showed her the tip of her index finger. "But flat. Take that out of the stun gun and leave it on the Weard. They find the Weard, not the gun."
"Do you need this stunner?" Catrina asked.
"No, I took it out of habit. You can have it," Sam said. They lapsed into silence for a while. "I'm going to watch up here for a while, if you need to do anything else," Sam said as she took in the Holding Area once more.
"Alright. You will be safe from the Weard up here. I'll talk to you in the morning then," Catrina said as she left.
SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG
Sam spent the next five days working for Catrina while trying to find a weakness in the Holding Area defense. She had watched as more men were taken into the facility but she could only see the occasional vehicle leave the compound. Each one was the car type she had seen that first day.
Worse, no one ever went near the Holding Area. EVER. Sam couldn't just walk by casually. Because no one ever did that. Sam did examine the facility from the other sides. But they were even less informative than this one. This side was the only one with an entrance and an exit. This side is the only one with a gate. Short of Sam pulling a Terminator move, she just didn't see how she could make it into the facility and eliminate the Weard in the facility.
Likewise, Sam had not heard from Daniel or Teal'c. Her radio had been silent the entire time she had been here. She was logically too far from the Stargate to receive any radio transmission from that distance. However, she should be able to receive a signal from close. She knew Daniel and Teal'c would not leave her or Jack behind. But still, it was frustrating.
"Excuse me, lass. Would you be the one called Sam?" a customer asked. He was a well-dressed man. Local.
"I am. May I help you?" Sam asked. This was the first time a customer had asked for her.
"I hope so, lass. The man I work for would like to meet with you if you have the time," the man said.
Sam debated all the reasons why some local guy would WANT to meet her. "How does you boss feel about the Weard?" Sam asked.
The man smiled, "He despises the very ground they walk on."
Well, that sounded like an endorsement in his favor. "I have time. It will have to be with plenty of time to be back before nightfall," Sam replied.
"Of course, I will wait here until you are ready," the man said with a smile.
Sam went through her feelings on the man and decided that he 'felt' right. She went and informed Catrina that she would be meeting this man's boss. Catrina looked over the man and smiled. That gave Sam another good feeling. Catrina knew who the boss was just by looking at the man. Good.
But Sam was cautious. She ran upstairs to get her bag with her zat, her gun, her knife, and a few power bars. Now, she was ready.
"I'm ready. Lead on," Sam said to the man.
"This way then, lass," the man gestured and led her out the door of the shop. It was a surprisingly short walk. They entered another compound with a fenced vehicle enclosure. The building housed several offices and a large open area that led to a second level. Sam was led to another room where she found a man working at a desk. He looked up as they entered.
"Boyd, I'm glad you could convince her to come. Thank you," the man behind the desk said.
"Of course, Artair. Call me if you need me," Boyd said as he left and shut the door behind him.
Sam stepped into the room and took a seat at one of the chairs some distance from the desk. "You wanted to talk with me," Sam stated.
"I did. My men have noticed you watching the Holding Area. After I talked to my people, none of them know who you are. But they all acknowledge that you have no love for the Weard. Why are you watching the Holding Area? What do you hope to gain from it?" Artair asked.
Sam considered the man. He was well-dressed, well-groomed. He appeared to be in charge of this operation. He had sources across the town that didn't recognize her. Not that they would. He could be an ally in taking the Holding Area. Maybe she didn't have to go all Terminator.
"The Weard took someone from me. I intend to get him back. I will use force, if necessary," Sam told him.
"Alright. The Weard clear out eucoireach when they reach ten men. Once they hit that number they send the ten to the Tràill Slubhail. The last time they cleared out the eucoireach was six days ago. Do you know when they took your man?" Artair asked.
"Shit! I just missed him. Do you know where the Tràill Slubhail is located? How heavily it is guarded? How to get there?" Sam asked.
Artair seemed to consider her for a minute. Finally, he said, "I do. But I would like to know if you would be willing to have someone else ask you a question first?"
Sam needed to get to Jack. She was desperate to get to him. "Yes."
Artair's eyes flashed and his entire posture changed. Sam had seen this happen to her father when Selmak took control. Was Artair a Tok'ra?
"Sam, would you be willing to hide me and keep me safe from harm in exchange for the information you need to free your man?" the symbiote in Artair asked. Sam noticed that Artair's voice did not change. Interesting.
"Are you a Tok'ra?" Sam asked the symbiote.
"I am not. I have not heard of the Tok'ra. However, if they are against Ra, I fully support them," the symbiote said.
Sam was confused. This symbiote didn't know Ra was dead. It had not heard of the Tok'ra. "What is your name?" Sam asked, hoping it would help her figure out who the symbiote was.
"I have not used a name in thousands of years, since I fled Ra. I have hidden. I have only used the name of my current host. I only come out when it is time to change hosts," the symbiote said with a sad sigh. "I don't think I want to remember."
Now Sam felt sorry for it. "Is there any other condition besides hiding you?" Sam asked. It was a goa'uld. It had never heard of the Tok'ra. Hell, even the Tok'ra had taken her over forcefully for its own ends. "What's the catch?"
"There is no other condition. I have been hiding from Ra for thousands of years. I want to continue to hide. I only ask that when the time comes to pass to another person, that the person also does so willingly to hide me. The risk is great to both of us. I will not force someone to take that burden," the symbiote said.
Yeah, Sam definitely felt sorry for it now. Shit! "What kind of information can you provide?"
"To free your man. I have detailed maps of the terrain leading to the facility they are kept at. I know the layout of the internal mine shafts. I know the number of Weard at the facility. I can provide all of that internally where there is no external evidence that you have the information on your person. I can assist in your health as well," the symbiote said.
The symbiote faded to the background and Artair came back to the front, "I can also provide resources and equipment, as needed."
Damn it. This is a damn good deal. Hide the snake. Free Jack. Get all kinds of help that YOU need being all alone on a hostile world. Shit! Then Sam though of the scenario that she didn't want to consider. Jack hurt or killed. FUCK! "And if my man is injured or dead? If he can't be freed?" Sam hated herself for asking.
The symbiote came to the front again, "I will do everything in my power to ensure you get what you need to determine the status of your man. I will help you free him, if it is possible."
"But even you cannot do the impossible," Sam finished for the symbiote.
"I'm afraid not," the symbiote said.
"Then I accept. What do you need me to do?" Sam asked.
Artair smiled, "You do not need to do anything. Stay seated. I will bring her to you." With that statement Artair closed his eyes and opened his mouth. The goa'uld symbiote slowly slithered out of his mouth and onto his hand. When it was all the way out, Altair closed his mouth and shook his head.
The symbiote gave a small chirp at him and he smiled, "I am fine. It is just odd not hearing your voice." He stood up and walked over to Sam and held the symbiote wrapped around one arm.
Sam swallowed when she saw the size of the symbiote, but she was reassured by how Artair acted after the symbiote was removed. She closed her eyes and opened her mouth. She felt the symbiote bite into the back of her throat and felt the pain very briefly before she was overwhelmed by the choking sensation of swallowing the large symbiote. That feeling too passed.
Sam waited until she felt the tentative touch of another mind in hers. She greeted it and slowly opened her eyes.
Artair was watching them with a concerned look, "Are you alright?"
Sam smiled at him, "I'm fine. We both are."
"Good," Artair said with relief.
"I have to go get my things. When I return, I will have some idea of what kind of resources I will need. I think I can make it to the shop and back before dark," Sam replied.
"I think you are correct. I will tell Boyd to look for you," Artair said.
"Thank you," Sam said as she left. Her mind was already racing with what she needed to get in order before she could leave and what she would need once she got there.
SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG
As Sam walked back to the shop, she would ask the goa'uld questions. What type of weapons they used? How many men were in place? How often they received news from Moray?
You love him, the symbiote said suddenly.
What? Sam asked it.
The man we are trying to save. Jack. You love him, they symbiote said.
Sam couldn't really deny it. The goa'uld was in her head. It could read her feelings. Yes, she said. But it doesn't change anything.
Do you think he still loves you? the symbiote asked.
I don't know, Sam replied. We haven't talked about it. Well, we aren't allowed to talk about it. Or do anything about it. Keeping our planet safe is more important.
But you said Ra is dead, the symbiote pointed out.
Yes, and now all the other System Lords want to stake claim on Ra's old stomping grounds, Sam said with a sigh. You know we can't go back to Earth. You won't be safe there.
I can sense that the dangers are different, but still dangerous. Do you know what has happened to my other sisters? the symbiote asked.
Sam walked into the shop. "Catrina, I'm going to leave. Artair has information for me. Thank you for all your help," Sam said out loud.
"It has been a pleasure to help you, Sam. I have been teaching the others your method of stealing the stunners. You have helped us. I have continued your punishment on the Weard. Now many of the Weard are attacked across Moray," Catrina said with a grin.
"The Wail of the Banshee. Will men ever learn to never to piss off women? We take revenge personally," Sam said grinning.
"Already, the Slaugh-lùl is afraid," Catrina said.
"They should have been afraid when the Weard were molesting women. Too fucking late now," Sam said. She waved goodbye to Catrina and ran upstairs to grab the rest of her things. She packed the last few items in her basket and lifted it on her back. Then ran down stairs and exited the shop.
Once on the street, Sam asked, which sisters?
Bastet, Isis, Amaunet, Hera, Aphrodite, Anut, Hathor, the symbiote listed the goa'uld queens.
Bastet is a System Lord. Isis was in a broken statis jar and died. Amaunet died in her host. Hathor died in her host. I have not heard of the status of Hera, Aphrodite, or Anut, Sam replied as she made her way back to Artair's compound. Why ask only about the queens?
They are the only ones I knew, the symbiote said. Ra kept us all separate from the rest. He feared contamination from Egeria's children.
Well, Ra pissed off Egeria. All her children became the Tok'ra. A symbol for why he should not do that again. But then he pissed you off, Sam pointed out. You left. You never met any of Egeria's children, but the idea of them freed you.
You are right. And he couldn't even breed without a queen, the symbiote said.
Sam gave her an internal laugh. He was an idiot to think that he could control you or any queen. Ideas cannot be stopped. Only slowed down. Ra banned writing on Abydos to prevent rebellion. Then Jack and Daniel showed up. They started the rebellion on Abydos. Ra died.
Sam showed up at Artair's compound. Time to get to work. She set her gear in a small room reserved for guests that have to stay overnight. Then outlined everything she would need up at Tràill Slubhail.
SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG-SG
