SG1 looked around the room it wasn't very big about the size of the conference room at the SGC. However it was nicely furnished with a large bed, a fireplace, a small table with two chairs and a large ceramic bowl at the tucked in a corner behind a screen, there was even a tiny window high up. The three of them looked around the room but all four walls were made of stone, the doorway was cut from the stone but the door was wood and locked from the outside.
"So how long do you think we're going to be here?" Jack asked testing the bare mattress before sitting down.
"It's hard to say sir, it will take hours for a rescue team to get here and even when they do the entrance will be hard to find." Sam said sitting at the table.
"They could make an entrance." Jack suggested
"No Sir, any explosion however small could trigger a cave in."
Jack sighed and lay down on the mattress pulling his hat over his eyes. Teal'c sat down to Kel No Ream, while Sam examined the door again. Two hours passed then the door was pushed open and three guards entered training crossbows on each occupant. They silently directed them to stand against the far wall.
"What's going on?" Jack demanded as he walked over to the wall.
There was no answer; the guards entered the room allowing three men dressed in long grey tunics, and pants. The three sinners quickly made up the bed, made and lit a fire, and put a pitcher and three glasses on the table before all six men left as silently as they came. During this time Jack and Sam had both tried to ask answers but were continually ignored. SG1 all went over to the fire, night was falling and it was growing cold. Half an hour passed then the door was opened and the black haired priest came in, the guard didn't enter but closed the door behind him.
"Good evening, I hope you find your room comfortable. I must apologize for the lack of sideboard, and chairs; Daniel destroyed two chairs and the table trying to escape." The priest said.
"Daniel Jackson?" Jack questioned.
"Yes, he was housed here at first; Daniel is as revered as you three are." The priest said
"And yet you tortured and broke him and sent him back to be killed." Jack said heatedly
"We needed his help our last translator died several years ago we tried hard to find a replacement but none were suitable until we recruited Daniel."
"Why didn't you just ask us for help?" Sam asked
"It is not our way we value secrecy and security above all things save service to God." The priest said
"And yet you kidnapped thirteen members of Star Gate Command and are holding them hostage." Teal'c said
"Thirteen? No we have eleven warriors here; two of your men must have escaped capture." The Priest said
"So what is your name?" Sam asked
"It is Zalif, I have come to see how are you doing and to ask if you would be willing to assist us in our fight against the false Gods."
"If we do not agree, will you treat us as you treated DanielJackson?" Teal'c demanded
"No, as we speak we are negotiating with the Tauri for your release and the release of the rest of our guests. Hopefully after some time has passed we can negotiate and treaty and work together to rid the galaxy of the demons that dare call themselves Gods." Zanif said rising to his feet and after knocking on the door left the room.
An hour passed night fell and the room was illuminated only by the light from the fire. The door opened again and a sinner was escorted in carrying two large over full trays and a huge wooden basket on his back. The guard shut the door and Sam and Jack rushed over to help the man. They grabbed the trays and put one on the table the other on the bed. The man who looked no older then a teenager stood dumfounded at their help.
"I'm sorry I failed to obey you masters. Please forgive my sins and have mercy on a poor dishonored sinner." The boy said falling to his knees and prostrating himself.
The three looked at each other this is what Daniel had said when Jack had triggered him. Sam quickly knelt down next to the boy.
"It's alright; we're not going to hurt you. We took the trays to make sure they didn't fall." Sam said putting a gentle hand on his shoulder
The boy took a few deep breaths and nodded recovering much quicker then Daniel ever did and stood. He walked over to the fire and put down the basket next to the fireplace and started piling wood on. Teal'c pulled the clothes off the plates revealing meat, three large rolls, and a plate of vegetables, also on the tray were three plates, forks, and knives.
"It is goat meat masters, wheat rolls, and carrots, spinach, and khale." The boy said finishing with the fire and walking over to the table.
"No baloh?" Jack asked feigning disappointment.
"Daniel! Is he alive? Is he alright? We were so worried about him." The boy burst out excitedly
"If you mean a brown haired, blue eyed translator then yes he is alive and on earth at Stargate command." Sam said
"Thank the Gods." The boy said dropping to his knees in prayer.
SG1 waited for the boy to finish and rise to feet before speaking.
"I have heard the Heroties refer to God and multiple Gods which do you believe?" Teal'c asked
"Oh it doesn't really matter some believe in one all powerful God, others belief in that there is a central power but there are also less powerful ones as well." The boy said
"So you were friends with Daniel?" Jack asked
"Yes, he was kind, he looked after us as well as he could. Even after they broke him, Daniel still helped us."
The three looked at each other but didn't speak.
"What is your name?" Sam asked
"Kalith, I work in the kitchens but I trained alongside Daniel and the others."
"Trained?"
"How to fight, set fires, blend in, skills needed to fight the Devils."
"Did Daniel ever talk to you or someone else about escape?" Jack asked
"Yes, at first he tried to subvert the teachings of the priests open our minds to reasons and justifications for our sins not just blind condemnation and self loathing." Kalith said studying the floor "I must go I stayed too long." Kalith said moving toward the door.
"Wait do you think you could help us get our weapons back? Or help the other members of our group to gain access to them?" Sam asked
"If you do I promise we will take you and the rest of the sinners with us." Jack said
Before Kalith could answer the door swung open and the guard entered, he glared at Kalith. who immediately dropped to his knees and recited the chant he had said before. The guard raised a blunt wooden instrument and prepared to strike Kalith's back but stopped at Sam's cry. The guard looked at them and then kicked Kalith in the side who quickly left the room on his hands and knees the guard following. Sam, Jack, and Teal'c looked at each other but said nothing all seeing Daniel in Kalith's position.
Daniel was working on translations with Dr. Quinn when General Hammond came in. The two men had just finished lunch as evidenced by the trays put on the floor to accommodate the sprawl of books and papers. As soon as Hammond entered Daniel jumped to his feet and bowed his head. Dr. Quinn gathered the books and papers and silently exited the room. After he was done Hammond sat down at the table and signaled for Daniel to sit as well. Daniel however started pacing and Dr. Ford and Johnson entered the room. They didn't do anything though but cautiously watched Daniel.
"As you know we sent SG1, SG2, SG10, and 6 Tokra to the Herectics Planet. SG1, SG2, and 4 Tokra were captured four hours after they arrived on the planet. We have successfully negotiated for the release of 2 Tokra, and two members of SG2."
"What did you give the Heroties in exchange?" Daniel demanded
"Humanitarian aid: food, and medicine."
"That's good, you can't give them technology, or weapons, or information."
"I know." Hammond said barely hide his pleasure at seeing Daniel Jackson acting like his old self.
"Any word on the others?" Daniel asked
"No, SG2 reported that they and the Tokra were separted from SG1 and taken to cells deep underground. They were fed uh Baloh " Daniel nodded "But were given no blankets, or comforts of any kind not even a light. One of the Tokra Molin was injured during the capture but received no medical attention; he and Andur are currently recovering at the Tokra Base."
"What is the current situation?" Daniel asked
"As of this moment we can't go beyond the village, so we have no access to the mountains, we are currently cutting through the forest but it will take time. The Priest Calif is heading negations but is demanding weapons before he releases anyone else."
"Which we can't give."
"We can take the village but it would cost a lot of lives and even if we got to the mountains the entrance to the Heroties base is concealed and we have no way of finding it or even knowing which mountain they are in." Hammond said
"So you need my help in planning a route through the mountains, a layout of the Heroties base, and potential plans of attack." Daniel said sitting heavily on the bed.
"Yes, I know this is hard but our best chance to avoid bloodshed is to take the Heretics' by surprise and capture their base quickly." Hammond said.
Daniel looked at him, then stood and started pacing, then went to a corner and started praying.
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