Jacob and Sam extinguished their candles and moved through the tunnel to the infirmary. They entered a small well lit room; it was almost cozy except for the chains and manacles lining the walls along with a human sized cage against the far wall. The pair cautiously explored the room, when a part of the wall slid open. Jacob signaled for Sam to stay back and cover him while he entered the room
"Samantha Carter stay back." Selmac ordered just inside the room.
"What is it?" Sam asked coming forward her gun trained in front of her.
"Stay back." Jacob said shutting the door in her face.
Sam walked to the door and tried to open it without success. She circled the room taking in the chains, manacles, human size cage and trying not to imagine the countless men shaking in fear as they waited for who knows what. Time passed slowly, the minutes dragged on and her thoughts turned to Daniel her gentle compassionate friend waiting for the machine that would break his spirit and lead him to kill. The door opened breaking her from her dark thoughts as she aimed her gun. Jacob came out supporting a young woman in a long grey dress a red robe over top. Sam hurried over and took the woman's other arm helping to support her weight.
"Sam this is Zelen a Tokra." Jacob said
"A Tokra? One of the two you said the Herectics killed?"
"Yes, the Tokra were sure she was dead however upon seeing the machine implanted in Dr. Jackson's brain we suspected Zelen was still alive." Selmac said as they maneuvered Zelen out the door.
"She's done experiments on human brains before and you let her." Sam said in dawning horror "You gave her a whole town of people as test subjects, lab rats."
"Yes, but we can discuss this later, right now we need to meet with Teal'c and Jack." Jacob said as they exited into the tunnel.
The three were silent as they walked down the tunnel and carefully helped Zelen down the steps. They helped her sit three steps above the water, then Sam took guard at the base of the steps while Jacob watched the top.
"So Zelen if you've been helping the priests with the sinners why can't you walk?" Sam demanded
"I am a Gou'ald they need me but even after thirty three years they don't trust us. They drove iron spikes through our ankles and soldered a chain between them. I broke the chain three times but they caught us and amputated our foot. It took Zelen six months to completely reattach the limb." The host said rubbing her lower legs.
"I'm sorry you didn't deserve that." Sam said
"My name is Alaina and she did, what she did to your friend is only one of numerous crimes we have committed."
"What other things have you done?" Sam asked
"Sam don't, you don't want to go down that road." Jacob said
"Dad I'm a soldier what could…." Her voice trailed off as she saw the paleness in her father's face and the haunted look in his eyes.
Jack and Teal'c had instinctively trained their guns on Elric. A body slid to the floor and the two saw it was the older red haired guard his throat slit ear to ear. Their candles had fallen into the water but Jack used the light from his P-90 to aim his gun at Elric.
"Why did you kill him?" Jack demanded
"Cleon was a spy; he would have informed the priests of our location." Elric said wiping his dagger on his pants.
"He was sympathetic when he brought Jacob Carter to our cell." Teal'c said.
Elric's face was hard to read in the dim light but he appeared to be both amused and irritated "I thought the Tauri would be smart enough to not fall for his tricks." He said.
"Tricks?" Jack asked
"Yes, you think the priests would allow any one not thoroughly indoctrinated to have dealings with outsiders. Cleon feigns sympathy and kindliness to gain people's trust then betrays their confidences to Zalif."
"And yet they allow you to do the same." Teal'c said
"Come your friends will be waiting." Elric said coldly stepping over Cleon's body as he walked on.
They walked for at least half a mile illuminated by the flashlights Jack pulled out from his pack. The water rose steadily until it was at their knees but still they pressed on. The water was almost to their waists when they a light bobbing the distance. The three men turned off the flashlights and pressed against the wall concealed by darkness. As the light drew closer, the sound of footsteps muffled by water was heard. Jack waited until the group was within range then moved into the middle of the stream his gun trained on the leader.
"That's far enough, identify yourselves" Jack ordered
"Major Kyle Anderson SG8 we're here along with SG3 and two members of the Tokra. I left behind SG4 to guard our escape"
"It's about time." Jack said lowering his gun.
"It's not easy to infiltrate enemy territory sir." Anderson said also lowering his gun "We came as quickly as we could."
"Did Daniel Jackson send you?" Teal'c asked
"He did, he told us how to find the entrance to the old mine and the layout of the base." Anderson said.
"That's good, we've got a guide but I'm not sure how trustworthy he is." Jack said signaling Anderson to walk out of earshot of Elrich.
"Daniel warned us about the Herectics even those he considered trustworthy."
They spoke briefly then rejoined to the group and walked to the stairs. They found Jacob, Sam, and a young woman in robes sitting on the steps waiting for them.
"This is Zelen, the Heretic's doctor." Sam said as Anise and the other Tokra hurried over to her.
"She's…" Jack said.
"Yes sir." Sam said quickly with a pointed glance at Elric
Jack told her Daniel's plan and his modified version of it. Since the Herectics were confined to their cells and to separate tunnels it was decided to split the group into three. Sam would lead a team to rescue the Sinners and bring them to the flooded tunnel and down to the Star Gate. Jack and Teal'c would lead a team to the second tunnel to capture the priests and plant explosives. The Tokra would stay behind and guard there escape route. Sam, Elrich, and SG8 left for the first tunnel but Jack delayed his departure.
"Jacob." Jack said holding out two C4s "Put one in the infirmary and one in the middle of the tunnel."
"You said these were a contingency plan in case things went south and to motivate the Herotie to leave." Jacob said
"They're not; the Herectics are too dangerous to be allowed to survive. If we don't destroy them now they'll just move somewhere else and start again." Jack said
"I promised Daniel I would look after his men and protect them." Jacob said reluctantly taking the explosives.
"These orders come directly from Hammond, and I'm sure Selmak and the other Tokra agree."
"Yes, that is what we want." Selmak said "But what you and your men? Are you not coming back?"
"No we're going to go out the front door." Jack said
Selmak bowed his head and Jack and his team left, While Jacob went to rejoin the other Tokra in the infirmary.
A/N Please Review I am trying to make this story work but I fully admit to being a novice. Your Reviews are greatly appreciated or Follow/Favorite which greatly encourages me.