Disclaimer: I do not own stargate or any of its characters.

Chapter 5

Sam, Daniel and Janet continued to look around the Council building trying to find a member of the Council.

"This is pathetic, three hours of searching and we still haven't been able to find a single member of the Council or anyone who knows where they all are".

"Maybe we could just talk to someone else for now, if this virus is as much of a problem as they say it is then everyone here should know about it" Janet suggested quietly, her mind was still on the two men she had seen having a conversation earlier. She was sure they had mentioned the stargate and from the way they had been acting whatever they were talking about wasn't good.

"Okay let's try that" Sam said looking around the corridor they were in, she walked down to the end of the corridor and found what she was looking for, a security patrol guard. "Excuse me"

"Can I help you?" the guard asked as he turned to face her.

"Yes, what can you tell us about the virus that spreading among your people?" Daniel watched Sam ask the guard and all he could think was that her approach had been bluntness worthy of Jack. She was frustrated and angry though, he wasn't sure he would have been much more tactful.

"Virus?" The guard asked looking very confused.

"Yes, virus"

"I'm sorry I have no idea what you're talking about, who are you?"

"You don't know?"

"No I've only just come on duty"

"They are visitors" came the voice of another guard who was hurrying down the corridor toward them "I'm sorry but you really shouldn't be wondering the halls, I must ask you to return to your room immediately"

"But we're looking for Lady Dallen" Daniel said.

"I'm sorry I'm not sure where she is right now. If I see her I'll tell her you need to speak with her"

"Well what about another member of the council?"

"I'll send one to your room, now please follow me back to your room"

They followed the guard back to their room, left them immediately and as soon as the doors were closed behind him Sam turned to the others.

"Anyone else think that was weird"

"I really don't think there's a virus" Janet said

"Neither do I, that guard had no idea what we were talking about"

"And the other guard, he was definitely up to something. He didn't want us talking to the other guard"

"What the hell is going on here?"

"Maybe we should radio Jack and Teal'c, tell them to get back here" Daniel suggested. Sam looked at him for a moment and then moved to grab her radio.

"Grab your things, we're out of here" Jack said as he marched into the room making Sam let go of her radio.

"What's going on?" Sam asked

"This place is like crime central of the universe, we're leaving"

"We haven't been able to find a single member of the council or anyone who knows where they are and we searched for hours. We did ask one of the guards about the virus, he had just come on duty and he had no idea what we were talking about. Then another guard came running up to us and made us come back here" Sam said as she started gathering up her things.

"I don't think there is any virus, Teal'c and I found the main party of the city, it was separated from this area and fenced off. There were patrols everywhere. Teal'c and I managed to find a hole in the fence where there was a gap in the patrols. We went through and walked down a street, we had only been walking about twenty minutes and we saw at least six fights break out, a woman get robbed, we had about twenty people try to mug us or attack us, we were attacked by a group of three men and almost shot" Jack summarised.

"What about Major Dalton?"

"He was definitely attacked and I don't think they want us to know that, they're not going to give us the body. Now grab your gear, let's go"

They all hurried to grab all their gear and left the room, they were approaching the exit when they were stooped by a three armed guards, including the one who had ushered Sam, Daniel and Janet back to their room.

"I thought it told you to stay in your room"

"You did" Sam said

"Then why are you again wondering the corridors?"

"We're not wondering anywhere, we're going home" Jack stated.

"I'm afraid I cannot permit you to leave right now"

"Why not?"

"I have orders to keep you in your rooms for the time being, it is for your own safety"

"Safety from the city full of criminals?" Jack asked and the guards face went blank.

"Didn't think we'd find out about that did you?"

"How…?" the guard seemed to struggle to figure out what to do next.

"We went for a little wonder and found ourselves in the main part of the city. At least from the size of it I assume it's the main part. It would kind of explain the massive amount of security you guys have here".

"You must return to your room and remain there until a member of the Council speaks to you"

Jack saw the man begin to raise his gun and grabbed him before he had time to react. He wrenched the gun from his hand and Daniel and Teal'c did the same with the other two guards. Once they were disarmed the guards backed away a little but still did not leave.

"You must return to your room" the guard said with the same determination as before but a lot of fear this time too.

"We can't do that" Jack said and made a move for the door. One of the guards lunged at him but Teal'c just grabbed him and threw him into the wall. The other two guards backed off more, they heard voices and looked up to see more guards coming down the corridor.

"Alright let's go"

The five of them headed out of the building and back into the forest toward the stargate. They walked through the dense woodland so fast that they all nearly fell at least a dozen times each. They could here the sounds of people following them.

"They really don't want us to leave do they" Jack said as he stepped over a large tree root.

"Guess not" Daniel said as he ducked below a branch.

Fifteen minutes later they reached the clearing and a shocked expression covered all their faces.

"Where the hell is the stargate?" Jack asked angrily.

TBC