As the team stepped into the village, they realised Adrae had been right. People shot them curious glances as they went about their lives, but no-one stopped to greet them. When Jack called out to one of the women, she completely ignored him. When he reached out to touch a man gently on the shoulder, he ran off, scared. Eventually the team came to a stop in the center of the village.
"Hey! Anybody gonna stop and talk?" Jack called out.
"We're peaceful!" Daniel cried when no-one responded.
"What the hell is wrong with this place?" Jack muttered under his breath.
"I believe the people are making an effort to avoid us, O'Neill." Teal'c said.
"Perhaps we should ask to see some kind of leader?" Daniel suggested.
"That couldn't do any harm, sir." Sam added.
"Alright then," Jack sighed. Raising his voice, he addressed the villagers; "Is there someone in charge here? Can we talk?"
"Please." Daniel coughed.
"Please." Jack stared at Daniel, his tone sarcastic. When nobody replied, Sam suggested they went to explore the rest of the village. Before they could set off, however, they were surrounded by armed guards, pointing what looked to be short, glowing spears at them.
"Carter." Jack growled, raising his weapon along with the rest of SG1.
"I don't know sir, the weapons look to be similar to Goa'uld technology, but there are some differences – I'd say they've been adapted, sir." Sam replied, glancing nervously at the people that surrounded them.
"How much damage can these things do?" His tone was level, but his eyes were darting from one soldier to the other. Sam swallowed before replying.
"A lot, sir."
"Lower your weapons!" A voice cried, directed at SG1. Teal'c raised an eyebrow at Jack, who gave a miniscule shake of his head. SG1 stood their ground.
"We are not afraid to attack. You are trespassing." The voice cried again.
"Well, in that case, we apologise, we didn't know-" Daniel started.
"Daniel…" Jack muttered. One of the spears began to glow brighter, and in a millisecond Daniel was bent double with pain, sweat rolling down his forehead.
"Stop that!" Jack cried, but nothing happened.
"Sir…" Sam prompted, paling at the sight of Daniel writhing on the ground.
"Alright, Carter. Stand down." At the order, the weapon went back to normal, and Daniel lay still.
"We have been merciful." The voice cried again. Sam rushed over to help Daniel up. He seemed alright, but Sam guessed he'd have one hell of a bruise.
"Some mercy…" Jack muttered, glancing at Daniel and his 2IC. Teal'c had also offered a hand to Daniel. Speaking louder, and more sarcastically, if possible, he addressed the speaker. "And do we get to SEE the guy who hurt my friend?"
"You shall leave your weapons on the ground and go to the holding cell. We will decide how best to punish you. If you do not obey, we will kill your friend." The voice cried again, which seemed to act as a signal to the soldiers to grab them and roughly strip them of their weapons before leading them away from the village square.
The holding cell turned out to be a disused barn. Although at first sight, it was easy to escape from, when Teal'c tried to open the door, a shockwave sent him crashing back onto the floor. The same happened when Jack and Sam tried. The only way out was a chimney, far to high for any of them to dream of reaching, even if they all stood on each other's shoulders. They would have to wait until the doors were open. Jack instructed Teal'c, Sam and Daniel to take up positions either side of the door, ready to spring on anyone who entered. Crouching next to Sam, opposite Teal'c and Daniel, they sat in silence for a while, listening for the sound of footsteps.
"Sir, I don't think they're coming anytime soon. Besides, we'll hear them." Sam pointed out. Nodding tersely, Jack eased back until he was sitting. Following his lead, the other three sat back, not completely relaxed, but no longer as alert as they had been. Sam was right, they were bound to hear the heavy footfall of the soldiers long before they arrived.
"What did we do wrong again?" Jack asked suddenly.
"I believe the people viewed us as trespassers." Teal'c said helpfully, unaware of Jack's sarcasm.
"Trespassing?" A voice snorted.
"Adrae?" Sam asked, looking around in confusion, her eyes finally locking on the girl as she slipped out of the chimney and fell to the floor, landing on the hard floor in a crouch, apparently unharmed, yet falling from such a distance Sam couldn't help but shudder, and she could feel Daniel doing the same opposite her. Dusting herself off, Adrae rose and strutted over to them, looking down at where they were sitting.
"Having a tea party are you?" She asked disdainfully.
"What are you doing here?" Jack asked suspiciously, starting to heave himself up.
"I figured you weren't the sort to stay out of trouble, decided to drop by the trial." She said casually, reaching out a hand to help Jack up. By this time the others were already standing, looking at her curiously. "You didn't have to get up, you know." She smiled, surveying the four of them.
"What trial?" Jack asked, cutting straight to the point.
"The trial Dipmuck has orchestrated to keep the villagers loyal." Adrae explained vaguely.
"Orchestrated – wait – Dipmuck? That's the name of the guy who had us arrested? Dipmuck!" Jack smirked. Adrae nodded, smiling.
"O'Neill. Would it not be more useful for us to gain further knowledge of our situation?" Teal'c reminded, barely managing to suppress a smile himself.
"Yes, yes. Just, hang on – Dipmuck?" Jack continued smirking. Sam had to admit, it was a pretty ridiculous name, but not ridiculous enough to distract her.
"When you said treason like that, what did you mean?" She persisted. Adrae looked at her in the eye, serious.
"Dipmuck does not know of any of people on this world. Aside from the villagers and myself, there isn't anyone. He knows this. He also knows you are from another world, and wants to know how to get to these other worlds. He will torture you to get the information, and more. A few years ago, he went from the leader we loved to what he is now. He was visited by a cloaked man with glowing eyes and a deep voice. I didn't overhear much, but I heard something about supplies. That was when the glowing weapons arrived. Every month, the cloaked man would arrive, and soldiers with funny marks, like yours," she nodded at Teal'c ", but different. He would collect crates of something which the soldiers carried, and then he would disappear. Dipmuck gave more and more people jobs in the mines; I got curious as to why. I followed the cloaked man, and that's how I found the ring. I figured the worthless rock we were mining was of value to this otherworldly man, and I asked Dipmuck why he was withholding information. When he refused to tell me anything, he locked me away. When I broke away, I went straight to the ring, about a moon cycle ago. Since then, I've been trying to work out how to activate it, and tell the villagers myself. Since I was disgraced and outlawed, no-one will listen to me. I need proof. Then you arrived and – well Dipmuck probably think you know more about the cloaked man and his soldiers, and he won't take no for an answer."
The team sat in silence, thinking. It sounded like the village harboured naquadriah mines, and Anubis was utilising the people. The weapons, however, still confused Sam.
"Adrae – the weapons – can you tell us anything about them?" She asked.
"Um, Carter, did you not hear the part about torturing us? You can worry about your technology later." Jack snapped, without meaning to. Looking wounded, Sam stopped talking. Adrae observed the exchange without comment, but she raised her eyebrows and glanced at Daniel and Teal'c.
"Does anybody else think this whole torture thing is getting old?" Jack sighed, glancing wistfully at the door.
"Yep." Daniel agreed, resting his head against the wall.
"I can try and get you out, but I must ask a favour." Adrae stated blankly, focusing on Sam.
"What?" Sam said, intrigued.
"Someday, maybe a few years from now, you return, and try to enlighten my people." Adrae asked.
Sam paused, glancing at Jack.
"Sir?" She asked, unsure of what to say.
"How do you intend to get us out?" Jack asked warily.
"Sir, even if we do get out, without a means of entering an IDC, we won't be able to get to earth." Sam pointed out.
"I can get you the vests and armbands that you had when you arrived." Adrae said quickly. "But, when you come back in a year, if you fail, could you take me with you?"
"I believe it is a fair offer, O'Neill." Teal'c pointed out.
"It's also the only offer we have." Jack replied.
"Give me two days." Adrae said, still looking at Sam.
"You still haven't told us your 'plan'." Jack was adamant.
"It's best you don't know." Adrae replied. Sam was looking at Adrae, and Jack could see she wanted to accept.
"Carter?" He asked.
"It's a good offer, sir. I think we should take it." Sam nodded. Jack sighed, realising that there wasn't really another option.
"Alright." He agreed. "We'll see you in two days." Beaming, Adrae stepped towards the door.
"Wait!" Sam cried "There's a shield on the door!" Adrae laughed.
"It doesn't affect my people, Sam." She smiled, slipping out of sight. Once she was gone, Jack turned to Sam.
"I don't want you getting sentimental, Carter. If we get the chance to go, we go." Jack instructed.
"Yes, sir." Sam mumbled, but she wouldn't look him in the eye.