AN Next chapter is up and it's all about what's going on with Sam the next chapter is a split of Sam and the guys, and will prob be up tomorrow. Enjoy

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Chapter 4 - "I've Saved You."

When Sam woke the first thing she noticed was that she was gagged. Her whole body felt somehow distant from her as the effects of whatever was in her system wore off. She tried to remember what had happened in the truck. She remembered feeling embarrassed and then...red...and then black.

She tried to move, testing to make sure that all limbs were in their proper places. Her hands were held behind her back with something, digging painfully into her wrists. She was grateful at least that whatever filled her mouth was clean. Slowly, sense spread to all parts of her brain more important facts revealed themselves to her foggy consciousness. She had been disarmed,she was lying on a lush carpet, there was a wall and a window in her line of view: out of which she could see nothing but a cloudy sky.

Behind her, there were hurried footsteps and someone spoke in an urgent whisper.

"Governor, they have awoken."Sam quickly closed her eyes again. "The men sir, they've found the camera."

Sam stiffened suddenly as Colonel O'Neill's voice filled the room.

"Hey! We're awake in here. You should probably let us out soon or uh Daniel's diaper's gonna honk something awful!"

Sam would have laughed out loud but she was too busy desperately trying to locate where the Colonel's sarcastic remark had come from. She couldn't see him and tipping her head as far back as the floor and her stiff neck would allow, all she could see was the backs of two men. She recognized Hyden's maroon robe and black ponytail but there was no sign of any of the other members of her team. / Red flag! Alone and tied up, NOT good./ Tied up she could handle, but tied up with her team gone was a big problem. /Fuck/

Hyden turned suddenly and before she had time to pretend to be asleep he caught her wide eyes and his shock registered momentarily before he schooled his features into an apologetic smile which gave Sam the biggest urge to flip him off. /Damn tied hands./

After shooing the man who had brought him the news of his other prisoners Hyden moved to crouch down in front of Sam. She fought the urge to recoil and gazed steadily back at him keeping her expression as neutral as possible. He deftly reached to untie the cloth around her mouth his hands lingering on her face longer than the task required. Sam's gazed hardened. The expression of sympathy on Hyden's face was so transparent a toddler could have seen through it.

"I am sorry. Sometimes people are confused when they wake from the effects of the petzl. We did not wish you to hurt anybody, you will have to remain restrained until I am sure you understand where you are and why you are here."

"Where am I? And why did you gas us in the first place?" Her voice was steady but she was sure the grinding of her teeth could be heard back on earth.

"I'm sorry. Truly I am our society is struggling. We are running out of testers and because of it our economy is suffering and our people's quality of life is falling. We must have testers or our way of life as we know it will come to an end. I'm sure you understand, being a person whose job is to find ways to protect the way of life of her people."

"Wait a minute back up. What's a Tester? Why are they so important." None of what Hyden had said seemed to relate to being gassed with knockout juice as far as she could tell.

"Testers are people who have no life here. They are worthless to us: criminals, people who can't or won't contribute to society, people who think they can explore our planet at will like public park. We use them as testers."

Sam struggled to sit up as he was talking but he pressed a hand to her shoulder. Deciding that it would probably be best to play the good little prisoner, at least for the time being she lay back on the carpet and listened content with glaring daggers despite the fact he seemed oblivious to the growing hatred being thrown in his direction.

"Testers are used to test the product our country produces. Without the proper testing they cannot be sold. We must have testers so we use the people who would be a drain on society otherwise. This way they can fulfill a purpose."

As things fell into place, Sam's anger evolved into outright fury at what was being implied.

"People like me you mean." This time when she attempted to sit up he did not stop her. "We came to your planet as peaceful explorers and because we think we can't contribute to your society you knock us out then use us as lab rats."

"Yes, it is the law, without the testers our cities would not function. But you are mistaken. You are not to be made a tester." He smiled fondly at her in a way that made her sick to the stomach. "I have saved you. You can stay with me as a citizen and you will never have to suffer the punishment most like you do. I could not see them ruin you, a person of you outstanding beauty is too rare. He brushed her face briefly before cutting the plastic tie around her wrists.

AN Sorry this wasn't as long as I had expected but I got invited to a BBQ and well... I went. Also had a wrestling match over the remote at said BBQ. Will probably update tomorrow but no promises. I have more of an idea where I'm going with this now thanks to a brainwave I had this morning I figured out how to get where I was going. Anyway ... reviewing is fun and makes us all better people. hint Also any comments or requests for the plot...Also apologies for the short chapters but I am updating quickly so feel no remorse haha.