The Mercy of Mot
Chapter 5
Darkness had fallen but still they continued their trek across the plain, retracing their steps back to the ruins. Teal'c had assured him that he could find the track in the moonlight, so they had pushed onwards.
Now, as they approached the bluff at the edge of the ruins, Jack's senses were on high alert for any movement, any sound. He knew the remaining archaeologists were expecting them, thanks to Jerob's radio message, but he wanted to make sure they were the only ones waiting for them in the dark.
In the moonlight he could see the small copse of trees that marked the base of the trail leading up to the ruins. The archaeologists were supposed to be waiting for them there, having decided it wouldn't be a good idea to stay in the ruins in case the invaders came back. He and Teal'c stopped at the same time and he motioned for Teal'c to go one direction while he went in the other. Taking cover behind a large bush, Jack whistled once, which was their pre-arranged signal, waited five seconds and whistled again.
"Here!" came a voice from the trees.
A figure appeared, followed by three more. Jack left his cover, MP-5 raised, and moved towards the group.
"Everyone okay?" Jack asked.
"Yes, we're fine, Colonel, and very glad to see you." It was one of the young men, Zen-something--Zeno, Jack thought.
As he got closer, Jack could see the members of the group appeared to be fine, physically, but were obviously still shaken up by what had happened.
"Let's get back out of sight," Jack said, motioning towards the trees.
Teal'c appeared and followed the group back to their hiding place. The archaeologists had brought a blanket, a small jug of water, and what looked like a backpack, from their base in the ruins. They didn't appear to have any other supplies.
"Okay, someone give me the short version of what happened."
Zeno proceeded to relate how they had heard yelling and saw strange people moving through the ruins, shooting at the archaeologists with bows and arrows, and some using spears. He explained that two of his group had hidden in an upper chamber in the ruins while the other two were close to the edge of the ruins and had fled to the bluff path. He described Daniel yelling something they didn't understand, Sam getting hit on the head, and Daniel being shot with an arrow. This was followed by the attackers activating the gate, and then leaving with their prisoners.
Jack took off his cap and ran a hand through his hair. He had been hoping the first report was wrong, but Zeno had confirmed it—his teammates were not only being held prisoner, they were also injured. He flipped his watch open, estimating how much of a head start the invaders had on them. As much as he wanted to take off right then, he knew he had to contact the SGC first, report the situation, and get some backup.
"Are you sure none of the attackers stayed behind?" he asked Zeno.
"We only went as far as the main tent to retrieve water and supplies and came back here. We didn't see anyone while we were there. They had removed all of our gear and tools that were in the ruins—they just dumped them outside the perimeter of the city. They also knocked the tent over, ripping the canvas, but it didn't look like they took anything."
"All right, we're going to go up and use the gate to contact our base. If there's no sign anyone's around, you can set up camp there and wait for your people to get here. Teal'c, take point. Everyone fall in behind Teal'c and keep quiet. I've got our six."
With Teal'c in the lead, the group followed the path back to the top of the bluff. After determining no one was in the immediate vicinity, Jack dialed the SGC. Soon he was talking with General Hammond.
"Colonel, I'll have SG-3 and SG-5 gear up and join you as soon as possible. Stand by until further notice."
"General, with all due respect, I don't think we can afford to wait. Both Carter and Daniel were reported to be injured and we have no idea where these people are taking them or what they'll do to them. Let Teal'c and I stay on their trail and we'll keep in touch by radio."
"Colonel, I do not want you and Teal'c taking on these people by yourselves. We can have the other teams geared up and ready to go in less than an hour."
"Sir, we may not have that much time. Carter and Daniel may not have that much time. I promise we won't take on more than we can handle."
"I'm ordering you to check in by radio before you make any move to free your teammates."
"We will, sir. Have Colonel Reynolds contact us as soon as they arrive on the planet."
"Very well. Good luck, Colonel."
"Thank you, sir."
~oOo~
Something was jabbing her in the side. She opened her eyes and looked around in the semi-darkness. The sky was tinged pink on the horizon and Sam assumed it was close to daybreak. She looked up to see Adon standing over her, bow in hand.
"It is time to get up, we must go soon."
She had no idea what he was saying, but assumed he wanted her to get up. She glanced across at Daniel who was still lying on his back with his eyes closed. Another man was similarly prodding him with the end of his spear. She watched Daniel open his eyes halfway and say something to the man that she couldn't hear.
Adon began untying the rope binding her to the stake, while the other man said something to Daniel again, this time a little more forcefully.
"Here, Cadmos, watch the woman and I will get the other one up," Adon said, moving closer to Daniel.
The other man moved closer to Sam as Adon bent down and spoke to Daniel. "It is time to leave, you must get up now."
"Can't," was the raspy reply. "Water."
"I will be right back," Adon said, getting up and walking away.
Sam wasn't sure what had been said, but she didn't like the sound of Daniel's voice. A couple of minuets later, Adon returned with the woman who had cared for Daniel earlier. Adon lifted Daniel's head while she held up a water skin and helped him take a drink.
"His fever is worse. I need to clean and treat his wound."
"We do not have time—father said we must be ready to move immediately."
"This is foolishness; he will kill them before Eshmun has a chance to question them. At least let me immobilize his arm."
Yara took one strip of the cloth, winding and tying it to make a narrow sling around Daniel's arm. She finished just as Melqart approached them.
"It is time to leave. Get them on their feet."
Adon untied Daniel's arm and began pulling him to his feet while Cadmos got Sam upright. Yara brought the water skin to her, holding it up so she could drink.
"Thank you," Sam said. Yara smiled and tipped her head, understanding the meaning if not the words.
Sam watched as Daniel swayed and was steadied by Adon. His face was flushed and Sam could tell his fever had risen. Daniel once again put his free hand around Sam's waist and she thought for a moment she was going to have to support him. But he finally steadied himself and eased his weight off of her.
"Daniel, you gonna make it?"
"Piece . . . of cake."
She smiled, in spite of their dire situation, at his familiar stubbornness. They would make it. She still had a headache, but the dizziness had eased and she felt like she could put one foot in front of the other without falling over.
Adon and Cadmos moved behind them, giving them a gentle push to get them moving. The rest of the camp was already on the march, tents taken down and packed, and Sam could see the other prisoners being pushed along, interspersed among their captors. The colonel and Teal'c would have no trouble tracking them, provided they were even looking for them. She had no idea if anyone was left alive at the ruins to radio for help. Their teammates weren't due to return from the base camp for several days, and no telling where she and Daniel would be by then, or what shape they would be in. In which case, they would have to get themselves out of their predicament. Like Daniel said, piece of cake.
~oOo~
"You sure we're on the right trail?"
"I am sure, O'Neill."
They had been trudging through the forest in the dark for quite a while, Teal'c stopping occasionally to get a closer look at something now and then. Jack had no idea how he could spot anything in this darkness. Their back-up teams had come through the gate, accompanied by Dr. Fraiser who had insisted on coming, and were now somewhere behind them in the dark forest. He noticed a faint light forming on the horizon—daylight wouldn't be far away. He was ready to pick up the pace on this little trek and hopefully catch up to Carter and Daniel. He knew he would have some apologizing to do when they did as his last conversation with Daniel replayed in his head. Teal'c had assured him that both teammates were walking—something that gave Jack at least a little relief. But he knew the knot in his stomach wouldn't go away until he had them back safe and sound.
"Teal'c, are you sure—"
"I am sure, O'Neill."
~oOo~
Daniel shivered, his damp clothes clinging to him as the rain continued to fall. He could feel Sam shivering, too, as he kept his arm snug around her waist. It had begun an hour or so into their hike as a light drizzle, then changed to a steady light rain that was still coming down some two hours later. A chill had set in as his clothes became soaked and he had wished for his BDU jacket and boonie. As it was, he and Sam were both wearing just their t-shirts, pants, and boots, which had been on the warm side when they had been working in the ruins.
He stumbled, jarring his shoulder, and let out a moan. It was the only place on his body that felt warm—in fact, his shoulder felt like it was on fire. And it was spreading into his arm. He tried not to think about infection. Yara had cleaned and treated it once, but once probably wouldn't protect him from organisms that the arrow might have carried, especially without antibiotics.
Their injuries had made them slow their pace, and now the four of them--Sam, Daniel, Adon, and Cadmos--were falling behind the rest of the group. In fact, the others had been lost from sight as they followed the trail as it disappeared around a hill.
Daniel also had another small problem that was demanding his attention.
"Adon, I need to relieve myself."
Adon hesitated, but relented. "Very well. Come this way."
"Daniel," Sam said as he released his hold on her, "where are you going?"
"Uh, call of nature."
"I really need to go, too. Do you suppose you could ask . . .?"
"Adon, Sam needs to go also."
Adon looked annoyed, but called to Cadmos. "The woman needs to attend to personal needs. Go get one of the women to assist her and I will stay and watch this one."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, go ahead. Tell them we will catch up shortly."
"Sam, Cadmos is going to get one of the women to go with you. It'll be all right," he added at her uncertain look.
~oOo~
Daniel took a few shaky steps away from her, following Adon into the trees. Sam turned and followed Cadmos down the trail, wondering if this was Daniel's attempt to put them into a position to make a break for it. She didn't know if she was up to taking on the man guarding her, and she definitely didn't think Daniel would have much luck overpowering Adon in the shape he was in. No, Daniel would prefer to talk his way out of a situation. Although he wasn't having much luck getting these people to listen to him so far. Still, Sam trusted his ability to get through to people, no matter how unlikely his success seemed. So she would wait, at least for a while, and give him a chance.
~oOo~
A few steps off the path, Adon stopped. "Go ahead, but be quick." He walked a few feet away and waited.
Not used to having an audience, Daniel turned away, hurrying the best he could considering he only had one free hand. Just as he finished and was turning around, a large yellow blur flew past him. He heard a shout and saw Adon on the ground, a large, cougar-like cat standing over him. His bow had been knocked from his hand and lay several feet away—not that it would do him any good at the moment. The cat growled, exposing sharp teeth, and Adon raised his arm to protect his head. The cat moved swiftly, grabbing the arm with his mouth. Adon let out a scream.
Daniel looked around helplessly for some way to help Adon. He spotted a thick branch lying close by and ran to it, despite his legs feeling like jelly. Realizing he would have to use both hands to wield it, he gently lifted his arm out of the sling, hissing at the pain as he did. Grasping the branch with both hands, he lifted it and turned back to the cat.
"Hey!" The cat released Adon's arm to look at Daniel at the same moment Daniel swung the branch and brought it down on the cat's head. The blow sent the big cat rolling off of the boy.
"Run!" he shouted to the stunned young man, turning back to face the cat again just as it regained its footing and prepared to attack. He struggled to lift the branch again, but his arm was weak from his first strike, which had sent vibrations humming painfully through his body. The cat seemed to have shaken off the first blow, and launched itself at Daniel before he could bring the branch up. It knocked him flat, the branch falling away uselessly, and proceeded to stand on him, one paw pressing on the arrow wound. The pain was unbearable but Daniel had no strength to dislodge his attacker. His vision began to grey and he struggled to stay conscious.
Abruptly, the weight lifted from his chest and he slowly turned his head to see the cat lying next to him, an arrow protruding from its body. He vaguely heard someone shouting and, even though his head felt woozy, he rolled it to the other side, searching for the source of the noise. His eyes were loosing their focus, but he could just make out Adon sitting on the ground, bow still raised. Sounds and images blurred once more until everything went black.
TBC