Chapter------2
Dr. Jonathon Randolph drove away from Cheyenne Mountain and knew his mission was only just beginning. Although that was not his real name it served his purpose on this world and gave him the prestige afforded to people with his credentials. The IOA was a cover, a very useful one that had been implemented several years ago when his people had discovered the planet and taken an interest in its inhabitants. The other members of his team had been eliminated and their bodies disposed of, making it impossible for the SGC to find them.
It hadn't taken much to infiltrate the IOA and there were several others of his species in place should he need more information. There were also several bases located at strategic places around the world should they decide further studies were needed. His world thrived on death, and enjoyed being the instrument that caused wars and destroyed planets such as Earth and Tarlia. There were several members of his own race already working to make the Tarleans see that the people of Earth were the real enemy. It wouldn't take much to set things moving and this world's policies were such that it would not take much for them to become involved with other beings.
The discovery of the Stargates had made it even easier for his kind to travel from world to world, but there was still the problem of moving between the two realities. It took a great deal of power to work the special stargate connection that allowed his people to move from their reality to this one. That wouldn't really matter if they were able to increase the hostilities between the two world then the resulting explosions would give them what they needed to travel and eventually gain a real foothold in this universe.
Randolph thought about the IOA and how easily his people were able to manipulate them into believing they were doing the right thing. The Tarleans now believed that Earth was responsible for the troubles they were having and that was something his race thrived on. Conflict was a way of taking what they wanted and right now their world needed to harness the power released during several explosions.
Randolph relaxed in his seat and allowed his mind to control the vehicle as he thought about SG1 and the trouble they would soon find themselves in. Mitchell was an arrogant man, one whose overconfidence would be his downfall when the Tarleans decided someone had to pay for the destruction of their main power facilities. It was time to go underground and watch as Earth and Tarlia destroyed each other. A slight smile curled up one side of his lips as he contacted his base and filled then in on what was happening.
SGHSG1SG1SG1SG1
General Hank Landry strode into the gateroom and instinctively knew the news was not good as Walter Harriman looked up from the console and shook his head. SG1 was now three hours overdue for their scheduled check in and any attempts to contact the Tarlean people was met with silence.
"There's no word, Sir," Harriman confirmed his worst fears.
"Contact Dr. Randolph and tell him to get his ass back here!" Landry ordered.
"Yes, Sir."
Landry stared at the gate as if he could will it to work, but it remained inoperative as Harriman tried to contact Jonathon Randolph. SG5 was ready to move on his order, but he wouldn't send them through the gate until they had more information and that would only come from Randolph or one of his team.
"Sir, Dr. Randolph is not answering," Harriman told him.
"See if you can contact someone on his team!" Landry snapped.
"I tried, but it looks like they are either out of range or have turned their cell phones off."
"Sonofa…keep trying, Walter…I'll be in my office," the general said and strode out of the gate room. Whatever was happening with SG1 he hoped and prayed things had not gone to hell in a hand basket in the few short hours cine they'd been gone.
SGHSG1SG1SG1SG1
Colonel Samantha Carter fought to open her eyes, and ignored the throbbing ache that started in her head as she focused on the room she was in. The walls were made of stone with a single door on one side while light streamed in through a window high above her head.
Carter glanced around until her eyes lit on her fellow prisoner. Cameron Mitchell lay on his side against the opposite wall, eyes closed as he struggled to regain consciousness. She moved to him, touching her hand against his shoulder as he finally managed to shake off the effects of whatever the Tarleans used to stun them.
"Sam, are you okay?" Mitchell asked.
"I think so…except for the headache," Carter answered.
"Me too…where are Jackson and Teal'c?"
"I don't know," the woman told him.
Mitchell managed to sit up and leaned against the wall as he studied their prison. It wasn't much bigger than the cell he'd been in as a POW in Afghanistan, but it was definitely a lot cleaner…and cooler. He looked at Carter, studying her face, relieved when he saw no obvious sign of injury. "Any idea how long we were out?"
"No, but probably a couple of hours," Carter answered, turning when the unmistakable sound of movement came from outside the door.
"Looks like we're going to get some answers," Mitchell said.
"Or more questions," Carter observed as the door opened and two armed men entered before another man and woman stepped through the doorway. Both had long black hair, streaked through with silver, yet neither looked much older than twenty. The female stepped forward and stood in front of Samantha Carter.
"I am Shinara and this is my consort Binares," the female said and turned to Carter. "You are the leader?"
"No, she's not," Mitchell said, not liking the way the woman seemed to be staring at Carter.
"You are?" the male asked incredulously.
"As a matter of fact…yes," the colonel answered.
"Very well, then it is you who will answer for the transgressions of your people," the female told him and signaled for the two guards to come forward.
"Where are Jackson and Teal'c?" Mitchell asked.
"Are they the two men you came in with?" Binares asked.
"Yes," Carter answered.
"The one like you is in the next cell…the Jaffa is waiting to answer for his transgressions," Shinara answered.
"I thought I was to answer for the transgressions of my people?" Mitchell asked, hoping he could stop whatever these people had planned for his team.
"The Jaffa is not one of your people," Binares spat.
"Yes, he is, he is part of my team and he answers to me," Mitchell told them, standing tall in spite of his throbbing skull.
"He is Jaffa!" Shinara snapped.
"You say that as if it's a bad word," Carter said impatiently.
"It is…the Jaffa have always been our enemy and they owe their allegiance to the Goa'uld…"
"The Jaffa no longer serve the Goa'uld," Mitchell explained.
"It does not matter whether they still serve the Goa'uld and must pay for what was done to my people…"
"If that is true then I am the one who should pay…"
"You would stand in place of the Jaffa?"
"I would stand in the place of my friend," Mitchell answered the female.
"Then you are foolish," Binares snapped.
"No, he is a friend," Carter stepped up beside Mitchell and glared at the two people.
"Very well, Colonel Mitchell, you will stand in the Jaffa's place," Shinara said, motioning for the guards to complete their tasks.
Cameron Mitchell stood his ground and showed no outward sign that these people scared him. The Tarleans were considered friendly people and this trip was supposed to be a simple mission, but something had happened since the IOA's representative had returned to Earth.
Carter could only watch helplessly as Mitchell's arms were pulled roughly behind his back and secured with a strip of plastic that locked both wrists together. She watched as his face screwed up in a tight grimace as the guards latched onto his arms and pulled him along between them. "Is this really necessary?" she snapped.
"Colonel Mitchell has agreed to take the Jaffa's place," Binares explained. "He will answer for the Jaffa and then he will answer for your people."
Carter walked slightly behind the guards, with Binares walking to her right and Shinara on her left. The corridor walls were made of grey stone and she unconsciously rubbed at her arms in an effort to warm them up. The guards stopped in front of a second door and waited for Binares to open it. "Daniel, are you all right?"
"I'm okay, Sam…what about you two?" Jackson asked.
"We're okay," Mitchell answered, but received a blow to his lower back that drove him to his knees.
"What the hell did you do that for?" Jackson asked and moved to help his friend, but found himself sandwiched between the two guards.
"You will not touch him!" Shinara warned.
"What is wrong with you people?" Daniel spat as he was forced to watch Mitchell climb unsteadily to his feet.
"Easy, Jackson," Mitchell managed, hoping to stop his friend from doing anything that would get himself or Carter hurt. He stood tall as the guards moved beside him once more and walked toward a third door. Shinara moved to open this one and Mitchell cursed when he spotted Teal'c. The Jaffa had been beaten and livid bruises were evident on his face. "What happened…"
"He tried to escape," Binares answered simply.
"I am fine, Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c offered with a slight tilt of his head as the two guards shoved him toward the others.
"Be silent," Shinara warned, taking the lead as they continued along the stone corridor.
Mitchell studied the woman and wondered why he sensed so much hatred from her. Oh, he understood why she mistrusted them after what Randolph and the IOA had done, but she should have given them a chance to explain why the subterfuge. He also wanted to know why they'd allowed SG1 to visit their world if they mistrusted them this much.
Carter studied the area as they exited the structure they'd been imprisoned in and blinked several times in an effort to adjust her eyes to the bright sunlight. She glanced sideways at Jackson and knew the man was as angry as she was with the way they were being treated. "Shinara, what are these transgressions we supposedly…"
"Silence," Binares warned, turning to look at the woman. "The charges will be disclosed during Colonel Mitchell's trial…"
"Why is he on trial?" Jackson asked.
"Your people have a lot too answer for, but now is not the time or the place," Shinara told them. "It will be revealed when we enter the Skar'triare…"
"What is the Skar'triare?" Mitchell asked.
"You are to be silent, Colonel Mitchell, or your friends will join you," Shinara warned. She admired the man who'd chosen to stand for his people, but she could not afford to show any sympathy toward him. Colonel Cameron Mitchell had much to answer for, and would need his strength to survive. Perhaps, if the Gods were willing, he would live to understand why he was facing death without ever having done anything toward her people.
Mitchell fought the urge to lash out as they strode along the silent courtyard toward a large obelisk shape at the center of the other structures. The Obelisk towered high above the others, with silver symbols along one side. It reminded him of something he'd seen in museums on Earth, but this was much larger than anything he'd ever imagined.
"This is the Skar'triare," Shinara explained when they stopped in front of a glowing door. She pressed several keys on a panel and the door opened to reveal a large chamber illuminated by bright neon lights set high above the center.
Mitchell was pushed inside and turned to glare at his guards before being shoved further along and forced to sit in the single raised stool placed at the center of the circle of a circle of more than two dozen chairs. He sat down, barely keeping his balance as the guards took up position on either side of him. He could only watch as Teal'c was forced to sit apart from Jackson and Carter and Shinara stood before him as the Skar'triare was filled with Tarleans.
Mitchell tried to judge their ages, but it was difficult with their hair and clothing being basically the same color. He could feel the hatred in the room and knew it was directed at him as several Tarleans stared at him from the relative safety behind the two foot high barrier.
"Shinara, why is the Jaffa not in his proper place?" a tall male asked.
"Colonel Mitchell is to take his place…"
"Is that correct, Colonel Mitchell?"
"I answer for my people," the SG1 leader answered.
"Does he not realize what a Jaffa is?"
"Yes, Prionne, but he has chosen the Jaffa as a friend," Shinara explained.
"His name is Teal'c," Mitchell snapped, angered at how these people were treating them without so much as an explanation.
"Jaffa do not deserve to be called by a name," Prionne said, blue eyes going dangerously dark as he stood and strode toward Mitchell.
"Teal'c is a man…one I am proud to call friend," Mitchell said.
"You need to learn to choose your friends wisely…"
"I already do," Mitchell told them.
Carter and Jackson could only watch as Mitchell defended their friend. Since being brought into the Skar'triare she'd been unable to speak and knew Jackson and Teal'c were dealing with the same problem as anger flared in Teal'c dark eyes. Cameron seemed to be the only one allowed to speak and she wondered what he was facing. She watched as Mitchell's face showed the anger he felt at the insults the Tarleans were throwing in Teal'c's direction and wished there was some way she could help. These people looked like they'd already decided on SG1's guilt and it wouldn't matter how hard they defended against the charges.
"Colonel Mitchell, you speak for your people?" Prionne asked.
"I do," the irate man answered.
"Do you agree that whatever punishment is decided on you will accept it?" Prionne continued.
"Is this a trial?" Mitchell asked.
"It is," Shinara answered from her position next to Prionne.
"Funny…on our world a man is innocent until proven guilty," Mitchell told them.
"No one said you had been found guilty," Shinara observed.
"It certainly sounds like you've decided on the punishment and if that's the case then why is there a need for a trial?" the colonel asked.
"Punishment is meted out when there is a crime and there has been a crime by your people," Prionne told him.
"What crime?" Mitchell asked.
"First is the crime of befriending a Jaffa, but that is not the worst…your people were here using subterfuge to get what you wanted," Prionne answered. "Dr. Randolph and his people had no right to spy on us…"
"Tell me something, Prionne…what of the people that gave you technological advances that you aren't ready for yet?" Carter asked, wondering how she'd suddenly been granted the opportunity to speak.
"I don't know what you are speaking of, Colonel Carter."
"A few years ago your people were barely able to build huts and now you're living in houses far beyond that technology. You travel by stargate when you never understood its existence and you're on the verge of nuclear war," Carter explained.
"Your people should have helped us instead of judging us," Shinara snapped.
"We have a policy not to interfere in…"
"Spying is not interfering?" Prionne interrupted.
"We were not the ones spying…it was the IOA," Carter said.
"The IOA is from your world are they not?" Shinara asked.
"Yes, they are, but that doesn't mean we agree with their policies," Carter told them.
"Then Colonel Mitchell must answer for their actions as well," Prionne warned.
"I'll stand for the actions of my people," Mitchell said.
"Cam, these people have already found us…found you guilty," Carter told him.
"He will be allowed to speak for himself before we pass judgment," Prionne offered. "You and your friends will take your seats and remain silent through the rest of the trial or you will be removed. Colonel Mitchell, you have agreed to stand for your people and for…the Jaffa. Do you do this on your own?"
"I do," Mitchell answered.
"Very well…you are charged with treason against our world and our people. You are charged with trying to destroy the technology we have strived so hard…"
"If that were true we would have congratulated you on your breakthroughs. Instead you allowed others to interfere with your own natural development and that could easily end in the destruction of your way of life."
"Our way of life is what we choose it to be," Prionne told him.
"Tell me what they promised you, Prionne!" Mitchell said.
"I have no idea what you are talking about Colonel Mitchell," Prionne said, a hint of a smile as he watched the man seated in the heart of the circle of Tarleans. Things were going better than he expected and it would not take much for the Tarleans to pass judgment on Colonel Cameron Mitchell and his kind. His eyes met those of the colonel and he saw something there that made him wonder if they hadn't over estimated his abilities, but it was too late to turn back now.
"Prionne, we do not answer to him," Shinara snapped and turned to face Mitchell as she asked. "Tell me Colonel, how many times have you interfered with people from other worlds?"
"We walk a fine line every time we meet new people, Shinara, and we do whatever we can to preserve their way of life and let them develop at a rate they are supposed to," Mitchell said and was again reminded of the original Star Trek shows and the Prime Directive.
"You condemn people to die when you have the mean to cure an illness…you make people live without warmth simply because they have not discovered the uses of electricity. Isn't that worse than helping primitive societies better themselves?"
"Who am I to judge what is better for a society that's still trying to crawl out from under a rock, Shinara? I have seen what happens when a planet advances far beyond the normal parameters and it's not something I want to see happen to you…"
"You have no right to decide what is right for our people," Prionne snarled.
"You talk of rights, Prionne, yet you tell us we have no right to decide who we share our advances with," Mitchell said and knew he was not gaining any ground with these people. Something told him he'd already been found guilty and at any time Prionne or Shinara would call for his punishment.
"I believe we have heard enough," Shinara said and looked at the other members of the council. "It is time to pass judgment…"
"Judgment for what?" Mitchell asked, surprised at how quickly things had gone from bad to worse.
"You have been found guilty…"
"Of what?" Mitchell asked incredulously as the other council members stared at him.
"Of the charges brought against you by this council…"
"I repeat…what charges?" the colonel asked.
"We will decide punishment at the next meeting, meanwhile you will be imprisoned…"
"This is wrong!" Jackson snapped, finally able to speak as the anger intensified. "We have done nothing…"
"Your people have conspired to keep our world in the dark when there are so many wonderful discoveries to be found," Shinara told him.
"That's just it…discoveries, but you never made them," Jackson said.
"Take the prisoner away!" Prionne ordered.
"What about them my friends?" Mitchell asked.
"They are free to go," Shinara answered.
"We're not leaving without him," Carter said.
"Indeed," Teal'c said, fighting to escape from his guards.
"Go…maybe you can find out who is behind all this," Mitchell said.
"I'm staying," Carter snapped and turned to Teal'c and Jackson. "You two go back to Earth and find out everything you can from Dr. Randolph's team."
"Colonel Carter, you can not help him," Prionne warned.
"We'll see about that!" Carter snapped and turned to face the members of the council. "I want to prove to you that whoever is 'helping' you is not doing it because they give a damn about you. They have their own selfish interests in your world and they'll destroy you without a backward glance once you are no longer useful to them."
Mitchell smiled as Carter took up his cause, but again his eyes were drawn to Prionne and he knew there was more to this man than met the eye. His guards soon had him on his feet and he had little choice but to follow them out of the Skar'triare. They dragged him toward a plain white structure near the right side of the Obelisk and a shimmering force field appeared before he was shoved inside. He landed on his knees and tried to stop his upper body from hitting the rough ground, but with his arms secured behind his back it was a lost cause. He heard the guards laugh as he struggled to sit up and wondered what the hell he'd done to be put in this position, but there was no answer forthcoming and he sat back against the wall as darkness descended over the city.
TBC