Chapter------3
Prionne was pleased with how easily he'd been able to manipulate the Tarlean council into finding Colonel Cameron Mitchell guilty. It was interesting that the human had given himself freely, for that was something his people would never do. His was a warrior race, one who thrived on hostility and death. Even amongst his own kind there were private wars that resulted in the deaths of thousands f people. Often there was no reason for the hostilities, but his people did not need to rationalize why there was such a need for war of any kind.
Prionne walked out of the Skar'triare, avoiding Shinara who stood talking with the Earth female. He knew exactly where they'd taken Colonel Mitchell and made his way toward the Skar'Tark, the name the Tarleans had given the prison next to the obelisk. The Earth male had fallen into the trap set forth by his people and it had gone even better when he'd spoken for the Jaffa.
Prionne wondered why the Tarleans seemed so filled with hatred where the Jaffa was concerned. He admired them because they seemed so much like his own race. The only difference was, they were strong warriors who worshipped the Goa'uld and to his people that was a sign of weakness. His people worshipped no one, but they thrived on bringing other worlds to the brink of war and pushing them toward mass destruction.
Prionne reached the Skar'Tark and looked around. There were no guards present because only a member of the Tarlean Council could access the prison cells. He stepped forward and entered a combination of numbers and symbols and stood back as the portal opened and he could see the prisoner.
Prionne was surprised to see Mitchell lying on a small bed near the back wall. The colonel seemed remarkably calm for someone who'd just been convicted of crimes against the Tarlean people. If things went according to plan Shinara and the others would make a martyr of Cameron Mitchell. Shinara could be vicious when it came to her world and she would not hesitate to make the man suffer for his transgressions. It didn't matter that Mitchell and his people were not at fault, it simply mattered that she needed someone to suffer for those crimes.
Mitchell could not see him, not until he wanted him too, and that was fine by him. He wanted to study the Earth male and see if he could find any weakness in him. So far Mitchell had surprised him, and that was something he hadn't expected. Perhaps he was worth studying further, but that was something he would have to clear through his own people. He pressed several more keys and a portal solidified and opened for him.
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Cameron Mitchell knew he was no longer alone, but he didn't acknowledge the newcomer as he opened his eyes to half mast and watched the man step inside. There was something about Prionne that set his nerves on edge, but he didn't know exactly what it was.
"Colonel Mitchell, do you realize the trouble you are in?"
"I kind of got an idea from the trial," Mitchell answered, placing his hands behind his head as if fighting boredom.
"Do you know what the penalty for treason is?" Prionne asked.
"The usual…your life…your family…your soul," the SG1 leader told him.
"Then why do you accept the blame for your people and for the Jaffa?"
"My people have done nothing wrong…and Teal'c is a far better man than any I've met on your world. I'm proud to fight at his side."
"I guess he does not share the same value," Prionne offered.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Mitchell asked, sitting up and staring at the Tarlean.
"He has deserted you…"
"No, he's following orders," Mitchell told him.
"Would you have left one of your people behind if the roles were reversed?"
"I guess that depends on if it was made an order or not," the colonel answered. "Why did your people accept help from whoever gave you the technology, Prionne?"
"It was a chance to move forward," Prionne answered.
"But at what cost? How close are your people to war?"
"What difference does that make? We have come so far that we can now use the Stargate and visit worlds like yours and learn new technologies and save lives."
"Save lives…by killing thousands in a nuclear holocaust?"
"A what?"
"Your people are dangerously close to the same mistake the people of my planet almost made. I won't go into detail because I know I wouldn't be able to explain it properly…you'd probably get better answers from Jackson or Carter. The problem is if your people have now made the 'bomb' then you're that much closer to destroying your world."
"Your people didn't destroy your world."
"Not from lack of trying, but we learned as we developed and that's something you're lacking, Prionne. Your people were given the technology to build that bomb and I'd be willing to bet you weren't given the down side of the whole thing. If you set one of those things off your world will be uninhabitable."
"What makes you think we have that kind of weapon?"
"We have Dr. Randolph's reports and those…"
"Ah, the same Dr. Randolph who neglected to tell us he was watching us…you'll forgive me if I say his word is not worth much here," Prionne told him.
"What did you have to promise whoever gave you the new technology?" Mitchell asked. He'd been studying his visitor for some time and could not quite place what was different about him when compared to the other Tarleans. Prionne was taller than the others and his hair seemed thinner, but t wasn't that…it was something about the way Prionne stared at him.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Colonel," Prionne answered.
"You're not from this world…you one of the others…the ones who gave the Tarleans the technology," Mitchell stated and knew he was right as anger flared in the other man's eyes.
"You don't know what you are talking about…"
"Don't I? I thought there was something different about you…you just don't fit in with these people? What are you getting in return for giving them the means to their own destruction?"
"It's not just their destruction, Colonel," Prionne said snidely as he watched the Earth male. "My race is a warrior race and we thrive on destruction…"
"You're not warriors…warriors fight their own battles," Mitchell spat.
"Perhaps, but we've learned that we can reap the rewards once two worlds clash. We just sit back…"
"So you're a race of cowards," Mitchell snarled.
"No, we are smart enough not to destroy ourselves," Prionne said and knew it was time for him to leave. "Enjoy your stay with us, Colonel, and go ahead and tell the Tarleans what you and I were talking about because they won't believe you. You are a condemned man and they will believe you are trying to save yourself. Good bye, Colonel, I have to go sit in with the council and make sure you get what you deserve."
Mitchell watched the man leave and knew he was right. The Tarleans were already convinced of his 'guilt' and the 'guilt' of his people and would not listen to anything he had to say. He knew Carter was still on Tarlia and if he could speak with her perhaps they could find out more about Prionne and the world he came from.
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"We have an unscheduled incoming wormhole," Walter Harriman said as Landry strode toward him.
"Who is it?" Landry asked.
"It's Dr. Jackson's IDC," Harriman answered.
"Thank God," Landry said as the gate was activated. He watched through the glass as Teal'c and Jackson stepped into the gateroom, but frowned when the gate shut down and there was no sign of Carter or Mitchell. He hurried out of the room and met the returning members of SG1 as they stepped through the main door. "You're two people short…"
"General, Where's Dr. Randolph?" Jackson asked.
"He left the mountain and we haven't been able to contact him. Where are Carter and Mitchell?"
"The Tarleans have Colonel Mitchell. Colonel Carter stayed behind with him," Teal'c answered.
"Why do the Tarleans have Mitchell?" Landry asked.
"They charged him with treason against the people of their world," Jackson answered.
"That's impossible…Mitchell was never on Tarlia before this mission," Landry said as they walked toward his office.
"That didn't seem to matter to the Tarleans…"
"Indeed," Teal'c offered.
"They seem to think Randolph was guilty of subterfuge because he was there spying on them," Jackson said as they entered Landry's office.
"So what do we have to do to get them to release Mitchell and Carter?" Landry asked.
"Sam stayed behind by her own choice once Mitchell's trial was over…"
"Trial! For what?"
"For treason," Daniel answered. "They held a trial and found him guilty. He's being held for sentencing."
"Sonofa…did they say what kind of sentence he was looking at?"
"No, Sir," Jackson told him.
"Why was Mitchell the only one charged?" Landry asked curiously.
"They asked if he was willing to stand trial for all of us and Mitchell…"
"Said yes," Landry said of the man's propensity to stand up for anyone and anything as long as he believed in them.
"Indeed," Teal'c said with a slight tip of his head.
"We need to find Randolph and find out what his team did to cause this situation," Landry observed, rubbing at his temples as a headache began to build there. No matter how simple a mission seemed, SG1 always managed to find a way to get into trouble, or trouble had a way of finding them.
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Samantha Carter had never been so angry in her life. So far the council refused to speak to her and was in a closed session discussing what kind of punishment Cameron Mitchell would receive. Even her requests to speak with Mitchell were denied and she knew there was nothing more she could do until Shinara agreed to see her.
Carter looked toward the white structure that contained the prison, or the Skar'Tark as the Tarleans called it. There was no way for her to see inside the building and no way for her to speak to Mitchell. She'd tried speaking to other Tarleans, but it was as if they'd been warned not to have anything to do with her.
Sam glanced at her watch and noted nearly three hours had passed since Mitchell had been found guilty of treason. She hoped Jackson and Teal'c were having better luck on earth, but something told her Randolph and his team would be less than cooperative. If they knew what was happening on Tarlia, they'd probably refuse to return.
"Colonel Carter, the council has made their decision."
Sam turned to find Shinara standing several feet behind her and cursed the fact that the woman had been able to sneak up on her. "What have you decided?"
"That will be revealed shortly. The guards will bring Colonel Mitchell to the Skar'triare where his sentence will be handed down," the Tarlean explained.
"I want to be there!" Carter snapped.
"You are permitted, but you will not interfere in this matter," Shinara warned.
"Shinara, we have done nothing to you or your people…"
"The time for talk is over, Colonel Carter, you will be silent during the sentencing or you will be removed from the proceedings," Shinara told her.
"Shinara, why won't you allow us to defend ourselves?"
"You were given the opportunity and Colonel Mitchell was found guilty…there is nothing more to say," Shinara said and walked away leaving an angry Samantha Carter watching her.
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Cameron Mitchell looked up, but kept his fingers laced behind his head as the door opened and Prionne and two guards entered his cell.
"Colonel, the council has decided on your punishment," Prionne told him. "Place your hands behind your back."
"Do these people know who you really are, Prionne?" Mitchell asked, glaring at the two guards who stepped toward him.
"They know I am a trusted member of the council, Colonel Mitchell, and that is what matters," Prionne answered. "Do not make this more difficult than it has to be, Colonel…"
"He's not who you think he is…"
"They will not listen or speak to you, Colonel," Prionne said as the guards grabbed the prisoner's arms and yanked them behind his back.
Mitchell refused to make a sound as metal cuffs were clamped around his wrists and a second set were wrapped around his ankles. The guards stood back, their weapons held in their hands and pointed directly at him as Prionne gestured for them to escort him out.
Cam could only shuffle his feet as the length of chain between his ankles was too short for his normally long strides. He glanced around, but there was no one in the area surrounding the obelisk as he was led toward the Skar'triare. He stopped, but a blow between his shoulder blades propelled him forward and he was barely able to stay on his feet. They reached the door and entered to find the council members already seated. Samantha Carter stood to one side and he smiled in spite of the desperate situation he was in.
"Sam, are you…"
"Silence, Colonel, you are not permitted to speak during these proceedings," Shinara warned.
"Cam…"
"Colonel Carter, you were warned that you are not to speak to Colonel Mitchell or you will be removed," Shinara vowed. "Colonel, stand before the council and we will pass sentence."
"Shinara, you need to realize you've got the wrong person on trial here. Prionne is not who you think he is…"
"Prionne has been a respected member of this council for several years…"
"Are you sure? Perhaps he's the one involved in subterfuge," Mitchell suggested.
"Prionne, please take your seat so we can finish this," Shinara ordered. She stared into Mitchell's eyes, unnerved by what she saw there and wondered if there was some truth behind his words. She'd known Prionne for years and although there was no friendship, there was a respect for each other. Could there be some truth behind his charges?
"Shinara, we are ready," Prionne said.
"Very well," Shinara said and took a deep breath before standing in front of the prisoner. "You have been found guilty of treason against the people of my world and after careful deliberation the council has decided your fate. You will be put to death…"
"No! You can't do this!" Carter spat.
"Colonel, I will not warn you again! Be silent or you will face charges of your own!" Shinara vowed.
"Sam, don't," Mitchell said and their eyes met. He knew how hard this was on her, but there was no point in both of them dying…dying, was he really facing death because these people could not see they were being manipulated?
"Colonel Mitchell, you have agreed to take the punishment for the crimes committed by your people and therefore you alone will suffer for those atrocities. You are to be put to death, but it does not end there…"
"Oh really? Death is pretty final to me!" Mitchell spat.
"Normally, it is, but we have the means to bring you back…"
"Oh, God," Carter whispered as four Tarleans pushed a familiar item into the Skar'triare.
"I see you are familiar with a sarcophagus," Shinara said.
"Shinara, listen to me!" Carter tried.
"Silence, Colonel…I will not warn you again," Shinara told her before returning her attention to the prisoner. "Colonel, it has been decided that you will be forced to endure the Skar'bri'osh."
"The what?" Mitchell asked incredulously.
"The Skar'bri'osh was named for a traitor who first experienced the ten deaths handed down as punishment for his crimes. Each day you will be taken to the clearing at the center of the city. There you will be forced to endure the ritual death before being placed in the sarcophagus…"
"You can't do that!" Carter snarled as she raced to stand in front of Mitchell. She'd seen how Jack and Daniel had been affected by their time spent in a sarcophagus and could not bare the thought of seeing this man go through it.
"Remove her!" Prionne ordered, smiling inwardly as the guards pulled the irate woman from the chamber. "Colonel, your friend really does need to learn some self control."
"Colonel, you are to be taken to the clearing now," Shinara told him and waited for the guard to remove the prisoner. She turned to see a smile on Prionne's face and felt a shudder of distaste course through her veins. What was it about him that didn't quite seem right and why did the colonel's warnings suddenly seem to have merit?
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Prionne knew he had to be at the clearing to watch the punishment, but he needed to contact his people and let them know things were going far better than they had planned. They used the same names as the people they'd killed in order to keep from making mistakes, it just made things go a lot easier. He checked the area and was glad he was alone as he pulled out the small communication device. He knew it would be impossible to speak directly with Randolph, but he would get the message and start thing rolling from his side.
"Randolph…it is Prionne…things are moving along and Colonel Mitchell is about to suffer from the Tarlean's version of the Ten deaths of Caltraze. It is now up to you to provoke Mitchell's people and get them to demand Mitchell's return. I will contact you again after Mitchell is placed in the sarcophagus. That was a great addition to the technology we gave the Tarleans."
Prionne hurriedly concealed the communication device inside his cloak and hurried toward the clearing where the gathered throng was already calling for Mitchell's death.
TBC