Chapter------7

Daniel Jackson could see the anger in Samantha Carter's eyes as nearly unrecognizable body of Cameron Mitchell was carried away from the clearing. He spotted Prionne watching them and hated the smug look on the man's face before he disappeared into one of the buildings.

"Sam, are you sure you can get close enough to get the sample?" Jackson asked, shaking his head as several Tarleans began cleaning the blood, Mitchell's blood from the area.

"I'll get it, Daniel," Carter vowed, her voice edged with undisguised hatred.

"How?"

"Prionne loves to taunt me with what's happening to Cam…he'll be only too happy to have a chance to gloat."

"He's sounding more like a Jarganian than ever," Jackson told her.

"If he is a Jarganian we will need to stop whatever new plan they've come up with," Carter said.

"We stopped them the last time…"

"We surprised them the last time, Daniel, they'll know what to expect this time."

"What about Shinara? Will she help us if we can prove that Prionne is not a Tarlean?"

"I don't know…I get the sense that she does not like Prionne, but she believes in the Skar'bri'osh and that means we need to prove we had no idea what Randolph and Prionne were up to. Cam agreed to take the punishment for the crimes 'we' committed against her world and unless we can prove that they are not from Earth she will insist he complete the ten deaths."

"Then we need to find Randolph and prove he is not from Earth," Teal'c offered.

"We'll keep searching for him when we get back to Cheyenne Mountain," Jackson offered as that reached the stairs leading into the building Prionne had disappeared into.

"Wish me luck," Carter said.

"Be careful, Sam," Jackson ordered as the woman stepped through the doors.

Carter stepped into the cooler interior and searched the shadowy room for Prionne. She heard movement at the back of the main foyer and slowly made her way toward it. There were several people talking amongst themselves, but there was no sign of Prionne as she passed the small group.

Sam knew Prionne had come inside, but so far she couldn't find him amongst the other Tarleans who all but ignored her. She followed a narrow corridor deeper into the building and found a set of stairs leading up to a second level. Carter didn't give a damn whether she was allowed to access the floor, but she took the steps carefully, listening for any sound from above.

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Prionne listened for any sign that he'd been followed before pulling out the device he used to contact 'Randolph'. He pressed several buttons to send a message and began speaking in his own language. "Randolph…things need to move more quickly if we are to take advantage of Colonel Mitchell's punishment. Your tasks were to insight Mitchell's people and get them to demand his return or make them attack Tarlia. We must move quickly or the window of opportunity will close and we will have to wait many cycles before it is open to us again! Contact me with a progress report as soon as you can."

Prionne slid the device back into his pocket and turned as he heard movement behind him. It didn't surprise him to see the Earth woman watching him, but he was fairly certain she hadn't seen or heard anything. "Colonel, are you lost?"

"No, I was looking for you, Prionne."

"Is that so? What can I do for you?"

"You could tell me who you are and why you're using these people?"

"I am Prionne and I believe it is your people who are using us. Now if you don't mind I have several pressing matters to see to before Colonel Mitchell is removed from the Sarcophagus."

Carter pretended to stumble as Prionne tried to get past her. The bigger man ducked out of the way, but she managed to grab at his hair as she reached for the wall behind her. "Oh, I'm sorry," Carter apologized as they both landed on the floor.

"Are all your people so clumsy, Colonel Carter?" Prionne asked and strode off in a huff.

"No…not at all," Carter said as she looked at the strands of hair tangled in her fingers. She knew she had to get the evidence to Jackson and climbed to her feet before moving back to the stairs. She raced down to the bottom and made her way to the front door without speaking to anyone and found Jackson and Teal'c waiting for her.

"Prionne just left…I thought something happened," Jackson said.

"It did…we sort of ran into each other," Carter explained with a hint of a smile as she showed Jackson her 'bounty'. "Make sure you don't lose these."

"I'll guard them with my life," Jackson said as they walked down the main street in the direction of the gate. He knew Carter would be staying behind and wished there was some way he could ease her mind where Mitchell was concerned, but they all knew what prolonged exposure to the sarcophagus could do to a man.

"Samantha Carter," Teal'c said as they reached the Skar'Tark and stopped. "Be careful…we will return for you and Cameron Mitchell."

"Thank you, Teal'c," Carter said and watched them leave before making her way toward the Skar'Tark. She knew it would be some time before Mitchell was removed from the Sarcophagus and wondered if she should try talking to Shinara again, but something told her the Tarlean woman would not hear anything she had to say unless there was concrete proof. Carter made her way toward the bench surrounded by colorful flowers and sat down to wait until she could join Mitchell in his cell.

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Randolph checked the device and listened to the message from Prionne. He knew the other man was right in that he needed to get the people of Earth angry enough at the Tarleans to have them demand Mitchell's return. He knew General Landry was angry, but his anger did not seem to be concentrated where it should have been. His last communiqué with Landry had ended with Landry seemingly unconcerned about Mitchell's predicament, but Randolph knew that was not right.

There were a lot of things his people had learned about humans, but the most important thing was that they did not leave their people behind. General Landry would make damn sure the Tarleans handed Mitchell over, it was just a matter of time, but that's where the problem was. Time was running out for his race and very soon it would be too late even if they did get the cataclysmic explosion they needed.

Randolph knew it was time to contact Landry and force the issue before it was too late. He sat down and made the call, smiling when he was finally transferred to Landry's office.

"Where are you, Randolph?"

"Now, General, is that any way to talk to an esteemed member of the IOA?"

"Cut the crap and tell me where you are?"

"Oh, sure, I'm going to do that…not. So, how is Colonel Mitchell? I'm sure he's not doing very well now…how many deaths has he suffered from so far? Three….four…oh and that lovely Sarcophagus does wonders does it not?"

"I swear you'll pay for this when we find you…Jarganians are known for their brawn not their brains."

"I have no idea what you're talking about," Randolph spat, angered at the insult to his species.

"We know you're not from Earth…not from our galaxy…actually not from our reality. It's only a matter of time before we can prove to the Tarleans that you're behind everything…"

"They won't believe you, General," Randolph snapped.

"I'm afraid you're wrong, Randolph. We'll soon have the proof and I'll bring it to the Tarleans myself if that's what it takes!"

"Don't be a fool, General, there's only one way to stop what's happening to Mitchell and that's by…"

"Blowing them to hell and back…no, I don't think that's the answer…"

"We shall see, General…meanwhile Colonel Mitchell suffers for your decisions," Randolph said and hung up. He knew Prionne would be waiting for his next missive, but he needed to figure out a new plan of action to get Landry to attack the Tarleans. Prionne would have to work harder on his end and maybe they could both come out of this as heroes of their race.

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Landry knew Jackson and Teal'c had brought back a sample of Prionne's DNA and hoped they'd have some answers soon. He knew it took time to compare and analyze everything, but they had the best scientists and they'd been told to put a rush on things. The General also understood that it would take more than just DNA to convince the Tarleans that the people of Earth had not committed the crimes they's been accused of.

Landry now knew Randolph was a Jarganian; the man had been caught unawares and had not denied it. That meant the people of Tarlia had been taken in by creatures that were spawned from nightmares, but these nightmares were real and thrived on violence and death. Their last encounter was well known amongst the people of the SGC and there were several files on the Jarganians in his office. He looked up at the sound of a light knock and smiled when his daughter entered and sat in the chair opposite him.

"Daniel just left the infirmary."

"Is he all right?" Landry asked.

"He's fine. I asked him to come by and tell me how Colonel Mitchell is doing," Carolyn explained.

"What did Dr. Jackson have to say?"

"He's concerned and we both know Dr. Jackson has first hand knowledge of what does happen with prolonged exposure to a Sarcophagus. Colonel Mitchell's been exposed at least three times and from what I understand he's died before being placed inside it."

"Yes, he did," Landry answered angrily.

"That's going to be hard for him to deal with when we get him back," Lam offered.

"I know, but he'll have the best people on his side," the general told her. He knew he was biased, but where his daughter was concerned he had every right to be. She was damn good at what she did and that was exactly what had gotten her this job. No one had even known of her relationship to him when she'd been interviewed as a replacement for Dr. Janet Frasier.

"We're ready for him," Carolyn said simply and stood up to leave.

"Hopefully it won't be too much longer," Landry said and watched her leave. There wasn't much he could do until Jackson came up with some answers some answers and that could be hours or days depending on what they found.

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"God," Mitchell whispered as he forced his eyes open. It took some time for his eyes to adjust to the darkness, but he was glad for the absence of light because he was sure his head would explode if exposed to any kind of bright light.

It took several minutes before Mitchell found the energy to sit up and slide his legs over the edge of the small bed and he placed his elbows on his knees as he rubbed at his eyes. He ached all over and knew the nightmarish images flashing across his mind had more to do with memories than dreams.

He'd died…that was the truth of the matter even if he couldn't remember the exact moment of his death it didn't change things. Death had come for him and he'd unwillingly surrendered to it and would be forced to do so again before the sentence was complete. Cam remembered the unbearable pain though, and winced as his nerves seemed to fire all at once and his body shook with pain as he lay back on the bed.

"Cam, just relax and it'll stop."

Mitchell knew that voice and reached for it as if given a lifeline on a turbulent sea that raged with the cyclonic force of unleashed power. He felt a hand touch against his forehead and his body dropped like a stone in water as he fought to breathe through clenched teethe.

"Shinara, you have to put a stop to this!"

"I am sorry, Colonel Carter, but there is nothing I can do. Colonel Mitchell must complete the Ten deaths of Skar'bri'osh…"

"He did nothing to your people, Shinara, and we only ask for you to give us time to prove who is really behind this Subterfuge."

"It does not matter…Randolph is one of you and Colonel Mitchell agreed to accept punishment on his behalf."

"Randolph is not from Earth and I will prove that to you…"

"I hope you do, Colonel Carter, but Prionne…"

"Prionne is not who you think he is, Shinara, and I will soon have proof of that," Carter tried and felt Cameron convulse beneath her touch. She looked into half mast eyes that were bloodshot and filled with pain as she helped Mitchell sit up.

"Sam…where…what's going on?"

"It will soon be time for you to face the fourth death of Skar'bri'osh, Colonel Mitchell," Shinara answered.

"Damn, I was hoping it was a dream," the weak man told her.

"Shinara…"

"I am sorry…the guards will be here for you shortly…"

"You're not even giving him enough time to recover from the last one!" Carter snapped.

"There is no point in prolonging it," Shinara said.

"Then stop it!" Carter spat and stood up. "You have the power, Shinara, and you know it's not right…"

"Sam, there's no point," Mitchell said and reached for her hand. He felt strength in her touch and pulled her down beside him as Shinara left them alone. She waited until she turned sorrow filled eyes in his direction and wished he could ease her fears, but there was nothing he could do and they both understood that.

"Cam, I can't watch this again…I can't watch you die…"

"I understand, Sam," Mitchell told her and held her while her body trembled against him. "You should go back to the SGC…"

"No, I won't leave you," Carter said and looked into his eyes. "I…Cam, I don't…I mean I won't leave you…not now…not ever."

"Sam…"

"Let me finish," she said and touched his cheek, feeling the heat of fever beneath her fingertips. "I don't know when it happened, but I think…I think I'm falling in love with you, Cam…"

"No, Sam, don't do this now…not when there's no future in it!" Mitchell spat.

"Cam…"

"No, Sam, I can't…I won't let you…"

"There's nothing you can do about how I feel, Cam…it's too late," Carter said and pulled him close until she felt a tremor course through his body. She held him against her chest and knew he hated showing any form of weakness, but right now the Sarcophagus was sapping whatever resolve he had left.

"God, Sam, I'm so sorry," Mitchell whispered.

"Don't be, Cam, right now I just want to hold you and feel your heart beating," Carter said and kissed his forehead. She felt him sigh heavily and listened to the soft sound of his breathing as he gave into the exhaustion sapping his strength. She eased him down and leaned back against the wall until she could settle his head on her lap. She gently stroked his shoulders and hoped he knew she was there and could take some strength from her presence.

TBC