Chapter------8
Shinara leaned heavily against Binares and wished there was something she could do to help Samantha Carter. There was something about the woman that spoke of sincerity and she now believed Carter and the others were right about Prionne, but she could do nothing without proof.
"What has you so tied up, Shinara?" Binares asked of the woman who was so much a part of him. He could sense the pain and wondered why she would feel that way whenever she spoke of Cameron Mitchell or Samantha Carter. They had been together since they were old enough to make the choice of a life mate.
"I feel like we are doing something wrong, Binares," Shinara answered softly.
"You are doing what must be done. Do you not think he is guilty for what his people have done?"
"What if we're wrong? What if Mitchell's people are not the ones in the wrong?"
"Shinara, they used subterfuge to spy on us and refused to help us with their own technological advances. They could have given us so much, but they chose not to."
"Is that so wrong, Binares? Should we not discover things on our own? Are we not strong enough to know what is right and what is wrong?"
"We are strong enough, but there comes a time when those who are more advanced should help those who need it."
"Were we not making advances before their interference? What if Colonel Carter is right and that Prionne really isn't one of us?"
"We have known Prionne for many years, Shinara…we may not like him, but he is one of us and has helped us take…"
"Take…that's just the problem as I see it, Binares. Prionne helped us take things that should not have been ours and look what it has done to us. We are living dangerously with these new advancements. Colonel Carter says it is dangerous and that her world was on the brink of nuclear holocaust until they realized what was happening. There was no one to help them, but she and her people are willing to help us before we make a fatal mistake," Shinara explained.
"What would you have me do to help you, Shinara?"
"I'm not sure…maybe if you could find out everything you can about Prionne. Find out if he is who we think he is or if he is involved in a little subterfuge of his own. Just be careful and come to me with whatever you find out because I have a feeling that Prionne is dangerous," Shinara told him.
"I will be careful, Shinara," Binares vowed as his mate sat forward. "Is it that time again?"
"Yes, unfortunately for Colonel Mitchell there is no way to stop this," Shinara told him.
"Do you think he will survive the ten deaths?"
"I do not know, but each time he is placed in the sarcophagus is devastating to his mind and body," the woman explained sadly. She stood up, smoothed her clothing and closed her eyes as Binares wrapped her in his strong arms.
"I will be at your side, Shinara, we will find the truth."
"I hope so…before it is too late to help Colonel Mitchell," Shinara said softly as they walked toward the clearing.
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Prionne watched as Cameron Mitchell was brought to the clearing and secured in the manacles that hung from a wooden frame constructed for the next Skar'bri'osh. The Tarlean people were anxious for blood and he felt the excitement giving him strength. Shinara stood with Samantha Carter and he could feel the human's anger, and let it feed his craving for power.
The last message from Randolph had left him angry and he knew he would need to push the Tarleans harder if they were to succeed in their mission. He sensed someone watching him and turned to see Samantha Carter standing with Shinara and Binares. Hiding his anger he walked toward them and stood to Shinara's right as Mitchell's ankles were locked in place.
"Colonel Carter, are you sure you can stand here in silence?" Prionne asked as Mitchell's shirt was cut from his body, revealing a taut stomach and well honed muscles.
"I won't leave him…"
"Perhaps you would like to take part in the next…"
"Prionne, you are an animal," Carter spat.
"I simply wish to see my people…"
"We both know you're not Tarlean, Prionne, and I will prove it," Carter snapped.
"Normally I would not allow you to insult me in such a way, but I believe you are under the influence of your emotions, Colonel Carter. Please be silent during the next phase of the Skar'bri'osh." Prionne warned her as Shinara moved to stand in front of Mitchell.
"Colonel Mitchell, this is the fourth death of Skar'bri'osh and is called the Pre'ju. It was so called by the man who first discovered the creature we call a Pre'ju and used it on the man who took his beloved family from him," Shinara explained as several Tarlean males rolled a large oblong box into the clearing. "The Pre'ju are creatures who burrow inside…"
"God, no, Shinara, you can't do this!"
"Colonel Carter, if you can not restrain yourself I will have you escorted from the clearing…"
"Try it, Prionne, and I swear I'll mete out my own version of the Skar'bri'osh!" Carter snarled.
"Don't, Sam," Mitchell whispered, yet he knew she understand what he asked of her.
"The Pre'ju is usually not poisonous when a single creature is involved, but with an increase in number the toxins become concentrated and death is imminent. The effect these creatures have on the body takes several hours and the victim is usually aware of what's happening as his internal organs begin to shut down. It is not a pleasant sight and I would advise anyone who is weak to leave now before we release the Pre'ju."
Cameron Mitchell turned his head and forced a smile to his face as he looked at Samantha Carter as Shinara continued to explain what the Pre'ju would do to him. He wished there was something he could do to spare her this, but his attention shifted back to Shinara as the crowd seemed to gasp when Prionne stepped forward and reached into the box.
Mitchell's breath caught in his throat when he saw the segmented body and mandibles that reminded him of a large spider. He'd never been afraid of arachnids, but the clicking of the powerful legs sent a chill down his spine. He saw the look of triumph cross Prionne's face as he moved to stand in front of him and finally managed to draw air into his lungs.
Carter could do nothing as several Tarleans grabbed her arms and held her in place. Prionne was enjoying this and she sensed that he was putting on a show just for her. She gasped as the Jarganian placed the spider like creature on Mitchell's bare chest before taking a second one from the box.
Mitchell tried to keep from showing his fear, gritting his teeth as the creature's legs began moving as if searching for a place to attack. He looked down at his chest, staring into dead obsidian eyes set close together at the top of the first narrow segment. He sucked in more air as the creature reared its head and drove it forward, grinding its way beneath his skin as blood welled up and ran down his stomach.
"God," Cameron cried out as a second creature was placed on his chest and closed his eyes as nauseating pain raged through his body.
Prionne reached for a third Pre'ju and placed it at Mitchell's navel, silently enjoying the human's pain as he glanced toward Samantha Carter who struggled to free herself from the Tarlean males. Mitchell's face held a fine sheen of perspiration as he struggled to breathe past the pain the creatures were causing. Prionne knew he could prolong this indefinitely, but he wanted to here the human scream. The Pre'ju in his hand squirmed as if sensing prey, its segmented body and mandibles making clicking noises as it strained to escape his hold.
Mitchell could only watch as Prionne placed the creature at the center of his chest just below his Adam's apple. Cameron swallowed convulsively, biting his tongue as the Pre'ju began burrowing through his flesh. He wanted to look at Samantha Carter because her cries were the only sound that reached his ears, but he fought the urge because he could not face her when death was so close. He couldn't face the pain he would see in her eyes, didn't want to say goodbye again, and wouldn't allow her to be hurt because of him.
Carter did nothing to hide the tears that slipped unbidden from her eyes as a scream escaped Cameron Mitchell. She could only watch and pray as his body was invaded by the spider-like creatures Prionne continued to place on his bear chest. Blood welled up around the segmented bodies and flowed freely down his body turning into a crimson tide that spoke of too much blood loss. Mitchell defied the odds and managed to turn his head and speak as Prionne placed a Pre'ju on his right shoulder. She swore the sound she heard was the crushing of bones.
"Cam!" she called and found herself staring into the saddest eyes she'd ever seen as the life slowly bled from his mind as well as his body. "I love you," she whispered and saw the simple shake of his head and knew he was telling her not to love him.
"That is enough, Prionne," Shinara said as Mitchell's head dropped to his chest.
"What is wrong, Shinara, do you lack the stomach to finish the Skar'bri'osh?" Prionne asked.
"He is dead…the Pre'ju are escaping," Binares told him. "They must be re-captured."
"I am disappointed…I thought he would last longer," Prionne said and began collecting the creatures as they left the dead body. He placed them back in the box and sealed the lid as Mitchell was released from the restraints and taken to the cell where he would be placed inside the Sarcophagus.
"Prionne, you are a sadistic bastard!" Carter said when the Jarganian smiled at her. "Shinara, please listen to me…"
"I am sorry, Colonel Carter, but we have said all that is to be said. Colonel Mitchell's sentence remains," Shinara said and allowed Binares to lead her away from the clearing. She wanted to help Carter, but there was nothing she could do, but fulfill the punishment she'd helped hand down.
SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1SG1
Daniel looked at the test results and knew they had the evidence they needed to prove Prionne was not a Tarlean as he professed to be. He knew they'd rushed through the process, but one of their own was in trouble and there was no way they were leaving him behind. He closed the lid of his laptop and headed for General Landry's office, hoping the man would allow them to make their case to the Tarlean council.
"Daniel Jackson…"
"Teal'c, come with me," Jackson ordered.
"Where are we going?"
"To see Landry…Prionne is definitely a Jarganian and we need to hurry."
"Indeed," Teal'c said and fell into step with Jackson. They reached Landry's office and were given permission to enter.
"Tell me you have something, Dr. Jackson," Landry asked.
"Yes, Sir," Jackson said and opened the laptop before turning it in Landry's direction. "The sample Sam took from Prionne proves that he is Jarganian. We ran the tests several times to be sure. We need to get this information to Sam and present it to the Tarlean Council before they…before the next Skar'bri'osh."
"They may not believe you…"
"I think Shinara will listen if Sam presents the evidence, but we need to do it without Prionne present," Jackson said and turned to the Jaffa. "Teal'c we'll need you to keep Prionne occupied while Sam and I speak with Shinara and the other council members."
"I believe I can handle Prionne," Teal'c told them.
"When can you have everything ready?" Landry asked.
"With your permission we can go right now," Jackson said.
"Permission granted…bring him home," the general ordered.
"Thank you, General," Jackson said, closing up the laptop and hurrying from the office with Teal'c following on his heels.
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Prionne knew Carter wanted to be present when they opened the Sarcophagus, but he'd left orders that she wait until Mitchell was returned to his cell. He stood beside the Sarcophagus as two guards, members of his race, opened it and lifted Cameron Mitchell and placed him on his feet.
"Welcome back, Colonel Mitchell, I trust death is nothing new to you now…"
"Go to hell, Pri…Prionne," Mitchell spat, trembling as his legs buckled and he hung between the two guards.
"Colonel, you really should learn to hold your tongue," Prionne said and struck the human with his fist before smiling at the two guards who kept the prisoner upright between them. "I should introduce myself and my associates since we are alone and there is no danger of the Tarleans overhearing us. We are Jarganian…My name is Shreelak and the two holding you are Shreeluk and Shreelok. We are of the same parentage and were sent to here to instigate a war between this world and yours…"
"It won't wo…work," Mitchell said, his eyes rimmed with red as moisture escaped from his eyes and slid unbidden down his cheeks.
"It already is. It won't be long before your General Landry gives the order to rescue you and when that happens, Shinara and her people will do everything to stop them. I believe they will send a weapon of mass destruction through the Stargate and annihilate your people."
"You don't know anything about my people or Shinara's, Prionne…we do not need war to make us strong…"
"Then your species is weak…as evidence by your body structure. I do not believe you were part of the SGC when my people last attacked your world…"
"I don't need to see what you…"
"It does not matter what you need, but I believe you should see our true form since your many deaths will allow my species to take root in your plain of existence," Prionne said and allowed his body to reshape itself into his true form.
Mitchell watched in disgust as Prionne's hands elongated, and his fingers fused to become one large sharp claw. His legs bent backward at the knees and his feet became a taloned appendage. His upper body reshaped itself in a shell like covering that protected a jellied, segmented body. His head was a grotesque caricature with red eyes and a single orifice at the center. Mitchell's distaste was evident as Prionne stood before him.
"No wonder you took the Tarlean's form…probably couldn't stand looking in a mirror…" Mitchell ground out, gasping for air when the elongated fingers wrapped around his throat.
"I could easily kill you and place your lifeless body back in the Sarcophagus and no one would question it," Prionne spat.
"Shi…Shinara…"
"Is not here," Prionne spat and continued to put pressure on Mitchell's exposed throat. "I could snap your neck easily…"
"That would not be wise, Shreelak…we must not do anything to bring suspicions on us."
"Who would know…we could simply put him back in the Sarcophagus to revive him," Prionne said, but reluctantly released his grip and looked into Mitchell's hooded eyes. "When the war has finally begun I will choke the life from your body and then I will kill Samantha Carter."
"No," Mitchell rasped as the creatures returned to the Tarlean form. "Put him in his cell."
Cameron closed his eyes as they dragged him toward his cell and knew he had to find a way to expose Prionne for what he really was. They dropped him just inside the door and he lay still for several minutes until he gathered the strength to move. The small bed seemed an impossibly long distance away, but it promise a modicum of comfort if he could only reach it. He had no idea how long it took, but his eyes snapped open when a hand landed on his right shoulder.
"Easy, Cam, let me help you."
"Sam…you need to go….go back to the SGC."
"I'm not leaving you," Carter said and helped him to the bed.
"Prionne…he's not alone…said he…he'd kill you," Mitchell managed.
"I'm not that easy to kill, Cam," Carter told him and gently ran her fingers through his sweat soaked hair. She felt his body trembling and knew it was caused by prolonged use of the sarcophagus. "We need to get you out of here."
"Sam…please…promise me you'll stay a…away from Prionne…"
"I won't go looking for him, Cam, but I'm not hiding from him either. You need to rest," Carter said and watched as he gave in to the exhaustion ravaging his body and mind. She thought about Jackson and silently prayed he came up with the answers they needed to convince Shinara that Prionne was anything, but a Tarlean.
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Prionne watched as Daniel Jackson and Teal'c exited the gate and smiled inwardly at the futility of their trip. He had spoken with 'Randolph' and knew they needed to push things even harder if they expected to cause an all out war between the people of these two planets. He moved to greet them and forced a look of distaste to his face before speaking.
"Dr. Jackson, you need to do something…"
"We are, Prionne," Jackson said, his face devoid of the disgust he felt for this man.
"You should know that Colonel Mitchell grows weaker each time he is placed in the Sarcophagus and that it will be hard on him…"
"I know what a Sarcophagus does to people, Prionne," Jackson said and pushed past the Jarganian.
"Where are you going?" Prionne asked, not liking the way the two men all but ignored him. He turned to see Shreeluk watching him and could tell his fellow Jarganian had also noted something was wrong. He glanced toward the Skar'Tark and hurried toward it as Shreeluk followed close behind him.
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Shinara and Binares looked at the two males who had asked for and been given the opportunity to speak with her and the council without Prionne's presence. The other council members were present, but filled with resentment at having been called away from whatever they'd been doing.
"Shinara, thank you for seeing us," Jackson said.
"You said you have proof that Prionne is not who we think he is," Shinara said, speaking for the members of the council.
"Prionne is a Jarganian…"
"What is a Jarganian?" Franish, a female council member asked.
"The Jarganians are a race that tried to insight a war on Earth several years ago. They are not humanoid, but they are able to reshape themselves into any form…"
"You expect us to believe this, Dr. Jackson," Franish asked, shaking her head as several others murmured in agreement.
"He is trying to save his friend and willing to make us look like fools in the process," a male council member spat.
"Shinara, do your scientists understand how DNA works?" Jackson asked.
"I know that DNA are the markers that make us who we are," Binares answered.
"Binares is one of our top scientists," Shinara assured him.
"Then you know what your DNA is and would recognize it."
"Certainly, Dr. Jackson," Binares told him.
"Is this a proper representation of Tarlean DNA?" Jackson asked and placed the laptop in front of the other man.
"I believe so," Binares said after studying the 'profile' for several minutes.
"What about this one?" Jackson asked and showed the Tarlean a second set of figures and designs.
"Is this some kind of joke, Dr. Jackson?" Binares asked. "This is nothing like Tarlean DNA…where did you get this?"
"Let's just say we managed to get a sample of Prionne's DNA and this is a proper representation of the markers that prove he is not Tarlean, but Jarganian…"
"This is preposterous, Dr. Jackson," Franish snapped. "Prionne has been a respected member of our council for several years and has helped us develop…"
"I am sure he did so because it is beneficial to his race," Jackson interrupted.
"He is Tarlean," Franish told him.
"Is he?" Binares asked as he studied the representation on the laptop's screen. "There is a way to find out if Dr. Jackson is telling the truth."
"We test Prionne's DNA ourselves," a male council member offered.
"You would do this to a trusted member of the council?" Franish asked.
"I would and if Prionne is who we think he is then he would welcome the opportunity to prove that Dr. Jackson is using subterfuge to free Colonel Mitchell," Shinara told her.
"Dr. Jackson, if you are wrong will you take Colonel Carter and return to your planet…and take the Jaffa with you?" Franish asked.
"I will," Jackson answered.
"Very well…Binares, do whatever tests you need to," another male council member said.
"You should also make sure Prionne cannot escape before the testing is complete," Jackson told them.
"Prionne will not run…"
"He will when he realizes what we're doing," Jackson said and heard a muffled 'indeed' from the man standing at his side. Shinara and Binares stood and joined Jackson and Teal'c while the other members left the chambers. "Where so we find Prionne?"
"We will find him, but you must not do anything or the council will think my work is tainted by your involvement," Binares told them.
"Where is Colonel Carter?" Jackson asked.
"I believe she is with Colonel Mitchell," Shinara told them.
Jackson sensed the change in the woman and realized his first impressions were wrong. She wasn't as cold as he'd believed and could prove a valuable ally should things go wrong. 'How could anything possibly go wrong?' he thought sarcastically as they exited the chambers.
TBC