TITLE: Interesting

AUTHOR: Papaya

CATEGORY: Whump, Hurt/comfort, a hint at romance

SPOILERS: None that I can think of

SEASON: Sam's a Major and Daniel's around

WARNINGS: Major Character Death, Violence, Blood, Torture

SUMMARY: Someone is laying bait for our good Colonel. He comes to the rescue, suffers for it, and finds some new friends in the process.

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sorry, I keep killing people, I gotta get over that - don't worry, they always get better.

oO0Oo oO0Oo oO0Oo

INTERESTING

"Well, Kids, this should be interesting." Jack O'Neill announced as the gate began to dial.

"Sir?" Carter asked.

"Well, you see, Carter - the last… Oh, I don't know…"

"Seven." Teal'c interrupted, apparently reading his mind.

Jack did a double take at the Jaffa, "…Seven… missions we've had were all supposed to be boring cake walks and every one of 'em had… oh, just a ton of nasty surprises. This one, however, is supposed to be full of problems - jams, pickles," He gestured broadly, "predicaments, situations, glitches, hitches, snags… Well, you get the idea."

He looks at Daniel and Sam's expressions, "I'm just saying, it should be interesting," He pauses to emphasize his point, "and there had better not be any surprises!"

"Interesting?" Daniel asked incredulously.

"Daniel, you're the one who insisted we go."

Carter spoke up, "Colonel, you said yourself, the risk/reward ratio was worth it."

In the briefing yesterday, members of SG-8 had described the amount of technology the natives possessed, and the extremely productive naquedah mine. Just exactly the kind of planet they were searching for every time they went through the gate. Unfortunately, the natives had become hostile, and SG-8 had come back wounded and one man short.

The mission was, first and foremost, a rescue mission. They were to rescue Lieutenant Alberts who had been captured. Jack had insisted they undertake the assignment personally (Although his insisting had taken place privately in the General's office shortly before the briefing.) But Jack couldn't resist a chance to annoy Daniel.

Jack sighed, "Naquedah mines and technology…"

"And remember, I've been able to translate much more of their language so I can talk to them, unlike Major Smith and his men."

The Colonel protested, "I'm just saying… interesting!"

As they left, he spoke softly to Teal'c, "just keep an eye out will ya? I've got a REALLY bad feeling…"

The Jaffa inclined his head thoughtfully; those were not words he took lightly.

They headed up the ramp.

oO0Oo

Once on the other side things happened fast. As they had expected based on information from the MALP and SG-8, they were barely able to reach cover before they were attacked.

They retaliated with zats only; firing only when absolutely necessary since they wanted to establish relations with these people. Daniel immediately began shouting in their native language, trying to get through to somebody.

Finally the natives' weapons fire slowed and stopped. One man cautiously rose and looked toward Daniel who was also rising from behind a large rock.

"We mean you no harm!" Daniel shouted in a language completely foreign to his teammates.

When there was no answer, Jack swore under his breath. One of his team was vulnerable standing out in the open and there was nothing he could do about it.

Daniel continued to shout while the native leader looked at him suspiciously. Jack was studying the man's body language intently. He actually seemed to be relaxing fractionally. Jack, however, did not.

It was only when the man put down his weapon and ordered his men to do the same that he let his watchfulness ease just a bit. Daniel walked over and stood talking to the man.

"Ask him about Alberts, Daniel." Jack suggested.

"Already did. He doesn't seem to know. But he says he'll take us to someone who does."

Jack's eyes narrowed as he cautiously followed the natives down the hill towards the trees. "I do not like this." He mumbled to Carter who fell in beside him. "Something's not kosher."

Carter could feel the suspicion flowing off O'Neill. "Sir?"

"Don't know yet, Carter, but something's about to surprise us. You can bet on it."

oO0Oo

The surprise Jack expected was waiting for them inside the buildings. SG-8 had never gotten this far so they hadn't known the complex was full of Jaffa.

As they passed through the door, SG-1, in spite of their heightened awareness, was immediately surrounded by about 50 Jaffa.

"Aw, Crap." Was Jack's only comment.

As they were forced roughly through the halls, the team tried to take in as much of the layout as they could.

Besides the Jaffa and the natives they met at the gate, there seemed to be a third race of people on this planet. They looked sort of human; in fact the Colonel thought they were similar to the Hunchback of Notre Dame or maybe the Elephant Man. They were disfigured and walked hunched over. They seemed to be at the very bottom of the pecking order; lowest of the low.

He glanced at Daniel who was predictably fascinated by them. "It's very unusual. They seem to be slaves to the slaves. I'd love to talk to one."

"Hey! Now Cut That Out!" Jack hollered at the Jaffa who had just punched Daniel in the back of the head for talking. He managed to help Daniel keep his feet, but he too was studying the 'Janitors' as he had dubbed them.

A group of people unhappy with the status quo could be very helpful. Also, Jack found it interesting that several of them turned to stare pointedly at him. Not just looking to see what was going on, but looking directly at him in a meaningful way, as if trying to communicate.

Probably it was wishful thinking on his part.

It seemed they had reached their destination, because the Jaffa behind them stopped just as they reached a wider, more ornate place in the hall.

A tall, extremely pale woman with long black hair emerged from a dark room. "I am Khek," she spoke in the telltale Goa'uld accented voice. "I serve our Lord Dagon." She nodded at the Jaffa who immediately forced the team to their knees."

"You could've at least asked!" Jack complained loudly.

"You would have refused." Khek responded matter-of-factly, "Lord Dagon has learned much of you and your team, Colonel O'Neill."

"Ahh Crap!" Jack growled again. Nothing he hated more than being on the short end. 'Know your enemy' was good.' 'Know more about your enemy than he does about you' was much better. Knowing less just sucked.