SG1-15 The Power Behind the Throne (35 page)

“Well, you can’t just…”

The rest of Daniel Jackson’s protest faded from Teal’c’s ears as he saw a shape detach itself from one of the buildings in the darkness beyond the plaza. “O’Neill.” He raised his weapon and dropped into a defensive crouch. “Someone approaches.”

“Carter?” Teal’c heard the snap as O’Neill unsaftied his weapon.

“Nothing this side, sir.” Her voice was tense, but calm.

Then, from the shadows, stepped the slender figure of Rhionna Channon, her hands raised. “It’s me.”

“Are you alone?” Teal’c peered into the darkness, but could see no other movement.

“Entirely,” she said, stopping some distance away. “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting for so long, I was obliged to dine with my father tonight. He would have been suspicious had I not attended.”

Keeping her covered, Teal’c rose. Behind him, he sensed O’Neill moving forward. His boots made a dull noise against the ground. “I imagine they’re already wondering where we are.”

“Yes,” she said. “The Elect Guard have been deployed to search. We must leave this place before sunup.”

“Must we?” O’Neill stepped forward, his weapon leveled. “And where
must
we go?”

At his side, Daniel Jackson let out a long breath. “Jack…”

“
Daniel
.” He shifted his weapon, using it to indicate Rhionna Channon. “I’ve got a better idea. We stay right here and you tell us what you know about the shield.”

The woman lowered her hands. No longer dressed in the gown in which she had attended the service, she was once more attired as if for hard work. “I cannot tell you all you wish to know,” she said, her gaze holding O’Neill’s. “However, I will take you to a woman who can.”

“Bring her here.”

“Impossible.”

“Why?”

She hesitated. “You must trust me, Colonel O’Neill. The Elect will tell you nothing of
Sciath De
— it terrifies them. But I can. I can help you, but you must come with me — you must trust me.”

“And why should I do that?”

Folding her arms across her chest, Rhionna Channon appeared as intransient as O’Neill. “Because, if you want to find God’s Shield, you have no choice.”

* * *

The city after dark was just plain weird, and Jack couldn’t help thinking back to Daniel’s talk of war, plague, and disaster. There was definitely something post-apocalyptic about the dark, silent skyscrapers that loomed along the fringes of the city while its tiny heart flickered with the cathode-glare of vast screens hanging from the sides of buildings.

Rhionna kept them far away from the light as she led them through the city, and Jack was grateful — if only to avoid having to watch more of the God-awful soap being pumped out into the streets.

“You’d think they’d get bored,” Sam murmured as she walked by his side.

“Beggers can’t be choosers,” Daniel said. He was a couple of steps in front, head turning every which way as he tried to take it all in at once. “If this is the only entertainment they can get, the only culture permitted…”

“It’s the only culture they want,” Rhionna said, turning her head to look back at them as she walked. There was anger in her dark eyes, a flare of frustration. “They are like pigs at the trough, eating only what they are given without question.”

“But you question,” Daniel said. “What makes you different?”

Her expression sharpened and she looked away. “What I have seen,” she said with a frown. “What I will show you.”

It was the truth, Jack thought, but not the whole truth. There was something she wasn’t telling them…

Ahead of them, a knot of people suddenly came into view from around a corner. Rhionna stopped dead, breathing something under her breath. In the dark it was difficult to make out details, but Jack knew a soldier when he saw one and instantly raised his weapon. Teal’c and Carter did the same, only Daniel lifted empty hands. “Daniel,” he hissed, jerking his head in a ‘get-behind me’ motion.

Daniel ignored him, of course. “Who are they?” he said to Rhionna.

“The Elect Guard. Stay here.” Over her shoulder she glanced at Jack. “Lower your weapon.”

“I don’t think so.”

The soldiers had also stopped, taking up a defensive posture as one man detached himself from the group.

“Captain Tanner,” Rhionna said, walking toward him.

“Goodman Tynan thought you would have some hand in this business,” the captain said. He spoke quietly, more anxious than angry. “Would that I had not discovered you.”

“Then look with blind eyes, Captain,” she said. “I am taking them to the Badlands.”

Badlands?
Jack exchanged a glance with Daniel who just shrugged.

The soldier spared them a glance. “To what end?”

“To…” She hesitated, and Jack had the distinct feeling she was holding something back. “They need information. Does not the Message teach that we should help those in need?”

With a snort, Tanner said, “I had not thought you paid so much attention to the Message, Rhionna.”

“Only when it is in my interest to do so.” Reaching out, she touched the man’s arm. “They seek
Sciath De
. If they can find it…”

The captain looked from her face back toward SG-1. “You have no reason to trust them; did they not come from the Other Place?”

“Tanner, you know we must question all we are told. Everything we know of the Other Place is told to us through the Message, how can we trust it?”

He let out a breath and looked down at his boots, thinking. At Jack’s side, Carter mouthed ‘Other Place?’ When Tanner spoke again, it was in a voice so low Jack could barely hear him. “Very well, this night my eyes are blind to you and my men will keep their silence. But go quick, Rhionna Channon, the Elect fear these strangers.”

“I know,” she said. “And that is why we should trust them.” She squeezed his arm. “My thanks, Captain Tanner, to you and your men. I know what you risk.”

Then she turned back to Jack, the vibrant red of her shirt standing out against the gray as she beckoned them forward. “We must hurry. This way.”

With that she disappeared around a corner.

Carter broke into a jog to follow, Daniel and Teal’c on her heels. Jack brought up the rear, sparing a glance for the soldier watching them with serious eyes. Neither spoke but in the gloom Jack saw an honest face and gave the man a nod. Tanner did the same, then turned on his heel and returned to his men.

Clearly there was much more going on in the Ark than met the eye.

And Jack hated that.