Chapter 3
“The group call themselves the ‘Socar’, which translates into ‘Knowing all’ in our oldest language.” Ella began. “Evidently they believe they are the only ones on our world who know what is true and right for our people. We thought they were a fairly small group of men who met once a month in secret to complain about how things are run. We thought they were harmless. We were wrong.” Ella bowed her head, obviously truly sorry for her people’s mistake.
Then she went on. “Now it looks as if they have been gaining in strength and numbers for the last few years, but because of the secrecy of the group—they all wear masks and do not even know each other, but are know by false names—we had no way of knowing just how influential they had become.”
“Let me guess.” Sam said wearily, “They don’t like us much.”
Ella nodded. “Evidently they believed the plague that ravaged our world and took so many of our people was a gift from the gods, a purging of those whose faith was weak.”
What?” Janet exclaimed, outraged. ”That plague would have wiped you out to the last man, woman and child if it hadn’t been stopped. It’s only thanks to the fact that your world is so sporadically populated that such a relative few were affected.”
Ella nodded her understanding. Kovans were very concerned about keeping their world clean, and so strictly limited building to specific areas around the planet. Thus there remained large amounts of untamed forests, deserts, beaches and every other kind of environment between each population center, which numbered twenty four in all.
“I agree with you, Healer,” Ella said addressing Frasier’s last statement, “but I’m afraid the Socar are not known for their open mindedness.”
“So they were the ones responsible for the bombings.” Sam said, her eyes hard. She had no patience or tolerance for terrorists.
“Yes,” Ella answered her. “And they stormed the local rescue stations to prevent help from coming before they could search through the rubble for you and your friends.” She smiled sadly. “They were quite angry when they couldn’t locate all of you and have been threatening the population with more violence unless you are handed over. That is why you are here and not in a hospital where you belong.”
Sam’s heart had dropped into her stomach, but she fought to keep her voice even, “Daniel and Colonel O’Neill?” she asked
Ella looked at her with compassion in her eyes. “I’m afraid they were found and taken.”
“Taken where?” Janet asked, horrified.
“Most likely to the organization’s compound, a large area northeast of here, fairly close to the Great Ring.”
“Which means they’ve probably got the stargate under heavy guard.” Sam said darkly. “Ella, do you have any idea how well equipped this group is? What kind of weapons and supplies they have?”
The older woman looked troubled. “I do not have any direct information, but it seems to me that in order to pull off an act like the bombing, they would have to be fairly well supplied and protected.”
“That’s just great.” Sam said, putting a hand over her eyes as she processed the information. “We have to get out of here.” She tried to sit up, but Ella quickly pushed her back down, holding her shoulders to keep her from moving..
“You are not going anywhere anytime soon.” the older woman said firmly. “You are both too injured and weak to be sitting up, let alone running for your lives.”
“You don’t understand.” Sam protested, “We’re putting you and your family at risk by staying here. We need to find the rest of our team and get home.”
Ella opened her mouth to retort, but Janet beat her to it. “Sam, hang on a sec. Ella, could you give me a rundown on our injuries?”
The older woman nodded, turning to Janet. “You, Healer, have a dislocated shoulder, which has been set, a severely sprained ankle, two broken ribs, one of which nicked a lung, and multiple lacerations to your face, neck and arms.” She turned to Sam, eyes fierce. “And you have deep lacerations in your arm and back from flying debris, another in your leg, which still has the fragment imbedded, four cracked ribs and a hairline fracture to your skull which may or may not have underlying damage. It is still too early to tell without the proper equipment.”
Janet nodded her understanding, “Thank you. Would you mind giving us a minute to talk all this over?”
“I will leave you alone if you both give me your words you will not move from your couches.” Then receiving their affirmations, she continued. “Very well. I have some errands to run and will be back soon. If you have need of anything, you may call for Eli. He is my eldest son and will get you whatever you require.” She turned and left.
As soon as they were alone, Sam turned to Janet. “How bad is all that? Can we travel?”
Janet thought this over, then said, “Some of the injuries are worse than others, but none of them are good. We both have some form of head trauma, which can be dangerous and tricky, but if there is going to be problems, they will show themselves pretty quickly. If I have a punctured lung, then it could be a major issue, but…” she took a deep, careful breath, “I don’t think it’s a big nick. I can take full breaths, it just hurts like hell.” She looked at Sam’s leg, currently hiding under a thick quilt. “That fragment in your leg has me worried, though. It needs to come out, and soon, before infection sets in, if it hasn’t already.”
“Why didn’t Ella take it out while I was unconscious?” Sam asked.
“She’s afraid an artery was hit and didn’t want you to bleed out. She’s not exactly set up to handle a serious bleed here.”
“Can you do it?” Sam asked, keeping the dread out of her voice.
“Yes, but it’s not going to be pleasant.”
“It never is, Janet. It never is.”
Both women were silent for a while, thinking their own thoughts, then Sam spoke again, “Janet, what the earliest that we can safely travel?”
“I’d love for us to stay down for a month, but safely we need at least 10 days, Sam. We have to heal before we go do anything.”
Carter looked at her. “We’ll leave in five.”