SG1-16 Four Dragons by Diana Botsford Page B

argument. “Shall I order the quartermaster to prepare for a fifth member of our mission, O’Neill?”
    But Ambassador Huang remained implacable, his fingers steepled before him in quiet contemplation. Teal’c studied his face, noting the square jaw, the intense black eyes with odd specks of green. There was something familiar beneath the wrinkles, the beard and graying hair, which merited further thought.
    The ambassador dropped one hand to the box containing the communication devices. “Tell me, Colonel O’Neill. Do you believe yourself a patriot?”
    “What does that have to do with anything?”
    “If you’d been informed that your founding fathers were these Goa’uld, would you still feel the same way?”
    “Oh, please.”
    “Have you never considered the possibility?”
    “It’s not the same thing!”
    “I disagree. If evidence was found that George Washington had been a Goa’uld, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.”
    “And I suppose you have evidence linking your precious Emperor Yu to a snake?”
    “I do,” said the ambassador, his lips stretched wide in a cold grin. He unbuttoned his jacket, revealing a simple white shirt and black tie. A green tie pin secured the tie in place.
    Teal’c studied the pin closely. The material seemed similar to that of the jade pendants Jacob Carter had given them. A symbol was carved in the pin’s center, no larger than a thumbnail.
    O’Neill held out a palm. “Let’s see your proof.”
    “Faith is my proof, Colonel. For it is written in Sun Tzu’s ‘Art of War’ that faith is a cardinal virtue.”
    As O’Neill scowled at the ambassador’s affirmation, Teal’c scrutinized the tie pin’s symbol more closely. The sigil was not of an ancient Chinese deity. Of this, Teal’c could be certain.
    It was the symbol of Lord Yu, the Goa’uld.
    * * *
    Unable to stand, unable to sit, Daniel hung from handcuffs latched to the top and side of a barely four-foot high cage. He tried to shift his weight, crouching in an awkward position that did little to stop the aches in his shoulders and thighs.
    He’d heard about cages like this one. Communist China allegedly used them to torture political prisoners. After a few days, the victim’s legs would become swollen. In severe cases, necrosis can happen to feet, ankles and legs. Usually, the cages were set outdoors, exposing the prisoner to the elements.
    In Daniel’s case, the cage was set just outside the door to Yu’s throne room.
    So much for scoping out an escape route.
    He closed his eyes, exhausted. Other than a short nap in a cell on Yu’s mothership, he hadn’t slept in…
    Daniel wasn’t sure how long it’d been. More importantly, he had no idea if Jack, Sam or Teal’c had any idea where he was.
    Jack.
    Daniel still couldn’t figure out what had set him off like that. It was as if the older man was angry at Daniel for coming back to life.
    Which was ridiculous.
    Something clanked overhead and suddenly Daniel was able to drop his right arm down. He opened his eyes. Oshu, Yu’s First Prime, released his other arm from the cage’s side.
    “You must not antagonize Lord Yu,” Oshu said.
    Daniel dropped to the ground. His legs throbbed. His shoulders ached. Pins and needles shot through his hands from lack of use. He rubbed them together.
    “You are fortunate my lord did not order the use of Tean Zu .”
    “That would be worse?”
    “It is a relatively simple and yet painful torture, where your fingers are laid on a flat surface. Under your fingers are placed wooden sticks connected by strings. The strings are then tightened incrementally — ”
    “Crushing the fingers,” Daniel finished. He got the picture.
    “On your honor, do you swear to not anger my Lord any further? Do not question him or his actions or you will find yourself in far worse circumstances.”
    Daniel held up his arms, ignoring the pain in his armpits. “I surrender.”
    Apparently satisfied, the First Prime opened the cage