A Hidden Threat

Chapter 9

The next day Amiri woke. She had slept quite comfortably through the night. Carter hoped to get some more information from her. As she stroked her hand, Amiri's eyes slowly opened. She tried to focus on who was the one caressing her hand. She saw that it was Sam.

"Sam..." Amiri said.

"Hey...how are you feeling?" Carter asked hoping she was up to further questioning.

"Confused, and scared, Sam" Amiri was honest with her. She couldn't understand what was happening.

"I know...and I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. It's just ..." Carter treaded lightly for fear that Amiri might again become overly excited. She knew that Dr. Frasier would kick her out.

"I know, Sam...its ok..." Amiri interjected. "But I'm sorry, I do not know of this electrical surge you speak of. I swear it" Amiri tried to reassure Carter.

Sam looked at her. She knew she was telling the truth. Although reluctant to ask, she knew she had to find out if Amiri knew where Catek was. She had to follow orders.

"Amiri...I know you asked to be returned to your planet. Well Colonel O'Neill..." Carter stated, but was interrupted by Amiri.

"O'Neill..." Amiri asked, as if she remembered the name. "He is your leader, yes?" Amiri asked.

"Well sort of...he leads the team that I am on...and is also above me in rank, in our military" Carter tried to explain to Amiri.

"You care for him...don't you? A lot more than you should?" Amiri stated. Somehow she can sense what Carter was feeling.

"Um..." Carter was at a loss for words. Thank God O'Neill had a briefing to attend to and was not observing her so called interrogation.

"It's ok...I understand what you mean now?" Amiri tried to explain.

"Somehow I can sense what you feel...it's quite odd..." Amiri continued to explain.
"But I do not feel a...electrical surge as you called it.." She stated with much confusion. "But I can sense certain feelings. And I can hear certain words, as if you are speaking them aloud." She explained.

"Why is this happening Sam? I do not know you and yet I do. I've barely spent a day with you and yet I have this sense of trust and familiarity that I can't shake...what is going on?" Amiri continued to ask, with great confusion.

"I don't know what is going Amiri. All I know is that when we've touched, an a ...well..the only way I can explain it is an electrical surge permeates through you to me. I think it has to do with us being able to sense each other's emotions and thoughts." Carter tried to explain as best she could. She wasn't sure herself what was going on, but she tried to give Amiri, some sense of an explanation. She knew she had to get to the point. O'Neill and Hammond were wanting answers, and wanting them fast.

"Amiri, please..listen to me closely. When Tenan presented you to us as a gift, Colonel O'Neill refused. Here, on our planet, we do not receive humans as gifts to use as we please. Once O'Neill refused, Tenan swore that you would be put to death. So you see, if you return to your planet, you are signing your own death sentence." Carter tried to make sure she was clear with Amiri.

Amiri looked at her. Tears swelled up in her eyes. She was trapped in a world she knew nothing of. She knew no one. What will she do, how would she live? All these questions ran through her mind.

"I understand Sam. But would not death be better, than living under guard for the rest of your life?" she stated with much emotion, as her eyes drifted to the armed guards outside the infirmary doors.

"Your people do not trust me. You are here to find out information. Though you are and have been very kind, and are not being harsh with me, I know what you are doing." Amiri stated.