Chapter 16
WARNING: this chapter is a rough one. If you don't like that, just wait for chapter 17, you'll understand what happened without having to read the details.
This happened in the last chapter: Sam and Jack's invasion of each other's personal space had been very challenging, until the tension dissolved and they fell into each other's arms. A wish and need for each other's company has replaced the magnetic link between their bodies. Realizing they would soon be able to leave Herapolis, Jack tried to visit Teal'c but found out that their friend had been sent to fight in the neighboring city.
.
"I find it very odd that those people have so advanced technology and yet, use it so little in their everyday life" Jack said on their way back to the domus that evening. "Take Horatius for example, he's been wobbling on crutches since we arrived and has only been able to walk without them for a few days but he's still limping. Why didn't they take him to the temple to be healed by all the doohickeys there? They have everything they need to fix him like.. that!" Jack said, snapping his fingers. "I'm sure it's not a question of money or of Horatius' value to the domain. He's worth more than me and still, they called her for me when I needed medical care"
"You were going to die Jack! She was called in as a last resort"
"Still doesn't explain why they are willing to let the guy deal with the pain for so long"
"Maybe it was his choice? You should ask him"
"I sure will. Hey! Look out!"
Four horses pulling a racing cart passed them in full galop and nearly mauled them down.
"Son of a bitch!" Jack shouted after them.
"Look! It's one of those electromagnetic carts like the one Hadrian has. They are stopping"
The coachman was turning his horses around, the racing cart suspended in the air behind them.
"Take them!" the owner instructed the couple of guards standing at the back of the cart.
"Crap! It's Palma! Run Sam!" Grabbing her hand, he dragged her through the bushes on the side of the road, hoping to reach the dense vegetation further away where the horses wouldn't be able to follow. But the horses were already on their left flank. The guard on the left of the cart jumped ahead and nudged the cart to the right. Sam was hit and rolled under it. Jack didn't have time to react. He was already eating dust, the other guard on his back. Soon, both guards had him secured, and the coachman had Sam. Climbing down from his cart, Palma took a moment to savor his victory, then walked up to his preys, rubbing his hands in glee.
"Finally. Finally I can have my revenge on you two, filthy slaves!"
The two officers' glares were provoking. He wanted to see submission, fear.. testimonies of his power, his strength. It excited him, and those two were denying him the pleasure! He felt anger seize him. Anger at the slave who had snatched the female away from his lust. Anger at the nobody who had marked him, Palma, with a torch. Anger at the dirty cockroach who had kept glaring at him under the whip. There he was, on his knees in the dust in front of him. There.. arms painfully locked up his back and still, glaring. Howling in rage, Palma kicked the slave in the face, placing two blows of his heel in his ribs for good measure. Finally the glare was gone. Finally he was down, screaming in pain, wavering under Palma's might! The female was calling for him, terror in her voice. Ah... That was music to his ears. Now he was feeling good, ecstasy was near. The male collapsed, Palma contemplated him with a satisfied smiled, but he had lost all interest now that he had passed out. Palma turned around. The female was still calling for the pitiful heap behind him, but she must have sensed his eyes on her, and his lust. She was now looking at him and... yes... fear now... good! His smile widen, showing teeth.
The coachman was waiting for a hint. He had done this so many times already. Grabbing women, throwing them down, holding them while the master was having his wicked way with them.. He knew the drill. And right he was, a light nod was all he needed. He forced her down, although she was strong, offering an unexpected resistance, she nearly escaped his grip but he was stronger in the end, and down she went. The master knelt on her thighs, just over the knees, she didn't have a chance. Then he, coachman, would straighten her arms over her head and keep them down until the master was done. Easy. Disgusting. But that's just how it was. The master groped her through her tunic. She screamed. No! No! she said. Like the master would stop just because she didn't want him to.. Poor thing didn't realize that she was just spurring him on. He loved terror in a woman's voice. There.. he had ripped the front of her tunic. She was beautiful. Her face, eyes, her breasts. The master smiled viciously, his hands on her chest, slowly to let her feel his touch, to mark her forever. Down her belly, the tunic wasn't ripped there and he had to lift his hand over it to grab her loincloth. A forceful tug, he snatched the garment away and watched. She was totally exposed now, the runs of her tunic pooling at her belt. She was screaming, still struggling to try and free herself. He burst out laughing, sending a cold shiver down the coachman's spine. His hand was creeping between her legs now, and the coachman didn't need to watch. Her screams turned to shrieks when the greedy fingers violated her. Palma was grunting with delight, smacking his lips in expectation of more. He straightened up on his knees to remove his own undergarment. His ugly member was barely erected. He had done that so often, the stimulation wasn't enough to fully arouse him anymore. Palma grabbed his cock and stroke himself, watching the fear, pain and disgust on her face. She didn't say anything but he suddenly slapped her. Probably thought she was mocking him...
He ordered the guards to rouse the man and make him watch. When he came to, one of the guys grabbed the hair on the top of his head to force his face up. The poor man's nose was dripping blood and his left eye was so swollen he couldn't open it. But the other eye saw. He struggled to free himself from the arm-locks, screaming her name. She screamed his, they were desperate and Palma was glowing in delight, his cock soon ready to impale her.
"Release my friends immediately, or I will kill this man" a deep voice interrupted. A very large, dark-skinned man, was standing behind Palma. He was magnificent! A golden helmet with a pony-tail of dark hair on the top, a red mantel, a leather ruff covering his shoulders over a delicately chiseled breastplate. He was wearing a leather shirt and sandals with adorned shin guards. To complete the powerful picture, he was holding a dagger at Palma's throat. Palma's jaws had dropped and no one could tell if it was from the surprise or from the affront of being interrupted. The coachman released Sam at once and jumped to his feet. The large man was, after all, just in front of him. The two others were hesitating. Maybe they could use the man in their grip as hostage.. but when the large man looked at them, they decided their loyalty to Palma didn't imply fighting against all odds. They threw Jack in front of them and ran away, the coachman on their heels. Grunting in pain, Jack pushed himself from the ground to try and get up but a rush of blood ran from his nose and he chose to walk on his knees, helping himself with one hand to scramble toward Sam, who was crawling to him. She grabbed his tunic and hold on to him for dear life. He engulfed her in a fierce hug with one arm, the other hanging limp at his side, shoulder dislocated. His good hand went to hold the back of her head against his chest where she was now trying to hold her sobs at bay.
"Teal'c! Look out!" Jack suddenly shouted. Palma had managed to get hold of his own dagger and was turning around to stab Teal'c in the stomach. Seconds later, he was lying in the dust, Teal'c's dagger down his throat.
