Bitter sweet
~~~~~~~~~
Hearing the commotion in the next room, he dismissed the servant massaging him and sat up from his reclined position. His handmaiden dressed him hurriedly and was also dismissed. He exited his private quarters and found several of his jaffa speaking in hushed voices.
"Kree Jaffa"
They all turned and bent onto one knee. He motioned too his first prime who stood before him. Baal questioned him with his dark eyes.
"It is the prisoners my lord, they have escaped. We found the guards who had been sent to bring them to their cells bound and gagged by the sarcophagus. The prisoners have zatnicatels."
Baal turned his mind over the new information. Seething with anger he turned from his first prime and approached his chair by the side of the room. Sitting he turned his attention to the jaffa who were starting to look nervous.
"Have you deployed jaffa to search the complex. They cannot have gotten far"
"Yes my lord, jaffa are searching for them now"
Baal attention was drawn to the loud banging situated overhead.
"I see the Asgard have not given up their attempt to destroy my shields. Will they never learn"
The first prime kept quiet wondering whether his lord wanted an answer or not. He was glad he had kept quiet when the Gould continued.
"When the prisoners are found bring them to me immediately"
He dismissed them with a motion of his hand and sat deep in thought for a moment then rising he left the room, issuing orders for Gal'drie too be brought too him. He went through his private quarters towards the torture chambers, passing by some empty cells, which held no limits to the type of torture they could entail. Entering a small room next too the main torture room he reclined on along low sofa and ordered a handmaiden too bring him wine and food. Gal'drie entered as his handmaiden brought a tray of wine and fruits, placing them on a table by his reclining chair. Gal'drie sat in a small chair nearby. They entered into conversation about the torture Baal had performed on the tauri prisoners; Baal was pleased too see things had gone smoothly. They had experimented by torturing the prisoners when they were in weaker states; he was surprised they had lasted as long as they did. He still had high confidence the female would be broken easily. He looked at the handmaiden serving him as he spoke. The female would make a perfect addition. As they spoke, two jaffa entered and bowed before him. Explaining to their lord the first prime had issued orders for them too stand guard in the torture chamber, Baal dismissed them too their posts.
Deep in conversation, his attention was brought to a sound in the next room. He silenced Gal'drie with a motion of his hand and sat straighter. He heard grinding and staff and zat blasts. He ordered Gal'drie to get more jaffa before exiting into the chamber. He stood in the shadows of the dim light as the partitioning wall slid back, revealing a surprising scene.
~~~~~~~~
As they approached the door, Jack squeezed his hand to Sam's reassuringly and let the grip go, motioning her to stand to the side of the door. He stood in front of her and pushed it softly, emptiness greeting him. He took a deep breath and motioned for her too stay put while he took a closer look; he slid the door further open and stepped through. He strained to hear any sounds over the constant banging which had grown louder as he'd neared and entered the room. Finding it all clear he cocked his head round the side of the door motioned to Carter to follow, she stepped by the door, and stood close by him. The partitioned wall was back in place as was the throne. Jack approached the wall cautiously and froze halfway across the room hearing footsteps approach softly from the other side.
Motioning to Carter they crossed to the throne and crouched by the side, peering out too see who would enter. Two jaffa stepped through the partition and headed for the door, Jack watched as one-stepped through the door, the other taking up his post this side of the door. He glanced at Carter, who again had turned deathly pale. He snuck another look at the Jaffa, recognising him this time as the same one that had helped Baal in his torture on Sam. Sam's eyes bore into the jaffa and he could see she was fighting the urge to go and pound the guy to death with her bare fists if necessary. They would have to take him out anyways in order to get through the wall. He glanced round him noticing the table Baal had situated by the throne. He cast his memory back. He signalled Sam to stay put and slowly moved towards the table keeping out of the line of vision of the guard. Pressing under the table, he found a small button. He applied a little pressure and heard a familiar grinding sound; the floor under the throne also started to retract. The guard stepped forward confused; they crouched further into the throne as the second jaffa entered. Hearing them approach Jack lifted his zat, signalled too Sam, counted three on his fingers and leapt out from the side of the throne.
~~~~~~~~~
Sam slipped in by the door and stood close behind Jack, walking forward a few steps her ears picked up on footsteps, Jack had heard also. He swiftly turned too her and directed them to behind the throne. She crouched by the large chair, her heart beating wildly; she tried to control her breathing, feeling a slight panic arising. Two jaffa stepped through the partition and walked to the door: one exiting and one staying on their side. She stared unbelieving and felt all emotion draining her body. Her palms turned cold and dry. She gritted her teeth staring at the tall jaffa; eyes boring into his chest as if the look would somehow strike him down. Her attention was drawn back to her CO who had also recognised the jaffa. She watched as he shifted silently forward to the table by the throne, pressing under its top. She glanced over as the wall started retracting and the floor under the throne also. Jack shifted back next to her and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the second jaffa enter the room once more. Both the jaffa moved forward cautiously, she kept her eyes on her CO and he counted three out on his fingers.
Instantaneously they both jumped out from the throne onto solid floor firing zat blasts at the oncoming men. Her blast connected with her former torturer, a staff blast flew by her shoulder from the other jaffa and she felt herself being pushed to the floor. She heard another blast of the staff weapon and smelt burning near her. She rolled and glanced up too see her attacker standing over her fallen CO, she reached up and fired another blast herself, watching as the blue wave connected with its target. The jaffa sunk to the floor in an unceremonious heap. She breathed a few quick heaving breaths and crawled to where Jack lay, checking him over for any wounds. Blood poured from a gash on his head. The jaffa had obviously given him a blow from his blunt weapon. He was semiconscious but dazed. She rolled the jaffa away from Jack and herself, sliding the staff weapon beside her. Glancing up at the jaffa she had managed to deal a shot to, making sure he was still where he fell. She turned her attention back too Jack.
"How very quaint"
She froze as she heard the familiar chilling voice behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack aimed and fired at the oncoming men, he saw the blue striations of a blast hit the jaffa furthest from him, his own blast missing its target. His opponent lifted his staff weapon and aimed for Carter, Jack pushed her down and kicked out at the jaffa as he fell. The jaffa was knocked off balance but not for long, he swung his weapon round hitting Jack hard across his skull and temple, Jack groaned and rolled on the floor, blackness threatening too overtake his senses. He saw the jaffa surrounded by blue streaks and fall by him, and then a soft hand touched his face. His head started to pound and he felt a damp feeling falling along his face. He blinked away black spots in his eyes and tried to focus on the figure by him as she manoeuvred herself by him, pushing the heavy form away from him. He felt her hand slip under his head to lift him when he heard a voice. He frowned wondering where it came from.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"How very quaint"
Baal stepped forward from the shadows towards the two tauri situated on the floor by his fallen jaffa. His eyes lay on the female who was bent over the male who was bleeding from a wound on his head. The female did not turn around but he could tell by her body language that she was nervous. He walked to the table and lifted open a gold box adorned with glittering jewels. Slipping his hand into the box, sliding his fingers into the restraints of a hand device, the cool metal surrounding his fingers and hand. He withdrew his hand, and turned his full attention to the female who had turned and knelt watching his every move. He smiled his eyes boring into hers which looked defiantly back. She gritted her teeth as he approached her body seeming frozen, out of terror. Baal smiled broadly at this, instilling fear into the heart of such a strong female. She hunched over to the ground as he approached and for a moment, she had been hurt throughout the fight and the pain was getting too much for her. She breathed deeply and once more looked up at him with bright yet empty eyes, devoid of emotion, empty, still unwilling to give in too him. He found them strangely attractive; he stood before her and pressed his metal covered fingers into her shoulder, pulling her up to face him. She stood silently, defiant until the end. He brought her body to press into his, lifting his other hand to run up her back, grasping her hair in his fingers and pulled her head back to look up at him. Still no sound passed her lips and he felt her short panicking breaths warm against his face. Lifting his hand he would subdue her and have a more personal session with her later.
He felt the power from deep inside him rising, spreading around his body pulsating fast and furiously. Effortlessly he controlled the powerful feeling and directed it into a connection between his mind and his hand. His vision blurred for a moment as the intense surge of emotion hit him then righted itself. His vision focused clearly on the female before him, he felt the power emanating from the hand device as he raised his hand further his mind forcing the surge too connect with her mind.
Suddenly the pulsing power stopped and pain filled his abdomen. His hand dropped from her forehead and fell too her shoulder as he fought to gain control of his body. He strained with all the strength he had in him to create again the connection to the hand device. His vision blurred and his legs struggled to keep balance. He leaned against the female who stepped back; he focused on her face, which looked down on him a bitter, disgusted look in her eyes. He went to lift the hand device once more feeling sudden surge of power in him once more, feeling a blunt object pressing into his chest. His eyes trailed down and heard a sharp sound followed by excruciating pain. He sank to his knees and lost vision to a dark empty expanse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A sharp pain twitched deep inside and then nothingness. Memories filled his mind, a quiet beautiful place, in the distance he could see them, calling too him, he stepped toward them, it had been so long. A child flew into his arms knocking him off balance and a woman quickly followed shouting with cries of delight, planting soft warm kisses on his neck and cheek. Tears of happiness were damp on her face and he held them both close too him. Finally the false gods had freed him, releasing him back to the life he was born too lead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam looked down at Jack as she heard the approaching footsteps. She tensed hearing him pause and slowly turned to watch him. He walked to the table, keeping half an eye on her. She looked around her zat lay the other side of the colonel, if she reached for it now he would see. She manoeuvred herself too look at him fully, eyes boring into him. She felt her breath hitching in her throat but she defiantly refused to let the fear arise. She watched as the Gould slipped his hand into a gold box sitting on the table he stood by and withdrawing it saw the glinting hint of metal covering his fingers. He turned and she saw the look of surprise cross his features as his eyes met with hers. He approached and she held his focus as he approached. An idea sprang to her mind, a way to throw him off for a moment in order for her to try to get the upper hand. She doubled over in pretence of painful agony. 'Think Sam, think' She smiled and shifted her weight forward a moment then shaking off the uncertainty of the situation raised her body once more to her torturer. He was standing before her still watching and she felt pressure on her shoulder, her pulled her too stand before him.
She looked into his eyes the idea playing about in her mind, daring her too go ahead with her plan. Her body was pulled toward the Gould and she breathed short breaths trying to calm her nerves. She felt his hand snake up her back and grasp into her hair pulling her head back farther raising his device covered hand as he did so. His eyes glowed and she felt the initial warmth as the device emitted its energy toward her forehead. She gripped the staff weapon in her hands pressing it into his abdomen and pushed her thumb over its trigger. He staggered against her as the blast closely connected its target, groaning as he fought to gain control over his senses. He tried to gain control, raising his hand once more; she pressed the weapon into his chest and pressed the trigger. He grunted and fell to his knees his eyes glowing faintly; he collapsed at her feet. She looked down at the lifeless body, turned her eyes back to her CO who had sat up dazed, and had watched the events silently.
They both jumped and jerked back as the symbiote left its former host and slithered toward Sam. She stepped further back tripping and falling over the collapsed body of the jaffa she had shot down. She heard a sharp sound and sat up dazed, the thin eel like body of the symbiote lay lifeless on the other side of the jaffa, and Jack aimed and fired once more at the symbiote. She twisted and scrambled back to her feet, stepped over both bodies and helped Jack back too his feet.
"Nice shot Sir"
She spoke unemotionally and hushed, tiredness lacing her tone. Jack gave a weak smile and looked down at the host and Gould. Sam felt emotionally drained and weak. She looked into his eyes, unwilling to move any of her limbs. Jack took her hand and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She pressed her body too his. They still had to get out of this labyrinth but for a moment, they could rest in each other's arms. His voice was soft and protecting.
"You too. Now how about we leave the welcoming committee and get out of here"
"Agreed"
They broke the hold and she felt Jacks arm slip protectively around her. They headed toward the door at the back of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Methinks the end is near peeps. I think the next chapter will be the last so press on and see. Lurve Sara Lou)
~~~~~~~~~
Hearing the commotion in the next room, he dismissed the servant massaging him and sat up from his reclined position. His handmaiden dressed him hurriedly and was also dismissed. He exited his private quarters and found several of his jaffa speaking in hushed voices.
"Kree Jaffa"
They all turned and bent onto one knee. He motioned too his first prime who stood before him. Baal questioned him with his dark eyes.
"It is the prisoners my lord, they have escaped. We found the guards who had been sent to bring them to their cells bound and gagged by the sarcophagus. The prisoners have zatnicatels."
Baal turned his mind over the new information. Seething with anger he turned from his first prime and approached his chair by the side of the room. Sitting he turned his attention to the jaffa who were starting to look nervous.
"Have you deployed jaffa to search the complex. They cannot have gotten far"
"Yes my lord, jaffa are searching for them now"
Baal attention was drawn to the loud banging situated overhead.
"I see the Asgard have not given up their attempt to destroy my shields. Will they never learn"
The first prime kept quiet wondering whether his lord wanted an answer or not. He was glad he had kept quiet when the Gould continued.
"When the prisoners are found bring them to me immediately"
He dismissed them with a motion of his hand and sat deep in thought for a moment then rising he left the room, issuing orders for Gal'drie too be brought too him. He went through his private quarters towards the torture chambers, passing by some empty cells, which held no limits to the type of torture they could entail. Entering a small room next too the main torture room he reclined on along low sofa and ordered a handmaiden too bring him wine and food. Gal'drie entered as his handmaiden brought a tray of wine and fruits, placing them on a table by his reclining chair. Gal'drie sat in a small chair nearby. They entered into conversation about the torture Baal had performed on the tauri prisoners; Baal was pleased too see things had gone smoothly. They had experimented by torturing the prisoners when they were in weaker states; he was surprised they had lasted as long as they did. He still had high confidence the female would be broken easily. He looked at the handmaiden serving him as he spoke. The female would make a perfect addition. As they spoke, two jaffa entered and bowed before him. Explaining to their lord the first prime had issued orders for them too stand guard in the torture chamber, Baal dismissed them too their posts.
Deep in conversation, his attention was brought to a sound in the next room. He silenced Gal'drie with a motion of his hand and sat straighter. He heard grinding and staff and zat blasts. He ordered Gal'drie to get more jaffa before exiting into the chamber. He stood in the shadows of the dim light as the partitioning wall slid back, revealing a surprising scene.
~~~~~~~~
As they approached the door, Jack squeezed his hand to Sam's reassuringly and let the grip go, motioning her to stand to the side of the door. He stood in front of her and pushed it softly, emptiness greeting him. He took a deep breath and motioned for her too stay put while he took a closer look; he slid the door further open and stepped through. He strained to hear any sounds over the constant banging which had grown louder as he'd neared and entered the room. Finding it all clear he cocked his head round the side of the door motioned to Carter to follow, she stepped by the door, and stood close by him. The partitioned wall was back in place as was the throne. Jack approached the wall cautiously and froze halfway across the room hearing footsteps approach softly from the other side.
Motioning to Carter they crossed to the throne and crouched by the side, peering out too see who would enter. Two jaffa stepped through the partition and headed for the door, Jack watched as one-stepped through the door, the other taking up his post this side of the door. He glanced at Carter, who again had turned deathly pale. He snuck another look at the Jaffa, recognising him this time as the same one that had helped Baal in his torture on Sam. Sam's eyes bore into the jaffa and he could see she was fighting the urge to go and pound the guy to death with her bare fists if necessary. They would have to take him out anyways in order to get through the wall. He glanced round him noticing the table Baal had situated by the throne. He cast his memory back. He signalled Sam to stay put and slowly moved towards the table keeping out of the line of vision of the guard. Pressing under the table, he found a small button. He applied a little pressure and heard a familiar grinding sound; the floor under the throne also started to retract. The guard stepped forward confused; they crouched further into the throne as the second jaffa entered. Hearing them approach Jack lifted his zat, signalled too Sam, counted three on his fingers and leapt out from the side of the throne.
~~~~~~~~~
Sam slipped in by the door and stood close behind Jack, walking forward a few steps her ears picked up on footsteps, Jack had heard also. He swiftly turned too her and directed them to behind the throne. She crouched by the large chair, her heart beating wildly; she tried to control her breathing, feeling a slight panic arising. Two jaffa stepped through the partition and walked to the door: one exiting and one staying on their side. She stared unbelieving and felt all emotion draining her body. Her palms turned cold and dry. She gritted her teeth staring at the tall jaffa; eyes boring into his chest as if the look would somehow strike him down. Her attention was drawn back to her CO who had also recognised the jaffa. She watched as he shifted silently forward to the table by the throne, pressing under its top. She glanced over as the wall started retracting and the floor under the throne also. Jack shifted back next to her and out of the corner of her eye, she saw the second jaffa enter the room once more. Both the jaffa moved forward cautiously, she kept her eyes on her CO and he counted three out on his fingers.
Instantaneously they both jumped out from the throne onto solid floor firing zat blasts at the oncoming men. Her blast connected with her former torturer, a staff blast flew by her shoulder from the other jaffa and she felt herself being pushed to the floor. She heard another blast of the staff weapon and smelt burning near her. She rolled and glanced up too see her attacker standing over her fallen CO, she reached up and fired another blast herself, watching as the blue wave connected with its target. The jaffa sunk to the floor in an unceremonious heap. She breathed a few quick heaving breaths and crawled to where Jack lay, checking him over for any wounds. Blood poured from a gash on his head. The jaffa had obviously given him a blow from his blunt weapon. He was semiconscious but dazed. She rolled the jaffa away from Jack and herself, sliding the staff weapon beside her. Glancing up at the jaffa she had managed to deal a shot to, making sure he was still where he fell. She turned her attention back too Jack.
"How very quaint"
She froze as she heard the familiar chilling voice behind her.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jack aimed and fired at the oncoming men, he saw the blue striations of a blast hit the jaffa furthest from him, his own blast missing its target. His opponent lifted his staff weapon and aimed for Carter, Jack pushed her down and kicked out at the jaffa as he fell. The jaffa was knocked off balance but not for long, he swung his weapon round hitting Jack hard across his skull and temple, Jack groaned and rolled on the floor, blackness threatening too overtake his senses. He saw the jaffa surrounded by blue streaks and fall by him, and then a soft hand touched his face. His head started to pound and he felt a damp feeling falling along his face. He blinked away black spots in his eyes and tried to focus on the figure by him as she manoeuvred herself by him, pushing the heavy form away from him. He felt her hand slip under his head to lift him when he heard a voice. He frowned wondering where it came from.
~~~~~~~~~~~
"How very quaint"
Baal stepped forward from the shadows towards the two tauri situated on the floor by his fallen jaffa. His eyes lay on the female who was bent over the male who was bleeding from a wound on his head. The female did not turn around but he could tell by her body language that she was nervous. He walked to the table and lifted open a gold box adorned with glittering jewels. Slipping his hand into the box, sliding his fingers into the restraints of a hand device, the cool metal surrounding his fingers and hand. He withdrew his hand, and turned his full attention to the female who had turned and knelt watching his every move. He smiled his eyes boring into hers which looked defiantly back. She gritted her teeth as he approached her body seeming frozen, out of terror. Baal smiled broadly at this, instilling fear into the heart of such a strong female. She hunched over to the ground as he approached and for a moment, she had been hurt throughout the fight and the pain was getting too much for her. She breathed deeply and once more looked up at him with bright yet empty eyes, devoid of emotion, empty, still unwilling to give in too him. He found them strangely attractive; he stood before her and pressed his metal covered fingers into her shoulder, pulling her up to face him. She stood silently, defiant until the end. He brought her body to press into his, lifting his other hand to run up her back, grasping her hair in his fingers and pulled her head back to look up at him. Still no sound passed her lips and he felt her short panicking breaths warm against his face. Lifting his hand he would subdue her and have a more personal session with her later.
He felt the power from deep inside him rising, spreading around his body pulsating fast and furiously. Effortlessly he controlled the powerful feeling and directed it into a connection between his mind and his hand. His vision blurred for a moment as the intense surge of emotion hit him then righted itself. His vision focused clearly on the female before him, he felt the power emanating from the hand device as he raised his hand further his mind forcing the surge too connect with her mind.
Suddenly the pulsing power stopped and pain filled his abdomen. His hand dropped from her forehead and fell too her shoulder as he fought to gain control of his body. He strained with all the strength he had in him to create again the connection to the hand device. His vision blurred and his legs struggled to keep balance. He leaned against the female who stepped back; he focused on her face, which looked down on him a bitter, disgusted look in her eyes. He went to lift the hand device once more feeling sudden surge of power in him once more, feeling a blunt object pressing into his chest. His eyes trailed down and heard a sharp sound followed by excruciating pain. He sank to his knees and lost vision to a dark empty expanse.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A sharp pain twitched deep inside and then nothingness. Memories filled his mind, a quiet beautiful place, in the distance he could see them, calling too him, he stepped toward them, it had been so long. A child flew into his arms knocking him off balance and a woman quickly followed shouting with cries of delight, planting soft warm kisses on his neck and cheek. Tears of happiness were damp on her face and he held them both close too him. Finally the false gods had freed him, releasing him back to the life he was born too lead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Sam looked down at Jack as she heard the approaching footsteps. She tensed hearing him pause and slowly turned to watch him. He walked to the table, keeping half an eye on her. She looked around her zat lay the other side of the colonel, if she reached for it now he would see. She manoeuvred herself too look at him fully, eyes boring into him. She felt her breath hitching in her throat but she defiantly refused to let the fear arise. She watched as the Gould slipped his hand into a gold box sitting on the table he stood by and withdrawing it saw the glinting hint of metal covering his fingers. He turned and she saw the look of surprise cross his features as his eyes met with hers. He approached and she held his focus as he approached. An idea sprang to her mind, a way to throw him off for a moment in order for her to try to get the upper hand. She doubled over in pretence of painful agony. 'Think Sam, think' She smiled and shifted her weight forward a moment then shaking off the uncertainty of the situation raised her body once more to her torturer. He was standing before her still watching and she felt pressure on her shoulder, her pulled her too stand before him.
She looked into his eyes the idea playing about in her mind, daring her too go ahead with her plan. Her body was pulled toward the Gould and she breathed short breaths trying to calm her nerves. She felt his hand snake up her back and grasp into her hair pulling her head back farther raising his device covered hand as he did so. His eyes glowed and she felt the initial warmth as the device emitted its energy toward her forehead. She gripped the staff weapon in her hands pressing it into his abdomen and pushed her thumb over its trigger. He staggered against her as the blast closely connected its target, groaning as he fought to gain control over his senses. He tried to gain control, raising his hand once more; she pressed the weapon into his chest and pressed the trigger. He grunted and fell to his knees his eyes glowing faintly; he collapsed at her feet. She looked down at the lifeless body, turned her eyes back to her CO who had sat up dazed, and had watched the events silently.
They both jumped and jerked back as the symbiote left its former host and slithered toward Sam. She stepped further back tripping and falling over the collapsed body of the jaffa she had shot down. She heard a sharp sound and sat up dazed, the thin eel like body of the symbiote lay lifeless on the other side of the jaffa, and Jack aimed and fired once more at the symbiote. She twisted and scrambled back to her feet, stepped over both bodies and helped Jack back too his feet.
"Nice shot Sir"
She spoke unemotionally and hushed, tiredness lacing her tone. Jack gave a weak smile and looked down at the host and Gould. Sam felt emotionally drained and weak. She looked into his eyes, unwilling to move any of her limbs. Jack took her hand and pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her. She pressed her body too his. They still had to get out of this labyrinth but for a moment, they could rest in each other's arms. His voice was soft and protecting.
"You too. Now how about we leave the welcoming committee and get out of here"
"Agreed"
They broke the hold and she felt Jacks arm slip protectively around her. They headed toward the door at the back of the room.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(Methinks the end is near peeps. I think the next chapter will be the last so press on and see. Lurve Sara Lou)