The flume ride was long and hard, although it may have just been her imagination, colored by what was waiting for them at the end.  Joanna lurched out of the wormhole, letting herself fall to the stone platform and partway down the steps.

"On your feet, woman."  The familiar derision in Teal'c's voice, not heard in so long, sent her adrenaline levels higher. 

Rising awkwardly, her feet catching in her wool skirt, she glared up at her stony faced captor.  His eyes were flat and dead, the golden First Prime symbol hidden by a prosthesis and the black sign of Anubis taking its place.  He jerked on the length of chain that bound her hands together and strode off toward the alert Gate guards, causing her to stumble down the steps to keep up with him.

A burly Jaffa met them halfway.  "State your purpose."  His eyes passed over Joanna with disinterest, more concerned with the unknown Jaffa.

"I have been charged with delivering this prisoner for questioning.  She is the leader of a resistance movement on Kapras."

The Jaffa nodded, recognizing the name of a planet that had a large naquadah mine on it, and that also served as a proving ground for Anubis' more nasty weapons.  Looking Joanna over with more interest, he smirked at her sullen stare. 

"I had many friends that died on Kapras," he murmured, stepping closer to her.  A meaty hand came up to close around her jaw, fat fingers digging into the soft flesh as he lifted her face up.  "I would be happy to assist if you need any help… breaking her."

Joanna let a touch of fear enter her eyes as Teal'c answered.  "I will remember."

"I look forward to it.  Gra'das!" he abruptly shouted, the sadistic brute laughing as Joanna flinched.  On of the other guards ran up, dropping to one knee before his commander.

"Take them to the lower levels, then report to the Division Officer.  And you," he smiled cruelly at Joanna.  "I look forward to seeing you again."  Trailing a filthy index finger down the side of her cheek, his chuckle turned into a yelp of pain as she turned and bit him.  Wrenching his digit from her mouth, he backhanded her across the face, driving her to the pebbled ground.

Joanna lay there a moment, her head ringing.  Even rolling with the blow it still hurt like the dickens.  Suddenly a hulking form crouched over her.  "I'll be sure to find you later."  The Jaffa stood up, and almost too late she saw the boot aiming for her ribs.

Wincing in pain she struggled to rise, tripping over her feet to stop from falling again as Teal'c led her along, following their unwanted guide into Anubis' stronghold.

They walked through the forest, occasionally passing small groups of Jaffa, but their small band wasn't challenged until they arrived at the fortress proper.  Their escort was apparently well known as the three of them were waved through without so much as a suspicious glance.

"This is too easy," Joanna muttered in a singsong voice, keeping her voice low as they went deeper into weapons factory.  "We need to go left here," she continued, hugging her arms close, pretending to talk to herself.

All of a sudden Teal'c thrust his staff weapon into her hands; reaching out he grabbed the other Jaffa's head in his hands and gave it a sharp twist.

"That works."  Keeping an eye out, Joanna watched as Teal'c dragged the dead Jaffa into what turned out to be a storage room.  He zatted the body three times, letting it disintegrated into nothing.  The pair stood just inside the doorway, listening for any sign that the noise from the zat had alerted a Jaffa patrol.    

Joanna gave Teal'c back the staff weapon.  "Looks better on you.  I don't think anyone's coming, you ready?"  As an answer, he opened the door and slipped out, making sure there was no one around. 

The pair made their way deeper into the fortress, down what seemed endless side corridors; braziers holding hot coals gave off flickering light at every intersection.  Shadows danced on the golden walls, making the carved hieroglyphics seem to move.  Several Jaffa patrols passed them by, but Teal'c's ingrained air of command and the impression he gave off knowing exactly where he was going prevented any of the troops from questioning them.

As the last set of bootsteps fades away, he drew Joanna into an alcove, pulling her close. 

She looked up at him, acutely aware of how masculine he was, looming over her in the cramped recess.  "I don't think we have time for this, not that I'm complaining, mind you… "  A sharp click cut her off as he unlocked the chain that bound her hands together and let it drop to the floor.

A cocked eyebrow was his only response.  "We are far enough from the prisoner cells that your presence as a captive would arouse suspicion." 

Perversely disappointed, Joanna tore herself away from contemplating how near his mouth was and the delicious way it formed the word arouse.  "Oh, yeah, right."  Pushing the chain against the wall, she started taking off the Kapras clothing, revealing an outfit the Tok'ra said would not be amiss on one of Anubis' slaves.  The pants were black leather, dark and matte enough that it seemed your hand would pass right into them.  The cropped top was also made of black leather, lacing up the front, with small cap sleeves. 

Reaching into a hidden pocket of her discarded skirt, Joanna pulled out a dull steel collar and handed it to Teal'c.  She turned as he placed it around her neck, a shiver running through her as it locked into place. 

"You put one of these on me last time I was here too," she whispered, fingertips skimming over the cold metal.

Teal'c's hands tightened on her arms.  "Will you speak of it to me when we return?"

A half smile tugged at her mouth as Joanna faced him again.  "Maybe."  She pulled the pins from her hair, untangling the tight bun it had been twisted into and finger combing out the silver and brown strands, letting them fall around her shoulders.  "One last thing."  From the pocket she gave Teal'c her temporary symbol of Anubis; he peeled off the thin film protecting it and centered the paper on her forehead, covering it with his palm.

The heat of his hand bound the black sign to her skin; removing the backing Teal'c stared at what in any other context would have been a graceful tattoo. 

"Well?" Joanna asked, concerned at his silence. 

"It is an abomination," he finally said, his voice thick.  "When we return I will remove it myself."

"That's not what I meant," she protested, squeezing his hand in sympathy nonetheless.  "Am I gonna convince anyone I'm a slave?"

"Indeed, Joanna.  You will."

Reaching up, she tried not to scratch at the mark.  "I thought slaves didn't wear these things."

"Anubis does as he pleases.  And it shows the power he has over the subjects under his rule."  Teal'c's derisive tone showed what he thought of such a fiend.

"Just wondering."  Joanna let Teal'c slip from the alcove, then bundled up the chains and the Kapras dress, shoving them as far out of sight as she could.  Easing from the recess herself, Joanna followed her partner as they made their way to the nearest isolated computer access station.