Dr. Daniel Jackson was keeping his face neutral with an effort. They all knew the drill. Give captors nothing. Or as Jack said, never let 'em see you sweat. Jack's voice in his head was usually comforting, but Daniel suspected that the situation was rapidly disintegrating and even Jack's familiar rough cadence was not enough to make him feel better.

The three terrified Jaffa surrounding Daniel had marched him into a holding cell; a recessed wall and a narrow bench rounded off with the requisite force field. He sat down heavily on the bench, propping his back against the wall and staring fixedly at the wall.

Neutral.

Neutral.

The huge corpse-white Jaffa swept into the room. The other guards shrank. Daniel didn't move a muscle, didn't look up, and didn't react.

Neutral.

"I am Vosk." the Jaffa's voice was shockingly loud in the small confines of the room. "The shol'va is a great prize. Many gods will vie for the privilege of killing him. The Tauri leader - your O'Neill' will also fetch a significant price."

Never let 'em see you sweat.

"But you, Tauri. You are the true prize." Daniel could see the monstrous form coming closer in his peripheral vision. He kept his gaze neutral, exerting every ounce of his will. His captor loomed over him, practically touching the force field and placing himself as close to Daniel's field of vision as possible.

His tone was covetous, disturbingly so. Almost smoothly possessive.

"You will belong to my Lord Nergal. A perfect host for his ascension to his rightful place among the system lords."

"Guess you're not up on your history." Daniel said in a bored voice. "Last I checked, I'm pretty sure we were much better at bringing Goa'uld lords down than raising them up. You sure your Lord wants any part of this?"

There was no vocal response. The silence stretched uncomfortably long. Daniel finally flicked a glance at the immobile behemoth in front of him, only to get caught in burning bright green eyes that held him, effortlessly pinned as a butterfly in a collector's box.

"And until we reach my lord's planet, Tauri," The boom had become a low rumble, the seismic warning of an oncoming train. "You will belong to me."

He unfurled a terrifyingly long pink tongue and licked the force field lightly.

Sparks hissed and spat.

Daniel flinched.

As his jailer laughed and swept out of the room, Daniel berated himself for the involuntary move.

He'd lost that round. He'd most emphatically lost that round.

Daniel took a deep breath. He couldn't stop shaking, tremors originating deep in his stomach and spiraling out. He clenched his fists and tried to telepathically convince Jack that getting out right now would be a really, really good idea.

C'mon, Jack. Where the fuck are you?

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Well." Jack drawled, "This is deja vu all over again."

He and Teal'c were in the communications room of a mother ship for, like, the eight billionth time. Six silent Jaffa held staff weapons steadily on them. "I'd like to say this never gets old, but I'd be lying."

Nothing was happening and Jack was getting more irritated by the moment.

"What're you waiting for, Christmas?" Jack demanded of the closest guard. "Aren't you going to call someone, or interrogate us or anything?" He turned to Teal'c. "These guys got no imaginations."

"Silence." one of the guards spoke sharply.

"What's the magic word?" Jack demanded.

"Vosk will cut out your tongue, Tauri." the guard spat, his furious eyes flicking from Jack to Teal'c and back again. "Vosk will destroy you."

"Not sure I know this 'Vost' guy. Have I met him?"

"Vosk commands this ship and all who serve here." another guard piped up. His voice was wavering; he was practically peeing his pants. Jack made a mental note to hit him first. Kid would fold like a bad poker hand.

"I believe that 'Vosk' is the Jaffa who shot MajorCarter." Teal'c said tightly.

Well, tightly for Teal'c, anyway.

"Oh yeah. Big-Ass Mutant Boy. I owe him for that. Carter owes him for that." Jack made a show of considering that. "That guy get hit with the ugly stick, or what?"

There was a collective indrawn breath from the Jaffa. They all paled, even the dark ones.

Vosk, all seven hundred pounds of him, swept into the room.

"I have heard of your habit of making jokes, Tauri." his voice sounded strange, almost indulgent. He smiled widely and Jack could see sharply pointed teeth. "I must confess, I had hoped one day to witness yourÉsense of humor?"

"Well, here it is." Jack said nonchalantly. "Enjoy."

Vosk laughed. It was a loud belly laugh, the kind shopping mall Santas practice in mirrors. It made Jack's flesh crawl.

"I shall enjoy, little Tauri." he said, positively reeking of mirth. His green eyes crinkled at the corners of his wide face and his pointed teeth shone as they caught the light. "I shall enjoy this very much."

Vosk came closer, motioning for the guards to put up their staffs.

"Now." He stood in front of Jack, his pale green eyes intent. "Tell me what you know of the Lar'raan Reii."

Jack cocked his head quizzically and looked at Teal'c. Teal'c raised an eyebrow back.

"Well. That's easy." Jack said, considering. "I don't even know what you just said."

"The Lar'raan Reii are a myth." Teal'c said flatly. Well, flatly for Teal'c, anyway. "I believe they do not exist."

"Can we go now?" Jack suggested hopefully.

Vosk's smile never shifted. "You will cease your humor soon and tell me about the Lar'raan Reii or I will be forced to take measures."

Jack looked him in the eye. "We know nothing about theÉwhatever. Hell, I can't even pronounce it."

Vosk continued to smile. "There is a time for laughter, Tauri, and a time for truth." He raised his communicator.

"Wait!" Jack said, panicking. "We've told you the truth. We don't know anything about thoseÉX-RayÉwhatever..people."

Vosk paused, a deliberate action meant to erode confidence, then put the communicator away. Jack stared at him, trying to project honesty.

It was difficult because the mutant was still wearing that creepy smile and it made Jack want to lie to him.

A lot.

"The truth is most definitely something I enjoy, O'Neill." His voice was disturbingly soft and he moved in closer to Jack. "I hope you will enjoy the next few days as well, little Tauri." The smile was still on his lips and in his voice and Jack positively yearned to wipe it off with a P-90.

"I hope you will enjoy the screams of your woman as my guards have her. I hope you enjoy the despair in her groans as she arises from the sarcophagus, knowing she will die again in agony before the day is through. I definitely hope you enjoy the sounds your pretty young warrior makes as I take him over and over and over until he cries out for mercy, impaled on my cockÉ "

Jack hit him.

There was no thought behind the blow. No strategy. No plan. He just lashed out, let fly a punch that landed squarely on that obscene mouth and rocked Vosk back on his gargantuan heels. Teal'c grabbed him and hauled him back, bruising Jack's skin with the force of his grip. Every weapon in the room came to bear on Jack and Teal'c, but Vosk threw up a hand and no one fired.

The room was silent except for Jack, breathing in sharp angry panting breaths.

Vosk kept smiling, pointed and ugly. He'd won that round, and he damn well knew it.

"Yes, little Tauri." he said, and Jack strained against Teal'c's grip, Ôcause the fucker was gloating.

"I shall enjoy you all. Your little band of defeated warriors and the Lar'raan Reii. I shall enjoy you all immensely."