Chapter 8 - Baal

The Jaffa followed Daray through the corridors of Baal's outpost until they reached a room that appeared to be the throne room.

No torture chamber this time?, Jack wondered. A moment later he realized that it was not at all important where they were dealing with this certain Goa'uld.

The Jaffa kept respectful distance as Daray bowed before Baal telling him of her mission's success. She took position beside her father as he showed the guards to bring the two of them closer.

Baal's eyes seemed to brighten at the sight of Jack and Sam being at his mercy once again. But he did not grin as usual, he seemed to be angered by them even more than he was pleased.

"So you dare challenging me once again? I thought you both would have been taught to respect me, yet. But this does not appear to be the case."

"If you would stop capturing us all the time...", Jack could not hold back that remark.

Baal eyed him coldly. "I thought you would have learnt by now that I will always get you when you dare to attack me. It would have been better if you died... though it wouldn't have saved you either."

Jack let out a long sigh.

"So now again you and your mate are at my mercy. I'm highly pleased to get my chance to finish off with you", Baal took a moment to caress Daray's hair, "thanks to my lovely daughter."

Daray had her head bowed but though Jack could see a thin smile on her face welcoming the gesture.

He took the moment to look at Sam who was very quiet again. With fright he saw how pale she was now, even paler than the night before and she was trembling, he saw how hard it was for her to conceal her inner agony.

As Baal returned his attention to them he remarked that all as well. A smirk crossed his face. The Tauri were already trapped at the point he them wanted to be at: worried about each other, not willing to lose their mate. He had already figured out what to do with them. With a gesture of his hand he showed Daray to leave, she had done enough for the moment.

Before Daray left she glanced at Siama'a fiercely for a last time. Siama'a felt sort of paralyzed by it, never again did she want to encounter these merciless, burning but frozen eyes. She forced herself to shut her eyelids closely, she turned her head a bit and opened them again to look at Jack. He seemed to be very concerned about her.

Suddenly a rush of pain shot through her head, Siama'a bit her lips to hold them from trembling. Vertigo set in and clouded her consciousness, then she fainted, the inner pressure was just too much for her.

A day after the fight the clean-up on Kel'ba came to a roll. The remaining members of SG-1 had organized a team to help the inhabitants. The work went on very fast and everybody who had survived the attack was glad about it, but the abduction of Siama'a and Jack made the general mood somber and cold.

But there suddenly was a bright spot above it as Tiobe came up with some new information for Jonas, Daniel and Teal'C.

"We have still got intelligence in the service of Baal that hasn't been discovered, yet", Tiobe began, "and I've just received a message saying that Siama'a and Colonel O'Neill have been taken to one of Baal's outposts."

Daniel exchanged glances with Teal'C and Jonas.

"What can we do?" Jonas questioned.

"This post is not the most heavily guarded", Tiobe stated, "there's a realistic chances that we could fight them out of there. Also there are many of us who are willing to help you rescuing them."

Daniel looked at her with surprise, "Do you really think you are ready for another fight against the Goa'uld?"

"You have done your best to help us, now it's time for us to revenge for it. And we also need to free Siama'a; now that Ketiama is no longer with us she would actually be in charge to become our leader."

"We'll inform the SGC about this chance", Daniel told Tiobe after another time of glancing around to Jonas and Teal'C, "if we get a go on it, we can set up a plan."

"Don't worry about a plan", she replied, "we're already working on that. We've got a lot of experience with missions to Baal, perhaps it'll prove useful this time as the times before."