PART FOUR:
The planet on the other side of the gate was hot compared to the icy feeling of the wormhole. Lara blinked in the bright sunlight as Teal'c and Daniel checked the perimeter, Jack still playing the role of prisoner. They were all playing their parts now. No one knew who was watching.
Lara still stood on the slight platform holding the stargate. She had an arrogant look on her face. Slowly she drew in a deep breath and let it out, trying to remember everything she knew about Bastet and the Goa'uld.
"My Goddess?" Daniel walked forward and bowed. "The perimeter is clear."
"And the hassac?" Lara asked in an inhuman voice.
"Conscious, my queen." Teal'c said, from where he was 'guarding' Jack.
Lara felt slightly silly, performing to no audience – or at least, no audience she could see. But she knew it was going to get very serious, very fast. "Very well." She said, climbing down from the platform. "Dial the address."
Daniel walked forward and dialled, as Lara stepped off the platform, handmaidens at her back. The gate opened with a 'woosh'. Daniel nodded slightly to Teal'c before stepping through the gate. Lara followed, with Sam and Janet a step behind her. Teal'c went through last, still holding Jack.
Lara felt the now familiar sensation of being pushed and pulled all at once, before stepping out onto another planet. The planet where they were meeting Svarog. She looked around at the wooded planet that looked so like Earth – and remembered the last time she had stepped out onto a planet like this. Although, this time hopefully there would be no arrows.
Lara walked forward and heard Teal'c and Jack arrive behind her. "Where is Svarog?" she snapped.
Teal'c nodded sharply at Daniel and he went to check the perimeter. Daniel took his place to 'guard' Jack. "There is no one here, my queen." Teal'c said when he returned.
Lara's eyes flashed white. "We had a deal!" she snapped.
Daniel stepped forward, acting his role as First Prime and Bastet's Champion. "Perhaps he is late, my queen." He said, as Teal'c took his place guarding Jack.
It had been decided, back at the SGC, that it would be better if Daniel acted the part of the First Prime. He was less recognisable than Teal'c and if they ran into any trouble, it would be better for Jack and Teal'c to be near each other.
And Daniel was playing the part rather well. He acted just like the devoted, loyal warrior. But just as Lara was about to say something else, the ground around them began to glow. Lara snarled angrily as they were all transported off the planet by a set of rings.
Svarog looked on in amusement as Bastet appeared before him. He noted that her Jaffa were instantly ready to defend her and her handmaidens moved in front of her, to protect her. But his eyes were only for her. She was perhaps even more beautiful than he remembered. Her eyes flashed white when she saw him. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
Svarog smiled. She was as arrogant and condescending as ever. But then she was Ra's daughter and had spent thousands of years by his side, her power almost as great as his. "I have brought you to my ship, Bastet. He said. "So you can enjoy the luxuries you deserve."
"We were supposed to meet in neutral territory." Bastet said coldly. "Not your ship!"
"I assure you, this ship is as neutral as it can be." Svarog replied smoothly. "It is empty except for myself, two of my Jaffa and two servants."
Bastet stalked forward and her servants almost cowered out of her way. "And I suppose I shall just have to trust you are telling the truth?" she asked.
"Yes." Svarog motioned one of his Jaffa forward. "Take the prisoner to his cell." He ordered.
At his words, Bastet turned to the Jaffa guarding the prisoner. The Jaffa bowed his head to her. "You will guard the cell." She said. "Do not let anyone touch him. Do this, and I will be grateful, my warrior."
The large Jaffa bowed again. "It is as you wish, my queen."
He then followed Svarog's Jaffa, dragging his prisoner with him. Svarog watched them leave, before turning back to Bastet. "Allow me to show you where you can rest and eat." He said.
Bastet glared at him, before sweeping past him, her servants following. He smirked as he followed her. This meeting was proving to be fun.
Lara tried not to blink in surprise as the ring transport disappeared. As soon as that happened, Teal'c and Daniel snatched up their staff weapons and Janet and Sam moved in front of her, playing their parts. But Lara ignored them and focused on the man in front of her.
He was a tall, broad shouldered man, with Norse features and the characteristic blonde hair and blue eyes. He wore breeches, boots and a loose woven tunic. He looked very much like the warrior God he was supposed to be.
Lara's eyes flashed white. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded.
Svarog smiled arrogantly at her. "I have brought you to my ship, Bastet." He said. "So you may enjoy the luxuries you deserve."
"We were supposed to meet in neutral territory." Lara said, as she watched Svarog and his Jaffa carefully. "Not your ship."
Sam carefully shared a look with Daniel. Svarog was up to something. They would have to be very careful. "I assure you, this ship is as neutral as it can be." Svarog said smoothly, his eyes never leaving Lara. "It is empty apart from myself, two of my Jaffa and two servants."
Lara walked forward, angry and frustrated at the turn of events. "And I suppose I shall just have to trust you are telling the truth?" she asked, wondering why it was that he sounded like so many other men in her life...like Pierre, maybe. Or Larson.
"Yes." Svarog waved one of his Jaffa forward. "Take the prisoner to his cell." He ordered.
Lara turned to Teal'c as the Jaffa came forward. He bowed his head slightly. "You will guard the cell." She said. "Do not let anyone touch him." Lara paused for a moment, trying to focus on the role she was playing. "Do this, and I will be grateful, my warrior." She added.
"It is as you wish, my queen." Teal'c said and bowed again.
Lara watched the three men leave and told herself again that Jack would be fine. Svarog turned back to her. "Allow me to show you where you can rest and eat." He said.
Lara glared at him, then swept past, trying to hide her expression from him. She just wanted to punch him in the face! And then maybe shoot him, she reflected.
She grinned at the thought, then wiped it from her face as Svarog came up beside her. Lara glanced warily at him. "When will I get to see the Tok'ra?" she asked.
"Soon." Svarog replied.
Lara raised an eyebrow at him. "Do not try and manipulate me, Svarog." She said coldly. "Because I am a dangerous woman to cross."
Svarog smiled arrogantly at her. "I hope the accommodations will be suitable." He said as he opened a door.
Lara walked in, alert for a trap, but she found nothing. She glanced at Sam beside her as Janet shut the door on Svarog's smiling face. Sam shook her head slightly. She pointed discretely at the ceiling. Svarog could be listening in.
"Mai'tac!" Lara snarled. "I do not like this."
She walked around the opulent room. There was a chaise along the opposite wall to a large bed. A table covered in platters of food stood in the centre. Rich carpets covered the floor and tapestries hung on the walls. "Servant!" Lara snapped. "Bring me some wine."
Sam walked forward and poured some wine into a goblet. When she handed it to Lara, Lara leant forward and whispered in her ear. "Can they see us?" she asked.
"No." Sam said.
"Good." Lara smiled.
She turned to face Janet and Daniel. Giving them a series of hand signals, she told them to go looking for Jack and Jacob. They nodded. "Where did you learn how to do that?" Sam breathed.
Lara grinned at her. "This isn't my first outing with the military, you know." She whispered back.
"Servant." Lara said. "Go and find Svarog. Tell him I want to conclude our business."
"Yes, my queen." Janet said in a meek voice.
"Jaffa, go with her." Lara added.
"Yes, my queen." Daniel said and left.
Lara walked to the chaise and lay down, trying to feel and look like an arrogant Goa'uld. But she was wary and cautious. Svarog was up to something. What it was, she didn't know. Sam came and knelt by the chaise. "What should we do now?" she breathed.
"Wait." Lara replied, just as softly. "We need to find out what Svarog is up to."
Author's Note: It's that wonderful time of year again...exam time. And because of that I'm going to be doing a lot of studying over the next week or so, and not a lot of writing. In fact, I should probably be studying now :(. I hope to have the next chapter up in about two weeks or so. I'll try and post it as soon as I can, anyway.
Cheeky.