PART FIVE:
Jack slumped to the floor in apparent exhaustion as the door to his cell shut with an echoing click. Svarog's Jaffa had led them on a twisting path to the bowels of the ship – where the prison cells and torture rooms were located. It seemed they came standard with every mothership.
Once Svarog's Jaffa had made sure Jack's cell was securely locked, he left with a final glance at Teal'c. The look was almost pitying. Teal'c took up his post at the cell door. He stood in front ofit, partially turned so he could see the whole room and effectively blocking the path to the cell from the door to the room.
They remained that way for a long moment, completely silent. Jack was still slumped on the floor of the cell, where he had fallen after he had been pushed inside. After what seemed like a hour, but was probably far less, he pushed himself up into a sitting position and surveyed the room outside his cell.
The room was simple, with only one cell along the left hand wall. Along the right hand wall there were several torture devices – or what Jack supposed were torture devices. He didn't really want to think about exactly how they worked. The only other feature of the room was the door, most of which was blocked from view by Teal'c.
"Well, looks like I rated the VIP room." Jack muttered.
Teal'c didn't respond, or even move. Jack looked consideringly at him, before moving to sit on the bench that ran along the back of the cell. Another long moment of silence past. Dejected, Jack lay down on the bench. He realised that Svarog was probably listening in to the room, so talking to Teal'c was out off the question. And Jacob was nowhere to be seen.
So where was he? Jack resisted the urge to call out to him, just to see if he could get a response. But he couldn't. He wasn't supposed to know Jacob was here. He let out a long sigh. He supposed he would just have to wait until someone came to see him. He just hoped it would be Lara, and not Svarog.
Jacob slowly became aware that he was once again lying on the cold, hard floor of his cell. His head was throbbing and he felt like he had been run over by a truck. He groaned softly and pulled himself up. Gradually, Jacob eased himself into a sitting position, as the world spun around him. When the room was finally still once again, he looked around and noticed it was empty.
That was strange. Jacob had gotten used to the way there was always someone waiting for him when he woke up. His world was ruled by the pain those visits caused. Jacob wondered why no one was here. Had he woken up earlier than they thought he would?
No. A familiar voice said in his mind. They have not come.
Do you know why? Jacob asked his Tok'ra companion, Selmac.
No. I do not.
Realising that there was no point wondering about why they had not come, because he really had no idea, he began looking carefully around the room and tried to figure out a way to escape. The room was empty aside from his cell, and there was nothing he could use as a weapon or even something to jimmy the lock on the cell door.
Because the door to the room was open, Jacob craned his neck, trying to see out into the corridor, hoping he might find a clue or a weapon. He found neither. Instead, as he watched, a tall man in a flowing white robe and Egyptian style makeup walked down the corridor and stopped in the doorway.
Jacob tensed when he saw the staff weapon the man carried and the Goa'uld mark on his forehead. But there was something familiar about the mark, something Jacob almost recognised. AS he watched, the man smiled at him before turning around and leaving. But just before he did, the man could have sworn the man had winked at him.
Selmac, do you know who's mark that is? he asked his Tok'ra companion about the mark on the man's forehead. It looks familiar somehow.
It should. Selmac said. That is the mark of the System Lord Bastet.
Bastet? Jacob was surprised. But the Tok'ra caught her. You don't think she had escaped, do you?
Not unless Bastet has found a new First Prime. Selmac said. And there's some reason that First Prime would be winking at you. Selmac added dryly.
You saw it too?
Yes. And I would guess that we might have a friend or two onboard. Seems the cavalry has arrived, as you would say.
Maybe it has. Jacob agreed, thoughts of his daughter and her team mates flashing through his head.
Lara stalked from one end of the room to the other. She was frustrated. Janet and Daniel had been gone for almost an hour, and since then she had not seen any sign of them – or even of Svarog. As a result, she could feel her temper getting very short. The strain was beginning to get to her.
'I was never one for intrigue or disguises anyway.' She thought. 'I prefer situations where there is no hiding – just the challenge of using your wits and your skills to survive.'
"My queen, will you not sit down?" There was a slight edge to Sam's voice, urging Lara not to do anything to reveal them.
Lara did as she had asked, lying down once more on the chaise, trying to resist the urge to get up and pace some more. She gratefully accepted the wine Sam handed her, just because it gave her something to do, rather than for what it was. "Is there any sign of my Jaffa?" Lara asked in an inhuman voice.
"No, my queen." Sam answered.
"And where is Svarog?" Lara snapped, more to the room and anyone who might be listening, than to Sam.
"I do not know, my queen."
At that moment the door to the room opened and Daniel walked in. "My queen, I was unable to find Svarog for you."
Lara snarled wordlessly. "Where is my servant?" she snapped.
"She is just behind me my queen." Daniel replied, his voice soothing, as if Lara really was an annoyed Goa'uld.
Daniel quickly crossed the room to where Lara was sitting. She stood up as he got there, having seen the gleam in his eye. "I found Jacob." He breathed in Lara's ear. "He's in a cell down in the bowels of the ship. I think Jack is at the opposite end of the level, but I couldn't be sure because one of Svarog's Jaffa was on guard."
Lara nodded at him, and he walked over to tell Sam what he had found out. As soon as he had done, the door swished open again and Janet walked into the room – along with one of Svarog's servants. Svarog's servant was dressed rather like him in breeches and a tunic. He appeared to be a young blonde man, but Lara couldn't be sure. Many things were deceptive when you dealt with Goa'uld.
"My lady," the man began in a respectful tone. "My lord Svarog asked me to tell you that he wishes you would keep your Jaffa and servants with you at all times."
"He dares tell me what to do!" Lara snapped, and the man flinched visibly.
"He also says he will be ready to discuss the trade soon, Honoured One." The man continued.
Lara shot a quick look at Sam, and she saw her slight nod. "No one tells me what to do! I am a Goddess! You may tell you master Svarog, that he will either come and talk to me now, or the deal is off!"
"My lady, please, I beg you to have patience. My lord Svarog is only trying to offer you time to rest." The servant said.
"I do not need rest!" Lara snapped, her eyes flashing white. "I see you thinks he can order me around. That is not so. Take me to him!"
"My lady..." the servant began.
"NOW!" Lara roared, half raising her left hand – on which she wore the hand device.
The servant's eyes went wide with fear at the movement. "Yes, my lady." He said meekly.
The terrified servant led the way out of the room, with Lara striding behind him, Daniel, Janet and Sam following. The servant led them down passage after passage, until he finally stopped outside a door. He paused a moment and sent a scared look over his shoulder, before opening the door. "My lord Svarog, honoured Bastet is here to see you."
From deep inside the room there was a low, masculine chuckle. "I know. I have been expecting her."
His words, along with the arrogance behind them snapped Lara's already fragile temper. And her anger just grew when the servant moved out of the doorway, revealing Svarog lying nonchalantly on a chaise, looking at Lara with barely disguised heat.
"Why don't you leave your servants, Bastet, and join me for a meal?" he said.
Lara felt the tension behind her as her friends waited for her response. She willed herself to remain calm. Too much rested on this for her to get mad and punch him. The lives of her friends were in her hands...as well as Jack's. The thought sobered Lara, and some of the anger faded away.
She looked at Svarog, allowing a seductive smile to curve at her lips. "Why not?" she said, and stepped forward. The door shut behind her with a soft swish.
Jack slumped to the floor in apparent exhaustion as the door to his cell shut with an echoing click. Svarog's Jaffa had led them on a twisting path to the bowels of the ship – where the prison cells and torture rooms were located. It seemed they came standard with every mothership.
Once Svarog's Jaffa had made sure Jack's cell was securely locked, he left with a final glance at Teal'c. The look was almost pitying. Teal'c took up his post at the cell door. He stood in front ofit, partially turned so he could see the whole room and effectively blocking the path to the cell from the door to the room.
They remained that way for a long moment, completely silent. Jack was still slumped on the floor of the cell, where he had fallen after he had been pushed inside. After what seemed like a hour, but was probably far less, he pushed himself up into a sitting position and surveyed the room outside his cell.
The room was simple, with only one cell along the left hand wall. Along the right hand wall there were several torture devices – or what Jack supposed were torture devices. He didn't really want to think about exactly how they worked. The only other feature of the room was the door, most of which was blocked from view by Teal'c.
"Well, looks like I rated the VIP room." Jack muttered.
Teal'c didn't respond, or even move. Jack looked consideringly at him, before moving to sit on the bench that ran along the back of the cell. Another long moment of silence past. Dejected, Jack lay down on the bench. He realised that Svarog was probably listening in to the room, so talking to Teal'c was out off the question. And Jacob was nowhere to be seen.
So where was he? Jack resisted the urge to call out to him, just to see if he could get a response. But he couldn't. He wasn't supposed to know Jacob was here. He let out a long sigh. He supposed he would just have to wait until someone came to see him. He just hoped it would be Lara, and not Svarog.
Jacob slowly became aware that he was once again lying on the cold, hard floor of his cell. His head was throbbing and he felt like he had been run over by a truck. He groaned softly and pulled himself up. Gradually, Jacob eased himself into a sitting position, as the world spun around him. When the room was finally still once again, he looked around and noticed it was empty.
That was strange. Jacob had gotten used to the way there was always someone waiting for him when he woke up. His world was ruled by the pain those visits caused. Jacob wondered why no one was here. Had he woken up earlier than they thought he would?
No. A familiar voice said in his mind. They have not come.
Do you know why? Jacob asked his Tok'ra companion, Selmac.
No. I do not.
Realising that there was no point wondering about why they had not come, because he really had no idea, he began looking carefully around the room and tried to figure out a way to escape. The room was empty aside from his cell, and there was nothing he could use as a weapon or even something to jimmy the lock on the cell door.
Because the door to the room was open, Jacob craned his neck, trying to see out into the corridor, hoping he might find a clue or a weapon. He found neither. Instead, as he watched, a tall man in a flowing white robe and Egyptian style makeup walked down the corridor and stopped in the doorway.
Jacob tensed when he saw the staff weapon the man carried and the Goa'uld mark on his forehead. But there was something familiar about the mark, something Jacob almost recognised. AS he watched, the man smiled at him before turning around and leaving. But just before he did, the man could have sworn the man had winked at him.
Selmac, do you know who's mark that is? he asked his Tok'ra companion about the mark on the man's forehead. It looks familiar somehow.
It should. Selmac said. That is the mark of the System Lord Bastet.
Bastet? Jacob was surprised. But the Tok'ra caught her. You don't think she had escaped, do you?
Not unless Bastet has found a new First Prime. Selmac said. And there's some reason that First Prime would be winking at you. Selmac added dryly.
You saw it too?
Yes. And I would guess that we might have a friend or two onboard. Seems the cavalry has arrived, as you would say.
Maybe it has. Jacob agreed, thoughts of his daughter and her team mates flashing through his head.
Lara stalked from one end of the room to the other. She was frustrated. Janet and Daniel had been gone for almost an hour, and since then she had not seen any sign of them – or even of Svarog. As a result, she could feel her temper getting very short. The strain was beginning to get to her.
'I was never one for intrigue or disguises anyway.' She thought. 'I prefer situations where there is no hiding – just the challenge of using your wits and your skills to survive.'
"My queen, will you not sit down?" There was a slight edge to Sam's voice, urging Lara not to do anything to reveal them.
Lara did as she had asked, lying down once more on the chaise, trying to resist the urge to get up and pace some more. She gratefully accepted the wine Sam handed her, just because it gave her something to do, rather than for what it was. "Is there any sign of my Jaffa?" Lara asked in an inhuman voice.
"No, my queen." Sam answered.
"And where is Svarog?" Lara snapped, more to the room and anyone who might be listening, than to Sam.
"I do not know, my queen."
At that moment the door to the room opened and Daniel walked in. "My queen, I was unable to find Svarog for you."
Lara snarled wordlessly. "Where is my servant?" she snapped.
"She is just behind me my queen." Daniel replied, his voice soothing, as if Lara really was an annoyed Goa'uld.
Daniel quickly crossed the room to where Lara was sitting. She stood up as he got there, having seen the gleam in his eye. "I found Jacob." He breathed in Lara's ear. "He's in a cell down in the bowels of the ship. I think Jack is at the opposite end of the level, but I couldn't be sure because one of Svarog's Jaffa was on guard."
Lara nodded at him, and he walked over to tell Sam what he had found out. As soon as he had done, the door swished open again and Janet walked into the room – along with one of Svarog's servants. Svarog's servant was dressed rather like him in breeches and a tunic. He appeared to be a young blonde man, but Lara couldn't be sure. Many things were deceptive when you dealt with Goa'uld.
"My lady," the man began in a respectful tone. "My lord Svarog asked me to tell you that he wishes you would keep your Jaffa and servants with you at all times."
"He dares tell me what to do!" Lara snapped, and the man flinched visibly.
"He also says he will be ready to discuss the trade soon, Honoured One." The man continued.
Lara shot a quick look at Sam, and she saw her slight nod. "No one tells me what to do! I am a Goddess! You may tell you master Svarog, that he will either come and talk to me now, or the deal is off!"
"My lady, please, I beg you to have patience. My lord Svarog is only trying to offer you time to rest." The servant said.
"I do not need rest!" Lara snapped, her eyes flashing white. "I see you thinks he can order me around. That is not so. Take me to him!"
"My lady..." the servant began.
"NOW!" Lara roared, half raising her left hand – on which she wore the hand device.
The servant's eyes went wide with fear at the movement. "Yes, my lady." He said meekly.
The terrified servant led the way out of the room, with Lara striding behind him, Daniel, Janet and Sam following. The servant led them down passage after passage, until he finally stopped outside a door. He paused a moment and sent a scared look over his shoulder, before opening the door. "My lord Svarog, honoured Bastet is here to see you."
From deep inside the room there was a low, masculine chuckle. "I know. I have been expecting her."
His words, along with the arrogance behind them snapped Lara's already fragile temper. And her anger just grew when the servant moved out of the doorway, revealing Svarog lying nonchalantly on a chaise, looking at Lara with barely disguised heat.
"Why don't you leave your servants, Bastet, and join me for a meal?" he said.
Lara felt the tension behind her as her friends waited for her response. She willed herself to remain calm. Too much rested on this for her to get mad and punch him. The lives of her friends were in her hands...as well as Jack's. The thought sobered Lara, and some of the anger faded away.
She looked at Svarog, allowing a seductive smile to curve at her lips. "Why not?" she said, and stepped forward. The door shut behind her with a soft swish.