Yay!!! I got reviews! And nice ones too! Thank you all that reviewed.

I only hope that you will forgive me when I tell you that (ducks behind computer chair) This is the last that I ever wrote on this story. (sheepish grin)

But, if I get more encouraging reviews, I promise I will delve into the frightening place that is my imagination and try and remember just where this story was going. You will have to have patience though so I can write it.

Now, on to chapter 2!

Disclaimer: Don't own it! Stop bugging me! GAH ! (stomps off into corner where she cries because she does not own Stargate)

Later that evening, Sekmet summoned the prisoner to her chambers. She ordered the Jaffa to leave them as she stood before the man she had tried to kill.

In all honesty, he had endured the ordeal much better than she had expected. He was still a little shaky; however, he managed to stand with no support. She had to applaud his resilience for that.

He tried to meet her gaze, another admirable feat, yet his eyes would soon fall from hers. For her part, she watched him appraisingly, much like a farmer judging the value of newly acquired livestock. But that was all humans were, right? Livestock, slaves, beasts of burden, hosts; call them what you may, the creatures of the Tauri would always bow to the will of their masters. Thus was the role of an inferior race.

The slave had begun trembling under her scrutiny, either from fear or exhaustion. Sekhmet knew not, and cared not which. In the corner of her mind, she wondered if he still would consider his family first the next time that he faced death. It was a small, nagging curiosity that soon blossomed in her mind. Rivaling it was her annoyance at caring, but she had to admit that the loyalty of this creature intrigued her.

So, she decided to give in to her curiosity and incite a reaction from the human.

"Your family is dead. They have been killed for your insolence." Before speaking, she had concentrated on his face. She wanted to see his emotion as closely as possible. That proved to be unnecessary however. For his reaction was too quick to gauge.

She had expected tears, or shock. Also, she thought he would begin to beg for his life, and those of the remaining humans. Instead, the slave lunged forward, much quicker than she would have ever thought possible. He tackled her, his full weight slamming into her, knocking the breath from her lungs. Their momentum continued as the two fell backwards roughly to the polished marble floor. Sekhmet fought to regain her feet, but the slave wrapped his calloused hands around her neck with an infuriated cry.

"Monster!" he yelled as he squeezed her airway shut. Sekhmet felt her host's body shudder as it was deprived of precious oxygen. Panicked, she raised her right hand and grasped the man's forehead. She thanked small miracles that she had not removed the ribbon devise, for it glowed to life the moment she concentrated.

The slave, although driven by his rage, was caught in its light once more. His grip on Sekhmet's throat loosened slightly, and Sekhmet used the opportunity to push his weight off of her as she dragged in breath after breath of air. She was startled to the point that her control of the ribbon devise was shaky at best, so she made certain he was at least incapacitated before ceasing. In all actuality however, she could maintain concentration no more.

And so, the master and the slave both lay panting side by side on the ground. Each one was wary of the other, but each was unable to move and do anything about it.

Sekhmet regained her composure slowly, and pushed her self into a sitting position. She eyed the slave cautiously. She had expected so many reactions of sadness, but he had surprised her by attacking. Such passion! Did he not care that his fate was now truly sealed. She could kill him now, should kill him now.

"You are dead now, do you realize this?" She stated evenly, fighting to keep her voice from shaking.

He lay on his side with his eyes closed. "I am already dead." He said slowly. Sekhmet was shocked to see a tear streak down his dirty face. "I died the moment the blood of my family flowed free."

"You could live still, slave. Carry on in the mines with the rest of your people."

"As a slave?"

"Is not a live slave better than a dead fool?" Sekhmet asked.

"I will not live in slavery to the monsters who killed my family. Kill me now, so that I may rejoin my children after death. If you do not," He warned, opening his eyes for the first time and staring into her own, "Then I swear now that I will not stop until I have killed every one of you."

Loyalty. He spoke utter nonsense at believing he could kill all Goa'uld, yet his loyalty to his family moved something in Sekhmet. She at once cursed and nurtured this new found feeling. Perhaps it was some stirring echo of the one whose body she now possessed. The mind of this host should long be dead, yet something of it may remain. It struck Sekhmet that she did not know the name of the human she had entered. She had never thought of "it" as a "she", only as a vessel, much like the ship she now stood in. Now however, she could not ignore that fact that this host had had a family, just like the slave she was now facing. The host had had a mother and a father, perhaps a mate, maybe even children. Now that she considered it, the memories of the host leapt forward, filling her mind with visions of a husband and two small children huddled around a tiny flame in a small hut. Their dwellings were not lavish, but they were happy. It was home.

She wondered what had become of them, but then realized that this host had been taken centuries ago. All of the family was long since dead, and only her descendants, if any, remained.

This thought saddened Sekhmet, and she silently apologized to the host for destroying her life. There was no answer in her mind, but she had not really expected one. Centuries of the sarcophagus had kept this body young, healthy, and strong; however, the price paid by the mind of the host was grave. Nothing remained of the original woman, save for the few tattered memories of a time long mourned and forgotten. Sekhmet tried with all of her might, yet she still could not bring into recollection the name of her host. This saddened, frustrated, and ashamed Sekhmet. For the first time in her long existence, she was sickened by the parasitic ways of her kind. She was disgusted with herself, and she wanted no more than to leave this place.

Sekhmet did not know what it was exactly, but she could not ignore this feeling now that it had been unleashed. She looked up to find the slave watching her curiously. She met his gaze, and tried to hide the embarrassed redness that had come to her cheeks. She felt ashamed at her actions against him, and struggled to find the words to say.

Finally she stood, "Come with me. Can you walk?"

"To where?" He asked suspiciously as he fought to pull himself to his feet.

"To your family."

The man stiffened noticeably, "Then I shall meet my death."

Sekhmet tried to smile, but it felt forced, "If you did, then your family would miss you."

"What do you mean?" He asked. He tried to take a step, but his legs buckled beneath him and he stumbled forward. In a moment that surprised them both, Sekhmet rushed forward and steadied him. For a moment neither spoke, but Sekhmet had to break the silence.

"I lied to you." She said lowering her eyes, "Your family yet lives. One day I will ask for your forgiveness, but for now, I will try and get you to them."

That's all for now, but I promise to try and update soon!

Please Review!