Chapter 5 - Encounter

Samantha had just recovered from her sickness and was eager to work again, she knew that her life had been dependant on her master's good will like never before. She was now more careful than she had been before; she did not want to challenge her fate in any way ever again.

Now she had promised Leah to help her with the preparation of a banquet that would take place the next day. The two of them were on their way to get some decorative items together as it happened:

Along one of the hallways they were crossing came two Jaffa. They had a captive with them. For an instant Samantha's look fell on that man; it was as if a flash went through her mind, she was like paralyzed and could not take her eyes off him again.

"Samantha", Leah whispered putting a hand on her arm, "don't stare. We have to go now."

Her friend dragged her around the corner and the two women continued their way.

"What were you thinking?" Leah exquired, "A wrong glance at the wrong moment can be very dangerous."

"I'm aware of that, Leah", Samantha responded, "But it was as if I knew that man from somewhere."

"You must not know him, especially not if he is an enemy of our god, see?"

She nodded, "I know, but maybe he's the key to my memories..."

"Even if ...", the older servant sighed, "you are not to get close to him. You would disappoint your lord and you just can't do that after all he has done for you."

"I know that this is the most ungrateful wish I could possibly have, but perhaps I have to risk it", Samantha stated very sure of what to do.

"Don't...", Leah began, but gave it up at once as she saw that Samantha was running away calling back at her:

"I'm sorry, Baal expects me, I've got work to do."

Leah merely shook her head full of concern returning to her own work.

Jack was not taken to a holding cell, the Jaffa brought him to their master at once. They threw Jack to the ground in front of Baal's throne rudely, then they took up position by the door.

"Hey", Jack complained, "where've you guys left your manners?"

"The question is: Where have you left yours?" Baal looked down on him full of disgust, "so you're stupid enough to return and anger me once again?"

"Not my problem to bump into you gorillas everywhere I go", Jack retorted looking up at him. For a short moment his eyes fell on a movement behind the throne: Sam was standing there. He caught his breath looking away from her, it would do no good to put her into danger.

"What are you staring at?" Baal wanted to know, "Do you want to steal another servant from me?"

"Never intended to", Jack muttered.

Baal turned around at Sam, obviously telling her to leave them alone, since a short moment later she had gone to another room.

"Can you imagine what fate expects you this time? It was entirely foolish of you to get into my sight once again. We still have some unfinished business", he told him angrily.

"Come on. Don't say you're still sour because of the spoiled party we had last time?" Jack retorted.

"Fly into your pathetic cynicism if you want to", the Goa'uld was obviously more than disturbed by his behavior, "You have spied me, you have uncloaked my most secret base leaving it to devastation and finally you have abducted my servant. For all that you will not get away with impunity. You will pay for it feeling the full extent of my wrath, as will your friend, prepare for suffering worse than death."

(AN: Who has got a problem with that? Well.. I do. Poor Jack, poor Jojo.)

"Yeah, whatever", Jack rolled his eyes inwardly knowing for sure that Baal was not joking.

"I warn you. Don't challenge me. You fate is in my hands", he showed the guards to take Jack away.

To get back to her quarters Samantha had to cross a corridor where some of the holding cells were located.

Suddenly someone was calling her.

"Hey", she spun around with a start.

"Who... who are you?" she asked with fear.

"Sam? It's me, Jonas. Don't you remember me?"

"I don't think so", something deep inside told her to keep on talking with this prisoner, but her instinct and her reason were forcing her away from him. Finally she listened to her reason and turned away from him without another word to say, leaving as quickly as she could.

As the cells were almost out of her side she saw that the two Jaffa were putting the other man she had seen before into exactly the same cell.

Maybe these two people belonged to her past life in any inexplicable way.

More to follow this weekend, if I'll be ready, then.