Previously:

O'Neill took the weapon and looked at his 2IC. "Go sir, please. Here," She handed him a small explosive. "Leave a little something on your way out." Samantha watched him disappear into the darkness. One down, one to go.

Apophis sat alone in his throne room. He craved solitude and quiet. But it was not to be. As much as he told himself that the other was dying and would soon be no more, he knew it was still there. It had less weight than the memory of a shadow, but like a bird in a cage, the daniel-mind threw itself against its mental cage. getoutgetoutgetoutgetout. Over and over. The protest had replaced the song. It was the desperate mutterings of a dying soul, but it was enough to make Apophis insane. There were times he had to hit himself, grab at his hair, anything to make the voice dim. Nothing made it stop. Apophis was tired. This fight had taken more out of him than he had realized. But he would win. Victory was assured. He just had to wait. Just a little longer…

The Goa'uld tried to clear away the confusion in his head. He had important things to focus on. He was concerned at the small number of Jaffa who were serving him on this planet. His army was rebuilding, but he had nowhere near the strength he needed to reclaim his position among the System Lords. Why, then, did he send so many of his Jaffa away with his ship on a recruiting mission? He knew that his Jaffa would conscript many foot soldiers, but he could not stop wondering if he had sent too many away? Was his stronghold here now vulnerable? His First Prime had expressed such a concern. He was quickly reminded why he should not question his God.

Apophis tried to dismiss his fears. He had made the right decision. After all, no one knew where he was. The other System Lords would not be able to find him. His mind turned to another concern. It was time to select a new queen. His mourning for Amounet had been prolonged and intense but he had to find another. Finding a love like his last was an impossibility, but he needed a suitable mate to create another child. If he could find a human woman worthy of his selection, he had a Goa'uld who was almost ready for implantation. Once his soldiers returned, he would plan a search like the one that brought him his love. He would look far and wide for a human woman whose beauty and fire would excite him. Apophis lost himself in the musings of his search.

An explosion of weapons fire brought his comforting thoughts to an end. He recognized the sound of the humans P-90s. The Tauri! Damn them! He had decimated SG1, and he still had O'Neill caged below. Who could possibly have penetrated this far? He heard the sound of his guards return fire and then he heard a human gasp of pain. An unpleasant smile played across his lips. Whoever it was, Apophis knew how this would end.

Apophis came to his feet when his guards dragged in a struggling Samantha Carter. Behind her, two more guards were dragging in a wounded man he did not know. Digging through the remains of his host's memories, he found the name: "Lantash of the Tok'ra." The Tok'ra scum glared at him, still defiant despite the oozing staff weapon wound on his shoulder. "That is just the beginning of what you will suffer for coming here." He turned his attention to the female. "Samantha Carter." He took a long pause, considering the woman in front of him. His hand touched her cheek, caressing her skin." I do not know what made you come back here. I have tortured and murdered your friends. I have destroyed everything you love. And yet here you are. You still think you can save the day. Well, your arrival is more fortuitous than you can imagine. Samantha Carter," his voice rang through the chamber as he smiled in triumph, "You will be my new queen."

Sam looked at the Goa'uld. In his large blue eyes, she did not see her friend. She saw a murderer and a megalomaniac brute. Her fear of him and all that he represented was gone. "Before I agree to that, Apophis," she began, "You can kiss my ass."

His face paled with rage. He backhanded her, hard, and she fell to the ground, free from the guards. Shaking with anger he reached down and dragged her up by her vest. He shook her. "Do not address me in such a way. I am a God and you will serve me!"

God or not, Apophis was in a human body and Sam knew how to take down a human man. Using a trick that had not failed since her father first showed it to her in 6th grade, Sam slammed her knee into his groin. Shocked, he fell forward, opening his chin to her other knee. She quickly finished him off with a roundhouse kick to his cheek. Apophis sprawled on the ground.

Instinctively, Sam hit the ground after him. The guards had fired their Zat guns right over her head. Despite his injury, Martouf had managed to take down one of his guards and was in a savage fight with the other. Sam reached for Apophis's weapon.

"Stop!" A staff blast warmed Sam's cheek, hitting the ground beside her. She turned and saw the First Prime, with a staff weapon pointed at her. Martouf froze. "My lord wants you alive, but if you move that will only happen with a sarcophagus. Step away from him, now."

Sam hesitated. Apophis was beginning to come around and she was unwilling to give away her advantage. From the doorway, two Zat blasts penetrated the First Prime, killing him instantly. When the body hit the ground, Sam could see Jack, leaning on the frame, Zat in hand.

"Thank you, sir," was all she could say. Martouf finished off his opponent and then went and supported the Colonel.

"Your welcome," Col. O'Neill replied. "I liked the 'Kiss my ass' line, by the way."

Sam gave him a weak smile, "I thought you would approve." She turned and faced the Goa'uld. He opened his eyes and looked at her. She saw fear. "It's over," she told him. "Your men are dead. We will destroy this castle on our way out. You lost."

Apophis tried to bargain for his life. "I can help you. With the knowledge I can share, I am worth far more to you alive then dead."

"You are worth nothing to me. I want my friend back." With that Sam grabbed his hair and slammed his head into the ground, knocking him unconscious again. With a shuddering sigh, Sam fought back tears. But they were coming on too strong and a few escaped. Staring down at her enemy, she could finally see her friend again. She just hoped it wasn't too late to save him.

A hand rested on her shoulder. When she looked up, she saw the Colonel's brown eyes. "Let's go home, okay?" he asked.

"Yes, sir," she responded.

TBC