------P3X-454, Sobk Guard Camp, late afternoon/early evening-------
Lady Marinarratalasanavor, esteemed Time Lady of House Prydonia, cursed herself for an idiot as another wave of nausea coursed through her stomach. It ebbed mostly from the gaping cauterized wound that had been her right shoulder, and throbbed every time she attempted to rearrange her weight. Amuntep, the Goa'uld holding her captive, had recently made a futile attempt at questioning her. Mostly, Marina had just endured the typical posturing that characterized Goa'uld as a species in addition to a few jabs from a pain stick for good measure. The thick chains binding her to a stake in the ground made an effective deterrent from escape. Coupled with the remote location and circumstances of her imprisonment, Marina knew she'd need divine intervention if she wanted to get out of here alive. Round one of her torture was over, and all she could do was wait for round two to begin.
A faint rustling at the door of her prison tent drew her attention, though she didn't raise her head. It was most likely one of Amuntep's Jaffa delivering her evening meal of nutrient gruel. Marina was gratified, if only a little, that she'd managed to defeat so many before finally being captured.
"Come to gloat more, slave?" She rasped through parched lips.
"No." whispered a stranger's voice. "Actually we've come to get you out of here."
Marina's head snapped up, her pain forgotten, as she looked into the caring eyes before her. It was a man, a human man who looked back at her from the gloom. No mark of allegiance dominated the stranger's forehead, which instantly placed him in the "favors" column of Marina's list. He was handsome, if gracefully weathered by time, and had the bearing of a culture she had visited once before. It was a suspicion confirmed as he turned, and she caught sight of the stars and stripes badge on his shoulder. This human was part of America's late twentieth or early twenty-first century military.
"Who are you? How did you get here?" she managed, lowering her voice to an incredulous whisper.
"Colonel Jack O'Neill, United States Airforce, this is Major Samantha Carter," O'Neill indicated a young blond woman who emerged from the shadows at his back "but now isn't exactly the best time for meet and greets if you know what I mean. Are you ok to walk?" His piercing gaze turned dubious as it took in the marks of age that lined Marina's face along with her short grey hair.
"I believe so," Marina winced as she tested her shoulder once more "but I'm chained to the ground. Going anywhere isn't a possibility at the moment, I'm afraid."
O'Neill frowned as he validated Marina's theory "Damn it. Carter, look around for something that resembles keys."
The blond nodded once and started a rapid but quiet search as O'Neill followed suit "It's no use." Marina wheezed "The Prime took them. If any others exist, you'll never find them in time."
"Double damn it," O'Neill growled, as he spared a glance at his watch.
"We could sure use Teal'c's staff weapon right about now." Carter remarked as she too returned empty handed.
Marina blanched "S…staff weapon?"
Carter smiled tightly "It's a long story, but you can relax. We're not Goa'uld."
"We're screwed is what we are." O'Neill sighed as he sank back on his haunches. "We need a plan B."
"Colonel," Carter's voice had suddenly reduced its self to barely audible levels "there's someone outside."
The expression on O'Neill's face told Marina, that although these humans were formidable, they were not equipped to fend off an entire camp of Jaffa.
"Quick," she hissed, jerking her head towards a crude wooden table across the room. "There's a small, cylindrical device and a necklace on that table. Take them and hide."
"Look, I don't know who you are, but I have a pretty good idea of what you are, and why they want you. Leaving you is not an option." Jack shook his head "They'll kill you, or worse."
"So, you've been to the temple." Marina offered a humorless grin "Your race has come a long way since I last visited your world. As you suspect, I am what the Ancients referred to as a Time Lord, but you can simply call me Marina. What you're doing is very noble Colonel, but I'm more valuable to the Goa'uld alive than dead, and I can not be possessed. I have no doubt they'll harm me, but they will not kill, or enslave me. Please take the items I have described and hide until my return."
Against his better judgment, Jack found himself, convinced by Marina's words, and he signaled to Carter. The Major quickly pocketed the Time Lord's belongings and slipped out the way they had come. O'Neill spared another glace at Marina before he too disappeared.
The Time Lord watched them leave and, with a budding feeling of hope, allowed her head to sink back into her chest.