Chapter 2: Standing In Judgement
The cell doors were opened remotely and the Jaffa pulled Jack and Sam out of the cells. They took every precaution. Two Jaffa with open zats followed the prisoners while another two held them securely by the arms and pulled them along to their destination. All in all eight Jaffa for two securely tied prisoners didn't make good odds for escape.
They arrived at a small room with chains hanging from the ceiling and an ominous looking table in the center. A small woman wearing the robes of a priestess stood next to the table waiting. She pointed to the chains hanging from either end of the table and the Jaffa quickly complied by first freeing Sam's arms from behind her back and them re-securing them to the chains overhead.
They then repeated their actions with Colonel O'Neill. But Jack had other ideas. As soon as his hands were free, he attacked one of the Jaffa behind him knocking him to the ground. As he whirled on the other one, he was enveloped in the blue light of zat fire. He dropped to the ground, stunned. The remaining Jaffa quickly secured his hands in the overhead chains with his body hanging limply.
"Thank you, loyal Jaffa. I will send an acolyte when they are ready," the priestess said in a dual-tone goa'uld voice as she bowed to the Jaffa. They returned the bow and marched out.
Jack suddenly jerked awake, "Shit that hurts." He pulled himself up to a standing position. He blinked a few times, before focusing on Sam and giving her a wane smile, "I had to try."
Several young girls, acolytes to the temple, entered the room a bowed to the priestess, "Queen Aphrodite had decreed that these two will be entered into the Temple's service for their crimes. Prepare them."
"Yes, my lady," the acolytes chorused.
The acolytes quickly gagged and stripped the two of all clothing. Sam tried hard to focus on anything but Jack as the girls washed and then anointed them both with scented oil. But it was hard to avoid seeing any of his naked body, chained as they were. And frankly, she didn't want to avoid looking because he was so easy on the eyes. She only felt a little guilty for using him as a distraction from their current situation.
When the acolytes were done, the priestess laid out two strips of a fine silvery metal, several lengths of a thin chain, and several small silver rings. After examining the two officers, she selected a ring, attached it to an odd-looking needle, and approached Sam. "I suggest you stand still or this will hurt more than I intend," the priestess advised.
Sam's eyes widened as the priestess deftly grabbed her nipple and swiftly pierced it with the needle, threading the ring through it. Sam tensed at the sharp pain but it quickly passed into a dull ache. Sam tried to stay still as the priestess attached a length of chain to the ring before sealing the seam of the ring shut with another odd device.
After the priestess let go, Sam fought her chains and swore into her gag. As the priestess approached a second time, Sam took several deep breaths before standing rock still and waiting for the assault on her other nipple. The priestess repeated the process and nodded at Sam with a small smile when it was complete. But when the priestess approached a third time, Sam wouldn't stay still. This time the priestess was going for her crotch. There was no way she was going to stand still for that.
"Hold her still," the priestess instructed the others.
The acolytes jumped forward and held her still, legs spread. Sam strained against their hold, but it was no use. The priestess once more approached with the needle and a silver ring. This time the priestess pierced the hood of her clit.
The acolytes finally released her and Sam was distracted by the dull throbbing from the piercings. It was only when the metal band was wrapped around her neck that she regained her senses and fought her captors and the restraints again.
But once again, the acolytes held her still and soon the metal band formed a thin collar around her neck with the loose ends of the chains were secured to it. The one to her clit went straight up her chest to the collar, but the two chains on her nipples were looped under her arms and attached at the back allowing the weight of the chain to tug and pull on her nipples with every movement she made.
The priestess took a step back and examined Sam with a critical eye. Satisfied with her work, she reached under the table and pulled out a goa'uld healing device. The priestess healed the piercings and Sam sighed in relief as the dull throbbing faded to nothing. Sam could still feel the weight of the rings and the chains, but the feeling was no longer accompanied by the aching pain of the new piercing.
Sam tried not to watch as the priestess repeated the process for Colonel O'Neill. But his struggles against the acolytes were hard to ignore. They weren't even that effective, until they attempted the third piercing. After Jack threw one acolyte against the wall, the priestess pulled out a concealed zat and held it on him. Jack weighed the risk before he finally submitted to the third piercing. Sam couldn't look away as the priestess pierced the top of his cock just behind the head. The small ring looking like a dime was perched there. And through the whole thing, Jack stood completely still cursing a blue streak behind his gag. Soon he was wearing a collar and chain set that matched Sam's.
Once the priestess healed Jack's piercings, she sent an acolyte to fetch the guards. The Jaffa carefully released them from the overhead chains, but didn't move to re-secure their hands. Jack and Sam stripped off the gags while the guards motioned them out and down the hall to see the queen.
The queen was waiting for them in an elaborate audience hall. She was perched on her throne of white marble. The whole room was surrounded by small curtain-covered alcoves. Sam and Jack were forced on to their knees before the throne and the young woman sitting in it.
It was only when Sam was forced into this vulnerable position, that she felt the impact of her nudity. She had nothing to hide, literally. She flushed in embarrassment, but refused to make any attempt to cover herself. After all, she had nothing to be ashamed of either.
"I am most irked with you, Colonel O'Neill," the young woman stated in a dual tone voice. She stood and slowly stepped down the stairs towards them. She gestured to the Jaffa and Sam and the colonel were hauled to their feet.
"I seem to have that effect on people. I'd ignore it. Everyone else does," Jack baited and tensed for a blow from the Jaffa.
Instead of a blow, the young woman laughed, "My siblings never said you were so amusing, Colonel. I will have to call them to task for their omission." The woman examined Jack closely, smiling as she took in his naked form. She even traced one of his scars with a dainty finger as she circled around them. Jack tried not to flinch away from her touch.
Sam was pissed. First the Jaffa attack, then humiliation of being paraded naked, not to mention the piercings, and now the goa'uld was touching him. Sam wasn't even aware that she had moved until the young woman's eyes snapped in her direction and took on a predatory gleam, openly appraising her naked body.
"Ah yes, we must not forget Major Sam Carter." The woman looked Sam over with the same critical eye that she cast on Jack, making Sam suddenly self-conscious about her scrutiny. Sam flushed with embarrassment once again, but didn't move. "I'm sorry, Major. We haven't been properly introduced and I am being VERY forward."
The woman slowly returned to the throne and sat, "I am Aphrodite. Queen of Cythera and you have defied me and broken our laws. I know of the Tau'ri and have no quarrel with them. If you had come in peace, then you would have presented yourselves to me upon your arrival. Assuming your ignorance, I sent my loyal Jaffa to escort you here and you attacked them.
"I can only assume that you are here to subvert me. I will not tolerate anyone attacking my people or attempting to over throw my rule. You stand accused of unlawful behavior. What say you in your defense?"
"Uh, we didn't know?" Jack offered.
"My Jaffa explained that they were to escort you to me," Aphrodite insisted. "Are you saying they lied?" her voice was heavy with meaning.
Jack glanced over at the First Prime. If Teal'c were any indicator of Jaffa honor, then he really didn't want to challenge this Jaffa's honor. "No… see, this hasn't always gone over too well in the past... you know, with the kneeling before your god thing… so, we decided to skip right to the escaping part… No offense," Jack replied insolently.
Sam sighed. Even standing naked before them, Jack couldn't keep a respectful tone, not that she blamed him. She started to scan the room, looking for a probable escape route. Granted, naked and weaponless wasn't exactly the best way to start an escape, but one did have to start somewhere, right?
"None taken," Aphrodite replied. "But I am not a god. I am a queen."
Sam's eyes snapped back to Aphrodite. That was new. This was the first goa'uld to admit that. Well, the first non-Tok'ra goa'uld anyway.
"You are surprised? How interesting… I would have guessed that among all the free planets, the Tau'ri, allies of the Tok'ra, would already know this." The queen leaned back in her chair, "But it matters not. Under your orders, Colonel, your team attacked and severely injured several of my loyal Jaffa. It is for this reason that you and your deputy have been brought before me for judgment. You have admitted to that attack…"
"Hold it, "Jack interrupted as he straightened and glared at the queen, "If it's my orders you have a problem with, queenie, then let my team go and I'll gladly stand for your judgment."
"Sir!" Sam hissed. There is no way in hell she would leave him here in the hands of a goa'uld, orders or not.
"At ease, Major," he snapped over his shoulder.
Sam stiffened at the rebuke but held her peace.
"Now, Colonel, you and I both know that a good deputy, much like a good First Prime, will challenge your poor decisions and support your good ones. The Major will stand in judgment as well. The law is clear. You must pay for your crimes against my people, and H'rak, my First Prime agrees with my decision." She smiled at them, "Don't worry. I don't plan on handing you over to my Jaffa. You are too valuable to waste in such a manner." Aphrodite rose from her throne once more and walked sedately around the two officers.
"No, you will serve in the temple for your sentence. I only hope that your service is worth my leniency. However, I am willing to let the other two go free. I had initially hoped that you would take a message to the Tok'ra for me." The queen continued to march around them in a slow circle, "However, Doctor Jackson and Teal'c will serve just as well as my messengers. Their safety is guaranteed. You have my word as Queen."
"The word of any snake-head is worthless," the colonel spat.
Sam prepared to jump into action as the First Prime strode forward, clearly taking insult for his queen.
"No, H'rak," Aphrodite stayed the First Prime with a resigned sigh and a soft touch. "You will not change his mind. And he is not the one I must convince. Take them to the tower. The window overlooks the chappa'ai. Then he will see that I am as good as my word."
"Yes, my queen," H'rak replied and stepped back and motioned to the guards behind them, "You heard your queen. Take them to the tower."
Their guards jumped to obey and Jack and Sam were pushed and pulled along a hallway that ended in a set of rings. The rings activated and they found themselves in a small alcove with only one door. Jack and Sam were pushed through the door. Jack glared at the guards as the door closed with a solid thunk. They tested the door but it was firmly closed and locked behind them.
While Jack vented his anger on the door, Sam examined their room for anything useful in an escape. The room was larger than she expected and was decorated for comfort. A large bed took up one side of the room with a small table and chair set on the other side. The table was laden with food and water. A small alcove was set aside for more private needs.
The window was large and commanded a picturesque view of the village and the land beyond, including the Stargate. However, the window was doubly sealed, first with a series of silver bars and second with a force field. Providing they could get past the first two obstacles, there was still the small matter of the long drop to the street below.
Having established that escape was not in her immediate future, Sam's attention was turned back to Jack. She took her time examining his naked back in detail before realizing that she really needed to look away. Especially, before he caught her ogling him. Sam returned to the bed and stripped off the sheets. She quickly fashioned a toga-like sarong for herself, and took the second sheet to Jack.
"Sir?" she asked tentatively.
"What, Carter?" he snapped with his back still to her.
"Uh… here, Sir. I… um…" she held out the sheet, pointedly looking away from him as he turned and surveyed their new cell.
"Ah… right… Thanks," he blushed and grabbed the sheet, quickly covering himself.
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