Penultimate

Chapter 12 – An Emperor and a Slave

'No!' John roared. He, Tycho, Lorne and his team struggled against their captors as the guards thrust Teyla toward the table.

Teyla resisted hard, leaping back against one guard to kick the one in front. Titus scowled at her and swept across to Sheppard, sliding the blade under his chin. 'That is enough!'

Teyla stopped reluctantly, watching John with fearful eyes. Titus lifted the blade slightly and John winced. 'There will be no saving one and other, there is no this one instead of that one. There is only, who will go first, second and third.' He said cruelly. He nodded for them to lay her on the table. 'If you resist, then I will kill him now.'

'He's gonna kill us anyway Teyla, just get free.' John ordered forcefully.

Teyla gritted her teeth. If she resisted, then he would kill John and then there would be no hope of escaping. If she did as she was told, it gave her a little longer to come up with something to save them. Although what that would be, she had no idea, and an extra thirty seconds wasn't a lot to figure anything out.

Teyla gave Titus a dark look and he smiled. 'Valiant until the end.'

John frowned at her with regret and felt the blade fall from his chin. Titus stepped forward and made hand movements for her to be lifted into the table. The guards did so, unstrapping her breastplate and lifting it off to reveal the thin cotton material underneath. One stood at the top holding her arms and the other at the end to hold her feet.

Teyla felt the smooth cold stone beneath her and wondered what it would feel like to be impaled with the blade slamming into the stone. She watched as he advanced on her, walking left and right of the table, studying her body, as though figuring out where to put the blade. He paused, his eyes falling on her face, and moved forward gently, placing a finger on her cheek and leaning over.

John and Tycho struggled for all they were worth, more of the guards coming forward to contain them. Titus watched Teyla's large brown eyes as she furiously tugged against the hands that held her in place. She stuck her chin out defiantly as he lowered his face to hers.

His dark eyes lazily looked up and down her cheek, her neckline, his hands searching them with his eyes. Teyla bucked and Titus laughed, holding her chin to face him.

'You were entertaining, and I realise that your stubbornness to be free, to survive…' He looked back at John. '…for your friends to survive, would make you an interesting slave to control, but what if I offered you something in return for their lives?'

Teyla paused. She couldn't trust anything he said, she couldn't. But at the same time, she didn't have any idea of how they would get out of here alive, and together.

'Okay, you know what, I heard that and there is no way.' John said incredulously. 'Don't listen to him Teyla, he's a lying bastard, he won't hold up on his promises.'

Teyla glanced at him and Titus shoved her head toward him again. 'Won't I? You have no choice but to believe me, otherwise you all end here and now.'

Teyla breathed heavily. She had to listen. Titus smiled and lowered his head closer to her.

'I will free them into the city for the price of your undying loyalty and…service.' He whispered. 'All of them, to go free, if you would stay with me willingly.'

Teyla felt her heart thud violently against her chest. How could she refuse? They would all live, and it would buy her time to escape herself, but they would all be alive…she paused at his want for her service and felt her stomach flip with nausea. It was a high price, but even if it were just for John, she would gladly pay it.

Even if he did lie, if he took them somewhere else to kill them out of sight, it gave them more time to escape – if they could.

Titus stood straight and held his hands out at the side and shrugged. 'Make your decision quickly, I have other pressing matters.'

Teyla was confused, afraid and hating every moment of this. She let her head fall back against the stone and closed her eyes for a moment. She didn't have a choice. If she said no, they all died, if she said yes, maybe they lived. Her eyes opened with a calmness.

John, seeing her sudden resolve, shook his head in disbelief. 'Whatever he wants, don't believe it. He'll screw us all over the moment he gets the chance.'

'He is right Teyla, Titus cannot be trusted.' Tycho said bitterly, his green eyes flashing dangerously beneath his helmet.

'You swear this?' Teyla asked quietly.

'Teyla.' John warned, leaning forward. 'Don't.'

'I stay, and they are free to go into the city.' She repeated from the table. Titus smiled sincerely and nodded. Teyla narrowed her eyes. 'I want to see them leave the palace walls.' She stated and John felt his stomach drop through the floor.

She was going to sacrifice herself for them knowing that somehow he would double cross her and kill them anyway.

'No, I won't allow it.' John said forcefully.

Titus grinned at the Athosian. 'Acceptable.'

'Not acceptable.' John urged angrily. 'The moment he gets the chance, he'll shoot us in the back.'

'I am sorry Colonel, but it is better to try than to allow death to come upon us.' She said firmly, avoiding his eyes.

'That is very true.' Titus cooed.

'Teyla, no good will come of this.' Tycho told her.

Titus turned to him, stepping away from the pedestal. 'I have seen you fight before they came, not that you were overly memorable. Why do you not hate those that have put you here? Do you not understand that if she refuses, that you will die? Not in the glory and splendour of the Arena, but on a table, held down like a mangy mongrel.' Titus announced.

Tycho's eyes had been firmly fixed on the floor as he had approached, his fists balled behind his back as he was held to the ground. Slowly, he looked up at the Emperor, his mouth thin with malice. 'The glory of the Arena.' He whispered. 'Do you not hear yourself Titus? How can you know the glory of fighting on the sand when you have never once in your life experienced it, as you watch from the safety of your stone cove-'

Titus swiftly back handed his jaw, the only part unprotected by the helmet.

'He's got a point.' John said calmly. 'The Emperor who spews a load of crap about his beloved Arena, and has never stepped one evil foot inside it.' John shook his head. 'Shameful.'

Titus laughed bitterly. 'And why would I do that? Fight like a slave to entertain other slaves – I am an Emperor boy, not a lowly rat fumbling around in a filthy sewer.' He spat.

'An Emperor who would keep his word when he enters into a deal?' Teyla asked harshly. 'And what of challenges?'

Titus turned to her with an expression of disgust. 'Challenge?'

'You have made me an offer, why can I not make one for you?' She asked slyly.

Titus wandered back with a bored expression. 'Aresedys waits for his sacrifice. Be quick.'

Teyla raised an eyebrow. 'Very well.' John frowned, wondering what she was planning. 'Fight me in the Arena, with no audience to watch except those that are in this room.' Titus looked sceptical. 'If you win – you keep us all.'

Titus folded his arms. 'And if you are victorious?'

Teyla smiled. 'We all go free – outside the city walls.'

John watched Titus consider it, stroking his chin with his free hand before looking down at her. 'No.' He said simply. 'My offer is withdrawn and yours refused. I am bored of this dithering.'

John realised with eyes of terror and a desperate heart that Titus had taken his offer off the table and was now raising the sword above his head with a look of sheer lunacy. He brought it down swiftly toward Teyla's abdomen with a lethal intention and John yelled his terror in the form of her name.

Before the blade could penetrate her, the door at the back of the room exploded open and Titus ducked, the sword held aloft.

John turned and saw the smoke rise from the ancient wooden door. A figure stood in the door way with his hands on his hips.

'For guys that rely on fire so much, you may want to think about dialling down the wooden furnishings.'

John grinned as Rodney stood in the door way, looking as heroic as Rodney could before being shoved aside by Ronan who had a look of absolute rage on his face, his gun already aiming for more targets. He fired his weapon with a deadly grace and began emptying the room of guards. A man with a beard arrived shoving a terrified Quintus through the door way and onto the floor before joining the fight. Rodney stood to one side with a look of panic before spotting Teyla being held down by some sort of altar. He raised his gun. 'Nobody move!' He yelled. Ronan crossed in front of him, throwing his opponent across the room. Rodney nodded furiously. 'Apart from you.'

Titus roared his frustration and flew from the room through the door by the altar. Teyla struggled to get her foot loose and kicked the guard back before rolling backwards on the table and kicking the man who held her hands against the far wall. She flipped off the table and confronted the guard who held John down as he watched the fight behind him. Teyla snatched Tycho's helmet and swung with all her strength, the metal making contact with the mans head.

John stood with wide eyes. 'Thanks.'

Tycho's guard moved back, realising that he was quickly becoming outnumbered. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to a swinging fist which sent him sprawling to the floor. 'Hah!' Rodney snapped at him, a triumphant smile on his face quickly turning to one of pain as he gripped his aching hand. 'Ow! God, I had no idea how much that hurts!' He paused, seeing Tycho begin on the few guards holding Lorne and his men. 'Lorne? What in the hell are you doing here?'

Sheppard crossed over and smacked his shoulder. 'Nice to see you Rodney.'

'Yes, it is good to see another friendly face.' Teyla smiled weakly.

Rodney watched her, this beaten woman with dried blood staining her body, and nodded. 'Ditto.'

Teyla turned to Tycho and Sheppard. 'I must find Titus.' She turned and snatched a sword from the floor, flying through the same door the Emperor had.

John growled. 'She needs a leash.' He muttered, and turned to face one of the last guards.

Ronan tore through them, red blasts lighting the room again and again. Rodney was sure that it would be over when the destroyed door behind them suddenly filled with new bodies. 'More!' He yelled, and handed Sheppard his spare side arm.

Throughout the commotion, the Altus Domino crawled to Quintus's side and struck the old man. 'You coward! The Emperor will have your spleen on his mantle! I swear it!'

Quintus looked bewildered. 'I had no choice!' His hand flung wildly to Ronan. 'That one produces fire from his hand! How am I to argue with that!?' He squeaked incredulously.

When the ammo was spent, John picked up a sword and began wading into the bodies filling the room. More arrived all the time and he knew it wouldn't be long before they were taken. He caught sight of Lorne and his men battling fiercely, their military training giving the enemy trouble. Suddenly, he thought of Teyla. Her image swooshed through his mind and he realised how badly injured she appeared. He had no idea how Titus fought, he didn't know if she could handle him. Worry flooded him as he engaged another guard.

Teyla had gone through the door and found stairs winding up, up and up for what seemed an eternity. Her already aching legs ascended the stairs with a vengeance. This was her chance to murder him for what he had done.

Small windows appeared on her left every so often, and the night's sky shone with brilliant stars and a far off planet of green. She felt the cool air lick over her skin as the hot blood poured through her veins as furious as her determination to find him. Teyla gripped the sword in her hand as she fought her way up the stairs, her mind focussing on the thought that Titus could be around the next bend waiting for her.

The thin cotton material she wore to protect her skin from the breastplate she lost clung to her body, the sweat covering her and making the filth and blood run in dirty rivulets.

Teyla tore up the last few stairs and saw a door, a simple wooden door at the top and she slammed into it, falling out on the other side. It was a large and long balcony that overlooked the city. It was beautiful, the starlight shining onto the endless stone buildings with spots of orange where fires were lit, the sign that this city was not dead. It was so quiet, only the rustling of the breeze as it cooled her and the heavy breaths she took as she scanned the stone balcony. It was wide, and led to the other side where another single door waited. But her eyes fell on the still form in the middle.

Titus stood, the sabre of Aresedys at his side, with a face of undeterminable expression. His tall and wide figure encased in his infamous red robes as they fell about him onto the smooth stone floor. Teyla walked forward slowly, studying his dark and handsome features.

Suddenly, he raised his arms, the sword slanting upward and he walked to the edge of the balcony.

'Beautiful, isn't it? My city.' He said loudly, clearly. 'Quiet and full of wonder.'

Teyla raised an eyebrow. 'Full of people who would like nothing more than to see your head mounted on a chariot and displayed down every street.'

Titus smiled, but did not turn to look at her.

'I'm sure they would.' He grinned and then looked to the floor, swinging the sword at his side as he walked forward a few paces. 'Tell me, for curiosity's sake, would you have taken my offer?'

Teyla swung the sword once and tensed. 'Would you have kept your promise not to harm them?'

Titus lifted his head and smiled thinly. 'We shall never know.'

Teyla knew the answer already and her heart filled with a coldness she often experienced in the Arena, a coldness she felt before having no choice but to make the kill. Titus sensed the change and placed his other hand on the sword, holding it in front with a gentle air. He looked at his surroundings and then smiled at her.

'It is not the Arena…are you sure you can perform without thousands of people cheering your name?' He asked slyly.

Teyla ground her teeth. 'Are you sure that you can perform at all?'

Titus laughed softly. 'I am a skilled swordsman, Teyla.'

'If this skill is anything like your leadership abilities then I am certain to be victorious.' Teyla said lightly, her eyes blazing as she bounded forward and lifted her sword.

The blades met and parted swiftly, Teyla immediately coming round with a roundhouse kick which Titus dodged. He ducked her next swipe and thrust his sword up, Teyla spinning left and bringing her elbow into contact with his face. Titus stumbled back and growled, forcing himself forward, his blade slamming into hers with such force it made her arm jerk. He grabbed their hilts as they locked, Teyla's face inches from his own as they struggled for control of the fight.

'Skill cannot always equal brute strength.' He said through clenched teeth.

Teyla raised an eyebrow and kicked his shin, pushing him back with the side of her body and slamming her free fist into his face. 'But it can better arrogance.' She snapped, swinging her sword and spinning into an over head attack which he barely deflected, dodging her ferocious onslaught of thrusts and jabs.

Titus stepped left of her masterful blade and slammed his fist into her chest, turning and swiping his blade at her as she stumbled back, coughing for air. Teyla managed to hold him off, but not before he was able to quickly back hand her. She fell to the ground, her sword clattering on the stone at her side. Titus lunged and Teyla pushed off from the floor with her hands, kicking his face and taking the sword from the floor as she flipped to her feet, turning to see him flying back, his red robes falling to the ground in a tangled mess.

Titus stood and stretched his neck. He wore red trousers underneath his robes, and his now naked torso was covered by only the gold medallion with the image of Aresedys. The muscles in his arms and chest flexed with menace as he gave her a side glance. Teyla gave a brief grin before brandishing her blade once more.

Titus looked down at his torso and smiled up at her. 'Should have known you'd like me naked.'

'And I should have known that you were an insane, blood thirsty snake.' She seethed. Titus laughed and suddenly charged her, bringing both of his hands to his sword and swinging down hard.

Teyla sidestepped and flew round slicing the blade down his back. Titus roared and turned with his teeth bared at her, his arm flying to her throat and hoisting her forward before throwing her back. She clambered to the ground with so much force that she was able to roll to her feet – without her sword.

Titus smiled maliciously and advanced. Teyla grinned slightly.

She didn't need a weapon.

Titus swiped left, right – she dodged both before stepping back and ducking a swipe aimed at her neck. She flew up with a sharp jab under his chin and pushed his chest with both hands, kicking his midsection as he stumbled back. Titus clumsily swiped at her and Teyla ducked under the sword moving forward, locking his arm in hers and viciously tearing it to the left. Titus roared in pain and the sword fell to the ground. She kneed his abdomen, spinning under his arm and releasing it to deliver a sharp elbow in between his shoulder blades.

Titus fell forward onto one knee, and Teyla mercilessly launched into a side kick that smashed his face to the ground. He rolled onto his back with a bleeding forehead and grabbed Teyla's hands as she lowered herself onto him, her hands already reaching for his neck.

Titus laughed heartily as she struggled on top of him trying to release her hands to wrap them round his throat. Her force, her determination to end him pressed her down onto him, her eyes torches of fury in the dark. Titus held her arms just so that she could not lower her head to head butt him and just laughed.

Teyla felt a frustration at his merry face, his deep laugh at her efforts to kill him. He bucked his hips and laughed again, Teyla growling at him.

'Oh come now, surely you are having fun?' He said seductively, suddenly leaning up and thrusting her arms behind her back. His iron hard muscles tensed under the strain to stop her from escaping, and before she could stop him, he slammed his mouth onto hers and smoothed her own hands onto her hips, pressing them down onto his groin.

Teyla protested with an angry grunt and brought her head back before smacking it into his and punching his chest with both fists. He fell back onto the stone and Teyla rolled backwards off of him, scrambling back to where her sword lay.

Titus stood with a look of venom. 'You are a tease, Teyla Emmagan. How can you be a woman such as you are, and a warrior at the same time. It is a curse!'

Teyla stood and smirked at him, John's face floating into her mind. His handsome smile, his bright brown eyes, and his calming, charming voice. 'Are you angry that you are losing, or that I refused you?'

Titus laughed in the style of a bark. 'Refused me? I have no care for you! I have thousands of women in the city below who would beg to climb into my bed!' His arm flew to the city before them.

'But never me.' Teyla said emotionally, anger and pain surfacing.

'To think Teyla, that if you had agreed immediately to my offer, all of this could have been avoided.' He said forcefully. 'I have thousands of guards, all of whom will die for me. And they are in the chamber below with your friends, killing them because I will it.' He said with glee.

Teyla paused, worry flooding her mind for her team mates, the thought that they were battling for their lives while she was here talking. 'They cannot die for you if you are already dead.' She seethed.

'I see worry in your eyes, Teyla.' He said confidently, studying her with his handsome face. 'Could it be that this warrior before me is more concerned for that man she calls her leader than her own life?' He shook his head. 'Warrior you might be, but scholar you are not.'

Teyla raised an eyebrow. 'And you are a scholar?'

'I am an Emperor.' He stated pompously. 'And I am a man of principle – for instance, the truth is something you face. You cannot hide from it.'

Teyla made a disbelieving sound. 'You speak of truths when you murder innocent people?'

'At least I murder them with honesty.' He said with a mocking tone. 'While you call that man your leader and he is no such thing, you lie to yourself that you follow him because he commands it when really you follow him because you feel for him-'

Teyla launched forward, tired of this lunatic telling her what she felt. Titus dodged, fists balled in front of his face with no weapon to fight her with. Teyla was merciless in her advances, but Titus was quick. He suffered cuts, but no mortal injury and Teyla was growing tired.

'Star Master?' He stated. 'You cannot master your emotions, your feelings, or a sword.' He said arrogantly. 'A true woman through and through.'

Teyla narrowed her eyes and threw the sword over the edge of the balcony, advancing on him swiftly with the intent to finish him. She punched left, right and threw a back hand at him, all of which he deflected before delivering his own punch. Teyla grabbed his fist and stepped in whacking her elbow into his diaphragm and delivering a side kick to his side.

Titus bit through the pain and came back round with extraordinary speed, gripping her head in his arm and squeezing hard. Teyla struggled but found the pressure on her throat making her see spots. Titus' mouth brushed her ear.

'Valiant though you were…I was better.' He said simply. 'Die now and meet your friends in Aresedys open arms.'

Teyla was dwarfed by him, his strong arms not only crushing the life from her but lifting her from the ground. She kicked his shins and grabbed at his face, but he just laughed and squeezed harder. The night grew darker and Teyla fought for breath with fury and desperation.