Retreat
A wordless wail of despair echoed through her mind as Amaunet swept down the hall, escorted by six Serpent Guards. She sensed that the host was weeping for her mate, condemned to death in the dungeon; there was also grief for the male chosen to be the vessel of Klorel. But Amaunet had no time or pity for the host's feelings, and she crushed them swiftly.
"Bow before your goddess!" the lead Jaffa shouted as she entered the concubines' chamber. The white-robed women instantly groveled before her, pressing their foreheads against the hard marble floor. Amaunet was annoyed by the way this position obscured their heads behind pillows and couches. They all looked the same from this angle. To get a decent view of them, she was obliged to walk into the room and then pick out a path among the motionless forms.
About half-way into the chamber, she spotted a light-haired woman. While Amaunet disdained taking a human with light coloring as a host, she found the idea of having one as a slave to be quite agreeable. She moved to stand in front of the woman.
"Rise. Let me see your face," she ordered.
Gracefully, the woman stood before Amaunet, being careful to keep her eyes downcast in respect. She was tall and slender, with short blonde curls that just touched her shoulders. Amaunet sensed recognition in the host: a brief image of clasped hands and shared support. If this woman was already fond of the host, then she would likely transfer those feelings to her new goddess.
"I am in need of younger handmaidens. Your appearance pleases me."
"I would be honored to serve my queen," the woman's soft voice replied.
"An excellent answer. Be sure to always address me as 'my queen'," Amonet replied. "And what shall I call you?"
"Apollonia, if it pleases my queen."
"You are well-spoken, Apollonia. Serve me as well as you speak, and I may name you my lo'taur. Choose two others to assist you."
The woman immediately pointed out one who was kneeling next to her. "Would this one be acceptable, my queen?"
"Let me have a look," Amaunet commanded.
The second woman rose humbly. Noticing a striking similarity in her appearance to Apollonia, Amaunet concluded that they must be relatives. All the better: she could use the relationship between them to her advantage if discipline became necessary.
"And you are?"
"Pelagia, my queen."
"You are of her family?"
"We are sisters, my queen."
"Acceptable," Amaunet judged. "Apollonia, choose one more," she ordered.
Apollonia glanced towards a beautiful woman whose hair was a long, dark mass of ringlets.
"Not her. I want a matched set." Amaunet interrupted. She noticed a light-colored woman crouching by the wall. "Let me see that one."
One of the guards crossed the room quickly, and pulled the woman that Amaunet had indicated to her feet. Amaunet noted with displeasure that this one was significantly shorter than the other two. She gestured to the Jaffa, and the woman was shoved back down. After a bit more searching, Amaunet found another that had the necessary build and coloring to make a satisfactory match for the sisters.
"Jaffa, have one of your guards escort these three to my chambers," the queen commanded the chief Serpent Guard. "Tell my current lo'taur to instruct them in their duties."
After the new handmaidens left, he bowed and asked, "My queen, the lord Apophis has instructed us to dispose of the rest. Shall we carry out his order now?"
Amaunet found her attention drawn to the tip of the guard's staff weapon. For a moment, she was back on her knees in front of Ra, her host's heart pounding in panic. And then there was a different memory -- from the host. But the brief impression of Ra vanished as quickly as it had come, leaving a dark void in its place.
Surprised, Amaunet probed the host. You have knowledge of Ra? she demanded. But the void remained. The host was blocking her! Answer me! Amaunet pressed. What do you know of Ra?
The Serpent Guard watched as his goddess stood apparently lost in thought. He waited, and then ventured a cautious question.
"My queen?"
Her eyes snapped back into focus. "Do as my lord commanded. But use the zat'nick'tel rather than staff weapons. This chamber must not be damaged. And do it quickly."
The chief guard bowed, and then selected two of his men to help carry out the goddess' wishes. The remaining guards escorted Amaunet out of the room. Her business done, she hurried to the implantation ceremony, oblivious to the cries of terror from the doomed women left behind. The exhaustion she had felt earlier was beginning to return. She pushed it aside in her desire to be present when the son she had given Apophis took a host. After that, she would have ample time to probe the host's secrets.
Amaunet had just reached the door of the implantation chamber when she heard shouting and the clank of armor. Amaunet turned to see Apophis striding down the hall, several Serpent Guards hurrying behind.
"My lord!" she greeted him.
"My love," he responded. "There has been a rebellion in the dungeon. One of the guards on the outer wall saw several of the slaves fleeing through a gap in the outer wall."
"What of the guards who were in the dungeon?"
"I know not, my queen. But, while even one of them drew breath, they would not permit a single slave to flee. It is likely that are all dead." His expression darkened. "Unarmed slaves could not do this without help. There are enemies in the palace! I must take you from here at once."
"But what of Korel and the other child?"
"There is not time to properly prepare their hosts. We will perform the ceremony aboard the ship, on the way to the chappa'i."
"I will gather my new handmaidens, and meet you at the ship."
"No! Leave them! Only the members of the court and the royal Serpent Guards are to go. The rest are already on board: I came myself in search of you." He caressed her cheek gently. "You have only just been restored to me. I will not lose you again. Now let us go!"
Amaunet bowed in deference to his command. She allowed Apophis to take her hand and lead her to the waiting ship.
The members of the royal court had already gathered when Apophis and Amaunet arrived at the ship. Apophis paused before boarding and spoke to the guards to be left behind. "The slaves are not to be pursued on foot," he commanded. "They may be a diversion, to draw off our strength in preparation for an attack on the palace. Double the guards at the walls! I will return as soon as my queen is safe."
Once they were aboard and the ship was in the air, Amaunet followed Apophis to the cargo area. There, the most senior Serpent Guards were restraining the two slaves chosen to become hosts. They were on their knees, their hands bound tightly to prevent them from harming themselves or the young symbiotes. The female was crying quietly, but the male glared up at them in defiance.
"Release my sister!" he demanded. "Sha're! Fight them!"
Amaunet regarded him cooly. "Your sister will not answer you. But you should rejoice that, as the host of Klorel, you will be with her forever."
The boy spat angrily at the ground. "Never!"
"I am tired of dealing with slaves today," Amaunet replied. She turned to Apophis. "My love, let us wait no longer."
Apophis reached out his hand device, and used its power to quiet both slaves. The two priests who were incubating the newly-matured Goa'uld stepped behind them, and at the same moment, each parted their robes to allow the symbiotes to emerge.
Apophis smiled with fierce joy. "Come forth, and take your rightful place in the House of Apophis!"
Both symbiotes shrieked in response. Klorel struck first, coiling and then launching himself the short distance from the Jaffa's body to the back of Skarra's neck. The young man screamed in agony. His cries were echoed by the woman next to him, as the other Goa'uld plunged into her body. But the Jaffa held them firm, and in a few moments, they grew quiet. Klorel's eyes flashed, signaling his ownership of his new body. The Serpent Guards holding him released him at once.
The son of Apophis and Amaunet stood and looked down at himself. He held out his hands, turning them over and flexing the fingers.
"Fascinating," he said.
Amaunet stepped forward took Klorel's right hand in her own. "Greetings, Son of Apophis." With her left hand, she held out a ribbon device. "Receive this token of your station. I have waited long for this moment. For you are also my son: you came from my body, though the seed was your father's and not mine."
Korel slipped the ribbon device onto his hand. "I thank you for giving me life, mother." He turned to Apophis. "And I thank you for giving me your memories, father, and for providing this host."
Apophis embraced Korel fondly. "I apologize that we did not properly prepare your host, my son. We fear that an enemy is launching an attack on our palace at Chulak even now. Your first duty is to see your mother to safety. After that, we will have you properly arrayed as a prince and presented to your people."
"My lord Apophis," one of the Serpent Guards called. "We have spotted the slaves. They appear to be heading to the chappa'i. Shall we attack?"
"Not yet," Apophis replied. "First take us to the chappa'i. Then you may return and hunt them down."
"Yes, my lord. We will arrive in a moment."
The ship swooped down into the small valley that held the gate. As it hovered overhead, the members of Apophis' court began ringing down. Apophis and Amaunet were last to materialize on the ground, encircled by six Serpent Guards facing outward to protect them from attack. But as there was no sign of an enemy in the area, Apophis directed the ship to go back and wipe out the fleeing humans.
Together, the system lord and his queen watched the ship fly into the distance. It quickly located the fleeing slaves and began firing toward the ground. Confident that none of the slaves would escape, Apophis turned and began dialing the gate. In a moment, Amaunet would be safe in her secret temple. Then he could return and deal with any remaining enemies.
Suddenly, he heard an unfamiliar sound, as of rushing wind. He turned and saw a streak of smoke speeding toward the Al'kesh. There was an impact on the hull, and then the ship slammed into the ground. A fireball roared up into the sky.
Apophis' eyes flashed with astonished rage. An enemy had dared to attack him on his own territory! But he was unwilling to linger and risk any harm to Amaunet. Apophis turned from the sight and led her through the gate.
Once on the other side, he and his queen waited for Klorel and the rest of the court. Though neither had voiced their anxiety, they were both relieved when their son stepped out of the event horizon.
"Invaders have stepped foot on the holy ground of the chappa'i," he warned. "We must return at once!"
Apophis shook his head. "Your duty is to your queen, my son. Do not leave her side until she is safe in her temple. She will show you the way. I will take the guards back to Chulak myself and punish these invaders."
Apophis stormed over to the pedestal, and began dialing the sequence for Chulak. His anger exploded when the lights on the massive stone circle flashed, and then darkened without the expected wormhole. He dialed two more times, but the result was the same: the way back to Chulak was blocked. The Snake God turned to his court with a furious expression.
"The House of Apophis will not rest until these invaders are found and destroyed!"
A/N: It's taken longer than I thought to get to the end of Children of the Gods. The story will move a little faster through the episodes now. Thanks for the reviews and to those who put this story on alert. If you're reading, please leave a review and let me know what you think of the story so far!