Dizziness. Nausea. An all-over aching sensation...and one hell of a headache. Make that, one hell of a migraine. Some really strange smell....is that patchouli? And what the heck is that noise?
Sam rolled over, groaning. Her head was pounding; a white light flashed across her blurred vision, sending a wave of pain down her spine. Somewhat thankful that she was now on her stomach, Sam closed her eyes and took in a few deep breaths to stifle the sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. She lay like that for a while, resting her cheek against the cool floor white letting her insides work themselves out. Finally, she opened her eyes and scanned her surroundings. She couldn't see much from her position so she resorted to using her voice.
"Hello? Anyone th-" A coughing fit snatched the air from her lungs. Lying on her stomach now wasn't the best option. Rolling over again, she let the fit subside. Breathing a little better, she slowly sat up.
She was surprised to find that her wrists weren't bound, nor was she in any kind of cage or obvious confinement. Rubbing her eyes, she adjusted her focus on the room.
Tall walls of hieroglyphic-endowed gold, a ceiling of vibrant colour and personality, a smooth, cold floor and a few decorative ornaments placed in each corner of the huge room. There wasn't much to the place really. It was just...simple. Simply Goa'uld that was.
She was alone...or was she? What was that noise from before? The ringing in her ears had stopped, but so had that sound. Sam forced herself on her knees and stretched her back. She was beginning to feel more like herself now and there was nothing she wanted more than to stand up and shake the nausea out of her system. After a few moments, she did just that. One hand against the wall to steady herself, Sam pulled her sluggish body onto her wobbly legs and took a few experimental steps.
"Wow..." Shaking the pins and needles from her feet, Sam was now free to walk around. That smell from before was incense; burning slowly in the hands of each of the brilliant golden figures in the corners. It was a beautiful smell but Sam knew enough about the statues to know that the scent was deceiving. Turning around Sam made her way to the other side of the room. On the floor she could make out a dark shape. It wasn't moving.
As she got closer Sam realised that it was a young barefoot woman, lying awkwardly on her side, her long, dark hair sprawled about her porcelain face and her arms wrapped around her stomach. Sam knelt beside her and placed a hand over her forehead. The woman was running a fever, and Sam knew why. Little haphazard red spots gave her condition away. Luckily Sam had already had chicken pox when she was twelve. She only hoped that she wasn't a member of the small percentage of people who could catch it twice. There were tears on the poor woman's face; there was no doubt now that Sam had heard her crying earlier.
"Who are you?"
Sam looked down. The woman had spoken.
"Uh, Major Samantha Carter, but my friends call me Sam. What's your name?"
With a sob, the sick woman opened her eyes and gazed at Sam.
"Pandora. My name is Pandora."
Sam smiled, "That's a nice name." Motioning to her spots, "Itchy?"
Pandora nodded, then slowly sat up.
"I have been chosen as the next Significant. For days now I have been ill. My husband feared that this day would come, as have I. Please tell me you are here to take me back to him."
Sam glanced at the floor, and then met Pandora's tear-filled emerald eyes.
"No. I'm sorry. I'm afraid I'm stuck here with you."
Pandora began to weep again. Sam furrowed her brow and wrapped an arm around her.
"Hey, it's okay. I have friends out there looking for me. We'll be fine. I promise."
"Yes. She will be fine. I only wish I could say the same for you Major."
Sam jumped. She hadn't heard anyone come in. Before she could stand, strong hands pulled both women to their feet and walked them to the front of the room.
Telamon stood proudly, dressed in a light green over gown. About his shoulders was a golden cloak fastened under his chin by an eagle-shaped pin. His hair was neat, and his shoes brightly polished.
"Festive attire."
"Yes indeed. As is should be. You would be wearing something for the occasion as well, had it not been for you untimely escape."
"What a shame...those shoes, nice touch."
Telamon ignored the sarcasm, "Pandora, you are a mess. We can't have our Gods seeing you like this now can we? Luckily for you there is time to get you cleaned up."
Telamon clicked his fingers, and the two men restraining Pandora led her out of the room. Sam stared after them, trying to work out where the door was. One of the guards opened a panel on the far wall and pressed a few symbols. Cracks appeared between the hieroglyphs and a door started to emerge. Eventually, the door was opened and Pandora was gone.
Sam started to think. Alright, so this place probably belongs to the Goa'uld...and this is probably where Ptah comes to claim his victims. Why so secretive? The Goa'uld are more likely to plunder and take hosts at their will rather than to set up a facade for a whole civilization. Why are Rhadamanthus, Telamon and who knows how many others are actually willing for this to happen? Surely they're not stupid enough to think that they would ever see their 'Significants' again. So that leads to this....what kind of weapon has Ptah promised them in return?
Sam shuddered. She really didn't want to know the answer to that one. As far as she was concerned, Earth and Elysium were far from becoming allies. A Goa'uld weapon in these peoples' hands wouldn't make General Hammond a happy camper, come to think of it neither would handing over a member of SG-1 to the Goa'uld. Oh boy, people back home weren't going to be happy about this.
Suddenly, Telamon snapped her out of her thoughts. Walking up to her, he motioned for the guards to release their grip on her. He grabbed her right wrist and turned her hand over to inspect her braised knuckles. Sam stared at him, almost smiling as she remembered the look on Rhadamanthus' face.
"My father is in a lot of pain, it will take a long time for his nose to heal, but an even longer time for my anger to disappear. For a woman you are rather strong. Thankfully I am stronger."
With that, Telamon backhanded Sam across her cheek, catching her off balance. She was caught by the guards before she hit the ground. Wincing, Sam brought her hand up to massage the pain from her face.
Ow, that'll bruise nicely.
"Unfortunately I cannot inflict as much pain on you as I would like. But I have it on good authority that you will be severely punished by our God Ptah for your actions."
Sam rolled her eyes. When wasn't this the case?
Telamon was slightly puzzled by her lack of surprise, but put it to the back of his mind when he noticed the door forming again on the wall.
"Pandora is returning no doubt. And soon we shall be rid of both of you."
Still crying, Pandora was lead back over to stand next to Sam. She was cleaner. He hair brushed and pulled back in a neat bun, and her clothes straightened out. For a sacrifice to the Goa'uld, she was dressed rather civilly in a plain white, sleeveless dress that hung loosely about her ankles. The neckline was low, but apart from that the dress was respectful.The only decorative thing about her attire was a simple eagle-shaped pendant hanging from a delicate necklace about her neck. She looked a lot more human, save for the spots.
With a sly smile, Telamon continued, "Now, finally we can gets things under way."