WARNING: This chapter contains an explicit description of torture.

The following Monday saw a very different Aylala from the one that had initially landed on Earth. She felt almost like her old self, if she ever had an old self. She had lived a life that went straight from innocent childhood to miserable suffering by a god's whimsy. Landing on Earth, she had been frightened and alone, her village's greatest warrior, three close friends and a brother having left Akakor with her. They were separated, two were killed, and one by his own hand, and Aylala had found herself cast in a strange new world, alone with her only perceived mode of escape destroyed.

Two weeks had changed her life, but still, she was entirely motivated to continue her flight from her foe. It would mean finding the Stargate, but it soon became apparent that this planet's Stargate was lost thousands of years ago, so long ago that those who knew of its existence had no clue of what it was. It was certain that it had been unearthed, otherwise why would it be in Washington, D. C., unless that was where it had been buried and some capitol building had been constructed over it?

This last weekend, though, had been different. She found herself considering her future on this planet. Her moment with Nate on Friday had changed everything and she hadn't even noticed. That is, until she realized that in addition to the fact that she was no longer thinking of a way off of Earth, the question of staying wasn't even an issue in her mind. How had that happened? How had she gone from desperately hoping to leave to not even entertaining the notion that she wasn't staying? Then she remembered one of Jamala's favorite sayings; "Love is the most potent mind-altering drug there is." Leave it to an apothecary to come up with that one.

Love was also the most dangerous drug there was. In addition to the highest euphoria, it could also cause the deepest depression. Aylala had remembered how her mother was; happy, blissful, and she loved and took joy in all of her children. When Aylala's father died, her mother had become a totally different person, and there was one daughter she no longer loved, and indeed hated with every fiber of her being. Aylala's mother had become as hostile and cold to her as Ra. There it was, beneath Aylala's current euphoria was an unnamed terror. There was no name for it because the shape could not be deduced. Would Nate prove to be as fickle as all of the other men on this world and discard her for another? Would they be cruelly torn from each other? Would the people whom she had come to trust and even love betray her?

Jamala had a saying for that too; "The best cure for fear of tomorrow is living today." That was all that Aylala could do. She could love Nate and settle into this new life, make her own future, and let life take her wherever it may lead. Of course, by lunchtime on Monday, it led her to an undesirable spot.

"This table's taken." Tiffany looked up from her lunch and sneered at Aylala.

Aylala said, "These are the only available seats."

"Tough shit. Eat on the floor."

Aylala ignored her and sat down anyway.

"Do you have a hearing problem?"

"I heard you perfectly well. I am simply ignoring you."

Tiffany looked as if she was going to press the issue, but decided against it. "Bitch."

"Thank you. It honors me that a fellow bitch has noticed."

Michelle snorted, spraying milk all over tray. Tiffany mocked Aylala in a cartoonish voice. "Meep, meep. Meep meepmeep meep meep meep meepmeep meep meep meepmeep."

Michelle said, "Ohhhh mygod! I am sitting next to Beeker."

"Shut up," she said. "Fine, I'll just find another table."

Aylala said, "No you won't. I told you, there is nowhere else to sit."

Nate sat down next to Aylala and said, "Hi, Ayla." Aylala smiled at the familial use of her name. Nate addressed the whole table. "Hey, we have a substitute gym teacher."

Tiffany said, "What, did Mrs. Payne need to go to the garage for a tune up?"

Nate didn't even bat an eye at the intimation that his teacher was a robot, which suggested to Aylala that it was an old joke through the school. "…go to the garage for…?"

Tiffany rolled her eyes and Michelle said, "Because she never stops. She's like a machine, you know? So why's she gone?"

Nate shook his head. "All I know is it's a family emergency. She's on leave until further notice. Instead of one of the other gym teachers taking over, we've got a new teacher: Ms. Simone Porter."

"Why couldn't Mrs. Ayler do it?"

"I don't know, but she wasn't too happy about being passed up for a sub."

Tiffany said, "Well, we may get a break."

"Don't bet on it. I sneaked a look at her sheet. I heard her to talking to one of the vice-principals. She's retired Air Force, but she started out in the Army. She was a drill sergeant."

Tiffany smiled and had a manic gleam in her eyes. "Lovely! She and Mr. Santona can eat broken glass for breakfast together, fall in love and have little psychopathic Rambo children."

Aylala narrowed her eyes in consternation and said, "That creates an interesting mental picture."

Tiffany said, "When you meet Mr. Santona, you'll understand."

Michelle said, "I thought you were going to find another table."

"I don't want to sit on the floor and you know they won't let us eat in the commons. Why, do you not want me here now? Are you tight with your newbie friend, here?"

"Hey, I want you here. It'd be nice if you back off of Aylala, though. She's a really nice girl."

Tiffany looked sulkily down in her tray. "Whatever."

Michelle turned to Nate and said, "Hey, about skipping the game last Friday, Josh, Barry, and Derrick want to know if you don't mind us doing it tonight instead."

Tiffany said, "Game, what game?"

Nate said, "Sure."

"What game?"

Michelle said, "Its geek stuff, Tiffany; Dungeons and Dragons."

A bemused look crossed Tiffany's face. "Really?" She shook her head in amazement and opened her bottle of Dr. Pepper. It sprayed all over the place and she retightened the cap. Michelle had been sprayed for a second time. Nate had managed to avoid most of it while a stream managed to spritz Aylala's face.

The whole table sat in silence for a moment, then Michelle said, "Wow, the soda machine really throws those out, doesn't it?"

Tiffany said, "You know, there's something wrong with those machines. Every time you get a soda from one, you've got to wait ten minutes at least."

Aylala said, "I just got mine." She held up her own Dr. Pepper, opened it to the panic of everyone around her, and when nothing happened, she raised to take a drink. "Cheers." This time, they all laughed, even Tiffany. When she drank, she shuddered and said, "This stuff still burns my throat."

It turned out that Nate was right about the substitute gym teacher. When they walked into the small gymnasium, there was an athletic black woman dressed in a navy blue jogging suit bearing the slogan "Be Army strong" waiting for them. She looked on her list as each student entered and when the bell rang, she said, "We are missing one." A freshman girl ran in just an instant after she said it. "What is your name?"

The girl said, "Brianna Tarver."

"That is one tardy. I'm sure you know that two more lands you in detention." Brianna nodded and the teacher said, "All right, everyone. I am your substitute teacher until further notice. Mrs. Payne expects to be gone a month but she thinks it could be longer. I do not have details of her absence so please do not ask. I am Lieutenant-Colonel Simone Porter, but Ms. Porter will do. According to Mrs. Payne, you've gone through aerobics, softball, and archery. Now as we are getting into the cooler fall season, it is time to start you on tennis. I also understand that every Monday you run. We will be doing that in a few minutes, but first I am going to call out your names and you hear it, you are to raise your hand. Brianna Tarver I already have so I am going to mark her off."

Aylala, having only one name was second on the list, a girl with the last name of Andrews being before her. Was it her imagination, or was Porter paying unusually close attention to her? Aylala returned the attention, noting an odd sheen on Porter's eyes. It was a glaze like what Ra had. She almost expected Porter's eyes to suddenly glow. When Porter turned and Aylala saw the scar on the back of her neck, her extremely short hair doing nothing to hide it, she nearly panicked. Still, Aylala got control of herself. In all likelihood, she was overreacting. She had seen many people with that peculiar sheen to their eyes, usually struggling with some sort of addiction. Porter was only human after all, and the scar on the back of her neck could have been acquired anywhere, especially for a military woman. None of this meant that Porter was possessed by one of the false gods.

Aylala ran with her classmates. Unlike Payne, Porter had them run around the building. She understood that the regular gym coach liked to run his students like this. It proved to be a grueling exercise. While many students had difficulty with the run, some seemed more than capable. Aylala found it invigorating. It was nothing like her runs through the jungle, nowhere near as challenging, but it was far different than that run around the flat, dull gymnasium floor. They were told to do two laps. On the first pass, Porter shouted, "Aylala, you are our best runner. Keep it up!"

After their run was finished, Porter had them all walk up to the tennis courts where equipment was waiting. Once again, Aylala got the impression she was being paid special attention. Porter specifically walked alongside her and followed her through the gate to the tennis courts, which were surrounded by ten feet tall cyclone fence. Alongside the courts was a gangway, on the other side of which was another chain link fence barely containing dense brush growth and bamboo. The equipment was already there, tennis balls and enough rackets for more than half of them, though there were only three courts. The rest of the hour was spent like any ordinary class. There were no more curious observations by Porter.

Nate was waiting for her by the locker room door. They ignored several students' whistling and catcalling. Aylala said, "You smell nice. You smell like strawberries."

Nate laughed and said, "Yeah, one of the seniors decided to be a douchebag and dumped his Gatorade on me."

"What is a douchebag?"

Nate turned suddenly very red and began to stutter, "Oh-uh-well…"

"You do know?"

"I know, it's just a little embarrassing, you know, especially since it's for…well, women use it."

"What do women use it for?"

Nate smiled uneasily. "Personal hygiene!"

"Women use it for personal hygiene. We're getting somewhere. What is it for?"

"Well, it is a bag filled with-I don't know-a cleaning liquid for when a lady starts to feel dirty in a certain area?"

"A certain area?"

"Are you really going to make me go through this whole thing?"

"What certain…" comprehension dawned on Aylala's face and her lips slowly formed an, "Oh…" A bemused smile crept onto her face and her face turned red also. "So you were calling the man a 'bag for rinsing inside.'"

"Yes."

"I see."

"Good, so I don't have to…"

"Whatever it is, you don't have to be embarrassed around me. I think we got to know each other well enough for that over the weekend."

Nate's embarrassment diminished and a smirk spread upon his face. "Yeah, you have a point."

Aylala looped her elbow around his and they walked down the corridor, each accompanying the other to their respective lockers. Twice, Aylala saw Porter in the hallways, not necessarily paying attention to her, but still walking through the same areas. Then as they left, Porter was talking to two teachers near where Aylala and Nate got on the bus. Aylala was sure that Porter was following her.

# # #

"So tell me about her," said O'Neill.

Simone had joined Jack for dinner at a local pizzeria called Imo's. Apparently it was a local chain that specialized in the St. Louis style pizza, a pizza with a thin, cracker-like crust and very small edges. It was alright, but she favored her Chicago deep-dish. Cut into squares, the pizza reminded her of cheap frozen pizza from the supermarket, only with better sauce and more cheese.

She said, "She seems like a good kid, very athletic and everyone says she's brilliant. She's got two French teachers and one history teacher willing to claim she's a genius. She's made a few friends. It looks like she may even be romantically involved." She took a bite and said, "Man, this pizza's crap."

Jack nodded. "It's okay. It's got nothing on New York style. Do you think she's a threat, or anything like what these people say she is?"

"I can believe what they say about her memory, but Jack, I'll be real with you. That girl wouldn't hurt anyone. She's got an attitude, she can fight, but if she had a mean bone in her body, then I saw a few kids that were overdue getting their teeth knocked out. You know how these kids are. Speaking of which, how's Sara and Charlie?"

"Oh, they're fine. I talked to Sara earlier today. Charlie joined the school baseball team."

Simone smiled. "That's good. It'd do him good to start hanging out with kids his own age. So, about this armored terror that showed up on Friday."

Jack shook his head. "Still no sign of him. I can't figure out how he just disappeared after all of the noise he made. We've analyzed those weapon's blast patterns. This guy is definitely one of our visitors."

"We're going to have to get this thing done. If this guy gets close to our girl, it's going to be game over for her. So, hell naw, you did not hitch a ride with the Army Rangers?"

"Jealous!"

"Bitch, yah!"

"Well, you weren't missing much. The seats are like sitting on rock, it was freezing in the cabin and there was barely room to move with all of the troops in there. Are you feeling okay?"

"I feel fine. Why, do I not look okay?"

"No, you don't."

"Why? What do I look like?"

"Simone, have you seen yourself lately? You're pale. You have bags under your eyes. Your lips are purple. Every time I see you, you look you just finished one of the Army's ten-mile-hikes."

Simone listened but didn't answer immediately. She couldn't tell him what was wrong. How could she tell him? Would he even believe her? "My lips are purple?"

Jack nodded. "Yes, your lips are purple. Purple, as in just-strangled-to-death purple. I'm not a doctor, Simone. I'm not even a medic, but I seem to recall something about purple lips meaning not enough oxygen going to the brain. You can always talk to Janet."

"Jack, I can handle it." She looked down and dropped her slice of pizza on the paper plate. "I'm going to find some real food." She got up and walked out of the pizzeria.

She walked down Manchester Road in a municipality called Kirkwood. This was a lively business district with high ticket store fronts and eateries. Simone viewed it all as if looking from a distance. This was the kind of suburban world Jack was uncomfortable in. She had been surprised by Jack's reaction to Scott Air, but she had to remind herself that he hadn't really spent his time on those types of bases. He was usually either serving abroad, in isolated facilities, or in smaller satellite offices. He and his wife lived in a suburban community, but it was far from any metropolitan traffic, an area that was almost rural. When he wasn't on active duty during his son's summer holiday, he was taking his family and spending most of his time at his cabin in Minnesota.

This place, Missouri…this wasn't much different. Missouri was a place where people could get away from the hustle. It wasn't at all like Florida, where no matter how rural the country was, no matter how many horse pastures or farms one came across, one was usually only a few minutes' drive from a densely populated area. Illinois was like Missouri. Simone had grown up in Chicago. That was a large enough city, but Illinois was vast, flat, with wide open areas for miles across the state.

:::The more you fight, the further you deteriorate. You cannot win, Simone.:::

Manchester disappeared around her and she found herself in the District C Missouri State Highway Patrol holding facility. Simone looked around in panic and checked her watch. Two whole hours had gone by. :::What is this? What the hell did you just do?:::

:::What did I do? Why, I merely hailed a cab and brought you to see the First Prime.:::

Simone felt her stomach drop out from under her. :::Where the hell was I?:::

:::You see? Your fight is pointless. I can take you any time you wish.:::

:::I won't be your slave. I'll die first. You think you have the power to do anything you want, but I'll bet I'm strong enough that if I put a P-90 to the side of skull and pulled the trigger, you couldn't stop that.:::

There was a moment when the creature didn't reply. :::Perhaps. You are quite strong.:::

:::You ready to take that bet?:::

:::Simone, I can promise you freedom if you do not resist.:::

:::What? You can promise me freedom if I agree to give up my freedom?:::

:::We can be as one, not like a master and a servant but as friends sharing this space.:::

:::Okay, see, here's the thing. There's this story that parents here on Earth like to tell their children. Once upon a time, there was a fox, and he was running around, hunting rabbits, and doing his whole fox thing, and then one day, he went to the river to get a drink of water. Well, see this scorpion came up and got in his grill, and the fox freaked, right? The scorpion said, "Hey, wait. Don't be afraid. I wasn't going to sting you. I simply wanted to ask you a favor. You see, I just have to get past this river and I can't swim. So you see I was just hoping that you could let me ride on you while you swim to the other side of the river." Well, the fox see, he wasn't a dummy. He said, "Not a chance. If I let you ride my back, you'll sting me and then I'll drown and die." The scorpion laughed and waved this off. "Of course I won't sting you. I told you I can't swim. If I stung you, I'd drown, too." So the fox, he couldn't deny that and he figured that the threat of drowning would be enough insurance against stinging, that he went ahead and agreed to let the scorpion ride him. Can you guess what happened next?:::

:::Given that this is clearly a fable meant to teach children, I suppose the scorpion stung the fox.:::

:::He sure did, and the fox said, "Why did you do that? Now we will both die!" The scorpion was absolutely mortified and he said, "I couldn't help it. It's my nature." Do you see where I'm going with this?:::

:::I cannot change my nature. I now possess this body as surely as you do, and I tell you, if you will allow it, we can share.:::

:::It just feels like I'm selling my soul to the devil. I can't do it.:::

:::Do you even want to know why you're here?:::

:::Why am I here?:::

:::The First Prime can tell you the identity of the elite troop. If he can do that, he may also know the frequency on which the armor operates. So you see, I am trying to serve your interests.:::

Simone approached the desk belonging to the officer on duty and she showed him her ID, putting it within a foot of his face. "I'm Lieutenant-Colonel Simone Porter, U. S. Air Force, and I need to question a suspect regarding an incident in Arnold."

The officer nodded and turned to his filing computer. "Suspect's name?"

"Unknown. He was apprehended after killing a state trooper and attempting to kill another in Farmington County."

The officer's eyes widened slightly and he looked up at her and said, "I'll need to get approval from the station supervisor if you want to see that particular prisoner."

It didn't take long. Though the state had refused to turn custody over to the Air Force, they had granted them access. When the officer had led her to the cell containing the Jaffa, she turned to him and said, "I can find my own way out."

The officer looked concerned as he said, "But ma'am, I'm supposed to stay with any visitors authorized to enter-"

"Corporal, I am a U. S. military officer of advanced rank who is here to discuss matters with the prisoner that the Department of Defense has classified for restricted authorization. I'm sure you understand that means that if you remained, you would possibly overhear material of a sensitive nature that could potentially compromise national security. I'm sure you also understand that if you remain, that will mean that I will have wasted a trip down here."

"But-"

"We're not even opening the door and I am not armed. What's going to happen? Is he going to take me hostage? I guarantee you he would regret that one." She waved her hand. "Just stand at the end of the cell block."

"I can do that ma'am, but I can't let you out of my sight."

As the officer walked away, the large bald Jaffa said, "I would regret taking you hostage, would I?"

For a moment, he and Simone looked each other in the eyes then her eyes glowed. The First Prime visibly blanched. In an otherworldly voice, soft so that only the First Prime could hear, she said, "The daughter of Ra seeks your aide. Do not prostrate yourself. They will see."

The First Prime froze, having just begun to kneel. "What can your servant do for you?"

"I was born prematurely after this Tau'ri killed my Jaffa. This vessel is inordinately strong of will. I must appease her to prevent her from exposing me to the other Tau'ri. To this end, it has become necessary to help her capture the other Jaffa."

"But my lady, if our soldiers are incapacitated, then we will not be able to complete our mission."

"The mission was doomed. The Tau'ri have not reopened their Stargate and space travel is still in its infancy on this planet. You never would have escaped. From the very beginning, they have been closing in the Jaffa. Only four remain free. I hope that they can successfully evade capture. The Goa'uld soldier however, is causing significant collateral damage. You would be appalled at the commotion she is making. These Tau'ri are mighty enough to challenge Ra. She must be stopped before she gives them cause to do so."

The First Prime shook his head in disgust and said, "The elites are always like this. They think that because they are preserved inside their armor, they can act with impunity. They endanger everyone around them, even their allies. What is it you wish?"

"I am afraid I do not possess my father's knowledge of that armor."

"Ra has no knowledge of how it works. You would have to ask Osiris and he hasn't been seen in thousands of years. A plasma discharge-electricity will suffice-should disable the suit, but only if you know the frequency it operates at."

"I know that. How do I determine the frequency?"

The Jaffa laughed. "That is an excellent question-one which I do not have an answer to. I will tell you this: if you find Aylala, you can lure the warrior to wherever you wish. I could be of greater assistance if I were to be free of this place."

"That is not within my power and it would expose me to the Tau'ri. Besides, I believe this vessel is strong enough to prevent me from taking such an action. I must return control to her very soon. She grows quite agitated when I take over for protracted periods and I fall under her mental assault. Her health is beginning to suffer because of it. She will begin to assert herself soon, if she isn't already."

"The elite is tracking Aylala's DNA trail. She will know where the girl is within a certain range, but she must be able to locate where the girl has been."

Simone slumped forward catching the bars for support. She looked up at the Jaffa. "Can you tell me how to beat this bitch?"

The First Prime smiled humorlessly. "There is no way. She is a part of your brain. You may just as well cut off your hand."

Simone left the cellblock and the officer of the watch escorted her back to the lobby. She stepped outside into the massive parking lot, a federal building facing her on the other side of the street. She walked over to a bus bench and sat, put her head in her hands and began to cry.

:::This terrifies you, doesn't it?:::

:::What? What terrifies me?:::

:::The idea of losing yourself to an intruder; it terrifies you.:::

:::What was your first clue?:::

:::Simone, I'm sorry. I'd change this if I could.::: Simone simply cried harder. :::Simone?::: She ignored the buses as they passed. :::Simone, I truly don't want to hurt you.:::

:::Of course not. You'd be hurting yourself, wouldn't you?:::

:::Simone, I am one with you. I am a part of you. I care very much about you and your wellbeing. Perhaps this hasn't occurred to you, but everything I see is through your eyes, and everything I hear is through your ears. Everything I smell, and I taste, and I touch, I experience from your grace. For these things, I depend entirely on you. I am merely a snake without you. Without another host, I would die if I left you, and I am afraid of dying. You are afraid of becoming a slave in mind, body, and soul. I am afraid of oblivion, and without a host, oblivion is my only reality. Without your brain, I am just a snake. I do not even know what I am, or who I am when I am a mere snake. I do not have your bravery. My race is famous for our cowardice.:::

:::I'm missing hours out of the day. I have big blank spots in my memory. Perhaps this hasn't occurred to you, but everything you see through my eyes and hear through my ears is not yours alone. I am missing these things and that is absolutely, positively, utterly, and completely unacceptable. You may be afraid of oblivion, but I am afraid of you, and what scares you doesn't scare me. I was going to say, "If I were you…" but since you've made it clear that we are one and I am you, I am going to tell you very carefully consider the fact that I'm not afraid of death. You give that your utmost consideration.:::

For the first time since this began, a certain clarity entered Simone's mind that hadn't been there. She realized that she could sense the presence of the creature, this Goa'uld, in her mind and she could clearly sense it cowering in distress. Simone's threat had definitely struck a nerve. She felt as if a weight had lifted off of her shoulders. For the rest of the day, and for much of the next day, the Goa'uld did not speak to her, and she enjoyed the clarity of thought that she hadn't realized had been missing. That night, she certainly slept better than she had all week.

# # #

Carol hadn't been there for the entire day. Monday was the day of the funeral for Major Deland. He was being buried in Lafayette Cemetery up on West Florissant, the oldest cemetery in St. Louis. She had told them she wouldn't be home until much later. Nate Sr. had gone with her. Nate had been to a police funeral before and it had been a fairly impressive sight, with nearly a hundred police in identical navy blue uniforms with white hats and another seven firing a twenty-one gun salute. It was much as he had imagined a military funeral. Still, he was glad he didn't have to go to this one.

That night as the gamers played, Michelle told them that Tiffany wanted to join in.

"No," said Josh. "She only wants to come because of you and you know how she is. She thinks it's nerdy. She might be pretend to be interested for a while, but then she'll get bored and she'll start whining and complaining, and the whole night will be a total loss."

Michelle said, "Actually, I told her the same thing, and she says she promises to be good." She put her archer figurine on the board near a wooded area outside Neverwinter. "You know, she's planning to ambush you tomorrow. She's got this whole speech worked out where she pleads and offers to take you on a date."

"Well, she's in for a disappointment." Rolled a d20 and said, "You're ambushed by a group of…" he rolled a d10, "…six gnoll. What do you do?"

Michelle said, "Hide in shadows."

Josh looked up and said, "Thief ability or Drow ability?"

"I can use it as a Drow ability?"

"Don't you remember last time? When you were promoted a level you got it as a new ability."

"Then, absolutely; Drow ability."

Josh looked at the board and said, "You're in dark enough shadow. It works automatically. You won't be able to use it again for another 240 turns. You'll have to use it as a thief ability."

Nate said, "Cast mirror image. Why is Tiffany in for a disappointment?"

"Okay, the gnoll see five of you now. Tiffany is definitely not my type."

Derek said, "I attack the first gnoll I see with my bastard sword plus two."

Nate said, "Is any girl your type?"

Josh said, "Nope. Wow look at that, Derek. You kill him in one hit." The d10 for the sword's hit points rolled a ten, and the d20 had rolled a 1 for THAC0.

Derek said, "Woohoo! 20 point hit."

Michelle looked at Josh curiously, then her eyes widened and she said, "Whoa, okay, I will not press the issue with you."

Barry said, "I attack with my Protector. What's wrong with girls, Josh? They're soft, warm, and cuddly." Michelle threw herself into Barry's arms as if to demonstrate.

"None of your business." Josh rolled and said, "Your Protector has the element of lightening…so…you have hit the gnoll for twelve points of damage. He attacks you with his spear. Critical miss." Josh looked up at Aylala.

Nate said, "Okay. You have to…" he picked up her character sheet and was pointing to her weapon's list.

"Right," she said, "I will cast a spell then…hold creature?"

Josh rolled his dice and said, "Success." He rolled a d6 and said, "Three of the five gnoll are now held. The wounded one is not held."

Aylala hadn't been sure about this. The game had seemed rather a silly thing. It was certainly imaginative, but she wondered at these people sitting at a table playing this game of make believe. She quickly came to realize that she had misjudged the game. Imagination was more an element than she expected and it was truly more involved than just logging numbers from a set of dice and writing down figures on a sheet of paper. She realized the purpose of the game now that she finally played. It was about people sharing this time with one another, sharing their imaginations.

One could write stories that were as mystical and unbelievable as anyone could imagine, but to roleplay in a group of people such as this was a truly remarkable experience. It was truly remarkable and disturbing how easily one's mind played tricks. It was amazing the way the mind shifted. For example, when she merely listened in on the game, and she heard Nate saying that he would like to cast Melf's Acid Arrows, it seemed silly gibberish to her. Now that she was a part of the game, it was a serious element with an important purpose. Then she realized that that was the point. Alone, the game looked like nonsense, but with other people to participate, one could easily believe that that world was real. Aylala could now see the charm, and could even enjoy the participation.

They played from three until almost seven. That was when the game began to wind down. They had ended that night in a city called Waterdeep. Of course, everyone had left around that time because most of their parents expected them home for dinner. That was why Friday and Saturday were the preferred days for this game. Nobody except Derek had an early curfew on those days. Still, Carol and Nate Sr. still weren't home and Nate found himself home alone with Aylala. He was only partially successful at cooking her a dinner that involved real, non-processed food. If Aylala hadn't been there, he never would have been able to put that fire out.

Between him and Aylala, they actually managed to make a good meal, and they were somewhat successful at cleaning up the kitchen afterwards. They finished the evening on the couch where she curled up in Nate's arms.

# # #

Carol and Nate Sr. had made it home after ten. Nate was asleep but Aylala was still up. She marveled that Carol's cast could not be seen under the dress uniform. Carol was concerned at first, but when Aylala said that she couldn't sleep on account of a racing mind, Carol offered several home remedies, all of which Aylala declined.

In truth, it was bothering Aylala that she was keeping so much from Carol, but what could she tell her? That she was an alien from another planet; she was in love with her son; she had gone so far in that romance that by the laws of her tribe, she was married to Carol's son. What could she say? None of it seemed even remotely believable. When Carol sat down next to her, Aylala knew her resolve, her will to protect Carol from a frightening truth was about to be tested.

Carol said, "Aylala, you know you can talk to me."

How Aylala wished that were true, that she could simply lay her burdens at the foot of a responsible adult, who on this planet, it seemed, could handle any situation. It was a bit sad, the illusions that parents on this planet raised their children by.

Carol continued. "I know that you and my son are romantically involved. I also know that you've had a very rough ordeal. Aylala, I know what this sounds like, and it's not. Really, I'm very happy I've brought you into my home. I'm really glad you're here."

"My whole life has been a rough ordeal," said Aylala. "Here, in this world, you treat each other like possessions. Not only people claim people, but they discard them just as casually. This word divorce is strange to me in any language. Where I come from, once a man and a woman has consummated, they are bonded for life. There is no playing field, or market, or going steady. Death does not even separate that bond. In your world, you say, 'Until death do you part', but you never part. When your mate dies, a part of you dies also. Death does not separate you."

Carol looked at Aylala, her eyes searching. "Have you consummated?" She wasn't sure she wanted to know the answer, but she knew she had to. It was her son. It was Nate that they were talking about.

Aylala turned red as she considered her answer; well, after all, it had been a very personal question. "Yes."

Carol sighed. "You know, Nate is a very mature boy, but I think you know, probably even better than me, that your world and his are separated by leaps and bounds. You'd never leave him, would you?"

"I'd follow him anywhere. I'm more frightened of what he will do. I have come to know this world. Men here just get wife after wife without regard for the one that came before. I think he is honest when he says he won't, but the future changes all things."

Carol put her hand on Aylala's shoulder. "Oh, I promise, sweetheart, you ain't got to worry about that. I'll make sure of it."

Aylala looked up with pleading eyes. "I am so sorry. I know I shouldn't have, but I've wanted a proper family for so long. I just want a normal life."

Carol pulled Aylala into an embrace. "There's no need for the waterworks. It's done now, it can't be undone, and I can't be happier with the daughter-in-law that I get in the deal. Never you worry. It'll all come out in the wash."

"Carol," Aylala said, but then her voice caught in her throat. It was difficult to live in the untenable position of having to choose between two lives. Should she take a chance at a new life of happiness and peace, or did she have an obligation to home that no longer welcomed her as a sister. "Do you know what they say about the crash?"

Carol said, "Yes. They said, 'Don't ask.'"

"Do you know about the crash?"

"I saw it. Everybody saw it. They were smashed to bits, but they were like nothing anybody ever saw before. Me, well I only got to see the sight from a distance. The Air Force needed help securing it because there were armed men in the woods. I had to sit and wait on account of my shoulder. Medics were checking you out. It was a hectic day. They said a lot of things about the wrecks."

"I was on it."

Carol observed her a moment and said, "That's why I didn't tell Colonel O'Neill about you. Are you ready to tell me where you come from?"

"You won't believe me, or you'll think I am insane, or deluded."

"Aylala, you are the most honest, level-headed fourteen-year-old I have ever met, and I've met people twice your age with less than half of your sense, or none at all."

Aylala's eyes started to burn. This was a fine time to start crying. When did she get so weak? "Do you believe the things they say about the wreck?"

"That depends. What do they say about the wreck?"

"Please, this is so hard already. Ra wished me to be his daughter. I would have been nothing but a vessel for a parasite that he would put in me. My mother poisoned my friends and family against me. There were only a few people that didn't listen to her and they helped me escape."

"But what is so secret? Aylala, you look perfectly human to me. This thing you're not telling me; it can't be true. You're human."

Aylala closed her eyes. Carol's decision to reveal what she knew had lifted a weight off of Aylala. Carol would believe her. She was sure of it now. "Yes, I am human. A long time ago, Ra was dying. His entire race was going extinct. Ra, he feared death more than anything else and he was seeking a way to prolong his life. It is written that he found a planet rich in life and there he found us. He learned that he could possess one of his, and when he did, he gained that human's vitality, and so he chose to live in his human vessel. Most importantly, he learned that with his technology, our bodies were so simple he could repair any damage and prolong life indefinitely. He had achieved immortality.

"He conquered this world and took humans as slaves. He took them to planets all over the universe to mine his mineral, to grow his food, to maintain his empire. He's weapons and his army is mighty, but he is weak. With nothing but spears and swords you drove his armies off, all because he was afraid he would die in the battle, so he fled this world. Earth was free, while the rest of humanity remained firmly under his heel.

"His favorite game is Chess. There are certain planets he comes to each year to monitor his slave operations. These are where his slaves mine his power source, the rock that fuels his weapons and his ships. When I was seven, I was one of numerous girls selected for consideration for becoming his next 'daughter'. The lucky winner would be possessed by one of his children; immortality in exchange for your soul. That was when he discovered me. I did not know at the time what he was choosing me for, but he asked me to play a game. I had never seen the game before. So he explained the rules to me and how the pieces moved, and we played. I won the first time.

"He usually flies into a rage when he loses a game, but I was different. I had one on my very first game and that impressed him. He made me play again to make sure it wasn't beginners luck. Then he made me play again and again. He did not put his child in me yet, but how was I to know that that was what he planned, or that I had to be groomed first? I never lost a game to him. Every time he came to Akakor, he insisted I be brought straight to him. He treated me like a princess, and we played Chess, hour after hour, day after day. I prayed that if I escaped this madman, I would never look at another Chess board.

"Then when I was nine, I refused to play anymore. He dressed me in fine Egyptian silk while my family slept on dirt and hay. He fed me the finest foods of a thousand worlds while my family starved. I would not play to his hedonistic absurdity any longer. Within mere minutes of my decision, Ra made me watch as he had my father tortured to death. My mother blamed me. She said that it was I that killed my father, and I believed her. Sometimes, I still believe her. My mother became a different person. For a time, my brothers and sisters stood by me, but my mother was Ra's high priestess in my tribe, a woman of faith, and the typical religious rhetoric was pounded into their heads day after day after day ad nauseum.

"Then came the tribe war with the merchant guild when I came of age and became a woman of the tribe. My brother had caught a thief and that thief tried to kill my brother. He woke me instead and tried to cut my throat, but I am an archer, and he was no warrior. My brother knew why I had killed him. They all knew, but mother blamed me for the war. We fought and my eldest sister died fighting alongside me. I avenged her death while she still lived and killed the merchant's brother, ending the war. Mother blamed me for my sister's death, too, insisted that I should have died instead, that better still, she should have drowned me when I was born. That was two years ago.

"Just days later, I learned the truth of what Ra intended for me. I always answered his summons. I always tried to get away from him as soon as I was allowed so it was easy to come up with a pretense for exploring his imperial ship and finding its hangers. For days, I learned all I could about the small alkesh. I didn't think I'd be able to steal one of the larger tal'teks or lo'teks. Ra still had several years before he was prepared to make me a goddess, but I was ready to leave now. I had nothing to stay for, and there were those who sympathized with me who were willing to help. So I taught a co-pilot all that I had learned from the alkesh's flight manual. Then we learned together upon our escape. Six of us came. Two are now dead and I do not know the fate of the other three.

"Lately, they talked about going back and fighting Ra, driving him off. I did not want to go back. I wanted a quiet life. I do not want to be a warrior, and I think that might be why I have lingered here. When I fell in love with your son, it was so easy to forget about that other world. Binding myself to him guaranteed I would never leave, and I could never leave him. I am his forever, but there is something in me that wants to pay Ra back for what he did to my father. The Jaffa brought my father to the steps of his ha'tek, his hands bound. Then they cut his hands off."

"Aylala," Carol said softly.

"And they tied him to the steps and they whipped him until he choked on his own blood."

"Aylala…"

"They set fire to his-to his-to his groin."

"Aylala…"

"They cut his feet off…and Ra told him…he told him that his life would be spared if he could stand on the stumps of his ankles and walk to me and with the stumps of his wrist pick me up from where the Jaffa were holding me, forcing me to watch, holding my eyes open. He did it. He walked to me. He didn't stumble once. He picked me up…Ra lied. One of the Jaffa stabbed my father in the back of his knee. Then they whipped him again until he was unconscious. The First Prime, the man who killed your partner, drove a hook into the wound the made behind his knee and hung my father from the hook. Ra said that he had said he would spare my father's life; not that he would let him do what he wished with it. My father took three days to die."

"Aylala," Carol drew her into a hug and Aylala buried her head in Carol's good shoulder, "I don't believe your father would want you to torture yourself over what happened. You had nothing to do with his death."

"Ra…he…"

"He is an abuser and a control-freak. No matter what you did, he would have come up with a reason, any reason to prove that he was in control. You couldn't have done anything to change what happened."

"Do you believe me?"

"Every word. Now you listen to me; you never have anything to fear in this house. That front door is in a steel frame in a concreted wall. That wall has a steel frame and a steel plating. The door has high security locks. The other doors are the same way. The windows are all bulletproof glass and if anyone gets through any of it, we are armed to the teeth. I have M-1 Carbines with folding stocks. I have riot guns. I have full riot gear. I have tear gas grenades. Last but not least, there will never come a time when you are not welcome behind these walls."

Aylala looked up, her eyes red and wet. "You don't think I'm lying or imagining it?"

"I know what I saw, and I know what I heard, and I know I didn't imagine that." She brushed Aylala's hair out of her eyes. "Now come on. It's way past time for bed."

Aylala said, "I feel better, now."

Carol nodded. "That's an awful big thing to hold on to. From the sound of it, you didn't have anyone to share it with. You learn a bit about psychology in law enforcement. When the victim of a crime feels like she can't talk to anyone, she ends up feeling like she has to carry the burden by herself, that she's all alone."

"I don't feel alone anymore."

"You're not alone. Tell me; if your ship's destroyed, how did you plan on getting your friends back to Akakor?"

"I planned on using the Stargate."

"The Stargate?"

"Every world that Ra brought humans to has one. They are older even than his race. The builders are long lost, but the Stargates remain, and if you know how to work it, you can literally step off one planet and onto another."

Carol wondered about that, but it was late, and she doubted she would understand. "Go on, you'll feel better once you've gotten some sleep."

Carol, for her part, got no sleep at all. She laid on the bed with her eyes wide open, her husband snoring softly next to her. She was haunted by images of torture and slavery, with a faceless overlord presiding, eyes glowing in darkness. She struggled with whether or not she believed Aylala. After what she had seen, she couldn't dismiss anything the troubled teenager had said. That which truly frightened Carol was that she wasn't sure that she didn't believe.

# # #

Aylala couldn't sleep either. She wondered if she could get away with sneaking into Nate's room-she needed the comfort he would be able to offer. After some consideration, she decided against it. A lamp from a street on the other side of a house behind the yard shined into her room, casting a faint light, through the branches of walnut trees. For a moment, the shadows went deeper than usual. Her attention was drawn straight to the window. She got up quietly, opened her dresser drawer and retrieved the zat'niq'tal she kept hidden in it.

She crept to the window and slowly looked out the curtains. There was nobody there. Leaning against the glass, she could see nobody hanging from the gutters, but she did see a shadow in the tree branches off to the right, awkwardly trying to plant a foot on the roofing shingles. No Jaffa would be so buffoonish. There was also something familiar about how that sleek feminine form so farcically dangled from the branches, her feet barely holding to the edge of the roof. Aylala opened the window and climbed out. She lied in her spot on the roof and watched her old friend struggle with her acrobatics.

When Janala finally found her way safely onto the ledge, she said, "When were you going to help me?"

Aylala smiled. "It's only ten feet to the ground." She got up and went to her friend. "What happened?"

"Rodmalga and I are all that are left. Empalga sacrificed himself to keep me from being killed." Aylala closed her eyes in dismay. She looked down at Janala's hands. She was too young to have such wrinkled hands. Such came with working in the dirt. The left hand ended at the knuckles where all four fingers were severed by a staff blast. The burnt stumps had mostly healed. Aylala massaged Janala's ruined hand. "Tell me what happened."

Aylala told her everything that had happened, throwing the water moccasin at the Jaffa, walking along the road, hiding in bushes while the Jaffa confronted the police and then rescuing the policewoman, and everything since.

Janala clasped Aylala's shoulder with her good hand and said, "I know what you will do. Let me tell you; don't. What you have found here, that was our goal to begin with."

"I must at least see you safely through the Stargate. I know where it is. I do not think the Tau'ri know how it works. It has no power, but the Stargate can adapt to anything. It shouldn't be a problem."

Janala regarded Aylala carefully. "I was right. I told Rodmalga it was better not to come to you. If you had found a new life, you would be happier believing us dead. Go to your new life. The Jaffa will never know you are here. You are my brother's daughter and I want you happy and safe."

"I could never be happy thinking you were dead, and I will go to my new life. You know I cannot leave it now, but I am the only one who knows how to work the Stargate. You need that at the very least."

"You have the code?"

"No it is stored in the returner, but I have it. It will take you home and you can build a resistance. Return to me tomorrow. I will have devised a plan. I will have food for you, too."

"Oh, thank you. It has been hard. We do not understand their language and they insist that people give them this ridiculous green paper for all that they do."

Aylala smiled. "Yes, I know. It is called money."

Janala hugged Aylala and said, "On the morrow, then." She leapt back to the tree.