AUTHORS NOTES: This is the fourth part of what’s gonna be one hell of a long story. I hope you're all still reading it! I apologise for the lack of the TBC line- I just felt that the background had to be added. This story will hopefully be completed on my fic-writing anniversary, which is sometime in September. Hope!!! Feedback? Please? With chocolate and a Tok’ra on top?
Sekh-met smiled. Things were going well on Earth, her father’s primary planet. The peoples that he had collected seemed to be thriving well, beginning a new race of hosts, one of whom she, as well as her entire family, had just chosen. Sekh-met had chosen one herself, and was glad to see that it was far superior to her sisters, Hathor. Her father walked past, and Sekh-met was again startled to see his human host instead of the more familiar Unas. Ra looked down at his daughter.
>My daughter, I’m afraid that I have some bad news<
Sekh-met felt worried or a moment. What could be bad for her all-powerful father?
>Your mother, as you know, took a human host yesterday. However, she did not blend well. The experience killed her<
Sekh-met bent her head down. Her mother she had always respected, and was sad to hear that she had died. Ra continued speaking.
>There is now no Goa’uld queen. The people here believe that the gods reproduce with each other. Both of my daughters, you and Hathor, are capable of becoming Goa’uld queens also. I had no need of you then. But now I have no queen, and my principal daughter must become a queen. You, as the oldest, must fill that position. Congratulations, my queen<
Sekh-met regally bowed her head, although scared inside at the prospect. She had an idea bout how humans reproduced, images from her host. She knew that it was more pleasant than that of an Unas, but she was still afraid.
Sometime later, Sekh-et was enjoying life as a Goa’uld queen. Contrary to most of the Goa’uld belief, to be a Goa’uld queen did not involve a non blended human. A blended human worked just as well. Sekh-met had produced many Goa’uld larva now, swelling the ranks of the Horus guards. It was a great honour.
What Sekh-met hadn’t noticed was the crumbling state of her mind. Her host was more powerful than expected, and had been planting little bombs into her mind. Wit the ideas her host had been sending her, she had been using the gift given to Goa’uld queens, the power of seduction. With it, she had seduced many Tau’ri, making them into a large army, to fight against each other. She was perfectly aware that Hathor had been doing the same thing, only using the Tau’ri methods. It added to the excitement. They would be fighting against each other, and she knew that it would… spice up the battle. Maybe even end all humanity. She certainly hoped so, anyway. She didn’t like the planet very much anyway. This was going to be fun to watch…
‘My lord…’ said a Horus guard, bending down in front of Ra. Ra clicked his fingers.>What do you want?<
‘I have some grave news concerning your queen, Sekh-met.’
Ra was instantly alert. There had been something wrong with Sekh-met for a while now, and this might just be his way of finding put about it.
‘She has been stirring up trouble among the Tau’ri, making them go to war against each other. We fear that it will destroy them all.’
Ra almost gasped. But he kept his composure.
>Very well. Have her brought to me<
The Horus guard marched off, and a few moments later, Sekh-met was dragged in. >Leave us< said the Ra sharply. The Horus marched off, and Sekh-met and Ra were left alone. Ra got off his throne, and walked slowly down to his daughter and his wife. Before Sekh-met could do anything, Ra lifted up his hand device, and blasted her across the room, where she crumpled down the wall. Ra bore down upon her, eyes glowing in anger at his wife and daughter.
>Why did you do it to me? Why are you stirring the Tau’ri into rebellion? We cannot afford to lose Earth, as we still don’t know if all of the pathetic creatures will be able to live in the other atmospheres. AND NOW YOU TRY TO DESTOY US?<
Sekh-met did not cower underneath her fathers angry gaze. Instead, she glared back defiantly at her husband, pharaoh and father.
>What is wrong with that? We are Goa’uld. Earth has many other countries. We just have to find them, that is all. Why not have a little fun with these? And the Unas will always be an option.<
>No they will not! You know what was happening to us in them. They were becoming…< Ra searched for the right word >… immune to us. After a few more generations, they will become completely useless to us.<
>And humans won’t?<
>IMPUDENT CHILD!< bellowed Ra. >I banish you to the planet of the Maitya. But first, you must exchange hosts with your sister. The Tau’ri must not see weaknesses from us. They will see it as if I had calmed you, and turned you into Hathor. You may take one ha’tak (Authors Notes: A Ha’tak is one of those big ships used by Apophis to take over Earth, a Jaffa said ‘ha’tak’ in Exodus. Well, that’s my excuse) and two hundred of the Jaffa that I recently captured from Apophis. You must stay in this room, while I fetch your sister. Stay<
Sekh-met stayed against the wall. She suddenly heard a little voice. Well, well, well. Not so strong, were you? I hope your sister is more of a challenge. You were easy to break.
>Who are you!< shouted Sekh-met, angry that anyone had dared to talk to her.
They can’t hear me, you know. I’m your host. Remember me? The one who you prised out of a terrified family, and then, after taking me, killed that family. And you laughed. Well, you’ll never guess what, but I’m not as weak as one of those pathetic Unas. I’ve planted bombs in your mind. Your mind was poor, and easy to change. I just hope that your sister is as easy to destroy.
Who are you? Asked Sekh-met into her mind. All she got back was an echoing laugh.
So when Ra came back into the room half an hour later, Sekh-met was still sitting in her corner, hugging her knees. Hathor, who was trailing behind Ra, grinned slightly. For the first time in her and her sisters’ life, she would become powerful, and Sekh-met would be the nobody. And she had plans about what to do when she was granted the gift of seduction, something that only the wives of the Pharaoh were granted. Soon, she would be able to build an empire separate of Ra’s almighty empire, and all would bow down to her. But things would have to wait for a while, until she had the host, and the power.
>The ritual will begin. Sekh-met, you will leave the body of your host<
‘Rak’shasa,’ said Sekh-met quietly, in a human voice.
Ra and Hathor stared at Sekh-met together. >Pardon?< Ra asked, confused.
‘My hosts name isn’t “host” you know’ said Sekh-met, still in a human voice. ‘Her name is Rak’shasa. Call her by her name.’
R and Hathor both looked at each other confused. Then Ra shrugged. >It does not matter whether you call the Tau’ri host or… Rak’shasa. You will begin the ritual!<
A Jaffa came from the corner with a bowl of what looked like water. Hathor lowered her neck down to the bowl, and the symbiote leapt out into the water. The host gasped, and fell to the floor. Another Jaffa reverently placed a bowl behind Sekh-met’s neck, and the symbiote also fell out of Rak’shasa. The Jaffa with the bowls went quickly to the hosts, and the Goa’uld leapt into the back of their new hosts. Eyes flashing simultaneously, they stood up.
>Hathor?< asked Ra anxiously to Rak’shasa. >I am Hathor< said the new host of Hathor. Ra, imperceptibly, sighed.
>That is good. Take Sekh-met away!’ said Ra imperiously. ‘She may leave in the morning, and before this time, she can choose her own Jaffa. In the meantime, she may walk free. I know where to find you. You may not have access to the Chapai’ai, or any ships. Is this understood?<
>You will fall one day< said Sekh-met below her breath. >And I will be waiting then.<
>Send her out!< yelled Ra.
Sekh-met walked out by herself, without any Jaffa dragging her out. She felt happy and free. She was free of that harashak Rak’shasa- and good luck to her sister. She didn’t care about the fact she was going to be banished. Every Goa’uld fell, eventually. Her father had gotten rid of Brastag, who in his turn had defeated Ferhung, and he had defeated someone before him. Sekh-met knew that her time would come.
Hathor was equally happy. She had denounced her sister, and all would be well. Until she worked out her plan, but she was patient, unlike her sister. She would wait all eternity if she had to. As she said, she was very, very patient. And there was a whole galaxy she could take over, should the mood take her. Sod the Tau’ri! Besides, every Goa’uld fell, eventually. Her father had gotten rid of Brastag, who in his turn had defeated Ferhung, and he had defeated someone before him. Hathor’s time would come- it was already on the way.
Sekh-met was taken away by the Jaffa. Hathor lived her life with her new husband, all the time plotting. But Rak’shasa did not ignore Hathor’s life. And Hathor knew perfectly well what she was doing. When Rak’shasa began to whisper as Hathor slept, Hathor spoke back.
Rak’shasa she said simply. Rak’shasa couldn’t hide her disbelief. After all, she was sharing a body. It was hard trying to hide anything.
Rak’shasa, I know what you did to my sister. I appreciate it. After all, I now share you, and it is true, you do have a fine body. It is nice to have the opportunity to own it.
Rak’shasa really, really wished that she smack… well, herself one. Hathor seemed to be a lot more arrogant than Sekh-met. But more cool and collected. This was worrying. Very worrying. Would she be as easy to break?
You’re nothing more than a parasite. You’re like a tick, sucking all my life away, and then you’ll find some other pretty girl. Or maybe a man- I do worry about you.
Rak’shasa reeled from the mental blow that Hathor stung at her.
Listen, peasant girl, I come with news that we might work together. So stop with the petty comments!
I’m listening said Rak’shasa reluctantly. But no more ‘peasant girl’. My father was an elder of the village that your sister destroyed. We were royalty!
Yes. Very well. But I would like to carry on sharing your body- and you will get a say in all that I do. I will refer to us as ‘we’, for I am a fair being- unlike my father. We will TOGETHER be able to rule the Galaxy as Supreme Overlord, and we will have done it together. Are you willing?
Rak’shasa thought about it. The prospect did appeal. Despite her noble intentions, Rak’shasa was not a good person. She only yearned for one thing; power. This way, she could get it.
I am willing, said Rak’shasa, giving in her body to Hathor. Hathor smiled. The first battle was already won.
‘My Lady Sekh-met?’ came a voice from outside. Sekh-met had been locked in a room that had an outside window, and she had watched the crowds go by outside. Although glad that she was free, she was worried. Hathor’s host had been a poor one, of little quality. Although she was meek, and easily cowed, she was not beautiful. She was plain and simple. And the Maitya were no option as hosts. Their race could not be taken as hosts, although she didn’t know why. And her father kept to his promises; if she was seen outside of the Maitya planet, she would not live to see another sunrise. Anywhere. So when she heard a voice from outside, she quickly formulated a plan. That was not necessary.
‘My Lady Sekh-met, I know what has happened to you. I am the High Priestess of the Temple of Sekh-met. My name is Talkraya. I offered up my life to you as a girl of fourteen, and I now offer up by body to you. Do you accept?’
Sekh-met did not respond. She simply lifted her hand device and blasted through the wall, making a space large enough for the girl to climb through, but small enough to be filled in.
The Priestess would be far more suitable for a host. She had silvery grey hair that was almost impossibly straight. She was petite and gentle, yet she had an edge around her, like a beautiful sword. Sekh-met smiled- this one would indeed do as a host.
>High Priestess, you are truly my most loyal servant. I accept your offer. Lie down in the soil, your face down.<
The High Priestess did as she was told, her nervousness showing through the slight trembling of her hand. Sekh-met lay down beside her, and opened her mouth. Sekh-met slithered out of her host’s mouth, and into the back of Talkraya. Talkraya squirmed for a while. Then she stood up, her eyes flashing.
The old host body was still on the floor, twitching. Sekh-met flung the body out through the hole in a wall, and filled it in again with earth from around the soil outside. Then she sat herself down to wait, waiting for the sunrise.
Which she now knew she would see many more of.
The sun rose, and preparations began to move Sekh-met to the Maitya planet. It had been duly noted that she had exchanged hosts, and although no one really knew how, Ra had not objected. She had been loaded onto a ship with minimal Jaffa, and one of Ra’s ships had followed her to Maitya, just in case. But nothing happened, and Sekh-met went to the planet of the Maitya, just waiting for her chance to arise. She could wait for all eternity, if she had to.
Ra presented Hathor to the people almost as soon as Sekh-met left. The terrified people had worshipped her as Hathor instead of Sekh-met, and the system worked well. Many Goa’uld were produced, and the family of Ra worked as a unit for 3 generations.
Hathor secretly visited her sister, mainly to gloat. One day, Sekh-met snapped at her sisters’ constant torment, and challenged her to a fight. Hathor, with prompting from Rak’shasa, had instead suggested the machine, to alter brainwaves. Sekh-met had agreed, and it was built, and placed on a remote planet, ready for the first visitor.
Soon after, with yet more prompting from Rak’shasa, Hathor had betrayed Ra to Apophis. Ra, beside himself with fury that his second daughter had betrayed him, had locked her inside a temple, inside a sarcophagus, only able to opened from the outside.
With the disappearance of the beloved goddess Hathor, the house of Ra began to lose power. Doubt was cast over whether they were true gods. Eventually, the people revolted against the Goa’uld, and Ra was forced to leave Earth. The Tau’ri buried the Stargate, and covered it in a cartouche with the symbols for the only address they knew.
Thousands of years later, in 1928, the Stargate was dug up in an excavation. And in 1994, a floppy haired archaeologist worked out what the seven symbols on the cartouche meant…
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