Location: Ba'al's Stronghold

Rina spent the next few days soaking in her surroundings, guessing and second-guessing at what she ought to do. A part of her was still so afraid that, at one wrong move, Ba'al would rip away all the comforts he'd given her, plunging her back into the nightmarish conditions she'd experienced with Apophis. So she'd avoided him as much as she could, which proved surprisingly difficult given he seemed to pop up at random like a poorly placed jump scare.

For that reason, it felt strange that she was seeking him out now. Rina chewed her lip silently, running over and over in her mind what she wanted to say. It'd taken what felt like a lifetime to build up the courage needed for this moment; she just hoped she wasn't on the verge of a monumental screwup.

As Marina stepped into what she'd come to call the 'throne room', she spotted Ba'al in his chair with Shayla standing next to him, the two of them conversing, though Rina couldn't decipher what was said. Ba'al's dark eyes locked on her almost instantly, one hand lifting to silence Shayla. Rina shifted uneasily.

"I'm sorry. I'm interrupting. I'll just go..."

"Wait."

Ba'al dismissed Shayla with a simple wave of his hand, Rina briefly giving her an apologetic look as she passed, though Shayla only offered a blank stare in return.

Once she was gone, Ba'al rose from his seat, one corner of his mouth slowly turning up.

"I am pleased to see you've given up evading me," he remarked teasingly, his voice making that flawless switch yet again.

Rina stared down at the floor.

"You noticed..."

"Of course. So what brings you out of hiding?"

Rina drew a steadying breath.

"I have some questions."

"And what are these questions?"

Another deep breath.

"What do you...know? About the weapon, I mean."

"Unfortunately, very little. Though it was clear that Apophis believed it had great potential."

"What kind of 'potential' are we talking about?" Rina pressed.

"According to Apophis' expectations, the full capability of the weapon would be truly—" He paused, his smile growing. "God-like."

I used it by accident once and immediately passed out. How is that 'god-like'?

Ba'al seemed to read her mind.

"Of course, that full capability has not yet been achieved. The weapon seems to require a period of growth."

"Growth?" Rina echoed, horrified, "It's growing? What, like some kind of parasite? Is this thing feeding off me? W-why does it need a host?!"

Silence stretched between them. The hysteria building in Rina's chest suddenly deflated, her hand hovering shakily in front of her face.

"I'm sorry," she murmured, "I'm sorry."

"As of yet, I don't have the answers you seek," Ba'al said simply.

"Yet? Is...is there a way get those answers?"

"I am willing to consider suggestions."

The briefest flash of Apophis standing over her with his knife in hand sent a shudder through Rina, cold sweat breaking out on her skin. She took a step back, her voice dropping to a near whisper.

"No...no, I don't have any..."

"Very well. What other questions did you have for me?"

Rina drew a shaky breath, staring hard at the floors.

"Is—" She hesitated, taking a few seconds of silence before trying again. "Is Apophis...dead?"

"Unfortunately, no. Though I hope to remedy that misfortune, eventually."

Panic clutched at Rina.

"He's not dead? Won't he try to get me back?"

"The existence of this stronghold is unknown to him. You're safe here."

"But what if he—"

"Rina." Ba'al cut her off, striding forward and cupping her face in his hands just as he had before, his palms warming her cheeks. "You must trust me."

I don't trust you. I can't. Not yet...

But Rina didn't say a word.

"Now, what else did you wish to ask of me?" Ba'al prompted.

Somehow, Rina managed to hold his gaze.

"The gate," she said quietly, "Just...how many planets is it connected to?"

I gave up the idea of ever getting back home a long time ago. But I might have a real chance here. I can't just give up again. Even if I'm searching for a needle in a haystack, if there's some way—by some miracle—that I can narrow it down, I need to take that chance. And if Ba'al is set on throwing roadblocks in my way like I think he is, it's better if I find out now. I can't let myself cling to some blind hope...

Ba'al released his gentle hold on her, his face unreadable as a stone.

"The gate connects to an infinite number of worlds," he replied, pausing briefly before adding, "Any attempt to blindly guess at where your homeworld might be will be met with inevitable failure, you must realize that."

"Then is there any way you can find out from Apophis how to get there?"

If he was able to find out about me—the weapon, I mean—then he must've had some way of getting that information. Spies or whatever.

Ba'al was silent a moment, seemingly contemplating the question. Rina waited, unconsciously holding her breath.

"I'll see what can be done," Ba'al relented, igniting a spark of hope within Marina, "But you must answer a question in return."

Rina hesitated, feeling uncertain.

It's just a question. I can handle this.

"What?" she asked slowly.

"What is it your home has to offer that I do not?"

It was an easy question, one the easiest questions imaginable. Yet when Rina opened her mouth to respond, no words came. She couldn't answer, and that realization left her shell-shocked.

Her life on Earth was miserable. She'd had to fight for years just to become financially stable enough to afford basic comforts. And the relationships she'd had ended in devastating betrayal.

But it was her home, where she belonged...wasn't it?

I can't stay here.

But going back to a normal life, now that she knew a vast universe existed beyond her own world, now that she'd been implanted with a weapon she knew almost nothing about—was it even possible?

Ba'al narrowed his eyes, watching Rina like a hawk.

"It's just—" She grasped at the scattered words in her mind. "I can't—I mean..." She trailed off into a sigh. "It's my home. That's...that's all."

There was an uncomfortable pause, during which Ba'al regarded her stiffly. Then he abruptly walked away, not bothering to utter a word. Rina stayed where she was, curling one hand into a fist before pressing it against her sternum. It did nothing to ease the tightness in her chest.

I've definitely made him angry now...

She wasn't quite sure what to do with herself after that. She didn't want to wander about the stronghold for fear of running into Ba'al again, so she headed for the great outdoors, pausing to let one of the Jaffa know where she was going so that they could accompany her. After all, if she was caught venturing beyond the fortress without an escort, it would only upset Ba'al further.

Rina hadn't ventured outside since the...incident, afraid that something might set her off again. But she couldn't deny how much she'd been longing to see it again—that seemingly endless stretch of green—to know for certain that it wasn't just some unreachable paradise she had conjured in her mind. So when the doors opened before her, she almost breathed a sigh of relief, advancing slowly into that verdant sea and letting its calm wash over her.

She meandered forth leisurely, letting her feet guide her from the stronghold to the gate, then to the forest edge. From there, she doubled back to the stronghold, deciding to circle around it. It ended up being much larger than she would've guessed, leaving her feeling hungry by the time she reached the entrance again. So, after thanking the Jaffa for accompanying her, Marina made her way to her room. The jewelled sandals she'd been given were feeling more than uncomfortable by that point, so she pulled them off and deposited them by her obscenely large bed before making her way to the assortment of fruits on her table.

It felt strange no longer having to eat at a set time. Apophis' guards had always simply shoved food at her and expected her to eat it immediately. Rina paused, staring at the fruit in her hand as she leaned carefully against the embellished table.

She'd tried to starve herself once. But as soon as the guards had noticed she wasn't eating, things had deteriorated quickly. Each mealtime turned into a recurring nightmare, with Apophis' men screaming into her face and rousting her until she finally cooperated. And if she failed to keep down her food, she'd merely received more of the same.

The fruit in Rina's hand dropped suddenly to the floor, her hand trembling so much that she could no longer keep her grip on it. Muttering a curse, she bent to retrieve it. The floors here were so damn pristine, she figured it wouldn't hurt to finish the fruit anyway. Though as she straightened again, her arm smacked painfully against the edge of the table, prompting a fresh wave of curses from Rina's lips.

That's going to leave a bruise, she thought sourly.

"You're injured."

Rina very nearly dropped her fruit again at the sound of Ba'al's voice. She whipped around, finding him standing in the open entryway.

Serves me right for forgetting to close the door...

Ba'al strode forward, gently taking hold of her arm and running his thumb over the bruised area. Marina winced.

"Do you have need of the sarcophagus?"

"It's just a bruise," Marina insisted, carefully withdrawing her arm, "It'll heal on its own."

I'd rather use your miracle-cure coffin as little as possible, if I can help it.

Ba'al took a step back, clasping his hands in front of him. Silence stretched between them as each stared the other down.

I swear, this man has the best damn poker face.

"I understand if my earlier behavior came off as rather...impatient," Ba'al admitted, surprising Rina, "I will not begrudge you your wish to return to a sense of familiarity. Perhaps, if you are willing, you might tell me something of your life on Earth, as you call it."

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Seriously?

Rina stared at him, considering the request. If she was going to tell him something about her old life, she'd prefer if it wasn't any of the awfulness she'd endured. Doubtless, he'd simply use it against her. The problem was, of course, that there was so little good to recall. Even looking back on the wonderful times with Alex only made her sad. So she pushed her mind back further, searching for any single ray of sunshine in the gloom of her past.

And she found it.

"I used to listen to music, a lot," she said, "It helped me...when I needed it."

She paused, her gaze falling to the floor as she lost herself in the memory. A ghost of a smile touched her lips as she continued.

"I had this stupid Walkman—it's a device that plays music. And I worked so hard to get it. And given everything I had going on, I really shouldn't have. But I did. And it was worth it."

Silence settled over them like a strangely soothing blanket. For a split second, Rina almost forget Ba'al was even standing there, though she quickly remembered once he started speaking.

"Is that all you've eaten?" he asked, nodding at the half-eaten fruit still clutched in her hand.

"Oh." Rina blinked. "Yeah."

"I'll have your servants prepare something then."

"Wh—that's not necessary," she hastily protested.

Ba'al paused mid-step on his way to the door.

"Nonsense. You can hardly survive on something so meager," he reasoned, gesturing to the bowl of fruits.

"Well, I know that, but—"

"Then you will agree that—"

Rina's voice rose, cutting him off.

"I thought they were my servants," she said, her voice dipping to a much more subdued level as she spoke.

Ba'al stared at her. Rina cleared her throat lightly, trying to stifle her internal screaming.

Did I seriously just say that to him?!

For all the warnings she gave herself, it seemed she was still bent on pushing her luck.

"I didn't mean it like that," she offered weakly.

"Of course not," Ba'al agreed with a ready smile, taking Rina by surprise once again, "You're simply clinging to what little sense of control you have. Perfectly understandable."

Rina was stunned.

It was that obvious...?

Yes, she wanted some sense of control, even if was as small as simply dictating when and what she ate.

But control is an illusion, as they say.

And if she couldn't even control her own thoughts enough to keep them from becoming an open book, she wasn't exactly coming out ahead.

Ba'al moved toward her again, reaching out to adjust a loose strand of Marina's hair.

"I hope you know I fully intend to supply you with everything you need," he assured her.

Rina couldn't think of what to say. Ba'al lightly brushed his fingers against her cheek, his dark eyes fixated on hers. Then he was gone, striding swiftly through the door and disappearing around the corner. Marina watched the open doorway, a lingering uncertainty hanging over her. Her desire had been openly addressed and condoned; if anything, it was a victory on her part, if only a small one.

Yet it didn't feel that way.

And it definitely won't be if Ba'al decides to start playing by Apophis' rulebook.

She still couldn't help but wonder why he didn't. Did he perhaps pity her in some strange way?

Or is it something else?

The thought struck her suddenly. Ba'al had admitted he didn't know much about the weapon.

And he saw me use it.

Even if it was completely by accident, she had somehow triggered it to activate.

And Ba'al said the weapon had 'god-like' potential.

Could it be...he was afraid of her, of what she might be capable of? The idea didn't seem all that farfetched. In his position, Rina knew she might very well have felt afraid of herself.

But that's just speculation. I can't start playing fast and loose with my own safety based on that.

No, she certainly couldn't. But it gave her just a tiny bit of hope that her position here wasn't so disadvantaged as she'd thought.

Maybe we're both just making a play for control.

Her stomach rumbled softly, turning her attention to the unfinished fruit still in her hand. Perhaps having a little something more wasn't such a bad idea. So she scarfed down the rest and headed for the door, entirely forgetting to retrieve her sandals along the way.

I should really get in the habit of asking what exactly it is they're feeding me, Rina thought as she walked away from her finished meal sometime later.

Most everything the servants gave her was unbelievably delicious—some of it even tasted shockingly similar to certain foods on Earth—yet she had no idea what any of it was called. Of course, it didn't help that her attendants spoke broken English at best. The Jaffa were better at it, though the issue in their case was their general disinclination to talk at all.

Maybe I could learn their language. It might come in handy.

And in more ways than one. After all, if Ba'al and his underlings had no nefarious intentions and therefore nothing to hide, then they naturally wouldn't mind risking her being able to understand whatever they said amongst themselves, regardless of what language it was spoken in. It would be another promising method of discerning whether or not Ba'al could truly be trusted to any extent.

I wonder if he'd agree to teach me. Not that I'd ask...

The idea of having to rely on him any more than she already was made her uneasy.

It'd be a hell of a lot easier if I had a better grasp on the position I'm in.

But continuing to push boundaries seemed deeply unwise, even if Ba'al seemed relatively good-natured about it most of the time.

The best thing I can probably do is just wait and see if he comes through on finding anything out from Apophis. Though who knows how long that could take...and in the meantime—

She paused, turning slowly from left to right and back again.

What is that sound?

She took a moment to pinpoint where it was coming from, then started in that direction, curiosity quickening her pace. Though as she drew nearer to the source, she slowed, her initial confusion deepening.

That can't be what I think it is...

But as it grew increasingly clearer, it became unmistakable. The even pace, the fluid euphony, all of it...

Music...it's music.

Rina's body moved of its own accord, almost like the autopilot had been switched on in her brain, drawing her unconsciously toward the melody. As she walked, silently letting the music fill her senses, a sharp prick formed behind her eyes, manifesting tears. As they multiplied, threatening to blind her, she stumbled toward the nearest wall, slumping weakly against it. Something between a sob and a laugh tore from her throat as sadness and joy mingled together in an overwhelming amalgamation.

She didn't realize just how much she'd truly missed that sound until now.

Rina stayed slumped against the wall for what felt like several moments, letting raw emotion pour out of her. Though as those initial feelings started to peter out, confusion crept to the forefront. She recalled her earlier conversation with Ba'al, his parting words.

"I fully intend to supply you with everything you need."

Whatever ulterior motives he may or may not have, he certainly hadn't been pulling her leg in that regard.

Rina pushed herself away from the wall, wiping away her tears as she straightened.

I should tell him 'thanks'...

Regardless of what intentions he might hold, it didn't change just how much this gesture meant to her.

Besides, some gratitude might at least keep him happy for a while longer, she rationalized.

Though, in truth, that reasoning had little to do with it.

She made her way to the throne room, surprised to find Shayla there instead.

"Um, where is...?"

Rina hesitated, but Shayla seemed to understand.

"Lord Ba'al? He is likely to be absent for a few days. He left me to tend to your needs."

"Um, the music..."

"Is it not to your liking?"

"Yes! Yes, it is," Marina answered quickly.

"I can direct the musicians to play as often as you like."

"Oh...uh, could they play for an hour at this time every day?"

"Of course. I will instruct them as you have asked."

"Thank you," Rina murmured.

She retreated, feeling strangely...disappointed. She paused briefly outside the room, contemplating going back and pressing Shayla on where Ba'al had inexplicably disappeared to. Though Rina guessed that if Shayla had wanted to disclose that, she would have.

Isn't it better that he's gone? I won't have to worry about him for a few days, anyway.

Yet that strange sliver of disappointment remained.

By morning, it had lessened, leaving Rina to fall back into the pressing distractions of a life she was still cautiously adjusting to.

As her servants helped her pick out a dress for the day, Marina noted with some surprise that her bruise from yesterday had completely vanished. She checked her other arm just to make sure she hadn't confused which one she'd injured, yet it appeared equally unblemished as the first.

Did I ever used to heal that fast? she wondered silently.

Though the only answer she received was another dress displayed for her consideration.

After picking one out, she set about quietly whiling away her day, stopping by after her afternoon meal to appreciate the latest performance from the resident musicians, though the room they played in proved quite distracting at first. It was easily the largest room Rina had encountered so far, twice the size of even Ba'al's throne room, its ceiling looming unreasonably far overhead. The room—if it could even be called that, given it felt like an entire mansion in and of itself—was lined with ornate pillars, its floor emblazoned with white as well as the characteristic brassy gold color of the rest of the stronghold's interior.

After she finished gawking at her surroundings, Rina settled across the room from the musicians, her legs folded comfortably to one side, watching as the talent expertly wielded unfamiliar instruments. A few dancers complemented the performance, Marina raptly observing how each mesmerizing motion bled into the next.

Rina missed dancing almost as much as she'd missed the sound of music.

She'd never taken any dance classes or anything of the sort. To her, dancing was what it was to most people: a spontaneous expression, an almost primal urge to move, to let one's own body take the reins and become one with the melody.

Sadness stole over Rina. She wondered if such a thing was even possible for her anymore.

I've lost touch with...well, everything. Something else Apophis stole from me...

If she'd been given a mirror, she doubted she would even have recognized herself.

Who am I anyway? Marina Karssen... Survivor?

She bit her lip, the music fading into the background.

Weapon. Victim...

A growing pain in her arm made her look down quickly to find her own fingernails digging into her skin. She withdrew them hastily, staring in surprise at the angry red marks left behind. Though as her intial surprise ebbed, it was unexpectedly replaced by a strange sense of comfort. As the marks began to fade, she found herself hovering her hand over her arm, bringing it down slowly, sinking her nails once more into her skin.

It felt strangely...freeing. As though she was drawing all the pain inside her to the surface, momentarily dispelling it, controlling it. She felt struck by revelation.

After all, if she chose her pain, it couldn't hurt her.

Rina looked up, noticing for the first time that the music had ceased, the musicians gradually dispersing. She stood, trailing slowly from the room, that pervasive silence and stillness settling in once more.

Somehow, she thought, It doesn't feel so eerie anymore...

The days seemed to bleed together, quickly becoming almost monotonous.

Wake up.

Pick a dress.

Grab a light breakfast.

Go for a stroll outdoors.

Come back in for an afternoon meal.

Enjoy the day's musical performance.

Go back to killing time.

Over and over, she went through it like a checklist. By this point, she felt she must've explored every corner of the stronghold. The only place she wouldn't go near was the prison area. She didn't need any such reminders of the life she'd only recently left behind.

The last thing I want is empty time, Rina thought, staring at the assortment of clothing in front of her.

It was...the fourth? No, the fifth morning since Ba'al's departure.

I don't want to exist in some suffocating routine either.

She uttered a quiet sigh, running over her options again. Her eyes settled on a strikingly red dress with material so light that it was almost see-through, its long skirt layered and loose. She pointed to it, reluctantly submitting to her servants' aid as they helped her slip into the chosen attire. They spent several additional moments fussing over her, smoothing any creases in the dress and offering an assortment of jewels to go with it. As usual, Rina turned down the vast majority, walking away with only a bracelet, ring, and anklet.

Breakfast. Walk. Lunch.

Rina suppressed another sigh. There had to be some way to break out of this cycle she found herself falling into.

Yet any solution seemed to evade her...

After a fruit salad breakfast, Rina headed off on her daily outdoor excursion, pausing for some time in front of the Chappa'ai and wondering if it wouldn't have been better to step through—to take that insane leap of faith—when she'd been given the chance. It probably wouldn't have changed anything, but it didn't stop her from wondering regardless.

I need to get out of my own damn head, Rina thought later as she listlessly trailed the halls, I barely even remembered to say 'thank you' for lunch.

And, unsurprisingly, it'd been a damn good meal.

Rina dragged one hand across her forehead, releasing a long, slow breath as she caught the first few notes of music drifting through the corridor. She latched onto it, deciding any distraction would suffice.

I wonder...

She pictured the sweeping, graceful moves of the dancers in her mind, half-heartedly trying to mimic them. After a few failed attempts, she shook her head angrily, swiftly resuming her path to the pillared room so as to witness the rest of the performance in silence. But something stopped her, pushing her to try again. With a sigh, Rina closed her eyes, letting the music surround and sink into her.

I need to feel it.

It started small, with a gentle swaying. Rina grasped her skirt in both hands, swishing the material back and forth, getting deeper into the motion, expounding on it little by little. She turned a slow, wide circle, letting the music lift and pull at her. All the unconscious tension she'd been carrying seemed to gradually fall away, leaving her feeling light as a feather. She gained momentum, her arms lifting, arcing. Her feet kicked up, her legs bending and springing. A smile touched her lips, flourishing into a grin just as she threw herself into a tight spin, sending her skirt twirling airily about her. She opened her eyes to watch the crimson material fan out from her hips as she spun again, uttering a breathy laugh.

There was no denying it. She could feel it throughout every inch of her body. She'd gained back a part of herself in that moment.

So...maybe that means—

Marina caught something in her peripheral vision and whirled toward it, staring in disbelief at the figure standing silently in the hall with a smile on his face. Wondering if perhaps she was seeing things, Rina blinked a few times, only to find the figure not only still there but now moving toward her. She was speechless, surprised, uncertain...and yet, at the same time, she felt something—or rather a lack of something—that she couldn't quite put her finger on.

"You disappeared," she blurted.

"I had some things to attend to," Ba'al explained, "I had to leave the planet for a few days."

Rina paused. A part of her still found it hard to imagine popping on and off of planets at a moment's notice. Her mind wandered back to the chance Ba'al had given her on her first day here, wondering if she'd someday get another chance to step through that gate, even if it wasn't for the purpose of speeding her back home.

"I didn't get to..."

Her words seemed to fail her. She jerked her thumb in the direction of the pillared room.

"The music." She wetted her lips nervously. "Thank you."

Ba'al took another step closer.

"I told you I would provide you with everything you needed."

"Thank you," Rina said again, hesitating briefly before pressing on, "And...there is actually one other thing I was hoping you could do."

"Name it."

"Um..." Marina chewed the inside of her cheek. "Teach me your language? Just a little at a time," she added quickly, "I don't want to bother you too much."

Is it really okay to ask this? To put myself in this position?

The corner of Ba'al's mouth tipped up into a smirk.

"And why would I be bothered by a beautiful woman hanging on my every word?"

The slightest smile graced Rina's lips.

Very smooth.

"Thank you."

Ba'al crossed the remaining distance between them, one hand lifting to her face.

"Red suits you," he said softly, his thumb ghosting across Rina's lower lip, "As does your smile."

For a second, they stayed that way. Then abruptly, Ba'al turned and strode off. Rina blinked, touching her fingers to her lip. She had a feeling that, with this new arrangement, she'd be dealing with a whole lot more of...well, that.

And she was entirely unsure how to feel about it.