Prince Charon
Just zis guy, you know?
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I am now strangely curious about what, if anything, he did in the Common Sense timeline (and if we're likely to see much of it).
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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)
- Thread starter Mr Zoat
- Start date
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- self insert young justice
Starbate (part 3)
Mr Zoat
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12th November 1999
08:03 GMT
"…why you need us at all."
Roboneil is making a show of looking over the armoury, but he's fairly clearly watching me out of the corner of his eyes. Teal'c on the other hand is just checking the weapons.
"Need?" I shake my head. "I don't. It would be helpful to have you, and I believe that we could accomplish useful things together, but ultimately you don't need me and I don't need you."
"O… Kay…" He nods his head to the side. "Was… Kinda expecting you to put a little more effort into selling this to me…"
"Alright." I shrug. "This planet has no army. It has a tiny poorly trained militia force. The stargate is defended, but unless I get involved myself there's basically nothing here that can contest a landing or orbital bombardment."
"Because you can stop a fleet on your own."
"Yes."
"Because…" He nods slowly, making a circling gesture with both hands. "You're a god."
"No, because I've got tonnes of super-advanced alien technology on my person." He gives me his full attention. "What, did you think Altair was the only planet I went to?"
"Oh. Okay. That…" He nods to himself. "Makes a little more sense."
"To be clear, I'm not hung up on the god thing. You don't have to refer to me as a god, or treat me as a god. You don't have to worship me, sacrifice to me, or grovel at my feet. But if you take the job then I will be your head of state, and that does involve treating me with a degree of deference. I am aware that you tend to be irreverent, and that's fine in private, but I am running a nation here and my subordinates openly disrespecting me can have severe consequences for everyone."
Teal'c frowns at me. "You are most unusual."
I smile. "Thank you."
He tilts his head to the side slightly. "I am surprised that you are willing to offer me a place."
I shrug. "You are not the original Teal'c. You are not even a Jaffa. You owe the goa'uld nothing, and you did not betray your subordinates."
He raises an eyebrow. "My fellow Jaffa were loyal to Apophis."
"How do you know that they did not harbour the same doubts that Teal'c and Bra'tac do? Did he ask?"
"I-."
"He."
A shallow nod. "He did not."
"He didn't ask and he didn't use his Zat'nik'tel. I appreciate that his defection was a spur of the moment thing, but they were his subordinates and they deserved better from him. If you decide to enter my service and later feel that you cannot in good conscience continue to work for me, you can resign and return to Altair. Or Chulak, as far as I'm concerned. If you have concerns about my behaviour, you are free to respectfully raise them in private -that applies to you as well, Roboneil- but I will expect you to accept my decision afterwards."
Roboneil raises his eyebrows. "'Roboneil'?"
"Are you going to keep calling us 'goold'?"
He considers that for a moment, then nods. "Fair point. Just need to come up with something for 'Mammon'..."
My communication device chimes.
"Excuse me." I turn away from them and head out of the armoury. "Yes?"
"Lord Mammon, Lady Heset has arrived to speak with you."
"She's at the stargate now?"
"No, Lord. She used a ring transporter. She's in the palace."
There's a ship in orbit-. There's a ship in orbit over my capital. I don't think that she's threatening me, but that's bloody rude for a goa'uld. By any normal standard of diplomacy she should have called ahead. Even Lord Bastet would have done that unless I'd really pissed her off, if only to ensure that we had quarters ready for her.
"I will return at once." I close the communication channel and duck back into the armoury. "I'm sorry, but something's come up that needs my personal attention. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves while I'm away."
Roboneil raises his eyebrows. "Because… We needed your permission to do that?"
I shrug. "You might have assumed that I was monitoring everything that happened inside a secure area, and that might have impeded the freedom of your discussion. I'm telling you that you don't need to worry about that. Excuse me."
Where is she-? Right. Transition.
I appear miles away from the armoury, in what was the great receiving room. I haven't done much in the way of renovation to it because I didn't think it would see any use. And there's Heset, her guards and her First Prime who's raising his Ma'Tok-.
I transfer it into my right hand and jab the butt right into his pouch. Then I drop it onto the floor for him to pick up before fanning out my hands and smiling at Heset.
"Lady Heset. I wasn't expecting you, otherwise I would have been here to greet you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
She slowly draws a deep breath, eyes flickering to her First Prime who has one hand on his Zat'nik'tel and shaking her head. "Lord Mammon. System Lord Bastet has commanded me to speak with you in private on a matter of great urgency. Where may we speak?"
I raise my left hand, making orange lights circle around us before transitioning us to my private reception room.
"Here." She takes a moment to adjust to her new location, then reaches her right hand to her chest... Maybe she's checking that all of her materialised? "This is a violation of protocol, Lady Heset. System Lord Bastet has not lost my gate coordinates. What do you want?"
"Lady Bastet has… Your reward. She suggested that you might find it helpful if you had another goa'uld to aid you."
"Hardly. Few goa'uld would have the perspective, even if they could technically aid me. I don't want to have to deal with a would-be usurper's psychosis."
Oh, there's her perfume again. I really don't see the appeal.
"There are ways around that. Lady Bastet has acquired the service of a goa'uld queen to provide her Jaffa with Prim'ta. If you were to sire a brood, that would ensure that they shared your mindset."
"Assuming that the queen cooperated and didn't add other instructions."
Plus I… Well, I could use my scans of goa'uld physiology to add goa'uld host additives to my blood stream, it wouldn't be mine and it wouldn't have my genetically encoded memories in it. I'm fairly sure that the queen would notice that. I haven't even tried decoding goa'uld genetic memory. Though-. If the Altairians can create memory downloads it might be possible to work something out, maybe?
Heset takes a step closer, right hand rubbing her chest again. "I was… Instructed to get a sample… Personally."
The smell of her perfume is a bit-.
Wait. Scan.
…
Oh you cheeky minx. Pull.
A small part of her robe bursts as the aerosol lands in my left hand. I glare at it, then at her.
"What exactly was this supposed to do to me?"
08:03 GMT
"…why you need us at all."
Roboneil is making a show of looking over the armoury, but he's fairly clearly watching me out of the corner of his eyes. Teal'c on the other hand is just checking the weapons.
"Need?" I shake my head. "I don't. It would be helpful to have you, and I believe that we could accomplish useful things together, but ultimately you don't need me and I don't need you."
"O… Kay…" He nods his head to the side. "Was… Kinda expecting you to put a little more effort into selling this to me…"
"Alright." I shrug. "This planet has no army. It has a tiny poorly trained militia force. The stargate is defended, but unless I get involved myself there's basically nothing here that can contest a landing or orbital bombardment."
"Because you can stop a fleet on your own."
"Yes."
"Because…" He nods slowly, making a circling gesture with both hands. "You're a god."
"No, because I've got tonnes of super-advanced alien technology on my person." He gives me his full attention. "What, did you think Altair was the only planet I went to?"
"Oh. Okay. That…" He nods to himself. "Makes a little more sense."
"To be clear, I'm not hung up on the god thing. You don't have to refer to me as a god, or treat me as a god. You don't have to worship me, sacrifice to me, or grovel at my feet. But if you take the job then I will be your head of state, and that does involve treating me with a degree of deference. I am aware that you tend to be irreverent, and that's fine in private, but I am running a nation here and my subordinates openly disrespecting me can have severe consequences for everyone."
Teal'c frowns at me. "You are most unusual."
I smile. "Thank you."
He tilts his head to the side slightly. "I am surprised that you are willing to offer me a place."
I shrug. "You are not the original Teal'c. You are not even a Jaffa. You owe the goa'uld nothing, and you did not betray your subordinates."
He raises an eyebrow. "My fellow Jaffa were loyal to Apophis."
"How do you know that they did not harbour the same doubts that Teal'c and Bra'tac do? Did he ask?"
"I-."
"He."
A shallow nod. "He did not."
"He didn't ask and he didn't use his Zat'nik'tel. I appreciate that his defection was a spur of the moment thing, but they were his subordinates and they deserved better from him. If you decide to enter my service and later feel that you cannot in good conscience continue to work for me, you can resign and return to Altair. Or Chulak, as far as I'm concerned. If you have concerns about my behaviour, you are free to respectfully raise them in private -that applies to you as well, Roboneil- but I will expect you to accept my decision afterwards."
Roboneil raises his eyebrows. "'Roboneil'?"
"Are you going to keep calling us 'goold'?"
He considers that for a moment, then nods. "Fair point. Just need to come up with something for 'Mammon'..."
My communication device chimes.
"Excuse me." I turn away from them and head out of the armoury. "Yes?"
"Lord Mammon, Lady Heset has arrived to speak with you."
"She's at the stargate now?"
"No, Lord. She used a ring transporter. She's in the palace."
There's a ship in orbit-. There's a ship in orbit over my capital. I don't think that she's threatening me, but that's bloody rude for a goa'uld. By any normal standard of diplomacy she should have called ahead. Even Lord Bastet would have done that unless I'd really pissed her off, if only to ensure that we had quarters ready for her.
"I will return at once." I close the communication channel and duck back into the armoury. "I'm sorry, but something's come up that needs my personal attention. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves while I'm away."
Roboneil raises his eyebrows. "Because… We needed your permission to do that?"
I shrug. "You might have assumed that I was monitoring everything that happened inside a secure area, and that might have impeded the freedom of your discussion. I'm telling you that you don't need to worry about that. Excuse me."
Where is she-? Right. Transition.
I appear miles away from the armoury, in what was the great receiving room. I haven't done much in the way of renovation to it because I didn't think it would see any use. And there's Heset, her guards and her First Prime who's raising his Ma'Tok-.
I transfer it into my right hand and jab the butt right into his pouch. Then I drop it onto the floor for him to pick up before fanning out my hands and smiling at Heset.
"Lady Heset. I wasn't expecting you, otherwise I would have been here to greet you. To what do I owe the pleasure of your company?"
She slowly draws a deep breath, eyes flickering to her First Prime who has one hand on his Zat'nik'tel and shaking her head. "Lord Mammon. System Lord Bastet has commanded me to speak with you in private on a matter of great urgency. Where may we speak?"
I raise my left hand, making orange lights circle around us before transitioning us to my private reception room.
"Here." She takes a moment to adjust to her new location, then reaches her right hand to her chest... Maybe she's checking that all of her materialised? "This is a violation of protocol, Lady Heset. System Lord Bastet has not lost my gate coordinates. What do you want?"
"Lady Bastet has… Your reward. She suggested that you might find it helpful if you had another goa'uld to aid you."
"Hardly. Few goa'uld would have the perspective, even if they could technically aid me. I don't want to have to deal with a would-be usurper's psychosis."
Oh, there's her perfume again. I really don't see the appeal.
"There are ways around that. Lady Bastet has acquired the service of a goa'uld queen to provide her Jaffa with Prim'ta. If you were to sire a brood, that would ensure that they shared your mindset."
"Assuming that the queen cooperated and didn't add other instructions."
Plus I… Well, I could use my scans of goa'uld physiology to add goa'uld host additives to my blood stream, it wouldn't be mine and it wouldn't have my genetically encoded memories in it. I'm fairly sure that the queen would notice that. I haven't even tried decoding goa'uld genetic memory. Though-. If the Altairians can create memory downloads it might be possible to work something out, maybe?
Heset takes a step closer, right hand rubbing her chest again. "I was… Instructed to get a sample… Personally."
The smell of her perfume is a bit-.
Wait. Scan.
…
Oh you cheeky minx. Pull.
A small part of her robe bursts as the aerosol lands in my left hand. I glare at it, then at her.
"What exactly was this supposed to do to me?"
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Darko
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Did he even have one at that time?
If I remember correctly, he didn't, just the staff.
Hmm, so she may be a Tok'ra and that was her trying to use that mind-altering gas on him.
Plus, you don't exactly have any organic Goa'uld bits in you.
Well, so much for that.
Now if this is a Tok'ra, then maybe she was planning on assassinating him to prevent the Goa'uld from becoming smarter.
Or, she might honestly want to help him.
I remember reading a Goa'uld SI fic in which the Tok'ra may have wanted to leave the SI alone and in power since he was benevolent.
Maybe she was trying to seduce Mammon to manipulate him, or she was interested in getting his genetic material so that they could potentially add it to the material that would go to the Goa'uld Queens and make future Goa'uld that aren't sociopaths.
Breadnaught
Experienced.
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Either your capital has so much space traffic, that you aren't notified of everything coming and going, or I'm wondering why you're only hearing of it after she's entered orbit and Ringed down.
You were consistant enough with this, that I'm wondering if it was an intentional change, but if not, it's Altair. Without the S.
They didn't exist at the time. The writers saw the need for a non-lethal weapon and introduced it later.
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Neruz
HISSSSSS!
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He should have had one, as they are established later on to be the standard Jaffa sidearm. But the writers hadn't actually come up with Zats when that episode was filmed so they do not come into existence until later in episode 22.
e:
It's entirely possible to FTL straight into orbit using Stargate hyperdrives, so they might have only been there for a minute.
When Apophis attacks Earth he intentionally doesn't FTL straight to Earth because he enjoys terrorizing people and wants the Tau'ri to see him coming, thinking there is nothing they can do to stop him. But we see people FTL directly into and out of orbit many times throughout the series, and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of advance warning when something is coming in at FTL.
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Chojin Patriarch
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Just as mistrustful of Goa-uld as his original, I see. What's the bet he's been passively-aggressively poking every chance he got the whole time? He does know they're on the same side, more or less, right?
You're not that important, Robo'neil. Alstair is useful for some side production, but really, Mammon didn't have to help you.
Yes, his Ring still holds charge, doesn't it?
This again? No, Robo'neil. It's because he has advanced technology. If you could fire the Ring up, you might be able to manage the same.
I mean, that was part of Stargate Command's mission, wasn't it? Try to acquire potent technology from any advanced cultures they encounter?
Yeah, one Goa'uld hears you talking back and you might find them taking exception on Mammon's behalf.
Love that he's proud of that.
Even so, Robo-Teal'c still feels the regret and shame over it...
...Oh for... Bra'tac didn't actually check, did he? Too afraid to risk exposing his disloyalty?
That's what this is about, then, isn't it? You're wondering if they had to die or not?
Imagine if Teal'c visited home, to find Robo-Teal'c there. That would be quite the awkward conversation.
And he knows you can say it normally. No blaming it on your accent.
...Oh, that can't be good, especially if he told his people not to call him.
Well, well. The Tok'ra agent making a move, is she?
A very big and very dangerous move. Anyone else and the Goa'uld would be pissed off. And likely to break things.
See? Basic diplomacy when you have super-weaponry. Especially with Mammon, who Bastet may well be suspicious he has things he's not showing her.
Well, given he's more or less the only access, there's not much you can do otherwise.
A reasonable suspicion, and I suppose he could listen in if he weren't kind of worried right now.
...I know you mean his abdominal larva-pouch, but I couldn't help picture Mammon racking his in the crotch.
Either way, it's a good lesson about checking before you pull a weapon....Yes, I'm sure she has. Heset must really be worrying about his projects if she's being this blatant.
Hmm... A communications device, perhaps? Is she literally wearing a hidden microphone and worried it lost signal there, I wonder? Then again, given her perfume...
He's not wrong, but better not let Bastet ever hear that sentiment.
Well, isn't that convenient.
Yeah, I don't think your symbiote construct Lantern is going to be particularly compatible with a Queen without some very clever Ring-work.
Ah, I see. Keeping a dispenser in her Victoria's Secret Compartment, eh?
Holy shit, she was using a pheromonal control gas?
Honestly, can't blame her for being careful. After all, she doesn't know you're not a particularly reasonable Goa'uld...
Hopefully Heset didn't make too many waves stopping by, or her cover is going to be so blown. You'd think a spy would be smarter than this, but given how poorly-considered some Tok'ra operations were...
I guess Mammon's operations were proving too dangerous for her to allow to continue without some measure of Tok'ra control. Hence the rushed visit and heavy use of mind-control perfume...
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Neruz
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It is important to remember that while they were freed from the curse of the Goa'uld genetic memory of evil, the Tok'ra are still Goa'uld in nature.You'd think a spy would be smarter than this, but given how poorly-considered some Tok'ra operations were...
And most Goa'uld are remarkably poor planners, they have a tendency to assume that everything will just go the way they expect it to go and make no contingency plans.
Lord Ernest
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Finally! This little spy's scheme has come to the front!
I honestly don't know what the objective is, though. Coerce or replace Mammon? Take him out? Also, I've never been sure if Heset was always a Tok'Ra or if she got replaced by a spy.
And in the end, Mammon has expressed his opinion about the Tok'Ra but that was to SG Command, so I don't know if they were genuing thoughts. So once he unravels this spy, will he sell them to Bastet or try to cut a deal? This is getting really interesting.
I honestly don't know what the objective is, though. Coerce or replace Mammon? Take him out? Also, I've never been sure if Heset was always a Tok'Ra or if she got replaced by a spy.
And in the end, Mammon has expressed his opinion about the Tok'Ra but that was to SG Command, so I don't know if they were genuing thoughts. So once he unravels this spy, will he sell them to Bastet or try to cut a deal? This is getting really interesting.
Darko
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Jack's passive-aggressive with everyone.
Plus, being suspicious is a good thing.
Even the nicest are ultimately out for themselves.
I mean, yeah.
Honestly, asking them would have been extremely risky.
There's the chance that they were loyal and by asking them that he reveals that he's disloyal and they could kill him.
Yeah, finding your robot double raising your kid would be awkward.
Or it could be the start of a sitcom.
My Robot Dad.
I can see that guy that tried to make an SG show in universe trying something like that.
Heck, even if they were made smarter, they may not have much of a chance to use it.
Most Goa'uld are basically cliche evil, so they can have predictable patters, and the Tok'ra have gotten so used to fighting those patterns that new tactics may be difficult.
Mr Zoat
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As far as I remember, the writers hadn't invented them yet. But according to the background they weren't a new intervention, and as First Prime he should have had one.
They don't have the equipment to monitor it. Mammon's view is that getting ships or stations doesn't really help him, so if he's not looking for ships they don't spot them until they can see them with the naked eye.
Thank you, corrected.
Also, consistent.
iamnuff
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He probably ought to get whatever system ships use to locate other ships and install it in his palace.
Knowing when a ship enters your atmosphere is kind of important.
WereDragon
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He is a jackass but at least he can take as good as he gives.
Also might I suggest Marmite? Love it or hate it.
Also nice to see Mammon being less deferential outside the polite etiquette of Bastet court.
Mr Zoat
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I doubt he's heard of Marmite.
Only if you can do something about it.
At the moment his protection lies in the fact that
1) he doesn't have anything other goa'uld would want
2) he's inside Bastet's territory
3) Bastet likes him
4) his other neighbours like him
He doesn't have ships, anti-orbital guns or anyone to man them if he got them.
Mr Zoat
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Why would he have been told?
iamnuff
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Bastet keeps asking him what he wants in exchange for helping her improve her shit, and he keeps giving non-answers.
"decent orbital defences" is a pretty sensible thing to ask for.
Especially since he clearly does have something that other System Lords want, and might be willing to fight Bastet to get. (The ability to vastly improve the performance of their foot-soldiers over that of their direct competitors)
Also, Gould Technology is generally idiot-proofed enough for Jaffa to use. I'm sure whatever oribital cannons they use are point-and-shoot.
Hell, who even builds Go'uld ships? The Jaffa are generally idiot peasant villagers being used as slave-soldiers/gestation chambers for junior symbiotes.
The 'gods' themselves have the genetic technological knowledge, but I can't imagine them ever getting their hands dirty with real work.
Maybe that's just because most of the actual Go'uld we see are system lords though?
Surely they have engineers and stuff, right? An endless supply of unskilled slave-labour can't build everything.
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Darko
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Because Clark seemed to want to have a relationship with Mitchell, so him being told that he's going to work in LexCorp seems like something he should be told.
Bud-E
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He's involved in his life and Lex is his archenemy I figured someone would have told him his "son" was trying to reform Lex Luthor. Also what does Clark call Conner and Mitchell are they sons,little brothers, or something else?
Mr Zoat
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Having guns makes people think that you have something to take, like the industrial capacity to make those guns. He wants to look like a nothing-god fallen on hard times, at least to casual observers.
Ah, but he doesn't have that, and said that he doesn't really have the ability to produce the weapons for them.
He doesn't have a team of technologically adept priests or other goa'uld to handle making and maintaining the fiddly bits. And as SG-1 noted, you need a lot of ground cannons to guarantee coverage.
I don't think we're ever shown it. Even in episodes where we see ships under construction, human slaves are just doing mining.
Superman made it pretty clear that he doesn't consider them his sons. Kon wanted a relationship with him due to his telepathic programming. Mitchell's programming didn't take, and as a result he care a good deal less about Superman
Ardy
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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...But then he did do that? He reached out to become Kon's dad and it was implied (outright stated?) he did the same to Mitchell
Osserumb
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I presume that it would be Jaffa cargo cult of head builder Goa'uld. Sacred rituals of construction with even more obfuscating garbage than average 40k Mechanicus binary chant.
Thing like 57th rank Priest of Holy Connection by the Screw knowing how to use regular tools on regular screws, while holy secrets of dynamometric tools are reserved for the very senior priests and archpriests of Holy Connection.
Head shipyard Goa'uld tries to be indispensable and discourage backstabbing, by parcelling out dribs of knowledge to it's subordinates, while subtly egging them to compete. The crucial knowledge (that can not be fully restored by combining all the knowledge of subordinates) is reserved only for shipyard's leader.
And saying "as above , as below" is used as a blueprint for organisation of workforce. Every overseer doles out only needed knowledge to those below him, while adding unnecessary ritual steps, to muddle the waters. And so on, and so on, till we hit the bottom of priest' hierarchy.
Of course it's just my headcanon, feel free to disagree vehemently.
Mr Zoat
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No, no he didn't. Improved their relationship, yes, but they're not as close as you're implying.
Mr Zoat
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I think you're thinking of Hathor.
Starbate (part 4)
Mr Zoat
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12th November 1999
08:07 GMT
Analyse.
A chemical analysis appears in my mind immediately. It doesn't mean all that much to me -other than to note the tiny similarities and vast difference to every perfume I've scanned before- but using Am-heh's knowledge reveals that several of these chemicals are quite psychoactive in goa'uld. He doesn't recognise the combination but it was clearly supposed to do something.
Anything odd in Heset's body chemistry?
Ah.
"It is just.. a perfume dispenser. Snatching it was most uncalled for."
"Um-hm. So you would have no concerns at all if I eliminated what is clearly a counter-agent from your blood and then sprayed you with it?"
"I was instructed to pleasure you and this is your response?!" She look around, spots the door and marches towards it. "I will report to Lady Bastet-."
"No." She floats off the ground, gagged and struggling. "You won't. I wonder what it is? You've been wearing it on Bubastis so it's almost certainly not a poison. A narcotic, perhaps? It certainly interacts with the goa'uld brain. Not the pleasure centres, though. Something subtle?" I walk around until I'm in front of her once more. "I wondered why a goa'uld with no record of working within Lord Bastet's domain was granted control of a planet. Is that it, then?"
I look into her eyes, and… Ah yes, there it is.
"I wonder how long it lasts? Since System Lord Bastet currently likes you, it would be awkward for me to detain you. I could expose you to your own chemical, but you may be able to work through it since you have experience with it." Scan. "I don't know, and I don't have the time to locate a chemist. How intact is your host, mentally speaking? I should be able to remove you and ask them, if you choose not to volunteer the information."
That's… Heset's connection points are a little different to what I'm… Familiar with.
Genetic scan and comparison.
Looking into her eyes, the fear has somewhat abated. Does she have good relations with her host, or does she have a plan for talking herself out of this?
Alright. "Shout for help and I remove your vocal cords."
I dismiss the construct, and she lands lightly on the floor as the results of the genetic analysis come in. That… Doesn't prove anything, but it is highly suggestive and would explain a great many things.
"I am an expert chemist. Originally, I sought a way to reduce the paranoia-inducing effect of sarcophagus-use. Instead, I developed a chemical that would make other gods… Unusually well-disposed towards me. Since you are now… Aware of it, I can provide you with a supply in exchange for your silence on the matter."
"You have been a competent administrator. In these turbulent times unnecessary changes in leadership should probably be avoided. If I could use your chemical to win over a few minor gods who would rather duck out of the current war, I might be able to work things to System Lord Bastet's advantage." She looks mildly reassured. "Why did you try to use this chemical on me? I only rule one poorly developed world. I could grant you no favours."
"You are Lady Bastet's current favourite. You are able to serve her in ways that none of her other Underlords are. When you passed up the opportunity to receive a reward for your work on Jaffa armaments, I started to be… Concerned, about my lack of leverage."
"Why?"
"Why? Because every favour she seeks to bestow upon you is one that she does not bestow upon me."
"But I… Passed on the favour. Even when I served Ra my ambitions were sated by being his functionary. I am happy with this world, and with my relationship with System Lord Bastet. I make myself useful because I want to ensure that her version of goa'uld civilisation becomes the dominant one, not because I want something else from her."
She stares at me for a moment, then shakes her head. "You truly..? You befriend her other Underlords without causing friction, you obey her laws and praise their wisdom, your greatest concern is for a world where you have taken her code of law and expanded upon it, you deal with 'inconveniences' for her without leaving a trace of your presence and ask for nothing in return. Bastet knows that you love her."
I nod. "I am aware that I am privileged to have her as my sovereign lord."
She… Stares at me.
"And I am glad that she believes the truth of my-."
"Are you joking!"
…
"No?"
"That you love her romantically. Though if you do not it will make my life easier."
I shake my head. "No, I don't love her romantically. That would be ridiculous."
Her eyebrows raise slightly. "You don't feel a brief moment of joy each time you meet her."
"Well, yes, I do, but she's a very easy person to get on with."
"You do not desire her carnally."
I shrug. "She.. does not pick ugly hosts."
"Any of whom you could have taken as a concubine after she left them. And yet you did not."
"Of course not, they're not heeeeeer."
Ah. I shouldn't have said that. I mean that they'd be ignorant human girls who wouldn't be able to be my partner, but from the way Heset is looking at me she obviously took it differently.
"And now that you have my perfume, you are not even considering using it on her, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
She rolls her eyes. "Such romantic nonsense."
"If you've quite finished mocking my romantic-."
"She might well marry you." Huh? "Oh, don't look so surprised. I would be astonished if you had not realised that she is a queen. I had hoped to sire her children myself, but without my… Advantage, that will not occur. So, I will go back to managing my world, you will receive more generous trade terms and a supply of my perfume and I will not get in your way. Do we have an understanding?"
I snort. "I don't trust you just because your revised story is a little more believable. You are one of Egeria's daughters-."
"Along with millions of others. I didn't think that you were married to Ra as well!"
"And the way you've attached yourself to your host is… Non-standard. I had wondered how a group as inept as the Tok'Ra had concealed themselves for so long." I make a show of examining the perfume dispenser. "Now, I know. You smell trustworthy."
She pulls back slightly, looking decidedly less confident. "That is a recent development."
"I weep for our species. Let me talk to your host. I have to believe that they're the brains of your relationship."
Her eyes glow for a moment and then fade, then her facial expression changes. Scan? Oh, that's what it looks like. I'll remember that.
"Is there a bargain to be struck, or will you send me to your dungeon?"
"I don't actually have a dungeon. I don't really mind the Tok'Ra undermining any other System Lord. But I do mind you undermining System Lord Bastet, particularly when that risks my experiment."
"You are genuine, then."
"Yes I'm genuine. Your people are fools for not doing this centuries ago. Any effort you make against Bastet would worsen the lives of every human in her domain." Scan in depth. "So while I don't mind you keeping an eye on us I will not tolerate sabotage. That's in addition to what your goa'uld offered."
"She is not a goa'uld. But… I have no orders to act against you or Bastet."
I'm not an expert on brain patterns, but that… Looks true.
"Then I will make you aware now. I have ways to alter the minds of other people. If I have reason to doubt you, I will make you both my willing slaves before pursuing all of your Tok'Ra contacts. Do you both understand me?"
She nods.
"Good. Now get off my planet."
08:07 GMT
Analyse.
A chemical analysis appears in my mind immediately. It doesn't mean all that much to me -other than to note the tiny similarities and vast difference to every perfume I've scanned before- but using Am-heh's knowledge reveals that several of these chemicals are quite psychoactive in goa'uld. He doesn't recognise the combination but it was clearly supposed to do something.
Anything odd in Heset's body chemistry?
Ah.
"It is just.. a perfume dispenser. Snatching it was most uncalled for."
"Um-hm. So you would have no concerns at all if I eliminated what is clearly a counter-agent from your blood and then sprayed you with it?"
"I was instructed to pleasure you and this is your response?!" She look around, spots the door and marches towards it. "I will report to Lady Bastet-."
"No." She floats off the ground, gagged and struggling. "You won't. I wonder what it is? You've been wearing it on Bubastis so it's almost certainly not a poison. A narcotic, perhaps? It certainly interacts with the goa'uld brain. Not the pleasure centres, though. Something subtle?" I walk around until I'm in front of her once more. "I wondered why a goa'uld with no record of working within Lord Bastet's domain was granted control of a planet. Is that it, then?"
I look into her eyes, and… Ah yes, there it is.
"I wonder how long it lasts? Since System Lord Bastet currently likes you, it would be awkward for me to detain you. I could expose you to your own chemical, but you may be able to work through it since you have experience with it." Scan. "I don't know, and I don't have the time to locate a chemist. How intact is your host, mentally speaking? I should be able to remove you and ask them, if you choose not to volunteer the information."
That's… Heset's connection points are a little different to what I'm… Familiar with.
Genetic scan and comparison.
Looking into her eyes, the fear has somewhat abated. Does she have good relations with her host, or does she have a plan for talking herself out of this?
Alright. "Shout for help and I remove your vocal cords."
I dismiss the construct, and she lands lightly on the floor as the results of the genetic analysis come in. That… Doesn't prove anything, but it is highly suggestive and would explain a great many things.
"I am an expert chemist. Originally, I sought a way to reduce the paranoia-inducing effect of sarcophagus-use. Instead, I developed a chemical that would make other gods… Unusually well-disposed towards me. Since you are now… Aware of it, I can provide you with a supply in exchange for your silence on the matter."
"You have been a competent administrator. In these turbulent times unnecessary changes in leadership should probably be avoided. If I could use your chemical to win over a few minor gods who would rather duck out of the current war, I might be able to work things to System Lord Bastet's advantage." She looks mildly reassured. "Why did you try to use this chemical on me? I only rule one poorly developed world. I could grant you no favours."
"You are Lady Bastet's current favourite. You are able to serve her in ways that none of her other Underlords are. When you passed up the opportunity to receive a reward for your work on Jaffa armaments, I started to be… Concerned, about my lack of leverage."
"Why?"
"Why? Because every favour she seeks to bestow upon you is one that she does not bestow upon me."
"But I… Passed on the favour. Even when I served Ra my ambitions were sated by being his functionary. I am happy with this world, and with my relationship with System Lord Bastet. I make myself useful because I want to ensure that her version of goa'uld civilisation becomes the dominant one, not because I want something else from her."
She stares at me for a moment, then shakes her head. "You truly..? You befriend her other Underlords without causing friction, you obey her laws and praise their wisdom, your greatest concern is for a world where you have taken her code of law and expanded upon it, you deal with 'inconveniences' for her without leaving a trace of your presence and ask for nothing in return. Bastet knows that you love her."
I nod. "I am aware that I am privileged to have her as my sovereign lord."
She… Stares at me.
"And I am glad that she believes the truth of my-."
"Are you joking!"
…
"No?"
"That you love her romantically. Though if you do not it will make my life easier."
I shake my head. "No, I don't love her romantically. That would be ridiculous."
Her eyebrows raise slightly. "You don't feel a brief moment of joy each time you meet her."
"Well, yes, I do, but she's a very easy person to get on with."
"You do not desire her carnally."
I shrug. "She.. does not pick ugly hosts."
"Any of whom you could have taken as a concubine after she left them. And yet you did not."
"Of course not, they're not heeeeeer."
Ah. I shouldn't have said that. I mean that they'd be ignorant human girls who wouldn't be able to be my partner, but from the way Heset is looking at me she obviously took it differently.
"And now that you have my perfume, you are not even considering using it on her, are you?"
"No, I'm not."
She rolls her eyes. "Such romantic nonsense."
"If you've quite finished mocking my romantic-."
"She might well marry you." Huh? "Oh, don't look so surprised. I would be astonished if you had not realised that she is a queen. I had hoped to sire her children myself, but without my… Advantage, that will not occur. So, I will go back to managing my world, you will receive more generous trade terms and a supply of my perfume and I will not get in your way. Do we have an understanding?"
I snort. "I don't trust you just because your revised story is a little more believable. You are one of Egeria's daughters-."
"Along with millions of others. I didn't think that you were married to Ra as well!"
"And the way you've attached yourself to your host is… Non-standard. I had wondered how a group as inept as the Tok'Ra had concealed themselves for so long." I make a show of examining the perfume dispenser. "Now, I know. You smell trustworthy."
She pulls back slightly, looking decidedly less confident. "That is a recent development."
"I weep for our species. Let me talk to your host. I have to believe that they're the brains of your relationship."
Her eyes glow for a moment and then fade, then her facial expression changes. Scan? Oh, that's what it looks like. I'll remember that.
"Is there a bargain to be struck, or will you send me to your dungeon?"
"I don't actually have a dungeon. I don't really mind the Tok'Ra undermining any other System Lord. But I do mind you undermining System Lord Bastet, particularly when that risks my experiment."
"You are genuine, then."
"Yes I'm genuine. Your people are fools for not doing this centuries ago. Any effort you make against Bastet would worsen the lives of every human in her domain." Scan in depth. "So while I don't mind you keeping an eye on us I will not tolerate sabotage. That's in addition to what your goa'uld offered."
"She is not a goa'uld. But… I have no orders to act against you or Bastet."
I'm not an expert on brain patterns, but that… Looks true.
"Then I will make you aware now. I have ways to alter the minds of other people. If I have reason to doubt you, I will make you both my willing slaves before pursuing all of your Tok'Ra contacts. Do you both understand me?"
She nods.
"Good. Now get off my planet."
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Darko
Connoisseur.
- Joined
- Nov 20, 2019
- Messages
- 23,251
Almost forgot that this is a Paul we're talking about here.
No, no he's not.
So she can sire her own Goa'uld.
I'm guessing she's keeping it a secret, since Goa'uld Queens don't necessarily have that much power behind just siring new generations of Goa'uld.
Morrigan apparently kept her status as a Queen secret.
Smartkittykhan
Making the rounds.
- Joined
- Feb 4, 2016
- Messages
- 31
Should be "though", I think.
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
- Joined
- Dec 1, 2016
- Messages
- 17,992
Thank you, corrected.