trans_9 | Sobek the Immortal [Closed]

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Sobek the Immortal [Closed]

Planet Designation: Kalimba Status: Terrestrial, H-class.
Non-sentient life: Extensive flora and fauna.
Semi-Sentient Life: Unknown
Sentient Life: Ruins and step pyramids suggest the presence of intelligent life at some point. Currently: Unknown.
Water: 70.2% of the planet's surface. Heavy rainfall/monsoons.
Climate: Earth-like.
Landscape: Primarily jungle and swamp, some plains, severe arctic conditions in northern and southern poles.
Air: Type I (breathable)
Sky: Blue-green.
Warnings: Medium to high levels of megafauna. Watch your step. Conditions in the atmosphere make several forms of orbital scans and equipment unreliable.
Mission: Archaeological investigation of step pyramids and ruins, investigate for signs of source of abnormal energy signature in target area.

The first thing the group would notice was that Kalimba's air was humid and heavy, with a light breeze. The morning had long since burned off most of the mist, and in the distance, clouds lazily drifted onwards towards the horizon. The typhoon season was a long ways off.

The undergrowth was tangled and dense, seemingly impassable in places. Vibrant flowers and vines took up residence where some of the tree cover faltered. With limited sunlight available, it was every plant for themselves. Disturbed by the archaeology group, "birds", each easily half the size of a person and more salamander than avian suddenly took to the air in a flash of brilliantly colored wings. They were gone almost instantly, slicing through the air and leaving only the ear-splitting shriek behind.

The hill sloped down. The cover of trees broke as they came out onto the stone remains of path that must have once been heavily used. Now, just like everywhere else, massive roots and tanglers tore at the ground, slowly swallowing any signs of civilization back within itself. There were trees of all shapes and sizes as far as the eye could see, a rolling wave of jungle and rainforest. Tan and dirty gray step pyramids, all more massive than those found on Earth, and the occasional obelisk rose through the canopy cover like claws, dotting the landscape.

Stac's scans indicated much of the planet was covered in these structures, with the largest in this location. Aside from the archaeological mission, her scans also indicated the presence of an abnormal power that may be of interest.

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The Master winced when his knees hit the floor, the pain reverberating up through his bones and lancing straight through his head. It seemed one of the side-effects of painkiller withdrawal was, well. Pain. He'd resolved to stay quiet, to listen and observe for at least a little while, but Sobek's intermittent tapping was too much.

He lifted his head.

"So this is the all-powerful Sobek," he purred, meeting this so-called god's eyes. "Love what you've done with the place. Not to mention poor old Daniel. I have to say, it's quite an improvement."

It was hard to tell whose side the Master was on-- whether he was taunting Sobek with sarcasm or trying to get on his good side. For the moment, it could have gone either way.

Sobek's head twitched into a slight cock to the side, almost curiously. Someone in this group who had an inkling of idea what the proper respect for a god was. Sarcasm,, Daniel's voice seemed tiny and weak, as if starved, but like Sobek, grew stronger with each second as the Goa'uld continued healing their body. That's sarcasm, you ignorant-

"It is an honor most will never have," Sobek replied, studying the man before them thoughtfully. His vessel, while sluggishly coming to full consciousness, recognized this man too. His host hadn't liked this man. The memories seemed petty, sniping between mortals over things like titles, times, dig procedures. There were Gods out there. Massive wars raged on.

John Smith was the person Daniel Jackson knew the least about in the group. He'd gotten himself assigned to each mission, which hinted at some marginal use in the man. Strange that they did have something in common. Both knew the Doctor. Sobek now knew whatever Daniel knew. He knew how they met, the limit of his knowledge. The vessel's memory on the subject was faulty, too fragmented to be useful.

The God's hand stilled. For now, it appeared he didn't have to show the man what insolence would cost him, even if he hadn't yet learned propriety. Smith was, however, one of the lower species. As vessels went, humans were superior in intellect, dexterity, appearance to the Unas. Even without a god inside them, sometimes humans did surprise him. It was rare. They were not even close to the Gods. There were limits to what humans could do, even when his own tried their hardest.

"Explain your purpose within the group, slave."

Edited 2012-01-10 05:19 (UTC)

Oh, that was a good one, Sobek. So funny the Master almost forgot to bristle at the implication. He smoothed himself over, carefully, offered the man a pleasant smile in return. If you were to look close enough, though, his jaw was working underneath, his teeth gritted.

"This 'group' means nothing to me," he assured Sobek. "I'm much more interested in how I can serve you. After all, I'm someone who can help you achieve more than you ever imagined. Consider me an advisor, of sorts."

Sobek couldn't find any indication that this was usual or even unusual behavior for the human in his host's mind. Even his host was startled. Daniel had expected a lot of things, disliked the man, but didn’t know enough about Smith to foresee him offering himself at 'the drop of a hat'.

For a long while, the God said nothing. He stared the prisoner up and down. Perhaps he was being truthful. Or perhaps he was trying to save his own life. It wouldn't be the first time others had bowed to his will, here or when faced with their God's demise at his hands. With nowhere left to go, death, eaten alive as an example first, or living under his rule, most chose life. Some were sincere. Others were not, and it was the ones who didn't hesitate at all to trade sides that caught his attention. However, Sobek wasn't an unfair God. He would at least consider the offer.

Sobek would make the human work for his favor first. Prove himself worthwhile.

" A God has no need for an advisor, especially from a mere Tau'ri," the God said haughtily. After all, what could he offer to a god that had been alive thousands of years? The next move was Smith’s. “ Continue.”

Edited 2012-01-11 14:51 (UTC)

"Under ordinary circumstances, that may be true," the Master smiled. "But times have changed. Humans have moved on. And I know all about this little group here. I know where they come from and what they're capable of."

He was hazarding guesses at this point, but they were educated. If this 'Sobek' knew everything about them and what they could do, he would have killed them or put them to use by now. The truth must be that he simply didn't know.

"I can provide you with the information you need to understand them. To control them. And to crush them, if necessary."

Yes, humans had moved on since he'd lasted looked in on them. Daniel's memories proved that much. It was a fact he didn't care much for. Slaves were slaves, an inferior race who at best, had to be guided with a firm hand, because they would never approach the possibilities a Goa'uld would. The potential was limited. Ra, these human's version of Ra, had failed miserably, and embarrassingly enough even gotten killed by his vessel and a "JackONeill". Disgraceful. A god falling to slaves.

At least, his children never quite understood the power of the atom or understood anything beyond the mysticism of the Stargate, unlike Daniel's people. Ra had been weak in the end. Driven off by his own slaves. Such an embarrassment would never have happened to him. At least his imprisonment had been at the hands of Kali and Bastet together. The silence spoke enough for the God when it came to what he'd seen of possible human progression.

The man seemed so certain of his use. Sobek's eyes flickered orange for an instant. "Watch yourself, Tau'ri. Do not believe yourself so worthy as to tell a God killer how to crush a mere mortal. I have been doing so since the birth of the First Sun."

He rested his chin in a palm, watching the human as if undecided whether it was food or play. He'd have to test the man's knowledge. He would see if he even knew anything about the crew or if he was lying. Jamie, the Doctor, and John himself were out of the question. His host didn't know nearly enough about them to know if he was lying. He glanced to Eva. "Tell your Master about this slave."

A loaded, dangerous question. John's test. Out of the group, Daniel knew her enough that the System Lord would know if John was lying. Maybe not as intimately as Vala, but he desired to know more about the one who freed him.

Edited 2012-01-14 05:18 (UTC)

Oooh, a test. The Master can guess that Sobek doesn't particularly want to know Eva's favorite color, her likes and dislikes, what sort of perfume she prefers to wear. Only what is relevant in controlling her. Bending her to the will of a so-called god.

The Master stares back coolly. "She's tough, for a human," he drawls. "For a girl. Pain won't be enough for her. You can torture her all day if you like; it'll only make her resist you that much more. Not threat of pain, not threat of death. Not to her her friends, either, heavens no." The Master smiles, almost fondly. "No, you'll need to work out what she's really afraid of to get through to her."

And then the Master turns his head, finally, to consider Eva. "A cage," he says. "Loss of control. Loss of herself. That's what will break her, in the end."

Of course it must be; isn't that what he himself fears the most? He turns back to Sobek and arches a brow.

"Now. Isn't that what you really wanted to know?"

Sobek's fingers began to drum on the armrest, a touch of impatience in the movement. He'd been controlling others and breaking in slaves since time began, and John hadn't said much that he didn't know already. They were standard fears that most humans had. A basic answer.

The God did sit up straighter at one fragment; "loss of herself", which his host unconsciously confirmed as true. Most people feared above all, loss of freedom, loss of loved ones, death. John was telling the truth about Eva. Loss of self before everything would be what would crush this human.

John had passed one test. One was not enough, Sobek still didn't trust him and probably wouldn't ever. He didn't trust many to begin with. He would need to prove himself further. He might prove useful. At the very least, he would prove entertaining to a God. There would be further tests and all the while Sobek would be watching. People acted differently when they thought their necks off the execution block. He would learn from him as well while he remained more useful than dead weight.

"A start," Sobek admitted.

(in response to Vala's words)

The worshipers stopped their muttering. The one sitting at their feet, leaning into their thigh even froze at both Vala's words and Eva's denial.

Daniels eyes turned glacial, then the System Lord smiled indulgently. His gaze flit to Captain Eneesh. Sobek made a sharp flicking motion, as if he was twisting the neck off a bird. A horrendous crack followed and Eneesh suddenly exploded in a shower of exoskeleton, blood and innards.

There were no gasps or cries of terror or horror from the Jaffa standing guard or from the faithful. They looked at the gore with surprise, then curiosity, followed by awe. The worshipers instead began droning, chanting in ancient Goa'uld. Several prostrated themselves immediately. Sobek rose from the throne and approached them, stepping through the carnage without a second thought.

Edited 2012-01-17 04:36 (UTC)

Getting Sobek to admit anything was a very good start, though the Master was confident enough that this small victory didn't even occur to him. All he knew was that he'd begun to earn the thing's trust, that this opened further possibilities... and that his entire body ached.

Before he could respond properly to the backhanded compliment, urge this further in a direction that got him off his knees and out of his cuffs, the insectoid friend of the Doctor's exploded. The Master's head swiveled sharply to the right, eyes widening and then just as quickly flinching as flecks of blood coated his face.

He added a nice, hot bath to his near future to-do list.

The Master took it all in, his hearts racing-- but not out of horror, like the rest of them. It wasn't as if he cared for the bug. Not a great loss. But oh, this was impressive. The drums beat a little louder, hungry for more.

The System Lord took a step to the side when something ran ice cold up and down the length of him. It was the sting by something new, foreign, and not entirely pleasant. He'd been around humans long enough to feel difference between a human,a Jaffa, and Goa'uld from a long distance. He could feel how they all occupied space, the reality they all lived in. His head swiveled instantly to the source.

Feeling the difference between a human and something completely new wasn't exactly hard when it offended the senses. His eyes landed on the Doctor and John Smith. It was coming from them. Sobek stepped closer to John, head sliding to the right like he was feeling for a current of air. These two were something he'd never encountered. The symbiote wrapped around Daniel's spine tightened further, shifting minutely away from them in response. These two were both there and not there, something that made him want to wipe them out and restore the order int he room.

He didn't know what it meant. Sobek had encountered a lot over his thousands of years. Never this.

Sobek reached down and sank his claws into the front of John's clothes, careless if he scored flesh with the metal, and ripped the front off, then pressed his palm against his chest.

Two different heartbeats.

Edited 2012-01-17 09:35 (UTC)

The Master couldn't help sucking in a sharp breath as those talons pierced him-- not one for delicacy, this Sobek. If it had happened to anyone else he might have been once again impressed, amused even. But as the shirt came off, ripping just a bit of the Master with it, he felt nothing but pain, and then irritation at the thought of yet another suit to replace.

And, though he was loathe to admit it even to himself, the tiniest pang of fear.

Blood dripped slowly onto the floor.

"I told you," he hissed between gritted teeth. "They mean nothing to me."

As he spoke the Master reached out telepathically through the skin-to-skin contact, more surreptitious than brutal, poking around the edges. He wanted to see what this thing was really made of.

Even though it was tiny, Sobek picked up on the fear, a drop of blood in the waters. His nostrils flared. He could smell the iron and something else strange about the blood, but after the amount Eva left and the bits and pieces of Eneesh all over the throne room, his senses were already taken up by the heavier smells.

Sobek kept his hand against the man's chest, fingers curling slowly, raking tracks in the skin. An abnormal heartbeat. War drums of old. Much like the drums his people on Faiyum had been so fond of. One of things that his slaves here had never perfected. Sobek's fingers continued to dig in. Touching the man was like touching something that was an abomination in reality. Existing and bending the area and senses around them. Not just John Smith but the Doctor too.

New. Never before encountered in any Goa'uld. He could use these two.

The God withdrew his hand. Despite the adverse reaction, Sobek's face was neutral, unreadable, whereas before he'd oozed feral superiority, arrogance and grace. John's standing with him suddenly wasn't as clear as before.

He drooped forward slightly when Sobek finally let go, letting out a small, weak cry that disgusted even him. It wasn't just from the pain. It was just as much from the withdrawal. How he'd felt when his mind touched Sobek's. Old, so very old. And so very, very hungry. A multitude of mouths to feed, an almost grotesque excess of power. The desire to control.

Some of these things, the Master understood intimately. The rest twisted his gut. Reminded him of things he'd rather forget.

Still, he seemed to have struck this thing speechless. Though it took a moment for the Master to raise his head, he did, steeling himself enough to stare Sobek down calmly. As if he hadn't just been gouged in the chest.

"Well?" he said. "Anything else you desperately need to know?"

Sobek returned the stare, his own unfathomable. Not a human like his host had thought. The same alien race as the Doctor, connected to him and affecting reality and time by existing together. Both of them had tried to cover the fact up or make light of it. They must be aware of how they felt to a higher species. There must be a reason they each tried to downplay it to his host. To him. Perhaps there could be a use. The ability to bend reality and time to his will...

He would see if this affect was deliberate or a biological byproduct.

"You may yet prove yourself useful," Sobek said. As if John was just now hitting the possibility of saving his life.

Edited 2012-01-18 23:10 (UTC)

The Master grinned self-assuredly at that proclamation, mostly in the Doctor's direction. But a substantial part of him was relieved when Sobek drew away, his attention diverted by the others. He watched impassively as Eva was tortured, his face a blank mask. Though he did arch his eyebrows in an "I told you so" kind of way once the parasite was finished with her. He wouldn't have been so messy about it. So... brutish. Not with Eva, anyhow. She hadn't done nearly enough to warrant that sort of special attention.

When the Doctor was harmed, though... The Master could feel bile rising in his throat and his hearts hammering, even as he rolled his eyes. What did the idiot think was going to happen? He never did know when to shut up, never did have proper priorities.

Sobek looked on at the Doctor's collapse with as much concern or care as taking out an insect, all the while keeping an eye on John's reaction. Interesting. More of a reaction to the Doctor's fate than to Eva's, but considering the tirade the man had made to his host earlier on, maybe not so unexpected. This man did care, for good or ill.

It could be used.

The guards surrounded Smith and indicated he get to his feet. Quickly.

The Master did his best to appear calm and collected at first. He'd been given the opportunity, at least, to wash up-- not the hot bath he'd been hoping for, but a tiny basin in a communal area, stinking of the others he'd been thrown in here with. It was a start. And the plant suit had already grown back over his chest, repairing itself and relentlessly cleaning the periodic bloodstains that spotted it. The wounds were superficial.

But there was still the withdrawal to contend with, his chest and head still ached. The drums beat on. And he was bored. After a while even resting on his mat with his hands behind his head, imagining with some glee what may be happening to the Doctor right at this moment, was simply not enough.

He paced his tiny sleeping area like a caged animal, tapping his fingers against the walls while he thought, and watching the guards intently.

The Master was left to his own devices, but the view outside would show the frenzy of activity from the humans. Now that the celebrations were over, it was all business. What they're doing was still unclear.

The slaves in these quarters made no attempt to approach the Master. They merely tolerated him with barely concealed envy, muttering amongst themselves in Goa'uld and shooting glances over their shoulders. Whatever his duties or expectations were, there wasn't any effort to help the newcomer.

Two guards finally arrived at the quarters, the lead's voice voice rumbling through small room. It was one of the Jaffa who had been present at their capture. One by one the slaves filed out until they found their God standing outside the slave quarters, waiting with the same patience one shows a dog that came when beckoned. Once at his feet, they knelt. Row after row heads bowed, touching the ground.

Frigid eyes looked to the Master. Would he kneel like the others?

Edited 2012-01-20 23:42 (UTC)

The Master may have originally balked when forced to kneel in front of Sobek. The very idea might have gone against nearly every fiber of his being. But he wasn't stupid; he'd seen what had happened to the insectoid.

And he'd done much, much worse in the name of survival.

Still, he wasn't about to prostrate himself slavishly like a kicked dog. Not like these others. The Master met Sobek's eyes, striding forward and shoving his way through the rows of followers until he'd just passed the first, nearly toe to toe with the false god.

Only then did he kneel, his head bowed deferentially. Sobek would learn that the Master was worth more than a thousand slaves. Perhaps all of them.

Sobek's eyes flickered for a moment with displeasure before settling back to blue. The man had prostrated himself like the others in the end, but not before making a show of it, something that indicated he still clung to pride. Sobek didn't completely erase it from his worshipers. There was pride in there, the kind that had them competing for seconds of his attention. It was the pride that was channeled in his favor.

The System Lord said something in Goa'uld to the slaves. They wasted no time. All bowed, and then rising, hurried off. It left Smith alone with the two Jaffa and Sobek towering over him. The System Lord made no indication that Smith should get up. The stone underneath their feet was cold and rough, and smelled faintly of moisture and plant life from outside.

"You will attend to whatever your God desires." Sobek said. "Prove yourself useful and live. Prove yourself anything less and your Master will have no use for your existence."

Edited 2012-01-21 16:48 (UTC)

He could feel the vibrations in the hard ground as the slaves flocked en masse wherever Sobek had ordered them to go, like frightened pigeons. The Master kept his head bowed dutifully, but there was a small, tolerant smile on his face hidden from his captors. Alone at last.

"And what do you desire now, my Master?" The words tasted undeniably sour to him, of course; he was the Master, not this grubby little parasite bonded to a fool's body. But he'd topple Sobek from his throne soon enough. Baby steps.

Sobek's fingers flexed, the gold end caps of the hand device rippling in the field of Smith's vision. The movement was lazy and unconscious, more a minor outlet of energy and strength while the God thought it over. He didn't trust Smith with the same task he sent the slaves on. The message had gone out: the entire population of the planet was to work on the closest step pyramid, and the ha'tak that lay underneath. His fleet was massive. It would rise again, but restoring his fleet would take time. Thousands of years spent grounded, with little maintenance, made it impossible to carry out his Will just yet. Restoring his fleet, even if it meant working themselves to death for their God, was work only meant for those who could he knew were of his faith.

The crocodile helmet materialized and folded upwards then sealed in on itself in the sharp clang of metal. Mechanical eyes rotated away from Smith.

"You will follow." Sobek said and turning, led the way out.

The Master clambered to his feet, eager despite the dull, full-body ache he was apparently developing. He'd felt the power emanating from Sobek's hand, and he coveted it as he did all means of control. It was almost enough to keep the drums at bay-- just barely. They raged quietly in the back of his mind, anticipating.

For the moment he was as easily led as a hunting dog.

The Jaffa kept to the Master's back, a constant reminder that he was still hadn't earned any of the trust any other lowly slave was shown. Sobek led the way downwards. He set a loping pace down the corridors and halls, pacing through chambers without a second's hesitation.

The doors stood apart from the rest of the structure, more metal than stone, with seams and lines that made up the decorations glowing with an artificial light. The doors seemed to sense the Goa'uld presence as Sobek drew close. With a rumble and grind of hidden mechanisms, they parted before the God like water, sliding out and then upwards into the ceiling. The doors slid closed behind them.

The room they stepped into was easily the most technologically advanced so far. There was an entire squad of Jaffa nestled in alcoves like statues, the only sign that they were alive was the rise and fall of their chest and the helmets that tracked the Master.

There was also a strange device that occupied the middle of the room. The Doctor was strapped to it.

A "rest period". Supposedly that was what it was. The Doctor didn't for one second think Sobek had suddenly grown a few bones of mercy in that parasite's body of his.

The Doctor looked like he'd seen better days, his hair limp with sweat as he caught his breath where he was restrained to the interrogation device. He cracked open his eyes as he caught the sound of footsteps in the corridor outside. Sobek, probably. And...someone else. Too light to sound like s/he was wearing that armor the Jaffa were so fond of stuffing themselves into! So, someone else. Either one of his worshippers or -- and this was probably the worst case scenario -- one of the crew, probably to soften him up so he'd be more talkative. The Doctor prepared himself to tell Sobek to turn right around and find something else, licking his lips and trying to work the dryness from his mouth.

So far he didn't think he'd revealed anything particularly world-shattering.

The Doctor's head lolled against the back of the device as he tried to see the archway. Today wouldn't be any different, he wanted to tell the God. Come back tomorrow, although tomorrow will be more of the same, so maybe you better get on with it. Whatever words he had died as Sobek entered, that crocodile's helmet swiveling toward him, and there was...

Ah. Awkward. The Master.

The Doctor suddenly felt like he was on the wrong foot here (not that he was on a foot, but anyway), blinking and trying to clear his head and shoot the Master one of those what're you planning now? looks.

Sobek the Immortal [Closed]

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