Growing Pains - A Stargate Story

Chapter 6 - Part Two

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.