Disclaimer: I own nothing but my original characters and works; all other characters and worlds belong to their respective owners. I'm just playing with them.
Betad by Priapus, Marethyu, Malcolm Tent, Beans
The Guild of Gamers, the Dungeon Master
Chapter 02: Sokar
– Jolinar –
Even the idea of someone raiding Delmak seemed alien to her as she listened from the crowds. The head of Bynarr was held aloft as the white haired woman decried the Goa'uld for what they were, nothing more than alien parasites.
The Jaffa had been massacred by these two heavily armoured, heavily armed women. She'd seen it herself as they'd shrugged off Ma'tok staff blasts and either incinerated or outright butchered the Jaffa guards.
Netu had been designed to inflict terror; its landscape, decor and the Jaffa tactics were all made to break the spirit of both the prisoners and any invaders. These two women seemed utterly immune to such tactics.
As Jolinar listened to Sister Dominica's zealous speech, she felt herself 'frown'. She wasn't currently in control of her shared body, so it didn't show on Rosha's face.
'Joilinar, have you ever heard of this God Emperor?'
Rosha's question made her go through her considerable memories, and yet she found nothing. The God Emperor of Mankind. She'd heard of people declaring themselves Gods and Emperors before, but this was a new one. Yu-huang Shang Ti was a Goa'uld who called himself Emperor instead of God, even if he was still seen as divine, but this wasn't him.
She was sure that the Goa'uld believed Sokar to be dead. The Tok'ra certainly had until she'd found herself here. Someone else had discovered his survival and attacked. Dominica clearly worshipped this Emperor with enough zeal to put the Jaffa to shame.
'No. Whoever he is, he is no Goa'uld, of that I am certain.'
No Goa'uld would expose the truth to so many. They'd killed the few other Goa'uld overseers, and she watched as the other sister tore the dead Goa'uld from the host's spine, showing them to be nothing but parasites. Even if they were to attack another Goa'uld, they wouldn't reveal their species' true form to the masses. Sure, the trusted Jaffa would know of the truth, but not the common slaves.
Most of the people here were slaves who had gained Sokar's fury for whatever minor offence he'd deemed punishable by being tortured or worked to death in this penal colony. They were used to worshipping, and she could tell that Sister Dominica's speech was gathering many converts for this God Emperor.
The Imperium of Man was brought up, the true empire of humanity, and their rhetoric made it clear that they saw humans as the superior race. It was a worrying claim, but one that the slaves found appealing after being suppressed. To be told they were genetically superior to the Jaffa who had beaten and tortured them was an enticing idea.
She needed to get free and inform her people of both Sokar and this 'God Emperor'. She had been working toward seducing Bynarr to gain access to his chambers and the ring transporter that could take her down to the planet below, but that was clearly a wasted effort. Instead, she was best off trying to pass as a normal prisoner and waiting for a chance to slip away.
"Amongst you is one named Jolinar, or Rosha. She is the same species as your enslavers, merely posing as human. You will present her," the second of the women said, and instantly, she felt Rosha's heart start to pound. The sisters scanned the crowd, and she could hear the whispers. Not many of the other prisoners knew her, but some did, and already fingers were being pointed in her direction.
Weaponless, she had little choice but to move forward, pushed to the front of the crowd by fearful and angry prisoners.
"Sister Valeria, you take the xeno filth to our Divine Master. I shall carry out his will here," Dominica said, a look of disdain on her face. The way her hand twitched told Jolinar how much Dominica would love to cut her in half with that giant mechanised blade, as she had done to the Jaffa and the Goa'uld overseers. Valeria seemed less prone to violence, but even still she kept the very large gun trained on her. It wasn't directly aimed at her, but rested in a way that would let Valeria raise it in an instant.
"Follow me, parasite. Run, and I'll remove your legs," Valeria warned, scorn and mistrust on her face.
Jolinar went to speak, but the tightening of Valeria's features told her enough. This woman wanted her dead as well, it was only the commands of this God Emperor that were stopping her. She had no desire to speak to Jolinar, and Jolinar decided it was best to stay quiet until they reached the one in charge, watching as Valeria grabbed Bynarr's severed head and carried it toward Bynarr's chamber.
Standing in the room was a tall but clearly young human, his muscular form wrapped in silk clothes. He turned to them, golden eyes watching them in mild curiosity. It was not the bright glow of the Goa'uld, but a more subtle shine as he smiled, lazily leaning against the wall.
She saw the rest of Bynarr's body on the ground, missing an arm and a head, and Valeria tossed the head to join the body, the severed arm resting next to the body, just next to the stump.
"My Lord Emperor, I have brought the one you sought. Should I purge this… parasite as well?" Valeria asked, pushing Rosha forward and forcing her onto her knees before the young man, who simply chuckled.
"You must understand, I am not a Goa'uld-" Jolinar tried, taking over for the scared Rosha as her eyes glowed and her voice gained the dual-toned echo.
"Yes, you are," the God-Emperor interrupted. "Admittedly, that might be more impressive than being one of Egeria's spawn. It can't have been easy to defy the genetic memory of your race, Jolinar of Malkshur."
His words were spoken with a surety that she almost envied, his voice deeper than his youthful looks would suggest. His eyes held a mixture of amusement and something she couldn't quite place as he looked over her form for a moment.
"You know of the Tok'ra?" Jolinar asked hesitantly, Valeria stepping forward to strike her for speaking out of turn before the God-Emperor held out his hand.
"Valeria, play nice. We're playing host to one of the Goa'uld's most wanted," he said, his tone teasing as Valeria instantly backed off. "Valeria, go and secure the ring transporter chamber. I need to have words with our guest."
Valeria looked like she was going to argue for a moment, before she bowed deeply, her armoured fist pressing against her breast.
"At once, my lord Emperor," Valeria replied, adoration in her tone. For a moment, she glared at Jolinar and seemed like she was going to say something before she left the room, her heavy footsteps vanishing down the corridor.
"Sorry about the girls, they really don't like your kind," the God-Emperor said, his posture lazy and relaxed as he gestured for her to rise. "I'm Dorian, calling me the God-Emperor of Mankind every time is a bit of a mouthful."
"A bold title, Dorian," Jolinar pointed out, making him snort in agreement.
"Especially since my Empire at the moment consists of two, admittedly very talented, women. I plan to change that today. Sokar has an entire planet just begging to be liberated," Dorian agreed with a smile.
"Into your rule?" Jolinar asked, and Dorian just grinned.
"Certainly an improvement, don't you think?" Dorian asked, and she couldn't deny that point. When the current ruler styled himself as Satan, priding himself on being the cruellest of the Goa'uld, anyone would be an improvement.
"You are no Goa'uld, are you?" Jolinar asked, making him raise his arm, aiming the kara kesh he was wearing at her for a moment as he 'fired'. She flinched before staring as he giggled. With no Naquadah in his blood, it was just a gaudy piece of jewellery.
"Nope. I'm something new entirely," Dorian admitted, moving over to the body and lazily moving the head 'into place' before he stepped back. "Call me Human Plus. Because unlike the Goa'uld, I don't need fancy jewellery to perform my miracles."
As he spoke, he held out his hand over the dismembered body and a golden glow formed on his hand and the corpse. Jolinar gasped as she watched the body… fix itself. The arm reattached, the head seemingly magnetised onto the body as the brutal cuts mended themselves.
Her mind raced, eyes roaming him for any piece of technology that could have done this feat. She found nothing at all.
Dorian grinned, taking off his top to expose his body with his arms wide.
"Look all you like, you'll find no trinkets or gadgets here," Dorian said confidently. "As I said, human plus."
"Why fix the body?" Jolinar asked, making him smile.
"Because you're going in it. Tell me, Jolinar of Malkshur, how would you like to help put Sokar down for good?" Dorian asked with a dangerous and yet almost... giddy smile.
'So, this guy is actually a teenager, right?'
"I am, Rosha," Dorian answered, making both of them freeze as he responded to a question he shouldn't have been able to hear. "But don't mistake my youth for naivety."
"You want me to impersonate Bynarr to lure in Sokar," Jolinar realised, a thoughtful frown on her lips as she focused on what mattered. Sokar was preparing for his return, and while it was bound to cause Goa'uld infighting, she didn't want such a monster to survive long enough to become a true threat. "But I can't possess a corpse, and there is no sarcophagus here."
Dorian just smiled, clicking his fingers as a golden glow engulfed the body and Bynarr's former host sat up with a gasp and a scream.
"Sleep," Dorian commanded, the panicking host grasping at his throat with terror in his eyes for a moment before he collapsed back down, alive but unconscious. "That won't be a problem."
"What- H-how did you," Jolinar started, watching Dorian's smile grow.
"I don't call myself the 'God-Emperor' lightly," Dorian said, his entire body glowing with golden light for a moment. As he spoke, he took off the kara kesh and lazily threw it toward her. It was strange, but he seemed to be a blend of a powerful, dominant figure and a normal teenage boy. She almost wondered if he was a host for something else, but knew better than to outright ask.
He may not be Goa'uld, but he clearly had every bit of their megalomania to claim such a title. Still, he seemed to have the power to back up his claims. Bynarr's host was undeniably dead, and to just restore him with such a lazy gesture…
'What do you think, Jol? This is going to be dangerous…'
She didn't like the idea of entering an unwilling host, but Bynarr's host was likely insane, as many Goa'uld hosts quickly became. Sokar needed to be dealt with… and this wouldn't be her first time infiltrating a System Lord's court. This was less dangerous than normal, as she wouldn't need to impersonate Bynarr for long.
She watched Dorian carefully before she accepted a simple truth. If he wanted her dead, she'd have already been incinerated. His two followers would have eagerly murdered her if they were permitted to do so.
Removing herself from Rosha, she moved into the sleeping form of Bynarr's former host (and confirmed her fear that the poor man was long gone), rising with a frown.
"I will assist you, Dorian. Sokar is a threat to the entire galaxy," Jolinar agreed.
– Dorian Morgan –
Freaky ass worm people. God that's weird looking.
I picked this start location and time because I knew Jolinar would still be imprisoned here, and she's going to be useful going forward.
"My Emperor, forgive me for doubting your divine plan, but can we truly trust this xeno?" Valeria asks, making me smile gently at her.
"I have reconsidered my stance on the xenos. Chaos is our true enemy, Sisters, never forget that. They are not our equals, but many races can find a place within my grand plan, serving humanity and the Imperium," I explain, seeing the understanding in their eyes. "Our resources are limited, my powers far from recovered. We will need allies, and the Tok'ra have fought the Goa'uld for generations."
"Of course, my lord Emperor. Even the foulest xenos could be useful when guided by your divine hand," Dominica agrees with a proud smile. As I've said before, I literally cannot be wrong in their minds. If I say we should use xenos, we should use xenos.
Honestly? I have no idea how to use any of the Goa'uld tech, including the ring transporter to Delmak below. Clearly, I need a tech priest(ess) to come and fiddle with the alien tech for me.
The slaughter of the Jaffa got me enough energy to pull off some minor miracles, like bringing back our recently dead friend, but I don't have the energy to pull any major fuckery just yet. What I do have is enough to influence how this story is going to go.
Because under normal circumstances, no matter how convincing Jolinar was, Sokar would kill her for this failure. I just nudged things slightly, so Sokar got a better, clearer idea. He's coming here, ready to retake Netu from the slave revolt, and plans to imprison Bynarr within the very colony he once ruled.
As we speak, Sokar is on his way with his Ha'tak, the Goa'uld's most powerful class of ship, ready to put the rebelling prisoners down. He doesn't know about the Sisters of Battle, he doesn't know about me, he just thinks Bynarr was so incompetent that he managed to lose control of the slaves.
I am the dungeon master. I can influence the way this story develops. Of course, the more out of character I try to make someone act, the more energy it drains, but having Sokar decide to put off instantly killing Bynarr to torture him to death later is very in character.
Jolinar has a very specific job to do, as we wait for her signal. All she has to do is get to the Ha'tak's ring transporter and activate it, then teleport down to this room. She doesn't want to get caught in the crossfire, after all.
I sent Rosha away, she's not a fighter, and I didn't want her around for me explaining to the Sisters that all races belong beneath me.
As the rings activate, I smile and watch the two sisters put on their helmets and prepare. The rings come from the floor and ceiling, the pair being surrounded in a bright light before they vanish and the rings return to their dock.
Within seconds, I feel more energy coming in from the slaughter currently happening in their fancy pyramid ship. Yes, my entire plan was just 'teleport angry sisters into ship, ???, profit'.
Jolinar doesn't teleport down like I expected, making me frown for a moment as I consider sending a mental order for Dominica to cut her in half, but reaching out, I chuckle. She's gathering intelligence on the Sisters and their capabilities to find out how much of a threat they are, while also locking down the rings so Sokar can't escape.
So, what am I supposed to do while I wait?
A knock gets my attention, opening the door with a gesture as Rosha looks around in confusion.
"Where is Jolinar? I heard the rings…" Rosha explains, making me smile at my entertainment.
"She decided her plan is better, evidently. She's staying up there to make sure Sokar actually dies. I'd be offended, but it's her life she's risking. Don't worry, the Sisters probably won't kill her by accident," I say with a cheerful smile. "Oh, don't look so stressed. It's out of our hands now. Let's let the girls have their fun, they'll come home when they get bored."
"You... really aren't taking this seriously, are you?" Rosha asks after a moment.
"Well, I can bring them back if they die. The biggest mess out of this would be getting the Sisters' gear back, but I have faith in my girls. Valeria is currently showing the Jaffa why ceremonial armour isn't very effective against very large swords, and Dominica is cleansing the ship of Goa'uld filth in holy melta-fire. Jolinar is keeping her distance from the fighting and sabotaging the Ha'tak's systems in the chaos," I explain, my eyes glowing as I watch the chaos through Valeria's eyes.
"How are you doing that?" Rosha asks, a mixture of awe and cautious curiosity in her tone.
"I'm a psyker, amongst other things. I have a psychic link with Valeria and Dominica, letting me watch the chaos from their eyes and sense their mental and physical states," I explain helpfully, before clapping my hands together as I grin. "So, how did you find yourself the willing host of an infamous renegade Goa'uld?"
Rosha blinks in surprise at my interest in her, allowing herself to get distracted since there's really nothing she can do but wait.
– Jolinar –
She hadn't seen much of the attack on Netu's Penal Colony, only catching some of the end after the guards from her sector had been drawn to the chaos. She had doubted the wisdom, no, the sanity, of Dorian's plan to send just two women against a Ha'tak full of heavily armed Jaffa. But her doubts began to evaporate the moment Dominica had arrived, charging past her with the barrel of that flamethrower already glowing in preparation.
"Burn in holy fire, xeno scum!" Dominica shouted, laughing as her incredibly powerful flame-based weapon engulfed the squad of Jaffa that had made the mistake of trying to charge down the tight corridor. The screaming and smell of burnt flesh made her shudder, even after years of seeing the violence of the Goa'uld and her time in Netu.
It wasn't just their admittedly incredible gear that made the duo so deadly, but their tactics and incredible teamwork that made them such a force to be reckoned with.
"They're closing the blast doors, a futile attempt," Valeria scoffed, aiming the 'melta-gun' she had borrowed from her Sister. The weapon audibly vibrated before it fired with a roar, hitting the heavy metal door and reducing it to molten slag as Jolinar could only watch in a mixture of awe and horror.
"The bridge should be just ahead, Sokar will be there," Jolinar promised, watching Dominica charge through the giant hole like a juggernaut, her flamethrower placed on her back in place of the giant chainsword she wielded.
Valeria was slower, more methodical as she swapped her melta-gun for her bolter, ruthlessly firing as she gave her sister cover. Each hit blasted the target into pieces, blowing melon-sized holes in the armoured Jaffa.
"Ah, what I'd give for a cherub right now," Valeria sighed wistfully as she kicked a charging Jaffa in the stomach and pinned him under her armoured foot. Without even looking down at him, she lowered her bolter and fired once, reducing the terrified Jaffa's skull to a fine paste of gore across the floor.
"In the Emperor's name, die!"
The sound of revving and the screaming made Jolinar hesitant to look in the direction Dominica had charged in. Her single glance told her she was right not to want to look, watching as one of the few Goa'uld overseers died screaming, the massive blade plunging into his gut before Dominica slowly lifted it up through the man's chest and neck. She couldn't see the zealous woman's face, but she knew Dominica was smiling as she split the man in two.
Valeria was terrifyingly accurate, taking down the Jaffa as they tried to rush Dominica and providing covering fire for her ally. Each shot was a life ended, guts and brains splattered across the walls as Valeria put down any and all life she came across with clinical precision and brutal efficiency.
The blood-red armour of Sokar's Necropolis guard was worthless against the bolter rounds, and even more so against the flames. This wasn't like any weapon the Goa'uld used, and they were paying for it. The weapons were horrifying, but she couldn't deny they fascinated her. Nothing in the Goa'uld arsenal matched them. She found herself wondering, almost desperately… where had these monsters come from? And how many more waited behind them?
Wherever these people had come from, they were dangerous, and she feared the idea of even more of them. Both Dominica and Valeria had mentioned the Sisters of Battle in their conversations, and it clearly sounded like a much larger organisation than just these two. And yet, Dorian claimed to just have the two of them, so where had he found them, and why were they so obsessively loyal to him?
The bridge was locked down, made obvious by the increased quantity of necrosis guards, but the tight corridors made grouping up a death sentence as Valeria fired her melta again, aiming for the closed bridge door, uncaring of the dozen Jaffa in between her and her target.
The bodies barely even slowed the melta-shot, the screams flooding the corridor as staff blasts fired back at them desperately. It wasn't that the staff shots couldn't hurt the Sisters, but the pair were fast. Valeria barely ever poked her head out of cover, peeking out for a split second to end another life. Meanwhile, Dominica was an agile berserker, moving so erratically that most shots missed her entirely as they desperately tried to put her down before she reached them, failing as she lunged forward and decapitated the closest with a laugh.
Sokar used fear as a tactic, but here it was his men who broke. Even with their God behind them, they broke and tried to flee. The Sisters didn't permit a single Jaffa to escape, both firing at the retreating enemy.
"To purge such xeno filth in His name once more, what a glorious day!" Dominica said, her voice deepened and modulated by her helmet. "The False God awaits us, Sister!"
"Indeed, Sister Dominica. His sin of existence is coming to an end," Valeria agreed, her tone far less manic. Somehow, it was more intimidating that Valeria was so utterly calm as she ended lives.
She had no pity for the Goa'uld who had met their ends at the hands of the pair, but she had to feel regret for the Jaffa who had been sent to their dooms to buy Sokar time. She'd locked down the emergency ring transporters, and Sokar was trapped on the bridge because she'd guided the pair to cut him off from the crafts he could use to evacuate.
Not that Sokar was the type to flee, his own obsession with his mythos wouldn't permit it.
The pair destroyed the door (despite her offer to hack it open), storming in as she spotted Sokar in the flesh. Standing in the centre of the bridge, the unhealthy pale-skinned Goa'uld was dressed in a blood-red robe, with a dozen of his most elite Jaffa standing before him.
He was always a dramatic one, spreading his arms wide even as his Jaffa hesitated and showed fear. They knew the pair had slaughtered their way here. Dominica was drenched in the gore of the Jaffa she had carved to pieces on her path toward the bridge.
"Obi-tan, Shol'va!" Sokar demanded, unaware that they didn't know the Goa'uld tongue.
"He's saying halt, heretic," Jolinar said, staying behind the broken door. She wasn't going to get caught up in the fire.
"You do not even know the divine tongue, yet you dare to challenge Sokar?" Sokar asked, a mixture of disdain and dark amusement in his voice as he stared at the armoured pair. "You shall beg for death, and I shall deny you. You will suffer eternal-"
Dominica interrupted his monologue with casual irreverence, plucking something from her belt and tossing it underhand as it sailed over his men towards him. Sokar barely had time to blink before it exploded in a thunderclap, the shockwave even affecting Jolinar at the edge of the room.
As Jolinar gathered herself, steadying herself, she looked up in shock at the scene before her. The Jaffa had been grouped up in front of their master, and Domincia had thrown the grenade over their heads… heads most of them didn't have anymore, their bodies shredded by the blast.
"A Krak grenade, sister? Such a waste of resources," Valeria almost scolded, before pausing as they noticed a shocked Sokar staring at them, injured as his shield had failed to stop the entire blast, but alive.
"Onak sha kree, shel Goa'uld? What God do you serve? Anubis?" Sokar asked, blood coming from his pale lips and leaking down his chin.
"We serve the one true God, worm," Valerie spat, disgust clear in her tone. "The God-Emperor of Mankind will permit your heresy no longer, parasite."
Sokar went to fire his kara kesh, but with no Jaffa to protect him, the pair were rapidly descending upon him. It was the most vulnerable he'd likely been since he was nearly killed by his fellow Goa'uld, and Jolinar couldn't resist the moment of pleasure as she watched her captor and tormentor meet the same fate as Bynarr. How do you remove a kara kesh shield? You cut off the arm the device is attached to.
Sokar let out a scream of pain and disbelief, going to speak again before an armoured foot smashed into his stomach, sending him tumbling back, blood spurting from his mouth.
"Kree, shol'va! You have saved no one," Sokar spat, hatred on his face as he looked at the pair preparing to execute him. "My Al'kesh will reduce Netu to nought but rubble."
As Sokar spoke, she saw the way both of them stiffened at the threat to Netu, and more importantly to them… Dorian. From the bridge, she could see them flying toward Netu and cursed herself, fearing for Rosha. This was the kind of pettiness that she should have seen coming.
Dominica didn't respond well, grabbing Sokar by the head and smashing his face into the viewing window, cursing under her breath before she grabbed his remaining arm and snapped it, making him scream.
"Call them off, worm," Dominica demanded, making Sokar laugh through the pain and blood as the bombers got close enough to start dropping their loads.
"Traitors! Cowards! Watch as Sokar's fire devours your hope. You save no one. They will burn for your defiance!" Sokar insulted, before they all froze. And then… it came. A pulse of golden light erupted from Netu's heart, rising like a sunburst. The Al'kesh bombers simply… vanished mid-flight, consumed without scream or flame, leaving not even wreckage behind. The skies cleared as the light dispersed into beautiful golden sparkles.
Her mind went back to the same golden glow engulfing the body she was now in, as it was restored to life, to Dorian with his lazy smile and bold claims. What was he?
Her question was interrupted by Dominica smashing Sokar into the window again, leaning in close as he whimpered in pain.
"You shall beg for death, and I shall deny you," Dominica said, her tone dark and bloodthirsty.
Jolinar pitied the Jaffa who had lost their lives to protect their false god. But Sokar? She felt nothing but a sliver of satisfaction as the screaming started.
– Rosha –
Watching Dorian look out of the window, she held Bynarr's bedsheet to her naked body with a mixture of embarrassment and true awe. From the window, she could see the golden light dispersing, falling down onto the moon below like glittering raindrops, and Dorian just stretched as he turned back to her with a cocky grin, his manhood swinging with each step.
"Where were we?" Dorian asked rhetorically, pulling the sheets away to expose her pale body to his gaze. She felt her cheeks heat up at the hunger in his eyes. Months in Netu had left her weak and frail, starvation taking away her beauty… until Dorian had decided otherwise.
She did not think she was an easy woman, but Dorian seemed to know exactly what to say, where to touch, where to kiss, to make her melt for him. A question about how he had done that was on her lips, silenced by his own as he mounted her again.
The golden lights were still falling from the sky as he thrust into her, the "minor" interruption was dealt with, and their liaison continued.
– Dorian Morgan –
Okay, maybe it's a little unfair to the girls that I'm spending the energy they're earning so diligently so frivolously, but it wasn't like Rosha needed much of a push to see things my way.
"My Divine Emperor, we have brought the He'kak and the body as ordered," Valeria says, carrying the mutilated corpse over to me. Her eyes linger on my nude form for a moment, and I can see Jolinar's confusion and shock as she spots Rosha, but a click of my fingers has us both dressed again.
Of course, my seed is still leaking down Rosha's leg, but I can't be expected to do everything, can I?
"You have both done well," I say grandly, as if I didn't spend the entire mission balls deep in Rosha. I watch Jolinar eject from her temp host and re-enter Rosha, sensing their secret conversation as I nod to Valeria and she calmly shoots the insane, broken host in the head.
"Why did you want the body, Dorian?" Jolinar asks, back in control of Rosha. Both Sisters glare at her at the lack of respect, Dominica's hand even goes to her weapon before she calms herself at my nod. Her face has a light blush on it, and she looks a little uncomfortable. She has a Tok'ra lover named Lantash, but Rosha is effectively single. It's a strange situation when you're two people sharing a body, and one has a lover.
She's wondering how cheating-adjacent this is because she can sense Rosha's memories of the mindblowing sex and feel my seed inside her.
"So I could do this," I explain, waving my hand as Sokar's broken body rapidly fixes itself and then he gasps in surprise, looking around in confusion. "No, Sokar, no sarcophagus here, I don't need such pathetic tech. Dominica. beat him down."
Ignoring the sounds of bones breaking for a moment, I gesture for them to follow me as we enter the He'kak, Dominica dragging Sokar behind her and occasionally stomping or punching him along the way. He's trying to eject and is wondering why he can't.
I can hear Jolinar's shocked gasps as she watches the damaged, blood-soaked interior repair itself with each step I take. The girls certainly made a mess. The remaining Jaffa look at me in awe and fear, but they dare not attack.
Changing masters is basically normal for them. They saw a god fall and a new one take his place; their loyalty belongs to the God Emperor instead of Sokar. Of course, they assume I'm the same species as Sokar, though admittedly a lot more powerful.
As Sokar is brought back to the bridge, he's already a bloodied mess as I tell the Jaffa to take us into orbit.
I'm being a little silly with the energy, but I have a reason for all this as we head into the sky. With a wave of my hand and a considerable expenditure of energy, the clear skies gain a new attraction.
I can feel the confusion and awe as the people of Netu and Delmak look into the skies and see the image of their god on his knees, bloodied and broken, with a new figure standing over him.
"You know this face," I begin, voice carrying across the planet and the moon. "Sokar. Satan. The God of Death. The monster you were taught to worship. The tyrant you were taught to fear. This is the legend he would have you believe: that he is an immortal being, that he is untouchable, that he has power. He is wrong on all three accounts. Today, Sokar's reign of terror and pain comes to an end. Today, Sokar faces true divine judgement for every crime he has committed against humanity."
"You dare-"
I ignore Sokar's futile attempts (and the sound of an armoured knee smashing in his teeth), keeping my eyes fixed on the 'camera'.
"I am Dorian, the God Emperor of Mankind, and I am here to put an end to the reign of the Goa'uld, starting with this pathetic wretch. Look upon the living embodiment of your fears, remember every wrong he committed against you to satisfy his cruelty, and watch as he burns in the fires he so loved," I say, raising my hand. "Sokar, I sentence you to death."
As I lower my hand, his body bursts into golden flames, Dominica stepping back in surprise before she realises that they aren't hurting her. Sokar's screams broadcast across the planet's surface, heard by every single inhabitant, as I feel the awe, the worship coming in.
It is intense, and that is exactly why I spent so much energy on this. If the worship of a pair of sisters and the prisoners they saved was worth a lot, how much would the worship of an entire planet be worth? The answer, a metric fuck ton.
I knew Stargate would be a good farm for points, and this just proves my genius build. So, if one planet is worth this much… how about a galactic empire? I'm going to make this fucking thing into an idle game.
But I'm not done yet, because I need to establish my power in a way that no other Goa'uld could ever manage as Sokar's ashes get stomped on by Dominica (you know, just in case they threatened me).
"Sokar has turned your world into a hellish wasteland to satisfy his darkness. Look upon your moon, and the ruined state he left it in," I command, the ship turning to face Netu again as I focus. This is going to be draining, but I can afford it.
Barely.
Outstretching my hand, I smile.
"What the Goa'uld destroy, I will restore," I declare, the red moon healing as the molten lava and toxic fumes that Sokar unleashed through his bombardments retract. To Sokar, it was an image made to intimidate his people as they looked up and saw hell, but for me, it will be a sign of my benevolence as the red turns to grey, turns to green.
The atmosphere becomes breathable, and the molten lava is replaced with natural grasslands and oceans. There are no animals, but this moon is small enough for me to pull off something like this and the worship I am feeling is only intensifying tenfold as they witness me terraform a fucking planet in real time.
At the same time, every statue and painting of Sokar on Delmak breaks and burns in golden fire. These people have been trained to worship, and they will.
If Jolinar was shocked before, now she's basically mind-broken as she stares at Netu in genuine awe and disbelief.
"The Reign of Sokar has ended, and now begins the new age of prosperity and stability, under the rule of the God Emperor of Mankind," I say. "From this day forth, Delmak and all its inhabitants are a part of the Imperium of Man. Never again will you feel the oppression of the Goa'uld."
Just a different, nicer form of oppression.
– Jolinar –
Jolinar stared up at the transformed moon, her mind racing, her rationality fraying as she tried (and failed) to comprehend what she had just witnessed.
This wasn't the work of Goa'uld trickery. It wasn't Tok'ra science. It wasn't even Ancient technology. This was something else. Something new. She had Rosha's memories of Dorian lazily walking to the window, laughing at the sight of the incoming bombers, and just dismissively gesturing toward them as a pulse of golden light flew from his hand. He'd been naked, no technology in sight. It certainly hadn't already been installed in Netu, and the terraforming?
Sure, Ancient terraforming devices existed, but she'd never heard of one so effective. The entire process had taken seconds, and the aftermath? She'd watched Dorian stand before the emptied penal colony and just click his fingers to reduce it to nothing. He destroyed it on an atomic level, leaving not even a single trace of the hellish prison, before he reformed a new building.
His grand palace, constructed with nothing more than a lazy gesture from the God Emperor.
She feared he'd decide to keep her prisoner, not wanting her knowledge to reach the Tok'ra… she couldn't have been more wrong. For her part in slaying Sokar, she was gifted one of Sokar's two Ha'taks and permitted her to go on her way in peace.
The Tok'ra in her wanted to try to convince him that he was not a God, but she knew her words would ring false, even to herself. She didn't believe he was divine, but he was certainly something new, something powerful. As he called himself, Human Plus. His words certainly suggested that he both formerly was human and that he saw himself as a human, but could a human terraform an entire planet with such a simple gesture?
And yet, if he could do that, why had he needed her (or his two followers) to begin with? Why did he not simply disintegrate Sokar and his followers? Whatever his powers, they had a limit. One she didn't understand.
'He called himself a psyker, have you ever heard that word before?'
No. She hadn't. Still, it was more to go on than they'd had before.
'Well, we have some of his genetic material as well.'
…She had been trying not to think about that, as she flew away from Delmak with a frown. Sokar had conditioned the people of Selmak well and made a fertile ground for someone to declare themselves God. Especially someone with the powers of Dorian.
She had no doubts that the people of Delmak were well and truly converted over to worshipping him at this point. If he was as young as he seemed, she feared the outcome of someone with such powers and youth developing a God Complex. The Galaxy had seen enough false gods.
'He brought people back to life with a gesture, terraformed an entire planet. He's not a powerless impostor like the Goa'uld. If a Goa'uld had a tenth of that power, they'd already be the Supreme System Lord. If he got taken as a host…'
Jolinar shuddered, shaking her head. She had much to share with the Tok'ra. But even then, she feared it would not be enough. And yet, she feared staying even more, because deep down, a tiny voice asked if she could truly call him anything but divine.
– Dorian Morgan –
Letting Jolinar go free was a decision I wrestled with. I was considering giving her a little mental nudge to convert her, but decided against it. Rosha is a convert, whether she knows it or not. I could feel the slightest trickle of energy from her. It isn't full-blown worship, but the seed has been planted, and I want Jolinar to take word to her people.
"My Lord Emperor, we have secured the Stargate," Dominica reports, excitement on her face. Being able to travel across the galaxy in an instant without the help of the Warp already proves that this universe was worth the trip.
"I have examined the 'troops'. These Jaffa are barely deserving of the title of warrior," Valeria admits, making me nod. "With discipline and purpose, they could be shaped into something useful, but as they are now, they're barely worthy of being cannon fodder for your great Imperium. They lack true discipline, have no true battle doctrine, and their gear is highly questionable."
"They're trained to be mindless shock-troopers, dying for their god. Their tech is not exactly impressive, and their training is questionable at best. What matters first is their loyalty, I won't arm them until I know they won't rise up in the name of their false god," I explain, making her nod.
"Your wisdom is undeniable, Lord Emperor. Your showing of divine might has done well in converting all but the most stubborn of souls, and your benevolent rule is being eagerly accepted by most. Those who resist will be rooted out and put to the flames," Valeria swears, making me nod slightly as I consider my next move from my golden throne.
Sokar's palace sucked, so I built a new one in its place.
"Valeria. I want you to search the female Jaffa for suitable candidates to join a new order of the Adepta Sororitas," I order, making her eyes widen. "Jaffa are to be considered abhumans, not xenos. Those loyal to the cause are to be accepted within the Imperium, just under pure humans. You will train and lead this new order in my name."
"My Lord, would Legatine Dominica not be more suited for leadership? I am but a regular Sister, barely out of my training," Valeria says, reluctant to admit it but showing her humility. Dominica looks surprised at her words, but I just smile.
"Dominica may be of a higher rank than you, but her place is on the battlefield. I chose you for your intelligence and tactical knowledge, and Domincia for her fury on the field," I explain.
Dominica nods, pride on her face as she turns to face Valeria.
"Our Lord is, of course, correct. I chose to remain a Legatine, forgoing any promotions to a leadership position. We all have our skills, Sister, and mine is in ending the lives of heretic and xeno scum," Dominica says proudly. "The Emperor chose you. Have faith, Sister."
"Of course, I will not fail you, my Lord Emperor," Valeria says, head bowed and her hand over her heart.
"I know. By my divine decree, I declare you Sister Superior Valeria and name you the Hand of the Emperor. Dominica, I name you the Wrath of the Emperor," I say grandly, watching them both stiffen as they bow deeply. Dominica once again begins praying in High Gothic. I really should learn that at some point.
So, where to go next?
Oh, I know exactly where we need to go. As a plan forms in my mind, I smile secretly. With a thought, the stargate address of Pangar appears in my mind. Time to really fuck with the Tok'ra's minds because it's time for their mommy to come out of hiding.
– Dollen – Later –
Despite the stories, nobody really expected the ancient ring to ever activate.
The figure that stepped out was no invader, like the legends, but a calm man with golden eyes and a knowing smile. They'd rushed to greet this otherworldly presence, of course, and quickly they'd found themselves in a state of true shock.
Dorian, or the God Emperor as his title declared him, had seemed like a child to him at first. Such a youth holding such a powerful and grand title had seemed wrong, but his doubts had faded the moment he met Emperor Dorian in person. Emperor Dorian knew his name before he even arrived on the planet, and he knew far more.
He knew of Tretonin before anyone could have informed him, and more so, he knew how they had made it. That was why he had come here, because he knew they were a doomed race. Almost everyone in the upper echelon of Pangar used Tretonin, and with their source dying, they would rapidly die with the Goa'uld Queen they had hidden away in their most secret facility.
Tretonin was a wonder drug, but it came at the cost of suppressing the natural immune system completely and permanently. It was fine, as long as you never stopped taking Tretonin, but it meant that the withdrawals would almost certainly lead to the user's death.
Around 20% of the population was on Tretonin, and almost 95% of the upper-class such as politicians and other leadership figures. So, when they realised that their captive Queen was dying, it had sent a wave of panic throughout them, knowing that their planet would lose nearly a quarter of their people should she truly pass away.
Emperor Dorian knew all this, through means he couldn't comprehend, and he'd demonstrated the powers that convinced him, and the rest of Pangar's leadership, that they did not want Emperor Dorian and his Imperium as their enemies.
Dorian had given them a simple offer. He would produce three 'blank' Goa'uld Queens for them to use for their Tretonin production, in exchange for a trade agreement with the Imperium of Man and the captive dying Queen they had.
This deal was more than favourable, even if they'd been shocked to watch Emperor Dorian just… conjure life out of thin air. They'd run all the tests and confirmed the truth in his words. Each of the three were true Goa'uld Queens, mindless and only capable of producing the Goa'uld larvae that they used for the production of Tretonin.
He didn't know why Emperor Dorian was so interested in the Goa'uld Queen they had, but frankly, they weren't in a position to refuse his very generous offer. As Dorian left, he couldn't help but be hopeful for the future as Pangar gained its first extraterrestrial ally, and a way to avoid the disaster heading their way.
– Dorian Morgan –
Sitting in my throne room, I grin at the tank holding Egeria, mother of all Tok'ra. Sure, she's weakened from her captivity, but healing her isn't a problem. She was destined to die on that planet, curing the stupidity of the Pangarans despite them being the reason she was dying to begin with, but I find that wasteful.
Goa'uld Queens are rare, even if I can make new ones, and I do love rare things. Egeria is doubly so because she's the source of the Tok'ra, the main group challenging the Goa'uld, even if they're merely inconveniencing the Goa'uld as it is. The Queen Mother of the Tok'ra, and the best bargaining chip an Emperor could ask for.
I almost wish I'd kept Jolinar a little longer, but the Tok'ra will be back because they won't be able to resist. They've got one hell of a surprise waiting for them when they arrive. For now, Eregia sleeps off her years of captivity.
I'm keeping Egeria asleep because, despite my admittedly frivolous use of my energy, I've got quite the stockpile and reliable source of energy from Delmak now, so I can start the next stage of my plan. Delmak will be my base of operations, but I'm going to need more than some 'freed' slaves and Jaffa if I want to turn this singular planet into a true Imperium.
I've already replaced Sokar's imagery with imagery of the Imperium and of myself, replacing the marks on the heads of the Jaffa with the Aquila to signify their service to me. I can sense the levels of faith in each person by how much energy they are giving me, so I've marked the ones that are the most faithful and also marked the ones who are the least faithful for conversion (or sacrifice).
Following the ancient belief that you have to spend money to make money, I know what I need to do. Delmak is a highly industrialised planet with a single city on it. Sokar was focused on making weapons and ships for his return since he lost everything when the System Lords beat his ass and sent him running.
But frankly, Goa'uld industry sucks ass. So, what do I need? It's obvious, really, I need a Manufactorum. Which means, I need a Tech Priest.
Having the workers clear the main factory was easy, even if they seemed baffled by the concept of a 'day off', and I can feel the awe from the observers as they watch me rearrange the entire factory to be more fitting for my Manufactorum.
Entering the now far more gothic building, I focus as I start to custom-build my next follower.
She appears before me, dressed in a form-fitting red robe that clings to her figure, showing off her massive breasts and wide hips, as her single natural blue eye locks onto me. Her other is replaced with a green lens, a metal plate covering part of the right side of her face, attached to her golden artificial right arm by a thin pipe. Her other arm and right leg are also artificial, but made of a black material instead of the golden material of her right arm. To finish it off, she has a series of glass vials attached to her golden arm, filled with a strange green liquid. What does it do? Hell if I know.
By Tech Priest standards, she's almost entirely human, only replacing three limbs and an eye. The rest of her body is natural, pale white skin and short blonde hair tied back in a neat bob.
"Glory to you, oh Omnissiah," Magos Calexa-9 says with a deep bow and a somewhat modulated voice. As the Sisters see me as the living reincarnation of the Emperor, Calexa sees me as the Machine Spirit in the flesh. "Magos Calexa-9, reassigned to the Delmak Manufactorum. Command me, Glorious Omnissiah. I will sanctify this world with steel, oil, and righteous logic."
"Do you know your duties, Calexa?" I ask calmly, making her rise again as she nods.
"To study and claim the xenotech of the galaxy for the glory of the Imperium, and ensure your great crusade is suitably equipped," Calexa replies immediately. "Fear not, oh Omnissiah, I will have Delmak's… disappointing industries running at optimal efficiency before the end of this lunar cycle, despite the horrific mismanagement of the former overseers. I will devote my entire being to this goal until you have better use for me elsewhere. I am properly calibrated for research, mass production and reproduction. Use me as you desire, glorious Omnissiah."
To quote that one meme, who would make a robot they couldn't fuck? I didn't want her to be too augmented.
"Calexa, I think we're going to get along just wonderfully," I say with a small grin.
"Agreed, darling Omnissiah. My augments are reporting an 18.46% increase in systemic efficiency from proximity to you alone. Such divine resonance. Shall I perform the Holy Litany of Lubrication? I'm quite sure I have the sacred oils around here somewhere~" Calexa purrs. That's right, it's Mommy Mechanicus time.