The Consort of Baal

Disclaimer: Characters do not belong to me.

Authors Note: Anat was a real character in Canaanite and Phoenician mythology, eventually being adopted by the Egyptians. Please look her up. And don't forget to review!

Prologue

I used to be human once.

Then one day Lord Baal came to Earth. Well, many Baals did actually. He had cloned himself. He took over Stargate Command to find the coordinates for Merlin's weapon.

How do I know this? I worked at the SGC, had been there a year when he arrived. I was an Airman, not high in rank but trying for a promotion. I was also learning Ancient, thanks to Dr Jackson's classes.

Sometimes I wonder if that saved my life.

When Baal had the coordinates he – they – were beamed on board a cargo ship already in orbit. Again, how do I know this? Because I was taken too. One of the Baals grabbed me just before beam out. The last I saw of Earth was people watching me at the threshold while someone cried, 'Leave her! It's not worth it.'

I was livid. No one even tried to save me. Or kill me so I would escape torture.

When we got on board the ship they sedated me, because the next thing I remember is waking up in a room with other women. I'm not thick. I guessed it was a harem for Baal(s) and his First Prime. If this was my fate, it could have been worse.

Then his First Prime came and brought me before Baal. The first Baal. Or, as I later heard him called, the Alpha Baal. He looked me over and, still being angry, I held his gaze.

He seemed surprised, then he smiled that smirk/snarl. 'Her manner is haughty enough. But her body?' He looked at me. 'Take off your clothes.'

Outraged, I glared at him and simply said, 'No.'

Calmly, he replied, 'Either you will take them off, or my First Prime will rip them off and parade you around the mothership for the enjoyment of all.'

Weighing up the options, I removed my clothes. Someone had put me in a white dress while I was unconscious so it was easier than removing my uniform. And I was barefoot anyway. I straightened up and assumed a bored expression.

Something had obviously piqued Baal's interest as he got up from his throne and walked towards me. 'Turn on the spot. Slowly,' he ordered.

I turned, deciding that from this point obedience might save me. I completed the turn just in time to see Baal nod to his Jaffa and say, 'Yes, her.'

I was grabbed by the First Prime and another Jaffa and strapped facedown to a table. My hands were tied underneath and my legs to the end. I tried to struggle but it's hard when you're naked and they wear armour.

I thought I was going to be tortured for information on Earth. But then I saw the woman walk in with a canopic jar and I realised what was happening.

The fluid from the jar and the Goa'uld hit my back at the same time and I gasped from the sensation and began struggling desperately, trying to get free. Baal laughed and as the Goa'uld zigzagged up my back, I thought of the SGC and what their neglect had forced me into. I hated them. It was my final free thought. As the Goa'uld burrowed into my neck, I screamed with pain and everything went black.

BABABA

Fighting my way to consciousness, I became aware I was on my back and on something soft. There were voices too.

'The blending is taking longer than expected to harmonise, my Lord,' said an unknown voice.

'Why?' said Baal's voice.

'We believe it is due to the amount of time spent in stasis, my Lord. It takes longer to assert control. In fact she may never have complete control of this host. The two may have to...compromise,' said the first voice. I was too tired to open my eyes but my thoughts were racing as I recalled the last time I was awake. They made me a host. They were talking about me. So who was 'she?' The Goa'uld who'd never have complete control? Unable to answer this, I succumbed to sleep again.

BABABA

I was standing in Baal's throne room, looking around at all the gold, when a woman walked in. Richly dressed, she swept past me and sat on the throne.

'So,' she said, looking at me, 'You are the host I cannot control. I must be out of practice. You do look pathetic.'

'You're not so fantastic yourself, you know,' I shot back.

The woman's eyes glowed gold and that smirk/snarl peculiar to the Goa'uld crept across her face. 'Do you know the privilege you have been granted? Do you know who I am?'

When I didn't answer, she proclaimed, 'I am Queen Anat.' At my blank face she elaborated, 'I am the consort of Baal. WE are the consort of Baal now.'

I think the shock registered on my face. Baal made me his Queen?

Anat got off the throne and came to stand in front of me. 'I have your thoughts,' she purred. 'Your first thoughts of the people who abandoned you to this. And with the problems there are about my control, you will be fighting a conflict against suppression for the rest of your life – a battle you will eventually lose. But there is another way.'

'What way?' I asked boldly. She would not intimidate me.

'We work together. We rule with Baal. And make the people who abandoned you pay.'

'Do you mean an alliance?' I was surprised, to say the least.

Anat looked disgusted but quickly pulled herself together. 'No, we will not be equal partners. I will have primary command of this body as it should be and in every way will rule with Baal as his Queen. In return, you will not be suppressed but will be allowed to remain in the background providing us with any information and I will occasionally permit you to question what you see and listen if you have ideas.'

I thought for a second. It was preferable to the constant conflict and pain I'd otherwise have to endure.

'I accept,' I said.

'Then wake up,' Anat said, 'and begin your new life as Queen Anat.'

I woke up to find a man by my – rich, luxurious – bedside. 'Baal's rooms,' Anat's thoughts came through and I felt my eyes glow.

The man leaned over me. 'My Queen, how are you feeling? Have you solved the conflict between yourself and the host?'

'We have...worked out an acceptable compromise,' Anat's voice out of my mouth. 'Tell Lord Baal his Queen is awake and will meet him in the throne room shortly.'

The man nodded to another young man, who wore an insignia I – we - recognised. Baal's lo'tar. We must have been quite ill if he left his lo'tar with us. We turned to the man by the bed again.

'You are the Healer, correct? Tell us how ill we have been.'

The Healer bowed his head. 'You fell unconscious during the implantation my Queen. You remained that way for just over a day, except for when you spoke to Baal.'

Anat spoke again. 'I understand. Bring me my clothes.'

The Healer bowed and left. Two slaves entered with their arms full of clothes and accessories. We stood up, still naked and the slaves began holding up dresses and brushing my hair. 'Your hair is quite short, my Queen,' one said.

I could feel Anat's anger at being spoken to by a slave, and was glad she only slapped the slave and commented, 'It will grow, and then you will work harder on it.' There was a good chance she would have beaten her.

When we had picked a dress and were made ready, a slave escorted us to a mirror. We looked beautiful. I could Anat's thoughts echoing, 'new life.' Well this is it, I thought. They didn't try and save me and now I must make a new life. I was Airman Stacey Daniels of the SGC and now, I am Queen Anat, consort of Baal.

This is my story.