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hathor_girlChapter 9: Decisions
Martouf POV
We try to hide as best we can, but the Jaffa are coming for us, and I know it is a matter of minutes before we will be taken. I feel Rosha grab my arm and I turn to her and hug her close to me. She returns the embrace and we just sit there, our eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable. I hear her quiet sobbing, and I try, awkwardly, to comfort her, caressing her shoulder.
Suddenly I hear the voice of a 'god', ordering the Jaffa away. Fearful, I look up and see a young man with wavy brown hair, followed by a woman with red, curly hair. They are both dressed as 'gods', and they look angry. When the man speaks again, it's confirmed. They are 'gods'.
The nearest of the Jaffa bows, and retreats with his friends, turning to go towards some of the other humans... future hosts. I am so relieved I almost doesn't care what will happen to the others. I quickly feel shame, though.
Then the female 'god' speaks to us - in a low voice.
"I am Kelmaa. It is imperative you do not tell anyone what we tell you now. Promise."
I nod, too scared to do anything else. Rosha looks up and swipes the tears from her eyes before nodding too.
Kelmaa... seems satisfied. The other one still looks hard at us. As if he doesn't trust us. He's a god - why would we lie to him? Is it even possible? I push the thought away. They're not gods, they're mortals such as ourselves. Why do I forget what I have learned so soon?
"There is no time. We have an offer for you..." The female frowns as if she does not like what she has to say. "If you stay here, you will become hosts to Goa'uld. It is inevitable, I'm afraid. However, if you come with us..."
"You will still be hosts, but the symbiote will not be a Goa'uld. It will not suppress you, but share control with you. It is a very rewarding relationship and becomes a deep friendship," the man says.
I look at him, uncomprehending. "A symbiote?" I repeat, stupidly.
The man sighs. "Yes, the creature that is the Goa'uld is a symbiote. However, not all symbiotes are Goa'uld. We are symbiotes, but not Goa'uld. Our friends are dying because their hosts are wounded. They need new hosts. If you... volunteer..." He looks uncomfortable. "I am Malek, by the way."
I get the feeling this is not how they usually do things - and somehow I believe them. Of course, desperation will drive people to extreme measures, and any offer is better than being host to a Goa'uld. I look towards the Jaffa from before - they have grabbed some of the other humans and just as I look, a Goa'uld burrows into one of them - the human is screaming. I close my eyes.
I open my eyes when Rosha grabs my arms and shakes me. She has obviously seen what happened too.
"Martouf! I can't go through that! We must volunteer for these...not-Goa'uld!"
"We'll still be hosts... but they wouldn't ask if they were Goa'uld, would they?" I ask, both her and myself. I swallow, then look first at Kelmaa and then at Malek. "I guess... we don't really have a choice. It's you... your friends... or.. that." I shakily nod in the direction of the newly hosted Goa'uld which is looking around with an arrogant expression, so different from what the person held before. So very obvious it is no longer the same person.
But can we believe these... these I don't know what to call them? They are obviously the same species as those who claim to be gods, but somehow I believe them when they say they are different. And it's true, we don't have a choice. It's them - or we become Goa'uld.
"You must choose. Now!" Malek says, urgently, worriedly looking in the direction they came from.
"If you find you cannot tolerate being a host, the symbiote can leave you - though given the situation it might be months - or even a year - before that can be arranged and be safe," Kelmaa adds.
I nod, surprised they even offer that. I didn't now they could or would do that. Of course, it could just be something she says. I sigh and make my decision. "I... volunteer, then."
Malek and Kelmaa looks relieved, and Malek urges me to follow him while Kelmaa stays, waiting for Rosha to decide.
Rosha POV
Martouf has chosen to become a host to these... to the friends of... of Malek and Kelmaa. Can I do the same? The alternative is frightening! To have such a creature burrow through your neck!
But is this really any better? Yes, they are asking, but we do not have much of a choice, so is it truly asking? When there is no choice?
Because, I have to admit, that even if they are only slightly better, then that is enough. I look to Kelmaa, then make my choice.
"I... guess I volunteer as well..."
Kelmaa looks very relieved and help me up. We both hurry in the direction Malek and Martouf left in.
Martouf POV
Malek takes me to two people who are obviously badly wounded - actually, I'm surprised they're still alive, but I can see their chests moving with their shallow breathing.
"Ah...they're gods?" I ask, unsure.
"No, obviously not, or they wouldn't be dying. Our kind can heal a great many things, and repair most injuries though this is too much."
I nod. "What must I do?"
Malek tells me to lie down beside the young, wounded man, and then lean in as if to kiss him, keeping my mouth open. Malek half-turns him, and seems to gently tap him on the neck. Before I can think what that could mean, something erupts from the dying man's mouth and enters my mouth.
I am partially thrown back from the force, and I feel more of the creature slide over my lips, then a sharp pain at the back of my throat. I faintly realise that the creature is still sliding into my mouth, down through the opening it has made in the back of my throat, and then around my spine.
I pass out before I can register anything else.
Martouf POV
We try to hide as best we can, but the Jaffa are coming for us, and I know it is a matter of minutes before we will be taken. I feel Rosha grab my arm and I turn to her and hug her close to me. She returns the embrace and we just sit there, our eyes closed, waiting for the inevitable. I hear her quiet sobbing, and I try, awkwardly, to comfort her, caressing her shoulder.
Suddenly I hear the voice of a 'god', ordering the Jaffa away. Fearful, I look up and see a young man with wavy brown hair, followed by a woman with red, curly hair. They are both dressed as 'gods', and they look angry. When the man speaks again, it's confirmed. They are 'gods'.
The nearest of the Jaffa bows, and retreats with his friends, turning to go towards some of the other humans... future hosts. I am so relieved I almost doesn't care what will happen to the others. I quickly feel shame, though.
Then the female 'god' speaks to us - in a low voice.
"I am Kelmaa. It is imperative you do not tell anyone what we tell you now. Promise."
I nod, too scared to do anything else. Rosha looks up and swipes the tears from her eyes before nodding too.
Kelmaa... seems satisfied. The other one still looks hard at us. As if he doesn't trust us. He's a god - why would we lie to him? Is it even possible? I push the thought away. They're not gods, they're mortals such as ourselves. Why do I forget what I have learned so soon?
"There is no time. We have an offer for you..." The female frowns as if she does not like what she has to say. "If you stay here, you will become hosts to Goa'uld. It is inevitable, I'm afraid. However, if you come with us..."
"You will still be hosts, but the symbiote will not be a Goa'uld. It will not suppress you, but share control with you. It is a very rewarding relationship and becomes a deep friendship," the man says.
I look at him, uncomprehending. "A symbiote?" I repeat, stupidly.
The man sighs. "Yes, the creature that is the Goa'uld is a symbiote. However, not all symbiotes are Goa'uld. We are symbiotes, but not Goa'uld. Our friends are dying because their hosts are wounded. They need new hosts. If you... volunteer..." He looks uncomfortable. "I am Malek, by the way."
I get the feeling this is not how they usually do things - and somehow I believe them. Of course, desperation will drive people to extreme measures, and any offer is better than being host to a Goa'uld. I look towards the Jaffa from before - they have grabbed some of the other humans and just as I look, a Goa'uld burrows into one of them - the human is screaming. I close my eyes.
I open my eyes when Rosha grabs my arms and shakes me. She has obviously seen what happened too.
"Martouf! I can't go through that! We must volunteer for these...not-Goa'uld!"
"We'll still be hosts... but they wouldn't ask if they were Goa'uld, would they?" I ask, both her and myself. I swallow, then look first at Kelmaa and then at Malek. "I guess... we don't really have a choice. It's you... your friends... or.. that." I shakily nod in the direction of the newly hosted Goa'uld which is looking around with an arrogant expression, so different from what the person held before. So very obvious it is no longer the same person.
But can we believe these... these I don't know what to call them? They are obviously the same species as those who claim to be gods, but somehow I believe them when they say they are different. And it's true, we don't have a choice. It's them - or we become Goa'uld.
"You must choose. Now!" Malek says, urgently, worriedly looking in the direction they came from.
"If you find you cannot tolerate being a host, the symbiote can leave you - though given the situation it might be months - or even a year - before that can be arranged and be safe," Kelmaa adds.
I nod, surprised they even offer that. I didn't now they could or would do that. Of course, it could just be something she says. I sigh and make my decision. "I... volunteer, then."
Malek and Kelmaa looks relieved, and Malek urges me to follow him while Kelmaa stays, waiting for Rosha to decide.
Rosha POV
Martouf has chosen to become a host to these... to the friends of... of Malek and Kelmaa. Can I do the same? The alternative is frightening! To have such a creature burrow through your neck!
But is this really any better? Yes, they are asking, but we do not have much of a choice, so is it truly asking? When there is no choice?
Because, I have to admit, that even if they are only slightly better, then that is enough. I look to Kelmaa, then make my choice.
"I... guess I volunteer as well..."
Kelmaa looks very relieved and help me up. We both hurry in the direction Malek and Martouf left in.
Martouf POV
Malek takes me to two people who are obviously badly wounded - actually, I'm surprised they're still alive, but I can see their chests moving with their shallow breathing.
"Ah...they're gods?" I ask, unsure.
"No, obviously not, or they wouldn't be dying. Our kind can heal a great many things, and repair most injuries though this is too much."
I nod. "What must I do?"
Malek tells me to lie down beside the young, wounded man, and then lean in as if to kiss him, keeping my mouth open. Malek half-turns him, and seems to gently tap him on the neck. Before I can think what that could mean, something erupts from the dying man's mouth and enters my mouth.
I am partially thrown back from the force, and I feel more of the creature slide over my lips, then a sharp pain at the back of my throat. I faintly realise that the creature is still sliding into my mouth, down through the opening it has made in the back of my throat, and then around my spine.
I pass out before I can register anything else.