Fic, Soulmate, 3/12

[hathor_girl]

 

After searching through the lab and looking through the computers, they finally found the data they needed. Martouf had just put in a crystal to upload the data to, when they heard someone yelling from behind. 

Sam and Martouf both jumps for safety, seconds before a staff blast zings the area they had been standing in moments before. 

"Three Jaffa!" Sam says, after sticking her head out to look. 

"I see them." Martouf puts on his hand device, while Sam shoots after one of the Jaffa with her zat. The second shot hits, and the Jaffa goes down. By now, Martouf has his hand device on, and he shoots a shock wave at the surprised Jaffa. While it is not as strong as the shockwaves Lantash would make the device send out, nor hit the Jaffa squarely on, it still throws them to the floor. 

While the Jaffa are momentarilly incapacitated, Sam and Martouf quickly shoot them three times with their zats, disintegrating them. 

"That was close!"

"Yes. If Lantash had been with me, I would have sensed them before." Martouf looks sad and reproachful. 

"Don't worry, we survived, and you'll soon have him back."

They goes back to the computer and quickly download the information about the zatarc process, then Martouf hides the crystal and they start on the way back. 

---

They have two narrow misses with the Jaffa, but make it out of the palace, and out into the courtyard. 

"What now? We can't get up to the wall without something to climb on, and there does not seem to be any trees that grows close enough on the inside." Sam observes. 

"No...but what about that shed over there? Do you not think we can jump from the roof to the wall, and then slide down?"

"Yes, maybe..." Sam looks worriedly at it. "Though it looks pretty dangerous. It's a difficult climb, and an even worse jump, but...I guess we don't have a choice." She shrugs. "Ok." 

They hurry to the shed, and Sam lets Martouf use her for climbing up on the bottom of the roof of the shed, and he then clings to it with one hand, while helping pull her up. They manage, just, and make their way slowly to the top of the slippery roof, then slide along it to the very end.

They both looks down. It is a long drop and the wall is narrow. 

"I'll go first." Martouf decides, then suddenly turns and gives Sam a quick kiss, before sliding down as far as he can reach, then hanging in his arms, swings towards the wall and jumps. 

Sam looks on, scares, as he almost misses, but manages to grab hold of the top of the wall at the last moment. For a few seconds he just hangs there, then manages to drag himself up. Somewhat shaken, he looks up at her, and tries to smile his inscrutable smile.  

"Careful!" Sam hisses.

"Relax, I am fine." He smiles wider. "Though I am pleased over your concern for me."

Sam rolls her eyes, and allows herself to slide down the roof and jumps towards the wall. 

She lands on top of it, but sways and is just about to fall when Martouf grabs her and pulls her to him, steadying her. 

"Thanks." Sam says, as she is standing flush against him. She blushes a little and looks at him, enjoying the feeling of his body so close to hers. 

He nods. "We better hurry before the Jaffa sees us." 

"Of course." Sam agrees, and they allow themselves to slide down from the wall. 

They make it, and runs for a cluster of bushes, where they hide until they are sure all is quiet. 

In the early morning, they sneak back to the Stargate, and slip through it, undetected. It would not have been long before their tampering in the lab, and the dead Goa'uld and Jaffa would be discovered, so they were very relieved when they stepped out on the safe world, before going on to the Tok'ra base world. 

---

"What did you find? Can you remove the zatarc-programming from Lantash?" Martouf asks, eagerly, hopefully. 

"Yes...it seems it is possible, but..." Anise says slowly, looking uncomfortable.

"What's the problem?" Sam asks. 

"Turning a symbiote into a zatarc is...experimental, it would seem, because it is not as simple as it is with a human. A symbiote has both normal memory, and genetic memory, and in order for the zatarc programming to be effective, it has to change both."

"And this means what?" Martouf asks, now very worried. 

"That if we are to remove the programming, it will be difficult. It seems the only way to do so, is to damage the section of both types of memory, which contains the programming. It is a very small area, and if we are successful, he should only lose few memories, eventually."

"Eventually?"" Sam gives her a suspicious look. "What does that mean?" 

"That he will almost certainly be unable to access most of his memories - both genetic and otherwise - for a period of time."

"How long a period?" Martouf asks. 

"Uncertain, but at least several months, perhaps as long as one year."

"And then he'll be fine? What's the problem. Do it!" Sam urges.

"I agree." Martouf says. 

"There are some complications." Anise looks apologetic. "In order to affect his genetic memory in the correct way, and also to avoid it being updated with what he holds in his brain, before that can be deprogrammed, we will need to damage his ability to access parts of his genetic memory. It is a temporary injury, and it will heal, however there will be damage to some surrounding tissues. That, too, will heal, but it will be to a critical part of his body, meaning he will need a host to survive while it heals. A healing chamber will not be enough."

"That is not a problem. I will be his host during this period as well, of course." Martouf insists. 

"You do not understand...he will probably only be able to access the oldest part of his genetic memory - that which we have all inherited from Egeria. Not only that, but it will likely only be the part that is not changed by Egeria, as that is an...overlaying effect."

"I see." Martouf says, then nods. "It does not matter. I will have him back, and in at most a year, he will be fully healed, have his memories back, and be himself. I will be his host." 

"In that case I shall prepare the procedure. He will be able to take a host if he does so immediately after the treatmeant, so you must be ready." Anise smiles, reassuringly. "You are a very good friend. Lantash is lucky that he has you."

"Wait...what's the problem? What does all of this mean?" Sam asks, not understanding. "So, Lantash will have amnesia for some time...months, maybe as long as a year, but then he'll be fine? All injuries will have healed?"

"Yes, that is what it means." Martouf confirms. 

"Then...why are you reacting like this?" 

"Because if Lantash only has the memories that are inherited from before Egeria, then he will be..."

"Oh, my god. He'll be a Goa'uld." Sam suddenly understands. 

"Yes, probably." Anise says. "Martouf, are you sure of this? No one will think less of you if you do not want to do this. Volunteering to be host to...a Goa'uld, even for just a year." She shudders. "None of us can imagine that." 

"Of course I am sure. It is Lantash's only chance. I cannot and will not live without him. Even if he becomes...more like a Goa'uld, for a period of time, then that is a small offer. He will become himself, I will have him back." Martouf smiles, looking more happy than he has done for a very long time.

"Martouf..." Sam starts, putting a hand on his arm. 

"I will be fine, Samantha. I do not truly believe Lantash will become Goa'uld during this time. Such is not his personality - regardless of which memories he has. However..." He turned to Anise. "There is one thing I must ask of you - please guarantee that Lantash and I do not...escape or otherwise get the opportunity to endanger the Tok'ra or others, during this time." 

"I promise. You will be guarded, and if it is deemed necessary, kept in a holding cell." Anise assures him. 


Chapter 4 >>