hathor_girl

It had been several days. Lantash refused to talk to the other Tok'ra, and he kept plotting his escape and how to get the 'empire he justly deserved'. He also kept talking to Martouf, and seemed to have stopped even thinking it strange that he did so, even if he didn't admit it to the other Tok'ra. He didn't want them to think he was like them in this area, and he also didn't let Martouf have control, though he neither punished him nor stopped him from experiencing the world around him.

In short, he was being Goa'uld in some areas, and very much not in others, and this was what confused Martouf. If he couldn't access any of his own memory, and not any of what he got from Egeria either - at least the altered part from Egeria - then he could only get the very ancient part from the ancestors before Egeria. That it seemed he could access. Why, then, was he not completely Goa'uld? He seemed to like talking to Martouf, and almost trust him, like a friend.

Was this some undefiniable part because unconsciously he did remember being Tok'ra? Having Martouf as host? Or just because this was his personality, and that could not be completely changed by even memory loss? Because Martouf discovered that Lantash very much seemed like the same person - hot temper, but kind and thoughtful - just, affected by the desire for power, which he otherwise did not have. Or was that a facade, like his pretending not to talk to Martouf? Because he knew how a Goa'uld should behave, and he was terrified of finding he was really Tok'ra - or that the Tok'ra were somehow Goa'uld, trying to trick him into revealing himself as Tok'ra. Martouf suspected that was part of it.

Today Samantha had visited and talked to them for a little while. Lantash had been his most charming, and had even agreed to relay a greeting from Martouf, when she asked about him. Jacob/Selmak and Malek had been there the whole time, guarding them, and she had only been allowed to stay for a little time, but it had been wonderful seeing her. Martouf was secretly pleased she worried about him, and he thought back to the brief kiss they had shared before he reblended with Lantash. He looked forward to Lantash being himself again, so they could - hopefully - start a relationship with her. If she was still willing. Martouf hoped so.

Lantash had noticed his thoughts, and insisted Samanhta would want them, and that if Jacob, Selmak and Malek had not been there, he would have seduced her.

Martouf sighed at Lantash's even stronger than usual self-assuredness. Samantha would be here for a couple days, to visit her father, and Martouf hoped she would come to see them again.

Malek is visiting with Jacob.

"So I will be gone for about a week." Jacob says. "Malek will keep an eye on you, and bring you anything you need."

"What about my freedom?"

"Sorry, we can't give you that. Not yet. When you start remembering again."

"I remember just fine - enough that I know who I am and that I should be given more respect and have a large domain. Where are my slaves?"

"You don't have any." Jacob looks as if he finds this humourous.

"You are laughing, human. You will not when I am powerful! I will return and punish those Tok'ra who does not willingly agree to follow me!"

"If that happened...you would be a System Lord who wants Tok'ra for subjects? That's hilarious!" Malek observes.

"At least you speak! Selmak seems to be afraid to talk and lets her host do it for her. Despicable!"

Jacob sighs and bows his head, giving Selmak control. "If your memory was all right, you would know it is a personal preference who is in control most. Some pairs prefer the symbiote in control most, some the host. Usually the calmest or most diplomatic, though I doubt anyone would say Jacob is calmer than me, and certainly not diplomatic..." She chuckles. "Anyway, you usually allows Martouf control most of the time, since he is the more diplomatic of you, and that way you avoid too much confrontations."

"Why would I care if people are too sensitive to hear my rightful demands?" Lantash looks oddly at her.

Our guests stay for a little while longer, before leaving us again.

~The fools forgot a communicator in here!~ Lantash observes gleefully, and grabs the device that must have slipped out of Jacobs pocket earlier - he said he was leaving for a short mission, and operatives usually bring one.

~You should use it to call someone and tell them it's here, so Jacob doesn't leave without it.~

~If Selmak is a big enough fool to let her host drop their stuff here and there, she deserves it!~

Lantash fiddles with the device and get it open, then starts messing with the innards. I feel him search through my mind for info about the thing, as it is something that was invented by the Tok'ra and he would not know anything about it otherwise. After a few moments, he manages, surprisingly, to put something together which he uses to interrupt the force field. I am impressed he managed that, even with the information from me about what the parts do. I know he has always been intelligent and skilled, but this is beyond impressive, given his amnesia.

~Impressive, Lantash, but I still don't think this is a good idea!~

~Thank you, it was easy! And now shut up, I need to escape undetected!~

~Lantash - no! You need to stay here! We can't go somewhere else where we will cause problems for the Tok'ra and everyone else!~ I beg him, feeling very worried for what he will do.

Lantash just snorts, but otherwise ignores me. Silently, he sneaks through the corridors, and I suddenly realise what - or rather who - he is looking for. Samantha!

~You will leave her alone, Lantash!~

~Why? You want her as much as I do! Now we will have her!~

He finds her room and steps into it. She does not notice until he is almost beside her, and then turns. He puts a hand over her mouth and grab her to him, before she can make any noises. Surprisingly, she does not really struggle much. I suspect she does not want to harm us.

Lantash manages to drag her through the corridors unseen, and we reach the rings just as another Tok'ra - Tork - turns a corner.

"Wait! Lantash!" He looks surprised. "Aren't you supposed to be in a cell? And what are you doing to Jacob's daughter?"

"Shut up!" Lantash snarls, letting go of Sam with one hand, as he snatches the zat from the other Tok'ra, pushing him aside and hits the controls to the rings. We materialize on the surface before anyone can stop us.

"Let go of me, Lantash!" Sam struggles in vain. "You don't want to do this! You should stay and let them help you!"

"They don't know anything, the fools! You will come with me, and you will become my consort - and my queen as soon as I can find a suitable symbiote for you." He smiles at her, as he drags her towards the Stargate.

"A symbiote?" Sam looks shocked. "No! Not a Goa'uld! Are you crazy? You're not yourself! You'd never force anyone to be a host!"

"I love you. If you don't become a host, I will lose you too soon. That is not acceptable!" Lantash argues. "Now be quiet and stop fighting so we can get away!"

~She won't want to be a Goa'uld, Lantash! You'd lose her anyway then. The Goa'uld will take control and we will never again talk to Samantha!~

Lantash was quiet for a short while, considering what Martouf said. Behind them the rings activated, so soon others would be after them. Lantash made a quick decision and pushed Sam a short distance away and zatted her once, ignoring Martouf's complaints. He quickly swooped her up and ran for the Stargate, firing at the guards as they jumped up from their hiding places.

He dialed an address he grabbed from Martouf's mind, then went through just as the guards from down in the tunnels arrived.

As soon as the Stargate shut down, he dialed a new address and went through. Fortunately, it was a safe planet he had snatched from Martouf's mind.

He had gotten away.

Chapter 6 >>