Fic, Surprises, Lies, and Amnesia, 12/14

[hathor_girl]

 "Ready to begin again?" Sam asked when they were all back in the briefing room again.

"Yes, we are." Lantash said, taking a deep breath. It was obvious he was not enjoying the situation. "I have managed to repair more of Martouf's memories, and he is starting to remember. Not all, yet, and he is still very confused, but he is getting better."

"That is wonderful to hear." Sam smiled. Getting serious again, she turned to her dad. "Has Ren'al been arrested?"

Jacob shook his head. "No. I talked to Anise, and we agreed that she would keep an eye on her, and if she was doing anything dangerous, she will stop her. For now it is better if the other traitors think we don't know anything - or at least not know who are to blame. It would be better if we could capture them all, and we are not certain who they all are, or who is behind it. Are we?"

"We do know several that are probably involved." Lantash looked thoughtful. "Aside from Ren'al, there is Pollark - who is likely Cordesh. Shivka is likely either a Goa'uld spy or brainwashed. Thinking about it, I suspect Zilk is still alive, even if Pel'han may be killed. Zilk - or whatever Goa'uld is pretending to be him - may still have some hold over certain Tok'ra, even from where he is hiding. Probably at Cronus's court."

"You do not think Pel'han is dead?"

"No, since Martouf and I were obviously still possible to revive, Pel'han did give the Goa'uld what he wanted. Us." Lantash frowned. "My memories of that time is unclear. I believe I vaguely remember Pel'han taking us from the tunnels. He had given us a drug of some kind, and at any rate; I could still not take control fully and Martouf was unconscious. I woke up from time to time. Pel'han and someone else... maybe Zilk, helped carry me. It was dark, so it must have been at night. I think there were others nearby - at least I sense naquadah signatures, I think."

"Let's hope that just means Pollark... Cordesh, Ren'al, and maybe Shivka. I have checked, and there is no record of who was on guard that night. Which is suspicious in itself." Jacob sighed. "We may have greater problems than we thought. I wonder just how many Tok'ra are involved - brainwashed or switched out for Goa'uld." He looked worried and disgusted at the thought of people he had trusted and believed to be friends, that may have been Goa'uld or traitors. Or just brainwashed, he and Selmak reminded themselves. That meant they were innocent and could be helped. "Anise will attempt to get to take tissue or blood samples of everyone she can, and compare to what is on record. If the records can be trusted. Then we may know who has been switched out at least."

"Even if the records have been compromised, there may be a way to tell if they are who they say they are. All involved - except Cordesh - are children of Egeria." Lantash said.

"So you can make a test for her DNA! Of course!" Sam exclaimed. "And compare to that and see who a symbiote's mother is."

"Yes. Exactly."

"Okay, then we must just hope Anise can find an excuse to test everyone." Sam said.

"She is currently testing a Goa'uld knock-out gas, and trying to find an antidote. She will insist she needs to do a large scale test, and inject a lot of people with the antidote and then expose them to the knock-out gas." Jacob told them. "Selmak voted in favour of it, as did Garshaw and Per'sus and a few others that trusts Selmak's word. This should give Anise an opportunity to not just inject them, put take a sample at the same time. She is just now working on making a specific injector which will take a tissue sample as well."

"Okay, but how will she convince the Tok'ra she needs to inject it into the symbiote? Or does she needs to do that with this antidote?"

"Normally not, but in this case it is an anti-dote to a Goa'uld drug, that has been made specifically to work on symbiotes too. Anise will say that in this early version of her test, she needs to inject the symbiote also. Otherwise, she could just look at the cells from the symbiote, that are in the hosts blood."

"Of course. Like I have protein markers and also some cells from Jolinar floating around in my blood. There is always some mixing when you have another lifeform in you." Sam realized.

"Could we return to what happened to Lantash and Martouf?" Malek asked, somewhat impatiently.

"Of course." Lantash sighed. "When they had taken me through the chaapa'ai, I became unconscious for some time. When I woke up, there were Jaffa around me, and I was being carried on a world that was in daylight. I drifted in and out of consciousness, and the next I remember clearly is being inside a room with stone walls. Someone was standing nearby, but outside my field of vision. I could not move, but I felt the energy signature. Then Pel'han and..." he frowned. "Zilk... and two others... Goa'uld... that I do not know... they approached me, discussing what to do. How to best use me against the Tok'ra. They considered brainwashing us completely - turning me into a Goa'uld." Lantash shuddered. "Then Pel'han said it would be impossible to convince them Martouf and I were suddenly alive, because he had already convinced Ren'al that she should create a clone Lantash - and to tell the other Tok'ra that I had been removed and that Martouf had died and they had performed an autopsy."

Sam put her hand on Lantash's arm. He was obviously distressed over all of this. "I'm very glad you're alive, and here with us."

Lantash sent her a grateful smile, then continued his explanation. "Eventually they decided to put a complete suppression block on me, and brainwash Martouf. They then intended to use him to spread misinformation about the Tok'ra, and eventually send him to Stargate Command, telling them that he had gotten away from the Tok'ra who had been mistreating him and all other hosts, and lied to the Tau'ri, telling them he was dead. The Goa'uld hoped that would destroy the rest of the trust and finally the alliance between the Tok'ra and the Tau'ri."

"Their plan obviously didn't quite succeed. What happened?" Sam asked.

"At first it worked, partially. At least from what I have been able to learn from the memories I have repaired in Martouf's brain. I was completely blocked, by that organic device that is now finally broken down. I could not even sense anything! I only had enough of a connection to Martouf that I would stay alive myself, that I could tell he was alive, and do some basic healing. I could keep him young and free of most diseases, as well as heal minor injuries, but that was all. It was horrible. I could not talk to my beloved host, not help him, not sense the world around me...nothing! It was as close to hell as I could imagine, and I believe that was part of why Pel'han and the others let me stay in Martouf. They hate the Tok'ra and wanted to punish me in this way. Of course, that also meant they had a stronger and healthier agent."

"Oh, that's horrible!" Sam exclaimed.

Malek and Jacob looked horrified as well. There was little the symbiotes feared more than being completely helpless - and unable to help their host. It was the worst for both their instinctual selves and for the Tok'ra part.

"Time passed, and I believe Martouf went on some of the missions the Goa'uld wanted him to, spreading misinformation. Then, we were sent on a ship. I felt the hyperdrive acceleration. Some sort of accident must have happened, because I felt us fall hard against something, and then there was a blinding flash - as if we were hit by a strong flash of energy. For a short moment I sensed Martouf's mind, and he felt confused. Then I was plunged back into darkness. When I woke up, we were cold, and from what I have found in Martouf's memories, we had probably gotten down on the world of the Tau'ri, and where in water. I believe the ship we was on must have been attacked, and been destroyed. We had somehow survived the crash into water, and I believe the flash of energy was the ship's shield giving out inside the atmosphere or after hitting the water. Shields can sometimes explode in a flash that travels through the whole ship." Lantash told them.

"We better have someone look for that ship - and anyone else that might have survived the crash." Sam said, worried.

"Yeah, that would probably be best." Jacob looked worried. "Lantash, you look tired. We should take a break, perhaps for the rest of the day, and then I'll inform Hammond. We have to await for what Anise finds also. Do you know anything about where you crashed?"

Lantash thought it over for some time. "Probably not far from the coast of the country you call Canada. I believe Martouf swam ashore. The brainwashing of him was gone, but so was his memory - he seems to have locked onto some combination of an undercover identity we once used, and some part of my personality that had somehow leaked through during the brief moment our minds were again connected."

"And that, by coincidence, created the person JR Bourne, actor from Earth." Sam concluded.

Lantash nodded. "Yes."

"Okay. Sam - take Lantash somewhere and get something to eat and relax. I'll have Hammond check if there has been any crashes near the coast of Canada, and when." Jacob told them.

---

"I'm afraid they won't let you off base until they're certain you're yourself - and that there's no one out there ready to catch you or somehow... program you again, or whatnot." Sam said, apologetically.

"I understand." Lantash smiled at her, looking a little tired.

"I'm kind of hungry - what about you two?"

"We are hungry as well." Lantash sighed. "I apologize, Samantha, but Martouf is still being somewhat... unreasonably, when it comes to you. While he is starting to believe most of what I explained, he still believe you are... untrustworthy."

"Because I shot you guys. Believe me, I do understand him. I blame myself as well. There must have been another way!"

He shook his head. "I am not sure there was, and certainly none you could have found at that time. You did the only thing you could do, and for that we are thankful. From what I understand, Martouf begged you to shoot him."

~Lies! Lantash, they have lied to you about that! Why would I ask her to kill us? ~ Martouf insisted.

~You were out of options and trusted Samantha to stop us from destroying ourselves. Had she not done what she did, there would not have been any way we could have survived. In a way, she saved us. ~

~Perhaps...I still think you are a lovesick fool... and I fear your emotions are affecting me. ~ Martouf sounded rueful.

~It is unavoidable. Our relationship is truly symbiotic, and we love as one. Now, Martouf, Samantha is waiting for me to say something, I believe. I will talk to her for a little longer, then we will go with her to their mess hall and eat, and then I will bid her goodnight. I need time to help you heal. ~

~You wish to spend time with her. ~

~Yes. I love her. Soon you will remember your love as well. Soon you will trust her again. She is our friend...hopefully soon she will be more. However, no one is more important to me than my host. You comes first, and tonight I will do my best to help you. ~

"Lantash?" Sam looked closely at him. "Are you talking to Martouf?"

Lantash nodded. "Yes." He smiled at her, then put a hand on the small of her back. "I am ready to accompany you to the mess hall now."

---

They had eaten and talked, and now Sam had followed him to his quarters.

"You're sure you'll be fine on your own?" Sam asked, worried.

"Very sure, Samantha. Martouf and I will talk, and I will work at healing the remaining damage to his brain - and mine. Soon we will be well again." He took her hand. "Thank you for being here for us. You are a true friend. More, perhaps, if you truly meant what you said before...when I had just regained control. if it wasn't just something you said to comfort us..." He looked nervous.

Sam smiled at him, a little sadly. Of course he did not remember what she had talked to Martouf about, before the block had disappeared, but she had thought he would believe her when she told him she loved the both - when Lantash had taken control to stop Martouf from running away.

"Lantash...you and Martouf mean more to me than you can imagine. I am glad to be your friend, more relieved and grateful than you can imagine that you are alive, and back here with me again. I...would very much like...to get to know you better. What I told you...I meant it. Mean it. I realize we have a lot of things to figure out, but I do love you. both of you."

Lantash smiled widely. "Thank you, Samantha." He pulled her close. "I find myself impatient for the time when Martouf and I are completely ourselves again."

Sam nodded, understanding. Lantash would never do anything that would cause Martouf distress, even if it was a distress that would go away when he was himself again. "We will...work on a relationship when Martouf remembers."

He hugged her again, then gave her a soft kiss. "A sweet and wonderful prospect." He kissed her again, then sighed, clearly regretting they could not yet spend the night together. "Good night, Samantha."

"Good night, Lantash and Martouf. See you tomorrow."