hathor_girl

Chapter 17: Crashed

Summary: Their teltac is attacked and crashes on an unknown planet.

We have fallen out of hyperspace several times, but every time Selmak has gotten us back on track. No one seems to be following us at least, so that is good.

Now, however, the ship is out of hyperspace again, and the crystal is simply burned out.

"This is as far as we get...at least we are in a solar system, and I detect a habitable planet nearby. We should be able to make it there on sublight engines." Selmak checks the controls. "Lifesupport is failing, but we should reach the planet in plenty time before that will be a problem..."

"But there are other problems, right? Just tell us, I can feel it!" Jack says, on edge.

"Yes, it is unlikely we can land safely - at the very least the landing will be hard. Also, most of the ships sensors are down, so I cannot determine with any certainty if the planet is inhabited, what level civilization, if there is a chaapa'ai - or where it is."

"So we're flying in blind." Jack guesses.

"Yes, essentially."

"Wonderful." He sighs and looks out of the window at the approaching planet. We all look at it.

"Hold on to something! We are going down! Fast!" Selmak exclaims.

It's getting hot in here - with the shields at low power, and the speed we are going through the atmosphere, we must be lighting up like a flare to anyone down there. Let's hope they are not highly advanced and hostile!

Jolinar - like everyone else - clings to whatever is nearby. Selmak is piloting the ship as well as possible, but it responds only minimally. At least I imagine she is getting it into a somewhat flatter descent...maybe we will survive...

We hit the ground and slide over it, hitting whatever outside. Everything is bumping and tumbling, and none of us can hold on...and then suddenly all is dark.

I wake up slowly, and at first I don't remember anything. Where are we? Why is my body hurting?

Then I remember. The Tok'ra. My team. My dad. Jolinar. Martouf and Lantash. The escape...the ship. The crash!

I try to move, but find I cannot. I cannot move at all, not even open my eyes! I panic for a moment, then realize I probably doesn't have control. Jolinar was in control when we crashed, and she is unconscious...or worse. She told me it is possible for the symbiote to do so the host can't take control, even when the symbiote is asleep, but that it is not something the Tok'ra normally do. Of course, if a symbiote is awake, there is no way for a host to take control against their will, but Jolinar is Tok'ra, and unconscious...so I can probably grab control...somehow. At least it means Jolinar is alive, or else she would not be able to hold on to control, right?

After a few attempts, I manage to take control, and open my eyes. I take an extra deep breath, and immediately regret it - regrets opening the eyes too. The room is dark and full of nasty smelling smoke.

I close my eyes and try to focus inward...try to find Jolinar. After concentrating for some time, I sense her, but only just. She is alive, but deeply unconscious. I hope she is not too badly wounded. I feel myself panic at the thought. I cannot lose her!

Then I again think about Martouf and Lantash, and panic again. What if something has happened to them? And to my dad? And my team mates? Why isn't anyone saying anything. I open my eyes again and try to force myself to sit up. I manage to move a little bit, and realize I am stuck under something.

"Martouf? Lantash?" I manage to get out, my voice croaking. "Dad? Colonel?" I listen. "Teal'c? Daniel? Uh, Ihlkat? Rohk?"

After so long that I am getting extremely worried, someone finally answers. "Samantha?" It is Martouf's voice. It sounds groggy, but he is alive!

I feel intense relief, and even more when I hear the sounds of someone moving.

"I'm..." I cough from the dust and nasty smoke. "Over here."

"I cannot currently get to you...debris is everywhere. I shall...attempt to...move it." He coughs loudly.

I try to sit up, and feel an intense headache, nausea, followed by blackness.

When I wake up again, I am confused for a moment. Where am I? After a few moments I remember the flight and the crash - and I vaguely remember trying to sit up, and feeling like crap. I must have passed out, because the dust and nasty smoke is no longer here.

I am feeling better, though various parts of my body still hurt. I search for Jolinar, and sense her. She is still unconscious, which is worrying.

Unable to do anything about that, but wait and hope, I look around the dimly lit room. This is definitely not the teltac!

I am lying in a fairly wide bed, made out of wood. The linen feels coarse. The rest of the furniture in the small room - a table and chair, and a chest of drawers - are all made out of wood. The walls are whitewashed, and the small window is letting in too little light to be made of glass. Some sort of thin paper, I am guessing? The curtains are not drawn, so I can see a light-brownish rectangle where the window is. Definitely paper-covered, I decide.

So, we are probably on the planet we...crashed on. Are we prisoners? Did locals find us and carry us here? Where are the others? Or was I the only one unconscious and carried here?

I don't have time to worry anymore about this, because the door opens and a woman enters. I estimate her age to be around 30, and she has long dark hair, and a regular face. Quite beautiful, actually. She smiles, and looks kind.

"How are you feeling?" She asks. Her standard is understandable, but she has a thick accent.

"Um, okay, I guess. Mostly." I make a face as I try to sit up, and a wave of pain and dizziness hits me. I note that my ribs hurt too - and my right leg.

"Stay still. You were badly injured when your flying vessel crashed."

I nod, immediately regretting the decision. "What about the others that were with me? My friends? A young man with pale blue-grey eyes and brown hair? My dad?"

"They are here as well, in the other guest rooms, and my own room. All are alive, though some are even worse injured than you. You were all very lucky to survive. It was a bad crash. The goddess protects you all." She smiles. "We have sent word to the temple. Priestesses will come and help in treating you, and they will pray to our goddess."

I feel myself panic, feeling almost certain that goddess is a Goa'uld. If she finds out about us... "Listen, it's, uh, nice of you, but you don't need to do that..." I say, again trying to get up, my fear giving me the strength to at least sit up fully.

"You are afraid of our goddess? There is no reason to. She is kind and helpful. Protecting everyone except the evil ones, who is our enemies."

"The evil ones?" I ask.

"The demons who live inside people, stealing their body and life from them."

Okay, maybe this goddess is not a Goa'uld anyway, but I am wondering if she knows the difference between a Tok'ra and a Goa'uld - and if these priestesses have the ability to detect symbiotes. "I see."

"Now you must relax. Sleep, if you can. Do you wish me to bring you something? I have warm broth made of puddle-birds, tubers, and vegetables."

"No, thank you. I really don't feel like eating. My head hurts."

"The broth will strengthen you and help you heal." The woman frowns. "I did not give you my name. Apologies. I am Nadira of Towa. This is the house I share with my mate Towla and our children, as well as my parents. However, my mate is currently away, with our children, visiting his parents. Fortunate, as the beds are now needed."

I smile at her. "Pleased to meet you Nadira. My name is Samantha Carter. My friends call me Sam."

Nadira bows her head. "It is my honour." She smile at me. "I will bring you soup now." She leaves.

I lay back on the bed, thinking about it all. I don't know if we are safe or not, but at least it doesn't sound as if we're at risk of being handed over to the Goa'uld. I worry for Martouf/Lantash, for my dad, and for my friends, but at least they are all alive.

I am also worried for Jolinar. She doesn't seem to have done much of any healing of me, but I have a vague feeling that is how it is if the symbiote is badly wounded. If necessary, they will do enough that the host will live, then they will heal themselves, before returning to healing the host.

Of course, if Jolinar is unconscious, I don't know how it is done.