Fic, Choices, Sam/Jolinar/Martouf/Lantash, PG-13, 27/37

[hathor_girl]

Chapter 27: Confusion

Summary: The plants turns out to be even more dangerous than expected. 

Martouf POV

Carefully, I approach the dialing device, holding the branch ready as a weapon. I nervously eye the nearby carnivorous plant, but it does not seem to react to my presence. Behind me, nearby, Rohk is ready with both zat'nik'tel and a stick to hit the plant.

I start to dial, but feel something touch my shoulder almost immediately - and Rohk shouts a warning at the same time.

"The plants! They are moving the tentacles! Get away, Martouf!"

I turn quickly, and see the tentacles. They do not move right now, but something is touching my other shoulder. The other plant!

I allow myself to fall to the ground and roll away, just escaping the grasp of the plants. When I get up, I see the tentacles of the plants slowly retract.

~They remind me of venomous snakes - I guess we should be happy they didn't bite us!~

~Plants can't bite - be reasonable!~ I tell Lantash.

I hope I am right! I feel dizzier than before, and have a strange, but very strong urge to go and sit by the trees. Probably I got a stronger dose of the scent they're releasing. I take a deep breath, hoping the air is clearer here.

"Martouf!" Rohk yells at me, and I turn to him. Everything seems to be moving so slowly...

I look at him. He seems distant, unclear... "Yes?" I ask. "What is it?" I feel annoyed. Why is he bothering me? I need to figure out how to get us off this planet. So I can get Samantha and Jolinar to safety.

"I have been talking to you for several minutes! Let us get out of here!"

"We... we need to free a path to the chaapa'ai..." I turn back to look at it. Could he have talked to me that long? Why did I not notice? Did I just imagine the plants moving? They seem no nearer to the dialing device than before. ~Lantash?~

~I...am not sure...~ He frowns.

I take a step towards the dialing device. Behind me, there is some sort of noise. Suddenly all goes black.

---

I slowly wake up. My head feels heavy, and the world is diffuse when I look at it. ~Lantash?~ I get no reaction. ~Lantash!~ I 'yell'.

~Yes! What is it?~

He sounds very grumpy, which I can't blame him. I really just want to fall back to sleep. Someone is talking to us, though, and I force myself to look in their direction. If I could only discern the words...

---

Sam POV

"What's wrong with him? Will he be okay?" I ask, very nervous.

"He is getting better. I am certain there will be no lasting damage." Ria assures me. "The effect of the plants scent is always temporary - as long as you get away from them, of course."

"They attacked as soon as he touched the dialing device." Rohk says.

"I thought they didn't attack you outright? That they were just supposed to wait until they'd lured you in, and then falling unconscious at their...roots?" Jack asks.

"Yes, but obviously it is different when you approach the chaapa'ai. Maybe they consider it a danger, or maybe they know their prey can escape that way. I do not know how intelligent they are, but it is very frightening." Rohk says, frowning. "I only just managed to pull him away from the plants. He was going back to them again, after making it away!"

"I'm very grateful you got him away and carried him to the ship. You saved his life!" I tell him, thankful.

---

Martouf POV

I have no idea how much later it is, but I think I must have fallen asleep again before...or whatever it was. I feel better now, and when I open my eyes, the world is no longer so unclear and my head does not feel so heavy.

"Martouf! You're awake?"

I turn to see the sweet face of my beloved Samantha! "Yes, beloved, I am." I smile at her. "You look beautiful, as always."

"You have no idea how relieved I am! You've been mostly unconscious for almost a whole day! You got a very large dose of whatever it is those damn trees are releasing!"

"How did I get away?" I ask, as I sense Lantash slowly rousing as well.

"Rohk pulled you away from the plants - you were going back to them, you silly fool!" She hugs me. "I don't mean you're a fool, and I know it wasn't your fault, I'm just so relieved you got away and survived! Rohk saved you!"

"Then I must thank him." I weakly lift my arms to embrace Samantha. Why do I feel so weak? At least the world looks more or less normal, and it sounds normal too. None of the weird distortions from before.

~We are still affected by the drug from the plants, but it is clearing. I expect us to be fully well tomorrow. Martouf, I am so sorry I failed you. I should have been able to protect you better against this!~

~Lantash, no! You didn't fail me! We were drugged, and I'm sure it would have been many times worse if you hadn't been there. I am certain of it, and Ria said so before also. Only a blended being can withstand it at all, and it did take fairly long before we succumbed - not until we approached the plants and were touched by them.~

~You are correct. I still feel I should have been able to do better.~

We 'hug' each other, before I again look to Samantha. "I was talking to Lantash. He is getting better as well. He says we will be fully well tomorrow."

"I'm very glad to hear that!" Samantha smiles at us and kisses us.

I return the kiss. We are safely home with Samantha. That is all that matters. Smiling, Lantash and I go to sleep again, to sleep away the last of the bad effects of the plants.