Other Possibilities, PG-13, 4/?

[hathor_girl]

 

A/N: Text in ~ is internal dialogue. Text in bold is symbiote speaking.

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Unbelieving, I stare at the small screen in front of Cronus. He doesn't know I've entered the room yet, and is talking to someone. Getting some information.

~It's Cordesh!~

~Yes...Rosha, it is! He is a traitor!~ I feel pain in my chest.

Quietly, I turn around and try to leave without being heard. I only get part of the way to the door when Cronus calls out for me, blocking my view from the communication ball, but not turning it off.

"Lord Kavok...was there something you wanted?"

I swirl around, trying to put on a neutral expression, with just a hint of arrogance.

"My Lord. I wished to report the success in the battle against Olokun. We have taken the planet and he has admitted defeat. He will ally with you, if you wish it."

"Good. I will handle this later. Leave me. I have more important matters to attend to."

I bow deeply. "Yes, my Lord." I flee from the room as fast as I can without appearing suspicious.

~Jolinar, do you think Cordesh has told him we are Tok'ra? Does he even know we are here?

~He does now.~ I worry about the same as Rosha. Cordesh almost certainly heard me, recognized me. Will he tell Cronus? Betray me, a fellow Tok'ra? But he is obviously no longer Tok'ra. He is collaborating with Cronus! Did Cronus realise I saw Cordesh? Will Cordesh realise? Will he decide to betray me to save his own skin. ~We need to flee. Quickly.~ I tell Rosha.

​

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"Samantha?" Martouf looks at me with a worried expression as I slowly come back from the past. "What happened? Was it a memory flash again?"

I nod, slowly. "Yes." I throw a glance in the direction Cordesh left in. He is gone, but he must not know! He is a traitor! I swallow. "Martouf...I need to talk to you. In private."

He wrinkles his brow, but nods. "We will go to my quarters immediately."

"No...I mean, completely private. No one must be able to spy on us." I whisper.

He looks a bit hurt. "You can trust the Tok'ra. We have no secrets for each other, but they will not spy on us. They will respect our wish for privacy."

"Please...it is important." I almost beg.

He sighs and seems to consider. "I shall inform the Council I am taking you outside for a walk. I will tell them you are not used to being below ground for so long, and needs some fresh air...or something."

"Thank you."

​

---

We walk in silence for some time. This, too, is a desert planet, much like that first one we found the Tok'ra on. For a moment I am taken back to that day.

"Samantha...what was it you wanted to talk about? I do not believe we actually went out here because you wanted fresh air."

I smile. "No - though it is pleasant. Actually, I lived on base most of the time on Earth, and that was far underground. The Tok'ra tunnels are actually preferrably. The food is better too." I really don't know how to say this. Will he believe me? Will he get angry? Think I am going to betray them again?

"What then?"

I take a deep breath. "When Cordesh passed us in the tunnel...I got a memory flash from Jolinar. I...I was standing...I mean Jolinar was standing in Cronus's room. She had come to report on some military victory..."

"Yes." Martouf looks solemn. "She was undercover at his court just before fleeing from the ashrak. It was...her last mission."

I put a hand on his arm. He looks so terribly sad and my heart weeps for him. I so very much wish to embrace him, comfort him. Kiss him. I shake off the feeling.

"I...she saw he was talking to someone...on one of those...eh, long-range tele-thingies. Martouf...it was Cordesh!"

"What! Impossible!" He look at me, disbelief clear. "Cordesh is a loyal Tok'ra!"

"He may have been, but that doesn't change the fact that he was talking to Cronus! I...relived Jolinar and Rosha talking about it. They worried Cronus had noticed Jolinar saw Cordesh. That Cordesh heard her, told Cronus about her...she fled shortly after, but the ashrak was after her almost immediately, and I now realise it was Cronus who sent him. It was Cordesh who betrayed her! I am certain! It was his fault the base other Tok'ra base was attacked, and since he's still here, it may be again!"

Martouf's eyes flash. "If that is the case, he shall pay for the death of our mates! I will personally squeeze the life out of the treasonous snake!" Lantash spat.

Just then we heard someone shout behind us and we turned to see a Tok'ra guard running towards us. I think his name is Sokh - I remember almost all their names after the sessions with the memory recall device.

"Martouf! You must come back immediately! We are evacuating again! The System Lords are coming!"

Lantash grab my arm and we start running. It is not long before we are down in the tunnels again. "If what you said is the truth, we will not be safe after the evacuation. Cordesh may already have given the new coordinates to the Goa'uld." Lantash whispered. "We must talk to some of the other members of the Council. Garshaw can be trusted for certain."

He quickly takes me to Garshaw, and I relate my story to her. She gets furious. She does not want to believe, but she agrees there must be a traitor. She tells guards to hold Cordesh and search him and his room - but to continue with the evacuation.

Chapter 5