hathor_girl

Jack POV

I don't know what's wrong with the others! I am getting out of here! I go to the other door and start examining the lock. "Help me find something to break this open with!"

Whilan, then Daniel Jackson and Korra joins me while Martouf sits with his wife, and Samantha Carter sit nearby him, apparently considering becoming host to an alien! I shake my head at the insanity. I hope she is not considering it just because she finds Martouf attractive or something!

Still, going off world would probably be attractive for some people. If I wasn't married, with a kid, I might even want to travel to other worlds, if I could, but my family is more important.

"Here, use this." Whilan says, handing me a crowbar he has found behind some junk in a closet.

"Great!" I grin and take the crowbar. With that it is easy cracking open the door. Now we just have to hope there are no baddies on the other side!

We have all found sticks or similar - unfortunately no better weapons - and I poke my head out to look.

"All clear?" Daniel asks.

"Yes, looks that way. Come on, guys!" I tell them.

We have not gone far before Seth and more of his followers are suddenly attacking! Several of them have those zat-guns, but some of them also have a different kind of weapon which is hurling small darts.

"Get down!" Whilan yells.

"Arrrgh!" Korra exclaims as he is hit by one of the darts. His eyes flash and he grinds his teeth. It doesn't look good.

"Avoid...the darts." He gets out - or his symbiote does. "Kawa'sitkha..."

"What?" I ask, frowning.

We all dive for safety, hurrying back into a room, but I hear a scream - a dart hits Samantha Carter before she gets to safety.

"It translates as...'liquid fire'." Whilan tells me, his expression tight. "Poison - feels like fire burning in the veins."

I slam the door, and Whilan and I bar it with a bookcase.

I turn to survey the situation. On the floor Korra is sitting, clearly in agony, but he doesn't seem to be dying. Samantha Carter is lying on the floor, screaming and convulsing as Daniel Jackson and Martouf is trying to hold her, stop her from clawing at herself. Further back is the unmoving figure of Rosha...and Jolinar.

"Oh, my god. Will you guys be okay?" I ask, stunned.

"I will." Korra grinds out. "I am... neutralizing...the poison."

"Samantha Carter?" I ask, worried about the answer, but suspecting I know it.

Martouf shakes his head. "No. Kawa'sitkha is fatal to humans."

"She will die in horrible pain - but it will probably take an hour for her to do so." Whilan says, looking sad. "I am sorry."

"Can't you do anything?" I exclaim.

"There is an antidote, but even if Seth has it, I doubt he will give it to us." Whilan says. "The only other option is a symbiote." He looks to Rosha who just then coughs and breathes with a rattling sound.

"Crap." I say. "Do it, then. Put the...symbiote in her."

"Not without her consent!" Martouf insists, much more strongly than I had expected.

"I thought you wanted to save your wife? This is your chance! Or can't she handle it?" I exclaim.

"Jolinar is strong enough to neutralize the poison, even now after trying to heal Rosha. However, Tok'ra do not take unwilling hosts! Only Goa'uld do so!" Martouf says.

"Great! Right now is really the time for a case of morality!" I go to Samantha Carter who is still trying her best to get to scratch open her arms, but her arms are being held tight by Martouf. He's stronger than he looks.

I grab Samantha Carter around the shoulders and shake her, trying to get her to focus.

"I am not sure that will help!" Martouf says, an alarmed look on his face. "You are making the poison spread faster!"

"Well, do something else, then! Get her to consent!" I tell him. I am not losing a civilian on this mission! I look over my shoulder. Seth's damn loonies are hammering at it.

Whilan looks around the room. It is a storage room of some sort. Aside from various tools, there are also bags, boxes, and a number of large cans and bottles. He checks the shelves and opens and sniffs some of the cans and bottles. He then picks one and tastes some of it. "Make her drink some of this."

"What is it?" Daniel Jackson asks.

"I believe it is a combination of laudanum, mandrake, and hemp." Whilan says.

"That sounds...powerful." Daniel frowns. "What would they use that for?"

"Seth probably has reason to want to drug people from time to time." I snort. "Try it."

Daniel Jackson pours some of the drug into Samantha Carter's mouth, while Whilan holds her mouth open and Martouf try to hold her still otherwise. They get some of it down her throat, and after a few moments she calms down a little. Whether she is clearheaded enough to really answer anything and be thrustworthy - I don't know, but I will take this.

"Samantha?" Martouf asks. He repeats it. "Samantha!"

"Yessss?" She moans. "It hurts. So badly."

"I know." He strokes her cheek. "We need to know if you will blend with Jolinar. It will neutralize the poison in your blood. Remove the pain. Will you be her host?"

"Yes!" She exclaims. "Yes I will! Please, quickly!" She groans deeply and her eyes roll back in her head.

"I believe she has become unconscious." Martouf frowns. "I am not certain if Samantha truly gives consent..."

I sigh. Why does it have to be so difficult? "You said... Jolinar could leave her, right? Then she'll just do that when Samantha Carter is cured - and you find a different host for Jolinar."

"It is not so easy to find a new host. It can take time. It is also somewhat dangerous - and if it takes a long time, it will cause problems for the host. Especially if they have blended fully." Martouf sighs.

Someone hits the door really hard. "Listen. We don't have time for this. Get that...blending thing done, so we can move fast when we need to, okay?" I order.

"O...kay." Martouf says.

Sam POV

I feel a bit weird - like my head is too full. Like there is too much knowledge in my mind, as strange as that sounds.

~Hello, Samantha.~

"Who is that?"

~You do not need to speak out loud. I am inside you. I am Jolinar.~

"You... what? How can you be inside me. Wait...Jolinar. I AM A HOST! I DIDN'T MAKE A DECISION!"

~Yes, you did - and please try to speak mentally. You agreed to this, though I shall admit you were very affected by the poison - which would have killed you, had I not blended with you. If you do not want me here, I will leave you as soon as I find a new host, but understand that it may be difficult. In addition, I had to blend fully with you in order to repair the damage to your body done by the poison.~

~I...this is too confusing! Does that mean I am trapped?~ I ask, managing to speak internally.

~I apologize, Samantha, but there was not really any choice.~

I snort. ~Right!~

I open my eyes when someone touches me. "Are you awake, Sam?" It is Daniel.

"Yeah, but I'm not alone in here."

"No, you are a host to Jolinar. She saved you." Daniel says.

"Where is everyone else?"

"While Jolinar was healing you, some of Seth's followers got in here. Jack O'Neill, the Colonel, and Martouf jumped them when they checked on you. Surprisingly they succeeded." Daniel shakes his head.

"What? Who succeeded? Are Martouf okay... and the Colonel, O'Neill?" I ask, feeling a surge of worry from Jolinar. It feels weird, experiencing her emotions. It feels exactly like my own emotions, but I noticed her react, and I wouldn't react that strongly about Martouf, whom I don't know.

Daniel nods. "Yeah, they're fine. They succeeded in knocking out the guys from Seth - and took their weapons. Those...rayguns. The they left together with the two other... Tok'ra. They would try to capture Seth and un-brainwash his followers - apparently it works to just shoot them with the rayguns. I stayed here to keep an eye on you until you woke up. Apparently you can't be moved while, uh, blending."

I sit up. "When did they leave?"

"Um, maybe an hour ago. I've heard some noise now and then. The door is locked and barred - we're not to open it until the others return."

I nod slowly and look around the room. I don't really remember getting in here, since I was affected by the damn drug Seth's followers shot me with.

~Kawa'sitkha.~ Jolinar tells me, helpfully.

I shake my head.

"What?" Daniel asks.

"It's just weird hearing someone talk inside your head."

"I can imagine!"

"Daniel...did I really agree to be a host?"

"Well...yes, you did, but...well, we weren't really sure if you understood what you consented to, but there wasn't really a choice. You were suffering badly. Screaming in pain."

I shudder. "I have a vague memory of it. Jolinar cured me. I guess I'm grateful for that, it just...takes some getting used to. I mean, all of it."

"I know what you mean! We just learned aliens exist!"

I nod. "And now I have one of them in my head." Jolinar prods me. "What happened to Rosha?"

"Uh, Martouf and the other Tok'ra said some words in a language I don't understand, and then Martouf kissed her before shooting her three times with the raygun - she disappeared, Sam!"

I nod, a solemn look on my face. Jolinar is mourning Rosha. "Zat'nik'tel." I tell him. Jolinar tells me the Tok'ra always destroy the bodies of their dead, usually in an unstable wormhole! - in order to avoid their enemies resurrecting them! and torturing them forever.

Just wow.

"Are you going with them? I mean, offworld?" Daniel asks.

"I...don't know."

~We cannot remain here. Your people are not ready to learn of our existence yet. Also, we have an important cause - we fight the Goa'uld. All of us are needed, and we are almost too few.~

~I see.~ I really don't know how I feel about this, but I must admit part of me is thrilled about the idea of going to another planet! Travelling through space! Seeing the universe!

And fight bad aliens. Yeah, don't know if I'm cut out for that part. Or even if Jolinar likes having me as her host.

~You are a wonderful host, Samantha, and a wonderful, intelligent person. Do not ever think I would rather have a different host. What you sense from me is grief that Rosha is dead - not disappointment in you.~

~Thank you. What about, uh, Martouf...and Lantash? What do they think?~

~Right now they are morning Rosha, but if you are asking if they will like you, then I can tell you that you are... their 'type', as I see you call it. Yes, they will like you. A lot. Do not worry about that.~

~Okay.~ I sigh. ~I need to think about it, but it's not like I have very much here...on Earth, I mean. I'll probably remain your host, and go with you. It just seems...terrifying. Leaving everything I know behind.~

~The Tok'ra will be your family. I promise you that.~

~Well, that is nice, I suppose...~ I realize Daniel is speaking to me. "Sorry, what? I was listening to Jolinar."

"I just said that in a way I'm tempted to go offworld with you. I mean, I've pretty much destroyed my chances of a career here on Earth, at least in my field. Offworld I might be able to study artifacts left behind by people of countless worlds and cultures!" Daniel looks really enthusiastic.

~There are not that many worlds free of the Goa'uld that are at a level where he could work as an archaeologist, but the Tok'ra do have archaeologists. Maybe Anise and Freya would agree to let him come on her missions.~

~Anise and Freya?~

~They are historians and archaeologists.~

"Um, Jolinar suggests that you might work with a Tok'ra archaeologist. If you want."

"That sounds...interesting. I thought they were a resistance?"

"They...do other things too, though mostly to create better weapons to fight the Goa'uld, or technology to help defend against the Goa'uld - or just to help people on various worlds. But they also do some actual science and history because that is important too, to preserve history and learn about various cultures. At least that's how I understood it."

"Sounds good. Because I'm not much of a resistance fighter." Daniel chuckles. "Wait, do I have to become a...host to work with this Anise... and Freya?"

I talk to Jolinar. "No, not necessarily."

"Okay. I'll think about it then. When do they leave?"

"Probably as soon as they've hopefully caught Seth."

Daniel nods, then we both look up as someone knocks on the door in a particular pattern. "That's Colonel O'Neill and the others."

He opens the door and I stand up and grab a long stick, to have something to defend myself with, should it be someone else.

Fortunately, it's our guys. Jack O'Neill enters with a grin on his face, followed by Martouf - and wow do I feel a strong wave of relief when I see his is all right! I realize it must be from Jolinar, but wow! I smile at him, unable not to. "Martouf!"

"Samantha?"

Jolinar wants control, and I let her take it, even if I feel weird about the thought of my body doing something without me ordering it to.

~May I kiss them and hug them?~

~Eh, yes. Sure.~

Jolinar smiles widely at Martouf. "Beloved. It is good to see you are safe." She embraces him warmly and then they kiss.

I have very little experience in this area - I have been kissed maybe twice, if you don't count by family. Both kisses were fairly platonic and not exactly enjoyable. This kiss is very different. It is warm and loving, and it makes my head spin.

Very nice, but I must admit I feel like a voyeur.

Martouf holds me/us close, clinging to us with almost desperation. I realize he had been worried for his other mate, now when Rosha is dead.

"Jolinar, dear sweet Jolinar. I am so very relieved you are well. Both of you."

So, Lantash has taken control at some point. I wonder when/if I will learn to tell who is in control?

"Listen, guys...I guess I can understand you're happy to see each other well." Colonel O'Neill frowns. "Even if it's all kinds of weird that your mate or wife or whatever is now in someone else..." He shakes his head. "Anyway, I think we should get going before the guys from ATF gets too worried and sends in the troops."

"That would be regrettable." Lantash agrees. He lets go of us - mostly, he takes out hand. Jolinar holds it happily, understanding his emotions, and needing the comfort after losing Rosha.

"Where is Whilan and Korra?" Jolinar asks.

"They are holding Seth. After Seth's followers had been neutralized, it was fairly easy to overpower him."

"What will you do about him?" Jack O'Neill asks.

"Remove him from his host. If the host is well enough and not too traumatized by the experience, we will either return him here to his world, or find a safe place for him to live." Lantash says.

Jack O'Neill nods. "Okay, good. Well, come, let's go!"

"You're sure you want to go with them?" Jack O'Neill asks.

Jenkins has left with his nephew. Jack O'Neill, Ferretti and Kawalsky have taken their car, and the Tok'ra and Seth rode in Daniel's and my car. We drove the distance to the place where the Tok'ra have parked their spaceship - a vessel called a teltac.

"Yeah. I'm sure." I smile. Then I sigh. "I just don't know what to tell my brother. I mean, he's probably the only one that will miss me. Not that we meet often. Maybe once a year, but we do talk sometimes. Can I even tell him?"

"I will take care of that. Write a letter for him, without saying where you go. Then I will get a nondisclosure agreement and have him sign that, so I can tell him a bit more." Jack O'Neill says.

I nod. "Okay, thanks." I sit down to do so, while the others talk.

"I...have been thinking about it. I'm coming with you too." Daniel says. "Not to be a host...at least not at first. Is that okay?"

"Of course." Martouf says. "You are welcome."

"What about the rest of you?" Korra asks. "We can always use more people."

"Ah, no thank you! I mean, not that I don't appreciate the offer, but I have a wife and kid." Jack O'Neill says.

"I think I'm staying here on Earth too - but it's a tempting offer." Kawalsky says. "If we could dig out that chaapa'ai thing you talk about, then maybe we could use it to visit."

"Hey, that's not a bad idea!" Ferretti says.

"It's not. I'll suggest it when we get back to base." Jack O'Neill says.

"It may not be a good idea. As it is now, the Goa'uld have all but forgotten about you. If you reopen the chaapa'ai, then they may become aware of you, and you may endanger your world." Martouf warns.

"We'll be careful! But please understand - humans are a curious bunch, and knowing the possibility is there, means we will take advantage of it. Besides, couldn't the Goa'uld decide to come back on their own? Then we'd need to be prepared, and we need weapons for that."

Martouf nods. "It is possible, that is true."

"If you are going to open the chaapa'ai again, then it may be easier to unbury the one in Egypt, instead of the one on the frozen south pole." Korra says.

"There is one in Egypt?" Ferretti asks.

"Yes, near Giza. It was buried after humans rebelled against Ra, 5000 years ago." Whilan says.

"Okay, we'll look for it - who knows, in a few years we may meet again. Perhaps we can become allies."

"Perhaps." Martouf nods. "Good luck."

"To you as well." Jack O'Neill says.

I hand him the letter I have written for my brother, then Daniel and I leave with the Tok'ra. I have started to get used to having Jolinar in my head, and I think we will become good friends.

And I certainly look forward to being Martouf and Lantash's mate!