Fic, Stargate SG-1, Why do these things always happen to me?, PG-13, 2/4

[hathor_girl]

Sam POV

I must have lost consciousness for a while, because when I wake up again, I am no longer in the room I was in before. Which I now think must have been on a ship of some kind.

Suddenly a voice speaks to me. ~We were on a teltac - now we are on Cronus's ha'tak. In a holding cell.~

I look around, but I see no one. "Teltac? Where are you?"

~A teltac is a small Goa'uld vessel. I am in your head. I am Jolinar of Malkshur.~

"In my head? How can you..." I realize what it means. "So I really was taken by a Goa'uld!"

~I apologize, I thought you were offering. As foolish as that was. You had no way of knowing I was even there.~

"Offering! Why would I offer to be host to a Goa'uld!"

I get the impression that the being winces. ~Please do not speak out loud. Right now we are alone here, but you do not want Jaffa guards to hear you and come. I would prefer to heal you a bit more before anyone knocks us around again.~

"Is that..." I realize I don't want the Jaffa to come here anymore than she does. ~Is that why I am not suppressed? Because you're damaged, or what?~

~No, I am undamaged, though weak after changing hosts so often recently. You are not suppressed because I am not a Goa'uld. I am a Tok'ra.~

~Looks like a Goa'uld to me!~ I 'scoff'.

~The Tok'ra are biologically Goa'uld, yes. I cannot deny that. However, we do not share their philosophy. We believe in sharing the body with the host, and we do not take unwilling hosts...~

~Right. Because I was totally willing to be your host!~ I snort.

~I told you... it was an error. I am sorry. I did, in fact, break our highest law. The Tok'ra are... the Goa'uld resistance.~

~Lucky me! I'm assuming that means that not only am I a host, but I am a host to someone Cronus hates. Is that correct?~

~Yes. That is unfortunately true. The Goa'uld hate and despise the Tok'ra, and Cronus has personal reasons to hate me in particular. The attack on Nasya happened in an attempt to kill me. There was also an ashrak - an assassin - after me.~

~Wonderful. Why does these things always happen to me?~ I try to sit up, and find that my body still hurts.

~I have healed some of the most critical damage, but you are still badly injured.~

~I can feel that!~ I sigh, and carefully lie flat on the floor. ~If your kind doesn't believe in taking unwilling hosts, what happens now then?~

~If you do not want to remain my host, then I will leave you... when and if I get the opportunity to find another host.~

~Yeah, I doubt that's going to happen! I mean, I guess there must be some way you guys find hosts - if you really are a whole... organization, or whatever - but I can't say I have a clue who would volunteer. Never mind, even if such people exist, there isn't much chance of us getting out of here to find a new host, is there?~

~No. Sooner rather than later Cronus will send for me. Right now he does not know I am here, and only thinks he has captured a Tau'ri. That is probably the only reason we have not yet been sent for. As soon as I get close to Cronus, he will sense me and realize who I probably am.~

~Sense you? How?~

~The naquadah in my blood will react to the naquadah in his. It feels like a humming or buzzing. In any case, he will torture me... us. I will do my best to block you out, but if I lose consciousness while you are still awake, you may experience some of it.~

~I won't tell him anything - not that I think I know anything he wants to know, if it's you he's after.~

~While he will certainly try to get me to tell him of other Tok'ra operatives, or the location of our bases, that is not his main interest. He hates me and wishes to see me dead - and he does not want me to die swiftly.~

~Great, so I can expect to be tortured to death!~

~In addition, Cronus has a sarcophagus, and he will likely use it to revive us for more torture - a great many times.~

~This just keeps getting better and better! Any other little gems you wish to share?~ I spit.

~I am sorry...~

~Yeah, yeah, you're sorry you took me as your host, against my will! You can't do anything about it...~ I take as deep a breath as I can, without causing undue pain in my chest. ~What do you say we try and find a way out of here instead of arguing? A truce? Then we can talk about what you did to me afterwards.~

~Agreed, and thank you... but there is no way out.~

~I didn't say I wasn't angry at you anymore, but right now I can't afford it. Are you saying there is no hope for a rescue?~

~I have been on the run from the ashrak for many many months. The Tok'ra most likely think I am dead, but in any case they do not know I have been captured by Cronus. Even if they did, it was unlikely anyone would come to rescue me. We do not have enough people for direct assaults or even stealth attacks. If someone gets captured, their only hope is that another Tok'ra, undercover at the same Goa'uld, will be able to free them. Otherwise they are on their own.~

~That sucks! My people also doesn't know where I am.~

~We are not dead yet, and I did not say I was giving up. When our injuries have healed more, we will try to find a way to escape.~

~All right. Well, if we can't do anything right now, I think I'll take a nap.~

---

When I wake up again, I am standing, and being pushed forward by Jaffa. The pain is greatly diminished, and my arm is no longer broken. My ribs have mostly mended as well, and the concussion is gone. I am still sore in most of my body, but it is mostly just a dull ache. I must admit having a symbiote is good for something!

"Move, Tau'ri!" one of the Jaffa orders, and gives me another push. Now when I am aware of it, I notice the weird tingling or humming sensation Jolinar mentioned. Of course, the Jaffa have symbiotes as well, which we sense, but the Jaffa does not seem to notice Jolinar.

Jolinar is in control, and she walks along without telling the Jaffa who she is. I guess there is not much point in doing so. There are many Jaffa before us and behind us, they are large and heavily armed, so we do not have any chance of escaping.

It feels weird not being in control, but having your body walk along and do things anyway. I would probably panic if it weren't for the fact that I am terrified by the thought of what Cronus will do to us.

~Do you want control? It is better that I am in control later, when Cronus starts interrogating us, but if you feel better being in control, then take it now.~ Jolinar offers.

I consider it for a moment, then 'nods'. ~Yes, I'd like that.~

We are at a door, and have stopped while the Jaffa open it. Jolinar briefly closes her eyes and release control to me. I almost fall, in the moment or so when no one is in control of the body, but then I manage to stabilize myself and stand. The Jaffa laugh, clearly thinking I was almost fainting out of fear or my injuries.

~If we survive this, you will get better at taking control.~

~I can take it from you against your will?~ I ask, as I walk forward before the Jaffa can push me.

~No, that is impossible for a host, but I meant when I release control to you. Tok'ra symbiotes and hosts can switch control more or less seamlessly, but most either close their eyes or dip their heads and close their eyes when they do so. The intention is to avoid showing the involuntary eyeflash at the switch, but also to show those around you who is in control.~

~So you know who you are talking to.~I realize.

~Yes.~

We continue walking for a short distance longer, then reach a large double door, guarded by two large Jaffa.

"We are bringing the Tau'ri female for interrogation," the Jaffa before me to the left says.

"Understood," one of the guards by the doors say, and they step aside, pulling the doors open.

Inside, there is a room decorated like something out of 'Conan the Barbarian', and on a throne with skins, in the room sits a man with long unkempt hair and a sort of padded armor-like outfit, with a pelt slung over his shoulder.

~He's taking the barbarian thing a bit far, isn't he?~

~He likes the style, yes, and were he not so powerful other Goa'uld would ridicule him for it, but do not underestimate him. He is not stupid or unknowledgable.~

~Got it.~

"Ah, the Tau'ri female!" Cronus sneers. "I see that you are not so badly injured as my Jaffa had let me believe! What were you doing on that planet? The Tau'ri are a vermin I will soon wipe from the Galaxy!"

The Jaffa push me ahead. "Kneel before your god!"

"Augh, relax!" I complain, when he gives me a hard shove against my still-sore ribs.

I wince as I am forced down on my knees before Cronus. The sensation of naquadah from all the Jaffa had blocked the signal from Cronus - at least for me, who have only just started to be aware of this sense. Now, however, I can sense Cronus. And he can sense Jolinar, obviously, from his expression.

"I see. It would seem the Tok'ra Jolinar has not escaped me after all! How fortunate! That means I get to talk to her about her treason - unless she is too scared and keeps hiding behind her host!"

~Treason?~

~I was a System Lord... more than a two thousand years ago.~

~System Lord!~ I almost say it out loud, and let go of control of my body so Jolinar can take it. Which I realize she could have done in any case.

She snatch it before Cronus notice us sagging, and flash my eyes strongly. "So you are still angry? Cronus, that was two thousand years ago! Besides, what did you expect?"

"Not that you would attempt to destroy my empire after claiming you loved me!" His eyes flash angrily and he glares at the Jaffa. "Out! All of you! If you value your life!"

"Yes, my Lord!"

The Jaffa all fled the room, followed by Cronus's lo'tar. Only Cronus remained with us.

"Now you shall suffer, Jolinar! You will regret all you have done, but you will not be allowed to die, even if you beg me to! Not until my queen has been allowed to torture you to death as much as she wants first!"

"Ah, queen Rhea still stays with you? I wonder if she has a plan to take your empire, or if she is too stupid to find a better System Lord to ally herself with..." Jolinar says, taunting him.

~Ah, Jolinar...maybe it's not such a good idea to make him even more furious...~

~Relax, I know what I am doing.~

"How dare you slander my queen! She is loyal, and would never stoop as low as you! Tok'ra! I know your kind allow your hosts to speak and worse. I have always wondered - is it a defect in your abilities, or is it merely a perversion of yours?"

"If you think you are insulting me, you are sadly mistaken! You queen is only loyal because no one else wants her. How well suited you are for each other! You know very well that even the other Goa'uld despise you and find your fascination with primitive human culture despicable! You who are not even at the level of humans before the Goa'uld found them!"

"I will kill you for your insolence!" Cronus screams, completely forgetting himself - and also forgetting his hand device, because he attempts to grab hold of Jolinar and strangle her with his hands.

Jolinar, however, has clearly learned to fight, and despite the pain in our body, she moves out of the way fast. Cronus stumbles, and she is over him immediately, making sure he falls completely. She grabs a brazier standing nearby, and slams him hard over the head, knocking him unconscious. She then snatches his hand device and when nervous Jaffa opens the door to check what happened, she is already wearing the hand device.

She sends out a strong shock wave, throwing the Jaffa into disarray, then runs out of the room through a back door.

~Neat!~

~We are not away safely yet!~

Jolinar runs as fast as she can through the corridors, using her ribbon device to throw any enemies aside.

~Ring transporter?~ I ask.

~No, we are in space. We need a ship.~

She races for the hangar bay, and we reach it just as a large contingent of Jaffa appear at the end of the corridor. She closes the door and locks it by frying the opening glyph, like Teal'c did on Apophis's ship. She then runs past the deathgliders and I am guessing we are going for the larger ships I can see ahead. They are not of a type I have seen before - not like the deathgliders.

~Is that a teltac?~ I wonder.

~No. It must be parked further ahead, but I will try to get one of the alkesh's since they have weapons.~

~Those are alkesh's?~

~Yes. Do not disturb me right now!~ Jolinar insists, turning around as we hear the door behind us being forced open. She sends out a shockwave at the Jaffa, felling them.

However, I can feel she - and I - are getting tired, and the Jaffa seems to keep coming. We can't keep this up for much longer.

Jolinar reaches the alkesh, and opens a door in it. It's a good thing these things aren't locked!

She quickly closes the door and runs through the corridor - presumably for the...peltak, I think it's called. ~Can this thing even be piloted by just one person?~

~Yes... barely - if there are no problems.~

We reach the peltak and Jolinar waste no time to activate the ship and take it into the air - clearly faster than intended, as something sounds like it shouldn't sound that way. ~Wait, we're on a spaceship - how do we get out?~

~If you mean how do we get the alkesh out of the ha'tak, then the answer is that we just fly it through the forcefield. If they have not had time to program it not to allow anything to fly out. The forcefield is normally programmed to allow passage of ships out. It will normally only allow ships in, if they give a code.~

~Makes sense. I guess.~

The ship 'shudders' as if something is hitting it.

~Weapons fire. The Jaffa are shooting at us with staff weapons.~ She moves her hands a little inside the control device, and we plunge out through the forceshield. ~Fortunately, we were allowed through. Raising shields.~

~We are safe?~

~No. They will send deathgliders. We need to enter hyperspace as soon as possible.~

I see symbols light up on a screen, and catch Jolinar's thoughts. Deathgliders being released from the ha'tak. ~They're fast!~

~Faster and more maneuverable than we are, but they cannot enter hyperspace on their own.~

The ship shudder again and again as the deathgliders take potshots at it. Then a large hit almost throws us away from the controls. ~What now?~

~The ha'tak is firing at us!~

~Well shoot back!~

~We cannot fight a squadron of deathgliders and a ha'tak. We can only flee.~

Well do so, then!~

~I am!~ Jolinar gives the command, and I feel the weird shift that indicates we have jumped to hyperspace. Ahead of me space and the stars streaks and shifts in colour to blue-violet. ~Now we are...reasonably safe. For a while.~

She gives a few more commands, then sits down in a chair and relaxes.

~Autopilot?~

~Yes, but we cannot leave the peltak but must remain on guard. We are undoubtedly being chased, and orders will have been sent to intercept. They cannot know exactly where we are going, but for time being we are flying through Cronus's space, and as long as we are there we risk being intercepted.~ Jolinar sounds as tired as I feel.

~Where are we going?~

~Ideally to a place I can hide the alkesh so the Tok'ra can use it again, should we need it. However, it is a large ship and difficult to hide, so that may not be possible. Otherwise, to a safe world where we can use the chaapa'ai to escape, hopefully return to the Tok'ra.~

~Um, I am planning to go back to Earth! You haven't forgotten you promised to leave me, right?~

~No, of course not, but I need to find a new host first, and I have a feeling that will not be east on your world.~

~That is...probably true,~ I concede. ~To be honest, I doubt they'd react well if I showed up as a host, and since you flashed your eyes at Colonel O'Neill, they know. In fact, I'd probably be picked up by the NID and thrown in a cell for a few decades or more, while they examined us and interrogated us, and generally prodded us in every way. No, we can't go to Earth, not until you've gotten a new host. How long will that take?~

~I will not lie to you. Finding a new host can take quite a long time. It is something that is always difficult, particularly since I need a female host, preferably young.~

~You've got preferences?~

~I have mates, and they are not attracted to males, and I do not wish to risk losing them.~

~Whoa, mates...as in you're married? Didn't you think was something I needed to know?~

~Since you do not intend to remain my host, it did not seem important. Besides, there were other things on my mind, such as escaping the Goa'uld. Which, might I add, we cannot yet be sure we have done.~

I 'sigh'. ~Okay, I guess that's true. So, you're married to two guys? How is that?~

~Most Tok'ra are mated to another Tok'ra, meaning most have two mates. Which they share with their host.~

~Ah, two mates, as in host and symbiote. Got it. Of course, that makes sense. I can't imagine how hard it must be to find together four people - and have all of them be in love or at least like each other a lot.~

~It is not as difficult as you may imagine. When a full blending has taken place, host and symbiote share all deeper emotions. In essence, we love as one.~

~That's sweet...and way more involved than I could imagine being with another lifeform...person, whatever. Isn't that strange? To feel what the other feel? I mean, I get some vague feelings from you now and then, but I'm assuming you're blocking it? Or aren't we...blended?~

~I am blocking my feelings from you as well as I can, but no, we are not fully blended. I have held off on doing that, as it makes it much harder to separate later. Unfortunately, it also means I cannot heal you as well as I otherwise could, which is the reason your injuries are not already healed.~

~I think what you've done already is quite impressive - and I guess it's safer not to...uh, blend fully. It wouldn't exactly be very good if I ended up falling in love with your boyfriends...mates.~ I say, jokingly.

~No, it would not.~ Jolinar answers, quite seriously.

~So, tell me about them? Your mates, I mean.~

~I need to focus on healing the rest of the damage to your body, and as weak as I am, I also need to rest, even if I cannot afford to sleep right now. You will hopefully meet them soon.~

~You are weak from healing me?~

~And from trying to heal my previous host, Quinta. And from changing host two times in less than a half year, when it should not be done more often than once every several years, at most. Parts of a symbiotes body tears during separation, particularly the tendrils we use to connect to the host. Those needs to regrow and it takes energy - and time.~

~Oh. But can you even leave me then?~

~I can, in time. Trying to do so right now would almost certainly kill us both, so it is perhaps fortunate it will take time to locate a new host.~

Jolinar becomes silent, and I leave her alone, thinking about all that has happened recently, and all the new things I have learned. It has not even been a day since I became Jolinar's host, and before that I had never imagined there could exist Goa'uld who were not evil and didn't suppress their hosts. It has given me a lot to think about.


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