(Blueflamebluerose and Kirallie, thank you for your reviews for part eight and the other reviews through the story. I enjoy hearing what people have to say. As for Lance, I thought of keeping him alive, but the truth is, his death was planned from the start.)
Part 9, ...Chain of Command
Copy looked to Martouf, wanting him to leave for this. "Martouf, you don't have to be here."
"I want to be here." Martouf moved closer before looking to Garshaw. "The forcefield doesn't have to be up, does it?" He held an almost pleading expression.
"No." She gestured towards one of the guards to take it down. As he did, the other one moved closer to her.
"I'll remove myself so David won't have any of Lantash's memories," Copy said as he knelt down. He looked to Martouf. "Goodbye." He didn't get a response, but it didn't matter. He was just happy that Martouf didn't hate him. He leaned David over before releasing control and moving away. He carefully burrowed through, trying not to cause David any extra harm.
The ground was cold and hard, and he instinctively curled. He squealed slightly in discomfort, and he heard David moving away from him quickly. He planned on killing himself by releasing poison into himself, and he was about to when he felt warm gentle hands picking him up. He looked up, saw Martouf, and squealed his confusion.
"I didn't want you to feel alone."
Copy squealed his affection and curled into the warm hands. He felt himself being brought up to Martouf's chest. Surely the guards were quietly having a fit about that, but it didn't matter. Martouf trusted him enough to do that, and Lantash trusted him enough to allow it. That made Copy happy. He was in Martouf's hands, and that made him feel almost whole. "I love you," he squealed before releasing the poison.
Martouf closed his eyes, feeling Copy growing weak. "Son." Lantash may have refused to acknowledge the truth, but Martouf did not. "My son."
"Parent," Copy squealed weakly, but happily. He was part of the family. He had been accepted. He was loved, and as he laid there, he was happy.
Martouf felt Copy grow limp, and he started crying again. He had been able to hold it back for Copy's sake. He continued holding the symbiote. He felt Malek kneel by him and move his hand over his. Why couldn't he wait longer? Why couldn't he be put in a tank?
I don't think he wanted to wait longer, Lantash thought. He was living without a true host, and that is no way to live.
But... Martouf sniffled. He was my son too. He stood up and felt Malek stay near. I should have told him sooner.
You got to tell him, and he responded, so we know he heard you.
Martouf nodded, which made another teardrop fall.
Do you want me to take control?
Yes, but be respectful to Copy's body.
I would never do anything to his body, Lantash thought as he took control. He looked back to David. He hated him more now, but he still couldn't bring himself to have the man executed. The words came so close, but then it filled him with guilt. "I cannot decide David's punishment."
Malek looked rather displeased with that news. Garshaw didn't have any reaction. "You have time to decide."
"I will never be able to decide."
"Does Martouf agree with you?''
I won't go against you, Martouf thought. He knew Lantash would feel just as guilty if it came from him.
"Yes," Lantash replied before starting to leave.
"No!" Malek exclaimed, which brought everyone's attention on him. "He deserves to die."
Lantash stopped briefly and looked to Malek. He saw the pain in his friend. "I'm sorry, Malek." He walked away. He went back into the room where he had left Lance, but the boy was gone.
Kilso found them. "I put him in status."
Lantash figured he was with Marshal and found him there. The two stasis chambers were side by side. He opened up Lance's and put Copy into it.
They'd both like that, Martouf thought.
Lantash closed it again. When do you want to prepare for the funeral. He felt Martouf cringe. Why don't we see Samantha for now.
I'd like that.
--
David paced back and forth, hating it here. He hated the tunnels. He hated the Tok'ra. He hated the whole thing. He wanted to be back on Earth, and he hoped the council decided to send him there. He went to the guard. "You kept me a prisoner here long enough."
"Your punishment hasn't been decided."
"Allow me something! I hate these tunnels! I hate the color blue!" He didn't used to, but he did now.
The guard looked at him for a moment. "I'll talk to Garshaw and see if will allow you to visit the surface." The guard didn't care much for David either way, but he thought the offer might quiet him at least.
"Thank you," David replied as the guard left. He sat down and waited for his return. It took less time than he thought it would, and he stood up when he saw the Tok'ra returning.
"You may visit under supervision."
David nodded briefly, figuring that would be the case if he was allowed up. He saw the one named Vorran coming. "I'm guessing you are my guard."
"Yes." Vorran took the forcefield down. "There isn't much up on the surface." He gestured for David to go forwards. He shook his head slightly as he followed. He knew Garshaw only allowed it because she felt guilty about Copy.
--
Daniel was now looking at ancient texts with Anise. She had stopped looking at the treaty a while ago and offered a new project. He picked up a new piece of paper that was much newer than the others. "Where did you get this?"
"From the surface. Well, the tunnels inside. What you see is a map." Anise smiled. "Malek helped me draw them out."
"I thought you two didn't get along."
She nodded slightly. "We've argued since birth. We're from the same batch. I'm three minutes older than him." She looked proud of that. "Freya and Amb have helped us get along more." She gestured back to the map. "The tunnels all seem to be dead ends, but they are actually all connected. I think it was a way to hide from Jaffa who came to attack. They go into a tunnel and are followed. From the Jaffa's point of view, he hits a dead end and there isn't any people. We think that's why the Goa'uld killed them though. They grew tired of losing track of them."
Daniel frowned slightly at that, but smiled as he looked at the maps. "Very detailed."
"That's only part of it. I hope I can get more." She looked behind when someone came in. "Teal'c."
Teal'c gave a nod and looked to Daniel. "The council will be deciding David's punishment."
Daniel frowned. "Lantash and Martouf gave the decision to them?"
"They could not decide, so the decision went to them automatically."
Daniel frowned. "Does Sam know?" He then noticed Anise suddenly gathering some things. "Anise?"
"I have to go. You can keep looking at the maps if you want."
"Is there something wrong?" He thought the sudden need to leave was odd.
"Sorry, Daniel." Anise left.
--
David found he wasn't too happy with the surface. There was more rocks than he remembered, and Copy had made walking over them seem so easy. He liked it better in one of the tunnels. He had gone deeper than he planned to, out of curiosity. It wasn't as dark as he had expected. He wasn't sure where the lights came from, but they were certainly from inside and not from the surface. Still, it wasn't has bright as he would have liked. There were dark shadows along the wall, which had been decorated with delicate detail. The tunnel grew smaller until it was just over his head, and he bumped it once on a overhead design. He shook his head. Vorran hadn't followed so far in, and now David wished he had.
He traced his fingers along the designs and continued walking until he reach the end. He smiled as he looked at the pictures on the wall. People and animals had been sculpted into it. He traced his fingers along the outside of an animal he had never seen. Was it made up, or was it native to this planet? It looked like a large feathered dog. Part of it had been painted, and he could see that it had faded.
"Beautiful." He stared for a while before deciding to head back up to the surface. Perhaps he could explore another tunnel. It helped keep his mind off the fact that his punishment was being decided now. He hated not being there for it. He hated the lack of a trial. He deserved to be sent home. He knew he'd go to prison there, but that was better than prison on another planet.
His steps paused as he thought he heard movement behind him. Like stone moving across stone. He looked behind him. "Hello?" He felt he was going insane for hearing things. He felt the need to go back and check to be sure. He turned back and started walking...very slowly.
He looked into the shadows and saw nothing as he continued. He reached the dead end again. Nothing had changed. "I'm going insane," he muttered to himself before turning. He jumped when he bumped into someone and fell back. "Damn!" He started getting up. "Vorran, are you trying to..." He stopped, standing now, and seeing who it was. "Malek?"
"Hello David."
David took a step back, remembering the last words Malek said. "I'm surprised Vorran allowed you in."
"He didn't," Malek replied as he stepped forward. He gestured to part of the wall. "I know the tunnels better than he does. I saw him standing guard. I knew he'd never let me in, so I found another way."
David's heart was getting faster, and the room suddenly seemed very hot. Sweat began dripping. "Vorran!"
"He can't hear you," Malek replied. "We are too far down for him to hear you. These tunnels are designed to ensure noise goes into the walls instead of to the surface."
David took another step back. "Th-the council is deciding my fate."
"I admit that."
Another step back, and David hit the wall. Every memory of Malek told him that he wouldn't go against the council. The symbiote was too loyal. He had never gone aganist them before, and he wasn't going to start now. "You won't..." He saw Malek pull out a knife. "Y-you can't." He really didn't see any movement. Instead there was suddenly a sharp pain in his lungs.
"Lance suffocated, so I thought you should too." Malek pulled the knife from David. "Lantash couldn't decide, but we all know you deserve to die." He wiped the blood away and put the knife back. He saw the man start coughing up blood.
To think, we could have joined the council, Amb thought with some regret to that. For the first time in either of their lives, Malek was up for consideration, and now he had given that up by killing David.
Martouf and Lantash have been avenged. That's more important. He checked on David when the man stopped moving. I'm sorry, Amb.
Don't worry about me.
I couldn't let him get away with it. Malek could still see the pain Martouf felt when losing Lance and then Copy. More than anything, Malek had wanted to talke that pain away. He had felt so helpless. This was all he could do. He knew it was what Martouf wanted. Lantash had allowed guilt to deny Martouf this, but he wouldn't.
Is he dead?
He's dead. Malek made a deep cut in David's throat to ensure he couldn't be healed back. He started walking back up the tunnel. He walked slowly, and soon he felt Vorran's presence.
"Malek?" Vorran had come to check on David.
"Hello Vorran."
"How did you get in here?"
"Through one of the walls."
Vorran frowned and started to move around Malek.
Malek felt Amb's heart speedup, and he slowed it down. "He's dead."
Vorran turned around. "What?"
"David is dead."
Vorran looked worried, and he hurried down. Several minutes later he was back. "Malek!" His eyes glowed.
"I told you he was dead."
"It was up to the council to decide his punishment, not you!"
"He hurt Martouf and Lantash."
"I know that!"
"I punished him."
"It wasn't your choice!" Vorran shook his head as his eyes glowed again. "Now we have to hand you over to Earth!"
"I know."
Vorran's eyes flared again as he grabbed Malek's arm and walked up the tunnels. Malek followed quietly, wishing Vorran would loosen his grip a little. Maybe I can get you out of the punishment. You didn't kill him after all.
No! Amb thought, knowing that separate punishments could only be done if they were separated. I gave you permission.
What if I am sent to prison for the next hundred years?
Then I"ll spend the rest of my life in prison. The worse prison with you is better than a luxury life without you. He paused briefly. Aldwin's going to be pissed at us.
Yes, he will be.
Vorran took Malek where the council was, and he was surprised that they weren't alone. Martouf, Anise, and SG-1 were there. "What's going on?"
"Anise was going to tell us something," Garshaw replied as she looked curiously at Vorran and Malek. "Why are you gripping Malek like that? You are supposed to be guarding David."
Vorran let go of Malek, not realizing he had still be keeping a firm grip. "David's dead."
Garshaw and most of the other members of the council looked surprised, as did SG-1. Martouf looked rather pleased with the news, and Anise didn't seem like she cared either way. All eyes were quickly on Malek. Garshaw stepped closer. "Malek."
"I saw Vorran guarding one of the tunnels and knew David was inside. I used another tunnel to get in and stabbed him in the lungs." Malek took out his knife and laid it on the table the council was at. He saw her disappointment.
Per'sus picked up the knife. "It was not your decision."
Anise stepped closer to Per'sus. "Excuse me, Councilor, but...you're wrong."
Per'sus looked to her. "What?"
"What?" Daniel said. His memory started going over the treaty, but she started quoting.
"Section 12, from paragraphs three and five. 'Any person or persons who knowingly attacks a Tok'ra will be handed over to the Tok'ra council for punishment. The punishment will be decided by the victim, his or her blending partner or former blending partner. If they do not decide, then the decision of the punishment will follow through the following order, the victim's mate, then the council.' See there's a list between Martouf and you."
"Lantash and Martouf gave up the decision, and their mates are dead, so the the decision goes to the council."
"Yes, theygave it up. They each gave it up. They didn't get one vote. They each had a say, right?"
"Of course."
"So would not a former blending partner have a vote?"
Per'sus frowned. "There may have been a mix up on Neeria-"
"That doesn't make it not true." Anise saw the expression he held at being interrupted, but she didn't particularity care that moment. He should be used to her ways by now. "Malek and Martouf were blended for four months. You see how much they care about each other now because of it. They were friends before, yes, but they are so much closer now. The Tok'ra records list them as having been blended. They are, but all definitions, former blending partners. Malek has every right to decide punishment for someone who attacks Martouf."
Per'sus seemed to sigh, and Garshaw spoke up. "You're right." She still looked disappointed. "Though Malek should have spoken to us first..." She trailed off briefly. "Though we were just as wrong in taking the decision away from him." Her expression was mixed now.
Sam frowned, wondering how Jack would take this when he read the report. She knew he wouldn't agree with it. She looked to Daniel and saw he was thinking about the same thing.
"I believe there is nothing else to discuss," Garshaw continued. "Thomas has a choice to make."
"I'll go with you when you tell him," Sam said as she followed her out.
The roomed emptied until Malek and Martouf were left, still the ones in control. Martouf approached. "You avenged me."
"Of course. I told you, you are my former host."
"Yes, but you didn't know the council would see it that way."
Malek seemed surprised that Martouf was surprsied. "My hosts are everything to me. Without them I am nothing." He smiled as Martouf hugged him, and he hugged back. "I had hoped you would be able to visit me in prison if I was sent to Earth."
Martouf gave a slight chuckle as he pulled away. "I would have."
"You are certain."
"My symbiotes are everything to me."
You just wanted to hear him say that, Amb excused with a chuckle.
Malek smiled as he pulled away, but his expression turned serious. "I'll help you prepare for the funeral."
Martouf nodded. "Thank you."
--
Sam had spoken to Thomas, who had chosen to go to Woods, and then spoke to Jack through radio to give him an update. As she suspected, he wasn't happy with the report, however, she, Daniel, and Teal'c had been given permission to attend the funeral. Baker had returned home. Afte that, Sam returned back to the Tok'ra tunnels. She found Martouf wrapping Lance. Malek was wrapping Marshal. "Do either of you want help?"
"Can you hold Copy in place so he doesn't fall?" Martouf asked.
As she moved closer, Sam saw that Lance's hand was over his heart, and in his hand was the wrapped form of a symbiote. She carefully held Copy and Lance's hand in place while Martouf continued wrapping. It was a bit mummy style, but the wraps were much bigger.
"Marshal is covered and sprinked," Malek announced as he finished. "He must be happy his soul is going to be released soon. Daniel would you mind getting the other side?" He gestured to the other side of the stretcher that Marshal was on. Each boy was on a stretcher on a bed.
Daniel went to the other side and waited while Martouf sprinkled oil over Lance's form. Soon the boys were taken down the tunnels and followed by many Tok'ra. They had been quiet about it, but they had seen Lance as almost a hope for the Tok'ra, and that hoped died with him. They were also there out of respect. When they arrived at the gate, Teal'c dialed out to Martouf's home planet, Kiron.
Once there, the group went to the cliff where the resting stones were, and the boys were set on the stones. Martouf was a bit surprised to see how many had followed, including many members of the council.
Don't think of them, Lantash thought as he felt Martouf get nervous.
Martouf knelt by the stretchers, then he looked around worried as he looked for candle. "Malek, did we forget the candles?"
"They are right here," Malek said as he set the candles between the stretchers.
Martouf pointed the candled to Sam to explain. "These candles were specially made. One for each person. As I light each of them, I call the spirit I wish to come. I believe Marshal and Lance should have their grandparents and uncles near when they are released, so they aren't scared."
He saw Daniel paying attention, and he knew the scientist in him was memorizing it all. He also noticed some of the near Tok'ra listening in so they knew what was going on.
Malek dusted off a leave that fell on Marshal on the way in. He didn't hold the same beliefs as Martouf, but he went along with is for his sake. "I wonder if they-" He made a slight gesture to the crowd. "-know you'll be calling Egeria."
"Only if she wants to come," Martouf replied. "The candle only gives her the invite. She only comes if she wants to."
"I'm sure she'd want to be there for her grandsons."
Maybe she's already here, Amb thought. He believed she was somewhere in a nice afterlife, but he didn't think a candle was needed to get her attention. What happens if something goes wrong and the candle blows out.
According to Martouf, that means the spirit either left or never showed up.
Wouldn't that upset him?
I'm guessing that's why they have these funerals in a place where there is very little wind.
Martouf knelt by the candles. "Marshal...Lance...before I release you, I am calling on members of our family...including Lantash...to come so they may help you into the next life." He started lighting the candles as he spoke. "I request my mother, your grandmother...my father, your grandfather...my brother, Marrow, your uncle.. my brother Yirp, your uncle...and Lantash's queen, your...uh...grand-queen."
Malek chuckled to that. He looked up to the crowd. A few smiled to phrase. Many had heard of the conversation about Egeria, and those who hadn't could quickly figure it out.
Martouf frowned when Egeria's candle didn't light right away. He tried again as he frowned more.
Malek knelt down and took the lighter. "Maybe she's just farther away than the others," he excused, figuring it was lightly due to nerves. Martouf's hand had been shaking while lighting the candles. He looked up slightly as Martouf had done and spoke loudly. "Egeria." He lit the candle. "See? She came."
"Thank you."
"Relax."
Martouf stood up as he nodded to himself. "Relax." He started circling around the bodies and speaking in his native language. He heard Malek follow and speaking the same words. He timed each verse with circling the bodies and stopped when he was done after the thirteenth verse. "They're ready." He picked up a torch that Malek had prepared nearby and set his sons on fire. "Goodbye."
"Their family is helping them now." Malek said.
Martouf nodded and walked away. They had to be gone before the fire went out. He stopped outside of the cliffs. He felt and hear regrets from Tok'ra who knew he wasn't in the mood to talk. Hands passed by his shoulder or back. Apologies were given. Kind words were said.
Sam stayed with him, but said nothing. She thought back when he had requested her to be their mother. She wished she had said yes now. This time everyone left but her. Malek was the last to stay with them, but he then followed the others. Daniel and Teal'c were close enough to see her, but too far to hear anything said. She knew Teal'c wouldn't let her out of her site. The planet wasn't the safest one to be on.
Martouf looked to Samantha and played with her hair. "Thank for you for being here for this."
Sam nodded, feeling as if she hadn't really done anything.
"For a whole day, I was a father." He gave a sad smile. "Lantash says I still am."
"He's right."
He seemed to like hearing that. "How long can you stay?"
"A few more hours."
"I need them." He pulled her into a hug before heading to the gate. He made a brief grin. "Lantash is hugging me."
Sam smiled, knowing that symbiotes had different ways of "hugging" their hosts. "He's around your spine, Martouf. He's always hugging you."
Martouf smiled, and he heard Lantash agree with the statement. He reached the gate where Malek was waiting. Teal'c and Daniel had caught up. He dialed slowly before looking back at his world. Lantash?
I love you too, Martouf.
I didn't say anything.
I knew what you were thinking.
Martouf smiled as he started heading up the steps.
And Martouf?
Yes?
I'll always be here for you.
He smiled again. Martouf knew it. He never doubted it, but he still enjoyed hearing it. However many people he would lose in his life, he'd always have Lantash.
-The End-
(I hope you enjoyed the story, and I apologize for my updates taking longer than they were supposed to. Was a bit nervous since some of the character's action are bit extreme. I also hope the story was understandable to those who didn't read "New Life." The friendship between Daniel and Anise sort of got short changed, given that it's mentioned at the beginning. I had planned on writing a bit more about them, but I couldn't find a good way to put it into the story. Also, I have no idea what people think about Drack and Kela'an. I've used them over a few fan fictions now. Anyway, this is starting to become a ramble.
I'll write more, though not exactly sure what the next story will be about. It'll take place in the same "universe" as this one did with other stories. I have an idea that's odd and complicated, but I have no idea if anyone would be interested. Should I keep it simple or add another twist to their lives?)
