A/N: I miss writing. Enjoy!
O/T: An advanced HAPPY BIRTHDAY to matute on June 10! Have a great day, sis! From across the miles... Wow... A Hallmark moment:D
A note on singular, dual, plural & collective in Ancient Egyptian:
sholva – Goa'uld word for a Jaffa "traitor."
sholva'y– indicative of two traitors.
sholva't – indicative of three or more traitors.
Spoiler: Allegiance & Cure
25
Hurry!
His mind screamed and it was echoed by another presence within him. He commanded his legs to move faster, to carry him as fast as they could, across the vast ice wasteland away from the chaos and the fighting, towards a cluster of gargantuan snow-covered stone slabs in a distance.
Snow crunched underfoot as he ran for safety – for safety was beyond those cluster of jagged megaliths, through a narrow pass that cleaved a hundreds feet tall wall-like rock formation that span for who knows how many miles from left to right in two and down a crater-like formation in which the planet's Chappa'ai could be found sitting serenely dead center.
He could still hear the sounds of fighting behind him: men screaming, the shrill whine the engines of the gliders made, the sounds of staff weapons and zats discharging, a couple of dull explosions that erupted here and there both above and on ground...
The scene then changed. What used to be a vast blinding whiteness tall trees and bare earth replaced it. These trees surrounded a shallow 3-kilometer-wide crater-like depression on the rocky ground. To Malek's immediate left stood the planet's Chappa'ai. To his far right were Bratac, Teal'c and a few Jaffa with their staff weapons raised facing the inactive Ancient device. While he flanked Selmak and his host Jacob Carter on their left.
He let Jacob do the talking and merely exchanged glances with his chief of security, Ocker when he saw that the place was crawling not only with Tau'ri and Tok'Ra but Jaffa as well. Malek usually concede to Selmak's better judgment but now he mentally questioned his friend's wisdom of bringing them there: if it was indeed Selmak who had thought of this plan at all.
"This is the base of the Tau'ri…" Malek asked suddenly, assessing the base with a critical eye. On the surface the Tok'Ra leader looked calm and composed but alarm bells were ringing within and hackles rising at the sight of so many Goa'uld foot soldiers walking freely about them. "Why are there Jaffa?"
"Rebel warriors," the daughter of Selmak's host, Major Carter, said.
"Jaffa who turned against Goa'uld?" Malek quirked a brow at this, his amber eyes narrowing as he made another sweep of their surroundings. He hadn't even tried masking the disbelief in his voice upon hearing her answer. Based from the mark on their foreheads, thesesholva't came from different System Lords. "I did not realize their ranks had grown to such a number."
"Hundreds more are operating in secret among the Goa'uld…" the young woman further explained, as if wanting to reassure him.
"Just… like… you." The one the Tau'ris call Colonel O'Neill, leader of SG-1 said with deliberate slowness. He undauntedly stared right back at Malek when the Tok'Ra darted an angry look his way…
Malek was now breathing through his mouth, the air he exhaled instantly turned into wisps of white vapor that instantly disappeared to mingle with the air. Without losing momentum, he took a quick look behind him to check on the progress of his two companions, Yarek and Nee'chos both armed with staff weapons, running a few yards behind him.
A death glider on an intercept course flew harmlessly past them from the east. It was flying too low and, barely a hundred feet from the ground, Malek knew better than to think that it was there merely to scout.
And no sooner had he thought of it when it happened. His heart went to his throat as he watched the glider ascend a few feet up before executing a wide three-hundred-sixty-degree turn as it headed straight back towards them, like a huge predatory bird that had spotted its prey on the ground.
He heard one of the Jaffa shout out a warning as the sound of the glider's engine filled his ears. Malek quickly lunged himself on the hard packed snow, arms over his head as the glider closed in.
The bombardment shook the ground with terrifying force as weapon discharges rained around him one pair after the other in quick, rapid succession. Malek felt chunks of melted snow landing on his back and legs making him shiver involuntarily as icy cold water made contact with fevered skin.
As the fighter roared away, Malek quickly jumped back on his feet and continued to run. He chanced a quick look at the general direction the glider took. It was just starting to ascend and it would take a few more seconds before it could completely execute another turn…
It was pointless.
Their enemy, an Ashrak sent by Anubis, was invisible. It attacked the men guarding the Chappa'ai, hoping to use it to escape the Alpha site upon which a Tok'Ra was hit by friendly fire. During the commotion, it had successfully taken the Tau'ri GDO from Major Pierce, most probably to gain access to Stargate Command to wreak havoc and carnage there if ever it slipped past their blockade.
Tok'Ra knew that the Goa'uld could never directly or indirectly attack the Tau'ri homeworld as long as it was under the protection of the powerful beings called the Asgards. But an invisible Ashrak was a major problem and they had no way of warning SGC to what it was planning without activating the Chappa'ai. It's basically undetectable (unless you have the proper equipment that enables a person to "see" them), therefore, they couldn't blame the attack on the Goa'ulds for lack of evidence and an Ashrak would never allow itself to be captured alive.
But that was not his problem!
"We should leave," Malek said as he marched up to the colonel, hoping to make the Tau'ri leader see that this entire campaign was bound to fail. "Before it attempts another attack!"
"It took the GDO!" Colonel O'Neill angrily told him. "Nobody's going anywhere,"
"Colonel, you saw what it's capable – "
"Yes, I did," the Tau'ri barked at him, his left eye twitching. "That's why I want all available personnel guarding that Gate!"
He was simply being stubborn. "Colonel – "
"Go help, Carter!"
He willed his legs to run faster, to ignore the stitch on his side, or that his body was starting to protest from the abuse, or the feeling that his lungs were about ready to explode.
He heard the undeniable sound of the glider's engine as it came nearer. He looked back again and saw his companions aiming their staff weapons at the incoming Goa'uld fighter.
"Yarek!" Malek shouted with an undeniable urgency in his tone. He unholstered the zat from his belt as he, too, began to track the incoming glider with his eyes.
"Go!" The dark Jaffa turned to him. "Nee'chos and I shall attempt to distract it."
Malek frowned. He took one look at the rocks that looked like sentinels that guarded the pass that lead to their only way off the planet then back at them. The three of them had a much bigger chance of escaping the fighter in there than out here in the open…
They started to work on generating a high-frequency burst to be able to see their invisible enemy. Major Carter was constantly checking the stability of both the naquadah generator and the bubble field that they were creating. Jacob was busy checking and re-checking all connections while he was left to watch the output the altered generator was producing until it reached the required frequency.
Malek tore his eyes away from the monitor and to his surroundings. To his far right was a silent Colonel O'Neill, scanning their surroundings for any signs of the Ashrak. He had his hands cradling the crude Tau'ri weapon his kind always carried, a weapon called P-90. Malek looked left and saw Teal'c and Raknor standing close together with their backs on each other.
"If we all perish, we may no longer be able to carry on the fight," Malek solemnly said as he caught Raknor's eye.
The young Jaffa's answer astounded him. "Jaffa will fight side by side…"
"Go!" Yarek yelled at the Tok'Ra before firing the first shot. "We will be right behind you."
"…and if need be, die side by side," ended Raknor.
Multiple explosions erupted around them. Powdery white snow went flying in different directions making Malek waver a bit on where he stood.
He flinched involuntarily, raising an arm over his head to protect it from any flying projectiles that might be coming his way. But the Tok'Ra saw neither Jaffa moved from their relative positions, continuing their attacks on the passing glider.
It was getting closer forcing Malek to run ahead of it although certain that he could never outrun it fast enough. His only chance was to reach those boulders and hide under them.
Making a wild guess as to his distance from safety, the Tok'Ra made a huge leap of faith and landed roughly between the widest gap in the cluster as the glider flew past him. Malek quickly looked up to see where the fighter had gone to but lost sight of it when the rock outcroppings hid it from view, its engines screaming through the air.
Goa'uld death gliders weren't very maneuverable crafts incapable of making tight three-sixty turns at high velocity. Executing wide arcs to turn properly would slow it down as the ship tries to compensate for the sudden changes on its flight path. And it was all that Yarek and Nee'chos needed to reach the safety of the boulders. But as the Tok'Ra watched, another danger appeared on the crest of a dune behind them: six Jaffa enemies, with weapons blazing, in hot pursuit of his companions.
Malek aimed the zat at the enemies waiting for them to come in range...
He turned to study the tall Tau'ri that was flanking Major Carter with curiosity. He seemed to be their leader, seeing at how Jacob's daughter was standing at a respectful distance from him.
At a glance, there was nothing physically noteworthy about this leader of the Tau'ri warriors. But at closer inspection, Malek sensed that the human was more than what he seemed. He emanated the aura and bearing of a man who was comfortable with giving out commands and having them obeyed by those under him.
"To whom do we owe our thanks for this refuge?" Malek politely asked.
"Col. Jack O'Neill," Jacob began the introductions, "this is Malek. Commander of the Tok'Ra base we had just evacuated…"
You are Tok'Ra?…
The glider completed his turn and made another pass, this time aiming its twin guns on Yarek and Nee'chos. Malek cried out to warn them. But too late. One of the energy discharges landed close to them, sending both Jaffa flying a few feet up in the air and landing facedown on the snow. Malek's right eye twitched involuntarily at the scene unfolding right before him.
He craned his neck to see any sign of movement from the downed men. He wanted to make a run for it, provide them with cover fire from the progressing group and the glider that was making another pass above them. He saw Yarek look his way…
And met Bratac's stare.
His heart stopped for a full minute as he studied the old warrior's face, thin streaks of blood falling freely down the side of the Jaffa's face from a head wound. Although he knew that his end finally came, Bratac's face was astoundingly calm, void of fear or anger. There was determination in his light brown eyes that simply held Malek mesmerized…
Listen!A voice from his head cried. You must listen to me!
The Tok'Ra loosened his tight grip on the trigger when he saw the warrior being pulled away by the invisible enemy deeper into the woods for the kill. Malek wanted to cry out to Colonel O'Neill for help but couldn't. It felt like there was a huge lump stuck in his throat.
To put it bluntly, Malek was paralyzed with fear. Fear for Bratac, fear for himself and for everyone in the doomed planet. He had to warn the rest.
But Bratac…
Hearken to me, Tok'Ra! the voice in his head cried out in alarm. None of what you're seeing is real.
Stop it… stop it, please… he pleaded to the voice…
And it was the same fear that gripped him now as the enemy reached them. Nee'chos began to stir but froze as soon as he felt the nozzle of a staff weapon pressed on his back. Yarek must've said something to Nee'chos for he slowly nodded before glowering at the Jaffa around them.
"We have your comrades, Goa'uld," the leader of the Jaffa called out loud enough for Malek to hear. "Surrender and you're friends will live. You already know what will happen if you do not."
Malek took a peek from where he was hiding and saw a bear of a man with dark red hair facing his way. The glider flew over them one last time before disappearing behind a small hill to Malek's far right.
"Either way," the Jaffa further said, "we will still come after you."
He stopped momentarily, trying to decide what to do, and began weighing his options. There were only two places Malek could go to. The path behind him was his only means of escaping this place with the information the Tok'Ra needed. And the one in front of him spelled certain doom to himself and most probably to the Tok'Ra in the long run. No pressure, right?
If something like this happened before, Malek wouldn't be having a hard time deciding his next course of action for he already knew what to do: run for safety…
"You are no different than the Goa'uld," the Jaffa Artok told him…
Drink this… the voice insisted. And felt cool liquid running smoothly down his throat.
No… no more… please…
"He was defenseless!" Raknor roared, grabbing Malek's left arm in a viselike grip as he passed. The Tok'Ra leader then lets loose a punch that solidly connected with the Jaffa's jaw. All hell broke loose…
"She must be freed immediately, of course!" He commanded heatedly. "She is our Queen! Every moment that she is kept in this condition is an affront to the Tok'Ra! Her freedom is not open for negotiation."
"I'm sorry, but you ask the impossible," Dollen, the leader of the Pangarans told them most regretfully, unable to look Malek straight in the eye.
He was angry. No. He was furious. Malek had never felt such intense emotion before and he had gladly given in to it. He scowled darkly, eyeing the elderly man, who was clearly beside himself after learning the identity of the symbiote they had been doing their experiments upon for over fifty Pangaran years. How dare they deny them of their Queen!
He sensed Kelmaa staring at him. Although they never looked at each other, he knew Kelmaa enough to know that she disproved of the behavior he was showing to them. But… he gritted his teeth, a tic appearing in his jaw, cursing in an old Goa'uld dialect… he simply couldn't stand there and accept this calmly!
If Malek had his way, he'd be heading back to the Chappa'ai and report to the Council of this astounding find. Many would agree to assault this planet if they had to if that's what it takes to have their Queen back with them.
But that would take too long and time was the one thing they do not have. Their Queen was dying. Her cells were degenerating. They must act now
And his temper wasn't helping at all. Malek decided on changing tactics. "You do not understand," he said pleadingly. "Her existence is a miracle to the Tok'Ra. We are also a dying race. You may lose thousands – our kind will become extinct!"
He lurched suddenly forward, clawing his way in the darkness that surrounded him. He tried desperately to breathe but his gag reflexes wouldn't allow him that much even though his lungs were screaming for air. A painful throbbing blossomed from the center of his chest, like it was about to explode as his body tried to force something out of his system.
Malek looked behind him. He was well hidden and, if he decided on running for the pass, he could easily do so without endangering himself, protected by the enormous stone slabs all around him. If they were to pursue him the only way they could do so was to go through the way he came. Even the gliders wouldn't be able to target him that easily…
Let your body relax… do not fight it… you will only bring harm to yourself…
He stood from his hiding place and turned to the direction that would lead him to the only pass through the Chappa'ai and to safety. He knew there were no guards stationed there because it was totally isolated. This was his chance.
Forgive me.
Let go, I say…
"I owe you my life twice over," Malek said, repentant. His relief of seeing the warrior alive flowed through every word he said. "I only hope that I will be given the chance to repay that debt. Forgive me."
Let go…
No.
It doesn't have to end this way.
Before common sense could stop him, before it could freeze his both his feet from taking those first steps, Malek sharply turned his back to safety and slowly marched back to where the enemy Jaffa was holding his companions hostage. He knew full well that this decision might be the last one he'll ever make. But it was nothing compared to the fact that, by surrendering, he had failed in his mission…
He kneeled before her, his dark golden head bowed so low, unable to look at her directly.
"Egeria," he spoke with great reverence, "it is an honor."
Egeria…
He would never forget the day that their long thought dead beloved Queen had spoken to him. It was a most momentous day of his life and also the saddest. He didn't move, waiting a reprimand from her for their ignorance of who she was and Malek would willingly accept the blame for all of it. But the words that came out of her lips completely took him by surprise.
"Rise, Malek," Queen Egeria said to him. "You are not my servant." Her voice was so soft that it almost sounded ethereal. "Kelmaa had been generous in giving her life to free me… but I'm afraid it is too late… my time has almost come…"
Awake I say! The voice was getting louder. Stronger. More persistent than ever. It was pulling both the host and the symbiote away from there and together they resisted it.
They let sorrow wrap them in its dark and gloomy embrace as the Tok'Ra fought back the tears trying to roll down his face. To have found her only to lose her again was painful. Too painful. If Egeria dies, the future of the Tok'Ra dies along with her.
I have failed, he thought bitterly. All hope for the Tok'Ra had been lost and he was the one to be blamed. If he had taken action, if he had gone through the Chappa'ai…
I have failed.
You will, it was that voice again. If you do not open your eyes and wake up!
Malek started violently, opening his eyes wide only to see darkness all around him. And then it began.
Once the retching started, Malek had no way of controlling it. He was on all fours, his back arching upward while his body convulsed in painful spasms as he continued to empty his stomach of its contents right then and there.
After he was quite sure that there was nothing left to extract from his digestive organ, he weakly slumped back on the tent pole he was chained to, closing his eyes as the sudden movement made his world spin dizzily.
As the painful retching gradually loosened its grip on his battered body, leaving him weak and shivering, it was only then that Malek realized he wasn't alone in the chilly dark tent.
He lifted heavy eyes upward, only to have them widen up in alarm. The cause of his distress came from the figure kneeling right beside him.
Maya.
- - - o 0 o - - -
If an on-the-spot survey were to be made around the base, everyone would quickly say that Chief Master Sergeant Walter Harriman, although he occupied a vital position in Stargate Command, was not one to boss people around and they were right. Walter never liked bullies and never did like being bullied. He had a lot of those in his youth and passing the harassment onto those under him would never do him or anyone any good.
But that doesn't mean that the chief Gate operator wasn't one to make exceptions.
After handing in his monthly Gate operations report over to the general and reminding him of tomorrow's schedule, Walter was thinking of the long day ahead. He was scheduled to meet Maj. Carter in the control room an hour later to begin filtering all the unidentified radio transmissions that their database had accumulated for as far as seven to eight months back when he noticed a figure coming towards him from the opposite direction.
Airman Basic Tom Winston.
The Know-It-All kid.
"Chief,"
Walter never broke his stride as he passed the airman with a single purpose of putting a few good distances away from the arrogant kid. But instead of leaving him alone Winston turned around to follow, something that didn't come as a surprise to the silver-haired man knowing the reason behind this but still chose to ignore the kid who was trying to keep up with him.
"Sir," the airman began, "I would like to have a word – "
"Whatever it is, Winston," Walter softly cuts in, sighing dramatically so that the young man could hear. To make it sound more convincing, the Gate operator dropped a little hint of irritation in his voice just enough to get noticed, "can't it wait until I can properly address it? I have an important thing to do and I am running a little late." There was nothing important he had to do between now and his meeting with the major. But the kid doesn't have to know that.
"It's about my added shift, sir," Winston finally said. "There must be some mistake. I can't go on two shifts straight indefinitely!"
"Yes, you can. And it really isn't indefinite. It'll be just three to four days… a week at most. Your added hours aren't categorized as duty shift but research." Walter replied. "It's volunteer work and,"–he turned to lightly tap the young man, who stopped just in time to avoid colliding with him, on the chest with an index finger–"I've decided on volunteering you to the general, knowing how much you liked doing one."
The poor kid could do nothing but stare dumbfounded at Walter as the sergeant enthusiastically tapped the airman on the arm.
"Don't worry," the Gate operator said reassuringly, patronizingly. "I'm sure you're gonna love it."
As Walter turned around, his face split into a self-satisfied smirk, wrinkling his face in a most adorable way. As he was about to enter the control room when he remembered something else.
"And Winston," Walter quickly turned around to look at the airman who was still standing right were he left him and held up both hands in a thumbs-up sign, "make us proud!"
- - - o 0 o - - -
There came a knock on the door of his private quarters. Teal'c came to open it.
"Jonas Quinn,"
Jonas weakly waved in greeting, smiling. "You doing something, Teal'c?" he asked, adjusting his weight on his crutches. "I know it's late and if this isn't the right time…"
Without a word, the Jaffa stepped back and swung the door wide open to let the young man in.
Jonas flashed him a timid smile as he thanked him.
Teal'c watched the Kelownan hobble his way into the foot of the bed clumsily. "Shouldn't you be resting, Jonas Quinn? Dr. Fraiser had you excused from debriefing earlier because you needed to rest."
Jonas cocked his head to one side. "Oh, I've rested. Really," Jonas reassured him when Teal'c looked unconvinced. "But the thing is," he flopped on the mattress with some difficulty but managed to do it without banging his bandaged foot on the floor and placed his crutches aside. "I can't sleep anymore."
"Is your body in need of nourishment?" Teal'c quickly asked. "Perhaps you need some assistance in the commissary?"
The Kelownan shook his head. "Nah. Janet had me eat while I was in the infirmary."
Teal'c sat on the couch closest to the lad. He was puzzled and at the same time relieved that Jonas Quinn was doing rather well than expected after what he had just gone through that day. The Langaran ambassador shifted into a more comfortable position.
"Thanks," –and cocked his head the way he always does whenever he stumbled for the right words to say- "for doing what you guys did back on Langara, getting me and Maj. Reynolds out of there…"
Teal'c couldn't restrain the ghost of a smile to surface on his usually impassive face. Even though it was unnecessary, Jonas Quinn always went out of his way to show his gratitude to even the smallest gesture of help sent his way. Or even to the smallest transgression that the Kelownan thought he had made to anyone. For the Kelownan, it was a habit very hard to break and they all came to realize that it was very much a part of Jonas and there was nothing they could do about it.
"I wonder how long will it take for you guys to get tired of running around after me whenever I get myself in trouble."
His last sentence made Teal'c frown. "Why do you speak as such, Jonas Quinn?" He inquired softly. "Why do you think that we will grow tried of helping you like we do not know each other? Like we are strangers rather than friends?"
The Jaffa saw Jonas blink in surprise. Eyes, the color of the deepest part of Earth's oceans, seemed to dilate in confusion before returning to its normal size as comprehension dawned on him.
"That's not what I… Well, it's not… It's just that…"
It was the first time he heard Jonas Quinn stutter as his hands made erratic motions in the air until he finally gave up.
"Put it this way," Jonas tried once again, "I'm not good in a fight as I used to be. I know I should've at least maintained some semblance of it but there wasn't just enough time for me to – "
"Then begin again," Teal'c cuts in.
Jonas chuckled. "Teal'c – "
But the Jaffa doesn't want to hear any of it. "Meet me at the base gym in fifteen minutes, Jonas Quinn."
"What?" The young man was clearly taken aback. "Now?"
Teal'c turned to look at him. "You had expressed your desire to re-educate yourself on how to fight."
"I didn't," Jonas disclaimed.
He continued as if he hadn't heard the Kelownan. "Now would be a good time to begin your training."
A troubled frown creased the ambassador's face as he held up a hand to slow Teal'c down. "Wait,"
"We will start with the basic Jaffa training normally taught only to our young – "
"Hold out," Jonas fervently grabbed his crutches and with them managed to stand on wobbly feet. They were at least eye level. "Teal'c, I can't."
The Jaffa eyed him curiously. Jonas sighed resignedly as he looked down on himself than back up at Teal'c wearing a see-what-I-mean? look on his face.
"It is inconsequential," Teal'c brushed off the evident obstacle in their path. "You can still learn how to fight," he said.
"Even on crutches?" Jonas asked dubiously.
"Bratac once said that Jaffa has many senses in which to fight."
The Kelownan eyed his friend as if waiting for a catch.
"I will give you thirty minutes to gather everything you need, Jonas Quinn," the huge Jaffa told him as he walked towards the door to open it before turning back to Jonas. "I shall be waiting at the gym."
- - - o 0 o - - -
Malek tried to scurry away but a pair of firm hands painfully gripped both his arms halting his planned retreat.
"Stay still," she gently urged him, not loosening her grip on him even though she saw him visibly wince. "It would only make matters worse for you if you try to move."
The Tok'Ra tightly closed his eyes. Although the temperature was near to freezing, beads of perspiration freely ran down his face. Malek could feel them running with wild abandon down his back, his chest, on his neck… everywhere. His labored breathing was the only noise he could hear aside from the soft chinking sound the chain, which connected his shackles to the tent pole, made.
Maya's beautiful face hovered very close to his as soon as he opened his eyes. Malek fought the urge to flinch and instead mentally readied himself for another round of torment.
"Malek of the Tok'Ra," she whispered softly. "Child of the rebel queen Egeria. It has been quite a while since I encountered one of your kind. His lordship shall be most delighted of this find."
Malek closed his eyes in anguish. He groaned inwardly at that thought of how easily they had uncovered his true identity. Now that they had been found out, the agent knew that he and his host were now a liability to the Tok'Ra.
"I would rather die than betray the Tok'Ra." Malek defiantly said.
He heard her grunt and as he turned to see what he could of her, his eyes stared at the soft, creamy flesh of her neck. It was so tempting to reach out and crush her windpipe with his bare hands.
"I know you would, Tok'Ra," her words ended in a soft laugh. Her lips curled in a pleased smile. "But that won't be necessary. I wouldn't let it happen."
Maya moved in closer to whisper in his ear. Malek couldn't stop himself from shivering when her warm breath touched his clammy skin as she softly said, "I will help you escape."