Chapter 13- Infant Goa'uld and a Close Call
They ran all the way to the stargate. Laura felt a stitch in her side, but whatever was happening to Skaara took precedence. They couldn't allow what happened to Sha're to happen to Skaara. Having the knowledge of the Goa'uld who fathered Laura was a terrible burden as she was born with it. She knew what it was like to have the knowledge and not ask for it.
"We've got less than an hour. How are we doin'? Jack asked, looking at his watch.
"We lost a few when we got to the forest," Carter said, breathing hard.
"They will be hunted down and killed. Anyone who does not exist to serve the gods is their enemy," Teal'C said bluntly.
"He's right, Dad. The Goa'uld don't let prisoners escape alive. It is what Apophis did to the other women in his beauty contest, right?" Laura asked Teal'C.
"That is correct, Harcesis," Teal'C said in affirmation.
"Teal'C, may name is Laura O'Neill," Laura said as they ran.
"Unusual name," Teal'C said.
"No more so that Teal'C," Laura said with a sharp gasp as they ran and a slight pain went through her feet. Running to the stargate may not have been a good idea.
"And you serving them, that makes you-" Jack started to ask.
"I am a Jaffa; bred to serve that they might live," Teal'C said almost angrily.
"I don't understand," Daniel said.
"Jaffa carries the Goa'uld, Daniel. Teal'C show them your stomach," Laura said. Teal'C moved his chainmail and at the cut in his stomach a smallish looking Goa'uld revealed its head. One woman screamed and they backed up slightly at the hissing parasite.
"What is that?" Jack asked.
"It is an infant Goa'uld, Dad, the larva form of what the Jaffa consider gods. Teal'C has carried one since he was a child, as all the Jaffa carry one," Laura said as they all started walking again, and she tried to get rid of the revulsion she felt at seeing a Goa'uld. It was one thing to know that parasite was what made her knowledge. It was another to actually look at said parasite.
"Get it out of there," Jack said in disgust.
"In exchange for carrying the infant Goa'uld until maturity, a Jaffa receives perfect health and long life. If I were to remove it, I would eventually die," Teal'C said.
"Heck, if I were you I'd take my chances," Jack said as he walked ahead.
Laura looked up. Goa'uld teltacas were flying everywhere in the sky. One of them had to be carrying Apophis, his new queen, and the new children. "All right, people! Let's go! Let's move!" Jack bellowed as one of the teltacas landed next to the stargate. Everyone ran to the gate.
Teal'C slowed in front of Jack and Laura sidled up to them. "The boy you seek is no longer who he was," Teal'C said in a slow ominous voice.
"You mean he could be a Goa'uld already?" Laura asked, the implications of Teal'C's words, hitting her between the eyes.
"Yes, young Harcesis. He now has the memory of the Goa'uld inside him. Much as you carry the memory of the Goa'uld who fathered you," Teal'C said.
"I don't want to hear that," Jack said stubbornly as he walked away.
"Don't mind him, Teal'C. Dad doesn't believe in leaving people behind. But tell me, is there hope for Sha're and Skaara?" Laura asked.
"You are a harcesis. You should know that the Goa'uld don't release their hosts willingly," Teal'C said brusquely.
"You're right. I just had to know. I haven't been in this kind of dangerous game in a long time," Laura said as they took off after Jack.
"Take cover!" Laura heard Jack shout. She looked up in time to see a death glider's weaponry take aim at them. She took off running as fire bolts hit the ground in front and behind her. She felt Jack pull her down as the glider flew away and came back in a circle to fire again. Laura, Jack, and Teal'C got to their knees and Jack and Teal'C took aim at the glider with the staff weapons in their hands.. The glider blasted the ground.
"Colonel, we're sitting ducks here," Carter shouted as the glider sprayed dirt at them. A bolt from somewhere behind them hit the glider. Laura turned sharply to see a man with a grenade launcher half a mile away. Laura breathed a sigh of relief as everyone cheered. Now they could continue to go to the gate and not be shot.
"Kawalsky," Jack said to Carter, the relief obvious on his face. Kawalsky and his three companions on the ridge cheered
"Come on, folks!" Jack shouted to the people behind them.
"Come on, people!" Carter shouted as well.
"Up the hill!" Jack shouted and they all ran to the ridge.
"Great shot. How many are there?" Jack asked as soon as he was close enough to Kawalsky to ask.
"A dozen. Maybe more. They're headed back for the gate," Kawalsky said with a grunt.
"What about Skaara?" Jack asked.
"He's with them," Kawalsky said, confirming what Teal'C had said earlier about Skaara now being Klorel, Apophis's son.
"Colonel, we don't have much time before they lock us out," Kawalsky said as they made their way to the gate. Laura hoped that this sense of urgency wasn't about Skaara. If so it was too late. They would have to rescue him and Sha're on another day. The first thing to do was go through the gate and get these people back where they lived before the Goa'uld took them.
