Title: End of the line (part four) Breaking point
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: The Devil you Know, Meridian
Summary: Following on from part three, Martouf aids in the rescue of Sam and Jacob, but will they get there in time? (NB: 'Divide and Conquer' never happened, Martouf is still alive!)
Disclaimer: None of the characters in this story belong to me. They are the property of MGM Worldwide, Gekko Film Corp and Double Secret Productions. No copyright infringement intended.
~ End of the line part four: Breaking point ~
Copyright © 2003, Ruth
**********
Sam awoke to the familiar sound of heavy, metallic Jaffa footsteps. She had not managed to wake her father, and feared for his life.
The door slid open, and two large Jaffa came in and moved towards her father.
"Where are you taking him?" she asked. When the Jaffa did not answer her, she shouted, "WHERE ARE YOU TAKING HIM?"
"Apophis wishes to see him," said one of the Jaffa, and promptly whacked her around the head with his staff weapon. The heavy blow sent her spinning to the floor.
The doors slid shut, and Sam passed out.
**********
"I must leave now!" said Martouf, getting up out of his bed, despite Janet's protests.
"Martouf, I'm not sure that you're strong enough to…"
"Lantash will heal me! For now, I must help Samantha!"
"Hey, Marty!" said Jack, walking into the infirmary. "Feelin' better?"
"I would feel better if I could be looking for Samantha and Selmak! There is no point in me remaining here!"
"Well, doc' Frasier's nearly always right about medical matters, Marty, I'd listen to her if I were you!"
"Then it is a good job that you are not I, colonel. If we do not depart soon, Samantha and Selmak will die!"
"Marty, they've survived it before…"
"Precisely, colonel. They have been tortured before, therefore Apophis knows their weaknesses. He will most likely kill Selmak first, in front of Samantha. Then he will probably use her as a host. This is the fate you chose for your friends in keeping me here!"
"I'll have a word with General Hammond, then, but don't expect any miracles!" said Jack.
"I am still against this, though," said Janet, "You suffered very severe injuries, Martouf."
"I understand that you are concerned for my welfare, Dr Frasier, and for saving my life I am in your debt, but I must find Samantha. She and Selmak mean a great deal to me."
"I understand," said Janet.
**********
Sam awoke to the taste of blood in her mouth. She put her hand to her head and it came away with a streak of warm blood on it. Her blood. She struggled to sit up, still dizzy from the staff weapon's heavy blow. She was nauseous, and the room span before her eyes. She could not see her father anywhere.
"Aaagghh!" Jacob yelled as Apophis zatted him.
"Tok'ra Shol'va! You will tell me where your pitiful race has fled! If you do not, I will kill your daughter!"
Jacob moaned softly, pain overcoming him.
"Jaffa! Kree! Bring me the Tau'ri woman!"
"Yes, my lord!"
**********
The Stargate engaged. Martouf practically ran up the ramp and exited the gate on Vorash. He did not wait for Jack, Jonas and Teal'c, he just kept on running.
"Hey, Marty!" yelled Jack, annoyed. "You wanna slow down a tad?"
"If we do not arrive soon, we will be too late to save Samantha and Selmak!" he shouted over his shoulder.
"He does have a valuable point, O'Neill," said Teal'c.
Jonas puffed. All this exercise was making him hungry.
"So, Marty, what exactly do you intend to do if we can't find a ship?" asked Jack.
Martouf stopped running and thought for a moment. "I had not thought of that eventuality. I am much hoping that a ship still remains. If not, I do not know what to do."
"Oh, great. You see that's what pisses me off about you Tok'ra! You talk first, think later!"
"Colonel O'Neill, I do not believe this is the time for your opinions of the Tok'ra infrastructure. The lives of two of my friends are at stake here."
"Three," said Martouf, "Including Selmak. Teal'c bowed his head in an apology, which was difficult whilst running.
Jack wondered why Jonas hadn't said anything. He was normally too talkative for his own liking.
"You okay, Jonas?" asked Jack.
"Yes, colonel. I'm worried about Major Carter, sir. She's been a good friend to me, sir."
Geek, thought Jack.
**********
Sam was thrown on her knees in front of Apophis. Wincing at the many pains in her weakened body, she looked up at Apophis.
"Tau'ri. Your father has been extremely forthcoming."
"I don't believe that!" said Sam, "My father and Selmak would never tell you anything! Neither will I!"
Apophis laughed. "You have spirit, Tau'ri."
"I'm not afraid of your torture!" she said, looking over at her father who leant against a wall, bleeding.
"I thought not. But, Tau'ri, I doubt you will be so brave in the face of becoming a new host to one of my people."
Sam swallowed. He had a point there.
Apophis grinned evilly, knowing that he had now succeeded in scaring the crap out of her.
"If you do not tell me what I wish to know, you will be the new host to my queen!"
"Ammonet is dead!" said Sam.
"My new queen," said Apophis, motioning to the Jaffa to prop Jacob up, so that he could see and hear everything that was going on.
"You will tell me, Tau'ri!" said Apophis.
Sam took a deep breath. "I would sooner die than become a host to a parasite such as you!"
Apophis hissed. "You do not have that choice, Tau'ri! I shall do with you what I please!"
**********
"Yes!" said Martouf, with a smile of relief. He had discovered a large ship, almost identical to that which they had escaped from Netu in. How it had been missed by Apophis' forces he did not know, but all he could think about was finding Sam and Selmak/Jacob.
The four men got aboard the ship, and Martouf sat at the controls. He bowed his head and closed his eyes, allowing Lantash to speak.
"This will be a bumpy ride. I suggest that you remain seated until I say otherwise."
"Yeah, whatever," said Jack, who remained standing.
"I would sit down, O'Neill. Lantash is correct - you will fall down."
"Yeah, whatever!"
-thud-
**********
"Tok'ra! Hear me! Tell me what I wish to know, or I will turn your daughter into a host for my new queen!"
"You son of a bitch!" spat Jacob, unable to move.
"Don't tell him anything, dad!" said Sam.
"I do not intend to, Samantha," Selmak answered.
"I do not understand how a father could show such little concern for his own daughter!" said Apophis, "It is most heartless, Tok'ra!"
"What the hell would you know about concern or love?" asked Sam.
Apophis turned back towards her. "I know the love I had for my queen, Ammonet! That love was much greater than your inferior friend, Dr Jackson."
"I don't think so!" said Sam.
"My love for my son is another example," he continued, but Sam laughed weakly.
"You've never even seen him!" she shouted, "And the only reason you want to find him is to kill him! Because he has all the knowledge of the Goa'uld! Well I tell you, you will not find him!"
Apophis paused. "You know the location of my son?"
Oh shit.
"I…"
"You will tell me, or I will kill you!"
"Go ahead!" she said, "Rather that than become a host to your filthy queen!"
Apophis' eyes glowed in anger.
"Jaffa!"
The Jaffa took Jacob between them, and hauled him to his feet.
"Tok'ra, you will tell me what I need to know, NOW!"
With that, Apophis raised his ribbon device over Sam's head and activated it.
The intense, fiery pain ripped through her head again. Tears came to her eyes as she struggled against the pain.
"Dad….don't….tell……him………….anything!" she gasped.
Selmak looked on helplessly as Sam's body grew weaker and fell towards the floor, cruelly as in slow motion.
"I…there were no Tok'ra survivors!" Selmak said desperately, feeling her host's inner distress.
"You lie, Tok'ra!" said Apophis, and kept the device over Sam's head.
Selmak retreated, leaving Jacob to watch in agony as his daughter was slowly killed before his eyes.
"I…"
"Dad……..don't!" she whispered weakly.
Tears came from Jacob's eyes as he looked up at Apophis. "Please! Spare my daughter!"
Apophis did not even acknowledge his presence.
"I love you, Sam!" he said, tears falling down his cheeks.
"I….love……you……too…………dad!"
-TO BE CONTINUED-
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