Twenty Six

It's Over

Late at night in the Tok'ra tunnels, Sam arrived weary but wired. She pushed through the groups of people outside the council chambers and found her dad overseeing a heated discussion between the scientists. She approached politely.

When he saw her he broke away without a further word to them and grabbed her, growling as he wrapped her up in a strong embrace, "how dare you run off like that!" He was looking her over, still as distraught as when she'd left for Teirkar. "What happened to your feet? Are you ok?" he asked forcing her along to her quarters to sit her down so he could use the healing device on her feet and check her chemical levels.

She observed him hesitantly before she spoke, "we have to talk."

He snickered, "damn straight, we do! You have a lot of explaining to do."

She leant back on the bench and described everything that had happened. Somewhere along the line Jacob had started pacing. He stopped.

"You can't go back there."

"I know, dad."

"It was wrong for him to ask that of you."

Sam looked up, "he wasn't wrong to ask."

"Sammy," he said taking hold of her shoulders and forcing her to look him in the eye, "he was wrong."

After a moment she sighed, "do you understand why I can't hold it against him?"

Jacob let go of her, stood back and shrugged, "you have feelings for him."

"More than feelings, dad. I love him."

There was complete silence. It was so quiet because Martouf and Lantash were too focussed on the problem at hand to be aware of anything else. They simply stood staring through Martouf's reflection in the mirror. In less than an hour Anubis's ship would loom over the fort to destroy everything — Ganev had gotten a message through to Anubis after all.

Again Martouf left the room and passed through the grand doors to the map room. With so little time he needed to clarify his remaining options. He glanced through the maps as he had done many times, this time throwing them to the floor. He couldn't take them with him. Nor the weapons. There was nothing at all worth the trouble of taking.

He dropped into the chair at the table, resting his head in his hand and tried to clear his mind of everything so he could go over what he knew and what he'd learned. After a few minutes he jumped up, passed the shelves of Canopic jars and raced up to the control room ordering everyone back to their quarters for an immediate inspection... but they would be waiting a very long time since he locked down the fort and everyone within it. He went to the hologram chamber, entered the lab and activated the control panel. All the metal bodies crashed onto the glass floor together and struggled in a tangle before losing their residual power. One by one he dragged them onto the rings then into the map room.

Tok'ra first.

He couldn't find any.

Sivkhet, then. She should be all right.

He placed her jar on the trolley and opened it to pull her out. He held her over cockpit of the closest machine, stretching out her body to fit inside the mold. She was suffocating in the air.

Oh, no. Not again!

Water, Martouf!

Martouf scanned the room and saw a water cooler. He tripped over himself to get there, grabbed glass half filled it and rushed over to slosh the water over Sivkhet. Her writhing slowed as the cold water slowly trickled through the machine.

"Use the machine as your host!" he said as the cockpit automatically closed around her.

The machine lay still. It hadn't worked.

Don't panic, Martouf. We have to keep trying. Who else do we recognise?

I'd rather chose someone I don't recognise-

Ashaban of Ptaba, Lantash interrupted, only I can't remember if I know his name good or bad reasons. He took over and chose Ashaban's jar, this time he filled the cockpit with water first and coaxed Ashaban into it.

Perhaps these simbiotes are not young enough...

He turned around and jumped in surprise. A machine was standing up, moving around cautiously.

"Sivkhet."

Her red eyes looked over him and the room, "who are you?"

Martouf placed himself between them and the gate, his mere presence commanding silence. Then made his announcement.

"The universe has changed since you were last aware. If you want to live follow me! Those who accept must obey me."

Slowly, he looked them over then walked through the event horizon and his feet landed on sandy steps. A staff shots aimed from the dunes hit his personal Goa'uld force field but he continued until his feet were upon the sand.

Not far behind the soldiers were forming a very large group. All had accepted his offer. They scattered around surrounding the Tok'ra sentinels, quickly picking them out of the sand and throwing them to the ground unarmed and, as yet, unharmed.

His eyes flashed when he caught sight of Garshaw and Selmac approaching swiftly with backup.

"I have not come back for a slaughter," Lantash announced.

Jacob eyed him coldly. Lantash knew to watch his step. After only a brief moment Samantha appeared above the scene, and ran down to greet him, ignoring the orders barked at her by Jacob.

Lantash swept her up in his arms and returned her fervent kiss. When they stopped to look at each other Lantash moved her to his side as the Tok'ra advanced towards them to take him into custody.

He armed his weapon aiming at them, "that is not what i came for either — I only came for one thing," he said looking at Samantha. "However, if anyone here wishes to join me and my cause they may do so now."

The Tok'ra stopped, awaiting further orders from Jacob and Garshaw who were livid.

"Samantha, will you come with me?" he asked her softly. "It wasn't all for nothing, we've found a way to free symbiotes from stasis!

"We can't do it from here. The council takes too long to act. If we don't use this opportunity now, regardless of where it may ultimately lead, there won't be a future for the Tok'ra at all," he suddenly turned to the others, "did you hear that? This is the way. The only way.

"You can leave at any time you want, Samantha, so come with me now."

She had to take it all in. Her lips parted as she thought, eyes moving over everyone and settled on her team nearby. O'Neil was too shocked to speak. Daniel no less affected, his fingers flexing as he tried to form words. Teal'c had been studying the soldiers pensively and now met her gaze steadily. O'Neil and Daniel bust into argument simultaneously, their words indistinguishable.

"This is an incredible opportunity," she cut in, "for everyone. And it could be just what I need,"

They stared dumbfounded.

"God, Sam, can you just give us a minute to think?" Daniel said.

O'Neil cut him off, "if you go now don't expect to come back!"

At that Daniel gave him a withering look then spoke to Samantha, "you need expensive equipment and resources, Sam, you won't get that if you run away with Lantash."

Martouf spoke up, "On the contrary Dr. Jackson, I have means of getting what I want."

"Look, it's not about that, Daniel. This is revolutionary," she said pointing at the soldiers. "If it doesn't work, if we can't make anything beneficial... I'll know that I tried my best. I can't do any less. I can't pass up an opportunity like this and live with myself. Maybe that means I really am not the same person since Jolinar." As she looked at Martouf smile formed on her lips. She continued to her friends, "I will come back... at some point, if only to see you guys."

"Not if you're dead," O'Neil said.

The validity of his point was obvious to her, "yeah the risk is higher, but so are the possible gains... hopefully they'll outweigh the risks."

Daniel shifted feet, looking away into the desert, hands on his hips, "you've already decided."

"No, forget it! We're going home now and that's an order. Daniel, Teal'c, bring our stuff up."

Martouf touched her arm, "this is not working. Are you sure this is the way to proceed? I don't want animosity between us and your friends and family. I should not have asked you yet, under these circumstances, I see that."

"If I go back with them I won't get another chance to see you. Not after what I've done already. That's the chance I'm not willing to take. What other choice than this is there for us?"

"Very well," he took a deep breath and cast his gaze over everyone, "those who wish to join us, come now and serve under my command."

"We will not be here when you come back, Sam," Selmac warned.

"I'll find you," she said, then looked around trying to imagine the full weight of her decision. She walked over to her team and smiled affectionately. She faced Daniel and he struggled to hold eye contact, his jaw tense.

After a moment he relaxed and gave her a hug, "I'm gonna miss you Sam, a lot. Promise you'll come and see us."

"I promise." She turned to O'Neil, "I'm sorry, sir, I wish I could give you more time... "

He remained stern, "you have the option to, Carter, if you really do wish."

Her eyes narrowed in thought as she tried to say more, tried to explain so he wouldn't be able to hold it against her. At that moment that seemed like the impossible. She couldn't accomplish it then and there anyway, so she wished him well, said goodbye then turned to Teal'c.

He looked down on her with the hint of a smile, "you will not be getting rid of me so easily, Major Carter. I will accompany you."

Her eyes widened, "oh! Well are you packed?"

"A warrior such as myself has little need for survival gear.... however should you require yours I will gladly retrieve it for you."

"Thank you, Teal'c," she beamed then moved to her dad as Teal'c started back to the rings.

She didn't say anything at first, simply gave him a hug. He did not let go.

"Dad, you're hurting me!"

The tone of her voice made Martouf rush forward. So did her team but all were hesitant to act. Teal'c certainly would not place himself between a father and child.

"Ah, Jake... a girl's gotta do," O'Neil said coming closer.

"This girl aint gonna do that as long as I'm around."

Martouf had hoped things wouldn't go this way but he was the only one who would be able to stand up to Jacob with brute force. Sam was struggling to get free without hurting her dad. It was time to act.

"Release her immediately!"

Jacob glared, "get lost kid. You're not welcome anymore."

Martouf took a deep breath and became completely still and silent. He was about to make the most difficult decision of his life. He would risk losing Samantha forever.

He ordered his soldiers forward to retrieve her, "do not hurt either of them."

Sam stared in disbelief, struggling harder, "dad, let me go."

"You think you can take her away from me like this? You know nothing of love," Jacob yelled but Martouf did not take back his order.

Two soldiers quickened through the sand knocking aside those Tok'ra who stood in their way. One grabbed Jacob from behind, captured his hands and slowly, gently but irresistibly loosened his grip on Samantha. The other carried her back to the gate.

She was unable to run free, "Martouf, no, I have to stay!"

When he reached her he looked at her sadly, "the damage has been done, my love."

The soldier carried her over the gate steps. She called back, "I love you, dad. Don't worry about me. I'll take care of myself."

It wasn't clear if he heard her, he was shooting at Martouf.

"She will be protected, Jacob," Martouf said following.

"Indeed."