Chapter 16: Morning Routine

Marco was reading over reports. "Good morning, Saroosh," he greeted as she walked in.

"Good morning. Be careful, she's still sleeping." She gestured to her head.

Per'sus wiggled. I wish I could sleep in.

You can. I'm the one working. Besides, Selmak was up late last night.

Cordesh walked in, followed by Jaydin.

"I see Jaydin gave Nelay'en a…special welcome, Marco teased.

"Ha ha," Cordesh replied. "For your information, Jaydin was not in my bed last night."

"Aren't you usually in hers?" Saroosh asked.

Jaydin laughed. "Usually, but not last night. I was…busy."

Marco laughed. As did a few others.

"Oh." She waved her hand dismissively. "You are all acting like larvae."

"It's the best I can do this early," Marco replied. "On a more serious note, how is Nelay'en adjusting?"

"He's sleeping better, though we are still dealing with nightmares," Cordesh replied.

Marco nodded.

"So…anything important that I don't need to read about?"

"Ocker and Ren'al finally married," Marco replied.

"Thank the crystals. Haven't they been courting for two hosts now? Who takes that long to get married?"

Garshaw walked in.

"Ah, look who finally got up," Jaydin teased.

"Am I late?" She looked to the clock. "Five minutes." She yawned as she waved dismissively. "Picky. Selmak isn't even awake yet, so she's later than I am."

"Now that is being picky," Saroosh replied.

Garshaw shrugged, then retreated as she picked up a report. Dew crossed her legs, her feet still bare. She was wearing a simple dress that she had thrown on. It was comfortable and soft. Neither of them had wanted to get up that morning.

Marco poured some citrus juice for her, then offered it.

"Thank you." She took it without looking, still reading the report.

"Delek has done well as an outpost commander," Marco said before retreating. "She is seeking to, some day, be on the council."

"She's young," Saroosh replied.

"All of us were leading at a much younger age," Cordesh replied.

"She's also arrogant," Jaydin replied.

"So were we."

"You still are," Saroosh said with a grin.

Cordesh smiled slightly. "Regardless, I do think she has potential.

"As do I," Per'sus replied. "Besides, no one is planning on stepping down anytime soon. She has time to…learn." He smiled slightly. "Does anyone disagree?" He looked around, and no one said anything.

They read more reports as they discussed a variety of other things. New plans. Operatives. The Goa'uld. New dangers.

Before the meeting was over, Jolinar returned after a five year long assignment and gave her report.

"I wouldn't mind going back to trading for a while," she said after.

"You and Lantash work well together," Saroosh said. "He's going to Neeka tomorrow."

Jolinar grinned. "Where we met."

Saroosh smiled.

"Will you be ready?" Per'sus asked.

"That's more than enough time." She grinned. "I like that world. The people are friendly."

"Try to ask for potential healthy hosts," Garshaw added. "We have some people reaching their two hundreds."

"I'll do what I can."

I'm not that far off myself, Marco thought.

Rubbish. You are only 178. Bandile lived to 199, and I have every intention on getting you to 200.

~+~+~.

Per'sus.

No.

I'm not going to make it to 200.

Per'sus slumped as much as a symbiote could in its host.

197 is longer than I would have imagined before you. Marco sighed. I'm sorry.

The fault is mine.

We need to tell the others.

…I know.

~+~+~.

Despite Per'sus protesting, Marco wasn't going to lay in bed and wait to die.

It could give you weeks or months more.

I want to live.

He helped to look for his own replacement, and ended up going with Aldwin to Terrell.

The people were overall friendly, and Per'sus had to admit, this was better than laying in bed. He even took control to look at some books.

"Do you know the language?" Aldwin asked.

"No. The writing is beautiful though."

"I know it to a degree, from a previous host, but that was three hundred years ago. The writing has changed."

"Languages do." Per'sus felt little fingers reach for his coin purse, then pull away. He firmly grabbed a small arm.

"Ahh! Let me go!"

"Are you robbing me?"

The boy, who couldn't possibly be more than seven, jumped at the sound of his voice. He stared with wide eyes. "No," he answered timidly.

Aldwin removed a fancy coin purse off the kid. "Now, I know this doesn't belong to you."

"What is going on here?" A guard asked as he approached.

"I'm innocent," the boy lied.

The guard glared. "Thief! I knew it!" He grabbed the boy's other arm. "Off to jail with you!"

"Is he not a little young for that?" Per'sus asked angrily, not releasing him.

"Normally he'd be taken to his parents, but this one is an orphan. Jail is his only option."

"Does he have any family?"

"I have none," the boy claimed, trying to tug away from both of them.

Per'sus felt bad, but he was not going to let the guard take him.

"He has an older brother and sister." the guard looked to the boy.

Per'sus eyes flared as he saw the grip tighten.

"They probably sent him out to rob."

He released the kid to force the guard to let him go.

"No! They didn't! They-!" The boy's eyes rolled back, and he fell when the guard released him.

Per'sus and Aldwin immediately knelt by him. Per'sus took off his cloak and put it under the boy's head as he shook violently.

"He's having a seizure," Aldwin said. "The boy is sick…and frail. Malnutrition."

"He looks about six years old."

"I believe he is eight."

"Demon!" The guard yelled.

Tears were in the boys eyes as he curled into himself, clearly in pain.

"He's not a demon," Per'sus argued. "He had a seizure."

"I've run a scan on him. He has a brain tumor," Aldwin informed.

"Is that what you call head sickness?" The boy asked, his arms over his face.

"Yes, it would be a head sickness." Per'sus helped the boy sit up. "Have you heard of the Tok'ra?"