They continued walking for most of the day, taking only short breaks. Everything was peaceful - no Jaffa seemed to be following.
The Tok'ra were quiet most of the time, thinking about the friend they had lost. Lantash in particular was mourning. He let Martouf stay in control during much of the journey, and did not say much unless spoken to. He seemed deep in his own thoughts, and did his best to shield his feelings - trying to protect his new host from most of his grief.
Evening fell and they set up camp near another small stream. They did not dare light a fire, and had to eat their food cold. Fortunately, the night was quite warm and their blankets were enough to protect them.
*Lantash...I am sorry to disturb you with this...I know you have your own grief, but I can not stop thinking about my family...* Martouf said. He had been trying to sleep, but found it difficult.
*I understand you very well...* Lantash hugged him. *While the Tok'ra can not replace them, know that we are your family now...you will never be alone again. We may both have many things to mourn, but at least there will always be someone to share good and ill fortune. This will make good times better and bad times manageable.* He actually sounded a little happier himself. *We should complete the blending. I am ready now. I have spent the day coming to terms with what has happened. You will still feel my grief - I cannot avoid that. It will not be as overwhelming as it would have been earlier today. With a full blending we will know each other much, much better. It will help us both through this time.*
*It...it sounds like it...like it might be a good idea...Lantash, will it change me? I will still be me? Is there anything specific I should do?*
*Do not worry - you will still be you.* Lantash smiled. *We will share many of our memories, thoughts, and dreams. The bond will become closer and stronger...our feelings will start to merge and synchronize. Eventually, stronger feelings always end up being shared in a truly symbiotic relationship. As to what you should do? Just relax and I will guide you...afterwards we will get some sleep...we need our strength.*
-
Next morning.
*Lantash...I had an...interesting dream tonight. About a woman whom I have never met...she was very...um...very affectionate...*
*It was my dream...* Lantash blushed slightly, *about my mates...Rosha and Jolinar...*
*Wow...she...they are very beautiful...is it not strange that I sensed your dream - and even thought it was my own?*
*No, it is not unusual to share dreams. It happens quite often. Though normally not this early in a blending...it is a good sign. We are a very good match. The differences and similarities in our personalities complement each other well. Our bond is already strong.*
They got up and got ready, together with the others. After a quick breakfast they started again towards the mountains. They walked the whole day without any signs of enemies, and were finally starting to feel safer.
"When we reach the mountains and we will look for a cave where we can hide for a week or so. After that, someone should go to the nearest town and see if there is news of anyone being instated as 'Lord' of this world." Malek said.
"Yes. Hopefully Nephthys would not wish to stay here longer that necessary. She will most likely prefer to go back to her home world and her palace full of obedient slaves. She will appoint someone else to rule for her." Thoran agreed.
"If we are fortunate, one of the Tok'ra undercover at her court will be able to get that position...then we can contact them and maybe get help in leaving this planet." Malek looked thoughtful. "The politicians who betrayed us will have given Nephthys descriptions of us, or perhaps even pictures. I remember some were taken at one of the receptions, despite our objections. This means Martouf and Lantash should be the ones to go."
"I thought they were looking for me as well?"
"They are, but presumably not actively...yet, at least. They may or may not have your image, but we are a far greater prize for Nephthys and she would have made sure all the Jaffa have our description. She will not have gone to that much trouble yet for anyone else."
"We will go then. It is also an advantage that I know much of the area and that I am a local whom people will not be suspicious of. Knowing the culture I will blend in better, and perhaps even meet people I know."
They continued their journey without incident. Eventually they reached the area where the trees gave way to mountains.
"It is too dangerous to climb the paths tonight. Some of the terrain is quite treacherous. We should wait until tomorrow morning." Martouf suggested.
They found a shielded spot behind a thicket of small trees and bushes. They wrapped themselves in their blankets and quickly fell asleep. The air was warmer than the night before, and very humid. Hopefully they would find a cave for tomorrow night, as it would soon rain. The thunderstorms could be bad this time of year.
Next day they got up shortly after day break. They followed one of the mountain trails for some time. After much searching they found a cave, which was very well hidden. Another bonus was the small water stream running along the side of it. This gave them a welcome opportunity to bathe, as well as easy access to drinking water.
The week Martouf spent in the cave together with the Tok'ra gave him time to get to know them much better. It also gave him the opportunity to learn some of the background history of the Tok'ra. While the three other Tok'ra had been little more than infants when Egeria was captured, Thoran was born almost a century earlier. He therefore had many memories of Egeria. He happily told his stories about the queen who spawned the Tok'ra to a new person who had never heard them before. The others politely pretended to listen, while Lantash just gave Martouf control and took a nap, having heard the stories several times before.
A week later Martouf/Lantash walked to the nearest town. Thankfully, the road was both shorter and easier than the one through the forest. The journey took them just under 2 days. They arrived in the early morning and the streets were still deserted. There were signs of plundering and devastation everywhere. After having spent almost two weeks either in the forests or in a mountain cave, they had almost managed to forget what had happened to the planet. It was a depressing sight - and it seemed to be getting worse as they walked towards the capital.
They had hoped to find a newspaper, or maybe a tele-ball to hear a broadcast, but they found nothing. Eventually, they decided to wait where they were until someone passed by. They would then ask them if there was any news. Martouf would tell them he had fled the violence during the attack and hid in the forest, and that he was just now returning to look for friends and family - hoping the worst was over.
Several hours passed. It was now near noon, and they had still not seen any people.
*Lantash, where is everyone? Could we not try to knock on a door and just ask someone?*
Lantash was quiet for a moment. *We could...but we should be careful, as we do not know what has happened and how they will react. They may even attack us...*
*Attackus? Setonans are peaceful! We have very little crime. They would certainly receive us in a friendly way.*
*Yes, indeed. You were a friendly, peaceful people. What has happened may very well have changed that - caused them to become more cautious and even hostile to strangers.*
*Do you think that is why no one is in the streets? Because they are afraid of each other? Because it is dangerous out here?*
*Possibly, but...Martouf...you must understand that it is also very likely that they were all killed for some minor infraction. To make an example...or they may have been taken to work as slaves, or some perhaps to become hosts...but we will try your idea...carefully.*
They selected a house which looked somewhat less battered than the others, though it was just as dark. Slowly and apprehensively they snuck up to a window and looked in. There were no one to be seen. Peaking through some of the other windows gave no more information. Finally they went to the door and knocked. When no one answered, they tried the door. It was unlocked and they went inside.
"Hello? Is anyone home? Are you in need of assistance?" Martouf yelled. They waited for a couple of minutes, but no answer came.
Looking around they closed the door behind them. They then carefully continued further in, examining every room. The occupants seemed to have left in a hurry. Plates with half-eaten...whatever it had once been - were still standing on the table.
Soon they had looked everywhere, and even Lantash was convinced that no one was anywhere in the building. They began looking for any indication of what had happened to the people who had lived there. They also hoped for a news broadcast informing of a new Lord being instated as ruler of this planet.
*Why is there still no electricity? They should have had morethan enough time to repair it. It has been almost two weeks since the attack!*
*I believe this is deliberate. Nephthys does not want the population to retain their current level of technology. Your mines and refineries will have power, but everything else is probably shut down. She will need to put fear into peoples hearts and she believes that will be much easier when they do not have any of their daily comforts.*
Martouf nodded. Looking around, they found a battery-operated comm-video - a smaller version of the tele-balls. It was meant for emergency situations or just to bring on vacations. They turned it on. The same message was broadcast on all channels. It was on repeat.
"Subjects of Lord Nephthys, thus speak your goddess," said the Jaffa with the golden tattoo - Nephthys's first prime, Martouf now knew. Then the screen changed to show Nephthys. She was dressed in new and even more outrageous clothing than what she had been wearing in the earlier broadcast Lantash had seen. He was actually impressed by the feat.
*Have they negative fashion sense?* Lantash groaned before they both returned their attention to the screen. Nephthys started speaking.
"Children, I have wonderful news. I have appointed Lord Zefina as my viceroy. She speaks with my voice and her commands are my commands. Obey her!" The image changed to show an attractive young woman wearing something a lot more tasteful than Nephthys. She flashed her eyes briefly and lifted her head, smiling arrogantly. For some reason Lantash grinned at that. Then Zefina started speaking.
"I hear and obey your command. Your will shall be done."
Nephthys nodded graciously, and the image changed back to the Jaffa.
"Thus spoke your Goddess! Disobedience will incur the wrath of Lord Zefina! She is to receive offerings from her loving subjects every Thursday at noon. Forget not the disgrace of last week! In your greed you cheated Lord Nephthys of her rightful gifts. The suburbs Silran, Vetan, and Calvar paid the price for your blasphemy!" The image changed to show Jaffa capturing crying people in their houses, then to show slaves in a mine. "Next week it could be you! Zefina's power is great, as is her wrath when she is wronged! Obey!" He bowed and the screen went black. Moments later the message restarted.
Lantash turned it off. He again smiled a little. *Zefina is Tok'ra - she is one of our undercover agents. We are indeed fortunate. Now we need to find a way to contact her without compromising her position...* he realised Martouf was very quiet. *I am sorry...thistown is called Silran?*
*Yes, it is the northern-most suburb of our capital...so now we know...they are slaves.*
*True...that is why no one is here. It is regrettable, but we can do nothing to help them. Hopefully, Zefina can at least ease their burdens some, but she must be very careful.*
They freshened up as best they could, using some bottled water. Going through the closets, they found some clothes that fit them. They would have had no chance getting to Zefina wearing rags.
*How are we going to do this? I assume we can't just walkinto 'our beloved Goddess's' palace and ask to talk to her?*
*No, but remember those offerings they mentioned? I have the jewelry we originally brought to pretend to sell, in our backpack. It is beautiful and of very good quality - very expensive. It should do nicely as a gift.*
*Great! So we show up at the palace and give them the jewelry and ask to see her...hand it over personally. What stops the guards from just taking it and telling us to get lost? Even if they do give it to her or say to her we want to meet her, why would she agree to it?*
*In situations such as this, when offerings are expected, it is normal to let the giver approach to present the gift - to let them come forward and be in awe and fear of their Lord - to please the Goa'uld, I guess. They need to impress their subjects and reinforce the idea that they are gods - and by letting a few bow in front of them while they sit in their glory probably does the trick. In any case, the Jaffa would not dare hinder it.*
*All right...Lantash you said symbiotes could sense each other within 50 feet or so - will we not get that close to her?...will there be other Goa'uld?...and how will we convince her of who we are...she doesn't know me and if others are present we can't tell her anything...* Martouf sounded worried.
*Lots of questions!* Lantash smiled. *First, yes. We will get close enough for her to sense you are a host. Since you will be doing the talking, she will suspect we are Tok'ra...something which will be confirmed when she looks at the offerings you bring her - I will hide a Tok'ra tunnel crystal among them. She will then think of some way to get to talk to us in private...and, by the way, there will be no Goa'uld present - only Zefina is pretending to be one. The Goa'uld are not usually interested in having others of their kind close by, unless it is a mate or a trusted underling. They treat all others as rivals.*
Making sure they brought some clean clothing for their meeting with 'Lord' Zefina, they packed what food they could find and started walking. They would easily arrive in time for the announced offering.