Warning for implied rape.

~18 Symbiotes~

"Play! Play!" The young larva squealed. She and her batch mates were only five days old.

Many swam towards her.

"Play! Spin! Twirl!" They squeaked.

Around and around she swam with them. They swirled in the water, making themselves dizzy.

"Wheee!"

~+~+~.

Jaydin turned on the alarm to let everyone know that the base was to be evacuated immediately. Then she headed towards their personal quarters.

It's been a while, her host Liandra thought. The last evacuation was was from before me.

Yes. With a previous host. I have done this many times. We'll be fine.

I'm just a little nervous.

Jaydin smiled, pausing briefly to sooth her. You are still young.

I'm 39.

Yes?

Liandra gave an internal grin. I suppose that is young to you.

~18 Symbiotes~

For a day, Jaydin watched as her batch mates were taken, a few at a time, to blend with their first hosts. They seemed so grown up when they returned.

But one didn't return.

"Mud did not survive the blending."

Jaydin and the other larvae squealed in sorrow. Mud was their playmate, their friend, their sibling.

And the truth was, the death made blending a little more scary.

"Freckles did not survive the blending."

"We will," Jaydin assured the others.

~+~+~.

Jaydin went to her quarters to pack.

What of Per'sus? Liandra thought in worry. What if he returns home while the Goa'uld are attacking?

Someone will be sent out to warn him, Jaydin assured.

~16 Symbiotes~.

Soon, it was her time, and Jaydin wiggled in excitement.

"Blend! Blend!" She and three others squealed. They had been among the last ones to blend.

They were carried into a room with gentle hands. On the floor, four humans were sitting in beds. Jaydin squealed when she saw her future host.

"Tree," the woman greeted cheerfully, as Jaydin hadn't truly selected a new name yet.

Jaydin was placed in the woman's lap, and Jaydin joyfully squeaked when her host-to-be ran her fingers down her fins.

"I am ready."

Jaydin jumped into her. Memories that she had been born with had been her guide. Burrow. Find the neck. Wrap around her spine as she entered into the brain. She made a connection immediately, feeling the woman's pain.

I'll heal you, she promised as she eased the young woman's pain. Control was automatic. Her new host was temporarily dazed.

Iunia?

Uh? Is that you?

Yes, and I have selected my new name. Jaydin. She wiggled nervously. Do you like it?

It's a beautiful name.

Thank you! She stood as she approached the others.

Her stomach turned when she saw a young man with dark hair kneeling by the body of another young man.

"Who?" Her eyes prickled.

"Algae didn't survive the blending," he answered softly.

I'm so sorry, Iunia thought.

It's always a risk. Her eyes watered, and she sniffled.

Another man, older with gray hair, rushed to her in worry. "You are ill!"

No, you aren't sick, Iunia thought quickly. You are crying. That's how humans express sadness.

This is normal?

Yes. You just lost a sibling. Crying is normal.

She saw that the other two men held expressions of curiosity, and she suspected that their hosts were telling them the same. The one with dark hair also had the same eye leakage.

Tears. We call them tears.

Jaydin blushed. She should have known this.

"My name is Cordesh now," said the one with an older host. "You?"

"Jaydin."

"Per'sus," answered the one with dark hair. He brushed the hair of Algae's host back.

The one who had carried Jaydin in approach the group. He was a sibling from an older batch. "We'll take care of Algae and the host. The three of you should eat and rest.

They left.

~+~+~.

They were always ready to move out. Jaydin didn't have much to do. She did wish she was wearing a dress that allowed for more freedom in movement.

But we look so pretty, Liandra thought.

Jaydin smiled.

They had put the dress on after hearing that they had visitors.

~15 Symbiotes~

Jaydin laughed as they danced. "Happy thirteenth birthday."

"Happy thirteenth birthday." Cordesh grinned.

~+~+~.

Someone came into her room. Jaydin looked over to see her batch mate.

"Cordesh," Jaydin greeted with a smile, wondering why he was there. It was unusual.

Maybe he also worries about Per'sus.

Maybe.

Cordesh struck her without warning.

~14 Symbiotes~

Jaydin sat by a crying Cordesh.

"Leave me alone."

"I'm sorry."

"You don't understand."

"No." She had not yet lost a host.

"I said leave me alone."

She nodded, then got up and began walking away.

"Jaydiiin."

She sat by him again, then hugged him.

He leaned into her and sobbed.

~+~+~.

She was dazed and on the floor. Her wrists were grabbed, and she was painfully pinned down. She screamed, hoping desperately that someone would hear her.

Why would her brother do this to her? What was he doing to her?

He wants to hurt us? Liandra thought, angry and confused.

None of this made any sense.

~9 Symbiotes~

In a spar, Jaydin was thrown on to her back.

"You need to do better than that," Cordesh teased.

"That wasn't fair. You surprised me."

Per'sus laughed. "The enemy won't be fair either." He and Cordesh each took a hand and helped her up.

"Thank you."

"I'll always watch out for you," Cordesh assured as he tenderly soothed her hair. "You are not too hurt?" Concern etched his face.

"No, I can easily heal this."

"Good." He kissed her temple.

~+~+~.

Her scream became stifled as he forced his mouth on hers. He grabbed the back of her neck, holding her in place when she tried to turn away.

She heard squealing, and acid turned her stomach as she realized his actual plan.

~3 Symbiotes~.

Jaydin smiled. "You love him."

Per'sus looked over to her. "My heart belongs to Egeria."

"I know, but it has been a thousand years since she died."

"I have always loved you both."

"But it's different now."

He glanced away.

"I won't stand in your way."

~+~+~.

He left his host, entering through Liandra's mouth.

Get out! Liandra thought, knowing that Jaydin would be crushed.

I'm not abandoning you.

Fight him! Liandra begged.

~3 Symbiotes~.

Per'sus frowned slightly. "Jaydin, is that you?"

"Yes." She glanced down. "Alix was killed by Jaffa."

"I'm sorry." He immediately hugged her. "Did she suffer?"

"I made sure she didn't."

"Did you?"

She shook her head in tears, clearly not wanting to talk about it.

Per'sus was angry on her behalf, fully understanding. He too would not hesitate to take that pain for any host.

"She was too young," Jaydin cried. "Only eighty-one."

"I understand." He gave a sad smile. "What is the name of your new host?"

"Liandra."

"Liandra…"

Jaydin retreated, giving Liandra control.

"Thank you, Liandra…for saving Jaydin's life."

Liandra gave a shy smile. "She says you are like her brother?"

"Yes, I am. I have thousands of siblings, but only seventeen batch mates. We were born together. Like twins to humans. Of my batch mates, there's only three of us left."

I feel…a great love…from her. For you."

"Yes, I love her very much." Per'sus smiled. "Soon, I will love you as well."

~+~+~.

Cordesh bit her. He ripped at her body. Jaydin squealed in agony as she was torn apart. She felt herself shoved aside as he took her place.

Liandra.

Liandra couldn't hear her. The last thing Jaydin heard was her screams.

~3 Symbiotes~.

"To my batch mates." Jaydin lifted a glass. "May your love stay strong…even if my little brother won't acknowledge it."

Per'sus blushed.

"Happy 1,933rd birthday. May we thrive." Cordesh raised his glass.

"Yes." Per'sus smiled. "May we live until we are too old to take new hosts."

~+~+~.

Liandra screamed still, but now no one heard her.

You killed her! You krishing killed her!

She was suppressed away.

~2 Symbiotes~