As of two days ago, this fic is officially a year old.
27 - Posing
~**Malek**~
I hug Martouf. "How bad are Lantash's injuries?"
"I don't know."
Samantha begins looking around. Like me, she struggles to move.
"Jolinar?" I ask.
"Unconscious, but she'll be alright. How did you stay awake?"
"Unfortunately, we are used to the torture."
She nods, then looked to Martouf.
"Lantash is unconscious, but… I'm not safe without him."
I kiss his temple. "We'll wake him as soon as we can, but I need to heal Amb."
Martouf nods as I retreat. He picked up Zar's body. "He made us suffer."
"You freed his host," Amb says.
"Zar killed him. That is not freedom."
"I would die before allowing that parasite inside me."
Martouf kisses Amb gently, then crushes Zar's body. "That thing will never hurt anyone again."
Amb holds him.
Samantha finds a healing device and walks over. She gives it to Amb, who runs it over Lantash.
"How is he?" Martouf asks.
"He's very weak." My Amb frowns. "He's going to be unconscious for a while."
"Zar must have a sarcophagus," Samantha says.
"No," Martouf argues. "Lantash hates the sarcophagus."
"It's not as bad as the Ancient Healing Device, and using it one more time isn't going to put him over the edge."
Martouf shakes his head.
He cannot use it anyway, I think, but I have another idea.
"He can't use it without bringing suspicion on himself," Amb relays. "Right now, we need the Jaffa to believe Martouf is Zar, and Zar wouldn't interrupt a torture session to use the sarcophagus." He closes his eyes. "Malek has an idea. Zar keeps a variety of chemicals in here. He is quite certain that he can reproduce the symbiote elixir, but…I cannot walk."
"I'll get what you need," Samantha says. "Martouf, see if you can lower the temperature in here."
Amb lays down as they get to work.
~+~+~.
A chime lets us know that someone is at the door. Martouf looks over from his corner. He fears for our safety.
"You have to answer that," Amb say as Samantha sits on the floor to play helpless.
"They aren't supposed to be here."
"You ordered them to bring water," Samantha reminds.
He frowns, and the dazed look in his eyes really makes me worry about Lantash.
"Go near the chemicals that Samantha was gathering. Order them in, then dismiss them as soon as possible," Amb says.
"Come," Martouf orders as he heads to the chemicals.
Slaves come in, and oh, look at the beautiful water they bring with them. Apparently Zar always orders in large quantities because it's enough to drown in.
And there's ice!
They carry in multiple trays of wonderful water, setting it down on a table in the room. The women then bow.
"Out," Martouf orders.
They are quite pleased to rush out.
Samantha immediately goes to the water and pours into a fancy goblet. She brings it to Amb.
"You need water too," he insists.
She drinks a little, then heads back to the chemicals.
Martouf touches his head as Amb tells Samantha what she needs, then Martouf grabs a pitcher and brings it to us. Martouf strips us, soaking the ragged gown. He uses it to dampen Amb's skin.
Oh, it feels so good.
I feel his body heat slowly lowering, and I wiggle as he wipes over me.
"Thank you," Amb says.
Martouf uses another pitcher to refill our water, finally taking a drink himself this time. He puts the wet, cold prison gown back on us, and it helps immensely.
"Let me check Lantash," Amb says as he tells Samantha the next set of instructions.
Martouf lowers to give us access to Lantash, and Amb runs the device over him.
No. Lantash is even worse.
The medicine will help, Amb assures. He looks to Martouf. "I need to make you sleep."
"Why?"
"It will make it easier for Lantash to heal you."
"If the Jaffa return and he's unconscious, we'll be back in prison," Samantha says.
Amb looks to Martouf, taking his hands. "Lantash is dying. He needs you to sleep if he is to have a chance."
"We'll die before risking you."
"If he dies, we'll be sent back anyway," Samantha argues.
"Not if I… take that drug…that will prevent my death."
"That will weaken him further," Amb argues.
"He would prefer to die than to see your chance for freedom squandered," Martouf says in tears.
Samantha shakes her head and promptly goes to the chemicals. Knowing which drug is needed, she shatters the glass container on to the floor.
"Either we all get out of here alive or none of us do."
Martouf stares, both angry and grateful.
"She did the right thing," Amb assures as he moves his hand over Martouf. "No one is being sacrificed here." Amb grabs him into his arms as Martouf falls into a deep sleep.
~+~+~.
"Jolinar is awake," Samantha announces. "She's still pretty weak though."
"Nice of her to join us." Amb drinks more water.
When the elixir is done, Samantha prepares it before coming over. She kneels down with the needle.
"Inject it directly into Lantash."
She feels for him, then injects a double dose.
"He may need a second injection."
~+~+~.
I know Lantash has woken up when Martouf starts crying in relief. Then his eyes flash.
"Martouf is innocent. He didn't fully know what he was doing."
I know he's defending his host against the fact that Zar was tortured to death.
"No one cares," I reply. "Zar got what he deserved."
Sam approaches him. "You freed us. That's all that matters now."
"Martouf freed you," he replies with a slight smile. "I was unconscious."
"Does it matter?" She kneels by him. "I love you."
His harsh expression melts.
She kisses him.
"I love you too. Dear crystals, I love you." He holds her close. "I am yours."
"Lantash." She smiles. "I'm yours too."
He kisses her.
When I approach, she immediately takes my hand. "Yours too."
I kiss her, then Lantash. "Samantha, Jolinar, Martouf, Lantash…I am yours. I give you my loyalty. My love. My love. Will you accept me and Amb as your mates." I feel nervous, springing this on them.
"I do," Sam says. "As does Jolinar."
I kiss her.
Martouf pulls me down. "You mean, we weren't already?"
I laugh.
"You are my husband. Amb is my husband. We may not know our exact anniversary, but Lantash and I…we are yours."
I kiss him.
He kisses me, then grabs Samantha. "Are you mine as well?"
Samantha kisses him. "You know I am."
He smiles.
She kisses me after.
"My wife." I smile. "My beautiful wife."
She rubs over me.
Amb kisses her, then pulls away for Martouf to do so. He kisses him after.
Her eyes glow as she looks to me.
"Martouf and Lantash are already my mates," Jolinar says as she takes Amb's hands. "I love you as I love them. Accept me as your wife."
"My wife." Amb kisses her, then gives me control.
"Malek." She kisses me.
~+~+~.
Idi is ordered to bring up "The Tau'ri." Half an hour later, Pete is brought up, and for some reason, Mangle. They both look very confused and scared.
"Why did you bring her?" Lantash asks, now posing as Zar.
Samantha and I kneel on the floor as though we have been broken. At the very least, we appear pained and injured.
My skin itches as the sight of her, as if I have a serious case of scabies. I hate having to kneel while she stands.
"Lord Zar?" Idi bows.
"Because of their memory loss…" He stands as he approaches, holding a pain stick. "Lantash was no longer of use. What little he knows is mine now."
Pete turns very pale, and Mangle immediately bows.
"Very clever, my lord," she replies.
"However, since taking this host, you have failed a simple order." He raises the pain stick upward.
"Is she not Tau'ri, my lord?" Amusement turns to fear.
"No."
"I apologize, my lord. I will send her back down immediately."
"No. Keep her here. Put them in one of the cells." Lantash waves Pete and Mangle away. "They are not to be harmed without me."
Mangle pales. I feel bad that she is scared, but we cannot trust her with the truth. We don't even trust Pete.
Idi rushes out. It is to our benefit that they truly fear Zar.
"Can we just kill her?" I ask. "She makes my skin crawl."
"Our focus needs to be on escape…and finding Jacob." He breaths heavily as he practically falls into the chair behind him. "I hate acting like Zar, and it's strange to pose as my own murderer." He frowns. "I wish you were doing this instead…or Jolinar."
"Zar doesn't strike me as the type to take a female host," Jolinar replies. "Besides, I'm what Sam would call…rusty."
"You're rusty! I'm missing most of my memories, and I've been here for far too long." Lantash frowns. "I want a bath."
"You are the lord. If you want a bath, you can have any bath you want," I point out.
"Hm." He smiles. "Bath sex."
I laugh.
An alert sounds. Someone is at the door.
"I want that bath." Lantash sighs as he sits up right. "Come."
Shak'l comes in and bows. "My Lord. I apologize, but I must speak with you…"
I hate that man.
"Speak,"
Shak'l stands. "The Tok'ra have been informed that you survived."
I jerk slightly. "You are undercover?"
"I was."
"Yes." I realize he's taking a huge risk here. "How did you know that Lantash wasn't killed?"
"Zar would have tortured Idi for making such an error, and he most likely would have killed the woman brought up by mistake."
Lantash sighs. "Goodbye to that bath. Other Jaffa will begin to suspect me as well."
"We need to get out while we can," I agree.
Shak'l nods. "I know you all suffered, but I could not figure out which prison you were in."
"I understand," I reply.
"Do you know what became of Jarl?" Samantha asks. "It says he left by ship and was shot."
"Zar realized he was Tok'ra."
Sam jerks slightly, clearly worried.
"He may have escaped."
"The moon?"
"Yes, but I don't know for sure. I masked any possible life signs, though that also prevents him from sending out a distress signal."
"I can estimate where he might have landed."
~+~+~.
Lantash orders the Jaffa to bring "his prisoners" to a tel'tak, and I tolerate being manhandled again.
So close to freedom, and I wince as I am groped.
I hit the floor as I am thrown, and Samantha helps me. Looking around, I see we are in a small cell.
"You will be left on a barren planet to die," Idi says as she caresses my face. "I will miss your touch, but I cannot wait to see you die. Our Lord has promised a spectacular death, conducted by himself."
My face stings as she slaps Amb, and I sit back as she walks away, our vision briefly blurred.
For once, Pete knows to keep quiet.
~+~+~.
I'm so grateful to see Lantash walk in.
I was worried about him, Amb thinks.
So was I.
Lantash's expression is hard, but I see his relief as well. He says nothing as he walks past us, then turns to the Jaffa guards.
"Leave us."
"Yes, my lord." They bow and leave.
~**Lantash**~
Seeing blood on Malek's temple angers me, but I know Zar allowed such abuse.
The Jaffa leave, and I feel dread.
It's all a trick.
They know I'm not Zar.
The real Zar is alive.
Martouf inwardly shudders. Would that be possible?
I don't know. I made sure he was pulp, but Jolinar was brought back after her body was absorbed, and I couldn't possibly guess how many times I was killed.
I tremble as I begin flying the ship out, then set the autopilot.
Lantash?
Yes.
We should free the others.
My skin feels cold…numb. I get up, approaching the small prison. I feel dizzy as I take down the force field.
Jolinar reaches me first.
Malek kisses me before going to the pilot seat.
Pete looks…very confused, probably afraid to hope.
"I see your fears. I understand them." Jolinar guides us to sit down. "When Rosha and I escaped Netu, we were afraid to believe…even when we were in the tunnels, back in your arms."
"Lantash isn't dead?" Pete asks slowly.
"No, he's not dead." Jolinar sits by us. "What's the flight plan?"
"The wrong direction," Malek replies. "Then we cloak and head to Jacob's moon."
I nod slightly.
"How did Mangle end up being mistaken for a Tau'ri?" Malek asks.
"I needed to be rescued," Pete mutters.
Malek laughs. "All that defiance, and you needed to be rescued after a few days."
"…Yes."
~**Selmak**~
Jacob is mentally singing about a lumberjack as we chop more wood.
Would you please sing something else? Anything else?
Sam is suffering, and if I don't sing… I don't want to think about what is happening to her. He sits down. You made me think about it!
I'm sorry.
He winces as he looks upward. We failed her. I failed her.
When we get off this planet, we'll find her.
He sighs.
~+~+~.
Jacob looks in the sky. Shit! We have been found.
Wait. Look at the search pattern.
Jacob looks at the drone.
That's a Tok'ra search pattern.
How did they even find us? Jacob immediately begins working on a signal fire.
Probably Shak'l.
~+~+~.
Come on. Come on.
Jacob grins when the drone stops searching and heads straight for us.
It's not long before we see another tel'tac coming.
Yes! Now we can go rescue Sammy.
The tel'tac lands, and out comes-
Sam?!
"Dad."
He immediately hugs her, but backs away as we sense a symbiote.
"I'm not a Goa'uld," she says, raising her hands slightly. "You can ask Malek."
"What happened to Amb?"
"I'm the one driving," Amb replies.
Jacob looks over, surprised to see him.
His eyes glow.
"You thought she blended with me?" Malek chuckles. "Now that would be strange."
"Why would blending with my daughter be strange?"
Malek smirks.
"I've been worried about you." Jacob hugs her again. "Who did you blend with?"
Shouldn't you have asked that before hugging her? I ask.
"This is going to sound impossible."
I suspect it's a Tok'ra who was mistaken for dead.
"But Zar got really good at bringing people back to life with the Ancient healing device."
Definitely a thought to be dead Tok'ra. "So, who is it?"
"It's…Jolinar."
What?
"What?" Jacob replies. "She's been gone almost ten years."
"And she's now back."
"How?" Jacob shakes his head. "Alright. Fine. Now give her control so I can yell at her."
"You are going to ask her to take control so that you can yell at her for taking control?"
"Yes," he replies as I wiggle. Stop laughing. My request is perfectly reasonable.
"Dad, she doesn't even remember it."
"We need to return to Lantash," Malek says.
"Lantash?!" Dad is surprised.
"Yes." He smiles. "He and Martouf survived. Oh, and… If I recall, you haven't met Pete, have you?"
"Malek," Sam groans.
"No." Jacob replies.
Be nice, I think.
Jacob sighs. "Alright. Given everything that has happened, I'll be polite to Pete and not give you a list of why I don't like him."
"We broke up."
"Before or after Jolinar?"
She bows her head, and her eyes glow. "Are you implying something?"
"You have a…strong personality."
"I did not influence my host."
"Are you back with Martouf and Lantash?"
"Yes, but that relationship started before I returned."
He glances to Malek, and his earlier smirk makes more sense now.
My daughter is not dating both Lantash and Malek, Jacob thinks.
She is completely dating both.
Sam heads back in.
Jacob goes to follow her, but Malek touches his arm. His expression is now serious, and I immediately pick up that something is wrong.
"I need to talk to you about Martouf."
~+~+~.
Lantash looks to me as Jacob approaches.
"Malek warned you?"
"Yes."
Lantash nods. "Having to pose as Zar was not helpful, but…" He shakes his head.
"Could I…talk to Martouf?"
Lantash removes the hand device and a knife, setting them down. Suddenly, I realize Martouf is the one looking at me.
"Martouf." Jacob smiles. "It's good to see you and Lantash again."
He smiles a bit.
"And you are dating my daughter."
"Dating?"
"You aren't dating her?"
"We are mates."
"You are…married. All three of you?"
"Three of us? There are six of us."
Jacob's mind briefly goes to the equivalent of white noise before realizing what Martouf means.
~+~+~.
"Sam." Jacob approaches. "There's something you forgot to tell me."
"Hm."
"You are married?"
"I was trying to figure out how to tell you that."
Jacob sees a stranger in the room, and based on his possessive expression… "You must be Pete."
"Yes."
Jacob looks to Sam. "I don't like him."
Pete sighs.
"Did you just sigh at me?"
Pete leaves while muttering angrily to himself.
"Who's the woman?" Jacob asks.
"Atara," Lantash answers. "She's afraid of us at the moment. Well. Mostly of me."
"Do you have a place to go?" Jacob asks the woman.
"No. I figured Martouf would keep me."
Lantash frowns. "I told you, you are not a slave."
"Sorry."
"It will take time to adjust…for all of us."
"I'm sure we can find a home for you," Malek says. "Or you can consider joining the Tok'ra."
"You mean…be like a host?"
"You can see a bit how we live first," Jacob adds. "Be warned, it's not a safe life."
"It cannot possibly be worse than the prison."
"No," Malek agrees, "and no one there will hurt you."
"That sounds nice." She glances down. "I will consider it."
"Where are we headed right now?" Jacob asks.
"Earth," Malek replies. "Get Pete home, and I have no idea where the Tok'ra are."
"They no doubt moved after I disappeared on them." Jacob makes a short nod before turning to Sam. "Maybe we'll get to see Mark."