Dear all, sorry for the lack of uploading, but I seem to have misplaced all of the remaining chapters. I found this one uploaded to Google docs, but the rest of the chapters are missing! I'll look for them over the next few days, but if I don't find them, I'll need to rewrite them. I hope I find them, as I don't have the time to rewrite what with the festive season upon us! Fingers crossed!

Chapter 25

The battle raged on and Teyla lay in the middle of it all, her mind barely registering the noise and death around her. Her eyes were closed as she focused on Eldus and what it was saying. It was very different from Primus. Unlike what John said he'd experienced, she was in much pain and very aware of what was happening to her. She could move of her own volition if she wanted, and her thoughts were only addled by her pain and increasing lethargy.

Though it had riffled through her mind to determine if she was friend or foe, Eldus preferred open communication for the rest of their conversation. It seemed that reading the information drained Eldus and it appeared to have no wish to take nourishment from her body.

Why do you want to save us? Eldus asked.

"We have encountered one of your own called Primus. It currently resides within one of my friends and informed us of your plight."

You met a Primus?

So few Primus remain we thought ourselves finally lost. I know of only two others still alive.

"This Primus is very much alive, as are its kin within my friend, John. It was the wish of both Primus and John that we try to save as many of you as we can and return you home."

Ignothia...

The word reverberated around Teyla's mind like a whispered sigh containing every emotion known to exist. She gasped at the intensity of it, understanding through that single word the full extent of the Goh suffering. Teyla felt a flash of searing pain run through her as Eldus slowly made its way through her body towards her spine. The pain was excruciating, so much so it rendered her silent with shock. Eldus apologised for not having the mechanics that the Primus held to be able to dull her pain. Teyla just tried to keep breathing for as long as the pain continued and groaned softly when Eldus eventually settled near the base of her skull.

The reason for its travel through her became clear when their minds connected fully and images of the Goh waters filled her mind. Ignothia truly was a beautiful place. Teyla wondered if it was also beautiful on land, though Eldus couldn't show her anything above the water. Accompanying the images was a deep longing to return home and a sadness that left her hollow.

"How long have you been in the Groten tanks?" Teyla asked.

Far too many generations to count.

Very few of us remember Ignothia through actual living memory.

Most only know of it through the shared knowledge.

"You seem very different from Primus," Teyla commented after a moment of silence.

Primus are the teachers and protectors of our civilization. They disseminate our knowledge to the young so that it endures. Primus are physically different to allow them to do their jobs. For one example, I am unable to affect your bodily functions, therefore unable to either alleviate your pain or use you to escape. I am, for all intents and purposes, a prisoner within you. But, we Eldus have much stronger minds than all other Goh. We are the connection between our people, making us all a unified collective. This means I can convey your intentions to my kin in ways Primus never could. A Primus has a connection to its kin and other Primus, but we Eldus have a connection to all Goh.

"You are more than just their leader," Telya murmured. "You are their history and their ancestor."

Yes. I am over three hundred of your years old, and I gained my knowledge from my parent who lived for several hundred years. There were approximately four hundred Eldus on Ignothia. I fear I may be the last.

"The last?"

A feeling of overwhelming grief filled Teyla as she experienced Eldus loss as her own.

When the Groten first began to harvest, we Eldus were on the front line, trying to protect all others. Many of us died in those first few days, leaving so few that our communication network weakened.

It is unlikely that we will recover as, unlike all other Goh, I can only birth in the birthing valleys of Ignothia.

If I fail to reach home, the Eldus line may die out, as will the ability to unify all Goh.

"Then we must save you."

My presence may kill you.

"As long as you can survive without harming me, we both shall live."

I will cause you no more harm, though I fear I already caused you enough.

"Worry not. I will be fine. I will attempt to get you back to Ignothia."

If you can do such a thing, then it would be better to help all of the others and leave me be.

I ask one thing of you, Teyla Emmagan. Promise to save my species and I will die within you now in peace, and stop your pain.

"You will do no such thing, Eldus. Your people need you to survive if they are to survive themselves. I will be fine. I ask only that you halt your movements and allow me to find help for my wounds."

Eldus said no more and Teyla took it that the creature had gone into hibernation.

Teyla passed out, unable to keep hold of consciousness long enough to find the help she so desperately needed. She wasn't sure how long the blackout lasted, but when awareness returned, Teyla found that day had turned to night. The sounds of battle were gone and only silence remained. She smelled nothing but clean air and vegetation and when she pulled herself into a sitting position, Teyla discovered she no longer lay where she had fallen. Instead, she lay in a clearing within the forest far from the battlefield. A small fire burned warmly to her side by which three large Groten sat, their eyes upon her as she shifted uncomfortably.

Teyla's eyes widened and she searched her body for a weapon, only to remember she had left them behind in order to get inside the biosuit. The beasts eyed her curiously but did not attack. They simply watched her as she tried to measure her breathing and calm her pounding heart. Teyla knew there was nothing she could do to escape these creatures. She'd seen their swiftness, their brutality; she would never survive an attack in her current condition. Unable to fight, barely able to keep herself from crying out in pain, Teyla slowly pushed up from the ground and stood before the three beasts.

They looked no different to any other Groten she had encountered thus far, except for their stillness. They watched her quietly, unmoving, not even a muscle twitch between them. To be so close to them was incredible if not disturbing. They truly were majestic creatures, powerful and rather beautiful when one got the chance to look past their deadly facades.

So far she had only fought with Groten or watched them sicken and die. Her thoughts of them were clouded with ideas of self-preservation and anger at their vicious nature. These ones seemed to be in their prime, huge, healthy specimens that dwarfed her tiny frame. She was under no illusions that any of them could crush her in an instant should she anger them. Her fear was momentarily eclipsed by the pain in her stomach. She looked down to see the blood had not stopped flowing from the impact wound. It had slowed considerably, but what was spilled on her clothes told her that she had no right to be standing. Her energy would eventually fade and she wondered if this was what the three Groten were waiting for, an easy meal to collapse at their feet.

Food without the fight.

Then one of the Groten moved. It slowly pulled itself up to a standing position, uncurling to become a formidable sight that looked down on her and made her quail. Then it spoke.

"Tey-laar... " Its voice was harsh and ground out words that the beast's mouth seemed to have never formed before. "You are safe..."

Teyla just stared at it, not quite sure what to think. Quickly she evaluated the beast and judged by its posture and relaxed musculature that it currently posed no danger, although that could change in an instant.

"Eldus... within you..." it growled lowly. "Eldus explained..."

"You are Groten, how would you know?" Teyla asked warily.

"We sense... Eldus..."

"You are Goh?"

"Yes, Tey-larr...Goh within, Groten without. Controlling this body is difficult."

"Are... are you another Primus?"

"We two," it pointed to the Groten behind her still sat by the fire, "are the last Primus. Eldus summoned us."

"There is another Primus, we helped save it," Teyla replied.

"Eldus explained."

Teyla nodded. "Where are we?"

"Not far... from Groten ship..."

Panic welled within her. "But, I need to get back to my people. I can help you all, but I need help myself, first."

"Unable to go there..." the large beast growled sadly. "In this size and shape? We would be killed on sight."

The second beast rose to its feet and moved towards her. It raised one giant paw, the claws retracted and Teyla recoiled.

"This is Healer," Primus offered. "Healers are unable to forge connections within a host's mind as we Primus can. Therefore, Healer can not speak with you."

Teyla nodded and forced herself to be still as the beast drew nearer. There was little else she could do. Her body was telling her it was almost out of energy. Healer touched the tip of a claw to her cheek and gently stroked the skin. In its eyes, Teyla saw unending sorrow that made the breath in her lungs hitch.

"Healer says it is sorry for your damage, Tey-laar," Primus said. "Eldus did not wish to harm you. Healer will help. Can you really help us get home?"

Teyla nodded. "We've helped one Primus and its kin return to Ignothia, hopefully, we can help all of you."

Teyla swayed as she became lightheaded, clutching at her stomach as she sighed in pain. The third beast got to its feet in time to catch her as she slowly slumped backward, her energy finally fading away. The huge animal pulled her into its arms, its giant head moving side to side as it looked her over with eyes that seemed so full of compassion that Teyla knew they spoke the truth of their being.

"Rest, Tey-laar," the second Primus growled. "We will look after you. Then, we save our people." It lifted her higher into its arms as the three giants made their way towards the tree line.

Teyla was unsure how the other Groten would react when they saw three of their own carrying a human. Would they tear her to pieces? Would the three Goh-driven bodies manage to stay inconspicuous enough to hide her away from prying eyes?

All will be well, Teyla, Eldus informed her quietly. We will take care of you.

Whatever might happen was out of Teyla's hands now, for her eyes slowly closed as her mind filled with thoughts of Ignothia. Eldus lulled her to sleep with the images and words of its homeworld. Teyla passed out with a smile on her lips, long before the three Groten slaves reached the ship.

to be continued... (as soon as I find or rewrite the remaining chapters!)