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Chapter 28

Teyla awoke uncomfortably hot and in a place humid and thick with animal scent. She stirred within the arms of the slave Groten, its fur sticking to her sweat-drenched skin. Feeling her awakening movements, the Groten, controlled by the second Primus, growled softly and held her tighter as if to impart an urgent need for her to stay quiet and still. As her eyes became accustomed to the dim light, Teyla saw that she was inside what must be the crashed Groten ship. The three Goh-controlled Groten moved slowly and cautiously through a crowded space where other Groten snarled at each other while they worked to fix their broken ship. Teyla tried to see over the muscular arm holding her, wishing to have a better look at the ship and its inhabitants, but her Groten only tried to hide her more. Reluctantly she relaxed into its embrace and waited to reach their destination.

The speech of the Groten was deafening; a wild barrage of noises akin to the sounds one might hear in a zoo on Earth, only amplified and from many sources simultaneously. How they could distinguish one voice from another was beyond Teyla. To her it was little more than animal white noise that conveyed nothing to her but annoyance.

When her three Groten companions reached their destination, second-Primus lowered Teyla to the ground. The third-Primus and Healer took up positions to guard the room entry points. Teyla continued to hold on to the strong, furry arm of Second to steady herself as it sat back on its haunches.

The space was a dimly lit, high-ceiling store room which smelled damp and mouldy. The only things in it were five, large, glass-panelled vats of murky liquid. Teyla could see dim flashes of light darting through the liquid and guessed they held the Goh.

"Tey-laar... help is here," Second-Primus said, pointing to the tanks.

Teyla stared at the dark liquid within, wondering what the creature meant. She hoped Eldus would tell her what was happening, but the Goh seemed to be dormant within her. As if knowing her thoughts, the slave Groten nodded.

"Eldus sleeps for you..."

"Then what is it I'm supposed to do here?" she asked.

The Groten peered at the tank then back to her as if the answer was before her—which, it was.

"Inside..." it replied. "Healer says inside."

"What do you mean, inside? I do not understand."

"Waters from Goh planet, Tey-laar... might be sufficient for your wound."

Of course there would be water from Ignothia within the tanks, but, it looked nothing like the clear and beautiful waters Eldus had shown her in her mind. The water was bluish black. It looked putrid, stale, and most likely contaminated with ancestors alone knew what. The thought of climbing inside churned Teyla's stomach, yet she knew she had to, not only for the chance to be healed, but also to hide within should a Groten enter the room. She staggered toward the nearest vat, the one whose dark water seemed less polluted than the rest. She inspected the vat, searching for a way to get inside. There was no ladder, no foot holds. With the exception of the ports for the Groten weapons, she could see no easy way to enter the vat.

Second-Primus shuffled up beside her, reaching out to take careful hold of her and lift her gently from the ground. Teyla clutched at the beasts clawed hands, grimacing at the pain in her stomach as she was raised above the vat. On top there was platform with access hatch. Teyla raised the hatch and was met with an overpowering stench of rot and decay. She gagged and struggled not to vomit. Her eyes watered as she looked back to second-Primus. It nodded its head and urged her into the tank.

Teyla sat on the edge of the hatch and slowly lowered herself inside. There was about a meter of dead space between the water and the hatch. She dropped into the water with a splash, moments before the hatch slammed closed loudly above her. Teyla panicked and tried to get back out. She was unable to reach the hatch to open it, so began thumping her fists on the glass panel in anger. She suddenly fell still when she saw that another Groten had entered the room. Her Groten must have closed the hatch in order to conceal her, and so she moved away from the panel in hope that the dark water would hide her floating form.

She felt things bump into her body, little passing knocks from the Goh swimming around her. One collided with her wound and she bit her lip to stop the cry of pain. The Goh didn't move away from the wound. Indeed, she felt even more congregate on and around the wound site.

Then Eldus awoke.

Teyla. I must leave you while you are in the water. My children can heal you once I have left your body. Healer and the Primus convey danger outside the tank. I must ask you to take the pain in silence if you can. Otherwise, we risk the death of all in this water.

Remaining silent seemed an impossible task as Teyla was already about to scream. She did the best thing she could think of and took a deep breath then pushed herself under the water hoping that perhaps it would muffle any pained noises she might make.

Eldus began to move out from her spine. It carved a new path through her tissues in its endeavour, making Teyla twist and contort in agony. But it didn't have to travel far and soon Eldus tore a hole in her skin and swam out into the tank. As soon as Eldus was free, Teyla's pain subsided as its children converged on the new wound. Numbness spread from both wounds to encompass her entire torso. Whatever the children of Eldus were doing it was working and soon Teyla felt calm enough to rise above the water and and breathe.

From outside came noises, barking snarls and banging noises. Risking a look, Teyla saw that the Groten which entered behind them was now organising the removal of one of the other tanks. Healer and Third were pulled in to move it while Second stayed close to the tank in which Teyla floated.

Third and Healer moved the tank out through the door as the Groten turned to stare at Second. It snarled and gesticulated at it, so angry it spat thick saliva as it spoke. Second pulled itself upright, tall and forbidding and unleashed a howl that made Teyla's blood run cold. The other Groten stiffened, sneering even as it lowered its head in deference to Second. Finally, it backed towards the door and followed the others out. Second remained standing tall for long moments before it quickly opened the hatch in the tank and helped Teyla out.

"Tey-laar need to leave. Tanks being moved outside. Leaving the weight behind."

"What does that mean?"

"Sufficient mends upon ship. Goal now to lighten load and leave this planet. Kill all Goh then go. Can't leave weapon behind, alive."

So that was why they were removing the tanks from the ship. No longer did they wish to steal Caronaa ships or Jumpers to aid their war and steal Goh for their weapons. Now they wished only to depart Caronaa, and leave no trace of Goh behind, destroying their weapon so no one else could have it.

"But they know you are the last of your kind, the only remaining ammunition they have for their weapons! Why leave that behind?!"

Second finally pulled itself into a relaxed stance and purred as it looked longingly at the murky tank behind her. "The risk to Groten lives needs amended. Goh too much trouble now. Better to flee with Groten lives intact than try to fly with weight that possibly pull ship to death."

Teyla lowered her head, fully understanding how little the Groten thought of the tiny Goh lives they used to their own ends. The injustice of it all weighed heavily on her and she realised that John Sheppard had been right all along. They had to help the Goh, for no one else could or would.

"I need to get back to the village. If we are to save your people, I must speak to mine."

Second nodded and opened its arms for her to climb into. With her wounds healed and strength returning, Teyla easily pulled herself into the Groten embrace and buried herself deep in its arms and fur.

They moved hurriedly through the busy ship and both breathed a sigh of relief when they reached outside. Teyla stole a peek over the Groten arm and saw the Goh tanks, all lined up near the tree line. It was then that she understood why Eldus sought her help. There was over twenty tanks of Goh, many of which had been smashed open, losing their watery insides that now seeped into the ground. Second emitted a soul-wrenching growl of grief as it surveyed the ground which was littered with the corpses of its kin.

This was a slaughter, one that would ultimately mean the end of the Goh.

Though Second still trembled with sorrow, it continued towards the tree line and on into the forest. Not until they were far from the Groten ship did Second lower Teyla to the ground.

"I am sorry for your loss, Primus. I will explain your plight to my friends and soon be back to help you."

Second nodded and looked forlornly back along the way they'd come. "I must stay here, Tey-laar. I must protect Eldus and others."

"I understand," Teyla replied. "I shall go and find my friends, but in the meantime, see if you can slow down the destruction of your people. Protect the tanks, I will return as soon as I am able."

Second raised its arm and pointed one huge claw ahead. "This direction will take you straight to village."

"Thank you, Primus. Stay safe." Teyla took off running, leaving Second to shuffle its way back towards the Groten ship.

Teyla shivered, her clothes and hair soaking wet from her time in the tank. But she ran at a steady pace, expending energy efficiently while being on constant watch for danger. The forest seemed to go on forever, trees beyond trees as far as her eyes could see. Occasionally she would hear a crash and squeal as some unlucky animal fell beneath a behemoth insect deep in the forest. It made her more cautious, slowed her pace so she made no haste mistake in this deadly place.

Her hair and clothes quickly dried and her trembling ceased as her body temperature rose. As she ran, she thought about her friends. How had Rodney fared while she was away? And had there been any word about John? The thoughts made her hurry again, eager to get back to those she knew and loved and also for help for the Goh.

After some time, Teyla slowed to a stop and quietened her breathing. She could hear noises up ahead; the breaking of branches and ripping of foliage. Whatever the thing approaching was, it was huge. It could be Groten, it could be insect and either one was deadly dangerous. As she continued to listen to the noise, Teyla look around her immediate vicinity for a place to hide. If she was caught and killed now, no one would know of the Goh tanks being smashed, or of the Groten controlled by Goh. Should her friends and the Caronaa people decide to attack, many innocents would die. And so Teyla scurried behind a rocky formation and hid herself as the sounds grew nearer.

To be continued...