Fic, Alternate Lines of Duty, PG-13, 3/6
After having fetched the valuables, Jolinar dialed an address, and they walked through the open wormhole, and out onto a place buzzing with activity. As soon as they were through, Jolinar bowed her head and gave Sam control.
'Jolinar says this is the world of Zartana...' She gave them a wry smile. 'Yeah, it's me Sam. The locals would be afraid of Jolinar and think she is a Goa'uld, and there are also some who might take note of her being her - which isn't good if the ashrak or someone else shows up looking for her, so I have control now.'
'Okay, I guess she doesn't really have anything to gain from lying and saying she's you, so - okay.' Daniel said.
'I too believe you to be Captain Carter.' Teal'c added.
'Let's get going. Are we buying food to bring or going to a restaurant?' Jack asked.
'The way we are dressed, we call too much attention for Jolinar's taste, so we'll just buy some food and bring with us.'
They had bought several large roasted chickens, a couple bread loaves, some cheese and butter, apples, and large flasks of a refreshing local fruit juice. Jolinar also had Sam buy a box of some sort of local candy, that looked a lot like chocolate, and in fact was chocolate. She had it gift wrapped, and would not answer their questions about who it was for - not even to Sam.
'Uh, can we buy some of it for eating now also? I've never seen chocolate on other planets, and I'd like to try some.' Daniel asked.
'Jolinar says okay.' Sam said.
'Of course she does. It's none of her business if we want chocolate!' Jack exclaimed.
'Well, it's her money, so I guess it's kinda her business.' Sam pointed out.
'We'll pay her back.' Daniel promised.
'Jolinar says it isn't necessary, and suggests we get a few different kinds of chocolate. They have different fillings, and we might like some more than others.'
'Thanks.' Jack gave her a look that was a mixture of disbelief and surprise.
They bought the chocolate, and were leaving the market when Daniel spotted a figurine shaped like a woman with open wings. 'It's an Isis statue! It looks almost exactly like one found in Egypt, but this is whole! Jolinar - do you think we can buy it?'
Sam frowned. 'Jolinar says we can. They are not particularly expensive, and quite popular. She wants you to know it is probably made quite recently, since Isis is considered a protector on some planets, despite being missing for millennia.'
'Isis is real?' Daniel gaped at Sam, then shook himself. 'Of course she is. Just like all the other Egyptian gods and goddesses.' He looked at the small statue again.
Sam grinned. 'Jolinar says we should buy it, if it will make you happy. She does not share you enthusiasm. While Isis was not the worst, she was nonetheless quite unpleasant. However, she has been missing since long before the oldest of the Tok'ra were born.'
Sam walked up to the salesman and purchased the figurine, before handing it to Daniel. Despite all they had said, he still looked happy.
They had spent several hours on a fairly nice world. It appeared to be uninhabited, or at least no one lived close by the Stargate. After eating, they had taken the opportunity to relax, while taking turn standing guard.
[Are you looking forward to going home?] Sam asked, bored enough to talk to Jolinar. She was still very much looking forward to Jolinar leaving, but she no longer felt any great hatred towards the symbiote. Jolinar had behaved herself, allowed Sam control, and done as she said she would.
Jolinar hesitated. [Yes...and no. I am looking forward to return to friends and loved ones, to my home...but I am also worried.]
[Because it will be hard to convince them you're who you say you are?]
[Yes, and because I have broken our highest law. I have taken an unwilling host.]
[They really will get angry with you for that?]
[Yes, when I said we are different than the Goa'uld, I meant it. Taking a host against his or her will is the highest crime we can commit. Having done that, I suppressed you, and took information from your mind, also against your will. They will not be happy to hear this.]
[Sorry, but I wasn't particularly pleased with you doing those things, so I can't be all that sorry.]
[I understand. I do not deserve your forgiveness, and I am not foolish enough to hope for it.]
Sam didn't know what to say to that, so didn't say anything. [What will happen when we go to the Tok'ra?]
[When the Tok'ra have determined that I am who I say I am, we will both be asked to give an account of all that has happened. When that is done, the healers will examine me - and you - and determine when it will be safe that I attempt to leave you. Most likely it will be at least a month, even with the healers assistance. During that time, you will have to stay with the Tok'ra.]
[What?]
[I am sorry, but that is how it is. You and your friends will have to stay for some time anyway, because you will know how to find the Tok'ra. You will not be allowed to leave until the base is moved to another planet. That could be very soon, or it could take a long time.]
[But you only have to stay in me one month, right?]
[Yes. That will also give them some time to look for a host for me, though I am not certain one can be found so quickly. If not, I will be placed in a tank until one is found - unless I am to be punished for my transgression, in which case I can be forced to stay in the tank for years. You do not need to worry though, whether a host is found or not, I will leave you as soon as possible.]
[Good.]
[Unless, of course, you decide you wish to remain my host...?] Jolinar sounded hopeful.
Sam snorted. [Yeah, like that is going to happen!] She sighed. [Listen, don't take me wrong. I don't want you to be punished, or have to sit in a tank. That sounds horrible, but I will not remain your host just because of that!]
When Jolinar decided enough time had passed, and no one had come through, they again dialed an address and went through. When that had shut down, Jolinar dialed a new address. They were about to step into it when she turned to them.
'The planet we are going to now was the location of the Tok'ra base I belonged to when I left. The Tok'ra may have moved from it since, but I am gambling they have not. It has been almost a year since I was last there, and more than eight months since I last received, or was able to send, information home. Regardless, if the Tok'ra are here, you must not treat me like a prisoner. While they may not immediately believe I am Jolinar, there are ways for them to find out with certainty. It would be best if you seem to be friendly, then.'
'Or what? You'll kill us?' Jack asked, suspiciously.
'No, but you may find yourselves in holding cells for some time, until the Tok'ra move to another base.'
'Got it. Well, back to your friends we go.'
Jolinar sighed. 'When they learn what I have done - taken an unwilling host - they may not be so happy. I am likely to be punished.'
'Punished? What about Carter, then?'
'You have nothing to fear for your friend. The Tok'ra would never punish the host for the crimes of the symbiote. She will be seen as the victim in this.' Jolinar immediately turned around and walked through the Stargate, not waiting for any answers.
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'Jolinar says this is the world of Zartana...' She gave them a wry smile. 'Yeah, it's me Sam. The locals would be afraid of Jolinar and think she is a Goa'uld, and there are also some who might take note of her being her - which isn't good if the ashrak or someone else shows up looking for her, so I have control now.'
'Okay, I guess she doesn't really have anything to gain from lying and saying she's you, so - okay.' Daniel said.
'I too believe you to be Captain Carter.' Teal'c added.
'Let's get going. Are we buying food to bring or going to a restaurant?' Jack asked.
'The way we are dressed, we call too much attention for Jolinar's taste, so we'll just buy some food and bring with us.'
They had bought several large roasted chickens, a couple bread loaves, some cheese and butter, apples, and large flasks of a refreshing local fruit juice. Jolinar also had Sam buy a box of some sort of local candy, that looked a lot like chocolate, and in fact was chocolate. She had it gift wrapped, and would not answer their questions about who it was for - not even to Sam.
'Uh, can we buy some of it for eating now also? I've never seen chocolate on other planets, and I'd like to try some.' Daniel asked.
'Jolinar says okay.' Sam said.
'Of course she does. It's none of her business if we want chocolate!' Jack exclaimed.
'Well, it's her money, so I guess it's kinda her business.' Sam pointed out.
'We'll pay her back.' Daniel promised.
'Jolinar says it isn't necessary, and suggests we get a few different kinds of chocolate. They have different fillings, and we might like some more than others.'
'Thanks.' Jack gave her a look that was a mixture of disbelief and surprise.
They bought the chocolate, and were leaving the market when Daniel spotted a figurine shaped like a woman with open wings. 'It's an Isis statue! It looks almost exactly like one found in Egypt, but this is whole! Jolinar - do you think we can buy it?'
Sam frowned. 'Jolinar says we can. They are not particularly expensive, and quite popular. She wants you to know it is probably made quite recently, since Isis is considered a protector on some planets, despite being missing for millennia.'
'Isis is real?' Daniel gaped at Sam, then shook himself. 'Of course she is. Just like all the other Egyptian gods and goddesses.' He looked at the small statue again.
Sam grinned. 'Jolinar says we should buy it, if it will make you happy. She does not share you enthusiasm. While Isis was not the worst, she was nonetheless quite unpleasant. However, she has been missing since long before the oldest of the Tok'ra were born.'
Sam walked up to the salesman and purchased the figurine, before handing it to Daniel. Despite all they had said, he still looked happy.
They had spent several hours on a fairly nice world. It appeared to be uninhabited, or at least no one lived close by the Stargate. After eating, they had taken the opportunity to relax, while taking turn standing guard.
[Are you looking forward to going home?] Sam asked, bored enough to talk to Jolinar. She was still very much looking forward to Jolinar leaving, but she no longer felt any great hatred towards the symbiote. Jolinar had behaved herself, allowed Sam control, and done as she said she would.
Jolinar hesitated. [Yes...and no. I am looking forward to return to friends and loved ones, to my home...but I am also worried.]
[Because it will be hard to convince them you're who you say you are?]
[Yes, and because I have broken our highest law. I have taken an unwilling host.]
[They really will get angry with you for that?]
[Yes, when I said we are different than the Goa'uld, I meant it. Taking a host against his or her will is the highest crime we can commit. Having done that, I suppressed you, and took information from your mind, also against your will. They will not be happy to hear this.]
[Sorry, but I wasn't particularly pleased with you doing those things, so I can't be all that sorry.]
[I understand. I do not deserve your forgiveness, and I am not foolish enough to hope for it.]
Sam didn't know what to say to that, so didn't say anything. [What will happen when we go to the Tok'ra?]
[When the Tok'ra have determined that I am who I say I am, we will both be asked to give an account of all that has happened. When that is done, the healers will examine me - and you - and determine when it will be safe that I attempt to leave you. Most likely it will be at least a month, even with the healers assistance. During that time, you will have to stay with the Tok'ra.]
[What?]
[I am sorry, but that is how it is. You and your friends will have to stay for some time anyway, because you will know how to find the Tok'ra. You will not be allowed to leave until the base is moved to another planet. That could be very soon, or it could take a long time.]
[But you only have to stay in me one month, right?]
[Yes. That will also give them some time to look for a host for me, though I am not certain one can be found so quickly. If not, I will be placed in a tank until one is found - unless I am to be punished for my transgression, in which case I can be forced to stay in the tank for years. You do not need to worry though, whether a host is found or not, I will leave you as soon as possible.]
[Good.]
[Unless, of course, you decide you wish to remain my host...?] Jolinar sounded hopeful.
Sam snorted. [Yeah, like that is going to happen!] She sighed. [Listen, don't take me wrong. I don't want you to be punished, or have to sit in a tank. That sounds horrible, but I will not remain your host just because of that!]
When Jolinar decided enough time had passed, and no one had come through, they again dialed an address and went through. When that had shut down, Jolinar dialed a new address. They were about to step into it when she turned to them.
'The planet we are going to now was the location of the Tok'ra base I belonged to when I left. The Tok'ra may have moved from it since, but I am gambling they have not. It has been almost a year since I was last there, and more than eight months since I last received, or was able to send, information home. Regardless, if the Tok'ra are here, you must not treat me like a prisoner. While they may not immediately believe I am Jolinar, there are ways for them to find out with certainty. It would be best if you seem to be friendly, then.'
'Or what? You'll kill us?' Jack asked, suspiciously.
'No, but you may find yourselves in holding cells for some time, until the Tok'ra move to another base.'
'Got it. Well, back to your friends we go.'
Jolinar sighed. 'When they learn what I have done - taken an unwilling host - they may not be so happy. I am likely to be punished.'
'Punished? What about Carter, then?'
'You have nothing to fear for your friend. The Tok'ra would never punish the host for the crimes of the symbiote. She will be seen as the victim in this.' Jolinar immediately turned around and walked through the Stargate, not waiting for any answers.
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