Title : The Next Generation
Author : Tels
Fandom : Stargate SG1
Characters : Jacob/Garshaw /Delek/OC/ Malek
Rating : R
Word count : 4,187
Prompt : #29 – Birth
Summary : The Tok'ra discover they have a Queen amongst them.
The Next Generation
By Tels
The council sat with varying expressions on their faces as Selmak read the tablets she and Aldwin had found on Marinara to them. From shock to joy to pure lust in one case. “Our population problem would be solved,” Garshaw said relief showing on her face.
Delek nodded. “It would take ten years or more before any offspring are ready for a host. Unless the jaffa would be willing to help, we would need storage tanks.”
“That would provide problems when evacuating.” Jacob said. “Unless we found a safe planet, a protected one.”
Garshaw looked at him. “Earth?” she asked.
Jacob shook his head. “No, I wouldn't want to risk the lives of defenceless symbiotes on my planet where any number of Governments could exploit them. I think somewhere out of the gate system would be best. But first we have to find her.”
Delek looked up. “Of course there is also the matter of who mates with her.”
Jacob rolled his eyes <Does he ever give it a rest?>
<I wish!> Selmak replied.
Garshaw looked at Delek. “That responsibility should probably fall to Selmak.”
<WHAT?> Jacob and Selmak exclaimed to each other while managing to keep a straight face.
Delek snorted. “Why Selmak? Why should he have the responsibility?” He emphasised the word he knowing Selmak hated it.
“Selmak is the oldest and wisest amongst us,” Garshaw responded.
Delek looked at Jacob utter disgust written on his face. "No, you shouldn't be king, you're old."
Selmak came fore and glared at him. "I'm the wisest of the Tok'ra!" she said firmly.
Delek laughed. “You are the OLDEST of the Tok'ra. Give someone else a chance."
Selmak snorted. “What?? Like you? Just because your host happens to be attractive doesn't mean you are!”
“That's more than can be said for your host!” Delek shot back. “At least I have hair!”
Selmak rolled her eyes. “Trust you to bring that into it. At least my host can have children! And actually knows how to treat a woman right in ALL ways!”
Delek looked at her. “We are not fathering human children here,” he said harshly. “So that is irrelevant.” He looked at Garshaw. “You should choose someone closer in age to the Queen.”
“What happened to letting the woman decide for herself?” Jacob inserted.
“HA!” Delek barked. “And what you'd think she'd pick you?”
Selmak glared at him. “Jacob is 100 times more charming than you'll ever be, Delek!” she snapped back.
“It's still irrelevant. We're not going to allow her to pick and chose who she gets to mate with. The Council will decide what is best for our people,” Delek said. He paused. “Unless of course that Queen is you Selmak. In which case you won't need any help, you just have to go screw…” He suddenly found himself flat on the floor his jaw aching and Selmak standing over him, her fist raised for another punch.
Garshaw rose to her feet. “ Enough! ” she roared, her eyes flashing. “Everyone will be tested and if need be placed in a temporary female host.”
Delek looked at her. “I was not serious about Selmak being a Queen,” he said. “It was a joke as Jacob is the first male host Selmak has taken.”
Selmak looked at him. “Aside from the obvious insult, what better way to keep her protected and hidden is there than in a male host? It would also explain why she has not spawned or come into heat as only a female host is capable of bearing young.”
“She would suffer from mood swings despite that!” Delek argued.
Selmak rolled her eyes. “Most women do! Although I have noticed that men also suffer from the time of the month.”
Jacob thumped her. <Do not!>
<Do too> Selmak said hitting him back. She eyed Delek up and down. “Some more than most… when they are not pretending they don't have feelings that is.”
Delek scowled. “Of course it's possible that any queen is now dead. What if it were Jolinar or Ren'al?”
Jacob took control back from Selmak. “Then its out of our hands. Tough. Too bad…” he said.
Garshaw slammed her hand down on the table. “I said enough!” she said firmly. “Like I said Everyone will be tested.” She looked pointedly at Delek as she spoke.
Delek refused to even look at her as he stormed out of the room rubbing his jaw.
--- --- --- ---
Over lunch Jacob and Malek watched in amazement as Delek held court amongst the female Tok'ra. His good looks made up for his lack of charm and in Jacob's opinion manners, so he was never short of at least one female companion. He sat flirting with all of them, pointing out why he would make a good mate. A couple didn't respond to his advances and slapped him before leaving the table but most seemed to react favourably to him.
Malek shook his head. “He is going too far,” he said.
Jacob agreed. “Even for Delek this is a new low.” He watched for a moment. “It's almost as if he has assumed he will be chosen as mate to the Queen when we find her.”
Laughter filtered across the room. Jacob pushed his plate away, no longer hungry. “Gonna go get Selmak tested,” he said standing up. “Can't sit and watch this anymore.”
“Think I'll join you,” Malek said as another three female Tok'ra joined Delek's table.
--- --- --- ---
Both men lay face down on beds in the healing chambers. Garshaw watched as Elise carefully ran a series of deep scans over both symbiotes.
Malek looked at her. “May I ask something?” he said. Then as Garshaw nodded he continued. “They say you are the most hunted Goa'uld of all time. Why is that?”
Garshaw looked up at him. “I have always been Tok'ra,” she said. “But for a long time I was undercover as a system lord. I rose through the ranks until my position rivalled that of Anubis. Imagine their horror when they realised that I was Tok'ra and had infiltrated them.”
Elise looked up as the results came in. “Neither Selmak nor Malek carry the gene,” she said.
Both men sat up as relieved as their hosts. Then they left the room to resume their duties.
Garshaw took her place on the bed, her body tensing as Elise started the scans.
Elise looked at the scanner. “Garshaw,” she whispered.
Garshaw sat up and looked at her. “I have the gene?” she asked. As Elise nodded she looked down. “I had wondered if it was so.” She paused. “I still want everyone else tested.” She looked at her closely. “I can trust you to keep this quiet.”
Elise nodded. “Of course.”
--- --- --- ---
Garshaw went to her office and sat there with a piece of paper and a pen in her hand. She always found it easier to make lists like this. They needed to choose a mate. Thing was it wasn't the symbiote that mattered but the host. In this case at least it was the sperm they needed and not the symbiote. <Malek's host…Jared?> she suggested.
<Nice> Yosef said. <Good looking, athletic, sings well and scores a 9/10 on the hunk scale but is he really our type? Besides he carries a torch for Elise whether he realises it or not.>
Garshaw rolled her eyes. <Okay… Aldwin's host… Gerat?>
<Too young> came the swift reply. <I want a man not a child.>
A short sharp laugh came in response. <Then what about Delek?>
Yosef replied with something short sharp and very rude. Along the lines of not if he were the last man in the universe.
Slowly they crossed off all the names on the list bar one. Yosef hugged Garshaw. <And why is Jacob at the end of the list?> she asked, <Surely he should be at the top given your feelings for Selmak.>
<That is why… I do not wish to assume… what do you think of Jacob?>
<Well, he showed concern for the protection of the symbiotes. He's an honourable man. He's loyal and pragmatic. Despite his looks, he has produced two beautiful children,> Yosef replied.
<And intelligent!> Garshaw added. <I…I kind of have a thing for bald men.>
<Selmak did say Jacob knew how to treat a woman right! I think he would be an excellent mate> Yosef said. <You should send for them and ask them.>
Garshaw nodded. <Okay. We will.>
--- --- --- ---
Delek sat on the bed with a look of sheer horror and terror on his face. “It can't be,” he managed. “Do them again.”
Elise looked at him. “I have run them five times now. There is no doubt. You carry the gene.”
“But it's not possible,” he protested again. “Let me see.”
Elise handed him the scanner. “There is no doubt,” she said. “You are undoubtedly female and a queen. The council will wish to see you as soon as possible to arrange for your new host.”
Delek shook his head. "No... I refuse. I demand to be retested."
Selmak looked at him. "You can be retested until the cows come home," she said. "Fact is you are a queen and we need you." She paused. "It's kind of ironic actually. You were so eager to bed whoever it was... and not giving a thought to the poor woman involved. Now its you who gets no choice over it." She looked him up and down. "That's if you can find anyone who wants to sleep with you!"
--- --- ---
An hour later, Jacob headed towards Garshaw's office. <What do you suppose she wants?> he asked.
<No idea. Probably wants us to go to the other side of the galaxy to avoid teasing Delek about being a woman> Selmak laughed. <No, she's probably got a mission for us.>
<Make Delek's life hell?> Jacob asked. <Can do that no problem.>
Selmak laughed. <Oh yeah… hey do you suppose he… sorry She will chose Sebastian to mate with. Literally go screw…>
<Selmak> Jacob chided. <Just because She told you to go do that.> He entered Garshaw's office. “You sent for us?” he asked.
Garshaw nodded. “Please have a seat.”
Jacob sat fully expecting to be sent to the other side of the galaxy. Actually, he was hoping for it. He and Selmak were getting bored hanging around the tunnels day in and day out. A nice deep undercover mission would be perfect!
“I have a task for you and Selmak. You are under no obligation at this time to agree but you are our choice for this.”
Jacob nodded. “Alright… what do you need us to do?”
Garshaw looked at him. “I know you are aware that Delek is a queen and will be transferred to a new host…”
<Not that kind of undercover!> Jacob managed as his stomach dropped.
Selmak screamed <NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO > loudly.
Jacob shook his head. “No,” he said. “I'm sorry but neither of us will mate with Delek. I'd rather be damned in the fiery pits of Netu than…than…I can't even say it!”
Garshaw looked at him. “That was not what I wanted to ask,” she said. “The thing is…” she paused. “Elise discovered two queens amongst us. Delek and myself.”
Jacob looked at her unsure of what to say.
Garshaw took a deep breath. “We would like to ask if you would do us the honour of mating with us to produce the first batch of Tok'ra symbiotes in nearly two millennium.”
Jacob choked slightly. “Mate with you?”
Garshaw nodded. “We are not asking you to be our mate yet. In time, perhaps you could be King to me. But we need to act now and quickly if we are to save the Tok'ra.”
“You mean…do it right now?” Jacob asked, visibly nervous in his seat. “I'm honoured…even flattered but surely you could do better than I!”
“Please, Jacob,” Yosef replied. “We did not choose you at random. And no, not at this very moment.”
“Jacob, it would be a one time deal,” Garshaw continued. “If things do not work out between us you would not be obligated to help procreate any more symbiotes in the future. Think about it…please.”
--- --- ---
The council looked at names of the four girls in front of them. Each was beautiful in their own right and had been waiting for a symbiote for some time now. Each had their own attributes to bring and none minded taking on a particularly strong willed one. However bearing in mind who she would be taking there was really only one that would do. 29 years old and a brunette, her name was Charis. She would be more than a match for Delek's personality.
"Show her in," Garshaw said. In a way it was a shame to do this to her but it may explain a lot about Delek's tendencies. He wore eye shadow for one thing and really was unbearable at certain times of the month. Selmak always used to joke that he got PMS worse than she did.
Charis came in slowly not sure what to expect. Her long brown hair was tied up and falling in ringlets and her white dress clung to her body, the low neckline accentuating her figure. Garshaw smiled. "Charis, please sit down."
Charis sat and looked at her.
Garshaw indicated the man sat next to her. "This is Sebastian. The symbiote he currently carries is named Delek."
"The one you wish me to host," Charis said.
Sebastian smiled at her. "Apparently I am the wrong sex," he said. "Delek is a queen."
Charis smiled. "I can see how that might be a problem," she said. She looked at the council. "I understand the first thing you will need me to do is produce symbiotes?"
Garshaw nodded. "The scans indicate that Delek is in heat, which would explain her frame of mind the past few days.”
Charis nodded. “Who am I to mate with? The healers have explained everything to me.”
Garshaw looked at her. “That is entirely up to you, however…”
Sebastian smiled. “I would lend my services on this occasion … until you find a more permanent mate.”
Charis nodded. “That would be acceptable.”
Garshaw smiled. “Then shall we adjourn to the healing chambers? Then we can transfer Delek to Charis and you may… get to know each other.”
--- --- --- ---
Jacob almost ran into Malek's office. “ Malek, we need to talk…but you can't tell anyone about this! I mean NO ONE must know! I'm not even supposed to talk about it but I need to talk to someone.”
Malek looked at him. “What's wrong?” he asked. He watched as Jacob sat down twisting his wedding ring viciously. Malek made some tea and handed Jacob one, simply to give his hands something to do.
“What's wrong?” he asked again.
Jacob took a long drink of his tea. “I just got propositioned,” he managed and then whispered. “Apparently Garshaw is a queen.”
Malek looked surprised. “I thought Delek was the only queen.”
“Garshaw too evidently. And she wants me to mate with her! She said it would be a one time deal for now and that I wasn't obligated to mate with her again unless I chose to! I would be her King if I started having feelings for her!”
Jared came fore unable to resist. “Actually the title Caesar would suit you better,” he laughed. “The lack of hair would go better with the laurel wreath than with a crown.”
Jacob looked darkly at him. “It's not funny,” he said.
Jared smiled. “Oh but it is. And I bet you thought she was gonna ask you to mate with Delek.” He could tell by the way Jacob blushed that he was right. “It's not that bad,” he said.
Malek swiftly took control back before Jared actually said the riding a bike comment.
Jacob looked at Malek. “I still can't believe she asked.”
Malek smiled. “She's not that unattractive.”
Jacob choked on his tea, spraying it across the Malek's office desk. “Malek! I can't believe you just said that.”
“Well… it's actually an honour to be asked.”
“I don't care,” Jacob replied. “I won't do it and that's final.” He put his cup down. “I have pressing business elsewhere.”
Malek watched him stand up. “Jacob what's the problem here?”
“There is no problem,” Jacob said quickly. “I just have to be somewhere else right now.”
Malek moved swiftly to the door blocking Jacob's exit. “What is it? All she is asking you to do is sleep with her; help her create the next generation of symbiotes.”
Jacob's eyes narrowed. “Exactly,” he growled.
Malek shook his head. “Jacob… when was the last time you spent the night with a woman?”
Jacob looked at him. “My wife,” he said bluntly.
Malek looked at him. “Then close your eyes and pretend she is her,” he suggested. “Jacob this is for the good of our people.”
Jacob glared at him. “Shove the good of the people,” he muttered. “ IF I do this it'll be because I want to and because it's right for us. Not because the damn council ordered me to.”
“But the council haven't ordered it,” Malek said quietly. “The request came from her did it not?”
Jacob nodded.
“Then it's what she wants. And didn't you tell me it should be the woman's decision whom she mates with?”
“I didn't know I'd be the one asked at the time! Malek, I'm not a wham, bam thank you ma'am kind of guy! I actually like to court a woman for awhile before I make love with her!”
Malek looked at him. “You actually know Garshaw better than you think. Garshaw used to reside in a male before Yosef and had a love affair with Selmak.”
“WHAT?” Jacob shouted, his eyes wide with shock.
<Oopss, I guess we let the proverbial cat out of the bag on that one!> Jared snickered to Malek.
<I guess so. Wonder why Selmak never told him.>
“At least go talk with Garshaw, then,” Malek finally said to Jacob.
“I'm going to have to do that, anyway!” Selmak snapped angrily at him.
“My apologies. I thought Jacob knew.”
Selmak sighed. “You were right to assume. I'm sorry.”
“Why did you never tell him?”
“Just because.” Selmak frowned. “He never looked at Yosef in the way I looked at Garshaw. So I never saw the point. And Yosef never said anything to me about being attracted to Jacob.”
“She's the woman, you're the man,” Malek grinned. “She was probably waiting for you or Jacob to make the first move.”
Selmak blinked in surprise. She never thought of it that way before.
“I'd better go. Garshaw will be expecting Jacob to make his decision very soon.”
--- --- --- ---
The drugs to aid Delek's removal had been given to Sebastian and he sat on the bed next to Charis.
She smiled at him. “So what's Delek like?” she asked.
Sebastian shrugged. “Moody, likes being in control, likes getting his own way.”
Charis giggled. “Sounds like me,” she said. “So… what do I do?”
Elise scanned Sebastian and nodded. “Okay… when you're ready,” she said.
Sebastian looked at Charis. “Lie down and kiss me,” he said.
She shook her head. “That's rather forward of you,” she smiled.
He laughed but lay down on the bed.
Charis lay next to him and let him fold her into his arms.
Sebastian moved closer to her and opened his mouth to kiss her. <Bye> he said as he felt Delek move reluctantly into Charis.
Charis eyes opened wide as she seemed to choke for a moment. Then they glowed and Delek looked at Sebastian. “Bye,” she whispered. Then she closed her eyes, her head falling onto Sebastian's shoulder.
Elise scanned them and looked at Garshaw. “They are all fine,” she said.
Garshaw nodded. “Good. Return them to the new chamber that has been made for them.” She took a deep breath. “I have something I need to do.” She left the room heading for her chamber.
--- --- ---
Selmak sat on the bed in Garshaw's chamber waiting for her to return. Thanks to Malek, she had to put Jacob to sleep before he had a heart attack! What she said was true about why she had never told Jacob that many years ago Garshaw had been in a male host. For six wonderful years the two of them had had the love affair to end all love affairs. It had ended when Wizen had been killed and Yosef had offered to host Garshaw. Neither of them wanted the relationship to continue as before and although the physical side stopped the love between them continued.
Garshaw entered the room and saw Selmak sitting there. “Jacob?” she asked.
Selmak shook her head. “No it's me.” She stood up and pulled Garshaw into a hug. “Why did you not tell us before?”
“I wasn't sure… not until now.” She looked at Selmak. “Will Jacob help us? It has to be soon…”
Selmak kissed her cheek and pushed Jacob fore. He did a double take to find Garshaw in his arms but Selmak quickly showed him the history they had and explained how much she loved Garshaw but the two female hosts had precluded any kind of physical relationship.
<Why didn't you tell me, Selmak?> he asked . <I'm not the monk you make me out to be. We could have worked something out.>
<Great…we could have been having sex these past few years!>
Garshaw looked at him. “Jacob … I...”
He put a finger over his lips. “What does Yosef say?” he asked.
Yosef came fore and looked at him. “I don't normally sleep with someone on the first date,” she said.
Jacob smiled. “Nor do I. But Garshaw says this has to be now.”
Yosef nodded. “The need grows within her now. Much stronger than before.”
Jacob ran a hand down her cheek. “Then how about we let her and Selmak do this,” he said gently. “Then you and I can get to know each other properly at some other point, assuming you want to that is.”
She nodded. “Alright.” She gave control back to Garshaw.
Garshaw looked at Jacob. “Thank you.”
He nodded and then let Selmak fore. Selmak smiled. “It has been too long,” she said. She picked Garshaw up and laid her on the bed, kissing her firmly.
The passion between them burned swiftly, kisses following kisses as they made love as if they had never been apart.
--- --- --- ---
Charis looked round the room. “So is this your room?” she asked, knowing Delek didn't recognise it.
Sebastian nodded. “Yeah… we figured Delek might find it easier for now in our… his… your…” he broke off.
Chairs smiled. “It's okay. She's just as confused. She also wants to come fore but I don't intend to let her.”
Sebastian looked at her. “Oh?”
“Well if you and she were one body and now you have to make love to her wouldn't that be kinda icky?”
He laughed. “I hadn't thought of it like that but yeah I guess it would.” He moved towards her. “But you on the other hand… that leaves Delek free to do whatever queens do at this point and us free…”
“To do the fun part,” Charis finished.
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her.
--- --- --- ---
Two days later 250 symbiotes swam happily in the tanks in the cargo ship. Aldwin and Timaius had been charged with taking them to the home world. There they would stay until they needed hosts. Garshaw was remaining there to see them off but Delek was still in denial about being a Queen and couldn't watch. She'd get used to it eventually as the spawning cycle would last 3 weeks; with each queen producing around 125 symbiotes every four days.
Selmak had an arm around Garshaw. Jacob was gradually coming around to the idea. Selmak knew that he and Yosef had sneaked out to the surface last night after Garshaw fell asleep. So she too had faked sleep to allow Jacob and Yosef time alone. She looked over as Sebastian and Charis were leaving. She was glad that was only a temporary thing as Delek being involved with himself was more than she could stomach right now.
<Cheer up Sel!> Jacob suddenly chimed.
Selmak sensed…she sensed how proud he was at the moment. <What's up with you?>
<Just look…our symbiotes are bigger and stronger than Delek's! And all have survived thus far.>
Selmak burst into laughter.
“What?” Garshaw quickly asked.
Selmak whispered in her ear what Jacob had just said and then laughed herself, leaning into Garshaw. The babies were more than fine and doing well. And if for some reason Delek chose to not procreate anymore symbiotes the future of the Tok'ra would still be secure for several years to come for Selmak and Jacob were well on there way to becoming Garshaw and Yosef's mate.
© Tels July 2006.