Title : Full Circle
Author : Tels
Fandom : Stargate SG1
Characters : Apophis/Selmak/Malek
Rating : R
Word count : 2,019
Prompt : #55 Spirit
Summary : Delving into Selmak's past
AN : Pre-series
Full Circle
By Tels
Apophis' eyes glinted as his first prime brought the woman before him. “Are you sure this is the one?” he asked. “She has been…” he broke off as the jaffa nodded.
“We found her in your bed chamber my lord.”
Apophis laughed. “She is usually found in my bed chamber. That is where a concubine serves her master is it not?”
The first prime held out a data crystal. “She had this in her hand, she was about to download onto it.”
Apophis recognised the crystal immediately for what it was. “Leave us!” he ordered. “You would steal from me?” he asked, his eyes turning to steel as they fell on the woman. “Bite the hand that feeds you, protects you, loves you?” He reached out with his hand and stroked her cheek. Then curled it round her neck, gripping her red hair tightly. “Would you?”
Tayba looked at him. She had spent 6 months as his concubine. Six long months in which she had been forced to serve him in as many ways as he saw fit; in his bed, his dining hall, the beds of his guests while he watched. Love wasn't a word that entered her mind in the way he treated her. She wondered if she would ever feel clean or be free again. But today she had finally got the sign she had been waiting for. The symbiote she carried within her was waking. That meant she could finally end her undercover mission and return to the Tok'ra.
Selmak had been forced into dormancy for this mission with a massive dose of drugs before she left the Tok'ra base. Apophis of course knew of her presence within Tayba and Tayba made use of that. She said she was using the host's voice as a sign that she was lower than her God. This pleased Apophis who willingly drafted this minor Goa'uld into his service. That morning Selmak had started to waken which gave Tayba the reason she needed to make her final move. It was just bad luck the jaffa had disturbed her. Tayba had been so lonely without Selmak. She had missed her counsel, her humour, her company, but most of all her protection.
Apophis was not known for his kindness. Even in bed he was a violent man and would rather hurt than love anyone. Many a time Tayba had been left bruised and scarred. Last night he had been particularly brutal, so much so she wondered if he would insist on the healing power of the sarcophagus, but he decided he'd rather let her suffer than be healed. She looked up at him now as he shook her, his hand pulling her hair so tightly it brought tears to her green eyes.
“Answer Me!” he shouted.
Tayba dropped her gaze. “I serve you my lord,” she told him. She could feel Selmak stirring within her now, starting to wake properly. ~ Not just yet. Give me another hour. He can't know who you are ~ she whispered.
~ I am who I am ~ Selmak replied hugging her. ~ And if we die here then we die free ~
“What is on the crystal?” Apophis demanded.
Tayba looked at him, returning Selmak's hug. “Go read it yourself,” she told him.
Apophis backhanded her, only his tight grip on her hair preventing her head from snapping to one side. His eyes glowed hot. “Insolence!” he spat. “I chose you for your spirit but you have gone too far.” He pushed her to her knees and raised his left hand. “You will tell me what I want to know.”
Pain filled every part of her as he fired the ribbon device. She cried out. When the pain diminished she struggled off her knees and onto her feet. She stood and looked at him defiantly.
Apophis' eyes glowed hot again. “You will kneel slave!”
Selmak hugged Tayba. ~ Let me beloved ~ she said and taking control made her eyes glow hot. “We will not!” she said. She smiled at him. “I'm hurt… You have spent the last 6 months getting to know my host in more ways than I care to think of and you never learnt who we really are.” She slid a hand beneath her skirt and pulled out the knife she had strapped to her thigh. She plunged it into Apophis' chest.
Apophis gasped and dropped to his knees. “Who are you?” he asked.
Selmak laughed. “I am Tok'ra,” she said. She picked up the crystal from where it had fallen. “It cost too much to leave this here.”
He reached out and grabbed the hem of her skirt. “You will never get out of here alive,” he told her.
Selmak kicked out hard, sending him to the floor, loosening his hold on her. “Yes I will,” she told him. “You have put my host through hell the past few months, it is the sprit you so admire in her, that will get us safely out of her and away from you.”
--- ---
A day later Tayba laid the crystal on the council chamber table without saying a word. She hadn't even changed or bathed since she arrived back. Just gone straight to the council and handed over the data.
Garshaw looked at her. “Welcome back.”
“Don't,” Tayba said. “I just hope that is worth what it cost. Just do us two favours.”
Garshaw inclined her head slightly. “If I can. What are they?”
“Selmak needs a new host and I want to go home and start a new life.”
Per'sus looked at her. “What happened?”
“Apophis happened!” Tayba snapped. “The past six months happened.” She paused. “Find her a new host. It's what she wants. It's what we both want.”
“Selmak?”
Selmak looked at him. “Just do it,” she said. “And quickly.” She hugged Tayba. ~ You're right, it is the only option we have beloved. No one can know about this ~
Per'sus looked at her. “What is the rush?” he asked.
Selmak rolled her eyes. “Just find me a new host,” she repeated. “Or a tank or I go and take matters into my own hands.”
Delek looked her up and down. “You have gained weight,” he told her.
Selmak shook her head. “I have not had time to work out!” she snapped. “Tayba spent the last six months undercover to get you that data. Use it and honour her request!” Selmak turned on her heel and strode out of the chamber in search of a long hot bath.
--- ---
Three hours later Malek arrived at Tayba's chamber. “I hear you have not yet reported to the healing chambers,” he said, firmly in base commander mode.
“No,” she replied. “Drink?”
He ignored her comment. “Are you going to?”
“No.” Tayba looked at the half full glass in her hand.
“Why not? You know its standard practice on returning from a mission, especially a long undercover one like yours.” He paused. “Tayba those bruises on your face look new.”
She shrugged. “Had worse.” She looked up at him. “I have spent the last 6 months being beaten, raped and hurt in more ways than you could possibly imagine and in more ways than I want to remember. I was alone Malek. Completely alone. I did what he wanted when he wanted for his amusement because he and the council told me to do so. For once I want to do what I want without being told to.” Tears filled her eyes, her voice full of pent up emotion.
Malek moved to her side. “All the more reason to be checked over,” he said gently.
Tayba shook her head. “She needs a new host Malek… find her one?”
“Why?” he asked her.
“Because…” she drained the glass. “Please as our best friend, do this one last thing for us.”
Malek looked at her, concern filling his eyes and his voice. “Last thing?” He sat next to her moving the bottle out of her reach before she could refill her glass. “Tayba? As your friend please talk to me.”
“Leave it,” she sobbed. “Just find her a new host before it's too late…”
“Whatever it is that is troubling you we can sort out,” he said gently. “It's been a long six months. Let the healers look at you and then…”
Tayba pulled from his arms. “No!” She retreated leaving Selmak fore.
Selmak looked at Malek. “Please,” she whispered. “We do not have long. He broke her Malek, in a way that I can't put right. He took her spirit, the very essence of her. Made her his in a way that took her from me and means I can't stay.”
Malek looked at her, the penny dropping. “When is the child due?” he asked softly.
“About 11 weeks time. However if I stay here the child will arrive within twelve hours. Apophis does not know. No one can know. That is why I can not go to the healers. Malek, please, you can't tell anyone. I was dormant until yesterday but there is still a risk and if the council gets their hands on her… Please… I beg you, find me a new host and let Tayba go.”
Malek drew her into a hug. “Of course my friend. I will help you both. Pack a bag and meet me at the rings in 20 minutes. The council will be in session then. We will have a clear run to the gate.”
Selmak hugged him back. “Thank you.”
They gated to a planet Malek knew of. He had been there a few weeks previously scouting for potential hosts. There was one he had found who would be perfect for Selmak. Her name was Rynette and she was a blonde, 27yr old, full of life and vigour. Selmak and Rynette hit it off immediately and blended. Tayba hugged Malek and Selmak goodbye at the gate. “I won't forget either of you,” she whispered. She watched them leave and then gated out herself.
--- ---
Tayba made a new life for herself and raised her daughter alone. Saroosh was a bright, happy child. Full of her mother's spirit she loved exploring and playing games, climbing trees and getting up to mischief. She wanted for nothing, content with just her mother's love and her life in the village.
Selmak often wondered what had happened to Tayba and once gated back to Rynette's home world but there was no trace of her there and no one knew where she was. Selmak didn't encounter Apophis again for many years, not until she got caught on Rebus.
Apophis fleet attacked out of the blue. Many hundreds were killed or injured including Rynette. A young girl of about 20 helped her to the caves her people had taken refuge in. She was an orphan. Her mother had died in the first wave of the attack and she had no father. She helped tend to Rynette's wounds, introducing herself as Saroosh.
Rynette was dying. Without wanting to know the whys and wherefores or what was involved, Saroosh offered to be a host for Selmak. “It just seemed the right thing to do,” she later told the council. “To be able to fight against those that killed my mother and destroyed my home was a chance I had to take.”
Malek looked at her. “You remind me of someone I once knew a long time ago,” he said quietly as he walked her down the tunnel to her chambers.
“Selmak says the same thing. I was always told I was like my mother.” She tossed her hair back over her shoulder. “I can't see it myself. Mam was a red head; my hair is just this dirty brown colour. My eyes aren't green like hers either.”
Malek stopped short. ~ It can't be ~ he whispered. “What was your mother's name?” he asked.
Saroosh looked at him. “Tayba,” she said feeling a huge wave of emotion from Selmak. “What?” She could see Selmak's emotions echoed on Malek's face. “What have I done?”
~ You are Tayba's daughter ~ Selmak whispered in wonderment. ~ That's why… ~ she broke off overwhelmed for the moment.
Malek smiled. “We knew you your mother very well,” he smiled. “But that is something for Selmak to tell you.”
Saroosh went into her chamber. ~ Selmak? That's why what? How did you know Mam? She never mentioned you or your people .~
Selmak hugged her. ~ No she couldn't. Let me explain. Your mother was a great friend, full of spirit, just like you… ~
Fin
©Tels Aug 2006.