[2muchtvs]

Hope this fic is making sense to everyone. Thanks for reading, ML
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What Shall Be: Scene Six


Taninas, and Tuka’ stood just inside the doorway of the village’s empty meeting hall.
Towards the front of the hall, seated in the first pew, sat the intended host. The young man had not muttered a word since volunteering in the street. Tuka’ was relieved by the
silence. He had no desire to converse with the boy. What would be the purpose? The young man in front of him would soon cease to exist. It was best to avoid any communication.

Himself and Taninas had refrained from speaking to each other as well. They were both aware of the fact that their Lord would gain insight of them when he took possession of his host. They did not want the God to think them unworthy to serve. They stood as still as statues hoping that they gave the impression of jaded and battle tested soldiers.

In truth, up until a few years ago, they had been nothing more than seasoned farmers. Yes, they had secretly trained as warriors, knowing that some day they might be called into service if Hathor ever returned to Chulak. But so many generations had passed since his people had actively served the goddess, and although his tribe continued to carry on the traditions of the generations before them, they had all been shocked when Hathor presented herself to them. It had been the most difficult decision of his life to leave his family behind on Chulak and follow the goddess to Denoow . But Chona had reminded them all that this was their destiny, that they were the blessed generation, the one that Hathor decided to return to. Chona was a born leader and his impassioned words has inspired the tribe to join Hathor in her quest to again be a queen among the gods. At the time, it all made sense. Now, sitting in this lonely meeting hall, observing someone else’s son who was about to be sacrificed to what Tuka’ was beginning to suspect was a hopeless cause, the warrior found himself second guessing his role in this undertaking. Taninas had not vocalized any concerns about the latest turn of events, and Chona, well Chona had never wavered in his belief of the Gods’ powers. Tuka’ hated being the weak link in the friends’ chain. He detested the frail part of his mind that allowed such misgivings.

In the front pew, the young man began to grow impatient. They had all been waiting close to an hour for Chona to perform kel’noreem and confirm the Lord’s instuctions. Although Tuka’ was dreading the thought of having to watch the symbiote claim its host, trapped in these close quarters with the boy was beginning to unnerve Tuka to no end. He said a silent prayer that the inevitable would simply happen. The poor boy must be going insane with terrified anticipation.

The doomed youth stood up and began walking toward the men. “ My name is Callen”, he called out as he approached them. “ I want to go and say goodbye to my parents, I am their only child. My decision to see this through has not wavered, but I do ask this one request.”

Tuka’ jumped slightly at the response that Taninas gave to the boy. “Sit down slave, your requests are of no concern to us.” The young man stopped in the aisle and stared at Taninas with contempt.

Tuka’s heart was breaking, he repeated the mantra in his head, ‘Be strong like Chona and Taninas, be strong’. He said another silent prayer that this situation should end.

“Sit down”, Taninas repeated to the boy. The youth stood immobile in the aisle. Taninas took a step forward, “Sit down now or you will live your final moments of awareness in pain.”

The young man looked Taninas squarely in the eyes and asked the warrior, “ Do you really think I care? What can your threats possibly mean to me at this moment?”

The angry, brief exchange was interrupted when Chona entered the hall from the side room he had been in.

“It is time”, he announced to no one in particular. “Bring him”.

Taninas immediately moved toward the boy. The youth backed away from his efforts stating, “I came out of my home without your assistance. Leave me alone.” Chona waived Taninas off, “Leave him be, if he attempts a cowardly escape, then you may intervene.” Taninas nodded once to acknowledge Chona’s direction and then waited for the boy to proceed to the annex. The strange procession began, Chona first, followed by the boy and Taninas, with Tuka’ bringing up the rear. No one spoke.

When they entered the annex, Chona pointed to a small cot along the side of a wall. “Take off your shirt and lay down on your stomach”, he instructed the young man. The would be host complied. “Know this”, the boy stated as he lowered himself onto the cot, “I do this in respect of the children, not any god.”

Chona ignored Callen’s declaration.

“Do you acknowledge that you are making this choice freely?” Chona asked the boy. “Would you admit, if anyone ever asked, that you were not physically forced to do this?”

“Yes”, the youth answered tersely. From his position, his head sideways against the rough material of the cot, he looked pointedly at Taninas and added, “No one has had to physically force me to do this.”

“Then behold your destiny”, Chona asserted, as he opened up his shirt, and allowed the boy to view his pouch. “Your God lies in wait.”

Callen watched with horrified fascination as the symbiote gingerly poked out its head.

Tuka’ had placed himself in the farthest corner as possible, hoping that he could somehow wish himself away from this nightmare. He no longer felt blessed, he felt dirty.
By sheer will, he forced himself to watch Chona lean in close to Callen and allow the symbiote to exit the pouch and slide onto the back of the boy.

Callen's body froze as the symbiote touched his skin. He closed his eyes and began chanting to himself the names of the children in the field. The worm inched its way up his back, seemed to sniff out a particular spot around Callen's neck, let out a bizarre squeal, and then sliced it’s way into the boy’s neck.

Callen screamed, and in the corner, Tuka’ bent over and threw up. As he spat the last of the foul discharge from his mouth, Tuka’ no longer cared about his God’s first impression of him. He was only thinking about his own family, his own children, his old life. He was ashamed to be a part of this violence. His thoughts were interrupted when Chona abruptly fell to the floor, grabbing his stomach. In the chaos of the moment, Tuka’ had forgotten that the transfer would result in Chona’s death. Tuka’ temporarily put aside his misgivings and ran to the aid of his friend. Taninas was already at Chona’s side, helping the Jaffa to another corner of the room where a blanket had already been placed on the floor.

“Are you in much pain Chona?” Taninas gently inquired.

“I am at peace.” the man replied. He looked back and forth between his two old friends, “Do not worry yourselves, I am at peace. Go, look after our Lord.”

Taninas walked over to the cot and peered down at the body of the young man. He appeared to be in a light sleep, blood tricking from the small slit in his neck. Taninas walked back over to Chona and Tuka’.

“I believe he is sleeping.”

Tuka’ looked to and fro from Chona to the boy. ‘What had they done?” he asked himself. Why had he stood back passively and allowed this to happen?

Chona, seeming to read Tuka’s mind, grabbed his friend’s hand. “What we have done today will make the universe a better place Tuka’. Our children will flourish under the leadership of this One. Our people will no longer have to hide, picking wheat season after season. This One will rise to greatnesses, and take our sons along with him. If you shed tears tonight, let it be in pride for the future, not in my passing.” The short speech seemed to exhaust Chona and he leaned down toward the ground. Taninas helped gently lower Chona’s head to the floor.

An odd, guttural voice emanated from the corner cot, causing Taninas and Tuka’ to turn sharply and face the body of Callen. The youth was standing, his blue eyes, now a covering of illuminated white. “Bring him here”, the Goa'uld directed Taninas. “My Jaffa will not die sprawled on a cold floor.”

Taninas assisted Chona to the cot, and then knelt before the young Lord. “My Lord, I am here to serve you.”

“Leave us, both of you”, the Goa'uld commanded to Chona’s two friends.

Taninas rose from the ground, bowed to his new Lord, and exited the annex. Tuka’ glanced at Chona, his eyes saying a final goodbye, and followed Taninas out of the room.

Chona lay on the cot, his life ebbing away. The Goa'uld knelt down on one knee beside the cot and put his hand inside Chona’s.

“Someday my friend, we will meet again. You will sit by my side and be my First Prime for eternity. For the here and now, your sons, and their sons' sons will forever hold positions of power under my reign. You die knowing that you have served your Lord with honor and distinction.”

Chona nodded a thank you, closed his eyes, and died.

The Goa'uld put Callen shirt on, smoothed the work robe, took one last look at Chona, and inhaled a deep breath. He swung the door of the annex open and glared at Taninas and Tuka’.

“He is dead. You will bury him in a suitable place and identify his grave with a worthy marker. Tell the leaders of this village to keep the grave well or they will feel my wrath upon my return. Then you will come back here and escort me to the Chaapa’ai. Go now, and accomplish all these tasks in a fashion that will not incur my anger. I want to be rid of this planet and on Abydos before nightfall.”



To be continued…….


OK, if anyone is still reading, SG 1 is in the batter's box.
See ya tomorrow. ML