Fiction > Het Fic > Novels > Honor Amongst Thieves (Original Version)

Honor Amongst Thieves (Original Version) by Cleo the Muse
Rating: Older Kids
Genre: Het (Daniel/Vala), AU, Action/Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance
Warnings: Some foul language (though nothing too severe), some questionable comments from Vala, and (since some folk don't like him) Jonas Quinn.
Episodes: Nothing's sacred. Basically, any episode which has either Daniel or Vala in it (and maybe a few which don't), so... the first movie through season ten?
Synopsis: Vala Mal Doran steals a cargo ship, but wrecks it on a backwater little farm planet whose people don't even speak a dialect she can understand. Fortunately, there is a stranger living among them who is able to translate. He arrived on that planet in a flash of light only months before, and has yet to remember who he is. When a conversation with the incorrigible thief leads him to remember his name, Daniel agrees to travel with her through the Stargate to find his past.
Notes: Loosely based on Ael L. Bolt's "Five Daniels That Weren't: The Third Daniel - Pirate". Now, the part that might REALLY send you for a loop is that I wrote and posted a chapter EVERY WEEKDAY for three months to get this plot bunny to stop nibbling on me!
Status: Completed as of May 16, 2007
Disclaimer: See The Fine Print.  I don't own Stargate... it owns me *eg*.

Ch. 1-10      Ch. 11-20      Ch. 21-30      Ch. 31-40      Ch. 41-50      Ch. 51-60      Ch. 61-70

Honor Amongst Thieves

Chapter 51

The sunlight streaming into the room burned into her eyes, making her head throb even with her lids firmly shut. Moaning in discomfort, she turned her head, rolled over, and pulled her pillow over her head.

"Miss Vala?" asked a concern-filled voice. "Are you awake?"

"Mmph," she replied, her mouth pressed against the linen sheets. Now that she'd taken care of the light, she wanted the noise to go away, too. Couldn't anyone let her have a hangover in peace?

"You've been unconscious for several hours," continued the speaker, oblivious to Vala's wishes. "We were beginning to become most concerned. I'll be right back with Mother."

Lifting the pillow cautiously, Vala frowned. "Unconscious?" There was no reply, though, and she realized her visitor had already left the room. Puzzling over the odd behavior, she lifted her hand to brush the hair out of her face, jerking back when her own touch produced a nauseating wave of pain.

When she opened her eyes again, it was to the sound of approaching footsteps. Seconds later, Han Yuna and her daughter Mai appeared in the doorway. "You are still awake!" the matriarch exclaimed happily.

"Loud," she muttered, fingers fluttering back to the extremely sore spot she'd discovered on her forehead. "Bright."

"Mai, dear, please draw the shade. The evening sun is hurting her eyes." There was a creak of wood as she seated herself in the chair next to Vala's bed, then a rustle of fabric and bamboo heralded the welcome darkening of the room. "How are you feeling?"

"Hungover," she answered, "like I've just woken up from the biggest party of my life. Unfortunately, I don't remember."

"Remember what?"

"The party. Obviously, I went and got myself smashed, but I'm not sure about the knot on my head. Would someone bring me my healing device so I can make my headache go away so I can actually think for a moment or two?"

"You can do that?" asked Mai curiously. "I didn't know you could use it on yourself."

Vala squinted an eye open. "Assuming I can get my brain working well enough to try, yes."

There was another rustle of fabric, then something cool and metallic was placed in her hand. Curling her fingers around the familiar shape, she lifted the round device to just above her forehead and struggled to get her brain coherent enough to will the healing stone to activate. Finally, after what felt like a monumental effort, she felt it turn on and began to feel its effects almost immediately.

Using one of these devices on oneself was entirely different from using it on another. From what she had discovered in a conversation with a so-called Tok'ra healing expert, self-use was risky because the wielder was running a chance they could be hyper-aware of the physical condition or not aware enough. Either situation was dangerous. Being too sensitized could make it difficult to stay focused on the task and not the results, while too-little sensation could lead to mistakes.

As the fog in her head cleared, Vala was able to concentrate better, and soon had the task finished. Pushing herself to an upright position, she looked around the room, suddenly recognizing it as the chambers she shared with Daniel whenever they stayed at the Hans'. In fact, this was the very room in which she'd used the healing device to tend to—

"Daniel!" she gasped. "Where is he?"

Yuna sighed. "We were hoping you could tell us. Eight glasses ago, the Stargate activated and you were pushed through, lying atop a long, flat board so that whomever sent you here didn't need to go through the tunnel, too. We thought maybe it was Master Daniel, but why wouldn't he have come with you?"

Vala blinked, mouth gaping until she was able to collect enough of her wits to shut it. "He's not here?"

"No."

"That's odd," she replied, biting her lip nervously. "The last thing I remember was... re-routing power. We were losing it for some reason, and I had to try to keep us going long enough to get to a planet with a Stargate."

"What happened then?"

Sighing, she rubbed at her temples. "Well, we got there, obviously. You said I came through the 'Gate, right?" Yuna nodded. "Okay, so we got to the planet, then... oh no, there were three Goa'uld ships waiting there. Gliders too. I think we were shot down."

"That's probably when you hit your head," the matriarch guessed. "What about Master Daniel?"

Vala shook her head. "I don't know. I don't remember."

This must be something of what it was like for Daniel. In her case, though, she had lost only several hours, maybe as much as a day, whereas he initially was missing nearly forty years. The importance was no less, however, and those lost hours possibly held the answer to where he was now and how she had come to be returned through the Stargate to the Hans without him.

"Perhaps it will come to you in time," Yuna offered, giving her a motherly pat on the thigh. "Do you feel up to joining the family for dinner?"

"Dinner? What time is it?"

"It's evening, of course."

Of course it was, the bedroom window faced to the west. "This is one of those times when 'Gate travel is so confusing. It was evening when we left Katana, evening when we arrived on... that planet, and now it's evening again?"

She rolled her shoulders and rubbed the back of her neck, stopping when her fingers encountered a thin metal chain. Looking down, Vala stared in surprise at the Han amulet now resting in her palm. "When did...?"

"You were wearing it when you came through the Stargate," Mai answered.

Cold realization settled in her stomach like a block of ice. "It's Daniel's."

"That was our conclusion as well."

She let the pendant fall back to her chest, clenching her fists in frustration. "That son of a bitch."

Yuna blinked in surprise. "Who?"

"Daniel!" she snapped. "Why else would he give me his amulet, if not to save me from capture by the Goa'uld at cost to himself?"

The Han women were visibly taken aback by her vehemence, exchanging startled looks with one another. "I'm sure he only did it to—"

"—To be a self-righteous, noble idiot with a martyr complex!" she howled in indignation, slamming her fists on either side of her. The result was rather disappointing, as the soft mattress took the impact with hardly a sound. Snarling, she leaped off the bed and stormed out of the room, stomping down the hall as ineffectually has she'd pounded the mattress.

"Miss Vala, wait!" Mai cried, running out of the room ahead of her slower-moving mother. "Where are you going?"

"To beat the hell out him and drag him back here by his ears if I have to," she replied through clenched teeth, refusing to be stopped.

"But you will need your clothes and equipment," the younger Han persisted.

Halting abruptly, Vala looked down at her attire and noticed, for the first time, that someone had dressed her in a simple cotton shift while she was unconscious. The lack of satisfying volume to her stomping could be attributed to her bare feet. "Where are my clothes?"

"All your belongings are in your room," Mai replied calmly. "You were sent through with your packs fastened to your belt."

"Fine. I'll get dressed, then—"

Yuna leaned against the doorway. "Do you have a plan?"

Vala rolled her eyes, walking around the older woman and crossing to where her pack lay beside the bed.  "No, but I'll make it up as I go along.  I don't have much time, you know.  The Jaffa said Osiris was on his way."

"Osiris?" the matriarch repeated.

"Yes.  Daniel said something about staying to talk to the Jaffa's leader, though, said he knew her from his past."

Yuna shook her head sadly. "Osiris' current host is a female Tau'ri."

She nearly dropped the pants she held before she recovered enough to slip her legs into them.  "That bastard.  He knew.  He knew he was going to be brought before Osiris if he stayed and he didn't try to fight.  Of course she'll recognize him, and then she'll go and tell Anubis who her Jaffa have caught and then..."

"Then he dies," the matriarch finished sadly.

"Worse," Vala replied, fastening the last clasp on her shirt and shutting the pack with a hard yank on its cord.  "Daniel met Anubis when... when Daniel was of a higher form of life.  Anubis is going to want to know everything Daniel knows about Ascension."

Mai let out a surprised squeak. "Ascension? As in the teachings of Enlightenment?"

"I don't know. Maybe. Daniel once told me that that kind of knowledge should never be allowed to fall into Goa'uld control, and now the fool has gone and handed himself over to the enemy."

Yuna shook her head in denial. "I wish there was something I could do to help. Our hands are tied, though, as we cannot openly defy the Goa'uld."

"Give me another amulet," she replied. "If I can get there before Osiris does, I may be able to convince the Jaffa to let Daniel go, too."

"That may work," the younger woman nodded, slipping her own amulet off without hesitation and handing it to Vala. "I'll get another one later."

Tucking the pendant into her pants pocket, Vala expressed her thanks. "Walking through the 'Gate might not be the most brilliant plan ever, but it's the only plan I have. Contact Kazo and tell him what has happened. If I don't return in... in twelve hours, have him to tell the Tau'ri, give them the coordinates for..." She trailed off, weakened knees giving out and depositing her on the edge of the bed.

"The coordinates for the planet?"

"I don't know them," she realized. "Daniel's the one who entered it into the navigational computer... I was busy working on the power systems and didn't notice."

Yuna closed her eyes. "Mai, go the library and pull a list of all the planets known to be held by Osiris. I'll get started with some of the field agents, find out Osiris' current whereabouts. It isn't much, but maybe we can help you narrow the search and possibly arrive before the Goa'uld does."

"Any help I can get, I'll take," she answered, steeling herself inwardly and rising to her feet again. She then set off down the hall once more, walking and talking at the same time. "I'll go talk to Sarilis, find out what she knows, then return here as soon as possible. The longer we wait, the greater the danger Daniel is in... all of us, actually, if what he thinks might be buried in his subconscious is still there. Anubis could easily conquer the entire galaxy with that information."

"Truly?"

"'Gate Builder knowledge," she replied grimly.

Stepping out the front door, she crossed the courtyard to the Stargate and began to punch the coordinates for Katana. A sudden thought struck her then, and she spun around. "Do either of you have anything to write on? Okay, then memorize this address, Mai... the planet we crashed on was less than twelve hours from these coordinates."

She toggled the reset on the pedestal, then began to enter a new set of symbols. Luckily she had seen the address for Taonas, the first planet on Daniel's list. When she got to the sixth symbol, she stopped, waiting until Mai gave a nod and disappeared back into the house.

"We anxiously await your return," Yuna stated gravely.

"I'll be back soon," Vala promised, stepping into the wormhole to Katana.

Once on the other side, she practically ran down the hill, dodging through the streets until, panting, she reached Sarilis' door. It was night, so the front entrance was locked. Grumbling in frustration, she dashed around to the back of the building and climbed up the stairs, pounding on the door until the sleepy-looking former bounty hunter opened it a crack.

"Vala! I thought you and Daniel were going to be gone a few days."

"We were," she replied, shifting impatiently, "but he's been captured by the Goa'uld and I need your help."

The redhead's eyes widened, then she unhooked the chain and held the door open for the younger woman. "I'll meet you downstairs," she promised, disappearing down the hall.

Slamming the door shut behind her and setting the locks, Vala turned to her own room, deciding to retrieve her rarely-used ribbon device in case she needed it. She had no intention of engaging in a fight at all, but it was better to be prepared for anything than not.

When the overhead lights brightened at her touch, she strode over to the bed and dropped her pack atop it, bending to pull out the bag in which she kept her most treasured possessions. She paused midway down, though, eyes lighting on something else.

It was Daniel's scarf, the one made for him by the people of Makosis. She crawled across the bed toward the garment, fingers stretching out to touch the soft knit. It had been carelessly left on the edge of the table on Daniel's side of the bed, but it was suddenly as though there was nothing else in the room worth noting.

The blue was too dark, and yet it still reminded her of his eyes. There were shadows haunting those wondrous orbs, wisps of the many tragedies he'd witnessed and been unable to prevent. In the darkness of the woods, his gaze had captured her own even has his lips claimed hers, telling her without words that he was freely giving her his only chance to escape. She'd been too befuddled to protest, too confused to realize his intentions.

The gold was supposed to have been representative of his hair, but it was too light. It was, she decided, a better depiction of his heart. He was not a man who gave his affections away easily, and yet he was always willing to help another. He knew full well what personal danger he'd be placing himself in, yet he'd unflinchingly sacrificed his own freedom to ensure hers. He loved her so much that in this moment, she hated him for it.

Burying her face in his scent, she cried.

Chapter 52

It took eight steps to cross the room.

Daniel sighed and paced again, bored and anxious and—admittedly—more than just a little scared. Several hours ago, though he didn't know for sure how many, he had been permitted to dial the 'Gate address for the Hans' world, then watch as Vala was sent through to safety. Any other time, he would have been very much interested in the smooth-bottomed board, curious to see how such an item was used by the local population in hunting, farming, or perhaps even recreation. Instead, he had gazed on at his departing partner while two enormous Jaffa held his arms so that he couldn't attempt a mad dash toward the 'Gate.

When the wormhole snapped shut, it was though he was a marionette whose strings had just been severed. He hadn't had any plan other than making sure that Vala would not be in harm's way when Osiris discovered the identity of her prisoner. Of course, he'd like to try to escape on his own before she arrived, but making such an attempt while surrounded by a dozen fully-armed Jaffa was probably not in his best interests for continued health.

He held no illusions about his fate after Osiris arrived, however. In the two confrontations he'd had with the Goa'uld, she'd made her hatred for him plain. She wasn't above trying to use him to get information, though, and he doubted he would care for her "questioning" methods, especially if she had a sarcophagus with her.

The door to his cell rattled. Stopping and turning, Daniel felt his heart began to pound. Had she already arrived?

Thankfully, it was the leader of the Jaffa patrol who stepped into the cell, followed by the taller Jaffa marked with the symbol of Ra. The door was pulled shut behind, and Daniel stood with his arms folded, waiting.

"You have lied to us."

"I have?"

"You said you worked for the Hans."

He shrugged. "True, but I'm actually one of the cousins. My friend worked for them, too. She needed medical attention, so I was more than happy to give her my amulet, to let her go through the Stargate in my stead. If I had said otherwise, would you have let us both go?"

"No," the leader replied, shaking his head slowly. "Osiris will likely be displeased enough that I have let even one of you leave. If I had released you both, she would surely execute the entire patrol, or worse."

Daniel didn't think the Goa'uld's displeasure would be so great once she found out her captive's identity. Instead of vocalizing his worries, however, he shrugged his shoulders. "Well, thanks anyway."

"You are surprisingly resourceful and clever for a human," the Jaffa continued.

"For a human," Daniel echoed.

"Most humans I have ever encountered have been fearful of their gods. They are foolish and ignorant. You are not."

"I'm not from one of the normal Goa'uld-controlled worlds, if that's what you're asking."

"How did you know what to say?" blurted the former follower of Ra.

Daniel frowned. "Say what?"

"The pass phrase of the resistance. How did a Han come to know this?"

"Oh. Well... I happen to have met one of the rebel leaders."

"Raknor?"

"No, Teal'c."

The first Jaffa sucked in a breath. "You have met Teal'c of the Tau'ri?"

He nodded again. "So you two are in the resistance?"

The Jaffa exchanged a look. "We are. Unfortunately, none of the other Jaffa in the patrol were to be trusted. I have sent them back to investigate the wreckage of your ship so that they will be unable to report that I let the woman go free. Still, I am fairly confident that when Osiris finally arrives, he will merely order your death—"

"'Merely,'" he snorted, resuming his pacing.

"—But we can 'dispose' of you through the Stargate without actually executing you."

Daniel shook his head. "That's a great idea, but it won't work. I have to leave before Osiris gets here. When she sees me, she'll recognize me."

"'She' will recognize you?"

"Yeah," he sighed. "Osiris' host is a woman I once knew, with whom I was once intimate, even. If I don't find a way to escape now, things are going to get a lot worse. There wouldn't happen to be a sarcophagus here, would there?"

"There is not."

"Well, unless she brings one with her, I won't have to worry about her killing and reviving me, at least. It still won't be a picnic, though."

"Picnic?" questioned the taller, blond-haired Jaffa.

"It's an expression." He stopped, closing his eyes. "You can call me Theadan, by the way."

"I am called Nekor," supplied the shorter Jaffa. "This is Morlam."

"Great. I don't suppose there's any way you'd be willing to help me escape..."

Nekor shook his head. "It would be dangerous. The numbers of the resistance are small on this world, though growing daily. For many, there has been too much evidence the Goa'uld are not the immortal gods they claim to be."

"Ra first held this world when I was a boy," elaborated Morlam. "Upon his death, Heru'ur claimed his father's territories. It was taken by Apophis after that, then nearly forgotten when he was vanquished. When Osiris returned from exile, he—she reclaimed many of Ra's old holdings."

Daniel sighed. "Why do so many of your brothers continue to believe the Goa'uld are gods, then? Surely they've begun to see a pattern. Since the fall of Ra, many of the most powerful System Lords have met their demise."

"They do not see that the Jaffa have had any impact on these events."

"Teal'c was there when Apophis was finally destroyed. He was also present when Heru'ur was killed, as was Raknor. Maybe he didn't have a direct hand in either event, but he was still very much a part of it."

Nekor frowned. "You speak as though you know from experience."

"Among other professions, I am a scholar and historian," he answered at length. "I know a great many things, experienced or otherwise. For example, it was Teal'c who killed Cronus." Of course, he neglected to clarify which Teal'c had slain the false god. Explaining the concept of a robot duplicate was simply more information than most needed to know. "Oh, and he killed Imhotep, too. I've been... out of the loop for a while, so there might be others."

Morlam and Nekor exchanged a brief look of surprise. "We must... we must speak of these events to our brothers. You have given us many things on which to think, Theadan. Osiris is expected to arrive this evening, however, so if we are to act on your behalf, we must do so quickly. In the meantime, someone should arrive soon with your morning meal. I am sure you must be famished."

Truth be told, Daniel didn't think he could eat anything at all, but he wasn't about to turn away such hospitality. It was far better treatment than he'd come to expect from Jaffa soldiers: he hadn't been struck even once. Of course, it spoke altogether-too-sadly of his past experiences that he was even passingly familiar with the "usual" behaviors of Jaffa captors.

With the two rebels gone, Daniel resumed his pacing. If the length of the day was in any way similar to that of Earth, he probably had about twelve hours before Osiris was expected to arrive. Somehow, in that time, he either needed to find a way to escape on his own or at least help the resistance to make it look as though he had escaped on his own.

He never considered himself as much of a strategist, but he'd certainly studied the past enough to be even somewhat of an expert on military history. Combining that with the skills learned from Jack, Sam, and Teal'c—plus some of the more unorthodox ideas of Vala—he could surely formulate a plan which got him offworld safely without running the risk of compromising the safety or identities of the rebels.

Vala, of course, would point out that ther own lives came before that of the rebels, and he was inclined to agree in this case. Although the Jaffa were often erroneously blamed for crime's perpetrated by their "gods", it still did not bely the fact that many Jaffa held themselves to a strict code of honor. Self-sacrifice was valued as one of the greatest honors a Jaffa could bestow upon his fellows.

The room was solid; he'd already checked. His pack, zat, and pistol had all been taken from him and he was now left with nothing to do to keep his mind occupied. Osiris was coming, and unless the rebels could agree to help him stage an escape, he would still be here, waiting for her arrival.

Chapter 53

"The first and most obvious means of travel—the Stargate—is out of the question."

"They let me through before," Vala protested.

Sarilis shook her head. "They let you through injured and unconscious. I doubt the Jaffa will be happy to let you just walk right on through, flash your amulet, and demand they turn over their prisoner to you. For one thing, you don't know for certain they didn't recognize Daniel."

"If that was the case, why did they let me go, then?"

"Letting you go was extremely uncharacteristic as it was. Getting a second amulet was brilliant, dear, but I don't think it will be of much use in this case. They should have kept you both, injured or not, until such time as a decision could be made by the First Prime, a lesser Goa'uld, Osiris herself... or Anubis. None of the Jaffa who captured you was the First Prime, correct?"

"I honestly don't know," Vala admitted. "It was dark. They had torches, true, but I wasn't really up to paying attention."

"I'll guess not, then," Sarilis replied, "or you would probably have seen a glint of gold." She paced in front of the counter behind which she kept all her repair tools. "It could have been a field patrol, then, and not garrison-based. If so..."

"What?"

"How is your Goa'uld impression these days?"

Vala blinked. "Other than one use of the voice modulator, I haven't had to pretend to be Qetesh since Daniel came along. He's helped me keep up a steady income, so no more skimming riches off the hard work of Qetesh's former slaves. Daniel wouldn't approve anyway."

"No, he wouldn't," Sarilis agreed. "But I don't think he'll mind us playing a little mind game with the local Jaffa. Most Goa'uld aren't aware that Qetesh is dead, as she was really quite minor in the grand scheme of things, correct?"

"Other than Baal's occasional overtures to try to convince her to become his Queen, that's right. Oh, and a one-time entanglement with Athena."

Sarilis rubbed her hands together. "Excellent. You, my dear, are going to ring right into the stronghold on that planet and demand the Jaffa return your slave."

"My slave?"

"Daniel, of course. He and your... lo'taur stole something from you and since you can't find the lo'taur—who, quite fortunately, looks just like you—you'll just have to get the information out of her lover. Then you wave your little ribbon device menacingly, the Jaffa drag Daniel to you, and the two of you ring back to the ship."

"What ship?"

The former bounty hunter grinned. "We'll just have to borrow one, won't we? I hear Andron's had a recent string of luck, so why don't I pay him a visit?"

Vala gaped. "Andron has a ship? Since when?"

"Only recently," Sarilis answered. "Here's the deal, girl: you go find out what you need to find out from your Han allies, while I worry about acquiring the services of our portly little friend. I'll meet you in the field next to the town walls."

She nodded vigorously, thanking her friend for her help. "I know you really have no reason to care what happens to either of us, but—"

The older woman laid her hand on Vala's shoulder. "In the last two years, girl, you've become like a daughter to me. A rebellious teenage one, at times, but a daughter nonetheless. I've never seen you quite so happy as you have been since Daniel came into your life, so I will do whatever I can to help bring him back to you."

Feeling tears welling up in her eyes, Vala inwardly cursed her recent emotional instability while outwardly professing her gratitude again. Together, the two women grabbed their respective packs and headed out into Katana's early dawn, separating once the front door to the shop was securely locked.

Returning to the Stargate again, she felt as though she was in a daze, the last who-knew-how-many hours little more than an exhausting blur. She'd pretty well sorted out what she could remember, though there were gaps from the time she first began attempting evasive maneuvers from the pursuing death gliders until she woke up in the forest in Daniel's arms, as well as from the time he kissed her farewell until waking in her bedroom at the Hans' palace. Most of the trek through the woods, though, was surreal and disorienting. Time seemed to compress and contract until she really had no idea how long they'd been running from their pursuers.

Of course, the amount of time spent in the forest didn't really matter. The important thing to keep track of was how long it had been since she and Daniel were separated. It had been approximately eight hours—or glasses on the water clock, as the case may be—from the time she was pushed through the Han 'Gate until she'd awakened in her room. She'd spent another two hours talking to first Yuna and Mai, then Sarilis.

Before the wormhole had even snapped shut behind her, Vala was halfway across the Han courtyard, Yuna and Mai coming out of the side door of the house to meet her. The older woman was still in her loose silk robes, but her daughter had changed into a functional-looking coverall, complete with utility belt and holstered pistol. She looked quite ready for action.

"Osiris' last-known location was Rumares," the matron announced without preamble. "At the top speeds capable to even the most advanced Goa'uld ships, it would take her approximately seventeen to twenty hours to reach the only star system Mai could find within the radius you described."

"And we've already lost ten of those," she replied, crossing her arms. "I'll never get there before she does."

"Not necessarily," Mai corrected. "That would assume that Osiris was informed immediately after you were sent through the Stargate and instantly departed Rumares for the outpost. That's highly doubtful, though, so you may have a few more hours than that."

She sighed. "I'm hearing a 'but' in there somewhere."

The younger woman nodded. "But Osiris might already have been on her way for some other reason. Either way, without the same sort of advanced engines, it would take us fifteen hours to get there at top speeds. There's a shuttle being prepped as we speak, and—"

"What about from Katana?"

Yuna frowned. "You have a ship there?"

"Sarilis has promised to secure one. She's come up with an incredibly crazy plan that just might be ridiculous enough to work."

Digging into one of her belt pouches, Mai produced a small hand-held computer. Punching the glyphs for Katana into the device, she looked up with a smile. "That saves us about two hours."

"'Us?'" Vala repeated.

"I'll be going with you, of course," she answered. "We've sent a message to Father, and he promised to inform the Tau'ri immediately. Master Daniel's team, SG-1, left the negotiations the day before yesterday, but the remaining team can always relay the message to their homeworld."

"Sounds like a plan."

"Speaking of which... what is Miss Camir's plan?" Yuna asked.

"I'm to pose as Qetesh and demand my escaped 'slave' be returned to me, since the Jaffa were foolish enough to allow my lo'taur to escape when they captured him."

The matron beamed. "That is most clever indeed! Do you have everything you need to pull off the deception?"

"A ribbon device and a Tok'ra voice modulator," Vala answered. "That should be enough."

"No, it won't," Mai corrected, "you need an appropriate outfit, too."

She could have smacked herself. Qetesh had always dressed so that hardly anything was left to the imagination. Vala preferred more subtle clothing for herself... but only slightly so. Actually, since Daniel had come along, she'd begun to dress more conservatively, as he'd proven to be better-relaxed around her when she wasn't attired quite so distractingly. "I could go back to one of my old haunts and round up a garment or two," she began, "but I hate to delay further."

Yuna spun around and waved to one of the servants crossing the far side of the courtyard. "Go to Missus Qiu-Shan and bring back her hand-welter, a spare cutter, and a bolt each of black and red silk—no patterns or as unadorned as she can find. We are clothing a Goa'uld Queen, so be quick!"

"We won't actually make an entirely new garment," Mai smiled, "but make a few modifications to something you already possess. We'll have plenty of time on the way there."

"But I don't know how to sew!" Vala protested, wondering just how and when this entire rescue operation had been taken completely out of her hands.

"You won't need to, Miss Vala, just leave it to me," the Han daughter replied confidently.

A few minutes later, the breathless servant rushed back outside, two pieces of folded cloth draped across one arm and a covered basket firmly in-hand. "Missus Qiu-Shan put together a kit for you, Missus Yuna," he gasped, handing over his burden.

Mai intercepted the load. "These will work nicely. Let's hurry, Miss Vala... we haven't time to lose!"

Vala nodded and turned back toward the Stargate, only to turn a complete circle back to Yuna. "Oh! I almost forgot: I need to return the extra amulet!"

"Keep it," the matriarch replied. "It's time you wore one of your own."

"But I haven't taken any sort of pledge or anything," she reminded her.

Yuna waved her off with a smile. "That is a mere formality. I think we've known one another long enough to trust one another, yes?"

Impulsively, Vala flung her arms around the older woman's neck, then spun around again and headed for the 'Gate. Punching in the address for Katana, she gave Yuna one last wave, then stepped into the event horizon.

Once on the other side, there was no mistaking where Sarilis could be found. In the fallow field at the bottom of the hill rested the unmistakable shape of a tel'tak, the hatch on the side open and waiting. A familiar figure was sitting outside of the ship on a crate or box, feet propped up on the fence post.

"Well, I like the ship too, but I didn't hire a decorator," the former bounty hunter joked when the two younger women reached the edge of the field. "Is that cloth for curtains?"

"Very funny," Vala replied, rolling her eyes. "Sarilis Camir, I'd like you to meet Han Mai. She'll be along for the trip."

Sarilis let her feet fall off their perch and stood. "You've sure grown a lot."

Mai bowed. "I believe I was six the last we met, Miss Camir."

"Well, now I feel old," she sighed, digging out a control from one of the many functional pockets on her work coveralls and activating it. The crate rose on a pocket of air and was then easily pushed back inside the cargo ship.

"Where's Andron?" Vala asked, looking around the inside of the ship. She wasn't even going to ask how the former bounty hunter had come to meet the Han's eldest daughter some twenty or more years ago.

Sarilis kicked the side of the crate. "And he'll stay there until we're finished with his ship, if he knows what's good for him."

She gaped. "You shoved him in a box?"

"Of course not, girl, I asked him to climb in all on his own and stay put or I'd give him trouble with some people he really doesn't want upset with him. I'm amazed he fit, truth be known. He's put on a considerable amount of girth in recent weeks."

"I still want to be you when I grow up," Mai laughed, dropping the dress-making supplies on top of Andron's current abode.

"I don't plan to grow up," Vala replied, flipping her hair playfully. "Unfortunately, we have some very grown-up business to attend to, and not much time in which to do it. It'll take us twelve or thirteen hours to get to where Daniel is, so we'd better get moving."

"Ten or eleven," Sarilis corrected. "You know that toy you recovered from Hardis' ship? Turns out we can use it to boost the engines a smidge. Probably not safe to do it for long, of course, but every little bit counts, don't you think?"

"Absolutely," she agreed, putting her arms around her friend and giving her a hug. When she pulled away, the older woman looked suspiciously misty-eyed. Sarilis recovered her equilibrium by giving the crate another satisfied kick and strolling over to the pilot's seat.

Minutes later, they were safely in hyperspace, racing Osiris to Daniel.

Chapter 54

"This is ridiculous," Daniel snorted, peeling his shirt away from his neck and flapping it vigorously. The breeze generated by the cotton was quite relieving, even though he knew it hadn't been hot last night. In fact, he hadn't even needed to shed his coat until after his morning meal then rolled his shirt sleeves up as far as they'd go by what he presumed was midday.

Neither of the two Jaffa rebels had returned since their initial visit early this morning. In fact, the only person he'd seen at all was the stonily-silent guard who delivered his food and water and took away the covered bucket they'd seen fit to provide him for... other necessary behavior.

The food was hardly exciting fare, but he'd had worse and less of it. Each meal consisted of decent-sized portion of meaty stew and a crusty round loaf that reminded him of an over-sized brötchen. He could draw a number of conclusions from the level of care they were exercising in his feeding, the most disturbing of which was the parallel his mind was drawing to the "last meal" many cultures granted their condemned prisoners.

He missed having a reliable watch on his wrist, one of the heavy-duty tritium chronographs that made it through heat, cold, sand, and water in a lot better shape than he had at times. Hours, like the "common" language, were another thing that was pretty much universally-observed, though the exact length and number of them in a day varied from planet to planet. If the days on this planet were longer than he thought, he could still have several more hours before it was "evening", and without a window to the outside, he couldn't use that as a guide. Either way, he knew his time was nearly expired.

Daniel winced at the inadvertent terminology. Perhaps "expired" wasn't the best way to describe his situation. In any case, his thoughts were becoming increasingly scattered as the impending arrival of Osiris drew ever nearer. He could draw solace in the fact that Vala was out of harm's way now, but he could only guess what his own fate would be.

On second thought, he'd rather not guess. He had a pretty vivid imagination that really needed no encouragement, and no matter what he thought could happen, a Goa'uld was sure to come up with something even worse.

He froze when the lock scraped at the door, his pulse racing in anticipation. Was it the rebels or Osiris? Was he saved or doomed?

The door burst inward, two unfamiliar Jaffa pushing into the room and seizing him by the arms. "Your goddess awaits," the one on his right sneered, giving Daniel a decidedly malicious look.

It was a futile gesture, he knew, but he couldn't stop himself from struggling against their hold once outside of the cell. He actually managed to free himself from the grip of the guard on the left, but the other Jaffa couldn't be shaken. His efforts earned him a backhand that sent him spinning, still firmly anchored by one arm.

"You would do well to show your goddess respect," the red-faced Jaffa spat, cruelly digging his fingers into his bicep.

"No false god deserves my respect," Daniel retorted, regretting the words even as they left his lips. As he was being picked up off the floor, he realized that once again, his snake-baiting tendencies were far out-pacing his sense of self-preservation... and he wasn't even to Osiris yet!

He was unceremoniously dragged through the echoing stone halls of the fortress, his "escort" apparently deciding to take no further chances with him. They rounded a corner and were suddenly in a gold-plated corridor, the clone of practically every other Goa'uld facility in the galaxy. Within moments, they were in front of an opulent door, which slid aside to reveal a decidedly different scene than what he'd expected.

At the center of the room, an uninjured and smugly superior-looking Vala Mal Doran rose from a golden throne slowly, a wicked grin spreading across her face. She was clad in one of the form-fitting leather halters she'd only recently stopped wearing, though it had been modified with sections cut out along her ribs and flanks, exposing pale skin. She wore knee-high boots and a very abbreviated red skirt, slits in the fabric making it even more dangerously-short than it first appeared. Each bicep was encircled by the same glossy red cloth, with folds of black and red material hanging down her back from where they were connected to the bands around her arms.

In short—and short was definitely the word that came to mind as his eyes were drawn back to her spectacular skirt—she looked like a walking advertisement for licentious thoughts.

"My, my," she teased, her voice deep and echoing, "I suppose you thought you'd escaped your Queen." Before Daniel could work up enough saliva to reply, she switched her gaze to the Jaffa. "Where is my lo'taur?."

"No woman was brought in with him, my lord," the Jaffa on the left replied unsteadily. "He is all we encountered."

"Your words betray you," Vala replied, clearly enjoying her portrayal of Qetesh, "as you acknowledge he was here with a woman. I have molded her in my image, so surely her beauty could not have gone unnoticed to fools such as yourselves."

The Jaffa stammered. "What we meant was, the woman was dead already."

She lifted her chin arrogantly. "You should know better than to attempt to lie to a god."

"Please forgive us, my lord," the guard on the right begged. "The patrol which intercepted them was informed that she was a Han cousin and therefore under the protection of the System Lords."

"Gullible fools who were easily misled," she scoffed. "Where is she now?"

"I am told this one," he replied, shoving Daniel in the back to move him forward, "entered the coordinates for what he said was the Han world."

"And did no one see the symbols themselves?"

"Perhaps one of the field patrol did, but none are here now." He swallowed heavily. "Shall I send for them?"

Vala's eyes narrowed. "No," she answered at last, "I shall enjoy getting the answers from this slave."

Daniel coughed, realizing his role in this particular drama. "I will never betray her."

She smiled sweetly, raising her left hand so he could see the ribbon device wrapped around her fingers and palm. "I would not be so certain of that." She glared at the guards. "Escort him to the rings. I will deal with him myself."

"Forgive me, my lord, but we are to wait until Osiris arrives before disposing of the prisoner."

Vala raised her hand again, eyes narrowing as she caused the jewel on the device to glow menacingly. "Do not presume to question me. If Osiris wishes to have this slave, she will simply have to ask my indulgence, but only after I have finished with him. Of course, there may not be anything left of him by then." She cocked her head to one side slightly, as though listening for something distant.

"My lord—"

"Do as I command!" she shouted. "Escort him to the rings, now!"

Before they'd taken two steps, there was a brilliant flash of light. Ducking his head away, Daniel glanced up through parted fingers, feeling the blood drain from his face as the source of the light was revealed.

Golden-haired and coldly beautiful, Osiris stood with her hands on her hips. "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded, Sarah Gardner's voice twisted by the evil creature that inhabited her body.

"I am Qetesh," Vala replied smoothly. "My lo'taur and a slave recently fled my palace in possession of a stolen tel'tak. They crashed on this world, but before I could arrive to retrieve them, these foolish Jaffa allowed my lo'taur to leave through the Chappa'ai. I intend to question my slave until he reveals where the lo'taur has now gone."

"They have trespassed upon my territories," Osiris scowled, thankfully giving Daniel no more than a cursory look. "You may have your slave after I am finished with him."

"That is unacceptable."

"You have no choice."

Vala planted her hands on her hips and lifted her chin defiantly. "Lord Baal will not be pleased."

"I care not," Osiris snapped. "Baal is a fool."

"Is it necessary to quibble over a single slave?"

It was a mistake the moment she said it, and out of the corner of his eye, Daniel saw Vala wince. Osiris, perhaps attempting to discern the worthiness of said slave, strode toward him and lifted his chin, forcing him to meet her gaze. A cruel smile spread over her lips.

"You think me for a fool?"

"I had believed you to be reasonable."

Before Daniel could react, the Goa'uld's fingers curled into his hair, yanking him painfully around and shoving him to the ground. "This is no mere slave, Qetesh. This is the Tau'ri, Daniel Jackson."

Vala was nothing if not a consummate actress. "Daniel Jackson is dead."

"Perhaps it is you who is the fool."

"My name is Theadan," Daniel replied, deliberately pitching his voice higher and attempting an accent similar to Vala's.

"Silence!" Osiris snapped, clearly unimpressed. The boot she aimed at his ribs emphasized her displeasure.

"He is Theadan of Makosis," Vala confirmed. "A once-loyal servant of mine for many years."

"He possesses the power to cloud the minds of even the gods. He once tricked Lord Yu into believing him his lo'taur. You, my dear Qetesh, are yet another of his victims."

"I do not believe you."

"I don't care if you believe me or not," Osiris replied dangerously, advancing on Vala like a prowling cat. "Anger me further and you will not leave this planet alive."

The dark-haired woman clenched her fists. "Do not think that I—"

Suddenly, Osiris hand shot out, tearing Vala's necklace from her throat and casting it to the ground. "Impostor," she snarled. Before Daniel's partner could raise her left hand, the blond Goa'uld struck her back-handed, sending her to the floor.

Pushing to his feet, Daniel dove at Osiris, tackling her and attempting to pin her arms. The astonishingly strong Goa'uld would have none of it, however, throwing him off with ease. As he tried to make a second attempt, the Jaffa caught up to him, once more clamping onto his arms and wrenching them painfully behind his back.

Planting her boot on Vala's wrist, Osiris pulled the ribbon device off and cast it aside. "What have we here? A former host? Daniel's new girlfriend? It doesn't matter, I will have the answers I seek from you both." She bent down and hauled Vala upright, easily leveraging the dazed woman to her feet. "Which one of you wants to go first?"

Chapter 55

"Well?" Osiris demanded hotly, left hand fisting in Vala's hair and yanking hard. Her right hand dropped to her waist, drawing a wicked-looking dagger from its sheath. The blade was lifted slowly to the shorter woman's exposed throat.

Daniel hesitated, catching the unspoken declaration of defiance his partner gave him. There was also fear in her eyes, darkening them from smoky blue to storm-gray. He recognized the look as one he'd worn a number of times himself: not afraid of death, but not prepared to accept it just yet, either.

He understood, perhaps better than anyone else possibly could have. The threat of his own death didn't even bother him any more, too many brushes—and out-right collisions—with the Grim Reaper had left him jaded, but not reckless. Dying for a cause that was just was acceptable, but giving in before all options were exhausted was not.

"Very well," the Goa'uld spat, "I'll start with 'Qetesh'. Did you not think anyone would sense you were no longer blended?"

"I hadn't planned on getting close enough to anyone for them to find out," Vala replied coolly.

"Worthless Tok'ra. All your subversions are mere child's play in a game far more dangerous than you can comprehend."

"Tok'ra? Me? Don't insult me like that, please!"

"The jewel around your neck was of Tok'ra design. Do not take me for a fool."

Vala rolled her eyes. "Believe you me, I wasn't. I'm a thief—a pretty good one, if I say so myself—and have acquired a number of, ah... peculiar relics."

"I see," replied Osiris, looking as though she didn't care one way or another. "Who are you?"

"Vala," she answered, "and that's my apprentice, Theadan. Not the brightest student I've ever had, but he's decorative enough, don't you think?"

The Goa'uld scowled, pressing the tip of the dagger against Vala's neck and drawing a short line of garishly bright blood. "I am not amused."

Daniel inhaled, attempting to quell the nervous energy tightening his muscles. Without knowing if Osiris had immediate access to a healing device or a sarcophagus, he couldn't risk Vala being killed over something as simple as acknowledging his name. Osiris knew who he was, so all she sought was verification.

For the moment, anyway.

"Let her go, Sarah."

She smiled cruelly. "Nothing of the host survives, Daniel."

Arms still pinned behind him, he could only nod his head at Vala. "There's proof you're wrong."

There was a brief flicker of... something, but it faded as quickly as it appeared. "Impudent as ever, I see."

"I had a good teacher," he replied. "What do you want?"

"I want many things," she answered at length, the blade moving from Vala's vulnerable throat to trace along her jawline. "You have still to give me a satisfying answer for the fate of my Queen."

"Isis?" Vala guessed, involuntarily flinching from the cool metal.

"She's dead," Daniel replied.

Osiris drew another short line just above the first. The sudden blossom of color contrasted sharply with the former host's pale skin. "Where is she?"

He shook his head. "I told you. The canopic jar in which she was trapped was apparently damaged at some point. The seal was broken. If it's any consolation, she didn't feel a thing."

The Goa'uld snarled and stepped back, releasing her hold on Vala's hair as she moved. Before Daniel could give warning, the jewel on Osiris' palm glowed, sending a translucent wave of energy at the helpless woman. Vala was hurled fifteen feet across the room, slamming into a wall and bouncing off it onto the floor. He winced in sympathy, but bit his lip to keep from expressing his opinion of the cowardly attack.

Osiris re-sheathed her dagger, then moved her now-free hand to the unusual protuberance on the back of her ribbon device. Two brilliant flashes of light appeared almost immediately, fading to reveal a pair of tall, armored creatures with pinpoints of blue where eyes would normally be on humanoids.

Two sets of conflicting emotions immediately sprang to Daniel's mind. The first, was curiosity and horror at what sort of nightmare had created the imposing-looking warriors. The second, was confusion and dread for how a Goa'uld had come to possess Asgard beaming technology.

Another fleeting thought left him asking himself who had modeled the black armor after the white suits worn by Imperial Stormtroopers. Sarah had always claimed to despise science fiction, which would certainly explain why she'd loathed his outlandish theories about the foundation of Egyptian society. A tiny, petty part of his mind wondered what her opinion of his ideas was now.

He closed his eyes, berating himself. Sarah Gardner was not a Goa'uld, but the victim of one. She deserved better.

Osiris casually strolled over to where Vala lay softly groaning, then motioned for one of the newly-arrived creatures to approach. By the ease with which it lifted his partner by her upper arms, he knew these "men" to be at least as strong as a Goa'uld.

"I will see your entire race destroyed for this," the curly-haired woman hissed coldly, stalking toward him.

"Hey!" Daniel protested. "You know, it very well could have been that no-good brother of yours, Seth. Maybe he was the one who dropped the jar, not one of us 'lowly humans'. If that's the case, you owe us a favor for killing him." He squinted his eyes as though thinking hard, then shrugged. "Well, technically it was Sam that killed him, but I'm sure she won't mind if I accept her owed favor on her behalf."

She reached out and caressed his jaw with her metal-encased fingertips, perhaps in mockery of a lover's touch. "I shall enjoy making you suffer, Daniel. I have all the memories of my host, all the fond times you shared together. I know how to bring you great pleasure and greater pain." Suddenly, she slapped him, the sharp edges of the ribbon device cutting cruelly into his skin, bringing the bitter taste of blood to his mouth. "You will beg for death before the end."

"We've already established that Isis is pretty much out of reach, now," he replied, swallowing. "I'd be happy to answer any other questions you might have if you'll leave out the begging for death part."

Osiris smirked. "I know what you were, Daniel Jackson. My hand can touch you now, but it would not have not long ago. I want the secrets of Ascension. The answers are in your mind, and I will take them by force if necessary. Anubis' power is great, but mine will be greater."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

She gestured to the remaining armored figure, directing it to take the place of the two Jaffa who had been holding him up until now. Daniel was relieved to be able to stretch his arms from the uncomfortable position in which they'd been held for so long, but winced when he felt the tremendous pressure being applied to his shoulder by the inhumanly-strong being.

The Goa'uld placed her hands on her hips. "You are not the only one who possesses peculiar relics, Vala. I have acquired a number of devices which shall make obtaining the answers I seek far easier... and more enjoyable."

The level of enjoyment, Daniel knew, was relative. Remembering the insidious effects of the hallucinogenic drug known as the Blood of Sokar, he dreaded to think what chemicals and contraptions were at the disposal of a Goa'uld who apparently had access to Asgard technology. As bad as he believed his situation to be only an hour ago, he was only now beginning to realize just how much he'd underestimated the gravity of his situation.

"Jaffa, summon those who were involved in the patrol. Their failures have not gone unnoticed."

"Yes, my lord," the Jaffa trembled, bowing and hastening out of the throne room.

"As for the two of you," she continued, walking a figure-eight around her prisoners, "I will enjoy destroying your minds. I may even leave enough of you, Vala, to make a gift to Baal. And you, Daniel, will perhaps make an excellent host. The powers you posses will then be mine."

"I don't think so," he answered, lifting his chin defiantly, though the thought of having a Goa'uld in his head was... beyond terrifying.

"Take them away," Osiris ordered the silent soldiers. "I will return for them shortly." Once more touching the back of her ribbon device, she vanished in a flash of light.

Chapter 56

It took eight steps to cross the room.

Sighing and making the turn at the end, Vala trudged in the other direction. Daniel was watching her intently, she knew, and her pacing was probably driving him crazy. Crazier, she amended, as she'd never met anyone who was so painfully aware and simultaneously oblivious to personal danger. He'd played the "meek slave" role up until it was obvious he could no longer pretend to be who Osiris knew he was, then dropped the façade and let his sarcastic wit run wild.

Clearly, there was some history between Daniel and the Goa'uld's host, and he'd acknowledge as such. He'd referred to her as "an old friend", but Vala now suspected there was more to it then that. Osiris was making this very personal.

"Her name's Sarah Gardner," Daniel announced suddenly, as though reading her mind. He sat on the floor of the cell next to the puddle of fabric that was his discarded coat, knees tented and head leaning against the wall behind him. "We used to work together, were junior professors under Doctor Jordan, one of the leading archaeologists in our field of study. One thing lead to another, and before I knew it, we were an 'item'."

"Oh," she replied, processing this information. He'd mentioned a Sarah in conversation before, but never went into any specifics that she could recall. "I take it the relationship didn't end well?"

"Not really, no. I worked right through our anniversary, chasing one of my theories. Almost the same thing I did to Sha're, really. In the end, it worked out better that way, since I didn't have to distance myself from her when I sacrificed my career for my beliefs."

She crossed her arms. "I don't understand."

"It's complicated," he began. "Say, for example, we walked up to the people on some planet and told them everything they ever believed about the origin of their society was wrong. What do you think would happen?"

"Several different things are possible," she shrugged. "They could listen, they could tell you to shut up, they could laugh at you... They could try to shut you up physically, too."

"Right. So what do you think the odds are that a room full of self-important historians would listen when the protégé of the famous David Jordan stands up on a stage and tells them that everything they've ever convinced themselves is true about the origin of the supposedly-mythological Egyptian gods—the pantheon which includes Ra, Osiris, and Anubis, among others—was false?"

Vala winced. "I guess they wouldn't be too happy. You were right though, they weren't mythical."

"Well, that wasn't exactly the point of my lecture, but you get the gist of it. I may have been right, but I couldn't prove anything."

She frowned. "How can you not? The proof's out here, you actually killed Ra. Not even half an hour ago, you were toe-to-toe with Osiris!"

"Yes, but I didn't know about the Stargate until after I made myself the laughing-stock of the archaeological community. After I found out, I couldn't tell anyone because the Stargate is still a very closely-guarded secret on Earth, or at least it was before I... left. Sarah couldn't have known the risks when she opened the canopic jar Osiris was stored in, and she's been trapped inside her own head for three years as a result."

"I'm sorry," she offered, unsure of what else to say. She knew what it was like to be a prisoner of her own body better than anyone, but she carefully shied away from dwelling on it too much. All that would accomplish would be to give her additional nightmares when she already had sufficient material for a lifetime of bad dreams.

He heaved a sigh and closed his eyes. "So am I. I know better than to blame myself, now, since there really wasn't anything I could have done differently. I have you to thank for that, you know."

She smiled, thinking about the number of times in the last few weeks she'd had to remind him to stop belittling himself. "You're welcome."

They lapsed into silence, Vala continuing to pace the floor and Daniel staring down at his hands. Finally, he cleared his throat. "Nice dress, by the way."

"Thanks. Mai made it for me."

"Mai?"

"You didn't think I came alone, did you?"

"I didn't think you'd come at all. You weren't exactly in fighting form the last I saw you." He crossed his arms. "I saw a chance to get one of us out of there and didn't really think about anything else. Didn't think, if you want the truth."

"I'd probably have done the same thing in your position," she agreed. In fact, she had attempted the same thing once already: when Daniel was unconscious on Jaya, she'd tried to persuade Strategos Calius to free him in exchange for her full cooperation. Fortunately, it had been an unnecessary attempt, but the realization that she would have gladly sacrificed herself for him even that early in their partnership was quite startling at the time. Now, it felt only natural.

"So, if you didn't come alone, where's Mai?"

Vala bit her lip. "She and Sarilis were aboard a tel'tak, waiting to ring us up when we got into position. Sarilis warned me when Osiris' al'kesh suddenly appeared in orbit, but since we couldn't have guessed she could translocate without using the rings..."

"How did she warn you?"

She tapped her right ear. "She gave me a very tiny transmitter. Unfortunately, she also requested a halt in communication right after it became apparent we... weren't going to make it. The signals could potentially be traced. She said she was going to cloak the ship and hide it before gliders were sent after it, then try to find some way to come back and rescue us."

"So we're not alone."

"Not really, no. Do you want me to try to get in touch with her?"

Daniel frowned. "If you don't think we'll be potentially putting them in jeopardy..."

"I think we can take the risk. I'd like to let them know we're okay for the moment." She pressed the tip of her short fingernail onto the transmission button located at the top of the device. "Sarilis, are you there? Sarilis?"

There was a crackle of static that made her jump, then a very welcome voice replied, "Thank the blazes you're okay, girl! Where are you?"

"Daniel and I have been rudely shoved into a large but rather boring cell, but we're otherwise fine. I can't say that'll hold true for long, though, since Osiris is more than just a little annoyed with Daniel and just might use me to try to get what she wants out of him."

"I can imagine the sort of information she'd be after," the older woman replied. "We settled down in the forest just north of the Stargate. Found ourselves a nice big burn patch where the two of you blew up your last ship."

"She says she parked the ship where ours crashed," Vala relayed.

"That's about four or five hours away, by foot," Daniel guessed. "Tell her that there are some Jaffa rebels here, and if she and Mai can hook up with them, they can work together."

"Rebels?"

"Yes. If she can find them, the pass phrase needed to gain their trust is 'shal'kek nem'ron'."

"What a noble sentiment."

"Works for them. Anyway, the two I spoke with were Nekor, formerly of Heru'ur, and Morlam, formerly of Ra. They know me as Theadan, and agreed to try to plead my case to the other rebels when I told them I knew Teal'c of the Tau'ri."

Vala quickly related this information back to her friend, adding, "Just don't anything that could get yourselves into trouble."

Sarilis laughed. "Trouble is what I do, dear."

"That's what scares me," she replied. "I remember some of the stories you've—"

She broke off as there was a sudden rattling at the door just before it burst inward, admitting the imposing warriors that had accompanied Osiris. As thunder followed lightning, the Goa'uld herself was right behind them, posing in the doorway with her hands on her hips.

"I hope I'm not interrupting anything," she smirked, looking not in the least bit apologetic.

"We were just planning how we were going to escape, kill you, overthrow Anubis," Daniel listed casually, pushing himself to his feet and flashing her a smug grin. "You know, nothing important."

The Goa'uld sneered. "Of that, I am certain. Bring them!"

"I can walk," Vala muttered petulantly, trying to tug her arm out of the powerful grip that immediately encased it. It was a futile effort, of course, but she could certainly see the appeal to Daniel's habit of talking back to the bad guys. Even when utterly helpless, it at least gave the illusion of some level of control.

They were marched through the halls, finally arriving at a dimly-lit room, the purpose of the chamber becoming immediately clear. Shackles were bolted into the walls and a stone slab covered with grisly implements stood off to one side. There was also an uncomfortable-looking chair adorned with its own manacles, and a vaguely-familiar device resting on a low table beside it.

"You know, you really should have gone for that sale at La-Z-Boy," Daniel remarked as he was forced into the chair.

Vala didn't understand the reference, but Osiris—through her Tau'ri host—apparently did. "I'm pleased you find your situation amusing. This will go far better for you both if you cooperate."

"Cooperate?" Vala retorted, jerking her head upward at her now-shackled wrists, then at the silent guard. "Tall, dark, and mysterious over there didn't even give me half a chance to cooperate."

"Silence!" Osiris snapped, reaching for something resting next to what Vala at last recognized as a Goa'uld holographic projector. Holding Daniel's head in place, she pressed her thumb against his temple.

"Ow," Daniel muttered as the memory recall device attached itself. "You know, I really don't like these things."

"That's just too bad," the Goa'uld purred, activating the projector. "Let's get started, shall we? How did you and I first meet?"

"You and me? Or Sarah? What about you pretending to be Sarah?"

"Take your pick."

"Doctor Jordan's funeral," he answered, and the projector obliged by producing an image of a tree-filled park, grave markers scattered about the ground. A dark-haired man in a suit was speaking, but turned to level a glare at Daniel.

"Very good," she replied, apparently pleased with both his reply and the image.

He cleared his throat, the projection fading. "You didn't have to kill him."

"Steven? Or Doctor Jordan?"

"Doctor Jordan. Despite your best efforts, my friends and I got to Steven in time to save him."

Osiris opened her mouth, then shook her head. "I am not here to answer your questions. Let's move on to the next one, shall we?"

"Knock yourself out," he muttered, slouching in the chair as best it would let him.

"How did you conceal yourself from me at the System Lords' summit?"

"Magic," Daniel answered flippantly. The display promptly showed him laying his hand on Osiris' arm, the Goa'uld blinking in sudden confusion.

"How?" the real Osiris demanded. When the scene repeated itself, she turned to Vala and activated her ribbon device, lifting it toward the helpless woman's forehead.

Vala began to squirm as she felt the heat from the weapon, but steadfastly refused to cry out in pain. Daniel, however, needed no further encouragement. "The ring! I was wearing a ring the Tok'ra gave me. It had some sort of chemical in it."

Osiris shut off the ribbon and turned back to him. "What sort of chemical?"

"I'm an archaeologist, not a bio-chemist," he replied grumpily. "Either way, it probably doesn't matter since the Tok'ra base on Revanna was destroyed after that and all their research lost." The ring, however, had been saved, though he wasn't about to volunteer that information.

"I see," she replied. "Tell me about Ascension."

"There isn't much to tell."

"You lie."

"Actually, I'm sitting." He winced when Osiris again turned toward Vala. "But I'm also telling you the truth when I say that I don't remember much from my time as an Ascended being," he hastily amended.

"How does one achieve Ascension, then?"

Daniel's lips quirked. "One does not 'achieve' it; it's earned. I did my time, got offered the chance to turn glowy, found out it didn't agree with me after all." He shrugged. "Here I am."

Osiris clenched her jaw. "How is it earned?"

He rolled his shoulders again. "Hell if I know. I didn't think I deserved it, but the Ascended being I spoke to thought otherwise." As he spoke, a hazy, dream-like image formed above the projector. A serene woman dressed in gray stood beside Daniel as he examined the framed picture in his hands. Vala realized that the dark-haired beauty could only be his lost wife, Sha're.

"How does it work?"

The scene shifted, displaying a light-filled room, a smiling man with sad eyes waiting at the base of some sort of metal ramp. It took a moment, but then Vala recognized him as Jack O'Neill. The image moved as the memory-Daniel turned his head, facing toward the source of the blinding brilliance.

Suddenly, the projector flared brighter, hurting Vala's eyes and causing her to cry out involuntarily. As quickly as it had increased, the light faded and disappeared. Blinking back the spots dancing across her vision, she noted the angry expression on Osiris' face and mentally groaned.

"Show me!"

"I did," Daniel replied calmly, "but I don't think this technology is capable of creating an image. Sorry."

Osiris swept her hand out, sending the projector crashing to the floor. "Then we'll simply have to try something else, won't we?"

Chapter 57

Daniel laid the piece of parchment down and raised the Dictaphone to his mouth. "Amulet is likely from the twelfth dynastic period, inlaid markings suggest the royal house of Amenemhat. Possibly a gift from the King and immediate family to commemorate a birth or coming of age or..."

"It's for luck," announced an accented voice, nearly making him leap out of his skin. "Royal goldsmiths made them for the King in the hopes that the floodwaters would rise again in the Nile, granting them a bountiful crop."

Daniel blinked, turning in surprise. Of all the people he ever expected to walk into the archaeology lab while he was working, a beautiful woman was not one of them. "Good guess," he managed, switching off the recorder and rising to greet her.

She smiled shyly. "Doctor Jordan sent me a picture a few weeks ago. I suppose I had a bit of a head start."

He felt his brow furrow in confusion. Why would Doctor Jordan have sent anyone photos of the artifacts from his colleague's dig? Maybe she was a wealthy heiress interested in funding an archaeological expedition or a research grant.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, as though catching on to his bewilderment and extending her arm. "I'm Sarah Gardner."

As he shook her hand, he began to smile, relaxing when she returned the expression before releasing his hand. When the professor had announced he was bringing in a brilliant new archaeologist to ease the burden of Daniel's teaching schedule and help with the preparations for their expedition this winter, he couldn't have been more thrilled. From her impressive resume, he half expected her to be stringy-haired, bespectacled, and poorly-dressed: in short, a female version of himself. Instead, she had the form and bearing of a fashion model and a wealth of blond curls spilling over her shoulders.

Suddenly self-conscious of his own oft-disheveled appearance, Daniel ran his fingers through his hair. Abruptly, he encountered only air just past his ears, and when he curiously touched the top of his head, felt soft spikes.

When had he cut his hair? More importantly, how could he have forgotten?

"Um, I'm Daniel Jackson."

"I know," Sarah enthused, grabbing a chair and making herself comfortable at the lab table. "Doctor Jordan told me all about you, and I can't tell you how thrilled I am to get to be working with you. Did you really get your first doctorate before you turned twenty-one?"

"Um, yeah," he replied, scratching at the curiously—but comfortably—short hair. "Where'd you hear that?"

"I met your friend Robert Rothman at a conference last month. He said you were the only one at the graduation party who wasn't permitted to drink." She smiled prettily. "I assume that meant you weren't old enough to imbibe."

"Well, it could've been because I'm just a cheap date," he joked, nervous laughter stopping when he realized that she was now the one who was confused. "Um, yeah, nineteen at the time."

Talking about his age always made him uncomfortable, as everyone inevitably wanted to know how he'd had the time to do so much studying at an age when most people were graduating high school and getting themselves stupidly drunk at their first college parties. It was hard enough trying to teach classes at the university when he wasn't much older than most of his students, and had been often told he actually looked younger. Some of Doctor Jordan's peers even referred to him as "David's Blue-Eyed Boy", and the derogatory manner in which they spoke stated all-too-clearly that this was no compliment. To compensate, he dressed himself in baggy tweed and did his best to blend into the academic woodwork.

The new junior professor on the block took the opposite tact. With her height and looks, there was no way she could avoid attention. Instead, she chose to dress herself in flattering cuts and colors, girlish skirts and tops designed to accentuate her femininity, rather than hide it. The other archaeologist under Doctor Jordan, Steven Raynor, was much the same way. Daniel could still recall the looks of complete adoration on the faces of the female students when Steven arrived at a campus-wide fraternity-slash-sorority event dressed as a Greek god, complete with chest-baring toga.

Daniel was too embarrassed to be caught wearing shorts, let alone exposing any more skin than that. Tight clothing was out of the question, too, especially something like form-fitting leather pants.

Seriously, who would want to wear those?

Perception shifted, adjusted, and fell into place. He was seated again, concentrating on a translation and only half aware of the passage of time. Doctor Jordan had requested he brush up on his Mesopotamian mythologies, since they were preparing to do some exploration at the dig site at Tel el-Yahudiyeh and could potentially run into evidence of Semitic influence in the ruins of the Fifteenth Dynasty city.

He had just reached a passage about the goddess Kadesh when a voice suddenly announced, "Good morning."

Just like he had the first day they met, Daniel started in surprise, this time dropping his papers and pencil. "Um, hello. I'm sorry, I... I didn't hear you come in. I mean, um, how are you?"

"Fine!" Sarah beamed cheerfully, far too sunny for this time of morning.

So why was he up, too? Oh, that's right... he hadn't gone to bed yet.

"Yeah, you settling in?" he asked, turning back to his work.

"Well, except for want of a decent cup of tea, I'm in heaven."

"That's good to hear." The Greek historian who compiled this particular work suggested that the Semitic warrior-goddess Anat was linked with Kadesh, and even rather crudely suggested this made the combined goddess "ferocious in the bedchamber".  Daniel thought the description was amusing, but he'd always believed Anat to be representative of the Greek Athena.  Wouldn't that indicate a partnership between the two goddesses, then?

"You know, I must have read everything you've ever published," Sarah continued.

He looked over at her in disbelief. "Everything?"

"Yes."

"What a waste of time." He felt a peculiar pang in his ribs as the words left his lips, but before he could correct his self-evaluation, Sarah pressed onward, dauntless.

"Please, your theories on the Hyksos ruling dynasty are truly groundbreaking, if a little audacious."

Audacious? There was nothing audacious in theorizing that the various cultures of the ancient Middle and Near East had cross-pollinated numerous times. In fact, here before him lay another scholar's suggestion that Greek and Semitic deities might have interacted with one another. Well, if mythological figures could actually do that, that is.

"I found them quite inspiring," she continued. "In fact, I referenced them in my doctoral thesis at Cambridge."

"You must have failed." Again, there was a twinge in his side, almost as though he had been running and got a brief stitch. Well, not that he was known for going running for fun, or anything.

Sarah laughed nervously. "Um, I just hope I can live up to such talented company."

"Well, I'm sure if you're here, then you have... you are."

"Stop. The flattery is overwhelming." Yet for all her dramatics, she didn't look in the slightest bit embarrassed. In fact, if he didn't know better, he would swear she was flirting with him.

"I should let you continue," she announced suddenly, and he agreed.

Things weren't adding up, not the least of which was this document on mythology that seemed far too familiar and real, like it was actual history. For a brief moment, he considered asking Sarah out to coffee—tea, in her case—but at last decided against it. When he looked up again, she was staring at him intently.

"You know," she began, back to all smiles. "I wondered if you would like to join me for some coffee. I'd love to pick your brain."

"I'm sure you would," he replied automatically, then cringed. "Um, I mean... sure, that's fine." His fingers automatically crept up to push his glasses up, and he felt even more the fool when they touched the bridge of his nose without encountering resistance.

Suddenly, she was sitting down beside him, placing a carry-out coffee cup next to his hand. Time had leaped forward again, leaving him feeling even more convinced that there was something not at all right. "Wasn't I just—?" he began, trailing off and staring down at his notes. Instead of a translation of the Semitic pantheon, he was looking at diagrams of an excavation.

"I've got something for you," Sarah announced suddenly, taking the wrapped bundle out from beneath her arm and laying it on the table. Peeling back the layer of fabric, she exposed a simple gray tablet, covered in indecipherable squiggles.

Curiosity piqued, he reached out to touch the stone, only to have it blacken under his hands, the vague characters sharpening into squared-off glyphs he not only recognized, but could also read. "Where'd you get this?"

As she explained the details of the tablet's discovery, he found himself tracing the familiar letters. The wrongness of the whole scenario was screaming out to him, warning that something terrible could happen if he let this text fall into the wrong hands. Seven indecipherable symbols near the bottom of the inscription held the key to some long-lost treasure, a storehouse of power. Having only just met her, he didn't trust Sarah enough with the secrets held in this Ancient stone, and he always trusted his instincts. They hadn't led him wrong where Vala was concerned, after all, and—

He slammed his fist on the table. "Stop it."

"Daniel, please."

He glared at her feigned hurt. "I won't help you, Osiris."

In the blink of an eye, her expression changed from wounded to seething with rage, the false image of the university lab draining away like water running down a wall.  He had only a brief moment to flinch, then there was a searing, blinding pain centered between his eyes, feeling remarkably what he imagined it would be like to have blowtorch aimed at his forehead.

There was a distant roar in his ears, leaving him to wonder how he'd gotten to the ocean.  Any attempts at coherent thought were battered back by the constant white noise of crashing waves, the cries of seagulls piercing the air.  As he listened more closely, he realized the sounds he was hearing were not the calls of birds, but the screams of someone who sounded terribly near.

It wasn't him, he knew. His throat was closed off, filled with water as the pounding surf battered him over and over again, sapping his energy, leaving him cold and shaking. The waves buffeted his body, sweeping him away from shore and out to sea, away from the siren's cry he so desperately longed to follow. He fought against the relentless currents, finally breaking their pull and struggling back to the surface.

He opened his eyes in confusion, finding himself looking up at the artificially-lit ceiling of his old, familiar cell. A dark shape began to encroach upon his field of vision, and he tried to get his sluggish brain to identify it. Maybe he was water-logged? No, that couldn't be, if only because he didn't feel soaked. Vala, though—and he finally realized the dark shape was actually Vala's hair and shadowed face—seemed to have plenty of moisture on her cheeks.

"Hey," he managed, voice sounding surprisingly weak and slurred.

Vala froze, then crushed him to her. "I was so worried," she sobbed, pressing her face against his shoulder. After a moment, she sat up just a little, cradling his head in her hands. "Are you all right?"

"I think so. What happened?" As he spoke, he began to regain more control of his seemingly-paralyzed muscles, his speech clearing and strengthening.

"Well, when you broke her projector, Osiris attached a recall device to herself. I think she'd modified it somehow so that she could get into your mind. You beat her Daniel. When she realized she couldn't get whatever information she wanted from you, she tried to fry your brains. I yelled at her to stop... she was killing you."

"She could have," he agreed, trying to sit up but not able to get his coordination together well enough to do anything more than twitch. "The funny thing is, the last time she did this to me, I joked around that I was getting used to this. You know what? I think I am."

"Being ribboned? Or getting killed?"

He winced. "Both, but it's not like I'm making an effort to pursue either one."

Vala straightened and swiped the backs of her hands over her cheeks to remove the collected tears. "Yes, well, I don't think either of us is going to have much luck in that department. She decided to send for a sarchophagus, just in case she lost control of her temper again."

Daniel finally managed to get his body to obey his commands, though a groan escaped him as he pushed himself to a sitting position. "I've been addicted to a sarcophagus once before Vala... I don't want to go through that again. Have you talked to Sarilis since we've been back?"

She shook her head. "I tried to reach her right after we got in here, tell her what had happened to you, but there was no reply. I hope she's okay."

Using his left hand to steady himself, he cupped her face with the right, thumb making gentle circles at the join of her jaw. "Me too," he agreed. "You know, you were wrong about one thing: I didn't beat her."

"But she—"

He smiled gently. "She created this dream-like scenario, taking a memory from when Sarah and I first met and changing it in small ways. The only problem was, little things kept sneaking through that didn't fit. The first time I asked her out for coffee, for example, I was translating an old copy of an Egyptian scroll, not a treatise on Semitic deities." He licked his lips. "The goddess Kadesh was mentioned quite frequently."

"Oh," Vala blinked. "Qetesh."

"Exactly. Then there was the fact that every time I said something derogatory about myself, I got this twinge like somebody'd just elbowed me in the ribs."

She grinned. "I told you I'd break you of that."

"Getting there," he agreed. "And last but certainly not least, when she gave me a tablet which became covered in Ancient text when I touched it, I couldn't translate it for her, even though I could read almost everything on it without much trouble. The problem was, my instincts were telling me not to trust her, especially not since we'd only recently 'met'. That's when I remembered that I trusted you almost immediately."

Shifting position so that he had a leg under himself and could turn to face her properly, he took her hands in his own. "I never really lost consciousness when she attacked me, not completely. I was confused and disoriented, but I heard you. I fought because I knew you were there. You've become so much a part of me that I know you even when I don't know myself."

He smiled. "How many steps does it take you to cross the room? Eight, right?"

"How did you—"

"Because that's how many steps it takes me, even though I'm three or four inches taller. Even when you aren't here, I'm shortening my steps so that you won't have to run to keep up with me. You're always here," he continued, freeing one hand to gesture at his head, "and here." He placed their joined hands over his heart.

Tears welled up in Vala's eyes. "You're here, too," she answered, re-capturing his free hand and placing it over her own heart. "You've changed me in so many ways, Daniel, I don't even recognize the woman I used to be. And you know what? I wouldn't want to be her again anyway."

He pulled her hands to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Then allow me to finish what I started. Let me make an honest woman of you."

"Oh, you've already—"

Daniel schooled his face into an expression of earnest sincerity. He would have thought his pulse would be racing, but instead an absolute calm swept over him. It was the feeling he associated with the sense of absolute truth, of something being completely right. "Vala Mal Doran, will you marry me?"

Chapter 58

Jonas pressed his fingers against the transparent barrier, gazing out at the vista before him. It was awe-inspiring, scientifically intriguing, and also excruciatingly tragic. Thousands of brilliant minds had always speculated something like this could happen, but never before had it been so painfully proven.

Beneath the Prometheus, Kelowna was a dust-blackened ball of nuclear fall-out and molten rock.

"Hey, how are you feeling?"

He turned his head and flashed Sam Carter a brief smile. "Conflicted," he answered at last. "I haven't lived here for well over a year, but it was still my home. My parents... my aunts and uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews... it's all gone."

"I'm... well, I don't think 'sorry' even begins to cover it," she replied, walking over to enfold him in a hug. "You know, you never talked about your family. I guess I always thought you didn't have one."

He pulled away and self-consciously scrubbed his hand through his hair, unsure if she was comforting him or herself. She was always a contradiction of terms, vacillating from the major to the doctor and back again, sometimes stopping on the easy-going "Sam" and even more rarely the feminine "Samantha". A tragedy such as the one floating just outside the window tugged on all four aspects, the scientist and the soldier wanting to know all the details of what had happened while the other sides sought out the teammate who could understand her own conflict best.

Jonas learned early on that being an alien and a fellow scientist made it easier for her to relate to him. The shared "scientist" aspect was an obvious connection, but his status as "outsider" was not all that different from hers as a female soldier: both were considerably different from that which the majority of the SGC's male military population was accustomed. He imagined that the friendship he shared with her wasn't much different from the one she'd enjoyed with Doctor Jackson, and was deeply honored to be able to fill in that niche for her as much as he could—as much as she would let him. He couldn't take offense at her prying, because it wasn't—not really. This was Sam and Samantha, speaking, not Major or Doctor Carter.

"I didn't really," he answered at last. "My father disowned me seven years ago, after I made the decision to go work for the government. He was actually born Terranian, but moved to Kelowna when he and my mother married. She was Andarri."

"Oh. They didn't fit in anywhere, did they?" Carter realized.

"Not really, no," he replied, forcing down the lump that had lodged itself in his throat. "The closest parallel I can draw from Earth is that they were 'hippies'."

"And your working for the government—"

"—Was like throwing everything they believed in back in their faces." He closed his eyes, remembering Marcus Quinn's heated fury, Nalona's cold denial. "You know, the really funny thing is that I tried to send them a message after... after Doctor Jackson disabled the bomb. Tried again just before I stole the naquadria and came to Earth."

Carter smiled sadly. "I did the same thing before we went to stop Apophis' attack on Earth all those years ago. I left voice mail messages for my dad and brother, telling them that I loved them. After I got back, they both wanted to know what was going on, so I had to lie to them. No, not lie... just conceal the truth."

"What'd you tell them?"

"That a friend of mine had been shot and that sometimes it's too late to tell people how you feel about them." She shrugged. "The stupid thing is, I keep doing it over and over again."

"It's human nature, I guess," Jonas answered, turning back to the window. "I left them another message during that mess with Doctor Kieran. I wanted them to know that there were other people who opposed the Kelownan government, only..."

"Only there really was no Resistance," the major finished. "It was all in Doctor Kieran's mind."

He nodded, pulling one of the mess hall's chairs out from beneath a table and slumping on it. "At the very least, I didn't waste that last message. At the end, I told them they'd been right all along, and that I loved them and missed them." He sighed. "I can only hope that when it happened, they knew I cared."

She sat down beside him and put an arm around his shoulders. "I'm sure they did."

Jonas accepted the comfort for now, because he knew Major Carter—no, Samantha—needed it just as much as he did. It wasn't every day that they encountered the aftermath of an entire planet's destruction, let alone one that they'd unsuccessfully tried to prevent from destroying itself.

Especially not when that planet was your own homeworld.

He ground his knuckles into his eyes, refusing to allow himself to vent his emotions. Maybe once they got back to Earth, he could lock himself into his quarters on base and not come out for a week. He wouldn't let himself grieve while aboard the Prometheus, though.

Two days ago, SG-1 had been called out of their second meeting with the leader of the Han traders, responding to an urgent request from General Hammond. Kelowna had dialed Earth, a frantic Ambassador Dreylock explaining that they were experiencing extremely powerful earthquakes, and they had reason to believe the unusual seismic activity was caused by underground naquadria deposits. The connection was interrupted, however, and the wormhole would not connect on an attempted re-dial.

Neither the Tok'ra nor the rebel Jaffa had ships available, so Jonas requested the use of the Prometheus to find out what had happened to Kelowna. Since the engine re-fit was complete and most of the other upgrades finished, General Hammond agreed, sending SG-1 along with Earth's flagship to determine the fate of Jonas' homeworld.

Never would any of them have guessed the entire planet had been destroyed.

He cleared his throat. "Were there any other survivors?"

Carter crossed her arms atop the table and shook her head. "Not that we can detect from orbit, anyway. The atmosphere is so thick with iron and other metals that it's difficult for us to scan through it. From what we can tell, the temperature at the surface is around negative fifty degrees Celsius."

"That's cold," Jonas shuddered.

"I'm sorry, Jonas, but nobody would survive for long at those temperatures... not without a lot of protection. We also have no idea how much of the radiation expelled in the initial blast has successfully re-entered the atmosphere, if there was a world-wide disruption in plate tectonics, if..." She stopped herself before she got too carried away and exhaled. "On the plus side, Janet says the six Andarri we rescued from the pod are going to be okay. They're frostbit and a little dehydrated, but very lucky to be alive."

Jonas was impressed. When last he'd been on his homeworld, none of the three feuding nations was reportedly anywhere near having a viable space program, let alone actually having a space pod ready to launch. The Andarri, he guessed, had managed to keep it a very close secret.

"We did it to ourselves," he whispered aloud.

Carter shook her head. "No, there's no way to prove that."

"Major, you and I both know that naquadria doesn't just explode on its own. It's unstable, yes, but any type of nuclear fusion requires a burst of energy to overcome the... the Coulomb barrier. It wasn't a natural disaster."

Now that he was speaking her "language", she could no longer deny his assertions. They might never know what disaster had befallen Kelowna, but in Jonas' opinion, the naquadria explosion that had destroyed half the continent was the direct result of his government's single-minded determination to build weapons of mass destruction and launch them at their perceived enemies. It was exactly what Doctor Jackson had warned them about, and exactly what he had died attempting to prevent.

What a fine what to honor his sacrifice, Jonas thought bitterly.

"I actually came down here to tell you that we received a transmission from the SGC," Carter began, straightening in her seat and looking down at her hands briefly. When she looked back up, she was wearing what he thought of as her "major face".

"This ship does have intercoms, doesn't it?" he grinned, hoping to ease the mood.

It worked, Carter's expression easing into a relaxed smile of her own. "Yes, but I wanted to see how you were doing. Anyway, the leftover radiation from the blast is interfering with communications, so—"

"—So we're going to break orbit to find out what they need."

"Exactly. Colonel O'Neill wanted you to come to the Bridge."

"Lead on," he offered, waving his arm toward the door.

They made their way through the ship in comfortable silence, dodging and weaving through the corridors as well as they navigated the concrete halls of the SGC. Several hallways and a lift later, they walked onto the command deck of the Prometheus.

"Are we ready to move out?" asked Colonel Pendergast, the ship's new commander.

"Jonas?" O'Neill prompted.

He swallowed. "I said my goodbyes over a year ago."

His commanding officer gave him an assessing look for a moment, then nodded to the other colonel. Shortly after, sublight engines were engaged, carrying Earth's flagship away from the wreckage of his home world.

It was symbolic, Jonas thought, that he had been one of the few people of his country to outwardly oppose the naquadria project, though his efforts hadn't been made until after he'd been given a startling first-hand look at the devastation naquadria radiation could wreak upon the human body. Now here he was, the only survivor of a planet-wide cataclysm.

No, not only: there were six Andarri in the ship's medical ward. Seven survivors out of a planet of just over two billion.

Once they were underway, SG-1 and the senior officers aboard the Prometheus moved to the cramped briefing room just a short distance from the Bridge. The communications systems had been patched into the console at the center of the table. "SGC, this is Colonel O'Neill."

The reply was almost immediate, leading Jonas to wonder what crisis required the Prometheus, SG-1, or both. "Colonel O'Neill, this is General Hammond. Ordinarily, I'd take your report on the Kelownan situation, but I'm afraid I have more bad news. This morning, SG-14 returned early from the summit with the Hans. Doctor Jackson has been captured by Jaffa loyal to Osiris. There's no indication they know who he is, but he's reportedly being held until Osiris herself arrives."

Jonas looked up catching the brief look of anguish on O'Neill's face before the colonel reflexively clamped down on it. "How long ago, sir?"

"Approximately two days, but the Hans didn't get a 'Gate address until around sixteen hours ago. As soon as Master Han received the coordinates, he relayed them to SG-14, who then broke camp immediately."

Unfortunately, Jonas knew that it had then taken SG-14 at least ten hours to hike back to the Stargate, as the second round of negotiations were taking place at a village some fifteen miles away over rocky terrain. Colonel O'Neill had complained about the distance there and back, but the inspection of the trinium mines near the town had been informative and necessary.

"Have we sent a MALP?" Carter asked.

"I'm sorry, but the 'Gate was heavily guarded," Hammond replied, sounding genuinely apologetic. "I can't authorize a rescue mission."

"What say we stop by the nearest Stargate, drop off our passengers, pick up a few SG teams, and head that way?" O'Neill suggested.

"Colonel—"

"Sir, it's Daniel!" the O'Neill and Carter protested in unison.

"We owe it to Daniel Jackson," agreed Teal'c.

Jonas nodded. "There's nothing like spending all day looking at the ruins of a planet he died to save. Whatever we can do, sir."

"We don't know what kind of forces may be on that planet," Hammond reminded them.

O'Neill shook his head. "They probably won't expect a rescue effort from space."

"The Prometheus can take an al'kesh in a fair fight," Colonel Pendergast added.

"And the 302s can give any death gliders a hell of a bad day," piped up the fighter wing leader, Major Mitchell.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that," Hammond rebuked gently. "Very well, Colonels. Sergeant Harriman will transmit the coordinates to the navigation station. Rendezvous with SG teams 3, 5, and 14 at P4T-178."

"Thank you, sir!" O'Neill exclaimed.

Jonas knew the general wouldn't decline, even if it meant holding his superiors at bay with half-truths and carefully-constructed fabrications. This was Doctor Jackson, after all. "Will the Hans be providing any support, sir?"

"According to Major Hawthorne, they've already sent three of their best people. When you arrive, you should try to get in touch with them, find out what they know. The only name which any of SG-14 could remember was Han Mai, Kazo's eldest daughter."

Jonas felt his eyebrows raise. If the Hans had sent one of their blood-relatives, then they were clearly taking Doctor Jackson's capture just as seriously as the SGC was.

"I guess I'll be leaving my patients in the capable hands of Doctor Warner," Doctor Frasier announced. "Knowing Daniel as I do, he'll probably need medical attention."

"I don't doubt it," Hammond agreed. "Good luck everyone."

Nothing further needed to be said. Jonas met the eyes of everyone in the room, each stubbornly determined look telling him all he needed to know about the intended rescue. They'd get Doctor Jackson back or take a whole lot of Goa'uld and Jaffa out when they died trying.

Chapter 59

"Vala, are you there? Talk to me, girl, tell me you and Daniel are okay."

Scrunching up her nose, Vala half-heartedly swatted at the noise in her ear, wanting whoever it was to just go away and leave her alone. She was comfortable, blast it, and didn't feel like moving anytime soon. Her cheek was resting against a pleasantly firm pillow, and the arms wrapped around her shoulders and waist were better than any blanket.

Arms?

Her eyes flew open, coming to rest on the softly snoring form of Daniel Jackson. He was turned to face her, his left arm flung around her torso and holding her close, while his right lay across her back. Her head had been quite comfortably pillowed on his right shoulder, and he looked surprisingly peaceful for someone who had only recently been tortured.

She felt her lips quirk. She was surprisingly peaceful for someone who had been recently tortured, too. In fact, if given a mirror, she was certain they'd have matching burns on their foreheads, though his was undoubtedly redder than her own.

"Holy fire, girl, if you don't answer me soon, I'll—"

"Sarilis?" Fumbling for the transmitter which was thankfully still in place in her right ear, she pressed the tiny button on top. "Sarilis?"

"Thank the blazes, Vala, I was beginning to get worried!"

Vala grinned inwardly. Beginning? The former bounty hunter had sounded like Vala's mother used to when she'd be out exploring the woods behind their house after dark. "I was sleeping, Mom."

"Don't get sassy with me, young lady. Mai and I were busy sneaking up on some Jaffa earlier, so I couldn't exactly answer you. What happened to Daniel?"

"Osiris got annoyed when he proved to be too tough for her to crack. She nearly killed him with her hand device before she realized that maybe she really wanted to keep him alive, instead. Unfortunately, she's sent for a sarcophagus, so that won't be an issue anymore."

Sarilis swore under her breath. "I suppose he's not capable of moving on his own, is he?"

"Let me wake him and find out."

Cocking her head, Vala regarded the sleeping man with a proprietary grin. His mouth was slightly open, giving him that dopey look she admitted to herself was simply adorable. All the lines around his eyes and brow were smoothed out, making him look as sweet and innocent as the man she'd met nearly five months ago.

Not that he wasn't still sweet, of course.

Twisting her lips first to one side, then the other, she finally decided on a course of action. What better way to awaken him than with the traditional method of fairytale princes and princesses? Perhaps it was a bit of role-reversal, but she didn't think Daniel would mind.

Bending down, she placed her hand under his cheek and turned his head, then leaned in and captured his mouth with her own. He reacted almost immediately, eyes opening wide with shock, so she backed off a little to give him space to breathe.

Space he apparently didn't want, as he moved with astonishing speed to pull her back down again, eliciting a muffled squeak of surprise from her. When he finally released his hold, he propped his head up on one elbow and smiled. "Hello, gorgeous."

"Hello, yourself! We haven't even exchanged vows and already we're imitating one another," she laughed.

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," he replied, "or so I'm told."

Vala crossed her arms in mock-indignation. "Are you practicing your wicked charms on me?"

He brightened hopefully. "Is it working?"

"Vala, is Daniel all right?"

She jumped. "Oops! Hold that thought, Daniel, Sarilis is calling." She pressed the talk switch. "Yes, he's fine. We're just having a... rather important conversation."

"I'm sure," the older woman replied dryly. "Listen, Mai and I stumbled across one heapin' pile of dung out here, but everything might work out to our advantage in the end. It does require you and Daniel to be able to move and move fast."

Vala relayed the information to Daniel, then toggled the transmitter again. "We'll do whatever we have to do. What's the plan?"

"Well, this morning, Osiris apparently got the bright idea to try to execute the guards who initially brought the two of you in —'incompetence' in not recognizing Daniel and letting you go, I guess. She managed to get her hands on half of 'em, and had her Kull warriors open fire."

"Kull what?"

"Big, black, and ugly, you can't miss 'em. Unkillable too, near as I can tell. Staff blasts, zats, even some of my favorite toys from years back: nothing's stopping them."

"What are they doing?" Daniel asked, and Vala obligingly repeated the question.

"Well, some of the Jaffa—possibly the rebels—apparently took offense to six of their number being slaughtered by the creatures supposedly designed to replace them. Chaos ensued when they found out they couldn't even scratch the warriors' armor. You two must have really put a twist in her undergarments, though, because Osiris decided to order the whole-scale annihilation of every Jaffa on the planet."

Daniel muttered a few rather impolite things in a language she recognized, plus at least two more snatches in ones she didn't. "How bad is it?"

"Most of the Jaffa were smart enough to run for cover when the shooting started. Now, either the two al'kesh in orbit don't know what's going on or are going for neutral, but they haven't started bombing things yet. Oh, and when they headed for the forest? Mai and I managed to find Daniel's friend Nekor, who mentioned that the rebels deliberately sabotaged the Stargate as they ran past it. Pulled the main crystal from the control pedestal and hid it."

"So no reinforcements for Osiris," Vala guessed, "except by ship."

"No sarcophagus, either," Daniel added.

"All of which makes for one severely hot-tempered Goa'uld. Her empire's crumbling around her curly head all because of one tiny little insignificant planet."

"I guess I should have taken the time to remind her about Ra and Abydos," he smirked.

"Well, there is one tiny problem. There's no knowing how long the Kull can pursue the fleeing Jaffa, and at this point I'm just going to assume it's indefinite and go from there. Unfortunately, while the Kull might be occupied—"

"Osiris isn't," Vala finished.

"You got it. I imagine she'll try to cut her losses and just haul the two of you out of there by ship. That's why you have to be ready. She's probably on her way to you even now, ready to drag you—or at least Daniel—off to her al'kesh and head for deep space."

She set her jaw. "Over my dead body."

"And that's exactly what it'll be if the two of you can't find some way to get yourselves out of there. On the positives, she'll likely be alone. Her Kull are stomping through the woods and she can't trust any of the Jaffa."

"That gives us something to work with, anyway," she agreed.

Daniel nodded, all levity gone from his expression. "All we ever need is a fighting chance."

"Well, Mai and I are trying to help one of the rebel groups set up some decoys and snares that might help slow the Kull down a bit. This planet's mostly a garrison, but there are a few small villages here and there. We're trying to make sure they don't target the villagers, so I might not be able to answer if you call me. Let me know as soon as you're out anyway, will you? I refuse to think otherwise, you know."

"I understand," Vala replied. "Good luck, Sarilis. Tell Mai good luck, too."

"The same to you and Daniel."

She exhaled heavily. "Well, it's up to us at this point."

"We need a plan. A good one, and a fast one."

"Oh, I like quickies."

Daniel rolled his eyes. "You do that on purpose, don't you?"

Vala crossed her arms. "Well, it used to make you blush. I miss that."

"And there's the sulky flirt I know and love," he answered. "But seriously, we do need a plan. Any ideas?"

"Well, you could always lie on the ground and pretend to still be sick and we could get the jump on Osiris when she comes in here to grab us."

"Except she'd probably make you try to haul me off the ground, or just stomp in here, lay a hand on my shoulder and beam us up to her ship."

"Beam?"

"Transport, translocate, whatever you want to call it."

"Oh."

"Besides, that's so old a cliché, even Osiris is bound to have come across that one. Anyway, she's a lot stronger than either one of us."

Vala planted her hands on her hips. "Well, since neither of us has a gun or knife or anything, we don't have much in the way of options, now do we?"

He opened his mouth to reply, paused, lifted a finger in the air in a "just a minute" gesture, then rolled over and scrambled to his feet. Bending over the crumpled puddle of fabric that was his discarded coat, he fished around inside one pocket and came up with a flat green crystal.

"Where'd you get that?"

"Back when he caught my team, Aris Boch faked setting the auto-destruct on his tel'tak, though we had no way of knowing he hadn't actually armed it. He took the central crystal out of the control so we couldn't stop the countdown, making us think that we were about to be blown to smithereens."

She blinked in surprise. "So this time, you took the crystal so that no one could stop our ship from self-destructing!"

Daniel nodded. "If the Goa'uld found out two Han employees were traveling in an armed cargo ship, it would be bad for the Hans. No ship, no evidence against them. Since it was the rebels who searched me, the only things they took from me were my zat and pistol. I guess they left this since it wasn't actually a weapon."

"But it can be," she agreed, holding her hand out for the crystal. The edges were very smooth, and though there was a sufficiently long point on one end, she didn't think Daniel could stomach actually stabbing anyone any better than she could. Fortunately, the grains of the mineral ran the length of the diamond-shape.

She hurled it at the wall with all her strength, the crystal splintering on impact with a satisfying cracking noise. Squatting beside the remains, she began to sort through the pieces, coming up with three shards of suitable size. The edges were tested on her hair, then two handed to Daniel when they each successfully sliced through the end of a lock. She kept the third for herself.

Daniel looked at the crystal knives with trepidation, clearly not liking the thought of employing the dangerous objects against the body of a woman he cared for, no matter what sort of monster was currently inhabiting her. "Okay. I'm ready."

She cocked her head to one side. "I still think we need to start with my plan." Quickly, she explained her intentions. "It gives us the best shot."

"You're probably better at figuring this kind of thing out than I am," he agreed, "so let's do it."

He sat down on the floor again, tucking one crystal fragment into his belt at the small of his back before lying down and hiding the second in his left palm. It was a little longer than his hand, but by letting it rest along the inside of his wrist, he successfully concealed it between his body and the floor. Vala's own shard went into the top of her right armband, the fabric of the band and the now-filthy silk drape just barely concealing the crude weapon. It would probably scratch her when it was drawn, but there wasn't much choice. It was far more important that they appear to be completely defenseless, with Daniel lying supine while she sat beside him.

They waited with breathless anticipation, wondering how long it would be before Osiris came to retrieve them. Surely, if the Goa'uld had gone through all this trouble to try to keep Daniel alive to find out what he knew, she wouldn't just depart the planet without—

The lock on the cell rattled and the door slammed open. Daniel quickly shut his eyes as Vala looked up to see if their plan even had a chance.

Osiris, thankfully, was alone. She stood in the door with her feet spread at hip-width, arms crossed in front of her chest. "Stand," she commanded.

"Daniel hasn't awakened," Vala replied, biting her lip as though trying to keep from crying. She'd done enough of that after Osiris' enraged attack on the helpless Daniel that she doubted she had to make much effort to make it look convincing. The Goa'uld probably thought she was a twit.

Osiris made a noise of disgust. "Then get him to his feet yourself."

She hesitated deliberately, then lifted Daniel's limp right arm, putting it around her shoulders, leaving his hand dangling less than an inch from the concealed dagger. Her left arm went around his back as she levered him to a sitting position, then dramatically grunted as though she couldn't budge him further.

"I can't," she whined petulantly.

Unimpressed with such incompetence, the Goa'uld stormed over, extending her right hand to grab the front of his shirt and apply her own strength. She never reached her target.

As soon as Vala drew the blade out from the small of his back, Daniel's eyes flew open, fingers grabbing for the shard just out of his reach before abandoning it and just swinging his arm, elbow passing just barely over Vala's ducking head. Osiris' left hand came up to block the sudden attack, but was too slow.

Daniel's forearm collided with the Goa'uld's throat, causing her to fall backward choking. Immediately, he rolled over and pressed his weight against her, pinning her to the ground before she could recover. Vala sprang to her feet and dove for the out-flung left hand, pressing her knee into the trapped arm and pulling on the hand device, using the sharp point of the crystal to keep the creature's wrist from wriggling too much as she quickly began disarming her.

Osiris roared with fury, shouting things that didn't seem to be anatomically feasible, let alone suitable to repeat in polite company. It didn't take long for her enhanced strength to overcome the efforts of a muscular archaeologist, though, even one holding a crystal shard to her throat with his left hand. She likely knew he wouldn't use it, and used his tender-hearted nature to her advantage, heaving him off and scissoring her legs. One flailing foot knocked Vala hard on her rump.

"My patience is at an end!" the Goa'uld howled.

Scrambling to his feet, Daniel tackled her again, attempting to wrestle her into a position where her superior strength would be of no use. Before he could get much of a hold, she got both arms up and threw him at the far wall, a cry escaping his lips as he collided painfully with the masonry.

"I'm pretty sick of you, too," Vala retorted, raising her left hand. Just as Osiris realized that the ribbon device was no longer on her own hand, the former thief unleashed a burst of energy, catapulting the blond into the stonework immediately behind her.

The former prisoners each had a foot out the door when a weak, decidedly human voice called out, "Daniel?"

He stopped and spun around, eyes widening. "Sarah?"

"Daniel!" Vala hissed, pulling on his arm.

The host closed her eyes. "Go," she whispered hoarsely. "Go now!"

Tugging on his arm, Vala was able to get Daniel out of the way, reach in, and pulled the heavy door firmly shut behind them. He recovered his senses enough to slide the locking bolt into place.

"What a team," she gasped, rubbing at her sore tailbone.

"A real Bonnie and Clyde," he agreed, briefly putting a hand to his lower back. At her confused expression he shook his head. "Never mind. We should probably—"

An inhuman roar sounded from the other side of the door, followed by several thuds muffled by the thick wood.

"—Go," Vala finished. They'd each lost their daggers in the struggle but the ribbon device more than made up for the loss of the weapons. Toggling the transmitter in her right ear, she raced down the corridor, Daniel hot on her heels.

"Sarilis? We're on our way!"

Chapter 60

The deathly silence outside of the stronghold was unnerving. Nothing disturbed the late morning air, not even the calls of birds or bugs. No breeze stirred the long grasses of the valley, nor did clouds mar the pristine lavender-blue hue of the sky.

"Creepy," Vala muttered.

Daniel frowned. "What is?"

"Everything," she replied, waving her arm around for emphasis. He nodded grimly, understanding what she meant. It was simply unnatural for everything to be so still, so silent.

He cleared his throat. "Where are we meeting Sarilis?"

"She said there's a village just a little to the northwest. It's mostly emptied out, now, but there are still a few defenders left behind to watch the livestock. We'll go from there to the ship."

"Why not just meet at the ship?" he asked.

She shrugged, jogging down the ramp at an easy pace. "She didn't give any specifics, but it seemed to be pretty important."

"Okay," he agreed, matching her strides.

They lapsed into silence, concentrating on moving quickly yet keeping their ears and eyes open for possible signs of pursuit. The unnerving quiet all around them made their own footfalls sound all the louder, which only served to heighten their feelings of unease. Finally, as the grassy valley gave way to towering brush, the tension began to lessen a little.

"Small wedding," Daniel announced suddenly. "Just you, me, a few close friends, and a minister."

Vala's eyebrows raised. "But what if I want to rent out a huge temple and invite everyone we know? Between the Hans and Tau'ri, we could probably fill... oh, the Temple at Dakara, at least."

"Dakara?"

"It's in Baal's territories. Qetesh saw it once several hundred years ago. I don't recall many details, but I'm sure it was rather large."

"Overcompensating, maybe?"

Despite herself, she giggled. "Well, there was this mountain-like monument that seemed to make a rather bold statement..."

He joined in her laughter. The escape was making them giddy, she decided, and why not? It wasn't every day you got tossed into a dungeon, ribboned half to death in the pursuit of "questioning", then escaped with nothing more than ingenuity, determination, and luck. Well, in their cases, getting tossed in dungeons had become a distressing habit. Still, their shared experiences were proving that they worked incredibly well together, that their combined skills and intelligence could accomplish things neither could possibly manage alone.

She held no illusions as to where she would be now if she hadn't met him when she did. The crystals she'd stripped from the tel'tak she crashed on Makosis would have kept her fed for a few months, if she stretched it, but she'd soon be haring off after another prize or exploiting the labors of Qetesh's worshippers. She might even—and she shuddered to think it—have finally accepted a job or two from the Lucien Alliance.

Daniel, on the other hand, would have been back among his people. His memory would have been restored and his place among the Tau'ri reassumed, but something would still have been missing. The self-confidence he'd begun to gain recently would likely not be there. The easy smiles which now crossed his face would not be so easy, nor so frequent.

They were both far richer for having met one another, she concluded. Although some people affectionately referred to their significant others as such, she and Daniel could probably argue themselves blue in the face over who was the "better half". In truth, they were equals, their individual contributions bettering the other half. Taking their relationship that one step further was natural, perfect.

"Small wedding it is," she announced, "but I still want to pick out flowers and a dress."

He turned his head, looking her up and down for a moment before returning to the trail. "Only if Mai makes the dress."

She looked down, having nearly forgotten what she was wearing. "Lecher."

"Exhibitionist."

The transmitter crackled. "Is that you two making all that racket?"

Vala pressed the tip of her finger to the switch. "If you're talking about the two people running down an overgrown trail toward a tiny village, that's us."

Up ahead, a slender figure stepped out from behind one of the low gray buildings, waving an arm in greeting. As Daniel and Vala neared, they recognized Han Mai and returned the wave.

"Thank the gods you're both well!" she exclaimed.

"More or less," Daniel agreed. "Where's Sarilis?"

"Oh, she's—"

"—Running a little late," finished the lazy tones of the former bounty hunter, jogging across the street to join them. "Nekor's boys finished setting up the explosives on that ridge line to the south, so hopefully we can drop the cliff on top of this Kull. I don't know where the other one's off to, but Morlem was leading him on a merry little chase, last I heard."

Mai nodded. "Surely something will work."

"What the hell are these things?" Daniel asked.

Sarilis blew out a gust of air. "Demon creations of Anubis, from what I gather. Nothing seems to stop 'em, nothing slows 'em down long. What happened to Osiris?"

"We locked her in our cell," Vala replied. "She won't be going anywhere soon, though, 'cause I stole her hand device."

The former bounty hunter grinned. "Good. The two of you can use it to ring up to her ship, then."

"We didn't even think about that," the archaeologist groaned. "Vala, try the transporter."

Nodding, she pressed the button she thought activated the beam, but nothing happened. "Maybe it was the wrong button?"

He shook his head. "No, that was the right one. The ship might be out of range, I guess."

"Unless the ship is immediately overhead, doesn't it require a ring platform on this end?" Mai questioned.

"This is technology stolen from the Asgard," Daniel replied. "It doesn't require—"

The ground was suddenly rocked by a loud blast, a plume of dust rising off to the south. Vala guessed it was the explosives her friend had been talking about only moments before, and sincerely hoped whatever plan had been concocted worked.

Sarilis reached into a deep pocket on her coveralls, withdrawing one of the small, silver balls used for communication. "Nekor, how'd it go?"

Seconds later, the head and shoulders of a Jaffa appeared inside the device. "Perfectly, Huntress. The Kull stepped into the trap exactly where you hoped he would, and Ker'ac successfully detonated the devices."

The redhead grinned. "Too bad those were my last charges. All right, now that we got one out of the way, you boys should—"

A look of horror crossed the tiny figure's face. "The debris is shifting!"

Vala felt her jaw drop. "It's still alive?"

"Huntress, the rock fall must have carried it out of the way of the majority of the earth!" Nekor cried. "It is resuming its course for the village."

Sarilis muttered something Vala didn't quite catch, but from the wide-eyed look on Daniel's face, it was a language he knew. "Fall back, Nekor, we'll have to divert again." She dropped the ball back into her pocket, exchanging a look with Mai. The younger woman nodded wordlessly, handing Daniel her zat even as Sarilis dug into her seemingly bottomless pockets to give another to Vala.

"What are we going to do?" Daniel asked.

"Oh, 'we' are going to lead the Kull on another little chase southward, so that you can get yourselves to the north, grab the tel'tak, and get the hell out of here."

"But you're coming with us," Vala protested.

"We can't simply abandon these Jaffa," Mai declared. "There are women and children who are in need of protection."

"But you can't stop those things, how do you expect to protect anyone from them?"

Daniel shook his head. "Not southward, but west. Away from the 'Gate. With Osiris locked up for the moment, you can repair the DHD—the pedestal—and start evacuating the planet."

Sarilis froze. "Damn, but you're right. Any ideas where to send them?"

"Do you know the address for Chulak? It's practically the headquarters of the Resistance." He hefted the zat, a stubborn set to his jaw. "If not, then I go with you to dial it."

Mai pulled her hand-held computer out of her utility belt. "It is in here, Daniel. Do not worry about us, but take care of yourselves."

"And what do I tell your parents?" he demanded hotly. "That we're sorry we lost their daughter but she told us to leave her behind?"

Sarilis lay a hand on his arm. "We will be fine. The two of you, however, are injured and look half-dead on your feet. We did not come all this way just for you to get killed escaping! For the love of the gods, get yourself to the damn ship and get out of here." She turned to Vala. "Andron was still in his new home when we left, but the little weasel's probably figured out how to wriggle out of the box."

"In which case he'll have already taken the ship," Vala guessed.

"No, because I replaced two of his propulsion crystals with dummies," the older woman replied, handing her a device she immediately recognized as a homing receiver. "Of course, I couldn't risk them getting broken, so they're hidden in the escape pods. It's up to you what you do with the