Altier was outer planet in the Gandis solar system and ruled by the Altierian royal family that has existed for hundreds of years. The planet was prosperous, peaceful, and untouched by outside influence. Any outsider was treated with distinction and kindness; no weapons were allowed on the planet unless authorized and enforced by their imperial army. The planet yielded crops of healing herbs and medicines and a gold mine to healers throughout the galaxy. There was to be a grand celebration soon. The royal family was expecting the return of their youngest daughter Nece'. Each royal child has a hidden gift. It is only revealed to them when the child passes a right of passage thru trial of survival in the wilderness for 4 days. No one is allowed to assist the child during this right of passage or her gift will not be revealed. No one in the royal family knows what that child's gift is until they return. The child is given necessities of water and food and no weapon unless they construct one. However their gift is part of their survival, when revealed the gift could possibly save their life. A witness may trail the child to inform the family daily that the passage is being fulfilled. This passage has been completed for generations in the royal family and allows prosperity to their entire realm. However, if the child's gift is not revealed in its proper manner than the royal family may lose their ability to govern as well as their peaceful existence. The Alterian royal family has never failed in all it's generation to do so, but they pay a terrible price if that child is not allowed to fulfill their destiny.

The Royal family has been informed that scientist and explorers from the Milky Way galaxy wish to cultivate some healing herbs from their planet. They have come on a mission of peace and have need of certain herbs to heal inhabitants of a dying planet. They were informed that once they arrived the out skirting village elder would escort them to suitable guest houses and they would be able to retrieve their weapons once their mission was complete.

Col Mitchell, Teal'c, Sam, Dr. Lam, Vala and Daniel came through the Stargate on the outer side of Altair's wilderness. No one from the planet was there to meet them, so they assumed that they may have arrived early. Col Mitchell was in contact with the village elder and was informed that their arrival was indeed early. Mitchell was informed that a half and hour would be their longest wait and that they would arrive soon.

"Teal'c you and Daniel survey the outer perimeter for about 40 feet to the right and, Sam, you and Vala take the same distance to the left. Dr. Lam and I will stay near the gate to stay in contact with the elder, move out."

The SG1 team moved out with precision and stealth. Daniel couldn't wait to see what type of vegetation to analyze for Dr. Lam. The planet Besius had an epidemic that was killing their people at thirty a day. Dr. Lam had heard about Altier by chance and wanted to explore the possibility to cure these people and others. There was no known reason for the epidemic and only the people from that planet were affected.

Sam and Vala were spreading out to the perimeter when something caught Vala's eye. Something was moving fast about 30 feet in their direction.

"Sam? I think I saw something moving in that area, I'm going to check it out."

"Vala, wait, that might be one of the elders."

"No, it's moving away from us, it sounded like a child or something was moving toward it and whatever it is, it's big."

"Hold on, let me check in with Mitchell, we may need some assistance." Said Sam.

"Col Mitchell come in."

"What's up Sam?"

"Vala's seen some movement of a large object moving 30 feet or so away from our position, she thought she heard a child's voice or something and that something is moving fast towards the child, over."

"Copy; Teal'c you and Daniel coordinate on their position, use your weapon only if you have to. The locals don't take to kindly to weapons on their planet. Sam, Teal'c and Daniel are on their way, stay in position, over."

"10-4 Colonel. Vala see if we can check what direction they are heading?"

As soon as Vala heard Sam's command, they both heard a child scream. Vala was on the move, Sam was on the radio to Teal'c that they were moving south of their perimeter and that they heard a child cry out and moving in that direction. Vala was rushing in at top speed. When she cleared some trees she saw a child about 10 standing near a waters edge. Out of the corner of her eyes she saw what looked like a multi colored size ape with spikes moving fast toward the child. Vala didn't hesitate she moved towards the child to intercept between the child and the ape. Just when the ape was upon the child Vala leaped and pushed the child out of the way and the ape hit Vala head on. Some of its spikes imbedded into her legs and arm. The child fell back against the waters edge and the ape ran back through the wilderness.

Vala looked towards the child and slowly got up. She pulled the spikes out and started walking towards the child. Suddenly she heard an unfamiliar voice shout at her.

"STOP! You are under arrest, get away from that child."

Sam, Teal'c and Daniel saw what happened and went to see if Vala and the child were alright.

"Under arrest? Said Vala. "The child was being attacked, I just pushed her out of the way that all."

"I am Attess, the witness for the Royal Family of Altier, this is princess Nece' you have touched her, no one is allowed to touch the royal family in such a manner; you will be punished."

Vala looked bewildered. "For saving the child's life, well thank you very much, maybe I should have let that hairy monster just attack her. I bet the princess saw differently."

The princess remained silent. She said nothing in defense of Vala. Vala looked at her strangely and shook her head.

"Vala, Vala, what's going on here? We saw you save the child and that beast ran back into the wood, are you alright?"

"Yes." She answered. "But your royal badness want to punish me for saving the royal princess. Can't I just apologize?"

Daniel and Teal'c were bringing up the rear, suddenly out of nowhere, other inhabitants from the village arrived. Soon as they saw the princess they bowed to the ground another inhabitant a little older bowed to the princess and spoke to her.

"Your highness, are you injured?" asked the Elder.

The princess simply shook her head no.

"Thank goodness, said the Elder. "Now what's going on here, what has happened?"

Vala interjected quickly. "Well your princess was about to be speared by some Spiked green ape and I pushed her out of the way of harm and didn't know it was a Royal sin to do so."

Col Mitchell was dispatching over the radio. "Sam, Vala, come in I have a bunch of people standing in front of me who don't look to happy to see us all of a sudden, What's going on?"

"Well Col, Vala saved a child's life and she turns out to be one of the royal families. They want to take her into custody and punish her. I think you better get over here; ASAP. Out."

Teal'c, Daniel and Sam stood in front of Vala.

"Everyone I'm one of the scientists from SG1 that was invited with the rest of my team to test some of your healing herbs for another planet that is dying. We did not know that the child screaming for help was the princess, Vala was only trying to help, she thought she was being attacked."

Attess would not listen, he ordered that Vala be taken to the village and held for trial.

Teal'c stepped in as well as Daniel and Sam to stop anyone from taking Vala.

"Hey guys, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself, let's all calm down here, I'm sure this can be cleared up if the princess here woul………… "Where did she go?"

Everyone looked around and the princess had disappeared. Col Mitchell and Dr. Lam finally arrived and was informed of what happened.

"Ok, I'm sure this can be cleared up. Is the village elder I have been in contact with here?"

"Yes, I am Alderon, the village Elder, are you Col Mitchell?"

"Yes, Alderon, we come in peace, we mean no harm to anyone, Vala is one of my team members and I take full responsibility for her actions. There must be a way to peacefully resolve this situation. We are willing to sit down and talk to someone in the Royal family to clear this matter up. I'm sure they are wise in these matters."

"You are a wise man Col Mitchell." Stated the Elder. "But I must insist until this matter is investigated I'm sorry to say I must take your weapons and place your team member into custody until the Royal family can be notified of the whereabouts of their daughter. You will not be harmed; you have my word as the Elder of our village.

Your team member may stay with you but under guard."

This is an outrage Alderon." Insisted Attess, the Royal family will hear of this, if their daughter is not found and completes her test of passage, you and these outworlders will pay with their lives, especially that one." Pointing at Vala.

Vala stuck her tongue out at Attess. She couldn't believe she saved this child's life and royal life and now she was being punished, but now her friends would be punished if they did not find the princess.

Alderon escorted SG1 back to his village and placed them all in a large guest room. They were put under heavy guard. The word in the village was that a stranger had attacked the Royal princess and she was missing. Alderon put a stop to anyone harming these peaceful off worlders and believed Col Mitchell to be an honorable man and to him that's all he needed to know.

"Well this is just great. Save a life, a Royal life I might add, almost get killed, spiked, arrested and now I may die in luxury though, but still they want to kill me. What's next death by the Royal green ape?"

Before anyone could notice, Vala fell to her knees and was breathing hard. Daniel was the first one to her side.

Vala spoke weakly to Daniel or anyone in earshot.

"Well that was unexpected."

"Lay her down on the bed Dr. Jackson. I need to examine her."

Daniel layed Vala down gently and Dr. Lam pulled Vala's shirt off. There was slight

bleeding coming from her arm and legs.

Sam? Do any of you know where she got these puncture marks?"

Sam answered. "We saw the green ape, hit Vala when she pushed the girl away and I think some of the spikes penetrated her clothes, we only saw her take them out as we arrived on the spot."

"They may have been poisonous, I need some of those spikes to analyze them for an antidote. Vala, Vala can you hear me?"

Vala was sweating profusely and her breathing was getting shallow.

"Can, Can't feel my arm or le--, leg. Wha, what's wrong, can't breath to good."

"Dr. Lam injected her with something to help Vala breath. "Don't try to speak Vala, save your strength, I need you to just rest, just nod your head yes, ok."

Vala nodded her head yes.

Vala's teammates were worried. Daniel had never seen Vala this ill before, even when they had the bracelets on. Her face was becoming pale and sweaty. Dr. Lam made Vala feel as comfortable as possible. Sam retrieved some cool water from the fresher area and handed a cool towel to Dr. Lam. Daniel stayed by Vala's side while Dr. Lam spoke with the rest of her team.

"Col Mitchell, I need to get those spikes from that ape, I need to analyze what type of poison that might have been. Can you see if the Elder can help? I can see if I can slow the poison down in her system, but without knowing what this poison is or can do to her she may continue to weaken her immune system."

"Where on it Dr. Lam, Sam your with me and Teal'c. Daniel you stay with Dr. Lam to see if you can help her stabilize Vala. We'll be back Dr. Lam with answers; take care of her will ya?

As SG1 moved out into the corridor to have someone contact Alderon a small girl sat huddled in a cave somewhere, she reached out in her mind. She needed to reach out and contact her brother, he always knew what to do. Always.