Disclaimer: I don't own Stargate.
Live
Vala raced through the woods as fast as she could. She never paused to look over her shoulder to see if her pursuers were still behind her; she knew they were. Her lungs felt ready to burst but she knew she couldn't stop. Stopping would mean certain death. Part of her wished for death, a large part. But her stubborn soul wouldn't allow her to give up now. She'd survived too much for that. No, she had to keep moving even though she felt like she'd been running for days. Maybe she had, she couldn't tell anymore. She just kept running. Kept running until she couldn't run any longer. She stopped beside a cave and attempted to catch her breath. She wanted to cry but had no tears left. She'd cried enough in the short time since her symbiote had been removed, since she'd been freed. Freedom. It was something she hadn't had in ten years. Not since Qetesh chose her. Now that she did, she wasn't going to give it up. But suddenly she couldn't get her body to cooperate. She had no more energy to run. She felt herself sagging to the ground in defeat.
"Vala!"
The harsh whisper caused Vala to jump and try to scoot away as two strong arms came to rest on her. Looking up, she saw the face of the one person whose memory had kept her form going insane as a host. The one person she'd never thought to see again.
"Antol? I thought you were..." She couldn't finish the sentence, it was too painful.
"I escaped before Qetesh could have me killed." he told her as he gazed into her eyes.
"But how-"
"It doesn't matter." he cut her off. "We have to get to the Chappa'ai. Now!"
"I-I can't...I can't move. I'm so tired."
"I know, darling, but you have to. You can't give up, not now when we're so close."
Vala looked into Antol's eyes and saw tears. His jaw was firm as he lifted her into his arms and she clung to him as he ran. She could hear the villagers gaining on them but they finally made it to the Chappa'ai and Antol set her down.
"I'm going to dial, Vala. Be ready to run."
"What about you?"
"I'll be right behind you."
Antol started dialling and Vala watched the tree-line. People started to emerge and panic tried to seize her heart but she wouldn't allow it. She had to survive, she just had to. Just as Antol finished dialling and the wormhole settled, she watched in horror as a staff blast struck him in the back. She cried out and tried to run to him but he stopped her.
"No, Vala! Go! Get out of here!"
"I can't leave without you."
"Yes, you can. Don't let my sacrifice be in vain. Go. Live. Live for me."
With one last look at Antol, Vala turned and entered the event horizon. She would live. For him and herself.
The End