Act 2

After months on the job and during a routine outing, Daniel saw Vala again for the first time in over a year. It was supposed to be a simple assignment to go in and ask some questions. To see if there was any reason the Council should be concerned about some of the rumors of what was happening on this particular world. Daniel never expected, of all things, to find Vala as the headlining lounge act.

While he was returning from the bathroom at the back of the bar, Daniel was trying to sort out how he felt about seeing her here. When suddenly, a hand reached out and yanked him from the hallway. Behind a curtain in a small, cramped space, Vala stood before him.

"Daniel, listen to me. You have to get out of here. Now."

"Why? What's going on?"

"Please," she begged, clearly agitated.

"The UA Council has been investigating this plant for months," he said. "We know of several individuals who have a lot more money in their pockets than they should."

"Leave it alone."

Daniel started to get angry. "Look, it was your choice to walk out on me. But if there is a real danger here then this isn't the time to play games. Tell me what's going on."

Vala looked toward the curtain, as if she expected someone to come through any second. She dropped her voice to a whisper, "They're running a smuggling operation, not just goods, but people too."

"Slaves?" Daniel was shocked.

"Yes."

"But that's against UA sanctions."

"Of course it is," she said, "but if it makes them lots and lots of money, they're willing to risk it."

"Who are 'they?'"

"I don't know yet."

"So you've been hiding undercover doing some sort of…" Daniel could tell from the look on her face that he was way off.

"No, I am one of their ralls," she said softly. "It's their word for… that."

Daniel's eyes turned dark and angry. "I'm getting you out of here."

"No, Daniel." Vala became even more upset. "You can't do that. If they find out, they'll kill you to keep the Council from knowing what's going on."

"I'm not leaving you here."

"You have to. You have to go back." Again, tears threatened her. "Besides, after everything I put you through, why bother?"

Daniel knew what she was trying to do. But it wasn't going to work. "Listen. I'm going to go for now, but I will be back when there are less people. What time does this place close?"

"Some nights our lovely establishment stays open until dawn," she said sarcastically.

"Vala." It was his warning tone, the only thing that could ever get Vala to do something she didn't want to.

She sighed. "Tonight, a whole regiment of ships is leaving at midnight and I expect the place will thin out then. Most of the men enjoying our hospitality tonight are crew."

"OK. That will be our plan."

"Daniel?"

"Yes?"

She met his eyes. "Why are you doing this? Don't you hate me?"

"Honestly, Vala, I wish I did. It might make my life a whole lot easier."

Daniel had the aid of a small force from the Plaz Danu, the UA peacekeeping ship the Tau'ri were serving aboard. Under the cover of darkness and with silent precision, they entered the back door of the bar and made their way up the stairs to the upper floors. They found Vala alone and ready to go. Just as they reemerged in the alley behind the bar, a group of men with guns appeared.

"She's not yours to take," one of them yelled.

Daniel had his hand around Vala's forearm, the other pointed a Zat at the man. "She's my property. I won her in a card game earlier tonight. I'm just collecting what's mine."

"That's not how it works, Councilor Jackson," a second voice from the dark said.

Bennet Brice had his M9A1 aimed at the mysterious men in the shadows. Brice was the highest-ranking officer of the Plaz Danu but he glanced for a split second toward Daniel. "What do you want me to order my people to do?" he asked.

They were outnumbered and Daniel could only imagine that someone, possibly many, would be hurt or killed if this became a shootout. Plus, Abigail and the rest of the crew of the Plaz Danu knew Daniel, Brice, and his team were here, and what the plan was. If Daniel and the others didn't return to the ship soon, Abigail would know something went wrong and probably mount a rescue operation.

Daniel requested, "Tell them to lower their weapons."

"Councilor?" Brice asked, double-checking.

"Please, Ben, I don't want anyone to get hurt if we can help it."

"Lower your weapons," Brice said and the men and women behind him followed orders.

Immediately, Daniel and the others were surrounded and taken into custody. As they were being lead off with weapons pointed at them, Vala turned sideways to speak.

"Well, Daniel," she said in sticky sweet mockery, "just like old times."

Daniel rolled his eyes.