Chapter One

The four remaining members of SG1 strode confidently through the gate, hardly worried about their present mission. Having defeated the Ori and taken out what they hoped to be the last Ba'al, the biggest thorn in their side was the Lucian Alliance. They were currently investigating PY1-023, a planet that had apparently been enslaved by the Lucian Alliance as part of their interplanetary kassa running scene.

"Well, guys, looks like we follow the yellow brick road," Lieutenant Colonel Cameron Mitchell gestured to the yellow clay path before them.

Vala Mal Doran cleared her throat noticeably, her arms crossed over her chest. "Just because Sam is off having fun on her ship and I am now even more outnumbered, genderly speaking, does not mean you can refer to me as a 'guy', Cam."

Teal'c tried to hide a smile. "I believe he meant no offense, Vala Mal Doran. In my experience, such terms do not refer to the genders of the group that is being referred to."

She uncrossed her arms slowly. "Oh. Well then. Proceed!"

Daniel Jackson merely rolled his eyes as they continued along the path before them. Vala had become increasingly sensitive to the idea of being the only woman on the team now that Lieutenant Colonel Samantha Carter had been chosen to take command of Earth's newest ship, the George Hammond. He suspected it had more to do with her missing her friend than feeling like she was outnumbered or subject to unfair treatment. He had learned over the past couple of years working with Vala that she rarely made her actual feelings known. It was the subtle signs like this that you had to search out in order to have even the slightest inclination as to what she was thinking or feeling. His brows pulled down to the rim of his wire framed glasses as he glanced at the subject of his inner musings. There was a clear frown upon her face as she looked around, more than a subtle sign that something was wrong.

"Are you okay?" He asked as he softly nudged her with his shoulder.

The frown disappeared from her face almost completely, though it never left her gray eyes. She threw a glance his way, but continued to scan the area around them as if she were looking for something. "I'm fine, Daniel. Why do you keep asking me that?"

"You just looked upset, is all." He shrugged, trying to be nonchalant since she had clearly noticed his concern for her as of late. She had been much quieter than, well, than he had ever seen her since they had met, not counting the time he zatted her into unconsciousness. He had noticed the more somber side of Vala after their final confrontation with Adria, but she had seemed more her usual self lately. That is, until Sam had announced her reassignment. He knew how hard it was to lose the people you cared about most, he just wasn't exactly sure how to express that to Vala, or how to convince her that everything would be okay.

"Well, darling, that could be because you keep watching me, waiting to launch into that heart to heart that you have most assuredly been planning." Her response came with an eye roll, but her sharp eyes quickly reverted back to scanning the perimeter around them as if they were going to be attacked at any moment.

His eyes narrowed at her counter. "What makes you think I've been planning a heart to heart?"

She blew out a breath, still searching the vicinity. "Oh, all the pitiful looks you keep giving me. The not so subtle concern you've been showing. I don't know how many different ways I can tell you that I'm fine, Daniel, but I really wish you would leave well enough alone. Clearly, there's nothing I want to discuss."

He frowned, not used to her being so cranky. "My apologies," he sighed, "I didn't mean to intrude."

"Apology accepted," she mumbled, not noticing his sarcasm. She stopped in her tracks, placing her hands on her hips with a huff. Something about this place just seemed so familiar, like she had been here before long ago, but she couldn't place it. The scenery must have changed somehow, masking it from her memories.

"What's wrong, cupcake?" Colonel Mitchell asked when he noticed that she had stopped. He was ready to blow it off as some sort of reaction to whatever she and Jackson were currently arguing about, but the look on her face told him something else was going on.

"What's the term the Tau'ri use when something seems strikingly familiar, almost like you've been there or done it before, but can't place it?" She asked, still distracted by their surroundings.

"Déjà vous?" He asked.

"Yes, that's it. Well I believe I am having a case of it right now."

"You've been here before?" Daniel asked, somewhat bothered by her willingness to answer Mitchell but not him. "Should we be worried?"

"Well that would be the problem, as I've just pointed out, Daniel. I can't seem to place this...place. It all seems so familiar, but I can't seem to pinpoint where it is or how I've been here before."

"And under what circumstances," Mitchell added as he let out a groan. This was supposed to be just a routine mission, but if Vala had a bad history with these people, that could complicate things immensely.

"Perhaps it is only a memory from your time as host to the goa'uld Qetesh," Teal'c offered.

"Maybe we should take you back to the gate," Daniel suggested.

Vala swung around to face him, furious at the suggestion. "What?! I am not going back to the gate just to suit your hero complex, Daniel. I am perfectly capable of continuing on this mission."

"Vala," Daniel began to remonstrate in exasperation, "this isn't about you personally or what you're capable of. If these people have a history with Qetesh, it's probably not a good one. And probably not a good thing for them to see you."

"Alright you two," Mitchell interjected as Vala's mouth opened to argue. "Let's just sit here and think about this for a minute, okay? I think Jackson may have a point."

Teal'c took a step forward as Vala's eyes narrowed into a glower directed at Daniel. "Is that not a risk each time Vala Mal Doran accompanies us through the gate, just as it was a risk when I, known as First Prime to Apophis, accompanied SG1 on missions upon our first meeting?"

Both Daniel and Cam stared at Teal'c, neither able to argue his point. "Alright," Cam consented, "after you then."

Vala beamed triumphantly, shooting a grin in Teal'c's direction before marching happily ahead. Daniel made to follow her, but Teal'c's large hand stopped him.

"You must give her time, Daniel Jackson."

Daniel stared at the Jaffa in front of him in question. "Teal'c, she's obviously in pain. We can't just sit back and let her deal with it on her own. She needs to talk about it."

"What makes you think she has not?"

Daniel's mouth hung open at the implication, unable to resist feeling a bit hurt. "She's talked to you, you mean."

Teal'c merely inclined his head, the way he usually did when he had nothing more to say on a particular subject, then resumed their walk down the path.

Daniel followed, trying to hide his sulking as he thought things over. He had assumed that since Vala hadn't turned to him that she was doing what she usually did—bottling everything up. He hadn't considered the possibility that she might feel more comfortable talking to someone else, and couldn't understand why she would.

His thoughts were abruptly halted as he nearly slammed into her back as she had once again stopped in her tracks, placing his hands on her shoulders to keep from running into her. "Vala! What are you doing?"

He paused, waiting for her to snipe back that he should watch where he was going, as he clearly hadn't been, or something similar, but she stood rooted in the same spot, her focus on something ahead of them. He followed her gaze to see a statue of a woman in long flowing robes that seemed to be gesturing down the path. It looked to be almost a sort of welcome to any travelers to keep going. He took a step to the side and forward so that he was standing beside her, observing the statue. His mind had started to wander as he examined it, trying to place what era and area it might have come from.

"What's wrong?" Cam asked Vala for the second time. "You look like you're gonna puke."

"Um," Vala shook herself, "I'm just not feeling all that well. I think perhaps I should go back to the gate and sit this one out."

Daniel was skeptical, feeling like a bit of a pro when it came to spotting Vala's lies, having been picking them out ever since she first showed up at Stargate Command. "You remember this place, don't you? You know why it's so familiar."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, Daniel." She turned around and started heading back the way they came. "I'm just not feeling well, like I said. I'll see you all later."

Cam tilted his head slightly as he watched Vala walk briskly down the path. He was pretty sure she was going to bust into a full run once she was out of their sight. "Something's up. Jackson, go follow her. We'll stick around and investigate."

Daniel nodded slowly, still concerned for her. If this was a planet Qetesh had ruled over, it must have been bad for Vala to turn tail and run like this. He jogged to catch up with her, calling her name as he did so.

She stopped, shoulders slumping. "Honestly, Daniel, I just don't feel well. I don't want to talk about anything, I just want to go home." She winced slightly at the word.

He noticed her wince, which confused him. "Which is why Mitchell asked me to come with you. To make sure that you get home," he emphasized the word as if to reiterate the point that the SGC was her home now, "and get better."

She lifted a brow and bit her lip coyly. "Going to play nurse, are you?"

He was going to respond, but she was already heading back to the gate. "You're moving awfully fast for someone who doesn't feel good."

"Are you going to carry me? Because the sooner I get off my feet, the better, which is why I am in a hurry."

"Do you need me to carry you?" He asked with doubt.

"Much as a girl loves to get swept off her feet, I'll have to pass."

He grabbed her arm gently, pulling her around to face him. "Vala, what is going on? You are acting really weird and don't tell me it's that you don't feel good. If Mitchell and Teal'c are in danger, we need to know."

"They'll be fine," she muttered, trying to pull away to continue their trek.

"Vala," he warned and pulled her back to him, causing her to stumble into him and catch herself with her hands on his chest. He peered down at her, his penetrating blue eyes full of compassion. "If this is a place Qetesh ruled over, then whatever happened here was not your fault. I've researched her thoroughly, so I doubt anything you tell me that she did while you were her host will surprise me or make me think any differently of you."

She sighed, closing her eyes and leaning her head against his shoulder. "Daniel...." She dragged out his name with a bit of a whine.

"Do we need to go get Mitchell and Teal'c?"

"No," she murmured.

He placed his hand on the back of her head, stroking it gently. He felt her lift her head to where her chin was propped on his shoulder, and then felt her back stiffen. "Vala?"

"Daniel," she whispered softly, "whatever happens, I'm sorry."

Daniel was about to turn around when he heard the familiar sound of a zat blast leaving the gun and then the world went dark.