SG1 HEADQUARTERS
SG1 was still on high alert. The Ori ship had been in orbit for hours. There had been no attack and earth and SG1 were still formulating a plan in case Adria decided to break a rather shaky truce. Everyone on base was ordered to prepare themselves with attack gear and weapons just in case. Gen Landry had dismissed his meeting with Col Mitchell and SG1 and had Col Mitchell stay in contact with base intelligence to check back with him if there were any changes to the orbiting Ori ship.
Daniel was convinced by Teal'c that Vala was on a suicide mission. He had tried to convince Col Mitchell that they must try to get to Vala and save her. Gen Landry was still not entirely convinced that a retrieval team was needed. Daniel had been wrong about Vala's motives for leading Adria to SG1 headquarters, it had been tearing him apart inside that Vala was alone with Adria and would die not knowing that he did indeed care for her deeply. When she was in the infirmary with severe wounds, he had made up his mind he would tell her how he felt. When Adria showed up and left with Vala, he was positive Vala had betrayed them, but especially him. He had been disappointed so much in his life and to him, this was one more lie. He had laid his reputation on the line to convince Col Mitchell and Gen Landry that Vala would prove to be a needed asset to the team. Vala did not disappoint him, and Daniel was quite proud of her even though she was annoying at times. Her quirky chatter and child like curiosity brought life to his rather ordinary day and she was a breath of fresh to everyone around base.
Daniel had returned to the Stargate booth with Sam and Teal'c to see if there was any word on the Ori ship. He was frustrated that he couldn't do anything to help Vala.
Teal'c laid his hand on his long time friend's shoulders.
"Daniel, Vala Mol Doran would be very disappointed if she knew that any harm would come to you or earth. She would not have wanted us to see her in pain, if she could not help us."
As always Teal'c was the calm for his friend.
"I know Teal'c but she could have said something to us about her plans to stop Adria, we could have helped her."
"No Daniel she would not, Adria is Vala's child and she would be asking you to help destroy her. Did you not see how painful this would have been to ask you of this?"
Sam was listening while Teal'c was comforting Daniel. She too was sad that Vala was all alone and now believed that Vala had acted to protect all of them including earth.
Teal'c continued speaking with Daniel.
"Vala Mol Doran will be remembered for her unselfish act. I will personally see to that; Col Mitchell will not refuse me this."
Daniel was becoming angry at Teal'c. "She's not dead yet Teal'c, we don't even know if her plan is going to work, I refuse to accept her as being dead yet, for all we know Adria could have found out her plan, you know how powerful she is. She could being dying and believe that no one cares about her Teal'c. The last thing she saw on everyone's face was anger and betrayal. God; I screwed up again Teal'c, I love her, I always lose the one's I love. I can't accept this, we're sitting here doing nothing for God's sake.
Sam came over and hugged Daniel, she could see the pain Daniel was putting himself through and she was beginning to feel she too was helpless.
Teal'c put his hands on Sam shoulder also.
"Daniel, my friend, Vala Mol Doran had made her choice to protect us, we dishonor her to think she would fail. What ever the outcome that befalls Vala Mol Doran, we fight in her honor and her sacrifice. She is still apart of SG1 and we must choose to respect her wish to do this alone.
"I know, but………
Daniel was about to comment, when all red lights came on thru the base. Red alert, Red alert, all teams on Red alert, this is a Defcom 5 alert, this is a Defcom 5 alert.
Everyone in the control booth started looking at the monitors. Col Mitchell came running in, Gen Landry was behind him. Col Mitchell had just left Intel when the base was alerted to the Ori ship moving towards earth.
Walter came running in and manned the Stargate consol.
"Walter, what's going on? Gen Landry ordered.
"Incoming unauthorized wormhole sir, coming from the Stargate."
Col Mitchell announced over the comms, "All SG teams full alert, SG2, 3 and 4 to the Stargate room possible hostiles, stand alert weapons ready. Under my orders fire only under my strict orders, repeat, fire only under my orders."
Daniel, Sam, Teal'c and Col Mitchell had their weapons cocked and ready.
"Col Mitchell, Sam asked, what's going on?"
We received intelligence that the Ori ship was falling to earth; the Prometheus was nearby in orbit to keep watch if the Ori ship moved to attack. They reported that there were escape pods leaving the ship after some kind of explosion on the ship. Then the ship started doing a nose dive towards earth.
"Vala could have been on one of those escape pods" Daniel commented.
"Right now Jackson; we have other priorities to concern ourselves with. If Vala failed, Adria may be coming through that wormhole as retaliation."
Walter interrupted, "Col Mitchell sir, incoming transmission from the Prometheus."
"Put it on speaker Walter." Gen Landry ordered.
"Prometheus reporting; go ahead Captain, ordered Gen Landry, "Sir the Ori ship before entering the earths atmosphere, exploded. Some of the escape pods that were within its range also were destroyed; the few that escaped landed on earth and were intercepted by our ground forces and contained.
Col Mitchell looked at Daniel and interrupted the Captain. "Captain, we think maybe Vala Mol Doran may have escaped onto one of those pods, any sign of her?'
"Hold on sir, I'll check with ground forces."
Daniel and the SG1 were hopeful that Vala may have escaped before the Ori ship was destroyed. The tension was increasing in the booth waiting for an answer.
"Col Mitchell? Go Ahead Captain; I'm sorry to say sir that, Vala Mol Doran was not among the survivors in the pods, is there anything else I can do?"
Gen Landry answered. "No Captain, thank you for your assistance, keep us posted on any other survivors, headquarters out."
"Yes sir, Prometheus out."
Daniel was devastated; he had hoped that Vala escaped that she would be alright. The team was stunned, suddenly Walter announced.
"Incoming wormhole, sirs, standby." Col Mitchell announced, SG teams stand ready."
The Stargate was dialing in, SG1 teams were standing ready, a flying body came thru the wormhole and landed with a thud on the ramp. The Stargate closed without any other entries. The teams were pointing their weapons down at the still form. For a few moments everyone held their breaths, after a few minutes passed Col Mitchell ordered "SG1 with me."
Teal'c, Sam and Daniel went down to the ramp to see who had came thru the wormhole, whoever it was, was bloody, no one could see the face until Col Mitchell knelt down and turned the body over.
"Oh my God, Vala? Daniel immediately pushed thru the teams after hearing Col Mitchell say Vala's name.
"Vala, Oh My God, Vala." Daniel tried to clean Vala's bloody face off; she had not stirred, he was scared.
"Med team to the Stargate immediately" Sam shouted. Col Mitchell ordered everyone stand down. There was grumbling in the background from some of the personnel. Teal'c immediately turned around and gave everyone a look that could kill. No one dared questioned his authority.
"I said stand down, that's an order. Back to your post. Gen Landry interceded, "All personnel, stand down to Defcom 2, priority alert, Defcom 2 priority alert.
The med team came in led by Dr. Lam. Daniel gently lifted Vala unto the stretcher and Dr. Lam and the med team sped down to the infirmary. Daniel was close behind, followed by Col Mitchell, Sam and Teal'c. Vala looked in bad shape, they all had hoped to see Vala alive but not like this.
Daniels heart was beating faster, he couldn't lose Vala, his heart sunk when he heard the Prometheus report that the Ori ship had exploded and that Vala was not on the surviving escape pods.
Dr. Lam had rushed Vala immediately into surgery. She believed she had lost too much blood and time was of the essence. All SG1 team could do was wait for Dr. Lam to come out of surgery with Vala.
Col Mitchell, Sam, Teal'c and Daniel were sitting in the waiting room. Gen Landry approached Col Mitchell.
"How's Vala?
"We don't know sir; Dr. Lam rushed her into surgery and were waiting."
"Well, I wanted to inform all of you personally, the President wanted to congratulate everyone on a job well done. I had received further transmission from the ground forces that the survivors from the pods said the Priors ceased to exist for some reason and cried out for their Orici before the Ori ship crashed. I believe that Vala's daughter may be dead. We can't confirm this until we speak to Vala. The Prometheus also reported that there were no other Ori ships in earths orbit. At this time, I informed the President that there seems to be no direct threat to earth from the Ori, but that I would keep him posted. I want all of you to know that Vala really came through this time and thou a civilian, she deserves the highest commendation for saving all of us, and especially earth. I know this can't go public but, I just wanted your team to know that. I haven't done this in a long time but, my……my prayers are with Vala, she's one of us, she's family. Keep me posted Col Mitchell as soon as you hear something."
"'Thank you sir, I know we all will be saying a prayer for Vala."
Daniel was strangely quite. He was holding his head in his hands. Sam came over and put her arms around him. Col Mitchell had sat down on the other side of Daniel and softly began to speak.
"Daniel, I know this is hard on you most of all. The Gen is right about one thing, Vala is family and we don't give up on family, were in this together, you're not alone and neither is Vala."
Teal'c stood in the corner listening to everything that was said, he watched his friends voice their concerns for Vala and he also was meditating about Vala's recovery. Teal'c decided there was something he had to attend to concerning Vala Mol Doran. Sam, Daniel and Col Mitchell did not see him leave. Teal'c had one thought; Vala Mol Doran would not be labeled a traitor.