Thanks for reading! And as always, my eternal gratitude and to my wonderful (and eternally patient) beta, Anoveldebut.

Chapter X

Adria was standing in the cool waters of Celestis. Calm waves lapped at her ankles, tickling her nerves. It was nighttime, and the unpolluted sky was slight with the white specks of thousands of stars. "Orici," a deep, directionless voice said. "Your work has pleased us greatly."

"Who are you?" the Orici demanded. The stars above her began to shimmer until they were cascading in a giant waterfall of light onto Celestis. Wispy ribbons of pearl coalesced into human form, a veritable army materializing in front of her, though these were no warriors.

"We're your parents, Orici," the man directly in front of her said. "You have done well, but there is still far to go. We're here to make that easier on you." He gestured to his side, and Adria looked to her right. Vala was there, done up in glowing chains and bleeding from a large cut on her forehead. "We're your real parents, Orici," he assured her. "She is no longer necessary, like that preposterous name she gave you. We will rid you of her, and then we may better continue your crusade. Together." His dark eyes glittered.

"Is that really necessary?" Adria asked, shifting to one side.

"It is." A giant gash was rent in the earth and Vala fell through the red gaping hole, like the mouth of some colossal creature swallowing her up. Adria ran to the edge just in time to see her mother's body sinking into the lava below.

"Don't tell us you feel for her," the man approached her from behind. "She was an incubation vessel, nothing more. Now, onto your crusade..."

The Orici woke with a start. She threw the covers off herself reflexively, leaping to her feet and beginning to pace the room as she waited for her rapid heartbeat to calm. The dreams, she had forgotten about the dreams to which humans were susceptible. It was nonsensical, of course, as most human things were—the Ori were gone, Vala most certainly had not fallen into a pool of molten rock. But it had felt real, and Adria did not like being tricked, least of all by her own mind. She must exert an iron will to prevent occurrences such as this in the future, because she was not human. Being housed in the body of one was no excuse for being made a fool of as she slept, no excuse for not being in complete control over her own faculties.

Adria resolved to do better.

Feríca entered a few moments later, saying, "Orici, are you all right?" The girl's hair was mussed from sleep, but she bowed upon the sight of Adria.

"I'm fine," she replied.

"Is there anything you require?"

"Not at the moment," Adria said. Feríca bowed again and retreated back into her quarters, separated from Adria's by only a crimson velvet curtain. She was at the Orici's beck and call, but more often she didn't even have to say a word before the girl appeared—Adria could rule Earth in a matter of minutes if her troops maintained that kind of dedication.

Adria dressed quickly and headed out into the main hallway of the ship, her mind still disquieted. The corridor was dim, quiet, and half-lit, and her soft footsteps pounded like drums against the stone floor. Everyone was in bed except for the few guards that lined the walls, one on each side every hundred feet in full armor, staffs held straight and ready. They weren't really necessary, Adria supposed as she walked by the first one—it was impossible to sneak aboard her ship as they traveled through space faster than the speed of light—but appearances mattered as well. She stopped suddenly, eyes narrowing, and took a step backward to stand in front of one of the guards. Through the slits of his helmet, she could see his eyes were closed. The Orici considered for a moment, then cast out her hand toward the bottom of his cloak, lighting a small fire at the hem. The flames began to lick hungrily further up the fabric, heat pervading the chilly air of the ship.

Adria walked on.

Vesuvius stood alone on the deck of the ship, staring outward into the stars. "Orici," he said, "you are human once again."

"Housed in a human body," Adria corrected. "Do not make that mistake again, Prior."

He inclined his head. "What can I do for you, Orici?"

"Did you track down Ba'al's ship after the people of Earth abducted me?"

"We did. Your warriors searched the mothership for you, but they found only an empty cage and the System Lord's dead body."

"Did you recover my pendant?" Adria demanded. "I wish to wear it again, now that I am reliant on flesh and blood once more."

"Yes." Out of the folds of his robe he produced the shard of Celestis, its leather cord hanging limply from his pasty hand. Adria took it and lifted it so that the pendant dangled before her eyes. The stone seemed paler than usual, but perhaps that was due to prolonged disconnection with the Orici, its power source. She slipped it over her head, settling it in the center of her chest so that the cool gem was touching her skin.

It was where it belonged, and she could finally put everything that happened with Ba'al behind her.

"Hallowed are the Ori," Prior Avernix greeted her as she stepped off the platform.

"Hallowed are the Ori," Adria repeated back. "Prior Vesuvius put you in charge of the prisoners?"

"Yes, Orici. Does that displease you?"

"Not at all," Adria replied. "You are one of the most talented, and these will be the most obstinate targets you are ever likely to have. Back on Celestis, the one in charge of the cells there proved to be woefully incompetent."

"Already I have seen that," Avernix gave a slight incline of his head. "The Jaffa is hardest of all to affect because of his sleep-state, but beyond him the one who calls himself Daniel Jackson."

"Keep trying," Adria instructed. "Daniel was a Prior himself once, so he may retain some residual barrier to the probing."

"It is not that, Orici," Avernix said. "He was once ascended."

"Is that so?" Adria asked testily, absorbing this new piece of information. Daniel, an Alteran? No wonder he was so attached.

"Indeed. I believe his story is like that of Rasib, as it is written in the Book of Origin. He lived in the light of Origin for most of his life, but when it came time for him to ascend, he became greedy and desired more than his share of the eternal bliss. The rest of the Ori discovered this and banished him from the afterlife to live among doomed heathens such as himself."

"That is none of your concern now," Adria replied brusquely. "Leave us. I wish to speak to Daniel alone. Return only when it is time for their next dose."

He dipped his head respectfully. "Orici."

Once the Prior had disappeared in a flash of white light, Adria continued on her way. She passed Teal'c—she would have to do something about his unacceptable state of kelno'reem soon—and then Carter, who appeared to be asleep, albeit fitfully.

"You're human," Daniel said as soon as she stopped in front of his cell. Grime had begun to coat his hands and clothing and his hair was somewhat slicked with sweat. His blue eyes, however, were as bright and piercing as ever. He looked down, as if speaking to himself, his voice dropping to a whisper, "You're human."

Why did everyone keep commenting on that? Adria thought exasperatedly. It was growing tiresome, their constant fixation on her state of being. The Orici did what she wanted when she wanted and by whichever means she wished. It was not for a Prior or Daniel Jackson to question.

Daniel refocused on her again. "Why?"

"I did not come to talk about me," Adria snapped. "Obviously the Priors have not been doing their job well enough, for you to maintain so much insolence. I shall inform them to heighten the intensity of your agony."

"Won't work," Daniel said, mouth twisting. He tapped the floor with his thumb. "I figured out a trick. Know what it is?" He paused. "Trick is to concentrate on one truth in your mind, keep repeating it over and over, over and over until you feel like you're going crazy. But when that...that noise stops, you're still you."

"You may maintain that you are unaffected by the Priors as much as you desire, Daniel," Adria told him. "I am unconcerned with your bluff. What I want from you is information."

"You want to know what truth I focused on?" Daniel asked, ignoring her. "This: we will defeat you."

Adria's eyes narrowed, anger igniting her veins. Her posture stiffened. "Colonel Carter is a mere twenty paces from here. Perhaps you would like me to pay her a visit instead? I'll still get my information, but with her I won't be asking as nicely as I am you..."

Daniel sighed. "If you could get information out of Carter, you would have already. She has way more knowledge of the defensive capabilities of Earth, as I'm sure you want to know, than I do. But she's military, and she would never betray Earth."

"Or perhaps I should offer a shot of tretonin for Teal'c? I am told that the Jaffa does not look well."

"He's faking," Daniel said matter-of-factly with a hint of contempt. "As I was saying...you're human. Back at the city, you were ascended, walking around as a column of flames. So either that was a facade, or—"

"And what of Vala?"

"You wouldn't hurt her. She's your mother."

"She also tried to kill me aboard the Odyssey. There is no more relation between us than there is between you and I." She had hit a weak spot, and Adria dug in with satisfaction. "I will get the information I seek, whether you cooperate or not. Your actions from here on out can only cause her pain, Daniel. Do you want to hear her screams echoing off these walls? Do you want to hear them and know that she is all alone in a hard, dark cell experiencing agony the likes of which she has never known? Do you want to hear her pain and know that you are the cause, that you could have saved her from it but refused to do so out of spite?"

"Fine," the man ground out. "But it'll be a trade. You answer one of my questions, I'll answer one of yours."

"You are in no position to bargain. Tell me of the ruler of Earth."

"There is no ruler," Daniel said, eyebrows furrowing.

"Anarchy is highly inefficient," Adria scoffed, "but it shall only make Earth more susceptible to Origin.

"There are almost two hundred different countries on Earth, each with their own form of government."

"How chaotic. Organized anarchy, then."

"Diverse," Daniel countered. "And that's why your crusade will fail—people on Earth value their individuality too much."

"But I suppose most would value their lives more?" Adria smirked. "You seem to think I plan on giving them a choice, Daniel. Obviously you don't know me very well."

"No, and I don't want to," he muttered darkly.

"Regardless, you and I will be spending much time together over the next few days," Adria promised.

"Then can you release my hands?" Daniel asked, lifting them to the limits of the shackles. Her lips curved upwards in response and she gave him an amused look. "Oh, come on, what am I going to do, attack you? I'm no more of a threat to you with your Celestis pendant than I was when you were ascended and throwing me across the room."

"I like you as you are," Adria replied. "Now, who will attempt to greet me when I arrive?"

"If I were at the con, you'd be greeted by our entire nuclear arsenal as soon as you entered the solar system, but..."

"Nuclear," Adria repeated, eyes narrowing. "These are your most advanced explosives. They cause massive radiation exposure, yes?"

"Speaking of radiation," Daniel interrupted, "how exactly are you human again? Did you actually retake human form, or did you somehow find a way to house an ascended consciousness in a human body and bypass the radiation issues?"

She smacked him across the face, producing a highly satisfying sound and tingling sensation in her hand. He blinked, cheek rapidly blossoming pink and a droplet of blood pooled at the corner of his mouth. "What did I say about your tiresome questions, Daniel?"

"I think you did it because the Ancients wouldn't allow you back in the Milky Way as an ascended." Daniel spat a globule of blood out onto the stone floor. "That means you're not yet powerful enough to defeat them. And based on the progress of your crusade when the Odyssey left for Dakara, I'm betting there isn't much left in the galaxy to convert. You can't risk pissing them off until you've got enough energy to take them on, and that means converting Earth. You can't threaten the lives of the people of Earth, you need them." Adria stared at him. He was much more intelligent than she'd previously given him credit for, to come to as close a conclusion as that.

"So what if what you say is true?" The Orici smiled. "I have no need to keep secrets from you, Daniel Jackson. This changes your position nothing. You are still aboard my ship, you are still my prisoner, and we are still headed to Earth."

"It means I have a goal while I'm sitting here," Daniel smiled, desperately triumphant. "I know they can hear me—I'm sure she, at least, is listening. All I have to do is convince Morgan and the rest of the Ancients to stop you before it's too late, before you convert so many that they'll lose the war."

"They'll never listen," Adria promised. "They're blinded by their own self-righteousness. They won't break their own laws for fear of becoming like the Ori themselves."

"We'll see," Daniel challenged.

"You are a fool," Adria spat. "Guards!" Two of her warriors came running. "Unchain Vala and take her to the rings."

"What are you doing?" Delicious fear had permeated Daniel's voice and eyes once again. "What are you going to do to her?"

"I informed you of the consequences of your insolence when we began, Daniel," Adria replied loftily. "You chose not to listen. You chose to defy me." The Orici stalked from his cell, motioning for the guards, who had just finished undoing the chains, to come her way. Vala's hair was disheveled and lank and her mother shuffled forward with dragging feet, whether as a form of feeble resistance or because of the scrunched position she had been forced into for so long. Vala's eyes were slightly bloodshot—clearly the Prior's method of torture had had much more of an affect on her than it had Daniel.

Adria caused them to slow in front of Daniel's cell, ostensibly because of the narrow space with the Orici partially blocking their way, but serving to parade her by him as well, to have Daniel take in her frail form. Just as she was about to follow, Daniel growled, "Wait." She paused, smirking to herself in the semi-darkness before turning back around to face him and receive his inevitable repentance. Her mind subconsciously set up a barrier in front of the guards to halt them where they stood, just beyond the visibility of her prisoner. "You won't torture her," Daniel said. "If you were going to do that, you would be doing that down here, where I could...how did you put it? Hear her screams." His face hardened. "You just want me to think you are."

Adria stared at him coldly for a moment, then snapped her hand out so quickly that a bone in her wrist gave a small pop. A metal rod full of light blue liquid from the opposite wall of the punishment block zoomed into her hand and she twirled it once, quickly, by her side before grasping it tightly. Power flowed from her into the rod and it began to glow, first a dull cherry red and then white hot. She lunged forward, grabbing her mother's arm to pull her partially into view and pressing the metal to her mother's abdomen.

Vala's screams echoed across the punishment block. There was a momentary twinge of guilt in Adria's gut, but it was just that—momentary. No longer would no one take her seriously, no longer would anyone question her orders or fall asleep on watch. They would see how dedicated she was. Adria was willing to do anything to further her cause, and they all would know it.

She retracted her arm after a few seconds, leaving only the stench of singed fabric and sizzled flesh lingering in the air. The heat slowly died from the rod in her hand.

Adria forced herself to look at Vala expressionlessly as her mother doubled over and fell to one knee, breaths coming in gasps. She waved for the guards to continue taking her away before turning back to Daniel's stricken face. "You underestimated me again," Adria stated calmly. By force of will she kept her voice icy and fluid. "I do intend to torture Vala, but I do not intend to kill her for a long while yet. On the above deck is a place useful for prolonging pain without fear of accidentally going too far and killing our prisoners." Her lips twisted into some perverted form of a smile. "But I do hope you enjoyed your demonstration. That will leave a nasty scar for her to remember you by."

Daniel said nothing, only glared at her.

Adria left, carelessly casting the metal rod out behind her. She had no more need of it. The Orici caught up with her guards just as they reached the ring platform, and she commanded them all into the circle before activating them with her mind. The two guards, who were now supporting Vala more than dragging her, appeared surprised as they suddenly stepped into the opulence of Adria's personal chambers. "Put her there," Adria ordered, pointing to the bedspread. "Leave us." The warriors hurried to comply, leaving Adria and Vala alone. Feríca arrived with a sweep of the curtain, taking in the sight of the bedraggled, wounded Mother of the Orici uncertainly. "Run a bath," Adria told her without turning around. "Then inform the nearest soldiers that I shall be needing another bed erected in here, over there." She indicated the mostly-empty room branching off of hers with a wave of her hand. The girl hurriedly did as ordered.

"I'm sorry it had to come to that, Mother," Adria said as soon as they were alone. "Daniel forced my hand."

"Yeah, right," Vala bit out. Her hands found their way to her stomach and she pressed on either side of the seared flesh.

"Here, let me," Adria said, stepping forward, but her mother pushed her away.

"No! No, you don't get to do that, Adria, inflict pain and then heal it and pretend everything's okay. Because it's not!"

"Mother, you're being hysterical," she admonished. "Really, let me. It's only a flesh wound, easily healed. It'll take practically no energy at all—"

"Adria! I said no," Vala said sharply, her arms thrown up as if to protect herself.

"Don't be silly, Mother." Adria's eyes were already closed as she concentrated, sending a ribbon of energy towards Vala's wound. It closed up over itself and she opened her eyes with a satisfied smile. Vala glowered at her. "There," Adria smiled. "It's just like when I was born. I healed you then too."

"Except back then I didn't know how much of a power-hungry egomaniac you were going to grow up to be," Vala muttered.

"Come, the bathwater is most likely ready," Adria said. "You can get the grime off you. It'll feel good." She snaked a tendril of power around the small metal chain linking the cuffs of Vala's hand, applying a slight forward pressure as an incentive to follow her into the washroom.

Her mother stared at the tub with distaste. She tested the water with an outstretched finger. "It's cold."

Adria laughed lightly. "On Earth, do they bathe in hot water?"

"Well, yes."

"They certainly did not do that on Meridian. Have you forgotten your roots?" Adria asked, a knowing smile all over her face. "I would like to hear more of Meridian, Mother. I would like to know where you came from."

"Don't even try, Adria," Vala snapped. "You don't care where I came from, you just want to get closer to me so that I'll join your misguided crusade. You think there's still a chance after everything you've done to me."

"You're not yourself right now," Adria said, maintaining the pleasant curvature of her lips with some difficulty. "We'll speak again when you're feeling better, after you're clean." She cast a hand over the tub, heating the water until steam began to rise from it in wisps. "I'm afraid the remains of your SG-1 clothes were ruined by the rod, but I'll have Feríca find you something to wear—something much more fitting now that you're on the main levels of the ship. I'll await your company." Adria left the washroom, shutting and locking the door behind her.

Feríca bowed upon seeing her. "The warriors are coming with the bed now, Orici. Shall I have it done up in the same way as yours?"

"Yes. You will serve her now, as well—except per my explicit instructions, you will do as she says. You are not to release her bindings, or allow her to help or contact anyone else aboard this ship, especially the prisoners, but food, water—attend to her basic needs as you would me. Find some of her old clothing from when she was last on board and have it laid out for her. Don't unlock the bathroom until I return. I have some other business to attend to in the meantime."

"Yes, Orici."