I have come to the conclusion that I am just not made to write action/adventure. My brain simply does not work that way so I've decided this is going to be mostly a character piece with some action.

A/N: I watched the first two episodes of SGU when it first aired then got fed up and tried to forget it ever existed. Obviously I know the Alliance was a part of the show but I have no idea who was running what so I've gone and created my own chain of command. I like my state of denial over the whole SGU debacle and refuse to even research it.

Chapter 9

As SG-1 walked into the tavern on Lartis, Vala suspiciously scanned the area. She spotted SGs 3 and 9 scattered about and nearly smirked. The pub was much the same as many others on countless planets. Loud, dingy, crowded. They were sights and sounds Vala remembered from her childhood when she travelled with her father. That thought made her stomach clench as she realised these things may also be familiar to her sisters. It made her more determined than ever to find out what she could in order to protect them. Flanked by the rest of SG-1, Vala took a seat at the table occupied by her former associate.

"All right, Caius, I'm here. Tell me what you know."

"What? No time to reminisce about the good old days?"

"You mean like the time you knocked me out with fetten gas then took off with my cargo ship full of naquadah?"

"It was business."

"Exactly, so let's keep this business, too. Tell me what you know."

"Fine." Caius huffed and sat back, crossing his arms over his protruding stomach. "I don't know if you've heard, but our old friend, Potho, is running this sector for the Alliance."

"Potho?" Cam asked.

"He's an old associate of mine." Vala hedged.

"Associate?" Caius snorted. "You were once married to the man."

All four sets of eyes landed on her as the team took in this new development.

"Married?" Sam asked.

"Briefly." Vala sent Caius a murderous look then continued. "The three of us ran a smuggling operation shortly after I was freed from Qetesh. The personal relationship ended much sooner than the business one."

"And it was a lucrative one, too." Caius sighed nostalgically. "Ever think about coming back into the game? Your skills are sorely missed."

"So you can sell me out to Ba'al again? I don't think so. Let's just move on with the business at hand, shall we? What does Potho have to do with my father?"

"Apparently Jacek was working for him."

"Doing what, exactly?" Daniel asked.

"Transporting rare items, mostly."

"Smuggling?" Vala asked incredulous. "He's never been a smuggler before. What would make him get into the racket now?"

"Not sure. All I know is that he came to me about a year ago, telling me he had some merchandise to move. He wanted in with the Alliance, so I gave him one."

"You introduced him to Potho? What were you thinking?"

"Hello, money! And, let me tell you, your father was loaded."

"What was he transporting?" Sam asked, trying to deflect Vala's anger while also controlling her own.

"No idea. Whatever it was had Potho salivating, though. Until a couple of weeks ago, that is."

"What happened then?"

"Word is Jacek betrayed the Alliance."

"Betrayed how?"

"Whatever he sold them was enough to send their grid into a mess. I heard their system was hacked."

"By who?" Vala was getting worried now.

"Don't know, but the Alliance believed he was involved. You and I both know what it's like to be on the wrong side of the Alliance."

Vala only nodded. Yeah, she knew what that was like and exactly how far they were willing to go to protect themselves.

()()()()

"So, this man Potho had Jacek killed?" Landry asked as he took in the faces of SG-1.

"It would appear so, General Landry." Teal'c said with a slight nod.

"It wouldn't surprise me in the least." Vala put in. "Potho is a ruthless man, personally and professionally. If he thought Jacek betrayed him, nothing would stop him from seeking revenge."

"So this ex of your is going to be a problem." Cam said on a sigh.

"More than you know. He won't like the fact that we're looking into this, especially given the headaches we've already caused the Alliance. I think we need to find out just who Jacek was working with."

"I agree. I'm going to put SG-3 on this. Given the history here, I think you all should keep a low profile. At least for the time being." Landry wanted to roll his eyes at the groans of displeasure that emanated from his top team. Sometimes they really did remind him of kindergärtners. "You will be kept apprised of the situation." Landry waited for the arguments to ensue, but to his surprise, it was Vala who spoke up first.

"I have to agree with the general." she said with a smile in his direction before turning to her team. "If Potho even thinks I'm involved, he'll stop at nothing to get his hands on me. I will not put any of you or my sisters at risk."

"You're sure, Princess?" Cam asked with a frown. "We do know how to be clandestine, you know."

Someone snorted in disbelief but Landry didn't know who and he tried not to smirk.

"Trust me, Cameron. I wasn't joking when I said Potho is ruthless. This is the best way to handle him. Besides, I don't think the people who know anything will talk to us."

"All right, I'll get SG-3 on it right away. Dismissed." Landry stood and watched as the team started to file out. "Vala, I'd like to talk to you for a moment."

Hank headed for his office without waiting but he didn't miss the comforting way Dr. Jackson squeezed her hand before leaving. Civilians, he thought as he took a seat behind his desk.

"Is something wrong, General?" Vala asked, sitting in the chair opposite him.

"No, actually I just got word from General O'Neill that the IOA has signed off on your living off-base. Congratulations."

"Really, so soon? From what I know of them, don't they usually take months to do anything?"

"Usually." Hank said with a laugh. "But Jack has been...working on them. All that's left is for you to find an apartment. I'm sure your friends will be more than happy to help."

"Thank you, sir." Vala said as she stood. She looked nervous but Hank didn't know why. She'd been wanting to live off-base for a while now.

"Is everything all right, Vala?"

"Huh? Oh, yes. It's just...I didn't realise it would happen so quickly. I-I have to tell the girls." With that, she rushed out of his office, leaving behind a very confused general.