I know I left you guys with a terrible cliff hanger last time. Sorry about that. The story is going to start getting a lot more interesting from here on out. But last chapter and this one had to kind of set everything up for the rest of the story. Hope you enjoy this one. Please review.
Chapter 10 –
Last time: She had just closed her eyes when unfamiliar sounds startled her awake. Her eyes flew open and she stared around her in confusion. This was not the SGC! She vaguely recognized the style of architecture, but there was no way she could be where she thought she was. The sounds of footsteps caught her attention. Frantically she sought out a hiding place, but couldn't find one. As she watched in horror, two figures came around the corner. Instantly she recognized their armor. Her fears were correct…she was on an Ori ship.
Jackie watched in horror as the two Ori soldiers walked straight towards her. Closing her eyes she breathed a heavy sigh in resignation to her fate. She didn't know how but somehow they had found her. When nothing happened she opened her eyes again. In wide-eyed shock she watched as the two Ori soldiers not only walked past her without saying anything, but walked right through her.
They couldn't see her? Jackie stood there in dumbfounded silence. Reacting as her mother would, Jackie reviewed what facts she knew:
She was on an Ori ship
She was apparently invisible (especially since a couple more people had walked past, and through, her as she stood contemplating).
The last thing she remembered before opening her eyes on the Ori ship was falling asleep in her quarters at the SGC.
That's it! Jackie realized. The reason these people can't see me is because my body is still at the SGC. The link I have with the Ori must have made it possible for my mind to be here.
Not wanting to waste the opportunity presented to her, Jackie began exploring the ship. At the first opportunity to leave the hall she was on, she moved to turn left, but found herself drawn in the opposite direction. Turning around she looked at a solid wall.
Well that's not helpful. Jackie thought as she stepped forward. She reached out to the wall, hoping to ascertain why she was being drawn that way. She jumped back as her hand went through the wall instead of stopping at it. Well why not? She asked herself. After all, this is all in your head. Smiling at her own joke, Jackie followed the sensation that was pulling her toward someone or something, and stepped through the wall.
Ten minutes, and several walls, later Jackie stopped in front of two very ornate doors guarded by a Prior. The feeling that had been drawing her through the Ori ship was originating behind those doors. She glanced briefly at the Prior. If she hadn't known better, she would have sworn he was looking straight at her.
In a sudden, unexpected movement, the Prior turned and moved to enter through the ornate double doors. As the doors opened, Jackie moved to follow the Prior. Stopping in the doorway, the Prior turned, raised his staff and sent a pulse through the halls and directly towards Jackie.
Reacting quickly, Jackie managed to shield herself from the pulse. As it moved passed her, Jackie noticed the look of self-satisfaction on the Prior's face before he turned back around and moved into the room beyond.
Hurrying to follow the Prior, Jackie slipped through the doors mere seconds before they closed. The sight that met her eyes stopped Jackie in her tracks. The Prior stood straight save for his head which was bowed in respect. Before him was the tall, slim figure of a woman, standing with her back to him.
"Orisi, there is a presence on this ship that does not belong." The Prior spoke.
The young woman turned. "Of what do you speak?"
Jackie gasped inaudibly as she realized that the woman before her was Adria.
"A presence came upon this ship some time ago. I have felt it as it drew nearer. I believe that it is, even now, outside your door…"
The Prior's words were cut off by him spontaneously bursting into flames. Or at least, to Adria, it looked spontaneous. Jackie, however, was expecting it, considering that she caused it. Jackie sighed with relief as the flames dissipated. The last thing she needed was for Adria to know who she was and that she was on her ship. She watched as Adria stared at the now empty spot that had been filled with the Prior's presence mere seconds before.
Adria turned back toward the window she had been gazing out when the Prior entered. Knowing she may never have a chance like this again, Jackie began to probe the outer recesses of Adria's mind. When there was no reaction from Adria, Jackie moved in a little further. For several minutes she worked slowly and methodically through Adria's brain.
In the blink of an eye, she was choking and staring into the cold hard eyes of the Orisi, who now stood a mere foot away from her.
"Who are you that you dare enter the mind of the Orisi?" Adria demanded.
Although Adria's hand was not physically at her throat, Jackie could feel it collapsing as if it were. She struggled against the steel grip and managed to gasp out a barely audible grunt.
Λ
Vala moved down the halls of the SGC toward her own quarters. It had been a long couple days with SG5. Ever since Jack had agreed to send Jackie to knock out a few Prior's, Vala's time had been split among different SG teams. If SG1 was going out she would join them, but since she had no scientific experience she felt her talents were better used helping the other SG teams and Jackie kick some Ori ass. Vala's most recent assignment had been with SG5, and boy had it been a long couple of days. Right now she wanted nothing more than a hot bath and a comfortable bed.
Suddenly Vala stopped. She was standing near Jackie's quarters and could have sworn she heard something coming from inside. Moving closer to the door, Vala listened. It sounded like there was a struggle inside the room. But who…? Vala's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a strangled grunt.
Without a second thought, Vala burst through the door and into Jackie's room. Looking around she saw no sign of a second person, then her eyes landed on Jackie. She lay on the bed, tossing and kicking as if in a great struggle. Her hands were up around her throat as if to pry someone's hands from around it.
Vala rushed to her side. She reached out gently laid a hand on Jackie's arm. "Jackie…?"
Λ
"Jackie…?"
Vala? Jackie's mind reacted to the voice that came out of thin air. But that wasn't possible. She knew for a fact that Vala was back at the SGC. There was no way that she could be here.
"Answer me!" Adria demanded again, breaking into Jackie's thoughts. "You dare challenge me? I have the power of the Ori. Hallowed be the Ori."
"Oh…stuff…it." Jackie finally managed to get out.
"Those who do not accept the truth of Origin will be destroyed."
"Not…if…I…can…help…it."
Jackie watched as Adria's golden eyes burned as if with fire. She continued to struggle, but found that her strength was waning.
"Vala…"
"How do you know the name of my mother?"
Λ
With a thud, Vala landed against the wall nearest the bed. Jackie was thrashing so wildly now, that she had pushed Vala away.
"Vala…"
In amazement, Vala stared at the young girl who had just spoken her name.
"What's happening Jackie?"
Λ
"I asked you how you knew the name of my mother."
"I…know…much…"
"You will die, as will all those who deny Origin." Adria hissed.
"Not…if…I…"
"Come on Jackie, it's just a dream." Vala's words interrupted Jackie.
Of course. Jackie thought. With one last burst of energy, Jackie once again entered Adria's mind, only this time into a place that she would not be expecting.
Λ
Vala was at a loss, she didn't know what to do. For a week now, Vala had watched as Jackie kicked the ass of an enemy that, up until she waltzed into their universe from her own, had seemed invincible. And now, here she was about to die of asphyxiation in a room in the SGC. All Vala could do was watch helplessly as she fought her unseen foe.
A sudden inhalation of air and cessation of kicking brought Vala out of her thoughts.
"Jackie? What happened?"
Jackie looked around wildly. Realizing that she was back in her own quarters in the SGC, she allowed herself to relax. Looking up at Vala, she managed a week smile.
"It was the craziest thing…" and Jackie proceeded to fill Vala in on the events that occurred on the Ori ship.
"So how did you get away?" Vala asked in bewilderment.
"When you said 'it's just a dream' you gave me an idea." Jackie explained. "I once again entered her mind, only this time into a section of the brain that she would expect. With just the right stimulation I wanted to make her think that all of this was a dream."
"Were you successful?"
"I'm here aren't I?"
"That doesn't answer my question." Vala chastised.
"It's the only answer I have."
Λ
Adria sat up disoriented. The last thing she remembered was…an intruder. Swiftly scanning the room, Adria found it completely empty. Looking down she realized that she was on her bed. Had it all simply been a dream?