Chapter Five
They all spoke at once.
"Are you serious?" Sam exclaimed.
"You've got to be kidding me!" was Mitchell's response.
"Is that wise, Daniel Jackson?" Teal'c asked.
Daniel ignored the Colonels and focused on Teal'c. "Is what wise?" he asked somewhat defensively, holding Alora tighter to him.
"Allowing the child of our enemy to live, especially if it contains the knowledge of that enemy," Teal'c clarified.
"Okay, let's get one thing straight – Alora isn't an 'it,' she's a 'she,' and is a baby who is currently completely harmless," he declared sternly, "and if you think I'm going to let anyone harm this child, you're sadly mistaken. She hasn't done anything other than heal her mother and show us a few images."
"Images?" Sam questioned curiously, "What kind of images? She was able to show you something?"
Daniel sighed. "Shit," he rubbed his forehead with his free hand, "I don't know what they were like for Vala, but for me, they were memories of mine, shown from a different perspective. I think she uses them to try and tell us something."
"Like what?" Sam questioned further.
"I don't know!" he said, shrugging as best he could with Alora in his arms, "I'm still trying to figure that out myself. She seems to only be able to use certain memories or images – it's limited."
"Is it not possible that the child could be manipulating you?" Teal'c argued.
An image of Teal'c on the bridge appeared in his mind for a brief second and Daniel looked down at Alora, who was now awake, squirming in his arms. He smiled at her as he gently rocked her, not wanting her to cry. "Yes, that may be a possibility," Daniel conceded and looked up from the baby, "but I don't think she is. I think Vala, maybe me to an extent, changed her somehow. She was never supposed to spend so much time with Vala, but all Vala has done since she was born was love her and vow to protect Alora from the Ori. Knowledge is probably already seeping from Alora, and let's not forget she is just a baby. Babies generally want their mother and I think it's changing the way Alora was supposed to be."
"But you can't be certain," Mitchell stated.
That image of Teal'c flashed in his mind again. "No, I can't," he relented and stood, "but I'm asking you guys to trust me."
"Daniel, it's a lot to ask," Sam told him, "The Ori just completely cut through the armada that tried to stop them from coming through the 'gate and they did it effortlessly."
"Have I ever let you down when it really mattered? When I was this sure?" he questioned and when neither Sam nor Teal'c denied it, he knew he had won…sorta. Teal'c flashed in his mind once again and he looked at Alora. "Alright, sweetheart, relax," he told her fondly and walked up to Teal'c. "Here," he offered Alora to him, "Take her," he encouraged his friend gently.
Teal'c warily accepted the baby. "What am I to do with the child, Daniel Jackson?"
"She wanted you," Daniel said, shrugging, "Give her a minute."
"Jackson?" Mitchell questioned.
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Relax, she's just a baby," he reminded them for what felt like the thousandth time.
Sam ignored the baby and Teal'c, instead choosing to focus on Daniel. "So, if she does lose the knowledge, what about her abilities?" Sam asked, "Will she retain those?"
Daniel shrugged. "Possibly," he answered, "maybe not all though. All I know is that there's no way for an infant to contain all the knowledge of the Ori indefinitely. If the Ori intended for her to lead their armies, she would have to grow at the same rate as the knowledge unravel in her, and growing at a normal rate wouldn't work, which is why I think she was supposed to be altered to grow faster, but Vala derailed those plans when she hid to have the baby."
Mitchell studied Sam as the woman took in Daniel's words. "Ah, hell," he said, perturbed, "you're starting to believe him, aren't ya?"
Sam smiled apologetically. "Yeah, I am. Daniel's right. He's never been wrong when he's been this certain," she told the new guy, "and it makes some sense."
"Thank you, Sam," Daniel told her earnestly. If he had her on his side, he could easily win over Jack and General Landry, who then could win over the President and silence the IOA.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c stepped closer to the archaeologist and offered the baby, "I believe she wishes for you."
Daniel smiled as he took Alora back. "What did you see?" he asked.
Teal'c looked pensive. "Flashes of Chulak and her mother's remorse for the role she played," he responded quietly, "I believe Alora Mal Doran was trying to express her sympathies or sorrows for such a loss."
"Not you too T," Mitchell grumbled.
"Indeed, Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c said, "It is difficult to explain, but I believe I felt her genuine regret for what transpired on Chulak."
Mitchell rubbed his head. "Okay, so what do we do now?" he asked, admitting defeat.
"I don't know," Daniel confessed, "but I do know that the Priors can never get their hands on Alora, at least not until the knowledge is gone."
"How long will that take?" Sam asked.
"I don't know, but I think we can all agree that Earth is probably the safest place for them, right?"
"It is bigger than most planets," Sam agreed, "and I don't think the Priors would risk openly shooting at Earth. They would have no idea where on the planet Alora would be and probably won't risk possibly killing Alora if they did."
"Agreed," all three men said in unison.
"It wouldn't just be for Alora's protection, but also for Earth's," Sam added, "that should help persuade the IOA and anyone else who is skeptical of her."
"Yeah," Daniel concurred, "and who knows, maybe Alora can lead us to a way to defeat the Ori and their armies."
o0o
Vala broke moments after entering the shower, the water washing away her tears. After Qetesh was removed, Vala swore she would never willingly take a life again and had avoided it at all cost – it was why she took Prometheus using only a zat. But ever since she stole that damn tablet, she had been responsible for multiple lives lost to the Ori and their followers. While she felt the guilt for that, she never knew their faces and could ignore it for the most part. But not with Chulak, for more than one reason. Though Teal'c didn't view her as anything other than a nuisance, she was fond of the Jaffa and the thought of being responsible for thousands of deaths on his home planet made her sick, and there was probably no coming back from that and she mourned the potential friendship she could've had as well as the thousands of lives lost.
Then there was Tomin. Her sweet Tomin was dead, and she had killed him. She had forgotten about him until he appeared in that doorway and despite his zealous beliefs, he didn't deserve to die. While she did love him, she wasn't in love with him, but she often wished she was. Despite her unbelieving ways, he had loved her in such a devoted way – something she hadn't had since her mother and brother died. Though Tomin knew she hadn't felt the same, it was enough for him, and it didn't stop him from trying to save her soul – and here she was hoping to save him.
Vala slammed her hand against the shower wall in anger and pain over losing him. "Why didn't you come with me?" she whispered brokenly, "Why couldn't you just listen to me for once?"
She would never get an answer.
Vala gave herself five more minutes of her pity party before straightening and finishing her shower. There was more to do, more important matters to tend to, and more lives to save. She had just given birth to the child of the Ori, perhaps the answers to defeating the Ori laid within her, and hopefully Alora would help her in achieving that goal.
She should ask Colonel Carter to drop her and Alora off at the closest planet before they reached Earth. Vala shuddered at the thought of her child being on Earth, poked and prodded by fearful humans who didn't understand. It would matter what she said, they would never believe her if she told them Alora posed no risk to Earth or anyone for that matter. She was surprised that Daniel believed it, but she suspected it would only be him who would. She refused to put her daughter through that and would instead focus on finding a safe place for them to hide. Vala didn't know how long it would take for the Ori knowledge to leave Alora completely but until the child was at least talking or the Ori and their armies (gods willing) were defeated, Vala would have to keep the two of them hidden.
With a plan established somewhat, Vala finished her shower, anxious to get back to her baby. She knew Daniel would never allow anything to happen to her, but that still didn't mean she would worry about her daughter – it's what mothers do, right? Worry about their children? And Vala had more reason to worry than most mothers. With that thought, she hopped out of the shower and quickly dressed.
o0o
When Vala entered the room she left Alora and Daniel in, she noticed his friends were there as well, including Teal'c. When the Jaffa looked at her, she tried to convey her deepest sympathies for what happened to Chulak with a look, which he seemed to understand and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.
"Look who's here," Daniel said gently to her daughter and stood from the bed he and his friend, Sam, sat on.
Vala felt herself smile without her permission at the sight of her daughter. She quickly relieved Daniel, pressing the baby close to her. "I hope she wasn't too much trouble," she said to Daniel, giving him a small smile.
Daniel gave her a reassuring look before gazing at the infant. "She was an angel," he said softly, grabbing her tiny fingers, "Weren't you, sweetheart?"
"Just darling," Mitchell quipped dryly, "Not creeping at all that she contains the power of the Ori or can show you visions, not creeping at all."
Vala looked at Daniel accusingly. "You told them?" she hissed, hurt and betrayed that he abused the trust she placed in him.
Daniel winced. "It was an accident!" he told her apologetically, "Besides, she wouldn't stop asking for Teal'c. How the hell was I supposed to explain how a newborn wanted someone to hold her?"
"You're intelligent! You could've come up with something!" she replied heatedly and hugged her daughter closer to her in a protective motion. Alora squirmed in discomfort and sent Vala a memory of Daniel cradling the infant protectively. Vala glanced down and sent Alora a mini glare, even though her eyes were closed. She leaned in closer to whisper, "No matter how wonderful they seem to be or safe they feel, you can never trust men, you can never fully rely on them. Remember that, my love."
"Vala, we don't want to hurt her," Daniel told her firmly, eyeing her and she had a feeling he got the gist of what she told Alora, "We want to protect her."
Vala continued to glare at him. "I've been to Earth," she reminded him, "I've met some of your leaders and I don't believe they'll take too kindly to having their enemy's daughter out in our galaxy,."
"I promised you I'd let nothing happen to her," Daniel told her, "I meant that."
"That was on the Ori ship," she argued.
"Well, I meant for as long as we're in each other's lives!"
"Which won't be much longer!" she shot back.
Daniel paused and just stared at her with an unreadable expression. "Guy, give us the room," he politely requested.
The rest of SG-1 quietly shuffled out of the room without any arguments.
The second the door closed, Daniel started again. "You're safer on Earth." he told her, "both of you."
"I don't think we are."
He sighed and removed his glasses, pinching his nose. "Let's table this for now," he suggested, "Right now, I wanna know what you mean by you won't be around for long. This isn't the first time you mentioned it."
Vala's face scrunched. "Daniel, were you expecting us to go back to Earth with you?"
He shifted uncomfortably. "I don't know…I mean, I guess I did," he said with hesitance.
She softened. "Daniel, I have to keep her safe, especially knowing what we do about her. At the next possible opportunity, I'm leaving this ship and taking my baby somewhere she can be safe until the Ori knowledge is gone and she won't be a threat to anyone anymore."
Daniel replaced his glasses and stepped closer to her. "We can help you keep her safe!" he insisted, "You don't have to do this alone."
"I don't belong on Earth," she argued, "More than that, I'm not wanted. I know that's my own fault so I'm not complaining but I'll not stay where I'm not wanted."
"I want you there," he confessed, "SG-1 wants you there."
Vala scoffed. "Only so they can control my child and do gods know what with her," she contradicted, "I won't allow that. I won't let them treat her like an experiment, a specimen to study."
"I wouldn't let that happen," he protested, "Alora needs to be protected and Earth is the best possible choice. It protects us as well. Earth's a big planet and the Ori won't risk shooting openly in fear of killing Alora. If they do come, we have a better chance of getting her to safety before they can find her. Besides, I think she may be the key to defeating the Ori once and for all."
Damnit, he was actually making sense and she could feel herself cracking. "Daniel…"
"I promised I'd make sure she was safe and I didn't mean just for the moment. Vala, you are wanted," he implored her, "Come to Earth with me."
He really meant it. He actually wanted her and Alora to come with him. Wait, did he imply he wanted to be in Alora's life long term? No, think about that later, bigger issues to deal with. "You and your team could guarantee her safety and that she won't become something to study?"
"I promise," he said earnestly, "I have friends in high places who have friends in even higher places. I'll make sure of it."
Vala bit her lip, still thinking when Alora showed her a memory of her and Daniel back on the Ori ship. It was nothing special, just the two of them together, but Vala got the message. Vala glanced at her baby and huffed a little. "Demanding little thing, aren't you?" she murmured lovingly.
"What did she show you?" Daniel asked curiously.
She glanced up at him. "She doesn't want to leave you," she said dryly, "Not even a day old and already choosing a man over family."
Daniel chuckled. "She has good taste," he teased, "What does it say when an infant trusts me more than her mother?"
"An infant with the collective knowledge of the Ori," she corrected.
"Touché," he conceded, "Well, are you gonna listen to her and me and come back to Earth with us?"
Alora showed her the same image again and Vala sighed, knowing they both were probably right on different accounts. "Alright, I'll come to Earth with you."
A smile bloomed on his face. "I promise you won't regret it," he vowed, "We'll keep her safe and we'll find a way to defeat the Ori…together."