Chapter Two: The Rise of Lord Lacius

Two long weeks of torture, pain, and lesson. Daniel regretted for not trusting his gut when it told him not to go through that gate. He knew something was wrong, but not right now, that did not matter. He was in a circular room at the moment, shackled in chains in the middle of the red room. He was tortured for two weeks, by the two men who knew that man in the middle, Vividus. Strangely enough, he never has been tortured by him.

Today, that was different, as he saw that man enter the room. Nephrites had his eeriness, the other man, who had come to know as Delak, had his strength, but by what Daniel knew at the moment, Vividus has both characteristics, and some. He was the scarier, and apparently the more powerful of them both.

Vividus stood in front of Daniel, just standing, before he spoke, in an accent that reminded him of Northern British people.

"You have survived the tortures of both Delak and Nephrites, and you have not broken. I, am to test you on your will today. Daniel, am I correct? Good." He said, walking further to Daniel, before putting a hand on his head, and then Daniel screamed.

He did not want his mind to be accessed like it was being right now. He tried to set up a defense, but Vividus broke through it.

Come Daniel, let me view your mind; let me look through it... Said a voice within his head that was not his own, yet slightly calming to down. Daniel was trying to relax, but then he suddenly went alert.

Why? He thought, as if communicating to the voice within his head. He heard a loud sigh, as if in frustration, as the voice communicated to him again.

Daniel, just give in... This can all end right here, and I can leave you along. Just...open your mind. He heard the calming voice say again, but Daniel felt the pressure increase on his head from where Vividus has grasped his head, apparently he was getting annoyed.

JUST LET ME IN! He heard the voice inside his head yell.

"NNNNOOOOOO!" He heard himself yell out loud, as he arched his back and outstretched his arms. He felt a massive energy wave push Vividus twelve feet up and back in the air. Vividus landed against the hard wall, himself looking extremely surprised.

Daniel got up, the shackles broken from the energy wave, and slowly walked towards the man leaning on the ground. He was breathing heavily, but he did not slow his walk, as he continued.

"Daniel, you are more powerful than you know. You can do anything with this power. Start wars, kill your enemy..."

"I would never use that power to do anything like this! I don't want it! I never want to us..."

"You can bring back Sha're, Daniel. I know of powers that can do that, bring people from that existence."

Daniel suddenly stopped where he stood, dropping his hand to his side as Vividus rose from the ground. His eyes, the grey opals of exceeding doom, locked with Daniel's blue hues as he stood still.

"Knell." He ordered with a commanding aura. Daniel slowly bent on his left knee, knelling down and looking up. He could bring back Sha're? With this power? He was starting to figure it was possible, now, but not without guidance. He knew to accept in this stage.

"You will no longer be known as Daniel. You will be now known as Darth Lacius, the newest Sith Lord to join our ranks."

Daniel looked down, and then repeated himself with a simple line. "I live to serve, my Lord."

Vala stood near the gate, armed with a Pee Ninety assault rifle, keeping it close to her side as she viewed the area with her eyes. The planet itself was quiet, and quite peaceful with its babbling brooks, large pine trees, and its lakes. And that was just around the Stargate. She imagined it was more blessed with Nature's grace farther away.

Samantha Carter, armed with a MP7 sub machinegun, looked over the Stargate's DHD, trying to track the last position that Daniel had dialed in. So far, she has slammed her fists against the device, annoyed herself.

"Dammit, I can't find any evidence that he left the planet!" She yelled, surprising an Airman who was working next to her. Besides Sam and Vala, SG-9 and 10 volunteered for the mission to this planet one more time. Sam thought for sure she would find Daniel, but so far, she has failed herself.

"Maybe he never left the planet." Vala said, walking to the DHD and taking a quick look herself.

"But that doesn't make sense. The Tok'ra..."

"They never reported back. That seems a little strange, doesn't it?"

Sam began to think a little bit, considering Vala's point a little bit before she went back to the Stargate's DHD.

"Well, that does make it a little strange. Lemme try to find...I got an address! It's to another Gate on the planet!"

"Great, but for all intensive purposes, I think we should walk it there. It doesn't appear to be too far. Maybe a couple of days walk." Vala said, Sam nodding. She knew that if that was a Gate address, and Daniel hasn't reported back, it would be unwise for her to just use the gate.

"Major, how much food do we got for the trip?"

"More than enough, ma'am. Plus for ammo and medical." Major Paul Davis said, scratching his head. He was not a member of either teams, but volunteered anyways.

"Okay, let's head out."