Here be today's chapter. It's chock full of...words...
Muse/ViH: You are a strange human.
Hey, it ain't my fault today. I had a test at nine am for crying out loud.
Jack: That's my phrase! And I'm not even in this story!
Not my fault. Go blame Muse. She's the one who told me to write it like this.
Jack: I think I will...
So, like I was saying, had a test at nine this morning so my mind's a little fried from not only that, but apparently I can now dream study. Let's just say that I was having a dessert at a part that involved my (very strange) family and someone suddenly asked why it's so important fats are emulsified. My dreamself shot her hand up in the air and answered so the enzymes can break the fat down into fatty acids and glycerol. And now that you have that useless information (unless you're taking Anatomy and Physiology somewhere), on with the story.
I think I own this story, but I don't own the characters. And now my brain hurts from thinking. Anybody have some chocolate or aspirin? Or both?
"What's it?" Vala asked.
"The answer to the problem isn't a complex one. It's a simple one," Dante answered as he typed furiously on his computer, which made his hands a blur to Vala.
"And that answer would be?"
"You've been on Earth, yes?" he asked, looking up at her. She nodded. "So you know what sunscreen is, right?"
"Somewhat," she confirmed.
"The chemicals used in sunscreen prevent the sun's harmful rays from burning the user. If I can isolate those chemicals and make them into a genetic serum that can be given to a vampire, it should allow said vampire to be able to walk in the sun," he explained. "Granted we may have to fiddle with the ratios of the chemicals, but it should work. In any case, it's the best lead we have." He looked back up at her. "Thank you Vala," he said sincerely.
"Glad to see someone appreciates me," she said.
"If you're worried about the others accepting you, give it time. Some people need a lot of time to get use to someone. Took me a century to like Draven when I first met him," he said.
"Who?" she asked, sitting down in a chair.
"A vampire I know back on Earth. He use to be a real jackass when he was human. Thought he was the best thing to happen to the world. Took him years to grow out of that," Dante explained as he finished typing on his computer.
"So exactly how are you going to test this serum?" she asked.
"After it's made, draw a sample of my blood, combine it with the serum and see if the UV light burns it or not," he answered. He picked up his laptop and checked to make sure he had a gun holstered at his hip.
He walked out of the ship, Vala walking next to him. "What happens if this does work?" she asked.
"Well, then I can not have to worry about becoming a crispy critter if the sun suddenly comes up," he answered. "Trust me, being burned by the sun hurts like hell."
"Being burned hurts like hell," she muttered, remembering her experience with the Ori several months ago.
He glanced at her, a slight look of disbelief on his face. "You were burned alive?" he asked. She nodded. "There's no scarring though…"
"Oh it wasn't my body being burned," she said. "Daniel and I had mind swapped, I guess you could call it that, with two other people from another galaxy. I didn't know all the right words to say at a tea party and got burned for it."
"Sucks, doesn't it?" he asked as they entered the main building of the city.
"That's for sure. I think I'd almost rather be a Goa'uld again than being burned," she said. They climbed up the stairs. They walked into the infirmary and Beckett looked up at them.
"What brings you here?" he asked.
"Vala gave me an idea for the serum," Dante said, opening the laptop and showing Beckett the formula.
"Aye. This could be it," the doctor said after a moment. "We should do extensive tests though to see if it actually works."
"Agreed. I don't feel like being burned by the sun again," Dante said. Vala and Beckett looked at him. "Long story."
"Well, let's get started, shall we?" Beckett asked.
Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles Vampire Chronicles
"So the serum works?" Weir asked several hours later.
"Aye. The chemical serum bonds with the vampire's skin and acts just like melanin does for us," Beckett explained.
"Melanin?" Teyla asked, voicing her, Ronon's, and Vala's confusion.
"It's what gives a person's skin color," Beckett explained. "It also acts as a barrier between our skin and the sun's rays."
"Are there any side effects to this serum?" Sam asked.
"There doesn't seem to be, but we weren't working with a live vampire," Beckett answered. "But there shouldn't be any side effects."
"I take it Dante wants to give it a try then," Weir said.
Beckett nodded. "We've calculated the correct dosage for him to inject in himself. Because he's larger than the skin sample he gave us, it'll probably take a while for the serum to be distributed all throughout his body."
"I don't see why we shouldn't proceed," Weir said.
Beckett nodded and left for the lab. Vala followed him out, preferring Dante's welcoming company to that of SG-1's suspicious company. She walked into the lab and sat down next to Dante, who was lying in a bed.
"She agreed then?" Dante asked.
"Aye. Are you sure you want to do this?" Beckett asked.
"Positive," Dante confirmed. "If I can walk around in the sun, I might be able to help you guys better against the Wraith."
Beckett nodded and tied a tourniquet around the vampire's upper left arm. He picked up a needle and pushed the plunger down to get any air out of it. Satisfied, he expertly slid it into Dante's vein and pushed the plunger all the way down. The doctor pressed a piece of gauze where the needle was and pulled it out. Dante held it in place while Beckett removed the tourniquet. "I don't know how long it will take for your system to be completely infused with the serum," he said to Dante.
Dante shrugged. "I got nothing else to do tonight," he said.
"Could always walk around you know," Vala suggested.
Dante shrugged. "If it's okay with the Doc."
"I don't see why not. But if you feel anything strange starting to happen, get back here as quickly as possible," Beckett warned.
"You got it," Dante said as he slid off the table.
"Actually, I'd like to talk with you Dante," Sam said from the door.
Dante saw the serious expression in his half sister's face. "All right." He turned to Vala. "Catch you later I suppose." She nodded and he followed Sam out of the room. They walked around outside in silence for several minutes.
"You need to be careful," she suddenly said.
"What?" he asked.
"Vala. She uses people to get whatever she wants. Don't believe me, talk to Daniel," she added.
He shrugged. "What does that have to do with me?"
"She might just be using you," she said.
"Right. Because Vala couldn't possibly be interested in me," Dante said a bit angrily. He shoved his hands in his pockets.
"What happened to you pining after Janet? I thought you loved her."
Dante sighed. "A part of me will always love her Sam. And Karen. And my son. But I can't stop living just because they're gone. That's what you've been telling me, remember?" he pressed.
"I know. I guess I'm just worried about you. Vala breaks more hearts than a Jaffa breaks bones," Sam said. She suddenly stopped and looked at her brother. "I didn't know you had a son."
Dante paused and turned back to her. "He died around the same time Karen did."
"Same way?" Sam asked, hoping that it wasn't.
Dante shook his head and Sam sighed in relief. "He was just killed. Didn't make it any easier though," he said.
Sam walked up to him and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Losing people you love is never easy."
"That's the way life goes though," Dante said.
"Look, Dante, I know you've been through a lot. You've been alive longer than I have. I just want you to be careful around Vala. That's all I'm saying."
"I know. But if it wasn't for her I never would have come up with this idea for the serum," he said.
Sam blinked in surprise. "She came up with it?"
"She gave me the idea for it," he said. "And if it does really work then…I owe her. At least my gratitude."
"Well, I can safely say that with this job, you are never at a lack for amazement."
"You guys could be a bit nicer to her," Dante said as he continued to walk again.
Sam stared after him a moment before hurrying to catch up. "What does that mean?" she demanded.
"Vala doesn't feel welcomed with you guys," he said. "She doesn't say anything about it, but I think it bothers her. She just wants some acceptance is all. Is that so wrong?" he asked.
"Dante, when we first met her, she stole Prometheus and nearly destroyed it," Sam told him.
"And it's because of you that she got stuck in a hostile galaxy for several long months," he shot back. "If it wasn't for her, those Ori things would've had an armada in the Milky Way Galaxy months ago. You owe her a lot more than she owes you."
"How do you know that?" Sam asked.
"I talked to her. I got to know her." They paused at a balcony and he leaned against it, his back to the ocean. "Besides, you should know how she feels."
"What's that suppose to mean?"
He arched a brow at her in surprise. "Don't tell me you've forgotten why you weren't allowed into the coven for so long." Sam fell silent when the words reached her ears and rested her hands on the railing, a gentle wind flowing from the ocean into the city. She bowed her head and stared at the dark water.
I realized as I typed the end of this chapter that it was never fully explained as to why Sam wasn't allowed in the coven back in the first story. So I think we'll be finding out why next chapter. So until then, keep reviewing. Reviews make my review eating pet happy...of course...chewing cars and knocking down buildings keeps it happy as well...um...just review to save other people's property. If you don't, Stitch will come after you.
Stitch: Meega na la kweesta!
Hey! How many times do I have to tell you to not say that anymore?
Stitch: Sorry...
That's better. Now how about some coconut cake?
Stitch: Coconut cake and coffee?
Why the heck not?
Muse/ViH: Oye vey...
Oye vey everybody!
