Chapter Two
"How is this even possible?" General O'Neill barked. "I was under the impression that someone was being occupied in an eternal fight to the death with that Ancient, Ganos Fey."
"Ganos Lal and Morgan Le Fey," Teal'c corrected him. "And that is what Daniel Jackson did tell us. However, it would seem that perhaps that is not entirely correct."
Vala felt sick. Whatever had just happened meant that her life was going to be complicated. She had long made peace with her daughter's death and when she had run into that room, she was expecting to find Daniel at the bottom of the stairs.
Dr Lam had taken...whatever that thing that looked like Adria was into the observation room. Several guards had been assigned and the anti-prior device sat unassumingly in the corner of the room. Machines beeped and she was actively trying to ignore the stares people were stealing in her direction.
"His report was correct, General," Vala added. "That's not Adria. She's gone."
Nobody corrected her.
"General, you said that when Jackson disappeared-"
"Ascended," both Vala and the General said.
Mitchell waved his hand. "Whatever. He turned into Glinda the Good Witch and hauled ass up to the higher planes. Hell of a coincidence, don't you think?"
Vala hated the Ancients now more than ever. Possibly more than the Ori. More than Qetesh. "What's your theory, Mitchell?"
"You believe that Daniel Jackson has something to do with this?" Teal'c asked. Mitchell shrugged in response.
"Ancients aren't really known for their explicit interference, Teal'c. I'm assuming if she's here, then something big is going on up there."
"Sorry to interrupt," Dr Lam's voice came through the intercom. "Vala- do you mind if I have a word? Technically, you're her next of kin."
The group looked at her. "You can say whatever it is in a briefing, Dr Lam."
Vala could see a look of concern on the doctor's face and nobody said anything around her. She took a deep breath. "I'll be in the briefing room," she announced and promptly left the room. Normally Daniel or Sam would take off after her but in both their absences, the room remained still.
"Is she stable? Secure?" Colonel Mitchell asked through the intercom.
"I'll leave guards posted outside and the device operational," Dr Lam promised. "But you're going to want to hear this."
Despite the queasiness in her stomach, Vala couldn't help but swivel on the chairs in the briefing room slightly. The small motion settled her somehow, like it tricked her body into thinking it was a normal briefing and Daniel would take his seat next to her any minute.
The briefing where General O'Neill had informed them that Daniel had supposedly ascended for no good reason had taken place in this room. The information had hit her full force and she had fled the room angry and confused.
And now, here she was in another briefing about Adria, with a possible connection to whatever it was Daniel was hoping to accomplish. As far as interference went, reviving one of the biggest threats to the galaxy was a huge one.
If Daniel was trying to prevent this from happening, he had failed and his little jaunt to the higher plane of existence was just as stupid as he was for believing whatever rot the Ancients were selling him.
Soon, everyone else had entered the room. Teal'c and Colonel Mitchell took the seats either side of her and Dr Lam directly in front of her.
"I had wanted to tell Vala privately before all this," she began. "But here we go." She shifted so she was addressing both Vala and General Landry, who was placed at the head of the table.
"I did several workups and tests on her. Granted, we didn't have much information about her while she was the Orici, apart from what readings the Tok'ra gave us before she ascended. But I would imagine her bloodwork would be very distinct due to her enhanced genetic makeup."
"Ori approved," Mitchell added. "And now?"
Dr Lam paused. "There's nothing there. General, Vala- every test I've done has come back negative. For all intents and purposes, Adria is human. And completely healthy."
There was a silence that hung following Dr Lam's announcement where Vala was grateful for time to think. She had been preparing for the worst- for Adria's body to be disintegrating on this plane, for her to wake up back as the Orici- or worse, a half Ancient/Ori hybrid looking through decidedly Mal Doran features...
"Are you sure about this, Dr Lam?" General Landry asked. "How can the most powerful being in the galaxy suddenly take human form? And more than that, how on Earth did she end up half naked in our gate room?"
Nobody wanted to say it, but Vala's mind had gone straight to her own conclusion.
"Daniel Jackson," Teal'c said after a lengthy pause. "It is the only logical conclusion."
"Well, unless you consider that maybe she wanted to come down?" Mitchell added. "I mean, Jackson has done it twice already."
"Adria wanted nothing more than complete power and domination over the galaxy. I find it very, very difficult to believe she chose this for herself," Vala spoke up. "She was a monster. If she's here, it's punishment. Not a choice."
"Dr Lam, in your opinion, is Adria's presence here going to be a threat?" General O'Neill asked slowly, avoiding looking directly at Vala.
She shook her head. "I would have to wait until she wakes up to see if any of her previous abilities have remained but from the way her physiology and body chemistry has already dramatically changed from what the Tok'ra provided us with, I don't think she's going to pose a risk to this facility. I think that whoever or whatever has sent her here, has done it with a specific purpose in mind and that is to rob her of whatever power the Ori and being ascended has given her."
"Well, I think that's all we can do for now, but Dr Lam, I want to know as soon as she wakes up. Ms Mal Doran, General O'Neill, if I could have a word with you in my office. The rest of you are dismissed."
Vala hated being called to the office. She was very torn on what she was supposed to be feeling. She didn't particularly enjoy the benign practice of waiting for things to happen, yet that was all she was forced to do these days. Wait for Daniel to come back to her, wait to find out whether her daughter's return signalled another impending galactic incident and wait for another six months to fly past without incident.
She frowned as she followed General O'Neill into Landry's office, knowing that had Adria not appeared in the gate room today, she might've been discussing another issue in detail.
"Vala, I'm not going to pretend that I have any clue as to what you're probably feeling right now, but please accept my deepest apologies about what we're going to have to talk about in this room today," Landry began. "Normally this would be a conversation you would be left out of but I'm sure Jack agrees, these circumstances are fairly unique."
General O'Neill said nothing, which filled Vala with the type of dread akin to when she had volunteered for her memories to be changed. Even if she hadn't technically lived through this before, she had a fair idea about what the Generals were about to say.
She hardened her resolve and felt her insides scream. "I understand. Adria's reappearance, no matter how miraculous, is still an issue that needs to be resolved. I'm no mookie when it comes to this, General. You're going to get the IOA involved."
General O'Neill sighed dramatically, letting Vala's faux-pas slide. "And here we thought we'd be the ones explaining it to you. Look, Vala-"
"I get it, Jack," she said, twisting her long braid out of habit. "Vala's evil child reappears and something has to be done about it. Vala's very bad, no-good boyfriend disappears and something has to be done about it."
"I want to make it clear that this isn't about you. You have our complete support when it comes to the IOA and your loyalties are under absolutely no scrutiny here. I'm afraid that even if Adria wakes up and is, as my daughter assumes, completely human, I'm not sure things are going to go your way."
Vala stifled a laugh. When did anything go her way?
"General, nothing goes my way. From the moment I was invaded by a Goa'uld or used as a incubation system for the Ori. I've made a home here, General, and then Daniel decides to up and leave without even so much as a hint to anyone as to why. With all due respect, I've been waiting for the other foot to drop."
She stood up and both Generals remained silent. "Thank you for your honesty, Generals, but I think I need to steal a visit with my daughter."