LIBERTINES AND LIBERATION
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Stargate characters, ideas or themes. As a matter of fact, Stargate can have my ideas if they want them (wouldn't that be great). All standard applicable disclaimers apply to this piece. I have tried to source any materials quoted in furtherance of this story.
Spoilers: Probably some for Season 10 and beyond
Summary: Vala and Daniel centered storyline adventure (hopefully); relationship (okay yes); angst (yup); comfort; etc.
Rating: R to NC-17 in some parts.
Author's Note: This is my first Stargate fiction. I have no betas – not even a beta fish – not even sure what a beta is in fact.
This story will have multiple chapters.
I took inspiration from Milena D's Misappropriation of Lives and a short story called Believe by Random. I really wish those two authors would write more on those two story lines.
I hope for a few comments.
Puzzles
Daniel sat at his lab table examining Qetesh's journal that he had brought back from Quotan. Qetesh's notations seemed to be written in code. Daniel had managed to translate a few phrases, but they seemed to be gibberish. If the journal hadn't caught his eye with the symbol of the Clava Thessara Infinitas on its spine, he might have given this up as a wild goose chase. The symbol, a circle with a square hole inside, was repeated several places in the journal. But so far the symbol had not helped him crack Qetesh's coded gibberish, "Live within the dark, bright key "; "Lives of Many Are As One"; "Blue Planet's Swirl of Cold." It made no sense.
Daniel turned to the device he had brought back from the temple. It was a gold box encased in a square which was then encased in a circle. Daniel could not get the box open. There appeared to be oddly shaped, depressions, or recessed cavities, in the square around the box. These depressions might be meant to hold something, but Daniel had no idea what. So far Daniel had found no explanation of the depressions on the box or in the journal.
He'd turned to analyzing the origin of the device. His educated guess was that the device was neither Ancient nor Goa'uld. He thought he head seen the design on the edge somewhere else, and maybe even recently, but he couldn't place it.
If the sex pilgrims would ever clear out, he hoped to go back to Quotan with SG-17 and their assigned archeologist, Simon Graves. He'd make a more thorough exploration of the temple and set up protocols for Graves to make a thorough translation of the walls and non-removable contents. Daniel did not want Vala anywhere near Quotan after the events of the last couple of days. He should have never brought her in the first place.
Daniel looked at his watch; Vala had been asleep about an hour and a half. Daniel had watched Vala nap on his couch many times, though she never seemed to sleep deeply. Her sleep tonight was different. It was the same drugged deep sleep she'd had on Quotan. Dr. Lam had said the drug was still in her blood stream in excessive amounts.
Daniel watched her fitful slumber -- even with a blanket she seemed cold. He finally decided to add his jacket to the blanket on top of her as he saw a shiver run through her lithe body. But as the weight of the jacket fell on top of her, Vala's eyes shot open and she sprang up like a cat. She twisted off the couch and onto the floor landing in a fighting stance that Daniel thought certainly reflected some deep ingrained training. She was ready to fight to defend herself; Daniel could see that. She seemed to still be asleep until the impact with the floor woke her suddenly and she looked around frantically.
"Vala!" Daniel called out in shock, "Vala! It's Daniel. It's alright."
Vala looked up with confusion in her eyes before recognition registered. There was something else in Vala's eyes that Daniel couldn't quite read. Was it shame, embarrassment and fear that Daniel saw deep in her eyes? The look was gone as quick as it had appeared, and then all Daniel saw was Vala urgently fighting for control -- a silent struggle that most would have missed, but he recognized it, saw it clearly.
Vala was breathing hard, "I'm sorry about that Daniel, were you trying to wake me?"
"No, I think you had a nightmare." Daniel said.
"It must be the drug," Vala lied.
"Are you sure, because it seemed like a nightmare?" Daniel confronted.
"No pretty sure it's the drug," Vala purred starting to disentangle from the blanket twisted around her body.
"Vala," Daniel started to say gently.
Vala smiled widely, "no, it's the drug; I'm going to talk to Dr. Lam."
"Vala wait, I'll come . . . with you." Daniel called, but Vala was down the hall out of earshot.
Daniel thought about following her; instead he called Dr. Lam and told her Vala was on the way. The night was almost over anyway. He'd asked Dr. Lam to call him when Vala showed up; Vala had had arrived before he'd even hung up.
Daniel instinctively knew that Vala wasn't coming back to his lab. She'd stay with Dr. Lam. Vala's nightmares were probably a result of the horrors she undoubtedly suffered at the hands of Qetesh, but Daniel thought there might be other terrors there too. Vala really was an emotional wreck.
Daniel pondered the puzzles he had uncovered about Vala in the last twenty four hours – the combs; the fighting skills, he wondered why he hadn't recognized the training before, and the nightmares. And pondering these mysteries only raised more questions that Daniel wanted to ask.
These puzzles would take time to solve. Daniel knew that in spite of all her appearances of cheer and chatter, Vala did not give up personal information easily.