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 is the first chapter in the next installment. There's more to follow, probably tomorrow.
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.
Sam's Bodyguard
Sam had been in the Danter city market when she disappeared. She had gone in with SG-1 to investigate odd energy readings that the Tau'ri had learned about from their Tok'ra allies.
The mission had come together quickly. Less than two hours ago SG-1 had been in the SGC briefing room with General Landry, the IOC's Richard Woolsey, who had been here on an oversight visit and decided to sit in on the meeting, and Laspul'gas, a Tok'ra who had only recently emerged from one of the endless undercover missions the Tok'ra loved operating but said little about. No one at the SGC had met Laspul'gas before, but he had been introduced through other Tok'ra allies, and so had been let through the iris into the SGC.
"I have been scanning for Ori presence throughout the galaxy. When I heard about the abandoned Ori ship, I ran several computer simulations to determine the most likely debarkation points for the Ori crew." Laspul'gas explained.
"Aren't there an infinite number of variables that would make any one scenario near statistical insignificance?" Sam asked with curiosity.
"Perhaps expressed within the mathematical theorems that the Tau'ri would likely use that would be true. However, I have used other mathematical protocols within the knowledge of my host Atosin." Laspul'gas stated without further explanation.
"Such as?" Sam asked.
"I'm sorry, but how I came upon the data that I am about to share is of no importance. You are wasting time that I do not believe we have." Laspul'gas said in a dismissive tone. "One of the scenarios that had a high probability of likelihood was disembarkation in a population center, Danter City specifically. I was in the process of some long range scans, when I came across the readings you see on screen now," Laspul'gas hit a button on a display device from which a three dimensional image appeared.
"I was not able to locate the source of the readings on the planet's surface, but did narrow the range to the northern hemisphere." Laspul'gas explained. "As you can see, these readings are quite erratic, but the reading's maximum levels seem to indicate enough energy to destroy a good part of this system. I believe the Ori may be present on Danter with the intent to commit a vast act of terrorism." Laspul'gas concluded.
"I don't know what those energy readings indicate, though I think it's a bit inconclusive, but I do know Danter City," Vala began, "and if a bunch of Ori disembarked at Danter City, someone knows about it."
"I don't agree with that assessment," Laspul'gas continued. "In my opinion there are several locations on the planet where disembarkation could have been made in stealth" Laspul'gas stated dismissively.
He continued, "It is imperative that an investigation of these readings be undertaken immediately. For reasons I cannot disclose, I am unable to investigate the readings without disrupting a sensitive undercover network on Danter. The Tok'ra determined that the Tau'ri would be the best suited to investigate the surface since you have the most experience with the Ori."
Laspul'gas rose from the table. "I apologize I must leave for other meetings with the Tok'ra high council. If the Tau'ri are willing to undertake this investigation, please contact us within the hour. If not, we shall make other arrangements." And with that, Laspul'gas headed towards the gate room.
Vala had tried to warn General Landry and her teammates against a direct reconnaissance mission.
"Stealth is not exactly the Ori style don't ya think?" Vala had begun. "I have quite a few contacts on Danter City, it should be possible to put some feelers out and find out if anyone has seen anything." Vala didn't add that she had neither liked nor trusted Laspul'gas. She had never been comfortable with the Tok'ra in spite of their role in freeing her from Qetesh.
Tok'ra had fomented the revolt against Qetesh, but somehow neglected to plan a capture of Qetesh, instead allowing the rebel human slaves to torture Qetesh -- but really they were torturing Vala since Qetesh had "left the building" and given Vala control of her body during the horrible torture.
Vala suffered through days of brutal tortures before the Tok'ra saw fit to put an end to it and liberate her from Qetesh. Then the Tok'ra had simply dumped Vala when she refused to accept a symbiote and become a Tok'ra. Granted they had made sure to heal her wounds from the torture first, but then they had simply dumped her back on her home world without regard to what kind of reception she would receive.
Vala had never forgotten the callous, self serving nature of the Tok'ra's rescue. In her opinion, a deceptive Goa'uld Tok'ra could easily subdue the volunteer host. No Vala was not a fan of the Tok'ra, and thought the Tau'ri were entirely too trusting and naïve when it came to the Tok'ra.
Richard Woolsey quickly pushed Landry away from a more cautious reconnaissance plan, "The IOC wants SGC boots on the ground now. Given those energy readings, we need to get a handle on this quickly." Woolsey had demanded in that officious IOC, "we hold the purse strings" tone. In the end, none of them had listened. Even Sam seemed anxious to check the matter out.
So SG-1, dressed in the hip leathers that Vala had incorporated into their undercover arsenal for missions on seedy, backwater planets, had set out for Danter. Vala had succeeded in persuading General Landry to call the Odyssey into orbit in case they needed a quick extraction.
SG-1 had come through the Stargate, and Sam began to immediately monitor for energy spikes. Danter was a beautiful planet with trees and puffy white clouds. Cam and Teal'c were watching the perimeter they had set up. Daniel and Vala were sitting on a rock watching Sam. Sam was making periodic checks of his instruments, walking back and forth.
"Danter was founded by a group called the Denon; they were legendary marauders who had a working knowledge of ancient technology." Daniel was telling Vala, he didn't realize he'd already told her these facts back at the SGC.
"That's very interesting darling," Vala smiled.
After an hour of monitoring, Sam saw that the energy reading spiked briefly. She was able to further narrow the likely location of the source based on the spike.
"I've narrowed the source of the energy spikes; they seem to originate southwest of here." Sam said handing Vala her monitoring device.
Vala looked at Sam's handheld device, which was currently alternating between readings, coordinates and a map. "That's the center of the city Sam," Vala said slowly, "That's the marketplace!"
Danter City's thriving, bustling marketplace, which was crowded with smugglers, thieves, whores and murderers along with a smattering of other flotsam and jetsam from the galaxy.
Vala felt the red flags go up when Sam said the readings were originating somewhere in the marketplace.
"Come on guys, this is one of the oldest tricks in the book." Vala whined as SG-1 began to move toward the marketplace.
"And you know them all." Daniel had raised his eyebrows at her, taking hold of her arm and moving her along at a faster clip.
"Well Daniel, I've managed to keep afloat around upstanding citizens such as the ones here on Danter for quite awhile." Vala said in that little sing song voice that she seemed to use when she was trying to educate him on how things worked in the real world. "Perhaps you should be LISTENING to what I have to say." Vala added in a huff, "Or you could continue blithely walking into this rather clumsy and obvious trap."
"Anyhoo," Daniel ignored her, "what's the plan Cam?"
"Well Sam's tracking the signal and we're following – pretty simple. If Princess is right, we'll have Sam's back." Cam said in an end of discussion voice.
"Oh, well I'm sure the simpletons around this little marketplace won't figure out that complicated defense strategy," Vala said sarcastically rolling her eyes, "at least let me scout ahead of Sam."
"Vala, we've been through this twice today, we're not going ahead of the scan because we don't want to spook the target." Cam said clearly irritated with having the conversation again.
"Well, Sam's my girl, and I don't want her carted off, Cameron!" Vala challenged.
"Vala!" Daniel warned, jerking her arm a little.
"Vala Mal Doran we have done these missions many times. We will provide Colonel Carter with as much cover as possible." Teal'c added.
"It will be fine." Sam said in her even tone and then she smiled at Vala. Sam believed Vala meant well even if she had pushed a point too far. Sam knew she could take care of herself.
They all headed into the marketplace. Denied an advance position, Vala opted, without asking permission, to hang back on a loose six. Vala made sure to stand about six or seven feet from the men – enough space that anyone observing them would not think she was part of the group. When Daniel noticed her lagging behind, he stopped to look in a shop window and backtracked the distance to Vala.
"Vala, will you come here please." Daniel said trying to keep an even tone.
Vala looked at him with a jerk of her head, indicating that he should look at Cam and Teal'c.
Sam was a few feet ahead of Cam and Teal'c when the two of them were cut off from her. A group of men who seemed intent on starting a fight had blocked their way, encircled them and cut them off from Sam.
As Teal'c and Cam tried to pass, the lead thug scowled, "You don't run into us and move on without paying the toll." Then the head thug had shoved Teal'c. This thug subscribed to the theory that you knock the biggest guy on his ass to gain control of the others. Teal'c didn't drop like the lead thug thought he would, and several more thugs appeared out of nowhere.
"We mean no harm, but we will pass." Teal'c said in a matter of fact, but firm voice.
Cam added, "Yeah, just passing by, don't mean to ruffle any feathers."
"Then pay the toll," Thug 1 said.
Daniel had spun with the intent of assisting Cam and Teal'c, but Vala grabbed his arm hard to hold him back. She recognized this diversion ploy and did not intend to be distracted from Sam. She didn't want Daniel identified as part of the group the thugs were sent to block.
"What are you doing Vala, we need to help them!" Daniel said incredulous that Vala kept her grip on his arm.
"No, we need to keep our eye on Sam and go around this." Vala warned as Daniel jerked his arm out of her grasp. Daniel gave her a look and started to move forward. Vala didn't see Daniel's glare, she was keeping her eye on the short, blond head of her friend. And she saw something that alarmed her. Two men stepped up to Sam and roughly shoved her into a shop doorway.
Daniel saw Vala out of the corner of his eye. She was pointing towards Sam, "Look!" As she spoke, her instincts took over and she bolted forward expertly bounding past the thugs' diversion which was now blocking most of the path to Sam. She kept an eye on the doorway Sam was forced into. Teal'c and Cam had started knocking thug heads together.
Daniel had intended to help his friends, until he saw Vala practically explode past him. He yelled out exasperatedly, "Ughhh, Vala!" Then he ran after her.
Vala arrived in the shop doorway just as Sam was being forced out the back way. Vala wasted no time following. She had no idea where Daniel was. If he hadn't caught on, she didn't have time to explain. She had to stick on Sam or risk losing sight of her in a marketplace full of cut throats. And as Vala had tried to explain to these Tau'ri earlier, you did not want to lose Sam, with her all American good looks, quite exotic looks on a planet like Danter.
Vala was wild to find her friend, fearing, NO KNOWING, what awaited Sam if she did not get the best of the situation. Vala shuddered thinking of how vulnerable Sam could be if she got in trouble here. She wished she had expressed her concerns more bluntly with her teammates, but in spite of her reputation among some of these Tau'ri for being a sexual Libertine, she could barely utter the word rape, it was too painful and shameful to her. She'd had her fill of rape as host to Qetesh. And, she'd had been no stranger to it even after Qetesh. Vala knew from experience that rape had nothing to do with sex; it was about power through an act of violent domination. Qetesh, supposedly the Goddess of Love and Beauty, had taught her that. How the Goa'uld could twist the word "Love." Vala thought to herself.
As Vala flew through the back door into the alleyway behind the shop, she saw that the men who had grabbed Sam were dressed more elegantly, in higher quality leathers, than she would have thought normal in this marketplace. And if these men dealt in rape and the trafficking of women, why were they fleeing the concealment of the marketplace? They seemed to be on a course that would force Sam into a clearing. But Vala reminded herself they could stop at any point before that.
Vala decided to try her radio and quietly spoke giving the details she had on Sam.
Daniel had a visual on Vala but was still at least forty feet away. From his vantage point, he could not see Sam. He had not tried to close the distance for fear of compromising Vala's cover.
He heard Vala speaking in a low voice over his radio, but the transmission had a great deal of static and the message was hard to understand.
"Three men . . . Sam . . . odd . . . clearing . . . following . . . ." came Vala's voice over her radio.
So Vala had noticed something odd about the men that had grabbed Sam. Daniel thought, well its odd when anyone kidnaps you. The message didn't make any sense except that it told him that Vala could see Sam and might be heading for a clearing. On the off chance that the static was due to a malfunction with Vala's equipment, Daniel relayed the message over his radio. He added, "I have a visual on Vala, but not on Sam. I'm on Vala's six."
Vala heard nothing, but the message was picked up on Cam's radio. Cam was busy kicking thug butt, but the radio had a playback feature to record a limited number of messages, which could be retrieved with a security code.
Vala evaluated the situation, she had heard nothing but static over her radio. No time to retrieve her teammates, she thought, keep going or lose Sam. So she pressed forward, a kind of fear clenching her gut that she thought she would never feel again. It was the fear of a young virgin facing rape and violation --- not that Sam was a virgin. But Vala was pretty sure that Sam hadn't come across this kind of violation in her life.
Vala had to let that fear go to function; instead she let old instincts take over. She tracked Sam alley to alley and doorway to doorway. Finally, she saw that Sam was in a clearing where a set of rings stood. Vala's heart jumped into her mouth as it dawned on her, these men were Lucian Alliance! They had Sam!
Vala looked around in the hope that she could spot Daniel, Cam or Teal'c following behind, but they weren't in sight. Then she saw rings descend and Sam and the men were gone. "Oh, that's NOT GOOD!" Vala exclaimed.
Vala either had to follow Sam or return to her other teammates for help. Vala, with a decisiveness that was born out of hard choices that were made in times of peril and risk, opted to follow Sam. Before her time with Daniel at the SGC, she might have tried to help Sam if she could do it without risk. She'd never liked to see harm come to others if she could avoid it. When risk factored in, Vala would calculate risk before acting. Now, being around Daniel had made a deep and permanent change in Vala's core. Sam was her friend and teammate. And she would act.
The targeting of Sam by the Lucian Alliance probably meant that someone wanted revenge for Sam's role in foiling the hijacking of the Odyssey. It was so like the Alliance to seek revenge and let everyone know, especially their victims, that defending your ships and property in defiance of the Alliance had SEVERE consequences. Vala's blood ran a little cold as she quickly assessed the short list of Lucian Alliance players currently trying to fill the Alliance power vacuum who would go to this kind of effort for revenge.
Vala moved towards the ring controls grabbing for her radio again. Forgetting protocol, Vala screamed into the radio, "Daniel? Vala here, the Lucian Alliance has Sam! They've ringed her off the planet. I'm going to follow her up on the rings and try to free her. I can't wait for you. I'm leaving my watch to identify the set of rings."
Daniel saw the rings in the far distance and saw Vala bolt suddenly forward. Abandoning his covert tail, he made a full bore sprint towards Vala's position.
Vala quickly reconfigured the ring controls to dial the last destination selected, ripped her watch off her wrist and threw it down by the controls, and then stepped onto the ring platform. As the ring device began to hum, Vala was jolted by someone rushing onto the ring platform almost knocking her off it. "Daniel!"