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.
Flying with the Lucian Alliance
The punch to Vala's mouth had left her with a massive headache. She felt the dried blood at the side of her mouth and the swelling of her bottom lip.
Both women were dressed in simple cotton peasant shirts tucked into leather pants. Both women were barefoot. "Damn!" Vala said as she felt her hair which had been taken down from the messy pig tails she had started her day with, "they took all my clips." Sam looked at her curiously and gave her a "what's the big deal in light of the day we've had" eyebrow.
"Locks," Vala said simply, "I use the clips to pick locks."
Sam said calmly, "Emeteo told me he was Anateo's brother and pretty much drew a picture of what the next couple of days are going to be like for me; you guys shouldn't have followed me onto this ship."
Vala thought Sam was doing remarkably well considering that the last time she was held by the Alliance Colonel Emerson had been murdered in front of her eyes.
Sam watched as Daniel and Vala examined the injuries to the each other's face. "You'll live." The each said to the other at the same time.
"So I take it you've met Emeteo before today?" Daniel asked Vala looking her directly in the eye.
"It would seem so." Vala said simply.
"So you'd met his brother Anateo before you saw him on the Odyssey?" Sam asked cautiously.
Daniel leaned against the bars of the cell and waited for Vala's answer.
"Yup," Vala said looking at Sam with an ENOUGH expression.
"I don't mean to pry Vala, but you had some sort of relationship with Anateo?" Sam asked sheepishly. Sam felt bad asking, but she thought they all needed to know the dynamics here.
Daniel did a double take at Sam's question – that hadn't occurred to him.
"I wouldn't say that Sam." Vala said slowly, "Years ago we spent time in mutual pursuits." Vala said in a tone that she hoped would tell Sam to stop the questions.
"And you failed to mention this at the time BECAUSE?" Daniel asked Vala with raised eyebrows.
"Didn't turn out to be relevant did it! I wasn't hiding it. He obviously recognized me when we were hauled onto the bridge of the Odyssey," Vala said in a voice that would brook no more questions on the subject.
"You told me you weren't in the Lucian Alliance!" Daniel yelled at catching Vala in another lie.
"I WASN'T!" Vala yelled back, realizing she needed to clear this up so Daniel did not think she had told an outright lie.
She stood in front of Daniel and looked him in the eye, "I knew Anateo before the Alliance was formed. I parted ways with him because he thought nothing of killing someone if that was the easiest way to get what he wanted, and I couldn't do that." Vala's voice became softer, "I couldn't be a part of that. I don't like hurting things if I can help it."
Daniel could see Vala's revulsion at the thought of Anateo's needless killing. He knew she must have been an eye witness to untold murders by Qetesh.
Daniel's eyes softened a bit, he had seen Vala go to great lengths to avoid injuring people when she pirated. He knew first hand that rather than kill the Prometheus crew, which would have been a much easier way to steal the ship, Vala had executed an elaborate plan in which the crew was stunned, dragged over to the ring transports and stranded on an Al' kesh. Daniel doubted that Anateo, the cold blooded director of Colonel Emerson's murder, would have taken the trouble. And he could see such a partnership would have quickly ended. He nodded.
"And Emeteo," Sam forced herself to continue softly, "He seemed to have a lot of animosity towards you, but he doesn't seem to know anything about the role you played on the Odyssey." Sam observed.
Daniel gave Sam another double take at this insightful question. Why did women have the ability to cut through to the crux of these matters?
"Let's keep it that way." Vala said quietly stifling a chill down her back, "Emeteo was always in Anateo's shadow though he seemed to worship him; I think . . . he might be looking to liberate himself from Anateo . . . step into his big brother's shoes. My brief friendship with Anateo might prove to be a problem today." Vala said vaguely. Then Vala shook her head. "We have other problems to resolve and little time. Daniel, you would have done well to stay on the planet's surface. You are in grave danger."
Daniel gave her a look of surprise at this unexpected censure. His mouth hung open, "Well state the obvious why don't you. I think we can say that about all of us."
Vala looked at Daniel with calculating eyes so serious it made him pay attention, "Yes, yes darling. But what I mean is that we have to get you out of here straight away. Emeteo is not known for hanging onto male hostages."
"Not to worry. I have a plan!" Vala grinned at Daniel and gave Sam a hug.
"Oh you have a plan." Daniel put his hands in his pockets and leaned forward. "We're all ears," He said calmly. Daniel didn't get too worked up about grave danger anymore.
"Well it's still in the planning stage; I'm waiting for a key piece to fall into . . . place." The door had started to open. Vala started talking quickly, "Darling, please follow my lead, back me up and I'll get us all out of this. That's a promise." Vala gave Daniel another serious look and then smiled. She turned to Sam with a wink. Sam and Daniel both nodded quickly.
"I have your six Vala." Sam said reassuringly.
They all tensed as the door opened fully and they watched an attractive man of about 45 enter the room. Sam thought she remembered seeing the man in the ship's ring room earlier.
He was dressed in a fine soft leather long coat and pants. His boots reached just below his knee and looked well maintained. His hair and eyes were dark. He looked a bit shorter than Daniel, but carried himself with a confidence born of success in getting, or taking, what you want. The smile on his face reached his eyes and had a charming effect. The word "suave" came to mind.
As he approached the cell, Daniel thought he saw a sharp intelligence behind the eyes of the man. Daniel had no doubt that this man was noting every detail in the room, including the three prisoners in the cell before him.
Sam thought she noticed a slight increase in Vala's color as the man approached. His eyes rested briefly and pleasantly on Sam, and then gave Daniel a bit longer assessment, but there was no malice in his eyes.
Then the man turned to Vala and gave her a slow, all encompassing sensual appraisal – he took his time looking Vala up and down.
Daniel was taken aback by the frank sensual way the man's eyes seemed to own Vala. Daniel stifled an urge to pull Vala closer to him. Daniel stood his ground and revealed nothing. All the while he was sizing this stranger up and recognized a dangerous man lurking behind the easy manner.
After several silent moments of maintaining eye contact only with Vala, the man spoke, "Hello Wonko. You're looking well, or rather, you were before Eme's little love tap."
"Hello Wonk," Vala gave him a big smile, shrugged her shoulders and raised her eyes to the ceiling, "Whatcha doin' here? Imagine my shock when I pop in and see the great Aton Re Van slumming on Eme's ship!"
"Well I might ask you the same thing Wonk," the pirate said with a laugh.
Ignoring his question, Vala asked, "You're not involved in this blond business are you?" Vala scowled and pointed at Sam.
"You know me better than that Wonk. I've never needed to kidnap a woman; they come willingly," said Aton, giving her an 'as you well know look' that Sam did not miss.
Daniel felt a surge of resentment and tasted soured, acidic coffee in his mouth.
Vala snorted out a little laugh at Aton's comment and said in a voice that was half mocking and half purr, "True enough, true enough – where it goes from there . . . ." Her voice dropped off to silence.
Daniel didn't know who this man was; but Vala's sensual purr had been laced with resentment, and he could see her words had hit the man on some level.
Sam had only seen Vala's power over men in the context of casual flirting, which Vala seemed to do with as much thought as breathing, and of course her endearing, gentle and continued torture of Daniel. Sam realized she was witnessing another side of Vala's practiced allure, both sincere and calculating at the same time. Vala didn't really like the knowing, intuitive look that had come across Sam's face, but they were going to need Aton to be cooperative.
"Actually, this blond business, has protracted my OWN business with Eme. He's been unwilling to hear a word on any matter but Blondie since he heard his men had laid sight of her on Danter." Aton offered.
"Blondie is called Colonel Samantha Carter of the Tau'ri, or Sam. This attractive man is Dr. Daniel Jackson." Vala introduced, "Sam, Daniel this is Aton Re Van."
"Pleased to meet you Colonel Carter; Dr. Jackson," Aton smiled and bowed slightly.
"Another friend?" Daniel could not restrain himself from asking Vala.
"Oh, Vala and I go back, don't we Wonk?" Aton answered for Vala smiling at Daniel with a new interest.
Ignoring the exchange, Vala continued to look at Aton. "So not here on business concerning Sam; then what Wonk? Emeteo does not seem like your style – at least he wasn't the last time I saw you." Vala pouted. She used a seductive voice that made the man laugh as if he had just been thoroughly walked down memory lane and was enjoying the trip.
Aton reached out and playfully tapped Vala's nose and told her with laughing eyes, "You don't need to know that. But you might want to tell me what you Dr. Jackson and Samantha have done to get on Eme's bad side – never a good place to be Wonk – I thought I taught you better than that."
Re Van's words had sparked Daniel's interest. What had this man taught Vala? His casual familiarities with Vala made Daniel once again want to grab her arm and pull her away from the bars, away from this man.
Vala shrugged. "Oh you did, you taught me very well," Vala raised a seductive eyebrow at Aton, and then continued, "Wellll, I think Eme might be a little upset at a bit of a run in we had with his brother Anateo a while back."
Daniel watched Vala's tone and play. It reminded him of the Vala he had met on the Prometheus so long ago -- he didn't like it, didn't like the pet nicknames, didn't like any of it, but he realized they were in serious trouble here and this man might be the key to getting them out.
"Didn't you leave MY tender company for Anateo's Wonk?" Aton feigned momentary annoyance, but Vala's mention of Anateo and the Tau'ri also had elicited a genuine look of surprise from Aton.
Daniel stole a quick look at Sam at this revelation.
If Vala was disconcerted about the information that was being revealed about her past, she didn't let it show. Vala purred, "I wouldn't put it exactly that way Wonk. And, besides that was ages ago, and as I recall you had plenty of other company."
"Never could cure you of that annoying innocent, good girl that lurks inside," Aton said laughing.
At this Daniel's eyebrows raised involuntarily, did this guy have the right Vala?
Aton continued, "Well I like to keep busy, you know that Wonk."
"Oh I do, I do. And you know Wonk, I had other reasons." Vala replied amicably.
Aton's eyes darkened momentarily, it was the first time Daniel thought that Vala had truly shaken the man out of his nonchalant upper hand. Aton had recovered almost instantaneously, and Vala showed no signs of elaborating.
Then a look of realization came over Aton's face, "Tau'ri! So that run in with Anateo wouldn't have been on the Odyssey would it?"
"May . . . be," Vala smirked.
"Oh, Wonk, what have you gotten yourself mixed up with? This isn't like you!" Aton said with a bit of a scold in his voice.
Daniel thought he'd detected some sincere concern for Vala in this man's voice. It gave Daniel his first hope that Re Van might not be wasting their time. Maybe he'd be willing to help them escape.
Vala shrugged again and stuck her hand out of the cell bars so she could run a finger along Aton's arm, "Ya know . . . this little reunion of ours could prove very advantageous to you."
"Oh, I already have all the advantages I need. My deal with Eme is quite good thank you." Aton said disinterestedly, examining the fingernails on one hand.
"Wonk, we both know that whatever deal you have with Eme is only good until he can figure out how to cut you out," Vala purred.
"Well, no shock there, but I doubt he'll succeed at that." Aton smiled, "Besides, you don't look like you're in any position to be making any offers."
"Looks can be deceiving!" Vala grinned and added, "How much have you heard about the Tau'ri?"
"Oh not much, fomented rebellion with the Jaffa, defeated the Goa'uld, defeated the Replicators, allied with the Tok'ra and the Jaffa." Aton sounded bored, "Quite the do-gooders. How did you get mixed up with them?"
"Long story, but I am in a position to assure you that the Tau'ri can be very generous to their allies." Vala smiled seductively, "And, the man who helps rescue Dr. Daniel Jackson and Colonel Samantha Carter would be richly rewarded." Vala gave Wonk a serious look.
"Uh, huh." Aton said in a skeptical tone.
"Oh, it's true," Sam said with an authoritative smile.
"Yes, as it happens, we Tau'ri can be ridiculously generous." Daniel nodded, stuffing down his distaste for the man.
"Of course you'd have to rescue me too," Vala cautioned with a seductive smile.
"There's always a catch," Aton laughed and drew Vala's face close to the cell bars. Daniel once again stuffed down a desire to pull Vala away from Re Van as he saw him put his hands on her.
To the outward observer Aton was having an impassioned reunion with an old love. But to those in the cell it was clear that no impassioned kisses were being exchanged, only subtle discourse that all were privy to. It was a trade negotiation – a negotiation where Aton held most of the cards.
In the end, the pirate, the former pirate, and the Tau'ris struck an accord and came up with an escape plan. It wasn't an ideal plan, but Aton had just given them the disturbing news that Emeteo had sent him into the cell to kill Daniel Jackson.
"I knew that would be his first move. He's not very bright really is he?" Vala had said with a bit of fury in her eyes. "Well Eme's not too patient so I don't imagine we should draw this out too much longer."
Aton was a bit surprised by his Wonk's strong reaction to the impending death of Dr. Jackson.
Aton told her, "Well I'm afraid the only way to get the three of you off the ship is to split up. I have a shuttle craft in the docking bay. I can take Dr. Jackson out of the cell and down to the bay on the pretext of offing him close to the air lock to flush the corpse. Then we can rig the door and take my craft.
"Oh, I'm loving this plan." Daniel gave Vala a look like she'd been the one to create it. "And what good does it do to be in a shuttle craft out in the middle of open space." Daniel continued a bit sarcastically.
"Oh, I have a ship close by Dr. Jackson. I'd never come aboard Eme's ship without an escape route." He looked at the good doctor pointedly.
Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and said nothing more for the time being.
"I'm afraid we'll have to leave the ladies behind for now. If they're not in their cell when my shuttle disembarks, the alarm would be raised too soon." Re Van said simply.
"And how are they supposed to get off the ship once your shuttle alerts this Emeteo that something's up?" Daniel asked with a little too much fierceness.
Aton looked at Daniel with a little surprise and laughed, "Dr. Jackson, I have to assume that your acquaintance with Ms. Mal Doran is of a very short and limited nature. Getting off this ship will be child's play to my Wonk. I can assure you she was trained by the best." Re Van said in a manner that showed both pride and a lack of concern.
"And just what training are we talking about?" Daniel asked with curiosity.
"Oh, goody, we're going to talk about me some more!" Vala rolled her eyes, "Look we don't have time for this; we don't really have a choice seeing how Aton is supposed to be killing you right now Daniel. Now be a good boy and run along."
"No! You and Sam are coming too!" Daniel practically shouted. He'd had enough of this pirate's casual attitude towards Vala, not to mention Sam's, safety.
"He's going to be a problem; isn't he Wonk?" Aton said casually to Vala and suddenly they all saw a zat in Re Van's hand.
"Aton! There's no need for that!" Vala warned.
"I'm afraid there is. I don't intend to take unnecessary risks on Eme's ship." Re Van hissed.
"I know. We have a deal! Daniel go with Aton. I'm not going to let anything happen to Sam. I promise you that." Vala looked at Daniel and he was struck by the depth of her determination. It frightened him.
"What about you Vala? Are you going to make me the same promise about yourself?" Daniel said grabbing her arm.
Vala smiled, "Of course darling! Now go with Aton!"
"No Vala, we all go together." Daniel said firmly.
"Oh, enough of this!" Re Van said in an annoyed voice as he pointed his zat at Daniel and shot him once.
"Aton! That wasn't necessary!" Vala scowled. "I want him in one piece. You got that?"
Aton rolled his eyes and told Vala, "I make no guarantees."
"Dr. Jackson in one piece, and I can give you a juicy piece of information about a little kassa territory that I'm sure Eme hasn't told anyone about." Vala said urgently.
Aton stopped, "Wonk, what the hell has gotten into you? My ship in one hour; or I'm turning Dr. Jackson over to the Tau'ri without you, and they can sort the rest out."
"Fair enough; Dr. Jackson safely to the Tau'ri and you come back for us, and some sweet little kassa fields get added to the pot." Vala said firmly.
"I didn't say anything about coming back!" Aton announced.
"You OWE me that Aton!" Vala looked at him intently.
"We have a difference of opinion on that." Aton said, but then added, "I'll do what I can." He handed Vala a simple hair clip with which she could pick the cell lock. He opened the cell door and slung Dr. Jackson over his shoulder. Vala had scowled at him, "will you ever trust me with a proper tool for this?"
Aton only laughed as if he was enjoying Vala to the fullest; he slammed the cell door shut behind him. Sam and Vala heard Aton shout, "He's dead. "I'm flushing him out the airlock."