LIBERTINES AND LIBERATION
CHAPTER 37 -- The Tail of the Stingray
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, with some language and sexually graphic material.
Author's Note: This is my first Stargate fiction. Thanks E, for the beta assist. This story will have multiple chapters.
I normally don't review the previous chapters of this work, but I had to look a couple of things up in previous chapters. So, previously in Libertines and Liberation:
Chapter 28 (Indian Food):
"I was noticing your bracelet earlier, may I?" Daniel asked Vala already starting to examine it. The charm bracelet was gold and looked very old. The charms included several depictions of circles and smaller squares. In the center was a small gold charm that appeared to be a woman wearing a long skirt. The woman was barefoot and bare breasted. She was flexing both arms and appeared to hold a snake in each hand.
"Vala, where did you get this bracelet?" Daniel asked with a great deal of curiosity. It was obviously a very old artifact of some nature. And truth be known, he was disturbed to see it on Vala's wrist; it should be in a museum. Daniel thought it was obvious that she'd stolen it.
"It was my mother's bracelet. It's one of the only things I still have of my mother's so I rarely wear it." Vala answered.
Chapter 29 (Ishta's Village/Two Hours Ago)
"The last time I procured the tritonen supplies from the Tok'ra, I could not meet their price, could not obtain all we needed. And as I left, I met Oswan; he and I were of one spirit, or so I thought." Nesa shook her head. "He told me that he had other tritonen sources and that we could purchase the tritonen with an agreement for next seasons yields. And I did so." Nesa said . . . .
"Daniel" Vala called. "Daniel it's the tritonen, there's something about the tritonen and a Tok'ra called Oswan, but I recognized the voice, Daniel." Vala called from her shaking ledge . . . .
"I was following Nesa." Then, Vala explained what she had seen. And as she finished she remembered where she had heard the voice of the silhouette that had stranded her on the ledge. "Daniel, the Tok'ra that Nesa knew as Oswan was Las Pul'gas!" Vala exclaimed in realization of where she had heard the voice before.
And now on to the new chapter of the story . . .
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The Wearing of the Green
Jack had been knocked out last night, possibly drugged, and Vala's room had been searched; it meant that someone in Katana was clearly interested in them. Interested wasn't good in Kat, Katana no matter who it was. And then there was Aton Re Van's warning.
Jack and Vala were supposed to meet with Ruznak and inspect her new spacecraft later this morning. But Vala did not want to use the Tulla Tulla Wi entrance to Ruznak's tunnels today. For one thing, she didn't want to hang out at the Tulla Tulla Wi that long. There was too high a risk that they were now being watched. Vala knew about a second entrance to the tunnels about a half an hour walk down the beach.
Vala handed a traditional grey Katana robe to an extremely hung over and bruised Jack. Such robes were used instead of overcoats by the locals of Katana and Vala wanted to blend in with the locals this morning. They quietly vacated their rooms at the Tulla Tulla Wi as soon as Jack could move out.
"Get these robes with your five finger discount did ya?" Jack said as he trudged down the fog shrouded beach and tried for a look of amusement in praise of Vala's resourcefulness; instead, he only managed to look green. I'm getting too old for this shit, Jack thought.
In fact, Vala had snatched the robes out of the coat room at the Tulla Tulla Wi. But Vala only smiled and shrugged in reply to the impertinent question, it was an emergency after all.
They made their way down the beach; Jack felt every step pounding into his head and stomach as his hangover took serious hold of him. They couldn't enter Ruznak's tunnels until the designated time so they were sitting on the beach and enjoying the view disguised as Katana locals. Jack was seriously considering cutting off his head as a remedy for the ache that was sickening him, so he'd take sitting.
"Okay Vala this early morning jaunt to the beach surely qualifies as a ring of hell when you do it with a hangover. What the hell happened last night?"
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The Night Before Jack Turned Green
Vala entered Vinto's office without knocking and was immediately pinned to the wall by strong arms that reached out from behind the door. She felt the air being knocked out of her lungs as the back of her head hit the wall.
"Easy there Shiltik, I didn't say rough treatment. That's enough! Wait outside," Aton Re Van instructed his man as he walked towards where Shiltik had Vala pinned to the wall.
"Hello Wonk," Aton greeted her as he pressed a kiss to her lips and wrapped her up tightly in his arms.
"Hello Aton," Vala said smelling the familiar combination of expensive perfume and leather and ignoring both her revulsion and the flick of tongue that Aton made across Vala's lips to initiate a deeper greeting.
Aton studied Vala as if she were a vessel he had handcrafted. Stroking her hand and overlooking the subtle rejection Aton cooed, "You look as beautiful as ever Wonk."
"Thanks," Vala said in an uninterested voice as she pushed out of Aton's embrace and seated herself in a chair. "You look well too Aton."
"So I save your ass from Emeteo and then you disappear for months. Now, it seems your name is in the wind everywhere," Aton replied.
"I could say the same thing about you Aton," Vala grinned and shrugged. "It's not like you to take up with a snakehead; tsk, tsk, tsk." Vala shook her finger at the handsome Re Van.
"Oh you heard about that did you," Aton laughed. "Well you arranged that nice kassa field; I go there and who feels entitled but that loathsome Las Pul'gas," Aton rolled his eyes. "It's purely a business arrangement, until such time as I can make OTHER arrangements."
"Well you should see to that soon Wonk, people are talking as if you've swallowed the Koolaid," Vala said using Earth slang that made Aton raise a puzzled eyebrow.
"Huhhh?"
Vala sighed loudly, "People are saying you're supporting Las Pul'gas' bid to run the Lucian Alliance."
"Are they really," Aton laughed. "Well looks can be deceiving."
"Well looks might end up getting you killed!" Vala shook her head.
Aton laughed, "I didn't know you cared so much Wonk."
"You're more useful to me alive than dead," Vala said flatly. "Besides I'm glad to hear that you're not in league with a Goa'uld."
"Tok'ra, Wonk, Tok'ra," Aton corrected.
Vala scowled, "So he claims." She shook her head, "You are allowing Las Pul'gas free reign with the kassa production?"
"I've given him a field or two for some experiment he insisted on," Aton said in an uninterested fashion.
"What experiment?" Vala looked suspiciously at Aton.
"Oh, I don't know Wonk, does it matter," Aton said in an irritated voice.
"Yes! In this case it matters believe it or not; there are some lines that even the space pirates you deal with take a dim view of crossing. And assisting a snakehead, any snakehead, even a Tok'ra, to gain power over large groups of humans seems to be a very bright line not to be crossed without detriment to your health. Aton, since when did you get so careless?"
"Oh, that's rich Wonk, weren't you the sobbing, beaten woman I pulled Emeteo's fingers out of a few months ago?"
Vala paled at the crass remark, "I was handling that! Don't change the subject!"
"And what exactly is the subject," Aton asked with sarcastic sweetness.
"The subject is whether you've betrayed your own people after all the death and destruction that occurred getting these damn snakeheads out of power," Vala practically yelled at Aton.
"No! Hell no!"
"Do you know how your kassa was altered Aton?"
"My kassa; that experiment was already underway when I took those fields over from Emeteo!" Aton's eyes narrowed in indignation, but then he added in a calmer voice, "Las Pul'gas was very secretive about what he was doing. The season ended, he harvested and that was that."
"He laced tretonin with that altered kassa, Aton. And then he supplied laced tretonin to a Free Jaffa village," Vala told him hotly. "They all nearly died; some did die!"
"Since when do you care about Free Jaffa," Aton asked with an incredulous look on his face.
"On this subject Aton, I assure you I have ALWAYS cared! Do you forget how we came to be acquainted? I hate the Goa'uld and I have little trust for the Tok'ra in spite of their claims that they do not force hosts."
"When I met you, the Tok'ra had just rescued you from the Goa'uld. Now I grant you that they weren't too careful when they left you to be tortured by your father's people, but that could have been an honest mistake. And how do you know Las Pul'gas was involved with this tainted tretonin, I certainly don't know if tretonin had anything to do with that kassa."
"Aton, I saw Las Pul'gas on the Free Jaffa planet; I heard him discuss supplying the tretonin outside of regular Tok'ra supply chains. I know he did it!" Vala looked hotly at Aton with accusing eyes.
If it had been anyone else speaking to him in this manner, Aton Re Van might have simply shot them for their insolence. He had certainly taken that course in the past. But Vala Mal Doran had always been different. It was important to Aton Re Van that Vala remain on good terms with him.
"For the record, I did not know what Las Pul'gas had in mind for his experimental crop; but even if I had there was little choice. Las Pul'gas was at the fields, some prior arrangement with Emeteo; and, he had plenty of men with him to back up his claims to the fields."
"There is always a choice Aton; you could have contacted me with the Tau'ri." Vala said more calmly.
Aton snorted in reply. "Since when do I run to Vala Mal Doran for assistance in fighting my battles?"
"Well you didn't fight any battles did you? And what's wrong with asking me for help?" Vala flashed Aton a hard look before letting out a frustrated sigh and asking, "Did you manage to get a sample of Las Pul'gas' kassa?"
"Why do you ask," Aton said with suppressed anger.
"Aton I have friends in the village that he poisoned. Did you get a sample?"
"Yes! I have samples of the altered kassa," Aton said. "I took them as an insurance policy."
Vala smiled and nodded. "Wonk, you're going to provide me with one of those samples – and you're going to provide it tonight."
"Wonk, you've gotten awfully bossy, you used to be so sweet and submissive," Aton goaded. "I don't happen to have them on me."
"I was never sweet and submissive," Vala looked at him pointedly. "Where are they?"
"Say I provide you this sample, what's in it for me," Aton asked warily.
"Aton, we are friends, how about you give it to me based just on that?"
Aton laughed at Vala and tweaked her chin. "I see Dr. Jackson has turned you into a fantasist. Care to join me in the real world," Aton said. "What is in it for me?"
"Aton, you allowed me to leave you without killing me; and I have been grateful for that mercy. I have always rewarded that mercy with some extremely good fortune on more than one occasion have I not?"
"Yes, Vala you have been quite a bit more profitable to me alive than you would have been if I had killed you when you insisted upon leaving my ship."
Vala stood and looked Aton directly in the eyes. "And I can continue to be your lucky charm, but you must be honest with me and give me the sample."
"What kind of luck are you talking about," Aton asked greedily.
"I've thrown your name in the hat as a candidate of sorts. If you're a good boy, and get my sample all will be explained in due course. But first, you must trust me Aton, as I have trusted you."
Vala gave Aton Re Van a very sincere smile, one he had rarely seen from her. He couldn't help but soften his expression and smile back.
Aton wasn't sure what Vala had in mind, but she had always led him to good fortune and profit. It was ironic considering how unlucky their acquaintance had been for her at times.
"Wonk, why are you not still with the acerbic Dr. Jackson? That Tau'rian was quite infatuated with you. And you seemed quite taken with him as well. What happened? This new Tau'ri, Joaquin, what is he to you?"
"Aton, get me the kassa sample, and I will let you meet my Joaquin and judge for yourself," Vala smiled seductively without answering his questions.
Aton pondered all the possibilities and then said, "Well Wonk, I'll get you the sample, but it may not be in my best interests to hand deliver it to you. I'm not the only one interested in your visit to Kat. I understand that Las Pul'gas knows you are in Kat and may make a move on you," Aton lied rather convincingly he thought.
"Why? Why would Las Pul'gas care about me," Vala asked, secretly doubting Aton.
"That I do not know," Aton confessed.
"Aton we go back a long time," Vala told him.
"True Wonk, too true," Aton agreed.
"I have enhanced your coffers on many occasions and pulled you out of countless scrapes," Vala continued.
"As I have you," Aton countered somewhat defensively.
"I'm not debating that Aton, I'm pointing out that if there is trust between us, I can continue to bring you good fortune," Vala smiled winningly.
"Wonk I appreciate that and I think that continued trust can be negotiated. But all I can tell you about this Kat situation is that you should take your leave of the Tulla Tulla Wi as soon as possible and leave Katana," Aton warned.
Vala was surprised at how adamant Aton's warning seemed to be.
"Aton, why do I get the feeling that there's more to this?"
"Vala, why do I get the feeling that your Joaquin is more that just a simple thief?"
"If I am to leave Katana, then you must arrange to get the kassa sample to this Stargate address," Vala smiled, ignored his question and wrote down a gate address on a piece of paper she found on Vinto's desk. "Send it along with this message," Vala instructed as she wrote a series of numbers down on a second sheet of paper.
Aton walked over to Vala and yanked her up from the chair. He held her around the waist and looked deep into her silvery blue eyes giving her a charming warm little smile, "And when will you be in touch about my profitable luck?"
"I have a plan that needs some tweaking, and then I will find you when the time is right," Vala smiled. "You have to trust me Aton; it will be profitable; it will be very profitable."
"Alright, I'll trust you, but remember I have a temper when crossed," Aton warned and then gentled his tone as he lightly kissed Vala's cheek. "Take care of my beautiful Wonk," Aton said softly as he left Vinto's office.
Vala stood there for a minute feeling confused by Aton's gentle touch; it had been a long time since she'd seen anything of that gentle side of the man. Why now, after all this time, she wondered.
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Sonny
"Hello Ruznak," Jack said as they sat in the secret room of Ruznak's tunnel structure.
"What happened to Silver Joaquin's face," Ruznak asked walking up to Jack and running a hand over the bruising.
Jack winced and pulled back.
"Unfortunate disagreement over Vantinian," Vala purred.
"I thought you told me that Tau'ri Silvers exercised great wisdom," Ruznak almost smirked.
Jack could only manage a weak smile; he didn't have the brain cells to spare for this snarky banter.
"We're anxious to take Sonny up for a test run," Vala exclaimed and hoped Ruznak would accept that without further questioning.
"Vala, the word is that you spoke to Aton Re Van last night," Ruznak eyed her suspiciously.
Vala smiled as she realized that Vinto was not as reliable as he once was. Vala was pissed, but she was left with no choice but to confess to Ruznak and hope for the best.
"Yes, Aton Re Van sought me out. We have a past history as business colleagues; you know that, Ruz. He tells me that Kat might not be good for my well being; you wouldn't know anything about that would you Ruz?"
"He's lying! I am very protective of my clients while they are my clients. I have not heard anything about Alliance factions hunting for you in Kat! Have you been discrete Vala?" Ruznak gave her a scrutinizing look.
"Do you have faith in Vinto's ability to screen," Vala challenged.
"I do," Ruznak told her. "Vinto well knows the consequences of crossing me."
"Then I have been very discrete," Vala nodded confidently.
"Well I have heard nothing. It is not the Alliance after you. Perhaps it is someone from your colorful past -- if anyone at all is in fact after you," Ruznak stated with confidence.
"Ruz, my room was searched last night," Vala said.
"Was there anything to be found," Ruznak asked with self interest thinly veiled.
Vala rolled her eyes at him, "Of course not, Ruz. I'm not an idiot; there wasn't anything of interest I assure you."
"Are you sure it was not Re Van himself that searched your rooms," Ruznak asked.
"I can't be certain," Vala said slowly. She thought it unlikely that Re Van would search her rooms, and if he had searched, he wouldn't have left a mess so easily discovered.
"Well I shall keep my men to the ground to determine any additional information; it is odd," Ruznak told her. He did not do this out of the goodness of his heart, but rather because he trusted Vala not to bring thugs near him. She might steal him blind, but she would not place him in undue harm, at least not unnecessarily.
"Does it impact us today," Vala asked with a bright smile.
"Do you have access to your naquedah," Ruznak asked a bit suspiciously.
"Would we be here if we didn't? Indeed we do," Jack told him channeling Teal'c.
"So Ruz, lets take our Sonny up for a test run yes," Vala raised an eyebrow.
"As you wish," Ruznak smiled.
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Sonny, as Vala's spacecraft was known, was extremely fast and shaped like a stingray. The shell of the ship was black with window ports randomly placed so that it took on an almost polka dotted pattern.
The bridge was located in the stinger tail of the ship. As counter intuitive as it seems to have the bridge, the command center of the ship, in the tail, it provided a great deal of flexibility in surveying the space surrounding the ship.
The tail section could be maneuvered up over the top of the ship. That meant the bridge could sit above or in front of the ship. Likewise the tail could be maneuvered down under the ship or to either side. It provided the maximum potential of protecting the ship's command center and important personnel.
The bridge could also be maneuvered into several defensive positions covered by the rest of the ship. Additionally, the stinger section had auxiliary systems so that it could detach and fly separately from the main body of the ship, which could also fly separately.
Ruznak had told them that Sonny was taken when the bridge couplings failed to disengage after heavy fire. Ruznak had made significant improvements to those couplings per Vala's instructions. But Ruznak had also warned that pilot skill was extremely important to Sonny's success in a fire fight.
Sonny's body was stingray-like complete with a slight bulge on the top, which could be expanded for additional concealed compartments.
"Ah, like a pop up camper," Jack had quipped to confused looks from Vala and Ruznak.
The auxiliary bridge was located in Sonny's main body in the concealed area to avoid detection of the controls. The "wings" of the ray adjusted up or down for loading cargo from ground, air or sea. Five sets of rings were located throughout the ship. The ship was equipped with autopilot settings which could accommodate a one or two man crew.
Vala smiled as she rubbed her hand over the leather seats installed on the bridge. The four chairs were upholstered in embossed leather with a purple, pink and chartreuse paisley pattern and contrasting chartreuse piping. Vala touched the clear purple resin-like bubbles on the gear head controls of the bridge.
"Wow! Ruznak, these seats are," Vala began not sure what to say; the pattern was a complete surprise.
Ruznak suddenly looked like an excited little kid rather than a hardened thief, fence, and chop shop owner with ties to the Alliance. "I know! They're amazing. I had them done just for you! And here." Ruznak held up a leather minidress with big cut outs over the back and stomach. The dress was made of the same paisley patterned, embossed leather.
Vala laughed, "I love it Ruz!'
"Wait, there's boots too!" Ruznak handed her a pair of purple and pink leather stiletto boots that matched the purples and pinks in the paisley pattern.
"I want to see it on you," Ruznak exclaimed excitedly.
"Looks like Katana has found its first metrosexual, and Ruznak has found a life size Barbie doll to dress up," Jack whispered to Vala with a smirk.
Vala raised an eyebrow at Jack and dutifully went to try on the outfit.
Jack held back further comment, amused at the attention to the décor. Paying for a matching captain's outfit, that's a first for Uncle Sam he thought.
"Ruznak, you've done an excellent job!" Vala twirled in the tight leather outfit that made her look like a raven haired Barbarella.
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"Sonny handles like a dream," Vala said as she maneuvered the bridge unit up, down and to either side of the ship.
"Everything seems to be working wonderfully," Vala beamed out a megawatt grin as she finished testing the features she had discussed adding to the ship.
"Very impressive," Jack complimented Ruznak after taking his turn at the controls and getting a feel for the ship. Jack restrained himself from patting Ruznak's back, remembering his culture's prohibition against uninvited touch by another male.
Ruznak smiled and held out a hand to Jack. "So are you ready to make final payment?"
"What do you say Joaquin," Vala smiled at Jack.
"Looks good," Jack nodded.
"Okay Ruz," Vala smiled. "You must have a cloaked ship around here somewhere, right?"
"Yup," Ruznak agreed not even batting an eye at Vala's knowledge of his cloaked insurance policy against clients moving to hyperspace without full payment.
"Would you like to enter the coordinates or shall I," Vala inquired.
"I'll do it," Ruznak rolled his eyes at the question.
"Alright, Joaquin enter the code for the locator beacon on the naquedah payment," Vala instructed as she prepared to cloak Sonny from Ruznak's crew.
"Ruz, signal your ship to engage their rings," Vala instructed.
Several minutes later Ruznak's crew had verified that the remainder of the naquedah had been ringed up from somewhere on Katana's surface and that full payment had been made.
"Ruz, it was lovely to see you," Vala smiled and kissed him lightly on the lips. "Thank you for my lovely outfit."
"Silver Tau'ri, do not expire from Vala's vigorous reward of your part in securing this prize for her," Ruznak laughed and slapped Jack's back.
"Yeah, Ruz, I'll try not to; it was great meeting ya," Jack said.
And with a final wave, Ruznak activated the rings and transported to his own ship.
"He likes you," Vala teased Jack.
"Vala, you should definitely wear this little leather outfit for Daniel, like I said, he had a big crush on Barbarella," Jack told her.
"I'll keep that in mind Joaquin," Vala smirked. "You know I could send word back to your buddy Ruznak to make you a leather outfit just like this if you like it so much Jack. We could cut out the butt cheeks for a little more skin?" Vala laughed and gave Jack a little growl.
"No, no! One leather outfit is plenty for me. I get cold easily and besides, I think everyone would prefer to see your skin to mine," Jack smirked.
"True enough, but I suspect Samantha will be disappointed," Vala laughed as she cloaked Sonny and engaged the hyperdrive to move them out of range of Ruznak's ship. It wasn't that Vala did not trust Ruznak. He'd proven remarkably reliable. Vala just followed a certain protocol whether it was a friend or foe. It was safer that way.
They still had no idea who was pursuing them on Kat, but Vala had contacted a couple of trusted contacts in addition to the feelers they had placed through Ruznak. No one had heard of any Lucian Alliance faction actively searching for Vala and Jack on Kat, Katana. So who was searching for her?
Vala and Jack set a course for the Omicron site, about a three day journey from Kat.
After a couple of hours, Vala pulled out of hyperspace. She'd changed into black pants and t shirt.
"Okay Jack, now we need to check that Ruznak didn't add any tracking devices on Sonny boy." Vala pulled out a variety of scanners. "This one is a naquedah tracer," Vala started running the diagnostics. "It detects all kinds of Goa'uld tracers."
"I've seen this one before," Jack said picking up another scanner and punching in the sequences to run the appropriate scans.
"These two scanners check for lesser known, more obscure tracking devices," Vala explained as she started the other two odd looking scanners.
"Where'd you get all this stuff from?"
"Picked them up on Katana last night," Vala smiled.
"So Jack, we need to pick up a small, reliable crew," Vala told him.
"A crew? No way, we'll cloak Sonny and leave it in a geosynchronous orbit," Jack told her.
"That's pretty risky with such an expensive piece of equipment not to mention the diminished flexibility," Vala told him.
"For now, that's what we're doing, at least until we figure out a reliable crew contingent."
The last of the scanners beeped clear. No tracers detected.
"Alright, now we're in business Joaquin," Vala grinned as she re-engaged the hyperdrive and set in a new course.
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Coded Corn
Teal'c spotted Colonel Mitchell and General Landry outside the briefing room.
"General Landry." "Colonel Mitchell." Teal'c greeted them. "May I have a word with you both in private?"
"Of course," General Landry said gesturing that they should all accompany him into the briefing room.
"I have had word from Brae'tac. He requires my immediate assistance, and I would like to leave through the chappa'ai within the hour to render assistance."
"Do you know what he needs Teal'c," General Landry asked.
"I do not," Teal'c admitted.
"Well, you better go find out what Master Brae'tac needs," General Landry smiled. "Let us know if we can render assistance."
"Thank you General Landry," Teal'c said as he headed to his quarters to change into his Jaffa robes.
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Brae'tac and Teal'c sat in Ishta's home on Ishta's new world looking at the strange sample of kassa that had been sent through the chappa'ai with only a note that listed a series of numbers.
"Do you know where this sample came from old friend," Teal'c asked Brae'tac. In spite of the fact that Teal'c was now approximately 20 years older than Brae'tac since being stuck in the Odyssey time dilation field, he still deferred to Brae'tac with the respect due his mentor and elder.
"I do not know Teal'c," Brae'tac confessed. "But given that it is kassa, I thought I should contact you."
"I believe the code to be an old SG-1 code, but I cannot be certain," Teal'c said.
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Cameron, Sam and Daniel were greeted by Teal'c at the chappa'ai.
"Thank you for coming," Teal'c greeted them all.
"I have received an interesting sample from Brae'tac," Teal'c explained showing them the kassa sample and the note.
"Teal'c this is the first individual code we gave to Vala," Daniel smiled. "She must have sent the sample through the gate!"
"Or she arranged to have it sent through the gate in a manner she felt Teal'c would identify," Sam smiled.
"Yeah, that's possible," Daniel agreed.
"So let's analyze it," Cameron said.
"I'm going to have to take it back to the SGC to work on it," Sam said. "I think we need to have Dr. Lam take a look at the sample too in order to compare it with the blood samples from the victims in Ishta's village.
"Where did this come from I wonder," Sam said.
"I guess we'll find out when she gets back," Cameron said.
"I guess she couldn't risk revealing her connection to this sample or she needed a quick and simple way to identify the sample that wouldn't compromise her source," Daniel speculated.
"Will you allow me to take the sample back to the SGC for testing," Teal'c asked Brae'tac.
"Of course," Brae'tac agreed.
"If this sample proves to be connected with the poisoning of the tretonin supply in Ishta's village, I owe Vala Mal Doran a debt of gratitude," Teal'c said.
"We'll know what it is soon," Sam said. "But I think for now we need only say that we received the sample from Brae'tac. That will protect Vala and the source."
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Daniel's Bliss
Vala had been off world with Jack for more than a week. For Daniel, after so recently admitting that he was in love with Vala, it was agony. His entire body longed for her constantly.
Dr. Jackson wrote the prescription for his drug of choice – the drug he had abused for years -- as the remedy to this new ailment: non-stop work. If he could concentrate on his work, the want would subside. This prescription had always diminished his desires in the past. But the prescribed work was falling short of curing this particular affliction.
Daniel's longing for Vala was palpable. Closing his eyes brought vivid thoughts of being inside of Vala, the feel, the sight, the sounds and scents. Except it was an agonizing pale second to the real experience. And it made Daniel's guts twist with wanting her. It made him miss her with a deep spiritual, emotional and physical need.
Daniel shook his head at the irony of his situation. He'd spent months, years really, telling Vala to leave him alone. Now that he had gotten his former wish, it was the last thing he wanted.
So Daniel resigned himself to taking frequent erotic solace in replaying making love to Vala. He remembered their first time, sex the morning after and all their subsequent nights together. He smiled at the memory of Vala's recent incursion into his office when, without a word, she'd closed the door, dropped between his legs and taken him with her mouth. He smiled at that one, thinking of his initial shock quickly swallowed up in his excitement at watching Vala.
Daniel replayed all the days and nights they had passed expressing this newly admitted love. The images of Vala arching in climax were favorites for Daniel that he came back to over and over again. As Daniel sat in his office languidly running fingers through his own hair, with an arching, moaning Vala on his mind, a phrase popped into his head.
Daniel's mouth dropped open. How had he missed this until now? How many times he had brought Vala to climax and he'd never noticed her erotic quirk! Of course, he was usually preoccupied and aroused when Vala climaxed. He was too distracted to operate as a linguist and analyze Vala's words.
But he had time to hear her words now that he was replaying her climaxes over and over in his mind. Each time Vala came for Daniel, she uttered the same phrase, "Je suis la chiave . . . Je suis la chiave faite seulement per voi." He'd heard it dozens of times, but until now had been too fuzzy headed to focus on it.
The linguist in Daniel took over; the phrase sounded partially like French and partially like Italian, but he could not be certain that the phrase had the same meaning. He translated it applying a combination of French and Italian syntax rules to it. If Daniel was correct, the phrase translated to "I am the key; I am the key made only for you."
The phrase had a near Pavlovian affect on Daniel sending jolts of arousal rushing through him. He longed to touch his woman. As a linguist, Daniel was intrigued by the odd syntax of the phrase. He wanted to know where this mixed up language originated. As a man, Daniel was intrigued that the phrase consistently popped into his lover's mouth at such an intimate moment. He wanted to know why she said it to him; what it meant to her and whether she had ever said it to anyone else.
There were so many mysteries surrounding Vala and her past, Daniel thought. And really there was no better time to research Vala's mysteries since he couldn't get her off his mind anyway. Daniel headed to Vala's quarters to take another look at the intriguing charm bracelet, with its little half naked woman holding the snakes, and the beautiful hair combs. Vala wouldn't like it, but there were so many questions that needed to be answered.