Apologies again for the slip in the last chapter - Daniel didn't actually go through the Supergate. Merlin left him and he was beamed out with his team just before the ship, and Adria, crossed the event horizon into the Ori galaxy. Whoops whoops - I must stop writing so late at night! Still, it gave me a great line for Sam :-)
Acknowledgement must also be given to L.M. Montgomery (author of the Anne of Green Gables books, some of my all time favourites) for the idea of the missing 's'!
Tok'ra world, somewhere in the Milky Way
Vala sat in one of the crystalline chambers of the Tok'ra's airy complex. Since the defeat of the Goa'uld, they had started growing their buildings above ground, rather than below, and the effect was glorious. Part of their crystal growth technology had gone into the design and building of the new lunar base dome, which Sam was so thrilled about.
The locals on this world, in awe of the Tok'ra and their architectural skills, had been extremely welcoming. Vala was absentmindedly working her way through something which looked like a peach and tasted like a strawberry; fruit baskets were delivered almost every day. General O'Neill, Vala thought with a grin, would like this world.
The grin faded as she returned her attention to the document in front of her. The desk was cluttered with tablets, artefacts, and bits of parchment, but it was this little piece of paper that had her the most stumped. She had been studying it for hours now, and still she could not say with any certainty that she'd figured it out. Her brow furrowed.
Had he meant to say "Your Daniel" in that intimate way? Could Teal'c's intervention possibly have been that effective? Or, as was more likely, she thought sadly, had he merely been in a terrible hurry, and had just forgotten that 's'? Probably the note should read "Yours, Daniel." Shouldn't it??
Goa'uld dialect texts forgotten, she turned the note around, reached for her magnifying glass and bent over the desk again. So engrossed was she that she didn't hear the sound of running feet outside the door, or the voices raised in agitation. It took the destruction of the tower opposite, in a spectacular eruption of smoke and crystal shards, to break her concentration on the problem in front of her.
***
Mai'lyn, chief librarian for the group, was the first person Vala encountered as she rushed out of her room. The woman was obviously panicking - this attack had not been expected. The Tok'ra, with customary arrogance, had dismissed the threat of the Lucian Alliance, outlined by General Landry the previous day, as having no possible relevance to themselves. In her distress, Mai'lyn struggled with Vala as they collided in the corridor.
"Let me go - ah! We're evacuating to the Stargate," on cue the sirens sounded, " there isn't much time! Come quickly, come come!"
"My things!"
Vala made a move towards the room she'd been working in, but Mai'lyn grabbed her arm. "There is no time! Leave them!"
Vala shook her off. Her mind was full of the stone tablets Daniel had sent through the Gate. She knew how precious those were to him, and she did not want to be in the position of explaining that she had carelessly left them behind, attack or not. Long dark hair flying, she dashed back inside.
Mai'lyn, biting her lip in indecision, hovered in the doorway. Then, as another bolt hit elsewhere in the complex, she screamed and ran away in the direction of the Stargate.
Vala swore a particularly nasty Goa'uld oath under her breath, and began grabbing some of the most valuable tablets. Laden down, she was about to dash out the door after the cowardly Mai'lyn, when her eye was caught by the note from Daniel. Shifting her burden, she stretched out her hand and just got a finger to it... there! She had it!
The hiss of a zat against the back of her head froze her in place. She had time to think "Oh SH..." before the blast knocked her unconscious, the stone tablets shattering on the floor and Daniel's note fluttering down amid the remains.
***
Jaffa World
The Jaffa Council meeting had just broken up. Imposing figures in flowing robes were strolling about the plaza; drinks were being offered and accepted. Cameron Mitchell stood with Teal'c and Bra'tac, chatting about Rya'c's new son ("a fine warrior" according to his fond Grandfather. Cam forbore from pointing out that the baby was not yet three weeks old) and drinking the local delicacy, a fruity tea of sorts.
The meeting had gone well, and the Council had agreed to both engage the Alliance when required and to send ships to protect vulnerable worlds. Mitchell was pleased with the days work, and was thinking about returning to the SGC, when he noticed a runner approaching from the direction of the Stargate, at great speed.
By the time he had pointed him out to Teal'c, and halted Bra'tac's flow of reminisces of Teal'c and Ry'ac as two year old fighters of note, the runner had reached the plaza, and was clasping his knees, panting and obviously trying to find his voice. Something wasn't right. Frowning, Mitchell set off towards the man, Teal'c close behind.
"Colonel Mitchell." The words came out as a gasp. "Message... just came through the Chappa 'ai."
The Jaffa swallowed hard and managed to stand up, regaining some of his composure.
"There has been an attack on your moon base, and the message says to tell you that the Alliance have a new, very powerful weapon. Your best scientists are working on the problem, but have not yet found a solution." Deep breath, and another. Teal'c and Mitchell exchanged grim looks.
"A further message has been forwarded from Stargate Command. The Tok'ra have been hit; they managed to evacuate through the Stargate, but Vala Mal Doran was not with them. The last person to see her has said that she ran back to gather her belongings, and although they waited as long as possible they eventually had to leave through the Gate without her."
This was not received well. From the almost identical frowns on their faces, it was clear that the team mates thoughts on this evacuation, sans Vala, were anything but complimentary. Cameron exhaled strongly.
"Do you have the co-ordinates of this world?"
The Jaffa nodded, presenting him with a slip of paper, which Cam studied quickly.
"That's not too far from here, big guy, we can be there in a matter of hours."
Teal'c's face was set and his expression thunderous.
"Let us hope we find them still there, Colonel Mitchell, and Vala Mal Doran unharmed." His tone made it clear that a world of hurt awaited the Lucian Alliance should this not be the case.
"Well, I'm betting they'll be trying to offload kassa onto the locals. Let's go and break that transaction up, hmm?" Cam turned back to the exhausted messenger.
"Once you've had a bit of a breather, please take this message back to the Gate and get it sent to the SGC." He thought briefly.
"Tell them Teal'c and I are on our way, and we'll bring her back. The moment they have a working counter-measure, get the details through to us."
The Jaffa runner nodded. His breathing now even, he refused the offer of a drink, and turned immediately back to the Gate.
"Master Bra'tac!"
In a few brief words, Teal'c briefed the older Jaffa on the new situation. His expression tense, Bra'tac moved to re-summon the Council, to inform them of the weapon being wielded in the galaxy with such devastating effect. Cameron had already negotiated the use of an Al'kesh; by the time Teal'c had taken his leave of his former teacher, the ship was ready to go. Barely half an hour had elapsed since the news had come through the Gate. Cam, operating the controls, hoped desperately that this meant they'd be there in time.