Hi all! I apologize for not having updated this in so long, but life seems to have conspired against me recently. But here is a new chapter for your reading pleasure! Please Read and Review!!!!
As Daniel woke the following morning, his emotions washed over him as in a storm. As he struggled to orient himself to his situation, his thoughts turned to Lady Jessica and his feelings toward her. She was beautiful, yes, Daniel could not deny that. But did he truly love her? Daniel had never believed in love at first sight. He felt that love was something that was learned over time, like trust. As Daniel lay there struggling to understand his feelings a voice came from the corner:
"Love, like a river, will cut a new path whenever it meets an obstacle."
Daniel's eyes flew open. He looked in the direction of the voice. There stood a woman with long dark blonde hair and dressed in a simple off-white suit. Daniel recognized her instantly.
"Oma Desala? What are you doing here?" Daniel said.
"Daniel, it is good to see you," Oma responded. "I am sorry that you were so seriously wounded in the Ori attack, but rest assured that you are under the care of the best physicians available." Oma smiled reassuringly at Daniel, which brought only a small amount of comfort to Daniel.
"Thanks, Oma, it's good to see you too, but you still haven't answered my question: What are you doing here?" Daniel struggled to sit up, wincing in pain as he did so. Oma crossed the room in a fluid motion, helping him to sit up and get comfortable.
"This place is my home, Daniel. In my life, I was born and raised on Vedra. My children still live here," she added.
"Your children?" Daniel questioned skeptically. "I was under the impression that you had been ascended for a lot longer than that."
Oma chuckled. "You and I share several things in common, including the fact that we have both ascended on more than one occasion."
Daniel was dumbstruck by the revelation. "You descended? But how? When?"
"I was cast out by the Others many years ago when I tried to protect a civilization that Anubis was about to destroy. The Others felt that I was interfering with the punishment that they had dealt me when I allowed Anubis to ascend." Oma looked out the window, remembering the incident.
"I never thought that they would be willing, much less capable of doing something that drastic. They always seemed to stay out of your way," Daniel still appeared somewhat doubtful of Oma's revelation.
"Things weren't always that way," Oma replied. "The Others were not always so willing to overlook my actions, especially after my mistake with Anubis. They felt that I could not be trusted to ascend only those who deserved it. All of my decisions were scrutinized. They felt that if they pressured me enough, perhaps I would give up guiding people on the path of Enlightenment. But I didn't give up. The Others began to grow tired of constantly watching over my decisions and seized the opportunity to eliminate me when it presented itself."
"So they got rid of you just because they were tired of babysitting you?" Daniel could barely believe what he was hearing. "That's ridiculous!"
"I agree, Daniel, but what is done is done. I cannot change what has already happened." Oma chuckled softly. "Had I not been cast out, I would have never met my husband, Jeran DeCalla. I also would have never given birth to my two beautiful daughters, Jessica and Elizabeth."
Daniel's mind registered the name immediately. "Lady Jessica? And Dr. DeCalla? Are your daughters?" Daniel's mind reeled at the possibility.
Oma smiled kindly. "Yes, they are my children. Unfortunately, my husband and I succumbed to the Ori plague when they were very little. Jeran's brother, Jacen, took Jessica and Elizabeth before they fell ill and raised them as his own after we had passed."
"You succumbed to the Ori plague?" Daniel was still attempting to fully comprehend the situation.
"Yes," Oma responded. "The Ori have attempted to convert this galaxy many times over the years. They have been every unsuccessful every time." Oma paused for a moment before continuing. "That is part of the reason that I was given so much leeway once I ascended for the second time. It was compensation, of sorts, for falling victim to something that was ultimately the result of their actions."
"How was it their fault?" Daniel asked. "They weren't the ones who unleashed the plague on your people, were they?"
"No," responded Oma. "But were it not for their negligence in dealing with Ori threat, the plague would have never affected my people. You see, Daniel, the Others are afraid of the Ori."
A/N: I think I know where this story is going, but I'm not quite sure how I want to get there. Any suggestions?