Chapter 1

2015 - The Beginning.

Teal'c walked slowly through the imposing halls of the main temple on Dakara. The structure was immense and peaceful – it's quiet dignity always a balm to the busy, experienced ex-warrior. The Free Jaffa Council had grown in both numbers, integrity and stability over the last few years – the planets that came under their protection now thrived both culturally and economically. It had been a long, hard journey but everything had been worth it in the end.

Several fellow members of the Council acknowledged Teal'c as he passed, with a nod or a quiet greeting. One or two conversed for longer – discussing future events or points raised in recent meetings. He patiently took time for everyone who needed him – it was the best part of an hour after leaving the main chambers when he eventually entered his own spacious quarters.

Teal'c's main room looked remarkably similar to his old one at the SGC, years ago, except on a larger scale. A wide, low bed, several tables and chests and many, many candles covering most of the surfaces. Long drapes, coloured in burgundy, bronze and peacock blue hung against the walls – it was a beautiful room. Teal'c often thought that if he could put a TV and DVD player into it, and possibly a small fridge freezer, then life would be complete. He smiled to himself. In a way he was glad that this was not possible, it meant than when he spent time back at the SGC - which he still did on a fairly regular basis – then he really appreciated things like ice cream and doughnuts and TV. He also appreciated the time that he could spend with the friends that he still had there too.

Colonel Cameron Mitchell was the only member of Teal'c's old team who was employed full time at the SGC. He still headed up SG-1, but a different motley band hailed by that great name these days. There were a total of six on the team now – after many years, the fact that SG-1 always seemed to get into trouble more often than any other team had been duly noted and their numbers increased. Although, much to Colonel Mitchell's disgust, he hardly ever seemed to get into mischief these days. He kept telling Teal'c that he couldn't remember the last time he'd been to the infirmary, other than for a routine post-mission check.

Daniel, at long last, had gone to Atlantis. He'd left not long after Vala had – the rest of his old team knew that he would never admit it, but the loss of the feisty alien was probably the main instigator. When the city managed to return to the Pegasus galaxy, Daniel went with it. Another galaxy was now the recipient of the archaeologist's massive Ancient knowledge and grouchy, grudging personality. If he ever missed Vala, then it was something that he didn't admit to anyone. Every few months he would come back through the Stargate to meet up with Mitchell, and Teal'c if they could all co-ordinate it, and they'd head to O'Malleys. There Daniel and Mitchell would usually get rather intoxicated and Teal'c would bring them home to sleep it off in the SGC guest rooms.

If the George Hammondwas in town then Colonel Carter would join them, and if she was there then you could bet that her General was too.

O'Neill had proposed to Samantha Carter not long after she'd got her commission on the X-304 and they'd been married just a few months later.

"No point in hanging around at my age," Jack had said, looking as pleased and happy as any of them had ever seen him. And a year later the couple had been blessed with the arrival of little Jacob Jonathan George who looked exactly like his mother but behaved just like his dad. O'Neill was a very proud and part–retired father, while his wife spent her working life whizzing between galaxies and star systems.

The only member of the team who had never been back was Vala. As promised, she hadn't just run away, like she might have done previously in her career. She'd worked out her notice before going off to the Alpha site and staying there for a few months. Vala had once confessed to Teal'c that she missed Daniel beyond measure, even though she was the one who had left the SGC first. When the Hammond had been in range of the Alpha site on one occasion the alien had hitched a lift over to Kelowna where she'd hung out with Jonas Quinn for a month or two, before heading off towards the trading planets on the edge of the Canis Major Dwarf galaxy.

Teal'c believed that as far as anyone at the SGC were concerned they were now unable to contact her, thinking that she had lost touch with everyone on her old team.

This was not strictly true however –every few months an ancient and battered Tel'tak would drop down onto a Dakaran landing base and Vala would appear suddenly in Teal'c's home for a day or two before disappearing again.

The Jaffa had initially been concerned when she left the SGC that the relationship which she and Daniel had enjoyed onboard the Odyssey for over fifty years would never come to pass in this timeline. However, his many years of experience had served to encourage the wise warrior – as O'Neill had once told him "What goes around, comes around." Teal'c rather thought that this meant – if it happened before it'll happen again. The fact that neither Daniel nor Vala ever mentioned each other only served to encourage him that it would all work out in the end. After all, two people who were clearly so in love that they couldn't even mention the other without fear of showing real emotion would surely make their peace one day? That was Teal'c's belief and he was sticking with it.

And talk of the devil, as the Tau'ri say – when the Jaffa left his suite of rooms an hour or so later, and headed towards the market place, what should he see but the aforementioned beat up Tel'tak, sitting just outside the borders of the city. He barely had time to register the sight before two arms snaked around his waist from behind and a husky, familiar voice said "Hello Muscles! Miss me?"

"Indeed I did, ValaMalDoran." Smiling, the Jaffa carefully removed the arms and turned towards his old team mate.

She grinned up at him and bit her lip, eyes crinkling with merriment. Apart from a few extra smile lines she hadn't changed since the first time that she'd walked backwards into the SGC. Unless you considered her hair color, obviously – the arrival of more and more grey hairs had led to drastic consequences and the liberal use of hair dye. It was shorter too – hanging not far below her shoulders now, but still luxurious and buoyant.

"So," Vala linked her arm with the Jaffa's well-muscled one, "how's it hanging? That's what the Tau'ri say, isn't it? What's up?"

"Not very much is up," Teal'c led her slowly across the market place towards his home. "The Jaffa Council meets regularly and encounters little opposition. The planets under our protection appear to be running themselves with minimal problems and we have had no problems with the Lucian Alliance." He paused. "How are things on the edge of the galaxy?"

"Fine," Vala twirled a strand of hair around her finger as she walked. "No problems over there either, although the Alliance are making a mess of systems close by." She frowned. "If there ever is any trouble, I mean – if they ever come, or find me or anything .."

"Your charges will be safe here," Teal'c reassured her. "I am sure that you can run an orphanage on Dakara as easily as you do on Semjata."

Nodding, Vala squeezed her old friend's arm. "It just worries me, that's all," she told him. "I mean, whoever would have thought that I'd be sensible enough to look after other peoples' children? Or to run a legitimate business? I wouldn't have thought so myself, to be honest with you Muscles. I mean, it's not really the sort of career that you go into after being a pirate for so long really, is it? I'm sure there's probably a law against it somewhere!"

Teal'c merely smiled as she babbled away.

Vala continued, barely drawing breath. "Just imagine if the others could see me now! They'd wonder what pills I'd been taking, wouldn't they? They'd think I'd swapped my brains with somebody else – somebody normal and boring!"

"You could never be described as boring, ValaMalDoran," the Jaffa reminded her, looking down at his friend. "Nor do I believe that I could ever call you normal."

Chuckling, the pair reached Teal'c's door and entered.

After leaving Jonas and Kelowna, Vala had landed on the small trading planet of Semjata merely for an engine over haul, or so she planned. Embarking on a card game in the local tavern, however, she had won what she thought was a riverfront palace.

It turned out to be a close-to-the-river, dilapidated and run-down large building which was home to two aged matrons and about a dozen orphaned or abandoned children between the ages of one and fourteen.

Vala was lost as soon as the first chubby toddler grabbed her around the knees and clung on, beaming. Eyes prickling, she had seen in the youngsters around her versions of her own younger self – unloved and left alone. The ex-pirate had ditched her plans, called in all the favors she was owed and set up as owner and manager of what was now the Semjata City Young People's Educational Facility and Home. Of course, not all aspects of the education taught there were strictly speaking 'traditional' ones – the young people who left Vala's care were well versed in how to read Gou'ald, pick locks and win at several types of card game.

"I have to make sure that they're prepared for everything life throws at them," she had told Teal'c previously. And so they were – several had gone on to join forces with the Free Jaffa, more had entered useful employment as apprentices to different trades – one was even thinking of entering the priesthood.

"Even a priest should know how to play cards," Vala had smiled, benevolently.

Teal'c had never told his friend how extremely proud he was of her, and all that she had achieved. She was the one who he had worried most about when the team had begun to split up – he realized now just how great Vala's inner strength and stamina really was. Of course, she was always going to be slightly off kilter – that's what being host to a Gou'ald would do to you – but otherwise the loyal Jaffa had no sleepless nights over his friend.

Settling back on one of Teal'c's soft, luxuriant sofas after dinner that evening Vala sighed with contentment. "I meant to ask you, Muscles, how Laylun is settling in with Jaffa training? He's been away over two months now and I haven't heard from him for a while. I suppose he's just having a good time, like all boys do when they first leave home. And I'd know about that – I've had many a dealing with sweet young boys in my time…ah, probably shouldn't be telling you that."

Blushing, she tossed her hair back. "Well, that was in my previous life. After Qetesh. And before maybe – but only a little bit! We all know that Qetesh liked her warriors manly and full of muscles. Bitch." The last word was spoken without real rancor – an amazing achievement when one considered the hell that the Gou'ald had put her host through over a number of years.

Teal'c smiled slightly. "Laylun was doing well last time I heard from Rak'nor. He is a bright young man who seems to be enjoying the training and has made new friends. I can contact the Jaffa training school for you tomorrow, if you wish."

"I wouldn't mind." Vala curled up like a cat and lay her head on the back of the couch. "Just to check he's okay."

"Of course." Teal'c was about to say something else when there was a knock at the door of his quarters. Opening it revealed a disconcerted looking young Jaffa warrior.

"Master Teal'c," he spoke hurriedly. "There is – something – there is something that you should see. Come – come quickly!"

Vala sat up, frowning. "Can I come too?"

"Indeed." Leaving his quarters swiftly, the two friends and the Jaffa messenger headed for the main lobby, then up and out of the complex. Vala scanned the locality swiftly. It was late evening and a lush, lavender blue sky filled with stars heralded a clear night ahead. The buildings around the courtyard threw deep shadows onto the ground. Everything seemed normal – apart from a cluster of excitable looking warriors huddled in a group close to the main gateway. They were gazing and pointing skywards – following their direction the two newcomers' did the same.

"Oh crap!" Vala exclaimed loudly, eyes wide in astonishment.

There was a short pause before Teal'c acknowledged her comment. "Crap indeed, ValaMalDoran."

Directly above them but now moving away rapidly, as if embarrassed that it had been seen, was a Ha'tak. A fully functioning, lights glowing, trail blazing Gou'ald Ha'tak. As the group on the ground continued to watch, it disappeared into the skies above Dakara. For a moment everyone carried on staring bemusedly at where it had vanished. Then they all sprung into life – the Jaffa warriors scattering to inform their various commanders, outposts and other officers.

Teal'c's face was stern as he spoke a few grave orders to the young man who had originally called for them.

Vala was sure that the expression on her own face mirrored the one on her friend's. Concern, surprise – with a little bit of fear thrown in for good measure. Just a tiny bit afraid she moved closer to the huge Jaffa - the heat from his body made her feel comforted almost immediately.

Teal'c looked soberly down at her.

"It's bad, isn't it Muscles?" Vala's eyes were huge and black in the darkness as she gazed searchingly up at him. The moonlight reflected off of her hair and caught the tiny jewels in the sequinned clip that she wore.

Teal'c gently clasped the top of her arm. "Indeed ValaMalDoran. I should contact the SGC immediately. It is bad."

TBC...