Vala had receded into her sub-conscious to her painful surroundings. Quetesh had taught her a valuable lesson in escaping when she went on her tortures tirades. She felt that there was something left undone, something that was important to accomplish. Her mind swirled trying to push the pain away, push it down so that she wouldn't remember the cause of it. She was safe, but the voices were calling her, trying to make her come to the surface. She ignored them, she couldn't trust them. She didn't know what or who to trust, only that it caused her more pain that she could remember. Something was touching her, she could feel warmth against her skin, but not sure she wanted to acknowledge it. She wanted to embrace the warmth and voice calling to her. There were several voices she thought she recognized, but they all seemed meaningless, so far away. She wanted comfort from anywhere she could get it, and staying away from the voices seemed to be her consolation. By the voices seemed to want something from her. They wanted her to come out, be with them, and wrap herself in their comfort.
Daniel was startled awake. He thought her heard a moan coming from Vala. He wanted to see her open her eyes, so he would be the first one to tell her that she's safe. Vala moaned again, and Daniel tried to sit up, trying not to jostle her back. Suddenly Vala arched up off her back, moaning in excruciating pain. Vala felt like her body was on fire, from head to toe. It was blinding searing pain, and it seemed to go on forever.
"Oh, God, Sam. She's awake; she can feel the pain in her back. Can't we do anything?"
Vala's moans were increasing; she didn't want to feel this. She felt like she wanted to die, to stop the agony.
"AAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhh. Mel a Khek, Mel a Khekkkkkkkkk. Vala screamed.
"What's she saying Daniel?" Asked Mitchell.
"Death, she wants death. She calls for death."
"Shhh, shhhhh, it's going to be alright Vala. It's going to be alright."
"I don't have any pain killers Daniel. Cam; I'm afraid if you ask for help, they'll take her away." Said Sam, also concerned there was no relief for Vala's pain.
Daniel felt a small panic rising in his voice. "We have to do something Sam. Can we knock her out or something?"
"There's not much we can do."
"Daniel Jackson, give her to me." Stated Teal'c.
Daniel was confused about Teal'c intent.
"Do not worry Daniel Jackson. I will try to calm her."
Teal'c gently gathered Vala in his arm and held her like a precious gift. He was careful not to touch her back roughly. He went to the corner of their cell and sat, rocking her gently and saying soothing words. Daniel, Sam and Mitchell watched with amazement how tender Teal'c was with Vala. She seemed like a small child in his strong muscular arms. They could see that her moans were growing softer, she was struggling less. At first they thought Teal'c was singing, but further listening showed he was speaking in Gou'ald in a melodic voice only. Soon Vala stopped moaning all together and Teal'c motioned with his head for them to join him.
"She is unconscious once more Daniel Jackson. I will hold her to keep her warm and calm."
Teal'c pulled his T-shirt over his head and placed it on Vala's body. Daniel marveled at how protective Teal'c was towards Vala. He had known this man for over 9 years and the few times that he had seen such gentleness and protectiveness, was Teal'c seeing his son Rya'c again and Teal'c seeing him return from being ascended. Sam and Mitchell watched as they too wanted to escape and release their friend from this terrible nightmare.
Daniel sat down in front of Teal'c, watching his wife, and relieved that she was not conscious to feel what they had done to her. He hadn't had time to process his own emotions towards Vala, but more concerned at making sure she had some sort of rest. Sam and Mitchell had sat down behind Daniel, placing a hand each on his shoulder. Comforting him, that they were in this together and he and Vala were not alone.
Kraco's second in command had prepared the rest of the slaves to be sold of Taika's clan. The small girl watched as her clan was taken from underground and loaded on one of the slaver ships, never to be seen again. Kraco watched from his quarters if there was any reaction like the first time to protect her clan. Taika watched, but she never responded. This was curious to Kraco, since seeing her powers only once. He would have to think of another way to make her show them.
Kraco was never one to have slaves and not know why there was such a high price for obtaining them. When he was offered a million Crenda, he was most curious for the reason why. He found out from torturing Taika's people, that they were Atonieks, a lost civilization that was legendary for their technology which gave them unprecedented speed and strength. They could produce Armbands that released a virus into the wearer and modified the host body, eventually increasing their strength, stamina and durability. The Antonieks were thought to be extinct, until Kraco arrived on their planet and saw Taika reveal its powers and then destroyed the armband. Kraco thought if he enslaved these Atonieks, then the girl would be forced to create such a weapon. His tactics had not worked, until seeing the girl communicate to who he thought was Quetesh.
Kraco was interrupted from his thoughts when his second in command interrupted.
"Sir, Cryer and Mein have arrived. They are waiting for your instructions."
"Have them meet me in the slave holding areas. I have a special prisoner that needs their attention."
"Understood Sir."
Kraco was smiling to himself. If he couldn't have Quetesh, then he would make the host go insane from remembering her crimes. To him, Vala was still the face that burned in his memory. The face that ordered her men to rape and beat his mother. The face that caused him countless nightmares. He would witness her beg for mercy and make her friends watch.
Kraco had his guards enter and before SG1 could react, he zatted every member. They lay unconscious and were returned to their restraints. Cryer and Mein were obscure scientist that were used quite often by Kraco for extracting vital information from his slaves, without the physical means he had used in the past. He found that slaves that were not beaten for their information, sold for his asking price. He figured his slave cargo was damaged merchandise and sought other means to further his profits.
Cryer rolled in a bed, which also had straps, and the guards restrained Vala to the bed. Vala was still unconscious and was not aware of what was taking place. Mein rolled in a case like computer, which emanated a holographic screen, when switched on. Both men attached wires to Vala's heart, and forehead. Mein placed a mouth piece in Vala's mouth that would keep her from biting down on her tongue, should she become convulsive. It was known to happen during long sessions, depending on the victim. Kraco watched intently as both men prepared the machine for full activation.
"How far do you want to probe her mind Commander?" Asked Mein.
"I want her to remember everything that Quetesh has done in her lifetime as host." Stated Kraco.
"If the time period is extensive, then she may not recover fully to tell you what you want to know."
Kraco looked at both men menacingly. "I said everything."
"As you wish Commander." Nodding to Cryer, they both began.
Daniel, Sam, Mitchell and Teal'c were still unconscious when both men began. Kraco watched the screen as Vala's body jerked upwards as if being electrocuted.
Vala couldn't move, she once again felt as if her whole body was numb. She tried to cry out, but her screams were muffled. She could feel her mind being taken back to a past that was long forgotten. The machine pushed to the back of her mind, pulling memories to the surface. The screen showed when Quetesh took over Vala's body and they saw thru Vala's eyes, what Quetesh had ordered. There was a young boy crying and then a taller young man about Vala's age, on their knees, being forced to look at her. Vala was trying to shake the memory from her head. She could feel the moment all over again, playing out in her mind as if she was there that very moment. This was unbearable to her. She was reliving the first moment Quetesh orchestrated her control over the host. Kraco could see in Vala's eyes the fear and shame of what was happening on the screen. His heart was racing faster at the expense of seeing her in fear.
Daniel awoke first from the stunning and then the rest were keenly aware they were restrained again. They could see the mystery man standing near Vala, strapped to the bed. Daniel immediately was trying to break free, as well as Teal'c.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER? STOP, THIS IS NOT QUETESH. STOP HURTING HER." Daniel shouted.
"You don't have to do this." Mitchell and Sam both interjected.
"Hear me Ha'shak, I am Jaffa, and friend to those you hold prisoner. She is no longer a Gou'ald and therefore not a threat to anyone. I will take her place if you wish to harm her further. I am Shol'va, a traitor to the System Lords and I carry a large price on my head. She is of no consequence to you and not valuable to anyone."
His friends knew exactly what Teal'c was doing. Giving his life for Vala's. Kraco sneered and kept his back to Teal'c and the others.
"I'm not interested in who wants you Jaffa. I could kill you and be done with you all. I want you to see Quetesh's crimes. She is the face that terrorized thousands. She is the hand that tortured innocent people, children, mother, and whole families for the sake of bowing to her will. See for yourselves what her hand was capable of. See the blood that will never wash off."
"Continue." Ordered Kraco.
The screen continued to unfold the two figures at Quetesh's feet. The small boy was shaking physically and the young man was forced to kneel, but held his head up stoically. They could see Quetesh walk from her throne and approach the boy. They could only see Quetesh's hands, but saw Vala's reflection in mirrors around the room. Slowly she descended and lifted the boys head to look at her. Then her friends saw a cruel smile form in the reflection. Quetesh used her hand device into the boys mind and he keeled over, dead. She then approached the young man, who said something they could not make out, but he threw a necklace at Quetesh. Vala then used the hand device again and probed into his heart. The man obviously screamed and his face contorted in pain. He also fell dead.
Vala was struggling, trying not to relive that moment. Trying to forget and not let her friends see what Quetesh was capable of. Daniel was shouting again.
"THAT'S NOT VALA. SHE WAS BEING CONTROLLED. SHE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR DEATHS."
"Oh, she was responsible. It's her face they saw before they died terrified and alone. It's her face and hand that did the evil deed. It's her face they saw in their nightmares. You cannot erase was has been done to countless others. So one has to atone for such evil"
Kraco turned to the two men and watched Vala's tears roll down her cheeks, arching still from the pain of knowing he was tearing through her mind.
"Increase the extraction, at full capacity. I want to see everything."
The machine started slicing through her memories at a furious speed. Vala arched even more at the memories being pulled without stopping. Daniel could see Quetesh's tortures from children to innocent men and women. Whole villages enslaved to mine Naquadah. Then Kraco had Mein stop at one particular scene that was extremely disturbing.
Quetesh had sent guards in to restrain a women, who looked half dead. They pushed a small boy aside and held him while they attacked his mother brutally. Quetesh simply watched. The scene continued and they could see the boy fighting to save his mother. As they guards finished attacking her, she fell in the corner of the cave. She lay still, not moving. The boy ran over to the woman, crying. Quetesh seem to move closer to the boy and had him forcibly removed and slapped him across the face. The boy fell and wiped his bleeding mouth. He seemed to be listening, and yet showed hate and intense anger in his eyes. Then the guards grabbed the boy and made him dig.
He made the two men stop the memory. Kraco had a face of stone. He watched Vala's face as she stopped arching and was breathing heavily, as the pain from her mind being probed exhausted her. He looked her in the eyes and he could see the fulfillment of deathly fear. He had awakened a silent sleeper, and death was all around her. He had registered the outcome of Quetesh's reign of terror, to her very soul. Vala wanted no more of those memories. She wanted out of the horror of what she had done by Quetesh's hand. She could see the faces of her friends registering shock, and unbelief. Kraco at that moment, had made up his mind, what would happen to Vala next.
TBC