"Prime; bring the rest of SG1 to my chambers under heavy guard. I want them all to see that I'm a generous man. I want them to see that its trifle to play with my patients. Bring them all now, bound. Let's see how they respond to their new Queen."
"Yes My Lord." Answered Graco.
Ba'al smiled as his Prime left to retrieve SG1. As he left Ba'al turned his attention back to the covered cylinder. He pulled it off in an almost ceremonial manner. Inside was what Daniel feared the most for Vala. Inside the cylinder was a symbiote snake waiting for a new host; Vala
Under heavy guard, the rest of SG1 was marched into Baal's chambers and forced to kneel in his presence tied to one another. Prime Graco wanted to make sure if one of the prisoners tried to escape then all three would perish together. Teal'c, Sam and Mitchell looked over to see Vala strapped to an upright table, bleeding from her mouth, nose and ears. Teal'c nearly tore his bonds trying to get to Ba'al. He was almost Zatted, but Ba'al had raised his hand to stop his Prime, wanting such reaction from the strong Jaffa. Sam and Mitchell knew Ba'al had tortured Vala with his hand device he was still wearing, and Daniel was watching Ba'al, still trying to break free.
"Ah SG1; I'm so glad you could join us for this suradipious ceremony. I always wanted to capture my enemy's reactions to my most talented ways of persuasion."
Daniel was still struggling to break free. SG1 had no clue to what Ba'al was up to. Ba'al had used his body to block what was sitting on the table, so he could see the faces of Mitchell, Sam and Teal'c. He had already managed to scare Daniel, now he was reveling in taunting them more by threatening Vala. He moved away from the table and immediately they understood what Ba'al was about to do.
"You can't be serious Ba'al. You can't do this." Mitchell stated in anger. He knew Ba'al was sadistic but to make them watch was sick. He was terrified to what was going to happen to Vala, but he had to maintain some semblance of calm.
"Why are you doing this? She can't take being a host again. This will kill her." Stated Sam, struggling to break free.
"None of you are in any position to instruct me as what I can and cannot do. Look around SG1. You are in my hands; I can ransom you off to your organization. They will pay dearly to get you back and you Col Carter and Dr. Jackson are my guarantee that I succeed."
Teal'c stared Ba'al down. His eyes held his and to make him understand, he was about to make a grave mistake.
"You sick Bastard. Vala has done nothing to you. If you want me, then take me. Don't make Vala a host. I'm more valuable as a host, than Vala. You can let everyone go and I'll stay, there's no need to hurt her." Daniel was practically begging to be switched. He knew Ba'al had no intention of leaving them all alive after making his deal.
"But that's the beauty of it Dr. Jackson. I have all your assurances that to keep Vala alive; you will obey my every whim. It get's lonely at the top and Vala as my Queen would keep my bed nice and warm."
Daniel became even more volatile and angrier at Ba'al obvious attempt to taunt Daniel. "Certainly you know the Orici would be more than interested in getting her mother back. How delicious to have Vala working for me as a spy."
Daniel interjected. "Adria would detect a Gou'ald in a second. You know she would kill Vala."
"I know." Ba'al smiled evilly. "What do you Tau'ri say; ah, to kill two birds with one stone? Yes, to have all my cake and eat it too. You SG1 have been a pain in my side for too long. I think this will finally put an end to your little group."
"Please, please Ba'al. Don't do this." Begged Daniel. "She's………….she's been thru too much. I know you saw her mind. This will kill her. Please…………she's………….she's my wife."
Daniel was becoming desperate. He thought maybe that Ba'al would place his sadistic interest in him, and leave Vala alone. Ba'al simply laughed at him and shook his head. He turned quickly to the cylinder with the swimming symbiote. He pulled his sleeve up and reached in to grab the squirming creature. He held it up to Vala's face to slowly have the SG1 team react to what he was about to do.
"Wake up Vala." He taunted. "Wake up to be my new Queen." Vala could not move. She vaguely heard Ba'al voice and she was in so much pain, it didn't matter to her. She knew this voice was again the cause of new pain. She could hear several voices and some she believed she recognized. She didn't want to wake from this painful nightmare.
Ba'al hit Vala across the face hard and being immobilized, made the pain for Vala even worse. Sam, Mitchell and especially Daniel struggled even harder at this scene of terror. Then Teal'c spoke, making everyone in the room take notice.
"HEAR ME WHO ARE ALL ENEMIES TO MY FRIENDS. I HAVE TAKEN A BLOOD OATH AND HAVE SWORN TO KILL ALL WITHOUT MERCY. YOU ARE ALL DEAD MEN IN MY EYES AND MY WRATH HAS NO BOUNDERIES. YOU WILL ALL DIE AT MY HANDS, NOW AND FOREVER."
The guards knew of Teal'c and his fighting talent and ruthelessness in battle. But even they knew when a Jaffa takes a Blood Oath, it means no stopping him until anyone and everything is dead. This even made Prime Graco take notice of the true nobility and loyalty to his friends. But being First Prime to a System Lord such as Ba'al, he could not tolerate such insolence. Graco hit Teal'c hard against the back of his neck. Teal'c did not even flinch. This make Graco back up a little and his guards took notice.
"Prime, let him spout all he wants. It won't make any difference. You can throw him out the first air lock once I'm finished with my demonstration. He is no significance to me. I'm sure the Tau'ri could care less if one more Jaffa dies."
"Now where was before I was so rudely interrupted? Ah yes." Ba'al's eyes glowed and he began speaking in the monotone voice of the ancient Gou'ald.
Vala was moaning, and her eyes fluttered slightly and she tried to focus on the voices that she recognized. She could hear a shout from someone that commanded attention. She wanted to hear that voice again. She wanted to know what was happening to her and where she was. Vala opened her eyes slowly and painfully. She could barely move her head, but the hairs on the back of her neck made her realize something was wrong. She could hear a squeal, something eerily familiar.
"That's right My Queen. Open your eyes to your Lord and Master."
"NO, NO. STOP BA'AL. DON'T DO THIS. I SWEAR IF YOU TOUCH HER, I'LL KILL YOU. ALL OF YOU." Daniel eyes were glazed with anger and fear. Even his teammates had never heard Daniel so threatening and desperate.
Vala latched on to the voice she believed that was soothing, even though it sounded loudly. She opened her eyes to the direction of the voice. As her eyes focused, she could only see Sam, Teal'c and Mitchell into view. She could not move her head sideways in either direction. Ba'al had her head strapped down also.
"Yes Vala, it's your faithful friends wanting you to come out and play. You do hear how anxious she wants to enter you, like I will soon. Yes, open your eyes and see what I have for you."
Vala felt panicked when Ba'al stepped into her peripheral view. She could finally see what was making her terrified. Ba'al was holding a symbiote snake. Her heart started to race, and she was sweating. Her voice caught in her throat and she struggled aimlessly. She could see the evil smile on Ba'al's face, knowing she was about to become a host again. Then she heard Daniels voice in the distance, trying to comfort her about what was going to happen. Daniel was speaking directly to her and didn't care who heard him.
"Vala……….Vala, I love you. Nothing in this universe will ever change that. We are husband and wife and nothing can separate us, in life or death. You are mine to hold and love and no other. Hang on my love. Hang on to that piece that they cannot have. Our love is stronger than they could ever realize. They can take your body, your mind. But not your spirit of love, not your spirit to love your friends and family. We are your family Vala and nothing will ever stop us from loving you. You are the best thing to happen in my life and I will find you. I will traverse this universe to find you and bring you back to me. I will always love you. Ba'al can never take that away from us. Fight Vala; fight to come back to us who love you. Fight to come back to me. I love you Vala. I love you."
Sam, Teal'c and Mitchell felt as Daniel felt. They loved Vala in their own special way and they knew no matter what happened. They were all together for at least this one final moment, before it all ended.
"Oh, how touching Dr. Jackson, but futile. She will be mine, heart, soul and her body. And I will enjoy her beautiful body over and over again. Love is a plaything that you Tau'ri believe will save you in the end. How pathetic. Now, enough interruptions. Time to embark on a new venture, as my Queen."
As Ba'al forcibly turned Vala's head to make entrance of the symbiote. Daniels words seem to resonate inside her mind. She didn't struggle, but accepted what Daniel was conveying. Something emerged inside her. Something that had remained dormant and now was alive inside Vala, surging upwards. She felt the fear dissipate and felt her anger rise from all the emotions that she had yet to reveal. Suddenly Vala forcibly jerked her head and began to seize up. It was rising thru her throat and her eyes became focused on her friends and Daniel. What let loose was the worst sound anyone had ever heard from a human being. A woman that had been used, raped, beaten and now being forced to have her body used by an ambonible creature.
Vala had let loose a scream so loud it even hurt the symbiote. It was a scream of pain, sorrow, and anguish. It was the scream of a thousand wails of over a thousand deaths, buried for centuries to be released upon the world to know they were captured and tortured and no one to hear them scream.
"AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH."
Everyone in the room had never heard such an inhuman sound; such inhuman pain. The entire Ha'Tak ship heard her screams. They could not fathom what Ba'al had unleashed. It was terrifying. Ba'al's ears were taking the brunt of the screams and the guards tried to cover their ears at the bestial sound. Then Vala stopped as if she was spent or dead. What happened next made them all freeze. A flame, a blue flame was emitting off Vala's body. It started out slow and then built to almost a blinding light. The flame shot from Vala's body and seared the symbiote into smoking dust. Ba'al let go of the symbiote as soon as it caught fire. Then it went after Ba'al. The blue flame entered his mouth and eyes and his guttural scream was heard through the room as his guards tried to get near him, the flames burnt through them as well. Prime Graco ducked out the way of the flames and tried to fire his staff weapon. But he was stopped abruptly when, Teal'c grabbed him and the staff and thru him across the floor. Teal'c aimed the staff at Graco and fired burning holes into him without mercy. The flames somehow melted SG1's bonds and they were free to fight. Daniel was now free and all of them fought the remaining guards in the room. Teal'c was now unleashed and he raised the staff and went after every Jaffa in the room. Sam had grabbed and kicked one of the guards and rendered him unconscious, while Mitchell and Teal'c fought their captors in hand to hand combat.
The blue flame was burning Ba'al inside and out. His screams went unheeded as the blue flames encircled him and held him in mid air as he screamed in agony. Daniel looked up to see what was happening and he could see Vala's eyes were clear, like blue water. He tried to go near her, but was stopped by some kind of force field emitting from Vala. Ba'al was struggling trying to get free, but the flames were consuming him slowly, making him die painfully and without mercy. As Daniel watched and tried to get near Vala, he heard running coming towards the chambers. He turned to see several guards enter, but Teal'c had leaped in front of Daniel and rushed all the guards. He landed on top of them and stomped, punched and fired on all of them with blind fury. They were trying to rush him, but Teal'c seemed to have inhuman speed in shooting them. He swung the staff like a club and was beating them all without stopping. Daniel knew that Teal'c Blood Oath he had sworn was now full blown.
Daniel could not get near Vala, so he turned his attentions on fighting the rest of the guards. Sam and Mitchell found their own staff weapons to fire and let loose with all pent up fury. They were tired of being captured and abused and when Ba'al had threatened one of their own, all gloves were off.
Vala's flame had finally consumed what was left of Ba'al and now the flames shot thru the room, incinerating all of Ba'al guards and somehow protecting SG1. It flashed thru the corridors, picking up speed as it consumed and incinerated everyone in league with Ba'al. It moved thru the ship like a snake after its prey. It struck without warning, burning thru passage ways, and smothering any screams that were heard and then snuffed out in an instant. Sam, Mitchell and Daniel could hear the screams all thru the ship and stopped moving to see where Teal'c was. When they caught sight of him, he was immobile. He wanted to finish the job he started, but was robbed of his killing spree by the blue flames. Teal'c was breathing hard in the hallway and turned to his friends, who nodded their heads in approval of what he had sworn., even if it meant losing his life. He walked back towards his friends and reentered the chamber where everything had started. They looked up and could see the blue flame covering the walls, the ceiling, and the floors. Yet, they were unharmed and the flames gave off an eerie glow as the sounds of the screaming on the ship died down.
They looked towards Vala and the flames slowly retracted like a being drawn to an abyss towards Vala. Vala was still strapped to the table and her eyes began to close. The flames had disappeared into Vala's body and Vala's head arched slightly and she passed out. Daniel immediately ran to the table and following behind Daniel, the rest of them unfastened the straps holding down Vala. Daniel grabbed Vala's slowly falling forward body and laid her down on the floor gently. Sam had grabbed a covering from somewhere and covered Vala's shaking body. Daniel just held her and could see she was still bleeding, even more from her mouth and nose. They were all pretty confused and in awe of the blue flames that came from Vala and seeing what was left of Ba'al made them shake a little at how the flames had killed Ba'al in the same fashion as Kraco.
Mitchell interrupted the eerie silence and reigned in his command. "Sam, see if you can find a medical kit and Teal'c go see if we are alone again. I have a funny feeling that we have this ship all to ourselves."
Both his teammates understood and went quickly to task. Daniel was silently crying, while holding and speaking to Vala.
"Come on baby, open your eyes. You saved us again; you have to wake up to see. Please Vala, please wake up." Daniel was now openly crying for Vala. He held his wife as to give her strength to open her eyes.
Sam came back with a med kit probably made for use on the battlefield. Ba'al would not tolerate an injured soldier on board his ship. Sam administered a shot to Vala that read the equivalent to Morphine. Sam opened up Vala's eyes to see if they were reactive to light. Nothing happened.
"Daniel, Daniel? She's going into shock. Keep her warm and near you." DANIEL?"
Daniel looked up at Sam and nodded his head that he understood. He finally sat down with Vala on his lap and covered her even more to keep her warm. No words could tell him how thankful Sam was there to help. Mitchell pulled Sam away from them and to the side.
"Sam I don't know what just happened here, but I know we need to get her out of here or back to headquarters. She looks worse off now than she did before."
"I know Cam, I know. Let me help Teal'c and see if I can contact the Deadulis. Hopefully we won't have any of Ba'al's guards to deal with. I can have the ship in Hyperspace and we can go home."
"Do it Sam. I'm tired and hungry and Vala needs our help. We are not going to let her die. Get going."
Sam nodded and knelt down at Daniel's side one more time and placed her hand on his shoulder. "We're going home Daniel. She's going to be alright. I just know it."
Daniel never took his eyes off Vala and Sam understood why he didn't answer back. She left to find the command center.
Mitchell had seen some odd things in the last couple of days and a lot of pain and suffering was administered towards Vala. He looked down and Daniel and Vala and had seen them all go thru so much and now he had to put his team back together to go home and watch over them as their friend and commander. Daniel was now rocking Vala gently in his arms. He had seen his wife beaten, raped, consumed by fire and almost a host once again. And now once again, she lays in his arm oblivious to what has happened and made to suffer in silence. The screams he heard from her had resounded to his very core. Those were screams of dying women, crying out one last time as if she was in eternal pain. He had been terrified that he would lose her right before his eyes and there was nothing he could do about it. Yet Vala was still alive and he had vowed to keep her safe. Now all he felt was helpless to help her.
"She……….she has to be alright Cam. I can't………..I can't live without her. She's my whole…………….
Daniel couldn't continue. He choked up with tears for his wife and bent over and held her tight to him. Daniel couldn't see it, but Mitchell silently wiped away his tears for this battered woman he called his friend.
Teal'c had found the command center and sent out a message that they were coming home. He met no resistance, as all of Ba'al's crew were dead and the remnants left behind were the smoldering uniforms left behind in the flames wake. Sam had joined him a few minutes later and both could not understand why the flames came from Vala. They both thanked their own God for saving them once again and both had their thoughts on getting Vala back home. They had all seen her go through horrific pain and torture and the scream that was heard coming from Vala, made both their hairs stand on end. It was unnerving and disturbing all at once and the only thing that gave them hope that Vala would live was their love for their friend and her strength to endure.
When the Ha'tak arrived in the Milky Way galaxy. They were met by the Deadulis about to fire on the enemy ship. But once Sam sent them a code only recognizable to SGC, the ship stood down and they were transported to the Deaudulis and headed back to base. When the crew saw the infamous SG1, they wanted to congratulate them on capturing a Ha'tak known to be Ba'al's lead ship. But the mood of SG1 was solemn and silent. Daniel carried Vala all the way to the infirmary and Mitchell, Sam and Teal'c would only reveal that they would only speak to Gen Landry when they returned. When they arrived all four members had carried Vala thru the gate on a stretcher. They would not let even the Med team come near them until Dr. Lam motioned them to the infirmary. Not a word was spoken to anyone while they carried Vala almost ceremoniously to the infirmary. Daniel placed Vala gently on the bed and sat back to let Carolyn administrate to Vala.
Teal'c, Sam and Mitchell waited outside but would not let any of the med team touch them. Gen Landry had arrived in the infirmary and Mitchell motioned to him that they would debrief the General as soon as they found out how Vala was doing. The General knew this was not the normal protocol for finding out what happened on a mission, but he understood this was like a family and they preferred to keep it within their circle. Teal'c and Sam stayed in the waiting room, while Mitchell wanted to see the Gen privately in his office. He explained in detail what had happened on the planet, the slavers kidnapping them and him marrying Daniel and Vala for obvious reasons. He explained that Vala had went thru horrific torture to keep them alive and didn't want Woosley to know about Vala's suffering several times at an unknown enemy and then at Adria and Ba'al hands. After hearing what Mitchell was reporting, he understood that certain information had to be left out. As far as the General was concerned. They were on a mission of peace and the mission went sour and their kidnappers were killed as SG1 escaped. The rape and beatings would only be known only to SG1, him and Dr. Lam for obvious medical reason, but even he would inform Carolyn that Vala's torture was to be a private matter and classified.
Dr. Lam had informed the team that Vala had a severe concussion and internal swelling. After Carolyn administered IV's, saline fluids, a blood drip and put Vala on oxygen. Vala was placed in a drug induced Coma for her recovery. Dr. Lam demanded that the rest of SG1 be examined for their own injuries. They all silently were treated and Mitchell insisted Vala have a larger room of her own. Carolyn didn't know why, and the General informed her earlier to give SG1 anything they wanted, but she found out later why the request. After the team was released to rest in their own quarters. They returned to sleep in the same room Vala was recovering from. They all laid out sleeping bags on the floor to sleep in her room. Sam had a laptop to keep her busy, Cam a book and Teal'c brought meditating candles to pray. Daniel was given a sleeping bag by his friends as he kept a silent vigil watching Vala. All of them never moved from Vala's room for 2 days. Everyone thought it odd that SG1 was so protective of one of their own, and especially Vala; but that made the whole base respect SG1 even more and respect their privacy.
Daniel had finally fallen asleep after Dr. Lam checked Vala's vitals. The whole team had rotated eating and sleeping to keep their eye on Vala while Daniel slept due to exhaustion, waiting on Vala to wake. He never said a word after returning and they all understood he was spent worrying about Vala. Daniel felt movement from Vala's feet. He placed his glasses back on his head and watched as Vala moaned that she was awakening. Everyone else had been asleep and Teal'c was jolted from his meditation.
Daniel finally spoke. He had to clear his voice after being silent for so long. "Vala?...Vala we're finally home. Please wake up so we can see you. Please baby."
"Hmm…………mmm. Dan………….Dan……………….iel?"
"Yes baby, it's me. We're all here. You………..you saved us. We're safe, you're safe now." Daniels eyes started misting over at seeing his wife trying desperately to open her eyes. He held her hand a little tighter to reassure her that this was all real.
Vala felt like her eyes were so heavy, she could barely move them. She was afraid at first, but felt somehow home, safe from any harming voices. She felt weak though and bit nauseas, but she wanted to see where the soothing voice was coming from. She felt so safe.
"Sa……..safe?" Vala said weakly.
Vala opened her eyes to the happiness of Daniel and the rest. They had all gathered around her bed, so she could see they were all there. She saw Daniel first and a tear rolled down the corner of her left eye. Daniel bent down to kiss it away. He was overjoyed that she could see him.
"Hey Princess, you have to stop scaring us so much. I'm getting grey hairs." Mitchell smiled. He couldn't believe how happy he was to see his little charmer.
"Hey sweetheart; how you feeling? Asked Sam with tears in her eyes. She didn't want to hold back from almost losing another friend.
"So……sore." Vala whispered.
They all smiled at Vala's response. Even in her state of pain, she still managed to make everyone else smile. Vala looked up at Teal'c and she immediately knew somehow that he kept his promise to keep her safe. Vala lifted her hand to Teal'c. He moved around to the other side of the bed. He gently put his arms around her waist and held her. He didn't move or say a word. Teal'c had never shown that type of affection to either of them, but everything Vala wanted to say to him was in her hug. Mitchell, Sam and Daniel were so moved by Teal'c silent confirmation that he cared so dearly about Vala, they just fell silent and put their hands on his back to let them know they all understood. Teal'c finally let go and gently laid Vala back down to the bed. He left to wait outside the room and stood guard stoically outside her room.
"Well we'll let you get some sleep Princess. Welcome back. We'll be right outside if you need us. You and Jackson have some catching up, ok?"
"Gla……….glad all safe."
Sam reached down to kiss Vala on the forehead. She gathered up Vala's hand and held it for awhile and let go. Vala and Sam still had that bond from the ship and Vala smiled slightly. Both Mitchell and Sam waited outside as Daniel turned his attention back to Vala. He sat down next to her and held her, trying not to keep her from resting. When he looked into her eyes and saw the pain of her being so weak.
"I love you Vala. I…………….I almost …………I almost lost you." Daniel took off his glasses and put his hand over his eyes to keep Vala from seeing how upset he was.
"I……..I'm here now. Wi………with you. I'm………………home." She smiled weakly and pulled on Daniels hands. His eyes were becoming red and reached down to kiss her tenderly.
"Ti………..tired. No………no night……….nightmares."
"That's…………..that's good honey. Go to sleep. I'll be here when you wake. We'll be waiting my beautiful wife. I'll be here."
Vala slowly slipped back into a restful slumber. Daniel could see a faint smile and realized his home had always been with Vala. He would wait and tell her what happened. The Blue Flame would be a mystery to them; but he was grateful for this miraculous miracle and his friends and now wife was back safe were they all belonged; Together.
TBC