Again Ba'al enticed her to use what was so evident in her eyes, the release of her internal pain. With every word touch and release of his hand, it drove her mad. Intense white pain and then soothing touches, and caresses. She could not contain it. It surged thru her body. Ba'al once again removed his touch from her face, her body.

Ba'al could see a Blue Flame reflecting in her eyes. She was glowing for a brief moment of an ethereal Blue Flame and then something happened that was not expected. The flames in Vala's eyes turned white and then Black. The Black Flames shot out from her eyes, her body and reached towards the slave. It encircled the slave as if it was taunting him, burning him slowly with a slow burn and then entered his body as if it was fueled by his screams. It incinerated him within a few minutes and nothing but ash was left on the floor. The Black Flame re-entered Vala and she fell unconscious.

Ba'al moved closer to Vala and breathed in her scent. He had also become attached to his new play thing, his weapon of destruction. He kissed her forehead as if rewarding a child for doing a job well done.

"I have many plans for you Vala. So many plans. Opportunity awaits us my Dear Vala. Opportunity awaits."

Vala was kept alone, for how long she could not remember. There was no relief insight and her savior had not come to relieve her of such misery. Her mind wondered to small images of people or events, she was not sure of anything right now. It seemed that her mind swirled around seeing death, flesh burning, screams and flames a consonant in every image, except one. She could see images while in her pain induced fog of several people surrounding her, a man with glasses speaking to her, then a woman or maybe a child. Vala was not sure of what was real or maybe nightmares of those who caused her this pain. Her eyelids were heavy laden, her throat soar from screaming and no one to answer her call. Her head was pounding so hard, it felt like it would explode from just moving. Her tears streaked her face, as if they were symbols of her internal turmoil. Something inside her was eating at her, as if trying to come to life on its own. She could still hear screams of unbearable torments of herself, she wasn't sure or maybe others. Her body was so cold and there was nothing to cover her shaking body. Sweat rolled off her body, like unstoppable rivers. She knew only one single thought that came to her mind, regardless of the images. She wanted revenge for those who have caused her this unbearable life. She could not hold it in any longer. She screamed in desperation, she screamed to release what was left of her soul, her life, her mind. She screamed, she screamed, and screamed.

SAM'S CABIN

Eshera awoke abruptly feeling as if she was falling off a cliff. Something didn't feel right and she instinctively knew it was her mother. She rushed to the outer room and saw Daniel sleeping on the couch.

"Dad? Daddy, wake up. It's mother, its mother. She's in pain. We have to help her."

Daniel was having his own nightmares, seeing Vala tortured again. "Wha…..what? Eshera; what's wrong? Daniel sat up, concerned at his daughters worried face.

"Its mother, she's……….something's wrong daddy. She's………she's sad, she's…………lost daddy. She's lost."

"Come on, let's go get everyone else and see if we can figure some things out."

As Daniel and Eshera were headed out, Sam, Teal'c and Mitchell were on their way to see them both.

"Jackson, we were on our way to see you both. We've just been contacted by General Landry. Seems Ba'al wants us to meet alone on a desolate planet called PX419. He claims that he wants to trade Vala for his Ha'tak ship. The Deadulus is on its way to pick us up." Stated Mitchell.

Sam could see that Eshera was upset about something. She walked over to her. "Eshera; what's wrong honey?"

"It's mother. She's in pain. Something is wrong and I can feel that she's lost."

Daniel could feel the fear well up inside himself at the prospect of Vala being alone and tortured. He knew he needed to remain calm around his daughter if only to give the impression they would all find her mother.

"Eshera honey. We are going to find your mother and what ever you are feeling about your mother well help her anyway we can. You can go with us on the ship, but you need to stay on the Deadulus. It's too dangerous and I don't want you getting hurt."

"But daddy I can………..

"No honey. If you were ever hurt, your mother and I would never forgive ourselves for not protecting you. Ba'al does not know about you and we want to keep it that way. He could use you against us or your mother. This man would do anything to gain an advantage to hurt your mother and we don't want that, do we?"

Eshera understood her fathers concern and she looked around to Sam, Teal'c and Mitchell.

"Eshera, your father is correct. Your mother is my adopted sister and I along with your father agree. We do not want you hurt in any way and I have sworn to protect you, your mother and all here with my life." Teal'c stated.

Eshera smiled at some many people who loved her, and mother and father.

"I understand Uncle Teal'c. But I still want to help. When we have mother back, I want to help her. She's in so much pain daddy." Looking at her father.

"I believe you sweetheart. I believe you. Let's go, we can talk later after we eat something aboard the ship."

Eshera was hungry from not eating the previous night. But she would wait until she was aboard her first ship. Daniel looked at his friends and knew they all were thinking the same thing. If Eshera felt that Vala was in pain, then it was a sure bet that Ba'al had tortured Vala for information. But the bigger question would be; why would Ba'al allow Vala to leave on a desolate planet?

"Teal'c can you take Eshera to the pick up point? I want to speak to Sam and Mitchell."

"Oh yes Uncle Teal'c. You can tell me about my mother on the way."

"It will be my pleasure young Eshera."

Teal'c knew that Daniel did not want to reveal anything to Eshera that would scare her. Eshera grabbed Teal'c's hand and both went outside. Daniel waited a few minutes and turned towards Sam and Mitchell.

"Something stinks about this whole trade business." Said Daniel. "We know Ba'al to well and his methods of trying to gain information." Daniel sat down on the couch, looking exhausted and worried. "I…….I can't stand not knowing what's happened to Vala. Eshera must sense something's happened to her." Daniel put his hands over his face, trying desperately to hold back his tears.

Sam sat down beside him, while Mitchell stood watching. "Daniel, we're all worried sick about Vala and we all agree that something is up about this whole meeting."

Mitchell interjected. "Jackson, we always go in with a back up plan. We know this is way too easy for Ba'al to just give up Vala and not want something in return. He could easily kidnap us or worse and then we would be back in the same boat that Ba'al's clone had us in."

Daniel looked up at Mitchell remembering that horrible moment when Vala almost became a host. It sent shivers down his spine that this Ba'al could have already done the same to Vala.

"I…….I can't lose her again guys. She's my life and now with Eshera." Daniel shook his head as if he was shaking a nightmare off. "I want my wife back and I want our family back. I'm not going to sit back and let anyone use my wife anymore. I'm tired of everyone beating up on my family."

Sam understood Daniels frustration and fears. Sam was more worried as to what shape that Vala may be in. The clone Ba'al had probed Vala's mind before and this Ba'al she knew would probably do worse. But now they had Eshera to worry about. If Ba'al thru probing found out that Vala and Daniel had a child and know what she was capable of; he would exploit Eshera and force Vala and Daniel to submit to his threats.

"Daniel, we go in with our eyes and ears open. The first chance that we can grab and tag Vala and be beamed back aboard the Deadulus is our priority. Ba'al doesn't get to jerk us around and use Vala for bait." Mitchell stated with conviction.

Daniel sighed, relieved that Eshera was with Teal'c and couldn't see how angry and terrified he was for Vala.

"Ok; let's do this." Daniel stood up with determination in his eyes. "Make no mistake guys. I'll kill Ba'al at the first chance I get if it means getting Vala back. No one hurts my wife and get away with it, no one."

Sam and Mitchell were not surprised at Daniels conviction. They all had seen Daniel and Vala go thru too much heartache to be together and now they both finally had a child to love of their own. There was no mistake in what they had to do to get Vala back and they were all prepared to meet its price.

As Teal'c waited for his friends, Eshera was curious as to how her mother became an adopted sister.

"Uncle Teal'c, how did my mother become your adopted sister?"

Teal'c smiled at Eshera's traits of her mother being curious. "Your mother had saved us many times on many missions little one. Her bravery is beyond reproach. However, your mother was badly injured on the last one." Teal'c was being careful to leave out the brutal attacks on Vala.

Eshera's eyes shut up, somehow knowing Teal'c was holding back something.

"She was lost after she recovered and he told her of a lost friend that reminded me of her. Your mother understood and came back to us. That is when she became my adopted sister."

"Lost Uncle Teal'c?" Eshera was confused, knowing that her mother felt lost now.

"Yes little one. Your mother's spirit was in pain. She had been thru so much harm that she was no longer herself."

"So you helped her Uncle Teal'c?"

"No little one. Your mother found the strength to find herself once again."

Eshera sat for a moment, reflecting on what Teal'c has said about her mother.

"Uncle Teal'c?"

"Yes little one?"

"Why do you call me little one? I mean, you can see that I'm not little anymore."

Teal'c smiled at Eshera's obvious observation of herself. "Because I can see that you are your mother in so many ways. You have the strength, the heart and spirit of both parents. It is small now, but I feel you will grow to be a great warrior like your mother."

Eshera moved to hug Teal'c. "I'm glad you're my Uncle, Uncle Teal'c. My mother has a great protector and brother."

TBC