Eshera moved thru the rest of her mothers tortured memories. Then she saw something more disturbing. She saw the Black Flames emit from her mother.
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.
It was torture and her mother gave in to Ba'al's words. Then Eshera was pushed from her mother's memories.
Eshera let go of her mother as if being burned. She was exhausted and Vala's body fell back to the bed, still sweating, but she was unconscious.
Daniel rushed over, while Teal'c was holding on to Eshera, keeping her from falling.
Eshera was crying, crying for what she had yet to reveal to her father and the rest.
In General Landry's office, Col Mitchell had contacted Jack. Col Mitchell explained the situation with Eshera's growth spurt and how Dr. Jackson was near a nervous breakdown worrying about whether the IOA would take his daughter again and lock up Vala for a new event of a Black Flame that now emitted from her very painful body. Col Mitchell was also concerned for Woosley's interference if he found out that Eshera demonstrated a new power to transport at will or at least when her mother is in danger.
Jack was silent for awhile on the other end of the phone. He realized that even though he was in charge for now. It would only be a matter of time that the President would have to relinquish authority back to Woosley due to the evidence of Eshera looking like Adria and Vala being a possible threat, since she tried to attack SG1.
"Jack………Jack, I need to know if we can protect them for awhile. At least sort some things out, until Vala is able to overcome this drug." Asked Mitchell. Gen Landry was listening intently.
"I'm on my way out there. I still have a few markers to call in from several people and the President will at least give me leeway to access the situation. I should be arriving in about a couple of hours. Let me tie up some loose ends and I'll see you then."
"Ok, Jack. We'll await your arrival and I hope you will have some good news when you arrive." Mitchell hung up and contemplated another plan, but would withhold it until it was necessary to reveal his own course of action to protect his people.
BA'AL'S SHIP
"My Lord, the Lucian Alliance has met us at every end of the Galaxy. With our ships scattered to the furthest galaxies, we have no reinforcements."
"We will not need them, just yet Prime. The Lucian Alliance is not a threat. They expel their resources of Naquadah and I am the only one who knows the vast amount to power their ships. Soon they will run dry and then they will be running back to me for more. There are other Captains in the Lucian Alliance who would very well replace Aneteo while he chases us. When their supply runs dry, then all eyes will fall to Aneteo for wasting their resource for power. Then we will see who is chased. But in the mean time, we will return to the Milky Way galaxy. I have some business to press there."
"My Lord I know that there is obviously a plan. SG1 now has Vala Mol Doran back. I doubt they will be pleased to see you show up most unwelcome."
"Vala Mol Doran is still under my control. They will practically beg for me to see her. What I'm most impressed with is the child that suddenly appeared to save them. She had a brilliant Blue Flame that blocked the Black Flame. If this child is that powerful, then I need to find out more and find out who she is. Vala is probably almost insane for my touch, and I intend to rub SG1's noses in their apparent rescue. Set a course Prime; I want to arrive as soon as possible."
"As you wish My Lord."
As Ba'al's Prime left. Ba'al ran over the recordings of the events on PX491. Eshera suddenly appeared and he listened close to the words the child was shouting.
"Mother…………mother stop; It's daddy. Stop or you're going to hurt them. This is wrong, I love you. Don't make me hurt you. Please momma, stop."
"No daddy. She's trying to hurt you. I can't let her hurt you or anybody. She's not well. She's in pain daddy. She's in pain."
"MOTHER; NOOOOOOO, STOP. I LOVE YOU, PLEASE."
"So the child is Vala's and Dr. Daniel Jackson's. Most intriguing."
Ba'al gathered his thoughts. He smiled at his obvious plan to take the child and Vala Mol Doran back into his hands. He knew Dr. Jackson would do anything to save his wife and now his child too. Now he had his answer for his next plan.
SGC INFIRMARY
Dr. Lam immediately checked Vala's vitals, still concerned at what transpired between Eshera and her mother. Still cautious in touching Vala, Dr. Lam and another nurse joined her to sedate Vala just incase she woke up screaming in pain again. As Dr. Lam worked on Vala, Teal'c and Daniel moved Eshera from the room, followed by Sam. Her face was tucked into Teal'c's shoulder as she hung onto her fathers shoulder trying to steady herself for what her mothers memories had revealed.
"Eshera speak to me, please baby. I'm here, are you in pain?" Asked Daniel. He still worried about the resemblance to Adria becoming a problem, and the fact he was speaking to a child in an adult body. Now all he wanted was to see if his daughter was hurt.
"Eshera your father only cares about there being any harm to you and your mother. Are you alright?" Stated Teal'c. Sam was standing by keeping an eye on Vala as well, while Dr. Lam worked with the monitor and IV.
Eshera was concentrating, while trying to stop crying. "Daddy………mother……..mother………she……….
"Take your time honey." Said Sam. "Just breathe a little, and take your time."
"Ba'al…….Ba'al; he makes mother need him. She can't bare to be without him. He…..he made her kill someone without knowing. She was in agony when the Black Flames appeared."
"Eshera, is……..is your mother going to be ok? Does she know you were in her mind?" Asked Daniel.
"No…….she………she only wants Ba'al. He's the only one that can touch her. She……..he ……….
"He what?" Daniel made Eshera face him. "What did he do to her baby? Did……..did he force himself on your mother?"
Eshera was afraid to answer. She had mixed emotions on what was revealed as far as Ba'al making her mother lay in Ba'al bed. She understood, but was afraid her father would not understand.
"I understand father. No he never forced himself on mother." Eshera was being half truthful and her father believed her not wanting to push her any further. Teal'c as always intuitive felt that Eshera was hiding something.
Dr. Lam came out from Vala's room to check on Eshera and inform the group of Vala's condition.
"I'm afraid Vala is in a Coma. With so much pain induced by this unknown drug; Vala has withdrawn unless introduced to different stimuli. I believe that Eshera has actually helped from the sensory of pain, but not the mental capabilities of pain."
"What……what does that mean Carolyn? Daniel felt a lump in his throat.
"Pain is usually a defense system which is usually cured by rest or medication. In this sense she's on overload or was. Vala has the symptoms of Nociception, the onslaught of physical pain without the physicality of injury. But because I believe she has been injected for so long, it's actually causing her nervous system to break down and cause tissue damage."
"Is…….is there anything to stop this damage or what could happen if this continues?" Asked Sam with worry.
"It this continues without a cure or Vala continues to experience acute pain. Then it could lead to inflammatory joints that could spread to her spine, long term depression, long term memory loss and learning capabilities."
Daniel, Eshera, Teal'c and Sam could barely believe what was happening. Daniel heart sunk and knowing Vala could be a vegetable for all the knew. Eshera's efforts, though hopeful, really had no effect, other than knowing what happened to Vala.
"What……….what can we do Carolyn? There must be something we can do." Daniel felt terrified. Once again Vala was a victim, and this time there was nothing they could do to help.
"I'm sorry daddy, uh father. I……..I thought I could help mother."
"It's not your fault honey." Daniel was trying to be strong for his daughter. "Your mother will beat this. I know she will. I……..I just need to be alone with Vala right now." Daniel turned to Dr. Lam. "Can….can I at least hold her hand; I mean will she feel any pain if I touch her?"
"No, she can't feel anything while in a coma. It's safe to say that it may be best until we find a antidote. I'm going to have my people working around the clock Dr. Jackson. Right now, I want Eshera back in bed to rest. I'll check on Vala a little later. You all look like you need some rest. It won't help if you end up a patient either."
"Go on father; Uncle T and Aunt Sam will be with me. Mother needs you right now. She needs to know that you're close. Not that Ba'al person."
Daniel reached over to caress his daughters face and smiled. He didn't care anymore whether she looked like Adria. He only knew she tried to help her mother and at least he could touch Vala to make her aware, if not for her sake, but for his.
TBC