PREVIOUSLY:

Eshera could feel something well up in her. With her eyes closed, her head fell against the table she was strapped to. The blue flame was emitting from her body, there were tendrils of blue flames reaching out to Vala. While Vala muddled thru the pain, her body reacted instantly without knowing. Vala's body started emitting a Red Flame. Glowing redder as the Blue one approached. The Red flame tendrils met with resistance with the Blue. It was fighting Eshera's flame, trying desperately to consume it, stop it from reaching Vala. Vala screamed and opened her eyes. She was trying to struggle against the restraints, trying to escape what was happening. She began to sweat profusely, head shaking back and forth, her mind on fire. The two flames attacked each other as if repelled by each other.

Mother, don't fight me. Let me in, let me heal you. Let me help you fight. Please, please let me help.

Something in Vala's mind triggered a memory. A memory of another trying to force her mind to submit to their probing. A deep subconscious fear to stop what was happening to her.

Ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

You will not trick me again Adria. No……..noooooooooooo. Let me be. Let me be.

Eshera didn't know what her mother was trying to do. She felt a deep fear for her mother and began to realize her mother was fighting something else.

Mother…………mother, it's me Eshera, not Adria. I'm not Adria, I'm your other daughter. Don't fight me; I love you, we all love you, dad loves you, your friends, Sam, Jack and Teal'c. Daniel Jackson is my father and we both love you very much. Let me help you before it's too late.

Dan………Daniel? Daniel…………..no, noooooooo. Ba'al is my love, noooooo. Noooooooo.

Eshera was desperately trying to mentally get thru to her mother. She could feel her mind fighting what was true and false memories.

I love you mother. You're in danger. Ba'al is cruel and controlling. He's drugged you and made you believe he is helping you. I love you mother. Has Ba'al ever told you that? Has he loved you as we do? Please mother, please.

The red tendrils emitting from Vala stopped in mid air. Her head was shaking back and forth, trying to comprehend what was happening to her. She felt and searched for something deep inside her. She remembered a baby she was holding. Smiles from a man, that was not Ba'al. Then she could see in her memories a child in a cabin. She was hugging the child and brushing her hair. She felt a warmth with this child, a sense of being loved and being protective.

"Esh…………Eshera? Vala was finally seeing some clarity thru the fog in her mind. The tendrils of flames dissipated.

"Yes mother, it's me, not Adria. I'm here with you. We must escape before Ba'al returns. They mean to use you and me mother."

"Eshera……….Eshera. Daniel, where………..where are we?"

"Mother listen to me. We need to escape." Eshera didn't understand how she knew, but she felt stronger somehow. She was fighting the effects of the drug. She knew that it would be a matter of time before Ba'al returned and she didn't know if her mother was strong enough to stay coherent. Eshera closed her eyes and her straps holding her down began to undue themselves. Eshera walked over to where her mother was being held and started untying her straps.

Vala was so weak from the drugging, she could barely speak. "Esh…….Eshera, leave………leave me. Sa……….save your…………yourself."

"No mother; I'm not letting that evil man use you. He will destroy you and everything we love. Daddy would never forgive me if I let that happen. I love you and I'm going to get us out of here."

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ANETEO'S SHIP

Aneteo was in his private quarters savoring his prize and the large supply of Naquadah captured, when there was a hail from his second in command.

"Commander, we……..we have a situation." Before he could finish, Daniel interjected in the background.

"I suggest your men let me see you or your Alliance will have a hard time finding you in space; in pieces."

Aneteo was seething inside. "You are in no position to……………….

"I have a detonator strapped to my body my friend, with encoded DNA attached to the Naquadah, and unless I have a personal meeting with you and not your thugs, then you can say goodbye right here and now."

Aneteo had underestimated Daniel. He couldn't afford to look weak again, especially now with everything relying on finding Ba'al and wreaking his revenge.

"I will allow you to entertain me Dr. Jackson. Escort him to my personal quarters and secure the Naquadah."

Idiots, all of them idiots. I have a ship full of idiots.

Daniel entered Aneteo's quarters. Aneteo's eyes immediately went to the beeping sound emitting from Daniel's chest and a device strapped to his hand.

" I must admit Dr. Jackson, you surprise me. So quick to die and without your friends around to help you. Obviously we can come to some sort of agreement. We both want Ba'al, and to come out of this unscathed."

"If anyone attempts to disarm or kill me, then the Naquadah blows. Ba'al is not all I want. He's taken someone that means a lot to me. Vala Mol Doran is my wife and I want her back. You are going to help me get her and more." Daniel was under no illusion that his plan could go sour at anytime. He learned quite a bit of terrorist tactics being on so many missions with SG1. Everything could litterly blow up in his face. He had to entice Aneteo and exploit his possible weakness at getting back and Ba'al.

"Why would you need me Dr. Jackson? Why not go after your wife yourself and Ba'al? You don't really need me, do you?" Aneteo was baiting Daniel. He knew there was something Daniel was holding back.

"I need a distraction for Ba'al. Your ships will do well as a threat. And you must already know, I was there when Ba'al practically wiped out your men, using my wife."

"If I remember Dr. Jackson, Ba'al was trying to wipe you and SG1 out as well. What makes you think you or I can take Ba'al on with him using your wife's unusual powers?" Stated Aneteo.

Daniel had to be careful or he would let too much be known. He didn't want this scum to know about Eshera. "Because I can control my wife, once I get her back. And when I do, I will destroy Ba'al. You can have what's left of him and have your glory along with the Naquadah."

Aneteo had to seriously consider the deal. He really had no choice, we he thought hard about his situation. But he had a plan of his own. He wanted Ba'al at all cost, but he wanted the power that Vala held also. His problem would be to gain control over Jackson to get his wife to do his bidding. With her power to control, then he didn't need the Lucian Alliance and he'd call the shots. He could control the galaxy's with that kind of power. But he had one obstacle in his way, and that would be Dr. Daniel Jackson himself.

"What would keep you from turning on me as well Dr. Jackson? After all, once you have your wife back to control and her power, you could easily destroy me as well and take back the Naquadah."

"You don't." Daniel said coldly.

Aneteo tried not to appear surprised, but he was. He always thought Jackson was a weak link and unimportant scientist. Now he could see that this was not the case. He would have the upper hand, but now was not the time.

"Very well Dr. Jackson; we'll play by your rules."

TBC