Eshera was trying to concentrate on what she could do. She couldn't leave her mother at the hands of the evil man and somehow she knew they both would be hunted until her father could find them both. Eshera's mind was rising to punish those who had hurt her mother, but she didn't know if she was strong enough to stop anyone, other than the few powers she was aware of.

Vala finally lost consciousness and Eshera reached down to caress her mother's face, trying to think of a way to help her mother and find a way to protect her.

"I know what I must do mother. You will be safe until daddy reaches us. I just know they're coming for us. I just need to hide you until we find a way out of here."

Eshera looked around, hoping to see a way out other than the guarded door outside. The darkness in the chambers allowed her to see something she missed. Eshera concentrated, trying to see what she might be able to use to hide. After a few minutes with her eyes still shut, she had an idea.

"I'll keep you safe mother. Daddy's coming. I know he is."

Sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss

Eshera reached down and touched her mother's fevered head. She concentrated on the memories that her mother had of Adria. Eshera became completely disturbed at seeing Adria's attacks on her mother and father. She could sense that her mother was trying to shield her, but to no avail, Eshera needed those memories to save their lives.

Eshera tried to make sense of her powers, but there was still certain areas in her mind that remained clouded on what she was capable of. She chose the one area in the room that she knew that the people on board may not find her. She needed to keep their minds off finding her mother or they could both be in danger.

Ba'al's servant entered the room to check on his Lord's prisoners. When he could see that one pallet was empty, he immediately contacted Ba'al. In hearing that Vala escaped Ba'al immediately threw the servant across the room, killed instantly from his master's anger. The Jaffa guards were also killed for their incompetence and replaced. He ordered all guards to search for Vala and made good his threat, that if she was not found; they would pay dearly for displeasing their God. Ba'al immediately crossed over to the upright table holding Eshera and grabbed her face angrily.

"WHERE IS YOUR MOTHER ADRIA?"

Eshera opened her eyes feigning that she was unconscious. She immediately encompassed the memories of Adria and her demeanor.

"She is no concern of mine Lord Ba'al. I would think that you would treat your guest and possible ally with more respect."

This peaked Ba'al's interest. With him being hunted by the Lucian Alliance for his betrayal, he would need all the help he could get. He was no fool and the Ori, if not completely wiped out, would be needed as a threatening force against his enemies.

"Maybe I've been mislead as to your intentions. I was only interested in your mother as a hostage. You might say an upper hand concerning SG1. You have to admit I saved you from SG1 putting you away for the rest of your life."

"I am indeed in your debt Lord Ba'al, but my mother is your concern, not mine." Eshera was trying to keep Ba'al off balance. She truly loathed him, but needed to protect her mother.

"My forces are not depleted as one would suspect Lord Ba'al. You and I would do well as an ally to defeat all those who oppose us. Think of our enemies bowing at our feet as we make examples of them. Forget about my mother, we have other needs to be served."

Ba'al needed Vala as a weapon. He was not about to give up his little prize so soon. He needed any power to wipe out all those who opposed him and SG1 and the Alliance were a thorn in his proverbial side. Ba'al thought long and hard at pressing matters of being pursued by the entire Lucian Alliance. Ba'al released Eshera, believing that he truly had Adria. Eshera had played her part well, now she had to continue until she had a chance possibly to escape this evil man.

"Thank you lord Ba'al, you will not regret your decision. "

"I shall entertain our alliance Orici, but when I find your mother, she is mine to do with as I will."

"What is it that you need of my mother in the first place?" Eshera pressed her ruse of impersonating Adria.

"I was not aware that you would not know of your mother's unique situation. She has a certain gift that is usable to me." Ba'al didn't want to give to much information to Adria, just in case Adria could influence her mother's power.

"I assure you Lord Ba'al, my mother has no power or I would have exploited it long ago for the sake of Origin. She is useless to me and only alive in hopes I will one day convince her of my intentions to wipe evil from the galaxy."

"Of course Orici. Please take one of my private chambers as a token of our alliance. My servants are at your disposal."

"Thank you Lord Ba'al, and if I see my mother, I will alert your guards immediately to detain her."

"Thank you Orici. I will leave you to rest." Ba'al bowed and left Eshera. Once outside he issued an order to make sure the Orici was well guarded as a guest and any signs of Vala would be rewarded once captured. Ba'al still didn't trust Adria, and he needed to find Vala. He had some suspicions, but his interest laid elsewhere.

Where are you Vala and how did you escape? Your powers have enabled you to shake off my drug. When I find you, then I must increase your dosage my dear. I can't have you running around the galaxy unchecked. You will be mine to control forever, you and one day your daughter, the Orici. Her power and yours would make me unstoppable.

Ba'al smirked a small smile, as he walked down the corridor of his ship, knowing he would have access to a greater power than he could ever imagine.

Eshera waited a few moments before allowing herself to check on her mother in her hiding place. Eshera made sure the lights were dimmed down to prelude that she was asleep. Eshera reached up and moved her hand over the covering of the vent. She used her powers to levitate her mother into the air shaft. This tired Eshera out, leaving her almost exhausted. So when Ba'al found her on the pallet she was almost unconscious. She reached up to her mother, feeling her forehead, seeing she was still fevered. Vala was still unconscious from Eshera's mind touch, and Eshera hoped her mother would stay unconscious until her father arrived. Eshera could feel her father searching for them somehow. She just trusted in her instincts and trusted in her father's love for them both, that he would find them soon.

"Father will find us mother, you have to stay safe. That evil man will not harm you again." Eshera covered her mother with a blanket and tried to take away any pain her mother may still be feeling. Eshera hated her mother being in pain and vulnerable. She knew her mother's fear of Adria and the fear of having a child taken away from her. Eshera could see the images of her mothers mind and how Adria had somehow tried to kill her mother. But the images were foggy and disturbing. Eshera didn't understand why Adria was hovering over her mother, evilly smiling and then Adria screaming in pain. She was trying to imitate Adria to convince Ba'al that she hand no concerns for her mother and the she was indeed the Orici. Her plan had worked, but she didn't know how long she could convince Ba'al.

Eshera kissed her mother's forehead. "I love you mother." She returned the covering of the vent and went to bed. She needed her rest and tried to concentrate as much as possible on sending a subliminal message to her father. She just hoped she was strong enough to do it.

THE PROMETHEUS

Sam was in the lab, checking charts on the last location of the Lucian Alliance ships. Sam couldn't stop thinking about Eshera and Vala being in the hands of Ba'al. But even more worried on how Daniel went rogue without any backup to find them. She was hoping beyond hope to find her friends unharmed and back safe, but something else was bothering her even more. It's if there was a premonition that something worse was coming. Being part of SG1 meant each of her teammates had to stay alert, be sharp, ready for any out of the ordinary experience. And they have had their fare share of oddities on many a missions. Sometimes it made Sam paranoid, at other times just very, very cautious. But there was a nagging sense of foreboding. When they barely escaped from that mad man that was torturing Vala; Taika said that Vala was special. That the Ancients foreseen in Vala their future to fight a greater evil.

"CARTER?"

"Huh…….oh, Sir. I didn't hear you come in."

Jack was a little worried. He had called to Sam several moments before she answered.

"What's wrong Sam? You've been more distant than usual."

"I keep thinking about Vala and Eshera. It's so unfair to see them taken from us, and then Daniel going after them alone."

"Yeah, spacemonkey made the top wanted list without trying. But something else is bothering you too." Jack always became a little nervous when Sam was nervous.

"It seems like this is all leading up to something bigger than we can comprehend. Why Vala, why would the Ancients pick Vala to have the Orici? Why does she have this power of the blue and black flame? Why would Eshera have the same power that Vala has and for what purpose if Adria is dead?"

"Scary stuff Carter. We've been thru some pretty strange stuff and usually sometimes our friends are involved. Adria and the Ori have been some of our toughest customers and so were the Goa'uld. And we've defeated them both. Ba'al is just bidding his time again for some furlong memory of taking over the world again. I don't like that he's using our friends to get what he wants and Daniel travestying across the know galaxy for revenge. But I do know this."

Sam raised her eyebrow out of curiosity. "I know we don't leave anyone behind. We don't like our friends getting hurt, and we darn well will kick their asses when they mess with our families."

Sam smiled at Jack's outlook on everything always turning out alright. And she knew Jack would rather die than see one of his friends hurt. But it didn't help ease her fears.

"Sir, I know Daniel only wants his family back, and I can't blame him for his actions right now. But if we don't find Eshera and Vala alive; I don't think Daniel will ever recover or want to. I don't know if any of us will recover if we lose them."

TBC