PREVIOUSLY:

"Daniel, it's not healthy to be blown up by the Ori and the Lucian Alliance at the same time. Look you need some sleep. I'm sure Carter has already did her job. We just need to sit tight and come up with a new plan when we find Vala, ok."

"I'm……….I'm just tired Jack." Daniel was rubbing the back of his neck out of stress. "I want my family back Jack. The Ori was unexpected."

"Hey I know how you feel, but we have to deal with one problem at a time. Space Princess would kick my butt if I let anything happen to you, and there are others to protect also. So get some sleep over there and I'll take first watch." Jack was being careful, unless one of Aneteo's crew was listening in.

Daniel understood and took Jack's advice. As the Hata'k took the jump into Hyperspace, Jack was confident that Sam was following.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Jack watched Daniel as he slept uneasy. He could see that Daniel was stressed, and his eyelids were moving back and forth, as if he was straining to stay asleep or having some kind of bad nightmare. He wanted to wake him, but knew Daniel had to be exhausted. He turned back to check the view screen and he could see that Sam had indeed followed thru hyperspace with the Hata'k ship. His faith in his teammates and friends was unquestionable. He knew they all had been thru some pretty rough times, and had saved each other hundreds if not thousands of times. But now Vala had become one more extended to his family of friends and Eshera now was part of that tight circle also. None of them had children right now and Eshera was the closest person other than Cassie to be their own. For Daniel, he knew it was absolute torture to finally have the family he wanted and to be taken away too many times. Even Jack had to admit to himself that someone was going to get seriously hurt, or more serious dire consequences to those who took Daniels family. For right now, Jack just wanted to find Vala and Eshera and keep Daniel and his friends alive.

Daniel could feel something was wrong, even in his sleep. It as if he was feeling tortured emotions. He allowed himself to shut down his guard, knowing that Jack was watching over him. But he couldn't shake his instincts of his family being in trouble and his dreams seem to see Vala and Eshera in danger of another kind. There were images of Eshera, but she was confronting her mother, somehow. Blurry images of Vala being tortured and Eshera standing around watching, not moving to save her own mother.

Daniel jerked awake, and Jack was instantly by his side. "Hey Daniel, it's ok; I'm right here and so is Sam and the rest. Except for our elated guest, were just peachy."

"I……….guess I needed the rest." Daniel stared at nothing for awhile and Jack knew that Daniel needed some time to get his thoughts together.

"Jack, I keep thinking why the Ancients picked Vala? I mean they did the same thing to Vala as the Ori." Daniel kept his voice down to make sure no one else could hear.

"Bring me up to speed Daniel, cause I have no ideal what you're talking about."

"They cheated Jack. The Ancients used Vala to have Eshera so they could try and defeat the Ori, just as the Ori impregnated Vala to give birth to Adria to defeat the galaxy. Taika said the Alterans had a plan, that Vala was their plan all along. The flames that Eshera and Vala have must be for some reason. I just don't know what."

"Look Daniel; from what Sam has told me. Eshera and Vala have two distinct different flames. Vala had a black and blue flame and Eshera has a blue flame. I'm a little stupefied as to why they have flames at all, but Ba'al obviously wants to use that power for his own sick reason. I can't even contemplate what would happen if the Ori found out about their powers. Come to think of it, wasn't the Ori on Celestia composed of flames too?" Asked Jack curiously.

Daniel had to give it to Jack for his intel. "Yeah, but those where flames of Origin. These may be flames from the Ancients. The Alterans or Ancients are of the same elements. It's just kills me that they would use Vala for revenge or whatever reason."

Jack put his hand on Daniel's shoulders. "Look, the most important thing right now is to save Vala and Eshera, get them home safe and all of us with them. You know were behind you 150 percent and do what it takes to get them back. Right now we have too many enemies to worry about and this uneasy alliance ain't going to last long, if you get my meaning."

"I never meant it to be permanent Jack. I needed them for a reason, so let's just leave it at that." Daniel stood up, trying not to be angry with Jack.

"Hey, I'm on your side, always have and always will be Daniel."

Daniel moved closer to the back of the ship and kept his voice very low, with Jack following. "I'm scared for them Jack. I can't help feeling we are going to be too late in finding them. I'm frightened that Adria has returned and will make sure that Vala doesn't get away this time." Daniel was physically shaken.

"Look Daniel, I don't pretend to know why this is all happening at once, the return of the Ori, the Lucian Alliance and Ba'al. But I know this; you love your family very much, and we're your family too. We'll get them back, no matter what and then when this is all over, I'm going to have the biggest barbeque that even Mitchell will be the envy of."

Daniel had to smile at Jack's attempt to alleviate the worry. He knew his friends would die for him to save Vala and Eshera. Nothing was more surer than now.

"Ok Jack, Ok. But if Vala complains that her steak is to small, then you have to deal with her."

"I wouldn't have it any other way." Jack smiled back.

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

BA'AL'S SHIP

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH…………..AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH." Painful bright light was emitting from Vala's eyes and mouth.

"Tell me why were you protecting your mother or I will continue the pain stick on her."

Ba'al continued to induce torture, while Eshera tried to hide who she was. "I had just found her Lord Ba'al. I was no my way to alert you. I have told you my mother is no consequence to me."

Vala was lucid, but entirely in agony. She was praying that Eshera would not reveal who she really was. Ba'al had seem to take pleasure in torturing her without end.

"Why is it that I'm not convinced Adria. You have not shown me any reason to believe otherwise." Stated Ba'al.

"AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH……………AAAAAAAAAAAAH." Vala's head and body felt like is was on fire. She knew Ba'al wouldn't kill her for some reason, but she felt like passing out to make him stop. But she had to be sure Eshera was not in any danger.

Eshera was seething inside, but her concentration was on her mother and she could see thru Vala's eyes that she wanted her to remain quite about her true identity.

"Then let me show you Lord Ba'al. We need to put this behind us and combine our forces."

Ba'al's men released Eshera, but watched her closely. Eshera walked over towards her mother and took the pain stick from Ba'al. His men stood ready with staff weapon for any sudden move from Eshera. Without hesitation Eshera used the pain stick on her mother.

"AAAAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhh……………Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh……Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah……………

Vala understood before she passed out what Eshera had to do to convince Ba'al of her loyalty. Eshera with great pain in her soul, watched her mother finally fall unconscious. Eshera turned looking towards Ba'al and handed him back the pain stick.

"Now that we understand one another Lord Ba'al, I need to return to my room to freshen up. All this exertion is tiring me out, and we have much to discuss."

Ba'al without question was convinced that the Orici had no concern for her mother. "You're a woman after my own heart Orici. Let my men escort you back to your room. I will deal with your mother in my own way."

"Very well then. I don't want her killed Lord Ba'al. I want to make an example of her. It's the sweetest revenge to convince those that do not believe in Origin to see me sacrifice my own mother to our faith."

"Of course Orici." Eshera turned and left. She had convinced Ba'al of her loyalty, but was dying inside for what she was forced to do.

After watching the Orici leave, Ba'al turned his attentions back to an unconscious Vala. He stooped down and grabbed her head by her hair.

"You don't get off so easy Vala. I will have your power, and I will make you pay for hiding from me." He dropped her head to the floor.

"Secure her in my private chambers and make sure she's tied to my wall. I will break her as I did O'Neill once. I will bring back sweet memories for me. Make sure my Sarcophagus is brought to my chambers also. She will die a thousand deaths before I finish with her."

Eshera entered her room and stood motionless for awhile. Then she moved like a ghost to her bed. Her whole body shook as she collapsed on the bed.

Oh mother; what have I done? I'm so sorry…………so sorry. Eshera began to sob into her pillow uncontrollably. She wondered why the Flames that she helped soothe her mother would not help her. When they were both found she thought she might help her mother escape. But something was wrong. She couldn't even conjure up a small flame to help.

Why won't it work, why? Something's wrong…………so wrong. Oh mother…………..mother. Daddy where are you? I need you……………..I need you.

TBC