Her mind could not quite fathom where she was or did she care. Vala could not focus a single thought, but only that her body felt completely numb. She tried to focus as her eye lids felt like lead. She tried raising her hand to her forehead, but that too was too heavy for her to accomplish. She tried speaking, but her voice had no sound. She did remember feeling pain, unbearable pain. She did remember a heavy voice, glowing eyes and a menacing face appearing every time she wanted to escape the pain. Her mouth was dry, and she wanted something to soothe her very sore throat. She felt drained of life and there was nothing more to go on for. She felt ready to die, that there was no purpose to go on. She felt tired suddenly and wanted nothing more than to fall into the abyss and never be found.

Eshera was slowly awakening. Her head was pounding and she finally opened her eyes to see her mother next to her, but not her father or her Uncle Teal'c. She gathered her strength and crawled over to her mother. She placed her mothers head on her lap and pulled them both, so her back was to the wall of their cage. Her mothers eyes were open, but there seem to be no focus or knowledge that she was holding her.

Eshera whispered to her mother. "Mother……..mother, can you hear me? I don't know where we are. Daddy and Uncle Teal'c are not here. They came to rescue us. Mother, please…….please hear me."

Vala continued to stare as if nothing was there. To her, her mind would not register anyone or anything outside of nothing. Eshera tried to stay calm. She could sense that her father was near, and somehow the rest of SG1. She was thankful that at least some of her powers were returning. It seemed to her that she needed them the most, now. She raised her hand to her mothers forehead, trying to heal what may be wrong. She concentrated and a small tendril of flame emitted from her hand. She tried to concentrate longer to conjure up more, but nothing, other than the small amount of flame appeared. Frustrated, but thankful for even the small flame, she attempted to heal her mother.

Vala gasped and her mind cleared for a moment. "Esh……..Eshera?"

Eshera smiled, now that her mother acknowledged her. "Yes mother, I'm here."

"Le…….leave me. Save your……..yourself. I……don't…….don't know how long……..long can hold on."

Eshera could feel the fear in her mother. The fear that she wanted to give up. "No, no mother. Daddy is going to save us, I know he will. I can feel everyone is here somehow, wherever we are. I was with daddy and Uncle Teal'c. They were firing on some evil men. We can't give up, you can't give up mother."

"No…….esc……..escape." Vala's voice was barely a whisper.

Without noticing, but sensing something was approaching, Eshera looked towards the doorway and a red flame came thru. Adria had arrived.

"So you are awake clone. Good, then I need some answers from you and my mother. I know she's awake also."

Eshera gently laid her mothers head down on the floor and approached the cage bars in a defiant and protective manor of Vala. "You leave her alone. You are evil."

Adria laughed outwardly. "You are no threat to me. You are only a clone with possibly my memories of being the Orici. Ba'al is dead, so you no longer have a protector."

Eshera seemed calm, but something was stirring underneath. "He was never my protector. He was an evil man and I'm glad he is dead. He hurt my mot……..

Adria was now certain she was a clone. She stopped short of calling Vala her mother.

"Mother; is that what you believe. I see Ba'al made an excellent copy of me. You need not be afraid of me. I may have a place for you in spreading Origin."

"Ad…..Adria. Leave……..leave her…….alone." Vala was trying to get up. Eshera rushed to her side. "Rest mother; I will protect you."

Again Adria laughed to herself. "You really are original. I must say, you being so protective of my mother is almost touching." Adria raised her hand. "Now move away from her; I have questions I want answered, and this time mother, no one can help you."

Adria reached out with her flames and Eshera moved to protect her mother. She also threw up her hand and a slight blue flame stopped her, but only momentarily.

Adria was shocked and angered. "What is the meaning of this? How dare you stop me, the Orici. What are you?"

Eshera stood fast over her mother. "I will not let you hurt my mother. You have caused her enough pain."

Adria threw her flames at Eshera again. The force of her flames threw her against the wall. Eshera was down, but not out. She knew instinctively that this would keep Adria from concentrating on her mother. Eshera once again tried to use her flames. She threw up her hand to shield herself and still a small amount protected her. Vala could see what was happening, and slowly moved towards Eshera. Adria caught sight of Vala and threw her against the wall also. Vala went down hard.

"MOTHER." Eshera's eyes went wide with worry.

"No mother, you cannot escape me." Adria held Eshera in place and used her red flames to penetrate Vala's mind.

Vala was held fast, as she struggled to stop Adria's attack on her mind. She was too weak and she worried about Adria hurting Eshera. As Adria ran thru Vala's mind, she saw the scene where she was born and taken from her mother. This had no maternal affect on her, as she raced thru Vala's mind. Then she saw where Ba'al had tortured her previously and destroyed by flames. But something else was disturbing that she didn't understand. She saw Vala was happy with Daniel, and then a child was born. She saw her mother hold the child and then running from Daniel. The girl child was with her in some cabin, and then Vala was beamed to a Hata'k, tortured again by another Ba'al. Her mother seemed to be in agony and then finding her in the presence of the Orici clone.

Adria retracted her Red flames, and Vala and Eshera slid to the floor. Vala was barely conscious, but felt Eshera move closer to her, trying to hold onto her.

Adria looked more angrier than ever. "Where is your child mother? I will take her and make her my protégé'. She will fill in nicely along with the clone."

"Yo…….you will never………never touch her. Why can………can't you leave us al…….alone?"

"Leave you alone mother? You and your friends are the cause of me almost being destroyed. That Ancient child nearly destroyed me just as I was about to become more powerful with your memories of Quetesh. You served her well mother. Your memories of her domination was the fuel that propelled me to destroy you all. Even though she is dead, the Goual'd knew the importance of power and slavery. I intend to destroy you mother and all who oppose me once and for all. I am more powerful than I could ever imagine and nothing will be in my way, including you."

Eshera screamed. "I WON'T LET YOU DESTROY ANYONE."

Adria again threw Eshera against the wall with a wave of her hand. "You need to know that you are nothing to me clone. I can crush you where you stand, but you were created to serve, and you will serve me well."

"Leave………leave her alone Adria." Vala's voice was raspy at best. She was moving slowly; trying to stand with the wall as support. She was trying to draw Adria away from Eshera.

"You….you know why I…….I had another child Adria?"

"What?" Adria now turned towards her mother.

"I……I said you know why I had………another child? Vala knew this could be her end, drawing Adria away. She was hoping beyond hope that Eshera may be able to use her abilities. "It's because that child was…….was made from love Adria, not evil. You……….you were used Adria, just like I was. You never had a…….a chance to become a normal child."

Vala slid down to the floor once again, too weak to stand anymore, too tired to fight. She still kept an eye for out for Eshera.

"I am the Orici mother. I was born to rule the galaxy thru Origin. There is evil in the cosmos and I intend to make them see how they will pay for not following me."

Vala laughed slightly in pain. Adria was not pleased. "You……..you Adria. That's what this is all about; you. You have no interest in Origin. You have…..have no sense of decency. You want to control anyone or anything that doesn't agree with you, not the Ori. That's what you want for your legacy; Power, pure unadaulterated power."

"You need to stop mother. This is not about me, its about you and how you've done everything in your power to stop me. You were simply a vessel for incubation, nothing more. Your life never had any meaning to anyone. That's why you were used, not me." Adria felt that would sting her mother.

"You……..you still don't get it do you Adria. My child was made from our love; Daniel and I. She would never use her powers for such evil. I had her because I could no longer bear to deal with you anymore. I wanted to love a child and see her grow to a beautiful young lady that would find her place in this universe and she would have parents that loved her unconditionally. I never meant to hurt you, but I couldn't stand the fact that you wanted innocent people to die at your whim. I have loved you Adria, but not at the cost of other lives. I still love you, but I can never stand by and let you hurt anyone."

That hit a nerve in Adria. She couldn't believe what was coming from her mother. "You mean you chose her over me. You have always chose others over me. Your friends, Dr. Jackson, and now her. I'll ask you one more time mother before I find out my way. WHERE IS SHE?"

Adria suddenly felt something unfamiliar, she turned to see Eshera standing with blue flames emitting from her hands.

Eshera stood defiant. "She's right here evil one. I am her daughter; I am the one you are looking for. Hello Sister."

TBC