Author's Note: I'm back from vacation now and I will post again this week but if I get some comments I just might post three times this week to make up for being gone. I hope this chapter moves the story along and clears up a few things.

As always thanks to purpleshrub

Chapter 7

I wake up shivering in the damp air and roll over, trying to get warm by curling up into the fetal position. Looking around the small cell, I try to remember how I got here. I touch my head feeling a lump where I stuck the floor.

Trying to think, I push my dirty hair back from my face. Gathering the matted mass, I look for something to tie it back with. My first thought was to rip a piece off my shirt and use that, but I look down at the battered garment in dismay. It's not as black as it should be, and from the smell of it, I've hit it a few times when I've throw up. The rest of my clothing isn't much better; my pants are full of holes and not much elseSeeing no other choice, I tear a piece off my shirt and use it to tie off a messy braid. I sit up and my stomach rolls, but I can't afford to throw up. I'm already far too weak.

My mind is sluggish as hunger and thirst gnaw at me. Shaking off the fuzzy feeling in my mind,remember only the fear and pain. The last time I was awake this wasn't where I remember was.

Outside in the hallway, I hear footsteps. Panic fills me; it's my torturers returning to ask me more questions I don't know the answers to. I back into the corner, wanting to control my fear, but it's unrelenting.

Suddenly, I'm back in my dream seeing the specters. I cover my ears, screaming at them to leave me alone, but even through my hand, I can hear a voice patiently speaking to me trying to bring me around.

The door creaks and slowly opens. Someone enters the room and I hear the jingle of keys. "Darling, the guards have gone to dinner, we don't have much time. We need to leave here."

The specter reaches out to touch me but I claw and bite, continuing to scream. "Where am I, why am I here? Who are you and what have you done to me?"

Instead of retaliating, she grabs my arms, shaking me. "Samantha, you've been dreaming. It's the drugs you've been given. It's me, Vala. You need to remember."

I wrench myself from her grip as I recognize her. "No, it wasn't a dream, I was there, I-" I search my pockets for the money and other things I took from the man in the hotel room but they're all gone.

Patting down my clothes, I realize that I'm dressed for an off-world mission, not in BDUs as I would have been on base. "But I was just in a clearing and then I fell..."

"It was a dream. Can't you remember anything about the mission? We were on a planet that had been ravaged by the Ori plague. Then it all went bad, so very bad Samantha..."

Grabbing her hand, I demand, "How long…."

"We've been here six weeks Samantha. I've tried to get us out but they've always been a step ahead of me and today they moved you to this secure facility. I'm not even supposed to be here, but I sweet- talked my way in here."

The strain from the last few days is evident on Vala's face and I realize she's been doing this alone. "You need to rest. How long has it been since you slept?"

Vala shakes her head. "No Sam, it's time we got out of here- if we stay here much longer you'll die."

I know she's right yet my eyes are drifting closed. I'm slipping away into that fuzzy place. The place I've been trying hard to fight. The walls go in and out and I see things I know aren't there, those people I have failed and lost. All my horrible memories have come back to haunt me in this place. The worst is my parents. They come to me together and say nothing, but I see shame in their eyes that I can't fight what these people have done to me.

Drawing a deep breath, I reach for control. Where am I, why am I here? I can't seem to remember where I am.

A stinging slap slashes across my cheek. "Samantha, wake up!"

The pain wrenches me from the daze I'd fallen in. I struggle back into consciousness. "Vala, can we go home now? I'm tired of this place and the food sucks."

Vala smiles, giving a small laugh. She sits down beside and presses a cup to my lips, making me drink. I want to drink it slowly but my thirst wins out and I drain the cup. I collapse back against the wall. I wrinkle my nose at the smell of vomit and sweat that comes off of me.

"Yes, we can. I know you are hungry and I have some food but unless you get a wiggle on I won't be able to share." She wipes her tears away. "But you need to get up, darling. We have to get out of here, this party isn't much fun. They'll be coming again soon and I don't think you can take another round of thirty questions."

I can't stop the smile on my face from getting bigger. "It's twenty questions Vala." Then I laugh hoarsely and it descends into a cough.

"This isn't the time for correcting my colloquialisms. You haven't eaten for-" She almost loses control again but she draws a sharp breath before continuing, "Four days. You never gave up on me, so I'm not leaving you. We're getting out of here together-"

Urgently she tugs at my arm. "About a week ago Whistler told me, far too happily I must say, there would be no more kassa until you tell them where the GDO is. My friend, you're a strong person but even you have your limits. We both do. I don't know if you'll last another round of their persuasive questioning. Whistler could be here at any minute."

Closing my eyes, I search my memory trying to figure this out, to understand what's going on. "Kassa?

Why would someone do that? What would they gain? It doesn't make any sense; what does he want a GDO for?"

"I don't know but it can't be good, but he's going to kill you if I don't get you out of here soon."

Vala's information swirls around my head as I try to organize it into coherent lines. "How do you know that he will kill me?"

"Just give me a minute." She stops, panic clearly written on her face as she looks at the door. We both can hear the approaching footsteps and off-key song. "That's Whistler! I don't know his real name, but he's the one who brought you the kassa and food. Do you remember?"

I shake my head but Vala doesn't seem to notice. She gets up to leave but not before she tucks a food bar into my hand.

"I have to go now, but I'll be back for you as soon as I can." The door closes behind her and I can't help but feel abandoned.

Knowing I don't have much time, I shove the whole thing in my mouth chewing the granola like food as fast as I can. In the stillness, I see flashes of memory.

0o0o0

SixWeeksEarlier

The planet feels dead as we step out of the Stargate and on to the stairs. Mitchell orders us to split up. The guys head off one way while Vala and I move off in another direction. We're here to make contact with a guy Vala knows, Bozin. He's supposed to have some information about the Lucien Alliance's Kassa exportation. Vala tells us he feels bad about the last time they met and wants to make amends.

Vala and I can't find him and the boys see no sign of him either.

Then we're running from some people, they might be men, they could be some thing else. I can't see them but they're shooting at us. Vala falls going down hard. "Sam, you have to keep running. They want the GDOs. Take mine and hide them. Please, very bad things will happen if they get their hands on them. You go that way and I'll lead them in the other direction."

Unsure, I take her device. I want to demand answers but she's already on her feet disappearing into the field with her light out.

I stash the devices and head for the gate, letting Mitchell know what's happening. He responses that they are under heavy fire and can't help us out.

The next few minutes are a blur as the Kassa field begins to burn but then I get hit by a 'zat and go down.

When I wake, the burning field illuminates Vala's long dark hair. There are footsteps closing in on me. Vala bends down close to me and says, "Samantha, I'm sorry this is the only way."

She pulls out her gun as we're surrounded members of Lucien Alliance.

The man who pushes his way to the front of the group is Netan, the leader of the Lucien Alliance. With his appearance, I slowly raise my hand to my radio, but Vala sees what I am doing. Her hand wavers and the gun dips slightly as she looks at me, but draws a deep breath and mouths, I'm sorry before she strikes me across the face.

Netan smiles as he grabs Vala around the waist. "Well done my pet. It took you much longer than anticipated, but I'm happy to have you back. Where is the rest of the team? I wanted the whole set. That Mitchell has made a fool of me too many times."

"Mitchell split up the team. They are here somewhere, and if you act quickly you may find them, but it might be best to take Colonel Carter and go. Teal'c and Mitchell won't go quietly."

"You always were a step or two ahead of me. That's why you lasted longer than so many other pets." Then I watch in horror as Netan kisses her. "Now Vala, where is the GDO? I owe the SGC a little pay back for all the trouble they have caused me over the past few years."

Vala looks at me, pointing her finger. "She hid it before I could get possession of it. I don't know where it is."

Netan's face darkens. "Well then we'll have to make her talk." Three men hold me down while Netan forces me to drink something overly sweet.

I have two more chapters of this story posted on my personal website. To find it just Google my penname. You can also follow me on facebook (you want my page not my profile(I created that and have no idea how to get rid of it, I never use it) to get updates other than here. (When I post a new story I post it there two-three weeks before I post here.) There used to be a link on my profile but it seems to have disappeared. This site won't let you post outside links in the story that's why the address isn't here.

Thank you for reading and I hope you come back again. :0)

Also I have now published my second work of original fiction on kindle. It's a novella called Red Colony: Odyssey. If you search for my real name, Kelli Bullock on amazon you'll find it and my first novella.