CHAPTER 11

Vala would stop every few meters and peer around her shoulder. At the slightest hint of movement she would duck quickly between a group of bushes or trees. Waiting until the noise passed she would peek out to ensure that the perimeter was safe before she made her way down the road again. She knew that her current mission relied heavily on stealth, something that is not so easy to achieve if one is eight months pregnant. However she could not fail. Daniel was across the stars in another galaxy working on a way to rescue her at this very moment so she couldn't allow the fact that she was pregnant hinder her plans to seek out more information about the coming invasion. Besides, she could definitely use the incident as a way to score loads of chocolate ice cream and foot rubs from Daniel when she was rescued.

It was truly a cold night; one of the coldest Vala had ever experience since coming to Ver Isca. Shivering slightly she continued to move down the dirt path that led to a cliff face that overlooked the training ground. As she made her way past what seemed like another endless string of large trees she heard a loud noise coming from the direction in which she was heading. Thinking fast, she nearly dove into a set of nearby bushes. As she lay hidden the footsteps turned into voices, familiar voices. After concentrating on them with what seemed all the strength that she had, the recognition came to her. It was Tomin. He was talking to someone, who from the tone of voice alone, Vala recognized as a Prior.

"Do we know when the agent of evil is coming?"

"Within the next week," the Prior menacingly.

"Do we know his reasons for coming?"

"I would have thought, Tomin of Ver Isca, that such information would be relatively clear."

"He has come for the Orici?"

"Yes."

"Do we know how to find him?"

"That will also be relatively easy. We know this individual by name. The Ori consider him the most dangerous agent that evil could send to us and stopping him in his quest will bring to the one responsible for it, everlasting glory."

"I am willing to take up such a cause."

"I am aware. Your tenacity and desire to serve the Ori are unmatched by any other warrior that we have. It is why the Ori have chosen you to kill the agent before he can complete his task."

"You said that you knew of this agent by name?"

"Yes. Where he is from he is known as Daniel Jackson of Earth."

Vala gave out a loud audible gasp that caused Tomin and the Prior to stop in their tracks. Before she could react and get away, the bushes that she had hid behind burst into flames.

"So, you're saying that this could work?" Mitchell asked, astonished that he hadn't been drawn and quartered for even making the suggestion.

Sam gave him what he believed was a small smile before continuing with her presentation. Clicking the remote, she switched over to the next slide.

"Dr. Lee and I have been going over the data that we collected from the first Ori beachhead. We believe that if we had any chance of dialing the Supergate, we would have to be in the closest proximity to the Ori galaxy. That's why it hasn't been working. Like the interstellar drift we encountered with the original gate of Earth, the Ori galaxy is just too far away for us to dial from here. I'm thinking that if we maybe head to the Pegasus galaxy we may encounter a better chance of dialing the Supergate."

"So what do we need and when do we go?"

Mitchell's excitement turned sour upon noticing Sam's expression.

"What? Did I react too soon?"

"A little," Sam said as she pinched her finger and thumb together in a playful manner.

Mitchell had noticed that every since Daniel had returned safe and sound both Sam and Teal'c seemed to lighten up on him. He didn't know if Daniel had said something to them or if they had realized that they had been a little too harsh about what he had been trying to do.

"Before we get too excited," Sam said giving Mitchell a slight wink. "We need to work out a few kinks."

"Such as?"

"Well first off we need a Stargate that we can use in the Pegasus galaxy to dial the Supergate, we need a black hole to circumvent the connection between Pegasus and the Ori galaxy and the most problematic, we need a power source, a really big power source, in order to generate enough energy to create a stable wormhole."

"What about sending a ship thru?"

The apprehension was visible on Sam's face immediately.

"Cameron, I'm not so sure about that."

"Not so sure as it can't be done or not so sure as you don't think it's a good idea?"

"A bit of both."

"Look, Sam. Believe it when I say this is something that Jackson and I have been over already. There is no way in the world that anything or anybody is going to stop him from bringing her home."

"There's a good chance that he'll never come back."

"There's a good chance we may never come back each and every time that we step thru that gate but it never stops us. We just need to have a little trust that what he is doing is for the best and faith that he'll find a way back home."

"He seems to have a knack for that."

"Yes, he does."

"We have already contacted Dr. McKay in Atlantis who is using long range sensors to pick up the closest black hole in the closest region of Pegasus to the Ori Supergate."

"And if we find it?"

"Then we will be able to try the hypothesis. Either way we are heading for Atlantis within the next week."

"Well I know Daniel will be pleased with that."

"Definitely."

"I'm meant not only have we found a way to enter the Ori galaxy but he gets to go to Atlantis to do it."

"There's just one thing we need to sort out first."

Mitchell felt pensive. He was hoping to avoid another conversation like they had in the elevator.

"And what would that be?"

"Which one of us is going to tell Daniel?"

Mitchell laughed, "You tell him. But I definitely want to be there. Can't wait to see the look on his face when he realizes he's finally going to Disneyland."