Chapter 15

"It's in the middle of Wraith controlled space!" Daniel screamed, trying desperately to keep his frustration in check.

"Would you quite down," Mitchell replied giving Daniel a scolding look. "The last thing that we need is for anyone to find about this before we've had a chance to come up with a plan."

"What plan?" Daniel whispered. "Its in the middle of Wraith controlled space!"

"So, what, you're gonna give up on trying to bring her back?"

"No," Daniel said with a large sigh. "Its just, things keep getting worse and it just seems as if the fates are against me on this one."

"Since when do you believe in fate?"

"I don't, which just goes to show how frustrating this all is."

Mitchell was hoping that this news would give some hope to the archaeologist, however it only seemed to further depress his spirit.

"Look, we'll reach Atlantis in less than two days. When we get there, and Dr. Lee can get a better idea of what we're looking at, we'll go from there. It's not as hopeless as it seems."

Daniel couldn't help but smile. Since confiding in Mitchell his frustrations regarding his friends he found himself creating a surprisingly close bond with the younger Colonel. It reminded him a bit of the friendship that he had with Jack. Although nothing could, or would ever replace that, the distance between the two had cause their bond to wane and left Daniel feeling as if there wasn't a soul in the galaxy with whom he could trust. Now, and with some time, he felt that Mitchell could turn out to be just as good a friend and that was one of the best things to come out of this entire ordeal. He was about to thank Mitchell for standing by him like he had when he was overcome with unfathomable pain.

Within minutes he found himself back in Ver Isca. Back in the same small house that he had been all those days ago. Frantically, he began to look around and there, sitting on a chair beside him, was Vala.

"Hello, Daniel."

Without saying a word, Daniel put his arms around Vala and hugged her tightly. Momentarily taken aback by his show of affection, Vala did nothing, but soon fell into his embrace.

"I've been so worried about you," he said pulling away from her and caressing the side of her face.

"I know," Vala said as she tried to hold back the tears. "It wasn't safe."

"Are you okay? Tell me what's going on?"

"Hush, Daniel. We haven't got a great deal of time and there is a lot that I need to tell you."

"You can tell me anything."

Vala gave Daniel a soft, almost menacing grin, "I know."

Holding her face in her hands, she leaned over and whispered into Daniel's ear.

Daniel!

Daniel's eyes open with a start, he looked around to see himself clutching his forehead and Mitchell looking at him with a worried stare.

"What the hell was that?"

"Vala," Daniel said as he began to massage his temples.

"You talked to Vala, what did she say? Is she all right?"

Removing his hand from his head, Daniel looked at Mitchell with what could only be described as stealthy determination.

"She told me where to find her, and now that I know, I have a plan."

Cameron Mitchell practically ran the distance from the infirmary to the North Laboratory. He was hoping beyond hope that Sam wasn't there because he didn't think that he could have come up with an excuse to send her away that wouldn't rouse her suspicions. Thankfully for him there was only one person in the North Lab, and that was just the person he had been wanting to see.

"Ah, Colonel Mitchell, just the person that I wanted to see."

"Not now Dr. McKay, there is something that I need to talk to you about."

"Well, whatever it is I'm certain it can wait, I have a question to ask you regarding Colonel Carter."

"Rodney!"

Taken aback by the Colonel's tone of voice, Rodney was preparing a rather indignant reply when the Colonel's words cut him off.

"Atlantis is in danger."

"What?" Rodney said looking at Mitchell with confusion. "How?"

"It seems there's a Supergate deep in the heart of Wraith controlled space. Dr. Lee found it while looking for a way to get Daniel to the Ori galaxy."

"Well, why are we just standing here," Rodney said getting up from his seat and heading towards the door. "We have to tell someone."

"And we will," Mitchell said grabbing the good doctors arm. "We think we may have a way to keep the Ori from coming to Atlantis."

"And what would that be?"

"You need to listen carefully to what I am about to tell you. Do not interrupt or comment on anything until I am finished. You got that?"

Rodney nodded.

"Good. Now I want you to send a message to Atlantis and I need you to tell them word for word everything that I am about to say.

"How are we certain that it has worked?"

Tomin turned to face the Prior, worry etched in the line of his eyes.

"It worked because the Orici has made sure of it."

"How do we know that she did not warn him. How can we be sure that Vala didn't break thru."

Because Vala sleeps.

The soft, almost echoing voice was barely audible but the power that emanated from it nearly shook the room. Tomin turned and within moments he found himself kneeling on the floor in fear.

Look at me. Do not be afraid.

Tomin did as he was told, he looked up, his heart racing and his body trembling at the sight before him. It was Vala speak, but the words out of her mouth were not Vala's. Her eyes were a strange and sickly orange color. He knew without being told, whom it was that stood before him. It was the Orici. A few seconds passed before the orange of Vala's eyes faded. Gasping audibly she looked around confused, almost uncertain of where she was or what had just happened. Then like a bolt of thunder, it hit her, and when it did she screamed.

And she would not stop.