Chapter 67

Aja had filled Vala in as best as she could, leaving out a few minor details that she felt were either unimportant or that she would fill her sister in on at a later time. It had been a long while since she had stopped speaking and Vala had yet to respond. She just sat there, in what Aja could only assume was in deep thought process trying desperately to take in all that she had just been told. She had just about given up and assumed that she had shocked her sister catatonic when Vala turned to her with that look she always gave before asking serious questions.

"If you're Ascended," she replied matter-of-factly, "Then why didn't you just zap me back to Daniel instead of bringing me here."

"It doesn't work like that. You don't seem all that surprised by all of this."

"After what I have been through this past year or so, nothing really surprises me anymore," Vala grinned, "And what, you don't have the power to do it? Is it you don't know how to?"

"Its not like that."

"Then what is it like?"

Aja looked to Vala exasperated, "How much did Daniel Jackson tell you about his time as an Ascended."

"Everything, from my understanding."

"Then you know all about that very fine line he walked, then, yes?"

Vala nodded.

"The same goes for me, only I have a bit more scrutiny than he did. Since I died with Goa'uld DNA in my body I have potentially more power than your average Ascended Being. They are very much for the status quo, no one being is more powerful than the other, they work as a collective unit. While it is possible for me to do as you asked, it would require tremendous power and I am trying to stay under the radar, so to speak."

"Then why bring me here, what is the reason for all of this?"

"I need your help."

"With what?"

"The Ori."

"The Ori? What do they have to do with any of this?"

"The Ori are a threat to everything, including The Ancients. They're terrified, I can feel it. We need to stop the coming storm, at all costs."

"What do I have to do with any of this."

"You have birthed The Orici, you have everything to do with this. If that child falls into their hands then all is lost. There is nothing anyone could do to stop them. I know you have sent her away. I will protect her Vala. Keep her safe from them."

Vala looked at her sister wearily, "While I have no doubt your intentions are just, how can I trust that the Ancients won't take her from you?"

"I know of a place where she will be safe. A place out of the grasp of The Ori and The Ancients, where she can be raised safely without worry. It is a place known to only a few. You need not worry, sister. I will keep her safe, raise her right and, hopefully, one day I can reunite her with you and Daniel."

Vala looked to Aja confused, "What do you mean by one day? She is my daughter. You can't keep her from me."

"I have to, Vala. It won't be safe. And, in all fairness, you cannot give her what she needs."

"And you can?" she barked increduously.

"She is no ordinary child Vala. She is Human and Goa'uld and Ascended. While I love you, sweet sister, you know as well as I that this child cannot be raised by either you or Daniel. She is not a normal child. She is a powerful child, with limitless potential if put into the right hands. She cannot thrive unless she is raised among those with those who fully understand her capabilities and who can help her through it. And much like her I am Human and Goa'uld and Ascended. While she is made of The Orici, if she is not raised with their influence, she has a chance of being free from it. It has been done before, it can be done again."

Vala's heart broke at the realization that Aja was right. She had remembered reading mission briefings about Shifu, the son of Daniel's wife, Sha're, who had been spared the evil of his birthright through the training of an Ascended with benevolent intentions.

"You could do this, you would help her?"

"I would save her, Vala. I am the only one who can. We both have pasts we would like to forget. Things we have to attone for. This is my redemption, Vala. Pleaase, give me that chance, as Lucian did for you."

Vala thought back to her time with the Tok'ra who had saved her from Qetesh's grasp. He had been willing to put faith in her when no one else would. And while she has struggled since she has felt that without his opportunity, she would have never had a chance to be a better woman. To make up for the things she had done. She owed her sister the same.

"I lost consciousness after she was born. I don't remember what happened to her. She may be in the hands of The Ori already. However, there was another person with me. His name was Tomin. I have reason to believe he ran away with her, to protect her. But again, I don't know if it worked."

Aja smiled as she cupped the side of Vala's face, "You have given me a start. I cannot use my power to find her, I would be too exposed. Looking for this Tomin, however, may be just what I need. I will let you know when I find her, sister, now go find Daniel. He will need you now more than ever."

"What?" Vala asked, but before she knew it she was back on the ship, scaring the crap out of Baz and the other passengers.

"Vala!" he called running to her side. "What happened? Are you allright?"

"I'm fine."

"We didn't know what happened, you just disappeared, we feared The Ori had you."

Vala shook her head, "No, The Ori did not take me, but I must get word to your father. Things have changed."