LIBERTINES AND LIBERATION
CHAPTER 42 After the Flash
DISCLAIMER: I do not own any Stargate characters, ideas or themes. As a matter of fact, Stargate can have my ideas if they want them (wouldn't that be great). All standard applicable disclaimers apply to this piece. I have tried to source any materials quoted in furtherance of this story.
Spoilers: Probably some for Season 10 and beyond. I recently saw Ark of Truth. I've tried to keep my story canon as to events through Season 10. If it happened in the series, I've tried to respect that and work within the framework of the canon. Now that Ark of Truth is out, I have not decided whether my story will treat the events depicted in Ark of Truth as canon or go for an AU approach. Maybe it doesn't matter. Stay tuned as the story unfolds.
Summary: Vala and Daniel centered storyline adventure (hopefully); relationship (okay yes); angst (yup); comfort; etc.
Rating: R to NC-17 in some parts, with some language and sexually graphic material.
Author's Note: This is my first Stargate fiction. Thanks E, for the beta assist. This story will have multiple chapters.
Author's Note: I understand that is currently sans special symbols such as the sun symbol that I use to denote scene changes. I've modified my scene change notations for this chapter. I hope FF gives us back are special symbols soon!
Please review: I'm sure all you fiction writers know how cold and lonely it can be the day you publish a chapter.
Me: "Why haven't I heard from anyone?"
Beta Boy: "Uh, because they're READING your chapter."
Me: "Well maybe they read it; hated it and are just too polite to say!"
Beta Boy: "Your chapters are pretty long, they're reading it. Really! Besides, you have to write to write not to be reviewed."
Me: "I know; it's just hard to write the next chapter when you don't know what people are thinking about the last one."
Beta Boy: "It's Fan Fiction not War and Peace!"
Me: "What's your point?"
Anyway, reviews would be appreciated.
Summary: Chapter 41 has a great little summary at the beginning if you need one. At the end of Chapter 41 Vala had convinced the mysterious cloaked stowaway to turn off his cloaking device:
"I . . . I'm fine," Vala said shaking her head a bit confused. "I just zoned out a moment, I'm sorry. Look, my friends are right; we can't let you roam our ship without more information. But if you uncloak and we get to know each other, maybe we can work something out."
After a few more moments of tense silence, a flash of light appeared in the room and the formerly invisible man stood in the corner.
And now Chapter 42. Enjoy!
xx Scene Change
After the Flash
The flash of light caused Vala to blink the spots back out of her eyes. When she could see again a man stood in the previously unoccupied corner.
And what a man he was. He stood 6'3" with a head of soft wavy brown hair. He was dressed in soft fawn leather pants and a snowy white shirt. His movements were muscled grace under a well exercised brawn. If all that wasn't enough to make the women take note, his face had a charming mixture of kind, deep bottle green eyes and a dazzling crooked smile. Combined with the deep, honeyed calming voice, Vala's knees felt a tad weak.
"I am Niko Peridon; I am most pleased to make your acquaintance," the beautiful man looked from one person to another.
Vala was the first to move. She walked forward and held her hand out, "Pleased to meet you Niko Peridon." Vala smiled widely.
"Thank you for trusting us," she smiled again. There was something homey, charming and soothing about Niko, Vala thought as she watched the others make their introductions. In another life, a bond might have been sealed in that instant, but in this life Vala did not allow herself such a luxury. Still, she couldn't deny that she had instantly wanted to trust Niko. And that unsettled Vala. She hadn't felt such an instant trust with anyone other than Daniel.
"Likewise," Niko smiled and bowed slightly. "I am most pleased that we have met peacefully as friends and potential allies."
"As are we," Daniel interrupted. Niko seemed quite charming and likeable Daniel thought.
"You're bleeding," Vala said as she pointed to the blood above Niko's head.
"No Vala, may I call you Vala?"
Vala nodded her permission.
"Vala, I am not bleeding; that is your blood. Are you feeling better?"
"Yes, thank you," Vala responded with a smile at the graciousness of Niko's concern.
"Thank you for trusting us," Vala said again.
Niko smiled and gave a lilting laugh that made Sam, who was watching on the monitor with Cameron, a bit weak in the knees. "Yes, you said that earlier Vala and you are most welcome. Thank you for not spraying this cell with the projectiles from your weapons when you could not find me."
"Don't mention it," Cameron said coming in the door with Sam.
"Colonel Samantha Carter," Niko bowed. "May I offer my assistance in familiarizing you all with the ship's systems? I have had some time to study them."
"Yes, that would be lovely," Vala nodded and smiled.
"Great," Sam nodded her agreement.
As was Daniel's way, he would give Niko the benefit of the doubt and extend a guarded trust, but the way Sam and Vala were looking at Niko made him nervous. And the tone in Vala's voice, hit him in the gut just a little bit.
Niko looked at Vala and Jack, "Well I think our first priority should be the infirmary systems and the healing device; don't you?"
"Yeah, that would be great, but first, I think we need to know exactly who you are and how you got onto this ship," Jack told him. His gut was telling him that Niko was a stand up guy. He'd already proven himself to be an ally and asset, but he did need to explain his stowing away on the ship. And before Jack was satisfied on that count, Niko was not getting any more access to the systems.
Niko looked from one to another. "I realize that you must satisfy yourselves that I am trustworthy and no enemy clothed as a friend. I will attempt to explain myself and dissipate your doubts. I am from a planet where it is the worst imaginable treason to disclose its whereabouts. So please keep in mind that I have obligations to my people that I cannot betray. Integrity dictates that I keep the old ways in that regard. My leader gave instructions to me to complete a mission off world. It is how I found myself on this Lucian Alliance ship."
"What kind of mission," Daniel asked.
"I was sent to retrieve something our leader misplaced; how it was misplaced I do not know. I have never before traveled away from my home world and all of what I have learned of the world centered on my home." Niko began to pace a bit as he spoke. "Once I left my world, once I saw something of our galaxy," Niko paused seemingly to form the explanation he was about to give. "As I have seen the connectivity of the planets in this galaxy, well I no longer feel that my world's leader is properly guiding my people. More on that matter I cannot say, except that they have chosen to isolate away from the rest of this galaxy to the detriment of all. I hope you can accept that explanation. In any event, I now believe that for the sake of my people and their legacy it is unwise to complete my mission. So I have decided to stay off world and, if you will allow it, to assist you in your fight against the oppressive forces of our galaxy."
"How do you know that we intend to fight oppressive forces in the galaxy," Cameron asked suspiciously.
"Well I have had some time to watch Vala and Jack, may I call you Jack?"
"Sure, knock yourself out," Jack said.
Niko smiled and nodded. "And, I saw Vala and Jack's efforts on Nerutas."
"What about your people? Are you just going to walk away from them," Daniel asked with interest.
"It is not within my power to see the entirety of the path ahead of me. But I feel I spark in this direction with purpose; I believe I am of the greatest use to my people by assisting in protecting the galaxy we all share," Niko said. "In time this may correct our leadership's missteps."
Vala looked at him puzzled, "Why?"
"I know not except that I am not meant to complete my mission and that I am meant to spark in this direction and occupy this space," Niko said.
"So in other words, your gut is telling you that you need to help in the greater fight of the galaxy," Cameron stated.
"Well I suppose that is a small part of it yes," Niko said. "And, in that regard, I believe I have already been of some use to Vala and Jack."
"Niko, would you being willing to submit to a medical analysis," Sam asked.
"Why," Niko asked.
"Well as part of establishing trust," Daniel began. "We need to rule out the possibility that you are one of our enemies disguised as something else."
"You would like to make sure that I am no Goa'uld, Replicator or Ori?"
"Yes, as much as possible," Sam said.
"Of course, I will submit," Niko told her with a warm and trusting smile.
xx Scene Change
Alien Medical Exam
"All the tests check out," Sam said. "Niko does not appear to be anything other than human. There are only two anomalies. The first is that Niko's brain shows activity in about 5 to 10 more area than our brains. That might explain why he knows so much about us. It might act like a form of telepathy that only registers on a subconscious level. I've heard of people who can detect illness and brain anomalies. Studies have shown that those people have increased brain activities of only about a half percentage point above normal. Niko's percentage is significantly higher than that."
"Well that's a more likely explanation than Niko's," Jack said referring to Niko's explanation that he was very observant. "Are we talking increased percentages where we need to be thinking Nerti or Kalek?"
"Does everyone on your planet have these abilities to be observant Niko," Daniel asked.
"We call it the Sight, and it is not uncommon. It's like being able to read early on my planet. Except that most people lose it as they grow up. I suppose I am less common because I retained the Sight as an adult, but it is not unheard of to retain the ability," Niko said looking alternatively uninterested and puzzled by the interest the others were showing.
"Sounds like this state might be normal on his planet," Sam concluded and nodded at Niko to thank him for the explanation. "The second difference we've seen before. Niko has the Ancient gene, which could certainly come in handy."
Niko looked at Sam and asked, "What is the Ancient gene?"
"It allows us to operate certainly technology; I have it too," Jack told him.
"Oh, I have that also," Vala said.
"Oh, you do not!" Daniel scowled at her.
"Yes I do," Vala challenged.
"If you had the Ancient gene, I would know Vala," Daniel looked at her with the old annoyance written all over his face.
"Actually Daniel, she does have the Ancient gene," Cameron confirmed.
Daniel scowled, "What! Why wasn't I informed?"
"Well darling, Cameron had me tested when we came back from our little excursion – the one where you went all Merlin on me." Vala told him without looking at him.
"Yeah Jackson, I wanted to find out why that Ancient's face hugger that Merlin had tried to suck face with our girl," Cameron told him.
"Oh, I forgot about that," Daniel admitted. "Why didn't you tell me about this when I got back?"
Vala gave him a little accusatory look, "Daniel we weren't hiding it from you; it just never came up. You were gone off with Adria, and then you went all Prior on us, and well I guess it just slipped our minds."
"Oh," Daniel looked a bit sheepish.
Vala gave Daniel a shrug and wink, "Darling as long as you keep me happy, I promise to use my Ancient gene only for good. I mean I hardly ever want to send you back in time or destroy any boring old artifact you're spending forever on."
Daniel gave her a double take and started to respond when Jack cut him off.
"Yeah, I've been tempted to do that too."
"Jack!"
"Daniel. Well the more the merrier I always say," Jack told the group.
"Um, Niko, you said you might be able to help me fix the healing device," Sam changed the subject.
"Oh absolutely," Niko smiled, seemingly unaffected by the little dysfunctional family squabble he had witnessed. "I would have fixed it already, but I did not have a spare power source."
"Teal'c brought a new power source back with him, but I've already installed it and the device is still dead."
"Yes," Niko nodded. "These devices need to be initialized with a charge from another source."
"Of course," Sam nodded. "I mean I've used that technique on larger devices, but I didn't want to risk it on such a small device. Would a zat blast do?"
"Yes, I believe so," Niko said.
Sam aimed the zat at the healing device and fired. "Try it now Vala."
Niko stopped Vala taking hold of her hand as she was about to raise it. "You must only turn it quickly on and off; you are too weak to bring it to full power as yet."
"Oh, I'll be fine," Vala said a bit flushed from Niko's touch and the concern in his voice. Vala cleared her throat and removed her hand from Niko. "Thank you for your concern Niko, but I will be fine."
"Vala, I assure you that you will not be fine if you do not heed my counsel on this matter," Niko told her seriously and took her hand once again for emphasis.
Vala looked at him hard as Daniel walked quickly over to her and grabbed the device unsure whether she would obey instructions.
"Daniel!"
"Vala, I'll give it back when you promise to follow instructions," Daniel looked at her.
"But," Vala began.
"Vala, please let's play it safe and start slowly," Sam told her.
"Well if I can't operate it, what good does it do fixing it," Vala whined.
"And if you're in a coma or dead, what good will it be then," Daniel countered.
Niko squeezed Vala's hand and smiled reassuringly, "Vala, I believe I may be able to rig one of these monitors to amplify the healing device so that it will require little energy from you to operate. If so, we can use it to heal your condition, and then you will be able to heal Jack," Niko offered. "The process will take a few days, but it will be much safer."
"Yeah, that all sounds great, Niko, but before we put Vala's life in your hands, I have a few more questions," Jack interrupted.
Niko turned to Jack, "What would you like to know?"
"Why are you on our ship," Jack asked.
"I thought the Lucian Alliance might have what my leader seeks," Niko answered. "Barring that, they seemed to have quite a network and information flows quite freely through it."
"And what information would that be," Daniel inquired.
"Information on something that was thought safe, but discovered to be lost," Niko answered as best he could and then added. "And I can say no more of it. I say too much already. If that is unacceptable, I shall have to bid you goodbye. I can tell you that I used my cloaking device to enter the ship before it was taken by Ruznak."
"And why did you stay when you discovered that the Lucian Alliance did not have what you sought," Daniel asked.
"At first I stayed to gain intelligence. I explored Katana and used the ship as my base of observation. Then I saw Vala and Jack, known as Joaquin then, come to the ship," Niko said cryptically.
"Why did you find us interesting," Vala asked.
"At first as an avenue to explore to complete my mission, but I stayed because you spark in a direction that served a higher purpose. It was clear that you were not motivated by the hunger for power and greed like the Lucian Alliance."
"And you used your nifty cloaking device to board the ship and remain undetected," Vala concluded.
"Yes it is quite a good cloaking device if initialized properly," Niko said.
"Why would you assume we have any connection to your mission at all," Vala asked.
"Well you were purchasing a ship that came from the Lucian Alliance under most interesting circumstances," Niko told her. "It was logical to investigate. Soon after, I had seen enough to form the conclusion that I should no longer serve my leader's mission. And you know the rest, I no longer seek . . . I no longer accept that mission. I wish to join the crew of this ship. Vala you said you wanted crew. Have I not proven myself trustworthy in that regard? That is to say, you are no longer imprisoned on Nerutas, your ship is still in your possession and, I might add, you are not dead. We have been together weeks now, I have not disclosed your location or any of the information I have gained."
"He has a point," Vala said.
"That we know of anyway," Jack said.
"He has a point too," Vala said.
"Yeah," Daniel confirmed cautiously. He found himself trusting and liking Niko in spite of this fast bond he saw forming between him and Vala.
"Well Jack, do you know enough to allow me to help Vala? I can assure you that your Dr. Lam will not be able to repair this weak artery in her brain without risking damage to the very essence of who she is. The healing device is the only way, and unless someone else can operate the healing device effectively, my method is the only way."
"I've operated the device, but never with any control," Sam said.
"How long were you host to a Goa'uld," Niko asked.
"It was only a few days," Sam answered.
"That is why; the naquedah in your blood is not in great enough levels for such control," Niko concluded.
"Yes, I've been told that before," Sam affirmed.
"I think my method is the best course of action, if everyone agrees that is," Niko smiled with warm and kind eyes.
"I vote yes," Vala said.
"Me too," Jack affirmed.
"Yes, let's do it," Daniel agreed with a sigh. He wanted Vala returned to health as safely and quickly as possible.
"Very well, let us begin," Niko said.
xx Scene Change
Hardball
"Mr. Woolsey, we don't have an appointment and I am very busy today so what can I do for you," General Landry asked briskly.
"Well I came to discuss the Vala Mal Doran matter further, General Landry. The IOA finds your terms for continued funding unacceptable and insists on continued access as well as Vala Mal Doran. Barring that, it is planning on recommending that the Russians recall the Stargate," Woolsey informed him.
"Isn't that what you told me last time," General Landry asked.
"No, I said it might happen; now I am here to tell you that the IOA members are discussing that option and will continue to discuss it unless you meet their demands," Woolsey said.
"Well I imagine they'll continue to discuss it whether I meet their demands or not," Landry said.
"No you don't understand, the IOA members may call for a vote and put pressure on the Russians to reclaim the gate or risk losing their position with the IOA," Woolsey said.
"And you think the Russians are more concerned with the IOA than they are with the lease agreement with the US and their continued participation in an experienced and proven Stargate program? Do you forget that the Russians ran a program that nearly wiped out a Russian city? I don't think the Russians are anxious to take point on those risks again," General Landry said icily.
"Yes, well the Chinese have volunteered to host the program on their soil," Woolsey said pointedly.
"And accepting the IOA terms will resolve the matter so that the US keeps the gate," Landry asked.
"No, there's an additional term, Ms. Mal Doran must be placed in the custody of the IOA. She will work as an IOA asset," Woolsey said.
"That isn't happening Mr. Woolsey," General Landry told him firmly.
"The president is considering the proposal General," Mr. Woolsey explained. "He does not want to see the program on foreign soil nor the disruption of the American program."
"Look," Landry began, but before he got any further the familiar strain of "Unscheduled off world activation," boomed out breaking Landry's train of thought.
xx Scene Change
Three Days Later
"So this hyperdrive is comparable to an Asgard hyperdrive," Sam explained to the rest of the team as they were gathered around the healing bed which was still working on repairing Vala's brain injury.
Niko was just finishing up making a check of the healing device and monitors. He patted Vala's hand and smiled. "Well yes and no," Niko responded. "It is a Freeling, I believe you call them Furling, design. The Freeling hyperdrive is a bit more finicky than the Asgard design Sam has shown me specifications to, but the Freeling design is also about 20 percent faster than the Asgard design."
"How do you know that," Sam looked at him perplexed.
"Yeah, we don't even have a complete key for deciphering the Furling language. How is it possible that you understand the technology," Daniel asked.
"Well for one thing, there is much Freeling technology on my planet, though I have never worked with their hyperdrives. But I am good with alien technology and languages," Niko answered.
"And how did you know how it compares to the Asgard version," Sam asked.
"Well after looking at the information you gave me, I was able to make the calculations on the differences between the drive designs," Niko told her. "They are similar in design you see."
Vala looked at Niko. She looked tired from the healing procedure, but she had been listening intently, "So the Lucian Alliance never knew they had this system?"
"No, they did not know what it was or how to operate it. Ruznak also was unaware of the Freeling equipment and repaired the Goa'uld hyperdrive that you have been using on Sonny," Niko explained.
"The Freeling systems were all cloaked away. I only detected them because my cloak is of Freeling design as well and it has a technology indicator that disclosed the hyperdrive as well as Freeling beaming technology."
"Well it's a good thing the Alliance didn't know about it when they had the ship," Cameron said.
"How does the Freeling beaming system compare with the Asgard system," Sam asked.
"Oh, they are comparable. I used it to assist Vala in blowing up the hatcheries; she just didn't know it was at play."
"I thought you used rings," Vala said.
"No, the technology projects ring-like effects and impacts when you configure it so that locals do not become interested in a this more advanced technology, Niko explained.
"That's convenient," Jack commented.
"You have to understand Jack O' Neill, the Freelings were adept at subterfuge, surprise and stealth," Niko said.
"Well that explains why we've never actually seen one," Daniel said.
"Colonel Mitchell," Teal'c said. "I think it is time for us to attempt to contact the SGC on the communications array."
"If we can't get through soon, we're going to need to send someone through the gate on the Alpha site to check on the situation," Cam told everyone.
"There's a good chance it is normal subspace interference," Sam explained.
xx Scene Change
Hailed
"O' Neill," Teal'c's voice suddenly boomed over the com system in the infirmary.
"Yeah Teal'c," Jack responded.
"We are being hailed by another ship; it is Master Bra'tac and Ishta. They wish to ring over."
"Okay, well now it's a party," Jack smirked.
"They said it is a matter of some urgency," Teal'c said.
"Teal'c, Vala here; please ask them to join us."
"Indeed."
xx Scene Change
Bad News
Everyone was gathered around the infirmary bed where Vala was still hooked into the healing device and monitors. Worried expressions were the order of the day as greetings were exchanged.
"I regret bearing the bad news that there has been an attack against the Tau'ri Stargate. It no longer functions," Bra'tac informed them quickly once they were all assembled around Vala's bed.
"What do you mean it won't function," Jack asked.
"Ishta and I had agreed to transport a shipment of Tretonin in the cargo ship we now travel in. The Tok'ra have required a variety of routes since the incidents at Ishta's village. We opted to accept the shipment via the Tau'ri Stargate so the Tretonin could be adequately tested given the recent events."
"Okay," Daniel prompted.
"We were at the SGC awaiting the results of testing, when the Stargate activated. General Landry was called as the activation was not scheduled. He and your Mr. Woolsey along with Ishta and myself witnessed the attack," Bra'tac continued.
"What was Woolsey doing there," Jack asked.
xx Scene Change
SGC Three Days Ago
Without another word, General Landry walked from his office into the briefing room where Ishta and Bra'tac had been waiting for a meeting to begin – a meeting Woolsey's surprise visit had interrupted. Woolsey, Bra'tac and Ishta followed Landry into the control room.
The image of Ba'al appeared in the gate room through the closed Iris.
"Ba'al, aren't you dead, it gets so confusing with all those clones," Landry said drolly.
"Ah, General Landry," Ba'al said. "I had hoped that General O' Neill would be afoot. I wanted to deliver this news personally," Ba'al smirked.
"What news is that," General Landry affected a bland tone.
"The news that the Tau'ri will be flying instead of gating from now on," Ba'al said. And with that a high pitched noise sounded that caused everyone to grab their ears in pain. Within five minutes the noise had become almost unbearable and all personnel present were covering their ears and wincing.
Ba'al's image disappeared with one last large laugh, "Give my regards to Bra'tac."
"Gate will not disengage," Walter Harriman called out. "We're getting waves of high level sound pulses."
"Call Dr. Lee," General Landry ordered.
xx Scene Change
After 15 minutes of ear drum splitting pulses, General Landry had evacuated all but essential personnel.
"Dr. Lee, tell me that you've made progress shutting down the gate," General Landry said.
"I think I've figured out that the pulses are a highly concentrated and unusual configuration of ultrasound pulses," Dr. Lee began what General Landry knew was going to be a dither.
"Can you shut it down?"
"No sir, no one can as long as the gate is reading matter coming through the worm hole," Dr. Lee explained.
"Keep working at it Dr. Lee," General Landry ordered.
"Just then, the third chevron of the gate made a splitting, squelching and cracking noise. Sharp light emitted from the cracks at the third chevron and then the wormhole disengaged as large clouds of smoke and steam rose from the area of the gate break.
"General Landry!" Walter stood up in horror as he looked down into the gate room.
xx Scene Change
"The schism in the gate to the right of the third chevron quickly grew. The gate is now completely severed at the third chevron. All efforts at repair have failed; it is completely inoperable," Bra'tac said. "Your scientists' preliminary report is that the gate cannot be repaired," Bra'tac added.
"How did he do it," Sam asked.
"They have not made any definitive conclusion regarding that," Ishta stated.
"The gate on Nerutas was broken," Vala said quietly. "Do you think that's a coincidence?"
"Doubtful," Daniel answered.
"Since we had to deliver large amounts of Tretonin to several Jaffa planets, we had opted to travel by cargo ship as I have explained. If not for the cargo ship, several Jaffa planets would currently be without Tretonin," Bra'tac continued.
"Indeed," Teal'c raised an eyebrow.
"We volunteered to travel to the Alpha site to inform them of the gate attack. General Landry pulled us aside and requested that we also contact you old friend," Bra'tac told Teal'c.
"Well we're glad you could get the Tretonin to your people," Jack said.
"Strange men who identified themselves as working for a faction of the Alliance have visited several of the Jaffa worlds slated to receive the Tretonin we carried. It seems these men expected Tretonin shortages and were offering alternative supplies," Bra'tac revealed.
"Do you think Las' Pul'gas is working with Ba'al," Daniel asked.
"It is possible," Bra'tac indicated. "General Landry asks that you endeavor to complete the first part of your assignment before returning to the Tau'ri," Bra'tac looked directly at Vala.
"We'll start straight away," she said.
AN: Now that we've been introduced to Niko Peridon, I hope everybody who thought the ship ate the pie are not too disappointed. We had fun with it didn't we? And, I hope you all learn to enjoy and love our sweets eating Niko too. Let me know what you think.