Title: You Have Your Answer

Author: HeddaMac

Pairing: Daniel/Vala

Rating/Category: T to be safe

Spoilers: Stargate SG-1—Season 10, Ark of Truth

Stargate Atlantis—First Contact, The Lost Tribe

Big thanks to the most excellent beta—Spacegypsy1. Any errors that remain are totally on me.

Chapter Five

Cam was looking around his cell trying to find something to use on the door when he heard Vala calling. He immediately stopped what he was doing and moved to the door. "Vala! Carter!"

"We're down here Cameron. How about Muscles?"

"Cam, is Teal'c with you," Carter yelled over Vala.

"No! They took him about an hour ago."

"Any idea what they want?" Vala asked.

"No clue. They didn't say a word. It took four of'em to get the Big Guy outta here. One kept a zat on me while two grabbed Teal'c. The fourth had a staff weapon pointed at him from outside the cell. You should'a seen the glare he gave them," he snickered. "But if they send a legion of guards every time they take one of us, then I don't see much of a chance of overpowering them. Princess, any chance you can spring the lock on your cell?" With that the sound of his fist hitting the cell door echoed down the corridor. Frustration was evident in his voice, "I've been searchin' around my cell looking for a way out since they took Teal'c."

"Unless I get something a little smaller than my hairpin I won't be picking the lock. Were they Lucian Alliance, or do we need to worry about someone else?"

"One was Jaffa—one of Ba'al's. Another was wearing an Alliance uniform. The other two, I couldn't tell you."

"Damn," Sam muttered. "Just what we need—Ba'al teamed with the Lucian Alliance. What would the Lucian Alliance have to gain?"

"Let's hope this Jaffa struck out on his own." Vala turned back to the cell wall to feel around for loose stones. "Maybe he joined up with the Alliance out of necessity. They do pay well if you can survive long enough to collect and get the hell out of their way with your body intact." She paused in her search to redo her loose pigtails and gather her thoughts. "I don't think we'll be able to say anything for sure until they bring Muscles back." Vala mused as squatted down to examine the bottom row of wall stones.

"Let's hope that it's sooner rather than later," Cam replied as he paced the length of the small cell.

Banging echoed down the hallway. Vala and Sam moved back to the window and jockeyed for the best position for seeing down the hall. Two men passed by dragging an unconscious Teal'c toward the other cell. A third followed behind with a zat raised.

One of the men told Cam to move back from the door, and he responded with a string of threats and curses that Sam believed would make Jack proud. A loud thump was followed by a groan that was more than likely the sound of Teal'c being thrown into the cell.

"Hey! Be careful with the Big Guy!" Vala and Sam heard over the sound of the slamming cell door that reverberated down the corridor. Then the lock clanged into place with disturbing finality.

Before either Sam or Vala could object to their captors' treatment of Teal'c, the three men were at their cell. As the Jaffa with Ba'al's tattoo attempted to stare them down through the window bars, neither woman flinched or backed away. The last thing they saw was the Jaffa throwing the door open just before one of the other men zatted them both.

Vala awoke to the sound of Cam yelling for her and Sam. She grimaced and struggled to sit upright. When she didn't see Sam, she carefully stood and moved back toward the cell window. She conveyed the situation to Cam. "They took Samantha this time. How is Muscles?"

"I will be alright, ValaMalDoran." Teal'c answered for himself.

Not wanting to shout, Cam leaned against the cell door to speak through the window bars, so Vala could more easily hear what was going on. "What do they want?"

"To inquire about DanielJackson's work translating the Asgard Core and his trip to Atlantis. They also asked many questions about ValaMalDoran's time in the Ori galaxy."

"I can understand why they would want to know about Asgard and Ancient technologies, but why would they want to know about the Ori galaxy?" Vala pondered as she started working the bars to try to loosen them.

"The men asked what you knew about the technology left behind by the Ancients. They seemed to have knowledge of the Ancient communication stones and the Ark of Truth. I gave no response to their inquiries nor did I provide information regarding DanielJackson's activities."

Cam resumed pacing around the small cell. "Could you get an idea of who they work for? Lucian Alliance, Ba'al, someone not even on our radar?"

"They appear to be working for the Lucian Alliance, ColonelMitchell. Why they assume ValaMalDoran has important information from the Ori galaxy is a mystery as is their desire to learn about the Asgard and the Ancients."

"Damn it!" Cam blurted out. "How the hell do they know about the core and Jackson's trip to Atlantis? Is there a spy at the SGC or something? We need to get out of here before Jackson gets back from Atlantis. They're bound to go after him when they can, so we need a plan."

"That is certain. As they are unlikely to open the cells without first rendering us unconscious, we must devise a plan that does not involve overpowering the guards."

"Where did they take you for questioning? Is there anything we could use to get out of here?" Vala asked Teal'c with a lowered voice, concerned that Cam's explosion might bring guards before they could come up with a plan.

"I was transported aboard a Ha'tak vessel using a ring platform three levels above us. Once there, I was detained in a cell prior to questioning. This facility on the planet appears to be quite primitive. However, if one of us could manage to escape the holding cell on the ship the individual could attempt to make contact with the SGC and ring back here to free the others."

"Well, Darlings, escape and evasion are key skills necessary for someone in the business of liberating treasure. I believe I am best suited for this little project. I also have the added incentive that General O'Neill will owe me quite a bonus for keeping his favorite archaeologist safe from outside threats—not to mention his favorite Colonel, and I'm not talking about you, Mitchell."

Cam's responding eye roll was wasted on Teal'c. "You may be the most suited for the job, Princess, but it sounds like you are the one they are most interested in. Maybe it is better for me to try to get us out of here."

"If they take you next, and you fail, I won't have a chance. We will have one shot at making this happen. I am the one who can make that shot count."

"ValaMalDoran, I must ask you to be honest. Will you be able to contain your fear for DanielJackson? Threats to his wellbeing must not distract you from freeing yourself once you ring aboard that ship."

"I understand your concern. However, I am capable of doing what must be done to get us out of here safely with minimal risk of torture. I have no desire to discuss my time trapped in the Ori Galaxy with the Lucian Alliance, nor do I want them to get their hands on information regarding Asgard or Ancient technology. You know I am our best chance, Boys."

Teal'c looked toward Cam and nodded slightly. "Indeed."

Seeing Teal'c acquiesce, Cam caved. "Alright, get us out of here then."