A Face From The Past
by Celievamp
URL: http://www.area52hkh.net/asc/celievamp/facepast.php
Summary: Sam recognizes a name and a face from Jolinar's past
"So what was she like, this Vala?" O'Neill asked. Just because he was a General now didn't mean he had to give up on the traditional post-mission SG1 get together in the Commissary.
"Kinda scary to be honest. Intense. Very driven," Daniel glanced at his team mate and smirked. "Think Sam with extreme PMS and no chocolate in 50 miles."
"Hey!" Sam frowned, mock punching him in the arm.
"Good looking?"
"Long dark hair, blue eyes. yeah, kind of good looking." Daniel said.
Vala. Sam frowned. She felt that almost itch at the back of her mind that was usually her only warning before one of Jolinar's memories came to the fore...
Jolinar was undercover, getting intel on Camulus, testing the resolve of the people by inciting a rebellion against Arwen, Camulus's lieutenant who was a particularly beautiful specimen. Vicious, amoral, inventive - totally loyal to Camulus. The host was strikingly beautiful, long dark hair, storm blue eyes, a naturally regal authorative bearing even without the added Goa'uld sensibilities. Camulus demanded much, and the mines were running out. Arwen pushed productivity higher expecting everyone, young and old to work the seams. There was one rule. You worked or you died. After months of this the people were ripe for rebellion.
It happened sooner than Jolinar expected and she was caught up in the fighting. Normally she would have left the planet before trouble started. That was the Tok'ra way. Arwen was captured, her Jaffa slaughtered. Jolinar had been forced to rescue Arwen from the rebels, proving to them that it was the symbiote that had ruled over them so harshly: the host, Vala, was innocent. Jolinar removed the symbiote, nursed the host back to health. The woman intrigued her. She had recovered well from her privations, accepting that she was not responsible for the Goa'uld's actions against her people. She was a remarkable woman in her own right, a natural leader. Together they began to make plans to continue to fight the Goa'uld, rebuilding the society that Arwen had nearly destroyed.
Even though her assignment was successfully concluded, Jolinar did not return to the Tok'ra. She missed Martouf and Lantash but not as much as she thought she might. She had something else - someone else - to hold her attention here. Vala. The young woman intrigued her. Weeks turned to months and still Jolinar lingered. Vala did not resist her advances but did not overtly welcome them either. A message came from the Tok'ra Council, asking her to return. She was needed elsewhere. Jolinar showed it to Vala.
"I should go," she said.
"What if I asked you to stay?" Vala gazed at her, reached out to touch Rosha's face, then moved to stand at her side, reaching behind Rosha to stroke down the back of her neck over where Jolinar rested, touching both host and symbiote. "What if I asked you to make love to me?"
"Then I would stay," Jolinar said softly. The sensation of being touched was exquisite. It was something that rarely happened even amongst Tok'ra, an incredibly intimate gesture. Jolinar and Vala became lovers.
The next day Jolinar contacted the Tok'ra. There was more to be done organising a concerted resistance against Camulus. She believed her time would be better spent here.
It was the first time she had ever gone against the Council's wishes.
The memory was insistent. Sam stood up abruptly. "I have to go," she said. "I left something." Not waiting for their reply she headed from the Commissary towards her lab. Once there, Sam closed and locked the door, then slid to the floor. She closed her eyes at the strong sense-memory of what it was like to hold Vala in her arms, to run her hands through that long dark mane of hair, to be held in turn by those capable clever hands, that brilliant smile, the flash of passion in those storm blue eyes. Vala calling her name, sometimes Jolinar, sometimes Rosha as both host and symbiote joined in making love to the beautiful woman.
It had been so long. She ached inside wanting the touch of another. But the eyes of the one she wanted were brown not blue, the kisses sweet, the taste of jasmine and honey. "Janet." she gasped. "Oh god, Janet. I miss you. I miss you.. Vala."
She was caught in the memory again... her surroundings fading from her consciousness. They made a fine contrast, dark and light, of similar height and build, nearly matching each other in strength and stamina. For the first time Vala told her how she had come to be Arwen's host, how the Goa'uld had chosen her, how she had tried to fight before realising that it was an impossible situation, how she had survived by isolating herself, by telling herself that all the atrocities were by Arwen's hand, not hers. She had never lost the hope that one day it would be over.
"I can never thank you enough for freeing me," Vala said, kissing her way down Rosha's long slender body. "For giving me back my life. For helping to free my people. Promise you will never leave me, Jolinar."
"I can't make that kind of promise," Jolinar said sadly. "I have responsibilities, work." Two more messages had come from the Tok'ra Council. The last had been a direct order to return or be declared rogue. She could not take that risk. Her time with Vala was coming to an end.
"Another lover?" Vala guessed.
Jolinar could not lie to her. "Yes. Martouf, host to Lantash. Lantash and Jolinar have been mated for many centuries, through several different hosts."
"That kind of love is difficult to comprehend," Vala said, continuing to kiss and tease her lover. "Difficult to live up to. Will you tell him about me. about us?"
"I don't know," Jolinar said. "This has been very special for me, never think that I undervalue you, Vala, what we have together. I will never forget you. Never." She rolled them, straddling her lover's body, kissing and mouthing her breasts, her fingers seeking the luscious warmth of Vala's core, each sigh and whisper of her name driving her on. Much later they slept, entwined in each other's arms.
Though neither knew it it was the last time. As Jolinar had known he would sooner or later, Camulus came looking, wondering why his naquada supply had dried up. Jolinar was forced to go, leaving Vala behind. However much she cared for the young woman, her loyalty was to the Tok'ra cause. Jolinar had always regretted abandoning her as she had. But she had always known that the young woman was a survivor.
Wiping the tears from her eyes, Sam got shakily to her feet and crossed the room to her computer. She brought up security footage from the Prometheus, taken during the hijacking. She stared at the woman's face. She looked exactly the same as Jolinar remembered her. She traced her finger down the woman's cheek, wondered if they would ever meet, whether Vala would be able to keep one step ahead of Ba'al.
"It might be good to catch up," Sam smiled sadly.
END
