Fanfiction: Survival is Highly Overrated (or Not) - Part I

[rachel500]

Fandom: Stargate SG1
Summary:  Sam and Vala are the only survivors when Earth is destroyed but is everything really as it seems?
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Can be read as Gen but has allusions to Sam/Jack and Daniel/Vala for those that want to see it.  Sam & Vala friendship.  Spoilers for SG1.  Set early S9.  Mild references to adult situations.  Originally written for the Women of the Gate ficathon 2008.  
Awards: 2008 Stargate Fan Award Nominee
Disclaimer: No copyright infringement intended. Written for entertainment purposes only.

Survival is Highly Overrated (or Not)

Prologue

The first mistake the Tago made, Vala Mal Doran mused, was leaving Samantha Carter alive.

Well, not the first mistake because their first mistake was clearly naming themselves Tago – who had thought that was a good idea? But definitely the second mistake was leaving Samantha Carter alive. Or maybe destroying Earth. Or both, given that leaving Samantha Carter alive and destroying Earth had in essence happened at the same time.

Sam and Vala had been enjoying the hospitality of the Murai, a rather strict matriarchal society which had banned the boys of SG1, when, as far as they could make out, some kind of reality shift occurred: Earth was gone replaced by the planet Tago. Vala snorted out loud at the name again. Really, as a race of inter-reality villains intent on galactic domination they seriously needed to change their name.

Still, the humanoid snake-like aliens had managed to do what many of the common garden villains of their own reality had failed to do; destroy Earth. Sam had deduced that a pyramid shaped device that Daniel Jackson had discovered on some tiny planet had been the means by which it had happened. SG1 had brought the device back to the SGC for study and…well, even Sam didn’t how the thing worked, but apparently it did. Vala doubted she and Sam would have realised the connection except for the fact that the unusual markings on the device matched the markings on the badges and emblems of the Tago warriors.

Poor Daniel; the archaeologist really did have a talent for tripping over bad guys, Vala considered wryly, wondering if she counted herself in that group before she remembered Daniel had died and whatever talents he’d had were gone (including a perfectly wonderful talent Daniel had possessed for kissing that drifted wistfully through Vala’s mind – more fantasised about than experienced).

The sound of something clattering in the back of the cargo ship they had managed to acquire – Sam was tinkering with the engines – brought Vala back to reality and she rolled her shoulders in a vain attempt to ease the knots and stiffness that had settled into her muscles. Her nose wrinkled at the rather stale odours that permeated the cargo ship. They had been travelling for, well, almost one full day to be precise but it seemed like forever. Vala was tempted to pout and would have done except for the fact that there was no one in the cock-pit with her to appreciate it. Sometimes survival was highly overrated.

It was all the Tago’s fault, Vala sighed heavily as she checked their course. They’d had the bad sense to destroy Earth and piss off the one person capable of completely ruining their plans. Not that anger had been Sam’s first reaction. Bemusement, maybe. Her mind slipped back to the first day…

Day One

‘Are you sure you’re dialling it right?’ Vala asked impatiently, wiping her brow. The planet was warm and the heat from the two Suns above was seeping through the black BDUs very uncomfortably. She was also aware that her dark hair which she had carefully braided into two matching pigtails that morning was turning limp and that her lipstick had worn off. She was going to look a fright and wondered how Sam managed to look effortlessly graceful and beautiful in comparison.

Sam shot her a look which Vala correctly interpreted to mean ‘shut up.’ Vala gave a huffy sigh but subsided. She was still new; still feeling her way after only a couple of months with the SGC. Her relationship with the other woman was also new but there was a growing respect and something of a friendship forming between them. Vala had to admit that the latter was more thanks to the effort Sam had made to reach out to her than the other way around. Vala had never played well with other girls but she was enjoying the beginnings of her friendship with Sam. The other woman had a certain spunk and well-hidden quirky sense of humour that appealed to Vala.

She was also enjoying the sisterly camaraderie they had going in a team otherwise dominated by men. Their current mission had been a joy. The boys had been swiftly kicked off the planet by the matriarchal council who had only been prepared to deal with Sam and Vala. The looks of masculine outrage had resulted in a wry, smug smile between the two women. Of course that had been before the ten hour interminable meeting. And the heat from the two Suns. And the increasingly uncomfortable uniform. Not to mention the hair…

Sam was redialling for what was the tenth time of trying by Vala’s reckoning. Vala rolled her eyes expressively and whirled away to pace impatiently.

‘We can’t get a lock with Earth.’ Sam said finally. There was a tiny line between her eyebrows; the astrophysicist and all-round genius was definitely perplexed.

Vala threw up her hands. She had come to the same conclusion after the second time of trying.

‘There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the gate here.’ A note of anxiety was evident in Sam’s voice. ‘It has to be something with the Earth gate.’

‘So, what now?’ Vala asked bluntly, sitting down on a nearby log and unzipping the jacket as much as possible given the heavy vest that covered it. She waved at the manicured surroundings of the Murai’s Stargate garden. ‘Do we hang out here?’

Sam shook her blonde hair; the choppy style letting the strands flutter around her face. ‘Procedure is to dial the Alpha site.’ She was already pushing the right symbols.

There was a procedure. Of course there was a procedure. Vala barely restrained herself from rolling her dark eyes again. If there was one thing Vala had learned in her short time on Earth as a probationary member of the SGC it was that there was practically a procedure for everything.

The wormhole blossomed and Sam nodded at Vala who stood up with a sigh. They walked into the blue horizon and stepped out into a crater.

‘Well, this is different.’ Vala quipped, hiding her disconcertment as the wormhole disappeared behind them. The ground was flattened as far as the eye could see. In the distance, she could barely see a tree-line. Brown dirt and rock surrounded them; barren, uncompromising. The air stank of carbon and sulphur. She gestured wildly, sending her pigtails flying. ‘Are you sure you dialled right?’

In comparison to herself, Sam was very still, her blue eyes carefully cataloguing the destruction with a cold calculation that had Vala shivering and wishing for the heat of the Murai planet. ‘This is the Alpha site.’

‘So…’

‘Self-destruct.’ The words were spat out.

‘I don’t understand.’ Vala complained plaintively, looking around at the wasteland.

‘They must have triggered the self-destruct.’ Sam repeated. Her hands were white around the P90 she held.

Vala frowned. ‘The Ori?’ Or the Orici…the thought that perhaps the daughter she had borne had wrought such an event sent a shiver down Vala’s spine but then Adria hadn’t stopped twice to destroy Dakara so why not the Alpha site? The loss of life would have meant nothing to her offspring.

Sam shrugged uncertainly.

Vala had a horrible thought and was unable to prevent herself from blurting it out. ‘Do you think this has anything to do with why Earth is unavailable?’

‘I don’t know.’ Sam murmured.

‘But…’

‘I said I don’t know, Vala.’ Sam snapped.

Vala shut up at the flash of anger and grief that rippled across the other woman’s face. She knew Sam had known people at the Alpha site, had worked with them. She kept quiet as Sam reached for her radio.

‘This is Colonel Carter. Does anyone read me?’

‘I don’t think anyone is going to answer.’ Vala pointed out, gesturing into the crater.

‘There may be survivors.’ Sam said briskly. Her professional bravado was securely in place again. She hefted the P90 and began striding forward.

‘Really?’ Vala wrinkled her nose at the destruction, following her. ‘I don’t think that’s possible.’

‘I survived something like this once.’ Sam said firmly with a glint of a memory in her blue eyes that roused Vala’s curiosity but she knew it wasn’t the time to ask. She filed it away to ask Sam another time as they headed for the tree-line.

Their search was unsuccessful. They camped by the tree-line that night, huddled around the small fire, eating some of their remaining rations. Sam’s body language warned Vala that she wasn’t in the mood for discussion and Vala left her team-mate alone with her thoughts. Something had happened; something bad and Vala feared her life was about to get turned upside down again.

Day Two

It had been a depressing day. Bodies littered the woods. It seemed any survivor had been hunted. The wounds were varied but Sam had determined the Ori hadn’t been the aggressors – not unless they’d changed weaponry. They were about to make camp when Vala literally tripped over the body of a Tago warrior. The young Captain responsible for the kill was lying a few feet away.

Sam hurried over to him. ‘Terry!’

‘Colonel Carter.’ His voice was thin and whispery. Sam’s hand was already at his jugular when Vala knelt beside him. His skin was an unhealthy grey pallor, his lips almost blue. They were angry scratches across his face that had turned a bright green. Vala assumed it was a sign of venom – maybe an infection.

‘What happened?’ Sam asked briskly as she began to unpack medical supplies. Vala rushed to help even though she figured they were too late – something she knew Sam had to know too.

Terry took a stuttering breath. ‘They attacked yesterday just after lunch in ships; they came out of the sky and just started attacking.’

Sam rested a hand on his chest as he fought for breath, his hazel eyes opening wide in alarm. ‘Easy, Captain.’

‘They said they were called the Tago and…and they said the Earth was gone; that they’d destroyed it and taken its place.’

Vala couldn’t help the small gasp that escaped her at the news of Earth’s demise and her eyes flew to Sam’s. The other woman looked impressively calm; a muscle worked in her delicate jaw but otherwise Sam maintained an impassivity that Vala believed would have impressed even Teal’c.

Terry’s eyes flickered blindly on Sam. ‘Colonel Bellini set the self-destruct, ma’am. Some of us retreated to the hills but they hunted us.’ He raised his hand weakly. ‘I couldn’t evade them.’

Sam’s hand clasped his tightly. ‘You did good, Captain. You can rest now.’

Vala felt the breath catch in her throat. The young man was dying; life and colour leeching from his cheeks with every breath. They had no way to stop it; no way of saving him.

Terry sighed deeply; the breath expelled from his body in a long stream of white vapour. He was still. Sam reached up and closed his lifeless eyes. Sam’s eyes closed momentarily too before they reopened filled with determination.

Once, they’d covered Terry’s body, Sam dissected the Tago in the fading light. Humanoid but definitely reptilian in origin; snake-eyes, forked tongues, venom sacs under the horny nails that topped the fingers, a hood that covered the back of the neck and head, a hairless body covered in a scaly skin that shone sleekly in the twilight. The resemblance to the adult Goa’uld symbiotes was a little unnerving as was Sam’s theory that the Tago may be a humanoid evolution of the parasite.

The body armour was unusual; rubber-like. It was riddled with bullet holes. Sam determined the Tago had died from its wounds. They both noticed the badge that adorned the uniform; an unusual metal with markings that Sam recognised but couldn’t place. Vala was more interested in whether the metal had value and she made a note to remove it from the body when Sam was busy doing something else.

‘What now?’ Vala said when they’d finished; when Sam had washed the last of the blood and guts from her hands in a nearby stream and had settled beside Vala in their makeshift camp.

‘We have to validate the information and verify if Earth is really destroyed.’ Sam said, warming her hands and accepting the roasted leg of the animal Vala had zatted for dinner. Sam was vibrating with wound-up tension as though on some primal level Sam knew what had happened and couldn’t face the truth of it.

‘And if it is?’ Vala probed lightly, sucking her fingers clean of roasted fat and flesh. Her dark eyes caught Sam’s in the firelight.

‘Then, we destroy the Tago.’ Suddenly wild anger flickered across Sam’s classic features along with deep pain and deeper denial.

Vala felt her own heart seize with pain in response. If it was true that Earth was gone then Vala had lost a sanctuary and somewhere she had finally thought she could call home, and Sam…Sam had lost everyone she had ever loved and known; her very world and life, gone. But despite her empathy and shared pain, Vala held Sam’s gaze. ‘Or not.’

Sam glared at her and Vala realised she seeing a very different Samantha Carter to the usually restrained and unflappable Air Force officer; a Samantha Carter that was all avenging warrior. The former thief wondered momentarily whether Sam had learned that from Teal’c – the Jaffa were renowned for their vengeance exploits – or more worryingly whether it was all Sam – a layer hidden from view and unknown except to those who knew her well.

Vala held up a hand to explain before Sam could say anything. ‘I know something of survival,’ and that was an understatement even if Vala said so herself; sometimes she wondered if survival was all she did know well, ‘revenge is usually a good way to end up dead.’

Suddenly, the avenging warrior was gone; hidden again – and the unflappable Air Force officer was back. Vala briefly missed the warrior because the Air Force officer frustrated her more.

‘You don’t have to come with me.’ Sam said evenly, wrapping her hands around her metal mug with its meagre contents of warmed water and instant coffee. ‘I understand that you might not consider this your fight.’

And there it was: her way out. A large exit sign marked in bright lights and glowing letters. Vala opened her mouth to take it and stopped as Sam stiffened as though braced for a blow. She snapped it shut again and considered the exit sign again.

Vala knew the other woman was probably more than capable of taking on the Tago herself and Vala reminded herself that she didn’t owe Sam anything. An embryonic friendship built over a couple of months was not enough reason to throw in her lot with Sam – and there was a part of Vala screaming that she should run in the opposite direction and yet…

‘What?’ Vala responded gaily, waving her own mug at the other woman. ‘And miss all the fun? I don’t think so.’ She gave a false smirk to cover her surprise at her own words but as their mugs clattered together in a shared toast of commitment, Vala realised that for the first time in her life, bailing didn’t appeal. If Sam wanted to fight then Vala was going to be right by her side; she figured Daniel would have approved.

Day Three

It was barely daybreak when the Tok’ra arrived. Vala stayed back as Sam went to greet the young man who stepped from the Alkesh despite his evident attractiveness that even the Tok’ra lacklustre uniform of sandy coloured pants and tunic couldn’t hide. The Tok’ra brought back memories Vala preferred to forget not to mention a latent anger at their abandoning her to her fate once they had removed the Goa’uld Quetesh from her. She busied herself with putting the fire out and repacking their equipment; an ear turned to the conversation. She might not like the Tok’ra but she definitely didn’t want to miss out on information.

‘Teegan!’ Sam greeted the Tok’ra warmly and Vala realised that Sam must be acquainted with him.

‘Colonel Carter!’ Teegan clasped her arm fiercely. ‘We feared you and SG1 had been lost!’

Sam’s face paled but her eyes remained calm. ‘What can you tell me?’

‘Not much.’ Teegan scratched his sandy brown hair as he gathered his thoughts. ‘The day before yesterday, one of our science outposts was attacked by creatures calling themselves the Tago. They came to us in ships and did not use the Stargate. We were able to successfully defend ourselves and started tracing their origin.’ He paused. ‘We realised that their base was the location of Earth.’

Sam gestured for him to continue.

‘We sent a ship; they reported back stating that the Tau’ri were gone.’ Teegan placed a hand on Sam’s shoulder. ‘I am sorry. Your world is no more.’

Vala halted in her packing and walked over to give Sam silent support. The other woman didn’t seem to be breathing.

Sam pressed her lips together and gathered herself. ‘How?’

‘Unknown.’ Teegan sighed and paced a couple of steps away from Sam. ‘The report suggested that where Earth once resided a new planet has taken its place.’

Vala exchanged a confused look with Sam.

‘So,’ Vala asked, butting in without remorse, ‘there is a planet exactly where Earth used to be, it just isn’t Earth?’

Teegan nodded in a way that briefly reminded her for a pain-filled moment of Cameron Mitchell. ‘The planet is very different. It is purple.’

Vala’s sculpted eyebrows rose. ‘Purple? Seriously?’

‘I gathered as much data as I could with the ship’s sensors. I would be happy to share it with you.’

‘Thank you, Teegan.’ Sam replied formally. ‘What else can you tell us?’

Teegan’s head dipped; the eyes flashed and Vala realised the symbiote had taken over.

‘Jayd.’ Sam acknowledged the change tightly.

‘I observed a strange energy field around the planet.’ Jayd informed her briskly. ‘The energy field also surrounds their ships and their people.’ He reached into his tunic and brought out a badge. He handed it to Sam.

She turned the small triangle over in her hand. ‘We found something similar on the body of the Tago we found.’

‘We took this from another.’ Jayd said. ‘When we did so the body disappeared.’

Sam stared at him contemplatively. ‘You think the badge is actually a device keeping them in existence? Maybe in this dimension or reality?’

‘I do not know.’ Jayd tilted his head. ‘But it would seem so.’

Sam frowned. ‘I think I know where I’ve seen these markings before. Vala, that artefact Daniel picked up…’

‘Which one?’ Vala asked; Daniel found so many of them. His office was littered with artefacts. She could hardly keep track of everything.

‘The pyramid device we found on the last mission before the Murai.’

‘Oh that one.’ Vala nodded, remembering the device. ‘About this big,’ her hands measured a foot of space, ‘with small markings and an amber jewel at the point?’

‘That one.’ Sam confirmed. ‘Do you remember if he said anything about it?’

Vala shook her head. ‘Nothing.’

‘You’re certain?’

‘He may have said it looked interesting but I’m fairly certain he didn’t mention it being a reality or dimension shifting device.’ Vala retorted. ‘That I would have remembered.’

Sam shot her another exasperated look and Vala resisted the urge to stick her tongue out. Sam turned back to the Tok’ra. ‘Thank you, Jayd.’

‘We must return to the Tok’ra Council and report our findings but is there anything I can do for you?’ Jayd offered.

Sam looked at Vala who nodded reluctantly. They had already gone over their limited options during their sparse breakfast. They had argued about where to go and what to do given the Odyssey was on Earth for repairs and therefore presumably destroyed along with the planet. The Daedalus had just left for Atlantis and neither Sam nor Vala were keen to discover whether the Beta and Gamma sites had suffered the same fate as the Alpha site. They hadn’t come to a conclusion when the Tok’ra ship arrived.

‘We could do with a ship.’ Sam said.

Jayd raised his eyebrows. ‘That may not be possible. We have limited resources…’

‘Perhaps a ride then?’ Vala plastered a smile on her face. ‘I know of a planet not far from here where I can procure one but it doesn’t have a Stargate.’

‘It would give me the opportunity to review your ship’s data.’ Sam added.

Jayd nodded. ‘Very well.’

The journey hadn’t taken long and Sam had downloaded all the information in the Tok’ra’s possession onto her laptop.

‘It’s that device Daniel found. It has to be.’ Sam said as they walked through the crowded street toward the tavern to meet an old acquaintance of Vala’s. They hadn’t parted on the best of terms but Vala was certain that she could convince him into giving them a ship.

The planet itself was a metropolitan place, crowded with humans and aliens but the SGC uniforms did evoke odd looks despite the vast array of other outfits. Perhaps it was the smell, Vala mused, wrinkling her nose. After two days of heat and hiking, the clothes were beginning to take on a certain sweaty odour. They needed new clothes. Vala had left a chest of belongings with an old friend in the tavern they were headed towards so she figured she could find something for herself within it but Sam would need to find something in the market. Vala dragged her attention back to the astrophysicist.

‘I don’t think it’s a coincidence.’ Sam bit her lip and gestured with her hands. ‘I think it was used to somehow shift the Tago’s planet from its reality into this one destroying Earth in the process.’

‘You’re sure it’s a reality shifting device and not something to do with dimensions?’ Vala asked. The difference was still a little fuzzy to her.

‘Yes, the radiation signature was very similar to that emitted by the Ancient reality mirror Daniel once found.’ Sam sighed and rubbed her nose thoughtfully as they continued walking. ‘I wish I could take a better look at the pyramid device.’

Vala stared at her confused. ‘You don’t think the device was destroyed with Earth?’

‘No.’ Sam shook her head, the blonde curls bouncing in the bright sunlight. ‘I think it has to have survived somehow. From the data Teegan and Jayd gathered, the device must emit this energy field. It pulls anything within the field from the other reality into this one, destroying anything that was within the field in our reality except for the device itself.’ Her lips firmed. ‘If we could get a hold of it and destroy it, maybe we can send the Tago back to wherever they came from.’

Vala was saved from having to reply as they reached their destination. She spun on her heel and burst into the tavern, confident that Sam was following her. She sashayed through the bawdy crowd to the bar.

A matronly woman in a blue dress which showed her ample cleavage grinned warmly at the sight of the brunette. ‘Well, I’ll be a Tryvellian monkrat! Vala Mal Doran, as I live and breathe.’

She reached across the bar and pulled Vala into a hug. Vala returned it enthusiastically before she inched out of the embrace. ‘Della, let me introduce you to a new friend.’ She dragged Sam’s arm and pushed her closer to the bar. ‘Della Joy, Samantha Carter. Samantha Carter, Della Joy.’

Sam offered her hand cautiously and got pulled into a hug instead. She gave a weak smile as Della released her.

‘Any friend of Vala’s.’ Della grinned. She reviewed Sam with a thoughtful gaze before turning to Vala. ‘So what are you after this time?’

‘Della!’ Vala dramatically clutched at her heart. ‘I’m wounded.’

‘And I wasn’t born yesterday.’ Della returned, swiping at the sticky wood before reaching below the counter and thrusting two bottles of murky looking liquid in their direction.

Vala reached for hers eagerly and took a long slug; Sam picked up the bottle warily.

Della reached for her rag again. ‘Rumour has it the Tau’ri have gone and been replaced by some creatures called Tag.’

‘Tago.’ Sam corrected, her eyes sharpening on Della. ‘What do you know?’

Della shrugged. ‘Not much more than that.’ Her dark eyes softened. ‘It’s a shame.’

Sam’s gaze dropped and Vala couldn’t stop herself from reaching over and squeezing Sam’s hand comfortingly.

‘We need a ship, Della.’ Vala said urgently. She gestured with her bottle. ‘I was wondering if your cousin Dolon was around.’

‘That lump?’ Della nodded. ‘In the back.’ She jerked her head at the curtain off to the side of the bar. She smiled humourlessly. ‘You leave your weapons here though. Dolon may be a lump but he’s family.’

‘Shall we?’ Vala asked Sam, graciously motioning at the curtain.

Sam took a hesitant sip of the brew and nodded. ‘Why not? Let’s go and see the Wizard.’ She unclipped her P90 and handed it over to Della along with her sidearm, the zat and the knife that usually adorned her belt.

Vala similarly unarmed herself although she kept the small knife in her boot – a girl couldn’t be too careful – and pushed Sam toward the curtain. They flung the brown coarse material aside and found themselves looking at Dolon and one of Della’s girls. His rotund face was buried in the girl’s bosom.

‘Dolon!’ Vala ignored the tableau and greeted him cheerfully.

His head rose and two beady brown eyes speared Vala with slight panic. ‘No.’

Vala pouted. ‘But I haven’t even asked yet.’ She moved around the table and gently extricated the young girl, thrusting her in the direction of the curtain. Vala took the girl’s place, pushing Dolon’s head into her own t-shirt covered chest and patting the bald pate. ‘It’s only a little ship.’

‘Vala.’ Dolon pulled away. ‘You still owe me for last time.’ His eyes raked over Sam. ‘I’d be willing to call it even for an hour with your friend.’

Sam smiled sweetly and shot Vala a warning look. ‘Vala.’

‘Uh, Dolon. You don’t really want to upset her.’ Vala made a show of leaning down to whisper conspiratorially in his ear. ‘Her last lover ended up without his complete tackle if you get my drift.’ She straightened suddenly. ‘But I’m sure she’d be willing to leave yours intact if you let us, oh, I don’t know,’ she ran a finger down his plump cheek, ‘let us borrow your ship.’

‘I tell you what,’ Dolon picked up his flagon and drank deeply. He swiped a hand across his mouth. ‘You two kiss like good little girls and I’ll let you have the ship.’

Sam gave a humourless laugh. ‘Oh, you have got to be kidding me.’

‘Hey! I’m a generous man here!’ Dolon leered at her. ‘One kiss and you get your ship. Of course if you don’t want it…’ his eyes twinkled evilly.

Vala’s eyebrows shot up; she had used her body to get what she wanted before – not exactly whoring – she hadn’t gone there but certainly she had used her feminine wiles to their best advantage and the idea of a kiss didn’t freak her out but she very much doubted Sam would acquiesce.

‘Dolon, I really don’t…’ she felt Sam clasp her shoulder, the blonde’s hands on her face and the next minute she felt Sam’s lips settle over hers. The kiss was fierce and passionate and over before Vala could assimilate that she had been kissed. She staggered back as Sam released her.

Vala hid a smile at Dolon’s slack, open-jawed face; evidently the weasel had been as shocked as Vala that Sam had done it.

Sam gestured at Dolon. ‘The ship?’

Dolon started to grin. ‘Did we agree a price? Because…’

Sam moved so swiftly that Vala barely registered it; the military woman knocked Dolon out of the chair, one arm held down his throat, the other held a knife to his crotch. The fat man paled.

Vala wondered where Sam had been hiding the knife; she was shocked that Sam had thought to hide one. In fact, everything about Sam had shocked her in the last ten minutes. She looked over at her team-mate open-mouthed. Sam glanced back at Vala and winked, clearly waiting for Vala to play good cop to her bad. Vala snapped her mouth shut.

Vala sighed loudly and shook her head sadly at Dolon. ‘Now you can’t say I didn’t warn you.’ She crouched down beside him and noted the sweat beading on his forehead with satisfaction. ‘Which part of your tackle would you like to keep? I’m sure Sam will be reasonable and leave you with a little something if you ask nicely enough.’

‘Let’s not be hasty here, ladies.’ Dolon said nervously.

‘The ship?’ Vala prompted, examining her chipped fingernails as though they were the most pressing matter on her mind.

Dolon gestured over his shoulder at the back door. Vala tapped Sam on the shoulder and Sam released Dolon. They headed for the door. Sam opened it and they stepped out into the courtyard where the ship was parked. It was rusty and old but it was a ship. Vala patted Sam enthusiastically on the back and Sam smiled at her in approval. The first part of their plan – such as it was – was in motion.

Vala opened it up and they walked inside. They both gagged at the smell; rotten eggs, fish guts and vomit had nothing on it.

‘A little airing out and it’ll be fine.’ Vala said breezily, waving her hands around to dispel the stench. She backed out quickly. ‘I’m going to retrieve our weapons and find us some clothes. Why don’t you, uh, check out the engines?’ She made what she considered to be a strategic retreat. 

Continued in Part II.