Old Friends: A New Direction

by KyliaQuilor

When SG-1 visits a world that has rich deposits of Trinium, and with locals more than willing to let the SGC mine it, Jack, Daniel, Sam and Teal'c wonder when the other shoe will drop. A hostile encounter with the planet's night life prompts Daniel to think that his old friend Wesley could be of help to the SGC and to Earth. Sequel to 'Old Friends'.

10. Chapter 10

Disclaimer: I don't own Angel the Series or Stargate SG-1

Thanks to Starway Man my beta-reader

Note: Welcome to the final chapter of Old Friends: A New Direction. I have tentative plans for a third story in this series (maybe even a fourth, but that one is even more tentative), but it won't be for a while (I really shouldn't have started OFND when I did, given the number of other fics I had going) unless my muse demands something sooner, which is possible, but unlikely. Either way, on with the fic!

Old Friends: A New Direction

By Alkeni

Chapter 10

May 16th, 2002

Tellis, P5X-194

"So what's with all the axes painted on the walls?" Faith asked, "And that axe thing on display out front?"

"They call it the 'Scythe', actually. It's a symbol of their religious faith in the High Powers – as far as I can tell, the Powers That Be on Earth by another name. It works for them against vampires much like a cross or a Star of David does back home. Which to my mind proves that what's important is the belief in the symbol, not the holy icon itself." Wesley explained.

"Wait. These guys worship the Powers that Be Angel told me about? Those Powers? Shit, Wes, have you told the people around here about all the crap those cosmic jerks pull? Or rather, don't pull?" Faith laughed, looking around.

"No, actually. I, ah, decided it'd be better not to insult their religion that way. Might be worthwhile if you consider doing the same." Wesley told her pointedly.

Faith shrugged, "Hey, they wanna worship the Powers, that's their choice. No skin off my nose, I've never cared about that sorta crap – long as they don't try and make me worship them, it's all cool." She walked up to one of the tapestries, about to touch it – when a calm, smooth voice spoke from behind them.

"Please do not do that." Sister Agata, still affecting that airy, almost floating gait that by now seemed iconic to her, said as she approached. She looked at SG-1, Wesley and Faith. "So you return again, with yet another. Have you spoken with your leaders, Daniel Jackson?"

"We have." Daniel nodded. "We'd like to speak with Jaresh about exactly what terms we can reach regarding access to the mine, and related concerns. But, ah, that's not the only reason we're here. When last we met, you spoke of your Promised One. A Sacred Warrior that would come through the Great Ring – the Stargate – and then, uh, what was it you said, exactly?" Daniel asked, trying to remember.

"Carve a swath through the Nightwalkers that would be felt for generations to come." Agata answered. "Though I fail to see why you bring this up, here and now. While it was...somewhat heartening to learn that the Sacred Warrior is your Slayer, and thus, she does exist-"

Faith interrupted, incredulous, looking at Wesley and Daniel. "Get out! Are you telling me that there's some kind of Slayer-related prophecy involved here? And you didn't tell me this before, why?"

"Well, there were a number of reasons, actually." Wesley answered, ignoring Sister Agata's look of confusion. "Faith, you should know that prophecy is complicated at best – Heaven knows I know that, from firsthand experience. But by coming here through the Stargate, you have fulfilled a prophecy, yes. One that the people of this world have passed down through the generations. Assuming you stick around and keep your end of the bargain, of course."

"I already agreed to do that." Faith replied, "I made a promise to you and to myself that this place is gonna be my new home, and I'm sticking to it." She frowned, "Even if it looks like these guys are living in the freaking Dark Ages." Daniel opened his mouth to correct her, but Wesley just put a hand on his friend's arm and shook his head. It wasn't worth the argument. "Anyway, Wes, I still wanna know – why the hell didn't you tell me that these people were waiting for a Slayer like me to show up?"

Her calm, dignified mask now completely blown apart, a shell-shocked Sister Agata looked from Faith to Wesley and Daniel, then back again, then:

"This is your Slayer – I cannot...your world needs her, to protect your own people-"

Abruptly shutting herself up, Agata walked up to Faith. She took Faith's hand in her own, ignoring the other woman's 'hey!'. Immediately, Sister Agata's eyes flashed a brilliant white and the priestess staggered back, catching herself against the wall, barely avoiding falling unceremoniously on her rear.

"It's true. The Sacred Warrior is finally among us..." She murmured in combined shock and ecstasy, "Chosen of the High Powers...never in my lifetime..." Agata fell to her knees, hands clasped to her chest as she began to pray.

"Holy- Lady...Agata." Faith started, gesturing at the woman to get up, "get up – please! Like, what the hell are you doing?"

Agata obeyed immediately, looking confused. "How- how is it you're here- your world-"

"Short version?" Faith said with a shrug, "There's two of us. B died, then came back, but another Slayer got called. She died, and then it was my turn. And now here I am."

"Two Sacred Warriors?" Sister Agata was now looking even more confused than ever.

"Yeah, guess so. Wanna take my advice? Just accept it and go with the flow, or whatever you call it around here." Faith took a breath, then removed the stake from her belt and twirled it lightly. "Look, just so we're clear on this, I'm not some sacred thing to be worshiped. Okay? I'm a person, just like you. And I'm here to kill the local vamps, sure, but that's all. I don't need people falling on their knees whenever they see me because they think I'm like their...Messiah." She looked over at Wesley and Daniel. "I use that word right?" Wesley nodded, and Faith looked somewhat introspective. "Look at that. Guess all that reading in prison actually paid off." She looked back over to Agata.

The priestess still looked completely bamboozled, but she took a deep breath and nodded, slowly. "You...you will have some trouble with our people...immediately falling to their knees and praying, when they learn who and what you are. And on that...your name? I should apologize – I have not even asked..."

"Name's Faith. Faith Lehane, actually, but just call me Faith." Faith answered, smirking a little.

"On behalf of all my people, Faith, I bid you welcome to Tellis and to this world." Agata said. She looked to the others from Earth. "You have given my people an incredible gift. For that – I will make sure Jaresh is reasonable in his negotiations with you." She looked at Faith. "Though he may need convincing that you are in fact the Sacred Warrior-"

"Yeah, that whole Sacred Warrior thing. Can ya please just call me a Slayer?" Faith asked, interrupting at once. "Like I said before, I'm not sacred." She laughed half-humorously, "Hell, far from it." She frowned, as if something unpleasant just occurred to her, but she didn't say anything more.

"I- I will try." Agata said after a moment more to compose herself. She snapped her fingers twice and two white-robed women approached her from farther back in the hall. She turned to one, "Find Lord Defender Jaresh, and bring him here at once. Tell him SG-1 has arrived to finish the negotiations for the access to the mine. And tell him that there is another matter that must be discussed – that we will need a full assembly of the people, before sunset. Tellis must learn of the Sac- the Slayer's arrival." Agata tripped over the unfamiliar term in place of the one she had used all her life. The acolyte nodded, and then left the Hall after a small bow.

Then Agata turned to Faith. "How great is your strength? I have studied the ancient prophecies, but the words of the High Powers are vague on the specifics – only that your strength is enough to fight the Nightwalkers. Could you perhaps...bend a steel bar?"

Faith shrugged, "Yeah. Easy." Wesley resisted the urge to comment on that – bending a steal bar was more than just 'easy' for her. It wasn't the security or the structure that had kept her in prison for just over two years, after all. Then the Slayer asked, "Why?"

"As I said, Jaresh may need convincing. He has always been a skeptic of the prophecy...of your very existence. And unlike myself, he lacks the gifts given by the High Powers that allowed me to...recognize your aura. Just as I cannot be lied to, I can recognize the aura of the Sacred Warrior- my apologies, the Slayer." Agata stumbled a little again.

"You can't be lied to?" Wesley raised an eyebrow. He hadn't known or even suspected that...

"When I hold the hand of another, I can know the truth of what they say – a gift the High Powers grant to all their Voices." Agata shrugged – something that immediately threw Daniel and Wesley off-balance, the motion seeming totally out of character for her. "Granted, I cannot know if the person is wrong, or if the information they believe is true is in fact a lie told them by another. I can only know if what the person says is true in their minds."

"Interesting." Daniel said, peering at the priestess in rapt fascination. "You're like a, a living lie detector."

"I've never heard it put that way before, but yes." Agata agreed. She turned to the other robed woman she'd summoned. "Proceed to the closest blacksmith and purchase a bar of steel from him – a quality item, the best he has to offer. Then return here with all possible haste." The woman bowed just a touch and left the Hall.

May 16th, 2002

Tellis, P5X-194

It took about five minutes for the second acolyte sent for the steel bar to come back with it. Faith hefted the item a few times, then set it aside, waiting. Well, talking with Agata some more, wanting to learn about what it was that she'd just walked into. Daniel had actually thought Wesley had warned Faith about the whole 'prophecy' thing, but apparently not.

I think he might actually be enjoying her discomfort and confusion. Wesley didn't much like Faith, that much was obvious. Having been filled in on more of the details, it was hard to blame him, though Daniel could not help but wish Wesley would be willing to at least forgive her...or at least not enjoy her discomfort at being an object of veneration. Indulging in that sort of thing didn't help anyone.

While they waited, Daniel considered the upcoming negotiations with Jaresh. He already knew the man was going to want weapons – the flamethrowers, or even staff weapons. That was more than the SGC could give. They'd made that mistake before. They couldn't do it again. Foodstuffs, medical supplies – medical techniques, advanced agricultural options. All possible. But not weapons.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid Jaresh might be stubborn on the issue. On one level, Daniel couldn't help but sympathize. Anything that could improve the ability of his people to defend themselves from the vampires that were rampant on the planet was something Tellis, and all the human settlements here, sorely needed. But...

There was no was way he could make such an agreement. General Hammond had been quite clear on that.

We may need Agata for the negotiations then

, Daniel thought, recalling the woman's comment about making sure Jaresh was reasonable during the upcoming negotiation session.

Roughly five minutes after the acolyte with the bar had returned, the other acolyte arrived with Jaresh in tow.

"Colonel O'Neill. Major Carter. Dr. Jackson. Teal'c. Wesley." He nodded to each in turn as he saw them. "Welcome back, it is a pleasure to see you again – and good to know that we may finally begin the negotiations. But before we begin, I suppose the obvious question is – who is this woman with you?" Jaresh's eyes fell on Faith curiously, and unless Daniel missed his guess, he examined her from top to bottom. Thankfully, at least, he didn't seem to be leering.

I get the feeling Faith wouldn't put up with that at all.

"Name's Faith." the Slayer answered. "So, you're Jaresh?"

"I am. And what brings you to Tellis? Are you here about the mine?"

The Slayer shook her head. "Nope, the vampires."

Agata stepped forward to stand next to Faith. "Jaresh, this is Faith – she is the Sacred Warrior of prophecy. She who has finally come through the Great Ring, to fight the Nightwalkers."

Jaresh looked from Agata to Faith, then scoffed. "This is the Sacred Warrior? This person is the mythical savior of legend? I'll accept that she may be a skilled warrior – she certainly carries herself as one – but she cannot be the one who will carve a swath through the Nightwalkers that will be felt through the generations!"

"Wanna bet?" Faith asked, smirking slightly. "I could have you on the ground in less than a minute." Faith picked up the steel bar – and she tossed it to Jaresh. "But let's go with a little demo first. That feel like real steel to you?"

Jaresh examined the bar carefully, and then nodded once. "Indeed."

"Okay, toss it back." Faith caught the bar and then, with little apparent effort, bent it around completely, so the two ends of the bar met. She tossed it lightly to the floor, looking at Jaresh and raising one eyebrow. "You know anybody who could do that who wasn't the Chosen One?"

"I...no. I, I..." He managed to stammer after a moment. Suddenly, Jaresh clasped his hands to his chest and murmured something Daniel couldn't make out – he could only assume it was a prayer of some sort.

"Look, can you please not do that?" Faith said immediately, looking annoyed. "And for the record – I'm not your mythical savior, guy. I'm just a Slayer. Yea, I can kill the crap out of vampires, and that's what I agreed to come here to do. For at least another twenty-" Something dawned on her, and she frowned, then looked over at Sam. "Wait up. How long is a year here, Earth time? 'Cause if I'm remembering what little High School Astronomy I learned right, Earth's year is the length it is because of its orbit or something, and other planets have different orbits. So...how exactly long is a year here?"

Sam shrugged after a moment, "I...I never actually checked, to be honest with you. A day here is about twenty-seven hours long – just under, actually – but I haven't had a chance yet to try and figure out the length of the planetary year-"

"Five-hundred and nineteen days." Sister Agata interrupted. "Our world makes a complete circuit around its sun every five-hundred and nineteen days, more or less."

"Long winters, then." Sam said after a moment.

"Long, yes, but thankfully not very cold. Tellis is fortunate enough to be quite temperate. We only get a little snow during the worst days of the winter. Doubtless elsewhere the conditions are worse; but as I have said before, we are unable to explore due to the Nightwalkers." Jaresh answered. He looked to Faith, then to Wesley and Daniel, "So, you would give us your...your Slayer...but there is something I do not understand. Is she not needed on your world? Granted, I will not object to your sacrifice, but I cannot help wondering – will you not take her back if you need her on your world?"

Faith couldn't help but chuckle. "Nah. They couldn't 'take me' anywhere I didn't want to go, and besides, there's two of us nowadays. As in, two Slayers." Off Jaresh's expression, she added, "Long and complicated story, dude. Still, all ya need to know is that I'm here now, and I'm going to be here for a good long while. Next fifteen to twenty years, at least." She looked over at O'Neill a moment. "Work release, community service, that sort of thing."

"I understand the words you are speaking, but I suspect not the true context of what you're telling me. Still, that is not the issue for now." Jaresh turned to SG-1. "So, what exactly is it that you want from Tellis? Obviously, you want access to the mine and the Trinium, as you call it, within there. But I would imagine it isn't as simple as merely that."

"Well...somewhat, but not entirely that simple, yes." Daniel agreed. "We'd want more than simply the right to mine the Trinium. Our miners and engineers would need space to set up tents and other structures. Not to mention that the mining operation, on the scale we'd hope to do it, might be very disruptive in general." Daniel went down his mental checklist, "The other significant thing is that we'd want to see if we can make arrangements where our miners and the people we assign to guard them would be able to purchase or trade for any spare food your people might have – it might reduce our logistical burden somewhat."

"The most practical option, from our point of view," Daniel continued, "would be for us to outright buy the mine and the land immediately around it, making it the property of the SGC and the United States Government."

Jaresh considered Daniel's words for a moment, then nodded, "That mine is effectively useless to us, and the land around it too far from Tellis to be of any practical use. I believe that in theory, at least, your proposal is acceptable," he replied. "Assuming we can come to a reasonable agreement." He looked at Daniel directly, eye to eye. "Please understand, I think that you are trying to cheat me and Tellis, I will request that Sister Agata confirm you are offering a fair trade."

"Jaresh!" Agata scolded the Lord Defender, a small note of horror in her voice.

"Again, I do not believe they intend to cheat us." Jaresh clarified, looking the Voice of the High Powers in the eye in turn. "But I cannot operate on mere belief when executing my duties as Lord Defender. I must have certainty, Agata. And as Lord Defender, it is within my rights to request for you to use your truthfinding in the service of Tellis."

Daniel shrugged. It made sense, from a certain point of view – a society used to having truth confirmed by magic would probably fall into the habit of using such magic for all serious transactions and decisions. It made sense, anyway. It didn't bother him, at any rate – he had no plans to cheat these people out of anything, and neither did General Hammond.

"We will not cheat you out of anything, or bargain falsely." Daniel told Jaresh truthfully. "But if that needs to be confirmed at some point," he looked Jaresh in the eye now, "I'm alright with Sister Agata doing that, when it's necessary." The linguist took a deep breath, ready to counter the incoming request for weapons. "So. Shall we begin?"

May 17th, 2002

Wesley's Apartment, Colorado Springs

Wesley clinked his bottle of beer – quality British beer, rather than the colored water typical in America – with the one in Daniel's hand. He was past the point of needing to drown his sorrows, but given everything that had happened in the last several days, Wesley needed to unwind a little. Daniel, like always, wasn't going to be able to handle more than one beer, so he had the other man to keep him in line.

"Well, I'd say that went better than expected." Wesley commented. "You got Jaresh to give on the issue of weapons, and negotiated an adequate deal for the SGC to be able to mine the Trinium of that planet."

"Yeah. Only after an hour and a half of talking our way around the weapons issue." Daniel pointed out. "And only then because Agata intervened and all but forced him to give on it. Which," he pointed at his friend, "she only did because you came up with the idea of bringing Faith to their planet."

"Perhaps." Wesley conceded, "but I admit, I had no idea that would happen. My concern was merely for the localized issue of the vampire problem in and around the mine, long-term." Wesley shrugged, "Besides, Jaresh's desire for some kind of improvement on the weapons he has is more than reasonable." He held up a hand before Daniel could object, "I understand why you didn't want to give him flamethrowers and the like. It's a reasonable concern how when you give away weapons, they can be used against you later on. But so was the man's position in trying to get everything he could to prevent his people being killed by the undead."

Daniel had to nod. "I suppose so. But given some of what we've seen and done already, I'm starting to understand why Starfleet has the Prime Directive." At Wesley's blank expression, Daniel waved a hand. "Star Trek sci-fi reference. I've never seen the show myself, but some of my staff have, and they've mentioned it often enough for me to know the gist. It's the golden rule that exists in the universe of the TV show – don't interfere in the affairs of less technologically advanced races, ever. Sure, they break it in like, half the episodes or something, and we break it all the time. But there are good reasons for that policy." He frowned. "Arming people with weapons is probably the only place we can truly draw the line, I think."

Daniel took another sip of his beer. "But we did make a deal. Tellis will benefit from the medicines, medical techniques and improvements to their agriculture. Sure, it'll take our medical and engineering staff a bit of time to show them everything and how to use the knowledge we're giving them, but..." Jackson laughed, "There's some people still at the SGC – mostly the military, but also some in Sam's department – who think the people on less advanced worlds are stupid, as they're, ah, 'primitive'." Daniel's tone made it pretty clear what he thought of that term. "Jaresh proves that wrong. Hell, he might be one of the cleverest people I've ever met."

"He certainly knew how to ask the right questions about what you were offering." Wesley agreed, taking a gulp of his beer.

"He did." Daniel looked at Wesley, "By the way – what was it you and Faith talked about, right before we left Tellis?"

"Ah, that. Well, she asked me if I was interested in being her Watcher again at some point – Faith said there were a lot of people she needed to make amends to, and I was one of them. She wanted to know – to learn if it was even possible to make up for what she did to me." Wesley looked past Daniel a moment, "I'm not sure if it is – and I'm not sure if she even needs to. In a way, the books between us might be even already."

"So what did you tell her? I mean, you're not seriously planning to live in Tellis on a permanent basis, right?" That wasn't really an option, as far as Daniel was concerned.

Sure, he'd be useful there too, helping safeguard the Trinium operation, but the SGC needed Wesley's skill with languages here – plus there was his usefulness in a fight, his tactical ability to analyze a situation...Wes had a lot to offer the SGC, when you got right down to it. Besides, Daniel was looking forward to working alongside his friend again – apart from this mission, and when he'd been visiting L.A. last year, the two of them hadn't actually worked together on anything since Oxford.

"I pointed out that trying to be a Watcher by long-distance correspondence was not exactly the best of ideas...but," Wesley smiled, "Faith did manage to get me to concede to that, somehow. We'll be exchanging letters – once a week or thereabouts, I'd imagine, but..." He laughed softly. "Quite honestly, Daniel, being a Watcher by correspondence wasn't exactly what I was trained for. But then again...I haven't been doing what I was trained for in years, so why should I let that stop me now? In truth, I did contemplate staying in Tellis for the next six months or so – I could learn so much about the vampires there, things that my former colleagues in England would easily kill for the chance of finding out. But...after thinking about it...I came to the conclusion that I'd much prefer to work alongside you again, old friend." Wesley said, before taking a small sip from his beer. "The truth is you saved me from my inner demons by showing up when you did, Daniel. I quite honestly shudder to think where I'd be right now, if you hadn't arrived with the rest of your team back then."

"Not that I'm saying the concept is completely ridiculous, but...I'm guessing reconciliation with your former friends wouldn't exactly have been likely?"

"No." Wesley shook his head. "More than unlikely, it would have been utterly impossible. Especially after Angel learns that Faith basically disappeared after being paroled from prison, and that the Warden saw me collect her and drive off in an unmarked van. It wouldn't surprise me if, to that vampire's mind, the only possible conclusion is that I kidnapped and/or killed the Slayer for revenge, after somehow arranging for Faith's release from that women's correctional facility."

Daniel frowned. "Yeah, um, speaking of which...that whole Slayer thing? Just before we left P5X-194, I couldn't help remembering what you told me a while back. You know, the whole 'if one dies, the next is Called' thing. I mean, if Faith does die there – not saying she will, of course, but slaying vampires is dangerous work and there are no guarantees – Wesley, what do you think will happen then? I mean, will we get a new Slayer here on Earth? Or – is it possible if that someone on that planet will be the next Chosen One?"

Wesley raised an eyebrow. "I don't know. Utterly no idea. We'll just have to wait and see, I suppose." He shrugged, "While it's not the same as fighting vampires, demons and the forces of darkness, the fight against the Goa'uld sounds like it will be just as much the good fight as the one I left behind in Los Angeles. Fighting the good fight is what's important, and that is another reason I'm staying at the SGC." He raised his bottle of beer. "Here's to working at the SGC, assuming General Hammond makes such a job offer."

Daniel smiled. "He'll offer. I don't doubt it for a second. And I look forward to working with you, Wes."

Author's Note: And here we reach the end of Old Friends: A New Direction, the second installment of the Old Friends series. Many thanks to all those you read this fic, reviewed it, favorited/recommended it, and all those who enjoyed it. Special thanks to Starway Man, for being my beta-reader, and of course, thanks to the writers on Angel and Stargate SG-1, all of them, for creating such interesting worlds and characters to play with, and for giving me countless hours of entertainment watching the shows they wrote.

Old Friends: Return to L.A: It has been several months since Wesley has joined the SGC and in that time, he's visited a dozen worlds and learned a half-dozen new languages. He's fought Jaffa and even come face to face with a few so-called 'gods'. He's managed to put the events that happened before he left L.A. behind him, and embrace his new job and mission. But when a canopic jar goes missing from a Los Angeles museum, and the evidence suggests that demons and magic may well have been involved...Wesley will need to return to the City of Angels, and he'll find out that burning all your bridges behind you makes it very hard to go back to where you were.