ONESHOT: Osiris' Choice

Faith earns her Bracers and reflects on the road that brought her here.

By Rachel Brook. Used With Permission.

"Die." Zephyrus said, his eyes ablaze.

Before Faith could respond, a huge swarm of Locust came down and swarmed around her, eating at her flesh. She screamed in pain.

…No matter who you were, what you did in those two years, I'd still love you…

Her scream died down as Sherlock vanished from her side. She opened her eyes, locking the pain filled brown orbs on Zephyrus.

"I love you, Dad." She gasps out, as the pain faded away and she lost consciousness.

"Awaken, Miracle Child." A deep voice reverberated through Faith, through what felt like a million ears.

The girl commanded her eyes to open. She had to do as the voice commanded.

But when she did, her brain couldn't register the picture properly. It was fragmented….but she was convinced that an Egyptian man was leaning over her…with green skin.

She let out a gasp and tried to move away. What was that buzzing sound?

"Peace, Child." The man said. "I mean you no harm."

Her eyes shot around, trying to process where she was. "Who are you? Where am I?" She asked, her voice high and panicked. "What's going on? The last thing I remember…" She trailed off as she remembered what Zephyrus had done to her. Her eyes widened. "I'm dead, aren't I."

The green man chuckled lightly. "Well, you were dead prior to Zephyrus' little idea. As to where we are, we are just outside of Alexandria. However, that is not important. I am Osiris, Egyptian god of the Dead." He looked hard at her. "And you, Faith Harkness, are needed. But only if you can prove to me that you are worthy of what you are needed for."

Faith lowered her head, her mind taking in what Osiris had told her…and found herself staring at her body…which was covered in thousands of Locusts.

She jumped up, ready to swipe away the large flying insects, when a green hand rested on her shoulder. The locusts did not stir at the touch. She looked up, startled.

"Leave them be. Each one of them holds a piece of you. I am able to keep them together so you maintain a physical form. You must not allow them to fly away."

Faith lowered herself to the ground, feeling her strength fade.

So I am technically dead, in a million pieces or more…

She clenched her eyes closed.

So, even when I want to be gone, I am trapped here… why?

She looked up at Osiris, shaking that thought from her mind. "What am I needed for?"

"You have seen what Zephyrus can do. It was not by design that you were his last victims."

Faith wanted to comment that It may have had something to do with the fact that the young man hated her, but allowed him to continue.

"My brother, Set, possesses him though his Flail, giving him an insatiable lust for power. You and your friends have been selected by my sisters, brothers and children, all fellow Gods and Goddesses of Egypt, to defeat him and save Egypt…" His eyes bore hard into hers. "But they cannot do it without you."

Faith's eyes widened and she felt the full weight of his statement fall on her shoulders. She looked away. "I betrayed them, Osiris. I had to. I let Set puppet me. Why should they trust me? How can I help them if they don't?"

Osiris' green hand lifted the girl's chin, forcing her to once again look into his eyes. "Leave that decision to them. A couple of your friends are convinced that you are innocent. They will speak on your behalf. Until then, you must prove your worth. For only then can I bestow upon you a gift that will allow you to assist your friends."

Faith was silent for a long moment. What did she have to lose? "Alright. How am I to prove my worth?"

Osiris stood, pulling Faith to her feet with him. "You must prove to me that your existence," he released her hand, "both as a Miracle Child and as a Dead-not-Dead, is not by accident or mistake. Show me that your existence has a purpose."

Faith stiffened, her mind racing. "How do I do that?"

The god of the Afterlife held out a green hand to her. "I will take us back into your memories. I want you to show me your worth."

Hesitating for a moment, her mind racing, Faith paused in grabbing the man's hand. She really did want to help her friends, but how could she prove to this man that she deserved her existence? Suddenly a memory flashed though her mind. She knew what she could show him. She took his offered hand. "Alright."

"Close your eyes and focus on that memory. I'll do the rest."

Faith did as the god told her…and she felt like she was falling once more.

When Faith opened her eyes again, she was back at St. Mary's in Cardiff…and before her lay her freshly dead self. Two men stood to the side, The Doctor and Father Joseph. They appeared to be arguing, but Faith couldn't hear what they were saying. The Doctor held a black metal glove.

One of the Resurrection Gauntlets.

"This was the day that I became a Dead-not-Dead." She said to the green man beside her.

Osiris nodded. "A very mixed day, one that began in sadness. But by one man's choice, lead to the changing of your destiny."

Faith was confused for a moment, but did not speak as Father Joseph nodded, allowing the Doctor to approach the dead girl. The Time Lord slipped on the Gauntlet and rested the girl's head in his gloved palm.

"Faith," The Doctor called out. "Can you hear me?"

The Faith standing beside Osiris blinked. She remembered that call.

The Doctor continued. "We need you, Faith. Come Back! Follow my voice." He sounded so desperate. "I'll lead you back."

After several long moments, the Faith the Doctor held gasped. Her eyes flashed open, at first in shock and then in pain.

Faith could remember it all. Pneumonia was a horrible way to die… and when she came back, she could feel the clogging in her lungs as she gasped for breath.

The other Faith's eyes widened, now horribly frightened. "Father!" She called out.

Father Joseph dashed to her side. "It's alright, Faith. I'm here."

"Wh-" She coughed, blood exiting her mouth as she did so. "Why did you call me?" Tears were now streaming from the young girl's eyes.

"I had to, little one." Father Joseph said, his voice gentle as he wiped the blood from her lips. "God is not through with you."

"Wh-what?" Faith could feel her memory self's heart racing in panic, the pain was becoming excruciating.

"We are losing her!" The priest called out to the Doctor. "Faith, precious child, remember all I have told you."

"Say it for me again, Father. The Story of the Bones." The girl gasped out, clearly in a lot of pain.

"God brought Ezekiel to a plain scattered with dry bones. And the Lord called out to his servant. 'Son of Man, can these bones come to life.' And Ezekiel replied—"

"L-lord… Only you know…that." Faith gasped, her eyes losing focus.

"Then Prophesy to them…"

"D-dry bones! Hear… the word of… your Lord!" The dying Faith's voice was fading, but the Faith who watched continued to say the words.

Father Joseph continued the story with the dying Faith as the Doctor's eyes became more desperate…as if this had to work.

Soon the dying girl became too exhausted and the priest finished the story for her.

"Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, son of man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord GOD: From the four winds come, O spirit, and breathe into these slain that they may come to life." He held Faith's hand close to his face. "Oh Spirit of God, breath back into this little one slain that she may do your will."

And at that moment the body lurched, a dark cloud separating from the little Faith. Death.

"My darker self, named Death," Faith explained. "Separated from me at the moment of my Resurrection… the moment when God let me stay."

The priest stood straight abruptly, pointing a finger at the strange cloud and commanded. "You will leave!"

"Thirteen. I will have thirteen and then the world will. Be. MINE!" Death said, her voice childish and giddy. Then the cloud vanished.

The newly resurrected Faith stirred. "Ugh…"

Time fast forwarded quickly to show Faith and Father Joseph surrounded by 12 victims of Death.

"I cannot stand for this!" The girl cried out. "I cannot stand by as that…piece…of me tears life from those around us. I cannot allow it to control this world. I must do something."

"Faith, we just bought you back! No! I will not allow you to risk your life."

"Father," the girl said, her voice deadly serious. "I am dead. I no longer have a heartbeat, I cannot eat and I have no tears or saliva." Her eyes lock onto the older man's. "I have nothing to lose in a fight against Death, for I am dead. It cannot take my soul. God already has it."

The priest can see that there is no use talking her out of it.

She rests a hand on his arm, looking him hard in the face. She has grown up much in the last 24 hours. "Let me do this. I owe these people this much."

The priest stares at her and then gathers her in her arms. "God be with you." He whispers and flees to where the rest of the village is hiding.

"Where are you, Death…?" Faith hisses. "How long can you remain the way you are? You only have 12…"

Suddenly, a woman in a black cloak that looks disturbingly like the child comes out of the darkness. "And the priest shall be my 13."

Faith spins around. "You. Shall. NOT. Prevail!"

The memory faded as the locusts made Faith speak. "I defeated her that day, sending her into the rift where she belongs. I saved many lives that day, though I couldn't save the lives Death had already taken."

Osiris nodded. "So your purpose as a Dead-not-dead is to defend the living from Death killing en masse?"

"I guess you could say that. I cannot defeat her for to do so ends my own life, if I could even call what I am 'alive'. But I can stop her from harming those I care about."

Osiris nodded again, but did not add further comment on the topic. "And as to being a Miracle Child? One that should have never been?"

Faith frowned. "I'm still unsure of what you mean by that."

"Did Father Joseph ever tell you who your parents were?"

Faith's frown deepened. "No…he never did. And I never really asked."

Osiris nodded. "I cannot tell you all, but I must tell you that you are a half breed. Part human and part…a dark race. One you may, or may not have, faced in the past. This dark race's blood flowed in your veins as a child and still effects you to this day." An odd expression came over the god's face, giving him pause. "Why did you betray your friends?"

Faith lowered her head as the memory washed over her, beginning to replay before their eyes.

She and Jack were in one of the small rooms in the 221B apartment. Jack was holding her hands, looking very nervous…but determined.

"Faith, I need you to do something for me. The worst thing I could ever ask you to do. And I'm sorry. But this is it. This is when it happened, when I became. . . I remember now. Those two years. But it won't happen the way things are. Meeting you . . . all of this, it's changed things. I. . .Zephyrus was alone and weak without you. He was someone who could put others in danger. But with you by his side, even knowing you are alive. . . it changes us." Jack paused for a moment, taking a deep breath. " And he won't be able. . . you have to betray him, Faith. Betray me. For the sake of the future. "

Faith stared at her adoptive father for a long moment. "You want me…to betray you?"

Jack nodded. "You have to, Faith. Only you can do this. I wouldn't ask you to do this if I didn't know that it needed to be done. If you don't…the future will be very different."

Faith bit her lip, weighing her choices.

"Prior to that day, a gypsy woman told me that this choice would present itself to me and I had to make the right choice." Faith told Osiris.

The memory Faith nodded, understanding what had to be done.

Osiris turned to Faith as the memory faded. "So he just told you what to do?"

"He's my Father, I was being obedient."

Osiris' face was carved from stone. "Did you know that being obedient to him would lead to your friend's deaths? Did you know that you would sentence them to death?"

"No! No I didn't! I did as he asked so that the future would be safe!"

"Then it was for a selfish reason? To make sure that the future came out the way you wanted it to?"

"No! I would never manipulate the past for my own comfort. In fact, if I had done that, I would have stopped Zephyrus from making that choice and offering myself."

"And yet you lied to Zephyrus."

The barb was well placed. Faith stumbled back. "That is true." She said, hanging her head.

"And why exactly did you lie?"

"Because it was the only way! He had to choose one or the other. If he didn't, he would no longer exist."

"And in doing so, you sentenced a man to death and your friends along with him."

"I did what I had to! If Zephyrus never becomes Jack, the world will be different, maybe nonexistent. Jack has saved the planet so many times. If there had been another way, I would have taken it."

She choked on her words. "I love my father! I love who he is and what he stands for. I love that he has saved so many lives, even mine a few times. I would NEVER wish harm on him! Betraying him was the hardest-NO! The worst thing I have ever done. I do not blame him for his request. The fault lies with me!."

She collapsed to her knees, holding herself tightly, wanting to cry, but that was impossible. "He is not to blame for Lucian's situation, nor for Zephyrus'. I am! I am the one at fault! Dear God in heaven, do not judge him for it is I who have sinned."

"So, this decision was not one that you took pleasure in?" Osiris' voice was still hard, like a Judge's as he looks over the evidence. "Did you take pleasure in sentencing a man to death?"

"NO! No! It was painful and difficult and not a moment has passed since that I want to take it all back. I would take Lucian's place. I would've never hurt Zephyrus." She cried out. "Not a moment has passed that I don't regret what I did!"

There was a long pause. Faith did not move from her bowed over position.

Then, a green hand rested on her shoulder.

Faith's face snapped up, her eyes locking on Osiris. The man before her bore a smile, his eyes pleased. "You have passed my test, Faith Harkness."

Faith's mouth opened in shock, she was positive that she heard wrong.

"Let me tell you something about the gift I am about to bestow on you." He reached into space and summoned a set of bracers. Both were as long as her shins and were patterned like scales of a reptile. One was Silver as starlight and the other Black as night. "These bracers give the wearer the power over life and death. You, as my chosen Champion, are to wear these."

"Then your test was to…" Faith couldn't fully wrap her head around what was going on. The Locusts composing her body fluttered their wings, but besides that did not move.

"It was for you to prove to me that you would not be consumed by the power that comes from having someone's life in the palm of your hands." He smiled and helped her up. "And you passed with flying colors. I would be honored to have you bear my bracers. With such a kind and merciful heart, one that knows regret that comes with deciding someone's fate…The Almighty One could not have selected a more perfect candidate."

He knelt before her. "If I may?"

Before she could blink, Osiris had strapped the Bracers to her shins. He attached the Silver one on before the Black one. "The Silver is the one for Life. The Black one for Death. Wear both together and the balance is made."

As he finished strapping them to her, she felt a surge of energy course though her body. And for the first time since that terrible choice, Faith felt…relieved.

She would help them. And they would save Lucian and Zephyrus.

No one would be left behind.