Disclaimer: Same as previous chapters.

Chapter 5

Xander sighed as he waited for Teal'c to come and claim him for the horrible job of guarding the potential hosts, Xander felt horrible; the man that was at Abydos looked right at him, or at least it felt like he did, and blamed him.

Bra'tac sat next to Xander and said, "My son, what troubles you today?"

"Father, is it right what we do for the Goa'uld?" Xander asked sadly, "It does not feel right."

Bra'tac couldn't answer him, he sat down and said, "I cannot say if it's right or wrong, it has been our way of life for thousands of years."

Xander got up and said, "Father, I have to go help Teal'c with guarding the hostages," as he got up he looked back at his father and felt awful; like this was going to be the last time he saw him for a long time.

As he walked down the streets he grew more and more worried about things, the uncertainty was growing in his heart and the concern grew as he saw Teal'c heading towards the palace.

Teal'c nodded, "Brother, how are your troubles now?"

"They are nipping at my heels like a pack of wild dogs," Xander replied.

Teal'c nodded; his brother's concern over what they had done was growing steadily in the past few years.

"One day we shall find a way to quell your troubles brother," Teal'c said as they walked into the palace.

As they walked into the Dungeons Xander looked at the chosen and he saw the dark haired woman from Abydos look at him with such fear and horror in her eyes that he fought down an urge to comfort her as another young man looked at him defiantly.

Skaara looked at him and said, "Ra is dead and one day you shall join him," as he spat at Xander.

Another Jaffa backhanded the boy when Xander stopped him and said, "Brother, let him have these last few moments of freedom."

Sha're looked at Xander and saw a good man trapped in the services of the false gods, she looked at him and said, "Why do you serve the false gods?"

Xander looked at her and said, "Because I have no choice, for there is no other life."

"No," Sha're whispered, "Daneel says we are free now that Ra is dead."

"Yes," Xander said, "Ra is dead but his rivals yet live and you have been chosen, for this I am sorry."

As he walked away Sha're grabbed his hand and said, "No, you are free too."

Xander walked off and Sha're felt dread, what kind of awful power could this false god have to make such a good man do such evil things? Xander prayed that she wasn't one of the chosen and that she'd be granted a merciful death.

The watch was uneventful and Xander watched the golden haired woman they took from that small room being taken, he heard her scream, "No, I will not go with you! I am with the United States Air force!" Xander froze; the words, it felt familiar but he couldn't quite place it as she was dragged away.

Xander pondered the name he had heard and contemplated why it sounded so familiar, he was still lost in thought when he saw the woman who talked to him being dragged away with a scream, he went to go over and said, "Brothers, I'll take her to Apophis."

The other Jaffa nodded and Sha're looked at Xander with fear in her eyes as he took her down the hallway, she was terrified that golden haired woman did not return. She looked at Xander and whispered, "Where did the other girl go?"

Xander said, "If she was fortunate, she was killed."

Sha're whispered, "If this happens to me, tell Daneel that I love him."

"If I ever see this Daneel," Xander said, "I shall tell him your last message."

"I believe you," Sha're said softly, "You are a good man, only enslaved as we are."

As they walked Xander noted the dead woman being taken away by the Jaffa and Xander thought, 'She was fortunate indeed,' and Sha're held on to him tighter.

Apophis looked at Sha're and smiled eagerly; she was beautiful and as Apophis laid her on the bed Xander watched as Apophis's queen peered from outside it's host and hissed approvingly, "So," Apophis purred, "She does please you?"

Xander turned away as Sha're screamed in terror as the symbiote slid into her body, she looked at Xander one last time and he saw a tear form in her eye as he walked away.

Teal'c walked over and saw Xander looking grimmer than usual and said, "Brother?"

"It's alright Brother," Xander replied, "I'm just thinking of something."

They walked back to the dungeons and as Xander walked in he saw several new prisoners in; he saw the boy from Abydos talking to a grey haired man who looked up at him, along with a couple of other men.

Jack looked at the two men, who Skaara told him were at Abydos at the time; he noticed Daniel staring at the tall dark haired guy. As he looked back at him Jack swore that those eyes were full of compassion, he had gotten pretty good at reading people and he could tell when someone hated themselves and their jobs and the guy with the golden thingy on his head looked the same.

Xander stared back at the man's face and found himself admiring the man's bravery, as they looked behind them a bunch of Goa'uld came in smiling and laughing and pointing out some people they liked. He watched impassively as they walked amongst the potential hosts and some were grabbed by the Jaffa, he saw the screaming people trying to hold on to their loved ones in a desperate bid to keep them safe.

Suddenly Xander heard a loud scream of, "O'Neill!" as Jack tried to pull back Skaara from the Goa'uld who had picked him but a Jaffa struck him in the stomach with his staff and dragged the boy away.

Jack screamed, "Bring him back goddamn it!"

Teal'c looked at Xander and they both shook their heads as they knew what was going to happen next: they had to kill the rest of the chosen.

As they lifted their weapons Jack jumped in front of them and looked at Teal'c and Xander and said, "Help us, I can save these people!"

Xander froze as the warm wind caressed his face, he heard a whisper, 'Now you stand at the precipice of the abyss, Xander of Chulak; you can go walk down the path that you are going down or you can earn your redemption,' the wind blew around the room and said, 'They can aid you,' as it showed the man with the longish hair and the grey haired man.

'Choose Xander!' the wind screamed, 'Choose your path! The choice is always yours. Please choose Xander.'

Xander came to and heard Teal'c say, "Many have said that," as he looked at Jack, "But you are the first one I have believed," as he suddenly fired into the other Jaffa that were aiming their weapons, Teal'c looked at Xander, "Brother," he said, "Please do not make me kill you."

"Never Brother," as Xander said as he blasted another Jaffa, "I will always be on your side."

"That's great kids," Jack said, "But we gotta go."

Teal'c and Xander looked around at the dead Jaffa and felt ill; they had killed their brothers and they'd be shol'va traitors forever. Xander paled; 'What have I done?'

He heard a voice whisper, 'The right thing. Now, RUN!'

Xander rushed out following Teal'c, he heard Jack say, "Where would they take Skaara and the others?"

"It would be too late for your friends," Xander said, "They have already been taken."

"No," Jack said, "We can't leave them behind, please."

Teal'c sighed, "They would be taken to the Chappa'ai," as Jack nodded. Xander followed his brother and he felt the looks of some others on his back; they didn't trust him or his brother yet, not that he trusted them much either.

Daniel looked at the tall dark haired man in front of him and tugged on the man's armour, he said, "Umm, do you know where my wife is?"

Xander looked at him stricken and said, "What is your wife's name and your own?" Daniel introduced himself and Xander whispered, "I'm so sorry; your wife has been taken as a host for Apophis's queen."

"What?" Daniel whispered, "You have to be kidding? Please?" As he looked at Xander's face he could tell that Xander wasn't lying, he wanted to hate the man in front of him but found that he couldn't. Even if he had been evil this man was deciding to aid him.

"If you are this Daneel she spoke of," Xander said, "Then I can fulfill this; she wanted you to know that she loved you a lot," Daniel froze and looked at him, Xander said, "She said that I was a good man."

Daniel smiled softly; Sha're liked this man? If she found something to like about him then he would try his best to see him as a good man too.

As they got to the Chappa'ai Jack saw Skaara walking towards the gate, Daniel also saw Sha're. As they rushed towards them with Jack screaming out Skaara's name when Skaara looked at him and laughed, he raised his hand device and blasted Jack towards them.

Xander rushed over and managed to catch O'Neill as he was flung back into Xander's arms, "Are you alright?" Xander asked, checking for injuries.

"Only my pride," Jack groaned, "Only my pride."

"Indeed," Xander said, not believing a word coming from the man's mouth; this man was in pain now and it had to do with that boy. He whispered, "I am sorry about your friend."

"Brother," Teal'c called, "They're sending gliders!"

Xander looked up and saw the gliders scream across the sky and release bolts of energy towards them, he and Teal'c fired at them with their staffs but the weapons were doing nothing, except causing the gliders to disperse.

Carter began to dial Earth as Jack helped them towards the gate while Teal'c and Xander fired upon the Jaffa, the Stargate opened up and they ran out until only another man and Xander were left, as the man turned to leave a symbiote leapt out of its Jaffa towards the man but Xander caught it in mid air, the man looked at him, grateful and horrified, and said, "Thanks."

"You are most welcome," Xander said as they leapt through the gate. Xander's last thought as they left Chulak was, 'I am free.'

TBC

Poll Question: How should Xander's first real day back on Earth be like?

A/N This might turn into a Jack/Xander slash.

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