~~ Part 4 ~~
Buffy headed back toward the throne room. She had decided to put SG-1 to work by splitting them apart and utilizing each person's talents where they could do Dara Seans the most good. She wanted to see them interact outside their group. If she had to leave her home to work with these people, she wanted to see them in their element. Then she smiled evilly, a smile that had Shat'tac seen it, he would know that she had some interesting days planned for the esteemed SG-1. Her first priority was to ensure her home's safety before she ventured out beyond the Gate. She pushed the thought that she might not return to the back of her mind. She simply had too much work to do, and people to either whip into shape or possibly leave behind here on Dara Seans.
She sent Shat'tac to escort Teal'c and Cameron to their assigned tasks, even as two Jaffa guards came for Daniel. They were taking him to her library where he could pilfer to his heart's content. Vala, the former Qetesh, would attend a negotiation meeting with her. No matter her background, the woman had a sound mind that saw the advantages in a situation. She wanted to keep her close to determine if the changes she saw were only superficial or had sunk deep enough to infiltrate her soul. Buffy found Vala somewhat of a puzzle, much like herself, many fingers had tasted that pie by her invitation. Many others had snuck a taste. What was so important about the former warrior, Goa'uld, and now privateer? It bothered her that she couldn't ignore their similarities. Did Vala have a destiny that followed her and would require her soul, and that of others?
It was interesting to watch them try to keep their alarm from showing. She admired the subtle reassurances that they quickly passed to each other before heading out to their allotted duties. Buffy smiled at the faint pout that played around Vala's lips. She must have realized that there weren't any men around for her to work her wiles on and allowed those plump protrusions to fall into full out frown. A giggle escaped that had the dark-haired woman, spinning around to stare wide-eyed at her forgotten audience.
"Oh, uhm, what do you have in mind for me?" Vala worked hard not to wince. She didn't like being at a disadvantage, and knew without a doubt that Buffy held all the cards. Her only hope was that this woman would continue to play fair.
The small blonde sitting on the golden throne stared at the other woman. Watching her expression, she could practically read her mind. A smile slowly spread across her lips. It wasn't a nice smile, or necessarily an evil one. It was one of those smiles that hinted at everything, and told nothing. In a whisper soft voice she said, "I want you to stay with me today. There are some trade envoys coming through the Chap'aia to speak with me about negotiating a contract. I'd like you to sit in and listen. Don't say a word unless necessary. I know that will be hard for you, but try." Her voice hardened to emphasis her point. "We'll discuss your observations when the meeting's over." She stood up and moved out of the room, knowing that Vala would follow her if for no other reason than her own curiosity.
Shat'tac led the two military minded men from SG-1 away from the pyramid. Orchards lay to their left, covering a shallow valley and crawling up over gently rolling hills, numerous trees and vines created sweeping patterns unique for each different type flora. The First Prime turned to the right toward the settlement where sturdy homes and shops stood.
Cameron glanced back at the orchards with admiration, his southern roots coming to the fore. "Those orchards out yonder sure are impressive. Wasn't it hard to establish such hardy crops?"
His tone, expression and obvious knowledge came across with such a feeling of genuine interest that Shat'tac didn't take offense. He slowed his steps as his head turned to SG-1's leader. A proud smile graced his normally stoic face. "You are correct. The mining done by Qetesh gravely damaged Dara Sean's soil. Sineya knew that the planet would slowly die if she didn't find a way to restore the balance. She worked hard to create alliance with people who had the knowledge that she needed." Feeling that he had said enough, he returned to his normal fast walk.
Cameron's brow wrinkled as he tried to riffle through the numerous people that SG-1 had met. He couldn't help but wonder which one had helped turn Dara Sean into this beautiful planet. Deciding that he might as well ask where they were going since the other man seemed in a talking mood. "Where exactly are we headed?"
"Sineya decided that you should each add your gifts to benefit Dara Sean. There won't be time for you to share with all of Dara Sean." He spread his large arms to encompass the pyramid, and the bustling city. "The capitol city will have that honor. You two," he pointed at Teal'c and Cameron, "will work with our army, as that best suits your gifts. Come along, the day has already lost many useful hours and it won't end until long into the evening." His long legs ate up the distance, bringing them through the city's entrance and into its bustling heart.
Cameron and Teal'c slowed their steps even as they kept their guide in sight. They tried to memorize as much detail as possible, each looking in the opposite direction, knowing that they'd exchange notes later when they were alone. Homes lay snuggled securely toward the capitol's center back portion. An outer perimeter of Jaffa barracks and reinforced walls provided a foreboding deterrent for unfriendlies to say the least. The positioning of the shops between the homes provided a sound layer of added security. Dara Seans, the capitol city, held a medieval charm, whether unintentional or planned. The structures were constructed from large stones quarried from the former mine, small flecks of naquadah and age gave the material a soft glowing affect when the sun hit it.
Teal'c studied the city layout, seeing its advantages. He admired the clean cobblestone streets and healthy people that bustled about him. The people appeared satisfied with their way of life. Dara Seans wasn't a paradise by any means. Everyone worked hard to keep it going, from what little he had seen, even its indomitable leader, Sineya. He had already spent too many hours thinking about that particular warrior woman. His steps quickened to catch up with their guide. He only hoped that DanielJackson and ValaMalDoran were all right.
Shat'tac had stopped where soldiers went through field routines and paired off into small groups to spar. It was an impressive sight, one meant to send a specific message to SG-1; Dara Seans could and would defend itself. His eyebrow rose as he exchanged looks with SG-1's commander. Roughly fifty Jaffa soldiers performed traditional Jaffa and Earth drills, along with several that neither man had seen before.
Sineya's First Prime observed the two warriors that had come through the Chap'aia. He didn't ignore the danger that was Qetesh, or doubt that the studious one could defend himself. However, the fighting and strategy capabilities lay with the men that stood next to him. He planned to put them through their paces, while picking their brains for anything that might benefit Dara Seans. If these were the people that he had to trust to help guard Sineya, then they had better be up to the challenge.
"Teal'c, you will stay here." He motioned for the squad commander to come forward. "This is Atal'c. He will show you what to do." He turned to address a young, broad shouldered, muscular man with longish blond hair and a hawk tattoo on his forehead. "Sineya wants him to share his knowledge with the younger soldiers and to tell us the latest news of this Jaffa Resistance that we have heard about."
His peripheral vision noticed the quick glances exchanged between Teal'c and Cameron. If he were anyone else a smug smile would have lifted his lips; they no doubt thought them backward savages. His dark eyes locked with the lighter ones of the younger Jaffa commander; he, along with any soldier in the United Army, would lay down their lives for Sineya or Dara Seans, respectively. They believed that everybody deserved their freedom, but unlike other Jaffa's, they felt no loyalty to their former race. Their loyalty was to Sineya and the lives that they had created with her help. Sineya didn't care where they came from, who they were, or even what they had done; only what they chose to do with their lives and that they protect Dara Seans. She had given them back their lives, their pride and their purpose. Jaffa blood may run through their veins, but that had more to do with biology. In their hearts, they lived, breathed and even dreamed Sineya's vision of the kind of world she wanted to create on Dara Seans. They would do whatever it took to help her achieve that vision, whether it meant their deaths or that of anyone who stood in her way.
Atal'c nodded toward Teal'c, before turning around and heading back toward his unit, who hadn't stopped their drills.
"I will see you later, CameronMitchell," Teal'c said as he leveled a hard stare at Shat'tac. The implied threat lay heavy between them. He walked slowly away without looking back at his friend, wondering what the day would bring for SG-1. His muscles tightened in anticipation of possible danger, his warrior blood humming beneath his skin.
Cameron watched Teal'c as he approached the other soldiers like a true alpha male. A proud smile crossed his lips, and a mischievious twinkle entered his blue eyes. "I'll take fifty that my man Teal'c will have those boys on their butts before they can say Jack Robinson."
Shat'tac smiled. It was a feral twist of his lips that should have warned Cameron that everything wasn't as it seemed. "We have a few moments before we must report to your assigned task. We can observe if you would like."
They turned back to see that Atal'c stood in a clearing faced off with Teal'c. The other soldiers had fanned out into a circle, giving the two men room to maneuver. They bowed to each other, then slowly started circling, looking for an opening. Atal'c went on the offensive and threw a hard jab at the larger man's jaw. Teal'c waited until the last moment to block the punch. They traded blows back and forth, giving and taking ground, feeling out defenses as they fought. Although equal in height, Teal'c had a large body mass, and both had had symbiotic relationships that had slowed the aging process, making it hard to determine either man's age. Atal'c actually had almost a hundred years on the Jaffa Resistance leader. Age wasn't a factor for either man, though. They were two seasoned warriors that knew the art of war at its finest. This was a test for both men; however, only one knew all the rules.
Shat'tac watched the grin melt from Cameron's face as the fight continued longer than he thought it would. When he motioned that it was time for them to continue their journey, Cameron showed great reluctance at having to leave without knowing the outcome of the fight. He wondered at these Tau'ri; had they never found their equals on any world they had visited?
Cameron hadn't wanted to leave Teal'c among so many strangers. True, they hadn't seen any overtly hostile signs since their release. Well, if you didn't count trying to beat on each other hostile. Teal'c sure looked like he was having a great time. That didn't mean that they had overcome the initial issues felt by both sides. Still he couldn't help feeling like the butt of a huge joke where everyone knew the punch line except him. The more he thought about it the more he had a good mind to just turn back around and demand some answers from the gorgeous blonde in the skimpy clothes who he wouldn't mind looking at some more, err, uhm, getting to know, ugh. Interrogating. Yeah, that sounds better, interrogating for information. A large smile broke out across his face as he turned to his guide about to demand that he take him back immediately when they stepped through a huge doorway. Mitchell's blue eyes went wide with wonder, forgetting every previous thought, even perhaps his own name.
There, sitting before him shining like freshly minted money, sat the sleekest little ships he'd ever seen. The lines sloped back, reminiscent of something from a Saturday afternoon Sci-Fi show, and coming from him that was saying a lot. He could tell just from looking at them that they were fast, faster than anything he'd flown, and he'd flown 'em all. He turned questioning eyes to Sineya's First Prime, who waved for him to come take a closer look. Cameron was beside himself with anticipation and trepidation. The wonder of exploring such a wonderful machine, yet he knew there was no way that Sineya would consider trade negotiations with Earth. Questions and more questions filled his mind. How could this small, seemingly rural, planet create such a highly advanced ship? Did they create it? If they didn't, then who did?
"Colonel Mitchell?"
Cameron jumped, startled from his inner dialogue realizing that his escort had been talking to him for several minutes.
"Yeah, I'm with you, just let me wipe the drool off my chin," he replied, giving Shat'tac his best disarming smile. It earned him a stare that rivaled Teal'c on a good day. His grin slowly melted away as he realized this was going to be really long day.
Shat'tac observed the stranger that had come to Dara Seans to ask for Sineya's aid. He would never understand the Tau'ri's need to show others every emotion that passed through their consciousness. It was not that a Jaffa didn't feel such emotions, rather that they chose who and where to share these emotions. Centuries of slavery had taught them that showing them before the wrong person could lead not only to their death but also to the death of their loved ones. These Tau'ri though themselves so much better than the Jaffa due to their ability to show emotion. Some even went so far as to express their beliefs verbally. Shat'tac thought them quite arrogant. He would rather deal with a Voltuvian, which was saying a lot since the stench alone could put off even the heartiest warrior.
Cam fought the urge to squirm under the discerning stare leveled at him by his Jaffa escort. He knew that the other man didn't like him, which came as no surprise. What did surprise him was the he found that he wanted him to. The Jaffa here were different from those under Goa'uld control, yet still eons away from the Free Jaffa Nation of which Teal'c was the resident leader. These men, these Jaffa, felt no need to prove themselves to others that they belonged among the Jaffa race. As far as they were concerned, they belonged on this planet where no one cared about their origins and neither did they.
Daniel was beside himself as he sat in his own version of nirvana. He sat behind a large desk literally covered with Ancient texts and tomes. His brain couldn't even process the data overload to tell him where to start. Deciding to take a tried and true scientific approach, he closed his eyes, reached out for the first object that his fingers brushed against and grabbed it. His eyes popped open to find out what treasure his quest had discovered. He pulled it closer to take a better look, and quickly fell into another world, shutting out everything else.
Pushing away from the desk, Daniel stretched his arms above his head. The information that he had just spent the, he glanced down at his watch, six hours reading hadn't provided him with the answers the he needed to beat the Ori or find Merlin. Still, he felt that he had a better understanding of the Ancients than he had before coming to Dara Seans. He had never understood their refusal to interfere in the fight against the Goa'uld and the even greater threat that the Ori posed. It had always infuriated him that these beings of such unimaginable power stood back, allowing such horrible atrocities to occur when they could so easily stop them. The tomes, his fingers traced back over the Ancient symbols as their meanings came back to him, explained the Ancient's belief system, not the rhetoric that he remembered from his time with them, or even what little Oma spoke of whenever she bothered to make an appearance. It spoke of a group of people, the Alterans, who, after traveling the galaxies found that they had done all that they could upon the physical plane. They started looking inward, searching for a more enlightened meaning for life. And learned how to let the physical world fall away to live outside their body. Daniel thought it was a coded guide on how to ascend.
He hoped the Sineya would allow him more time with these documents. There might be something within them that he could use on his quest to find Merlin's hidden weapon, not to mention there may be a way to use portions of the ascension process to SG's advantage. How he wasn't sure. Sam had created wondrous cutting edge gadgets from the tiniest bits of data. He just needed a way to get the information back to her. She needed to see the original data in order to know exactly what information she was dealing with. He highly doubted that his hostess would extend her gracious hospitality that far. Speaking of his hostess, he wondered exactly what she had done with Vala for the day.
Vala was having the time of her life. She hadn't participated in such heated negotiations since her, err, privateering days. It felt good to be at the center of a situation where combatants depended not on strength or higher learner, where her other teammates were better suited to take her place; no this situation required a keen mind that knew the art of the deal. She was an expert par none in this area. If there was one thing Vala could do better than anyone, it was talk.
Sandor's ambassador gave her a heated look that clearly showed that he held her personally responsible for the trade negotiations not going his way. He had come here under the assumption that he would be negotiating with a Goa'uld, which one didn't bother him since his planet had been doing so for many years now. That the Goa'uld in question had decided that this particular woman would handle the trade negotiation hadn't sat well with the inner dimensional male chauvinist.
Buffy allowed the ambassador to finish his long-winded speech. No emotions showed on her face while the man droned on about the benefits that Dara Seans, and no doubt Sandor, would achieve from an open trade treaty. She felt the excitement coming from the former Qetesh. The woman seemed ready to spring from her chair at any moment. It took some effort to keep from laughing. The man finally stopped speaking, looking at her with an oily smile, expecting an immediate answer. His smile quickly dissolved when she stood, tapped Vala on the shoulder and excited the room without a word.
The minute the anti-chamber doors closed, providing them privacy, Vala started picking apart the trade agreement. She waved her hands about her as she paced the room. "That was the longest line of crap I've heard in a long time. Can you believe the nerve of that man, coming here to my, err, your planet and thinking that he can open trade agreements that are so one sided? What? Did he somehow think that the Goa'uld became deficient in their reasoning and implanted only stupid symbiotes into women hosts who aren't queens? Did you see the way that he looked down his nose at me when you introduced me as an advisor? Ooh, I'd like to have him, a room and a zat. I'd show him some advice he'd never forget." She stopped her tirade when the sound of feminine laughter came from behind her. Turning around, she stared at Sineya who lay on a chaise in all her golden glory beside herself with laughter. Vala forgot that she needed to walk a fine line with this woman. Vala, being Vala, placed her hands on her hips, jutted out her chin, then said, "Well, you don't have to laugh at me. In case you forgot, you're a woman too, and he was aiming his insults at you." She gave Sineya a smug smile that quickly faded, along with Sineya's laughter.
Buffy wiped the tears from her eyes, righted her clothes and turned to stare at her guest. Why did she always have to come back to this when she was having a good time? Vala had reminded her of her high school nemesis Cordelia Chase for a moment. It was fun just to revel in the now. Allow the other woman to blow off steam, while she spoke the unvarnished truth, in her no tact way, thus the Cordy reminder. She didn't remember her past too much anymore, but cherished those memories when they came to her. Oh, well, back to the business at hand. Sometimes it sucked to be the one that other people were scared of, sometimes like now, not so much.
"I'm fully aware of the ambassador's feelings and who he aimed them at," she said in a cool tone.
Vala tried to stifle the urge to gulp when those hard green eyes swept over her. She couldn't help but feel that she had someone failed inspection. This situation had her feeling rudderless. She had never known a time in her life that she felt unsure of herself as a person, as a woman, until now. What was it about Sineya that put her at such a disadvantage? It wasn't about power. She had faced powerful beings before. They never left her doubting herself.
She watched Vala as she realized who she was talking to. The other woman was having some type of inner dialogue, which they didn't have time for. Buffy decided with a sardonic smile that Vala would have to wade through the abyss inside her head on her own time. Rolling to the chaise's edge from a half, lounge position to come to her feet in one smooth motion gave her the appearance of complete boneless grace. A move that exhibited the powerful muscles that lay beneath a layer of soft, golden skin. Tiny sandaled feet peeked out from the shimmering golden material that wrapped lovingly around her body with each step she took. Golden bells chimed in rhythm to the swaying gait from their place at the end of the intricate braids that covered her head.
Vala had never found herself attracted to a woman until she met Sineya. Scratch that; until she found herself in close proximity to Sineya where she could watch, hear and, goodness help her, smell the woman. Everything about her fascinated Vala and she couldn't stop from staring and yes even sniffing her. This was probably the root of her inner turmoil. She just didn't have enough time to figure it out, wasn't even sure if she wanted to figure it anymore. She simply closed her eyes, drew in a hardy snout full of the wonder that was Sineya, then let it out before turning back to the matter at hand.
Buffy quirked an eyebrow at the brunette. She stepped further into the room, placing several feet between them as she turned to face the other woman. "Here's how we will handle the ambassador…"
Vala couldn't quite keep the smile off her face when she remembered exactly how Sineya decided to play out the rest of this little meeting. The ambassador welcomed them back ready to sign the treaty immediately. Buffy stated that certain addition were necessary before she would consider signing. Once he heard the provision, the ambassador went ballistic. He started spouting rhetoric that women weren't meant for political positions. Their minds couldn't handle such high levels of economic and sociologic constructs. Buffy motioned for soldiers to take him away. She turned to his assistant waiting to hear what he would say to either cover up or address the issue.
"Sineya," he said, bowing his head, "please forgive my esteemed colleague. He is, as we see now, living under antiquated and misguided beliefs. Though Sandor believes that each should have the liberty to pursue their beliefs, it holds strong that none shall inhibit another's pursuit of their own." The young, bookish looking man stopped speaking, gathered the papers around him into a neat pile, then turned back to continue speaking. "Perhaps we could come at another time to continue this talk and work toward an outcome that will be beneficial to both Sandor and Dara Seans in equal measure. Thank you." He clutched his papers close to his thin chest as if they might somehow protect him from what was about to happen next.
Buffy leaned forward in her throne, projecting her presence in a more physical manner. She took in the measure of Sandor's entire team from the shaking youth who had just finished speaking to the lout that her guards had drug away, letting their presence stew.
"You may leave Dara Seans under the conditions in which you arrived." They came under the flag of trade, which protected the entire party from harm. "My guards will wait at the Chap'aia with your man for your departure." She saw them sigh with relief. "However, I do not think that Dara Seans will re-open trade negotiations with Sandor in the near future." Her keen sight saw two men that had stayed further to the back, no doubt military, tense up in protest. "Dara Seans will not be open to any visitors. We are about to enter into our sacred feasting time. You understand."
She gave them a brilliant smile that left them somewhat gobsmacked. At that moment, she could have asked them for anything and they would have handed it over willingly. Instead, she stood there smiling, a little softer now, dimming the light a little, until every Sandor citizen within the party came forward kissed her hand then exited the room. A soft sigh lifted her slender shoulders when the last one left, leaving her alone with the exception of Vala. She flopped back onto her throne, throwing a leg over the arm, which should have looked sloppy but rather created a picture of royal boredom.
"Well that was fun," Vala stated to the room at large with a large grin spreading across her face.
"Yes, yes, it was." Buffy gave her a soft conspirator smile.
The SG-1 team talked excitedly over the top of each other, each one trying to be the first to tell about their day's adventure. Vala, of course, won the honor of going first, since she had the loudest voice and could easily out talk the other three.
"You should've seen this guy. All he needed was the long hair and he could've been the new lead for those weird little cave man commercials. Ugh." She shuddered, remembering Sandor's unattractive ambassador. "As if looking like Barney Rubble wasn't bad enough, the guy decided that he should think like him too, only Barney treated Betty way better than this guy was treating us." Her hands flew about with the remembered anger. SG-1 ignored her loud tone, ducking their heads with practiced ease, well used to the way that Vala told a story. "Then, she just got up and left without a word. How she's able to do that I'll never know." She shrugged her shoulders while her male audience exchanged glances. They knew that achieved skill was far beyond Vala's skill set; her personality was just too volatile. She went on to tell about her day. "She listened to what I thought, and even added some of it to what she expected from the trade agreements. I'm not sure exactly what Sineya is, but one thing's for sure; it isn't a Goa'uld. I've never met one, not even a Tok'ra, that interacts with others the way that she does."
The others agreed. The tiny blonde had entered each man's mind throughout their day on Dara Seans for different reason. It didn't matter why; she still weighed heavy on their minds.
"Okay, whose turn is it?" Vala turned an expectant face toward her crew as she snuggled into her chair, waiting to hear about their day.
"I'll go," Daniel spoke up, ignoring her rolling her eyes behind his back. "The guards that escorted me away took me to what I can assume is Sineya's library. There are literally hundreds of Ancient documents there. I don't know how she came to be in possession of them, but I spent the better part of the day reading about the Alterans' belief system."
"All those books, and you decided to read something that you already knew? I know that you're our go to guy when it comes to these type things, Daniel, but I gotta tell you, think that you might have missed the mark here," Cam said, giving Daniel a curious look.
Teal'c looked at the SG-1 leader then to his close friend DanielJackson. He inclined his head toward Daniel. "I too do not understand your reasoning in this instance, DanielJackson."
A heavy sigh lifted Daniel's shoulders. He tried to think of the words that he needed to explain his reasoning behind his research. "I thought that I understood the Ancients' belief system prior to our arrival on P8X-412."
"Dara Seans," Vala supplied, "it's called Dara Seans not that alphabet soup you guys like to use for naming planets. Although why you don't use names, like Valadoreen, Daniel-412, or for goodness sake's, even Mitchell-999, I don't know."
Ignoring the interruption, he'd long ago grown used to it. "Yes, thank you, Vala, Dara Seans. As I was saying, the Ancients believed in experiencing the physical world through observation alone while preparing for their ascension. The path, though similar, must be reached when each person came to his own personal understanding. Some Ancients had a gift for helping others find their way onto the path, like Oma Desala. These gifted Ancients, however, had a little too much influence. They were able to help anyone ascend. Anubis wasn't the first time that they allowed the wrong people into the Land of Light."
"They're the Ori," Cameron exclaimed.
"You guessed it. They split into two factions. We always thought that they ascended to escape an unknown plague sweeping through their people. We didn't know that a faction unhappy with the status quo had created the plague to increase the need to ascend at a more rapid pace. This faction was the pre-curser for the Ori. They learned that they could increase their already large amounts of power if they fueled them with worshippers. It created a split between the Alterans, creating the Ancients and the Ori. The Ori took one side of the universe and the Ancient took the other. They pretty much agreed to leave each other alone as long as everyone played by the rules."
Teal'c's eyebrow rose when Daniel imparted the last bit of information. Cameron sat back in his chair as if he'd been slapped in the face. Vala, surprisingly, waited for Daniel to get to the point, knowing that he had to have something else to tell them.
"So far the Ori haven't crossed the line in what the Ancients consider breaking their rules. We have to figure out a way to either stop them or force them to cross that line so that the Ancients won't have any other choice but to step in and help us."
"Exactly what do we have to get them to do, Daniel? They're frying people who don't follow Origin right now," Cameron asked, raking a hand through his hair. He was starting to feel about the Ancients the way Jack O'Neil felt about the Tok'ra; they helped or interfered when it benefited them in some way.
"I'm not sure." Daniel sighed, taking off his glasses to rub his eyes. "It didn't state what the agreement was. There were some vague references to a Child of Light being born when the balance swayed, but it didn't say whether the child would be born to the Ancients or the Ori."
Cameron turned to Teal'c, the merry light that danced behind his eyes glimmered, although not as brightly as normal. "Teal'c, my man, tell us about your day. I want to hear about how you put those Jaffa in their place. Then, I'll astonish you with the wonders I saw on my field trip."
Understanding what the SG-1 leader was trying to do, the stalwart Jaffa started the retelling of his day. He was happy to relay that he had indeed won his match, although it took much more effort than he had initially thought it would. Sineya had a well trained army, which followed her happily. Were he not the leader of the Jaffa Resistance, he might find a life on Dara Seans tempting. He told the team that he felt that there was more to their day's activities than what they appeared to be.
"You felt it, too," Cam said, turning a questioning look to his other two team members. "What about you two?" They nodded their heads. "I guess tomorrow we'll find out what the punch line is. I hate being the butt end of someone's joke, especially when the other guy has all the shiny weapons. Ooh, and did I tell you that I got to fly this super fast, stealthy, jet-like spaceship today?" He heard the ba da bump in his head as the others caught the implication.
Daniel spoke first, beating out even the quickly responding Vala. "How would they get a ship like that? They don't have the means or technological know how to create something like that. We've been trying to meld our jet capabilities with Asgard technologies for awhile now. We have the F-302, which we know as far as maneuverability and firepower, don't hold up against the Ori fighters."
"Kinda preachin' to the choir here, Daniel. Don't get me wrong. I'm proud as punch of our F-302s. They're more than a match for the death gliders and a couple can take out an Al'kesh. But, like you said, the fighters are the best of both worlds; they have the firepower of an Al'kesh and can zip around like a glider, not to mention, the Ori seem to carry a coupla hundred in every one them cruisers of theirs. What they don't just obliterate with those mothers, they send a them fighters in to pick the bones off until the people surrender to Origin. If we had some ships like that where we could face them in a dog fight, we might have a shot in this war."
"Indeed." Teal'c walked away from his team, heading toward the room that he shared with CameronMitchell.
"Where are you going, Muscles? Didn't you hear Dimples? They have some ships that we could really use. We have to figure out a way to get Sineya to let us have them," Vala called after his retreating back.
"ValaMalDoran, it is a wasted effort to spend the time that we should be resting trying to figure out how to make Sineya do anything. If I have learned anything this day, it is this. Sineya will do as she wishes. We will learn more about what she wishes to do with us on the morrow. I suggest that we all get some rest. I do not think that we will have as entertaining a day as today has been." With those parting words, he continued his journey to the bedroom and prepared himself for the night.
Vala turned back to the others. "What do you think Muscles meant by that? You don't think she's going to make me do anything horrible, like manual labor or anything, do you?"
They exchanged resigned looks, getting up to follow their Jaffa friend's lead. Daniel put out his hand to help Vala to her feet. "Come on, we won't know until tomorrow. There's no sense worrying about it tonight. Like Teal'c said, we might as well get a good night's sleep."
The guard came for them bright and early the next day. SG-1 couldn't help but feel like they were the Christians marching into the Coliseum. Their first hint into what lay in store for them came when Shat'tac announced the Dara Seans held its children as their highest natural treasure. Its very foundation built upon them as the planet's future. Laws constructed to protect this treasure carried heavy penalties, even death, against those who dared to harm a child. Children helped with chores to keep up a family's livelihood. They couldn't work the long hours required from adults. Sineya carefully monitored these strictures to ensure that no child anywhere on Dara Seans went without. That included an education.
Shat'tac took them as a group this time, which he knew surprised them. He admired the way that Sineya's mind worked and was happy that he wasn't her intended target. The Tau'ri visitors got that privilege today. He looked forward to seeing how much fortitude they had, and whether they were truly up to the test of protecting Sineya. They approached their first destination, where they would leave Dr. Jackson. He remembered Sineya's giggle when she told him about this particular assignment. Shat'tac had shared a few moments of enjoyment at the projected outcome himself. He led the brilliant archeologist into a large classroom filled with children ranging in ages from five to eighteen. They turned toward the front, quieting down and quickly coming to attention.
"Good morning children," he said in a gentle voice.
SG-1 watched in wonder as the brisk First Prime changed into a quiet, soft spoken educator. The children preened as his eyes raked over them, sharing knowing smiles with each and every child. "We have visitors today. Sineya has asked that they share knowledge of their world with you." A wave of oohs and aahs riffled through the class, quieting down when Shat'tac lifted his hands. He motioned for Daniel to step forward. "This is Dr. Daniel Jackson. He knows many languages and the stories of the people who lived long ago on his planet, which is called Earth. Dr. Jackson will teach you about the history of his planet and its people."
He made a sweeping gesture toward the class, which caused the students ten and older to separate from the others and file out of the room. Daniel swung around to face him with a befuddled expression on his face. He gave him a half-smile before following after the students. Stopping at the door, he waited for the others to join him. Vala and Cam couldn't keep the grins off their faces when they heard a little girl ask Daniel a question.
"Why do you learn languages about people who lived long ago, don't you like talking to people who are living right now?"
Daniel stared into the face a bright eyed little girl of about eight, then back up at his team who were leaving him alone with a room full of small children. The one thought that came to mind was help. How could he explain the dynamics involved in studying the past to understand the present to children this young?
Cameron couldn't believe what Sineya wanted him to teach these, these children. He looked at the young faces turned to him expectantly. "Okay, kids, I want you to pair off into couples and face each other. Boys, place your left hand on the girl's waist. Girls, place your left hand on his shoulder. Now, gently clasp each other's right hands. Remember, to form an imaginary box with your feet in time to the music. You'll start on your right foot on the eight counts. Now, count it off in your head and try not to look down at your feet."
He never thought that when he joined SG-1 that he'd come to another world to teach a bunch of teenagers how to waltz. He felt like a total dweeb. The teaching portion of the day's events hadn't bothered him. Once he saw Daniel with a room full of youngsters, he figured that he'd have to show the kiddos how to fly or something else related to his background. How in the world Sineya came up with dancing lessons, he'd never know.
Vala stared at the object in horror. It was a squirming, crying and very unhappy baby. She knew that karma was biting her in the butt for laughing at Daniel. When Shat'tac had left Cameron in a room full of teenagers in what looked like a ball room, she had snickered. And, at the look on Teal'c face as he stared down at the pre-teen little girls that awaited his guidance in the finer arts of sewing, she had laughed out loud.
She wanted to turn around and run out the door when Shat'tac announced that she was responsible to care for the little ones whose mothers needed to work. Staring at the tear filled blue eyes and trembling, tiny lip of the cherubic face in front of her, Vala felt her heart melt. She pulled the little boy close to her breast, caressing his head with one hand while she supported his small body with the other.
"Shush, little one. I'm sorry that they left you with me, because I certainly don't know what I'm doing. Perhaps we can comfort each other until your mommy comes back for you." The baby quieted down in her arms, snuffling softly against her body as she rocked him. "You're such a good boy that she'll come back for you in no time." She softly kissed the top of his head, placing him in an empty crib. "Though mine never did," she whispered.
She rose back up with a self-satisfied smile. It quickly melted away when the other inhabitants chose that exact moment to make their presence known. Echoing cries went out, to which Vala wanted to add her own. She searched for the loudest crier. Picking the baby up made it stop crying immediately. She went to put it down, but an unholy scream sounded from the tiny tot that made her jump. A heavy sigh had her jostling the baby to one shoulder while she tried to pat another unhappy child with her free hand. It was official; she was in hell.
Teal'c wondered what was going on when Shat'tac came for him after he had been with his class for about an hour. He wasn't sure why Sineya had wanted him to teach these small female children how to sew, but he had endeavored to teach them what he knew. Sewing skills came in handy for a warrior whether with regards for treating an injury or maintaining clothing.
Sineya's First Prime remained silent as he led Teal'c to a private clearing where Sineya waited for him. He didn't approve of this meeting, but he trusted her. She wasn't telling him something, which he felt had more to do with her personal attraction for the large Jaffa leader than any distrust for him. He didn't begrudge her for acting on her feelings. Sineya had devoted her life to bettering Dara Seans. She neglected having a private life for herself, knowing that she could never choose a lover from among her Jaffa, and to bring a stranger into their fold would expose their secrets to outside worlds. Few knew all the secrets held within Dara Seans' boundaries, the greatest one being Sineya herself. The people of Dara Seans loved her and would happily worship her as their god if she would allow it.
Buffy sat, waiting for Teal'c to arrive. Since waking up all those years ago on Dara Seans, she hadn't felt as alive as she felt at this moment. She already knew that she was going back with him and his team to Earth. Earth, what an odd notion; it truly sounded like a foreign planet to her. She came from Dara Seans. It was where she had returned to life, learned to live again, became a whole person, an adult person that accept the responsibility that had landed at her feet and helped to bring a planet back to life. It felt good to live outside her small worldview. She remembered small pieces of her former life, her mom's smile, the way she smelled, Giles rubbing his glasses, Willow's babble, Xander's goofy jokes and Angel. Angel, he seemed a figment of her imagination more than the others did at times. She simply remembered a beautiful face that was always in the dark and the warm feelings that it gave her. She wasn't sure, why her fragmented memories seemed crisper lately, perhaps it had to do with her visitors, and perhaps it was simply time for her to forget. Let them rest in peace along with a life that was no longer hers. She was no longer Buffy Summers; yes, she remembered her former name. She was Buffy. She was Sineya, a blending of the two to create the whole person who ruled over Dara Seans. Dara Seans was, and always would be, her foremost concern. These people, her people, depended on her to protect them. She planned to do just that with her dying breath.
They came into a clearing where Dara Sean's ruler sat upon a cloth spread beneath a shade tree. Teal'c stopped walking to stare in wonder at the woman that waited for him mere feet away. He had seen many beautiful women during his travels as a member of SG-1. He had even known a few, yet none of them called to him the way that Sineya did. Her golden glory tempted him, drawing him in and causing a need to bask in her warmth.
She cleared her mind, tipping her head up to enjoy the sun's warmth on her face. As she lowered her head, she opened her eyes to find Teal'c staring at her. She gave him a soft smile before waving him over to join her. He turned to Shat'tac to ensure that he hadn't misinterpreted the gesture.
"I will leave you here with my mistress." He turned to leave, and then turned back. "Though Sineya can more than take care of herself, I leave her care in your hands. Know that should 'any' ill befall her, that I will hold you responsible."
The First Prime twisted back around on his heels to silently march away from the clearing, hoping that the visiting Jaffa understood the hidden threat. Shat'tac was not only leaving him in the care of his mistress' body but her heart as well. Though he wasn't sure that even she knew that her feelings had ventured that far, if the Jaffa Teal'c returned them in any measure Buffy would let him into her heart. He felt torn regarding the situation. She deserved to have a mate that could stand beside her. Yet, in his innermost heart, he feared what it might mean for Dara Seans, for him. His total devotion to the small blonde was unquestionable. He truly wanted her to be happy and only wished that someone here on Dara Seans could provide her with what she needed. Alas, he knew this could never happen, that Buffy would never allow it to happen. She viewed the people of Dara Seans as her family, her children and protected them like a mother lion. It was inconceivable for her to ever consider taking one as a lover.
Buffy smiled up at the large dark skinned man that loomed above her. She liked the way that he stood there waiting to see what she would do next, unphased at what she might request of him. Her eyes wandered over the hard planes of muscle that fortified his large build starting at his feet and ending at the sculpted cheekbones of his face. The golden emblem tattooed against his forehead broadcasted his past. He wore it proudly, letting any who saw it know that he had overcome the fate of his forefathers. Dark eyes, which many thought showed no emotion, gleamed with interest at their deepest depths. A person only had to look deep enough to know what they were seeing. She knew from experience how adept the Jaffa were at burying their emotions behind a steely façade.
"Please, sit down." She motioned to the large cloth spread out around her, waiting to see where he would choose to sit.
Teal'c glanced around at the pretty clearing, shaded area, cloth and of course beautiful woman sitting before him. Her invitation intrigued him as he moved to accept her offer. He watched her watching him as he bent his large frame into a comfortable position upon the ground. His interest grew as he noticed her eyes grow brighter when he stretched his long legs out in front of his, bringing them close to where she sat. Somehow, this small gesture pleased her.
"Were you not pleased with the manner in which I was instructing Dara Seans' youth in sewing techniques?" He inquired politely, trying to understand the meaning of this meeting. Her soft laughter wrapped around him, sending warm chills over skin. Were he another man, he would have had to fight the urge to rub his arms to chase away the feeling.
"I'm sorry; that was rude," Buffy said, leaning forward as she spoke. "No, I have no issue with what I'm sure was an excellent lesson in the finer art of Jaffa stitching." She saw him about to ask another question and raised a hand to stop him. "I'll explain why I asked that you come to see me where no one else can see or interrupt us. Would you answer some questions for me before I do that?" Her tone told him that she was asking not demanding.
"Ask what you will, I will answer what I can."
She had always loved the straightforward way that Jaffas approached situations. "Did you enjoy your time among my Jaffa?"
"Indeed. You have a fine army, which I would be proud to have join in my fight to create a free Jaffa Nation." Understanding his sentiment, even if she didn't like the content of his statement, she bowed her head graciously accepting his compliment. "Atal'c proved a worthy opponent. He gave me the best match I have had, which was not under fighting conditions."
"I'll share your words with him. He had similar words of praise for your skills." Deciding to drop the formal speech patterns expected from Sineya and speak openly, she said, "You notice anything different about my guys?"
Her changed speech caught him off guard at first. His time with JackO'Neill helped him to piece together the missing words and come up with an answer. "Indeed. They seem stronger than normal Jaffa. I did not know better. I would have thought them a hybrid of Anubis' Super Soldiers. My years of combat fighting the Goa'uld prevailed in the match. Were it simply a matter of strength, I do not think that I would have ended the victor."
"I have a confession to make to you that I'm not sure that you're going to like." Her voice held an apologetic note even as she started to form the next words. "Atal'c wasn't meant to win the match against you." She watched that eyebrow rise across his forehead into a sweeping arc. Later, if he was still talking to her, she would have to ask him how he did that so effortlessly. It made quite a statement without saying a word. "I designed yesterday's activities to observe your team at their best in each of your given fields. Don't get me wrong; Atal'c fought you all out, but he fought you using strictly Jaffa based techniques which, as you've already said, your experience was superior."
Teal'c absorbed her words, trying to understand the hidden meaning behind them. He had learned a little about the Tau'ri fighting methods from JackO'Neill. Finding the Jaffa ways better suited to the opponents they fought, he had concentrated on honing his skills, rather than broadening them.
"Please explain," came his cryptic response.
Yes, sometimes she hated the Jaffa's way with words, or lack thereof. "Dara Seans was barely hanging on when I arrived here," she said, whisper soft, looking out at the open fields to her left. "The Jaffa that had remained behind after Qetesh left kept the people mired down in the old way, ever vigilant, as they waited for her return, a return that she had promised them when she ran away with her tail between her legs."
There went that eyebrow again; he'd have to get over it. His teammate had a dark past; it wasn't her fault. She just landed in the big puddle of poo that was left behind thanks to her. Sorry if she didn't have warm and fuzzy feelings on the subject. She was beginning to thaw toward the woman that Vala was becoming though. She waved a hand at him, ignoring the eyebrow and how sexy it was, well maybe not ignoring it completely.
"You already know that the mines were all but depleted." He nodded his head. "A few, shall we say - entrepreneurs decided to take Dara Seans' remaining resources off world as bounty." Both eyebrows rose this time. "Yeah, bunch of slavers thought, why not go to the planet even the Goa'uld had abandoned? They figured they'd be doing everyone a favor, mostly themselves, by relocating everyone off Dara Seans to whichever Goa'uld pasture could pay the highest. No one hurts my people." The last words shot out like bullets. Her eyes flashed red with the remembered anger at seeing a slaver ship trying to gather up the young and healthy into cargo holds.
Teal'c felt the power that he and the rest of SG-1 had at first assumed was a Goa'uld race through the small body before him. He reached across the space between them to clasp her hand. The contact brought Buffy back to the present. She glanced down at their joined hands, his so large and dark against her much smaller one. He went to retrieve his hand, but she held on to it, giving him a small smile. Perhaps holding it would keep her in the present. She would rather not relive that time; once was bad enough.
"Thank you." Ignoring their clasped hands, or the somewhat startled expression around his eyes, she continued. "I stopped them the first time, but knew that others would come. Your way of fighting is good when you're fighting another opponent in a war like situation. The rules of battle are engaged and normally, to some degree, each side upholds the rules. I know that I'm making a simple example of a complex matter, but stay with me here. We had to take the fight to them, and nice little rules wouldn't do. This was street fighting at its worst, or best. Guess it depends on how you look at it."
She gave an elegant shrug of her slender shoulders as she relayed the years it took to establish Dara Seans as a safe place to live. Buffy talked about teaching the soldiers the various fighting skills that she knew, how between them they created a new fighting style that meshed the best of both worlds. Through hard work and perseverance, she and the people of Dara Seans made allies who helped them to change the face of the planet, creating a new way of life that could sustain future generations for centuries to come.
"Why would you not allow Atal'c to use this new method while fighting me?" He had listened to the story of Dara Seans' history, but still didn't understand her reasoning for yesterday's show, for he had no doubt a show was exactly what it was.
"He was sent to test you. Yesterday was about seeing how you did in the areas that you were each great at, and today the ones not so much." She gave him a sly smile, watching him put the information together in his head.
Buffy flipped over onto her stomach, bringing her face around to where only a few feet separated them. "Not sure that it'd be fair fight for one. Plus, what fun is to have a day where you get your butt whipped first thing in the morning?" Her eyes twinkled with humor as she smiled up at him. The corner of his lips titled up as he returned her smile. "My guys sparred with me on a daily basis for nearly a year before I'd allow them spar with anyone else. Then slowly as the difference became less between the Jaffas here, and I was able to work with each of them on a personal level, they could spar with anyone they wanted, rotating who sparred with me."
"You mentioned this difference before; what creates this difference?"
"That's why I wanted to speak to you alone. I've spoken with Shat'tac about Jaffa law and beliefs. He says that oath breakers are shunned. Is this true?"
His body stiffened, thinking that she referred to his abandonment of his First Prime duties to Apophis. "Yes, oath breakers are considered the lowest among the Jaffa. If you do not keep your word, then you have no worth as a man." He sat up. His body settled into an alert formal position with his hands resting on his folded knees.
"Do not assume that you know what I'm talking about, Teal'c of the Jaffa High Council," she said, her speech assuming Sineya's formal tone. "An oath given to anyone when you have no choice is not an oath. It's simply survival." She paused, allowing time for her words to sink in. "Should I ask you to take an oath, which I swear to you will harm no one by you taking it, would you do so?"
Teal'c stared down at her upturned face. Her green eyes held him captive as he tried to find any sign of deception buried within their depths. He could not. Many lives depended on him; could he take the chance that this woman had drawn him into a trap to extract information from him? Some inner voice pushed him to trust her, he contemplated the situation for several endless moments before answering her. "I would need to know what I am swearing to before I could give you my answer. As you said this oath would be my choice, and I do not want to be foresworn."
Buffy rocked up to her knees, then pushed off the ground to stand in one smooth motion. She held her hand out the large man that watched her every move. "Come with me, I want to show you something. I'll explain what I can along the way. If you agree, we can go the rest of the way, and if not, then you're free to join your friends back in your rooms."
They started walking toward the pyramid, whose top cap showed just above the trees. She tried to think of the right way to word this without giving away too much. "If I had something that would help you personally and wanted to give it to you, with the only stipulation being that you couldn't tell anyone, would that be an oath you'd be willing to swear to?"
Teal'c stopped walking to stare down at her, trying to decipher her words. "Why would you want to give me something? Why could I not share this with my friends? Would this gift in anyway harm them should they learn of it?"
"No," she said hesitantly. "It could harm Dara Seans if others found out about it. I'm not even sure that it's valuable to anyone else, except you; I know that it'll work for you." A heavy sigh lifted her slender shoulders as she tried another approach. "Do you know what a seer is?"
"Yes. I have seen and heard their foretelling of future events."
She gave him a brilliant smile, happy to have found something that she could work with. "I'm a seer, but not the visiony type. Mine come to me in dreams. I've seen that you're going to need the gift that I offer you." She craned her neck to peer into his eyes, hoping that he would believe her.
And he did. He found that he couldn't help himself. Her small face staring up at him with such an earnest look on it was his undoing though his expression never showed it. "Very well, Sineya, I give you my oath that I will not tell anyone of your gift to me."
They entered the pyramid through a side entrance that Teal'c hadn't seen before. He realized that they had come through Sineya's private entrance. His warrior's mind immediately memorized the layout, storing it for future reference. He saw that her First Prime waited for them outside a large ornate door. She turned to him and smiled, then asked him to wait here momentarily. He watched her approach Shat'tac ,who didn't look pleased that she had brought him here. It seemed odd that the Jaffa would show such emotion or even dare to act out in this manner. He knew that Sineya wasn't a Goa'uld, but that didn't mean that she didn't have the power of one, or wouldn't retaliate against a disrespectful servant. His confusion grew even greater when he saw them having a heated argument. Sineya crossed her arms then uncrossed them in a finalistic motion, then turned back around to return to his side.
She gave him an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. He's very protective and doesn't want to see anything happen to me. Understandably, he doesn't trust Jaffa soldiers other than our own. He did say if he had to trust one that I had chosen what appeared to be a good one." Her smile this time held a touch of mischief in it. "That's his old bear way of saying that he likes you, but he still doesn't trust you. He trusts me, though, and that's enough."
Taking his arm, she pulled him toward the large door, considering the topic closed. Before she opened the door, she stopped, turning back around, running straight into a hard male chest. Teal'c instinctively wrapped his arms around her to keep her from falling. They stood there frozen for several long moments before untangling and stepping away from each other. Buffy looked everywhere but at the gorgeous man following behind her. She couldn't even remember what she had been about to tell him.
Spinning back around on her heels, she flung the door open and stepped inside a room that rivaled the door for ostentatiousness. Ornately carved walls surrounded a center marble slab upon which sat a sarcophagus unlike any other. Where a normal golden sarcophagus should lay, instead a long cylinder of beaten rose gold decorated with strange symbols that created intricate patterns of swirls and flowers. It was a true work of art that never failed to amaze any who saw it. She remembered how scared Shat'tac was when he saw the sarcophagus glowing red, then after it stopped and she stepped out he hadn't noticed the changes until much later. The Voice had told her the symbols were Ancient in dialect and they told the foretelling of her arrival.
"Sineya, it is a beautiful sarcophagus. No other that I have seen can place a flashlight by it. But, I do not understand what it is you want to show me."
Buffy giggled at his analogy. "You mean hold a candle to it, and I agree. Though this is the only one I've ever seen. Stick with me here. Shat'tac, please show him."
Her voice held a note of pleading as she looked at her First Prime, who stood off to the left. He slowly lifted his shirt, turning his body so that it faced Teal'c. His stomach lay flat, with washboard abs leading up to his large pectoral muscles. Teal'c looked from the evidence before him to Sineya to the sarcophagus then back to a stomach that should bare the scars formed by his symbiote's pouch. He finally landed on the woman beside him who had the answers he needed.
"Do not be afraid," she said softly. "Before I woke up, my time in the sarcophagus changed it from what it was to what it is. We learned about its healing properties by accident. Shat'tac got injured on one of raids, trying to protect me, foolish man." She gave her First Prime a loving look. Teal'c knew that they weren't lovers but he didn't like the way that she looked at him with such affection. "I was desperate. I didn't want to lose him. When we arrived back here, I just shoved him in there and prayed for the best. It seemed to take forever. Then, poof." She threw her hands into the air imitating an explosion.
"Poof?" He tilted his head as if a different angle might help him better understand her.
"Poof. He was all healed up like the brochure said and it threw in a toy surprise. His little visitor had gone bye bye. It didn't even leave a card."
His brow drew together in confusion. JackO'Neill had not spoken this strangely. He had no idea what she had just said. Shat'tac took pity on his fellow Jaffa. Having learned to speak Buffy several years ago, he interpreted.
"She means that when I exited the sarcophagus my symbiote was gone, as were all traces of its existence. What she did not tell you was that I did not lose the gifts the symbiote provided my body."
"That's what I said. Well, except for that last part." She turned large green eyes on Teal'c as a cajoling tone entered her voice. "So, Teal'c," she said his name in a caress. He fought his body to keep it from reacting. "What do you say? Wanna jump into the ole girl and give her a whirl?" She walked over to the sarcophagus and gave it a friendly pat.
"If it can do as you say, why must you keep it a secret? Could you not free every Jaffa from their enslavement to their symbiotes?"
Shat'tac interrupted with a dark look at Buffy. "I told you that he could not be trusted with this. He is not from Dara Seans and cannot understand what it would mean to us should others know."
She waved a hand at her friend and protector. "Ignore him. It's a good question, which is why I needed your oath before I showed you this." She encompassed Shat'tac, the room and the sarcophagus with one sweeping motion. "Teal'c, I would like nothing better than to march every Jaffa in here and do away with their squirmy little hitcher. It's just not possible, not to mention that the sarcophagus chooses who it helps and who passes on. Can you imagine the battles it would plunge Dara Seans into if it didn't choose to someone's liking? I won't allow a gift that we use carefully to tear our world apart. I offer it to with the same request. You can never speak about this to anyone. As far as your friends or anyone else is concerned, you still need your shots. You can still walk away if you choose to, but I'll hold you to your initial oath." All light left her eyes as Sineya came to the fore, letting him know that she wouldn't let him go back on his word.
He bowed his head to her the same as he would Master Bra'tac, showing his respect. "I can understand your concern. I will keep my oath to you." His eyes went back to Shat'tac who stood fully clothed staring back at him. "Your dreams tell you that I will need this in the future?"
She nodded, unwilling to say anything else. The decision had to come from him, now that he had the information that he needed. He closed the distance between them to gaze into those clear green eyes once more. It seemed as if he were to look long enough he could perhaps find the answers to the universe in their deep emerald color.
"I accept your gift."
Her smile rivaled the glowing coffin. She was already pulling the lid open for him. "Come on, big guy, jump in."
"Just do as she says," Shat'tac advised, "she will not leave you alone until you do so."
"Indeed." Teal'c saw the determined light in her eyes and saw what his fellow Jaffa meant. He walked over to the rose gold sarcophagus. Placing first one leg, then the other inside, he lay down as she lowered the lid on top of him. Her smiling face the last thing that he saw as he world turned a deep crimson.
She placed her hand on the top, waiting for the glow to stop. The lid opened, revealing its occupant. He lay still as a corpse, barely breathing. She listened carefully to pick up his heartbeat. It was there, frail, but steady. His eyes slowly opened as he looked around as if he wasn't sure where he was at until he saw her face. He smiled at her, a big bright Teal'c smile. Buffy knew in that moment that she was in trouble. Big trouble, big gorgeous Jaffa trouble. She placed a hand beneath his head, helping him into a sitting position. His large body hovered over her smaller one as he lilted to the side. She wondered if his not having a bond with Dara Sean or even her had a side effect on him. Slipping her arms around his upper torso, she pushed him into to a sitting position, using one hand to prop him against the lid. She used her free hand to pull his legs around to the front. Casting an exasperated glance over her shoulder at Shat'tac who stood back watching her, she stepped in between his legs, threw his arms over her shoulders and hefted him to his feet.
"You have made the world go inny outy, Sineya."
Teal'c closed his eyes when the room started swimming around him. He opened them again when he heard her giggling against his chest. Admitting to himself that he liked the way she felt in his arms, he reluctantly placed his hands on her shoulders and pushed off to try to balance on his own.
"Come on, I'll walk you back to your rooms. Take it easy for the next coupla days while your body adjusts. After that, you're good to go, no more shots, just all the perks."
She wrapped an arm around his waist, leveling a hard look at him when he started to protest. Since he really didn't mind having her body pressed close to his, he allowed it. They left the room, walking in comfortable silence. She stopped when they drew close to his room.
"I'll leave you here; wouldn't want to give your friends any reason to talk."
"Thank you for your gift, Sineya."
"Buffy."
"I am sorry. I do not understand."
"My friends call me, Buffy. I hope that we can consider ourselves friends, at the very least," she said. The last words hung in the air.
"Indeed."
The walked away going their separate ways, each thinking about the day they'd spent in the others company.
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