Chapter Text
Daniel watched the MALP move through the event horizon wondering how to tell the rest of SG1 the news that he was heading to Atlantis for at least a year with the Daedalus when it left next week.
He’d been a part of the SGC since its inception, and he’d been pondering what to do next for a while now. Atlantis seemed like the best idea and from information sent by McKay had a project to work on.
Jack had tried to talk him out of it already and failed, so the other members of SG1 were not going to be able to but he was leaving it as long as possible, so he didn’t have to listen to them more than he had to.
He wanted to spend some time away, wanted to be able to choose the next part of his life without people trying to influence what he did. He hadn’t really decided where he wanted to be since choosing to stay on Abydos.
“Receiving MALP telemetry,” Walter’s voice intruded on Daniel’s musings.
He was only here because he was heading for dinner with Mitchell and Vala who were currently with Landry going over some training they were involved in. So, he’d decided to see what the next planet found in the rotation looked like while he waited and help Walter categorise it.
“Well,” Daniel looked at the screen in front of him, “It looks like the Stargate is in a room.”
“Don’t see a DHD,” Walter noted.
Daniel frowned seeing something on the edge of the screen, “Can you pan back? It looks like there’s writing on the wall.”
Walter manipulated the camera arm to where Daniel had asked while he stared intently at the screen.
“Wow,” Daniel murmured, “That’s a lot of languages.”
“Can you read what any of them say?” Walter asked.
“They all say the same thing. This is Sanctuary,” he translated, “Those in need are welcome, those who wish harm are not.”
“Is that English at the bottom?” Walter noted.
As the camera moved down, Daniel nodded before saying, “Move to the right, top of the wall.”
Walter did as he was asked.
“Huh,” Daniel leaned back in his chair, amazement filling him.
“What?”
“That’s Abydonian,” he told the other man.
Walter frowned confused, “I thought they didn’t have writing on Abydos.”
“Writing had been banned by Ra,” Daniel explained, “But a small group managed to keep it alive. When Sha’re and I began to work on it, it evolved into a mixture of pictographs and words. We then shared with those who wanted to learn.”
“You created your own language,” Walter chuckled before musing, “How did it get there then?”
Daniel shrugged, “Perhaps someone from Abydos went through the Gate before the planet was destroyed. It could have been one of those abducted by Ammonet who escaped. Maybe one descended.” He paused at the thought before noting, “I’d like to find out though.”
Walter nodded, “I’ve recorded everything. Shutting the Gate down now.”
“Dr Jackson,” Landry said, annoyance seeping into his voice, “You’re meant to be shipping out with the Daedalus next week. I’ve removed you from rotation so you can get yourself organised for your transfer. Even if the other members of SG1 aren’t yet aware of the fact.”
“I understand that, General,” Daniel told him, “But this is important.”
“Another member of your department…”
“It needs to be me,” Daniel cut him off.
Landry frowned at him, “Doctor…”
“I don’t know how much you know about the beginning of the SGC nor my history,” Daniel stated, “But Abydos was my home and if there is someone from Abydos out there, I need to find them. They’re my family.”
The General grimaced before letting out a sigh, “I’m sorry, Doctor Jackson but I can’t make decisions based on sentimentality.”
“How about because I’m the most qualified?” Daniel demanded sharply, “Yes, there are several members of my department who could go but in order to understand all the languages on the wall, you need me.”
Landry glared at him.
“I can speak with Jack about heading to Atlantis by Stargate if I miss the Daedalus, if that’s what’s worrying you,” Daniel noted.
“Going above my head does not endear yourself,” Landry reminded him.
Daniel shrugged, “I am leaving.”
“I will agree to a mission, but you have two days at the most,” Landry finally conceded, “After that you need to sort everything for leaving and will no longer be a member of SG1. Which I expect you to finally tell them.”
Daniel nodded and left the office quickly.
“I really wish you wouldn’t rile up Landry,” Jack said over the speakerphone while Daniel was getting ready, “Because he complains to me, especially when you use my name to get your way.”
“I simply mentioned that you’d agree to open the Gate to Atlantis so I could go on this mission,” Daniel noted, “I didn’t say anything that was me using you to get my way.” He paused and frowned, “And I don’t do that.”
Jack chuckled, “Please. You’ve used the civilian act so many times over the years…”
Daniel swore at him in three different languages.
“I would tell you off for swearing, but you never told me what any of that means,” Jack laughed, before he said softly, “Daniel, are you okay about this?”
“The writing is the one I created with Sha’re,” Daniel explained softly, “Whoever put that there could be from Abydos making them a member of my family. I would like to know who it is, and that they’re safe. You have to understand that, Jack.”
There was a moment’s silence before his friend replied, “I do.”
“Then I’m sorry I caused you problems,” Daniel told him.
Jack let out a slight puff of air, “You always do, Daniel and I’d be disappointed in you if you didn’t.”
“I’ll let you know what I find,” Daniel promised.
Daniel stepped out the Stargate and looked around at the same room they’d saw on the MALP feed.
“How do we get out of here?” Mitchell demanded as Vala walked the perimeter.
Daniel shrugged, “But as this is meant to be a sanctuary, I’m sure there’s someone keeping watch.”
“Are we sure there is anyone still here?” Vala demanded, “They could have left years ago.”
Daniel shook his head, “The room is clean, and the writing looks quite new. If they had abandoned it, then it would have faded more.”
“Welcome to Sanctuary,” a voice came from nowhere before it added, “Weapons are not permitted.”
“We’re peaceful travellers,” Mitchell stated as Daniel started to put his weapons on the ground, “We only carry weapons to protect ourselves.”
“And we protect ourselves by not allowing visitors to bring weapons into our home,” the voice replied.
Daniel turned to the other two, “I’ll go, and you can wait here.”
Vala and Mitchell both frowned at him before the Colonel stated, “No, we stick together.”
“Then remove your weapons,” Daniel told him.
Mitchell grimaced knowing he had no other choice, especially as there was no DHD here.
“The MALP has a lockbox,” Daniel reminded the other man, “You can set a combination that can’t be guessed easily.”
Annoyed Mitchell gave in and opened the lockbox on the MALP, placing all their weapons inside and closing it before entering a 10-digit combination so no one could open it.
The moment it was locked, a door on the wall behind the Stargate opened and a woman stood there. She had short flaxen hair with dark eyes, dressed simply in what looked like homespun clothing but there was a zat-nicketel attached to her belt.
“I thought weapons weren’t allowed,” Mitchell noted.
The woman smiled amused, “Outside weapons are not allowed, but we protect our people.”
“I’m Daniel Jackson,” he introduced himself, “We’re here to make friends, not to harm anyone.”
The woman glanced over at Vala, “You are a former host.”
Surprised at this, Vala nodded before noting, “So are you.”
“So are several of our number,” the woman told them, “I am Hana. Please follow me and we can talk.”
Daniel headed to the doorway and followed the woman out of the room. They headed along a corridor then through another door which led them outside into a village.
“This is…” Daniel trailed off as he glanced back at what had once been a palace before looking at the community built around it finally finishing, “Incredible.”
“Sanctuary,” Hana replied before motioning forward, “If you follow me, the council chambers are back inside. Our leader is currently visiting with one of our trading partners, but the council will be happy to speak with you. I shall have some refreshments brought to you while you wait.”
“Can I ask,” Daniel stopped her from leaving, “The writings on the wall of the room that holds the Stargate, where do they come from?”
“From the people of Sanctuary.”
Daniel frowned confused, “What do you mean?”
“Our citizens come from many different worlds, which use many different languages and those who had a written version placed the message in that language,” Hana explained, “So that anyone who finds us knows they are welcome here and safe as long as they are not here to harm us.”
“That’s nice,” he smiled before continuing, “I came here because I saw words I know from the planet Abydos. I lived there for a while and would like to talk with whoever put them there, if possible.”
Hana frowned, “I’m not sure who that would be, the writing was put on in stages by our people as they joined us. I can ask around for you, but many of those learned the writing in prisons or through being invaded by the Goa’uld, so I cannot guarantee if the person who wrote it was from...”
“Abydos,” Daniel reminded her.
Hana nodded, “It may have been passed to them in a prison, and they may not even know the world it came from.”
“I appreciate that you’re asking,” Daniel told her sincerely.
Hana smiled before leaving the room, closing the doors behind her, Daniel caught sight of a few guards standing outside before they were hidden from view as the doors closed.
Daniel walked around the room, Vala lounged in one of the chairs and Mitchell leaned against the table. There was a window at the side of the room, sun streaming through it and when he looked out, Daniel watched the people milling about. A mixture of men, women and children, a community who appeared to be preparing for something. Everyone looked happy, relaxed in their world. Children skipped around while their parents watched indulgently. It looked like the world was the sanctuary that it claimed to be. In fact, it reminded him a bit of Abydos, the way everyone worked together.
“Are you sure we should just be sitting here?” Mitchell demanded, bringing Daniel’s attention back into the room, “They could be trying to steal our weapons.”
Daniel rolled his eyes, “I doubt it. If they wanted to steal from us, then they could have done it without all this.”
Vala nodded, “He’s right. This place is nice, and I don’t feel anything bad beneath the surface.”
“Neither do I,” Daniel added, “I’ve been on enough planets that seem to welcome us then we ended up in trouble. This place doesn’t have that underlying sense of dread.”
Mitchell grimaced, “So, we wait?”
“We wait.”
“Welcome to Sanctuary,” the man waiting greeted them as they walked into the council chambers, “I am Darik, I am deputy leader of the Sanctuary Council. It is a pleasure to meet members of the Tauri.”
Daniel nodded, “It’s a pleasure to be here.”
“Unfortunately, our leader, Rey is currently visiting one of our trade partners,” he continued, “She is who negotiates with those who we have no previous connection to, and she is not due home until next week.”
“Well,” Daniel replied, “Perhaps we can become friends just now and once Rey returns then we will be able to discuss with her any thoughts we have during our time here.”
Darik nodded, “That is a good idea.”
Daniel grinned back, “Then perhaps you can have someone show us around the village. I would love to see it. What you’ve built here is amazing.”
“We are very proud of our home,” Darik stated, “I can show you all around together, but it would be less disruptive if you each accompany a member of the council.”
Daniel glanced at the other two members of his team who shrugged before he nodded, “One on one sounds good.”
Daniel smiled as he watched the children run around freely. Occasionally they were chased if they went too close to someone working or a garden, but it was with affection.
“This place is beautiful,” Daniel said softly as he walked with Darik, “How long have you been here?”
“About five maybe six years,” Darik told him, “When we arrived all we had was whatever we managed to carry. The main building was once a Goa’uld palace which we managed to power, and we used it for shelter. Over the years we built cottages and became a proper village.”
Daniel nodded, “That’s impressive. You said your leader is currently with one of your trade partners, do you have many?”
Darik tilted his head, “We have several but also planets who have not become our trading partners, but we are still friendly with them.”
“That’s amazing,” Daniel mused, “And from what Hana told us when we arrived there are former Goa’uld hosts here.”
Darik nodded, “Yes. Most live quiet lives here with us, although some like Hana have taken a leading role in shaping our community. You seem sad about this?”
“Just wistful,” he replied before explaining softly, “Someone I was close to once was taken as a host and unfortunately was killed with the Goa’uld. It’s nice to see those who were saved have managed to find a place to live happily.”
Darik nodded but didn’t say anything else, instead continued Daniel forward towards a larger building set back from the houses.
“Our school,” Darik told Daniel before he could ask, “It was the idea of Rey, she is determined our children will grow up with knowledge many of us were denied.”
Daniel smiled, “I hope one day I do get to meet her. She sounds like someone I used to know.”
“So,” Daniel said as he finished packing his bag, “We agreed that an SG team will return next month to talk with the council leader. Even if they have nothing to offer us, we know they can help former hosts and we can help them with a lot that has nothing to do with weapons or that would require a lot of money to fund it.”
Jack mused over this before asking, “And the Abydonian writing?”
Daniel shrugged, “No one could tell me where it came from. Hana explained that it could have been picked up anywhere and many of their people don’t like to talk about their experiences. She did ask if anyone knew the planet name, but no one did. It looks like I’ll never know who it was learned from but it’s nice to know that part of my home exists outside of me.”
“And you can move forward,” Jack finished for him.
Daniel nodded.
Silence filled the room for a few minutes as Daniel checked he had everything he needed.
“Are you sure about this?” Jack asked, making Daniel chuckle because his friend had held out longer than expected to ask.
“I am,” Daniel replied, “I’ve been running around on a team for long enough. I need to be me again, study and learn without someone yelling at me to hurry or shooting a weapon at me. This project will let me do that. And I’ll be back in a year to drive you crazy.”
Jack sighed, “I’ve sent Sheppard a list of things to watch out for when dealing with you and that I expect him to keep you in one piece.”
“You do know I’m not only an adult, but I’ve been travelling the galaxy for over a decade with an SG team,” Daniel noted annoyed before adding, “I know you’re getting on a bit but a good part of that was with you.”
“Okay, smartass,” Jack replied, “And how many times exactly have you died?”
“All on your watch,” Daniel shot back at him.
Jack sighed, “Just promise me you’ll be careful. Okay?”
“Okay.”
With a roll of his eyes, Jack stepped forward and gave his friend a hug. Daniel knew that as much as he wanted to go to Atlantis, he was going to miss being able to call Jack whenever he needed to talk.
But he knew this was what he needed to do, for himself.
“The Daedalus is waiting,” Jack told him, “Come on. Time to go.”
Daniel looked around his office making sure he had everything he needed before he picked up his bag,
With a smile he followed Jack out, ready for his new assignment.