Terms of Endorsement, by Travelling One (PG)

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Rec Category: Daniel Jackson

Pairing: none
Category:  Daniel Jackson, gen, team, friendship, drama, angst
Warnings: threats of death and torture
Author on LJ: unknown
Author's Website: Travelling One's Stargate Stories
Link to Story: Terms of Endorsement

Why This Must Be Read:  On to Season 4, and hoo boy was it hard to keep the choices down. Hope everyone enjoys the fics I selected to rec for you all today. :)

In this story, set sometime after The Other Side, Daniel is forced to demonstrate his loyalty to his team in just about the most horrific way possible.

Travelling One is particularly talented in creating alien worlds and cultures, and this story is no exception. In Terms of Endorsement, SG-1 are sent to open negotiations with the natives of Salmoei, a planet whose technology surpasses Earth's. Disturbed by warnings from both O'Neill and Hammond that he shouldn't let moral values get in the way of success this time, Daniel is not exactly thrilled to be the single negotiatior. But when he discovers exactly how he's supposed to earn the natives' trust, Daniel is left with no choices at all. 

By the end of the story, Jack has clearly demonstrated that, despite his earlier words to Daniel, he has definitely learned the lessons of Euronda. Will they be coming back to Salmoei to acquire this new technology? That's not the point of the story. What is the point is team loyalty, team friendship, and a clear demonstration of support between Daniel and the rest of SG-1.

His voice came out tight. "You never had any intention of negotiating."

Prakiney laughed. "Yes, we do. We negotiate with visitors frequently. As we may yet with you."

"With me? No. I'm here as part of a team. We all negotiate together." Daniel bit his lip, trying frantically to think of words that would appease. "Look - when you say you have visitors coming here every so often, are you saying you kill all but one of each group?" Could this be their way of defense, of keeping their planet safe? Trust no one, ask questions that can't be answered, then do away with them all?

Was this why their own people seemed so afraid? Any transgressions were dealt with by death? Was one assumed guilty until proven innocent? This wouldn't have been the first time SG1 had encountered such a society.

"No; this happens rarely. We dispose of the unworthy, and befriend the rest."

"So how does one become worthy?"

"By sacrificing for a cause."

Daniel drew in some breaths, calming himself as thoughts became steady and clearer. "And so… are you asking me to offer my life for Sam's? For, um, my female teammate?"

"No. Not your life, Daniel Jackson. But yes, something of value."

"Such as…?"

"We have a saying on this world, that for something cherished, a man would give his heart." 

Daniel stared, his blood running cold. "Literally? That would kill me." Unless they had a sarcophagus.

Prakiney continued nonchalantly, as though this were an everyday occurrence. Perhaps it was. "It has become just a figure of speech. These days we allow substitutions," Prakiney seemed almost proud of the modernity and progress. "You may choose an extremity. An arm." 

"You're not serious." Daniel's gut clenched. Jokes did not appear to be their way of carrying out business.

"You are free to leave this room at any time. We will dispose of those with whom you travel." 

"You're saying you'll kill all of them?"

 "We will kill no one if you are sincere in your loyalty and values. It will cost you an arm to save the woman."

 "Or we all die."

 "Not yourself. You will go free."

Comments

[winterstar95.livejournal.com]

This is one of my favorite fics. I did rec it a couple of months back in the Drama category not sure how that works! I think it would be great to have it in the Daniel category as well!!

[aurora-novarum.livejournal.com]

"Terms of Endorsement" is one of my favorite fics as well. As far as I understand, as long as a story hasn't been rec'ced in that particular category, it's fair game. At least I hope so. I rec'ced one or two in my reccing months that I'm sure were done in other categories once upon a time...I think the only reason I didn't rec in Daniel when I had this category was because you had just done it that month or the month right before. :-D

[sg-fignewton.livejournal.com]

Oh, the rules specify that you need only make sure that it wasn't recced in that particular category. I've seen two fics recced twice in the same month, but in different categories. It's fine. It just means we all have impeccable taste. :)