"Roads to walk upon"

By Major_Ryan

Authors notes: I'm not going to tell you who he is till the end, or near the end. So sorry LOL! Oh and Hammond didn't die, cause he is much loved.

Summary: Who is this young man? How does his long journey lead to Sam and Jack?

Rating: Pg-13 so far

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

A young man at the very start of his life and career, stood in front of the steel fire doors that led to the gymnasium. He paused for a moment desperately seeking some information on what would be happening to him for the next couple of years. He rubbed his hands through his hair as he slowly let out a breath. His lips barely open as he shivered in anticipation.

Cadet Jonathan was a smart boy who liked to think of himself as brave, intellectual and honourable, but this very moment had him questioning if he made the right choice. He was a an all out average boy in looks with his dark chocolate hair that always seemed to mess up, no matter how much he tried to make it presentable. His frame was not as tall as most military hopefuls, but what he lacked in hight he made up for in strength. His mother would often comment on his inquisitive brow, how it would raise in the air as he made some obscure comment when dealing in social life.

Truthfully he was a clown, jester if you will and he would adamantly deny his humour was anything but mere coincidence. If you met him in his early childhood you would think him destined to become a marketing mogul or at the very least a used car sales man. Such words uttered from his father would infuriate him to the point of anger, but he was not one to be judged upon. In his eyes you choose your own fate and he was not going to choose either one of those paths. Thinking back little did he know what would lead him to this very door. An obstacle he would gladly not have to conquer, after all it he was only doing this as part of the training.

The turning point in his life was when he was nine. His father had been asked to run a virtual flight simulator at the annual USAF air show, for civilians to experience what it was like to fly a fighter jet. He was amazed at the way his father turned into a officer the minute he was in the company of fellow colleges. Not the man he knew at home who would come home after long classified missions and stir the house up with his spontaneous behaviour. So formal and blunt. John had already been in the simulator countless times and it didn't interest him anymore. He remembered walking over to a field tent display where a cadet was showing a group of people what a wormhole was. What was factual and what was theoretical.

He didn't understand it but, it looked cool. Then a Brigadier General came by and started to talk to the young man presenting the display. His prominent girth jiggling when he chuckled at the cadets jokes. General Hammond a stout portly fellow had little hair on his crown, but had a presence about him. Not one to miss out on the fun he decided to question the mans knowledge, much to the surprise of the crowd.

"What's makes you think solid matter can be passed through a wormhole?" He asked.

The young man looked at the crowd and then back to the General. Stumped he just straightened his shirt and replied.

"Well I have yet to create an artificial wormhole that lasts longer then a few micro seconds, but I believe solid matter could pass through whole". He said while staring at his moch wormhole water display.

Hammond chuckled and turned to face young Jonathan.

"Do you think he is right?" John's eyes went wide when all of a sudden he was thrown into the conversation.

He looked at the water display and thought about how small it was and how could anything get through there with out being really small. He looked back up to the General and nervously said.

"Well I know when mum makes icing she likes to use castor sugar so when it comes out the end its smooth and doesn't go all lumpy. Maybe them wormhole thingy's need a solid thing to be really small like castor sugar, so when it comes out it won't be all lumpy and gross".

A sound of laughs and applause erupted from the tent as young John turned a bright shade of red. General Hammond was laughing whole heartedly as he was amused by the young boys response. After the cadet resumed his teaching John slowly exited the tent with all intention of going back to his father. He was making his way up an embankment when his steps were halted by a hand grasping his arm. He turned around to see that same girth and realised it was the General who had stopped him. Looking up he saw him bend down to whisper in his ear.

"Your right" he said and John was startled by his admission.

"I' am" he asked a bright smile beaming across his face.

Hammond gave him a wink and stood up straight gently rocking from the heel of his feet, back and forth.

"Young man maybe one day we might test this theory out together. If you keep studying hard and keep listening to your teachers at school, you never know".

Then with a turn he walked away and only Jonathan remained staring at his departing figure. That was the very moment he decided he was going to follow the military career of his father, but unlike him he would not be a gun tooting, smart mouthed commando.

Shaken out of his reserves he slowly opens the heavy doors and walks through into the large open court.

"Cadets all line up and stand at attention!"

TBC