Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Stargate characters. Some of my creations do occasionally get to play with them, however.
Note: Originally this story was meant to take place during season 8, but out of a desire to have Jack as an active member of the team I ended up setting it earlier. Not sure exactly when, but probably during or after season 4. (before season 5)
----------------------
"Good luck, SG-1," the disembodied voice came from the control room, and caused O'Neill to turn around with a smile as he looked up at General Hammond.
"Until we meet again, sir." Dropping his outspread arms from their embellished gesture, Jack took a firm hold of his P90, fingers loosely entwining the cool metal, and headed cheerfully up the ramp to join his team. Without another word or backward glance, the group departed Earth.
As ever, traveling through the wormhole was an interesting affair; especially that first step out of it. Having firm ground back underneath your feet again, when you hadn't even realized you'd missed it until that moment, was always an odd sensation. Like coming to a sudden halt and not knowing until you'd stopped that you'd ever been moving. It hit the body as something of a shock.
A jolt to the system or not, it failed to have the power to disrupt years of training. As soon as they'd reached the other side, a keen gaze swept the area and informed Jack that nothing lurked nearby – at least nothing out in the open. The absence of any weapon fire told him that there weren't any Jaffa around and likely meant that there wasn't a Goa'uld on the planet. Of course, you never really could tell and caution paid off.
"Daniel?"
"There doesn't seem to be any sign of civilization here," came the immediate reply, offered in a distant tone as the archaeologist was already examining the area directly around the gate. Quickly assessing the difficulty in dialing back home, should the need arise.
"Do you think this planet is uninhabited?"
"The MALP showed no traces, but this close to the gate it's hard to tell. It could just mean that the Stargate doesn't play an active role in their society." As he spoke, he carefully brushed some fallen leaves off from the DHD; taking note of the overgrown state of the plant-life around the gate.
"Or that they don't know about it," remarked Sam softly, intelligent blue eyes scanning her surroundings carefully.
"Right." Daniel nodded in agreement.
"Alright, so let's look around a bit." Jack's voice was casual, sounding completely at ease, but his teammates weren't fooled. They knew perfectly well that he wouldn't let down his guard until they were all back home in one piece. Nobody commented, merely dropped into stride with the colonel; following his lead in a comfortable, albeit wary, silence.
They had traveled a few hours with no indication of any type of society presenting itself. The trees were beginning to thin around them, signifying an end to the forest, and the prospect of a meal was sounding very inviting. Calling for a stop, Jack noticed Teal'c standing off from the rest of them; the Jaffa's body was tense and alert as his sharp gaze scanned the trees.
"Teal'c?" Jack's voice was questioning, everything about the colonel showing a higher level of vigilance. He could feel something amiss, but was unable to put his finger on the reason for his discomfort. So he trusted to the Jaffa to label it, to bring clarity to the source of his unease.
"I am not certain, O'Neill. Something lingers nearby." Teal'c could sense a certain distrust in the woods; a feeling of barely contained apprehension. It was almost overwhelming, the impression that something bad was about to occur. So strong was the notion, that he found himself on edge as a result. Mimicking the forest's perception on a situation that he had yet to identify, himself.
"Friend or foe?"
"This forest seems alive and holds great suspicion."
"I can feel it too," the archaeologist remarked softly. "It's like it doesn't want us here. We're trespassing."
Jack remained quiet as he considered the words of his teammates, although the absurd concept of a forest caring who entered it wasn't among his thoughts. He'd learned quickly that strange things did happen and disbelief didn't get you anywhere. What was true, was true, regardless of whether or not you wanted to believe it. Besides, he could feel the same thing. Could almost swear there was a hint of malice.
"Right then," the colonel broke the growing silence, "let's move out. We'll rest once we get into the clearing."
"Sir, I think we should hurry." Sam, too, was becoming increasingly uncomfortable under the watchful eyes of the timeless trees. An icy shiver crawled over her flesh at the thought, raising goose-bumps in its wake, and she barely managed to suppress an outward sign of the internal chill taking root. The only consolation came in knowing the others felt the same way.
They had nearly reached the meadow when a flicker of movement flashed across Sam's peripheral vision and captured her immediate attention. She stopped abruptly; words spoken in a tense tone. "Colonel? I think…"
"I saw it. Teal'c go…" the words trailed off into nothingness as a young man entered the clearing that lay before them; completely unaware of those who observed him. The youth, who by all appearances was in his late teens or early twenties, was intent on gathering some form of plant life. At least that was how it looked; he would walk a few paces, then bend and tug at the ground before moving on. Whatever he collected was placed into a pouch hanging loosely on one hip, tied there by a deep colored cord that was wrapped around his waist.
They might have felt foolish, if not for the nagging sense of alarm that the forest itself seemed to be projecting. The nearness of the native only enhanced the mood, until it was a nearly tangible entity within the air. A specter of malevolence and forewarning manifesting itself in the minds of the team.
Daniel commented in a voice little more than a whisper. Somehow the waning light, combined with the tone of their surroundings, prompted one to speak softly. "Maybe we're not the ones who aren't wanted here."