Stupid, stupid, stupid. You just had to go and say it, didn't you, Jack? Saying the words "that wasn't so hard" before they were safely back at the SGC with the gate closed behind them was completely idiotic, and he should have known better. Jack shook his head as he ran. Stupid.

To make matters worse, he was getting way too old to be running full tilt down a mountain, and then through a forest, without breaking for a rest. Already his lungs were burning, his legs were ready to give way, and he had a stitch in his side – and they still had a long way to go. Let's see, they'd covered the distance from the village to the gate in two hours at a relaxed saunter, so at a flat-out run it should take them... oh, hell. Too long. If he already felt tired, Daniel must be ready to drop, not to mention the snakehead who hadn't walked in a thousand years. He risked a glance behind him, cursed the trees for blocking his view of the sky. A small gap in the branches above revealed that they had gained substantially on the phenomenon, whatever it was, that was covering the sky.

"Okay, guys. Slow it down."

The rest of the team immediately slowed to a fast walk, looking nervously over their shoulders at the sky. At least, Sam and Daniel looked nervously. Teal'c appeared completely disinterested.

They alternated between a fast walk and a slow jog until, finally, mercifully, they reached the edge of the forest and the base of the slope that lead to the Stargate. This time, Jack kept his mouth firmly shut against the urge to gloat about reaching the 'gate well ahead of the red sky. Speaking of which... He turned, walked backwards for a few paces to get a good, tree-free look at the sky's progress. The disturbing red hue had reached the far end of the forest. Below it, thick black smoke arose from the trees, and here and there Jack could make out a flicker of flame shooting up from the uppermost branches.

"Looks hot," he couldn't resist saying.

"No matter," replied Prometheus, in insufferably smug tones. "We will be through the Stargate well before it reaches us."

SG1 froze, staring at the Tok'ra with a mixture of disbelief and hostility.

"What the hell did you say that for?" Jack demanded, as the area around the 'gate exploded with the sound of staff weapons firing. Jack shoved Prometheus back to the cover of the trees, made sure the rest of the team was also retreating, and hid behind a particularly massive trunk. A tiny branch poked into his back, while clods of dirt erupted to either side of his shield. "Jaffa?"

"No," said Teal'c. "It appears to be some sort of automated firing system, designed to prevent escape through the Stargate."

"Typical." He risked a look around the tree trunk, and was nearly decapitated by a bout of laser fire. "Good aim for an automated firing system. Anyone got any ideas?"

There was a moment of silence while everyone thought, hard.

"No, sir."

"I do not."

"We could always go the military route."

This, coming from Daniel, sounded interesting. "And what's that?"

"Blow shit up."

Blinking with surprise at hearing the archaeologist use an actual swearword, Jack fumbled for a reply. "Normally I'd be all for that, Daniel, but what exactly do you suggest we blow up? And what can we use?"

"If we place some kind of charge around the 'gate, it should take out whatever's shooting at us. And the gate'll be fine, you know how hardy they are."

"We don't have any explosives, Danny. We don't even have grenades. And even if we did, the DHD's aren't quite as hardy as the 'gates."

Prometheus cleared his throat. "I may have access to some selective-target explosives."

Jack turned sharply. "Where?"

"A short distance from here. You will recall the reason for my imprisonment on the mountain."

"Do you remember the way?"

"I retraced the route in my mind a hundred times every day, wondering why I didn't just tell the goa'uld where I'd hidden the weapons. It's been a long time since they were concealed, but with luck they will still work."

"Show us. And make it quick. Time is not our friend."

"It's a rock."

"Not just a rock."

Sam looked from Jack to Prometheus and back again. She had to side with the Colonel on this one: the place to which Prometheus had proudly led them did indeed look like a patch of grass in the middle of a forest, on top of which was a rock.

"It's a big rock," Daniel said cautiously. Good old Danny; Sam could always trust him to try and be diplomatic.

Prometheus gave an irritated huff. "You would prefer it if I had left the weapons in the clearing hidden by a small pile of leaves?"

Jack rolled his eyes. "Okay, fine, they're hidden. Under the rock." He gestured at the sky, where the red haze was rapidly approaching. "Any time you want to show us how to un-hide them…"

"There." Prometheus pointed to a particularly jagged part of the rock. "Press that."

Jack shot him a suspicious glance. "Why me?"

"Why not? Especially if it is merely a rock."

Sam grinned at Jack's expression – she could tell he was trying to think of a reason why not, and failing. After another look at the sky, he stepped forward, pressed the indicated part of the rock – and back-pedalled rapidly, shaking his hand. "It shocked me!"

The team turned questioningly to Prometheus, who wore what looked suspiciously like a smug smile. "Give it a moment."

As he finished the sentence, a gentle glow began to emanate from the rock, quickly coalescing into the form of a tall, bulky human. Behind that, the rock shimmered, and then there was a small opening in the middle of it, leading downward.

"What the hell is that?" Jack demanded.

"Protection." Prometheus beamed proudly. "I believe you might call it a hologram."

"A hologram? How is that protection?" Jack moved toward the opening, and the hologram hit him solidly on the jaw, sending him crashing backward. Teal'c caught him neatly before he hit the ground.

"Perhaps hologram was the wrong word." Prometheus didn't sound the least apologetic. "I am not a master of your language."

Sam blinked. "You're not?"

"Sadly, no. I merely fake it well."

Jack pulled himself upright, with a bit of help from Teal'c, and glowered at Prometheus. "Care to explain?"

"Protection," Prometheus repeated simply. "He won't harm you if you keep your distance."

Jack tilted his head to the side, drew his sidearm, and fired at the not-hologram. The bullet ricocheted off the rock, and zinged past Sam's ear. She shot Jack a reproachful look, and he shrugged sheepishly.

"How are we supposed to get past him?"

Prometheus turned to the not-a-hologram. "Thank you, soldier, stand down."

The guardian didn't move.

Prometheus frowned, and tried again in the clicking language his host had used when they met. The guardian stood firm.

"Voice recognition?" Daniel asked. Prometheus nodded distractedly.

"The deactivation system must have atrophied," Sam volunteered. "It's been a thousand years; I'm surprised this thing still works at all." She circled it slowly, keeping her distance, until she ended up beside her teammates again. She was good. She was so good. When they got back to Earth, she was asking the General for a pay rise. "Did you see that? It's not functioning properly."

"Felt like it was functioning," Jack grumbled, rubbing his jaw.

"It got confused when Sam moved." Daniel was excited. "It didn't know where to keep its attention. Jack, I bet if you distracted it, we could get into that cave."

"Once inside, I could manually deactivate it," Prometheus volunteered.

"Why me? It's already hit me. Why not Teal'c?"

Teal'c raised a single eyebrow. That was answer enough.

"Fine," Jack muttered sulkily. "I'll distract it. But we'd better make this quick."