Chapter 12: The Power of Promises

At long last SG-1, minus Jonas had reached the main area of camp and Sam went to try and dial the gate again. Each chevron locked, but the clicking was present again after the sixth one locked in.

"Someone doesn't think you need help Sir." Sam mused.

"I don't Carter, that's the last thing I need. I'll get the Doc to give me a once-over if, and when we get back. As much as I hate to, I'll allow it. For now though, we should go and find Jonas, he is missing after all." Jack stated.

He received reluctant agreements from the other two members and they started off, in their search for their missing team-member.

OOO

Jonas continued to follow the child to wherever it was that she was taking him and did so without complaint. After all, it may have been the only thing that could help him in this predicament.

"It's not far now." The girl told him. He still hadn't managed to get her name, but that was the least of his worries at the moment.

She picked up her speed a bit and Jonas picked his up as well so he could keep her in his sights. She ducked under an overhanging branch and Jonas followed.

Ahead of him, the child stopped short. Jonas did the same, and swept his gaze in front of him, he was impressed. A medium sized village was laid out before his eyes, and it looked to be swarming with people, which surprised him, seeing as it was a drastic change from the planet that SG-1 had gated to.

The child looked back with a smile and ran down the slight slope to enter the village. Jonas followed and caught up with her just as she stopped in front of a makeshift hut and turned back to him.

"Where are we going?" Jonas asked.

"Just in here."

"Why, what's so special about in there?"

"It's my house, what isn't special about it?" The child asked, somewhat defensively.
She trotted through the front door and motioned for Jonas to follow her, with one final sweep of the area he'd just entered, he did.

Inside the home it was warm and cozy, perhaps a little too warm for the weather of that certain day but, it was warm, and it surprised him.

He stood in the entry way and looked around. It wasn't large in the main room, the only furnishings were a kitchen area, complete with a table and counter top, and there was what appeared to be a living area. He guessed these people didn't spend much time inside.

Three doorways branched off of the main room and beyond each, it was dark. He was immediately reminded of the appearance of the planet when he'd first arrived as he looked through the doors, quickly diverting his gaze back to the main room.

"So, uh, why did you bring me here in particular?" Jonas questioned, rubbing the back of his neck.

"I just have to get something."

Jonas watched as the girl disappeared into one of the three back rooms, and emerged minutes later, holding a grey, paper bag.

"Alright, let's go."

Jonas eyed the bag suspiciously and turned to leave the tiny home. He stepped out into the sun, it pleasantly warmed his face. He shrugged off his jacket and draped it over one arm. The sun hit his bare arms and he sighed.

When he turned back to where the child was standing, she was no longer there. Instead, he saw her soft yellow jumper bobbing off ahead of him.

"Hey, wait!" Jonas called and jogged behind her.

Jonas followed the girl as she clambered up a rock face, and he climbed up after her.

The child was standing at the edge as Jonas finally peered up over the top. She was looking out onto the view below her. Jonas pulled himself up and walked over to join her.

"Isn't it lovely?" She asked absently.

Jonas looked out and had to agree, it was lovely. The village stretched out below them like toys and beyond the village, rolling hills of lush green and forests of trees were present. The breeze was stronger up here, as was the scent of lilac and Jonas inhaled deeply, enjoying it.

"Sure is." Jonas agreed. He continued to admire the sights when he noticed something odd. In all the land that he could see, the only village present, was that of the little girl that had brought him here.

"Are there any other villages on this planet?" Jonas asked.

The child shook her head. "No, why?"

"It just seems odd, that's all."

"It's not odd to me."

Jonas regarded the young girl and saw her point, she'd lived all her life like this, of course it wouldn't seem odd to her.

"No, I suppose not."

" I wanted to show you the view, but that's not all. There is one last thing I wish to show you." She reached into the bag that she had brought along and when she pulled her tiny hand out, it contained a polished rock, larger than her hand itself. She clutched it tightly and moved over to a drop-off.

"What're you doing?" Jonas questioned her.

"Come see."

Jonas went up behind her and looked over her shoulder into a clear stream. She turned her hand and unclenched her hand. It tumbled into the water without so much as a splash.

"Now, watch." She whispered.

Jonas did, and the water shimmered in the creek, twisting into a distorted picture of what looked to be the village, only it was different, the place was scorched and flooded, everything was gone. When the girl turned back to Jonas her face was tear streaked, and her blue eyes threatened to spill more sorrow.

"What's this?" Jonas asked, peering into the face of the pained child sympathetically.

"It's my village, isn't it obvious." She asked, her voice cracked and she broke into tears again.

"Well, yes I suppose it is but, why is it like that?" He asked, motioning to the destroyed village.

"There will be a terrible accident in two days, and it'll be all my fault. This is what'll happen if it isn't stopped." The child sobbed.

Jonas lay a hand on her slender shoulder and looked deep into her blue eyes.
"Whatever happens. I'm sure you aren't the entire cause of it." Jonas assured her.

"But I am. I know it."

"How do you know it?"

"I just do, that's all. I just know it's my fault." She continued to cry.

Jonas sighed and wiped a hand down his face, taking in an apprehensive breath. The child continued to cry and stuck her hands into the water to retrieve the stone.

"I have to return this, it's my mother's." She said quickly and placed it back into the bag. Water stains sopped through the paper as the wet stone was set inside. She picked up the bag and began to walk off. Jonas grabbed her arm gently, holding her back and turned her towards him.

"Why did you show this to me?" Jonas questioned.

"Because, I need you and your friends to help me stop this from ever happening. I don't want to experience what I will after the accident, it hurts too much to know you are responsible for the destruction of all of your friends and family. You can't know how much it really hurts until you experience it for yourself." She told him through bleary blue eyes.

"You mean you want us to help you change history from ever happening?" Jonas clarified.

"Yes, I want to make sure this never ever happens but, I can't do it alone. Will you help?"

Jonas hesitated.

"Will you help me or not, I need to know."

Jonas continued to hold back.

"Well?"

"I'm not going to guarantee anything but, I'll try. One thing though. I need to talk to my friends about this. Please." Jonas replied.

"Ok." And with a wave of her hand Jonas found himself waking up on the cold hard ground, confused but, otherwise alright.

Now the thing would be to explain to his friends what he had pulled all of them into, and he wasn't sure how exactly he'd do that.