That night, they met Laira on the banks of the river. "Where's Jack?" She asked.
"He's…" Daniel began.
"He's worried that he won't be ready to go back to Earth tomorrow if he doesn't get a full-night's sleep tonight. Unfortunately, that means he can't see the fire-rain." Sam finished.
"Oh. And you?"
"Oh, we're used to pulling all-nighters." Daniel said, dryly.
Just then, a meteor shot through the sky. "Wow!" Sam breathed.
"In our culture, we call that a falling star. And one of our customs is to make a wish when you see one." Daniel said, looking into the sky.
"Then perhaps I should make one." Laira said, smiling.
Sam tried not to let it bother her, but inside she knew what Laira would wish for. Star light, star bright, first star I see tonight… she thought.
Oh man, I sound like I'm four years old and still believe in that stuff, she thought to herself, angrily. Why did Laira do this to her? Then again, she thought, it wasn't Laira's fault that she had fallen for her unattainable commanding officer. That he made her lose all sense of reason and logic.
She took a deep breath. For once since she had become a scientist, she was going to be superstitious. Tonight, she was going to make a wish. And she would hope with all her heart that it would come true.
Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, Have the wish I wish tonight. She thought. Then, she closed her eyes, shutting off the noise of science that resounded in her mind. She allowed only one thought to float to the surface of her mind. I want Jack, her heart called to the starry night.
Suddenly, she saw a meteor head straight toward them. Her eyes widened as her thoughts went crazy. It was a sign. All rational thought left her mind. She was never going to be with Jack. The world would go in a fiery blaze, and that would be the end.
However, the meteor bounced off the atmosphere, and Scientist Sam returned.
"How close was that?" Daniel asked, awestruck.
"Close." She said, regaining her composure.
"I thought so. How big was that?"
"Big." She confirmed.
"I do not understand." Laira said, looking at her guests.
"Laira, that was what we call a near-miss. If the meteor hadn't bounced off the surface of your atmosphere,it would have hit the surface of your planet and destroyed quite a bit of your world. Plant and animal life included."
"But the fire-rain comes every year."
"Well, I'm going to make some more observations tonight and report my findings to Colonel O'Neill in the morning." She looked at Daniel and then took a deep breath. "But I think you should prepare your people for travel through the Stargate. We might be able to keep you at Stargate Command until things end here. If something happens and you can't come back, we'll help you relocate."
Laira's look of horror was not lost on either of them. "But this is our home!"
"We understand." Daniel answered. "But it may come down to your home or your lives."
Laira nodded, though there was a sick look in her eyes. "I understand. I will tell them."