Thanks again to everyone who responded to the last chapters! I love hearing what everybody thinks!
Chapter 6
The sun was high in the sky and its intense heat was beating down on the team with vigor. This heat only intensified the smell that covered them. They were all having a hard time coping with their current situation. In some ways, they thought, they'd been in much worse situations, but they were finding themselves wishing they could be in any one of those other situations than the one they were currently in.
Anything seemed better than this.
They were all silent, trying to breathe as normal as possible. Breathing through their noses carried in the awful stench, but talking or breathing with their mouths carried in the taste.
Carter had to deal with this the day before, but today it seemed so much worse. At one point during their hike to the 'Gate, she'd gagged on the smell, stomach acid and what little was left in her stomach started to make its way up her esophagus, but she choked it down, even as it burned her throat.
She blinked back tears that stung her eyes before the others could see them. She was Major Samantha Carter of the United States Air Force and Second in Command of SG-1 for the most top-secret program in the United States for cryin' out loud. She'd flown and downed planes during the Gulf War, helped create the SGC's dialing system, shot down enemy rebels both on Earth and all over the galaxy, helped to save the entire planet from Goa'uld invasion, flown alien space craft, been experimented on, had a snake in her head, had been downloaded into a computer, electrocuted...and the list went on and on.
Suddenly, she found herself laughing. She'd been through all of that without shedding a tear and now she was crying because she smelled bad?
She realized that her team had turned to look at her.
"You okay, Carter?"
"Fine, Sir," she said while opening her mouth as little as possible. She tried to hold back another chuckle.
"I am finding it difficult to see the amusement in this situation, Major Carter." Teal'c protested.
"Me, too." Daniel added.
Carter bit on her lower lip, not sure how to respond. Tell them she was laughing at herself so she wouldn't cry? No, that wasn't very Majorly of her. Tell them she was thinking of a funny joke and not sharing? No, not that either. She couldn't think of a good joke right now.
"Come on, Carter. Share with the class!" Jack asked.
"Um, well. I guess I was just complaining in my head, Sir. And when I thought about all the other stuff we've been through, I realized how absurd it is that I feel like this is the worst possible situation to be in. It's stupid."
"This is the worst possible situation to be in, Carter. I'm seriously considering putting in a recommendation for the scientists who engineer the M.A.L.P. to add some doohickey that tells us if the undead are among the inhabitants of a planet. I don't think I'll ever get this smell off me. I might have to reconsider reassignment so I don't have to also smell the rest of you every day."
"That hurts, Jack." Daniel feigned sadness.
While they were talking, Teal'c noticed some darker clouds in the distance. "I believe it is going
to rain, O'Neill."
Jack stopped talking mid-sentence and looked at the sky. Teal'c was right. There were some very dark clouds up there. The sky above them was still blue, but ahead of them, an ominous look pervaded the sky.
"Should we not find shelter, O'Neill?"
They all stopped for a moment, to consider their situation. They weren't far from those trees now, having increased their pace, but by the looks of those clouds, it would be a doozy of a storm. If they were caught in the rain, even the trees wouldn't be much cover. And if the rain washed them clean, they would no longer fit in as well with their friends.
Jack sighed. "Let's keep going and keep your eyes open for some sort of shelter. One of those buildings, a hole in the hillside..."
So, on they continued.
Stomachs grumbled, but none of them could even think about putting food or water into their bodies if it meant coming in close proximity to their current attire. They focused all their energy on either finding shelter from the rain that was quickly approaching their location, or somehow making a beeline for the gate, which appeared to be a fruitless idea.
The clouds were growing darker and descending lower, hiding most of the sun behind them. They jogged a little longer, ignoring most of the undead that crossed their path, leaving it to Ba'al to take out the ones in groups that showed interest.
"Did you hear that?" Teal'c spoke up suddenly.
"Hear what?" Daniel asked.
Teal'c put a hand up and they continued walking in silence. After a moment, a faint noise could be heard, but only Teal'c seemed to make out the words. "Someone is calling to us." He looked up at the hillside and pointed. "Up there."
They all craned their necks to see. They saw nothing but grass and small trees. The ledge that had housed them during the night had ended a while ago, leaving an even slope. A previous rain storm had washed a lot of the small rocks and loose grass down the hill, leaving it to lay at the bottom.
Suddenly a woman appeared, seemed to be waving to them, and calling to them. Once she knew that SG-1 had noticed her, she began to climb horizontally along the hillside.
"I believe she wants us to follow her." Teal'c replied.
Carter and Jack exchanged looks. Carter shrugged. "Maybe she's normal. It couldn't hurt to check it out."
"What about the Stargate?" Ba'al asked.
"No one's stopping you." Daniel said.
They all stood there, watching Ba'al, waiting to see if he would take the bait. He stared back for a moment before glancing towards the direction of the Stargate. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then shut it again. "After you," he finally said.
They continued walking, searching for the woman. Teal'c had sight of her and they soon saw a spot in the hillside that was easily climbable. Dirt and rocks had been dug out of the earth to allow foot and handholds. The small trees were sturdier here, as was the ground cover. Single-file, they climbed up.
A woman met them near the top. She reached out for Jack's arm, who was first to reach her. She appeared happy to see them, yet was crying. "Oh thank Danh'ai, we didn't think there was anyone left!"
"Danh'ai?" Jack asked.
Daniel shrugged. "I'm guess he-or she-is their God, though I haven't heard of that one."
Jack just nodded. He returned his attention to the woman. "My name is Jack. And you are...?"
"I am Freya. Please, come with me." Freya turned and continued on a worn path that made it easier to navigate.
They followed.
They followed Freya up the hillside until it flattened out; something the team hadn't talked about checking out due to the high possibility of a rock slide that could hinder the group more than help.
When they reached the top, it was almost as if they'd gone through the Stargate. The flat top was several acres. Men and women were wielding wheelbarrows; children were carrying baskets filled with fruits and vegetables. There were stables with animals, women were weaving cloth, and some of the other children appeared to be playing a game on the ground. The buildings were made out of rough-hewn logs, carefully constructed, and well-maintained.
The team looked at each other for a moment, then back to the layout in front of them. Neither of them were sure what to make of this new scene that had unfolded before them. Where had they been when the M.A.L.P. had indicated little to no signs of life? Why were these people okay up on the hill when those on lower terrain were walking around dead? And, if Ba'al had been here for weeks, why hadn't they brought him here?
All in good time, Jack thought.
Jack walked forward, following Freya towards what appeared to be their 'town square,' though it wasn't much more than a thirty-by-thirty foot section that was centered around what appeared to be their version of shops and the carts that held fruits, vegetables, and other items. In the center of the 'square' set a large, round, wooden barrel. When Jack peered inside it, he found it filled with what he presumed was water.
Frey replied, "that is our rain bowl. When our people have been self-sacrificing, God Vishnu opens the sky and allows us drink from the stars. He is most generous this time."
Jack scratched his head. "This Vishnu guy, have you ever met 'em?"
Freya looked surprised. "Why no! I-I have yet to self-sacrifice. But others have met him. They'll tell you about it, I'm sure."
"Then how do you know he's real?"
"Ja-ack..." Daniel warned.
"I do not understand?" Freya asked, playing with the hem on her woven shirt.
"I mean, how do you know this Vishnu guy really exists?"
"Of course he exists. He brings us the rain, and the garden, and lets us live in harmony with one another atop the hill."
Daniel stepped forward and broke into the conversation. "You must be very lucky to have such a God watch over your people." Daniel gave Jack a warning glare not to push the God subject after just having met t his woman.
Jack shrugged. "So, does your village have someone who would be the authority around here?"
Freya nodded. "Yes, of course. His name is Danh'ai. I'll take you to him."