Dust

by Blazicle

Dude. It is Stargate Sg1. Just read it. A girl from a small village on a small planet lives the regular fear filled life. That is, until Sg1 shows up and discovers a unusual power of hers. Join Persis on a stargate adventure story filled with action, new planets and familiar characters.

Geenah was a green fruit with pointy leaves that would prick your skin and cause numbing pain in a small area for about ten minutes.

I despised picking the oval shaped food. However, it was easily enough grown in Kah'Quill and made for an excellent dinner once roasted. Not to mention the use of the numbing leaves on heavy injuries. I wiped my brow and winced at the sight of the two suns between the treetops. The days were getting hotter.

"Persis!" I ignored the call, straightening out my fruit plucking rug on the ground before me. "Persis! Did you see the dust devil behind the village? It had to be as big as a village cabin-no! As big as the old tree by the path-NO! As big as the cliff at the rivers bend-"

"Vaynce!" I placed two more geenah in the basket before me. "Are you going to help? There is quite a bit of harvesting left before the feast tomorrow." I used my knife to slice another stem and gingerly placed that one in another basket to the side to be used as a seed for the next planting season. "Pappah said the Heat is coming and you know all the fruit must be picked before then."

"But it is so hot!" The whiny voice did nothing to change my mind.

I narrowed my eyes. "It is only going to get hotter. The more geenah the better. I heard the Zartahs were in short supply this year." I cut another stem and motioned next to me.

Vaynce took the hint and dropped to the ground beside me. I gasped. "Not on the dirt, you foolish boy!"

"Oh." Vaynce rolled his eyes but moved onto the fruit plucking rug. "I almost forgot."

"You did not forget," I scolded the boy. "And are you trying to get us both in trouble? Pappah would have my head if the rest of the village saw you in such a state." I used the rug to wipe some of the remaining dust off of the boys clothes. "The bodies of our people are the dust of the earth. The demons worked us into the ground and we shall never again bear the marks of labor by being submitted to wear the dirt again."

"Demons? You mean the Marked." Vaynce scoffed and I frantically glanced around.

"Watch your tongue, boy!" I scolded once more. "You do not know who is listening." There were a few more villagers picking fruit, however, they were out of hearing range. I wiped my brow once again and went back to work, throwing a glare at my brother every now and then.

Vaynce seemed to smarten and spoke in softer tones, extracting his own knife and cutting a stem. "I do not believe the village elders about these 'demons'. 'Demons' that worked us into dirt. Where are these 'Demons'? Why have they not come back?" My heart could barely handle the tone of voice coming from him. The disrespect.

"Nobody knows," I whispered back. "I was just a small child when they had left Kah'Quill." Time was running out and I saw through the trees the last water carrier heading towards our group. I shuffled my rug closer to a few geenah on the side of the middle height bush, careful not to get any of the dust on my skin.

I continued to remind Vaynce of the story that was told in our village. "One day, the Demons, the Marked," I practically breathed, "left through the Chappa'ai and never returned. That is why Pappah commanded the Chappa'ai be moved to the Caves of Shoreah and that no Kah'Quillian would be allowed to set foot there again."

Vaynce tightened his lips. "Or else the Marked would return."

"Demons," I practically hissed at the boy. Just the mention of the name was practically forbidden, lest the Marked would hear their name and be summoned back.

We worked in silence for a moment before the water carrier stood before us. I gulped down the liquid and nodded my thanks. That was our sign of dismissal, and not a moment too soon. I felt my skin beginning to redden and the exhaustion of laboring all day fill my bones. Yet, I had not gotten all I wanted done.

I glanced at the two heaping baskets and the stick to the side before weaving it between the handles. I motioned to the other side and Vaynce took his place. Although a head shorter than me, my younger brother was definitely stronger, his tan body filling out. It was strange to see the village women eyeing him as he worked. I smirked to myself, knowing it meant the sleeping cabin to myself in a short year or two.

"The supply cabin?" Vaynce questioned, forcing me from my thoughts.

"Yes."

Our steps were gentle and light, the hot days removing all water from the soil. And I would not handle the embarrassment of kicking up the dust, just to have it cling to my sweaty skin.

Some children were playing outside the family cabin, using duller knives to carve images into wood. A few villager cooks had started an easy supper, with some of the other villagers gone for the night to hunt.

A group of four women giggled as they passed by, the fourth getting dangerously close to 'accidentally' brushing against him.

I could see Vaynce's wide smile from behind him and grinned myself. Maybe it would be only a year.

-=-=-=-=- Dust -=-=-=-=-

"Friends!" Pappah waved his arms over the crowd of villagers and the talking hushed down. From his small wooden platform, Pappah nodded at the smiling faces staring up at him. The harvest feast was a moment to celebrate, for the hardest of work was done for the year.

The trees were still as Pappah began to speak. "Welcome to another great harvest feast!" A cheer went up before he continued. "Today is the last day of the old year. This year has been a strong one, with dozens of new geenah plants planted, more material and crops traded with Zartah, and rekindled contact with the Ferleah village!" His eyes gazed across the villagers. "And at the end of the night we will have a few of the new cabins claimed." A few people whistled and some women giggled softly. I watched the villagers as some shared looks and others shared pokes.

Where was Vaynce?

A shout interrupted the speech and Pappah turned stone faced as his son ran into the crowd. "Pappah! Pappah!" Vaynce pushed his way through and I clenched my jaw at the disruption. His hair was pushed up from sweat, his cheeks red with his breathing hard. And to make the situation worse, his knees had dirt on them, causing a few of the elders to gasp, horrified at the disrespect of our ancestors. "The Chappa'ai! It has opened!"

My heart stopped. A hush of silence fell over the crowd before panic set in. The elderly began shouting orders as the older villagers herded the children together, eyes darting every which way, looking for signs of danger.

The Chappai'ai could not have opened. Was it because of Vaynce's and my conversation? The Marked have come back! I made my way frantically towards my Pappah and Vaynce. The dust began to rise, causing more chaos and screaming. Children wailed.

"Peace!" Pappah held up his arms and demanded the crowd. Slowly the villagers listened, many holding their children tightly and sobbing. I found myself thanking the suns that I was not old enough to remember the harsh times. A basket of geenah had fallen over in the panic and a few villagers were picking the fruit out of the dust and using a rug to wipe off the dirt. "We do not know for sure it has opened."

"Yes we do!" There was panic in Vaynce's eyes as he spoke loud and fast. "I have seen the blue water myself!"

Blue water? I did not know what Vaynce meant. Murmured voices echoed throughout the crowd trying to figure out what Vaynce had meant. Beside me, the elders frantically whispered and I moved closer to listen in.

"It is another one of his tales!" one hissed.
"How could he know what the Chappa'ai looks like if not for seeing it himself. Did you inform him?"

The village elder gasped. "I would not dare!"

"Perhaps his Pappah?"

Pappah's eyes gazed over the crowd once again, his face becoming cross and deep lines etched into his forehead. His anger turned toward his son. "Cabin, now!" The villagers went silent, seeing the fury on the man's face. I did not dare look at my fellow villagers, my own face turning red in embarrassment for my brother. Vaynce stomped heavily toward the cabin, most likely angry that his words were not taken seriously. The vibrations echoed through my legs. Dust flew up from under his feet and ignoring the gentle steps that are ingrained into us, he continued his behavior.

The villagers watched.

The disrespect shown by the Leader's son would not reflect kindly during the next Choosing and Pappah knew this.

Pappah turned toward the crowd once again, attempting to regain some control. "Dismiss these rumors of Vaynce's and enjoy the feast." There was an uneasy silence as the man walked toward the cabin after Vaynce, but nonetheless the villagers heeded his words, starting towards the tables.

I held my ground. The area began to clear and soon I was left alone with my thoughts. Had Vaynce really seen the Chappa'ai open? I did not dare go towards the cabin, practically hearing my Pappah's rageful words already. I did not want to go to the feast, embarrassed by what had just occurred. Why would Vaynce have gone into the Caves of Shoreah? Is the Chappa'ai really blue water?

There were strange vibrations on the ground and I furrowed my brows. I focused on the feeling. Was it... footsteps? We did not feel many of those in Kah'Quill. Sometimes a toddler would mess up his movements and place his feet too heavily, but it was quickly corrected by his Mammah or Pappah.

No. These were definitely footsteps. Then, they stopped.

"Um, hello?"

I gasped and spun around. Four people stood in front of me in green clothes, one waving his hand toward me hesitantly. "Hi there. I am Daniel. This is my friends Jack, Sam, and Teal'c."

I stared at the strangers. Perhaps from a place farther away? Beyond the Hills of Norchah? They carried black tools and wore heavy shoes. It was no wonder I could feel their steps. I blinked at the sight of dirt and dust all over their legs. The one he called 'Sam' met my eyes as I met hers.

Yellow hair. That was... different.

"Do you live here?" The man motioned toward the cabins down the hill. I followed his signal before turning to stare at him. Blue eyes. That was also different. Perhaps a kind of fruit did that? I have heard of strange food beyond the Hills.

"Well, do they talk Daniel?" the oldest man shuffled his feet. He removed black glass on his eyes and stared at me. I stared back. Of course we talked!

"How should I know, Jack?" The one called 'Daniel' spoke back so fast I was not sure if I had imagined the exchange of words. Sam did a small spin, staring at all the trees as if looking for something. I felt my heart skip a beat. Were they here to take our geenah harvest? She had looked directly at the empty plants.

Daniel took a step towards me and I matched his movement so to not get the dust he kicked up on my skin. "Do you communicate? Maybe sign?" The man wiggled his hands and fingers and I furrowed my brows. What was 'sign'? I had heard the people over the Hills do talk different. Perhaps they move their arms as they speak?

At my lack of response, mainly because I was trying to figure out where these villagers had come from, Jack heaved a sigh. "Great. We always get the planets that can't communicate back."

Should I inform them I can talk? I decided to let the conversation go on. Perhaps I can figure out where they come from and if they were interested in trade or here to take our things by force.

"This is only the second planet we have been on where the Natives do not talk, O'Neill." I was startled at the booming voice of the last man. His skin was very tan and I wondered if he spent all day laying in the sun. He had a gold emblem on his forehead and it was very shiny.

Jack rolled his eyes and shuffled his feet. I glared at the disrespect. "Fine. Well, back home boys." He placed his hand back onto his black tool and turned.

"Wait Jack! You can't be serious." The blue eyed man waved his hands around frantically. I nodded to myself. They must be from over the Hills. The clothes, the language, the movement all pointed to villages from afar. "There is so much we could learn from them!"

"Look. They don't talk, and they clearly don't have weapons." The group looked toward the cabins once again.

"We came from a mine, Jack. They obviously worked in it at one point. Maybe they have minerals or-or-or some medicine that they want to trade." I perked up at the word. Pappah would be very proud if I managed to trade with people from over the Hills!

The sun was starting to go down and Sam's hair was brightening in the yellow color. The rays were very bright and I was reminded once again the Heat started tomorrow. She was looking at me once again, lingering on my boots. "It wouldn't hurt to look, sir. Besides, the sun is starting to set. And those mines could be something," she added at the last moment, sheepishly.

Jack gave her a look, then Daniel, then threw his head back and groaned. "Fine. I guess it's as good as any place to set up camp. You have the night, Daniel." He began to walk toward the village but before I could stop his walk, Daniel spoke again.

"But that's not enough time! I mean the culture, the ways of communicating-"

"What important information can you possibly learn? They don't talk!" The older man reinforced his statement. He grabbed his black glass that was hanging in front of his clothes and put it back on his eyes. "But unlike the other planet, what was it, M3E-266, these guys have mouths."

Planet? I did not know what that word meant. But I did know that I had a mouth and finding humor in the observation, I opened mine. I could barely contain my laughter when witnessing Sam, Jack, and Daniel's mouth drop open.

"She understood you Jack! Look! She opened her mouth!" Daniel ripped open part of his clothes with a strange sound and pulled out what I was guessing was his villages' paper. It was very white. Ours is more brown in color. He also extracted a small sharp charcoal in wood. "Try saying something else!" The man frantically scribbled on the paper.

"Like what."

Daniel rolled his eyes in exasperation. "I don't know. She responded to your ramblings so try talking more." He began mumbling to himself, words like 'English' and 'Ancient'.

I focused on Jack as his brown eyes stared into mine. They were darker than ours, but not strange like the blue ones. Almost as if he did not spend enough time in the sun, unlike Teal'c. I glanced at the tan man again and marveled at his skin.

I matched Jack's gaze once again. He squirmed. "Should I ask if they are willing to let us camp there?" He sniffed the air, the aroma of roasted geenah lingered around. "Do you think it's supper time?"

"Ask about the food, sir," Sam mentioned, motioning toward the picked bushes. There were a few lingering geenah on the branches, ones that were either too small or had holes in them. "I have not seen that kind of fruit before. Almost a kiwi look to it, but in an... evergreen forest?" Her statement turned into a question as she glanced up at our trees.

I spoke. "Geenah."

Daniel's eyes bulged and Teal'c raised an eyebrow. "Geenah? Is that a greeting? 'Hello'? Are you saying 'hello' right now?" He wrote something else on his paper.

I giggled. "No. Geenah is the fruit that Sam is talking about. Are you here to trade?" I could not keep the sparkle out of my eyes, finding the entire situation very humorous.

Jack roared with laughter, slapping Daniel on the back. "Good one Daniel." Sam also snickered and had a smile on her face. She grinned at Teal'c. "This is one to tell Hammond for sure!"

"Yes, yes. Very funny." Daniel rolled his eyes but turned the conversation back to me. "We could be interested in trade. We are peaceful explorers and we like to learn about your culture, your town, your way of living."

"Where are you from that you do not know Kah'Quill? We are the biggest village on this side of the Hills, with three hundred villagers, and the best to do trade with," I boasted. I motioned toward the geenah bushes. "We have just taken in a great harvest and have extra geenah to trade. What do you have to offer?" I eyed up their interesting clothes again. I am sure some of it was wealthy items. Zartahs traded us furs, fabrics, and skins. Perhaps they would like a new type of material.

Daniel seemed taken aback. "Um well- there's a lot of things that need to be discussed first. Why would we want geenah?" Jack raised his eyebrows and turned to face Daniel, but he ignored the look. The older man huffed and dropped his arm from his black tool to his side.

"Daniel?"

"Jack?" Daniel replied, his eyes not moving from mine.

"Why don't we ask someone else in the village besides a girl?"

I bristled. "I am not a girl. I am a woman."

Sam smirked and Jack stuttered through his words. "Do you not have a mayor?" I gave him a blank stare. "A commander?" I shook my head. "A president?" Another shake.

"Who is the leader of this village?" Teal'c stepped forward. "Does it not make sense to do trades with the one who runs the village?"

"Pappah would be very impressed if I was the one to make a trade," I put my nose up a bit toward the strangers, a little annoyed they thought I was incapable. The woman, Sam, took a step forward. I narrowed my eyes. "Did you want geenah or not?"

Daniel chuckled nervously and Jack move his hands in a sweeping motion toward me. "What's your name?"

"Persis."

"Persis. Beautiful." I felt red creep into my cheeks. "We like to get to know are potential allies- I mean traders." He ran a hand through his brown hair as he eyed the cabins once again. Voices were starting to drift up towards us, the laughter and the dancing starting as the harvest feast was in full swing. It would last until the morning at least, until the sun drove us into the lake. "Are you having a meal right now, Persis?"

"Yes."

Daniel pursed his lips together. He hesitantly spoke again. "Are we welcome to join you? This would be a great opportunity to get to know your people and possibly have some trade talk with Pappah."

I inspected the strangers. No one had ever asked to join us for the harvest feast before, all the villages celebrating themselves. Would I be allowed to invite them? I eyed their outfits once again, not seeing any knives or weapons on them. Besides, their clunky boots would let me know their every movement. I met Sam's blue eyes, then Teal'c's inquisitive brown ones. I relaxed my shoulders.

Nodding, I turned toward the village. "Come with me."

They fell in line, following close, but not to close as to make me uncomfortable. After a particularly large stomp from Jack, I turned back toward them, glancing toward their dusty boots. I felt another wave of disgust hit me. I could not imagine what the village elders would think of these travelers in their state. I did not want to risk a great trade with wealthy strangers. "On another thought, maybe it would not be a good idea."

"For crying out loud," Jack hissed under his breath, throwing his arms up in frustration. He did not seem happy.

"Jack," Daniel had a warning tone in his voice. The man stopped his little temper tantrum. "We would really like to meet your people, Persis."

"Your boots are dirty," I pointed out to the man.

He chuckled. "Your planet is dusty." There was that word again.

"Of course there is dust. What do you expect?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Well, sometimes we walk through grass or weeds or on leaves." At my look of confusion, he continued. "You know, leaves. They fall from trees."

"Oh!" I nodded toward him. "You mean needles." I pointed at the trees above us. "Yes, sometimes they do fall. But usually in the Heat."

The group exchanged looks and Sam talked this time. "Persis, do you know what leaves are?"

"Needles." I repeated my answer.

She did not take her eyes off me, yet talked to Jack. "Sir, this whole planet might only have these tall evergreen trees. Do you realize what this means?" There was excitement in her voice and her blue eyes brightened.

"This kid has never jumped into a pile of leaves before?" Teal'c raised an eyebrow and turned toward Jack.

I bristled at the kid comment. "I have already told you. I am a woman."

Jack raised his hands. "My bad."

"No sir!" Sam almost rolled her eyes. "It means that they have an entire thriving village without the abundance of nature that we have on earth. Imagine, no other types of trees besides these," she waved her hands, "and yet enough of an ecosystem to survive."

"Other types of trees?" I puzzled.

"What about 'grass', Persis," Daniel jumped into the conversation.

I blinked at the man. "Grass? Is it a fruit from beyond the Hills of Norchah?"

"No. Think of it as a- a- carpet that is outside?"

I furrowed my brows. "Carpet?"

"Really Daniel?" Sam turned to face the man. "That's how you would describe it? A carpet?"

"I don't know! They have cabins!"

"They don't have grass," Sam stated. "Chances are, they don't have livestock."

"We do not." I shook my head. "But the Zartahs do." I watched as the group exchanged glances once again. "You have livestock?"

Jack laughed. "Do we have livestock?! Boy, do we."

"Jack." Daniel gave the man another glare. Then, he smiled at me. "We got off topic. May we meet your people?" Torches lit up the area and the sound of laughter drifted by. I could hear Pappah's booming voice.

I sighed. "Do you not have any clean clothing?" Sam self consciously dusted herself off.

"Neat freaks," Jack whispered to the tall dark-skinned man.

"Indeed."

"Come with me," I replied, taking their body language as sign that they did not. I led them to our cabin. "We have extra boots over here. I am sure you can find some to fit you." Waving towards the mats on the ground, the group took a seat and shrugged the bags off their shoulders. Then, they started pulling at the strings that were weaved into their boots. Teal'c took an extra moment to really look around before he too, sat.

"Is there a reason our boots need to be clean?" Daniel asked as he pulled his foot out of his big clunky black boot. He wiggled his toes before jamming them into the light fur ones I had offered him. "Could we not just wipe them clean?"

I shook my head. "Your boots are heavy and will simply kick up more dust." I grabbed his old boot and began wiping it anyway, a habit, and a worry about the dust on them. "Any more stomping and dust from you and the elders might refuse to talk."

"Why is that?"

I met Daniel's eyes. The man seemed to genuinely be curious about the question which made me pause. Where were they from that they did not know about dust? Did they even know about the Demons?

"The Demons."

"Demons?" Jack spoke up, his voice unbelieving.

"Yes." I nodded and went back to gently wiping the boots. Sam had finished putting her new ones on and stood carefully to test them out. "The Demons."

"Jaffa?" Teal'c questioned.

I shook my head, not knowing what 'Jaffa' meant. "Demons. Some called them-" I lowered my voice and moved closer, the others leaning in. "The Marked."

"The Marked?" Daniel repeated, pulling up one of the boots with a yank. I quickly shushed him and looked around.

"Do not speak those words here."

"But you just did," Jack pointed out.

"I did quietly."

"Daniel was pretty quiet."

''Jack," Daniel warned.

"I can't even stand up for you, for crying out loud." Jack threw his hands up again but took a step back in the conversation.

Daniel took a step towards me, his boots now on. "Can you tell us more about the Demons?"

"I have not heard of anyone who did not know the Demons," I admitted. "They were our past enslavers. The Demons had come through the Chappa'ai many many years ago. Before Pappah was born even. They had made the Kah'Quillians work the caves, sending minerals and rocks through the Chappai'ai and refusing freedom. And when the rocks and minerals were gone, the trees were next. From what little stories I managed to get from Pappah, they were brutal and unfair, not thinking twice about killing and leaving the body on the ground to rot."

"Teal'c?" Jack through out the name as a question and the big man shook his head.

"I have not been nor heard of this planet, O'Neill." Planet? O'Neill?

"Is Teal'c one of these 'Demons?'" Daniel probed.

"I have not seen a Demon before. Before I can remember, the Demons picked up their weapons and marched back through the Chappa'ai. The villagers feared the day they would return and so Pappah rallied the strongest men and moved the Chappa'ai to the caves where it would not be seen and would not be used. I have not seen Demons myself, but we must call them that instead of 'The Marked,-" I lowered my voice to a whisper again, "least speaking the name brings them back through the Chappa'ai."

"And the fear of dust?"

"The dust is our Ancestors bodies that have not been buried. To have it on our skin is to disturb the graves of those who could not be buried according to our customs. It is disrespectful. You will be shamed."

"How old are you?" Daniel asked another question.

"Fifty-eight."

"Fifty-eight?!" Jack exclaimed, raising his eyebrows. "You look like you are twenty-five!"

I bristled at the insult, but before I could answer, Sam joined the conversation. "From what I can tell with the two suns and nightfall, this planet has a different rotation around their suns than ours, sir. Chances are she is closer to that age on Earth." Earth? So many of their words confused me.

"Is Earth where you live?"

"Yes," Sam nodded.

"And it is over the Hills ofNorchah?"

"No. It is on another world. Another planet."

"There are more worlds?" I stared wide eyed at the visitors.

"Thousands."

I blinked in disbelief. "How did you get here?"

There was an uneasy look between the group and Daniel shifted his feet. I stared at him. "We came through the Stargate. You call it the Chappa'ai." I swear on the suns my heart stopped beating for a moment as I considered the fact that only Demons came through the Chappa'ai. Yet, these people did not act the way I was told that Demons acted. They were polite enough, friendly, and wanting to do trade. Demons were cruel, killers, and would take without trade.

"But," I was a bit confused. "You are not Demons."

"That we aren't," Jack agreed. "In fact, we fight your Demons and kick their butts."

I gasped. "You have fought the Demons and have lived?"

"Not without a few scars," the older man shrugged. "But yes."

"Then you must speak with the elders! They need to know how to prepare in case the Demons come back." I opened the cabin door. "This way. You may leave your bags here. Please step gently."

Jack took one step and I stopped the man. "Like this." I showed him how you carefully put your toes down first, then the heel. "If you place the entire foot at the same time then the air kicks up the dust and it is hard to dodge it and keep your boots clean." I mimicked what I just said and placed my toes down first in a slow motion so that they could copy but before I could continue, I felt Jack take a hard step. "No!" I stopped Jack once again as he had created a puff of dust.

"Daniel," Jack dragged out the word. "Do we have to do this?"

"It is their culture, Jack," Daniel replied. He took a cautious step forward. I nodded, satisfied at his first try.

"If you want to talk to the elders, you must," I informed Jack. "It is not that hard. Teal'c is doing great!" The big man had seemed to understand the stepping formation and was walking, slowly, but without any dust fluttering about. However, I could still feel his footsteps very clearly. He was still taking heavy steps.

Sam was doing good as well. However, her walking was also very slow and her arms were outstretched. I could see the elders wondering about their movements. Perhaps I could seat them and then introduce them? I decided that would be the best way.

Jack was horrible at walking. Even with a few more demonstrations, the man was getting frustrated and I could tell it would led to anger.

"Please forgive us," Daniel said while him and I watched Sam hold Jack's arm and help him take a cautious step. "From where we come dust means nothing. We just wash it off when we get inside our homes."

"I can feel by your heavy steps that you do not respect the dead," I huffed.

Daniel's blue eyes met mine. "No, you have that wrong. We do respect our dead, we just have a different custom then you. Our world has not experienced 'Demons' the way your world has." I was embarrassed about my snide comment and offered a small smile as an apology. He smiled back before cocking his head. "And what do you mean, 'feel our heavy steps.'"

Before I could answer, Jack yelled back to us. "Okay kids! I think I got it! Let's go meet these elders." I watched him take another step and tried to keep a smirk off my face at the sight of his unbalanced, waving arms.

I better find a spot for them to sit first.

-=-=-=-=- Dust -=-=-=-=-