Jack O’Neill’s boots sent bits of gravel skittering ahead of him as he strolled along the moonlit path. He was alone. In the light of the nearly full moon, he could clearly see the outline of the large ornamental fountain that gurgled softly in the center of the courtyard. Low stone benches were scattered throughout the walled garden- tucked into nooks and corners or screened by trees and bushes. Music, light, and laughter spilled out of the open doors at the far end of the courtyard. He’d needed to get away for a few minutes. It was late and the Chosen’s party was still going strong. The young men and women that resided in the temple showed no signs of letting up anytime soon.

Jack settled on one of the benches that faced the fountain. He leaned into the curved backrest and tilted his head back to observe the night sky overhead. At their camp the previous night, he’d been unable to indulge his habit of stargazing due to the heavy tree cover. Tonight, he had an unobstructed view. Stars glittered in unfamiliar patterns- a sight that usually served to entertain him whenever he was off-world. The moon of P3X-593 dominated the unfamiliar sky. It hung there, huge and nearly full- larger by far than any moonrise he’d ever seen on Earth.

“Damn the thing,” he muttered to himself. When that moon reached its full phase, it would signal the arrival of Khonsu’s ‘sky boat’ and the twelve young Chosen would go to meet their god in paradise. At least, that’s their version of things, he reflected. Whatever the truth really is…it can’t be as good as what they’ve got right here. Daniel was right with that one.

The temple housed hundreds of young people. They studied history, learned skills and trades, and generally had fun. Those that wanted to do so stayed for years. Many became teachers for new arrivals. Once a year, a select few- the best and brightest among the oldest group of students in residence- were honored by being named Chosen. The twelve young men and women enjoyed a year as leaders and mentors before accepting the ultimate responsibility that went with being Chosen. At the end of their year the Chosen would leave P3X-593 and go to serve their god Khonsu.

“Colonel?” Carter’s voice carried over the low sounds of the celebration in the great hall. Jack lifted his head and turned toward the sound. She was a silhouette against the lit backdrop of the open doorway.

“Over here,” he told her. At the sound of his voice she came forward on the path.
“Teal’c told me he thought he’d seen you head out here,” she told him. Jack slid over on the bench to make room for her.

“You know me and parties,” he said, gesturing for her to sit down. “Besides… they make me feel old.” The oldest of the Chosen couldn’t have been much past twenty and most of the other attendees were even younger. Everyone had been invited to the celebration.

Carter sat down on the bench and looked up at the moon. “It’s beautiful,” she said. “I understand now why they worship Khonsu as a moon god.”

“Hmmm…” Jack grunted. “That makes one of us- well… two if you count Daniel.” Carter looked at him intently.

“You don’t want to be here,” she told him. Jack hitched an eyebrow up and sighed.

“No, not really,” he confirmed. Carter was silent for a moment, her expression serious.

“Sir, would you rather leave these people alone?”

“No, not really,” he repeated. He shrugged, looking away from Carter’s gaze.

“You think we’re risking ourselves for nothing?”

“Carter… I don’t know what we’re risking ourselves for… that’s the problem!” His voice rose in frustration. He was getting angry and wasn’t really sure why. Carter wasn’t going to let him off the hook. He could see it in her eyes.

“Don’t you think we can help them?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “This is getting old.”

“Sir?”

“The whole hero bit,” he explained. “They don’t want our help Carter.”

“They don’t realize they need help, Colonel.”

“Exactly!” Jack snapped. “Don’t you ever get tired of trying to change centuries-old beliefs of people who are perfectly happy to go on living their lives just the way they are and who don’t wanna change?”

“They don’t understand they might have options.”

“And what are we supposed to do if we explain those options and they still insist on sailing off in Khonsu’s sky boat? Belief is a powerful thing, Carter.”

“We can’t save everybody, Sir.”

“Then why do we keep trying?”

“Who else is going to?” Carter asked pointedly. Shit. Carter, you really know how get to me, don’t ya’? Unable to meet her gaze he hung his head and studied his boot laces. Beside him, Carter shifted uneasily on the bench. “Sir… we’ll figure something out when the time comes. We always do.” She sounded confident and somehow worried at the same time. He lifted his head and looked at her again. She was still watching him carefully. “At least we’re not walking into this blind. I mean... we’re pretty certain it’s not a Goa’uld we’re dealing with this time.”

Jack sighed. “I’m still not so sure about that,” he told her quietly. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this,” he admitted. Carter evidently had nothing to say in response. Her eyes tight with concern, she simply stared at him. We’re not invincible Carter. A fact I’ve been reminded of much too often lately. He left his doubts unspoken.

Feminine laughter and the crunch of footsteps on the gravel path caught his attention. He leaned forward to look past Carter and she turned her head to see the new arrivals as well. Two of the Chosen, he realized. One of the couples. The pair was too wrapped up in each other to realize they had company. Oh yeah, definitely a couple. In fact, they don’t look like they’re gonna notice they aren’t alone anytime soon.

“Um… Hello?” Jack said, wanting to stop things before they progressed any further. I’m not really in the mood for a peep show kids. At the sound of his voice, they broke apart.

“We’re sorry,” the young man said. “We didn’t realize…” He glanced at his companion who laughed nervously. Jack knew he’d been introduced but couldn’t remember the boy’s name.

“Sam?” The girl spoke hesitantly. “Colonel Jack?” Jack winced. Damn Daniel and his explanations of rank. Carter grinned at his pained expression. Laugh it up Carter, he thought. Hell, the only people that call me ‘Colonel Jack’ are Cassie’s school buddies. Now I really feel old.

“Espeth,” Carter said. “Raynar.” Oh yeah, that’s the kid’s name. How do you do that Carter? The two walked along the path until they stood in front of the bench. They were smiling broadly.

“What are you doing out here?” Espeth asked. “We didn’t realize anyone else had left the hall.”

“Oh, you know…” Jack waved a hand toward the sky. “I was just getting a better view of the moon.” Espeth laughed again, glancing up at Raynar.

“Of course,” said Raynar lightly. “That’s why everyone comes out to the garden.” Espeth giggled again, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. Shit, thought Jack as he realized what the young man was implying. His gaze slid over to Carter who had evidently put two and two together as well. Her gaze met his, her eyes widening and a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth.

“No… really,” said Jack quickly. “I just needed some air and uh…”

“You don’t have to explain,” Espeth cut in. Jack realized his mouth was hanging open. He closed it and frowned. No use trying to explain, he decided. Better to make a quick getaway.

“Um… we were just leaving,” he said quickly. “Right Carter?” He stood up and began edging his way around the young man and woman.

“If you say so Sir,” Carter said with a laugh as she also stood up.

“Don’t let us chase you away,” called Raynar. Jack didn’t turn around.

“That’s okay,” he said. “Really, I think it’s time we went back inside.” Carter caught up to him just as he reached the spill of light from the open doorway. She was smiling. “It’s not funny Carter!”

“Yes Sir… Colonel Jack,” she said laughing.

“Carter!”

“If you could’ve seen your face,” she told him.

“Carter! I’m telling you....” He couldn’t keep the grin back any longer. “I told you they make me feel old!”

“Why is that?”

“Because I really was out there looking at the damn moon!”

The noise and bustle of the party hit him like a physical blow as they re-entered the hall. People were everywhere- laughing, talking, and shouting. Tables had been pushed aside to clear a space for the musicians. Elbowing his way through the crowd with Carter on his heels he looked around for the other two members of SG-1. Someone tried to place a drink in his hand and he shook his head, pushing it back toward the boy.

“No, no thank you.” Although I could probably use a stiff drink right now. “Carter, where did you last see Teal’c and Daniel?”

“Over there,” she said pointing, “in the corner.” Jack looked in the direction she was pointing and spotted Teal’c standing against the wall. Wherever Teal’c is…Daniel can’t be far. Yep…there he is. Daniel was sitting at a nearby table with Mahlia and Gareth. Jack skirted a knot of celebrants and made his way over to the table.

“Welcome back Colonel,” said Gareth. “Major.”

“Did you enjoy the garden?” Mahlia asked. Carter snorted and Jack glared at her.

“Oh yes,” he said casually. “It was very nice.” Jack sat down and nodded at Daniel. “Did I miss anything Daniel?”

“We’ve just been talking,” said Daniel. “I see Sam found you.”

“Daniel,” said Sam as she sat next to Jack.

“What… I wasn’t lost or anything.”

“Major Carter was concerned, O’Neill. She said you looked worried,” Teal’c explained.

“Worried? Colonel, what is there to worry about?” Mahlia asked.

Jack glanced at Daniel and sighed. How do we tell these people they have to doubt the truth of everything they’ve known? He didn’t know where to begin. His fingers found a napkin and he began fiddling with the small cloth square. “Mahlia,” he began, his eyes focused on the napkin he was folding into a smaller square, “the Chosen that have come before you… do they ever return to this place?”

“No, why would they?”

“How do you know they are serving in Ipet-isut?” He looked at her then. He saw tension in her eyes at the seriousness of his tone.

“Khonsu tells us it is so,” she answered.

“Mahlia,” interjected Daniel. “I’ve explained that we have traveled here from very far away.”

“Yes, Daniel. I understand that you used the gateway of the old gods to come from your world.”

“Yes, we did,” he said. “Mahlia… we’ve uh… traveled to many different worlds. We’ve met many different people, including a few of the ‘old gods’ as you call them.”

“Truly?” Mahlia looked from Daniel to Jack in surprise.

“They are not gods.” Teal’c’s deep voice caught her attention. “They are deceivers who enslave many people for their own gratification.”

“What are you saying?” Mahlia looked at Daniel, a puzzled expression on her face. “You can not mean that you think Khonsu is…” she said, her voice trailing off. Ya’ gotta give the girl credit, thought Jack, she’s a quick one.

“Well, actually… we don’t know for sure…” said Daniel hesitantly. “Khonsu might not be one of these ‘old gods’- we call them Goa’uld.”

“The Goa’uld have deceived many people into believing they are powerful gods. Many worlds have been subjected to their cruelty and terror.” Mahlia stared up at Teal’c, her dark eyes widened slightly at his words.

“Khonsu is not cruel. Khonsu sent his Chosen to teach us and to help us when we were left without guidance.”

“Mahlia, you don’t really know what happens when the Chosen are taken away in the sky boat,” said Carter gently.

“Are you really saying you’ve never had any doubts… that you’ve never wondered?” Jack added. He realized he was asking her if she’d ever questioned her faith.

“I…” she looked at Gareth and the young man reached over and clasped her hand in his own.

“Sometimes we question…” began Gareth, “but it’s never meant seriously.” Jack saw the doubt in their eyes. It’s a start, he told himself.

“Mahlia!” Someone shouted from the area where the musicians were set up. “Mahlia, sing for us!” The music had stopped and a chorus of voices began pleading with the girl to get up and sing.

“No,” she argued. “I’m speaking with our guests…”

“Mahlia, please!” One of the musicians, a young man who couldn’t have been more than fourteen or fifteen beckoned her to join them. “You’ll be leaving us soon and we won’t get to hear your lovely voice any longer.”

“Go,” said Gareth. Mahlia glanced at Jack.

“Go on,” said Jack, nodding. “We can talk later.” The girl nodded and slipped her hand out of Gareth’s. She stood up and the waiting crowd cheered when they realized she had relented.

She made her way to the make-shift stage and spoke quietly with the musicians. The room fell silent as she turned to face the audience. The boy raised some sort of wooden flute to his mouth and began playing. As the notes rang out many in the audience began nodding and some even cheered. Must be a favorite, Jack realized. As the other instruments picked up the melody, the young men and women fell silent again. The melody was slow and hauntingly beautiful. The clear tones of the flute led the other instruments through the piece. The stringed instruments were a counterpoint for the main melody and a small hand-held drum anchored the rhythm, like a heartbeat. Then the flute dropped softly into the background and Mahlia began singing.

Her clear soprano rang out softly, taking up the melody the flute had introduced. She was singing in her own language. Jack listened, amazed at the skill with which she sang. The notes were fluid and graceful, her voice rising and falling as it harmonized with the sound of the instruments. Mahlia sang, her eyes closed, her face expressive and somehow sad.

“What is it about?” Daniel asked Gareth quietly. Jack listened for the response but didn’t turn away from the sight of the singing Chosen.

“It’s an old song,” whispered Gareth. “It’s about family, home, and… love.” Gareth’s voice seemed to catch in his throat. “It’s about the simple things in our lives.”

Jack felt a stab of guilt. The things we’ve just told them they might be giving up so they can become slaves. Mahlia’s voice grew louder as she repeated the final verse one more time. She held the last note, it’s sound echoing as the instruments fell silent. As she let her voice trail off into silence, she opened her eyes and looked across the room toward Gareth. The silence held for one heartbeat, then another before the audience finally erupted in a cacophony of cheers, claps and whistles. He saw her seem to gather herself up and she smiled widely at the jubilant crowd.
“Another one!” Someone shouted. Mahlia laughed.

“They’ll keep her there all night long if she lets them,” said Gareth, a note of pride in his voice. Jack stood suddenly.

“That was beautiful,” he yelled out sincerely. “Sing another one for us!” Mahlia looked at him curiously. He nodded and waved his hand at her. “Please,” he said, “we’d enjoy it very much if you’d sing for us again. Let her enjoy tonight, he told himself. Mahlia nodded and the crowd erupted again. Jack sat back down, ignoring the curious look he got from Daniel. The music started again, a much lighter happier sounding tune this time. Mahlia relaxed and joined in a moment later while many of the audience sang along.

“Jack?” Daniel gave him a ‘what’s that all about’ look. Jack shrugged.

“We can talk later,” he said, as he reached for a cup. Gareth poured some of the local wine into his cup and Jack lifted his glass in thanks.

“Colonel?” Carter’s voice sounded unsure. For cryin’ out loud Carter, I’m having one drink!

“Relax a little,” he told them, taking a sip. “We can sort things out tomorrow.” Jack turned his attention back to Mahlia and the musicians. The tempo was fast and catchy. Almost unaware, he let his foot keep time with the beat. A group of kids got up and shoved a table out of the way. Several started an intricate patterned dance.

“Colonel Jack!” Jack turned to see who was calling him and saw Raynar and Espeth threading their way through the jumble of tables and benches. Espeth waved at him. Someone grabbed her by the arm and asked her something. Jack saw Raynar laugh and point in their direction. Several pairs of eyes turned to stare at him and Carter. The group burst out laughing.

“Did you enjoy the moonrise, Colonel Jack?” Someone called out loudly. Jack looked at Carter and grinned at her when she blushed bright red.

“Not so funny now, huh Carter?”

“Sir,” she said, a warning in her tone. Jack laughed and took another sip of wine.

“Do you want that drink now?” He asked.

“Uh… Jack, did I miss something?” Daniel asked, pushing his glasses back into place.

“Let’s just say teenagers are the same all over the universe,” Jack answered, smiling.