Chapter I - Crash

The Puddle Jumper made its way steadily down towards the surface of the planet. John chuckled as they soared easily through the atmosphere. He loved exploring just that tad more when a Jumper was involved. Next to him, Rodney clutched the edge of his seat while checking the scanner for any sign of civilization. By now it was probably more a force of habit than real discomfort, but you could never be sure when it came to the Canadian Scientist.

The Ancient database had listed M3S-836 as a planet with five very friendly villages and three just as friendly tribes that were always interested in establishing trade-relations. The lack of any kind of air transportation kept them from accessing the space-gate, so all they had to offer was the food and technology they'd managed to come up with themselves.

"You know, this thing does have inertial dampeners", he pulled the Jumper so that they were now flying in a straight line towards what seemed like Mountains at least the size of K2 and the Mount Everest.

"It's just the thought of it. Plus, I was eating lunch when you decided it was time for another trip through the gate. We've just been at M7G-677 yesterday."

John raised an eyebrow.

"Don't tell me you're still mad I tricked you into that one? The kids were all so glad you showed your face."

"Oh ha ha", the Scientist looked back towards the screen and sighed. "Seems like they died out or got culled in the last 10'000 years. Wouldn't be the first time that has happened."

"Doctor, I just picked up a faint energy reading from... coming from a bit North of here", a female voice said shyly from behind, seconds later corrected by a male voice;

"That's South. I can't believe you with your Doctorates are supposed to be smarter than us."

"Hmm, that's probably just the Volcano we flew by earlier", Rodney said, without even glancing at them. John smirked:

"Don't tell me you miss Teyla and Ronon?"

"Oh come on. At least they don't point out the obvious", he said, slumping back into his seat. "How long is this festival thing of hers going on anyway, and why did you have to tell Ronon he had to accompany her."

"Because it's safer that way", John said smugly. "And they needed some time off."

"Aha, and I don't", scowling, Rodney poked at his screen and sat up instantly. "Hang on-"

The others stared at him while he poked at his screen a little more, deep in thought and, eventually, John spoke:

"Still hanging on here..."

"No, no, no, this can't be good", the Canadian just said. "McAllister, what exactly did those readings say again?"

Just as the girl was about to answer, Rodney hushed her by holding up one hand.

"Doesn't matter, got it here... no, just as I thought, this is bad, really, really bad-"

"McKay!", John said, with a bit more force in his voice, and the other man looked up, his mouth more lopsided than usual when he pointed at the horizon. John's eyes scanned for anything out o the ordinary, when he saw it. Building up rapidly in front of them were mountains of black clouds, just when the Jumper got hit by an enormous blast of wind that nearly threw them out of their seats. "What on earth-?"

Re-entry had felt like nothing at all, and a little bit of wind threw the Jumper from side to side? That was close to impossible, at least in John's eyes.

"See, that is about ten times worse than the Millennium Storm we experienced in our first year on Atlantis. It probably wouldn't have been as bad if the volcanoes weren't erupting, too", Rodney said matter-of-factly, whilst reading rapidly through the pages of Data flashing up on the screen in front of him.

"Volcanoes? Sir?", the male voice behind them asked.

"Sgt. Morris, make sure that everything's fastened securely in the back hatch and then buckle up, we're in for a rough landing. Best is to wait it out, right Rodney?"

"Hmm", the Scientist responded with an irritated nod of the head. Right now, he felt insanely worried about the fact they'd chosen to take two newcomers with them to give them first experience points.

At least John was here to fly them safely to the ground.

He glanced up and for a moment he thought his vision had faded, until he noticed that the air was filled with thick fog and dusty particles. They were miles away from the two erupting volcanoes, but with the vast winds they were experiencing it didn't wonder him how this could be possible. It was pretty logic.

"Best thing is if we could find some sort of Cave, Sir", Sgt. Morris said as he sat back down again and fished for his seatbelt.

"Have you looked outside recently?", John said, using both his hands to stir the Jumper, wishing he had an extra pair for assistance. Something big hit the side of their left drive pod and they were thrown hard to the right. It all happened so fast that Rodney didn't even notice. Sgt. Morris flew through the air, smashing into John, who hit the front of the panel with a loud thump and slumped back into his seat unconsciously.

McAllister started screaming.

Rodney widened his eyes in horror as he looked around at what had happened. The two Military men both seemed to have lost their consciousness and if McAllister didn't stop screaming, he knew he'd be the cause of her following their faith, himself.

"Would you just be quiet", he snarled as he jumped out of his seat and grabbed the controls. Clenching his teeth, he tried to steady the Jumper as best as he possibly could and glanced back down at the Colonel. "Ah heck no. Sheppard? I could really need your help about now. Shep- John?", he nudged him slightly with one elbow, careful not to let go of the controls and bit his lip as he got no response. "Jennie, can you please just-"

"Already on it, Doctor", McAllister jumped out of her seat and hunched over Morris, feeling his pulse clumsily. Already wasn't the word he'd have picked, but he bit down this remark and tried to concentrate on not crashing them down. After what seemed like an eternity in the Scientist's eyes, he turned around again, looking slightly irritated.

"I don't want to be rude, but having the Pilot back around now would be a good idea."

"I studied Medicine, but that doesn't mean I can work miracles. I changed into Science, remember? Or else I'd be hired by Doctor Keller now, not you."

Rodney rolled his eyes and shot her a very annoyed look. "Now is not the time. If this is over I'll gladly let Keller hire you if that's what you prefer, now get them back."

"Morris is pretty out", she said, moving over to look at John.

What a great diagnosis, Rodney thought, biting his lip in concentration.

McAllister nodded. A deep gash above John's right eye, where he'd hit the panel, was bleeding, but apart from that he wasn't hurt. His pulse was steady. Hazel-green eyes fluttering open, the Colonel gave her a puzzled stare. Something hit the Jumper again, and with horror Rodney saw them plummeting towards the rocky ground below. They'd lost the second drive pod. McAllister had been smashed back against the hatch door while Rodney found himself in John's seat, on his lap, pressed against the American who looked up at him.

"Oh no. No, no, no, please tell me this is not happening! Sheppard...! John we-", he stood up again and grabbed the controls frantically. "It's useless, there's nothing left to… sit tight, we lost all control over the Jumper. We're going down."

Almost keeling over the DHD controls, he landed in his own seat and buckled up, he then bent forwards, put his head between his knees and closed his eyes.

If this was how they were going to die...

Tears were streaming down his face. He hadn't even noticed that he'd started to cry. He wasn't used to this. To not having a solution to a problem. To just sit here and wait for the horrible pain to crash in on them – and death. If it were to come, he hoped it wouldn't drag on and just wash them away.

Right about now.

Or... now...

He sighed. At least Teyla and Ronon weren't with them. At least they were safe.