On a side note: Actually, I already finished one piece of fic after Mesozoic Maze. However, I want to do it 'properly', so I'm looking for someone to beta read it (I've never had a story beta'd so far). It just seems finding a beta reader isn't exactly easy when one doesn't have a lot of net acquaintances... So it might take a while before I get that one up anywhere. Volunteers, takers, anyone:P
Anyway, that's enough about that other story--on to this one!
"Now, since the last weeks have been difficult enough for all of us, your next mission will hopefully prove to be more rewarding," General Hammond began the briefing promisingly.
Jack thought it was a bit of an understatement to say that the last weeks had been difficult. Both SG-1 and the entire SGC had been running from one crisis to another. From freak alien data downloaded to Jack's head to a mad old alien swapping bodies with Daniel, from a dying Apophis left at their mercy with the Devil knocking at the iris to invisible aliens trying to take over the base...
Then again, it was all business as usual. This job came with more risks than any other on the planet. The things they could achieve were greater as well. No pain, no gain, like the cliché said. Though right now, Jack would definitely welcome a mission with slightly more gain and less pain. He raised his eyebrows at Hammond, waiting to hear what he had to offer.
"Doctor Jackson, I'm pleased to inform you that your requests concerning P4X-215 have finally been accepted. You're scheduled to embark at 0900 tomorrow morning, so you'll have plenty of time to get briefed and acquainted with your mission specialist today."
"P4X..." Jack raised his eyebrows at Daniel. He thought he could actually remember the planet that designation stood for. If he really had it right, having a mission specialist with them made perfect sense. Months and months had passed since their visit to that world, and it had been a while since Jack had given any thought to it. "P4X-215, as in Barney's world?"
Daniel beamed at him and nodded. "We're going back to Dinoland. Finally."
Jack wasn't exactly sure he'd call that an easy or particularly rewarding mission. The first and only time they had visited the world, they'd barely made it back. They'd been captured by a bunch of Goa'uld-dinosaurs and their goons, and they'd only managed to escape with the help of an unusually friendly dino, and an uprising that'd begun when Teal'c had won some weird traditional ritual race.
They had no idea how things were on the planet now. Despite the fact that the mission had left Daniel very sick, beaten and bruised, he'd been anxious to get back there to learn about the current situation. Jack would definitely not want to see him get tossed around by a Tyrannosaur again. At least they knew what they were faced with this time, so they'd know to be more careful.
"So, who's this mission specialist?" Carter asked.
"He is one Doctor Leonard Ramsey," Hammond said, checking the name from his papers. "Apparently, he is one of today's leading paleontologists, and he is particularly well-known for his research concerning dinosaur behavior."
"I have heard his name before," Teal'c noted. During SG-1's mission to Dinoland, that one time, long ago, they had found out that Teal'c actually knew more about dinosaurs than the rest of them combined. "When is he to arrive?"
"Actually, he has arrived already. At the moment, he's going through the standard briefing and safety procedures. You'll be meeting him at 1500 hours."
Sam didn't know any paleontologists, but she had a stereotypical idea of one. She figured it was probably based on movies more than reality. So, she pictured Leonard Ramsey as an early middle-aged man, tanned and dressed in clothes well suited to field work.
When she returned to the briefing room for SG-1's first meeting with their mission specialist, she found a gray-haired man probably nearing his sixties, dressed in a tweed suit. He looked like someone who had spent all his life in some dark back room of a museum. As a woman in the military, Sam had learned to despise all kinds of prejudice, but she couldn't help wondering if this Doctor Ramsey really was the best possible person for this mission.
Only when all of SG-1 had entered the room and taken seats, the paleontologist looked up from a stack of folders. "Good afternoon," he greeted them. Sam had half-expected him to speak in a British accent, but at least she'd been wrong about that.
"Likewise, and welcome to the SGC," O'Neill returned his greeting.
"You must be Colonel O'Neill?" Ramsey nodded towards him. "And Captain Carter, Doctor Jackson, and Teal'c?" he checked, nodding to each of them. They returned the nods in turn.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Ramsey," Daniel told him. "It's been months since I left my official request for a new mission to this planet, and for a paleontologist who could come with us. I was starting to think they had decided against it."
"Please, call me Leo--and no, the pleasure is all mine, I assure you. I've got a hard time trying to understand what I've read in here," Ramsey pointed to the folders. "That there's actually a planet out there, in some remote solar system, where dinosaurs--just like the ones we had on Earth, no less--still live and flourish. I must say to you, Teal'c, that your debrief is amazingly accurate when it comes to recognizing and classifying dinosaurs."
"I have studied some of what has been written about these animals. Your work was mentioned in many books."
"So, you've already went through all the lessons about the stargate, the project and so on?" O'Neill moved on from the small talk.
"I have. I even saw the gate itself, but it's still hard to believe," Ramsey shook his head. "I hear that going through it is quite an experience."
"What you hear also happens to be true, and not exaggerated at all," the colonel declared. "The planet's no piece of cake either. The dinos aren't just interesting. They've got very real claws and teeth too."
Sam heard the challenge in O'Neill's voice, and she figured he was probably having the same doubts she was. That Ramsey might not be up to this. She knew O'Neill had had doubts about Daniel as well, mostly because Daniel was a civilian and a scientist. O'Neill was probably way more prejudiced than she was, so he wouldn't be quick to accept an old man straight out of some cobweb-covered study chamber as a team member, even a temporary one.
"I know I may not look the part, Colonel, but I've got extensive field experience. Years and years in some really uninviting places. I've been on digs all around the world. Doctor Jackson, you probably know what it's like."
"I do. Still, Jack's right, there are some real risks about this mission. We almost didn't make it back last time--but you know all about that already, since you've read our debriefs. I really think it'd be a huge mistake if no paleontologist ever got to visit this world. Besides, you're going to be our best asset when it comes to surviving out there, among those dinosaurs."
"When we're talking about something like that honkin' huge T-Rex, I think there's not a whole lot of useful advice anyone can give," the colonel didn't sound convinced. "The essential skill when it comes to those is the ability to run real fast," he added, eyeing Ramsey like he didn't believe the older man knew how to run at all.
"Jack. Remember the first mission to Abydos. You wouldn't have wanted me on the team. You figured I'd do no good and just get into trouble," Daniel reminded.
"You did get into trouble, Daniel. Anyway, I just wanted to make the realities clear here. This isn't some dinosaur theme park. This is the real thing."
SG-1 and their fifth temporary member stepped through the stargate to P4X-215 or Barney's world, as Colonel O'Neill had labeled it, after the name he had given to their dinosaur friend and ally. The sight they faced on the other side was exactly like last time. The green plant growth surrounded the gate and the ramp so thickly that the only clear area was where the vortex had caused it to disintegrate. Teal'c listened carefully, but he did not hear any dinosaurian sounds nearby.
"All right. As much as I don't like it, we're going to head towards the ruins again. It's the one place where we may find out what's going on here," O'Neill repeated their orders.
They entered the rainforest, O'Neill leading the way, Daniel Jackson and Doctor Ramsey right behind him, Captain Carter following them, and Teal'c securing their backs. What Teal'c caught of Doctor Ramsey's expression amused him greatly. The look on his face was very similar to that of Daniel Jackson when he was faced with some interesting new artifact, language or culture. Although the age difference between the two men was more than two decades, Ramsey looked just as wide-eyed, eager and excited. Teal'c could only imagine how happy the paleontologist would be when they would actually come across a dinosaur. They had a full day of walking ahead of them, so they were likely to meet many different species during that time.
They marched on for several hours without encountering any animal life at all, aside from the gigantic insects. Doctor Ramsey found them interesting, but Teal'c thought he could perceive a hint of disappointment on his face at the lack of dinosaur sightings. Yet, Colonel O'Neill's worst doubts concerning Ramsey might have been mistaken. He kept up with the rest of the team without any trouble, and did not complain once.
When Teal'c first noticed something moving in the jungle to their right, he found it promising. Perhaps the paleontologist would finally meet his first living dinosaur. However, he began to grow concerned when the sounds were repeated to their left, and then behind them. Teal'c called for the others to stop.
"I believe we are being followed. We may be surrounded already," he told them in a low voice.
SG-1 took up a defensive formation, with Doctor Ramsey in the middle, the rest of them raising their weapons towards the surrounding jungle. For a few seconds, it was completely silent. Even the typical background of buzzing insects and birds' song had stopped.
The silence was broken by the sound of several beings moving in the forest, closing in on them. Soon Teal'c saw their dark forms, little more than shadows in the greenness, about man-sized or slightly smaller. The closer they got, the more certain he grew that these were of the intelligent species of dinosaurs that ruled this planet, some of which were Goa'uld hosts.
The dinosaurs emerged from the foliage in a circle, surrounding SG-1. There were eight of them. A number that SG-1 might well be able to beat in close combat. Of course, they did not fire right away. Teal'c saw or sensed no signs of Goa'ulds in any of the dinosaurs. None of them carried a hand device either, indeed, they did not seem to wear or carry anything at all. For all he knew, these could have been ordinary dinosaurs, not intelligent ones capable of writing and speaking the Goa'uld language.
One of the eight stepped closer to SG-1. Teal'c thought the patterns of greens and browns on his scaly skin looked very familiar. The dinosaur walked a circle around SG-1, and stopped in front of Daniel Jackson. It growled a few words at him.
Daniel Jackson cast a tentative smile at the dinosaur, and replied to it in a guttural grumble.
Daniel's reaction made Teal'c all the more certain that his thoughts of the dinosaur's identity were correct. He did not actually believe in luck, but it did seem that SG-1 had met with a truly fortunate coincidence today. They had been found by the very dinosaur they had wanted to seek out, the one who had helped them before--Barney. Yet, as many months had passed and they knew nothing of the current situation on the planet, they could not be sure Barney was still on their side.