A warm sun shimmers down through the tree tops, and the breeze touches the grass as it waves under a flawless blue sky. Birds chirp and through it all the still of the alpine meadow radiates a calming presence. The valley is maybe a mile in length and perhaps ½ mile in width and rimmed by towering peaks soaring into the sky almost beyond sight. At the far end of the valley there is a sharp drop off and the meandering river plummets with surprising swiftness towards the plateau below. As one stands on the ledge of the valley it is a dizzying sensation, almost as if you are flying far above the ground. For it is not just any old drop down to the flat land below, but a staggering decent of over a mile of sheer rock face that is nearly straight down. How anyone or anything could ascend that would be a feat of near impossibility.

Far below the earth stretches away into the far distance, one can see for hundreds of miles. Far in the distance you can make out the wandering shoreline and the river like a silver snake as it traverses far valleys before coming to a end in the shimmering ocean. Dotted like sheep in a pasture are puffy clouds, not above your head, but below your feet stretching across the plain, casting shadows below them. In your face is a brisk, cool breeze, one can almost hear the ocean on the wind as it soars up the cliff from the lands far away.

And yet, the meadow is not the highest point on the planet, turning the other direction you are faced with mountains beyond description, hard, high peaks that tower up towards the deep blue sky. Snow covered and wind blown. Wisps of stray clouds wrap around the ghastly grey fingers that seem to touch the heavens themselves. Jagged and menacing they look, pinnacles of rock that make Mount Everest herself look like a hill.

But the valley that lies beneath these silent guardians is a beauty to behold. Deep green and waist high in thick flowing grass that seems to dance with the wind and the sun. Towering trees reach their branches high, seemingly in imitation of their high, granite neighbors. Brightly colored birds flirt about in the brush, chasing each other in pursuit of the sweetest blueberry.

It all seems untouched, as if no intelligent being had ever set foot in this magical place. But first appearances can be deceiving, for, in the middle of the meadow stands a not so subtle message that this world has indeed housed more than just nature herself.

A large metal ring, a stargate no less, seems very out of place in a land such as this, but here it stands. Cobwebs and a bird's nest now call it home, and the DHD is nearly hidden in the tall grass. No one has visited in some time, and no visitors are expected.

- - - - -

"Send the M.A.L.P. through."

"Yes ma'am." Chuck acknowledged Dr. Elizabeth Weir and the remote device lurched to life and rumbled through the gate. Several seconds later the transmitted image appeared on the screen; grass.

"Tilt it up." Dr. Weir looked at the screen curiously as it panned up and side to side, showing swishing grass, the gate behind, and a broad blue sky. She rubbed her chin. "Hmmm... try moving it forward." The image bobbled as the malp moved forward, then suddenly lurched and stopped, it had hit something. The something was the DHD, the edge of which could be now seen in front of the machine. "Well, I guess nobody is home." She smiled, turned to the awaiting team, "You have a go, but be on your guard, that grass could hide anybody and anything."

"Yes ma'am!" Major Tim Hughes saluted and grinned then turned to his team, "Rock n' roll folks!"

The other three members, Lt Evan McLaughlin, Dr. Freddie Davenport, and Dr. Elizabeth Dunham made up SGA-8 along with their wise cracking, smart ass Major. Their primary job was to scout new planets and look for traces of civilization, culture, and geological finds that could be beneficial to the Atlantis expedition. If they found something they documented it then reported back and another team would then take over for the detailed work. They considering themselves the "underdog" of Atlantis. Dr. Davenport liked to say that "We do the hard part, we find what they're lookin' for, then all they have to do is come in and sweep it up!"

It wasn't the most glamorous job, but they would gladly take it over staying in the city all the time. Some people liked the safe confines of Atlantis, but for SGA-8, the excitement came from stepping through the gate onto new worlds. Sure, most of the places they went to weren't that special, barren wastelands seemed to be their best bet. Sometimes they stumbled across a new culture to trade with, or ancient ruins that often turned out to be nothing more than a bathhouse relatively speaking.

At the moment it seemed they where gearing up to go explore yet another unoccupied planet. Though, the grass and blue sky was certainly a step up from the last place... blowing sand storms in a vast, cold, desert would not be on anyone's top vacation getaway list.

Stepping through the gate the first sight that met their eyes were towering mountain vistas. Major Hughes, notorious for saying "A new world, a new day, lets go find something interesting" every time he stepped through the gate could only muster the word "Wow." His team nodded their agreement. Nowhere had they ever seen such a grand and aw inspiring sight. They seemed frozen, their eyes drinking in the scenery.

Suddenly the radio sputtered, "Major Hughes, do you copy?"

Hughes jumped, then grabbed for his radio, "Yeah, yeah, I copy. Sorry, just, the view here is a little... intimidating, I've never seen such mountains in my life. I'll bring back a picture for you." Then he remembered his training, "Check in at 1200 hours. Over and out."

The stargate shut off behind them and left the team standing there, motionless. Dr. Dunham, or "Lizzy" as she preferred to be called, slowly spun around. She stopped dead facing the other direction. Her voice was barely a whisper, "Major..."

Nobody answered, she heard the surprisingly loud click of a camera as Dr. Davenport quickly snapped away.

She turned slightly, this time her voice louder, "Major, guys, look." She pointed. The three others turned and stopped dead, their mouths open. Before them miles upon miles upon miles of horizon stretched away, and not 50 yards from where they stood a ledge. Advancing to the edge Lizzy looked down, she gasped and backed up a few steps, "That's gotta be over a mile down."

Lt. McLaughlin came to stand wide eyed beside her, "It's like the grand canyon, expect bigger."

The rapid click of the camera came from her other side, "Amazing, amazing," was all Dr. Davenport could mutter as he quickly filled the memory on his camera.

Lizzy laughed, "Saving any room for the rest of this place Freddie?"

He grinned back, "Are you kidding, I have ten more of these things." He waved the memory card.

"Well campers," Hughes walked up behind the three, "As much fun as this scenic viewpoint is we still got a world, err..." he glanced over his shoulder, "valley anyway, to explore. Lets get moving." He gestured to the rim, "Because I dunno know about you, but I ain't about to find a way down. If Weir and the rest wanna check it out they can bring a Jumper."

Dr. Davenport nudged Lizzy, "Or she could."

"Yeah," Lizzy laughed, "and kill everyone on board? We've been over this before, I think not."

He raised his hands in defeat as the team began picking their way through the tall grass. The best going turned out to be along the edge of the river. The valley seemed pretty much the same, grass, grass, more grass, and trees. It was pretty enough alright. They took their time, wandering here and there, stopping to take a long look at whatever caught their attention. Mostly just not wanting to turn back.

Ahead the river took a slight bend and went up a short rocky outcropping, sort of a step if you will. Here the team took a break, though, not that they really needed one. They just sat and looked around, basking in the natural glory of the place, craning their necks as they strained to see the tops of the sheer, steep mountains.

Lt. McLaughlin rested against a boulder, idly running his fingers across the dirt beside him. There was a large flat rock in the ground where his fingers lay. Looking at it began to think that it was somewhat odd that a large smooth rock like that should be here of all places. He frowned, then brushed it clean. His eyes traveled along the rock and up the bank and on up the valley.

"Guys..." He continued brushing dirt away, "look at this."

Dr. Davenport was instantly beside him, eagerly digging in his backpack for a brush. His hand practically flew as he whisked the dirt away. He looked up in the direction that Lt. McLaughlin was gazing then sitting back on his heels he let out a whistle. "Well, well, lookie at what we have here."

Lizzy and Hughes were behind him, "What?" They said in unison.

He gestured, "Don't you see, it's a path. Overgrown perhaps, but it's still very discernable and, amazingly, in excellent repair for obviously not having been used in ages.

Dr. Freddie Davenport was an archeology major, to him something like this was pure candy. But to Lizzy, a technician and scientist, and Hughes, a military scientist, it meant about as much as a twig on a tree. None the less, they showed enthusiasm for him and quickly packed up least he leave them behind as he practical galloped up the stone pathway.

"Hey!" Hughes yelled to his back, "Wait up for the rest of us there Speedy!" Davenport stopped and waited, obviously impatient. When they finally caught up with him it was as if someone had hit the turbo button.

"Do you know what this could mean? There could be a whole civilization over there, across those mountains, or a ruins, or a great important find of the century. We could be hailed as heros, finding something new and powerful to fight against the wraith and replicators. Or it could be a people we could help. They could be decedents of the ancients even! Or they could be a race we've never met before, or, or, or." The list seemed to go on and on.

Finally Lt. McLaughlin held up his hand, "Enough!" he about shouted. Davenport stopped, mouth half open, looking a bit surprised. McLaughlin gave him the eye, "My ears are about ready to fall off. Okay?" Davenport started to protest but McLaughlin simply repeated, "enough" and continued walking. Davenport glared at his back a second the continued up the path.

Lizzy shot a raised eyebrow to Hughes. Normally Lt. McLaughlin was the quiet, reserved, stand in the back and ignore everyone sort of person. When he spoke it was quiet and soft. Even when he gave orders it was in a relaxed manner. Somehow he made you want to obey, instead of forcing you to. This outburst was most unusual.

Hughes only shrugged and grinned, "He was getting to me too."

The path wound up into a grove of large pine-like trees. From a distance they looked like regular evergreens, but upon closer examination one could see that at the tips of the branches a small yellow flower blossomed amongst the needles. It gave off a sweet, honey like smell that was laced with a deliciously tangy fragrance. It was dreamlike as the team walked through the grove, almost forgetting about why they had come this way.

But then, suddenly, almost out of nowhere, a doorway loomed–catching the team a bit by surprise. At first glance it just looked like a cave. But when one neared it you could clearly see a large metal door barricading the entrance. Just inside the doorway was a motion hand panel very akin to those of Atlantis.

Dr. Davenport nudged Lizzy, "You try it." He whispered, referring to the ancient gene she carried.

She stepped up and waved her hand over the panel, nothing. She tried again, still didn't work. She sighed and touched it, thinking it was no longer operational. To her surprise at her touch it lit up and the door suddenly lifted up. The Lt. and Major instantly brought up their P-90 and switched on their lights. Both Doctors grabbed for their flashlights.

The corridor upon first glace was long and empty, and very dark. Lizzy looked over her shoulder, Hughes nodded and stepped in front, Lizzy and Davenport following close behind with Lt. McLaughlin bring up their six. As they stepped foot into the hallway lights lining the bottom of the wall began turning on. As they stepped inside the door slid quietly shut behind them. Advancing they went on for about 30 yards before coming to another similar door.

Lizzy waved her hand in front of the panel, this time, it responded and opened right up. Inside was a large chamber. As in the hallway lights began switching on as soon as they stepped inside. Numerous panels and displays lept to life and became scrolling information.

"Well I'll be, I think we've found something." Hughes gazed wide eyed around the room. Lizzy and Davenport just grinned at each other and whipped out their tablets. In a matter of seconds they where flitting around like bees looking at this and that.

"Nobody touch anything!" Davenport commanded after a minute of looking, "This is in an ancient dialect I can't make out, it's not Lantean ancient at least, same structure, but I don't understand a single word. So I, we, have no idea what any of this is."

Lizzy nodded, "I agree, from the looks of the technology it's Ancient, I can interface the computer, but beyond that I don't dare touch any of it." She busily started hitting buttons on her tablet, recording the text on the display in front of her into the memory of her computer.

Hughes and McLaughlin simply wandered around the lab, while Hughes was technically a scientist, he didn't refer to himself as one. In his words he was a "bomb squad blunder." It was often said with a wink.

Like Davenport and Lizzy had said, everything in the room appeared to be Ancient, the style, the build, the text. But it was different somehow. One couldn't quite put a finger on it, it was like it had been modernized, if such a thing was possible with such advanced technology. The architectural design of the place was sleeker, more refined than Atlantis. There were smoother lines and over all it had a feeling of being less busy. It was peaceful to be around, just like the planet.

Dr. Davenport was muttering something about finding the power supply as Lizzy followed a long line of panels, smiling to herself at his rambling. Displays in front of her scrolled line after line of text. At the end of the panels was a slightly raised platform with an individual panel. She stepped up on the panel to have a closer look.

Suddenly the platform below her lit up, before she could step off a bright light seemed to engulf her. Frozen in place she couldn't move, couldn't call out. It felt like she was floating. A tingling sensation surrounded her body, and she felt as thought she had just been placed in an oven. Her head spun and her mind began to panic. What was happening! She wanted to scream. Now the tingling was turning to sharp pokes all over her body. She tried to move, to get away, but she couldn't, her limbs didn't answer. She could hardly see but for the bright light. Suddenly she felt very faint and lightheaded. The world around her took giant lopsided spins as if on a broken merry go round. All she wanted to do was escape, and suddenly she did as all went dark, a bright light far away gradually fading into nothing.