"PX8 49J is an uninhabited planet and there appears to be an ancient structure about 2KM from the gate. Major Lorne and his team did a flyover yesterday and there appears to be nothing else of interest there." McKay informed the group in the briefing room.

"Ok" replied Carter "You have a go Colonel Sheppard. Have your team ready to go in an hour.

"Ok Ronon, McKay gear up" Sheppard instructed "Be back in the gate room in 50 minutes"

Sheppard cast a quick glance at Teyla before quickly leaving; knowing that she wanted to come along, but because of her 'condition' was unable to.

45 minutes later John and Ronon stood in the gate room waiting for Rodney. Sheppard was checking the pockets in his tack vest and Ronon was checking his blaster. 10 minutes later Rodney finally arrived loaded down with his usual equipment.

"You're late" Sheppard stated

"What" Rodney spluttered looking up from his LSD "We still have another 5 minutes before we have to go"

"Yes but I told you to be here 5 minutes ago" Sheppard drawled.

"Yes, yes. Well I'm here now. So let's go."

Ronan smirked as Sheppard rolled his eyes and shouted "Dial it up Chuck"

"Good luck Colonel" Carter called from the balcony.

"Lets move out" Sheppard ordered and the team headed through the gate.

Sheppard looked back giving a wave as he stepped through the event horizon. As he stepped through the other side he pulled out his aviator shades and put them on.

"It's really hot" whined Rodney.

"It's not that hot Rodney" Sheppard replied as he surveyed the area. "Besides you were told it was warm here and you insisted on coming so buck up."

"I'm just saying." Rodney huffed as he started the trek to the ancient facility.

"Is it much further" Rodney queried after a while. "This heat is killing me."

"No" Ronon growled

"I hate having to walk everywhere." Rodney complained "Why did the ancients have all their facilities surrounded by trees. I mean they used Puddle Jumpers as well, they would have had to land somewhere."

"Well Rodney." Sheppard smirked "That was over 10000 years ago. The trees have probably grown since then."

"Oh well... Yes... I suppose that's true." Rodney admitted distractedly as he looked down at his LSD.

"What's up McKay" Sheppard enquired, slowing down to let Rodney catch up.

"Oh um just getting energy readings. We must be getting close."

5 minutes later they arrived at a clearing and Rodney quickly moved to the door covered in vines.

"Step back McKay" Sheppard order. "We need to clear the vines."

Rodney quickly stepped back and Sheppard nodded to Ronon who proceeded to fire his blaster repeatedly at the vines, quickly clearing the way.

"Can I check it now?" Rodney asked impatiently. "You better not have damaged anything Conan."

With a nod from Sheppard, Rodney quickly moved to examine the door and found the control panel. After several minutes with no success he shouted."Sheppard get over her with your supper gene."

"What's wrong." He asked

"Open it." Rodney barked as Sheppard reached the door.

"Sure thing Rodney." Sheppard drawled and ran his hand over the control panel, causing the door to open immediately.

"Hmf... Stupid fake gene." Rodney muttered as Sheppard grinned at him.

Sheppard cautiously entered the building, switching on the light on his p90. The hall was dark and dusty and there were 2 doors on each side and one at the end.

"Ok Rodney where to?" Sheppard asked.

"The power seems to be coming from straight ahead."

"Straight ahead so." Sheppard said as they started down the corridor to the door.

Sheppard stepped in front of Rodney and carefully pushed open the door. He carefully stepped into the room. All the lights came on as soon as passed the door.

"Seems ok." Sheppard said. "Come in Rodney. Ronon cover the door,"

"Sure." Ronon replied as Rodney pushed passed him, eager to see the room.

"Don't touch anything." Rodney warned as Sheppard moved towards one of the machines.

"I wasn't going to touch anything." Sheppard said "I was just looking."

"Yeah well your stupid gene seems to turn things on if you so much think about them or look at them. So just stay away."

"Whatever." Sheppard said and took a step back. "Hurry up and do your thing Rodney."

"Patience Colonel."

2 hours later Sheppard and Ronon were sitting against a wall playing cards while Rodney continued to investigate the numerous machines and lab equipment.

"Argh." Rodney shouted throwing down a screw driver.

"What's up Rodney?" Sheppard asked.

"This stupid thing." Rodney sputtered. "I can't get it to work. Everything is connected to this but I can't ... I mean it won't work."

"You should try it Sheppard." Ronon suggested smirking.

"How about we check out the other rooms first, in case there is something in them." Sheppard said

"Yes Yes." Rodney replied. "There may be something we are missing. Come on chop chop."

The three walked down the corridor and checked all 4 other doors. They all contained what appeared to be diagnostic beds, like the ones on Atlantis

"Well that was a waste of time." Rodney whined. "Lets head back to the lab and 'Mr. Super Gene' can try it."

"Ok Colonel" Rodney commanded when they got back to the labs "Step here and think it on"

Sheppard moved to where Rodney indicated

"Nothing is happening Rodney. What exactly is it supposed to do."
"Well I don't know it wouldn't turn on for me. Just think it on harder but don't make it do anything. "

"Is this safe."

"Um sure I think so."

"Rodney I will kick your ass if this does something weird to me."

"Relax Colonel." Rodney said. "I will be monitoring everything and will make sure you don't do anything stupid."

"Fine." Sheppard mumbled closing his eyes and concentrating."

"Good that's good it's on keep doing whatever you are doing." Rodney said not taking his eyes off his laptop. "I'm going to download the info. It shouldn't take too much longer."

"Just hurry. It's getting harder to keep it on."

"What" Rodney exclaimed "Are you ok? I'll just be another minute. Hang on."

"You doing ok Sheppard?" Ronon asked moving closer in case he needed to help Sheppard.

"M'ok just hurry." Sheppard mumbled.

"Just another few seconds Colonel." Rodney assured. "There I'm done. You can switch it off."

"K." Sheppard mumbled and started to move away from the console only to be enveloped in a bright white light which stopped almost as soon as it started.

"Oh crap." Rodney yelled seeing the light.

Ronon rushed forward and steadied Sheppard who was swaying. "You ok."

"I'm good." Sheppard replied, moving away from Ronon. "Just a bit dizzy. What happened Rodney?"

"I have no idea Colonel. But you seem ok and the console isn't giving off any strange reading. You are ok right."

"I'm fine. If you have everything you need, let's head back."

"Yeah sure. There isn't anything else useful here. The facility isn't powered by a ZPM and I have all the data downloaded."

"Ok let's move out." Sheppard ordered and headed towards the exit. "Ronon watch our six"

Ronon shoved Rodney in front of him and they followed Sheppard out of the building.

After 15 minutes of walking Rodney noticed that Sheppard was walking slower and slower.

"Colonel are you sure you're ok." He asked.

"I'm fine." Sheppard replied softly.

"Sure you are." Rodney muttered.

"Just shut up and keep moving McKay." Sheppard barked.

"Hmpf." Rodney mumbled glancing back at Ronon who raised his eyebrows and shrugged.

Sheppard picked up the pace and soon the Stargate was visible. Although John wouldn't admit it, he had a killer headache and couldn't wait to get back to Atlantis to take a few Tylenol and lie down for a while. He sighed and looked back at Rodney and Ronon, noticing Ronon was a good bit behind and scanning the trees. So he stopped and waited for them to catch up.

"You ok?" Rodney asked as he neared John's position.

"Fine." John answered not taking his eyes from Ronon, who had started moving again, albeit cautiously. Ronon gave John a slight nod so John started moving forward again. Rodney sighed and slowly started after John.

Suddenly a loud thundering sound filled the area. They all stopped in their tracks and scanned the area to find the source of the noise, which was growing louder by the second. Ronon started moving quickly towards the others and saw a herd of animals breaking through the trees, close to where Rodney was standing.

Sheppard saw Rodney way standing in the way of the herd of huge animals, which were a cross between a buffalo and a rhino. He roared to Rodney to move, but Rodney stood there frozen in fear, as the animals bore down on his position.

"McKay Move it." Sheppard screamed again as he ran towards Rodney.

"Crap. Crap. Crap." Rodney screamed and started running towards Sheppard.

As Rodney was nearing him Sheppard saw that one of the animals was about to hit Rodney. He dived towards the terrified scientist, knocking him out of harms way. Unfortunately for John, his timing was off and he was hit in the side by one of the animal's horns.

Sheppard fell on top of McKay covering scientist's body with his own. Several more of the animals ran past or over the pair until Ronon started firing his blaster and scared them away from his team mates. When the animals were gone he quickly reached the two men, who were still on the ground.

"Sheppard you ok?" Ronon asked as he gently turned the man over. "You ok McKay?"

"Yes, yes I'm fine, considering I was bowled over." Rodney whined as he sat up. "You know Colonel; you should warn a guy before you tackle him. I think you put my back out."

"Sheppard are you listening to me." Rodney barked, not noticing that Sheppard had yet to move.

"He's unconscious." Ronon said kneeling beside Sheppard and checking his body for damage.

"Oh God." Rodney gasped "What's wrong with him?

"He has a gash on his side. Must have been hit." Ronon replied. "We need to get him back. Go dial the gate."

"Yes the gate." Rodney agreed and ran as fast as he could to the DHD, as Ronon carefully gathered Sheppard in his arms and made his way to the gate. When he arrived Rodney had the gate active and ready to go through.

"His breathing doesn't sound good." Rodney stated, as they made their way through the gate.

There was a med team waiting for them when they arrived and Ronan gently laid John onto a waiting gurney and stepped back to let the doctors do their work.

"What happened?" Carter asked, coming down the stairs as Sheppard was whisked away.

"Some animal's attacked us on the way back." Rodney replied.

"Sheppard got hit." Ronon added.

"Ok." Carter replied. "Get to the infirmary and get checked out. We will debrief later."

To be continued.......................