Chapter Two: Invasion of the Body Snatchers
General Landry stood behind Walter in the control room, talking on the phone with Jack. "They've missed two check ins, we sent another MALP, sending it farther from the 'Gate – got nothing back except some squirrelly pictures and a little static. Dr. Lee think's it some sort of interference, some kind of energy field disrupting everything. We don't think they're getting any signals. We can't get a hit on their transponders, no radio contact, nothing."
"I've got a bad feeling about this," Jack paused briefly, "I'm on my way."
As Landry hung up the phone, Walter looked up from his console concerned. "Hope they're okay, sir."
"Me too, Walter." Landry watched the screen a moment longer. "Shut it down. We'll try again in an hour."
"Yes sir."
xxxxxx
"I believe we should find shelter, set up camp before dark." Teal'c called as he jogged to catch up with the team who were moving at a fast pace.
Mitchell trudged on, "I'm feelin' no pain. I say we keep going."
"Darkness approaches." Teal'c insisted.
"Afraid of the dark, Teal'c?" Sam laughed at her joke looking back at the Jaffa.
"I feel good." Daniel piped in.
Vala squeezed Daniel's six. "That you do. We should continue, Muscles, the sooner we…" An amazingly loud clap of thunder startled her speechless.
The lightning bolt that followed hit the ground close enough to send the hairs on everyone's arms standing at attention.
"Oh boy! I don't see any shelter and the tree line's gotta be at least another click!" Sam's eyes rounded in exclamation.
Menacing clouds rolled toward the group standing in the unprotected meadow. The four gathered in a tight circle while Teal'c remained a few steps back, dark eyes searching the area.
"Hoodoos!" Daniel's voice broke into the silence, stuffing his binoculars back in his side pants pocket.
"Who do what?" Mitchell asked, confused.
"No, Hoodoos. It's a geological term, means rock formations, but recently refers to piles of rocks left by hikers. Actually it ..."
"Spare me the details; I get the pile of rocks. I don't see 'em."
"I see them DanielJackson. Come, we must hurry." Teal'c took off at a run. Thunder and lightning followed the troop as they ran for cover and the sky became gloomy with dark clouds that blocked out most of the setting sun.
Vala skidded to a stop beside Daniel and reached for his arm. "I hate storms, darling."
Daniel disengaged her hand from his arm. "Don't call me darling!"
"Right! I hate storms, imbecile!"
"Yo ho! Well said!" Sam laughed.
"Why don't you stay out of this!?" Daniel sneered at Sam.
"Why don't you make me?" Sam snapped back.
"Whoa, Colonel. That'd be like shooting ducks in a pond." Mitchell grinned contemptuously.
Teal'c raised a brow, "Would you all refrain from argumentative remarks? It is most disconcerting. Let us concentrate instead on survival and what might be causing this unusual event of mood swings. There is…"
"Shut up!" The four headed monster yelled in unison.
xxxxxx
Jack, along with Dr. Lee, waited at the foot of the Stargate ramp with Reynolds and his unit. All Jack got out of Dr. Lee's earlier Carteresque explanation of the devices was that they blocked some kind of energy that wavered in the darkness and sunlight to and fro from the worst kind of meanness, to the wackiest over the top happiness. Not a good thing for SG-1, considering they were carrying weapons… and Vala. He shook off the implications of her 'over the top' happy with poor Daniel.
Landry spoke through from the control room. "Dr. Lee? You have the devices activated?"
"Yes sir, General. I have one and Colonel Reynolds has the other one. That should keep the field from affecting us." Bill had to yell over the thunder and the scream of high winds.
"We better find shelter and…!"
Landry's voice interrupted Jack's shout. "Then be careful, all of you. And bring them back." The 'Gate shut down and the rescue team moved out.
When a bolt of lightening hit nearby, Jack mumbled, "I was gonna say – and fast!"
xxxxxx
In the shelter of the rock formation the five members of SG-1 huddled together against the lightning and the pelting rain. Vala sat with her back against Daniel's chest having no alternative in the cramped space. Daniel shoved her forward. Turning with a vile glare she slapped him across his neck.
"Stop it you two," Mitchell yelled. "Or I'll shoot you both."
Both of them stopped their petty shoving contest. Sam pushed a few rocks from her space sending them flying at Mitchell. He aimed the P-90 in her direction and she challenged him with her own. He backed off with a scornful glower. Teal'c remained awake at the very edge of the shelter. He pulled the zat from its holster and held it tightly in his hands.
The next roar of thunder sent Vala straight back against Daniel and he shoved her once more knocking her into Teal'c's back. Teal'c turned the zat on Daniel with a sinister look - not unlike the first time Daniel had met him. Angrily, Daniel snatched Vala right back up against his chest and held her shoulders tight enough that she'd probably have a bruise by morning. When the Jaffa finally turned away, he managed to move her slightly away from him.
The loss of his body heat and comfort sent recollections of Qetesh through her. Vala wavered between fear and loneliness to downright hatred of Daniel, as she fought to dispel the evil memories.
As Vala was shivering with cold, somewhere in his overwrought consciousness Daniel fleetingly felt a tinge of guilt. Shoving it aside he let the fury of being forced to keep her near win out. Glaring at Teal'c's back he started planning his revenge. The Jaffa would have to sleep at some point.
Daniel moved his glare to Carter, who sat, P-90 against her breasts, leaning it in Mitchell's direction with her finger on the trigger. Mitchell mirrored her and the two had their eyes locked on each other warily. They too, would sleep at some point. He was wired, vaguely recognizing that little Sarcophagus perk. Experience counted, he could out-wait them.
Teal'c gathered his good sense and planned ahead as the other four fell into a heavy sleep.
xxxxxx
Daylight flooded the shelter where the team slept peacefully. Daniel curled up, just outside the rocks, lying on his side. Vala spooned into him and one of his arms lay haphazardly across her middle. Mitchell slept with his head on Sam's shoulder as she leaned serenely against the rocks. Teal'c was no where to be found.
Vala moaned and twitched, calling out, "Daniel!" in her sleep. He squeezed her tighter, shushing her, whispering into her ear, "Shh, it's okay, sweetheart, I'm right here." He kissed her hair, then her neck, and she settled down, turning into him. Daniel gathered her in his arms and kissing at her sleeping lips, he drifted off into contented slumber.
Waking mid-day, Daniel peered into Vala's blinking eyes. He grinned and hugged her quickly, untangling himself reluctantly from her warm body. He smelled coffee.
Sam sat crossed-leg in front of a fire with a small pot of coffee boiling away. Mitchell prepared MREs. Daniel stretched lazily and looked around. "Where's Teal'c?" He asked yawning.
Mitchell shrugged. "Guess he's gone on ahead to scout the area. I'm sure we'll catch up to him later."
"Coffee?" Sam offered.
"Oh yeah."
"I ate the Oreo's waitin' for you two lovebirds to wake up." Mitchell stood and offered up an MRE. "It's Southwestern omelet."
"Yummy!" Sleep tousled and grinning, Vala reach around Daniel and took the MRE.
"Where are my kisses?" Daniel looked around at the sweets from Vala's pack that lay scattered on the ground.
"Right here, darling." She laid into him with a wild and hot kiss.
When she finally pulled away his eyes twinkled, and he mumbled, "I was talking about the chocolate ones, but that was way better."
"I'm starving. How much farther do you think it is Princess?" Mitchell asked Vala, settling by the fire to eat his MRE.
"I have no idea." Vala sat beside Sam, "I've gotten a bit confused again. Oh, well. Not to worry. We can see the mountains. We just have to walk that way. If we cut through the forest, I'm sure it'll be much quicker."
Daniel lowered himself beside Vala and Sam handed him coffee. "Won't that make us all crazy; I mean the forest, shade, darkness, the dark side? I don't wanna go all dark side. Gives me the creeps. Besides," he said gathering Vala with one arm into his side, "I hate the way it makes me treat Vala."
"My poor, adorable, Daniel. I'll try not to make complaints and worry you like a thief after treasure."
"Thanks honey, and I'll try not to get all bent out of shape."
"Deal." Vala leaned into him and sealed the deal with a kiss.
"So." Mitchell grinned, "we've decided on going through the forest, straight to the Temple, not passin' go and not collectin' the two hundred dollars. Am I correct?"
"Sounds like a plan." Sam started packing up their gear.
"I'm good with that. How about you, sweetie?" Daniel turned to Vala.
"Where ever you go, I will follow." Vala flashed a happy smile at Daniel.
Sam grinned at Cam, "Aren't they just the cutest couple?"
"Adorable." Mitchell answered truthfully, eating the last Oreo he'd hidden in his pocket.
xxxxxx
Hearing the approaching sounds of someone coming through the wooded area, Teal'c, weapon raised, waited. He held the map he'd fashioned, crumpled in his hand. Head swimming, he leaned against a tree for support. O'Neill stepped into view and Teal'c relaxed, letting the gun drop. Reynolds and team, followed by Dr. Lee, trailed behind Jack.
His brow raised in astonishment when Jack spotted the somewhat pale-looking Jaffa. "Teal'c?"
"It is I, O'Neill." Teal'c keeled over, face down onto the forest floor.
"What the hell!?" Jack rushed forward. "Bill!" He called for Dr. Lee.
xxxxxx
"I am much better now." Teal'c insisted as the rescue team followed him.
"You're feeling normal now?" Jack, still concerned, walked beside Teal'c into the meadow. "Well, not normal, when have you ever been normal? But are you…"
"I am still somewhat affected; however, I am greatly improved from a short time ago. I am most concerned for SG-1. They are argumentative in the shade or darkness and quite the opposite - to the extreme - in the sunlight. There were times when I truly thought about shooting them with my Zat'Nik'Tel. However, I managed to refrain."
Jack looked perplexed by the seriousness of Teal'c's expression.
"How far ahead do you think they are?" Reynolds moved up alongside the Jaffa.
"They seemed to realize that the sunlight is better and wandered aimlessly through the open fields in their pursuit of the Temple, slowing their progress considerably. I believe we will have no problem locating them. They will stay in the sunlight of the field. We have only to traverse the meadow to find them."
"Let's get a move on!" Jack called, sprinting ahead.
