Summary:Lt. Kemp and Lt. Cadman are trying to survive on a ravaged planet and getting to know each other in the process. As the planet becomes more unstable they hope that rescue is on it's way. Major Lorne is determined to find them.

Spoilers: Up to and including Season 4.

Warnings: None

Missing in Action

Chapter 2

"Can you smell that?" Kemp said with his nostrils twitching and his mouth watering. The mild hunger he was feeling suddenly launched into an all out assault on his stomach.

"Mmmmm yes food. Real food."

"We're not imagining it then?"

"Well I'm not."

Cadman gave Kemp a knowing look. "Just after you left to watch the sunrise half the villagers woke and started to prepare to go hunting. Some went fishing in the river, some went to catch some kind of creature in the forest; must have been successful by the smell of it."

"So, I woke you when I left the camp?" Kemp asked hesitantly.

"Er…with your big boots treading on twigs. Yes, I'm afraid so."

"Sorry. I thought I was being so quiet as well."

"Don't worry I didn't sleep very well anyway; I kept waking up with the cold."

"See, we should have snuggled up for warmth. It's in the survival manuals."

Cadman smiled. "You're right you know, how silly of me to forget that."

"I didn't think that……. Oh, you're kidding….right?"

"I'll let you know tonight." She replied with a twinkle in her eye.

As they arrived at the camp they saw everyone sitting around a roaring fire. Various sized skinned creatures and odd looking fish were roasting on a makeshift spit which straddled two wigwam style structures. Three young children ran towards them excited and giggling. The smallest skipped along side Kemp tugging at his pants.

"Kimp, Kimp." The little one said as she produced the colourful skin of one of the animals which now was roasting on the fire. "My name's Rema. Look what I got. I help skin it."

Cadman laughed. "Seems you're charming at least one female here…..Kimp."

Kemp gave Cadman a forced smile as he patted the little girl on the head and said, "Well done," and she ran off to join the others, throwing the skin into the air for them to catch.

Ortillan called over to them. "I see you've met little Rema; unfortunately she lost her parents in the attack but she doesn't really understand what's happened yet."

He could see the concern in Kemp and Cadman's eyes.

"Don't worry, she'll be well looked after by us." He said as he watched the children play but was soon distracted by the activity by the campfire. "I hope you're hungry because we are about to eat. Please come and join us."

With everyone eagerly waiting, the men took the meat and fish from the spit and cut them into pieces. The women placed these on large leaves and wrapped them into small parcels and handed them out.

Kemp eagerly took his first bite. "Oh, this is great, I never realised anything could taste this good."

"Oh yes, this is wonderful." Cadman enthusiastically agreed.

No one spoke anymore until every scrap had been consumed. The camp then became a hive of activity once more as the fire was extinguished and anything of value was gathered together.

Ortillan then approached Kemp. "I think it's time to return to the village. Everyone is prepared."

He nodded as he was eager to get it over with. The walk back to the village was tense for everyone as the green of the forest soon gave way to blackened grass and scorched earth. The footpath soon disappeared under the general rubble and walking became difficult as everyone had to carefully pick their way across the ruins. The occasional gasp and cry from the villagers made Kemp flinch but he never looked in their direction as he had no desire to see the shock and pain in their eyes.

As soon as they had their bearings, Kemp and Cadman split up from the others and made their way to where they believed the Gate once stood. They searched around a massive crater which was peppered with bits of twisted metal and general debris.

"I've found something." Cadman called out as she lifted up a piece of burnt electronic circuit board. "Looks like it could be part of the M.A.L.P."

Kemp picked up a piece of debris to examine it. "Well I think I've found the Gate." He said turning it over in his hand. "This piece has a symbol on it. A Gate symbol. It must have received a direct hit."

"That's not what I wanted to hear." Cadman grumbled as she continued to turn over the rubble but brightened up when she pulled on a couple of straps sticking out of the debris. "I think I've found a back pack still in tact." And after brushing off the dust and ash she looked inside.

"Radio, power bars, binoculars and med kit. Good, nothing looks damaged."

She then widened her search and found something else.

"Oh no! Kemp, over here." She called out as she carefully lifted up some rocks and uncovered a charred body. She took a knife from her vest pocket and used the blade to pull out the dog tags. "Captain Jordan." She read and closed her eyes for a few moments. Putting the tags in her pocket, she looked at Kemp and they shared a brief but solemn moment of understanding.

"The ground is far too hard to bury him." Kemp said quietly, as he tried to shake off the miserable feelings he felt pressing down on him but he was already eying the rocks which lay close by and Cadman instinctively knew what he intended to do.

They worked in silence as they found as many as they could and covered him; then stood, heads bowed as they allowed themselves a few minutes to reflect on their fallen comrade.

Cadman gave Kemp's hand a squeeze and said gently, "There's nothing more we can do here. Let's go."

"Back to the camp?" He asked her.

Cadman had a glint in her eye. "I've a better idea. Follow me."

She made her way down towards the river, turned off the path and squeezed through a small gap in the trees which revealed a secluded spot. It was complete with a rock pool, rambling plants with brightly coloured flowers and trees whose branches curved gracefully down into the water.

"Nice." Kemp exclaimed.

"Come on, let's have a dip."

"You are joking."

"I'm really not." She grinned as she started to undress.

"Skinny dipping? You're quite crazy, you know that Cadman." He replied as he took off his boots while trying not to stare as she peeled off her uniform.

"Well I feel dirty, don't know about you. Wait, yes, I do know." She said as she wrinkled her nose at him while discarding her last stitch of clothing and waded into the water. "Oh God it's freezing." She cried out.

"Good. Freezing cold is a bonus." He said as he stepped out of his boxers and dived into the pool.

"Don't be embarrassed Kemp. I'm flattered." She teased as he quickly disappeared under the surface.

A few moments later he appeared directly in front of her, splashing her face and dunking her head under the water. When Cadman bobbed to the surface she found Kemp had already started to swim to the far side of the pool but she quickly caught up and grabbed his legs and pulled him under. A smiling Cadman sat on the side of the pool waiting for Kemp to arrive a few seconds later.

"OK you win." Kemp conceded. "You never cease to surprise me Laura."

"Oh right, so it's first names now is it."

"I thought since we're both naked………….."

"Ah yes…good point………Ryan." She smiled.

They sat in the warmer shallow water and talked about their homes and families on Earth, briefly allowing themselves to forget about the situation they were in. They were soon reminded when the all too familiar ground shaking began again, sending small rocks tumbling into the water beside them.

"Crap. I think that's our cue to leave." Kemp said with a sigh.

"I think you're right." Cadman agreed as a bigger rock landed with a splash missing her head by inches.

They both swam back to the other side of the pool where they dressed and started their walk back to the camp with Cadman still squeezing water out of her hair.

"Ryan, I just want to say how much I enjoyed that. I just wanted to feel alive. I know I should be used to it by now but all that death and destruction……..." She confessed.

"I know exactly how you feel and no, I don't think we'll ever get used to it."

"Well I feel better now………. and clean." She smiled and he put his arm around her shoulder as they walked the last few steps into the camp.

ooOoo

"So have you experienced these ground tremors before?" Kemp asked the Sion elder.

"Not like that. Never."

Kemp frowned. "I think the attack has had an effect on your planet but how bad it's going to get is hard to say."

"Well, we have made a decision. We have finished attending to our dead and we are leaving for the mountain range to the north as there was a settlement there before the Replicators came. We will see if they have remained. I hope you will join us."

"Have you decided on which route you intend to take?" Kemp asked as he took the binoculars out of his bag and looked across the valley to the north. "The mountains look about a two day journey away."

"As I have to consider the children and the weaker ones, we cannot take the more direct route because it is too rocky and difficult. We will follow the river across the valley and as you can see, it is a bit further. We can then circle the mountains to find the settlement on the other side."

"I'll let you inform your people and we'll set off as soon as you're ready."

Cadman saw the look of concern on Kemp's face as he watched Ortillan discuss his plans with the other elders.

"What's wrong?" She asked.

"The route across the valley leaves us vulnerable. It's below sea level and there's no easy escape or protection if the water levels rise and no cover from anything else this planet may throw at us. I'll try and persuade him to keep as close to the hills as possible, just in case."

ooOoo

Lorne trawled through the geological data that the scans had provided and made a few notes in the margin of the map he had drawn. The scans didn't provide him with enough information for him to make any accurate predictions so he was left with his instincts and experience to guide him.

"If Kemp and his team survived they wouldn't have had time to travel too far away from the settlement. So allowing for some travelling I think this area…" and he drew a large circle on the map, "is a pretty safe bet to search."

"Do you think the earthquakes are likely to get any worse?" Caldwell asked.

"Difficult to say. I need more specific data but if the Replicators have purposely targeted the fault lines of the planet then the problems can only get worse. If they are feeling any tremors Kemp and his team will head for higher ground, I'm sure.

ooOoo

The rumblings and tremors were getting louder and occurring more often. The group kept to the path near the river, as rocks were now continually falling down the hillside and Ortillan was reluctant to move any closer.

"It's definitely coming this way we need to hurry." Kemp urged as they all picked up their pace and he scooped up little Rema and put her on his shoulders in the same way as the fathers had done with their own children.

Without warning a crack appeared in the ground snaking its way along side them until a blast of steam shot out with a hiss making everyone jump and the children shriek.

"Just keep going." Cadman advised the worried villagers as they slowed to look at the ground.

There was another bang, another crack but this time longer, wider and only a short distance in front of them.

"Crap. We must head for the hills now; follow me." Kemp insisted as he went to lead from the front and guide everyone around the fissure.

The ground started to shake and ripple so violently that everyone just froze not daring to take a step. Kemp took out the binoculars and, scrutinising the way forward, could see new cracks appearing virtually every few seconds.

"Crap." Cadman repeated "I don't believe it." She pointed to the mountain range and smoke was spewing from the top of the highest peak.

"An active volcano?" Kemp said with astonishment. "This changes everything. Ortillan your plan is out of the question. We need another one."

ooOoo

When the Daedalus dropped out of hyperspace and entered it's orbit of the planet below, Lorne was still adding to the maps and finishing off inputting the data onto his laptop.

"OK Major, we're here. Whatever it is you need to do, get on it." Caldwell ordered.

"I'll need to take a Jumper Sir. I haven't been able to get any decent readings up here."

"Just be warned that if the Replicators show up you'll be on your own."

"Yes Sir."

ooOoo