Author's notes: thanks for reviewing and the alerts/fav's. Remember this was my first story ever, I wrote it some time ago and if you've read my more recent stories, you might find my writing style has changed. But I felt nostalgic and wanted this up the way it was written. Corine
Only 5 minutes after the General had made the phone-call, Major Louis Ferreti entered the briefing room. He did not get the chance to say something.
"At ease, Major. Sit down. We have a situation." The General quickly pointed at the seat on the left side of the table. He waited until the Major had taken his seat and continued: "SG1 was surprised by an earthquake on PX4211. The Stargate was located on a beach and that piece of land is now separated from the rest of the team by a rift. Major Carter and Teal'c were close to the Stargate, so they were able to gate home. Colonel O'Neill and Dr. Jackson are still on the planet. Dr. Jackson seems to be alright, but the Colonel is trapped under trees and may be injured. We have to find a way to get them home".
A stunned Major Ferreti looked over at Major Carter, who nodded at the explanation. She got up and moved over to the whiteboard. She took a pencil and started to draw the situation.
"This is the shore on PX4211, or rather, was the shore. The ocean is over here" she pointed at the left of her drawing. "The Stargate was positioned here," she placed an X on the map. "We first headed north, where we found nothing but trees, then we moved south-east to scan the area. Next we went south-west, like this," she was drawing the route on the map while she spoke,"and headed back north, back to the Stargate." She paused for a moment.
Major Ferreti took this moment to ask the obvious question, "If there was nothing on this planet, how come you were 6 hours overdue?"
The General nodded. That was exactly what he was thinking.
Teal'c explained, "The south was extremely difficult to explore. Many canyons to cross. That is why we were delayed." He bowed his head slightly to the General.
"Thank you, Teal'c," the General responded.
Sam continued, "Right. The last canyon was between us and the Stargate and we had to head back east a little to cross it, so this is where we came from. Teal'c and I were walking maybe ten yards ahead of the Colonel and Daniel. We reached the beach. Then the earthquake started."
She marked their position and placed another mark a little more to the south-east. "This was the position of the Colonel and Daniel at that time. There was not much cover for us on the beach. Except for the Stargate, there was nothing threatening to fall on us. When we got up after the shocks we saw the result of the earthquake. The ground had split open, like a huge canyon somewhat like this," she drew an almost vertical line to the right of the Stargate.
"That's when the rush of water followed. Probably broke into the canyon on the south, here, and filled it up. The force of the water managed to break it's way to the ocean up north, here," Sam pointed on the map. "And that's when we found ourselves drifting off shore…."
The others looked stunned at her drawing. "Wow!" was all Major Ferreti could respond. He scratched the back of his head.
"It was indeed most terrifying," Teal'c stated.
"How big is this newly formed island anyway?" the General asked.
"Approximately 900 square ft, I think. The ground is not very stable, and neither is the Stargate. The waves were already taking small parts off when we left. According to some calculations I made, the island will be washed away by the end of tomorrow. I also don't think the Stargate will be functional until that time. It was very unstable. I think it will fall over."
Everybody realised the implication of the situation. They had to act real fast.
"How about the Colonel and Dr. Jackson?" Major Ferreti asked.
"We had brief radio contact. Daniel Jackson stated he was alright. Some trees crushed Colonel O'Neill. Unfortunately, the radio broke down. We do not know more," Teal'c answered.
"So, what do we need, a raft? A hover?" Major Ferreti changed the conversation to the solution of the problem at hand.
"Is the ground stable enough for something as big as a boat coming through the wormhole?" the General asked.
Sam shrugged her shoulders. "It is a risk, Sir. The DHD is positioned very close to the Stargate and we don't want to knock that down. It will be difficult to get it there, without it being thrown in the water under our noses by the force of the wormhole."
"So we'll hook it to a steel cable," Major Ferreti offered.
"Well, with the position of PX4211 according to Earth, the length of that cable will have to be approximately…" Sam was already calculating.
"Major Carter! I don't think Major Ferreti was serious!" the General interrupted her.
"No Sir, of course not. Sorry, Sir."
"What about a simple inflatable boat?" Teal'c wondered pragmatically.
"Yeah, sure, and what do we do when Murphy strikes and we sink into that fluid freezer?" Sam wanted to know.
Teal'c frowned. "Where would that guy Murphy come from?"
"Can't we use those flying-belt-things?" Major Ferreti suddenly remembered pictures of one person flying with something on his back.
"Yes. You mean a rocket-belt? That could work!" Sam's face lightened up.
"A rocket-bell? I am not familiar with that kind of technology." Teal'c frowned.
Janet and even the General were looking questionably at Sam.
"A rocket-belt, Teal'c. As in belt. You tie it around your waste. It is a kind of small aircraft, which you carry on your back. They are also referred to as jetpacks," Sam explained.
Teal'c lifted another brow. These humans were indeed amazing.
"There are different kinds of jetpacks. The first aircraft was developed at Bell Aerosystems, I believe. It uses a hydrogen peroxide reaction rocket engine, which sends high-pressure steam to the flight nozzles. That's how it can lift a person up. I think it only runs for about 30 seconds. I don't know if that is enough to reach shore. I also remember that different jetpacks have been developed, using jet turbine engines. They should be able to fly for at least ten minutes, 80 miles per hour. That should be enough. The army did some experiments with them. If it is possible to also carry one spare aircraft, two people should be able to fly over and four people can come home." Sam was getting excited.
"Remember, we don't know if the Colonel is injured. He might not be able to fly such a thing," Janet tempered her.
"Teal'c, do you think you can fly this jetpack thing?" the General asked.
Teal'c nodded. "I shall learn fast."
"Okay people, this is the plan. Teal'c and Major Feretti, get yourself a suitable jetpack and learn how to use it A.S.A.P. Major Carter, assist them. If this is possible, I want Teal'c to fly over first and find out if the others can fly the damn thing back. Major Ferreti, you will be standing by, keeping in radio-contact with Teal'c. Major Carter, in the mean time, I need you to figure out which kind of raft is in our back-up plan and prepare it to gate out if necessary. You will also co-ordinate the whole rescue operation. Any questions?"
"No Sir," the three answered.
"Let's get our men home then. Good luck, people." With that, the General dismissed them.
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Jack and Daniel were silent for a while. Each of them stared at the Stargate, drifted off shore, about 350 yards away, they estimated.
Jack supported his left arm with his right hand. He scanned their surroundings. "Well, this sucks," he muttered. "I don't see Teal'c and Carter anywhere. Do you? Use your binoculars."
Daniel grabbed his binoculars and found the Stargate through them. "The Stargate looks to be intact and the DHD is also there. No sign of Sam and Teal'c though." He looked down shore to the south and than north. "Nope. Can't find them."
Jack sighed. "Okay. We know Teal'c is alright, because he talked to you on the radio. We don't know for sure about Carter. There are a few possibilities. One, they were near the Stargate and they have gated home to get help. Two, they are somewhere up north or south, in who knows what condition, and were not able to reach us yet…."
Daniel nodded. God, let them be alright.
Jack continued, "If they gated home, it would take them about an hour to brief everybody and come up with a plan, another two or three hours at least to gather the right equipment. A boat would be nice, so…" He checked his watch. "How long was I out anyway?"
Daniel thought for a moment. After the radio went dead, he had been busy moving those stupid trees, how long would that have taken him? "I think about half an hour," he estimated.
"So it will take at least two hours before we will know whether they have made it or not," Jack calculated. He made his decision easily. "I need you to relocate that shoulder, Daniel".
"Now wait a minute, Jack. Do you think that is wise? Doctor Fraiser is much better in this, you know, so why don't I just…… immobilise it," Daniel argued, not wanting to think about the job Jack wanted him to do. Hell, he had set a couple of broken bones in his lifetime, some memories he did not cherish, but he had no experience with dislocated shoulders and he wasn't about to start building it just now.
"Daniel! Come on. We don't even know for sure if Carter and Teal'c made it home. So if they're not, we have to think of a way getting over there," Jack pointed at the direction of the Stargate with his right arm. "That means we will have to build a raft and I'm gonna need both arms to do that. So let's get this over with. You can do it. Just tug the arm real hard and fast and it will slip back into the socket, okay?" Jack tried to make it sound nice and easy. He knew it was not that simple, but it had to be done, and discouraging Daniel would not help.
Daniel still looked doubtful. He knew Jack was right. If no help was on the way, they would have to find a way out of here on their own. But the idea of tugging that arm just made his stomach turn.
Okay. Just do it, Daniel. You can do it. Jack needs you to do it. But not without a painkiller.
"Okay. But first I am going to give you a shot of morphine. And don't argue," he said when he saw Jack was about to protest. "Or I am not gonna do it." He crossed his arms in front of his chest, looking determine at the stubborn Colonel.
Jack shrugged. "Let's go back to our pack's then." He turned around and headed back, with Daniel on his heels.
A couple of minutes later, Jack sat down on the ground against a tree and Daniel approached him with the syringe. This was something he was experienced in, thank God. He gently rubbed the skin of Jack's right arm and inserted the needle. "There. Now we wait a little while," he said, gathering his strength for the next part.
Leave the sweating to the patient, Daniel, and just get the job done.
Daniel got up. Jack hooked his good arm around the tree for counterbalance. Daniel took Jack's injured arm. He carefully lifted it and flinched in sympathy, as he saw Jack brace himself. "Okay, do I tug this way?"
Jack nodded, his teeth clenched.
Daniel tugged the arm as fast and as hard as he dared. It did not feel good. He didn't even know how it was supposed to feel, but somehow he knew it didn't work. He had failed, damn! Looking at his friend didn't make him feel any better. Jack's eyes were closed and the entire color seemed to have vanished from his face. He was breathing in short puffs, trying to control the pain.
"I messed up, oh, God, Jack, I 'm sorry…" Daniel stumbled.
"s-okay, just pull a little harder, you can do it," Jack managed to say through clenched teeth. "Again…"
Daniel felt nauseous; did Jack actually want him to try again?
Of course he did.
The man nodded at him for encouragement. Daniel positioned himself again. This time, he knew better how to tug. He did it again, a little harder and faster than before. Although it had felt better, he knew it wasn't enough. Again no luck.
Stupid Daniel, can't you do anything right?
He felt sick to his stomach, and feelings of guilt were overwhelming.
Jack looked shockingly pale now and didn't respond for a while. Then he opened his eyes and looked at Daniel. "Damnit Danny, come on! You'll have to tug it harder! Can't you just think it is Doc MacKenzie, you're hitting or something?"
This time, Daniel didn't give it a second thought. He was determined to do it right. And fast. For Jack's sake. Resolute, he grabbed the arm again and tugged it in the right direction. He felt it slip back in place, or at least, that's what he thought.
Yes!
He was just in time to catch Jack, who passed out with a groan and eased him to the ground. Then he hurried away and retched violently behind a tree.
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