Allopatric Speciation2
The team sat in the Jumper for a moment, as Evan shut down all systems. The trip through the Stargate had been silent, smooth. "Well, we'd better get this over with," he ruefully commented.
"Evan, I'm so sorry!" Moira apologized again. "I'll try to reason with John...with Colonel Sheppard," she awkwardly corrected.
"No. It will be fine. I expect once we reveal our findings it will blow over."
John watched the hatch finally open on the ship. Arms folded across his chest he silently waited, a grim expression on his face. He watched Evan lead his team down the ramp, pause briefly, then cross to him. He stopped, smartly saluted as did Aaron. Thomas was fumbling in his gloves with his scanner. Moira shifted the sample kit from hand to her other.
"Colonel. Reporting from MP3XY2, as ordered, sir," Evan formally announced.
An uncomfortable silence. Aaron nervously shifted his stance. Thomas audibly swallowed, grasping his scanner tightly. Moira stared at John. Evan stood ramrod straight, hands at his sides, waiting.
Moira sighed audibly, took a step forward but Evan signaled her back, turning his index finger in a circle. She relented, stepped back to stand with the rest of the team.
John recognized the dial it down signal, would have found it amusing under different circumstances. Finally he spoke, his voice clipped. Precise. "Lieutenant Josephes, take whatever samples have been procured to Doctor Beckett."
"Yes, sir!" With alacrity Aaron took the sample case from Moira. He marched out of the bay.
"Doctor Kavanaugh, do you have anything to report?"
"No, colonel. I mean, yes, colonel," the scientist stammered under John's hard gaze. "An anomalous energy signal, but it faded before we had a chance to investigate."
"Take your readings to Doctor McKay."
Thomas nodded. He glanced at Moira, at Evan, then scurried out of the bay.
"Major Lorne."
"Sir?"
Moira stepped forward again, unable to stop herself. "John, it was my fault. I went to Weir. I convinced her of the–"
He ignored her, eyed his subordinate. "Major Lorne, I understand you disobeyed my orders, duped Doctor Weir, and went to MP3XY2?"
"Yes, sir," Evan agreed evenly.
"It wasn't his fault, John!" Moira tried again. "I talked to Doctor Weir. She saw the scientific value of this expedition, even if you didn't."
John continued as if he hadn't heard her. "I see. Can you give me a good reason for blatantly defying my orders?"
"He didn't, John! I talked him into–"
His gaze slid to her briefly, then to Evan. "Is that true, major? Are you under her command now? Or mine?"
"Yours, sir," Evan replied calmly. Seemingly unruffled by the exchange.
"We are all under Doctor Weir's–" Moira interrupted again.
John finally met her exasperated gaze. "Every military personnel is under my command, Doctor O'Meara, do you understand that? The chain of command will not be circumvented, certainly not by a civilian."
"But you–"
"Major Lorne," John resumed, "consider yourself warned. Next time there will be an official reprimand."
"Understood, sir." Evan breathed a little easier.
"As for you, Doctor O'Meara, we will have to discuss the mission protocols that are set in place for every mission. Such as being cleared by Doctor Beckett to resume active service, which you were not. I don't care if you discovered Noah's Ark. There are rules and regulations concerning the viability of every mission and whether or not it meets the criteria established to expend manpower, resources, and time."
"Excuse me, sir, but you needn't ride Moira so hard," Evan intervened. "She discovered–"
"Needn't I? You have no idea, major, how hard she rides me." His gaze took a salacious glint as he met her angered, abruptly flustered expression. "Major, dismissed. I want a full report on this ice planet in one hour."
"Sir!" Evan saluted, glanced at Moira and departed. The sound of his brisk footsteps echoed in the empty Jumper bay.
"Well? Nothing more to say?" John asked. The tightness in his chest had eased somewhat as he stood regarding her. "No Irish blarney to charm me?"
"I don't know what to say," she honestly admitted.
"Well, that's a first," he caustically noted. "This is serious, Moira. You can't countermand my orders, or blatantly collude with someone under my command to meet your own agenda."
"I didn't have an agenda, John! I had perfectly valid reasons for going to that planet, for investigating that horrible killing field! Since you refused to listen to me I knew that Weir would! And Evan...Evan is my team leader and would–"
"I don't want to hear it," he lifted a hand, silencing her. "I'm not kidding around, here, Moira. You can't ignore my command decisions, or find ways to go round them. Don't make those assumptions just because of our relationship. One thing has nothing to do with the other."
She sighed. "I know that! This had nothing to do with that! Tell me, colonel, did you refuse a perfectly viable scientific reason because of the slim evidence, or because of our relationship?"
It was his turn to frown. "Because of the slim, almost negligible evidence. Not because of us," he tersely informed her. "You need to separate the two, Moira, as I have. As I will continue to do. You are a civilian under my command. Got it?"
She frowned, considered. Stepped to him. Ran her hand slowly up the sleeve of his black shirt.
"I am sorry, John. You know how my enthusiasm gets the better of me sometimes. Leads me to rash, impulsive, passionate acts. I won't forget that I am under you. Under your command," she said the last words slowly, suggestively. She brushed her body against his as she passed him.
John couldn't help but smile as he turned to watch her leave, shedding the parka and folding it over one arm. Her ponytail swinging seductively back and forth in time to the swaying of her hips. He sighed, shook his head.
**************************************************************************
The conference room was quiet. Elizabeth looked at everyone in turn, then at the small, distorted bullet on the table. "Conclusions?" she invited.
Carson shuffled his papers, earning a smirk from Rodney as he ran his finger over his laptop. "Although the tissue samples are degraded, I can say with certainty these creatures, if you will, were once human. There are four chemicals in the human DNA code, known by the letters A, C, G, and T. Every human has these, as does every organism.. In both galaxies. From what I can tell these creatures have a strange chromosome mutation I have never seen. It may not sound like much but it is enough to produce a horrific mutation."
"Caused by the enzyme specifically?" Elizabeth asked, leaning forward in her chair.
"I believe so, yes. The enzyme contained in the plants from M1K436 is highly toxic. An almost pure, undiluted form of the chemicals. Furthermore I can postulate that these creatures may be one and the same as the ones encountered on M1K436, or a similar subspecies."
"The mass grave was concluded to be a killing field," Evan noted, "of recent origin. At least the top layers of skulls and skeletons. Many displayed wounds consistent with that of an automatic weapon. The bullet from a P90."
All eyes moved to the bullet.
"How can we be sure it was recent?" Elizabeth asked, frowning at the innocuous but deadly projectile.
"From the marks on the bones. Moira found several. I examined the leg bone she brought back and confirmed her conclusions," Carson stated, glancing at her. "The rapid tissue decomposition can be explained by the enzyme. It literally eats the victim from the inside until the victim can develop a mutation to defend itself." He looked at John, who uncomfortably touched his stomach, recalling the gut-wrenching pain.
"What about the signal?"
"Ah," Rodney punched buttons on his keypad. "The energy signature was very weak. I have analyzed the data Kavanaugh provided and I think I can pinpoint its exact location to within half a mile. The sporadic bursts of transmission either suggest an encrypted code, or more likely interference from the planet's dense stratosphere. Or a weakened power source. I'll know exactly when I get there." He confidently closed his laptop, waited.
"How did those creatures become slaughtered by modern weapons? Where did the P90 come from? That is my biggest concern," Elizabeth announced. "John?"
"It could have been Ford," Evan offered. "We lost no ordnance on Mio...on M1M316," he corrected smoothly, causing Moira to smile briefly.
"That is true. Pleistocene Park," John firmly stated his own name for the planet, ignoring Moira's amusement, "is clean. We took Bath's ordnance before we left. And all of ours."
"What about yours, colonel? On M1K436?"
Moira's question jolted John. He met her serious gaze. "As I recall I had it with me when Ford rushed me. I shot him several times but he brushed by me. The bullets hardly stopped or slowed him. He didn't take my weapon."
"Then you must have left it behind on the planet," she reasoned, "in the confusion." Challenging his assertions.
"I never leave ordnance behind," he firmly stated, meeting her gaze. Meeting her challenge with a narrowed gaze.
"Then how did your P90's bullet end up in the creature on MP3XY2?" she persisted.
"It wasn't mine," he argued. Gaze locked with hers.
"Major Lorne, do a quick check on all the ordnance logs, from both missions," Elizabeth ordered.
"Yes, ma'am. Sir." Evan stood, headed out quickly.
"The bigger question is the source of that energy signal," John mused, looking now at the bullet on the table. "On a supposedly deserted planet. Us."
"What?" Elizabeth asked, puzzled.
"Ford. When he was trying to convince me to join him, he said us. Not me. Us. So either there's more like Ford out there or he's somehow able to control those creatures. Moi...Doctor O'Meara," he corrected, "you said they were semi-sentient?" His gaze shot to her.
Moira would have smiled at his sudden correction, except for his frown. "Yes. At least one was. Presumably the others are as well."
"The enzyme bolsters the adrenal glands, violent urges, primal urges, as you know, colonel," Carson realized. "But without a human brain in control, who knows what kind of frenzy could result."
"We created this. We made the wholesale slaughter possible," Moira posited. "By leaving your gun on–"
"I did not leave my gun," he countered.
"There was no one else there, colonel, except Ford. And he only had a Wraith stunner. Don't you remember?"she insisted, nearly taunting him.
"Are you absolutely certain, John?" Elizabeth asked. "Your mission report was rather brief."
"I don't remember much," he said, meeting Elizabeth's gaze before eying Moira and her sudden alarm. He briefly smiled at her chagrin. "I remember some things...but I do remember that last fight with Ford because I was clear of the enzyme. Remember that, doctor? Clear of most of it. I did not leave my gun behind."
"Assuming you are right," Elizabeth stated, "then there is another unknown factor in all of this. Perhaps that signal is the key. I would hate to think that we somehow were responsible for the slaughter of any creatures, mutated or not."
"So we have a go?" John surmised. Reclined back in his chair.
"At your discretion, colonel. Do you want Major Lorne to lead–"
"No. My team will be tackling this. I won't be caught off-guard a second time." He stood as Evan returned, paused in the doorway. "Major, I want you to pick a contingent of marines to provide support. No Kavanaugh. We'll have McKay for any fancy stuff."
"Yes, sir," Evan stated, glancing at Moira who was staring at John.
"That's settled, then. Prep now. We leave in twenty minutes. Rodney, get your gear. I'll go inform Ronon. Major," he called, heading out of the room, "make sure Peterson is on your team. He's an excellent marksman."
Moira stood, followed the others out of the conference room. She passed them, catching up to John as he headed down the stairs. "John? John, wait!"
"Decision's final, Moira," he called over his shoulder, striding round the control room, down a hallway. He opened a transporter, stepped inside.
"John!" She ran after him, slid into the transporter before the doors shut. "What about Kavanaugh? He discovered the signal in the first place! You can't–"
John touched the screen displaying the grid of the city. "I can. Military commander, remember, Moira? Besides, he couldn't track it. I'm taking McKay. He is far more competent and less irritating. Well, slightly less irritating," he amended. Added briskly, "For a scientist."
He moved to the opening doors, stepped out and strode down the hallway. Moira followed. "So that's it, colonel? A full military force to take down whatever is out there, never mind any possible significant scientific discoveries? What about the enzyme? The creatures? The possible crisis we created? John! John, wait! John, John!" she called, nearly racing after his long, swift strides.
John stopped, turned abruptly. So abruptly Moira crashed into him, nearly fell but he caught her. Smoothly trapped her, pushed her gently against the wall. "If you're going to say my name that many times, Moira, we may as well have sex." Before she could reply he kissed her, pinning her wrists up against the wall on either side of her head. He pressed against her, lengthening the kiss, his mouth claiming hers, cajoling her lips to open. His tongue to glide.
Moira's murmurs were trapped in her throat as the kiss deepened, deepened. Her fingers tightened on his shoulders, on the black fabric of his shirt. She shifted as her body reacted vividly, feeling his body reacting to hers.
John pulled back, smiled, brilliant green eyes sparkling. He stepped back, freeing her wrists. "Well? Are you going to stand there and berate me or are you going to get prepped?" he calmly asked, finding her indignant anger arousing. Amused at her astonished stare, her passionate reaction to him. Feeling his own but ignoring it.
"Prepped? Prepped for what? Sex?" she asked in a breathy voice, staring, disconcerted.
John laughed lightly, licked his lips. "I wish. No. The mission." He glanced at his watch. "Fifteen minutes, Moira. Although..." His gaze wandered over her. "We could take at least five or six to–"
"You...I am going too? On the mission?" she asked, recovering. Frowned. "Why didn't you say so, damn it?"
"You didn't give me a chance, Moira. Besides, it's more fun this way, isn't it?" He laughed at her ire. "Well, are you going to keep us here or shall we get ready? For the mission, I mean. Unless you are offering five or six minutes," he teased with a grin.
Moira laughed, unable to stay angry. She ran her hands up his chest, stepped close and kissed him. "Five minutes? I need at least ten to perform to the best of my abilities," she teased. Stepped round him. "Twelve minutes, John!" she called over her shoulder. Smiled at his answering laughter.
*************************************************************************
The two Jumpers flew through the even horizon, then in tandem as they surveyed the white and silver landscape beneath them. Swirls of snow drifted in the air as the ships hovered over the ground. Frosting the viewport.
"Remain cloaked. I don't want to be caught with my pants down this time." John glanced behind him as Moira audibly snickered. She smiled at him. He shook his head, grinned and winked at her before turning back to the comm. "It is Hoth..." he agreed, staring at the endless landscape of white. The tinted viewport brought up an array of readings at his command.
"Can anything actually live down there?" Rodney asked, zipping up his heavy red parka.
"There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser," John quoted, glancing back at Moira.
She smiled. "Just look out for any meteorite strikes. It's going to be hard to spot approaching ships."
"What? What the heck are you two talking about?" Rodney asked, looking from one to the other.
John smiled, turned back. "You don't know? Do you have a reading on that signal yet? My sensors are all over the board," he complained.
"Hold on..." Rodney grumbled, adjusting settings.
"Actually, Doctor McKay, there could be an infinite variety of life on this planet. Just not on the surface. From the microbial, single-celled organisms to more complex life forms adapted to the frigid conditions."
"What? Microbes? As in bacteria?" Rodney exclaimed.
"You had to ask, Rodney," John chided.
"Here! It's very weak. No wonder Kavanaugh had a hard time following it. But I can trace it," Rodney asserted confidently. "It's very faint. From the caves...that way." He pointed ahead.
"Wait. Colonel Sheppard, aren't we going to first stop at the killing field?" Moira asked, leaning forward to rest her hand on the back of his seat. "We still need samples and specimens."
"Later. First the signal," he informed her.
"If you're not going to examine the bones why did you bring her?" Rodney asked.
"Because we'll need her expertise when we do," John countered. "Ronon, ever seen anything like this?"
"Snow? Lots of times," Ronon quipped, amused at the exchanges.
"No, the bones. To the left," John corrected, swerving the ship as he flew.
Below them the field extended, extended. Bones gleamed off-white against the pure white snow. Jagged points stuck out at awkward angles. Darker stains told of the recent bloodshed. Ice sparkled in the faint sunlight.
"No. Can't say that I have," Ronon answered.
"Got it!" Rodney announced. "It's very faint, intermittent bursts of energy...I'm surprised Kavanaugh was able to pick it up at all. Of course I can track it. I have to re-calibrate my superior equipment to detect the faintest electronic discharges of–"
"Where, Rodney?" John asked tiredly, losing patience.
"I suspect our own radio transmissions will be severely hampered by the caves and their natural density and...oh...the caves...the caves over there. The big one."
"Great. All right, Jumper two land by that ice cropping at three o'clock. Stay cloaked. Lorne, deploy your men in standard recon on the cave's ingress points. I don't want any surprises."
"Surprises?" Rodney asked as the vehicle flew to the caves. The gaping entrance loomed darkly like an open mouth against the whiteness. Icicles gleamed like jagged teeth. "Who do you think is sending the signal? The Genii? The Wraith?"
"Possibly to the first, thought I doubt it. As for the second... Moira?"
Jolted from her musing she replied, "Probably not. There is no steady food supply for the Wraith here. At least not visible to us yet."
"Could it have been those creatures?" asked Ronon.
She glanced at him. "I suppose it is theoretically possible. They were once human. We know they are at least semi-sentient. If they weren't forcibly brought through the 'Gate they could have traveled here themselves, or this could be their home world...which pre-supposes the existence of a limited cognitive ability unless they were not affected by the enzyme until–"
"Is that a yes?" Ronon asked, shaking his head.
"It's a possible yes," John answered. Sighed again.
The Jumper landed softly. Snow plumed around them, settling on the vehicle. John unbuckled, stood and grabbed his coat. Pulling it on he eyed his team. Rodney was zipping up a very heavy parka over his red one. Moira's coat was zipped. She slung her pack over her shoulder. "All right. Everyone sticks together. No one wanders around, or falls behind," he met Moira's gaze.
"Ronon, take the six." He eyed the Satedan who was only wearing a light-weight duster. "Is that all you have to wear out there?"
"Yes. What's wrong with it?"
John shrugged. "Nothing." He grabbed his P90, checked his side-arm. "Let's go. Wait," he halted them as Ronon opened the hatch, stood staring at the blinding whiteness. "McKay, do you still have any readings? Life-signs?"
Rodney fumbled with his scanners. He yanked off his thick mittens. "Wait...no life-signs except for us. The signal is...very weak. Below us. I told you these readings will be the more unreliable and sporadic the deeper we go." He yanked his hood over his head, adjusted his red scarf. "Did I mention I tend to catch colds easily? My lips get chapped and start to peel very–"
"McKay," John interrupted tiredly.
"Are we going some time today?" Moira impatiently asked, trying to step past Ronon but the bulky Satedan blocked the hatch's opening. "The quicker we finish this the sooner I can collect those specimens! Will someone get this walking carpet out of my way?"
John laughed with delight at the quote, as Moira pushed by Ronon who turned with a smile.
"Cute. I saw that movie," Ronon replied.
Moira smiled. "Sorry, Ronon. I couldn't resist,"she apologized, looking up at him.
"No reward is worth this," John stated, following her. "Whoa, your highness, hold up!" John caught her arm, stopping her. "Rodney?"
"This way." Rodney pushed past them, scanner held in front of his like a shield. He stomped down the ramp, then awkwardly into the snow. He took giant steps, but still the snow came up nearly to his knees. Moira followed in his footsteps with stumbling precision.
John smirked, turned back to Ronon. "Stay at the cave entrance. Keep it clear in case we need a hasty retreat." He turned, caught up to Moira, boots trampling in their footprints. "What can we expect here? Biologically speaking," he clarified.
She shrugged. "In the cave? More than likely this will be the place for life forms. This ecosystem could be similar to an Ice Age on Earth, unless it is the whole planet in which case there would be no life in the way that we recognize it. The atmosphere doesn't appear to be blocking all of the sun's UV radiation to prohibit–"
"So," he sighed, good-humored, "what can we expect here? Cave bears? Mammoths? Neanderthals?"
She turned to him, smiled. "I wish! Wouldn't that be marvelous, John! To find a whole thriving ecosystem of Ice Age megafauna we could study and...oh...you were joking. Somehow I doubt it. Something feels...off."
John smiled. "Off? Is that a paleontology term?"
"Sheppard! This is amazing!" Rodney called, standing at the cave entrance.
"Wow. Coming from you I have to see this," John quipped. He motioned for Moira to move towards Rodney, followed on her heels.
The ceiling rose dramatically, studded with ice formations. Gleaming stalactites hung down like enormous chandeliers. The floor was a maze of rocks, of ice stalagmites. Frozen waves of snow. Columns of ice glinted a pale, opalescent blue. Some were shattered. Crystal shards protruded at dangerous angles.
"John, these resemble the quartz crystal pillars on M1K436," Moira noted, staring round. She stepped to one, brushed snow off the solid, cold structure.
"Calcium carbonate. And ice," Rodney corrected. "Although most of these appear to be pure ice formations. Water that has frozen before ponding could occur. Ah...signal. Deeper in the cave."
"Lead on. Watch your step," John cautioned, looking back to see Ronon standing at the cave entrance, staring at the structures. "I'll radio you in twenty. Keep in touch with Lorne. If you see anything radio me."
"You got it." Ronon turned back to the white landscape. The cave at his back.
"The cave will block most radio signals," Rodney warned. "It will get worse the deeper we go."
"Then let's make this quick," John urged. He sighed again, circled round a large stalagmite. "Moira!" he barked. "What did I say about–"
"Look, John!" Moira was kneeling on the uneven ground, placing her gloved hand in a much larger footprint. "At least twice our size! Five toes, but too spread out to be human. Except there's a arch here indicating a bi-pedal locomotion that–"
"Great," he quipped, pulling her to her feet. "Keep sharp, Ronon!" he shouted back towards the cave entrance. "We may have some cave denizens after all! Big ones!" Keeping hold of her arm John led Moira to Rodney. "Let's go, Rodney!"
Rodney grumbled under his breath, led them on a twisting course. The illumination from their flashlights glittered off the snow and ice. Their breath plumed in vaporous clouds. Shadows danced, were gone. The air grew steadily colder. Sunlight filtered down from a few holes in the ceiling of the cave, showering a breathtaking cascade of rainbows on the refractive ice columns.
Moira paused, staring round. "It's so beautiful! Look!" She pointed towards several tunnels stretching further into the cave, further down into the depths. High above them a waterfall was
frozen in a still rush. Sheer ice sparkled an astonishing blue color. "The blue!"
"Blue ice," Rodney noted. "Wrongly attributed to the Rayleigh scattering. The ice is blue for the same reason water is blue. A result of an overtone of an OH molecular stretch in the water which absorbs light at the red end of the visible spectrum." He looked up at them. Moira and John were staring at him. "What? You asked."
"No, actually. We didn't," John corrected. "I know I'm going to regret this," he glanced at Moira, "but what is Rayleigh scattering?"
"Isn't that what makes the sky appear blue?" Moira realized.
Rodney smiled at her. "Yes, it is. Rayleigh scattering is the elastic scattering of light on other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light. That's why the naked eye perceives the sky to be blue instead of the midnight black of space. The stratosphere is–"
"Rodney–" John tried to intercept the scientist.
"There's a very interesting new algorithm that–"
"Rodney! Signal!"
"Oh. Right." Rodney fiddled with his scanner. Flung his arm to the right. Proceeded.
John shook his head, followed Moira as she walked after Rodney.
"Down this tunnel. Careful," Rodney warned. Several ice extrusions stuck out of the passage's walls. Finally the tunnel expanded, emptying into another chamber. Although iced over it was relatively free of stalagmites. Several were shattered stumps, blackened.
"Hold up!" John stepped past Moira, past Rodney. He scanned the area, squatted to brush at the ice crystals on the ground. "I think we found the rebel base," he jested. "Someone's been here. Someone human. That's a boot print." He pointed. Stood. Hefted his P90.
"I've got the signal! Let me amplify the receiver." Short, staccato bursts faintly echoed. Faded. Repeated. Echoed. Faded.
"It couldn't be one of those creatures," Moira said, half in jest, half seriously. She glanced at John to see if he caught the Star Wars reference.
"It could be one of ours," John suggested with a quick grin.
Rodney moved ahead of them, oblivious. "No. It's not a form of communication we use, and it's not coming from above, but below. This signal's not used by Atlantis. The coding is all wrong."
A crackle of static buzzed, then fell silent.
"Well, it isn't friendly, whatever it is. We had better check it out. In case it has a self-destruct,"
John quoted with a raised brow, glancing at Moira.
She smiled. "An Imperial probe droid?"
"It's a good bet the Empire knows we're here."
"That's enough!" Rodney whirled, glaring at the smiling pair. "If I have to endure one more Star Wars reference I will leave both of you here to find this damn signal by yourselves! Of all the times to engage in a silly pop-cultural referencing contest!"
"It's not silly, Rodney, it's a code. A code that could prove useful since we are the only ones in this galaxy who understand it," Moira rationalized, but she couldn't keep a straight face.
"Moira's right. It's a encrypted way to convey immediate messages without the enemy realizing," John agreed, in complete sincerity.
Rodney shook his head. "Whatever. This way." He turned, led them across the chamber. "I would have thought Star Trek more appropriate."
"Star Trek?" Moira questioned, clearly conveying her disagreement.
"Yes! Going boldly where no man has gone before. Exploring new worlds, seeking new life, new civilizations...oh, forget it!" Rodney grumbled.
Moira exchanged a smile with John as they entered another tunnel. This one sloped sharply, reaching a smaller chamber. She slid on the icy surface, but John caught her arm, pulled her sharply against him, against his body as his boots grappled with the slippery snow. She caught his arms, regaining her footing. Met his gaze. "Thank you, colonel." She brushed her lips across his. "You feel cold, colonel."
"It is cold, Moira. And if you hadn't noticed we're on a mission," he gently reprimanded, gaze serious. Intense.
"Oh. Sorry, John." Her hands slid up his coat, up his chest. "I didn't mean to act inappropriately."
He smirked, but said sternly, "I'm serious, Moira. We do have to have that talk again?"
She sighed. "No, John. I guess not." She kissed him again, inviting his mouth as hers slowly opened, opened, but she drew back, smiled. "Sorry again, colonel. I guess you'll have to write me up, won't you?"
He smiled despite himself. "I shall, Moira. For insubordination. Now scoot!" He playfully pushed her away from him.
"Sheppard! You won't believe this!" Rodney's voice echoed off the walls.
"Rodney?" John hastened to the scientist, leading Moira behind him.
Rodney was running his bare hands over a black, upright device. A low, erratic pulse hummed. It emitted a soft glow. "It's Hoffan."
"Hoffan?" John echoed. "Are you sure?"
"It's identical to the one we found on their home world. And that didn't end too well."
"We may have found the surviving Hoffans and their new base. That would explain the ordnance. Not mine after all," he insisted to Moira.
"Sorry, colonel," she replied.
"Can you shut it down?"
"Of course. Give me–"
The radio crackled at John's shoulder. "Colonel...incoming...several...taking fire..." Then Ronon's voice. "Sheppard! Men on the...going to see..." Gunfire erupted.
"Major? Ronon?" John tapped the radio. Silence. "Damn it! Stay here! McKay, shut that thing down, now!" He glanced at Moira, then whirled. Ran back up the sloping tunnel.
"Doing it now," Rodney assured, flipping switches. The pitch of the signal whined, wheezed.
John ran, ducking through the passageways, weaving around the stalagmites, sprinting when he reached the cave's entrance. "Report! Report!" he shouted into his radio, into the air. Snow was falling heavily, creating a white out through which John could only glean distant, dark figures.
"Colonel," the radio crackled, "men down! Ten hostiles...mark six point seven...coming fast..."
John swung his weapon in a ready position, ran into a gun battle. He swerved, crouching behind an ice pillar as bullets, beams of light flew. Debris shattered. Snow plumed and filled the air. "Ronon!"
"Sheppard!" Ronon shouted, suddenly next to him. "They've got Lorne pinned down thirty yards! I'll go above and ambush!"
"Go, go! I'll cover!" John sprang to his feet, providing a line of fire as Ronon leapt up the cave's icy, craggy surface. He ran across its length, long coat flying in the wind. Soon he was lost to sight, swallowed by the snow. John sprayed bullets, hit two figures before crouching back into his covered position. "Lorne! Help from above!"
"Copy, sir!" Evan's voice came clearly over the radio. "We'll hold position and–" Abruptly his voice was cut off.
"Lorne? Lorne! Damn it! Peterson? Reynolds!" John heard only a burring static. He could see forms in the snow. Men diving. Ducking. Advancing. Bullets zinged past. A laser cut across the ice, it's green glow slicing a pillar. The top crashed to the ground. Shattered like glass. John cursed, ducked, darted to another pillar. Snow flew around him, blinding him.
*********************************************************************
The gunfire made Moira jump. She stood near Rodney, looking back at the sloping ground. She felt in her parka's pocket for the solidity of the 9mm handgun Evan had given her.
"There." The pulse stopped. Fell silent. Fell dark as the lights dimmed. Rodney smiled. "Simple, really. Just had to cut the repeating frequency to a subset of...oh oh."
"Oh oh?" Moira asked, looking back at him.
Rodney was flipping switches. A pulse had resumed, humming louder. A different sound that had a triple repeating pattern. Louder. Louder. "I can't shut it off! It's accelerating!"
"What?"
The ground began to shake, a strident vibration. Snow crystals flew from the walls. Icicles trembled above them. A few fell, shattering. "It's on a self-destruct," Rodney announced, voice oddly calm as the entire cave seemed to be quaking around them.
"Can you stop it?" Moira asked, glancing at the ceiling. Icicles trembled, creating shimmering clear waves of light.
"No. Run. Run!" Rodney encouraged, pushing her. They stumbled, dodging stalactites which were falling smoothly like darts. Shattering noisily. A chunk of ice hit Rodney and he fell.
"This way!" Moira helped him to his feet. They clambered up the slope, into the next chamber. Moira dodged another crashing ice column. The ground shook beneath her feet. She was thrown into the wall, smashing crystal protrusions.
"Go! Go!" Rodney pushed her out of the way as a stalactite descended. They tried to run, reached the other chamber as the violent shaking jarred snow and ice.
Moira ran but nearly crashed into John who was running towards them. "Back! Back! Go!" he shouted, waving them the other way, spinning to fire his P90. Snow and rock flew, splintered. Ice crashed like fallen glass.
"We can't!" she cried, stumbling backwards.
"The floor's collapsing!" Rodney shouted, reaching them. A crevasse opened beneath their feet.
They fell.
