Transported 7

By Oonagh

Author's Note: Thanks so much for all the reviews. I've gotten more for this story than for any other I've written, which is nice…

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By the time Daniel and the others had traced O'Neill and Carter's path to the muddy slope the sun had almost reached its highest point in the sky and everyone was tired, warm and grouchy in addition to being, at least in the case of Daniel and Teal'c, worried. The search team stopped at the edge of the incline where the footprints they had been following ended.

"This looks like a recent landslide," Commander Lambert declared after a brief examination.

"Indeed," Teal'c concurred. Daniel frowned.

"If Jack and Sam were here when this happened they could be badly hurt or even buried."

"Or they could simply have been taken off course and were unable to find their way back in the dark. Like I said before, they're probably holed up somewhere waiting on us." Daniel nodded slowly although he still looked disbelieving.

"If that is the case, Commander Lambert, then should we not make our way down the hillside and continue our search." Teal'c's calm voice drew the attention of both men and they nodded in agreement. Teal'c carefully began to pick his way down the hill, sure in the knowledge that the other two would follow and grateful that he had prevented another squabble between them – their arguments were helping no-one. About three-quarters of the way down the slope Teal'c stopped abruptly, raising a clenched fist to indicate that the others should do the same.

"Daniel Jackson, I believe I have found something." Daniel moved around Teal'c to see what he was talking about. Standing slightly in front of them was a stone pillar about three feet high, surrounded on three sides by smaller, crystalline rocks which glittered slightly in the sun. What drew Daniel's attention most, however, was the fact that the pillar was covered almost completely in what was clearly some kind of writing. Daniel reached his hand out and started to step forward but Teal'c spoke, bringing him to a halt.

"I believe that it would be unwise to touch this edifice, Daniel Jackson." Daniel looked at his friend, confusion plain on his face.

"Why? It's just a rock, Teal'c."

"Look around, Daniel Jackson." Daniel did as he was instructed, noting that his actions were being mimicked by an equally puzzled Commander Lambert.

"I don't see anything, Teal'c"

"The mud extends no further than this 'rock', Daniel Jackson." Daniel looked down at the ground and realised that Teal'c was right. The mudflow ended abruptly, and in a suspiciously straight line, about a foot downhill from the pillar. Daniel opened his mouth and then closed it again, shaking his head.

"I guess this explains what happened to the colonel and the major." Commander Lambert's tone was solemn.

"What do you mean?" Daniel's head swung round to face the older man.

"It's obvious that they were zapped by this…whatever it is. Just like the mud." Daniel shook his head vigorously.

"We have no evidence that anything has been zapped. We have no idea what happens to things that pass this marker. I mean, it's hardly likely that they simply cease to exist and if they were destroyed there'd be some sort of residue. So until we know what this thing is we still have no way of knowing what happened to Jack and Sam." Commander Lambert rolled his eyes.

"And exactly how do you suggest we find out what this device is if we can't touch it?" Daniel shrugged slightly and then bent to pick a pick a good-size rock from the ground.

"We start at the beginning." As he spoke Daniel lobbed the rock in the direction of the pillar, watching closely to see what happened. The rock flew past the pillar and then, suddenly, vanished. Daniel looked over at Teal'c, who nodded.

"See it's gone. Poof." Commander Lambert's voice came from behind Daniel but the archaeologist ignored it and began making his way towards the pillar, followed closely by Teal'c. When they were close enough to get a good view of the markings on the pillar Daniel sat down cross-legged on the ground, head cocked to one side. After a brief survey he turned to Teal'c, a grin on his face.

"I don't think they're hurt, Teal'c. This top drawing here seems to suggest that this is some sort of transport device – like the Stargate except I think it only goes to one place. Unfortunately, I think it sends people to another planet and I don't know which one. So we're no closer to finding them."

"At least we know that they are alive and unhurt, Daniel Jackson, and although they may be far away that is still good news." Daniel nodded. Then he glanced up, hope lighting his face, before he fumbled for his radio.

"Jack, come in. Can you hear me?" As his finger released the talk button Daniel frowned. Static was the only answer he got. Commander Lambert sighed and rolled his eyes. For someone who was supposed to be so smart…

"Colonel O'Neill doesn't have a radio, Doctor Jackson. They weren't allowed on the exercise, remember?" Daniel opened his mouth, a sarcastic retort regarding bright ideas on alien planets on his lips, but Teal'c spoke first.

"If you are right, Daniel Jackson, and this is a transportation device can we not use it to send a radio to O'Neill and Major Carter?" As he spoke Teal'c detached the radio from his vest and, at Daniel's brief nod, threw it toward the pillar. The radio vanished.

"And now we wait."

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Carter and O'Neill had spent the entire morning sitting beside the mud pile. The singing game had lasted a while but had broken down into a debate on just how many tenth birthdays Bart Simpson had had. Even now, as the sun neared its zenith, Carter wasn't sure how the one had led to the other. At the moment O'Neill lay stretched out on the ground, an arm shading his eyes from the sun, while Carter sat, legs crossed, keeping a wary eye on the horizon. She glared down at her CO.

"Comfortable, Sir?" Her only answer was a soft grunt and Carter found herself wishing for water – it would bring her great pleasure to dump a bucket full over his head right now. It might even bring her enough pleasure to make up for the severe disciplinary action that would inevitably follow. Just as Carter's mind truly began to wander, a large rock flew out of nowhere and hit O'Neill solidly on the arm. O'Neill jerked upwards and Carter started laughing, despite the look on his face which boded no good for her. As he advanced toward her menacingly, Carter managed to speak through her laughter.

"It wasn't me, Sir. I swear." O'Neill looked disbelieving.

"It came through the device. Just appeared out of nowhere. I think maybe someone's found us. Sort of." O'Neill studied her for a minute and then nodded.

"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt, Major. This time."

"Thank you, kind Sir." Colonel O'Neill opened his mouth to respond but was interrupted by something hitting him, hard, on the back of the head.

"For crying out loud!" Carter started laughing again as O'Neil bent down to pick up the radio.

"See, Sir? I told you."