"So do we have a plan or is it just a case of going up to one of the men with guns and asking nicely?" McKay questioned sarcastically as the group watched the enemy camp.
"Pretty much." Sheppard replied causing the group to look at him as if he had lost his mind. "The way I see it," Sheppard explained, "at dawn they are going to disperse and start trying to find us. When they do we creep into that compound, find one of the people who stays behind and ask him for the crystal."
"When you say ask, is that Ronon asking or you asking?" Rodney asked.
"Me." Ronon clarified.
"And when he says no." McKay pressed.
"Ronon will ask less nicely." Sheppard said. "Unless of course you've come up with a clever way of finding the crystal."
"I keep telling you that's impossible."
"Well then we ask."
"Just to clarify we are waiting until they leave camp, which you think will be after dawn?" McKay pressed.
"Yeah."
"Then why are we already here. I mean we could have stayed at the cave, the warm cave, with the others for another couple of hours." The physicist complained.
"Then we would not have had the cover of darkness to position ourselves."
"Wouldn't have had to put up with his whining." Ronon said gruffly nodding at McKay.
"I do not whine. I'm just pointing out the flaws in the plan."
"Thank you McKay." Sheppard shot back.
"They're moving." Teyla said bringing the discussion to a close. Everyone peered over the edge and silently watched several groups leave the camp. When everything stilled Sheppard looked back at the lifesigns detector whilst McKay watched the Colonel. Eventually McKay lost his patience.
"Well are we just sitting here all day?"
"You have somewhere better to be?" Sheppard asked without looking up.
"Yes." McKay snapped back, this time Sheppard didn't respond. Instead he kept staring at the small screen in front of him. Finally, Sheppard looked up and said.
"Ok, they should all be far enough away that if a call for help goes out they won't get back in time. Ronon, Teyla, McKay you're with me. We'll go in," he paused and looked at Ronon, "quietly." Turning his attention back to the group he continued. "We'll search for the crystal. The rest of you ensure we have a path out of here." Pausing for every one to nod their understanding he checked the P90, which he had taken from Teldy, before giving the signal to proceed.
Making steady progress the team did not meet any resistance until they were on the edge of the camp, even then it was only minimal and Ronon and Teyla expertly dispatched it.
"Ronon, Teyla try over there." Sheppard ordered pointing to an artificial structure. "McKay you're with me."
As Sheppard and Rodney entered a building and crept down a dark corridor Sheppard whispered. "Relax McKay we have the emptier building."
"Emptier strongly implies not empty and seeing Ronon and Teyla are in a different building excuse me for not feeling relaxed."
"You have me." Sheppard said. The remark was met by silence. "Ok then, let's look in here." He said opening a door to the side revealing a cramped dark store room. Unfortunately it was full of food supplies resulting in McKay muttering,
"God I'm hungry."
"You're always hungry. Just pretend all this food has lemon in."
"Lemon? Do you think it does?" McKay questioned on the verge of panic.
"I said pretend."
"What sick individual would pretend to be surrounded by his kryptonite."
"Kryptonite?" Sheppard asked bemused. "I thought you were a batman fan."
"I wanted to pick something you'd understand." McKay explained as Sheppard walked into the next room, which was empty, causing Rodney to ask. "Are we seriously going to go through every room?"
"Unless you have come up with a way to find that crystal using gadgetry."
"I keep telling you it's impossible."
"Well then we search."
As the pair entered the twelfth room Sheppard exclaimed. "Luck at last."
"You found the crystal?" McKay asked hopefully.
"Nope. I found our stuff." Sheppard explained picking up another P90 and Ronon's blaster.
"Great, we can keep shooting at the ground and use the reaction forces to propel us skywards and homewards." McKay said sarcastically, not excited by the find.
"McKay if we are stuck here for the long haul we'll need all the ammo and weapons we can get." Sheppard replied handing a P90 to McKay. "There is a lone lifesign nearby. I'm going to head over there and try to get some intel. You stay here and gather whatever you can." He added.
As soon as the Lieutenant Colonel had left the room McKay backed away from the door to give himself a good chance of fighting off any unexpected visitors. As he was moving he caught sight of his bag. Hopeful his laptop was still in one piece he dropped to his knees and started going through the bag. As he kneeled he also caught sight of the team's radios and IDC transmitters. Feeling happier he collected all the equipment together, no longer paying attention to the door. His attention then got drawn to a crate with an unusual object sticking out of it. Moving over he picked up the item and it began to glow, indicating it was Ancient technology of some sort. Oblivious to his surroundings McKay looked at the object, eyes gleaming with excitement. Suddenly a huge explosion sent vibrations through the camp.
-----
Teldy woke with a pounding head. She tried to remember what happened as she started to roll. As soon as she started to move pain ripped through her side causing her to groan.
"Major. You probably shouldn't move." Porter whispered, making her way over to the Major.
"Worked that one out thanks." Teldy grimaced. "Why are you whispering?" She asked looking round for her weapon. "Where's my P90?"
"Colonel Sheppard took it." Porter explained.
"Where?" Teldy asked trying to sit up. "Are we under attack?"
"Umm no. He took it to the enemy base camp. He and a small team have gone to retrieve the crystal."
"So we are not surrounded by enemy forces?" Teldy grimaced.
"No."
"So why are you whispering?"
"Because we are being hunted by lunatics and it seems wrong to not talk in a whisper." Porter said pulling another vial of morphine from the medical pack.
"No." Teldy said shaking her head.
"You have a hole in your side." Porter said slowly.
"I'm aware of that one."
"Well doesn't it hurt?"
"Of course it hurts."
"So morphine would be good." Porter continued.
"If we are going to get attacked by lunatic hunters I'd prefer to have most of my senses in tact." Teldy explained. "How's Keller?"
"In and out. Her fever's not getting better." Porter replied.
"Atlantis been in contact yet?"
"Yes, about an hour or so ago." Porter said.
"And?"
"Um well they are sending the Daedalus over here. But we have to wait three days."
"Three days?"
"Yes. But they are sending teams through to planets along the way to look for an uninhabited planet which we can borrow a crystal from, which the Daedalus can beam up and send through to us from another planet. But they think the quicker option will be the Daedalus reaching us." Porter explained nervously.
"So three days." Teldy said.
"Three days. But-" Porter started only for the sergeant to hurry into the cave calling for the scientist.
"Sarge." Teldy greeted.
"Major, you've rejoined us just in time."
"Time for what?" Porter asked eyes wide.
"We have company." Dusty explained.
"How many?"
"At least thirty circling the nearby area. They know we're here and are biding their time."
"When's Sheppard's team due to get back?"
"He wasn't too specific on details." Dusty replied.
"Is it just us?"
"The whole team is here. Gibson is at the entrance keeping look out."
"What weapons do we have?" Teldy asked trying to sit up.
"Gibson and I have a full compliment. Sheppard and Teyla took your's and Porter's P90s." Dusty answered. When she noticed Teldy's look of disbelief she added, whilst helping the Major sit. "They left handguns."
"So we are surrounded by at least thirty hostiles and have two automatics between us to fend them off?" Teldy asked coughing.
"Yep, for once the odds are almost against us." Dusty smiled handing Teldy a canteen of water. "But seeing how you are in no shape to fight the lack of P90s is not such an issue."
"Ok, start blocking up the entrance. Let's force them through a small a gap as possible."
"All ready done. I just came to grab Porter."
"But there are only two P90s." The scientist said nervously.
"Relax Porter you just need to distribute the ammo when required."
"Anyone actually checked there is no way in from the back of the cave?" Teldy asked looking back into the darkness.
"McKay did some sort of scan thing." Dusty said.
"Didn't Ronon check?" Porter questioned.
"He didn't leave Keller apart from to get the water. McKay said he was mostly confident."
"Mostly confident?" Teldy asked.
"He mentioned something about no certainties in life and I kinda switched off." Dusty shrugged as Gibson hollered.
"Sarge, we have movement get up here."
"Wait." Teldy ordered. "Give me your handguns, just in case."
"Yes Ma'am." Dusty replied handing over the weapons before looking at Porter. "Come on doc."
As the two disappeared towards the entrance of the cave Teldy adjusted her position, grimacing as the movement stretched the wound.
"Told you not to move." Jennifer mumbled from the side.
"At least the fever hasn't affected your memory." Teldy said shutting her eyes momentarily.
"Where is everyone?"
"Gone to try and get the crystal back." Teldy answered just as gunshots began to echo.
"Who's shooting?" Jennifer asked sitting up, causing a wave of nausea to sweep through her and a groan to escape her mouth.
"Easy there doc, I'm guessing you shouldn't be moving either." Teldy said opening her eyes again.
"We are currently surrounded by your new friends. Gibson, Mehra and Porter are holding them off."
"Shouldn't we be helping?" Jennifer asked hoarsely as she slowly sat up.
"They've got it covered. Besides, in your current state not sure you'd do much good." Teldy replied over the sound of weapons fire. The two lapsed into silence, Jennifer trying to stay awake and the Major trying to listen out for trouble. After a few minutes Teldy smelt something.
"Doc you smell that?"
"No, wait, a burning smell?" Jennifer asked.
"That's the one. So much for these caves being sealed. Here take this." The Major said passing Jennifer one of the hand guns. Noticing Jennifer's dazed look she explained. "I'm going to head deeper into the cave and see where that smell is coming from. Don't shoot me."
"You shouldn't be moving, stitches won't hold." Jennifer said as Teldy used the cave wall to support her as she made it up onto her feet. Pausing for breath her left hand moved over to her painful right side.
"If that is what I think it is stitches will be the least of my worries." The Major responded taking a small maglight from her pocked. Switching it on she held the torch in her mouth and unholstered the gun, before moving slowly into the darkness.
Jennifer sat alone listening to the gunfire on one side and looking into silent darkness on the other. The adrenaline, fuelled by fear, acted to keep her awake. She looked from one side to the other. Part of her feared looking into the darkness the other part was drawn to the void. As time ticked on her hand tightened round the handgun as she tried to force her eyes to remain open. She started to loose the battle and drift back towards unconsciousness when gunshots echoed in the darkness followed by an eerie silence. Her eyes snapped open trying to look through the darkness. It was then that she heard a slow and steady beat coming from the dark. Raising her arm she pointed her handgun towards the shadowy abyss and waited as the footsteps got closer and closer.
Jennifer sat holding the gun, her heart thumping so loudly she no longer heard the gunshots from the cave entrance, nor the footsteps from the darkness. Pointing the gun whilst trying to stop her hand shaking she waited and waited, all the while the sweat trickled down her face. When she finally saw beams of light penetrate through the darkness she aimed the gun towards the brightness and tightened her grip on the handle of the gun. Finally, emerging from the darkness, like a scene from a bad horror movie, came the Wraith. As she pulled the trigger her mind started to think about the irony of the fact the Wraith had found this planet. Unfortunately she did not have time to dwell on that thought as her gunshot missed the target and she found herself being held down and the gun snatched from her hand moments before they injected something into her sending her back to the darkness.
A/N: Thanks for all the reviews, any feedback, positive or negative, is gratefully received. Chapter eight up next weekend.
