Chapter 9 – The Hidden
Leaning back against a tree, Sam was stunned. It seemed so cruel and yet so obvious that their hope of escape would be blocked in such a way.
"How do we get past them when we can't see them?" Sam muttered almost despairingly.
"At least it has a DHD," Jack said, trying to lift the mood. Focusing on the positives was far more likely, in his mind, to bring about solutions.
Running a hand through her hair, Sam acknowledged that fact but didn't seem much happier for it.
"At least the ones carrying things, we can see. We need to find where they're camped. Maybe we can sneak past at night. Surprise them."
Jack nodded in agreement. Grasping at straws they may be but it was better than nothing.
"First things first, we need a better look at what we are dealing with," he replied in a hushed tone, fully realising the irony of what he'd said given the enemy were essentially invisible.
"We'll head the other way around the crater so we're facing them and observe," he continued. "You up for that, Sam?"
With the smallest edge of uncertainty, Sam straightened and nodded – her resolve strengthening when faced with something to accomplish.
"We should keep to the trees for cover," Sam added as she gripped her P90 with more determination.
Nodding, Jack led the way, away from the Stargate and their way home.
Treading as carefully and quietly as they could, the afternoon sun glinted at them through the sparse covering as they walked the mile or so around the gaping opening in the ground. All was quiet up where the two of them were walking. It became quite clear that the Hidden were far too interested in the mine to be bothered with patrolling the edge of the crater.
Twice the pair crawled to the edge to observe what was happening below. The final time they were directly opposite the Stargate and mine entrance. From there they could see blocks of material being carried to and from the mine entrance. Very little attention seemed to be directed at the Stargate itself.
"What do you think they're doing?" Jack whispered to Sam, aware that their voices could be carried by the shape of the crater.
"Maybe they're stuck here too. Trying to find a way home. Or they're searching for reinforcements for their fight with the Asgard. They don't seem to know what the Stargate is. More interested in whatever material they've found in the mine."
"Mmm," Jack pondered. "Reinforcements are more likely. Don't see a crash around here."
He pointed further round the crater that was now visible from their view point.
"There's a makeshift path down that side. Some cover from rocks and a few trees. We could try making a run for it. You dial home and I'll provide cover. Maybe they won't take any interest in us. Too interested in whatever they're mining."
Sam looked uncertain at the prospect of simply running for it.
"What if they spot us? Is there enough cover?" She asked hoping she didn't sound too disrespectful of her commanding officer.
Jack scratched his head.
"Not sure we have any other choice. They seem pretty attached to that mine." He pointed out a possible path between a series of rock formations. "Use those for cover and then it wouldn't take long to get back up here. Use the trees. Maybe they have trouble seeing us like we have seeing them."
Sam looked at Jack with some surprise. A much more logical thought than she'd expected. She hadn't even considered it but it had some merit. Straightening her features in order to avoid a completely startled look, she nodded and readied her firearm.
In agreement, they slowly started to make their way down the side of the crater. The incline was a lot kinder to them on this side and they managed to get down with minimal disturbance of the cliff face. Using hand signals only, they started on the zig-zag pattern between rocks. The tension was palpable. The heat was much more intense down in the crater and the stress didn't help matters.
Jack brought them to a sudden stop. A pile of branches a few metres in front of them froze in mid-air and then dropped to the ground.
SQUARK
The noise echoed around the crater and had both Jack and Sam backing away from their target. It was all so confusing. A crash here. A bang there. But neither could spot the source. That was until the flash of an energy based firearm appeared from a few metres away.
Ducking immediately, they hurried behind the nearest rock formation before Jack yelled, "Run!"
Unable to do anything but shoot suppression fire, neither could tell if they hit a target. Legging it at fast as they could, it wasn't long before they were hurtling their way up the side of the crater. That was when the energy blasts became heavier and more targeted on their location.
Sam let out a yell.
Jack fired back before grabbing Sam by her pack and pulled her along.
Then there were trees and foliage.
They kept running. Kept running even after the energy blasts stopped. They couldn't tell if they were being followed and it was clear that their element of surprise was gone.
Eventually Sam made Jack stop. Limping, she clutched her leg and looked decidedly pale.
Gun still at the ready, Jack looked back at their path but saw no movement.
"Can you make it any further?" Jack asked.
Sam nodded but was clearly in pain.
"I'm bleeding. They could spot the trail."
Looking behind them, Jack could now see the few drops of blood that smeared the occasional leaf. Sighing, he knew he didn't have long to figure out what to do.
Grabbing a bandage out of a side pocket, he secured it around Sam's leg in an effort to staunch the blood flow. Once fixed in place, he pulled Sam's arm around one of his shoulders and pulled her along again. Their pace was slowing and Jack knew they would have to stop soon.
Thinking they would get lost in the wilderness of the forest completely, Sam initially thought she might be hallucinating due to blood loss when her eyes spotted something through the trees. Pointing across, Jack helped her hobble over to the only non-biological object they had seen since they'd left the crater.
Jack couldn't believe their luck.
A rock-face. Which led, not too far away, to a cave opening.
Pulling Sam into the darkness, Jack didn't stop until they were far enough inside to be hidden, no pun intended.
Setting Sam down on a smooth rock, Jack was concerned with how grey she was starting to look and how vulnerable they were. They had learnt a lot about the Hidden in that encounter, but at what cost?
One thing Jack knew, they weren't going to be going home that day.
N.B.
Thanks again to everyone who has taken the time to comment and leave kudos. It really means a lot.
I hope this chapter has been worth the wait. Hopefully it won't take me so long for the next chapter.
Thanks again everyone :)
