Chapter 14
"So after I was able to adjust the control crystal to meet the needs of the coordinates which are already integrated into the system, I was able to modulate the pitch of the signal so that I could use this remote to activate the ring platform with a device that is more comparable to our technology."
Mitchell rolled his eyes. "Dr. Lee, can we take the pony ride or not?
"Oh, well, I-we... don't know if the matter stream is stable. I planned to test it on a few items, to make sure the energy understands it is coming from a viable source."
"And that source is?"
"Naquadah." Dr. Lee stared at him, seemingly surprised that the colonel's apparent lack of knowledge. "We drained quite a bit of the naquadah battery to pilot this run, so we may have enough for one more ring actviation. Then we'll need to resupply."
"And the likelihood of that happening?"
"Oh well, I-I don't know. I would assume we could get a new battery rather quickly. Within the next six hours?"
Mitchell looked at his team. "Is that quick enough?"
They all looked at him dubiously. "I thought not. Okay, Dr. Lee. Prepare for human transport." He commanded walking out of the room with Teal'c and Daniel following. Tomin watched with raised brows from the doorway.
Dr. Lee looked horrified. "Oh, but, Colonel Mitchell," he tried to argue, racing behind them to catch up. "We don't know if the matter stream is capable of maintaining your signature patterns. Nor do we know if the coordinates will drop you off on a life sustainable planet."
"We'll take our chances."
"But I only have enough naquadah power for one more transport."
Mitchell said, "Yeah, I got that part."
"But you may not have enough power to return!"
"Got that too."
"You could be stranded."
"Doctor, we don't have a lot of options." Mitchell paused and turned around with eyebrows raised."Unless you have another suggestion?"
"Oh! Well... I mean..." Dr. Lee said, stumbling over his words, "beyond the clearly viable of option of not going?"
Mitchell cocked his head at the scientist, his expression clearly indicating it was not an option.
Easily intimidated, Dr. Lee took a step back. "Right, well okay... you would probably need a source of energy portable enough to be used in any environment."
"The Prior's staff would sustain a large enough burst to initiate a transport." Tomin spoke up from across the room.
"You know how to use one of those things?" Mitchell asked.
He nodded. "They are similar to a soldier's staff weapon. I will not be able to use a prior's heightened powers with it, but I should be able to activate a ring transporter."
"Good. Then it'll be you, me, and Teal'c."
Tomin nodded.
"Wait a second. What do you mean, just you, Tomin, and Teal'c?" Daniel said, suddenly irritated. "I'm going too."
"Jackson, you can't go. I need you here. I need you to interpret the glyphs on that key in case you guys find the door."
"I have spent the last week and a half trying to decipher the glyphs on that artifact. If it hasn't happened yet, it's not happening anytime soon. The key should work without it."
"We don't know that. We can't take the chance-"
"I'm going," Daniel stated, his voice resolute.
"Jackson, someone needs to stay back to inform General Landry of what we've found." He looked over at Dr. Lee who was back in his ring room talking nervously with his scientists. Sparks blew unexpected out of sight and they all rushed to take care of it. "Somehow I just don't trust him to get it right."
Daniel was about to argue further when Teal'c interrupted. "I will stay, Colonel Mitchell," he offered. "I will speak to General Landry about what we've learned. And if Jonas regains consciousness I will further question him about the events on Langera. I will also coordinate the efforts to find the door for the cloaking device."
They all stared at him in surprised silence for a moment.
He raised a brow. "If you are concerned with my capacity in accomplishing these tasks-"
"No, not at all, buddy." Mitchell crossed his arms over his chest and looked over at the Jaffa, his eyes lit with respect. "We just appreciate the offer. You're sure?"
"I am."
Mitchell shrugged. "Okay, then." He nodded at Tomin. "So it's you, me, and Sunshine." He said pointing a thumb at Daniel.
Daniel frowned at Mitchell. "Nice."
"Only spreading the love," Mitchell explained, moving back over to the ring room. "Dr. Lee."
Dr. Lee quickly rushed away from the center of the platform where he was taking readings. "Yes, Colone Mitchell."
"When we're gone, I want you out of here. There's not enough power for you to start another transport anyway. I want your heads on those ZPMs. Who knows what kind of power we're going to need to get that cloaking device in action when the time comes."
"Well, yes… but I-"
"Good," he said, slapping him roughly on the back before walking away.
Dr. Lee stood for a moment with his mouth hanging open in mid-explanation before quickly closing it, realizing his argument had died before he had even begun. He shook his head and mumbled to himself as he walked away.
Mitchell looked at Daniel. "You going to change?" he asked.
Daniel looked down at his jeans and t-shirt. He shook his head. It wasn't worth the extra time.
"All right. We ready then?" Mitchell looked over. Tomin was already waiting with the staff weapon he had found in the office. Dr. Lee had been working on it since Sam hadn't had the chance.
"I'm ready," Daniel said, passing Mitchell his P-90.
Mitchell turned around and started backing away towards the ring room. After tucking his zat in his BDUs, he called out with a high wave to Teal'c, "Hopefully, the Ori will hold off their attack on Earth until we get back. You know me. I love a party. Especially when we've got big weapons."
Teal'c smirked. "As do I."
"I know you do!" Mitchell hollered with a grin, backing into the ring room behind Tomin. Daniel followed, rolling his eyes.
"All right, Dr. Lee. You ready?"
"I believe so. You understand we do not have communications capabilities once we-"
"Yeah, yeah. We're flying blind. Or in this case, deaf. Got it."
Dr. Lee shrugged and moved away while the remaining three men stationed themselves within the platform space. He mumbled quietly to himself as he tilted his head over his remote monitor. Teal'c stood at ease in the entrance while the rest of Dr. Lee's scientists synchronized their goggles.
In less than thirty seconds, the bright white light of the five transporter rings dropped around them refiguring their energy signatures into the matter stream. Within moments, the rings seemed to fall onto the platform of a new location, restructuring their patterns into their original solidified forms.
Mitchell scrunched up his forehead and tried to get his bearings. He looked down. "Am I standing in water?"
Tomin looked similarly confused as he looked around at his environment. Wet green fields ran as far as the eye could see with the exception of one single distraction. A large gleaming city waiting in the distance.
"Hey, I don't mean to burst everyone's bubble here. But we didn't get it wrong, did we?" Mitchell said staring at the city in the distance. "That's not the City of the Lost, is it?"
"No. It's not," Daniel said with an unhappy frown. He looked back at the inquiring expressions before letting his gaze fall on the looming and ominous structures that didn't seem as attractive as when he had first visited over two years before. "We've just been transported to the Plains of Celestis."