"That does not sound good." McKay commented as the tunnel shook.
"You think?" Young muttered.
"I still can't pick anything up on the sensors." McKay said, ignoring the comment. "Perhaps we should wait a while until the shaking stops. No point us all getting trapped."
"No need Doctor." A combat engineer said. "These tunnels are fine."
"You sure? Cos they look pretty flimsy to me." McKay questioned.
"Are you sure you know how a Nuke works?" The engineer responded.
"Of course that is child's play."
"Well then. To me this is child's play. When I say it is safe it is safe." The engineer answered before continuing down the tunnel.
"Great I am having to trust my life to some arrogant Lego builder." McKay muttered.
"Now you know how we normally feel on a mission with you." Young said. McKay just glared.
"The sooner we find them the sooner we can leave the mine Rodney." Teyla tried to soothe.
"Fine. Lets go. Hopefully this program I am running will adjust the calibration, then I might be able to see something soon. That is if we are not crushed to death first." McKay said as continued walking down the tunnel trying to ignore the vibrations.
After ten minutes the leading group stopped.
"Ok Doctor you are up." One combat engineer called back.
"What do you mean up?" McKay answered.
"We are at a crossroads you need to choose which direction to take."
McKay walked forward into a small cavern, from which led several tunnels. He looked down at his tablet and began pressing the screen.
"Anytime." Young said.
"I can't rush this. It is an extremely complex task. If I get it wrong we could be wondering this tunnels for days." McKay responded indignantly as another rumble propagated through the mine. "Ok ok." McKay muttered. "That way." He said pointing to one of the tunnels.
"You sure?" Young asked.
"Yes, well fairly. It is a one in three."
"One in three? I thought you had mapped these tunnels."
"I have but the resolution isn't perfect, especially when one level crosses another. If you think you can do any better feel free." McKay said defensively.
"No no, you are the expert. You want to go that way we will go that way." Young replied as the cavern shook again.
"Very well shall we go?" Teyla said, sounding frustrated. The group walked towards the tunnel McKay had pointed to when a voice from behind stopped them in their tracks.
"Where the hell are you going?"
"John!" Teyla exclaimed. "It is good to see you."
"Good to be seen. But where were you going?"
"To find you Sir." Young answered.
"Down there?" Sheppard questioned pointing to the tunnel the group had started down.
"Dr McKay thought that was the right tunnel." Young shrugged.
"How many times do I have to tell you all, do not let Canadians navigate?" Sheppard answered.
"Hey I said it was a one in three chance." McKay answered. "It is not my fault I can't get sensor readings down here."
"Told you not to rely on gadgets." Ronon said as another vibration shook the area.
"Perhaps we should discuss this later after we have got out." Teyla suggested.
"Sounds good to me." Sheppard said. "I have already been in one cave-in today and I would prefer not to be in another."
"It's alright these tunnels are safe." McKay said causing Sheppard to raise an eyebrow.
"Actually doctor this area is not safe." One of the combat engineers said.
"What? You said they were fine."
"They were a quarter of a mile back. But here not so much."
"Why didn't you tell me? Would that not constitute useful information?" McKay practically shouted.
"McKay calm down. I am sure you would have carried on looking for us regardless." Sheppard said. "Wouldn't you?"
"Well, I guess so."
"You guess so?" Sheppard questioned.
"So you knowing would not have helped, only caused you increase worry." Teyla finished, the ground shaking again.
"Yeah so now we have found you, shall we go?" Sheppard said. "I assume someone here knows the way out."
"Yes Sir that way." Young said pointing to a tunnel that Ronon was already heading for.
As the group headed down the tunnel, Sheppard fell into step along side McKay and Teyla. "What happened to you down there?" Teyla asked.
"Well long story short Ronon got his ass kicked, then he-"
"I thought you were just pursuing one individual?" Teyla questioned.
"Oh we were. He still got his butt kicked."
"I still won." Ronon said very gruffly, having fallen back to walk with the rest of his team.
"Only after nearly loosing." Sheppard said, making sure Teyla was standing between himself and Ronon. "Anyway Ronon got off a luc… a great punch and sent the guy flying, then he sort of exploded-"
"Who Ronon?" McKay asked.
"No McKay. Does Ronon look like he exploded?"
"I thought you were talking in a metaphorical sense." McKay defended.
"I meant literal."
"Why? People don't just explode." McKay said.
"I know that, but he did. I think that it was the chip he was given."
"Chip? What chip?" McKay asked confused.
"The Chieftain said his son had been given a chip that enhanced his speed and strength." Sheppard explained.
"And you believed him?" McKay asked incredulously.
"Well he did kick Ronon's butt." Sheppard explained.
"How many times are you going to say that?" Ronon asked in a deep growl.
"Sorry buddy, it is just that it is unusual to see someone get the better of you." Seeing Teyla raise an eyebrow he quickly added, "Present company excluded. Anyway, it just helps remind me you are human."
"What else would I be?" Ronon asked confused.
"It's just an expression." Sheppard said.
"Can we get back to the super-power chip?" McKay asked. "Are you sure he did not set off a charge?"
"Or could there have been an old charge in the tunnel wall that exploded." Teyla suggested.
"I think it was the chip." Sheppard said.
"Well did you bring it back?" McKay asked.
"No McKay. For some reason as I was digging my way out of a cave-in it did not occur to me to head deeper into the collapsed area and rummage around for human remains so I could locate an exploded chip."
"So you have no way to verify that he had some sort of chip that gave him super-human powers and then for some reason exploded." McKay said doubtfully.
"Other than the fact he kick-" Hearing Ronon growl Sheppard paused and then said, "He was a very good fighter and he exploded. What more could you want?"
"Actual hard core proof." McKay answered. "You think Woolsey is going to go for the whole exploding chip story? Why has everyone stopped?"
"Because we are at the shaft." Young called back.
"Already?" McKay asked, not sounding as enthusiastic as Sheppard had expected.
"What's wrong McKay, I thought you wanted to be on the surface?" Sheppard said.
"I do, I had just kind of hoped that we would have had given the others more time to get us out another way. Perhaps we could rest first."
"No need." Ronon said as he started his ascent.
"You will be fine Rodney." Teyla assure him.
"Perhaps I should eat something first. In case I run out of sugar half-way up and collapse and plunge to my death." McKay suggested.
"Or perhaps you should stop talking so you don't burn up energy unnecessarily." Sheppard said smirking.
"That and breathing." Young muttered as he started climbing.
"See what I have had to put up with from your uneducated people." McKay said to Sheppard.
"He has a degree from Penn State." Sheppard replied.
"Probably in a pointless subject that doesn't count like History."
"English actually."
"Ha. I rest my case. Uneducated." McKay said proudly.
"So you climbing?" Sheppard asked. "And that wasn't really a question."
"Fine, I am going. But if I fall to my death, it is all your fault and you can explain why to Jeannie." McKay said as he carefully started his climb, whilst Sheppard and Teyla exchanged an amused glance. As he disappeared upwards still muttering Sheppard turned to Teyla.
"After you."
"Surely you want to be out of here sooner than me?" Teyla responded.
"But I am a gentleman and as such must allow the lady to go first." Sheppard said, then as Teyla positioned herself on the bottom rung he added, "Besides I don't want to see McKay's butt."
"But you wish to see mine?" Teyla questioned.
"What? No that is not what I meant." Sheppard replied before realising Teyla had already climbed five metres.
