Chapter 14 – Best Laid Plans (and all that)
Having already secured their night-vision goggles before leaving the cave, the darkness did not seem as restricting this night. The air was cool without a single note of mugginess, which was weird – Sam thought – the forest should be more humid.
Walking single file, with Jack leading, they quietly made their way along the same route that Jack had used the night before. Feet crunching against the undergrowth, neither of them realised that the forest wasn't as quiet as it had previously been. Leaves rustled, branches creaked, and there was the occasional sound of some far-off creature baying to the moon. Nature was accompanying them on their quest and they both enjoyed the company.
The monotony of their surroundings lulled Sam into a false sense of security. It went on for so long that her earlier nerves drained away, replaced by the adrenaline of having home within their reach. She'd got into such a pattern of walking, scanning, and checking, that she almost walked into Jack when he came to a sudden stop. It was then that she saw the edge of the forest and, even though Jack couldn't see, she gave him a wide smile. Not too far to go now.
After all their years working together, Jack and Sam were experts at communicating without talking. An advantage in this place. Slowly, they walked over to the edge of the crater. Neither crawled this time, confident that they would not be seen, and they still had the cover of the forest to run back to if necessary.
With one hand signal, Jack directed Sam over to the dirt pathway that they had run up a couple of days before. Giving her leg a small shake, Sam was relieved to feel only a little pain where she had been shot. Walking hadn't given her too much trouble and she was sure she could make it over to the gate without issue.
They could see three figures working beyond where the gate stood. As they carefully trudged down and into the crater there was no sound from the busy figures. The closer Sam and Jack got to the bottom, the easier they could breathe.
The stars did little to illuminate the fallen rocks and splintered raw materials that scattered the crater's floor. Sam was convinced it had been a quarry, once upon a time. The rubble seemed camouflaged on the displays of their goggles. Blurred into one. So, no matter how careful they were, it came as no surprise when one large rock tripped Jack up. Stumbling, he crashed down to the floor and somehow managed to stop himself from yelling out.
Sam froze, looking towards the gate. One figure had stopped at the sound, the rest continued. Keeping as still as possible, Sam prayed to every god available that they wouldn't be found out. That they could get out of here unharmed.
Bile crawled up the back of her throat as the lone, frozen figure, started to walk towards them. Kneeling by Jack, Sam grabbed his shoulder to keep him still as the distance between them and the figure decreased. Instinct told her to run. Logic said to stay. If Jack was right, then the figure wouldn't see them. They would be indistinguishable from the rocks and gravel scattered around them.
The seconds, for it must have only been seconds, seemed to trickle by so slowly, like water from a dripping tap. One drop. Two drops. It was as if time had slowed and all either of them could hear were their own hearts beating furiously in their chests.
Three drops.
Grip tightening on her P-90, Sam tried to keep tight control over her fight or flight response. Jack stayed completely still, not wanting to risk causing any other sound that could draw the figure closer to them. The darkness started to enclose once more, thickening the air around them, as they found their focus fixed on the approaching danger.
Their combined attention so riveted on the Hidden, it wasn't until they heard the yelps and whoops from the near the treetops above that they knew they weren't alone. The sudden noise was startling. This time all the members of the Hidden, that Jack could see, stopped, and turned towards the noise.
A flash of light soared from a tree above them and down towards the mine entrance. Fire crackled as the projectile hit the ground, narrowly missing one of the far-off figures, now no longer frozen to the spot. Two more followed in quick succession as it became clear that there were now others, with them, at the crater.
A sudden flurry of movement saw bolts of energy leave weapons being held by the Hidden as more ran out of the mine entrance to offer reinforcements. Shooting blind into the trees above the crater did little more than provide a light show against the black night sky. One projectile, from the ridge top, did land on its mark. It resulted in a howl of pain as one of the Hidden, stood close to the Stargate, was knocked to the ground.
The fight between the two sides intensified, both intent on wounding and killing. One and then two bodies tumbled their way down into the crater as the Hidden got lucky. There was soon so much light from the missiles, that Jack found his vision overloaded by the sensory output from his goggles. Sam had already removed her own for the same reason. Pulling off his goggles, Jack blinked, eyes readjusting to the dim light from small fires that had now broken the cloak of the night.
Sam and Jack were frozen, watching the fight, neither knowing which of their options to take. The path back up to the top of the crater would lead them to whoever was attacking the Hidden. They had yet to find out if they were friend or foe.
They could run over to the Stargate, use the fight as a distraction. But the Stargate, and mine entrance, seemed to be the main target of the projectiles from the trees. Taking that option risked them getting hit.
The ever-increasing light also meant that, at any moment, they might be seen by the Hidden. So, staying still wasn't an option. There was nowhere to hide, no vantage point. Not from within the crater.
Getting to his knees, Jack turned to look at Sam, her face illuminated by the firefight. Thinking about their options, about Sam, Jack made his decision. They had to try; it would be better than getting caught.
"We keep to our plan. It might be our only chance."
Sam nodded, in agreement. "Worth a try."
Crouching, the pair prepared themselves to shoot forward towards the gate. Sam would input the address into the DHD, Jack would message the Gate room to let them know to open the iris. All they needed was the sound of a starting gun.
That came to them in the form of one mishit missile that landed only two feet away from them. Risking a look at Sam, Jack nodded at her and they started to run. Now certain they had been seen; it was all they could do.
Fifteen metres away: they dodged a bolt of energy from the Hidden, Sam grimacing at the pull on her leg.
Ten metres away: figures started to run down the side of the crater, towards them.
Five metres away: Sam started to slow and hobble just as the pair felt the eerily familiar feeling of a transporter beam around them.
Then: silence, save for the pair's panting.
"It is good to see you again, O'Neill," came the sound of Thor's voice.
Collapsing to the now cool, steel ground, it took Jack and Sam a few moments to realise they were back on Thor's ship and no longer in imminent danger.
"Cutting it a bit close, don'tcha think?" Jack asked, exasperated.
"You are welcome," Thor continued in his ever-calm voice.
Crawling over to Sam, Jack was pleased to see her looking well enough, albeit a little pale.
"And that planet is what you call safe?" Jack continued, as adrenaline slowly started to seep away.
"It was when we left you. The likelihood of the Hidden being there, in addition to the existing population launching an attack, was low."
"So that's who that was, then?" Sam asked, curiously as Jack helped her to stand.
"Yes, what remains of them." Thor answered before adding. "We can treat your wounds as we travel back to Earth."
"What about the Hidden?" Sam hobbled forward towards Thor, one hand still holding onto Jack for support.
"We have averted their attack, for now," came Thor's calm but vague response as he turned to lead them to the ship's medical bay.
Gripping each other, Jack and Sam couldn't help but tiredly grin at each other. Perhaps there were still more answers to find. They certainly still had things to talk about. But they were on their way home, safe and, mostly, sound.
N.B.
Hello my lovely readers!
Here we are at the last chapter for this adventure. There will be one more chapter, an epilogue of sorts, where they are back home and talking. I hope to start that soon.
Thank you so much for reading this far, I really do hope you've enjoyed it :)