Chapter 3
"What was that noise?"
"The door, Daniel." Sam thought that was fairly obvious.
"No, not that." He was sure he heard the skittering again. "That. Do they have rats down here?"
"Maybe…as long as it's not…"
"Replicators?"
"That's not possible, the weapon on Dakara wiped them out." Sam was sure, almost.
"So rats?" Daniel wasn't thrilled with that prospect.
"What are you doing?" Sam heard a lot of rattling.
"The door … it's stuck."
"The quartermaster will take care of it."
"You think he's still out there?"
"I think I heard him reply." Sam tapped in the direction of her ear bud. "We may as well get to work."
"So we're looking for a weather balloon?"
"Funny, very funny Daniel." Sam had a feeling this was going to be a long day.
The commander of the base looked at the ringing phone wondering why his aide hadn't taken care of what every problem was now arriving at his doorstep. He pushed aside the pile of folders multiplying on his desk, swiped his hand across his weary face and picked up the vile instrument.
"Carper."
"Sir, this is Major Kotsch, the Quartermaster, presently on Sub Level B, Section 179."
"Yes, yes, get on with it."
"Sir the…ah…Colonel Carter and Doctor Jackson arrived from Cheyenne Mountain to…ah…deal with the material stored in Sub Level B, Section 180."
"Yes Major, I am aware."
"They are presently locked in the bunker."
"What?"
"Just as we slid in a tool box the door slammed and we have been unable to open it."
"Locked?"
"Sir, yes… ah…no Sir, the keys are still in the knob but the door won't budge. We have a plasma torch on its way."
"Are you in contact with Colonel Carter or Doctor Jackson?"
"They are wired up but it's mostly static."
"Keep me apprised."
"Yes Sir"
Great, just great. He didn't have enough to do. Now he's going to have Jack O'Neill on his ass.
