Chapter 4 The Discovery

Author's note: I know this is a long one, but it's funny, and necessary, enjoy!

"Major Carter, I believe it is safe for us to resume conversation. From what I have observed of this world, it's abandonment seems to be complete." Teal'c waited patiently for an answer from Sam.

"Yeah, okay Teal'c, we haven't seen any signs of danger anyhow.....well, except for that."

Carter pointed her flashlight to the edge where her other team members' tracks vanished.

"But look Teal'c, something's wrong. Both the Colonel and Jonas had their own flashlights. They had to have noticed the cavern. It's kind of hard not to. It just doesn't make any sense. They didn't deliberately walk right off. There has to be another explanation."

"I agree Major Carter. How do we go about locating Jonas Quinn and O'Neill? Should we report back to General Hammond in regards to this situation? Maybe there is some of your equipment that would be of use."

Carter shined her flashlight out into the cavern for one last look.

Jack had fallen into a sullen silence, and Jonas was doing his best to keep the conversation alive. Even if it was only one-sided.

//God, does he have an off switch? I don't know who's worse, him or Carter. //

Just then, Jack glanced back up for what seemed the hundredth time, at the spot where the entrance to the cave was. He saw the white light from the entrance, but as he followed it with his eyes, the light seemed to grow across to the wall opposite from where he and Jonas were perched.

He shushed Jonas, and signaled for him to look up.

"I think that might be Major Carter. Should we yell, Colonel?" Jonas was eager to get home too, but knew he'd better take the Colonel's lead.

" CARTER!!?!! IS THAT YOU?!!' Jack wasn't going to waste a breath, and instead of answering Jonas, he just screamed. Jonas followed suit.

"MAJOR CARTER!! COLONEL O'NEILL AND I ARE DOWN HERE, CAN YOU HEAR US?!!!!"

Sam and Teal'c quickly exchanged glances, and Sam smiled in relief at the faint sound of the rest of her team coming from below. Her first instinct was to take a step towards the edge to see where the voices were coming from. Teal'c put a gentle hand on her left shoulder and looked down.

"I don't think it is wise to risk a look down. The edge may be unstable."

Sam had an idea. She keyed her radio.

"Sir, this is Carter, we hear you, do you read, over?"

Jack was so surprised by his 2IC's voice on his radio, that at first he just put his hand up to answer back, and nothing came out of his mouth.

//Okay, that's ODD. I swear they didn't work half an hour ago. //

Jonas took advantage of the opportunity and responded on his own radio.

"Major, it's great to hear from you, but how is it that we are able to use our radios now, and we weren't before?"

Sam smiled again. "From the samples I took this morning, I think that Naquida is one of the base elements of this planet's geological makeup. If that's the case, then transmission from anyone inside the cave to someone on the outside would be blocked. However, the signal on the inside of the cave should be enhanced by the Naquida, therefore making it easier to communicate with our radios."

"Actually, it's Naquadria, Major. That's why I was so fascinated with this cave." Jonas came back across the radio. "I thought that I had mis-translated, but I didn't. It's definitely Naquadria. I think this cavern was some sort of depository."

"Don't encourage her Jonas." Said Jack off the air. "You do realize what you've started now right?"

"Jonas do you know what this means?" asked Sam excitedly over the static free waves.

"Actually, Colonel O'Neill has already taken the liberty to advise me on what this situation means. But.. um Major, we are both hurt pretty bad down here. I think I may have broken both of my legs, and the Colonel says that he can't even feel his. We could really use some help."

Teal'c readily joined in. "I will return to the SGC O'Neill, and bring back another SG team as well as the equipment needed to rescue both you and Jonas Quinn."

"Thanks Teal'c, it will be GREATLY appreciated. Oh... and tell Hammond the next time he wants us to go on a ROUTINE mission, it had better be to the local hardware store for some duct tape."

// Or to the local liquor store for a six pack//

"As you wish, O'Neill. I will return shortly with reinforcements." Teal'c nodded curtly to Sam and then left to take the three or four mile journey back to the gate.

"Colonel, I have to ask you a question." Sam challenged over the radio.

"As long as the answer requires words that are less than three syllables long, okay. Besides, Jonas isn't any good at I spy."

"It's a dark, rocky cavern sir." Sam said dryly.

"Carter, your question?" came back O'Neill.

"Oh. Right. How did the two of you end up down there? I know you didn't just walk right off the edge."

Sam unconsciously took a tiny step back.

" Well, Carter, to be honest, I think it was some sort of Goa'uld booby trap. Jonas said that the ground gave way when he fell. But the break at the edge was too clean. When I went closer to investigate, I heard a click, felt my feet go out from under me, and here we are. So uh... don't get too close, okay?"

"I noticed the clean edge too, sir. Let me have a look around, and see if I can find the triggering device. Oh and Colonel? Try to keep as still as possible. From the sound of it, you may have a spinal injury, and you need to remain stabilized so as not to cause further damage."

"Yes mother." came the reply.

Sam began her search along the side of the cave to her left, closest to her feet. She scanned with her light up the side of the wall and overhead to her right. When she reached the lowest point by her right foot, she noticed a suspicious crack along the bottom lip of the wall that led back towards the entrance. She followed with her light back to the edge of the cavern. Kneeling down, she started to brush away the dirt near the crack. About six inches away from the edge, her hand brushed over something cold and solid. Sam uncovered an unidentifiable piece of technology that ran completely flat along the entire width of the cave. She scooted back further, and brushed more dirt away. She realized that whatever it was that had sent Jonas and the Colonel down, was big enough to span the entire entrance to the cavern. She also noticed that the plate (for lack of better words) was segmented, about every eight inches back or so.

//uh oh. I'm standing on it right now. // Sam licked her lips, and called up her CO.

"Sir, I found what looks like some kind of a pressure plate. If my theory is correct.."

//..and it usually is..// Jack thought snidely.

"When you set your weight down on the plate, it triggered a release ...somewhere.. and broke loose. The plate seems to be divided into six to eight inch segments. If you go too close to the edge and step on the last segment....."

"Okay." said Jack. "Now we know HOW it happened, let's work on a way to get us outta here, what do you say Major?"

"Sir, I am going to lower the rope in my pack down to you. I know there is not much use for it, but it will help me gauge how far down you have fallen. Copy that sir?"

"Jonas will be able to help you Carter; I am rather indisposed at the moment." The Colonel was trying to move as little as possible.

Sam unfastened her pack and pulled out the rope. It was two hundred feet long, and if it didn't reach most of the way down she knew it would be a long day for a rescue. She sure hoped Teal'c was making good time. The injuries that both of her team members had sustained were severe enough to really complicate the whole process, especially Colonel O'Neill's. She really didn't want to think of what would happen if the Colonel truly did have a spinal injury. Sam unwound the rope and taking another step back she wrapped one end around her wrist, and the other she tossed into the vast crevasse, over the side of the cavern wall.

"Major Carter, I see the end of the rope! It's about fifty feet above us!" Jonas was shining his flashlight eagerly on the wall, still lying in the same position as he'd been in since the Colonel had joined him over two hours ago. Moving out of the way had been instinct, he really didn't want the Colonel to be hurt too, but there wasn't much he could do now. Jonas really hoped that Jack's injuries were not too bad, and he had a feeling that if and when the Colonel got better, then he would be more than happy to put Jonas on water duty for SG-1's next few missions.

"Okay Jonas, that's not too bad, all we have to do now is wait for Teal'c to get back with the rescue team."

Sam was getting more anxious with each passing minute.

"Colonel, sir, how are you feeling?"

Jack keyed his radio. "Well, Carter, it's a good thing I found a tree-thing before Jonas decided he wanted to play hide and seek. Otherwise, I might start a little disaster of my own down here. Not that I can actually tell if I have to go or not, but that might or might not be a blessing."

Sam chuckled. "Yes sir. Hang in there sir."

Just then, shadows fell on the floor in front of where Sam was sitting, and she turned around to see Teal'c and SG-9, and SG-13 at the mouth of the cave.

"We have returned Major Carter. General Hammond had already authorized SG-9 on a reconnaissance mission to seek our whereabouts. He has also sent SG-13 to aid in the rescue. What is the status of Colonel O'Neill and Jonas Quinn?"

"They're still communicating with us, at least." Turning towards the other teams. "It's great to see you guys, here's the deal......"

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The last part is on its way, feedback rewarded with a great ending!! (drools in angst)