As Carter maneuvered the little vehicle into a position to provide the trajectory she wanted, backing up to the very opposite edge of the bed, Jack devoutly prayed that he would not regret the decision he had just made. Realizing that Carter was now looking at him, waiting, Jack raised a fist. "Hit it Carter," he ordered, thrusting his fist forward, and was almost immediately slammed back into his seat as Carter floored it.
Chapter 17: Defying Gravity
Time could take on many qualities, and at that moment it decided to move entirely too fast while seeming to move in slow motion all in the space of a few heartbeats. All too quickly, the previously radio controlled vehicle carrying four undersized living beings rocketed across the bed, and equally too fast for comfort was airborne. And then time became suspended as they hung in midair, defying the laws of gravity, as if time had forgotten to notice the little vehicle and its occupants. But all too soon, time caught up and the tires made contact with the chair, the impact snapping their heads back. But the chair was not their final destination and a sinking sensation clutched at Jack's stomach as in an instant they were plummeting again. In the seemingly endless moment of freefall, Jack decided that if they got out of this one he would be trading in the Hummer for something with wings.
The floor came too quickly when time resumed its proper pace, the tiny vehicle bouncing and lurching and somehow beating the odds to remain upright. Body parts collided with the unforgiving metal and plastic casing of the model. Groans and muttered curses punctuated the sudden silence created by the cessation of noise from an overworked miniature engine and the free spinning tires.
"Um, ow." Jack looked at Carter to find her rubbing her forehead, a perplexed expression on her face. Similar grumbles came from Daniel's direction in the backseat, and Jack found it difficult to bury his own complaints. Deciding he needed a moment to touch base with terra firma, Jack opened his door and slipped out, not too surprised when three other doors opened and the rest of the team staggered out.
"We did it sir." There was a touch of awe in Carter's voice as she spoke, still rubbing distractedly at her forehead where there was likely another bruise. Jack decided to overlook the Majors comment; he didn't want to dwell on the possibility that she had been anything less than 100 percent positive that they would have pulled this stunt off. Instead, Jack turned a critical eye over his team.
"Anybody hurt?" he asked. A chorus of "No sir" "I'm fine" and "I am well" came back to him. Out of all of them, Teal'c was the only one he believed right away. Daniel was rubbing his elbow unobtrusively and even though Carter had stopped rubbing her forehead and was now examining the Hummer for signs of damage, he still decided she really needed a helmet. General Hammond would not forgive him if he let the Earth's foremost expert on Gate technology get brained.
Carter seemed bright and alert however as she poked under the vehicle to check on the suspension so he decided to forgo the post concussive check this time, although he knew how to use that flashlight if she showed even the slightest sign of head trauma. Daniel had joined Carter in peering under the front of their transport, so Jack decided the archeologist was ok too.
"Everything check out Carter?" The corner of Jack's mouth quirked as a slightly distracted "Sir?" filtered back to him from underneath the Hummer. Walking around to the front where he'd last seen his errant scientist, Jack exchanged a quick glance with Daniel, who was crouched down in front of the bumper. Daniel only shrugged and gave a crooked smile, inclining his head towards the pair of legs poking out from under the vehicle. With a sudden devilish grin quirking at the corner of his lips, Jack reached down, grabbed an ankle, and gave it a tug while at the same time barking out a sharp, "Carter!"
The ankle in his grasp jerked, and an unmistakable thunk could be heard followed by a somewhat muffled and very unladylike curse. Wincing in sympathy at the unexpected response, Jack let go of her ankle and moved back giving her space to come out. He was definitely getting her a helmet.
A moment later and a slightly rumpled blue-eyed Major sat regarding him while again rubbing at her head. "Sir?" she questioned, frowning slightly.
Narrowing his eyes at her critically first, he finally replied. "Everything ok under there Major?"
"Yes sir. I just wanted to make sure the jolting didn't cause any problems with the suspension." Nodding at her response, the Colonel rose, offering her a hand up.
"Ok kids, we ready to get moving?" When all the affirmative replies filtered back to him, Jack climbed back into the Hummer; relieved they weren't going to be flying off any more furniture.
Once they were all strapped back in, Jack looked over at the driver. "Ok Carter, this time take it easy, we don't want to run into any hostiles."
"Yes sir." She put the vehicle in drive, and headed out of the infirmary, sticking close to the walls and when possible, staying under or near cover, although once they left the infirmary, that cover would swiftly disappear. Reaching the doorway, she carefully nosed the Hummer out into the corridor, all of them staying alert for any signs of the aliens. The hallways seemed deserted however, especially for the hour of the day when the base should have been teeming with activity. There were no signs of their alien 'guests' or their floating pens.
Following the Colonel's directions, Sam eased the little vehicle down the hall, turning when instructed. Pulling around an abandoned janitor's cart along the corridor they were in, Sam made a left, carefully following the hallway for a short distance. The Colonel indicated that the next turn was the last, and Sam hugged the wall as she guided the vehicle around the corner, almost immediately slamming into reverse. Next to her, the Colonel cursed, confirming her suspicion that the two aliens in the middle of the hall had got to the weapons locker before them. Carter backed the vehicle down the hall they'd come out of to be on the safe side, parking it behind the janitor's cart out of sight, in case they'd been noticed.
"Sir?" Carter spoke hesitantly. So far there were no indication that the two aliens had spotted them during their brief peek around the corner, so engrossed in removing weapons from storage, though to what purpose they had no idea.
"I believe a diversion is in order, O'Neill." Teal'c spoke up from the back seat and Jack frowned, his eyes coming to rest on the janitor's cart next to them.
Slowly his eyes traveled up and a small smile started to play across his features.
"I think you're right Teal'c. Carter, how's your chemistry skills?" Sam blinked at her CO's sudden question, and her brow furrowed for a moment before she caught on. A matching smile spread across her features as she returned his glance. A diversion indeed.
