Head Trip - Chapter 13 "Follow the Yellow Brick Road"
With the discovery of the main road leading into the citadel, their plans had changed.
Now they traveled in single-file formation, with O'Neill taking point, Daniel behind him, and Teal'c covering their six. After weighing the risk, Jack felt they could proceed at a more rapid pace if they hugged the incline and used the trench as a footpath. Should any traffic or threat appear on the highway above, they were prepared to either flatten themselves against the slope or sweep back into the tall grass, only a couple meters away. Since they had better footing on the more solid terrain, it allowed them to gain some valuable distance.
After several hours, and no activity whatsoever from the road, O'Neill relaxed into a less intense gait with SG-1 following his lead. As the sun turned orange and began to sink beneath the waves of green grass in the distance, the wind began to pick up. Jack adjusted the collar of his jacket. This really could be Kansas … but I'm in no mood to find any tin men!
The vivid sunset soon dissolved into the purple shades of night. The men continued to trek on for another few kilometers, stopping only to put on the night-vision goggles they had brought with them. Jack had not initially planned to undertake a night rescue, but thought it best to come prepared for all contingencies. He was glad, now, of his foresight.
Suddenly, Teal'c gripped Daniel's shoulder, motioning him to stop and placing his fingers on his lips. Daniel, in turn, sent the same silent message to O'Neill. All three soldiers leaned their backs into the slope, and dug their heels into the trench. With their P90s raised, they waited. The now still night air was broken by a distant sound, some type of rattling and humming. As the droning and grating came closer, it became an all-too-familiar noise. The men braced themselves, as the highway, only three meters above their heads, seemed to come alive with the traffic of mechanical replicators. Gravel and sand rained down on the soldiers' upturned faces as the procession passed. Within a matter of minutes, it was all over.
As the ominous clatter receded, O'Neill scrambled up the incline with his binoculars and looked at the departing column. The bugs seemed to be dragging and pushing large containers. It was a bizarre sight: the replicators were climbing atop and around the crates – as if they were protecting the contents. Jack slid down to his teammates and described what he had just seen.
Obviously, with their attention on their valued cargo, the replicators had missed the opportunity for a fresh meal!
The sudden surge of adrenaline having served its purpose, Jack, Daniel, and Teal'c now realized that their exhausted bodies needed to rest and prepare for tomorrow's assault. If luck continued to stay with them, they should be able to reach the citadel even earlier than originally planned.
Teal'c volunteered for first watch. Daniel curled up within the confines of the deep, velvety grass and was asleep within minutes.
Still unable to release his edginess, Jack sat alone with his thoughts, his thoughts of Sam. Replaying the same scene over and over in his mind, he saw her face as she pleaded with him to leave her when all hope seemed gone.Their eyes had locked, and her words still haunted him. "Sir, there's no time … sir, just go!"
Sir ….
There were only two times in his life when Jack O'Neill felt time stand still. Once, when he looked into the eyes of his dying son. And, once, years later, when he looked into the eyes of the woman he loved.