"This place is amazing…"

Daniel looked over at Sam, smiling at the surprise in her voice and the awe in her expression. Of course, he'd been just as impressed the first time he'd seen the inside of the lava base, too – and he still was, for that matter – so he couldn't really tease her too much.

"Would you expect any less from Melony?" he asked her.

Sam shook her head, still amazed to see such a highly technological laboratory in the middle of a lava dome.

"I suppose not… but it's still amazing…"

"Yeah."

She shook her head again, and then switched over to the reason for being there in the first place. "Where's this thing I'm supposed to be looking at?"

"Over here."

Daniel led her over to one of the tables, and pointed to a small device that was sitting there, already taking the premier place of interest in the lab – although that was about to change.

"Watch out!"

Jack's voice came from the tunnel loud and clear and they both turned to see Teal'c walking into the room backwards, looking over his shoulder into the room to double-check that everyone was out of the way – including the Mok that had followed Daniel and Sam down the tunnel as soon as they'd started off that way. Sam had been intrigued by the creature, reaching out and running her hands through its furry coat when Daniel told her to – although she did avoid the sperm sacks as she did so.

The Jaffa's reason for walking backward became clear immediately, when a moment later Sheppard, Jack, Carson and Teyla all came in pushing the dart – which was hovering a few feet off the ground. They were surrounding it, each on a different side, while Teal'c had a rope that was attached to the front of the craft and was pulling it, the Jaffa's powerful arms and legs making it seem effortless – which it probably was to him.

While they watched, the little ship was guided into the large hangar area of the cavern, and positioned so the butt end was facing Daniel and Sam – the best direction to give easy access to the inside of it, Sam decided.

"They must have decided it wasn't going to blow up," Daniel said, leaning against the table he'd been standing by.

Sam nodded her agreement and watched as the back of the craft seemed to dissolve, leaving a gaping hole that a moment later Colonel Mitchell came walking out of, smiling in satisfaction as she regarded the ship and the area it was in.

"Perfect. We'll have room for a few more."

"You only have one more," Carson pointed out.

Jack scowled at the reminder of what happened to the other one, but Melony was over that by now. She grinned at Jack's annoyed look.

"I only have one more right now," she corrected. "But I intend to go find at least a couple more."

"Where?" Sheppard asked.

Melony shrugged.

"We'll start with the same place I found this one."

"But first you're going to teach me and Teal'c how to fly the things, so we can help you," Jack said, making sure she was aware that it was more of an order than a request.

"But first I'm going to teach General O'Neill and Teal'c how to fly them," Mitchell repeated, nodding. "And you, too, major."

Sheppard didn't mind that at all. As a matter of fact, he was pilot enough and cocky enough to be pretty sure that he could pick it up fairly easily. Mitchell had, after all, and John knew that he was just as good a pilot as she was – even though Talon gave her an edge when it came to reflexes.

"Sounds great." He said.

"Carter, Daniel. You guys stay here and work on that… thing…" Jack said, pointing at the device on the table. "Doctor Beckett, do you know how to shoot a gun?"

"What?" Carson hadn't been expecting the question.

"A gun," Jack repeated. "Can you shoot a gun?"

"Yes."

Sort of.

"Then you stay and be helpful to Daniel and Colonel Carter if they need it." He turned to Teyla, who had been watching. "Teyla?"

Understanding the question, Teyla nodded.

"I will help guard them as well. I am a very good shot."

Not to mention if something came upon them – and she and the rest of them were thinking there was always a chance that the Wraith might still have some way of tracking the darts – then Teyla would actually sense the Wraith coming and be able to give warning.

"We won't be far from a radio at any time," Mitchell said. "But I don't want to risk having someone crash the dart into the top of the cavern and maybe blowing a hole through it, so we're going to head out to the plains."

Daniel and Sam nodded their agreement. Sam wouldn't have minded learning to fly the little ship, either, but she'd take O'Neill at his word and wait for him to teach her when the opportunity presented itself. Right now she had something more important to do and she knew it. Especially since her skills as a pilot weren't needed nearly as much as her scientific abilities were.

"Call us if you need us," Jack told them, already turning to go. They knew the plan. He knew the plan. He trusted them to carry on with their part just as they knew that he would his. That was the best part about having been together as a team for so long, after all.

Sam nodded and turned to the device on the table as the others fell in behind Jack, and Carson walked over to stand near Teyla.

"Does he realize I don't even have a gun?"

"You may use one of mine," The Athosian offered, handing over the sidearm she had been carrying.

OOOOOOOO

"We'll use the Ancient's shielding devices," Melony said to the group as they walked along the lava tube on their way to the ravine the Jumper and the other dart were parked in. "That way you'll have some sort of protection if you manage to crash."

She gave Teal'c an apologetic look.

"They won't work for you, Teal'c…"

"I will not need such a safety net," Teal'c said, confidently.

Mitchell grinned. God, she'd missed Jaffa self-assuredness.