WINTER WONDERLAND
By NotTasha
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CHAPTER 14: INTERFERENCE

Ford kicked at the snow-skid – trying to free the plating that protected the exposed side. He'd managed to tip forward the seat. Apparently, it had been designed to perform this operation to expose a storage area beneath – but he hadn't managed to remove it from the vehicle.

Frustrated, Ford worked at the side panel. It was rather flimsy. Maybe they could slide McKay onto it, and pull him across the snow until they found something that'd work better as a stretcher. It wouldn't be comfortable, but it'd keep Dr. McKay's back relatively still.

He'd hoped that the seat would've served that function, but it was too contoured. The seatbacks that had made the ride more comfortable would make the unit impossible to use as a bed. Maybe he could rip the cover and padding off to insulate him a bit.

He had found no tools – nothing that could have made the deconstruction easier. And all the while, he knew he had to hurry. This was no time for puttering about.

"Come on," he grumbled, trying to vibrate one side of the housing off the machine. It wasn't budging. It was frustrating as all heck, and he was making no headway. He chanced a glance toward where Sheppard was watching over McKay – not expecting to see them from his position – but what he DID see took his breath away.

The tapas, which had been so distant when they first arrived, had closed in. "No…" Aiden whispered. "No…" He stepped away from the wrecked snowmobile, and unclipped his P90. "Oh God, no…"

The biggest of them seemed to be right over the spot where he'd left McKay and Sheppard. A few others lumbered nearby. Feeling panic rising, Ford thumbed on his radio, "Major!" he called.

He received an earful of static in return, and the merest hint of a voice.

Ford held one hand to his ear, trying to hear through the interference, while the other hand kept the weapon ready. "Major, what do you want me to do?" he asked.

Static. Damn it! "Major!" he called again, and then turned when a chuttering sound reached him.

He spun about, trying to find the source of it, and then trod through the snow to get around the trees. What…? Finally clear of the impediments, he smiled. "They're coming! Akhiok and the others!" he called into the radio, on the off chance that the transmission was getting through. He turned off the mic and raised a hand over his head. "Akhiok! Karluk!" he shouted as he waved broadly, trying to get their attention.

Ten snow-skids were plowing through the valley. White dogs ran along with them. Aiden kept waving, watching them come toward him. He smiled broadly, trying to flag them down. The smile dipped as they failed to slow – in fact, their speed increased as they came in view of the tapas.

"Major. We have more problems. The Ekukians aren't stopping," Ford said in his radio. "They're not slowing down!" The big, harpoon shaped guns were mounted on the front of the skids, and Ford sucked in his breath, realizing what they were up to. "They're on the hunt!" he announced, but still received no response.

Oh God, the major and the doc were going to be trampled in a stampede!

Getting no orders from Sheppard, Aiden surged forward. "Akhiok! Akhiok!" He waved both arms furiously, and suddenly, as the machines were passing, the riders on one of the skids turned. They went on for a moment longer and, if a snowmobile could show emotions, it seemed to turn reluctantly.

Some of the itnas slowed too, gazing at him with their stark blue eyes before they apparently decided that the tapas were more enjoyable prey and they took off again. The skid sped toward him, and Ford strode out to meet the riders. Karluk, in the driver's seat, immediately asked, "Have you found your friend?"

Meanwhile, Akhiok shouted from his back seat, "Where is Tyonek's skid?"

Ford didn't hear the questions. "Major Sheppard and Dr. McKay are out there!" he shouted, pointing toward the big tapa. "I think they're right under that one. You guys gotta pull back!"

Karluk pursed his lips, glancing toward the tapas. The other skids continued to advance.

"Call them back!" Ford demanded frantically.

"Too late," Karluk responded, sounding genuinely remorseful.

Because the tapas had spotted the approaching skids and had started to move.

TBC