A/N: This is one of those chapters that gives some background information - get's you from one place to another - sorry, but has to be done. Nightshae: The other story's being beta'd and my beta has had RL stuff going on. As soon as it get the next chapter, it'll go up.
Flashback continued
They had arrived during the area's winter, so the temperature was a comfortable mid 60's (18C), perfect for hiking, although it would plummet to freezing or below during the night. Jack kept up a steady, brisk pace for the group to follow. Only the two extra scientists had not been off world before and they, while in excellent physical shape, were challenged to keep up with O'Neill.
They kept an eye out for snakes and venomous insects and did see signs of their presence. Daniel even found a snake skin that Dr. Benyr identified as a non-poisonous king snake skin – assuming that the animals on this planet were the same as those on Earth. The team had found that most habitable planets had similar plant and animal life, but they were aware that might not always be so.
The terrain seemed fairly flat, but rose very gradually. After the morning's march, Jack called a halt for an hour's break and lunch. Each of the eight hikers dropped their packs, using them as back rests. Daniel dug into his pack and pulled out a power bar, mocha flavor. If he couldn't drink a cup of coffee, then he'd eat something coffee flavored. He sat back, savoring the mix of chocolate and coffee, closed his eyes and imagined what the ruins might look like. This was the central home of the Ancients in this galaxy, so he expected a large city. Especially since Nick's notes said there was a university there.
Sam took a spot next to Daniel and the two began speculating about the wonders they might find in Madalena. Daniel named the unknown place after a city in the Azores – one place archeologists conjectured could be the location of Plato's Atlantis. Jack watched them, wondering what the two curious scientists could talk about for hours. He stood several times during the hour in order to scan the horizons for possible danger. As much as Daniel and Sam were focused on their respective fields of science, Jack was focused on his job; protection.
The doctors Benyr and Jago joined their colleagues and the hour went by too quickly for the scientists. Meanwhile, the four soldiers were eager to continue their journey. Their training led them to prefer being on the move.
The afternoon hike was much as the morning's had been, with nothing to indicate any danger from animals or humanoids. Jack had the group stop just before sunset and make camp.
Just before sunset on the second day, Teal'c, who was marching point with Sergeant Lewis, called a halt. Jack, who been bringing up the rear with the other Marine, jogged up to scout out the problem for himself. His jaw dropped when he came up beside Teal'c on the edge of a cliff. The gradual slope they had been marching up, dropped abruptly into a large flat valley bordered by a mountain range on two sides. Down in the valley, a large city lay aglow in the orange radiance of the setting sun. The four scientists came charging up the slope and were stopped by O'Neill and Teal'c from plunging over the cliff. Daniel was almost dancing from excitement and Sam had to put her hand on his shoulder to keep him from dashing down the cliff.
"We camp here tonight and in the morning light we'll find a safe way down." Jack ordered the group to begin making camp.
"Jaaaack!" Daniel's disappointment was clearly heard in his voice.
"Ack!" Jack waggled his finger in the air, stopping the frustrated archeologist from further complaint. "Daniel! In the morning. When we can see." Jack hoped that was clear enough to break through the single-mindedness of his friend.
Daniel's shoulders drooped, but he knew when he'd been overruled. He turned to gaze on the city, just out of reach. He knew Jack was right, but he so wanted to explore it now.
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As soon as it was light the next morning, the group found a way down the cliff and hiked throughout the morning to reach the city. It was enormous. Much larger than any city they had ever encountered before. Carter estimated that it could have had as many as one million inhabitants. The buildings that remained standing were multicolored in muted desert colors of sand, red, blues and greens, still colorful after millennia.
The streets were wide and paved with something resembling concrete, but resilient and it cushioned their foot steps. There were wide, dirt lanes in the center of the streets and Dr. Benyr theorized there might have been trees or shrubs planted throughout the center of the streets. Most of the buildings had long since collapsed, but a few were still standing. The group entered one of the standing buildings, unfortunately, the inside was gutted. It was simply a standing shell.
"Any guesses about where a university might be located?" Jack was open to any suggestions. He really didn't want to spend days wondering around the deserted city. It gave him the willies.
"Well, sir, on Earth, most large universities are built on the outskirts of cities. That might be a place to start." Sam was eager to find the university and begin her research.