Last part of December: Chapter 5
A/N: Yes, I know, we're into the New Year, so I hope everyone had great holidays. There will be some whumping in the next few chapters – I know you were all waiting, couldn't just enjoy the scenery. Small warning – I'm borrowing a character from an upcoming episode, but I don't think it should matter.
Carson slowly made it back to the gym area with the rest of Dr. Brown's group. He knew after that little stunt, more than a few people would be taking up exercise programs as New Year's resolutions. Unfortunately, for him and his staff it meant several weeks of treating sprains and strains of those individuals who decided to "overdo" it. Didn't anyone check with a physician first? He started to grumble to himself when he saw Dr. Randall stretching, the small tattoo on her lower back visible. He'd asked her about it once or twice, she'd never answered why she had a playing card, the queen of diamonds, inked onto her skin. Before they could engage in small talk, Lt. Cadman called for everyone's attention.
'Okay people, we're going to be going out in groups of eight, first group moving out in thirty minutes, then in ten minute increments afterwards. The planets we're gating to have been classified as uninhabited, so there shouldn't be any hostile natives to confront, during the few hours we're off-world. Although I know we are swapping positions today, there will be at least one individual from the military in each group just in case." In short order, Carson found himself on the same team as Lt. Cadman, Major Lorne, Dr. Brown, Dr. Parrish, Dr. James Hudson from geology, Lt. Bond, and Dr. Randall. He couldn't be totally sure, but he wondered how much of this had been 'random.' He certainly wouldn't complain about being on the same team as Kyte, and he wondered if Laura was going to use this as an opportunity to show Lorne her leadership skills. "I'll see you in the gate room in half an hour, guys, give you a chance a chance to clean up and gear up," she called to her 'team'
When he arrived in the gateroom twenty-seven minutes later, Carson felt odd without his usual medical kit, although he took some comfort from grabbing an extra field first aid kit. Major Lorne and Lts. Bond and Cadman were checking their P-90s, while nearby Dr. Randall checked her 9 mil. He initially refused the weapon offered to him, then changed mind, deciding to play along with the job swap. He wasn't thrilled with stepping through the gate, but if the planet was uninhabited, nothing could go wrong, right? Dr. Brown and Dr. Hudson looked excited; they hadn't been off-world before, Dr. Parrish looked slightly nervous, finding a dead Wraith on your first excursion off-world might do that. None of them carried weapons.
Nearby, Colonel Sheppard watched with a mixture of jealousy and relief. Usually he was the one leading teams through the Gate, and more often than not, into trouble, and the resulting trips to the infirmary. He could really stand a day off from all that, but something in his being still rebelled against being stuck under consoles all day.
Dr. Zelenka had appeared from Elizabeth's office. "Good luck and have fun," he told the group. "Dial the gate," he added, with obvious delight. Nearby, Dr. Weir entered the coordinates for MSX-173.
The first thing Carson noticed when he stepped through the gate was the heat and lack of humidity. The planet they had dialed appeared to be one large rock-strewn, wind-swept desert. Not his first choice of places to visit. Dr. Hudson, on the other hand, was excited.
"This place looks like Moab. Look at those mountains. I'd love to come back here with my climbing gear," he exclaimed, having discovered a new potential playground, oblivious to the head shakings of his companions. Apparently he was the only enthusiast.
"Did anyone bring sunblock?" asked Carson, noting the glaring sun and lack of clouds. Katie Brown quickly nodded.
"It's not that stuff of Rodney's, is it," grumbled Major Lorne. Katie pretended to pout for a moment before shaking her head. She knew everyone was well aware of his 'eccentricities,' for lack of a better term. Everyone spent a few minutes slathering exposed body parts to Carson's satisfaction before heading out from the gate's platform area.
"We have a few hours here. I suggest we check out the caves in that rock formation over there," Laura gestured with her P-90. "The initial survey didn't reveal anything, but who knows," she added with a shrug.
"Not like we have any place to be," mumbled Dr. Parrish under his breath, scanning the horizon for plant life, which seemed to be non-existent.
Carson fell into beside Dr. Randall. She, like Lt. Bond, seemed to appreciate simply being outside. He intruded on their conversation of the love of things that went fast: Kyte's being motorcycles and the young lieutenant's being planes and choppers. Lt. Bond was quite in awe of Colonel Sheppard, and like all pilots was developing an appreciation for the puddlejumper. "So, what did you bribe Laura with for this assignment?"
Kyte looked at him for a moment, innocence and pretended offense warring across her face. "I didn't bribe Laura. The teams were her decision. I did, however, swap assignments with Kavanaugh."
"How?"
"You know the two tins of cookies my mom sent? I gave him half of one." She saw the distraught look on Carson's face. "Relax, He originally wanted an entire container but I talked him down. Told him he didn't want anything to do with potential live fire exercises." She grinned wickedly. "I also figured he'd be more useless than me in the kitchen, probably hurt himself before he could poison anyone."
Carson nodded in appreciation. Half of Atlantis' population with food poisoning would not be pleasant. Picking shrapnel out of the annoying scientist would be a close second.
The group had reached the first set of stone overhangs near the caves, when the ground suddenly shook violently. Inexperience mixed with the need for survival and machismo was a poor combination as rocks began raining down and people jostled each other, trying to escape and protect themselves and others. A few seconds later, Carson surveyed the damage. Lt. Cadman, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Hudson were ok. Dr. Parrish had a few bruises, and Dr. Randall was a little pale, but otherwise looked fine. Carson had twisted an ankle, but Lt. Bond and Major Lorne had the taken the brunt of the damage. Both had numerous cuts and bruises, but the thing that concerned him the most was the Major's leg, the bone was poking through cloth and skin at a most unnatural angle, and no one needed a medical degree to know that the situation was serious. Dr. Hudson immediately volunteered to head back to the Stargate to send for help. As he left, Dr. Brown began helping Carson dress wounds, as Lt. Cadman and Dr. Parrish sacrificed their shirts for additional bandages, before insisting Carson immobilize his ankle. Dr. Randall remained outside, surveying the horizon, and avoiding Carson's questions.
Dr. Hudson was back shortly, alone, frustration clearly written across his features. "I don't know why, I can't dial out. Hopefully they can dial in, or send a jumper because we're stuck."
Lt. Cadman looked at everyone nervously. We're not supposed to be back for a few hours. With the situation today, who knows how soon they'll come looking for us. We're going to have to get comfortable, get a fire going somehow. Something tells me this place will cool off when the sun drops."
As if on cue, the first streaks of a brilliant sunset appeared a few moments later.
TBC