CHAPTER 5
Day 3
Thankfully, they had an uneventful night if you discounted the frightening roars and howls and terrifying shrieks and gurgling sounds that pieced the night with regularity. Sometime around midnight they woke Ronon and Teyla reported that nothing had happened except the noises and then dropped off to sleep themselves.
Teyla woke them just as dawn was breaking. "She's out there."
"What?" They jumped up instantly awake.
"Caught just a glimpse or two." Ronon informed them. "Showed up as night began fading. She holed up somewhere safe last night. She's smart."
"Well, she'd have to be to survive on this planet now wouldn't she?" McKay snapped, his usual morning mood made worse by the lack of caffeine.
Ronon just gave him an understanding look and turned back to the forest. "Guess so."
"Teyla, maybe you could talk to her. Let her know we just want to help." Sheppard said grasping for straws. He really did not want to leave someone on this world alone if he could help it.
Teyla looked doubtful, but walked out just past the mouth of the cave. "We mean you no harm." She said in a loud conversational voice. "We just want to help. We came through the Ancestral Ring and would like to take you with us if you'd like to come."
She glanced around and saw a flicker off to the right. "You should not have to live alone and in danger. We can provide food and safety and companionship. Please come out and talk to us."
Nothing moved in the forest. She stood and waited while the world came to life around her. Rustlings over head, birds calling to each other, day critters coming out of nests and burrows.
Finally, she turned and re-entered the cave giving them a slow shake of her head. "She is out there, but won't respond."
"Alright then we have no choice. Let's go. We'll leave her a few power bars maybe she'll change her mind before we get through the Gate."
McKay put the food on the chest and shouldered his pack. Sheppard hefted his pack and when everyone was ready they trooped out and headed back to the gate.
They were walking down a slope when Ronon stopped and turned studying the slope to their left. The feeling of being watched was strong. There! At the top of the slope. She was lying down watching them, only her head showing.
She stood slowly staring back at him. She was average height and lean with straight, jet black hair. The clothes she wore were tattered, barely more than scraps of cloth covering very little. She pointed toward the Gate and shook her head in a negative.
"I don't think she wants us going back to the clearing." Ronon said.
She began to slowly back away stopping before she disappeared from view, watching them. They watched her back not wanting to scare her off, but not sure what she wanted them to do.
She stepped toward them, wariness and fear showing clearly on her face. She looked in the direction of the Gate again then back at them an internal struggle obvious on her openly expressive face then she stiffened. Throwing them a panicked look she motioned for them to follow her and began backing away.
"I think we should follow her, Colonel." Teyla voiced her opinion.
Sheppard glanced toward the Gate and hot showers and then up at the girl who was beginning to look frantic. "I agree."
They moved quickly up the slope and she retreated. She flitted ahead of them through the woods never letting them close the distance between them, but never disappearing from view.
"Are you sure this is wise?" Rodney asked. "She could be leading us into a trap."
"What? You think she's a mass murderer or perhaps a cannibal?" Sheppard asked, egging him on.
Ronon and Teyla exchanged long suffering glances.
"Oh, great! Thanks, Colonel! Like I needed to worry that something else on this world wanted to eat me!"
Sheppard just smirked and kept walking.
She pushed past some giant leaves and disappeared. They looked at each other and hurried forward. Guardedly, they brushed back the large foliage and stepped out onto the rocky bank of a large stream.
She had moved upstream a ways and was watching them skittishly. They held still waiting to see what she would do next. Gracefully, she moved to the bank and knelt keeping one eye on them she scooped up a handful of water and drank.
"Agghh!" Rodney exclaimed. "Does she know how many bacteria could be in that water?"
"She lives here, Rodney." Sheppard replied curtly. "Apparently, the water is safe to drink if she hasn't died yet."
"It's good." Ronon informed them, having knelt down and drank some himself.
"What? Are you crazy?" Rodney yelped.
"Thirsty?" Ronon asked him.
"Yes."
"Then drink."
"I am not going to…"
"Drink." Ronon growled, surging to his feet.
Rodney blinked at him seeing the worry in his eyes. "Fine, fine. I'll drink."
He knelt gingerly and scooped up some water. Screwing his face up in disgust he sipped the water. "There, I…"
Ronon snarled in frustration. "Okay, okay." Rodney got another handful and drank. It was really good; fresh, clean, sharp and deliciously cool and after a slight hesitation Rodney scooped up more.
After they had drank and filled their canteens they moved slowly toward her. Something flickered in her eyes and she backed away. Turning she lead them nimbly upstream.
It wasn't long before they heard a muted roaring that grew louder as they progressed. It was a thunderous sound by the time they came around the bend in the stream and saw it. A waterfall that was several hundred feet high. Not a single waterfall, but several smaller ones they realized as they watched the water cascading over the cliff edge to fall to a narrow pool before flowing down to the next one and the next before falling the last thirty or forty feet to the large pool before them.
She stood at the base of the falls, the spray drenching her. She waited until she had their attention and then stepped behind the falls. They looked at each other and ran forward. Sure enough there was a small ledge leading behind the waterfall.
They moved forward making sure of there footing before taking the next step not wanting to slip on the slick ledge. An opening to their left resolved itself into a small cave. She stood near the far edge watching them appear then she swiftly dove through the falls and was gone.
"Well," Sheppard said nonplussed, "I guess this is the end of the trail."
"She is showing up hiding places." Teyla murmured, looking around the small cave.
"She's protecting us?" Ronon asked incredulously.
"Yes, I believe so." Teyla replied with a smile.
"Huh." Rodney looked around. "I guess if we were going to be staying, knowing the bolt holes would be useful."
"Yeah, but we aren't staying." Sheppard said firmly. "Let's get back to the Gate."
They cautiously made their way back to the Gate breathing a sigh of relief when they arrived at the Gate in the early afternoon without running into anything dangerous although they did run into signs of dinosaurs crossing the path they would have taken that morning to the Gate. They traded looks. Protecting them, not wanting them eaten, but not trusting them to get close either.
"Dial the Gate." Sheppard ordered hating leaving the girl here. Maybe they could come back and search for her later.
McKay punched in the gate address for Atlantis. The Gate symbols lit up on the DHD, but when he hit the center nothing happened. "Oh no. Nononononono. I knew we should have checked it when we got here!"
He dropped to the ground tearing away the dense foliage with Teyla's help.
Pulling open the panel he stared at the DHD's interior.
"How long is it going to take, McKay? Remember we could get party crashers at anytime."
"Thanks for the reminder of the obvious, Colonel." McKay snapped irritably as he began pulling crystals and checking them out before reinserting them. "It will take as long as it takes. That's the best answer I can give you until I know what the problem is."
Ronon and Sheppard watched the woods nervously while Teyla knelt by McKay and helped by doing whatever he told her to do without question; hold this, move that, change this one for that one. Three hours later McKay put the panel cover back on and stood up dusting off his hands.
"Fixed?" Ronon asked grumpily.
"No. Nothing wrong with it." McKay sounded mystified and pissed off. "I've checked every crystal, every circuit and the power is there. Nothing's shorted out, nothing's broken. The DHD has power and is working."
"Something's wrong with it, McKay or we'd be in Atlantis having hot showers by now." Sheppard growled.
"Yes, well, trust me when I say nothing is wrong with the DHD. Something may be wrong between the DHD and the Gate, but to determine that I'd need to dig up the connecting cables." He waved a hand at the ground in aggravation. "Have any shovels?" He looked at Sheppard expectantly. "No?"
Sheppard snarled in frustration and looked around. The Gate was technically in a clearing, but several trees had grown up in the clearing close enough to the Gate and each other to prevent the puddle jumper from coming through.
"An easy mission." He yelled. "Is it too much to ask for one lousy, easy mission where things go right?" He kicked the tall grass and stomped off a few feet glowering into the distance.
Finally, he sighed and turned around. "Waiting for the Daedalus is out of the question. It's two weeks out." He studied the layout. "When Elizabeth doesn't hear from us she'll dial in. We get her to send through some C-4. We'll blow up a couple of trees; she'll send the jumper and we'll go home."
He smiled confidently at his team.
"That plan sucks!" McKay snapped. "C-4? On these monsters? What if they fall on the Gate?"
"Do you have a better plan, Rodney?" Sheppard asked silkily.
"No, but that doesn't make yours a good one." McKay replied peevishly.
"No, it just makes it the only one."
They took cover and ate the last of the power bars. It wasn't long afterwards that the Gate whooshed and filled with shimmering blue/silver water that was the event horizon.
"Elizabeth," Sheppard spoke up immediately. "We have an electrical problem. Apparently, there is a short between the Gate and the DHD."
"And you are just now discovering this, John?" Dr. Weir sounded aggravated.
"'Lizabeth, the symbols will light up on the DHD, but the centre activator isn't working. I've checked the DHD and everything is working as it should." McKay explained in rapid fire words.
"If you could just toss enough C-4 through to take out a couple of trees," Sheppard said calmly, "we can create space for the jumper to come through and we'll use the jumper's remote DHD to activate the Gate."
"Just toss the C-4 through and hope we don't blow up you or the Gate?" Elizabeth replied sarcastically.
"We need to knock these trees out of the way." Sheppard answered patiently.
"You could send through shovels so we can unearth the connecting cables." McKay gave her the second option with dark humor.
"I'll send it through with an explosive expert." Elizabeth responded dryly.
"If it doesn't work, we're stuck here until the Daedalus arrives. I rather not have anyone else come through the Gate." John reminded her. "This planet isn't as nice as it seems Elizabeth."
On the other side of the Gate Major Lorne and Dr. Weir exchange glances.
"John. What's going on?" her voice more resigned than actually worried..
"You know Dinosaur Planet that Bates found?"
"Yes," she replied a note of disbelief in her voice.
"We just found Jurassic Park II."
"Jurassic Park?" Major Lorne repeated stupefied.
"T-Rex, velociraptors, saber-tooth tigers, oh my." Rodney quipped.
"Is everyone alright, John?" Dr. Weir couldn't keep the worry out of her voice and the team could hear the sounds of the techs in the background as they questioned, 'T-Rex, saber-tooth tigers?'
"We could also use some more MREs and a broad spectrum antibiotic. McKay's eaten all the food and Ronon has received a rather nasty bite and its getting somewhat inflamed."
"Fine. Let me get some from Carson and we'll send it through with the C-4 and MREs on a sled. Anything else?" Despite the serious situation, Elizabeth was amused. If Sheppard was taking pot shots at McKay then everything was under control.
"Two double cheeseburgers, a large fry and a coke. Super-sized." McKay quipped with a flash of a smile. "And an apple pie."
"Just make sure its clear before sending it through the Gate." Sheppard drawled.
"Of course, John." Elizabeth replied barely hanging on to her calm demeanor.
"Um, Elizabeth," Sheppard added almost as an afterthought. "One more thing, I won't say a problem yet, but someone else is here."
"What?" Surprise echoed through the radio.
"A young girl apparently all alone on this world." McKay elaborated, all traces of humor gone.
"A girl?" Major Lorne rejoined the conversation after informing Dr. Beckett and a marine about the situation and the needs.
"Apparently, we stumbled across her cave. Only signs we can find are hers. She spotted us watching her and ran. We saw her again this morning; led us to fresh water. Ronon can track her, but we don't have to investigate if you don't want us too." He looked at Rodney and grinned in devilment.
"You can't leave a girl out there alone with man-eating dinosaurs, John." Elizabeth sounded piqued.
"Okay, we'll see what we can find out. We'll have to spend another night here in the cave."
"I don't like it, but I don't see that we have much choice. A young girl. I'll get the supplies together and dial back shortly." The signal cut off.
"You heard her; another night in paradise."
The team watched the forest and listened apprehensively for the sound of something, anything, coming their way. Sheppard was fidgeting fretfully when the Gate lit up and the wormhole formed.
"John, is it safe for us to send supplies through?"
Sheppard looked around the clearing and listened to the wildlife. "Yeah, send it through."
Moments later a sled rolled onto out of the Gate. Teyla and Sheppard grabbed it and pulled it clear. There was several packages of C-4, a bottle of antibiotics and some sterile bandages and enough MREs for a several days.
"Once you clear the Gate, John I'm sending Major Lorne through in the puddle jumper to help you locate the girl."
"Elizabeth…"
"No arguments, John. It sounds like you could use reinforcements." The Gate shut down before he could argue.
Teyla insisted on Ronon taking the antibiotics. He kept saying he was fine. They argued until finally Rodney lost his already frayed temper. He stormed over to Teyla.
Yanking the bottle out of her hand he stepped into Ronon's personal space and shoved the bottle in his face. "Take the pills before you lose the leg." He spit out the words, shoved the bottle into Ronon's chest, and waited for Ronon to grab it before turning and stalking over to the sled.
Back turned to them he rummaged through the MREs taking his favorites and putting them in his pack. He then divided the rest into three piles according to his team mates preferences.
"Sorry." Ronon apologized quietly, coming up behind him and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Still not used to having people care."
Rodney sighed, letting the anger slide out of him. "I owe you an apology, too."
"Apology accepted."
Rodney gave a half-hearted little laugh. "You drive me crazy. You harp about my eating habits and then do this crap." His hand raised half-heartedly and then dropped back to his side. "It's not weak to take care of yourself and as one of my few friends you have a responsibility to stay alive."
"I'll remember that." Ronon gave him a grin.
"Good because Sheppard is playing with C-4; dinosaurs think we're dinner; Gate's broke. I don't need to worry about you losing a leg on top of all that."
"I won't lose the leg. I harp about your eating because you're one of my few friends as well."
Rodney's gazed flicked past Ronon to Sheppard who was indeed gently kneading the C-4 and frowning slightly as he concentrated. Teyla was studiously watching the tree line.
"We're dead. That's why you're saying this now? Because Sheppard's going to blow us up or we're going to get eaten?" He turned his accusing gaze back to Ronon.
"We aren't going to die."
Rodney waved his hand helplessly. "We are so going to die.
"Enough bonding already. Has anyone checked for Rex lately?" Sheppard yelled.
"Crap, forgot." McKay fumbled the detector out of his pocket. Flicking it on he scanned the area. He stopped staring at it then raised his head and stared intently into the tree line. "Sheppard you'll want to pack the C-4. We need to run." He looked down at the detector nervously.
Ronon looked over his shoulder. "The little ones, Sheppard. Lots of them headed our way and something else from that direction." Ronon scooped the MREs up and shoved them into McKay's pack before yanking it off his back.
Sheppard sent the tree line a slightly panicked look and then began packing the C-4 as quickly as he could. "Which way, McKay?"
Teyla hurried over to the sled and shoved the remaining MREs and antibiotics into her pack.
"Run that way." McKay pointed across the clearing. "Head for the oak tree. It's our best bet."
"Run," Ronon gave him a shove.
It was all the encouragement Rodney needed. He took off for the oak tree at full speed. He heard his team mates pounding up behind him. They were over halfway to the tree when dozens of shrill screams rent the air. The frilled lizards were in the clearing and had sighted them. He put on a spurt of fear induced speed and reached the tree. Swinging onto a low hanging branch he didn't pause just reached for the next branch up. Up and up he scrambled knowing they wouldn't pass him; knowing he had to get as high as possible so they would be safe as well.
He didn't hear anyone behind him. He heard gunfire. He turned and saw Ronon at the base of the tree firing past Teyla and Sheppard. Teyla turned and stood her ground firing until Sheppard was past her. Only then did she turn, pacing him while Ronon fired shots, picking off the leaders.
Sheppard was running as fast as he dared the pack of C-4 dangling from his hand. It wasn't going to be fast enough. "Drop the pack," he muttered, eyes wide. He felt his side. His gun was there. With a curse, he began scrambling back down.
"Get back up, McKay." Ronon growled.
"No." He knelt to steady his aim. "I'm part of this team, this family, too."
He began to carefully place his shots. 'Take your time,' he reminded himself. "Be sure of your aim.' He pulled the trigger and a lizard dropped from sight.
They couldn't get them all. They were practically on Teyla and Sheppard's heels. 'Not like this.' McKay muttered. 'Please, not like this.' His vivid imagination had Teyla and Sheppard on the ground swarmed by the frilled lizards, screaming in agony as chunks of flesh were torn from their thrashing bodies. He fired two more shots that dropped two more lizards.
"Aiiiieee! Aiiieeee!" The lizards paused, heads swiveling at the high pitched yell. The girl stood in the glade throwing objects at the lizards.
Their muzzles lifted, scenting, then they began running toward the girl. She tossed several more objects at them before turning and streaking across the clearing toward another tree.
Several lizards pounced on the objects, fighting each other, and tearing at it. The others ran down the other objects which apparently were meat since they were shredding it viciously and swallowing hungrily. The rest split some continued chasing the girl while others turned back toward Sheppard's team.
"Tree. Now." Ronon glowered at Rodney and Rodney scrambled back into the tree. Ronon swung up behind him now and he could hear Sheppard and Teyla making their way up the branches. Reaching the utmost branch that could hold his weight, Rodney looked out in the direction the girl had fled and saw branches shaking as she too climbed high into her tree.
Just then several roars reverberated through the clearing and four tawny shapes became visible leaping through the tall grass. They collided with the lizards and a ferocious battle began.
Lizards leaped, biting and clawing, swarming each feline. The felines swiped at the lizards with paws bigger than a man's head and snapped at them with jaws full of razor sharp teeth and overgrown canines. After a short, but brutal skirmish the lizards broke and fled back into the tree line.
Roars of victory deafened the humans. The saber-tooth tigers then settled down for a leisurely meal of frilled lizards and dried meat. They were treed until the clearing cleared.
McKay pulled his binoculars and trained them on the girl across the clearing. A chuckle escaped him. The saucy girl was tucked up in a split eating one of his power bars with a satisfied grin on her face looking for all the world like she did this kind of thing all the time. But, then again, Rodney thought, perhaps she did.
The Gate whooshed and established a wormhole about two hours later. "John, any luck with the C-4?" Elizabeth's voice broke the silence. The tigers leaped to their feet growling menacingly at her strange sounds.
"Well, Elizabeth," Sheppard actually sounded sheepish. "It seems we've been treed for the moment."
"Treed?"
"Yes," McKay jumped in unable to maintain silence. "By filled lizards and saber-tooth tigers."
"Saber-tooth tigers?"
"Umm, yes. This clearing is apparently very popular."
"It'll be dark in a few hours. If we get the chance, I'll set the charges before we retreat to the cave. Call back in three hours. If it worked, Lorne can pick us up at the cave. If we don't get the chance before dark, we'll come back at first light."
"I'm getting very tired of these delays, John." Elizabeth voice was laced more with fear than anger.
"Me, too, Elizabeth. Me, too. Sheppard out."
The Gate shut down.