Murphy's Physics
Murphy's Third Law: "If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something."
"Teal'c, report."
"I have communicated with Major Carter. The escape pod bore her far from your position, beyond the range of her transmitter. She reports that she is uninjured, but is hindered from regrouping with your position by a geological feature; a deep crevice. It is vast and the area is treacherous. She says that she must navigate around this obstacle in order to join you. I have not yet heard from Daniel Jackson." Teal'c spoke with the same ever-calm attitude. Whether he was commenting on the weather or suggesting an assault upon a Goa'uld prison-camp, his deep resonate voice seemed to never waver. Still, O'Neill could tell that his Jaffa friend was concerned for their team's missing persons.
"We'll find him, T. I want you to try to get to Carter. If Sullen can get the sensors working, I can pinpoint the location of Daniel's transmitter."
"What are the chances that So'len will be able to repair the craft for flight?"
"They'll be a lot better if he gets some help. Bring in Sam. Keep your eyes peeled for some sign from Daniel, too. I'm going to climb up a big rock and see if this valley is blocking his signal." Jack squinted up at the solemn, stony face of the cliff. How hard could it be?
Jack could almost hear Teal'c's eyebrow scaling upward. "Should you undertake such a risk alone, O'Neill? Should something untoward happen, you would be without backup."
"I've climbed worse." Disapproving silence. Jack sighed, toggling the radio again. "Don't worry, T. It's a piece of cake!"
"Exercise extreme caution, O'Neill. Teal'c out."
"Yes, Mother." Jack stuck his head through the coil of rope, settling it over his shoulder and tying it neatly at his hip, then checking to make sure the rock-hammer and spikes that were attached to his belt were also secure. He had been sitting at the base of the cliff he had told Teal'c he was preparing to climb, waiting for a report before he proceeded and hoping that it would be unnecessary.
Jack knew full well the dangers of rock-climbing alone. If it had been one of his team or anyone he knew, he would have chewed them out up one side and down the other for attempting such a thing. He wouldn't be trying it himself if he hadn't been able to locate safety ropes and tools. He took the time to scout a likely assent with his binoculars, but this could not reveal the minutiae dangers that awaited a lonely climber. Jack was determined to be very careful. The last thing he needed was a broken anything.
The air was thin, even more than living in Colorado and scrubbing the atmosphere in an F-16 could make him accustomed. He breathed deeply and slowly, climbing with deliberate care. The ground was covered with debris and loose stones, but there seemed to be good solid rock beneath. Showers of small stones rained down noisily as he planted his feet and reached for each handhold. He wouldn't be sneaking up on anyone, but he was confident that he could reach the summit without complications.
And so he did; and he stood upon the very pinnacle of the ridge, looking down at an impressively sleep slope upon the other side. His valley was soft and friendly in comparison to this rugged landscape. It looked as though the mountain had been peeled away by a giant monstrous hand, gouging deep grooves down the fleshy stone. Beyond were a series of smaller hills, disappearing onto the haze of distance. O'Neill lifted his binoculars and scanned the area within range.
Finding nothing, he dropped the binocs against his chest on their thong and rooted around in his backpack for his collapsible telescope. This time, the sweep of his sharp eye revealed a thin line of rising smoke in the distance. By the colour of the vapors, Jack could tell that it was no natural fire that burned. Possibly the wreckage that Goa'uld al'Kesh that they had shot down. He hoped that the snakehead or jaffa piloting the vessel had not managed to get to his escape pod, but a lifetime of pragmatic pessimism left the idea gnawing at him.
He toggled his radio. "Teal'c, report." There was silence for a moment, and then he heard a crackle in response. Something was happening to Teal'c so that he could not freely answer his radio. Jack swore under his breath, words steaming in the thin, cold air. Now what?
"Colonel, this is Carter. I'm picking up your signal now, Sir."
Sam! The next plume of breath flagged O'Neill's relief. "Report, Major."
"I am trying to get around this big ravine, Sir. It has completely cut off my path toward the ship. Teal'c is exploring the other side, trying to find any sign of Daniel. It looks like a couple of days walk at least. This ravine is at least three klicks wide, and it looks like it goes straight down. There are some steam vents that might indicate seismic activity. I have crossed a couple of old lava-flows. There seems to be no safe way across except around. How is So'len doing on the repairs?"
"He needs your help, Major. Get yourself around that crevice in one piece, meet up with Teal'c. I spotted some smoke that looks like it might be the other wreck. Keep your eyes open for semi-toasted snakeheads."
"Affirmative, Sir. Carter out."
Jack's radio crackled before he could toggle his own sign-off. "O'Neill, this is Teal'c. Please respond."
"Go ahead, T. You okay?"
"I am well. I was climbing down the ravine in an area that looked as if it had been recently disturbed. I discovered a landslide and evidence of natural erosion. I am sorry to report no sign of Daniel Jackson or of a traversable path across the ravine. The sides are sheer and the bottom is filled with jagged rocks and water. I see no recourse but to continue to trek around the edge in the hopes of encountering Major Carter."
"Do it, T. So'len, are you monitoring?"
The Tok'ra's voice responded in a clear broadcast. "I am, Colonel."
"How's it coming? Have we got sensor's yet?"
"Not yet, Colonel. There is much damage. Most of the systems are functioning, but there is a problem with the power supply. I need to reconfigure the crystals, and that will take time. I believe that it can be done, but I can do nothing quickly without assistance."
"Right. I'm returning to the ship as soon as I rig this relay. Teal'c, Carter, I'm gonna slap together something to bounce our signals over this molehill. Find good places to hole-up for the night; we have no idea how cold it's going to get here. Report again around sundown. O'Neill out."
The radio clicked twice as Carter and Teal'c acknowledged. Jack busied himself assembling the portable relay device. He was worried about Daniel, and the fact that he had been unable to thoroughly scout the area. The trek downhill was slower than the climb; he fought against his nerves to prevent a too-rapid descent. The little hairs on the back of his neck were tingling, and he wanted to get back to the ship as quickly as possible.