Murphy's Physics

Murphy's Fifth Law: "It is impossible to make things foolproof because fools are so ingenious."

Daniel's glasses were uncrushed and folded delicately on top of his radio, sitting in the center of a Daniel-shaped imprint on the ash-dusted ground. There were no trails leading up to or away from the site, other than Jack's own and those of So'len.

O'Neill knelt, staring at the objects. Those glasses simply had not been there a moment ago, just as Daniel had not been there before the quake, according to So'len. So unless the Tok'ra was lying AND a magician, there was someone else lurking around. Someone who could move without a sound and left no footprints.

Jack didn't like the idea of someone sneakier than himself creeping around, even if that person seemed to be helping them. He carefully searched the area, finding no signs of anyone other than So'len and himself. Daniel seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.

Jack glanced around, then cast his eyes upward. "Thor? Are you doing this, little buddy?" The Asgard were the only civilization that he was familiar with that used beaming technology that might explain how Daniel could have been brought to them, but he doubted that Thor or any others of his benevolent race would have left the young scientist in such a state. They would have used their technology to heal him, plus rounding up Teal'c and Carter as well. They'd all be home and happy right now if the Asgard were involved.

Jack briskly rubbed a hand through his short hair, trying to piece together the puzzle. He didn't know what was going on, but he did know what he needed. He needed Carter's brains, Daniel's imagination, and Teal's quiet confidence. Daniel he had now, and his heart rejoiced quietly when he saw his friend peering myopically out of the ship's portal.

"Did you find my glasses? I could have sworn I put them in my vest pocket while I was in the descent pod."

Jack leaned over and picked up the spectacles by the nosepiece. "Are you sure you don't remember anything?"

"I don't even remember landing. There's quite a jolt when those things hit, as you probably well remember from our little vacation to Natu..."

"I try not to think about that."

"... This time I must have hit pretty hard. My head was already aching from the wallop I got when the ship was attacked. All I remember is leaving the ship in my pod, wishing that there were lights of some kind inside there, then waking up just now with you and So'len. How did I get here-- WOW!" Daniel placed his glasses on his nose and finally got a good look at the landing site. "Some touch-down!"

"Yeah, So'len really pulled it off. He could have smeared both of us all over the floor of this valley."

"Both of you? I thought--," Daniel's eyes darted toward the ship, then swiftly back to Jack, a clear sign to any who knew him that Daniel was questioning the evidence of his eyes and ears.

Jack tilted his head forward a little and raised his eyebrows, daring Daniel to question his word.

Jack O'Neill is a fisherman, and Daniel took the bait, as usual. "I thought that So'len said that you couldn't survive outside of the escape pod."

"Oh, I was in a pod. The damn thing never got launched." Jack's tone was one of injured dignity, as if the failure had been a personal insult. "It was like riding out the spin-cycle in a washing machine."

"God, Jack! You're lucky not to have been killed!"

Jack shrugged, looking around the crash site and then up at the empty skies of a remote, unnamed planet. "There's still time for that."

Daniel began to say something, but the crackle of the radio in the dirt interrupted them. "Sierra Gulf One-Niner, this is Sierra Gulf One-Seven. Come in, Sir."

"Sam!" Daniel exclaimed. He reached for his unit, but Jack slapped his hand away.

Jack toggled his own radio as Daniel glared at him and rubbed his hand. "Sierra Gulf One-Niner. Report, Major; are you all right?"

"Yes, Sir. I've been trying to reach you since the earthquake."

"It wasn't an earthquake, Carter. This isn't Earth." Jack grinned at Daniel, relieved to hear the voice of his 2IC. "It was a murphy-quake."

"A murphy-quake, Sir?"

"Yes. I have decided to name this place Planet Murphy, in honour of the Air Force Captain who set the fundamental laws for the inevitability of chaos and destruction. Because just about everything that could have gone wrong on this ill-conceived mission has gone wrong."

"Not too wrong, Sir." Daniel raised his eyebrows at Jack, hearing the uncommon note of optimism in Sam's voice. "I've come near the end of this ravine, Sir. I can see Teal'c on the other side. I should be joining his position shortly."

"That's good news, Major."

"There's more, Sir. Teal'c thinks that we've found Daniel's escape pod. It's down in the ravine. I don't think that there's anyway he could climb out. All we need is a rope and..."

"Negative, Major. Daniel isn't down there."

"I'm sorry, Sir, but how can you know that?"

"Because he is here with me. He's fine, by the way." Daniel motioned for Jack to give him his radio. Jack held up one hand to stall him.

"That's a relief, Sir! But how did he get out of the ravine? The sides are sheer, and we've found no trail or tracks..."

"We'll discuss it when you and Teal'c get your butts to the ship. How are you on supplies and shelter?"

"We have nothing but what we were carrying aboard-ship. All my gear is in my pack back in the tel'tac. I have no food and nothing with which to carry water. When I talked to Teal'c last, he said he found some likely caves that might serve as shelter for the night. As long as it doesn't get too cold, we should be all right."

"I'm going to start out in your direction with supplies and try to meet with you. Are you getting an RDF signal?"

"Yes, Sir, but it's probably from Teal'c's radio. When we rendezvous, we can triangulate on your signal and be able to give you a more accurate ETA."

"Affirmative. Report again when you and Teal'c meet up. And Carter," Jack paused significantly before saying, "Keep your eyes open. For anything."

"Yes, Sir."

Daniel was making impatient gestures, his lips pursed in a full pout. "Jackson wants to talk to you."

Daniel eagerly took the radio from Jack. "Hey, Sam? Did the earth move for you, too?"

Her voice seemed to smile. "You mean 'did the murphy move for you', don't you? The Colonel says this isn't Earth." Daniel laughed, and Jack grinned smugly. "It's good to hear that you're okay, Daniel. We'll see you soon."

"That is, if nothing murphy-shattering occurs between now and then."

Jack grimaced at Daniel. "Don't say that! You're just tempting Fate, you know."