[Updated 24/08/2017]

Chapter Six: Left behind

Sweat trickled down Sam's spine, serving as a cooling system in the unbearable heat, while the team progressed on the canyon's path. She had stowed away her beige, camouflaged jacket at the MALP, along with any unnecessary gear that would weigh her down. That was an hour ago. Absent-minded, she checked her watch to confirm her estimation. A curt nod followed as her blue orbs scanned the canyon walls through her dark sunglasses.

Daniel was to her left and Teal'c situated to her right, both attentively gazing at the surroundings. The Colonel's absence reached the two-hour mark, on the dot, making their stay three hours since they had stepped through the Gate – of which most was spent analysing why they could not rescue him. It was indeed an infuriating task.

Ostensibly, Colonel O'Neill was to rescue himself, an argument that had not made sense to her intelligent mind. No, since that conclusion, she had been running through hundreds of permutations, and still, it did not succeed in rescuing the Colonel.

He was lost . . . in his own mind. Which according to Daniel was a bad thing. However, she would not give up so easily. Her determination helped stay the course, along with something else she could not quite clarify, panic attack included.

"It doesn't make sense." Daniel declared, kicking a rock before him. It rolled a good ten feet before veering off to the right.

"Which part?" Carter replied peeved, watching as it went along. After it stopped, her eyes travelled up the road where it disappeared into the snaking canyon that had narrowed with the journey.

The archaeologist shrugged. "Why write a fake history to cover up the truth?"

"We've established this already, Dr Jackson." Teal'c said in a serious tone. Clearly, he was finding this trek frustrating.

"Yeah, a Venus flytrap doesn't strike me as significant. They're missing the Little Shop of Horrors. Furthermore, Jack's no Seymour." Daniel chuckled at the end, staring at a lone tree protruding slightly above to his left.

Sam noted his smile. "Don't forget the dentist hyped up on laughing gas."

"I do not see how referring to a horror movie will aide in O'Neill's rescue."

"No Teal'c, it's an analog . . . and you're correct, it doesn't help us; at all." Jackson's shoulders hunched, somewhat deflated.

"We will find the Colonel." Carter stated boldly.

They had lost a close friend recently; she would not fail another. General Hammond had agreed during her update that they were to bring him back alive. A Search and Rescue team would be sent if they didn't achieve the set goal within a few hours. Yet somehow, she knew, they would not need the extra assistance – call it brave or stupid, this was her gut feeling.

Teal'c raised an eyebrow, declaring confidently, "If you believe this to be a flytrap, this trickery will have a master. We only need to find the one who controls this desert. I believe they are on this path. We need to be patient still."

His gaze drifted from his teammates in the direction of the canyon.

The farther in they went, the more the Jaffa saw that nature had shaped it. A river, it seems, had once flowed through it, carving its twists, turns, and smooth formation. Here and there, trees rooted in its crevices, in a horizontal fashion, appearing as if they had begun a journey down the rugged walls and stopped mid-stride, splayed branches keeping it stable.

Behemoth boulders bordered the ten-foot dirt road in random places, as if someone had placed them there for a purpose. Underbrush surrounded some of these monstrosities and some appeared as if it had split the rock in its desperation to seek daylight.

The canyon and everything pertaining to it impersonated a perfect habitat – green, extravagant, and created with a resolve. It lacked the same natural harshness portrayed by the plateau north of the Gate. The question was why.

The Jaffa warrior stopped abruptly, one balled up fist in the air, while his head tilted to the side listening as if a hunting dog.

Carter noted it immediately and raised her weapon, asking in an urgent soft tone. "What's up?"

Daniel's gaze followed theirs and swallowed, suddenly nervous.

Teal'c gestured for them to take cover to the left, while he did so to the right of the path. Each finding a boulder, Carter kept her gaze on the warrior, who placed his forefinger on his lips and extended his Staff weapon before him. Nodding her confirmation, she shoved Daniel toward where the canyon wall and boulder met, then moved back to where she had a better view of the road.

They waited patiently.

Carter's world however, slowed down as anger seeped in. She wanted to rush whomever it was that stood in their way, and desired to beat them into releasing Colonel O'Neill.

Her mind suddenly stopped at the thought and turned into a question. Why would you do such a senseless thing?

Apparently, her heart now fuelled her frustration not her mind nor her military discipline. Sam detested when it did that. Jack no longer held her heart, Pete did. However, it still left her confused, a peculiar kind of puzzlement she was yet to decipher. The jab from earlier must have subsided to the background, its lingering effects not strong enough to cause what it had done at the DHD. Though, Carter still had a pit in her stomach, still had a heightened sense of concern. All of which had converted into frustration. She was a smart woman and this was killing her, figuratively speaking, due to her mind seeking tiresomely through possible explanations for this incident.

She dismissed the foolish feelings and concentrated on the Jaffa warrior instead. His creased forehead revealed that something or someone was now fast approaching. However, she also noted a hint of confusion in his expression.

Oh boy! He doesn't know what it is. This is bad, very bad!

The Major gulped, her hand gripping the P-90 in concern. The day just took a nosedive. A steep dive, for Teal'c's Staff weapon lowered to the ground, and he quickly grabbed for the Zat. The warrior's eyes bulged with the action, and Sam followed his fixed gaze. A boulder blocked her view and it chilled her to the bone. She could not shoot what she could not see.

Daniel suddenly gasped beside her, and then she saw. A request she instantly regretted.