"I think I might recognise the description," Jack told them as he directed the SUV towards the location of the energy readings.
"Oh yes?" Owen's voice came from the back.
"If I'm right, it's called a Bleqaxi and it's somewhat similar to a Hoix. Can and will eat anything and everything. They're hunted by several other creatures on their home planet though, which tends to make them quite skittish."
"So, assuming it's still where we're getting the energy reading, what's the plan?" Tosh asked from behind her computer, where she was monitoring the energy readings from across the area Suzie had identified.
"I'm going to guess it doesn't involve running at it, all guns blazing," Suzie postulated from the front passenger seat.
Jack grinned, although as he didn't take his eyes off the road none of the team could tell. "No, we're going to have to do this one stealthily. Stay quiet, surround it, then move in for the capture."
"And how are we going to do that, given that it's apparently the size of a cow? We can't exactly just grab it," came Owen's cynical tones again.
There was silence in the vehicle for a long moment while they all considered the problem.
"Do we still have that tranq gun in the boot from the Lopenken last month?" Suzie eventually tossed out.
"Yeah, I think so," Jack said, looking over momentarily to grin at her. "That would be ideal. Good thinking, Suzie."
"Uh, guys?" Tosh cried suddenly just as Jack was bringing the SUV to a stop. "The energy trace is gone. It just vanished."
"What do you mean 'it just vanished'?" Jack asked, twisting in his seat to look at her. "It can't have."
"Yeah, are you sure it didn't just move and you've lost it?" Owen sniped beside her.
"I meant exactly what I said - it just vanished. And no Owen, I didn't just lose it. Take a look yourself if you think you can do better."
Owen put his hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, I was just saying."
"Right well if we could all stop just saying," Jack interrupted, shooting the pair of them an admonishing look, "we need to get out there and investigate. The energy reading may be gone, but that doesn't necessarily mean the Bleqaxi is."
Suitably chastened, they all clambered quietly out of the SUV, Jack discovering that yes, they did still have the tranquiliser gun, and taking it, just in case.
Nearly forty minutes later, they had to admit defeat. They had searched every nook and cranny, but to no avail. The overturned bins and general disarray of the place did suggest that the Bleqaxi had been here however – they'd just been too late.
"Getting anything on that scanner, Tosh?" Jack murmured through his earpiece as he peered around one final corner.
"Still nothing," she replied softly. "I might be able to pick something up with the big locater back at the Hub, but unless the signal reappears strongly I'm not going to get anything with this."
Jack sighed. "Right then, I guess it's back to the Hub. Let's hope this doesn't turn into a late one."
***
Several hours later, it didn't look much like Jack was going to get his wish.
They'd hit the first of the evening rush hour traffic on the way back into the centre of Cardiff, extending the journey time to over three quarters of an hour.
They eventually straggled into the Hub, Jack grumbling not quite under his breath about aliens that wouldn't just stay put and stupid traffic.
"Iant- oh damn." His call to beg for another coffee died in his throat. "We left him at the warehouse. I didn't even think."
Horrified looks passed between the rest of the team as they realised the truth of his words.