Into chaos.
"What's going on?" Sheppard called out as they took in the chaos around them.
"We got a call from the mainland. There's been a cave-in. Holling's afraid Jesse and Toran may be in the caves. One of the other children told them that some paintings were found in the caves recently. Jesse was excited and telling them about Chumash cave paintings back home and wanting to see them. Unfortunately, they weren't told that the caves are unstable. We're mobilizing a rescue."
"Dr. Weir, Cordelia and I want to go with. Besides the fact that our son is also in those caves, we've done rescue work before. We both serve part time in a civilian militia in our hometown. We help with disasters. Not to mention, my extra strength may come in handy."
"Agreed. She's already requested permission and is getting ready now. You should go see her, before we leave." Xander nodded and set out to find Cordelia.
Elizabeth turned to Colonel Sheppard. "Why are you back early?"
"Turned out that what the Ancients had in that facility was what they called demons. Some kind of weird animals with way too many claws and teeth. Our being there released some of them. They attacked us and we had to defend ourselves. Then we found tubes with more of them. Rodney download the database and we blew the place to keep any from escaping."
"You're kidding."
"No. I'm not. Those things were nasty."
"You can give me a full report later. Get ready, we leave in a few minutes."
Sheppard nodded and went to hand in his P90.
Ronan was awkwardly patting Teyla's shoulder and trying to offer what comfort he could. She was as desperate to get to her son, as Xander and Cordelia were to get to their own.
Xander quickly found Cordelia, who was putting on a vest when he found her.
"Did Dr. Weir call you?" She asked.
"No, we had to blow the facility. Turns out, the Ancients were studying demons there. I'd like to say, joke!, But I can't. Some of them got loose while we were there and attacked us. We were able to stop them. McKay downloaded the database. He's going to be pissed when I make a report to Jack and Homeworld Security confiscates that database."
"Demons in Pegasus? Gods, can't we escape the damn things?"
"I'd very much like to say yes. But the universe doesn't seem to agree." As the two headed for the jumper bay to find their son.
Jesse had been so excited. Cave paintings, like the ones his dad had taken him to see. The ones dad's grandma's people had made. He and Toran had set out to see them. It had seemed like a fun idea. But then some rocks had fallen down and blocked the front of the cave. Jesse wasn't strong like his dad or his sister Abigail from the Elsewhere. He couldn't move the rocks. It was dark in here, not as dark for him as it was for Toran, but still dark. And cold. They'd tried to make a fire, but there were no leaves or branches. And the rocks wouldn't make sparks. Toran was shivering and then he fell asleep. Jesse knew a way he could keep them warm, but he'd have to stay awake himself. He only had control when he was awake. He carefully let his fur grow, but not his ears or claws or teeth, he didn't want to accidentally hurt his friend. He wrapped his fur covered arms around Toran and tucked his legs behind Toran's. Gradually, Toran's shivering got less and less. Jesse could feel an occasional shiver, but not the constant ones there'd been before. The two lay facing the entrance as Jesse shared his body heat with his friend. Their moms and dads would come, he knew it. Toran had told him how his mom had saved him from a bad guy when he was a baby and Jesse had told Toran about meeting his super strong sister in an Elsewhere. They would come. He knew it.
As the jumper lifted off and headed toward the mainland two mothers and a father, as well as three honorary uncles and several friends were silently praying that they would find the two young friends alive and well. They had to, none would accept anything less. They couldn't.