Timeline: SGA: anytime, BtVS: post-Chosen.
Disclaimer: Nothing copyrighted belongs to yours truly.
Author's Note: Written for Day 12 of the 2024 August Fic-A-Day.
A/N 2: Meh, with a side of too little time.
"Murphy is rolling on the floor, laughing hysterically at us right now." Lt. Laura Cadman announced right after she ducked back behind a convenient wall.
"We've had mostly cakewalks up until now, and the one time we didn't we accidentally acquired a ZPM. Of course, Murphy is laughing at us." Major Lorne replied from across the street.
AR-1 had been playing hide and seek with the local villagers for the last half hour. Judging by the village itself and the general appearance of the people themselves, they seemed to be about the Middle Ages. Except for the rather modern and incredibly lethal energy weapons they were using against the Atlantis Reconnaissance team.
Dr. Parrish had been hit, but was thankfully only unconscious as opposed to dead. This was a minor mercy, because Buffy was absolutely certain the shooter had been one of the few who hadn't been using the 'kill' setting on their weapon. The rest of the team was unharmed, but they were blocked off from the gate, and to make matters even worse they were not expected back for another five hours. So, they would have to rescue themselves.
"Escape plans, anyone?" Buffy gave both Lorne and Cadman a serious look.
"I'm almost down to my last clip, so we're going to have to think of something fast. Preferably something that doesn't include shooting our way through."
Major Lorne scrutinized the immediate neighborhood, but other than falling back even further he didn't have anything.
"I don't think that's a good idea. They seem to be trying to herd us over there," and she pointed behind them and to the right. "I'm not sure what's there, but I'd rather not find out."
It took some fancy footwork, but they were able to go in the opposite direction. Something that clearly angered the natives, and indirectly proved Buffy's instincts. It didn't get them out of the sticky situation, just bought them a little more time.
As Buffy hadn't used her P-90 much, she gave each of her spare clips to the two military members, and then unholstered the handgun she had strapped to her thigh. "I'll play damsel and lead them away. When they're far enough, I'll double back and meet you by the Stargate."
They both looked a little unhappy, but given the time constraint, they agreed. The next time the villagers came a little too close Buffy pretended to be separated from the others and made a run for it in another direction. The next ten minutes were a merry chase as over half of them somehow ended up trying to kill her rather than the other two.
When Cadman activated the earpiece and announced all three of them had made it to the Gate, she put some extra speed on after rounding a corner so the villagers wouldn't see anything they shouldn't, and then ran at top speed back to their agreed-upon meeting place. A few minutes later, the now-familiar sideways splash of non-water from the Stargate whooshed out, Lorne sent his code through, and they all powerwalked the last distance back to Atlantis.