RATING: PG-13 for Language
SEASON: StarGate Atlantis: Sometime during the 1st Season
MAJOR CHARACTERS: McKay, Sheppard, Ford and Teyla
DISCLAIMERS: The characters, cool stuff, etc, all belong to Sony, MGM, Gekko, the Sci-Fi Channel... not me.  I own nothing.  I got nothing.  I found some lint in my pocket the other day -- that's all I got.
NOTE: Okay, here's my second SGA fiction.  I'm still learning my way here.  I'm trying to delve into StarGate technology, history, fanon... I know nothing about it, so I apologize if I'm way off on some of the stuff I have going on here. I haven't seen enough StarGate SG1 to know how it all works.  
SUMMARY:  The team checks out an island paradise... and finds a non-functioning DHD, an active volcano and some particularly nasty fauna.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:  Tipper, as always, is to blame
ANOTHER NOTE:  This story does have some similarities to a lovely story written by Leah.  It was completely unintentional, but there you go.  Check out Acts of Enormity here
FEEDBACK: Yes please! comments and suggestions are greatly appreciated.
SPOILERS: None that I can think of
DATE:  December 15, 2004, some housekeeping done July 2, 2008

Paradise
By NotTasha

PART 1: ISLAND

As they stepped out onto planet PX9-778, John Sheppard was immediately struck by how … nice it was.  A warm breeze blew past.  Tall trees – resembling palms – swayed enticingly; a sweet aroma filled the air and the nearby ocean rolled.  He let out a satisfied sigh and glanced to Ford.  The Lieutenant was grinning, taking in the tropical paradise.  Teyla, beside Ford, looked about with a content expression.  John turned to his left to find McKay.  He chuckled, seeing McKay a step or two behind him, hunched over one of his glowing devices, scowling as he fiddled with it.

“McKay,” Sheppard called.

“Huh?” McKay didn’t raise his head.

“What do you think?”  Sheppard asked, raising his hands to the tropical splendor around them.  As if on cue, a bird, as colorful as a child’s painting, took wing and swooped past them.

McKay flinched, ducking away, as if the creature had dive-bombed them when it missed them by a good three meters.  “Nice,” he responded without sounding too convinced.  “There’s probably a dozen different ways to get killed here.”

“Reminds me of Maui,” Ford stated, ignoring the scientist’s comment.  “Or maybe Kauai.”  He shouldered his pack as he stepped past the sweet smelling foliage, smiling broadly.  “This mission’s going to be like a vacation.  It’s like paradise.”

“Paradise?  As in heaven?”  McKay kept poking at his device.  “Honestly, I’m not ready to go there just yet.  I’m planning to stay far from it for as long as possible.”

“Think they let in folks like you?” Sheppard asked, smiling as he gazed at the splendor around them.  “Isn’t Arrogance one of the deadly sins?”

“The first deadly sin is ‘Pride’, actually,” McKay said with a sniff.  “Not ‘arrogance’.”

“Yeah, big difference,” Sheppard returned. 

“And I can hardly see how taking pride in one’s work could be considered a sin,” McKay went on.  “Really, is there any other way to respond to an intellect such as mine?”

John pursed his lips as he considered a response and then shook his head with a smile.  “Think this is an island?” he asked.

“Yes, yes… definitely an island,” McKay muttered, still futzing with his equipment.  “About 35 square kilometers in size if my readouts are correct.”

“How big is that?” Ford asked plainly.

McKay rolled his eyes expansively.  “About 35 square kilometers,” he repeated petulantly.

Sheppard grinned, and clarified, “About 13 and a half square miles.?”

McKay rolled his eyes.

Ford whistled.  “Pretty big?” he tried.

“Not really,” was McKay’s response.  He held out another device.  “I see no sign of any structures built nearby.  No power sources at least.  I’m picking up a tremendous heat source though, from over there,” he said, pointing to the rise that hid the rest of the island from them.

“Are there any signs of life, Doctor McKay?” Teyla asked.

“Plenty,” McKay responded.

“Anything human?” Sheppard tried.  He received a disgusted look from McKay in return.

“Have you seen one of these devices before?” McKay asked.  He held up the Life Sign Detector so that the others could see the read-out.  “There’s no magic icons on it that tell me what is what, this isn’t the Marauders’ Map where everyone is labeled.  I have blips… I have dots… I see life-forms.  There’s no tags on it that tells me what is a bird, a mole, a vole, a badger, a bear or a blue-butt nincompoop.”

“Well,” Sheppard started, letting McKay’s comment hang, “Shall we explore a bit then?  Check out that heat source maybe?”

“After you,” McKay said with a gesture, letting the major lead the way.

Sheppard gave Rodney a smug look then turned to the lush hillside.  “What do you think this place was used for?” he asked as he strode up the steep terrain.  “Doesn’t seem a likely spot to start a colony.”

“Perhaps this location was used for scientific study,” McKay commented as he struggled behind the others, having to shove his devices into his pack so he could use his hands to climb.

“Bet it’s a vacation spot,” Ford decided.  “I mean, even the Ancients would want a place to chill, don’t you think?”

“It is lovely,” Teyla agreed.  “And rather restful, I believe.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Sheppard responded.  “Club Med for the Ancients where they could get away from the stress of their day-to-day lives.   Everything a highly evolved species could want – long, white-sand beaches, a place to surf, garden surroundings, peace and tranquility for everyone.  A world full of… crap.”

The major came to a standstill as Teyla and Ford caught up to him at the top of the rise.  McKay still struggled behind.  “What?” he asked, then caught a whiff of the wind.  “Oh, that’s not nice.”  Panting from his exertion, he came to stand beside the others.  “Oh,” he said, taking in the sight.

In the midst of the little paradise, a caldron steamed.  The volcano stood, like a dirty thumb, pointing at the sky as it spat puffs of black into the air.

“Volcano,” Sheppard stated.  “That’s your heat source?”

“Apparently,” McKay responded, then amended with, “Definitely.”  He continued to poke as he stated, “It’s quite possible that this is the reason we have a StarGate at this site.  The Ancients may have had some interest in volcanoes – their evolution, etc.”  He glanced about and shrugged.  “I can’t think that this particular one has been active all this time though.  One would expect more… damage to the surrounding area… or at least a bigger island.  Then there’s the fact that this StarGate has been here for over 10,000 years without being damaged.  Amazing when you think about it, what with the island still forming.”  McKay continued to chatter away, leaving no room for anyone to butt in.  “My only speculation is that the volcano lay dormant for several millennia and only recently has reawaken.”

“Well,” Sheppard stated. “I don’t care what the Ancients wanted here.  We came here to scout out some food and, now that I’ve seen the place, maybe we’ll build a cabana and a beach-side bar.”  A glance to a nearby tree, and he stated, “Looks like there’s plenty of food.  Let’s get what we can find for samples and head back.”

“What about the life-forms?” Ford asked, pointing toward McKay’s device.

“This island does seem to be rather untouched,” Teyla commented.  “We will probably find no humans here.”

“Let’s see what we can find,” Sheppard stated.  

They scouted out the area.  Ford and Teyla took samples of the fruit that grew so plentifully.   McKay mostly wandered about, looking for something more interesting.  Sheppard kept a watch on his team, holding his P90 at his side in case trouble reared its unpleasant head.

But the day was mild and peaceful.  The work was easy.  Ford and Teyla made light of it, easily collecting an impressive array of samples.  McKay wandered about, never straying far from the others, but doing a rather thorough search of the area.  He came back with a handful of artifacts, handling them rather impassively.  “There’s signs of humans,” he explained as he approached Sheppard.  He held up a broken spear tip, a knife and some other utensils. 

“Recent?” Sheppard asked.

McKay lifted a shoulder.  “It’s hard to tell with all the growth here, and with the humidity. I believe anything would decay rather quick.  These things have probably been here for only a few years.  Not much longer.”

Sheppard took the knife and the spear from McKay, and examined them.  McKay dropped the rest of his discoveries into his pack and brushed his hands on his trousers.  “Think they’re still around?” Sheppard asked.  “…the people who dropped these?  Think we should watch out for trouble?”

“Yes, of course I think we should watch out,” Rodney answered.  “I always think we should watch out for trouble.  But no, I don’t think they’re still around.  Like Teyla said, nobody’s been here for a while.  All in all, I think we’re rather safe.”

And then the ground shook.


PART 2:  SHAKE UP

The earth heaved and rolled.  The trees slashed at the sky; rocks rolled; branches snapped and tossed; the ocean turned furious and the mountain growled.

McKay stood, terrified, looking in all directions as the trees about him swayed alarmingly.  Ford, halfway up a tree, dropped to the ground and rolled.  Teyla ran to him.  Sheppard gripped his P90 as he hunkered down as everything shook and cracked and shuddered.

Keeping his eyes roving, the major moved, shoving one hand against McKay’s shoulder to get him further from the violently swaying trees.  Rodney stumbled, disoriented, but followed where Sheppard indicated, trying to get to a clearing.  Something snapped, something fell, something crumbled and tottered and shattered.  Sheppard looked for Teyla and Ford as he propelled McKay.  He couldn’t find them.  “Ford!” he shouted, as McKay suddenly dropped from under his hand, and Sheppard went with him.

It was over in a matter of moments.  One minute, he was struggling to keep moving forward on the ground that shifted alarmingly beneath his feet – the next moment he was lying on his stomach, stretched out in the heady greenness that banked the island.  And once again, all was still.

John bolted upright, quickly scanning for his people.  McKay was beside him, lying with his hands thrown over his head and face buried in the undergrowth.  “McKay!” John shouted, slapping the astrophysics on his leg.  “Are you okay?”

“Fff…Fine… fine…” McKay muttered into the earth.

Sheppard took him at his word, as he stood, somewhat unsteadily and shouted for the others.  “Ford!  Teyla!”

They appeared, standing slowly and getting their bearings.  They looked to each other first, before Ford declared.  “We’re fine… shook up, but fine.”  Behind them, the volcano belched gray smoke.

“Well, that was interesting,” Sheppard commented.  “You know, I think we’ve seen enough of this place.  Let’s get the hell out of here.”

Rodney lifted the hands from his head, stared up at the major and apparently took his suggestion as a damn good idea.  He grabbed the pack that had landed half under him and pulled it to his lap.  A curious look crossed his face as he heard the things within fall together. “Oh no,” he cried.   Any thought of an immediate departure seemed to flee the Canadian as he unzipped the pouch and started pawing through it.  “No…” he muttered through gritted teeth.  “Aw, crap! This is not good…. Not good.”

“What?” Sheppard snapped tiredly.

With an expression akin to bereavement, McKay pulled his laptop from the pack.  His expression was so distraught, that Sheppard almost laughed.  “Smashed…” McKay said with a gulp.  He rooted around further, coming up with his scanner.  “Aw… hell…” he sighed, turning it over in his hand, poking a few buttons experimentally.  “No… no … no…”

“You broke them?” Sheppard asked as Teyla and Ford joined them.

Looking heartbroken, McKay stated, “I was trying to protect them.”  He clutched the pack to his chest in demonstration.

“And fell on them,” Sheppard completed.

“Aw, this sucks,” McKay muttered, picking up another of his Ancient devices and shaking it discontentedly.  “This really really sucks.”

“You can fix them though,” Sheppard stated.

“Well, not here, no!” McKay spat back.

“So, you know the easy solution to that,” John replied.  He extended a hand to the sitting scientist.

McKay took the proffered hand and struggled to his feet.  He seemed to shake off some of his grief as he asked, “Everyone okay?” and he glanced to the others.

“We are unharmed,” Teyla explained rather patiently.

“I’ll be better when we get out of here,” Ford declared as he backtracked toward the trees, looking for his dropped loot.  He picked up the bag and nodded toward the gate.  “Time to go.”

Teyla found her samples and followed the lieutenant.  Sheppard and McKay wasted no time following suit.

“Active volcano,” McKay uttered as he walked, clutching the pack with its broken contents.  “I suppose it’s to be expected that there may be some rumbling.  The island appears to be in a growing stage.  I wouldn’t be surprised if we didn’t see a lava event.”  His fear seemed to be tempered with the thrill of discovery as he gazed back to the smoking mound behind them.  “Fascinating really.  We really must send a team of geologist back to record the event. Pity that my equipment isn’t working because I’d start taking readings now.   Amazing that the gate is still usable, considering the unstable environment.”

“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” Sheppard responded, brushing the bits of debris from his vest as the trod down the hill and back toward the gate.  “Let’s just get out of here and send some rock hounds out instead.”  There was something terribly unnerving about having the ground move beneath you – it just wasn’t right!

Teyla, Ford and Sheppard stood in a loose formation at the brink of the gate as McKay approached the DHD.  “Dial it!” Sheppard ordered impatiently.

“Just a moment,” McKay uttered, his face drawn with concern as he stared at the DHD and then stepped back a few feet, gazing beneath it.  “Curious,” he muttered.  “Now how did that get…?  Hang on.”  He set down his pack and fussed around beneath the device.

A deep grumble repeated, their only warning as the ground shuddered again.  “McKay!” Sheppard shouted, bracing himself for the next onslaught.  “Dial it, now!”

“Right!  It should be ready!”  McKay straightened and leaned against the DHD, trying to keep his balance as the ground bucked, and the volcano rumbled.  Teyla reached out her hands, grasping onto Sheppard’s arm with one, and Ford with the other.  The gate hummed as McKay engaged the chevrons … Sheppard turned, waiting for the instant the event horizon appeared, ready to be released them from their tilting world.  His eyes darted, watching the first three chevrons immediately illuminate – and no more.

“McKay!” Sheppard turned furious eyes on the scientist who seemed frozen over the DHD.

“Oh no,” Rodney muttered, his hands flying again, pressing down on the buttons, shoving, hammering, as the ground continued its unorthodox machinations.  Teyla clung to Ford and Sheppard, swaying along with the earth… and then the quaking quieted again, and the volcano beyond the hill stopped its growl, sending up a plume of gray ash above the trees.

McKay, his head still lowered over the DHD, raised his eyes to the gate, and quietly tried the buttons again.  The gate hummed but did nothing more.  “Ah…” he started, his face tight with worry.  “We have a problem.”

“What's going on?” Sheppard demanded.  “Why didn’t you finish the address?”

McKay kept nervously pressing on the buttons, eyes on the gate, watching the three illuminated chevrons.  “It’s... stuck.”

“What?”  Ford exclaimed, stepping beside the scientist.  “What do you mean… ‘stuck’?”

His hand still moving about on the controls, McKay frowned deeply.  “Okay, I should be able to make it reset.  This sequence should clear the memory and allow me to… Okay, maybe not…”  His gaze flickered between Ford and Sheppard.  “It’s not working.”

“What’s going on, McKay?” Sheppard grumbled, watching the Candian’s uneasy movements.

Sighing, Rodney stepped back and stared under the DHD again.  “The ground beneath has… shifted.  See… there…a crack?”  He pointed to where the ground had uplifted, created a shelf only an inch or two high… running under the base of the DHD.

“And…” Sheppard led on.

“It’s affected the DHD, of course!  Who knows what’s been thrown off kilter inside,” Rodney stated, poking again at the controls.  “One of the crystals had already fallen loose.  I managed to fix that, but I was in the process of dialing during that last shake-up  --  it seems to have been the coup de grâce.”

“Meaning…” Ford stated, looking apprehensively at the non-responding controls.

“The DHD is not working,” Rodney stated.  “Broken… ruined… non-operational… defunct...  busted… kaput… wrecked…”

Sheppard glanced up at the partially dialed symbols on the still thrumming gate. “That’s not good…” he tried.

McKay tried to smile.  “Oh, that’s an understatement, Major.”

“You can’t shut it down?” Ford asked.

Irritated, McKay shook his head.  “Working on it, Lieutenant.  Working on it…”

“It should reset itself after 38 minutes,” Sheppard tried.

Letting out a disgusted breath, McKay explained, “That only works when the wormhole is open. No open wormhole – no 38 minutes.”

“Dr. McKay, can Atlantis dial our position if we cannot reach them?” Teyla asked, seeing a definite problem.

"You would think so," McKay said with a grimace.  "They probably could if we were back in our home galaxy but..."

"But what, McKay," Sheppard got out.

With a sigh, McKay explained, "There seems to be a difference with the function of the DHD's in the Pegasus Galaxy.  They have a habit of... freezing up... if the dialing sequence isn't completed."

"So they can't reach us?" Sheppard tried.

“Not while the gate is partially engaged,” Rodney responded, shaking his head.

“So… how do we un-engage it?” Sheppard tried.

Screwing his face up, McKay responded again with, “Working on it!”

“How long?” Sheppard asked, pressing closer.  Teyla and Ford were right beside him.

Picking up his pack, McKay shook it and declared, “If my laptop was working, I’d be done by now.  If my scanner… if any of this… I’d know exactly what to work on first.”

“Okay,” Sheppard said, trying to keep his voice even, “No laptop, so you have to use your own brainpower.  Think you can manage that, Mr. Genius?”

McKay glowered.

“How long?” Sheppard asked again, leaning over McKay’s shoulder.

“If I knew how long it would take, that would mean I knew what it would take to rectify the situation.  If I knew that, I’d have it fixed already,” McKay spat out, still fussing with the controls.  He groaned with annoyance when another attempt did nothing to quiet the humming gate.

“So, you don’t know how to fix it?” Ford tried, uneasily.

“Of course I know how to fix it,” McKay shot back.  “I just haven’t decided on the correct course of action.”  He shot his audience a glare and grumbled, “If you’d just STEP BACK and give me a few inches to work in, I might have a chance of solving this problem!”

Realizing that they were indeed crowding the scientist, the three stepped back, and watched McKay’s fretful movements, as he tried one sequence after another.   When Ford sighed loudly, McKay grumbled.  “Further…” He glanced over his shoulder at the lieutenant, and fluttered a hand, indicating that greater distance was requested.

“Come on,” Sheppard muttered.  “Let’s let the big man have his space.”  He shouldered his pack and stepped away, thinking that, since they couldn’t leave the planet, they’d might as well continue their exploration while McKay resolved their little problem.  “Ford, Teyla, let’s see what else we can find.  McKay?”  John waited a second, expecting some sort of response.  “McKAY!” he tried again.

Rodney cringed and grumbled.  “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“We’re going to scout around a bit more.”

“Fine, fine,” McKay muttered, grabbing for his pack and rustling through it, looking for anything that escaped damage.

Sheppard nodded to Ford and Teyla.  They fanned out, moving through he immediate vicinity.  The hill and the tall trees had kept them from taking puddle jumper to this spot, and now Sheppard dreaded that choice.  They might have been able to reset the gate if they could access the jumper’s controls.  Well, it was only a matter of time, Sheppard decided, and McKay would have the problem fixed.  Might as well enjoy the extra time – still, he couldn’t help throwing glances toward the volcano, thinking about Pompei and how badly that went.

There wasn’t much to discover near the gate, and soon the team found themselves with nothing further to do.  John stood stiffly, still wary of the treacherous ground beneath their feet.  He squinted – spying something manmade in the rocky outcrop a short distance down the beach.

“McKay,” he shouted over his shoulder.  And frowned when the scientist, again, gave no sign that he’d heard.  “Dr. McKay!”

“I am trying to repair the DHD!” McKay responded, sounding as if he used every last ounce of his strength to keep from throttling the latest person to disturb him.

“We’re heading up the beach,” Sheppard said.  “Going to check out some structures.”  He plucked a Life Sign Detector from his pocket.  The thing was still riddled with dots, showing the creatures that populated the island.  “You need me to leave Ford here?”

“What?” McKay responded.  “No… no… he’ll get in the way.  Just let me work, uninterrupted, for five minutes!”  He glared at the humming gate.  “It’s all I ask.”

“Ask and you’ll receive,” Sheppard replied, nodding to the other two.  “We won’t go far.  Keep your radio on.”

“Yeah,” McKay responded, not listening.

“Turn it on now,” Sheppard ordered.

Letting loose a discontented sigh, McKay clicked on his radio, but left the mike muted.

“Let us know when you fix it,” Sheppard went on.

“Yeah… yeah…”

Sheppard shrugged, nodded to the others, and they made their way up the beach. 


PART 3: BITS AND PIECES

They covered the distance in about 10 minutes, finding further evidence that humans had once spent time on the planet.   Primitive beds had been constructed in the caverns, stone ovens, storage areas – people had spent ‘time’ here.  There were more tools – not broken and discarded as the previous items they’d found – but carefully crafted and stored.  Blankets, empty metal pots and cooking utensils showed that this was someone’s ‘home’.

“Cozy,” Sheppard mentioned, taking in the stark, dank surroundings.

“Major,” Ford’s dread-filled voice caught Sheppard’s attention.  “I think you should see this.”  Aiden shone a light into a nasty corner in the cave, illuminating a scattering of bones.

John narrowed his gaze, wondering at the shape… the familiar shapes of the bones.

“They are human,” Teyla said in a hushed voice.  Reverently, she picked up what appeared to be a shattered femur.  With a stark look, she handed the long bone to Sheppard.

He took it, trying not to feel disgusted by his actions, and turned it in his hands.  All along the length of the bone, were the unmistakable signs that something had gnawed on that bone – had bitten it, had torn at it.

“The others are the same,” Teyla said, keeping her voice neutral. In amongst the scattered bones were bits of clothing, tattered vestments, broken weapons, little glints of gold that may have once been jewelry. “There are more here,” she stated, walking to the other side of the cave, where someone had been trapped.   She squatted by the remains and stated, “They are the same as the others.”  She continued examining what she found. “Whatever killed these people was not human,” she said defiantly, as if she expected the men to accuse one of those people of barbaric deeds.

Sheppard sighed, studying the masticated bone.  What could have done this? Something with sharp teeth, certainly.  Was something on this island was capable of killing people?  Of ripping them to bits and pieces?  His head shot up as he realized something.  He clicked on his radio and shouted, “McKay!  Answer me!  Now!”

Nothing.

“McKay!”  Already Sheppard was sprinting from the caverns, with Ford and Teyla right behind him.  “Goddamn it, McKay!  You get your goddamn radio on and answer my goddamn message right now or I’ll rip your goddamn head off and cram it up your goddamn…”

“Major…Major… Major…” McKay’s voice crackled on the radio. “You should be thankful that your American FCC doesn’t monitor our transmissions because…”

Sheppard released a sigh of relief has he heard the snide tone on his headset.  “McKay, shut the hell up and…”

“Shut up?  But, Major, only moments ago you were threatening me with a rather violent…”

“Turn on your Life Sign Detector!  Keep the damn thing on, you hear me?  We’re coming back.”

“What? What did you find?”  A tremor had replaced the cock-sure tone.

“Just hang tight, we’ll be right there.”

Teyla had pulled ahead, and was sprinting down the beach, back toward the StarGate, her eyes darting about at the undergrowth, searching for anything moving.  Ford kept pace with Sheppard, matching him stride for stride.

“I hope he’s got that DHD fixed,” Ford got out as he ran.

Sheppard smiled, recalling McKay’s tone when he’d originally answered the radio.  “Oh, we’ll be home for dinner, my friend,” he responded as they continued and finally burst through the undergrowth and into a scene that Sheppard had never hoped to see.

McKay stood in the midst of the DHD.  Strewn out around him – the bits, the pieces, the gizmos, the crystals and the glowing thingies – everything that should have made up the dialing device – laid out on the ground.  “Oh, hi,” McKay responded.  “What’s all the hub-bub about?”

Sheppard’s jaw dropped as he saw the DHD, torn down to a nub.  “You’ve got to be kidding me!” he muttered.

Ford came to a halt as he regarded the destruction. Teyla, a few strides ahead of them, was already standing with her arms crossed at her chest, shaking her head in disbelief.

“What did you do?” Sheppard asked, incredulous.

“I took it apart,” Rodney responded, bending down and shuffling some of the pieces about.

“I can see that!” Sheppard exclaimed, still holding his P90 ready.  “Why they hell’d you do that?”

“I was trying to deactivate…Listen, do you have to point that thing like that?” McKay griped, indicating the weapon held tightly in Sheppard’s grip.

“We found bones in the caverns,” Teyla informed the doctor.  “Apparently some sort of animal … consumed the humans who lived here.”

“Consumed?” Rodney repeated hollowly.

“Chewed them up into little pieces and gnawed on the bones,” Ford supplied.

“Mammals, reptiles?”

Sheppard groaned.  “How am I supposed to know?  It had teeth.”

Rodney gulped.  “But, they’re long gone, right, the animals?”

“Where would the things go?” Ford asked, hefting his P90 to indicate their surroundings.  “This is an island.”

McKay furrowed his brow, still holding a crystal from the DHD, his eyes darting about disconcertedly.  “That’s just it.  There should be only birds.  It’s an island.  Nothing can just walk here.  Ah!  Maybe it was seals.  Do you think mad seals did it?”

“I bet it came through the Gate,” Ford suggested.

“Oh, and the Big Bad Wolf has learned how to dial a Stargate?”  McKay rolled his eyes and shook his head.  “Do you really believe that, Lt. Ford?”

“Perhaps the creatures were of a higher level of intelligence,” Teyla tried.

“Gnawing on bones… no… no…” McKay frowned.  “Bone-chewing, people-eating animals usually don’t go around dialing Stargates.”

“What about the Wraith?” Ford rebutted.  “They use the Gate and they seem pretty hot on consuming humans.”

“They’re entirely different!” McKay declared.  “Life-force sucking vampires vs. some sort of animal that rips flesh and uses bones as toothpicks…” McKay weighed the differences in his hands.  “You see, not at all alike.”

Ford opened his mouth as if he wanted to contest McKay’s point, but Sheppard gave the young man a quick shake of the head to silence him.

McKay went on, “The most likely explanation is that the humans brought the animals with them.” He thumped one finger against his temple.  “Yes, that’s a strong possibility.  The humans were a hunting party.  Perhaps some sort of predatory animal was brought with them, trained to run down their quarry.  Hmmm.”

“Well, something definitely ATE those people,” Sheppard said, annoyed with the whole conversation.  “There’s no debating that.  We’re going to be armed from now on.  We’ll stay together, always in pairs.  No one wanders off left alone.”

“Who’s wandering?” McKay asked, squatting down in the remains of the DHD.

“That’s an order, for everyone,” Sheppard stated to McKay’s back.  “You hear me, McKay?  Nobody is ever alone from now on.”

“I heard you,” McKay commented, shuffling his hand through a pile of helter-skelter crystals.

Sheppard groaned.  “You had to take it apart?” he asked.

With a gesture to the gate, McKay stated, “I’ve stopped the humming.”

“But it’s still partially dialed,” Ford noted, pointing to the glowing chevrons on the gate.

“Yes, I did notice that,” McKay snapped back.  “I was hoping that once I reassemble the unit, I’d be able to finally reset it.”

“…were hoping…” Sheppard restated.  “Not anymore?”

With a disgusted sigh, McKay admitted, “The complete disassembly didn’t remedy the situation, okay?  Now I need to reassemble to hopefully initiate the reset.” He paused before admitting, “And… ah… while taking it apart, I discovered that a few of the pieces had been broken.”

“What?”  Sheppard stepped closer.

“Broken?”  Ford asked.  “Like how bad?”

“Bad,” McKay responded holding up one dark component.  “This isn’t good.  See that fracture … there?” he pointed to some indecipherable point.  “Broken.”

“Any chance you broke it when you were ripping it out?” Sheppard asked.

McKay thrust out his chin in defiance, and stated, “Maybe…”

”McKay!” Sheppard groaned.  “Damn it, McKay…”

“Can you fix that?” Teyla asked, her eyes on the unit in Rodney’s hands.

“Fix this?  Are you kidding?”  McKay responded.  “With the tools I have here?  Without my laptop or scanner?”  He snorted.  “Highly improbable.”

Ford and Sheppard exchanged anxious glances.  “If you don’t fix the DHD, McKay,” Sheppard stated slowly, “We’re not going home.”

“No one can dial in unless I can get this reset, and I didn’t say that I wouldn’t fix the DHD,” McKay grumbled.  “I just can’t fix this.” He indicated the component in his hands.  “It’s rather beyond hope.”  He set the damaged piece to one side.  “But I believe I can make some substitutions.  Forego some of the DHD utilities; get the primary functions back online.”  He nodded.  “Yes, yes, I can repair it enough to reset it and then be able to dial Atlantis.”  He cocked his head.  “Yes…  let’s see…” and he was puttering around in the pieces again.


PART 4:  DEEP IN IT

The other three tried to find something to do as McKay worked, but the day was lazy and warm and there was nothing left to find in the immediate area.  The earth didn’t shake and no scary animals showed their faces. It was altogether a beautiful day.

Ford found a seat in sun.  Teyla rested against a swaying tree.  Sheppard paced.

The volcano appeared to have quieted.  There’d been no further shake-ups.  The day continued to be mild and lovely.  The fragrant breeze continued to entice them.  Curious birds flitted about in the trees, watching but keeping their distance.  Time passed.

With nothing else to do, Sheppard watched Rodney work.  The physicist would search through the crystals and other fine pieces, pick up one, examine it, mess about with it, perhaps try to fit it into the DHD, and then, either make a smug expression as it clicked into place, or grimace and remove the piece to set it back with the others.  Hours passed without little progress.

“Any idea on how long this will take?” Sheppard asked peevishly.

“If I knew that, I’d have it done by now,” Rodney returned.

“So, you’re saying that you don’t know what you’re doing?” Sheppard responded.

“I know how to assemble the components of a DHD.  That’s child’s play,” Rodney shot back hotly, as he tried to get another piece into place in the DHD.  “But I have several obstacles in my way, don’t I?  Broken parts, constant interruptions, no equipment to perform tests – it’s all ‘guess and by golly’, isn’t it?  There’s the threat of attack by some unknown yet violent killers.”  His movements were abrupt, echoing his sharp words.  “It’s hot, it’s humid, I’m getting hungry and… uh-oh.”

“Uh-oh?” Sheppard repeated, watching as Rodney retracted a crystal from the unit.  “You broke another piece?” Sheppard exclaimed.  Ford and Teyla were suddenly beside them again.

“Well… I…” McKay turned the fractured piece, frowning and stuttering as he proclaimed, “It… it  was probably already damaged, weakened by the fracture that ran through here.  It was just… bound to break.  A matter of time!”

“Oh, for the love of…” Sheppard didn’t know what to think. Another broken component?  His gaze moved from the cracked piece to McKay’s bleak expression.  “Fix it,” Sheppard grumbled.

The disturbed look disappeared from McKay’s face, replaced with that arrogant sneer they were all used to, “Yes, of course, I need you to keep saying that, don’t I?  Fix it… yeah, thanks.  I hadn’t thought of that.”

“McKay, do you have any idea how much shit we’re in?”  Sheppard asked.

“Deep in it,” McKay responded.  “And, as I stated earlier, it’s nearly impossible to work with so many people crowding over my shoulder.” McKay glared at the rest of the team that was again pressed in close.  “Step back.  Give me some breathing room.  Just, you know, don’t go too far – in case those animals are still around… somewhere.”

Sheppard realized that this was getting them nowhere.  McKay was still a long way from fixing the DHD, and their standing around was not helping anything.  He glanced about, wondering about those animals.  There’d been no sign of them – but if they were going to face some foe, it would be good to know a little more about them.  He turned and nodded to Teyla.  “You want to go back with me and continue searching the caverns?  See if we can find any more signs of what killed those people?”

Teyla nodded and straightened her stance.  “I believe it would be wise to do so,” she responded.  “It would be intelligent to know what we are up against.”

“Yeah, I was just thinking the same thing.  Ford,” the major instructed, “Stay put.  Keep an eye on things.  Keep out of the doctor’s way.”  McKay made a satisfied sound at Sheppard’s words.  John continued, “Stick together.  Oh, and make sure nothing eats him, okay?  We need him in one piece to fix what he did to the DHD.”

“I’m fixing it!” Rodney exclaimed.

“Yeah…. Just don’t break anything else, okay?”  And he turned, gestured to Teyla, and they headed back up the beach to the shelter in the caverns.


PART 5:  BEGGARS

Sheppard and Teyla left the beach, scouting out the verdant landscape for anything that might give the clues to what had killed the humans.  Teyla’s quick eyes found a splattering of feathers, and not far from that a pile of scat.  Sheppard would have called it ‘shit’, but Teyla’s term would be better for their upcoming reports.

Whatever had killed that bird – was big – and apparently sick.

“So,” Sheppard said, setting his jaw.  “Looks like it’s still around… whatever it is.”

“So it would seem,” Teyla responded.  “I believe that we’d best be wary.”

“Good thought,” the major replied.

And they continued on.  As they approached the caves again, they found a recess in the rocks that created a pool – the only water they’d found.  The water might have been ‘fresh’ but it was hardly sparkling clean.  A metal pot lay near the pool, and a dipper.  Apparently, this was the water source used by the previous tenants.

“I guess beggars can’t be choosers,” Sheppard said, gaining a curious look from the Athosian.  “It means that they probably had no choice,” Sheppard tried to explain.  “They had to drink that water or die of thirst.”

“It seems an unpleasant alternative, but I believe you are right.”  She nodded thoughtfully.  “It also means that whoever proceeded us spent some time here, and chose to be beggars instead of returning to their home.”

“Yeah,” Sheppard responded.  “I wonder why.”

The search of the caves turned up little.  The hunters had been rather primitive, by the looks of their tools.  Teyla, examining their ovens and fire pits, decided that they had spent several months in those bleak cliffs – and had disappeared only a few years ago.

They found empty metal pots and jars, fruit pits, feathers, fishing nets, hooks, plenty of shells, and the carved artwork showing that the people had time on their hands.  

Sheppard picked up one spiral shell and held it.  "Snails," he muttered.

Teyla gathered blankets and metal pots, glancing to Sheppard as she collected.  “If we are to be here for some time, it would be wise to collect supplies.”  She held out one blanket.  “We should be comfortable as we wait for Doctor McKay to complete his work.”

“Guess it wouldn’t hurt,” Sheppard commented, snagging a skillet-like pan that was upended near the fire-pit.

“I believe they may have been trapped on this planet,” Teyla finally pronounced, folding a blanket over her arm.  “There’s little sign of good food or water, yet they remained for several months.  It is possible that the DHD has been inoperable for some time.”

Sheppard sighed… so Rodney wasn’t the first one flummoxed by the dialer.  “We’re on an island.  They had no place to go,” he said quietly, then with a thoughtful expression, he tried, “They could have fished? That’s what I would do.  They have the stuff here they need.”

Teyla picked up a fishing-spear and shook her head.  “It seems little used,” she commented, and then gestured to the balled up, nets.  “The nets appear to have been in the water, but they show no sign of strain.  It’s possible that there are few fish for in the area.  They caught birds and ate the fruit, ate snails, but it doesn’t seem that they were very successful in their hunting.  I believe they were hungry.”

“Snails.”  Sheppard curled a lip at this thought.  Yes, he realized that the French were gah-gah over them, but the thought of eating those slimy mollusks turned his stomach.  “And their hunting animals,” Sheppard continued, “Were hungry, too.”

Teyla pursed her lips.  “An animal, if hungry enough, might turn on its master.”

Sheppard considered this, remembering a mutt he’d had when he was growing up – Charlie.  Part-Fox-Terrier/part-unknown-spaniel, Charlie would have done anything for him.   “Depends on the animal, I guess,” he responded, unable to imagine that silly, loyal, determined fuzz-brain turning so savage.

A low growl caught his attention, and he held out a hand, to gain Teyla’s attention, but her eyes were already seeking out the source.  “There,” she hissed, pointing to the greenery beyond the cave.

Sheppard’s gaze tracked where Teyla indicated, catching sight of something flitting through the trees.  One moment, it was there, and the next it was gone.  He received little more than an impression of it – a, triangular-shaped head, vicious yellow teeth, narrowed eyes.  It stood hunched and ready -- a powerful mix of dog and big cat.  Large as a Great Dane, it was covered short, fur that made it appear pink and almost-naked.  The creature snarled, and then made the most disserting giggle, before it turned and disappeared.

Okay, Sheppard thought, that was no Charlie.

“Major,” Teyla called quietly.

“We go back to the others now,” Sheppard said in a low voice, his eyes still scanning the lush spot where the creature had appeared.  “We go, now.”


PART 6:  WRESTLING WITH THE GUTS

The DHD was still in pieces when Teyla and John returned – but at least it was in fewer pieces.  Sheppard informed Ford about what they’d found, but McKay was too intent on his task to pay them any mind.   They settled in with an uneasy watch – scanning the area for any sign of the weird dog-like creatures.

From time to time, they’d hear a shuffle, a snuffle, the rustle of leaves as something pressed through the undergrowth. The birds had gone silent – and the team waited impatiently as the scientist continued his tedious work, repairing their means of escape.

Once, the ground shook – just a little tremor as the volcano burped – just enough to put them all on edge again, but otherwise the mountain had gone quiet.

“McKay,” Sheppard called at one point, watching as the physicist fit a piece into the structure and removed it again with a distressed expression.

“Almost done, Major,” Rodney responded smartly.  “We’ll be home for supper.”

“Yeah, I hope so,” Sheppard responded, turning toward the blankets that Teyla had recovered.  She’d hung them in the trees to air them, but it seemed unlikely that they’d need them – the day was hot enough and he was planning to be gone before night.  He checked his watch.  They were overdue.  By now, Weir would be pacing, trying to decide whether they should activate the gate from Atlantis, and attempt to make contact with the team on PX9-778.

Had Atlantis tried yet?  Sheppard could envision it – Weir giving the order to Grodin – and Grodin attempting to comply.  He could imagine Peter’s look of annoyance turn to worry as he continued to try to make a connection – and failing.  He imagined the alarm that would travel through the personnel in the GateRoom.

Looking at the still illuminated chevrons, Sheppard knew McKay would solve this.  Didn’t he always come up with the correct answer in the end? Pull their bacon out of the fire? 

When Rodney finally replaced the cover to the DHD and gave them a self-satisfied look, John knew that the half-dialed address would fade away, clearing them to walk back into Atlantis.

Rodney stated, “Okay, here we go!”

Still holding the P90 ready, he waited for Rodney to run the program that would finally defuse the problem, reset the DHD, make clear the path.  He waited, watching as McKay pressed one series of buttons, and then another, and then his brow knitted.

“McKay, you about done playing around?”  Sheppard asked, trying to keep his voice level.

“Just a minute,” Rodney muttered.  “This one should do it.”

But the gate didn’t change.  Three chevrons remained illuminated and no more.

“Okay,” McKay said, trying to keep his voice light. “This is fun.”

“What has happened?”  Teyla asked.  “You have been unable to reset the device?”

Snorting with irritation, McKay stepped back from the DHD and snarled.  “Yes, that’s rather obvious, isn’t it?”  Looking frustrated as hell, McKay popped the cover off again and tossed it to the ground.

“Don’t tell me you’re going to take it apart again,” Sheppard stated, watching in disbelief as McKay wrestled with the guts of the DHD.

“It’s not working,” McKay explained with forced patience.  “I must find out what I missed, and the only way to do that without my equipment is to disassemble it….again.”

Sheppard felt his confidence fall as McKay pulled out one piece… and then another.  “Great,” he murmured.  Running a hand through his hair, he asked, “How much longer.”

“If I knew that…” McKay started.

Cutting him off, Sheppard asked, “As long as last time?”

McKay met his eyes, looking troubled until he was able to school his expression to a familiar haughty glance.  “It’ll be done when it’s done,” he declared.

“Great,” Sheppard said again, then turned to Ford.  “If that’s the case, we need to get a fire going.  Sun’ll be down by the time you’re done.”

Ford sighed, looking out across the beautiful ocean, seeing the sun dipping closer to the horizon.  He nodded.  “Me and Teyla?” he asked.  When the major nodded, the lieutenant gestured to the Athosian and the two wandered off in search of something to burn.


PART 7:  UNNERVING
 
The evening was spent in testy, anxious quiet.  After a dinner of MRE’s, brought along in case of emergency, the team split up the night watch.  McKay received no shift as he was left to concentrate on fixing the DHD.  Sheppard took the first leg, followed by Ford, and then Teyla.

McKay worked, illuminated by his P90’s flashlight.  He continued to put in parts, take out parts, mumbling and groaning and cursing under his breath.   “Okay, that’s not good,” McKay commented as he retracted another piece.

Sheppard lowered his head as he sat near the fire.  “What’s not good?”

“The substitutions just aren’t functioning as I hoped,” McKay’s said with a sigh, his expression falling to one of utter desolation.  “We’re doomed,” he muttered.

“You’ll fix it,” Sheppard responded, changing his attention from the Canadian to the darkness around them.

“Yeah, right,” McKay responded.  Sitting down, with his back to the DHD, McKay placed the latest crystal in his lap and examined it.

Sheppard yawned, wondering how McKay kept track of all the little pieces that were strewn around him.  It looked like the contents of a toy box upended.  The astrophysicist would pick up one piece, hold it to the glow of the P90’s light, and then either work it into his latest component or set it back among the muddle to seek out another.

“You’ll get it,” Sheppard assured.

“Yeah, it’s either that or we’ll all die,” McKay responded.  “No pressure.”  He clucked his tongue discontentedly.  “Either eaten by wolves or slowly starving on a diet of snails.”

The options didn’t sound appealing to Sheppard either, as continued to share his attention between the McKay and the woods.  “I have faith,” John replied honestly.

The physicist snorted.

A rustling in the undergrowth around them brought silence to the two men.  Sheppard jumped to his feet, snapping on the light of his P90, followed by McKay who’d snatched up his weapon and dumped his work.  They hardly breathed, listening to something that scuttled in the dark around them.  Their lights swiveled, trying to find the thing that invaded their space.

Eyes shown at them like little lanterns.  “There,” Sheppard said, having only a second to see the weird, pinkish creature before it darted away.  The darkness around them seemed alive with movement.

“Yeah,” McKay responded.  “Yeah,” his voice trembled.  “Saw one, too.”

An unearthly sound rose up, a hysterical snickering, like the calls of hyenas mixed with a higher whine like the drone of insects.  McKay back-stepped closer to Sheppard.  “Oh great,” he commented. “This is just great.”

Sheppard clenched his jaw at the unnatural sound.  “Keep calm, McKay,” he uttered, feeling his own heart race.  This just wasn’t right.

The animals snickered and gibbered, droning away, sounding as if they were laughing their asses off at the predicament of the humans. 

“I don’t think I like this,” McKay muttered.

“Join the club,” Sheppard returned, spotting one of the creatures for a fleeting moment as it bounded near the camp.  It moved too quickly to allow him to aim – and it rustled its way into the undergrowth, uttering that hysterical cackle.

“They’re rather… unnerving,” McKay paused, taking time to swallow, “Don’t you think?”

Sheppard and McKay stood back-to-back, their lights searching, but whatever had spied on them had fallen back.  The men’s positions didn’t change as a minute passed, as the calling of the creatures died away and they were left with the darkness.

Convinced that they were again alone, Sheppard commented,  “Maybe we should move up into the caves.  It’d be easier to defend.”

“And you came to this conclusion because you found all those chewed up bones in there?” McKay pointed out.  “It’s a death trap!”

Sheppard had to agree, and they continued to sweep the night with their little lights.  When no further creature approached them, Sheppard sighed, snapped off the light on his weapon and returned to the fire.  He added more wood, which spat and smoked – too green to burn cleanly.

McKay still stood, searching the forest, tense and stiff.

“You should get some sleep,” Sheppard stated.

“Yeah, right.  After this?”  McKay stated.  “Sure… good idea.  Sleep.  Maniac hyena-dog things with creepy eyes, laughing at us as they stalk our camp.”

With a shrug, John sat.  “I think we scared them off.”

“You think?  How did we do that?  By standing here and shaking?”  McKay quickly turned to one side, trying to suss out something that might have made a sound in that darkness.  “I don’t know if I’ll be able to get that sound out of my head.”

“That was pretty disturbing,” John admitted, knowing that he’d be troubled by it for some time, too.  With a sigh, he watched Rodney’s nervous movements.  “McKay, sit down,” John ordered.  “They’ve moved back.  Relax.”

“Relax… good thought… yeah.  They’re about to rip my throat out and laugh about it.  Yeah.  Relax.”

With a groan, John regarded McKay’s inflexible posture, realizing that the doctor wasn’t going to do himself any favors if he stayed worked up over this.  “Sit down.  Work on the DHD.  That’s your job.  Me, I’ll watch the forest.”

McKay made no move to stop his search, snapping from one direction to the other, in search of whatever had peeked in on them.

“McKay!” Sheppard barked, trying to keep his voice low enough to let the others sleep.  “You want to keep from getting your throat ripped out?  Fix the damn thing!  It’s our only way home. I’ll take care of the watch.”

Finally, Rodney lowered his weapon, and turned to John.  Looking a little lost, he settled the P90 again, so that the light would illuminate the area, and he sat amongst the scattered parts and continued his work.


PART 8:  DEVIL DOGS

Sheppard awoke with the dawn.  He sighed, staring out at the peaceful rolling surf, wishing he felt the serenity the scene should have provided.  Rolling over, he spied Teyla feeding the fire.  She smiled at him and whispered, “Good morning, Major Sheppard.”

With a stretch, John sat up.  Ford had just thrown an arm over his eyes and was on his way to waking.  Rodney was curled up, near the DHD, under one of the recovered blankets.  The strewn bits had mostly disappeared, reconstructed into the larger sub-components, but enough crystals and parts remained to tell Sheppard that the work wasn’t finished yet.

Following his gaze, Teyla commented, “He fell asleep only an hour ago.”

Sheppard cocked his head, declaring, “Well, I thought I’d gotten him to go to bed before my shift ended.”

To that, Teyla laughed softly.  “Yes, but Lt. Ford tells me that Dr. McKay worked throughout most of his shift, and continued through most of mine.”  She smiled, affectionately, and stated, “He is determined to fix the device.  I believe he had no intention of falling asleep when he did, but in the end he was too exhausted to continue.  I made certain he did not become cold,” she stated, nodding to the blanket that had been thrown over the scientist.

”Thanks,” Sheppard said.  He slowly stood, stretching further.  “You see any of those dog-things.”

“Lt. Ford has called them ‘devil-dogs’.”

“Ford!” Sheppard exclaimed to the still waking soldier.  “What did I tell you about naming things?  Devil-dogs?”

Ford scrunched his brow as he sat up.  “I thought it fit…” he muttered.

Sheppard shook his head, trying to drive out the memory of sweet and tasty Drake’s “Devil Dogs” cakes with their cream filling. His stomach growled.   Sadly, he remembered that the previous night they’d eaten their only food, assured by McKay’s promise of a quick return.

Teyla continued talking,  “More than once, they approached our camp.  The sound they make is most unsettling.  They have circled the area and have tested our perimeter.  Lt. Ford reported similarly,” she added, nodding to the young man.

“Yeah,” Aiden put in with a yawn.  He smacked his lips and stretched his shoulders.  “What do you think about that noise they make?”

“It’s not nice,” Sheppard decided.

“They are bold,” Teyla commented.  “And getting bolder.”

The major looked toward McKay again, seeing that the P90 rested under one of his hands.  “Think he’s got the DHD about fixed?” Sheppard asked.

“He was reluctant to state his current progress,” Teyla informed.  “He has been frustrated.”

“Yeah, that’s one word for it,” Ford stated as he loosely folded his blanket. “He didn’t say much during my shift, but sure wasn’t happy.”  Aiden made a face and asked, “How’s our water supply looking?”

“Our water is nearly gone,” Teyla responded, handing the remaining canteen to Aiden.  “I believe we should retrieve the water we found yesterday, Major Sheppard.  We shall need to boil it before it can be used.”

“We have water purification tablets in our emergency kits,” Ford stated, touching his pocket.  After a sip from the canteen, he asked Sheppard, “So, should you and I should go?”

“Wait ‘til McKay wakes up,” the major responded.

“I will be able to stand watch,” Teyla told him.  “I have done so on my own already.  We should allow him further rest.”

Sheppard took the canteen from Ford, shaking it to gauge what was left  -- almost nothing.  He took swig, and handed it to Teyla.  “All right, Ford, you ready to take a little walk?”


PART 9: SKIMMING

“We’re going to drink this?”  Ford asked, regarding the water. 

“It’s all we’ve found so far,” Sheppard responded.  “We could scout around for more, but there probably isn’t any natural source here.  Just have to find someplace like this that catches rainwater.  I doubt it’d be any different if we found another pool.”

“Maybe we should boil it,” Ford stated, shifting the pot they’d taken from the cavern.  “Might be able to clean it up if we let it settle.”

“Yeah, probably not a bad idea,” John said, and nodded to Ford to go ahead.

The young man crouched down, and dipped in the pot, trying to take the surface water and let the thicker stuff at the bottom remain. 

“Think he’ll fix it?”  The lieutenant asked.

With a confident smile, Sheppard responded, “McKay?  I have no doubt.  We may have to wait a bit as he fiddles around with the toys, but he’ll get it.”

Ford nodded, watching as the skimmed water filled the pot, making it sink into the pond.  “I hope it’s sooner instead of later,” he muttered.  “Nothing good will come from staying here.”

“I thought you liked it here,” Sheppard remarked.  “You said it reminded you of Maui.”

“That was before the earthquake… the volcano… the devil dogs…” He drew back, hefting the filled pot out of the water and set it beside himself.  “Not my idea of a vacation in paradise.”

 “Gotta agree with you, Lieutenant.”

 “What if we can’t leave… what if McKay can’t fix it for some reason.”

 “He’ll fix it,” Sheppard stated again.

“Yeah… but what if something happens and…” Ford froze.

A buzzing cackle, filled the air.   Ford pivoted his head sharply.  It took a second to find them, the growth hid the creatures so easily, but once they moved free of the foliage – their odd coats were unmistakable.  A small pack of the things moved.  No longer afraid, they came at him – heads low, mouths open in toothy grimaces, gibbering like hyenas.  Unbelievably thin, muscular, toothy, hunched, PINK, they looked like the hounds of hell.

“Major!” Ford called, dropping the pot and reaching for his weapon.  The speed of the things increased as they bounded -- attacking.  Ford, not wasting another second, fired at the lead creature, just as John did the same.

The first dog-like thing didn’t know what hit it.  It didn’t make a sound as two bullets struck it with enough force to throw the creature backward at its companions.  They yelped as the leader was flung into them, leaping and diving to get out of the way.  Sheppard fired again, striking another, sending it tumbling head over rat-like tail.  Ford fired upon another and another.  They were too quick, leaping and dodging.  Ford aimed at one, but struck a tree as the thing tried to get away.  They ducked, jumping, slinking, and thrashing their way into the lush growth around him.  And throughout the chaos, the creatures screamed and yelped and uttered their horrible hysterical laughter.

Sheppard and Ford kept firing, striking the dense foliage and the creatures they sought.  Damn it!  Damn it, Ford cursed, knowing he and Sheppard would have taken them all out if it wasn’t for the cover.

And the creatures kept coming.


PART 10: ROOT

Teyla leapt to her feet at the sound of gunfire.  McKay shot upright, blinking his eyes blearily at the morning light, clutching his P90 with one hand, and the blanket with the other.  The two exchanged an apprehensive glance as the shots continued, and Teyla took to her feet, diving into the jungle.

McKay followed a moment later, clasping his weapon as he took off after the Athosian.  He stumbled, following Teyla’s back, trusting her to be able to follow the sound.  After his meager sleep, his brain wasn’t functioning.  He never was the type who could awaken quickly.  No, he preferred a nice slow awakening – hit the ‘snooze’ button a few times, followed by coffee and more coffee.

Clumsily, he tried to keep up, but Teyla was too fleet and he was too awkward.  She gained constantly as another shot was fired in the distance, and another.  Rodney panted, clutching the weapon to his chest, loosing sight of Teyla as the branches and leaves snapped her up.

Major Sheppard and Lt. Ford were in danger – those creatures – those awful yellow-toothed, freakishly laughing, pink dogs – had attacked them.  And here he was, stumbling like a toddler, about as helpful as gnat.  What if something happens to them?  What if something happens to Teyla?  She’s alone!

God, what if those things get to them? 

Rodney had catch up to Teyla, to find Ford and Sheppard, to offer whatever help he could.  He might not manage to hit any, but maybe he could help scare them off.

He hurried onward, following the trail Teyla had blazed.  He’d catch up to her.  He’d help them.  He wasn’t going to be useless – as useless as he had been up until now!  He’d do it.

His focus ahead of him, Rodney didn’t see the exposed root that seemed to leap up and grab hold of his foot.  One moment he was running all-out, getting slapped and scratched by every branch in the forest – the next moment he was flying. 

He belly-flopped into the earth with an “oof”, his hands driving through the earth as his P90 skittered from his grasp.

Everything stopped – and for a moment, it was downright peaceful.

The wind knocked out of him, Rodney gasped, staring at a spot before him – too shocked to consider what had happened immediately. What the hell?  What the hell?   He panted, trying to draw a clean breath, but his lungs didn’t want to comply.  He grasped at the dropped leaves that carpeted the ground – duff  -- he reminded himself of the proper terminology.

Come on, McKay… come on, you imbecile.  Get up!  Ignoramus!  You have to… get up.

He cursed himself, struggled to get to his hands and knees, to reach his P90, to follow Teyla and help the others.

It was then that he heard the strange laughing growl, and he had no time to turn.

CONTINUE TO THE SECOND HALF

Hope you enjoyed the story. comments and suggestions
 


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