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icarus(With apologies to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
tafkarfanfic and anyone else who's been flooded with long posts, I'm now putting this behind a cut-tag.)
The Walls of Jericho - 20 (from part 1 here)
The sun, such as it was, had dipped down to the tops of the mountains, occasionally hidden behind black peaks outlined in sharp light. They marched their way down their long, winding back trail. They had made relatively decent time now that they were no longer going in circles. Hours of fruitless walking -- in the cold -- recalcitrant natives, oh yeah, it was Jack's idea of fun. But he was prepared to forgive them anything for a hot meal and good, long soak.
He mentally erased the image of Daniel sprawled out in the tub, head tipped back sensuously in the steam. 'Accidentally' walked in on of course. Though he'd probably just sit there, hold a conversation, giving Jack a good look at the merchandise. Okay. This fantasy's gotta stop. He squinted and forced himself not to look over at Daniel.
Jack had taken point when they crested the hill about two hundred yards from the door to the Emerald city. He winced when he saw a small figure parked outside. As he watched, the door opened a bit and the little alien scooted inside. "Oh crap." A lookout.
Sure enough, as they plodded downhill, a welcome party filed onto the doorstep and waited for them. Which meant their return wasn't routine, which at this point could mean nothing good.
Their leader -- a different alien from before -- was all smiles. Jack gritted his teeth into a smile in return. They bowed, but no alien offered himself to beheaded this time. Too bad. Jack might have taken them up on it.
After some meaningless small talk, which didn't seem to be moving in the direction of indoors Jack noted, the alien got to the point. "You are back so early," he said obsequiously. "We regret family has come from afar and we of course needed to give them your rooms." Jack heard Daniel's quick in-drawn breath next to him. "But you may have the honor of staying in the houses of our ancestors."
He gestured to the open mouth of a cave.
"Oh for crying out loud…."
Daniel cut him off. "You are most generous. However, perhaps we might stay in the protection of your great city. The evening is, " he waved at the sky, "well, it's a little cold."
The alien bobbed his head. Then he held up his hands -- Jack vaguely discerned he was holding a couple little rocks between his ring and forefingers -- and orange-gold lava bubbled up near the mouth of the cave. Jack stepped back. It flowed slowly in a line around the perimeter of the interior, like water in a dike, then followed a carved line like a moat outside the cave, crossing in front of the big alien door, tracing the bottom step in bright gold.
"Whoa," Jack said, blinking and taken aback. Let there be light. He wondered how the aliens might've adapted this to some sort of concealed weapon and eyed them with suspicion.
"It shall keep you warm," the alien bowed to them as he backed away. "We wish you a pleasant rest."
The alien ensemble crossed respectfully around the lava, and filed inside. The door slowly shut with a loud echoing thud.
Jack studied their 'accommodations' and gazed up at the tall door. "Anyone else notice that that lava is between us and their precious city?"
No one answered. Carter coughed a little as she scanned their immediate surroundings for threats.
"Feels like a trap to me," Jack observed, eyes searching the valley around them. The aliens could station themselves anywhere along the ridgeline. No way up, and only a narrow opening at the far end of the valley. They were sitting ducks.
"Agreed." Teal'c was on full Jaffa alert. Which was comforting.
"Okay." Jack backed away from the city, keeping his gun at ready and an eye on that door, as well as any other likely openings around them. The little valley in front of the city could not be more perfect for an ambush. "This mission's a bust. We'll find our own campsite, away from this… lava."
He gestured for Carter to take point, Daniel and Teal'c took the flanks while Jack brought up the rear. They moved slowly, careful not to excite anything while they were in such a vulnerable position. Jack shut off the voice that was mentally cursing himself and focused on the task at hand.
They traversed the long valley, with nothing but the wind stirring, no sign of life beyond a few mossy boulders.
Then the lava flared to life.
"Um, Jack," Daniel said, casting a glance over his shoulder.
"I see it." They broke into a run as an orange glowing line streaked along either side of their path. It passed them easily and left an even six feet to either side, but Jack flashed back on that archway from early in their trek, and put on more speed.
At the narrow entrance to the valley, it arched over their path. Carter dove under it, quickly followed by Teal'c and Daniel. Jack felt the warmth as he passed underneath, but nothing reached for him or burned. He rolled into some icy moss, then got up and ran.
A hundred yards later the lava was simply a glowing line in the distance. It didn't follow beyond the valley and Jack breathed a sigh of relief, heart still pounding. His breath misted about him.
Tired, he forced everyone to hike another couple hours till all traces of the alien settlement were completely gone. Then they bushwhacked a little off trail and made camp. Carter protested that they were safer on the trail than off, but there was no way he was trusting the path to the stargate now, not while they were asleep.
Primitive civilization, my ass.
As they lit their tiny (and thank god tame) campfire, Jack squatted down beside it and mentally composed his excuses to General Hammond.
Part 21 is here.
tafkarfanfic and anyone else who's been flooded with long posts, I'm now putting this behind a cut-tag.)The Walls of Jericho - 20 (from part 1 here)
The sun, such as it was, had dipped down to the tops of the mountains, occasionally hidden behind black peaks outlined in sharp light. They marched their way down their long, winding back trail. They had made relatively decent time now that they were no longer going in circles. Hours of fruitless walking -- in the cold -- recalcitrant natives, oh yeah, it was Jack's idea of fun. But he was prepared to forgive them anything for a hot meal and good, long soak.
He mentally erased the image of Daniel sprawled out in the tub, head tipped back sensuously in the steam. 'Accidentally' walked in on of course. Though he'd probably just sit there, hold a conversation, giving Jack a good look at the merchandise. Okay. This fantasy's gotta stop. He squinted and forced himself not to look over at Daniel.
Jack had taken point when they crested the hill about two hundred yards from the door to the Emerald city. He winced when he saw a small figure parked outside. As he watched, the door opened a bit and the little alien scooted inside. "Oh crap." A lookout.
Sure enough, as they plodded downhill, a welcome party filed onto the doorstep and waited for them. Which meant their return wasn't routine, which at this point could mean nothing good.
Their leader -- a different alien from before -- was all smiles. Jack gritted his teeth into a smile in return. They bowed, but no alien offered himself to beheaded this time. Too bad. Jack might have taken them up on it.
After some meaningless small talk, which didn't seem to be moving in the direction of indoors Jack noted, the alien got to the point. "You are back so early," he said obsequiously. "We regret family has come from afar and we of course needed to give them your rooms." Jack heard Daniel's quick in-drawn breath next to him. "But you may have the honor of staying in the houses of our ancestors."
He gestured to the open mouth of a cave.
"Oh for crying out loud…."
Daniel cut him off. "You are most generous. However, perhaps we might stay in the protection of your great city. The evening is, " he waved at the sky, "well, it's a little cold."
The alien bobbed his head. Then he held up his hands -- Jack vaguely discerned he was holding a couple little rocks between his ring and forefingers -- and orange-gold lava bubbled up near the mouth of the cave. Jack stepped back. It flowed slowly in a line around the perimeter of the interior, like water in a dike, then followed a carved line like a moat outside the cave, crossing in front of the big alien door, tracing the bottom step in bright gold.
"Whoa," Jack said, blinking and taken aback. Let there be light. He wondered how the aliens might've adapted this to some sort of concealed weapon and eyed them with suspicion.
"It shall keep you warm," the alien bowed to them as he backed away. "We wish you a pleasant rest."
The alien ensemble crossed respectfully around the lava, and filed inside. The door slowly shut with a loud echoing thud.
Jack studied their 'accommodations' and gazed up at the tall door. "Anyone else notice that that lava is between us and their precious city?"
No one answered. Carter coughed a little as she scanned their immediate surroundings for threats.
"Feels like a trap to me," Jack observed, eyes searching the valley around them. The aliens could station themselves anywhere along the ridgeline. No way up, and only a narrow opening at the far end of the valley. They were sitting ducks.
"Agreed." Teal'c was on full Jaffa alert. Which was comforting.
"Okay." Jack backed away from the city, keeping his gun at ready and an eye on that door, as well as any other likely openings around them. The little valley in front of the city could not be more perfect for an ambush. "This mission's a bust. We'll find our own campsite, away from this… lava."
He gestured for Carter to take point, Daniel and Teal'c took the flanks while Jack brought up the rear. They moved slowly, careful not to excite anything while they were in such a vulnerable position. Jack shut off the voice that was mentally cursing himself and focused on the task at hand.
They traversed the long valley, with nothing but the wind stirring, no sign of life beyond a few mossy boulders.
Then the lava flared to life.
"Um, Jack," Daniel said, casting a glance over his shoulder.
"I see it." They broke into a run as an orange glowing line streaked along either side of their path. It passed them easily and left an even six feet to either side, but Jack flashed back on that archway from early in their trek, and put on more speed.
At the narrow entrance to the valley, it arched over their path. Carter dove under it, quickly followed by Teal'c and Daniel. Jack felt the warmth as he passed underneath, but nothing reached for him or burned. He rolled into some icy moss, then got up and ran.
A hundred yards later the lava was simply a glowing line in the distance. It didn't follow beyond the valley and Jack breathed a sigh of relief, heart still pounding. His breath misted about him.
Tired, he forced everyone to hike another couple hours till all traces of the alien settlement were completely gone. Then they bushwhacked a little off trail and made camp. Carter protested that they were safer on the trail than off, but there was no way he was trusting the path to the stargate now, not while they were asleep.
Primitive civilization, my ass.
As they lit their tiny (and thank god tame) campfire, Jack squatted down beside it and mentally composed his excuses to General Hammond.
Part 21 is here.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-01-04 10:15 pm (UTC)Heh. This is getting really tricky. Damn, what are these aliens doing? It's been quite a show, so far.
I'll be waiting for the next part now...
:)=
no subject
Date: 2005-01-05 04:59 am (UTC)Here, there's no common ground at all.
Icarus
no subject
Date: 2005-01-18 03:54 am (UTC)Icarus *ooo, they're gonna like this, I know it.*