Chapter 9: First Mission

"Nice landing," Ford said.

"Thank you," Sheppard answered, sounding a little hurt.

"So I we flew too close to the energy field?" asked Akire.

The mission had been going fine until McKay had detected an energy field. They had decided to go closer to check it out, when they started experiencing turbulence. The jumper's systems had completely shut off, and Sheppard had been forced to crash land it. Luckily, no one had gotten hurt, but Sheppard, McKay, Ford, Teyla, and Akire were sitting inside, trying to figure out what had gone wrong.

"Yes, Sheppard took us too close to the energy readings," McKay said scathingly.

"And whose idea was that?" Sheppard retorted, turning in his seat to look at McKay.

"I make mistakes, I make mistakes. Contrary to popular belief, I'm not perfect."

"Just fix the ship."

McKay gave a snort and peered at the console next to his seat. "None of my diagnostic equipment is working."

Akire leaned towards Ford. "Is it like this every mission?"

He grinned. "Not usually."

Meanwhile, Teyla had walked forward to look up at the sky from the puddle-jumper's windshield. "The sun is still high in the sky," she announced. "We should be able to make it back to the Stargate before dark."

"So we should start now," Akire suggested. "We can always have McKay come back and fix the jumper."

"Oh, yeah," McKay said, still fiddling with his equipment. "The only problem is that nothing is working."

"I like Akire's idea better," said Sheppard. McKay opened his mouth to reply, but Sheppard cut him off. "Alright everyone. Let's gear up."

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"Sir, I think my compass has gone crazy." Ford was studying the compass in his hand. The needle was spinning in different directions each second. [[OMG IT'S JACK SPARROW'S COMPASS!!!!!]]

McKay laughed. "You brought a magnetic compass to another planet in another galaxy?! You have no idea if the planet's magnetic field is the same as Earth's!"

"I think it's cool," Akire said defensively. McKay waved his hand absently, then snapped his fingers together quickly. "Let me see that," he said. He took the compass from Ford. "It looks like the disturbance is electromagnetic. That would explain why all our equipment is out. It must be an electromagnetic field!"

"Like the Bermuda Triangle," Sheppard offered.

"Exactly," McKay said excitedly. "Now, I think we should go that way." He pointed towards the sun.

"I believe the gate is this way," Teyla said, tilting her head in the other direction.

"Yeah, but I might be onto something here," McKay said, heading off into the forest.

"I bet you're glad Ford brought it along, aren't you?" Akire suppressed a smile.

"Whatever," McKay called back over his shoulder.

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Akire looked up at the ruins around her. The team was standing in a clearing, complete with large pillars carved with intricate runes, most of which had faded. McKay was intently studying the compass, tapping the glass from time to time.

"These ruins are very old." Teyla ran her hands over a pillar. "Several hundred years at least."

"So the population is extinct?" Sheppard asked.

"Most likely," McKay answered. "Check it out." He handed the compass to Sheppard. Sheppard looked at it for a few minutes. "Ok, I give up."

"You see how the needle is flicking between north and south?" McKay didn't stop for an answer. "If the disturbance is man made, as opposed to naturally occurring, it's probably emanating from within these ruins. Somewhere....over....there." He looked to his left.

"So if we find it, we can shut it off?" Akire said.

"It's worth a shot. If we shut down the field, we won't have to walk back to the gate--"

"And we can save a perfectly good puddle-jumper," Sheppard interjected.

"That too," McKay agreed. "Now, if we go this way--"

Suddenly, a boy, no older than thirteen, jumped out from behind the ruins and pointed a bow and arrow at the team, Other children, the oldest at about sixteen and the youngest at ten, emerged from the shadows with their weapons fixed on the five adults. They appeared to be wearing some sort of war paint. Ford and Sheppard instantly pointed their guns at the newcomers.

"What's going on?" Akire asked. Sheppard lowered his weapon, but Ford was less eager. "Come on Ford, they're just kids," said Sheppard.

"Kids that have bows and arrows pointed at us," Ford said resiliently.

"Lower your weapon, Lieutenant." Shepard ordered. Ford reluctantly put down his gun.

"Hey....kids," Sheppard began. They stared at him in silence. Teyla cut in. "We are not here to harm you in any way. We just wanted to return home through the Stargate."

"Yeah. What Teyla said." McKay muttered.

"You're a full grown," bone of the boys said, staring at Sheppard.

"Excuse me?" Sheppard replied.

"You need to see the Elders," the boy said, turning his gaze to Akire.

"Elders.....riiiight..." McKay said. Sheppard threw him a glance. "Lead the way," he said to the boy.

They backed off into the forest, still keeping the team at arrowpoint.

This is not how I imagined my first mission going, Akire thought. Ford seemed to hear her thoughts, because he squeezed her hand reassuringly.

[[to be continued....]]