Day 9 Onward and away

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

After a breakfast of pop-tarts (all the toaster would make) and coffee, the assembled guests stuffed what goods they could into packs and such. Rose produced an extra backpack that was filled with rice and pasta.

The two bags of flour were left behind because of weight. But nutrition bars were packed. As were the Oscial mender and the spare dermal regenerator.

Once outside the TARDIS, they all traverled together to the beach, where the Tranmitter team helped Faith and Mara pack. They carried a map to Camp Crash and a note writen in Ancient.

'Daniel,

This is Faith and Mara. Faith is an old aquiantance of Tara's. They will tell you their story. They have not lied in my presence, and seem genuine enough. Hope to see you in two days with good news. By the way, introduce Faith to Ripley. They seem to have a bit in common.

Doctor'

P.S. Rose said if Sawyer goes anywhere near her kit, please break his fingers.'

Faith and Mara couldn't read it, but were told the gist of it.

They parted good naturedly, and each set off in the oposite direction. One set towards realitive safety, the other towards the unknown.

Comments

[Doctor] Day 9: Onward and away

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

"It might comfort you to know that acording to that map, we've only got about half a day's journey before we get to the site. The bad news is, half of that's gonna be through the forest."

Sayid had taken point again. He'd been mostly silent about the TARDIS, although he had apparently looked over every nut and bolt he could find. But he was looking at The Doctor with more respect now. No longer suspecting him of madness aparently. Unless he was suspecting himself of madness as well.

Rose and the Doctor both had backpacks now. One with clothing, water and toiletries, the other full of bags of rice and pasta, bless Jack's supersize buying heart, wherever he may be now. She moved to walk beside the Doctor, as the pace was more familiar. He had reched for her hand without thought as they fell into their old rythem.

Rose had talked to Tara the night before. After dinner, before getting a good night's sleep on her own comfy bed. Tara had been busy, spending time with Faith and Mara as well. She looked like she had gotten a good night's sleep, anyways. Rose looked over her shoulder to check on Tara, who was fast becoming a friend almost as good as Ami. The nice, can tell them anything, type. Ages ago she had worried about never being able to tell anyone all the's experienced and seen. Now there were two she could tell, and who seemed to have just as interesting stories of their own.

The group held to the shade as much as possible , but the angle of the sun wasn't always cooperating. She felt her skin starting to bake, specially her upper arms. She was starting to regret the sleeveless shirt already. Luckily, everywhere else she had a descent base tan worked up to avoid that stinging burny feeling.

((OOC: Tara and Rose can have that conversation on the Nightowl post if you want.;) ))

[McKay] Day 9: Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[lost-mckay.livejournal.com]

"Have you ever heard the phrase that begins with 'Only mad dogs and Englishmen' in regards to actually being out while the sun is the hottest? I didn't bring my sunscreen, and-and-and..." Just because Dr. McKay actually felt better doesn't mean he won't put up some bit of complaint in the travel. "...I've got very delicate skin. I burn easily."

Half through the forest, however, didn't help clear much up in the way of comfortable travel, however, and shifting the weight carried, his hand reached up to rub at a spot before he groaned, his tones lowered. "Chafing. I'm chafing. This is going to be really painful before long." McKay probably didn't notice earlier thanks to the broken ribs, but now? "Oh, and look at that. I'm burning already. Very nice."

Still, he remained in the center of the group, walking none to quietly, his footfalls comparatively loud. He'd never been a stealth walker and now certainly was no different. "At least it's only a half day. That's, what? We're not talking 12 hours, right? Right?"

Re: [McKay] Day 9: Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

“It’s more like three hours beach, three hours jungle, before we get to the site. Looks like we’ll smell the way first. It’s a geothermal active area, geysers, hot springs, steam vents. But then you were the one to say she had likely tapped geothermal energy sources before it was confirmed.” The Doctor looked down, they had reached a point where the sandy beach gave way to volcanic rocks, tide pools, and a seagrass.

“Looks like we’re getting closer.” He grinned. Rose grinned back.

“Geothermal means volcanoes, right? And springs and geysers mean it’s active. So we aren’t gonna go all ‘Joe and the Volcano’ while we’re here, are we?” She accepted his help picking their way across the less even terrain.

“Possible, but improbable. It’s more like your Yellowstone. All energy under the surface, but it’s finding escape routes other than eruption. I wouldn’t doubt that whoever orchestrated this party is also tapping into the free battery power. Won’t be enough to generate the temporal bubble but it would help.”

The Doctor looked back at Rodney. “Best make sure that sunburn doesn’t get bad enough to crack. You know how rampant infection is in the tropics. Insects might be attracted as well. Lay eggs.”

Rose pressed her lips together and bit down. He could be so bad sometimes.

[Jon] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Sniggering at Rodney's gaping expression, Jon nudged Ash and winked before calling out to the scientist.

"Hey McKay, find yourself some eucalyptus leaves - it's a natural insect repellent. The branches are kinda handy for swatting flies too." He caught some funny looks and shrugged. "What? I spent the last 6 months in the outback. It's hard to get extra DEET when the nearest store is a day's drive away. Coupla leaves in your hat, front pocket, wherever - it was better than nothing and didn't sting half as much."

Jon decided to just leave it and dropped back down the line, behind Sayid so he could study the guy a little more carefully. Not that the Iraqi had said or done anything to suggest he was a danger to the group, more the fact that his presence set Jon on edge - especially when his back was to him. Having his six watched by someone who had to have done national service in a country he had less than fond memories of was not something that gave Jon warm fuzzy feelings. Not in the slightest. The fact that he'd occasionally described himself as a "communications expert" didn't help either. That job description had so many possible translations, whether in English or Arabic.

"You do not trust me, do you?"

He looked up from the path to see Sayid watching him carefully and plastered on a casual smirk. "What makes you say that, man?"

"Many things," the object of his observation replied, his expression sincere. "You like to keep us all in sight, but myself most of all. You reserve your humor for others, never me. Also, you carry that gun hidden, yet check it most frequently when we have made eye contact." Sayid pursed his lips in a frown, though his body language was open. "These actions do not speak of trust in one's teammates."

"You're not my team."

The words were out of his mouth before he realized it, causing Jon to clamp his jaw shut while he figured out how to reply. He was also pretty pissed that he'd been obvious enough for Sayid to notice, but a few days close proximity - particularly yesterday's hike - were probably enough for everyone to get a feel for each other's personalities. Sayid, a Middle Eastern survivor in the midst of Westerners, had already been on the sharp end of Sawyer's tongue, so it was safe to assume he had a healthy dose of paranoia by now.

Settling for something close to the truth, Jon maintained his position and refused to walk alongside the Iraqi, though that was clearly what the other man hoped to encourage.

"My uncle spent 4 months as a POW in Iraq." The words came out clipped, bare of any emotion. "That good enough for you?"

Sayid's head dipped in what? Shame? It was hard to tell without seeing the man's eyes, but that body language had gotten awfully stiff for someone with nothing to hide. This guy knew what he was implying, not just in abstract but in fact, and that made Jon's blood boil because he couldn't do a fucking thing about it.

"Ana Asif." Sorry.

Jon shook his head, sneering. It was the only way he could keep himself from hurling back all that gutter Arabic rolling round his head. "Oh yeah, because that makes so much difference. Real balm for my soul. Just keep your eyes front and walk, ok? Don't tempt me."

[McKay] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[lost-mckay.livejournal.com]

Of course he was right. It was something he'd automatically think to do, though it was strange that she'd thought of it too, and that'd been in his head for some time. McKay, however, was working it out, reasoning it out, but it was a touch on the difficult side when he had to trudge under the weight and, yes, the chafing.

Unfortunately, the moment the Doctor mentioned the bugs, the astrophysicist began to look around nervously, even slapped himself once the moment the creepy-crawly feeling began. A groan came from the man followed by another slap, though this time it was accented with an "Ow!"

McKay knew he was being goaded. He knew it. He just couldn't do anything about it. It was like his relationship with the now Lt. Colonel Sheppard. He'd put up with the jabs in the knowledge that somewhere under there, there was the chance that he might have a friend. In the Doctor's case, even if the guy was an alien.

"Eucalyptus... right. Haven't seen any yet. With my luck, an angry panda will be guarding it." Still, didn't mean that Rodney didn't begin keeping an eye out. Who knows? Stranger things around here have happened.

[Doctor] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

The Doctor laughed more with Rodney then at him now. Ferocious panda indeed. "Wonder if Panda taste as tender as polar bear. Oi!" He rubbed his arm where Rose punched him.

"There will be no eating endangered animals, thank you."

"I'd say a tropical polar bear was pretty bloody endangered. And you didn't say no to a steak." He pointed out. "Besides, on this island I think we're the endangered species."

It was time to turn in to the forst, the the Doctor paused and ripped up some thick frondy grass from a clump. He broke off the end and passed it to Rodney. "Lemongrass. Not real lemon... or citrus. The juice is called Citron."

Rose took the peice he handed her. "Like Citronella?"

"Exactly. No deadly pandas required. It's a fairly common tropical plant."

"And you only just thought of this now? Not like we coulda used it for a while." Didn't stop her from rubbing the juice on her arms.

"Don't bother me. Prefer human." He shrugged.

He had been watching Jon and his quiet antagonism towards Sayid. It seemed they were having a rather tense chat. The kid needed to get over whatever little cultural differences he had. This time period was heavy with friction between east and west. It wasn't racism, and they better remember they were the same stupid little seperatist race. So far Sayid had been nothing but helpful. He didn't deserve the foolishness Sawyer had thrown about. He certainly didn't need a kid giving him trouble, no matter how responsible and efficient the kid was.

"Jon." The Doctor motioned for the boy to keep pace with him for a moment. "I don't know or care what problems or dislike you're harboring against easterners. But this group is a team and you don't have to like everyone. Just don't go out of your way to push buttons, alright? We all need each other if we're gonna survive until rescue, and our little expidition makes us vulnerable. We don't know what's artound the corner. Sayid's been pulling his weight, as much as you have, and more than some at camp. He might have reason to dislike westerners, but he's not pokin at anyone. Back at camp your dislike, antagonism, whatever, is Daniel's problem. But I'm responsible for bringing all of us back in one peice here. Will you, or will you not cover his back if we get into trouble? Because I'm fairly certain he'll cover yours, and the rest of us. There's no room for it here and now, so keep it to yourself until I'm not the one worryin' bout everyone's skins." He kept his voice and reprimand low, so as not to shame the kid, but his tone was that of a commander.

Little did they know he had fought in a war. More than one. He hated it. He had commanded, he had won and lost. He disliked weapons even more now, but would use them. He could and did wear the mantle of command.

Even as he spoke, he cocked his head. For a second he had thought he heard whispers.

[Jon] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

Scowling, Jon nodded sharply nonetheless with his shoulders squared. This conversation wasn't so different to those between Jack and General Hammond, back when the Russians had first set foot in the SGC, but for all his posturing he rarely let a knee-jerk reaction like that get beyond the jumping up and down stage.. not unless provoked, in any case.

"He asked the question, all I gave him was the answer. We understand each other better now, that's all, and I while don't trust Sayid as much as you might like I do know the value of working together. Won't be the first time, nor the last."

Jon searched the man's face for a sign of whether he knew quite how personal this was, but all he saw was the long face go from inscrutable to searching. Not focusing on their little chat any more, he realized, but something outside the group.

"What is it?" he asked, still walking the path. Reaching for his weapon, Jon stopped short of actually drawing it and took a quick scan round to check everyone's positions instead. "Others?"

[Doctor] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, there out there, but keeping their distance. We have to keep calm, but cautious." The Doctor moved ahead and murmered Sayid's name. "We're not alone."

"I do not hear anything." He almost paused to listen.

"Keep moving at the same pace. They're staying back. I think they might be trying to go for panic. The group that raided us weren't well armed. If they can cause panic and make us run, they can seperate us and hit one at a time, if they want to attack at all. So we keep our pace, and while we remain alert and ready, keeping calm gives us psychological points."

Sayid nodded. He seemed to understand keeping a psychological advantage. It was like a game, a deadly one. Their whipering gave them a point, making themselves known and setting the adversary on edge. Not panicing, keeping up the same pace as if uneffected was a point for them. Even score.

He moved back to Rose and just tilted his head, indicating with that head jerk, that they were not totally alone. She tensed but didn't panic. Good girl.

He dropped back a bit more and looked at Rodney. "Do not stop moving, or look around. We're being followed. I'll let everyone know if they get closer. Stay alert and do try not to appear affected. Stay close to Rose."

Rose wasn't necessarily a fighter, per say, but she wasn't easily panicked. And having the ones he needed to protect most together made it easier on him. Rodney was a passible shot, and his rib injury showed he'd stand his ground if he had to, so he and Rose could also wath each other's backs.

Last he informed Tara and Ash. "Tara, I want you up with Rodney and Rose. You the three of you together makes it easier for us to protect, and if you need to use any mojo you'll be in the safest position. Other than that, we're not speeding up. Ash, you and I take the rear guard."

[Ash] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[sinanju.livejournal.com]

Ash didn't say anything. He just nodded to confirm he understood and kept pace with the Doctor, slowly dropping back until the two of them were walking along at the rear of the party. He really wished he had his shotgun with him. Or even the chainsaw.

Ash listened intently but heard nothing to suggest that they were being followed. That didn't prove anything. The Doctor's hearing was considerably sharper than his, apparently. He didn't look around, though the back of his neck itched with the feeling of eyetracks.

He tried to shake it off. After all, he'd survived an army of demonic zombies in the stupid ages. More than survived--he'd kicked their asses back to Hell. Well, with a little help. This was just a bunch of primitive screwheads. How hard could it be?

[McKay] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[lost-mckay.livejournal.com]

"Lemongrass." Not as if he hadn't heard of it before, but in terms of what, McKay didn't really remember. Lots of bits of information tucked away in that head, but the random use for grass? Nope. He looked dubious as the handful of grass was passed back, taking it gingerly. Citrus for him equaled anaphylactic shock and death, so it was, obviously, something he took very, very seriously. Still, wasn't a fruit, even though it carried the name. Before he had the chance to wipe it on as well, another bug had to be swatted, and with a wince (his skin was beginning to pink), got it on after.

He continued trudging, shifting his load, looking back each time he heard a rise in the low conversation between the mini-O'Neill and Sayid. He could easily understand Jon's point of view, that whole 'soldier' thing, and truthfully, he relied (read: trusted) the kid more than Sayid, even if Canada didn't have a great deal to do with the entire dust-up.

The whispering around them, of course, was completely missed by the scientist, intent was he to continue to put one foot in front of the other and shift his load every few steps. What he wouldn't give for his tac-vest right about now. Stick the laptop on the back, pockets for the... oh, hey, that's right. Food'd be a good idea.

As the Doctor began to fall back to where Rodney was walking, McKay pulled out a powerbar, the wrapper crinkling slightly before he took a full bite. "Hmmmm?" There was a moment where he was about to do exactly what he was told not to. It was human nature after all, and while he managed not to stop, he did take a furtive and somewhat nervous look around quickly, seeing what he could see, which was nothing.

Rodney nodded in the instruction, trying to keep his mouth shut. He wasn't very good at it, and hurrying his pace a little to come abreast with Rose, he looked over at her, attempting to look as calm as possible. Ha. Failure, but it was a good try. "I wish I had my pistol," he offered miserably. Then, at least if he had to hold out and protect 'the women', he'd have something. His plan then, without it, would be to put himself between the attacker and the girls to at least slow them down. And he was terrified of that possibility.

[Rose] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

"So, you're a genius from Earth. Met another human bloke, thought himself oh so clever… and I fell for it. He ended up walkin about with a hole in his forehead whenever anyone snapped their fingers. Book smart and life stupid, he was. You seem a bit more sensible than that.” Rose looked Rodney over a bit. “Glad to see someone with common sense as well as an IQ.”

“What do you like to do the most? Tinker about? Solve puzzles? Eat nachos?”

She was talking to Rodney to keep herself from constantly looking over her shoulder. Maybe he’d feel more calm and cool if he could keep busy as well.

The forest was growing more sparse, and soon they emerged into a grassy plain. The open area made Rose feel a bit exposed. But on the up side, no one could sneak up on them out there.

In the distance the grass seemed to peter out into black and white rocks. There seemed to be plumes of white smoke further in the distance. But she didn’t smell anything burning. Just a hint of rotten eggs. Sulfer.

“I think we’re getting closer.”

[Jon] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[sophiedb.livejournal.com]

"Oh yeah. Either that or those Poptarts are repeating on me," Jon agreed, wrinkling his nose. The only time he actually enjoyed the smell of sulfur was during chemistry class, or (to be more accurate) Explosives 101, but it didn't look like there were enough ingredients about to make gunpowder a viable option. Captain Kirk he was not. "We could always round up a few stink bombs on the way back."

Looking over the open ground from the forest edge, Jon tried to calculate the risks. There wasn't any choice but to cross the plain, not if those rocks were their goal, and that meant advertising their position to anyone with eyes. Then again, the Others could easily have chosen to ambush them in the forest - where they held a greater advantage - but they hadn't. What were they waiting for?

"We should not spend too long here," Sayid commented quietly, echoing Jon's thoughts. "If they have guns.."

Jon nodded despite his dislike of the other man, and they both looked towards the Doctor and Ash as the pair brought up the rear. "Your call, Doc. Making a run for it's a risk, but following the outskirts would add too much to the journey and could be just as dangerous, if not more so."

A distant bird call from further back in the trees punctuated his words, swiftly followed by one from the other side of the grassy plain. There weren't any feathers in sight though, and Jon wasn't familiar enough with the local birds to judge how genuine the twittering might be.

[Doctor] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

The Doctor considered.

"If they have guns, then the raid the other night was more a mental attack than an actual one. The two we interrogated seemed genuine, if fanatical. On the other hand we do have a single gun," he looked at Jon, "if limited bullets. We have to get there, and I think the trees are more an advantage to them then us at this point."

But why were they following and not attacking?

"Just keep alert for them coming out of the treeline. We go on. Jon, you bring up the rear." Because he could at least shoot back if it came to it. Sayid's spear and knife were only good for closer in fighting.

"Right," Rose followed after the Doctor, "off to see the wizard. I want to go home."



He stepped out first, leading the way.

Re: [Doctor] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

Shifting Left...

[McKay] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[lost-mckay.livejournal.com]

(OOC: Just catching up. :))

'From Earth'. Why does that still sound so odd, even with everything McKay's seen and done? Of course, his knee-jerk response would be, "Of course from Earth," before he settled into the grumble of understanding. He shifted his pack yet again, his gaze moving quickly around him once more before coming in a little closer to Rose and Tara. "Yes, well, I like to think I have a little more sense than your average slope-foreheaded Marine. I happen to have a rather well-defined sense of survival." Exactly how to survive, however, is beyond him... beyond eating, drinking, sleeping and whatnot, though while on an 'away' team, he's not above taking instruction.

"There isn't anything I don't do." Here, McKay's free hand comes up to gesture as he continues to trudge ahead, though he keeps his voice low. "Hardware systems, software, system integration and inter-connectivity, communications, power systems, and that's not to mention the whole 'study of space' thing. You know... black holes, working on the theory of the existence of worm holes, spatial relationships-- that whole time/space thing..." He was being careful even if he was pround of the fact that two PhDs have gotten the man far, not to mention that little trip millions of light years away.

"A-a-and you?" A little courtesy is never a bad thing, after all. After all, he was Canadian.

[Rose] Onward and away (tag transmitter team)

[purplerhino.livejournal.com]

“Me? I’m kinda the ultimate tourist. Used to be just another shop girl. Then, you know the story. Earth gets invaded when no one’s lookin, shop girl nearly gets killed by living shop dummies, strange bloke saves her life, then goes on to blows up her job. Strange bloke and shop girl save the world. Girl gets offer to go travellin’ through all of space and time.” Rose grinned at McKay as she ducked a low hanging branch.

“I’m not the biggest brain here, but got to tell you, that space/time thing… does alright by me. Saw what happens when you get a spatial rift right here on earth. Not a lot of fun, that. I guess I’m getting the ultimate education by practical application.” She shifted the weight of her pack a bit. “But even this bit… wouldn’t miss it.”