The three of them started inland. "Doctor, you mentioned that the animals that escaped in the city-the microcera- tops-ate certain types of plants," Teyla began. "How do you know this if they no longer exist on your world'?" Though more tolerant of the Earth team's scientific pursuits than Ronon, she was willing to admit that she didn't grasp the significance of the numerous tests they had planned.
"It's all about comparisons," replied the older man.
The shells covering the steep gradient of the cave floor quickly came to an end, and a series of natural steps, where sections of rock had given way, led them well above the high tide mark. Mossy growth padded the cave's floor as they moved further along. There was no need for her flashlight, for daylight continued to find its way through several cracks overhead, and a large pool of filtered sunlight illuminated a section of the cave some distance ahead of them, promising an opening to the outside.
"In my work," Geisler continued, moving cautiously forward up the incline, "we study the fossilized remains of longdead animals in order to find anatomical similarities to species that are still living. Through analogy, we can make informed guesses about what the extinct animals looked like, how they walked, and so on. Teeth indicate diet, for instance. All these factors contribute to a general picture of their behavior."
"So?" Ronon wanted to know. "What's the point of learning about something that can't hurt you anymore?"
Although Geisler's sigh was soft, it echoed off the surrounding rock. "Many pursuits on Earth don't revolve around countering threats, son. I suppose that might be tough to understand out here."
"Not as difficult as you might think," Teyla felt compelled to respond. Her singing, indeed the creative endeavors of many of her people's artisans, had never been undertaken to `counter threats'. "Fearsome though the Wraith are, we would have nothing worthy to defend if we allowed them to dominate every facet of life."
In the dim light, she saw Geisler's nod of acknowledgement before he replied to Ronon. "On our world, most weapons evolved from tools, which were products of necessity, and those in turn gave us time to explore our creativity and curiosity, two of the defining characteristics of the human race. Something of great interest kept the Ancients returning here for millions ofyears. We know that they chose this planet to protect a biosystem now extinct on Earth, and we know that a product of the research on this planet was introduced into Earth's human population with potentially disastrous results. Exploring those links may give us a defense, or even a weapon, to use against the Wraith-if not all Wraith everywhere, then at least in the form Lilith gave them on Earth." He offered Ronon a quick smile. "To vanquish an enemy you must understand it well enough to exploit its weaknesses. Species do not spring into existence fully formed. Each has a history, and knowing the history of the Wraith may provide us with the key to their weakness."
Any response Teyla might have given was pushed out of her thoughts, for they had emerged into a sunken glade inside the cavern. She could almost imagine it to be the bottom of an enormous, shallow well, the rim just out of reach.
"Another old sinkhole," Geisler declared.
Sunrays spilled through branches weighted down with clusters of seeds and the peculiar spade-shaped leaves that seemed to dominate much of this world's landscape. The scene was tinted a dozen shades of green by the vegetation thriving on every available surface. Richly colored blossoms wove in and out of thick vines that trailed down to the floor, from which a few slender saplings reached up, angling for position under the best light. It was a breathtaking sight, a pocket of beauty springing out of nowhere. "How can such things grow in this place?" she asked, reaching out to stroke the petals of a deep violet flower with an enticing scent. Several tiny bees flitted between the blossoms.
"It has all the requirements," Geisler said, sounding less surprised than her but every bit as captivated. "We're well above the high tide mark. There's light, freshwater from rain, and compost from the unfortunate animals that have fallen in." He bent low over a rotting carcass.
On an issue that had been occupying Teyla's thoughts for some time, she said, "Doctor, can you explain the sense of empathy we experienced with the microceratops on Atlantis'? I have never encountered such a connection to an animal before."
"Extraordinary, wasn't it?" Geisler held an ineffectual hand over his nose as he prodded the remains of what looked to have been a four-legged animal. "Most mainstream scientists have discounted the notion of genetic memory ever rising above the most basic, instinctual level. I was one of them until I learned of the Goa'uld." He withdrew a measuring instrument from his overloaded pack. "And, as you well know, the Wraith exhibit telepathy. It's entirely conceivable that intelligence and communication developed on this world with or without genetic manipulation. Of course, such abilities wouldn't have evolved in isolation."
Ronon was standing on his toes, attempting to get a better view of the forest outside but finding the walls too high. "What do you mean by isolation?"
"Nothing evolves without reason."
Teyla noticed that Geisler was frowning as he talked. Perhaps he was intent on extracting samples from the carcass, but she sensed in him a growing disquiet.
"It's more of an ecological arms race." He ceased in his movements and slowly stood. "To catch sufficient food, meat eaters became faster and more powerful, so plant eaters developed agility or heavy armor to defend themselves. The meat eaters grew even larger in response. In this case, the emotional influence wielded by the microceratops affected us, but it didn't seem to slow the T. rex that was chasing them, so…"
The lack of any sort of conclusion to his statement, and the look of apprehensive realization dawning on his face, set Teyla on edge. Obviously Ronon was of like mind, because he demanded, "What?"
Geisler stared distantly at the rough wall, the smell and the humid air forgotten. The slight ruddiness usually present in his features abruptly vanished. "That projection ability could only work on a being capable of feeling compassion. It apparently doesn't exist to combat T. rexes, which means that something considerably more intelligent resides on this planet-something large enough to hunt microceratops."
He didn't voice the obvious conclusion: something that may or may not be friendly to us. Teyla wasted no time in activating her radio. "Rodney, this is Teyla. If you have not yet reactivated the force field around the laboratory, do not wait for us before doing so. We may have more reason to be concerned with speed than we once thought."
She waited for a sharp-tongued response that never came. "Rodney, are you receiving?"
"The mussel shells!" Geisler whispered. "God, I should have recognized the evidence straight away. They weren't cracked open. Something pried them apart-something with dexterous hands!"
Still nothing, not even the hiss of static that often plagued transmissions sent through rock. "Major Lome? Lieutenant Bailey?" Teyla's fingers tightened around the stock of her P-90. "Any team member receiving this message, please acknowledge."
No reply.
Before she could direct them back to the cave's entrance, the scientist inhaled a startled breath, wide eyes fixed on something over her shoulder. The instrument and sample kit tumbled from his hands as he took a fearful, faltering step backward. When he at last managed to force his voice to obey, he could articulate his terror only in a fractured whisper.
"Raptors."
Teyla turned very slowly in place and felt a cool, tingling dread settle over her. A pack of reptilians, two-legged and mottle skinned, had somehow approached in absolute silence-incredible-and now blocked their path. This time, there was no projection of empathy.