He wasn't sure if it was the inevitable optimism that came with waking up after a good night's sleep, or the glorious sunrise, but Tony Sheppard found himself in an unusually good mood the next morning. Breakfast was spent pondering over this unexpected turn of events and as he finished his energy bar and prepared to sort through the equipment in the storage bay of the Crewpod, Tony reached a satisfactory conclusion. He finally felt needed.

Despite the horror of the crash and near helplessness of their current predicament, Tony allowed himself a little smile. As the resident "tough", Tony served the team as Security. But until now, the entire mission had been spent being cooped up in the Crewpod. Tony had been developing a serious case of Fifth-Wheel Syndrome.

But not now. Today he was leading a rescue mission into the unknown. From what he had been able to glean from the conversation among the eggheads, they were at the dawn of human history. If that was so, then danger awaited around every turn, which suited Tony just fine.

After an hour’s worth of work, the two Boarhogs, along with some other necessities, had been extradited from the mess that was the storage bay. The others in his team had finished their breakfasts and were now helping him load up. As he checked his pistol and made sure he had spare clips, he surveyed his charges.

Kyle was going to be driving the other Boarhog. He was there now charging the pods, his bald head gleaming in the morning sun. Kevin was supposed to be going with Kyle, but Tony didn't see him. He looked back down the hill toward the Crewpod in time to spot the linguist emerging with his backpack. The very same backpack that he had insisted on keeping with him in the Crewpod when everyone else's luggage got put in the cargo hold of the shuttle. Tony felt a twinge of suspicion.

Leaving Patty to secure the first aid kit to the cargo area of their Boarhog, Tony holstered his gun and walked over to intercept Kevin. As he approached the rear of the Boarhog, he saw Kevin cresting the top of the hill, looking at a photo as he walked. Tony came up beside him and indicated the picture. "Girlfriend?"

Kevin looked up and slipped the photo into his jacket pocket. "Wife."

"Ahh. She's pretty."

"She's dead."

Tony was slightly taken aback by Kevin's matter-of-fact delivery. He pressed on nonetheless, "So, what's in the bag?"

Kevin's eyes narrowed, "My stuff, why?"

Tony ignored the question and, in as friendly a manner as he could muster, he asked, "Mind if I take a look?"

Kevin stopped at the Boarhog and set his backpack on the equipment rack and looked Tony in the eye. "Be my guest." Tony stepped past Kevin and opened the zipper. He rummaged through the contents and then looked up at Kevin.

"Were you a boy scout, or something?"

"No."

Tony zipped the backpack shut and handed it back to Kevin. "Well you do come prepared, don't you?" Kevin climbed into the Boarhog passenger seat without a word. Tony shrugged and headed to his own vehicle. "Let's get a move on!" As he started the engine and pulled out, Tony couldn't help but wonder why a Linguist would feel the need to carry a grapple gun with him.