Post by mal on Jan 19, 2011 21:57:00 GMT -5
Jean looked bored, dressed in the same gear as Max though sunglasses were not on his face and he was just staring at the Gate as it started turning, chevrons lighting up. He's been especially quiet lately, but then apparently someone tried to break into Larsons weapons vault, also,
Jean had killed someone, self defense, but still. Maybe recent events were just getting to him more than he let on.
Once the event horizon exploded towards them, he felt his other almost lurch through his body towards it. The urge to leave this planet was greater than anything.
--
Curled within her blue talons, Ci’Ti held onto her basket and moved around the glade. Her large orange eyes flickered around, trying to spot the plant she was looking for. Humming softly to herself, she finally spotted what she was looking for. “There you are! Yes! Yes!” She exclaimed to no one and quickly moved in the direction of the large bush.
Leaning over the green foliage, Ci’Ti reached out with her free claws and began plucking the bright yellow berries from the plant. Making sure to avoid the reds, as they were not ripe yet, she concentrated on collecting the large blueberry shaped items.
“One… two….three…” She chirped quietly to herself as she plucked away. With a delicate touch, Ci’Ti made sure not to break any of the delicate skin of the fruit as she pulled it from the plant and placed it into her basket. This fruit would go a long way and what she didn’t use this day could easily be persevered for later. The tarty-sweetness of the fruit went great with the small sheep she planned on cooking for dinner tonight.
Finally plucking the last of what she needed, Ci’Ti turned and started walking towards her home. Ci’Ti made it a few steps into the glade when she stopped. Her eyes were fixed upon the Stargate, the eye was opening and sparkling in the sunlight before her. Who would this be?
Her eyes dilated and her head sunk back into her shoulders. Feathers starting to ruffle, she continued to stare and wait. Ci’Ti was prepared to either greet a friend or run from an enemy. Both talons curled about her basket’s handle, holding the parcel close to the middle of her torso as she waited quietly. Encase she had to flee, Ci’Ti wanted to be prepared.
--
Maxwell grinned and stepped through. The pod had shown a lightly forested area with freen foliage. Jackpot. Two in a row with descent conditions ... though the mongol world had long been stripped of it's sparse minerals, the cultural opportunities were excellent. And again ... trees and foliage. Not like that barren desert of Abados, or even most of afghanistan lacked such bounty.
He blinked as he came through .... even with the sunglasses the sun caught him a bit. Holy Colonel Sanders, what the hell was that??
He put his hand on his handgun but did not draw it. It was clothed ... an alien race.
"Twas brillig, and the slithy toves ..."
Even with the translation abilities of the gate, these words were still nonsensical. They were nonsensical in their native english tongue.
"Hello?"
... And with it's head he went gallumphing back. But best not say THAT part of the poem.
--
I follow Max a few paces behind him, hands on the weapon before me looking for any sign of trouble. I seem much more sure of myself with a weapon now, though I had not spent any time in weapons training since the last mission, could chalk it all up to my giant brain deducing the use and functions all by itself. No one's paying enough attention to him to notice the change.
The alien..thing is new. He would have preferred not to meet a new race, never know which one would have the ability to detect the Other inside him. The environment looked fine too and if they got hungry, they could always eat that giant chicken..thing. He grinned.
--
Her talon’s tapped gingerly on the basket’s handle as she debated what to do. As the first came through and then the second, Ci’Ti took a moment to view them before they had a chance to spot her. Tau’ri possibly? They looked to be of the Goa’uld and Tok’Ra’s preferred hosts. Her eyes blinked, looking their clothing over. It was a very odd choice for this world. It was obviously they had never been here before.
As the dark haired man (Max) reached for his weapon, Ci’Ti’s head sunk further into her shoulders. Her feathers perked up more around her head as she stared. She was about to run for it when she noticed he did not draw what was at his side. When he spoke, she knew instantly that he was not Goa’uld or Tok’ra. A symbiote, not matter how young, would pick up the language almost instantly. This being spoke her languages rather roughly.
Still with her guard up, Ci’Ti continued to watch with curiosity. Her orange eyes darted between the two beings before settling on the one that had spoken. “Greetings…. “ Her beak functioned more closely to lips as she spoke. After a pause she took a tentative step forward. There were still several meters between them, just encase she had to run.
Head tilting to the side, she continued to blink as she stared at them. “What planet do you come from?” as she spoke, her sharp teeth could be seen behind her beak.
Again, another step forward was taken. Pulling her basket closer to her, she continued to tap the handle. They were curious. It had been some time since she had seen anyone, but then again not many came to visit her. As a historian, her knowledge was very rarely needed. Could these beings be seeking knowledge?
--
He stopped himself from smiling. No teeth on this one ... and in apes, showing teeth was agressive, not friendly. It had spoken ... some language which he was sinking into his mind, planted there by the gate. Amazing technology. Yet this creature was neither shocked by their appearance nor their use of the gate. Not a good sign ... this could be a Goa'ould planet.
"Greetings."
Tapping. Was that part of the greeting? He tapped his fingernail on the guard of his handgun.
"We're ... travellers. Explorers and traders on a peaceful mission. My name is Maxwell. This is my companion, Jean. What god rules this planet?"
Best find out ... the smuggler said most Goa'ould portrayed themselves as dieties.
--
He was paying attention when Max asked who ruled here, if there was a God here he could sure get some aid there, maybe even go back to Earth and free Diana. He closed his eyes a moment and rubbed the bridge of his nose. It wasn't good when he couldn't tell who he was and was not anymore. He didn't want to save Diana, he just wanted to go home. He wanted to tell Maxwell that there was a freaking thing in his head telling him to do things.
--
Ci’Ti was quiet for a moment. It was obvious they knew of the universe, at least it appeared that way. From how they acted and the dark haired one tapped what was at his side, still left her perplexed. She had no idea what he was gesturing for. Maybe it was a form of greeting on their planet? These were strange creatures indeed.
Walking up to the dial, Ci’Ti peered at the large keyboard. She was only 4’-6” tall, but still could see over the thing. It obviously was not built for one of her species and how her neck stretched to view the dial seemed rather awkward.
Reaching out with one hand, Ci’Ti pressed a few buttons on the dial and pulled up the address that they came from. Her eyes widened as she looked up at them. “Tau’Ri!” She exclaimed. “… not seen for many many cycles! No!”
Visibly excited, Ci’Ti walked around the dial and towards the dark haired man. “I.. Ci’Ti Ka!” Her free hand pointed to herself. Reaching up, she gestured at them. “You… names?” Her head bobbed slightly as she looked between them. Her beak was curled up slightly, her pointed teeth exposed in what looked like a failed attempt at a smile.
--
He looked from the alien to the dialer and back again.
"You know, we simply MUST figure out how to to star 67 the caller id on this thing ..."
He looked back smiling. This being obviously knew what humans were ... and where they were from. Legends from back in egyptian days?
"Nice to meet you, City Kah. As I said, my name is Maxwell. And this is Jean. Are there any Goa'ould ruling this planet?"
--
Jean was getting annoyed with the creature, whatever it was, well maybe not Jean, it's just hard to tell. "I'm going to check out the surroundings." I say before I just wander off. My alien dialect would have been nearly perfect, then again, as Max knows, I am a genius.
I wander off n search of anything interesting, anything to be away from the talking chicken and the overzealous Maxwell.
--
Her eyes continued to flicker between the two. Standing close to them now, her head was tilted back. The wide and bright orange orbs were glistening with curiosity. “Goa’uld not here. No.” shaking her head, she reached up and curled her talons around Max’s forearm. Yanking him forward, Ci’Ti turned and began to walk away from the Stargate with him in tow. “Come come… I show.”
Pulling him through the glade, she assumed the smaller one named Jean would follow eventually. If not, he could stay at the gate and wait.
“Goa’uld come and go… visit for knowledge.” She glanced over her shoulder at Max as she pulled him along. Through the forest they went. For such a small being, Ci’Ti held a great amount of strength, and the grip upon Max’s forearm was rather tight as well.
Through the maze of trees they went. Ci’Ti obviously was not lost, having traveled this way for all her life. It was designed to be a rather confusing trek. What she did was not something that needed to be exposed for all the find. The information she contained as a historian needed to be protected at all costs. If knowledge was the most powerful force in the universe, Ci’Ti would have been considered higher than any God.
They arrived at the base of a large cliff. She paused briefly and glanced up at the roughly 40 foot tall rock face. The jagged edges showed many location that could house a cave or two, but Ci’Ti was interested in one of them. Letting go of Max, Ci’Ti walked away and towards the opening. “Come… come. I show.”
Gesturing for them to follow, Ci’Ti disappeared into the dark crack. It was big enough for her to get in, but anyone above 5’-0” would have to duck. Once inside they would see a huge cavern roughly 25’-0” across and running about 20’-0” high with several other openings that possibly branched into other similar caverns. Looking over the room, they would see that the wall directly to their left held different trinkets on rickety shelves. To their right, they would see a kitchen of shorts that would be equivalent to early 1700’s earth.
Moving towards the kitchen area, Ci’Ti placed her basket on an ornately carved wood table that would seat at least 15 good sized people. She continued on her way around the table and towards the stove. Opening the front, she checked the fire inside. Pleased that it was still going, she closed the door again and turned towards the entrance to see if the Tau’Ri had come in yet.
--
He followed Ci'Ti. Great. This was a Goa'ould coffeeshop. She led him though a maze of undergrowth to ... a cave. Just like the rebels.
Why was it always CAVES??
He entered and looked about ... the visit for knowledge was ... in it's kitchen? He kept his hand tightly on his automatic. If Goa'ould were here, this could be a trap. It could be seeking a reward.
"Nice place, Ci Ti Ka. But ... I should stay close to the Chapa Ai ..."
His left hand slipped into his pocket.
--
“Not take long…” She gestured to him again, and moved towards an attached cavern. Though there were sconces on the walls, natural light was being filtered in from above. Not only did it illuminate the ‘rooms’ of her home, but it also moved the air around. Oddly enough the musty feeling most would get in such a place was not around.
Into the next room she went and pointed to the walls around her and multiple tables. The ‘room’ was just as large as the main one. It was a library, to say the least. Books and parchments were piled high on the many book shelves, tables and chairs. Anywhere one looked they would see a document of some kind. It was as if a parchment factory had exploded and the mess before them was all that was left.
Turning, Ci’Ti gestured towards all of it with her hands. “No creature knows all… answer lie here.” It was a treasure for any historian of any kind. Millennium after millennium of information resided on the walls. Everything had been collected from other worlds and placed here. Ci’Ti had been raised with this knowledge and was given the task of protecting it until it was time for her to pass it on.
“What know you about Goa’uld? Wish to know about Zeus?” She moved over towards a shelf and pointed to some rolled parchment. “… Profit Elisha? Imhotep? ”
Ci’ti’s eyes wandered over the shelves as she gestured towards the multiple layers of parchment. “Not many know this place… to many ignorant and not worthy.” She glanced over her shoulder towards Max. “You… worthy. Seek knowledge and friendship. I tell this. Tau’Ri curious species that trust without thinking consequence.”
--
Max smiled.
"I have LOTS of questions. I thirst for knowledge. As do those I serve. And serve willingly ... they are not gods."
He looked about.
"Is there a way to prevent the return address from appearing on the dialer of a world one gate's to? And ... I've been told that using a dialer leaves a memory of some sort so people can tell who has used to to go where. Can this be prevented? We want to explore, but not to be followed back should we meet angry Goa'ould ..."
He looked about.
"And we seek friendship. Perhaps we can share the stories of what has happened on earth since the Goa'ould left ..."
--
Grabbing a stool, Ci’Ti shook off the parchment on top of it. Carrying it over to one of the partially covered tables, she set it down.
Gesturing towards it and then to Max, she offered him a seat in silence. She had a feeling they would be here for a while.
“No no. Gate address stored. No erase. Only way to erase is to destroy. Destroy and never go back.” She shrugged slightly. “Hard to track though… few know ability. Less no, better.”
Moving away, she grabbed for a book and pulled it from under a pile of papers. Opening it up, she flipped through the pages for a moment before looking up. “Each Goa’uld different. Many have mentality of domination. Species trait.” Ci’Ti nodded her head towards him.
With book in hand, she moved over to the table and where she had placed the stool. Setting the book down, she left it on the page she had been reading. The script was visibly ancient Egyptian. “Seek those that do not hold dominating trait… Tok’Ra and few Goa’uld. Find less and less these beings. Hard to go against System Lords of Goa’uld. Best to stay clear. Seek friends maybe?”
The page that was open was a list of some kind. Ci’Ti just assumed that Max would be able to read it as she could. Reaching out, she pointed to a few names on the pages of those that she knew were still alive. “They are friends.”
--
Maxwell's eyes kind of glazed over at the egyptian writing. He wished Caira was there. It meant nothing to him .... but he paid attention to where she pointed and nodded.
"Do you mind if I take an image of that page?"
He took out a digital camera.
"My friends read better than I do ..."
Great, she'll think I'm the dunce. Wait ....
"Is Diana on this list?"
--