~ is internal speech
bold is symbiote speaking with symbiote voice
Denver, February 9th 2000 (Wednesday)
Martouf and Lantash had gone out to get something to eat for breakfast first. After that, they had found a store that sold reasonably cheap furniture, as well as a second hand store which also had some furniture. From those stores they had gotten a bed that their - fairly large - mattress would fit in, a nighttable, and a chair, all for their bedroom. It would be delivered later that day, together with a dining table with chairs, a desk, an office chair, and a bookcase.
~I think we need a lot more furniture. This will not fill our apartment at all!~ Lantash observed, dismayed.
~No, it will not, but I think we've made quite a good start. It is not like we are going to stay here forever, so we do not need a lot of things - unless you find something you really like, something small, that we can bring with us to the tunnels when we return.~
~That is possible. I will look for that, though I must admit much of what I see on this world does not seem of very high quality. There are things which are interesting, though.~
~I agree. Are we going back to our apartment now? Or is there more you want to look at?~
~Perhaps we should also buy one of those sofas? They look comfortable.~
~What do you want to use it for? We are not likely to just sit around in the apartment, on our own, and doing nothing!~
~No, but we could sit in it and read. And what if we have guests? They would like to sit comfortably.~
~Guests!~ Martouf shook his head at his symbiote.
~Well, then we could sit in it and relax! We should get one of those televisions. I believe they are used for disseminating information, as well as some amount of entertainment.~
~Television? Yes, I've seen them at the SGC, but would you really want that? What for?~
~Yes. I believe we should take this opportunity to learn about the Tau'ri. Get some of their books, both educational and for entertainment, and read those. Perhaps also some... magazines and newspaper. And watch some television - learn about their culture. It will help us later. Help all the Tok'ra, if we understand the Tau'ri better. They are admittedly a quite different and mysterious race, compared to many others in the Galaxy.~
~Yes, I will happily agree to that. Learning about their culture may also help us understand Samantha better, which may make it easier for her to woo her. Yes, I think we should get a television.~ Martouf agreed, now completely convinced.
~We also need a piece of furniture to place it on. Like that one over there - it has a television on it, to show what it is used for.~
~By all means. Find that, and let's have them deliver that with the rest, then we can go find a store that sells televisions. Oh... and the 'second hand' store had various kitchen utensils, plates, cups, glasses, pots, and bowls. We need that as well. Lantash?~
~Yes... I will take control and handle all that.~ Lantash sighed.
After finishing the furniture and kitchen stuff shopping, Martouf and Lantash were very hungry. It was after noon, and they decided to find some place to eat lunch.
~ Same place as yesterday?~ Martouf wondered.
~No, I think that is quite far away. Tau'ri cities are large. What about that small place over there?~ Lantash mentally 'pointed' at what was obviously a restaurant, judging from the tables inside, where people were sitting, eating.
~Why not? 'Joe's Pizza Palace' sounds strange, though. It is hardly a palace, and it is not made out of pizza. If I remember correctly, that is a flat piece of bread with tomato, cheese, and maybe some other things on top.~
~Yes, Samantha made us try it in their mess hall. I rather liked it.~
~Then let us try the pizza.~
After eating - and deciding that it was quite a tasty type of food - they went to buy a television. They had asked one of the servers in the restaurant for a nearby place to buy a television, and he had told them the name of a store and how to get there, using something called the 'light rail'.
~Some sort of public transportation, like the buses we traveled with yesterday, just running on rails.~ Martouf observed.
~Yes. I would assume you pay to use it, but I have no idea how that is done... There is something barring entry to the area where you board. Odd. It looks as if you are only allowed through when you have a... 'ticket', but I would think those were sold on the transportation device.~
~Maybe not. Look. There is a booth over there that says... 'RTD Ticket Sales'.~
~Yes. Let's try that.~
They succeed in buying a ticket, and were now allowed to pass the barrier to the trains. They travelled to their stop, and got off - then realized they had no idea how to get to the street they had been told the store was on.
~Well, we need to ask directions, then. Perhaps the young woman over there.~
~We could also take a look at that map over there.~ Lantash 'pointed' at a large map on the wall.
~Brilliant. Let's try that first!~
After some trial and error, they eventually figured out how the map was oriented and how the streets connected. With that done, they quickly found the store, named 'Best Buy'.
~There is certainly a lot of strange devices in here! I wonder what they are all for?~
~Anise would love to go here! We should suggest it when we return to the tunnels.~
"Hello, may I help you, sir?" a young woman asked. From her clothing she was obviously a store employee.
"Uh, yes. W... I am looking for a television." Martouf said.
"Of course. Follow me, then I will show you what we have. Did you have anything particular in mind, regarding size, for instance?"
~I have no idea what to answer her.~
~Just tell her you want to see what they have.~
"I'm not sure. Nothing too big." Martouf said, as he saw the rows of televisions ahead, some of which were rather large.
"Certainly."
~Okay, we found a television. Do we need anything else while we are here?~ Martouf wondered.
~Yes. Various cables to connect it to... the outlet in the wall that says 'cable tv'. And maybe something to show those tapes and discs we have seen at Stargate Command.~
~All right.~ Martouf smiled his most charming smile at the young woman that had helped him find a television. "I will need cables to connect to... cable television... and I also would like to look around for a moment. I think I may need to buy more."
"No problem. I will find the cables you need for you, and then bring it all to the checkout. Then you can just walk around and see if there is more you need." She took a small note she had written on. "Bring this with you to the checkout, so they will know what it is you have bought." She smiled at him. "You have just arrived in the States, or what? Are you a student?"
~What do I answer her?~
~Answer her yes. It's true. We've just arrived here and we are studying the planet and the inhabitants.~
~That is true.~ Martouf smiled again. "Yes, you are correct. I am from... Canada." He said, remembering the brief cover story General Hammond had suggested for the Tok'ra. "And I am here to study."
The woman nodded. "Thought so. Graduate school, right?"
"Uh... right."
She smiled. "Well, just holler if you need anything."
~Great! That worked!~
~Of course it did. I told you it would!~
~I just hope we do not do something here that the Tau'ri becomes unhappy about. The only ones who know we are here is General Hammond and.. Walter Harriman, is his name, I believe?~
~Yes, and the Council was not happy about that, but the Tau'ri are our allies, and it was the right thing to do to tell them. But I am glad General Hammond did not need to tell anyone else, but could use a special permission he has to keep some minor missions secret - when it is a short-term emergency. He said this would be covered under that, but I do suspect there are some that will not be happy.~
~I think that is very true, but I am still concerned someone will be very very unhappy. It is the only safe way, though, and the Tok'ra would never have permitted others to know. There are certain elements in the Tau'ri society, and among their rulers that would harm us, if they knew we were here. For instance the NID.~
~Yes... I think I have found one of those machines that plays tapes and discs. Look - combined vhs tape and dvd player. Does that not sound correct?~
~Maybe. Let's get that, and then get out of here.~
~We should also buy a computer.~ Lantash said, spotting some.
~What for? Tau'ri computers would be very primitive. See those monitors - they are not even holographic!~
~Correct, but they could be useful.~
Martouf sighed. ~By all means. Let's get one.~
~And do not forget that we need one of the communication units everyone has. We talked about that yesterday.~
~You're certainly interested in Tau'ri technology! Who do you want to contact? Never mind! Let's just get it all - I do agree with you, and it is a good idea to learn about Tau'ri technology!~
They had ended up buying not only a television, a vhs/dvd combo, a computer with printer, and a cell phone, but also a clockradio, a microwave oven, a toaster, and a couple other devices they had spotted and had decided would be useful. It would all be delivered to their apartment the next day.
~It was certainly a good thing Hammond had that ID made for us! We needed it to set up a subscription for the cell phone and to get a 'number' which is apparently needed to use it.~
~Yes. We need to read up on that. I don't think they believed you when they said it was different in Canada.~ Lantash observed, sarcastically.
~Well then you get to talk to the next people we have to interact with!~
~Certainly - I will now go and buy a ticket so we can use the 'light rail' to get back to near our apartment!~
Martouf snorted, but gave Lantash control. He was very much looking forward to going home. It had been a very long day.
~We should buy some food on the way home. Just ready-made food. I do not feel like truly learning how to use the kitchen tonight.~
~Agreed. That can wait. Would you like pizza for dinner as well?~
~No, let's try something else. We've seen a lot of restaurants around the city, so I am sure there must be something delicious we have not tried yet. In fact, I think we should try a different restaurant every night until we know which are best.~
~Or we could also just continue until we know of enough that have good food. And then learn to use the Tau'ri kitchen to cook.~
~Yeah, or that. How much of their currency do we have left after paying for all this?~
~Not much. We should go and get more valuables from our teltac first thing tomorrow morning.~
~Agreed. Now - time to get food, then home.~
~Yes... and we should buy a 'newspaper' too. It would be valuable to see what is going on locally.~
