~ is internal speech

bold is symbiote speaking with symbiote voice


Denver, February 20th 2000 (Sunday)

A few days had gone, and Martouf and Lantash had spent them familiarizing themselves with all the things they had bought. Most particularly, they had spent time learning to cook with the Tau'ri kitchen appliances, and a Tau'ri cookbook.

There had been several mishaps, with burnt food, and oddly tasting food, but now they were getting quite proficient at it.

~Today we should bake a cake!~ Lantash suggested.

~Sure, not a bad idea. What kind? Chocolate?~ Martouf wondered.

~Chocolate cake sounds good.~ Lantash agreed. ~But first we need to go buy a few things. We should also buy wine and some sort of roast to cook for dinner.~

~I don't think we can buy alcohol today. It is Sunday, and the alcohol stores are closed that day, remember?~

~Mai'tac! You are correct! However, we should be able to get some sort of wine in the grocery store. That is open at least.~

~True. At least in the huge grocery store we found yesterday. There would be a better selection there.~

~Agreed, but there are fewer busses and trains on Sundays too. So annoying! You know, it would be nice if we were able to get around without using those...~

~We can. On foot.~

~Yes, but the Tau'ri cities are huge. It takes a long time.~

~So what? You want a... uh, car?~

Lantash considered it. ~No. It seems wasteful of resources to drive around in one of those only us. Perhaps those two-wheeled vehicles we have seen.~

~In that case we should start with the one without a motor on. I think it will be hard to keep the balance on only two wheels, so I would rather start training with something that does not move too fast.~

~Agreed. So we look for such a vehicle tomorrow?~

~Yes - now, let's go and buy what we need for today? For the cake and other things?~


They returned a couple hours later, with many grocery bags.

~We should also purchase some of those backpacks I have seen many people use. They would be much easier to transport goods in, particularly if we are to use a two-wheeled vehicle for transport.~

~That makes sense. We will look for that tomorrow as well. And I think the two-wheeled vehicle without a motor is called a 'bike' - I heard someone talk about it outside the grocery store.~

~That is an odd name.~

Lantash shrugged. ~It may be from a different language. Now, should we start baking the cake?~

~Yes. Chocolate cake!~

Lantash found all the ingredients and started measuring them up.


~I think the cake is good.~ Martouf insisted.

~Maybe, but it does not look good!~ Lantash complained. ~The glazing is uneven - and the cake is uneven too! See, the glazing has dripped off in that side!~

~What does it matter? We're the only ones that sees it, and it tastes great!~

~Yes...it tastes good. But what if we want to bake it for Samantha one day? Then it should look good too!~

~Relax...though I see your point. We will have time to practice, though. But we can't eat cake too often. We do not want to get fat!~

~You know you do not need to worry about that! I can keep us in great shape, as I always do. Though I suppose some exercise would be good. We can use the 'bike' for that too, perhaps.~


Denver, February 21st 2000 (Monday)

~There are a lot of 'bikes' to choose between!~ Martouf looked out over the sea of bicycles in the sporting store.

~Yes, and many other things, mostly for various types of games or exercising. It would seem to be important to the Tau'ri - even though it does not seem like they are very successful. Given the number of overweight people we have seen.~

~We should get a bike that can holds cargo.~

~It would seem the correct word is 'bicycle' and not 'bike'.~

~Ah, an abbreviation, no doubt. The Tau'ri seem to use a lot of them. It makes life difficult for aliens.~

~Yes, it does.~

Martouf looked at the nearest bicycle. ~I think I like this.~

~What about the one over there? It seems to be in between those that are apparently purely for exercise, and those that are purely for transportation. So we can use it for both.~

~That would work. The seat seems a bit high, though.~

~Saddle, and I think it can be moved. We should ask.~


After some time, Martouf and Lantash had bought a bicycle, and the salesman had changed the height of the saddle and of the handlebars so they fit them. The tubes had also been pumped - and they had bought a tool-set and a pump, as well as a nice backpack that the store sold.

~Now we just need to learn how to 'ride' it.~

~Yes, it was embarrassing in the store, when they suggested we try it, and we did not know how to. We will learn, though. How hard can it be?~ Lantash insisted.

~I agree. I have seen little children use these bicycles, so it should be easy.~

~However, we should probably train somewhere no one sees us, if it is something everyone is supposed to be able to do.~

~Well, we can train balancing on it in the apartment. There is room in the living room, and there is the corridor. We could also try in the park, on the flat space they have for playing various games with an air-filled ball.~ Martouf suggested.

~Yes. Good idea. However, for now we have a long way home - 10 miles, and we have to walk them, since the bus did not allow us on it with the bicycle.~ Lantash complained.