Chapter 5
Some Are Prettier
Daniel wandered the hallway of the S.G.C. later that night. He figured he better make some effort to speak to Queen Abigail after he so rudely brushed her off prior. He wasn't sure who was in the room assigned to the Queen. He stood before the door assuming Abby would answer. He lifted his fist and gave three quick raps and then waited.
Monique answered the door. She had changed into a baby blue flowing nightgown and white lace robe. She smiled, "Dr. Jackson."
"Monique, I came to speak to Queen Abigail. I thought she would be in this room." he confessed feeling awkward.
"She's in the room General Hammond assigned her." she replied and motioned to the next door.
"But this room is bigger." he countered.
"She decided to stay in the room she was assigned to." she explained.
He asked, "She didn't want to bigger room?"
She leaned against the doorway and spoke candidly, "What makes Abby different from other rules is she doesn't rule. She leads! She puts the people first and herself last. She always has. Switching places was part my idea because I feared it could be a trap and if it was I would rather harm came to me and not her. She could have insisted bringing a contingency of men with us but opted to not. She didn't wish to place anyone in unnecessary danger. She even admitted your offerings were too generous and is willing to make a fair trade agreement. Why would she insist on room size?"
"I guess she wouldn't." he concluded feeling rather meek. "How does she keep the Goa'uld at bay? They would see her as a weak ruler."
"By putting her people first." she explained. "Her people will never turn their backs on her and fight to their last breath. She doesn't understand that but I do and so do many others. Our people have much in common. You're team, SG-1 has made a name for itself as being an enemy of the Goa'uld. You are not feared but emulated because you put other races first. The same principle applies to Olympia. Abby is not a ruler, she is a leader…like your team is a leader to many others."
"I guess I can understand that." he gave a soft smile. He motioned, "I will go wish her goodnight."
"Goodnight Dr. Jackson." Monique stated and then closed the door. She turned around and smiled upon Teal'c who was already in her room with a movie to watch. He brought popcorn and soda to introduce her to Earth culture. Monique made her way to the Jaffa, "That was Dr. Jackson. So, what is this Star Wars you were telling me about, Teal'c?"
He beamed holding the movie, "Right here."
Daniel then rapped on Abby's door to wish her goodnight. She opened the door sporting lose fitting military tee shirt and what looked like military issued boxer shorts to Daniel. "Um.." he glanced at her attire. He was so engrossed in making the trade agreement that he never noticed she wore military issued clothing the whole day nor did he pay attention to the suitcase reference Jack made prior.
"I picked up the wrong case and accidentally brought the empty one. I borrowed some clothes from Colonel O'Neill. He said it's gee eye issue." she quickly explained not understanding what G. I. stood for.
"Oh," he blushed. "You brought an empty bag?"
She gave a heavy sigh, "Yes. I thought it felt kind of light but didn't think to open it. Monique packed mine with hers and I picked up the wrong one. So, Jack said I could borrow some clothing while I'm here. He said it belongs to Uncle Sam…I'm not too sure who he is but he said it was okay to borrow it."
"I see," he tried to not laugh for he found it rather humorous that the Queen needed to borrow clothes from Jack. "I came to make sure everything was okay and wish you goodnight."
"I'm fine." she assured him. "Jack brought me one of those tee vees to watch and sent me a program. He said I would like it. It's called…Simpson."
"The Simpson's," he winced.
"That's it!" she agreed. "I'm a little confused on how to work this tee vee. Can you help me for a minute?"
"Sure," he agreed.
She opened to door to lead him to the television and player that was the corner of the small room. He noticed the bed was standard size and lacked the plush bedding the VIP suites garnered. Her bedding was of general issue. He added, "You know you could have asked for a bigger room."
"This is fine," she rebutted shaking her head. She went to the contraption, "He said I have to do something to make it work."
Daniel placed the TV on the proper channel and turned on the player. He opened the drive and placed the disk inside. Soon the player began to play the previews. He turned and found her sitting on the bed by the headboard looking at the screen. "Well, that's it. I'll guess I'll go now." He went to excuse himself.
She offered, "You can stay and watch the program with me. There is plenty of room."
"Um…" he debated for the Simpson's was not his taste but at the same time he did want to earn her trust and respect. He took a seat in a nearby chair. "I'll just sit here."
She gazed upon the screen waiting for the magic of television to begin. Her people had similar devices for communications and monitoring but never did she imagine it could be used to entertain in such a fashion. She sat and soaked up the new form of entertainment.
Next Morning
Jack was on his way to gather Queen Abigail to escort her to breakfast. He found her rather naive at times and wanted to help her adjust to the new culture. He turned the corner and spied Sam emerge from her room.
She greeted him, "Good morning, sir."
"Carter," he gave a nod.
"On your way to breakfast?" she asked figuring she would join him.
"Soon as I get Abby." he gave a nod.
She paused in thought, "I'm sure she can find the commissary on her own. Plus, she had Monique with her."
"Place is kind of big. I want to make sure she doesn't get lost." he informed. "Beside, Monique was in negotiations and doesn't know the complex. They still need an escort."
"I suppose," she had to agree. She did begin to wonder if perhaps Jack liked Abby more than he let on. Sam had to admit Abby was rather charming over all. Abby lacked the stunning beauty that Monique possessed but did seem to make up for it in her charm and personality.
Jack gave a look, "Come on Carter! I like the Queen but she a bit of a ditz at times. She will get lost. Once Monique gets familiar with the layout she can escort her around."
Sam asked, "Why do you think Abby is a ditz?"
"The woman picked up the wrong bag to bring. She picked up the empty one and thought it was full. I had to scrounge clothing for her." he explained.
Sam defended, "Did she pack her own bag because of she didn't she could get the wrong bag."
"Monique packed the bags. Abby wanted to carry her own but got the wrong one." he informed.
"That mistake could happen to anyone. She didn't pack it herself." she defended. "That doesn't mean she's a ditz, sir. And though our cultures are very similar there is still new things for her to discover. I'm sure once we get to spend time on Olympia we will find new things that will make us look kind of ditzy to them."
"It's just a security measure, Carter." he dismissed her rebuttal. The pair rounded another corner and spied Daniel at Abby's door. He just knocked and was waiting for an answer.
"Daniel," Jack stated as he and Sam stepped closer.
"Morning Jack! Morning Sam!" he greeted his friends. "Just waiting to take Abby for breakfast."
"You gonna escort her?" Jack asked.
"It will be a good opportunity to get to know her and her people." he nodded.
Before Jack could reply Monique's door swung open. She emerged wearing a long yellow flowing gown and Teal'c stepped out right behind her. The Jaffa was smiling and seemed rather upbeat to Jack. He stood and blinked in shock.
Teal'c and Monique turned and addressed the trio. "Good Morning," Monique stated graciously. "Will you be joining myself and Teal'c for…what's the term…" she looked to Teal'c.
"They call it 'breakfast." he informed.
"Breakfast," she gave a nod and looked to Jack, "Breakfast, Colonel."
"Be right there." Jack stated still a bit struck.
Monique asked, "Has Abby answered her door?"
Daniel stated, "Not yet."
"She can be a heavy sleeper at times." She took a step and the knocked hard on the door. "My Queen," she shouted. She then stood back and waited.
They heard a thump come from inside the room. Then a bang and finally a hand reached the door. It swung open and there stood Abby in the surplus shorts and t-shirt that Jack gave her. Her face was tired and her hair a mess. "What?" she asked.
"It's time for your morning food. The call it 'breakfast' here." Monique stated.
Abby looked past Monique to Teal'c, then Daniel, then Jack and Sam. "Brought everyone." she miffed.
"Would you like me to wait for you?" Monique asked.
"Go ahead. I know where the commissary is. I'll meet you there." she told her and then closed the door to get herself dressed.
Monique turned to SG-1 and announced, "The Queen shall meet us there."
Daniel suggested, "I'll just hang back and wait."
"If you wish, Dr. Jackson." Monique stated and then took Teal'c by the arm and escorted him down the hall.
Sam perked up, "See you at breakfast, Daniel." She walked by him rather amused.
Jack stood and looked at Daniel. He gave a heavy sigh as his plans were torpedoed. "I'll see you there, Daniel." He walked by him knowing that his friend seemed to have a way of becoming infatuated with females from other planets.
Daniel leaned against the wall and simply waited for the Queen to emerge from her room.
Commissary
Jack gathered his bowl of Froot Loops and soon found Sam sitting at the table with her waffle. He took a seat across from her. "Carter," he greeted.
"Sir," she replied casually. She gazed upon him and confessed, "They had me fooled. I never suspected a thing until yesterday at the briefing when you asked who was the actual queen."
"They had everybody fooled." Jack stated.
"But not you." she countered with a smile. "You kind of saw through it right from the start. Thing is I never even paid all that much attention to Abby at all. Monique came across as so well groomed and elegant. Honestly, it kind of blows my mind how they fooled us so well. How come you were able to see right through it but I wasn't?" she pondered.
"You were more interested in seeing the ships and gadgets." he told her. "Daniel was concentrating on hammering out a deal. And Teal'c…" he sighed.
Sam asked bewildered, "Why didn't Teal'c see right through this. He's usually the one who does see any kind of deception first."
Jack smirked, "Have you seen the way he looks at Monique. I think he's got a Jaffa-size crush going."
Sam raised her eyebrows, "Taken by her looks."
"Everyone was taken by her looks." Jack figured. "Even Hammond got kind suckered in."
Sam cocked her head, "But you didn't! How come you didn't get suckered in?"
Jack shrugged and admitted, "Monique is pretty but…ya know…some are prettier." He started to blush as he looked upon Sam for to Jack it was Sam that caught his eye. She was smart and gorgeous and more of a queen than any royalty.
"Who?" she wondered.
He shrugged and mentioned, "Some of the women on base are pretty too."
"Who?" she wondered for there was not that many women on base.
"You for one." he spoke softly and rather meek.
Sam paused, "You think I'm better looking than Monique?"
"Monique is a close second." he mentioned still blushing.
"Monique looks like she just stepped out of a magazine." Sam told him. "I don't look like a model."
"You look way better than most models." he told her flatly. "And your big brain is…" he held hands wide feeling rather dumb himself. He tried to recover and reel his emotions in. "I guess I wasn't taken because you know…you're on my team."
She placed her chin in the palm of her hand and gazed upon him. "I guess that the nicest thing any man has ever said to me."
"Don't let it go to your head, Carter." he warned her.
"I won't." she smirked at him.
Jack then spied Monique and Teal'c enter the commissary and go to the line to gather their food. He looked the companion over in more detail. He noticed her upper arms were rather muscular and firm. "I bet she could take on T in an arm wrestling match." he mentioned to himself.
Sam glanced back at the pair. She turned back to Jack, "I think Monique is Abby's bodyguard and she probably knows how to fight." She then added, "Teal'c seems to really like her."
"Obviously," Jack agreed. He then spotted Daniel escort Abby who wore blue battle dress that matched Daniel's uniform into the commissary. He observed from afar for he knew Abby's taste in food was more protein centered. Much to his surprised she grabbed the box of Froot Loops along with her meal. "She has a sweet tooth." he figured.
Sam watched as well, "Must be why Monique grabbed that candy bar from Daniel so fast. Abby would have eaten it."
"She really likes Jell-O," Jack nodded.
The four made their way to the table with Jack and Sam and took their seats. Jack listened as Daniel chatted about the Ancient Greeks and was speaking about ancient civilizations from Earth.
Daniel suggested, "If you want to see the ruins I can guild you, Abby. Ancient civilizations is my expertise."
"That would wonderful." she replied. For Abby loved the idea of being a tourist on a new and strange world.
Monique stated, "We have a trade agreement to complete and Olympia needs you, My Queen. You do not have time to go traveling about this world for no cause."
Abby gave a heavy sigh, "Maybe at a later time."
Daniel assured, "We can schedule you the trip. It will take time to get everything in order anyways."
Sam added, "I would like to see your ships, Abby."
"One is orbiting your moon." she told her off hand.
Monique let out a deep sigh as Abby gave away the position of the ship that was sent to ensure her safety.
Sam and Daniel traded glances.
"What?" Daniel asked confused.
Monique explained, "I had a ship sent to observe your planet before we left. It's stationed behind your moon in the event that the Queen were to be placed in any danger."
Sam squinted, "But we're deep in a mountain. How will the ship get to her?"
Monique informed, "We can be extricated at anytime with our level of molecular manipulation technology. Much like the Goa'uld transporting rings but far more advanced."
Abby explained further, "I watched this show called 'Star Trek' and our technology is much like that transporter beam in the show.
Sam cocked her head, "I thought Star Trek was more like Asgard technology." To Sam the Asgard had far better technology than the Goa'uld for they didn't require multiple sets of rings to transport.
Abby nodded, "I know, that's where we got to idea to develop our molecular transporter ability further, from the Asgard. Prior to that we mainly used shuttles and ships and along with the Star Gate system. I've been wanting to set up trade and relations with the Asgard for some time now."
Jack asked, "So you could be beamed out at anytime?
Abby nodded with a grin, "Yes."
"Can you beam us up too?" he wondered.
She agreed, "We can mark your genetic codes and…beam…you up too." She asked excited, "Would you like a tour of my ship?"
"Sure," Jack agreed.