Chapter 3: The Palace
Whispering Woods, Etheria, July 10th, 1998 (Earth Time)
Trying to disassemble the 'skiff' would be very rude, Samantha Carter told herself as she stared at the floating vehicle. It looked… like a cross between a sailing yacht and a… actually, it looked like a floating sailing yacht.
"We'll have to check if George Lucas is an alien once we return to Earth," the Colonel joked. "This looks almost like Jabba's skiff."
"Indeed," Teal'c said. "Although the skiff there doesn't have the sail."
"You've got skiffs as well?" Entrapta jumped down from her robot - Emily - and let her hair tendrils catch her fall. "How do they work? You said you don't use magic, so you can't be using a levitation spell stabilised in a crystal matrix like the skiff here does. Do you use gravity generators? The Horde tanks and frigates use them, but they're a bit bulky and finicky. Lots of maintenance is needed to keep them going at peak efficiency. Darla got a more robust system, but it's not as optimised."
"Darla?" Daniel asked before Sam could ask about the gravity generators - which had to be the same technology the Goa'uld used for their space ships' artificial gravity.
"That's our spaceship's name. I named her!" The princess nodded. "She's old but reliable, and I've been updating her systems for months!"
"Ah."
"But if you have a better way to create artificial gravity, I might use that. What do you use?"
"We were talking about a fictional vehicle," Daniel said. "We don't use anti-gravity vehicles on Earth."
"Oh. Is flying taboo in your world? If it is, we have a long walk before us." Bow looked concerned. Judging by the way he winced, walking through the forest wouldn't be a good idea.
"This is Etheria, not Earth. They're guests here, not the other way around," Catra snapped. "I'm not going to walk through the forest because someone thinks flying is evil."
"No, we don't have a taboo against flying," the Colonel spoke up. "In fact, both Captain Carter and I are pilots."
"Oh! Neat!" Entrapta gushed. "But you don't use gravity generators or magic…" Her eyes widened. "Do you use pure powered flight using aerodynamic principles, like birds?"
"More or less," Sam replied. "We have different ways to achieve lift."
"And we can talk about all that once we're underway," Catra cut in. "I don't want to be in the forest at dusk when all the worst monsters come out to hunt."
"We were planning to camp here for a few days," Glimmer said.
The catwoman glared at her. "That doesn't mean we have to, now that we've explored the ruins. And that was just the five of us - I can't protect everyone else when they're stumbling around in the darkness."
"Let's just board the skiffs," Adora said. "It'll be a little tight, I think, but we'll manage."
"Can the skiff carry all of us?" Glimmer asked.
"No. At least two will have to ride with our supplies," Catra said.
"Perhaps we should have taken a Hauler," Adora said.
"A Horde Hauler wouldn't have made it through the swamp," Glimmer retorted.
"Emily made it." Adora nodded at the robot.
"You carried her."
"I could carry a Hauler," Adora said.
Sam wondered what a Hauler was. The way they talked, it sounded like a truck - an all-terrain truck. But the woman claimed to be able to carry it. Then again, they had anti-gravity technology. And magic.
"Let's just board the skiffs and get going," Catra said again.
"We'd like to stay together," the Colonel said.
Sam nodded in agreement. It was best to keep an eye on both Daniel and the Colonel.
"So… one of us needs to pilot the skiff, with four of you on board, it should work. The other skiff can carry three people, including the pilot, with our supplies" Entrapta said with a slight frown. "That means we're one short. I can ride Emily!"
"Please don't inconvenience yourself on our behalf," Daniel said.
"It's not an inconvenience. Emily's my friend!"
"So, that's settled. Let's go already!"
"Catra! Don't be rude!"
"I'm not being rude! I didn't even call anyone names."
"But they're our guests!"
"They are also in the middle of the Whispering Woods."
"It's actually not in the middle," Entrapta said. "We're more to the east."
"It's a figure of speech." Catra jumped up on the empty skiff in an impressive display of agility and strength. "I'm going to pilot this skiff," she said. "Everyone aboard!"
They climbed up the short ladder hanging down from the vehicle. There were no seats, Sam noticed. It really was like the vehicle from Star Wars. Not the most ergonomic design, she couldn't help thinking. But it flew.
"How high can this skiff fly?" the Colonel asked.
"Not very high," Catra replied as she looked at the other skiff. "The spell's only good for a few yards. Otherwise, we'd just break through the canopy and hightail it out of here."
Which was obvious in hindsight. Then again, nothing was obvious on a foreign planet.
"So… you're a pilot as well?" Daniel asked. As expected.
"Anyone can drive a skiff," Catra replied.
"Well, I can't." Daniel flashed her a smile. "But I take it skiffs are common, then. In our world, most people - at least in our country - stick to cars - but in another country, private planes are a common way to travel."
He was stretching the truth a little, there, Sam knew - not even in the outback in Australia were planes as common as cars. But it probably wouldn't hurt to make Earth appear a little less… earth-bound. They were dealing with what seemed to be a space-faring civilisation, after all.
And as much as she would deny it, should the Colonel ask, Sam was very curious how their settlements would look, with access to gravity generators and space ships.
"So, do you do most of your trade with skiffs? Or are they just used for exploration and scouting?"
Didn't the guy - Daniel - ever get tired of asking questions? "Both," Catra told him.
"Ah." He nodded, not looking confused or frustrated in the slightest.
"We were slower when traversing the swamp. Was that deliberately, or is this a limitation of the skiff?"
"The spell lifting us doesn't work well over water," Catra told the nosy woman.
"Like a hoverboard." The old guy chuckled.
"A hoverboard?" Catra asked. The others looked confused, she noticed. Except for the tall, dark guy, Teal'c, but he never showed any emotion anyway.
"From Back to the Future," O'Neill explained.
"Ah!" Daniel nodded with a smile.
Carter sighed while taking notes, so it was probably a joke.
Daniel cleared his throat. "It's a, ah, fictive story in our world. Quite famous, actually, as far as such things go, and there's a scene where the main character tries to use a hoverboard - a floating skateboard - to fly over a pond, and it stops moving."
"Ah." Catra nodded. "That's the same here - the spell stops working, and the skiff goes into the water." And then you better prayed that the hull had no holes in it.
She steered the skiff around a patch of forest, checking that Adora's skiff and Emily could keep pace. Perhaps she shouldn't have told their guests that - they might use that information if they stole one of the skiffs. On the other hand, it wasn't really a secret. Unless they locked the group up, they could easily find out how things worked. As they would easily find out about the war against the Horde.
And Catra had a feeling that Glimmer wouldn't have their guests locked up. Not on mere suspicion, at least.
"So, you use ships as well?" Daniel asked. "I mean, ships for the ocean, not space ships."
"Yes." Just because they could find out things didn't mean Catra had to spell out everything for them, though.
"Like Earth. Bulk trade is still most efficiently handled by ships," Daniel told her. "Do you have canals as well?"
"Some." No matter how curt she was, the guy didn't stop.
"So, do you have both an ocean port and a spaceport, or do the spaceships land in the water as well?" O'Neill asked.
"They can land in the water, but it's a little bothersome." There! Try to make sense of that!
"Do the spaceships use spells as well?" Carter had finished taking notes.
"Some do. Some don't."
That got a reaction - Carter exchanged a glance with O'Neill. Of course, they had no experience with magic, so they probably would feel safer in a Horde frigate.
Or they would feel safer stealing a Horde frigate. Catra pressed her lips together. If the Stargate wasn't working, a ship was their best bet to return to their home - Earth. She'd have to talk to Glimmer to ensure that their guests couldn't talk to the remaining Horde clones in Bright Moon. Not privately, at least. Most of the clones were still trying to adjust to a life not spent in blind obedience to Horde Prime. They weren't the brightest, either - Before they had vanished, Double Trouble had said trying to con them was so easy, it was beneath the spy. Which was a good thing, or they would have probably gathered a following of their own by now.
"Did you ever talk to someone about what you did in the war?"
Catra's eyes widened at O'Neill's question. Why would he suddenly ask her that? What was his game? "Sometimes, all we did was talk about the war," she replied with a forced chuckle. "We had plenty of time in space." Not quite a lie. Not that she wanted to remember that time, on Darla, after Glimmer's rescue. After Adora had come for her, despite everything Catra had done.
"Ah." The old guy didn't pry. But he was looking at her in that weird way.
Catra almost sighed with relief when she finally spotted Bright Moon in the distance. "Look ahead!" She called out. "Bright Moon!"
They had caught it at the perfect moment. The sun was setting, but several moons were up already, and the town was shining compared to the darkening sky. The royal palace looming over the town was glinting, the golden wings catching the last rays of the sun.
"Wow!"
"Is that… an artificial waterfall? From the top of the mountain?"
"That, or their plumber messed up."
Catra snorted. Sometimes, the old guy was actually funny. "Don't let Glimmer hear that. It's her kingdom's pride and joy."
"What is that floating… crystal?"
Ah, damn. "That's the Runestone, the symbol of her rule," Catra said. "That's also her pride and joy."
"So, Jack, don't joke about it. There might be religious aspects as well to consider."
"Daniel, you know me - I'm the perfect diplomat."
Catra snorted again. But she actually didn't doubt the claim. She was sure O'Neill was the sneakiest of the whole group. The kind of guy who would sneak some bombs into a diplomatic meeting just in case.
Like herself.
Bright Moon, Etheria, July 10th, 1998 (Earth Time)
So, that was Bright Moon. Shiny was an understatement, Jack O'Neill had to admit. The town was built around and into a steep mountain, domed houses circling the mountain's base and wrapping around its flanks as they snaked up to a huge palace. Compared to the settlements SG-1 had seen so far, it looked impressive. Very impressive. The artificial waterfalls - because there was no way a spring happened to be on the very top of a mountain, magic or no magic - would be the envy of a number of landscapers and architects on Earth. Mostly in Vegas, he thought with a chuckle. And the palace itself… well, the Goa'uld would like the golden statue on top of it. And the floating crystal. Very 'divine right'.
On the other hand, no Goa'uld would be caught traipsing through the jungle without an entourage large enough to serve every whim of theirs and build a road first. Or would ride with the luggage so their unwanted guests could take their seats on their floating barge. Jack had to give the locals props for that.
Then again, while their pilot had been quite curt and cagey when answering Carter and Daniel's questions, she had let slip enough - also by evading certain questions - to paint a pretty grim picture.
The kid had been fighting in that war they had mentioned for years. And, catwoman or not, if Catra or the other kids, with the exception of the hair princess, were a hair over twenty, Jack would eat his cap. Someone had sent those kids into war. And it had left scars. The way Catra didn't mention anything personal about the war, the way she got evasive whenever Carter or Daniel asked for details about this or that part related to the war… She didn't want to talk about it. Didn't want to think about it. Jack knew the signs. Saw them often enough in the mirror. And he had seen the signs on other kids, after the Gulf War. During his own mandatory therapy. It wasn't as if the US Army only sent adults into battle. But for the grunts, the ground part of the Gulf War had only lasted a couple of days.
Those kids here? They had fought for years. And Jack bet that they hadn't had an easy time of it. Which contrasted a lot with the shiny town they were approaching.
"That's… the architecture doesn't match any historical style," Daniel commented. "It must have evolved on its own. Another hint that this isn't a forgotten Goa'uld slave colony started with kidnapped people from Earth."
The fact that their pilot had cat ears, a tail, claws and cat eyes as well as fangs was a bigger clue, in Jack's opinion.
"Better keep that slavery stuff to yourself," Catra said. "Some people might take offence."
Such as the kid, Jack knew. The way she tensed… Had she gone through something similar as Jack had when he had been captured by the Iraqis? Or was he projecting? He couldn't check with the others right now. Not that he wanted to in the first place. He was their leader. They depended on him keeping things together.
"Of course. We meant no offence," Daniel said with an easy smile. "It's just that this is so fascinating!"
Catra snorted. "It came through the war quite well. Unlike other kingdoms, the Horde never took it. Came close a few times, though," she added with a toothy grin. "The shield almost fell."
She talked as if she were glad of that - did she resent the people here for staying safe while she was on the frontlines?
"The shield?" Carter asked.
"The magic shield protecting the town," Catra replied with a scowl.
Another slip, then, Jack noted. The locals had force shields. Shields large enough to cover an entire town - including a mountain. SGC would want one of those. Or more.
They reached what probably passed for the gates for the city. It was a simple checkpoint. Jack could see two guards in ornate armour snapping to attention, spears raised. He tilted his head, but they were travelling a little too fast for him to make out whether or not the spears hid some blaster cannons. They probably did, though - the archer kid had trick arrows straight out of comic books, the sword of She-Ra could change into a spade, and the princess had magic hair. They couldn't assume that any weapon they saw was what it looked like at first glance.
Hell, he thought with a snort, we better be careful with the cutlery, so we don't accidentally blow up dinner.
They drove up a winding road towards the palace. A number of the people - both humans and aliens - on the street waved to the queen, but it was a far cry from the cheering section a Goa'uld fake god would have demanded. And some even glared at them. Trouble in paradise? Or some oppressed minority?
Jack couldn't tell. But he trusted Daniel to have noticed it as well. And his friend would probably know what was up with that.
Then they reached the gates - massively oversized gates - of the palace. More guards snapped to attention, all in shiny armour with capes. And Glimmer took charge. "General Juliet! We require quarters for four guests. And an escort for them."
"Well, it's not off to the dungeons with us," Jack joked as he climbed down to the ground.
Catra snickered in return.
Jack had a feeling that he had missed something.
Royal Palace, Bright Moon, Etheria, July 10th, 1998 (Earth Time)
Adora shook her head. Catra was being rude. Well, ruder than she usually was. She could just be tired and cranky or there could be more to this. But this wasn't the time to sort that out. "Don't mind her," she told their guests. "She just thinks it's funny that the palace has no dungeons."
"No dungeons?" Jack sounded almost disappointed.
"That's not exactly abnormal," Daniel said. "The White House doesn't have any dungeons, either. There are prisons to hold, ah, prisoners. I suppose that things are the same here." He looked at Catra, who snickered again.
"Not quite," Adora's lover said.
Glimmer sighed and rolled her eyes. "Bright Moon's prisons aren't rated for princesses and similar prisoners. So, when we had such prisoners, they were housed in specially reinforced rooms in the palace." And where princesses were close to deal with any trouble, Adora knew.
"Which also were the guest quarters." Catra grinned. "In other words, you're going to the palace dungeons."
"They're not dungeons," Glimmer spat.
"Could've fooled me."
"You are welcome to find out the differences."
Adora cleared her throat. "Anyway," she said. "They're really nice guest quarters."
"Who can be turned into prison cells," Jack said.
"Any room can be turned into a prison cell," Entrapta pointed out. "A force field on the doors and windows is all you need. You can cover the walls as well if you think they could be breached."
"And you did that with guest rooms for your prisoners?" Jack asked. "Not a storage room somewhere damp and cold?"
"We're not the Horde!" Glimmer protested.
Catra scoffed. "Horde cells weren't damp and cold."
"But not as nice as our rooms."
"Are you really arguing about who had the better dungeons?" Bow asked.
"No, they aren't" Adora said, glaring at both of her friends. "So, let's go?" She gestured at the open gates. "It's getting a little late, and you probably want to freshen up before dinner."
"Yes, thank you," Daniel said with a smile. "That's very generous."
"It's the least we can do," Adora told him.
"Yes, yes, let's go. I want to freshen up as well," Catra said. "And you also need a shower."
Adora frowned. She hadn't really exerted herself, which was hard anyway as She-Ra, and she could simply change back and would be fine, but… Oh! "Yes, I do," she said.
Glimmer rolled her eyes, but Bow elbowed her before she could say anything.
"Oh! You want to be intimate!" Entrapta beamed at them.
Adora forced herself to smile back while Catra snickered. "We want to rest a little."
"Ah!" Entrapta nodded and took out her recorder. "I see."
She would be recording another 'euphemism for sex'. But they got going. Juliet had a squad of guards show the others the guest quarters while Adora and her friends walked towards their own quarters.
As soon as they were out of earshot, Glimmer sighed. "Finally! What did you find out, Catra?"
"Not much," Catra replied. "They're good at hiding things. The old guy is the leader, but we knew that already."
Adora nodded. Their ranks had been obvious.
"But he's… laid back. Lets the others talk, Daniel and Carter," Catra went on. "They had a lot of questions," she added with a wry expression. "Anyway, he tries to play dumb but he's sharp."
"Well, he wouldn't be their leader if he were dumb," Adora said.
"Anyway," Catra said, "He's got training in interrogation, I think. The way he looked at me when he thought I wouldn't notice, and how he commented on some of the questions…" She hissed under her breath. "I think he's the most dangerous. Most experienced. He's not a scientist like Carter or Daniel is, but..." She shrugged. "Just a feeling I got off him, and Melog agrees."
Adora nodded. That fit her own impression. "What about Teal'c?"
"Didn't say more than a few words." Catra cocked her head. "Melog says he's intense. Whatever that means."
"And Carter is a great scientist!" Entrapta blurted out. "I'm looking forward to sharing data with her! The things we could research together!"
"Ah…" Adora licked her lips.
"Perhaps we should wait a bit before we share data?" Bow suggested. "We don't know them yet."
"The best way to get to know someone is data."
"That doesn't mean we need to give them data," Catra said. "They're already gathering intel."
"Daniel had got a lot of questions," Adora agreed.
"About what?" Glimmer asked.
"Everything," Adora told her. "From clothes to families to religion."
"Oh, yes. The guy never stops talking." Catra sighed. "I was tempted to crash the skiff just to shut him up."
Adora hoped she was joking.
Glimmer frowned. "Do you think they're spies?"
"No," Adora said.
"Yes," Catra said.
"What?" She stared at her lover.
Catra shrugged. "I don't know if they are here to spy on us. But they're spies. Scouts. Whatever. So, don't transform around them. Not until we know more about them, and whether we can trust them."
"Great." Glimmer slumped a little. "Another problem to deal with."
"It's not a problem - it's an opportunity! A network of Stargates!" Entrapta gushed. "Imagine how many worlds we can visit!"
"Or how many worlds can be invaded," Glimmer retorted, tilting her head. "You heard about those Goa'uld. And what they do."
Adora suppressed a shudder. Snakes that wrapped around your spine and took over your body? They were worse than Horde Prime. She glanced at Catra. Her lover had her arms crossed, claws denting her own skin - she must be remembering being chipped.
Adora wrapped her in a hug, feeling her tense for a second before huffing and relaxing. And then she started squirming since they were still in public, sort of, and Adora let her go.
"We need a way to detect those snakes. Other than Melog," Glimmer said while Catra huffed and ran a hand through her hair.
"I bet Carter and the others know one!" Entrapta was still smiling. "Another reason to share data."
Glimmer didn't look like she agreed. Adora wasn't sure herself. Daniel was nice. And the others seemed, well, not bad either. And yet… They had to talk about this.
The quarters they were shown were very much unlike cells. Samantha Carter didn't remember ever staying in more luxurious surroundings - they might put the best hotels on Earth to shame.
"A waterfall inside the room? Those interior decorators would make a killing in Vegas," the Colonel commented as he walked around. "Although their beds need some work," he added, pressing a hand down on the mattress. "That's more like an oversized pillow than a mattress. You could drown in this."
Teal'c nodded. "Indeed. I will sleep on the floor."
The Colonel looked at her. "Any bugs, Carter?"
She shook her head. "None that I can detect." That didn't mean much, of course. The locals could be using entirely different technology to do their surveillance. Or just have a person with their ear pressed to the wall. But they had to discuss their situation - they couldn't wait much longer.
"Well, maybe there is a kernel of truth in the tale of the Princess and the Pea," Daniel said, chuckling. "But I'm sure we can ask for harder mattresses. Our hosts seem very accommodating."
"Yeah, 'seem'," the Colonel told him with a frown. "Don't let the glitz and pastel fool you. Those people have been through a war. At least the ones in charge. A bloody war."
Teal'c nodded in agreement. "They are veteran warriors, not untried children."
Sam nodded as well. They were correct. The way the group reacted to threats… They were acting like soldiers, not archaeologists. Certainly not like young adults on an 'adventure'. And the little details that Entrapta let slip about her technology… "Yes, sir. And they grew up during the war."
"That will have shaped their lives and outlook, yes," Daniel said. "But many aristocratic societies hold guest rights in high regard. I doubt that they plan to turn on us."
The Colonel snorted. "It's an alien society with magic princesses and animal people, Daniel. Who knows how they think?"
"They aren't animal people!" Daniel protested. "They are humanoids with some animal traits."
And clearly human or ancient ancestry in the mix. Sam wished she had a way to test the DNA.
The Colonel mumbled something that probably involved potatoes. Sam ignored it. "And they are technologically advanced. Entrapta knows more about robotics than anyone on Earth, sir."
"So, you believe their claim that they have spaceships, Carter?"
"Yes, sir." She nodded firmly.
"Why would they make this up?" Daniel asked. "They didn't know us. Or about us."
"Or they want us to think that," the Colonel pointed out.
"I doubt that. I talked at length with Adora. And we talked with Catra. Their stories match up. And how could they have expected us? They would have had to improvise a deception that holds up under scrutiny without being able to coordinate their answers." Daniel shook his head.
"They could be talking in their minds," the Colonel retorted. "Or like the cat. The four-legged cat."
Sam couldn't discard that possibility, but she didn't think that was likely. "I believe they were genuine."
"Maybe they were, but that was out in the woods. Now we're in a palace. A royal Palace."
"We haven't met many democratic societies, Jack," Daniel said. "And with obvious magic talents present in some locals, apparently hereditary, an aristocracy is a logical result."
"An aristocracy that just finished a war involving spaceships. And with huge guns." The Colonel shook his head. "And ground soldiers that can carry Stargates around as if they were bags of groceries. We aren't in Kansas any more for sure."
Sam smiled at the reference. "And we don't have any red shoes."
The Colonel chuckled. "So… were guests of magic princesses. And we need to find a way to activate the Stargate to return to Earth. Ideas?"
"We need to find the D.H.D.," Sam replied at once. "It's the fastest way to restore the gate's functionality. Entrapta can scan for Naquadah, so if she's able to build a scanner with enough range, we should have good odds of finding the missing D.H.D."
"If it's still around, you mean."
Sam pressed her lips together. If the D.H.D. wasn't around any more… She nodded. "If we cannot find it, we might be able to build a computer and power source for the ring. Entrapta's work with robots and artificial intelligence clearly shows that this civilisation has the resources to build both supercomputers able to handle the load as well as the power sources to supply the gate." As long as Entrapta's claims were true. But the princess hadn't seemed to be lying. And Sam doubted that the others would have gone on an expedition with a delusional person - they had trusted Entrapta and treated her as an expert on technology.
"How long would that take?"
"That's hard to say, sir," Sam ventured. "But months at least. It depends on the architecture. I will have to program the software as well. And the navigational data."
The Colonel didn't like that, judging by his frown. But it couldn't be changed. "So we will have to live in Barbie's Disney Palace for a while."
Daniel nodded with a smile. "Their civilisation is fascinating. We've barely scratched the surface. Different species! Multiple sapient species! Spaceships and magic! And a society shaped by both, possibly founded by the Ancients!
Well, at least one of them was happy about their situation. Though if Sam was honest with herself, then she had to admit that she was looking forward to studying the local technology as well. Including the magic parts.
"We should have made Entrapta build a device to eavesdrop on our guests without them knowing," Catra said, looking at the ceiling above their bed.
"Hm?"
Catra felt Adora shift next to her. The arm she was resting her head on pulled a little to the side. She resisted the urge to grab it and let her claws prick the skin to keep it in place. This wasn't the time for games. They'd already had their fun, anyway. "I'm sure they're planning something. We should listen in."
"That would be rude."
"So?" Catra turned her head. Adora was frowning at her in that pouty way that made her so… She smiled against her will, and Adora smiled back.
But then she grew serious. "You don't eavesdrop on your guests."
How naive. Catra wanted to shake her head. "You eavesdrop on potential enemies." That was the smart thing to do.
"They aren't our enemies. And they're just four people."
"Four people can do a lot," Catra pointed out. Like the 'Best Friends Squad', as Bow insisted on calling their group. Even though it now included her. And she was many things, but not a good friend, much less the best.
"They're not princesses," Adora retorted. "They don't have any magic. Their weapons aren't anything special, either."
"Entrapta would disagree." As would Catra. The rate of fire she had seen put laser rifles to shame.
"That's because the weapons are different. But they aren't really better than Horde small arms." Adora shook her head. "I'd rather have a stun baton. It's more versatile."
Indeed. The 'Tau'ri' must not take many prisoners with their weapons. "The baton has a shitty range, though." The stun setting only worked in close quarters, and the blast setting wasn't much better. 'Just far enough so the blast won't hurt you', they had called it in the Horde.
"Well, that's what laser rifles are for. And those don't need ammunition."
"But they run out of power." Catra smiled. Talking about weapons… that took her back to when both of them had been little, just starting weapons training as… cadets. She stopped smiling.
"Eventually." Adora blinked, then bit her lower lip. She had noticed Catra's mood. Somehow, she always seemed to notice. Or almost always. It was both annoying and, well… endearing. "It's OK," Adora said in a softer voice.
Catra rolled her eyes and huffed. They didn't have to talk about that. "We shouldn't underestimate them. Carter's like their Entrapta." And they both knew how dangerous Entrapta was if she put her mind to it. Or when she didn't really think about what she was doing.
"Do you really think they are here to hurt us?" Adora shifted to her side. She let her arm keep serving as a headrest for Catra, though.
Catra scoffed. She didn't really think that. But... "We can't exclude the possibility. Even if they arrived here by accident, they are a potential threat. If their enemies follow them and think we're allied with them..."
"Well, they are our guests. And those Goa'uld sound horrible. Almost as terrible as Horde Prime," Adora pointed out.
"We only have their word for that," Catra retorted. She wasn't going to think about being brainwashed and controlled, a prisoner in her own body.
"And Melog doesn't like the Goa'uld," Adora said.
Melog confirmed that with a slight growl from their bed.
"That doesn't mean our guests are nice, though." She held up a hand to stop Adora's response. "They seem nice - but Double Trouble also seemed nice." Before they stabbed her in the back.
"Double Trouble is…" Adora trailed off before she could embarrass herself by calling the spy 'nice'. "...special," she finished with a frown.
Catra snorted. "Speaking of them, we really should track them down."
"Why?"
"I don't trust them." Catra scowled. "And not just because of what they did to me. Do you trust them, with so many lost Horde Clones around with no idea what they should do now?"
"Do you really think they'll try to take over a group of clones?" Adora shook her head. "They'd grow bored of it in a heartbeat."
That was true, and Catra believed their claims about that. "I'm more concerned with them causing trouble."
"We can deal with that if it happens."
"When it happens," Catra corrected her.
Adora smiled wryly. "When then."
She should take this more seriously, in Catra's opinion. Horde Prime's flagship and many of its escorts around Etheria had been dealt with, but there were a lot of Horde ships left, both over Etheria and in the rest of the former Horde realm. "Well, when Double Trouble takes your appearance and starts another She-Ra cult amongst the clones, you can deal with it." Catra showed her teeth at her lover.
Adora grimaced. "Ugh. The first was bad enough, and they started that on their own." She blinked. "Unless… Do you think that was Double Trouble?"
"No." The spy would have told them. Double Trouble was sly, but they craved attention. And they bragged all the time so people would know how 'smart and creative' they were.
Adora sighed. "Anyway, I don't think our guests are a threat to us."
"I'm still going to keep an eye on them," Catra said.
"That's OK. Trust but verify, right?"
Catra scoffed. "Someone has to keep the lot of you from falling for every scam. Might as well be me."
"Yes." Adora smiled at her, then leaned over and kissed her.
If they had a little more time… But dinner would start in half an hour. Just enough to get another shower and get ready.
Catra sighed as she returned the kiss.
For a royal dinner with the Queen of the realm - and her father, the king - this was a rather casual, private affair, Jack O'Neill thought as he looked around. Less than a dozen people, all in all, sitting at a round table that would have had him make a King Arthur joke if anyone other than his own team would have understood it. Two guards at the door, and Jack hadn't seen more than three different waiters so far.
He had been at working dinners at the Pentagon that had been more formal and more grand affairs. Of course, that probably said more about the Pentagon than about their hosts here. Still, he was positively surprised by the lack of pomp and circuses. And relieved - you could always count on Goa'uld to go all-out with the boasting and posturing. Though the furniture and the cutlery were all of the finest quality, as far as he could tell - he was no expert.
"Do you like the meal, Colonel?"
That was the king. Though, as far as Jack had understood Daniel's explanation, he was actually the former queen's consort. Glimmer was the actual ruler of this realm. "It's excellent," he replied. "Your highness," he added. It was actually very good. And not too exotic, either - a tasty steak, just as he liked it, with some vegetables that looked like broccoli but tasted not unlike carrots.
"I'll tell the cook," the king said, smiling. Really down to earth, Jack couldn't help thinking. Much more polite than most brass he had met back home. Also a far cry from most politicians he had met.
"It's excellent, your highness," Daniel chimed in. "May I ask what it is called?"
"Uh, steak with greens," the king replied. "Beef, in this case."
Daniel actually looked surprised and a little disappointed. Jack smirked - his friend probably had hoped for some exotic dish steeped in myth and history.
"You can also use horse meat for it, but that has fallen out of favour since the war," Entrapta said, looking up for a moment from where she was talking to Carter in a low but excited voice. Voices, actually - Jack had the feeling that he should be concerned about that.
"Oh?" Daniel turned towards her.
Jack tilted his head slightly. Had they had a shortage of beef during the war and had to turn to horses? Jack knew that many countries in Europe had to order rationing during the Great War and World War II and had to make do with alternatives for traditional dishes. Horse meat would have been an obvious choice to replace beef.
"Yes," Adora said. "Swift Wind put an end to butchering horses." She looked up for a moment, then down again, and Catra, sitting next to her, snickered while the blonde woman flushed.
They had animal activists here? That was a surprise. Daniel would probably say this was another sign of an advanced civilisation.
Glimmer cleared her throat with a slight frown. "He did. I trust the guest quarters are to your satisfaction, Colonel?"
"They are," Jack replied. "Although the beds are a little too soft."
"Jack!" Daniel hissed. "You can't just complain about…"
But both Adora and Catra laughed. "Oh, did you get the standard beds? Yes, far too soft," Catra said.
"I almost drowned in them the first time I slept in the palace," Adora added.
Queen Glimmer pressed her lips together for a moment. "I'll tell the staff to replace the beds with the Horde model," she said.
"It's not actually a Horde bed or cot," Bow said, leaning forward. "It's what we call the beds that visitors from the former Horde are more comfortable in."
That was interesting. So, they had visitors from their enemies? Former enemies?
"We'd never have guests sleep on horde cots or bunks," Adora said, shaking her head. "Unless they insisted, of course. But the Horde models are much more comfortable without being too soft."
And that was interesting as well. It almost sounded as if she was very familiar with the difference.
"You said former Horde," Daniel spoke up. "What happened to the Horde?"
"Scorpia changed the name after the war," Adora said.
"She restored the Scorpion Kingdom," Glimmer said.
'Scorpia' and 'Scorpion Kingdom'? A former princess who managed to reconquer her country?
"Well, she's working on that - most of the land is still wilderness thanks to Adora, but they are making progress in turning it into fields," Entrapta said with a slight pout. "I offered to construct bots to clear the plants, but Perfuma said she could handle it." Then she perked up. "But once they rebuild their industry, I'll get to design the new factories so they won't pollute the environment! I've got so many ideas, and Hordak knows what went wrong the first time, so this will be so much fun!"
Adora was looking down at her plate again. What had she done to the land? Jack wondered. Some weapon of mass destruction? Or a bombing campaign? It had to be something horrible for her to feel so bad about it. But Glimmer was scowling, he noted. As was the king. Jack was missing something here.
"Hordak?" Daniel asked.
"Hordak! My partner!" Entrapta beamed at him.
"Yes." Glimmer definitely didn't like that, Jack noted. "But enough of that," she went on. "Could you tell us of your home, Colonel?"
They were constantly deferring to him, Jack noted, when addressing SG-1. And calling him by his rank. So, a certain formality persisted. Or were they just treating him like a royal? If Daniel made a 'Princess Jack' joke… He shrugged. "There's not much to tell. We're from Earth. It's quite the normal planet - we work, we farm - I like to fish in my spare time. It's very relaxing even if you don't catch any. Of course, that's because where I like to fish, we don't have such monsters as we met in the Whispering Forest." He smiled his best 'harmless retiree' smile at them.
"And you have a Stargate to travel to other worlds," Glimmer went on. "Which you use extensively, despite the obvious dangers."
Of course they wouldn't just accept his deflection. He kept smiling. "We discovered the Stargate a while ago. When we opened it, we encountered the Goa'uld. They want to conquer us, but we've held them at bay ever since, but that means we have to be active."
"If they need gates to attack, that shouldn't be too hard," Catra remarked. "Unless they have spaceships."
Jack kept his polite smile on even though she had just named SCG's worst fear - an invasion with a fleet of big honking spaceships. "We keep them busy in their own realm. Saving slaves, striking at their armies, the works."
"And exploring new worlds," Daniel added. "We're always looking for allies against the Goa'uld."
Jack suppressed a wince. Daniel was showing their hand far too soon. He was usually much more diplomatic.
"And you hope to have found some here," Glimmer said in a very neutral voice.
"Well, your cat knows about them and how bad they are," Jack pointed out, nodding at their big alien cat, which was lounging on the floor near Catra. Perhaps he could salvage this.
"Melog does, yes," Catra said. "But they're not eager to start another war. They're the last of their species - they were all killed in the last war."
Daniel winced. And Jack wanted to sigh - they had stepped into it there.