Chapter 7

The Dilemma

Queen Abigail and Monique had returned to Olympia on the Acme. It was ever so good to be home after the excursion. Abby hung up the clothing that Jack had given her in her closet as a souvenir of her travels. She then found her packed suitcase that she accidentally left behind and unpacked the belongings. She stood before a large mirror and looked about her room. It was the same room she had since she was a child for she never felt comfortable taking her parents' room after their passing. The room was rich with gold accents, light blue drapes and dark hardwood floors. The walls were painted white and her dresser was gilded in gold. After changing into a tan tunic with trousers or what he father would refer to as "play clothes" she took a seat on the edge of the lavish bed and looked about her room and her belongings. She found the bare room given to her by the S.G.C. was more welcoming than her own childhood bedroom. She wasn't sure why she didn't feel comfortable in the room. She had lived in the room for her whole life. She picked up a golden mirror that lay near her bed on a nightstand. She spoke to the mirror, "Show me father."

The mirror was a communication and recording device in reality. The reflection screen changed with a bright light and she saw an image of her father. The recording played out.

"You will be queen someday, Abby. You must act like a royal at all times. You can't go jumping in mud puddles." the image of the dark haired man stated. The recording ended.

She laid on her back and let the mirror fall to the bed with her arms wide. She stared at the golden ceiling. "I wonder what it was like to be a normal child. To be able to play in the mud and get dirty." She chuckled to herself.

A rap came at the door, "My Queen." It was Monique.

"Come in," she called still on the bed.

Monique opened the door and stepped inside. She was dressed in a white suit for fencing. She held a mesh mask under one arm and a foil in her hand. "It's time for your fencing exercise, My Queen." She had come to gather her for the routine.

"Be right there." she stated not moving.

Monique came to her side and spied the mirror. "You have been watching recordings of your father again?" she assumed.

"He never let me play in the mud." she stated rather depressed. "I had more fun with Jack in a few days than I had my entire childhood. Father would never have allowed me to watch tee vee. I'm sure of that!"

"He certainly would not have let you eat so many sweets." Monique agreed.

"You ever get…bored…being my companion?" she wondered.

"Not at all." she assured.

"I get bored with me." she confessed. "Why can't I be normal?"

"I do not understand the question?" she cocked her head.

She sat up, "Why can't I not be a royal? Why can't I be something else?"

"What else would you be?" she wondered.

She shrugged, "I don't know. I just wish I could not be queen sometimes. I make so many mistakes and I'm not nearly as good at ruling as my father was."

"You are not your father and in my opinion you have done a superior job at keeping Olympia safe." she assured her. She reminded, "There are a number of Goa'uld who would attack if they saw Olympia as weak. You make us strong so they do not attack."

Abby gave a sigh, "I need to find a way to make us stronger. The Goa'uld have been a threat hanging over us for too long. As long as they are a threat, Olympia can never truly be free and neither can I."

Monique asked, "What do you mean by neither can you?"

"I have spent my whole life protecting Olympia and not living my life. I will die protecting Olympia the same way father died. I can never be free." she sighed.

Monique assured, "We are in this together. The Goa'uld will remain a threat as long as they have power. But that doesn't mean you are prisoner to your own people, My Queen."

She disagreed but decided to change the subject, "Time for my exercise." She gathered herself and then went to gather her equipment.

Short Time Later

SG-1 returned to Olympia to further negotiations. They were greeted by Nolan and led to the Queen's castle and to the Queen's private exercise room. The room was large and rectangle in shape. The walls were lined with mirrors on both sides. It was ample in size to a gymnasium in the .

As the team entered they spied two figures in a fencing match. The pair went back and forth. Jack quickly figured it was Monique and Abby based on the stature of the pair. They were quite good and impressed Jack as the fencing match wound down.

Abby lunged forward upon countering Monique's advanced. She scored a point by hitting the garment in a vital area. Time was soon up and a loud buzzer rang indicating that Abby won the match. Both women stepped back and removed the mesh wire mask.

"You did well, My Queen." Monique stated pleased for she did not take it easy on the Queen. Instead, she wanted Abby to becomes skillful and learn a craft that could someday save her life.

"You could back off a little." she complained. "I barley got that last point in."

"I shall not," she shook her head. She and Abby both then turned towards SG-1 who stood watching.

Jack nearly applauded but kept his demeanor. "Good move, Abby. I see you won. I did some fencing when I was a cadet in the Academy."

"Thank you, Jack." she smiled at him for he represented fun in her tedious life. "Your planet has fencing too?" she asked surprised. She then tapped the side of her head, "Silly question! Our cultures have so much in common I should be asking what we don't share."

Sam stated, "I took fencing in the Academy as well. If you and Monique ever want to switch up partners we would be more the happy to join in for a match." She wanted to keep Abby and Monique on the good side for negotiations.

Monique knew Abby was growing bored and pondered, "That might be a suggestion worth considering." She smiled brightly at the Jaffa, "Teal'c…I have something to show you and…" she turned towards Abby, "My Queen." She then walked over to the nearby bench and table. She placed her gear down and retrieved an aluminum case from under the table. Then she placed the case on the table and waited for Abby and Teal'c to come beside her. When both were standing to her side she opened the case as if presenting a gift.

Abby asked, "What is it? A torch?" She thought perhaps it was an odd flashlight.

Teal'c and SG-1 could not believe what they were staring at. The item in the case looked much like a prop from the movie Star Wars. It was an exact replica of a light saber.

Monique explained, "Teal'c and I enjoyed a motion picture called…Star Wars. In the film the protagonist, Luke Skywalker was given his father's light saber and was then trained to become a Jedi Knight. After seeing the weapon in the film, I had our engineers on the Acme attempt to make our own version for I thought it would have many tactical advantages. I had the engineers base it on the fictional light saber from the film and give it all the properties the film light saber sported." She lifted the tool from the case and then stepped aside. She ignited the saber and green light, just like from the movie erupted from the end. The saber hummed.

Abby went to touch the saber when Monique stopped her. "Do not touch the blade, My Queen. It will take your hand clean off. I shall demonstrated." She turned the saber to a safer direction and swung it cutting a wooden bench in half. She then disengaged the weapon.

Abby stood wide-eyed. "That's…um…" She looked to SG-1.

Teal'c was nearly in tears for he never thought he would ever see an actual working light saber in his life.

Jack stated, "Well that's pretty nifty." He looked at his team. Even Sam had a shocked look upon her face.

Sam gulped, "How were you able to actually make a light saber? The technology for that…" she started to tail off as she realized Olympia had the technology to mimic and create any fiction weapon Earth could conjure.

Daniel stated, "Look at that! A real life light saber…huh."

Monique stated, "I have more in production. The applications are varied for this weapon. It can act as a cutting tool or weapon. She gave a bright smile to Teal'c, "I would like to give the first one to you, Teal'c. I trust you to test the device and see where we could improve."

Teal'c looked on as the light saber was placed in his hands. It was the real thing, not some prop or toy. He became solemn with the duty tasked to him. "I shall keep it secured and give you my report."

Jack warned him, "You can't take that off base and show everyone."

"It will be secured." he assured feeling like a real Jedi for just a moment.

Abby asked, "Just what is Star Wars?"

Daniel smirked at Jack, "So, you didn't show her that one?"

"I'm getting to it." he told him. He looked at Abby, "I got your jumbo T.V. coming."

"Thank you, Jack. I'm sure the people will enjoy it and the 3 Stooges." she agreed.

Sam spoke up, "Would it be possible for me to get a closer look at the Acme's engines?"

Monique question, "Why?"

"We're trying to build our own deep space vessel and you engines are rather advanced. We could use your help." she tried to explain. "I understand that your engines use a more refined version of naquadah."

Abby stated, "We do but it's very unstable when it's refined. It has to be done so in a controlled setting. It's very dangerous!"

"I understand that but we need to refine the naquadah if we are to even make a hyperspace engine for a large scale vessel. We have made contact with a planet called Langara who are also attempting to refine the naquadah as well." Sam mentioned.

"Langara is at war with itself and…" she gulped. "They don't have ships." She looked to Monique, "What are they trying to refine it for?"

"I would say possible a weapon." she informed.

Abby sighed, "That's not good."

"You have relations with Langara?" Daniel wondered.

"Trade," she nodded. "I will only send medicine and food. Due to their civil war I will not send military aid."

Jack stated, "Well, if you don't want to help us then maybe Langara will."

She shot him a look, "What? Langara is years behind your planet as far as technology goes."

"We just need the refined naquadah stuff." he shrugged.

"I was informed that you have nuclear power and weapons on your planet." Abby stated. "Refining the naquadah is equal to the hazard your nuclear power and weapons present. Langara…" she winced, "is toying with something they do not understand that would be as deadly as an atomic weapon."

Jack asked, "And?"

Abby asked Monique, "Does Langara even know what they doing?"

"We don't have much information on the current state of affairs on Langara, My Queen."

"We should go and see that they are doing." she suggested.

Monique stated, "We informed Langara that we would remain neutral and not interfere with their domestic war, My Queen. We cannot get involved."

Jack asked, "You still got the uniform I gave you to wear?"

"I do," she nodded.

"Put it on and we can pass you off as a member of team. You can find out what's going on and not get involved." Jack looked at his team for support, "No one wants anyone to go nuking themselves."

Monique stated, "I cannot let the Queen leave without an escort."

"Fine, we can get you a uniform too." he figured. "No one has to know that she's a queen and you are Merlin." he remarked.

Monique asked, "Who is Merlin?"

Abby couldn't answer the question but she did agree with Jack. "We can go and find out what Langara is up to under the cover of Sss Gee One." she agreed.

Jack corrected her, "It's S. G. One."

"That's what I said." she rebuked.

"Not Sss, Geee, One. S. G. One." he tried to explain.

She asked, "Are you mocking the way I talk?"

"No," he shook his head. "Shorten it."

Daniel stated, "Jack…Abby doesn't know the English alphabet. She's sounding it out."

"And it's annoying!" he gave a nod in agreement.