Fic, Picking up guys at the bar, Sam/Martouf/Lantash, NC-17, 2/6

[hathor_girl]

 I pick a bar called 'The Green Rose' - partly because it lies almost at the opposite end of Colorado Springs as Cheyenne Mountain, and so will probably have fewer people I know, and partly because it looks like a nice place. It is decorated very much for Halloween, and have Halloween themed drinks and food - and cheaper drinks for people in costume. It looks like there are a lot of happy people in costumes in there!

I go inside, and up to the bar, ordering a beer. A bit unimaginative, perhaps, but I'm out of practice. As I drink my beer, I decide I need to try some of the fancy and delicious looking drinks I seem people around me have.

I have not been here long before I remember just why it's not a good idea to go out like this alone. I have no one to talk to, and most people are there with friends.

Yes, sure, there are several men who talk to me, complimenting me on my costume, or asking me if they can buy me drinks. I tell them no thanks, but a couple of them are cute and hang around to chat for a while.

Spotting a pretty blue drink that gives off white fog, I lean closer to the waitress. "I'd like one of those." I point at the drink.

"One 'blue ice' coming up!"

I get my drink, and take a sip, as soon as the dry ice has sublimated. It is cold, but exquisite. I smile to myself and look out over the mass of people. I've only had two beers, and now this 'blue ice', but I feel a little drunk already, and decide to check out the guys. I've already seen several hot specimens, and it's not like I've gotten any for years... Perhaps it's time to get out of this dry spell.

---

Martouf POV

~I really hope this was not a bad idea.~ I look out over the city called 'Colorado Springs', on the Tau'ri homeworld.

~Me too, but we had to come, you know that.~

~Yes, I agree.~

About two weeks ago, we went to scout out a previously uninhabited planet known as Howler. Our Tok'ra base has already been attacked twice, and moved twice in the last few months, so we need new places to go. I wonder if we have a spy?

The planet Howler was no longer uninhabited. A people called the Nasyans now live there. Lantash has met someone from that planet thirty years ago, before I became his host, so when we learned they are now on Howler, we searched out the man, called Rolof, who was fortunately still alive.

Since he did not know of the Tok'ra, I pretended to be the son of the man that had visited him then. Lantash and his host had stayed with him for several weeks, trading, so it was not unlikely I had heard of him, and now came to talk to him about trade.

He was a friendly man and told me his people had been moved when they had been attacked by the Goa'uld. The people who had helped them move were called the Tau'ri - and that was of course enough to make us interested. The Tau'ri had killed Ra, and they are clearly still out and around in the Galaxy. This would be of interest to the Council - since this could be a new important faction. Lantash and I had already suggested we contact them, but that was turned down. With this new information it might be reevaluated.

In any case, Rolof also told us something else that was of more personal interest for us. Much more personal interest. Turns out his daughter Talia's husband Quinta had been taken as host - without anyone knowing. An ashrak had come to kill the symbiote, and the Goa'uld had sent death gliders as well.

That's very unusual! There are few they hate enough for that! We suspected a Tok'ra, and then Talia came into the room, and told us that the symbiote had taken one of the Tau'ri as host, and as far as she knew it had died - and that its name had been Jolinar!

I had a very very hard time keeping my composure, and I don't know exactly how I got through the rest of the discussion. Lantash took over for a while, using my voice, but we were both shaken.

Yes, Jolinar had already been missing for more than a year, so we feared she was dead. It was likely she was dead...but that is not the same to have it confirmed all of a sudden.

We decided we needed to learn more about Jolinar's last host, and about her last days, in order to get closure.

We convinced the Council to let us go to the Tau'ri, mostly because they would like some more information about that people, and have them evaluated, if they could be potential friends.

So now we are here. We landed in a cloaked teltac, as close to the chaapa'ai as we dared. Our scanners told us it is hidden deep underground, so most likely in an underground complex, because it is clearly in use.

We then walked from the forest we parked in, to the city of Colorado Springs. It is a huge city, compared to most human dwellings. We were shocked when we scanned the planet from orbit! So many people!

Their technology is fairly advanced compared to most human worlds, even if it is primitive compared to Tok'ra technology, of course. That is good, since we did not want them to detect our teltac.

We had dressed in as inconspicuous clothing as possible, but it is still much different from what most people wear. We had brought some jewelry to sell, to get local currency, so we found a place we could sell some of it. I do not believe we were paid as much as it is worth, when I compare to what many of the things they displayed costed, but Lantash and I decided it didn't matter. We got what sounds like a reasonably amount of currency to pay for things while we visit - 11492 of something they call dollars. Mostly pieces of paper, but we have seen others use them in stores, so it is legitimate currency here. Interesting.

We rented a room at a guesthouse, and spent several hours examining something they call a television, and which shows news and 'movies', which are made up stories. Also very unusual, but interesting.

It is difficult to navigate this society, since it is so different. People seem to think we are 'strange', for not knowing how many things work or how it is done. I have told them I am a visitor, a foreigner, and they seem to accept that.

We bought some local clothing and shoes, and that helped us fit in. I must admit this is the first place I have bought clothing, where the torn clothing is as expensive or MORE expensive than new whole clothing! This world is strange!

We have spent some days getting used to this world, but we are no closer to accessing the chaapa'ai, or finding the people who have knowledge of Jolinar, and who must be among those who can travel off world. We can't exactly go up to people and ask them about the chaapa'ai, and the people who use it, when it is hidden underground, can we? It seems to be secret, maybe even it is considered taboo? The ones that use it are perhaps part of a religious cult? That is the case on many worlds, which have once been under Goa'uld rule, like this one.

We are starting to despair we will ever get more information, though I suppose the Council will be interested in the development and culture of the planet, so it is not all wasted.

Now, suddenly the streets are full of people wearing all kinds of strange clothing!

~I've noticed - and I have also noticed that there are odd and creepy decorations in many places, including the stores and the food place where we ate. I am guessing it is a local religious holiday, or perhaps a festival of some kind, meant to ward of evil spirits, perhaps.~

~That would make sense. Do you think we should dress accordingly?~

~Yes...if we are to befriend someone on this world, which we must to get information, we should follow local custom. We should find a place to buy one of these more unusual outfits.~

~Maybe we won't have to. In the teltac, we have the clothing we wore when we purchased the teltac - when we pretended to be a minor Goa'uld in the service of Heru'ur. Perhaps that would work for this occasion - unless you think they will suspect us of being Goa'uld.~

~From what I have seen, I think the majority of people have forgotten about the Goa'uld. Perhaps only those who belong to the cult who uses it, know. Regardless, I would prefer not to wear something that reminds me of pretending to be a Goa'uld. Let us purchase a local costume, and then we can find an inn or something where the revelers have gone after any ceremonies.~