QUAD4

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It had become a habit of Colonel O'Neill's* to spend hours sitting on the upper deck in quadrant four of the Altairian plant. He'd searched every inch of the plant with Teal'c* by his side. Quadrant four was the furthest section of the plant from the main control unit and living quarters. The Colonel* had claimed this area as his personal lounge.

He'd put together a couple of makeshift fishing rods and would mess about with Teal'c* casting off from the balcony. There was a good hundred-foot drop below. But no water and no fish.

Of late the Colonel* had turned his attentions to writing papers on military strategics and analysis. Teal'c* enjoyed reading over these pages and had long discussions and debates with O'Neill* on the rights and wrongs, the correct way and incorrect way of this and that. Military things.

They didn't often have visits in the fourth quadrant from Daniel* who was busy wading his way through the computerised volumes of Altairian history. Or from Major Carter* who spent much time down in the huge basement working on her latest project, which currently happened to be the construction of an unusual looking motorbike. Harlan was constantly pottering around the plant fussing over its maintenance.

"Colonel O'Neill*? Colonel O'Neill*?"

They could hear the echo wafting the corridors. It seemed to O'Neill* that it was getting louder.

"Holy smoke, fire Teal'c* fire."

"Are you sure O'Neill*? I see no fire and I smell no.."

"Its not that type of fire Teal'c*. You don't see it but trust me its there. In fact its getting louder."

"Ah."

"Yes ah. Can you hear him getting closer?"

"Indeed. He intends to discuss our next mission."

"No! He intends to discuss his shopping list. Shushhh! Quick hide."

"O'Neill* you are making little sense."

"Teal'c* we're relaxing. Fishing if you will. Okay. Sense later, for now just get over here and hide. Shush say nothing."

"What are you two up to?"

"We are up to nothing."

"Doh, crikey Daniel*, don't sneak up on us like that."

"Why did I give you a fright?"

"No."

"Yeah sorry about that. I thought I'd find you hiding up here."

"I'm not hiding."

"Well Harlan seems to think you are and I think so to."

"Oh really and what about Carter* is she laying odds?"

"Actually Jack* I think Sams* much to busy tearing around the basement on her latest velocibile. She was even talking about trying to power the thing with naquadah."

"What, naquadah, are you serious?"

"Yeah really. I think I'll be keeping out of the basement for a while."

"I'm going to have to have a talk with Carter*. And by the way Daniel* we're not hiding. Tell him Teal'c*."

"Daniel Jackson* we are not hiding. We are fishing."

"Eh Teal'c* you do realise that in order to fish you need water."

"Daniel Jackson*, you are obviously unaware that when fishing with O'Neill* the presence of water is not always required. I myself am yet to see a fish when fishing with O'Neill*."

"Okay Teal'c* you don't need to mention that bit."

"What Teal'c*, you mean to say you've never seen the bass. The gigantic bass which must be oh all of this big."

Daniel* was comically studying the gap between his thumb and forefinger. He widened the gap a little and smiled at Teal'c*. "Really you've never seen it?" Daniel* turned and looked at O'Neill* with a smug look on his face.

Teal'c* turned and looked at O'Neill* and with a cheeky grin stated, "Never!"

"Right okay kids, funs over. Teal'c*, just because you don't see the fish it doesn't mean they're not there. And Daniel*, we're not hiding."

"Yeah okay Jack* if you say so."

"Whats up Daniel*?"

"Harlans asked me to.."

"No!"

"Just hear me out."

"Send me a memo Daniel."

"Come on Jack.*"

"Oh here we go. Daniel* the answer is no, we're not doing it."

"But jack*."

"Look Daniel* we're not hauling a cart load of mens dresses across the galaxy."

"There not mens dresses Jack*, they're Altairian formal ceremonial.. ..garb"

"Well that's not the point is it. Don't you have any idea just how risky it is for us each time we go through the Gate to the Beta site."

"Oh come on Jack*. Hes the last survivor. The only one remaining from a whole race of people. The Altairians."

"Daniel*, hes a robot."

"Jack* you know what I mean. Come on there must be someway we can make a compromise. We're talking about the end of a whole civilisation. An advanced one at that. Don't you think its important to have at least something to show of their existence?"

"Daniel Jackson* is correct O'Neill*. Although I do agree with O'Neill* Daniel Jackson*. It would be most unwise to begin taking extra cargo through the StarGate to the Beta Site. And undoubtedly undertaking such a task would serve to further expose us to the possibility of discovery. Perhaps though, under the circumstances, since Harlan is the only representative of a dead race, some small compromise to preserve tokens of the Altairian civilisation may indeed be the solution."

"Colonel O'Neill*? Colonel O'Neill*? Are you here? Are you there?" Harlan didn't usually venture out to this corner of the plant.

"Okay Daniel*, look maybe we can work out a compromise. Just keep in mind we can't keep turning up at the Beta Site with alien crates. And don't tell Harlan we're here."

"Okay Jack*. But you're not hiding right?"

"That's right Daniel* we're not hiding."

"As I have already said Daniel Jackson*, we are fishing."

"Thank you Teal'c*."

Teal'c* gave O'Neill* one of his shield of support bows, and almost broke out a smile.

"Hey Daniel*, while you're up here in the fourth quad why don't you kick back and do a spot of fishing with T*. You can take over from me and try your hand at casting for a while. Its very therapeutic. I'll just get a bit of exercise and take the long way down to the basement. Check up on Carter.*"

"Thanks Jack*, I will. I could do with a break. Tell Sam* I'll see her at debrief."

"As will I."

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© Richard Dean Anderson all rights reserved June 2006