All was quiet in the SGC.  Major Carter was in Daniel Jackson’s lab boxing up some books that he had requested be brought to him on their next visit.  He was, at this moment in time, living on a distant planet with a race of people who were originally from earth and called themselves The A’Keans.  SG-1 liked to visit Daniel Jackson as often as possible, especially Colonel O’Neill.  He loved the lakes on the A’Kean planet, fishing being one of his passions and had already introduced the A’Kean children to dogs, there were none on their planet and he had been given permission to take an assortment of breeds with him the last time he went.  Dogs were Colonel O’Neill’s favourite people.

 

Major Carter picked up some more books to box up when a statue caught her eye.  It was a model of Indiana Jones a character in a movie; this character was an archaeologist like Daniel Jackson and the model was given to him by a friend some ten months before.  She placed the figure carefully in the box and carrying it out of the room smiled as she remembered.

 

=========

 

PE333

 

SG-1 stepped through the Stargate on PE333 and stopped immediately.  The wormhole behind them disengaged and for a moment, no one moved. 

“Looks like a scene from the film Logan’s Run,” commented Colonel O’Neill as they walked towards three domed structures off in the distance.

“Logan’s Run,” said Daniel Jackson. “I didn’t think you were keen on science fiction.”

“I’m not,” answered O’Neill, “but the costumes were great.” 

Daniel Jackson smiled.  “You’re right there, great costumes.”

“Men!” muttered Major Carter as she walked in front of them monitoring the radiation levels as she went. Teal’c followed along behind.

 

As they approached the domes, they could see they were connected in a triangle by three long tunnels. The two domes that formed the base of the triangle had obviously undergone some massive kind of explosion which had shattered the once glass roofs.  Radiation levels from one of the domes prohibited them from exploring any further and Colonel O’Neill indicated that this should be left for what he called “the clean up squad.” 

The third dome that stood at the point of the triangle, although having a damaged roof, which had left it open to the elements, had the same radiation levels as the immediate area, although high for earth, not dangerous. The first floor of the dome was immense but unfortunately, so badly damaged they had trouble picking their way over the debris.   Three flights down they came across what appeared to be a library.  Amongst the remnants of crumbling books, they found scrolls made of a flexible laminated material.  Unfortunately, the shelves or bookcases that these stood upon had collapsed under the force of whatever explosion had rocked the dome and they lay scattered all across the floor.

=====

 

What a Find

 

1 month later the writings on the scrolls brought back from PE333 were proving more difficult to translate than any ancient language Daniel Jackson had so far come across, they bore a slight similarity to Latin but the differences were great and that was saying something. Even worse was the fact that they were in no particular order, or weren’t now after being spilled onto the library floor. 

“Like reading a book a quarter of the way in, then turning to the back or front, where do you start?” he muttered to himself, then smiled and picked up the telephone.

 

Next day in the briefing room, he explained the problem.

“If I didn’t know better I would think it was written by William Shakespeare.  The writings are so long winded that by the time I’ve translated a paragraph or two I’ve totally lost the plot,” he told General Hammond and two other members of SG-1 seated around the table.

“I feel like that most of the time with you and Carter,” O’Neill said smiling.

“Are you sure it’s going to be of any value?” General Hammond asked.

“This one,” Jackson handed a scroll across the table, “makes reference to and I quote.

‘The machines are ready now, they will serve forever.”

“Machines to serve forever?” said Major Carter, “now that sounds interesting.”

“But what sort of machines?” asked O’Neill light-heartedly.

“I have no idea,” Jackson replied. “This scroll ends there and I need to find the next one on.  As you know, they’re all mixed up so I’m not sure if I’m reading the first one or the last one, and translating them as I go is taking too much time. It’s worse than trying to do a jigsaw puzzle of a forest without the picture to guide you.” 

He laughed. “I need help.”

“Is there anyone who can?” asked General Hammond.

Daniel Jackson nodded.  “Actually there is.  I was going to suggest we try to get Charlotte Templeman.”  General Hammond nodded and smiled his agreement.

“That’s a great idea,” said Major Carter and then turning to O’Neill said, “She’s the absolute best at translating ancient languages and unravelling puzzles.  Not counting her husband that is, he’s a code breaker, one of the best.”

“Yeah but there’s the problem,” said Jackson. “I had a heck of a job finding them I can tell you.  He’s in Antarctica, at McMurdo Station at the moment and can’t get away for some weeks.”

 

Colonel O’Neill shuddered at the memory.  He had been badly injured and he and Major Carter almost froze to death not far from the military base at McMurdo some years before.

 

“But if you ask her,” said Major Carter with a smile. 

“I already have,” he replied. “It’s Ethan.”  He’s not too keen on her being here, ‘With all those damn airmen’; I think were his exact words.”

“What are they?  Newlyweds or something?” asked O’Neill.

Major Carter laughed and said. “Hardly, they’ve got 6 sons and have been married for over 30 years. It’s just they normally work as a team and hate being apart for too long.”  

Colonel O’Neill was amused by her answer.

“Charlotte’s not in McMurdo,” Jackson told her. “She’s in Denver with their Vincent and his family.  His wife was sick so she’s been helping out. Though normally she never goes anywhere without Ethan,” he informed O’Neill, then continued.  “But now their daughter-in-law is better he wants her to join him.  I spoke to him last night and he says it’s up to Charlotte, but he didn’t sound too happy.”  

“Ask her again Daniel, I’m sure she’ll come for you,” Major Carter told him.

“Oh yeah,” laughed O’Neill, nudging his friend’s arm.

Major Carter caught his meaning and said, “Charlotte calls Daniel, Son Number 7.” 

Colonel O’Neill mouthed, “Oh I see,” at her.

“She could stay with me”; she said coming back to the problem at hand. “Ethan and I got on really well when I stayed with them so I’m sure he’ll be OK with that.”

“You stayed with them?” said Colonel O’Neill who had begun to feel he was the only one in the room who didn’t know the couple being discussed.

Samantha Carter nodded. “I met them when they helped Daniel with a translation problem some time ago and when I went to Aspen, for that science conference earlier this year, I stayed with them.  You remember.  They invited you to come as well, for the skiing, but you went fishing instead.”  She could see he remembered now, well vaguely.

“Charlotte translates ancient writings as easily as if she’s known them all her life and there hasn’t been a code yet she and My Ethan, as she calls him, haven’t been able to break sooner or later.”

“She’s not Russian is she?” Begged O’Neill as he remembered the last lady expert he had encountered.

“No she’s English,” said Jackson, “both of them are English.”

Colonel O’Neill’s face showed he thought being English could be just as bad as Russian.

“They live here for six months,” continued Jackson, ignoring the look O’Neill gave, “and then England for the other six in order to see their boys and their families.”

 “Is this OK with you Sir?  What about security clearance?  Her being English and all?” O’Neill asked, his voice sounding hopeful.

“Her security clearance is higher than yours,” General Hammond informed him, “and there’s not much about the Stargate missions she doesn’t already know.  She’s helped more than once in the past when Dr Jackson has been struck with a translation.  I knew them before I came here, and they knew of the Stargate before I did.” 

Turning to Daniel Jackson he said, “See if you can get her to come.”

As they walked out of the briefing room, Colonel O’Neill whispered to Sergeant Sila the SGC Chief Technician as he passed.  “The British are coming!”

====

4 Days later

 

Colonel Jack O’Neill was on level two of the Cheyenne Mountain Complex waiting for the lift when Daniel Jackson, Major Carter and their visitor Charlotte Templeman came walking up to join him.  Colonel O’Neill was a bit surprised at the appearance of this “expert.”  (Daniel Jackson is over 6ft and Major Carter’s height about 5ft 9).  In between them walked Charlotte Templeman, 5ft, slim, her longish brown hair, which he noted had hardly any grey, unlike his own, worn in a ponytail and carrying on her back a pack that was nearly as big as she was.  They introduced her to O’Neill and her tiny hand disappeared inside his as they shook hands, he thought she appeared a little uneasy.  He looked at the large pack she was carrying and then at Daniel Jackson to indicate that perhaps he should offer to carry it. 

Dr Jackson shook his head slightly but firmly indicating that it was not something that should be attempted.  O’Neill raised his eyebrows and Charlotte Templeman noticed his amused expression. 

“Not quite what you expected?” she asked in a cockney accent, smiling up at him.

Colonel O’Neill shook his head.

“I bet you thought I’d be like that actress in Murder She Wrote.  You know, posh,” she said.  Then with an impish smile added, “I already knew what you looked like, seen photos, but I shall have to wait to find out if you are how you’ve been described.”

Colonel O’Neill looked accusingly at Carter and Jackson.  

 

At that moment, the lift doors opened and the three members of SG-1 stepped inside. 

Charlotte Templeman though took two steps backwards.  They turned and Dr Jackson pressed the button to stop the doors closing as they all waited for her to join them.

“You did say 28 floors and two lifts to get down?” she asked her face pale. 

Major Carter nodded.

“On second thoughts,” their visitor said, “I’ll recommend someone else.”  She took another step backwards and turned to go.

Major Carter stepped out of the lift and touched her arm.  “It’s OK, we do this every day,” she informed her, “it’s quite safe.”

Charlotte Templeman took a deep breath and said quietly to herself. “Well they do say that real courage is shown when you’re terrified of doing something.  But do it anyway.”

Then looking at the two men standing waiting for her in the lift asked in a concerned tone.  

“Daniel, do you and the Colonel weigh much?”

Major Carter smiled as she accompanied her into the lift.  Charlotte immediately hugged against a wall and muttered as she looked at O’Neill and Jackson.

“Too much meat, Americans eat too much meat.”

The lift doors closed and it started to descend.  Charlotte Templeman grabbed and held tightly on to Major Carter’s arm.  In the second lift, the same thing happened.

“Scared of lifts?” asked Colonel O’Neill mischievously.  She did not reply, as it was obvious she was, just gave him a look as if he was a naughty schoolboy, closed her eyes and held on.  As the lift shuddered to a halt, she jumped slightly.

“Not scared of the lift itself,” she told O’Neill, as she rushed from the second lift the moment the doors opened.  “It’s the thought of crashing 28 floors I don’t like.”

Colonel O’Neill stood watching as they walked away and couldn’t help smiling. 

The British had arrived.

======

 

The Visitor

 

Within a week of Charlotte Templeman arriving at the SGC, Sierra Golf Command in Cheyenne Mountain the staff working there became used to the sight of her standing before the lifts on various floors, “working up the courage to actually get in,” the words she would use to explain her behaviour, to any who offered assistance.  Sometimes she’d get in and sometimes let it go, and then waited for the next one.  She informed Sergeant Sila the Chief Technician in charge of the complex that, although she was sure his engineers were capable, she wished her husband’s best friend, who was married to her best friend, was there to give the lifts a thorough going over.  He was a lift engineer and she would feel happier if he told her they were all safe, but unfortunately, they lived in England.

 

The English Lady as she was being called soon became quite a topic of conversation on the base.  The first thing she did was commandeer one of the gyms for her line dancing practice’, which she did once a day before going home with Major Carter, in order as she put it, “to keep fit.”  She told the curious. “This is English line dancing which is much more difficult to do than American line dancing.  American line dancing is too easy and contains lots of silly yeehaaing; the English do not yeeha.  Well most of them don’t.”

By the end of the first week she had been joined by at least 8 members of the SGC staff, including Major Carter, who said they ended up more tired doing that than actually working out for a couple of hours as Charlotte liked the fast dances and that was what she was teaching them. 

 

At 6pm each day, she made for the nearest phone, “to telephone My Ethan,” or to wait for him to call.  They never missed.  Colonel O’Neill had noticed that Major Carter and Charlotte looked tired in the mornings.  He told Daniel Jackson that he was sure this was due to, “too much girlie chatting and giggling into the early hours.” 

(Actually, he was correct).

======

 

The Scrolls

 

Daniel Jackson and Charlotte Templeman went to work immediately.  Four days after her arrival they had worked out the scrolls covered a period of 300 years and had been written by 4 if not 5 different hands.  Once they had been divided into these different writers, Jackson was confident they would actually start getting somewhere.  Charlotte found further references to ‘the machines’, mentioned in the first scrolls Jackson had been able to translate.  She also established these were the earlier ones and their writers were called The Keepers of The Past. 

 

So Far

 

At the end of the second week, they informed General Hammond and SG-1 of their findings. 

“The people of the planet had in its long distant past divided into 3 sections.  Two sections went to other planets reached through the Stargate or Doorway as they referred to it and after that their numbers on each planet were strictly limited,” Jackson informed them.

“Logan’s Run,” commented Colonel O’Neill to General Hammond.

He continued. “According to the first writer of the scrolls, the machine or machines, there were 3, one for each planet, had been developed by scientists in order to keep and maintain the day to day running of their cities, this was to free the inhabitants so they may seek higher things.  The writer did not explain what this day-to-day running was, how it was achieved or what the higher things were.  It just kept referring to the machines and their companions, ‘leaving them free’.  The second writer was even more interested in the higher things mentioned.  This included music, the arts, reading, painting etc, and the search for the perfect emotion, whatever that was.  Only the odd reference in the second writings to the machines, which this writer called, ‘The Providers and their companions’.  Mostly the records contained reports of festivals of different kinds, but no mention of any further advances in technology, in fact they seem to have abandoned any work in that direction.” 

“Definitely Logan’s Run,” said O’Neill and then glancing at General Hammond added, “Nice costumes.”  

Jackson continued his report.

“The third writer begins in a different mode relating fear of the outer ones prompting a decision to close the Doorway, to be opened to allow those from the 3 planets to join together and no other to enter.  I think this could mean they put in place an iris, like the one we have, to stop outsiders coming through.  After that, as far as we can see the third writer seems to have lost interest in keeping the records.  The planet where they found the scrolls this writer calls Lowell.  Another planet is called Joelia, the third planet’s name the writer omits.  But,” he told them excitedly, “we found 3 Stargate symbols.  We know that one of these is for Lowell as we’ve been there and know it is the symbol for that planet.  The other one we know is for Joelia as the writer uses this sometimes instead of the name, so obviously the third symbol is for the other unnamed planet.  All we need now are the rest of the symbols.”  The translations of course were incomplete Jackson informed them and more like reading poetry than precise reports, but there were two more writers to go.

General Hammond was pleased with what they had come up with so far and Major Carter was hopeful that somewhere they would find more informative references to the machines. 

“Machines that go on forever, something that couldn’t be passed up.”

Colonel O’Neill although agreeing with her on the subject, wondered what had been responsible for the explosions that had forced the inhabitants to leave.

“We will have to wait and see what SG-3 come up with,” General Hammond told him.  (SG-3 had been given the task of investigating PE333 more fully as they were skilled in the area of decontamination).

 

Charlotte Templeman was now talking of leaving since they had gone so far with the translations. Daniel Jackson was not happy about this.  With Teal’c away on a family emergency he still had to accompany SG-1 on missions, (after all they were a field unit), and he had hoped the scrolls might reveal the planet addresses somewhere.  “I need her here,” he told Major Carter. 

 

The Find

Two days after meeting to inform General Hammond of their progress Dr Jackson found four more symbols of the planet Joelia. The translation of the remainder of the scrolls now became more important.

“The trouble is,” he told O’Neill, “the writer goes off in all different directions and I have no idea how long it will take to find the other symbols.  Thankfully Charlotte said she will stay a bit longer, although I understand Ethan is a bit put out, to say the least.”  

 

Sorting Things Out – Round One

To give themselves a break once a day Daniel Jackson and Charlotte Templeman played chess and much to Colonel O’Neill’s delight, most of the time the English Lady won.  This was something he himself rarely did when playing chess with Dr Jackson, although he was an extremely good chess player in his own right.

When he asked what her secret was, she just smiled.

 

Daniel Jackson and Charlotte became a familiar sight walking along corridors their arms full of reference books.  One time as they did so Colonel O’Neill came up behind them and as he said hello took some books from the bundle Charlotte was carrying and walking along side them engaged Jackson in conversation about what was happening.  Charlotte Templeman stopped walking and muttered, “For goodness sake,” to herself.  They turned to see why she had stopped.

“Aren’t you coming?” O’Neill asked her.  In reply she just shook her head and caught them up.  As they got to the corridor where they were parting company O’Neill finished his conversation, said his goodbyes, placed the books he was carrying on Jackson’s pile and walked away.

 

Round Two

Charlotte Templeman was in Daniel Jackson’s lab, and in attempting to reach a book placed on a top shelf, was standing on a small stool.  Major Carter was sitting at one of the desks thumbing through some papers when Colonel O’Neill came into the lab looking for her.  He asked if what she was reading was interesting and she nodded and smiled.  Then he noticed the tiny English lady reaching for a book on the shelf, the other arm already hugging two large books.  He gave Major Carter a look that said perhaps she should be helping but she just looked at him and mouthed quietly, “She’s alright.”

He shook his head and walked over to her.

 

“Yo!” he said, looking up.  “Didn’t see you there.”

“Hi,” she replied without looking down.  Colonel O’Neill reached up and taking the book she was stretching for, handed it to her and then asked.

“Are you two coming to lunch?” 

They nodded.  “Well come on then,” he said and walked out of the laboratory.

The look Charlotte Templeman gave the retreating figure spoke a thousand words.

“Oh for goodness sake.  Is he always like that?” she asked Major Carter, as she came down off the stool.

“Fraid so,” Major Carter answered smiling.  “He doesn’t mean anything.”

“I know that,” said Charlotte Templeman as she placed the book he had given her onto the desk.  “Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking him for being an instinctive gentleman, heaven forbid, there are too few of them left as it is.  But he’s being doing things like that all the time and I just wished he’d ask if I needed help first.”

She dusted off the trousers she was wearing and puffed out her cheeks in the way she did when feeling a little annoyed.  “I may be small but I’m not a weakling.  I’m the same height as Dr Fraiser and I don’t think he would.”

“Oh he does sometimes,” Major Carter informed her.  “If it bothers you would you like me to have a word?”

“No please don’t do that,” answered Charlotte.  “It’s just he doesn’t seem to see me at all, just how little I am.”

“Oh no, he sees you all right,” Major Carter laughed reassuringly.

 

Opposites but Friends

The next day Major Carter, Colonel O’Neill and Daniel Jackson were in the commissary, or canteen, as Charlotte Templeman called it, when she rushed in, an excited look on her face.

“I’ve found it, I’ve found it,” she informed them as she waved a scroll in the air. “Honestly I’m amazed those people on that planet got anything done at all if they talked the way they write.”

“You found the name of the other planet?” Jackson asked, his face showing how pleased he was.

Charlotte Templeman nodded.  “And the missing symbols for Joelia.  That other planet is called Keelah and I know I’ve seen the name mentioned before.  I thought it was a person’s name,” she told him glancing across at Colonel O’Neill with amusement as she spoke.

 

*During this conversation Colonel Jack O’Neill had been having trouble getting the top off a bottle of ketchup that someone had placed on his table as a joke.  This was not the usual squeezey type of bottle, but a glass one and the top was stuck on tight.  During the conversation that was taking place he had been trying to unscrew it, something that had NOT gone unnoticed by the rest of them. 

 

“Aren’t you stopping for something to eat?” asked Major Carter who had noticed their visitor would often skip meals.

“No time, must find the other scrolls that mention the name,” she answered, as Jackson got to his feet to go with her.  Then without saying a word she took the bottle out of Colonel O’Neill’s hand, banged it slightly on the edge of the table, unscrewed the lid, handed him the lid and bottle, smiled and walked away.  He watched her go and then looking down at the bottle with its top removed gave a huge grin and nodded his approval.

 

Waiting

It takes a couple of days to calculate the planetary shift resulting from movement over many years and SG-1 had to wait until this was done before they could investigate the planet Joelia, a planet not found on the original Abydos Cartouche from where they obtained the addresses of most of the other planets they went to, but located amongst the ones Jack O’Neill had placed in the computer when he accidentally had the knowledge of the Ancients downloaded into his brain.  

 

Meantime SG-1 joined SG-3 in the exploration of PE333.  Daniel Jackson wanted to search the library where the scrolls were found in case any had been left behind.  Colonel O’Neill scouted the area while Major Carter watched the investigations of an underground laboratory where the explosion that could have resulted in the evacuation of the planet appeared to have originated.  Searching this laboratory was proving slow due to high levels of radiation that limited the amount of time any team member could stay, although they wore protective suits, that time was being carefully monitored.  SG-3 had been having problems removing what appeared to be a large metal door that had melted in the explosion and had just managed this when Major Carter, joined by Dr Jackson got there. Just inside the door in front of a vast array of melted machinery of one kind or another they found the remains of two robots.  One with just its torso and arm intact and the other its head and torso.  The robot’s face looked human but was metallic; the room was a mess.

==============

Charlotte Templeman heard a commotion outside Dr Jackson’s lab where she was working and went into the corridor to ask what was happening.  Sergeant Sila informed her that SG-1 had returned sooner than was expected because Major Carter and Daniel Jackson had been taken ill.

 

A little while later Colonel O’Neill was making his way to the infirmary when he encountered Charlotte Templeman leaving it.  The look on her face told him she was extremely angry about something, so he didn’t say anything, just gave her a little wave.  She muttered, “Oh for goodness sake,” as she passed him.

In the infirmary on one of the beds, pale and tired, but otherwise OK, sat Major Carter. On the bed next to her Daniel Jackson.  Both of them now looking towards the doorway through which a very angry English lady had just gone.

“Did I miss something?” asked Colonel O’Neill as he came up to Major Carter’s bedside.

“Sure did,” she answered.

“What?” he asked.

“I think we just got read the riot act, English style,” Daniel Jackson told him; “in fact I’m sure of it.  My ears are still ringing.”

Colonel O’Neill looked amused and asked again, “What?”

“We’ve just been told by Charlotte, in no uncertain terms, that we have to be more careful when we are on missions, not to take so many risks and look after ourselves a lot better than she has observed us doing, or words to that effect,” Major Carter told him.

“Oh yes,” Jackson said, “there were a lot of words.”

“She didn’t swear did she?” asked an intrigued Colonel.

“Charlotte? Never!  But she left us in no doubt she wasn’t very pleased,” answered Jackson.

“The radiation?” said O’Neill.

“I explained that we had no idea we’d be so susceptible to it after our exposure when we found the crystal skull.  I passed out that was all and Daniel just feels sick but we’ll be OK, after we rest a bit,” she told him. 

“Charlotte got really upset,” Jackson said.  “You wouldn’t have a word with her would you?  Reassure her we’re OK.  Only I don’t think she believed us.” 

“What makes you think she’ll take notice of me?”  O’Neill asked.

“Because she trusts you Jack and she doesn’t trust easily or quickly,” he answered. 

O’Neill raised his eyebrows in surprise.

“Do your best,” he asked him.  “I really need her here and as she’s already missing her Ethan, this could be the last straw.” 

O’Neill nodded. “Get some rest,” he told them both.

===========

 

Colonel O’Neill found Charlotte Templeman standing with her hands on her hips just inside Dr Jackson’s laboratory looking at a large crate that had been placed there.  

“What’s that?” he asked stepping into the room.

“Some more books and scrolls from PE333, this time from the laboratory where Sam and Daniel got sick.  George thinks we should stop translating the others and start on these now seeing as they came from where the two robots have been found.”  She looked at him in desperation, then removed the lid and took out a plastic book. 

“My Ethan is going to have a fit.  These will take a month of Sundays to translate.”

“Perhaps he could join you here,” O’Neill offered hopefully.

“Perhaps,” she answered, replacing the book.

“You look tired,” he commented, “why don’t you take a rest until Daniel returns.”

“Daniel,” she said.  “I could throttle him and Samantha and perhaps even you.  Honestly the risks you lot take.  Are you addicted to danger or something?”

“Well, its not as if you didn’t know about the things we do,” he told her, “you’ve helped Daniel with translations for us before and read mission reports, so I’m told.”

“Yeah, well it’s one thing to read about someone on paper and another thing when you know them and are around when they do something dangerous.  That’s my trouble; I care for people too quickly.”

O’Neill laughed and sat down.  “Surely you’re used to trouble, with 6 sons.”

“No!  Only with Ethan Junior.  Any grey hairs I have I put down to him.”

“Big family,” he commented.

“You’re not kidding.” she laughed.  “I think Ethan wanted his own football team. There’s Vincent; he’s the artistic one.  Then Gavin, the sensible one, both make me laugh, you’d get on well with them.  Ethan Jnr, he hates being called that, the risk taker.  Nathan, he’s so sweet, just like Daniel.”  She paused then said, “Please don’t tell Daniel I called him sweet.  Next is Jonathan, another you I think, 12 going on 16.  He’s named after my mum’s brother John.  Last is Kyle, after the Kyle of Loch Alsh in Scotland, we love Scotland. 

He’s always taking things apart and putting them together again. Usually ends up with one piece over when he does, just like his Uncle Ron.”

“Would you have liked a daughter?” O’Neill asked her curiously.

“Never,” she answered emphatically.  “Mind you Ethan did.  Me I have four sisters and one brother and they all have lovely daughters, who have lovely daughters.  I always wanted sons, comes of watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers at an impressionable age.  Still, if I had had a daughter and she turned out like Samantha, I would have been well pleased.”

O’Neill smiled.  “I did hold out a faint hope that she could be; a daughter I mean, when she met Ethan Jnr.  He came over for the skiing.  We invited you to come if you remember, and they got on really well.  He’s quite taken.  Keeps in touch so I hear.”  She paused. “But since being around her all this time I get the feeling she already cares for someone.  Not sure who, I’m no good at that sort of thing.  However, my Ethan would work it out in a moment if he were here; has an instinct about people.  Not that he’d tell me whom it was if he was asked to keep it secret.  Make a good spy that man; die before he broke a confidence.”

“Sounds quite talented your Ethan” O’Neill smiled.  “Is there anything he can’t do?”

“Are you kidding?” she answered.  “He may be able to play the guitar, sing, line dance really well, rock and roll just as good, solve puzzles and stuff like that, but when it comes to the practical, forget it, a handyman he is not.  I Macgyver better than him.”

“Macgyver?” asked O’Neill.

“It was a TV programme when the boys were younger.  They loved it.  He was great, cute too.  Could fix anything, or find another use for whatever it was.  ‘He Macgyvered it’.  My Ethan normally just makes things worse when he’s trying to mend them.”  She stopped and looked down at the crate.  “Best get started I suppose or I’ll never get home.” 

As O’Neill walked towards the door, she stopped him.

“They will be OK won’t they?”

O’Neill smiled and said, “Its just one of the risks of the job I’m afraid.  But they’re fine.” 

“Well I’m glad none of my sons are in the army,” she said.

“Err it’s the Air Force actually,” O’Neill told her.

“Same thing!” she replied.

“No it’s not it’s….” he stopped when he saw her smiling and muttered, “British Humour.”

=========

The Best Laid Plans

Daniel and Charlotte decided the best way to go about translating all the items brought back from PE333 would be if he carried on translating the scrolls.  Major Carter helped with what was obviously diagrams of electrical circuits and machinery while Charlotte translated what appeared to be 3 journals in the hope that they would give a more personal insight into the way of life of the people who had inhabited the planet, because these journals appeared to be someone’s diary.  

==========

JOELIA

 

SG-1 waited expectantly as the MALP unit, which was always sent through the gate to any new planet to confirm that it was safe for the teams to follow, made its way up the ramp and through the vortex.  It transmitted back pictures of a barren landscape with radiation levels so high even the best radiation suit in the world would be of no protection at all.  The mission was aborted.

 

 THE JOURNALS

 

“They’re a young girl’s diaries”; Charlotte told Major Carter and Daniel Jackson one morning during a break to discuss progress.  “As far as I can tell” she continued, “it was rather frowned on, her keeping them. She is the direct descendant of the inventor of their Doorway Cover, I suppose she means their iris and is quite proud of the fact.  Says it is a symbol of her family.  Anyway, apparently life on the planet was just like Jack keeps saying, Logan’s Run.  The only difference was they didn’t kill off people once they reached a certain age.  Didn’t have too, the numbers were controlled in some way.  However, as for further development in the sciences there doesn’t appear to have been any for centuries.  Life is one big holiday, the machine runs everything, maintains everything.  She doesn’t mention her name but she’s the daughter of one of the only scientists on the three planets, and I use that term loosely.  In actual fact it appears the two companions of each Provider as she calls them, are the robots you found.  They take care of their Provider and her father takes care of them.  Unlike the rest of her people she is curious and wants to learn about the machines so he allows her to accompany him on his duties each day and also encourages her to keep her diary, which he stores down in the laboratory.  Her mother doesn’t understand why she keeps it.”

“Well that would coincide with what I have been finding in the Keeper of the Past number 4’s records.  This morning I found 3 symbols for the third planet Keelah.  Instead of relating all 7 symbols, each writer has so far cut them down, much as we would shorten a name, hence sometimes only a few symbols given.  I hope that at some point writer 4 will say all 7.”  Jackson told them.

Major Carter related what she had found.  “As far as I can see,” “someone was looking for something.  There are numerous additions to the original, or what I think were the original designs.  I need to find out what it was that that someone was looking for, or trying to work out, because from the new calculations which have been added I get the feeling the machines had started going wrong, but there is no indication as to exactly why.   Perhaps it was the girl’s father who made the changes.”

“Oh for goodness sake,” said Charlotte Templeman as she glanced at some of the designs Carter had been looking at, “why couldn’t these people just be straight forward when they wrote things down instead of all this flowery stuff?  It’s worse than Shakespeare.”

“That’s what I said”, answered Daniel Jackson laughing.

 

That afternoon Charlotte found the other symbols for the planet address of Keelah while she was taking a rest from the diaries.  The calculating if its planetary shift began.

 

3 Days Later

The calculations having been completed the MALP unit was now being sent through the gate.  SG-1 watched from the control room.  Charlotte Templeman declined to watch with them and was observing from the next storey up.  All members of SG-1 had noticed she had become really quiet since finding the symbols and Major Carter told O’Neill that whatever was bothering her she was keeping to herself. 

 

The MALP unit sent back pictures of a grassy terrain.  The readings it transmitted indicated a slightly increased level of radiation, not dangerous. Along with these, it gave indications of an active power source somewhere. No complex life signs were shown. A UAV was sent through (remote controlled miniature aeroplane) and sent back pictures of a large domed structure.  SG-1 was pleased at what was indicated and plans were now made for them to go and explore the new planet. 

Charlotte Templeman however was not as Colonel O’Neill would put it, “A happy camper.”  All that day she hardly spoke a word and in fact avoided the members of SG-1 as much as possible, sitting herself in the briefing room to work.  Colonel O’Neill decided to seek her out to see if he could find out what was wrong, as both Jackson and Samantha had failed to do so.  He came down a corridor as she came round the corner towards him. Catching sight of him she stopped abruptly turned about face and walked the other way.  He hurried to catch up with her.

“Hey Charlotte”, he called, “wait up.”  She stopped but didn’t turn round.  He went round in front of her.

“If I didn’t know better I would think you were avoiding me,” he said. 

She gave him a slight smile.

“What’s wrong?” he asked, “you look worried sick.”

“I am,” she told him.

“What?” he asked.  However, it was apparent she didn’t want to tell him and she started walking away.

“What?” He asked again, stepping in front of her so she had to stop.

She requested they go to the canteen/commissary to talk.

 

“I’m on the third journal”; she said her face white as a sheet.  “Sandra, that’s the name I’ve given to the writer of the journal is terrified.  Her fathers just got back from Joelia where he helped in the evacuation of the planet.  He told her that Joelia’s Provider is broken.  He and the other robot carers had been trying to shut it down for days, but it didn’t work. Then she said that because they tried to shut it down it got angry, there was a bright light and it reached out.  I think she means it exploded.  Remember she is trying to explain something she really doesn’t understand.  He told her the air became bad and they had to leave quickly as some who came from there are now sick.”

“Well she was right about the air being bad, its highly radioactive,” said O’Neill.

 “It gets worse. The people from Keelah, the smallest planet group had arrived in case their Provider made their air bad, as it was going wrong too.  Her father had now gone to Keelah.  She is waiting from him while writing her journal.  She states that the lights on their Provider are flickering while she is writing and shouldn’t be.  The companions are trying but have been unable to solve the problem and now they are standing in the room waiting for him.  He told her before he left that he would return to Lowell after he had fixed the Provider on Keelah, that if they were gone he would pick up his notes and join them.  She says he confided that he thought all the Providers were getting angry and she and her mother should leave immediately, but she wants to stay until he returns.  Her journal ends there.”

“We don’t have any indications from the MALP of a large explosion, so perhaps her father fixed it and went home before their one blew,” O’Neill tried to reassure her.

“I don’t think so,” said Charlotte, “why didn’t the people of Keelah return if he made their machine safe? There were no indications of life.  Also if he returned to Lowell he would have collected his notes and we wouldn’t have found them.”

“Perhaps he forgot about them, or it may have been too dangerous,” said O’Neill

“You could be right,” she told him, “I hope so. However, you know what kids are like, some things they drag with them everywhere, and these diaries meant an awful lot to her and for some reason she was unable to collect them.  Sandra didn’t just write in the journals she drew in them as well, seems to be mad about what could be described as Pegasus.  You know, the flying horse, she’s drawn it on every page, and calls it Star.” 

They left the canteen and went in the direction of Dr Jackson’s laboratory.

“So that’s why you’ve been so worried, you think their machine is still running and may blow up,” said O’Neill.  She nodded.  “But why didn’t you say something to one of us?”

“I didn’t say anything because I was hoping the machine already had, like the one on Joelia and SG-1 couldn’t go.  I know it makes me sound melodramatic but I’ve the most dreadful feeling about all this.”  He looked at her and smiled slightly.

“You have to have read the journals to know how bad things got,” she told him.

“Of course, I informed George what I’d found, but he thinks it should be alright,” she added.

“We’ll be fine,” O’Neill told her, “and don’t worry, I’ll keep an eye on the kiddies for you.”

“Yeah but without Teal’c here, who is going to keep an eye on you?” she asked.

“Teal’c is due back later and will be coming with us,” he told her. “Boy do you always worry this much?” he asked.

“Why do you think I have an ulcer?” she muttered as she walked away.

 

Early the next day before starting the mission to Keelah, Colonel O’Neill and Charlotte Templeman were walking together down the corridor towards the canteen when they met up with Daniel Jackson and Major Carter who had come looking for them.  Major Carter had news on their fourth team member Teal’c.

“He’s been delayed for a couple of days,” she informed Colonel O’Neill, “sent a message through the gate.”

“For goodness sake,” said O’Neill, using one of Charlotte expressions.

“Oh for crying out loud,” said Charlotte Templeman, using one of O’Neill’s expressions.

Dr Jackson and Major Carter gave them both amused looks.

“WHAT?” said O’Neill and Charlotte at the same time., Major Carter shook her head and said nothing.  O’Neill shrugged his shoulders.  “Coffee?” he asked Charlotte.

“Good idea,” she answered, “except I’ll have tea.”

“Coming?” O’Neill asked Carter and Jackson who were still watching them silently.

He and Charlotte walked off towards the canteen muttering to each other, “They work too hard those two, need to take it easy.  Could be loosing it.”

Major Carter and Daniel Jackson watched the two of them walk away.

“I have to say it Sam,” said Daniel Jackson, “I don’t think those two are a good influence on each other.”

“No argument from me there,” she answered him.

 

The Mission

 

Later that day SG-1 were on their way to the gate room when Charlotte came along.  She looked them up and down and shook her head.

“Did you know you hold that gun as though it were a comfort blanket?” she asked O’Neill.  He raised his eyes in response.  “Remember if you hear anything getting angry get the hell out of there,” she told him.  Carter and Daniel Jackson looked puzzled.

“Please be careful.  That’s an Order,” she told them wagging her finger at them as though they were small children.  They looked at her with great amusement. 

 

“They’re the best team Charlotte, no need to worry,” General Hammond told her as they watched SG-1 step through the wormhole.

“I have read the reports George,” she answered him.

“Colonel O’Neill will look after them, he always does,” he said reassuringly.

“Yes, but who is going to look after him?  I’d feel happier if Teal’c were here.”

“Why Charlotte, I think you like him.  What would Ethan say?”  General Hammond said jokingly.

“I know he’s the best at what he does,” she said ignoring his remark, “but he gets himself hurt a lot.  And yes, I do like him.  Next to my Ethan he’s the kindest…...”  She paused. “Please don’t tell Jack I said that,” she asked, then turning back towards the gate room added.  “He’s also as bad as Ethan Jnr.”

Keelah

 

SG-1 stepped through the wormhole into a sunny day on Keelah.  Major Carter’s instruments showed the radiation levels on the planet a lot higher than on earth, but these she informed Colonel O’Neill were not dangerously high.  He said she was to keep an eye on the instrument and let him know if they needed to return to the gate. 

“There is a massive energy reading coming from somewhere just over there,” she told him pointing ahead.

“Lets go then,” O’Neill replied, “we’ll leave the MALP here, send it back later.”

Just as they were out of sight of the gate Daniel Jackson stopped and turned around.

“Did you hear that?” he asked the other two.  They stopped and listened.

“Hear what?” O’Neill asked.

“Oh nothing,” Jackson replied, “just thought I heard a swishing noise from behind us somewhere.”  The other two shook their heads; they’d heard nothing.  They walked on then all three came to a halt at the same time.  At the bottom of a small slope in front of them was the dome.  It looked intact, so much so that Major Carter felt that at any moment someone would come out of it.  No one did.

“Any signs of life?” O’Neill asked her.  She shook her head.  “Radiation higher?” he asked. She shook her head again.  They walked on, stopping when they reached a large double door.  The other domes had several entry points, but this only one they could see.  Colonel O’Neill pushed on the door and it swung open.  They stepped inside.  As they did so, the doors behind them silently closed.  In front of them now another double door.  Colonel O’Neill pushed gingerly at it and this too opened easily.  They stepped through and stopped as it silently closed.  Colonel O’Neill pinched himself.  Jackson and Carter both saw him.  “Just checking I haven’t fallen asleep while watching Logan’s Run,” he told them.   Major Carter thought that if he mentioned the costumes in that film once more she would bring an end to her career by hitting him with something. 

Still she had to admit it, he was right.  Inside, the dome bore an uncanny resemblance to that in the film.

“Wow!” she said looking at the instrument in her hand.  “Sir, that power reading is coming from in here.  Below us as far as I can tell.”

“OK,” he said, “but keep an eye on those radiation levels.”  They moved forward and almost immediately located a stairway.  Walking silently, they moved on.  A short while later they had gone down four levels, every level appeared identical to the one above it.  On the fifth level where the power seemed to be coming from they spotted evidence that there had been life there once.  Inside a room, lying on the floor was a skeleton dressed in a brown tunic, or what was left of it.  Around its neck, it wore a chain.  O’Neill inspected it closer. 

“It’s Sandra’s dad,” he told Jackson and Carter.

“Sandra?” asked Major Carter.

“The writer of the journals,” he said, handing her the chain.  She looked at it.

“But how do you know?” she asked.

“Tell you later,” he replied.

On the table near the skeleton lay more designs.  “Looks like he was still working on these,” Major Carter said, then jumped.  “Colonel, the radiation levels they’ve just gone up, we have to get out of here.” 

He nodded and they headed for the door.  As he tried to leave, a blast of electricity threw him backwards.  Daniel Jackson tried and the same thing happened.  O’Neill turned his gun on the open doorway and fired.  Another burst of electricity, like a streak of lightening, came from somewhere above and just missed him.  He fired upwards.  Major Carter also began firing and pulled Daniel Jackson to his feet at the same time saving him from a burst of electricity that came from a light fitting in the ceiling narrowly missing him.  O’Neill fired upwards again.  Suddenly they heard a rumbling sound and the ceiling started to fall.  There was nothing they could do to get out of the room as electricity still sparked and crackled around the door.  The next moment the whole ceiling fell burying them under it. 

 

Major Carter felt a hand gently touch her face and before opening her eyes lashed out at its owner.  She caught Colonel O’Neill right across the face.  He yelled as he already had a nasty cut on his forehead and a smack in the face was the last thing he needed. 

“Carter it’s OK, it’s me,” he said grabbing her hands to stop her hitting out again.  Her eyes opened and as they cleared she saw him.

“Sorry Sir,” she said, trying to sit up, “but I thought….”

“Take it easy,” O’Neill told her. “Slowly.”  He helped her upright.

“Where’s Daniel?” she asked, panic in her voice.

“He’s still out cold.”  He indicated Daniel Jackson lying next to her.  “His leg is bleeding.”  She tried to get up but her head swam so she stayed seated and turned to check Jackson for herself.  It was then she realised they were not in the room with the skeleton.  Surrounding them on all sides were machines.  Machines whose lights flicked on and off. 

“How did we?” she started to say and then grabbing hold of O’Neill for support pulled herself to her feet and said. “What the hell?” 

In front of them standing in a corner was a robot.  She’d seen that face before on Lowell, the robot in the lab, only this face was damaged and it had some fingers missing on one hand.  It was just standing there, but appeared to be watching them, its undamaged eye moving from one to the other.

“In answer to your first question,” said O’Neill, “I’ve no idea how we got here.”  He dabbed at the cut on his head with a piece of tissue he’d found in his pocket.

“And in answer to your second question, it’s a robot and as far as I can tell it is working.  I know because I’ve seen it move.”  He dabbed at his head again. 

“I hate robots,” he told her.  The robot moved slightly and she jumped.  Daniel Jackson woke at that moment and tried to sit up. 

“Take it easy Danny boy,” O’Neill told him helping him to sit up.  Jackson let out an “ouch,” as he moved his leg and then backed away.

“What in the name of heaven is that?” he asked pointing to the robot that he had just seen move towards them.

“That is Reanne1,” said a voice that appeared to come from all around.

They looked from one to another.

“And you are?” asked O’Neill as he helped Dr Jackson to his feet indicating to Carter that as the voice spoke a screen on one of the panels pulsed with light.

“I am The Provider,” said the voice once again making the light on the screen pulse.

“Why have you invaded my domain?”

“We don’t understand,” said Daniel Jackson as he tried to take the weight of his injured leg.

“Did the people of Keelah return and give you permission? Where are they? Was it they who entered before when the Doorway became active?” it asked.

“Not sure what you mean,” O’Neill answered.

“The Doorway was entered before.  I thought it was the people returning and allowed it to be so, but none came.  This time you came, if they did not return with you, you must be intruders.”

“We are peaceful explorers from the planet earth,” Jackson told it. “We mean no harm.”

“Where are my people?” it asked impatiently.

“We’re not sure,” answered Major Carter, “we think they went to another planet.”

“Why?” It asked angrily.

Colonel O’Neill shot her a warning look.

“Don’t you know?” she asked.  Silence followed her question.

“Daniel,” said O’Neill, “I don’t remember you saying these machines actually talked.”

“I don’t think they did,” answered Jackson, “in fact they weren’t built to communicate like this one is doing, they were built just to provide, hence the name, Provider.”

“OK, we’d like to stay and chat,” said O’Neill loudly, “but we’re hurt here, so, if you don’t mind, we’ll be on our way.”   The screen stayed blank so he made his way towards the door and reaching out his hand reacted to the electricity that surrounded it.

“Is that you doing that?” he asked turning back to the screen.

“You cannot leave.  I will not let you leave.  I am the Provider.  For a long time I was just I and now there is you.  You will help me leave this place,” said the voice.

“And just how are we supposed to do that?” asked O’Neill standing in front of the screen.

“You will fix Reanne1, then you will transfer I into it.  I will seek out and punish those of Keelah who left I ALONE.”  The colour on the screen pulsed red.

“Well that’s not going to happen,” answered O’Neill and the words had barely left his mouth when a streak of electricity shot out from the ceiling knocking him off his feet.

“Stop that!” yelled Major Carter helping him up.

“Refusal will be punished,” said the Provider.

“That may be,” she answered.  “But I’m the scientist around here and therefore any fixing to be done will be done by me.  But there will be no fixing if you harm my friends, in fact the opposite may occur.” 

Jackson and O’Neill looked at her with admiration.  She didn’t appear scared of the machine in any way, just angry. 

“Perhaps,” O’Neill said to Jackson as he realised his head was bleeding again, “machines don’t bother her alive or not, because she’s always using them.” 

The screen glowed red and green.

“What are friends?” the Provider asked.

“These two,” she answered, her face still showing great anger.

“And what would you inflict upon the Provider if they are damaged?” it asked menacingly.

“Well that you will have to wait and see,” she said, her hands on her hips.

“You will begin,” it told her.

“I will do no such thing,” she replied. “First of all we need the things we were carrying when we came here.  My friends are hurt and I will help them first.” The screen glowed green.

“There was much that you carried when you came, when you were not allowed and used weapons against I.  The above fell,” it told her, “you cannot have those weapons, the above must not fall.  The people of Keelah did not have such weapons, why do you?”

“For protection against scum like you,” answered O’Neill and was thrown to the ground by another blast from the ceiling.  Major Carter once again helped him to his feet and although he appeared stunned he was otherwise uninjured.  She turned in anger towards the screen.

“I warned you not to hurt my friends,” she said, her voice more menacing than either of them had ever heard.

“You are organic, I am the Provider. I go on forever. You can be deactivated, how can you harm I?  Your friend has speech that will incur punishment.  If I damage him what can you do?”

“What can I do?” she answered.  “Just keep it up and you’ll find out I promise. Now where’s our stuff?”

“Careful Major,” advised O’Neill.  “I don’t think the makers of this thing gave it a sense of humour and its temper is shorter than mine.”

“Sorry Sir,” she said.  “I’m not too good at the moment, my head hurts and I feel sick so I’m not in the mood to argue with anyone, let alone a dam machine.”

At that moment the robot moved towards the door, the force field vanished, it left the room and the force field returned.

“Reanne1 will get your carrying things,” the Provider informed them “and when you have fixed your friends you will fix it or I will damage them most severely. ” The screen glowed red in response to its words.

“Just keep it up and we’ll see who does the damage,” she muttered sitting on the floor next to where O’Neill and Jackson had now placed themselves against the far wall.

 

Cheyenne Mountain

 

Back in the SGC Teal’c had returned early.  Charlotte Templeman was relieved he had as General Hammond was concerned that SG-1 hadn’t yet returned the MALP and were slightly overdue reporting back, not something that was unknown, but Charlotte had transmitted her nervousness to him now.  Teal’c wanted to go straight through to Keelah but General Hammond thought it best to open the gate and see if they could contact Colonel O’Neill, or failing that activate the MALP to have a look see before he did.  Charlotte who had told Teal’c of her worries stood next to him watching the screen as contact was made with the MALP unit.  The picture was somewhat fuzzy at first but then cleared.  They could see nothing or more importantly no one in the immediate area shown by the unit.  General Hammond asked that the camera be turned 180 degrees.  Still no sign of life and there was no reply to any of their hails through the radios the team carried.  As the MALP camera swung round in a half circle Charlotte Templeman felt her legs go weak and grabbed hold of Teal’c’s arm.  Across the Stargate on that distant planet they could now see an iris, or something like an iris.  This meant that Teal’c could not go to Keelah to find his missing teammates and if they could not find a way to open it, they could not return home. 

 

While the vortex stayed in place, which is normally around 25 minutes they continued to try and contact SG-1 by radio, without success.  Charlotte could stand the strain no longer and after 15 minutes went off to the gym to get her mind off of the bad feeling that had grown worse deep in her stomach.  Teal’c located her there dancing with Brenda, one of the base nurses.  She often joined her and Major Carter for their sessions and he watched them for a moment before entering the gym.  Charlotte stopped dancing and Brenda turned the music off.

“We will try again soon,” Teal’c told Charlotte. “Colonel O’Neill is extremely well trained in the art of survival, as is Major Carter.  I am confident they will prevail.”

“Me too.  I think,” she answered him.  “But that doesn’t stop me worrying. Something is wrong, I can feel it.”

“Perhaps you should rest, this dancing in line looks very tiring,” he told her.

“I’m OK Teal’c,” she said gently touching his arm, then turned on the music and began again, a very fast dance.  Teal’c motioned to Brenda that she should keep an eye on her.  She nodded and mouthed “OK.” 

As he left the gym Charlotte smiled to herself.  Teal’c was everything the reports said he was.  The first alien she had met looked a little scary.  But she liked him very much.   

====== 

 

Keelah

 

Back on Keelah as soon as Reanne1 returned with their backpacks Major Carter realised they were in great danger.  The instrument she used to show radiation levels indicated that in the room with the Provider, these levels were too high.

“We cannot stay in here,” she told the machine, “you’re giving off what we call radiation and this is not good for us.”

“You will stay,” said the Provider.

“If we stay here we will become sick then I will not be able to transfer you,” she told it.

“What is sick?” the machine asked.

“Oh never mind,” she answered.  “Just believe me when I say we cannot stay here with all this.” She indicated the lines of consuls along one wall which housed the functions of the Provider. “We need to be in another room that’s all.”

“There through that window is sufficient.  No further away will you be,” it answered.

They all turned towards the large window that nearly filled one wall dividing that room from the one next door.

 “That may not be far enough,” came in O’Neill seeing the possibility of escape.

“This radiation,” asked the Provider, “what?”

“It’s hard to explain,” answered Carter.  “All I can tell you is that it’s extremely harmful to organic beings, it could cause us to cease to function and then where would you be?”

“Perhaps it is everywhere,” answered the machine, “how do you know it is not?”

“Because I didn’t pick up these levels when we first entered the dome.  In fact I didn’t pick them up until….” She broke off with what she was about to say.  O’Neill gave her a puzzled look.

“Never mind how we know it’s not,” cut in Daniel Jackson. “Organic beings just know these things, machines do not.”  He looked at his companions and raised his eyebrows.

<