jeriendhal | "A Slight Detour"

"Terinu" and related characters, images , and situations is copyright Peta Hewitt. "Stargate SG-1" is copyright the Sci-Fi Channel.

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A quick diversion to the infirmary only served to discover that they were out of analgesics that were both non-toxic to homo sapiens and wouldn't lay her out flat on her bunk for eight hours. There still were plenty of anti-acids available though, and she took a couple of tablets to swallow before making her to the bridge.

Rufus was leaning over a hooded display terminal, an uncharacteristic frown on his fox-like face. Leeza dropped into the seat beside him and tried to peer around his shoulder.

"Bad news?" she asked.

"Not bad, good really, just a bit unexpected." Rufus turned away from the display and looked her over with concern. "Our two young bucks at each other's throats once again?"

"Actually the Lance and Teri Show was a bit low key this time," Leeza told him. "I think I made them both realize how close they came to making themselves a smear on the bulkheads. I just wish I could have a civil conversation with the two of them together that lasted longer than two sentences." She shook her head. "That'll keep though. Have you found a place for us to hole up?"

Rufus tapped the display with a claw. "Yes. Lovely world, roughly equivalent to Vulpine Prime or Earth, with a moderate climate, and large amounts of plant life. Better still, no sign of an industrial civilization that might attract the Varn's interest. There's a large conifer forest region in the northern meridian I thought we might set down in. Shut down the reactor, cover the Treona with that sensor spoofer tenting we picked up, and we ought to be practically invisible from orbit until we're ready to go."

"Sounds good," Leeza agreed. "So what was making you frown earlier?"

"One minor, almost insignificant anomaly. It's not supposed to be there." Rufus grinned at Leeza's look of confusion. "According to the survey records for this system, this planet's orbit is occupied by an asteroid belt. It was too close to the local gas giants to allow for a proper planetary formation to occur. The asteroid belt is still there, but now there's a nice little habitable planet as well. Bit hard even for the Survey Service to miss that little detail, wouldn’t you say?"

"Nova! They missed an entire habitable world?"

"Apparently. Should make for a diverting trip, I think."

"Boring," Leeza said quickly, "I prefer boring. Nice boring planets with nice boring plant life, no large animals with big teeth, or xenophobic natives."

Rufus' ears rotated in a way that Leeza had learned recognize as suppressed laughter. "Now where's the fun in that?"

TBC