2
A week passed, and I was bored the entire time. Very, very bored. Still, no one was pounding down my door wanting to kill me in revenge for Dr. Jackson, so I guess that being bored was a small price to pay. What did I do during that time? Not much. I wrote in my journal, had my meals in the commissary, and I exercised in the gym. Beyond that, I didn't do much. Not much at all.
Have I mentioned I was bored?
Sam took pity on me and introduced me to the librarian and the base library. After that, I ceased to be bored and began reading. What books! They mentioned theories that were decades ahead of Kelownan physics. I spent days reading up on all the sciences that Earth knew. Ecology, botany, physics, meteorology, astronomy, anthropology, linguistics, and chemistry became my fields of study for the time being, and they were all fascinating enough to banish boredom. A zoology text introduced me to the flora and fauna of Earth, and most of the animals and plants were fascinating enough to keep me reading for hours. The largest treasure trove I found was the history section. I was able to read all about Earth's history and about the country of America. I found mention of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and photographs of the destruction convinced me that Dr. Jackson had known what he was talking about. The destruction was more than I could have ever imagined, and I found myself thanking Dr. Jackson over and over again for sparing Kelowna and the rest of the planet from that fate.
What did I learn about Earth during all that reading? A lot. There was a lot of recorded history and there were many different types of people and cultures. There were elaborate systems of politics, economics, and information that affected all people in every level of society, and increased exposure to the world for people of small and isolated communities had been made easier through improvements in the mass media, migration, and transportation. The Earth was rapidly (and at the same time, slowly) going through a process called globalization, which meant that trade and communication was easier and the cultures of the world were slowly transforming into a new, multi-faceted culture that all people would one day share.
The greatest discovery I made was a selection of Earth literature, both what the librarian termed "classics" (meaning old and well-known) and "contemporary" (meaning modern and well-known). The librarian arranged for me to be able to borrow books and take them to my quarters to read, so every evening before I slept I read literature. Poems, stories, epics, plays, and novels were as satisfying as a good meal, and the new literature was just as exotic to me as the food was. New scenarios and adventures were just like new flavors, and the words and dialogue made up new feasts for my mind. Even when I didn't understand what I was reading (such as Shakespeare, anything he wrote I had to read twice before I understood it!) I relished it. It was as if I were actually seeing new worlds—which, technically, I was.
Two weeks after Dr. Jackson's death (or ascension), General Hammond called me to his office. Feeling no small amount of trepidation, I went, expecting at any moment to be called up on some sort of charges. When I got there, I found only the general. No armed guards or judge or anything I'd expected.
"I've been in contact with several people regarding you, Mr. Quinn," he told me, offering me a chair. "Quite frankly, we've had refugees in the past, but we've always managed to relocate them. In your case, however, relocation isn't really possible. We try to keep our émigrés and those we send them to as close as possible culturally speaking, and you come nowhere close to anyone we know of."
"I kind of figured that," I confessed. "Nothing happened right away, so…" I shrugged, unable to think of anything else to say.
"Well, you've been granted full asylum by the United States government, on the condition that you agree to remain on base. There are too many security issues at risk to allow you to integrate into the general population just yet."
"I understand. I was hoping that I could do something here to help in some way."
General Hammond nodded, taking his seat. "We were hoping for that. Our situation with Kelowna is still at a stalemate and it looks as if it's going to be that way for quite some time. We will need an insider's perspective."
I understood what he was asking me to do. By Kelownan standards I would be committing further treason, but in the long run, I believed that I would be doing them a greater service, so I agreed to provide any information that was needed in regards to Kelowna. In exchange, Lieutenant Williams no longer needed to accompany me everywhere, and I was allowed the use of Dr. Jackson's office.
"No one would…mind?" I asked, surprised.
"Actually, no," General Hammond told me kindly. "You see, since you're such a 'quick study,' we were hoping that you could acquire some of Dr. Jackson's knowledge by reading his books and notes. Once you have that knowledge, you'll be able to work with our SG teams by briefing them on cultures and languages, things like that. That is, if you would like to do that sort of work."
"Yeah, more than anything, but…you don't have to give me anything to do. Your government could just…stick me on a shelf for later until they need me."
General Hammond smiled at that. "In my experience, people are happier when they have work that they enjoy doing. According to what I've heard from SG-1, you and Dr. Jackson were like two peas in a pod."
That was a phrase I hadn't heard before. "Peas in a pod?"
"Ah, it's an Earth phrase, used to describe two people who are very much alike and who share the same interests."
"Oh."
"Those interests you have could be very useful to us, and they could give you a job here, if you would like it," he said, picking up a folder and handing it to me. "In this folder you'll find everything that your new position will entail as well as your regulations and rights and privileges."
I examined the pages within the folder carefully, but I learned very little new information from them. General Hammond had told me just about everything I needed to know already. I was guaranteed residency on the base with full use of the facilities and services there. I was not to leave the base unless escorted by approved Air Force personnel or if I left on official SGC business with an escort. My official position was the same as Dr. Jackson's, except that I was classified as "offworld/civilian consultant." I could live with that. I would receive a stipend for personal expenses and full medical and related care through the Air Force and US Government.
"This is great, General, thank you," I said, entirely grateful. "I appreciate it very much."
"It's entirely a pleasure, Mr. Quinn. Welcome aboard."
It was Sam who took me to Dr. Jackson's office and showed me around. All of his personal items had been stored away by that point, but all of his books, his notes, his reports—everything I would need to do my job—were all there. Also there were a few appliances that were quite interesting. One was a radio-tape-CD player, through which I could receive radio broadcasts and use to play tapes and CDs. The library had a large selection of these (for off-world teams to share with their new acquaintances) and I was able to obtain copies of several earlier Earth composers for listening. What music! Kelownan music was fairly simple in comparison, the fugue never having taken hold to a large extent. The other appliance was a television, on which I could watch movies, sitcoms, dramatizations, documentaries, news broadcasts, and any number of other things. Some I didn't understand, others were surprising, but the things that amazed me the most were the weather forecasts. It was like seeing into the future!
Sam explained the use of the computer to me and taught me how to use several programs and how the Internet functioned and how I could use it for research. The information available at my fingertips was astounding, and some nights I spent in the office, working and "surfing" the "web." Amazing. I discovered countless "websites" that were useful to me in my work, and I was certain that Dr. Jackson would have found them in the past. More than one dealt with archeology, culture, and other subjects that I was working with now.
I didn't spend all my time working. General Hammond, Teal'c, and Sam wouldn't allow it. They all made certain that I took breaks periodically. I had meals with Sam, talked with General Hammond, and exercised with Teal'c. When General Hammond insisted I have a weekend free, Sam did me an incredible favor: she took me on a trip off-base. I spent the entire trip there glued to a window, staring out at Earth and enjoying every moment of it. Highways, streets, buildings, billboards, and people, people, people. It was a large park that we were going to, she said, and we spent that entire day hiking, swimming, horseback riding, boating, and having a picnic with Dr. Frasier and her daughter Cassandra. The park even had its own zoo, so I got to see some of Earth's animals up close and even touch some of them in a small enclosure called a "petting zoo." Cassandra went with me to that, even though she said she was too old for petting and feeding animals, but I could tell she was having as much fun as I was. I was nearly mobbed by little quadrupeds known as "goats" when I had my hands full of feed. I'd had so much fun that day (and I was so tired from it all) that Sam told me I fell asleep in the car on the way back to the base. I can't remember just when I feel asleep, but I do remember partially waking up at some point, because I heard Colonel O'Neill's voice.
"Carter, where have you been all day?"
"Janet and Cassandra invited Jonas and I to spend the day with them at the park, and we're just getting back."
"You had fun, I take it?"
"Oh, yeah, lots of fun, but I think Jonas had a fun overload. He passed out in the car on the way back here."
I heard my car door open, but I couldn't move or open my eyes. I was too tired to even think, let alone think of moving.
"Aww," Colonel O'Neill said, standing right by me. "Reminds me of when we'd bring Charlie home late at night after a baseball game or something. Poor guy looks tuckered out."
This was coming from Colonel O'Neill? No, I had to be dreaming. The only way it was possible for it to happen was in a dream. Colonel O'Neill would never say anything like what I'd heard. My over-tired brain had to be playing tricks on me.
"It's a good thing he's asleep," Sam opined, sounding very amused. "He'd be awfully surprised at the way you're talking, sir. You almost sound as if you like him."
I had to be dreaming.
"Who said I didn't?" Colonel O'Neill wanted to know. "He's not so bad. It's not him, really, it's me. It's just…I want to take my time getting to know him. That might take me a while. You know."
"I know."
Was I dreaming?
I heard Colonel O'Neill move away then, wishing Sam a good night, and then I felt tapping on my face, which actually got me to wake up the rest of the way so I could go inside the base and "hit the hay," as Sam put it. When she saw my confused look she told me that it was phrase meaning, "go to bed." I hit the hay at Mach 2; I was so tired.
One other trip that I was taken on was to Washington D.C., the American capital, which was actually official SGC business. SG-1 had been asked to go to some sort of hearing, where they were asked to relate what they'd been doing for the past year. I went along because I could verify what had happened on Kelowna, and because, as General Hammond put it, SG-1 could show me off. Apparently, with my abilities as a quick study and my being an alien, I was an asset.
Unfortunately, I was also a curiosity to several scientists that the government had informed of my existence and imminent arrival in Washington. Directly after I had given my report to those assembled at the hearing and had answered all of their questions, those at the hearing introduced the scientists to me and told me that they were just "itching" to talk to me.
"Are they contagious?" I asked, confused by what had been said.
"It's just a way of saying that they really want to talk to you," Colonel O'Neill said, rubbing the spot between his eyebrows as if he had a headache.
"Well, I'd be glad to answer any questions they have," I said, eager to be of some help.
"As long as I go with you," Colonel O'Neill said. "After all, according to General Hammond, I'm responsible for you."
I agreed, but inside, I felt ready to kick him. Sam or Teal'c could have gone with me just as easily. He was acting as if I couldn't even answer a few questions without him along to keep me out of trouble.
I found out shortly that I was mistaken. An appointment was made for us both to report to their lab in two hours' time, and in the meantime, all of us would have lunch out at a restaurant in the city. It was my first time in an Earth restaurant, but my enjoyment of it was a bit marred by my misconceptions.
"Jonas, you want to be very careful," Sam told me after our waitress (a very pretty one) had taken our orders for drinks. "We haven't been able to confirm it, but we think a large number of those scientists you're supposed to be working with this afternoon are actually working for the NID."
"Huh?" I said, surprised. The NID was very, very bad according to the feeling around base. What could the NID want with me?
"Carter's right; that's why I'm going with you," Colonel O'Neill said as our waitress arrived with our drinks. He thanked her and she left, saying that she would be back in a few minutes when were done looking over the menu.
"The NID?" I echoed, still too surprised to think very much. "What—why would they ask scientists to talk to me?"
"They might be planning to do more than talk to you," the colonel told me. "They might be planning to kidnap you or try exploiting you in some way."
"But…why? They could find out all they want about me by asking for my file."
"Yes, they could, but you are from…out of town, and you'd be very valuable to them. You might know about technologies, you might have immunities that they could examine, and besides, you are who and what you are. That alone makes you valuable."
"You mean…" I lowered my voice. "You mean that they could be after me just because I'm from another planet?"
Colonel O'Neill nodded. "When Maybourne was with the NID he tried to swipe Teal'c away from us more than once for 'study,' and you're familiar with the Tollans and the situation they were in. I wouldn't put it past them."
"Now I'm glad you're going with me," I said, staring at my menu in confusion. "Thanks."
"No problem," O'Neill said, winking.
Had he winked?
"Teal'c and I are going to be close by as well, Jonas," Sam assured me. "We aren't going to let the NID get their grubby paws on you."
I grinned, imagining the NID with paws. Then, I looked back at my menu and realized that I needed more help. "Um…can you guys explain to me what all of this stuff is?"
Sam laughed, seeing my puzzled expression, and she told me that we were about to enjoy old-fashioned Italian food.
"Like lasagna?" I asked eagerly. "The cooks told me that that was Italian."
"This is the real deal," Colonel O'Neill said, smiling. "Real food, not base food."
"You mean food here gets better?" I couldn't believe it, but all of them found that remark highly amusing. Even Teal'c smiled, and he doesn't really smile all that often.
"Yep, it gets better," Sam said, taking a sip of her drink. "Let's see…I'd suggest the wedding soup, shrimp alfredo with linguine, and tiramisu. You'll love it, Jonas."
She was right. I'd found all of my fondest food dreams fulfilled in those dishes, and I finished every last bit of them. I even mopped up the last of the sauce on my plate with a piece of bruschetta, and I left a twenty for the waitress for bringing me the best meal of my life. Colonel O'Neill was surprised, but he said, what the heck, the girl was probably in college and tuitions were up. He added a ten.
