Title: Tuning In
Author: P.L.S.
Disclaimer: Stargate SG-1 and its characters are property of Stargate (II) productions, Showtime/Viacom, MGM/UA, Double Secret Productions, and Gekko Productions. This story is for entertainment purposes only and no money was exchanged. No copyright infringement is intended. The original characters, situations and story are property of the author.
Summery: AU- For one scientist life is starting to seem like a radio with pre-sets, which is odd considering no one else seems to think it's a routine job. Follow up to Twist the Tune.
Warnings: Uh, Jack's a general (which to me is scary even if is canon.) Really, you just need to worry about the severe AU factor. And dead slash relationships- I can't write a completely straight Daniel. So, he has ex's in the forms of Davis, Raynor, and Gardener (which is canon het.)
Author's Notes: I hate it. I was all set to have chapter six of Nabu done, then I go and do this...
ooOooOoo
Now it was confirmed. He really wasn't doing anything important, not really. That was mostly because he quite quickly attained a reputation for getting translations done quick, correctly, and with notes on the culture around whatever it was. All three things were what the various commanding officers of the Stargate teams needed to make good choices.
As such he was being buried in useless crap; laundry lists, invoices, junked plans, or even just alien tabloids. He had tried teaching more languages to the other linguists, but no one could even put forth the effort to try to live using just a dead language for a week or two, not one of them actually thought in the languages they translated, and he was beginning to understand just why the SGC was in need of him- no one thought outside the box at all!
His band mates were squared away, all three were challenged and liking the idea of being a part of something so big. They still did play together, only now they played in the base's rec. room or at a local pub, and now knew their alien fans. Daniel even started to collect songs from Teal'c, Nyan, and the others who actually ditched their whole planet just to fight for humanity. His performances were the only things keeping him at the SGC, between anthropologists who had been taught to look down upon him, the lack of challenge, and the sheer boredom that the grey of the bunker inspired in him, he was almost ready to quit.
Hey Spacemonkey! Daniel looked behind him, there stood his boss, looking very uncomfortable in his Class B's, and yet still trying to be informal. Jack was another thing he kind of liked, he had started to earn a spot like Paul did him his heart.
Why do you call me that? Jack shrugged at the question.
I donno, it just feels right, ya know. Daniel felt his mouth twist then he went back to work, So whatcha doin'?Translating SG3's bathroom graphiti. Daniel said with a sigh, Then I get to translate SG2's dry cleaning receipts, then SG10's stock invoices, the expiration dates on a new gizmo SG1 is tinkering with, and yes, I'm deadly serious. Jack leaned against his desk and frowned.
Ya know, when I okayed you for this project I was under the impression that you would, I donno, maybe be of some use. Jack said and Daniel rolled his chair back and threw his pen at the Barrel of Monkeys that Jack gave him as a Christmas gift in return for the Jumbo Superball that Daniel had given him.
You think I don't get that? Daniel said, Everyone seems to be suffering from Candy Dish Syndrome. Anything they bring back seems to be of major cultural significance, nothing is just junk or trash. God! You think I like spending my days holed up in this cell like some Russian monk, slaving over stuff that has no value to the main mission of this outfit. I've even made up crib sheets of symbols and patterns to look for, but still your teams persist in giving me this stuff. No one is even bothering to try to learn the basics other than Daniel scowled at the size of his in-box's pile.
Jack looked thoughtful, You think you could do a better job on the other side of the Daniel looked up at him.
I asked if you think you could do better than the social scientists we got going through the Jack said in a bland tone. Daniel shrugged.
Other than Teal'c, or maybe Captain Carter, sure. I know I'm not going to because I have no skills, nor do I think I could kill unless I had no choice, but as far as picking up stuff that is useful, sure. Daniel sighed, Its impossible to do any worse. But what we need are either native speakers or people who are willing to go native or a month or so to learn the language, customs, and all about the people in order to really understand the words.Like that camping trip you insisted on taking Teal'c on when you first came? asked Jack, I always wondered why it had to be just you and T.I spent the entire time using only Gou'ald or Chulakinan to speak, doing things in accordance to Jaffa traditions, and learning everything I could about how Teal'c used to live. It was how I picked everything up without being lost in books or classes. Daniel shrugged, The real trick is learning how to think in the language, which means translating on the go is made a bit easier. But really, back on topic, I can't seem to find any feasible way to keep your soldiers from shooting themselves in their collective foot.
Jack rubbed his forehead, Yeah, know what you mean. Goddamnit, why the hell can't something go right? Jack looked at everything all over the office cum library cum museum. Only the guitar like thing in the corner revealed that Daniel was into any kind of music, the instrument couldn't leave the SGC but Daniel loved it and refused to let it be stored like the rest of the artefacts in the bowels of the mountain. It was a gift to him from a bunch of jaffa who Teal'c and SG1 got to defect from Nirrti three months ago.
During the weeks of waiting for news on their families, finding new homes, and getting over the doctrines that were all they once knew, Daniel had been a sort of comfort and distraction. The linguist at first only wanted to collect stories and songs, but ended up doing daily jam sessions and just chatting over nothing with the warriors, making them feel normal when everyone else tiptoed around them.
Jack had been amazed when one night he was raiding the commissary while pulling an all nighter because of a missing team, in the mess hall Daniel, Nyan, Teal'c, and the visiting jaffa were all eating popcorn, chips, and ice cream while watching movies. Star Wars was a hit with the jaffa, as was The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (which was Nyan's pick), but it was Daniel's pick which really got the jaffa laughing. For some reason British humour was compatible to jaffa jokes and Life of Brain was enough to get the warriors in tears with laughter.
Now it was more common to see the aliens going to bond with the newbie geek, rather than in the library, labs, or wherever they used to go to get used to Earth-side culture. Daniel explained things to them, giving them frames of reference from their home worlds, and treating everyone the same. No one was stupid to him and it almost seemed like Daniel made it a point to try to understand just how other people thought and talked.
More than once Jack had heard a room with a Daniel Jackson in it compared to the Tower of Babel, mostly because Daniel liked it when people used their native tongues to chat with him. If it weren't extraterrestrial, it was on a speaker phone to some linguist from some dig in the middle of nowhere that owed Daniel. English was only used by Daniel when speaking to an American, Australian, Canadian, or Brit. Even in the odd busy moments when Daniel would talk to himself Arabic or whatever language he was translating was used. Jack sighed, that total snubbing of English meant that he had to ask Daniel for his thoughts, not trust in his babble.
You have any ideas that I can use? Jack heard Daniel ask.
I wish. I came here to get some from you. Jack had an idea come to him, You know, there is a gap in team expertise that needs to be filled.Well we got military teams, diplomatic teams, and science teams, right? Daniel nodded at Jack's words, Well, a lot of times we see things were we either need to send two different teams, or a team ends up totally out of their depth. Daniel said carefully, still not totally seeing where this was going.
I also have a few people on base who would be better utilised in the field but need special handling or they don't get along with anyone but a certain few people, if I put them on a team...I see, you want to create a mixed team that can do first contact and assess whether or not to send others, or to just to get a variety of information at once. Right? Daniel saw the smile on Jack's face, And you want me on it?Ya got it. You and Bra'tac get on, right? Daniel nodded, he had yet to meet a free jaffa he didn't like, and Bra'tac had a unique sense of humour that Daniel liked.
So who else other than Bra'tac and I? asked Daniel.
Bra'tac pretty much covers Gou'ald knowledge and military, but since every team needs a US military member, I'm gonna ask Davis to be the diplomat. He's been looking pretty stressed out and a change of scenery could do him some good. And I donno, I'll get Carter to find you some hot shot techno-wiz. Jack looked pleased with himself, but Daniel bit his lip as he tried to think of all the things that would go wrong.
What about the translations and MALP evaluations I do? asked Daniel and Jack frowned.
Well, you could still do them while Earth-side, but your team takes priority, and Rothman is getting a handle on Gou'ald, Gardner's not too far behind him. Jack said and Daniel nodded. It was true that Robert was getting better and better with the alien tongue, and Sarah, when she wasn't in a snit about something, wasn't being as close-minded as she used to be, but Daniel still didn't know if he'd stake lives on their work.
I'd do it, only if Nyan takes a more senior position. He double checks and has no problem with saying he needs help or whatever. Daniel said at last, But I'm not in charge of the department, I'm more like a hired hand now to them. Jack sighed.
They aren't gonna go for it, are they?It'd be a cold day in Hell.Okay, I'll make the suggestion, but I'd take some major concessions. Daniel nodded and pushed his now green-blue streaked hair out of his pink and red eyes. Daniel made some comment about getting braids or something done, but Jack ignored it. Daniel was a civilian, and the boy was milking it for all it was worth.
Jack had started to tune out all Daniel's oddities; the changing hair colours, the piercings, the weird tattoos, and the occasional days of weird coloured contacts. Now that he thought about it, if Daniel went off-world as he was today, no one was going to think he was human. Jack was almost giddy at the thought of sending him to meet the Tok'ra or better yet, the Nox and Tollan.
Daniel grinned, he could almost read Jack's mind, If you give me a day's notice before the next time an ally who has gipped you visits, I will do my best to come to work looking like a semi-geeky Gene Simmons or Marilyn Manson. Total hair colour, fish net shirt, leather, and all. Jack laughed at the offer but was seriously considering it for the next little mission' the Tok'ra came to them with.