Janet Fraiser sat, limbs aching, as she held a mug of hot tea in her hands, in what was the foundations of what Tarvek was calling their Waystation. For Janet it was another construction effort, save this time there were no US marines to help out while eating crayons. No, those soldiers she'd shared a camp with, along with the far too excitable scientists, for several weeks were now, literally, in another dimension – even if this one looked very much the same as the last. Despite that, and its emptiness, Janet felt some measure of relief that they were making some sort of process.

The Earth they'd come from was just…too uncanny valley perhaps. Even without the fact the Asgard of that dimension turning out to be evil for some reason. No matter that, it had been too close, yet not close enough even before the invasion and that Earth clearly never going to be the same again. Or the fact that Janet was, unfortunately, very sure if she stayed, she'd be spending the rest of her life surrounded by scientists asking questions, and in a, possibly luxurious but still restricted, house arrest. That didn't sound very appealing, and leaving her fate entirely in Tarvek's hands, taking no effort…she'd rather know that things went wrong, and tried to help, than something happen, never know, and spend the rest of her life waiting for him to return but never doing so.

"A fake cave, really?"

Tarvek gave a snort, sitting with a drink in his own hand, out of his war-suit, which was standing a few metres away in 'guard mode' apparently "It is best to hide the waystation"

"This world seems to be empty as well" she pointed out, curious if there was ever an end to his paranoia as she looked around from the rocks, both of them in an overhang on the outside the cave proper "That is what you said"

"Seems" he replied "Merely seems"

Then the towering non-human shook his head "Protocol does dictate it as well, for good reason. Just because we believe it so, does not mean it is so"

That, there, was her most common impression of her new travelling companion; - Tarvek did so love his rules, laws, and traditions, even if she didn't know them all. He wasn't exactly a Colonel O'Neill, following when needed, but always chafing against him, instead being almost the opposite in being unhappy there were not easy rules and laws to follow. So much so that, here he was, essentially building a base all by himself, as Janet wasn't able to match a walking tank in effort…because the rules said he should do that. It was comforting in some ways, and likely to be comfortable when finished, but it was…strange compared to what she was used to in Stargate Command.

"Fair" she admitted in agreement with him, looking out at the lake. It was a nice view at least "It just will take time"

"Most things worthwhile do" he argued back "Exploration of the planes is….very, very, dangerous. Having a place to fallback to, which is what the Waystation is, then is very much advisable"

"Hmm, you did mention, several times" Janet said with amusement, sighing then "It does not make the wait any easier. Nor the work itself"

"Ha, no, no it does not" the red skinned tusked fellow agreed, looking up at the distant clouds "We'll be glad of later. That is a storm in the distance looks to my eye"

"Experience from home?"

"Some" the orc-man made a grunting-humming noise, considering memories perhaps "I like the woods, even if, ah, one likes the benefits of other things you would consider…ah, modern I believe is the word to your mind"

Tribal techno-barbarians wasn't quite right as a description, but everything she heard about his home indicate some strange blend of primitivism and high-technology that, frankly, still confused Janet. Maybe that or something out of Conan the Barbarian, save not-human, and mixed with Flash Gordon perhaps. Somehow turning out a citizen more focused on following the rules than most people Janet had worked with. Something to be glad of it, as she was confident that Tarvek meant what he said, and fully, and seriously, intended to keep his promises.

"Creature comforts are something to miss in the wilds, though you seem to planning for that. Though why you are building a moonshine still is beyond me"

Tarvek made that amused grumbling sound again "Aye, though tis not moonshine but a beer still, and, more importantly an alchemy workbench. Or it shall be, when started and finished. It is but plans on my pip-boy for now, and yours"

"If I could figure out how to use it" Janet admitted awkwardly, nodding at the device now on her wrist. A wrist computer, and somehow minor manufacture device mixed with medical device. Tarvek had…either built it from parts, had a spare one, or some line between the two, but Janet was still trying to follow how to use it despite his lessons so far. The idea of the device seemed very useful, but the description was strangely mystical and phrased oddly in how it worked…just as Tarvek's 'Compass' and the entire nature of dimensional travel. It, sadly, wasn't something a short training course (while in the middle of an alien invasion, then its aftermath) didn't leave much time for all those things.

"Hmm, the learning curve is steep without the culture behind it I suppose" he answered considering her words a moment, then shaking his head "No matter, once these walls are raised, and hidden, then time will be taken to do such things. Now that we no longer face constant questions on such things"

"And time to recover?"

That was something she was sure of, though her likely travelling companion of the foreseeable future and beyond hadn't quite spoken on it. While he seemed to use technology, somehow, Janet had observed there were very strange elements of rituals, personal energy, and working with 'natural' wormholes to achieve them getting here – and that had exhausted him, or the area for a time. It was clear enough that he was taking time now to build a 'proper waystation'…because they had time, as he needed the break to even safely consider going further forward. Not that Janet was disagreeing with his caution; even this world, and the last 'earth', where no aliens or unknowable powers were, had dangerous wildlife that she doubted she'd survive without him.

Tarvek sighed, nodding after a few moments "Aye…aye, that too, and to train thee in using these portals between here and the plane to the Earth we had left. Should the need arise. Once such tasks are complete then, by then, I shall have plotted the next plane in some manner. One more dangerous than here most likely, for it shall be one with more than beasts I expect"

"Hmm?"

Her travelling companion, and quasi-superior now, waved his red-skinned hand side-to-side "Hard to explain, but to get places…we shall need the energies of such planes to pass through. For I need to see the beacons, and beacons are always with life, or in the ruins of it"

'Not the most pleasant sounding' Janet thought, sipping from her mug "Well…let's hope the next one isn't invaded by evil Asgard"

"Heh, yes, that would be best. No planetary invasion would be nice"

Janet nodded, then glanced around with a shiver "Why is it winter here and spring or summer on the last…"

Tarvek looked again to the angry clouds distant, ignoring the cold breeze that blew over them as Janet shivered a moment "I think it is no, they are linked temporally by my readings and my own instincts. No, this earth is still within an age of cold unlike the last, which was similar to the earth before it…save without humans. It has been cold here since we arrived, and the plants are different. Subtly, but better for colder climes"

"Great, we picked the winter wonderland to settle upon instead of the sunny beach" Janet mock complained but gave a bemused smile even as she said it. It was still a strange thing to think upon, but the 'cosmology' was something she was at least beginning to grasp something of "Though, I think we are both relieved to be away from certain interest"

Tarvek shrugged "It will be that way, possibly, as time goes by. But, aye….aye it is a joy not to be besieged every day with questions endless demanding answers, and requests for yet more. It was an oath fulfilled, and contract well paid for it I must admit. Friendly even. Better than I had hoped"

"Not used to it?"

She'd grasped that after spending time with him, and he was honest at least "As leader? No. Nor, truly, as an explorator-pathfinder. I am a soldier, a guard-medicus, and we work in teams, but I have been trained, and therefore I shall do. That and we are a team, are we not?"

Janet sipped again, smiling before finishing the rest of the mug already, tiredness or not it was getting cold here and now "Seems so, which is good. I know I could not do this on my own. Should we finish up then? Before the blizzard arrives? I'm sure we need to bold something or other down"

Tarvek finished his drink as well, standing up, winds picking up "Mayhap, but a last check of the checklist before resting in shelter won't hurt"