An archaeologist walks into a bar | OTA

[a_quick_study]

Most people who've encountered Jonas by now will be familiar with his habit of carrying around a notebook with him. Not the same one, all the time: he has a stash, in his room, quaint in this time of PADDs and computers, but Jonas is still more at home with paper and books. His notebooks tend to looking slightly overstuffed with their closely-written pages and with other sheets of paper stuck in.

Anyone who'd seen inside one would have seen neat, cursive script outlining the things Jonas has observed and studied, the people he's met, the worlds he's learned about, and scattered throughout the pages, countless sketches.

Today, in Ten Forward with a mug of tea in front of him, Jonas has three notebooks spread open on the table, all of them with sketches of what look very much like ancient Egyptian artefacts: a scarab, a jewel-encrusted goblet, a statuette of what looks like some alien animal.

He's studying them, a pencil held between his fingers, tapping the table with a gentle rap-tap. He looks like a man trying to decide on something.

Comments

[air_sprite]

Trilby will, in her own way, look a little familiar for all that she and Jonas haven't run into each other yet.

It's the clothing that has to have been designed for someone's military first (no one else really wants that shade of green, let's be honest) but went surplus at some point. The military discipline to go with it, was not included, alas.

"You look like someone who can't decide if he wants a breakfast or a beer," observes Trilby.

[writes_with_digital_ink]

Gaila, the next table over, finally twists in her chair and watches him for a moment.

"So, are you in the lounge for the ambient noise to help concentrating, or because you want help or distracting or something, because that all looks fascinating."

[agathaheterodyne]

Agatha had been walking past with her tray, yawning. That new clank was... impressive. But she was still tired. And hungry. Which is why she was there, to get some food. But she couldn't help bur see the images in his books. She stopped and pointed to the alien animal.

"How did you build that?" she asked, head tilted with curiosity.

[ancientstalker]

Contrast to the next table over, where a man has an array of PADDs spread over the table. Most of them are locked, but the one closest to Jonas will have the exact technical specs of something that looks pretty familiar... A Stargate.

Orlin, himself, is busy tapping away at a PADD with a stylus, more or less lost in his work... as usual.

[a_quick_study]

Jonas had been focusing on the notebook with the picture of the statuette in it, frowning at it like he thought something wasn't quite right. He looks up, reaching for the mug of tea, and in doing so, his attention is drawn to the man next to him.

The man net to him with the PADDs, working away at something. That's not what's interesting, though. It's something he has to lean across to be sure he's seeing, there on one of the screens.

"Is that a Stargate?"

[ancientstalker]

And, with that, Orlin pauses. The humans of Earth called the Astria Porta a "Stargate." A slight smile, there.

"You know what it is?"

[a_quick_study]

In one of his notebooks back in his office on Earth, if it still could be considered his office after so long away, there's a detailed diagram of a Stargate he sometimes uses to show people he's met what it looks like. Different components are labeled, the different constellations each glyph represents indicated.

That diagram is nothing to the detail on this one, and Jonas looks clearly impressed as he glances up at the man.

"Yeah. We call it the Stargate. You're only the third person I've met here who's even heard of one."

[ancientstalker]

Given the fact that it's a diagram inputted and designed into a Starfleet PADD is probably even more impressive. It does look a bit different, the glyphs in different places, but it's definitely a Stargate.

"Same with me. I was beginning to hope Q had left our timeline mostly untouched."

[a_quick_study]

As he eyes it, Jonas does notice some of those differences: noticing those little details in things is what he does. He's studied the design of the Stargates closely, in reading Doctor Jackson's notes, and simply in trying to learn whatever he can in order to be the most help to the Stargate Program. He's even read up on some of the physics involved in their operation, thanks to recommendations from Major Carter.

"Even the people who are here are from different times," he points out. Both Colonel Sheppard and Doctor Lam had seemed to be from his future.

He lets out a breath and shakes his head, ruefully. "I'm not sure I want to think about what that does to the timeline when we get back."

He pauses, then smiles. "I'm Jonas, by the way. Jonas Quinn."

[ancientstalker]

The reason? The design was a Pegasus-style Stargate, used in the Pegasus Galaxy. A style Jonas has yet to come across.

A pause, and a thought. Would it be worth giving his real name?

"Orlin. Nice to meet you." And another pause. "Yes, pollution of the timeline is a concern. Although, I don't think Q would mess overmuch."

[a_quick_study]

It's true that Jonas is a quick study. It's true that he's not only read but memorized every one of SG-1's mission reports. But it wouldn't require his intellect or his attention to details (like just how long it's been since that guy in the corner drank any of the coffee that must by now be cold, because he ordered it a good half hour ago) to remember that name.

It had been, all things told, one of the more interesting mission reports. And on that PADD is a very detailed diagram, one that's obviously been done carefully, since it's not a matter of just sketching a likeness and drawing on labels, like Jonas has done, albeit with his customary precision.

His brow creases, just a little.

"Orlin. You met SG-1, didn't you? You're the one who built your own Stargate."

[ancientstalker]

The smile widens a bit.

"You know SG-1." He remarks, sounding amused. "Yes, I did. It was simple when I figured out what components were called what."

[a_quick_study]

"I'm on SG-1. Or, I was, before I came here."

It's a matter of pride to Jonas, and it shows in his voice and in the smile that grows in response to Orlin's. Orlin was ... he'd been Ascended. He'd built a Stargate out of household parts and things he'd bought online. There was so much they could have learned from him, even if one of the things that they learned was how very much his people opposed meddling in matters of peoples who weren't Ascended, too.

"That was amazing," he said, shaking his head. "That you could do that with just what you found and could buy."

[ancientstalker]

"Well, then." Orlin frowns slightly. "Seems I'm from the earliest point in time."

It's a logical conclusion; Jonas remembers him, but Orlin doesn't remember Jonas.

And, don't tell anyone, Jonas, but Orlin is still ascended... Well, re-ascended.

"I'm sure anyone could do it if they knew how. Unfortunately, The Others prevent that knowledge from being shared." A pause. "I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually."