Daniel sat at his desk. He had gotten laptop out and was trying to figure out how to get Vala to Atlantis. She was his best bet to get his hands on the retrovirus that Keller and the Wraith Ember had made. He rubbed his face in his hands. There had to be a way to do this. Some way to get her here that wasn’t super suspicious. He had to find an excuse, any excuse…. He yawned and picked up his coffee cup and took a sip. Well, he could always just see if she could ask to come visit. What about SG-1? They could always come to Atlantis just for fun… He might have to ask Cameron about that. He stared at the screen.
On the other hand, he also needed to contact Guide, which made things just a little easier because Guide and his daughter were on Atlantis. Daniel closed his laptop and stood up. He had to go talk to Guide might as well do it now. Daniel grabbed his voice recorder and a notebook to make it look like he is going to some ethnographic research on the Wraith. He checked the breast pocket of his green uniform to make sure he had the polaroid from X-23.
Daniel left his quarters and walked down the hall hoping he would not run into any chatty personnel. The path to the pier where Guide’s ship was docked was not exactly short. He reached the end of the hall and touched the panel to open the door onto a transporter. It looked like an empty closet, or an elevator with a screen that opened as soon as the doors were closed behind him. He touched the point on the screen that was the closest working transporter to the pier. He still had some way to go; at least this part of the city was less busy than the rest. The only people usually around here were guards and some random scientists still doing periodic maintenance on the city. He let out his breath. He hated transporters, they were always disconcerting no matter how many times he was transported around. He wondered if this was due to his exposure to Star Trek as a kid- Bones was always freaked out about the things, and there was always some horrible accident waiting to happen. Thankfully, they had not had much of a problem with any of their transporters- well except for the Wraith accident he had read about. That was one of the times where integrating people from a Wraith dart ended up with Lt. Cadman stuck inside Rodney McKay’s mind for about a week. Daniel shook his head. He had made it to the stairs down to the doors, then it was the long trek along the pier to the ship.
The guards stopped him at the door. There were two of them.
“What is your business down here, Sir?” asked one.
“Well, since the Wraith are here, I figured I’d get around to do some ethnographic research on them,” explained Daniel. The guards didn’t need to stop him; they were there just in case there was trouble.
“Does General O’Neal know about this?” asked the Guard again. He was young and was obviously on his first tour in Pegasus.
“No, but I don’t see why that matters,” says Daniel, “They are our allies, I doubt they are going to do anything, you know….”
“But…” started the young Marine. The second Marine, one who had been around the SGC and Atlantis a while, rolled his eyes.
“Dr. Jackson, just be careful,” he said.
“Oh you know I will,” he said, “I don’t intend on dying again.”
The younger Marine’s eyes showed some confusion as his partner laughed, “Yes sir, keep your radio on.”
With that, Daniel was out the door and striding towards the Wraith cruiser on the pier. It was further than it looked. The ship was huge- about half a mile long. The large organic ship glistened darkly in the sun; it was almost black. He had seen a few of the Wraith ships up in space, and how their color camouflaged them against the inky black. There was something existential about trusting your life to glass and metal in the vacuum of space, but to live in space, to grow up on a ship that was made of bone and chiton and gristle… Daniel shook his head, that was not a line of reasoning he should pursue. He trudged along the pier. It didn’t take long but finally he was standing at the entrance ramp to Guide’s, well, Alabaster’s ship.
There were guards here too, not human guards, but the hulking Wraith drones that were used for such duties. He did not like the look of these guys; they were creepy behind their masks. According to the reports, they were not much more than animals, and they were usually under the control of a commander. He stood in front of them for a few minutes, when the inner door opened to allow a Wraith Daniel knew to be Bonewhite to exit the ship.
“What is your business here?” Asked the Wraith with an almost annoyed air.
“Oh, I want to talk to Guide,” says Daniel, “If, that is okay with your queen, I mean. I’d like to ask him some questions about your society….”
Bonewhite was silent, then with a slight bow of his head, “You will be permitted. This way.”
With that Daniel was lead on board and down the corridors of the ship to what he surmised might be Guide’s quarters. Bonewhite touched a small panel on the side of the organic door and it split down the middle to admit him into a room that even on Hammond would be fairly large. There were what he surmised were game tables, and niches in the walls that were about the right size for one to sleep in them. They looked cozy. The light was low, but it should be just right for Wraith. Guide was sitting at one tables made of bone that grew from the floor a game board covering the top of it. Daniel took note of that, not many would even think that Wraith like to play games. Not many would ever think that Wraith did much more than try to conquer and cull humans.
“Daniel Jackson,” he said not standing up, “It is a pleasure to see you.”
Daniel smiled at him, “Oh no the pleasure is mine.”
“Please sit,” said Guide with a wave to a chair opposite him.
Daniel did so and Bonewhite left the room.
“Guide I need to talk to you,” said Daniel quickly, “You know about Milliways, you know the bar that kidnaps people sometimes…”
“I know of it,” says Guide warily, “I did not know you were a patron.”
“Well, you see, Todd... Guide, I need a favor,” said Daniel, “You, well a much younger you, just arrived in Milliways, and X-23 is having a hard time figuring out how to feed you… and, well, how to control you.”
Guide looked up from the dice he’d been rolling, “Ah yes, I remember that, it was a difficult time for me. What is it you need, Dr. Jackson?”
Daniel grimaced, “I need some stunners for the security staff. You know just in case. Plus, they might be useful on other unruly patrons too.”
Guide nodded, so that makes sense. He had always wondered where they had gotten those. “I can do this. What about feeding. There was always Amanda…”
“I am working on getting the retrovirus into the bar,” says Daniel, “Do you think that will work?”
“It may be difficult for my younger self to accept an immune human,” he says, “I believe it was.”
“I was afraid of that…” mumbled Daniel, “Thanks.”
“How many stunners do you need?” asked Guide rolling his die again.
“Five,” said Daniel, “The young security lady said she only needs one, but I think five is good number.”
“Fair enough,” says Guide, “Tell me, what do you plan to give me in return for these resources?”
Daniel had not thought that far ahead, damn. He stumbled over his thoughts in his head for a moment, “I thought it would be mutually beneficial to you, the younger you, and the Bar at large…. I could pay your tab for you at some point.”
Guide tipped his head to one side, “Fair enough. How do you plan to deliver them to the Bar?”
“You could, but we need them now…. Tell you what, I have a door to Milliways in my office… my closet actually. We could meet there and take the stunners together.”
Guide grinned, “Yes, that will work. Tomorrow then?”
Daniel nodded, “Yep. So, can you show me how to play one of your games?”
Guide smiled, he was always fond of playing games, “Very well.”
He proceeded to show Daniel a game that in time he began to suspect was very much like a variant of chess called Shogi. It had some similar rules, but with a Wraithy twist. The object was to capture the queen, not the king. There were two sets of pieces. Drones controlled by blades, commanders, hive masters, lances, consorts, and palaxes. Guide went on to explain that there were variants within the game: some allowed for the promotion of pieces and the placement of captured pieces on the field of play; others did not. Some variants allowed one but not the other. Daniel was amused at how the game was so similar to several chess variants on Earth.
“This is fascinating,” he said after losing spectacularly to Guide a second time, “It’s like a couple of variants of a game we have on Earth.”
Guide raised a brow at Daniel’s remark, “Oh, and what do you call this game?”
“Chess. Well the specific variant I am thinking of his called Shogi, from Japan. There are a few others that this resembles too, “he explained happily, “I could teach you Western Chess and Shogi sometime. I mean there is also Orthodox chess too. They all have slightly different rules.”
Guide grinned and tipped his head, his hair falling gracefully about him, “That sounds like a deal, Daniel Jackson.” “So I will see you tomorrow? Say around fiveish by our clocks?” asked Daniel, “You can meet me in my office.”
“Very well.”
Daniel left the cruiser feeling a little accomplished. Now he needed to get the retrovirus. It suddenly occurred to him that Milliways was crazy with time. He could ask Vala in the Bar to get the retrovirus for him when she came to Atlantis during the battle with Queen Death.
Daniel was neck deep, metaphorically, in the Ancient database when Guide appeared at his office door. Office was a very loose term for it. Really it was a room with a console connected to the database, and a decent desk to hold his laptop and notes. It was nicely out of the way and most people wouldn’t come bothering him. He worked better this way.
“Hey,” he said thickly as his mind transferred from reading to speaking, “I hope you found my office well enough.”
“It was not hard to find,” explained the Wraith looking around the room, a leather backpack strung across his back.
“Did the guards come with you?” asked Daniel gesturing towards the door.
“No.”
“Good.”
Daniel stood and led Guide to a smaller door within the office. Probably for a closet, but his closets were always being co-opted by the Bar. .
Daniel and Guide enter the bar from Daniel's office. Guide is older than he was the last time, he is more mature, more filled out. His clothing is also different, it is black leather with black stitching. He has a leather sling backpack on.
"After you," says Daniel.
"Very well," says Guide with a growl as he steps into the bar.
"Thanks Guide," says Daniel. A rat stops bye, "Oh, up hi, can we get a shogi board, some water and some coffee. The coffee if for me so one cup is fine."
The rat runs off.
"I thought, it would be prudent," explains Guide, "Am I still in the cells here?"
"Maybe, you should ask my younger self to play a game or two. I know he would enjoy that," he instructs as Daniel lays out the board.
"I think this one will be easiest to teach you right now," says Daniel, "Seeing as the game you taught me yesterday is similar. Chess will be next. I've heard of a variant that can have up to five players."
That gets him thinking, "I'll be right back."
Daniel gather's the retrovirus and the instructions and takes them to the Bar. He's asking if she would deliver them to the correct people with a translation of the Wraith instructions, along with his contact information.
Guide looks at the pile of games. Settlers of Catan, Three Man Chess, and something called Once Upon a Time. A rat scurries up to the table with several other games in boxes like these, but they are Wraith games, Pyramids, Towers, the game Guide taught Daniel, and dice.
Amanda's door opens and in she walks. Almost immediately after she enters she notices Guide. A Wraith is difficult to miss. And he is with a human, that is a good sign.
She walks over to them and greets Guide, "Hello Wraith"
(OOC: sorry this is a second thread with these two, I couldn't resist. Hope you don't mind.)
Guide looks at her while placing his backpack on a near table.
"His name is Guide," says Danie while Guide bares is teeth, "From what I understand it's an imperfect translation of the flavor... is that a good description... of their minds."
Amanda perks up even more, now she knows his name.
"I saw you two come through the door together." turning to Daniel, "Does that mean you are from a planet that isn't Earth?" because last she heard Guide hadn't heard of Earth.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
diehard_daniel) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
milliways_bar2017-05-21 05:22 pm
no subject
It is entirely possible they didn't even get a moment in which to sit down.
"Hello."
no subject
Guide bows his head slightly, "I remember this one."
He takes the backpack off and heads to a table sitting down while filding the skirts of his long black coat around him.
"I think we should follow him," says Daniel standing with his hands in his pockets, "I didn't get your name last time we spoke, I'm Daniel Jackson."
no subject
Then she looks at Daniel.
"I am X. Head of Security."
And that said, she follows Guide to the table.
no subject
Then he takes out an ampule made of a translucent material like glass, but organic. He also takes out a datapad.
"Is that what I think it is?" asks Daniel.
no subject
"For emergencies."
Her gaze is on the ampoule, however.
no subject
Just take all of them X.
"This, is the retrovirus that your Doctor Keller and Ember created," says Guide to Daniel, "And information on synthases,dosage, and side effects."
"What? Really?" Asks Daniel.
no subject
"We can give the information to the infirmary? Here. In case it is necessary."
no subject
"Thanks Guide," says Daniel. A rat stops bye, "Oh, up hi, can we get a shogi board, some water and some coffee. The coffee if for me so one cup is fine."
The rat runs off.
"I thought, it would be prudent," explains Guide, "Am I still in the cells here?"
no subject
X is not entirely sure how many days are left on his sentence. But it is marked down in the Security Office.
no subject
"Guide, I don't think that would be a good idea," says Daniel.
"I know."
no subject
"With temporal anomalies."
no subject
Guide takes these and inspects the board and it's pieces.
"Indeed."
no subject
It gets tiresome.
no subject
Guide looked up, "So that is what this is called. Tell me, more about it."
His tone is inquisitive and subdued.
no subject
"I have not played shogi."
But if it's a strategy game, she'll take to it like a duck to water. Or, more accurately, a raptor to the air.
no subject
"Maybe, you should ask my younger self to play a game or two. I know he would enjoy that," he instructs as Daniel lays out the board.
"I think this one will be easiest to teach you right now," says Daniel, "Seeing as the game you taught me yesterday is similar. Chess will be next. I've heard of a variant that can have up to five players."
That gets him thinking, "I'll be right back."
Daniel gather's the retrovirus and the instructions and takes them to the Bar. He's asking if she would deliver them to the correct people with a translation of the Wraith instructions, along with his contact information.
no subject
If it will be an effective distraction, X will do it many times over.
She sits quietly and very still while she waits for Daniel to return.
no subject
Daniel seems to be taking some time getting what he needs.
"I will teach you some of our games," says Guide, "If you like."
no subject
Then --
"That would be good."
Beat.
"Thank you."
no subject
"I believe I must learn this game first," he says amused, "It looks interesting enough. And this chess, that Dr. Jackson has been speaking of."
Daniel returns with several game boxes, even a copy of Monopoly. He looks way too happy.
no subject
A beat.
"Chess."
no subject
"I think that maybe we should just play multi player games, Guide," he says, "That way X can join us. Do you like Monopoly, or Apples to Apples?"
no subject
Mutants are cool, yo. But as to Daniel's question --
"I have played both. Apples to Apples is less boring."
no subject
no subject
It's not a terrible way to pass an afternoon.
It may even be -- dare we say it -- fun?
no subject
She walks over to them and greets Guide, "Hello Wraith"
(OOC: sorry this is a second thread with these two, I couldn't resist. Hope you don't mind.)
no subject
"Oh, you two have met?" asks Daniel.
no subject
Turning to Daniel, "Yes we've met."
"I'm Amanda. And you are?" because hey if the Wraith just wants to be called Wraith she'll give him that.
no subject
"His name is Guide," says Danie while Guide bares is teeth, "From what I understand it's an imperfect translation of the flavor... is that a good description... of their minds."
Guide nodds to this.
no subject
"I saw you two come through the door together." turning to Daniel, "Does that mean you are from a planet that isn't Earth?" because last she heard Guide hadn't heard of Earth.
She likes meeting aliens.
no subject
Guide sits at the table, Daniel follows.
no subject
Beat
"Did you say Atlantis? As in the lost city of?" because that's interesting. Guide never mentioned that before.
And she is curious, "Guide, how long has it been for you?" because enter Atlantis and Earth dwellers through his door.
no subject
Guide looks at her, "From the first time I met you about 10,000 years."
Even though there were decades that he spent in hibernation.
no subject
To Daniel, "Where did you find the city?"
Turning to Guide, "Wow that is incredible." see she is that memorable.
no subject
Guide bares his teeth.
no subject
Then turns to Daniel, "How did you get to another Galaxy?"