Round #1 Challenge #6 - Voting
Sorry for the delay this week everyone!
Please read each entry, and comment with the number of the THREE FICS you liked THE LEAST. I know it's getting more difficult as the number of entries gets smaller, but do your best. When voting, you must provide a reason for your selection, why one fic didn't work as well as another for you. Please provide concrete reasons, and don't vote strictly by personal preferences (e.g. pairing, POV, etc.) -- however, your explanation doesn't need to be lengthy. Authors are allowed to vote, though obviously not for themselves.
You may also vote for your most favorite fic, though a reason is not required for that. Please select only ONE (i.e. no ties).
Authors will be provided with any comments their fic receives, upon request; while it will be completely anonymous, please bear that in mind when commenting.
Please include the number AND the title, to eliminate confusion. An example of how to vote:
Least favorite
31) Title - Reason
43) Title - Reason
52) Title - Reason
Most favorite
38) Title
Voting is screened, and will remain open through Tuesday evening. Voting is open to anyone, so please feel free to link to this post - but remember authors, DO NOT reveal which story is yours until the voting is finished. Once the winner & eliminations have been announced, you may post your story anywhere you like.
This week, two authors will be eliminated.
If you would like to make comments about any entries which are neither your least favorite nor your most favorite, please do so here.
01. Lizzie 4 - No spoilers
I've seen more worlds in the Pegasus Galaxy than anyone in Atlantis. Others would patently disagree, since I never actually go off world. But it's not so much the places I go as the places I see.
My eyes are the eyes of the M.A.L.P. Since Mobile Analytic Laboratory Probe sounds so cold, I secretly name my little robotic children after the major expedition members. The "McKay" is the sturdiest and the oldest of the bunch. The "Sheppard 3" is coming along nicely. The "Ronon" was lost during a recent exploration when a bunch of natives gathered around it, sniffed at it suspiciously, and instead of listening to the communiqué we were broadcasting, rolled it over a cliff.
When I was called via the headset to a meeting in the Gateroom, I was very surprised. I never hear directly from Dr. Weir, although I do frequently interact with Dr. Zelenka. Dr. Zelenka informed us that the latest M.A.L.P. we'd sent through the Gate had inexplicably shut down after transmitting five minutes of video showing a beautifully desolate planet and giving oxygen readings that were in a suitable range.
"Dr. Weir is tired of losing M.A.L.P.s," Dr. Zelenka said irritably. I wonder if she knew that the M.A.L.P in question was the "Lizzie 4."
"I could poke my head in, see how she's doing," I offered casually. I figured there was a possibility some natives had snuck up and rolled her over a cliff and they could do something equally terrifying to me, but if Atlantis needed me, I wasn't going to let her down. I was probably a technical problem that I could solve right there.
Plus, I'd never actually set my own military-issue boots off world before, other than coming here in the first place.
"I'll send a team of Marines with you, you should be perfectly fine," Dr. Zelenka said, but he didn't actually look all that reassuring.
So that's how I finally got to suit up and follow a handful of Marines through the Gate, just like Dr. McKay always did. The wormhole spit me out and into the sand and I stumbled and fell, face-first. It wasn't the kind of sophisticated impression I wanted to give the Marines, but when I looked around to see how best to cover my clumsiness, I could see they were on the ground too.
Lizzie 4 was there in front of me, stuck in the sand, with the wind blowing a dune up against her sides.
"Irregular gravity!" Marine Guy One shouted. I dragged myself to Lizzie 4 and placed a comforting hand on her as if she were a startled animal. It was no wonder she'd stopped transmitting if she wasn't able to stabilize her own weight and regulate her sensors.
I opened up the control panel and got to work. The Marines moved about sluggishly, scanning the perimeter, or whatever it is they do.
My hands were shaking with excitement. At any moment a creature of unspeakable horror could come charging over the desert landscape toward us. But I focused on the task in front of me, adjusting for density and mass, and soon Lizzie 4 was purring under my hand. I set her in reverse and Marine Guy Two dialed the Gate.
"How'd it go?" I could hear Dr. Weir's voice in my ear as the wormhole re-established.
"One small step for man, one giant step for M.A.L.P.-kind," I joked into my earpiece nervously. Dr. Weir gave me the benefit of a laugh and the sound of her happy smile made my days for weeks to come.
02. Suddenly Maybe - Teen, general spoilers for S1
Radek would have liked to say it had been love at first sight, but that would have been lying.
When he'd first met Dr. Elizabeth Weir, he'd actually been a little intimidated. Women in positions of power often compensated their insecurities by making themselves unapproachable, and she hadn't been much different. Friendly, yes, but there had been a wall around her he couldn't overcome. Hadn't even wanted to. Not then.
They'd moved to Atlantis shortly after, and dealing with her had been easy, because he'd never actually had to. Then Rodney had promoted him to being his right hand, i.e. the person who got fresh coffee and dealt with the more stupid minions and every once in a while helped his boss be brilliant. All at once, Radek had found himself part of briefings and debriefings and missions and, most importantly, answering directly do Dr. Weir.
Saying he hadn't been nervous at first would have been lying as well. But he'd coped, and she'd been nice, and then suddenly they were walking along a corridor, with her asking intelligent questions and listening to his answers, and Radek realised he was trying to impress her with his explanations. His knowledge. His competence.
And that was scary, because he hadn't seen it coming at all. Hadn't known he was lonely until she smiled at him. Hadn't realised how beautiful she was until she had walked away.
No, it hadn't been love at first sight. In fact, it hadn't even been love at second sight, or seventh, or thirteenth. He'd been falling steadily, but unnoticed, and he was afraid of what would happen when he met the ground.
He was afraid of what he might break.
03. The Jumper Lesson - PG, Spoilers through 'Runner'
The flight instructor wasn't what Lorne had expected. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd expected when he beamed down off the Daedalus, but he knew this wasn't it.
For one thing, she wasn't even military.
"Hello, Major," the tiny Asian woman said softly. "I am Dr. Miko Kusanagi, and I will be teaching you about the puddle jumpers." She bowed slightly, looking at him over her coke-bottle glasses. "Follow me please." Turning sharply, she headed for the jumpers on the far side of the bay, her footsteps ringing in the nearly-empty room.
Lorne had to trot a little to catch up. "I thought Zelenka was the puddle jumper expert?"
"Yes, Dr. Zelenka is in charge of the jumpers, but he doesn't have the gene and so cannot pilot them." She nodded at one of the empty slots. "Most of the regular pilots are either off world, or helping the Athosians repair the damage from the wraith. We will join them on the mainland at the end of the lesson."
Lorne mentally shrugged. Sounded okay. "How'd you pull this duty anyway?"
She stopped, looking at him in confusion. "Colonel Sheppard asked me."
"No, no. I mean..." Lorne waved at the jumper bay. "How'd you end up piloting these things?"
"Ah!" With a sharp nod, Miko continued toward the far end of the building. "When we needed to evacuate Atlantis during the storm last year, everyone who could pilot a jumper was taught how to do so." She slanted a glance at him. "You are aware that not everyone with an ATA gene can operate every piece of ancient technology, yes?"
"Oh, yeah." Lorne's heart pounded. The largest part of the reason he'd wanted to come here was to pilot the jumpers, and if his gene didn't work on 'em....
"Only Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Beckett have managed the control chair, but most gene carriers can operate the jumper systems. My own skill is limited. I am unable to activate the weapons systems or even fly in a straight line." She gestured at the long grey ship in front of them, her hands in front of her, her eyes bright behind her lenses. "This is jumper six, but I call her Meiyo. She is the jumper that I have the strongest affinity with. " She lovingly brushed her hand over the metal plating and pressed her remote to open the rear hatch. "Please, come inside."
It felt weird, strolling into the jumper after her, watching all of the panels light up as she settled easily into the pilot's chair. Lorne angled himself into the co-pilot's chair, sitting down gently, mimicking Dr. Kusanagi's moves. As he laid his hands on the controls, he felt something surge around him and gave a sharp gasp; he could feel the ship pulsing around him, welcoming him as if it were alive. First touch and already, he was in love. "Sweet Jesus. This is so cool."
Dr. Kusanagi's eyes glittered mischievously as she looked at him. "I think she has fallen for you, too." She glanced at the HUD, and Lorne could feel her asking the hatch in the roof to open. "Perhaps you would like to try the ascent?"
Lorne couldn't stop grinning as the jumper headed out of the bay and began to rise.
04. Adrift in the Dark - general rating, no spoilers
Everything is dark. Dark and silent. He feels like he's falling, even though he knows he's lying down. He doesn't know how long he's been here or exactly what happened after the explosion. He thinks he's back in Atlantis, because that definitely feels like the sheets in the infirmary, or at least some bed, but he's not sure.
For all he knows he's the only one there, Atlantis has been evacuated and he's about to become lunch or dinner for a wraith.
Now he thinks about it, he's fairly certain he's back in Atlantis. There is a tube going down his throat, there are things sticking into his arms and there is something over his eyes. He supposes he could be on the Daedalus or back on Earth if he's been unconscious for a long time.
You think that someone would come and talk to the deaf, dumb and blind man. Well, maybe not talk, but at least give him some reassurance through touch, something to ground him and maybe stop him from falling. He guesses that it means that his inner ear (or is it middle) is screwed. Maybe he has perforated eardrums. He spent way too many long nights watching ER when he was back on Earth.
The other problem is his sense of time. He has no idea how long he's been awake. It could be minutes, or it could be hours. He thinks he's starting to understand how Helen Keller felt.
He wonders how the rest of his team are, whether they were hurt in the explosion, whether any of them are dead. He doesn't want to think it, but it's dark and silent and he's scared.
He drifts for a while, maybe asleep, maybe not - he's not sure. They've got him on the good stuff; he doesn't really feel any pain and his body doesn't really feel like it's there. He's not sure whether he should be relieved or worried by that fact. He hopes that the injuries to at least one of his senses will heal. While it will suck to be deaf or blind, he thinks he can cope with that, but not with being both.
Something grabs his hand, and he jumps, before realising that it's another hand, smaller than his own, the skin smooth. He squeezes it, relieved to know that he's not alone, and the hand squeezes in response.
It stays there for a while, warm and heavy in his own, and he squeezes every so often, just to check that he's not imagining it. Each time the other hand squeezes back and occasionally he'll feel someone's hand brushing across his forehead. The hand eventually tries to leave, and he holds on tight, not wanting to lose the one thing that's keeping him grounded. He can deal with the feeling if he knows that he's not alone. The hand squeezes his, one final time, and then it's gone.
He thinks he sleeps for a while but, even then, he's falling. He wakes to another hand, maybe the same one, that is holding his palm open. Something slides across his hand and it takes several repetitions for him to realise that they're letters. He concentrates, and he recognises his name. He pulls his hand out from under the other hand and writes ‘yes' on the palm, before asking after his team.
The hand hesitates, and he knows that they didn't make it. He pulls his hand away and curls it into a fist.
He's falling, and no one will catch him.
05. Radiance - general audience, no spoilers
Major Lorne shifted slightly in the warm night air as he casually poked at the little campfire with a stick. The movement caused a burst of sparks to fly up into the air and he grinned, remembering nights spent camping as a kid with his family. It wasn't often that off-world missions were this calm and he planned to enjoy it.
Lorne examined the other members of the mission team in the firelight. Lieutenant Cadman was lounging comfortably on the other side of the fire. Miko was not only listening politely to Parrish, but actually appeared to be very interested as he rambled on to her. The botanist's arms flailed about as he explained the unique aspects of the surrounding plant life to her in the animated way that only Parrish could manage when talking about all things green.
The other marines, Briggs and Albelez, had taken first watch. Lorne could hear the two of them chatting quietly over the open radio channel, teasing each other to stay awake. Their voices buzzed in his earpiece; the whole experience was calming and familiar and Lorne smiled as he settled down on his sleep mat, sprawled comfortably on his back, one arm cushioning his head.
He looked up into the inky blackness of the night sky. It never ceased to amaze him how every world held completely different star patterns and how the night skies were so clear - no smog or city lights to mar the view.
There was a sudden streak of light across the sky, gone as quickly as it came.
"Hey guys, I just saw a falling star." The voice was Cadman's. The woman had obviously been settling in to sleep as well.
"That means you can make a wish," Parrish threw back and Lorne chuckled slightly.
"What are you, a ten year-old girl, Parrish? Who wishes on falling stars these days?" Cadman flashed a wicked smile at Parrish, who just shrugged.
"I think it's romantic," Miko sighed and there was a lot of rustling as the pair of scientists got comfortable on their mats too, obviously hoping to see another falling star.
"I'll make a wish if you don't," Lorne finally spoke. "I wish for…"
"No, don't tell us, Major. Then it won't come true." Miko had her head turned toward him, her eyes large behind her glasses that glittered in the firelight.
Lorne nodded, closing his eyes and silently making his wish. He opened them as Miko let out a gasp. There were more falling stars, lots of them, appearing to streak across the sky and disappear, as if continually being replaced.
"I can't believe it; it's a meteor shower." Miko's voice was full of awe.
Lorne shifted to face Miko again, at once awed by the sight and slightly concerned. "Should I be worried for our safety?"
"It's very unlikely to be a problem, Major. Falling stars are really meteors, small fragments of cosmic debris, entering the planet's atmosphere at extremely high speed. In meteor showers, they are caused by particles smaller than a grain of sand coming from a comet's tail. It is very rare to have any meteorites hit the ground when there are so many like this. We are probably seeing something that happens only once a year. It is an honor, Major."
"You should make a wish as well in that case, Miko."
Miko whispered something in Japanese, looking slightly self-conscious, and Lorne smiled, looking back to the display above. He decided this wasn't the right time to tell her he spoke some Japanese.
06. If I Should Fall - PG
It just hadn't been Laura Cadman's day.
She had to admit, the day had started our normally enough. It had caught her a little off guard when Doctor Weir asked her if she'd mind accompanying Major Lorne's team off world, but Cadman had agreed almost immediately. There were a surprising number of matriarchal civilizations in the Pegasus Galaxy, and she had gotten used to being asked to accompany all-male teams from time to time. In fact, she usually enjoyed going on such missions. They gave her a change of scenery, not to mention a chance to lord it over the men for a change-not that she'd ever admit just how much she enjoyed that aspect of the missions.
This mission, however, was not going on her list of favorites. In fact, there was a very good chance that it might make it near the top of her "Worst Missions Ever" list ... right after the one that had ended with her spending the following week sharing a body with Rodney McKay. Everything had been fine at first: the food had been delicious, the landscape beautiful, and the people friendly. Well, at least, they had seemed friendly. Right up until Lorne had recognized one of the men in the crowd as a Genii, that is, which started a chain reaction ending with all five of the Atlanteans making a mad dash for the 'gate.
Cadman still couldn't believe that she hadn't seen the cliff.
The firm grip on her right arm suddenly loosened, and she let out a gasp as she dropped several inches. "If you let me fall, I swear I'll come back and haunt you!"
Above her, Lorne grinned weakly. "I don't believe in ghosts."
She met his gaze, carefully ignoring the fact that his left shoulder was stained with blood. "We're currently fighting space vampires," Cadman pointed out. "And we live in a flying city, built by aliens, where anything can happen. Including two people sharing one body, Colonel Sheppard turning into a monster, flying reptiles that I still say look like purple dragons taking over an entire tower in the city, and the lead off world team coming back through the 'gate looking and acting like ten-year-olds. And you don't believe in ghosts?"
"Point taken," Lorne said with a weak laugh. "And all that's just things that have happened in the Pegasus Galaxy. You should have seen some of the things that happened back at the SGC."
His laughter turned to coughing, and Cadman cleared her throat nervously as she noticed just how pale he looked. "Do you think you could try pulling me up again?' she asked. "You're already down to one arm, and, no offense, but you look like shit."
Lorne raised his eyebrow, his eyes laughing even though his face was drawn with pain. "Is that worry I hear in your voice?"
"There's about a hundred foot drop between me and the ground," Cadman said dryly. "No offense, sir, but I'd really like to know that I'm not about to find out how well I fly."
"I'm not going to let you fall, lieutenant."
Cadman started to reply, but she froze as the sound of gunfire suddenly started up somewhere west of them. "Please say that's the cavalry and not more Genii."
Not too far off, someone let out what sounded like a roar. Lorne and Cadman shared a look, and they both grinned despite the situation. "Ronon," they said, their voices overlapping.
"It's about time," Cadman said, sighing in relief.
Lorne nodded and tightened his grip on her arm. "You're right about that."
VOTING IS CLOSED; RESULTS TO BE POSTED SOON.
Please read each entry, and comment with the number of the THREE FICS you liked THE LEAST. I know it's getting more difficult as the number of entries gets smaller, but do your best. When voting, you must provide a reason for your selection, why one fic didn't work as well as another for you. Please provide concrete reasons, and don't vote strictly by personal preferences (e.g. pairing, POV, etc.) -- however, your explanation doesn't need to be lengthy. Authors are allowed to vote, though obviously not for themselves.
You may also vote for your most favorite fic, though a reason is not required for that. Please select only ONE (i.e. no ties).
Authors will be provided with any comments their fic receives, upon request; while it will be completely anonymous, please bear that in mind when commenting.
Please include the number AND the title, to eliminate confusion. An example of how to vote:
Least favorite
31) Title - Reason
43) Title - Reason
52) Title - Reason
Most favorite
38) Title
Voting is screened, and will remain open through Tuesday evening. Voting is open to anyone, so please feel free to link to this post - but remember authors, DO NOT reveal which story is yours until the voting is finished. Once the winner & eliminations have been announced, you may post your story anywhere you like.
This week, two authors will be eliminated.
If you would like to make comments about any entries which are neither your least favorite nor your most favorite, please do so here.
01. Lizzie 4 - No spoilers
I've seen more worlds in the Pegasus Galaxy than anyone in Atlantis. Others would patently disagree, since I never actually go off world. But it's not so much the places I go as the places I see.
My eyes are the eyes of the M.A.L.P. Since Mobile Analytic Laboratory Probe sounds so cold, I secretly name my little robotic children after the major expedition members. The "McKay" is the sturdiest and the oldest of the bunch. The "Sheppard 3" is coming along nicely. The "Ronon" was lost during a recent exploration when a bunch of natives gathered around it, sniffed at it suspiciously, and instead of listening to the communiqué we were broadcasting, rolled it over a cliff.
When I was called via the headset to a meeting in the Gateroom, I was very surprised. I never hear directly from Dr. Weir, although I do frequently interact with Dr. Zelenka. Dr. Zelenka informed us that the latest M.A.L.P. we'd sent through the Gate had inexplicably shut down after transmitting five minutes of video showing a beautifully desolate planet and giving oxygen readings that were in a suitable range.
"Dr. Weir is tired of losing M.A.L.P.s," Dr. Zelenka said irritably. I wonder if she knew that the M.A.L.P in question was the "Lizzie 4."
"I could poke my head in, see how she's doing," I offered casually. I figured there was a possibility some natives had snuck up and rolled her over a cliff and they could do something equally terrifying to me, but if Atlantis needed me, I wasn't going to let her down. I was probably a technical problem that I could solve right there.
Plus, I'd never actually set my own military-issue boots off world before, other than coming here in the first place.
"I'll send a team of Marines with you, you should be perfectly fine," Dr. Zelenka said, but he didn't actually look all that reassuring.
So that's how I finally got to suit up and follow a handful of Marines through the Gate, just like Dr. McKay always did. The wormhole spit me out and into the sand and I stumbled and fell, face-first. It wasn't the kind of sophisticated impression I wanted to give the Marines, but when I looked around to see how best to cover my clumsiness, I could see they were on the ground too.
Lizzie 4 was there in front of me, stuck in the sand, with the wind blowing a dune up against her sides.
"Irregular gravity!" Marine Guy One shouted. I dragged myself to Lizzie 4 and placed a comforting hand on her as if she were a startled animal. It was no wonder she'd stopped transmitting if she wasn't able to stabilize her own weight and regulate her sensors.
I opened up the control panel and got to work. The Marines moved about sluggishly, scanning the perimeter, or whatever it is they do.
My hands were shaking with excitement. At any moment a creature of unspeakable horror could come charging over the desert landscape toward us. But I focused on the task in front of me, adjusting for density and mass, and soon Lizzie 4 was purring under my hand. I set her in reverse and Marine Guy Two dialed the Gate.
"How'd it go?" I could hear Dr. Weir's voice in my ear as the wormhole re-established.
"One small step for man, one giant step for M.A.L.P.-kind," I joked into my earpiece nervously. Dr. Weir gave me the benefit of a laugh and the sound of her happy smile made my days for weeks to come.
02. Suddenly Maybe - Teen, general spoilers for S1
Radek would have liked to say it had been love at first sight, but that would have been lying.
When he'd first met Dr. Elizabeth Weir, he'd actually been a little intimidated. Women in positions of power often compensated their insecurities by making themselves unapproachable, and she hadn't been much different. Friendly, yes, but there had been a wall around her he couldn't overcome. Hadn't even wanted to. Not then.
They'd moved to Atlantis shortly after, and dealing with her had been easy, because he'd never actually had to. Then Rodney had promoted him to being his right hand, i.e. the person who got fresh coffee and dealt with the more stupid minions and every once in a while helped his boss be brilliant. All at once, Radek had found himself part of briefings and debriefings and missions and, most importantly, answering directly do Dr. Weir.
Saying he hadn't been nervous at first would have been lying as well. But he'd coped, and she'd been nice, and then suddenly they were walking along a corridor, with her asking intelligent questions and listening to his answers, and Radek realised he was trying to impress her with his explanations. His knowledge. His competence.
And that was scary, because he hadn't seen it coming at all. Hadn't known he was lonely until she smiled at him. Hadn't realised how beautiful she was until she had walked away.
No, it hadn't been love at first sight. In fact, it hadn't even been love at second sight, or seventh, or thirteenth. He'd been falling steadily, but unnoticed, and he was afraid of what would happen when he met the ground.
He was afraid of what he might break.
03. The Jumper Lesson - PG, Spoilers through 'Runner'
The flight instructor wasn't what Lorne had expected. He wasn't sure exactly what he'd expected when he beamed down off the Daedalus, but he knew this wasn't it.
For one thing, she wasn't even military.
"Hello, Major," the tiny Asian woman said softly. "I am Dr. Miko Kusanagi, and I will be teaching you about the puddle jumpers." She bowed slightly, looking at him over her coke-bottle glasses. "Follow me please." Turning sharply, she headed for the jumpers on the far side of the bay, her footsteps ringing in the nearly-empty room.
Lorne had to trot a little to catch up. "I thought Zelenka was the puddle jumper expert?"
"Yes, Dr. Zelenka is in charge of the jumpers, but he doesn't have the gene and so cannot pilot them." She nodded at one of the empty slots. "Most of the regular pilots are either off world, or helping the Athosians repair the damage from the wraith. We will join them on the mainland at the end of the lesson."
Lorne mentally shrugged. Sounded okay. "How'd you pull this duty anyway?"
She stopped, looking at him in confusion. "Colonel Sheppard asked me."
"No, no. I mean..." Lorne waved at the jumper bay. "How'd you end up piloting these things?"
"Ah!" With a sharp nod, Miko continued toward the far end of the building. "When we needed to evacuate Atlantis during the storm last year, everyone who could pilot a jumper was taught how to do so." She slanted a glance at him. "You are aware that not everyone with an ATA gene can operate every piece of ancient technology, yes?"
"Oh, yeah." Lorne's heart pounded. The largest part of the reason he'd wanted to come here was to pilot the jumpers, and if his gene didn't work on 'em....
"Only Colonel Sheppard and Dr. Beckett have managed the control chair, but most gene carriers can operate the jumper systems. My own skill is limited. I am unable to activate the weapons systems or even fly in a straight line." She gestured at the long grey ship in front of them, her hands in front of her, her eyes bright behind her lenses. "This is jumper six, but I call her Meiyo. She is the jumper that I have the strongest affinity with. " She lovingly brushed her hand over the metal plating and pressed her remote to open the rear hatch. "Please, come inside."
It felt weird, strolling into the jumper after her, watching all of the panels light up as she settled easily into the pilot's chair. Lorne angled himself into the co-pilot's chair, sitting down gently, mimicking Dr. Kusanagi's moves. As he laid his hands on the controls, he felt something surge around him and gave a sharp gasp; he could feel the ship pulsing around him, welcoming him as if it were alive. First touch and already, he was in love. "Sweet Jesus. This is so cool."
Dr. Kusanagi's eyes glittered mischievously as she looked at him. "I think she has fallen for you, too." She glanced at the HUD, and Lorne could feel her asking the hatch in the roof to open. "Perhaps you would like to try the ascent?"
Lorne couldn't stop grinning as the jumper headed out of the bay and began to rise.
04. Adrift in the Dark - general rating, no spoilers
Everything is dark. Dark and silent. He feels like he's falling, even though he knows he's lying down. He doesn't know how long he's been here or exactly what happened after the explosion. He thinks he's back in Atlantis, because that definitely feels like the sheets in the infirmary, or at least some bed, but he's not sure.
For all he knows he's the only one there, Atlantis has been evacuated and he's about to become lunch or dinner for a wraith.
Now he thinks about it, he's fairly certain he's back in Atlantis. There is a tube going down his throat, there are things sticking into his arms and there is something over his eyes. He supposes he could be on the Daedalus or back on Earth if he's been unconscious for a long time.
You think that someone would come and talk to the deaf, dumb and blind man. Well, maybe not talk, but at least give him some reassurance through touch, something to ground him and maybe stop him from falling. He guesses that it means that his inner ear (or is it middle) is screwed. Maybe he has perforated eardrums. He spent way too many long nights watching ER when he was back on Earth.
The other problem is his sense of time. He has no idea how long he's been awake. It could be minutes, or it could be hours. He thinks he's starting to understand how Helen Keller felt.
He wonders how the rest of his team are, whether they were hurt in the explosion, whether any of them are dead. He doesn't want to think it, but it's dark and silent and he's scared.
He drifts for a while, maybe asleep, maybe not - he's not sure. They've got him on the good stuff; he doesn't really feel any pain and his body doesn't really feel like it's there. He's not sure whether he should be relieved or worried by that fact. He hopes that the injuries to at least one of his senses will heal. While it will suck to be deaf or blind, he thinks he can cope with that, but not with being both.
Something grabs his hand, and he jumps, before realising that it's another hand, smaller than his own, the skin smooth. He squeezes it, relieved to know that he's not alone, and the hand squeezes in response.
It stays there for a while, warm and heavy in his own, and he squeezes every so often, just to check that he's not imagining it. Each time the other hand squeezes back and occasionally he'll feel someone's hand brushing across his forehead. The hand eventually tries to leave, and he holds on tight, not wanting to lose the one thing that's keeping him grounded. He can deal with the feeling if he knows that he's not alone. The hand squeezes his, one final time, and then it's gone.
He thinks he sleeps for a while but, even then, he's falling. He wakes to another hand, maybe the same one, that is holding his palm open. Something slides across his hand and it takes several repetitions for him to realise that they're letters. He concentrates, and he recognises his name. He pulls his hand out from under the other hand and writes ‘yes' on the palm, before asking after his team.
The hand hesitates, and he knows that they didn't make it. He pulls his hand away and curls it into a fist.
He's falling, and no one will catch him.
05. Radiance - general audience, no spoilers
Major Lorne shifted slightly in the warm night air as he casually poked at the little campfire with a stick. The movement caused a burst of sparks to fly up into the air and he grinned, remembering nights spent camping as a kid with his family. It wasn't often that off-world missions were this calm and he planned to enjoy it.
Lorne examined the other members of the mission team in the firelight. Lieutenant Cadman was lounging comfortably on the other side of the fire. Miko was not only listening politely to Parrish, but actually appeared to be very interested as he rambled on to her. The botanist's arms flailed about as he explained the unique aspects of the surrounding plant life to her in the animated way that only Parrish could manage when talking about all things green.
The other marines, Briggs and Albelez, had taken first watch. Lorne could hear the two of them chatting quietly over the open radio channel, teasing each other to stay awake. Their voices buzzed in his earpiece; the whole experience was calming and familiar and Lorne smiled as he settled down on his sleep mat, sprawled comfortably on his back, one arm cushioning his head.
He looked up into the inky blackness of the night sky. It never ceased to amaze him how every world held completely different star patterns and how the night skies were so clear - no smog or city lights to mar the view.
There was a sudden streak of light across the sky, gone as quickly as it came.
"Hey guys, I just saw a falling star." The voice was Cadman's. The woman had obviously been settling in to sleep as well.
"That means you can make a wish," Parrish threw back and Lorne chuckled slightly.
"What are you, a ten year-old girl, Parrish? Who wishes on falling stars these days?" Cadman flashed a wicked smile at Parrish, who just shrugged.
"I think it's romantic," Miko sighed and there was a lot of rustling as the pair of scientists got comfortable on their mats too, obviously hoping to see another falling star.
"I'll make a wish if you don't," Lorne finally spoke. "I wish for…"
"No, don't tell us, Major. Then it won't come true." Miko had her head turned toward him, her eyes large behind her glasses that glittered in the firelight.
Lorne nodded, closing his eyes and silently making his wish. He opened them as Miko let out a gasp. There were more falling stars, lots of them, appearing to streak across the sky and disappear, as if continually being replaced.
"I can't believe it; it's a meteor shower." Miko's voice was full of awe.
Lorne shifted to face Miko again, at once awed by the sight and slightly concerned. "Should I be worried for our safety?"
"It's very unlikely to be a problem, Major. Falling stars are really meteors, small fragments of cosmic debris, entering the planet's atmosphere at extremely high speed. In meteor showers, they are caused by particles smaller than a grain of sand coming from a comet's tail. It is very rare to have any meteorites hit the ground when there are so many like this. We are probably seeing something that happens only once a year. It is an honor, Major."
"You should make a wish as well in that case, Miko."
Miko whispered something in Japanese, looking slightly self-conscious, and Lorne smiled, looking back to the display above. He decided this wasn't the right time to tell her he spoke some Japanese.
06. If I Should Fall - PG
It just hadn't been Laura Cadman's day.
She had to admit, the day had started our normally enough. It had caught her a little off guard when Doctor Weir asked her if she'd mind accompanying Major Lorne's team off world, but Cadman had agreed almost immediately. There were a surprising number of matriarchal civilizations in the Pegasus Galaxy, and she had gotten used to being asked to accompany all-male teams from time to time. In fact, she usually enjoyed going on such missions. They gave her a change of scenery, not to mention a chance to lord it over the men for a change-not that she'd ever admit just how much she enjoyed that aspect of the missions.
This mission, however, was not going on her list of favorites. In fact, there was a very good chance that it might make it near the top of her "Worst Missions Ever" list ... right after the one that had ended with her spending the following week sharing a body with Rodney McKay. Everything had been fine at first: the food had been delicious, the landscape beautiful, and the people friendly. Well, at least, they had seemed friendly. Right up until Lorne had recognized one of the men in the crowd as a Genii, that is, which started a chain reaction ending with all five of the Atlanteans making a mad dash for the 'gate.
Cadman still couldn't believe that she hadn't seen the cliff.
The firm grip on her right arm suddenly loosened, and she let out a gasp as she dropped several inches. "If you let me fall, I swear I'll come back and haunt you!"
Above her, Lorne grinned weakly. "I don't believe in ghosts."
She met his gaze, carefully ignoring the fact that his left shoulder was stained with blood. "We're currently fighting space vampires," Cadman pointed out. "And we live in a flying city, built by aliens, where anything can happen. Including two people sharing one body, Colonel Sheppard turning into a monster, flying reptiles that I still say look like purple dragons taking over an entire tower in the city, and the lead off world team coming back through the 'gate looking and acting like ten-year-olds. And you don't believe in ghosts?"
"Point taken," Lorne said with a weak laugh. "And all that's just things that have happened in the Pegasus Galaxy. You should have seen some of the things that happened back at the SGC."
His laughter turned to coughing, and Cadman cleared her throat nervously as she noticed just how pale he looked. "Do you think you could try pulling me up again?' she asked. "You're already down to one arm, and, no offense, but you look like shit."
Lorne raised his eyebrow, his eyes laughing even though his face was drawn with pain. "Is that worry I hear in your voice?"
"There's about a hundred foot drop between me and the ground," Cadman said dryly. "No offense, sir, but I'd really like to know that I'm not about to find out how well I fly."
"I'm not going to let you fall, lieutenant."
Cadman started to reply, but she froze as the sound of gunfire suddenly started up somewhere west of them. "Please say that's the cavalry and not more Genii."
Not too far off, someone let out what sounded like a roar. Lorne and Cadman shared a look, and they both grinned despite the situation. "Ronon," they said, their voices overlapping.
"It's about time," Cadman said, sighing in relief.
Lorne nodded and tightened his grip on her arm. "You're right about that."
VOTING IS CLOSED; RESULTS TO BE POSTED SOON.