Week: Day 18 - Day 24
(Day 18, 0512 hours)
no sleppe last night... crashing again. i hate you insomnia.l god, let me sleeep.
ETA: (1713 hours) Went useless at 0500 this morning, crashed at roughly 0800?
Hopefully, I won't make a habit of this.
There's a lot on my mind, and I realize this. Going useless tends to happen when there's new stressors. So far, the two that I've narrowed down -- not counting traveling to a new galaxy -- are Dr. Zelenka and Reichstadt's death.
First, Reichstadt.
Reichstadt is dead. At the risk of being cumbersome, he is an ex-linguist. This linguist is no more, he has ceased to be. He has shuffled off his mortal coil, and is singing with the choir invisible.
He's dead now, and Weir decided to make me the interim until he was better. Until she decides otherwise, I'm here, and I need to get used to it. Organizing my laptop and assigning things to translate is a step in the right direction. One day, I'll actually feel better about being in charge.
Drawing attention to myself is not, and has never, been good. Maybe I'll be able to send emails?
Gathering the entire department was a nice touch, I think. Hammond did something similar during the many times that Dr. Jackson was presumed dead.
Second, Dr. Zelenka.
I don't know what the hell he wants from me, but he hasn't stopped. He claims to be fascinated, but why he'd be fascinated by me when there's more than enough Ancient technology lying around, I really can't fathom.
***
(Day 19)
Forced myself to bed at 2400, and slept, thank God.
Had more weapons qualifying. At least I'm hitting closer to the center mass now. Still missing the target a few times.
***
(Day 20)
Slept? Yes.
Signed up for the second ATA trial. Dr. Beckett had wanted to change the therapy to see if there would be more ATA carriers with the second trial. No negative reactions.
People in second ATA trial:
01. Zelenka, Radek (CZE sci) -- success
02. Heightmeyer, Kate (USA med) -- success
03. Stackhouse, (USA mil) -- failure
04. Jackson, (USA mil) -- success
05. Ruiz, (USA mil) -- success
06. Ford, Aiden (USA mil) -- success
07. Anderson, Miles (USA sci) -- success
08. Petrovna, (SLO sci) -- failure
Successes: 6
Failures: 2
Reactions: None
***
(Day 21)
Slept? Yes. With any luck, the insomnia will diminish.
Began first-aid classes. Again, mimicry can only get me so far before I need to figure out what hands are doing.
***
(Day 22)
Slept? Yes.
Met with Major Sheppard for jumper training. Managed to do well for my first time, at least as well as "some". Slight scare before I thought to ask which control stick did which, but I righted the jumper in time. Rule #1: always ask more questions.
Major Sheppard
01. Considered it "lucky" that ATA therapy worked. Not complete confidence in Dr. Beckett?
02. Compared jumpers to horses, citing a mental component. Affectionate?
03. Wanted to be an astronaut when he was younger.
04. Astronauts have few "slots", and don't get to fly as often
05. If he had left military, he would've test-flown planes
06. Always wanted to fly
07. Extremely impressed by the jumpers as submarines. Giddy?
08. Reckless -- mentioned that a technician should've been consulted before taking the jumper into the ocean, but allowed it
09. Thinks Atlantis and jumpers are worth "the other issues" of coming to Pegasus Galaxy.
Q: Which is worse, the Goa'uld or the Wraith?
10. Goa'uld -- he would hate losing control like that.
11. At the SGC for 2 weeks. Found out about the Stargate a few weeks prior.
12. Claims to be centered around others.
13. Asked what kind of doctor I am. Said I sound like a shrink.
Q: Do you think we'll be able to make a difference in this galaxy?
14. He hopes so, but we've had a negative impact so far, due to waking the Wraith.
15. Will contact me when more flying lessons come up.
* I owe Major Sheppard one candy bar in payment for #14.
Puddlejumpers
* Forward - left forward
* Roll - mental command
* Immelman maneuver -- left forward, right back, upside-down, order a roll, and continue flying.
01. Co-pilot acts as ECO -- countermeasures, radar, navigation
ECO - Electronic Countermeasures Officer.
02. Jumpers capable of translating text and following orders in different languages. Sheppard posits interconnectedness of city with expedition network.
03. Left stick - acceleration and turns
04. Right stick - vertical
05. Aptitude with jumpers relies on mental component.
06. Jumpers can be ordered to roll.
07. Auto-pilot can activate outside of the city, but inside the city, auto-pilot always on
08. "Cool sensors", cloaking device, weapons
09. Weapons will arm by thought. Think of Mr. Snuffles.
10. Can be used as submarines.
11. Under the ocean, jumper will provide water pressure, depth, and other relevant information
Miscellany
01. Three gate-teams for off-world missions.
02. Sheppard wants to have backups.
03. Sheppard unaware that jumpers could be used as submarines.
***
(Day 23)
Slept yesterday.
Mess Hall - 1400
[OOC: Insert 1 page of mess gossip here.]
- "Greg" (CAN mil) to "Sandra" (GER sci)
-- Greg slept with "Radek", but "Radek" left in the middle of the night.
[OOC: Two more pages of notes follow, keeping up with current gossip]
Realized that Dr. Zelenka has already become "Zelenka". Unsure about this development, as it was unexpected. Zelenka himself is unexpected.
Dropped his title in conversation.
Zelenka, Revision 3? 4?
01. Studying an object 1-ft. cubed that glows
02. Slept with "Greg". Will sleep with Pelletier last night
03. Surprised when I showed knowledge of his bed-hopping
04. Solitude is anathema, due to unrequited feelings for Dr. McKay
Pelletier came to the table in her typical "fan the flames of passion" maneuver, which is incredibly transparent. Told her my lack of enthusiasm with regards to watching her doing this in my presence. Pelletier propositioned me for a second time.
Pelletier still predatory concerning sexual conquests. I hope one of these days, she'll bite off more than she can chew. Or receive an STD.
Found myself telling Zelenka of Pelletier's sexual habits, as I know them. Unsure why this is.
I've been alone all my life. Solitude isn't bad.
***
(Day 24)
Last night, I had trouble falling asleep, and having to go through more reports from my staff didn't help my frame of mind, so I'm not surprised I can't sleep tonight.
I played tai chi, trying to clear my thoughts of everything except each individual movement, but Zelenka showed up in my thoughts, and the way he keeps sleeping around instead of doing the intelligent thing. And then there was the feeling of being incredibly infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things, due to the flying lesson two days ago. And then... I might have to try passive meditation, because I nearly slipped on the floor.
My usual haunts, as they are, are very beautiful, the way the moonlight plays on the ocean, the breakers where I can see them cresting white against the night-darkened water. While I haven't narrowed down where each of the balconies is, I've gotten into a routine of visiting them in a certain order (North, Narrow, Echoes, Canyon, and Skyline), which takes me around traveled sections of the city in about 47 minutes, according to my watch.
Watching the sun come up is never a victory, but being in Atlantis makes it feel as though it's not a defeat either.
no sleppe last night... crashing again. i hate you insomnia.l god, let me sleeep.
ETA: (1713 hours) Went useless at 0500 this morning, crashed at roughly 0800?
Hopefully, I won't make a habit of this.
There's a lot on my mind, and I realize this. Going useless tends to happen when there's new stressors. So far, the two that I've narrowed down -- not counting traveling to a new galaxy -- are Dr. Zelenka and Reichstadt's death.
First, Reichstadt.
Reichstadt is dead. At the risk of being cumbersome, he is an ex-linguist. This linguist is no more, he has ceased to be. He has shuffled off his mortal coil, and is singing with the choir invisible.
He's dead now, and Weir decided to make me the interim until he was better. Until she decides otherwise, I'm here, and I need to get used to it. Organizing my laptop and assigning things to translate is a step in the right direction. One day, I'll actually feel better about being in charge.
Drawing attention to myself is not, and has never, been good. Maybe I'll be able to send emails?
Gathering the entire department was a nice touch, I think. Hammond did something similar during the many times that Dr. Jackson was presumed dead.
Second, Dr. Zelenka.
I don't know what the hell he wants from me, but he hasn't stopped. He claims to be fascinated, but why he'd be fascinated by me when there's more than enough Ancient technology lying around, I really can't fathom.
***
(Day 19)
Forced myself to bed at 2400, and slept, thank God.
Had more weapons qualifying. At least I'm hitting closer to the center mass now. Still missing the target a few times.
***
(Day 20)
Slept? Yes.
Signed up for the second ATA trial. Dr. Beckett had wanted to change the therapy to see if there would be more ATA carriers with the second trial. No negative reactions.
People in second ATA trial:
01. Zelenka, Radek (CZE sci) -- success
02. Heightmeyer, Kate (USA med) -- success
03. Stackhouse, (USA mil) -- failure
04. Jackson, (USA mil) -- success
05. Ruiz, (USA mil) -- success
06. Ford, Aiden (USA mil) -- success
07. Anderson, Miles (USA sci) -- success
08. Petrovna, (SLO sci) -- failure
Successes: 6
Failures: 2
Reactions: None
***
(Day 21)
Slept? Yes. With any luck, the insomnia will diminish.
Began first-aid classes. Again, mimicry can only get me so far before I need to figure out what hands are doing.
***
(Day 22)
Slept? Yes.
Met with Major Sheppard for jumper training. Managed to do well for my first time, at least as well as "some". Slight scare before I thought to ask which control stick did which, but I righted the jumper in time. Rule #1: always ask more questions.
Major Sheppard
01. Considered it "lucky" that ATA therapy worked. Not complete confidence in Dr. Beckett?
02. Compared jumpers to horses, citing a mental component. Affectionate?
03. Wanted to be an astronaut when he was younger.
04. Astronauts have few "slots", and don't get to fly as often
05. If he had left military, he would've test-flown planes
06. Always wanted to fly
07. Extremely impressed by the jumpers as submarines. Giddy?
08. Reckless -- mentioned that a technician should've been consulted before taking the jumper into the ocean, but allowed it
09. Thinks Atlantis and jumpers are worth "the other issues" of coming to Pegasus Galaxy.
Q: Which is worse, the Goa'uld or the Wraith?
10. Goa'uld -- he would hate losing control like that.
11. At the SGC for 2 weeks. Found out about the Stargate a few weeks prior.
12. Claims to be centered around others.
13. Asked what kind of doctor I am. Said I sound like a shrink.
Q: Do you think we'll be able to make a difference in this galaxy?
14. He hopes so, but we've had a negative impact so far, due to waking the Wraith.
15. Will contact me when more flying lessons come up.
* I owe Major Sheppard one candy bar in payment for #14.
Puddlejumpers
* Forward - left forward
* Roll - mental command
* Immelman maneuver -- left forward, right back, upside-down, order a roll, and continue flying.
01. Co-pilot acts as ECO -- countermeasures, radar, navigation
ECO - Electronic Countermeasures Officer.
02. Jumpers capable of translating text and following orders in different languages. Sheppard posits interconnectedness of city with expedition network.
03. Left stick - acceleration and turns
04. Right stick - vertical
05. Aptitude with jumpers relies on mental component.
06. Jumpers can be ordered to roll.
07. Auto-pilot can activate outside of the city, but inside the city, auto-pilot always on
08. "Cool sensors", cloaking device, weapons
09. Weapons will arm by thought. Think of Mr. Snuffles.
10. Can be used as submarines.
11. Under the ocean, jumper will provide water pressure, depth, and other relevant information
Miscellany
01. Three gate-teams for off-world missions.
02. Sheppard wants to have backups.
03. Sheppard unaware that jumpers could be used as submarines.
***
(Day 23)
Slept yesterday.
Mess Hall - 1400
[OOC: Insert 1 page of mess gossip here.]
- "Greg" (CAN mil) to "Sandra" (GER sci)
-- Greg slept with "Radek", but "Radek" left in the middle of the night.
[OOC: Two more pages of notes follow, keeping up with current gossip]
Realized that Dr. Zelenka has already become "Zelenka". Unsure about this development, as it was unexpected. Zelenka himself is unexpected.
Dropped his title in conversation.
Zelenka, Revision 3? 4?
01. Studying an object 1-ft. cubed that glows
02. Slept with "Greg". Will sleep with Pelletier last night
03. Surprised when I showed knowledge of his bed-hopping
04. Solitude is anathema, due to unrequited feelings for Dr. McKay
Pelletier came to the table in her typical "fan the flames of passion" maneuver, which is incredibly transparent. Told her my lack of enthusiasm with regards to watching her doing this in my presence. Pelletier propositioned me for a second time.
Pelletier still predatory concerning sexual conquests. I hope one of these days, she'll bite off more than she can chew. Or receive an STD.
Found myself telling Zelenka of Pelletier's sexual habits, as I know them. Unsure why this is.
I've been alone all my life. Solitude isn't bad.
***
(Day 24)
Last night, I had trouble falling asleep, and having to go through more reports from my staff didn't help my frame of mind, so I'm not surprised I can't sleep tonight.
I played tai chi, trying to clear my thoughts of everything except each individual movement, but Zelenka showed up in my thoughts, and the way he keeps sleeping around instead of doing the intelligent thing. And then there was the feeling of being incredibly infinitesimal in the grand scheme of things, due to the flying lesson two days ago. And then... I might have to try passive meditation, because I nearly slipped on the floor.
My usual haunts, as they are, are very beautiful, the way the moonlight plays on the ocean, the breakers where I can see them cresting white against the night-darkened water. While I haven't narrowed down where each of the balconies is, I've gotten into a routine of visiting them in a certain order (North, Narrow, Echoes, Canyon, and Skyline), which takes me around traveled sections of the city in about 47 minutes, according to my watch.
Watching the sun come up is never a victory, but being in Atlantis makes it feel as though it's not a defeat either.