January 4, Atlantis
Dear Jane,
You asked for a picture of Sarah McKay, and after some bribery I've finally managed
to get my hands on a hardcopy version. I'm also enclosing a sketch I made of a
Wraith. It's not terribly good, and it was done with charcoal one evening around
the fire on the mainland, but it should give you a rough idea. I'll see if I can
get Jason to sketch one for you, he's much better with a pencil. Enjoy!
~ Laura
- - -
January 16, Atlantis
Dear Jane,
It's a madhouse around here. We took in refugees two days ago and still haven't been
able to relocate them. Hopefully they're out tomorrow, otherwise we're going to need
to start opening up another portion of the city for permanent housing. And
there was a problem with the circuitry that shut down half the transporters for four
days.
Oh, and I saw my first live wraith. We have a couple dead ones that Carson likes to
play with in the genetics lab, and those were disturbing enough. A live one is like
something out of your worst nightmares, except it's real. A raiding party appeared
on Solivan while I was holding a clinic. They came in ships, beams of energy sucking
people away. I wonder if they take all life forms of a certain size or if they can
distinguish the humans. I mean, did they get any cows by accident? I ducked and
covered and let the military blow them out of the sky. It seemed safer. As a
precaution, we brought the local population back to Atlantis in case the Wraith
sought vengeance for their loss. It's a concept I hadn't considered before, wiping
out an entire population in retribution for defiance. Major Lorne seemed to
think it was likely. He's a bit jumpier than usual lately with David being due soon,
but his judgement's sound.
The concept is very real now. Their village, their land, their livestock... It's all
just gone. Nothing survived. Everything that could potentially facillitate
community-based life was razed, the soil charred. It's a terrifying thought, and
makes me realize just what will happen if we lose this fight. We can't lose,
because there will be nothing left for those who come after.
~ Laura
- - -
January 25, Atlantis
Dear Jane,
Daedalus Day! And not just any normal supply shipment. Dr. Weir's request was
approved! An education specialist was among the new personnel this run. Apparently
five children was the magic number to get someone to help with the childcare and with
services we can offer the Athosians who have agreed to staff our 'nursery'. From what
I understand, we have Dr. McKay to thank for this. Apparently the important types
back at SGC were willing to do just about anything to keep him here in Pegasus.
Which is how we got an education specialist added to our list of essential personnel.
She's to get a crash course in Ancient and then begin instructing the Athosians in
addition to setting up a more permanent nursery.
The temporary nursery is currently being handled by four Athosians who take it in
shifts around the clock, it's more like a twenty-seven hour drop in center than anything (Our days here
are 27 hours, not 24. It's great once you get used to it, but the first three weeks are a hassle).
Once Mary, our new specialist, is up to speed she's going to start instructing the
nursery workers on Ancient when the children are quiet. It was part of the arrangement:
In exchange for running and staffing the nursery the Athosians get access to the
gene therapy, imported supplies (in moderation), instruction in written Ancient,
and regular medical care from our facillities (as opposed to the emergency basis
it was offered on before). We may see about recruiting some of the refugees who
come through periodically as well, once things have settled into more of a routine.
The best part of all of this? Robert Cadman, an adorable baby but unrepentantly a
Mama's Boy, will no longer be gracing us in the infirmary with his lung capacity
from nine-to-five. This is reason to celebrate, believe me.
Requisitioning new personnel wasn't the only side effect of the new 'members' of
the expedition. Cameron Akeilo, son of an Athosian and a marine, has had an impact
of his own. A few days after his birth Dr. Weir sent out a city-wide Email, which
I am enclosing here since I would like a legal take on the situation.
To: Group-Atlantis Personnel
From: "Dr. Elizabeth Weir" eweir@atlantisexp.org
Subject: Intergalactic Legal Concerns
All Staff,
Given the temporary nature of Atlantis postings, and the great difficulties in
traveling between Earth and the Pegasus Galaxy, I would like to ask that all
personnel attempt to refrain from having children with the Athosians. This is not
because we do not like them, or that we do not wish to strengthen ties between our
societies. The fact is that the issue of jurisdiction is as of yet unresolved.
Until the various militaries, the science staff, and the United Nations have come
up with a frame work, please try to avoid impregnating non-expedition members or
getting impregnated. I don't want to try to deal with intergalactic visitation and
custody arrangements. The SGC has policies on offworld, unsanctioned marriages;
they'll get to off-world families. Give them time. And at the moment, EARTH
IMMIGRATION IS NOT AN OPTION.
If you have any questions about this policy, please send an email to eweir@atlantisexp.org
or stop by my office.
Dr. Elizabeth Weir, PhD.
Head of Atlantis Expedition
Private Radio Channel: 15
She's probably not going to be too pleased that
there's at least one more on the way. The one mitigating factor in the whole baby
boom is that aside from Lt. Cadman, all of the 'mothers' have been civilian.
There just was no civilian policy in place prior to this, which gives Dr. Weir
some room to maneuver. By the regs, Lt. Cadman should have been shipped home,
though. I understand it was quite a battle for her to stay, because even though
the pregnancy wasn't her fault it also takes her out of the field. If she went
back to Earth, she'd never return. Her career was going to suffer
regardless, this way she can still do a job she loves when she's back on active
duty in four weeks. One of the requirements for being assigned to this project
was not having any legal dependants. That's gone to Hell.
At least McKay was the one who broke policy first. Unintentional or not, they can't
afford to send him back. Nevermind that apparently Earth doesn't want him.
The social scientists are already muttering about what they're calling the "McKay
Effect". It's the ability of one inordinately forceful individual to influence
the developmental situation of others based upon sheer force of personality. McKay says
the nursery is to have Mozart played in the background? Someone finds a speaker
system somewhere. I can't wait until Sarah starts talking and he decides it's
time for her to start formal education of some kind. I think I'll be off world
for that discussion.
~ Laura
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January 20, Calgary
Dear Laura,
It sounds like you never get a break! First what sounded like your version of a
Hell Week, now you put my late nights to shame. All of that being in addition to
having to conduct a highly detailed investigation into the sex lives of your patients.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you that late night babies aren't limited to the Pegasus
Galaxy, even if they do seem to be ganging up on you. Heck, I was born at four in
the morning.
I'm glad Lt. Cadman (Does she have a first name? You call everyone else by first
name except for Dr. McKay and Colonel Sheppard...) is doing well. My cousin's in
the RCN (Well, technically the MARCOM branch of the Canadian Forces, but they call
themselves "Navy"). She lost almost three years on the promotion track when she
had my niece, and she's never been able to get back into sub service (At the moment
that's not an issue, but she complained for years). I'd imagine it's similar
in the American forces.
Using the term parasite for a foetus just sounds wrong, even if it is the technical
definition given the circumstances. Is it completely self-contained, amniotic and
all? I'm fine with him being pregnant in concept. I run into problems when I try
to think through the biology. I think I'll leave it alone and not force my mind
into places it doesn't want to go.
I feel bad about not sending holiday greetings in my last letter. It's a bit late
now, but the motivation is still genuine. I'm glad Jason made you attend the
festivities, you work harder than most of the lawyers I know. My husband was away
for Christmas and Boxing Day since they fell during the week, but he took off on
New Year's Day so he could be home for the night. We met some friends of mine from
the firm to ring in the new year. It was a small gathering, warm and friendly.
So how have things progressed with Jason? That's rather a strong catalyst, waking
up in bed with someone. Has anything else happened? Has anyone said anything?
Has he spent the night again? I keep asking for details and you keep
not providing them. You're no fun at all.
~ Jane
- - -
January 26, Calgary
Dear Laura,
I was reading over your descriptions of the city again and I can't help being in
awe of it. You say it's stood for over ten thousand years. The oldest structures
we have on Earth are the Pyramids, and those are only five thousand years old. And
the gate address system sounds wonderfully intriguing. You'll have to let me know
if you manage to track down a physicist willing to speak to a layman.
I don't care what you call it, a war is a war. That it's against an enemy that
eats you (and for the record? That's really disturbing.) doesn't change things.
The colonel woke them up? I'm not sure I understand, but I guess I don't really
have to. It's enough to know that they're awake. Last month my husband asked what
was wrong when I went on a cleaning spree on New Year's Eve waiting for your letters
to arrive. In order to explain it, the last day of the month has now become the
official cleaning day for the house. My husband thinks it's a little off, but he
tolerates my quirks since I tape Wormhole X-Treme: Dimension X for him (It's
amazing how much that show mimics things you've told me, almost like a parody.
Ancient alien city and all. Does your Colonel Sheppard romance every alien woman
he meets?).
It's silly, and I know it. There's nothing I can do that will change whether or
not the letters arrive. That doesn't stop me from awaiting them anxiously. It's
given me a much better understanding of some things. One of the other paralegals
at the firm, Susan, has a fiance overseas in the Middle East. We've started taking
lunch together a few times a week. She's glad to have someone who understands, even
if she's unclear on the details on my end. I thank you for that knowledge. Because
of it, I've gained a friend at work in addition to one in another galaxy.
~ Jane
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