Title: Be Prepared
Chapter 1: So oops…
By ellymelly
Disclaimer: It has been brought to my attention that I don't own anything – so, uh, I don't
A minute silence please, for the poor, unfortunate soccer ball…
An experiment on a certain Major's soccer ball goes a little wrong
Please Note: This is only chapter one of a nine part series - I'm uploading them as fast as possible from another site. Anyway, without wasting another moment, let the chaos begin!
Mckay and Sheppard found themselves in one of the multiple Atlantian science Labs. Mckay, as usual, was moaning about the shocking new coffee wannabe whilst Zelenka busied himself in the background. With the hour still young and the sun reluctant to rise, no one was really in the mood…
"It's – it's just not the same…" groaned Rodney, averting his eyes from the blasphemous sight.
"Oh lighten up Mckay, this stuff isn't half bad." To prove his point, Major John Sheppard brought his mug up and took a huge swig. Rodney looked on, less than convinced. It was at this moment that Elizabeth chose to slide into the lab dressed in her usual red top and uniform pants – her hair still all slightly out of place.
"What's going on here?"
"Elizabeth," said Rodney hopefully, "tell the Major here that Akaya nut is a poor substitute for coffee."
Elizabeth raised her eyebrow and took a sip out of her own mug, "I don't know Rodney, it's not half bad."
"That's what he said." Muttered Rodney in disgust.
"What are you doing here at this time of the morning anyway?"
"Rodney was just showing off some of his research into phase shift technology." said John happily, picking up an object on Mckay's desk with his free hand.
"That sounds interesting."
"We're not quite there yet," replied Rodney before adding, "as I've been trying to tell Sheppard."
"Mind if I have a demonstration?"
Rodney looked at Elizabeth, he could have sworn that he had just said that they weren't ready yet, in any case, he moved over to the half deflated soccer ball where Dr. Zelenka was humming about it, fiddling with the very complicated looking equipment.
Zelenka looked questioningly at Rodney who quickly explained the situation. Zelenka reminded him that this test was not ready but Rodney insisted that the only way to be rid of the intrusion was to show them that it didn't work rather than just tell them.
Elizabeth and Sheppard moved over to the soccer ball whilst Zelenka connected a wire. Sheppard took a double take of the ball before asking heatedly, "Mckay… is that my soccer ball?"
"Yes, I suppose that's a good bet." There was a pause as Rodney received another nasty look. "But don't worry, as I said, this won't work."
Sheppard just knew he wasn't going to get that ball back… With that, Rodney threw the switch. The device around the ball glowed and hummed loudly for a few seconds – the ball flickered into transparency before falling straight through the table and out of sight. After a few brief screams as if fell through the breakfast rooms below the base went back to morning silence. Rodney and Zelenka looked at each whilst Elizabeth and Sheppard stared in shock.
"So oops…" managed the Czech.
"You can kiss that soccer ball goodbye." Added Mckay dejectedly.
"Rodney," said Elizabeth, still not taking her eyes off the place where the innocent ball had been, "what happened?"
"Well, as I said, we were experimenting with turning matter into energy form, like bringing matter out of phase ala sci-fi – or Nirti but that's a long story…"
"And," prompted John, "did it work?"
Zelenka and Rodney exchanged looks. "Sort of."
"What do you mean, 'sort of' Rodney?"
"Well, it brings matter of phase – it doesn't eliminate the gravity's influence."
"Dr. get to the point." Rodney turned his attention back to Elizabeth for the remainder of the explanation.
"It well, fell through the floor."
"Fell through to where?" Sheppard was swiftly losing all hope of seeing his soccer ball again.
"It should be making its way toward the centre of the planet where it will kinda…"
"Stay." Added Zelenka helpfully.
"For how long Rodney?" Rodney tried to gage whether Elizabeth was mad or amused.
"Um, hard to say."
"Several billion years –" Zelenka readjusted his spectacles.
"At least."
"Until the sun explodes." One of those awkward paused ensued. John, being John, broke it.
"So much for Trek!" he said, still shooting looks at the place where his soccer ball had been moments before.
"Yeah," agreed Elizabeth, "I'm not going to recommend human trials anytime soon." Rodney nodded accordance whilst Sheppard gave one of those, 'my soccer ball will be avenged' looks. Mercifully, the Atlantian alarm went off in time to save Rodney.
"Unauthorized wormhole. Dr. Weir to the Gateroom."
"Who would call at this hour?"
"You know Major, it's not the same time all over the galaxy."
John glared at Rodney, "I knew that."
"Oh just what I need." She put her mug down, "Excuse me gentlemen."
"I should probably –" and John had followed her out the door. Rodney looked around at the now empty lab and particularly at the mug now sitting next to the very delicate Atlantian equipment.
"It's bad enough they come in and interrupt my lab drinking their stupid half pitched attempt at coffee but why, I ask, do they have to leave that substance sitting on my desk?" he picked up Elizabeth's mug and took a sniff before recoiling quickly in disgust. "Eew…"