Heads of Department

Disclaimer-As much as I would like to, I don't own Stargate Atlantis or its characters.

Since the beginning of recorded history there have been scientists. And as long as there has been scientist there has been scientific argument. This need for controlled yelling at one's colleges is the reason I am awake this fine morning. For Pete's sake you think that someone would respect the fact that some of us work the nightshift…"

"Dr. Bec."

"Yes, Dr. Weir." Dr. Rebecca Thomason noticed that Mckay was hurrying into the lab and clicked her laptop shut.

"Now that everyone is here," Dr. Weir shot Mckay a withering glance for being late. "I would like to get started with the meeting. You have all met each other at Antarctica, and back on earth you could avoid the people that you clashed with. We no longer have that option. Since we have gotten here there has been a greater frequency of conflicts between science departments. These conflicts are going to end now. I am going to walk out that door, post marines on the outside, and come back," she glanced at her watch, "two hours. By the time I come back you will have come up with a plan to get along."

Then Dr. Weir left. She just walked out the door leaving a whole bunch of very confused scientist staring at one another. Zelenka was the first to speak up and expressed what they all were feeling.

"So, what do we do now?"

Dr. Mckay was the first person to get up from the table, he opened the door and sure enough there were two marines, in full gear, guarding the door. He closed the door and slumped down into his seat wishing that he brought his laptop to this meeting.

The other scientists were starting to zone out on their various tasks. In one corner Dr. Avril Blancheflour (Botany), Dr. Julio Perez (Anthropology), and Dr. Carl Raginmar (Biology) started competing for the best score on Minesweeper. On one side of the table Dr. Radek Zelanka (Engineering) and Dr. Peter Grodin (Computer) were quietly arguing about the new interface program. Dr. Bec Thomason (HOG team) and Dr. Ryan Eaton (Astronomy), the two assigned to the nightshift, decided it was a really good time to take a nap, while Dr. Kavanagh (Chemistry) was wandering around the room trying to beat Mckay at the complaining game.

It seemed like everyone was completely content to waste these two hours, tolerating each other's company. It wasn't like they had a choice. They were jolted from the boredom when Kavanagh cursed. They could hear a faint ticking that was starting to speed up.

"What did you do!" Mckay stormed over to Kavanagh.

"Nothing," Kavanagh retorted. "I just kick it." He motioned to a small round object that looked like a ball. The peeping continued to speed up.

"What do you mean you just kicked it?"

"I just did!"

As the two argued they didn't notice that the ball had stopped peeping. Someone said 'crap' and everything faded white.