Alas thou mistress cruel
Chapter 2:
"So this is Stargate Command? Somehow I expected it to be bigger?" I wondered as I looked around the slightly big complex. Built into Cheyenne Mountain, Colorado I somehow still find the place pretty annoying. I mean; first the native Americans are forced out of the area, then NORAD takes over in the cold war and then Stargate is stationed here. In short; this place has a lot of bad memories. And I mean a lot of bad memories.
After being driven for about eleven or twelve hours from Yellowstone to Cheyenne Mountain; I have to admit my butt hurt. Then there was all that security nonsense with the guards at the gate who wanted access to my laptop; no one touches the laptop, which Danny cooled down before I turned to snapping the idiot's arms out of their sockets unfortunately. My laptop has a number of programs in it that I don't particularly want the United States' government to see; especially since a couple I've hacked and stole from them. What? They stole them from the Russians first. It's more like rescuing them from the hands of bigoted idiots who can't tell a bomb from a camera. It's not my fault if they're never going to be given back to the Russians … really.
Once we were actually in the complex; I was given a uniform and told to dress quickly in a changing area. Being a fan of casual Friday; I don't go for uniforms or dress codes that much but I suppose I don't want to stand out that much around here. I normally just wear a white top, black leggings and combats; not professional in the slightest but certainly comfortable in hot weather or terrain. This uniform was dull to say the least; with a charcoal colour scheme. It was basically black trousers and a jacket with blue accents along with a detachable USA flag patch on the arm that presumably marked me as being from the USA. Patriotic pride is as useful to me as ribbons; so I ripped that off right off the mark. I kept my white tank top and combats but the rest had to go on so it did. Suited up; I put on my backpack containing all my things and rejoined Daniel so to be taken to my new post.
"You'll be sent through the Stargate in thirty minutes with your new leader Samantha Carter; who's replacing Elizabeth Weir who went MIA recently. Be nice; she's a friend!" He stated with a look of caution in his eyes. Ok, Danny I'll be good with the new boss but if she pisses me off I won't stop myself from tearing her a new one. I hate bureaucrats; I really do. He escorted me to what he called the Gate room; which was slightly impressive. You've got your standard issue security guards, armed with less standard issue weaponry, along with a giant metal ring … with blinky lights … oh I'm a sucker for blinky lights … pretty! Anyway; I guess that's the Stargate or the Omni-dimensional portal to different worlds and galaxies once you type in an address, but Stargate is less of a mouthful. Ok, that's impressive I'll give them that.
"So here's the stubborn, little recruit!" I turned to see the ageing face of a man who looked like he'd had a lot of fights over the years. A highly decorated solider by all the awards pinned to his uniform, with a gravitational air to him. Looks like I've found my boss. "I see you're not wearing your flag!"
"Well, I was only born here. I don't have any patriotic pride for it really so I thought what the hell and leave it off!" I'm not particularly loyal to the US anyway, I'd rather somewhere less … annoying let's just say. I was born here but since I've moved around a lot; I don't have the accent exactly anyway. I prefer the slightly sultry and alluring voice that has hints of French in it; just because I like their culture. After all; it is the culture of love, fine wine and a lot of rebelling which is just me all over.
"Fine, you'll just need to have a medical examination before you go through the Stargate as regulation demands but other than that; welcome to Stargate command Dr. Jackson!" He turned towards a nearby officer and I got the message that this meeting was over. A female doctor took me over to another room to do some routine tests; which I hated since needles aren't really my thing. My brother may enjoy being drugged but I certainly don't. Especially when I'm not doing the drugging …
"That'll be all Dr. Jackson, I have orders for you to be escorted to the main control unit!" the doctor wasn't bad-looking I suppose with a heart-shaped face and slightly pretty eyes that I suppose looked ok. Defiantly a looker, with a few admires I think. She escorted me to the main facility covered in what looks like really high-tech area covered in computers and gizmos that would have confused most people. I wasn't such a person, since I'm used to the buzz of computers ready to hack into at a moment's notice, but I have to admit it's slightly fun to see some new machines lined up for my pleasure. And everyone should know by now; I adore pleasure beyond anything else.
"Doctor Jackson, I'm Colonel Samantha Carter; your new leader at Atlantis? I'll be going across the Stargate with you!" A stern blonde woman with a medium build was right in front of me and instantly I thought oh crap; I'm going to have to hang around with my new boss and try not to punch her. I mean I'm not exactly a people person around women; I prefer men as they're more easy to read. All you need to think about men is that their needs are sex, beer, violence and a lot of sympathy for their pathetic lives. I make it my mission to be an expert in these aspects; after all how else do you manipulate them?
"It hurt, because I don't particularly want to be brain-damaged for the rest of my life?" I changed my accent to match a sort of Australian one, tough and to the point. I do love the Aussies; vicious little monsters they are, just as much as the French. Something about them; either their keen survival instincts or closeness to a good beach. I love a good suntan, and it doesn't hurt that the Aussies have a collection of reasonably cute lifeguards.
"Not really, it's just a small jolt like an electric shock. No long-term effects either as far as we can detect!" The perky blonde has split ends … sorry just noticed that and it's really distracting. Anyway; back to my sudden fear of becoming brain-damaged due to constant use of a Stargate. I do need my brain you know!
"As far as you can detect?" Gee, Sammy doesn't know about the Thalidomide tragedy of the 1960's! When it was later 'detected' that the drug caused birth defects instead of getting rid of morning sickness. Scientists don't always get things right and I'd rather not become genetically mutated thank-you very much!
"Well, your brother Daniel was one of the first to enter the Stargate and he's not showing any symptoms so it's probably safe and there's little really to fear about!" damn it Sammy; why'd you have to bring that bastard into our nice little conversation? You just spoiled my little depressing spiral about birth defects. Shame on you!
"Daniel? Oh you mean the jackass big brother who basks in the shadow of his own ego! No, I'm pretty sure there's something wrong with him!" I am on fire today! Hopefully not real fire but that would be an interesting experience since I've never lit myself on fire before. What would it feel like? Painful I think but overall I'd like to try it one day. Under controlled conditions of course but still worth a shot!
"Ouch! No love lost between you two is there!" She smiled awkwardly, as she should for asking such a stupid question.
"Let's just say every time I see his smug little face; I picture myself repeatedly stabbing it with a rusty knife. That about sums up our relationship so if you have no more questions I'd like to step through a portal to another universe right now!" that shut the bitch up. God how am I going to last in Atlantis if I continue acting like this! I just seriously freaked out my boss and now she is totally looking at me like I'm this psychotic bitch who set's people on fire. Correction; I only want to set myself on fire and yes I'm psychotic - tell me something I don't know! The woman turned away and looked in any direction but at me. Cold shoulder; deserved but slightly childish Sammy. I bet you'll last only a week in Atlantis like this.
"Stargate activation in five minutes. Doctor Jackson and Colonel Carter to Gate room. I repeat; Doctor Jackson and Colonel Carter to gate room. Initialisation in five minutes!" the intercom boomed out as I was ferried out of the control room and onto a massive metal ramp connected to the memorizing blinky Stargate that is so memorizing … snap out of it Nicole and act your age!
Ok, hold on to your butt Nicky. You're going into space! To see aliens, weird worlds and a whole lot of despair. Sounds exciting? Heck yes but first fix your shirt, fluff up the hair and don't forget to keep that gun you just stole off that cute marine who just escorted you here primed and hidden just in case. All basics covered? Good; give them hell girl.