Let me tell you, having this ATA/Ancient gene is not all it's cracked up to be. Oh, sure, it was fun while sitting in that chair in Antarctica, getting galactic maps to appear. Then Weir decides she can't live without me on her Pegasus mission (and what the hell kind of name is the Pegasus Galaxy? Yeah, it's better than the Milky Way, but Pegasus? Winged horses?). The General O'Neill all but says he's going to kick my ass if I don't go.Great. I can either stay at the ass-end of Earth known as McMurdo for the rest of my career, or I can take the assignment, under a civilian commander and a Marine Colonel who hates my guts, to the ass-end of the Pegasus Galaxy. With aliens who think that human colonies are an all you can eat buffet.
But the worst part is living here, on Atlantis. In Atlantis. We already knew the city was semi-sentient when it reacted to our arrival and was taking out non-essential parts of the shield to protect the rest of us.
What Weir, McKay, and the others don't know is that the city is lonely.
I'm guessing I must have a lot of ancestors with the ATA gene for it to be so strong in me. I may be the closest thing to an ancient that the city has had inside her walls for millennia. So, Atlantis has decided that I am her companion, her . . . gah, I don't know the right word. The closest I can think of is from some science fiction books I used to read, where a human being became the 'brain' of a spaceship, their body encased in a central command and their brains wired to operate the entire ship. They were paired with human partners called 'brawns'.
Atlantis has decided that I am her brawn, the physical companion to her living city. She lets me know when people are unhappy, when she needs assistance in making sure that McKay doesn't do something stupid with Ancient technology he's found. I know he's amazed at how many times I show up at his lab just when he and his therapy ATA gene are about to mess around with something that should be left alone. Ancients might have been a peace loving race, but they had some seriously nasty tricks up their puffy sleeves.
I haven't told Weir that the city gives me all this information. I haven't told anyone. I don't think they want to know that all I have to do is think of them and I know where they are and what - and sometimes who - they're doing, all on the nearest screen.
Like right now. Let's see - McKay is in his lab again, working on his computer. Teyla is meditating or something in her room. Ford is … well, hello. Looks like Ford and one of the female botanists are getting very friendly. Atlantis, you're giving me too much information. Thank you. What about Weir?
Oh-kay, Atlantis, that's way too much information there, and I guess I don't need to ask about Dr. Beckett, either. Huh. Always wondered why he came to Atlantis.
Maybe that wasn't the best choice of words.
Oh look, McKay just popped up on the screen again. With another Ancient device. Okay, Atlantis, what is this one? It's a what?!
Damn, those Ancients had some dirty minds. Hrm. Maybe I ought to join McKay and show him exactly what that device is used for. I think Atlantis likes that idea, too. Apparently, it's getting warm in the lab. McKay's taking off clothing.
I better go help him take off the rest.