First Night Challenge By Shade

A little first night Zelenka because I adore him. Thanks to theodosia and reginagiraffe for cheerleading. 975 words.



Osamělý


Dr. Radek Zelenka helped two other members of the science team move some equipment from a hallway to a temporarily assigned lab space. He still wasn't sure who the man and woman were or what specific sciences they studied, but there was no talking as they finished their task. Coming to a new galaxy had been so exciting and awe inspiring that everyone was still a little overwhelmed. The city rising from the ocean had not dampened this spirit at all. Radek chuckled over his internal pun. The surfacing of the city hadn’t completely eliminated their power problems though. Already there were scientists trying to get the naquadah generators to synch with the city's power grid.

Radek itched to go up to the control room and offer his services. He was distinctly curious about the Ancient systems and wanted a look at them for himself, but he knew that Dr. McKay and Dr. Grodin were probably handling it. He'd spoken to Grodin in Colorado before they had left and the Brit was very personable. The descriptions he'd giving of the Ancient find in Antarctica had been fascinating. Dr. McKay, though, was an all together different animal. He'd only spoken to the science group once and from that smug speech, Radek was sure he didn't like the man. From the looks on the faces of his fellow adventurers, he wasn't the only one.

He set down the last box and received a grateful, if powerful, back slap from the man in thanks. Radek pushed his glasses back up and noticed the Australian flag patch on the man's jacket. The female scientist had already disappeared. He wandered out into the hall. A pretty blonde woman was surrounded by people and was yelling over the crowd. She was handing out pieces of paper and requesting everyone come see her if they had any problems. A psychiatrist, he decided and snatched a piece of paper. The room the paper led him to was plain and lifeless. Radek hated it. After the beautiful architecture and warmth of an old city like Prague, the Ancients' modern minimalism was just sterile. Radek threw down his things and decided to look around Atlantis.

The hallways were quiet except for the occasional creaking of the city in the wind. The party had wound down some time before, but he hadn't bothered to stay long. He'd never felt that comfortable in social situations, and he hadn't gotten to know that many people yet. It seemed like most of the team were tucked up in their new quarters or working. He had yet to meet anyone in passing. The military had forbidden any exploration until the area could be declared safe, so Radek had a very limited territory to investigate.

After a while, he found himself in the spacecraft bay. The oblong ships made to fit through the Stargate were interesting. He'd seen that special Major fellow fooling around with one before he'd gone to rescue those that had been captured by the Wraith things. Deep down, Radek had known a new galaxy meant new life forms, but nothing had prepared him for the description he had received of this new enemy. Radek sat down at the pilot controls and stared at the dark panel. He didn't have the gene that would allow him to work the ship, not that he had any flying experience to know what to do with it if he did.

He sighed quietly. There were no other Czechs among the many people that had given up everything for one chance to step across the stars. The hanger bay was eerily quiet. Radek had never felt so alone.

"Damnit why do I have to do everything? I swear that man thinks I'm some kind of miracle worker," an angry voice broke the silence. He listened as it grew closer and turned into a mocking falsetto. "McKay, those Puddle Jumpers may be our only line of defense; maybe you should see if those weapons are replenishable."

Radek turned the pilot's seat to see Dr. McKay stomp up the gang plank into the ship. The Canadian paused when he realized he wasn't alone. They stared at each other in silence a moment before McKay automatically resumed his conversation as if he had been talking to Radek all along.

"I mean, honestly, it's not like I don't have things to do right now. I hardly got to enjoy that stupid party as it was. Is it too much to ask for a few minutes of rest?"

The pause let Radek know that he was expected to actually take part in the conversation. He opened his mouth to reply, but before any sound could escape, McKay launched back into speech again.

"Exactly! Here, hold this," McKay said shoving a touch pad diagnostic display into his hands. Radek watched as the other man began searching the controls and underneath the panel.

"It's in the cargo compartment," he said finally.

McKay looked up at him in confusion and snapped, "What?"

"The control panel, up top. I saw it when I got in."

"Why didn't you say so?" McKay growled and jerked the display out of his hands. Radek got up and followed him past the bulkhead door. When the panel was pulled down it revealed a good number of crystals. "Oh great, would you look at this? 'Just check the weapons, McKay.' Like that's a piece of cake."

Radek sighed, jerked the display away from the other scientist, and started checking relays. He could practically feel the other man's surprise without even looking. He spent the rest of the evening going over the Puddle Jumper systems with McKay alternately complaining and being brilliant. He was never once asked his name, but at least he was no longer lonely. Radek was far too irritated to bother being lonely.



Osamělý is Czech for 'alone' or 'lonely'.