NDPD!
I'm trying not to get discouraged, I really am. However, faced with a bookshelf that seems to think I'm 15 and from the 1950's and an island where the weather, the buildings, and every source of botanic material changes dramatically mid-experiment, I may be starting to see a half empty glass. I was getting somewhere with the kelp, then the island froze. I was getting somewhere with the pine needles, then we have a bloody luau again. I'm working on something, and it could be big. Which is making me a little edgy, keen to get stuck into it. Was that a twitch?
Since we seem to have sunshine and tropical conditions back I'm spending every moment I can in the lab, concentrating on working with the tropical plants. Trying to get a stock together of raw materials I can use - even if we have another sudden winter wonderland. It will be worth it, but dear god it's boring. I wonder if I can talk someone into being my lab assistant? "Highly capable doctor seeks scientifically minded but inexperienced student for hours of mind numbing boredom." Perhaps not.
There is some movement out of the corner of my eye and when I turn I'm faced with a rather large crate with my name on it. I barely raise an eyebrow - boxes appearing from nowhere almost seems in character for this place.
I may not have been overly surprised but I'm not stupid, so I open the crate with great care and at arms length. When I see what's inside I feel a little ridiculous, it's just research equipment. Well, not just research equipment - it could have been taken straight from the infirmary back on the station, it's up to date (for my time) and will be an enormous help with all my projects, especially the big one.
Suddenly the island's temperamental behaviour doesn't seem like such a burden.
[The good doctor is in the lab fawning over and sorting through his NDPD gift - a large crate full of 24thC research equipment. Squints and research types especially welcome.]