Physics Department War: War is Hell
The third and final chapter. Plans unravel and people get hurt as the board’s deadline approaches.
The Laws of Motion
by Hatcheter
A Langford University Story
Part III
The Law of Reactions
For every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction.
Entering the physics building took more courage than Sam expected. As concerned as she was about the break in and the attack on McKay, she had no desire to see the campus police. Particularly the detective who had taken over the unit the year before.
Detective Shanahan stepped out of the lab. “Sam, come on in.”
“Pete,” she greeted him, smiling weakly. “What happened?”
Pete pointed to the broken handle on the door. “Somebody used a screwdriver to pry the handle apart. The building was locked, but there’s no sign of forced entry at any of the outside entrances. Whoever did this either had access to the building, or has been in here all evening.”
Inside the lab, two campus police officers were snapping photos. All the computer monitors were smashed, and every book, journal, and scrap of paper was scattered across the floor.
“Is anything missing?” Sam asked.
“That’s what I’d like you to figure out,” Pete said, handing Sam a pair of rubber gloves. “Don’t move anything, this is a crime scene.”
Sam slowly made her way through the lab, checking each cabinet and desk.
“Do you know who might have had reason to do this?” Pete asked.
“Normally, I’d blame him,” Sam said, jerking her head toward where Janet knelt in the hall, shining a pen light in Rodney’s eyes.
“I think the head injury mostly clears him of suspicion.”
“Any chance his injuries could be self inflicted?”
“He got hit in the back of the head, Sam. I don’t think he did that to himself.”
Sam nodded. “Accomplice?
Pete rolled his eyes. “Keep looking, Sam. I’ll go to talk to McKay.”
Rodney grunted as Janet felt the crown of his head, gently probing the bump with her fingers.
“How bad does it hurt?” Janet asked.
“I’ve had worse,” McKay said.
“How is he, Doctor?” Pete asked.
“He doesn’t show any signs of a concussion. I expect he’ll have quite a headache in the morning, but otherwise he should be fine.”
“Sergeant Bates already took a statement from you, right?”
Rodney nodded, accepting the icepack that Daniel offered to him. He sighed in relief as he pressed it to his head. “I was on my way out when I heard noise coming from Carter’s lab. I stepped in, and was immediately clubbed over the head.”
“You didn’t see who did it?”
“No. He was big though, strong.”
One of the officers came out into the hall. “Detective, we’re done photographing the lab.”
Pete nodded. “Okay Markham, go ahead and start looking for prints.”
“A lot of people work in there,” Sam said as she slipped past the officer.
“We’ll need you and everyone who has access to the lab to come in tomorrow for fingerprints.”
“Alright.”
“And the lab will have to be closed during the investigation.”
“What?!”
“You can’t do that,” Rodney said, jumping unsteadily to his feet.
Sam looked at him in confusion. “McKay?”
“Carter has important work to do. Shut her out now and you could wreck her project.”
Pete shrugged. “Sorry Sam, but I have a job to do too. We’ll try to have this done in a day or two. That’s the best I can do.”
Sam sighed. “Okay. Fine. Just, keep me informed, okay?”
“Anything,” Pete replied with a sad smile, before heading back into Sam’s lab.
“Thanks for sticking up for me, McKay,” Sam said.
Rodney appeared almost as confused by her thanks as she was. “With everything that’s going on, it doesn’t seem fair. Are you, uh, are you gonna be okay?”
“I can access all the research files over the network. It’s funny; all the monitors were smashed, but the computers themselves were untouched.”
“So our culprit is technology illiterate?” Rodney asked.
“Why are smashed monitors important?” Jack asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. Behind him, Daniel rolled his eyes.
“They can be easily replaced,” Sam said. “It’s the data on the hard drives that is invaluable.”
“With that still intact, Sam’s project hasn’t suffered any major setbacks,” McKay added.
“I have backups, as well.”
“Good.” McKay tried to shove his hands in his pockets, then winced and yanked the icepack in his hand back out. “Do you need a ride, Sam?”
Sam quickly slipped her hand through Jack’s arm. “I already have one.”
“Oh. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jack looked down at Sam’s hand on his arm. “I don’t recall volunteering.”
“Sorry,” Sam said.
Jack smiled at her. “No problem.”
Rodney arrived in his lab in the morning to find Radek sitting at his workbench, reading the Langford Daily. “Why aren’t you in your office?”
“Good morning to you too, Rodney,” Radek replied. “How is your head?”
“It hurts.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. So, why are you here? It’s not like you have anything to work on in here.”
“There are eight people squeezed into my office right now.”
“Eight people can fit into such a small office?”
“No. But Sam has nowhere else to hold her research team’s meeting.”
“Right, since her lab was shut down. She’s scheduled to use the clean labs all day today and tomorrow, so it’s not a big deal for them to be shut out for a few days.”
Rodney fell silent after that, never a good sign in Radek’s eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Could Sam have caused the damage to her own lab?”
“Rodney, that’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, maybe, just hear me out. She sends one of her students, or one of her many fans, to smash things up. It’s front page news on the Daily,” Rodney pointed to Radek’s paper, “and wins her all kinds of sympathy with the board.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“It’s probably crazy, but we have to consider all the possibilities, right?”
Radek sighed. “Okay, it may be possible, but for your sake I hope it is not. Would you want it becoming known that you were beaten up by Jennifer Hailey?”
“I was not beaten up. I was clubbed from behind by a coward who didn’t dare face me.”
“That’s not how the Daily’s headline described it.”
“Maybe I should offer them an interview. How did they describe it?”
“They say the police found you huddle on the floor in the fetal position.”
“What?!” Rodney grabbed the newspaper from Radek. “’Scientists assaulted in laboratory break in’,” he read. “This doesn’t say anything about…”
Radek burst out laughing, and Rodney threw the newspaper at him.
“Real mature, Zelenka, mocking an injured man.”
“Well, considering the company I keep,” Radek shrugged, and turned back to his bench.
When a group of students stumbled out of Sam’s office, Pete Shanahan wondered if he ought to have brought a breathalyzer with him. Further observation convinced him that the group was merely suffering from a collection of stiff knees and backs. Leaning into Sam’s office he found her seated on her desk, where she had apparently held court over a very tightly packed meeting.
Sam noticed him after a moment. “Pete? Taking up golf?” she asked, noting the bent club in his hand.
He smiled at her and stepped into the office. “Stackhouse found this in the bushes outside the building last night. And there’s glass embedded in the club. We’ve matched it to your computer monitors.”
“Really?” Sam asked. “You can do that?”
Pete nodded. “Something about the glass properties. This has really made the department’s month; campus police don’t get to play CSI very often.”
“Why is it bent?” Sam asked.
Pete pointed to a dark spot on the bent section. “That’s blood. Whoever attacked McKay hit him with the middle of the shaft. Pretty clumsy, if you ask me.”
“Do you know who did it?”
“Yeah, I’m actually on my way to make an arrest.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sam said, jumping off the desk.
“No, Sam, this is a desperate, dangerous criminal, and I don’t know what could-“ Pete snickered, and lost his serious expression. “Okay, come on.”
He led Sam out of her office and through the building, to an office in the building’s basement.
“Felger?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” the professor’s voice carried out of the open door. He appeared there seconds later, smiling brightly. His expression fell slightly at the sight of Pete.
“Detective Shanahan, what brings you here.”
“I think this is yours,” Pete said, brandishing the golf club.
“I don’t play golf.”
“Obviously, but your fingerprints are all over the handle. You have the right to remain silent…” Pete pulled out his handcuffs, locking them on Felger’s wrists as he read the man his rights.
“Jay, why?” Sam asked.
“I wanted to make sure you got to stay here.”
“By smashing my lab?”
“I thought it would at least implicate McKay long enough to sway tomorrow’s board vote. I didn’t expect him to show up last night.”
“I knew it!”
Sam turned to see Rodney striding down the hall, a smug grin on his face.
“I knew your lab was smashed by one of your own drooling fanboys.”
“Hey!” Felger yelled. “I do not drool.”
“McKay, not now!” Sam hissed.
“And you’re actually making an arrest, I’m surprised. Sam doesn’t have you by the balls anymore, detective?”
“Get lost, McKay,” Pete ordered.
“Or what, you’ll arrest me too? That would look great for the board, wouldn’t it?” Rodney spun on his heel and marched away, scattering students in his wake.
“What is wrong with him?” Pete asked.
“You take care of him,” Sam said, nodding toward Felger. “I’ll deal with McKay.”
Pete glanced down at Sam’s clenched fists. “Sam, what are you about to do?”
“I think I need to talk to Harry Maybourne.”
Two lectures and six hours in the lab hardly reduced her anger. She was almost ready to head to the bar when a diet cola suddenly appeared in front of her.
She glanced up to see Radek smiling down at her. “Thanks,” she said, taking the can.
“Don’t be so mad at Rodney. He had just gotten bad news. The Japanese Naquadria project just announced an experiment they’ve conducted that will let them bring their reactor to market sooner than Rodney can with his. It’s over.”
“The board vote?”
“There is no longer any reason for them to consider Rodney’s Naquada reactor. They’ll vote unanimously for you tomorrow.”
“Thank you for that news, Radek.” Sam leaned back in her seat, smiling for the first time since the morning. “I’d feel sorry for Rodney, if I still didn’t want to kill him.”
“You may not have to. He is drowning his sorrows at The King’s right now.”
“I do feel sorry for Maybourne, then.”
“So do I,” Radek smiled. “Why don’t you head home? We have to meet the board at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Nine.”
“Hmm?”
“I was told the meeting to announce the board’s decision was at nine a.m.”
“Oh, yes, right. I guess I can sleep a little later tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll take your advice, though. Goodnight, Radek.”
“Goodnight, Sam.”
Sam walked into the conference center at 8:50, to find a sizeable crowd waiting outside the entrance to the main conference hall. Standing on her toes, she spotted a familiar bald head sticking out of the crowd near the hall’s entrance. “Teal’c. Daniel,” she called, working her way through the throng.
Teal’c smiled at her as she arrived. “Samantha. Good morning.”
“’Morning, Sam,” Daniel added. “How are you doing?”
“Good,” she quickly replied.
The two men exchanged a glance. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
The conference hall doors opened, and Elizabeth Weir emerged. “Can I have your attention please?” she called, loud enough to be heard over the din. “The board is ready to announce its decision. Please come in and quickly find a seat.”
“This is quite a crowd.”
Sam turned to find Rodney next to her as she entered the hall. “Are you okay?”
Rodney grimaced, taking off the sunglasses he wore to reveal bloodshot eyes. “Never, ever drink tequila and vodka when you have to get up early.”
Inside the hall, President Hayes stood on stage at the lectern, watching the crowd file into the room. Six chairs sat in a row next to him, though the trustees were on the floor, mingling with the crowd.
Jack O’Neill appeared and quickly led Sam and Rodney to the center of the front row, where Jonas Quinn and John Sheppard quickly jumped up form the center seats. “We saved these for you,” Jack said. “Everything else is a free for all,” he added, stepping back and smiling as his friends jockeyed for position in the adjacent seats. Daniel ended up next to Sam, inexplicably muscling his way past Teal’c, while Elizabeth got John to give up the seat next to McKay.
Rodney leaned over and spoke quietly. “Listen, Sam, I would appreciate any input you’d be willing to give in the Naquadah reactor project.”
Sam frowned at him. “What are you talking about, McKay? I thought your project was about to be outdated.”
Rodney’s eyes widened. “You didn’t…” he winced and squeezed his oversensitive eyes shut. “You didn’t hear the news this morning? The Japanese experiment was a complete failure. They’re going back to the drawing board. The Naquadria design will probably never work.”
Hayes cleared his throat, quieting the crowd as the sound was amplified by the microphone. Jack and the other trustees hurried up to the stage, taking their seats.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming out this morning. It is exciting to see so many people at this university are so interested in the scientific advancements researched at this school.” Hayes smiled, and the crowd chuckled.
“When Professor Harold Langford founded this university, he imagined a place where the finest minds in science and the arts could come and pass their knowledge on to future generations. I think he would be proud to know that two of the world’s foremost scientists and innovators are working here today, and that the work done in the middle of a Nebraska cornfield will reshape the world.
“Before we announce the board’s decision, I’d like to thank Dean Elizabeth Weir and the team she assembled for their work in studying both projects, and giving a clear, concise analysis to the board. The ultimate result of both research programs will extend far beyond the scientific realm, and Doctor Weir’s team addressed that. Along with her legal and political expertise, the board received economic analysis from Doctor John Sheppard, social analysis from Doctor Jonas Quinn, as well as scientific answers from Doctor Radek Zelenka.”
Sam and Rodney both leaned forward to glare at Radek, who sat on the other side of John Sheppard. Radek slouched down in his seat, putting John between himself and two angry glares.
“Their input, along with information received this morning, guided the board’s decision. By a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees has chosen to focus all of Langford University’s advanced projects funding to Doctor Rodney McKay’s Naquadah fuel cell project. Congratulations, Doctor.”
Applause broke out in the auditorium, and John reached past Elizabeth to give Rodney a light whack on the back of the head. Rodney winced and cursed under his breath, then stood and waved to the crowd behind him.
Schooling her features, Sam stood and offered her hand. “Congratulations, Rodney.”
Rodney took her hand and smiled, sincerely. “I meant what I said, Sam. You can be part of this.”
“Now, for out next order of business,” Hayes said, turning to the trustees. “Gentlemen?”
A brief, hushed debate broke out between Jack, George, and Jacob, and ended when the two older men pushed Jack to his feet and toward the lectern.
Jack tugged as his tie and cleared his throat as he approached. “Good morning.”
His eyes scanned the crowd, before finally settling on Sam. “I’m not really one for speeches. But I think President Hayes was right when he said we have two of today’s best scientists working here, and it would be a real shame if one of them is stifled because of something trivial like a lack of funding. Fortunately, some of us here,” he looked toward Jacob and George, “know a few other options.”
Jack picked up the blue folder he had carried and opened it. “Doctor Samantha Carter, the United States Air Force, under the DoD Advanced Technology Acquisition program, is hereby funding for your Trinium research program for the next three years, or until such time as you have a product ready for Air Force use.”
Jack smiled as a fresh round of applause broke out. “Congratulations, Doctor.” Glancing over at Hayes, Jack turned to address the crowd once more. “Okay, that’s it. You can leave now.”
As the crowd began moving for the exits, or to congratulate the two scientists, Rodney stood and offered his hand to Sam. “Congratulations, Samantha.”
“It looks like everybody wins,” Daniel said as Sam shook Rodney’s hand.
“Not quite,” Elizabeth said. “With the Air Force funding, we can make sure you both have sufficient lab space and personnel for your projects. But there’s still only one clean environment lab, and some other sophisticated equipment you’ll still have to share. Radek has been given the responsibility of making sure you both have equal, fair access to what you need, when you need it.”
“It sucks to be him,” John surmised.
Sam and Rodney glanced at each other, then at Radek, who still sat in his seat.
“He doesn’t deserve that sort of abuse,” Sam said.
“No he doesn’t,” Rodney agreed. “So, Carter, what are you doing Monday?"
“I’ll be in the clean lab most of the day.”
“Yeah?” McKay grinned. “Not if I ask Radek first!”
“No you don’t!” Sam yelled as Rodney sprinted forward. She reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him back as she started forward.
Radek watched the children’s tussle with detached amusement.
The next few years were going to be hell.
That’s it. I’m done with this. And what better way to end a story, than to have nothing really changed? XD
Thank you to everyone who’s commented on this, I really enjoy hearing what you thought. Please, if anybody has and criticism, feel free to share. I would love to hear suggestions I can use to improve future stories (like that SG-1/Alias crossover that has stalled again).
Thanks again to Melyanna for starting this wonderful little universe, and everyone who has built upon it. I'm looking for to more great stories about Langford U, even the non Shep/Weir ones. ;)
The Laws of Motion
by Hatcheter
A Langford University Story
Part III
The Law of Reactions
For every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction.
Entering the physics building took more courage than Sam expected. As concerned as she was about the break in and the attack on McKay, she had no desire to see the campus police. Particularly the detective who had taken over the unit the year before.
Detective Shanahan stepped out of the lab. “Sam, come on in.”
“Pete,” she greeted him, smiling weakly. “What happened?”
Pete pointed to the broken handle on the door. “Somebody used a screwdriver to pry the handle apart. The building was locked, but there’s no sign of forced entry at any of the outside entrances. Whoever did this either had access to the building, or has been in here all evening.”
Inside the lab, two campus police officers were snapping photos. All the computer monitors were smashed, and every book, journal, and scrap of paper was scattered across the floor.
“Is anything missing?” Sam asked.
“That’s what I’d like you to figure out,” Pete said, handing Sam a pair of rubber gloves. “Don’t move anything, this is a crime scene.”
Sam slowly made her way through the lab, checking each cabinet and desk.
“Do you know who might have had reason to do this?” Pete asked.
“Normally, I’d blame him,” Sam said, jerking her head toward where Janet knelt in the hall, shining a pen light in Rodney’s eyes.
“I think the head injury mostly clears him of suspicion.”
“Any chance his injuries could be self inflicted?”
“He got hit in the back of the head, Sam. I don’t think he did that to himself.”
Sam nodded. “Accomplice?
Pete rolled his eyes. “Keep looking, Sam. I’ll go to talk to McKay.”
Rodney grunted as Janet felt the crown of his head, gently probing the bump with her fingers.
“How bad does it hurt?” Janet asked.
“I’ve had worse,” McKay said.
“How is he, Doctor?” Pete asked.
“He doesn’t show any signs of a concussion. I expect he’ll have quite a headache in the morning, but otherwise he should be fine.”
“Sergeant Bates already took a statement from you, right?”
Rodney nodded, accepting the icepack that Daniel offered to him. He sighed in relief as he pressed it to his head. “I was on my way out when I heard noise coming from Carter’s lab. I stepped in, and was immediately clubbed over the head.”
“You didn’t see who did it?”
“No. He was big though, strong.”
One of the officers came out into the hall. “Detective, we’re done photographing the lab.”
Pete nodded. “Okay Markham, go ahead and start looking for prints.”
“A lot of people work in there,” Sam said as she slipped past the officer.
“We’ll need you and everyone who has access to the lab to come in tomorrow for fingerprints.”
“Alright.”
“And the lab will have to be closed during the investigation.”
“What?!”
“You can’t do that,” Rodney said, jumping unsteadily to his feet.
Sam looked at him in confusion. “McKay?”
“Carter has important work to do. Shut her out now and you could wreck her project.”
Pete shrugged. “Sorry Sam, but I have a job to do too. We’ll try to have this done in a day or two. That’s the best I can do.”
Sam sighed. “Okay. Fine. Just, keep me informed, okay?”
“Anything,” Pete replied with a sad smile, before heading back into Sam’s lab.
“Thanks for sticking up for me, McKay,” Sam said.
Rodney appeared almost as confused by her thanks as she was. “With everything that’s going on, it doesn’t seem fair. Are you, uh, are you gonna be okay?”
“I can access all the research files over the network. It’s funny; all the monitors were smashed, but the computers themselves were untouched.”
“So our culprit is technology illiterate?” Rodney asked.
“Why are smashed monitors important?” Jack asked, shoving his hands into his pockets. Behind him, Daniel rolled his eyes.
“They can be easily replaced,” Sam said. “It’s the data on the hard drives that is invaluable.”
“With that still intact, Sam’s project hasn’t suffered any major setbacks,” McKay added.
“I have backups, as well.”
“Good.” McKay tried to shove his hands in his pockets, then winced and yanked the icepack in his hand back out. “Do you need a ride, Sam?”
Sam quickly slipped her hand through Jack’s arm. “I already have one.”
“Oh. Then, I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Jack looked down at Sam’s hand on his arm. “I don’t recall volunteering.”
“Sorry,” Sam said.
Jack smiled at her. “No problem.”
Rodney arrived in his lab in the morning to find Radek sitting at his workbench, reading the Langford Daily. “Why aren’t you in your office?”
“Good morning to you too, Rodney,” Radek replied. “How is your head?”
“It hurts.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Thanks. So, why are you here? It’s not like you have anything to work on in here.”
“There are eight people squeezed into my office right now.”
“Eight people can fit into such a small office?”
“No. But Sam has nowhere else to hold her research team’s meeting.”
“Right, since her lab was shut down. She’s scheduled to use the clean labs all day today and tomorrow, so it’s not a big deal for them to be shut out for a few days.”
Rodney fell silent after that, never a good sign in Radek’s eyes. “What are you thinking?”
“Could Sam have caused the damage to her own lab?”
“Rodney, that’s ridiculous.”
“Yeah, maybe, just hear me out. She sends one of her students, or one of her many fans, to smash things up. It’s front page news on the Daily,” Rodney pointed to Radek’s paper, “and wins her all kinds of sympathy with the board.”
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this.”
“It’s probably crazy, but we have to consider all the possibilities, right?”
Radek sighed. “Okay, it may be possible, but for your sake I hope it is not. Would you want it becoming known that you were beaten up by Jennifer Hailey?”
“I was not beaten up. I was clubbed from behind by a coward who didn’t dare face me.”
“That’s not how the Daily’s headline described it.”
“Maybe I should offer them an interview. How did they describe it?”
“They say the police found you huddle on the floor in the fetal position.”
“What?!” Rodney grabbed the newspaper from Radek. “’Scientists assaulted in laboratory break in’,” he read. “This doesn’t say anything about…”
Radek burst out laughing, and Rodney threw the newspaper at him.
“Real mature, Zelenka, mocking an injured man.”
“Well, considering the company I keep,” Radek shrugged, and turned back to his bench.
When a group of students stumbled out of Sam’s office, Pete Shanahan wondered if he ought to have brought a breathalyzer with him. Further observation convinced him that the group was merely suffering from a collection of stiff knees and backs. Leaning into Sam’s office he found her seated on her desk, where she had apparently held court over a very tightly packed meeting.
Sam noticed him after a moment. “Pete? Taking up golf?” she asked, noting the bent club in his hand.
He smiled at her and stepped into the office. “Stackhouse found this in the bushes outside the building last night. And there’s glass embedded in the club. We’ve matched it to your computer monitors.”
“Really?” Sam asked. “You can do that?”
Pete nodded. “Something about the glass properties. This has really made the department’s month; campus police don’t get to play CSI very often.”
“Why is it bent?” Sam asked.
Pete pointed to a dark spot on the bent section. “That’s blood. Whoever attacked McKay hit him with the middle of the shaft. Pretty clumsy, if you ask me.”
“Do you know who did it?”
“Yeah, I’m actually on my way to make an arrest.”
“I’m coming with you,” Sam said, jumping off the desk.
“No, Sam, this is a desperate, dangerous criminal, and I don’t know what could-“ Pete snickered, and lost his serious expression. “Okay, come on.”
He led Sam out of her office and through the building, to an office in the building’s basement.
“Felger?” Sam asked.
“Yes,” the professor’s voice carried out of the open door. He appeared there seconds later, smiling brightly. His expression fell slightly at the sight of Pete.
“Detective Shanahan, what brings you here.”
“I think this is yours,” Pete said, brandishing the golf club.
“I don’t play golf.”
“Obviously, but your fingerprints are all over the handle. You have the right to remain silent…” Pete pulled out his handcuffs, locking them on Felger’s wrists as he read the man his rights.
“Jay, why?” Sam asked.
“I wanted to make sure you got to stay here.”
“By smashing my lab?”
“I thought it would at least implicate McKay long enough to sway tomorrow’s board vote. I didn’t expect him to show up last night.”
“I knew it!”
Sam turned to see Rodney striding down the hall, a smug grin on his face.
“I knew your lab was smashed by one of your own drooling fanboys.”
“Hey!” Felger yelled. “I do not drool.”
“McKay, not now!” Sam hissed.
“And you’re actually making an arrest, I’m surprised. Sam doesn’t have you by the balls anymore, detective?”
“Get lost, McKay,” Pete ordered.
“Or what, you’ll arrest me too? That would look great for the board, wouldn’t it?” Rodney spun on his heel and marched away, scattering students in his wake.
“What is wrong with him?” Pete asked.
“You take care of him,” Sam said, nodding toward Felger. “I’ll deal with McKay.”
Pete glanced down at Sam’s clenched fists. “Sam, what are you about to do?”
“I think I need to talk to Harry Maybourne.”
Two lectures and six hours in the lab hardly reduced her anger. She was almost ready to head to the bar when a diet cola suddenly appeared in front of her.
She glanced up to see Radek smiling down at her. “Thanks,” she said, taking the can.
“Don’t be so mad at Rodney. He had just gotten bad news. The Japanese Naquadria project just announced an experiment they’ve conducted that will let them bring their reactor to market sooner than Rodney can with his. It’s over.”
“The board vote?”
“There is no longer any reason for them to consider Rodney’s Naquada reactor. They’ll vote unanimously for you tomorrow.”
“Thank you for that news, Radek.” Sam leaned back in her seat, smiling for the first time since the morning. “I’d feel sorry for Rodney, if I still didn’t want to kill him.”
“You may not have to. He is drowning his sorrows at The King’s right now.”
“I do feel sorry for Maybourne, then.”
“So do I,” Radek smiled. “Why don’t you head home? We have to meet the board at eight tomorrow morning.”
“Nine.”
“Hmm?”
“I was told the meeting to announce the board’s decision was at nine a.m.”
“Oh, yes, right. I guess I can sleep a little later tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll take your advice, though. Goodnight, Radek.”
“Goodnight, Sam.”
Sam walked into the conference center at 8:50, to find a sizeable crowd waiting outside the entrance to the main conference hall. Standing on her toes, she spotted a familiar bald head sticking out of the crowd near the hall’s entrance. “Teal’c. Daniel,” she called, working her way through the throng.
Teal’c smiled at her as she arrived. “Samantha. Good morning.”
“’Morning, Sam,” Daniel added. “How are you doing?”
“Good,” she quickly replied.
The two men exchanged a glance. “You haven’t heard?”
“Heard what?”
The conference hall doors opened, and Elizabeth Weir emerged. “Can I have your attention please?” she called, loud enough to be heard over the din. “The board is ready to announce its decision. Please come in and quickly find a seat.”
“This is quite a crowd.”
Sam turned to find Rodney next to her as she entered the hall. “Are you okay?”
Rodney grimaced, taking off the sunglasses he wore to reveal bloodshot eyes. “Never, ever drink tequila and vodka when you have to get up early.”
Inside the hall, President Hayes stood on stage at the lectern, watching the crowd file into the room. Six chairs sat in a row next to him, though the trustees were on the floor, mingling with the crowd.
Jack O’Neill appeared and quickly led Sam and Rodney to the center of the front row, where Jonas Quinn and John Sheppard quickly jumped up form the center seats. “We saved these for you,” Jack said. “Everything else is a free for all,” he added, stepping back and smiling as his friends jockeyed for position in the adjacent seats. Daniel ended up next to Sam, inexplicably muscling his way past Teal’c, while Elizabeth got John to give up the seat next to McKay.
Rodney leaned over and spoke quietly. “Listen, Sam, I would appreciate any input you’d be willing to give in the Naquadah reactor project.”
Sam frowned at him. “What are you talking about, McKay? I thought your project was about to be outdated.”
Rodney’s eyes widened. “You didn’t…” he winced and squeezed his oversensitive eyes shut. “You didn’t hear the news this morning? The Japanese experiment was a complete failure. They’re going back to the drawing board. The Naquadria design will probably never work.”
Hayes cleared his throat, quieting the crowd as the sound was amplified by the microphone. Jack and the other trustees hurried up to the stage, taking their seats.
“I’d like to thank you all for coming out this morning. It is exciting to see so many people at this university are so interested in the scientific advancements researched at this school.” Hayes smiled, and the crowd chuckled.
“When Professor Harold Langford founded this university, he imagined a place where the finest minds in science and the arts could come and pass their knowledge on to future generations. I think he would be proud to know that two of the world’s foremost scientists and innovators are working here today, and that the work done in the middle of a Nebraska cornfield will reshape the world.
“Before we announce the board’s decision, I’d like to thank Dean Elizabeth Weir and the team she assembled for their work in studying both projects, and giving a clear, concise analysis to the board. The ultimate result of both research programs will extend far beyond the scientific realm, and Doctor Weir’s team addressed that. Along with her legal and political expertise, the board received economic analysis from Doctor John Sheppard, social analysis from Doctor Jonas Quinn, as well as scientific answers from Doctor Radek Zelenka.”
Sam and Rodney both leaned forward to glare at Radek, who sat on the other side of John Sheppard. Radek slouched down in his seat, putting John between himself and two angry glares.
“Their input, along with information received this morning, guided the board’s decision. By a unanimous vote, the Board of Trustees has chosen to focus all of Langford University’s advanced projects funding to Doctor Rodney McKay’s Naquadah fuel cell project. Congratulations, Doctor.”
Applause broke out in the auditorium, and John reached past Elizabeth to give Rodney a light whack on the back of the head. Rodney winced and cursed under his breath, then stood and waved to the crowd behind him.
Schooling her features, Sam stood and offered her hand. “Congratulations, Rodney.”
Rodney took her hand and smiled, sincerely. “I meant what I said, Sam. You can be part of this.”
“Now, for out next order of business,” Hayes said, turning to the trustees. “Gentlemen?”
A brief, hushed debate broke out between Jack, George, and Jacob, and ended when the two older men pushed Jack to his feet and toward the lectern.
Jack tugged as his tie and cleared his throat as he approached. “Good morning.”
His eyes scanned the crowd, before finally settling on Sam. “I’m not really one for speeches. But I think President Hayes was right when he said we have two of today’s best scientists working here, and it would be a real shame if one of them is stifled because of something trivial like a lack of funding. Fortunately, some of us here,” he looked toward Jacob and George, “know a few other options.”
Jack picked up the blue folder he had carried and opened it. “Doctor Samantha Carter, the United States Air Force, under the DoD Advanced Technology Acquisition program, is hereby funding for your Trinium research program for the next three years, or until such time as you have a product ready for Air Force use.”
Jack smiled as a fresh round of applause broke out. “Congratulations, Doctor.” Glancing over at Hayes, Jack turned to address the crowd once more. “Okay, that’s it. You can leave now.”
As the crowd began moving for the exits, or to congratulate the two scientists, Rodney stood and offered his hand to Sam. “Congratulations, Samantha.”
“It looks like everybody wins,” Daniel said as Sam shook Rodney’s hand.
“Not quite,” Elizabeth said. “With the Air Force funding, we can make sure you both have sufficient lab space and personnel for your projects. But there’s still only one clean environment lab, and some other sophisticated equipment you’ll still have to share. Radek has been given the responsibility of making sure you both have equal, fair access to what you need, when you need it.”
“It sucks to be him,” John surmised.
Sam and Rodney glanced at each other, then at Radek, who still sat in his seat.
“He doesn’t deserve that sort of abuse,” Sam said.
“No he doesn’t,” Rodney agreed. “So, Carter, what are you doing Monday?"
“I’ll be in the clean lab most of the day.”
“Yeah?” McKay grinned. “Not if I ask Radek first!”
“No you don’t!” Sam yelled as Rodney sprinted forward. She reached out and grabbed his collar, pulling him back as she started forward.
Radek watched the children’s tussle with detached amusement.
The next few years were going to be hell.
That’s it. I’m done with this. And what better way to end a story, than to have nothing really changed? XD
Thank you to everyone who’s commented on this, I really enjoy hearing what you thought. Please, if anybody has and criticism, feel free to share. I would love to hear suggestions I can use to improve future stories (like that SG-1/Alias crossover that has stalled again).
Thanks again to Melyanna for starting this wonderful little universe, and everyone who has built upon it. I'm looking for to more great stories about Langford U, even the non Shep/Weir ones. ;)