Comments | sga_flashfic: Unified Field Theory by Melannen

melannen in sga_flashfic

Unified Field Theory by Melannen

Apr 06, 2005 20:12

Title: Unified Field Theory
Author: melannen
Gen, ~900 words.
Summary: John Sheppard leads a team.
Notes: Um, Hi! Written in 38 min + a quick spellcheck,
so you'll forgive me for the scientific errors, right?
I'm sure Dr. McKay will. Eventually.

( Stargazing? )

challenge: 38 minutes, author: melannen

Comments 43

Ooh! maisierita April 7 2005, 01:13:07 UTC

Ooh! You hit a kink! Smart!Shep!!!! :) And actually, it's even better, because it's Smart!Philosophical!Shep!

"Well, weak and strong forces are what keep things with the same charge together despite that. So they're what keep the nuclei of atoms from exploding apart, but they only work over really, really tiny distances, so we don't notice them, even though they're what makes matter exist. Actually, if you get really into this stuff, it turns out that weak and strong force and electricity and magnetism are really the same force, they just-- I dunno, they just use it differently. I'd say McKay could explain, except he'd probably just confuse us both. But they're what make things happen-- they're why *matter* exists the way it does. And since the good Doctor over there hasn't worked out a Grand Unified Theory yet, gravity doesn't -- fit in with the others, 'cause all it does is make things fall. The other forces, they're different, because they can make things fall *and* come back up. That's why I have no problem with being so small ( ... )

Re: Ooh! melannen April 7 2005, 01:17:36 UTC

Well, yeah, much of it matches my own philosophy, slightly tweaked for the characters and place, of course. The *fic* idea came from trying to imagine Rodney stargazing.

I *love* the level of science geekery in this fandom.

zortified April 7 2005, 01:13:30 UTC

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Poor McKay, the things he has to put up with. Wraith and stargates and lack of ZPMs isn't enough, he has to unlearn Ford of everything Sheppard teaches him.

Wheee! Fun.

melannen April 7 2005, 01:20:20 UTC

I *know*. I mean, for the last few years he's been able to live among his own kind, and now he has to spend half his time on a *military* team. And it's even worse when they think they know what they're talking about, of course. Poor McKay! Yay fun!

grey_bard April 7 2005, 01:13:59 UTC

Heh. I love how, from Ford's perspective, it looks like McKay is dismissing him, while the end reveals that McKay's trying to be accurate and just assumes that eventually he'll get around to teaching Ford physics.

Also, Sheppard could be the perfect bridge between the military and scientific parts of the expedition, if he ever figures out that it's needed. Such charming explanations!

melannen April 7 2005, 01:23:39 UTC

Yes! Thank you! I didn't think of any of that about Sheppard being the bridge and McKay and teaching until *after* the story had been written, of course, at which point I was amazed at how deep I was.

davechicken April 7 2005, 01:19:35 UTC

I always loved that about science. We teach you this. And now we teach you we lied! Hah!

That said, the arts do the same. Hrrrm.

Cute little smart!Shep. And yey, Ford!

Really nice piece :)

melannen April 7 2005, 01:32:37 UTC

thank you!

We need more Ford. Particularly with McKay. Because he's such a little geek in his own way, which involves having at least a bachelor's degree, but not having any patience with prime numbers, but still being standout smart enough to qualify for the SGC, and volunteering to go on a no-return mission babysitting a bunch of crazy eggheads.

But when I tried to put them together for too long, it got very scary. They need a Smart!Shep in the middle. (Take that as you will.)

davechicken April 7 2005, 01:34:27 UTC

Ford is woefully underdeveloped by canon, which irritates me, because they could do much more with him than they do.

So it's nice if he actually, you know, gets a PERSONALITY sometimes. *eyeroll*

Heh. Which is why I like yours. *pets him*

melannen April 7 2005, 01:46:07 UTC

Yes. Him and Teyla both. They're great characters, and they have chemistry with the others, if only they got to do something *interesting* once in a while.

While writing that reply I got a sudden urge to write up Ford's kobayashi maru-- er, I mean, final Stargate training exercise, that is, a la "Proving Ground". Come to think of it, from what we know of Athosian culture, Teyla probably had to go through a similar rite of passage... hmm.

Thread 11

tigs April 7 2005, 01:27:50 UTC

This was great. Love the sciencey aspects, and the smart!Sheppard with his ideas, and Rodney's reactions--the last line especially.

And huh, now I'm thinking about Rodney stargazing. I think you got just about the right spin on it, because he really wouldn't, would he?

melannen April 7 2005, 01:36:36 UTC

Thanks! I greatly enjoy Rodney's voice.

I think that it's possible that a person who had his respect and a whole lot of patience could talk him into trying it. Like Sheppard. Or Weir. And it would be very cute. But under standard conditions, no, he wouldn't. He's been convinced that he has no sense of art, right?