Beyond The Glowing Whirlpool

Chapter 7: THE SHARD

Stacie aimlessly shuffled from table to table collecting dishes, very dazed from her encounter with a Satteran man. She couldn't get his piercing gaze out of her head as he said her name. And it sent chills through her body every time it echoed back in her mind with the starkness of his voice. She couldn't help but wonder with concern, what's going to happen now. As an earthling and a new recruit in the Atlantis, she felt she was out of line and acted inappropriately for her position. And especially before a Satteran. If her superiors hear about this, she'd be in huge trouble, if not kicked out of the "P.O." project. 

"Ugh... Me and my big mouth" She kept wincing, internally kicking herself in the gut. "Why couldn't I have just bit my tongue? How am I going to face them now? And what if the captain finds out? I'll be lectured for sure! If... I'm lucky... That is..."

-Are you alright, Stacie? - A sudden voice behind her made her jump.

-Oh... Mr. Stephen! You startled me. - She said turning to face him - I didn't hear you come up.

-That's because I am a ninja! - He made a funny, clumsy strike gesture with his hands. - It's because you are very distracted. - He then gave her a more serious look.

Mr. Stephen Tatsuo was a fatherly-looking, in his early fifties born in America Japanese man. He spoke with a very faint yet still noticeable Japanese accent, giving away his bond to his family background. He was an excellent chef, but cooking wasn't his actual profession. He was an engineer, and one of the original scientists, who discovered the stargate. Food was just a hobby for him ever since he was young, and he loved cooking for others, impressing them with the most delicious flavors, and so he volunteered to be the chef for the crew stationed in Atlantis and has been running the dining hall ever since, along with his engineering duties.

-Are you feeling jumpy because you dared to level with a Satteran, or because that Satteran turned out to be a very attractive young man? - He winked at her teasingly.

-So, you heard everything then, haven't you... - Stacie dropped her burning with embarrassment face - Sigh... I know what you're going to say... I was being very foolish...

-Oh, don't be so hard on yourself. - He gently and fatherly lifted her face up. - You are honest and brave. And not willing to trample over your honor to grovel at someone else's feet. Those traits are very admirable in my culture. - He smiled making his eyes turn into two thin crescent moons. - I am sure that man felt that too. That is why he wanted you to know his name.

-You think? - She looked unsurely at him.

-Satterans are very proud. And they have the right to be because they are very powerful and influential. They are feared and respected by everyone in this entire part of the galaxy and beyond. Their fearsome reputation spreads far and wide.

-How is telling me that, meant to make me feel better, Mr. Stephen? - She returned with a worried look.

-Because those Satterans are also very civilized. They pride themselves on their superior diplomatic tactics. They are powerful but they do not a***e their power. I'd say they are actually very wise. The one thing they can't stand even more than someone being a weakling, it's when that weakling grovels at their feet. They respect integrity. Do not make the mistake of using the conceitedness of one bitter man, to prejudge an entire nation based on that. Most do. And that's why they fear them. And I don't believe you are that type of person. - He winked at her.

-You seem to know so much about them, Mr. Stephen.

-You can learn quite a lot if you keep an open mind, child.

-So then... You don't think I'm in trouble? - She looked at him with worry.

-On the contrary, I think you intrigued him. - He laughed.

-Please, Mr. Stephen. Don't joke like that.

-I am not joking. That man, he is a warrior, that bears the title of a Lord, and the crown prince's right hand. He never leaves his side. While the prince is more social and civil, this man is very stern. I have never heard him talk as much as he did today. Usually, he repels everyone with barely a few words, but with you, he indulged in a full-on conversation. He must like you. - Laughed Mr. Stephen.

-That's not funny, Mr. Stephen. I think it's because he was amused by how senseless I was being. I made a total fool out of myself. And now I got to find a way to lay low from now on.

-I think that is too late for that. You stood out the moment you got here. Because you are quite a unique, child. - He gave her a cryptic look. - Well, we are what we are after all, and gotta do our best with what we've got. Aren't we? - He winked at her, quoting her own words. - It's been a long day for you. Go get some rest. You have been working really hard on your assignments, especially on the translation of that shard. - He added, taking the dirty dishes she was holding, from her.

-But... I haven't finished cleaning up yet... - She protested in dismay.

-It's okay, don't worry about it. there's very little left because you did most of it. I will finish up.

-But... uh...

-You need the time to work on that shard. I do not want you to stay up all night and show up all tired for tomorrow's shift again. Now, go.

-Thank you, Mr. Stephen. - She smiled gratefully giving in, figuring there is no point in arguing with him.

He nodded and started making his way to the back of the room, then he suddenly paused, and turned to Stacie.

-Actually, go ahead and take a day off tomorrow, to work on your project.

Surprised, Stacie blinked at him.

-I will talk to the captain about someone else replacing you tomorrow. That shard is important. We need all the information we can get, as soon as we can get it. We are running out of time.

-Thank you, sir. - Stacie replied with a slight bow of her head - I will do my very best. Goodnight.

-Goodnight Stacie. - He returned - And don't stay up, you hear? Work on it tomorrow.

-Alright, Mr. Stephen. - Laughed Stacie leaving the dining hall.

-Don't stay up. - He repeated himself with a stern look. - Sleep.

-I won't. - She promised with a grin.

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Early the next morning.

-Here you go. - Mr. Stephen placed a plate full of luscious-looking waffles dripping with fragrant syrup before Stacie, scooting away some of the paperwork she scattered all over the table in the dining hall, to clear some room for her breakfast. - You stayed up late last night again, didn't you? - He gave her a scolding look.

-Is it really that obvious? - She looked back at him with dark circles under her eyes, holding on to a hot cup of black coffee as if for dear life.

-Sigh... - He exhaled. - You are going to work yourself straight into the grave if you keep this up. And that caffeine of yours is only going to speed it up.   

-Well, what else was I supposed to do, when I just couldn't fall asleep because of that man. - She whimpered with a pout. 

-Ah yes. A very attractive young Satteran Lord, with eyes that are able to conquer thousands! That kept burning in your head, making the blood rush through your body, preventing you from falling asleep. - He dramatically stated with a twinkle in his eyes. 

-Mr. Stephen! Stop joking like that. - Returned Stacie with a laugh, turning red. - You know I have to face them soon, to present my findings on this shard. I just feel really worried about how will I do that, after making a complete fool out of myself. And also, will I be able to get this done in time?

-Worrying about things that can not be undone has never helped anyone yet. What makes you think it will help you get it done any faster? Or that lack of sleep can make you do your job any better? Do you think you're that special?

-Sigh... I know that... - She grumbled, rubbing her face with her hands. - But trying to force me to fall asleep isn't exactly working either. 

-At least eat your breakfast. Don't go starving yourself as well. - He gestured to her plate. 

-Thank you, Mr. Stephen. They do look delicious, and I am hungry! - She picked up the utensils and dug right in.

-And no more working late nights as of today. Or I'm going to sic Janice after you with a tranquilizer. And believe me, she'll do it! - He tried to make a serious expression.

-Alright, I'll do my best. - She laughed in reply.

Mr. Stephen shook his head with a chuckle. He knew this girl all too well to reproach her by now. No matter what you say, once she gets passionate about something, she dives head into it. And to be the first person to show up in the dining hall with her entire project-load barely the sun up is proof of that.

-So, any progress on the translation of the runestone?

-Actually yeah. I finally finished converting all the ancients script into Latin lettering. Now I just have to run it through the new software I installed into my tablet to analyze it word by word. And this may take a while ... - She sighed, looking at her tablet.

-Well, I think you are doing a great job. Good luck. - He patted her arm and went back to his duties.

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Stacie studied the fragment very thoroughly while she waited for the software to do its job, in hopes to understand where it came from or to get any clues what its function was, but couldn't make out what exactly it broke off of because it was quite small and seemed very random. She couldn't wrap her head around why would such an advanced race as the ancients, use a stone for engraving? What purpose did it serve them? Hopefully, the writing on it will give her some clues.

-Hey Stee! - A cheery voice interrupted her focus.

Stacie lifted her head up to see Janice, Laura, and Daniel come up to her table.

-Oh hey, guys! - She replied with a smile. - It is rare to see practically an entire medical staff in here all at once! - She teased. - Here to grab some grub before emergencies start rolling in?

Laura Yanik and Daniel Smith were Janice's assistants. Danny was a second medical specialist, while Laura was more of a chemist. She was recruited straight from Poland for being the top chemistry scientist with multiple specialties, including in the medical and psychiatric fields. She was tall, practically a model-like-looking woman in her mid-thirties, with green eyes and platinum blonde, long hair, which she usually braided. Since she's studied abroad a lot, she spoke very good English, though still had that distinctive Slavic accent. Danny was somewhere in his late thirties, Taxes born with Irish roots, which you could recognize in his covered in freckles face, bright red, curly hair, and beard.  

-Well, gotta grab hold of the chances while you can, you know. - Replied Janice - So, I see you never take a break, do you?

-I Don't think Stacie even knows what a brake is? - Said, Laura teasingly.

-No. Probably not. - Agreed Janice.

-Hey, I gotta get this done! - Replied Stacie defensively - The Satterans are coming in a couple of days and the captain expects me to have some information on this thing ready by then. - She turned the shard back and forth in her hand. - And I still ain't got a clue what it is. This is a tough one. - She sighed.

-Woah, no pressure huh? - Said, Danny.

-Hey, if anyone can do it, it's you. You're the smartest one here when it comes to dealing with all this ancient stuff.

-You really mean to say nerdiest. Be honest Janice. - Stacie c****d one eyebrow at her.

-Oh but a very cute nerd! - Added Laura, while Janice laughed.

-Gee, thanks. I'm flattered. - She returned sarcastically.

-Well, to be fair, you are bookish. You gotta admit that. - Said Danni. - But not in a bad way. Plus, all the languages you know, it's crazy!

-Speaking of, how's Atlantian language learning going for you? - Asked Janice.

-Pretty well actually. - Said Stacie. - It's so fascinating! I've already learned enough to understand some basics. I just hope that we find more ancients data for me to assess and expand my vocabulary.

-I still can't wrap my head around how you could pick up on it so quickly in just one month of being here. - Said, Danny. - You truly got some mad skills in linguistics.

-Well, I actually started picking up on it while still back on Earth, in college, when they put me through that special program and had me working on some Atlantian stuff. Except, I didn't know It was Atlantian back then. I thought I was learning ancient Inca* or something. - She replied - It's oddly similar in a way...

-Still, you're pretty amazing. All I see when I look at this stuff is just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo. - Said, Laura.

-To each its own. - Replied Stacie with a chuckle - And that's exactly what I see when I look at chemical charts and formulas.

-Yeah, you're right. - Replied Laura.

-Heh, looks like we're all nerds here to some extent. - Laughed Danny.

-Well, we best go get some of those scrumptious waffles before they grow legs. - Said Janice, noticing how the room was starting to fill up.

-Oh yeah. They go fast so you better hurry. - Replied Stacie, scuffing down her share.

Inca* - South American Indians who, at the time of the Spanish conquest in 1532 ruled an empire that extended along the Pacific coast and Andean highlands from the northern border of modern Ecuador to the Maule River in central Chile.