audio | @e.weir

[justbeginning]

[ There's a moment of dead air first. Very brief, just long enough for a breath (a hesitation, possibly, it's all relative). Then: ]

Riverview Quarantine, this is Dr. Elizabeth Weir speaking. Now, you might be thinking that you don't know me. [ Her tone warms. ] Don't worry; the feeling's mutual. Since I've been very generously offered the position of public representative to the government of Riverview, making some introductions felt pretty prudent.

[ There's the slightest bit of emphasis on generously: not quite sarcastic, not entirely sincere. She pauses briefly. ]

I'll be honest and say I really don't plan on being in this city long-term. If they make the right calibrations to send me home, I'm gonna take that opportunity. But for however long I am here? My job is to make sure we're all heard and that our needs are met. I'll be representing all of you. And I don't intend to take that responsibility lightly.

So, you can-- consider my door open. [ Elizabeth seems pretty optimistic about that, at least? ] Unless the paperwork was misleading, that should be half the point of the job.

Comments

[justbeginning]

A different sort, I'm afraid. I never quite had the stomach for medical science. [ She offers a smile of her own. ] I went into political science. Which, of course, has a way of pushing my limits almost as badly.

[dancingmd]

[She chuckles.]

And I, in turn, am terrible at politics.

Dr. Beverly Crusher. The medical kind.

[justbeginning]

Pleasure to meet you, Doctor. Are you set up with the Perimeter Guard or with the hospital proper?

[dancingmd]

The hospital, though I'm certainly willing to help the Guard when needed.

[justbeginning]

Most military types I know have a habit of needing extra help before too long.

[dancingmd]

[The corner of her mouth twitches, just a little.]

That's true in my experience as well.

[justbeginning]

Have you been here long, Dr. Crusher? If you don't mind my asking.

[dancingmd]

[She shakes her head.]

I don't mind. It's been almost a year, now.

[justbeginning]

[ Elizabeth's eyebrows rise before she can think to keep a more neutral expression. ]

That's one of the longest I've heard.

[dancingmd]

Five years is the longest, I believe. After that, if passage back through the portal hasn't been secured, you're moved to the planet below.

[justbeginning]

Quite frankly, I'm planning not to make it to that point.

[ Five years. Long enough to build a life. More than enough, really. Long enough to grieve the old one. Atlantis felt like home in far less than that.

In theory, Elizabeth knows that she could do it here, with all that time, if she had to. The thought of having to is terrifying. ]

I hope everyone who has has made peace with it beforehand.

[dancingmd]

I'm not either. I have a son to get back to.

[She's also just been here long enough to know that the process of directing the portal is complicated and will take longer than anyone would like, the scientists working on it included.

[justbeginning]

[ Ah. ]

I'm sorry to hear you've been separated from him.

[dancingmd]

It's been difficult but I have to believe this won't last forever.