"Dr. Weir? I found something interesting here!"
"Well, I'm sure you did. There's hardly anything that's not interesting about this place." She replied beaming at McCay. "What is it?"
He opened his hand, revealing something that looked like some kind of metal ear-plug.
"Actually, I'm not quite sure, but it looks like some kind of a radio communication system. Seems as if you just stick it into your ear and... my guess is it's mind controlled as well and you can get into contact with the person you like to."
"That would be a bit like telepathy wouldn't it?"
"Well, yes, now you mention it... like some technical enhanced telepathy. I'd love to try it."
"So you'd want everybody to know your thoughts?" She asked with a smirk.
"Well, no, but there must be some, some kind of mechanism to shut it on and off - "
"Whatever it is - it would be no use to us as it probably only works with the people with the gene. Excuse me, Doctor, but there is so much I have to see!"
She left the room leaving him standing there staring at his hand. Why not try it? Wouldn't do any harm, would it? It's mind controlled after all. He'd have to find someone with the gene.
He looked up, seeing a Chinese girl with big glasses passing by. "Hey, you!"
"yes?" She stopped dead, smiling shyly.
"You're one of those with the gene, aren't you?"
"well... it does not work with me so well" she answered modestly in a very girly voice and a definite Chinese accent.
"Well that's ok then. I need you to try this."
"Try what, doctor?"
"It's for your ear, you'll be able to communicate with others via radio. This would be very useful on missions."
"Is it safe?"
"Yes, I think it is, it is mind controlled so if you don't want it anymore you just stop using it."
"I will try then."
Carefully she took the little device hesitantly she lifted her hand up to her ear.
Putting it in she suddenly started to scream pressing her fingers against her ear. But then her features relaxed and she sank to the floor.
Dr. Weir came rushing into the room and checked for her pulse immediately. "Dr. Beckett, report to the control room at once!"
Angry she looked at Rodney who seemed confused or even a little shocked. "What in God's name happened here?"
Suddenly the girl opened her eyes. Dr. Weir's attention was drawn to her immediately "How are you feeling?"
"I'm ok. I didn't know you spoke Chinese?" she asked, puzzled. Taken aback Dr. Weir said: "Well, I don't. What makes you think so?" "But you do speak Chinese!"
Rodney smiled that arrogant smile of his. "I think I can explain. It's a universal translator, not a radio communication device. It must work through - " he was inter
Dr. Weir stared at him in disbelieve: "You made her try this thing? What kind of man are you? Don't you ever make others try uncertain devices again, do you hear me?"
She was down right angry.
"But it's alright! It worked" the girl interrupted.
Rodney, who seemed to be oblivious to what he just had done beamed.
"Think of what this means! We won't have any problems communicating with the people of this galaxy! I found a whole box full of these little plugs, we just have to - "
"We will discuss this as soon as there's need for this." Her voice sounded very cold, and she walked out of the room
Of course in the end everyone of them got one of the little ear-plugs. The gene wasn't needed for this device so -
And this is the story about why everyone in this galaxy so far away speaks English though they had never had contact with any English-speaking people ever.
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