[Series] Clarity in Disguise: Decommissioning Day - Part Two
Title: Clarity in Disguise
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part Two
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Laura Roslin noticed that the second part of his speech came directly from his heart, and was touched by it. She started to clap, since no one else did, and everybody followed en suite. She could swear she saw the Commander gave her a faint smile when she put her hands together. He returned silently to his seat, and she saw his XO mumble something in his ear.
“You are one surprising son of a bitch, Bill. Trying to scare someone off?”
“What do you mean, Tigh?” said Adama in astonishment.
“A certain Secretary of Education, maybe?” said Saul with a grin, “The last two days you’ve been rambling along about how you have to babysit her today, and that you hated it.”
Bill looked at Saul with a face which clearly said: “Shut the frak up”, since the lady in question sat only a few seats away, but Saul being Saul, he prodded a bit further now he got some bait.
“But seriously, Bill, have you seen her legs yet? I know what I would do if I hadn’t had Ell…”
“That’s enough, Saul!” Bill interrupted in a hushed growl, so that he wouldn’t draw too much attention.
Bill knew he was caught by the satisfied grin on his XO’s face. Saul knew him better than he knew himself in this department, ever since they became friends after the first Cylon War. Saul knew Bill liked her. Bill just didn’t know how much. The only thing he did know, that Saul was not going to give him a moment’s peace the next few weeks.
The ceremony eventually ended, and everybody rose from their seats to either return to their ships, or return back to duty. Laura, still impressed by the ceremony, wasted no time to walk to Adama, start a conversation and try to get another glimpse of that smile she could swear he gave her at the end of his speech.
“That was quite a speech, Commander” said Laura, giving him one of her smiles, “you’ve given everyone a lot to think about.”
Bill returned her a smile. The same smile Laura was hoping for, much to her satisfaction. During the rest of the ceremony after Adama’s speech, Laura spent some time with her thoughts, thinking about what to do with the few remaining days of her life. Inspired by a nice voice, she came to the conclusion to live her life while she still could. Her mother drowned herself in self-pity, which could very well have increased her deterioration rate. Laura promised to herself that she would not suffer the same faith as her mother. Although she couldn’t change the outcome, her impending death, she could defer from her mother’s faith to try to make the best of it, by starting with searching for and creating at least one good moment a day. William Adama’s smile would be the good moment of this day.
“Thank you, Madame Secretary. Shall I escort you back to your ship?”
“Well, actually, I was hoping you could give me a grand tour of your Battlestar?” Laura said, and hurriedly added, “At your convenience of course.”
Bill, surprised at first, accepted: “I’d be happy to oblige, but it’ll have to be tomorrow, if that’s alright with you. My schedule for today is already overloaded. I can arrange some guest quarters for you.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Commander.” she said with a twinkle in her eyes, which was not unnoticed by Adama.
“Not at all. If you will excuse me, I have an appointment in five. I’ll send someone to bring you to your quarters.” said Bill a bit harsh, not knowing where to look.
Before Laura could say anything else, Bill had already turned and was walking away to his next appointment. She saw him mumble something to a marine, who then started to walk towards her.
What just happened? Why did he act as if he had seen a ghost? What did I do?
She was still pondering about those questions when the marine addressed her. She said they had to make a detour first, to retrieve her belongings she left on the transport ship. After informing Billy that she will stay on Galactica another day, and saying him goodbye, she finally made her way to the guest quarters.
The first thing she noticed when she opened the hatch, was a pack of clothes on the table in the middle of the room. Upon closer inspection, Laura found out that the pack contained sleeping wear, underwear, and normal wear, and of course, all military issue.
How thoughtful… Nice thinking, Commander.
Meanwhile, Bill was pacing up and down his quarters. Although he told Laura Roslin he had a busy schedule, nothing could be more false. He panicked when he saw that her emerald green eyes started to twinkle when he promised her a grand tour. It was too much. First Saul’s eye-opener that he, William Adama, really liked her, and then her gorgeous twinkling eyes directed at him, which he interpreted as that she liked him as much as he liked her…
He bolted. He could battle Cylons, command a Battlestar, but this…
Ever since his failed marriage to Carolanne, he shied away when he noticed that women took an interest in him. But this was different. This was the first time since his failed marriage, that he took an interest in a woman. Long forgotten feelings bubbled up to the surface once again, feelings which he forgot he could have.
Bill wondered if he should accept his feelings, and see where this would lead him. After all, he was retiring in a week, and he wasn’t planning on spending the rest of his life alone. Of course, he would see Saul and his wife Ellen frequently, but that wasn’t enough. Would it be enough for anyone, he wondered?
After a nice but lonely diner, Laura went to bed early. It had been an eventful and tiring day, and she didn’t have a book to read, which she normally did before going to sleep. Sleep came to her quick that night, though it wasn’t a comfortable one, not at all.
Laura woke up at 7.00AM, drowned in sweat. It had been a terrible night. A nightmare had held her captive, an almost lucid one. There was not much that she remembered, but one of the things she did remember, was that the Cylons had returned, after forty years of absence, and had nuked and destroyed the twelve colonies.
My gods, what a dream, and I haven’t even started with Chamalla yet! That’s going to be fun…Hmm, I could swear that Adama was also somehow involved, as was a young handsome pilot with exactly the same piercing blue eyes as him. And something about my being sworn in, as President, maybe? No, no, that’s probably another nightmare, hah!
Well never mind, I should probably be getting ready for the “grand” tour…
Laura quickly showered and had breakfast, when she realized that they hadn’t picked a place and time to start the tour, and she had absolutely no idea of how late the military usually get up in the morning, only that it was early. So she took her chances and opened the hatch, planning to ask someone of the crew the way to the Commander’s quarters, when she was surprised by seeing the same marine who led her to her quarters, standing next to the hatch. Before she could even speak, the marine told her that he was to guide her to the commander’s quarters. Laura, relieved at this news, followed the marine until they reached a hatch with the text “Commander’s Quarters” on it.
The marine left to continue his duties, while she knocked on the hatch.
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part Two
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Laura Roslin noticed that the second part of his speech came directly from his heart, and was touched by it. She started to clap, since no one else did, and everybody followed en suite. She could swear she saw the Commander gave her a faint smile when she put her hands together. He returned silently to his seat, and she saw his XO mumble something in his ear.
“You are one surprising son of a bitch, Bill. Trying to scare someone off?”
“What do you mean, Tigh?” said Adama in astonishment.
“A certain Secretary of Education, maybe?” said Saul with a grin, “The last two days you’ve been rambling along about how you have to babysit her today, and that you hated it.”
Bill looked at Saul with a face which clearly said: “Shut the frak up”, since the lady in question sat only a few seats away, but Saul being Saul, he prodded a bit further now he got some bait.
“But seriously, Bill, have you seen her legs yet? I know what I would do if I hadn’t had Ell…”
“That’s enough, Saul!” Bill interrupted in a hushed growl, so that he wouldn’t draw too much attention.
Bill knew he was caught by the satisfied grin on his XO’s face. Saul knew him better than he knew himself in this department, ever since they became friends after the first Cylon War. Saul knew Bill liked her. Bill just didn’t know how much. The only thing he did know, that Saul was not going to give him a moment’s peace the next few weeks.
The ceremony eventually ended, and everybody rose from their seats to either return to their ships, or return back to duty. Laura, still impressed by the ceremony, wasted no time to walk to Adama, start a conversation and try to get another glimpse of that smile she could swear he gave her at the end of his speech.
“That was quite a speech, Commander” said Laura, giving him one of her smiles, “you’ve given everyone a lot to think about.”
Bill returned her a smile. The same smile Laura was hoping for, much to her satisfaction. During the rest of the ceremony after Adama’s speech, Laura spent some time with her thoughts, thinking about what to do with the few remaining days of her life. Inspired by a nice voice, she came to the conclusion to live her life while she still could. Her mother drowned herself in self-pity, which could very well have increased her deterioration rate. Laura promised to herself that she would not suffer the same faith as her mother. Although she couldn’t change the outcome, her impending death, she could defer from her mother’s faith to try to make the best of it, by starting with searching for and creating at least one good moment a day. William Adama’s smile would be the good moment of this day.
“Thank you, Madame Secretary. Shall I escort you back to your ship?”
“Well, actually, I was hoping you could give me a grand tour of your Battlestar?” Laura said, and hurriedly added, “At your convenience of course.”
Bill, surprised at first, accepted: “I’d be happy to oblige, but it’ll have to be tomorrow, if that’s alright with you. My schedule for today is already overloaded. I can arrange some guest quarters for you.”
“Thank you for your trouble, Commander.” she said with a twinkle in her eyes, which was not unnoticed by Adama.
“Not at all. If you will excuse me, I have an appointment in five. I’ll send someone to bring you to your quarters.” said Bill a bit harsh, not knowing where to look.
Before Laura could say anything else, Bill had already turned and was walking away to his next appointment. She saw him mumble something to a marine, who then started to walk towards her.
What just happened? Why did he act as if he had seen a ghost? What did I do?
She was still pondering about those questions when the marine addressed her. She said they had to make a detour first, to retrieve her belongings she left on the transport ship. After informing Billy that she will stay on Galactica another day, and saying him goodbye, she finally made her way to the guest quarters.
The first thing she noticed when she opened the hatch, was a pack of clothes on the table in the middle of the room. Upon closer inspection, Laura found out that the pack contained sleeping wear, underwear, and normal wear, and of course, all military issue.
How thoughtful… Nice thinking, Commander.
Meanwhile, Bill was pacing up and down his quarters. Although he told Laura Roslin he had a busy schedule, nothing could be more false. He panicked when he saw that her emerald green eyes started to twinkle when he promised her a grand tour. It was too much. First Saul’s eye-opener that he, William Adama, really liked her, and then her gorgeous twinkling eyes directed at him, which he interpreted as that she liked him as much as he liked her…
He bolted. He could battle Cylons, command a Battlestar, but this…
Ever since his failed marriage to Carolanne, he shied away when he noticed that women took an interest in him. But this was different. This was the first time since his failed marriage, that he took an interest in a woman. Long forgotten feelings bubbled up to the surface once again, feelings which he forgot he could have.
Bill wondered if he should accept his feelings, and see where this would lead him. After all, he was retiring in a week, and he wasn’t planning on spending the rest of his life alone. Of course, he would see Saul and his wife Ellen frequently, but that wasn’t enough. Would it be enough for anyone, he wondered?
After a nice but lonely diner, Laura went to bed early. It had been an eventful and tiring day, and she didn’t have a book to read, which she normally did before going to sleep. Sleep came to her quick that night, though it wasn’t a comfortable one, not at all.
Laura woke up at 7.00AM, drowned in sweat. It had been a terrible night. A nightmare had held her captive, an almost lucid one. There was not much that she remembered, but one of the things she did remember, was that the Cylons had returned, after forty years of absence, and had nuked and destroyed the twelve colonies.
My gods, what a dream, and I haven’t even started with Chamalla yet! That’s going to be fun…Hmm, I could swear that Adama was also somehow involved, as was a young handsome pilot with exactly the same piercing blue eyes as him. And something about my being sworn in, as President, maybe? No, no, that’s probably another nightmare, hah!
Well never mind, I should probably be getting ready for the “grand” tour…
Laura quickly showered and had breakfast, when she realized that they hadn’t picked a place and time to start the tour, and she had absolutely no idea of how late the military usually get up in the morning, only that it was early. So she took her chances and opened the hatch, planning to ask someone of the crew the way to the Commander’s quarters, when she was surprised by seeing the same marine who led her to her quarters, standing next to the hatch. Before she could even speak, the marine told her that he was to guide her to the commander’s quarters. Laura, relieved at this news, followed the marine until they reached a hatch with the text “Commander’s Quarters” on it.
The marine left to continue his duties, while she knocked on the hatch.