[Series] Clarity in Disguise: Decommissioning Day - Part One
Title: Clarity in Disguise
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part One
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Her heart returned to a slower beat, though her blood pressure remained high. She left the bathroom and returned to her seat. She was en route to Battlestar Galactica, for the decommissioning. Galactica would turn into a learning environment for students, and as Secretary of Education, Laura Roslin had to be present at the decommissioning. But all she wanted right now was to creep back into bed, shutting out all the light, and stay locked up for a few days.
How could this happen to me? Why did this happen to me?
This morning she found out she has breast cancer. Not terminal, but still, she would have to get Diloxin treatments. That thought alone could make her barf. She had seen the effects of Diloxin before. Her mother looked pale, miserable and one minute away of instant death, and that sight had never left Laura. Though her mother struggled, and was told that it was not terminal, she still died. What if Laura turned out to have the same fate as her mother?
Laura, after barfing in the bathroom, just went emotionally numb. No more thoughts, no more worries. She was going to die, the end. She didn’t even notice her aide Billy talking to her.
“Ms Roslin? Are you alright?” Billy asked with a stutter.
“Oh, Billy”, she said while trying to focus her attention to the present, “Yes, is there something wrong?”
“No, everything’s alright, it’s just that we’ve arrived on Galactica. Commander Adama is waiting for you.”
“Ah yes, Commander William Adama. Let’s get this over with, then.” she said with a sigh.
Billy noticed that she was not behaving as herself today, and he was worried by it. He hadn’t been her assistant for a very long time, but he certainly could notice something was wrong. He wouldn’t bother her with his findings, at least for now.
Commander William Adama was already waiting for Laura Roslin in the hangar bay, when she finally appeared. His day already started terrible, no hot shower and not even to mention the decommissioning itself, but did she really have to step out of the transport ship as one of the last people and keep him waiting?
Those frakking politicians always think way too high about themselves. I’d say, go and command a Battlestar for a day, let’s see if you still have the nerves to sit on your high horses.
Much to Adama’s surprise, Laura Roslin didn’t seem like an arrogant politician. She actually looked like she had some sense in her, and that she was gentle, though a little confused. How could such a woman survive politics? Of course, he couldn’t know she just gave up on life this morning, her life to be exact. He started to walk towards her as Roslin noticed him and started to walk up to him.
“Good morning, Madame Secretary”, he said with as much friendliness he could conjure up at the moment as he reached out his hand, “I’m Commander William Adama and I welcome you aboard my ship.”
“Thank you, Commander”, Roslin said while shaking his hand, “I’m Laura Roslin, it’s very nice to meet you. I assume we’ll be going to the decommissioning ceremony at once?”
“Yes that’s correct. We’re already running a bit late, so we should really get going. The ceremony is on the Observation Deck.” He already wanted to offer his arm, but noticed suddenly a man standing behind Laura Roslin. “Excuse me,” Adama said a bit authoritatively looking at Billy, “are you Ms Roslin’s aide?”
“Yes, yes I am”, Billy said a bit apprehensive, “Billy Keikeya, nice to meet you sir.”
“Oops, I’m sorry Billy”, Roslin said with a bit of a shock, “I’ve got a bit of a headache. Commander, we’re, uhm, ready to go to the Observation deck.”
“Are you sure? Do you need to refresh yourself a bit in one of the guest quarters? I guess we can postpone the decommissioning for a few minutes. ” Adama asked with some concern. At least his suspicions were correct, she was confused.
“No, no Commander, it’s alright. Just, let’s… go.”
He shrugged and offered his arm, which was thankfully taken by Laura Roslin. They walked calmly to the Observation Deck. Bill Adama told her some facts about the ship along the way, but all the response he received was a “ah, how nice” or a “how interesting”. It seemed to him that she was miles away from the present. Eventually he gave up, and the three of them walked in total silence for the last part. He didn’t feel like talking at all, but he somehow felt the urge to comfort her. Like she was very fragile and that he needed to protect her. At the moment, she did look very fragile.
They finally reached the Observation Deck, which was already crowded with people. Laura and Billy were escorted by Adama to their front seats, and he seated himself next to his XO, Colonel Saul Tigh.
All Laura could think of was her headache, and how she wanted to get this ceremony over with. All she wanted to do right now was to increase the numbness she felt. It felt good, to be away from reality for a while. She was further indulging that line of thought when a squadron of Vipers suddenly seared straight pass the Observation Deck. The noise and the shock she felt forced her to turn to reality once again. It appeared that a Mr. Doral just had announced the ceremonial flyby, led by Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama, and everyone was clapping.
Laura joined the clapping when she saw Commander William Adama walking to the podium. Everyone felt silent when he started his speech. Instead of moving herself away form reality again, she started to listen intently to the Commander, for the first time really hearing what he said. Something about his low, husky voice pleaded her to listen, a voice she hadn’t consciously heard before. Bill started his speech just like he had prepared.
"The Cylon war is long over. Yet we must not forget the reasons why so many sacrificed so much in the cause of freedom. The cost of wearing the uniform can be high, but..."
He suddenly stopped. His thoughts suddenly moved to a scene which he had this morning, with his son Lee. Lee hadn’t spoken with his father since his brother Zak died in a piloting accident. Lee blamed his father for Zak’s death, for pushing them to be a Viper Pilot, for pushing them through the ranks while Zak had no feel for flying, and died because of that.
This morning, Bill tried to start a conversation with Lee, but it ended quite cruel, with Lee saying that Bill had killed Zak. Although Lee couldn’t see it, his father was really hurt by that statement. Bill sent Lee out of the room, while he remained, heartbroken.
"Sometimes it's too high”, Bill continued, his voice a pitch lower,” You know when we fought the Cylons, we did it to save ourselves from extinction. But we never answered the question why. Why are we as a people worth saving? We still commit murder because of greed, spite, jealousy. And we still visit all of our sins upon our children. We refuse to accept the responsibility for anything that we've done, like we did with the Cylons. We decided to play god. Create life. When that life turned against us, we comforted ourselves in the knowledge that it really wasn't our fault, not really. You cannot play god then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done anymore."
Chapter: Decommissioning Day - Part One
Rating: Teen for now
Featured: Laura and Bill meet for the first time, as far as they know...
Her heart returned to a slower beat, though her blood pressure remained high. She left the bathroom and returned to her seat. She was en route to Battlestar Galactica, for the decommissioning. Galactica would turn into a learning environment for students, and as Secretary of Education, Laura Roslin had to be present at the decommissioning. But all she wanted right now was to creep back into bed, shutting out all the light, and stay locked up for a few days.
How could this happen to me? Why did this happen to me?
This morning she found out she has breast cancer. Not terminal, but still, she would have to get Diloxin treatments. That thought alone could make her barf. She had seen the effects of Diloxin before. Her mother looked pale, miserable and one minute away of instant death, and that sight had never left Laura. Though her mother struggled, and was told that it was not terminal, she still died. What if Laura turned out to have the same fate as her mother?
Laura, after barfing in the bathroom, just went emotionally numb. No more thoughts, no more worries. She was going to die, the end. She didn’t even notice her aide Billy talking to her.
“Ms Roslin? Are you alright?” Billy asked with a stutter.
“Oh, Billy”, she said while trying to focus her attention to the present, “Yes, is there something wrong?”
“No, everything’s alright, it’s just that we’ve arrived on Galactica. Commander Adama is waiting for you.”
“Ah yes, Commander William Adama. Let’s get this over with, then.” she said with a sigh.
Billy noticed that she was not behaving as herself today, and he was worried by it. He hadn’t been her assistant for a very long time, but he certainly could notice something was wrong. He wouldn’t bother her with his findings, at least for now.
Commander William Adama was already waiting for Laura Roslin in the hangar bay, when she finally appeared. His day already started terrible, no hot shower and not even to mention the decommissioning itself, but did she really have to step out of the transport ship as one of the last people and keep him waiting?
Those frakking politicians always think way too high about themselves. I’d say, go and command a Battlestar for a day, let’s see if you still have the nerves to sit on your high horses.
Much to Adama’s surprise, Laura Roslin didn’t seem like an arrogant politician. She actually looked like she had some sense in her, and that she was gentle, though a little confused. How could such a woman survive politics? Of course, he couldn’t know she just gave up on life this morning, her life to be exact. He started to walk towards her as Roslin noticed him and started to walk up to him.
“Good morning, Madame Secretary”, he said with as much friendliness he could conjure up at the moment as he reached out his hand, “I’m Commander William Adama and I welcome you aboard my ship.”
“Thank you, Commander”, Roslin said while shaking his hand, “I’m Laura Roslin, it’s very nice to meet you. I assume we’ll be going to the decommissioning ceremony at once?”
“Yes that’s correct. We’re already running a bit late, so we should really get going. The ceremony is on the Observation Deck.” He already wanted to offer his arm, but noticed suddenly a man standing behind Laura Roslin. “Excuse me,” Adama said a bit authoritatively looking at Billy, “are you Ms Roslin’s aide?”
“Yes, yes I am”, Billy said a bit apprehensive, “Billy Keikeya, nice to meet you sir.”
“Oops, I’m sorry Billy”, Roslin said with a bit of a shock, “I’ve got a bit of a headache. Commander, we’re, uhm, ready to go to the Observation deck.”
“Are you sure? Do you need to refresh yourself a bit in one of the guest quarters? I guess we can postpone the decommissioning for a few minutes. ” Adama asked with some concern. At least his suspicions were correct, she was confused.
“No, no Commander, it’s alright. Just, let’s… go.”
He shrugged and offered his arm, which was thankfully taken by Laura Roslin. They walked calmly to the Observation Deck. Bill Adama told her some facts about the ship along the way, but all the response he received was a “ah, how nice” or a “how interesting”. It seemed to him that she was miles away from the present. Eventually he gave up, and the three of them walked in total silence for the last part. He didn’t feel like talking at all, but he somehow felt the urge to comfort her. Like she was very fragile and that he needed to protect her. At the moment, she did look very fragile.
They finally reached the Observation Deck, which was already crowded with people. Laura and Billy were escorted by Adama to their front seats, and he seated himself next to his XO, Colonel Saul Tigh.
All Laura could think of was her headache, and how she wanted to get this ceremony over with. All she wanted to do right now was to increase the numbness she felt. It felt good, to be away from reality for a while. She was further indulging that line of thought when a squadron of Vipers suddenly seared straight pass the Observation Deck. The noise and the shock she felt forced her to turn to reality once again. It appeared that a Mr. Doral just had announced the ceremonial flyby, led by Captain Lee “Apollo” Adama, and everyone was clapping.
Laura joined the clapping when she saw Commander William Adama walking to the podium. Everyone felt silent when he started his speech. Instead of moving herself away form reality again, she started to listen intently to the Commander, for the first time really hearing what he said. Something about his low, husky voice pleaded her to listen, a voice she hadn’t consciously heard before. Bill started his speech just like he had prepared.
"The Cylon war is long over. Yet we must not forget the reasons why so many sacrificed so much in the cause of freedom. The cost of wearing the uniform can be high, but..."
He suddenly stopped. His thoughts suddenly moved to a scene which he had this morning, with his son Lee. Lee hadn’t spoken with his father since his brother Zak died in a piloting accident. Lee blamed his father for Zak’s death, for pushing them to be a Viper Pilot, for pushing them through the ranks while Zak had no feel for flying, and died because of that.
This morning, Bill tried to start a conversation with Lee, but it ended quite cruel, with Lee saying that Bill had killed Zak. Although Lee couldn’t see it, his father was really hurt by that statement. Bill sent Lee out of the room, while he remained, heartbroken.
"Sometimes it's too high”, Bill continued, his voice a pitch lower,” You know when we fought the Cylons, we did it to save ourselves from extinction. But we never answered the question why. Why are we as a people worth saving? We still commit murder because of greed, spite, jealousy. And we still visit all of our sins upon our children. We refuse to accept the responsibility for anything that we've done, like we did with the Cylons. We decided to play god. Create life. When that life turned against us, we comforted ourselves in the knowledge that it really wasn't our fault, not really. You cannot play god then wash your hands of the things that you've created. Sooner or later the day comes when you can't hide from the things that you've done anymore."