FICLET: The Learning Curve
In honor of our going over 50 members (YAYS! And welcome!) I've decided to post a snippet just for here.
Remember, this group welcomes meta, fic, pictures, screencaps, art -- *anything* Gaeta. Even squee. So, please don't be shy and post away.
Title: "The Learning Curve"
Spoilers: Post Lay Your Burdens Down II
Rating: PG
Characters: Gaeta, Baltar
Summary: How he got the job ...
The Learning Curve (Post-LYBD II)
by ingrid
~*~
Aboard the Galactica, there are grave punishments for following laws one hasn't been explicitly ordered to follow, or so Lt. Gaeta discovers the hard way.
The fallout from his discovery of Tigh's clumsy election fraud hurts him more than anyone else in the long run. Except, maybe, Roslin who loses both her position and her honor but as Adama likes her, nothing really happens except a return to civilian life, where she is both admired and cared for.
Adama likes Tigh as well, a lot, and Gaeta soon finds his position in the CIC an extremely uncomfortable one. Especially after the Colonel's token forty-eight hours in the brig, where it's obvious he spent most of his time thinking of ways to humiliate Gaeta in the most miserable ways possible, as often as possible.
It doesn't take more than a week for Felix to realize that his military career is over. Four long years of loyal and honorable work, gone, with nothing to show for it except for daily harassment from an angry XO while his commander looks the other way.
When his request for a transfer to the Pegasus is denied, Gaeta knows the gig is up. There's nothing left for him now, not even among the civilian fleet as all the ships are being decommissioned for settlement on New Caprica, the shining world floating below.
He has nothing ... he is nothing and Gaeta can't help but despair for himself and what his life has become, all for doing what he thought was the right thing.
What he knew was the right thing.
It's during this time of misery and confusion that the President calls him in for a meeting and Gaeta immediately joins him, even though he's still technically on duty.
Not that his duties matter anymore. Tigh has made sure of that.
When Gaeta enters the main hold of Colonial One, he notices that Dr. Bal ... the President looks awful - pale and exhausted - and Gaeta's heart softens with pity. What a terrible burden Gaius has taken on, but it's certainly the right choice to have him in charge instead of a woman as corrupt as Roslin has proven herself to be.
He himself voted for Baltar and he'd do it again, in a heartbeat.
"Ah, Mr. Gaeta. It's good to see you. Please, sit down." Baltar's grin is thinly wrapped around a lit cigarette. "I've had so little time for my social life, but I couldn't help but see how you, my old friend, was doing. So ... how are you?"
Gaeta shifts nervously in the chair. "I'm ... " Blowing out a tired exhale, he shrugs. What's the point of lying? "I'm not so good, Mr. President. I'm afraid that reporting the election rigging wasn't the best career move I could have made. Col. Tigh is very unhappy with me, to say the least."
"What about the Admiral?"
"Not much happier, I'm afraid."
"They're punishing you for revealing the truth, eh? I'm not surprised. Or, I should say, I would have been surprised if they hadn't let their hand slip, showing their true colors." Baltar leans in closely. There's ambrosia on his breath, even at this early hour, but Gaeta knows that the pressure must be enormous. He's begun to drink a little too much, a little too early, himself these days. "It's just as well you are ready for a change, as I didn't call you here for a simple social visit, Mr. Gaeta."
"No, sir?"
Baltar glances side to side before resuming in a low voice. "I have a proposition for you. I need an assistant. Someone smart ... and honest," Baltar's demeanor is tense, his shoulders knotting as he hunches over his desk. "I find myself increasingly surrounded by sycophants and idiots, jack-a-lopes of the most dreary and useless kind. I need someone to clear away the cobwebs, to keep this office on track and I think ... I think you might be the person for that job."
Gaeta's jaw drops. Heart hammering, he can hardly believe his ears. Or his luck. "Sir ... I ..."
Baltar puts down the cigarette and reaches across the desk, taking Gaeta by the hand. His eyes take on a pleading shine. "Please say 'yes.'. I need you ... Felix. I need you very badly and I assure you, this position will be most advantageous to you personally, much more so than anything the Commander could offer you." Baltar's cool fingers squeeze around Gaeta's tightly. Suggestively. "More than anyone could offer you."
The skin on Gaeta's hand tingles, as do his cheeks which have turned hot and red. "I'd be honored to serve you in any way, Mr. President."
Baltar smiles. To Gaeta, that smile is as radiant as a sunrise over a brand new world. "Splendid. Can you start today?"
"With a order from you to terminate my commission, I can."
The President visibly relaxes as he lets go of Gaeta's hand. "Done. And might I say you won't regret this. I promise."
"I believe you," Gaeta replies, his heart soaring with excitement. Pride. Happiness.
Because he really does believe -- this time.
~*~
Remember, this group welcomes meta, fic, pictures, screencaps, art -- *anything* Gaeta. Even squee. So, please don't be shy and post away.
Title: "The Learning Curve"
Spoilers: Post Lay Your Burdens Down II
Rating: PG
Characters: Gaeta, Baltar
Summary: How he got the job ...
The Learning Curve (Post-LYBD II)
by ingrid
~*~
Aboard the Galactica, there are grave punishments for following laws one hasn't been explicitly ordered to follow, or so Lt. Gaeta discovers the hard way.
The fallout from his discovery of Tigh's clumsy election fraud hurts him more than anyone else in the long run. Except, maybe, Roslin who loses both her position and her honor but as Adama likes her, nothing really happens except a return to civilian life, where she is both admired and cared for.
Adama likes Tigh as well, a lot, and Gaeta soon finds his position in the CIC an extremely uncomfortable one. Especially after the Colonel's token forty-eight hours in the brig, where it's obvious he spent most of his time thinking of ways to humiliate Gaeta in the most miserable ways possible, as often as possible.
It doesn't take more than a week for Felix to realize that his military career is over. Four long years of loyal and honorable work, gone, with nothing to show for it except for daily harassment from an angry XO while his commander looks the other way.
When his request for a transfer to the Pegasus is denied, Gaeta knows the gig is up. There's nothing left for him now, not even among the civilian fleet as all the ships are being decommissioned for settlement on New Caprica, the shining world floating below.
He has nothing ... he is nothing and Gaeta can't help but despair for himself and what his life has become, all for doing what he thought was the right thing.
What he knew was the right thing.
It's during this time of misery and confusion that the President calls him in for a meeting and Gaeta immediately joins him, even though he's still technically on duty.
Not that his duties matter anymore. Tigh has made sure of that.
When Gaeta enters the main hold of Colonial One, he notices that Dr. Bal ... the President looks awful - pale and exhausted - and Gaeta's heart softens with pity. What a terrible burden Gaius has taken on, but it's certainly the right choice to have him in charge instead of a woman as corrupt as Roslin has proven herself to be.
He himself voted for Baltar and he'd do it again, in a heartbeat.
"Ah, Mr. Gaeta. It's good to see you. Please, sit down." Baltar's grin is thinly wrapped around a lit cigarette. "I've had so little time for my social life, but I couldn't help but see how you, my old friend, was doing. So ... how are you?"
Gaeta shifts nervously in the chair. "I'm ... " Blowing out a tired exhale, he shrugs. What's the point of lying? "I'm not so good, Mr. President. I'm afraid that reporting the election rigging wasn't the best career move I could have made. Col. Tigh is very unhappy with me, to say the least."
"What about the Admiral?"
"Not much happier, I'm afraid."
"They're punishing you for revealing the truth, eh? I'm not surprised. Or, I should say, I would have been surprised if they hadn't let their hand slip, showing their true colors." Baltar leans in closely. There's ambrosia on his breath, even at this early hour, but Gaeta knows that the pressure must be enormous. He's begun to drink a little too much, a little too early, himself these days. "It's just as well you are ready for a change, as I didn't call you here for a simple social visit, Mr. Gaeta."
"No, sir?"
Baltar glances side to side before resuming in a low voice. "I have a proposition for you. I need an assistant. Someone smart ... and honest," Baltar's demeanor is tense, his shoulders knotting as he hunches over his desk. "I find myself increasingly surrounded by sycophants and idiots, jack-a-lopes of the most dreary and useless kind. I need someone to clear away the cobwebs, to keep this office on track and I think ... I think you might be the person for that job."
Gaeta's jaw drops. Heart hammering, he can hardly believe his ears. Or his luck. "Sir ... I ..."
Baltar puts down the cigarette and reaches across the desk, taking Gaeta by the hand. His eyes take on a pleading shine. "Please say 'yes.'. I need you ... Felix. I need you very badly and I assure you, this position will be most advantageous to you personally, much more so than anything the Commander could offer you." Baltar's cool fingers squeeze around Gaeta's tightly. Suggestively. "More than anyone could offer you."
The skin on Gaeta's hand tingles, as do his cheeks which have turned hot and red. "I'd be honored to serve you in any way, Mr. President."
Baltar smiles. To Gaeta, that smile is as radiant as a sunrise over a brand new world. "Splendid. Can you start today?"
"With a order from you to terminate my commission, I can."
The President visibly relaxes as he lets go of Gaeta's hand. "Done. And might I say you won't regret this. I promise."
"I believe you," Gaeta replies, his heart soaring with excitement. Pride. Happiness.
Because he really does believe -- this time.
~*~