Volume I, Scene Thirteen
"Doctor Baltar, please come in," Eliza said, as Della opened the door and ushered him in. Queti was already sitting in a chair in front of Eliza's desk, a notepad open on her lap. "I'm glad you could make it."
"Yes, well," Baltar said, "I seem to have a stunning lack of anything else to do these days."
"And glad we all are that you've abandoned your life of propheting," Eliza said smoothly. "To cut straight to the chase, Doctor, this administration would love to see you back in the lab. We're very willing to fund you if you feel up to cooperating."
"There's always a catch," he said to the air.
"I find myself deeply in need of a science textbook," Eliza said. "If you could gather a team and put one together for me, I'm certain that we could find a place for you. I'm certain that you would serve the planet well as the official science advisor."
"What else?" Baltar said.
"Doctor, I'm wounded," Eliza said with a winning smile.
"Spare me," Baltar said. "You hold all the cards in this little game. I am minus one harem, as I believe you've called it before, minus one lab, and minus all credibility. If you don't negotiate for more, then you're an idiot, and as little reason as I have to respect the current administration, I don't believe you're an idiot."
"You'll of course be expected to support the official policies of the administration," Eliza said. "Not the strictly political policies - we're not discarding free expression - but our policies as regard scientific education and exploration. In addition, I'd like you to work with Queti here to develop a series of educational programs for children. We'll have broadcasting soon; we'd like to have at least part of it be useful. In return, you'll get your lab back along with a measure of, as you say, credibility. Your knowledge is an asset to our society, Doctor. We haven't forgotten that. It's just your pretentions toward religious leadership that we'd prefer to do without."
Baltar sighed. "Fine. I'll play nicely with the other children."
"I have a few concepts," Queti said, doodling on her notepad. "Partly drawn from the old series I found in the archives of the Rising Star, but of course it'll all have to be updated for Earth and to include Cylons."
"As soon as I have an office, we can set up a meeting," Baltar said, almost graciously.
"Actually," Eliza put in, "I've had a suite of temporary offices set up for you near your old lab; when we move planetside, I expect they'll build you a nice new workplace in the hospital. The specifications for what I'd like your book to cover should be on your brand new desk at this very moment. And I've contacted one of your old assistants," she checked her notes, "Lily. She's agreed to round up some worthy minions for you. In fact, she was willing to do almost anything for an audience with Laura Roslin, which, really, that's the attitude I enjoy in a constituent. You'll have a couple of copy editors from our communications offices at your disposal as soon as there's a draft for the book. I suppose that means you can get started right away."
Baltar stared at Eliza. "Efficiency isn't by any means your watchword?"
"We're both a long way from the farm," she reminded him, beaming. "Perhaps you'd like to escort Queti to your new office for that meeting? I'm certain you've got plenty of ideas already and I'm thrilled about your willingness to cooperate, given the circumstances. I really am grateful for your assistance, Doctor. I'd like to make this as easy as possible for all of us."
"Any time is fine, Doctor," Queti assured him.
"No, no," he said, looking at Eliza with a slightly puzzled expression. "I'm sure this afternoon will be fine. Just give me a few hours to get everything properly set up. Shall we meet at, oh, fourteen hundred? In my offices, naturally."
"Sounds good," Queti said. "I've got a meeting with my writers and that actress Evangeline at sixteen thirty, but that gives us a good block of time to discuss a few initial concepts."
"Then I'll take my leave," Baltar said, getting up. "Madam Secretary. Ms. Queti. I'll let myself out, thanks."
Eliza settled back in her chair with a sigh of satisfaction. "That went well, I think."
"He's kind of brusque," Queti said. "You know, from my point of view, it's kind of too bad he doesn't have the harem anymore. It would have made entertaining television."
"I can see that," Eliza mused. "Meanwhile, I'm so glad Mei reminded me that you work in broadcasting. I'm sure the President will be glad to get a proper station off the ground - it's as much to his benefit as yours, especially since you've offered to sponsor public programming."
"The government funds do help," Queti said. "I should be thanking you."
Eliza waved her hands. "Nonsense. We all get what we want this way. It's symbiosis. It'll be great to see what you two come up with."
"I'm excited," Queti said. "After years of pretty much nothing but shortwave, it's good to get back to work. I've got about a dozen scripts I've just been hoarding. Speaking of which...." She hesitated. "I was thinking of doing a show based - very loosely - on the current administration. Something to make politics personal, you know? Do you think that would be all right with the President and the Chief of Staff? Since I'd have characters based on both of them."
"As for Wren," Eliza said, "I can't imagine she wouldn't be tickled. Especially if Evey's the one playing her - Wren always kind of wanted to be tall for a couple of days. And Lee doesn't mind the Grand Adama Name being a little humanized, as it were, even if it's in the guise of someone else. I think it's an excellent idea. Show the people that their elected officials are just people too, not gods of policy."
Queti relaxed. "Great!"
"Actually, I'd love to see that," Eliza mused. "Hijinks! Legislation! It might make what we do all day look interesting. I mean, I trust your skills. I'll run it by Wren to make sure, but I'm certain she'll say yes. When do you expect to be broadcasting?"
"Hopefully pretty soon after we hit the ground," Queti said, checking her notes. "We have most of the equipment on board; it's just a question of setting it all up down there and making sure there's enough network to handle it."
"The Cylons and the communications taskforce assure us that broadcast will be very possible," Eliza said. "We should have network, visuals, the whole nine yards."
"It's just so good to have a purpose again," Queti said wistfully.
"I know what you mean," Eliza said. "Don't let Baltar push you around. He knows science, but you know television. You get the last word."
"Thanks," Queti said, getting up. "I'm going to go do some work on this, if you don't mind. Thanks for all your help."
"No, thank you," Eliza said, standing up and leaning to shake Queti's hand. "Glad to have you around. Let me know if there's anything else I can do for you. I've got a meeting in ten minutes with Doctor Gabriel, Ishay, and Doctor Good about setting up some medical internships, but generally it's not difficult to get on my calendar."
"Think they might like to talk to me about a medical drama?" Queti asked. "I think it would be popular, even starting off on shortwave like everything else, but I don't want to do it without a consultant."
"Well," Eliza grinned, "Ishay's a little taciturn, but Doc Gabriel and Doctor Good would probably chat with you. Especially Doctor Good - she's a sex therapist and very passionate about it, apparently. You might also try Doc Cottle - now that he's retiring, he should have plenty of time on his hands. His idea of fulfilling his duties as Surgeon General is to tell his intern to make a big sign that says 'Smoking's Bad For You But Gods Doesn't It Look Cool And Feel Good'. Not quite intensive."
"He's retiring?" Queti said. "That's kind of a shame."
"I was in that meeting," Eliza said. "I actually asked him to stay on and help out, and he said something about how he was going to leave the manipulation to the pretty young things and I could leave him out of that. Good old Cottle. He's an institution."
"Hmm," Queti said. "Doc Cottle, Space M.D. Think anyone would tune in?"
"I absolutely do," Eliza said. "And though he'll grumble and grouse, I'll give you his number. Don't give up until he relents. I have no doubt he'd love to be on television."
"I can't wait," Queti said.
"Talk to Della," Eliza told her, "she'll get you on his calendar. They have a special rapport, by which I mean she devils him until she gets her way. I think she was the youngest child in her family, back in the day."
"Thanks so much," Queti said, putting her notepad away.
"Of course," Eliza said. "Can't wait to see what you produce." She stood up and shook Queti's hand. "I'll feed you all the best tidbits through Mei, no worries." She winked. Queti grinned.
"It's great when the government and the entertainment industry can work in sync," she said. "I'll be seeing you."
"Cheers," Eliza said, sitting back down. "Hmmm. Medicine."
Our apologies for posting so late in the day! leiascully pleads illness; coffeesuperhero pleads law finals!
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