BSG fic: Unions of a Kneeling: Chapter Three: Crust of Routine
Disclaimer: I don't own BSG. The title is by CS Lewis. This chapter's title is by Eugene Peterson.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three: Crust of Routine
It had been a slow day to go along with all the other slow days of the past year. Adama didn’t regret for one minute the chance to live in peace, but he had to admit to himself that he was more in his element in war. The only Cylon they’d seen for some time had been the one living in their brig and that suited him just fine. But he missed the rush and the action. He’d been separated from a lot of people he loved. Even Lee was far away, on another ship. So many of his officers now lived on the surface. He felt grateful to see Captain Agathon in the CIC every day, even if the only reason was because the younger man didn’t want to leave Sharon. At least someone had stayed.
He’d made a decision today, one that he knew many people would still not agree with. But the decision was made and the Cylon was let out of the brig. Part of the reason was because, yes, he trusted her now. Part of it would also have to be that it seemed foolish to allow Helo to marry her and not allow them to live together. Either way, it had been done and he felt good about it.
“Sir, we have a direct line from New Caprica.”
“Thank you, Captain. Who is it?”
“It’s Starbuck, sir.”
Adama picked up the phone.
“Hello, Kara.”
“Sir, good to hear you.”
“You too. How goes it planetside?”
“Uh, not so good, sir. I was wondering if you could talk to Lee for me?”
“I told you before that you two are acting childish. Only you know what you quarreled about, but it’s not worth it.”
“Please, sir. Sam’s sick and Pegasus has all the antibiotics. I can’t risk Lee being upset. Sam could die. Doc says he’s a fighter, but…”
“I understand. I’ll speak to him.”
“Sir, dradis contact.”
“Starbuck, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Adama turned to Helo.
“What is it?”
“We’re not sure. They didn’t jump in, so an attack doesn’t seem likely.”
“Set Condition Two throughout the ship.”
“Yes, sir.” Helo picked up the phone. “Set Condition Two throughout the ship.”
“Contact Pegasus and alert them to the situation.”
“Yes, sir.” Adama stared at the screen. “Commander Adama on the line.”
“Galactica Actual. Lee, are you picking up the dradis contact?”
“Yes, we have multiple contacts. Only one appears to be moving closer.”
“Yes, same here. Stay on the line, would you?”
***
Helo moved from one station to the next. It was difficult being in a situation where he was doing three jobs. Sometimes he thought life would be easier down on New Caprica. But from the beginning he’d made the decision to stay with Sharon. It had been a long struggle, but both of them had been able to at least move past Hera’s death. The wounds would always be there, they knew, but at least they’d made the conscious decision to help each other. At one point he had thought she would never care about him again, but he hadn’t given up and one day, she'd finally broken down. It had been a happy day even as they’d cried together. But now they were married, now she lived with him, now they had a future. Even if it meant him doing three people’s jobs.
***
On Pegasus, Lee circled the dradis screen. Behind him, Dee kept up a report of everything that was happening. There was something strange about the way they were being approached. It was hesitant, intended not to alarm, like a white flag.
“Admiral, you should challenge the ship. Get a read on it. Anything. I don’t like this,” he said, going with his gut.
“I don’t like it either, but after so much peace, I don’t want to be the first to enact war if it isn’t necessary.”
“I understand, but don’t let war destroy another home,” Lee said, sighing.
“Sir, we’re receiving a hail,” Dee said. “Or rather we are being included in a hail to Galactica.”
“Put it on speakers.”
***
“Prepare the Alert Vipers,” Adama instructed. “I don’t want to have to use them, but just in case.”
“Prepare the Alert Vipers,” Helo said into the phone.
“Put the hail on speakers.”
“Galactica, this is a Cylon heavy raider. We come in peace.” Adama heard the familiar voice, one of both good memories and nightmares to him. “Admiral,” the voice hesitated, “this is Sharon.”
“Which Sharon?” he gritted out.
“It’s Boomer, sir.”
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three: Crust of Routine
It had been a slow day to go along with all the other slow days of the past year. Adama didn’t regret for one minute the chance to live in peace, but he had to admit to himself that he was more in his element in war. The only Cylon they’d seen for some time had been the one living in their brig and that suited him just fine. But he missed the rush and the action. He’d been separated from a lot of people he loved. Even Lee was far away, on another ship. So many of his officers now lived on the surface. He felt grateful to see Captain Agathon in the CIC every day, even if the only reason was because the younger man didn’t want to leave Sharon. At least someone had stayed.
He’d made a decision today, one that he knew many people would still not agree with. But the decision was made and the Cylon was let out of the brig. Part of the reason was because, yes, he trusted her now. Part of it would also have to be that it seemed foolish to allow Helo to marry her and not allow them to live together. Either way, it had been done and he felt good about it.
“Sir, we have a direct line from New Caprica.”
“Thank you, Captain. Who is it?”
“It’s Starbuck, sir.”
Adama picked up the phone.
“Hello, Kara.”
“Sir, good to hear you.”
“You too. How goes it planetside?”
“Uh, not so good, sir. I was wondering if you could talk to Lee for me?”
“I told you before that you two are acting childish. Only you know what you quarreled about, but it’s not worth it.”
“Please, sir. Sam’s sick and Pegasus has all the antibiotics. I can’t risk Lee being upset. Sam could die. Doc says he’s a fighter, but…”
“I understand. I’ll speak to him.”
“Sir, dradis contact.”
“Starbuck, I’ll talk to you later.”
“Thank you, sir.”
Adama turned to Helo.
“What is it?”
“We’re not sure. They didn’t jump in, so an attack doesn’t seem likely.”
“Set Condition Two throughout the ship.”
“Yes, sir.” Helo picked up the phone. “Set Condition Two throughout the ship.”
“Contact Pegasus and alert them to the situation.”
“Yes, sir.” Adama stared at the screen. “Commander Adama on the line.”
“Galactica Actual. Lee, are you picking up the dradis contact?”
“Yes, we have multiple contacts. Only one appears to be moving closer.”
“Yes, same here. Stay on the line, would you?”
***
Helo moved from one station to the next. It was difficult being in a situation where he was doing three jobs. Sometimes he thought life would be easier down on New Caprica. But from the beginning he’d made the decision to stay with Sharon. It had been a long struggle, but both of them had been able to at least move past Hera’s death. The wounds would always be there, they knew, but at least they’d made the conscious decision to help each other. At one point he had thought she would never care about him again, but he hadn’t given up and one day, she'd finally broken down. It had been a happy day even as they’d cried together. But now they were married, now she lived with him, now they had a future. Even if it meant him doing three people’s jobs.
***
On Pegasus, Lee circled the dradis screen. Behind him, Dee kept up a report of everything that was happening. There was something strange about the way they were being approached. It was hesitant, intended not to alarm, like a white flag.
“Admiral, you should challenge the ship. Get a read on it. Anything. I don’t like this,” he said, going with his gut.
“I don’t like it either, but after so much peace, I don’t want to be the first to enact war if it isn’t necessary.”
“I understand, but don’t let war destroy another home,” Lee said, sighing.
“Sir, we’re receiving a hail,” Dee said. “Or rather we are being included in a hail to Galactica.”
“Put it on speakers.”
***
“Prepare the Alert Vipers,” Adama instructed. “I don’t want to have to use them, but just in case.”
“Prepare the Alert Vipers,” Helo said into the phone.
“Put the hail on speakers.”
“Galactica, this is a Cylon heavy raider. We come in peace.” Adama heard the familiar voice, one of both good memories and nightmares to him. “Admiral,” the voice hesitated, “this is Sharon.”
“Which Sharon?” he gritted out.
“It’s Boomer, sir.”