1 – Educating and Evading

Bill Adama wandered into the area of Galactica that was now the new museum. With a sigh, he shook his head. The landing bay that had seen so much action over the years, all the ships launched and landed…the men and women that had run in a managed chaotic mess tending to ships…the medics pulling barely conscious pilots out of their cockpits…the celebrations of landmark landings…of victories in battle and in war games. With another sigh, he reached out and touched the nose of a viper, its scarred paint cold in the dim light.

Trailing his hand along the side, he imagined the flights this particular vessel had taken, the pilots it had carried…the repairs that had been needed…as he ducked underneath the vessel, he froze, his eyes falling on the silhouette of a woman standing next to another viper, her face upturned as she gazed up at the small plaque on the tail, designating the last pilot that had been assigned to the ship. Not wanting to share the small amount of peace he’d found in the day, he stepped back, attempting to evade her, when his heel hit one of the stanchions that held the velvet ropes surrounding the vessel.

At the scraping noise, he saw her head turn, one hand lifting to her chest as she blinked at him in the dim starlight. “Sorry…” he began as she stepped toward him hesitantly.

“I apologize, I didn’t mean to set off any alarms, I just needed to get away for a moment, and wanted to see…” her voice trailed off as she neared him and realized he wasn’t a security force guard that was there to escort her out of the area. “Commander Adama.”

“Yes.” He nodded and stepped forward, finally putting a name with the face. “Doctor Roslin, isn’t it.”

She nodded. “Yes,” her lips twitched, “you remembered. I’m not usually one of those people that people remember.”

“Most likely to their detriment.” He smiled at her. “And, I’ve seen your name on the paperwork for the designs, the displays…”

“Ah yes.” Her smile disappeared as she turned to look around the landing bay. “I didn’t want it like this.”

“Like this?” Intrigued by her statement, Bill glanced around.

“So…” she shrugged and waved her hand, “I don’t know. Structured. When I envisioned what I wanted for the landing bay, I didn’t want the ships all lined up, behind velvet ropes. I wanted them where they would have been placed.” Stepping around him, she continued toward the open area in the center of the bay, one arm gesturing. “I wanted the students to feel what it would have been like to walk into a working vessel, to feel as though…” she pointed to one of the vipers, “this viper had just landed, and this one…” she strode toward another viper, Bill following. “One like this, I thought it could have the engine opened, maybe behind a clear covering for safety, with tools and parts, like someone had just been working on it…” She sighed and turned to face him. “I’m sorry for what they’ve done. This can’t be what you wanted to leave behind.”

He chuckled softly. “No. I can’t say that when I finally retired that I would leave behind a Battlestar that was going to become a classroom.”

“I can’t say that when I left the classroom that I was going to end up visiting a Battlestar.” She laughed and glanced at him. “It’s larger than I realized. I mean, I know realistically how large it is, the dimensions, the sheer size…but…” turning in a circle, she gazed around the area. “Tell me what it was like, please.”

“I’m sorry?” Bill shook his head. When he’d seen her name on the paperwork, he’d imagined she was just some teacher looking to take advantage of the retiring of the Battlestar, and when he’d met her briefly earlier in the day, they hadn’t done much more than shake hands before Secretary Adar had demanded his attention again, Roslin fading into the background with the rest of his entourage.

“The landing bay. The ship…” She turned to face him, her hair falling in waves across her shoulder. “What was it like…the people…”

“You want to know about the ship?” He blinked in surprise.

“Yes.” Stepping toward him again, she smiled mischievously. “Unless of course you’re rather return to the reception.”

“Point taken.” Bill smiled. “Doctor Roslin.”

She shook her head. “Please. I’ve had enough of that. It’s Laura. And by the way, I thoroughly enjoyed your speech. Shook up some things that needed to be shaken.” Tilting her head, she inspected his face. “And it was personal, wasn’t it. Oh.” A blush ran up her face. “I’m sorry…sometimes I speak before I think, not when I’m teaching of course, but…” she sighed. “Anyway. I enjoyed it, Commander.”

“Thank you.” Bill managed a smile. “And it’s Bill.”

“Not William?” Laura blinked up at him as he extended his arm toward her.

“No. Just Bill.” When she slid her hand into the crook of his elbow, he led her toward the center of the bay. “Just stand here.” He pointed toward the far end of the bay. “That’s the…was the Maintenance Bay.”

“No. Tell me what it was in the present tense.” She breathed out. “I want to know what it was really like.”

“Really?” Surprised, he glanced at her.

“It’s silly. I know.” The blush was back and she absently pushed her hair back from her face. “My father…well, I had sisters and no brothers. And he…well, he couldn’t be part of the active military because of his eyesight, but adored the strategies…the history. He even taught some classes at the Military College, as well as at Caprica University. As the oldest, I ended up sharing a lot of time with him, and he’d tell me stories about the military…I know it seems silly, but it was something we shared. My sisters never were as interested, but I loved them.” She shrugged one shoulder. “What I wanted to do here was bring some of those stories to life with the passion he used to share with me.”

Bill chuckled. “And now?”

“I didn’t want it to be a typical museum.” Laura sighed. “But, I chose my battles. Secretary Adar got his well ordered museum halls, but I got my interpreters. Most of who are retired military, or dependents of military. And I got a budget to bring in active duty lecturers.”

“So you got involved how?” Intrigued by her story, he turned to face her.

“I’d taught with Richard in Caprica, he knew I’d taught military history…he needed someone to come in and take care of the details he didn’t want to deal with….” She bit her lip, her eyes widening. “Oh. I didn’t mean…”

“He wanted someone capable to take on the project that wouldn’t mind giving him all the credit to the press and the President?” Bill raised an eyebrow.

“I wouldn’t say that…” Laura took a breath. “I mean…he…”

“Why don’t we start that tour now.” He smiled gently.

“Thank you.” She turned to gaze in the direction he’d originally indicated. “The Maintenance area?”

“Yes.” Moving behind her, he pointed over her shoulder, gesturing toward a wall of shelves. “That is where we store the smaller machine parts, maintenance tools…the larger machines are in other rooms or underneath the floor on hydraulic lifts so we can access them when needed. There’s secure storage areas for weapons and ammunition, and a small medical bay….over there.” His voice trailed off.

“For small injuries?” Laura asked softly, glancing over her shoulder at him. “And others that need immediate assistance?”

“Yes.” Closing his eyes for a moment, he took a breath before continuing, gesturing toward another wall. “We tow the vipers in, park them over there. Each one has a designated spot and a team of mechanics to service it. There’s another team that assists as needed, and the Maintenance Chief oversees and prioritizes the repairs.” He turned and gestured toward the far wall. “Over there, we have the raptors, usually only three or four on deck at a time.”

“Where are the others?” She followed his gaze.

“Out on patrol, or down on the hydraulic lifts in a lower deck.” Stepping around her, he took her arm again. “Would you like to see one of the Vipers?”

“Yes.” Laura’s eyes lit up. “Could we?”

“Of course.” Bill grinned and led her toward the row of vipers. When they reached the red velvet ropes they shared a conspiratorial glance and together, pushed the nearest stanchion over, the resulting clang ringing through the bay. Continuing to one of the vipers, he paused suddenly, gazing at her as she stared up at the ship, entranced by it. “Um…”

“What?” She turned and faced him.

“Ladder.” He raised an eyebrow at her attire.

“Oh.” Laura’s face fell. “Yes. Well, I supposed I’ve already done enough stairs in heels and a suit for the day…”

He gazed at her crestfallen expression for a moment then grinned. “Got it. Wait here.”

“Okay.” She watched him turn on his heel and stride across the bay, his footsteps echoing. With a sigh, she looked back down at herself. Granted the lilac suit wasn’t one of her best, but it had been the one that the esteemed Presidential advisors had told her to wear. She really didn’t care for it, feeling that it made her look too fussy, but at least they’d not deigned to tell her what she had to wear twenty four hours a day. When Richard had first suggested that she run for office, she’d politely declined, stating that being on display for students was enough, and that she didn’t care to give up her privacy or what passed for her life to public display. So he’d run. And now all these years later…he’d had the last laugh, as Secretary of Education, doling out assignments where he wanted. Shaking her head, she sighed again. At least now that this was completed, she wouldn’t have to work with him anymore, his snide comments and lewd looks and suggestions.

“Here. Thought there might be a few extra jumpsuits and boots in the storage area. We kept them there in case of fuel spills.” At Bill’s voice, she turned, startled. Lost in her own thoughts, she hadn’t even heard him return. “It should fit close enough.” He held out a folded pile of material with a set of boots on top. “I guessed at your size.”

“Oh. I’m sure they’ll be fine. Better than what I’ve got on.” Blinking, Laura took them then glanced around the area. Spying a dressing room in the gift shop area, she smiled. “Well, at least it’s good for one thing. Thank you.”

“You don’t want to shop?” He called after her, moving toward a maintenance ladder.

“I love to shop.” She called back with a giggle. “I told you, I wanted this area to look like it was still active, but safely. This was not where I wanted the gift shop to go.” Her voice paused for a moment, “and I definitely would have had more books in here, less…knick knack sort of things. I mean really, placemats? Ashtrays?”

Bill chuckled as he rolled the ladder across the floor. “Could have used a good library up here on some of the longer missions.”

“You could suggest that for the new ships they’re constructing.” Pushing the curtain aside, Laura left her suit and heels in the cubicle and stepped out. “Well?”

“Come along Nugget Roslin.” Securing the ladder next to the viper, Bill climbed up and opened the cockpit canopy.

“Yes sir, Commander Adama.” Pausing only to retie one boot, she crossed over to him and peered up the ladder.

“Come on, there’s room for us both.” He stepped back on the small platform at the top of the ladder then waited as she deftly climbed up, accepting his hand in assistance at the top. “Well?”

“It’s amazing.” Laura breathed out, gazing into the cockpit. “I mean, I’ve seen pictures, and the vids, and even some simulators, but nothing like this…” She stared at the controls. “It’s so much equipment in such a small area.”

“Economical.” Bill lifted an eyebrow. “You’ve come this far, want to see what it’s like?”

“Really?” She looked at him eagerly. “It’s all right?”

“It is still my ship.” He responded wryly.

“Well then, yes.” Leaning over the opening, she glanced back at him. “Do I just step in, or is there a certain way…”

“Step in and onto the seat…” As she obediently stepped over as he braced her, Bill moved to take her place on the top of the ladder. “Now, put your hands here…and here.” He indicated two spots on either side of the opening. “And, carefully step down and slide into the seat.”

“Oh.” As she slid into the seat, Laura’s face lit up. “Oh…”

“Now. If I was your flight assist, I’d hand you your helmet and you’d latch it into the communications systems before completing a preflight check.” He perched on the edge of the cockpit and started pointing out the different controls, explaining what each one was as she listened, her hands deftly moving from one to the other.

“Doctor Roslin?” At the call, they both froze, their eyes meeting. “Doctor Roslin?”

“Over here Billy.” Apologetically, Laura pushed herself up slightly so she could see over the edge of the cockpit and past Bill. “Secretary Adar’s assistant.” She murmured to Bill.

“Doctor Roslin?” Confused, the young man gazed up at her. “Um, are you all right?”

“Commander Adama was just giving me a tour of the museum.” She smiled down at him. “And, I couldn’t resist the chance to take a closer look at a viper.”

“I see.” He swallowed nervously. “Um, Secretary Adar is ready to depart…”

“Oh.” Laura’s face fell. “Already?”

“Yes. He decided…” Billy sighed and shook his head. “I really don’t know, Miss Roslin. He just sort of started looking around and told me to go find you, and tell you he’s ready to depart. And that you needed to head back there. Now.” He finished apologetically.

“Of course he did.” With a sigh, she realized that he hadn’t just decided to depart, but was once again attempting to control her in any way he could and a shudder ran through her.

“You could take the shuttle back to Caprica tomorrow.” Bill stated softly, watching her face as she glanced at him, surprised. “You can keep the guest quarters you had earlier.”

“Really?” A relieved expression crossed her face. Not having to endure another shuttle trip with the official party would be…welcome. To just sit and read the mystery she’d optimistically stowed in her carryon, and to not be called upon for facts or information…or have to ignore Richard’s less than subtle attempts. Attempts that had continued despite her insistence that she had no wish to resume the relationship they’d had when they were both teaching at the same school years ago. If you could call a series of several dates before she’d refused to go out with him again a relationship, which apparently he did.

“Really.” He smiled reassuringly at her. “I happen to know the Commander here, I’ll fix it with him.”

“Thank you.” Laura managed a smile and looked back down at Billy, raising her voice so he could hear her. “Billy, I think I’d like to stay and oversee a few more of the modifications for the museum. Commander Adama will arrange for me to keep my quarters overnight, and I’ll take the shuttle back tomorrow. Can you let the Secretary know I’ll send his office any additional updates when I return to Caprica.”

“Really?” Billy winced, anticipating Adar’s response. “Um…Miss Roslin…”

“Billy, it’s all right. My assignment technically ended with the official decommissioning ceremony, so you can’t get in trouble for my not returning with you.” Laura nodded at him. “Really.”

“Okay.” He took a breath and glanced at Adama. “Sir?”

“The accommodations won’t be a problem, and I’ll arrange for passage on the shuttle returning to Caprica tomorrow.” He confirmed with a nod. “We can forward the information to Secretary Adar’s office once it’s confirmed.”

“Yes sir.” With a final look at Laura, he turned and crossed the floor as she settled back into the pilot’s seat.

“You all right?” Bill leaned over her, untangling the harness from behind her so she could be more comfortable.

“Yes.” She managed, staring at the controls, “thank you.”

“My pleasure.” He gazed at her face. “The young man?”

“Billy.” Her face lit up as she looked up at him. “He was one of my students several years ago, we kept in touch, and when an internship opened up with the Secretary of Education, I suggested he apply. He’s a good kid, and just started a few weeks ago.”

“And the Secretary?” One eyebrow lifted.

“Thank you for your offer.” Laura replied simply and pointed to one of the panel readouts. “What’s this one for?”

“External sensor.” Following the change of subject, Bill replied automatically as she continued to stare at the control panel. “The one next to it…”

When he finally helped her out of the cockpit, Laura smiled at him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” As she caught her balance, he held her waist. “Give yourself a minute before you head down the ladder. You’ve been sitting for sometime.”

“Mmm hmm.” She took a breath and nodded. “Okay.”

“Let me go first.” As she balanced with one hand on the viper, he stepped behind her and eased down the ladder, bracing it as she followed him.

“Thank you for not pressing the matter.” Laura continued to stare at the floor as she stepped off the ladder next to him. “And for the accommodations tonight.”

“My pleasure.” He leaned toward her ear. “You just got me out of trying to politely evade all the politicians receptions as well as the drunken parties going on around the ship.”

“Parties?” Her eyes flicked up to meet his.

“Decommissioning.” Bill shrugged. “Some of them won’t see each other for years. They’ve become a crew over the last year. They’ll let off some steam.”

“Ah.” She giggled, the sound trailing off as footsteps sounded from the other side of the viper.

“Laura?” At the voice, she tensed, unconsciously tightening her grasp on Bill’s arm.

“Go back around over there, grab a broom just in case.” Catching her before she could move away, he quickly ran his hands through her hair, twisting it and tucking it into the collar of the jumpsuit before nodding toward a shadowed area, watching her glide into the shadows where if she was noticed, she’d just be an anonymous crewmember sweeping, before he turned to greet the men approaching from around the nose of the viper. “Secretary Adar?”

“Where’s Doctor Roslin?” He arched an eyebrow at the shorter man. “My aide said she was here.”

Bill nodded, catching sight of a nervous Billy at the back of the small group of men. “She was. We were looking at some of the vipers, she had some questions about the displays, wanting to make sure they were safe enough for the children to be around.”

“So where is she now?” Adar looked around the open area, his eyes sweeping across the vipers.

“Don’t know.” He shrugged. “Said she wanted to check out some of the other display areas, see how they integrate together.”

“And you just let her wander away?” Adar’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at Bill. “Through an active Battlestar?”

“We’re practically at drydock, Secretary Adar.” Bill shook his head. “All secure areas are still guarded, and she was part of your group at the ceremony, so most of my crew will recognize her. I believe she told your aide that she’d take the shuttle back tomorrow?”

“She did.” He nodded slowly. “However, I had some…things I wanted to discuss with her. In private.” One of the aides stepped forward and murmured something in his ear. When he stepped back, Adar shook his head. “And apparently, I need to depart now. If you happen to run across my missing advisor, please let her know I’ll be in touch with her tomorrow following my briefing with the President.”

“I’ll be sure and do that.” Bill continued to gaze at the taller man. “If I see her.”

“Thank you for your hospitality, Commander.” Adar gave a curt nod and turned on his heel, striding away across the floor, Bill gazing after them, meeting Billy’s eyes for a moment before the younger man grinned at him.

As the footsteps faded away, Laura moved silently to join him. “Thank you.” She murmured.

“Once again, you’re welcome.” He turned to face her. “He’s rather…persistent.”

“Well. Yes.” She wandered toward another viper, absently reaching up and pulling her hair back out of her collar, letting it fall around her shoulders. “He is. Was. Is.”

“So,” Bill stepped toward her, wanting her to relax again. “Since you’re still in the jumpsuit, how do you feel about raptors?”

“Not as maneuverable as a viper, but just as useful.” Her eyes lit up. “We can tour one of those as well?”