Disclaimer Battlestar Galactica belongs to Ronald D. Moore et al. No copyright infringement is intended. I'm just having fun.

Authors Note: This is but no means my first fan fiction; it is however my first BSG fic, and the idea is a bit of a departure for me. The only thing I own in this story is the character of Lauren "Wild Card" Myers.

Title: Academy Days

Author: GEM

Feedback. Feedback will keep me writing please send it good, or bad. Flames will be used to make popcorn. T

Date: April 6, 2005

Characters: Lee, Kara, Lauren and eventually the ensemble

Story Timeline: Pre-Mini for right now

Spoilers: Mini and Season 1

Summary: Lee, Kara and Lauren's journey through the academy and flight school, their first assignments and their lives and relationships (friendships and otherwise)

Chapter 1

I feel as though I was born to fly. Both of my parents and my Gods Father are members of the Colonial Fleet. I was raised with the itch to fly; it was instilled in me at a young age. Now, here I am standing here in front of a Raptor, waiting. I would have probably fallen over in pure nervous exhaustion if it weren't for Lee. Lee Adama and I have been friends forever; our fathers are best friends, and William Adama is my aforementioned Gods father. His was also my father's wingman and Commanding Officer. It stands to reason that Lee, Zac and I are friends almost family. We were practically raised together.

Lee and I entered the Academy war college together. Our exploits were much like thought of our fathers. Hot pilots run in families- or so I've been told. "Myers your, up next."

"Yes, Sir." The flight instructor steps away towards the Raptor I begin to step out of line but Lee put a hand on my shoulder

"Lauren, Remember, what Dad said on the phone last night "Easy on the throttle up and take off that's were they'll throw the loops. You'll do great."

"I remember thanks." I look back and give him a warm smile as I head for the bird. I'm a good pilot or at least I would like to think so but I do have a problem at times with take off in the raptors. I am very happy when that part of my check ride is over- hell I'm happy when the whole fraking thing is over. I walk away confident that I will be receiving a spot in Vipers I'm also confident that Lee and Kara Thrace my brothers in arms will be joining me there.

I had to burn of some adrenaline after the final check ride so I went back to the dorm and put of my sweats and decided to go for a run. Lee decided he was going to take a shower instead. We all had to wait and see what the flight instructors' decisions were. In two hours we were to report in full Cadet uniform to the flight locker room, open the locker, and see what color card we pulled. Red, you repeated basic flight blue, you were on your way to vipers and another six months of specialized training.

"Lauren"

Kara Thrace run up beside her bunkmate "Did you see if they posted the time yet?"

" We go down in an hour or so. I'm too nervous to do it alone. I'm waiting for Lee. I want to see if he made it first. You can come with us."

"I will but, Lauren correct me if I'm wrong. Your father and Lee's were both viper pilots right? Kara stopped run and face the short brunette.

"Yeah, that's right. It's how the families met. Our families still live close together I went to high school with Lee and his brother. Lee's parents are like a second family. What's your point?

The point Lauren is that you were born to fly. I feel the same way we, the three of us we were born to fly.

"I sure hope your right Kara." We end up outside the dorms and decided to go in and get showers before we had to report. I walked up to my bunkroom and opened the door. I was surprised to find Lee sitting on the chair next to my bunk, already dress. "Come on "Wild Card" were gonna be late.

I walk over to my locker next to the bunk and give him a smile. "Don't worry Apollo, I'm sure you'll get your wings."

"What daddy always wanted."

I snap around to face him at this comment "Come off it Lee."

"Oh, Come on Lauren. Like you don't see it."

I pull my uniform off its hanger "I'll never understand you Lee."

"I just see him now commanding his Battlestar, leaving mom alone, pushing Zac to get the good grades in school so he can become a man and get in that viper."

As I button the last few buttons on the jacket of my uniform I sit down next to Lee. "I think you're being hard on yourself and him to, he's your father. He wants the best for his children.

Lee stares me in face with those Adama eyes and takes my hand "He hasn't been around much."

"No. I know. Frak, I've lived it, or have you forgotten."

"Never" He says with a squeeze of my hand.

"All I'm saying is you know you're a good pilot; I know I'm good at it too. It's in our blood Lee. Why do you think the flight instructor calls me "Wild Card?"

"I don't have to think about that Lauren Myers, if I were flying I'd want a "Wild Card" up my sleeve and you're just that fraking good." He and I both laugh at that. Next thing we know there is a knock on the bunkroom door. "Come one you two we're going to be late. Kara reminds us as she turns around and starts walking to the main door. Lee and I stand up and straighten our uniforms, take off at a jog, to catch up.

We stood waiting anxiously with the rest of our classmates when the flight instructors walked in. We all stood at attention.

"As you were. Today is the day nuggets. You either move on or move out. Let's review red cards or blue cards will be hung inside each of your lockers. Red means you go back to basic. The blue card means you move on. If you receive a blue card, you will move on to Vipers. Any Questions?"

The room was silent no one had any questions the truth was there weren't a lot of first timers in the room Most of us came from military families and those that didn't had spent enough nights play cards and swapping stories to know how it worked.

"I'll leave you to it then. I would just like to say that this is one of the finest classes I have had the pleasure to work with. Some of you will walk out of here today and join the viper training squad. Some of you will walk out of here and head for your first round of command simulations before your first assignment Others will do both. You are all fine cadets and wherever your career takes you we are lucky to have as members of the Colonial Fleet. The flight instructor snapped to attention and gave us all a crisp salute. We all followed suit. He left a few moments later and people began to open their lockers those that where cut filed out the disappointment written on their faces those that made it collapsed onto the locker room bench in pure exhaustion

Lee, Kara and I stood in front of our lockers. Waiting for someone to make a move.

"This is stupid. We should just open the door and move on." Kara says

"I think she's right. It's more nerve racking just standing here waiting for someone to make a move. I mean it's not like it's going to bite us or anything. What'd say Lee?"

"I think you two are right. Let's open on three." Lee put his on the latch to his locker "One."… and then nothing.

Kara was standing next to me. We were both in the same position I looked over at Lee in the silence and rolled my deep brown eyes at him, he gave me that sad puppy look and I gave in "Two." I said almost inaudibly Kara finished off the count down with a louder "Three" and we all opened the locker and collapsed on the bench at the same time. Kara looked at me, and then back to her locker eyes wide. I looked at her and then to Lee and back to my locker. Lee followed much the same pattern. I looked quickly around the locker room, it seemed that while Lee, Kara and I were in our own little world everyone had left. We were the last three people in the room. The three of us looked at each other for a moment and then did the only thing we could think of. "WhOOOOOOOOOOOO" we let out the biggest cheer of our lives and sent silent prayer to which ever of the gods would listen. We'd made it to vipers and it felt real good.

I pulled Kara into a hug when we calmed down, "Congratulations"

"You too, Lauren."

Lee did the same to Kara and then took me a little by surprise as he pulled me into an embrace and kissed me on the cheek. We pulled away a second later and he looked into my eyes. "I… I'm sorry I… don't know what's gotten into me."

"It's okay, really"

"You know your Dad will be so proud of you"

"So will yours." I look at them both " Honestly, was there ever any doubt that the Son of William "Husher" Adama and the Daughter of Todd "Blackjack" Myers along with the best hot shot pilot to hit the Academy in thirty years "Kara "Starbuck" Thrace wouldn't make it to Vipers?"

"Not a chance." Starbuck replies Lee and I just laugh. We grab our duffels out the lockers and head for the door.

"We really should celebrate". Kara says

"Oh, we will." Lee offers as he holds the door.

"Bet your ass." I say as I walk through the door and throw him a smile.

I really was born to fly.