Something to Believe In, Pt 3
"What's your name, Specialist?"
"Excuse me, Sir?"
"I said, what is your name?"
Three weeks aboard Galactica, and still he doesn't know my name. It was the third time that day that Colonel Tigh had asked her, and no wonder. She could smell the alcohol on his breath even from where she sat at the Comm.
"It's Dualla, Sir."
"Right. Send a message to the Styx..."
Lieutenant Gaeta, the Officer of the Watch, quirked a smile behind the Colonel's back, shaking his head. He'd been on Galactica only a few months longer than she, but was already very familiar with his habits. On her first day at the Comm, she'd been so nervous that made a mistake in directing a supply ship, and got an earful from Tigh. She had just barely managed to hold in her tears as she walked to the head, and bawled her eyes off in one of the stalls. When she came out, Gaeta was there. "Don't worry about the Colonel. He's like that when he's hung over. He won't remember a thing tomorrow."
"But he'll–"
"Like I said, he won't remember a thing."
And he didn't. He just asked her, yet again, what her name was.
Gaeta's patience and sense of humor were lifesavers those first weeks. He could be firm and take charge, but still make her laugh with a side glance. She'd briefly flirted with the idea of finding out if he was single, but thought better of it–getting involved with a superior officer would definitely sidetrack the career she'd worked so hard for. Besides, she had the feeling he was gay (though she'd never ask). In any case, he was fast becoming a good friend.
"Damn! What's your name again?" the Colonel shouted in frustration.
"It's–"
"I know it begins with a 'D'...Damien...Durst...Dwayne...Frak it! 'D', patch me to the Atlantia!"
After the Colonel stalked out of C.I.C., Lt. Gaeta leaned over the Comm, and whispered, "At least he knows the first letter now. He didn't even get that before. So, now he'll be calling you 'D' all the time."
"I've been called worse."
"Like what?"
"In basic, they called me Purple Eyeshadow."
Gaeta snickered for a second. "Okay 'D', check the status of the EVA teams. Shield testing's in one hour."
"Yes, Sir." Dee...I like that. It's a good name. Easier to remember than Dualla.
33333
Her life aboard the Battlestar Galactica had a simple rhythm.
At 0500, she woke up, dragged herself out of her bunk, showered, and made her way to the mess for a cup of coffee and muffin. After getting her caffeine fix, she made her way to C.I.C. for her 0600 shift. On the way, she waved 'hi' to some of the acquaintances she'd met on her first orientation, picked up some engine reports to take to C.I.C., stepped aside to avoid a group of pilots jogging down the corridor.
"Make a hole!" shouted one of them, a blonde woman named...Thrace, wasn't it?. Kara Thrace. She usually knew her by her callsign–
"Starbuck!" came a rumbling voice behind Dee. "What do you hear?"
"Nothing but the rain!" A big smile lit up Starbuck's face.
"Then grab your gun and bring in the cat."
"Boom, boom, boom."
As Starbuck ran past her, she wondered how they came up with that routine...it seemed so silly, yet so personal...Gaeta would probably know. And speaking of Commander Adama...
"Good morning, Dualla", he said, "How are you this morning?"
As he began walking with her, she fell into his pace. "Fine, Sir. And you?"
"Okay, thank you."
"I've got the latest engineering reports. Chief Specialist Sokoff says that the FTL engines are all right, but the starboard impulse engine needs to be replaced."
"Looks like we came into dock just in time. She's a sturdy old girl, but she's seen her share of years."
Tell me about it. When repairing the Comm a week ago, she and another specialist had to make a couple of circuits from scratch because they didn't make those parts anymore. "Yes, Sir."
When they walked into C.I.C., Lt. Gaeta was waiting, and began briefing the Commander, while she took her seat at the Comm. There she stayed for about four hours, directing ship traffic, relaying messages, sending out status reports to the Picon Orbital Station. She took her break, grabbing a half-sandwich (she was always a light eater), glancing over some reports, fending off advances from a nugget Viper pilot, before making her way back to work. After another four hours or so, she went back to her rack to relax, did situps in the gym, or simply wandered the corridors trying to make sense of her new home before falling asleep.
33333
She and Lt. Gaeta pulled R&R passes for the same two days, so they decided to spend at least one of them in Picon City. They'd both had been through basic training on Picon, but never had the time to actually go out sightseeing, so they, and a couple of other crew members made it a day of renting paddleboats to putter around in–with hilarious results. After drying off, they hit one of the casinos to people-watch at the bar.
While their companions were buying another round of drinks, Dee leaned over to Gaeta. "What do you know about Starbuck?"
"Why do you ask?"
"Well, whenever I see her and the Commander together, they go through this whole ritual–"
"What do you hear?" Gaeta's imitation of the Commander was flawless.
"Yeah, that."
"Well", he stirred his Caprican Sunrise thoughtfully, "From what I've been able to gather, she was once engaged to his son."
"How long ago."
"About a few months before I came aboard Galactica."
"So why didn't she marry him?"
"He died."
"Oh."
"She's kind of like a daughter to him ever since, so he pulled strings to get her on his ship."
"That kind of explains things. I've only been on board for a month, and she's already been in the brig four or five times. Yet I haven't had to transmit any formal grievences to Picon Command."
"Yeah, a father's indulgence, I guess." He looked at her for a moment. "You don't like her, do you?"
Dee sipped her drink before answering. Gaeta was a friend, but he was also her boss. "I don't like that she's able to bend the rules so much." She's a spoiled brat, that's what she is.
"I've got news for you. She may not be his blood, but Children of Officers of the Fleet get away with murder all the time. I could tell you a story or two–"
At that moment, their companions returned with their drinks, and Gaeta moved onto another subject.
From the lowliest janitor to the Old Man himself, everybody traded rumors–it was the currency of the realm aboard a battlestar. It was also a way to learn how to avoid any potential minefields in the future. I gotta get the rest later...maybe after he's had a couple more Caprican Sunrises.
33333
About two weeks later, the overhaul of Galactica was complete, and the old girl was ready to be launched back into the depths of space.
Butterflies ran amok in Dee's stomach. She had six weeks to integrate herself into the crew, now the real work began. "Sir, Picon Orbital has given us the go."
The Commander nodded. "Mr. Gaeta, initiate the impulse thrusters. Steady as she goes..."
As the Galactica glided out of its berth, Dee could feel the subtle motion of the ship, the hum of activity all around her. She felt excitement. This was her first tour of duty–the first real day of her life.
