Starbuck felt the gentle nudge trying to wake him. "Mmm, just a little longer, Rene," he mumbled.
"Starbuck, get up."
His eyes snapped open at Boomer's voice. He had a questioning look, but Boomer answered before he could ask.
"I directed her to the female bunkroom for a turbo. She said she'd meet you at breakfast."
Starbuck nodded, sitting up, running his hand through his hair. It didn't feel as nice as hers had.
"So what are you up to, Starbuck?" Boomer asked, ever the pragmatic voice of reason.
"Enjoying life," Starbuck returned, sounding more defensive than he had intended.
"Isn't she a little young for you? And what about Cassiopeia? I thought you were beyond all this."
"Beyond all what? I asked Cassie to seal with me, and she said no, Boomer. From where I'm standing, that means I'm free to play the field." Starbuck got up, heading for his locker intending to get a turbo.
"Is that what you are doing? Playing the field, or just playing around?"
"What's wrong with having some fun, buddy?" Starbuck grumbled, not wanting his mood ruined, certainly not so early in the morning.
"She's a little young. Plus she's probably headed back to her planet."
"And Cain was twice as old as Cassie. Didn't stop him," Starbuck said, slamming his locker and realizing for a zillionth time that the thought of Cassie with Cain could still make him angry.
"Maybe it should have." Boomer stated.
"Hey, she kissed me first. I think she knows what she's doing."
"Kissing! Starbuck, what the hades is wrong with you? In the male bunkroom and everything?"
Starbuck walked away with Boomer still lecturing after him. He hadn't started this, and if he had, she gave as good as she got. She wasn't a kid, after all. She'd lived through Cylon slavery. She was old enough in his eyes, wasn't she?
He was still trying not to mull over Boomer's words as he walked into the dining hall to see Jake sitting closely beside Cassiopeia sharing breakfast. The sight brought him up short. The two looked like they were sharing an intimate conversation.
Starbuck debated whether he should join them. He wasn't sure if he felt jealous or not, and that revelation bothered him. He should be jealous, maybe, he thought to himself, as he watched the way Cassie had cozied up to the Zakar Warrior. "I mean, I was just about to ask her to get sealed, and just a few days later she's looking like she's interested in someone else." Starbuck thought to himself, then heard some voice in his head say, "And aren't you interested in someone else?"
He mulled that thought over as he watched the two for a moment. It was obvious that Jake was taken by Cassiopeia, of course who wouldn't be, she was beautiful. But Cassie appeared to also be enjoying the young warrior's attention. It occurred to Starbuck for a moment that she shouldn't be flirting with the boy. Jake was too young for her, Starbuck thought, when he remembered that Cassie was younger than Starbuck. He forgot sometimes, knowing she had been involved for some time with Commander Cain, twice Starbuck's age. Somehow it made Cassie older in his mind. Then again, she had a rare maturity, developed from two careers where she had dealt with people's insecurities and feelings, putting them ahead of her own. At least while on the job.
Starbuck was still debating on joining them or leaving them their privacy, when Rene came in the door behind him. "Good morning, handsome. I'm starving. Let's see what looks good." She said, putting her arm through his and leading him over towards Jake and Cassie. "Besides you, of course."
Before he could make the decision, Rene had made it for him as she led him over and sat down at the table across from Jake and Cassie, Rene straddling the bench to the table.
"Good morning, Starbuck." Cassie said somewhat coolly, then turned her attention to Rene. "Where did you disappear to last night, Rene? We waited for you." The med tech pulled away slightly from how close she had been sitting with Jake.
"Oh, that's sweet. I got caught up in something. Maybe we'll have to get together another time for girl talk." Rene said politely, then she pitched her voice lower. "Hey Jake, you got any? I need a pick me up."
Cassie visibly withdrew farther from Jake, casting him a suspicious look. Starbuck openly stared at Rene, unsure for a moment if he heard her correctly. What Rene seemed to be asking for was unheard of amongst Colonial Warriors. He'd heard the phrase before, but only in bars or on the streets of Caprica, not in a Battlestar mess hall.
Jake assessed the look he was receiving from Cassiopeia and answered Rene in a not too pleased tone, "Try getting some sleep next time. I'm all out and you know that."
Before anyone could respond the doors to the dining hall opened and Commander Dante sauntered in followed by Colonel Gage.
"Muster Up, Zakar Warriors!" Colonel Gage said. Jake and Rene immediately came to their feet, Rene almost tripping over the bench that was between her legs, in her haste to rise to attention. Starbuck even found himself flinching.
"Good morning, Lieutenants." Dante said to Jake and Rene. Starbuck sat there, unsure whether he was being insubordinate not having come to attention himself.
"Are your legs broken, Lieutenant?" Dante looked down upon Starbuck. Before the Galactica lieutenant could answer, Dante added, "Well unless you want them to be, I suggest you stand at attention."
Starbuck opened his mouth in disbelief at the flagrant threat, then shut it again as Dante curled a lip back over his teeth like a rabid daggit about to attack. The commander seemed to loom over him, giving his all to intimidate and humiliate a subordinate officer. It made Starbuck realize that he'd had a lot of practice.
"Are you deaf, or just insubordinate, Lieutenant Starbuck?" Dante snapped a micron later. "Stand alert! That's an order!"
Feeling several sets of eyes in the mess on him, slowly he came to his feet, hardly believing that he was coming to for this man. He gritted his teeth as he drew himself erect, and kept his eyes locked on some neutral spot across the room.
"I see that you are making yourselves at home." Dante said, indicating the Galactica personnel. Neither Jake nor Rene acknowledged the comment, instead remaining silent in their posture of respect. "Lt. Rene, where were you last night?"
"With my wingmates, Sir," she answered, still staring straight ahead, which just happened to be in Starbuck's direction.
Starbuck's own gaze was diverted by Dante's sudden interest in her, and the lieutenant recognized a flash of fear in her eyes as she glanced at him.
"With your wingmates, is that right?" Dante answered, his voice hinting at danger.
"Sir, yes sir."
"And would that have been in the Male warriors bunk room?"
Rene hesitated for moment before answering, "Yes, sir."
"That's good. These Colonial Warriors need a good example of the kind of warriors I have trained. That you are no different than any of the male warriors." Rene's stance visibly relaxed as she realized she was not in trouble. "I expect you to continue to be an example today of the superior training you have received. Lieutenants, give me 20."
Without hesitation both Jake and Rene dropped to the floor and began to perform pushups, as Dante sauntered off to get himself a cup of java. Colonel Gage remained by the Zakar Warriors as they continued with their pushups. Starbuck openly looked at Gage, wondering what the dynamics were between these warriors. He had seen that Gage cared for his subordinates on a personal level, could almost be said to be their friend. Yet not once had he intervened with Commander Dante on their behalf.
When Dante was across the room, his back still to Gage and the others, Gage directed his voice quietly down to Rene. "Watch yourself. It's going to be a long day."
"Yes sir. Message received," she said out of breath.
Dante walked back as both Jake and Rene finished the 20 pushups he had ordered. Both started to rise when Dante walked past and said in an offhand way, "20 more, Lieutenant Rene." Without so much as a sigh or a groan, she dropped back to the floor, performing 20 more as quickly as possible.
"So, Lt. Starbuck is it?" Dante looked Starbuck in the eye, ignoring Lt. Rene on the floor at his feet.
"Yes, Sir." Starbuck answered, nearly choking on the 'sir'.
"I believe I ordered twenty push ups. Do you normally ignore orders? As well as decorum?" He gazed at Starbuck like he was some worthless lowlife.
"No, sir. But since you asked, Commander Adama is a little less rigid on decorum. Sir." Starbuck met the man's eyes, not liking the evil glint.
"And see what it gets him, Lieutenant. Unruly, sloppy, long-haired, smart-astrumed Viper jocks. Drop and give me twenty, Lieutenant. Or I'll personally put you on report."
With a steadying breath, Starbuck dropped to the deck, pumping out a quick twenty push ups, he felt as easily as when he was fresh from the Academy. Dante did not move, waiting until Starbuck was done. The lieutenant quickly regained his feet, and met the man's glare again. It paid to keep fit.
Dante still smiled. "You'll learn to let that attitude go when you realize it affects more than you. Lt. Rene, twenty more for the Lieutenant's insolence."
Starbuck watched her close her eyes in resignation, and drop to the floor again, not moving as quickly as before.
Starbuck glared at the man, and Dante chuckled. "Double that Lieutenant." Dante chuckled again, when Starbuck turned away, his hands clenched into fists. "Stand alert, Lieutenant Starbuck. We'll get you whipped into shape yet."
As Starbuck drew himself rigidly erect once again, Dante looked down and counted. Each word from the man's lips made Starbuck want to haul off and slug him, but he could just imagine Commander Adama's reaction to him assaulting a superior officer for handing out discipline in the mess hall. No, he'd have to control his anger, despite a burning desire to body slam Dante into the nearest wall, and tell him off for terrorizing a group of youngsters that had so much potential and talent. And misplaced allegiance.
When Dante reached 30, he turned and strode out of the room, with Gage following. With the sound of the doors shutting, Rene collapsed to the floor for a moment, then got up to straddle the bench once more. She was looking down in anger and embarrassment.
Starbuck stood over her quietly, raking his hand through his hair, while he tried to contain his anger, and find some way to tell her . . . "I'm sorry. I didn't think . . . didn't know . . . frak!"
"Not your fault," she shrugged, as though it wasn't the first time.
Jake reached inside his jacket pocket and pulled out a small paper packet, and slid it across the table to Rene. She looked down at the packet as it approached her, then replaced his hand over it, pocketing it in her jacket. "Thanks. Looks like I'm gonna need it." She said quietly, and then got up to get herself something to eat and drink, feeling Starbuck's eyes on her as she crossed the room.
"What was that you gave her?" Cassiopeia said, neither condescending nor approving in her tone.
Jake answered, "A pain killer laced with stimulants. It's mild. They issue the stuff to us. Like mushies."
"But narcotics and stimulants are addictive!" Cassie said shocked.
"Yeah, we know." Jake shrugged. "We try not to use them much."
"But you do use them," she said, glancing at the still pacing Starbuck, before returning her attention to the younger warrior.
"Sometimes." Jake looked down as he said it, then looked back up at Cassiopeia. "You've got to remember, we're from the streets. Most of us were addicted to far worse. And you'd be amazed at the affect some stimulants have on a Warrior in battle."
"But over time it is very harmful, and can be irreversible. You don't mean to tell me that your Commander has been drugging his Warriors?" Cassiopeia asked outraged.
Rene rejoined them at the table, quietly sitting down and beginning to eat. Only then did Starbuck take a seat too. Jake was silent, trying to think of an appropriate response. Also pondering the implications of what Cassiopeia was saying, that not all Commanders were like Dante. That perhaps his methods were unique.
Cassiopeia watched Jake, wondering about the thoughts that were going through his mind. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her instincts as a healer made her want to get some answers and bring it to Commander Adam's attention. But she also wanted to be sure. She knew the situation was politically charged, and once the Council of 12 became involved it could become very complicated.
"Jake," she said, putting her hand on his arm in confidence, "Are you saying that your Commander prescribes these drugs?"
Jake started to answer when Rene cut him off, "Not one word, Jake. You've said enough." She looked up from her plate to look at her friend. "I'm serious, not one word. Not yet. Not today." Rene went back to eating.
"What are you saying?" Cassiopeia said turning to Rene. Rene continued eating in silence. "You can tell us, it will go no further than this table, I promise." Cassie said.
Starbuck watched Rene intently. He was beginning to understand there were secrets beneath her friendly exterior. She finished her plate, then looked up, first at Starbuck with an apologetic look on her face, then to Cassiopeia, before saying, "We've got a long day ahead of us. Lots of briefings and details to work out. Could we talk about this tomorrow?"
"But you may not be here tomorrow," Starbuck interjected softly, adding his voice to the conversation for the first time.
"I'll be here." Rene said, looking back at Starbuck. "The rest are leaving, but I'll be here. Come on Jake, we can't afford to be late."
The two Zakar Warriors got up to leave. Jake reached down and whispered to Cassie, "I like it that you care."
Starbuck got up also to follow them out of the room, leaving Cassiopeia alone to ponder the importance of what she had just witnessed.
"Is he like that all the time?" Starbuck asked when the three were alone in a lift.
Jake answered, "No, today's a good day. No one's bleeding."
Rene turned on Jake, "You need to learn to shut your mouth, or you'll be the one bleeding today!"
"Hey, it's me, remember?" Starbuck inserted. "The guy from last night? You can tell me what's going on here, you know that right?"
"Tell you what exactly?" Rene said sarcastically.
"Oh, I don't know, maybe that your Commander's an astrum? Or that you're tired of taking his felgercarb." Starbuck said, venting his anger.
Jake chuckled maniacally.
Rene cast Jake a quick look, and he fell silent. "Why, what are you going to do about it? Rescue us? Is that it, Hero?"
"Maybe." Starbuck said, his anger cooling as he sensed the powerless Rene was probably feeling. He knew he'd felt it more than once in his own career as a Warrior. But things were different now. "Maybe suggest a permanent transfer."
Rene stared angrily at Starbuck, and then lowered her eyes, sighing as she realized he did mean well. "It's not that simple, Starbuck."
"Why not? I'll protect you if that's what you're worried about."
Rene wanted to laugh, but he looked so fracking sincere, she stifled it. She nodded her head instead. "I know you would." She said, reaching out to take his hand. "Some things aren't that simple, Starbuck. Not everything can be solved by running away."
Jake laughed again, "Remember, we're runaways. You think we haven't already tried that?"
"Yeah, but," Starbuck wasn't able to complete the thought as the lift doors opened onto the bridge, and Dante awaiting his Warriors.