THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS
Chapter 7
As he approached Athena's room, Commander Adama immediately spotted the woman kneeling before a statuette alongside one of her marine guards. As the other guard at the door prepared to call out the Commander's arrival, Adama silenced him with a slightly raised hand and a shake of his head. Standing patiently until he was sure that the pair had finished their prayers, the Commander cleared his throat.
Rising to their feet and turning rapidly around, Athena and Corporal Venner rapidly snapped to attention on recognizing the Commander.
"Sir!" Corporal Venner reported, "I was just..."
"As you were, Corporal." Adama replied, "You and the private take your posts outside, I'd like to speak to the Lieutenant privately."
"Yes, Sir."
"I hope Corporal Venner won't get into any trouble because of me." Athena pleaded the Corporal's case.
"Don't worry." Adama smiled, "He won't be punished. Have a seat, Lieutenant. This is an informal chat."
"Thank you, Sir." Athena replied as she took her seat at the edge of the bed while Adama sat down in the chair beside her.
"I imagine the last few days have been quite a whirlwind for you." Adama chuckled as he regarded the woman sitting across from him.
"Yes, Sir." Athena grinned wryly, "They have."
"You said that before the Cylon attack on your worlds that you were working on your doctoral degree?"
"Yes, Sir." Athena nodded her head, "In physics and the philosophy of science."
"Fascinating. Anything published?" Adama inquired.
"Yes, Sir." The Lieutenant responded with a note of pride in her voice. "I had a couple of essays published dealing with the ethics of creating artificial intelligence."
"Interesting." Adama noted thoughtfully, "And what did you conclude?"
"That it was ethically perilous to play god in such a way. That before a civilization takes such a step, that it needs to ask itself whether it is truly mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with it." Athena declared.
Nodding his head, Adama commented somberly, "Would that we had asked ourselves those questions before we created the Cylons." Pausing for a moment, the Commander changed the subject, "You also said that you were a Viper pilot. It takes a great deal of skill to pilot a Viper. How were you able to juggle both roles—scientist and pilot?"
"With great difficulty." Athena chuckled, bringing a smile to the Commander's face. "Honestly, Sir. It was difficult. I entered flight training as a Warrior immediately after completing my master's work and more or less let my doctoral work slide. I felt I was needed more as a Warrior than as a scientist. Unfortunately..." She remarked in a bitter tone, "Women where I'm from were not permitted to fly Vipers, so I was initially trained on shuttlecraft."
"So...when did you receive your Viper training?"
"After the Cylon attack." Athena answered. "My...father and brother...didn't have a choice. Almost all the male Viper pilots were taken ill by a disease that slipped through quarantine, so Father was forced to turn to female pilots. That's when I received Viper training and saw my first combat while still in training."
"Hmmmm..." Adama pondered for several moments over Athena's remarks before inquiring, "Have you flown Vipers since."
"Yes, Sir." Athena promptly replied, "It wasn't easy though. I've had to push and scrape and fight for every hour of flight time in a Viper I could get, but, thanks to Starbuck and Boomer, I got time. I am good. Damn good! I was probably the fourth best Viper pilot in the Fleet—only Starbuck, my brother, and Boomer are better. Starbuck and Boomer knew that and wanted me to fly. Colonel Tigh understood that. But...my brother would never put me on the flight roster...no matter how hard I pleaded and Father would always support my brother. I ended up standing bridge watch after bridge watch and ultimately...teaching primary school."
"It sounds like you were close friends with the Starbuck and Boomer from your side." The Commander remarked and then inquired, "Why don't you tell me about them?"
"I'd love to, Sir." Athena smiled as she recalled both good times and bad times with the two pilots, bringing laughter more than once to the lined face of the man who was her genetic father in this universe.
"I think you'll find our Starbuck and Boomer quite a bit different once you meet them—in the physical sense especially." Adama smirked, "But...where it counts...in their heart and soul...they're in some ways similar, so maybe they won't be so different after all." His smile vanishing, Adama looked directly into Athena's eyes as he asked his next question, "So...which do you prefer? Science or flying?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Athena responded, "Flying, Sir. Don't get me wrong...I enjoyed my time at the University, but I as I said, I fought—and fought hard—for every moment of flight time in the cockpit of that Viper and I consider myself to be first and foremost a pilot—a damned good pilot too. I love being...I want to be in the cockpit of a Viper...to feel the adrenaline rush as you go into combat...to be with my fellow Warriors...I don't need to explain, do I, Sir?"
"No." Adama smiled, "You don't. So...other than reasons of sexism, why wouldn't your father and brother allow you more flight time?"
Athena flashed a quick smile, "My father and brother—please, don't get me wrong—I love them both and miss them terribly—but they had always been very protective of me. I was..."
"Daddy's little girl and big brothers are supposed to take care of their little sisters." Adama chuckled. "I guess I might have been the same way if I had had a daughter or I had gotten to know my half-sister better." The older man paused for a moment as thoughts of Tamara rushed through his mind. Feeling a connection with the eager young pilot sitting across from him, Adama forced himself to remark, "Still you carried out your duties."
"Yes, Sir." Athena proudly responded, "To the best of my ability. The pilots depended on my attention to duty on the bridge and even though I hated every moment in that classroom, I loved those children. But..."
"But you felt your true place was in the cockpit of a Viper." Adama concluded.
Nodding her head, Athena responded with an affirmative, "Yes, Sir."
Standing up, the Commander requested, "Walk with me, Lieutenant. I want to show you my Galactica."
Smiling, Athena replied, "I'd like that, Sir."
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"This is CIC." Commander Adama explained as he and his 'daughter' entered the battlestar's nerve center.
"Commander on deck!" Colonel Tigh promptly called out.
"As you were." Adama immediately responded. Taking a clipboard from a dusky-skinned woman wearing olive-drab, Adama read it and signed his name, "Thank you, Petty Officer, Dualla." Gesturing towards where a dark haired young officer was standing, Adama said, "Mr. Gaeta is our operations officer and he's standing next to our dradis. We use dradis to identify and detect both friendly and hostile ships."
"My Galactica had something similar." Athena replied, "Although we didn't call it dradis. I have a feeling our systems operate along similar principles though."
"You've met Colonel Tigh earlier." Adama introduced, gesturing for his XO to approach.
"Sir." Athena snapped to attention as the XO neared.
"Stand easy, Lieutenant." The colonel growled, but the slight nod of his head betrayed his appreciation of her gesture of respect. "Yes, Sir?"
"I'm giving the Lieutenant a tour of the ship. Afterwards, I'd like you and the CAG to meet me in the conference room after lunch. Also, could you request that the president, Doctor Baltar, and Reverend Elosha join us?"
"Yes, Sir." The XO acknowledged as the Commander gestured escorted his guest towards the exit.
"They seem to be a good crew." Athena noted as the pair walked down the corridor.
"They are." Commander Adama nodded his head.
"Have you ran into many Cylon patrols since..."
"Since the attack?" Adama finished, "A few after Ragnar Anchorage. Too few. That's what's worrying me." The Commander confided.
"You think they might be prepping for something major?" Athena conjectured.
"That's a logical assumption." Adama agreed as they came into an area in which the walls were covered by pictures. "There are a lot of people searching for missing family members...loved ones. Our resources are stretched thin and there are so many ships in the Fleet. So, people have been putting up pictures in the hopes that someone will see their picture and will recognize that person."
Seeing a tiny doll on one of the stands, Athena commented sadly, "I see that people are also leaving mementos..."
"Yes," Adama replied, "They're not really supposed to, but I don't have the heart to order them taken away." The Commander declared with a sigh as one of the Galactica crewmen somberly put up the picture of an attractive blonde haired woman, "People need a place to grieve and to share their grief with others."
"I know." Athena said in a soft voice as she gently took the Commander's hand and squeezed. "I wish we had something similar. Shortly after the attack..." She explained as she picked up the doll and held it in her hands, "My father and brother landed on Caprica. Father went to our old house. He couldn't find Mother, but she was killed...he felt it. He looked and found likenesses of Mother, myself, Apollo, and Zak." She said as tears began running down her cheeks. I keep a likeness of her...I don't have it now...it was in my Viper."
"Is this it?" Adama asked as he presented a photograph of a beautiful woman, giving it to the young woman standing next to her.
"Yes!" Athena cried out as she hugged the Commander. Breaking her hug, she apologized, "Sorry, Sir."
"I think we can overlook the lapse of protocol this time, Lieutenant." Adama grinned. "Chief Tyrol found it and gave it to Colonel Tigh and the colonel gave it to me."
As she looked at her mother's likeness and at the little doll in her hands, Athena asked, "Could I...would it be all right if I..." She then looked at the wall, her meaning clear.
"Of course, you can." Adama agreed with a solemn nod of his head as Athena first carefully placed the doll back where it had been left and then put up her mother's likeness on an open spot of the wall.
"Thank you, Sir." Athena smiled as she looked up at the Commander.
"If it's not too painful..." Adama hesitated and then decided to ask, "How did your brother..."
"How did Zak die?" Athena completed. Pausing for several moments to gather her thoughts, Athena examined all the pictures on the wall and the mementos put up by loved ones before speaking. "Starbuck and my brother were supposed to go on patrol together. I was piloting the shuttlecraft that was taking my father back from a meeting of the Quorum. He had misgivings about the peace with the Cylons—felt it was a trick. So, he ordered patrols to continue even though Baltar and most of the Quorum objected."
"A wise man." Adama agreed, nodding his head in approval.
"Zak had just graduated flight school and had received his Warrior's pin and wanted more than anything else to fly what a lot of people thought would be the last patrol of the war. So, he got Starbuck to play sick..." Hearing Adama chuckle, Athena gave him a quizzical look.
"I'm sorry, Lieutenant." The Commander apologized, "But that sounds like something our Starbuck would do. Please continue."
"Apollo told me later on that he knew what was going on, but let Zak fly with him anyway." Athena continued her tale, "They found a Cylon attack force hiding in the atmosphere of a gas giant. No basestar. The Cylons used a tanker to refuel and had a freighter standing by as well."
"I see." Adama clenched his teeth, "Your father was right."
Athena nodded her head, "Yes, Sir. Once the Cylons spotted them, they sent some raiders to intercept them. My brothers fought the raiders, but in the fight, one of Zak's engines was hit. Apollo stayed with him as they tried to make it back to the Fleet before the Cylons, but Zak was slowing them down and the Cylons were catching up." Pausing for a moment to catch her breath, Athena sighed, "He told Apollo to go on...to warn us. Zak then turned his Viper around and engaged the Cylons to cover Apollo's escape."
"I see..." Adama said as the young woman collapsed sobbing into his arms. "I know it's small comfort." The Commander consoled, "But his sacrifice might well have saved thousands."
"That's just it!" Athena sobbed, "It didn't! Father tried to warn the president! Tried to get him to alert the Fleet. Even as we picked up the Cylons on our scanners, he begged President Adar to allow him to launch our Vipers. But the president had Baltar right next to him, whispering in his ear." The young Warrior spat out venomously, "So he refused to give my Father permission."
"Damn." Adama swore.
"Father, though..." Athena smiled fondly, "Along with Colonel Tigh decided that it was the perfect time to conduct a readiness drill and so ordered the ship to battle stations and had the pilots in their Vipers and the Vipers in their launch tubes when the Cylons came."
"Good." The Commander nodded his head, "He did all he could do without violating a presidential order." Smiling, Adama remarked, "I hope one day I can meet him."
"I hope so too, Sir. I think he'd like you." Pausing for a moment, Athena tentatively inquired, "If it's not too personal, Sir, can I ask how your son died?"
Taking a deep breath and exhaling, the Commander nodded his head. "My younger son's name was Zach as well and like your brother, he was training to be a Viper pilot. He died in training." Adama said, his head lowered, "It was an accident."
"I'm sorry, Sir." Athena said in a voice both consoling and apologetic.
"Thank you." Adama acknowledged with a sad smile. His eyes turning to the clock he said, "I'm afraid we need to head back to the infirmary. It's lunch time now and I'm sure you're hungry. Also..." The Commander said, "We need to find other quarters for you other than Doc Cottle's infirmary..."
"Sir?" Athena tentative asked as the pair walked away from the memorial, "I know that I'll probably never return to my home again and that this is going to be my new home. So...I just wanted to let you know that I'm willing to do anything that needs doing to help. I don't care what it is. Teaching kids, scrubbing the bulkheads, whatever."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Adama smiled, "I think I might have something in mind for you, but I'll need to talk it over with a few people first. I'll let you know soon how it turns out." He said as the pair entered the infirmary, only to see Dr. Baltar waiting.
"Athena!" Doctor Baltar greeted with a smile and a wave of his hand. "I was wondering...if it's not too much of an imposition..." He stammered, "Would you like to join me for lunch in the galley. While not my first choice as far as appetizing is concerned..." The scientist remarked with a winning grin, "The meals are filling."
"Doc says you should be able to eat most solid foods now." Nurse Ishay said, "Just try to avoid anything overly spicy for a few days."
"I'm not sure that's such a good idea..." Athena demurred.
"She still doesn't trust you, Gaius..." his ethereal companion, this time wearing a diaphanous light blue dress, smirked as she rubbed up sensuously against him.
"I can see..." Baltar said in a gentle tone, "...that you're not sure about me right now. And believe me...I can understand why. I only hope that given time you'll give me the opportunity to prove myself to you. I realize that this all must be more than a little overwhelming to you, and the fact that my surname is the same as the one who betrayed your people doesn't help matters any. If you'd rather not...I'll understand. I just want you to know that if there's anything you need...anything I can do to help you...all you have to do is ask."
Feeling guilty at her flinching, Athena quickly apologized, "I'm sorry...it's just that...All right...let's have lunch...I am hungry."
Smiling inwardly as he saw that his words had the desired effect, Gaius smiled back, "Excellent. That'll give us a chance to talk."
"Guys?" Athena called out to her marine guards. "You ready to grab a bite to eat?"
"Thank you, Ma'am." Corporal Venner replied, "We could sure go for some chow now."
"All right." Athena smiled, "Ready when you are."
As soon as the pair had sat down with their trays, Baltar asked, "I'm curious. What sort of readings did you pick up from the anomaly before it..."
"Before it swallowed me up?" Athena completed, "Well..." She began, "Do you have a minicomp or something I could write with?"
"Here." Gaius offered as he produced a small pad and pencil. "Sorry, it's the best I can do under the circumstances."
"It'll work." Athena remarked as she began to write out mathematical equations.
"Interesting." Baltar commented, "But what if..." He then took the pencil and replaced one of Athena's variables, "We replace that with this?"
"That would change the entire nature of the equation!" Athena exclaimed loudly, attracting the attention of the nearby diners. "Sorry." The brunette apologized. "Problem is though, you're not taking into account this factor here..." She said as she crossed out one of Baltar's formulae and plugged in another.
"I see..." The scientist smiled as his invisible blonde companion appeared next to him.
"Foreplay with equations, Gaius?" His phantom lover quipped as she blew in his ear.
"You still here?" Athena waved her hand in front of Baltar's face.
"Oh...I'm sorry." The scientist apologized. "I was just thinking that if you brought in this variable it might balance out the equation."
"Possibly." Athena nodded her head as she finished the last of her meal. Glancing in the direction of her guards, she smiled, "I think we should be getting back though. I don't want to get the corporal and the private in any trouble."
"Thank you, Ma'am." Corporal Venner said with a smile. Turning towards his fellow guard, he whispered, "Did you understand what those two were talking about?"
"Not a frakking thing." The private replied, shaking his head, "You forget? I failed math in school."
As they left the galley and entered the corridor, Athena turned to her lunch companion. "I...actually enjoyed myself. Is there something...a name...I can call you other than..."
Smiling, Baltar stretched out his hand, "Please...Call me Gaius. That's my given name."
"All right." Athena nodded her head, "Gaius. It was fun."
"Thank you." Gaius replied with a half bow. "And...I was wondering...if it would be all right...once you got settled in and all, of course...if I could perhaps see you again?"
"Depending on what Commander Adama decides to do with me and where he decides to put me..." Athena replied, "Yes. I think I'd like that."
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"So...what are your opinions on Athena?" The Commander asked the individuals assembled around the round conference table.
"She wants to contribute." Elosha declared. "She realizes that she's not going to return to where she came from and as a result she's adrift..."
"She seems to be enthusiastically embracing the worship of Isis." Roslin noted.
"That she is." Elosha agreed, "But I don't sense she feels a calling for the priesthood. Rather, I sense it's more that Isis provides a source of comfort for her. No...another life beckons her."
"I heard she was a teacher." Roslin said. "We're definitely going to need to set up schools for our children and skilled and qualified teachers are in short supply."
"She hated teaching." Adama declared. "She told me that while she loved the children, she hated every moment in that classroom. Putting her in charge of students would be like sending her to Hades."
"She's shown a keen grasp of physics." Dr. Baltar noted.
"And also a strong ethical foundation." Adama agreed, "But, while she enjoys the sciences, that's not what she wants to do."
"What does she want to do?" Lee inquired.
"She wants to fly." Adama stated, "She's obviously capable of flying a Viper..."
"Father...Commander..."Lee protested, "...you're not seriously suggesting that we..."
"She understands military protocol." Colonel Tigh observed, "And those tapes we listened to indicate that she can keep her cool."
Nodding his head, Adama added, "She has a high capacity for initiative, while also being willing to follow orders—even if she personally doesn't like them."
"She also has a strong moral center." Elosha commented. "I do not believe she will willingly carry out what she feels to be an unlawful order without just cause or good reason."
"So...if she were ordered to just kill someone in cold blood without reason, she'd probably refuse." Roslin posited.
"Most likely." Elosha agreed.
"I'd rather have someone willing to question or refuse an unlawful order and be willing to accept the consequences rather than an automaton who claims later that, 'I was just following orders.'" Adama forcefully declared.
"Would she be willing to accept the consequences of her actions?" Lee questioned.
"Yes," Elosha nodded her head, "She would."
"We are short of pilots..." Tigh began, "But Commander...we know so little about her...are you sure you want to risk putting her in the pilot's seat of a Viper?"
Coming to a decision, Commander Adama declared, "The odds are slim that we'll be able to find a way to get her back to where she belongs, so like it or not, this is now her home. She needs a purpose—a reason to go on—and I intend to give her that."
"Bill..." Tigh cautioned, lowering his voice so that the others couldn't hear, "Are you sure you're not doing this because of those test results? While she might have the same genetics as your daughter would have had if you had a daughter—you know she's not really your daughter—right? She's some other Adama's kid."
"You're right, Saul." William answered back, "And if he's anything like me, he's probably grieving for her now—as is her brother if he's anything like Lee. She might not be my daughter, but as I said, she needs a home and she'll have one here. My mind's made up."
Knowing that when his father's mind was made up, it was useless to argue further, Lee simply nodded his head and acknowledged with a polite, "Yes, sir."
Turning to Laura, William asked, "Madame President, only the President can issue commissions for officers. Do you consent?"
Nodding her head, the president replied, "While I'll admit to still having some reservations, I'll accede to your judgment. Since I don't have any formal commissioning certificates..." The president stated as she handed a piece of paper to the Commander, "I'll let you fill in the details as to rank and all."
"Thank you, Madame President." Commander Adama stated as he took the signed paper and filled in the necessary legal formula, passing it back to the president for her signature.
"I hope you know what you're doing, Bill..." Colonel Tigh remarked sotto voce as Commander Adama addressed his son.
"Lee..." The Commander ordered, "I want you to check Athena out in a viper...give her cockpit and ground instruction—see how much she knows and then, if and only if, you feel confident enough in her abilities, take her out and see how she does in flight. If she does ok, we'll put her on the flight rotation. If she's got ability, but needs more training, then we'll assign her to a training cadre. If she doesn't work out, then we'll assign her to the bridge or other duties."
"Yes, Sir." Lee acknowledged as the Commander instructed the marine standing watch to fetch Athena from the infirmary.
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"You can come in, now." Commander Adama called out upon hearing the knock at the door. "Stand in front of the flag and raise your right hand..." The Commander directed, gesturing at a flag beside which on either side stood the president, Captain Adama, Elosha, Dr. Baltar, and Colonel Tigh. Taking her place before the flag, Athena did as she was told. As the Commander approached Athena, Colonel Tigh called out, "Attention on deck!"
"Raise your right hand and repeat after me." Adama commanded.
Seeing the solemn expressions on everyone else in the room, Athena wordlessly complied with the commander's orders, raising her hand and repeating the Commander's words.
"I Athena Adama do now pledge my faith and loyalty to the protection of the Twelve Colonies of Kobol and will carry out the lawful orders of my superiors as an officer in the Colonial Fleet. I will also follow all of the provisions in the Articles of the Twelve Colonies. So help me gods."
"Madame President?" The Commander nodded his head in the direction of the president who then read from a piece of paper.
"I, Laura Roslin, President of the Twelve Colonies, do appoint Athena Adama as a Junior Lieutenant in the Colonial Fleet. And I do strictly charge and require those officers and other personnel of lesser rank to render such obedience as is due an officer of this grade and position. And this officer is to observe and follow such orders and directives, from time to time, as may be given by me, or the future President of the Twelve Colonies, or other superior officers acting in accordance with the laws of the Twelve Colonies."
"Congratulations, Lieutenant." Commander Adama smiled as he offered his newest officer his hand.
"Thank you, sir." Athena replied taking the older man's hand in hers and shaking it. "I promise you that I won't disappoint you."
"I'm sure you won't." He smiled back as the others in the room and the president all offered their congratulations.
"Now that that's done." The commander announced, "Are you ready for your first orders, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir." The newly-commissioned Colonial officer promptly replied.
"Captain Adama? Take the lieutenant to the quartermasters and get her issued uniform, kit and have her fitted out into a flight suit. Then check her out on the Mk. II viper as we discussed earlier. If she checks out, billet her with the other pilots."
"Yes, sir." Lee acknowledged. Giving his 'sister' a hard look, the CAG declared, "You heard the Commander, Lieutenant. I hope you've had a good lunch, because I'm going to put you through the grind. You're not getting out in space until I'm satisfied that you know every inch of that viper backwards and forwards. IF—and that's a BIG if—you can prove to me that you really do know which end of a viper is which, you'll get a chance to show me what you can do out there."
Maintaining eye contact with her 'brother', Athena replied, "Yes, sir. When do we start?"
"Right now." Lee replied as he opened the door to conference room and exited with Junior Lieutenant Adama close behind. As she passed her two marine guards, both men snapped to attention and saluted, giving Athena her first official salutes as a commissioned officer. Snappily returning the marines' salutes, Athena permitted a slight grin to cross her features as she passed them.
Watching as the two officers departed, Colonel Tigh leaned over and whispered to his old friend, "This should be interesting."
"I agree." William answered back, "Madame President...Doctor Baltar...Priestess Elosha, thank you for your help." He concluded as Laura nodded her head in response, taking the non-verbal cue.
"You're welcome, Commander." She smiled back as she made ready to depart, "It's time I returned to Colonial One anyway. Please keep me abreast of any further developments."
"All right, Lieutenant." Captain Adama, wearing olive drab fatigues along with his student, pointed towards the engines of the Viper they were concentrating on. "Tell me about the engines of this Mark II Viper."
Her fatigues, as well as one of her cheeks, now spotted with oil and grease, Athena recited without missing a beat, "It has one Voram VM2-D15 upper turbo-thrust engine, two Voram VM3-D22 turbo-thrust engines, and two reverse thrust motors."
"Not bad." Lee nodded his head approvingly. "Now, armaments."
"2 x MEC-A6 30mm Thraxon forward-firing kinetic energy weapons mounted in the wing roots with 800 round magazine." Athena itemized, "Dorsal storage bay for eight HD-70 Lightning Javelin missiles that can carry an optional fifty megaton nuclear warhead. Weapon hardpoints for mounting missiles, munitions pods, or anything else under the wings."
"Very good, Lieutenant." Apollo praised, "But you still have a tendency to use time and distance measurements from your universe. You're going to have to learn our terminology and way of doing things here—seconds, minutes, hours...not centons, microns, and centaurs or whatever those units of time you used to using are called—proper radio procedure—the proper terms for instruments—or you're never going to sit in the cockpit of a viper—do I make myself clear?"
"Yes, sir!" Athena answered back in the same voice that she used to use on her brother when he infuriated her in one way of another.
"Listen to me, Lieutenant...Athena..." Lee said, his voice losing its edge, "Believe it or not, I'm not doing this to hassle you and I'm not doing this because I don't think you can do the job because you're a woman. I understand that was why they wouldn't allow women to be Viper pilots where you're from, but that's not the case here."
"Then why?" Athena asked, "You've been suspicious of me ever since I've arrived here and I've done nothing to deserve that sort of suspicion."
"You're right." Apollo confessed, "You haven't."
"Then why have you been so hard on me?" Athena pleaded.
"Listen, Athena. There's no margin for error out there."
"I know that!" Athena protested.
"Let me finish." Lee held his hand up, silencing any further protest, "It's not just that we don't have the birds...we don't have the pilots either. For every Cylon we shoot down there are a hundred more to replace it. When they take out one of our Vipers—that's it. We lose both Viper and pilot. I have to know that I can rely on every pilot out there to know their job and be ready and willing to do it. Lives depend on that. So, it's not a matter of you being a woman or you being my 'sister'—there are any number of female Viper and Raptor pilots in the squadron and I'd fly with 'em anytime. As for the 'sister' thing...I'll admit I'm still trying to process that, but that's not an issue where this is concerned and it won't ever be one. It is a matter of me knowing that you are capable of doing your job and not getting yourself or anyone else killed because you can't do it. Understand?"
"Yes, Sir." A much more subdued Athena nodded her head.
"Good." The Captain responded, placing a supportive hand on his 'sister's' shoulder. "Now...let's run through it all again..." he said as he pointed at the throttle, "Beginning here, name the instrument panel and the functions of the various components of the Mk. II viper."
"Throttle..." Athena recited and then provided a perfect textbook description of the throttle's function before going on to all of the other instruments and parts of the viper until finally, her taskmaster nodded his head in satisfaction.
"Good enough." Lee declared, inwardly pleased at how quickly she had actually picked up on the terminology. "Since, we've got the briefing room to ourselves for the next couple of hours, I want you to tell me all you know about viper combat."
"Not bad." Apollo nodded his head approvingly. "You know not only when to engage, but when not to engage. There's a difference between being cocky and being reckless. Being sure of yourself and your abilities—and limitations—is good. Being reckless and careless or timid and overly cautious can get you and your squadron mates killed."
"You sound like my brother back in the other universe." Athena smiled.
"Sounds like he's a pretty smart guy." Lee joked.
"Sometimes." Athena jibed back, "Sometimes he could be a real...what's the word? I heard Colonel Tigh call someone that...a real asshat."
"So, was he your instructor?" Lee asked after he'd gotten his laughter at Athena's comment about his counterpart in the other universe out of his system.
"Some." Athena answered back, "But Starbuck was the one who taught me the most."
"Starbuck..." Lee paused for a moment, "I see."
"He was actually pretty good..." Athena remarked, pausing when she heard Lee's laughter. "What? Why are you laughing? Was it something I said or did?"
"No." Lee chuckled, "It's just...well...it'll wait 'til later. Right now, though..." Apollo ordered, "I want you to grab a shower and get suited up. You're going to show me how well you can fly a Mk II viper."
Yes, sir!" Athena exclaimed as a wide grin appeared on her face
Watching as his dark-haired pupil rushed out of the briefing room, Lee chuckled at both her enthusiasm and at something that Doc Cottle had told him...
"Oh No!" Athena, her body covered only by the towel wrapped around her body, gasped as she remembered what Doc Cottle had told her, Facilities are unisex. "Well..." Athena said in a barely audible tone as her hand went to the hatch door, "Maybe there won't be any men in there now. Go in...get cleansed...and get out." Opening the door, Athena gasped as she saw the crowd in the head. Men and women half and even fully undressed standing next to each other brushing their teeth, washing themselves, or shaving at the sinks as a man and woman, both stark naked, snapped towels at each other in front of the showers.
"In or out, Rook!" A male voice shouted.
"Dog that hatch." Another, voice, this one female called out.
Red faced, Athena entered the head and gingerly made her way to the showers, dodging to avoid brushing up against the rear of one of the men shaving over a sink. Finally reaching the showers, Athena gulped as she realized that the only space that was available was in between two men, one of whom was a muscular, well-toned man with body art on his arm and the other a not at all unattractive blond haired man.
"If you're not taking that spot, get out of the way." Someone shouted at her.
Her face now a bright crimson, Athena gulped as she removed the towel from her body and hung it on a hook. Entering the shower, she took her place underneath the nozzle and let the cold water rush over her body as she tried her best to ignore the two men standing on either side of her laughing and joking. Wasting no time, Athena quickly washed herself and exiting the shower, grabbed her towel and dried off. Wrapping the towel around her body again, she dashed out of the head to the laughter of the men and women inside.
"Who was she?" Duck asked as he stepped out of the shower.
"Dunno." Hammerhead Palladino laughed, "But she sure was bashful."
Almost running to her new quarters, Athena opened the door only to find them occupied as well. Going to her locker, she opened it and took out her flight suit. Taking a deep breath, she tried to ignore the men laughing and joking and got dressed as quickly as possible. As she turned to leave, she was called back.
"Hey! Rook!"
Quickly turning about, she saw one of the pilots calling her over. "Come over here. You need to check your environmentals here." He said, pointing to the buttons on her left forearm. Doesn't seem like a big deal when you're in a hurry, but doing it can save your life."
"Thank you..."
"Ninja." The pilot grinned, giving her his call sign, "And don't mention it. Good hunting out there, Rook."
Meeting Lee back in the briefing room, Apollo looked her over. "Ok...you've managed to kit yourself out properly."
"I had a little help from one of the pilots—Ninja." Athena confessed.
"Nothing wrong with helping each other out or asking for help from someone else." Apollo answered back, "So long as you either know how or learn how to do it for yourself—you won't always have someone to lean on."
"Understood, Sir." Athena replied.
"Good. Now...you ready to fly?" Apollo asked with a crooked grin.
"Hells, yes!" Athena exclaimed.
"Then let's go!" Lee urged as he gently pushed his 'sister' forward.
As she approached the viper that she was assigned to for this training flight, she was met by a burly man with a genial face and dark hair. "Senior Chief Tyrol, Sir. I've just checked over your bird here and everything's ship-shape." Lowering his voice, the amiable chief advised, "This baby's armed with traditional guns, not like your old ship. When you fire those guns, be ready for it."
"Thanks, Chief. Captain Adama told me all about it." Athena smiled warmly as she accepted his offer of help in getting into the cockpit.
Then after giving her a last, quick rundown of the controls, Tyrol affixed a metal collar round the young brunette and then secured her flight helmet. Patting her helmet once in a good luck gesture, the chief called out a quick, "Good hunting, Lieutenant!" before climbing off the viper.
"Viper one...you're clear for launch." Athena heard over the radio. "Good hunting, Apollo."
"Viper two...you're clear for launch." Captain Kelly's voice came through the radio, "Good hunting, Lieutenant."
Remembering her procedures, Athena replied and hit the launch button, sending her craft into space.
"So far...so good." Her CAG's voice came through the radio, "Tuck in and we'll see how well you can fly in formation.
Following instructions, the pair went through a series of maneuvers and rotations until Apollo ordered, "All right, Lieutenant, check your guns."
"Yes, sir." Athena acknowledged as she pressed the fire button on her throttle, her heart momentarily skipping a beat as instead of seeing the flashes of red light she was familiar with, she saw tracer rounds and the sound of bullets firing.
Hearing laughter over the radio, Athena keyed her mike, "Something funny, CAG?"
"First time you heard bullets, Lieutenant?"
"Yes, sir." The young brunette answered honestly.
"Well..." Lee replied, all trace of humor gone from his voice, "Get used to it. You'll be hearing them a lot more."
"Yes, sir." Athena solemnly replied as Lieutenant Gaeta's voice now came through on the radio.
"Dradis contact. Cylon raiders vectoring 53 degrees Carom 40."
"Have the alert fighters been launched?" Lee demanded.
"Affirmative." Gaeta replied, "They should intercept in thirty seconds."
"It'll be too late." The CAG answered back. "I'll intercept. Lieutenant Athena..." he ordered, "Maintain position. Do not engage." With that, Lee accelerated his viper, pitching it towards the rapidly closing Cylons.
Gritting her teeth at being left behind, Athena remembering the words that Starbuck had drilled into her head in what seemed now like another life hit her afterburners, turning towards the raiders to join her 'brother.' Well...it was fun being a lieutenant while it lasted.
Suppressing an oath as he saw that Athena had closed formation and was now flying behind and slightly below him, in the proper position to render support, Lee growled into his mike, "I thought I told you to stay out of this, Lieutenant."
"First thing I was taught." Athena replied, "A wingman always stays with his wing leader."
Listening to the radio chatter from their places in CIC, Tigh turned to his commanding officer, "She's going to get herself killed."
"Perhaps." The elder Adama responded, "Perhaps not. How long before the alert fighters intercept."
"Not soon enough." Tigh grimly replied. "They're on their own."
"Ok, Athena." Lee ordered, "Listen and listen close. These raiders are more maneuverable than the ones you're used to. Don't get into a turning dogfight with them. Slashing passes. First pass with missiles, then we go to guns. Stick with me and we'll get through this."
"Yes, sir." Athena acknowledged as the raiders turned towards them. "Locking on." She said as her missile display lit up. "Firing." Missiles launched out from both vipers each targeting a raider as the cylon formation broke. As the pair sliced through the remaining cylons, Athena, lining up a shot against the strangely shaped raider she faced, let loose with a volley, the rounds missing her opponent as she passed it. Pivoting about quickly, she saw that she had was now in the perfect six o'clock low position. Smirking triumphantly, the dark haired warrior fired again, only this time, her rounds hit home as the raider exploded before her.
The hairs on the back of her neck tingling, Athena quickly pitched and yawed her viper down just as a missile whizzed by where she once was. "Frak!" She cursed as she craned her head in an effort to locate the raider that had fired the missile. Spying a glint of metal in the distance, the lieutenant turning her viper towards it, hit her accelerator. Driven back into her seat by the g-forces, Athena idly wondered what Starbuck would think of her now as she closed on the cylon craft that was closing on her. Got to time this right. She breathed as the raider grew closer and closer. Now! Firing her last missile, Athena pitched left and dived as the raider, unable to react in time, exploded on impact with the raider.
"That's the last of 'em."
Hearing Lee's voice through the radio, Athena responded with a simple, "Thank Isis."
"Good shooting, Athena." Lee praised before commanding, "Let's get back to the barn. First round's on me."
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"Not bad." Commander Adama commented as he addressed his XO. "What did you think, Colonel."
"She disobeyed Apollo's order..." Tigh noted.
"To back up her wing leader." Adama countered. "During the fight she followed his orders."
"True." Tigh nodded his head. "Nice little bit of timing with that last raider too."
"I noticed that." Adama replied. "Well...I told Lee it was his call and I'm going to let him make it, but for what it's worth, I think she's ready." He then picked up the ship's phone. "Flight Deck? Have Captain Adama call the Commander once he touches down."
"Aye, Sir." Chief Tyrol replied.
"Oh...and Chief..." The Commander added, "Better have a Viper ready to be assigned to a new pilot."
"Yes, Sir!" Tyrol enthusiastically responded, "I have the perfect bird for her, Sir." Turning to Cally and Jammer, the Chief called out, "Ok hurry up, I want that bird ready for its pilot."
"We still need a call sign, Chief!" Jammer called back.
"When we get it, I'll let you know!" The Chief replied, "For now get that bird on the line!"
In the CIC, Commander Adama turned to his XO, "I'm going to my quarters and then to the pilots' area. You have CIC."
"Yes, Sir." Colonel Tigh acknowledged as the Commander walked away. "Keep alert, people!" The colonel ordered. "They almost caught us that time—I don't want that to happen again."
Stopping off at his quarters, the Commander took an object from inside his desk drawer. Looking at the object in his hands, Adama smiled sadly as he nodded his head. Glancing at the picture of his deceased son, he sat down at his desk to await his son's call.
Athena exited her training viper to smiles and cheers from the ground crew as her 'brother' approached. "Good flying, Lieutenant." The CAG declared, "Consider yourself on the active flight rotation. First stop, the rec room for that ambrosia and let you meet some of your new squadron mates."
"Sir? Chief Tyrol reluctantly interrupted, "The Commander wants you to contact him as soon as possible."
"Thank you, Chief." The CAG acknowledged, "Afraid you'll have to wait a few minutes, Athena." Lee apologized as he made his way to a ship's phone. Picking up the phone, he then waited until he was patched through to his father. "Sir...with your permission, I'd like to put Junior Lieutenant Adama on the active flight roster."
"Permission granted, Captain." Adama replied as a smile crossed his lips.
"We're going to the rec room now." Lee indicated, "I think she's earned a shot of ambrosia and I want to begin introducing her to the other pilots."
"Good idea, Son." The Commander agreed.
"She also needs a call sign and wings." The CAG added.
"I'll take care of the wings and will meet you in the rec room." Commander Adama replied, "You and the rest of pilots can come up with her call sign. Chief Tyrol is also preparing a surprise for her, so let him know what her call sign is once she gets one."
"Yes, Sir." Lee smiled as he hung up. Returning to Athena, Lee gestured with his hand for her to join him, "C'mon, Lieutenant. Time to meet the rest of the squadron and get you a call sign."
As the pair entered the raucous rec room, Lee scanned the room, his eyes were looking for one individual in particular. Spotting her at a table playing triad, a stack of cubits and glass of ambrosia in front of her and a thick robusto cigar in her mouth, he called out, "Hey Kara!" He called out, "Someone I want you to meet!"
"Wait 'til I finish this hand!" Kara called back as she laid down her cards. "Full colors!" She gloated as she raked in her winnings. "Thank you all very much for contributing to the Starbuck Drinking Fund."
"Did she just say 'Starbuck'?" Athena gasped.
"Yep." Lee smiled back as a smug Kara approached.
"That the new rook?" She asked as she slugged down her ambrosia.
"Yep." Lee replied, his smile growing wider as his anticipation for the next moment grew greater, "Lieutenant Kara Thrace, meet Junior Lieutenant Athena Adama." His smile now turning to laughter at the shocked look on the blonde pilot's face, he continued, "Lieutenant Adama, meet Lieutenant Kara Thrace, call sign Starbuck."
Athena shook her head in disbelief as the CAG's laughter filled the room while the other pilots looked on in confusion. "You're Starbuck?" She asked in shock, "And your name is Kara Thrace?"
"Yeah. What of it?" Starbuck replied as she held out her glass for a much needed refill. "Lee...what the frak's going on here? Athena Adama?" Then as she gulped down her drink, the blonde pilot put the pieces together. "Oh my gods...you're the pilot from that Viper...the one who came out of the wormhole!"
On hearing that, the rec room suddenly fell silent.
"Yeah." Athena said softly
"And you're..." Kara gasped.
"It's complicated." Lee interrupted. "I...we'll explain it to you later...as much as we can that is." Raising his voice, the CAG addressed the rest of the pilots in the rec room. "Everyone! Can I have your attention?" He called out as he gently pushed Athena forward, "This is our newest pilot, Junior Lieutenant Athena Adama...yes, you heard right..." Lee announced as a low murmur filled the room, "Athena Adama." As the Commander entered, Boomer took a deep breath to alert the room, only to be silenced by a raised hand and shake of the head. "It's a long story and you'll find out what you need to know when it's time. For now, though, we need a call sign."
"Raven!" Crashdown called out.
"How about Artemis?" Racetrack offered.
Remembering Athena as the woman in the shower, Joe, 'Hammerhead' Palladino shouted with a laugh, "What about Bashful?"
Her face reddening at the room's laughter and growing agreement on that name, Athena took her ankh that was hanging around her neck and fingered it.
Seeing his red-faced sister with the ankh in her hands, Apollo came to her rescue, exclaiming triumphantly, "I've got it! Isis!"
Noticing how Athena's eyes lit up at that name, Apollo smiled, "I think we've got ourselves a call sign!"
Clearing his throat as he signaled Apollo, gesturing with his head towards the phone, Commander Adama spoke out in a loud, clear voice to the now silent room, "A pilot needs wings." He declared as he took the pilots wings out of his pocket and pinned them to Athena's flight suit. "They belonged to Zach." Adama said in a quiet voice filled with emotion, "Now they belong to you. Wear them with honor and pride."
"Thank you, Sir." Athena responded as her eyes began to moisten, "I will."
Nodding his head as he hung up the phone, Lee joined Athena, his father, and Starbuck. "Chief says he's ready."
"We have one more piece of business." The Commander said, "Then I'll leave you to your celebrations." Turning to Athena, he announced, "The Chief's waiting for you on the flight line. You want to see your new Viper?"
"Yes, Sir!" Athena exclaimed. As she walked with the others to the flight line, it was all Athena could do to not dash out ahead as if she were a little girl again running to meet her father coming home. She then saw the Chief and three other members of his deck crew clustered around a Viper. Drawing closer, she immediately recognized it. "That's...that's..."
"Your Viper." The Chief and the others in his crew smiled as tears came to Athena's eyes. "We overhauled her completely. Put in our systems and weapons so that she'd be compatible. Cally did most of the avionics work and Jammer and Socinus handled the engines."
"Thank you!" Athena sobbed tears of joy as she gave each member of the ground crew a quick hug, saving the last one for the Chief, "Thank you all!" Then, as her eyes fell to the canopy she saw the words stenciled beneath the cockpit glass: Junior Lieutenant Athena "Isis" Adama.
"The ink's still wet..." Chief Tyrol apologized, "We just found out what your call sign is and Cally stenciled it in as fast as she could."
"She did a great job." Athena cried happily, "You all did."
"Welcome to the Galactica, Isis."