CHAPTER FIVE: GOD LOVES US ALL
Things had become rather quiet after the euphoria of the Harvester ship's destruction. They had not been seen in near space nor had been detected on any planet. While the crew of the Nirvana saw it as a chance to repair and reflect, the pilots were bored out of their skulls. The same applied to Bart, who often fell asleep at the helm, sending the Nirvana into many a needless plunge. Even the Boss was spotted with a paddle ball at times, the soft tapping of the rubber ball hitting the wood often being the only sound on the bridge. Pyoro was so bored he wished someone would go into labor.
"Another day, another dead zero," Hibiki groaned, stretching himself on the floor of the so-called 'Men's room'. The room was the only one where all four of the males on board could meet, being Duerro' s office. Ed had just finished a house of toothpicks while Duerro was painting in the corner. Hibiki jumped to his feet and yawned.
"What we need is some action."
"Bart, get in that helm station and give us a whirl." Ed suggested.
"They've banned me for the time being," Bart whined. " BC says I can come back when the Harvesters do."
"The madam speaks!" Duerro made a whipping motion with his wrist. "The genius helmsman listens!" Bart had no reply.
"What's the deal with you two?" Ed lifted an eyebrow, " She's seen you naked like umpteen times anyway." He followed Duerro' s whipping motion. "maybe we should call her Madam BC."
Bart strangely had no reply. No witty remark from him this time. Not even a hint of amusement. Everyone in the room stopped laughing and stared at him. He put his hand to his mouth and cleared his throat, getting up to leave the room.
"Bart?" Hibiki had a puzzled look on his face.
"I don't know what is it with you guys, but she has my respect. As a bridge member, she deserves at least the same from you guys." Bart solemnly began. "She's always the first to run to the helm room when something's wrong and the last to leave. They thought us not to like women back home, but I don't care. This is home to me," he declared, pointing to the floor. "And I like this woman. Any problems with that?"
Ed put his hand up like a schoolboy asking a teacher an annoying question.
"All in favor of Bart going to the helm room."
Hibiki and Duerro put their hands up.
"Against?" Bart quickly put up his hand, with Ed raising his soon after.
"The nays have it. I get double, because it was my idea."
Bart sat back down, rather embarrassed by his outburst earlier.
"Nobody says she's bad or anything, Bart.so chill already. But she is a bit odd, even you gotta admit. " Hibiki added.
"I'm leaving." Bart got up again, leaving before anyone could say anything. The door shut so quickly that Ed's house of toothpicks fell in a heap. "I'll die of introspection hanging out with you guys all the time."
Bart huffed his way down the corridor leading to the piano lounge, hands in pockets. He wouldn't admit it in court, but he didn't miss Talark at all. His overbearing father combined with all the jabs and stabs critics took at his apparent lack of ability to inherit the food pill business. The insults and put-downs were what drove him to join the military in the first place. He was determined to prove himself to everyone. Then came that day, the day when Pegasus bonded him to the Nirvana. He suddenly was the heart of its movement, a fundamental part of the Pegasus puzzle. He was somebody at last and felt proud of it. The pokes BC and the crew took at him were always humorous , unlike the venom-filled bites his father always sent his way. He enjoyed it all. While not playing the part of the brave fighter pilot like he had intended , he loved the respect people gave him. Yes, I will die of introspection, he thought, but not of humiliation.
"Talking to yourself, Bart?" BC's voice called out from the lounge.
"Where are you, BC?" Bart looked around, seeing no one. He looked up to see BC standing on a ladder in the adjoining library, dusting off some old book. She climbed down, till they were face to face. Her chocolate brown skin and green eyes seemed to go with the décor, Bart noticed.
"I'm not the only bored person on bridge, I see. What's that book you got?"
"Something the colonials seemed to hold in high esteem. I think it's a memoir of sorts," she answered, opening the book.
"Um, BC.the guys are talking about you down below.they're saying things that well.disturb me."
"Hmm?" BC sounded half-awake, engrossed in the book. She was surprised when his hand came between the pages and slowly pushed the book down. The look on his face was more serious than usual, his blue eyes piercing through her own.
"You were saying, Bart?"
" I think they don't give us up here on the bridge any respect, Hibiki and Ed in particular. Judging by the number of times you've saved my butt or hauled me to Medics, you deserve flak the least of all. They fly the fighters, but we give em a home to go back to. Just wish they knew."
BC looked him square in the eye. Clearly, there was something in him that was riled and was aching for release. She rather admired his courage in telling her this, and invited him to sit on the couch with her. He sat opposite her on the couch, his expression still troubled.
"What are they saying about me, Bart? This isn't new to me. Before you four came along, the pilots always gave me and the Boss some stick. Comes with the job, y'know ."
"Ed claims you're a cyborg madam, Hibiki thinks you're weird and Duerro feels he's being out-frozen by you. Obviously, they're not just grateful for the work that you do. Or maybe."
"Maybe what?"
"Maybe its your helping me all the time. You see, I didn't grow up with much encouragement from anyone. Dad was this big food tycoon and all I ever had to do was smile for the cameras. Without Grandpa I might have gone insane. But here, I can always count on you. I always remember you leaving last and always hope you come first if something's wrong. We're all glad you're here, BC. At least I am. Just had to say that."
Taken aback by Bart's unexpected flattery, BC's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. She gripped her book but found she couldn't move.
"Thanks.Bart. " She couldn't even look at him; he was smiling at her. Not one of those cocky 'genius helmsman' smiles he always flashed but a genuine ,affectionate smile that few had ever seen from him. "I never heard those words before. It feels.good to hear them. Thanks, Bart. Hey, don't look so glum." She playfully knocked his chin sideways.
"Tell me, BC.do you think something's out there taking care of all of us?" Bart looked at the stars whizzing by.
"God loves us all, my mother always told me. God sends angels to protect us when we can't protect ourselves. They come in all forms and all guises, saying things that open our eyes in darkness to receive the light," BC absent-mindedly read aloud from the book.
"Then we see what comes towards us in the future and close our eyes, afraid of it. Our heart never closes, hence light can always return. It is in that way God looks out for everyone. When we give up , we find others who will not. When we are near death, we seek prayers from the living. When we are born, the window opens. When we die, God removes the entire wall," Bart continued the passage, reading over BC's shoulder.
"That sounds like a good enough answer to me, Bart-" His warm breath blew over her cheek, sending a hair or two out of place. "Bart?" His face was right next to hers; if she moved her head , their lips would meet. His cheek brushed against hers, ivory meeting ebony. Her skin tingled at any contact, even with facial hair. His ear was buried in her hair and their eyebrows were almost level.
"I wonder if somebody sent me a guardian angel," he mumbled, walking towards the door. Turning at the exit, he pointed at BC. "if not, I nominate you. See ya on the bridge. And let me borrow that book sometime."
BC was left alone with the book , a lonely figure sitting on the couch. She paused and looked at the stars, touching her heart.
"If only you knew, Bart." she asked them before reading on.
Things had become rather quiet after the euphoria of the Harvester ship's destruction. They had not been seen in near space nor had been detected on any planet. While the crew of the Nirvana saw it as a chance to repair and reflect, the pilots were bored out of their skulls. The same applied to Bart, who often fell asleep at the helm, sending the Nirvana into many a needless plunge. Even the Boss was spotted with a paddle ball at times, the soft tapping of the rubber ball hitting the wood often being the only sound on the bridge. Pyoro was so bored he wished someone would go into labor.
"Another day, another dead zero," Hibiki groaned, stretching himself on the floor of the so-called 'Men's room'. The room was the only one where all four of the males on board could meet, being Duerro' s office. Ed had just finished a house of toothpicks while Duerro was painting in the corner. Hibiki jumped to his feet and yawned.
"What we need is some action."
"Bart, get in that helm station and give us a whirl." Ed suggested.
"They've banned me for the time being," Bart whined. " BC says I can come back when the Harvesters do."
"The madam speaks!" Duerro made a whipping motion with his wrist. "The genius helmsman listens!" Bart had no reply.
"What's the deal with you two?" Ed lifted an eyebrow, " She's seen you naked like umpteen times anyway." He followed Duerro' s whipping motion. "maybe we should call her Madam BC."
Bart strangely had no reply. No witty remark from him this time. Not even a hint of amusement. Everyone in the room stopped laughing and stared at him. He put his hand to his mouth and cleared his throat, getting up to leave the room.
"Bart?" Hibiki had a puzzled look on his face.
"I don't know what is it with you guys, but she has my respect. As a bridge member, she deserves at least the same from you guys." Bart solemnly began. "She's always the first to run to the helm room when something's wrong and the last to leave. They thought us not to like women back home, but I don't care. This is home to me," he declared, pointing to the floor. "And I like this woman. Any problems with that?"
Ed put his hand up like a schoolboy asking a teacher an annoying question.
"All in favor of Bart going to the helm room."
Hibiki and Duerro put their hands up.
"Against?" Bart quickly put up his hand, with Ed raising his soon after.
"The nays have it. I get double, because it was my idea."
Bart sat back down, rather embarrassed by his outburst earlier.
"Nobody says she's bad or anything, Bart.so chill already. But she is a bit odd, even you gotta admit. " Hibiki added.
"I'm leaving." Bart got up again, leaving before anyone could say anything. The door shut so quickly that Ed's house of toothpicks fell in a heap. "I'll die of introspection hanging out with you guys all the time."
Bart huffed his way down the corridor leading to the piano lounge, hands in pockets. He wouldn't admit it in court, but he didn't miss Talark at all. His overbearing father combined with all the jabs and stabs critics took at his apparent lack of ability to inherit the food pill business. The insults and put-downs were what drove him to join the military in the first place. He was determined to prove himself to everyone. Then came that day, the day when Pegasus bonded him to the Nirvana. He suddenly was the heart of its movement, a fundamental part of the Pegasus puzzle. He was somebody at last and felt proud of it. The pokes BC and the crew took at him were always humorous , unlike the venom-filled bites his father always sent his way. He enjoyed it all. While not playing the part of the brave fighter pilot like he had intended , he loved the respect people gave him. Yes, I will die of introspection, he thought, but not of humiliation.
"Talking to yourself, Bart?" BC's voice called out from the lounge.
"Where are you, BC?" Bart looked around, seeing no one. He looked up to see BC standing on a ladder in the adjoining library, dusting off some old book. She climbed down, till they were face to face. Her chocolate brown skin and green eyes seemed to go with the décor, Bart noticed.
"I'm not the only bored person on bridge, I see. What's that book you got?"
"Something the colonials seemed to hold in high esteem. I think it's a memoir of sorts," she answered, opening the book.
"Um, BC.the guys are talking about you down below.they're saying things that well.disturb me."
"Hmm?" BC sounded half-awake, engrossed in the book. She was surprised when his hand came between the pages and slowly pushed the book down. The look on his face was more serious than usual, his blue eyes piercing through her own.
"You were saying, Bart?"
" I think they don't give us up here on the bridge any respect, Hibiki and Ed in particular. Judging by the number of times you've saved my butt or hauled me to Medics, you deserve flak the least of all. They fly the fighters, but we give em a home to go back to. Just wish they knew."
BC looked him square in the eye. Clearly, there was something in him that was riled and was aching for release. She rather admired his courage in telling her this, and invited him to sit on the couch with her. He sat opposite her on the couch, his expression still troubled.
"What are they saying about me, Bart? This isn't new to me. Before you four came along, the pilots always gave me and the Boss some stick. Comes with the job, y'know ."
"Ed claims you're a cyborg madam, Hibiki thinks you're weird and Duerro feels he's being out-frozen by you. Obviously, they're not just grateful for the work that you do. Or maybe."
"Maybe what?"
"Maybe its your helping me all the time. You see, I didn't grow up with much encouragement from anyone. Dad was this big food tycoon and all I ever had to do was smile for the cameras. Without Grandpa I might have gone insane. But here, I can always count on you. I always remember you leaving last and always hope you come first if something's wrong. We're all glad you're here, BC. At least I am. Just had to say that."
Taken aback by Bart's unexpected flattery, BC's cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. She gripped her book but found she couldn't move.
"Thanks.Bart. " She couldn't even look at him; he was smiling at her. Not one of those cocky 'genius helmsman' smiles he always flashed but a genuine ,affectionate smile that few had ever seen from him. "I never heard those words before. It feels.good to hear them. Thanks, Bart. Hey, don't look so glum." She playfully knocked his chin sideways.
"Tell me, BC.do you think something's out there taking care of all of us?" Bart looked at the stars whizzing by.
"God loves us all, my mother always told me. God sends angels to protect us when we can't protect ourselves. They come in all forms and all guises, saying things that open our eyes in darkness to receive the light," BC absent-mindedly read aloud from the book.
"Then we see what comes towards us in the future and close our eyes, afraid of it. Our heart never closes, hence light can always return. It is in that way God looks out for everyone. When we give up , we find others who will not. When we are near death, we seek prayers from the living. When we are born, the window opens. When we die, God removes the entire wall," Bart continued the passage, reading over BC's shoulder.
"That sounds like a good enough answer to me, Bart-" His warm breath blew over her cheek, sending a hair or two out of place. "Bart?" His face was right next to hers; if she moved her head , their lips would meet. His cheek brushed against hers, ivory meeting ebony. Her skin tingled at any contact, even with facial hair. His ear was buried in her hair and their eyebrows were almost level.
"I wonder if somebody sent me a guardian angel," he mumbled, walking towards the door. Turning at the exit, he pointed at BC. "if not, I nominate you. See ya on the bridge. And let me borrow that book sometime."
BC was left alone with the book , a lonely figure sitting on the couch. She paused and looked at the stars, touching her heart.
"If only you knew, Bart." she asked them before reading on.