Kestra walked up the main street that had developed between the tents on New Caprica. Many people milled around about her, and she was content to watch them. The streets were becoming more crowded every day as people fought to get a spot in New Caprica City. People from all over the fleet were suddenly thrown together after having lived isolated on ships for a year. Finding a structure for the new circumstances of their lives was a slow process. Growing food had suddenly become a priority now that it was an option, unlike on the ships where all they had was what they had stockpiled. Kestra watched a group of guys who were playing, what she had discovered was, pyramid. She remembered Lee describing it enough to recognize the shape of the arena and the ball they were throwing around. Kestra sat in the dirt and watched the men play with interest. One of them noticed her and winked as he caught the ball and threw it toward the goal. Kestra laughed to herself knowing that he'd probably meant to flirt but all it made her think of was her father. He seemed like a cocky young man and was clearly the most experienced player of them all. Eventually, the game ended and the man approached her.
"You a fan?" he asked smugly. Kestra raised a brow.
"Fan?" she asked, wondering if he meant the game or himself.
"Of the Buccaneers," he clarified, though it did nothing to help Kestra. She shook her head.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what you mean. I've never seen a pyramid game before. I was just curious," she explained. The man took a step back and his mouth gaped open.
"Never seen a pyramid… what planet have you been living on?" he asked incredulously. Kestra laughed at the irony of his question.
"That seems a little rude," she said in mock indignation. He smiled charmingly.
"I'm sorry, but in my book, not watching pyramid is rude," he said, "Sam Anders." He stuck his hand out in greeting. Kestra stood up and shook his hand.
"Kestra," she said.
"Just Kestra, huh?" he asked. She narrowed her brows in annoyance.
"Kestra Riker," she amended. Sam smirked triumphantly.
"It's very nice to meet you, Kestra Riker," he said. Kestra nodded.
"You too, Sam." She glanced behind him at the pyramid court. "I'd hate to continue offending you with my ignorance," she said playfully, "care to show me how to play?" She nodded toward the area. Sam smirked devilishly as he walked backward toward it.
"Since you asked so nicely," he said as he picked up the ball, "just try to get it in the goal. I'll stop you if you do it wrong." Kestra's eyebrow raised as he tossed her the ball. She shrugged. She'd taken a few steps toward the goal when Sam stopped her.
"No more steps," he instructed, "bounce it off the walls." She looked around at the narrow boards placed on the sides of the court. She tossed the ball at one and Sam intercepted it before she could catch it. "Ah ah," he scolded, "neutral zone." He was pointing to a line that she had stepped over. She laughed at the phrase given that, growing up, the phrase neutral zone had held a very different meaning for her. She took a step back, and Sam gave her a satisfied smirk. Kestra nodded and got down into a more aggressive stance. Sam raised an eyebrow then darted around her. Kestra scrambled to catch up, but he tossed the ball off a wall and had the ball in the goal before she could catch him. Sam laughed as he retrieved the ball and threw it to her. This time, Kestra managed to maintain control of the ball long enough to take a shot but she missed. However, when Sam took his opportunity to retaliate, he was surprised to find himself knocked to the ground with more force than he thought her capable of. Kestra got control of the ball and scored before Sam could recover from his shock. When he finally stood up, he saw Kestra walking toward him with the ball in her hand and a smirk on her face. She tossed it to him.
"Ok," he said with a grin, "let's do this." He took a firmer stance before taking off toward the goal. They played for half an hour before Kestra claimed she was too tired to continue. Sam had beaten her soundly, but she had managed to score a few points over the course of the game. "Not bad for a beginner," Sam said as he sat down next to her. Kestra leaned back on her arms as she caught her breath.
"Thanks," she replied breathlessly.
"You don't know frak about the rules, but you're scrappy," he said looking sideways at her.
"One has to be scrappy to survive in a fleet like this," she said with a smirk.
"Don't I know it," Sam mused, "I've only been here a couple months and it's already hell. It really is every man for himself out here."
"You think so?" she asked. Sam looked at her like she was stupid.
"There's no one watching out for us out here. Everybody is doing what they have to to survive. The government's a joke. It's just people fighting tooth and nail to make it to tomorrow."
"That's a pretty cynical way to look at it," Kestra commented.
"I've grown pretty cynical in the past year," Sam said bitterly, "being left behind by your own people will do that to you." Kestra frowned.
"You were left on Caprica?" she asked. Sam nodded. "Then you were in the group that Starbuck brought back," she said. Sam smiled at the mention of Kara.
"Kara's different," he said, "she kept her word."
"Starbuck was looking out for the people she loved just like everyone else," Kestra said, "even when the government works and you're not on the run for your life, the people close to you are the only ones who truly care for you." Sam looked at her with amusement.
"Now who's the cynical one?" he asked.
"I suppose I've become cynical the same way you have," she said thoughtfully, "this hasn't been easy for anyone." Sam nodded gravely.
"What're we fighting for then?" he asked in a hollow voice, "if all we have left is cynicism?"
"The same thing Kara went back to Caprica for. And the vain hope that there's more to the human race than your every man for himself argument," Kestra said, glancing at him. Sam offered her a small smile.
"I'll take it," he said as he stood up. He offered her his hand which she took gratefully. "It was nice to meet you, Kestra," Sam said as he pulled her up, "we'll have to play again sometime."
"I'd like that," Kestra said with a smile, "thank you for the game… and the conversation." Sam nodded in response to her thanks.
"No problem," he said as he waved and walked away.
