Title: The First Day

Rating: K+

Characters: Clay Terran, Solomon Starbuck, Aura Blackquill

Spoilers? Dual Destinies

Time: Two or three years before Dual Destinies. It's my headcanon that Clay got a bachelor's in astronomy before being hired at the Space Center. Therefore, this mini takes place after "The Paths We Chose."

"It's finally sinking in," Clay Terran said, looking at the mail slot with the name tag C. Terran. "I belong here. I work here."

"You look like a kid in a candy store," Solomon Starbuck said.

"I feel like one," Clay said, beaming. "And we've barely begun!"

"As I was saying," Starbuck said. "This is where you'll pick up your mail." He checked his own mail slot. "Hmm. Milly's running late."

The door to the mail room opened. A petite woman, dressed in a light gray suit, entered. Her face was blocked by the huge stack of packages and letters she was carrying in. "Sorry, sorry! Miss Blackquill wanted her mail first thing in the morning! And you know how she is!" The woman dumped the stack of mail on a nearby table. She turned to Clay and Starbuck. "Yipe!"

Clay looked at her. "Milly Pede?"

Milly looked back at him. It took her thirty seconds, but she finally replied. "…Clay Terran?!"

"What are you doing here?!" They asked in unison.

"You two know each other?" Starbuck asked.

"We went to high school together," Clay explained. "She was actually Apollo's prom date."

Milly flushed. "I'd much rather forget that. How his father kept making him present my corsage over and over because he didn't do it 'right.' And how Apollo wasn't allowed to hold my hand, even though I was wearing gloves! What did he think? That I was going to contaminate his son?! That was not fun. I have an excellent idea. Let's change the subject. Why are you here?"

"I just got hired," Clay said. "Space Exploration Department. Today's my first day."

"I see," Milly said. "I'm the sole member of the Shipping and Receiving Department, and I handle all the mail. Including all the interdepartmental mail. Word of warning, the people here are absolutely passive-aggressive, so expect to get interdepartmental bulletins from anyone not in Space Exploration…"

"PEDE!" A feminine but brusque voice echoed from the hall outside. An imposing woman clad in a futuristic white leather bodysuit and pink tights stormed in. Her lavender hair was styled in two conical buns pinned to the back of her head. She wore a pair of translucent blue goggles, which were doing nothing to reduce her glare. "You gave me the wrong memos from Cosmos! Again! What is it? Fifth time this month!" She threw a pile of envelopes at Milly's feet. "Idiot!"

"I'm sorry, Miss Blackquill," Milly said, getting on her knees to pick up the tossed mail. She looked like she was groveling before the older woman. "Director Cosmos' handwriting is hard to read!"

"I'll grant you that. I can't tell if the man is writing in code, or just can't write!" The woman laughed and smacked the table, making the pile of mail bounce comically. She turned to Starbuck and Clay. "Starbuck, you've got something stuck on your shoe. Oh, it's just the new hire. Admit it, Terran. You were pretty much a fixture here anyway."

"Ah, you remember him, Aura?" Starbuck asked.

"I never forget a face," Aura replied. "Or terminal bedhead. Though you seem to be missing something. Where's your other half?"

"Busy, about to become the greatest lawyer in the city, so it's just me for now," Clay replied. He stuck his hand out. "Glad to be on board here."

Aura looked hesitant, but shook Clay's hand politely. "Tone down the nauseating enthusiasm, and I think we'll get along fine."

"Sorry," Clay said. "I'm just so excited. Weren't you? When you first started?"

"Yes, but that was a long time ago," Aura replied. "I got older. Starbuck can tell you more. About how dreams fade and disappointment sets in."

Starbuck jumped as if startled, but said nothing.

"Yay!" Milly had been digging through the stack of envelopes while the others were talking. She held out a few to Aura triumphantly. "I found them! I hope."

Aura tore them open and examined the contents. "Yes, these are the right ones. Hate to leave this welcoming committee, but the robotics technicians upstairs are absolutely hopeless without me. Good luck, newbie. You'll need it." She turned on her heel and walked off.

"Phew," Milly said. "She was in a good mood today! Oh, Clay, another piece of advice. Don't set 'Rocket Man' as your ringtone. Whenever a cell rings in Space Exploration, everyone checks their phones."

"You have to admit it is pretty funny to watch," Starbuck said. "I have Carole King's 'Spaceship Races' myself."

"My dad the earthquake expert has 'I Feel the Earth Move,'" Clay replied.

"That wins," Starbuck said simply.

The End

Author's Note: Yay, Starbuck! Even if he was pretty much the straight man to bitter and angry Aura, ditzy one-shot OC, and bubbly Clay.