"Dee stop fidgeting." Lee said.
Lee looked over to his wife who had been tugging at the collar of her new uniform since she put it on.
"I can't help it. It keeps scratching my neck. I think they got my neck size wrong." Dee said.
"You look fine and they didn't get your neck size wrong." Lee said.
"You're just saying that so I will stop fidgeting." Dee said.
"Maybe? Is it working?" Lee asked.
"No. Now hush. Our guest is about to arrive." Dee said smacking her husbands arm gently.
Waiting in the hanger bay along with Lee and Dee, were the Admiral,Colonel Tighe and Doc Cottle. They were all anxiously awaiting the arrival of this mysterious Shamon. The Sagittorons had sent over a list of all the things she would need during her visit including items she could and couldn't eat. Tighe looked over the list with the Admiral when it was sent over early and laughed when he read it.
"Are they serious? This list reads for someone that's more likeca dignitary. They must have a screw loose over there if they think we'll honor this. " Tighe said.
"Just do what you can Saul to accommodate our guest." Adama said.
The Raptor landed in front of them and everyone waited for the doors to the ship to open. When they did everyone waiting was caught off guard by what was heard from inside the Raptor. Laughter.
Racetrac walked out first with a wide smile on her face. She saluted the Admiral and Colonel who had puzzled looks on their faces. She quickly stopped smiling once she saw the looks she was getting.
"Pleasant trip Racetrac?" Tighe asked.
"Yes sir. Our visitor is... not what I expected." Racetrac said.
"Really? Well where are they?" Tighe asked.
"Um...Hot Dog is helping them." Racetrac said coming down her Raptor steps.
A second later Hot Dog emerged with someone next to him. It was an older women dressed in traditional Sagittarian robes.
"Help an old woman down honey?" she whispered to Hot Dog.
"Yes ma'am." Hot Dog said.
Hot Dog helped the women down the steps and then towards the Admiral and the others.
Dee looked at the women that was coming towards her. She was an older women whose dark skin looked like it had been weathered by more then just years. She had piercing green eyes. They looked they like they could look right into your soul. Dee immediately recognized the clothes she wore as robes of someone who was not only a Shamon but someone who was also a very respected leader among her people. The women walked with a cane that looked just as old as her. The cane she could used looked hand carved. The carvings on the cane looked familiar but Dee couldn't place them. On top of the woman's head there was a scarf wrapped around it. The cloth Dee knew to be from the Shanova province. They were well know for their beautiful designs.
Hot Dog brought the women first to Admiral Adama.
"Welcome Aboard the Galactica ma'am." Adama said.
"Thank you Admiral. She's a beautiful ship and judging by the kindness of your two pilots she must have a wonderful crew." she said.
"Yes ma'am she does. I'll take it from here Hot Dog. Your dismissed." Adama said offering his arm to the women.
"Yes sir. Safe journey ma'am." Hot Dog said.
"Thank you young man and for the use of that strong arm of yours." she said.
"I'll introduce you to the rest of our group. This is my XO Colonel Tighe." Adama said
"Ma'am." Tighe said.
"Colonel." she said.
"My son, Major Lee Adama and next to him is someone who has been waiting for your arrival for a very long time. His wife, Lt. Anastasia Adama." Adama said.
"Ah. So you are the one I owe an apology to."she said.
"It's alright ma'am." Dee said.
"There is no need to be modest my dear. I appreciate that but we all know that I should have been here months ago. Your wait should have never happened and for that I truly am sorry. Please accept my apology." she said said.
"Thank you ma'am." Dee said.
"No, thank you. Now enough of this ma'am stuff. Please, call me Ella." Ella said.
"I will. As long as you call me Dee." Dee said.
Adama was about to introduce Cottle when Ella stopped him.
"No need to introduce us Admiral. I know this old fool." Ella said.
"I had no idea you were still alive. Come and give this old fool a huge." Cottle said.
Ella gave Cottle a huge hug and the two stood there for a few minutes just holding each other.
"It's been too long my friend. I'm sorry that those idiots on my ship didn't tell me what was going on early. They think I'll break at any moment from anything they consider exciting. I keep telling them I'm old not dead." Ella said.
Cottle laughed. "It's good to see you again Ella. I wasn't sure that you got off the planet when we got rescued. Your people weren't very forcoming about who made it and who didn't. But none of that matters now. Your here now. Let's get you settled in."
"I can get settled in later. I know that Dee has been waiting a very long time for me so why don't we find some place for all of us to talk." Ella said.
"We can use one of the briefing rooms." Adama said.
The walk to the closet briefing room took a little longer than it normally would. The pace was slowed down to accommodate their elderly visitor and the waddling pregnant women with them. Once they arrived everyone took a seat on different sides of the table. Lee and his father sat on one side with Dee in the middle. Tighe took his seat next to the Admiral and Cottle sat on the other side of the table with Ella who sat directly in front of Dee.
"Before we start. I'd like to explain my role here. I'm sure you've all been wondering what my purpose here is and how I can help Dee and her baby. Sherman here knows how I can help because he was privy to things many outsiders don't get to see in our culture. We are a very private people. So private that we are misunderstood by others for keeping everything about ourselves locked away." Ella said
Ella looked over and saw Tighe bristle at her words. She knew of his efforts during the resistance and wished that her people would do more but it was not their way. So she did the only think she could do. She prayed for him and all others who helped the resistance.
"Colonel, I don't blame you for looking down on us during the Cylon occupation of New Caprica. It was an awful time and we did nothing to help you or your efforts. War is just not our way. And it pains me to know that our freedom...my freedom... came at the cost of so many lives. I cannot speak for all of my people Colonel but I wish to tell you thank you for saving my life." Ella said.
Tighe couldn't help but feel touched by her words. It was the first time that any Sagittaron had thanked him for saving their life. He suddenly had a new appreciation for their guest.
"I'm at a loss for words ma'am." Tighe said.
"It doesn't happen often Ella. So take it at as a compliment." Cottle said.
The laughter from everyone filled the room and lightened it up a bit. Which made the room feel a little less stuffy and formal.
"Ella, please continue." Cottle said
"Shamons are very rare among our people. Even rarer now thanks to the Cylon destruction of our home. We are chosen because we shows signs of being very attuned to things around us. From an early age we are taught to believe there is a balance between man, nature, and the spirit. That everything in this universe is connected. Sometimes people don't know how they are connected to things. My role as Shamon is to be a bridge between our world and things we don't understand. I help interpret those connects. " Ella said
"So I'm connected to this chair?" Tighe said not hiding his skepticism.
"Yes." Ella said.
"Really?" Tighe asked. He couldn't wait to hear the explanation for this.
"Colonel, you have served on this ship for many years, yes?" Ella asked.
"Yes." Tighe said.
"You have been in this room countless times?" Ella asked.
"Yes." Tighe said.
"Sat in all the seats in here more than once?" Ella asked.
"Yes." Tighe said.
"Yet you probably never wondered why you gravitate to the one you are sitting in now? That is your favorite chair you are sitting in is it not?" Ella said.
"Just because I choose to sit in it the majority of the time I'm in here doesn't mean I'm connected to it or that the universe made this chair just for me. It's just more comfortable." Tighe said.
"Of course it does. I bet that when someone takes that chair away from you, you get upset and that no other chair in the room feels right after that?" Ella said.
Tighe was just about to deny what Ella was saying when Cottle jumped in.
"Oh don't you lie Saul. We had a meeting in here the other day and you pratically took poor Helo's head off when he sat in your chair. When the Admiral just told to just choose another chair you were a bear the whole meeting until Helo left and you got your precious chair back. Your mood changed once your ass hit the seat." Cottle said.
Lee turned to father and saw that he was trying not to laugh at his friend. It wasn't working.
"Something funny you two? Tighe asked.
"No. I was just thinking that we shouldn't let the crew know about your connection to that chair. It might end up where ever you go." Adama said.
"Oh your funny Bill. Wait till I find out what inanimate object your connected too. Then we'll see who laughs at who." Tighe said.
"Colonel, I didn't mean to put you on the spot like that. I just wanted you to understand that we are connected to everything. Even something as ordinary as the chairs we sit in." Ella said.
"I think we all have the jist now. How about we move on from my chair and the mood it puts me in." Tighe said.
"Very well. The connection we need to discuss is that of Dee and the things around her." Ella said.
"Please tell me that I'm connected to more that just a chair." Dee said.
Ella laughed.
"You have a very special connection. You my dear are connected not only to your husband and child but to the past, the present, and the future." Ella said.
"Wait..what?" Dee said.
"It's very hard to explain. So let me show you." Ella said.
Dee watched as Ella closed her eyes and breathed in slowly and deeply. Then Ella reached her hands across the table to Dee.
"Give me your hands Dee." Ella said.
Dee was about to then hesitated.
"It's alright Dee. I'm not going to harm you." Ella said
Dee this time reached out and grabbed Ella's hands. As soon as their hands touched Dee felt at little spark at the connection.
"Good. Now, I want you to close your eyes and breathe in and out. In and out. In and out."
Dee did and she told and started to breathe in and out.
"Good Dee. Now I want you to clear your mind and relax. Focus on something that makes you feel safe." Ella said.
Dee thoughts automatically went to Lee. She focused on his face, his smile, and his love. All the things that made her love him. Soon her body started to relax and Ella could feel it.
"Now. I want you to think about something from your past. Something you haven't thought about in a long time. Focus on that memory." Ella said.
Dee did as she was told and tried to pick something from her past. She was having such a hard time because there were so many things she wanted to remember. To just pick one was damn near impossible she thought.
"Dee, let me help you focus. Do remember the fall festivals in Corona?" Ella asked.
Dee smiled. "Yes. My parents would take me every year. I was always get so excited when they would put up the fliers."
"What was your most favorite thing about the festival?" Ella asked.
"Hmm... there was so much. Besides the food, just spending time with my dad. He used to put me up on his shoulders and I..." Dee trailed off when she realized what was happening.
She was there. She was at the festival watching herself on top of her father's shoulders.
"How is this?" Dee said.
"Just relax and try to stay in the moment." Ella said.
"But how is this happening?" Dee asked.
"I am helping you focus so we can use your connection to enter a memory of your past. Everything that is happening now is from your memories." Ella said.
"I don't remember all of this." Dee said.
"That's because you were looking straight ahead while all this was going on around you. Come." Ella said.
"Where?" Dee asked.
"Don't you want to see where you're going?" Ella asked.
"You mean we can walk around?" Dee asked.
"Mmhm. Come on. I'm curious to see where young Miss Anastasia is going." Ella said.