Word Count: 1,067
Date: 2004
Series:
Rating: K
Category: Character
Pairing/Focus: William Adama
Warnings:
Summary:
Spoilers/Disclaimers: Season One
There was a lot of activity in the corridor outside the pilot’s ready room. The GAG says, “Come in or move along. No blocking the passage ways.” As The Commander steps into the room everyone comes to attention. “At Ease, Carry on,” he says. He quickly finds himself a seat toward the back. He is surprised at the number of people. He is also surprised who is there. He expected to see Lt. Sharon Vallerii, Boxey, and Starbuck. Of course there are several pilots in flight suits clearly on standby. As he looks around the room he sees President Roslin, her assistant Billy is in the corner with Petty Officer Dualla, and several younger members of the maintenance crew including Cally. He recognizes a medtech, a fireman, and a helmsman. There is also a senior master chief from food services who may be the only person older than Adama on the Galactica. The CAG is sitting on the edge of the dais with Boxey next to him.
“Quiet, it’s 2005 hours,” The CAG commands. “Tonight we will be starting Chapter 3 of The Tales of the Rings of Kobol. Boxey can you tell everyone what happened in the last chapter?”
With a nod from the CAG, Boxey stands and says, ”Seth and Sarah have gotten on board a space tug which has been converted for long distance travel including FTL jumps. Seth has found a hiding place for his pet cat, Tam Tam. They are almost ready to start their voyage.”
“Thank you Boxey,” Apollo says before he starts to read the old and very familiar story. Apollo is a talented reader. His voice carries throughout the room. As he reads the listener feels the characters come to life. The tempo of the story is conveyed. The listeners are all engaged and calmed by the old tale.
Adama remembers Lee reading the same story to his brother Zak. Story time was a tradition in the Titan family. The boy’s maternal grandfather had always read to his children and then to his grandsons. Some how Lee had become the reader of stories when grandfather wasn’t around. Zach choose the stories because he was the youngest. Selena always took a ‘story time break’ and made herself a cup of tea. He’d have a cup of coffee, if he was planet side. As his grown son reads Adama remembers his beautiful young wife and his two young sons with pleasure. Some how he never thought that wonderful time would end. Zak and Lee grown men. His marriage ended. Zak and Selena gone. The world is over. He is surprised that in spite of his regrets, he feels comforted by the reader and the story.
Apollo had started reading to Boxey in an effort help the child adjust to the dangerous life on the Galactica. After a period of being calm Boxey had begun to have problems. He’d hide. He’d have nightmares. He’d be on the flight deck. He’d be unsupervised for long periods of time when Boomer, Tyrol, and Cally were all on duty. He needed more than Boomer and Tyrol could provide. Without usurping the parental roles Boomer and Tyrol had assumed Apollo had become involved. Apollo arranged for home schooling materials. He’d used his friendship with the President to get the plans appropriate for Boxey. He formalized a schedule for Boxey that included education, exercise, and recreation. Crewmembers were delighted to sign up to spend time with a child. Apollo simply made sure that commitments were met.
As CAG, Apollo made it clear that Boxey had to be safe, permit all members of Galactica’s crew to perform their duties and treat everyone with respect and honesty. This was the price Boxey had to pay to stay on the Galactica. Boxey was part of the Air Group. Boxey had been known to say, “The CAG rules the Air Group.” The CAG reads to him each night unless there is a battle, the CAG is not on board or he is flying a late patrol. Some how this combination of “rule enforcer” and “reader” seems to have given Boxey what he needed.
Apollo has finished the chapter. Boxey is begging for five more minutes. Adama is reminded of Zak. Lee would solve Zak’s demand for more without reading parts of chapters with recitals of silly poems. Adama almost address his son as Lee, but manages to address his suggestion to Apollo. “Apollo, Why don’t you tell Boxey about the Bear, the Bee and the honey pot?”
“Sir, I don’t have a book with that poem,” Apollo replies.
“Captain, if you reflect for a minute I’m sure you will remember the words,” Adama replies. He then remembers, that his son will obey the Commander. His last words may have made his son feel more estranged rather than closer.
“Yes, Sir, I remember most of it.” Apollo replies to Adama. To Boxey and indirectly to the rest of the room he says, “Boxey would you like to hear a silly rhyming story about honey?”
“Yes, Please,” Boxey replies.
With that Apollo begins a fanciful tale. If Apollo’s rendition is not perfect Adama can’t tell. As he looks around the room he realizes that ‘story time’ gives a brief respite to the listeners. He wonders if Tigh shouldn’t order Apollo to stop going on late patrol to make story time more regular.
Adama waits for most of the crowd to leave. He is disappointed that he will not get to casually speak to his son alone. “Captain, thank you for the honey story. I have several books that Boxey might enjoy. I’ll get them out of storage and let you know when I have them for you to look at,” Adama says hopefully. He has never been able to predict Lee’s response to gifts or assistance.
“Thank you, Sir, I was concerned about finding suitable material, I’d like to see if you still have some of the books I remember reading with Zach,” Apollo replies with soft smile that is reflected in his eyes.
As Adama heads back to his quarters he feels relaxed. Relax enough to go to bed and fall asleep. He needs to remember to order the books from storage. He must talk to Tigh about stabilizing the CAG’s hours to improve ship’s operational efficiency. Tigh defiantly needs to get to work on operational efficiency.