Word Count: 1,374
Date: 04/07/05
Series: One
Rating: K+
Category: Character
Pairing/Focus: O
Warnings:
Summary:
Spoilers/Disclaimers:
Litmus (takes place during the day after the explosion and during the
investigation by SGA Hadrian. Disclaimers I don't own anything but Kat
She woke up and rolled over, nearly falling off her rack again. She would never get used to these small racks. That was one thing she missed from her days of stardom, a big bed. At least they now had enough water that she could get a hot shower before the day began. That explosion up on C deck last night was scary, and chief finding the still wasn't much more fun. At least she hadn't been anywhere near there, she was high enough on his shit list as it was.
“Private Nero, do you mind telling me why you think my flight deck is the appropriate place to hold impromptu concerts?” Tyrol was not happy.
“What impromptu concert, I was just singing while I worked on the viper chief.”
“Less singing, more working. We need these vipers to fly not be lullibied to sleep.” He stormed off.
“However if you really have to sing, use Delta storage locker to practice in, it is quiet and I store my own giter there to practice on, if you can play you can use it.” He said over his sholder.
She snapped out of remembering that just as Cally came in.
“Come on sleepy head we have work to do.” She finished zipping her coveralls while Cally continued. “I hope everything goes ok, what with the cylons looking like us and no one really trusting anyone anymore. We have to stick together right, Cath? Could you believe the Chief is gona fix the project?”
Kat laughed “Chief has it in for me so don't let him know I had anything to do with that project ok.”
The flight deck was abuzz with activity when they arrived, just like every morning, but there was an undercurrent of tension that wasn't there the day before. The Sergeant at Arms was walking around with her clipboard asking questions.
Kat went to work on Starbuck's viper again. That was one pilot who just couldn't come back without something wrong with her plane, yea she was a damn good pilot but the planes took the punishment for it. She hadn't been working an hour when Sgt Hadrian walked up.
“Private Nero,” Kat pulled her head out of the Viper's fusilage.
“Yes Sergeant”
“Where were you at the time of the explosion?” Hadrian's pinched face looked like she had sucked on a lemon.
“I was .... ummm.....” Kat was trying to remember. “in Delta storage locker.”
“What were you doing in Delta storage locker?”
“I was doing vocal exercises, trying to build my voice back up, I used to sing and since Ragnar it has been off. I have been doing voice strengthening exercises trying to get my range and control back. It is quiet in Delta locker and I don't bother anyone.”
“By who's authorization were you using Delta locker for these exercises?”
“Chief.”
“The Chief authorized you to use the locker?
“Yes Sergeant.”
“Did you see the Chief while you were in Delta locker?”
“No, “
“You are certain you didn't see Chief while you were in the storage locker?” Sergeant Hadrian asked again.
“Yes Sergeant I am certain I didn't see the Chief.” Kat replied.
“Thank you, Private” Hadrian sneered as she walked off.
“What the hell was that about?” Kat asked herself as she went back to the Viper.
She went to chow as usual, and a few minutes later Cally came in.
“Hey I saw you talking to old sourpuss, what did you say?” She asked as she sat her tray down.
“She asked where I was during the explosion, and if I saw Chief, I told her I was in Delta locker and no I didn't see Chief. What is with all the questions about Chief?”
“I don't know she was asking me the same things.” Cally said. “What were you doing in Delta?”
“Been practicing my vocal exercises trying to get my singing voice back.”
“Yea been missing you singing on the flight deck, always made me feel better.” Cally said. “You kinda sounded like that old singer Kat, Cath. I wonder what happened to her. She disappeared about three years ago and no one has heard anything about her.”
“Maybe she had something she had to do.” Kat said. “Besides after what has happened, she is probably dead, she did live on Caprica after all.”
“Yea probably,” Cally looked up just as Kat turned away, “But then again.... you do LOOK like her too. I have one of her music disks and you look a lot like the picture especially just now. DAMN you are KAT.”
Kat looked around, she and Cally were the only ones around. “ NOT so loud.” She reached across the table and covered Cally's mouth. “If you say ONE word to anyone Cally it will make my life miserable. Please not a word.” Cally nodded her head.
“I promise. But why did you give it all up?”
“I made a promise to someone and I kept it” Kat lowered her voice. “four more weeks and I would have been a civilian again and could have gone back to singing, but something happened on Ragnar and my singing voice is gone, I have been working on trying to get it back, but I just don't have the range or the strength anymore.”
“Wow, I had no idea. I mean I always enjoyed when you sang, and knew things had been quiet lately but had no idea you had lost your voice. I noticed that the Commander hasn't been down to the flight deck lately. I thought that was why you weren't singing. You used to sing when he took his walks.”
“He knows who I am, it was kind of a way of thanking him for keeping my secret.” Kat blushed a bit.
“Have you been to see the Doc about your voice, it could be something medical?”
“Yes, it isn't.”
“Lets go you two” Solinus shouted from the door, “These Vipers won't launch themselves.”
“Remember, not a word” Kat said, “and don't call me Kat ok”
“You got it Cath.”
The got back to the flight deck a little before Hadrian came back with two marines and hauled Chief and Boomer off. Kat watched in concern. The Chief and Boomer's relationship wasn't exactly a well kept secret, and she wondered why Hadrian was so interested in them. They couldn't have had anything to do with the explosion. A little while later Solinus was hauled off by two marines to the tribunal, and he didn't come back. The president later announced that he was the one who left the access hatch open through negligence and that he would be in the brig for 30 days.
“I heard the Commander was hauled before the tribunal, and ended up putting Hadrian under house arrest.” Cally said behind Kat, causing her to bang her head on the wing she was working under.
“What....”
“Yea... Look there he is.”
Kat looked over at the entrance to the flight deck. Commander Adama stood there, looking around. He saw her and Cally and started walking in their direction.
“Specialist, Private, Good evening.”
They snapped to attention and saluted.
“Evening Sir” they said in unison.
“Specialist, may I have a private word with Private Nero.”
“Yes Sir” Cally said, saluted and walked off, throwing a wink back at Kat over her sholder.
“Can I help you, sir?” Kat asked.
“I hear you are working on getting your voice back.”
“Yes sir, I seem to have overstressed it or something while loading weapons on Ragnar.”
“Well, please continue working on it, and keep me posted. People with gifts like yours are needed right now to help keep up morale. I know your enlistment is up in four weeks, and we are going to need you for morale more than on the flight deck.”
“I will sir.”
He saluted and turned away. As he walked away she thought she heard him mutter “...just four more weeks.”