Post by Astraea on Jan 4, 2006 13:00:28 GMT -6
Astraea drew back slightly when Herron questioned her name. Thus far any recognition had been negative and she needed to keep this man in particular on her good side if she had any hope of continuing her work on historical records. “I don’t know of any other in the fleet,” she said softly.
“Oh ma’am, I am so sorry! I had no idea it was you. Can I shake your hand?” He jostled the clipboard and disks expertly into one hand while he extended the other. She tentatively reached out to take his hand and he squeezed hard. “I am a big fan of your work. I have a copy of your rewrite of the Colonial War and I was so impressed that I’ve read it at least a dozen times. Detailing the command decisions was very informative, but following those orders down through the ranks was a stroke of genius! I finally understood why the Treaty of Dovane was necessary to settle the dispute and end the war. It had always seemed like mere pomp and circumstance before.”
Astraea was more than a little astounded by his accolades. “It took a lot of time to go through all of those reports so I’m glad to hear that at least one person appreciates the effort.”
“Oh more than just one ma’am. I’m a part of a history group and we’ve been petitioning the school council for yahrens to include your work in their teachings.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly. “I’m…flattered to say the least.” In fact, she wasn’t sure what to say. All of that was news to her.
“I can’t wait to tell the group,” he said excitedly. “The HOHS will be so elated that you’re back on the job.”
“The HOHS?” she repeated tentatively.
“Yes ma’am. The Hands On Historical Society. We do what we can to store all of the literature we find from the Colonies as well as new works that are produced. You can tell a lot about a civilization by what they read and the quality of their work. Your writings have been in our archives since you were stationed on the Galactica.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No ma’am,” he assured her. “They are recommended reading by everyone in our group.”
She thought about that for a long moment. The jumbled pile of disks in her office contained all of the same information, but the files were randomized. It would take her hours to sort through everything. “Do you think that I can get a copy of my completed works for my personal use?” she asked. That would save her from having to compile all of the reports just to get started.
His face lit up at the request. “Yes ma’am. I would be honored to get those for you. I can have them here first thing tomorrow. And you won’t have to worry about bringing those disks back.” He held his hand to his chest. “That will be my gift to you.”
Astraea felt herself relaxing for the first time. It was nice to feel like she finally had someone on her side other than Charybdis. “Thank you so much. And it’s Astraea,” she insisted, giving his hand a pump.
He felt her grip tighten and realized that he was still holding her hand. He let go then gave his hand a shake. “That’s quite a grip you’ve got there. I guess tapping keys can really build up those hand muscles.”
She gave him half a smile and wondered what his reaction would be on discovering that her grip could actually crush his bones thanks to Cylon technology. “Sorry about that. I don’t know my own strength sometimes.”
“It’s quite all right.” When she took a step toward the door, he held out a hand to stop her. “I know that this is probably way out of line, but I’ve got to ask. Do you think that you can meet with our group sometime? We would love to have the chance to pick your brain and maybe you can settle a couple of disagreements we’ve had over certain historical events.”
Astraea stared blankly at him for a moment. The invitation had been as surprising as the rest of their conversation. “Spend an evening talking with a bunch of people about history?” She gave a nod. “Sounds like fun! But it will have to be here on the Callisto,” she stipulated. “I’ve got mounds of work to do and just don’t know when I would be able to get off ship.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but she didn’t want to go into an explanation as to why she wasn’t allowed off of the Callisto.
“I’ll make the arrangements as soon as possible,” he beamed in return. “Now don’t let me keep you. You’ve got important work to do.”
He practically shoved her out of the room and Astraea stood in stunned silence after the Archives door slid closed behind her. One of the staff members stopped next to her as she stared at the door along with Astraea. “Did I just see a smile on Herron’s face?”
Astraea glanced at her and nodded. “Yeah.”
The woman looked Astraea up and down. “That man has been a grouch as long as I’ve known him. You need to stop in here more often.”
“Oh ma’am, I am so sorry! I had no idea it was you. Can I shake your hand?” He jostled the clipboard and disks expertly into one hand while he extended the other. She tentatively reached out to take his hand and he squeezed hard. “I am a big fan of your work. I have a copy of your rewrite of the Colonial War and I was so impressed that I’ve read it at least a dozen times. Detailing the command decisions was very informative, but following those orders down through the ranks was a stroke of genius! I finally understood why the Treaty of Dovane was necessary to settle the dispute and end the war. It had always seemed like mere pomp and circumstance before.”
Astraea was more than a little astounded by his accolades. “It took a lot of time to go through all of those reports so I’m glad to hear that at least one person appreciates the effort.”
“Oh more than just one ma’am. I’m a part of a history group and we’ve been petitioning the school council for yahrens to include your work in their teachings.”
Her mouth dropped open slightly. “I’m…flattered to say the least.” In fact, she wasn’t sure what to say. All of that was news to her.
“I can’t wait to tell the group,” he said excitedly. “The HOHS will be so elated that you’re back on the job.”
“The HOHS?” she repeated tentatively.
“Yes ma’am. The Hands On Historical Society. We do what we can to store all of the literature we find from the Colonies as well as new works that are produced. You can tell a lot about a civilization by what they read and the quality of their work. Your writings have been in our archives since you were stationed on the Galactica.”
“You’re kidding?”
“No ma’am,” he assured her. “They are recommended reading by everyone in our group.”
She thought about that for a long moment. The jumbled pile of disks in her office contained all of the same information, but the files were randomized. It would take her hours to sort through everything. “Do you think that I can get a copy of my completed works for my personal use?” she asked. That would save her from having to compile all of the reports just to get started.
His face lit up at the request. “Yes ma’am. I would be honored to get those for you. I can have them here first thing tomorrow. And you won’t have to worry about bringing those disks back.” He held his hand to his chest. “That will be my gift to you.”
Astraea felt herself relaxing for the first time. It was nice to feel like she finally had someone on her side other than Charybdis. “Thank you so much. And it’s Astraea,” she insisted, giving his hand a pump.
He felt her grip tighten and realized that he was still holding her hand. He let go then gave his hand a shake. “That’s quite a grip you’ve got there. I guess tapping keys can really build up those hand muscles.”
She gave him half a smile and wondered what his reaction would be on discovering that her grip could actually crush his bones thanks to Cylon technology. “Sorry about that. I don’t know my own strength sometimes.”
“It’s quite all right.” When she took a step toward the door, he held out a hand to stop her. “I know that this is probably way out of line, but I’ve got to ask. Do you think that you can meet with our group sometime? We would love to have the chance to pick your brain and maybe you can settle a couple of disagreements we’ve had over certain historical events.”
Astraea stared blankly at him for a moment. The invitation had been as surprising as the rest of their conversation. “Spend an evening talking with a bunch of people about history?” She gave a nod. “Sounds like fun! But it will have to be here on the Callisto,” she stipulated. “I’ve got mounds of work to do and just don’t know when I would be able to get off ship.” It wasn’t exactly a lie, but she didn’t want to go into an explanation as to why she wasn’t allowed off of the Callisto.
“I’ll make the arrangements as soon as possible,” he beamed in return. “Now don’t let me keep you. You’ve got important work to do.”
He practically shoved her out of the room and Astraea stood in stunned silence after the Archives door slid closed behind her. One of the staff members stopped next to her as she stared at the door along with Astraea. “Did I just see a smile on Herron’s face?”
Astraea glanced at her and nodded. “Yeah.”
The woman looked Astraea up and down. “That man has been a grouch as long as I’ve known him. You need to stop in here more often.”