artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 25, 2006 2:14:45 GMT -6
Artus looked up, clearly surprised."
"Sorry, I was just wondering about the soup they gave me earlier.."
He smiled apologetically.
"But funny you should ask that. To be honest I haven't got a clue. All I know is I suddenly wake up in sickbay and suddenly everybody tells me that two yahren have passed. But the last thing I remember, as I keep telling everybody, was the battle at Pangara Major Delta. After that, mostly a white blur, with some strange dreams."
As he said that Artus'eyes seemed to trail off into the distance...
|
|
|
Post by Brie on May 25, 2006 9:13:05 GMT -6
"I didn't ask you what you remember, I asked if you had any idea," Brie said. "Big difference. Maybe a hint from your dreams?" She looked at Artus, noticed the distant look on his face. "What's going through your mind right now? Don't try to rationalize or explain, just tell me the first thought that comes to mind."
|
|
artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 27, 2006 3:32:36 GMT -6
"Strangely enough the first thought that always comes into my mind is Caprican Ketchup, even though I don't really know why."
Artus attemted a smile, but failed terribly.
He sighed.
"You know, major, if I may be honest with you, back at Pangara I was totally confused about my entire life. I was head over heels in love with Amy, even though I do realise how innapropriate something like that might be. And I know that I have a little bit of a reputation as a ladies man..."
The smile that now followed was indeed sincere, and it was the kind that made it believable that many ladies had found the young lieutenant irresistable.
"But anyway, at Pangara I wanted to prove myself. Hoping that by going after that basestar all by myself perhaps I could get her to notice me more. After all the competition was pretty steep and everybody else outranked me. So I thought that maybe if I could become a hero, perhaps I would have a chance. After all she did do me the favor of telling me perhaps we should give eaxh other some room, just before we launched."
The smile was gone again, but his eyes trailed off in the distance.
"You know I remember being shot. But all I could think of at that time was that it didn't matter. As long as Amy was safe. As long as I could save her."
|
|
|
Post by Brie on May 27, 2006 18:36:43 GMT -6
"Save her from what?" Brie asked.
"I'm not sure," was his reply.
"As your CO I'm having a hard time not lecturing you on your motives for wanting to play the hero but I'm not here as your CO so I guess you're off the hook on that one."
Artus paused. "Don't take this the wrong way, but if not as my CO then why are you here?"
"I don't know," Brie told him. "I guess it's because of Amy. She's truly a special person, and I know that you realize that. I can't think of any other way to help her right now. And somehow, I know she'd want us to be having this conversation." She paused, thinking. "It's weird about the Caprican Ketchup. If I remember correctly, one time when Amy had almost died, she woke up asking for a burger. I'd check the dates on that but I don't think it was documented, and unfortunately Amy has been in that situation more than once." Brie paused again. "Once again, don't think, just tell me the first thing that comes to mind. Save Amy from what? And how could your sacrificing yourself make a difference?"
|
|
artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 28, 2006 1:05:57 GMT -6
Artus looked a little helpless on this one.
"You know, this may seem a little strange to you, but I've always felt connected to Amy in some way. Ever since the two of us sat down for that first game of Pyramid, it was almost like there was some kind of bond."
It was clear Artus was having trouble expressing himself.
"Go on.." said Brie.
"Well, " Artus continued, putting his rakish smile back on; "as you know I love her, but I have always felt that she needed my protection in some way. Like I have to look out for her. I mean she does have a habit of getting herself into trouble, and it felt natural to cover her behind."
At this point his grin widens as he obviously thinks of Amy's behind. Seeing Brie notices this Artus quickly continues.
"Right, anyway. Like I said I was completely prepared to sacrifice myself for her. They have a habit of letting you do that kind of thing, you know."
|
|
artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 28, 2006 5:07:38 GMT -6
One of the men dressed in white looked up.
"Are we sure that the memory whipe was complete?"
The other checked something on a hand held device.
"It should be."
The other frowned.
"Should be? Make sure. I don't have to tell you what will happen if the Dark Ones suspect our involvement!"
The second person sighed.
"The mind whipe was complete. But sometimes strong emotions can get through, you know that."
The first man turned to look at him.
"But what about what happened when he met her again?"
The second man oput the handheld device down.
"That was a calculated risk. It was the only way that we could get that to her. That was the only reason we revived this one, after all."
An eery smile crept across the first man's face.
"So we don't really need him anymore, now do we?"
|
|
|
Post by Brie on May 28, 2006 15:25:41 GMT -6
"Yeah, I know, they can be like that. We do all the work and accept all the danger, and they just stand around, watching." Brie stopped for a micron. "I have no idea where that came from. But backing up a few steps, let me tell you one thing about Amy. The reason that she has never reached her full potential is because everyone, especially the men in her life, are way too willing to jump in and rescue her. She’s never been allowed to stand on her own two feet, so she has no idea what she’s actually capable of. Therefore, when she does need to do something on her own, she can’t because her self confidence has been shot. That is why she gets herself into trouble. And that’s also why she wanted her distance, not just from you but from all the men that tend to swarm around her.” Brie half-smiled. “I’m sorry, thinking that Amy is a weak, helpless female happens to be a pet peeve of mine, one that I‘ve run across all too often. She’s one of the most capable people I know, male or female. But back to them. What kind of sacrifice did they expect? I’m sure it goes a lot deeper than dying at Cylon hands.”
|
|
artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 30, 2006 8:00:54 GMT -6
Artus stoor up and started pacing back and forth through te little room. His voice got angrier as he went along.
"Frack! I gave Amy the time and the room she needed. But I just couldn't sit around and do nothing while she was dying. Everbody else seemed to self-involved to care."
His fist hit the door.
"Felgercarb. You know I may be out of line here, Major, but you have to realise that you yourself are at least as guilty of keeping Amy down as we 'men' are."
For a moment he was silent, and when he continued, his voice was both more relaxed and more menacing at the same time.
"I have never thought of Amy as weak, helpless or incompetent. The strength in her is what attracts me to her most. But you have to remember, as far as I know I went out on a patrol yesterday, but now I'm back people tell me I have been gone for several yahrens. And I also find out that in the meantime the woman I love has been kidnapped, captured, knocked up and almost sealed to another man. And all the while I understand that the rest of the squadron is out there fighting the Cylons. Because as far as I'm concerned I'm still a warrior from Gold Squadron. And this may not mean a whole lot to the people trying to keep me here, but it means something to me!"
|
|
|
Post by Brie on May 30, 2006 9:14:21 GMT -6
Brie remained calm. "You will never know exactly how much I've given to Amy. And for the record, I've never kept her down. Ask her yourself, I've placed my own career on the line more than once to help her reach her potential. But I'm not about to get into a war of words with you, Lieutenant. And I understand your frustration, I really do. But there are two things you need to remember here. Number one, you will not return to active duty until some decent explanation for your disappearance has been given to the medical staff. That's why I'm here right now, I thought I could maybe help you come up with something. And number two, my signature goes on the bottom line of your orders. So you might want to consider how you act in front of me, because I won't allow anyone who can't control himself anywhere near a viper." She stood up. "Obviously my being here isn't doing you any good so if you decide you want my help, let me know. I'll be in the med lab, checking on Amy."
|
|
artus
Viper Pilot
Posts: 140
|
Post by artus on May 30, 2006 9:31:37 GMT -6
Artus was obviously steaming. But he stepped away from the door and stood to attention.
"If those are your orders M'am, I formally request permission to investigate what happened. I also take full responsibility for misjudging this debriefing as a normal conversation. I will subject myself to any kind of punishment you see fit."
His face was blank and emotionless, but Brie could tell that there was a lot going on behind the facade.
|
|