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model_pilot ([info]model_pilot) wrote in [info]kobols_legacies,
@ 2008-05-07 19:35:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Current location:Shangri-La
Entry tags:(c) rhys gaither

Evacuation
The shuttle ride from Avalon had been a particularly long one, with stops at Shoshoni Bell, Shogun, and Babylonia before finally approaching the landing bay of Shangri-La. Dani shifted awkwardly in her seat next to Rhys, looking forward to getting off the shuttle.

The small craft was designed for efficiency, not comfort, and jammed as many seats in as possible. She felt shoehorned into her seat, and was conscious of the many stares that had been sent her way since the first stop and civilians had boarded. At least she was wearing clothes that were halfway comfortable, and not her uniform, which would have made the stares even worse as far as she was concerned.

After what felt like an eternity the shuttle came to a complete stop and the flight attendant nodded to Dani and Rhys. Due to her pregnant state she'd been given priority to disembark before everyone else. It was either that or sit until everyone else was off the craft, as there was no way she would be moving very fast.

She looked at Rhys as he stood up to help her out of her seat. "I still don't like this, I feel like I'm running away." There wasn't anything she could do to help out with the way she was now, but it didn't sit right with her to be shipped away and him be the one going into harm's way.

The only good thing about this was she'd be among friends here on Shangri-La



______________
Thread open to [info]fly_baby, [info]bar_lady, [info]rhys_gaither

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-07 07:43 pm UTC (link)
"Are you comfortable enough?" It was not the roomiest ship Rhys had ever been in, but he had made sure that Dani got the best seat he could snag for her. He'd procured a wheelchair the day after he said he would, bringing it back to family quarters without so much as a word. He was going to miss his wife during the few days she was away.

"Are they going to be waiting to meet you?" That was the next thing, to speak to Anika before he left to return to Avalon. Polite but firm, that was the order of the day. He would not yell. If he could help it.

"I hope everything's going to be okay for you over here."

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-07 08:07 pm UTC (link)
"Oh to the Ladies! Anika, does that thing have seats comfortable enough?" Bethany fussed, watching the shuttle come in and land. The wheelchair she had claimed for Dani for the duration was in front of her and she watched the hatch open.

"Probably not," Anika replied, feeling a twinge of guilt that their friend wasn't traveling in Sting but she was still not about to set foot on that ship's deck again, even if the bitch was flaunting herself around the decks of Shangri-La even now, as if she was on holiday. Anika's face remained schooled in nonchalance as she dragged her thinking back from where it had gone.

Bethany edged the chair forward a little, trying to see who was going to be first out, not wanting to venture out on the deck until it was absolutely necessary.

"I'll take it out to her," Anika said, gently taking the chair from Bethany. "Least I can do." Bethany went to take control of the chair again but stopped when she heard the last few words, knowing Anika felt bad enough at not having been the one to bring Dani over from the battleship. "Alright," she said, relinquishing the chair to her twin and standing to one side of the doors of the VIP Lounge so she could wave to Dani as soon as she could see her. Going out onto the transport deck was not something Bethany did without very very compelling reason.

Anika started out through the doors, just as at home on the deck here as anywhere else on the enormous cruise ship. She knew her sister loathed coming outside, and wanted to quickly speak to Dani before they were back with Bethany anyway.

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-07 08:32 pm UTC (link)
"I'll be all right," Dani reassured Rhys as he helped her up out of her seat. She was stiff and sore from being squeezed into the seat for so long, but refused to complain even if she wanted to. Rhys was the one going into harm's way while she sat in the lap of luxury.

"Anika and Bethany will be meeting me at the VIP Lounge." She made sure he grabbed her duffel from the the overhead compartment before starting down the aisle to the hatch. At the hatch she saw Anika coming out onto the transport deck with a wheelchair and waved. "Anika's here now." She told her husband.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-07 08:47 pm UTC (link)
Rhys let out a breath through his nose, but a much softer one than he'd exhaled much earlier. He knew the whole story now, or at least as much as he wanted to, and he was placid about it now. Even if he was only placid because he'd made up his mind about what he was going to do.

He also lifted his hand in greeting as he and his wife started down the ramp to the deck, and the corners of his mouth even lifted in a smile. He would not yell. There was no need for yelling. He would be heard, though.

"I see preparations have already been made," he said with approval when they'd reached their small welcoming party, gesturing at the chair Anika was pushing ahead of her. "Nice job." They had his wife's best interests at heart, for the most part. That was nice to know. The big mechanic shifted his posture, looked down at his hands before lacing the fingers together behind his neck.

"I appreciate this," he said, wanting to make it clear that he considered this a favor regardless of anything else. "To know she's going to be safe here."

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-07 09:17 pm UTC (link)
"Anytime, it's what friends are for, isn't it?" Anika replied, putting the brake on as she reached them and reaching over to take Dani's bag from her. "Besides, do you really think we'd let her go anywhere else?"

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-07 10:33 pm UTC (link)
Standing in the VIP Lounge still Bethany saw Dani and Rhys as they disembarked, raising her hand to wave calmly, the palm of it resting briefly on the window in front of her after. Other passengers started to make their way down the ramp after Dani, most quickly heading across to the regular arrivals lounge a little way away from where Bethany was waiting. She managed to control her urge to pace as she waited, her patience keeping her still and poised.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-08 07:23 am UTC (link)
Standing head and shoulders above the two women he was walking with, Rhys took hold of the wheelchair's handles when Anika commandeered Dani's duffel bag. He saw Bethany wave, inclined his head in her direction as a nod of acknowledgement. He yawned a little, because the trip had been a tiring one due to the cramped conditions, then cleared his throat.

"I would like a word with you later, please," he said to the civillian as the three of them made their way to the lounge. "In private, if you don't mind. Obviously you're going to be busy visiting today, and I'm due back on-board the Avalon sooner than I'd like, so I won't take up too much of your time, but its important. If you could spare me a few minutes, I'd appreciate it."

He'd considered going ahead and saying his piece to the woman with Dani present, then decided against it on the grounds that it might upset her. Ever the peacemaker, his wife tried to avoid arguments when she could, and to help others do the same. But then, that was part of the current situation, and the source of Rhys' aggravation. He had promised himself that he would neither lose his temper or raise his voice, and that should be enough.

"It can be as soon as we get Dani situated and comfortable if you'd like," he added, looking down at Anika with a placid expression. "Whenever's good for you."

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-08 08:37 am UTC (link)
Anika's eyes darted up to Rhys' face at his request. Just the way he worded it made her stomach clench suddenly, her face struggling to hide the fear, then anger at herself for letting it affect her. ... in private... Anika couldn't think of any harmless reason the man would want to speak to her privately, Bethany was the one who handled everything regarding Dani's arrangements, right down to her appointments with the doctor. Her automatic reaction was to refuse, saying she was too busy, but she couldn't lie. Since her return flight from Avalon she hadn't left Shangri-La for anything but the obligatory runs she had to do, and wasn't sure when she would be.

"Why?" she asked cautiously, yielding the chair to him, his size meaning she didn't really have a great deal of choice in the matter, another thing that put her on edge.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-08 09:07 am UTC (link)
'Why'? Seriously? Rhys looked down and then off to the right to make sure he wasn't scowling before returning his attention to Anika. He'd phrased it as politely and carefully as he could, because he and the other pilot had never exchanged much beyond pleasantries up until now, and he wasn't going to make a scene over the previous incident on the flight deck in front of Dani. He wasn't intending to make a scene period, actually. But the woman had asked, so...

"Its about you and Major Simmons," he said matter-of-factly, and one large hand lifted in a palm-outward gesture, a signal that meant 'wait'. "I'm aware there's no love lost between the two of you, I'm not here to play diplomat for her." He had heard some vague whisperings in the gossip-stream about the officer being compelled to seek a therapist's care, that Sinclair herself had put her foot down about it, but truthfully he was less than interested. He just didn't want Dani caught in the middle of anything right now.

"Please," he said, his tone growing more formal. "As a favor to me, as your friend's husband. Okay?"

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-08 09:20 am UTC (link)
Just the mention of the bitch's name was enough to send a sheet of ice through Anika. She met Rhys's gaze and replied, her tone cool and just as formal as his own. "As a favour to you, my friend's husband, I will suggest that you forget it, as I have not the slightest bit of interest in anything to do with that ... individual, nor anything any of her cronies might try and pull."

Anika knew the major was on Shangri-La the word having been sent through to her from friends in the hangars as soon as the major's foot set down on the hangar deck. It had taken hours for Anika to calm down enough to leave her cabin and seek out Bethany, raling at her sister that the bitch was here to rub it in. It had taken more than a short while for Bethany to calm Anika down and tell her that the Senator and his wife had her as their guest but it didn't convince Anika. "They're closing ranks around her," she hissed, "and it's just as I knew it would be!" she had spat out before returning to her cabin. She knew it was impossible to explain, but just the same as last time, except this time everyone knew, she was feeling the walls closing in, and the sight of any uniform made bile rise in her throat. Her nightmares had returned and she had considered going to Philo to get something to help her keep a grip on it all.

"I have nothing to say about it, it's done," she told him as she shouldered Dani's bag.

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-08 04:43 pm UTC (link)
Dani sank down into the wheelchair with a sense of relief after the long shuttle ride and then the walk down onto the deck.

The young woman craned her head around to look at her husband as he took up position behind her. "I'm fully capable of pushing myself you know." She griped, more out of formality than any real desire to propel herself.

When Rhys asked to speak to Anika in private she instantly knew what it was about. There was only one thing it could be. "Rhys, no." She shifted as best she could to look up at her husband directly.

"Do you really need to have this conversation?" She wasn't going to pull rank, it was one thing Dani had sworn to herself that she would never do, but she was not at all happy at her husband's decision to press the issue.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-08 07:16 pm UTC (link)
Rhys closed his eyes. It was like his father had always told him, when you felt like you might lose your temper, shut your eyes and count to ten, then count to ten again. When he opened his eyes again, he placed both of his hands on Dani's shoulders, leaving them there in a supportive gesture. "Yes," he said quietly. "Yes, I really need to have this conversation."

He pivoted enough that he could make eye contact with Anika. "I'm sorry if you're having a bad week," he said, his politeness strained but still hanging on by its tether. "But I came off of a shift change to find that Dani had gone down to the hangar bay, and that's really the last place she needs to be. No matter how much she likes to try and keep the peace between her friends." His mouth, which kept trying to go taut around the corners, offered a more or less genuine smile.

"My wife is eight months pregnant. And while I'm sure the rumor mill is fascinated by this fiasco, I'm not." It was the hardest thing he'd ever done just to stand there and talk like a normal person when what he wanted to do was yell. But his height was intimidating under the best circumstances, and he didn't want to get into jackass mode. "I can't speak to whatever's going on between you and Simmons, because I don't care. What I care about is my wife. Okay?"

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-08 07:50 pm UTC (link)
Anika's eyes narrowed as he ignored Dani's request and started into her. She almost took Dani's chair from him when he put on a show of closing his eyes while the other passengers continued to disembark and walk around the stationary three. As he started into her her hackles rose, his attempt at civility poorly veiled, and the smile obviously strained. I would have expected you to understand but no, looks like you're just another one of the mob who doesn't even listen to his damned wife!

"If you really want to do what's right for your wife then why don't you listen to her and do what she asked?" Anger was flickering in her eyes. Anika wasn't about to leave Dani out here sitting on the hangar deck with people streaming around him while this man who claimed to want to do the best for his wife got his satisfaction. "I don't want to talk to you, or anyone about it, and if you want to do what's best for Dani, then you'll start listening to your own words. Your wife is eight months pregnant, so why don't we get her off this hangar deck and somewhere more comfortable, or isn't that as important to you as your bloody 'talk'!"

It was very clear that all Anika was concerned about right now was Dani, and to have this man towering over her insisting on having his voice heard was making her blood boil.

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-08 08:04 pm UTC (link)
"Rhys, please, let it go." Dani pleaded, visibly upset at the argument between her husband and one of her best friends. "I want to have a quiet time with my husband and my friends before you have to leave. Anika, I appreciate your support but you aren't helping."

With that, the irritated young woman put her hands on the wheels and started pulling away from the other two. Rhys was forced to let go, and Dani wheeled herself toward the hatch to the VIP lounge. She was damned if she was going to sit with those two arguing over her head about who was going to do what!

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-08 08:19 pm UTC (link)
Great. Wonderful. Marvelous. Rhys let out an irritated grunt when Dani removed the chair from his grasp and started away from him, and he jammed his hands into his pockets and looked at his shoes. Well, he'd tried, hadn't he? He'd approached the situation as calmly as he knew how, even said 'please' when he asked for a few minutes in private, and now his wife was mad at him.

"Right, then," he said, addressing the words to Anika. He'd asked her nicely, frak it, and it was her reaction to his request that had triggered this new mess. What did she think, he was planning to slap her around?

"We can deal with it later,."

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-08 08:27 pm UTC (link)
Anika glared at him. "You just don't get it do you? YOU can deal with it. If you haven't listened to what Dani told you about what happened, then you're not gonna hear a frakkin' word I say, and you're proving that every time you open your mouth!" She pointed after Dani. "See what YOU started?" She turned on her heel and hitched Dani's duffel and went after Dani.

Dani knew damned well that Anika had told her from the beginning not to come down to the deck, and not to get involved. Anika had begged her to leave when the major had completely lost control and started ranting. All Anika cared about at that point was Dani, and getting her out of there, away from the major, away from any possible repurcussions, away from the whole nasty mess. So if he was about to lay down the law to Anika he could shove it where the sun didn't shine. She had had enough of it all and wasn't about to go through another berating for no frakking reason at all.

If she ever saw that Sykes person again he was going to regret ever having lain eyes on her and Sting.

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-08 08:47 pm UTC (link)
Watching the tableau unfold Bethany almost went out to see what was happening, worried about her sister and recognising the body stance. Anika had told Bethany most of what happened, but she knew her sister wasn't telling her everything, and she had been keen to see Dani and find out exactly what had gone on. Anika had almost begged her not to take it further, especially when Bethany had immediately gone to file an official complaint.

"Don't!" Anika had made her promise not to. "If the bitch wants she can make Dani's life hell, and she's insane enough to do just that, after the way she acted over there. I know they're going to cover this up, and make out it was me, no matter what, because that's the way they operate, and you know that. We're the enemy, and both those officers made that real clear. So please, B, don't go to any of your friends and start anything, for Dani's sake?"

She bit her lip, something both sisters did when they were really worried, then let it go, wiping her lip quickly to ensure there were no smears of her lipcolour. She'd finally agreed, begrudgingly, but only on the proviso that there weren't going to be any repurcussions on their business, or more importantly Anika's safety when carrying out her flights around the fleet. Their experience of what happened to Bryn still sat in both their minds, and she wasnt going to see something like that happen to her sister.

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[info]fly_baby
2008-05-08 08:56 pm UTC (link)
Anika almost ran to catch up with Dani. She'd wanted to speak to her very quickly before they reached Bethany and Rhys had screwed that up almost. "Dani, listen, just quickly," she said, reaching the chair and asking her to wait a moment. "Please, I'm sorry about all that, but I need to ask you a favour, please? It's really important." She stopped herself from looking over at the windows just close to them now, making sure Bethany was staying inside. "Please don't tell Bethany anything about what the major said about the drugs and guns? If she finds out she will go ballistic, and I have managed to stop her taking it further, only by not telling her that. Please? Promise me?" She begged Dani, quickly, knowing that Rhys, or Bethany even, would be there any second.

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-09 05:31 pm UTC (link)
Dani paused, her hands on the wheels of her chair as she listened to Anika's request. Her friend's expression was frantic and Dani almost expected her to get on her knees and continue begging.

"Niki...you really should tell Bethany, she's your sister! She just wants to help you, and this thing is eating you up. I won't say anything...for now," she added before Anika could say anything. "But I want you to think about it."

With that said, Dani started moving again. She covered the short distance remaining to the hatch in a minute and moved through.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-10 11:14 am UTC (link)
Rhys clamped his lips together, annoyed and resigned. So that was how it was, then. They both wanted him to keep his mouth shut, his wife and her friend. All righty. He could do that. He could keep his mouth shut.

The mechanic lingered where he stood for a couple of minutes, allowing the two women to go ahead of him towards the lounge. He shouldn't have come along, he knew that now, shouldn't have tried to talk to Anika. There was no point in trying to speak reasonably to someone who was just going to blow their stack at you. Frakking nutjob. It was a mistake he would not repeat.

When he saw his wife enter the lounge, Rhys followed along in her wake. In silence.

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-10 04:54 pm UTC (link)
Bethany was already at the door, her eyes darting from her twin to Dani's husband then back again, but they fixed on Dani once her friend reached the doors that slid open. The VIP Lounge was now empty of all other passengers, the only remaining staff member waiting patiently at the small counter near the opposite door into the body of the cruise ship.

"Dani, darling, how are you? Here give me a hug so I can tell for myself!" she said as she leaned over and wrapped her arms gently around their friend. While there she looked at her sister who was just walking into the lounge, not looking particularly happy, but clearing her face as soon as she realised her sister was looking at her. She gave Anika a pointed look then looked past her to where Rhys was now entering the private lounge.

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-10 05:37 pm UTC (link)
Dani hugged her friend back from the wheelchair. "I'm fine, Bethany," she replied, glancing back at Anika and her husband. "A bit tired but fine."

She could see Rhys wasn't happy, but there was nothing she could do about it now. "Rhys, you remember Anika's sister Bethany don't you?"

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-14 04:35 pm UTC (link)
"Bethany." Rhys had to duck a little to keep from bumping his head on the door to the lounge, and he nodded at the woman in a slightly formal fashion. She'd helped to organize his wedding, after all, and he'd had enough of arguing for one afternoon.

Very careful not to make eye contact with either Anika or his wife, the mechanic offered the civillian's sister a smile. "Hope you're having a good afternoon of it."

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-14 05:05 pm UTC (link)
"I am indeed!" Bethany answered with an enthusiastic smile. She had no idea what had transpired on the hangar deck but she kept her eyes on Rhys as she greeted him. "And I can't wait to get this lady settled into her quarters, which reminds me, you're welcome to come visit her any time, you know that, don't you?" she added, reaching over and giving his large forearm a gentle squeeze.

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[info]rhys_gaither
2008-05-14 06:40 pm UTC (link)
The mechanic's smile became a little more genuine, and he covered Bethany's hand with one of his own. "I've already thanked Anika for giving Dani some space here for a while. I can't say how long it'll be before she can come back, conditions being what they are, but...I'm thankful she has a haven here."

He glanced over at his wife, then looked at Bethany again. He didn't want this trip to end on a sour note, not when things were kind of uncertain back on Avalon, but he hadn't asked for his head to be bitten off for trying to be reasonable. "If you ever need repairs or anything, I'll be glad to lend a hand. It'd be the least I can do."

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[info]bar_lady
2008-05-14 07:22 pm UTC (link)
Smiling warmly as his offer Bethany gave his arm another gentle squeeze. "Thank you, Rhys, I'll be sure to let you know if we do. In the meantime, how about we get this wonderful clever woman settled in, shall we? And you can see where she'll be!" She had a twinkle in her eye as she looked from one to the other. "I'm sure she's going to be comfortable, or at least as comfortable as we can make her, given her dear man won't be here, so come on... let's go, shall we?" She gave Dani a wink, her smile wide as she imagined how Dani was going to react when she saw her cabin. It was a far cry from what they had on the battlestar, that was something Bethany knew for certain!

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[info]model_pilot
2008-05-14 07:49 pm UTC (link)
Dani smiled at her friend's comments and reached over to put her hand up to cover one of Rhys's. The crisis appeared to be over for now and she was thankful that Bethany had been able to smooth over the troubled waters.

"Yes, I'm curious to see what you've come up with."

The party moved off from the VIP section and off into the interior of the Shangri-La and toward the new quarters that would house Daniella Kypros-Gaither for the near future.

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