Eli "Torch" Ramai (elihu_ramai) wrote in bsg_avalon, @ 2010-09-18 19:25:00 |
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Entry tags: | elihu ramai, jilleen simmons, tauron |
Paying Respects
WHO: Jilleen Simmons and Elihu Ramai
WHERE: The Airfield
WHEN: 04 12 Y02
“Frak, what an unbelievable day and its only started,” Jilleen said as she walked up to a tall officer with dark hair. “So when did you guys fly in?” Jilleen straighten the leather sash on her dress grey uniform tunic. She also wore a pair of black gloves out of respect for the fallen leader and Tauron tradition.
Her day started early aboard the Avalon where she stayed in hopes of spending some quality time with her husband but they both had separate schedules. She wasted nearly a full day on a battlestar waiting to see James who did not return to the ship until late. It was safe to say she was disappointed with the two hours they shared. Half the time they argued. She was tired from her journey and he was tired from the endless hours of meetings.
At the airfield at Gladius Cross, she met with members of delegations from Sagittaron and other colonies that all were on their way to pay their final respects. The prime minister was going to be buried in his home town of Tiberius which was twelve miles from the airfield.
“Hasn’t been that long.” Eli squinted as he glanced up at the clouds. The sun was too brilliant for the occasion--it should be raining, he thought, then amended quietly. You sentimental bastard. He didn’t look directly at Jill as he adjusted his own sash. It felt wrong, to cover his arms, at a Tauron burial-then again, he belonged to the Colonies now. What message would the marks on his body send? Any Tauron would read enough simply by looking at what they could see.
“Have you met up with James yet?” The question was casual. He didn’t know much of Jill’s husband beyond the fact that he was here.
“Last night,” she watched for him for a second. He knew enough about her husband to know he was from Picon and was once a full time raptor pilot before working in Special Operations. It was the type of information two working together would share. Eli was one the Raptor pilots from the air detactment which flew the admiral around. Anywhere Vice Admiral Pierce went, Jilleen was usually there with him.
“It’s ashamed the Admiral wasn’t able to come,” she said to change the subject. Jilleen was not in the mood to talk about her husband. “One of his class-mates from his academy days was killed in the attack too. It’s really tragic.”
Eli’s face stiffened for a half-second, then returned to impassivity. It was a look his mouth was unused to. Generally, he wore a smile, particularly when he was angry. He was fighting it here.
“What’s keeping him from it anyhow?” The words were a slow drawl. “Security, I suppose.” He was looking into the distance. “I know. You don’t question.”
“It’s okay to ask questions, lieutenant. You’re almost right,” she paused to make sure no one was ease dropping on them. “The situation in Paloma is not looking good right now. They are not happy with the successor,” she shook her head. “Something about what he did years during the civil war.” She was talking about the acting Prime Minister of Sagittaron as if it was foregone conclusion that his position was assured. He was Caprica’s man and not very popular on Sagittaron. “Hell, all of them did something gods awful during the uprising.”
Her eyes looked up at him. “The admiral would have come. He has the highest respect for Prime Minister Fahn,” she paused as if occurred to her that this was not about the death of two leaders, but the lost of many innocent Taurons in the attack. “I know,” it was her job to speak for her boss and make him look good, “the Admiral knows that even if he had come it would not ease the pain of losing so many.” In her best Tauron, “Theoί gia na ta evlogeί” Gods bless them she said.
He blinked in surprise at her words. The accent was true and Eli thought to himself that it wasn’t likely she’d learned the phrase by rote.
“I̱ thálassa dínei kai ti̱ thálassa, tous paírnei píso̱.” The sea gives them and the sea takes them back. It was a saying he had learned at his grandfather’s knee. You could not undo death; regret, however, could be stopped. Taurons preferred revenge.
“That’s beautiful,” she said with a brief touch of his arm and a smile. “Your people are so full of passion.”
He smiled back, not sure of what to say to that. There was nothing appropriate for this moment, he believed. “We should be heading to the reception deck. They’ll expect you.” And strangely, Eli wanted to be there himself, to be in the middle of voices all speaking his language. It had been months.
“You think so?” She raised an eyebrow. “I’m only a mere captain lost in a crowd of high officers and officials, but I suppose you’re right. I am Jilleen Simmons after all.” She said sarcastically. “Come on then,” she then started toward the reception deck expecting him to follow along side.
“Did I ever tell you that I was in the Academy’s Calvary unit? I use to ride in parades such as the one we are going to see.” She was referring to the Tauron Academy. Her unit was mostly an honor unit which wore the traditional uniform of the late Taurus Empire, as some would say the Golden Age of Tauron.
“You? In a parade?” He grinned. “I’d like to see that.” His arm swung slightly, knocking hers by accident before he stepped away to keep from walking too close. “Why- how’d you end up in the Academy? You never seemed like the type to me.”
Jilleen looked sideways at him. “It’s a long story,” but she continued. “I applied because I knew my mother would not approve. My parents thought I was on holiday with my friend, when someone told them I was at plebe camp to their great surprise.” She paused for a beat. “I didn’t belong, but somehow I survived camp and became a cadet. The rest is history.” Her eyes glanced at the distant hill and the citadel which belonged to the Tauron Academy.
“What about you? You went to Delphi, right?”
“I did. My family sponsored me.” He went quiet for a moment. “It was... a point of pride, I think, that I go to Delphi and not Tauron.” Jill, he thought, could understand pride. “I didn’t rebel against them- I was rebelling against everything else.”
“We all have our reasons,” said Jilleen. After a few more steps, “It must have been hard on Caprica, I mean growing up Tauron. I know most of the prejudice is something of the past for the most part ... I don’t know maybe I’m a hypocrite.”
“I don’t know who makes it harder- the Capricans or us,” Eli said, then paused. “I’m... Caprican, after all. I was born there, raised there, had my first drink there, fell in love, did all the things a man should do there, and yet... I call myself Tauron. Tauron, when to be Tauron is...” The rest of the words disappeared into the wind. “I never knew there were flowers here.”
His boot scuffed the gravel, watching it drift off, away from the path. A small, straggling blossom was there, trembling from the breeze his foot had created. He didn’t pluck it, as other men might have. Instead, he leaned down and picked up the rock next to it, letting it roll against his palm as they walked. The sharp edges felt dull against his calloused skin.
“I don’t know how to feel about that,” he finished. Finished when he hadn’t really managed to say anything at all.
Jilleen eyes were on the people ahead of them who had gathered to cue at one of the gates leading to the observation deck and bleachers while he spoke and picked up the rock. She hated standing in line and would have to come up with an plan to cut to the front. She was several steps of ahead of him when he spoke again.
She stopped and turned to him. “What?” she asked thinking she had missed something he said between his last statement and the comment about the flowers.
“Nothing,” Eli said. “It was nothing.” And it was better to leave it that way.
He fidgeted a little as he saw the line, his weight shifting from one foot to the other. “Maybe you should get up ahead. You being a diplomat and all.” He grinned at her, resisting a nudge.
“Diplomat? My ass,” she smirked. “Follow me you dirt-eater,” she teased. The captain started off in a quick pace with the Raptor pilot in toll.
“You’re the only one I’ll let call me that,” Eli muttered after her, his mouth quirked. “This time.”
Once in the crowd she gently pushed her way through. “Coming through; pardon us official business; make a hole; urgent.” The two officers looked important enough to allow them through without question. It did not hurt that she held the rank of captain and wore the aiguillette of a flag officer’s aide on her left shoulder.
The pilot adjusted his expression until he managed to look somber despite the spark in his eye. He followed Jill, quietly remarking at her ability to part the people they were passing through--it took something more than rank, he thought. He’d learned to appreciate that in her through their work together, even if it wasn’t a trait he valued.
“Official business?” He asked when they reached their spot, his voice dry.
“Of course,” she said with a small smirk. Jilleen knew that the little stunt bordered on minor misuse of her rank and office. For most of her life, in many ways she pushed at the boundaries of her privileged lifestyle to have her way.
During the pause, she checked her messages on her smart-phone, until one incoming message appeared. “Frak,” she whispered.
He made a slight noise of inquiry, not daring to actually ask while they were surrounded by others. Crossing his arms, he glanced down at her, then turned back to the speakers. His attention wasn’t on them at all but Eli didn’t want to draw stares from those nearby.
Jilleen leaned close to Eli. “Admiral Pierce fired Commander Blake,” she said only loud enough for his ears. Commander Blake was the Admiral’s chief of staff. “Pierce is on his way Here!”
“Why- what happened?” He hissed.
“Can’t tell you here,” she nodded to the crowd gathering around them. “I need you to fly me back to Avalon.”
“Let’s go then.” He paused. “Unless you’re waiting for something.” Who knew what political tasks were involved? But Eli began to elbow a way for her through the crowd before waiting for her to answer.
“We paid our respects, nothing left but the parades.” She would let him lead the way, at least this time it was truly official business.