The Fall of Iconia

Chapter 26

A/N: We would like to reiterate that the BSG portions of this story do not necessarily follow canon. Nor do people act exactly the same way they did in canon.

Standard disclaimer applies...

Chapter 26

Pendergast slowed to sublight. They were in interstellar space, and were rendezvousing with Equinox. Andy Lawson, the first officer of Equinox was replacing Pendergast's first officer, who was leaving Starfleet to set up a cultural exchange office on Jord.

As soon as the exchange of personnel was completed, Pendergast jumped to hyperspace again, and was gone. Andy entered the bridge.

"Commander Andy Lawson, reporting for duty," he said, coming to attention.

"Welcome aboard, Commander," Shelby told him. She stood and beckoned to her ready room. "Would you join me?"

Andy smiled. "I'd be glad to, Captain Shelby."

"Do you ingest food, Commander?" she asked as she sat down behind her desk.

He smiled. "Not usually, Sir, but I can."

She looked at him as she ordered some coffee from the replicator for both of them. "We really don't stand on ceremony on this ship, Andy. Everyone on board is ascended. Except you, I mean."

He nodded as he took the offered coffee. "That's what I understand. How cool is that! You should have the best record of any starfleet captain!"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, none of your crew can die." He frowned as he remembered something. "Well, at least they're very hard to kill."

Shelby cocked her head at him, wondering what he knew. She was tempted to ask him, but figured she'd rather not know. "You're pretty resilient as well, Commander."

"Actually, I'm pretty easy to kill. It's just that what would kill a normal person won't necessarily kill me.

She grinned. "I won't ask what type of things will kill you, Commander."

"That's ok, Captain. Most of them are listed in the computer."

"Do you prefer being called Commander Lawson, or Andy?"

"Regulations say..."

"I'm not asking what the regulations say, Commander. I can quote every one of them. I'm asking what you prefer?"

"Well, Captain Shelby, I prefer being called Andy."

She nodded. "As I said, we don't stand on ceremony here. If you don't call me Captain, I won't call you Commander. I used to be really stuck on ceremony. You can ask Commodore Riker. When I ascended, I realized that I didn't need to prove anything, so the ceremony went out the window."

"You have a deal," Andy said. "I have a rather strange request, though."

"What's that?"

"Can I call you Boss?"

On Jord...

Jack O'Neill stepped out of the jumper, onto the town square of New Caprica City. The sound was deafening, as the people were celebrating the return of Galactica and Pegasus. As soon as he was recognized, a chant went up from the people.

"Cain, Cain, Cain!"

He almost turned and went back into the jumper, but Sam's hand was firmly on his arm, stopping him. He looked down at her, and saw that she was smiling up at him, offering her own silent support for the cheering.