The Argus slowly came upon the planet Gomorrah and excitement grew amongst the ship’s crew. Everyone was getting at least one good meal a day, and taking an orbit around the planet not only offered a chance to fully stock the ship with food. But there were the remains of both an old human settlement and a cylon outpost to explore. This offered the chance of finding other needed items, like fabric to repair uniforms or make bedding materials. It also meant a little R&R for many of the crewmen.
Regardless of whether the battlestar’s FTL drive would get them home or not, they would at least be able to confront future adversity prepared. Less captain Reeves, the daily command meeting began. “I thought oceans and stuff were supposed to be blue.” Colonel Bridgeford was a soldier and not a scientist. Seeing purple bodies of water truly disturbed him. Mr. Lapointe answered his concerns, “Normally yes, and there are normal bodies of water located elsewhere on the planet. But these are filled with a small purple plankton type creature.
The good news is the water is drinkable and the purple guys are an exploitable resource. I imagine they were the reason the colony choose this area for settlement.” The Admiral wanted to hear more and asked for a more detailed report.
“The creatures multiply very easily and give off large amounts of high quality methane gas. They resemble plankton but really aren’t as we know them. In fact they are slightly larger and are extremely high in protean. We could construct a 10,000 litre tank and use it to augment our current methane fuel operations. Thereby ensuring that our ship’s engines are used solely for the purpose of flight. Not to mention the additional nutrition supplement.”
Since two-methane powered generators had been built in order to exploit the comet’s resources, this was just one more thing that would help ensure their survival. Hallis just calmly said to make it happen.
Doctor Lewellyn was impressed with the idea of being able to raise purple fish on board the ship for food. “That has got to be the best thing I have ever heard. Perhaps we could clear out a space someplace, put down some dirt and raise some crops too.” Everyone looked at the man like he was nuts and the doctor decided to drop the subject. “Ok, not much to report. Lieutenant Bear has re-decorated sickbay and turned it into some sort of ritual centre.” He shook his head chuckling with reference to the religious symbols that now covered almost every spare inch of wall space in his workplace, “Dave I understand you don’t want to interfere with religious freedoms, but why did you choose me to handle it?”
The response came from Bridgeford and it was a simple statement of fact. “Bear’s religious pursuits involve narcotics and you’re the doctor.” That ended the conversation, and switched onus to major Assuras. “I’ve got 3 issues, the Colonel was busy and I spoke to Reeves on the wireless. He is having some minor problems with his crew working with Ford, but assures me he has it under control.” Hallis listened quietly and the Colonel retorted that he hoped Reeves took his suggestion about giving him the room near the airlock.
The major ignored the comment and continued, “I gave chief Forester permission to cannibalize a raptor and install components in one of the captured birds. He has some theories about being able to access cylon databases or something. He is under orders to not make the final connections until captain Reeves sets up some safety protocols.”
Lapointe wanted to know why the Major didn’t assign him. “Thank you Mr. Lapointe but that leads me to my final issue. I’m worried about the chief.” The doctor became concerned and asked for clarification. “I let his action slide on the basestar because it was just after Alana’s death. But he recently sobbed in my arms and told me he wanted to die.
We need a therapist but until we get one, I think putting him and Reeves together might help him.” Lewellyn immediately agreed and ordered the Major to make it happen at the first opportunity. Everyone looked in a slight stunned disbelief at the ship’s doctor. “What?! A potentially suicidal crewmen is medical concern and henceforth my department. I’m within my jurisdiction to issue that order.” The Admiral smirked, agreed and closed the meeting.
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The ship’s doctor admitted to himself that despite having his medical office turned into a ritual center, he, as well as several other shipmates, found what lieutenant Bear was doing fascinating. The lieutenant wasn’t a priest or even formally trained by anything remotely religiously orthodox. Instead he practiced the things he learned from his family and others that were part of his community when he was growing up. It was still the Lords of Kobol that they worshiped but they did so in a very different way.
Lewellyn quickly figured out that the names of the gods were only place markers. Something assigned to denote the elements and spheres of influence. Regardless of how they were worshiped, human beings needed something greater then themselves to place faith in. And whereas captain Reeves was failing to be a religious conduit for the Argus, lieutenant Bear, without conscious effort, was beginning to fulfill that role. As re-supply operations were beginning, 15 people found the time to be part of Bear’s drum ritual.
Lieutenant Bear had fashioned a drum from a metal container and painted his face, as well as the walls, with sacred symbols. He then sat in the centre of the room mixing a small amount of the narcotics, given to him by the doctor; with some herbs he had asked lieutenant Maxime to procure for him on his last trip to the planet. The man softly chanted as he worked and others began to sit down on the floor, holding hands and forming a circle around him. Once the concoction was complete, he produced a stone axe and made a small cut on the palm of his left hand. The axe was something his grandfather had made and given to him when he was a child, and he carried it everywhere. The doctor was surprised at the bloodletting, but remained silent and made mental observations.
The lights were turned off, the drumming began and the lieutenant’s once beautiful voice started a raspy rhythmic chant. The ritual continued throughout the night and save for the striking of the drum with the sound of his chant, Bear never moved a muscle. Scientific curiosities had brought the doctor to sit within the sphere of the spectacle, intent on gathering observational data. But despite his extensive training, the scent of the burning herbs and never changing rhythm of the sounds ensnared him and drew him in. He found his mind struggling to break free of his body and reason slowly slipping away from him. His final rational thoughts, as he surrendered to a night of dreams that involved everything and nothing, were that the narcotics must be making the Lieutenant’s experience something even greater.
It was at that moment he opened his eyes and found himself sitting on a windswept plane. A strange peace and serenity overcame him and he decided to lie down and watch theclouds. He gazed at them like a child noticing how some looked like animals and other things. Unaware of the passage of time, the doctor was abruptly awoken by Bear. The Lieutenant stood over him offering a glass of water. He spoke, “Welcome back to the land of the living. You were unconscious the longest. Perhaps next time you should not become fixated on the clouds.” Lewellyn’s mouth gaped open in a silent response and Bear continued. “Please drink doctor. The Admiral will be here in a moment, and I need you to help me convince him of a few things.”
The doctor could barely stutter the question about how Bear knew about the clouds, when the Admiral walked into the room. “You will forgive me for the surprise inspection, but I wanted to check in on things because of the drug use.” At which point Lewellyn looked at Bear and dropped his glass of water in complete amazement. The Lieutenant spoke calmly, “Sir, there was no narcotics in the incense, I was only the only person that used the drugs. It was 2 grams exactly and here is the rest for your inspection.” He handed him a small pouch. Hallis nodded, took the sachet and handed it to the doctor saying he wanted it weighed and tested to make certain it was all there. But that he also wanted every person that partook in this ritual tested for drugs. The ship’s old man was militant about putting an end to dope deals on his battlestar.
Lieutenant Bear smiled and then informed Hallis that he and the doctor needed to discuss several urgent matters.