Chapter Text
Bill Adama had had no intention of ‘celebrating’ his retirement. But ever the good officer, even after he was officially released from duty, he had agreed when Yuen Nagala, both admiral and old friend, had suggested it.
They’d met at a bar when Bill returned planetside, a place not far from an airbase just outside of Caprica City and an oft used hang-out for officers. They had a meal and quite a few cold ale’s in a secluded booth as they discussed the glory days for hours.
Towards the end of the night, Nagala had asked a question that Bill had been forcing himself not to think about. “What are you going to do now?
Shaking his head, Bill answered, “I don’t know. Buy myself a small place, probably. Maybe outside the city. Read all the books I’ve always meant to. Maybe see if I can’t find myself a good woman to share a quiet life with.”
“You don’t intend to search for another job?”
“I’ve thought about it,” the former commander told him. “Something in private security might work out.”
Then Nagala gave him the strangest of smiles and said, “A good woman, you say? I know a good woman. I’ve given her your name and vouched that you are the kind of man she is looking for.”
Bill laughed. “I haven’t been set up since I was in my twenties, Nag.”
Smiling, the Admiral informed him, “I never said I gave her your name for a date, Bill.”
“Then what did you give her it for?”
“A job,” was the reply. “One I think you are well suited for. She needs a good man, loyal to the good of the Colonies, willing and able to make difficult decisions. Willing and able to lead.”
Bill frowned and shook his head. “What job is this exactly?”
Nagala spoke cryptically, “She will tell you all about it if you wish to meet her.”
“Who?”
The Admiral looked around carefully and Bill followed his gaze, wondering what the man was searching for. When he turned back to Nagala, he found a small white card in front of him. On it was written The Agency, a phone number below.
Bill looked back up at his old friend in confusion. “The Agency?” And was surprised when the Admiral – one of the highest ranking and most respected in the Fleet – shushed him like a teenage girl worried about being overheard sharing gossip in the bathroom.
“Don’t say it so loud, you never know who might be listening. Call the number, use an untraceable number, disposable or pay phones only. Tell them your name, they’ll tell you what to do next.”
“Nag, what the frak is this?” Bill questioned.
The other man shook his head. “I can’t say in detail. But if you’re looking for work, they need someone like you. The woman who runs the operation is a good woman; everything she does is to ensure the Colonies prosper. It is honorable work, Bill. Forget security, you want a job, this is what you’re suited for.”
Then his old friend patted Bill on the hand and said, “Don’t discuss this with anyone else. But think about it.”
Before Bill could say anything else, Nagala was on his feet and, after throwing a few cubits on the table, heading towards the door. Bill watched him go and then turned his attention back to the small white card.
Silently he repeated, What the frak is this?
~~~~~~~~~~
While Bill’s irritating pacing would usually be no more than an annoyance, Saul Tigh was hung over and it was quickly becoming a dizzying problem for his pounding head. He took another swig of too-cool coffee and glared at his best friend.
“Will you sit the frak down? You’re gonna’ make me sick.”
Sighing, Bill did as was demanded, dropping himself into the couch across from Saul and saying, “I’m going stir crazy. Frak all to do.”
“Go find yourself a woman and work some of the tension off,” Tigh suggested. “Buy one if you need to.”
Bill shot him a look, but didn’t comment on it. Instead, he said, “I never thought I’d miss it this much.”
Saul leaned back into the couch. “At least up there, even when there was nothing going on, we could make ourselves feel as though we were being useful. Down here … we’re retired. Old bastards, our best days behind us, good for nothing but pissing off teenagers while we wait to die.”
They sat in silence, contemplating their new lives, until Bill changed the subject. “You find Ellen?”
“Yeah. She’s on Picon. Gonna’ catch the next flight back,” he said and then grinned happily. “We’re gonna’ give it another go. Make it work this time.”
Bill was conspicuously silent about that, but just before Saul could call him on it, he said, “I got a job offer. I think.”
Brow furrowing, the balding man questioned, “You think?”
“Yeah, it was pretty strange. I was having beers with Nag and he gave me this card, but wouldn’t tell me anything about it. Told me not to tell anyone else. He was acting weird about it.”
The furrow on his forehead deepened. “The frak?” When Bill just shrugged, Tigh asked, “What kind of work?”
Adama gave him a brief glare. “I told you, he wouldn’t say anything about it. Just gave me a card with a phone number and told me that the woman who ran it all was a good woman and I should give them a call.”
Saul didn’t know quite what to say, just as confused as Bill. “You call?”
“Not yet. I don’t know if I want another job.”
Tigh started to laugh. “You can barely sit still, Bill. You’ve got nothing to do, you’re going to drive yourself crazy with boredom.”
“I know. I feel like I should be doing something; my entire adult life, I’ve been working and now I’m just …” Adama trailed off, staring out of the window of the three bedroom apartment that Saul had once shared with his wife, and might just do again.
“Not.”
“Yeah,” his old friend sighed. “But I found a place for sale, not too far out of the city. Looks nice. Maybe I could get used to this, kicking back with a book all day. Might finally finish my model, start a new one. Take up gardening.”
Saul snorted. “Gardening?” Then he laughed outright and met Bill’s eyes. “It sounds peachy, Bill. You’ve done your time and now you can relax. So why the hell are you even thinking about calling this woman of Nag’s?”
“I don’t know really. Just the way he was acting when he gave me the card, piqued my curiosity I suppose. That and … he said the job would be perfect for me.”
“So give the lady a call and find out all about it,” Tigh said. “If you like the offer, take it and keep yourself busy. If you don’t, get your green thumb ready and head out of the city.”
Bill nodded thoughtfully in a way that let Saul know he’d helped his old friend somewhat. Slugging back the last dregs of his coffee, he wiped his mouth on his sleeve, his good deed for the day done. Hell, that could be it for the year.