Salik (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch Novelizations separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For the canonical counterpart, see: Salik.

Doctor Salik is a physician and scientist serving aboard Galactica.

Scientific Research

Planetary Analysis

When the Fleet discovers Paradis orbiting a red giant star, Salik conducts the initial scientific analysis from Galactica's bridge. Surrounded by his favorite scientific equipment, he becomes unusually animated and declares his intention to one day write a poem dedicated to hydrogen. Bridge officers Omega and Rigel exchange glances, noting that lately the top science officer has been behaving oddly—less boring than when he simply performed his duties.

Salik provides President Tigh with an impromptu lecture on the astronomical improbability of Paradis's existence. He explains that when stars become red giants, they swell to many times their original size and routinely devour nearby planets. The planets that would have been in the habitable zone before expansion would now be too close, while Paradis would have been too far. The planet only became habitable after the sun entered its red giant phase, meaning life either evolved remarkably quickly, evolved elsewhere and traveled to Paradis, or was brought there after the solar expansion.

When Tigh asks about the red giant's future, Salik notes the uncertainty. Red giants can remain extremely stable for half a billion years or more, or they can cycle between expansion and white dwarf contraction many times before ending. Given the star's size, Salik predicts it will end as a black dwarf—cold and dark—though it might prove more energetic and become a neutron star instead. Troy responds to this by suggesting they not wait around for either outcome.

Salik waxes philosophical about hydrogen's fundamental role in existence. He explains that life has made a bargain with hydrogen along with carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, and sulfur, concluding that the universe would be bleak and empty without the hydrogen atom. He promises that when they find Earth, he will finally write his epic poem about hydrogen. Tigh and Athena exchange knowing glances, recognizing they must let the eminent scientist get this out of his system.

When Abhug, a recent addition to Salik's staff, smugly declares there is no evidence of high technology on Paradis and the planet appears "ripe for the picking," Athena cautions against premature conclusions. Salik's staff continues comprehensive scans for flora, fauna, and potential threats.

Stellar Monitoring and Evacuation

As the Fleet prepares to depart Paradis, Salik monitors the red giant star's behavior and informs Commander Apollo and the leadership that the star is contracting. Severe ion storms that disrupt communications confirm his analysis. The timing proves fortunate, as Galactica, Daedalus, and the reconstructed Fleet are ready to depart when the stellar activity makes continued presence dangerous.

Resource Assessment

Following Paradis's destruction by Cylon weaponry, Salik observes the planetary fragments from a safe distance with the interest of a professional chef contemplating ingredients for dishes. He recognizes the scientific and practical value of the scattered materials—iron ore, hydrogen, nickel, lead, zinc, mercury, tin, chromium, silver, gold, bismuth, and more.

Salik expresses regret that Colonial battlestar technology is inadequate to mine stars for their heavy elements. The red giant will eventually flood the area with pure neutrinos that could potentially be harvested, but the Fleet will be long departed before then. Tylium remains their primary fuel because it is safe in its inert form.

The destruction of Paradis creates a different situation from stellar mining. The scattered planetary materials offer practical resources that space-faring technology could exploit. Salik contemplates that oxygen could be extracted from iron ore, water from hydrogen, and easy access gained to numerous valuable elements. Those who might stay behind could potentially benefit from the planetary catastrophe, though the Fleet's most qualified scientists and engineers—including Salik himself—are certain to continue the Quest for Earth.

Later, while at a bar following the frustrations of Paradis's loss, Salik discusses with Starbuck whether the Cylons might be responsible for the planet's destruction. Starbuck responds that he is ready to blame the Cylons for anything, even his problems with girlfriends, noting that destroying a planet is child's play compared to that. Salik laughs, glad to be in Starbuck's company during the difficult time.

Assignment to Daedalus

Following the Fleet's departure from the Paradis system, Salik is reassigned from Galactica to serve under Commander Athena aboard Daedalus. In this capacity, he continues both his scientific research and advisory duties during the Fleet's desperate journey toward a new habitable world.

When Athena requests a status report before finally taking rest after extended duty, Salik delivers his assessment with characteristic brevity—unusual for him. He reports that some of their sensor equipment remains out of order, though not from damage during the jump to light speed. Rather, essential repairs simply were not completed while the Fleet remained in the Paradis system. Fortunately, the critical radscanners function properly, allowing detection of all radiation sources and maintaining the Fleet's ability to detect energy-based threats.

The chemical and biological scanners require work, which will prove essential when the Fleet reaches the new planet. These systems will be necessary to locate resources and determine whether life exists on the destination world—much as they did on Paradis. Athena orders Salik to complete all scanner repairs before arrival.

Hyperspace Navigation Crisis

During the Fleet's journey through hyperspace toward the new destination, Daedalus experiences an unexpected transition. When Athena struggles to maintain focus on the bridge, nearly sliding into a waking dream from exhaustion, Salik arrives to assist her. He helps Athena resume her command chair and delivers a crucial report: he had been on his way to see her personally because his readings of hyperspace wave patterns indicated the phenomenon they were experiencing.

Salik announces that the Fleet has emerged from hyperspace much sooner than predicted. When Athena asks their location, Salik—having calculated faster than the bridge crew—reveals they are near the new planet. If the engines remain undamaged and they maintain top speed, they will arrive in three months rather than the originally calculated five months.

While this represents an improvement over expectations, Salik recognizes Athena's dismay. The earlier calculations had the Fleet arriving at a libration point between the new planet and its moon, from which they would move into close orbit. That trajectory would have allowed everyone to reach the destination with supplies barely holding out. The premature exit from hyperspace, while closer to their goal, creates a new challenge for resource management.

Salik attempts to provide perspective on the situation. He acknowledges uncertainty about what went wrong with the original calculations, but emphasizes that no ships were lost—they entered hyperspace together and emerged together. He notes they could have reentered normal spacetime inside a star or at the opposite end of the galaxy, making their actual outcome excellent in terms of what could have occurred.

When Athena asks whether they could reenter hyperspace to save precious time, Salik immediately understands her broader concerns. As one of the Fleet's leading scientific minds, he has been working on the possibility of extracting food from available materials. He recognizes the supply crisis underlying her question and the desperate calculations required to determine who might survive the journey.

Cylon Research

Working alongside Dr. Wilker, Salik conducts groundbreaking research by dissecting the remains of a destroyed Cylon that has been kept in storage for several yahren. Salik provides his own DNA for comparison, allowing Wilker to extract a sample from his palm. The research reveals that human and Cylon DNA samples are almost identical, demonstrating that the Cylons are using human DNA to upgrade and stabilize their own reptilian DNA.

This discovery proves crucial when the fleet arrives at Kobol. During a tense public gathering, Apollo reveals the Cylons' plans to use humans as lab animals. When Baltar denies this claim, Dr. Salik stands before the assembled crowd and confirms the findings. He publicly testifies that he and Dr. Wilker discovered human DNA splices when they examined the Cylon corpse kept in storage, verifying that the Cylons are attempting to use human genes to evolve their race.

Laboratory Work

Salik maintains multiple experiments simultaneously in the science lab, all unrelated and each requiring his full attention. When Commander Apollo visits the lab to meet with Baltar, Salik is found busily scribbling notes on a pad—long strands of theoretical equations—while chatting with the former traitor. Salik greets Apollo warmly and encourages him to hear Baltar out, noting that what Baltar has to say could be very important.

Medical Duties

Crisis Management

During the fleet-wide crisis following the uprising led by Sire Aron, Salik operates the sickbay under extremely difficult conditions. The medical facility becomes overwhelmed with sick and injured people huddled on the floor, with every bed filled. Medical supplies run critically short, forcing Salik to deny medicine to patients, including a crying child. The sickbay staff is stretched to its limits, unable to keep pace with the flood of casualties.

When Koren goes missing, Apollo rushes to sickbay looking for the boy. Salik apologizes for the lapse, gesturing around at the madhouse conditions to explain how it happened. He insists on treating Apollo's nose injury despite the commander's protests about time, quickly applying a large white bio-plasteen bandage. Salik firmly explains that proper treatment is important to prevent the cartilage from healing improperly and impairing Apollo's breathing.

Shortly after, Sheba arrives limping with a bad ankle sprain sustained while getting down from her Viper. Salik rushes to examine her and orders her to get on an exam table. The normally mild-mannered doctor proves to be in absolute command in his sickbay, not tolerating any protests from Sheba. He treats her ankle and determines that the tissues will not be ready to hold her full weight for at least a sectare. When Apollo offers to take Sheba to his quarters for recovery, Salik agrees, noting that she does not need to remain in the overwhelmed sickbay.

Critical Care and Emergency Surgery

When Baltar's body arrives in sickbay with a terrible chest wound, Salik examines him. Unlike many in the fleet, Salik has never truly hated Baltar. He reflects on what he perceives as Baltar's sad and lonely life, believing the former traitor never had a real friend. Salik thinks that perhaps things would have gone differently if Baltar had been able to accept Adama's friendship, concluding that friends mean everything. While examining Baltar's body, Salik observes unusual readings he has never seen from a dead man before.

The situation grows more dire when Cassiopeia collapses from stress, hunger, and pregnancy. Salik suddenly finds himself dealing with four critical patients simultaneously: Sheba, Cain, Baltar, and Cassiopeia. When he examines Sheba more closely, he nearly faints himself—her bleeding is so profound that she should already be dead, yet she clings to life. The fleet's medical crisis has forced them to use traditional transfusions, but Sheba's blood type is almost unique and there are no compatible supplies remaining. The stem-cell enhancers that would normally allow Sheba to rebuild her own blood with plasma assistance have long since been exhausted.

In a moment of inspiration, Salik realizes that Cain—still in some kind of stasis beyond life and death—can save his daughter's life. Running for the transfusion equipment, Salik whispers a brief prayer as he exposes Cain's pale, lifeless arm. Though not very religious, Salik believes that Cain was found and brought back for a specific reason: to save Sheba's life. As Cain's blood enters Sheba's body, her eyes flicker open.

Treating the Warriors

When Apollo, Starbuck, and Troy arrive at sickbay with Troy suffering from a severe ankle injury, Salik immediately orders them to get Troy onto an exam table. He examines the wound while humming and mumbling to himself, then snaps at the gathered warriors in an irritated tone, demanding room to work. The sickbay is his bridge, and here he is the absolute commander.

After examining Troy's ankle, Salik declares the injury severe and tells him he will not be going anywhere in the immediate future. When Troy protests and tries to get off the exam table, the pain proves too much and he reluctantly agrees to continue the examination.

Salik remains firm with Sheba as well, wagging his finger at her and warning that she will die if she tries to leave sickbay. He orders her back to bed. When she expresses her desire to join the fight, Salik flatly refuses to allow it, maintaining absolute authority over his patients' care.

Personal Philosophy

When Cassiopeia expresses her anguish about being unable to help Apollo fight against impossible odds, Salik offers comfort by reminding her of their roles. He acknowledges that he, too, wishes he could help Apollo, but notes that they are healers, not warriors. He counsels her to let the warriors do their work while they do theirs. When Cassie struggles to maintain hope, Salik tells her he has seen more than a few miracles in his time. At that very moment, Dalton appears in the sickbay entrance, providing exactly such a miracle.

When pilots bring Cain's wounded body to sickbay, Salik examines the multiple potentially fatal wounds with Cassiopeia. He tells her he has never seen anything like Cain's condition—the commander is breathing, but appears to be in some kind of stasis. Cassie realizes this is how Cain survived in space for so long. Salik's expression reveals his belief that Cain will not survive much longer.

Salik demonstrates empathy and understanding toward Cassiopeia's emotional struggles. When she confesses her complicated feelings about Sheba's obvious attraction to Apollo, Salik crosses his arms and responds kindly, suggesting she think of it differently: they all love Apollo. He later encourages Cassiopeia to rest and take care of herself and her unborn child, offering to watch over Sheba in her absence.

Notes

• In the Original Series, Salik was solely a life-sciences practitioner. Richard Hatch and his various co-writers tend to commingle various characters depending on the book; Salik sometimes takes on various roles that Dr. Wilker (as an electronic and technical scientist) would take on, for instance.

References

 

Subject: Characters