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

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.

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.

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