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jesterladyficDisclaimer: I don't own BSG. The title is by CS Lewis. This chapter's title is by Eugene Peterson.
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four: Tickle Cases
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t launch the Alert Vipers right now,” Adama asked.
His world had just turned upside down. Back after he’d been shot, he’d been prepared for meeting other Eights, even if that actual event had been rather traumatic. He’d never thought he’d meet Sharon Valerii again.
“We’re not here to fight. You have people on the surface and I know you don’t want them to be harmed. We have no intention of doing so.”
“Somehow I have trouble believing you.”
“I understand. I would, too. Our fleet is going to jump away, leaving just this one ship here. We will stay within dradis contact, but away from your fleet. We’d like to give you time to get all your people together so that you can jump away if necessary.”
“Why? Why now?”
“Because there’s been enough violence. The Cylons were wrong, but they are not evil. We are not evil. I want to apologize and I know forgiveness won’t even be on the table, but there should at least be peace.”
Adama and Helo stared at each other, unable to think of anything to say.
***
Sharon took deep gulps of air. Her hands were shaking and she fought to keep her voice calm. Caprica looked on her with sympathy.
“I am nervous about seeing Gaius again,” she said softly. “You did well.”
“Thanks.” Sharon got control of herself and thought ironically that machines should be made of sturdier stuff. “We need to maintain a steady distance. Communicate with the Basestars and have everyone jump to the safety coordinates. We will remain here. Hopefully, Adama will start evacuating his people and maybe, some negotiation can start.”
“It’s all up to them then.”
“Trust in humanity. In their desire to survive together.”
***
Lee hurried through Galactica’s hallways, stopping just outside of his father’s quarters. He entered and stopped again when he saw the Cylon.
“Why is she here?”
“She’s our best way of understanding this situation.”
Helo and Sharon stood silently to the side and let Adama and Lee work it out.
“She’s a Cylon.”
“We’re all well aware of that fact. She’s proven herself and if we want to understand what the Cylons are really up to, she can help.”
“Or she could help them.”
“She could. But she doesn’t want to.”
Lee subsided, but his feelings on the matter were clear and he could see Helo making sure to keep himself between the Commander and his wife.
“We should jump away,” Lee said instead of continuing the argument. “We don’t have frakking time for this.”
“We have people on the surface!” Adama reminded him.
“We don’t have time to recover them. We have to save those who are still here.”
“I don’t think leaving our people is an option,” Helo put in quietly. “The Cylons might just want us all in the same place so they can take care of us, but even if that’s the case, at least we have the chance to save everyone. We can try.”
“Start bringing up ships slowly,” Adama instructed. “I want Galactica and Pegasus crew members here first and their families. Obviously, the President and his administration.”
“What about the former administration?” Lee asked without looking at his father, whose face remained closed off.
“Laura and her school should be evacuated next. I want all of the children safe.” Helo called the CIC and started to pass along instructions. “Sharon,” the Admiral turned to her. “What is your assessment of the situation?”
“It could be a trap,” she said slowly. “But something doesn’t feel right. We already know that the Cylons did leave Caprica. We also have the word of the two Cavils that we have a time of peace based on a Six and an Eight named Sharon Valerii. Boomer might be telling the truth. She might have persuaded many of the Cylons to see her side.”
“What side would that be?” Lee asked sarcastically. “The assassin’s side?”
“I know you all feel betrayed by her, but she was a sleeper agent. She didn’t know she was a Cylon and I imagine that when she found out, whether that was before or after the assassination attempt, she was horrified.”
“She still tried to kill me.”
“Frankly, sir, she didn’t have a choice. If we’re in free control of ourselves, we’re just like you. But that programming started out of nowhere and she didn’t have any time to try and stop herself or I imagine she would have. In fact, I think she tried to because I know she was a better shot than that. When she was killed, she downloaded, and I’m sure that was a traumatic experience for her. To have the knowledge of what she wanted to be and what she’d done. I don’t know if I could’ve handled it.”
“This is all nonsense!” Lee stood up. “There are Cylons out there and we’re discussing ancient history.”
“All I’m saying is,” Sharon continued, “Boomer may well have tried to change the Cylons’ mind given her unique perspective based on her time spent as a human. We do everything based on consensus, but she might have won them over. I think you should be cautious, but at least hear them out.”
“I will take it under advisement,” Adama said. “Helo, please escort your wife back to your quarters and return to the CIC. I want reports. Continue the evacuations and make sure that the news is broken gently down there. We don’t want a panic.”
“No, sir.” Helo saluted and he and Sharon left.
***
Adama watched Helo and Sharon go, Lee’s gaze burning into the back of his head. He almost felt like he loved this Sharon, but the fact that Boomer was so close made him taste bile in his mouth again and he couldn’t bear to look at any Eight at the moment. This whole situation was going to bring out a lot of ugly emotion, he could tell.
***
“The Cylons what?” Kara asked again.
Gaeta shook his head.
“The Cylons are here. They aren’t attacking. They say they want peace.”
“Like hell,” Kara spat. “We have to get up there.”
“Well, that’s what Adama is calling for. Colonial One will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Here are all the rosters of people in New Caprica. It has their ship assignments and when they’ll be leaving. We’ve already started breaking the news to people, but we don’t want to tell them the whole truth yet. A wide spread panic is not the best way to get our people back into the fleet.”
“I have to get Sam.”
Kara turned and left, grabbing people she knew and could trust. The Chief and Tigh and Jammer and Duck and Nora. Anyone. She quickly apprised them of the situation and everyone set out to an assigned sector to help the evacuation go smoothly. Kara hurried towards the tent she’d called home for the past year. Sam was struggling to get out of bed.
“So, honey, no medicine, but, hey, the Cylons are back.”
***
The Three woke up gasping and sweating. She raised her hands, grasping blindly at the air, trying to catch the dream as it faded away.
‘The fruit borne of two peoples still lives and you will hold her in your arms and you will truly know love for the first time.’
She sat for a long time. She stood for a long time. She walked the halls. She conferred with the other Threes. Finally, she called Sharon on the heavy Raider.
“The Threes are really with you now, Boomer.”
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four: Tickle Cases
“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t launch the Alert Vipers right now,” Adama asked.
His world had just turned upside down. Back after he’d been shot, he’d been prepared for meeting other Eights, even if that actual event had been rather traumatic. He’d never thought he’d meet Sharon Valerii again.
“We’re not here to fight. You have people on the surface and I know you don’t want them to be harmed. We have no intention of doing so.”
“Somehow I have trouble believing you.”
“I understand. I would, too. Our fleet is going to jump away, leaving just this one ship here. We will stay within dradis contact, but away from your fleet. We’d like to give you time to get all your people together so that you can jump away if necessary.”
“Why? Why now?”
“Because there’s been enough violence. The Cylons were wrong, but they are not evil. We are not evil. I want to apologize and I know forgiveness won’t even be on the table, but there should at least be peace.”
Adama and Helo stared at each other, unable to think of anything to say.
***
Sharon took deep gulps of air. Her hands were shaking and she fought to keep her voice calm. Caprica looked on her with sympathy.
“I am nervous about seeing Gaius again,” she said softly. “You did well.”
“Thanks.” Sharon got control of herself and thought ironically that machines should be made of sturdier stuff. “We need to maintain a steady distance. Communicate with the Basestars and have everyone jump to the safety coordinates. We will remain here. Hopefully, Adama will start evacuating his people and maybe, some negotiation can start.”
“It’s all up to them then.”
“Trust in humanity. In their desire to survive together.”
***
Lee hurried through Galactica’s hallways, stopping just outside of his father’s quarters. He entered and stopped again when he saw the Cylon.
“Why is she here?”
“She’s our best way of understanding this situation.”
Helo and Sharon stood silently to the side and let Adama and Lee work it out.
“She’s a Cylon.”
“We’re all well aware of that fact. She’s proven herself and if we want to understand what the Cylons are really up to, she can help.”
“Or she could help them.”
“She could. But she doesn’t want to.”
Lee subsided, but his feelings on the matter were clear and he could see Helo making sure to keep himself between the Commander and his wife.
“We should jump away,” Lee said instead of continuing the argument. “We don’t have frakking time for this.”
“We have people on the surface!” Adama reminded him.
“We don’t have time to recover them. We have to save those who are still here.”
“I don’t think leaving our people is an option,” Helo put in quietly. “The Cylons might just want us all in the same place so they can take care of us, but even if that’s the case, at least we have the chance to save everyone. We can try.”
“Start bringing up ships slowly,” Adama instructed. “I want Galactica and Pegasus crew members here first and their families. Obviously, the President and his administration.”
“What about the former administration?” Lee asked without looking at his father, whose face remained closed off.
“Laura and her school should be evacuated next. I want all of the children safe.” Helo called the CIC and started to pass along instructions. “Sharon,” the Admiral turned to her. “What is your assessment of the situation?”
“It could be a trap,” she said slowly. “But something doesn’t feel right. We already know that the Cylons did leave Caprica. We also have the word of the two Cavils that we have a time of peace based on a Six and an Eight named Sharon Valerii. Boomer might be telling the truth. She might have persuaded many of the Cylons to see her side.”
“What side would that be?” Lee asked sarcastically. “The assassin’s side?”
“I know you all feel betrayed by her, but she was a sleeper agent. She didn’t know she was a Cylon and I imagine that when she found out, whether that was before or after the assassination attempt, she was horrified.”
“She still tried to kill me.”
“Frankly, sir, she didn’t have a choice. If we’re in free control of ourselves, we’re just like you. But that programming started out of nowhere and she didn’t have any time to try and stop herself or I imagine she would have. In fact, I think she tried to because I know she was a better shot than that. When she was killed, she downloaded, and I’m sure that was a traumatic experience for her. To have the knowledge of what she wanted to be and what she’d done. I don’t know if I could’ve handled it.”
“This is all nonsense!” Lee stood up. “There are Cylons out there and we’re discussing ancient history.”
“All I’m saying is,” Sharon continued, “Boomer may well have tried to change the Cylons’ mind given her unique perspective based on her time spent as a human. We do everything based on consensus, but she might have won them over. I think you should be cautious, but at least hear them out.”
“I will take it under advisement,” Adama said. “Helo, please escort your wife back to your quarters and return to the CIC. I want reports. Continue the evacuations and make sure that the news is broken gently down there. We don’t want a panic.”
“No, sir.” Helo saluted and he and Sharon left.
***
Adama watched Helo and Sharon go, Lee’s gaze burning into the back of his head. He almost felt like he loved this Sharon, but the fact that Boomer was so close made him taste bile in his mouth again and he couldn’t bear to look at any Eight at the moment. This whole situation was going to bring out a lot of ugly emotion, he could tell.
***
“The Cylons what?” Kara asked again.
Gaeta shook his head.
“The Cylons are here. They aren’t attacking. They say they want peace.”
“Like hell,” Kara spat. “We have to get up there.”
“Well, that’s what Adama is calling for. Colonial One will be leaving in fifteen minutes. Here are all the rosters of people in New Caprica. It has their ship assignments and when they’ll be leaving. We’ve already started breaking the news to people, but we don’t want to tell them the whole truth yet. A wide spread panic is not the best way to get our people back into the fleet.”
“I have to get Sam.”
Kara turned and left, grabbing people she knew and could trust. The Chief and Tigh and Jammer and Duck and Nora. Anyone. She quickly apprised them of the situation and everyone set out to an assigned sector to help the evacuation go smoothly. Kara hurried towards the tent she’d called home for the past year. Sam was struggling to get out of bed.
“So, honey, no medicine, but, hey, the Cylons are back.”
***
The Three woke up gasping and sweating. She raised her hands, grasping blindly at the air, trying to catch the dream as it faded away.
‘The fruit borne of two peoples still lives and you will hold her in your arms and you will truly know love for the first time.’
She sat for a long time. She stood for a long time. She walked the halls. She conferred with the other Threes. Finally, she called Sharon on the heavy Raider.
“The Threes are really with you now, Boomer.”
