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The Reason Why
By Eugena
Rated: T
During Season Three, with references to "The Cylon's Secret."
Third story in The Path to Phoenix series
Tom Zarek remembered the earlier days after the First Cylon War, long before he became known as a terrorist, Vice President, vigilante President, and a Vice President again. Looking back on his life, he thought he had improved since the earlier days. He had no one to prove himself to, only himself. He had long since ignored his well-to-do family's wishes.
Omega changed his life. Had things gone down like his captain wanted, he would have still lived under Nader's thumb and always told he was expendable. Other times je was told he was expendable, but after Omega, things were different.
He remembered Laea often. She became the picture of his inner voice—his conscious. Although twenty years had gone by, her face never aged in his mind. Many years that he had been on jail for what colonists called terrorism, he imagined her. He consulted her. Did he make her proud?
Long ago, his fear nearly cost him her memory. Cylons, of all things, companions there were called, saved him. Without Gamma and Epsilon, her memory would have haunted him into his nightmares rather than his pleasant dreams.
He had not met anyone like Laea since. No one he met was beautiful, innocent, and surprising like her.
Some days, he saw Baltar as a cowardly creep. Laea would not like him. Tom often saw her frown in disappointment as he thought back on all of his decisions and actions that helped Baltar win the presidency.
It had been all for democracy, and his own gain. He disliked the fact that Roslin's term of presidency had been because she conveniently survived.
He learned now that she was more than qualified. Words were not enough for how well she had done.
He had only wanted to help on New Caprica. As they faced their deaths, he saw her smile. She admired him for his captivity for those four months. In her face, he saw Laea.
She needed protection, like Laea. Although she was not innocent like Laea, she was innocent to blood on her hands. During his brief time as President, he cleaned her impending presidency. He executed many of the traitors.
His gift to Laea and Roslin.