SCENES FROM TERRA
Lee was getting used to life on board Colonial One. The ship that had served as the headquarters for the Colonial government was less regimented than life on Galactica, but he didn't mind that so much. In some ways, dealing with civilians was easier than dealing with the structure of command had been, although he still felt funny in his suit.
"Lee?" One of the President's aides entered his cabin. "We've just received a message from Galactica. President Roslin wants to know if the Quorum has made any progress regarding the status of Baltar's…religion." The way she said it meant that she, like the majority of the people in the fleet, still thought of it as a fringe cult.
"Tell her they haven't made up their minds yet…although some of them are considering granting his followers amnesty." Lee looked at a photo of Roslin's inauguration ceremony. "How is she, by the way?"
"The doctor says her condition…hasn't improved." The aide tried to keep her voice steady. "Lee, if something happens to her…"
"Don't worry; she's getting the best care we can give her. Besides, she promised us she wouldn't die before we reached Earth, right?"
The aide nodded gratefully. "Of course, sir…and off the record-a lot of us wouldn't mind if you took her place…someday."
Lee nodded. "Right, someday." Politics had never interested him when he was an officer, but now he was getting a first-hand education in it. And he wanted to make a difference-make sure that the ideals of the Colonies weren't forgotten before they got to Earth.
"Are those the pictures from Kara Thrace's ship?" The aide was looking at the photographs scattered across Lee's desk.
"Yeah, my father had copies sent over from Galactica…some of the members of the Quorum think they're part of the prophecy to guide us to Earth…I'll be damned if I can figure out where the system is from them, though." Many of the features in the photos taken from the Raptor that Kara had brought back with her were indistinct, but some stood out. Earth apparently had one moon; was the only world capable of supporting life in a system of nine planets, and had several distinctive land masses, along with an atmosphere that was similar to Caprica's. Beyond that, however, the Thirteenth Colony remained a mystery.
"It looks like it would be a nice place to live," the aide commented. "I wonder what she saw while she was there."
"When she comes back we can ask her…if she remembers anything." Lee was still skeptical about Kara's claim that she didn't remember what had happened during those months she had been missing, but his father had trusted her enough to give her a freighter so that she could continue her mission. Lee gazed at the photos again. The Thirteenth Colony was real, it seemed…and Lee wanted to see it for himself. He wanted to meet whoever lived there; to see how much in common they might have with humanity's long-lost relatives.
What are you like? He wondered. Do you have families, hopes and dreams for your children like we do? Have you solved all of our problems? Are you better…or just different?
"Send my regards to the President," Lee said at last. "And schedule another session of the Quorum. Let's see if we can't get this problem of Baltar and his followers settled once and for all.
The aide nodded. "Yes, sir." When she was gone, Lee turned his attention back to the pictures. Scenes from Earth, a planet that was waiting for them…What are you like? Lee wondered again. What are you really like?
THE END