GRAND ENTRANCE
Bill Adama looked at the four of them. One of them was his oldest friend; the other was Kara's husband, while the third was somebody he entrusted the lives of his pilots with and the fourth was Laura Roslin's most trusted aide.
And they were all Cylons.
Bill stared hard at Saul. He could see the guilt and shame in the old man's good eye. All of them had that look-but they also had the look of people who had come to grips with what they were.
Part of him wanted to get his weapon and shoot all of them down on the spot. These aren't your people; he told himself. The real Saul is still out there, being held by the Cylons. This is a frakking trick.
But when Bill looked into his friend's eyes he could see that Tigh knew what he was thinking-and didn't hold it against him. Do what you have to do, Bill, Saul's face seemed to be saying. The others were wary, frightened, not sure if they should run but all of them needing his help, his support.
Bill ran a hand through his hair. "I take it none of you have told the President or anyone else about this?" he said at last.
"No, sir," Tyrol said.
"With all due respect to the President, we felt that this was a decision only you could make, Admiral," Tory Foster added.
"It's your decision, Bill." Saul looked at his friend. "I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to put all of us in an airlock right now, and I know what must be going through your mind. But know this-I am still the same man you've been able to trust all these years; I know I am Saul Tigh and an officer in the Colonial military and those frakking bastards can't take that away from me."
"How do I know that?" Bill rasped. "How the hells do I know anything anymore? The four of you come in here with…this, and I'm just supposed to take your word for it that you won't try and shoot me while I'm standing on the bridge?" That memory came flooding back to him-Sharon committing her final act of betrayal during what was supposed to be one of their greatest victories-but Bill fought back a sudden impulse to draw his gun on Tigh. Whatever else Tigh might be right now, one thing wouldn't change-he was still his friend, and he needed help. They all did.
"All right," Adama sighed. "We know there's a Fifth Cylon. If past history is any guide, we know it's probably someone we least expect." Adama looked at the picture of Lee and Zack that stood on his desk. No, it couldn't be Lee-he would not allow himself to believe that. "So this is what we're going to do. Until we figure out what in the Gods' names we do next you will go back to your regular duties. The final Cylon will show itself sooner or later, and until then we just have to…"
Bill's words were interrupted by a knock outside his door. They all turned. "Enter," Adama said, his voice once again firm and steady.
A figure entered the room. There were gasps and shocked expressions as it entered. Even Adama-especially Adama-was stunned.
"My Gods," he whispered. "Why you? In the name of Zeus and Hera, why did it have to be you?"
THE END