Title: Half Life – 1/?
Author: Elise/Ringred
Date: 1/10/07
Rating: T/PG-13 for now
Category: AU, Angst, Drama, possibly with some humor mixed in.
Warnings: Angst, some language?
Spoilers: Anything that's been aired in the US. Spoiler speculation for future episodes. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
Pairing: I can honestly say I have no idea who the main pairing will end up if I continue this fic. I'm up for suggestions. Lee/Dee are still married. Sam/Jean are also married (or think they are). Helo/Athena are still married.
Word Count: Microsoft Word says…1552
Disclaimers: Alas, I own nothing...but we all have our dreams.
Summary: Starbuck died tragically over five years ago. The Fleet mourned and moved on with their lives. What happens when the lost daughter is returned to the Fleet? Will she ever find herself again? Is there anywhere she belongs?


Chapter One


Location: The Admiral's Quarters
Battlestar Galactica

When the Cylons wanted to talk it was never a good thing. For one thing it meant that the Cylons knew where they were. It meant that they quite possibly had at least one more Cylon sleeper agent hidden in the Fleet. After five years without such a meeting, Admiral William Adama had been hoping that was no longer the case. He should have known better.

An hour ago, a single heavy raider had jumped into the system the Colonial Fleet was currently searching for resources. Before the alert fighters could even be launched a message was broadcast to Galactica. The Cylons onboard the heavy raider wanted to talk.

After consulting with the three-time President of the Twelve Colonies, Admiral Adama reluctantly allowed the heavy raider to land. The Fleet was placed on immediate standby for jump in case the Cylons tried anything. Marines were in position with orders to destroy the heavy raider at the first sign of trouble.

Half an hour ago, the Cylon representatives including the Cylon heroes Caprica Six and Boomer Eight were escorted into the Admiral's quarters. Now he stared across at them in stark disbelief. "Lies. You're feeding us lies. It's not possible."

"Lies would accomplish nothing," Eleven told him calmly. "If we couldn't produce the human, then you wouldn't hand over the Eye. Pointless lying is something your species excels at, not ours."

The President tensed and glared at the Cylon once believed to be a priest. "You cannot honestly expect us to hand over the Eye for any reason. Even if your outrageous claims were true…"

"There was a battle some five years past," Caprica spoke up. "The human's ship was damaged and she was near death. She activated her transponder, but you only arrived in time to see a heavy raider destroy the ship."

"Starbuck wasn't in the viper," Boomer told them. "She had already been removed before the viper was destroyed. We believed she had a destiny to fulfill that was connected to our own. We were wrong."

The Eleven made a sound of disgust. "The Sevens were obsessed with the human. Do you honestly believe they would have allowed her to be killed so easily? We would've never heard the end of it."

Admiral Adama's eyes narrowed. "And yet you would give her up now?"

"Five years have passed. The Sevens have made no progress on fulfilling this destiny," the Five spoke. "We have come to accept that our faith in this human was misplaced. She is not the one. The Sevens have been overruled. We no longer have any use for the human."

"Aww…this is a load of crap!" Colonel Saul Tigh growled from beside the Admiral. "No way do you have Starbuck. You're just getting desperate. Even if you did have her, you know we'll never willingly give you the way to Earth. That's the last thing Starbuck would want. I knew that stubborn bitch just about as well as anyone before she died. She'd want us to tell you frakkin' over-grown toasters to go straight to hell."

Adama knew his XO was right. Starbuck would never allow them to jeopardize the thirteenth colony for her. Starbuck was a soldier. If their claims were somehow true…if Kara…he couldn't bear to even think it. But he also had no choice. He could not compromise Earth and possibly billions of innocent humans. The Cylons were the creation of the Twelve Colonies; they were the responsibility of the Twelve Colonies. Earth had to be protected at all costs.

"…have had ample time to study the Eye and gain any information from it that you can. We simply want the same opportunity," Eleven was speaking again.

"No," Adama's voice was firm with resolve. His answer was final. "No." The Cylons turned to stare at him as one. He glared into the eyes of the Eight that he knew emptied two rounds into his chest. "You could have Kara in this room begging on her hands and knees and the answer would still be no. Under no circumstances will I bring the Cylon plague down upon Earth. They are innocent of our sins and I will not visit them upon them. The answer is no."

The Eleven shrugged. "Well, it was worth a try. The Sevens will be pleased."

Adama looked to the marine guards holding weapons on the Cylon party. "Escort our guests back to their ship. They've overstayed their welcome." He felt Laura Roslin's hand grip his arm in support and he was grateful. Even firm with resolve he couldn't help but wonder if he had just sentenced his daughter to a living Tartarus.

Three of the Cylon representatives turned toward the door. The fourth, Boomer, turned to stare into the eyes of Lieutenant Sharon 'Athena' Agathon. Adama watched confused as Boomer seemed to communicate silently with her fellow Eight. She gave a sharp nod. Lieutenant Agathon then pulled her sidearm and fired two rounds with inhuman speed and accuracy.

The Colonials stared in stunned disbelief as the Eleven and the Five slumped to the floor dead. Lieutenant Agathon then turned her weapon upon Caprica but held her fire. The marine guards followed suit.

Caprica's betrayed eyes burned into Boomer. "What have you done?"

Boomer met the hard gaze without fear, guilt, or regret. "What had to be done. They'll download. So will you if that's your choice."

Caprica's eyes widened in horror. "What do you mean if that's my choice? What choice? What have you done?"

"Admiral Adama," Boomer continued to hold Caprica's eyes, "I would like to officially request asylum with the Colonial Fleet. I no longer feel I can continue my current existence with the rest of my race. My beliefs and those of the rest of the Cylons do not coincide."

Caprica's lips curled in disgust. "You can't be serious."

"I am," Boomer said, "and I suggest you do the same." She saw Caprica's immediate rejection of the idea. Her face softened with sympathy. "What are you going to do now, Caprica? Go back to our people and continue on as you have for the last five years? You're miserable. We've both been miserable. We may be the Cylon heroes, but we're outsiders. We are Cylons who have known human love and we can't forget it. No other Cylon can begin to understand us. We have experienced humanity and we can't just turn those emotions back off."

"Love betrayed me." Tears filled Caprica's eyes shocking the watching Colonials. "I loved a human and he betrayed me."

Boomer nodded. "He did. Humans are not perfect and neither is love. Love is messy and painful and it can die or be broken. But love is also precious and unique and you will never find it again if you remain with our people. Our people do not know love." She paused and held out her hand to Caprica. "You have to make your choice now, Caprica. You have to decide."

The two Cylons stood locked in a battle of wills for a long tense pause. Finally Caprica hesitantly held out her hand and placed it in Boomer's. She nodded. "Admiral Adama, I would like to officially request asylum with the Colonial Fleet. I no longer feel I can continue my current existence with the rest of my race. My beliefs and those of the rest of the Cylons do not coincide."

President Roslin regained her voice before the Admiral did. "Why should we believe you? How are we supposed to know this isn't just another Cylon trick to steal the Eye?"

Realization dawned and Caprica's expression showed her surprise and respect for Boomer. Boomer smiled and nodded for Caprica to speak. Caprica turned her head and looked into the President's eyes. "We ask only for a chance…the same chance you gave our sister." She motioned to Athena. "We know that it will not be easy and we will have to earn your trust. It will take time and patience, but we're willing to make that sacrifice. In exchange we offer the return of your lost daughter."

President Roslin's eyes narrowed and her hand tightened on Admiral Adama's arm. "The return of our lost daughter?"

"Yes," Boomer said. She looked at the Admiral, the man she had both loved as a father and almost slain against her will. "We brought her back. Starbuck's in the heavy raider."


End of Chapter One!


Well? What did you think? Should I continue?

Elise/Ringred