Thanks to all of you who sent me reviews and encouragement! I hope you all like this chapter!
I didn't say it the first time but I do not own any of these characters or anything else related to the BSG World except for the somewhat twisted plot line, which I take full responsibility for. The only thing of any value that I own is my education and, frankly, the value of that is debatable ;p
Chapter Two
Lee snorted, "What could Tom Zarek have that I'd be interested in? The only thing I can think of is the complete and total surrender of the Astral Queen and I highly doubt that's what he's offering."
Tigh grinned back, relishing the chance to mock the former Quorum member, "I'd say there's about as much chance of that happening as the Cylons calling us up and inviting us over for a nice cup of tea."
Lee returned the grin. Working under Tigh hadn't been quite as bad as he'd expected. At least the crotchety Colonel had kept his distance and respected Lee's desire to throw himself into his work without talking about Kara.
His mind turning to the issue at hand, Lee was confused by this sudden contact with Zarek. While the president and his father had been able to reconcile their differences around the pursuit of the map to Earth and the return to Kobol, Zarek had maintained his control over the Astral Queen and refused diplomatic discussion with either the military or the civilian government. Following their subsequent failed attempt at a coup, the government had given the men on the Queen a choice: to remain with the fleet held once again as prisoners or to leave the fleet in what amounted to banishment.
Lee had disagreed with the president's decision to spare the lives of the men on the Astral Queen. After they had threatened the entire fleet with a nuclear device they'd managed to piece together with parts stolen from the Galactica, he thought they deserved nothing more than a long walk out a short airlock, but Roslin had convinced the Quorum that too many human lives had already been taken in violence. Zarek and his men had chosen banishment and had not been seen or heard from since. Until now.
"What do you want me to do, Sir?" Lee asked the Colonel.
"I guess we might as well talk to him and see what he wants." The Colonel shrugged, "Not that we're going to give him anything."
Lee nodded before turning to the young woman now watching him from her post at the comm. station, "Put him through on the monitor, Dee."
"Zarek, this is Captain Adama," Lee said formally, as the image of the other man appeared in the large monitor overlooking the CIC, "nothing has changed in regards to your status with the fleet, we will have no dealings with your ship. You were warned of the consequences of your choice and I cannot now go against the ruling of the Quorum"
"Lee! And how are things on the great and wonderful Galactica?" Tom Zarek's voice crackled out of the overhead speakers as his smiling face beamed across the screen. "How's your father? I heard he was feeling under the weather."
"What do you want Zarek?" Lee snapped out, glaring at the screen.
"Now, now little Lee, didn't your Daddy teach you any manners at all? Can't old friends catch up before heading straight into business?"
The taunting tone make Lee's jaw clench. Zarek was too happy. It sounded like he actually did have something he thought the fleet might want. Lee knew Zarek well enough to know that he would be hard pressed to come out ahead of the terrorist if he did want to strike a deal. He waited for the other man to continue. The normally bustling CIC was still, waiting to hear what the man who had threatened to blow up the entire fleet had to offer, "Fine, I guess we'll go straight to business then? We, the 'Free Colony', are running out of supplies and would like to strike a deal with your fleet."
"No deal, Zarek. We warned you that going out on your own meant you wouldn't get anything from us." Lee responded crisply.
"Oh Lee, don't be so harsh, I'm sure we can strike a deal over something. For old time's sake?"
Lee knew he was in trouble. Zarek was too confident. He was being toyed with and he didn't like it. Watching Zarek's face and listening to the playful tone of his voice, Lee felt like something was off but he couldn't put his finger on what it was.
Trying to buy some time to think about what Zarek could possibly have Lee asked, "Why not speak to the President or the Quorum? You know I can't overturn their ruling." He looked at Dee and then at the designated comm. unit at her station that linked the battlestar directly with the president's ship, hoping she'd understand. He nodded just slightly as she picked up the receiver and spoke quietly into the handset.
"Well, now, Captain, I don't think either the lovely President Roslin or the illustrious Quorum of Twelve will be nearly as interested in my, shall we say, 'wares' as you will be."
"Why not?"
"Let's just say I found something you've been missing for a little while." The video feed changed to show a small windowless room with a figure curled up in the corner. Huddled on the floor with its arms wrapped tightly around its knees, the figure was clad in what appeared to be a torn and dirty fleet-issued flight suit.
Recognising the insignia and the matted blonde hair, Lee's heart caught in his chest.
No, it couldn't be. She's gone. She's dead and I've accepted that. His mind raced even as hope swelled in his chest. He stood frozen, struggling to contain a flurry of emotions: sadness over her dejected posture, fear for what she might have been through, rage that was Zarek using her and finally relief just to see her again. Gods, it's good to see her again. Murmurs flew around the room as the crew recognised the outfit.
"What the frak?" Tigh exclaimed, looking to Lee for some sense of what to do. He watched Lee's face tighten, his eyes squinting slightly, just like the old man's whenever he was faced with something he wasn't prepared for.
"Can you see our lovely visitor Captain? You can see her but she cannot hear or see you,." Zarek's voice spoke over the image of the figure. Lee's eyes did not leave the screen. He felt the walls he'd so resolutely built around his emotions start to tremble. Kara. Oh gods, Kara. His heart hammered in his chest as he took a deep breath. His arms ached for her and he struggled to turn his mind away from how it had felt to hold her close to him, wrapped safely in his arms. Easy, Lee. Focus on Zarek, he's the one you need to be thinking about.
"Starbuck?" Tigh asked of no one in particular. As if she had heard him the figure lifted her head, the matted hair falling away from her face revealing a battered and gaunt shadow of the face Lee saw in his dreams.
"Kara," Lee groaned quietly. The pain in his voice echoed the sadness in his eyes. Sadness which quickly turned to anger when he saw the dried blood on her face and the ugly swollen bruise that half closed one of her expressive green eyes. Eyes that had sent his heart pounding time after time: shooting sparks as they picked fights with each other, filled with tears at his brother's funeral or simply gazing at him with that open expression that made him want to pour out his heart to her. Her moods flashed so quickly across those eyes; he could read her thoughts in a heartbeat just watching them. Now they sent a shudder of anguish through him as he saw pain, fear and, for the first time in all the years he'd known her, a hint of defeat. Kara, dear gods. Please Kara, don't give up. She started coughing a deep rasping cough that shook her entire body as she clung to her side, in obvious pain.
The metal hatch that opened into the room on screen suddenly opened with a loud clang. Starbuck jumped visibly, pushing herself deeper into the corner of the room, trying to suppress her cough. Zarek and a few of his men strode into the room. Turning towards the camera Zarek smiled, "I'm thinking that you're now much more willing to negotiate Captain. Am I right? Speak freely, she can hear you."
Keeping her head down, Kara snuck a look towards the camera and her glance felt like it met his own. Lee saw a brief flash of pain and fear and felt his chest constrict. His hands curled into fists at his side, he willed his voice to sound calm and even, "I do not have the authority to negotiate with you, Zarek. You of all people should know that."
At the sound of his voice, Starbuck struggled to her feet. In obvious pain and favouring her right leg, she stood braced against the wall,
"Lee! Lee! Don't give him it, don't give these frakkers anything! Nuke the ship if you have to but don't you dare give them anyth-" Her rasping shouts were cut short as Zarek shot across the room and knocked her to the floor with a backhanded slap. He delivered a quick kick to her stomach before turning back to the camera, ignoring Starbuck as she gasped and coughed on the floor.
"I'm sorry you had to see that Lee, but as you can see, your little friend her hasn't been the most gracious of guests." His two men picked Starbuck up under her arms and stood her up facing both Zarek and the camera.
"Now, Lt. Thrace, perhaps you would like to recant your last statement?"
"Frak you." She gasped out before spitting in his face.
Lee almost smiled at her response. There's Starbuck. That was his wing-mate, not the frightened Kara who'd looked up at him from the floor with eyes full of hurt, pleading for help. His relief at seeing her spirited response disappeared as Zarek ploughed a large fist into her abdomen. No! Starbuck collapsed, her head lolling to her chest, but remained upright, suspended by the men who kept a firm grip on her arms.
Gods. The half smile that flitted across Zarek's face as he watched Kara gagging and gasping for air sickened Lee and sent a shiver of fear down his spine. Something's wrong. Threatening the fleet for political reasons was one thing but this is something else. He knew Zarek felt that violence could be justified by political ends but this was beyond that. He'd never seen this kind of brutality in the man he'd actually admired in his youth.
"Tell the Captain what you told me before; that you just want to go back to Galactica, that you'll do whatever I ask as long as we let you go." Zarek grabbed her face brutally and twisted it up to look at him.
Kara looked past him to the camera on the wall. Lee, thank the gods, Lee. Contact with someone outside the ship, the knowledge that finally someone knew she was here, made her giddy. That that someone was Lee was more than she'd even hoped for. Lee I'm sorry, for what happened. Please don't be mad. Please help me. She felt hope soaring in her chest but checked it quickly. She knew she was slipping under, she knew didn't have much strength left and she couldn't afford to waste her focus or her energy. Lee was on the Galactica and she was here. She needed to hold it together.
Lee, finally. Lee. She wanted to scream for him, to beg him to come for her before it was too late. I can't do this anymore Lee, it's too much. Please - No, suck it up Starbuck, she told herself firmly, cutting off the begging before she slipped and said it aloud.
What are you, some frakking nugget who can't take a few bumps and bruises without calling for mommy? Lee's not here, he can't help you, you have to take care of yourself. Looking towards the camera she closed her eyes and pictured him standing in CIC. The tension was probably showing faintly around his tightened mouth and eyes but his gaze would be holding cold and firm as it always did when he stepped up to his duty. He would stand strong for her, he was always did. Please hurry Lee, the thought slipped quickly through her mind before she could stop it. Calling on the last of her will, holding that image of Lee firmly in her mind and drawing strength from him, she turned her gaze back to Zarek and grinned her trademark Starbuck grin,
"What I," she was gasping for air, forcing her chest to expand against the pain, "said before was," she gasped again, "frak," gasp, "you." This time the fist came down across her cheek and she thanked the gods as she felt herself slip gently into unconsciousness.
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I will publish more soon, I promise! FYI the next couple of chapters are pretty dark though.
So far I've been blessed with many reviews and I love it. Please keep them coming! I'm a grad student and my postings will probably be somewhat sporadic, because of the demands of my school work, but the more reviews I receive, the more pressure I will feel to keep working on this fic so if you want to see more, let me know! My supervisor won't thank you for it but I will!
