Title: Transition of Power

Author: GEM

Rated: T

Word count: 4,571

Story Timeline: Season 3

Category: General

Warnings: None

Characters: Roslin/Adama

Summary: The Journey to find Earth continues as Galactica and the fleet has rescued the civilians from cylon occupied New Caprica. What price do the survivors pay as the fleet picks up the pieces and moves on. Roslin/Adama

Spoiler: Exodus Part II

Chapter 3

Laura returned to the Galactica after her meeting on Colonial One. She made her way through the corridors to her one and only sanctuary. William Adama's quarters. She kicked off her shoes as she stepped over the threshold once again. Bill was still on duty in CIC so she would have a few more hours of peace. She poured herself a cool glass of water and sat on the leather couch with her latest book.

Laura serenity was broken an hour later when Bill returned from his duty shift. He kissed her softly on the forehead "How was your meeting?"

"Fine." Laura noticed he seemed to be preoccupied with something.

"Is Zarek going to step down?" Adama asked as he walked into the head.

"It was all part of the plan." Laura heard the water running and then it abruptly stopped.

"Plan?"

Laura stood up and walked the short distance toward him. She wrapped her arms around him with a smile on her face. "That's what I said."

"You used me." Adama fained shock.

"I would never, Bill. You're interaction with Zarek was an added bonus. It will make it look not so staged to be honest with you."

"He agreed to give up the Presidency from the beginning?"

"We knew that there was no way to get around the articles of colonization so, he agreed before we left New Caprica, that he would appoint me Vice President and then resign..."

"Allowing you to resume the Presidency."

"Very smooth, Madame President."

"Thank you, Admiral."

Laura walked out of the head with a little more swagger in her step. Bill followed moments later drying his hair with a towel. "What did you give Zarek to get him to allow you to take the Presidency?"

Laura involuntarily flinched. She was dreading this moment. "He is going to be my Vice President." She said before walking back over to one of the soft chairs by the bookshelves.

"I'm sorry. I don't think I heard you correctly. Did you say he was going to be you Vice President?"

"You heard correctly, Bill."

"Laura I don't think that's wise."

"It'll be fine. I got him where I want him."

"He'll have you killed!"

"No, he doesn't want to look bad. He wants to get it fair and square if he wants it at all. He's changed since New Caprica." Adama shot her a look. "Don't get me wrong I trust him as about as far as I can throw him but he doesn't want this job."

"Laura I still..."

"Trust me Bill. He's in it for the glory and there is no glory when you take over for someone like Baltar. I'll be able to keep an eye on him now. He has to walk the straight and narrow to stay in as my VP."

Bill took hold of Laura's hand. "I trust you but I'll be watching him."

"I wouldn't expect anything less." Laura drew him into an embrace. Bill looked warn since he came back to his quarters. "What's bothering you?"

"Ah... nothing."

"Bill?"

Bill Adama sank down into the chair next to Laura. "Lee came to see me earlier today. It seems there has been a rash of missing persons reports throughout the fleet.

Laura stared at the floor and then back at Bill. "Not everyone made it off the planet Bill. There was bound to be some missing persons."

"That's what I told Lee. He told me that these weren't those kind of missing people. These are people we know for sure that were in the fleet when we left New Caprica. They are gone now, we can't find them."

"Oh, Gods. Who?"

Bill walked over to his desk and picked up a folder. Jammer, William, and about eleven members of the civilian fleet."

"We can't afford this."

"No and these are the only ones we know of. We need to find out what happened to these people and stop it before more people disappear."

"I have access to a lot of the Presidential records as Vice President. I'll start checking and see what I find." Laura looked at the bewildered look on Bill Adama's face. "Is there something else bothering you?"

"Zarek hasn't said anything to you about you decision to work from Galactica."

"No but I didn't say anything when he was working from the Astral Queen. He won't say anything."

"Why are you so sure?"

"I know Zarek. We survived together We resisted the cylons together. With Tigh, Tyrol, Anders and Cottle. We were the leaders. We all understood and respected each other. He won't say a thing."

"Okay...Okay." Bill wrapped his arms around her again. "I believe you and we need to find out what's happened to these missing people."