"There is no escape ever. There never was."

Due to the reviews - I think it's time for an explanation - this fic has been inspired by the reading of famous greek tragedy (closely linked to the philospophy behind bsg). Almost from the very beginning I had intended to kill our main characters, not surprising considering we start at the death of Laura.

The reasoning behind this madness, (greek tragedy aside) relates directly back to the soul of BSG. The series starts off with the end of the world and continues on in its dark path to demonstrate the harsh reality of existence - no matter how much we would like a happy ending - it's not in bsg's nature to do so.

There seemed something fitting about losing this battle -the Cylons obtaining some form of victory - not because I necessarily believe that they deserve to win, but because it is the most probable outcome. Billy's final betrayl is similar to what we have seen in Six - humanlike emotions seem to exist within the Cylons but when it comes down to the line - the deep running hate of the human species wins out. In this case, leading to Cylon control over Battlestar and the death of many of our main characters.

It would not surprise me if BSG ends itself in the same kind of darkness demonstrated here - however: If you want to believe in happy endings do not read any further. The previous chapter "Word for Word" was written as a concluding chapter and so can stand alone as the conclusion to the story.

This Epilogue was written because this is how the story was originally intended - also note that certain alterations have been made. :D

BATTLESTAR GALACTICA: ONE HOUR LATER

Admiral Adama had left the President at the conference and returned to clean up the mess he had left on the Bridge. Closing the bulkhead door behind him, he found the Bridge to be alive and buzzing with post-war activity. Someone had managed to litter the odd glass of Ambrosia around - one of which had made its way next to the good Dr. Balter who was currently erasing the virus from the ships systems.

The Admiral walked over to him, collecting his own glass on the way.

"Dr.?"

"Admiral - sir."

Adama held up his glass, "Job well done." Baltar copied his actions.

"Thank you - sir."

The realisation was yet to hit that they had probably made the threat of the Cylons obsolete. The sacrifice of one civilian vessel had turned the tide of the war and possibly secured their existence.

Man had finally outwitted its computer counterpart - and that, thought the Admiral taking a sip of the intoxicating liquid, was cause to celebrate.

*~*

President Laura Roslin finally told the press that the conference was a wrap. They protested - as was the universal constant, but finally she was able to relieve herself of the incessant noise and make her way toward Battlestar's Bridge where Admiral Adama had invited her to join him and his crew.

She headed down Battlestar's corridors, their once confusing routes now warmly familiar to her.

"Laura?" he released her as she approached the press curtain.

"Yes Bill."

"Would you do me the honor of joining myself and my crew when this is all over?" He was nervous that she would decline - but the affectionate glow in her eyes told him otherwise.

She made the turn into the last passage - stopping dead at the sight of him.

The man in front of her held his frame tall and strong despite the exhaustion he felt from the long hours spent cramped in the dark corner of a Raptor.

"Billy..." she said in absolute shock. A small abrasion above his eye drizzled into his hair where it had fallen across his face. "What - how - I don't understand..."

"Madame President." He re-adjusted his stance, confident now that the beacon he set off had alerted the rest of the Cylons to the human fleet's location. This time, he told himself, victory would be complete.

Laura noted the use of title and it was only then that her gaze dropped low enough to see the gun clasped firmly in his hand.

He was aboard a human passenger liner - today was the end of the world. The woman next to him trembled and asked for the captain - the soon to be president so fragile before the future. He held her hand - and she cried quietly beside him.

"Billy what is going on?"

For the briefest of moments, his hand hesitated - shaking where his fingers clasped the barrel.

He was aboard a Cylon Resurrection Ship - his new body stiff and sore from the creation process. Billy ran his fingers over the place the bullet had entered - there was nothing there now, only a new layer of translucent skin.

The living interior of the ship blurred out of focus, his mind overloading as memories, thoughts and feelings installed themselves like programs off a network. He was no longer Billy, but a Cylon - every Cylon - part of the network.

Now he felt a pain that wasn't there before - it throbbed and ached inside every part of him. All the suffering of the Cylons collected inside his new body which convulsed.

Humans had done this.

And there she was, the President of the Colonies - Leader to those that had brought this agony upon his species.

He smiled, maliciously, "End game."

*~*

The full force of the Cylon fleet leapt forward from the quantum fluctuations of subspace and thrust into the vacuum toward the fleet. Their numbers were in the thousands. All, it seemed, had been a deception.

The shot rang through the hull of Galactica, resonating the rusted metal. Adama heard it first.

Six leant over Baltar, "Congratulations Mr. President."

Horrified, Baltar half ran at the door - reaching it as its handle turned. He stopped, as did the room. The celebration quelled.

"Oh frak, frak - frak." Baltar backed into the room - sudden understanding bringing him to his knees.

It wasn't until Billy, accompanied by many Cylons, entered the Bridge that Adama finally saw the final move play out.

Balter whimpered on the floor, Six kneeling beside him, "There is no escape ever. There never was."

She smiled, wrapping her arms around him - "Not for you.

"It is time, Admiral. This is the cost of humanity."

The Admiral saw his screen fill with Cylon ships - instinctively he knew she was dead. He calmly put the glass down on the table, "Death is the price - you're right. The difference is that ours purchases another chance at life. You will crash and burn - the more human you become, the closer steps your end until no footing helps - you slip - slip beyond the veil of the gods and fall from sight."

The Cylons beside Billy raised their weapons as he spoke, "We will meet again - tomorrow Adama, when the war is just beginning."

*~*