CH 10

20 days after Kaede disappeared, tension was growing in the Colonial fleet. The Quorum had ruled that the election was on hold while the military was investigated over the disappearance of a major candidate. They also rejected Lee as the Administrator until a president was elected, and put another candidate in his place, since he was a potential suspect. Admiral Adama was threatening to impose Martial law, many ships in the fleet were threatening to go on their own to get away from the 'lying' military.

IN CIC, Saul Tigh was on the Conn when the alert sounded.

"Commander, hostile contact! Cylon ship bearing 212 off the port bow! It reads to be …. a freighter," Lt. Dualla called out.

"A freighter?" he asked.

"Yes sir."

"Lunch alert Vipers, set condition one throughout the ship!" he ordered. He then called the Admiral to get him up here.

"Sir, we're being hailed," Lt. Gaeta said.

"Put it on speaker," Saul commanded.

"Hello? Galactica? This is Kaede. I didn't get a basestar, this ore ship was the best I could do. It does have plenty of room in it… is anyone hearing me?"

"STATUS!" Adama barked as he came into CIC.

Saul growled, "We got an incoming, cylon ore ship. Kaede is on it."

Adama grabbed his mike. "This is Galacta actual. Kaede, who is on that ship?"

"I hope you're not a fake Galactica. Just me. It's smaller than a basestar, but still it's got plenty of room in it. Where do you want it?"

Gripping the mike, Adama said, "Put this comm fleet wide."

"It's on, Admiral."

"Kaede, this is Admiral Adama, WHERE have you been?"

"The people in the fleet need more room, so I got more room. This should fit a couple thousand people in it. It's not pretty, but it is big and in good shape," Kaede said. "I see a couple vipers coming, are they going to show me where to put it? It doesn't turn fast, so plan out the path for me, if you would."

"You stole a cylon ship, it that right?" he asked.

"I certainly didn't pay for it! Sorry if you wanted a basestar, this was all I could get. I got news too, but I probably shouldn't tell you over the radio."

"Kaede, slow down and match fleet speed just beyond the fleet. We're sending a boarding parties over. I want a look at this ship before it joins the fleet."

" Fine, just show me where you want it."

.

Before Kaede got the ship turned and slowed to fleet speed, shuttles were already departing with new crews on them to get a look at this ship Kaede had stolen from the cylons.

.

Kaede let the boarding parties on. Thankfully, a real pilot and navigator took over the controls. Lee and Kara came on board with a few teams. Some checked for explosives, others for any type of transmitter or beacon. Lee took this opportunity to let her know at length the hell her suddenly leaving without telling anyone, put him through. After listening to the flailing he got from the press and the investigations going on, Kaede took her raptor back to Galactica with her guard, who wasn't happy she left him bound up on a roof.

.

Landing on Galactica, Kaede found a big reception committee. The Admiral and Commander Tigh was there, so were a few men in suits and others with cameras and a couple marine squads. She knew who the politicians were right away, they all hurried to shake her hand and let her know what a brave and selfless act she did while they got infected. The news people also welcomed Kaede back. They even set up a podium with a bunch of microphones on it. Everyone wanted to hear her exploits. All through the press was fawning over her, Admiral Adama stood impassively. His scowl said he wanted to know also.

Kaede got behind the podium and said, "First of all, I apologize for getting everyone all upset. I did not think my departure would be that big of a deal. The reason I did it that way was to keep anyone from trying to stop me. That could have been much messier. The ship I acquired is an ore freighter with large holds. I will tell you how I got it, and there are some things you must know. Some of it won't be easy, but it is for the best of everyone. I have a vested interest in this fleet, and all of you."

Kaede noted she had everyone's close attention. "When I was approaching the cylon ships, I let them see me, then did a short jump into some asteroids to make the raiders come close to find me. I discovered something. These raiders are fighter craft that have a real, biological brains and body inside that metal shell. I got one close enough to read it's mind. They are essentially guard dogs. They protect the baseships and other cylons from the air and in space. That is their concern. I convinced the Raider I meant no harm and needed someplace safe to be. The Raider took me to the only safe place he knew, his basestar. All cylons communicate though a short range network they call the collective. By the time we got to the basestar, there were fifteen Raiders around me. They even gave me what they call a resting place to park the raptor in, which is like the parking bays for your small ships."

"Centurions came to service the Raiders. I opened the raptor's hatch and let one come in to investigate. He thought I was human, so I had to hold him in place and disconnect his antenna to the collective. I tried to explain why I was there, and he had a hard time understanding. Searching his insides, I found only part of his electronic brain was functioning. When I found the block and removed it, I found he could think much better and now could speak. We had a talk, and I discovered the Bio-cylons had installed these limiters inside of all their centurions to control them better. I gave him his antenna back so he could inform the other centurions of the limiter, and how to remove it from each other ..."

"You made the cylons smarter?" a man cried.

Kaede eyed him and said, "Listen first, then I will take questions."

He stayed quiet.

"I wanted to talk to the bio's who were in charge. He agreed to take me to them." A grin grew on Kaede's face as she said, "I rode on his back. When he got there and I peeked up over his shoulder to say 'Hi', The bios got quite upset."

Some chuckles went through the crowd.

"They wanted to know why he brought me to them. I explained he has full use of his own functions and can think for himself now. I also reminded them that it was centurions like him that are the original cylons who fought hard for their freedom during the first cylons war, and now their own bios had turned them back into slaves. Needless to say the bios weren't happy with me. Even less happy when I told them I wanted one of their ships. I was sent to a holding place while they 'discussed' what to do. While I was there with a centurion, the centurions were busy, like I hoped they would be. They had a dilemma and asked me to help out, since obviously by removing their limiters to make them more efficient, I was not an enemy but a friend to cylons."

Kaede grinned again and said, "This was what I was hoping for. The centurions wanted their freedom back, but since Bios were cylons also, they did not want to harm them. I helped them. When the bios called for me to tell me they refused to give me anything, I pleaded the centurions' case that they were free thinking beings and needed to be accepted as such and be involved in future decisions. The bio's didn't take that well, and The One wanted to shoot me. I splattered him all over the wall, and the others began to see the wisdom of letting the centurions be what they were, free thinking beings. While the Bios were not too happy with me, the centurions were grateful to me. They gave me the ore carrier and even worked on the inside to help make it habitable in return for ensuring they had their freedom back."

Kaede paused a moment, then said, "We made an agreement, The cylons leave humans alone, and human leave cylons alone. The centurions vastly outnumber the bios, so even though bios were upset, they were badly out-voted. There is one more very important thing I must tell you."

Scanning the faces before her Kaede said, "I have found Earth is nothing but a nuclear wasteland. No, the cylons didn't do it, though they want to investigate what happened. That's fine, it's of no use to us. It was hard for me to find that out, that was my home. Then again, all of you have lost your homes also, we're all in the same boat. I ask you to trust me on this because it is ... very hard to see it. There are other planets out there, we will find one."

Kaede took a long breath and said, "I want everyone to remember a few things. We will survive and move on. I will do my best to ensure we become stronger and find a new home. The ship that the centurions gave me proves that the true Cylons are not as bloodthirsty as you think they are. That was the One model, the bios are no longer in control of the cylon race. Your children will be the new human race, on a new world, and no longer have to live in fear of cylons. The war is over."

Seeing everyone stare at her, Kaede said, "If I have upset you, I am sorry. I did what needed to be done."

Kaede walked over to Admiral Adama who was stoically eyeing her. "I did what needed to be done," she told him.

He let out a snort. "I'd appreciate it if you could let me know ahead of time before you decide to do something."

Kaede nodded. "I am not used to working with others," she admitted.

"Kaede," he said firmly. "You are not alone any more. You have support now, it is in your own best interests to use it."

Kaede cast him a tiny smile. "Yes, Admiral."

"Kaede!" A reporter called and ran over to her with his cameraman. "The fleet wants to know, now that you are back, are you still running for president?"

Kaede shook her head. "I only ran for vice President. I still support Lee Adama as being president, he holds much more experience than I do. He is the best choice."

"Do you think retrieving that cylon ship and stopping the war will help you in the ratings?"

Kaede frowned at him. "I don't really care. As I said, I found out what I needed to find out and did what I had to do. I didn't do it for ratings," she said.

"What you said about Earth, can you be sure cylons weren't responsible?"

"Yes, 2000 years ago when it happened, cylons weren't even around," she told him. "The humans on Earth did that to themselves."

"May I ask how you know that?"

"I talked to one of the people who saw it happen, and no, I won't tell you who it is. He has many painful memories that are best left to fade. I do hope people take a lesson in what happened there and in the colonies," Kaede told him.

Admiral Adama announced, "I need to borrow Kaede for a while, if you will excuse us," he said. He motioned the Kaede, she followed him.

Adama led them clear of the crowd and quietly asked, "These cylons in the fleet, can you assure me they will cause no trouble?"

"Yes, Admiral. I saw them all in the one mind I read. They are cylons only by being through that resurrection system. They came from Earth originally, and by what I saw in the mind of one, it is more merciful to the others to not make them remember what the Cavil cylons blocked out of their memories."

"Sam Anders," Adama said with a nod. "Yes, he isn't exactly stable, neither is Kara. They will get over it. I only want to make sure there aren't any who are going to damage any ships or kill people."

"Understandable," Kaede agreed. "What about Dianna Biers?"

Adama frowned in thought then said, "War's over. We will let her know. She can stay here in the fleet or be taken to a cylon ship. Her choice. Since you are in the running for vice President, you should go ship to ship and meet people. While doing that, you could check to see if there are any more cylons in the fleet. That is, if you don't mind."

Kaede smirked. "And let them know the war is over also?" she asked.

"It would be a load of my mind," he replied.

"I think I will," Kaede agreed. She could also infect many more people doing that.

.

Kaede visited Helo and Athena to let them know she was going to be busy, so she wasn't able to babysit for a while. They told her not to worry about it and wished her luck. Kaede then found Lee and asked him to 'visit the fleet' with her.

A few women decided Kaede needed something more than a simple dress to go campaigning in. With the color of her hair, they made her a light purple suit jacket, white blouse and matching light purple skirt. From somewhere they found a matching hand bag for her. A schedule for their appearances was made, and a raptor was reserved for their use. In her new clothes, and with Lee in his medium blue suit, they left in a raptor to visit ships in the fleet.

The first ship they went to was an overloaded freighter. The other candidates and come and met the crew on the upper decks. When they arrived, they got cheers and applause. Actually, it was Kaede who got the happy greetings and call for her to be the President. Lee felt a little strange when Kaede told them he should be president because he was more knowledgeable, and didn't have the tendency to kill people when they acted stupid. The crew chuckled heartily at this. Lee seemed to be the only one who knew she wasn't joking.

After talking to the crew, Kaede went down to see the people in the holds.

"Ah, Ma'am, that's not a good idea," a crewman told her. "It's like an animal den down there," he said with a wince.

Kaede eyed him and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Just, it stinks, many are sick and well, not very pleasant," he explained.

"What are you doing about that?" Kaede asked.

"Well, the Captain said just stay clear of them," he replied.

Firmly, Kaede said, "I will speak with the Captain after I go down and inspect the holds where HE should be taking care of people. If I am highly displeased, he will explain why he cannot care for those on his ship or face punishment. Go tell him."

"Kaede, you can't..." Lee started.

"DO. NOT. EVER. Tell me what I can't do!" Kaede snapped, cutting him off as she glared at him.

Lee held his hands up in surrender.

Kaede went over to the hatch to the lower decks. The hatched opened. As it did, a sickly smell came up out of the opening.

Lee winced and asked, "Crewman, don't you have air cleaners on this ship?"

"We do Sir, but the Captain had the ducts to the lower decks closed off due to the smells making their way up here."

Lee frowned at him. He told Kaede, "Go see what's going on down there, I'm going to talk to the Captain."

Kaede went below, wishing she didn't have to breathe. Going to the next level down, she saw many rows of bunks stacked four high. The air was stagnant and besides the coughing and some moans, everyone was quiet.

"Who are you?" a muffled voice asked from behind her.

Kaede turned to see a man with a gas mask on. "Kaede. Who is taking care of these people?"

"What business is that of yours? Captains orders are to stay on your own deck. You got 30 seconds to..."

He stopped speaking as Kaede tore his gas mask off. "Your Captain's orders are not my concern," she said heavily as his face took on a fearful look. Holding his breath, he dove for the hatch. Kaede held him in place and spun him around to face her. "I asked, WHO is taking care of these people?" she said in a hard tone.

"Please, let me go, the air's bad down here!" he cried.

"Then I guess you better do something about that, fast!" Kaede snapped and threw him down the passage. She picked up his mask and ripped it apart. "If they breathe bad air, so do you until you can fix it!"

The man ran to an air duct and opened it. Fresh air came pouring onto the deck. He huddled by the vent to suck in breaths.

The intercom spoke in Lee's voice. "Kaede, come to the bridge, I need your help."

.

Kaede went up, a crewman showed her where the Bridge was. Stepping in, she saw Lee was in handcuffs and had two guards by him. Up here, the air was clean except for the pipe smoke from the man in his raised chair.

The man with a pipe and a white beard took the pipe out of his mouth and pointed it at Lee. He told Kaede, "You may want to explain to your friend that I am the Captain of his ship. My word is law, I will not tolerate a mutiny. This time I will allow you to take him off my ship. Next time it's the brig."

Kaede let out a dry snort. "I suppose too much blood will make the air worse," she said. She looked at the Captain, he jerked and went limp. His body tumbled out of the chair. She turned to the guards. "Let him go," she ordered.

"What did you do to the Captain?" one asked.

"I killed him. You're next if you don't let Lee Adama go, right now," Kaede stated.

"Frack," the other guard whispered. and undid Lee's cuffs. The guards stepped to the sides.

Lee rubbed his wrists briefly and went over to the radio. "Andertol Freighter to Galactica, this is Lee Adama. We need a medical team here and mechanics."

"Galactica reads you, Andertol. Are there injuries?"

"Everyone below is sick, and he'd dead," Kaede told Lee as she pointed to the slumped over Captain.

"Many are sick and need treatment as soon as possible, one man dead … so far," Lee said and eyed the guards.

.

Getting the air vents open, the smells from below did waft up onto the upper decks. As they waited for help, Lee and Kaede did note there was a large store of food. The crew did admit the Captain was storing half the food they received for the ship's population. The air cleaners were turned back on, on every level, and the oxygen was increased to 21% from 18%. The first mate swore he tried to get the Captain to do normalize the air and distribute food, but he wouldn't listen. Kaede summed it up for him.

"You are Captain now. You can treat those people well, or you can end up like him."

Lee had to admit, even though he hated killing people, Kaede was right and she got results.

Once the medical teams and mechanics arrived, Lee and Kaede left the ship to them and the new Captain.

.

Lee and Kaede visited other ships. Ahead of them, a radio warning went through the fleet to caution Ship Captains to be sure they were taking care of the people on board the best they could, or there would be 'dire' consequences. On the Colonial Movers ship, the Captain had all their problems written down, with the list of his requests for help ready when the pair of candidates landed. Lee and Kaede talked with him, and seeing at least the people here had some food and looked fairly healthy, Kaede went through the ship talking with people, shaking hands and letting them know she was doing her best to ease the overcrowding. She also explained to small groups at a time that Lee was 'the man for the job'.

The liner they ended up on after 20 hours straight of going ship to ship meeting with everyone, did have a couple spare 'first class' seats Lee and Kaede were able to get a long nap in. This ship also had a lounge where a board game was being played. Due to not being very active, games were being made into tournaments complete with a 'standings' board, and drew a crowd. After the third place team battled another team, Lee and Kaede were offered to give it a try. Lee and Kaede played a runner up team as the crowd grew to come see her. This was one of the more animated groups of people Kaede had seen yet. They were just as hungry as others, but their spirits were good. A few had seen Kaede 'flying' by on New Caprica, wiping out centurions. In their interactions, and upon loosing the game, Kaede shook hands, infecting more people. She was fulfilling the Admiral's request, and her own goals.

.

30 ships later, they returned to Galactica to get some real rest and clean up. Kaede was glad it was off-hours, the showers were all but empty. She went in , hung her robe and towel up and put her head under the delightfully hot shower head. She closed her eyes and relished the water running over her.

"Only 28 more to go," Lee said from her right.

Kaede snapped her eyes open and stared at Lee. He went into the shower a couple stalls down from hers and turned the water on. She was about to chide him for coming in when she was here. Right, these were 'unisex' showers. "Then we're half way done," she replied.

"Yeah, didn't find any cylons, did you?" he asked.

"Not yet. Seeing all those people packed in like that, I am really glad I got that ore ship. The space is badly needed," she told him.

"It is. You don't know how grateful everyone is that you did that. Looking over it, the Quorum wants that to be the new 'Colonial One'," Lee said as he scrubbed down. The new 'Administrator' is looking for a Presidential suite there also. She seemed to think she's going to win the election."

"She?"

"Irma Sashel. She's playing up to the Quorum and they are looking to their friends to support her," Lee said. "In elections, it's mostly the connected people who actually vote. Many don't see the point. Let's face it, if you're living your life in a box, barely surviving, you don't really care about politics." Growing a crooked grin, he asked, "How do you think Baltar got elected? He told everyone something they wanted to hear. They jumped at the chance of having a place to live that wasn't closed in steel walls. Even if it was the worst idea, it sounded good."

Kaede leaned back and washed out her hair, then shut the water off and grabbed her towel. "I can believe that. Stupid people."

Lee chuckled. "Kaede, I've been explaining what is best for the fleet, and coaxing people it is important that they do go vote. The quorum is not real popular with those who don't get the 'benefits' they shower on their friends. They want a leader who will look out for their interests." Eyeing her, he said, "And right now, they are seeing you as their champion."

"I'm no champion," Kaede said with a crooked grin. "I don't think champions kill people."

"I never said you were a perfect champion," Lee said, grabbing his own towel. "I get the idea you are used to barbaric treatment and harsh rules."

"To put it mildly, yes."

Lee wrapped his towel around his waist and said, "It's not like that here, or rather, we do our best to prevent harsh behavior." Seeing her hair was still dripping, he asked, "Your hair is still wet, do you know how to use the hair dryer?"

Kaede cast him a confused look and asked, "There is a dryer for hair?"

Lee motioned her over to the pistol grip hair dryer and had her turn around and sit on the stool. Using his comb, he combed her hair as he dried it. "Kaede, you do need to refine your 'people' skills," Lee told her. "I mean you do pretty good much of the time, but like that Captain on the Andertol, I could have relieved him of command as soon as the marines arrived. It would have been worse for him in the long run to be relieved of duty in stead of just killing him."

"He said no one could do that," Kaede replied.

"The Admiral can, so could have the current Administrator. That is also a presidential power. He didn't think anyone would dare," Lee explained.

"That's why you need to be president," Kaede told him. "Someone has to deal with the quorum, and I don't think they would survive me."

"That may be true. Still, I think you could handle it," he told her. "Speaking of them, I've been looking for a way to do what you suggested and make them a judicial body and have ship representatives make up the, Um, People's Quorum, shall we call it?"

"Sure, why not?" she said. Feeling the long smooth strokes as Lee comber her hair, she added, "This is nice."

"Talking about politics in the shower?" Lee asked in surprise.

Kaede laughed. "No! you brushing my hair. It feels nice."

Anastasia Dualla took that time to come into the shower in her bathrobe and towel. She came in, saw them, then turned and left, slamming the door shut on her way out. Lee let out a huff.

"She's the one who slapped you," Kaede noted.

In a heavy breath, Lee said, "Yeah, she is."

"I take it you made her mad?"

"Dee is jealous. She thinks I'm after you," Lee explained.

"After me?"

"Yes, as in I want you for my girlfriend - after you."

"Do you?"

Lee laughed. "Kaede, right now if we can get through the day as candidates and not have anyone die, I'll be happy. I was not thinking of you in a romantic sense. If I can get you through this election blood-free, It will be a victory. I'm still surprised you didn't kill Starbuck when she unloaded her gun at you."

In a serious tone, Kaede said, "Lee, I can tell when someone is acting out of concern, or misplaced rage, or out of selfishness or meanness. Kara was very upset because Sam was having a tough time. She deserves another chance after she's calmed down. That Captain? he was all selfishness."

Lee stopped brushing and asked, "You can tell?"

"Yes. What I get from you is you are doing what you believe is best for the fleet. Even with those cylons we captured. You idea of using them to infect their whole race was wrong, but you did not want that because of greed or meanness, but to protect the fleet. I was not happy with you, but I understood your motivation."

"So you only got angry and berated me instead of splattering me all over the hallway," Lee said.

"I wouldn't have gone that far, unless you did truly go through with your plan," Kaede told him.

Lee paused, then said, "Kaede, there is something I need to know. When we went to get those cylons off that ship, You … destroyed that one who sang to you. Why did you kill him?"

It was Kaede's turn to remain silent.

Lee finished combing and drying her hair. "Ponytail, or something?" he asked.

Kaede shook her head. She got up and turned around, wearing a blank face. Quietly, she said, "I don't know how, but he knew. He knew me. I was … very angry he knew things he had no right or way to be knowing. That is why I destroyed him. No one …" She stopped and finished with, "Thank you for drying my hair." She then strode out.

Lee found himself struggling to remember exactly what it was that Cylon had sung. Going back to his quarters, he remembered the cylon had said she was a 'bad one'. No, not 'a' bad one 'the' bad one, as if there was no one who was worse. Yes, the bad one and the sad one who heard nothing but lies. There was something about vengeance too. Right, vengeance never freed, he thought.

Just these things, if he remembered right, meant Kaede harbored a massive amount of anger. Right, 'no one bites back this hard on their anger'. Yes, he did remember that. Was Kaede so angry she was ready to explode at any time? From everything he'd seen that may well be the case. She certainly had let loose on New Caprica. The after action reports told of the spaceport where the cylon raiders had been, the gun towers, all destroyed by Kaede from various eye-witness reports. Kaede flying, trashing Centurions and throwing them around. She'd been like a frackin hurricane going though the area.

She was the Wind of Death.

Lee realized Kaede had been calming down some. She'd seen reporters, saw and met people every day, and unless it was someone like that Captain on the Andertol, she hadn't turned the place into a bloodbath that he knew she was capable of. If she could destroy centurions at will, it was nothing to kill someone in the blink of an eye for her. She was doing her best to conform to their ways. It made him wonder who would be foolish enough to purposely invoke her wrath.

And she might be his vice President? "Gods help us," he muttered.

That night as Lee stared at the ceiling, trying to go to sleep, he remembered a soothing tune he used to hum as a boy, hoping that would help. It was one he'd made up himself when he was young. For some reason, he could still hear it in his head.

"Na na na… Na. Na na na.. na na na na…"

Unknown to him, the only one in the fleet, or in this whole area of the galaxy that would recognize that tune was Kaede.

.