Chapter 13
Adama stood on the command deck his slight frown making Colonel Tigh nervous. The faint blip that kept appearing on their scanners could be freighter lagging behind the fleet, or a Cylon raider trying not to be seen.
"Galactica, this is the Pegasus," Apollo's voice demanded his father's attention.
"What is it Apollo?" Adama had been delighted to regain several of his best warriors half a yahren ago. He'd thought he'd seen the last of them when they'd flown their last patrol and been declared dead. He still marveled at they're miraculous reappearance though saddened to hear of Cain's death.
"Rae's squadron has been checking our rear flank."
"I see." Secretly he smiled. Gold Squadron had a reputation for not obeying orders so he assumed they were doing so again. Rae had chosen to stay on the Pegasus instead of returning to Galactica. The Hawks had done the same.
"She says there's something definitely there, but they can't keep a visual on it."
"Why not?"
His son hesitated. "It's invisible."
Could the Cylons have invented some sort of clocking technology? If they had he didn't want to think of the repercussions. They could be in the middle of fleet before they even knew their enemies were there. How many civilians would die if that were true?
"Rae's running drills as an excuse to keep watch on the area."
Adama nodded. "Thank you." His son cut the connection and the commander turned to Tigh. "What do you think it could be?"
The black man shrugged. "Could be pirates. Or perhaps we're trespassing and we're being watched."
An uncomfortable thought. He dismissed Tigh with a curt nod. Almost he wished he was in a viper and able to check out the area. Sometimes he missed the good old days before he took command.
He stayed on the bridge for another centaur before retreating to his quarters. Tigh would make certain he'd be contacted if anything happened. Sitting behind his desk he opened the Book of the Word. He didn't really see the words and he sat back remembering the day Daniel and Nona suddenly appeared.
"Two vipers coming in," Tigh had reported.
"Who are they?" Adama demanded knowing full well that all fighters were accounted for.
"Galactica, requesting permission to land," a familiar male voice requested.
The two men exchanged shocked glances. They knew the voice.
"Permission granted," Adama heard himself say. "Tigh, I want those two pilots on the bridge the moment they dock."
"Yes, sir."
Several centons later Daniel and Nona were on the bridge. The commander had meant to speak to them in private, but Daniel spoke up.
"I don't have time to explain fully, commander, but we need your help." He'd gone on to explain about the Pegasus, the attack they'd suffered and the supplies they needed. "We don't have time to waste. Every centon we're away the longer it will take us to get back."
"And the longer it will take the Pegasus to catch up with the fleet," his twin added.
Tigh and Taygetta put together the supplies while Adama digested the information they gave him. The two warriors took one viper and a shuttle filled with supplies. The commander had been afraid they might never return.
Yet, return they did and with a fully, well almost fully functional, battlestar. A badly needed asset if they ran into the Cylons, or this new mysterious enemy again.
The reunion had been sweet. Adama had back his son, his nephew, and many of those he considered his family. All except Jenn. He had been saddened to learn she was not among those Cain had rescued.
There had been a few on the Galactica who had requested to be transferred to the other battlestar. Adama and Apollo discussed each one and soon the Pegasus had more warriors to replace those now gone.
Adama's mind returned to the present. He closed the book and walked to the nearest porthole. Scarred, and still under repair, he could see the Pegasus nearby. A few suited figures worked outside securing new plating. One of them was repainting the battlestar's name.
With a smile he went back to his desk wanting to read for a few centons before retiring for a well deserved nap. If the invisible ship behind them made a hostile or even friendly move, he'd be notified. Staying awake wouldn't change that. Besides, rested, he'd be able to deal with the situation better.
I paused on the stone path. Kneeling in the herbs and carefully weeding them was my oldest daughter Jeccsa. She had grown into a lovely young woman in my absence. She'd pulled her long brown hair back to keep it out her tanned face. Jeccsa glanced up, her emerald eyes widening in surprise when she saw me.
"Mother," she breathed rising to her feet. She was tall and willowy, with a figure that no doubt would soon win her a husband.
"Jeccsa," I greeted wrapping her in my arms. She smelled of the rich dirt she'd been working in.
"We did not expect you." She pulled back a smile on her full lips.
"Events…changed." No need to go into detail.
"The children will be glad to see you."
We walked further up the sloped path. I could see the gardens had been well tended, as had the fruit trees. In the distance I heard the laughter of my other children and splashing. I had no doubt they were playing in the lake. Near the water sat the lovely house I had inherited via a series of events I preferred to forget.
My youngest Amara saw me first and paused in splashing her brother Lucas. He was in truth her biological brother. Both had black hair and eyes the color of mud against skin dark like Boomer's.
Kvist my eldest son finished his dive off a pile of boulders and swam to the edge. He glared at me with sky blue eyes, resentful because I had been gone so long and because of his age. Impatiently he shoved his wet reddish blonde out his pale face beginning to turn red under the sun. He would need to put something on his burn tonight.
The last of my adopted children ran to me and threw her arms around me. Rina had always been an accepting and loving girl. Her brown hair was soaked from swimming and her hazel eyes danced with joy.
"Glad you're home, momma!" She hugged me hard and I kissed the top of her head.
Amara ran to me and had to tell me all about what she had done since I had left, including the two new kittens Meade, my housekeeper and nanny, had allowed them to bring home from market a few days earlier. Lucas gave me a shy smile and touched my arm. He was just at that the age when he still wanted affection but a bit too grown up for a hug.
"You can tell mother more later, Amara," Jeccsa told her sister. "Why not return to your swimming." She fanned herself with her hand. "It's too hot."
My youngest agreed and dashed back into the water where she and her brother continued their splashing game. Rina joined them and Kvist went back to practicing his diving.
"I should go back to weeding the herbs." Jeccsa turned to go back down the path. "I'm not sure what Meade has made for dinner."
Not that it would matter. I watched my daughter leave both glad to be home and somewhat sad to be away from others I still considered family. There was little I could do for now. A more appropriate time would introduce itself for my return. I had but to wait.
Walking in the large wooden doors I took a micron to look around. Not much had changed. The formal living area was immaculate. I would not expect it to be other wise. Ancient furniture adorned the room and pictures I never had liked hung on the wall. If I spent more time here, I would have to change that.
I walked the long hall and found Meade busily preparing dinner. She started at seeing me but smiled warmly.
"Good to have you home, my lady," she greeted with a slight curtsy. I had never managed to break her of the habit.
"Thank you. You've kept the house well and my children seem happy."
"T'was a joy and never a burden," she responded beaming. She waved me to the table. "I can have a cup of tea brewed in a snap of me fingers."
"That would be lovely. Thank you." I sat at the table where the children normally took breakfast. Dinner was the only time we sat in the formal dining room.
"I got the package you sent home. Though how you managed it," she shook her head. "I've nought an idea."
Package? I frowned trying to remember what I could have possibly sent home. "Oh," I sighed remembering. What I had taken from Adama's home yahrens ago.
"It be in your bedroom. Figured when you got home, you'd put it in its proper place."
She placed a steaming cup of tea in front of me and busied herself with finishing the food. The smells were tantalizing for one who had gotten used to bland protein.
I sipped the strong tea. Odd, now that I was home I wished only to be free in space again. Had I been gone so long I could not even enjoy the simplicity I had once so craved?
"The children missed you terribly," Meade prattled on. "Kvist, ach, he needs a man around to show him how to behave properly. Not that I haven't tried mind you."
"I'm sure you've done your best."
"That I have. Now Jeccsa." She shook her head. "She loves the gardening and that's fine, but the girl should be flirting with the boys, not wanting to only spend time with the plants."
"Now, Meade, if she enjoys tending the gardens than you should let her."
"Not me point, my lady." She stopped and fanned herself. It was rather hot in the kitchen. "She'll be of an age to marry soon."
"I won't push her in that direction. It will be her choice, not an arrangement." A custom on this planet that I did not at all approve of.
"Been several fathers by to do just that. I told them of your wishes. They just shake their head and mumble that a woman hasn't got sense to make such decisions."
"I trust you reminded them just WHO I am."
"Oh, that I did." Meade straightened her apron she wore so proudly. "Not that they liked it much."
Of that one point, I was certain. I finished the tea as Meade told me of some of the events that had transpired while I was away. She paused and asked, "How long will be you home this time?"
How long? That would so depend on many events. "I have no idea," I told her truthfully.
The Adama Journals
The invisible ship still haunts our path and despite repeated practice drills, Rae still hasn't managed to discover who so desperately wishes for us not to know who they are. Luckily, they do not seem to be the same as the ships that attacked the Pegasus. Or so I hope.
My thoughts do not follow any clear course tonight. They jump from star to star as confused as I am about this space between the galaxies. Did the super race really give us the coordinates to Earth? Or are we serving some other purpose only they know and we will not understand until it is time for us to comprehend?
And why do I think about Jenn tonight? Is it the look that comes over Antares's face when I speak of her? Or the glances Daniel and Nona exchange? What secret do these three share that they keep from the rest of us?
Only here do I dare ask myself questions about those things for which I know there are no answers. In front of the fleet, during council meetings and before my warriors I must always be confident. A strong leader of my people always holding before them the hope that one day we will find Earth. That our lost brothers will embrace us and help us fight back against the Cylons, the driving need that keeps us alive.
Apollo's return, Starbuck's, Rae's, has bolstered our people in ways I could not imagine. Even Dillion was thrilled and transferred to the Pegasus to be with his foster mother. I have no idea what his reaction was when he discovered Rae also had a daughter. A fact that surprised me as well though I welcomed Kendra as one of my own grandchildren, just as did for Starbuck and Cassie's, and of course, my son and Sheba's.
I love my family and am delighted it has grown. Still, I miss Jenn. I keep expecting to see her in the launch bay or on the bridge giving a report. I often wondered if she and Antares had a closer relationship than any of us knew, though I did ask my nephew and he denied being anything other than just friends.
Still, I dreamed of her during my last rest period. She stood in a gown of green in a place I had never seen before. With her were children and they looked at her with such love. Yet in her hands was the case my father left me and I had never opened. I had always known she had taken it and wondered why. Now, I will never know the answer.
Or will I? Why do I have the strong impression that she will return to us?
A storm had moved down the mountain and enveloped the house. I closed the heavy drape and moved to the large stone fireplace. The heat escaped into the room making it warm and comfortable for a cold night. Sitting in the rocker I had used to sooth frightened infants long ago, I pulled the hand quilted blanket over me. In my lap sat the package I had sent home.
"I'm so sorry, Adama," I said softly. I could not then tell him why I had taken it. I did not even know if I could tell him in the future.
My hand caressed the carved wood box. Inside sat an object that would be wrapped in cloth to protect it. There was never doubt about whether or not it still worked. It did.
Wind howled outside and I shivered. Meade had earlier brought up a tray with a pot of tea and a cup. Plus a few of her famous sweet chocolate cakes.
"You be much too thin," she'd lectured me. "Need to put some meat on your bones."
With the strict rationing to survive, I knew I'd lost weight. Meade would now make it her personal crusade and force me to eat as much as I could. I knew it would take some time before my appetite returned to normal.
The door creaked open and a small head appeared. "Are you asleep, momma?" Amara asked.
"No."
She ran in and crawled into my lap. True, she was too big for such treatment now, but it felt good, if just for that moment, to hold her so.
"You should go back to bed," I told her.
"Can't I sleep here?" Her eyes pleaded with me.
"No." I kissed her forehead. "I have matters to think on."
Briefly, Amara appeared to want to cry, but she finally decided not to. I rocked her for a time, singing softly in a language from long ago.
"You sing pretty."
"Thank you. Now, you should go to bed."
"Tuck me in."
"Gladly." I accompanied her back to her room and made certain she was snug and warm before returning to my own. I crawled between the sheets, a luxury I had not had in a long, long time, listened to the storm, and found I missed the steady hum of Galactica.