9/4/04

GOD IS LOVE

Chapter 4

Author's warning: I haven't upgraded the rating on this chapter because I don't know that it really needs to be, but I'll give a clear warning here: this chapter gets a bit graphically violent. You've been warned.

'Vengeance is mine, says the Lord. I will repay' Romans 12:19

"What's the situation?" Adama asked Tigh as he walked into CIC.

"Capt. Apollo took a shuttle over to The Bird of Paradise. That was about twenty minutes ago."

"Did the captain say why he suddenly needed to take a trip to The Paradise in the middle of the night?"

"No, he didn't. Should I not have given him clearance to leave the ship?" Tigh asked.

"No, it's alright."

Tigh moved to stand close to his old friend and spoke to him in a low voice. "What's going on? Lee's been acting strangely for the past few days..."

"I know."

"You suspect his strange behavior may have something to do with this Enoch?"

"...I don't know... I hope not."

"Sir?" the communications technician spoke up. "We have an incoming message from The Bird of Paradise... It's Capt. Apollo."

Adama moved to the technician's workstation and accepted the headset the man offered him. Placing it on his head and adjusting it, he said, "This is Adama."

"Sir, I have a message from the Prophet Enoch." Lee's voice was slightly distorted by static and the electronic circuitry of the wireless, but he sounded normal, at least as far as Adama could tell. "He would like to meet with you and President Roslin as soon as possible."

"I am not in the habit of obeying the summons of a civilian, Captain," Adama said coldly.

"Yes sir, I understand that, but he would like to discuss our course toward Earth."

"I am not in the habit of discussing navigation with civilians either."

"I understand that sir, but-."

"This can't wait until morning?"

"Evidently not, sir. He is very concerned about our present course."

Adama sighed. There was more going on than just a desire to talk about the Fleet's current course. Enoch was up to something and somehow he had dragged Lee into the middle of it. Adama feared what might happen to Lee if he were to refuse to meet with the 'prophet'.

"Very well, tell him we'll be there within the hour."

Handing the headset back to the technician, the commander turned back to his XO.

"You aren't really going to just go over there, are you?" Tigh asked. "Just the two of you? Something's going on and Enoch's got a lot of loyal followers over there. I don't trust him."

"That's good, because neither do I. Have Captain Kelly meet Roslin and I on the port side hangar deck in a half hour. Tell him to bring a security team."

"And what are you going to be doing between now and then?"

"I'm going to go have a little chat with the president before we leave."

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It took a few minutes for Roslin to answer the knock on her door. When she did, she was wearing a pair of sweatpants and an oversized sweatshirt. Her dark hair was rumpled. Adama had obviously dragged her from bed. Somehow, he didn't feel particularly guilty about that.

"We need to talk," he said gruffly, as he pushed past her into the room.

"Please, come in. Make yourself at home," Laura said dryly, as she closed the door.

"Why did Lee just take a shuttle over to The Bird of Paradise?"

"What? He should be sleeping. I gave him enough tranquillizers to keep him out for at least 12 hours."

"You drugged him?!"

"I didn't trick him, if that's what you're implying. I asked him to take the pills, he took them voluntarily."

"And why did you feel that he needed to be sedated?"

"He hasn't been sleeping the past few nights. It's been affecting his behavior."

"I see... So, what is Enoch up to? And what does Lee have to do with it?"

"I don't know," Laura said, with a sigh. Still half asleep, she was having a little trouble keeping up with Adama's mental gymnastics.

"Well, what have the two of them been talking about?"

"I don't know. I tried to get Lee to tell me, but he wouldn't."

"You don't know? Weren't you there?"

"...Not really."

"Not really? What the hell does that mean?"

"I slept most of the time we were there. I don't know what Lee and Enoch discussed during that time."

"You slept?"

Laura gave another sigh. "I went there to have him heal me. Afterwards, I would sleep for a while. Lee and Enoch would talk. I don't know what about."

"So, while you were sleeping, Lee was alone with Enoch?"

"Yes."

"For how long?"

"About an hour the first time... I don't know... three hours, maybe more, the second time."

"You're telling me, that after spending more than three hours alone in Enoch's presence, Lee's sleep and behavior patterns abruptly changed and you didn't see fit to report this to the Life Station or to me?"

"Both Starbuck and I tried to get him to go to the Life Station, he wouldn't. Now, as to reporting to you; I am not one of your warriors. My first loyalty isn't to you. It's to Lee and considering that the two of you haven't been getting along these days, I felt that he wouldn't want me to tell you."

"Yes, well, we can see what good has come of that decision," Adama said caustically.

"Was there a point to this visit or did you come here solely to let me know how badly I've screwed up?"

This time it was Adama who gave the sigh. "No, there is a reason. Something's going on over on The Paradise. Twenty minutes ago, Lee took a shuttle over there. He just radioed in. You and I have been summoned to see the 'prophet'... I suggest you put on something more appropriate."

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Upon their arrival at The Paradise, the small group, which consisted of Pres. Roslin, Commander Adama, Capt. Kelly, and four armed security officers, were met in the shuttle bay by Capt. Adonis. After the obligatory polite greetings and introductions, Adonis offered to lead them to Enoch's quarters. Laura quickly declined the offer.

"Thank you, Captain, but that won't be necessary," she said. "I know the way."

"As you wish," he said, stepping aside to allow the group to pass.

As they walked through the corridors, they found that, despite the lateness of the hour, many of the residents of the luxury starliner were still awake. They stood in the doorway of their rooms, watching the small procession of warriors walk past. Many of them looked on with expressions of distrust and varying degrees of dislike. Adama wondered how many of them were followers of the prophet. He truly did not want a full scale riot on his hands.

Arriving at the suite where Enoch was living, they were met at the door by the priest's assistant, Maeve. She ushered them in without a word. Inside, they found several agitated-looking, young men and a few women. They were all standing around the prophet, who looked serene and composed. Standing alone, apart from this group, was Lee, his expression calm but unreadable. As the military entourage entered, Enoch disengaged himself from his followers and moved forward to greet them. He extended a hand to Adama.

"Ah, Commander, we meet at last," the priest said, smiling. "It is an hon-."

"Spare me the flattery," Adama interrupted coldly. "You didn't drag me over here in the middle of the night to kiss my ass. Now what the hell do you want?"

The wide smile on Enoch's face didn't falter a millimeter, but some subtle change in his eyes made it suddenly seem colder, more malicious.

"Yes, Lee said that you would come in here in an aggressive mode, guns blazing," the priest said. "I mean, my Lords, you brought bodyguards to a meeting with a priest."

Adama threw a quick glance at his son, whose expression remained carefully neutral. The commander wasn't sure which bothered him more, the fact that Lee had so accurately predicted his reaction to the situation or that he seemed to be on a first name basis with the prophet.

Shifting his attention back to the priest, Adama said, "You seem to have plenty of your own back-up. Why shouldn't I?" He gestured to the group behind the Enoch.

"We are unarmed civilians. You are armed warriors."

"Who are vastly outnumbered on this ship..."

"Peace Commander, please," Enoch said, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. "I want this to remain a friendly meeting... What do you say we both scale things back a bit? Everyone leaves the room except for those directly involved in the discussion; you, Pres. Roslin, and myself. As an additional concession to you, I will allow Lee to remain in the room and remain armed. There, you have me outnumbered now. You can hardly argue with that arrangement."

It was true, there wasn't much Adama could argue with, at least not without blatantly implying that he didn't entirely trust his own son. Enoch had deliberately maneuvered him into a bad situation. And unless he was willing to risk possibly alienating Lee forever on a simple gut feeling, he was going to have to accept it.

"Very well," he said softly. "I agree... Capt. Kelly, will you and your men please wait in the corridor."

"Yes sir," Kelly responded, saluting. He glanced over at Lee and the two captains exchanged brief nods before the older man led his team out of the room.

Well, at least Kelly didn't seem to have any doubts about leaving us in Lee's hands, Adama thought, trying to take some comfort from this.

Enoch had turned to one of the men in his group. "Peter, why don't you and the others go on back to your rooms."

"Are you sure, Enoch? We can wait in the hall as well, if you want."

"No, no, I don't think that will be necessary. Just go on back to bed. You too, Maeve. We'll all talk in the morning."

Adama watched as the civilians obediently filed out of the room. When they were gone, he decided to go on the offensive again.

"Alright, Enoch, you wanted my attention, you've got it," he said. "Now, what is it you want?"

"I want to discuss our current course. You see, according to the Revelations I have received from God, we are headed the wrong way to get to Earth."

"You're trying to tell me how to navigate this fleet based on your dreams?" Adama asked incredulously.

"Not dreams, Commander, Revelations, Divine visions that have been confirmed by your own son. God has given him the same Revelation."

"You're having vision now, too?" Adama asked, turning to Lee. The commander's expression was concerned rather than suspicious.

Before the captain could respond, Enoch said, "Yes, Lee has felt the Divine Spirit as well. As has Pres. Roslin. By the way, how are you feeling, Laura?"

"I feel fine," she answered neutrally.

"Have you been to see your doctor lately?"

"Not yet, no," she admitted. Frankly, she had been too afraid to. She had been feeling better than she had in months and she was afraid of jinxing that. She knew it was foolish, but she couldn't help it.

"You should. I think he'll have some good news for you... So, you see, Commander, you are the only one here who doesn't believe."

"I never said I believed," Laura spoke up. "I said I felt better. I'll thank you not to put words in my mouth."

Enoch turned to face her, his expression cold. "I'm disappointed in you, Laura. I thought we understood each other."

"Evidently not."

"I see... very well, then." The priest turned back to Adama. "Commander, if you will not consider my polite request that you change our course, then I'm afraid that I'm going to have to ask you to step down as the military leader of this fleet."

Adama gave a snort of derision. "And turn the command over to whom? You? You're going to command the Galactica?"

"Not me, no. Lee will command the Galactica."

The commander glanced at his son, all trace of sarcasm gone. "And if I refuse?"

"Lee..." the priest spoke the name as if it was a command and with that word, Lee drew the gun from his holster and aimed it directly at his father's head. He hadn't really thought about the action, it had simply happened, almost as if something else was controlling his body. He heard Laura give a slight gasp, but his attention was riveted on his father, who said nothing.

"Well, Commander?" Enoch asked.

"No, I won't let you take control of this fleet. If you want it, you're just going to have to kill me."

"As you wish... Lee, you heard the man..."

Adama had been calmly watching his son the entire time. Dark brown eyes held bright blue and, for Lee, time seemed to stand still. His head was once again throbbing mercilessly and he couldn't seem to focus his thoughts. Disconnected voices seemed to be chasing each other around in his head, like autumn leaves swirling in a light breeze.

He heard his own voice condemning his father for his brother's death, "Face it, you killed him!" But then he heard his mother's voice, "Lee, you can't keep blaming him. He's your father and he's hurting just as much as you are." Kara's voice, "Lee, how long are you going to keep doing this?" His father's voice, "Why won't you talk to me?" His own voice again, "I've hurt him badly and I don't want to do that anymore." Zac's voice, "Why are you always such a prick to Dad? Why can't you just cut him some slack once in a while? He does the best that he can for us."

"Kill him!" That voice cut through all the others, bringing with it white-hot pain, exploding from his left temple, strong enough to make him physically flinch. But still Lee did not move his finger from where it lay against the trigger guard. The point of the gun began to quiver slightly as his hand started to shake.

"You don't want to do this, Lee," Adama said softly, his rich voice pitched to that gentle tone that one uses to coax frightened children. "You're not a killer."

As his father continued speaking in that tone, his words gradually penetrated the thick chaos of Lee's thoughts. As the wavering point of the gun began to slowly lower, Enoch barked, "No! I said kill him!"

Laura, who had been standing by silent and stunned, turned to look at the priest as she realized that somehow he was attempting to control Lee. Without any clear thoughts about what she was doing, only thinking that she needed to silence Enoch, she launched herself at the man. She managed to land a fairly decent right hook to his jaw before he grabbed her around the waist and pulled her tightly against his side, pinning one arm against his body and the other with his hand. His strength far exceeded what his lean body seemed to imply. From the back waist band of his pants, he produced another gun. This one was of a smaller caliber than Lee's, but was no less deadly, particularly at point-blank range. He pressed it painfully against Laura's ribcage.

"You have a choice, Captain. Either kill the commander or I will kill the president," Enoch said calmly. "Which will it be? Your father or the woman you love?"

"If you want Adama dead, you've got a gun! Kill him yourself!" Laura taunted the priest. "Why do you need Lee to do it for you? Or aren't you man enough to do your own dirty work?"

"If I did it, then I would look like a murderer and the people would turn against me. I want them to love me. I don't care if they turn against Capt. Adama. As soon as he kills the commander, he'll have served his function and I won't need him anymore. The only thing standing between me and control of this fleet will be you and, trust me, my dear, I can make it look like the cancer took care of that." Turning back to face Lee, he spoke in a slow, controlled voice, "Kill him."

Pain exploded in Lee's head, bending him over, his free left hand clutching at his temple. "Kill him," Enoch repeated.

As the pain receded far enough to allow Lee to think again and uncurl his body, a strange calm fell over him. Straightening, he brought the gun up and pointed it at Enoch. His finger was no longer on the trigger guard now, but resting lightly on the trigger itself. He held the gun with both hands this time, his feet planted wide in a perfect three-point Weaver stance, just as he had been taught at the Academy.

"Oh, don't even think about it," Enoch said softly. "If you even blink, I'll blow her in half."

But Lee never did blink. He flicked his eyes over to Laura, saw her nod her head almost imperceptibly then moved his eyes back to the priest. Taking a deep breath, he released it slowly, centering himself. He and Enoch were only standing about two and a half meters apart. There was very little chance that he would miss his target at this range, but if he did, he could hit Laura. The trick to accurately firing a gun was not to 'pull' the trigger. The pulling action could cause the barrel of the gun to lift slightly, possibly spoiling your shot. And contrary to popular teachings, you didn't want to 'squeeze' it either. This could cause the barrel to dip slightly. The trick was to 'press' the trigger, slowly and evenly.

As the last bit of breath left his lungs, Lee let his vision tunnel down so that he only saw his target, everything else was washed out. He saw only a small space in the middle of Enoch's forehead. The priest was still speaking, but Lee was beyond hearing the man's words. Blocking out the still throbbing pain in his head, he felt the deadly calm fill him. He pressed the trigger. Watched as milliseconds later a small red hole appeared in the priest's forehead, blossoming out from behind as the back of his head exploded, splattering the wall behind him, and Laura, in a spray of warm blood, bone fragments, and brain matter.

Still in his numbed state, Lee stood staring at his handiwork, like abstract art on the white-washed walls. He was only peripherally aware that Laura had screamed reflexively as she had been showered in body fluids. Seconds later, Kelly and his security team had burst into the room, weapons drawn, only to find no hostiles. Sensing a presence beside him, Lee looked up to see his father gently take the still-raised gun from his unresisting hands. He let his arms drop uselessly to his sides. Never letting his eyes leave his son's, Adama slowly stepped back.

"Capt. Kelly, please take Capt. Adama into custody," he said softly.

"Sir?" the security chief asked.

"You heard me."

His gaze still locked with his father's, Lee nodded slightly. Slowly, he lowered himself to kneel on the carpeted floor and crossed his ankles. He raised his hands slowly and interlocked his fingers behind his head. The pain in his temple had reached a point where he was only vaguely aware of the security officers placing the plasticuffs on his wrists and helping him back to his feet. He barely took note of Laura protesting this treatment to his father.

He wasn't sure at what point Capt. Adonis and his security team had arrived on the scene, he only knew the man was suddenly there and his father was giving him orders. "After we leave, this room is to be sealed. A medical team from the Galactica will be arriving shortly to take possession of the body and collect evidence. Until then, no one enters this room. Is that understood?"

"Uh, y-yes sir," Adonis stammered, looking ghostly pale, his gaze fixed on the ruined mess of what used to be the priest's head.

The long march through the corridors of The Paradise, to the shuttle bay seemed to take only a few seconds. Lee was surrounded on all sides by the security officers and when they arrived at the shuttle, two of them stationed themselves beside the chair they had placed him in. Once he found himself in a seated position, with nothing else to concentrate on, like walking, Lee found the incessant pounding in his head impossible to escape from. With a soft groan, he slumped back in the chair as blessedly numbing darkness washed over him...

To be continued...