Chapter 5: Explanations
Setting: Galactica Medical Station, one week after Chapter 3
"Colonel Tigh, please report to the med station right away." The comm. system crackled to life throughout the silent ship. With a second Boomer on board, Adama in and out of surgery, and Starbuck and Apollo missing, there wasn't much chatter among the ship anymore.
Roslin and Tigh traveled in complete silence from Tigh's office to the med station. Both were afraid of what they'd find out once they reached the station. Adama was out of surgery, but would he live? They entered the station to see Dr. Cottle standing next to a bed where Adama lay. He was attached to various tubes and machines all around him. Cottle's expression was vacant, but not all hope seemed lost.
Roslin gasped as she saw Adama. "Is he alright? Was it a success?" She was worried, more so than she was for fear of the Cylons attacking. Adama was one of the most recognized, respected, and important members of the Colonial Fleet right now and she needed him so they could get through this.
Cottle took in a breath and answered. "It will be a long recovery. We're lucky he's not dead. Two shots fired from two feet away to the stomach – we're lucky he's a strong man or it would have killed him slowly and painfully."
Tigh and Roslin breathed sighs of relief. "Thank the gods. The Lords of Kobol are watching over us."
"Since the Commander is out of surgery, I think Starbuck and Apollo should be present to see him right now." Tigh looked at Roslin before turning to the two marines posted outside the door. "Marines, would you escort Capt. Adama and Lt. Thrace up here please?" The two marines left quickly.
Roslin looked down to the floor and sighed. The marines wouldn't find them. By now, they were probably in orbit around Kobol as she stood there. "Colonel Tigh, the marines won't find them. They're not on board the ship."
Tigh turned on his heels and looked into Roslin's eyes. She wasn't lying; he could tell. "Then were the frak are they? Are you telling me the two best pilots in this fleet, not to mention one being my CAG, are not here? Where are they?"
Roslin sighed and answered quietly. "Starbuck retrieved the Arrow of Apollo from Caprica and wanted to take it to Kobol to find Earth. I told her no, we need her here and this can wait. But she wouldn't listen. She ran off with the arrow. I asked Apollo to do something. To stop her or anything. He ran off. I presume they are probably in orbit over Kobol at this moment." She looked back down. Roslin didn't want to see Tigh's face right now.
Tigh sucked in all the air he could. "Starbuck went to Caprica for some arrow? To unlock the location of Earth, which probably doesn't exist? Are you out of your mind? You sent her to Caprica, where she could have been killed, for some arrow to unlock a myth. This is madness! I have half a mind to send you back to…"
"COLONEL! Commander Adama obviously didn't tell you the situation. I'm dying of cancer. Breast cancer. I've been taking chamalla to try and slow the cancer. The chamalla has brought on visions. Madame Elosha and I have spoken about this. The Pythian Prophecies state that 'the Lord appointed a leader to guide a group of humans to their new homeland, and he gave the leader visions of serpents numbering two and ten and the leader would be suffering from a wasting disease and would not live to see the new world.' Colonel, I'm dying of cancer and when we found the asteroid with the fuel and I was speaking to the press, I saw the snakes. A dozen of them. I saw the Tomb of Athena, The City of the Gods, and the Arrow of Apollo. Do you not see?"
Tigh slammed his fists on the table. "This is ridiculous! The hallucinations are from the chamalla, not because God has appointed you the leader who will lead us to Earth. I won't listen to this anymore!" He stormed from the room without saying another word.
Roslin sat down and put her head in her hands. This was not going to be good.