A Question of Loyalty

A BSG drabble

Written by SabaceanBabe

Rating: PG

Disclaimer: BSG isn't mine and I'm making no money from this. The world and its characters belong to Ronald D. Moore, Glen Larson, and Universal/SciFi, but the ideas in this piece are my own.

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Helo felt more and more uncomfortable under the President's hard, unwavering stare, but finally her expression softened. Or was that just his imagination?

"Lieutenant Agathon, I need to know where your loyalties lie," she began. "If you were forced to make a decision between your wife and child..."

Her choice of words shocked him so deeply it was like a fist to his gut. "She's not my wife." The denial was automatic; he didn't think about the words, they were just there.

And they were wrong...

"Isn't she?" Roslin asked, one fine brow arched in skepticism. She didn't allow him a response. "If it came down to a choice between your wife and child and what's left of the human race, Lieutenant, what would you do?"

Wife and child… Helo only hesitated for an instant. "Madame President, I would do whatever was needed for humanity."

Her eyes held his. "Even if it meant that you had to kill them yourself?"

Helo closed his eyes. He felt ill, sick to the depths of his soul. He found that he had to unclench his jaw to answer her. "Yes, ma'am. Even if it meant that I had to kill them both." He opened his eyes again, met hers. "And myself right after."