Title: Hard Six
Author: GEM
Date written: 9/21/05
Rated: T
Word count: 1.911
Story Timeline: Season 2
Category: Dradis Challenge
Warnings: None I can think of
Characters: Apollo
Summary: Apollo's thoughts during various stages of Fragged.
Spoiler: KLG 1+2, Major Farm and Home pt. 1
Author's Note: Thanks a million to Joanne for putting up with and correcting all my errors.
"Zeus has returned to Olympus." Zarek's words rang in my ears. My breath caught in my chest. I can't believe I'm here. I should be with him. This isn't about the two of us. I believe in the President. I walk away from the group in an effort to collect myself.
I can hear Zarek talking as I pace the refrigerated locker that has become our hiding place. "What we need is a powerful message. Something the people will rally behind. Like a son denouncing his father." He stares into my eyes. I look at the President she is hopeful. I cannot say no to her we've come this far.
I spend some time alone in a corner writing down my thoughts. I have written what I think is a compelling statement. I walk back to the group and over to the tape recorder and begin to speak. My speech does not come easily I sound nervous, like I don't believe in it and it is the truth. I have to do this for the President because my father was wrong. "I love my father but in this he is wrong. He must be opposed."
I realize in that moment that I love my father. I have come to rely on him. I need him I have betrayed him so much that it hurts. I was right to take the stand I did. Yes, he was wrong but everyone makes mistakes. In my heart I know I was right to take the stand I did but I have to walk away. I was right but I cannot cross this line.
I apologize for my actions but I need not. I see the look on the President's face and she knows the truth of the matter. She decides to step up for her people and for that I am grateful.
---
The President delivered her message and we moved on. Our new hiding place is the Astral Queen. Since this is Zarek's ship I allow him to take the lead, he is briefing the President on the current situation. I am walking two steps behind. I taken to working as her military advisor but I still don't trust Tom Zarek. I remain polite, but I'm keeping a close eye on Mr. Zarek.
The President played the religious card and now I stand and watch her fill a role that she seems to not be completely comfortable with. She does her part and well in my estimation. These people in front of her believe in her because of her religious beliefs and role. I follow her because I believe and uphold the articles. I took a stand. I stepped over a line. I will pay later but I will see it through.
----
I have decided I hate politics. The people are arguing that I will not do my job because I am still Adama's son. They are right. I am his son but I will do my job. The President has heard enough and closes this discussion. I speak again and explain to the President's followers that there is nothing we can do to protect ourselves from the Galactica. If they want us they'll come and get us. We can't stop them.
I watch as one of Zarek's men enters the room. He speaks to Tom and they both exit. I wait until the President has finished and then escort her to the area I'm sure Zarek and his man have retreated to. We have a problem. I hear the voice. I can't believe it. I'm over come again. My eyes are filled with tears that I will not let fall and my breath is caught in my throat again.
When I see her I still can't believe she is here. I do the only thing that seems right and she does the same. We embrace her each other in a strong hug. She says that she's missed me I say nothing. I cannot find the words. Instead I pull her into a kiss. When we pull away we exchange quips and then she starts to say something but I don't catch all of it. Out of the corner of my eye I see a shadow and then I face, it's her and suddenly I am transported back to the day that I betrayed my father. The day my world came crashing down. I see the gun, hear the bullet, see the blood and feel his pain. I am in pain and I snap. I head off at a run, pull my sidearm, grab its uniform and shove it up against the wall. My mind has never been clearer. I put the gun in its face. Kara is confused. she saying something but I can't hear what it is. I'm shaking with anger and someone has I gun pointed at the back of my head. Someone tells me to put my weapon down, but it can't be possible. The person talking to me is dead. Helo is dead. Kara is yelling at me hold my wrist. Helo, Helo is behind me. He has to be a cylon. "You a cylon, too Helo?"
We reach a stalemate. A steady voice breaks the tension between us. "I'm only going to say this once, put your weapons down." I know I should do as she's asked but I don't want to. She's promised Helo, that it won't be thrown out and airlock. This thing has taken my father away, has split the fleet apart but I have to put my weapon down because the President has asked me to. We have to stay together so, I follow her directions. I insist that Helo obey. I have to maintain her authority as President. If I don't then Zarek, can have us killed and take the fleet for himself.
It didn't really shock me when the President ordered her thrown out the airlock. I think it got off easy it should suffer more for what it has down. Helo protested and ran after the men restraining it. I reach for Helo and tell him to listen. I have to tell them why. I know Kara will take it hard. I'm not concerned. Starbuck let my father down. She should have to think about the consequences of her actions. I try to hold onto my emotions but I can't. I'm mad, "That thing put two rounds into my father's chest." I watch as realization of what I said hits both Kara and Helo. Kara is visibly fighting a battle within herself. She looks conflicted. In truth so am I. She has the arrow but she wasn't there for my dad or me.
I walk away full of emotion. I go to my bunk, as I sit down I can no longer hold my emotions. I let them follow freely.
---
I've made up my mind and now I stand face to face with it. It's trying to convince me it didn't shoot my father. I'm done listening. I pull my gun. I want it to pay as I bring the gun up to it I feel a hand cover my arm and push the gun away from my target. A familiar voice tells me I've done enough of that today. The truth is I've had enough. I take my free hand and grasp her arm with more force than I intended. I push her to the near by wall and make it clear that she is wrong. I twist the knife a bit; I admit it as I bring up her joy ride in the raider back to Caprica, and the fact that she has no idea what I went through. She slaps me in the face-figuratively and says I have no idea what she went through on Caprica. She's right I don't but that's only because she won't tell me.
I have to repair my relationship with Kara. This cannot continue she is my friend. She was always good a pyramid but I'm surprised to find her bouncing a pyramid ball up against the rec room wall. I can't help but tease her and I took the ball away. She's not at all rash and boisterous about it that bothered me. Something's wrong with Kara. I finally give her the ball back after her little girl protest and sit opposite her. Something happened to her and she won't tell me what. I tell her I love her that I care and if she wants to talk to come find me. It's what I can do I love her. She is my brother's girl so there are limits but she's important to me nonetheless.
Kobol is a rough place. It's going to be a rough mission. I have to watch out for Zarek, I have to protect the President, Kara and myself. Elosha reminded us that any return to Kobol would exact a price in blood. I have too many things left unfinished. It will not be my blood, or Kara's. It certainly will not be the President's. I am left with no choice but to arm Zarek, we are in a hostile environment.
And hostile it was. It didn't take long for the toasters to start firing on us. We did pay a price in blood, Elosha's blood but I can't think about that misstep now Kara has come back to me and we are fighting the cylons with precision as we always do. While under heavy attack I see a red streak out of the corner of my eye. 'No, you don't.' I say to myself and then I set off at a run. I finally catch up to it as it grabs hold of a discarded firearm. I try my best to wrestle it away but I fail as it pushes me away with force and fires on, our attackers. My face must have been priceless because I couldn't believe it saved us. This model was different. I couldn't place it. It just was.
We return to the place were the attack began and the president is now looking over Elosha's body and crying. I do my best to comfort her but know I can't do much. She was her guide and confidant. I can try and replace her but I will fail. She was right. Our return did exact a price in blood. Part of me is selfish and glad it wasn't me. I have so much I have to say to my father. I have to make it home. We must keep moving. I reach down and place an arm around the President. "Madame President, we have to go." She is still weeping over the body and she is weak with grief. She picks up the scriptures and I help her as we walk away. I have flashbacks as we walk up the hill, to my brother's funereal, leading my mother away from the gravesite. I know that family is important. I know I made a mistake I have to finish this mission and then I have to admit my mistake and reconnect with my father. He is the only family I have left I can't lose him forever.