Ch 33

Back on the Galactica, Chief Tyrol and Helo were racing through the corridors of the ship on their way to the special brig cell that Sharon was housed in. They had heard how the Pegasus crew members were talking about the Cylon prisoner they had in custody. The implication of what this Lt. Thorne would be doing to Sharon, possibly right now, was too much to ignore and they bolted towards the brig.

When they reached the glass walled room time stood still as the Chief grabbed Thorne by the jacket and slung him across the room and Helo engaged the heavily armed marines. Thorne flew across the room, his head slamming into the metal wall. The marines pointed their guns at the two men and their orders were shouted as they brought the situation under control. Helo looked at Sharon, huddling pathetically under her blanket on the floor, crying at the thought of what had almost happened to her.

The marine closer to the wall leaned down and felt for a pulse on the prostrate form of Thorne. Finding none he stood again, this time in a manner more offensive than defensive. Soon Helo and the Chief were being lead from the cell under the watchful eyes of the marines. Apparently they were going to be taken to the Pegasus for further judgement.

The news of what happened spread through the Pegasus like wildfire. Pilots all over the ship were up in arms over the event because apparently Lt. Thorne was quite well liked. Kara heard the details in her bunk as several of the other pilots walked past. She asked a few questions as discretely as she could with out making them suspicious of her and her intentions. When she found out that it was Helo and the Chief that were the detainees she knew that the situation was bad.

She figured out that they were on their way back to the Pegasus, she assumed, for a trial from what she'd heard but she couldn't be sure so she decided to go looking for someone that could tell her. Ten minutes later she wandered into the starboard flight deck and saw Lauren. Rushing over to her friend she saw the worried look on Lauren's face and knew that whatever had happened was getting worse.

"Any idea what's going on? No one will talk to me since I'm a newbie over here. Please tell me you know something?"

"Yeah, I do know stuff. Walk with me." Lauren led her off to a corner of the deck and moved herself in front of the shorter woman to block anyone seeing what they were talking about. "From what I've heard Thorne was sent over to 'interrogate' your Cylon. You remember what I said about him right? Well apparently your two guys busted in on him and in the furball after Thorne got killed."

"It had to be an accident. I know Helo and he'd only hurt someone if it was a serious deal. Now if Thorne was threatening Sharon that's serious. Sharon is pregnant with Helo's kid." Kara looked worried and started biting her lip. "What's going to happen to them Lauren? What is Cain going to do to them?"

"I don't know but I know she's pissed. They are supposed to be on their way back here. My guess is that Cain will hole them up in the brig until she figures out how to suitabley punish them. She really liked Thorne, thought he was a stand up guy. Look, I'll go snoop around, see if Cole's heard anything and I'll get back to you. Stick around here will ya?"

Lauren headed off to see if she could find Cole and Kara went to run checks on her Viper. She stashed the bag with the camera in it under the seat in the cockpit and tried to look busy. Lauren was gone for a while and Kara was starting to get worried when she saw the other woman rushing across the deck.

"Kara, they're here already. Cole said that Cain is going to try them here as she's the highest ranking military officer. She's not going to be fair or easy on them so if there's any way at all you can think of to get them out of this you'd better get working."

"I've got to go talk to Lee, he'll have an idea." Kara had started to move towards the entrance of the deck when Lauren grabbed her by the arm and pulled her back.

"Lee's already gone with Cole on the recon mission. He knows what's happened but he can't do anything for them now, especially not with Cole around. Lee told me about his plan for you and the blackbird. I think it's best if you go do that as soon as you can. Cole's plan is crap and they'll end up getting killed. I know that stealth bird can get in there and back out and you are the only one that's flown her so you've got to go."

Kara thought about the situation for a moment and she nodded, "Okay I'll go but how are we going to get Helo and the Chief out of this?"

"Would Adama have any means of getting them back?"

"I'm sure he's already tried. He wouldn't let her take his men with out a fight. Trust me."

"I do. And you need to trust that this will work out. I'll do what I can but you need to go and now! I'm not about to lose Lee again."

Kara smiled at her and bolted for her Viper. When she'd flown off Lauren paced the deck trying to figure out some way to convince Admiral Cain that the two men from the Galactica were innocent.