The Reason - chapter 5

oooooooooooooooo

"Starbuck - the beacon has been found on the Aquarion Compaion. I'm sending a squad of marines. Get some backup in the air in case we have to destroy it!" Adama said urgently.

"Yes sir. Galactica's closer - launch your alert Vipers. I'll send my best. ETA, three minutes."

"Copy that Starbuck." He hit the dial to switch to intercom. "Launch the alert Vipers."

Back on the Pegasus bridge, Kara too was switching to intercom. "Apollo to the launch bay immediately. Emergency take off in two minutes." She raced out of CIC towards the flight bay, already pulling off her uniform. Thank the gods I always keep my flightsuit with my Viper! She was out of breath when she arrived a scant thirty seconds later. Lee came charging in from the other side of the bay.

"Beacon's been found," she explained, pulling on her flightsuit. "Aquarion Companion. Galactica's alert Vipers are meeting us there."

"Let's go," Lee said, all business.

They sped towards their target, meeting a group of six other Vipers nearby.

"Hey guys, Apollo and Starbuck joining you," Kara said, the smile on her face evident in her tone of voice. It was good to be back among friends.

"Hey guys, glad to see you. We'll follow your lead Starbuck," Helo said.

"We're only here as backup. Marines have been sent in to neutralize the beacon. Let's hope things don't get ugly."

"Copy that Starbuck."

"Everyone fan out. Let's get all the angles covered." Lee nodded, though no one could see him. He had to admit, she was a good CAG. No doubt thanks to my training, he thought, a large smirk on his face.

"Galactica, Starbuck. We're in position."

"Starbuck, Galactica. Hold positions. Raptor two with the marine contingent moving in."

"Copy that Galactica."

There were a few minutes of comm silence, and eight hearts pounded painfully as they waited for instructions.

"Starbuck, Galactica actual. The beacon has been successfully removed but we've found another cylon aboard. The marines have taken him into custody and are bringing him back here."

"Yes sir, we'll escort Raptor two in."

"Thank you Starbuck."

"Hey Starbuck what's going on?" Helo asked. It was the most frustrating part of the comm system. When the Commander was on personally, only the person he was talking to could hear him, but the rest of the squadron could hear the pilot's responses.

"Seems Galactica's going to have another visitor in the brig."

"Oh frak - there was a cylon on board?" Lee swore.

"Yup. He's under control now, but you know how quickly things can get out of control when one of them is around."

"Starbuck," Helo said warningly.

"Sorry Helo. Sometimes I forget." She paused a minute. "I don't think of her as one of them. I know she is, but I just can't let go of the thought that she's Sharon."

There was silence for a few moments then Lee broke it. "Starbuck, the Raptor's on it's way out of the launch bay."

"Copy that. Apollo, you and I will escort our visitor home. The rest of you stay here and keep an eye out for trouble."

"Got it covered Starbuck," Helo answered. "Good luck."

"You too Helo."

oooooooooooooooo

Lee and Kara landed their Vipers several minutes later, noting the large security detail Adama had ordered. He himself was there, along with two squads of marines, and as Lee and Kara exited their ships, he nodded almost imperceptibly for them to join him. They did immediately and stood flanking him as the Raptor's hatch hissed open.

"Thank you," he murmured, and both of them nodded, happy to be back.

Three marines exited the Raptor first, guns drawn and faces solemn. Then he stepped into view. The cylon - dark-skinned and dark-eyed - a copy of the one Kara had met on Caprica - Simon.

Kara paled and took a step back involuntarily. "Frak me," she whispered.

Lee glanced at her briefly, noting her discomfiture, before turning his attention to the man in front of him. His hand tightened on his sidearm, muscles tensed. In the silence he could hear the cocking of multiple rifles.

The cylon's dark eyes searched the room quickly and rested on Kara. A slow smile spread across his face. "Hello Starbuck. We meet again." His deep voice was unnerving to Kara.

The marines on either side of him grabbed his arms and propelled him forwards while three more followed, guns trained on his back. As he walked, his head turned gradually to the side, eyes never leaving Kara's. Lee looked over to make sure she was okay, only to find her eyes glued to his, an expression of fierce anger in them that he'd never seen before.

After he'd been led out of the hangar bay towards the brig, the remaining marines fell back and left the two Adamas and Kara alone. Kara's breathing was shallow and rapid, showing that she was afraid, despite the angry look on her face.

"Starbuck," Lee said softly. "Are you okay?" She drew herself up proudly, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She nodded.

"Caprica?" Adama asked, always a man of few words.

She nodded again, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Lee's heart went out to her. He recalled her eerily vacant look when she'd returned from Caprica, and though he'd offered, she hadn't shared any of the horrors she'd experienced with him. Obviously the pain hadn't lessened any in the weeks since she'd been back.

Adama saw how affected she was emotionally, and he took her hand in his and squeezed it gently. "Come, let's get to CIC and check on the fleet's status." Lee and Kara both nodded and the three of them walked side by side out of the hangar bay.

oooooooooooooooooo

"Starbuck, you're not supposed to ask the Commander of a ship to leave his post."

Kara coloured. "Sorry sir. I ... forgot Lee was in command. I just instinctively called for my best pilot."

Adama's face softened a little. "I guess this is new territory for all of us. Just make sure you remember next time."

"I hope there isn't a next time."

"You and me both," Lee put in, as he entered Adama's quaraters. "I'm not sure I like command."

Adama's eyebrows raised. "Really? You do a great job as CAG."

"That's different. I'm only in charge of the pilots, not the entire ship.

"I see." It was obvious to both Lee and Kara that he really wasn't interested in discussing it further. "Kara, I need you to tell me about the cylon."

She looked around the room uncomfortably but said nothing.

"I know it's hard, but you have to tell me everything that happened on Caprica."

She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. Then she took a deep breath and began to speak. "He called himself Simon. He's the one who repaired my gunshot wound."

"Why would he do that? Why not just let you die?" Lee asked curiously.

"Apparently I have a 'destiny.' He told me that and so did Sharon. I had no idea what he meant, but it became pretty clear when he started hounding me about having children. Told me that having babies - increasing humanity was more important than anything." Her face took on a haunted look. "The next morning I woke up and there was a new scar here." She pointed at her lower belly. "I asked him what he did to me - I figured it wasn't good if they didn't even bother to ask my permission. He said I had internal bleeding that needed to be fixed, but I knew." She hook her head, fighting tears. "I knew he was a cylon and that they were trying to use me ..." She couldn't continue, but it didn't matter. The two men knew exactly twhat she was talking about judging from the looks on their faces.

"Kara," Adama said gently. "I'm so sorry."

"I killed him. I killed him and tried to escape." She turned away from them and stared at the wall. "There were hundreds - women hooked up to machines and impregnated with cylon babies. I felt sick to my stomach knowing what they were doing to us - knowing I could have been one of them."

Lee walked up beside her and put an arm around her shoulder. "It's okay - you got away. You're safe now."

She turned a sad face towards him. "I'll never be safe. Sharon said they know who I am and that they need me to fulfil a special destiny." She took a deep breath. "They'll never stop hunting me. I'll never be safe as long as they're still alive."

Adama took a step forward so he was close in front of her. "You know we'll never let them get you Kara. You'll be safe so long as you stay here."

"I doubt if anyone can guarantee that, but the thought makes me feel better." She smiled weakly.

Lee squeezed her shoulder but said nothing.

"Have you ... cleared Sam yet? Can I see him?" she asked hopefully. Lee removed his arm and took a step back. She's turning to him for comfort now. Used to be she turned to me when she needed someone. I guess she doesn't need me anymore, he thought sadly.

"He's been cleared, but not all of his people are. They're staying under guard till then."

"Please, may I see him?" Kara pleaded.

Adama sighed. He didn't have the heart to hurt her further. "He can leave, but the rest of them must stay. And," he added, looking directly at her, "he's not to roam this ship under any circumstances. Either he's in his quarters under guard or he's under your supervision. If anything happens while he's out, I'm holding you responsible."

"I understand sir," Kara said, a light beginning to shine in her eyes.

"Dismissed."

"Yes sir. Thank you sir." Kara exited quickly, a spring in her step that had been missing the past few days.

Adama turned his attention to his son. If a light had gone on in Kara at the thought of being with Anders, it had gone out of Lee. his eyes were dark and sad, and his body language screamed defeat. He didn't know what to say so he just put a comforting hand on Lee's shoulder.

Lee tried to smile. "I'll be getting back to work then."

"I'll see you for dinner Lee," Adama said.

"I'll be here," Lee said, pulling the hatch closed behind him. He walked down the corridors towards his office, trying to muster the energy to do anything. Wasn't really working though - all he wanted to do was hit his rack and just lie there. No, Kara will probably be there with him - bad idea Lee.

He turned a corner and bumped into someone. "Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention ..." He stopped dead. It was Dee. Lately every time he bumped into her, either literally or figuratively, there was an uncomfortable tension in the air.

"Hi Lee." She smiled shyly at him. Then her face became serious. "Is something wrong?"

Lee smiled and his spirits lifted. Just being with her made him feel better. "Just having a bad day," he said cheerfully.

"Do you ... need help making it better?" she offered tentatively.

He cocked his head sideways and his smile grew wider. "You're already helping."

"Can I help later? If ... if you have time that is," she said, blushing slightly.

"My dad expects me for dinner, but I have a few hours free after that before CAP."

"I'll met you at his quarters at 17:00 then."

"I'm looking forward to it." And he was. For the first time in a long time he had something positive to look forward to. And it lifted his spirits immensely.

TBC