Mega apologies for the very long delay in updating this story, especially after all the lovely, enthusiastic reviews. I have lots of excuses, but mainly it's because I've been moving continents (back to the UK from the US) and I forgot to put this story on my memory stick before the computer got packed away into the sea freight container which has only just arrived back in the UK (I think that comes into the category of "senior moment"!). Anyway, enough of this drivel, onwards with the story. Probably not quite so much humour in this chapter as I'm very depressed about missing the second half of season 2. For that reason I'm also ignoring the whole Pegasus thing.
Chapter 2
Lee and Kara managed to recover themselves sufficiently by the time they made it to the commander's quarters. On seeing his father a grin broke out on Lee's face, but he managed to introduce John and Aeryn and explain their story with only the slightest of tremors in his voice, although he had to avoid looking at Starbuck who had started snickering again.
The commander ignored their somewhat odd behaviour; he was, after all, quite used to it, and concentrated on the visitors. Aeryn immediately recognised the military leader in Adama's commanding presence. It reminded her of some of the captains she had served under; not madmen like Crais had been when he was a Peacekeeper captain, but men born to command. She straightened her shoulders and raised her chin as if coming to attention.
"At ease Officer Sun." The commander too had sensed Aeryn's response to him. He stared silently at the pair in front of him for some time, obviously carefully assessing his approach towards them. John, never at ease with authority, started to fidget.
"I see what you mean; blue velvet really isn't his colour. Is he just gonna look at me like that all day?" John whispered in an aside to Lee.
"Yeah, probably. Unnerving isn't it? Imagine growing up with that: I could never hide anything from him. He'd just stare silently at me until I gave in and fessed up to whatever I'd done."
A slight smile twitched at the corners of the commander's mouth.
"It never did take much to get an honest answer out of you, Captain. But what about you Commander Crichton? This is an unbelievably fantastic story you've given us."
"Yeah, I know. I can't even pretend to explain how we got here except that we travelled down a wormhole and I know from experience that they cross time and space. Sometimes you end up in the right reality, sometimes you don't. We obviously took a wrong turn somewhere down this one. But believe me when I say that I am originally from Earth and I'm certainly not a Cylon."
"It's true, sir. He is from earth. I've been there." Aeryn chimed in with corroboration, hoping that the word of a soldier would carry weight with the commander.
"And what can you tell us about Earth?" Adama asked.
"It's a backward planet with retrograde technology," was Aeryn's immediate, dismissive response. "They've never travelled beyond their own solar system and are generally suspicious of anyone they term aliens, but some of the humans were quite…" she glanced slyly at John. "…welcoming."
"My wife obviously has a certain point of view, and I admit that it's a valid one to some extent. I happen to love my retrograde little planet and I'm sure you guys will too. Unfortunately we had to seal up that wormhole to earth so I can't give you a short cut, but I've got star charts and lots of other stuff back on Moya that I'd be willing to share with you and which should hopefully confirm our story. Your people are welcome to come to Moya to check it out."
"That's very generous of you commander. Is there anything that you need from us in return?"
"Well, yeah. If you have a doctor on board we'd be grateful if he could check out our son. He's had some sort of fever and the only medical help we have on Moya is, well, let's just say it's of the distinctly quack variety."
"Of course. I'll send major Cottle over with Starbuck and Apollo."
"We should be getting back to him," Aeryn murmured to her husband.
"Yeah, don't trust Granny to baby-sit for more than an arn…hour."
"Then Corporal Jarvis will escort you back to your ship. Starbuck and Apollo will follow in a raptor. Captain, Lieutenant, please remain here for orders." Adama nodded towards John and Aeryn in dismissal. Aeryn all but saluted before she followed her husband out of the commander's quarters.
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Adama wasted no time in questioning Kara and his son.
"Well, do you believe him?"
"It seems so improbable that it almost has to be true, and I don't know, I just get the feeling that these people are completely genuine," replied Lee.
"Either that or maybe he's from one of those communes on Virgon. You know the ones that believed that you could get closer to the Gods through "pharmacological" enhancement. He could be so spaced out that he actually believes the shit he's spouting." The commander had to smile at Kara's contribution.
"That doesn't explain the weird ship." Lee pointed out.
"No it doesn't. Apparently analysis shows that it's partly organic, which sounds suspiciously…"
"Cylon!"
"Exactly. I want you to keep your guard up at all times. The first sign of trouble you hightail it out of there."
"Yes, sir!" they chorused simultaneously, smartly saluting their leader as they turned to leave.
"Druggie communes on Virgon? Where do you get these ideas from Kara?" Lee joked, smiling sarcastically, as they made their way to the hanger deck.
"It's called an imagination, Lee. People who aren't anally retentive rule book junkies have them. You can talk! You're making judgements about people on the basis of your feelings all of a sudden? May be being a gay icon has gotten you in touch with your feminine side at last."
"Don't start Kara! Any feminine side that I may have isn't likely to stop me from hauling your ass off to hack for insubordination." It was Kara's turn to smirk at his sour face as they continued bickering until they reached their raptor.
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Author's note: OK, so only a short update. I promise more soon.
