TITLE: The Wrong Lifetime
AUTHOR: DramaLexy
SUMMARY: In another lifetime, maybe things would have been different. Kara/Lee, Kara/Anders. Set in the 1 year gap of Lay Down Your Burdens Pt. 2
DISCLAIMER: If they were mine...but they're not.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I played around with ideas for how exactly Lee winds up hating Kara, and this is the result. Assume that they actually did have sex in that bunkroom in "Scar" when they were really drunk (I'm not sure if that actually happened or not - it was a quick scene). And if you don't like Kara/Anders, don't flame me. I didn't like them either until the finale. Anyway, on with the show...
It hadn't been left open for discussion when the presidential order was made that New Caprica would be settled. And yet, Adama was currently having a discussion with his CAG about the matter.
"We still need patrols," Kara protested, standing in the middle of the admiral's office. "We need to protect the people of this fleet and the colony. I'm not leaving this ship."
"They need people on the planet to help with establishing the colony."
"And why does that require pilots?"
"It requires everyone…to play their own part in our survival."
Kara raised an eyebrow. "Sir?"
"I'm proposing that Pegasus take sole responsibility for air patrols, and you would remain commander of the fleet's air group."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"Oh…" Adama smiled. "Um, what about Anders, Sir? He could help us here, I know he can."
"All civilians are supposed to be going planetside," he reminded her.
"I know…So what if he wasn't a civilian anymore?"
"Are you kidding?" Sam asked Kara as they had dinner together in the mess hall.
"I'm perfectly serious."
"You want me for security on this ship?"
"Well, actually you'd be joining the Marines on Pegasus. It's perfect, Sam. I fly, you work, we frak…" He choked on his drink at that last bit, making her giggle. She hadn't laughed that easily in ages – hadn't had a reason to.
"Don't do that to me," he said. Kara grinned, leaning over to kiss him.
"Aw, I'm sorry, Sammy." He tried to glare, but was still smiling. "Think about it, though. We'd be able to be together. Most of the marines are getting sent down to the planet, but the Old Man is willing to make sure that you'd stay on Pegasus."
"What did you have to promise him in exchange for that?"
Kara laughed. "He apparently has missed seeing me smile. And you seem to have had a positive effect in that regard."
Sam smiled. "I do what I can. So, when are we leaving?"
"Well, we're supposed to report in to Lee tomorrow."
"Ooh, fun."
They took a Raptor over to Pegasus the following afternoon. People had already begun moving down to the planet, using shuttles and any transport ships that were actually designed for atmospheric entry. Colonial One had already landed atop a hill over the settlement; they were already calling the place 'New Caprica City.' Kara would have preferred never having to have abandoned the old Caprica City in the first place.
"I don't think I would ever get sick of this view," Anders said, his eyes glued to the window as they flew from one Battlestar to the other. It really was quite a sight: the odd collection of ships backdropped by the beautiful blue and green and brown planet below and the mysterious mist around them.
"After nine months of flying around with it for hours every day, you might," Kara replied.
The landing went smoothly, and Kara went to find Lee while Anders looked for his own new CO. "No welcome wagon?" she teasingly asked as she came in the door of Lee's office.
"I'm a little busy around here, today," he said, barely looking up from the paperwork in front of him. "Baltar wants us down to a skeleton crew by the end of next week, and refuses to believe how big that crew actually has to be in order to keep this ship running."
"I guess I'll get out of your way, then, Commander," she said, rather pointedly using his rank. "Anything I need to know about my squadrons?"
"Do me a favor and figure out how few of you it's going to take – and which ones of you – to keep patrols in the air." Kara nodded and started to leave. "Captain?" Lee offered her a little smile as she turned around. "Welcome aboard the Pegasus."
Kara saluted. "Thank you, Sir."
The day that the last transport ships permanently found perches on the surface of New Caprica was the day that the ships still lingering in space stopped being the Colonial Fleet and became New Caprica's Orbital Defense System. New Caprica City was the loosely named industrial center of the colony, while other smaller settlements around it focused on agriculture. Conditions were harsh; winter was just beginning to thaw and the weather was always dreary due to the gas cloud the planet was shrouded by. It actually seemed possible, though, that the planet might eventually feel like home.
For the first couple weeks after reaching orbit, everyone – in space and on the ground – was tense, simply waiting for the Cylons to come and obliterate them all. There would be nothing the patrols could do for the people on the planet if an attack occurred. There were simply too many, and time would be too short. Adama had suggested creating a system that gave every person in New Caprica City a place onboard one of the ships on the ground so they could be evacuated if need be – lifeboat assignments. Baltar had refused; the plan would create unwarranted panic amongst the people. They were safe now; the Cylons would not find them. End of discussion.
Life onboard Pegasus was considerably easier than on the surface, even for the last of a dying breed. Most pilots had been transferred off the ship, but as the concern of discovery by the enemy faded, those who were left behind began to rediscover what life had been like before the holocaust.
"Ready?" Kara asked Anders as they both stretched out in one of Pegasus' hallways.
"Mmm-hmm."
"On three…Three!" She took off running.
"Not fair, you little brat!" he yelled, dashing after her. Kara just laughed.
They raced around the ships corridors together, like they did almost every morning. Sometimes he would take a shortcut along the path, getting in front of her, sometimes she would find a way to pull back in the lead. They both made it back to the door outside their bunkroom at roughly the same time.
"You are a dirty cheat," Anders accused once they stopped, trying to catch his breath.
Kara grinned impishly. "But you love me anyway."
"Yeah, for some strange reason, I do."
He'd told her that many times, sometimes playfully, sometimes seriously, sometimes drunkenly. She knew it was true, and knew she felt the same way, but hadn't been able to bring herself to say the same words out loud. The people she loved died, and she couldn't lose Sam. Somehow, he seemed to understand like no one else ever had. And maybe that was a big part of WHY she loved him.
"When are you on shift?" Anders asked as they went inside and began gathering things for the shower.
Kara looked at a clock. "In about a half hour."
He snorted. "No hurry, then. Wouldn't want you to get there early or anything."
"Nope," she replied with a grin.
Kara was only about five minutes late by the time she got down to the deck. The other pilots were already assembled and waiting in the briefing room. "Attention on deck!" Hotdog called when he noticed her. She'd pulled him over with her from Galactica, along with a couple of her latest nuggets and some Raptor pilots. The squadron was gelling nicely.
"At ease," Kara commanded as she took her place in the front of the room. "I think everyone's familiar with the drill by now. In addition to the typical menu, the daily special is going to be sending a couple Raptor scouts on short-range jumps beyond the cloud to make sure everything's still clear out there. Any questions?" There weren't. "All right, good hunting, boys and girls."
Out in space, the view of the pretty blue marble below them hadn't gotten old yet. Nowadays, there was time for such luxuries as steeple chasing with the only refinery ship still in orbit, or other games, as long as they got their work done as well.
"So who's bringing the cards tonight?" one of the pilots asked as they flew around, waiting for the Raptor scouts to report back in after their second round of jumps.
"That would be Bandit's responsibility," Kara answered. She had insisted upon instating a tradition of card games in the mess hall at night. Money actually had a value again for goods on New Caprica. Since they were all supposed to get leave on the planet at some point, there was actually something at stake during Triad matches for the first time in nearly a year. The games were also a good way to build community within the small group left on the Battlestar, and a way to pass the time between shifts. "All of you better bring your cubits," she told her companions. "I can promise you won't be leaving with them."
"We took a vote and decided you should be banned from the game, Sir," the other pilot teasingly told her. "The night will last longer that way."
Kara laughed. "Well, maybe if you guys are nice, I'll go easy on you tonight…for at least a half hour or so."
TBC...