Galactica's wardroom had seen her share of important moments during her long and illustrious career; celebrations honoring the end of the First Cylan War, commander's and admiral's retirement ceremonies, and the infamous 'we need to start having babies' conversation that helped save the human race. Now the four metal walls, adorned with photos that hinted at the hundreds of stories she'd seen, witnessed another history-changing point in time: the remaining eleven who remembered the previous timeline assembled together for the first time. They openly studied each other in the first few breaths they took gathered in the same room, comparing what they saw to what they remembered. Around them, the heavy weight of this important reunion pressed on all of them.
Finally, the atmosphere around them seemed to say.
Finally.
In the center, the two leaders stood and waited with Laura ignoring how her head spun from her prophetic sense of impending dread. The inherent distrust between the groups lingered. The Cylons noticed how all the Colonial warriors present–except Cottle–had equipped themselves with side-arms, and the humans noticed the Cylons' guarded expressions. Even so, they all knew they needed to get down to the business of working together.
The silence stretched, like the suspended moment before a falling glass shattered on the ground. Then one voice broke through the room.
"Caprica," Baltar said, breathless with barely-restrained joy. His eyes were fixed on the real silica, flesh, and blood Cylon who hovered near the entrance of the wardroom. None of the Cylons made any sudden moves. Baltar repeated her name as their eyes met and recognition flashed between them. His feet carried him forward toward his once-and-future Cylon lover. Caprica briefly wondered if anyone noticed how her hands shook like leaves in the wind before she threw her arms around the approaching man. She bit back what would have been a choked cry of relief. Leoben had assured her that there were those who remembered the previous timeline, but being in Gaius's arms again (without anyone shooting either of them) was the assurance that she'd needed.
Everyone allowed them their moment, thankful it was a couple's embrace breaking through some of the strange tension in the room. Thinking of the sheer luck and power of her own similar reunion tempered some of Laura's dark foreboding. She leaned over to Bill.
"Is that what we looked like all those years ago?" she asked her husband.
Instead of replying, Bill discreetly pressed the back of his hand against Laura's, intertwining their little fingers together. I looked even more desperate, Bill thought as he reflected on the moment he saw a young, healthy Laura Roslin restored to him. On that day when she whispered his name, it felt like he'd crested over a mountain and suddenly saw the world without the haze of discontent. Overwhelmed with amazement, relief, and love, his greyed half-life burst with energy and color again. It had seemed too good to be true, but eighteen years later her hand still pulsed with warmth and life against his own while they allowed Baltar and Caprica their own moment of reunion. They appreciated the sight before them like few others ever could, even though the others present shared knowing looks as they recalled the recognitions and reunions among themselves.
Bill noticed a shudder go through Laura as her anxiety manifested again, and he gave her fingers a gentle squeeze. Bill pulled on his mantle of stern Admiral. It was time to focus.
"Welcome aboard the Galactica… again," he said in his deep and rough voice that dragged everyone to the present.
"Fate brings us together once more." Leoben gave the room an all-knowing grin. Lee took an unconscious step closer to Kara, placing an arm around his wife.
"So everyone here remembers?" Caprica asked.
"Yes, everyone remembers, and we should talk before Mister Anders arrives with representatives from the resistance," Laura said, inviting everyone to take a seat around the room. Her capacity to push through whatever she felt and do her job remained strong. The President and Admiral took their usual places in the center of the U-shaped arrangement of tables and chairs in the wardroom.
"I sure as hell don't wanna end up in whatever excuse this Fleet has for an asylum if anyone overheard the BS we're about to share," Saul muttered, plopping down in the chair at his CO's left. Leoben, Caprica, Baltar, and Boomer took their seats spaced along the left as well. Billy, Cottle, Kara, and Lee took their places at the right.
Laura's green eyes swept over the room as she folded her hands on the table. From the earliest days after she'd awoken with memories of a future timeline now lost, she'd been warned by prophetic visions that others would remember. Twelve, in fact. That's what the Elosha in her dreams told her years ago: "There are Twelve who will remember, Laura. Twelve Lords of Kobol on their Olympian thrones. Twelve planets for the Twelve Colonies. Twelve who remember the past and future, each now chosen to represent a Lord of Kobol and face the jealous God who meddled with time. Twelve who will shape this final cycle as we come to the end of the line." Now here they were, except for Zarek who'd died while dragging them back down to Kobol. Bill represented Zeus and she symbolized Hera, Leoben was Haphaestus, Caprica was Demeter, Baltar was Aphrodite, Boomer was Athena, Saul was Poseidon, Billy was Hermes, Cottle was Ares, Kara was Apollo, and Lee was Artemis. Laura wondered if the gods enjoyed a wicked sense of humor. Her visions often spoke of the people she knew using these monikers, but too often the details remained vague. Laura needed clarity; she hoped her current sense of impending doom would solidify into something she could understand and do something about.
Instead, she held her head high and addressed the assembled in her presidential voice.
"I'm sure we can all appreciate the confidential nature of what we're about to discuss. No one outside this room knows about the other timeline, and, for obvious reasons, we will keep it that way. Very few people would even attempt to be understanding of our situation," Laura said, the authority in her tone calling the meeting to order.
"Of course, Madame President," Leoben said, nodding his head as if proving the newly-arrived Cylons would be deferential to the established Colonial leadership. His eyes flickered between Laura and Kara. "And may I say it's good to see you all again."
"Don't get any ideas, Leoben, I'm married," Kara taunted. She lounged in her chair as a display of nonchalance as they eyed each other from opposite ends of the room.
"One of many changes," Leoben, the strangely metaphysical Cylon, replied. He looked between Kara and Lee with a raised eyebrow.
"It's these changes we should discuss," Bill said, before Leoben could provoke anyone.
"And before we have an audience," Cottle added.
"And before the rest of the Fleet starts an uproar with a Cylon Basestar cozying up to us. We accept it, but Admiral Cain is probably wantin' to shoot some nukes over on Pegasus," Saul said. It was moments like this when he appreciated that damn woman's survival. Leoben actually flinched at the mention of Cain's name.
"We have an offer to bring before the Quorum. Same as last time: the Hub in exchange for joining your Fleet and–"
"How long have you known? Remembered?" Billy's question burst from his mouth as if no longer able to be contained. Despite the sidelong glance he got from his boss, Billy's narrowed eyes didn't leave the Cylons.
"We didn't remember before the attacks if that's what you're asking."
"That is exactly what we're asking," Lee demanded, backing up Billy's position. If you bastards could have stopped the attacks… Lee thought angrily. He lifted his chin and gave the Cylons a haughty look. We don't need them this time, a poisoned part of him rejoiced.
"I thought helping reunite the survivors on the Colonies with their brethren who'd escaped would at least generate a little more good will," Caprica said, shifting uncomfortably from where she sat beside Baltar.
"Billions of people are still dead."
"We changed what we could once we remembered, as I'm sure you did. But the attacks happened. We're here to help now," Leoben said, eyes flicking to Laura and Bill who remained almost unnaturally still.
"The last time Cylons arrived in the skies above New Caprica offering help, I ended up in a dollhouse," Kara said.
"And I lost an eye!"
Beneath the table, Bill rested an imperceptible hand on Laura's leg, giving her his support. During the Cylon occupation of New Caprica, unknown to many, the Cylon doctor had experimented on the woman who carried Hera's blood in her. As a direct result of the Cylons' cruel action, her cancer came out of remission. Only Boomer, Cavil, Bill, and Laura knew the full details. It was too painful to talk about. Laura took a steadying breath, refusing to let her mind go back there.
"The memories we have are difficult. We all know that. But we've all come a long way," Laura said smoothly, glancing at Baltar and Caprica and inclining her head in acknowledgment, "and we have farther still to go," she said and gave the people on her right a meaningful look containing the pain and joy of their shared memories. "We'll do this together." She couldn't help the brief glance she gave to the man at her side with her last word, and she covered his hand with her own, bolstered by his comfort and strength.
"Tell us what happened after you remembered. After the attacks," the Admiral ordered as some of the anger seeped out of the room.
Regret tinged Caprica's voice as she told their story. The attacks went ahead as planned after the final vote. The Sixes, Eights, and Twos all voted against the violence, but were outvoted. She explained that she and Leoben gained their memories right after the human Fleet escaped Ragnar Anchorage. They noticed changes in the timeline from how the Cylons changed tactics. Cylons hadn't been able to infiltrate the Colonies unless they limited their activities to low level surveillance and jobs that didn't require a clearance level. Her story explained how she wasn't able to access the defense mainframe through Gaius, Gina wasn't able to access Battlestars by working for the Department of Defense as a civilian contractor, Shelley was denied clearance to work with Doctor Amarak, and D'Anna was only able to become a small time reporter.
"Only the peace talks with President Adar allowed Cylons to access the Colonies as glorified tourists," Caprica said.
"President Adar was given sketches of the Cylon models and those were used to prevent infiltration," Adama explained. "With the exception of Eight and the Final Five."
"Adar knew?" Leoben asked, tilting his head to the side and processing this bit of the story. He seemed to compute this addition and pursed his lips as he turned to Laura and Bill. He tisked and gave them a nod. "Of course he did. Battlestars were de-networked and the Colonial Fleet was overhauled. He expected a Cylon invasion."
"He was ready for war. No wonder he jumped at the offer of peace," Caprica said, understanding more of the story. It turned out the Cylons' offer of peace had been a lie; the Cylons used the pretense of peace to launch a sneak attack against the Twelve Colonies of Kobol with the aid of stealth technology. However, Adar's initial acceptance of peace talks made far more sense now. He wanted to be the president that prevented a war and created peace.
Leoben grinned at Laura.
"Must have been quite the story you told him, but you've always had quite the power of persuasion, Madame President."
She maintained her politician's smile while her tone turned caustic. "I presented a compelling case. But it was being kidnapped from my home by some Centurions with a mean left hook that helped fully convince Adar. Unfortunately, my son had nightmares about hiding while clanging metal men took his mother away for years." Her grip tightened on Bill's hand. She still had nightmares.
"Kidnapped?" Baltar asked in surprise. His wide eyes turned to Laura in surprise, having no idea she'd had an unfortunate encounter with the Cylons before the attacks. His face took on a pale pallor as Caprica turned and explained the story after Laura proved less inclined to share. Baltar had noticed the signs of a traumatized woman, but he hadn't imagined there was even more to Laura's story that he didn't know. Secretly, the strength she showed in carrying on impressed him far more than many things he'd seen in life. The blonde Cylon explained how almost two decades ago, one of the Cavils began talking about the future. He had claimed to know what was coming. He demanded the others listen and prepare.
"He sounded…"
"Bat-shit crazy? Welcome to the loony wagon," Saul grumbled.
"Unbeknownst to the rest of us, the Future Cavil strain kidnapped Laura Roslin from her home, knowing she knew the future as well. He…"–she searched for the kindest phrasing she could find to explain what had happened–"tried to force her to verify his story so we'd believe him. She was rescued before his plan could work. We didn't box all the One models but did decide to box that particular Cavil in order to prevent him risking Cylon detection and war again."
I'm here and not back there, Laura recited while what felt like a cold fist gripped her heart. To stay grounded, she noted the differences between now and then in her head: this room was well lit, she felt warm, her body felt no pain. Releasing a slow breath, Laura thanked her luck that her PTSD remained under control.
"Cavil left no tangible proof of what he'd done that we could take to the military or Quorum, but it was enough to convince Adar," Laura said.
"Is this when you remembered, Athena?" Caprica asked.
"Yes. I helped with the rescue. And… umm… I'm Boomer," the young Cylon said. She held her ground as Leoben and Caprica eyed her warily in suspicion. Yeah, so we were enemies once during the other Cylon Civil war, she thought. Who in here wasn't enemies at some point?
"She's been helping us," Adama said, coming to the defense of his young pilot.
"Mistakes were made in the past, but she's atoned," Saul added. We've all atoned.
"In fact, she's been helping us search for what we believe is responsible for what caused this… loop in the timeline," Laura said as she began to explain about the Orb of Chronos. She shared with them what several of them officially learned on Kobol: in short, there was an ancient orb from the high days of Kobol that could manipulate time. The last they knew, after the orb left Kobol, it had come into the possession of Pythia before somehow making its way to the first Cylon Hybrid, who had yet eluded them.
"'All this has happened before, and all this will happen again,'" Leoben said, quoting the sacred scrolls. "Who knows how many times we've re-lived these lives. Every strange feeling, every sense of deja-vu, every time we've glimpsed the future, or sensed what's coming could have been from the effects of this orb."
"Cavil was looking for it before he was boxed," Boomer said. "He used to tell me about it."
The new Cylons shared a horrified look. Laura's stomach dropped as she once again felt the impending tidal wave of darkness coming toward them. Ice-water ran through her veins as realization hit.
"He's been unboxed, hasn't he?" Laura asked. Her nails dug into the hand she held in a death grip.
"When your Fleet couldn't be found, the Cylon council suggested unboxing the Future Cavil. So many of his predictions came true that the others agreed, hoping he'd know where you were. We had to act, and the Cylon Civil war began. We took what humans we could and escaped. We did our best to sabotage what we could."
"Action stations, action stations. Set Condition One throughout the Fleet."
…
Bill Adama jumped up and marched to the wall-mounted comm, wrenching the phone off the receiver and up to his ear.
"This is the Admiral, sitrep!" Behind him the Colonial officers Boomer, Lee, Kara, and Cottle scrambled to their feet and raced out the door. The pilots dashed toward the hangar deck, and Cottle slogged toward sickbay at a hurried pace for him. Their footfalls hitting against the deck beat like the blood pounding in their ears.
Alert klaxons blared, their shrill sounds preventing anyone from overhearing the other end of Adama's call. The remaining humans and Cylons watched as his face creased in concern. Over the comm, Gaeta fired off information like rounds of bullets. There were eight contacts on DRADIS: four basestars of unknown classification. Cain had deployed alert fighters. No aggressive action displayed by either the Bellerophon or her Basestar.
Adama looked at the two Cylons. "Were there any other rebel Basestars? Anyone you expected to rendezvous here?"
It can't be him. Please, dear gods it can't be him, Laura prayed.
"No," Caprica said with a shake of her head. Everyone in the wardroom braced themselves against the anxiety buzzing along their nerves like an electric shock from a high voltage fence.
No!
"Order the Fleet to execute jump to emergency standby coordinates. I'm on my way with the president."
On her feet before he'd even hung up the comm, Laura reached the wardroom hatch with Bill only a breath behind her. They charged together toward the next storm; familiar moves in too familiar a dance.
Laura felt ready to crawl out of her skin.
"You'd all better come with us," she tossed over her shoulder at Leoben, Caprica, Baltar, and Billy as she stepped through the hatch. A member of her secret service instantly took position behind Laura. For appearances' sake, Bill sharply gestured for the marine detail guarding the door to fall in behind the Cylons. They snapped off crisp nods and obeyed.
Personnel flew by them in the corridors. Many threw nasty looks at the Cylons being escorted behind the president and admiral even despite the armed guards present.
The Fleet will mutiny if they think we're too friendly with Cylons. Laura added that thought to her worries as the rag-tag group of survivors hustled toward CIC. She never forgot the bitter months of the forced human-Cylon alliance when the rebel Cylons struggled to earn even a droplet of trust. But Cavil is the bigger threat. There is nothing he won't do to get what he wants.
Only one power in the universe commanded the ability to stop Laura in her tracks. One sound cut through the clamoring sound of everyone rushing to their stations, running against the deck, shouting, and the wailing alert klaxons.
"Mommy!"
Laura froze, her eyes madly dashing around for her daughter.
"Oh, gods!" Laura found Evelyn Adama making her way toward her mother by holding onto crates and steadying herself against a wall. Tears dampened her reddened cheeks.
"Go!" Laura snapped as Bill slowed, also looking for his daughter. Despite the pained look on his face, he turned and pushed onward toward CIC. Laura made a beeline for their girl, swooping her up into her arms before she was trampled. Behind Evie Laura found Hera, her wide eyes looking directly at Caprica Six.
"Mommy," Evie whimpered, burying herself into her mother's embrace. The crying girl had been pried from Laura earlier so she could meet with the Cylons. But some inherited prophetic ability spooked the toddler beyond what her mind could understand and drove her back toward her mother.
"It's okay, baby," Laura soothed. Where the frak is Maya? She seethed as she pressed herself and the girls against a wall as a group of pilots rushed past. By some miracle no one in the busy halls had tripped over the underfoot toddlers.
"Caprica, Baltar," Laura said, gesturing to Hera. The blonde Cylon plucked the hybrid girl up and settled her into her arms. Laura remained certain that Caprica Six would keep Hera safe even if it cost her own life. Baltar took his place at Caprica's side, checking over Hera to ensure she was only rattled. Turning to continue her way to CIC, Laura caught the reverent look in Leoben's eyes that greedily took in the sight of the two girls.
"'And the Lords anointed two leaders to guide the Caravan of the Heavens to their new homeland. And unto the leaders they gave a gift of new life, a daughter as a sign of things to come. The impossible child would be born during their journey, and she would be the symbol of the Lords' promise that life would continue,'" Leoben said as he reflected on the change this timeline had seen in the Pythian Prophesy. He reached out as if to touch Evelyn, but thought better of it when Laura's expression darkened like she might rip his arm off if he did. Billy was quick to step between the Cylon and Evelyn, and the secret service agent's hand twitched toward his gun.
Laura and Billy breezed past Leoben with Caprica and Baltar trailing right behind them.
Two little girls thought to be impossible but representing the future of their people, Leoben thought.
Laura strode into CIC, the room brimming with the controlled chaos of condition one. Personnel dodged around her as she hurried to Bill's central command station. The crew threw themselves into their duties. Officers pressed headsets to their ears, relaying information as efficiently as possible. Crewmen rushed reports around the room, thrusting papers at each other.
"One minute until alert fighters intercept."
"I want reports that the second pilots are in visual range of the four unknown contacts," Cain ordered tersely over the open comm between the Battlestars and their fighters. The DRADIS screen loomed overhead, displaying the four unknown points and the identifiable four Cylon basestars. It was a sizable Cylon Fleet.
"Cylons have launched several Raider squadrons. They are not moving to intercept," Saul said as he studied DRADIS with a curious frown.
"Most of the Fleet has jumped away," Dee reported and Laura watched the lingering Fleet DRADIS contacts blink away.
"What about our rebel Basestar and the Bellerophon? You can't just leave them behind!" Sam Anders said as he darted into CIC, escorted by guards who'd diverted to CIC instead of the wardroom.
He looks so young, the sudden thought jumped in Laura's head and she felt ridiculous at such a stupid thought at a time like this. Standing side by side at the CIC console, the two leaders looked at each other, speaking without words.
We take them with us, agreed?
"Please, please… you can't abandon us," Sam said.
It'll bring us hell, but agreed. Laura gave him a brief nod. And Evie and I will be fine. No one else would have seen it, but relief flooded Bill's eyes.
"Mr. Gaeta, transmit jump coordinates to the rebel Basestar and the Bellerophon," Adama ordered.
"Sir?" Gaeta's disbelieving face clearly did not approve of the order.
"Are you disobeying orders, Mr. Gaeta?" Saul Tigh asked, turning a withering gaze to Gaeta. One did not disobey an order from a superior officer during a time of war. Disobedience in the military could not be tolerated and even a hint could send heads spinning. Mutiny was one of the few offenses in Colonial society that still carried the death penalty. Discipline maintains unit cohesion and effectiveness; hesitation and disobedience can get oneself or, more importantly, the unit killed.
Gaeta swallowed the protests he clearly wanted to make. "No, sir. Just… sending the coordinates now, sir," he said, turning to his station. He glued his eyes to the screen so they couldn't see the hard set of his jaw and the glint of irritation in his eyes.
"That is a mistake, Admiral," Cain said over comms.
"No, that's an order," Adama replied forcefully. He listened as Gaeta transmitted the coordinates over the wireless.
"It'll take time for their ships to input the coordinates and spin up their FTLs," Cain warned.
"Those are human beings over there!" Sam erupted. "You want to just–"
"Sir," Dualla said, getting Adama's attention. "We're receiving a transmission from one of the Cylon Baseships. They're asking to speak to you by name, sir." Adama looked at DRADIS, knowing they didn't want to risk a battle with these new behemoth Cylon ships unless absolutely necessary. Still, the rebel Cylons and the Bellerophon needed time to input jump coordinates and spin up their FTL drives.
"Put it through," Adama ordered, picking up his comm as Laura gestured for an officer to give her a headset so Dualla could patch the call through to her as well.
Evelyn's grip tightened on her mother as her body shivered. Laura felt adrenaline flood her system. It pumped and beat through her, threatening to overwhelm her heart. Laura's eyes were wide with fear. She wanted to run and find safety, or order Adama to attempt to nuke the caller to hell. Instead, she remained outwardly calm, facing the threat with solemn decorum because it was the only option she really had.
"This is Admiral Adama," Bill said into the comm.
"Adama… what a pleasure to hear your voice. This is the Cylon model known as Brother Cavil."
"What do you want?"
"Oh, let's start with a cup of sugar."
Everyone watched DRADIS as the alert fighters drew closer to the eight new contacts and the innumerable smaller Cylon Raiders taking position around them. Bill placed a hand over his personal comm to keep Cavil from overhearing the open comm between the Colonial military ships.
"Holy frak," one pilot muttered.
"We have a visual on the unidentified ships," Kat reported. "Cylon design, but… gods, these are massive."
"Aggressive moves?" Commander Ziegler asked over comms.
"None," Apollo said, the Fleet CAG having been in the second wave of fighters to take position before the Cylon Fleet. However, the Colonials wouldn't engage until either fired upon or ordered to do so.
"I… I don't recognize the design," Lt. Valerii reported.
"Twice the size of Pegasus," Narcho added.
"Let's start with you telling us what you really want," Adama growled over the comm, taking in as much of the surrounding information as possible. Saul barked orders in the background, seamlessly taking command of Galactica.
"Well, I haven't exactly come in peace, but I do have a deal."
"The non-defective Cylons are willing to let humanity scamper away and hopefully live out your lives without affecting cosmic history, but it comes at a price," another Cavil, even more condescending than the first, spoke.
Oh my gods, Laura mentally gasped as Valerii's Raptor transmitted an image of the new Cylon ships back to the Fleet. The Dreadnought ship looked like it could plow through Galactica without slowing down. Bill surveyed the image as well and knew they needed to buy time so the newest additions to their Fleet could jump away.
Dualla held up a finger. One minute until the two newest ships were ready to jump.
"And what's the price?" Adama asked.
"The child Hera Agathon and the woman Laura Roslin," Cavil said.
Laura's blood ran cold, and Adama looked thunderous.
"No frakking way," Adama said. Evelyn shivered in Laura's arms and the terrifying tone she heard in her father's voice. She felt terrified, sensing everything was going very wrong.
"Then you've got a problem, Adama. Hera's rather important to the continuation of the Cylons and your wife and I have a conversation to finish," Cavil said. Laura shook her head, not remembering what Cavil was talking about.
"All ships ready to jump," Dee said, and Saul gave the order. Bellerophon and the Rebel Cylon DRADIS dots vanished. Saul ordered the alert fighters high tail it back to their ships before Cavil decided he wanted to do more than talk.
"Look at the little humans running away."
"You can't keep them from me, Adama. And if anyone else in the Fleet is listening, the offer stands. Hera and Roslin for your freedom and lives."
…
Author's note: So, so sorry about the long update. I made it a bit of a review 'here we are' chapter as a result. There was an unexpected death in the family, then an unexpected death in the community, and then I got sick. What an awful month. I felt bad about the long update waits because I have some lovely readers who want to know what happens! It took some time to get the energy to write. Here's hoping I get back to posting once a week.
Review are always loved 3