DR: I'd just like to reply to a couple of points 'anon' made in thier review, since they were not signed in...
1) Despite all the peace hype and sneak attack, I can't see the cylons getting all the long range patrols... and the Colonials would be asking for destruction if they recalled EVERY ship. Besides, you don't know what I'm planing on sending their way...(evil laugh)
Shadow: DR, you're scarier than Hiltz when you do that...
DR: Really? (shudders)
2) Yep, Athena really got sidelined. I fully intend for her to return to centre stage.
3) 'Final Flight' eh? Well, all I can say is that it was purely non-intentional.
DR: Now, we learn how Illa survived Caprica, since I know many of you are wondering how she did so...
Zeke: Oh good, story time! (grabs bowl of popcorn)
Chapter 3: Drifting Through Hell
"That day, I was more than a little annoyed, despite the forthcoming peace treaty and the prospect of you and the children returning home full-time. With the looming peace, I had hoped that you would have been able to spend that day with me. But with the Cylons asking for the fleet to be there for the signing, that dream was foiled. So I resigned myself to celebrating on my own… when I got a call from Cathy." Adama had to think for a moment to place the name. An old, silver haired women came to mind, shorter than average, but with a big heart to go with her figure.
"She had arranged a party at her place for as many service wives as she could, and invited me along. At first I was reluctant, but then I figured that everyone else would be in the same boat as me, so I went.
"So there we were, waiting for the announcement while watching that lovely reporter Serina making her report from the presidium… what?" Adama had flinched slightly at the mention of Serina.
"Serina… she was the one Apollo sealed with."
Illa gasped again. "Oh no… lords that's dreadful! She was so pretty… full of life…" The pair of them allowed themselves to reflect on the cruelness of fate for a moment. With an effort Illa pulled herself together and continued her story.
"When the first explosion occurred, I just knew things were going to hades. I'd had a bad feeling all day, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. When I saw those Cylon fighters… I realised that we were doomed." She hung her head.
"I also realised that for their fighters to bombing our cities, then the fleet had to have been destroyed. And I knew you were with it, along with my children." Illa was quiet for a moment before she pushed on.
"I don't recall much of what happened around me, just people screaming and running about. But when I heard the sound of their engines, I snapped out of the stupor that I was in and ran myself. After that there was a bright glare and terrible sound, then nothing. I guess I blacked out." Adama could feel her hand gripping his tightly.
"When I awoke, the air was filled with smoke, and I could feel intense heat behind me. And the pain… oh lords the pain! Looking around, I realised that I had gotten out of Cathy's house just before it was hit. You remember how old it was, those tightly packed stone walls?" Adama nodded, his throat tense.
"I think that fact saved me. Those heavy walls contained most of the blast within the building. But…" her hand again moved along her left leg. "A chunk of the wall had come down on my leg were I lay.
"I don't know how long I lay there, feeling the heat of the fire coming from inside. And then I saw them." A shudder passed through her thin frame. "They marched up the street, pulling people from the ruins. I saw dozens of others being herded along, Cylons each side. When they reached me their gold plated leader looked at me for a long moment. Those were the longest microns of my life Adama. I could almost see the thought that was running through it's… brain. Kill me there, or bring a cripple along.
"I don't know what it would have decided, because a couple of captured warriors called out, offering to carry me. I think that's what tipped its mind. If the warriors were busy carrying me, then they couldn't run away.
"Two of them dragged me out, not caring about my leg. I was going to be killed soon, why bother taking care of me? Thrust into the arms of those two warriors, I joined those people.
"It was almost a centar later when we reached the camp, pitched in the Colonial Park. I saw people milling around, sobbing, crying. I don't know just how many. Rumours spread about a warship that was gathering survivors together, but everyone knew that only those who could get to a ship would escape. We were already trapped.
"A day passed, and I was getting edgy. Already a couple of dozen had died from their injuries, despite the best efforts of the few doctors captured. The Cylons did nothing but watch. I just knew they were either going to watch us die, or they were waiting for some order to come down to kill us all." At this point Illa half smiled, and Adama realised this was the point that things got better.
"I guess someone was smiling down on us. A gold one had walked over and ordered the beginnings of the executions. They drew their swords, clearly not wanting to waste laser fire on us pathetic humans, but before they could take one step laser fire cut them down." Her eyes sparkled as she recalled the sight.
"Those two landrams were a dream given form at point. They mowed those monsters down in microns. Those of us in the park knew to duck when they showed up, and the few warriors took the chance to act. Taking up the weapons of the fallen Cylons, they helped gun down the rest.
"Afterwards we were all hustled away, those of us unable to move or wounded loaded into the landrams. We found the spaceport in Colonial hands, and other landrams racing in with other people in tow." Illa sighed and her eyes darkened.
"But then things got worse again. We heard that the Cylons were coming back in force. There would be no time to get everyone away. And that's when I saw Achilles again. He had come down himself to oversee the rescue." Illa looked into Adama's eyes.
"I could see the turmoil in his eyes, even though he had not seen me yet. He knew there was not enough time, but he was desperate to save as many as possible. But who to save and who to abandon? He stood like that for almost a centon, blind and deaf. Then he made the call. Women and child would go first, and the wounded to be sorted into two groups: those who could be saved, and those who couldn't. Then sort the various groups by age, loading the youngest first.
"As the first shuttles were loaded he turned to the people, and asked for volunteers. Everyone knew what he was asking. Even if they didn't come back, the Cylons would reach us before the shuttles could lift. He was asking for people to buy time with their lives. He did ask that warriors or those with technical knowledge not volunteer as such people were going to be vital in the days ahead.
"I saw the best of mankind that day, and the worst. Many of the older men and women volunteered to stay behind, so that their children and grandchildren could escape. I saw those struck by grief for a lost loved one decide to stay and fight. And then there were those who tried to bribe their way on to a shuttle."
Adama couldn't help but smile. "I imagine Achilles was not receptive." He said, recalling the young mans opinions. He had always had a low tolerance of corruption.
Illa smiled with him. "No he was not. He had those people sent to the back. The poor man was forced to be everywhere at once. Other shuttles arrived or were found, as well as some older, short range craft, even a half dozen old fighters. Soon it came down to the last few, the wounded and the older people. Most of them didn't hold it against him. The survival of the human race was at stake."
Adama felt his tension rise, as he could guess where Illa had been in the priority line up. With a broken leg and older than most, she would have been quite low down.
"I was resting up with the other 'marginals', those whose wounds were bad, but not life threatening. Those ones had been moved to defence places already. Each one knew that they were dying, but Achilles managed to spend a micron with each one, impressing into they the desire to take as many Cylons with them as possible. I saw him pass up and down the lines, making the call for each one he deemed worthy of saving. His medtechs did what hey could to help, but in the end it was down to him alone." Adama could feel exactly what Achilles must have felt, for he had been forced to do the same himself. Deciding who lives and who dies, playing god. No one should ever have to assume that role
"Then… a warrior comes to him and tells him they've only got space for another five. He nodded, looking totally wretched, before asking if there was any space that could be found, even if it meant dumping equipment. By now we could hear the sounds of marching Cylons, our volunteers having engaged them a few centons before. I realised he was going to push it too far, stay far too long in an attempt to rescue as many as possible, so… I sat up a bit and yelled at him to get going. And that's when he saw me.
"I think it stunned him at first. I wasn't exactly looking too good at the time. He steps over, before bellowing out for the doctor. When he gets there, Achilles rips him a new one, demanding to know why I wasn't put on the first shuttle out. The doctor fires back his earlier orders, but Achilles cuts him off, telling him that, and I quote, 'the wife of one of the greatest Battlestar Commanders ever will not be left to die here!'. Needless to say, I was quickly carried on board..." Illa trailed off before she started giggling.
Adama heard her and knew why she was laughing, but he couldn't help the silly look on his face. Her words continued to run round his head. "He really said that?" To get praise out of Achilles had always been difficult. It was about as hard as trapping Starbuck in one of his scams.
Illa nodded in all seriousness. "Yes he did. I think it was only then that people realised who I was. In the end he got another dozen people away before he had to go. I watched out the window at the flashes of laser fire as we lifted, where those left behind sold their lives to cover us." A sob broke past her resolve at last.
"I can't imagine what those poor souls felt, seeing the last shuttle lifting off and abandoning them to their fate. I know that they had accepted it, and decided to stay behind to allow others to escape, but even so…" Adama slipped his arms around her, trying to comfort her.
"But I'll never forget the look in Achilles eyes. He knew what he had done, what he had been forced to do. As reports came in from the other ships, each one operating independently, I was almost sure that he was going to break down and cry at one point. He looked like a man with the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders." Illa had to take a few centons to calm down before she could continue.
"I ended up staying on his ship, assigned one of the guest quarters. I think it was his way of showing respect. I told him not to bother several times, that were most likely families that could use the space better than I, but he refused to listen. In the end, I just accepted it." Illa now looked once more into Adama's eyes.
"I know you've been under a lot of stress Adama, But Achilles has been under the same stress himself, if not more. He took a lot of risks to try and confuse the trail you were leaving. He risked his ship again and again to lure the Cylons away from those small colonies you passed… Don't worry, he unloaded his passengers before each time. He spent centares worrying not only about his own people and the people on the other ships in his 'command', but also about you and your fleet. Everything he has done, he did to help you escape. I hope you can help him now. He's warrior, not a politician. He struggled to maintain order and keep his people's sprits up. You have a foot in both worlds, so you are uniquely suited to running this show. Achilles may be a leader of warriors, but he's not a leader of a nation."
Adama sat there, amazed at Illa's words. He had thought that he had the short end of the stick, trying to keep the Colonial way of life together. But now he realised that someone else had to do the same thing without the knowledge and experience or the skills that he had. And it was made much harder with everyone scattered far and wide. No, Achilles had been under much greater pressure than him.
"Well, I'm pleased you think so highly of him. And I understand what you mean. Achilles was never very good at the politics side of things, even as a lowly Lieutenant. He is a skilled warrior though, and I'm overjoyed to be able to call on him once more." Adama's eyes wandered back to her leg. "What about you? Your… wound?" He asked, worried about her. Colonial medical technology could do wonders, but it did have limits.
Illa hesitated for a micron. "His ships doctors did what they could, but for over two sectares I was unable to walk. It's taken me almost a yahren to get to where I am now. My treatment is still ongoing, but… I don't think I'll ever walk properly again."
Tears formed in Adama's eyes. The thought of his proud wife humbled so, it stung his heart. And he knew that such a weakness cut her deep too. She had thrived on her independence before they were sealed, and such a wound would terribly hinder that. For the rest of her life she was going to be dependent on others, something he knew that she abhorred.
"But we're still together… and we have Apollo and Athena" He stated the truth, and in her eyes he saw joy sparkle once more. He knew that while she valued her freedom, she valued him and their children more. With them, her lost independence would not be such a hindrance.
"And now, at last, we can make up for all that lost time…" He told her gently as he moved round to lay down besides her. Illa twisted around and laid down herself, resting on her right side facing him. With their arms round each other, they both fell into the deepest, calmest sleep either of them had experienced since the holocaust.
x x x x x x
Achilles sat in the officers club, a mug of Ambrosa in his hands. Like all the others since he came to the fleet, other warriors had paid for it. The feelings of good will and gratitude seemed inexhaustible.
Right now though, he wished simply to forget. Tipping the mug back, he drained it in one slow draught. He knew that he really ought not to drink himself out here on the battlestar, but right now he didn't really care.
'I did it. I got all those people back to the fleet. I've almost single handily rebuilt the Colonial Military. I'd say that allows me to flout convection… this once.'
Leaning back in his seat, his eyes wandered around the room. He saw that most of the officers had drifted away, only a few remained at the bar, tired from a long day. Continuing his sweep, Achilles's eyes landed on the flags that hung near the back of the room. Each flag corresponded to one of the four squadrons that called the Galactica home. He easily recognised the flags for Blue and Red squadrons, but the other two were unfamiliar. Ah well, he'd learn soon enough.
As his eyes wandered further, he found what he had been looking for. There on the wall was a larger version of the unit patch that remained on his warrior jacket. The bright blue twelve pointed starburst with a viper in the middle brought back fond memories. Memories of his time on this ship, running his first command, that experimental attack squadron. 'Seems like everything since then has been either experimental or untested…'
"I'd thought I'd find you down here." Achilles turned his head back to find Starbuck standing before him, Apollo just over his shoulder. He managed to pull a smile out as the other two warriors sat down at his table. "Hope you don't mind us joining you, colonel."
"Don't worry Starbuck. I don't bite."
"So, why are you here anyway?" Apollo asked, forthright as ever.
"Oh, just having a quiet little celebration of my own. I've achieved a lot in the last few sectares. And now at last I can lay down the burden I've carried since the Holocaust."
"Yes… I heard about what you've been through." Apollo said sympathetically. He had been talking with some of the new captains, and they had explained what Achilles had done to ensure as many people as possible survived.
"So you understand…"
"Yes."
"Good. Just so we're on the same page."
Starbuck frowned. "Pardon me, but you don't seem yourself right now pal." Achilles lifted his from the seat back where he had rested it to look Starbuck in the eye. The pain and guilt shone through loud and clear.
"I've seen too much Bucko. Seen too fragging much." Looking down at his mug, Achilles sighed once more.
"You going for another round?" Apollo asked, worry in his voice.
"Huh? Oh no. No, I've had enough. Got a long meeting with the commander tomorrow… and I need to get back to my ship, my Thunderchild." Slowly Achilles pulled himself upright before stepping towards the exit slowly.
"You sure you alright?" Starbuck called.
Achilles paused at the door to look back. "Oh I'm fine. Now this loads off me, I can now do what I do best. Kick Cylon ass." And with a ghost smile he left the bar.
DR: And there we are. I hope that answered all your questions about how she survived. Next time, we hear things from Achilles POV.
O'neill: And don't forget to review!
