Oasis (Part Five)
Laura strides through the colonial settlement flanked by Starbuck and Tigh – fierce determination etched on their faces. All eyes turn to her and she feels the regret of the people as they acknowledge their mistake and pray she will lead them again, that hope is not lost, that Earth is still a possibility and annihilation by the Cylon's a nightmare that won't come to fruition.
When they reach Colonial One, Laura glances up at the ship where she spent the most important year of her life and feels revitalized; she will not be defeated. She will find a way to save them.
Baltar's blood has been washed from the steps and she ascends, turns and faces the people. Their desperate and frightened faces gaze up at her.
Tigh moves beside her. The process is quick – the Colonel calls for an immediate vote. "All those in favour of Laura Roslin assuming the Presidency - raise your arm now."
A sea of hands reach into the air. Laura's breath is knocked from her - such a vote of confidence. She feels the tears prick at the back of her eyes.
Thrace steps-up beside Roslin. "Those opposing?"
Everyone's hand goes down - not one opposing vote is cast.
Tigh turns to Laura. "Welcome back, Madame President."
Lee stands in CIC aboard The Pegasus, his heart hammering in his chest. He has left her there, abandoned her… he'll never forgive himself.
He can't think clearly, as he tries to focus on a dradis map, a memory of Laura laughing and the light pressure of her hand in his drowns everything else out.
Dee is beside him, Adama on the line – they have to form a plan of action to rescue the colonialists. Lee forces himself to concentrate. Unconsciously, he runs his thumb across his wedding band and his military training kicks-in. Tactics, manoeuvres, second-guessing the enemy – he calls it all to the fore. He has to get Laura back; his survival is pointless if she isn't with him.
Roslin's first order of business is to ascertain the Cylon's intentions. The model they know as Sharon Valerii and the elusive Shelly Godfrey meet with her aboard Colonial One, which they have now commandeered.
"What do you intend to do with us?" Laura questions.
Sharon approaches Roslin, gazing curiously at her, but doesn't speak.
Laura's eyes switch to Six, who looks at her with equal fascination.
When neither answers, Laura asks. "Do you plan to kill us?"
This causes Sharon to give a small laugh. "No!"
Roslin is losing patience. "Then what?"
"You're quite unique, Laura. We want to preserve your existence - you are the only successful hybrid of human and Cylon DNA."
Roslin clenches her fists. "And my people?"
"Your people? Didn't they turn their backs on you?" Six taunts, still reeling from Baltar's death and humanities ability to be cruel.
"Maybe, but I never turned my back on them," Laura retorts.
Valerii glances over her shoulder at Six. "Let's tell her – the sooner we implement the plan, the easier it will be for everyone to adjust."
The blonde moves towards Roslin. "We will keep your people alive," she circles Laura, scrutinizing her closely. "There will be rules, however. No public meetings, no attempt to communicate with the fleet - "
Laura's eyes widen. "The fleet escaped?" her heart suddenly floats with happiness – Lee was still alive, a smile forms on her lips.
Six curls a slender finger through a lock of Roslin's hair and flicks it; annoyed by Roslin's defiance. "Yes, but we will find them soon enough and they will join you in the work camps."
The fear pounds through her. "Work camps?"
"You shall be categorized, according to expertise, and put into work camps. You will be treated fairly, but you will have limited privileges."
Roslin stares at the two Cylon's. "And what if we do not agree to your terms?"
"Anyone who resists or attempts to lead a rebellion will be shot," Six states matter-of-factly.
"This is the new humane face of the Cylon's?" Laura remarks.
Boomer steps forward. "We're showing more humanity to you than you did to us. I know what you put Sharon through – the mistreatment, the scorn and contempt," she pauses. "We're trying to begin again, rebuild the relationship between our people and yours… but you must earn our trust."
Laura takes a step back and bites her tongue. Now is not the time to contest.
"Good," Six states dispassionately. "We have surrounded your settlement, we're in the process of confiscating all technological communication and weapon devices. Until we have built the work camps, there will be centurion guards at every home and every public venue. Remember Madame President, any attempt to escape or attack us will be dealt with, without mercy. Understood?"
Laura holds the blonde's eye. "Yes," she replies.
"Then go tell your people," Sharon instructs.
Roslin exits the aircraft. She feels the same giddiness that consumes her before debates and has the urge to laugh, but she keeps it in check – she has some serious work to do if she is to get them out of this.
Tigh and Laura sit opposite each other. Tyrol stands close by and Kara paces the length of the staff room in the school tent. Cylon guards stand outside, but the noise of the children talking in the main room covers the sound of their hushed discussion.
"We have to fight back!" Thrace insists.
"And we will, but we have to be smart. We can't rush into this or there'll be a high body count," Laura responds.
Tigh taps his fingers on the table top. "We have to find a way to communicate with the fleet."
Roslin nods. "That's what I was thinking too. We need to send a message, let them know we're alive and are planning a mass-escape."
"Madame President, there are 43,000 people on the planet – there's no way we can plan and execute a mass escape! The Cylon's would notice that many people missing, they'd be all over us in seconds," Tyrol points out.
Roslin leans back in her chair. "Then we'll have to create a diversion big enough to hold their attention."
Tigh shakes his head. "The Chief is right – we couldn't get everyone out of the compound, aboard ships and FTL jump out of here without the Cylon's noticing. It will take too long, sacrifices will have to be made… that is, assuming we can even contact Galactica and they can navigate a way through the Cylon fleet undetected."
Laura gazes at Tigh. "You're just one big beacon of light, aren't you Colonel?"
He's about to retort when he catches the wry smile on her lips.
"What about a selection process?" Starbuck suggests.
Tigh and Roslin both grimace – it's unpleasant, but it has to be done.
"We have to work out the maximum amount of people that we can get off the planet in the time given," Tyrol proposes.
Kara nods and looks directly at Laura. "We should start with essential people, like yourself and Tyrol."
Shaking her head, Roslin declares. "No. We're going to do this properly - no allowances for rank, we're all in this together."
Tigh holds Laura's eye. "Ma'am, with all due respect – the proper way to do this is to make sure our society is preserved. We need a leader, we need engineering expertise – we have to make allowances."
Roslin thinks for a moment, she's out of practice at this. She sighs, she knows he's right, but it doesn't sit well with her. "Alright," she concedes.
Kara sits down. "Okay, so we need to make a list of essential people, get our hands on a map of the local area, plot a way out of the prison camps they're building and create a communications device - all without the Cylon's noticing. Piece of cake!"
Ignoring Kara, Tigh turns to Tyrol. "The comm. is your domain. Get cracking, and for the gods sakes – be careful."
The Chief nods. "Yes Sir," then quickly departs.
Laura folds her arms across her chest. "We need to figure out a rendezvous point, somewhere not too far - children will be making the journey, but far enough not be detected by the Cylon's."
Thrace stands. "I'm on it; I think I can get into the storeroom where the Cylon's have hoarded our belongings. I'll see what I can do."
Both Roslin and Tigh nod their consent and Starbuck ducks out of the school's side entrance.
Laura and the XO are left facing each other.
"This is a turn-up for the books," he says. "Us working well together."
Laura smiles. "Desperate times, Colonel, desperate times!"
Tigh grins. "I'd better go too, I promised Ellen I wouldn't be long," he stands and tips his head at her as a sign of respect before heading out of the tent.
Laura looks down at her wrist, at Lee's charm bracelet. Her heart tenses. She'll soon be with him again, if she can survive this latest disaster, if she can just hold on. She closes her eyes; Lee's image fills her head and her resolve strengthens.