Chapter Ten

The echoes of the gunshot died away as Kara stared down at Baltar's crumpled body on the floor.

"Is he dead?" she asked numbly. She couldn't believe Lee had actually pulled the trigger.

Gaeta stepped forward. "I think so." He looked coldly down at Baltar, and then fired a shot directly into the man's skull. "But that should make sure of it."

Kara swallowed hard. She felt as if she had strayed into some parallel universe. If anyone had told her that Lee and Gaeta, of all people, would deliberately entrap a man and execute him, she would have laughed in their faces. But they had, and neither of them seemed in the least bothered by it. Baltar had betrayed Dee to her death, and they'd decided he deserved to die in return. That was all that seemed to matter to them.

She could understand why they felt that way, but - she remembered how horrified Lee had been about the plot to kill Cain. Had he really changed that much?

Maybe he'd been right when he said he was a different person now. She wasn't sure she recognised this Lee.

Or Gaeta either. Or Cally, or Hot Dog – what the hell had this planet done to everyone?

Gaeta's voice roused her from her reverie.

"Lee, we need to go. Someone may have heard the shots."

Lee started. He'd been staring down at Baltar's body, lost in thought. "Of course."

"Did you bring the equipment?"

"It's all here." Lee took off the backpack he was wearing and passed it to Gaeta. "You remember how to use it?"

Gaeta half smiled. "You did show me half a dozen times. And – here's the information you wanted." He passed an envelope to Lee, who slipped it into his pocket.

Kara watched all this with gathering suspicion. What the hell were they up to? But before she could demand to know, she heard raised voices outside.

Someone had heard the shots.

"We have to go."

Lee nodded. "Good luck, Felix." He held out his hand, and Gaeta clasped it firmly.

"Lee – in case I don't see you again-"

"What?" Lee was already moving towards the tent flap.

"I didn't save your life in that prison just so you could throw it away," said Gaeta. Lee stilled and turned to look at him. "Ana wouldn't have wanted that, either. Remember that."

Lee stared at him. Kara grabbed his arm and jerked him forward.

"Guys, this is not the time for heart-to-heart chats. Get moving!"

Men, she thought exasperatedly, as they left the tent. No common sense whatsoever.

Gaeta disappeared into the shadows and Kara jabbed Lee with her elbow. "How do we get out of here?" She could hear the thud of centurions approaching.

"Main gate's this way," said Lee. He ran down the street.

Kara followed him. "What's the - plan?" she gasped.

"Blast our - way out."

"You - didn't have - a better plan - than that?"

"Wasn't sure – I'd be coming – back. Wasn't expecting – company."

"Idiot. You can't – shake me. Don't you – know that?"

Lee didn't reply.

They arrived at the main gate. At least it was only wood, Kara thought. Easy enough to blast through. But there were two Centurions guarding it.

Not many. The Cylons must have got complacent. She smiled grimly.

"Got explosive rounds loaded?" Lee asked. She noticed he'd pulled out a different gun to the one he'd used in the tent.

She nodded.

"This may help too." He passed her a grenade.

She looked at him and grinned. "I thought you said you didn't have a plan?"

"I did." Lee grinned back, and for a moment they were just Starbuck and Apollo again. "Blast our way out."

----

They blasted their way out. The grenades took care of one centurion and Kara got a headshot on the other. Lee used another grenade to blow open the gate and then they were out of the town and pelting towards the forest.

They'd nearly reached the shelter of the trees when a shot hit the ground about a yard to their left.

Lee looked back and cursed. "One of the boundary patrols found us."

They ran into the trees but couldn't shake the Centurions off, or get a killshot on them when they fired back. The robots pounded relentlessly after them, and their shots were getting closer and closer. One struck a branch only inches from Kara's head.

They paused for a moment by a pond to catch their breath.

"They're tracking our body heat," Lee gasped. "Only one thing to do."

"What?"

"This." Lee pushed her into the pond.

The shock of the fall and the coldness of the water stunned Kara for a minute. When she finally surfaced, spluttering, the Centurions had almost reached the pond. She sank back down into the water, hoping to the gods this worked.

The Centurions stopped for a moment, confused. Kara held her breath, keeping absolutely still, wishing her heart wasn't thumping so loud.

She could see the red light from one of the Centurions turning towards her, slowly scanning the pond.

Kara's knee cramped suddenly and she moved involuntarily. A small ripple spread through the water.

The red light moved abruptly, directly towards her-

Lords of Kobol, hear my prayer…

Suddenly she heard Lee shout to her left, out of the trees. The Centurions reacted immediately. Their heads swivelled and they took off in the direction of the noise, leaving the pond, leaving Kara.

Following Lee.

Kara stumbled out of the pond, shaking, and not just from the cold.

The idiot. The stupid frakking idiot. What the hell is he doing?

Running on pure fury, she headed off after the Centurions.

----

Lee was sure Kara was raining down curses on his head right now, but he didn't care. He'd seen a way to get her out of this, and he'd taken it. He wasn't going to let her die like this, because she'd been a good enough friend to worry about him and follow him into danger.

Besides, she had to get away; there was no way Laura could run the evacuation mission without her.

This was getting to be a habit, he thought, as a bush exploded a few feet away from him. Running through the woods with two Centurions on his heels.

Unfortunately, this time he was still suffering from the results of the last encounter. His left side was increasingly painful, his stitches protesting with every step. He knew he was slowing down. They were going to catch him, and soon.

There was nothing for it; he'd have to turn and face them. He spotted a fallen tree ahead that was about as good cover as he was likely to get. He jumped down behind it and turned, raising his gun.

At least the red eyes made the Centurions easy to spot in the dark. He aimed and fired, and one of the red dots erupted into flame.

He turned to target the other and pulled the trigger.

Nothing happened.

He was out of bullets.

The ground was shaking as the Centurion pounded towards him.

Nowhere to run. It was nearly on him now.

This was it, then. Deep down he felt a sense of relief creep over him.

I'm sorry, Kara, Lee thought, and closed his eyes as everything exploded.