I missed posting a chapter yesterday but this one is super long and the pivotal chapter of the story. I hope you like! It's my hopefully not too lame attempt and explaining some things about the cylons. Carolann, Lady Henrietta, CrazyLikeaFox, laumae, luv4roslin, Alesia G and Mariel3 you rock!! Thank you for your awesome reviews!!! Thanks for reading!!!
Disclaimer: I own nothing all belongs to Ron Moore, sci-fi ect.
Day 17
Starbuck had warned them the planet was alive volcanic eruptions but the reality of the matter didn't settle with Roslin until she stepped off the Raptor. The heat nearly knocked her over. Once her eyes and body adjusted to the shock of the heat and fumes, she took in the landscape before her. As far as she could see large mountains rose in the distance spitting up the red blood of the planet. Rivers of red snaked through rocky canons and crevasses, heat visibly rising from them in the air.
Laura's heart sank to the pit of her stomach as she stared over the rough and dangerous terrain. How was she going to find a dead tree in the middle of this burning red hell? She didn't care how illogical it was, at this moment all she wanted was Adama at her side. Somehow she could face the hopelessness if he was there.
"Over here," she heard Helo yell from the other side of the Raptors.
Tyrol helped Roslin over a small dip in the jagged ground and followed her around the ships. Roslin's breath caught in her throat.
The Raptors had landed on the edge of a forest. Mist from the heat engulfed the tall trees reaching to the red sky above. Roslin had seen this particular forest many times before yet she never thought she would be standing on the threshold of it.
"Well, that's weird," Starbuck said breaking the silence that had descended on the group.
"Madame President," Tyrol said breaking her out of her momentary trance.
"I've seen this before," Roslin whispered, drawing the attention of everyone in the party.
"This way," Marks said, walking into the forced and using Helo for support.
Roslin smirked with satisfaction in seeing the actress wasn't holding up very well under the conditions. Her skin looked an unhealthy luminescent and sweat had matted some of her curly hair to her neck.
The group split off by pairs following Marks and Helo into the forest. Tyrol and Dee walked side by side a few klicks in front of Roslin and Starbuck. Anders and Hotdog were behind, each carrying a large weapon. Roslin hoped the guns wouldn't be needed.
"So," Kara began brushing a branch out of her way, "What exactly happened in this dream of yours?"
The terrain even inside the forest was still rough and Roslin found she had to look down and concentrate hard on where her feet where landing. A headache slammed into her without warning but she pushed through the pain and wearily answered.
"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
The group entered a large clearing between the trees and Helo and Marks pulled in front of Roslin and Starbuck giving them a bit more privacy. Roslin watched Marks become weaker and weaker and actually began to worry the woman might pass out.
"Unlike the old man I don't think all religion is a hoax," Starbuck said.
Roslin had nearly forgotten what they were talking about. The heat inside the forest wasn't as extreme but it was still intense. Kara had beads of sweet on her forehead and Roslin figured she didn't look much better. A long time ago she had seen Kara this same way in the vent on board Galactica. The pilot had been fiercely protective of Adama in that situation. By the way Kara looked around the forest and held the large gun in both hands Roslin was flattered to see she was just as protective of her.
"Adama is wise to be cautious," the President replied.
"Sure," Kara shrugged gripping her gun a little tighter, "But he's a frakking idiot for not saying goodbye to you."
"We don't always see eye to eye," Roslin said a bit sadly.
"I think, if we live through this, you should both stop being so stupid," Kara's tone rang out almost as if she were giving orders.
Helo and Marks stopped to catch their breath and Roslin turned to see Anders and Hotdog do the same. Anders avoided looking at Starbuck.
"You're one to talk," Roslin said with a grimace.
Roslin always suspected Adama wanted his other son to fall in love with Kara Thrace.
Kara frowned and then glanced around the forest. Roslin moved away and sat down on a fallen tree next to Marks and Helo. For a moment Roslin thought her headache was about to rumble her head right off until she looked down at her mud covered boots to see the ground vibrating.
"What's that?" Roslin asked.
Helo stood up as quickly as Anders and Starbuck lifted their guns. Tyrol and Dee did the same turning their bodies in pursuit of anything dangerous to set their sights on.
The ground in front of Roslin split apart and with a crushing noise dropped into a large river of lava at the bottom of the now enormous cliff; a cliff Dee and Tyrol had been on the losing side of.
Helo lunged forward on his stomach and slide across the ground throwing up dust until he stopped with one arm hanging over the edge. Starbuck was beside Roslin on the ground, knocked off balance by the quaking.
Roslin heard a scream. The familiar woman's scream she heard in her dream. It was Dee's voice. Starbuck scrambled to her feet and over to where Helo had half his body leaning over the edge. Roslin watched the gapping hole where Tyrol and Dee stood with her throat tight and tears in her eyes. Slowly, Helo, with the help of Starbuck, lifted Tyrol by both hands up over the side of the cliff.
Petty Officer Anastasia Dualla was gone. Starbuck pounded the ground with her fists and Helo looked stricken. Tyrol's eyes welled with water and Roslin had to her head away. Dualla was so young. So young. Just like Billy.
This planet was a death sentence for them. Lee Adama would never forgive himself for letting his wife go. Roslin couldn't stand the thought of bringing so much pain to the young man.
"Look there," Marks yelled, snapping everyone out of their grief.
Roslin blinked away the hot tears and looked in the direction Marks was pointing. Down the ravine just in front of them were the ruins of some ancient castle. Instinctually Roslin knew, just as Marks seemed to, they found what they were looking for…but at what cost?
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Adama was surprised to see his son so soon after the last fight they had. Apollo was all business as he stood at attention in front of Adama's desk.
"At ease," Adama ordered, but Lee continued to stand rigidly.
"I only came to update you on the investigation into the Chamalla incident involving the President," Lee formally explained.
Adama leaned back in his chair and fought the urge to growl at his son's stubbornness.
"I made some contacts, legal and illegal, on recent purchases of Chamalla," Lee began as if he were a robot, "One vendor did sell Chamalla to someone you might find interesting."
Lee paused and Adama looked up. When his son didn't look down or answer Adama gave in.
"Who?"
Lee finally bent down of his father's desk and looked Adama straight in the eye.
"Bianca Marks," Lee scolded, turned on his heel and left the room.
Adama frowned. Why would Bianca Marks want to give Roslin Chamalla?
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The castle was in remarkable condition considering how old it was and the planetary contentions constantly at war with it.
Tyrol set up a small camp site inside the main entrance to the ruins where the party rested and ate. Roslin studied each person trying to gage their physical and emotional conditions.
Kara ate fast and kept looking over her shoulder. The Viper pilot tried to keep herself busy, probably to keep from dwelling on Dee's death. As soon as she was finished eating she announced to everyone she was going to take a look around. Tyrol seemed annoyed with her hyper activeness. He brooded over his food and kept watching Roslin out of the corner of his eye and pretending not to. She found the action sweet, though she knew he took Dee's death quite hard.
Anders and Hotdog ate in silence, conserving their energy and most likely trying to cast aside thoughts of the terrible events of the day.
Helo stayed near Bianca Marks and didn't say much. Roslin didn't know why but something made her stand and walk over to Marks and Agathon. Marks looked worse then when they started. Her skin seemed to have developed some kind of spotty red rash showing in random places on her arms and cheek. Her dark eyes turned greyer and lost some of their sparkle.
"Madame President," Helo said, and got to his feet.
"Unbelievable," Roslin said to him, her voice stern.
Helo's brow furrowed but he said nothing.
"After everything I've done to you," Roslin began, her voice low, "You still treat me with respect."
Roslin watched Helo's jaw clench and he muttered through his teeth.
"You are the President of the Twelve Colonies, even if I hate you, I can still respect you," he said.
It was the honesty that struck Roslin most about the boy before her. She figured it was time for her to be honest too.
"Please, sit down," Roslin encouraged sitting next to Marks.
Helo hesitantly obeyed. Once on the ground he turned his head away from her.
"Do you remember when you said you hoped someone took away the thing I loved," Roslin asked.
Her words quickly regained Helo's full attention. Bitterness and uncertainty twisted in his eyes.
"You should know how it feels," he replied.
Roslin glanced at Marks, wishing the woman would leave them to have a private conversation. The actress merely watched with interest. Roslin pressed on anyway. Marks already knew how Roslin felt about Adama, she might as well know everything else too.
"Thanks to you, I don't have to. Tyrol is my son and you just saved his life," Roslin blurted.
Marks let out a gasp with a pleased smile behind it. Roslin paid no attention, however, as she was watching Helo's expression carefully. Before he fully comprehended the matter she stood up.
"Thank you….and I'm glad you have your child back," Roslin said and walked away.
Perhaps one of the most difficult things she had ever done was talk to the husband of the cylon. She was grateful some experiences she would never have to relive.
"Hey, everyone, come check this out," Starbuck yelled from inside the ruins.
Roslin and the others walked inside the large enclosure, through the main entrance and down a winding corridor until they found Kara standing in front of a large open door. As Roslin neared she saw a tree, a dead tree in the middle of the room, with light from an open crack in the ceiling casting light on it.
On each side of the door were two large black columns humming with electricity. The sleek black plating made the column's looked as new as the day they were built. Dust hadn't gathered on them and the architecture didn't match that of the ruins. These were tall metal slabs with a sharp point at the top.
"I've seen that tree, Bianca, have you?" Roslin asked.
If this woman really was an oracle as she claimed Roslin decided there was no point in hiding things from her any longer.
"Yes," the woman answered weakly, continuing to lean on Helo's arm.
"What does it mean?" Anders questioned, stepping up beside Roslin.
"One way to find out," Starbuck replied with a cocky turned of the head.
She walked up to the columns and stuck out her hand.
"No, wait!" Marks yelled but Starbuck was already recoiling in pain.
The girl clasped her hand to her chest and felling backward on the ground. Roslin and Anders both kneeled to help her. Anders gently pulled her hand away to examine the damage. Her fingers were red and blistered as if they had been badly burned.
"What the hell was that?" Starbuck asked as Anders lifted her to her feet.
"Who cares," he said and lifted his automatic.
He opened fire on the columns hoping to bring them down but only causing bullets to ricochet and ring loudly through the room. Roslin covered her ears with her hands until the sound of gun fire stopped. She was relieved to find holes had only been made in the room and no one in it.
"Way to go genius," Starbuck spat at her ex-husband and snatched away his gun with her uninjured hand.
"So, how do we get inside?" Tyrol asked, as he eyed the columns up and down.
"You don't," Marks said and stepped out of Helo's grasp.
She approached the columns and before anyone could stop her walked between them. Roslin heard no cries of pain and saw no injury befall the actress.
"President Roslin and I do," Marks said.
Roslin fought the urge to step backward and knew everyone must have seen the uncertainly on her face.
"This was part of my vision. You will not be harmed," Bianca explained as if she were foretelling some ancient scripture.
The tree had been part of Roslin's dream, but then again, so had her own death. The President slowly approached the columns until Kara's hand caught her arm.
"You don't have to do this," Kara said.
Roslin really looked at Starbuck for the first time then. The girl was a mess personally and professionally but she was alive, she was human, she had hope, she had the dream of Earth and belief that Roslin and Adama would find it. More than any other time, here and now Roslin felt like the leader foretold by Pythia. Whether or not she was didn't matter, what mattered was find Earth and saving her people, like Kara Thrace.
"I want to," Roslin answered and stepped through the entrance.
At first she felt nothing and thought she would pass through as easily as Bianca. Her chest began to burn with intense pain, nearly bringing her to her knees. Her headache pounded harder and her eyes couldn't focus.
All see could see was Bianca's blurry form and hear a faint echo of voice urging her to keep going. She staggered a few steps further, out from between the columns and the burning, the pain stopped. Her legs gave away and she felt Bianca catch her before she hit the ground. A few minutes passed before Roslin was coherent enough to grasp what was happening. Starbuck and Tyrol were yelling on the other side of the columns though she heard no sound. Helo was looking at Roslin trying to get her to respond.
Roslin shook her head and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
"I'm fine," Roslin said, and received shocked stares from the party on the other side of the columns.
"What happened?" Roslin asked Marks.
The actress didn't answer but instead turned and heading for the tree in the middle of the large room.
Starbuck took a step forward as if she were about to reach through the columns and hold Roslin back protectively. The President gave Kara a reassuring look and left the group outside the entrance.
"I never dreamed I would be here," Marks said as she approached the tree.
Roslin looked around the room recognizing ancient languages of the scriptures on the walls. On the far wall behind the tree was a large mural. The dead tree was drawn just as it appeared in the room and inside, where the golden spiral had been in her dream, was a planet. This was the planet she had seen with the green continents and blue oceans.
"Earth," Marks said, gaining Roslin's attention. "All you have to do is reach inside and take it."
Roslin narrowed her eyes and walked back in front of the tree to face Marks. Inside the grey trunk of the tree was a hole containing a golden twisted rod.
"How do you know so much about this? Even if you were having dreams, they don't make sense. The images are jumbled, not coherent," Roslin explained.
Marks' lips had lost much of their color.
"You are a clever one," she said, with her familiar warm smile.
She lifted a pale red spotted hand and gestured toward the writing along the top of the room.
"Do you know what that says?" she asked.
Roslin tilted her head to one side and waited for the explanation.
"It says, only demon may enter, only man may leave," Marks said.
"A demon?" Roslin questioned, now totally confused by everything.
Since the excitement of the discovery had worn off a little the burning in Roslin's chest remained, though it was easily ignored.
"The ancient scriptures refer to cylon's as demons. A lesser demon guided the people on Kobol, and so guides you now," Marks said.
Roslin let out an alarmed breath and looked back toward the door wondering if she could escape.
"You are a cylon," she coolly remarked.
Bianca lifted her chin as if she was proud of the fact.
"Not your average cylon," she said, "I am Two."
"But, I…I'm not a cylon, why is it I could enter?" Roslin asked.
She didn't fear for her life at this moment, for she realized if Two really wanted to kill her she could have done so long before now.
"You are the leader of the Prophesy," Two answered.
Roslin folded her arms and gave Two a skeptical look.
"Alright, you want the scientific explanation, here it is," Two began, "This is the tree of life to the human and the tree of death to the cylons. Earth holds life for humans and death for the cylons. The ancient writing on these walls tells us so, and the five believe it.
"I argued that cylons should leave the human race behind and start a life for ourselves. The first cylon war drew to a standstill and I convinced the others to travel far away and discover who we are. But my brothers and sisters could not leave the need for revenge behind, perhaps they are more human then they would like to admit."
Marks smirked a little but Roslin was too intrigued by her story to pay attention to the small details. Finally she was getting some answers about the cylons and the war. If the writing on these walls was true Earth would be a poison to the cylons fulfilling its place as the Promised Land. Despite the fatigue and sickness and fear coursing through her veins Laura Roslin felt more alive than she had in years.
"There were six of us who stood against six," Marks continued, her face growing ever paler, "…and lost. I am the last of the Two series, and my followers are small in number. As the others prepared for the attack on the Twelve Colonies we hide among the humans, and protected our greatest secret…the way to Earth. We found this planet long ago, a remnant, like the space stations, from the thirteenth tribe. The key to Earth is inside this tree but as the writing says, only a cylon may enter, only a human may leave."
Two walked over to a dark corner near the rear of the room and drew Roslin's attention to the bones of a dozen or so human skeletons.
"My brothers, who died here. We could never unlock the secret of this room. Even if one of us had been able to remove the golden rod within the tree, we couldn't bring it through the gates. We needed a human-cylon hybrid. Our secret was recently uncovered by a traitor to us making the odds sway…five to seven now. Leoben used to be one of us. It's why he connected with you and Kara Thrace. There are still models of him that believe in the side he used to be on. Once he told the seven of this place the drive to create a hybrid began."
Marks coughed violently before she had the strength to continue. Roslin helped the woman sit at the base of the tree.
"The cylons would wait years if they had to, until Hera was old enough to enter this chamber. But luck, it would seem, was on our side. The seven didn't know about the space stations and they don't believe in your prophesy as we do. The DNA that saved your life is that of the cylon child. We believed there was just enough cylon in you to allow you to enter this chamber," Marks explained.
"Thank you, for taking a chance with my life," Roslin said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
Despite her weakened condition Two managed a chuckle.
"Chamalla allows the cylons to enter the minds of humans. It breaks down a normally impenetrable barrier of the subconscious, so the cylons can place imagines and ideas in your mind. It's how Leoben was able to show you visions before. It's how I guided you to this place.
"You know, we have a prophesy of our own. I showed it to you. There will be a cylon, whom I believe is Sharon, that will bring peace to the humans and cylons on Earth. But you and I will not have to worry about that, we will be dead long before that day arrives."
"I thought you said I would live," Roslin said.
"This planet will kill any cylon who stays here long enough. The trap at the front door will kill any cylon who tries to leave. Without the cylon in you, how long do you think you have before the illness of you human body returns?" Marks asked coughing.
Roslin swallowed hard and brushed the thought aside. She may still have years left to live, no one could be certain.
"Now," Marks said her eyes bright once again, "Take the key and fulfill your scripture."
Roslin stood up and looked into the hollow of the tree. With a shaking hand she reached into the tree and grasped her fingers around the golden spiral. Nothing happened. She frowned and tried tugging on it but it wouldn't come lose. Here she was, fulfilling her destiny as the leader of Pythia's prophesy about to uncover the key to finding earth and she had no idea how the thing worked.
She placed her left hand, her scared hand, into the tree to pull on the spiral with double effort. The moment her left hand touched it she felt another hand on top of hers. She looked down and saw white bony fingers tighten around her wrist. She looked up and the tree was gone, Two was gone, the room was gone. She was in the forest again, in her glowing white night gown. Face to face with her stood a tall creature, with the dark eyes of a human being but white skin altogether unnatural.
On his right hand was a scar the same shape and position as the one on Roslin's hand. The creature closed his eyes and suddenly Roslin's mind was filled with space and stars and planets. This creature, this man, showed her the thirteenth tribe. He had been a part of them; appointed to wait thousands of years until the leader of Twelve Colonies was ready to find the lost tribe.
Suddenly, she was inside Galactica, inside the computer systems, searching for the FTL drive, her hand burned where the creature was touching her.
Pain burned into her chest and the member of the thirteenth tribe opened his eyes in surprise. Leoben's image flashed before Roslin's eyes and suddenly she was on a Cylon Basestar, staring into the face of a strange woman in a pool of glowing white water. The woman's eyes were large and hollow and she was repeating numbers. The entire ship was filled with the numbers. Roslin was about to cry out in pain when she opened her eyes. The man drew his hand back in pain and stumbled backward, his face contorted.
"Survive," he whispered and everything was as it was.
The tree was back, Two was leaning against the it, her shallow breathing the only sound in the large chamber. Roslin looked down at her hand. Steam was rising off of it. She had been branded like a cow, which wasn't exactly flattering. There were numbers etched into her skin that looked like jump coordinates. She felt safe in assuming the number were the way to earth. These where the same numbers the strange machine woman was mumbling on the Cylon Basestar.
Roslin bent down next to Marks.
"Did you get it?" Marks asked.
"Yes," Roslin replied looking at her hand.
"We don't believe in your Gods, but I always knew you were the leader."
"How?" Roslin asked.
"The scroll. The scroll said being the leader would be a choice. From the beginning I knew you wanted it. You wouldn't have announced you illness to the fleet and caused a military uprising if you didn't believe," Marks explained.
"What scroll?" Roslin asked and Marks' eyes grew wide.
"Sharon…Adama," she mumbled and took a deep breath to continue more coherently, "He never showed you the scroll. Ask him about it when you get back to the fleet."
"I can't just leave you here," she said, not quite able to believe she was saying such a thing to a cylon.
"I had a good run," Marks whispered with a smile, "The humans applauded me night after night. I connected them to a little piece of cylon culture. I got to be part of human history."
Roslin smiled sadly at the woman and shook her head.
"Why did you have to turn out to be so likable?" Roslin asked teasing.
"I made a career out of making people like me. If I've convinced you then I really am worthy of a Caprican Theater Statuette," Marks replied.
Roslin smiled and took the woman's hand. Marks squeezed it then dropped it away.
"Now, go," she ordered. Reluctantly, Roslin obeyed the orders of a cylon.
As she rose to her feet she felt the hand which had been burning. Her skin was cool even though slight steam was lifting from it. She approached the columns and saw the stricken faces of the people on the other side. With a deep inhale Roslin braced herself for the return journey through the doorway. Her fear was unfounded because the second time through she felt no pain. Perhaps the truth of Bianca's words about the gateway where the reason behind Roslin's trust in the cylon. Perhaps it was Bianca's selfless death in a cold lonely chamber her only audience now the rotting bones of her dead brothers.
Some thing could not be explained. Roslin only knew she trusted what had just happened and out of her trust in a cylon came the true map to Earth.
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Day 14
Adama hated himself for not saying goodbye to Roslin. There was no way he was going to miss her home coming in triumph. Roslin had found Earth. Adama could hardly believe it when Starbuck radioed the jump coordinates. As soon as they were clear of the interference from the space stations they would be able to jump to Earth. Earth.
Adama just couldn't believe it. He glanced at himself in his dress uniform and hurried down to the hanger bay to welcome the party. A small group of officers and reporters had gathered for the reunion. Tigh stood on Adama's right and Lee on the left. Adama's heart went out to his son for the loss of his wife but much to his own dismay Bill Adama really cared about nothing except seeing Laura Roslin. His petty officer and daughter-in-law, Earth, a new known cylon, the space stations, none of it mattered right now…only Laura. Laura.
The single raptor landed, as they had lost the other Raptor during the same quake that killed Dualla.
The Raptor door lifted open slowly. Helo was the first to step out, nearly before his feet touched the floor of the hanger deck Sharon's arms were around him. Tyrol stepped out next and the same thing happened to him. Hotdog exited next followed by Anders who received a lingering handshake from Roslin's assistant.
Starbuck followed and a smile lit up her dirty face when she saw the two Adama's standing side by side. She ran down the ramp and jumped into Adama's arms. He could feel Lee stiffen at his side as if he were jealous. Kara leaned forward and whispered in Adama's ear.
"If you don't kiss her I will kick your ass, old man," she said and released him with a huge smile still on her face.
When she faced Lee it faded. She stuck out her hand and shook his.
"I'm sorry about your wife," she choked out and then took off toward Tyrol and Cally.
Lee's mouth hung open as if Kara had just punched him in the stomach.
Finally, Laura Roslin stepped out of the Raptor. Adama was alarmed by how worn and tired she looked. Her hair was a mess and her face was pale but she had a smile on her beautiful lips and her eyes sparkled. Helo helped her down the ramp of the Raptor only let go of her hand when she stood in front of Adama. Helo received a sharp glare from his wife which Adama might have noticed had his senses not been over taken by the woman in front of him.
Only a moment before the hanger deck was filled with talking and laughter but silence descended as Adama faced Roslin. He knew all eyes were on them. In an uncharacteristically bold move, Adama stepped forward, took Roslin by the arms and leaned forward.
"Laura," he said and kissed her in front of a hanger deck full of people before his lips could form any more words. Roslin kissed him back without any inhibitions.
Once they parted she smiled at him, that sweet, loving smile he remembered from what seemed like forever ago.
The hanger deck was only silent for another lingering minute, until applause, started by a whoop from Kara, erupted among the officers. Laura laughed and leaned into his shoulder, turning to face the officers with a bright smile and a little embarrassment. Adama lifted her hand and pressed it to his lips only adding fuel to the already loud applause.
"Way to go, old man," Hotdog yelled above the noise and laughter filled the deck.
Sensing Roslin was through with the joking and exhausted; Adama stepped back and offered her an arm to escort her out of the mass of celebratory officers.
Before he put her on a shuttle to Colonial One she insisted on telling him, in great detail, everything that had happened. Adama wasn't sure what to make of it all, the strange being, the tree, the cylon, but he knew he trusted Roslin. If she said she had the jump coordinates to Earth then she had them. Adama felt no need to question the matter any further and didn't see any reason the fleet should to. They were going to Earth because of Laura Roslin. She had made a truth out of his lie to the fleet. That is all anyone needed to know.