Chapter 8
"It is in the nature of people to turn on their leaders when they fail to be lucky." – Lord Havelock Vetinari (Jingo)
The Present - The Galactica
"Commander, Doctor Salik is on the comline," Omega said, turning to Adama.
"Please, inform him that I am on my way to the Life Station," Adama said, an irritated expression crossing his face. Omega turned back to his console to do so. He knew Adama was upset about something, but he could hardly believe it was Salik. He wondered if Siress Tinia and the Council had anything to do with it. After Adama had exchanged a few words with Colonel Tigh, Adama left the bridge to Tigh's supervision.
Not 10 centons later, Athena entered the bridge.
"Colonel, have you seen my father?" she asked.
"I believe he has gone to the Life Station to confer with Doctor Salik," Tigh answered. Omega saw a look of horror appear on her face. "You needn't worry; he's not hurt," Tigh added, concerned. Despite his words, Athena's agitation did not lessen.
"Frak!" she swore and dashed out of the bridge.
----------
While Cassiopeia knew that Adama had spoken briefly to Doctor Salik regarding Baltar, she was surprised to hear voices inside the room they had assigned to Baltar. Intrigued when she recognized one of the voices as Adama's, she paused by the entry.
"Why bother?" She heard Baltar snarl. "Why did you people even bother to waste medical treatment on me? And don't give me any of that 'It was the right thing' or 'It's what sets us apart from you' nonsense; you're no different."
"Perhaps you're right." Adama responded in that unique deep voice.
"I never trusted you when you agreed with me and I'm not about to start now. I don't want to speak to you; it hurts to breathe much less bicker with you."
"There are things that need to be discussed."
"So why ask me? You won't listen to me. You didn't listen to me on Kobol." A note of hysteria crept into Baltar's voice.
"There wasn't time."
"I gave you time. I gave you a chance to salvage the Council's scheme."
"It was impossible. I couldn't take that chance when another option existed."
"An option based on a myth."
"There was evidence on Kobol that it was more than a myth. You saw it," Adama insisted.
"Oh, yes, I remember. Before you left me to rot." The bitterness was evident in Baltar's reply.
"I didn't have any choice."
"You certainly had a choice before the attack. You felt it necessary to shut me up, to discredit me."
"My first priority was to keep the fleet together. I couldn't afford a political squabble distracting the fleet."
"Relying on your military superiority again, but you were enough of a politician to give your fleet a scapegoat, someone to blame for the Council's failure – me."
"I couldn't afford to have people questioning the military or the Council's authority. It would have caused chaos. You, of all people, should understand that."
"I can understand it, but excuse me if I don't like it."
"For Sagan's sake, you returned on a Cylon baseship!" Adama's shout caused Cassie to jump.
"What did you expect me to do?! Walk?!" Baltar's own voice rose. A trained orator's projection and resonance vying with Adama's military bark. Cassie wondered if she should enter the room, at the very least distracting them.
"Oh, frak," another voice said. Cassie turned and saw Athena hurrying through the outer door into the room. "I could hear them out in the corridor," Athena said, stopping next to Cassie. "I guess that means there hasn't been blood spilled yet."
"I don't believe so," Cassie told her. In the other room, they could hear Adama's strident voice.
" – you weren't making sense either then or before the destruction of the Colonies."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Baltar snapped.
"You were slipping off to clandestine meetings on Caprica with someone."
There was a stunned silence. Cassie saw Athena's face go white. From the other room, Cassie heard a few odd gasping sounds as if someone was trying to catch his breath.
"To meet Athena, you idiot!" Baltar shrieked.
"What?" Adama choked.
"Yes! Her father and her reluctant flyboy were such nuisances that it was impossible for me to have an evening with her alone unless we slipped off to avoid you."
"She never told me…," Adama said, horrified. Cassie looked at Athena who seemed paralyzed as she listened to their conversation.
"She was afraid to." Baltar said, sounding exhausted. "She wanted your approval. If she couldn't have that, she at least wanted your acceptance. Lords, she didn't even tell me she was your daughter until just before the Armistice. Apparently you scared away any man who came close enough to speak to her."
"But not you."
"By the time she told me, I wasn't letting her go. By that time, if she had asked, I would have walked to your mythical Earth."
"Why didn't you say anything?"
"Adama, credit me with a little intelligence and empathy." Baltar said, fatigue and sorrow evident in his voice. "I couldn't hurt her. As much as I would have reveled in your torment, I couldn't hurt her. I'd have rather died than cause her harm."
"Frak, now what do I do?" Adama sounded distracted.
"Why are you asking me? You don't care what happens to me."
"I care what my daughter thinks. She would never forgive me."
"She is alive!" Baltar yelped, his voice wavering. "She survived Kobol."
"Yes."
"Where is she?"
"You'd just cause her trouble. What's the purpose?" Adama's tone was almost pleading.
"Adama, the purpose is that I want to speak to my wife."
"Your wife?" Adama asked, shocked. In the other room, Cassie watched Athena who buried her face in her hands.
"Yes, we were married the day before Athena returned to the Galactica and I left for the Council's final Armistice negotiations."
"Why?"
"It was simple," Baltar said, his voice slipping into that mocking tone that surely he knew would infuriate Adama. Cassie saw Athena look up worried, her face wet with tears, and step towards the door. "If something happened to me on the Council's little trip, I wanted to leave some provision for the woman I loved and our child."
"Damn you!" Adama roared. Cassie followed Athena into the room to see Adama's hands around Baltar's neck.
"Stop it! Stop!" Athena pleaded as both she and Cassie took hold of Adama and pulled him back.
"Athena, what are you doing here?" Both men chorused, although Baltar choked out the words with his hand at his throat. Surprised as they heard each other, they paused and then exchanged glares.
"Trying to keep you two from killing each other," Cassie said.
The Past - Caprica City
"I'd like to announce to all that the Council has undertaken negotiations which, if successful, could end the war," President Adar said at the formal Council banquet held shortly after Baltar's return. Adar was standing at the head of the table and holding a crystal chalice filled with ambrosia. An excited and astonished murmur ran through the guests in the hall. Athena glanced to one side and was startled by the reactions of her father and her escort. Although Adama appeared outwardly pleased, Athena could tell that his smile was forced. Her mother, as always, appeared her gracious self. Between Ila and Athena, his expression carefully neutral, Baltar was looking down at the table.
"I would especially commend Councilor Baltar for his exceptional efforts in undertaking these negotiations," Adar continued. He did not appear to notice the momentary wince that passed over Baltar's face at the mention of his name. "When the Armistice treaty is reality and the Colonies experience peace for the first time in a millennia, I'm sure you will be remembered by all."
"I am not deserving of your praise, President," Baltar answered, standing and bowing slightly to Adar. "Any efforts on my part were entirely at the behest of the Council." Athena was concerned by the strain that she could detect in his manner, the carefully controlled voice, the slight tremble of his hand, and the tightness at the corners of his mouth. She touched his hand and he glanced down at her, his eyes widening slightly, and then his smile became the delighted expression she knew as he smiled for her alone. "If anyone is remembered," he continued in a lighter tone, "it should be the entire Council and not one individual."
"Your modesty is admirable," Adar said, as Baltar sank gratefully into his seat. He grasped Athena's hand and held it tightly as Adar continued, lifting his chalice. "I should think a toast is in order: To peace."
The others lifted their ambrosia in return. After he had joined the communal toast, Baltar turned to Athena.
"To the future," he whispered, "our future."
"Yes," she agreed and giggled. She stopped when she noticed her mother watching them with a knowing smile.
"All this political talk is making me nauseous," Baltar said and took another sip of ambrosia.
"Are you sure you're not having sympathy pains or something?"
He raised his brows in astonishment and burst out laughing, drawing the attention of Ila and others near them.
"Forgive me," he said to those near. "My last trip was very tiring." There was polite acknowledgement from the others before they returned to their own concerns.
For Athena, the rest of the evening passed as if she were in a dream. It didn't seem possible that the Colonies' war with the Cylon would have ever ended, but now there was the hope that it might actually occur.
----------
The next morning, reality reasserted itself and Athena received orders from the Caprican fleet concerning her present and future assignments. Upset by her new orders, she felt she really had to talk to Baltar. Perhaps he could do something about the change in her assignment.
As she walked through the common areas of her home on her way to the front entrance, her mother, sitting on the divan and sorting through documents, said in a casual tone: "When does the baby arrive?"
"At the end of – " Athena started and then stopped in her tracks, her orders forgotten. "How did you know?"
"I think having had three children myself made me notice a few things." Ila looked up and smiled. "Most noticeably the giddiness last night of whom I assume is the father."
"Are you disappointed?" Athena asked as she sat next to her mother.
"Only if you are, my dear. Of course, your father always thought it would be Starbuck, but I understand."
"Does father know?" Athena asked, worried.
"No, I haven't mentioned it to him." Ila patted Athena's hand. "He's been distracted by other things lately. No need to add others."
"He'll be furious, won't he?"
"Unfortunately, it appears that would be his most likely reaction. You and your – betrothed? husband? – may want to break the news to him over a comline."
"A long one." Despite her anxiety, Athena smiled. "And after the Armistice."
"Yes, I think that would be beneficial to your Councilor's health."
"I know he's not Starbuck, but he isn't as terrible as all that."
"I know, dear," Ila agreed. "I've tried to tell your father, but he seems reluctant to consider it. I'm hoping that it's just the difference in political views and everyone will calm down once the Armistice becomes a reality."
"But I thought it was already decided."
"I'm afraid it's the nature of politics. As a Councilor's wife you'll learn that things are rarely what they seem."
----------
"Athena, what's wrong?" Baltar asked, looking up from the console at his large black desk as she entered his office.
"I've been reassigned," she said, handing him a document and nearly falling into the chair at the desk's side.
"The Council session is nearing its end." He glanced at the document she had given him.
"I know, but…things have changed."
"This states that you're being recalled to duty aboard the Galactica. Perhaps it's for the best."
"How can you say that?" she protested. "Now, of all times."
"Athena, it would be temporary." He set her orders aside and reached out to take her hand. "I would feel better if you were there until after the Armistice ceremony."
"Why?"
"I just have an uneasy feeling…if something should happen to you…."
"Nothing is going to happen to me. It's an Armistice," she said, bewildered by his manner.
"I know, I know, but I won't be happy until it's over and done with." He tightened his hold on her hand. "If I should lose you…I can't go through that again." He shook his head and Athena could see more than sadness in his eyes, there was the glisten of unshed tears.
"Then let me be with you," she pleaded.
"No…not just yet…after, please."
"I don't understand why you're being so evasive," Athena said, standing and abruptly breaking his hold on her hand. "I don't understand why you don't trust me."
"Athena, please…just a little while longer…," he said, looking up at her, imploring her understanding.
"You sound just like my father!" she snapped.
"Your father?"
"Yes, you know him – Adama." Athena immediately regretted her words as she saw the horrified shock appear on Baltar's face. He sat in stunned silence for a long, terrible moment and then collapsed over his desk, burying his face in his hands.
"Baltar, are you all right?" she asked, her frustration subsided only to have her earlier fears resurface. She leaned over and rested her hand gently on his shoulder.
"Adama is your father?" he moaned, an odd tremor in his voice.
"Yes."
"The Caprican Councilor? That Adama?"
"Yes. I'm sorry – "
"You're sorry?" He raised his head slightly, looking up at her.
"You wouldn't have spoken to me if you had known."
"That means you're Adama's daughter." He again dropped his forehead onto the desktop, covering his eyes with his hands. "He's going to kill me."
"He's not going to kill you," Athena protested.
"Oh, yes, he is."
"Now you're talking like every man I've ever known," Athena said miserably. Her tone made him sit up and take her hand again.
"I hope not," he said, his voice steadying.
"Would you have spoken to me if you had known Adama was my father?"
"Of course, I would have."
"The way you did? Would you have ever danced with me?"
"I confess that I might not have been so – shall we say – 'impetuous' when you first came into this office." He smiled evidently remembering that day.
"Is this it then?" Athena asked, anticipating the inevitable excuses. There had always been an excuse.
"Is what it? I don't understand."
"Where you decide our relationship can't work," Athena said on the verge of tears, edging back from him. "I'll admit your reasoning is better than most with you being a Councilor and the political conflict of interest – "
"No, I won't let you go." His grip on her hand tightened, restraining her. His determination was of such intensity that it frightened her and, yet at the same time, gratified her.
"But you said my father was going to kill you."
"Oh, well, he may when he finds out – and I assume I'm still breathing because you haven't mentioned your present condition to him – but I won't let a little thing like your father strangling me to come between us," he said lightly, standing and coming to her side.
"Are you insane?"
"Yes, I am." He laughed. "Isn't that part of being madly in love?"
"You're not going make excuses? Avoid me?"
"If you doubt my sincerity, I'll take you to the Caprica City civic offices and marry you right now."
"Now? Doesn't the Council meet in a centar?"
"I believe so, but I have time and even if I don't, the Council can wait for me."
"You're serious," Athena said, knowing from his expression that he was.
"Yes, I am. You accepted my proposal earlier. Now that we know the terrible secret that Adama is your father, are you still willing to marry me?"
"What about a formal ceremony?"
"There's nothing that says we can't do that later." He smiled.
"It's such – " she began, but he cut her off.
"Are you going to let your father dictate our relationship?" he asked softly.
"I don't want that to happen."
"Then, shall we go?" He took her arm and left his office, saying to Tesha as they passed, "If anyone should call looking for me, please inform them I'm getting married."
----------
When they returned to his office a centar later, they were hand in hand, smiling
"I take it congratulations are in order," Tesha said, looking up from her console.
"You should have seen the look on the clerk's face." Athena said to her and giggled.
"You'd think he had never seen anyone want a marriage contract," Baltar said merrily, waving a large envelope that he held in his free hand.
"How many times does a Councilor from the High Quorum show up in the middle of the day demanding to be married?" Tesha smiled. "I did take the liberty of sending them a communiqué that you were on your way.
"Demand? I didn't demand, I merely requested his services," Baltar said.
"You were pretty insistent when we were there." Athena tapped his chest with her finger.
"You didn't want me to be late for the Council's afternoon session, did you? After all isn't that part of your job duties?" He teased her.
"About that," Tesha said, "Councilor Adama did call regarding you're whereabouts."
"What did you tell him?" Baltar asked. Athena froze.
"That you were attending to a very important personal matter and that you would return shortly."
"Thank the Lords," Athena breathed.
"We're going to have to tell him sometime," Baltar told her.
"My mother thinks that we'll get a better reaction if we what until after the Armistice." Athena said.
"Siress Ila knows about us? And the baby?" He asked, a bit surprised.
"Yes, she said you were acting…er…'giddy' the other night which confirmed her suspicions."
"And she hasn't mentioned any of this to Adama?"
"No, she feels that we should…over a comline," she confessed, and he laughed.
"Ah, I see that Siress Ila not only shares her daughter's beauty and kindness, but her intelligence as well." Baltar nodded, and then handed the envelope to Athena. "After the Armistice, you give this to Adama, tell him he is soon to be a grandfather, and even he can't countermand long-standing military regulations."
"Is this why you did this?"
"No. I married you because I love you," he said and gave her a quick kiss. "However, until you were married, your father could have just transferred you to some frozen wasteland on Caprica without regard to where your husband was located."
"Perhaps after the Armistice he'll be more accepting," Athena said.
"We'll see. Regardless, he'll have to deal with me."
"Speaking of which," Tesha interrupted, "the Council is waiting."
"I suppose you should go," Athena said, pushing him toward the door.
"You want to be rid of me so soon?" He laughed.
"The sooner you go, the sooner you'll return."