Chapter 2

Tom Zarek paced his cell. His whole body ached from his latest interrogation, but he couldn't sit down. He had found her note in the crack under the floor, telling him that she was coming to see him, and that she needed to tell him something. That could only mean one thing. They were getting somewhere. After weeks of conspiring, their uneasy alliance seemed to have produced something of value. He might actually get out of here. The very idea of seeing the sunshine again, feeling the breeze on his skin, made his pulse speed up. But where was she?

He heard a blood-curling scream from somewhere above him, and he winced. He could handle physical pain. He had certainly experienced it in prison. However, it was the suffering of others that hurt him the most. During his childhood, he had seen his fellow Sagittarians brutalized and oppressed, told that they were inferior to others because of who they were. Tom had sworn that as long as he drew breath, he would not stand by and allow people to be treated this way.

But then, he thought, wasn't that what he was doing right now? Sitting in this cell, protected if not comfortable, while others risked their lives in the fight against the Cylons? But then, he thought, I didn't ask to be put in this cell. The very reason why he was so intent on getting out, why he had worked so hard, was so that he could join the fight again, throwing himself headfirst into the cause.

He was rationalizing, Tom realized. He knew the real reason why he wanted to get out had nothing to do with fighting the Cylons. Their cause was a hopeless one. They could continue with the suicide bombings, the protests, the covert meetings, but it wouldn't make a difference. They were on the losing side, and eventually, the Cylons would break their will. There was no hope. None at all. The truth was, he just wanted to get out of this damn prison.

Exhausted from his pacing, he sat down, leaning his cheek against the wall. He soon heard the clank of metal on concrete that signified the approach of a Centurion, along with the softer, more feminine sound of a woman's heels. She was here.

The Centurion came into view first, followed by Sarah's slender form. No, he reminded himself, not Sarah. I don't know if it's Sarah yet. In the early stages of their relationship, he had accidentally addressed another Six as Sarah. Sarah had been very angry at him for that, as that single foolish mistake could have destroyed everything they had worked for.

But he knew it was her. He couldn't explain it, as all of the Sixes had the exact same mannerisms. And her steady gaze told him nothing. But he knew, by looking into her eyes, that it was her. It was Sarah.

She dismissed the Centurion with an imperious wave. The Centurion's red eye blinked for a moment, as if unsure of what to do, but then it turned around and clanked out the door. For a second, Tom wondered if the Centurions were any better treated then they were.

As she approached him, Tom stared at her shoes. They were black and high-heeled; the kind of shoes a woman might wear to a cocktail party, not a detention cell. His gaze traveled up the rest of her impeccably dressed form, up to her face. She was stunning, as usual, but he knew better than to feel attracted to her. Experience had taught him that the Sixes were as deadly as they were beautiful.

She crossed her arms. "I see they haven't killed you yet."

Tom looked up at her and grinned. It was rather morbid humor, but he could appreciate it. "You know that you're my only reason for living. Would you mind sitting down? I'm a bit tired."

Sarah looked at the floor with distaste. Tom looked back at her expectantly. With a sigh, she sat down, leaning her head against the wall. Tom watched her out of the corner of his eye. She looked…tired. It hadn't occurred to him that a machine could be tired. But then, Sarah was unlike any other machine he had ever known.

"So, what's your excuse for visiting this time?" He said it lightly, but he knew that they could both feel the change in the room. They were getting down to business.

She looked uncomfortable, and he was intrigued. Sarah was an awe-inspiring, almost omniscient figure. If she was uncomfortable, then it must be important.

"There's a prisoner in the building. Someone you know."

Tom felt his hands involuntarily curl into fists. "Bastards," he muttered. Who was it this time? He looked at Sarah, and he felt a wave of hatred come over him. She was helping him, but that didn't change the fact that she was one of them.

Sarah cleared her throat. "It's a very important person. Laura Roslin." She turned her face to look at him. He stared at her mutely for a second, and then turned white.

'But…why? The woman's a schoolteacher, for frak's sake!" Sarah glared at him.

"She's not a schoolteacher, and you know it. Laura Roslin is a rallying point, a figurehead. The people hate Baltar, and they look to her for leadership. And you know that she controls the Resistance. Colonel Tigh may have the bombs, but she is the brains behind the whole operation."

Zarek stood up, and began to pace the cell. Sarah watched him with narrowed eyes. He was silent for a few minutes, as he decided what to do.

"We have to get her out," he said. Sarah looked at him with disbelief.

"Are you insane? She's a very important political prisoner, Tom." She stood up as well, and carefully made her way towards him. "Look, if it was anyone else, I would at least try. But she's too important. I'm sorry." She really did look apologetic. She waited a beat, and then reached out for his arm.

He slapped her touch away, and turned on her harshly. "You promised to do everything you could to help our cause. I suppose I shouldn't have expected you to follow through on your promise. You are a Cylon, after all."

Sarah's mouth turned into a grim line. "I promised to help you escape, and that in exchange, I would be guaranteed a place among the humans. I did not promise to help you go on insane rescue missions."

She turned and walked towards the door. Tom knew that he had gone too far. With only days until their escape, he could not afford to antagonize her.

"Sarah-" he began, but she cut him off. "In two days time, I'll come back here. Be prepared. If you want to survive the escape, stay close to me."

He watched as she reached into the pocket of her coat, and withdrew an apple. She offered it to him, the red contrasting sharply with the white of her palm.

"You need to keep your strength up. Eat this." Tom took the apple, and bit into it. It was a little bruised, but very good nonetheless.

"Two days," she said curtly. Then she turned on her heel and left the room.

Tom watched her leave. He was shaking from their fight and from excitement over their possible escape. The waiting would be agonizing, but he knew he could handle it. After all, he had waited two months. He could wait two days.

Sarah closed the door carefully. Her head was pounding, and she felt deeply unsettled. She should apologize to Tom, she thought. It was imperative that they would be able to work together. Still, she didn't feel sorry. And if she said that she was, she would be lying. And lying was a sin.

"Sarah!" She jumped at the sound of her own name. Composing herself, she turned to face the figure calling her name. It was Cavil.

He was standing at then end of the hallway, his eyes watching her, examining her every move. Sarah stared back. The humans tended to be more afraid of her model than his, and she couldn't blame them. Who looks more frightening, she thought, the beautiful religious fanatic or the harmless old man?

She forced a smile as he walked towards her. The humans might think him harmless, but he was anything but that. The man was dangerous, and she had never forgotten that.

"Brother Cavil," she acknowledged. He inclined his head, and then offered his arm.

"Sarah," he said again. "It's so nice to see you. Walk with me."

There was nothing to do but take his arm and follow him down the hall. She was uncomfortable being so physically close to him. He must have known this, because he pulled her a bit closer than was necessary, invading her personal space.

"You've been spending a lot of time with Mr. Zarek lately. Has he volunteered any information?" The question was asked pleasantly, but Sarah could feel the threat underlying it.

She smiled thinly. "Unfortunately, no. Mr. Zarek has been quite uncooperative."

Cavil sighed. "Have you considered more…direct measures?"

Sarah pretended to ponder the question. "I don't think that's a good idea. The man spent 20 years in prison, and underwent great hardships. There is nothing we can do to him that he hasn't already endured."

Cavil nodded, although Sarah suspected that the debate was far from over. "And what of the once-great Laura Roslin?" he asked. "Did you get anything out of her?"

Sarah shook her head, and Cavil laughed unkindly. "You've not had a very productive day, have you, my dear?"

Sarah resisted the urge to close her hands around his throat and choke him to death. Oblivious to her anger, Cavil kept talking.

"In my opinion, we shouldn't give up on Roslin just yet. She doesn't have quite the tolerance for pain that Mr. Zarek does. With a little persuasion, I'm sure that she could be quite useful." He stopped and turned to Sarah. "What do you think?"

He was testing her. Luckily, her model was a good liar. "I think that's an excellent idea, Cavil," she said coolly. "Now, if you'll excuse me…"

As she turned to go, Cavil grabbed her arm. "Sarah," he said softly, "I know that you are having some doubts about our actions on this planet. God knows I am. But still…" his hand dug painfully into her arm at his next words. "If you were to do anything, there would be drastic consequences."

She stared at him coldly. "I don't know what you're talking about." Without a parting glance, she turned and walked away. She waited until she turned the next corner before looking back. Cavil was standing in the hall, a curious expression on his face. Then he shrugged and walked the other way.

Sarah decided to sit down and catch her breath. She had made a decision. She would not wait two days to break Tom Zarek out of detention. They would go tonight. And they would take Laura Roslin with them.