Chapter 3

The looks that the person received where something out of the movie or a TV episode or that was the thought process that the man on his knees was going through, when no one answered he tried another method.

"Um if you people don't mind, but seeing as you are all expecting something what the fuck is going on here?"

Adama looked the man over after he finally stood up, he was young and yet he held something about him. Standing at 6 feet he had short shorn military hair, the chain that was hanging off his neck clanged as two pieces of metal bounced as he moved. Adama's eyes moved to the tags and to the man's face. Looking to Saul and stepping back the ball was in the man's court now.

"I'm Colonel Saul Tigh of the Battlestar Galactica, you are?"

"I'm Vincent Valentine, Omega Leader of STAT. Just what the hell is a Battlestar Galactica and why the hell are my people in tanks and what the hell happened at the funeral?" Everyone looked to each other before looking at Vince. Sam spoke up and tapped the edge of the clip board against his palm.

"What funeral? You've been in a tank for the last five thousand years" Vince turned and started for the man but the sounds of rifles being cocked and aimed at him forced him to stop and glare the people.

"I'm sorry, what?" Vince looked around and saw that even through most of them wore blue urban camo, except for a small group; there was one that looked like he was in a chef's outfit but in a dark blue. On his collar there were gold pins signifying his rank of Colonel.

"We are the people of 12 colonies of Kobal, as well as a group of cylons..." Laura stepped away from the tank and out from behind Adama making herself known and seen. "I am also the president of the 12 colonies and the Colonial Fleet"

"Lady, I don't know what the fuck your smoking. But all we have for ships is a fucking space station built by us the Americans, Russians, Japanese and few others countries. We have no 'battlestars' or some crazy shit like that" Vince snorted and looked around thinking this was a joke, but the guns trained on him and the people that glared at him made him hold his retort. Laura pulled her political face, she wasn't used to this kind of disrespect and with a very calm voice she continued to look Vince in the face.

"Well I am here to tell you otherwise" she stated politely.

"Lieutenant, keep an eye on this man, he so much as twitches for no reason.... shoot him," Adama looked at Saul giving the man a very irritated sigh. A look on Saul's face made the other three of the final four chuckle as Adama looked to the other tank. "Wake up the other man"

Galen had turned back to the computer and started typing out some commands while everyone waited. Vince looked to all the guns trained on him, he could probably get his hands on two or three of them taking them out while grabbing a hostage. He smirked at that thought he might grab the 'president' and hold her and make his way out and hopefully the dogs wouldn't follow him. But the cold metal of a barrel pressing to the back of his skull made him stop thinking and stand very still however his mouth still worked.

"I don't know about you people, but I'm fucking freezing, you mind getting me some cloths so I don't freeze here in my shorts?"

"Shut up" Came the gruff reply to the question. Adama turned and walked up to the man and got into his face, while the marines kept a very close eye on the situation. "I don't like you, I don't know who the frak you are but you are very close to a bullet ripping your jaw off. Stand at attention like a soldier and maybe I might think about getting you a pair of pants"

Vince returned Adama's hard look by smirking but he sobered up and stood at attention like the trained soldier he was. Amongst the others Galen had hit one last key and the tank that Laura had been standing in front of started the same procedures as Vince's but there was something different about the liquid that was coming out. It was slower and much thicker then the water like substance from the other tank. Looking much like a gel it moved out and slopped through the grated floor onto the ground below, after several minutes the tank finished draining and open. The occupant inside took one step forwards and collapsed to the ground face first, as he laid there with his face to the side. Laura started to kneel down but she was stopped by Saul as the rest tried to stop the Admiral and the first man out of the tank Vince.

"Don't touch him yet... there was always something with him every time he came out of the tank." Saul said softly, everyone looked on as small electrical arcs made their way along the arms, legs and back. Steadily they became larger and more violent, shifting his arms from his sides up by his head the figure groaned in pain curling up just a bit. Soon after the arcs or electricity slowed and the man relaxed a little as Laura kneeled down pulling away from Saul. Reaching over to roll him over and check for any damage Laura managed to get him on his side before she pulled her hand away as large spark issued from the shoulder. Shaking her hand Laura looked to Adama as he kneeled down and with a forceful tug at the shoulder the man rolled over but a small arc of electricity caught Adama's hand forcing him to swear and shake his hand.

"Frak what the hell?"

"What is exactly right... but he seems alright..." Pulling the mask from his face Laura looked to Saul as the man shifted a bit and hit the face lightly. The electrical charges had stopped and there was no residual effects left as the gel covered face moved a small amount followed by a pained groan and a pair of ocean blue eyes much like William Adama's met Laura's green eyes.

"Well hello there..." she said gently, the man had the corner of his lips curl up into a half smile letting Laura know what she was heard. Saul chuckled and shook his head as the man's eyes turned to him then to everyone else that seemed to crowd around him. Looking at the one eyed Saul the man on the ground shifted a little and took a deep breath before speaking in a very gravelly voice not unlike Adama's natural gravel like voice, this voice was damaged by something but Saul put a hand on the man's chest and patted it.

"Is it time to get out doc?"

"It is, it is..."

"Someone get me a towel or something I can use to clean him off" Tory looked moved from group and kneeled down beside Laura running a hand over the man's face. Vince looked as the others crowded the downed man, the looks that passed through the one eyed man and the chocolate skinned woman set Vince on edge as he struggled against the men holding on his knees. Tory took a towel that a marine had found and began cleaning up the man's face; a large ragged scar ran over his right eyelid along the outside of cheekbone and down to the jaw.

"What the hell are you doing to him!? Erik? Erik!"

"Would you..." Adama looked up and started to growl out but he was cut short by the voice from the ground.

"Vince just shut the hell up..." Tory had just finished wiping away the gel from Erik's face when he raised his voice, it was commanding and powerful, and from the look on Vince's face that went from shock to surprise to embarrassment evident by the tinge of pink on Vince's face made the Admiral smile for the like of the man.

"Sir, can I sit up?"

"You can stand if you want, just take it easy. Can you tell us who you are as well?" Adama was pleasantly surprised by the question, unlike the other man this one was older and mannered well as if expecting this, Adama was expecting the man to be loud and obnoxious but again Adama was pleased. Pushing himself to a stand the man rolled his shoulders on side popping almost painfully while the other man a strange noise but it was quickly covered by a cough. Everyone that had been kneeling down themselves stood up and looked to the heavily scarred man.

Everyone saw that this man stood taller than the younger one and the scar on his face wasn't the only one. Many scars littered the man's body, the ones along his back were once long, deep and jagged by the way it had healed. The ones long the front of his chest interconnected making it look like a map, as it started along his right shoulder across the right side of his pectoral along his defined abs and beneath the waistband of his black shorts. Most of the women couldn't seem to pull away from him but the clearing of his throat brought their attention back to the present.

Stepping back and watching that the man was ok the group look at the man and listened to what he had to say, Tory handed the man the towel which the man used to wipe the rest of the stuff off his neck and chest. Once he was done he addressed the people.

"My name is Lieutenant Commander Erik Destler, I head the Hunter team or did many, many years ago. I am now the senior pilot of the Wraiths." Erik turned his head to Adama and looked him in the eye keeping his arms at his sides. Adama saw that Erik was much more then he appeared and his stance showed that he was a soldier through and through, stepping up he held a hand out to Erik.

"Admiral William Adama"

"Admiral... 'Doc' you with the Admiral now?" Erik took Adama's hand and gave it a good shake conveying his strength and respect to the older man.

"I am, but I'm not who I was all those years ago. I am now Colonel Saul Tigh"

"Nicely done, Admiral if it isn't a problem may I please have some cloths?"

"Sergeant, find this man and his companion some clothing. I'm sure there is something this building, I don't want our new friends to freeze," the marine that he called to his side saluted and took another person with him leaving the room to find some cloths. Adama turning back to Erik looked around the room before asking his next question. "Lieutenant can you tell us why you were in a tank for the last two thousand years?" Erik looked shocked turning his gaze to Saul who shifted a bit under Erik's questioning gaze.

"I thought you set us up to be released as soon as the construction was completed"

"I hit the wrong button on the keyboard... the planet was being nuked I'm sorry..."

"Well, the last think I remember before the Colonel here was a funeral. We were supposed to be laying down three of our men that had died in action. However we were ambushed and attacked inside the base's church, I can tell you that it wasn't expected. We managed to hold out long enough for some of the others got to the scene in full battle gear to help us fight. A lot of confusion and chaos, no one from ours died but we took out a great deal of the enemy," As Erik spoke he looked to the ground as if digging up the memories and trying to make sure everything was there in its place like a puzzle. "It wasn't easy, but we managed to get the entire enemy down but there was one, there was one that was aiming for Vince. Me being the stupid and brave one took the guy down via a body tackle then the next thing I know there was a bright light and something exploding I couldn't tell where it was coming from but after that light everything went black and I heard someone screaming before I heard nothing.

The next thing I remember was awakening to the Colonel and four others. I don't know if we lost anyone else to that funeral but I'm guessing that we must of cause something doesn't sit right with me. That aside, the Colonel here first told me to take it easy, something was off but I wasn't all that with it to really understand at the time. But I know from that file that I wasn't really all that together I must of taken one hell of a punishment and somehow I'm not surprised that they didn't kill me on the spot. My file should say enough really... I'm not really alive..."

"I'm inclined to disregard and not believe that file Lieutenant Destler, as you appear right now for all intents and purposes you are alive. Seeing as you are the more senior of the two of you awake currently, what would like to do with the rest of compatriots?" Laura playing the politician smiled politely as Adama looked at and studied Erik and what he was saying. Something was telling him that Erik was telling the truth and that he's not really alive but the look in his eye after Roslin had said that he was alive made Adama believe that there was more to the story then was being let on.

The marine and the person that he took with him came back with two duffle bags each with the two people's names on it. Dropping it in front of the Admiral the marine looked to the people then to his commanding officer.

"Sir, I found storage lockers with what seems to be well over a thousand bags much like these. Each have a name on it but it was like they were made to be kept hidden away rather than being used." Adama looked to the bags and nodded to Erik who walked over the cold grated flooring to the bag labelled V. Valentine picking it up and throwing it Vince before picking his own up and kneeling down and checking it. It was locked with a pad lock making Erik set his jaw before he easily broke the lock open.

"Erik, I can't get the lock where are the keys?"

"There are no keys..."

"How?"

"How do you think?" the two leaders of humanity had the look of surprise on their face when Erik broke open the lock and tossed it to the side like it was but toothpick. Vince was having trouble with his that he looked to the people for help that he wasn't getting due to his previous behaviour.

"Um... Erik?" Growling Erik got up and walked over to Vince breaking open the lock before going back to his bag and opening it and pulling out what looked like very well wore black combat uniform. But it was very different from the wants that the Admirals men were wearing. These looked modified and reinforced with some sort of material. Looking at the people he tinged a little before smiling and leaving the room to change. Thinking that he was going to bolt Adama set out the marine only to have the men and women walk out into the hall and find Erik standing naked pulling on a clean pair of boxers. Turning around they stood there and looked at something on the wall.

Erik knew that there would be someone coming after him so as soon as he got out the doors he turned a corner and quickly relieved himself of his gel coated shorts and wiped down quickly before pulling on his grey boxers not realizing that four people came out the door and spotted him. Grabbing his pants he pulled them on and turned facing the people were this time he tinged a nice red.

"Uh... sorry... I usually don't like showing myself to people... we can go back now..." Grabbing the bag and the black t-shirt he lead the embarrassed marines and himself back into the other room where Vince was dressed and forced to sit on his bag looking around. Kara and Lee stepped to the side letting Erik through he wasn't fully dressed and from the way the marines refused to looked at Erik they both guessed they caught Erik cleaning himself off. The cylons looked at Erik and his scars there was something that compelled them to follow him closely, when Erik turned and looked at them they stepped back seeing that Erik's right eye very quickly glowed red before he looked to the two leaders of humanity.

"Sorry about that, I uh... just wanted to change without exposing myself to you people."

"Oh that is fine... isn't it Admiral?" Laura looked at Bill and saw a strange look in his eyes as he followed Erik, there was something in Erik's eyes that made him cock his head a bit before he was nudged in the ribs by Laura.

"Yes, my apologies"

"That's alright. If it's alright I would like to awake the rest of the of core members. We can see who needs a brain start and who doesn't. Your Colonel trained us in using a ship that he had designed and massive one it was to be if I'm correct. "

"You have permission Lieutenant... Mr. Tyrol wake up the rest of the core members"

"Yes Admiral" With Sam helping him Galen went through the roster of three thousand looking for specific names. The first name on the list after E. Destler was a C. Landing. Looking up after locating the tank it lit up and started draining. When the doors opened a woman stepped out a little disorientated but none the less more graceful then her two male compatriots from earlier.

With her long brown hair hanging down her shoulder and face she ran her hands through it and around as a Leoben handed the woman a towel which she took gratefully. Her figure and look was striking for someone a little older looking then Erik. Making her way through the crowd to the two men she looked them over Vince first before Erik, after her inspection did she stop and look at everyone else.

Everyone grinned at Erik whose face was being held by the smaller woman making him bending over a little. Erik tried to get out of her grip but she just held on not realizing that she was taking Erik with her.

"Uh Doc... can you let go of my face now?"

"Huh? Oh. Sorry. Just checking that your alright.. Last time out of your tank you had retinal damage. I have to look out for my charges don'tcha know?" Erik pulled his face back and ran a hand down the length of his jaw as he stepped away towards Laura hoping to get some cover from the woman.

Adama looked at the woman who walked to the four cylons and pulled them away and typing up some commands. Both Sam and Galen looked over her shoulders, soon 12 tanks lit up. Slowly the process continued and out following the woman was a man with messy black hair and lanky like look to him, the next was a younger looking woman who had blinked a few times shivering at the cold as her medium length black hair clung to her face.

Soon another woman stepped out of the tank beside the one that previously housed the woman to her right, she too shivered as the cold hair hit her.

"Hey Landing, how's about some heat in this freezer!" The red head spoke huddled next to the black haired woman. Both were looking at the people in the room in cloths, Caprica-Six had walked up taking a fire blanket and wrapping it around the two as the younger woman nodded her thanks before speaking.

"yeah... i.. it's fucking freezing in here... Alana and I would like some damn heat Corrine"

"Awww are both my girls cold? Want me to warm you up?" The tall lanky man stepped up behind the two only to receive a elbow to the stomach from one of the two before they walked off towards the people.

"Tony... you know that I wouldn't want that right now even if I am a little cold"

"Ouch Alana... come on you know that I was just joking"

"What do you think Leona?" The red head turned to her blanket companion both looked at Tony and gave him a dirty look before walking away with their hips swaying side to side leaving both the male population from both the past and the future staring. It was only when Laura jabbed Adama in the side did he clear his throat.

"I'm sorry, but can I get some names so that several of my marines can get you your bags?" The two women stood by the computers looking up at the older man that had spoken to them. To them he had a grizzly bear like appearance in strength and stature and they smiled to each other as they caught the glance of Laura Roslin. The red head spoke first.

"My name is Alana McEntire, this little one here is Leona Vallen, and that numbskull is Tony McEllgen. Oh that doctor that you let out is our CMO Corrine Landing. There should be a Gene Andrews, Kyle Winchester, Gryphon Tanks, Dene Harper, Veroncia Le Morre, Cameron Darkening, Jarl Andrews and a Alastair Johnson..." Adama nodded to the marine he had earlier gather the bags for Erik and Vince. But this time more than half the group left the room leaving the final four cylons, Caprica-Six, three marines, Adama, Roslin and the people that were already out. Soon all but one person that was awakened was out of the tanks. The one tank that was directly behind Erik, Roslin and Adama started to glow red, Corrine looked over and told the people to step away from the tank.

The three of them did and looked at the tank the figure inside seemed to be in the suspended animation but a twice said otherwise as a pair of blood red eyes opened and turned its gaze on the people closest to the tank. Laura shifted closer to Adama as Erik looked at the man in the tank, without looking at Landing he spoke out a little unnerved by the look at the figure in the tank was giving him.

"Landing, you better put him back to sleep... now"

"I'm trying, he's rejecting it"

The people that had been released from the tank started edging towards the doors and the people from Galactica as well at the Cylons saw that the people were afraid. But of what they didn't know till a fist cracked the glass of the tank the occupant was in.

"Do something because Johnson is going to get out of that tank if you don't" Erik looked over his shoulder to Doctor Landing when he heard the shattering of glass and someone screaming. Johnson was going for Laura. Adama pulled Roslin back as he ordered the three remaining marines to shoot the man. Erik stepped in the way full bore barrelled into the man taking him over the railing and down onto the stairs leading to the lower level. Several of the others including Landing yelled at the marines to put the guns away. Adama not listening ordered them to move towards the stairs.

A set of red eyes met one marine who jumped back in fear as the man's face and body had started to change as tendrils started to rip themselves from under the skin, the face was quickly slammed to the ground by a hand as Erik yelled out. "LANDING! YOU BETTER HAVE THAT INJECTION; I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I CAN HOLD HIM!" Flying up the stairs and into a wall Erik landed on the grated ground with a heavy thud shaking the platform everyone was standing on. Pushing himself up to his knees something was on top of him as he raised his right arm up getting bitten by very sharp teeth. Growling low Erik brought his knees up onto Johnson's stomach lifting him up before pushing with his feet against his chest and launching him back down the stairs. Moving quickly he was back on his feet. The doctor looked to Saul who helped her get something from a wall storage box, they had to move fast or there wouldn't be anything left of Erik. An inhuman roar echoed throughout the room as something hit it, soon someone screaming from down below only made the two work faster getting two needles ready.

"NOW WOULD BE GOOD!"

"Here!" Landing ran towards the stairs as another thud shook the platform and stairs.

"Just give me that... and just stab me were ever" Seconds later Landing was back up with the others shaking and looking around trying to get the sight out of her mind. Minutes later someone climbed the stairs holding his head, the open holes on his body had closed and the organic tendrils that had been moving about slowed their movement under the skin.

"God... I have a killer headache."

"I bet you do... I broke your face several times you bastard... last time I take you on. And you owe the people up there an apology Johnson..." Johnson looked on as the marine shakily held their rifles at him, an older man holding a redhead in his arms made him blush and wave his hand in a hello.

"Uh... hi. You um.. you can put those down I'm ok..."

"What the frak are you?"

"Ok I deserve that.. I'm Alastair Johnson... commonly known as 'Virus'... I uh... I had a bad experience with something back many, many years ago." Cylons and the rest of the Galactica crew showed back up with bags and when they looked at the people, it was clear something happened and they missed it. The people from the tanks shifted a bit and walked towards the man that had previous had blood red eyes, his gaze was a soft brown and his face was very apologetic. The guns started to lower as they crowded around the man before they all moved away from the stairs all of them clearly taken back by what they saw.

"Yeah, back five thousand years ago... mind you I had a similar problem"

"Oh god Erik..."

A scream and guns cocking was all that was heard in the cavernous room as someone screamed out for them to put their guns down.

(A/N: Read and Review people, you know you want to... that and Ghost is commanding you to XD)