Chapter 8- finding out the truth
Bill finally managed to control his rapidly beating heart and venture a look at his son. Lee was seemingly staring at nothing, not moving only the slight rise of his chest an indication of life. "Look Lee I'm not going to just accept what this disc tells us, I want you to get checked by Cottle. You never know there might be a way to remove the thing." Lee still made no response and Adama got up to get two drinks hoping the alcohol would snap Lee out of what he assumed was shock. He poured the drinks slowly because his hand was shaking . Turning he saw Lee was again bent over the computer studying the screen. "Yes, maybe there is further information there Lee, but I think our first priority is to get you checked by Cottle."
Lee finally looked up at him knowing it was time to tell the truth. He opened his mouth but nothing seemed to come out. "Look I know you must be scared Lee, I'm scared too but"… Dad, Lee interrupted. His father glared, "don't tell me you are not going to see the doc, because I will you order you to do as I say".
Lee closed his eyes, "I've already talked to Cottle", he said. Bill turned to stare, "what, when, why," he demanded. "I umm lied when I said I didn't know how my ship jumped", Lee stated looking firmly at the floor. "You lied, frak Lee. I was telling Tigh that I'd know if you'd been lying. You never used to be that good at withholding things," Adama accused. "That was when I was about 5 dad, I got a lot better at it after that", Lee stated. Adama was giving him the military stare, "what sort of things did you lie about", he asked rather coldly. Lee began to think he should have told a lie about lying. But what the frak maybe his father needed to hear some things. "I used to hate vipers and the thought of becoming a pilot. He grimaced, 'thought vipers were ugly ,smelly lumps of metal". Adama's mouth opened like fish, "So why become a pilot then Lee", he pressed. "Because Zac loved the thought of being a pilot and you loved him for that. I thought perhaps that if I did as well you might feel the same about me",Lee answered. Bill closed his eyes, "I'm so sorry Lee that you thought I loved him more, He leaned forward his head inches from Lee's, "I didn't", he stated firmly.
Lee nodded, Adama pulled back, "can we get back to why your ship jumped", he demanded.
Lee continued looking at the floor and told him the rest, "I made my viper jump by just thinking about the Galactica dad. That kind of freaked me out so I asked Doc Cottle to check for anything else embedded in my body".
Bill found himself getting angry, "and when were you going to tell me about this", he demanded. "I probably wasn't", Lee admitted. "I was too damn scared that someone would want to dismantle me as well as the viper."
Bill stared at him still feeling angry but a tendril of sympathy was creeping in. He had after all ordered Lees viper to be dismantled to see how the drive worked. Tigh probably would have hauled Lee to medical bay and had him dissected if he had suspected.
"Alright, I guess I can forgive you for not being truthful. But you have lost valuable time Lee. The longer that chip is imbedded in you the more damage is happening. I want it out now", Adama insisted.
Lee swallowed, "as I said I have already talked to Cottle and he has carried out scans", Lee broke off his voice breaking and his hands trembling. Bill was at his side in an instance pulling him close ,"'oh Lee please don't tell me there's nothing he can do", Adama begged. Lee let himself be held, "I suppose it does scare me", he stated.
Bill held him tighter, "Lee if Cottle can get that thing out then…."," Dad", Lee tried to interrupt his fathers frantic chatter.
"Look even if it means you can't fly or something I still rather have you alive", Bill rambled. "Dad", Lee tried to interrupt again. "I'm sure Cottle has got some suggestions, he may be grumpy but he's still…. "Dad"
Lee shouted louder. Bill finally stopped talking frowning at his son, "what, Lee", he demanded crossly. "I don't have any chips imbedded in my body", Lee finally told him. Bill gasped, "you don't, then how did you get the drive to work Lee", he demanded.
Lee looked at him, "when the Doc told me I wasn't sure whether to feel relieved or even more scared." He turned back to the screen, "look here it states that 99.5 percent of pilots need to have chips to operate the drive. However there is .5 percent that don't". Lee continued reading. "If I look at my own file on here it seems that some of those tests we underwent had another purpose, seeing if we had the cognitive ability necessary to operate the drive without the chip. Apparently I got 99 % in those tests and that's why the major was considering me for the lead pilot on the mission". Bill was staring at him now. "Why would not having a chip make you feel more scared son', he asked gently. Lee looked at him frankly, "dad I did it naturally, doesn't that kind of freak you out".
Bill shook his head, "Lee I'm damn thankful that you're not going to die. "
Lee looked at him, "Dad it scares me because I realize it makes me a military asset. Tigh might still want to chop me up to see what makes my brain different."
Adama could hear the fear in Lee's voice and had to admit it was probably justified. The fact Lee could operate that drive without a chip did intrigue him, after all Lee was just ordinary, a good but not spectacular pilot . Nobody would ever suspect there was anything different about him. Bill went over to his desk and opened a drawer, "remember these Lee", he asked as he brought out a series of cards. "Sure, the academy used those for cognitive tests as did Major Small.' But dad I was always useless at those sort of tests."
"Humour me", Bill requested. He put the cards face down, "tell me what they are Lee", he asked. "Dad, this is stupid, I mean I know I got the drive to work but perhaps it was just a freak occurrence", Lee stated. Bill fixed him with a glare until he nodded reluctantly. "Alright I'll do the stupid test", Lee grumbled.
Bill took him through the cards until finally they'd finished all of them. "See told you dad, it all doesn't make sense", Lee stated as his father stared at him with a type of shock. "You got them all right Lee", Bill stated. Lee looked shocked as well, "then how come I'm crap at pyramid", he stated plaintively. Bill couldn't help it, he started to laugh. Lee found himself joining in feeling the relief in the laughter. "Maybe next time don't think about the hand too much", Bill advised.
Lee moved away from his father and began to read more on the computer screen. "He killed the other pilot's dad", Lee whispered looking up with a type of horror.
"Who did", Bill asked. "Major Small, he rendered them unconscious by tampering with the drive then he ….Lee couldn't finish. He wanted to end the project so told them the drive was faulty. He even bribed that doctor to carry out unnecessary surgery on me to maintain the illusion. Then he got me off the ship."
"He saved your life Lee", Adama said firmly. 'Did he really dad, I know I'm not looking forward to the questions, stares and examinations that are to follow", Lee stated.
Bill moved Lee's hands away from the computer and went through all the information on the screen rapidly. 'There are no plans to the drive on here Lee. I think your Major was being cautious, making sure nobody will ever be able to repeat the experiment."
"That makes it more likely that you'll want to examine me", Lee stated warily.
Bill Adama pushed the button to release the disk. He started at it a few seconds then lifted his heavy paper weight and crashed it upon the disk until it shattered.
Lee watched in shock, "what happened to you is between you, me and Cottle", he stated firmly. I'll tell Tigh that the jump was part of a malfunction and that the information on the disk was corrupt."
"He'll suspect that you're trying to protect me", Lee stated firmly. "I don't give a frak what he suspects Lee. But he won't lay a hand on you , I give you my word", Adama stated passionately. Lee smiled at his father then, the first genuine heart felt smile he'd had for his father in a very long time, "Thanks dad", he stated.
Bill smiled back. "I do love you Lee, don't ever forget that. But remember we are in the military so the times I actually get to say it may be limited.'
Lee nodded, "I understand, sir", he replied. Sighing Lee bit his lip, "What about the drive, we can't remove it." Bill nodded, "you can't use it again Lee", he stated seriously.
Lee looked rather frightened, "how can I stop myself thinking dad", he asked. "I mean what if I'm in some battle and facing down some more missiles, should I just let them hit me". Bill grabbed him, "no", he stated passionately. "Then I can't promise that "I'll never use the drive again", Lee remarked. Bill nodded, "alright, so, "I'll have to think up a very good lie if that happens Lee.'
Lee nodded slowly noting his father had yet to release his rather fierce grip upon him.
"Oh and Lee talking about lying. If I ever catch you lying to me again you will live to regret it, understand", Adama growled. "Yes, Sir, Lee snapped out quickly.
"Right, you are now dismissed Captain, Adama stated. Go back to the officers quarters, relax a little then you can go back to being CAG." "I will deal with Tigh.'
Adama gave him one last hug and watched with affection as his son left. He supposed it was to Lee's advantage that he did appear to just be an ordinary pilot.
But then he did have rather an extra ordinary call sign, Apollo. Bill smiled to himself, "I did lie to you Lee about my feelings, I never loved you Lee than Zac, I loved you more and it scarde me so much that I totally closed myself off to you. Thank goodness I am going to get a chance to start again.
Lee found his way to his bunk blocked by Starbuck. "Ah flyboy we finally get to have a little chat", Starbucks eyes sparkled ominously. "Lee looked into her eyes. "about me saving your life", he reminded her softly. Starbuck growled, "cheap shot fly boy".
"Cheap but true Starbuck", Lee stated. "Yeah well you still should have told me about that surgery. It was stupid of you to fly," Starbuck told him firmly. "Alright, I admit that, Lee conceded. Starbucks look softened, "I just don't want anything to happen to you", she said. Lee grinned. Starbuck hit him softly, "after all I don't want to be the CAG', she told him.
Lee laughed, "perhaps later I'll join you all for pyramid", he told the pilots. They all smiled in anticipation , probably thinking of what they could win from him. Maybe though Lee thought tonight might be different.
Tigh poured himself another drink and listened to what Adama was telling him. "So the drive was just experimental and the jump a random act", he repeated Bills explanation. "Yes and it wasn't fear of the cylons that made Baxter hide that disc. It was fear of his own people trying to perfect the technology and causing more pilots to die in a meaningless experiment".
Saul growled, "oh frak and here I was thinking we had some sort of chance. Now we just go back to running." Bill nodded, "we can't afford to loose pilots by trying to perfect the drive Saul."
"What will happen to Lee's viper" Saul demanded. "Well we can't remove the drive but I don't think it will be making any more jumps Saul", Bill assured him.
Saul nodded, "ah well I guess it was too good to be true.'
Bill nodded and poured him another drink. He could tell Tigh was satisfied for now but knew maybe one day more questions would be asked.
Lee counted his winning with a happy smile. He couldn't really win this amount all the time or else somebody would get suspicious. But every now again wouldn't hurt.
Then he lay down on his bunk and prepared for a nights sleep.
A few hours later he woke and feeling restless went for a walk to visit the hangar bay.
His viper was now unguarded and looked kind of lonely. Lee opened the canopy and slid himself into the pilots seat. He had grown to love being amongst the stars and had honestly missed flying while being grounded. "Tomorrow my girl we might go and explore", he told the viper. He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes looking forward to the next day.
Later that night one of the deck hands crossed the hangar bay. He went to an empty spot and stared, he could have sworn Captain Apollos viper had been here just hours before. He swiveled his head noting the viper was now at the opposite end of the bay.
He shook his head, somebody must have moved the ship and forgotten to log the fact. Yes, he nodded to himself, that must be true, after all the ship could have hardly walked across the bay or mysteriously jumped from one place to another. That was just impossible. Then again hadn't he heard this rumour about Apollos viper undertaking a jump. But no gossip said his viper had been caught in Galactica's jump and towed along. So the ship could have hardly made a jump across the hangar bay by itself. Mentally kicking himself for thinking stupid thoughts the tech logged that the ship had been moved. He then went to his quarters giving the strange occurrence no extra thought.
The end