~ Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Fifty-One ~

Their eyes met and Lee gave her a quick perfunctory smile, then looked away. He felt her eyes on him for the duration of the trip but thankfully the presence of two other passengers curbed her tongue. He did notice, however, that she had two bags with her and his heart did a leap. Was she actually leaving Galactica for good?

The ten minute trip seemed to take an hour but eventually it was done and Lee unbuckled his harness. He met her eyes again one more time and winced at the sadness in them. It seemed that she was finally beginning to understand they were over and was now realizing they weren't going to be running into one another even accidentally anymore.

"Goodbye Kathryn," he said softly, giving her a small, sad smile.

"Goodbye Lee. Good luck."

As he stepped off the Raptor's wing and heard the hiss of the hatch shutting behind him, he felt both relieved and sad.

* * * * * * * * * *

It was an odd feeling, she thought as she slipped into the chair beside Hotdog. Here on Galactica - and particularly here, at a memorial service for a fallen comrade, it seemed right not to have children around. Yet she'd spent so much time with them since their birth that she felt naked without them.

Hotdog nudged her. "So where are the rugrats? I was hoping to meet them."

"Left them in babysitting," she whispered. "I just didn't think this was the place for them."

He nodded. "I know what you mean."

"You'll get to meet them soon." She smiled. "It's not like we're going anywhere."

"I hope not."

Adama cleared his throat and the general din in the room quieted instantly. "We're gathered here to remember Cally Tyrol. She was born twenty-seven years ago, Callandra Henderson, but we here knew her as just Cally. I can't speak much about her life before she came to us, but she was young, had just completed school and was looking for an opportunity to venture out into the stars. She was a hard worker ...

* * * * * * * * * *

"What gives you the right to speak for the President? And where is she? Why isn't she here?"

Lee fixed the Geminon representative with a cold stare. "I'm the Vice President Madam. When the President is unable to be here I speak for her. That's how the system works."

His sarcastic dig hit the mark and she blushed. "Why isn't she able to attend this meeting? I would have thought she would consider the future of humanity important enough to put everything else aside for."

There were murmurs of agreement from around the table.

"She's attending a memorial service," Lee said flatly. "She asked me to come in her place to present the plan that we will be implementing."

"I don't see any reason we should follow a plan that Roslin and Adama think is good," the Scorpion delegate said, closing his agenda with a smack.

"Yeah, look where their plans led us before?" the Aquarian delegate agreed.

Lee pressed his lips together and growled inwardly. The only thing he was thankful for at the moment was that Zarek had contracted the Cylon virus and was long gone. Bad enough there was unrest in the government - he was the poison that would have destroyed them all given half a chance. Problem is, he was usually right, a little voice reminded him. Yeah, but the ends don't justify the means and he wouldn't have hesitated to watch people die to get his way, another part of his mind piped up. Steady now Lee, this isn't going to be easy.

"It certainly didn't turn out the way we would have liked it to," he began evenly.

"You can say that again," the Geminese representative spat out.

Lee glared at her. "When you've spent years pinning your hopes on something and it doesn't pan out what do you do? Do you lose all hope and give up? Just quit? Or do you pick yourself up, keep going and find another reason to live?" He looked around the table, making eye contact with each one. "We're not a race of quitters. If we were we'd have rolled over and played dead at the first attack. No, we fought. We wanted to live. To survive. To find a home for our children - to have children." His eyes prickled as a vision of Zach flashed before him. "We've faced every trial imaginable and survived. We've lost friends and loved ones - on Galactica right now many are mourning the loss of one of our "family". But we keep going. We don't quit and give up just because times are hard. We find a way to survive, find something to put our hopes in and drive us forward."

He looked around the table again and saw that indecision had replaced hostility in some of the delegates eyes, so he ploughed on. "This isn't an Adama/Roslin plan. It was put together by a number of people and it's all we've got at the moment. Yes, you're angry about Earth and I don't blame you. So am I. But being angry about something we can't change is pointless. We need to move forward now. To think positively and stay level-headed. If any of you have suggestions about where we should go, speak up. I'm listening. I speak for the military when I say that at this point we're ready to consider all options." He paused for a breath and shifted his weight.

"I'm ready to hear the plan," the Taurean delegate spoke up. "I suggest we hear Mr Adama out before condemning his plan outright."

Many nodded. A few still looked angry but they kept their opinions to themselves. Lee unrolled a copy of the map and began to explain.

* * * * * * * * * *

Roslin slipped into the empty seat on the other side of Kara. She looked frazzled. Kara leaned towards her. "Are you okay?" she whispered.

Roslin nodded. "Tired. I'd forgotten how much kids wear you out. Particularly when they're busy talking constantly and much of it seems rather cryptic. My brain is tired."

"I'm sorry."

Roslin smiled briefly. "It's okay. We can talk about it later." She turned and focused her attention on Adama at the podium.

Kara faced forwards as well but she didn't hear a word the Admiral said after that. What had Sara said to Laura? Had it been a vision? Whatever it was, Kara had a feeling it wasn't something good.

* * * * * * * * * *

"This is extraordinarily cool."

Tory looked disapprovingly at Sam, as if saying, "don't let them know you're happy about this."

"You like it?" Zero said. "We developed these techno-biological ships centuries ago. They really are more much more efficient than pure machines. Having the ability to tune directly into the ship's brain is much more intuitive and makes controlling the ship much easier. Try it." She lifted one of his hands and guided it towards the basin.

It looks like Jell-o, he thought in amusement, then he dunked his hand into the goo - it was warm - and a whole new world opened up to him.

The walls were alive, pulsing and humming as they changed colour. He saw the jump drive - a white light surrounded by filaments that disappeared into the walls themselves. Then he saw the hybrid - she talked constantly though he could only understand a few words and fragments of thoughts. Most of all, he felt the consciousness of each and every person on board. He couldn't read their minds exactly, though bits and pieces filtered through the general hum like lights stabbing through the darkness, but instead it was a like a consistent sound, a musical note almost, that spoke of unity and oneness of purpose.

He withdrew his hand and suddenly it all disappeared. "Lords of Kobol," he breathed.

Zero's eyes bored into him. "You understand now?"

"Yes. I see now why the children must be protected."

"Good."

"What are you talking about?" Tory asked. "What do you mean 'the children'?"

"The hybrids. They're more important than anything in the universe."

* * * * * * * * * *

Kara watched with trepidation as Hotdog, standing in front of her, embraced Tyrol and Nicky warmly, speaking his condolences to them. She wondered if she'd have to do the same. It wasn't that she wasn't genuinely sympathetic - especially having just lost a spouse herself, but death seemed to force people who'd never been close before into each other's personal space, and it was something she'd rather avoid.

Tyrol saved her by sticking his hand out and gripping hers. "Thanks for coming Starbuck. It means a lot to us."

She smiled and he returned it, though she could see the lines of strain showing on his face. "I'm so sorry Chief. If there's anything I can do ... " She ruffled Nicky's hair as the handshake ended. " ... just let me know."

He nodded as their eyes met. "Thank you."

She breathed a sigh of relief as she followed Hotdog across the room. Then a longer one as she realized she should be the one in his place. She'd lost a spouse - there should be a funeral or at least a memorial service for him. She was lucky in that no one had known Michael, save Lee very briefly, and so she wasn't going to have to smile and accept people's sympathy.

"So where's the wifey?" she said, nudging Hotdog in an effort to lighten the mood.

He shrugged and smiled. "CAP."

"She's a pilot eh? Come on Costanza, give, who'd be crazy enough to marry you?"

"Maggie."

"Maggie?"

"Margaret." He huffed at her confused look. "Racetrack. Remember her?"

"Of course I remember," Kara snapped, but smiled good-naturedly to take the sting away. "Is it working out okay for you?"

He nodded. "Mostly. It's tough working together and living together sometimes."

"I'll bet. Particularly when one of you is the boss and the other isn't."

He shrugged again, face telling a little bit of the story of their difficulties. "Sometimes she gets upset that I was chosen and not her, but the Old Man had his reasons I suppose, so I just do the best I can to get the job done right."

She patted his arm. "Good man. I always knew you'd turn out to be someone important." He frowned. "Sometimes you just know, you know?" she added.

They smiled at one another.

"I'd best go collect my kids now," she said, starting to walk towards the exit.

"I'll join you," he said, falling into step with her. "I've got to pick up Alex anyway and then I can meet your family."

* * * * * * * * * *

I wonder if Laura's funeral will be the next one I have to officiate, Adama thought, then struck that thought from his mind viciously. She's not going to die. Not yet. I won't allow it. He found her reddish hair in the crowd and changed his steps accordingly to meet her. A frown darkened his face as he linked arms with her.

"Is something wrong?"

She shook her head, trying to smile. "It's nothing."

"It's not nothing. I can tell it's something."

"Sara said some strange things to me after you left. Disturbing things."

"What kind of disturbing things?"

She shook her head. "Not here," she hissed. "We have to find Kara. I need to talk to her."

"I saw her head out this way with Costanza a few minutes ago."

"Let's go." She closed her eyes for a moment as they walked, soaking in the warmth and comfort his touch always gave her.

* * * * * * * * * *

"Come on guys, it's time to go."

"Aw, but mom ... "

Kara couldn't be annoyed with her kids, even for whining. She'd been a little wary of leaving them at babysitting but they'd obviously felt comfortable here and were having a good time. Brendan Costanza had surprised her too. For the last ten minutes he and his son and her two children had been playing and having a fantastic time together. He was good with children. Not something she would have ever guessed.

He climbed up off his hands and knees and laid a hand on Zach's shoulder. "It's time to go with your mom now. Don't worry, we'll see each other again and when we do we'll have even more fun."

Zach's eyes widened and his face broke out in a delighted smile. "What are we going to do?"

Hotdog winked. "It'll be a surprise."

"Thank you," Kara said softly, smiling up at him as the children came to her sides and took her hands.

"My pleasure." He hefted Alex up onto his shoulders, the toddler an almost identical copy of his father, right down to the mischevious smile on his face. "I'll see you around Sta ... Kara."

She smiled as they parted ways, thinking that even though she'd tried so hard to eradicate all traces of Starbuck from her life on Earth, it wasn't so bad having that familiarity now. In fact, she quite liked it.

* * * * * * * * * *

"It's about time!" Kara looked puzzled at the urgency in Laura's tone of voice. "We've been looking for you," she said, and Kara detected a note of fear as well.

"I'm sorry. I went to pick up the monsters, " Zach squeezed her hand playfully, "and Hotdog and I got to chatting and playing with the kids. If I'd known you were in a hurry ... "

"No hurry," Adama interrupted, patting Laura's arm. It's nice to see you reconnecting with everyone here."

She smiled warmly. "I've missed all of you too. It is nice to be among friends. Especially now."

"Why don't we head back to our quarters where we can talk."

The conversation on the way was sparse, as the halls were busy and they had to walk mostly single file.

Zach gravitated immediately to the model ship on Adama's side table and gazed at it longingly. Kara joined him, kneeling down beside him, and stared at the masterpiece. Her eyebrow quirked. "You shouldn't touch this Zach. It's very delicate and could break easily."

"It's okay," Adama assured them, placing a hand on each of their shoulders. "It's seen better days and would frankly rather be played with than sit by itself here day after day."

Kara turned her head to smile at the Old Man. "I thought it looked a little beat-up."

They left the children eagerly making up sea stories with the battered old ship and gathered at the other end of their quarters, talking quietly so as not to have them overhear.

"What did Sara say to you earlier?" Kara asked Laura.

Laura's hand flew to her blouse buttons and began to twist them. "It's almost like she's channeling someone else or someone is speaking through her. I noticed that before when we first met. She talks like a girl far older than her age."

"I know. It wasn't always that way," Kara said, eyes darkening. "She was a normal three-year-old girl until Galactica arrived on Earth. Then it all started to change."

"She told me the dying leader had fulfilled the prophecy - how could she even know that word? - and that it was time for her to rest. When I asked her what that meant, she said, "she must die."

Kara shivered in sympathy. Adama's brow furrowed.

"I asked her if I was going to die soon and she said, "you're not the one." What is that supposed to mean?"

"That you're not the dying leader?"

"Gods I hope not." Adama couldn't help himself.

"Who is then?" Laura demanded. "I always assumed the Scriptures meant me."

"Maybe you were wrong. Let's hope so."

"Maybe ... but who is the dying leader? Sara said she must die. Do we take that literally and assume it's a woman?"

Kara took a long breath and exhaled. "I think we just take it one day at a time and not worry too much. Hopefully we'll get some answers soon."

~ TBC ~