~ Bright, Shiny Futures - Chapter Sixty-Two ~

The silence stretched on for several long moments after Kara left. Adama watched as the colour slowly began to return to his mother's face.

"I'm okay," she whispered, raising a frail, shaking hand as if to reassure him.

"Can you read my mind?" he asked.

"No, not exactly ... I mean I ... " She stopped as he fixed her with a penetrating gaze. "Okay, yes I can," she admitted, a tiny bit of pink colouring her pasty cheeks. "Sort of."

"How?"

"You're my son. We're directly related so our minds are linked."

"How come I've never been able to read your mind then? I've never even sensed that it existed."

"Because I never let you. I was supposed to be dead - I couldn't let you know I wasn't. It would have ruined all of my plans."

"So you haven't been reading my mind all along, all these sixty some years."

"No. I'm not reading your mind now, just able to sense what you're thinking about. You don't have the skills necessary to block other's thoughts. It's a discipline that needs to be learned and practiced."

Adama felt his cheeks grow warm. "I'd like to learn it. I still have a few secrets that I'd prefer not to have people ferreting out."

"Of course. But I wouldn't actually read your thoughts, that would be improper. We don't do that. We only link with those who are willing."

"But you said ... "

"I did use my ability to read your emotions when you were a young child. It helped me to understand you and learn how to comfort you. When I left we were so far apart I couldn't have connected with you even if I'd wanted to." She cleared her throat. "It wasn't my place to go messing around in your head anyway. It would have been unfair to you and likely would have caused us to change our courses of action in some ways, so it was best we stayed separate."

Adama regarded her with a curious eye before continuing. "So why are you in my head now? Isn't my privacy still just as important?"

"I understand it's a difficult concept to get used to. It must feel like a violation to have someone "reading" you."

"Actually yes, it does."

She reached out a hand and clasped his. "Rest assured I'm not trying to pry. This is a matter of life and death for us all, my people and yours. I wouldn't be doing it otherwise. I have needed to understand what sort of man you've grown into and whether or not you would be open to working with us to make our future a shared one."

"You wanted to know if you could trust me."

"In essence, yes."

"You could have just asked."

"People lie."

"Yes they do. Part of dealing with people is learning to understand when they're being truthful or not. Body language helps us read that."

"Why go through all of that effort when seeing directly into someone's mind gives you the answers you need without fear of untruths?"

"This is exactly why humans distrust Cylons," he said sharply. "You take away our free will and make decisions for us. People won't accept that."

"They'll have to. My people are all either Cylon or Cylon/human hybrid. They all have the ability to link and do so as a matter of daily existence. As our two peoples live together and cross-mating occurs, more and more will become like us. In several generations it will be all people know."

Adama humphed.

"Does this knowledge change your decision to work alongside us?"

He met her eyes squarely. "No, but that doesn't mean I have to like it."

She managed a weak smile before slumping back into her chair. She took several long difficult breaths.

"Are you going to be okay?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Far from it. Tonight's projection sapped almost all of what little energy I had left. But it was necessary."

"I should take you to Lifestation. Perhaps our nurses can help make you more comfortable and breathe easier."

She nodded weakly. "I would like to live long enough to see my plans come to fruition, but I don't want to impose and take up space in your infirmary."

"It's no imposition," he said softly, gently helping her up. "That's what our medical staff is there for. Besides, Laura came back to our quarters a short while ago so a bed has been freed up."

"Laura? Yes, she is your wife," Zero said faintly as they took small steps. She leaned heavily on his arm but she felt feather-light. It worried him.

"She is much, much more than just my wife," Adama said fondly, a smile brightening his craggy face.

"Tell me about her."

* * * * * * * * * *

Kara was tired as she got ready in the morning but there was a constant smile on her face that had its roots deep down in her soul. The happy whistling coming from the bath area as Lee washed up mirrored it.

The kids were soon dressed, fed and taken to the babysitting and schooling area. Zach was excited to be back in school and Kara was pleased to watch him happily take a seat with Kiera before they left.

"Hey, wait up," a voice called out from behind them.

"Hey Karl. Shouldn't you already be at the meeting? Get lost along the way?" Kara teased.

He blushed. "Sharon's got CAP so I was just seeing her off." They walked amicably towards the heart of the ship. "Are you ... " he began tentatively. "I mean, how did you feel about what happened yesterday?"

Kara's eyes met Lee's for a moment before returning to the taller man's. "It's amazing Karl. It's a beautiful place and it's not far away. We'll be there soon."

"Are you sure it wasn't ... well, a big hoax? Sometimes Cylons can make you see things and believe things ... "

Kara flushed darkly, remembering Leoben and the way he'd twisted her mind so far around that she'd have said black was white at his prompting. And believed it man had had a terrifyingly creepy way of changing her reality and making her believe whatever he'd wanted her too.

"No," she shook her head vehemently. "I know this was real Karl. We were there."

"It's not that I don't believe you, but ... "

"It's real," Lee interrupted, voice definitive. "We were there. I didn't just see the image, I could feel the heat, smell the grass ... hell, I could even taste the humidity in the air. I can still feel it now, as if it's just around the corner, waiting."

"Exactly!" Kara said excitedly, eyes sparkling. "I can almost hear it calling, like a living thing that's whispering to me, beckoning me."

Lee nodded his agreement.

Helo shrugged. "It sounds pretty crazy to me but it does mesh with what the old lady said about needing to go there in order to find the way. You guys have always had some crazy-ass ideas but they seem to work out so I'm willing to go with you on this one."

Lee slapped him on the back. Helo returned it in comradely fashion. "Let's go. You know how the boss hates it when we're late."

* * * * * * * * * *

Adama, surprisingly, was the last one to arrive at the war room. Haggard and walking slowly, he looked like he'd been awake all night. As he drew closer, the bags under his eyes reinforced that theory and Lee's heart went out to him.

"Are you okay dad?" he whispered, walking up to him.

Their eyes met and Lee flinched at the pain he saw there.

"It was a long night. We'll talk later," he added. "Work to do now."

They rejoined the others and Adama busied himself opening out the star charts they'd drawn up and pulling out the calculations they'd made based on earlier visions.

"Where is Zero?" Helo asked.

"She's unwell," Adama answered carefully. "The exertion yesterday was too much for her and she needs to rest."

"Can we do this without her?" Tyrol asked.

"Yes," Lee replied immediately. "Kara and I know where Terra Nova is. We can lead the way."

"Are you sure?" Adama pressed.

"Yes."

"Then let's get to work."

* * * * * * * * * *

"Are we really so close?" Helo couldn't disguise the note of hope in his voice. "Only three more days travel?"

Kara nodded decisively. "We should send a scout ahead. You know, check out the route and make sure it's safe."

"Good idea," Adama approved. "Any volunteers?"

"I will," Lee and Kara said in unison.

Adama smirked. "Why am I not surprised?"

Lee shrugged nonchalantly but he couldn't stop the smile from lighting up his face.

"Guess you know us too well." Kara grinned impishly.

Adama smiled warmly and it was like a hug enveloping both of them. "It's good to see some things haven't changed."

Helo shrugged comically. "I guess Sharon and I will play babysitter while you guys do an encore of the Apollo and Starbuck show."

"Would you? Thanks Karl." Kara batted her eyelashes at him.

"Hey no problem. Anything for you." He moved in and gave her a swift hug. "You guys go on out there and find us our new home."

Kara saluted. "Yes sir."

"Now that's what I like to see. I do outrank you after all."

"For now."

"Now?" Adama broke into their exchange. "Are you planning on taking over my job because that's the only way you'll be able to outrank my XO."

Helo punched Kara's arm lightly. "Don't even think of trying it. I answered to you long enough, now it's your turn," he laughed.

"Are you really considering rejoining the military?" Adama asked, growing serious.

Kara couldn't help but hear the hope in his voice. Her eyes darted over to Lee. "Considering it. I'll let you know when our mission is done."

"You'd better not be the dying leader then, else you won't be coming back," Helo said. "And much as I like your rugrats, I don't want two more children. My own two are enough."

"I think the position of dying leader has already been filled," Adama said sadly.

Lee's eyes began to sting. "Is she going to be okay? How long has she got?"

"Not long. Hopefully she'll last long enough to see our new home. I wouldn't count on it though."

Lee gave his father's shoulder a squeeze. "Can I see her? I've barely spoken to her and she is my grandmother after all."

Adama nodded. "I'll take you down to Lifestation. Kara can get things ready for the mission."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Tyrol watched his son as they strode through the corridors. Nicky's shoulders weren't slumped as they had been for the past two weeks and his head was held high, his eyes meeting those of the people they passed instead of looking down.

"What's up dad?"

"What do you mean what's up?"

"You're staring at me."

"I am?" Tyrol coloured. He'd thought his appraisal had been quite surreptitious.

"Quit being a pain in the neck. That's my job."

Tyrol smiled. "Just noticing you look different. Happier. More confident."

"I guess."

Tyrol huffed to himself. Nicky wasn't one for volunteering thoughts and feelings and he himself was no good at initiating these kinds of discussions. Cally had always been the one to take on that part of child-rearing but now it was hitting him hard that he had no choice but to develop that skill if he wanted to be able to communicate with his son.

"Are you feeling better about who and what you are now that you've had a chance to spend time with others like you? I know I said lots of stuff about being proud of who you are but those are just words. You need to feel it for yourself."

"Yeah, I think so. I felt so alone before, like I was the only one. But to find out there are so many people like us out there and that we were made to be this way ... not some freak of nature or something ... it's cool."

"Is that what the kids were calling you? A freak of nature?" Lines grew on Tyrol's forehead.

"Sort of. Yeah."

Tyrol gripped his son's shoulders and turned the boy so they were facing each other. "Don't you ever believe that. Cylons are people too with just as much right to life as humans. We have an advantage over the humans as well - we know who our creator was and that she loved us enough to protect us and help us survive at all costs. We're meant to be here and we have a purpose."

"It was kind of neat yesterday," Nicky said excitedly, opening up and letting the smile out. "The whole vision thing was a little odd but cool too. We helped to find our new home."

"You didn't just help; without you it couldn't have been done. All five of you were absolutely necessary. It should make you feel proud to know you're one of the very few that can help us find our new home."

"It does." Nicky lifted his head higher, a smile spreading across his face. "Feels like I have a reason for being here."

Tyrol pulled his son into an embrace. "And that's the key to everything. Having a purpose in life. Having a reason to live. It's something we all need."

* * * * * * * * * *

Zero's smile as Lee and his father entered the room was warm and welcoming. A quick scan of her face showed Lee that his father had indeed been right about the projection wearing her out. She looked much older today than yesterday and much more frail. Nonetheless, she held out a long, bony arm towards them and grasped Lee's fingers in her cold ones as he came to stand beside her.

"I'm sorry yesterday was so hard on you," he said softly.

"I'm not," she countered. "It was good to see home and I was happy to be able to be a part of the process that took you there. You do ... know how to find it," she added slowly, almost making the thought a question.

Lee nodded. "We've got the map laid out and Kara and I will be flying ahead to make sure the co-ordinates are correct."

"Both of you?" A new wrinkle appeared on her forehead. "Be careful. Your children need you. As does everyone else."

"Everyone else? What do you mean?"

"You are both leaders. People follow you. The transition to life on a new planet will not be easy and the people will look to you for guidance."

Lee sighed. "Didn't I mention that I don't want to lead?"

Zero smiled. "You did but you can't argue with destiny. No matter how much you might fight it, it always brings you back to where you need to be."

Lee smirked. "I've noticed that."

She squeezed his hand. "You will do what is necessary for your family and for the larger family that needs you. They are big shoes to fill but you were not called Apollo for nothing."

Lee stared deep into her eyes, his own filling with tears as he pleaded silently with her. "Please hang on," he whispered. "I want you to be able to stand on Terra Nova with us and see our new beginning."

"I will do my best child. That is what I want too, more than anything else."

* * * * * * * * * *

They pulled out of the flight bay, smooth as silk, and took off into the inky blackness of space. Their current location was devoid of all-but space dust and a few chunks of rock that had once been asteroids. It was dark and lonely but the only emotion Lee felt was elation. He was flying again - with Kara! Starbuck and Apollo were back, more of a team now than they ever had been before.

"I can't believe we have to take a Raptor," Kara grumbled.

Lee laughed. "You'd rather spend several days in your Viper with little oxygen and even less comfort? At least we're flying. Doesn't that count for something?"

She grinned. "I s'pose, but I want to be in my Viper," she pouted. "It's smaller, more maneuverable, more like ... "

" ... home?" Lee finished.

"Yeah."

"Me too. But at least we're out here again, together, doing what we do best."

She smirked. "Fighting?"

"I hope not." He laughed. "Co-ordinates ready?"

"Ready and entered. FTL ready?"

"Spun up and standing by."

"Good hunting," Adama interrupted. "Stay safe."

"Will do on both counts," Lee answered. "And dad ... take care of ... everything."

"Promise."

"Three-two-one ... jump."

The familiar crackle of the comm channel disappeared in an instant but it was replaced by a brilliant light shining so brightly Kara could barely open her eyes.

"Could use some sunglasses," she muttered.

"Hmm," Lee agreed, quickly shifting the controls so they spun around to face the opposite direction. The star's glow backlit them, making the interior light unnecessary.

They looked at one another, finally able to open their eyes more than just a slit. "This is it, right?" Lee said softly.

Kara didn't bother to check the computer. She shut her eyes and drew in a deep breath.

"Yes."

~ TBC ~