WARNING: this is a three way crossover as I am also using the 1990 version of Dark Shadows. It is going to add a supernatural element and an odd twist to this story. You'll understand why as events unfold, so please, stay with me.
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Dragonlots aka Dana Bell
Chapter 6
'Night' on the Deadalus was always quiet and Daniel often enjoyed the solitude. Vala had gone off to bed a few hours earlier grumbling how she couldn't sleep unless he was there. However, when he'd checked on her a few minutes ago, she'd been fast asleep. He had noted she was curled up with his pillow and that had endeared her to him even more.
His wandering path took him to the bridge and he nodded to the lone officer on duty. The archeologist finally stopped before the huge window and stared down at the bleak planet below. How could anyone have wanted to live down there? he wondered. Temperatures at night were below freezing and it never got warmer during the day than about thirty to forty degrees.
Even if the Colonials had been pursued by a ruthless enemy, what had made them chose living on this world over the comfort of their ships? And why had they, even briefly, given up their search for Earth? None of the reports the SGC had gotten had answered that question.
"Evening, Dr. Jackson." Caldwell joined him by the window.
"Colonel."
"I just got the report from Dr. Stevenson. Jessica Collins isn't among the dead."
"Did you tell Senator Collins?"
The officer nodded. "He's relieved, but concerned where she could be."
"Logically with the Colonials."
Frowning, Caldwell replied, "That possibility seemed to concern him more."
Daniel sighed. "I always wondered why Barnabas Collins turned down a chance to run for president."
"He wasn't born in America. He's British."
With a shake of his head Daniel replied, "From what I've learned from my computer searches, he wasn't born in Great Britain either."
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"Adama and I both searched your quarters," Baltar informed the smiling woman. "You weren't there."
"Of course I was." Jessica reached out and lightly touched his face. Her fingers felt slightly cool against his flesh. "You only dreamed I wasn't there."
"Careful, Giaus," Six warned him, her full lips close to his ear. "Don't listen to her."
Baltar pulled away from the Earther's touch. "I know what I saw, or rather didn't see. You weren't there."
Jessica's eyes narrowed and temporarily flitted to where Six stood beside him. Her reaction alarmed him. He could be in trouble if she could see the phantom Cylon.
"You must have come calling when I took a walk. I do that when I can't sleep."
"We didn't see you return." Her excuse didn't ring true to him and he wondered what she was trying to hide.
"Were you watching my quarters every single second?"
"Well, no." He also knew they hadn't searched Colonial One.
"Then how do you know I'm not telling you the truth?"
"Why did you try to convince me you were there all night?"
"Because I didn't want to freak anyone out." She stretched causing her tight light blue dress to shift in interesting directions. "You Colonials seem to get nervous when people don't act 'normal'. Jessica emphasized the last word.
"Anyone see you?"
"Of course not." He thought he saw a flicker of fear in her brown eyes.
"What are you hiding?" He leaned toward the younger woman.
Jessica backed against the door. She glanced at it as if startled by its presence.
"Dr. Baltar, what are you doing?" Laura Roslin's voice strongly echoed in the corridor.
He dropped his voice. "Whatever your secret is, I'm going to find out."
"You won't like it," she answered him before giving Roslin a smile. "Good morning, Madam President."
"Miss Collins." The President gave Baltar a warning look. "I'd like to talk with you over breakfast. If you'd come with me." Laura walked back toward her quarters.
The Earth woman followed. Giaus stood there for a few moments before deciding to return to the Galactica and his followers.
"Jessica isn't what she seems." Six put her manicured finger against the corner of her mouth.
"No, she isn't," he agreed. "I just pray to God it doesn't cost us."
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The dull gray walls were almost worse than the inside of his coffin where Barnabas had been imprisoned by his father centuries ago. Luckily for him, he'd learned certain survival tricks from his various allies and could conceal his 'condition' from prying eyes.
He sipped from his wine glass. Its warm ruby contents smoothly went down his throat soothing the painful cramps that came when he forgot to feed. Life reentered his veins and he was sure his face, if he could see himself in the mirror, would have a healthy flesh tone rather than the paleness Jessica often remarked on.
Remembering where she now probably was made him angry. His cousin had been warned about making their presence known to the Colonials until the SGC and the IOA had studied all the reports. There was a proper course to things and she tended to forget that. But then, considering her upbringing, maybe he really shouldn't be surprised. Not to mention a moment of weakness on his part on her eighteenth birthday.
A light tap on his door roused him from his dark thoughts. Quickly he rinsed the glass putting it carefully away. "Enter."
"Sorry to bother you, Senator," Daniel Jackson stood uneasily in the door. The smell of the man's fear made him want to hunt and it warred with the cultured image he projected.
The senator straightened slightly. His action gave him something else to think about. "What can I do for you?"
"We used the Stargate below to contact the SGC for instructions." Jackson's tone indicated he didn't approve. "We'll be spacing the bodies. Colonel Caldwell wanted to know if you'd like to attend the memorial ceremony."
"Certainly." Absently he reached over and retrieved his silver wolf head cane which had been leaning against the bunk. "It's the least I can do for these men and women who gave their life in service to their country."
"Earth," Jackson corrected.
Barnabas inclined his head at the correction. "Where?"
"Hanger bay." The archeologist hurried out as if a werewolf chased him.
Chuckling at the image since no such creature had haunted the Collins estate for many years, Barnabas followed.
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"Where were you last night?" Bill Adama asked as he poured what passed for coffee into a mug.
"As I told Baltar," Jessica replied, sitting down. She took the cup from the commander. "I took a walk because I couldn't sleep."
"I see." He took a chair and sat back slightly, balancing his mug like a man used to having to do so during battle.
Laura spoke up. "We were worried about you."
"Concerned for my safety were you?" She put her cup on a side table. Jessica preferred tea. Their coffee reminded her of burnt dirt.
"You made a lot of enemies yesterday." Roslin's face looked even paler and Jessica doubted the woman had much longer to live.
"I'm used to enemies."
"So are we." Adama seemed to think he needed to remind Jessica of the Colonial's plight, not that she didn't remember.
The young woman sat back in the chair, putting one knee over the other. She tugged at her skirt to make sure it modestly covered her legs. "You remind me of the general at the SGC." Roslin gave her an inquiring look. "Stargate Command."
Adama leaned back and steepled his fingers. "How so?"
"Don't take this the wrong way, but like an old war horse, ready to go out to pasture yet willing to stay on active duty for the welfare of humanity."
"That sounded almost like a compliment."
Jessica shrugged. "Guess it was."
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Every officer who wasn't on duty had gathered in the hanger. Daniel was with them and looked away from the draped bodies lying on the gray metal floor. He didn't envy General Landry the task of having to write the letters informing their loved ones about their son's or daughter's death.
"I didn't know there were so many." Vala leaned her head on his upper arm.
"It was the largest SG team assembled." He put his arm around her and pulled her close. He needed to feel 'alive' in the midst of so much death.
Colonel Caldwell, Senator Collins and the ship's chaplain, Reverend Wells, walked to within a few feet of the dead. There was a long moment of silence before Wells started the eulogy. Daniel wasn't religious, but he felt moved by the words spoken. When the service was over, bright light filled the area as Hermiod beamed the bodies into space.
"Did you know anyone?" Vala asked him.
"By reputation."
"We'll be continuing to Atlanits then?" Barnabas asked Caldwell as the two, Wells slightly behind them, walked close to the couple.
"Daniel," Vala began.
"Shhh," he wanted to hear the Colonel's response.
"I don't see that we have any other option. The Colonial fleet could be anywhere."
"But you know they were headed for Earth."
"There are a number of courses they could use to reach Earth. I have no idea which one they might have chosen. If you'll excuse me." Caldwell gave the politician a slight nod before leaving.
"Lovely service, reverend," Barnabas complimented the pastor.
"Thank you." The two shook hands but Daniel noticed the senator ducked his head slightly.
"Does the senator strike you as a bit odd?" Vala raised her eyes to look into husband's face.
"Define odd."
She shook her head. "Just odd."
"Other than the fact he spends most of his time in his quarters?"
"It's more than that."
"He's a DC senator."
"You're dodging the question."
"Vala." Dr. Jackson smiled at Senator Collins as the dark haired man stopped beside him. "At least your cousin wasn't," he didn't finish the statement. It made him want to vomit.
Collins scowled. "She can cause plenty of problems where she is." Daniel didn't miss Barnabas tightening his grip on his odd cane. "And I'm not sure if I would be able to undo the damage."
