A Different Beginning-Chapter 23

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This is mostly an A.U. story and will become more so farther into the story.

I am writing this solo so all mistakes are mine.

Kara and Lee met for the first time the day the cylons attacked the colonies.

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CHAPTER-23-A Different Beginning

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With a couple of stops between jumps Kara stopped the tears that were falling silently down her face and pulled herself together before her last jump to Caprica. Before she jumped Kara said a small prayer for the mission and for Lee to forgive her.

After Kara dropped out of space into the air above Caprica she drifted slowly, making sure the other raiders were not paying her any attention.

Kara soon found the Delphi Museum and landed the raider as close as possible. After her raider had come to a full stop she opened the hatch and slid out.

Kara carefully made her way inside and after looking inside a few rooms she made her way to the center of the museum where she found the arrow.

As she walked up to it she laughed because it was the only thing that had not been destroyed.

Kara looked around and not seeing anyone she broke the glass case with the butt of her gun and grabbed the arrow. Kara was beginning to worry, all of this had been too easy.

Kara felt someone behind her so she turned quickly aiming her gun hoping to have the advantage.

She had seen this model before on the Galactica, but only briefly. Kara begin shooting her as she moved in a circle around her, but the six kept dodging her bullets until her gun was empty. Kara threw the gun and the arrow against the far wall and lunged herself at the six landing a blow to her stomach, then the six threw her against the glass case like a rag doll.

The six model watched Starbuck as she laid there " Don't you want to know how I knew you would be here?"

Kara got up and hit the six on her nose hoping to break it " Not really " she said as her felt her fist connect with six's nose.

After that they began fighting for their lives especially Starbuck. During the fight she noticed the arrow was still against a far wall and Kara made a point of keeping up with it as she struggled with the cylon.

All of a sudden a very loud voice made them stop " Six what are you doing here, I told you I would bring Kara in?"

Six got in Leobon's face " This is not about your infatuation with her Leobon, orders were to bring her in dead or alive, I chose dead "

While they had been arguing Kara saw Helo hidden in small alcove watching them and contained her surprise. After looking back at the cylons to make sure they were still arguing she caught Helo's attention again and motioned with her eyes toward the arrow.

Helo nodded that he understood and slipped out quickly to grab the arrow and went back to his hiding spot.

He turned to Sharon " We have to help her "

Sharon nodded " Yes, and we will, but not right now "

Helo shook his head " Why not now?"

Sharon made Helo look at her " Leobon will not let anything happen to her yet, so that gives us time to come up with a plan and I suggest we start by following them and finding out where they will be keeping her "

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After Kara was sure Helo had the arrow she jumped into the argument raising her voice " Hey, could you two shut the frak up and tell me why the cylons are so interested in me?"

Six turned to answer her forgetting that she had put her back to Leobon " We don't give a frak about you, Leobon is the only one obsessed with you and it seems the base star's hybrid is also interested in you for some reason that none of us understand even Leobon "

Kara glared at her with her hands on her hips " I am just a fraking human like the rest of what's left of humanity, so why am I so important? "

Six glared back at Starbuck " It doesn't matter Cavil gave the order to kill you or bring you in "

Kara watched as Leobon walked up behind the six " Kara is special and she is mine " then he snapped her neck breaking it.

Kara never moved or showed any kind of emotion, she just hoped Helo was still watching and would know what to do.

Leobon grabbed her arm " We need to go before someone shows up "

Kara went along with him until she could figure out a way to get away from him " Where are we going?"

Leobon looked over at her " Don't worry I have a safe place where they will never find us "

Kara looked behind her once more hoping Helo heard what Leobon had said.

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Sharon and Helo looked at each other when Leobon killed the six " Why would he do that?" asked Helo

Helo looked at Sharon " Can you hear what they are saying?"

Sharon sighed " This Leobon has decided to take Kara to a place only he knows about, not even the other two's know about it?"

Helo stood up and helped Sharon up " We need to follow them or we might never see Starbuck again "

Sharon nodded in agreement and set off following Leobon making sure they stayed far enough away that he would not notice them.

Every few miles Leobon would stop to let Starbuck rest, and even though her hands were tied in the back she tried to leave a trail that Helo could pick up on.

As Helo and Sharon rested when they did, he needed to ask Sharon something " When were you downloaded with Boomer's memories?"

Sharon knew at some point he would ask her this " They had to leave Boomer in place on the Galactica, so when we were at Ragnar they knocked her out and downloaded her memories into me and then gave her a drug so she would not remember what happened, they still needed her as a sleeper "

Sharon paused a minute " They needed to choose an eight to give them Boomers memories so you could be remembered, they knew you were on Caprica " She paused " I am glad it was me because the cylons made a mistake, when they gave me her memories they also gave me her insight into the humans and her love for a human, Galen Tryol "

Helo looked at her closely " Does that mean you love Galen also?"

Sharon reached for his hand " No, but because of how she felt about the humans and Galen it made me fall in love with you "

Leobon was moving again so they got up and followed.

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Kara had no idea where he was taking her and was surprised when he turned towards a path in the woods. Kara had to think quickly so she pretended to stumble on the road and made sure to scuff her boots across the dirt road as Leobon helped her up.

They then walked further in until a small house came into view.

Kara turned to head to the house until Leobon stopped her " We are not staying in the house, around back there is an underground shelter "

She had no choice but to follow and listened as Leobon began speaking again " I have made it as comfortable as possible for you "

Kara had to ask " Why can't we stay in the house?"

Leobon turned to look at her " The centurion's can't find you here, there will be no heat signature showing up underground "

As he showed her around he explained " I have to go and pick up supplies tomorrow, I was not expecting to have you this soon "

Kara still had not relaxed " So I guess I am stuck with you until tomorrow "

Leobon untied her hands and moved them to the front retying them and then he hugged her tightly " Make yourself comfortable Kara I don't plan on bothering you tonight "

Kara finally moved to the sofa ignoring the bed in the corner. Then she prayed Helo was able to find her trail.

As Kara looked around the room she saw a bed, a stove, a few cabinets and the sofa she was sitting on. Then Leobon had stepped out of a door that was closet to the stove " It is a small bathroom with no windows "

Kara laid her head down and fell into a fitful sleep thinking about Lee and wishing he was with her.

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Several hours earlier Boomer had woken up in some sort of gooey tub. As she slowly looked around there was a six and eight that looked just like her. Boomer took several minutes to take in the situation, even remembering her time as a cylon. To Boomer that didn't matter she had made a promise to Apollo and she intended on keeping it, but first she needed to gain the cylons trust.

As she tried to get out of the tub the six and eight had to help her. Six saw her shaking and grabbed a white robe to put on her.

After calming down " Where are we?"

The eight led her to a sofa " We are above Caprica at least for right now "

Boomer was still acting confused " So who got my memories?"

Six moved to sit in the chair " When we were at Ragnar an eight received them and she picked up your memories from that point on until now"

Frak Boomer thought " Where is she?"

Six sneered " We sent her out to gain the pilot Helo's trust to see if she could get pregnant " Six sneered again " She is running from us she seems to have fallen in love with Helo and is trying to keep her baby from us "

Boomer silently let out a sigh of relief knowing this eight would not turn her in " I need to go to the surface, I might be able to change her mind "

The eight looked at six " Do you think we should tell Cavil about this?"

Six shook her head " No, he is to wrapped up in trying to find Leobon and Starbuck, there is no need to bother him with this "

Boomer turned to eight " Can you get me some clothes ?"

As eight left the room Boomer turned to six " Why is Starbuck of so much interest?"

Six sighed " To us she is not, but Leobon claims the hybrid has spoken of Kara Thrace many times and he believes she knows the way to earth"

Eight came back in with clothes for her. They both left as Boomer got dressed and started looking around the room, she saw nothing useful here so she wandered around the Base Star. When she went into the central command center she saw the Hybrid and walked over and knelt down beside her.

The hybrid grabbed her arm " You are the one they call Boomer, you must help Kara Thrace her destiny does not involve the cylons " Then she went back to speaking in riddles.

Boomer wondered if she could communicate with Helo's eight?"

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Helo and Sharon made themselves comfortable just inside the tree line so they could keep watch on the underground shelter. They took turns sleeping knowing that Leobon would wait until morning to leave.

Sharon was confused because this Leobon had made himself an enemy of the other cylons by taking Starbuck for himself.

Sharon had cut off most of her cylon network only leaving on the communication part. She could hear static, but not much more. She woke up Helo explaining what was happening and letting him know she needed to get to a clearing.

As she walked closer to an opening she heard it again this time being able to make it out " Are you Helo's eight?"

Sharon stood still " Yes, but I go by Sharon now " Sharon hoped this wasn't a trap

She could hear sigh of relief " I am Boomer from the Galactica, I blew up the base star surrounding Kobol and I promised Apollo I would get Starbuck back to him "

Sharon needed to know more " I chose to go with Helo back to the Galactica, so why are you going against the cylons?"

Boomer answered harshly " They made me believe I had a family and friends and then they took that from me, it doesn't matter if it was real or not they used me and I intend to see them pay for it "

Sharon finally had some hope " Will you help us get back to the Galactica?"

Boomer answered quickly she heard someone coming " Yes, but only after I have seen Starbuck "

Sharon spoke quickly " Leobon has her, but we are watching where he has them staying "

Boomer spoke rapidly " Hold position, I have to cut communication now "

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The Six and the eight returned " We will take you to the surface, maybe Leobon will listen to you since you know Starbuck "

Eight spoke up " If we can find him "

Boomer had an idea " We need to split up drop me in the woods by the museum, and eight can see if she can pick up a trail leading into the city while you keep making passes "

As six got ready to drop them off she warned them " Remember the Leobon that has Starbuck will kill you as soon as he sees you, hopefully you will find him Boomer and get him to talk "

After the drop was made Boomer and the eight split up.

Boomer immediately called Sharon " I am just outside of the museum, which way should I head?"

Sharon wanted to see her first " Take the dirt road behind the museum for about three miles, I will be waiting for you, hurry up "

Boomer made sure no one was watching her before she took off trotting the three miles before stopping and waiting.

Sharon stepped out and walked over to face Boomer " I hope you are telling the truth and not setting us up "

Boomer reached her hand out " You must have blocked any incoming communications and downloads, here take my hand and you will see what I am saying is true "

Sharon took her hand and saw most of what had happened on the Galactica and knew Boomer was telling the truth.

Sharon raised her eyes and met Boomers " You tried to kill yourself?" Boomer nodded " So Apollo knows the truth about our model and he trusted you?"

Boomer sighed " He didn't have much choice and I think he knew how much it bothered me to find out I was a cylon "

Athena could understand that better than anyone "Come on we need to get back to Helo."

Boomer followed her " This is going to be weird seeing Helo again "

They soon reached Helo and squatted down on each side of him startling him " Frak me " He looked back and forth and knew he could tell the difference " Long time no see Boomer "

Boomer got defensive " Hey it was your idea to give up your seat, by the way the genius is dead "

Helo ran a hand down his face " There is so much I want to know about the fleet, but our priority is Starbuck or the old man will kill me "

Boomer laughed " He will have to get in line behind Apollo so this is one mission we cannot fail "

Helo looked stunned " Are you saying Starbuck and Apollo are together now?"

Boomer smiled " From what I heard they walked into the colonial dance holding hands "

Sharon held up her hand " I think someone is coming out "

As they watched Leobon climb out and shut the shelter doors then chained them so Starbuck couldn't get out. After that he took a route different then the one they had came in on.

After a while they walked over to the doors the only way in was to break them,while Helo was looking around Sharon and Boomer each grabbed a door and pulled them open breaking the chains.

Helo rolled his eyes and dropped the stick " I had better go in first, I don't think she can handle seeing two of you at the same time. "

They nodded and backed off.

Sharon looked at Boomer " You are not coming back to the fleet with us are you?"

Boomer sadly shook her head " No, I am going to make the cylons believe I am with them now, and if something comes up about the fleet I will let you know, besides I don't think Galen could love me knowing I am a cylon "

There was nothing Sharon could say to make her feel better " I know they will put me in the brig, but it is better than letting the cylons run experiments on her "

They sat silently after that each watching out for Leobon.

Boomer spoke once more " You need to know that I went to see the hybrid and she grabbed my arm and told me we must help Kara Thrace because her destiny does not involve the cylons "

Sharon's eyes got wide " What do you think that means and do you think it is possible that their gods do exist?"

Boomer shook her head " I don't know, I really don't believe in very much right now " Boomer paused " Sharon do you think there is a god out there just for robots?"

Sharon looked stunned she had never really thought about it, but before she could respond they heard Helo and Starbuck coming up from the cellar.

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Helo had filled Kara in about all he knew " Frak Boomer I can't believe you are a cylon, but I sure am glad that you are on our side "

Then she looked at Sharon " Looks like you got yourself a playmate Sharon "

Boomer stepped forward just a bit " Starbuck when we get a minute I need to tell you some things especially about Apollo "

Kara started backing up " No, no, you are not going to tell me something is wrong with him, please Boomer " Kara was shaking

Boomer got close enough to place her hand on her shoulder " There was nothing wrong with him when I left, he just wanted me to relay some personal things, that's all "

Kara settled down " We need to get as far away from this place right now, Leobon will be back soon "

They all settled in for a fast walk, Boomer spoke again " After what he pulled I doubt he will get very much back up "

Kara agreed " So what's our plan Boomer?"

Boomer chuckled " I was kind of hoping you had one, I just got here "

Helo spoke up " Before everything happened Sharon and I were on our way to the Delphi Base, hoping to find a ride off of here"

Kara spoke up " Let's head that way then " she paused and looked over at Boomer " So tell me what happened that you ended up here "

Boomer told her everything from trying to kill herself and how she ended up on the base star. " If Apollo had not helped I would have never pulled it off by myself "

Kara took all that in " Why did Lee help you?"

Boomer looked at her " He said he would do anything to help get you home, he loves you Starbuck "

Kara looked over at her " Your not going back with us are you?"

Boomer looked ahead of her as she answered " I can be more help here with Sharon's help, plus I know Galen could never love me now, but I still love him and I will do whatever it takes to protect the Galactica "

Boomer kept talking " I will try to get as close to Leobon as I can, because he will never stop trying to get you back,when I was on the base star I went to see the hybrid she told me we needed to save you because your destiny does not include the cylons "

Starbuck looked at her surprised " Then why does Leobon insist it does?"

Boomer shrugged her shoulders " I am only guessing, but Leobon spent a lot of time with the hybrid and I guess he believed what he wanted to believe "

Helo turned to shout " We are here" and all hell broke lose as bullets started firing.

Boomer was next to Kara " That is humans firing not cylons "

Kara believed her " Hold your fire " she shouted

As soon as the bullets stopped flying Kara spoke again " We are just passing through on our way to the airfield, we are not cylons, but we do have a couple of cylons that have defected to our side and I promise if you shoot one of them my first bullet will be for the leader of this group, now hurry up and decide we are running out of time "

Helo looked over at her like she was crazy, she just rolled her eyes " Times up, what's your answer?"

The leader spoke " How do we know you are not a cylon?"

Boomer stood up next to Starbuck and heard them gasp as they had saw her before, she chuckled " If Starbuck was a cylon this war would already be over "

Helo stood up then " Yep to bad she is just a human we could do well with a squadron of Starbucks "

Sharon stood up laughing " I would feel bad for Apollo, could you imagine him trying to control more than one of her "

That got all four of them laughing.

The leader Anders shouted " What the frak is wrong with you all, we are basically standing out in the open "

Kara settled down and put Starbuck back in play " Then I suggest you find us a place to talk and remember what I said about my friends, if you shoot one of them " she pointed her gun at Anders " You will be the first to die, so I suggest you get your people in order "

As they followed Anders Kara leaned in close" To protect your identity we will call you eight, for all we know there could be a cylon embedded in this resistance "

They all nodded in agreement and continued following the resistance.

Kara and Helo were shocked that they were staying in the Delphi high school, since it was so close to town.

After they sat down and ate Anders lead them to a room where they could talk bringing along two of his people with him.

Sam asked " So who is the leader of this little group?"

They all turned to look at Starbuck " I guess that means I am, I am Captain Kara Thrace call sign Starbuck. she pointed at Helo he is Lt. Karl Agethon call sign Helo, she looked at Sharon she is Lt. Sharon Valarie call sign Athena and this one is also Lt. Sharon Valarie call sign Boomer "

Anders was astonished " They are cylons "

Kara made like she was looking them over again " Can't get much past you " then she got serious " We are all on a mission which is very top secret, so I won't be telling you anything else "

Anders was not intimated by her " So why were you wandering around out there?"

Kara stood up and planted her hands face down on the table leaning towards him " We need to get to the Delphi Airfield to find a way off this rock and back to our fleet "

Kara raised up off the table " We need two rooms so we can catch a little sleep, you think you can manage that?"

Anders got up " Sure, but who will be sleeping where?"

Kara gave him her famous Starbuck look " That is none of your business" she said before she walked outside.

Anders looked at the rest of them " Is she always so intense?"

Helo chuckled " That was not intense, she was holding back "

Sharon tried to be diplomatic " Starbuck is one of the best pilots the fleet has ever seen and she can also be a good officer if she chooses to be "

Anders was still confused " You are cylons but I can tell how much you respect her and she seems to respect you also, it all seems a little a strange"

Helo stood up " Can you get us to the airfield or not?"

Anders nodded " Yes first thing in the morning "

Helo helped Sharon get up " Could you show us to our room please "

Boomer got up " I need to talk to Starbuck " she said as she walked away.

Not waiting on an answer she went in search of Starbuck and found her in the library of all places " Looking for something in particular?"

Without turning around " I am looking for something about Pythia "

" Starbuck " Boomer called out " I need to check you and your clothes for tracking devices "

Kara turned around " Why are you just bringing this up "

Boomer shrugged " I was just trying to put as much distance between us as I could and I just thought about it, sorry "

Kara placed the book down " Let's do it in our room "

They walked out and ran into Anders " We need to go to our room now, we need some rest "

He grabbed Kara's shoulder " We have a pyramid court how about we play a game or two after you get settled in ?"

Kara removed his hand from her shoulder " Not tonight, which way to our rooms ?"

Anders sighed maybe he would have better luck tomorrow " Here it is, it's not much, but it will do "

Boomer walked in then Kara turning and saying thanks before shutting the door in his face.

Kara got undressed and laid her clothes on the bed. As Boomer was going through them she asked " Won't the cylons get suspicious with you being gone so long ?"

Boomer found it on the inside of her side pocket on her military pants after showing it to Kara she stepped on it and broke it before answering Kara " I will tell them I got lost and decided to wait for daylight before trying to find my way back "

Boomer came to face her " I need to check your body "

Kara stepped back " The only thing he did was hug me "

Boomer persisted " Then let me check you hair, it will be easier if you wet it "

Kara went to the sink and wet her hair and after drying it went to sit on the bed. Boomer started looking around her ears and then told Kara to lean forward. Boomer jumped back after seeing the mark " Kara did you know you have a birthmark right above your hairline making it hard to see?"

Kara shook her head no " What does it look like?" Kara turned watching as Boomer got her breathing under control.

Kara demanded " What is it Boomer?"

We were taught your religion so we would have knowledge of it " Kara you have a birthmark that looks like Aurora "

Kara felt sick " There has to be a mistake it can't be me, go get Sharon and don't tell her why, I want to see her reaction "

Boomer left and returned with a sleepy Sharon " Okay, what's going on for you to drag me out of bed?"

Kara said " Come look at this and tell me what you see " Sharon looked for a minute then jumped back " Oh god Kara, Aurora has chosen you in this cycle of time "

Kara jumped up " Chosen me for what?"

Athena seemed to think about it " Maybe as a vessel, I'm not sure though "

Boomer asked in a low voice " What does Aurora represent "

Kara thought for a minute " I think a fresh start, a new beginning , I can't remember the rest."

Kara panicked " I don't know what all this means, but the only two people to know about it are you two cylons, what am I gonna do?"

Sharon and Boomer pulled Kara to sit between them on the bed, Sharon spoke first " Kara I won't tell anyone not even Helo, as a matter of fact I have been doubting the cylon god, I mean how can a bunch of robots have a god?"

Boomer took her hand it held it between hers " I vow to you this day never to speak of this again unless you ask me " she paused " Like I said I will stay with the cylons and try to find out what they are up to "

Sharon shook her head " I think it is to risky for you to stay with them, they will become suspicious and once you place your hand in the goo they will know all of your thoughts and even find out about Starbuck and Aurora "

Kara joined in " Sharon is right it is to risky, besides after saving Adama and the fleet on the ground and with Lee's support in time you could become part of the military again "

It was to much for Boomer to take in " Let's sleep on it tonight and figure out what to do in the morning "

Sharon left and Boomer and Starbuck climbed into their beds " I know I should not trust you Boomer, but I do and I will feel much safer if you are close by "

Boomer fell asleep with a smile on her face maybe she had not lost all of her friends.

Anders had been standing in a corner watching them come and go from Kara's room, maybe Kara was a cylon to and just didn't know it.