Infliction
Chapter two
Disclaimer: The characters of Stargate SG1 and Battlestar Galactica are the property of their respective owners. I have written this story for entertainment purposes only and no money whatsoever has exchanged hands. No copyright infringement is intended the original situations and plots are the property of the author. Not to be archived without permission.
Author notes: This story takes place mid season ten of Stargate SG1 and end of season two of BSG after Starbuck comes back from the rescue mission to Caprica. This is a continuation of my fanfic "Destination Earth".
Stale coffee in hand Sam stared at the computers on a table against the back wall. Since the same power surge that had affected the gate system had also fried the circuits of all the computers at the Delta site the cutting edge technology was as useless as she felt. She thought it was a joke to even designate this planet the Delta site. With so many beta sites destroyed or re-tasked for new allies they should be up to omega by now. With a decade of interplanetary travel she also thought a site should constitute more than a collection of sheds and Air Force issue tents. She turned away from the offensive equipment as Helo and Baylee stepped through the door.
"Is there something you're not telling us Baylee?" Sam said shutting the door behind them.
"I've told you everything," she said, taking a seat in a small collapsible chair next to the coffee pot.
"I've been here an hour and all I've heard from you is 'I don't know'. Who the hell builds a machine that's designed to cause pain? It sounds like something that would be used on an enemy rather than your own soldiers. Since you're technically still at war with your neighbors it's conceivable that's the real reason it was made."
"That's insane," Baylee said quietly. "We would never do that." She let out a breath and slumped forward in her seat. "I know it's hard to understand but we trusted doctor Apresso. We trusted that he had found the answer to what you call PTSD. We wanted to make sure we weren't just treating the physical wounds. He inflicted pain to heal psychological wounds. I…I heard their screams." Baylee turned away and swiped at an errand tear. "I wanted to make it stop but he convinced me the results were worth it. I trusted him." She turned back to face Sam. "The whole planet trusted him. Even when I started to question him it got me nowhere. He's one of the most respected men on the plant. He has the ear of every single member of the Ruling Council and his wife is head of the Enforcement Unit."
"I still don't understand what's going to happen to Kara?" Sam crossed her arms over her chest, her fists tightly balled against her elbows. For her an hour was usually more than enough time to get her head around any problem.
"We would normally only give one dose, once a week and calibrate to the event."
"Yes you've said all that."
"Without calibration it may trigger more than just the pain signals."
"Meaning?" Sam asked through clenched teeth.
"Sometimes, not all cases but sometimes, if the calibration is off the patients wounds reopen."
"No. You're not saying what hit Kara is capable of triggering cellular memory for a wound?" Sam took a step closer, looming over Baylee like a predator ready to strike. "Tell me you're not saying that?"
Baylee met Sam's thunderous gaze with watery eyes. "I'm afraid that's exactly what I'm saying."
Sam felt the blood drain from her face and the beads of sweat dampen her fringe. She mentally chastised herself for forgetting who they were talking about. Kara Thrace could handle anything. Couldn't she. Sam took a step back to lean against the wall.
"What's that mean?" Helo asked. Is that like muscle memory?"
"Same sort of mechanism yes," Sam said, "Just like muscles remember how to ride a bike or do a jump shot your body remembers how to return to the state before it was healed."
"Frak," Helo said slamming a hand on the table. "You didn't tell me that Baylee."
"How long will this last?" Sam asked.
"It will be quick. It should be out of her system within two days," Baylee replied. She picked up the coffee pot beside her and brought it up to her nose before pushing it away with a sour look on her face.
"How will we tell when it's done?"
"Her eyes will become blood shot for about half an hour."
"Why did you have to involve Kara? Why didn't you just sabotage this program yourself?"
"I tried. I wanted to stay in the program so I could make sure the process wasn't started all over again. I tried so many times. You don't understand how hard it was to compete against his power and influence. I needed Kara to help me make it stop." Standing Baylee flicked her hair. "Kara wanted to help me make it stop, she understood."
"Baylee could you give Helo and I a minute." Sam waited for her to leave. "You've known Kara longer," Sam said pushing herself off the wall and refilling her mug. "What do think might come up?"
Helo let out a long breath and took the seat vacated by Baylee. "Honestly with Starbuck I don't know where to begin. I think it would be quicker to list the things she hasn't been through."
"Yeah that's pretty much what I thought. This is the worst possible timing. There's no resources here to help. The trouble with the Gate means we can't get to Earth or get their help with the problem. We just got lucky that Carolyn was off world." Sam kicked a small bin sending plastic cups cart wheeling across the floor. Before walking back to her spot against the wall. "She doesn't talk about her past much." Sam thought about the look that darkened Kara's sparkling eyes whenever she asked about Kara's life on Caprica.
"If it's any consolation I think she's let you in more than anyone else," Helo said, leaning down to pick up the trash by his feet.
"She wanted to stay a pilot. I talked her into joining an SG team."
"That doesn't mean—"
"I didn't even know she was on a mission, that she was off Earth, that you guys would be at the Delta site at the same time as me."
"Colonel," Helo tried again. "Nobody talks Kara into anything she doesn't—"
"I should go see what I can do to help Carolyn." Sam didn't even look at Helo as she left. She was thinking about all the promises she'd made to Kara when they first got together. She'd promised Kara she'd see wonders beyond her wildest imagination. She promised being part of the Stargate Program would enable Kara to make a difference to thousands of people on hundred of worlds. But the most important promise was the she'd be right by Kara's side as she experience it all. She wasn't keeping any of them.
"So what can I do?" Sam asked Carolyn with an awkward smile. She couldn't remember the last time she had to ask. Normally she either gave the orders or had the answers. Her analytical brain seemed to be locked away in a vault of worry.
"Nothing yet," Carolyn answered. "I need to go over the notes Baylee and Helo wrote…Actually there's something you can do." Carolyn looked up for the first time. "Kara's BP is elevated. Can you just keep her calm while I wade through this stuff?"
"That's it?"
"You've already been through the notes and you didn't come up with anything. So…" Carolyn put the notes down. "Sorry that came out wrong. It's been a really long week."
"Its okay. It's true. I've got nothing."
"Just give me some time," Carolyn said, reaching over to pat Sam's hand. "We'll get Kara through this."
Peeking through the crack in the curtains Sam saw Kara had a pile of pillows propping her up to a sitting position. Kara was staring up at the naked bulb, her lips moving as if she was making a silent wish. The beguiling look disappeared as Sam pulled back the curtain.
"Hey how's your head?" Sam asked noticing the BP monitor attached to Kara's finger as she took the chair beside the bed again. This time she didn't reach out to touch Kara. She had a feeling it wouldn't be welcome.
"Less pounding, more Theo Simroll."
"Sim what?"
"It's a simulator program for viper pilots back on Caprica. Takes you through a constant roll maneuver."
"Got it."
"So," both women said in unison.
"It's been awhile," Kara finished. "I thought the plan was to find a way to sync schedules every few weeks."
"Yeah the midway station is taking longer than we thought. It's one of those solve a problem, create a problem situations."
"I'm not a scientist I wouldn't know."
"Well take my word for it. Taking down the Cylons was easier."
Kara shifted back on the pillows. "You're comparing tinkering with wires at the midway station with our war with genocidal machines?"
"Sorry, that's not what I meant. I just meant I was doing everything possible to get back to you." Sam pulled her chair a little closer. "Circumstances just kept conspiring against me. Which is kind of par for the course. I think our SG1 motto was whatever can go wrong will go wrong."
"I wouldn't know about that either I'm only on SG12," Kara said, twisting the ring on her thumb.
"I hear you guys are doing really well."
"Yeah guess there aren't too many expectations. Although after this maybe they'll put me on lucky 13."
"Kara this wasn't your fault." Sam said, absently tapping her finger on the bed.
"But?"
"I was kind of wondering why you did it. Surely she was in the best position to damage the machine from the inside. How came it required such drastic action from you?"
"Are you asking as a colonel or Sam?"
Sam saw the BP momitor flash red. "I…um I'm not asking. Just worried I guess. It makes me—"
"Maybe you finally agree that I should've stayed a pilot."
"Yes…No... I know you miss it. But actually that's what I wanted to talk to you about. They've been talking to me about going to Atlantis. I think it would a great opp—"
"You've already accepted a job on Atlantis?" The BP machine flashed again. "You were going to go a galaxy away without even consulting me?"
"No."
"Why don't we just go back to being in separate universes?"
Carolyn rushed in and pushed Sam out of the way. "I need you to leave Sam."
Looking away from Kara's cold eyes Sam left without argument. She brushed shoulders with Baylee who didn't seem to notice her as she entered and took the seat Sam had been sitting in.
"How are…" Baylee began. "Um Doctor you should take a look at this," she said pointing to a red stain on Kara's sheet.
Pulling back the sheet and rolling up Kara's pant leg Carolyn saw a deep Z shaped gash just below Kara's knee. "This wasn't here when I examined you."
"It's started," Baylee said.
"Right," Carolyn said, reaching for a swab. "I don't think it will need stitches. Just some butterfly clips and a small bandage."
"I didn't even feel it. If that's all I have to worry about then this isn't going to be any worse than a night on ambrosia."
Helo burst into the room. "Doctor we have a message coming through the Gate that you need to hear."
"Just give me a minute."
"They don't have a minute."
Baylee took the swab from Carolyn's hand. "I can do it."
Carolyn nodded before following Helo out.
"How did this happen? Originally I mean." Baylee asked as she gently wiped away the blood.
"Do you know how many times I've cut my leg? It could be anything."
"It's a distinctive shape. Want to try that answer again?"
Kara smiled for the first time since waking up. "It could be from when I was a kid. A friend and I were trying to take a short cut home to make it back before curfew. But there was a storm and the little stream in the park behind us turned into a raging river. We did what kids do and tried to cross it. We got swept away. I cut myself on a rock or something right before I slammed into a concrete pylon and got knocked out. End of story."
Baylee pulled out a handful of butterfly clips from the draw. "End of story, nice try Kara. You forgot two things. One, I know exactly what sort of wounds are triggered by the machine and two." She looked up to lock eyes with Kara. "You forgot how much time I've spent around soldiers. I know that when you've seen too many things you get used to lying about them. So whats the rest of the story?"
"I thought this was supposed to be about internalized pain. The cut didn't hurt"
"Don't play dumb with me. You know there's more to it than that. How old were you?"
"About ten I think."
"What was your friend's name?"
Kara scrunched the sheet in her hand until her knuckles turned white. "Amos Ranteck. He called me Race and I called him Teck."
"Did he get hurt?"
"He didn't make it. I got lucky I got pushed to the edge that's why I hit my head and someone got to me a pulled me out."
"It must have been hard to lose your friend in an accident like that."
"It wasn't as accident," Kara whispered, biting down on her bottom lip. "I let go of his hand. I had him. He was right behind me."
"Kara you can't blame yourself if you were knocked out." After placing the last clip Baylee took Kara's hand forcing her to let go of the sheet.
"The wasn't when I let go. When I hurt my leg I let go. He got dragged under. They didn't find his body for two days. So there you have it. Now can I have some time alone?" Kara pulled her hand away.
"The only good thing about the Fracas machine is it gives people the chance to gain insight into events that changed their lives."
"There's no insight necessary, he died and it's my fault."
"I could give you a detailed account of involuntary actions and reflexes but I don't think you'd hear me. Kara when I was trying to figure out if I could trust you I asked Lieutenant Tanner about you. He said you walked to the beat of your drum and that's why he loved working with you. I know I haven't known you long but I get the feeling even as a kid you surrounded yourself with people like you. People who did their own thing."
"I guess."
"So Teck did his own thing right? He didn't let anyone tell him what to do?"
"Pretty much."
"So you didn't tell him to get in the water?"
"No."
"It was his choice."
"Yeah but I was a better swimmer."
"Do you think he was thinking about that when he decided to try to cross?"
"No we were thinking his dad and my mum would kill us if we were late again."
"He was more afraid of his dad that the water?"
"Yeah."
"If you said you were taking the long way round would it have stopped him?"
"Probably not."
"So he was going in whether you were there or not?"
"I…"
"It's a yes or no question."
"Yes." Kara moved her hand back towards the edge of the bed. Her little finger resting against Baylee's.
"How are you doing Kara?" Carolyn asked as she walked back in.
"I hate to admit it but probably better than I was a minute ago."
"You've had medical training right?" Carolyn asked examining Baylee's handiwork.
"Well I'm a medical engineer and researcher but I started out a medical student."
"Good. Kara SG3 is in trouble on x45713 I need to go help them," she said, packing up some equipment. "I'll leave as much supplies as possible and be back as soon as I can. Take a look through these." She handed a clipboard to Baylee. "I wrote down all Kara's baselines so you know what's normal for her."
"Does Sam have to go too?" Kara asked.
"Not at this stage. I'll get Sam to give my updates every hour. I'm sorry Kara."
"It's fine, go."
Kara studied Baylee's face as she perused the file left by Carolyn. To Kara the secret weapon against PTSD didn't seem to be the Fracas machine it seemed to be Baylee's brown eyes. Her soft yet unflinching gaze made Kara feel like there was a chance Baylee wouldn't look at her differently after she told the truth. Kara had never told anybody about what happened to Teck. She'd told Lee and Admiral Adama about Zac's death. She'd stood at funerals for pilots that had died trying to carry out her orders. But she'd never felt as guilty as the day she watched Teck's coffin being lowered into the ground.
She did feel different but she wasn't sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Just different. She knew she wasn't lucky enough for this to be all she would experience. There was more pain to come. She was sure. There was always more pain to come.
To be continued
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