AN: A lot of this chapter is straight show dialogue, which I made small edits to. I called Kara a Captain in Chapter 1, even though she was only a Lieutenant at the time, so I'm continuing that. I really liked my first chapter and am not sure chapters 2 & 3 actually improve the story or not. Would love some feedback. If it was better as a one-shot, I'll change it back.
Kara doesn't have any chances to spend time with the president following the morning after Colonial Day, and for the first time in her life, she wishes she were a Raptor pilot. At least then she could transport Laura back and forth between Colonial One and Galactica. Then she might be able to find a reason to stay on Colonial One, maybe find an opportunity to have some time alone with Laura. But sadly, she is just a reckless Viper jock, so it isn't to be.
Therefore, she's extremely excited when she gets word that the president wants to see her in the wardroom, and when she finds the president alone in the chamber, Kara can't contain her cocky smirk.
"Is this a presidential booty call," she asks cheekily, receiving a startled laugh from Laura.
"I wish. Can I do that," Laura asks, "If I'd known I could do that…." she trails off.
"You're the president. You can do whatever you want."
"You would think so, Kara, but that isn't always the case," Laura explains.
Kara's excitement fades as she listens to Laura outline her plan for Kara to disregard her military orders, steal the Cylon raider, and retrieve the Arrow of Apollo from Caprica.
"You can't be serious," she says.
"All of this has happened before, and all of this will happen again," Laura continues, "The Cylon you interrogated, he quoted that bit of scripture. He also said that we would find Kobol and Kobol would show us the way, did he not?"
"Yes, he did."
"Well, we have found Kobol. Do you believe in the Gods, Captain?"
"Yes, I believe."
"I would like you to think this through with me. If you believe in the Gods, then you believe in the cycle of time. That we are all playing our parts in a story that is told again and again and again throughout eternity," Laura says.
"That's the way I was raised, but that doesn't mean that my part of the story is to go off on some crazy ass mission against orders."
"May I tell you the part of the story that it would seem I am playing? I am dying."
"What," Kara asks, heart stopping on the word dying. It can't be true, she thinks. It's too unfair.
Laura notices Kara's distress, but the mission is too important to stop and try to comfort her, to explain why she didn't tell her after their night together.
"I have terminal breast cancer. I have six months at the outside to live, and I've only told three people, so I would appreciate it if you kept it between us."
"Of course. Are you saying that you're…" Kara pauses.
"The scriptures tell us a dying leader led humanity to the promised lands. If you go back to Caprica and bring me the arrow, I will show us the way."
"This is crazy."
"People keep using that word. It is crazy, perhaps. It doesn't mean it isn't true…and it may be our only chance, our only chance, to find Earth."
"The Old Man is our last chance to find Earth," Kara says angrily. "He knows where it is. He said so. You were there. The location is a secret, but he is going to take us there."
Laura sighs, standing up.
"Commander Adama has no idea where Earth is. He never did. He made it up in order to give people hope."
"You're lying," Kara accuses.
"Go ask him."
"I will."
"Captain…Kara, if you decide to do as I've asked, please see me before you leave."