General Landry's Office, SGC, 1000 hours.
Willow and Colonel Mitchell were sitting across the table from General Landry, while Faith was training a few new recruits to the SGC, along with Teal'c. The redhead knew that Vala was helping Daniel in finishing off some translations after Anya was called back to the BPRI to stand-in for Giles while he was posted in Eden. Meanwhile, Dawn was in the gym with SG-3. Back in the General's office, Willow had just sat down to talk to him on her idea to permanently revive Angel from a vampire, to a full human.
"Sir" said Colonel Mitchell as he leaned back in his seat while looking at the base commander, "she came to me with this idea, and since Carter's taken the day off.. well.. here we are."
"Sirs" said Willow as she looked around at both superior officers, "I don't know how sound this idea of mine would be, at least until we actually try it on a vampire. There are a lot out there and, and well… the BPRI could capture one for tests."
"Experiments?" asked the General as he looked at Willow.
"They're not alive, sir" said the redhead, "they don't eat, drink… or at least they don't get any nutrition from those two acts; they don't breathe. They're the very definition of being dead."
"Plus the demon" said the Colonel as he looked at Willow, "Right? I mean that's what we were told right? That once the human dies, the demon takes over?"
"Yes, sir" said Willow as she nodded her head at the Colonel before looking at the General, "sir, I know this idea is crazy. But if it works, this… this experimental program can be offered to any vampire. They'll have the chance to be human again."
"They'll lose their immortality, though" said Colonel Mitchell as the General just quietly looked on, "not sure if many would go for that."
"What is this really about, Major?" asked the General as he looked at Willow who sighed and leaned back on her chair, "while helping the dead regain their life sounds interesting, what's the real reason you came up with this idea?"
Willow smiled at the General before admitting to him, and Colonel Mitchell, that she thought there was a way to help Angel become human once again. She told them that Angel had helped them in the defence of Atlantis, and with giving them access to Anya's expertise when needed; so she thought that it would be nice to try and repay him for everything he's done.
It was then that the General leaned back on his chair as well before telling Willow that what she was suggesting would make them no better than what the Initiative tried to do all those years ago.
"Well, sir" said the Colonel, "I read the Initiative files and they wanted to militarize demons and vampires, if I'm not wrong. The Major's suggesting a possible way to provide vampires with a choice to become human once again, or be their usual immortal and bloodthirsty selves. Right, Major?"
"Pretty much" said Willow as she nodded at the Colonel, and then at the General.
"Why isn't the BPRI coming to me directly with this request?"
"I talked to Angel about this. About possibly cloning his body without the demon" said Willow, "but he asked me not to even try in case we happen to release a human being that has all of the strengths of a vampire, and none of the weaknesses."
"So sunlight?"
"Invulnerable."
"Garlic?" asked the Colonel as Willow turned from looking at the General while answering his question, to him.
"They can have a whole pizza made with the stuff and it shouldn't harm them."
"Oh."
"Major?" said the General with his eyes wide open while the redhead turned back to look at him, "you're not helping your case. If Angel is worried about Angelus being his clone, then he's right to not want to try."
"I understand, sir" said Willow as she leaned forward, "but if we can have a few tries using a test vampire subject with the help of the Asgard, then I think we can figure out a way to create a human body that's not possessed by the demon. Dr. Lam and the other medical staff will have to confirm this, but my theory is that the demon that possesses a human body may have made some small changes to the body's DNA. If we can compare the DNA of a few vampires, find out where the change occurred and compensate for that change somehow."
"Then you're looking at newly human.. well, vampires" said Colonel Mitchell.
"I know Angel is worried about Angelus" said Willow as her jaw tightened when she remembered the cruel things that Angelus had made them go through during High School at Sunnydale, including the death of Jenny Calendar, "I've faced that monster before, I know exactly what kind of a person he is. If the clone turns out to be Angelus, then the Asgard can beam him out into space."
"But there's no way to know that the clone is Angel, or Angelus" said General Landry.
"There is, sir."
"There is?" asked the Colonel as he looked at Willow who nodded at the man, and then looked at General Landry and shrugged his shoulders, "this is news to me, sir."
"Tara" replied Willow before apologizing to the Colonel for telling him ealier, "she has the ability to read auras, sirs. Demons give off a particular aura, same with vampires and Slayers. In fact, it was her idea to have Faith, Buffy and Kennedy together next week so that she could use their aura's to trace the location of the Scythe. All she has to do is look at the cloned body, and if she says that a demon exists, then we beam it out into space where it'll end in fiery death as it falls down to Earth."
"Did she agree?" asked Colonel Mitchell looking at Willow.
"I didn't ask her" said the redhead, "I wanted to go through this with you, and General Landry, sir. Even Angel doesn't know I'm asking both of you."
"Colonel" said General Landry, "what do you think?"
"If it works on Angel" said the Colonel as he rubbed his head, "them maybe the Asgard can tinker with the genetics of the clone so that it still has his enhanced strength. But he'll lose effectiveness if we need him to help us in Atlantis."
"IF you need a vampire in Atlantis, Sirs" said Willow with an eyebrow raised, "I have an idea of who to ask."
"This Spike fella?"
"Yes, sir" said Willow as she looked at Colonel Mitchell.
"He tried to kill you too, right?" asked the Colonel as Willow nodded her head, "just wanted to be sure."
"But Angel, Cordy, and Buffy can vouch for him if you decide to send Spike to Pegasus" said Willow, "he needs his beer, and onion blossoms but he'll be effective. He's just as strong as Angel, and almost as vicious as Angelus when he needs to be."
"Very well" said General Landry, "I need some time to think about this. Major, I want a proposal on my desk by tonight before I have a chat with the BPRI, and Home World on this. Especially if we're planning on asking the Asgard for help. If we can reach them, that is."
"Understood, sir" said Willow.
Angel and Cordelia's Office, BPRI, 1030 hours.
While Willow was talking with both General Landry and Colonel Mitchell about the possibility of cloning a human body for Angel, Dr. Lam was walking to Angel and Cordelia's office at the BPRI. With a case in hand, Dr. Lam walked into the room where she saw Tara, Cordelia and Angel talking before they stood up.
"Dr. Lam" said Cordelia as she motioned for the doctor to take a seat.
The doctor had been in the BPRI for the past week examining the Slayers, Buffy and Kennedy; as well as the Potential Slayers for any anomalies in their blood. She was hoping that there could be a medical reason for the Slayers having their powers activated so that she could use that knowledge to somehow activate certain Potential Slayers.
"Mr. Angel, Miss Chase, Miss Maclay" said the doctor as she put her case on the coffee table before her while Tara sat next to her, and the both of them sat across from Angel and Cordelia. She took out three folders and placed them on the table. Setting the open case to one side, the doctor opened the three folders and placed them in the middle of the table as Cordelia and Angel tilted and craned their necks to read the report, "I've taken blood samples from Faith, Mrs Harris-Summers and Miss Williams; and compared them to random Potential Slayers, as well as normal humans who we used as a control group."
The doctor continued by saying that she and the other doctors saw no difference between the Potential Slayers, and the normal humans.
"But Potentials are supposed to be faster, and stronger than normal humans" said Angel as Dr. Lam frowned before saying that she couldn't find a medical reason as to why they would be stronger than a normal human, when they're just like normal humans in terms of genetics.
"Tara?" asked Cordelia as she looked at the files on Rona, Amanda and Violet, "any idea?"
"The only thing that I can guess is.. is that the Potentials' are already being mystically powered" said Tara as she looked at everyone, "I.. I mean just think about it. What if the Potentials are already being prepared to take over as a Slayer by having their abilities already slightly enhanced than a normal person, but still not as powerful as a fully fledged Slayer. So when the Slayer dies, the next Slayer is already kind of used to those newly enhanced powers."
"All they need is training to hone them then?" asked Angel while Tara nodded her head.
"That's all well and good" said the doctor as she opened Faith, Buffy, and Kennedy's files and placed them on the table, "but there's something different with the three Slayers."
"Like?" asked Cordelia as Tara and Angel looked at each other surprised before looking at Dr. Lam.
"We first noticed an abnormality in Miss Lehane's blood work when she joined the program" said Dr. Lam as she looked at everyone, "at first we thought it was similar to the ATA gene and, what we later learned, Furling gene that Major Rosenberg has in her blood. But this was something different. I took her blood work again before coming here and the same abnormality was present, just as the first time we took her blood."
"Ok" said Angel.
"Now" said Dr. Lam as she pointed to Buffy, and Kennedy's files, "these two have the same abnormality as well."
"How's that possible?" asked Cordelia as she looked at the three files, along with Angel.
"The way it was explained to me is that a.. demon? Yeah, a demon was used to create the first Slayer?" asked Dr. Lam as Tara nodded her head while Cordelia and Angel continued reading the report, "so what if the demon changed the First Slayer's genetic code after it possessed her?"
"And then when the lines were formed" said Tara as Angel a and Cordelia looked back up, "the power that gives a Slayer her abilities mystically moves on to a new candidate; that same power changing the genetic code of the new host, I mean… they get something like a Slayer gene?"
"That's my guess" said Dr. Lam as she shook her head before telling them that she wasn't sure about the mystical side of the Slayer, but that the changed genetics caused by that abnormality in the blood could explain why Buffy and Faith still have their Slayer powers.
"So" said Tara, "Dr. Lam? Is it possible to copy or… I mean… can we.. I mean you… create a way to give this same Slayer gene to the potentials?"
"Nice name by the way" said Angel as Tara gave him a small smile before they turned to look at Dr. Lam who was deep in thought as she tapped the coffee table.
"Doctor?" asked Cordelia.
"We could use the same technique that Dr. Beckett used to synthesize the Ancient gene" said Dr. Lam as she leaned back on the couch in her red shirt and slacks while Tara smiled at her, "a form of gene therapy. But… but I don't think that's the only thing that'll work. I mean as it is, the Ancient gene therapy works on about fifty percent of those injected with it. I can talk to Dr. Beckett during Atlantis' weekly dial-ins and ask him for help but…"
"There's a mystical side to the equation?" asked Tara as the pony-tailed Dr. Lam nodded her head, before looking at the blonde witch, "may.. maybe that's why we need to find the Scythe quickly. If a Potential Slayer has the… well, Slayer Gene… already, then… then maybe we can use the Scythe to activate her."
"Kind of like tricking the power of the Slayer?" asked Angel, "is that wise?"
"I don't know" said Tara as she shook her head, "if we could just try it on one Potential as a test? Maybe? I don't think the effects would be that bad if we activated one Slayer every few years; instead of the whole lot of Potentials all at once. That is, if this Slayer gene works like.. you know… if it works with magics."
"Fine" said Angel, "we'll give it a try. But we need to find the Scythe first."
"The squads are having no luck?" asked Tara as Dr. Lam closed the files and put them back into the metal case.
"No" said Cordelia, "can you get started on the spell to find the Scythe?"
"It.. it would be better if Faith was here too" said Tara nodding her head, "it would be easier to find with three Slayers."
"I'll call the SGC" said Angel nodding his head, "ask if Faith can come over. I'd like this as soon as possible. This week, if possible."
"I.. I need to make some preparations" said Tara as she looked at Cordelia and Angel, "this is a very, very powerful spell and.. and I need to be careful and precise. Having Faith, Buffy and Kennedy would help immensely but I need to be careful not to upset Sineya's power in order to search for the Scythe."
"It's never that easy, huh?" asked Dr. Lam as she looked at Tara who shook her head.
"We'll use the three Slayers next week, then" said Cordelia as she leaned back onto her seat, "Tara, prepare what you need to prepare."
"Thanks" said the blonde witch.
"Dr. Lam" said Angel as he looked at the young woman, "are you heading back to Colorado?"
"Yes" she replied as she picked up the case before standing up, "your own medical doctor on site has copies of the latest results from both Mrs. Summers-Harris and Miss. Williams. If he needs anything, he'll be able to contact me at the SGC. IN the meantime, I'll talk to Dr. Beckett on synthesizing a gene therapy for the Slayer gene."
"Thanks" said Cordelia as the doctor nodded at everyone there before turning around and leaving out of the office.
Deep Space, Battlestar Galactica, 1100 hours; Election Day.
The entire fleet was abuzz with activity as all campaigning by the candidates had stopped. On Colonial One, President Roslin, Tory, Billy and Vice-President Hunt were in one of the conference rooms while Zarek and Porter were on-board the Astral Queen as they waited for the polls to open in thirty minutes. The two parties had agreed that the polls would be counted on the Galactica, with security being provided by the Galactica Marines; along with a civilian group, as well as the Quorum members themselves, watching over the entire counting and polling process in all the ships.
"This would be the best way to handle this" Commander Adama recalled the President saying as they drank ambrosia in his quarters some time ago. Commander Adama remembered that the President was only able to get two hours of sleep before requesting a meeting on the Galactica, "I'm sure that there are some who'll say that the Galactica personnel will not be impartial in this whole gods damn process, but it's better than having it in the Astral Queen… or in any of the other ships where I'm sure that one of Zarek's people can hijack everything."
"I've placed my best men in the counting room, Madam President" said the Commander as he took a drink. Putting the glass back down on his desk, the man told Roslin that members of the civilian watchdog were also in the room to keep a good eye out on the vote counting so that there are no questions of cheating; and that some members of the same watchdog group, along with certain members of the Quorum would accompany the Marines in receiving the ballot boxes that arrive to the Galactica, to and from the transport Raptors. HE also reminded her that personnel were on the other ships guarding the polling areas so that nothing untoward happened.
IN the present day, Commander Adama was in the CIC of the Galactica along with his executive officer, Colonel Tigh, Helo, Lieutenant Gaeta and Apollo on the CIC floor. Apollo was supervising the CAP that was lead by Starbuck, while Commander Adama and the others were making calculations on how many jumps it would take to reach the Colonial planet that Earth had offered them. The Commander had told them to come up with various scenarios including the Galactica being the only ship in the fleet that decided to leave.
"I want every contingency taken care of" said the Commander as he looked at Helo, and then at Lt. Gaeta and Colonel Tigh before Apollo walked over to his side, "if Zarek wins, then we would have some problems. The military would be under his command and…."
"if we want to leave" said Colonel Tigh as the Commander nodded his head, "we'll have to retire our commissions. But then again, having the old girl under the command of that terrorist makes me sick."
"Either that" said the Commander, "or we leave against the orders of Zarek, making us traitors in the eyes of the rest of the fleet."
"There's too many scenario's, sir" said Helo with his hands on the center table.
"Assume that Roslin wins" said the Commander as he turned around and looked at the wireless speaker near the DRADIS console while the others just looked at each other, "we need to hope."
"Yes, sir" said the Colonel as Commander Adama walked away.
It was a nearly twenty minutes later that all movement stopped in the CIC as the voice of one of the members of the press came through. Signalling the beginning of polling throughout the fleet.
"Attention" said Colonel Tigh as he looked at everyone in the CIC, "as you know, voting for the election has already begun. As you've been notified earlier, those of you who wish to cast your vote, notify the Officer of the Watch of your intentions. He will place everyone into groups depending on the number of people who wish to vote. Once he calls your group, you will report to the polling area. Once you have done casting your vote, return to your position in the CIC so that the next wave may make their choice. Is that understood?"
"Yes, sir" said mumbled voices throughout the CIC.
"Is that understood?" shouted the Colonel again.
"Yes, sir" said everyone before the Colonel turned to Lt. Gaeta and told him that he had the watch. The man then, along with Commander Adama, Apollo and Helo went on ahead to cast their votes while, at the same time, numerous personnel in the CIC, including Dee submitted their names to the Lieutenant.
Baltar was one of the first people in line as the polls opened. He grabbed his ballot paper before heading to one of the booths. Walking inside, he closed the curtain behind him and placed the paper on the desk in front of him as he picked up his pen and looked at both choices of Roslin and Hunt, as well as Zarek and Porter; his hand shaking as he hovered the tip of the pen over the box's that indicated Roslin, and then went down to the box that indicated Zarek. He moved his hand from one to the other, not making a tick. Still undecided about who he would choose.
"Look how far you've fallen, Gaius" said Baltar's Head Six as she appeared to his left, leaning against the wall of the booth dressed only in a blue bikini, "you could have been on the ballot. But no, you got caught."
"I was caught because of you" whispered Baltar as he glanced at the smiling woman's chest before shaking his head and then looked back down on the [piece of paper in front of him.
"You had a choice, Gaius" said the head six as she walked behind Baltar and wrapped her arms under his arms and placed her hands on his chest, "you could have said no when I asked for access to the defence mainframe. Instead, I had naughty… so much naughty sex with you that you said yes. You willingly gave me the codes… you willingly gave Cylons the codes. Think about it, Gaius. Those nanites could have not been in your body if you weren't so weak when I made my move on you."
Baltar shook his head as the Head Six left go of his chest and walked over to his right side, leaning against the wall of the booth again as he looked at his ballot paper. She asked him who would he choose; Roslin? The same person he had betrayed by not revealing his so-called experiments with nanites in helping to cure cancer.
"Or Zarek?" asked the Head Six, "a man you could be allied with? Of course unless he finds out that you were the one responsible for the fall of the Colonies, then he'll throw you out the airlock. Or, since you have nanites in your system he could… yeah, he'll probably do the same thing. What choice would make the great Balter survive for a few more days. Would the great Baltar want to settle on a new planet, or move on to a dead world. You know what Zarek would do if he continues to insist to go to the Thirteenth Tribe's planet don't you? He'll probably land on the planet and force the Earth officers there to bring them to their Homeworld. Do you really want to be a part of that? Or would you? Gaius?"
"Shut up" hissed Baltar as his head six smiled.
"What would you do without me, Gaius?" asked the Head Six as she pushed him back slightly and stood in front of him before taking off her bikini and putting her arms around to the back of his neck, "would you live on? Or would you die?"
"I'd live" said the bearded man as he looked at the smiling face of his Head Six who leaned forward as she kissed him. Pulling herself back, she then told Balter that he knows what he has to do. That the great Gaius Balter would always do what was best for him, that he would do whatever made him feel good about himself.
"I'm in your mind, Gaius" said the Head Six as she took a step back so that the scientist could take in the sight of her, "you know what you have to do make yourself feel better. The question is, are you man enough to do it."
"What about your God's plan?" asked Baltar softly.
"Things have changed too much, Gaius" said the Head Six with a grin on her face, "you know what you have to do. Let yourself go. Choose who you want as your President, and then let yourself go. Only then, will you really find peace for what you did."
Balter closed his eyes and shook his head, before opening them again only to find that the Head Six was gone. Sighing, the man thought about everything that happened to him until this point and made a decision. With resolve etched on his face, he finally made his choice for President.
Colonial One, 1800 hours.
It had been nearly an hour since the polls had closed as President Roslin and her team listened in to the wireless that was being kept in the middle of her desk. The reporters were saying that some of the secured ballot boxes had already been opened in front of the observers while others started the counting process.
"We'll have results as we get them" said the voice of D'Anna as the President leaned back on her seat while Vice-President Hunt looked at a busy Billy, and Tory who were both talking on the phones.
"Madam President" said Hunt as he looked at his fellow Caprican, "we tried our best, ma'am."
"We did" said Roslin as Tory put down the phone and frowned.
"Tory?" asked Vice-President Hunt, "something the matter?"
"Exit polls from our people" said the dark skinned woman, "so far on three ships, it's… umm…. Zarek's taken the lead."
"It's only three" said Hunt while Roslin continued to stare at the wireless. It was about an hour later that the first results had come in with Zarek having taken a slight lead over Roslin. The President was later sitting with her back leaning into her chair behind her desk, while Hunt was pacing the floor in front of her desk as there was another update that claimed Roslin was now ahead; but by the slightest of margins.
Upon hearing that news, Hunt stopped pacing while Roslin looked up at him and smiled. The both of them knew that there was still long to go, and that anything could happen but hearing that one bit of good news gave them hope. The lead between Roslin and Zarek continued to switch, at least until all the ballots had been counted and then the winner announced over the wireless as one of the camps celebrated a very, very closely won victory.
Colonial One, 2300 hours.
Baltar was one of the people invited to Colonial One to listen to the press conference being given to the rest of the fleet. Although the man had technically committed a crime by injecting himself with nanites, the President had told him that he was still the smartest man in the fleet… which was why she had given approval for him to be released before going to the Thirteenth Tribe's planet, as long as he was under guard. Once he had returned, the guard detail had been dispersed, but not before the President and the Vice-President informed him that that even though what he tried to do on Caprica was with the good of intentions. It was still against the law.
"You have given everything you have to help this fleet" said Roslin after he and the others returned, "you have helped us find the evidence we need to try and convince the people that we need to go to the planet that the Earthers have offered us. And for that, you have my thanks."
As Balter watched with bated breath as Roslin shook Zarek's hand after the press conference was done, he saw the newly elected President look back at the bearded scientist before giving him a smile and a nod. Looking back at the flashing camera's, the newly elected President then looked at the gracious loser, who conceded defeat.
Once everything was done, Balter saw Zarek, who had Porter walking next to him, walk up to him and offer him his hand.
"Dr. Baltar" said Zarek as Baltar straightened up and shook his hand. Zarek slowly tightened his grip on the bearded scientist's hand as he leaned in close and whispered into his ear, "if I had won the election, you'd be the first one to be jettisoned out the airlock for having those things in your body."
"Well" said a nervous Baltar as Zarek pulled back and smiled at him, "guess it's a good thing that you're not President."
Balter stood to one side as Zarek, followed by Porter, walked past him and out of the cabin they were in as the newly elected President Roslin shook everyone's hands. He stood to one side as she talked to the press, followed by congratulations from Hunt, Tory, Billy, Commander Adama, and Apollo. It was the latter who then pointed to a window on the port side of the cabin as the CAP, led by Starbuck, conducted a fly-by for the new president.
"Madam President" said the Commander as he handed her a glass of ambrosia, "if you would give us all a speech."
"No" laughed the President as she took back a few steps, "I've been giving speeches the whole…"
"Speech" said Apollo as slowly everyone in the cabin, while Baltar looked on, repeated that same word over, and over again. It was when the President smiled and nodded her head that the Press leaned forward in anticipation as the President drank a sip of the ambrosia and looked at everyone in the cabin.
"Thank you" said the President softly as the entire fleet listened. Even Zarek and Porter who were on their way to the Astral Queen listened in. The CIC on the Galactica was quiet once again as Roslin repeated her thanks, "Thank you all for giving me your trust that we will lead a better life, a life where we don't run any longer. This… this is a historical moment for all of us, for every single Colonial in this fleet. But let us not forget the ones who we left behind on the Twelve Colonies, I meant exactly what I said during my campaign. I will lead the Galactica back to the Colonies and retrieve our family, friends, neighbours, and strangers who were left behind. I want the people of the Twelve Colonies… I want us all to be living once again in unity on one planet. To those who still wish to go on to the planet of the Thirteenth Tribe, it will break my heart to see you leave this fleet. But If that is what you wish, then I will not stop you. That was my promise, and I will stick to it. As this concerns the ships themselves, I'd like for the captain of the ships to decide if they will want to go to the Thirteenth Tribe's home, or if they'd rather come with me to a new home. It would be up to each individual colonial to make their decision on what they wish to do once the Captains have stated that they intend to leave the fleet. I just want to re-iterate that I hope everyone goes back to the planet that the Earthers offered us, I really do."
Baltar watched as the President talked for a few more minutes before everyone was asked to return to their own ships. That it had been a long day for everyone. The scientist watched the Press leave the cabin, and once the last one had walked out, Baltar approached the President.
"So" said his Head Six wearing track pants and a sweat shirt as she walked next to him, "you're really going to end it. Interesting. I never thought you'd have the balls, and if you remember correctly.. I used to…"
"Madam President" said Baltar interrupting his Head Six as he approached Roslin, "congratulations on your win."
"Thank you, Dr. Baltar" she replied before the scientist asked her if he could talk to her in private.
"This way" said the President as she went into the other cabin, but not before telling Apollo and Commander Adama that she'll be alright. She then closed the curtain behind her and asked Dr. Baltar to take a seat.
"I.. I'd prefer standing" said the doctor as he stood nervously while looking at the President, "I…"
"So" said his Head Six as she appeared behind Roslin with Balter shifting his eyes to look at her, and then at Roslin once again, "you're going to tell her now? YOU think that if you tell her now, then she won't be as mad?"
Balter looked at a confused Roslin who asked him if there was something wrong before he looked at his Head Six who walked to the President's left side and then caressed her cheek with one hand while grabbing the back of her neck with the other one. All the while, his Head Six was pouting at him.
"Sweet baby" said the Head Six as she looked at Balter, "do you think she'll shoot you out the airlock? Or do you think she'll forgive? Well, unlikely but…"
"Shut up" said Baltar as he looked behind Roslin and stepped back while the President looked on confused, "shut up. Get out. Let me… let me do this my way without any interruptions."
"Dr. Baltar" said the President as she took a step forward just as Commander Adama, Apollo, Hunt, Tory and Billy rushed in upon hearing the commotion that Balter was making. They rushed in to only see Balter looking, and pointing, somewhere behind the President.
"Be a man, Gaius!" said the Head Six loudly, "be a man and accept your fate."
"Dr. Baltar" said Apollo as he approached him cautiously while holding his hand out, "we'll get you to Dr. Cottle. Just come with…"
"Gaius" said the Head Six as she appeared in front of him and pushed him down onto the seat. To the scientist, he felt the push and then he felt the pressure of his Head Six straddling him once he sat down. However, the others only saw a bearded man fall down onto one of the seats as he looked straight ahead with his eyes open wide.
"Let yourself go, Gaius" said the Head Six as she caressed his cheek with back of her hand, "put yourself into God's hands. This is what you've always wanted isn't it?"
"I… I.." said the Scientist as he looked at his Head Six.
"Baltar?" said the Commander as he stood in front of the scientist, right behind his vision of looking at the Head Six.
"Do you love me?" asked the Head Six as she tilted her head and smiled.
"Yes" said Baltar softly as he looked into the eyes of his Head Six while the others just looked at each other confused.
"Yes?" asked Apollo.
"Show me what kind of a man you are, Gaius" said the Head Six as she smiled and tilted her head, "free yourself. Free yourself into God's hands."
"It… it… it was me" said Baltar as he looked straight at the Head Six who smiled while he brought his hands up and caressed her cheeks, "I… I met her… I met you in a conference. She… she… you wanted access to the defence mainframe so that…
"Dear gods" said Roslin watching Baltar caressing thin air as if there was someone present as she stepped back and almost stumbling over a row of seats until Commander Adama rushed over and supported her while everyone else looked at Balter. As the scientist continued to speak, they were slowly getting sick to their stomachs.
"So that you could get the contract with the defence ministry, in return for helping me finish my CNP program."
"And the truth will set you free" said the Head Six as Hunt turned to Billy and told him to make sure that the entire ship was empty, and that nothing said in that cabin would be leaked out to the Press without the express permission of the President of the Colonies. Billy nodded his head and went into the adjacent cabin, which was already empty before making sure that the other staff went back to their ships. IN the meantime, Balter felt himself being picked up by the front of his collar before being pushed against a wall by Apollo who was looking at him with rage in his eyes.
"What. Did. You. Do?" hissed Apollo as he pulled and then pushed him again, slamming his back against the wall. The Colonial Officer then pulled his arm back just as Hunt stepped forward and prevented the Colonial Officer from hitting him.
"Major" said Hunt pulling back the man as Apollo struggled to get at Baltar while everyone just looked on shocked, "Major! Calm down."
"Murderer" said Apollo as he snapped his arm away from the Vice-President's grasp and pointed a finger at Baltar, "murderer."
"I didn't know" said a panting Baltar as he looked at his Head Six who was smiling at him while standing behind the others, her hands folded over her chest, "I never knew why you wanted access. I just wanted to use you… I was going to lose the contract and I needed help. I didn't know… I didn't know what you were going to do."
"Baltar" said the Commander as he motioned towards Tory, and a just returned Billy, to hold on to Roslin. As they held on to her, Adama squeezed Roslin's arm as she looked back at him in shock before he walked over to Balter and grabbed both of his arms forcefully and pushed him against the inside hull of Colonial One and held him there, "who are you talking to?"
"The woman" said Roslin as she looked at Baltar, who looked back at her, as did the others, "the blonde woman. The one we suspected could be a Cylon, the one who came to Galactica."
"The same one who said that he was a traitor to the Colonies" said the Commander as he looked at Roslin who nodded her head, and then at Balter, who himself was looking at Roslin.
"When I almost died" said the President as she glared at Baltar, "I had a flashback, or a dream.. I don't know what; but it was about seeing you walking with that same woman. I thought I was imagining things but…"
"You really saw her" said the Commander as he looked at Baltar.
Everyone could just look on in abject horror at the bearded man as he panted and cried. The man who had once been their saviour, was the reason that their worlds were destroyed… no matter how accidental it was.
"More than forty billion dead" said Hunt rubbing his forehead before he looked up at Baltar, "all for what? So that you could frack someone? All because she could do what you couldn't? She wanted access to the defence mainframe, why the frack would anyone want access to that unless it was for something like this?!"
"It was in me" said Baltar ignoring Hunt as he looked at his Head Six walking towards him, "it was in me festering."
"Now you're free" said the Head Six, "you're free of the burden you carried; but the sin of what you did will forever be with you. Now place your fate in God's hands."
"Yes" said Baltar as he looked at a point behind the Vice-President, who looked behind him and then back at Baltar.
"What are you seeing?" asked Hunt, "who are you talking to?"
"She's in my head" said Baltar as he looked back at the Commander, "she's always been there. Mocking me, punishing me, rewarding me."
"The nanites" said Apollo as he came to a realization and looked at the others, "the ones from Earth told us that he had nanites in his bloodstream. If that didn't come from something as altruistic as testing a cancer treatment…"
"Which I highly doubt" said Tory.
"Then he must have gotten them in by…" said the Commander as he glared at Balter before the scientist interrupted him.
"I didn't know" said Baltar shaking his head as he looked at his Head Six standing behind Commander Adama before looking into the rage filled eyes of the man himself, "how could anyone know? I wanted the CNP fixed to protect the Colonies, how could anyone have known that this would happen? How could I have known? How?"
"Get him out of my sight" hissed Roslin as she pointed to the rear of Colonial One, "push him out the airlock and…"
"Forgive me" said a hysterical Baltar as he pushed the Commander away and rushed towards Roslin who took a step back. Luckily, Hunt and Apollo were able to restrain Baltar in time before he could reach her, while Billy pushed the President back a few more steps while using his body to protect her, "forgive me…. please… forgive me."
"Billions of lives" said the President as she gently pushed Billy away, nodding her head as she did before looking at the hysterical man before her, "you are responsible for billions of lives being snuffed out, and you dare ask for forgiveness!?"
"Launch him out the airlock" said Tory, "I lost everyone because of you.. launch him and then we go to our new home."
"I agree with that" said Apollo before he leaned in and whispered into the man's ear so that the Commander wouldn't hear what he had to say, "you killed the mother of my child."
"Gaius" said Balter's Head Six, "you're free now. The crushing weight you had on your chest is gone. You're free."
"Yes" said Baltar as he looked back at Apollo, and then at the others, "I am free. Finally, I am free!"
Everyone looked at the hysterical Baltar as he started to laugh while claiming that he was free. Looking back at the President, Hunt asked her what she wanted to do with him; if she still wanted him to be thrown out of the airlock.
"I say yes" said Apollo, as did Tory. However, Billy and the Commander just stood there while glaring at the man. Roslin looked at both men, she knew that even though he had been divorced, the Commander still lost his ex-wife while Billy lost his parents, sisters and other family members. But as much as she tried to think rationally, one part of her was telling her to throw him out of the airlock.
"Restrain him" said Roslin as she wiped her eyes, "I don't care how, restrain him and place him in the airlock."
"Madam President?" asked Apollo, "this man committed treason and…."
"Yes" said the President, "get him out of my sight. Keep him alive until I make a final decision on what to do with him. Put him into the airlock, but do not throw in out into space. Not yet."
"Major" said the Commander as he nodded his head at his son who then, together with the Vice-President, pushed the scientist out the cabin and into the rear of Colonial One. The President just stood there with her hand on her forehead as she tried to absorb what just happened. In the meantime, Apollo and the Vice-President opened the rear airlock's inner door and pushed Baltar inside. Balter looked up at Apollo who gave him a hard punch that caused the bearded scientist to fall down on the floor before the door was shut. Balter then slowly stood up and then looked through the glass as Hunt and Apollo glared back at him before walking away.
"My, my" said Baltar's Head Six as the man leaned forward on the airlock door and placed his forehead on the cold metal, "you really did it. How do you feel?"
"Free" said Baltar softly before glancing at the woman who was leaning against the far wall, smiling at him, "and now, I die."
"Maybe" said the Head Six as Baltar turned around, and leaned back on the door, "or maybe you still have a role to play in the future evolution of the Cylon race."
"After what I did" said Baltar as he looked at the woman who was now in a figure hugging red dress, "I doubt that. You should be out of my head by now. I admitted my guilt and…"
"You thought I was a manifestation of your guilt?" said the Head Six with a smile on her face, "oh my Gaius. Whatever gave you that idea?"
"Nanites" said Baltar as he looked up at the Head Six, "you have access to my doubts, my thoughts, my unconscious needs and wants. And I had an unconscious need to admit my role in the destruction of the Colonies. That was your role, wasn't it?"
"Maybe" said the Head Six as she walked towards Baltar who slid back down onto the floor, "or maybe not. Am I an angel sent to you? Or am I just a figment of your imagination? I'll leave that up to you. All I'll say is that you still have a role to play in what is to come."
Balter closed his eyes for a few seconds, and when he opened them once again. He found himself alone in the airlock. All he could do now was sit and wait for the inevitable.
TBC
.