Refugee Unit, New Kobol, a minute later.
Just as Colonel Carter and Teal'c left the refugee unit and head for the tower where Apollo was being kept, Roslin took a step forward while still looking in amazement at Tara. She knew that everything she and the other Colonials had seen or heard was antithetical to the Sacred Scrolls; the dead were supposed to either be given rewards in Elysium, or they could be sent to Hades for all eternity. Nowhere in the scrolls did it say that a life, a soul, could be brought back to reanimate someone who was already dead.
The truth was, Roslin thought that what they had been briefed on earlier was just to make Commander Adama feel as if everything had been done to 'ensoul' Apollo. She couldn't deny the explanation of the demon inhabiting Apollo's body and turning him into a vampire, especially since the Scrolls had mentioned the possibility demons taking over the bodies of human beings for their own dastardly deeds. Even the Scrolls of Pythia mentioned the presence of a lower demon that would help them in their quest for a new home; and upon that thought entering her mind, Roslin wondered if Apollo could be that lower demon.
'But we are already on a new home,' thought Roslin to herself, 'lower demons.. it could just be some saying or… is it Sharon? Could she be the lower demon? A non-human entity who would guide us home? But then again, she didn't really guide us home, or… stop it, Laura. What happened, happened… if Lee has hi soul back then all we could do is thank the gods, and hope that he doesn't lose it. But still, there are so many questions.'
Roslin pushed that though to the back of her head. Deep down, Roslin was a religious person, and hearing about a soul being restored was something different; something she thought impossible, and if she hadn't seen it with her own two eyes, she would have said it was heresy. She looked over her shoulder at Billy, who was just as stunned as her, and then at the other Colonials while Kennedy lifted Tara in her arms, and then she looked at the Vice-President, Dee, Kat, and the members of the quorum who were already ordered to keep anything that happened secret. Roslin looked at the Gemmenese and Sagittarian representatives as they went on their knees and started to pray; while some of the others stayed on their feet and prayed to their various deities such as Athena, Zeus, Apollo, and even Poseidon.
"I know it's a lot to take in," said Willow as she and Colonel Mitchell, together with Daniel and Vala approached the President, the Vice-President, and Helo, "but we can promise you that Major Adama's been ensouled. It's going to take some time for him to get used to his new situation; but he'll be the man you knew."
"This.. this is…" stuttered a still stunned Roslin.
"This is something new for you guys," said Buffy while Riley and Dr. Burke came up to her, "I get that, but there are things that exist which you can't explain… heck, there are things that even we can't explain. And this is one of them… trust me, it will give you a headache if you still try coming up with an explanation."
"I'm sure you have a lot of questions," said Dr. Burke as Kennedy gently placed Tara on a cot at the far side of the refugee unit. She then turned around after covering her with a blanket and stood next to Buffy.
"So, just ask away," said Riley, "anything you need to know about what happened, or what happens next.. I mean, these guys will come back in three days for the anchoring ritual so if any of you has any questions, then this is the best time to ask."
"Best person to ask would be Tara," said Kennedy looking over her shoulder at her sleeping partner, and then back at the Colonials, "but I was there the day she helped our friends. I can tell you exactly what happened."
While Kennedy and the others were answering questions the best they could, Colonel Carter and Teal'c were nearing the tower where Apollo was being held. All the while, Colonel Carter still couldn't believe what she had just seen; the restoration of a soul… a human soul. The Colonel walked on the grass with Teal'c under the cloudy sky with the sun still shining through, muttering that it was amazing.
"Indeed," said Teal'c as he nodded his head before looking over at the Colonel, "to think that Willow Rosenberg has done this before, is fascinating."
"Yea," said the Colonel as she looked forward while continuing to walk towards the tower where Apollo was being kept. Over the course of the past few years, the Colonel had come to accept that there are some things that are simply unexplainable, and having what was supposed to be a soul appear in a glass sphere was simply another unexplainable event.
At least that is what she continued telling herself.
As the two of them continued to near the tower, they saw Starbuck walk towards, and then rush past them without a word or a look at them. The Colonel and Teal'c stepped, and then turned at the sight of the blonde woman's clenched fists as the Colonial pilot walked out towards one of the Raptors. Colonel Carter and Teal'c then looked at each other, and then back at Starbuck before turning around and then continuing their walk towards the tower.
It wouldn't be long before they took the ring transporters to the basement, and then walked down the corridor to the room where they had been keeping Apollo. The both of them continued to hear sobs as they approached the room, and then looked in through the open door at Commander Adama holding onto his son tightly.
"Faith," said the Colonel gently as the dark haired Slayer nodded her head at the blonde, before turning back to Satsu and asking her to remain in the room with Apollo and the Commander just in case this was a ruse. Satsu nodded her head, and then Faith walked past the guards who were still staring stunned at the Colonial officer who had been threatening them with murder for the past few days. The Colonel, Teal'c, and Faith walked a few steps away from the room where they could talk, "so, is he really… I mean…"
"Saw the eyes glow, Sam," said Faith nodding her head, "and the guy's been crying like a baby and saying sorry. I think even without Tara checking on his aura, I can confirm he's got his soul back. Buffy once told me that Angel was the same when he had his soul put back into his body, so… yeah."
"However, he is still a danger," Teal'c said before pointing out that Faith had asked Satsu to stay in the room.
"I know Angel; he wont kill a human unless he absolutely had to," said Faith, at least not for food. And I know Spike too… the guy doesn't have a soul but he' got the will not to drink human blood. But this guy? I don't know him.. we don't know him… so for now, Satsu can take him out if he does anything funny."
"Faith!" shouted Satsu from the room. The three of them rushed to the room, only to see Commander Adama helping Apollo to his feet, the younger man shaking his head before pushing away the Commander, and then taking a few steps back while putting his hands over his ears.
"Lee?" asked the Commander as he took a step forward, while Apollo took a few more steps back as he begged him and the others to leave, "what… what is it?"
"Leave, dad," said the Colonial pilot before he groaned while doubling over as he wrapped his arms around his abdomen, "please, just…"
"Faith?" asked Colonel Carter just as the Slayer put her hand up, signalling the Colonel that she would explain what she thought was happening. She then looked at the guards and asked them in Ancient Greek if Apollo drank any of the pigs blood that had been sent to New Kobol.
"He refused," said Commander Adama as Apollo went down on his knees before stumbling towards the wall, and just curling up against it, "I… I came with guards and.. and he said that he would kill all of us even though he was in a weakened state. That he would have killed me, and all of the guards, Marines, and even Starbuck."
"Vampires can go on for a long time without feeding," said Faith before translating what she said for Colonel Carter and the other Earthers benefit, before continuing in Ancient Greek when turning back to t eh Commander, "I get that your people were afraid, but you could have told Riley."
"We should be able to solve our problems on our own," whispered the Commander as he looked at Apollo before turning to Faith, and then looking at Colonel Carter, Teal'c, and Satsu, "I… I thought that…"
"This is still new, Commander," said the Colonel as Faith translated for her, the blonde officer still in disbelief that the dark haired Slayer had been hiding this fact from everyone, even Willow, but nevertheless... she was impressed, "and trust me, this is still new for me.. and for the others with the SGC. Everyone needs help."
"Having Slayers come to New Kobol every time that…"
"There would have been someone sent," said Colonel Carter nodding her head after Faith translated, "but for now…."
"Leave, all of you, please," begged Apollo as he looked at Commander Adama and then at the others with his eyes yellow, "I… I am so hungry, please… I… I hear…"
"You hear our heartbeats," said Faith gently as she slowly put her stake away, "you hear the blood rushing in our veins. Don't you?"
"Leave," said Apollo as he scuttled away to a corner of the room, and curled up against the wall, then went down into his knees, "please leave… I… please, just go…"
"The fact that you're saying this," said the Commander as he took a step forward, just before Faith held onto his shoulder and pulled him back slightly. She believed that Apollo was ensouled, but the fact was that with his hunger, there was no telling what was going to happen., She remembered that Angel once told her about the time when he drank a drying man in a diner after he had been shot following a robbery; he didn't want to, but he convinced himself that the man was already dying.. and that he was doing him a favour. After Angel drank his fill, what he did weighed down on him even more… leading him to focus solely on vermin, such as rats, in the alleys of New York. Back in the present day, Faith didn't want the Commander to be an easy target for Apollo in case his hunger took him over, but gently pulling back didn't stop the older man from speaking, "this means that you know what you… what you want to do isn't right."
"You're hungry," said Faith after translating what the Commander just told the vampire to Colonel Carter and the Earthers. She then told the Colonel that she'll translate everything once she spoke with Apollo; and then turned back to the new vampire, "we'll get you some of the pigs blood that has been sent over, to settle you down, but your dad is right. The fact that you don't want to hurt us supports the fact that the ensouling ritual worked."
"Get to the medical building," said Commander Adama to one of the Colonial Marines, "get Doc Cottle here, tell him to bring a blood transfusion for Apollo. He'll know what it means, now go."
"Yes, sir," said one of the Marines while the other one ran to the recently completed medical center that was located five minutes away.
"Once you drink the blood, you'll feel fine," said Faith, "trust us, we know what we're doing."
It was nearly ten minutes later that the Marine returned with blue cooler box, with Doctor Cottle close behind. He looked through the door and heading in, crouching down as the Marine placed the cooler on the floor. The man looked at the pale Colonial pilot, and then at the ten packs of pigs blood in the cooler. Taking one out, he stood up, and slightly hesitated to take a step forward. He remembered the last two days he came here with Commander Adama and several Marines, he remembered the animalistic way that Apollo had looked at them before issuing his threat to kill them all when they opened the door. The doctor was ashamed of himself that day, his oath was to 'do no harm', but his fear overwhelmed him and he could not insist that the Commander order the door open so that his undead son could be fed; it was something he was still wrapping his head around after he was told what happened to Apollo two days ago.
Doctor Cottle still felt the same fear now, only this time… he managed to make it into the room, but he couldn't take the next few steps towards Apollo. On the way over to the tower, the Marine told him that something had changed, that Apollo seemed to be himself.. but still different. While his heart raced despite glancing over at Apollo, who was crying while curled into the corner, begging them to leave.
"Doc," said the Commander as he placed a hand on his shoulder, while reaching out with one hand for the blood bag, "let me."
Cottle then nodded his head, and handed him the bag of pigs blood before slowly walking towards Apollo with Faith and Satsu close behind. Without a word, the Commander placed a hand on Apollo's shoulder. When the Colonial officer looked at his father, he then got the scent of blood wafting through his nose, and looked down at the bag in the Commander's hand. Apollo instinctively knew that the scent was off, that the blood may fill him… may strengthen him again, that it was what he needed to survive, but it wasn't what a vampire wanted; a vampire wanted human blood.
Apollo's vampire instinct was telling him to sink his teeth into the Commander's neck and then drink him dry. But there was something there within him.. something that he could feel pushing him down towards the pigs blood. Apollo was afraid of what would happened with his father and the other humans in the room with him.. he was afraid that his instincts would take over and he would kill them all.
He then remembered the Earther he was standing over on Kobol. The woman who was still alive was mumbling something in the Earther language. Apollo remembered her heartbeat, he knew that despite the various scratches on her body.. that she could survive if she was taken to her people. But Apollo was hungry, and he had no conscious… Apollo remembered killing her by drinking every bit of her blood. There was no way to know if she had a family, if she had a mother and father who was waiting for her… all he knew was that an innocent woman died at his hands.
And then came to a decision.
Apollo reached down for the blood pack, and then picked it up and asked the Commander to look away.
"I… I… don't want you to see me like this," said Apollo, but the Commander shook his head saying that he was his son and that there was nothing to be embarrassed about.
However, Apollo, after going a small smile, turned away and sank his fangs into the blood bag. He drank the liquid while closing his eyes as he felt the thick stuff going down his throat. Once he was done, Apollo placed the empty bag on the floor while his back was to the others, and then wiped the remaining blood on his lips with the back of his hands.
"BY the gods," said Doctor Cottle as Apollo turned back, his skin getting back its colour in front of his eyes, "Major?"
"I'm sorry, doc," said Apollo as he looked away from the doctor, remembering what he had said two days ago, "very sorry."
"Major Adama," said Teal'c as Faith translated, "are you feeling well?"
"Yes," said Apollo nodding his head as he sat down on the floor, leaning his back against the wall, and his head hanging downwards towards the floor, "what happened? I can think so clearly now, and... and I can feel"
"You got your soul back," said Colonel Carter, leaving Apollo to look up at her in surprise, and then he felt a sting in his very core. And he knew it was true.
"Kara?" asked Apollo as everyone looked around the room. Upon Colonel Carter saying that she walked past both he r and Teal'c when they were on the way to the tower. Teal'c then mentioned that she was heading for one of the Raptors, and that she seemed angry.
"Dad," said Apollo looking at the Commander with his eyes wide open, "the things I said to her… Baltar being the traitor and… gods, she's already not in a good place and I just pushed her even more."
"Marine," said the Commander as he turned to one of the Colonial Marines, "contact the Galactica, I want Kara found and taken to my quarters. Then have Helo return to the ship and stay with her."
"Understood, sir," said the Marine before he rushed out.
"I.. I'm sorry," said Apollo as he looked back down again, "I'm sorry."
"We'll deal with this," said Commander Adam as he placed his hand on his son's shoulder, "for right now, I would like for Doc Cottle to look you over."
"I'm still dead," said Apollo.
"There are some things that I need to understand about your new situation, Major," said the doctor.
"Alright," Apollo replied before looking at Faith and the others, "and… and I need to make a confession. There.. there was a woman in my group who.. who.."
"Lee," said the Commander, but Apollo shook his head before saying that he needed to confess something. The Commander then looked back at Faith, and the others before turning towards Apollo once again, and nodded his head.
"Dr. Beverly Simons," said Apollo, "she… she was still alive after the attack. I mean…"
"You killed her," said Colonel Carter softly while Teal'c looked back at Faith, who sighed before saying that a newly turned vampire's hunger is insatiable.
"That's why you didn't lose control when you returned with us," said Faith as Apollo nodded his head.
"I'm sorry," Apollo said, "what will happen now?"
"I'll have to report on this," said Colonel Carter as Faith translated, "there's nothing much that can be done considering the classified nature of the Stargate Program on Earth, and… well, you're a vampire. I don't think… I mean, I'll have to check in with my superiors on this. Faith?"
"A vampire is a demon," said Faith as she looked at the Colonel, and then back at the Commander and Apollo as she translated what she just said, "it's not your fault that you killed her, but…. But it still has to be on her report. I'll recommend that our superiors contact Angel, he's been through the same thing that you have… so hell be able to give some insight."
Apollo simply nodded his head while Faith looked back at Satsu and the others, and translated what she just told the Colonial pilot. It was something that Satsu agreed with, as far as the SGC and Homeworld getting an idea of what goes through the mind of a just turned vampire from Angel.
Galactica, five minutes earlier.
Just before the Marine left Apollo's room to call the Galactica and have Starbuck escorted to the Commander's quarters; the Raptor she was piloting entered the flight pod and was about to land on the elevator that would take the ship, and her to the hanger bay. Starbuck's face was red with rage as she waited impatiently for the elevator to lower, and the for the top of the shaft to close before the interior was pressurised. While she was imagining looking up at Baltar during their latest no-strings attached tryst to make her forget all of her problems…. All of the disasters she had endured so far, she breathed deeply in and out while her hands were squeezing down into the controls of the Raptor.
'First it was Anders the Cylon,' thought Starbuck to herself as she imagined shooting him in the head, 'and.. and now Baltar… Baltar a traitor. By the gods I've been fracking a traitor… a traitor. Commandeer Adama knew and… oh gods… I.. I'm going to be sick and.. no…'
With the interior pressurized, the door in front of her ship opened, revealing the brightly lit hanger bay where the kunckledragger were running around working on Raptors, and preparing the next group of Vipers to replace the current CAP. However, Starbuck did care about any of them, her only thought was about what she would say to Baltar, and then what she would say to Roslin and Commander Adama. Once the Raptor was brought into the hanger bay, the blonde pilot opened the hatch, and walked out onto the wing where she was met by Chief Laird.
"Chief," said Starbuck, "where's Baltar?"
"Captain Thrace," said the Chief as he watched the pilot hop down off the wing, and then stare at him, "I think…"
"Never mind," said Starbuck, trying to keep her rage down, as she remembered earlier that day the scientist told her that he was going to be working in the aft section where the jump drives were located. Starbuck then shook her head before pushing past the Chief. Confused, the man looked at the image of the woman running towards the stairs that led to the walkway above their heads. He then turned around to the Raptor and ordered his people to prepare the ship in case Starbuck had to leave soon. He then looked up at the walkway, and recalled the look of anger on her face.. and it was at this time that he received news from one of the knuckledragger working for him that he had a call from the CIC.
The Chief then rushed to a phone nearby, pressed a button, and was connected to Captain Kelley at the CIC. He asked if Starbuck was still in the hanger bay. The Chief told him that she had gone to see Baltar, and it was then that Captain Kelley thanked the Chief, and told him that Helo was on the way back to the Galactica in five minutes. He then disconnected the call. The Chief took the phone off his ear, and looked at the radio in confusion before placing it on the wall cradle. Just then, there was an announcement over the speakers throughout the ship by Captain Kelley that Starbuck report to the CIC; that it was extremely urgent.
"Find me the location of Dr. Baltar," said Captain Kelly after making the announcement as he looked at the officer in front of him. With Helo and the Commander on the planet below, and Lt. Gaeta n the infirmary on the planet, Captain Keely was placed in charge of operations on the ship. He noticed the worry in the Marine's voice when he called up relaying the Commander's order before making the announcement. He then told the officer that once they found out Baltar's location, he was to send two Marines there to escort Starbuck back to the Commander's quarters in case she didn't make it to the CIC.
While the officer was searching for Baltar, Starbuck was running as fast as she could through the hallways of the ship. She wasn't going to go to the CIC, there was absolutely no way until she got some answers from Baltar himself.
It had been nearly ten minutes since Starbuck arrived on the Galactica while Baltar was looking at the screen of one of the new consoles installed in the ship. He was surprised upon hearing that Starbuck had returned, and thought that she was talking to Captain Kelley in the CIC. It would be five minutes later that Helo, who arrived on the Galactica, would make the same call for Starbuck. Mentally making a note to see her once he was done, Baltar continued to examine the power being generated from the naquada reactor which would later be channelled to the shield emitters; and the same console would be regulating the naquadria reactor that would be installed in the engineering section of the ship within the next few weeks to power strategically installed Goa'uld staff cannons. Next to him was standing Callie and one of the Earthers who also served as translator, telling the two of them that the system would translated everything into Colonial Standard for their benefit.
"Baltar," said a familiar voice, her voice reverberating through the relatively empty engineering section of the ship as a major of the technicians were with their Earther counterparts throughout the ship installing these power regulation consoles, while others were in a section of the CIC installing the computers and programs that would control a new series of sensors, the shield, and the staff cannons. Upon hearing her voice, Baltar, Callie, and the translator turned to see Starbuck rushing towards them, "we need to talk."
"Captain, Helo called for you five minutes ago… again… I thought you were supposed to be in the CIC," asked Callie as Starbuck rushed past her and the translator, grabbed Baltar's arm, and pulled him roughly away, "captain?"
"He and I are gonna be fracking, Callie," said Starbuck without looking over her shoulder while pulling Baltar behind her as the man nervously smiled at Callie and the translator. Starbuck then opened a hatch leading to a maintenance closet, and pushed the scientist in before closing the hatch behind her.
With Calllie and the translator going back to work, Starbuck picked up a metallic bar and then turned around slowly. She felt Baltar's arms going around her waist while he moved her hair to one side and started to kiss the back of her neck, occasionally whispering that he was surprised she was back, and had planned on coming to visit her for another of their 'therapy sessions'. As he kissed her neck, and unbuttoned her shirt, Starbuck placed the metal bar into the mechanism that opened the door, preventing anyone from outside from opening the hatch until she was done.
"You wanted privacy, huh," chuckled Baltar into her ear before going back to kissing her neck. All the while Starbuck's anger grew as her trembling arm reached behind her and grabbed the back of Baltar's head; the man biting down on her ear lobe. She felt Baltar's hand slipping down the top of her undershirt, while another one went down to her abdomen. With the scientist distracted, the pilot reached for another metallic pole, and gripped it tightly.
"You made me forget," said Starbuck as tears gathered in her eyes when she recalled having sex with him for the past few days, including that morning just before the ritual, "but there is one thing I can't ever forget, or forgive."
"And that is?" asked Baltar before Starbuck spun around and slammed the metal bar into the side of Baltar's face. The man yelped before crashing into the wall, and then stumbled back onto the floor while he held up one hand, while his other hand was nursing the gash on the side of his head.
"You betrayed the Colonies!" screamed Starbuck as she slammed the metal pipe into his outstretched hand, breaking three of his fingers… making the scientist scream out loud.
Back outside, both Callie and the translator heard the scream and they rushed to the maintenance closet where they struggled to open the hatch.
"Captain! Captain Thrace!" yelled Callie while she pounded on the door with her fists with Baltar screaming for help, "open the door!"
Callie then rushed towards a phone on the wall to call for help from the CIC. She was about to pick up the phone when Captain Kelley, Helo, and four Marines rushed into engineering.
"Callie, where…"
"In here," said Callie pointing at the closet, "it's locked from the inside."
"Kara," said Helo after attempting to open turn the locking mechanism, but finding it unable to be budged, "I need you to open the door, Kara. Please… listen to me, please… just open the door."
Starbuck heard Callie and Helo begging her to open the door, but she didn't care. Her heart was racing as she imagined having sex with the man on the floor who was crying out in pain as she brought the bloodied metal pole down on him again and again. Starbuck could hear the rush of blood behind her ears, she could feel the sweat on her forehead as she imagined screaming out loud in ecstasy while they were in Baltar's quarters; except now… she had to deal with the billions of souls who lost their lives because of what Baltar did; she could see their faces shouting at her for having any kind of relations with the traitor who was now just barely moving. In the distance she could hear Helo calling out for her to open the door, and then shouting for someone to bring them a cutting torch… but that voice was suppressed by the screams in her mind egging her on.
All she saw now was red.
"Forty billion lives," panted Starbuck as she glared at the bleeding man lying on the floor. Baltar had deep gashes on the side of his head, his skull was cracked and his hair was wet with his blood, "you killed forty… oh gods… billions of lives and.. and I… and I…"
"For… for… gi… gi… ve, ple… ple… ae.. ase," stuttered Baltar as his eyes shifted towards the blonde officer who had streaks of blood on her face, and across her shirt and arms. Baltar felt weak and cold when he looked behind Starbuck at his Head Six smiling back at him.
"I told you, Gaius," said the woman gently as she crouched down, and caressed his bloody cheek, "the truth will set you free, do you remember?"
Baltar gently nodded his head just as Starbuck screamed and kicked him with her metal toed boots. He was too numb to scream, and all he could do was look at the eyes of the Head Six. He could feel a great burden lifting off him as Starbuck brought the metal pipe down on his head again and again.
"Now you are free, Gaius," said the Head Six as his eyes got heavy, "you'll be with God soon."
Starbuck screamed in rage while calling him traitor as she continued to smash the pole into the man's head.
"See you on the other side," was the last thing that the Head Six said before Baltar breathed his last.
As blood and brain matter was pooling on the floor, and spattered on the walls, Starbuck stared down at the dead body of the scientist in front of her. Feeling a calmness within her, Starbuck dropped the pipe onto the floor, and then turned around. The clang of the pipe was dulled by landing on the blood as she grabbed the pipe in the unlocking mechanism, and then pulled it out. She dropped that onto the floor with a clang.
She reached for the mechanism, and turned it until the lock disengaged.
"Kara!" yelled Helo as she pushed the door open, and looked at the stunned faces of the people who were looking at her bloody face, hands, arms, and shirt, "gods, Kara.. what.."
"I did it," whispered Kara as she got on her knees, and placed her hands at the back of her head, "I avenged them, I avenged them."
Callie had her hands over er mouth as she looked at the bloody mess on the floor behind Starbuck, while Captain Kelley looked on in shock with the other Marines, and the Earther translator.
"Kara," said Helo gently as he got on one knee, "what…"
"My name is Kara Thrace," mumbled Starbuck as she looked at Helo, her bottom lip quivering, "and I want to rest.. just rest… just rest."
TBC.