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Post by Brie on Oct 24, 2005 14:11:20 GMT -6
“Yeah,” Brie said.
Amy waited for several microns. “Care to elaborate?”
Brie grinned. “Maybe I’m ‘as likable as all hades’ as well. Maybe that’s why we click, two incredible people not afraid to be ourselves when the other is around. Two people who are misunderstood by some many others, but when we’re together the expected felgercarb doesn’t matter.”
“Two people who can always be honest with each other,” Amy added.
Brie glanced away. “So when are these purple Cylons that you created going to show up?”
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Post by Amy81 on Oct 27, 2005 5:51:21 GMT -6
"I did create them, didn't I..." Amy replied. "But good thing is, I'm pretty sure we destroyed them all too. Oh, here they come now!" Even though they didn't have to step aside, both Amy and Brie did so instinctively.
The purple light came first, cutting throught the dimly lit corridor, and then the cylons came into view. The purple light added an evil twist to their already intimidating appearance. They were in tracking mode, and didn't stop until they reached the hatch Lazant had tried to open.
"They have escaped" one cylon said in the familiar droning voice.
"No" another replied. "The one's we are tracking are still here."
Another was pointing at the now closed vent. "They have entered the ductwork. Fresh fingerprints are all around the vent."
"Hmm" the ghost form of Amy commented. "I thought we'd fooled them with that one."
"This bay is destroyed" the first cylon announced. "They will head for the one bay still functioning." Without further comment, they all turned in unison, casting their purple light around the corridor, and then they began marching back the way the came.
Amy didn't speak until she couldn't hear any more noise from them. "So Brie, what do you think of that? You should see these guys shoot. That was really something." She suddenly grew quiet, thinking of Deke and the others that were lost. "Yeah" she said softly, "really something."
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Post by Brie on Oct 27, 2005 13:29:07 GMT -6
Brie placed a hand on her friend’s shoulder. “If I don’t get to blame myself, you have to follow the same rule. Frack, why are we blaming ourselves at all? Ultimately it’s all Baltar’s fault. He’s the one who betrayed humanity.” Brie thought for a moment. “Can you show me any of that? I had my own run-in with Baltar on the base, although the coward was actually on a computer screen. He told me...he told me what the Cylons have recorded about Turner’s death.” She took a deep breath. “Can you show me what happened with you guys and Baltar?”
“I can try,” Amy replied. The scene changed. They were in a supply closet, and there were clothes thrown everywhere. Moaning could be heard.
Brie immediately covered her eyes. “Lords, Amy, that’s the last thing that I want to see!”
“Oops,” Amy replied, embarrassed. “Somehow I got the time with Baltar and my saying good-bye to Charybdis mixed up. I guess I still need to get the hang of this.”
“I can see why you’d get them confused with each other, they look so much alike.” Brie said sarcastically. She peeked through her fingers. “Please, Amy, change it now!”
“Okay, okay,” Amy replied. “I’d think that as a squadron leader you’d have learned a little bit of patience.” Their surroundings changed again. They were back on the Cylon base, but in a different part. “Is this better?”
Brie peeked again before lowering her hand. “Yeah, that’s much better.”
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Post by Amy81 on Oct 27, 2005 16:01:04 GMT -6
The scene had indeed changed. They were in the entrance to the last remaining bay that still was reasonably intact. "Sorry about that broom closet thing" Amy apologized again.
"No problem" Brie replied.
"We were in this bay once before" Amy explained. "But we thought our best hope was the tanker we rode in on. It was in the third bay, but then we ran across Baltar and he said that the third bay was in ruins. So we came back here."
Brie nodded, a look of contempt on her face as she stared at Baltar. He was picking through the ruins of a mass of centurion bodies who'd been flattened by a falling chunk of this bays ceiling. "What's the fracking daggit doing?" she asked. Amy just nodded in his direction.
"Here, Captain" Baltar was saying. "I need the head of this gold centurion." Lazant was holding a sword, similar to the ones centurions use. "Come now" Baltar continued, "it's just a robot."
"Baltar had a plan" Amy explained to Brie. "And since he seemed as desperate as us to get out of here, we teamed up. I know it was foolish, but at the time he was as scared as we were of the purple cylons."
"They were new to him too?" Brie asked. Amy nodded.
Lazant slashed downward suddenly, then reached down and lifted up the head. "See now?" Baltar was saying. "To you it was just a robot. To him, you are just a human."
"Go to hades" Lazant snapped. He held the head out toward Baltar. Fluids and oils dripped from its severed neck.
"Bring it here" Baltar said, turning and walking toward the far side of the bay.
"He knew of a secret smaller bay" Amy explained further. "We really wouldn't have made it off the base without him. That cruiser he knew of was the only way off. He could have gone himself, but in his scheme to capture us as prisoners, he ended up getting stranded here himself in the end."
"It's hard to see you all trusting him" Brie admitted.
"It wasn't like that at first" Amy replied. "Lazant wanted to kill him. Baltar talked his way out of it."
"He's good at that sort of thing" Brie said, watching Baltar hooking the the head up to a sort of keyboard. "Smooth talking lies are his specialty."
Amy sighed. "We could really skip this part. I did something that really screwed things up. But it's up to you."
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Post by Brie on Oct 29, 2005 9:07:18 GMT -6
“Wait,” Brie said. “Before we see anything else, I want to ask you something.”
“What?” Amy wanted to know.
“Before all of this” Brie started, “before Lazant or Baltar or even the purple Cylons, when it was you and your team trying to accomplish your mission, were you scared?”
Amy looked at Brie as if she had lost her mind. “I had been given orders to locate a prisoner on a Cylon base and then find a way off! We were outnumbered a gazillion-to-one, and there were those creepy non-activated Cylons everywhere. Of course I was scared.”
“What was the first thing that you did?” Brie wanted to know.
“I asked everyone for ideas,” Amy replied. “Just because you had put me in charge didn’t mean that I didn’t value everyone’s input. Of course no one was very helpful.”
“I know what you mean,” Brie replied with a grin. “You can beg for help but no one wants to offer any. So what was going through your mind?”
Amy paused for several microns. “I thought you were crazy for giving me so much responsibility. And I was concerned for the safety of the people who had been placed under me.”
“THAT, my friend, is the sign of a good leader,” Brie said. “You may not have seen your potential, but I always did. I still do, if you can find your way back. And there’s not a person in a leadership position in the entire fleet who feels that they’re truly ready for the amount of responsibility that they’ve been given.” Brie smiled again. “Except maybe for Charybdis. And about what happened next with Baltar remember, everyone screws up. But if you want to skip the next part that’s fine. I’ll just ask Turner what happened when he finally shows up again.”
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Post by Amy81 on Oct 29, 2005 18:57:48 GMT -6
"Well" Amy said with a sigh, "If you are going to ask Turner anyway, then you might as well just get it from me. It's okay, really. Just watch."
"What is Baltar doing now?" Brie asked. She watched as he had attached a keyboard to the head, and was now handing the head to Amy, who stood with Lazant and Deke in front of a computer screen of some sort.
"The head was gross" Amy said. "All oily. Creepy. But what Baltar did is pretty cool. Check it out."
The head suddenly spoke. "Open Bay doors" it said. Then added "By your command." At once a hidden elevator platform began to sink down in the floor nearby.
"That is pretty cool" Brie admitted. "I can see how only Baltar could have known how to do it."
"Here comes the mistake" Amy told Brie.
"Hurry everyone" Baltar said, heading for the lift. He dropped the keyboard, and Amy dropped the head moments later as they all scrambled onto the sinking platform. In moments they were out of sight just as the purple cylons entered the far end of the bay.
"Wow" Brie said, "That was close."
Amy nodded. "But I should have kept the head with me. Idiot Baltar didn't say to bring it along." She wandered over to the edge of the elevator shaft, motioning Brie to follow her. "Come on, in a moment I'll bet you can hear the two of us going at it."
"You fought?"
"More like yelled" Amy replied. "In a few microns I'll be back up here trying to find the fracking thing."
"With the purple cylons here too?" Brie asked.
Amy nodded again. "I had no choice. I had to try and set things right or we'd never have gotten into the crusier." She paused for a moment. "Deke had a choice though. He volunteered to provide cover for me." Her voice lowered to a whisper. "It cost him his life. And... I'd really not want to see that part, if you don't mind. But it is up to you..."
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Post by Brie on Oct 30, 2005 14:12:31 GMT -6
“I’d rather not watch Deke die,” Brie said. “That’s just as much my fault as anyone else’s. I hate to admit it, but I put him on the mission because he was expendable. I had to make sure that there were some good warriors still left in Gold Squadron, since on the mission we were all supposed to die.”
“But Deke volunteered,” Amy reminded her.
“Yeah, I know,” Brie replied. “But I can’t help wonder if I should have kept him off. He didn’t have the experience.”
“Who has the proper experience for a suicide mission?” Amy asked.
Brie ignored the question. “I would have done the same thing. Dropped the slimy, disgusting Cylon head. Knowing what the stinking Cylons have cost us would make it difficult to even touch it to begin with.”
“The oil didn’t help,” Amy added. “It made it ever grosser.” Amy paused for a micron. “Is that why you put me on the mission? Because I was expendable like Deke?”
Brie looked surprised and slightly hurt. “Not at all! I had to choose people that I could trust, and there’s no one that I trust more than you. Although before the meeting I had decided that you weren’t going on it.”
“Why’s that?” Amy asked.
“Because you didn’t meet the criteria,” Brie explained. “My first priority was to fill it with people who didn’t have a whole lot of ties. Your parents were both still around at that point, so you weren’t to be included.”
“What changed your mind?” Amy wanted to know.
“Your volunteer note, or form, or whatever you want to call it,” Brie replied. “You right away explained that leaving your parents wouldn’t be a problem. I guess you know me too well, knew that that would be my first thought. In the end it came down to you and Skyler. One of you would go on the mission and the other would stay behind to lead Gold Squadron.”
“And you thought I wouldn’t do a good job leading the squadron,” Amy assumed.
Brie shook her head. “Not at all. I think you’d make an excellent squadron leader. No, what I finally did was decide who I would rather have on the mission with me. On paper Skyler should have been my choice. He’s older, and has infantry experience. He was probably better qualified for the mission than even I was. But I wasn’t choosing my team just based on experience. In the end, I realized that I would rather have you by my side.”
It was Amy’s turn to look surprised. “Why?”
Brie blushed slightly. “As I said before, Skyler is in love with me. It doesn’t usually get in the way, but on a mission of this importance, where the entire fleet’s survival depended on us completing our task? Skyler fancies himself as my protector. It can be endearing or annoying. None of us were supposed to survive. I couldn’t risk that Skyler would do something stupid to protect me. But I knew that I could count on you.”
“You’ve always had this faith in me that no one else seems to have,” Amy remarked. “Not even my parents. I’ve never understood that.”
“You’ve never given me a reason to not have faith in you,” Brie explained. “As your squadron leader every time I’ve asked you to do something you’ve tried, even when you've felt like you’re inadequate. If I could I’d fill an entire squadron with people like you.”
“Wow,” Amy said, “thanks. That means a lot.”
“It’s 100% true,” Brie told her. “So, is there anything else that you want to show me, or are you ready to come back with me now?”
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Post by Amy81 on Nov 1, 2005 7:04:25 GMT -6
"That's totally up to my mom" Amy reminded Brie. "Hey, listen to the yelling!" They both leaned over the edge of the elevator shaft, and could hear Baltar, Amy, and Lazant all exchanging heated words.
"Sounds like you were ready to deck Baltar" Brie said.
Amy nodded. "I was so mad. It was like he set me up just to make me look bad, even if it meant jeopardizing our chances of leaving. You should of heard the comments he was making about me. Too young, better suited for other duties... if you get my meaning."
"I think so."
"Between him and Lazant... Lazant doesn't like me one bit. He took over everything, like I wasn't even his equal in rank."
Brie was surprised, slightly. "I didn't think he'd do something like that, in heat of battle anyway."
"Well he did. But I think he respected me a little when I volunteered to come back up here to get the head of that centurion." Amy paused, listening. The lift was started to head up. "Here we come, Deke and I."
Brie turned around. The purple cylons had stopped moving, some time ago as a matter of fact. "Why did the purple cylons freeze like that?"
"A trap" Amy replied. "In the dim light, you can hardly make them out with their visor light off. I came up, and was searching with Deke when we both noticed them. A little too late though. Well, here we come. You can see for yourself."
"Maybe it's time we go" Brie decided. "I don't want to see Deke die."
But Amy was transfixed, fascinated in watching her past self reach the top and scramble over the side, rifle at the ready. Deke came up a moment later. "He was so brave" she said, staring at him. She reached a hand out haltingly as he passed by, a wary look on his face as he scanned for movement in the bay.
Brie turned to watch as the past Amy slipped and fell hard to the floor, cursing.
"That oil is everywhere, isn't it?" Brie said.
Again Amy didn't reply. She was totally absorbed in watching the past slowly unfold before her eyes. Suddenly she felt something, a stirring nearby, and had the feeling that someone else was on this level of existence with her. She looked over at Brie, but Brie hadn't felt it, or if she had she wasn't showing it.
A voice whispered in her ear, and she jumped slightly. "I can save his life" the voice said. "Say the word and I can spare him."
"How?" Amy asked, turning toward the darkness next to her.
"How what?" Brie asked.
"Remember" the voice said. "You've been in between before. When you nearly spaced yourself out an airlock. My assistance was required in order to send you back."
"I remember now" Amy said.
"You remembered something?" Brie asked. "About Deke? Ange?"
"I have a stake in your life now" the voice continued. "It can begin now if you wish it. Tell me to spare him, and I will. All I require is that you follow me."
"Amy, are you okay?" Brie asked. She grabbed her by the arms and shook her. "Snap out of it, will you?"
Amy seemed dazed, her eyes focused on something far away. It suddenly seemed bright around her, a peacefulness that made her want to let go, to agree to anything just to be a part of it. But she shivered as something touched her, a dark cold that seemed to nearly freeze her heart in mid-beat. She shook her head, her face twisted in torment. "I can't!" she yelled out. "I can't! Oh Deke..."
"Then perhaps another time." And with that the voice was gone, replaced by another fainter voice. "Ammmiiiiieee...." It was Deke, his voice fading away to nothing.
Amy's face went blank, and she dropped to her knees. Brie was right there, trying to see what was wrong. "Amy, what is going on? Tell me."
Amy looked at her strangely. She seemed to be surprised to be on her knees. "I... I'm fine. What happened?"
"You seemed to be talking to someone. You yelled out Deke's name."
"I did?" Amy replied. "I don't remember. Huh. Maybe you are right, this trip through the past isn't such a good idea?" Brie nodded in agreement, still looking at Amy with concern. "Let's go before Deke spots the trap" Amy said, "The shooting starts right after."
"Are we done looking at the past?" Brie asked.
Amy nodded. "Unless I land us in a broom closet again or something. This is still new to me. Anywhere else you'd like to go?" They began to fade away as the purple cylons began to come to life, shooting at Deke and Amy as they ducked for cover.
"Goodbye Deke" she whispered.
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Post by Brie on Nov 2, 2005 7:30:02 GMT -6
“Anywhere else you'd like to go?” Amy asked. She then whispered something to herself.
Brie knew that something had happened, but knew that she shouldn’t ask. “I’d like to go anywhere but back to the Callisto,” Brie said at last. “I’m really dreading it.”
“Why?” Amy wondered.
“It’s funny how you can dedicate your life in service to the human race, but how quickly everyone will believe the worst about you,” Brie replied. “That’s what happened with the Tribunal. So many people thought that I really was negligent. Frack, they even convinced me.” She sighed. "Plus I'm getting too old for this."
"You may have a few yahrens on me, Brie, but you’re not old,” Amy said.
“A few yahrens?” Brie repeated. “I’m old enough to be your mother!”
Amy shook her head. “My mother’s much younger sister. Maybe.”
“Maybe,” Brie said, staring off into space herself.
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Post by Amy81 on Nov 4, 2005 7:09:52 GMT -6
A dark figure sat brooding, drumming his fingers against the fabric of dimensions as they shifted and swirled around and through him. She felt so bad about Deke, and yet she rejected my offer! Deke should have been enough. He had read Captain Amy correctly, he was sure of it. Then where did that defiant streak come from? That soul so untarnished that she would reject an offer to save a brother in arms?
No matter. I've already invested in this one. If she'll not come willingly, then so be it.
Far away, on the Callisto, a monitor scanning micron to micron for brain waves in the comatose brain of Captain Amy suddenly sprang to life...
* * *
"Come on Brie" Amy said. "No way are you too old. You took a beating on that Agro ship that would have killed a younger warrior." She suddenly had a gleam in her eye. "Let's go see some of that!" And they were off...
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