Chapter 28C - The flight home

[Astraea]

It’s a hallucination. It’s a hallucination. It’s a hallucination. The words kept repeating themselves in her head, but she couldn’t help the flutter of her heart when she saw the readout on the approaching ship. A Colonial Viper. She checked the Viper’s trajectory and saw that it hadn’t wavered from its course. “He hasn’t detected us yet,” she whispered then froze.

Even though she was focused on the instruments, she hadn’t missed the slight shuffling sound behind her. Lazant was up to something. Silently she reached down to the weapons compartment next to her chair and removed the laser rifle she had carried onto the ship. By the time Lazant stepped through the cockpit door, she had the weapon trained on the entrance.

“There’s a Colonial Viper within communication range,” she informed him in a calm voice as his eyes darted from her to the weapon. “Either we can do this together or I can do this alone.”

The implications were obvious and Lazant lowered his sword slowly after darting a glance at the control panel. He would have to deal with Astraea later. Getting home was the priority. He held his hands wide to show her that he wasn’t a threat then leaned to one side to tuck the sword safely away. “Open a narrow beam communications channel directed at that Viper,” he instructed and was a little surprised when she immediately complied.

Astraea put the rifle across her lap then reached for the controls. “Open,” she responded.

“This is Captain Lazant of the Battlestar Callisto traveling onboard a Cylon Cruiser. Do you copy?” He lowered his voice to order Astraea, “Pull up our present course and transmit it to the Viper pilot.” He watched her deftly work the command panel. “We are sending you our coordinates,” he said in a louder voice over the Unicom. “We are in need of assistance. We are running low on fuel and trying to get back to the fleet.”

Silence hung in the air for several long microns while they waited for a response. Lazant was just about to repeat his hail when Astraea suddenly started to work the instruments. “The pilot has changed his trajectory,” she informed Lazant. “He’s heading in this direction.”

Lazant heaved a sigh in relief. “He’ll try to scan us first to make sure we’re human. Are the shields off line?”

Astraea did a quick check. “Shields down. Weapons off line.”

He leaned forward to stare out the window in the general direction of the Viper pilot. He knew that there was no chance of seeing the Viper at that distance, but it was comforting to know that there was another warrior sharing their space. “This is Captain Lazant of the Battlestar Callisto. One of the members of our party is in urgent need of medical assistance. At current speed, we will deplete our fuel reserves in…” Astraea turned to mouth the words to him. “98 centons,” he repeated for the pilot’s benefit. “Do you copy?”

Astraea adjusted the long range scan to a broader band then nodded her head as she switched off the Unicom. “I’ve got his wing mate coming in from sector C-1-8-3.”

Lazant placed his hand on the back of Astraea’s seat, their confrontation centons before completely forgotten. “We’ve got a cadet,” he reasoned. “He’s waiting for his superior officer to catch up.”

“Oh goodie. Let’s hope he doesn’t have an itchy trigger finger.”

He nodded slightly in agreement. “We would be easy target practice.” He gestured for her to open communication again and she immediately obeyed. “This is Captain Lazant of the Battlestar Callisto.”

“Would you like to try again?” the Viper pilot asked. “Captain Lazant is dead.”

Astraea gave him a sardonic look over her shoulder. “And now we get to convince him that you’ve risen from the dead.”

“At least he’s talking to us,” he mumbled in return. “We were cut off from our team,” he informed the pilot hoping that a few facts from the mission would sway him. “Captain Amy, Lieutenant Deke and I had to find alternate transportation. Captain Amy is the one who is in need of medical attention.” There was a long pause and Lazant knew that the pilot was conferring with his wing mate.

“I’m only reading two life signs onboard,” the pilot finally responded.

“Captain Amy is in stasis. The cryo chamber is located next to our aft engines so it’s unlikely that you will be able to get readings from it.”

Astraea reached up and switched off the Unicom before looking back over her shoulder at Lazant. “Lieutenant Deke?”

“He died while we were trying to gain access to the cruiser.”

“You know they’re going to assume that I’m Deke.”

Lazant shrugged his shoulders. “Let them assume what they want as long as it gets us back home.”

“Alter your course to Gamma 2-5-0 and maintain communication silence,” the pilot instructed. “You will be contacted with further orders.”

“Yes,” Lazant whispered while Astraea went to work on the control panel.

“The second Viper is changing course,” she reported. “They must be out of communication range of the fleet.”

Lazant nodded. “Our next contact will probably be with a Viper squadron. I just hope that they’re escorting a tanker.”

[Astraea]

“I don’t like it Apollo,” Starbuck said as they walked through the corridors of the Galactica. “Too many things have gone wrong recently. The hyper jump, the scanners, the airlock, communications.”

“You could add the Council to that list as well,” Apollo remarked with a sideways glance. “It took a lot of nerve to try to unseat Tigh, but what really bothered me about it was the timing of the whole thing. It was like they knew that the Galactica would be separated from the fleet and they were prepared for an emergency meeting.”

Starbuck gave his head a slight shake. “It’s not going to be easy to prove. Conspiracy theories are a cubit a dozen around the fleet.”

“Well, we need to get to the bottom of this one if it reaches all the way up to the Council. I doubt that Troian could have pulled this off on his own. Have we been able to raise the Callisto yet?”

“Still only short range communications with the Vipers.”

“I guess we’re lucky we still have that after the repair crew knocked out the internal communications as well.” Apollo sighed heavily. “I’d love to know how that tribunal is going.”

“You? I’m half tempted to take a Viper out just so that I can tune in on the IFB broadcast,” Starbuck remark as they rounded a corner. “It’s ridiculous to bring Major Brie up on charges for surviving a suicide mission.”

“I agree, but there wasn’t anything that Sheba or I could do to stop it. I was even politely told that my presence was no longer necessary to the proceedings. I wasn’t in much of a position to argue considering all of the repair work that still needs to be done here.”

“Commander!”

Starbuck and Apollo turned at the hail to see one of the Galactica’s pilots running in their direction. “Lieutenant Simms?” Starbuck said before the winded man could reach them. “I thought you were on patrol?”

“Yes sir,” he puffed as he came to a halt in front of them. “We encountered…a Cylon cruiser.”

“What?” Apollo bit out.

Simms nodded and took a deep breath. “It was on the outskirts of the Alpha sector.” He drew a quick breath and wiped at the sweat beading on his brow. “The person on board claims to be Captain Lazant.”

Starbuck and Apollo exchanged a skeptical look. “You don’t think…” Starbuck half said knowing that his friend would be following the same reasoning.

“Stranger things have happened,” Apollo replied. “It wouldn’t be the first time one of us returned from the dead.”

“Sir,” Simms interrupted impatiently. “Captain Lazant said that Captain Amy is in urgent need of medical assistance and that their vessel is nearly out of fuel.” He quickly checked his chronometer. “They may already be adrift.”

Apollo’s eyes danced as he processed the information then he turned to Starbuck. “Is there anyone on board who might know Captain Lazant?”

“From what I remember of Lazant, he didn’t have a lot of friends,” Starbuck warned as he continued to think back. “Lieutenant Martinzi knew him best, but you know what kind of shape he’s in at the moment. Darceen was his wingman after Martinzi, but he was killed a yahren ago.” He started to shake his head when a memory surfaced. “I think he flew with Captain Ariesus several times. He’s still with Blue Squadron.”

“That will work,” Apollo approved and turned back to the lieutenant. “Have the maintenance crew prepare a fueling drone with just enough tylium to get that Cylon cruiser back here with a full Blue Squadron escort. Tell Captain Ariesus that he will be on that patrol and he is to confirm to the best of his ability that it is, in fact, Captain Lazant piloting the craft.”

“Yes sir,” Simms responded then ran off in the same direction that he had come.

Apollo looked over at his friend. “I need someone leading Blue Squadron that can spot a Cylon trap.”

Starbuck grinned. Climbing into a Viper was the major reason he still served. “I guess I’ll get to hear that IFB report after all. Are you going to contact Sheba about all this?”

He thought for a moment. “Not yet. We would have to send the information through a messenger and you know how the rumor mill is. I want to find out for certain that it is Captains Lazant and Amy before notifying Sheba.”

The smile grew on Starbuck’s face. “Lazant and Amy alive would certainly change the outcome of that farce of a tribunal.”

“Just make sure that it’s them. The last thing we need is a Cylon vessel exploding in the landing bay. If they take any kind of hostile stance…”

“They will be space debris,” Starbuck assured him. “Do you still plan on checking out the explosion site?”

Apollo nodded. “I want to inspect it for myself. I just don’t see how there could have been a power surge at two different sites simultaneously when both were under maximum voltons.”

“Happy hunting.”

He reached out and grasped Starbuck’s proffered arm. “You too.”

[Astraea]

Lazant leaned back in the copilot’s chair and studied Astraea while she maintained the ship’s flight status. His lower back was persistently throbbing, but he wasn’t about to give her the satisfaction of seeing him rub at it. When the reality of their mortality loomed in front of them, he had been prepared to run her through with the Cylon sword, but now that they were on the verge of rescue, he would get his satisfaction out of watching her squirm in front of a judicial panel.

Not once had Astraea looked in his direction, but he knew that she was well aware of his every movement. He had tested her a few times by making slight gestures in her direction. She had responded simply by bringing her hands closer to the laser rifle while her face remained emotionless and her eyes trained on the equipment.

“We’re down to the last ten centons of our fuel reserves,” she informed him. It was the first time that she had spoken to him since he had come back from checking on the disks he had downloaded.

“Shut down all engines, but maintain lateral stability.”

She followed his directions and then turned her seat to face his. “Do you want me to tell you how all of this is going to play out?”

Lazant was stunned for a moment at the question then he held his hands wide. “I love a good story.”

The corner of Astraea’s mouth rose slightly. He was so arrogant that he couldn’t even conceive of being duped. “Since this simulation seems to be focused primarily on you, then there will be someone in our welcoming committee that you know. Someone you flew with was friends with or dated.”

He was unimpressed by her reasoning and shrugged his shoulders. “That’s standard operating procedure.”

“But there will also be someone in the squadron that will impress you. Someone that you admire and wouldn’t hesitate to give a full report to.”

He gave her a mocking smile. “I’m not easily impressed.”

“Not even by someone like Colonel Boomer or Colonel Starbuck?”

He chuckled at the suggestion. “Do you know how rare it is for either one of them to fly a patrol? Even when I was on the Galactica, Colonels Boomer and Starbuck were the commander’s bridge mates. Next thing you’ll suggest is that it will be Commander Apollo or Sheba.”

There was no point in telling him that she had been on simulated missions that involved Apollo and Sheba as well as Commander Adama. He already thought she was insane. “Still, someone of importance will be in that patrol. Once we are back on board either the Callisto or the Galactica, they will expect us to give a full report.” She paused as she thought how few times the Callisto had been used in a hallucination. “Actually, it will probably be the Galactica that we land on. The Cylons don’t have a complete schematic of the Callisto yet so errors are easier to spot. Anyway, that report is what the Cylons are waiting for. There is something that they want to know and they will ask about it during debriefing. I suggest that you choose your answers carefully.”

Lazant shook his head. “I can’t decide if you’re just paranoid or completely psychotic.”

She smiled thinly. She had known that he wouldn’t believe her, but at least she had warned him. “Flip a cubit.”

[Astraea]

Apollo sighed as he looked at the second charred cable. It wasn’t as bad as the first, but it still looked like any other cable that had been scorched by a power surge. He felt the casing at the back of the cable and detected a small opening which had bubbled wider in the ensuing fire. “That’s in the same spot as the other one,” he whispered to himself.

He knew that a couple of similar breaks in the cable insulation didn’t prove sabotage, but it certainly raised his suspicions. He knew that the openings could have been cause by the fire, but the automated halon systems had quickly squashed the flames and there was no other damage to the cables other than some slight charring.

Apollo rubbed at his fingers to remove the soot as his eyes scanned the area for any debris. “Maybe Boomer will have more luck finding out who had access to this area at the time of the explosions.”

He took a step then stilled when he heard something skitter across the metal floor. Apollo dropped down on his knees and felt around under the power station. “Come on you,” he grumbled when he couldn’t quite grasp what his fingers were brushing. He glanced around for something to extend his reach, but couldn’t see anything handy so he became prone and forced his shoulder under the edge of the console.

“Gotcha,” he declared as he slid back out and sat up to study the small disk. It was so blackened that he didn’t recognize it at first as he turned it over in his hands a few times. “This looks like the tingler Boxey had as a kid,” he remarked then paused. A tingler was a device that kids couldn’t get enough of. The small disk had multiple fibers that extended out and caused the skin to tingle whenever it came in contact. Boxey had startled him on a number of occasions with the toy.

Apollo glanced up at the blackened cable as his mind started to formulate a scenario. “I wonder…”

“Commander Apollo?” one of the maintenance crew said skeptically when he walked in to see the commander sitting on the floor. He was certain that his eyes were playing tricks on him.

Apollo jumped to his feet as he concealed the disk in his palm. “This area has been sealed off until the maintenance crew can repair the damage” he said in a reprimanding tone. He was a little embarrassed at having been caught sitting on the floor.

“Yes sir,” the crewman replied as he hitched a thumb back over his shoulder. “We finished rerouting the back up generator for the auxiliary station and we’re here to take care of the blown cables.”

He brushed at the gray grunge covering his sleeve. “I suggest you get a cleaning crew in here first. The condition of these stations is deplorable.”

The crewman shifted on his feet unsure of what to do or say next. “Uh, yes sir,” he stammered, but remained.

“Move!” Apollo ordered, “Or I may decide to make a spot inspection of the maintenance facilities as well.”

“Yes sir!” he said with more conviction and than hurried out of sight.

Apollo could hear the man whispering to his companions then several pairs of footsteps retreating. He rubbed a hand across his face as he squeezed his eyes shut. “A spot inspection,” he shook his head. “I’ll have to remember to tell Tigh that his old trick still works.”

He looked down at the disk as he curled back his fingers then gently tossed it in his hand. “Now let’s see if we can find your mate.”

[Astraea]

“There she is,” Starbuck said over the Unicom. It was the first time that some of the pilots had seen a Cylon Cruiser.

“It’s not as big as I thought it would be,” one of the flight sergeants remarked.

“It’s big enough when it unloads a squad of centurions with only you and your buddy to defend the position,” Starbuck assured him. “Captain Ariesus?”

“Yes Colonel?”

Starbuck groaned at the formality. “Let’s keep the Colonel stuff to a minimum,” he ordered lightly. “Sir is bad enough, but we don’t want to let anyone know that there is a high ranking officer in the squadron.”

“Yes sir,” Ariesus returned crisply.

He nodded although no one could see him. “Are you clear on your assignment?”

“Yes sir. I am to confirm that the pilot of the Cylon vessel is Captain Lazant.”

“That’s it in a kapuoi shell. I want everyone to have their targeting computer locked onto that cruiser. If she shows any sign of hostile activity, I will give the order to open fire. We have no way of knowing if the people on board are under Cylon influence.”

“I’m not showing any signs of centurion drones,” an ensign reported.

“But they could have cloaking devices,” Starbuck reminded her.

“Ensign Bogart said that it looked like she’d sustained some battle damage,” Lieutenant Simms inserted. “Probably from an escape.”

“And yet they still had the resources to make it to the fleet.”

“Well, not quite all the way back to the fleet,” Simms argued then quickly added “Sir.”

Starbuck stifled a chuckled. Simms had a way of spilling out whatever was on his mind with protocol as an afterthought. He reminded Starbuck of himself. “Look. All of us want to believe that Captains Lazant, Amy and Lieutenant Deke have survived that suicide mission. They all have family and friends who want them back, but as Colonial Warriors we have a responsibility to the fleet. We have to look at the situation with a skeptical eye to protect all those families and friends. Now, were the people on that cruiser lucky enough to get away with minor damage or were those battle scars strategically placed to gain our sympathy?”

“Point made Col…sir,” Simms quickly corrected.

“Ensign Bogart?” Starbuck called out to the pilot that had been following the cruiser while Simms returned to the fleet.

There was a crackle over the line. “Here sir,” Bogart returned.

“What’s the status of that Cylon Cruiser?”

“They powered down about thirty centons ago. There have been no transmission emanating from the ship and they have maintained the course we gave them.”

“Copy that. What’s your fuel status?”

Bogart checked his instruments. “I’ve got about 50 centons before I tap into my reserves.”

Starbuck nodded. He had suspected as much. “Start heading back to the Galactica, but take it easy on your thrusters. After we get the cruiser moving, we’ll be right behind you. Oh, and make sure there is a medical team on standby when you land.”

“Yes sir,” Bogart returned then hit his thrusters to move away from the Cylon ship.

“Captain Ariesus,” Starbuck said to get back on track with the mission. “We are within communications range of the Cylon cruiser. Let’s see if we can establish whether or not Captain Lazant is on board before we get within weapons range.”

[Astraea]

“Here they come,” Astraea said with a note of excitement in her voice. Hallucination or not, she loved to see Vipers in action. She only wished that there was a view port at the rear of the ship so that she could actually see them. Instead, she had to be satisfied with the tactical readout.

“Number?” Lazant asked bluntly as he stood from his seat to lean over hers.

She whistled softly. “A full squadron.” She looked up at him over her shoulder. “You’d better be convincing because you don’t send a squadron that size just to rescue one ship. They’re prepared to take us out.”

He started to argue, but then thought of the logic behind it. The fleet needed to protect its position and couldn’t afford to allow a Cylon vessel to escape. “Just don’t do anything stupid.”

Astraea let out a burst of air as she returned her attention to the instruments. “I’m not the one to worry about.”

He snarled at the back of her head. He couldn’t wait to get to the fleet just to get away from her. His gaze traveled down her back when she leaned forward and he was suddenly staring down the barrel of a laser rifle. It was hidden beneath Astraea’s arm and pointed directly at his chest. He hadn’t even seen her grasp it. “You planning on using that thing?” he asked sharply. He was tired of feeling her sights locked on him.

She turned her seat around, the laser never wavering from its target even as she slipped it out from under her arm. “That depends on you, sword boy.”

Lazant shook his head at the absurdity of the situation. “I can’t believe that I have to reassure a psychopath.” He held her gaze and dared to lean a little closer. “I’m not going to risk my career just to get rid of a flea like you.” He straightened once more. “You can put that thing away.”

Astraea thought about it for a moment. In her brief conversations with him she had gotten the impression that his military career was a priority in his life so she accepted his comment at face value and lowered her weapon. “It probably wouldn’t have killed you anyway.”

“Prob…” Lazant began to repeat, but was interrupted by the crackle of the communicator.

“This is Captain Ariesus of the Battlestar Galactica. Come in Cylon Cruiser.”

Astraea arched a brow as the voice broke into their conversation. “Friend of yours?”

Lazant shook his head at her presumptuousness. “Not exactly. We were assigned to fly together just before I transferred out.” He gestured for her to turn on the Unicom. “Hello Ariesus, you loser.”

“Way to sweet talk him,” Astraea whispered and gave him the thumbs up.

“I see returning from the dead hasn’t done anything for your disposition Lazant,” Ariesus shot back.

“How would you know Ariesus? You were too busy scamming on the new recruits to know anything about my disposition. I’ll never forget the time that you actually conned two new recruits into a threesome in the landing bay and then got busted by Commander Apollo himself.”

“Yeah that’s still the talk of the landing crew,” Ariesus returned sarcastically. He should have known that he wouldn’t have the usual fond remembrances with Lazant. There relationship had been one of friendly hostility.

“Tell me, did you ever convince that Caprican goddess to going out with you? What was her name? Clorine? Clorox?”

“Clorus,” Ariesus corrected him as he shifted in his cockpit. Having their conversation on Unicom was making him decidedly uncomfortable, but that was what Lazant was good at.

“Clorus! That’s it. Yeah, she was one tasty mushie. I remember you were hot and heavy for her the micron she joined Blue Squadron, but that didn’t stop you from making the rounds with the ladies.” He chuckled as he envisioned Ariesus sweating in his cockpit. “Still, Clorus was special. That long black hair and a body that would inspire any man’s fantasies. I have to admit that I’ve indulged in that fantasy a time or two. Those long legs and that huge…”

“That’s my wife you’re talking about,” Ariesus snapped back then his mouth dropped open at the slip. It was bad enough that Clorus was in Blue Squadron and listening in, but now he had revealed the one secret that they had managed to keep to themselves for over a yahren.

“Captain, go to ship-to-ship,” Starbuck ordered.

Ariesus closed his eyes. He knew what was coming. “Yes sir,” he said.

“You and Lieutenant Clorus are sealed?” Starbuck asked point blank.

“Yes sir,” he returned softly.

“Don’t you know that there are regulations against sealed couples flying in the same squadron?”

He could practically hear Clorus dressing him down once they were back on board…if she is speaking to him at all. It was going to be a cold night in their cabin. “Yes sir. That’s why we kept the ceremony a secret sir. We both want to serve in Blue Squadron.”

Starbuck shook his head. “Those regulations are in place to protect families, Captain. So if you, may the Lords forbid, ever decide to procreate, your children won’t become orphans.”

“Yes sir,” Ariesus said simply. He knew better than to challenge that regulation with Starbuck since he was the one that pushed to have it instated.

“We’ll deal with this once we’re back on the Galactica. Now what about Lazant?” Starbuck asked. “Do you know if that’s him or not?”

“Oh that’s him all right sir,” Ariesus said. “The guy has the tact of a Boray.”

“Yeah, that much I do remember about him.”

Astraea turned to Lazant who had a devilish smile on his face. “What’s going on?” she asked when communication with the pilot abruptly ended.

“I don’t know for certain, but I’m guessing that Ariesus failed to mention that he had gotten sealed. Both Ariesus and Clorus are in Blue Squadron which is a big no-no with regulations.”

She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “So you knew he was sealed and antagonized him to the point of admitting it to whoever is in command of this mission?”

Lazant chuckled. He thoroughly enjoyed discovering the things that others thought they had hidden. They invariably became valuable at some point. “The seal had been a secret. Can you think of a better way to convince them that I am who I say I am?”

“Burning your shipmates to prove your identity. Hmmm. Great strategy,” she said sarcastically. “Do you want me to send out a volley of laser fire in welcome too?”

“This is Colonel Starbuck of the Battlestar Galactica to Captain Lazant.”

Astraea caught the look of surprise that flashed across Lazant’s face and she smiled. “Colonel Starbuck! Who would have guessed?” She shook her head when Lazant straightened and smoothed out the wrinkles in his tattered uniform.

“This is Captain Lazant. It’s good to hear your voice again sir.”

“You have a unique way of cutting through the felgercarb Captain,” Starbuck said dryly.

“I knew you needed to establish my identity sir and we’re running on vapors. Life support is in jeopardy and Captain Amy is in stasis. If we lose power, we lose her.”

“It’s not exactly the way I would have gone about it, but Regulation C-2-C has to be followed.”

Lazant smiled at the subtle question to discover if there are captors listening in. “All is clear here sir. We’ve got a nice load of Cylon spare parts in the cargo hold, but only the three of us are on board.”

“Very well Captain. A fueling drone is moving into position. You will have just enough to get you back to the Galactica. You will follow the squadron in and remain on the cruiser until further orders. Starbuck out.”

Astraea stared at his reflection in the front window. “Let’s see. A former wingman, Colonel Starbuck and the Galactica.” She ticked them off on her fingers to remind him of the warning she had given him. “Three out of three. Not bad.”

[Astraea]

Lazant returned to the copilot’s seat to continue to stare at Astraea while the fueling drone completed its assignment. A former wingman, Colonel Starbuck and the Galactica. Three out of three. The accuracy of her prediction was chilling. He would rather believe that she was psychic than her story about still being under Cylon control. He looked at his hands then touched his face to assure himself both were solid. His aching back certainly felt real enough. He simply couldn’t believe that everything around them was a hallucination.

“Fueling drone detached from hull,” Astraea reported to Lazant. She leaned forward in anticipation of seeing the Vipers which they were to follow through the view screen. After the drone darted off on its return trip home, three Vipers moved out in front of the Cylon Cruiser. “There you are,” she mumbled appreciatively.

She glanced over at Lazant in expectation of his order to ignite the engines then did a double take at his bemused expression. “Aft engines powering up,” she said in one last attempt to gain his attention then took it upon herself to follow standard procedures. A low rumble began to build to the familiar roar that even the sound buffers could never quite drown out. She waited once more for Lazant to spout his usual orders before finally shaking her head and falling in line behind the Vipers.

But what if she is right? What if we’ve been drugged and put into some bizarre Cylon experiment? He shook his head at the thought. It was insane. She was insane! But could he be insane as well? He had heard somewhere that insanity was contagious. If you spend too much time confined with a certifiable influence, it could affect your own thought process. Was that the reason why he was even considering her story? His body was weak from lack of nourishment, he had pains in muscles he never knew existed and exhaustion was his constant companion. That would be enough to distort his thinking. Still there was one thing that nagged him. “Can I ask you a question?”

“It speaks,” she said then glanced over at him. “I was starting to think you were catatonic.” She could see that he wasn’t amused. “What’s the question?”

“You said earlier that the…the simulation…hallucination….whatever was primarily focused on me. What did you mean by that?”

The corner of her mouth turned up. He was starting to have doubts and it was troubling him. “You seem to have all the answers. You know what’s on those precious disks, you knew what direction in which to find the fleet, you know what really happened to Amy.” She saw him shift uncomfortably. “You were the one to decide to follow those renegade Cylons, you established contact with the Cylon centurion and then the Galactica sent out people who were familiar to you. I’d say that’s primarily focused on you.” She waited for him to question her further, but he seemed to be slipping back into his musings. “Do you want me to tell you what’s going to happen once we get onboard the Galactica?” she taunted.

“No thanks. I’d rather make it up as I go along.”

~~~