Chapter 28AA - The Plan

[Brie]

“Brie, don’t open your eyes yet, don’t say a word, don’t do anything to let her know that you’re waking up. Just listen.” Although she didn’t open her eyes as instructed, Brie knew that it was Turner. “You’re going to need every ounce of strength in you to make it out of this alive. So keep sharp, stay on top of things, and see if you can find someone sympathetic to you. They can’t all be totally brainwashed. Keep in mind it’s not 100% their fault, he’s played on their weaknesses. They’re just following orders, similar in a way to what you have been doing for all these yahrens. They’re just grossly misguided. And remember that I’m always with you.” Brie felt a kiss on the top of her head. “I love you. Now go ahead, wake up.”

[Brie]

Usually when Brie would dream about Turner she would awake with a start, but this time she didn’t. She didn’t immediately open her eyes. She still felt nauseous and the horrible taste in her mouth told her that she had been sick. She was only slightly dizzy. She was lying facedown, her hands bound behind her. Something was different. After a micron she realized that it wasn’t shackles, her hands were tied with rope. She listened for several microns and knew that she wasn’t alone. Not knowing what to expect, she stirred slightly and slowly opened her eyes. The first thing she noticed was that they were in a storage area of some type.

“Finally waking up?” a female voice asked. “Here, let me help you.” A woman in a med tech’s uniform gently helped Brie into a sitting position. She looked vaguely familiar to Brie, something about her blank right eye. “Still feeling a bit queasy?” Brie nodded. The woman grabbed a cup with some type of liquid in it. “Here drink this.” She held it to Brie’s lips.

Brie turned away. “What is it?”

The woman smiled. “Don’t worry, it won’t hurt you. It’s to offset the effects of the anaesthesine vapor. Did you know that you’re allergic to it?” Brie shook her head. “It’s a good thing that you pulled yourself under the covers like you did. Master Pierce would be furious if you missed your own execution.”

Brie wasn’t sure which of the two unusual comments to ask about. She decided on the second, because it was something that Trula had mentioned as well. “My execution?”

The woman looked upset. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Please don’t tell Master Pierce!”

“No, I won’t,” Brie said. It was probably one of the strangest conversations that she had ever been involved in.

“But that’s how you know that this won’t hurt you,” the woman said, holding up the cup again. “Your execution is supposed to be public, and later. There’s no way I could kill you now, Master Pierce would be extremely disappointed in me. So drink, you’ll feel better.”

Brie drank the contents of the cup. Whatever it was had a strong flavor, for which Brie was grateful. In just a few microns her stomach started to settle. She glanced down. “Why am I wearing different clothes?”

The woman looked slightly embarrassed. “It was the anaesthesine vapor again. Let’s just say that it’s a good thing that you skipped that last meal. But don’t worry, I was the one who changed you. No one else was there, and I’m a med tech, it’s part of my job.”

“Oh.” Brie breathed in deeply. “We’re on the Agro Ship,” she commented.

“How did you know?” the woman asked.

“The air quality,” Brie replied. “It’s much cleaner here than anywhere else in the fleet. I’m Brie, but I get the feeling that you already know that. What’s your name?”

The woman paused, not sure if that was information that she was supposed to share. But she hadn’t been told otherwise. “Kyla.”

“Kyla?” Brie repeated with recognition. “Crane’s daughter?”

Kyla was visibly surprised. “You knew my father?”

“Knew him,” Brie said smiling, “we were in the same squadron. In fact, I was assigned to be his wing on my very first patrol. I remember you back then, stopping by the Galactica whenever you could. Oh, did he ever love you. He talked about you with such pride.”

There was one small tear running down Kyla’s face. “My father was a fool,” she said without much conviction. “Always telling me lies about Earth, as if it actually exists. I’ve finally come to realize that Earth is a myth.”

“Of course Earth is a myth,” Brie agreed. “We would have stopped and built a new life on a habitable planet yahrens ago, if it wasn’t for the Cylons. Once we’re strong enough...”

“We’d better be strong enough now,” Kyla interrupted. “We’ve found the planet, and it’s going to be run by Master Pierce.”

“Did I head someone mention my name?” Pierce was standing at the door. Brie was slightly upset with herself for not having heard it open. She’d need to stay sharper than that. “How’s she doing?”

“She’s getting her strength back, Master,” Kyla replied.

“Good.” Pierce grinned. He looked directly at Brie for the first time. “I want you at full strength, because otherwise it wouldn’t be much fun when you’re publicly executed.”

“I heard about that,” Brie said. “Can hardly wait.”

“You heard?” Pierce snarled. “Where?”

Brie noticed the panicked look on Kyla’s face. “Trula told me,” Brie replied. She held no loyalty to Trula, especially since the woman had bragged about her part in Turner’s death. “When she came to see me on the Callisto.” Brie saw that Kyla relaxed with that admission.

“I’ve already dealt with Trula,” Pierce said. He turned to Kyla and ran his fingers through her hair. “Leave us alone for a few centons, my pet. There’s something that I want to discuss with the Widow.”

“Yes, Master.” Kyla left immediately, leaving Brie alone with Pierce.

[Brie]

Brie didn’t say a word, hoping that Pierce would instead start to give her information. She had been able to put together a few pieces of the puzzle. They were on the Agro Ship, Pierce had found a planet of some type, and people were blindly following him.

“You’re probably wondering what’s going on,” Pierce said at last.

“The thought had crossed my mind,” Brie told him.

“We’re about to take over the Agro Ship,” Pierce informed her. “The fleet doesn’t know that yet, but they will soon enough. But that’s not what you and I need to discuss.”

“Oh, what do we need to discuss?” Brie asked sarcastically. “You and I just have so many burning issues between us.”

“No, just one,” Pierce replied. “There’s one way that you can avoid your execution.”

“What?” Brie was mildly curious.

“Take the seal with me,” Pierce said.

Brie held in a laugh. “Seriously, what is it that we need to discuss?”

“I am serious,” Pierce replied. “I already have someone set in place to perform the ceremony. You become my wife, with all rights and privileges. Then we’ll rule the new administration together.”

“ALL rights and privileges?” Brie repeated. Pierce nodded, hungrily licking his lower lip. “The last time you suggested that you’d like certain ‘privileges’ I almost strangled you.”

Pierce took his finger and ran it up and down Brie’s arm. “That will be a little bit harder with your hands tied. Although if you’re a very good girl, I could be persuaded to untie you.”

“All rights and privileges,” Brie said again, thinking. She stared directly at Pierce and smiled. “I think I’ll take the public execution.”

Pierce was fuming. “Don’t worry, that will arranged immediately.” He grabbed Brie by the arm and pulled her to her feet. “Come on.”

“You may want to wait on that execution,” Brie said calmly. “I’d make a pretty good hostage.”

“Why’s that?” Pierce asked.

“Think about it,” Brie told him. “Unless fleet position has drastically changed since my incarceration, we’re closer to the Callisto than the Galactica.”

“So?”

Brie rolled her eyes. “All three squadron leaders have ties to me.”

“All three,” Pierce repeated. “Somehow I don’t believe that.”

“Not only would no one from Gold Squadron ever do ANYTHING to put my life in danger, but Skyler is also in love with me. So you wouldn’t have to worry about him. I saved Major Jorlan’s life a while back, and even though we don’t get along personally he’s the type that always repays his debts. So Bronze is safe as well.” Brie stopped, thinking that she had explained enough.

“And Black Squadron?” Pierce asked.

Brie looked at Pierce as if he was crazy. “Who is the Black Squadron CO?”

“Oh. Okay, Brie, you’ve bought yourself some time. Come with me.” Pierce pulled Brie’s arm forcefully.

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see when we get there.”

[Brie]

Pierce pulled Brie out of the storage area. She could see the main part of the Agro Ship in front of her. It was a beautiful sight, as always. Things didn’t look any different, it didn’t seem as if any type of takeover had yet been attempted. One of the workers approached Pierce. “What’s going on?”

Pierce replied with fake sincerity. “Our shuttle broke down on the way to the Galactica, so we had to land here. Once we landed one of the members of our party discovered that Major Brie here had escaped from the Callisto brig and stowed away on our ship. We were able to recapture her, and I’m going to take her to your captain so that we can report this to Commander Sheba.”

“Oh,” the worker replied. “Did you say Major Brie? The woman who killed our poor, sweet, innocent little Amy? I’ve known her since she was knee high to a...”

“I didn’t kill Amy, and she’s not even dead,” Brie said without thinking.

Pierce ignored what Brie had said. “Not only that, but I have it on good authority that she’s a suspect in Elmer’s murder as well.”

“What?” Brie had heard only from Trula that Elmer was dead, and she didn’t know anything at all about him having been murdered.

The worker stared at Brie for several microns, a look of hatred in his eyes. “Do you need any help?”

“No, thank you,” Pierce told him. He motioned, and two women walked closer. “It just so happens that two members of fleet security were on our shuttle. They’ll stay with the prisoner.”

“Okay,” the worker said, starting to walk away. “Just let someone know if you need anything. Any friend of Amy and her family is a friend of ours.”

“Will do,” Pierce said with a wave.

Brie stared at the two women who had just joined them in disbelief. She shook her head slowly. “Oh frack, Millie, Tanya, not you too!”

[Brie]

“It’s not quite yet time,” Pierce whispered to Millie and Tanya. “We’ll need to find some place to stash her for a little while.”

“Time for what?” Brie asked.

“You’ll know soon enough,” Pierce replied. He led Brie, followed by Mille, Tanya and Kyla, to an empty office near the Agro Ship’s bridge. “This will do,” he said, typing in a fake security code. He began to give orders. “You two stay outside,” he told Millie and Tanya. “Stick with the same story if anyone asks you what you’re doing. And you,” he turned to Kyla. “I want you to stay with the Widow for now, just in case there’s any lasting effects from the anaesthesine vapor.”

“But Master, there won’t be...” Kyla started.

Pierce glared at Kyla. “I said stay with the Widow, in case there’s any lasting effects from the anaesthesine vapor.”

Kyla bowed her head and stared at the floor. “Yes Master.”

Millie and Tanya left the office, but while the door was still open Trula came charging in. Brie hardly recognized her, her face was swollen and bruised, obviously she had been beaten. “You,” she screamed at Brie.

Millie quickly closed the door and stood outside, she was following orders and nothing else concerned her. She and Tanya casually stood guard outside the office.

“Trula?” Brie said inside. “What happened?”

“I warned you, Widow.” Trula spat out the words. “I said that if you told anybody I’d kill you myself.” She pulled out the laser that she had been hiding behind her back and fired, hitting Brie on the top of her right arm. It hurt badly but Brie didn’t let it show. Trula aimed again.

“Trula!” Pierce didn’t yell, but spoke with an incredible amount of authority. “Lower your weapon, now!”

There was a micron when Brie was sure that she was going to shoot again. “But Master,” Trula said at last, “she’s going to die anyway. Why not now?”

Pierce continued to speak forcefully. “We need her for now. Remember the plan.”

“But Master...” Trula repeated, obviously weakening.

“Trula, lower your weapon, now! That’s an order. You wouldn’t disobey a direct order, would you?”

“No, Master,” Trula said, her arm dropping to her side. She also stared at the floor and started to sob.

Pierce put an arm around Trula. “There, there. You need to remember your place, my pet. And remember the plan. Things will be better soon. Now go, man your station.”

“Yes, Master,” Trula said. The door opened again and she left.

As much as she hated to admit it, Brie was slightly impressed. “Wow,” she said to Pierce, “can you teach me how to do that?” She wasn’t serious, but it somehow helped take away some of the pain from her wound. Kyla was already looking at Brie’s arm, which was bleeding badly.

“I already offered,” Pierce said.

“You mean that ‘rights and privileges’ felgercarb again?” Brie asked. Pierce nodded. “I still pass.”

“Master,” Kyla said sheepishly, “there’s no way to stop the bleeding unless...” She stopped, for fear of Pierce’s reaction.

“Unless what?” Pierce was growing impatient.

“Unless we take some pressure off the top of her arm,” Kyla said. “We need to untie her.”

Brie started to laugh, although she wasn’t sure why. “I won’t try anything, I promise.”

“Like Hades you won’t,” Pierce mumbled.

“Retie my hands in the front,” Brie suggested. She was surprised by what she said, but she knew that they had to get the bleeding stopped. “That will take the pressure off, and you can still feel like you’re in control.”

“I AM in control,” Pierce said. "I am always in control, and I always WILL be in control." He looked at Kyla and nodded. She untied Brie’s hands from behind her.

Brie held her hands in front of her and allowed them to be retied. “Satisfied?” Brie asked Pierce.

Pierce ignored the question. He looked at his chrono. “I need to make sure everything is set in place. I’ll be back soon. If she tries anything, feel free to kill her, we don’t need her THAT badly.”

“Yes, Master,” Kyla said, busily working on Brie’s injury.

[Brie]

Brie could tell that something was on Kyla’s mind. The laser shot had been bandaged and the bleeding had almost stopped. “What’s the matter?” Brie asked the young med tech.

Kyla waited several microns, trying to decide if she should ask. “What did Master Pierce mean before?” she finally blurted out. “About offering to teach you something?”

“And the rights and privileges?” Brie added. Kyla nodded. “He asked me to take the seal with him.”

Visibly shaken, Kyla took a step back. “When? Yahrens ago, after the Great Traitor was executed?”

“No,” Brie said slowly, “less than a centar ago, here on the Agro Ship. When he sent you out of the room. He said something about my ruling the new administration with him, whatever that means. Don’t worry, I turned him down.”

“But...” Kyla couldn’t think of anything else to say.

“You’re in love with him, aren’t you.” It was a statement, not a question.

“He told me that he’d make polygamy legal,” Kyla said, more to herself than to Brie, “but I never thought he was serious. I always thought that I was the special one to him. That I would be his one and only wife.”

“Kyla, he lied to you,” Brie said plainly. “He would say anything to you to get you to do what he wanted. He’s been using you.”

“NO!” Kyla said loudly. “You’re the one trying to use me, trying to get me to let you go. Well it’s not going to happen!”

“Have I mentioned you letting me go?” Brie asked. “Not once. I realize what Pierce would do to you. I’d risk my own life before doing anything that could get you hurt, out of respect for your father.”

“My father.” Kyla shook her head. “I don’t believe you. You’re the Widow of the Great Traitor, you’ll say anything to get out of this.”

“Turner was NOT a traitor,” Brie said calmly. “He found out about an assassination plot, and he saved the president’s life. And he was murdered because of it. He didn’t do anything wrong, and neither have I.”

“No,” Kyla said, still shaking her head. “You’re a liar. You’ve lied about knowing my father, about Master Pierce, about the Great Traitor, everything. I can’t believe a word you say.”

“Pierce is the liar, Kyla,” Brie informed her. “This whole thing isn’t about a new start for the human race, it’s because he wants power. He wants to be in control, as he just said. He doesn’t care about you. I bet he doesn’t even know what your name is.”

“He...” Kyla stopped and thought. She couldn’t remember Pierce ever actually calling her by name. “He...”

The door opened and Pierce rejoined them. “How’s she doing, my pet?”

“The bleeding has stopped, Master,” Kyla said.

“Good, my faithful, loving pet,” Pierce said. He stroked Kyla’s hair once or twice. “It’s time.”

[Amy81]

The agro worker who'd run into Pierce and Brie continued on his way, his mind on the terrible news of Elmer's death so close on the heels of what's become of Amy, and the surprise to find that fugitive Brie was on board. He walked on, leaving the great domes and entering the main passageway. He continued until he saw his friend from ship security, and decided he'd sit for a moment and pass along the news.

"Hey Ange" he said, sitting down.

Ange looked over. "Randy! Good to see you. What's new?"

Though Randy had known Captain Amy all her life, he knew that ship security guard Ange had been closer to her, almost like an uncle. Ange had watched her grow up, and had been more than happy to tell the eager young girl of his adventures as a warrior aboard the ship nicknamed "Aggie". It was these very tales that caused Amy to defy her parents and join the academy. That it had probably cost her her life was breaking Ange's heart.

"I know you asked that out of habit" Randy replied, "but something IS new."

"Oh yeah? Like what?"

"Like I just ran into Pierce, and a certain fugitive Major".

"You're kidding" Ange said flatly. "Brie? Here?"

Randy nodded. "Pierce's shuttle failed and they docked here. He discovered that Brie stowed away. And he also mentioned that Elmer had been murdered aboard the Callisto."

Ange's mouth went dry. First Amy, and now Elmer? Just what is going on? He knew Amy had died on her last mission, or was all but dead, but he found it disturbing that Elmer was dead now too. That just left Abby to hold the farming system together. And if anything should happen to her... The whole food supply system suddenly seemed on very vulnerable and shaky ground. And though he knew Brie probably was innocent, the fact that she'd turned up here, on the main growing ship, was also very disquieting.

"Yeah" Randy concluded, "I can't believe that rotten gold squadron daggit is here. I wanted to throttle her where she stood. But Pierce said he was taking her to see the captain."

Ange snapped out of his funk and looked at Randy. "What? The captain? That's not procedure. Ships security should have been contacted before moving the fugitive anywhere."

"Well" Randy said, "he had two members from fleet security with him..."

"Fleet security" Ange said with distaste, but didn't elaborate. "Still, ships security should have been informed. Nothing's come over my comm unit." He stood up with a groan. He wasn't as young as he used to be, but his instincts were still sharp.

Randy stood too. "What are you going to do?"

"Get to the security office. Something doesn't seem right about all this."

"Why not just contact the captain?"

"I don't want to tip my hand..." he said in all seriousness, but then forced himself to smile at his friend. "It may be nothing, and I don't want to over react and end up looking like a fool. I'm going to take it slow, do some checking first. But if I'm right, we may all be in some big felgercarb."

"Need help?" Randy asked. "I'm just getting off my shift."

"No, but I may need you in a while. So keep your eyes open, and tell no one about this."

Randy nodded, and watched Ange as he moved quickly down the hall and out of sight.

[Brie]

During the short walk to the Agro Ship’s bridge Brie tried to pay attention to everything. She didn’t know what would or wouldn’t come in handy. She just knew one thing, she would die before she let Pierce control the fleet. She realized that there was a very good chance to she would be dead very soon.

Brie had spent very little time on the Agro Ship. Having never lived on a planet she didn’t feel any great need to be closer to a feeling of “home.” She had never before visited the bridge. It was a strange group that she was walking with...Pierce, Kyla, Millie, Tanya and a young man that Brie had no idea who he was. She noticed that with the exception of Kyla, the rest of the group was armed.

Outside of the bridge entrance Pierce paused. “Take a good look around you. This is your last look at the old, failing way of life. Soon things will be done right.”

“You’re so full of felgercarb,” Brie said. Pierce slapped her across the face. “You’re full of felgercarb AND a bully. Great combination, especially for someone who thinks he can lead the remnants of the human race.”

Pierce slapped her again. “Let’s go.”

[Brie]

The group was standing just outside of the Agro Ship’s bridge, clearly waiting for something. Or someone. At first all Brie could see was the uniform, a warrior’s uniform. As the woman walked closer Brie could tell from the insignia that she was not only from the Callisto, but from Gold Squadron as well. When Brie finally got a good look at her face she knew exactly who she was. Although the two had never met Brie had seen her picture. She had also read her file, several times in fact while on the Galactica. Brie didn’t say a word, just waited to see what would happen.

[Brie]

“Captain Suttir?” Pierce said immediately as the entered the Agro Ship’s bridge area. “I’m Major Pierce. These are Officers Tanya and Millie, Lieutenant Logan from Gold Squadron,” he seemed to have great pleasure saying that, “my friend Chip, and,” he seemed to be stalling slightly, “the med tech is...”

“Kari,” Brie said quickly, purposely giving a name that was close but wrong.

“Kari,” Pierce continued. Kyla tried to hide her disappointment. “And this is the former Major Brie.” Pierce pushed her forward slightly. “She escaped from the Callisto brig and stowed away on our shuttle not too long ago...”

“Don’t believe him, Captain,” Brie interrupted. “Pierce is a madman. He’s trying to take over your ship, thereby controlling the fleet. You need to contact Commander Apollo immediately...”

Captain Suttir was standing towards the front of the small bridge. Seated were the pilot, co-pilot and navigator. Being a non-military ship they didn’t have much personnel, and they all would double-up on duties. “Major Brie?” Captain Suttir spat out her name. “The same Major Brie who was convicted of the negligence that led to Amy’s condition?”

“Captain Amy is a fine warrior who was injured on a mission that NONE of us were supposed to return from,” Brie said. “There is no one who believes in Amy or her abilities more than I do. We allowed the fleet to escape because of that mission...”

Suttir cut her off. “Obviously you haven’t spoken with Amy’s mother. Poor woman, losing her only child and her husband in such violent ways. Tell me, former Major Brie, if Major Pierce is trying to take over the fleet why are you here? Why aren’t you still in the brig, where you belong?”

“I was drugged and kidnapped,” Brie replied, realizing how unlikely it all sounded. “I knew too much.”

“That’s a lie,” Suttir said. “We heard on IFB not too long ago that you had escaped. They’ll be happy to know back on the Callisto that you’ve been recaptured.”

“Please,” Brie pleaded, “you’ve got to believe me.”

“Your arm,” Suttir said. “You’ve been shot. By who?”

“Trula,” Brie told him.

Suttir and his crew all burst out laughing. “Trula? The Galactica’s head chef? What happened, did you make fun of her vegetable soup?”

Pierce joined in their laughter. “It’s an incredible story, isn’t it?” He pulled out his laser and pointed it at Suttir, the others following suit. “The funniest thing is, except for the part about my being a madman, it’s all true.”