Chapter 28BB - The Arrest

[LucianG]

A little later, Captain Urdea received word from the Bridge that former Major Brie must have escaped the Callisto on a shuttle. As she was a very resourceful woman, Urdea had no doubt that she might indeed have escaped on the shuttle...if she wished. He also wondered if she might have had help, or might have been forced on the transport. Putting in a call to the Bridge, he soon was connected to Major Joey.

After getting the update, he rechecked his Security Force assignments. Even though there was a chance Brie had departed the Callisto, there was still the chance that she wanted everyone to just think she had left the battlestar. Urdea knew that anyone underestimating her would be in for a big surprise.

Next, he contacted the Med Lab once more. Abby was still with Amy. Rather than pulling her from Amy’s side, Urdea left a message with Lorna to tell Abby that he had checked in on her and would be with her before too much longer.

Finally, he stepped into the reception area in the Fleet Security Office. He told the officer behind the desk to find Lieutenant Wheran and have him report to Urdea’s office immediately.

“But, Sir,” protested the junior officer, “he just went to bed a few centons ago.”

“Then he should be thankful he got a little rest, shouldn’t he?” groused Urdea. "Do it." He returned to his office, and began planning for the upcoming arrest in the case of Elmer's death.

[Amy81]

Lorna left the reception desk and walked the short distance to Captain Amy's room. She was surprised to find that Abby was not there. She stepped back out of the room, glancing around the reception area, but there wasn't any sign of Amy's mom.

She went back to the desk and picked up the comm, calling Urdea back.

"Yes Lorna?" he answered.

"I'm sorry. I thought Abby was with Amy, but she's not. She's not in medlab."

"Thanks" Urdea said, ending the connection. He was about to put in a general call when Wheran stuck his head in the doorway.

"Thanks a lot" he said, looking half dead. "I could have slept a secton."

"Hold on" Urdea said, "I'm putting out a general call."

"For what?" Wheran said, scratching his belly and sitting down in the nearest chair. He yawned.

"Abby's not with Amy. I want to know if anyone's seen her."

"That's easy" Wheran replied. "Your orders, remember? We had a guard put on her due to all that's been going on?"

"Of course I remember" Urdea said with irritation.

"Well, at last report she was here in security somewhere. She was going to put in a call to Captain Suttir of the Agro ship." He yawned again while continuing. "Come to think of it, she did make that call a while ago. It was monitored."

"And after that?" Urdea asked. Wheran shrugged in reply.

"Who's on her?" Urdea wanted to know.

"Lt. Pasade" Wheran replied.

"Lt. Pasade, report in" Urdea spoke into the comm. In a moment, a reply was heard.

"Ah, Lt. Pasade here."

"Is Amy's mother with you?"

"Ah, yes..."

"That didn't sound too sure to me" Urdea replied.

A new voice cut in. Female this time. "Captain Urdea? Lt. Magon here. Amy's mother locked herself into security turboflush 3, corridor 7. She's answering us, but sounds pretty upset. She refuses to allow us in."

Wheran chuckled and shook his head. "What is it about that family and turboflushes?" he asked. "The kid nearly spaced herself looking for one, Elmer dies in one, and now the mom is locked in one..."

[Amy81]

From the other side of the door, Abby could hear the voices. But they weren't talking to her this time.

"Ah, Lt. Pasade here." After a moment, she heard the guard speak again. "Ah, yes.."

Abby sat up, trying to quiet her breathing. The woman guard spoke now. They were checking in with their superiors!

"Captain Urdea? Lt. Magon here. Amy's mother locked herself into security turboflush 3, corridor 7. She's answering us, but sounds pretty upset. She refuses to allow us in."

Abby brought her head back down to her knees. Urdea! Lords, why did they have to tell him! HIM! She felt like crying, but she had none left. Her face screwed itself into an expression of misery as her body heaved and breathing became difficult.

She sat back up, gasping for breath. She leaned against the door, sucking in air, filling her lungs. She wiped at her eyes with hands moist from having cried so many tears.

I have to get control! I have to! I don't want to be placed under observation... observ... Her face screwed up again, but still no tears came. She leaned forward again, closing her eyes, trying to blot everything out.

The female guard spoke again from the hallway. "Please, M'am. Move away from the door?"

[LucianG]

A few centons later, Urdea arrived outside the turboflush. "Lieutenant Magon, is Abby still inside?" he asked.

"Yes, Sir. We've been trying to get her away from the door, but we think she's got it jambed. We don't want to open it because unless we absolutely have to do it because she might get hurt in the process."

"Understood, Lieutenant," replied Urdea. "Let me speak with her...alone. The three of you please wait down the corridor." Pasade and Magon said, "Yes, Sir," and moved away, though the look in Pasade's eyes questioned Urdea's order. The other officer followed without a word. They stopped at the next intersection, staying alert, particularly since the former Major Brie was still at large. The latest info was that she might have left the ship, but the Captain had warned everyone that might be a trick and to keep looking for her just in case.

Urdea approached the door, and knocked gently. He spoke softly, where hopefully she could hear him, but those down the corridor would not, saying, "Abby, it's Urdea. I've sent the other security officers down the hall so we can talk privately. Abby, do you hear me? Please open the door."

[Amy81]

Abby sat up at the sound of Urdea's voice. Hearing it was strangely comforting to her. She sat there, getting her breathing under control as she heard him ask again, "Abby, do you hear me?"

She cleared her throat. "Urdea, why did you come?"

"What kind of question is that, Abby? I--"

"I'm sorry. I should be thankful you came." She sniffed. "I suppose I'm acting like a child, locking myself in here..."

"Not at all. You've been under a tremendous strain, Abby. Nobody blames you for being overwhelmed by all that's happened." He paused a moment. "Please open the door?"

"I'm not too presentable" she sniffed. After a pause she spoke again. "Is the woman guard still there?"

"Yes, down the hall."

"I'll let her in, if that's okay."

"Of course it's okay." Urdea turned and waved the two guards to come back. He met them a short way up the hall. He spoke to Lt. Magon. "Abby's agreed to let you in. I have medlab standing by. What she probably needs is some rest. Go in there, go along with whatever she says, but convince her to come out. I'd much rather her come out on her own than resort to other means."

"That's not what this situation normally calls for" Lt. Pasade observed.

"Well, it's the way it's going to be done, mister" Urdea replied. "Am I clear?"

Pasade nodded as Lt. Magon stepped to the door. "M'am? Can I come in?" After a moment the door opened a crack, then wide enough for her to enter. After she was inside, the door clicked shut again.

[Amy81]

Abby leaned back up against the door as it shut. She felt very drained, and ashamed at having her little attempt at privacy fail so badly.

"Uh oh" Lt. Magon said in a false-mocking tone, "someone's tossed her mushies!" She looked with disgust at the pile of throw-up on the floor near Abby's feet.

"I'm being punished, you know" Abby said softly, matter-of-factly. "The lords are punishing me."

"Now why would you--" Lt. Magon started to reply.

"I was going to leave my husband, so the lords took him from me. And left me the shell of my daughter to taunt me as well."

"Come here" Lt. Magon said, reaching out for Abby's hand. "We'll need to clean you up a bit before we get out of here." Abby nodded, and took Lt. Magon's hand, allowing the woman to lead her over to the sink. "Up" Magon said simply, and Abby slid onto the counter and sat there, legs dangling over the side.

"Didn't you love your husband?" Magon asked.

Abby thought a moment, as Magon ran some water and used a towel to started cleaning Abby's face. "Yes, I suppose I did once, as much as I was capable of at the time."

"Yes?" Magon said, trying to keep Abby talking as she went about cleaning her up.

"When we met" Abby continued, "I was pretty low. Elmer had such a sense of purpose back then, and I had none. I suppose I married him for the security he offered. If it wasn't for the cylon attack, I think I could have loved him with all my heart."

"The attack changed things." Magon hoped Abby would elaborate. She finished cleaning Abby's face, and produced a comb. She began combing Abby's hair.

"Very much so" Abby replied. "We were both on the Agro ship. The biggest one ever built. It was going to change interplanetary commerce." She laughed at the memory. "Elmer was very respected in the farming industry. He was on the ship to oversee things. First plantings, that sort of thing." She stopped smiling. "Then came the attack." She said nothing more.

"Then your daughter came along?" Magon asked.

"Several yahrens later. There we were, a family in the middle of nowhere. Elmer tried to adjust I think, but he took the loss of his family's farm hard. He withdrew, and I suppose I did too. If it wasn't for little Amy..."

"Know what I think?" Magon asked. Abby shook her head. "I think you are one of the lucky ones. For 20 some-odd yahrens you had a family. An intact family. There are people in this fleet that would give anything to have had a fraction of the time you did. Like me, for one. Not to look for sympathy, but I was orphaned in the attack, me and my three brothers."

Magon's face twisted, and Abby looked into her eyes, seeing the sadness there. Magon went on. "I was always thankful for my brothers. I knew things might happen, but the odds of all three maybe dying?" She laughed, a short sad little laugh. "The cylons took my older brothers. Both just had to be pilots... I made my little brother promise not to become one. So he became a cook. Know what happened?"

Abby shook her head no.

"He went to one of the two-cubit, leaky, never-should-be flying tubs to give some lessons in food prep and storage, and a pressure valve blew up, taking the whole kitchen out. He lay in a life chamber for so long, never waking up, so badly burned I found myself wishing he'd pass away. And when he did, I had to find it inside myself to move on, start over..."

"My lord..." Abby whispered.

Magon got herself together quickly, and sighed. "All I'm saying is a Cylon got your daughter, and whoever is responsible for Elmer's death will be caught and punished. It wasn't the Lords of Kobol or anything else. You need to pull yourself together. It might not be this micron, but just hold on. We've all had to, one way or another. You were just blessed with 20 yahrens before you had to face it." She took a step back. "There, finished."

Abby stood and turned around. She smiled weakly. "Thank you." She took Magon's hands. "Thank you for everything. I suppose I should go meet Urdea now, huh."

"If you are ready" Magon replied softly.

Abby nodded, and led the way to the door.

[LucianG]

As she approached, Urdea’s pulse quickened. It was all he could do to keep from taking her into his arms. “Lieutenant Magon, thank you for you assistance. I’ll escort Miss Abighiá from here.”

Magon gave a gentle smile and said, “It will be okay, Ma’am. Keep you chin up.” She went on her way.

Abby walked up to Urdea and slumped against him, averting her eyes from his gaze. She wasn’t sure how he would react, but when he put his arm around her and began escorting her along the corridor, she breathed a little easier. “Oh, Abby. I’d ask how you are, but it’s obvious that you’re overwrought, for very good reason, and exhausted,” Urdea said softly as he helped her along the corridor. “I spoke to Doc a few centons ago, and she said Amy is stable and that you really must get some rest. I’m taking you to my quarters and tucking you into bed—”

Abby glanced up at him.

“—to get some sleep,” he continued. “Doc said she’d send someone with some medication to help you sleep, if you’d like. I’ll be right outside the bedroom taking care of some things while you sleep.”

A few centons later, Abby had dressed herself in a pair of Urdea’s pajamas, and Urdea helped her into the bed, and tucked the cover around her. “Do you want me to call for that sleeping medicine?”

“No,” said Abby, as the tears welled in her eyes once more. “Just hold me, Urdea. Hold me tight.”

Urdea sat down on the bed beside her, and put his arms around her, giving her what comfort he could.

[LucianG]

Some time later, after Abby was sleeping, seemingly comfortably, in his bedroom, Urdea moved to the outer room of his quarters. He made several calls, then sat down to have a cup of tea while he waited, spreading the information in front of him for a final review. A short time later, his door buzzed….

“Okay, Lieutenant, I believe we are ready to make an arrest in this case, but I want to go through the details with you before I make the final decision,” said Captain Urdea as he and his guest sat around the table. “Whatever we do, we want to make sure we have enough evidence in this case to get a clear conviction.”

“Yes, Sir. I agree, and I think a review of the evidence will show that we’ve got him dead to rights. It’s a little circumstantial, but the Colonel was the only one with the motive, the means, and the opportunity. I think you have to make the arrest, Sir.”

The response was the one Urdea had been fearing…but also the one he had been expecting.

[Amy81]

Abby's eyes opened, and it took her a moment to remember where she was. Then she relaxed again, thinking of Urdea's embrace and the comfort and safety that came with it.

She heard voices in the other room. Though not terribly loud, they probably were the reason she woke up, she decided. She lay still, and with a little concentration she could hear every word.

I wonder if it has anything to do with Elmer?

No one as yet had offered her any details on the circumstances surrounding Elmer's death. With everything else that had happened, she hadn't had much time or frame of mind to demand answers. But perhaps now she might learn something...

She listened quietly as the conversation continued...

[Amy81]

Abby tried to concentrate on the conversation but found her eyes getting heavy again. Realizing it, she shifted into a more comfortable position and soon was sound asleep again.

Her eyes popped open, and she found herself staring at the ceiling of her bedchambers on the Agroship. A nurse was calming her, telling her to breathe like they had discussed.

"Nurse Becky" Abby said between breaths, "I thought you..."

"Concentrate Abby. On your breathing."

Abby looked down the length of her body. She was delivering a baby! Her eyes grew wider as she saw Elmer standing there as well.

"Elmer! Oh Elmer!"

Elmer said nothing, but made calming motions with his hands as Abby's vision blurred.

She blinked and focused again. Some time must have passed. She was sitting up. The commotion had passed, and Nurse Becky was carrying a small bundle in her arms. Elmer stood by proudly.

"Say hello to your daughter" he said, "Our daughter. Say hi to Amy."

Abby reached out with joy to hold her newborn daughter. Nurse Becky's arms were ice cold to the touch, and Abby flinched slightly as she took the child from her.

Peeling back the blanket, her face fell as she looked at the baby. It's eyes stared straight ahead, unseeing.

"She wasn't like that before" Becky said, "but she is now."

Abby looked up for Becky, but saw Amy there instead, fully grown. "Let me go" Amy said simply, "let us all go."

Abby started to scream as a line of blood appeared on Elmer's neck and he began to fall, spraying blood in all directions...

Abby sat up gasping, finding herself back in the darkened quarters of Captain Urdea. With shaking hands she used the bed sheet to wipe her eyes, and then she reached for the water and sleeping pills left by the bed. She shook out two pills, swallowing them with a gulp of water.

"Nerves" she said. "Nerves. It was just a dream. Probably natural." She burrowed deep under the sheet and pulled it up, nearly over her head. "Natural my A$$." She shut her eyes tightly and tried to put the dream out of her mind...