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Whoa! The WALL finally gave in, and I managed to break through way into the chapter nineteen. Huzzah. In the meantime I also managed to sorta eradicate a character-rape I committed in chap 16. Some traces remained, but please don’t pay attention.
So. I guess I will now invite you to enjoy chapter fifteen. And tell me what you think.
Chapter Fifteen: “We lost the signal, sir!” Gaeta reported as the Galactica concluded the jump.
---
THIS OUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT
Chapter Fifteen
---
Kara gaped dumbly at Number Six. Home? Earth was supposed to be her home? Her ancestors home? Her father was an Earthling. She couldn’t remember him very clearly, neither she could remember her mother, but she recalled music. His music.
“Fine,” she choked out finally. “Earth.”
She felt nauseous again, but gritted her teeth against it. She’d lead them to Earth. The only problem was she had no idea what direction to turn. Looked at the monitors again, at the star displayed on all of them now, in various sizes, described with various symbols.
She extended her hand and hesitated before she touched anything.
“Listen to your instinct,” Six urged.
“And get us out of here, before we’re too deep in the gravity well,” Sam’s voice was louder and distressed.
Kara took a deep breath. She was the only one who could save them. But she still felt they didn’t need saving, despite the tinge of panic in the man’s voice. Damn, he had right to panic! She understood that. They were about to burn in the star’s crown, she led them to it. It was hardly a road to Earth.
She extended her fingers again, only to withdraw them. Didn’t know what to do to turn this ship the way she wanted!
“Kara,” heard Sam’s whisper right next to her ear. “Do something!”
But what? Earlier, when she touched the surface and the colors started dancing, she just played with them; it was like painting. She needed to do it. Now she felt she needed to do nothing. Listen to your instinct -- Six said.
“We have to wait,” she whispered back.
“Wait for death?” Sam lost his temper. He reached over her arm, and was about to touch the blank grayish surface, when Kara rammed into him pushing him away. He fell to the floor screaming with pain and Kara felt sorry. She didn’t mean that!
“Sam--” Kneeled beside him, concerned, but now it was his turn to push her away.
“What are you thinking? Damn you Kara, this ship is heading for a disaster! We--” he choke and only pleaded with her silenly.
“I don’t know Sam. I only know that we can’t touch anything. Anything!”
That was what her instinct was telling her. And she had to obey. Before she gathered words to tell him that, the ship moaned terryfyingly, and a flash of blue light entered the control room, shining from the corridor around the column.
But instead of looking there, Kara gazed at the monitors and the at slanted surface. It’s colors woke up for a brief moment in dazzling, bliding swirl, before everything was immersed in radiant blue.
---
“We lost the signal, sir!” Gaeta reported as the Galactica concluded the jump.
They were one jump away from the target!
“Maybe we should send a raptor there to investigate?” Tigh suggested grumbly. He knew his suggestion would be ignored anyway.
“It would take them five jumps if not more,” Adama dismissed the idea absently. “Launch CAP.” They were going to leave the civilian fleet right here, protected by the extended CAP, consisting of two full squads. Using the same tactic Commander Adama used when he’d gone to their rescue at New Caprica. The older Adama couldn’t remember if he’d ever commended his son for this move. He’d thanked him alright, but there had been so much to do then, there simply had been no time. No time.
“CAP launched and in position.”
“If we go into the cylon trap we’ll have close to no defence,” Tigh grumbled once more.
“We have two other squads,” Adama retorted again. They were going to do it, no matter what.
“We lost that distress signal. We don’t even know what caused it’s fading!” Tigh tried another approach, but was ignored once more.
“Begin jump-prep.”
---
The uppermost level of the Temple was bright like day. After exiting the elevator Dualla could easily see their belongings laying around as they teft them: the pot of green goo, bowls filled with unfinished food. Muddled cots.
The lamps couldn’t generate that much light.
Dee stepped down from the platform, and turned around.
The crystals were glowing.
So that’s why they were going toward the star! The ship was commencing a jump --Kara Thrace did it right again! There was no joy in it for the young Lieutenant, only resentment and envy. How did Starbuck know that? She pointed them toward that star based on what? Her gut pilot instinct?
Damn! Dualla was never that annoyed in her life. Why? Why everything that woman touched was turning in her favor? And she couldn’t even appreaciate it!
Angry and desolate, the slender woman stared at the column and at the mandalas upon it, turning slowly. She gritted her teeth and approached the column. There was a lamp nearby, the one they used to decipher the writings. Dee grabbed it, detached the head, and thrust the end of the rod into the revolving sunrays of the mandala. It didn’t stop the spinning; the stick bounced back, hitting her in the arm and pushing her to the floor. The pain didn’t register yet; rage was too strong.
Dualla got up. Her eyes scanned the surface of the mandala. It was ancient, full of cracks. If she could find one large enough . . . There! Carefully she inserted one end of the stick in the crack, at the sharp angle and, as the mandala turned, the other end of the stick hit the floor.
The mandala stopped.
The ship moaned, lights atop the clompn flashed, then with a piercing screech the stick shifted position. As the force from the mandala pressed on it, it moved further, until it sprung in the air, straight toward the petite woman standing close by.
Dee couldn’t possibly avoid it. But in this surprisingly long moment she had plenty of time to wonder what she wanted to accomplish? Was trying to rub Starbuck the wrong way really worth it?
---
“What the frak just happened?” Sam asked when colors returned to normal.
Kara jumped up to the monitors, and saw no sign of a star that had been on each of them only a moment ago.
“We jumped,” she whispered. “That’s what happened! This ship needs the energy from a star to jump. Just like it acquired the energy from the Nova earlier.” Excited, she turned first to Sam, who was gathering himself from the floor. Kara jumped up to him and helped him up.
“Fine, so where are we now?” Sam asked, and together they looked at the blonde cylon, who was searching for something on the monitors. “Six?”
“I think you’re right, about the way the Temple commences a jump. As for where we are--” She gestured to the monitors.
One displayed the twisting curves, lines and ellypses. The other -- a star from close distance, and as far as could be told, it was different from that previous star. It was yellow, instead of white. One more screen showed the star from a distance, and seven smaller dots in various points around the center. The symbols -- letters -- were appearing and disappearing; lines were being drawn. The circles around the sun -- the orbits of planets.
“Is that Earth?” Sam gasped, but Six said nothing, and she didn’t appear excited. She expected Starbuck to share her feelings.
“Uh--” said Starbuck. “Apparently.”
“Of course it is Earth!” Sam was in full-blown excited mode. “You found it!” He held Kara tightly, gasped from pain again, and resigned from trying to lift her, and revolve. He completelly forgot she’d just pushed him away. “You’re the best,” he said, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“But which one is it?” Kara shot a glance at the monitors, not really sharing his enthusiasm.
“Oh, you’ll find it.” Sam lost none of his belief in his wife. “But, uh, I think I’d better leave the two of you to the task,” he admitted regretfully. Now that the problem appeared to be solved, the weariness and pain were disturbing him too much; he craved for some comfort, and Six had said there had been beds below.
“What?--” Kara appeared concerned, but Sam dismissed her.
“Get us home.” He squeezed her arm and limped off to the elevators.
Kara looked after him for a moment, then sighed and turned back to Six. The cylon’s blue eyes were glowing with expectation and religious zeal. It frightened her to the levels she couldn’t quite comprehend, but she had little choice now.
She touched the surface, hoping the Temple would guide her fingers again.
---
t.b.c.
So. I guess I will now invite you to enjoy chapter fifteen. And tell me what you think.
Chapter Fifteen: “We lost the signal, sir!” Gaeta reported as the Galactica concluded the jump.
---
THIS OUGHT TO BE DIFFERENT
Chapter Fifteen
---
Kara gaped dumbly at Number Six. Home? Earth was supposed to be her home? Her ancestors home? Her father was an Earthling. She couldn’t remember him very clearly, neither she could remember her mother, but she recalled music. His music.
“Fine,” she choked out finally. “Earth.”
She felt nauseous again, but gritted her teeth against it. She’d lead them to Earth. The only problem was she had no idea what direction to turn. Looked at the monitors again, at the star displayed on all of them now, in various sizes, described with various symbols.
She extended her hand and hesitated before she touched anything.
“Listen to your instinct,” Six urged.
“And get us out of here, before we’re too deep in the gravity well,” Sam’s voice was louder and distressed.
Kara took a deep breath. She was the only one who could save them. But she still felt they didn’t need saving, despite the tinge of panic in the man’s voice. Damn, he had right to panic! She understood that. They were about to burn in the star’s crown, she led them to it. It was hardly a road to Earth.
She extended her fingers again, only to withdraw them. Didn’t know what to do to turn this ship the way she wanted!
“Kara,” heard Sam’s whisper right next to her ear. “Do something!”
But what? Earlier, when she touched the surface and the colors started dancing, she just played with them; it was like painting. She needed to do it. Now she felt she needed to do nothing. Listen to your instinct -- Six said.
“We have to wait,” she whispered back.
“Wait for death?” Sam lost his temper. He reached over her arm, and was about to touch the blank grayish surface, when Kara rammed into him pushing him away. He fell to the floor screaming with pain and Kara felt sorry. She didn’t mean that!
“Sam--” Kneeled beside him, concerned, but now it was his turn to push her away.
“What are you thinking? Damn you Kara, this ship is heading for a disaster! We--” he choke and only pleaded with her silenly.
“I don’t know Sam. I only know that we can’t touch anything. Anything!”
That was what her instinct was telling her. And she had to obey. Before she gathered words to tell him that, the ship moaned terryfyingly, and a flash of blue light entered the control room, shining from the corridor around the column.
But instead of looking there, Kara gazed at the monitors and the at slanted surface. It’s colors woke up for a brief moment in dazzling, bliding swirl, before everything was immersed in radiant blue.
---
“We lost the signal, sir!” Gaeta reported as the Galactica concluded the jump.
They were one jump away from the target!
“Maybe we should send a raptor there to investigate?” Tigh suggested grumbly. He knew his suggestion would be ignored anyway.
“It would take them five jumps if not more,” Adama dismissed the idea absently. “Launch CAP.” They were going to leave the civilian fleet right here, protected by the extended CAP, consisting of two full squads. Using the same tactic Commander Adama used when he’d gone to their rescue at New Caprica. The older Adama couldn’t remember if he’d ever commended his son for this move. He’d thanked him alright, but there had been so much to do then, there simply had been no time. No time.
“CAP launched and in position.”
“If we go into the cylon trap we’ll have close to no defence,” Tigh grumbled once more.
“We have two other squads,” Adama retorted again. They were going to do it, no matter what.
“We lost that distress signal. We don’t even know what caused it’s fading!” Tigh tried another approach, but was ignored once more.
“Begin jump-prep.”
---
The uppermost level of the Temple was bright like day. After exiting the elevator Dualla could easily see their belongings laying around as they teft them: the pot of green goo, bowls filled with unfinished food. Muddled cots.
The lamps couldn’t generate that much light.
Dee stepped down from the platform, and turned around.
The crystals were glowing.
So that’s why they were going toward the star! The ship was commencing a jump --Kara Thrace did it right again! There was no joy in it for the young Lieutenant, only resentment and envy. How did Starbuck know that? She pointed them toward that star based on what? Her gut pilot instinct?
Damn! Dualla was never that annoyed in her life. Why? Why everything that woman touched was turning in her favor? And she couldn’t even appreaciate it!
Angry and desolate, the slender woman stared at the column and at the mandalas upon it, turning slowly. She gritted her teeth and approached the column. There was a lamp nearby, the one they used to decipher the writings. Dee grabbed it, detached the head, and thrust the end of the rod into the revolving sunrays of the mandala. It didn’t stop the spinning; the stick bounced back, hitting her in the arm and pushing her to the floor. The pain didn’t register yet; rage was too strong.
Dualla got up. Her eyes scanned the surface of the mandala. It was ancient, full of cracks. If she could find one large enough . . . There! Carefully she inserted one end of the stick in the crack, at the sharp angle and, as the mandala turned, the other end of the stick hit the floor.
The mandala stopped.
The ship moaned, lights atop the clompn flashed, then with a piercing screech the stick shifted position. As the force from the mandala pressed on it, it moved further, until it sprung in the air, straight toward the petite woman standing close by.
Dee couldn’t possibly avoid it. But in this surprisingly long moment she had plenty of time to wonder what she wanted to accomplish? Was trying to rub Starbuck the wrong way really worth it?
---
“What the frak just happened?” Sam asked when colors returned to normal.
Kara jumped up to the monitors, and saw no sign of a star that had been on each of them only a moment ago.
“We jumped,” she whispered. “That’s what happened! This ship needs the energy from a star to jump. Just like it acquired the energy from the Nova earlier.” Excited, she turned first to Sam, who was gathering himself from the floor. Kara jumped up to him and helped him up.
“Fine, so where are we now?” Sam asked, and together they looked at the blonde cylon, who was searching for something on the monitors. “Six?”
“I think you’re right, about the way the Temple commences a jump. As for where we are--” She gestured to the monitors.
One displayed the twisting curves, lines and ellypses. The other -- a star from close distance, and as far as could be told, it was different from that previous star. It was yellow, instead of white. One more screen showed the star from a distance, and seven smaller dots in various points around the center. The symbols -- letters -- were appearing and disappearing; lines were being drawn. The circles around the sun -- the orbits of planets.
“Is that Earth?” Sam gasped, but Six said nothing, and she didn’t appear excited. She expected Starbuck to share her feelings.
“Uh--” said Starbuck. “Apparently.”
“Of course it is Earth!” Sam was in full-blown excited mode. “You found it!” He held Kara tightly, gasped from pain again, and resigned from trying to lift her, and revolve. He completelly forgot she’d just pushed him away. “You’re the best,” he said, placing a kiss on her forehead.
“But which one is it?” Kara shot a glance at the monitors, not really sharing his enthusiasm.
“Oh, you’ll find it.” Sam lost none of his belief in his wife. “But, uh, I think I’d better leave the two of you to the task,” he admitted regretfully. Now that the problem appeared to be solved, the weariness and pain were disturbing him too much; he craved for some comfort, and Six had said there had been beds below.
“What?--” Kara appeared concerned, but Sam dismissed her.
“Get us home.” He squeezed her arm and limped off to the elevators.
Kara looked after him for a moment, then sighed and turned back to Six. The cylon’s blue eyes were glowing with expectation and religious zeal. It frightened her to the levels she couldn’t quite comprehend, but she had little choice now.
She touched the surface, hoping the Temple would guide her fingers again.
---
t.b.c.
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