Disclaimer: The characters and situations of the TV
program Battlestar Galactica are the creations of SciFi,
Leobon’s Revenge ~ Apollo’s Lady
He stumbled as he climbed the stairs. He knew the real interrogation hadn’t even begun, but his body already ached. His hands bound in metal clasps behind his back created his instability. The centurion on either side kept him from falling. He felt a sharp, metal hand tighten on his bicep. He wasn’t going anywhere. The simple stumble had been interpreted as an attempt to escape. They stopped and he was held just off the main platform, out of sight of the audience. He listened to the speech.
One of the fives, more commonly known as Aaron Doral, held up his hands for silence. “We’ve spent valuable time and energy tracking you down in order to bring you into protective custody.” He said nothing about the groans from the audience, but a silent message had obviously been sent to the centurions, who redirected their weapons. “We’ve offered you food, shelter and medical care. We’ve protected you and kept you safe and yet there are still those among you who wish to rebel. To those, we deliver a message.” He paused for dramatic affect. “Some of you have been in contact with the two fugitive ships. We felt it was important for you to know that we’ve destroyed one of those ships and will shortly annihilate the other. There is no one coming to rescue you.”
From somewhere deep in the center of the crowd, a voice cried out. “Frakking LIARS!”
Another added. “Galactica will come for us!”
To this Doral smiled. “We are awaiting Galactica’s arrival. Knowing humans as we do, we are positive the Galactica is not far away and we are prepared for her arrival.” He turned to face the prisoner and nodded to his guards.
A choral gasp came from the crowd as a bound Commander Lee Adama was pulled onto the stage. Doral continued. “As you can see, the Pegasus is destroyed and we brought Commander Adama into our protective custody as well. This should be proof enough for you all. Give up your fight and join us in true peace.” He smiled sickly and added, as a final jab. “We’ve got big plans for the Commander.”
** ** BSG ** **
Lee’s head rested on the table. He had no idea how much time had passed. He was fairly certain he’d passed out for some of it, although the cylons were doing their best to prevent that. He’d been brought directly from the “exhibition” to this cell. He’d been alone in the dark for a long time. He knew it was sensory deprivation. He chuckled at the thought. It might work on some hostages, but he enjoyed the tranquility. He’d spent too long fighting and running not to appreciate time to sit and think. He knew it was designed to bring out fears, but Lee had none left to contemplate. The worst was already happening.
He’d been surprised when the Leobon model had entered. He hadn’t really had any first hand exposure to the model. That privilege had belonged to his father and Kara. Her name did give him pause. His one wish was to make things right with her before the end. He prayed his plan somehow worked and he would safely see her again. If he died here and now in cylon custody, it would be his biggest regret.
Leobon’s entrance had
been flamboyant. He’d smiled and offered
food and drink after allowing Lee’s eyes time to adjust to the bright
light. “How are you, Commander?” He slid the tray of food away and sat on the
table near Lee.
Lee had said nothing.
He knew he was being baited.
“Come now, Commander.
May I call you Apollo? Or perhaps, Lee?”
“Do we really need to play games?” Lee demanded, spitting
out his words. “I know how much you
enjoy the head games, but since I know this, let’s skip them.”
Leobon laughed. “Ah, the good Commander has done his
homework. It’s always wise to know your
enemy.” He sobered. “We are enemies aren’t we? In more than one way.”
Lee rolled his eyes and decided the game had to be played. “You attempted to destroy humanity. That makes us enemies.”
“And I want Kara Thrace as do you. That makes us enemies as well, correct?” Leobon’s eyes
narrowed. “Kara Anders now isn’t
it? How angry were you when she married
that simpleton pyramid player?”
Lee fought to control his reaction, saying nothing.
“That angry, huh? I was.
Did you know he attempted to save her?
He refused to tell me where she was.”
Leobon watched Lee closely. “I’ll be honest, we still don’t have
her. She’s managed to hide out all this
time.” He stopped and then added. “She wouldn’t come, even when we held her
husband. I’m betting things will change
now, with you here.” He leaned in close
to Lee’s face. “It’s what you’re hoping
for isn’t it? Isn’t that why you let
yourself be captured? You planned on
making it to the planet and if you were captured, you’re planning on the
resistance rescuing you, correct?”
Lee said nothing.
He stared at a small notch at the top of the door.
Leobon leaned back
out. “So, I imagine you have information
you were hoping to pass on to the resistance.
I’d like to know what that is.”
Lee began to laugh hysterically. It was a hearty laugh, deep from within his
soul.
Leobon read Lee’s
mind. “No, Commander, I didn’t assume
you would just tell me that information.”
He stood up and dramatically intertwined his fingers and flexed
them. “I’m looking forward to treating
you with as much kindness and respect as Starbuck treated me.”
Lee’s head throbbed. Blood from a cut on his head had congealed and he had to pull his head to free himself from the table. It reopened the wound and he felt the blood flow down his cheek. He groaned inwardly; he wouldn’t give the cylons the satisfaction of moaning out loud.
He’d been beaten in the beginning. Starvation and dehydration went without saying. Once the beatings hadn’t caused him to reveal the location of the Galactica or where he was to meet the resistance, they tried water torture. He knew from Kara’s report that she’d tried the same. His mind had clouded and he struggled to recall what else Kara had tried before Leobon was finally airlocked by the President. He could already feel the rumble in his chest. He hadn’t been able to keep from swallowing the frigid water as he was being dunked over and over again into the tank.
They’d left him alone again, to suffer; he supposed. Certainly his body cried out for relief. He truly didn’t know how much more he could take. His body would succumb. His mind and heart, however, were staid. He would die before he gave away any information. He’d known this was possible and he’d been prepared.
A small smile formed on his lips and a chuckle followed. They thought he knew where Galactica was. He had no idea. It was part of the plan. What Lee held deep in his mind was a broadcast frequency. The frequency the resistance would use to coordinate an attack with Galactica. It was a special frequency that the cylons shouldn’t be able to register. They colonials had never used it. It was antiquated. It was assumed the cylons and their superior technology would never stoop so low as to check such broadcasts.
Leobon entered again. “Awake I see, Apollo. Good. I didn’t want to have to wake you.”
“What’s next?” Lee asked, renewed with fresh resolve.
“Don’t you remember? I was sucked out an airlock.” Leobon grinned.
Lee’s face contorted in annoyance. “Seeing as how we’re on a planet with full gravitation, I’m not sure what you’d plan.”
“I’ll give you one less chance to tell me what I want to know, before I end this all for you.”
Lee laughed. “I don’t know where the Galactica is. I was escaping from my ship after ramming her into the basestar,” he smiled. “Which ended up taking out THREE, yes, three of your basestars.” He laughed. “I thought you were tough? One grossly undermanned battlestar takes out three of your highly superior ships.” Lee was gloating and loving it. He could tell that it annoyed Leobon.
Leobon remained calm. “I had this room especially designed for you. Now that I’ll grown tired of your antics, I shall employ it’s full potential. It’s been a pleasure Commander. You were a worthy adversary.”
Lee grinned. “Kara didn’t come. You didn’t catch her.”
Leobon glared at him. “Perhaps that should bother you more? Once again, the great Starbuck and Apollo are denied. First by service, then by her marriage and now,” he paused. “By your death.”
Leobon said nothing more. He stepped out of the room and Lee heard the lock click into place. He waited, wondering what would happen.
He didn’t wait long.
The air in the room began to thin. His vision swam as he turned to look at the vent in the corner. They were sucking the air out of the room. He shivered and realized the temperature had also dropped. Over a loud speaker, Leobon’s voice rattled. “See what it feels like to be sucked into space, Commander.”
Without further delay, the air seemed to vanish and along with it, any heat. Lee vaguely thought he heard gunfire, but had no time to consider it as unconsciousness claimed him.
** ** BSG ** **
The small group of resistance fighters huddled anxiously around the small fire as they waited for the tent flaps to open. As soon as Lee appeared on the stage, they’d ushered Cottle into hiding. They knew there was a good chance his services would be needed when Lee was saved.
The rescue of Lee Adama had been the resistance’s most successful battle to date and yet had been planned the least. Tigh and Starbuck had battled bitterly over Apollo’s rescue. It was the first time they’d actually disagreed since forming the resistance. Starbuck had eventually won and Apollo was rescued, but not necessarily in time. Kara glanced to the tent again, willing it to open.
When it finally did, Cottle looked grim. He said nothing as he approached the fire. Holding out his hands to warm them, he ignored the pleading eyes for what seemed like minutes. “He’s alive, barely.” He glanced at Kara. “He’s got advanced pneumonia. They dunked him in water and the suffocation didn’t help either. The bones and bruises will heal if given enough time, but…”
Tigh finished for him, dejected. “He won’t live that long.”
Cottle nodded. “I offered him something to rest, but he refused. He wants to see you.” Cottle again looked at Kara. Kara started toward the tent, but Cottle grabbed her arm. “Don’t waste time on unimportant things. Do ease your guilt with his last hours.” Strangers might have thought the doctor cruel in his bluntness. Those gathered knew he was only being practical. Starbuck and Apollo had a long history of confusion and entanglements. It was not something that could be easily sorted out.
Kara entered the tent as Lee was overwhelmed by a coughing fit. He’d rolled onto his side and curled into a ball clutching his chest. She dropped to her knees at the cot’s side and immediately pounded at his back. As the fit subsided, Lee’s bright eyes glittered at her. If she stared only at them, she could ignore the paleness of his skin and the bright red glow of fever on his cheeks, perspiration on his brow and scabbed over, ugly gash.
He smiled. “Hey!” In a raspy voice, he added softly. “Took you frakkin’ long enough.”
She dipped a cloth in the cool water on the side table and wiped at his brow. “Shut up and rest.”
He laughed softly. “Leo wanted revenge. He duplicated your techniques or so he says.” He coughed, “I don’t think you hurt him quite like this.”
She avoided his eyes now. “I told you to shut up and rest, didn’t I?”
He laughed, which turned into a cough. He raised a shaky hand and touched at a lock of her now long hair. “Not exactly military, but I bet Anders likes it.”
She couldn’t control her words. “He’s dead.”
Lee’s hand dropped. “I’m sorry. I really am.” As guilt plagued him, he turned away from her. “I’m so sorry. We had to jump. I swear we did all we could, but we had no…”
She rested a gentle finger on his lips. “I know you did.” Her voice fell to a whisper. “I know you wouldn’t leave me.”
Lee’s throat tightened at the forgiveness. “I would have sent the medicine. I swear. I wouldn’t let him die.”
She nodded. “I know. We never make anything easy, do we?”
He smiled wanly. “Dad’s coming.”
She finally smiled. “Never underestimate the old man?”
He nodded but his face fell as his exhaustion slipped through the façade he’d been maintaining. “Never,” he whispered.
Kara shook off her desire to talk more and cautioned him to sleep as she tucked the blanket around his shoulders.
He shook his head.
“No. I’ve got to give you the
codes. I assume you can get a
transmitter? The Chief?
She nodded and then quickly shook her head. “No, Lee. Not now. Rest first.”
Lee’s eyes filled with panic. There was no hiding it. “No, now. I don’t know if I’ll be around later.”
Kara tried to laugh it away. “Planning on a vacation? I can’t promise a warm paradise here on New Caprica. The winters are hell and the summers cold and rainy. I’d know. I’ve been here all along.”
“Always a joke. That’s Kara Thrace.” His smile faded and he drew as deep a breath as he could, intending to pass on the information he’d so long guarded.
Kara settled into her defeat and prepared to receive Lee’s information when gunfire erupted outside the tent. “FRAK!” Kara jumped to her feet and pulled her sidearm from its holster. She glanced back at Lee, who was obviously struggling to rise. “Stay here. I’ll take care of it.”
Lee, too weak to do much, did as ordered. If anyone would fight, it was Kara. He listened as the battle outside the canvas walls continued.
Suddenly, there was silence. Lee could hear muffled voices, but nothing distinct. Lee struggled to sit up and then pulled his legs over the edge of the cot. He summoned all the strength he had in him and stood. He fell toward a table opposite the cot, and held himself upright until the room stopped spinning. He clutched at the lone gun resting there and made his way to the tent flap, relying on whatever was in the path for stability.
Using a trembling hand and willing his chest to calm, he
shifted the tent flap just enough to see outside. Cylon centurions flanked Kara, Tigh, Cottle,
Lee couldn’t make out what Tigh said, but it earned him a slap that drove him to his knees.
Leobon must have seen the movement in the tent and he directed the group’s attention there. “It seems Commander Adama lives.”
“Damn right!” Lee straightened his shoulders and pride filled his legs with the strength to stand tall.
“You weren’t meant to die in our complex. If you had, they,” he gestured to the other colonials. “wouldn’t have been able to rescue you and you wouldn’t have led us here.”
Lee suddenly paled. He knew immediately. They’d somehow tracked him.
Leobon again comprehended Lee’s mind. “A device was planted on your foot of all places. We’ve been tracking you since they hauled your limp body out of town. We planted the tracer in your foot of all places.”
Biers cut Leobon’s pleasure short. “We’ll be taking you all into custody. Since you are the leaders, there will be no one to rescue you. As god has always planned, humanity will finally be ours.”
She waved hand and the centurions pushed the group of rebels closer together and forward. Leobon went to Lee’s side and pulled him from the tent. Lee stumbled and fell to the ground, unable to rise again as a cough fit took over.
Leobon shook his head and Kara, sensing what was about to happen, screamed and struggled to get to Lee.
Leobon stooped and raised his weapon. “Perhaps we should end the commander’s suffering now. It will save us the trouble later.” He cocked his gun and prepared to fire and all the rebels shouted in anger.
Lee was doubled over and no one saw the smile on his face. In one swift move, belying his physical condition, he elbowed Leobon. Springing up, he fired the gun he’d carried point blank in Leobon’s face. Blood, bone and lords knows what else sprayed Lee’s body and face, but it didn’t stop him. Faster than even the centurions could react he turned on Doral and fired. He shouted as he did. “Frak god’s plan!”
He turned to take out Biers but the adrenaline failed him and he slumped to the ground. The centurions had time to re-form and Biers burst into laughter. “So pathetic.”
No sooner had she said the words, than her head snapped backward and then her whole body fell forward. No one heard that first shot, but everyone ducked for cover as shots flew in from all around them. The rebels shielded their bodies as best they could from the fiery bits and shards of centurions rained down on them. The centurions were exploding from fire surrounding them.
The world went quiet and without waiting, Kara crawled on the ground to reach Lee. She got to his side and pulled his limp body into her arms. “Lee? Lee? Don’t leave me now!”
As the smoke dissipated, colonial marines swarmed the area. They parted and Admiral William Adama strode into the group. He scanned the area and saw Kara holding Lee. Denying his instinct to go to his son, knowing Kara would watch over him, he stormed over to the Biers corpse. He rolled the body over with his foot and looked down to discover she still lived.
He saw the anger in her eyes and it brought a smile to his face. “Pathetic huh? My son is anything but pathetic.” Without warning, he raised his own gun and fired.
He nodded to Tigh and the others.
“’Bout damn time!” Saul Tigh complained, as he picked up a discarded weapon, not fully trusting the marine presence.
“Ingrate!” Adama replied, before turning to his son, now being tended to by Cottle as well.
He rested his hand on his son’s chest, comforted by the beat of the heart within. He met Kara’s gaze.
“He didn’t get to tell me about this part of the plan.” She said with mock annoyance. “It would have been nice to know.”
He chuckled softly. “He didn’t know about it either. Sometimes you gotta take a hard six.”
** ** BSG ** **
His world had been utterly blank, and when visions finally returned, they weren’t pleasant. Over and over he saw Leobon and the sick grin of pleasure he displayed as he’d beaten or tortured him.
In the quiet night of Life Station, Lee’s head lolled back and forth on the clean, white pillow. A father’s concerned hand stayed the tormented head and as he pulled his hand away, he met his son’s tired, confused eyes. “Welcome back, son.”
Lee coughed and struggled for several deep breaths. Adama lifted an oxygen mask to his face and Lee relished the smooth, cool air. A cup filled with cool water replaced the mask. Calmer, Lee found words to match his emotions. “Is this a dream?”
Adama chuckled and shook his head. “No, you’re safe on Galactica along with the rest of the civilians. We’re back on the run. You’ve been out for a spell.”
“Kara?” Lee asked quietly.
Adama smiled. “All is as it should be, well, in a sick way.” He pointed to the opposite end of the bed, where Kara Thrace slept awkwardly in a chair.
“She’s been reinstated as acting CAG. So she spends her days in charge and her nights here.” Adama added, with a huge grin.
“Acting CAG?” Lee questioned.
“Well, there’s time enough for this discussion, but we didn’t want to make any assumptions about your plans.”
“My plans?” Lee asked, feeling tired. He had just woken. He didn’t want to think about anything other than more sleep.
“We’ve lost the Pegasus. You’re a commander with no ship.”
Lee laughed softly. “Thanks for reminding me.”
Adama placed his hand on Lee’s shoulder. “You did well.” He squeezed harder. “I’m so proud of you.”
Lee also wasn’t ready for the sentiment. “So, my future?”
Adama knew Lee’d gotten the message. It was enough for him. “We didn’t know where you’d want to serve when you’re back on your feet.”
At the mention of feet, Lee cringed and panic welled within him. “My foot, the…”
Adama moved his hand to Lee’s chest when he tried to rise. “When you’re able, you’ll find a small incision on your foot where Cottle removed the tracking devise.” Once Lee was calmly settled on the pillow again, Adama continued. “You’re welcome on CIC. There’s never been two Colonel’s on a ship before, but we’ve never been chased by Cylons before either.”
“Or?” Lee asked, not knowing if he wanted to share privileges with Saul Tigh.
“If you’d want to return as CAG. Cottle believes you’ll fly again. I wasn’t sure you were totally ready to give it up.”
Lee was quiet. “I don’t want to decide right now.”
Adama grinned. “I didn’t think so. Cottle says you’ll have plenty of time to think about it while you recover.”
“Not too long, I hope.”
“Not you. If I’ve learned one thing about my son,” he watched as Lee tensed. “Ultimately, he never gives up.”
Lee’s lips threatened to quiver. “I…”
Adama returned his hand to Lee’s shoulder. “Ultimately. My son never gives up. I depend on that.”
Lee was quiet and Adama thought he’d gone to sleep. He was reading a report when Lee spoke again. “The cylons think they are so superior, but they aren’t. Even these machines are flawed like us.”
“That’s some deep thinking when you’re supposed to be resting.”
Lee rolled over to face his dad. “The cylons attacking was nothing more than revenge. Leobon wanted revenge too. He said so. How does such a primitive emotion make them superior?”
“It doesn’t, son. It doesn’t.”