Disclaimer: The characters and
situations of the TV program Battlestar Galactica are the creations of SciFi,
No Worse Death ~ Apollo’s Lady
Author’s Note:
I love the movie, King Arthur, with Clive Owen, Keira Knightly and JB’s friend from the Hornblower series, Ioan Gruffold. (I like them all.) I came to it, as I obsessively review movies from any connection to JB. It’s an awesome movie.
As I watched last night, I had BSG inspiration. I wanted to write it last night, but forced myself to go to bed and did it first thing this morning.
It’s a rather strange perspective, especially for me. So, with no further ado, No Worse Death. Written by Apollo’s Lady, with heavy credit to Bradley Thompson, David Weddle, and David Franzoni.
No worse Death
There is a legend, commonly believed by all battlestars. Colonial Warriors, who had fallen in the midst of illustrious battles, returned as great battlestars.
There was no doubt the Pegasus and Galactica believed in this legend. They felt the blood and life of their lost souls coursing through them. IT brought them through difficult times.
Though neither would admit it, the two warships enjoyed roaming the skies together. It hadn’t started well between them. Each of their commanders warred with each other as much as the Cylon foe. The evil one was gone now.
Pegasus watched as the enemy shot her down. She mourned as the blood seeped into her decks. She did so each time her precious cargo was hurt within her.
It was Galactica who told her of her newest commander. “It’s another old legend. It will be good for you.”
“What legend is this?” She asked, not understanding what the older ship could be referring to.
“Bold warriors suffer the curse. Long ago, before even I existed, men fought a great battle, but were defeated. The conquerors admired the skills they had shown and let them live under two conditions.”
“What were the conditions?” Pegasus eagerly asked, enthralled by Galactica’s stories, as she always was.
“They would fight in their ranks and teach their skills. That was the first.”
“That makes sense, although I wouldn’t want to fight for my enemy.” Pegasus conceded.
“True, the some thing the second condition was worse.” Galactica baited the younger, more eager ship.
“What was it?” Pegasus asked with trepidation.
“Not only did they serve, but they promised their sons as well. For generations it has continued. Their sons and their sons all have served as our knights.”
Pegasus gave a slight tremble.
“Check out that
shimmy. We may have an imbalance in the
stabilizers.” Hoshi barked the command
in CIC as if it were his.
Galactica frowned. “You shouldn’t do that to them.”
Pegasus smiled. “It’s fun to keep them guessing. You should try it.”
Galactica sighed. “I’m too old for such games. My body does tremble. Mine are merely used to it. They don’t investigate each little sputter.”
“So?”
“So what?” Galactica asked. She had already moved on to checking something in her port bay.
“SO? Why did you tell me that story?” Pegasus demanded, obviously annoyed with the aging ship. She often was stunted by Galactica’s growing senility.
“You are receiving the son of my master knight to guide you.”
“He’s to young. He won’t last either.” Pegasus pouted. “Why must I continually change knights? Why can no one command me properly?”
Galactica smiled. “This one will. You’ll be fine.”
“Why are you so confident?” Pegasus demanded.
“He brought you back once and as I said, he is the son of my master. The legend continues in him.”
“He was scared that day. How can I know it was not a fluke?”
Galactica sighed. “He is his father’s son. He understands the sacred responsibility. I even overheard them discussing it after he was given command.”
Pegasus didn’t like feeling so naïve, but she had to ask. She had already learned a lot from Galactica’s experience, but she was loathed to admit it. “What is the sacred responsibility?”
“Your new knight understands it is his purpose to protect and defend. He will value your life and the lives you carry above his own. He knows that should you parish in battle, it will be his job to live his life gloriously in your memory. You will never be forgotten with him at your helm.”
Pegasus snorted. “There is no man who would bear that responsibility.”
Galactica frowned. “Mine does and this is his son. You are safe now, Beast.”
“BEAST! I asked you not to call me that! I don’t like it.”
Galactica chuckled. “They call me the Bucket. Which is worse?”
Pegasus was quiet for a few moments. “I’ll give this son a chance. We’ll see.”
Galactica smiled. “That’s called hope.”
* * B S G * *
“This is so boring.”
“Stop it. You must be vigilant.” Galactica reprimanded. “Don’t lose your edge.”
“I’ve already lost my edge. We’ve been here too long. There is nothing to do. Look at the ships that have simply left us to rest below. We need to go.”
“Go where?” Galactica asked, just to ease the boredom. She couldn’t help but agree with the younger ship, but she wouldn’t admit it. It was her place to set the example.
“Find Earth… That was a fun journey.”
“Journey? Fun? We were running for our lives.” Galactica said, stunned.
Pegasus released an exhaust vent to emphasize her point. “It was exciting. It was action. We had something to do.” She stopped a moment. “We were doing what we were built to do!”
Galactica rolled her eyes. “NO. Now we do as we are supposed. We guard and protect.”
“So you really believe in this mission?” Pegasus asked, dumbfounded. “You wouldn’t rather be off exploring like before.”
“We weren’t exploring. We were running. I was tired of running. Sometimes the Cylons were so close, my ass hurt.”
Pegasus broke into a fit of laughter. Galactica growled. “Knock it off. I’m older than you. I’ve seen enough battle. I don’t need to seek more. I choose life and freedom, like those that have settled here.”
Pegasus scowled. “You fight for a world that will never really exist. There will always be a battlefield and you and I belong there.”
“You’re young.” Galactica reasoned.
“I am a Battlestar. I will die in battle, of that I am certain. Hopefully, it will be a battle of my choosing. That will be a good death, not this waiting.”
* * B S G * *
“Do you see them?”
“Yes. Are you ready?”
“No. I’m afraid I’m scrambling. I wasn’t ready for this. I don’t have much fight in me.”
“We won’t fight.”
“We HAVE TO!”
“Not this time. We can’t win.”
“But all the ships on the planet?”
“Listen!”
There's
nothing we can do. It's taken us forever just to get to action stations over
here. We're in no shape for a fight, sir.
“My master’s son is right.” Galactica
added.
“They'll be wiped out.”
“I think your master is right. We have to fight.”
“We don't have a
choice. We need to get out of here right now.”
“He’s right. We have to jump. Start preparing.” Galactica ordered.
“I am ready to fight. It’s not my fault you’re not.”
“My commander knows best. We will jump.” Galactica cautioned.
“Your commander will stay and fight.”
“You don’t know him as I do.”
“Begin jump prep.
We're leaving. But we'll be back. Start your prep.”
* * B S G * *
“I’m confused.” Pegasus admitted.
“About what?”
“Your commander pushes as if any moment we will be attacked. Mine is relaxed. Who do I believe?”
Galactica sighed. “I don’t know myself. Mine says we are going back to save the rest.”
Pegasus smiled. “Finally, we can flex our might.”
Frowning, Galactica injected reality. “We are out gunned in all ways. Why are you in such a hurry to go back?”
“You’re afraid. You’re always afraid. Were you always this timid in battle?” Pegasus taunted.
“I’ve served and fought too many battles to be confident. You could well learn some humility. There will come a battle that is your last. I do not rush to that day.”
* * B S G * *
“You think this is your last battle?” Pegasus whispered.
“I do. I will fight with all I have, but I don’t think I will survive it. I’ve listened to their plans.” Galactica admitted.
Pegasus thought a moment. “No wonder you’re hesitant.”
“It’s not that. I will gladly give my life, so long as others are saved in the process.” She considered her next words carefully. “It will fall to you, Beast. You will be all that remains to save them all. Are you prepared?”
Pegasus was quiet for a long time. She listened to her ship. She observed their workings. “I’m scared. I’m just one ship.”
“I did it alone once. You can do it. You will be fine.”
“But you knew so much more. You’d seen so much more.”
“And you will see it and learn, as I did.”
Pegasus was very sober. “We are blessed and cursed by our own times. I should be excited for the battle, but now, I’m not.”
“You must have hope, like I do.” Galactica offered as comfort.
“Hope? You are planning to die.”
“There is no worse death than the end of hope. Promise me you will hold on to yours.”
“How can I? You will die and you do it willingly. Where is the hope in that?” Pegasus angrily demanded.
“I will have earned freedom for you and the others. That is hope. It brings pride to my death.” She sighed. “I’ve been thinking about it. All the lives I have taken, all the blood I have shed, have led me to this moment. I will die providing life for you.”
“NO! You talk as if you have no hope. You’re wrong. You must promise to fight.”
Galactica chuckled. “Oh, I will. I know I may well survive. I’m just trying to prepare you for the worst.” She drew in a deep breath. “Now, listen closely so you know the plan well.”
“I know the plan. I am leaving and you have 18 hours to meet us or we go on alone.” Pegasus grumbled. “I still don’t like it.”
“No one does. Did you see how hard it was for our commanders?”
“We’re leaving soon.” Pegasus added. “I don’t like it. I can fight with you.”
“You must leave and bear witness to what has happened. Tell my stories.” Galactica added.
“Tell your own stories! You must promise to meet us within 18 hours.”
Galactica said nothing. She felt the warmth of her surging engines. “Behave Pegasus. Remember to temper your enthusiasm for battle. You have to have hope.”
“I’m not saying good-bye. I’ll see you soon.” Pegasus muttered.
Soon she was alone. As always, when she was feeling lost, she went to her commander. She listened quietly as they spoke.
“I'm having trouble
accepting this.”
“So am I!” Pegasus listened even closer, now that she knew her commander thought as she did.
“I know, but we have
to push forward. Keep the fleet together, find Earth.”
“Right, that's our duty.”
“No, our duty is to fight!”
“There's still a
chance they'll come back. Your father has pulled off more than a few miracles
in his day.”
“I know that. And I haven't given up hope.”
…no worse death than the end of hope… Galactica was right.
“Yes you have. I saw the look on your
face when you came back from Galactica. Like you were never
going to see him again.”
“Am I that easy to
read?
“Was he preparing you as Galactica prepared me? It made me sad as well.”
“Just
to me.”
“He's taking on too much for one half strength Battlestar to handle. And
that's not opinion, that's military fact. He's not coming back from this, none
of them are.”
Pegasus swallowed hard. Everyone knew the truth.
“All we can do is make
plans for the future. We have to survive. We have to find Earth. If we don't,
there will be no one to remember a man named William Adama. Or a Battlestar
named Galactica. That is our charge to keep.”
“That’s what Galactica tried to tell me as well.”
“To keep Humanity
going, no matter what the cost.
No matter - no matter who we leave behind?”
“You can do this. You can get us there. You're a Commander of this fleet, and
you will guide us to safety. And you will do it no matter the cost. Because you're an Adama.”
“He is the son. It can not be easy for him to sit back.” She watched as they went back to their work. It didn’t take long before the young commander threw his papers in the air and began barking new orders.
Pegasus grinned and warmed up with the energy of an upcoming fight. Shortly before they jumped back, her commander was alone in his quarters and spoke directly to her.
“The
Beast? You never deserved that name.” He sighed.
“I hope I’m doing the right thing.
I think I am. I think you know it
too.” He smiled. “Listen to how you’re humming. You want this too, don’t you?”
He choked up and
Pegasus felt his concern. “I’m expecting
a lot of you. Maybe too
much. I’ll do what I can to bring
you back, but… Your courage has been tested beyond the furthest limits but I
must ask one final trial.”
“You have to sacrifice me. It is ok, Commander. I understand. My goal was to die in the battle of my choice. I choose this one. Thank you.”
They jumped into the area, but no one noticed them until their missiles took out the first cylon baseship. It felt good.
“Galactica, Pegasus.
Let us take some of this work off your hands. Get your FTL up and ready and
we'll take care of the rest.”
Galactica had been too engrossed in the battle to notice Beast’s arrival. “What are you doing here?”
“Of course I had to come. I can’t let you do this on your own. You’d get killed.” There was laughter and joy in her tone.
“Where ever I go in this wretched universe, I hear the names of Galactica and Pegasus, always half whispered, as if you were gods.” The cylon baseship leered at them. “Now, all I see is pathetic metal hulls.”
Pegasus ignored him. “Are your jumped engines ready?”
Galactica confirmed it. “They are ready.”
“Then jump, damn it!” Pegasus was in the thick of the battle and was in no mood to argue.
“But, Pegasus. You’re on a direct course. Surely, you will jump…” Galactica refused to see the truth of the situation. Youth wasn’t supposed to go first.
“My journey with you ends here.” She smiled, enthralled with the battle. “Now it is you who must seize the freedom I will earn. You will live for both of us. I can’t follow you. I’ve got a date with basestars.”
“NO! You must jump as well. We’ll find a new home.” Galactica urged, knowing she was close to jumping herself.
“Home isn’t some distant place.” Pegasus had found a deep hidden wisdom in her newfound resolve. “It is in us now. It’s in our actions on this day. If this is my destiny, so be it. Let history remember that we chose to make it so.”
The cylon basestars laughed as the Galactica jumped away.
Pegasus continued to fight. She felt her last raptor depart.
“They’ve left you. What are you fighting for?” The farthest baseship taunted.
Pegasus smiled as she barreled into not one but two enemy ships. She felt the explosions rip her apart, but held her breath for her final words. “I fight for a cause beyond your understanding!”