A Dramatic Turn: Chapter 6

[nvgvup]

Title: A Dramatic Turn: Chapter 6
Author: (this chapter) nvgvup
            Series Co-Authors: marzipanilla and newnumbertwo
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,975
Summary: At the start of something more, Laura and Bill’s relationship gets complicated when they are dragged into a dangerous game of life and death
Notes: This is a ‘round robin’ fic. Each chapter is done by a different author. Series written for the about_time Battleship for Team!Laura. This chapter fulfills two prompts: Bring out the Big Guns and Happy Anniversary
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Ronald D. Moore. He is a very lucky man.

Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four | Chapter Five | Chapter Six | Chapter Seven | Chapter Eight | Chapter Nine



Chapter 6: In which alliances are formed

“Frakk’n terrorist,” Cain murmured under her breath.  Louder, she said, “I want this taken back to Head Quarters and lost on the way, do you understand me?”

“Yes, Director. Though if I may ask, why wouldn’t you want to check this bomb for prints or other evidence…”

“Is it your place to question me AD Shaw?”

“No, of course not Director Cain. My apologies.”

“Don’t do it again.”

Shaw quickly nodded her head in affirmation.

“This isn’t the main target,” Cain continued.

“What?” Shaw said in surprise. “That woman was right?”

“We’ll discuss her in a moment. For now, I want you to deal with this pipe bomb and get the rest of this campus cleared. There is another bomb and we have to make it appear we are doing everything in our power to ensure lives are saved.”

“Make it appear? Aren’t we going to do everything in our power?”

“Of course we’re going to do everything,” Cain snapped. “I just want to make sure that when all this is over, no one can question our work here today. We have to be seen following protocol to the letter.”

“And the pipe bomb you just ordered lost?” Shaw asked timidly.

“Your insubordination is getting old Shaw. If you would like to have a job at the end of this, I suggest you get it under control. I have high hopes for you but if you continue to lack loyalty, I shall lose them quickly.”

Shaw looked down and away, chastised, embarrassed, and finding herself more than a little terrified of the woman standing before her.

“Once the order has been given to clear the campus, I want a team ready to go with me to Roslin’s office.”

“Laura Roslin? The one who warned us about this bomb?”

“That’s what terrorists do, Shaw. They create fear and panic. Warn you about an insignificant pipe bomb that would hardly do any damage in one building while scampering off to bring out the big guns somewhere else. You never know when a threat is real. What they will strike next.  Where you are safe. They create terror. That’s what they do.”

“But isn’t Dr. Roslin a Dean here? Presumably well respected? And she said Tom Zarek was behind this.”

"There is still a chance Dr. Roslin is involved…”

“Really?”

Cain’s glare silenced Shaw’s protests. Her voice dropped menacingly low, “Do not mention the name Zarek again, do you understand me?” Shaw nodded. “To our knowledge, he is and has been behind bars for nearly two years. There is absolutely no reason, according to protocol, to give any credence to Dr. Roslin’s claims. Is that clear?” Shaw nods again. “Pointing fingers at a prisoner behind bars only makes Laura Roslin more of a suspect.” Shaw continued to nod in agreement. She had so much to learn from Cain, who’s had a long and distinguished, if not somewhat mysterious, career in the Colonial Security Force.

It had been a shock when Kendra was promoted over far more decorated agents to the position of Assistant Director, but Cain had said she was handpicked and Kendra was in awe. If Helena Cain wanted to promote an ingénue she could mold and train to her liking, Kendra wasn’t going to complain. She was eager to learn and this day was proving to be her chance to not only see Cain in action but to prove that her own promotion wasn’t a mistake.

If Cain didn’t explain the reasons for all her actions, it was her prerogative as Director of the largest defense organization apart from the Fleet. Kendra Shaw certainly wasn’t going to question her motives.

“I’m on it, Director. I’ll secure the evidence, alert the police and campus security to begin clearing every building, and prepare a team to accompany you to Dr. Roslin’s office. Right away.”

Cain smirked as her young Assistant Director nearly snapped a salute before running off to carry out her orders. Sometimes Cain was brilliant. Handpicking that sap of an agent to do her bidding was one of her better ideas. Though her recent reservations were becoming a bit intolerable, Cain still believed Shaw could be useful. If she made it through this day alive, Kendra Shaw might just get to stick around.

ooOoo

“Oh!,” Laura gasped looking at the jumble of splintered wood and burned paper that was her office. “Can you imagine if we had really been walking through that door when this exploded?”

Bill could; images of Laura bloody and burned swimming to the forefront of his mind.

“Let’s just see if there’s any evidence of the explosive device. Something there might be fingerprints on. Prove that frakk’n terrorist is behind what’s happening.” He growled in answer.

The Dean and the retired officer set to work, first examining the demolished wall of the office’s entryway where remains of the bomb were most likely to be found. But the damage was extensive and Laura soon moved further into her office, curious to see what was left.

The comfortable red couches closest to the door, where she had advised countless students over the past few years, were in tatters. Wood from the exploding door and wall had been flung backwards and embedded in the thick upholstery. Pictures had been knocked from the walls, glass sparkled across the rich brown carpet, and several standing lamps lay supine on the floor.

Laura moved quickly, inwardly cringing at the damage but determined to get to the bottom of whatever Zarek was after. Her diplomas, hung closest to the far wall, had managed to escape unscathed and Laura snorted in relief. Those frames had been expensive. The bookshelves lining the far wall were also in good condition, the explosion not making it back that far.

Moving around her massive oak desk, cataloging the damage, Laura was halfway seated in her leather chair before she noticed the flower arrangement centered on her desk blotter. Laura always kept a tidy office. Too many confidential student files came through here for her to leave things lying about. Nonetheless, her desk seemed somehow more pristine than when she had left it. Yes, her monitor had been pushed slightly to the side and her pens placed in a decorative vase on the far left corner, as though making room for the beautiful bouquet of yellow birdsfoot trefoils, pink lobelia, and lavender viscaria.

Laura had received flowers in the past, usually from Adar. Her aide always brought them into her office rather than leaving them out front where anybody could wonder by and get nosy about the little white envelope sticking out. But Billy usually removed the note, putting it in her top right drawer, and placed the gaudy arrangements on a round table in the front corner. Out of most visitors’ line of sight. He never placed them on her desk.

Yet here they were. Envelope sticking out as though mocking Laura for the disastrous way she’d ended her last conversation with the University President. It certainly wasn’t out of the realm of possibilities that Adar would have sent a parting slap by way of these unfortunate blossoms. Though it was unlikely Adar knew enough about flowers to have intentionally put together an arrangement that sent a message of teasing, malevolent revenge. No, the chill spreading up Laura’s spine said her unconscious suspected something much worse.

Laura timidly extracted the little envelope from between the soft petals. Nothing was printed on the outside and Laura momentarily entertained the hope that the flowers weren’t meant for her at all. But as she lifted the flap and slowly pulled the white card out, her hopes were dashed and her heat sank.

“Bill,” she gasped in horror sinking into the chair behind her.

Bill snapped his head up from where he was crouching near the front wall. Seeing the distressed look on Laura’s face, he quickly made his way over and pried the small white card from her clenched fingers.

Enjoying the game, Laura? It’s not over yet. You caught me once; You won’t succeed again. The stakes are higher and my target is more specific. I’ll enjoy seeing you try nonetheless. Yours Truly.

“What does he mean about his target being more specific?” Bill barked.

“I…I don’t know,” Laura was dazed. Bill kneeled down beside her chair, taking her still clenched fist in his hand, working her fingers loose until he could thread his own through.

“It’s okay Laura. We’ll get him. We’ll figure this out and put a stop to it.”

“How can you be so sure, Bill? This is a terrorist we’re talking about! A terrorist who thinks it’s fun to blow up offices and play deadly games with a former colleague!”

“I know because I believe in you, Laura. You are smart. Smarter than Tom Zarek. He has the upper hand right now, yes. But you have me. And together we can beat him.”

Laura calmed at the earnestness in Bill’s gaze. She wasn’t alone. The first time around, it had been difficult to get people to believe her. She’d gone on a date with a suspected terrorist just to get evidence so someone would pay attention. But this time she had a partner; someone who believed her crazy theories and would stand by her side to fight this relentless enemy.

Laura straightened up, returned the squeeze of Bill’s hand in hers and collected her thoughts.

“Before, the first time, Zarek blew up a government building. After he was convicted, he wrote a paper. It wasn’t made public but his lawyer sent me a copy. It was full of philosophical bullshit about the foundation of the twelve colonies and how Caprica was dominating the other eleven and silencing any dissent. He wanted greater representation and transparency in the government.”

“That seems pretty specific to me.”

“Yes except his target was symbolic. He was sending a message, not destroying something that served a purpose.”

“So you think this time he means to blow up something specific. Something of value or something he perceives as a threat?”

“It’s an idea.”

“A good one. But what would a man like Tom Zarek find a threat on a public university campus?”

Laura sat in thought a moment before declaring suddenly, “Gauis Baltar!”

“Who?”

“A scientist,” Laura’s words were fast with excitement, “He has a lab here on campus. He donated ridiculous amounts of money to the university in exchange for the space and still fully funded the project himself. Said he wanted complete control. And he’s got it. Even Adar isn’t entirely certain what happens in there.”

“What would he be doing that would warrant that level of secrecy?”

“Nothing good, I’m afraid.”

“Okay, let’s think of it another way. What would Gauis Baltar be researching that a terrorist like Tom Zarek would break out of prison to blow up?”

“Remember, I don’t think Zarek got out on his own.”

“You think Cain was involved?”

“I don’t trust that woman.”

“If that’s the case, we shouldn’t stay here. That explosion had to have set off some alarms somewhere on campus and Cain and her attack dogs are bound to come running soon.” Laura and Bill both stood from their positions, beginning to make their way back over the destroyed office and out into the hall.

“Where can we go to figure this out? Where would be safe?” Laura asked as they got to the stairway headed down.

“I have just the idea.”

“Where?”

“Happy Anniversary Laura,” Bill was grinning. Laura looked at him perplexed. “It’s been three weeks to the day since you didn’t poison my coffee.” Bill smirked. Remembering that day in the Green House when her anger had gotten the best of her, Laura smiled.

“Let’s go, Old Man. I could do for a hot cup of tea.”

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