Fic: Homecoming
Homecoming
Characters: Laura, Caprica Six, Hera
Spoilers: post S3 finale
Disclaimer: not mine, sadly
Rating M
Thanks to
dixgrl78for the beta
Even in the cell, Six could feel the excitement of Galactica’s crew. The miraculous reappearance of Starbuck, with ‘I’ve seen Earth’ had revitalised the fractured fleet. She shouldn’t know these things, but humans were ridiculously narrow-minded and assumed her aural range was the same as theirs, it never occurred to them her senses were superior, so there was a lot of loose talk around her.
What was the phrase Corporal Venner had used, humans being so imprecise in their language, oh yes, Earth was a hop, skip and a jump away. As for most humans, that wouldn’t even clear her cell, it was an understatement.
For Six though, the question constantly on her mind was would the new humans want to destroy her people? Would Hera be accepted?
On a personal level, would she be executed? And would her brethren box her if she resurrected? The closer to Earth, the more filled with dread she became.
Her musings were interrupted by the arrival of two guards, ones she’d never seen before, dressed in combat uniform, that bore a small insignia that said Earthforce. Dark glasses hid their eyes. Apprehension ratched up a notch. Especially as they were armed. Since when did Admiral Adama allow any armed personnel other than the President’s guards on his ship? And none of these were in her detail. They were intimidating, so still, watching.
The cell was opened and she was gestured out.
Leaving the cell almost reluctantly, what seconds before was a prison, now seemed almost a refuge as Six fell in step with the two men.
“What…?”
Both men turned toward her and although nothing was said, Six was overwhelmed by the need to remain silent.
Stepping into the corridor, Six gasped in horror at the sight of numerous bodies. It was almost as if they dropped dead in place, that they had no time to react.
The further they walked the more death she saw. And she shivered in cold. There was something sad about the sight of people who had been so alive minutes before, even if they technically had been her enemy were now lifeless.
The entire way to Admiral Adama’s quarters was littered with corpses and by the time they reached the doorway, she was almost desensitised. It would have been easier if there were signs of struggle, not this relentless death and emptiness. Nothing had taken the crew’s place, just empty rooms and the distant hum of the engines. It was the only reassuring sound she could hear.
The first guard gestured to the door and took a traditional protective stance either side.
Six took a deep breath and walked through and was met with the strange sight of Hera playing with a doll, seemingly unconcerned by the destruction around her. She was singing a song Six had never heard.
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo, a-tishoo!
We all fall down.
Mummy in the teapot,
Daddy in the cup,
Baby in the saucer,
We all jump up.
Ring-a-ring o’ roses,
A pocket full of posies,
A-tishoo, a-tishoo!
We all fall down.
The cows are in the meadow,
Eating buttercups,
A-tishoo, a-tishoo!
We all jump up.
As she sang the words she danced in a circle with the doll and ended up falling down and giggling in that high pitched little girl squeal every time she sang ‘we all fall down’.
Somehow, that whole image of Hera laughing after the death was creepy and very disturbing.
As Six watched, anxiety levels rising, Laura Roslin walked out of the bedroom, flanked by a man and a woman she’d never seen before.
Always when she’d spoken to the older woman, Six had a sense of destiny, of things hidden. Now she saw Laura without pretence, without barriers. And she was magnificent. Beautiful, cold, and inhuman.
Laura smiled and regarded Six solemnly.
“Welcome to Earth, Little Sister.”
~#~