FIC: Not Where I Belong, Part 7
Argh. Sorry this is so late. It was a busy weekend, with all the sunshine :) Anyway, I think this is just about done. Next week will almost definitely be the last chapter.
Enjoy!
Title: Not Where I Belong, Part 7
Author: lls_mutant
Fic Summary: Tory might have pulled her from the launch tube, but Cally's life still felt like it was over. Everything she loved was gone, or at the very least, changed to something that she hated.
Chapter Summary: Even as Galactica falls apart, some rifts continue to heal.
Warnings: Suicidal thoughts (Cally), suicide (not Cally)
Pairings: Canon pairings, Galen is important in the story, but it's more gen.
Author's Notes : What Nicky retcon? Also, although I changed a few events to suit our purposes, most of this universe follows canon… just with Cally alive.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
"Hey, Cally," Galen said. "I need to talk to you?"
Cally looked up from her soldering and pushed the hair off her forehead. "What is it?"
Galen didn't answer, he just inclined his head. Cally sighed, put down her soldering iron, and followed him into the little room that sort of served as an office.
Galen looked tired. He had ever since the mutiny, Cally realized. Tired and distracted and worried. Granted, Laird wasn't there anymore to pick up the slack, and Figuski just wasn't the same. But Cally thought it went deeper than that.
"I need you to help me with something," Galen told her. "It's a job that really takes two people. And I need you not to talk about it to anyone afterwards."
"Yes, sir."
"I mean it, Cally. Not Dee or Danielle or Hot Dog or anyone."
"I said 'yes, sir'."
"Good. Let's go."
***
Injecting the dye into the hull of a ship was something Cally had only done three times before: twice on a Viper, once on a Raptor. It was tricky and tedious, and by the end of the injection process her eyes were burning and she had a headache.
"All right," Galen ordered. "Kill the lights."
"As long as they don't kill me back," Cally muttered, because the way Galactica was acting these days, that was always a possibility. The odd surges of electricity, random outages, and intermittent failures were becoming almost routine. Cally opened the box and turned out the lights, and Galen turned on the UV lamp he'd brought with him.
The spiderweb of cracks took both their breaths away.
***
"Frak." Cally said, dropping into a seat in Galen's little office.
"Yeah, frak," Galen agreed, sitting down on a table. He picked up a screwdriver, tossed it from hand to hand for a moment, and then set it back down. "FRAK!"
"Every place we tested…." Every time Cally closed her eyes she saw that network of cracks lighting up again. "How long do you think the Galactica has?"
"I don't know," Galen said. "But it can't be long."
"What are we-"
"I've got no frakking idea," Galen cut her off. "But don't say anything about this to anyone, got it?"
"I wasn't going to." Cally snapped. She pushed her hair back off her face, grimacing as she smelled the dye on her hands. She took a deep breath and glanced at the clock. There wasn't much time in her shift.
Galen saw her looking and sighed. "Go," he said. "Go pick up Nicky. I've got some stuff to work out."
"All right." Cally stood up and headed for the door. But she stopped before she got there. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Huh?" Galen looked up. "What, facing the Admiral with this, you mean?"
"No, I mean… it's Galactica," Cally said.
Galen shrugged. "It's Galactica," he agreed. "But when you get right down to it, Galactica's just another ship."
Cally nodded, but she had to admit that she was pretty sure there was once a time when that wasn't the answer he would have given. But then, maybe she was wrong about that. It sure wouldn't be the first time.
***
"Hey Cally, good news!" Hot Dog said when Cally stopped by to visit for a moment before she went to get Nicky.
"Hit me with it," Cally groaned. "I could use it."
"Doc said that the tendons are intact," Hot Dog said. He was smiling, touching his burnt arm cautiously. "It'll be a few weeks, but Doc says I'll be able to fly again no problem."
"That's great." Cally couldn't help the relief that flooded her. She didn't want to think about could have happened, and how that could have been so very, very different.
Hot Dog was watching her. "You look tired," he pointed out. "Actually, you look like shit."
Cally sat down heavily. "You know how to make a girl feel wanted, Hot Dog."
"Seriously, Cally, are you all right?"
She couldn’t tell him. And in fact, Cally found she didn't want to tell him, because then she'd have to say the words. "Just tired."
Hot Dog still looked concerned. "Look," he said, leaning forward. "I really appreciate you coming around, you know? But if you need to sleep, you need to sleep."
"I know. " Cally didn't move.
Hot Dog shrugged. "Of course, if you want to stay here, I'm not going to kick you out."
"Just for a little," Cally said.
He leaned over to the nightstand beside his bed. "One of the Marines brought me a checkerboard," he said. "Want to play?"
"All right." Cally took the board and began setting it up.
She wished she couldn't hear a heart monitor beeping somewhere in the infirmary, slowly measuring out life.
***
"We're going to WHAT?"
The uproar consisted of a lot more, but that was the one sentiment that Cally heard above anything else. And she couldn't agree more.
Galen held up his hands. "Hey, hey, hey! HEY! Be quiet! Now, I don't like it any better than you do-"
"Frak that!" one of the deck hands shouted. "You're one of them! This was your frakking idea!"
"No one's sure this is going to work," Galen said, ignoring the protest. "But it's all we've got left to try. If we don't try it, the Galactica has five, maybe six jumps left in her. At most."
"That can't be right," someone else protested.
"It's right," Galen said. "And there's only one chance to fix it. And that means that we're going to have Cylon work crews in here."
Cally closed her eyes. Cylons on the Galactica. The idea made her sick, but not like it once would have.
"You okay?" Danielle touched her shoulder.
"Yeah."
"You going to be okay with this?" Danielle asked, nodding towards where Galen was trying to restore order.
"I think so," Cally said. Danielle looked at her skeptically, and Cally surprised. "Yeah, well, at least they're doing something to help us now."
"I guess that's one way to look at it," Danielle muttered.
"Yeah. One way," Cally sighed.
***
The sight of crews of Twos, Sixes, and Eights climbing off heavy raiders on Galactica took Cally right back to New Caprica. It was the first time she'd seen that many of them in one place, and she had to take a few deep breaths to stop herself from shaking and firmly remind herself that Nicky was safe in the daycare.
The organic resin was a thick black goo that had to be painted on. The technique was simple enough, but the stuff smelled terrible, like something dead and rotting. It left the bones of Galactica dark and sticky, reminding Cally of a bad sci-fi flick she'd seen back in high school, with aliens and a pulsing ship. She wondered what the inside of the baseship looked like.
A Six was watching her. Cally had noticed it all morning, but the Six seemed afraid to approach her. It was putting her on edge, and finally, Cally snapped it out. "What?"
The Six flushed. She had dyed her hair dark, and Cally noticed she had a scar on the side of her face. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just… I know who you are."
"Excuse me?"
"Your son, Nicky. He's a hybrid." Cally's blood drained from her face, and the Six held up her hands. "No, no. Please don't take me wrong. It's not a threat. It's just… it's hope."
"Hope." Cally said it dryly.
"Hope," the Six said with a helpless sort of shrug. "Aren't all children hope?"
Hope that the Cylon race will go on, was what Cally heard in her unsaid words. She pressed her lips together and turned back to her painting.
"I'd love to meet him sometime," the Six pushed on.
Cally didn't think she'd ever feel empathy for a Cylon, but suddenly she knew exactly how Athena had felt when she'd shot that Natalie. Her hand tightened around the handle of her paint brush. "He won't be giving you any answers," she said, her voice hard. "He's still mastering colors and shapes. I think anything more than that is out of his ability."
"That wasn't why…" the Six said.
"Then why?" Cally asked. "He's a little boy, for frak's sake!"
"And I've never seen one," the Six answered. "Not up close. I saw children on New Caprica, and I heard them playing, but I never got…" she truly looked distressed. "And your child… I know he's just a child, but he's still part Cylon."
And he's a child, not a zoo exhibit, Cally was about to snap, but she noticed Galen standing near by, watching them. He mistook her glance and nodded, inclining his head toward the Six. Permission, then. Not that she wanted it.
The Six was still standing there, waiting with bated breath. Apparently, she took the fact that Cally hadn't answered as a good sign. Her face was so hopeful, that if it had been possible to forget that she was a Cylon Cally would have dropped her paintbrush right then and dragged her off to the daycare to meet Nicky.
Galen cleared his throat.
Cally's voice was still caught. The Six's eyes flicked to Galen, and encouraged, she leaned forward eagerly. "I don't have a name yet," she said, extending her hand, "but I was thinking of using Sabrina." Cally stared at her hand, and Galen cleared his throat again. Reluctantly, she took the Six's hand. It felt cold, but then, so did her own.
"Is Sabrina a good name?" the Six asked her anxiously.
Her voice felt rusty when she tried to speak. "I haven't heard it in a while. But it's pretty."
The Six's smile was radiant, almost innocent. "Thank you." She hesitated. "Your name is pretty, too. They said it's really Callandra?"
"Yeah." Cally wished the Six would let go of her hand.
"Look," the Six said. "I know you have every reason to say no. I understand that, I really do. B---ut it would mean a lot to me if I could just meet him- that there's hope for all of us, and that somehow, something is going to go on."
"I thought that's what Hera was."
"She is." The Six was earnest. "But one hybrid is an anomaly. A wonderful miracle of an anomaly, but a unique instance just the same. But a second hybrid… it's still not proof. It's still not a trend. But it's something more. And just to know that somehow, there's more for us all… it would mean so much."
Her fingers were tight around Cally's, and her eyes were pleading. But more than that, Cally saw Galen's expression. It wasn't revelation, it wasn't devout belief or pride or… or anything Cally could place. But there was something there, something that prompted her to say, "All right."
The Six's eyes widened incredulously. "Thank you," she said, finally withdrawing her hand. "I mean it. Thank you."
"We'll go after the shift," Cally said, hating herself even as she spoke.
But when she looked at Galen, he had the hint of a smile.
***
"So how did it go?" Dee asked cautiously.
Cally shrugged. "All right," she grudgingly admitted. "She didn't seem like she was ready to make off with him. She basically said hello, held him for a few minutes, and then left."
"Hmm." Dee obviously didn't know what to say, so she focused on her drink.
It felt strange to sit in Joe's, at the same table. The seats that Racetrack and Seelix would have occupied were conspicuously empty, and Caroline still refused to speak to Cally. But they were here because Dee now wore Captain's pins, and that had warranted a celebration.
"Danielle," Caroline said, "you haven't touched your drink."
"I know," Danielle pushed it over. "Drink it if you want it, but the smell of it makes me sick. I thought I'd gotten used to algae in my liquor, but I guess not."
Caroline shrugged. "More for me," she agreed, and bolted the whiskey. Danielle averted her eyes and turned back to Cally.
"How did Chief take it?" she asked.
"He was… I don't know. He was there, and he seemed happy, but he almost seemed…" Cally struggled for the word. "Wistful, maybe? I don't get it."
"Colonel Tigh's seemed a lot more at peace ever since Earth," Dee mused. "Maybe Chief is, too."
"Maybe," Cally said dubiously. "I don't know anymore. I don't really feel like I know anything about him anymore."
"So anyway," Caroline said, breaking the silence that fell over the table, "what are your plans for the Fleet, Captain Dualla? Are you going to start whipping everyone into shape?"
Dee laughed. "If I get the chance," she said with an evil grin. But her grin faded fast. "The CIC could use it," she said. "On the one hand, I knew it, but I never realized how much Felix did in the CIC." Her face was pained as she looked down at her drink. But then she heaved a sigh and schooled her face back into a neutral expression. "We ended up getting Captain Kelly out of the brig, and I'm learning tactical. It's actually pretty interesting."
"Good for you," Caroline said with hearty approval. "About time someone realized how smart you are."
Dee flushed. "I can't blame them," she said. "I enlisted straight out of school. I was in a good position."
"You were. But that doesn't change the fact that you've deserved every promotion you've gotten," Caroline said. "If things had been different, who knows what you would have done?"
"If things had been different, who knows what any of us would have done?" Danielle asked. She yawned. "I hate to do this, Dee, but I think I need to call it a night. I'm exhausted."
"You look tired. Go get some sleep," Dee agreed.
"I'll walk with you," Cally offered, more because she didn't feel like staying with just Dee and Caroline. She hugged Dee and kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations."
"Thanks Cally," Dee said, hugging her back. Caroline looked away. Cally wanted to say something to her, but she wasn't sure what to say.
"Good night," she finally said.
Caroline didn't answer. Cally turned and walked out of the bar with Danielle.
Danielle seemed far away. She had all night, Cally realized. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Danielle said absently. "Cally? Do you think that the Cylons would take Nicky? Or any baby?"
"What makes you ask that?" Cally asked, shivering.
"Just… they've always seemed so obsessed. And there were stories on New Caprica…."
"They left Nicky alone then," Cally pointed out, more to reassure herself than Danielle. They took me, but they left Nicky in his crib."
"But it was the humans that actually took you. I know a Two took a little girl that lived on our block, and so many children were taken to detention…. Even Athena seemed convinced they'd take Hera."
"Well, Hera's a bit of a special case," Cally pointed out. "Besides, if they ever did take one, that would be the end of their alliance, and I don't think they're ready to do that."
"Yeah. You're right." Danielle sighed. "I just… it was something I was thinking about, and once it got in my mind I couldn't let it go, you know?"
"So you put it in mine?" Cally teased her. Oddly enough, Danielle's words didn't strike fear into her heart. The Cylons were too in awe of the Final Five- or Four, or however many- to go near Nicky, she was pretty sure. And if they did, Cally knew she was right about the alliance. It wouldn't happen.
She was so busy reassuring herself she barely noticed they'd reached their quarters. Danielle muttered a good night and disappeared into her own rack. Cally slipped into hers, looking at the pictures taped to the wall. Nicky smiled back at her, and she touched his face.
If nothing else, if everything else went wrong… at least she had Nicky.
***
"Breena?" Nicky asked Cally, clinging to her hand.
"Sabrina's coming." Cally led him down to the mess hall. On the one hand, she resented her son's quick attachment to a Cylon. On the other hand, when the menu didn't vary and always tasted like mold, anything that made eating seem less like a chore was a good thing. And the week that they'd been eating with Sabrina had been… well, not good. Cally still tensed instinctively whenever she saw her. But it hadn't been any worse than any of the days since Earth, and that was saying something.
"Hey." Hot Dog fell into step beside Cally.
"You're out!" Cally said, a little surprised.
"Yeah, well, it was all because of Ishay," Hot Dog said with a sigh. "If I was in there any longer, she wasn't going to be able to keep her hands off of me."
Cally laughed, and hearing her laughter, Nicky smiled up at Hot Dog. "Whoa, who's this?"
"This is Nicky," Cally said, shutting out the memory of introducing Nicky to Louis as firmly as she could. "We're going to get dinner."
"Oh?"
"He has a date," Cally said.
"Breena!" Nicky added importantly.
"Breena?" Hot Dog asked, quirking an eyebrow up.
"One of the Sixes," Cally explained, making a face. "Sabrina, actually. Nicky's taken a liking to her."
"Really?" Hot Dog looked down at Nicky. "Good taste there, kiddo," he said with a wink. He returned his attention to Cally. "Not really fair that your kid gets a date and you don't, though."
"It's algae in the mess hall," Cally laughed. "I'll live."
"Nah! You deserve a date!" Hot Dog grinned goofily. "I know. I'll be your date. We can double!"
"You're such a dork," Cally informed him, still laughing. "But if you want to come to dinner with us, be my guest."
Sabrina was waiting for them near the mess hall, looking nervous. Cally grudgingly admitted she couldn't blame her, given the looks a lot of the crew were giving her as they passed by. But she lit up when she saw them, especially as Nicky waved to her cheerfully.
"Breena!" he shouted.
"It's one of his few words," Cally said to Hot Dog. "The kid is damn lucky he learned to say Momma first."
Sabrina smiled and knelt down so Nicky could toddle over and collect a hug. Then she looked at Hot Dog questioningly.
"Oh, this is my friend Hot Dog," Cally introduced them. "Hot Dog, Sabrina. She's working on the renovations."
"Hi," Hot Dog said, with a little wave.
If Cally was honest, she had to admit that she'd had the suspicion that Hot Dog had come along with them for the chance to meet one of the Sixes. They might be homicidal maniacs, but they were still extremely pretty- even Cally could admit that. And Hot Dog's reputation as a skirt-chaser (if not necessarily catcher) was fairly well known. But aside from a few pleasantries, he barely spoke directly to Sabrina. Sabrina spent her time fussing over Nicky, and Hot Dog regaled Cally with a long, drawn-out version of a soap opera happening among the pilots.
"You surprise me," Hot Dog said, after the meal was over and Sabrina had left.
"I know," Cally said, wiping Nicky's hands. "I surprise myself. I thought you were for the alliance, though."
"I can live with the alliance," Hot Dog said, his face falling into serious lines. "Partly because the Old Man said to, but I can see why we need it. Doesn't mean I like it, although I'll play nice."
"Playing nice is a pretty good description," Cally said with a sigh. "And I guess it's really the only option left, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Hot Dog agreed. "Guess so."
***
"Hot Dog's flying CAP today?" Danielle asked.
Cally shrugged. " He said Cottle cleared him. It's been a few weeks."
"A few weeks," Danielle snorted. "It should be a lot more than that."
"And Gaeta was in the CIC on a leg that had been amputated ten days prior," Figurski pointed out. "Recovery time on this ship isn't what it used to be, that's for sure."
Cally jumped. She hadn't realized he'd been standing behind them. Figurksi handed her a gymbol. "See what you can make of that, will you?"
"Yes, sir. I-" whatever Cally was about to say was--- lost in the sound of people heading towards the deck. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the Admiral, Tigh, and the President. "What the frak?"
"This can't be good," Figurski agreed.
They watched as a Raptor taxied in to the landing bay, flanked by two Vipers. Hot Dog got out of his Viper and headed towards the pilots, and Cally could see from the look on his face he was confused. The other Viper was being piloted by Starbuck, and even she didn't look as cocky and at ease, although that had really been the case since Earth. Cally wondered what the frak could necessitate such an entrance.
The brass spread out, the Marines aimed their guns, and after what felt like an interminable wait, Ellen Tigh emerged from the Raptor.
"How many dead chicks are out there?" she heard Hot Dog say.
"I thought she was dead!" Cally whispered.
"She was," Danielle said. "She must be the last Cylon."
"Well," Figurski said, "that makes some sense, I guess."
It did. But as the scene unfurled before them, it became very clear that the brass- and Galen- had known that Ellen was a Cylon. She was feeling vaguely resentful about that when the pilot of the Raptor stepped into view.
Galen stepped right up to her, until they were nose to nose. "This is Boomer," he confirmed.
Boomer. Cally wanted to double over as the air sucked out of her lungs. And as the Marines pulled Boomer past her towards the Cylon cell, once again Cally wished she had a gun in her hands.
And unless she misread his expression, Galen felt the same.
***
"How the frak did you know it was Boomer?" Cally asked as soon as Galen walked in that night to see Nicky.
"I thought we were watching the swearing in front of Nicky," Galen said. "Hey, big guy. Whatcha doing?" He knelt down and held out his arms, and Nicky toddled to him eagerly.
"Fine. How did you know it was Boomer? She looks exactly like every other Eight."
"I don't know," Galen said tiredly. "It's been a long day, all right, Cally? Don't give me shi- don't give me trouble about it. I just knew."
"Because you're a Cylon? Or is it because you were in love with her?"
"Cally-"
"Tigh couldn't tell the difference."
"Hard to figure things like this out when you're liplocked with someone else already. In case it escaped your notice, the Colonel wasn't paying attention to anyone on that deck except for Ellen." Cally scowled at that. "Besides," Galen said, putting Nicky down and settling down to play with the blocks that Nicky was insistently holding out to him. "What's it to you? You've made it pretty clear that you and I are over."
It was a good question, but it was easily answered by Nicky himself. "Play, Mama," he ordered.
"I just don't want my son being raised by a traitor," Cally muttered, sitting down.
"Fine words coming from a mutineer," Galen muttered back.
"Fine," Cally sighed impatiently. "I'll drop it."
"Good."
"Fine."
"Fine." Galen took a deep breath. "Come on, Cally. We were doing good before this. Let's not let this wreck everything we've been doing for Nicky, okay? Besides, it's ridiculous. Whatever Boomer and I had is over."
Cally nodded stiffly. "All right." She stacked a few blocks up. Nicky considered the structure and the pulled back and knocked it down, giggling at the result. Galen snorted, and even Cally grinned a little. "So how is Sam doing?" she asked, because that was the only safe question she could think of.
Galen shook his head. "No progress," he said. "Doc said if he didn't come back by now, he's probably not coming back." He began building a tower for Nicky to knock over. "It's too bad. He remembered stuff about Earth."
"About Earth?" Cally sat bolt upright. "What do you mean about Earth?" Galen balked, and Cally's eyes narrowed. "Or can't you tell me?"
"Some of it I can't. But some of it…" he sighed and rubbed his face. "You're not going to like it."
"You're already a Cylon," Cally pointed out. "How could it be worse?"
Galen stacked the blocks as precisely as possible. "Sam said that I was engaged on Earth."
"Engaged?"
"To Tory."
To Cally's shock, she began to laugh. Galen relaxed a little, risking a smile. "I know, right?" he said. "I know you thought I was having an affair, but I really wasn't. I don't know. I just…"
"I can see you frakking her," Cally admitted, and for some reasons the words didn't hurt so much as they used to. "But engaged?"
"I know, right?" Galen's smile widened. "Want to hear something really funny?"
"All right," Cally said.
"On Earth… I was a professor."
"A what?"
"I'm not kidding! But I had a flash, and believe me, Cally, there is no frakking way I could make this shit up. I remembered the day I died. I had on glasses, and a tweed jacket."
"Tweed?"
"And I was buying an artichoke. Or an avocado. Which is the brown one?"
"You're joking. You have got to be joking." Cally was laughing now, and as Galen joined in, she laughed until her sides hurt. Every time she looked at him she pictured him in tweed and glasses, and she dissolved into helpless giggles again. Nicky looked up at them both, laughing with them. Galen ruffled his hair.
"You can't see me teaching classes?" he asked. "Wandering around a university and smoking a pipe?"
"Standing at a chalkboard?"
"Mentoring students?" Galen chortled, but Cally nodded.
"That one I can actually see," she said.
He snorted. "Really?"
"What, you don't remember teaching me and Sonicus and Jammer how to make booze?"
"Yeah. I remember." Galen was still smiling, but the expression in his eyes was far away. "Frak, that seems like it was so long ago. Another life."
Cally looked down at Nicky. "It was another life," she muttered.
"Guess so."
They were quiet for a long moment, their silence broken only by Nicky taking advantage of the chance to babble. The sounds didn't form words, but there was inflection in his tone. Cally smiled. "He'll be talking soon," she said. "I mean, really talking."
"I know. Well, I've been told. Still don't know much about any of this."
"Neither does anyone," Cally said grudgingly. She hugged her knees to her chest. "Can I ask you something?"
Galen shrugged. "Sure."
"I've heard about Cylons doing that projection thing. Can you do it?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I've tried a couple times, but…" he shrugged. "But if I remembered the first thing about being a Cylon, maybe I could. Why do you ask?"
Cally fingered Nicky's hair. "I was wondering if he could do it," she said, her voice catching a little in her throat. "There's so much I'd like to show him that he might never get the chance to see, like the sun or a moon or birds or flowers or… frak, anything. And sometimes that feels like it's the only way he'll ever see any of that."
Galen rubbed his chin. "I couldn't help you with that, Cally," he said, "but I'll bet Sabrina could."
"Mmm."
"What? I know she and Nicky have been doing well together. I thought that was kind of the point, actually."
"Breena?" Nicky asked, looking up interestedly.
"That's your answer right there," Galen insisted. "Seriously. I don't know the first thing about projection. I can't show him. But Sabrina might be able to, and then he could have what you want for him. What we want for him."
She didn't like the idea, but she imagined Nicky, looking up at the blue sky and squinting his eyes closed as he enjoyed the sunlight. She nodded. "All right," she said. "For Nicky."
On to Part 8
Enjoy!
Title: Not Where I Belong, Part 7
Author: lls_mutant
Fic Summary: Tory might have pulled her from the launch tube, but Cally's life still felt like it was over. Everything she loved was gone, or at the very least, changed to something that she hated.
Chapter Summary: Even as Galactica falls apart, some rifts continue to heal.
Warnings: Suicidal thoughts (Cally), suicide (not Cally)
Pairings: Canon pairings, Galen is important in the story, but it's more gen.
Author's Notes : What Nicky retcon? Also, although I changed a few events to suit our purposes, most of this universe follows canon… just with Cally alive.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
"Hey, Cally," Galen said. "I need to talk to you?"
Cally looked up from her soldering and pushed the hair off her forehead. "What is it?"
Galen didn't answer, he just inclined his head. Cally sighed, put down her soldering iron, and followed him into the little room that sort of served as an office.
Galen looked tired. He had ever since the mutiny, Cally realized. Tired and distracted and worried. Granted, Laird wasn't there anymore to pick up the slack, and Figuski just wasn't the same. But Cally thought it went deeper than that.
"I need you to help me with something," Galen told her. "It's a job that really takes two people. And I need you not to talk about it to anyone afterwards."
"Yes, sir."
"I mean it, Cally. Not Dee or Danielle or Hot Dog or anyone."
"I said 'yes, sir'."
"Good. Let's go."
***
Injecting the dye into the hull of a ship was something Cally had only done three times before: twice on a Viper, once on a Raptor. It was tricky and tedious, and by the end of the injection process her eyes were burning and she had a headache.
"All right," Galen ordered. "Kill the lights."
"As long as they don't kill me back," Cally muttered, because the way Galactica was acting these days, that was always a possibility. The odd surges of electricity, random outages, and intermittent failures were becoming almost routine. Cally opened the box and turned out the lights, and Galen turned on the UV lamp he'd brought with him.
The spiderweb of cracks took both their breaths away.
***
"Frak." Cally said, dropping into a seat in Galen's little office.
"Yeah, frak," Galen agreed, sitting down on a table. He picked up a screwdriver, tossed it from hand to hand for a moment, and then set it back down. "FRAK!"
"Every place we tested…." Every time Cally closed her eyes she saw that network of cracks lighting up again. "How long do you think the Galactica has?"
"I don't know," Galen said. "But it can't be long."
"What are we-"
"I've got no frakking idea," Galen cut her off. "But don't say anything about this to anyone, got it?"
"I wasn't going to." Cally snapped. She pushed her hair back off her face, grimacing as she smelled the dye on her hands. She took a deep breath and glanced at the clock. There wasn't much time in her shift.
Galen saw her looking and sighed. "Go," he said. "Go pick up Nicky. I've got some stuff to work out."
"All right." Cally stood up and headed for the door. But she stopped before she got there. "Are you going to be all right?"
"Huh?" Galen looked up. "What, facing the Admiral with this, you mean?"
"No, I mean… it's Galactica," Cally said.
Galen shrugged. "It's Galactica," he agreed. "But when you get right down to it, Galactica's just another ship."
Cally nodded, but she had to admit that she was pretty sure there was once a time when that wasn't the answer he would have given. But then, maybe she was wrong about that. It sure wouldn't be the first time.
***
"Hey Cally, good news!" Hot Dog said when Cally stopped by to visit for a moment before she went to get Nicky.
"Hit me with it," Cally groaned. "I could use it."
"Doc said that the tendons are intact," Hot Dog said. He was smiling, touching his burnt arm cautiously. "It'll be a few weeks, but Doc says I'll be able to fly again no problem."
"That's great." Cally couldn't help the relief that flooded her. She didn't want to think about could have happened, and how that could have been so very, very different.
Hot Dog was watching her. "You look tired," he pointed out. "Actually, you look like shit."
Cally sat down heavily. "You know how to make a girl feel wanted, Hot Dog."
"Seriously, Cally, are you all right?"
She couldn’t tell him. And in fact, Cally found she didn't want to tell him, because then she'd have to say the words. "Just tired."
Hot Dog still looked concerned. "Look," he said, leaning forward. "I really appreciate you coming around, you know? But if you need to sleep, you need to sleep."
"I know. " Cally didn't move.
Hot Dog shrugged. "Of course, if you want to stay here, I'm not going to kick you out."
"Just for a little," Cally said.
He leaned over to the nightstand beside his bed. "One of the Marines brought me a checkerboard," he said. "Want to play?"
"All right." Cally took the board and began setting it up.
She wished she couldn't hear a heart monitor beeping somewhere in the infirmary, slowly measuring out life.
***
"We're going to WHAT?"
The uproar consisted of a lot more, but that was the one sentiment that Cally heard above anything else. And she couldn't agree more.
Galen held up his hands. "Hey, hey, hey! HEY! Be quiet! Now, I don't like it any better than you do-"
"Frak that!" one of the deck hands shouted. "You're one of them! This was your frakking idea!"
"No one's sure this is going to work," Galen said, ignoring the protest. "But it's all we've got left to try. If we don't try it, the Galactica has five, maybe six jumps left in her. At most."
"That can't be right," someone else protested.
"It's right," Galen said. "And there's only one chance to fix it. And that means that we're going to have Cylon work crews in here."
Cally closed her eyes. Cylons on the Galactica. The idea made her sick, but not like it once would have.
"You okay?" Danielle touched her shoulder.
"Yeah."
"You going to be okay with this?" Danielle asked, nodding towards where Galen was trying to restore order.
"I think so," Cally said. Danielle looked at her skeptically, and Cally surprised. "Yeah, well, at least they're doing something to help us now."
"I guess that's one way to look at it," Danielle muttered.
"Yeah. One way," Cally sighed.
***
The sight of crews of Twos, Sixes, and Eights climbing off heavy raiders on Galactica took Cally right back to New Caprica. It was the first time she'd seen that many of them in one place, and she had to take a few deep breaths to stop herself from shaking and firmly remind herself that Nicky was safe in the daycare.
The organic resin was a thick black goo that had to be painted on. The technique was simple enough, but the stuff smelled terrible, like something dead and rotting. It left the bones of Galactica dark and sticky, reminding Cally of a bad sci-fi flick she'd seen back in high school, with aliens and a pulsing ship. She wondered what the inside of the baseship looked like.
A Six was watching her. Cally had noticed it all morning, but the Six seemed afraid to approach her. It was putting her on edge, and finally, Cally snapped it out. "What?"
The Six flushed. She had dyed her hair dark, and Cally noticed she had a scar on the side of her face. "I'm sorry," she said. "It's just… I know who you are."
"Excuse me?"
"Your son, Nicky. He's a hybrid." Cally's blood drained from her face, and the Six held up her hands. "No, no. Please don't take me wrong. It's not a threat. It's just… it's hope."
"Hope." Cally said it dryly.
"Hope," the Six said with a helpless sort of shrug. "Aren't all children hope?"
Hope that the Cylon race will go on, was what Cally heard in her unsaid words. She pressed her lips together and turned back to her painting.
"I'd love to meet him sometime," the Six pushed on.
Cally didn't think she'd ever feel empathy for a Cylon, but suddenly she knew exactly how Athena had felt when she'd shot that Natalie. Her hand tightened around the handle of her paint brush. "He won't be giving you any answers," she said, her voice hard. "He's still mastering colors and shapes. I think anything more than that is out of his ability."
"That wasn't why…" the Six said.
"Then why?" Cally asked. "He's a little boy, for frak's sake!"
"And I've never seen one," the Six answered. "Not up close. I saw children on New Caprica, and I heard them playing, but I never got…" she truly looked distressed. "And your child… I know he's just a child, but he's still part Cylon."
And he's a child, not a zoo exhibit, Cally was about to snap, but she noticed Galen standing near by, watching them. He mistook her glance and nodded, inclining his head toward the Six. Permission, then. Not that she wanted it.
The Six was still standing there, waiting with bated breath. Apparently, she took the fact that Cally hadn't answered as a good sign. Her face was so hopeful, that if it had been possible to forget that she was a Cylon Cally would have dropped her paintbrush right then and dragged her off to the daycare to meet Nicky.
Galen cleared his throat.
Cally's voice was still caught. The Six's eyes flicked to Galen, and encouraged, she leaned forward eagerly. "I don't have a name yet," she said, extending her hand, "but I was thinking of using Sabrina." Cally stared at her hand, and Galen cleared his throat again. Reluctantly, she took the Six's hand. It felt cold, but then, so did her own.
"Is Sabrina a good name?" the Six asked her anxiously.
Her voice felt rusty when she tried to speak. "I haven't heard it in a while. But it's pretty."
The Six's smile was radiant, almost innocent. "Thank you." She hesitated. "Your name is pretty, too. They said it's really Callandra?"
"Yeah." Cally wished the Six would let go of her hand.
"Look," the Six said. "I know you have every reason to say no. I understand that, I really do. B---ut it would mean a lot to me if I could just meet him- that there's hope for all of us, and that somehow, something is going to go on."
"I thought that's what Hera was."
"She is." The Six was earnest. "But one hybrid is an anomaly. A wonderful miracle of an anomaly, but a unique instance just the same. But a second hybrid… it's still not proof. It's still not a trend. But it's something more. And just to know that somehow, there's more for us all… it would mean so much."
Her fingers were tight around Cally's, and her eyes were pleading. But more than that, Cally saw Galen's expression. It wasn't revelation, it wasn't devout belief or pride or… or anything Cally could place. But there was something there, something that prompted her to say, "All right."
The Six's eyes widened incredulously. "Thank you," she said, finally withdrawing her hand. "I mean it. Thank you."
"We'll go after the shift," Cally said, hating herself even as she spoke.
But when she looked at Galen, he had the hint of a smile.
***
"So how did it go?" Dee asked cautiously.
Cally shrugged. "All right," she grudgingly admitted. "She didn't seem like she was ready to make off with him. She basically said hello, held him for a few minutes, and then left."
"Hmm." Dee obviously didn't know what to say, so she focused on her drink.
It felt strange to sit in Joe's, at the same table. The seats that Racetrack and Seelix would have occupied were conspicuously empty, and Caroline still refused to speak to Cally. But they were here because Dee now wore Captain's pins, and that had warranted a celebration.
"Danielle," Caroline said, "you haven't touched your drink."
"I know," Danielle pushed it over. "Drink it if you want it, but the smell of it makes me sick. I thought I'd gotten used to algae in my liquor, but I guess not."
Caroline shrugged. "More for me," she agreed, and bolted the whiskey. Danielle averted her eyes and turned back to Cally.
"How did Chief take it?" she asked.
"He was… I don't know. He was there, and he seemed happy, but he almost seemed…" Cally struggled for the word. "Wistful, maybe? I don't get it."
"Colonel Tigh's seemed a lot more at peace ever since Earth," Dee mused. "Maybe Chief is, too."
"Maybe," Cally said dubiously. "I don't know anymore. I don't really feel like I know anything about him anymore."
"So anyway," Caroline said, breaking the silence that fell over the table, "what are your plans for the Fleet, Captain Dualla? Are you going to start whipping everyone into shape?"
Dee laughed. "If I get the chance," she said with an evil grin. But her grin faded fast. "The CIC could use it," she said. "On the one hand, I knew it, but I never realized how much Felix did in the CIC." Her face was pained as she looked down at her drink. But then she heaved a sigh and schooled her face back into a neutral expression. "We ended up getting Captain Kelly out of the brig, and I'm learning tactical. It's actually pretty interesting."
"Good for you," Caroline said with hearty approval. "About time someone realized how smart you are."
Dee flushed. "I can't blame them," she said. "I enlisted straight out of school. I was in a good position."
"You were. But that doesn't change the fact that you've deserved every promotion you've gotten," Caroline said. "If things had been different, who knows what you would have done?"
"If things had been different, who knows what any of us would have done?" Danielle asked. She yawned. "I hate to do this, Dee, but I think I need to call it a night. I'm exhausted."
"You look tired. Go get some sleep," Dee agreed.
"I'll walk with you," Cally offered, more because she didn't feel like staying with just Dee and Caroline. She hugged Dee and kissed her on the cheek. "Congratulations."
"Thanks Cally," Dee said, hugging her back. Caroline looked away. Cally wanted to say something to her, but she wasn't sure what to say.
"Good night," she finally said.
Caroline didn't answer. Cally turned and walked out of the bar with Danielle.
Danielle seemed far away. She had all night, Cally realized. "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Danielle said absently. "Cally? Do you think that the Cylons would take Nicky? Or any baby?"
"What makes you ask that?" Cally asked, shivering.
"Just… they've always seemed so obsessed. And there were stories on New Caprica…."
"They left Nicky alone then," Cally pointed out, more to reassure herself than Danielle. They took me, but they left Nicky in his crib."
"But it was the humans that actually took you. I know a Two took a little girl that lived on our block, and so many children were taken to detention…. Even Athena seemed convinced they'd take Hera."
"Well, Hera's a bit of a special case," Cally pointed out. "Besides, if they ever did take one, that would be the end of their alliance, and I don't think they're ready to do that."
"Yeah. You're right." Danielle sighed. "I just… it was something I was thinking about, and once it got in my mind I couldn't let it go, you know?"
"So you put it in mine?" Cally teased her. Oddly enough, Danielle's words didn't strike fear into her heart. The Cylons were too in awe of the Final Five- or Four, or however many- to go near Nicky, she was pretty sure. And if they did, Cally knew she was right about the alliance. It wouldn't happen.
She was so busy reassuring herself she barely noticed they'd reached their quarters. Danielle muttered a good night and disappeared into her own rack. Cally slipped into hers, looking at the pictures taped to the wall. Nicky smiled back at her, and she touched his face.
If nothing else, if everything else went wrong… at least she had Nicky.
***
"Breena?" Nicky asked Cally, clinging to her hand.
"Sabrina's coming." Cally led him down to the mess hall. On the one hand, she resented her son's quick attachment to a Cylon. On the other hand, when the menu didn't vary and always tasted like mold, anything that made eating seem less like a chore was a good thing. And the week that they'd been eating with Sabrina had been… well, not good. Cally still tensed instinctively whenever she saw her. But it hadn't been any worse than any of the days since Earth, and that was saying something.
"Hey." Hot Dog fell into step beside Cally.
"You're out!" Cally said, a little surprised.
"Yeah, well, it was all because of Ishay," Hot Dog said with a sigh. "If I was in there any longer, she wasn't going to be able to keep her hands off of me."
Cally laughed, and hearing her laughter, Nicky smiled up at Hot Dog. "Whoa, who's this?"
"This is Nicky," Cally said, shutting out the memory of introducing Nicky to Louis as firmly as she could. "We're going to get dinner."
"Oh?"
"He has a date," Cally said.
"Breena!" Nicky added importantly.
"Breena?" Hot Dog asked, quirking an eyebrow up.
"One of the Sixes," Cally explained, making a face. "Sabrina, actually. Nicky's taken a liking to her."
"Really?" Hot Dog looked down at Nicky. "Good taste there, kiddo," he said with a wink. He returned his attention to Cally. "Not really fair that your kid gets a date and you don't, though."
"It's algae in the mess hall," Cally laughed. "I'll live."
"Nah! You deserve a date!" Hot Dog grinned goofily. "I know. I'll be your date. We can double!"
"You're such a dork," Cally informed him, still laughing. "But if you want to come to dinner with us, be my guest."
Sabrina was waiting for them near the mess hall, looking nervous. Cally grudgingly admitted she couldn't blame her, given the looks a lot of the crew were giving her as they passed by. But she lit up when she saw them, especially as Nicky waved to her cheerfully.
"Breena!" he shouted.
"It's one of his few words," Cally said to Hot Dog. "The kid is damn lucky he learned to say Momma first."
Sabrina smiled and knelt down so Nicky could toddle over and collect a hug. Then she looked at Hot Dog questioningly.
"Oh, this is my friend Hot Dog," Cally introduced them. "Hot Dog, Sabrina. She's working on the renovations."
"Hi," Hot Dog said, with a little wave.
If Cally was honest, she had to admit that she'd had the suspicion that Hot Dog had come along with them for the chance to meet one of the Sixes. They might be homicidal maniacs, but they were still extremely pretty- even Cally could admit that. And Hot Dog's reputation as a skirt-chaser (if not necessarily catcher) was fairly well known. But aside from a few pleasantries, he barely spoke directly to Sabrina. Sabrina spent her time fussing over Nicky, and Hot Dog regaled Cally with a long, drawn-out version of a soap opera happening among the pilots.
"You surprise me," Hot Dog said, after the meal was over and Sabrina had left.
"I know," Cally said, wiping Nicky's hands. "I surprise myself. I thought you were for the alliance, though."
"I can live with the alliance," Hot Dog said, his face falling into serious lines. "Partly because the Old Man said to, but I can see why we need it. Doesn't mean I like it, although I'll play nice."
"Playing nice is a pretty good description," Cally said with a sigh. "And I guess it's really the only option left, isn't it?"
"Yeah," Hot Dog agreed. "Guess so."
***
"Hot Dog's flying CAP today?" Danielle asked.
Cally shrugged. " He said Cottle cleared him. It's been a few weeks."
"A few weeks," Danielle snorted. "It should be a lot more than that."
"And Gaeta was in the CIC on a leg that had been amputated ten days prior," Figurski pointed out. "Recovery time on this ship isn't what it used to be, that's for sure."
Cally jumped. She hadn't realized he'd been standing behind them. Figurksi handed her a gymbol. "See what you can make of that, will you?"
"Yes, sir. I-" whatever Cally was about to say was--- lost in the sound of people heading towards the deck. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the Admiral, Tigh, and the President. "What the frak?"
"This can't be good," Figurski agreed.
They watched as a Raptor taxied in to the landing bay, flanked by two Vipers. Hot Dog got out of his Viper and headed towards the pilots, and Cally could see from the look on his face he was confused. The other Viper was being piloted by Starbuck, and even she didn't look as cocky and at ease, although that had really been the case since Earth. Cally wondered what the frak could necessitate such an entrance.
The brass spread out, the Marines aimed their guns, and after what felt like an interminable wait, Ellen Tigh emerged from the Raptor.
"How many dead chicks are out there?" she heard Hot Dog say.
"I thought she was dead!" Cally whispered.
"She was," Danielle said. "She must be the last Cylon."
"Well," Figurski said, "that makes some sense, I guess."
It did. But as the scene unfurled before them, it became very clear that the brass- and Galen- had known that Ellen was a Cylon. She was feeling vaguely resentful about that when the pilot of the Raptor stepped into view.
Galen stepped right up to her, until they were nose to nose. "This is Boomer," he confirmed.
Boomer. Cally wanted to double over as the air sucked out of her lungs. And as the Marines pulled Boomer past her towards the Cylon cell, once again Cally wished she had a gun in her hands.
And unless she misread his expression, Galen felt the same.
***
"How the frak did you know it was Boomer?" Cally asked as soon as Galen walked in that night to see Nicky.
"I thought we were watching the swearing in front of Nicky," Galen said. "Hey, big guy. Whatcha doing?" He knelt down and held out his arms, and Nicky toddled to him eagerly.
"Fine. How did you know it was Boomer? She looks exactly like every other Eight."
"I don't know," Galen said tiredly. "It's been a long day, all right, Cally? Don't give me shi- don't give me trouble about it. I just knew."
"Because you're a Cylon? Or is it because you were in love with her?"
"Cally-"
"Tigh couldn't tell the difference."
"Hard to figure things like this out when you're liplocked with someone else already. In case it escaped your notice, the Colonel wasn't paying attention to anyone on that deck except for Ellen." Cally scowled at that. "Besides," Galen said, putting Nicky down and settling down to play with the blocks that Nicky was insistently holding out to him. "What's it to you? You've made it pretty clear that you and I are over."
It was a good question, but it was easily answered by Nicky himself. "Play, Mama," he ordered.
"I just don't want my son being raised by a traitor," Cally muttered, sitting down.
"Fine words coming from a mutineer," Galen muttered back.
"Fine," Cally sighed impatiently. "I'll drop it."
"Good."
"Fine."
"Fine." Galen took a deep breath. "Come on, Cally. We were doing good before this. Let's not let this wreck everything we've been doing for Nicky, okay? Besides, it's ridiculous. Whatever Boomer and I had is over."
Cally nodded stiffly. "All right." She stacked a few blocks up. Nicky considered the structure and the pulled back and knocked it down, giggling at the result. Galen snorted, and even Cally grinned a little. "So how is Sam doing?" she asked, because that was the only safe question she could think of.
Galen shook his head. "No progress," he said. "Doc said if he didn't come back by now, he's probably not coming back." He began building a tower for Nicky to knock over. "It's too bad. He remembered stuff about Earth."
"About Earth?" Cally sat bolt upright. "What do you mean about Earth?" Galen balked, and Cally's eyes narrowed. "Or can't you tell me?"
"Some of it I can't. But some of it…" he sighed and rubbed his face. "You're not going to like it."
"You're already a Cylon," Cally pointed out. "How could it be worse?"
Galen stacked the blocks as precisely as possible. "Sam said that I was engaged on Earth."
"Engaged?"
"To Tory."
To Cally's shock, she began to laugh. Galen relaxed a little, risking a smile. "I know, right?" he said. "I know you thought I was having an affair, but I really wasn't. I don't know. I just…"
"I can see you frakking her," Cally admitted, and for some reasons the words didn't hurt so much as they used to. "But engaged?"
"I know, right?" Galen's smile widened. "Want to hear something really funny?"
"All right," Cally said.
"On Earth… I was a professor."
"A what?"
"I'm not kidding! But I had a flash, and believe me, Cally, there is no frakking way I could make this shit up. I remembered the day I died. I had on glasses, and a tweed jacket."
"Tweed?"
"And I was buying an artichoke. Or an avocado. Which is the brown one?"
"You're joking. You have got to be joking." Cally was laughing now, and as Galen joined in, she laughed until her sides hurt. Every time she looked at him she pictured him in tweed and glasses, and she dissolved into helpless giggles again. Nicky looked up at them both, laughing with them. Galen ruffled his hair.
"You can't see me teaching classes?" he asked. "Wandering around a university and smoking a pipe?"
"Standing at a chalkboard?"
"Mentoring students?" Galen chortled, but Cally nodded.
"That one I can actually see," she said.
He snorted. "Really?"
"What, you don't remember teaching me and Sonicus and Jammer how to make booze?"
"Yeah. I remember." Galen was still smiling, but the expression in his eyes was far away. "Frak, that seems like it was so long ago. Another life."
Cally looked down at Nicky. "It was another life," she muttered.
"Guess so."
They were quiet for a long moment, their silence broken only by Nicky taking advantage of the chance to babble. The sounds didn't form words, but there was inflection in his tone. Cally smiled. "He'll be talking soon," she said. "I mean, really talking."
"I know. Well, I've been told. Still don't know much about any of this."
"Neither does anyone," Cally said grudgingly. She hugged her knees to her chest. "Can I ask you something?"
Galen shrugged. "Sure."
"I've heard about Cylons doing that projection thing. Can you do it?"
"I don't know," he admitted. "I've tried a couple times, but…" he shrugged. "But if I remembered the first thing about being a Cylon, maybe I could. Why do you ask?"
Cally fingered Nicky's hair. "I was wondering if he could do it," she said, her voice catching a little in her throat. "There's so much I'd like to show him that he might never get the chance to see, like the sun or a moon or birds or flowers or… frak, anything. And sometimes that feels like it's the only way he'll ever see any of that."
Galen rubbed his chin. "I couldn't help you with that, Cally," he said, "but I'll bet Sabrina could."
"Mmm."
"What? I know she and Nicky have been doing well together. I thought that was kind of the point, actually."
"Breena?" Nicky asked, looking up interestedly.
"That's your answer right there," Galen insisted. "Seriously. I don't know the first thing about projection. I can't show him. But Sabrina might be able to, and then he could have what you want for him. What we want for him."
She didn't like the idea, but she imagined Nicky, looking up at the blue sky and squinting his eyes closed as he enjoyed the sunlight. She nodded. "All right," she said. "For Nicky."
On to Part 8