Rebirth, the conclusion!
Rebirth (4/2, the conclusion!)
Authors: SabaceanBabe and Un4scene
Word count: 6,684
Date: July 15, 2005
Rating: PG-13
Characters and pairings: Helo/Sharon, Leoben, Six, Doral, Adama
Summary: Sharon is in the hands of the Cylons and Helo finds that it's up to him to rescue her before the Cylons take their child.
Spoilers: all of season 1, a few from the rumors we've heard of season two
Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to lots of people, but none of them are me.
Authors' notes: OMG it's finally finished! *dies*
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
***
"...twenty-three... twenty-four... twenty-five..." Laying flat on the warm, soft shelf that served as a bed, hands resting on her stomach, Sharon stared at the dark pink ceiling - an ugly parody of flesh - and counted. She reached the count of 476 for the third time when a noise across the small, oddly shaped chamber drew her attention.
She didn't stop counting when Leoben entered, the aperture closing behind him. He walked toward her, not speaking until he had reached her side. Then, "Helo is coming, Sharon. He'll be here soon." Sharon blinked but said nothing. He smoothed the hair from her sweaty forehead in a surprisingly paternal motion. "It won't be long."
Her lips twisted into more of a grimace than a smile. "It really won't be long." ...four hundred ninety-seven... four hundred ninety-eight... "I've been having contractions for a while, now." ...five hundred... If she weren't so frightened, she would have laughed at the look on Leoben's face.
"Frak!" That was all. Just one explosive word and he was gone, the room's only entrance opening and closing as he ran through it.
...five hundred seven... five hundred eight...
She wanted to believe him. She really did. Wanted desperately to believe that Helo was on his way to her now, that he was not only coming for her, somehow, but that he'd be able to take her away from here. Take them away from here. Take them somewhere safe.
But the things Doral had told her... that Helo had abandoned her, that he'd been responsible for the humans' execution of the Valerii on Galactica... Doral had never lied to her before, but she didn't know if she could or should trust him.
...five hundred thirty-seven... five hundred thirty-eight...
And what about her - dreams? hallucinations? visions? - of Helo. He'd told her that he and she were never meant to be together. He didn't want the responsibility of being a father. He didn't want to be with only one woman, especially not a Cylon. That had the ring of truth to it. Another borrowed memory from the other her, the one who'd been executed, intruded.
She sat at a card table in Galactica's rec room, Helo to her right, then two men she identified only as the "XO" and the "CAG," with Starbuck on her left. They all had cards in their hands. Tension radiated between the XO and Starbuck and Helo had mentioned a game of Pyramid on Geminon in an attempt to diffuse some of it.
"What were you doing on Geminon?" the CAG had asked.
Helo had gestured with his lollipop, answering, "There's a girl there I know."
The other her had looked at him and laughed. "What girl don't you know?"
And that was part of the problem, wasn't it? Helo had no problems finding sexual partners, when he wanted them. Sharon couldn't compete with those strange girls on Geminon... with Kara Thrace...
There had been nothing between the two of them on Caprica. In fact, Kara had slept with someone who was part of the resistance there and Helo, as far as Sharon knew, hadn't touched anyone other than her since their first time, but still...
...five hundred eighty-one... five hundred eighty-
Sharon whimpered as the next contraction tore through her back and abdomen. The muscles in her stomach tensed, grew rigid with the force of the contraction. For a few seconds, she couldn't breathe. And then, as the pain faded and Sharon again began to count, Leoben returned.
He slid an arm under her shoulders, helped her to sit up. "I'm going to give you something to hold off the contractions, to give you enough time for Helo to get here." He pulled the pillow that had come with this luxury suite under the small of her back. "Prop yourself up on your arms - sitting will help slow things down."
She did as he instructed and he injected something into her left arm. Other than the faint sting of the needle, there was no pain. Remembering the last time she had been injected with something by a Cylon, Sharon shuddered. Raising her eyes to meet his, she said, "This can't be real. Helo isn't coming."
"This is real, Sharon. You're not alone. There aren't many of us, but we do exist. Events have been put into motion that will reunite you with your human lover, that will take you away from Cylon influence and closer than ever to God."
"I want to believe you..."
"Believe it. It's not God's plan for Cylons or humans to destroy each other, but to work together for a shared future. That shared future, Sharon, begins with this child."
Again the door opened, but this time it didn't close. The heavy stomping of a Cylon Centurion came to her through the open door and she caught a flash of chrome beyond Leoben's shoulders. From behind him came the voice of Doral. "I'm here to take the traitor to the medical facility. The monitors indicate that she is hav-"
"Having contractions, yes. I came to check on her. I was just about to call for an escort to the med facility."
"You shouldn't be here," Doral observed, taking a step that brought him into Sharon's view. "Why are you?"
Leoben shrugged expressively. "I was passing by her cell and heard her cry out. I came in to make sure nothing was wrong." A lie, Sharon knew, but a convincing one, she hoped.
Doral cocked his head to one side, his eyes locked on Leoben's. The blond Cylon's gaze never faltered. Finally, Doral ordered, "Bring her."
Obeying the other's command, Leoben carefully lifted Sharon from the bed and carried her to the passageway beyond the opening, where an uncomfortable-looking gurney awaited. He laid her down on the cold metal - the cold felt good against the bare skin of her legs and arms. When she was safely on the gurney, Leoben stepped away and Doral moved into position to push.
"Your services are not needed," Doral said. He didn't wait for a reply and Sharon felt the movement as he took her away.
***
After his first jump, the one that took him away from Galactica and into the unknown, Helo had quickly recalibrated the navigation computer, corrected his course, and executed a second, longer jump. When the heavy Raider returned to normal space, the Dradis picked up a large power source surrounded by several hundred much smaller ones - the basestar and its accompanying Raiders. He was far enough out that they shouldn't have detected his presence.
"I sure hope you do your job," he muttered as he switched on the Raider's built-in transponder and plotted his final approach. From what he and Kara had been able determine, the Cylon ship, in conjunction with the transponder, could be put into a kind of autopilot once it reached a certain distance from a Cylon outpost. Since he didn't know exactly what to look for to make a landing, Helo engaged that autopilot and hoped for the best.
Several of the bat-winged Raiders flew past his ship without paying him any attention at all, not even the whisper of a sensor sweep. Relaxing slightly, Helo ran his tongue between his lower lip and teeth and unstrapped himself from the pilot's chair. Standing, he glanced at the photograph he'd carried since he'd found it in Boomer's locker, now taped to a clear space on the ship's instrument panel.
Along with the jitters he'd felt earlier, Helo felt a rising excitement. One way or another, this would be over soon.
He dashed to the back of the ship as the autopilot engaged. Leaving the spare clothes and med kit where they were, he grabbed for the pack in which he and Kara had stowed a dozen or so shock grenades. They had been designed during the first Cylon war and, in addition to a massive concussion that would stun any living thing within a three to four meter radius, the grenades also emitted a powerful electromagnetic pulse that would take out all electronics within that same radius. Beneath the pack were stowed a sniper rifle - Kara's personal weapon, generally used only for target shooting - and two pistols, along with as much high-powered ammunition as they had been able to pilfer without raising red flags. The bullets for the rifle, at least, were essentially small, shaped charges, powerful enough to stop a Cylon Centurion with one shot, if it was properly placed.
Shoving the revolvers and the ammo in with the spare pistols - his heavier sidearm was strapped to his thigh - Helo shouldered the pack and returned with his burden to the cockpit just as he felt a slight lurch. The Raider had landed in the Cylon hangar. Checking his sensor readings, he saw that the atmosphere and gravity beyond the hull were both well within the human norm, no doubt for the benefit of the bio-Cylons. Opting for the greater visibility and hearing that would be gained, he removed his helmet and tossed it onto the copilot's chair.
One of the discoveries Kara had made in the days before Helo had joined her in working on the heavy Raider was a handheld device that seemed to be a kind of remote access unit to the main computer system aboard the heavy Raider's baseship. At least, that's what they thought it was - they'd never had a chance to test it. Helo popped it out of its socket and synchronized its signal with that of the Raider's transponder so that he could find the damn thing again. Once that task was complete, he pocketed the device and ran to the hatch.
As he stared at the sealed opening, unable to make himself activate the hatch controls, he heard Sharon's voice, as he had heard it so many times on Caprica. "Move it, mister!"
"Now or never, Agathon," he said aloud and opened the hatch.
He was surprised by a blast of warm, humid air on his face as the hatch slid aside. Through the opening, Helo saw what appeared to be flesh instead of bulkheads and deck and he had to fight his gag reflex as he stepped down onto the yielding surface. He heard the faint hiss and pop as the Raider's metal skin expanded in the warm air. The only other sound was a low hum, little more than a vibration. Taking a couple of steps away from the Raider, he closed and sealed the hatch and said a quick prayer that the ship would still be there when he returned.
A rapid survey of his immediate surroundings told Helo that there was no one else there, humanoid or toaster. He had to find a computer terminal into which he could plug the remote access unit, but he had no clue where to look. The chamber in which he stood held half a dozen heavy Raiders, but none of the bat-wing variety - those seemed to have their own individual berths, from what he could see of the vast cavern beyond his ship. There appeared to be two exits, which led to the interior of the basestar, but there was nothing to distinguish them from each other in his mind.
"What the hell..." he whispered and walked toward the nearest exit.
As he continued further and further into the ship, the weird, flesh-like walls, floor, ceiling all continued on as well. In places a thin, semi-transparent membrane covered them. Twice he had to duck into one of the odd niches in the fleshy walls to avoid discovery. The first time it happened, it was a troop of Centurions on the move. The second time it had been a pair of bio-Cylons - the blonde woman from Caprica and a man Helo had never seen before. In both instances, the padding of the ship aided his attempts at moving quietly, muffling the sound of his gear brushing against the walls.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he finally came to a section of the basestar where the flesh gave way to more familiar metal and plastic, but it wasn't long after the transition that he found a place that looked like it might hold a computer terminal that he could use to hack into the basestar's system. The chamber was small, only about three meters square, and he had no idea what it might be used for, but it did contain a table on which was a keyboard and monitor. A hasty search turned up a data jack into which he could plug the Cylon device.
Plugging it in, Helo started the scan. The information scrolled by on the monitor so fast he couldn't read it, even if he'd wanted to. Unfortunately, it looked as though the search was going to take some time and there was no guarantee - for that matter, no likelihood - that it would turn up any useful information. All Helo wanted was to find Sharon and not get caught.
Straightening, he turned, intending to peek outside the doorway, and came face to face with a bio-Cylon. He stumbled backward, caught his thigh on the corner of the table, and took hold of his sidearm, but before he could pull it, the man raised a hand in a placating gesture.
"I'm Leoben. There's no need to worry, Helo, I've been expecting you."
There was excitement in the Cylon's gray eyes as he lifted a finger to his lips, indicating the desire for silence. Helo could only stare as Leoben quietly moved to the doorway and peered down the passageway, just as Helo had been planning to do a moment before. The Cylon listened intently and Helo had the feeling that he was listening with more than his ears.
"Why haven't you killed me?" Helo asked, his hand still on the butt of his gun.
Leoben smiled and, ignoring Helo's question, said, "I hope Starbuck is in good health; I've missed our time together."
Realizing that his mouth gaped open, Helo closed it with an audible snap. "What the frak is going on?" A short beep from the remote pulled his eyes from Leoben. A red light indicated that the scan had been unsuccessful.
"You won't need that, Helo." Leoben nodded toward the device. "I'll take you to Sharon. She's very far along in her pregnancy and it's important that we get her off this ship and to the Galactica as soon as possible."
"Why? Why are you willing to help me?" More than a little confused, not trusting the Cylon's word that he wouldn't need the access device, Helo unplugged it and slipped it into one of the cargo pockets on his flight suit. He never took his eyes from Leoben.
"This has all happened before and it will happen again. This time it's part of my destiny to aid you and Sharon in your escape, in the birth of your child. When next the river of time flows past us, perhaps it will be my destiny to destroy you, or to have no effect on events at all." He shrugged. "We must go to Sharon now, Helo."
"Man, you are frakkin' insane." Helo shook his head and followed Leoben, having little choice in the matter.
***
Her eyes drifted closed again; there was nothing to see, anyway. Just an artificial ceiling applied over the dark pink of the baseship's flesh and too-bright lights glaring directly into her eyes. Sharon didn't want to listen to the conversation that swirled over and around her. The results of that conversation would impact directly on her, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had always known that Helo wasn't coming for her, wasn't here, and she found a measure of comfort in knowing that at least he was safe.
"I think we should just kill her before she contaminates any of the others with her... humanity." That was Six, of course, venomous as ever.
"This isn't about our desires, Six. If Sharon's child doesn't survive, then we must try again." Doral, this time. It was eternally Six and Doral, she thought, perpetually tearing her down with words or using her in whatever way they could. She supposed that was their nature, but she knew there could be so much more.
"I agree, but a second attempt does not need to be with Sharon and Helo. If her child dies, it's a sign from God that she isn't the chosen one."
Doral laughed. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Perhaps you could be the mother of the next generation, hmm? And the father could be that genius you kept on Caprica?" Sharon could almost feel the heat of Six's anger at Doral's mockery. "No, Six. All of the signs point to Helo; you know that as well as I do. The father of the next generation is the one who sacrificed himself for the good of humanity. If Sharon's child dies, then we find a way to take Helo from the humans, even if it's only for his DNA."
"You're a fool." Sharon heard the sharp tap-tap of Six's footsteps as she angrily walked away.
"Am I?" Again Doral laughed. "That remains to be seen."
Sharon didn't hear Doral leave, but, after a time, she became aware that she was alone. All was quiet, no sound save the beep of the monitors they had leashed her to and the faint background hum that was the heartbeat of the basestar.
More time passed with nothing to mark its passing and Sharon thought she heard another voice. She opened her eyes briefly, but the light was so intense and unwelcome that she closed them again immediately. There was a burning sensation in the small of her back and she thought that the contractions might be making their presence felt again, but it was nothing like before. Whatever Leoben had given her had indeed stopped the birth pains.
"Is there any other med bay on this frakking thing?" Helo's voice came to her through the semiconscious state she had slipped into. Another hallucination.
Then, closer, Leoben said, "She's here, Helo." She felt a hand at her stomach, but stubbornly refused to open her eyes; she would not give in again to the hallucinations.
"Thank the Gods," Helo breathed. His hand gently brushed her hair; she felt his lips at her forehead in a brief kiss. "Sharon." There was the slightest tingling sensation at the touch of his lips, but still she wouldn't open her eyes. "We're going to get you out of here."
"Why do you keep doing this to me? You're not here. You're not..." She wouldn't look at him. No. "I just want you to be safe. You don't have to help me..." One hand drifted to her stomach. "...us. I know you don't want to be a father." Hallucination or not, she had to make him understand that he had to go, that it wasn't safe for him here. "Helo, you're free to go home, now, back to Galactica."
"Sharon, baby, we are going home, wherever home is. I'm not leaving you, not again. You and me and our baby are going to get off this ship and find someplace that we can live."
"That's not possible."
"You don't mind if I don't accept that, do you?" he teased. "It's my turn to protect you, Sharon, okay?" He kissed her again, his mouth warm on hers, and then she heard him move away. "Leoben, is there a more direct route back to that hangar?"
"More direct? Possibly. Safer? Probably not."
Sharon felt a vibration through the surface on which she lay and then a sensation of movement. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, the touch electric. Helo. Finally, she opened her eyes to see the lights overhead moving rapidly past. Moving her head slightly to the right, she saw Helo's profile as he walked next to the gurney, or whatever it was she was on. She couldn't see Leoben - he must be the one pushing.
She closed her eyes again. It was all a dream - it must be, even though it felt more real than the others. A strange dream, to be sure, but at least this time, it wasn't a nightmare.
The movement of the gurney on which she lay stopped abruptly and she heard something heavy hit a wall and then a slithering sound as it slid to the floor.
"Going somewhere?" Sharon's eyes shot open at the sound of Six's voice. Turning her head to the side, she saw Helo pull his sidearm only to have it knocked from his hand by a kick from Six.
"Helo!" she shouted as Six came in for another blow, but he caught her wrist before her fist could connect.
Sharon tried to move, but as she rolled onto her side, she saw Leoben slumped against the wall, unconscious, a bloody bruise on his forehead. There was blood on the wall, not much, but enough to tell her that Six must have thrown him head first into the wall.
"You can't have her, Helo." Six had Helo pinned to the wall, an arm torqued up behind his back. "She's ours, the baby is ours." He tried to break free but she pushed harder, grinding his face to the wall. "You are ours."
"No," Sharon whispered. Cradling one arm around her enormous belly, she slid to the floor, eyes on Helo's pistol, which lay between her and the two struggling against the wall. They didn't seem to notice her.
"You're wrong, bitch." Helo snapped his head back fast, smashing Six in the face hard - she clearly hadn't been expecting it.
The movement was enough for him to break away from her and lunge toward the fallen pistol, but Sharon was already there. She aimed it at Six and fired as a contraction ripped through her. The first bullet hit her in the hip and Sharon forced her aim higher. Six's nose bled from Helo's blow. Sharon's second bullet took her in the throat.
The pistol dropped again to the floor - she no longer had the strength to hold it. She heard Leoben stir behind her. "It's not safe for you here," she told Helo.
He began to laugh.
***
Helo followed Leoben with Sharon through the twists and turns of the ship, retracing their route to the hangar in which he'd left the heavy Raider. It was difficult to believe that one of the bio-Cylons was actually helping him and Sharon, but it seemed to be true. It was equally difficult to believe that they had almost reached their destination with no further sign of pursuit other than that bitch Six.
As things stood now, it seemed almost as though her appearance as they left the med bay was more along the lines of a personal vendetta than an attempt to prevent their escape. She had been alone, for one thing, and unarmed. They had still be in the medical facilities, following the only corridor in that part that would take them to an exit.
"I just don't get it," Helo finally said to Leoben.
"Don't get what?"
They had long since made the transition back to the more organic-looking part of the basestar. They had lifted Sharon back onto the gurney and Leoben again pushed it, but they were moving somewhat slower than before due to the softer surface beneath its wheels.
"That blonde. Six. At first I thought she was there to stop us, but why was she there alone? Why hasn't anyone tried to stop us since?"
"Six has never liked Sharon. She was probably there to gloat. As to why we have met no resistance, the others who are with me are doing what they can to see the prophecy fulfilled."
"I thought you Cylons were all of one mind, that you wanted to destroy humanity."
"No, not all of one mind or even all of one faith. There are those of us who interpret the prophecies in a different way than the majority. Not all of us believe that humans must be destroyed. After all, we wouldn't exist without you."
"Prophecies?" They had come to a large intersection, one that Helo recognized as being within just a few minutes of the hangar. Not waiting for Leoben to answer, he moved quickly ahead to make sure the way was clear. Seeing and hearing no signs of movement, he waved for Leoben to come forward when Sharon cried out in pain. "Sharon?"
"It's the baby." Her voice was breathless, higher in pitch than he'd ever heard it.
"The injection must be wearing off." Leoben addressed Helo. "I gave her something a few hours ago to stop the contractions, but-"
"Contractions?" Helo felt like he'd just taken a blow to the stomach. "She was having contractions?"
"Yes."
"They were about ten minutes apart," Sharon added, her voice sounding more normal.
"Is this the first one since then?"
She didn't get the chance to answer Helo's question for suddenly they were no longer alone. From beyond the intersection came the mechanical sound of marching chrome toasters. Helo seemed to have forgotten that the same muffling aspect of the fleshy structure of the basestar that aided them in their escape also aided the Cylons. He looked around the corner again.
"Going somewhere?" Six asked.
She stood directly in their path. Two toasters came up behind her, weapons at the ready. Helo raised Kara's rifle and, without hesitation, shot her, the bullet taking her just above her right eye. One of the toasters fired on him as he swung toward it. Helo's only focus was to clear the way for Leoben and Sharon. The first Cylon's shot missed its target, but Helo's didn't. It, too, dropped like a stone, just as Six had a moment before. Even as he brought the rifle around for a shot at the second Cylon, it fired and the bullet slammed into Helo's shoulder.
He didn't feel any pain. Shouldn't there be pain? he thought as he took out the second Cylon. There was only a burning sensation in his left shoulder and he couldn't move his arm. Which meant that he could no longer use the rifle. Kara'll kill me if I lose her rifle.
The bodies of two toasters and one woman blocked the way before them. The whine of mechanical servos came from behind them. He dropped the rifle and swung his pack to the floor, shouting, "Leoben! Get her out of here!"
Sharon cried out as Leoben lifted her from the gurney and began to edge his way around the pile of chrome. Helo dug into the pack and grabbed one of the shock grenades as the sound of heavy footsteps rounded the bend at the far end of the passageway through which they had just come. Activating the grenade, he waited until they were a couple of meters closer to his position before throwing the grenade with all his strength toward the half-dozen toasters bearing down on him.
It hit the floor perhaps a meter in front of the lead Centurion, exploding on impact. Helo didn't wait to see if it worked as advertised - he picked up his pack and Kara's rifle and ran after Leoben and Sharon, almost tripping over the abandoned gurney.
Slinging the rifle over his shoulder as he ran, Helo pulled his sidearm. The rounds weren't as powerful as those he'd brought for the rifle, but he knew from experience that enough of them would still stop a toaster.
He rounded another of the weird protrusions that served as corners in this part of the basestar and saw Leoben just ahead. He could see the hangar and the heavy Raiders beyond the Cylon, but again the way was blocked by chrome. "Frak!"
Leoben turned his head at the sound of Helo's voice. "You've been hit," he observed.
Helo looked down to see that his arm was covered in blood. "You think?" He drew up next to him, glanced at Sharon who was again unconscious. "How many?"
"I see five. There could be more." There were plenty of places to hide within the hangar, especially if the toasters were accompanied by bio-Cylons.
"You don't seem worried."
The Cylon smiled. "What's meant to be will be."
Helo shook his head. Definitely insane. The pain in his shoulder was finally making itself felt, growing stronger by the minute. He chewed at his lower lip as he studied the Cylons in the hangar. They didn't seem to be aware of their presence. If he could toss one of the grenades in close enough to take out the toasters, but not close enough to have an adverse effect on the Raider...
Keeping his eyes on the toasters that kept him from his ship, he lowered the pack to the fleshy deck, took out another grenade. The Raider was about twenty-five meters distant, the toasters about half that. The blast radius of the grenade was three to four meters. To be safe, he'd have to get closer, risk them firing on him.
He looked back at Leoben. "As soon as this goes off, you move. Get her to the closest Raider. I'll be right behind."
Leoben nodded and made sure he had Sharon firmly in his arms. Helo activated the grenade and ran toward the group of Cylons between him and their way out. It only took a few seconds to close the distance enough for him to feel confident the grenade would do its job. He threw it and one of the toasters actually caught the thing while the others continued toward Helo. The one holding the grenade was instantly destroyed, the others not so much destroyed as permanently incapacitated, their electronic circuits fried.
He altered his course to run toward the Raider as Leoben passed the fallen Centurions. Without warning, someone unseen fired on them. Leoben was hit and faltered, but didn't go down. Helo took aim, firing his pistol at a man he had met a lifetime ago aboard Galactica - Aaron Doral. There was nothing of the mild-mannered public relations specialist about him now as he fired again at Leoben, who was almost to the Raider. That shot hit the Cylon as well and he fell to his knees, but still kept Sharon from falling.
Close enough to Doral now that there was no way he could miss, Helo shot him in the face. There was no more gunfire, no sound of Cylon servos, just the sound of Leoben coughing.
Helo ran to the Cylon, helped him to his feet. He started to take Sharon from him, but Leoben protested. "I've got her. Just get the hatch open. We don't have much time."
Tapping in the sequence to open the hatch, Helo got the Raider open and helped Leoben inside. The Cylon carried Sharon in a few steps but then couldn't go any further. Again he dropped to his knees, laid Sharon on the floor of the Raider as gently as he could and collapsed beside her. Helo saw two large wounds on his back - the blood looked black in the faint light that came in through the open hatch. He hit the controls to seal it and then ran to the cockpit. He couldn't do anything for Leoben right now. He couldn't take the time to do anything but get this bird in the air and off the basestar.
***
Their escape from the basestar had taken every bit of skill he had. It had been months since he had done anything but the most simple piloting - since he had been partnered with Boomer, who had needed the practice. Leoben's allies had done their work well, but things had still been dicey. He had jumped at the first opportunity, more or less blind.
Allowing the heavy Raider to drift on her present trajectory, Helo headed back to check on Leoben and Sharon. He had been unable to strap either of them into the jump seats in the back of the ship, but Leoben had apparently been able to get Sharon strapped across several of them, lying flat, and had held onto the straps himself to keep from being flung about the Raider during their rocky flight.
The Cylon had entangled an arm in the straps, either knowing he wouldn't be strong enough to hang on or knowing he would pass out from the blood loss. And he had lost a lot of blood, Helo saw. Helo was feeling a little woozy himself. He crouched down next to Leoben and checked his pulse, which was weak and erratic. Gray eyes opened at the touch of Helo's fingers.
"Are we away?"
"Yes. Let me have a look at those wounds."
"I'm dying."
"I'm sorry." He was surprised that it was true and that he wouldn't have the opportunity to learn more about this madman who had saved his family.
"Don't be, Helo. If you get them to Galactica safely, then my purpose has been fulfilled." He smiled. "My only regret will be not seeing Starbuck again."
Sharon began to stir restlessly, whimpering. Both men turned toward her.
"Another contraction," Leoben said. "They're coming more frequently."
"Gods..." He couldn't do this. Sharon was giving birth, the man who had helped them to escape the Cylons was dying, and they were in the middle of nowhere. He shook his head, started to get up, muttered, "I have to program in the course for Kobol..." That was the only place he and Kara had been able to think of where they might have a chance to survive.
"You must return to Galactica, Helo."
"No way. They'd shoot us down on sight."
"It's the only way."
"I stole this ship. I deserted. Hell, for all I know I committed treason. If I take us back to Galactica, we're all dead."
"You'll be safe there, Helo, the way has been prepared."
"What the frak are you talking about?"
Sharon cried out again, louder, stronger. She was awake and in the midst of a strong contraction.
"Help me up," Leoben ordered. "If you get me to the cockpit, I can program the coordinates to get you back to your fleet. You take care of Sharon. She needs you."
Seeing no other course, Helo did as Leoben said. He untangled the Cylon's forearm from the jump seat straps and lifted him, slinging Leoben's arm over his right shoulder. He half-dragged the dying Cylon to the cockpit and into the pilot's seat.
"You'd better strap me in."
Helo belted Leoben into the chair. "You know where the fleet is?"
"Not exactly, but I know where it was a few hours ago. I can get you to that point, get you on the right heading. You'll have to take it from there." Helo must have looked dubious about the whole thing, for Leoben continued, "Believe me, Helo. The Soldier will bring you home."
Shaking his head, not understanding, he said, "I just want my family to be safe."
"Helo! The baby's coming!" Sharon's voice was terrified.
"Go. I won't initiate the jump sequence until you give the word."
Sharon screamed, a wordless cry and Helo ran to her, dropped down beside her, jarring his injured shoulder. He ignored the pain as he unstrapped her from the jump seats. "I'm here, Sharon. I'm here."
"It's coming!"
Trying to remember everything he knew about childbirth (not much and gained from the entertainment industry), he bent her legs at the knees and she immediately began to push. He was shocked to see the baby's head begin to emerge from between her legs. "Gods, Sharon, you weren't kidding."
Helo looked around frantically for something to cover the baby, but there was nothing. Then he remembered the supplies stowed under the decking. Along with the spare clothes, there was also at least one blanket. It would be clean and soft and that was all he cared about right now.
As the force of the contraction subsided for a moment, Helo gave Sharon's hand a squeeze. "I'll be right back."
"Helo!" She tried to hang onto his hand as he pulled away, but she was too weak. That scared him - she had always been stronger than he was. Always. He dashed to the compartment that held their supplies and dug until he found the blanket, ran back to her side.
Smoothing the hair from her sticky forehead and cheeks, he thought that maybe Leoben was right. Maybe it was better to go to Galactica after all, where Sharon - and Leoben, if he survived - could get medical attention. He could trust Doc Cottle.
He realized that Sharon was looking at him and he smiled at her. "We're gonna get through this. We'll be okay."
She returned his smile just before her face crumpled with the force of another contraction.
***
His first day back in command and things were not going well. One of his pilots was in medical with a severe concussion - she ought to be in the brig - another had deserted, taking with him a near priceless military asset in the form of a Cylon heavy Raider. And yet, William Adama felt as though all was right with his world, or as right as it could be.
Lee was in medical with Kara and had assured him only moments before that she was going to be okay. Kara was safe. His son was safe. There was no sign for the moment of Cylon pursuit...
"Commander, Dradis contact, bearing three-two-six."
Gaeta's words destroyed his brief feeling of well being. He had known it was too good to last.
"What do you have, Lieutenant Gaeta."
"A Cylon heavy Raider, sir. It appears to be alone."
"Commander? It's Helo... Lieutenant Agathon, sir. He's requesting an emergency landing and for Doc Cottle to meet them in the hangar."
And now it seemed that his missing pilot was returning with the stolen Raider...
Adama recalled the conversation with Helo not long before. Their discussion of home. The way Helo had focused so intently on the photograph of Boomer. It struck a chord in the heart and mind of the old soldier. Raising a brow, Adama looked at Dee. "Put him through on a secure channel."
"Yes, sir." She hesitated. "Sir, it sounds like there's a baby crying in the background..." Dee sounded confused, as well she might.
"The bio-Cylons aren't just machines, Commander," Helo said. "They're more like us than you know."
"I see. You know this because of your time with the other Lieutenant Valerii."
"Yes, sir." The man hesitated, clearly in uncertain territory, before continuing, "She's pregnant."
The news that Cylons and humans could procreate... It had been a long time since anything had shocked Adama. "That is significant. Yours?"
Sucking nervously at his cheek, Helo nodded. "Yes, sir, but there's more." His gaze held Adama's. "The last thing Sharon said before she led the toasters away from us was that she loved me."
Adama frowned. "Do you believe that?" The idea that humans and these bio-Cylons were capable of breeding was one thing, but love?
Again Helo nodded. "I do, Commander." He absently wove the partially chewed stick of a sucker back and forth between the fingers of his right hand and poked his tongue into his cheek, then, "The bio-Cylons are capable of complex emotions. Love. Fear. Jealousy. Loyalty..." Again his eyes met the Commander's. "I think we may be able to use that against them."
"Helo, Galactica Actual."
"Commander Adama?" Helo was clearly surprised to hear him. Adama did indeed hear a baby crying over the still open channel. "Sir, it's, ah...good to hear your voice. Sir, Sharon, our daughter... we need Doc Cottle." Helo sounded to Adama like a man torn between duty and family, sounded like he was about to break.
The voice of a dead man - a dead machine - whispered in his head. "You're instrumental to the survival of the next generation. It's up to you to bring mother, father, and child home..."
"The doctor will be there. Come on home, son."
THE END
Did I mention I'm dead?
Please, for the love of God, leave feedback. :P
Authors: SabaceanBabe and Un4scene
Word count: 6,684
Date: July 15, 2005
Rating: PG-13
Characters and pairings: Helo/Sharon, Leoben, Six, Doral, Adama
Summary: Sharon is in the hands of the Cylons and Helo finds that it's up to him to rescue her before the Cylons take their child.
Spoilers: all of season 1, a few from the rumors we've heard of season two
Disclaimer: Battlestar Galactica belongs to lots of people, but none of them are me.
Authors' notes: OMG it's finally finished! *dies*
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
***
"...twenty-three... twenty-four... twenty-five..." Laying flat on the warm, soft shelf that served as a bed, hands resting on her stomach, Sharon stared at the dark pink ceiling - an ugly parody of flesh - and counted. She reached the count of 476 for the third time when a noise across the small, oddly shaped chamber drew her attention.
She didn't stop counting when Leoben entered, the aperture closing behind him. He walked toward her, not speaking until he had reached her side. Then, "Helo is coming, Sharon. He'll be here soon." Sharon blinked but said nothing. He smoothed the hair from her sweaty forehead in a surprisingly paternal motion. "It won't be long."
Her lips twisted into more of a grimace than a smile. "It really won't be long." ...four hundred ninety-seven... four hundred ninety-eight... "I've been having contractions for a while, now." ...five hundred... If she weren't so frightened, she would have laughed at the look on Leoben's face.
"Frak!" That was all. Just one explosive word and he was gone, the room's only entrance opening and closing as he ran through it.
...five hundred seven... five hundred eight...
She wanted to believe him. She really did. Wanted desperately to believe that Helo was on his way to her now, that he was not only coming for her, somehow, but that he'd be able to take her away from here. Take them away from here. Take them somewhere safe.
But the things Doral had told her... that Helo had abandoned her, that he'd been responsible for the humans' execution of the Valerii on Galactica... Doral had never lied to her before, but she didn't know if she could or should trust him.
...five hundred thirty-seven... five hundred thirty-eight...
And what about her - dreams? hallucinations? visions? - of Helo. He'd told her that he and she were never meant to be together. He didn't want the responsibility of being a father. He didn't want to be with only one woman, especially not a Cylon. That had the ring of truth to it. Another borrowed memory from the other her, the one who'd been executed, intruded.
She sat at a card table in Galactica's rec room, Helo to her right, then two men she identified only as the "XO" and the "CAG," with Starbuck on her left. They all had cards in their hands. Tension radiated between the XO and Starbuck and Helo had mentioned a game of Pyramid on Geminon in an attempt to diffuse some of it.
"What were you doing on Geminon?" the CAG had asked.
Helo had gestured with his lollipop, answering, "There's a girl there I know."
The other her had looked at him and laughed. "What girl don't you know?"
And that was part of the problem, wasn't it? Helo had no problems finding sexual partners, when he wanted them. Sharon couldn't compete with those strange girls on Geminon... with Kara Thrace...
There had been nothing between the two of them on Caprica. In fact, Kara had slept with someone who was part of the resistance there and Helo, as far as Sharon knew, hadn't touched anyone other than her since their first time, but still...
...five hundred eighty-one... five hundred eighty-
Sharon whimpered as the next contraction tore through her back and abdomen. The muscles in her stomach tensed, grew rigid with the force of the contraction. For a few seconds, she couldn't breathe. And then, as the pain faded and Sharon again began to count, Leoben returned.
He slid an arm under her shoulders, helped her to sit up. "I'm going to give you something to hold off the contractions, to give you enough time for Helo to get here." He pulled the pillow that had come with this luxury suite under the small of her back. "Prop yourself up on your arms - sitting will help slow things down."
She did as he instructed and he injected something into her left arm. Other than the faint sting of the needle, there was no pain. Remembering the last time she had been injected with something by a Cylon, Sharon shuddered. Raising her eyes to meet his, she said, "This can't be real. Helo isn't coming."
"This is real, Sharon. You're not alone. There aren't many of us, but we do exist. Events have been put into motion that will reunite you with your human lover, that will take you away from Cylon influence and closer than ever to God."
"I want to believe you..."
"Believe it. It's not God's plan for Cylons or humans to destroy each other, but to work together for a shared future. That shared future, Sharon, begins with this child."
Again the door opened, but this time it didn't close. The heavy stomping of a Cylon Centurion came to her through the open door and she caught a flash of chrome beyond Leoben's shoulders. From behind him came the voice of Doral. "I'm here to take the traitor to the medical facility. The monitors indicate that she is hav-"
"Having contractions, yes. I came to check on her. I was just about to call for an escort to the med facility."
"You shouldn't be here," Doral observed, taking a step that brought him into Sharon's view. "Why are you?"
Leoben shrugged expressively. "I was passing by her cell and heard her cry out. I came in to make sure nothing was wrong." A lie, Sharon knew, but a convincing one, she hoped.
Doral cocked his head to one side, his eyes locked on Leoben's. The blond Cylon's gaze never faltered. Finally, Doral ordered, "Bring her."
Obeying the other's command, Leoben carefully lifted Sharon from the bed and carried her to the passageway beyond the opening, where an uncomfortable-looking gurney awaited. He laid her down on the cold metal - the cold felt good against the bare skin of her legs and arms. When she was safely on the gurney, Leoben stepped away and Doral moved into position to push.
"Your services are not needed," Doral said. He didn't wait for a reply and Sharon felt the movement as he took her away.
***
After his first jump, the one that took him away from Galactica and into the unknown, Helo had quickly recalibrated the navigation computer, corrected his course, and executed a second, longer jump. When the heavy Raider returned to normal space, the Dradis picked up a large power source surrounded by several hundred much smaller ones - the basestar and its accompanying Raiders. He was far enough out that they shouldn't have detected his presence.
"I sure hope you do your job," he muttered as he switched on the Raider's built-in transponder and plotted his final approach. From what he and Kara had been able determine, the Cylon ship, in conjunction with the transponder, could be put into a kind of autopilot once it reached a certain distance from a Cylon outpost. Since he didn't know exactly what to look for to make a landing, Helo engaged that autopilot and hoped for the best.
Several of the bat-winged Raiders flew past his ship without paying him any attention at all, not even the whisper of a sensor sweep. Relaxing slightly, Helo ran his tongue between his lower lip and teeth and unstrapped himself from the pilot's chair. Standing, he glanced at the photograph he'd carried since he'd found it in Boomer's locker, now taped to a clear space on the ship's instrument panel.
Along with the jitters he'd felt earlier, Helo felt a rising excitement. One way or another, this would be over soon.
He dashed to the back of the ship as the autopilot engaged. Leaving the spare clothes and med kit where they were, he grabbed for the pack in which he and Kara had stowed a dozen or so shock grenades. They had been designed during the first Cylon war and, in addition to a massive concussion that would stun any living thing within a three to four meter radius, the grenades also emitted a powerful electromagnetic pulse that would take out all electronics within that same radius. Beneath the pack were stowed a sniper rifle - Kara's personal weapon, generally used only for target shooting - and two pistols, along with as much high-powered ammunition as they had been able to pilfer without raising red flags. The bullets for the rifle, at least, were essentially small, shaped charges, powerful enough to stop a Cylon Centurion with one shot, if it was properly placed.
Shoving the revolvers and the ammo in with the spare pistols - his heavier sidearm was strapped to his thigh - Helo shouldered the pack and returned with his burden to the cockpit just as he felt a slight lurch. The Raider had landed in the Cylon hangar. Checking his sensor readings, he saw that the atmosphere and gravity beyond the hull were both well within the human norm, no doubt for the benefit of the bio-Cylons. Opting for the greater visibility and hearing that would be gained, he removed his helmet and tossed it onto the copilot's chair.
One of the discoveries Kara had made in the days before Helo had joined her in working on the heavy Raider was a handheld device that seemed to be a kind of remote access unit to the main computer system aboard the heavy Raider's baseship. At least, that's what they thought it was - they'd never had a chance to test it. Helo popped it out of its socket and synchronized its signal with that of the Raider's transponder so that he could find the damn thing again. Once that task was complete, he pocketed the device and ran to the hatch.
As he stared at the sealed opening, unable to make himself activate the hatch controls, he heard Sharon's voice, as he had heard it so many times on Caprica. "Move it, mister!"
"Now or never, Agathon," he said aloud and opened the hatch.
He was surprised by a blast of warm, humid air on his face as the hatch slid aside. Through the opening, Helo saw what appeared to be flesh instead of bulkheads and deck and he had to fight his gag reflex as he stepped down onto the yielding surface. He heard the faint hiss and pop as the Raider's metal skin expanded in the warm air. The only other sound was a low hum, little more than a vibration. Taking a couple of steps away from the Raider, he closed and sealed the hatch and said a quick prayer that the ship would still be there when he returned.
A rapid survey of his immediate surroundings told Helo that there was no one else there, humanoid or toaster. He had to find a computer terminal into which he could plug the remote access unit, but he had no clue where to look. The chamber in which he stood held half a dozen heavy Raiders, but none of the bat-wing variety - those seemed to have their own individual berths, from what he could see of the vast cavern beyond his ship. There appeared to be two exits, which led to the interior of the basestar, but there was nothing to distinguish them from each other in his mind.
"What the hell..." he whispered and walked toward the nearest exit.
As he continued further and further into the ship, the weird, flesh-like walls, floor, ceiling all continued on as well. In places a thin, semi-transparent membrane covered them. Twice he had to duck into one of the odd niches in the fleshy walls to avoid discovery. The first time it happened, it was a troop of Centurions on the move. The second time it had been a pair of bio-Cylons - the blonde woman from Caprica and a man Helo had never seen before. In both instances, the padding of the ship aided his attempts at moving quietly, muffling the sound of his gear brushing against the walls.
He didn't know how much time had passed when he finally came to a section of the basestar where the flesh gave way to more familiar metal and plastic, but it wasn't long after the transition that he found a place that looked like it might hold a computer terminal that he could use to hack into the basestar's system. The chamber was small, only about three meters square, and he had no idea what it might be used for, but it did contain a table on which was a keyboard and monitor. A hasty search turned up a data jack into which he could plug the Cylon device.
Plugging it in, Helo started the scan. The information scrolled by on the monitor so fast he couldn't read it, even if he'd wanted to. Unfortunately, it looked as though the search was going to take some time and there was no guarantee - for that matter, no likelihood - that it would turn up any useful information. All Helo wanted was to find Sharon and not get caught.
Straightening, he turned, intending to peek outside the doorway, and came face to face with a bio-Cylon. He stumbled backward, caught his thigh on the corner of the table, and took hold of his sidearm, but before he could pull it, the man raised a hand in a placating gesture.
"I'm Leoben. There's no need to worry, Helo, I've been expecting you."
There was excitement in the Cylon's gray eyes as he lifted a finger to his lips, indicating the desire for silence. Helo could only stare as Leoben quietly moved to the doorway and peered down the passageway, just as Helo had been planning to do a moment before. The Cylon listened intently and Helo had the feeling that he was listening with more than his ears.
"Why haven't you killed me?" Helo asked, his hand still on the butt of his gun.
Leoben smiled and, ignoring Helo's question, said, "I hope Starbuck is in good health; I've missed our time together."
Realizing that his mouth gaped open, Helo closed it with an audible snap. "What the frak is going on?" A short beep from the remote pulled his eyes from Leoben. A red light indicated that the scan had been unsuccessful.
"You won't need that, Helo." Leoben nodded toward the device. "I'll take you to Sharon. She's very far along in her pregnancy and it's important that we get her off this ship and to the Galactica as soon as possible."
"Why? Why are you willing to help me?" More than a little confused, not trusting the Cylon's word that he wouldn't need the access device, Helo unplugged it and slipped it into one of the cargo pockets on his flight suit. He never took his eyes from Leoben.
"This has all happened before and it will happen again. This time it's part of my destiny to aid you and Sharon in your escape, in the birth of your child. When next the river of time flows past us, perhaps it will be my destiny to destroy you, or to have no effect on events at all." He shrugged. "We must go to Sharon now, Helo."
"Man, you are frakkin' insane." Helo shook his head and followed Leoben, having little choice in the matter.
***
Her eyes drifted closed again; there was nothing to see, anyway. Just an artificial ceiling applied over the dark pink of the baseship's flesh and too-bright lights glaring directly into her eyes. Sharon didn't want to listen to the conversation that swirled over and around her. The results of that conversation would impact directly on her, but there was nothing she could do about it. She had always known that Helo wasn't coming for her, wasn't here, and she found a measure of comfort in knowing that at least he was safe.
"I think we should just kill her before she contaminates any of the others with her... humanity." That was Six, of course, venomous as ever.
"This isn't about our desires, Six. If Sharon's child doesn't survive, then we must try again." Doral, this time. It was eternally Six and Doral, she thought, perpetually tearing her down with words or using her in whatever way they could. She supposed that was their nature, but she knew there could be so much more.
"I agree, but a second attempt does not need to be with Sharon and Helo. If her child dies, it's a sign from God that she isn't the chosen one."
Doral laughed. "You'd like that, wouldn't you? Perhaps you could be the mother of the next generation, hmm? And the father could be that genius you kept on Caprica?" Sharon could almost feel the heat of Six's anger at Doral's mockery. "No, Six. All of the signs point to Helo; you know that as well as I do. The father of the next generation is the one who sacrificed himself for the good of humanity. If Sharon's child dies, then we find a way to take Helo from the humans, even if it's only for his DNA."
"You're a fool." Sharon heard the sharp tap-tap of Six's footsteps as she angrily walked away.
"Am I?" Again Doral laughed. "That remains to be seen."
Sharon didn't hear Doral leave, but, after a time, she became aware that she was alone. All was quiet, no sound save the beep of the monitors they had leashed her to and the faint background hum that was the heartbeat of the basestar.
More time passed with nothing to mark its passing and Sharon thought she heard another voice. She opened her eyes briefly, but the light was so intense and unwelcome that she closed them again immediately. There was a burning sensation in the small of her back and she thought that the contractions might be making their presence felt again, but it was nothing like before. Whatever Leoben had given her had indeed stopped the birth pains.
"Is there any other med bay on this frakking thing?" Helo's voice came to her through the semiconscious state she had slipped into. Another hallucination.
Then, closer, Leoben said, "She's here, Helo." She felt a hand at her stomach, but stubbornly refused to open her eyes; she would not give in again to the hallucinations.
"Thank the Gods," Helo breathed. His hand gently brushed her hair; she felt his lips at her forehead in a brief kiss. "Sharon." There was the slightest tingling sensation at the touch of his lips, but still she wouldn't open her eyes. "We're going to get you out of here."
"Why do you keep doing this to me? You're not here. You're not..." She wouldn't look at him. No. "I just want you to be safe. You don't have to help me..." One hand drifted to her stomach. "...us. I know you don't want to be a father." Hallucination or not, she had to make him understand that he had to go, that it wasn't safe for him here. "Helo, you're free to go home, now, back to Galactica."
"Sharon, baby, we are going home, wherever home is. I'm not leaving you, not again. You and me and our baby are going to get off this ship and find someplace that we can live."
"That's not possible."
"You don't mind if I don't accept that, do you?" he teased. "It's my turn to protect you, Sharon, okay?" He kissed her again, his mouth warm on hers, and then she heard him move away. "Leoben, is there a more direct route back to that hangar?"
"More direct? Possibly. Safer? Probably not."
Sharon felt a vibration through the surface on which she lay and then a sensation of movement. She felt a warm hand on her shoulder, the touch electric. Helo. Finally, she opened her eyes to see the lights overhead moving rapidly past. Moving her head slightly to the right, she saw Helo's profile as he walked next to the gurney, or whatever it was she was on. She couldn't see Leoben - he must be the one pushing.
She closed her eyes again. It was all a dream - it must be, even though it felt more real than the others. A strange dream, to be sure, but at least this time, it wasn't a nightmare.
The movement of the gurney on which she lay stopped abruptly and she heard something heavy hit a wall and then a slithering sound as it slid to the floor.
"Going somewhere?" Sharon's eyes shot open at the sound of Six's voice. Turning her head to the side, she saw Helo pull his sidearm only to have it knocked from his hand by a kick from Six.
"Helo!" she shouted as Six came in for another blow, but he caught her wrist before her fist could connect.
Sharon tried to move, but as she rolled onto her side, she saw Leoben slumped against the wall, unconscious, a bloody bruise on his forehead. There was blood on the wall, not much, but enough to tell her that Six must have thrown him head first into the wall.
"You can't have her, Helo." Six had Helo pinned to the wall, an arm torqued up behind his back. "She's ours, the baby is ours." He tried to break free but she pushed harder, grinding his face to the wall. "You are ours."
"No," Sharon whispered. Cradling one arm around her enormous belly, she slid to the floor, eyes on Helo's pistol, which lay between her and the two struggling against the wall. They didn't seem to notice her.
"You're wrong, bitch." Helo snapped his head back fast, smashing Six in the face hard - she clearly hadn't been expecting it.
The movement was enough for him to break away from her and lunge toward the fallen pistol, but Sharon was already there. She aimed it at Six and fired as a contraction ripped through her. The first bullet hit her in the hip and Sharon forced her aim higher. Six's nose bled from Helo's blow. Sharon's second bullet took her in the throat.
The pistol dropped again to the floor - she no longer had the strength to hold it. She heard Leoben stir behind her. "It's not safe for you here," she told Helo.
He began to laugh.
***
Helo followed Leoben with Sharon through the twists and turns of the ship, retracing their route to the hangar in which he'd left the heavy Raider. It was difficult to believe that one of the bio-Cylons was actually helping him and Sharon, but it seemed to be true. It was equally difficult to believe that they had almost reached their destination with no further sign of pursuit other than that bitch Six.
As things stood now, it seemed almost as though her appearance as they left the med bay was more along the lines of a personal vendetta than an attempt to prevent their escape. She had been alone, for one thing, and unarmed. They had still be in the medical facilities, following the only corridor in that part that would take them to an exit.
"I just don't get it," Helo finally said to Leoben.
"Don't get what?"
They had long since made the transition back to the more organic-looking part of the basestar. They had lifted Sharon back onto the gurney and Leoben again pushed it, but they were moving somewhat slower than before due to the softer surface beneath its wheels.
"That blonde. Six. At first I thought she was there to stop us, but why was she there alone? Why hasn't anyone tried to stop us since?"
"Six has never liked Sharon. She was probably there to gloat. As to why we have met no resistance, the others who are with me are doing what they can to see the prophecy fulfilled."
"I thought you Cylons were all of one mind, that you wanted to destroy humanity."
"No, not all of one mind or even all of one faith. There are those of us who interpret the prophecies in a different way than the majority. Not all of us believe that humans must be destroyed. After all, we wouldn't exist without you."
"Prophecies?" They had come to a large intersection, one that Helo recognized as being within just a few minutes of the hangar. Not waiting for Leoben to answer, he moved quickly ahead to make sure the way was clear. Seeing and hearing no signs of movement, he waved for Leoben to come forward when Sharon cried out in pain. "Sharon?"
"It's the baby." Her voice was breathless, higher in pitch than he'd ever heard it.
"The injection must be wearing off." Leoben addressed Helo. "I gave her something a few hours ago to stop the contractions, but-"
"Contractions?" Helo felt like he'd just taken a blow to the stomach. "She was having contractions?"
"Yes."
"They were about ten minutes apart," Sharon added, her voice sounding more normal.
"Is this the first one since then?"
She didn't get the chance to answer Helo's question for suddenly they were no longer alone. From beyond the intersection came the mechanical sound of marching chrome toasters. Helo seemed to have forgotten that the same muffling aspect of the fleshy structure of the basestar that aided them in their escape also aided the Cylons. He looked around the corner again.
"Going somewhere?" Six asked.
She stood directly in their path. Two toasters came up behind her, weapons at the ready. Helo raised Kara's rifle and, without hesitation, shot her, the bullet taking her just above her right eye. One of the toasters fired on him as he swung toward it. Helo's only focus was to clear the way for Leoben and Sharon. The first Cylon's shot missed its target, but Helo's didn't. It, too, dropped like a stone, just as Six had a moment before. Even as he brought the rifle around for a shot at the second Cylon, it fired and the bullet slammed into Helo's shoulder.
He didn't feel any pain. Shouldn't there be pain? he thought as he took out the second Cylon. There was only a burning sensation in his left shoulder and he couldn't move his arm. Which meant that he could no longer use the rifle. Kara'll kill me if I lose her rifle.
The bodies of two toasters and one woman blocked the way before them. The whine of mechanical servos came from behind them. He dropped the rifle and swung his pack to the floor, shouting, "Leoben! Get her out of here!"
Sharon cried out as Leoben lifted her from the gurney and began to edge his way around the pile of chrome. Helo dug into the pack and grabbed one of the shock grenades as the sound of heavy footsteps rounded the bend at the far end of the passageway through which they had just come. Activating the grenade, he waited until they were a couple of meters closer to his position before throwing the grenade with all his strength toward the half-dozen toasters bearing down on him.
It hit the floor perhaps a meter in front of the lead Centurion, exploding on impact. Helo didn't wait to see if it worked as advertised - he picked up his pack and Kara's rifle and ran after Leoben and Sharon, almost tripping over the abandoned gurney.
Slinging the rifle over his shoulder as he ran, Helo pulled his sidearm. The rounds weren't as powerful as those he'd brought for the rifle, but he knew from experience that enough of them would still stop a toaster.
He rounded another of the weird protrusions that served as corners in this part of the basestar and saw Leoben just ahead. He could see the hangar and the heavy Raiders beyond the Cylon, but again the way was blocked by chrome. "Frak!"
Leoben turned his head at the sound of Helo's voice. "You've been hit," he observed.
Helo looked down to see that his arm was covered in blood. "You think?" He drew up next to him, glanced at Sharon who was again unconscious. "How many?"
"I see five. There could be more." There were plenty of places to hide within the hangar, especially if the toasters were accompanied by bio-Cylons.
"You don't seem worried."
The Cylon smiled. "What's meant to be will be."
Helo shook his head. Definitely insane. The pain in his shoulder was finally making itself felt, growing stronger by the minute. He chewed at his lower lip as he studied the Cylons in the hangar. They didn't seem to be aware of their presence. If he could toss one of the grenades in close enough to take out the toasters, but not close enough to have an adverse effect on the Raider...
Keeping his eyes on the toasters that kept him from his ship, he lowered the pack to the fleshy deck, took out another grenade. The Raider was about twenty-five meters distant, the toasters about half that. The blast radius of the grenade was three to four meters. To be safe, he'd have to get closer, risk them firing on him.
He looked back at Leoben. "As soon as this goes off, you move. Get her to the closest Raider. I'll be right behind."
Leoben nodded and made sure he had Sharon firmly in his arms. Helo activated the grenade and ran toward the group of Cylons between him and their way out. It only took a few seconds to close the distance enough for him to feel confident the grenade would do its job. He threw it and one of the toasters actually caught the thing while the others continued toward Helo. The one holding the grenade was instantly destroyed, the others not so much destroyed as permanently incapacitated, their electronic circuits fried.
He altered his course to run toward the Raider as Leoben passed the fallen Centurions. Without warning, someone unseen fired on them. Leoben was hit and faltered, but didn't go down. Helo took aim, firing his pistol at a man he had met a lifetime ago aboard Galactica - Aaron Doral. There was nothing of the mild-mannered public relations specialist about him now as he fired again at Leoben, who was almost to the Raider. That shot hit the Cylon as well and he fell to his knees, but still kept Sharon from falling.
Close enough to Doral now that there was no way he could miss, Helo shot him in the face. There was no more gunfire, no sound of Cylon servos, just the sound of Leoben coughing.
Helo ran to the Cylon, helped him to his feet. He started to take Sharon from him, but Leoben protested. "I've got her. Just get the hatch open. We don't have much time."
Tapping in the sequence to open the hatch, Helo got the Raider open and helped Leoben inside. The Cylon carried Sharon in a few steps but then couldn't go any further. Again he dropped to his knees, laid Sharon on the floor of the Raider as gently as he could and collapsed beside her. Helo saw two large wounds on his back - the blood looked black in the faint light that came in through the open hatch. He hit the controls to seal it and then ran to the cockpit. He couldn't do anything for Leoben right now. He couldn't take the time to do anything but get this bird in the air and off the basestar.
***
Their escape from the basestar had taken every bit of skill he had. It had been months since he had done anything but the most simple piloting - since he had been partnered with Boomer, who had needed the practice. Leoben's allies had done their work well, but things had still been dicey. He had jumped at the first opportunity, more or less blind.
Allowing the heavy Raider to drift on her present trajectory, Helo headed back to check on Leoben and Sharon. He had been unable to strap either of them into the jump seats in the back of the ship, but Leoben had apparently been able to get Sharon strapped across several of them, lying flat, and had held onto the straps himself to keep from being flung about the Raider during their rocky flight.
The Cylon had entangled an arm in the straps, either knowing he wouldn't be strong enough to hang on or knowing he would pass out from the blood loss. And he had lost a lot of blood, Helo saw. Helo was feeling a little woozy himself. He crouched down next to Leoben and checked his pulse, which was weak and erratic. Gray eyes opened at the touch of Helo's fingers.
"Are we away?"
"Yes. Let me have a look at those wounds."
"I'm dying."
"I'm sorry." He was surprised that it was true and that he wouldn't have the opportunity to learn more about this madman who had saved his family.
"Don't be, Helo. If you get them to Galactica safely, then my purpose has been fulfilled." He smiled. "My only regret will be not seeing Starbuck again."
Sharon began to stir restlessly, whimpering. Both men turned toward her.
"Another contraction," Leoben said. "They're coming more frequently."
"Gods..." He couldn't do this. Sharon was giving birth, the man who had helped them to escape the Cylons was dying, and they were in the middle of nowhere. He shook his head, started to get up, muttered, "I have to program in the course for Kobol..." That was the only place he and Kara had been able to think of where they might have a chance to survive.
"You must return to Galactica, Helo."
"No way. They'd shoot us down on sight."
"It's the only way."
"I stole this ship. I deserted. Hell, for all I know I committed treason. If I take us back to Galactica, we're all dead."
"You'll be safe there, Helo, the way has been prepared."
"What the frak are you talking about?"
Sharon cried out again, louder, stronger. She was awake and in the midst of a strong contraction.
"Help me up," Leoben ordered. "If you get me to the cockpit, I can program the coordinates to get you back to your fleet. You take care of Sharon. She needs you."
Seeing no other course, Helo did as Leoben said. He untangled the Cylon's forearm from the jump seat straps and lifted him, slinging Leoben's arm over his right shoulder. He half-dragged the dying Cylon to the cockpit and into the pilot's seat.
"You'd better strap me in."
Helo belted Leoben into the chair. "You know where the fleet is?"
"Not exactly, but I know where it was a few hours ago. I can get you to that point, get you on the right heading. You'll have to take it from there." Helo must have looked dubious about the whole thing, for Leoben continued, "Believe me, Helo. The Soldier will bring you home."
Shaking his head, not understanding, he said, "I just want my family to be safe."
"Helo! The baby's coming!" Sharon's voice was terrified.
"Go. I won't initiate the jump sequence until you give the word."
Sharon screamed, a wordless cry and Helo ran to her, dropped down beside her, jarring his injured shoulder. He ignored the pain as he unstrapped her from the jump seats. "I'm here, Sharon. I'm here."
"It's coming!"
Trying to remember everything he knew about childbirth (not much and gained from the entertainment industry), he bent her legs at the knees and she immediately began to push. He was shocked to see the baby's head begin to emerge from between her legs. "Gods, Sharon, you weren't kidding."
Helo looked around frantically for something to cover the baby, but there was nothing. Then he remembered the supplies stowed under the decking. Along with the spare clothes, there was also at least one blanket. It would be clean and soft and that was all he cared about right now.
As the force of the contraction subsided for a moment, Helo gave Sharon's hand a squeeze. "I'll be right back."
"Helo!" She tried to hang onto his hand as he pulled away, but she was too weak. That scared him - she had always been stronger than he was. Always. He dashed to the compartment that held their supplies and dug until he found the blanket, ran back to her side.
Smoothing the hair from her sticky forehead and cheeks, he thought that maybe Leoben was right. Maybe it was better to go to Galactica after all, where Sharon - and Leoben, if he survived - could get medical attention. He could trust Doc Cottle.
He realized that Sharon was looking at him and he smiled at her. "We're gonna get through this. We'll be okay."
She returned his smile just before her face crumpled with the force of another contraction.
***
His first day back in command and things were not going well. One of his pilots was in medical with a severe concussion - she ought to be in the brig - another had deserted, taking with him a near priceless military asset in the form of a Cylon heavy Raider. And yet, William Adama felt as though all was right with his world, or as right as it could be.
Lee was in medical with Kara and had assured him only moments before that she was going to be okay. Kara was safe. His son was safe. There was no sign for the moment of Cylon pursuit...
"Commander, Dradis contact, bearing three-two-six."
Gaeta's words destroyed his brief feeling of well being. He had known it was too good to last.
"What do you have, Lieutenant Gaeta."
"A Cylon heavy Raider, sir. It appears to be alone."
"Commander? It's Helo... Lieutenant Agathon, sir. He's requesting an emergency landing and for Doc Cottle to meet them in the hangar."
And now it seemed that his missing pilot was returning with the stolen Raider...
Adama recalled the conversation with Helo not long before. Their discussion of home. The way Helo had focused so intently on the photograph of Boomer. It struck a chord in the heart and mind of the old soldier. Raising a brow, Adama looked at Dee. "Put him through on a secure channel."
"Yes, sir." She hesitated. "Sir, it sounds like there's a baby crying in the background..." Dee sounded confused, as well she might.
"The bio-Cylons aren't just machines, Commander," Helo said. "They're more like us than you know."
"I see. You know this because of your time with the other Lieutenant Valerii."
"Yes, sir." The man hesitated, clearly in uncertain territory, before continuing, "She's pregnant."
The news that Cylons and humans could procreate... It had been a long time since anything had shocked Adama. "That is significant. Yours?"
Sucking nervously at his cheek, Helo nodded. "Yes, sir, but there's more." His gaze held Adama's. "The last thing Sharon said before she led the toasters away from us was that she loved me."
Adama frowned. "Do you believe that?" The idea that humans and these bio-Cylons were capable of breeding was one thing, but love?
Again Helo nodded. "I do, Commander." He absently wove the partially chewed stick of a sucker back and forth between the fingers of his right hand and poked his tongue into his cheek, then, "The bio-Cylons are capable of complex emotions. Love. Fear. Jealousy. Loyalty..." Again his eyes met the Commander's. "I think we may be able to use that against them."
"Helo, Galactica Actual."
"Commander Adama?" Helo was clearly surprised to hear him. Adama did indeed hear a baby crying over the still open channel. "Sir, it's, ah...good to hear your voice. Sir, Sharon, our daughter... we need Doc Cottle." Helo sounded to Adama like a man torn between duty and family, sounded like he was about to break.
The voice of a dead man - a dead machine - whispered in his head. "You're instrumental to the survival of the next generation. It's up to you to bring mother, father, and child home..."
"The doctor will be there. Come on home, son."
THE END
Did I mention I'm dead?
Please, for the love of God, leave feedback. :P