A Dramatic Turn: Chapter Three

[nvgvup]

Title: A Dramatic Turn: Chapter Three
Author: (this chapter) nvgvup
            Series Co-Authors: marzipanilla and newnumbertwo
Rating: T
Word Count: 1,357
Summary: At the start of something more, Laura and Bill’s relationship gets complicated when they are dragged into a dangerous game of life and death
Notes: This is a ‘round robin’ fic. Each chapter is done by a different author. Series written for the about_time Battleship for Team!Laura.
Disclaimer: It all belongs to Ronald D. Moore. He is a very lucky man.

Chapter One | Chapter Two



Chapter 3: In Which A New Nemesis Appears

Bill was nearly at the front of the bus before most of the other passengers had managed to right themselves. He could now see the throng of students surging across the street that had forced Cottle to slam on the brakes.

“What the frak is going on out there?!” Cottle groused as he fumbled to find the cigarette that had fallen into his lap.

Bill surveyed the scene, noticing the panicked look on students’ faces as they headed away from the modernistic Student Center on the right. He could see the flashing lights indicative of NCU Campus security vehicles but he also noticed several large black unmarked vans that forebode a more serious situation.

Reaching for the lever that would open the bus doors, Bill was searching the torrent of people for a familiar flash of red hair. He may be jumping to conclusions but Laura had been running toward the Student Center while everyone else seemed to be running away from it. That did not sit will with Bill Adama.

“What the frak do you think you’re doing, Old Man?”

The wrinkled hand on Bill’s wrist was stronger than it looked and he turned his gaze back to the bus driver, thinking if anyone was the Old Man here, it certainly shouldn’t be him.

“You can’t go out there. I’ll get this bus moving as soon as there’s an opening in this gods-forsaken crowd. Open that door and we’ll be taken on more passengers than I’ve got seats for and bets are they won’t be pay’n.”

“You don’t understand, I have to get out.” Bill’s voice sounded panicked to his own ears and he took a deep breathe to clear his head. “I’ve got a friend out there.”

“If they’re smart, they’ll get their ass away from that building like everyone else. No use running after ‘em and putting yerself in danger.”

“What exactly do you think is going on out there?”

“You see them big black vans over there?” Cottle pointed to the vehicles Bill had noticed. “Not your typical Campus Security units, are they? Not police either. The black & whites are over that way.” Cottle pointed again and Bill saw six police vehicles he hadn’t noticed before. Another three red fire engines were careening around the corner up ahead, breaking quickly to avoid the mass of people in the street.

“What are they then?”

“Cain’s force.” At Bill’s blank stare, Cottle continued, “Helena Cain. Director of the CSCTA. Terrorist catchers.”

“How do you know that?”

“I get around Old Man.” Of that Bill had no doubt. “I’d recognize the satellite antennas on those vans anywhere. Highest budget of any defense organization in the twelve colonies. If Cain’s people are here, that building’s gonna blow and I’m not plann’n on being anywhere near here when it happens.” The crowd had cleared in front of the bus, most of the students now safely across the street and rushing as far across campus as they could get at the urging of a row of Campus officers.

Cottle began throwing the bus back in gear while Bill processed the new information. He looked at the crowd, clearly running in fear and then back to the Student Center, now surrounded by flashing lights and uniformed officers leading, what Bill assumed to be, bomb-sniffing dogs around the perimeter.

He was beginning to think the old bus driver was right and it was best to get as far away as possible when he saw red.

Through the crystal clear glass of the Student Center lobby, Bill could see the petite frame of a woman in a navy blue pantsuit, a mass of thick red hair spilling down her back and shaking as the woman’s arms gesticulated wildly, apparently trying to get a point of some importance across to a severe looking woman next to her who didn’t seem to care one bit what the Dean of Liberal Arts was trying to convey.

Seeing Laura threw Bill into action. The bus was already beginning to move forward when Bill yanked down on the lever that threw the doors open wide. He ignored Cottles’, “What the frak!” as he leapt out of the moving bus and into a dead sprint, past startled officers, toward the entrance to the Center.

“Crazy sonofabitch,” Cottle muttered around his cigarette as he sped his bus away from the scene.

ooOoo

Laura was irate. A part of her was pleased her quick thinking had ensured the building was clear of students but she knew Tom Zarek and she was certain there was more to this game than met the eye. Unfortunately, no one here would listen to her. Least of all Director Cain, the head of CSCTA, who was currently ignoring Laura’s pleas that the bomb-sniffing dogs do a broader sweep of the campus buildings.

“Look, Tom Zarek is a dangerous man. He has no qualms about blowing up a building, empty or not, and I do not, for one second, believe he would give me all the information needed to stop his attack completely. You have to keep looking!”

Thus far, no bomb had been found in the Student Center. Yes, it was a large building and the 15 minutes that had passed since Laura had placed the first calls was not nearly enough time to completely ensure the buildings safety. But already, Laura could see Cain’s people lightening their search. They were not taking her seriously.

“I understand you have helped catch and convict Tom Zarek in the past, Dr. Roslin. However, whatever your personal vendetta against the man, there is no place for it here.” Cain was barely paying attention to Laura, her eyes shifting around the lobby like a hawk.

“Personal vendetta?! Excuse me for not being chummy with a convicted terrorist.”

“Who is currently behind bars and unable to orchestrate what you have claimed.”

“I told you I saw him! Here on campus not twenty minutes ago. If you didn’t believe me, why would you all be here?”

Cain looked directly at Laura now, her light brown eyes coldly staring into Laura’s green. “We take every bomb threat seriously.”

“So you think I made it up? That I’m the terrorist? What possible reason would I have to do something like that?”

“I can’t possibly imagine Dr. Roslin. I don’t know you or what might set you off. It could be as simple as being dumped by your lover.” The snide look on Cain’s face told Laura she knew exactly who Laura’s most recent “lover” was. How she knew that and not that Zarek was free was a mystery Laura would have to solve later.

“You are not a part of this investigation Dr. Roslin and your presence is no longer required. I suggest you wait outside with AD Shaw until I can deal with you.” There was no suggestion in Cain’s tone. It was a command. One Laura had no intention of following.

She turned away from Cain, who was already barking out orders to her agents scurrying around the lobby of the Student Center, and ran directly into AD Shaw; a young brunette looking almost as stern as Cain herself. Shaw placed a hand on Laura’s elbow and began guiding her toward the glass double doors leading outside.

“This way, Dr. Roslin. We’ll be safe outside.” Despite the youthful face, Laura heard the edge in Shaw’s voice and knew the only reason Cain wanted Laura with Shaw was to keep her close. The nerve of that woman! Thinking Laura was the terrorist. She had to get away and figure out what Tom Zarek was up to. But how?

“Laura! Laura what’s going on?!” Laura’s head snapped to the right at the sound of the familiar deep voice calling her name. She used the distraction to yank free of the Assistant Director’s grasp and run into Bill’s surprised arms.

“Bill!” Holding his large bulk tightly and playing the part of a distressed damsel, grateful for the safe embrace of her love, Laura whispered in Bill’s ear, “I need your help. We have to get away from this woman and stop a bomb!”

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