Through the Looking Glass (Chapter 9-10)
Title: "Through the Looking Glass"
Author: addictd2fiction
Summary: What really happened when Kara's viper disappeared?
Rating: T
Warnings: Crack! / Crossover / AU
Pairing: K/L
A/N: I have a feeling that Chapter 10 will be everyone's favorite so far ;)
Beta Credit goes to my friend sassafras1989, who is my number one spazzing partner at all wonderful Lee and Kara scenes.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Battlestar Galactica" or "Alice in Wonderland," or else there'd be more Lee/Kara moments and Cheshire Cat appearances, respectively.
Chapter 9
There were so many things Kara wanted to do right now. She wanted to hug Adama for coming at the exact right moment. She wanted to punch Cavil in the face for making her think she was going to lose Lee and Sam and everyone she cared about then and there. She still sort of wanted to kill Leoben for leading her into this mess.
Instead, she just yelled, “Old man!” as Adama’s sword found its way to Cavil’s throat.
If he heard her, he didn’t give any sign of it, as he was intensely focused on the matter at hand. “Knave,” he growled, circling him. The Knave’s sword lay a few feet away from where it had landed when Lee had swiped it away, and so he was at Adama’s mercy. “I should kill you right here, for what you and that godsforsaken Red Queen have done to Wonderland.”
Cavil just laughed. “You think it’ll do any good, Knight? I’ll be back for Alice, and when we find the Looking Glass, you can kiss your little band of rebels good-bye.”
Adama had his stoic face on, so it was hard for Kara to see what he had planned. He was going to kill this godsdamn son of a bitch, right? “Call off your troops. Now.”
Cavil, seriously outnumbered now and completely at Adama’s mercy, gave the sign, and the centurions that had Sam, Helo, and both Sharons pinned down moved away. Adama lifted his sword point up from its position in front of Cavil’s neck, and Cavil leered. “Pathetic,” he said.
Kara, not content to just let Cavil walk away, as it seemed Adama had planned, made her move. She lashed out with one leg and kicked Cavil in the knee, causing him to drop down on one knee. As soon as he was on the ground and closer to her, Kara wrapped both legs around his neck, and twisting, she snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground. The centurions, unsure of what to do, suddenly began running back to the scene to pick up the fight. Luckily, Adama’s troops (among them Kara recognized some faces, such as Hot Dog and Racetrack) were ready, and they quickly had the royal guards subdued or destroyed.
Satisfied, Kara stood from her position on the ground. Quickly, she knotted her severed dress sleeve, hoping that it would remain that way until she could borrow or steal some other clothes. Her leg was still sluggishly bleeding, and she grabbed Cavil’s sword and limped a little bit over to where Lee was standing. Adama was staring at Cavil’s corpse. Kara smiled smugly. You can say ‘thank you’ at any time, Old Man. Adama opened his mouth…
And promptly barked at Kara. “You. What have you done?”
“Me? I just killed Cavil! Excuse me for trying to be helpful. The real you would definitely approve of the general ass-kickery going on here.”
Adama took a step forward, but was stopped by Lee, who had stepped in front of Adama. “This is Alice. She didn’t know what she was doing.”
Kara tapped Lee on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, and she smiled. And then she promptly punched him in the jaw. His head swung round, and rubbing his cheek, he looked at her, quite astonished. “What was that for?”
“Lee.” Her voice was sickly sweet, before she suddenly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to face-level. “I can speak for myself!” She looked over at Adama. “What’s got your panties in a knot?”
Adama looked neither amused nor impressed. “We could have questioned him for important information on how to break the Red Queen’s defenses and slay the Jabberwocky. Instead, he’ll just resurrect in a new body at their hub.” He looked at Lee, who was still rubbing his jaw. “This is Alice? The Alice?”
Lee shrugged. “We were trying to rendezvous with you.”
“I guess you didn’t understand my orders about hiding out until we came for you, huh?”
Lee smirked. “Never could read your handwriting.”
Adama gave him a gruff smile, but it had more than a small bit of affection. He looked back at Kara. “Well, Alice - ”
“Call me Starbuck,” she interrupted.
Adama gave her a long hard look before smiling and sticking out his hand for her to shake. “Well then, Starbuck. Welcome aboard.” She beamed as she took his hand.
* * *
Kara and her group followed Adama and his regiment along the edge of the checkerboard until they reached a small grove. It seemed like they had come to a dead end, when Adama walked up to a stonewall and passed right through it. Kara halted in astonishment, but she realized that it must be a projection of some sort, as no one really had much difficulty going through. When she walked up to it, she paused long enough to run her hand along it. Odd. It felt like real stone, and yet her hand could pass through it.
“One of the White Queen’s many impressive powers. That of illusion,” a voice said from above her. When Kara looked up, she wasn’t all that surprised to see Gaius floating there, grinning down at her.
“You know, if you keep appearing suddenly, I might accidentally kill you one time. Maybe you should reconsider who you spy on.” She smirked at him. “Curiosity did kill the cat.”
“Ah, but satisfaction brought him back again.” Gaius floated down next to her, and they both passed through the wall together.
As they continued walking, Kara glanced over at Gaius, who was just padding along contentedly. “You always seem to high-tail it out of there when trouble comes about, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes. Self-preservation does seem to be an integral part of my anatomy.” His eyes narrowed and he floated in the air on his back next to her. “I think in another life, I could have been scientist. I would have liked to use my brains to help fight rather than the ability to run.”
Fat lot of good that did, Kara thought, appraising the cat next to her. “Really? You’d want to help people rather than being a selfish worm?” She barked a laugh.
Gaius the Cat took a moment to look at her seriously, dropping his wide grin. “Yes. In fact, I often wish I could help more here. Sometimes I sense these voices - angels, I think - telling me what I should do.”
“You have voices in your head?”
“Quite often. Like I said, everyone here is mad.”
“Sure seems like it.”
“Yes. I suppose you could say I’m not all there myself.” Gaius laughed, and slowly he began to fade away as Kara was left walking alone behind the rest of the group, shaking her head.
Adama finally halted, and Kara brought up the rear as they all walked into a rather large encampment that looked hauntingly like the one that had been on New Caprica. People started coming out of tall tents and shacks as the newcomers gathered round, as if waiting for something. Adama suddenly dropped to one knee, and everyone else followed suit. Kara, unsure of what was happening, dropped to the ground, but winced when her wounded knee made contact with the ground. She flopped back onto her butt to give it a rest, wondering what was going on.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. Suddenly everything seemed to brighten up, and as Kara watched, a pristine figured dressed completely in white walked into the clearing, holding herself regally. Kara blinked twice before whispering, “Roslin?”
Next to her, Sam spared her a glance before looking back at the ground. “The White Queen. The rightful sovereign of Wonderland.”
Kara snorted. How like Roslin to be the rightful and likely righteous leader of this ragtag group. Adama seemed far more wound around her finger here than in her world, though, for which she was grateful. If the Adama in her world was ever so obedient towards the woman, Kara would have to let him know so.
“My Queen,” Adama began. “We have reunited with some of our more roving followers,” he gestured to Sam, Helo, and Lee, “and befriended new ones.” At this, Athena and Boomer both bobbed their heads simultaneously. “We have also in our midst the Alice of Legend.” Adama’s mouth turned up in a wry smile. “Although she prefers to be called Starbuck.”
Suddenly, Kara felt many eyes on her. “Welcome to Wonderland, Starbuck. I hope you’re finding it hospitable. We are extremely happy you’ve come to us, as prophesized.”
Kara glanced up towards the Queen. “Since the moment I woke up looking for Leoben, I’ve been told where I must go and who I must be. I’ve been stretched, scratched, and stuffed into a teapot. I’ve been accused of being Alice and of not being Alice but this is my crazy, frakked up dream. I’ll decide where it goes from here.” As if adding an afterthought, she murmured, “And if this is hospitality, I hate to see what happens when a guest isn’t welcome here.”
Roslin simply gave her a piercing look before turning around. “Come, my White Knight, Starbuck. It seems we have much to discuss, and I think our conversation would be better suited for more private quarters.”
As Roslin walked away from the clearing, people began dispersing again, and Kara suddenly blinked as a hand was thrust in front of her face. Seeing that Sam was trying to help her up, she grabbed his arm and he hauled her to her feet. Kara nodded gratefully, and then followed Adama and Roslin away from everyone else.
Chapter 10
Inside Roslin’s tent, Kara took a seat on a rather plush-looking chair. She looked down at her knee, which had turned a strange color of purple around the cut. Roslin seemed to notice her discomfort.
“It looks like you ran afoul of something powerful. What did that to you?” she asked.
“This.” Kara lifted the shining sword she had picked off Cavil and stuck through the back part of her petticoat. Stupid dress or not, it had worked for a scabbard during their walk to the encampment.
Roslin looked stupefied. The sword almost seemed to hum with life as Kara held it, and Roslin reached out to touch it, but she held back at last minute. “The vorpal sword,” she breathed. She looked up at Kara. “So you really are the Alice of legend.”
“There’s been some debate about that,” Kara said drily. “I don’t even know what legend you’re all talking about. My name is not, and has never been - “ and probably never will be “ - Alice.”
“It has been foretold that an Alice will come to Wonderland in its time of need to take back power and lead everyone to the end of the line,” Adama said gruffly. “She will use the vorpal sword to defeat the Jabberwocky, the most evil of all creatures, and, dressed in rage, she will win the day.”
Kara sighed. “Look, I don’t know anything about any jabber-whatever, and I don’t know anything about winning some big battle. I’m a frak-up, through and through.” She thought wryly of Lee. “Spend enough time with me and that’ll be pretty clear. I just want to find Leoben, the White Rabbit or whatever, and find a way back home.”
“Back through the Looking Glass,” Roslin clarified.
Kara looked up at her. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what the Looking Glass is.”
“It’s a portal that connects our world to the next. It seems likely you came from there, and it is the only way to leave Wonderland. It is impossible to find, except for those touched by the divine powers.” Roslin looked at her closely. “If you are the Alice of legend, you should be able to find it.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t even know where to look.”
“I think what Kara Thrace needs is a vessel to take her where she came from.” Gaius suddenly appeared in the tent. Roslin seemed to instantly bristle, and Kara could tell that the two of them seemed to have some bad blood. Gaius ignored her and continued, though. “I can tell that Kara Thrace belongs in the air, and with a proper vehicle, I am certain she will find the Looking Glass again.”
Roslin, despite her animosity towards Gaius, seemed to consider this. “I think I can fashion you just the thing, Alice. Pardon me, I mean Starbuck. We will, however, need your help first.”
Kara narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”
“We need you to help us win this war, and then I will craft a vessel that can take you through the sky, to the Looking Glass. We don’t know why the Knave wants it, but he seems to be looking for you so that you will lead him there. We cannot risk you leaving without taking both him and the Red Queen down first. You will use the vorpal sword, as it seems to have chosen you.” As if to support this claim, the sword thrummed suddenly in Kara’s hands. “And we will give you our most able horse, Viper, to fight with.”
Kara sighed. “Fine. I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.” She tried to stand up, but wobbled precariously as her knee began throbbing. She quickly sat back down.
“I’d better have a look,” Gaius said, padding over to her. His left ear flicked as he inspected her knee.
“What are you doing?” Kara asked. Roslin looked equally interested, but she chose not to come too close to Gaius.
“It needs to be purified by someone with evaporating skills, or it will fester and putrefy.”
Though Kara wasn’t exactly looking forward to Gaius touching her leg, she much preferred that to the other option. She nodded, and as Gaius set to work, she glanced up at Roslin. “Do you think I could borrow something? This dress isn’t quite cutting it.”
Roslin, amusedly taking in the many tears and stains, as well as the roughly knotted shoulder on the dress, smiled. “We’ll see what we can do.”
* * *
That night there was a huge celebration, a sort of last hurrah before Kara and the White Knight would lead many of the White Queen’s soldiers into war against the Red Queen’s resurrection hub. Kara danced with Sam, and smiled as Athena’s presence made Helo talk more; she felt oddly nostalgic, and an unfamiliar feeling of homesickness swept through her. She walked away from the dance floor to clear her head.
Behind many of the tents, Roslin and Adama were sitting, and smoking. They smiled as they talked, as though they knew they should enjoy this night in case it was their last.
“At last, we’re going to fight the Red Queen,” Roslin said, exhaling smoke. She giggled.
“Politics. As exciting as war,” Adama replied, lazily rolling his head to look at her.
“Though in war, you only get killed once.”
“You’re still standing.”
“So are you.”
They smiled at one another for a minute. Adama grunted, and then he shifted closer to her, looping his fingers through hers. She looked down at her conjoined hands, and then back up at him. He spoke, gruffly, “And then maybe we can finally build a little cabin behind your palace, just for the two of us. It’ll have an easterly view. I’ve already got it laid out. When the sun comes up from behind those mountains - ,“ and here he gestured to some mountains in front of them, “ - it’ll be almost heavenly. It’ll remind me of you.”
Roslin smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “We’ll build it together.”
* * *
Tweedledee was having a great time. She was dancing, drinking, laughing. And most importantly, she was really enjoying spending time with the Dormouse. Laughing and breathing hard after one round of dancing, she stepped off to the side to catch her breath. The Dormous joined her a moment later, and the two of them sat on the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone else and enjoying each other’s company.
“Dormouse?” Tweedledee said, leaning towards him a little bit.
“Yes?” He glanced at her, no sign of sleepiness showing. When she hesitated, he smiled encouragingly at her.
“I’m just… I’m happy that we can be friends like this. I like being around you.”
She scooted a little closer to him, and the Dormouse wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She shivered, but not from the cold. “I like being around you too.”
Content, Tweedledee leaned her head onto his shoulder. Watching from the other side of the dance clearing, Tweedledum scowled. In all reality, she needed to grab her twin and skedaddle. Seeing her sidled up so closely with the Dormouse, though… Tweedledum felt bitter. She was jealous. They were the same, so why did Tweedledee get to have that close companionship?
She shook her head. She needed to clear her mind for what was to come. Slipping off into the knight, Tweedledum headed for the stables. She had some riding to do.
* * *
Kara was slightly annoyed she was still in a dress, albeit a much finer garment. Roslin had leant it to her for the night, saying that in the morning she would be fitted with armor for the upcoming battle. Kara had wanted the armor immediately, but Roslin had insisted she wear a forest green silk dress for the festivities. Luckily it wasn’t a long dress, but it was a halter, and maybe in some other time and place, Kara would have laughed at herself for wearing such a thing. Here, though, she didn’t really care. She just wanted to get home to the Galactica.
“That bum knee of yours is looking pretty good,” said a voice from behind her. Kara smiled as it continued, “And the other one’s not looking too bad either.”
Kara let out a small laugh as she turned around to face him. He was still wearing that stupid hat, and she couldn’t take him seriously. “Lee, if you want to ask me to dance, just ask.”
“You want to dance?”
“Well, me in a dress is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Her smiled faded. “Although this conversation does have a certain ring of déjà vu to it, so maybe it’s twice-in-a-lifetime for you. Lucky man, Lee”
He walked up to her. “I think that may have been a different lifetime. Sure seems like a dream to me.”
She pushed him back some, and walked further away from the festivities. “This is the dream. That was real. And I left you hanging back there. I knew I wouldn’t see you again if I followed that heavy raider in, and I did it anyways.”
Lee grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her around. “Kara, I said I’d fly your wing, whatever it takes. I meant it then, and I mean it now. If you had some reason for coming here, then I’d have accepted it. I would have missed you. Hell, I would have been devastated. But don’t you dare think for one minute that I would have doubted you.”
Kara let out a small sob, but then she reined her emotions in. “I thought nothing could ever happen between us. We were trapped in our marriages, trapped in a war with those metal motherfrakkers…”
One of Lee’s hands moved from her shoulder to clasp the back of her neck, while the other slid down to rest at the small of her back. “That’s why we gotta get what we can. Right now.”
And then he kissed her.
* * *
From his position a few yards away, hidden by the trees, Anders dropped his head, feeling ashamed of his spying. He had noticed Kara was gone, and he followed her only to find out that the Mad Hatter had beaten him to it. All at once he felt awkward, embarrassed, and hurt, and he couldn’t understand why this feeling was familiar. Kara didn’t owe him anything. He barely even knew her. He wanted to be mad at the Hatter, but he found he wasn’t.
Maybe he’d done something wrong in another life to deserve this. Maybe he was just spooked by the idea of battle tomorrow, and the fact that the Alice of legend was around had gotten to him. Maybe not. Whatever the case, he knew this wasn’t his place.
He glanced back at them one more time before silently hopping off to give them privacy.
* * *
It was so hot. Searingly hot, was all Kara could think as Lee’s tongue invaded her mouth. Her hands pushed up under his shirt, scratching at his back, as he walked her backwards until her back hit the bark of a tree trunk. Dimly, Kara realized that the constant-tittering of the flowers had died down, and the dead silence of the clearing they were in was permeated only by their harsh breathing.
One of Lee’s hands was tangled in her hair while the other moved lower. His mouth suddenly left hers as his lips latched onto her neck, and Kara tilted her head to give him better access. The hand in her hair suddenly dropped down to join its counterpart near her ass, and lifting her up, Lee ground his waist against hers as his mouth traveled back to meet her lips.
He hiked up her dress and brought his hands under the hem. She was fumbling with his pants when he suddenly paused and looked her straight in the eye. Captivated, she stopped as well. He leaned in for one chaste kiss, and then rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Kara Thrace,” he whispered, and then they picked up where they’d left off. Up above them, the stars twinkled in the sky.
Want to start from the beginning? Click to read the rest here at my LJ :)
Reviews are always appreciated!!
Author: addictd2fiction
Summary: What really happened when Kara's viper disappeared?
Rating: T
Warnings: Crack! / Crossover / AU
Pairing: K/L
A/N: I have a feeling that Chapter 10 will be everyone's favorite so far ;)
Beta Credit goes to my friend sassafras1989, who is my number one spazzing partner at all wonderful Lee and Kara scenes.
Disclaimer: I don't own "Battlestar Galactica" or "Alice in Wonderland," or else there'd be more Lee/Kara moments and Cheshire Cat appearances, respectively.
Chapter 9
There were so many things Kara wanted to do right now. She wanted to hug Adama for coming at the exact right moment. She wanted to punch Cavil in the face for making her think she was going to lose Lee and Sam and everyone she cared about then and there. She still sort of wanted to kill Leoben for leading her into this mess.
Instead, she just yelled, “Old man!” as Adama’s sword found its way to Cavil’s throat.
If he heard her, he didn’t give any sign of it, as he was intensely focused on the matter at hand. “Knave,” he growled, circling him. The Knave’s sword lay a few feet away from where it had landed when Lee had swiped it away, and so he was at Adama’s mercy. “I should kill you right here, for what you and that godsforsaken Red Queen have done to Wonderland.”
Cavil just laughed. “You think it’ll do any good, Knight? I’ll be back for Alice, and when we find the Looking Glass, you can kiss your little band of rebels good-bye.”
Adama had his stoic face on, so it was hard for Kara to see what he had planned. He was going to kill this godsdamn son of a bitch, right? “Call off your troops. Now.”
Cavil, seriously outnumbered now and completely at Adama’s mercy, gave the sign, and the centurions that had Sam, Helo, and both Sharons pinned down moved away. Adama lifted his sword point up from its position in front of Cavil’s neck, and Cavil leered. “Pathetic,” he said.
Kara, not content to just let Cavil walk away, as it seemed Adama had planned, made her move. She lashed out with one leg and kicked Cavil in the knee, causing him to drop down on one knee. As soon as he was on the ground and closer to her, Kara wrapped both legs around his neck, and twisting, she snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground. The centurions, unsure of what to do, suddenly began running back to the scene to pick up the fight. Luckily, Adama’s troops (among them Kara recognized some faces, such as Hot Dog and Racetrack) were ready, and they quickly had the royal guards subdued or destroyed.
Satisfied, Kara stood from her position on the ground. Quickly, she knotted her severed dress sleeve, hoping that it would remain that way until she could borrow or steal some other clothes. Her leg was still sluggishly bleeding, and she grabbed Cavil’s sword and limped a little bit over to where Lee was standing. Adama was staring at Cavil’s corpse. Kara smiled smugly. You can say ‘thank you’ at any time, Old Man. Adama opened his mouth…
And promptly barked at Kara. “You. What have you done?”
“Me? I just killed Cavil! Excuse me for trying to be helpful. The real you would definitely approve of the general ass-kickery going on here.”
Adama took a step forward, but was stopped by Lee, who had stepped in front of Adama. “This is Alice. She didn’t know what she was doing.”
Kara tapped Lee on the shoulder. He turned to look at her, and she smiled. And then she promptly punched him in the jaw. His head swung round, and rubbing his cheek, he looked at her, quite astonished. “What was that for?”
“Lee.” Her voice was sickly sweet, before she suddenly grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and pulled him down to face-level. “I can speak for myself!” She looked over at Adama. “What’s got your panties in a knot?”
Adama looked neither amused nor impressed. “We could have questioned him for important information on how to break the Red Queen’s defenses and slay the Jabberwocky. Instead, he’ll just resurrect in a new body at their hub.” He looked at Lee, who was still rubbing his jaw. “This is Alice? The Alice?”
Lee shrugged. “We were trying to rendezvous with you.”
“I guess you didn’t understand my orders about hiding out until we came for you, huh?”
Lee smirked. “Never could read your handwriting.”
Adama gave him a gruff smile, but it had more than a small bit of affection. He looked back at Kara. “Well, Alice - ”
“Call me Starbuck,” she interrupted.
Adama gave her a long hard look before smiling and sticking out his hand for her to shake. “Well then, Starbuck. Welcome aboard.” She beamed as she took his hand.
* * *
Kara and her group followed Adama and his regiment along the edge of the checkerboard until they reached a small grove. It seemed like they had come to a dead end, when Adama walked up to a stonewall and passed right through it. Kara halted in astonishment, but she realized that it must be a projection of some sort, as no one really had much difficulty going through. When she walked up to it, she paused long enough to run her hand along it. Odd. It felt like real stone, and yet her hand could pass through it.
“One of the White Queen’s many impressive powers. That of illusion,” a voice said from above her. When Kara looked up, she wasn’t all that surprised to see Gaius floating there, grinning down at her.
“You know, if you keep appearing suddenly, I might accidentally kill you one time. Maybe you should reconsider who you spy on.” She smirked at him. “Curiosity did kill the cat.”
“Ah, but satisfaction brought him back again.” Gaius floated down next to her, and they both passed through the wall together.
As they continued walking, Kara glanced over at Gaius, who was just padding along contentedly. “You always seem to high-tail it out of there when trouble comes about, don’t you?”
“Ah, yes. Self-preservation does seem to be an integral part of my anatomy.” His eyes narrowed and he floated in the air on his back next to her. “I think in another life, I could have been scientist. I would have liked to use my brains to help fight rather than the ability to run.”
Fat lot of good that did, Kara thought, appraising the cat next to her. “Really? You’d want to help people rather than being a selfish worm?” She barked a laugh.
Gaius the Cat took a moment to look at her seriously, dropping his wide grin. “Yes. In fact, I often wish I could help more here. Sometimes I sense these voices - angels, I think - telling me what I should do.”
“You have voices in your head?”
“Quite often. Like I said, everyone here is mad.”
“Sure seems like it.”
“Yes. I suppose you could say I’m not all there myself.” Gaius laughed, and slowly he began to fade away as Kara was left walking alone behind the rest of the group, shaking her head.
Adama finally halted, and Kara brought up the rear as they all walked into a rather large encampment that looked hauntingly like the one that had been on New Caprica. People started coming out of tall tents and shacks as the newcomers gathered round, as if waiting for something. Adama suddenly dropped to one knee, and everyone else followed suit. Kara, unsure of what was happening, dropped to the ground, but winced when her wounded knee made contact with the ground. She flopped back onto her butt to give it a rest, wondering what was going on.
Fortunately, she didn’t have to wait long. Suddenly everything seemed to brighten up, and as Kara watched, a pristine figured dressed completely in white walked into the clearing, holding herself regally. Kara blinked twice before whispering, “Roslin?”
Next to her, Sam spared her a glance before looking back at the ground. “The White Queen. The rightful sovereign of Wonderland.”
Kara snorted. How like Roslin to be the rightful and likely righteous leader of this ragtag group. Adama seemed far more wound around her finger here than in her world, though, for which she was grateful. If the Adama in her world was ever so obedient towards the woman, Kara would have to let him know so.
“My Queen,” Adama began. “We have reunited with some of our more roving followers,” he gestured to Sam, Helo, and Lee, “and befriended new ones.” At this, Athena and Boomer both bobbed their heads simultaneously. “We have also in our midst the Alice of Legend.” Adama’s mouth turned up in a wry smile. “Although she prefers to be called Starbuck.”
Suddenly, Kara felt many eyes on her. “Welcome to Wonderland, Starbuck. I hope you’re finding it hospitable. We are extremely happy you’ve come to us, as prophesized.”
Kara glanced up towards the Queen. “Since the moment I woke up looking for Leoben, I’ve been told where I must go and who I must be. I’ve been stretched, scratched, and stuffed into a teapot. I’ve been accused of being Alice and of not being Alice but this is my crazy, frakked up dream. I’ll decide where it goes from here.” As if adding an afterthought, she murmured, “And if this is hospitality, I hate to see what happens when a guest isn’t welcome here.”
Roslin simply gave her a piercing look before turning around. “Come, my White Knight, Starbuck. It seems we have much to discuss, and I think our conversation would be better suited for more private quarters.”
As Roslin walked away from the clearing, people began dispersing again, and Kara suddenly blinked as a hand was thrust in front of her face. Seeing that Sam was trying to help her up, she grabbed his arm and he hauled her to her feet. Kara nodded gratefully, and then followed Adama and Roslin away from everyone else.
Chapter 10
Inside Roslin’s tent, Kara took a seat on a rather plush-looking chair. She looked down at her knee, which had turned a strange color of purple around the cut. Roslin seemed to notice her discomfort.
“It looks like you ran afoul of something powerful. What did that to you?” she asked.
“This.” Kara lifted the shining sword she had picked off Cavil and stuck through the back part of her petticoat. Stupid dress or not, it had worked for a scabbard during their walk to the encampment.
Roslin looked stupefied. The sword almost seemed to hum with life as Kara held it, and Roslin reached out to touch it, but she held back at last minute. “The vorpal sword,” she breathed. She looked up at Kara. “So you really are the Alice of legend.”
“There’s been some debate about that,” Kara said drily. “I don’t even know what legend you’re all talking about. My name is not, and has never been - “ and probably never will be “ - Alice.”
“It has been foretold that an Alice will come to Wonderland in its time of need to take back power and lead everyone to the end of the line,” Adama said gruffly. “She will use the vorpal sword to defeat the Jabberwocky, the most evil of all creatures, and, dressed in rage, she will win the day.”
Kara sighed. “Look, I don’t know anything about any jabber-whatever, and I don’t know anything about winning some big battle. I’m a frak-up, through and through.” She thought wryly of Lee. “Spend enough time with me and that’ll be pretty clear. I just want to find Leoben, the White Rabbit or whatever, and find a way back home.”
“Back through the Looking Glass,” Roslin clarified.
Kara looked up at her. “I don’t know. I don’t even know what the Looking Glass is.”
“It’s a portal that connects our world to the next. It seems likely you came from there, and it is the only way to leave Wonderland. It is impossible to find, except for those touched by the divine powers.” Roslin looked at her closely. “If you are the Alice of legend, you should be able to find it.”
Kara rolled her eyes. “I wouldn’t even know where to look.”
“I think what Kara Thrace needs is a vessel to take her where she came from.” Gaius suddenly appeared in the tent. Roslin seemed to instantly bristle, and Kara could tell that the two of them seemed to have some bad blood. Gaius ignored her and continued, though. “I can tell that Kara Thrace belongs in the air, and with a proper vehicle, I am certain she will find the Looking Glass again.”
Roslin, despite her animosity towards Gaius, seemed to consider this. “I think I can fashion you just the thing, Alice. Pardon me, I mean Starbuck. We will, however, need your help first.”
Kara narrowed her eyes. “What do you want?”
“We need you to help us win this war, and then I will craft a vessel that can take you through the sky, to the Looking Glass. We don’t know why the Knave wants it, but he seems to be looking for you so that you will lead him there. We cannot risk you leaving without taking both him and the Red Queen down first. You will use the vorpal sword, as it seems to have chosen you.” As if to support this claim, the sword thrummed suddenly in Kara’s hands. “And we will give you our most able horse, Viper, to fight with.”
Kara sighed. “Fine. I’ll scratch your back, you scratch mine.” She tried to stand up, but wobbled precariously as her knee began throbbing. She quickly sat back down.
“I’d better have a look,” Gaius said, padding over to her. His left ear flicked as he inspected her knee.
“What are you doing?” Kara asked. Roslin looked equally interested, but she chose not to come too close to Gaius.
“It needs to be purified by someone with evaporating skills, or it will fester and putrefy.”
Though Kara wasn’t exactly looking forward to Gaius touching her leg, she much preferred that to the other option. She nodded, and as Gaius set to work, she glanced up at Roslin. “Do you think I could borrow something? This dress isn’t quite cutting it.”
Roslin, amusedly taking in the many tears and stains, as well as the roughly knotted shoulder on the dress, smiled. “We’ll see what we can do.”
* * *
That night there was a huge celebration, a sort of last hurrah before Kara and the White Knight would lead many of the White Queen’s soldiers into war against the Red Queen’s resurrection hub. Kara danced with Sam, and smiled as Athena’s presence made Helo talk more; she felt oddly nostalgic, and an unfamiliar feeling of homesickness swept through her. She walked away from the dance floor to clear her head.
Behind many of the tents, Roslin and Adama were sitting, and smoking. They smiled as they talked, as though they knew they should enjoy this night in case it was their last.
“At last, we’re going to fight the Red Queen,” Roslin said, exhaling smoke. She giggled.
“Politics. As exciting as war,” Adama replied, lazily rolling his head to look at her.
“Though in war, you only get killed once.”
“You’re still standing.”
“So are you.”
They smiled at one another for a minute. Adama grunted, and then he shifted closer to her, looping his fingers through hers. She looked down at her conjoined hands, and then back up at him. He spoke, gruffly, “And then maybe we can finally build a little cabin behind your palace, just for the two of us. It’ll have an easterly view. I’ve already got it laid out. When the sun comes up from behind those mountains - ,“ and here he gestured to some mountains in front of them, “ - it’ll be almost heavenly. It’ll remind me of you.”
Roslin smiled at him and squeezed his hand. “We’ll build it together.”
* * *
Tweedledee was having a great time. She was dancing, drinking, laughing. And most importantly, she was really enjoying spending time with the Dormouse. Laughing and breathing hard after one round of dancing, she stepped off to the side to catch her breath. The Dormous joined her a moment later, and the two of them sat on the edge of the dance floor, watching everyone else and enjoying each other’s company.
“Dormouse?” Tweedledee said, leaning towards him a little bit.
“Yes?” He glanced at her, no sign of sleepiness showing. When she hesitated, he smiled encouragingly at her.
“I’m just… I’m happy that we can be friends like this. I like being around you.”
She scooted a little closer to him, and the Dormouse wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She shivered, but not from the cold. “I like being around you too.”
Content, Tweedledee leaned her head onto his shoulder. Watching from the other side of the dance clearing, Tweedledum scowled. In all reality, she needed to grab her twin and skedaddle. Seeing her sidled up so closely with the Dormouse, though… Tweedledum felt bitter. She was jealous. They were the same, so why did Tweedledee get to have that close companionship?
She shook her head. She needed to clear her mind for what was to come. Slipping off into the knight, Tweedledum headed for the stables. She had some riding to do.
* * *
Kara was slightly annoyed she was still in a dress, albeit a much finer garment. Roslin had leant it to her for the night, saying that in the morning she would be fitted with armor for the upcoming battle. Kara had wanted the armor immediately, but Roslin had insisted she wear a forest green silk dress for the festivities. Luckily it wasn’t a long dress, but it was a halter, and maybe in some other time and place, Kara would have laughed at herself for wearing such a thing. Here, though, she didn’t really care. She just wanted to get home to the Galactica.
“That bum knee of yours is looking pretty good,” said a voice from behind her. Kara smiled as it continued, “And the other one’s not looking too bad either.”
Kara let out a small laugh as she turned around to face him. He was still wearing that stupid hat, and she couldn’t take him seriously. “Lee, if you want to ask me to dance, just ask.”
“You want to dance?”
“Well, me in a dress is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.” Her smiled faded. “Although this conversation does have a certain ring of déjà vu to it, so maybe it’s twice-in-a-lifetime for you. Lucky man, Lee”
He walked up to her. “I think that may have been a different lifetime. Sure seems like a dream to me.”
She pushed him back some, and walked further away from the festivities. “This is the dream. That was real. And I left you hanging back there. I knew I wouldn’t see you again if I followed that heavy raider in, and I did it anyways.”
Lee grabbed her by the shoulders, turning her around. “Kara, I said I’d fly your wing, whatever it takes. I meant it then, and I mean it now. If you had some reason for coming here, then I’d have accepted it. I would have missed you. Hell, I would have been devastated. But don’t you dare think for one minute that I would have doubted you.”
Kara let out a small sob, but then she reined her emotions in. “I thought nothing could ever happen between us. We were trapped in our marriages, trapped in a war with those metal motherfrakkers…”
One of Lee’s hands moved from her shoulder to clasp the back of her neck, while the other slid down to rest at the small of her back. “That’s why we gotta get what we can. Right now.”
And then he kissed her.
* * *
From his position a few yards away, hidden by the trees, Anders dropped his head, feeling ashamed of his spying. He had noticed Kara was gone, and he followed her only to find out that the Mad Hatter had beaten him to it. All at once he felt awkward, embarrassed, and hurt, and he couldn’t understand why this feeling was familiar. Kara didn’t owe him anything. He barely even knew her. He wanted to be mad at the Hatter, but he found he wasn’t.
Maybe he’d done something wrong in another life to deserve this. Maybe he was just spooked by the idea of battle tomorrow, and the fact that the Alice of legend was around had gotten to him. Maybe not. Whatever the case, he knew this wasn’t his place.
He glanced back at them one more time before silently hopping off to give them privacy.
* * *
It was so hot. Searingly hot, was all Kara could think as Lee’s tongue invaded her mouth. Her hands pushed up under his shirt, scratching at his back, as he walked her backwards until her back hit the bark of a tree trunk. Dimly, Kara realized that the constant-tittering of the flowers had died down, and the dead silence of the clearing they were in was permeated only by their harsh breathing.
One of Lee’s hands was tangled in her hair while the other moved lower. His mouth suddenly left hers as his lips latched onto her neck, and Kara tilted her head to give him better access. The hand in her hair suddenly dropped down to join its counterpart near her ass, and lifting her up, Lee ground his waist against hers as his mouth traveled back to meet her lips.
He hiked up her dress and brought his hands under the hem. She was fumbling with his pants when he suddenly paused and looked her straight in the eye. Captivated, she stopped as well. He leaned in for one chaste kiss, and then rested his forehead against hers. “I love you, Kara Thrace,” he whispered, and then they picked up where they’d left off. Up above them, the stars twinkled in the sky.
Want to start from the beginning? Click to read the rest here at my LJ :)
Reviews are always appreciated!!