[fic] saltwater
Rating: G
Pairing: Lee/Kara
Spoilers: AU after S3 in general. Spoiler thru 4.02/ Ties That Bind.
Summary: “There’s a connection between you that doesn’t die. "
Disclaimer: Just playing in RDM's 'verse.
A/N: Originally posted here for wisteria_'s birthday. Much love always, A!!
saltwater
The walls pulse with an irregular beat. The lights are low, as on the last basestar he set foot on, but where that was a dying ship this one seems to be quiescent. Waiting.
Still, the dim corridors unsettle Lee, and his fingers twitch at his side, just where his gun would be holstered if he was wearing a flight suit. By his side, Athena looks grim - her tread light, elbows slightly bent in alert stance.
A figure steps out of an archway up ahead. Lee bristles at this Two model, but Leoben only eyes Lee curiously, nods to Athena. “She’s waiting.”
Athena turns to Lee. “She wants to see you alone. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Uh-uh." Turning to the male Cylon, “Where is Kara? If you’re trying to blackmail the Admiral -“
“Lee. It’s okay.” From behind Leoben, Helo’s weary voice. He steps into the light, looking haggard. “It’s okay,” he reiterates. “She wants you,” he gestures to the doorway. “I’ll be here. You can go in, it’s all right.” As Lee brushes past, Helo touches his shoulder. “Lee? Remember - it was her choice.”
The room beyond is empty save for a glowing pool. Someone is in the water. He looks past, to see if Kara is in the shadows against the far wall.
“Lee.”
He jumps out of his skin. Kara’s voice, with a hint of laughter, but resonating through the chamber. The figure in the pool shifts and he starts again, realizes that beneath the black cap is Kara Thrace.
“Lee Adama. The one you seek is here and not here. Relay coordinates to all nodes. She tastes stars, flies faster than you could ever imagine. Frakking unbelievable. Fuel systems online: three, two, one and mark. Disarm master connection. Earth is the journey is the field is the prophecy. I can feel in a thousand directions. Lee!”
He chokes, sinks to his knees and reaches out to the water. At once the ambient noise changes to a low thrum, instantly recognizable as a warning.
“Don’t touch the water.” Leoben materializes beside him, a solemn acolyte.
“What the frak have you done to her!” He backhands the Cylon, following him up and over till he has him on the floor in a chokehold. “Godsdamn you, get her out of there!” Lee can hardly see for the rage and the blood pounding through his head.
Behind him, water moves, and Kara’s voice grows louder. “Lee. There’s so much - Nine point four seconds to transducer coupling. Initiate transfer to cooling system. Let him go let him go let him go! Computing ephemeris of suns, moons, comets and asteroids to ensure accurate precession and nutation. You said you believed, believe me now. Navigational override complete. End of line.”
Lee realizes he is gasping, harsh sounds that echo in the bare space. Leoben is not struggling, has not lifted a finger to defend himself from the moment Lee raised his arm against him. Lee releases him and turns back to the Hybrid’s - no, Kara’s - pool.
He hears Leoben get up. “It’s hard for her to focus on one thing now, the ship needs so much energy. But she can do it. She’s probably the only human who could ever do this and not implode from the intense synaptic activity.” There is pride in the Cylon’s voice, and even in his anguish Lee can wonder at this thing, this facsimile of a man, who now shares an ineffable link to Kara, intimate in a way that humans cannot comprehend.
“Why?” he croaks. Lee wants to touch her face and pull her from the milky water.
“Oort cloud heliopause scattered disc Kuiper belt. No fear. No fear.” Kara is radiant, her face jeweled with droplets. Her eyes flutter as though in a dream state.
“I don’t understand. Is it reversible? Can we unplug her?”
“It would drive her mad. She’s assumed the mantle of her true destiny. This was the only remaining way to find Earth. Becoming one with the ship has the effect of amplifying the vibrations. She - we - can follow the path now. She will save our races and bring us to our new home.”
“And then what? She retires? She orbits Earth endlessly? What happens to the guide when the destination is reached?” Lee clenches his fists helplessly. She is beyond his reach now.
“We don’t know. We have never seen the end of a basestar’s natural life. We are a young race.”
He swallows. “Please. Leave us alone for a moment. I won’t hurt her.” He has nothing to hold on to, so he runs his fingers along the edging of the pool, cool and slick. Leoben’s footsteps retreat; pause. The Cylon clears its throat.
“There’s a connection between you that doesn’t die. She says your name, even when you’re not here. I’ve never seen a Hybrid do that.”
Lee barely has any control left. “Please.” Finally, finally the footsteps leave the room, and Lee is alone with his grief, so much keener now than the last time he watched her leave his side. Then, all he had was bright debris, left in the vacuum of space. Now, he sits in front of her, listening to her voice that speaks of systems and prophecies. Either way, he didn't know it was goodbye, the last time they kissed.
At last, when his eyes are aching, he crouches by Kara’s side. For a moment he has an incongruous, hysterical thought, that the pool is just another cockpit for this most intrepid of pilots. He flashes back to Cally’s funeral and rejects that image. Instead he resorts to familiar words. “Good hunting, my love,” he murmurs, and reaching out, thinks better of it.
He stumbles back to the entrance by instinct, since he can barely see. Helo is there - has waited for him throughout his vigil. Lee is almost out the door when the Leoben lays a hand on his arm. “She’s speaking to you.”
Kara is looking straight at him, though she has not changed position. She is crying. "'Their enemies will divide them. Their colonies broken in the fiery chasm of space. Their shining days renounced by a multitude of dark sacrifices. Yet still they will remain always together. Always together. Together. Together.'" Her voice echoes through the halls and in his head even when at last he boards the Raptor that takes him away from the ship. Away from his heart.
* * *
Postscript: The germ of this idea originally surfaced (IIRC) around when spoilers for Maelstrom came out and everyone was speculating about what Kara might become. Then I read Ear Tuned to the Roar and thought, well, that's been done perfectly, no need to write that any more! But S4 came around and the idea kept nagging at me - plus, we now know a bit more about those crazy Hybrids. *g* And when Alanna's birthday came up the Muse elbowed me and said, "now, now!" Hence, pilot!angst. :0)"
Pairing: Lee/Kara
Spoilers: AU after S3 in general. Spoiler thru 4.02/ Ties That Bind.
Summary: “There’s a connection between you that doesn’t die. "
Disclaimer: Just playing in RDM's 'verse.
A/N: Originally posted here for wisteria_'s birthday. Much love always, A!!
saltwater
The walls pulse with an irregular beat. The lights are low, as on the last basestar he set foot on, but where that was a dying ship this one seems to be quiescent. Waiting.
Still, the dim corridors unsettle Lee, and his fingers twitch at his side, just where his gun would be holstered if he was wearing a flight suit. By his side, Athena looks grim - her tread light, elbows slightly bent in alert stance.
A figure steps out of an archway up ahead. Lee bristles at this Two model, but Leoben only eyes Lee curiously, nods to Athena. “She’s waiting.”
Athena turns to Lee. “She wants to see you alone. I’ll be there shortly.”
“Uh-uh." Turning to the male Cylon, “Where is Kara? If you’re trying to blackmail the Admiral -“
“Lee. It’s okay.” From behind Leoben, Helo’s weary voice. He steps into the light, looking haggard. “It’s okay,” he reiterates. “She wants you,” he gestures to the doorway. “I’ll be here. You can go in, it’s all right.” As Lee brushes past, Helo touches his shoulder. “Lee? Remember - it was her choice.”
The room beyond is empty save for a glowing pool. Someone is in the water. He looks past, to see if Kara is in the shadows against the far wall.
“Lee.”
He jumps out of his skin. Kara’s voice, with a hint of laughter, but resonating through the chamber. The figure in the pool shifts and he starts again, realizes that beneath the black cap is Kara Thrace.
“Lee Adama. The one you seek is here and not here. Relay coordinates to all nodes. She tastes stars, flies faster than you could ever imagine. Frakking unbelievable. Fuel systems online: three, two, one and mark. Disarm master connection. Earth is the journey is the field is the prophecy. I can feel in a thousand directions. Lee!”
He chokes, sinks to his knees and reaches out to the water. At once the ambient noise changes to a low thrum, instantly recognizable as a warning.
“Don’t touch the water.” Leoben materializes beside him, a solemn acolyte.
“What the frak have you done to her!” He backhands the Cylon, following him up and over till he has him on the floor in a chokehold. “Godsdamn you, get her out of there!” Lee can hardly see for the rage and the blood pounding through his head.
Behind him, water moves, and Kara’s voice grows louder. “Lee. There’s so much - Nine point four seconds to transducer coupling. Initiate transfer to cooling system. Let him go let him go let him go! Computing ephemeris of suns, moons, comets and asteroids to ensure accurate precession and nutation. You said you believed, believe me now. Navigational override complete. End of line.”
Lee realizes he is gasping, harsh sounds that echo in the bare space. Leoben is not struggling, has not lifted a finger to defend himself from the moment Lee raised his arm against him. Lee releases him and turns back to the Hybrid’s - no, Kara’s - pool.
He hears Leoben get up. “It’s hard for her to focus on one thing now, the ship needs so much energy. But she can do it. She’s probably the only human who could ever do this and not implode from the intense synaptic activity.” There is pride in the Cylon’s voice, and even in his anguish Lee can wonder at this thing, this facsimile of a man, who now shares an ineffable link to Kara, intimate in a way that humans cannot comprehend.
“Why?” he croaks. Lee wants to touch her face and pull her from the milky water.
“Oort cloud heliopause scattered disc Kuiper belt. No fear. No fear.” Kara is radiant, her face jeweled with droplets. Her eyes flutter as though in a dream state.
“I don’t understand. Is it reversible? Can we unplug her?”
“It would drive her mad. She’s assumed the mantle of her true destiny. This was the only remaining way to find Earth. Becoming one with the ship has the effect of amplifying the vibrations. She - we - can follow the path now. She will save our races and bring us to our new home.”
“And then what? She retires? She orbits Earth endlessly? What happens to the guide when the destination is reached?” Lee clenches his fists helplessly. She is beyond his reach now.
“We don’t know. We have never seen the end of a basestar’s natural life. We are a young race.”
He swallows. “Please. Leave us alone for a moment. I won’t hurt her.” He has nothing to hold on to, so he runs his fingers along the edging of the pool, cool and slick. Leoben’s footsteps retreat; pause. The Cylon clears its throat.
“There’s a connection between you that doesn’t die. She says your name, even when you’re not here. I’ve never seen a Hybrid do that.”
Lee barely has any control left. “Please.” Finally, finally the footsteps leave the room, and Lee is alone with his grief, so much keener now than the last time he watched her leave his side. Then, all he had was bright debris, left in the vacuum of space. Now, he sits in front of her, listening to her voice that speaks of systems and prophecies. Either way, he didn't know it was goodbye, the last time they kissed.
At last, when his eyes are aching, he crouches by Kara’s side. For a moment he has an incongruous, hysterical thought, that the pool is just another cockpit for this most intrepid of pilots. He flashes back to Cally’s funeral and rejects that image. Instead he resorts to familiar words. “Good hunting, my love,” he murmurs, and reaching out, thinks better of it.
He stumbles back to the entrance by instinct, since he can barely see. Helo is there - has waited for him throughout his vigil. Lee is almost out the door when the Leoben lays a hand on his arm. “She’s speaking to you.”
Kara is looking straight at him, though she has not changed position. She is crying. "'Their enemies will divide them. Their colonies broken in the fiery chasm of space. Their shining days renounced by a multitude of dark sacrifices. Yet still they will remain always together. Always together. Together. Together.'" Her voice echoes through the halls and in his head even when at last he boards the Raptor that takes him away from the ship. Away from his heart.
* * *
Postscript: The germ of this idea originally surfaced (IIRC) around when spoilers for Maelstrom came out and everyone was speculating about what Kara might become. Then I read Ear Tuned to the Roar and thought, well, that's been done perfectly, no need to write that any more! But S4 came around and the idea kept nagging at me - plus, we now know a bit more about those crazy Hybrids. *g* And when Alanna's birthday came up the Muse elbowed me and said, "now, now!" Hence, pilot!angst. :0)"