Part 1, Battlestar Galactica, Finding Humanity: Learning To Become Human Again

Chapter 8

VIII

"They want what?"

Laura Roslin was almost apoplectic.

"You heard me right, Laura", Tigh said, after Cottle had relayed to him the unpleasant offer. "I don't like it either, but with this growing Epidemic, they have us by the balls. Uh, sorry about the language."

Laura hadn't even heard the vulgarity. Her mind had stopped working when Tigh had first told them of D'Anna's demand: give them Kara, and a free flow of medical supplies would be granted. Her mind had stopped working at that moment.

Even though she and Kara had been avoiding one another since that night, just two weeks earlier, when they had shared a very passionate kiss, both of them pulling back at that moment, she couldn't imagine sending Kara back into captivity, on any condition.

Laura turned away from Tigh, and began to walk aimlessly within the bunker. She felt faint and nauseous, and stumbled into a wall, Tigh and Tyrol rushing to steady her.

"Madam President", the Chief said out of reflex, "are you alright?"

Laura couldn't respond. "I need to sit down, gentlemen", she said unsteadily, her legs beginning to collapse under her. Before they could get her a chair, she fell to the floor, promptly vomiting, then immediately passing out.

Laura Roslin awoke, confused and feeling like death warmed over. Her last memory was being called to a meeting with Tigh and Tyrol about something or other, but she was foggy about that...

As she came to, she realized she was in her own bed.

"You're awake, Laura", the sandy voice of the doctor said. "Glad you're back with us."

"What happened to me, doctor?"

"You passed out, after throwing up down in the bunker. Tigh and Chief brought you here."

"Why did I...."

It came flooding back.

Laura hadn't been expecting a summons from Tigh. They had met the night before, with nothing new on the agenda. Now, Tigh said he wanted to meet with her about something critically important.

"I hope this information is really important, Saul", Laura said archly, as she entered the bunker.

"I wouldn't have called the both of you here if it wasn't important, Laura."

"Then spit it out, Colonel."

Tigh lit a cigarette, then sat down. "You're in one helluva hurry, Madam President." He took a long drag from the cigarette. "Yesterday, Cottle finally went to see D'Anna, took Chief with him, about trying to upgrade the medical situation here-asking for more supplies and equipment to meet this Epidemic."

"I remember him requesting that he be allowed to meet with D'Anna or Baltar." Every time she said Gaius' name, she literally spit it out of her mouth.

"Yeah, well, he finally got an audience with Her Royal Highness. D'Anna agreed to allow a free flow of medical supplies, and a huge upgrade of the equipment that Doc and Ishay can use."

Laura gave him a sideways glance. "There's a big 'but' coming, isn't there?"

Tigh huffed a humorless laugh. "You could say that. There's one demand from them: we get the supplies, if we hand Starbuck over to them."

"Kara", Laura whispered, feeling weak once again.

"You remember, do you?" Sherman said the words as if someone had thrown manure in his mouth, so sick it made him. "Yeah, the trade D'Anna wants to make."