Agent Fox Mulder (i_want_2) wrote in multi_fiction, @ 2008-10-01 10:25:00 |
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Entry tags: | au, galactica, rated: adult, slash |
Fic: Fallout 2/? BattleStar Galactica 2003
Title: Fallout
Author: Lopaka Tanu
Disclaimer: I do not claim ownership of Battlestar Galactica.
Characters: Gaeta, Lee, ensemble
Wordcount: 26063
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica
Pairing: Gaeta/Lee
Rating: Adult
Warnings: Language, Violence, Alternate Universe, Mpreg.
Summary: While fighting to survive, Felix must face his actions regarding the cylons and their consequences.
Timeline: Fifth. Sequel to Nessun Dorma, An Ocean Away, Apathy To Fire, and Silence.
Author's Note: Based upon the first twenty-five episodes.
______________________________________
~~~~~~~~ Act of Contrition ~~~
If it wasn't one thing, it was another. Rubbing his forehead, Felix pushed his curls out of his eyes. He really needed to get them cut back. He had woken reaching out for Lee in a bed too small to hold him and his husband, nearly falling out in his actions. There had been no reason for it in his mind, he knew Lee was gone, therefore he should have accepted it.
Now, they had a problem with pilots aboard the Galactica, or so the rumors had said. Word went out since he had gone to bed the night before, three dead and eight out of commission for the time being. They needed experienced hands to man the Vipers. He had overheard the announcement over the intercomm, had he been asleep it would have awakened him.
When he had confirmed none of them had been Lee, he debated coming them just to check on him. There was really nothing he could do, it would really be for his own sake. Lee had made it clear he didn't feel any thing for him but contempt. It was done, their marriage was over with even if only in spirit.
Pulling up the blanket, Felix rolled over and went back to sleep.
~~~~~~~~~~
When next he woke, Felix wasn't really interested in what was being said around him. People were talking, they always did, always would. From what he could make out, they were excited. One of them had gone off to the Galactica and hadn't been rejected. They were happy about that?
Snorting, Felix rolled on to his back in the bed and stretched. His shoulder barely twinged when he eased it through the exercises. When he tried to sit up, the room spun and he had to clutch at the side of the bed to keep himself sitting. As it was, it took all his will power to keep from throwing up. Apparently, whatever drugs Cottle had been giving him to fight off the nausea were out of his system.
Clutching his stomach, Felix used the wall at the head of his bed to ease himself up. He took a minute to let his stomach adjust to the new height before he stumbled to the bathroom. There were twenty people sharing it so he couldn't expect to have privacy for long. Despite his best efforts, Felix spit up bile in to the toilet before his stomach settled down.
After washing off in the shower, he dried quickly and left the towel in the hamper along the wall outside the bathroom. He patted barefoot along the deck towards his bed and subsequently his chest. In the chest were four clean Inspector General's uniforms and two regulars sets of clothes. He opted for the Inspector General's uniform.
As he started to button his pants, he noticed they were tighter than before. Frowning, he sucked in his stomach, closed the button, and zipped up. It was a small thing he would have to work at. His waist line expanding wasn't the end of the world, just a side effect of the end of the world. Snorting, Felix glanced down. He realized he had been rubbing the waist band of his pants. The material felt like his old uniform and that reminded him of Lee.
After he put the uniform jacket on, Felix buttoned it up and grabbed his baret off the handle at the foot of the bed. If he jerked the handle, the bed would squeeze up like an accordion. As amusing as it would be to try out on a few of the room's other occupants, Felix decided Roslin needed him more.
After swallowing back an attempt by his stomach to escape through his throat, Felix walked to the stairs that lead up to the passenger cabins on the main deck. He came out of the stairwell to find a uniformed man. He vaguely recognized the uniform as one of the colonial passenger fleets. The man was leaning aggressively over Roslin's desk, facing her down. With barely a thought to the action, he jerked the man by the back of his uniform and forcefully sat him down in his seat.
"Wha..." Captain Ulero was strangled by the front of his own uniform. Tugging at his jacket, he tried to get air. When he was pulled in to the chair, he gasped for breath and turned to look who had attacked him.
Hands behind his back, Felix stared down at the man impassively. "Keep your distance from the president, I won't tell you again."
"Thank you, Major Adama, but that won't be necessary. The captain was just telling me of the needs of his passengers." Internally, Laura was pleased by his actions. None of her so called guards were apparently inclined to do anything until the man was actually taking action. Hostile speech and mannerisms weren't enough. She would have to speak with their captain. "Captain Ulero, I understand your concern, we all do, but the fact is until we can locate more space, your passengers will simply have to learn to accept the fact that there is no room to exercise."
"They're a Pyramid Team! They require a certain amount of physical effort or they risk endangering their health." Voice horse, Ulero winced at his croaking sounds.
Grinning, Felix put a hand on the captain's shoulder to let him know he was veering over the line in his tone. "A Pyramid Team? Excellent, then they are use to following orders and working together. If they can keep their more violent instincts under control they would make natural police officers. What do you think, Madam President?"
This time Laura didn't try to hide her smile. "I see you aren't about to let this go."
"A good idea is worth the effort." Letting it settle between them, he inclined his head.
"Very well, we'll see what comes of it, Mr. Adama. Captain Ulero, is that all or do you have another request?" When he shook his head in denial, Laura rose from her behind her desk. "If you will follow Billy, he will escort you back to your transport. Once you get back to your ship, ask those among your passengers who would join the new Civilian Authority and get back to me over the wireless. Thank you."
Confused, Captain Ulero rose from his chair. He was quietly relieved when Felix backed away from him. Moving as fast as decorum allowed, he followed Billy out of the President's office.
"Felix, if you will hold a minute." Coming round her desk, Laura leaned back against it. She waited until he was near before taking off her glasses. "Commander Adama commed us, he would like to speak to you at your earliest convenience. Also, Dr. Cottle would like to draw blood again, your last sample was contaminated."
"Do you have any more interviews today?" At the shake of her head, Felix sighed. He didn't want to go over to the Galactica. If there was no way around it, he supposed he had no choice. "When do I leave?"
"There is a Raptor waiting in the hangar bay." She nodded in response to his salute. A small knot in her chest eased as he left the room. Still something about him set her nerves on edge even after all this time. Dismissing it while Billy came back in, she put her mind to more important things. "Tell the captain of the Denueo I want a real manifest this time, we are a fleet, there will be no hoarding. That is a presidential order."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nervously holding her helmet, Boomer watched the deck crew. They were fixing a conduit leading to the spacial doors. What bothered her wasn't what they were doing, but who her passenger was going to be. She had heard rumor about the man she was transporting and it upset her greatly. Everyone knew he was Captain Adama's husband, but they weren't together any more because of reasons they refused to talk about. Unofficially, he was involved with the cylons and knew of those who were human in appearance.
Having her own problems, Boomer didn't need a traitor poking his nose in her business, giving rise to her own fears. She could accuse herself of problems enough, thank you very much.
Her first sight of the man, she instantly knew who he was. The intimidating air he gave off in his current dress and demeanor had gave the deck crew pause to gawk at him. From what she knew of Lee, Felix fit the bill of someone she thought he might be attracted to. As he came to stand beside him, she stood at attention and saluted him. "Hello, Major, I am your pilot, Lieutenant Boomer."
Returning the salute, Felix gestured to her craft. "Permission to come aboard, Lieutenant."
"Granted. Welcome aboard, sir." She proceeded him up the ramp and in to the Raptor. Putting on her helmet, she locked it in place and strapped herself in her seat. Moving on autopilot, Boomer forced her mind not to linger on his uniform. The Inspector General's uniform never appeared under happy circumstances in military experience.
Taking the co-pilot's chair in the back, Felix strapped himself in. Pulling on a headset, he activated it. "Ready for flight, Boomer." It had been over a year since he was last in a Raptor, but to him almost nothing had changed. So much for advanced military hardware.
Sighing with relief that he hadn't even looked at her funny, Boomer powered up the Raptor's controls. "Engines are active. Opening Hangar doors."
"The hangar is clear. We are go." Casting a glance towards her straight back, Felix watched her with barely restrained disgust. She was one of them, one of Lee's people. He hadn't expected to feel so bitter, but the sight of her uniform set him on edge. What right had she to wear that uniform and not he?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Instead of delaying like he wanted, Felix made his way to Commander Adama's personal quarters. There was no way in hell he was going back to the CIC. What nausea he woke with had abated, but there was need to test his nerves. Fighting back the urge to run, he stalked down the last corridor to the Commander's hatch. Nodding to the guard, he rapped on the door.
"Enter." Tense, Bill was busy reading over old files when he caught sight of his visitor. "What do you want?"
"You requested to talk to me. As far as I am concerned, we have nothing to say to one another." He knew he was being petty, but who cared. The man was an asshole of the first kind.
Biting back his rebuke, Adama nodded. He gestured to the seat across from him at the desk, but wasn't surprised when Felix made no effort to take it. "They said you were the most promising officer they had seen at the academy for decades."
"I didn't hold promise, I was best, period." There was no need for modesty. Of seven in his class, he was the top. "That was your loss, Commander. Is that all?"
"No, that is not all!" Jaw tight, he glared at the man through his glasses. He knew if he stood, there would be a physical fight. Time for a different approach. "I can see why he likes you. Your animosity matches his own."
"Surpasses, I would say. He's your son, he feels an obligation to you, I hold no such ties." If the old man was trying to make amends between them, Felix would walk out right now. He didn't want anything from him, the old bastard had everything he was going to get. Holding his head higher, he refused to even look at the Commander. "In the end, he chose you over me, that makes me hate you all the more."
"Do you hate us that much, Major?" He knew that Felix held only a field rank as Major due to his experience and political connections, but decided it kept them formal enough to be comfortable.
It took Felix a moment to realize he wasn't talking about him and Lee, but humanity in general. Biting the inside of his lip, Felix considered the question for a long time. After a while, he had to nod.
"What experience could be so heinous that you would turn against your own kind? You were an officer on a battlestar, they gave you glowing reviews across the board. Nothing ever indicated this might happen." Taking a calming breath, Adama looked down to his hands. They were wrapped around the photo of him and his boys. His boys looked so happy there. "Why?"
"They never betrayed me." Hands clenched, chest puffed up in rage, Felix longed to grab the nearest object and beat the commander with it. He took a step towards the unaware man, just grab the book and he could do it. It was a thick volume, it would be hard and heavy in the swing. Pulling himself up short, he veered off with visible effort. Felix quickly turned his back on Adama.
Gasping from the effort, Felix rubbed at his stomach. Something was wrong with him, he never lost control like this. His emotions were kept firmly in control where they needed to be. Ever since he had boarded the cursed ship four weeks ago, everything had been a wreck.
Suddenly brought to tears from the fear of losing control, Felix put a hand to his mouth to stifle a whimper. He wasn't going to lose in this bastard's presence. Wrapping his arms around himself, he longed to be with Lee. His husband would know what to do, he knew how to bring Felix out of these funks. Realizing that wouldn't be happening, Felix let out horse sob.
Raising his head, Adama was alarmed at how close the man had gotten while he was lost in his revelry. He was about to speak when he noticed Felix's posture and the way he swayed slightly. Felix was crying and trying to comfort himself. What the hell was happening with the man, had he finally snapped?
Wiping his face with one hand, Felix inhaled to clear his nose. "Is that what you wanted to know, sir?" He refused to look at the Commander. Who knew what other emotion might come up next and overwhelm him?
"Actually, I wanted to speak with you about Zak." It pained him to say it, but he need to clear his conscious. "I was wrong to do what I did to you. Zak was a hothead and I over reacted."
Dead emotionally, Felix ignored the tears that slid down his face. "Too late, Commander." Without another word, he walked out of the cabin and slammed the door shut.
Straightening his posture, Felix grunted to clear his throat. He wasn't going to put on a show for the bastard's benefit. There was one last appointment to make on the Galactica then he could go back to his duties on Colonial One.
On the wall beside him, the handset buzzed twice. Picking it up, Adama placed it to his ear. "Report."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Baltar was near hysterical at his console. There were so many samples from the Galactica alone, he was beside himself. He would never get all the work done, it would take decades to scan them all. Whatever cylons there were among the crew, he would certainly die at their hands long before he could identify them. Rubbing at his forehead, he tried to stave off a headache.
The hatch along the wall opened and Felix marched in. Already rolling up his sleeve, he was in no mood to dither about. "Cottle sent me here. Take your sample and be done with it, doctor."
Seeing Felix, Gaius finally cracked up. Chuckling to himself, he felt the tension leave. "Oh thank the gods, I was beginning to think I had imagined you. Been so long since I saw anyone not... That doesn't matter, how do you feel, Felix?"
Felix felt for the man, he really did. He was a fool, but he should be pitied for it, not hated. Holding up his arm, he flexed the muscle. "I am well, I'll be even better once you finish taking the sample."
"What? Oh, right! Please come over here and take a seat, this won't take but a moment." Smiling, Gaius snapped on a fresh pair of gloves and retrieved a new vial and needle set. Putting them down on the lab table next to Felix. Next, he came about with a sterile rubbing pad and swabbed the area. Finally, he inserted the needle and took his sample. "There, that wasn't too bad."
Rubbing at his arm where Gaius placed the cotton ball to soak up the blood from the puncture, Felix frowned. "I really hate doing that."
"So do I, but it seems to be my new lot in life, a lab technician checking blood samples for cylons." Actually happy, Gaius pulled up a seat next to Felix. He couldn't deny the obvious joy the other man's presence brought him. "So, tell me, what do you do now? I know it's only been a few days since you awoke, but, there has to be something different out there."
"I am as I was, the President's aide. We are martialing a police force to provide a Civilian Authority. Crews and captains alike are fighting, each demanding they have precedence over her authority." Despite the suddenness of it, Felix liked being able to talk to Baltar. He found himself relaxed and willing to chat. "What has been going on here?"
Pretending nonchalance, Gaius leaned back against the lab table on his elbows. "There isn't much to tell. Military types and all, not a lot of room for them to just be human for a while."
Felix nodded. He had been one of them types, but took no offense. Having lived as a civilian for three years, he understood what Gaius meant. "Anyone new in your life?"
"Always." It took all his resolve not to react to the appearance of Six on the table across from him. He tracked her with his eyes as she uncrossed her legs and her skirt rode up just so much... Eyes turning to Felix, he grinned brilliantly. "While not on duty, some of these military women can be quite, shall we say, enthusiastic."
"Lee is, was." After correcting himself, Felix looked down at his arm where Gaius' hand rested. "It doesn't matter. I am sure everyone knows by now. He couldn't handle my involvement with the cylons, so I told him it was over."
"It's a shame really, after all he did for that human only to end up like this." Sympathy clearly upon her face, Six slid off the table. Coming around Felix, she tilted her head to study him. "He won't be alone for long, God has seen to that."
Choking on his own saliva, Gaius gasped for breath. He waved off Felix's helping hand and shook his head. "Just a hair, in my throat, nothing to worry about." Red faced from the strain, he set about wheezing his way back to normal breathing.
Reluctantly, Felix rose from his stool. "I should let you get back to your work. I am sure you are plenty busy considering the number of people aboard, let alone in the fleet."
"Oh, no! There is no putting out, I enjoy the respite from my work." Much to his dismay, it was the most fun he had had in too long. To be truthful to himself, Gaius hadn't enjoyed himself since the fall of the colonies. "If you feel guilty, you can assist me."
At that Felix laughed. He wasn't sad here and barely thought of Lee. It was something he liked doing and was good at. Roslin could wait for a while, she was hard pressed to find anything for him to do as it was. "All right, where do I suit up?"
"There is an extra smock in the locker by the door. Just wash up in the sink and put on your gloves." When Felix turned to do as instructed, Gaius smirked at Six. Her pout made him hard as a brick in his pants and he yearned to work out the stiffness.
Pulling on the smock, Felix had time to think about why he was there. "Gaius, you examined my last blood sample, right?"
"Yes, why?" Barely distracted from her breasts, Gaius watched Six bare them slowly.
"I'm curious." Felix picked the soap bar to wash his hands with instead of the liquid from habit. "What was it contaminated with?"
"I'm not sure. There were an... ah!" He gasped as Six let her dress drop. "Female hormones! Yes, lots of them, not right in the male blood stream." Caught up in her tease, he didn't see Felix stop and frown. "If I wasn't certain it was a mistake, I would say you were pregnant! The mere thought... Oh! It's ludicrous!"
Felix dropped the soap bar in the sink. Glancing over at Gaius, he noticed the man had his hand down his pants and his eyes closed. Clearing his throat, he blushed furiously and turned back to washing his hands. After picking up the soap, he rinsed off and used the towel to dry his hands.
The throat clearing bringing him back to reality, Gaius sighed in disappointment. Six was such a frakking tease. "Shall we get to work?"
"Yes." A little shaky, Felix donned a pair of gloves and began setting up a separate work station. Among the supplies, he pulled out the white strips and chemical sets to do right tests. When he had them right, he mixed them in a sample container and slipped it in to his smock. "Um, I need to use the head, I'll be right back."
"If you must." Despite his words, Gaius grinned at Felix. "But come right back, now that I have you, I'm not letting you go."
Felix forced the smile and left.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bent over the toilet again, Felix retched for the tenth time. His stomach and throat muscles hurt from the effort and he felt exhausted. Looking up, his eyes caught the purple urine in the sample container and nearly puked again. 'It couldn't be real, there had to be a mistake,' were his first thoughts. His next ones were more accusing. "What have they done to me?"
Reaching down to cup at his stomach, Felix frowned. He knew something was in there. Now that he was conscious of it, there was no denying he was packing extra mass. Felix didn't know what to make of it.
He was pregnant.
Dumping the sample down the toilet, he flushed it and the puke. It was disgusting to him and he wanted no part of it any longer. Throwing the sample container in the trash, he washed his hands, face, and neck carefully to rid any excess. No one would know he was ill, or was with child as the case may be. If they knew, he would be dead, there was too much paranoia in the fleet for him to risk it.
After he wiped the back of his neck with a wet towel one last time, he dried his hands and face. He would be fine, he could survive this. Reaching in to the pocket of his smock, he pulled out the vial of his blood. He had taken it while Gaius was distracted and was now glad of it. After he unstoppered it, he dumped it in the sink and rinsed it out. He placed the empty vial in the trash halfway down to cover its presence.
A quick check of himself in the mirror, then Felix was out the hatch to get back to work.
Unnoticed by him, Dualla lowered her feet in her stall. Frowning, she tried to think who she should tell about Felix being sick. She hadn't seen what he was doing, but she heard enough to know he was violently ill. At the very least, Captain Apollo had to be told.