Locked from President Roslin

[number_eight]

She lied. She frakking lied to me. To Helo. To Admiral Adama! She used us all in some little game of hers. Damn it! I knew Doc Cottle was lying when he'd said Hera's lungs weren't fully developed. I'd thought she was dead, though, and that they'd all contrived to murder my daughter.

No. It was so much worse than that.

President Roslin stole my daughter from me and let another woman raise her for over a year, and now? Now thanks to her, Hera is in the hands of the Cylons.

I'm going to find her. I sincerely doubt that the Admiral will stop me, either. He looked as angry as I felt when he told me the news.


Journal Entry of Sharon "Athena" Agathon

Comments

[admiral-adama.livejournal.com]

Sharon. There is no one here who understands your anger better than I do, but think a moment. You're saying that keeping your daughter hidden from you was worse than her outright murder.

Do you truly believe that?

[number-eight.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I realize you were right when you said that, unlike you, at least we still have our child alive. I suppose it was easier after all this time to think that she was dead, and try to move on. Try to rebuild my life with Helo, with the fleet...

It's easier, I think, to believe that than to believe she's alive out there, somewhere, and scared. Scared and alone and... Sir, why would President Roslin do this?

[admiral-adama.livejournal.com]

I can't speak to President Roslin's motivations. I do know that, with the responsibility for the lives of the rest of the human race on her shoulders, she almost never has the luxury of choosing between a clear good and a clear evil.

His eyes darken as he considers ... and remembers.

You know that, not long before Hera's death was faked, we had to deal with a hostage situation shortly after the fleet learned of your existence. We lost lives rather than hand you over to terrorists. It was only a matter of time before the fleet--and any Cylons planted in the fleet--learned about your daughter.

I suspect that President Roslin believed that secrecy was the best way to keep Hera out of the hands of both the Cylons and vengeful humans, without risking more lives.

I don't say that I agree with her decision, but I do believe she was trying to do the right thing. Or at least a right thing.

[number-eight.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes, I remember that.

She looks down, thinking of the anger that was there and the hurt, all because of her... only it wasn't her. It was Valerii, but it was another time where it didn't matter. She didn't matter.

I remember.

Fine, let's say you're right and that she was trying to "save" us. Why didn't she tell you? You of all people as the leader of the fleet have a right to know.

[admiral-adama.livejournal.com]

His eyebrows flick up slightly at her question.

She didn't tell me because she knew that the truth would force a choice on me. I would have had to either contravene the wishes of my Commander in Chief, or lie outright to one of my officers.

His lips twist into something that would be a wry smile, if it wasn't so tinged with frustration.

She chose ... to avoid putting me in that dilemma.

[number-eight.livejournal.com]

She sighs and shakes her head slightly at him.

What about free will? Shouldn't you have been the one to make that decision instead of having it made for you? She can't claim that this is all part of something in the Scrolls of Pythia this time.

You're the one who said it before, Admiral. We're a family. And this is no way to treat the people that you care about.

[admiral-adama.livejournal.com]

You'd be absolutely right ... if a family was all that we are. It isn't.

A faint sigh, then his eyes grow stern

We're the guardians of the last remnants of the human race, Athena. The President and I must place that consideration before all else, in every decision we make. Yes, it's hard on those around us when we err on the side of caution, but if we ever even once err on the side of carelessness--

He stops abruptly, jaw tightening.

We saw on New Caprica what happens when we make that kind of error. As I told you all at The Dance, that can't happen again.

Because if it does ... it's over.

[number-eight.livejournal.com]

I know, sir.

She stands a little taller, her chin up a notch as he speaks.

It won't happen again. It won't, I promise you. I think I can safely speak for everyone who was there that night and say that it won't happen again. We won't be careless, but we can't be thoughtless, either. If we think that we can control lives, lie, manipulate...

She pauses before she continues, a little quieter.

... Then we are no better than the Cylons.

[admiral-adama.livejournal.com]

As he nods in acknowledgement, his eyes gleam with something very like pride.

So what remains is finding the right opportunity ... to get her back.

[number-eight.livejournal.com]

Her own eyes finally show a semblance of hope instead of anger.

Yes, sir.