Title: Deliverance
Author: coexist_love
Rating: MA
Fandom: Battlestar Galactica 2003
Character: General with Roslin/Adama emphasis
Summary: A normal day on among the fleet is disturbed when an unidentified assailant attempts to assassinate President Roslin.
Disclaimer: Not written for money and if I owned Galactica this would have already happened.
Spoilers: Flight of the Pheonix through Epiphanies
Author’s Note: I thought about this while watching Colonial Day and though my setting is very different to begin with it was given further substance by whyoffry and maj_zoidberg444 at LiveJournal and a special thanks to my lovely betas (I had so many ) but in particular whyoffry campmotha and tina_cat

PREVIOUS CHAPTERS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Chapter 7

“I’ve contacted the new Geminese Quorum member. She’ll be here shortly,” Bill informed Baltar.

“I don’t know why we are involving the Geminese with this,” Baltar said. “Isn’t a group of Geminese responsible for her assassination?”

”They are,” Bill began. “But we aren’t just dealing with Laura the person. We are dealing with Laura the political figure and Laura the political figure is also the Pythian prophet so if she dies its going to affect the lives of anyone believing in the Pythian prophecy.”

Baltar just looked at Adama with grave concern. “Have you read the Pythian prophecy? Because if I remember correctly it states that the dying leader doesn’t live to enter the new land.”

“True…but it didn’t say anything about another having a hand in her death either,” Bill said. “The leader’s supposed to suffer from wasting disease. A disease! Not a bullet!”

“What frakking difference does it make? In the end the prophet ends up dead either way,” Baltar scolded.

The door to the briefing room opened and a Geminese Quorum member walked in. Bill knew that Sarah was part of the Quorum since they’d been sworn in. He knew that she and Laura had met on several occasions and had conversations and even disagreements. Bill was ashamed to say that he had never met the woman.

“Mr. Vice President, Sir,” she greeted the two officers. “I am Sarah Porter. My sincere condolences about the President. Has there been any change?”

“That’s what we called you here to discuss,” Bill said. “President Roslin’s surgery concluded some time ago but she’s in a coma.”

“Oh Gods,” Sarah said. “I am sorry. I didn’t know.”

“The news bulletins won’t go out until later today,” Gaius interjected.

“Anyway…” Bill said glaring at Baltar. “A living will has turned up stating that the President would like to be pulled off life support if nothing more can be done for her. We wanted to consult you about how it might affect the prophecy.”

“I’m not a priest I don’t have in depth knowledge of the scriptures,” Sarah said. “But I would suggest not interfering. The scriptures will play themselves out in their own time.”

“Even if that means the prophet has to endure intense pain?” Baltar says.

“The scriptures don’t say anything about any pain the prophet will feel or how it should be relieved, but the scriptures are specific about the prophet’s health and the majority of the fleet believes that prophet is President Roslin.”

“What does it say the dying leader needs to accomplish specifically?” Bill asked.

“The prophet’s purpose in the scripture is to give humanity enough information so that they may find the road to earth.”

“Which arguably, the President has already done,” said Baltar.

“The Arrow of Apollo opened the Tomb of Athena and gave us some hints about the space surrounding Earth but we haven’t found any distinct markers that even remotely suggest that we’re going in the right direction.”

“And you’re going to keep her on machines until we do?” Baltar asked. “That’s just ludicrous. If she really is a prophet from the Gods then let her pass on. Let the Gods take her into their arms.”

“What if we’re missing something? What if she wakes up and has another star pattern we should check for? Another visual cue? Something of value to offer us?”

“Gentlemen,” Sarah interjected the argument. “You have a difficult decision to make but I highly suggest you just let the prophecy take its course?”

“Thank you Ms . Porter? You’re dismissed,” Adama said.
***
Sarah entered Life Station under the notion that she was going to see President Roslin to offer her some prayers. But as she passed through the curtain to the cornered off area of Life Station her intentions changed. Se reached into her pocket and produced a needle and vile of clear fluid. Taking the cap off the needle she quietly filled it till there was no space left as he glanced at the comatose President.

“I’m sorry,” Sarah said to her. “I know that it shouldn’t have ended this way. But I have to do this.” Then speaking to a metaphysical presence in the room she stated, “Lords of Kobol, please forgive me for what I am about to do.”

She silently found Laura’s IV line and inserted the needle into the port occupying the plastic tubing attached to her hand. She emptied the syringe and recapped it before placing it back into her pocket. Feeling a sense of remorse she took the President’s hand. “Lords of Kobol, please accept this sacrifice and take the soul of this prophet into your hands. Take care of her and give her the peace she couldn’t have in life.”

The next few minutes where the longest of Sarah’s life. She glanced at the President one last time and smiled sadly, “Thank you.”

Sarah’s passed through the curtain as Laura’s vital signs started to go haywire. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Laura’s delicate body going into fits as the drug she had given her coursed through her system. She left Life Station with her head down, unable to fathom what she had just done.