How to Be Human

By Carolina Blue

A/N: Takes place in Season 4 but AU so I can make the show fit my story, instead of my story fitting in the show (of course). So some things from early season 4 will be in here, others won't!

Um, it's a dark story. Bad things go down here, people. Probably not the worst stuff you can read on this site, but it's dark. You've been warned!

Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is property of the show "Battlestar Galactica," all rights reserved, etc. etc. There is an original character in this- Adelaide Reynolds- but she's not really important to the story, she's not a Mary Sue or whatever, and I didn't base her off myself, so don't worry! Just enjoy (please)!

--

CHAPTER ONE

Lee was just buttoning up a shirt over his flight tanks- still can't take them off, can you Major?- when Addy burst into the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

"What is it?" Lee's tie was forgotten. His friend- now, his assistant- was out of breath and pale.

"Cylons," she gasped out. "On the ship, flight deck-"

Lee immediately moved to his locker. "Is the President on board?" he asked over his shoulder.

"Medical appointment on Galactica," Addy replied, watching with wide eyes as Lee pushed on the back of the locker, popping out a compartment of weapons. 'There are some perks to being a military advisor,' he thought as he grabbed a few guns, stashing them on various parts of his body.

"What about the rest of the ship?" his voice was direct and strong. Addy was suddenly struck with a memory of the young commander of the Pegasus. She almost smiled despite the situation. Apollo was back.

"I'm not sure. The causeway to the Command Room is sealed and they weren't answering my call from the deck. Transmissions may have been-"

"Jammed," Lee finished. "Probably. Means no distress call, no help from the fleet." He checked the ammo on the last two guns, handing one to Addy. "Centurions, or...?"

She shook her head stiffly. "I saw Leoben. And the crazy blonde one. And several copies of them."

"Frak," he muttered, reaching back into the locker.

"What do we do?" she asked him.

Lee pulled out a comm unit of some sort. He turned it on, moving to the door as he did so. He waved the unit in her direction. "Direct line to Galactica. I had it set up with CIC before I left. It's on its own wave, so hopefully," he checked the hallway for any sign of the Cylons, "it won't be jammed like the rest." There was no one else in their section of the hall. Most people on Colonial One were away for the weekend, R&R or on business. Which begged the question: was it a lucky coincidence that the Cylons had picked this particular weekend to attack? Or were they after something in particular? Someone? Lee shook his head, thanking the gods that Roslin was away, before opening the link to Galactica.

"Galactica, Colonial One. Do you copy?" the military speak flowed easily from his lips. 'Just like old times.'

"Galactica, go ahead Colonial One," Dee's voice sounded over the link.

Lee breathed a sigh of relief that the transmission went through. "Galactica, we have a report of Cylons boarding our ship, as many as-" he glanced at Addy who flashed seven fingers, "-seven, possibly more. Requesting immediate aid."

There was a pause. Then, "Lee?" his ex-wife's voice cracked for a brief moment.

"Dee. I could use some back-up," he said, hesitant and less formal. Addy gave him a sympathetic look. It was the first time he had spoken to Dee since leaving Galactica.

"Stand by Apollo," her voice fell back to business. After a few tense moments of silence in which Addy came to stand next to him, also scanning the corridor, his father's voice sounded over the link.

"This is Actual. Lee? What's going on?" If the Admiral was at all tense, his voice didn't show it, something Lee was counting on and thankful for.

"Sir. Approximately ten minutes ago at least seven Cylons boarded Colonial One." Back at Galactica's CIC, the entire room went quiet. Tigh looked over to Adama, waiting for an order.

Adama's only reaction was to look down, grimacing. "Their objective?" he asked.

"Unknown at this time," was the quick reply from his son.

Adama nodded to Tigh. "Send a squadron over to Colonial One. Helo, Athena, anyone else who's available. And add a security detail to the President, she should still be at Life Station." Tigh nodded and moved away to carry out the orders, muttering "How the hell did they get past DRADIS?" as he went. The Admiral turned his attention back to the comm link.

"What's your status, Apollo?" Like Dee, he too fell back into the familiar military role with his son.

"Taking refuge in my quarters with Corporal Reynolds. We've heard nothing from other passengers or the Command Room. Transmissions are jammed, causeways sealed. Not sure of enemy's present location."

Adama paused, taking a deep breath. Gaeta, Dee, and the others looked on. "Find a way to the Command Room if possible. Any sign of the enemy and you go to ground, wait for back up. Do not engage the enemy by yourself, do you understand? You're not in the military anymore, son." As much as that pained him.

"But that would mean I wouldn't have to follow your orders," Lee dryly commented. Adama almost smiled. Almost.

"Those are the orders, Apollo. Do you understand?"

"Copy that, Actual. We-" Lee's voice was interrupted by the sound of a gunshot.

"Lee?!" Frak military speak.

"We've been spotted!" Lee shouted over the link. Multiple gunshots could now be heard. "Addy, fall back, get more ammo from my locker."

"Yes sir!" Adama heard the reply. His heart clenched even more to think of that young girl caught in a fire fight. She was in the military, but as a medic, not a soldier. This was all wrong.

"Apollo!" he called again. "Sitrep!"

He could hear yelling in the background, including voices that sounded far too much like... Leoben. Frak. Lee's voice cut through his growing terror.

"We're pinned down in my quarters," he paused to return fire. "Multiple Cylons, probably five or six." Another pause to shoot. "Make that four or five."

"A squad is on its way, can you hold till then?" Adama asked anxiously.

"I'll have to, won't I?" For some reason, that reassured Adama. Lee always did what he had to. He could do this.

Of course, Adama had to tempt the gods with that thought. Just as he spoke, Lee felt a burning, sudden pain across his arm. "Ah, frak!" he cursed. He checked the wound, trying to get a good look at it through the blood. He returned fire a little clumsily, discarding two empty guns. He was down to his last one.

"Lee?" Addy and his father spoke at the same time.

Lee shook his head, trying to clear it. "I'm hit, upper arm, not too bad. But-" the comm piece exploded in his hand, taken out by a particularly good shot from the Cylons. "Gods damn it!" his yell mixed with the triumphant cry of a Leoben. Thinking fast, he pulled out a short range grenade, popped out the pin with his teeth and lobbed it at the Cylons. It exploded just as Lee slammed his door shut, locking himself and Addy inside. Holding his injured arm close to his body, he moved back to where Addy was standing by his locker.

"We've got a couple rounds left," she reported, eyeing his arm. Before he could speak she was already examining it, tearing off his sleeve to make a bandage. "Doesn't look like it hit an artery, should be fine. How's the pain?" she asked unnecessarily. She knew he would say it was fine.

"I'm not feeling much," he said casually. Truth be told, he could barely feel his left arm at all, much less the actual wound. But with more pressing matters at hand, he wasn't about to mention this to Addy. Instead, "Okay, here's the plan. The grenade will probably hold them off for a little while, maybe long enough for Galactica's squad to get here, maybe not." He handed Addy a full clip. "These vents lead all over the ship. Get as close to the Command Room as you can. If the Cylons are already there," he took a breath to think, "try the flight deck; see if you can find a safe place to wait for the rescue team."

"Sir, I-" Addy was on the verge of protesting.

"If that's not possible, you stay in these vents and hide for as long as possible, you hear me?" He put an arm around her shoulders, simultaneously comforting and guiding her to the far wall. "You do not come out unless you get the all clear from me or Galactica. No one and nothing else. No matter what."

"Lee..." Addy's eyes were bright.

"I'll make it an order if I have to." His voice softened. "You're not trained for this, Adds. I am. I have enough ammo to hold them off for a little while. Back-up will be here by then."

She nodded solemnly before turning and pulling the vent casing off the wall. Lee was silently thankful he didn't need to help her with that, as his arm and now left shoulder were completely numb. It was starting to scare him, but he couldn't allow himself to dwell on it now. Addy climbed into the vent, taking a second to look back at him. "Don't forget to change that bandage if it soaks through," she whispered.

He grinned at her. "Aye-aye sir. Be careful." She nodded again, then placed the casing back up behind her and disappeared. Lee walked back to his locker, stumbling suddenly. The numb feeling was spreading rapidly. The air around him felt heavy and far too warm. He turned to the door, which suddenly seemed miles away. 'The bullet!' he told himself. Sinking to his knees, he pulled his arm across his body, using far more energy than he should have had to. He examined the wound again, trying to figure out what was going on. "Poison," he managed to say out loud.

"Good guess," a voice said at the door. Lee looked up in shock to see Leoben and Six standing in front of him, with two more Leobens behind them. He had no idea how or when they had gotten into his room, and that frightened him. He sluggishly swung his arm out to shoot at them, but was too easily disarmed. Leoben was now standing just in front of him. He crouched down and regarded Lee silently for a few moments while Lee stared back, breathing harshly and trying to will his body to move, do something, anything.

"Don't worry," the Cylon said suddenly. "It's not fatal. Just meant to keep you from feeling anything. You'll appreciate it, trust me."

Lee managed a growl, tried to move forward, but Leoben merely sidestepped him and punched him across the face, sending Lee all the way to ground. His body seemingly frozen, Lee could only stare up hazily at the Cylon standing over him.

"Don't worry," Leoben said again, smiling almost benevolently. "Death is not what we have in mind for you, Lee Adama. At least not today." He nodded to his two copies. "Get him up."

There was nothing Lee could do as the other Leobens grabbed his arms and pulled him up to a mostly standing position. His body just wouldn't cooperate with him. What disturbed him the most though was that the poison- whatever it was- wasn't knocking him out. And neither were the Cylons.

Leoben chuckled, as though he could hear Lee's thoughts. "That's right Apollo. We want you awake for this." Six smiled hungrily as the Leobens dragged Lee over to the table in the middle of his room. Sweeping aside the papers covering it, they none-too-gently laid him out on it.

Lee managed to gain a little control back, enough to struggle a little as they tied him down, legs together and arms stretched out to either side. "F-frak you," he forced out.

The Cylons looked a little surprised. "He speaks," the second Leoben smirked. "Pity if the drug is wearing off. That bullet was supposed to hit closer to your heart. Pretty soon you're going to wish you couldn't feel anything."

Lee glared at all of them. "What do y-you... want?"

"We need to send a message to some people in your fleet, Apollo. The people in charge-" the president and his father, obviously "-and some friends of ours. Friends we haven't met yet." What the hell did that mean?

"What do you need me for?" Lee ground out through his teeth. His voice was sounding a little stronger, though he still couldn't move most of his body.

The first Leoben continued with the creepy smile. "Why, you're the message."

"Enough," Six interjected. "Let's get this started before Galactica gets here."

"Oh, don't panic," Leoben held up a hand. "We've got the flight deck rigged so no one can get in. It'll take them awhile to cut through the shell."

"Why didn't I know about this?" she asked.

He rolled his eyes. "You want to go change it back? It was the smart thing to do."

"I don't disagree. But what I want is to be kept informed of these plans. You don't run this outfit."

"And you do?" the second Leoben argued. Six advanced on him.

The first Leoben stepped between them. "You know, it's impolite to argue in front of company," he nodded to Lee, who had been watching the exchange silently.

"Oh, don't stop on my account," he said softly, still working on speaking clearly around the drugs in his system. "If you want I can leave so you can-" he was cut off by the third Leoben- who had been silent up until now- smacking him across the face.

Lee could do nothing as his head whipped to the side. After a few seconds he turned his head back, touching the cut at his mouth with his tongue, tasting blood. Then he smirked up at his captors. The silent Leoben hit him again. And again. And again, for a few minutes straight. When it finally stopped, Lee had lost track of which Leoben was which. He hurt all over, as the drug was wearing off. He groaned quietly, pulling against the restraints that kept his arms stretched out and his body vulnerable. His eyes were closed, so he had no warning as to what was coming next.

Suddenly, someone was on top of him. Lee's eyes flew open to see the Six over him, straddling his body. He strained against the cords binding him to the table, but it was no use. Six just smiled, let him struggle beneath her, and then produced a very sharp, wicked looking knife. Lee forced himself not to move as she placed the flat side of the blade against his face, running it down his cheek and neck to his chest, leaving little cuts along the way. He felt like throwing up when Six leaned down to lick away some of the blood on his neck. He tried to jerk free.

"Get the frak off me," he growled at her.

She pulled back to regard him. "Aw, Lee, I thought you liked it rough. What's the matter, you don't want to play?" She caressed the side of his face briefly, and then slowly started unbuttoning his shirt. Lee's breathing became a little rushed, his movements more frantic, which only got Six more excited. "Blonde is your type, isn't it?" His shirt was pulled open and then ripped away from his body.

Six leaned down over him again, sliding her hands under his flight tanks and up his stomach and chest. Lee clenched his jaw as she pressed uncaring on the bruises littering his body. She pulled his tanks up a little, just enough to get a peek at his abdomen, the well-toned muscles there, which she traced lightly with one finger, lingering at his waist. Lee was powerless to stop her. Then her face was at his neck again, her voice in his ear. "How could you frak an abomination like Kara Thrace and not want to frak me?"

Lee stared straight ahead as he answered. "Because she's a woman. And you're nothing but a frakked-up, godless toaster." She pulled back at that, staring at him furiously. He matched her gaze. "You think your god loves you? Your god doesn't exist. You weren't created by a god; you were created by us, by humans. And we don't love you either." The silent Leoben stepped darkly forward but the first Leoben held him back with a shake of his head, his eyes not on Lee but on Six.

The female Cylon, still straddling Lee, suddenly looked concerned, disappointed even. She picked up the remains of his shirt, twisting it in her hands. "Oh Lee," she sighed sadly. Lee continued to glare at her. She shoved the shirt into his mouth, lifting his head to tie it tightly around him. He grunted, trying to yell something at her, but it was no use. "Poor, naive little boy," she continued. "Things really are so black and white in your eyes, aren't they?" She placed a seemingly caring hand on his shoulder, as he breathed harshly through the gag. Her hand moved down his arm to rest lightly over the bullet wound. Lee's eyes widened in realization just as Six smiled demurely and pressed down on the wound. Her voice was in his ear again, "The only sound I want to hear from you now is your scream," she whispered. She leaned more and more weight onto his arm, until Lee could do nothing but scream into his gag. Six just continued to smile down at him.

"You don't get it, Apollo," the first Leoben commented from the sidelines. "We have a destiny, a fate beyond ourselves. Something you can't possibly understand."

Six finally let up on him, sitting up to play with the knife idly. Lee gasped, desperately trying to get some oxygen in through the gag. He watched them for a second before closing his eyes, willing himself to calm down. His breathing finally slowed, but before long Six was lightly slicing down his arms and chest, leaving cuts all over. He felt the cuts open, felt them bleed, but could do nothing but clench and unclench his fists, frustrated and already feeling the effects of blood loss.

"You see," Leoben continued. "God has a plan for all of us. Even some of you humans. Probably not you, though."

Six slashed him deeper across his chest, causing Lee to give another muffled yell. 'Where the hell is Galactica?' The gash bled freely; Lee could feel blood start dripping down his sides. He tried to twist and buck Six off of him, but it was no use. She would not yield, just smiled with pleasure at his protests, enjoying the feeling of a body moving beneath hers. "That's it, keep it coming," she said, almost purring. "You're a fun ride." She set the knife aside for just a moment, then turned back to him. He was helpless to stop her as she ran a hand up the side of his leg, smile widening as Lee tried not to panic. She pulled teasingly at the waistband of his pants until they sat lower on his hips. He shuddered as one of her hands settled over his hip bone, caressing it, while the other was planted firmly on the table near his head. Lee's panic heightened tenfold as the Six lowered herself down completely on top of him, her weight pressing on his wounds. The hand at his hip began groping at his body, at one point pulling his tanks down and so she could kiss his now heaving chest, working her way up to his neck. 'Please gods, no,' he thought desperately as a heavy weight seemed to settle in his heart. He couldn't escape this.

"It's funny, isn't it," Leoben acted as though nothing was happening in front of him. Lee tried not to listen, tried not think about where the Six's mouth and hands were at that moment. "All the humans you surround yourself with, they all have some purpose in this life. Some destiny, a role to play. Except you. Why is that, Apollo? What's your purpose? For what possible reason could you have been chosen to survive for this long? What's the point?"

Lee stared straight up, refusing to show the chill that now spread through him as Leoben threw some of his real fears back at him. His breathing was harsh again; he was having a hard time focusing. For awhile- time being no concept familiar to him anymore- it was a tag-team of torture for Lee. Whenever Six stopped playing with his body, Leoben would pick at Lee mentally, pointing at his faults and insecurities, guilts and fears. And when he paused to take a breath, Six would be back on him with her hands and that damn knife…

Lee no longer cared about anything; he didn't have the energy to. He couldn't tell where he was hurting; it felt like the blood was coating his entire body. This time there was barely a reaction from him when Six sliced downwards, cutting through his skin and through his tanks, finally pulling the cloths free and dropping them on the floor behind her. She smiled happily at the sight of his beautiful, maimed body at her mercy. Not able to resist, she let her hands wander along his chest and stomach again, getting a feel for his muscles and skin.

He shook his head weakly, murmuring some feeble protest, eyes sliding shut. He was childlike in this dazed state, vulnerable and helpless beneath her. Six relished this power, this intimate hold over a human. Suddenly, in this instant with Lee completely at her beck and call, she loved him. Reaching underneath him, hands pressed against his bare back, she lifted his body up as far as she could. The fact that he made no move to stop her filled her with intense pleasure. She wasn't sure if they had beaten the will out of him or just taken out his physical strength; she also found she didn't care. She could do anything to him right now, anything she wanted, and he wouldn't be able to stop her. It was an amazing feeling.

Ever so gently, she smoothed his hair away from his bloody, sweaty face. He mumbled something, but whatever he said was lost into the gag. Deciding she wanted to hear his voice now, she pulled it out of his mouth, leaving it to hang down near his neck. He coughed weakly, and Six watched in fascination as he reflexively licked his dry and cracked lips. She ran her thumb along the bruises at his mouth, and, eyes still closed, Lee turned his head to the side.

"No," his voice was soft and slight, and thrilling to Six's ears.

"Sorry pet," she paused as he went through another fit of coughing. "But you're ours now. Anything I want to do to you, I will."

"You're helpless, Apollo. Admit it," Leoben added, smiling. "You know there's no hope of escaping. Helpless. Say it."

"No," he repeated, just as weakly. But he still didn't move from her hold, and Six knew he couldn't fight her off. She had a hand on his thigh, her thumb rubbing along the inside of his upper leg, and she could feel him shaking beneath her touch. And when she slowly moved that hand upwards and he whimpered softly, she felt like echoing the noise with one of her one.

He still didn't try to move away from her, but his harsh breathing, shaking, and mumbled, delirious words revealed his panic. She shushed him, her words gentle and comforting, "Shhh shhh, relax. Everything's okay, pet. I'll take care of you." And to her delight, his body actually stilled against hers, quieting for her. Obeying her. Good God, this was incredible. Overcome, she kissed his forehead, much more tenderly than she had kissed him before. She may have been imagining it, maybe just wishful thinking on her part, but she could swear that he leaned into the kiss ever so slightly. He certainly didn't move away. She kissed him again, right at the bruise on the side of his mouth. This time, he didn't even turn his head away. Six had never been this excited before; she was so close to getting what she wanted.

"Getting a little attached, aren't you?" Leoben commented from the sidelines, eyebrow arched. His copies remained silent, though their expressions mirrored his.

Six turned to them for a brief second, unapologetic. "So what if I am?" Still holding Lee's body slightly off the table, she let it fall back again, testing his awareness. Nothing. She truly wished she had the time to take him- and his body- fully, but it would have to wait for another time. That possibility excited her all the more.

"You are truly a beautiful specimen, Lee Adama," she told him. As one last treat for herself, she slid both hands up his bloody chest to his face, cupping his cheeks. His eyes opened only for a brief moment, but he had finally had enough, and he went completely slack beneath her. "Red's a good color on you," she whispered, kissing his unresponsive lips.

"He's out," one of the Leobens said behind her. "We'll need to go soon."

"One last thing to do," she replied, as a Leoben helped her off the prisoner and the table. Her clothes, hands, and face were spattered with blood, but she didn't care. This had felt so good. "One final message to leave, eh boys?" The three Leobens smiled simultaneously.

TO BE CONTINUED…