PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          Payton was only microns behind Harry, his arms wrapping around the both of them, helping Harry lift Roark to cradle him against his chest amid the cries and exclamations as people began to swarm, demanding to know what was happening.

          That was when a deep, authoritative voice barked out.  "Quiet!  All of you, be silent and do not crowd so close."

          Both Ethan and Severus were at their side, Ethan laying a hand on his brother's forehead, even as Severus laid fingers on his neck.  "FUCK!" was snapped sharply.  Then, as if remembering where he was, he turned his head.  "Forgive me, Mr. President," he said with a tip of his head.  "All of his shields are down.  Again."

          He waved away the swearing.  "Whatever could have caused such a painful collapse?"

          "We can't say for sure until he wakes up to tell us," Severus told him.  "He did report to Life Center this morning complaining of a migraine.  We gave him an omega blocker and sent him back to bed to sleep it off.  We cleared him for duty just before we came here."

          "He said nothing about any further issues?"

          "No.  There's no real way to tell what has caused this, but believe me when I say we will be finding out."

          "Sir, we are going to need a shielded room, preferably away from here before I attempt to wake him.  With all his personal shields gone, waking him here would not be a good idea."

          "No, that is definitely not an option.  With as strong an empath as Roark is, we would all very likely end up with migraines, at the least."  He pointed.  "Go through that door. Healer Captain.  The palm scan just inside the door allows you to set the shielding," a slight grin,  "Might I suggest you set it at 100% to prevent any leakage?  Is there anything you need?  I can have someone sent to Life Center."

          "No, Sir, but thank you.  Between Severus and I, we have everything we'll need."

                                                                        cccVccc

          A moan.  Followed by eyes fluttering open.  "OH! GODS!"  He rolled over to be sick into the pail that was pushed under his head just in time for him to empty his stomach.

          "Here," came a soft voice as he was handed a glass with spearmint water to wash his mouth out. Then he took a few sips, feeling his stomach begin to settle.  "Better?"

          Lying back on the couch he was spread out on, he threw an arm over his eyes.  "Not particularly.  KOBOL! He's in--"

          The door slid open to admit not only Adama, but the President, and, of all people, Baltar.  "How are you, Rory?"

          Roark moved to sit up, his face still extremely pale.  "Sorry about that, Grandfather.  I'm not sure what happened.  I was fine.  Really, I was.  There wasn't...ISN"T even a hint of a headache, or a migraine."

          "Perhaps something else then?  Whatever it was looked to be very painful."

          He looked up into the concerned blue eyes.  "It was, Uncle Adar.  It was very sudden, a sharp snap like a rubber band being drawn beyond what it should be, and then every single one of my shields came down.  Just...collapsed." He frowned, thinking.  "They've been giving me problems for a while." 

          "We're used to the fluctuations," Ethan spoke up, "One shield falling, then another, the others redistributing themselves to compensate for the failure, before they too would come down.  But they've never snapped like that."

          : I know what happened to cause it. :  He said privately to them.  : It was at the exact moment Baltar's hand wrapped around mine. :

          : What did you see? :

          "Lestrange?" came the man in questions voice.  "Now where have I heard that name before?"

          Roark's head turned to meet Severus' dark gaze.  : Everything.  From beginning to end, I saw it all, and I know the part he has played in this. :

          "Lt. Colonel Rodolphus,  and Major Rabastan Lestrange.  They are two of Counter-Intelligence's best undercover operatives.  Harry and Roark were recently sealed to them."

          "Ah...yes, the ones they call the Terminators."

          "Yes, that is one of the many names they have collected over the yahrens," Roark said in a far steadier tone than he felt as Kili and Harry moved to take seats beside him, Kili's eyes darkening, widening just a bit as he took Roark's hand.

          "And did the Lt. Colonel and Major join you on this trip?"

          "No, they did not."

          "But if they had, perhaps," Roark's eyes rose to meet Baltar's, "just perhaps, we may have found all we needed to stop what will be happening."