PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          That smarmy smile faltered a bit, a slightly worried look entered those beetle like dark eyes.  "Now what, I wonder could you possible mean by that?" he asked as the door slid open once again.

          A very nearly feral smile twisted Roark's lips.  "I'm quite sure you know exactly what I mean, but whatever.  Who knows?  We may, even now, have just enough of a warning to avert some of it."

          "Excuse me, Mr. President, but the last Councilor has arrived, and we are ready to begin."  His head turned, smiled as he looked at Roark.  "Is there anything I can get for you, Captain Roark?"

          "No, thank you, I'm fine."

          "Roark, you are, of course, welcome to join us, if you feel so inclined," he told him, wondering just what that exchange had been about, "or you may remain here."

          Everyone in the room except for President Adar and Commander Adama, saw Baltar's face pale as Roark shook his head.  "As much as I would love to join you, Sir, it is probably a good idea that I don't.  Not with my shields the way they are.  Who knows what I may leak."

          "It would probably be best.  Stay here then.  Rest and relax.  If you need anything, anything at all, call Peter.  He'll get you whatever you would like."

          "We will, Sir, thank you," Harry said, his eyes never leaving his brother's face.

          A smile at them, then President Adar turned and headed for the door.  "Roark?" came  softly as the door slid closed

          Roark could only shake his head.  "Not yet, Grandfather.  I haven't finished putting it all together, but once I do, you will be the first to know."

          He gave a nod, and a brief smile, then turned and walked out.  Roark's head fell back against the back of the couch, his eyes closing.  "What do we do, Rory?" Kili asked softly as Payton moved to sit beside him.

          "We saw your eyes widen just a bit, Ki," he told him, a hand beginning to move comfortingly on his back as the others pulled chairs closer to sit before the two. 

          "We also saw the horror," Colten reached out to lay a hand on his knee,  "What did you see when you took his hand?"

          He shook his head.  "It's still quite jumbled, but what I DID see...GODS!"

          "Tell us," came quietly from Ethan, "but first, drink this."  He passed. over a crystal vial to each of them.  "It's not anything real strong, just strong enough to dull all those rough edges."

          Roark took the vial and drank it with a shudder.  "Shit!  Can't you make those taste better?"

          "I'll be sure to mention it to the Docs, though I'm quite sure you know what they'll say."

          "Indeed.  Suck it up and be a man.  Potions are not meant to taste good, they're just meant to work."  Roark said, then gave a sudden sigh, his head falling back once again, the omega blocker they had given him already beginning to work at dulling the edges of his raw gifts.

         "Rory?" came the soft question.  "Talk to us, brother,"

          A sigh.  "He knows very well what he's done," he murmured, "and he just doesn't care.  He's justifying his actions with the full belief that his Colony is going to be spared, as well as a promise from the Cylon Imperious Leader that he will rule here on their behalf."

          "Only that isn't what is going to happen, is it?"

          "No, it's not.  FUCKING HELL!" he was suddenly on his feet, whirling to throw the vial at the metal wall, hearing it shatter and feeling like it was his heart.  "I've half a mind to march in there and tell them everything, but they refused to listen on Caprica...they certainly aren't going to listen now.  Not with their Peace so close at hand.  We are being led...NO,  HERDED into a Godsdamned trap, and there is nothing we can DO  about it!"

          They were up suddenly, surrounding him, Payton's arms coming around him, turning him and drawing him against him.  "Shh...easy now," came softly in his ear as the light flickered alarmingly.

          His head fell forward, forehead resting against Payton's shoulder.  "Gods, Pay, there is nothing...absolutely NOTHING we can do to stop this from happening, and it's tearing me apart."  He gave a deep sigh, raising his head to look at them with tortured silver eyes.  "All we can do now is wait."

           "Wait, and once it's over, we save as many as we can."

          "That's just it, Logan.  From what we have seen, there won't be anyone left TO save."

          "Hey, let's have a little more faith here.  We'll send messages to Dad, Uncle Thorin, and the others."

          Roark shook his head.  "It's not going to matter.  You haven't seen what the three of us have.  It's going to be a miracle if there are any survivors here, OR there."