BSG Fic: Cycle of Time

[woodface]

Disclaimer: Not mine.
Rating: PG
Spoilers/Set: None. Future fic.
Summary: They find Earth 947 days after the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, 273 days since their last run in with the Cylons and 6 weeks and 2 days after President Roslin’s death.

A/N: Huge big thank you to stars_like_dust for putting up with my whining.

If you believe in the gods, then you believe in the cycle of time, that we are all playing our parts in a story that is told again, and again, and again, throughout eternity.


They find Earth 947 days after the destruction of the Twelve Colonies, 273 days since their last run in with the Cylons and 6 weeks and 2 days after President Roslin’s death.

As soon as they are in radio range, Commander Adama orders Petty Officer Dualla to try and contact the lost Colony. All they receive back is cosmic static. They leave the Fleet orbiting the planet on the outer reaches of the solar system as the Galactica approaches their new home.

Raptors are sent out to scan the planet, and everyone waits with baited breath for any sort of response from Earth. There is none. The many satellites orbiting remain dormant, most of them damaged beyond repair.

The first Raptor returns with scans of deep blue oceans that cover 88% of the surface with small islands scattered in random patterns. There’s life out there, under the water and on the land, but no indication that there ever were humans.

The second Raptor explored one of the larger continents. It brings back a different picture of untouched forests, green planes and mountain ranges where the snow never melts. And wild life that thrives as its left to fend for itself.

It’s the third Raptor that carries the news they’ve been waiting for, but not expecting. It returns with images of canyons, deserts and wastelands and in the midst of it all a city. There’s no doubt about it. It’s made by human hands and stands like a cancer in the middle of the land. Only, it lies in ruins.

More Raptors, and this times Vipers, are sent out to scan the surface in the hope of finding intelligent life on the surface. It takes days before the entire surface is scanned. A silence descends over the Fleet as the only evidence that the Thirteenth Colony was ever there are ruins and more ruins. Skeletons of what once were cities are scattered over the continents and under water. Most of it in such decay that it is hardly recognisable. And what is called the Promised Land in the Sacred Scrolls becomes nothing more than a tomb.

Two more days of endless arguing and finally the Fleet moves into orbit of Earth. The decision has been made to set up a new civilisation, because no one wants to spend another thousand days straying between planets in the hope to find one with the same atmosphere as the Colonies. A spot is chosen for the Fourteenth Colony on the green continent, and one by one, the civilian vessels descend to the surface. The ships will be disassembled and the parts will be put to use to build up the new city, all under the watchful eye of the Galactica which remains in orbit.

Twelve days after they discover Earth, a Cylon Raider jumps right in the path of a Viper patrol. It’s dealt with fast and efficiently. The fleet of Basestars that follow in its wake isn’t.

On the thirteenth day after the Fleet discovers Earth, there is only rubble to tell of their presence.

Comments

[vertrauen.livejournal.com]

So... did we destroy Earth on our own, or did the Cylons get to us before Galactica'n'Crew did?

Very moving and sad at the same time. Good job, sweetie. :)

[woodface]

Ah, now there's a good question. I think this is where the author smiles and lets the reader make up his mind ;o)

Thank you very much! =o)

[conuly]

*blinks*

That's sad... but good. Very well-written. I wish I could say more, but it's a lot easier to criticise than to praise :)

[woodface]

Yeah, not exactly a happy ending.

Thanks, I do get what you mean. =o)

[livilla.livejournal.com]

Oh, wonderful job. It's terribly sad that they've come that far and then nothing. But it doesn't matter in the end, does it?

Great work!

[woodface]

Yes, they're all DOOMED! *coughs* I think it does matter in a way *pats them*

Thank you =o)

[sloanesomething.livejournal.com]

OMG NO SADNESS

(great stuff.)

[woodface]

And they all happily were reborn to die again. The end.

(Thanks.)

[splash-the-cat.livejournal.com]

Oh, ouch. Nice one, Jara.

[woodface]

*beams* It's all good cause they're all dead!

Thanks, hon. *snuggles*

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

*eeps*

[woodface]

That's one word for it ;o)

[shadowserenity.livejournal.com]

Very nice!

I'm betting we killed ourselves on our own, which is not an exceptionally optimistic view but realistic.

So, if humanity is dead, how will things happen again? The Cylons become humans over time? Humans evolve on another planet? Questions, questions ;).

[woodface]

We're definitely capable of destroying ourselves without needing a hand from the Cylons.

Hmmm, it depends on what sort of repetition it is. Nietzsche wrote about how the same thing would happen over and over indefinitely. However, I think there is variation in what the scrolls describe as Leoben suggested that Kara was once the one being tortured. Maybe it simply means that the Cylons will be destroyed eventually too. Ah, so many possibilities. *g*

Thank you. =o)

[sideofzen.livejournal.com]

Oh, I like this, even if it is woe and sadness. I enjoy the writing style. I also looove future fic. :D

[woodface]

It's DOOM *g*

Thank you so much. I'm glad you liked it. =oD

[charis]

Brr. Good, in that lovely sort of creepy way. I really like this.

[woodface]

*g* Thank you! =o)

[magelette.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just...wow. Not quite sure what else to say, since that basically sums up human past, present and future. Very cool. :)

[woodface]

*beams* Thank you. I'm glad it worked.

[bantha-fodder.livejournal.com]

<3

(OMG so tired)

[woodface]

*beams*

(*pats* Sleep is good.)

[alopekis.livejournal.com]

Very creepy, but excellent. The idea of them bucking the odds for so long and actually making it to Earth, something no one really expected at the beginning of their journey, and finding only destruction... *shivers*.

[woodface]

When you put it like that I'm very cruel *g* But it does seem to fit as I get the feeling that the Cylons are currently just playing with them.

Thank you!

[suenix.livejournal.com]

Very nice, elegant and spare.
It reads like a fable.

Suenix

[woodface]

Ooooooo *blushes* Thank you so much! =o)

[obsidianpond.livejournal.com]

Very well done. I'm incredibly sad that all their struggle to get to earth was for nothing if the cylons still destroyed them in the end.

To me, it makes more sense that Earth would be in ruins because how would a populated Earth deal with 50,000 some refugees. (although that could be a season all its own....hmm this show can go on forever *g*)

*showers you with (light, airy, non-injurious) compliments*

[woodface]

Sorry, my brain was being evil ;o)

It would probably be a hassle to try and accomodate the refugees on Earth (although if you think about it 50.000 people isn't all that much compared to the entire population). Although, knowing us it will probably take even longer before we'll be open minded to their presence.

*blushes* Thank you. I'm glad you liked it =o)

[zephyrrs.livejournal.com]

Frak ....that was just plain evil evil evil.

Well done.

[woodface]

Whoot! *g*

Thank you! =o)

[rhi-silverflame.livejournal.com]

Mmmmmmmmmm, angst.

I actually saw this while checking my flist before I left for work this morning, but didn't have time to read it, and I suspect I might have forgotten to go back and read it after I got home if not for my fic pimp up there a few comments, who always makes sure I don't miss out on the good stuff.

Love the writing style -- stark and forceful, and really makes the feel of this piece work. And I love the way you take the Colonials' glimmer of hope and unrelentingly dampen it down into bleak desperation; this is very much in tune with the spirit of the show. The way each optimistic reconaissance report is juxtaposed with a subtle but ominous note is great. And actually, I think the way you start it off with a series of figures really contributes to this; there's something cold and almost disturbing about so many precise numbers when you use them that way.

My one and only nitpick -- and I hate to do this -- is "the ships will be dissembled," as "dissemble" means to disguise oneself or assume a false identity. :) Other than that, though, I've no complaints whatsoever. This was a fantastic piece.

[woodface]

Oh wow, you really know how to make a writer happy. *blushes* Thank you so much for the lovely feedback. I'm glad the number thing worked *g* =o)

And thanks for pointing out that mistake. D'oh! Will correct it right away.

[annie-tait.livejournal.com]

*loves you*

The beauty, I think, of BSG is that it's so dark and angsty to begin with, so the fic can totally be dark and angsty without seeming melodramatic, like in other fandoms. And wow, you rocked it!

I will look to you when I finally decide I write fic without Major Errors of Canon Fact, because I fear I would end up writing bubbly happiness and other such cheese. And people will say "Ah, that was funny and cute and SO TERRIBLY WRONG!! HAVE YOU EVER *SEEN* THIS SHOW?!?!"

I will friend you with many hopes for more wonderful sad stuff.

[woodface]

*blush* Thank you! I'm glad you liked it.

The show does make it pretty easy to write angst, so maybe it's actually tricky to write something happy and keep it in canon. ;o)

Heh, I love writing fluff too btw. There's really nothing wrong with it. (Unless of course the characters are out of character and hurt your brain...)

*goes friend back*