Title: Commencement Author: Athena13 (Athena13@ixpres.com) Rating: PG (see individual chapters for rating information) Summary: Before the world ended, it had to begin. Disclaimer: These works are fiction stories based on the series Battlestar Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. Larson. These stories are not being sold for profit and no infringement of any copyright rights are intended. All unrecognized characters and plot lines are mine and copyright protection is claimed. Any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. Credits for unoriginal poetry and lyrics at end of last chapter. Dedication: To Melissa and Sanna, who seem to actually like my writing and encouraged me to finish this darn thing which I started yahrens ago! <><><><><><><> Where fate leads us we must travel Whether separate or apart our hearts shall remain entwined Think of me should we lose sight And I will see you in my dreams <><><><><><><> CHAPTER 1 Athena, daughter of Ila and Adama, flew up the stairs and into her room. Without pausing she tossed her bag onto the bed and sat down in front of her computer. She reached over and flipped on the musiccom while the computer downloaded her electronic messages. She stopped the scans when she heard the strains of a currently popular Caprican song. She tapped her fingers on the table to the beat of the song and sang along as she waited. After a few centons she was logged in and her messages were downloaded. She scanned through the subject headers until she found the one she was waiting for. After a few microns a smile spread across the young woman's face as she read the words on the screen: =lake at sunset, C. = "Sunset, sunset..." Athena sang to herself and started twirling around the room. She suddenly stopped and laughed. "I can't believe I'm so excited to see someone that I've seen everyday for the last...I don't even know how many yahren!" The "C" stood for "Cole," a boy who lived in the same quadrant as Athena's family on the outskirts of Caprica City. Their mothers were best friends and the pair had been inseparable since before either of them could walk. They hadn't, however, become a "couple" until two yahrens ago. Two yahrens ago Athena had been sitting at the lake and feeling upset about a friend moving away and, as always, Cole had appeared out of nowhere to comfort her. Later they had been at the gaming center playing Cylon Annihilation when it suddenly hit her that she was in love with him and she blurted it out. Cole had been overjoyed. Apparently he really had been carrying a torch for her for yahrens, something she had never believed when people had told her. Since that day they had been more than best friends. Instead of talking about what to do the next furlon or after secondary school commencement, they discussed how many children they wanted. They discussed where to have their sealing. How to handle their life if Athena was assigned off-planet. And where to live. Her mother had just smiled when Athena told her the news. Athena had figured it wouldn't be a big surprise to either of their mothers. Ila, in fact, had been one of those people who had claimed for yahrens that Cole had a crush on her and that she should give him "a chance." At least her mother hadn't told Athena she had "told her so," too much. Other than the content of their conversations and plans, not much else had changed between them. They were still inseparable, except now it was acceptable for her to say she missed him when she hadn't seen him in mere centars. That and the kissing and stuff. "Athena," her mother called up the stairs. "Yeah, Mom?" Athena stuck her head out her door. "Come downstairs for a micron," Ila called back. Athena threw what was in her hand onto the bed and headed down the stairs. "What's up Mom?" "I wanted to talk to you about accompanying you to the Academy," Ila pointed to a seat for Athena to sit down in. "Mom!" Athena exclaimed. She couldn't believe her mother was going to go through this again, and in serious talk mode. "We've had this discussion before. You've even had this discussion with both Apollo and Zac. All I can say is ditto. No one's parents bring them to military academy." Ila ducked her head and smiled. How could she shirk her parental responsibility and not have this conversation at least four times before her daughter left home? "Athena dear, I just want to make sure that you get settled in properly." Athena laughed. "You're worried about whether I unpack properly? Did you forget the family vacations we've taken with Commander Father along? Believe me, I know how to unpack and I'm sure I'll love my roommates. What I wouldn't love is everyone thinking that I'm showing off about my parents or expecting special favors or something. You know how it is whenever we meet new people." Athena cocked her head for a moment, "I won't be guilted into it either, so don't even try it! Besides, Apollo and Zac got their way, you wouldn't want to leave yourself open to claims of gender disparity Councilperson Ila," Athena grinned at her mother and flopped back in her chair. Ila smiled and waved her hand. "Fine, fine, I had to say my piece. But I want you to know that I'm going to miss having you around the house. My little girl," she sighed. "I'm going to miss you too, but I'm hardly a little girl. I'm almost eighteen yahrens," Athena reminded her mother. "When you have children of your own, eighteen will seem very young. Are you and Cole going out tonight?" "Yes, of course. Mom?" Athena's expression turned serious. "Yes dear." "With me gone are you going to be lonely?" Athena asked quietly. "Sweetheart, I'll miss all of you, but I have plenty to keep me occupied. I'm fine," Ila smiled at her daughter. For as much as Athena liked to pretend she was carefree, there was always kindness and sensitivity underneath that shined through. "That's true, you are hardly ever home. Between the Council, the arts committee and volunteering at the medical center, I worry about you taking on too much." Ila stood and put her hand on her daughter's cheek. "My sweet girl, you always worry about everyone." "Mom!" Athena blushed. "I've got to go do some more packing. I'm meeting Cole at sunset." "Are you having dinner here? I have a meeting, but I can fix you something?" Ila offered. "Don't worry about it, I'm not that inept in the kitchen," Athena chuckled. Her and her mother's interest in the kitchen were pretty much equal. Which meant prepared foods and take out since Zac left home. "No, but you're no Apollo," Ila replied and they both shared a laugh. "No, I'm not Apollo," Athena said to herself as she headed back to her room. <><><><><><><> You got the perfect image of the perfect man You're a tough little sister, but you'll settle for a mister tonight But you're running out of time (1) <><><><><><><> Athena reached "their" spot at Lake Sirius just as the suns were setting. Cole hadn't arrived yet so Athena spread out the blanket she had brought and sat down to wait. She leaned back on her elbows and breathed in the fresh air as she watched the fiery sunset. She was trying to imagine what it would be like to live without this view for sectars at a time. Athena couldn't remember a time when she didn't want to spend her adult life on a battlestar like her father and older brother. At centons like these she second-guessed those desires. Nature lay in all its glory before her as their Kobolian ancestors had wanted and despite the generations-long war with the Cylons, their worlds still remained relatively pristine. As always, her thoughts led her back to the reasons why she wanted to join the military effort - so she could help protect beautiful views like this for her children. And their children. Like all Colonials she hoped that the war would end in her lifetime and she could live on-planet without guilt and enjoy what they had fought to preserve. 'Maybe someday,' she was thinking wistfully when she felt a kiss on the back of her neck. "Don't you ever get tired of looking at the sky?" Cole whispered in her ear before sitting down next to her on the blanket. No, I don't," Athena smiled at the scene unfolding before her. "I'd never tire of this view. Especially not with you," Athena cast the boy next to her a sidelong glance. Cole reached out and settled Athena in front of him. "We've been watching these sunsets together since we were babies, so our mother's tell us, and we don't have many left until we both leave for school," he soberly observed. "But yahrens until I get sent off to a battlestar," Athena grabbed Cole's hand and held it in front of her, wishing that Cole too was going to the Caprican Academy instead of to Aries for an engineering program. Cole remained silent, not wanting to spoil the night by bringing up what would happen after she graduated. They both knew she would fly off into space and he would remain in the Colonies designing ships and weaponry for the war effort. And despite their common goals, they would be separated. Cole disengaged his hand and began to stroke her hair as they silently soaked in the sunset. Once the sunset was over Athena leaned her head on Cole's shoulder. "I have to go." "I know. I've known you your whole life. I know that you couldn't be you if you aren't a warrior." Cole stopped speaking for a centon as he gathered his thoughts. "Remember when we were, oh I don't know, about eight? You wouldn't speak to me for a centar because I wouldn't be the Cylon and let you be the viper pilot. I know you have to do this. I just can't imagine having you around every day, every centar," he finished in a whisper. "I know," Athena said quietly. "I'm torn in two, between leaving you and having to go. I know I would only resent you later if I gave it up to stay with you no matter how much I want to do that," Athena sighed. "I've always been too selfish haven't I?" "Not selfish, but if you feel that way, stay a civilian and come to University with me. You'd make a great civilian technician. You really don't want to actually get to fly what you design on a regular basis, right?" Cole pressed his face onto the top of Athena's head as he teased. Athena didn't answer. She didn't have to. They both knew they had to follow their own paths. They wouldn't be who they were if they didn't. And she wouldn't love him so much if he wasn't true to himself. That didn't mean leaving didn't hurt like hades. "Besides watching the sunset, what are we going to do tonight?" Cole asked. "You don't know?" Athena moved out of Cole's arms and turned to look him questioningly. "Is there any reason _I_ should?" "Not should, but might?" he answered hopefully. Athena took in his mien and rolled her eyes. He had something planned, she could tell. "I can tell I won't get anything out of you right now," she shrugged and settled herself back into his embrace. Cole got up and stretched out his hand and pulled Athena to her feet. "Too true my dear." Cole bent down and began folding the blanket. "We can walk from here," Cole took Athena's hand and they began walking away from the Lake. The moons began to rise over the horizon, their images reflecting in the Lake's surface. <><><><><><><> It's all about Growing up and growing out Decisions and places Paths taken Unpredictable results we always expected Consequences <><><><><><><> Chapter 2 "Where are we going and what do you two have planned?" Athena asked for the hundredth time. "I'm not telling and if you don't stop asking I'm going to tickle you!" Zac grabbed his sister's waist, her long hair getting twisted around his arm. Athena pulled away from his grasp with a yelp. "Ow! I give, I give. I'll keep quiet. Give me my hair back!" Athena untangled her hair from her brother's arms and let it fall back down around her waist. Then she turned and stuck her tongue out at her brother. "Is that how it's done? I've been trying to figure out how to shut her up for yahrens," Cole said from her other side. Athena elbowed him and then reached to put her arms around both Cole's and Zac's waists. "This is so nice. Here, with my two favorite men. This is so cool. I'm so glad you got to come home and spend the last few days with me Zac." "I thought she was supposed to be quiet now?" Cole said in a theatrical whisper. "I said I wouldn't ask where we were going, I certainly never said I would stop talking," Athena lifted her chin defiantly. "I knew there was no way to keep her quiet. Oh, where has the peace gone?" Cole called up to the stars. Athena just rolled her eyes. "We're here!" Zac stopped, pulling them all to a halt. "Where? This is the big deal secret? We come to this liquistation all the time," Athena said. "Just follow me," Zac opened the door and walked in. Athena looked at Cole who just shrugged and led her in behind Zac. Upon entering, Athena spied a large group of young people milling around the spirits counter. Athena pulled away from Cole and headed for her friends. "This is great! Hi!" she greeted everyone. "We couldn't let you academy people leave without a send off," an attractive small girl came forward and explained. "So, here we are to say goodbye to you Athena and Prion, Delar, Mikos, well, you get the idea," Leila shrugged. "Zac arranged most of it, actually," she looked at the Academy student from beneath her lashes. "Any excuse for a party," Zac waggled his eyebrows. Leila walked over to him and put her arm around his waist. Then she looked up at him and gave a smile that plainly indicated that she wasn't fooled by his modesty, but was definitely taken in by everything else about him. "I think Zac is channeling Starbuck again, did you see that eyebrow thing?" Cole whispered to Athena. "At least he's stopped trying to be like Apollo and tell me what to do all the time," Athena handed Cole a glass of grog. "Just wait until he's your superior officer on the Galactica," Cole murmured in her ear. "Very funny, ha ha," she grimaced as she took a sip of her drink. "There is no way that's going to happen." Cole looked at his best friend meditatively. Somehow he just knew that in four or five yahrens she would change her mind and want to serve with her family. "Don't look at me like that!" Athena laughed, long used to him trying to read her mind or predicting her behavior. "I'm _not_ going to change my mind. I've enjoyed Apollo being away from home too much to voluntarily submit myself to his authority on an official basis!" "Does that include me?" Zac pinched her waist as he came up behind her. Athena almost spilled her drink when her brother startled her. "Hardly, _you_ don't try to run my life. I thought we were here to have fun?" Zac draped his arm over his sister's shoulder. "We are here to have fun, so stop talking about Apollo. You know you miss him anyway. Besides, Starbuck's on the Galactica," he teased her. "All right, enough teasing of your poor sister. I'm not going to have her around for much longer," Cole put down his drink and pulled Athena into his arms, not wanting to hear once again about her old crush on her brother's friend. "Let's go dance." Zac leaned back against the bar and watched his sister and her boyfriend on the dance floor. His heart ached for what she was going to have to go through over the next few sectars. Leaving Cole behind wasn't going to be easy and she would soon realize that once she got busy with school and he left Caprica that their relationship was doomed. "I've never seen you looking so melancholy at a party before," a male voice broke into his reverie. "Orion!" Zac greeted his old friend and fellow cadet. "Hi Zara," he greeted Orion's girlfriend, another person they had grown up with. "Glad you both could make it." Zara shrugged and looked away. Zac kept his smile on as he contemplated how much he would like to toss the stuck-up girl into the Lake. He couldn't understand how a nice guy like Orion got involved with her. And stayed with her after he had left for Academy. He noted with satisfaction that Orion seemed to finally recognize her standoffishness wasn't attractive, as Orion shot her a frustrated look. Obviously, Orion had to force her to come and mingle with the "common folk." "I think I need a drink," Orion mumbled and followed Zac to the bar, not bothering to check if his girlfriend was following. Zac refrained from commenting on his friend's mood. They would all be leaving in a few days to go back to school anyway. Maybe this year Orion would cut her loose. "I know you don't like her much," Orion acknowledged. "You love her, that's good enough for me," Zac handed his friend a cup. Orion looked back to where Zara had perched herself on a stool and was observing the crowd. "Love is a rather strong word," he commented as he studied her attractive profile. Zac's eyebrows raised in shock. Just a few sectons ago Orion had been at school mooning over the woman. Apparently a few days in her company had reminded him just what she was like. "Are you saying you don't love her?" he asked curiously. Orion shrugged. "No more than she loves me. Truthfully, I'm thinking of breaking up with her before we go back." "Well, if you do, we could both have some real fun this yahren," Zac said meaningfully. "That we could, that we could," Orion grinned at his friend, his green eyes sparkling. "Could what?" Leila asked as she walked over and put her arm around Zac again. "Just discussing boring Academy stuff," Zac prevaricated as he smiled down at the petite woman, putting his arm around her shoulder. "I'll bet," she commented wryly, snuggling up against Zac's side. Orion and Zac looked at each other and laughed. <><><><><><><> "I can't believe you still want to play around and get grubby with the boys," a voice interrupted her fun. She couldn't identify the voice over the din of the crowd, but the words were enough of a clue. Zara. Luckily Athena had already drank a couple of cups of grog before meeting up with her. "Hi Zara, how are you? How's journalism school?" "It's great. It's everything I had always dreamed. I can't believe you're going to the Academy!" Zara shook her head, as if she was disappointed in Athena's career choice. "You don't have to just because everyone else in your family does you know." "I'm not doing it because everyone in my family is, I'm doing it because I want to," Athena bit back a smirk. Zara shrugged and looked around, losing interest in the conversation. "So you're here with Cole?" she turned back to Athena and asked. "Yes," Athena nodded, wondering if the woman was suffering from brain damage. "So are you two breaking up before you leave?" Zara sipped her drink. "No!" Athena said in surprise. "Why would we?" "Because he won't even be on this planet," Zara explained as if she thought Athena was the slow one. "Whether he's on Caprica or not, we'll both be busy at school, we'll just have to travel further during breaks," Athena shrugged, fighting back a wave of anger and fear at Zara's observations. The upcoming separation scared the frak out of her and she was desperately trying not to think about it and let it ruin the next few days. She _knew_ they would make it work, she just couldn't imagine not seeing him everyday. "I'll see you later, enjoy yourself," Athena walked away. <><><><><><><> Zac sighed with relief when Leila decided he wasn't "fun enough tonight" and wandered off to find someone else who was. Zac liked the girl well enough and they had dated and stuff from time to time, but he just wasn't in the mood tonight for her brand of fun. It was a mood he couldn't understand and definitely wasn't used to. He idly wondered if he was beginning to suffer from his brother's moodiness. When he had left for the Academy last yahren at this time, he had been excited and living it up. He knew he would miss his mother and his sister, but he was glad to be starting a new life. Now, he was well entrenched in Academy life and looking forward to having his sister close by. Somehow, though, having Athena join him seemed more momentous than his own departure. 'It's more real, more permanent,' Zac admitted. A yahren away from home seemed like a fun interlude. Now that Athena would be there too he couldn't pretend, as he did in the deepest recesses of his mind, that it was all just a temporary hiatus. He found that reality a bit disturbing. It wasn't that Zac didn't want to be a warrior like his father and brother. He did. But he also knew that if it wasn't for the war with the Cylons he might have made some other choices for his life. Not his sister though. Zac looked over to where Athena was slow dancing with Cole. She was giving up the man she loved and the life they could have together in order to be a warrior. She might not yet admit it, but she was choosing that life over Cole. He might be the sibling with the overdeveloped desire to impress their older brother, but Athena was the one who was most like Apollo. Being a warrior was her one and only choice, war or not. It's not that she didn't have any other interests or talents, but flying a viper was her overarching passion. Well, right beneath commanding a battlestar. Maybe if Cole were going into standard military service rather than engineering they would have a chance. But a man with his talents would probably remain planetside or in some civilian station designing weapons and ships. After tomorrow, they will likely be separated for the rest of their lives. He could only imagine what she would be going through. And he was glad he was going to be there to help her pick up the pieces and keep it together. Zac himself hadn't experienced that kind of love, any love for that matter. 'Maybe that's my problem tonight?' he wondered as he looked around at his friends, all of whom seemed to be paired off or otherwise enjoying themselves. But there was no way Zac was ever going to let himself love any woman that much. In their world, all it brought was pain. <><><><><><><> "Hi, I didn't think anyone was still up. What are you doing sitting here in the dark?" Athena asked as the door closed behind her and she walked further into the house. "Just resting before I tackled the stairs," Zac answered sleepily. And a bit drunkenly. "Do I have to carry you up those stairs, again?" Athena put her hands on her hips and smirked. Zac snorted. "Whatever. Sit down for a centon," he patted the seat next to him on the couch. Athena flopped down on the couch next to her brother. She leaned over and rested her head on his shoulder. "What's up? Where's Leila? I feel like you have something you want to say to me." Zac slipped his arm out from beneath Athena's head and put his arm around her. "I feel like I should be giving you some sort of pep talk before we leave for school. Sort of like you gave me before I went. You don't need it do you? You've always wanted this, even more than me." "A music career might have been fun for a while, but face it, you would have been bored to tears and felt pretty useless. Do _you_ need another pep talk?" Athena leaned her head onto her brother's shoulder. "Nah, school is fine. I really do like it. I just don't think it would have been my first choice if it weren't for this war," Zac sighed. "It's going to be tough leaving Cole," Zac changed the subject. Athena nodded. Zac leaned over and kissed the top of his sister's hair. "It will all work out, I promise." "And Zac promises always come true," Athena said in a sing-song voice. "Gee, took you enough yahrens to learn that," Zac yanked a hank of her hair. "I miss Apollo," Athena sighed, beginning to fall asleep. "Me too," Zac yawned. "Let's get to bed," Zac pushed his sister off the couch. Athena just about fell on her butt. "What a gentleman," Athena groused as she balanced herself and turned towards the stairs. "Oh believe me, I am," Zac said suggestively. "So I've heard," Athena teased as they headed to their bedrooms. <><><><><><><> Growing up and Moving on Is a natural part of life But do we have to leave things behind or can they survive the tests of distance <><><><><><><> Chapter 3 "I won't let you," Cole said, Athena settling down by his side as they settled in to watch another beautiful sunset by the lake. "So what did you do while I was busy with Mom?" Athena flushed, refusing to look him in the eye and instead concentrating her gaze at the flaming suns. "Finished packing," Cole told her as he clasped her hand and watched her profile. Athena sighed and entwined her fingers with Cole's. "What if you want to, you know, date other people when we're apart?" Athena leaned her forehead against his chin. "You mean when you want to date a hot shot pilot?" Cole asked tersely. "No! No one could mean as much to me as you. You know that," Athena looked up at him questioningly. "You'll be at school surrounded by warriors, I know you've always had a thing for them," Cole said, remembering the crush she had on her brother's friend a few yahrens ago. Cole couldn't bear the idea of her dating other men and he refused to allow that to happen. He wouldn't let her break up with him before they went away. "Oh Lords, I was sooo young then," she giggled, remembering what an idiot she had made flirting with Starbuck before she realized she was in love with Cole. "Still," Cole enunciated carefully. "You admire warriors, it's understandable considering your family," he finished quietly. "Not as much as I admire you," she pressed her lips to his cheek. "We'll make it work then," he whispered. "How? We'll be so far away. I'm so afraid that if we stay together and try to keep up a relationship being apart we'll end up hating each other. We've seen it happen to our friends," Athena turned and caught him looking at her. "It won't happen to us. We're stronger. We love each other more. We've been friends forever - that will never change. So no, I won't let you break up with me out of fear," Cole stroked her cheekbone with his thumb. "You know you don't want to. We've talked about this before." Athena turned and caught his palm with a gentle kiss. He was right. She didn't want to break up with him. The thought of going away, alone, without being able to hold onto him was far scarier than a future she couldn't really believe in, logic and advice to the contrary. Their love was different, after all. "How soon do we have to be back?" he asked, allowing her to remain silent for the moment and process her thoughts. "As soon as the suns are down. Mom's been cooking up a storm," Athena chuckled as she remembered the mess she had left behind in the kitchen. Not that she escaped for long, she was sure they would all have to help with the clean up after dinner. "Then come here," Cole pulled her closer and began to kiss her. Athena allowed herself to get lost in the feel of him, and in doing so she was able to forget that this was their last night together. Forget that tomorrow they were both leaving to start their new lives. Lives separate from each other for the first time. Cole pulled away as the suns disappeared over the horizon. "Athena, we were meant for each other. I'll visit when I can, you'll visit when you can," he reminded her. "And there's always comms." "What about when I get assigned to a battlestar? What then?" Athena silently pleaded for him to refute her logic and beat back her lingering fears. "By then we'll be married. Our parents can handle being apart, we'll learn how. We don't need to figure it all out now. It's yahrens away," he told her, silently determined that she would change her mind about serving away from the Colonies. "What we need to face now is not seeing each other every day." "That's why...," Athena's heart was still pounding. "Will it be easier being apart if we're broken up, just friends? Without knowing that we're committed and faithful and belong to each other?" Cole asked her. "No. You are right," she admitted. "And me with no recorder," Cole chuckled and began to stand up. "Let's get to dinner before we get in trouble," he reached a hand down to help Athena stand. Athena groaned. She really wanted to spend their last cycles alone, not with their mothers and Zac. "Are you coming?" Cole laughed at her forlorn expression. Cole grabbed her into his arms and held her tightly for a few centons. Athena sighed in contentment. She knew that no one would ever know her as well or love her as much as this man. They couldn't lose each other. She wouldn't survive it. ~~~~~~~~~~~ Athena and Cole came barreling into the dining room of the Adama household where Zac, Ila and Breil, Cole's mother, were waiting patiently for their arrival. "Aren't you a bit tardy, Sis?" Zac ribbed Athena, enjoying the slight blush that she tried to hide as she slid into the seat across from him. He even moved his ankles just in time to avoid her kick and looked at her smugly, chuckling at her glare that promised retribution later. "Leave your sister alone," Ila scolded, even as she bit back a laugh at her children's antics. The house was going to be quiet without their bickering. "We'll bring the meal in," Ila said as she and Breil rose to get the dishes from the kitchen. "Sit down, sit down," Zac stood up and waved them back to their seats. "Cole and I can handle it. You did say that Athena didn't help cook right?" he asked hopefully. "Yes, I didn't," Athena assured her brother. No one wanted to taste what _she_ could cook, not even herself. She couldn't fault him for that comment. With an exaggerated sigh of relief, Zac, along with Cole headed to the kitchen. "I notice my son wisely chose to stay out of that one," Breil chuckled. "Oh, he definitely would've been in trouble if he had," Athena laughed. "It was rather restrained of him actually. It must be my going away present." Ila chuckled at her daughter's humor. As she looked over at her friend she noticed Breil's smile seemed forced. 'She's thinking about when they're gone,' she recognized the bittersweet expression. While they were proud of their children, with their husbands still gone their houses would quiet. Too quiet. Ila, however, was a trained diplomat and she had no intention of allowing the evening to become melancholy. "Speaking of going away presents, I have some messages here from Apollo and Adama. They're sorry they couldn't make it home to see you off," Ila told her daughter. "Really!" Athena looked pleadingly at her mother. "Fine, fine, just hurry back. They're in the office," Ila waved her daughter away. Athena didn't wait another micron and bounded off to listen to the messages. Ila watched her daughter run off, a wistful smile on her face. "It's like they're still young children when I see her like that," she observed aloud. "She's so energetic," Breil shook her head in awe. "I can hardly remember being like that." "There's no reason we shouldn't be, we won't be chasing around our children anymore," Ila pointed out. "True, true. I think I'll enjoy the relaxation before I run out and join a triad team though," her friend chuckled. Athena was eagerly pressing buttons on the comm, scanning to find the messages from her brother and father. She definitely expected that they wouldn't be able to come back just to see her off to the Academy, and would have been embarrassed if they had - she wasn't five yahrens old - but she was glad to have messages from them. Her father's message came up first. Athena put her legs up on the table and crossed her arms with a grin as the message loaded. "Hello Athena, and get your legs off your mother's desk," Adama's image smiled at his daughter. Athena began to sit up and move her legs and then remembered he really couldn't see her. She stuck her tongue out and settled back. Adama shook his head. "If she catches you...," he said ominously, obviously knowing his daughter's penchant for trying to get away with things. "Well, tomorrow you leave for the Academy. I wanted you to know how proud of you I am. I know that you will work hard and distinguish yourself. I look forward to you joining me on the Galactica, as your brother did this yahren." "Oh yeah, right," Athena snorted. Her father was still convinced she would change her mind and want to be under his command. That was the last thing she wanted. It was hard enough growing up known as "Adama's daughter". She shuddered to imagine what it would be like on the same battlestar. "I know how busy you will be, but don't forget to correspond with your mother and I. I love you Athena, good luck." Adama's image disappeared. "I love you too, Father," she reached a hand over and queued up Apollo's message. "Hi Sis," Apollo grinned. "Bet you have your feet on Mother's desk. Bet she catches you." Athena rolled her eyes. "So tomorrow you leave for the Academy. I really can't believe it. I still see you as the little girl I used to tuck into bed at night and tell stories to," Apollo shook his head, a rueful smile on his face. "I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's true. I do know, however, that you will do great at school. You'll probably put my record to shame," he chuckled, his green eyes sparkling. Athena had always wanted green eyes. "So good luck and knock 'em dead," Apollo finished and his image faded out. Athena put her legs back on the floor and was about to turn the Com off when another face began to appear on the screen. Athena's breath caught in her throat as Starbuck's grinning face came into focus. Her hand dropped into her lap. "Hey Brat," Starbuck waggled his eyebrows as he called her by her hated childhood nickname. "Guess I'll have to stop calling you that now. You're going to be a warrior soon enough, and if armed you may just shoot my cute astrum off. Apollo said he was sending you a message and I just wanted to wish you luck myself. As for what Apollo said, I know you're not still just a little girl," Starbuck winked. "Just don't let some hotshot warrior sweep you off your feet, you have to save yourself for me." Athena's face turned red as she was reminded of the time yahrens ago when she had thrown herself at the handsome warrior and told him to wait for her. He would have to tease her about that _now_. "I'm just teasing. I know you'll blow them away at school. But while you're busy becoming a hotshot pilot don't forget to drop me a message every now and then," Starbuck finished, his tone more serious. "You're my little sister too you know. See ya!" he waved and his image disappeared. "Wow," Athena mumbled to herself as she turned off the Com. Starbuck rarely sent her messages, in fact he never had before. "He must have been in an excessively playful mood, or Apollo made him do it," she rolled her eyes and headed back to the dining room. <><><><><><><><><> "So how are Apollo and Adama," Ila asked as she sat down. "They're fine. Starbuck sent a message, too," Athena busied herself putting her cloth in her lap, avoiding her mother's knowing gaze. "Oh, I didn't know that. That's nice of him. He's such a lovely young man," Ila bit back a smile. "Lovely young man is not a phrase often associated with Starbuck," Athena snorted. "So where are the boys with our meal? What are they doing, cooking it?" "They are taking a rather long time," Breil said worriedly. "We're here, calm down. Just some technical difficulties," Zac appeared and set a couple of serving dishes down in the middle of the table. "Do I even want to see what my kitchen looks like now?" Ila asked with a sigh. "Um, not right now," Zac admitted as Cole appeared with his load of dishes. After Cole had finished setting his burden down and took his seat, Ila looked at her son. "Zac, why don't you say our blessing tonight." Zac obediently lowered his head. "We are thankful to the Lords of Kobol and God for the meal before us. We are thankful that we can all be together for this meal and send our prayers to those family members who cannot be here with us tonight. We pray that the Academy will survive my sister and that she didn't cook anything for this meal." Zac looked up. "Time for grub!" Ila sighed in exasperation at her son, but refrained from comment knowing it would be a waste of time. Besides, it appeared that her daughter took care of herself from the pained look on his face. Athena smiled as she began to pass dishes to their guests. Her own toes throbbed at the shot she took under the table at her brother so his shin must hurt worse. Good! Breil and Ila shared a look of amusement across the table. ~~~~~~~~~~~ "Isn't Sheba in her last yahren at the Academy Zac?" Ila asked her son, referring to a family friend's daughter. Sheba was the child of Commander Cain and Bethany. Cain and Adama had been at the Academy together and the two families had spent a lot of time together until Sheba had graduated and gone off to the Caprican Academy. "Yeah she is," Zac shrugged. Sheba was way too zealous for Zac's taste. Something, he suspected, highly encouraged by her father. "Oh, you don't hang out with her?" Ila asked, disappointment in her voice. "No Mother," Zac sighed, knowing his mother wasn't going to let it drop. "Why not?" Ila asked as if on cue. "Because Sheba doesn't 'hang out'. All she does is study and practice," Zac mumbled. "Oh, well I'm sure she'll be glad to see Athena," Ila said confidently, apparently certain that it was a male-female issue between Sheba and Zac. Zac shot a look from under his lashes at his sister. Athena was looking intently into her plate, biting back a smile. Athena had heard from Zac and some friends how intense Sheba had gotten, trying to impress her father. Suddenly Athena's amusement vanished. How different would she be? She certainly wanted to impress her own father and overcome the shadow of her oldest brother's reputation at school. She even had to compete with Zac, who was still at school and doing exceptionally well in his studies. The dinner conversation next time might well be about herself! 'No! I won't allow that to happen!' she swore to herself. "You will look her up once you get there, won't you?" Ila turned her attention to her daughter. "Of course," Athena shrugged her shoulders. She would say hello, but she would definitely avoid her old friend otherwise. She didn't want Sheba's attitude to infect her, after all. "Good. Perhaps I should invite Sheba and Bethany for Yule," Ila contemplated the holiday. "Perhaps Apollo and Starbuck could get Furlon, I'm sure they would be able to give Sheba some career tips." Athena almost dropped her eating utensil and Zac broke out in a coughing fit, both recognizing the incredible possibility such plans might hold for them. Apollo and Sheba had never gotten along. "That would be a great idea," Zac said between gasps of air. "They have no idea do they?" Cole leaned over and whispered to Athena. "Apparently not," Athena surreptitiously wiped the moisture from under her eyes away. "I can't believe it. They used to fight like felettes and daggits!" "Parents," Athena shrugged, desperately looking for something to say to change the subject. Her brother came to her rescue. "Do you know anything about your roommate Athena?" Zac asked, suppressing a laugh of his own. "Her name is Dietra. She's also a first year and comes from Taura," Athena told him. "Taura? Wow, they rarely come to the Caprican Academy. What is she planning on studying?" Zac wondered aloud. "I'll have to ask her," Athena didn't have an answer to that. Most Taurans attended the Leon Military Academy, rather than the Caprican, due to the geographic closeness of the two colonies. "Perhaps one of her parents is originally from Caprica or went to the Academy here," Cole ventured a guess. "So what's for dessert?" Zac interrupted. "Do you ever think about anything besides your stomach?" Athena asked her brother. "Sometimes, but not when I'm sitting at the dinner table and I know there's chocola cake in the other room," Zac stood up and began to clear the dishes. "I made the cake," Athena called out, stopping her brother in his tracks. "You did not!" he looked at her, appalled that she could even suggest such a thing. The entire table broke out laughing. ~~~~~~~~~~~ "Finally alone!" Cole exclaimed and grabbed Athena by the waist and pulling her back against him. "Hey, I thought you wanted to go to the vids?" Athena pretended to protest. "Yeah right, as if anyone believed that story, never mind you," Cole whispered in Athena's ear. "Just keeping up appearances," Athena giggled as Cole tickled her stomach. "Hey, stop that!" "Ah, I just want to see you smile," Cole turned Athena around in his arms and pulled her arms around his neck. "I'm going to miss that smile." "We have holopics," Athena stared into his eyes. "Not the same," Cole whispered, bringing his lips close to hers. "I know," Athena said before pressing her lips against his and initiating a kiss. After a few centons Athena pulled away and rested her head on Cole's shoulder. 'How can I live not doing that everyday?' she wondered as a shiver trailed up her spine. Feeling her tremors, Cole tightened his embrace. "We'll make it through," he told her as he gently stroked her back. "Let's say goodbye now, while we're alone," Athena pleaded. Cole let out a breath before responding. "How can I say goodbye?" he wondered out loud. "I won't, I won't say goodbye. How about 'see you later'?" he tilted her face back with his fingers. "Sounds appropriate. We'll both be too busy studying to even notice the other isn't around," Athena predicted. "Somehow I doubt that, but we can pretend for a while. I don't want you showing up at a military school tomorrow with your eyes all red. You know that's something we haven't talked about in a while," Cole let Athena pull back so they could talk more comfortably. "About school. Wow. We're finally doing it aren't we? Both of us," Athena said with wonder. "Me to engineering school and you to the Academy. This is what we've been talking about for as long as I can remember. In the grand scheme of things this is just a few yahrens," Cole observed. "So we'll go and work out astrums off and be together for the rest of our lives when we're done." "Hey, you'll learn how to build me a really fast viper!" Athena's eyes widened. "Oh boy, look out universe here she comes!" Cole chuckled. "So, see you later?" Athena turned serious. "Yeah, see you later," Cole nodded and leaned down to kiss her. <><><><><><><><> That is solemn we have ended,-- Be it but a play, Or a glee among the garrets, Or a holiday, Or a leaving home; or later, Parting with a world We have understood, for better Still it be unfurled (Emily Dickenson, Ending, Book IV) <><><><><><><><> Chapter 4 <><><><><><><><> Academy - Day 1 <><><><><><><><> Athena got off the shuttle and adjusted the bag on her shoulder before looking around. While she had been here before, either visiting her brothers or attending yet another event at which her father was honored, Athena felt as if she had never been in this shuttle depot before. A smile touched her lips as she recognized both the silliness and the importance of her perceptions. "Weird isn't it?" Zac leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. "Last chance to change your mind," he stated as he came to stand next to her. As Zac finished his offer the doors to the shuttle entry closed and the departure was announced. "Too late," Orion chuckled as he came to stand on her other side. "We're stuck with her I guess." Athena ignored their teasing as she tried to figure out who in the crowds were the returning students and who were what the more advanced students considered "slues." After a few microns of study Athena discovered it was very obvious.The "slues" were, like her, looking around in with poorly suppressed awe and the "leves" were busy greeting the friends they hadn't seen in a few sectons and avoiding bumping into the overwhelmed slues. "Your bunk is down that hall over there," Zac was pointing towards one of the corridors out of the main hall. Athena nodded absently as she tried to spot someone else she knew. A few of her former classmates had also been on the shuttle from their region, but had quickly disappeared in the crowd and onto their new lives. "Well, I'm ready," Athena looked at her brother with a confident expression planted firmly in place. "Well then," Zac let out a sigh. "Let's go." "Uh uh," Athena put up her hand. "I can find my own way. I don't need my 'leve' brother to tuck me in." "Fine, fine. Just trying to be nice to my slue sister," Zac smirked at her. "We'll see you at mess then?" "Yeah, maybe you can see my room then?" she offered by way of apology. She knew he was actually trying to be nice and make her less nervous. Although he still had a way to go with his methods. "Count on it. Mom will be bothering me to tell her how you are," he rolled his eyes. "Come on Rion, let's go argue about who gets what side of the room this yahren." "Bye Athena, everything will be great," Orion said kindly before heading off with his bunkmate. Athena smiled absently at the departing cadet before turning and heading in the opposite direction. <><><><><><><><> Athena finally got the door to her quarters opened and dropped her bag in the doorway where she stood. Her mother wasn't around to yell at her. As expected the room was the standard issue cadet double. There were two identical beds, two clothing cabinets, two bed stands and not much else. "Oh, and what a lovely view," Athena commented facetiously as she confirmed there were no windows in the room either. "Very Caprican," she sighed as she switched on a bedside lamp, hoping in vain that it would supplement the dim light of the overheads. "What's very Caprican?" an amused female voice questioned from the doorway. "No windows, no sunlight, all safe and sound from Cylon attack and any hope of fresh air. So do you want the non-scenic view to the left of the door or to the right of the door?" Athena shrugged at the taller dark-skinned woman that stood in the doorway with a bag similar to Athena's slung over her shoulder. "You must be Dietra?" "I am Dietra and you must be Athena," Dietra dropped her bag next to Athena's and shuffled into the "cozy" room. "They couldn't spare anymore room? Sheesh. Which bed do you think is more uncomfortable?" "Hmm, I think they're equally torturous. Second order of business will be to try and sneak some new mattresses in here," Athena said with a similar frown on her face. "Sneak mattresses in here? That I gotta see," Dietra slumped down onto the left bed. "I'll take this one. So what's the first order of business?" "Cold cube," Athena sat down and curled her legs up on the other bed. "Ah, and I was afraid the Commander's daughter would be stuffy," Dietra chuckled. "Arrgh," Athena flopped down onto the thin mattress. "How did you find out that already?" She was hoping she could at least make a first impression before being branded as Commander Adama's daughter and Lieutenant-overachiever-Apollo's sister. "I have my ways," Dietra winked. "Don't worry about it. As long as you don't have an attitude about it I don't care who your progenitors are." "In a way I do, I don't want everyone to know," Athena sighed and got up to haul her bag into the room. "I hope this door opens again. It, uh, sticks." "An electronic door that sticks? I hope you know a good engineer," Dietra hauled her own bag onto her bed. "So when do our other bags get delivered?" "Since the leves are in charge, I don't expect them for a few more days," Athena informed her horrified bunkmate. "Don't worry, I crammed extra bedding in here for just such a situation." "I am going to murder my cousin," Dietra mumbled as she took the proffered pile. "Thanks." "So that's how you know," Athena smiled. "Degan, he's a neighbor of your brother," Dietra admitted. "So how do you plan to get a cold cube and mattresses in here?" "Boy, Degan didn't tell you much," Athena chuckled. "My brother Zac is the master of duplicity when he wants to be. All for good causes of course." "And if we get caught?" Dietra began to stow her clothes into the cabinet. "When it happens we'll see," Athena admitted. "He hasn't yet so I don' t see why we should. I'm sure our family will be appropriately disappointed, as will the administration. From what I heard, though, my Dad and the legendary Cain weren't exactly model cadets themselves. Listen, you won't mention about my father will you?" "Nah, it's no one's business. I was just curious because we're 'mates," Dietra promised. "So how come you decided to come to Caprican?" Athena sat down on her bed and inquired as she watched Dietra finish her unpacking. "What is this I know a secret about you so you need one about me?" Dietra tossed over her shoulder. "Yeah," Athena nodded and grinned. "How about we finish our bonding after tonight's festivities over some grog?" Dietra proposed. "Geez, our first night and you're already suggesting we break the rules?" Athena said in mock horror. "You do know the campus pub doesn't open for a few sectons?" "Yeah, but Degan has his good points too," Dietra said slyly. "He's the main reason I'm here. And the reason he's here is because our grandfather came here. He was Aquarian." "I thought maybe you just didn't like the weather at the Leon Academy," Athena teased. "Well..." Dietra drawled. "Caprica does have its advantages in the weather department too." "Knock, knock," Zac's voice suddenly came from the other side of the door. "Come in, or try to," Athena dropped the bedding onto her unmade bed. She knew he wouldn't stay away for too long. He must have missed her during his first yahren here alone. After a few microns Zac and his escorts ventured into the small room. "I forgot how small these rooms are. They really want to discourage you from staying here." "Well, it only gets worse on a battlestar," Athena reminded him. "So you want to be on a battlestar, I'm not surprised," Dietra commented. "Like I should want to be a shuttle pilot? You don't have to go military for that," Athena grimaced her eyes, trying to imagine how anyone would want to waste four or five yahrens at Academy to do that boring stuff. It would even be better to be assigned to planetary defenses! "You better get that door fixed or you two aren't going to make it to class," Degan stood up from where he was studying the door motor. "You're a big help," Dietra shared a grin with her new mate. "Dietra, this is Zac and his roommate Orion," Athena gave out latent introductions. "And this is Degan my ever-so-helpful cousin and his mate Trilon," Dietra introduced. "This is Athena, Zac's sister." Greetings were passed around. "Nice sheets," Orion grimaced as he picked at the pink sheets Athena had left lying on her bed. "Thanks," Athena smiled sweetly, as if she didn't notice his distaste. "If you like these I brought some extra flower posters you can borrow." Orion narrowed his eyes and glared at her. "Let's get to mess," Degan interrupted the casual exchange. "You two have to attend the slues' welcome speeches." "Don't all of you have to attend?" Dietra asked. "We're supposed to, but you do want a cold cube and new mattresses in here by tonight don't you?" Orion said, certain of the answer. "Fine, fine. I won't question your methods as long as you don't get us in trouble," Dietra nodded. "Let's get out of this sweat box," Orion punched the control panel for the door and it opened right up. "I didn't study engineering for nothing," he joked as he walked out. Athena and Dietra shared smiles. It was definitely going to be an interesting few yahrens. <><><><><><><><> "Nope," Athena stretched her legs out in front of her and struggled to keep her eyes open. "Didn't think so," Dietra yawned as the officially declared that there had never been more long-winded speeches delivered ever before in the history of the Colonies. "Have you ever attended graduation here?" another slue leaned forward and asked them in a loud whisper. "I have," Athena looked at the congenial young man who stuck his head between them. "This is worse." "Maybe," the young man shrugged. "My name is Mexan. I'm from Aquaria." "Athena and this is my mate Dietra," Athena took the proffered hand awkwardly. "We're having a party in our quarters after this," Mexan informed them. "We're in B Dorm." "So are we, Room B33," Dietra told him. "Oh, neighbors. We're in B36 across the corridor," Mexan said happily. "Best get our sleep in now." "Not a problem," Dietra yawned again and leaned her head back. <><><><><><><><> "Wow," Dietra stopped in the doorway, oblivious to her mate who plowed into her back at the unexpected stop. "They even made the beds up for us. Maybe they're hiding the fact they failed." Athena sidled around her shocked friend and threw herself onto her bed. "Nope! New mattress! No sags!" "Wow!" Dietra repeated as she let herself fall back onto her own bed. "Your brother totally rules." "Don't say that too loud, he won't fit into the room if his head gets any bigger," Athena shushed her friend. "There has to be a price, so what is it?" Dietra looked over at her luxuriating mate. "Let's just say, certain other cadets may make some interesting requests from time to time that we shouldn't say no to," Athena chuckled. "Nothing major, but Orion may end up spending a few late cycles in here if my brother gets lucky or something. That doesn't bother you does it?" Athena belatedly asked. "For this mattress? No way," Dietra sighed in contentment. "Where's the cold cube?" "Looks like it's under your bed," Athena sat up. "Holy Lords of Kobol!" Dietra exclaimed as she eyed the grog ready and waiting for them. "As far as I'm concerned, if we can get some decent food in there Orion can move in." "His girlfriend would _love_ that," Athena snickered as she pictured Zara's reaction to that occurrence. "He has a girlfriend?" Dietra looked at Athena in surprise. "I thought you two..." "Me and Orion?" Athena eyes widened in surprise. "The way he was looking at you at Mess...you two just have this chemistry," Dietra shrugged. "Nah, Orion is probably looking at me strangely because he still thinks of me as a kid. I have a boyfriend, Cole. He's gone to engineering school on Aries," Athena said sadly as the waves of missing him passed through her. "I can't imagine you with a civilian," Dietra said thoughtfully. "Considering your family background and your goals." "Cole and I grew up together. He's my best friend, my soul mate," Athena said wistfully. "When you meet him you'll understand." "Is he better looking than Orion?" Dietra asked dubiously. "Way more," Athena grinned. "Here, let me show you." Athena popped out of bed and dug out a holopic. "That's us last secton." "He is cute," Dietra admitted. "Well, to me he's cuter than Orion. Orion is like another pain in the astrum older brother," Athena studied the pic of Cole for another centon. "Let's check out Mexan's party and see if its any fun. I'm sure that if it is Orion will show up and you can drool over him. Maybe he'll dump that wench he's dating from back home. Boy, she's worth a few good stories over grog. She wants to be a journalist, I suspect a gossip spreader is more her style." "Sounds like a real winner. Maybe I can get Orion to see the light," Dietra winked. "I'd pay to watch that," Athena said eagerly. "It'll just cost you a few grogs," Dietra promised ominously. "Do you really think they'd show up at a Slues party?" <><><><><><><><> "Okay, so they showed up," Dietra leaned against the corridor wall where the party had necessarily spilled into. "They'll have to kick all of us out if they decide to crack down this cycle," another new cadet they had just met, and who turned out to be another neighbor, observed. Athena nodded her agreement with the Brie's observation. "It's been done, at least temporarily," Rigel, Brie's roommate pointed out. "I know," Athena grimaced, the group that had been temporarily kicked out had been Commander Cain's, which was why the legendary warrior was actually lower in rank than her father in rank despite the fact they had graduated together and had achieved command at virtually the same time. It was something that still stuck in Cain's craw from what Athena remembered of the intimidating man she had seen a few times growing up. "At least we'd be in good company," Dietra gave her mate a meaningful look. "Hello," Zac stopped in front of Brie, obviously enamored of her long blond hair and lithe body. Athena rolled her eyes and reluctantly made the introductions. She knew exactly what would happen the micron Zac got a taste of Brie's bubbly personality. First, he'd flirt outrageously. Second, he would ask her out on a date which she would likely accept. Third, he'd date her for a while. Fourth, he'd suddenly decide she was too boring for him and move on. Athena hoped she didn't lose any new or potential friends to her brother's flaky ways in romance. Brie, though, seemed more than able to handle her brother. Athena turned away and noticed Dietra looking at her curiously. Athena sidled up to her mate and gave her the short version of the coming events. "What if you asked him to lay off your friends and neighbors?" Dietra suggested. "He'd respect that," Athena admitted. "But he really doesn't see that pattern in himself and he would be hurt." "You care about your brother a lot don't you?" Dietra said seriously. "You two are friends. That's really nice." "Yeah," Athena smiled at her brother even as she watched him put the moves on their new friend. "But I will punch him if he gets out of line." "I'd pay to watch that," Dietra laughed. "Watch what?" Orion slipped in between the two women and leaned back against the wall. "Sounds like you two conspiring over here." "Just observing the Zac Attack," Athena nodded her head towards Zac and Brie. "That's Brie. She's in our class and lives next door to us." "Ah," Orion nodded in understanding. "I have to admit, she is attractive." "I thought you had a girl back home?" Dietra said chidingly, and flirtatiously. "For now," Orion shrugged and winked at her. "Who knows what will happen in the near future." Dietra looked curiously at the attractive cadet but held her tongue. Athena's face lit up with a hopeful smile. <><><><><><><><> "That Brie seems like a lovely young woman," Zac commented to his sister and her mate as he lounged on her bed. "You always say that and you always end up bored within a couple of sectars. When are you going to start picking women for more than looks?" Athena asked wearily as she sat down on the opposite end of the bed. "It's not the women I choose," Zac repeated his usual rejection of his sister's advice on his love life. "I'm not like you, I have no desire to settle down. Look at Starbuck, he has plenty of fun and he hasn't committed himself yet and I doubt he ever will." "When are you going to give up your idolization of that man?" Athena kicked her brother's foot off her bed. "Apollo seems to have a good enough time and he's been a some serious relationships." "And then they end and he ends up moody and impossible to be around," Zac reminded his sister. "Not for me thanks." "You talk like you even know what you're talking about," Athena rolled her eyes again. It was useless to even discuss this with Zac. Someday, she was sure, he was going to fall head over heels for some woman and wonder what he had been missing all these yahrens. "Love is fun," Dietra chimed in. "Sometimes it looks it, then you end up like my sister here desperately missing that person or like Orion, miserable but too lazy to do anything about it. Starbuck has the right philosophy, have fun and move on," Zac said in a superior tone of voice. Athena seriously hoped that Starbuck would fall in love soon before her brother became too impossible to deal with. Or her brother would find someone else to admire. "We have to get up early for classes, go to bed," Athena stood up and began to tug her brother up from her bed. "One last cycle of fun and she has to cut it short," Zac said mockingly, even as he lay a kiss on the top of his sister's head. "Night Dietra. See you two in a few." "He's so funny," Athena chuckled as her brother left through the door that had worked since Orion had "fixed" to it earlier. Both mates hoped it held. "He is," Dietra smiled. "We'd better get some sleep or we'll be really sorry when the bell rings," Athena stretched. <><><><><><><><> Day 2 <><><><><><><><> "What do you want to learn, how to best avoid the law?" Colin teased Zac who was sitting next to him waiting for their law instructor to arrive. "Or, perhaps it was the fact that civilian students were cross registered for this class, whoa," Colin's teasing tone turned into a pleased whisper. "What?" Zac was about to ask his friend what he was talking about when he caught sight of what, or who, was holding his friend's undivided attention. 'She's striking,' was Zac's only thought as he stared the blond woman who was looking for a seat. "She's definitely _not_ a cadet," Colin whistled under his breath. "I would have remembered seeing her. Have you ever seen her? Maybe at the university next door?" Zac was oblivious to his friend's question as he continued to stare at the vision before his eyes. "Excuse me," the vision looked directly at Zac. "Yes?" Zac tried to hide the erratic beating of his pulse. That had never happened before. "Would you mind not staring at me so boldly and would you please move your legs out of the aisle so I can sit down?" the woman said with traces of both amusement and annoyance in her tone. "Sure," Zac mumbled and drew his legs in to allow her to pass. The embarrassment was almost worth it as her fresh, clean scent wafted towards him. "That was smooth," Colin rolled his eyes. "Don't torture the poor boy," the woman interrupted their exchange. Colin and Zac turned around and discovered that she had chosen the empty seat behind Zac. Zac felt a flush creep us his face as he stared into her sparkling brown eyes. He hadn't been this awkward around a woman since he was a kid. "I'm Zac and this is Colin, and you are," he gave himself a mental shake and forged on. "Rhys, nice to meet you Zac," the blond informed them as she powered her hand-held in preparation for class. "You from the university?" Colin asked. "Yes," Rhys nodded, still not directly greeting the other boys. "So you're interested in military justice?" Zac tried to make his voice sound casual, for some reason just being near this woman was sending his senses spiraling. "I'm interested in all systems of justice. I hope to someday create a uniform justice system for the colonies," Rhys admitted her goal. "Ambitious," Zac observed, his attraction suddenly waning a bit, but before anyone could say another word the instructor called for order. <><><><><><><><> "I don't know what I was thinking," Dietra groaned as she dropped her hand-held onto her bed before flopping down next to it. "I don't know what you're talking about," Athena chuckled at her bunkmate's prone form. "I'm never going to make through one quarter, never mind four yahrens of this! I like math, but our instructor is going to send me to an early grave. Finish the first five chapters by the next class! As if we don't have other work to do," Dietra covered her eyes with her arm. "They're just testing us, training us really," Athena shrugged and sat down calmly onto her own bed. "You just have to do all you can and stay calm." "I guess it will keep us out of trouble. We won't have time to have any fun," Dietra let out a deep breath and peeked at her friend. "I don't know how you can remain so calm." "A lot bigger boobs have made it through this, I don't think we have anything to worry about," Athena picked up her hand-held and began reviewing their assignments. "We just have to be more resourceful." "That's true," Dietra sat up as she remembered some the more famous persons who were former academy graduates and well-renowned fools. "So, want to divide up outlining the classes? You can take math. I'll take physics. You want history?" Dietra said hopefully. "No problem. You want mental science?" Athena asked. "How about we find someone else to join us and take that one?" Dietra suggested with a disgusted look on her face. "Sounds good to me. Maybe Brie and Meli would join forces with us?" Athena stood up and prepared to go next door. "Why don't you just ask them at mid-meal and take a rest!" Dietra suggested. "Because if I sit down I won't get back up," Athena groaned tiredly even as she sat back down. "Ah, so you're not all that calm," Dietra teased. <><><><><><><><> Day 4 <><><><><><><><> "Rhys," Zac looked up from his hand-held as the woman he couldn't get off his mind since their first class a couple of days ago. "Yes, Zac," her blond hair seemed to float around her as she turned around and smiled at him. "Have you taken any classes here before?" he asked, when she shook her head in the negative he continued. "Would you like to join us for mid-meal and then we can show you around the quads?" "You are so smooth, I guess I can't say no," Rhys drawled with a knowing grin on her face. "Good," Zac placed his hand on her lower back and politely began to lead her towards the Mess Hall. His friends, once again assured of his way with women, whispered amongst themselves and fell into step behind him. Once they reached the Mess, however, Colin and Faden elbowed Zac out of the way and began to make their own attempts to charm the beautiful civilian student to sit next to them. "Zac's dining habits are atrocious. Believe me you don't want to sit next to him," Faden warned her. "Now, if you sit between us we can protect you from this horrible sight," Colin finished. "I'm afraid her seating arrangements are already taken care off, but thank you for escorting my meal date," a senior Academy student said as he took Rhys's hand in his own and pulled her out from between the fawning, younger cadets. "Tyler, this is Colin, Faden and Zac. They're in my law class. This is Tyler. They're going to sit with us," she informed the elder student. "Yes, dear," Tyler rolled his eyes at her obvious bullying. "Nice to meet you, you're all second yahrens I take it," he reached his hand out and shook hands with the other males. "Let's go get our wonderful fare." "Oh, so now you admit the food here is far inferior to what we have at the U. You are all going to have to come over to my side for some good food sometime," Rhys smiled up at her date even as she included her new friends in the invitation. As everyone moved forward to get in line, Zac sighed and lagged behind. This was not quite what he had imagined. Colin and Faden were expected annoyances, but this Tyler....Zac's eyes traced the figure of the blond woman who was laughing at something his friends were saying even as she moved closer to the other cadet. 'Well, it's not like she' s my type anyway,' Zac reminded himself. "Oh, I forgot something," Rhys interrupted his reverie and slipped in front of him to grab a plate of mushies. Zac pulled back as if he had been shocked by an electrical charge as her hand brushed his. He swallowed heavily as she slipped away just as quickly and retook her spot a few people in front of him. His heart pounded as he stared unseeingly at the plates set out in front of him. Ambition, it seemed, wasn't a big a turn off as he had always believed. "You all right?" Xera, a fellow cadet, leaned forward and whispered in his ear. "Huh? Yeah," Zac looked back at the brunette women who was looking curiously at him. "Then maybe you could move forward?" she smiled at him sympathetically. "Sorry," Zac mumbled as he realized he was holding up the line. 'What' s wrong with me?' he wondered as he passed his meal card to the waiting checker. Shaking off his distraction he slipped into the only empty seat at the table his friends had chosen. His face settled into an scowl as he realized she was sitting directly across from him at the round table. "Nice of you to join us," Colin commented under his breath. "What happened? You find another candidate so quickly on line?" "Candidate? What are you talking about?" Zac asked his friend. "Since Rhys is taken I figured you'd moved on," Colin shrugged away his friend's glare. "She's not my type, I was just being friendly," Zac said with forced disinterest. "Yeah right, you can't take your eyes off her," Colin didn't buy it for a micron. Zac realized that his friend was right and reluctantly dragged his gaze away. It was going to be a long quarter if he didn't get a handle on himself. It wasn't as if he wasn't used to competition. 'Whoa, now you sound like you're going to chase the senior cadet's woman!' he put the mental breaks on his thoughts. "You're looking annoyed, Zac is it, your course getting to you already?" Tyler asked. "I was just thinking too hard about something," Zac took a deep breath and released the tension from his face and flashed his usual, congenial smile. "Can't have that during the first secton, it only gets worse," Tyler warned and leaned back and put his arm around Rhys's chair. "Yeah," Zac's face tightened at the comfortable gesture and looked away, right at Rhys. She was, he discovered, looking at him with a sympathetic expression on his face. "You know, I can't bear to eat this slop right now. I'll see you guys in class," he made a hasty retreat. <><><><><><><><> "I really appreciate this Orion," Athena clutched the disk to her chest and said for the third time in the past two centons. "It's not like I need them," Orion put his hands on her shoulders to hold her still and get her to listen. "You don't understand. It's only the third day of classes and I'm already behind!" Athena wailed. She never felt like this in school before. "You haven't even started training yet," Orion smiled nostalgically. "Rion!" Athena sounded panicked. "Oops, sorry. I didn't meant that like it sounded. I have no doubt you 'll get a handle on this in no time. You need to calm down. Why don't you come with me and have some java. Take a break," Orion stuck his hands into his pockets. "A break? Are you insane?" Athena's eyes widened and she looked at him like he was insane. "A break. You need a break. Your mind is racing so fast you'll never retain anything. I've been there. You need a break. A half a centar of not thinking about school," Orion told her confidently. "I still have about a zillion chapters to read and an essay to do. I'm not even going to get to sleep!" Athena shook her head. "Then you'll need the java," Orion smiled and tugged on her arm. "I promise. You'll work a lot more efficiently if you take a break now. And if you come I'll explain why you should never skip sleep." "We can't all be geniuses like you," Athena looked at him doubtfully. "Me, a genius! I don't think I've heard that before. Look at it this way, Starbuck and Zac made it through here and we both know their missed cycles of sleep were not spent doing homework," Orion waggled his eyebrows. "That is true..." Athena was still tense. "Cole is supposed to call me though." "He's never going to get through, all of you slues are hogging the vids," Orion pointed out. Athena bit her lip and ducked her head. She missed Cole so much and now she wouldn't get to even see his image and hear his voice. "Hey, I'm not being very comforting am I. Come spend some time with an old friend. I know how you feel. I haven't spoken with Zara since we left either," Orion lifted her chin. "And you're sorry about that?" Athena's eyes widened and she covered her mouth. She couldn't believe she had said that out loud. "I'm sorry!" "Don't be. I should have broken up with her before we left. I'm not sure if I'm just lazy as Zac accuses or I'm afraid of her," Orion chuckled. "But believe it or not, we used to be really in love and I used to really miss her. I still miss her." "I shouldn't have said what I did. She is your girlfriend and I should keep my feelings about her to myself," Athena said meekly. "Then I guess you have to make it up to me and come take a break with me. I could use one too ya know. Third year isn't all the easy either," Orion informed her, this time brooking no argument. "I guess I do," Athena grinned up at him. <><><><><><><><> "Where's my sister?" Zac asked as he entered the room at Dietra's license. "I dunno. She went to get some notes from Orion about a centar ago and she disappeared," Dietra didn't look up from her work. "Hmmm," Zac flopped down onto Athena's bed and put his arms behind his head. "Don't you have work to do?" Dietra finally looked up a few centons later. "Did it," Zac shrugged. "So you decided to bother your sister? She's freaking out you know. Boy she almost had me fooled with her calmness the other day," Dietra snorted. "Athena is hardly ever calm, but if you let her get her freak out over she'll be fine. Orion is probably taking pity on the girl and dragging her off to have a drink or something. I had something I wanted to talk about with her and I figured she would be needing a break about now," Zac told her. "Well, you can talk to me. I could use a break and some fresh air. How about it?" Deitra offered. "I'm a good listener," she told him when she saw his hesitation. "Girl trouble?" Zac grinned at her on target supposition. "Yeah, you could say that. I think my sister cursed me. Want to go for a walk?" Zac stood up and held out a polite hand to help Dietra stand. "Oh yeah," Deitra took his hand and fairly popped out of her seat. <><><><><><><><> "We should do this often," Zac said a half a centon later as he and Dietra continued to walk under the stars. "Do what?" Dietra looked over at her companion and tried to see his expression in the darkness. "I'm not being a smartass. I meant take a break and walk under the stars, we should remember to do this from time to time. You really are a good listener and I appreciate it. And I'm glad you're my sister's mate," Zac said sincerely. "You're not so bad yourself," Dietra looked away and smiled. "So why don't we talk about you now?" Zac suggested. "What do you want to know?" she shrugged. "What you're ambitions are, see I can say that word, why you came to the Caprican Academy. Any boyfriend or girlfriend back home?" Zac rattled off his questions. "My grandfather came here and as Athena pointed out, the weather is much better. No romantic interests at home, and that would be a boyfriend. Not much exciting has happened to me yet, that's why I'm here. As for ambitions, I want to be a viper pilot on a battlestar," Dietra answered his questions, although not in the order they were asked. "So you're an ambitious woman too. You must really think I'm shallow for thinking this way," Zac had the grace to look embarrassed. "Depends on why you feel that way. Why are you afraid of ambitious women," Dietra asked. "I'm not afraid of them, they want more than I want to give. They just want and expect so much. I don't want to be sealed or settle down. I just don't want to have to deal with those expectations," Zac struggled to explain. "I think I understand, but have you considered that ambitious women wouldn't be in such a rush to settle down since they have so much to accomplish for themselves first? Athena loves Cole but she's not rushing to be sealed, she's here and plans to try for a battlestar," Dietra pointed out. "Seems to me it's the women who don't have other plans who would want to settle down." "Maybe, but really smart women still expect more from me, commitment for instance," Zac replied. "Why are you so against commitment anyway?" Dietra tilted her head in curiosity. "I want to be free," he said weakly. "I heard that you just want to be like Starbuck," Dietra shot back. "My sister," Zac's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, who else. Listen, I'm not going to tell you you're wrong. You can think and do what you want, but obviously you're conflicted about it since you met this Rhys woman. Since she's ambitious and smart and taken you probably should just put it out of your mind. But you can't. So you need to figure out if you really want this bachelor-stud life or if you might be choosing your own path now," Dietra told him. "She's taken so it doesn't matter. But you're not," Zac put his arm around her and said suggestively. "Get a grip Flyboy. I like my men ambitious," Dietra punched him in the arm. "I just haven't worked my magic on you yet," Zac shook his head and predicted. "If you're a weak copy of this Starbuck character I can't wait to see how much hot air he has in his head," Dietra snorted. "Weak copy my astrum," Zac pouted.