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 Athencalm, 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 theTitle: 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!" Th 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 wa, 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 handay. 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 ee "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 poilse. 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.le 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