Title: The Flip Side
Author: Melissa
Rating: GP-31
Summary: What reeeaaally happens when they go into those voids...

Disclaimer: I won't tell if you won't tell.

Author's Note: This bizarro storyline has reared it's ugly head in
various places and various times in literary and television history.
Since we never saw it in the BSG series, I decided to take a stab at it
myself. Lyrics at beginning and end of the story are by The Talking
Heads from their song, "Once in a Lifetime".

***************************

	And you may find yourself living in a shotgun shack
	And you may find yourself in another part of the world
	And you may find yourself behind the wheel of a large automobile
        And you may find yourself in a beautiful house, with a beautiful
wife
	And you may ask yourself-Well...How did I get here?

***************************
     "Commander," Tigh's voice rose as he climbed the ascensior. "It
appears that the void is less than five metrons long. We should be
through it in no time."
     "Excellent, Tigh," Commander Adama voiced his approval. "I hate
to put the civilians of the fleet through any undue stress. No matter
how many times we go through these voids, it never ceases to amaze me
how many end up in the life center with heart palpitations."
     "Perhaps a quick word of assurance from you will ease the
tension," Tigh suggested.
     In sync with his second-in-command, as always, Adama had already
moved towards Omega to request an open channel to the fleet. "Yes,
Tigh," he agreed. "Hopefully, knowing that we will only be in darkness
for a few centons will give them some peace."
     "Channel open, Commander," chimed Omega.
     As if his charges could see him, Adama took a deep breath of air
into his lungs and straightened himself to his full height.
     "People of the fleet," he began in a deep voice, "as many of you
know, we are about to yet again enter another black void that will
take us into a new galaxy. In the past, we have not been able to
calculate the size of the voids and how long it will take us to get
through. I realize that this has caused fear and uncertainty for many
of you. However, through technological advancements made by Dr. Wilker,
we have been able to determine this void's length and I can assure you
all that we will be through it in a matter of centons. Most of you
will probably not even notice that we went through it at all. Yet, on
the other side, I am certain that we will find new hope towards our
quest for Earth and I know you will all share in the excitement when
the stars of that new galaxy reveal themselves. Adama out."
     "That should alleviate some of their fears," Tigh acknowledged as
Adama handed the microcom back to Omega.
     "Hopefully," replied Adama. He indeed felt sorry for those that
were still unaccustomed to space travel, those that allowed a few
centars without stars to conjure up horrible images of doom.
     "Commander Adama, we'll be entering the void in exactly five
centons," Rigel declared from her station.
     "Will your grandson be joining us as usual, Adama?" Tigh inquired.
It always tickled him to see Adama share his excitement with Boxey
whenever they found a new world. It was as if Adama himself was a child
again and wanted someone on the bridge that he could relate to.
     "No, not this time," Adama replied, a tinge of disappointment in
his voice. "He's in learning period and, considering how quickly we
will pass through this void, I don't want to disrupt him."
     "Not to mention the entire class," Tigh smirked. "I remember the
last time. You got the whole class excited and they _all_ wanted to
come to the bridge."
     "Yes," Adama smiled awkwardly. "While she admitted it was a
wonderful learning experience, I don't think Athena appreciated
having to calm them down afterwards and get their minds back on their
lessons."
     "I remember a certain little girl running around this bridge
yahrens ago," Tigh recalled the rare occasions that Ila and their
then small children would visit the Galactica.
     "_I_ remember that we could never get her out of the command
chair," Adama laughed.
     "Some things never change," Tigh added.
     "Commander, Colonel," Omega's elated voice broke in. "We will be
entering the void in sixty microns."
     Returning to the business at hand, Adama asked, "Is Blue Squadron
prepared to launch?"
     "Yes, Sir," Omega answered. "They are on alert to launch in
approximately ten centons." 
     "Excellent," Adama responded, barely able to contain his
excitement. While he knew that they were not yet embarking on Earth's
galaxy, he had good feelings about the three planets on the other side
of the void. Hopefully, their inhabitants would have some information
on the Thirteenth Tribe and would help replenish the fleet's supplies.
     "Ten microns to entering the void," Rigel counted down. "Nine...
eight... seven... "
     Adama and Tigh shared a giddy smile, both excited and nervous as
to what the future here held.
     "Four... three... two... one..."
     Black.
***************************
     "Galactica controls operating normally, Commander," Lieutenant
Jolly relayed.
     "Anything unusual being reported from the rest of the fleet?" asked
a soft voice behind him.
     "No, Colonel Cassiopeia, all systems operating normally as well,"
he replied, looking back and smiling at his blond superior.
     Cassie smiled back at the loyal bridge officer, then turned to face
the Commander.
     "So far so good, Baltar," she remarked positively.
     "Indeed," Baltar replied. "It appears that we will come through
this relatively unscathed."
     Colonel Cassiopeia smiled proudly at her Commander. They had
served together for yahrens, the best of friends at each other's side,
but it was times like these that her deeper feelings surfaced. While
she respected Baltar as her superior and would never do anything to
jeopardize that relationship, she occasionally felt herself getting
lost in his big, brown eyes. With his rich, black hair and gentle
smile, Baltar was one of the most attractive men she had ever known.
     Knowing full well the repercussions of revealing her true
feelings, Cassie quickly turned towards the viewscreen and the
blackness that currently enveloped them.
     "Business as usual," she remarked, wondering what was going on on
the rest of the ship.
********************
     Entering the void had not caused a moment's loss of activity in
the Officer's Club. Morning was still the busiest cycle as most agreed
that a good, stiff drink was the best way to start their day.
     As usual, Athena was entertaining her guests that frequented her
counter each day.
     "Well it sounds like you two have a wonderful future ahead of you,"
she proclaimed as she set glasses of Ambrosa and fruit juice in front
of the happy couple.
     "We're so excited, Athena," Sheba declared, wrapping her arms
around her husband. "Father is so glad that Greenbean wants to be a
part of the family business."
     "Who wouldn't be?" Athena noted. "Cain was a legend in the
Colonies."
     "The best used hovercraft salesman in the Twelve Worlds,"
Greenbean proudly chimed in, raising his glass in toast before
bringing it to his lips.
     "From what Commander Baltar was saying yesterday, I'm certain
that one of these three planets on the other side of the void will be
perfect for setting up shop again," Sheba exclaimed, barely able to
contain herself.
     "I'm sure your children will love being planetside," Athena said,
taking a moment to dry some of the glasses she had just washed.
     "I, for one, will be happy to give birth on solid ground for a
change," Sheba admitted, patting her slightly pregnant stomach. "The
first three may have been born in space, but this one is going to be
born on a planet."
     "Oh, hey, look!" Greenbean exclaimed, pointing up at the vidunit.
"It's that Colonial humorist, Bojay."
     "Oooh, turn it up, Athena!" Sheba squealed. "He's so funny!"
     Athena reached up and turned up the volume, the sound of laughter
rising from the unit.
     "If your Yule log is still burning at Beltane, you might be a
Saturian," the humorist stated.
     "Oh yeah! I love this bit!" came a howl from another patron at the
counter.
     "If you've totaled every hovercraft you've ever owned, you might be
a Saturian.
     "If your momma taught you how to flip a fumarello, you might be a
Saturian.
     "If you're a regular guest on the Boom-Boom Centar, you might be a
Saturian."
     A roar of laughter erupted around the bar. The Boom-Boom Centar was
one of their favorite shows to watch. With Boomer's guests consisting
of every dreg in the fleet, the show was a constant source of
entertainment.
     "Sounds like I'm missing all the fun," another familiar patron
took a seat at the bar.
     "Chaplain Starbuck," Athena turned and smiled. "It's a pleasure
to see you, as always. Good morning."
     "Good morning, Athena," he returned a saintly smile of his own.
"And good morning to you as well, Sheba and Greenbean. It looks like
you're latest addition is starting to reveal himself," he noted Sheba's
plump stomach.
     "Only a few more sectars to go," Greenbean happily replied.
     Starbuck turned his attention back to Athena as she placed his
usual Celticjava in front of him. "Ah, bless you my dear," he
exclaimed as he raised the glass to his lips. "I hope we can look
forward to seeing _you_ sealed and with child soon."
     Athena let out a frustrated laugh. "I'm afraid there aren't too
many takers on that front, Chaplain," she remarked.
     "I highly doubt that," Starbuck responded. "If I hadn't become a
servant of the Lords of Kobol, you'd be in a lot of trouble," he
teased.
     "That's awfully sweet of you to say," she blushed with a coy grin.
     "Unfortunately, not everyone is as forgiving as you."
     "Now Athena, you know that nobody holds you responsible for what
your father did," Sheba insisted.
     "I know that," Athena reluctantly admitted. "But it's still creepy
for a lot of people to even be around me. I guess that's why I became a
barkeep, so they wouldn't have a choice."
     "I think you're wrong about what people think, Athena," Starbuck
said.
     "Look at your brother. He's extremely popular."
     "Oh sure," she said sarcastically. "He lives on the Rising Star.
He's one of the weathiest men in the fleet. He has a seat on the
Council. And, he's constantly surrounded by a harem of beautiful women.
Why _wouldn't_ he be popular?"
     "Precisely my point," Starbuck noted. "Nobody associates _him_
with what your father did. I'm pretty certain they don't place any
blame on you either."
     "Um, Athena," Sheba decided to pry a bit. "Didn't I see you out
with Strike Captain Reese the other night? _He's_ a handsome and
respectable guy. Maybe there's a future there?"
     Athena rolled her eyes. "Not likely," she explained. "He's nice
and all... I mean, he's a hero in the fleet and that's nothing to
laugh at. But, I don't know, I just can't see myself dating a Colonial
Warrior. They risk their lives everyday... it's just too dangerous for
me."
     "I can understand that," Starbuck acknowledged. "You'd never catch
_me_ in one of those vipers," he proclaimed as he took another swig of
his drink.
     "Ditto," Sheba and Greenbean chimed in unison.
     "It's time once again for.. the Boom-Boom Centar," the vidunit
interrupted the conversation. "With your host, Boomer!"
     "I can't wait to see who he'll have on today," Sheba announced
excitedly. "Yesterday he had this couple on. They had been sealed for
five yahrens and the wife revealed that she was really a man!"
     "Oh yeah! I saw that!" Starbuck practically jumped off of his
stool.
     "That was unbelievable! How could he have not known?!"
     Sheba shrugged. "You never know what Boomer has cooking on his
show."
     "I'm surprised that you would even watch this show, Chaplain,"
Athena eyed Starbuck in mild awe.
     Slightly embarassed, Starbuck admitted, "Things in my world can
get a little boring, Athena. Since the Destruction, many have lost
their faith and I don't get many visitors. I have to keep myself
entertained _somehow_."
     "Ooh, here he comes," Greenbean exclaimed gleefully as Boomer
filled the screen.
     "Hello everyone and welcome to the Boom-Boom Centar," Boomer
charmingly greeted his audience. "Today on our show, a most remarkable
story. You are going to meet a woman who, and this is truly incredible,
has been secretly having an affair with a Cylon."
     Gasps filled the room with whispers of "unbelievable" and "how can
that be?" pervading throughout.
     "But the most amazing part," Boomer continued, visibly charged at
the reaction he was getting. "Is that she was able to bear two
children from the association and you are going to meet them here
today."
     "This is gonna be good," Starbuck mumbled under his breath while
hiding a wry smile.
************************
     A slight sigh of relief could be heard as stars reappeared on the
viewscreen.
     "How much time did that actually take, Omega?" Tigh requested of
his loyal bridge officer.
     "Eight centons and twenty-three microns, Colonel," Omega replied.
"And not one problem reported throughout the fleet."
     "Well done," Adama nodded. "Omega, begin sending out the universal
greeting. Tigh, launch Blue Squadron to explore the region, emit the
same universal greeting and follow standard procedures."
     "Yes, Sir," Tigh staunchly complied.
     As Adama watched the bridge go into action, he quietly remarked,
"For once, something went off without a hitch."
************************ 
    Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...
    Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...
    Same as it ever was...Same as it ever was...

End