Decisions
                                 by Cathy

     Cassie looked around her quarters, observing the decorations
around her.  Sheba and Dietra had started fixing up for Kayla's
bridal shower earlier, and had left the finishing touches to her.
There really wasn't much left to do; Sheba's mother had
practically been a professional entertainer given her famous
husband, so her daughter was well trained on how to throw a
party.  It had amazed Cassie at how efficient Sheba had been in
the kitchen, preparing food and barking orders as if they were
all warriors on patrol.  Even Athena had come to help, although
she had seemed a little out of sorts about the whole thing.  As
the yahrens passed on, Athena seemed to become more depressed
about her lack of companionship, and these types of events
focused attention on it even more.  Still, everyone had to be
happy that Jolly had finally found someone.
     Kayla had joined the crew of the Galactica when the Pegasus
left some of her best warriors stranded.  Cassie smiled to
herself when she remembered the difficulty she had in keeping
Kayla and Sheba confined to the lifestation.  The two women,
occasionally joined by Bojay, would sneak out of their medbeds
and start investigating the ship.  Finally, Dr.Salik decided it
would be less of a bother to give them what they wanted and
release them then to constantly have a staff member searching for
them.  
     Cassie's thoughts were interrupted when she heard a clanking
on the floor.  She turned towards the door, and nearly jumped
when she saw what had happened.  "Stop being foolish," she
mentally scolded herself, "only Gemonese grandmothers would get
upset over this." Still, the sight of the fallen Chamdara
unnerved her.  The Chamdara, according to Gemonese folklore,
indicated the luck the couple would have in their sealed life. 
It consisted of two pieces, one of which was a stand with a small
beam rising out of the center.  The other piece was a delicate
web of silver wire that was  shaped like a Y.  The point of it
balanced on the beam, while the other two ends were adorned with
either a male or female figure.  Many legends were attached to
the Chamdara, but there were three that remained constant
throughout Gemon.  If the balance part tipped to one side, either
the male or the female, that person would be the dominant one in
the relationship.   If it spinned, it meant a tumultuous
relationship.  If it fell....  Cassie chastised herself again and
bent to pick up the object.  Sheba had found a Gemonese artisan
aboard one of the civilian ships to make it, spending over a
centon's pay for it.  While she had thought Sheba was robbed,
Cassie did agree it was one of the most beautiful ones she had
seen in her life.  The figures at the end actually resembled
Jolly and Kayla, while the base was engraved with the Gemonese
elders' blessing for a happy sealing.  
            Cassie was examining the figures closer when she
again felt her blood run cold.  The piece of wire that held
Kayla's figure had been bent, placing the statue in an almost
upside down position.  The head of the figure was flattened.  
     "Cassie," Starbuck's voice interrupted her thoughts.  Cassie
quickly took the Chamdara and put it behind her, not that
Starbuck would have known what it was.  The look in his eyes told
Cassie that he may not have cared.
     "Starbuck, what's wrong?" the words came out of her before
she could even think of them.  She knew it in the marrow of her
bones; something dreadful was going to happen.
     "Well, you may want to cancel your party and get to the
lifestation." he said as gently as he could.  "Silver Spar is
coming in with some heavy casualties."
     That's Sheba and Kayla's squadron Cassie thought frantically
as she grabbed her medkit.  As she left her quarters, she took
one last look at the Chamdara on the floor.  The wire holding
Kayla's figure had snapped, leaving the misshapen statue rolling
grotesquely on the floor.  Cassie tried to get that disturbing
image out of her mind as she headed to lifestation.
***********************************************************

     Sheba grabbed her viper controls desperately, trying her
best not to fall into the darkness that was beginning to envelope
her.  Whatever defenses that planet had put up sure showed that
they were not fond of visitors.  The electrical shocks had
destroyed Mahalan's ship at first contact.  Although Sheba and
Kayla had tried to veer away, they soon became caught up in the
field's outer reaches.  It had seemed like the field was living,
stretching towards them like some kind of demented spider's web. 
Both ships had sustained heavy damages before they could get out
of the danger zone, but Kayla had sustained damage to her life
support systems. 
     "Kayla, are you still with me?"  Sheba called out over her
intercom.  Nervously, she waited for a response.  Only a crackle
came back over the intercom. She's too weak to talk Sheba thought
to herself, biting her lip in an attempt to keep alert.  Her body
still in serious pain from the electrical shock, an she knew a
fire on her viper was imminent.  Please let me get back to the
Galactica she thought as the landing bay appeared before her. 
She was about to cry with relief when she suddenly heard a
popping noise coming from her scanners.  Before she even knew
what was happening, her view became a painful mix of red a gold. 
Smoke began to cloud the cockpit as the scanner's fire threatened
to cause an explosion.  Sheba felt the heat as she tried to grab
the visor shield to cover her eyes.
     "Galactica," she called out over the fleetcom, "This is
Silver Spar group leader.  I'm coming in hot, possible
explosion."  Quickly, she felt the bottom of her ship crash
softly into the lower floor of the landing bay.  
     The rest passed as if it were a dream.  The medical crew had
obviously been made aware of their condition, and began hacking
her out of her cockpit.  Even as Sheba tried to move herself to
help them, she found that her body revolted.  Her life support
systems had tried to make up for the oxygen consumed by the fire,
but could not.  She barely felt her body being lifted out of the
ship, barely heard the explosion of the ship as her limp form was
wheeled away.  Somewhere she heard Apollo's voice calling her
name, his hand touching her shoulder.  She tried to focus on his
face but found that she couldn't. He remained a dark blur to her.
Slowly, the whole room melted away like a wax candle; first
becoming amorphous and then drifting completely out of view as
she succumbed to the cool relief of unconciousness.
***********************************************************

     She'll be okay Apollo." Cassie tried to comfort her friend,
handing him a glass of water.  Apollo just looked at Cassie and
refused to be comforted.  Sheba had been his first relationship
since Serina, and he could not handle the thought of loosing
another woman that he loved.  He hadn't wanted Sheba to go on
that mission, and had told her so the night before on the Rising
Star.  Apollo closed his eyes as he remembered the way Sheba
looked at him that night.  While they had just intended on having
a private dinner as they sometimes did,  for the first time in
their relationship one thing had led to another and they had used
the cushions for more than just relaxing.  It turned out, not
that Apollo did not expect this, that it was Sheba's first time
as well.  When he realized for sure he was about to ask her if
she was certain when he looked in her eyes.  Her warm brown eyes
looked up at him with so much emotion that Apollo felt his soul
being drawn into them.  Later, Apollo remembered that she looked
like a cadet entering the academy with her hair all disheveled
and her skin tinted with a rosy glow.  He had to admit he was
fairly glowing himself.  The next day they both still were, and
he was sure that Starbuck had seen straight through his "Oh,
nothing" response when asked about what they had done the night
before.  Starbuck smirked and returned to inspecting his viper,
whistling.
     Comparing that image afterwards of Sheba to the burned image
that was wheeled before him was impossible.  As he rose to
dispose of the water cup Cassie had handed him moments earlier,
Apollo noticed Jolly standing next to the examining room door.  A
rather large man, Apollo noticed that Jolly seemed to have shrunk
into himself.  His eyes were focused through the glass door and
onto Kayla's small frame as Dr. Salik examined her thoroughly. 
Jolly didn't even seem to notice Apollo's presence until his
hoarse voice broke the silence in the waiting room.
     "You know we were supposed to be sealed in two days." Jolly
said, never moving his eyes from Kayla.  
     "I know.." was the only reply Apollo could think of.  He
remembered how useless other peoples' words were to him when
Serina was brought here after being critically wounded.  All the
way back up to the Galactica his friends had tried to reassure
him that Serina was going to pull through, when he knew in his
heart that she would not.  Jolly, like him, was a warrior.  Both
knew what would most likely happen to a warrior deprived of full
life support for as long as Kayla was.  Still, there were
miracles....
     "I had to go get her promissory token resized," Jolly began
again, speaking to no one in particular.  He took the water stone
ring out of his pocket and examined it briefly before he
continued.  "I told her it would be ready by this afternoon, and
she'd have it after she came back from the exploratory mission." 
Jolly turned to Apollo and showed him the ring.  Sheba had once
told him that the Gemonese give water stone for their promissary
tokens since it symbolized ever lasting love and life, and he
knew that Jolly had gone along with the tradition to make Kayla
happy.  Now, it all seemed like some cruel joke.  Most likely,
there would be no life together for them, yet here was Jolly
holding the ring that symbolized it.  
     "We even had the reception arranged.  One of Dietra's
relatives was a caterer back on Caprica, but he knows how to make
Gemonese food.  Cassie, Sheba, and Dietra were going to make the
cake.  I was teasing them last night that cakes weren't made with
scalpels or laser pistols.." Jolly's voice choked as he turned
away from Apollo.  He watched the larger man's shoulders shake
violently, while in the background he heard the whirring of the
machines being used to make both of their women whole.  He was
about to go over to comfort him when Starbuck stepped into the
waiting room.
     "Apollo, the Commander wants to see you." Starbuck said
flatly, looking quickly at Jolly.  Apollo nodded and walked over
to where Cassie was filling out Kayla's chart.
     "Listen Cass, I'll be back soon.  Let me know if there's any
change in Sheba's condition."  he said quickly.  Sheba was in
view, and even from that distance he could tell that she was
badly burned.  Still, her vitals were strong as the machine kept
up showing a constant beat for both her heart and breathing. 
Cassie gave his shoulder a supportive squeeze and nodded.  He was
about to walk over to Jolly when he stopped himself.  The pain in
his face showed that he was beyond hearing his words. 
Hesitantly, Apollo turned toward the door.

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

     Commander Adama put his hands behind his head and sat back
for a moment to think.  He knew that on paper the wisest thing to
do would be back off from that planet and not to look back, yet
his mind still wandered toward the legendary powers of his
forefathers.  Often as a boy he was told stories about the Lords
of Kobol, and how they possessed magical powers.  Later, as a
student in the Academy, he found these stories to be based
somewhat on the ancient records.  Adama knew that the connection
between the legends of his boyhood and today's events was vague
at best, perhaps no stronger than a false image on his console,
but every bone in his body told him that one existed.  
     He thoughts were interrupted  as the door flew open. 
Apollo, Starbuck, and Boomer walked in, all three much more
subdued than Adama was used to.  All warriors in the fleet knew
that they would probably face the loss of someone they flew with,
but it did not harden many of them. The good ones do not harden
their hearts, Adama thought to himself.  Still, after seeing the
wreckage that the planet caused, how would he get them to
understand....
     "You sent for us, father?" Apollo's voice had a drained,
tinny quality to it that was often Adama's only hint that his son
was upset.  
     "Yes, I wanted to converse with the three of you and Colonel
Tigh before we make our next move."
     "Which is?" Starbuck chimed in, his nervousness demonstrated
through his hand gestures.  While he was not in the squadron that
had been attacked, he had seen the damage and did not want to go
near it himself.  
     "I feel we must further investigate the planet that attacked
Silver Spar," Adama began, putting his hands up to stop the
protestations that he knew would follow.
     "Please, hear me men.  Think back to the old legends of
Kobol.  Remember the way they would ward off intruders?" Adama
smiled when he saw the recognition in Apollo's eyes.
     "They were able to use a force field, but father, that was
only for hand to hand combat.  We're talking about something much
bigger here."  Apollo replied, feeling a little uneasy. 
     Boomer nodded his agreement, "Commander, if they are related
to the thirteenth tribe, why would they try to kill their own
people?"
     "Possibly because they do not have the technology to scan us
and discover that we're human." Tigh's voice broke in, carrying
his clipboard in his hands.  "Perhaps this civilization developed
their psionic abilties and not their technology, unlike ours
which lost the psionic  abilities thousands of yahrens ago."
     Apollo shook his head, "With all due respect you can't even
think of sending a squadron out there.  Malahan is dead, Kayla
isn't far from it, and Sheba is barely holding her own.  Until we
have a better idea of what is going on there sending out more men
would be suicide."
     "Exactly, that's why we will be launching an unmanned probe
containing a message.  If they are from the same ancestry,
perhaps they'll recognize our transmissions as friendly and then
we could communicate with them."
     "And if not?" Starbuck queried.      
     "They may not even recognize the symbols from Kobol anymore.
Many of us look upon those symbols as pretty pictures for all
that we're able to understand them." Boomer cut in, his voice
high with emotion. "The sooner we're out of here the better.  We
still don't know if that field has the ability to reach the
Galactica."
     Tigh nodded, "That's true, but given what was done to Silver
Spar we can assume that they either don't know we're here or
they're not powerful enough to use it against us."
     Adama sighed and looked at the four men carefully.  Although
Tigh was defending his position, Adama knew it had more to do
with loyalty than with Tigh's own convictions.  The three
warriors were still hurting from the loss of one of their friends
and the possible loss of one more.  I guess I have to show them
to convince them Adama thought to himself, moving quickly to his
viewscan.
     "Maybe this will convince you." Adama said, flicking some of
the switches. "This is the view of the planet that was recorded
by the scanner on Lt.Kayla's viper.  Notice the pattern on the
web of the forcefield."
     The four men looked on attentively as the battle played out.
Although they could not see it,  the explosion of Malahan viper
was audible.  Then, the vortex of the web became visible.  It was
a radiant blue light, interwoven like the straw baskets often
found on Scorpius.  While the light that radiated from the center
moved, presumably in response to the vipers, the center remained
in a fixed pattern.  In the pattern of the Kobolian symbol for
"Defense."  
     Apollo's eyes grew large and his gasp was audible.  "Father,
could this be true.."
     Adama nodded, "Yes.  For the first time we have encountered
a civilization  that not only has a link to us, but so far shows
a pattern of development so different from ours that they must
have separated at least five thousand yahrens ago."
     Starbuck shook his head in disbelief, "You mean the
thirteenth tribe?"
     Adama nodded, "Perhaps.  Perhaps they are a group of
stragglers who got lost while the rest of the thirteenth tribe
headed to Earth.  Maybe they're a group who left the colonies
later for some reason and tried to find their brethren.  Maybe
they can even lead us to Earth.  We won't know unless we
investigate that planet."
     Tigh nodded, giving Adama a look of admiration.  The three
warriors exchanged looks which told Adama that they were in
agreement.  Now, just to set it up.  
**********************************************************

     The lifestation had always been Cassie's favorite place
aboard the Galactica.  It was the first place that she had been
taken to mend her broken arm, and it was the place where her life
gained a new sense of purpose after the Holocaust.  As Dr.Salik
applied the bone-fusing machine to Cassie's arm and murmured
words of comfort to the frightened woman, she knew in her heart
that she wanted to become a medtech.  In a way, it was a natural
extension of her other profession, Socialator.  As a Socialator,
Cassie was often required to help mend her clients' spiritual
wounds and anguishes, if only temporarily.  Cain had been one of
those clients.  She still remembered when Cain walked into the
temple, a man who looked so lost and frightened that no one would
have know he was a military man, least of all the famous
Commander Cain.
     As a medtech, she was able to try to heal those types of
wounds as well as the physical.  True, there were some very
difficult moments.  No one could pay her enough to relive the
night Serina died, nor this night now.  Still, this was where
Cassie felt she belonged, her calling.
     Her calling was extremely difficult for her to perform this
night, especially with Kayla's vitals becoming weak.  Everytime
the scanners showed a slowing of  her heartbeat or breathing, she
saw something inside of Jolly die, too.  She had tried many times
to get Jolly to eat something, or at least to go rest, but to no
avail.  
     This time at least, she thought wryly, she was armed with
something.  
     "Jolly," she said gently, at first not sure that he had
heard her.  Then, slowly, his face turned towards her.  "I
brought you a sandwich from the Officer's Cafeteria.  It's
Piconese fish salad, your favorite." She held it in front of her,
waving it in order to entice him.  Jolly gave a weak smile.
     "Thanks Cass, " he whispered quietly, taking the sandwich
from her.  He took a bite and chewed thoughtfully.  "You know,
its funny.  All these battles we've been through, and I was
worried sick about her."
     "I'm sure she was worried about you, too." Cassie chimed in.
Being involved with Starbuck had taught Cassie a thing or two
about the one you love being in danger.  As much as she liked
Apollo, she had often wanted to whack him over the head with her
scalpel for getting Starbuck involved in all of his risky
missions.  She had breathed a sigh of relief when Apollo became
involved with Sheba, which seemed to cool him off for awhile.
     "Still, I never thought that this patrol, especially since
we haven't been bothered by the Cylon empire in such a long
time...."
     Cassie nodded and cast a quick glance over at Sheba's
monitors.  Luckily, the burning had only been superficial. 
Although painful, her condition was much less severe than
originally thought.   She would have to stay in the lifestation
three, maybe four sentons more.
     Cassie's thoughts were interrupted by a loud clanging
similar to that of the glaxon.  She whirled in time to see
Kayla's vitals go completely flat.  Without a word of explanation
to Jolly, Cassie ran to Kayla's bedside.  Two other medtechs came
after her, one carrying the resuscitation machine and one with
the
heart stimulator.  Quickly, Cassie tried to use the first, less
traumatic machine.  She hear herself scream, "Someone get Dr.
Salik!" before she had even thought it.  
     One of the medtechs applied the resuscitation machine to
Kayla's mouth and chest and hit the activation button.  For a
brief second something registered, as her vitals began to form a
blip in the otherwise straight lines.  Heartened, Cassie ordered
it used again.  This time nothing.  The lines remained as flat as
the path of a Cylon's eye. 
     Without stopping to think, Cassie grabbed the heart
stimulator.  She had been worried about using such a powerful
machine given Kayla's small size, but they were desperate.  With
a quick thrust downward Cassie hit Kayla on the chest, releasing
radiation as it came down.  Kayla's small body leaped up, but the
lines remained flat.  The second try produced no better results. 
     At that point Salik burst into the room.  From the state of
the equipment he already knew what had happened.  In the
colonies' medicine, there was only one thing you could do if the
machines failed but a line was still present.   The branch-like
device of the life-support machine twisted easily down Kayla's
throat.  Once activated, her breathing rate returned to normal. 
The other device, a small needle which was placed into the
person's chest where it would transmit lasers instructing the
heart when to beat, was placed in quickly and accurately.  Soon,
the heart monitor also showed signs of life.  Cassie moved back,
relaxing slightly until she saw the brain scanner.  Where there
was a read-out before, the line remained smooth and flat.  She
was about to draw Salik's attention to it when she almost gasped
in horror.  The line stopped, as did Kayla's brain activity. 
Cassie closed her eyes and moaned, not even wanting to see
Jolly's frightened eyes.  How could she tell him that his fiancee
was dead, but alive.
     Hesitantly, she turned towards the glass.  Next to Jolly
stood Boomer and Apollo, both looking totally bewildered.  Jolly
looked at nothing but the brain scanner, his face betraying no
emotion.  For a time, it seemed as if everything had stood still.
Then, she heard Dr.Salik's rough voice utter an oath.
     "Didn't any of you check her chart?" his voice boomed,
slamming his fist against the wall.  Cassie and the other two
medtechs jumped and looked at their otherwise placid
administrator.  When they all shook their heads no, Salik thrust
the chart in front of their eyes.
His finger pointed to the section entitled religion, under which
was printed the word Kobolissean.  Cassie shook her head quickly.
     "Dr. Salik, Kayla was not a practicing Kobolissean.  She was
going to marry a Caprican, for Sagan's sake!"
     Salik nodded, as if digesting this information. "Still, you
know how militant they've been lately.  If they find out that we
not only resuscitated her, but now have her on total life
support.."
     "She never signed a 'Do not resuscitate order'" the other
medtech, a young boy named Shaidan, offered.
     Suddenly, the nature of the conversation became clear to
Cassie.  "Oh wonderful, so we're not in any way liable. "  The
screaming felt good, a release to the tension that she had been
feeling ever since Kayla's vitals ended.  Salik's eyes opened
wide, and he barely sputtered an answer.
     "If Kayla's brain scan is going to return, it will within
five sentons.  After that, its up to her next of kin."
     "She doesn't have any next of kin." Sheba's voice came out
as more of a strangled whisper than actual speaking.  She was
leaning up on her elbows, watching the whole scene.
     Dr. Salik pursed his lips gravely," Then, it seems we have
quite a predicament here."

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

     Dr. Wilker looked at his creation.  While he had constructed
numerous unmanned probes before, he had tried to make the special
adjustments that Adama had requested.  The transmitter, instead
of sending out a voice message, was now equipped to send out
laser light images of Kobolian symbols.  They had decided against
adding a voice over of the different colonial languages out of
fear it would put off the inhabitants of the planet.  There was
also a cam, which would show on the monitor aboard the Galactica
who or what retrieved the probe.  Throughout his work, Wilker
tried hard not to think of the implications this mission might
have.  Possibly, they may meet lost cousins whose very existence
could impact heavily upon the state of their technology.  At
worst, they were heading straight into an elaborate lore not
unlike the signals believed to be sent by the Cylon Basestar. 
With a snap and a whistle the probe was finished, and Wilker hit
the com button.
     "Commander Adama, this is Dr. Wilker.  The probe is finished
and will be ready to launch in two sentons." 
     It took a few second for the com to crackle back with
Adama's voice, "Excellent.  Have your men take it to the launch
pad and you come report here."  
     Wilker nodded to the com, gave the orders, and then went out
the door.  On the way to the bridge, Wilker tried to shake off
the bad feeling he was having about this whole mission.  Once
before he had been in conflict with the commander.  It was over
the shuttle from Terra, who at the time people thought were from
Earth.  Sometimes when he thought about his own recklessness and
disregard for human life, he shuddered.  Later, as he tried to
make sense out of his behavior during that incident, all he could
think of was his desperation to find some evidence that they were
on the right course.  When Adama had first told the crew that
they were heading toward a mythical planet, their fear coupled
with their desire for leadership had them accept it.  The fact
that it was in fact a myth did not bother them quite so much; if
the colonies that they never thought they'd lose could be
destroyed, how could Earth stretch the limits of credibility?  
     Now, however, things were different.  The people were tired
and scared.  Tired of living aboard cramped ships and constantly
monitoring their rations.  Scared that they were not truly on
course for their goal, or that their goal did not truly exist. 
In this state, the people were willing to believe anything, as
demonstrated by their willingness to believe in Count Iblis. 
Also, in this state they were vunerable.  As a daggit would run
straight into danger if they scented food, so did Dr. Wilker
believe the people would at a sign of Earth.  He had seen it
happen to himself, and now he was afraid it was happening with
Adama.
     The Galactica's bridge was humming with activity when Wilker
entered.  Adama was looking over Athena's shoulder, commenting on
something that was on the console.  Looking at the commander,
Wilker noticed how tired he looked.  When he had first been
assigned to the Galactica, one thing that impressed Wilker about
Adama was his spryness and the youthful look in his eyes.  Now,
that twinkle in his eye was gone.  The lines around his mouth
made his face look drawn, and the dark circles under his eyes
betrayed a lack of sleep.  
     With a passing nod to Tigh, Wilker approached the Commander.
     "Sir, the probe is completed and ready for launch.  We're
just waiting for the word."
     Adama turned and gave Wilker a smile.  Except for that whole
Terra incident, Wilker had always been the best science man
aboard the ship.  If he had come and told Adama anything else
besides the job was done, Adama would have been shocked.
     "Excellent.  We'll launch her first thing tomorrow.  She's
been equipped with Kobolian symbol transmitter?" Adama asked,
knowing the reply before Wilker gave it.
     "Yes, but the range is somewhat limited.  We'll have to be
close to that planet in order for whoever or whatever is there to
see it."
     "And even if they do, we do not know if they can transmit a
response.  If they care to." Tigh broke into the conversation.
     Adama nodded, "This mission is far from a sure thing, and
there's a very good chance that  we will come up empty.  Believe
me men, I am aware of that.  However, we cannot ignore what we
saw on the scanner reports from Silver Spar Squadron.  Nor, can
we ignore the people.  Ever since word of a Kobolian symbol being
transmitted from this planet was leaked to the civilian ships,
the people have been awaiting some action on our part." 
     Wilker shook his head, "Commander, what if we don't get a
response.  Worse yet, what if  this planet decides to hit the
Galactica with the same field it used against Silver Spar?"
     "Dr. Wilker, wouldn't they have done it by now?"  Tigh
responded, glaring at him.  While Wilker's sentiments somewhat
reflected his own, Tigh was becoming annoyed at what he deemed
Wilker's lack of respect.  Ever since Wilker had sided with the
Council of Twelve about the fate of the shuttle from Lunar 7,
Tigh had very little tolerance for him.  In his place, Wilker was
fine.  This, for Tigh, was Wilker stepping out of bounds,
     Wilker shrugged, looking away from Tigh.  "I'll tell the
workers to report to their stations in time to launch tomorrow." 
Adama barely had time to thank Wilker before he had turned on his
heel and walked off the bridge.
     "Well, he's in his usual good cheer." Tigh said
sarcastically, cocking an eyebrow at Wilker's retreating form.
     Adama gave a chuckle.  "Well, tact is something the good
doctor does lack. Come, lets go brief the squadrons about
tomorrow." 
     Tigh was about to follow when he suddenly remembered the
memo from Apollo he had received earlier.
     "Commander, there' s been a request from Captain Apollo that
Lt. Jolly be excused from service tomorrow."
     "Agreed." Adama shook his head in sympathy, "He is in no
shape to fly a mission right now."
************************************************************

 
     Cassie looked at Kayla's monitor, hoping to see some kind of
response from her brain scanner.  Still, nothing.  Kayla's
already small body had become even thinner, and her once pretty
face seemed skeletal.  Cassie sighed and looked at Sheba.  Apollo
had been visiting way past the time allotted visitors, but she did
not have the heart to disturb them.  Apollo sat on the edge of
Sheba's cot, murmuring something to her that Cassie could not
hear.  She felt heartened when she saw Sheba trying to smile,
painful though it was.  
     "Cass,.." Starbuck's voice interrupted Cassie's thoughts,
causing her to spill the medications she was dispensing.  
     "Woah, calm down there." Starbuck bent down to help her as
she tried to pick the pills off the floor.
     "Sorry, it's been a tough day." Cassie's voice came out
flatly, as if her tongue was suddenly thick.  Starbuck put out
his arm to support her as she picked herself off the floor.  He
slid his arm behind her back and felt her relax against him.  
     "When does your shift end?" he whispered , pulling her close
to him.  Cassie returned his embrace and then reluctantly broke
away.
     "It ended one secton ago. " she turned to the medication
table and resumed counting the pills, trying not to see
Starbuck's shocked look.
     "Then what are you doing here?  You look like you're ready
to pass out." Starbuck motioned to the floor where the pills had
fallen.  Cassie looked at him and shrugged, cocking her head
towards Kayla's bedside.
     "I am not going to leave until something happens.." she
said, her voice trailing off as tears started to form in her
eyes.  "Something happens.." was a code word for death, and they
both knew it.  Starbuck came up behind her and started stroking
her hair.
     "Cass, you can't stop whatever is going to happen." he
murmured gently, wiping her tears.  "Besides, Jolly needs all of
us right now, especially you." 
     Cassie broke away slightly and looked at him in surprise,
"Why me?"
     Starbuck gave a wicked grin, "You're the only one with a
sense of reality."
     Cassie sniiffed and then smiled, "Well, one of us has to
have our feet on the ground."
     "Well, these feet are walking you out of here." and with
that he picked her up and walked her out of the lifestation,
Sheba and Apollo watching them wide-eyed.

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

     "Talk about sweeping a girl off her feet," Sheba
wisecracked, trying to smile.  The burns and the pain that they
caused made any type of facial gesture excruciating, but she did
her best to conceal it.  Apollo gave a half-smile and then looked
back at Kayla's monitor; the blankness of her brain scan made him
shudder.  Sheba reached for his hand and clasped it as tightly as
she could.
     "How's Jolly?" she asked in a faint voice, loathe to disturb
Apollo's thoughts.  
     "Not too good.  I think they've finally convinced him to go
get some rest." Apollo, responded, smoothing Sheba's hair.  Ever
since they had started a relationship, Apollo had nightmares
about visiting Sheba like this.  Although he could see that she
was strong and her wounds were not critical, Apollo still was
frightened.  Only the grace of the Lords of Kobol separated Sheba
from Kayla right now, and for that he was thankful.
     "You know, I've been thinking about us a lot." he  began,
unsure of how to proceed.
     Sheba nodded, "So have I, especially since last night."  She
gasped for breath, feeling the pain course through her before
she could continue.  Apollo put his hand on hers and leaned closer.
     "When I was out there, and I knew my viper was failing, I
kept thinking about all of the things I had meant to tell you but
just never did." now her voice was coming out raspy, showing her
fatigue.  Apollo waved his hand, trying to silence her, but Sheba
just shook her head.
     "I want you to know that I love you, and no matter what
happens I always will.  We're both warriors, and we both know it
could be you here just as easily as me.  Or either of us in
Kayla's position.  The time we have together may be long, or may
end tomorrow.  I don't care."
     Apollo sighed and tried to wipe away some of her tears, " I
love you, too.  It took a long time for me to admit that to
myself, but I do.  It's just that I've been so scared.  When
Serina died, I thought the part of me that could love another
person died along with her.  After you came aboard the ship, I
was confused." 
     "You felt like you were being disloyal.." Sheba whispered,
remembering her own father after the death of her mother. 
Although he became involved with Cassie soon after Sheba's
mother's death, he had always felt a pang of guilt.
     "Now, I know that no matter what Serina would want me to be
happy." Apollo finished, gently kissing her. He could see Sheba
was becoming fatigued and knew he should leave, yet was unable
to.  Now he realized all the time he had wasted, and was
determined to make up for it.  Sheba gave him a weak smile and
gave his hand a light squeeze.
     "As soon as I can get out of this medbed, I'll take you up
on that." 
Apollo smiled and curled up on the medbed next to Sheba.  
     "I'm looking forward to it."
     Apollo rested next to her and was beginning to drift off
when he heard glass shatter and a scream.  Sheba tried to sit up
and see what had happened, trying not to let the pain show on her
face.  
     "No!  Stop torturing her!" Jolly's voice boomed loudly,
fighting off the junior medtechs as they tried to restrain the
man.  His eyes were wild, and as Apollo made his way over he
grabbed his pistol and clicked the setting to light stun.  In
this state, Apollo was not sure if he would be able to calm Jolly
down any other way.  From the corner of his vision, Apollo could
see the cause of Jolly's upset.  They had obviously upped the
power on Kayla's respirator, since her body was now actually
being lifted from the force of the machine.  Sheba was watching
the whole scene, open mouthed.  From the distance, Apollo
couldn't be sure if the glimmer on her face was from the
anti-burn ointment or her tears.
     "Jolly, get a hold of yourself.  You're not doing Kayla any
good by acting like this." Apollo said firmly, yet calmly. 
Jolly's reply was an angry stare.
     "How can anyone here talk about helping Kayla?  Is this
helping her?  She's breathing like a Cylon!"  Jolly sputtered,
gesturing toward the machines with his free arm.  Apollo opened
his mouth, then closed it.  He knew that his words would mean
nothing to Jolly right now, especially given the sight he had
seen.
     "Captain, we're only following standard procedures." one of
the junior medtechs explained, somewhat apologetically.
     "Yeah, why don't you hook yourself up to that machine you
little madacka!" Jolly spat out, getting ready to lunge at the
young man who spoke.  Apollo jumped in between Jolly and the
medtech, grabbing his friend by the arms.
     "Jolly, these people are not to blame here." Apollo began,
knowing that he was getting nowhere.
     "No, the ones to blame are those fracking creatures down
their who your father wants to go place nice with!" Jolly
shouted, watching Apollo tense.  Although Apollo was normally
level-headed about most things, an insult to his father could
always set him off.
     "Jolly, stop!" Sheba's faint voice called out.  She was
gasping for air now, since she had risen up too far.  Beyond the
burns, Sheba also suffered from a fractured rib that was causing
injury to her lung.  Apollo let go of Jolly to run to help Sheba
go back to a lying position, but she waved him away.  Jolly
softened slightly when he saw Sheba's pleading expression.
     "Jolly, we need to....be strong...for Kayla." coughing
racked her body, causing her to stop and grab onto Apollo's
shoulder.  He kneeled down to give her the support she needed. 
"She ...needs...you." the last word came out more like a
strangled whisper.  Weak, she did not object when Apollo
carefully put her back completely into the medbed.  Jolly looked
down on the floor, sighing.  
     Without another word, Jolly left the med station.  Apollo
was about to follow when Sheba restrained him.  "Let him be." she
whispered before she drifted off to sleep.
    
************************************************************

     Jolly lay on his cot, looking blankly at the bottom of the
bunk above him.  When he was a young boy, his mother had put him
to bed telling him that there was a woman in charge of the
dreamworld.  If he wasn't a good boy and went to bed quickly,
this woman would get insulted and not let him wake-up all the
way.  As a boy, Jolly did not quite understand until he saw his
mother's reaction to his father's death.  She had walked around
their house as if in a fog, not noticing differences not because
they were unimportant but because she really didn't care.  Jolly,
since he was too little to fully understand, always thought that
it was the dreamlady being angry at his mother because she had
not slept after the news of his father.  Now, if he could lookat
himself objectively, he would see the same look in his eyes.
     Still, he did try to sleep.  Although he hated being out of
commission when a major mission was called, he was almost
relieved when Adama had told him he would not be required to fly
this mission.  No matter who or what these creatures were, they
were the ones who were responsible for Kayla.  He knew that Adama
was frightened that Jolly might jeopardize their mission by
firing on the planet, and Jolly also knew Adama was probably
right.  They may use Kobolian symbols, but for him they were
worse than Cylons.
     Jolly opened his nightlight and took out a picture of him
and Kayla.  Apollo and Sheba had accompanied them to the Rising
Star.  Sheba had been so thrilled with the camera that Dietra had
made her for a gift that she was snapping pictures the whole
night.  This one of him and Kayla was his favorite.  In it, he
was wearing his dress uniform and Kayla had on the royal blue
dress he loved.  Looking at the picture again, he saw Kayla as
she was alive.  Her tawny colored hair was shining from the
lights in the casino, and her mischievous eyes shone brightly. 
Jolly shuddered when he remembered how she looked now.  A small,
frail, skeletal looking body, not the vibrant and alive Kayla
that he loved.  With all his heart, he hated the machines that
kept Kayla's body functioning.  When he had left, they had to up
the power on the respirator, causing her body to lift and contort
with the contours of the machine inside her.  His first impulse
was to go inside her sick room and rip the machine out of her. 
If they could save her, that was one thing.  To keep her in a
state that made a mockery of life was another.
     Closing his eyes, Jolly tried to sleep.  As he drifted off,
he faintly heard the glaxon calling the other men to the
debriefing.  Shuddering, Jolly curled on his side, clutching the
picture in his hands.  Normally when he saw his friends leave on
a mission he was concerned for their welfare.  Tonight, all he
could think of was the sight of Kayla on that respirator. Alive
on a machine, for Jolly, was an oxymoron.  His eyes opened wide,
and suddenly a new thought entered Jolly's mind.  He now had a
mission of his own. Clutching the side of his bunk, Jolly slowly
and deliberate rose and looked out the doorway.  Apollo,
Starbuck. and Boomer were just walking out of their barracks to
the launch pad.  Looking inside the doorway, Apollo gave Jolly a
nod of recognition which Jolly returned.  He knew he couldn't
appear too crazy again; if he did they might order him watched.  
     
     Clutching the picture of Kayla in his hands, Jolly stood up
next to his cot.  Opening his private drawer, he rummaged through
until he found his mother's amulet.  She had been given it by his
father before he flew on that fatal mission, and she had given it
to Jolly after he graduated the academy.  It was a simple onyx
shield with the Kobolian prayer of protection inscribed on it. 
Jolly stared at it for several minutes, remembering it around
both his father and his mother's necks.  On his father, Jolly had
always thought it looked quite dashing.  The fitting ornament to
his father's military apparel.  On his mother, it looked awkward.
After his father's death, Jolly's mother had lost faith in just
about everything, especially prayer.    
     Jolly took one more deep breath, looked to make sure no one
was watching, and finally walked out the door
************************************************************

     Apollo and Boomer looked anxiously at the monitor.  While
the glaxon had been sounded, it was only to insure that the
troops would be ready for combat at a moments' notice.  No one,
not even Wilker with his vast scientific knowledge, had a clue of
what was going to happen once that probe was launched.  Adama
paced in anticipation, hoping that some small ray of light would
come and help ease the burden of too long a voyage.  Annoying
Adama to no end was the impassiveness of Tigh.  Always know to
lose his cool at triad games, Adama had expected a much more
emotional reaction from his second in command.  Surprisingly,
Tigh just stood there checking off the itinerary and questioning
Dr, Wilker about one or two things.  Looking at the clock, Adama
saw that it was almost time for the probe's mission. Soon he
would know if there was actually something to this transmission,
or if following it was just a fool's errand.
     Adama's thoughts were interrupted by Rigel's calm voice. 
"Ten microns to countdown commander," she announced, gesturing
towards the console.  Adama nodded gravely, turning to Wilker. 
Although Wilker performed his job with professional integrity,
Adama knew the good doctor was far from being convinced.  Still,
looking at the other members of the bridge crew, he could tell
they were as curious as he was.
     "Countdown commencing now." Tigh's voice boomed. 
"ten..nine..eight..seven..six..five..four..three..two..one..launc
h!"
     For the first time that Athena could ever remember, the
bridge was completely quiet.  Even Starbuck, who was notorious
for making an inappropriate wise-crack, stood entranced, watching
the action on the scanners.  The strange planet was still
surrounded by that strange, lacy forcefield, a silent threat
whose handiwork they had all seen.  Moving slowly, the probe made
its way closer to the planet.  Almost as if the planet had seen
it, the bright threads of light began to pulse and become
brighter.
     "Commence Kobolian symbol transmission!" Adama ordered. 
Quickly, Wilker clicked the appropriate switches on the special
control panel.  Within microns, the shuttle began projecting the
symbols.  While to Athena, who was never a student of the ancient
cultures,  the symbols seemed to fly out in a random pattern, she
knew that in reality they were sending a message of peace.  She
heard her father inhale loudly as the planet's defenses, instead
of being let down, began to pulse more rapidly.  
     "They're going to destroy it!" Wilker's voice boomed loudly,
in an almost accusatory tone.  Adama simply shot him a look and
motioned for him to keep quiet.  Suddenly, the lacy pattern
seemed to burst open.  The light was so blinding that Omega and
Rigel both had to turn their faces away, covering their eyes with
their hands.  When the light had died down, a universal gasp was
heard on the bridge.  The Kobolian symbol for "Enter" was now
formed by the lights.  
     "Do we dare?" Tigh whispered, looking expectantly at Adama.
Nodding, Adama turned to Boomer, Apollo, and Starbuck. 
Wordlessly, the three men ran towards the launch bay.

To Be Continued....