Reflections of the Soul - The Real Ending
By Sharon Monroe, Barb Conway, Robert Hanczyk, and Jodie Gustafson
September 23, 2000

     Brannigan . . .or was it?
     They'd only known him for a few days, the people on this planet
all looked alike to them...
     The three watched in mute fascination, but their expressions spoke
volumes as their eyes shifted from the stranger, to the sword that
floated in the air, keeping its protective stance between the mortal
Athena and immortal Iblis.  Adama, totally confused and equally in awe
of what was happening before him, tried vainly to keep his mind clear
and alert because of the gravity of the situation before him.  The
possibilities of what could and what would happen next was thrown to
the four winds with the entrance of the newcomer and his amazing
weapon.  Adama fought with his intense curiosity -- all the questions
that flashed through his mind, like who was this man?  Okay, so maybe
it was only one question.  Who's counting?  The weapon that was
suspended in mid air.  The weapon that saved his daughter from certain
death from her confrontation with Iblis.  It was utterly amazing.  An
overworked word but an apt one at that micron, since nothing he was
seeing seemed REAL to him.  'Is it Live or is it Memorex?'  It felt
almost like he was watching a vid of some type.  A surreal feeling  --
nothing seemed real and yet?  It was.
     Adama glanced over at Boomer and Cassie, somewhat puzzled as to
their reaction to the newcomer, the expressions on their faces made
Adama believe that the two of them possibly KNEW the stranger, but then
also their expressions seemed to show confusion, disbelief, even awe of
what was happening right before their eyes.  Adama was unsure of what
to think about the man himself, but looking again at their expressions,
he was almost afraid to wonder about the stranger.  Both of their
individual reactions of shock, disbelief and amazement combined with
the added element of Iblis' own reaction of anger, disbelief and then
hatred towards the newcomer was confusing to say the least.  
     Adama looked over at Starbuck, who seemed to not be sure of what
exactly was happening before him.  Adama often wondered if the hot
pilot ever was sure of himself after crashing one too many vipers.  And
walking away from them?  Adama made a mental note to dock Starbuck's
next Pyramid winnings if he crashed another one.  
     Not sure if he wanted to even know or understand what has
happening.  The Commander placed a hand on Starbuck's arm, his aged
face showing clearly his questions to the young man.  The aged
commander, who had grown even older since the last sentence, looked for
some answers from a person he knew would not mix words if the situation
truly warranted it.  Starbuck turned and looked at his Commander, his
own reaction almost mirrored that of his friends.
     "Commander, that's Brannigan, the man I told you about," Starbuck
whispered, almost reverently, but for what reason Adama didn't know. 
Starbuck continued after a centons pause.  "He was the man who was
taking care of Apollo when we found him."
     Adama turned his attention back to the newcomer, seeing him in a
new black light with Starbuck's revelation, the newcomer looked funny
until the light turned white.  Feeling gratitude towards the man for
taking care of his first born, possibly saving Apollo's life.  But even
his feelings of gratitude towards the man did not alleviate Adama's
apprehension about everything that was happening here.  The unexpected
appearance of Iblis, the strange abilities of the stranger with his
magnificent weapon, the stranger saving Athena's life, Apollo's medical
condition and the fact that he had taken off, driven by some guilt of
some kind.
     Adama had dealt with the evil Count Iblis before and was not
particularly looking forward to a repeat encounter, for with Iblis, the
battle was not of power, but of the strength of words, his ability to
persuade the people of the fleet to follow his leadership with his
actions and deeds that benefited them.  They found out that the benefit
also was the tie that trapped them into being indebted to the Count. 
Count deMoney didn't wait to cash in on the I.O.U.'s to him.  The
seemingly benevolent man was found to have an ultimate goal for himself
- he didn't just want to loyalty and devotion of the people of the
fleet, he wanted to possess their very souls.  Adama inwardly shivered
at the thought of this creature possessing his soul, or the soul of one
of someone Adama loved.
     Adama tried to block out the memories of that time when the Count
encountered the fleet.  Over 220 ships full of people who were
desperately looking for something to believe in.  For someone to be
their divine savior.  Or at least for an interstellar Papa John's
Pizza, even if they can't deliver in 30 centons.  Food was in short
supply, severe rationing was in effect and that alone did not make
Adama too many friends within the confines of the civilian ships.  The
crew on the Galactica was loyal to their Commander, but Adama had found
at that time that even the loyalty that was expected from a crewperson
to their commander was wearing thin and was in short supply.  Then came
the man in white, with his innocent air, his smooth words and confident
voice.  Coming aboard on a ruse, and causing dissention throughout the
fleet with his promises of salvation and a better life if they would
follow him.  Blindly.  Willingly.  And for a small donation of 29.95 in
cubits per person. The promise that persuaded the Council to give him
their loyalty was the fulfillment of the three tests, one of those
being the capture of Baltar, the greatest traitor in the history of
mankind, in Adama's personal opinion.  Baltar arrived on the Galactica,
under the universal sign of truce, talking about a great evil, a great
enemy that would destroy not just the Galactica and its fleet, but even
the Cylon Empire.  His words sounded almost coated with madness at that
time, afterall, the man was only stuck on that chair high in the empty
Cylon room, spinning in circles for countless centars.  But Adama
learned in a very short time just how much truth there was in Baltar's
words.  Unlike the council, the people were more easily swayed with
Iblis' promises of a plentiful supply of food, pizza galore, protection
from the Cylons, and the promise of finding them a new home on which to
live.
     In as many times as Adama tried to push those memories from his
mind, as he stood there mutely watching the interaction between the
Count, who was still learning basic arithmetic, and the stranger, he
found the memories of that time almost overwhelming him.  Adama was
unsure that there was anything that he could do to stop the smiling man
from taking control, Iblis had already been made President of the
Council. He was not even sure just what Iblis was, let alone who he
was, but it was the all powerful Count's fear of the globes of bright
light that had flown at great speed past the Galactica and throughout
the fleet that had been the clincher for Adama.  The proof that he
needed to know that there was something or someone out there that the
Count had angered, that he was hiding from, and that was out there
searching for him to punish him for breaking their laws, whatever they
were.  
     Now here they were, almost in the same situation all over again,
only this time, it was not the globes of light that bothered, even
angered the Count.  No, it was his evident adverse reaction to the
presence of the man that Starbuck called Brannigan, and the little pink
bunny walking around the area beating a drum.  Iblis tried to stomp the
little critter.  Unfortunate for him, the bunny kept going, and going,
and going...  Was Brannigan from the Ship of Lights?  Was he one of the
great powers?  Was he just as much of an idiot as Apollo and Sheba,
taking on a superior being without a clue?  Or was he just an man, not
exactly mortal, but one who was able to hold his own against Iblis.  
     Tune in next week to learn the answer to these and other
questions.
     Adama looked over at Brannigan who just stood there, his eyes
never leaving Iblis' eyes.  His body stance showed that he was prepared
for whatever Iblis would throw at him, even though Brannigan looked
totally relaxed, with not a care in the world.  He, along with Cassie,
Athena, Boomer and Starbuck watched as the man they knew as Brannigan
stepped into the fight.  His tone confidant, his walk assured, dressed
in white and looking ethereal.  Adama watched in amazement as the sword
continued to float between Iblis and his intended victim, Athena.  As a
father, Adama prayed silently that the seemingly frail piece of forged
metal was able to protect his daughter from certain death at Iblis'
hand.  
     The look that crossed Iblis' normally benevolent expression was
almost that of hatred as he looked to the being that was his sworn
eternal enemy.
     "This is not your affair, Knight!"
     "Ah, but it is, Diabolis.  Any time that you interfere in the
actions of the mortal world, any time that you threaten an innocent who
has defied you and not given themselves to you freely, it becomes my
'affair,' as you put it."  The Knight stepped forward several paces,
then continued.  "You've lost, Diabolis.  You have lost here, with
these people.  You have lost with this young woman here."  The Knight
waved his hand in Athena's direction.  "Try to strike her down again,
and you will watch as my blade strikes down your power another time."
     "You were destroyed years ago!  This can not be!" Iblis shouted,
his anger and disbelief showing in his words.
     Brannigan shook his head.  "You know that I'm immortal, just as
you are.  My sword and I have fought for good on every planet in every
dimension since the beginning of time and the fight against you and
your evil minions is a fight that I will never give up.  My orders come
from one higher and holier than you will ever be, so you will have to
fight me to get to them and that is something that you do not want to
do."
     Iblis stood there, seeming to mull over the words of the Knight,
then his expression changed again.  The benevolent smile played at his
lips.  "All right, Knight.  You can have them, for I have still have at
my fingertips two that will give me greater pleasure and more
satisfaction than these five will."
     The Knight stood a little straighter, his face became stern as he
became aware of just who Iblis spoke of.  "You cannot have Apollo and
Sheba, Diabolis."
     "But I can get to them in the wink of an eye where you can not,"
Iblis stated smugly, then as suddenly as he appeared, he disappeared.
     "So you would like to think."  The Knight muttered to the still
air.  "That is if you can still think."
     Adama watched in wonder as Brannigan raised his hand and the sword
left its position in front of Athena, returning to his grasp. 
Brannigan gazed at the weapon, his expression one that could be
described as 'pleased,' then he sheathed the sword at his side as he
walked over towards the group.  As the Knight stopped in front of
Athena, he smiled an almost fatherly smile as he placed his gentle hand
on her shoulder.
     "Well done, little one.  Even though you were no real match for
Iblis, well not yet anyway, your words had the ring of truth and bells
of the heavens, something he cannot stand to hear.  He really hates
when bells are ringing everywhere he goes.  Iblis has much to be
concerned about when it comes to you and your brother together. 
Between the two of you and your descendents, you will continue to be a
great thorn in his side for a long time to come."  Brannigan chuckled
as a smile slowly came to Athena's face as she looked at this strange
man.
     Adama walked over to Brannigan and asked with something bordering
on awe and wonderment,  "Who are you?"
     Brannigan smiled as he spoke in a paternal tone.  "Adama, I have
been known by many different names by many different races on many
different planets over the span of time, but if your curiosity must be
appeased then look to the Book of the Word, or the Book of the
Chocolate, where it is talks about the beginning of the great battle
between the Lords of Kobol and the evil ones bent on death and
destruction.  In the passages in between the chocolate candy wrappers,
a story is told of a great Knight, sent from the divine power of God
above to help the lords in their fight for good to prevail.  His
jubilation came when they all had a Chocolate Celebration for his
victory."
     The Knight watched as Adama's face clearly showed his recognition
of the passage and the individual Brannigan eluded to. "YOU are the
Knight of the Great Light?  He who divides his chocolate among us?" 
Adama almost whispered in reverence as he felt his knees buckle as
Adama felt a great urge to kneel before the most revered man.
     "Guilty.  I kept more chocolate for myself than I gave out.  I
have redeemed myself since.  I was known as that then, and by many
other names since then.  In my existence here on this planet, I am
Brannigan, the last of the Knights of the First Realm, not to be
confused with the Knights of Ni.  My sword and my skills are committed
to the service of good King Cedric of the colony of Draconia."
     "You saved my son." Adama simply stated.
     Brannigan nodded.  "I tried to anyway.  In my existence as
Brannigan, I knew that he was someone that was in need of my
protection, and his mental state was...well, lets just say that he was
so very close to the edge then, so physically and mentally depleted. 
Unfortunately, I had my boundaries as to what I could do to intervene
at that time.  I gave Apollo the peace that he craved and sorely needed
at that time.  The unerring support of a father figure when his could
not be there for him.  You and your presence was the key that unlocked
the emotions that he had suppressed through his intense willpower
behind a mental wall to save them.  Iblis almost won this time with
Apollo.  At this time, he is not ready to take Iblis on, face to face,
but in time he will grow in wisdom and power."
     Adama nodded.  "Where is Apollo now?  And where is Sheba?"
     "Sheba is a surprisingly determined young woman and her love for
Apollo is an amazing force in itself as is his for her.  Their bond
together is very strong.  *The problem is he seems to keep forgetting
that they ever kissed.  He can't get over the fact of Starbuck kissing
all the women.*  Right now Sheba's physical presence is all that stands
between Apollo's defeat and Iblis supremacy.  She will need to gather
her courage, overcome her own fear of Iblis, be there as a protector
for Apollo and give him one huge kiss he'll never forget.  If she can
do this, she will be able to hold off Iblis for a while, at least long
enough for us to get there and be the reinforcements.  Sheba does not
know it yet, but her presence will be the anchor to sanity that Apollo
holds on to desperately, but to save Apollo from the dark abyss, he is
going to need all of you - he will need your love for him, your
internal strength and..." The Knight placed his hand on the hilt of the
sword, "My sword at his side.  Guilt and remorse weigh heavily on his
mind and heart.  He does not know that the fleet is no longer in danger
and that you still live without threat of death.  And, if things were
not bad enough, Iblis is on his way."
     "Then what are we waiting for?"  asked Starbuck, feeling a bit of
his old bravado returning to him.  
     
     *************

     Sheba was saying a prayer of thanksgiving to the powers above,
then began to pray again, this time that she had the strength to do
what was needed next, whatever that may be.  She had caught up to
Apollo at a great canyon and was trying desperately to talk to him.  He
just continued to stare at the bottom of the deep crevice.  So far
there was no response of any kind from Apollo, not even an
acknowledgement of her presence, but she knew that he knew she was
here.  Did he really know she knew that he knew she was there?
     The sky was darkening ominously and Sheba felt a chill go up her
spine.   
     Starbuck took advantage of the opportunity to slip an ice cube
down her shirt.  Sheba jumped.  
     The winds were picking up also.  If Apollo ventured too close to
the edge, that would be the end of him.  She knew that her heart would
follow him over if that happened.  As a bolt of lightning streaked
across the sky, shots rang out, and a scream split the air - it was
Starbuck after Sheba got even for the ice cube, sailing over the edge
past Apollo.
     Sheba decided to try to speak to Apollo again.  They had 2 yahrens
of friendship, trust, and love between them.  She was going to need all
that and maybe more to pull him back to her.  Actually, what she needed
more than anything right now was a good stiff drink.  And maybe a
mechanical appliance.  No, she didn't need that, what she needed was a
good piece of neoprene and a pump.  
     "Apollo," Sheba said calmly.  "Look at me."  Apollo continued to
look at the canyon floor below.  "Look at me!" she shouted.  Apollo
seemed to not hear her, but then slowly turned and looked at her. 
Sheba held out her hand to him and said gently,  "Come to me, Apollo. 
Come away from the ledge and come to me.  Come to me so I can give you
the biggest kiss of your life!!!!"
     Apollo hesitated for a micron.  'A kiss?  What is a kiss?'  Then
rewarded her with several steps away from the land's edge, but not
close enough to take her hand, yet, but it was a beginning.  Sheba
smiled at him.  "Yes, Apollo.  Come to me.  Come here to me.  I love
you, Apollo.  I love you.  My lips are ready.  How about yours?  Do you
understand that?  C'mon, darlin', is that a sword in your pocket or are
you just happy to see me?  Come kiss my lips.  I'll kiss your sword as
a princess would a toad and make it your strongest weapon."
     Apollo stood quietly, still not looking towards Sheba.  Eventually
as he sure did take his good old time about it, she heard his voice
softly make its way to her ears.  "Iblis wants you and I don't know how
to stop him this time - but I know I don't want to share," Apollo said
mournfully, as he looked at the canyon.  Sheba's mind worked
frantically to try to figure out a way to get through to Apollo, to
break through the damage to his confidence that Iblis had done.
     "Iblis cannot take what is not freely given to him.  Come to think
of it, if it was freely given to him, I don't think he could even
handle it.  I would rather die than go with him.  I do not want him,
desire him or love him.  All I want is you and the future that we have
together.  Do you understand me?"
     Apollo slowly turned his head and looked at her, nodding slightly. 
"I nearly lost you to him the last time.  He still wants you.  He wants
you bad, especially after his viagra kicks in."
     Sheba sighed.  "But this time there is a difference, Apollo.  I
know him for what he truly is, he's just too little for me.  I need a
biiiig strooong pooky urson like you."  Sheba looked at his pale, drawn
features,  her heart and mind in turmoil as how to reach him and make
him understand her - at least until she knew she was in the will.  He
had been through so much.  And she never thought that she would ever
see the day when Apollo would falter.  When he did, she would certainly
never let him forget it, reminding him of this shortcoming everytime
they had a fight.  He was just too willful, too stubborn. She would
need to use her femininely wiles to tame her wild stallion.
     "Do you love me, Apollo?"  Sheba asked quietly.
     "Yes."  Apollo spoke without hesitation, his voice sounding
stronger, forceful. "More than you could ever know."
     "Do you love me enough to go to the store and buy feminine
products for me when I'm in bed suffering from PMS?"
     "Er . . . . yeah," Apollo answered meekly.
     Sheba's heart lifted and she smiled at him,  "Then how can Iblis
come between two people who love each other as we do?  I trust you.  I
trust you with my life, my heart and my soul.  I trust you to protect
me as I promise to protect you.  I trust you to stand by me no matter
what.  Am I giving all that to the wrong man?"
     Apollo stood there quietly for several microns, looking Sheba in
the eyes, feeling a calm come over him gradually as he felt like the
drowning man being given a life raft to hang on to.  And Sheba was his
life raft.  "No, you're not giving all that to the wrong man."
     Sheba walked slowly, cautiously over to him.  "You are a colonial
warrior.  One of the best we have.  You have bravely risked your life
to save others day after day.  You are dedicated to saving what is left
of our people.  And in addition of giving all that, you still give your
love to your father, Athena, and Boxey, to Starbuck, Boomer, and
Cassie, to all of your friends, and to me, freely.  Unconditionally. 
Without reserve or remorse.  You stand by us no matter what we do,
right or wrong and support our decisions, even if you don't agree with
them.  You are not a saint or a god, Apollo."  Unless you read the
books Apollo wrote.  "You are not without faults or infallible.  You
only think you're perfect.  You are just a man.  And right now, that
man needs to accept that he does not need to protect us.  That he is
the one in need of our protection and our support.  You have to let us
protect you."
     "But I am your downfall.  I do fall down you know.  All of you
will die and its all my fault."
     "It - is - not - your - fault - Apollo!"  Sheba stressed to him,
her tone angry and frustrated.  "If we die at the hand of Iblis, then
it's because we will not give him our souls.  And if we die, then we
die together.  But Apollo, our love, yours and mine, the love of our
family and friends will never die.  My father disappeared over 2
yahrens ago.  He could be dead for all I know and I still feel his love
every day.   My mother died almost 6 yahrens ago.  I feel her love. 
You feel the same from your mother, from your brother, and even from
Serina too.  She was a wonderful person, Apollo,but she's dead."
[THUNK]  A rock panged off her head.  She looked over and figured it
was from Starbuck down in the canyon still.  She would repay him for
that.  "Even that damned kid and his friggin' daggit love you, though
for all the Twelve Worlds, I don't know why... you're never home! 
Starbuck is well, was, more of a father to him than you are.  Love
doesn't die.  Just Starbuck."
     From somewhere below them came a mournful groan.
     "Uhhhhhhh . . . I don't feel dead."  He snickered.  He felt so
happy about himself.
     "I can fix that," Sheba yelled, "unless you shut up and quit
spoiling my big dramatic scene!"
     "I'm feeling better."
     "Shut up, Starbuck!  You know you always stole Apollo's best
lines!  And most of the girls, until I came along!"
     "I think I'll go for a walk..."
     Sheba casually picked up the rock that whumped her in the head and
threw it over the edge.  It was best to send it back to its owner - the
Hard Way!  The sound of skittering rocks was followed by another
Starbuckian scream - a Pure Starbuckian scream!!! - and then the sound
of a great avalanche tumbling down the hill.  Part of the cliff fell
away with it, and Sheba realized she'd better get through to Apollo
soon.  
     Sheba took a chance and reached up and hugged him close to her. 
Apollo felt her heartbeat very strongly and remained stiff for a
micron.  Slowly he relaxed and placed his arms around her, hugging her
tightly to him, as he rested his head on her shoulder.  Sheba felt
tears gather in her eyes as she held on to him.  She knew if she cried
enough, she could flood the canyon and send Starbuck far down stream.
     "Our love is so strong.  Even though we don't tell each other
every day how we feel, we know.  You and I made a promise to never take
our feelings for each other for granted again."
     "We are going back to the Galactica and we will help you get well. 
As long as it takes, we are all... well, all except Starbuck, here for
you and we will love you still.  You have nothing that is your fault. 
Nothing.  Do you hear me?"
     "How touching, how sweet.  Empty hollow promises of two people who
say they love each other, but how far are they willing to go to prove
it?"
     Sheba felt a chill go up her spine.  An ice cube, strangely,
exactly the same size and shape as the one Starbuck had put down her
back, jumped out from the top of her tunic.  You know, we discussed
once in Chemistry class how it was theoretically possible for an ice
cube to jump out of a lukewarm cup of coffee, but until this moment, I
never really thought I'd find a good use for entropy/enthalpy theories. 
But I digress...
     She hugged Apollo once more and whispered, "It's going to be okay. 
As long as you take this ice cube from my shirt and put it down your
own." Then turned to face the man that she nearly lost her soul to 2
yahrens before.  This time, he was not going to win, Sheba resolved. 
Fighting her own guilt from their last encounter and stiffening her
resolve to defeat him this time, Sheba faced the devil himself.   She
noticed that the sky was darker, more ominous, and the lightening
seemed much brighter.  Iblis was looking a little stiffer, too - or was
it just a sword in his pocket?  The wind was picking up and growing
stronger.  She was not going to give into her fear.  The last encounter
with Iblis, Apollo was the strong one, this time she had to be.
     "What do you want, Iblis?" Sheba said, firmly, tongue in cheek,
clearly disgusted with the presence of this self-serving serpent.  In
the back of her mind, Sheba could hear Cain's voice telling her over
and over 'To outwit the enemy, do the unexpected.  What he is least
likely to figure that you would do.  That gives you the element of
surprise.  That, Sheba, will give you the edge.  If that bastard
touches you, I'll kill him.  No, you kill him.  I have more important
things to do.  I think I'll shine my swagger stick.  It looks like I
picked the wrong week to stop sniffing viper vapors.'  Sheba drew more
confidence from those words and stood straighter.
     "Sheba, my princess.  My love," Iblis said, sweetly.
     "I am not your love, Iblis.  I'm not your princess either, you
toad.  Go wart yourself.  What do you want?" Sheba asked critically.
     "I want you, Sheba.  Ribbit."
     Apollo raised his head and looked fearful.  "No," he said softly.
     Iblis' smooth tones became even smoother.  The ice cubes slid
right off them.  "I want you to rule with me, by my side on my lilly
pad.  My minions will worship you, do your bidding.  Anything that you
would want would be yours.  You can have all the flies you want.  The
most beautiful of clothes, the finest of jewels, servants to handle
your every whim.  Heck, you can even have weekends off."  Iblis glanced
at Apollo, then frowned.  "But he only gets Thursdays if he pays his
cubits on Thursday for the daggitburger he ate today.  We could go
anywhere in the universe and beyond.  Whatever your hearts desire, I
will give you."
     "I have all that I want, Iblis."
     "You have set your sights too low.  And your hem.  Look up.  Look
how beautiful you look in the finest of silks."  Iblis held out his
hand and Sheba found herself in a gown of the most beautiful pale
lavender silk that she had ever seen.  Soft and silky against her skin,
fitting her like a glove, not a glass slipper, she felt almost decadent
in it.  She turned and saw Apollo's face as he gazed at her in that
gown.  There was a pain in his eyes that she could not ignore.  "I'm
going to have to talk to Garocky about this.  That plain and simple
tailor promised to make me a dress better than that one."
     "I don't want it, Iblis," Sheba said as she stepped over to the
nearest tree.  "Give me back my clothes.  You don't want to see me
without my clothes, do you?"  She heard about Starbuck walking in the
woods, talking to trees, forgetting his clothes at the cabin.
     Iblis looked at her in disgust.  "This is what you want?  The
clothes of a colonial warrior?"  Sheba looked down and she had on her
brown flight uniform now.  "When you deserve this."  In an instant the
lovely lavender gown was back.
     "What, no glass slippers?  Sorry, Iblis.  What I want and what you
want are two completely different things.  I have what I want.  And it
won't turn into a pumpkin at midnight."
     "Look at him.  I have destroyed him, broken his spirit.  He does
not deserve your love.  Apollo cannot love anyone, unless those people
are dead.  Look how devoted he was to the memory of Serina.  He still
loves her, Sheba, not you.  Hell, he even loves that stupid kid... or
did I forget to kill him in the excitement?  Tell me, Sheba, does
Wesley Crusher still live?  He has lied to you.  He still wishes to die
to be with her."  Apollo looked up at Iblis.  Sheba felt a surge of
hope as she saw the fire come back into his eyes.  Anger.
     "But I, in turn, love only you, Sheba," Iblis said, "I have loved
you since we met.  And I do not live for a memory.  I give you my love
and devotion to you only.  Unless I can convince Athena, Cassiopea and
Rigel to join us.  Wouldn't that be fun?"
     The Knight rolled the dice; it came up 7.
     Apollo felt his anger grow at this pompous apparition as Iblis
professed to love the woman that Apollo loved.  "The dresses won't do
it.  If you only gave me the dresses instead of her."  And the gall
that he had to use Serina and her memory against Sheba.  'That witch
took all my clothes and hid them.  I still haven't found them yet,' he
thought.  It took Apollo a lot of time to assure Sheba in the course of
their relationship where his love for Serina stood and where Sheba
stood - two steps back and to the left.  He remembered Sheba's
insecurity about Serina in the beginning of their relationship.  Apollo
had thought that battle was over, but now Iblis wanted to use Sheba's
insecurities about Serina to turn her against him.  'Well,' Apollo
resolved, 'it was not going to work.  I'll get to pick a dress yet,
even if it kills me.'  Apollo opened his mouth to speak, but Sheba
spoke before he could utter a word.  And it was a damn good thing, too. 
He probably would have messed it up as usual.  Then Sheba would just be
mad at him again.  Or maybe she was still mad at him.  Maybe this was
all an elaborate plot to get him to admit that he actually liked
bowling.  And the anger in her eyes told him all he needed to know.
     "You don't love me, Iblis.  You love no one but yourself," replied
Sheba, disgust in her voice.  "You don't even have any idea what love
is.  Didn't you ever hear that song, 'I wanna know what love is.'  Go
find yourself a turntable and spin it.  To you it's just a word.  You
DEMAND love, you don't give it.  You DEMAND that we give you our very
souls.  You DEMAND that I dress up in that Princess Leia slave outfit
at least once a week.  You need to learn something, Iblis.  Love is not
demanded, or commanded or ordered up like you would order food in a
cafe, or like you'd drop a cubit into a peep show video.  It does not
come with attachments or files or bad sectors, like I will love you or
else I'll erase you.  That is not how it goes.  And if you don't get
what you want, you  don't go around killing people just because you
were denied - well, we might make an exception in the daggit's case."
     "And how dare you use Serina's memory against me.  She died
tragically and yes, Apollo mourned her.  Because he loved her.  Because
she was a star.  Because she was the only woman the writers let him get
close to until the final episode.  And no matter what  you say I know
in my heart that Apollo loves me.  And do you know how I  know?  I know
because he knows I know.  If he didn't know what I knew and you know,
you wouldn't even know I knew."  Sheba looked at Apollo and said,
"Besides the writers wrote it that way.  And they're never wrong.  Love
is what it was when Apollo stepped in front of me and gave his life for
me.  He proved his love by  sacrificing himself for me, even though our
feelings were in their early stages.  Although he could have given us a
better dying scene and rattled off some five centon speech while
crawling along the dirt, flinging against the rocks, and gasping for
one last bad breath.  A strong, binding love is what Apollo and I have
for each other now with the help of the fuzzy pink handcuffs.  It has
taken time, and work, and a few excerpts from Men are from Earth, Woman
are from Kobol for it to be what it is now."
     Iblis stared intently at Sheba, "I want you Sheba."  
     Again the sword and the pocket thing.  Was this ever going to end? 
Sheba looked at Iblis, hatred in her voice.  "I don't want you.  What I
want is the life I have now as it is.  Oh, and one more thing, Count,
(you do know how to count, don't you?)"  Sheba said sarcastically,
"Would you give me back my clothes.  The wind is picking up and it's
getting downright chilly out here.  If I catch a cold, it's going to be
all your fault.  Besides, I don't want it to blow my dress up high. 
Apollo might not be able to handle himself.  Or me.  If I have to die,
I might as well die in my own clothes."
     Apollo watched Sheba, grinning at her effrontery of the evil
count.  Iblis didn't look too happy as he gave her back the plain
outfit that she had worn to the planet.  He really liked it better the
other way.  
     "You wish death today."
     "Today is a good day to die," she proclaimed.
     Sheba saw Adama, Starbuck, Boomer arrive at the ledge with
Brannigan at their side.  She saw Athena and Cassie arrive at their
heels. Cassi was ticked she did not receive a new dress for coming to
the rescue.  Shortly after that, they arrived at their waists and then
at their shoulders, and finally at the tippy tops of their little
heads.    
     "I don't want to die today, but if it has to be today is as good
as any."  She'd seen that written on the wall of a tomb on a planet
they'd stopped at - someplace called Klingon.  Sheba looked over at
Apollo and saw the fear spring into his eyes for her.  He'd never liked
the Klingons.  He could never stomach the blood Ambrosa
     "You dare mock me?" Iblis shouted angrily.  The essence of evil
glowed brightly with anger.  A bright flash of lightning struck the
tree behind Sheba and Apollo and they both fell to the ground as sparks
flew over them. They never learned you shouldn't stand under a tree in
a lightning storm.
     "No!"  Adama shouted.  "Iblis!"
     "Stop!"  shouted Boomer.  "I want a woman before you kill
everyone."
     "Apollo!  Sheba!"  Starbuck shouted to them and started running
towards them.  Okay, I know he was dead but I did warn you about the
enthalpy/entropy thing and so Starbuck was really just sleepwalking and
then he levitated and then he got... oh, well, you get the picture. 
The gale force of the wind knocked him to the ground, forcing the air
from Starbuck's lungs.  As he got back on his feet,  he shouted as loud
as he could, even though he couldn't breathe, "Leave them alone,
Iblis!"
     The ground began to rumble beneath their feet.  Adama watched as
the cliff that Apollo and Sheba laid on began to crack away from the
rest.  He had dreadful memories of when his last cookie crumbled.
     The tree that had been struck by the lightning microns before
suddenly fell into the canyon below.  The ebbing ledge of  the canyon
crumbled closer to Apollo and Sheba's feet and the fissure in front of
them opened wider, with the unstable piece of ground that they were on
dropping down a few feet.  Rain started pelting down from the dark sky
above and made the ground even more dangerous.
     Feels like we're in Minnesota, Sheba thought.  Uff-da!
     Starbuck and Boomer ran past Iblis, thought to themselves, "That's
interesting!" and falling to the ground, grabbed Apollo and Sheba's
hands to try to bring them off the crumbling, shifting chunk of earth
before it plummeted to the canyon floor.  They could never figure out
how Wild E. Coyote always survived the fall.  They felt a sudden draft
and presence behind them.  When they turned, the Road Runner stuck his
tongue out at them, hopped twice, and dashed through Iblis.
     Suddenly Adama, Cassie and Athena were there, grabbing them with
rain slicked hands.  Then as suddenly as a crack of thunder, they heard
a booming voice cry "BE GONE, THOU FOUL-TEMPERED, CROSS-GARTERED,
MESSY, TAX-EVADING, BED-WETTING-TYPES!  I DON'T WANT TO TALK TO YOU NO
MORE, YOU EMPTY-HEADED ANIMAL FOOD TROUGH WIPER.  I FART IN YOUR
GENERAL DIRECTION!  YOUR MOTHER WAS A HAMSTER AND YOUR FATHER SMELLED
OF ELDERBERRIES!"
     Cross-gartering! Sheba thought.  That was it - it had nothing to
do with swords at all!  If I could only find a pair of fishnet
stockings and heels in Apollo's size, the problem would be solved.
     Miraculously, the rain stopped, the lightning ceased, the winds
died, the earth stopped its trembling, and blessedly the sun came out,
strong and bright.  None of the Galactica members questioned what
happened, they just took advantage of the reprieve and pulled Apollo
and Sheba over to stable ground.  As soon as they did, the ledge let
loose its tenuous hold and fell to the canyon floor.
     They all fell together on the rain soaked ground, hanging on to
each other for all they were worth, each sending a silent thank-you to
the heavens above.  "Curse the umbrellas."  Iblis watched them with
undisguised disgust and anger.  He turned and faced his chief nemesis,
loathing in his eyes.
     "You have solved the riddle!  How dare you interfere with me!"
Iblis shouted, rage in every word.
     "That is the sole purpose for my existence, Diabolis.  You know
that," replied the Knight calmly, evenly.
     The Galactica members got to their feet and stood watching the
exchange between the Knight and the Prince of Darkness.  The two
eternal enemies stared at each other for several centons, then Iblis
spoke.
     "You cannot protect them forever."
     "They now have the ability  to protect themselves," the Knight
said confidently.
     "Mere mortals against me?" the Prince of all that was Evil replied
incredulously.
     "Mere mortals that you fear, Diabolis.  Mere mortals that are
destined for great and wonderful things.  Mere mortals that defy you
and all your minions.  You tried to break Apollo, yet there he still
stands.  Madness?  I see none there in his eyes now, only twisted
desire. You failed.  Next time, give HIM the dress!!! Sheba stood
strong and defied you, willing to meet death than to submit to you,
even mocked you and she still stands - alive and well.  You failed
twice.  Adama still stands, although your energies this time were
directed to the son.  Three failures.  Starbuck, Boomer, Cassiopeia and
Athena, all stand and live - well, Starbuck mostly lives.  You better
give him a chance to Tango with Cassi.  It takes three to Tango though. 
-- so now you have failed seven times.  And that's my lucky number." 
The Knight shook his head mockingly at the Prince of Darkness.  "Tisk
Tisk.  That must be a new record."
     "I HAVE NOT FAILED!!!"  Iblis screamed his fury and glowed with
killing energy, and bad breath, whirling to face the Galactica members.
     The Knight knew instantly what was about to happen and shouted to
Apollo.  "Apollo, throw him the Dentine and draw the sword!  I have
crayons and paper if you need it."
     "What, here?  In front of all these people?"
     "Not that sword!  The other one!"
     Apollo did not hesitate and pulled the sword out of the sheath on
his back placing it in front of him as Iblis let lose with a burst of
energy at the Galacticans.  
     The sword seemed to take on a life of its own. Apollo wielded it
high above his head.  "By the Lords of Gray Kobol, I have the power." 
It caught the destructive energy charge and then sent it harmlessly in
the air where it disappeared.  Apollo stood there, shocked and staring
in disbelief at the sword.  (No, not that one!)  He looked at his
family and friends, whose expressions all were about the same as his. 
It must have short-circuited.  He then turned to face the Knight, who
was smiling at him, pleased.
     "Good job, lad.  Good job."
     Iblis stared in horror at the sword in Apollo's hand and then spun
to face the Knight.  "YOU!  You gave him a holy sword."
     "I gave him the +2 Sword of Trojan.  You know that sword's
history, Diabolis."
     "You retrieved it."
     "No, I just went down to the drugstore.  Its time has come again. 
It will serve its new master well just as it has served its other
masters in the past," replied the Knight proudly.  "And be aware,
Diabolis, Apollo is its new master as well as his blood descendants."
     "If he has any, with that sword.  He is mortal."
     "So were the others who were entrusted with its care."
     "I am not done yet Knight," Iblis growled angrily at the Knight.
     The Knight sighed, tired of Iblis.  "You are done this day,
Diabolis.  Be gone with you."
     "You know there will be another time."
     "Yeah, yeah, 'and another place and we'll meet again.'   Same
time, same ghoul channel.  Yadda, yadda.  It's time for a change.  That
saying is getting old after all of these millennia," replied the Knight
wearily.  Iblis looked at the Knight in dismay, and said nothing more,
but disappeared.  The Knight smiled, walking over to stand in front of
Apollo and said to him quietly.
     "You have a very powerful weapon in your arsenal now, Apollo. 
Better watch how the women handle it.  This sword has traveled the
Universe fighting for justice, truth, and the American Way, and
goodness throughout the millennia.  The last person to use it was a
great king, who in a moment of weakness, not only lost his great and
wonderful kingdom, but his life.  I was there and I could do nothing to
stop it.
     So the sword was given to a mystical being for safekeeping.  That
dungeon master and all his riddles really stumped me.  I finally solved
one till it was needed again.  It now is in your care.  Promise me not
to joke about it.  Iblis fears this sword, as well he should.  He can't
solve a riddle to save his lightning strikes."
     Apollo looked at the Knight in wonderment.  "I'll  have no idea
how to use it."
     "So I've heard," Starbuck muttered.
     "Don't worry, Apollo," Sheba said.  "I'll help you."
     "Hey, if Serina couldn't-"
     Sheba grabbed another rock; Starbuck shut up.
     "That will come to you as you grow and find your own gifts and
power.  With your technology, the uses for the +2 Sword of Trojan are
just slightly limited.  But remember only the pure of heart can possess
this sword.  It is not a myth, or a legend, but a requirement for its
use.  The great powers dictated the requirements when the sword was
cast."  The Knight smiled broadly and placed a reassuring hand on
Apollo's shoulder.  "I know that you will use it well.  But now you
need to return to your fleet and heal, Apollo.  Give yourself the time
to heal.  Cassie can help with that - she's experienced in this kind of
thing.  She knows how to use it too."
     "Hey!" Starbuck objected.
     "The two people that died at Iblis' hand..." Apollo tried to bring
the subject back to the subject at hand.  So much for theories.
     "It was their destiny.  You could not stop it even though you
tried your best.  What you remember of their deaths will fade into
memory.  Let it.   Don't dwell on it."
     Apollo looked at him hesitantly, then asked quietly.  "Did I go
mad, Brannigan?  Am I still in Serina angst?"
     "No, lad.  Not the true definition of madness.  Your mind escaped
the physical duress that you were under by creating a new world for
you. When you saw your loved ones, the ones you trusted to protect you
from what you could not protect yourself from, the walls began to
crumble.  It was just another brick in the wall.  Those black and red
hammers marching across the top were too heavy.  The memories returned
like a rushing river.  Don't flip the float next time. You may never
see the Cabin afterwards.  The trust that you have in them is strong
and binding.  And when you saw your father, you felt that you had
failed him somehow and not lived up to the expectations that you
believed he had for you.  You never failed your father, or your friends
- you scored a B+.  Thane and Iblis instilled a strong sense of failure
in you during your captivity.  Of course, you're really not much of an
actor.  Or at least you sure need some help choosing roles.  You
succeeded in much."
     "But be warned - Diabolis is not gone - he's just stuck in the
turboflush with Bojay.  He will return someday.  Until that day, any
one of his minions will come across your path, so heed this warning, do
not take their threats lightly, for they are very powerful and
formidable.  And likely to be carrying Pooh Fruits.  To win, you will
need to remain together, keep the depth of the love and the trust that
you have for each other strong.  Lift some weights if you can.  And
you, Apollo, will need to fully heal.  It will be slow and take a long
time.  Besides, your HMO will not cover the cost.  But you have a lot
of support to help you.  Don't turn away from them, thinking you can
handle everything yourself."
     The Knight looked to Starbuck and Boomer.  "The horses have been
returned to my dear sister and your thanks have been conveyed.  I'm
sure that they, too will heal in time.  I have a mule if you want it. 
Also a shuttle is on its way from the Galactica and will be here to
take you home shortly."  The Knight turned and started walking away
from the canyon.
     Apollo stood watching the Knight walk away when he felt someone
touch his arm.  He turned and looked into Athena's concerned blue eyes. 
She tried to forget about Apollo not threatening Starbuck with equine
cleaning duty in the agro ships if he didn't go out with her.  He
draped his arm around his sister's shoulders and said softly, "What are
you doing off the bridge?"
     Athena smiled back at him.  "Someone had to save your rear, and I
didn't want to be in front 'cuz I'd be right in the line of fire, so I
figured I was the best choice for the job."
     Apollo smiled at her.  "And why is that?"
     "I've been doing the job for so long and I do it so well, even if
I can't act."
     "Yeah, right," teased Apollo, as he put his other arm around
Sheba, who placed her other arm around Starbuck's back, placing her
hand on his hip, checking for his sword hoping Cassie wouldn't see.
Even if she did, she knew where to find Starbuck's sword.  Starbuck had
his arm around Cassie.  Boomer wrapped his arm around Athena and they
all started walking, practicing "A Chorus Line" along the way, behind
Adama and the Knight back to the landing site.
     "I can do more than just sit on the bridge, Apollo," Athena
replied, half-heartedly arguing with her brother.  "I can stand just as
well, as long as I remember where my mark is."  She was glad to see the
light come back into his eyes.  She was right, he was not broken or
even mad.   He was, however, mildly annoyed.  And damned annoying, too!
     And she was going to make sure that he took the time to recover,
no matter how much she had to bully him.  "I can do a lot more."
     "Hey Starbuck," Apollo called out to his friend, "Athena says that
she's the best person for covering my rear and your front.  I thought
that was you."
     "Hey, I like girls!  This time buddy, I needed a lot of help.  Had
to call out the reserves," Starbuck joked.  At least until I find a few
more women.
     Adama put his hand on the Knight's arm, stopping him at the edge
of the woods.  "I wish to thank you for everything you did for my son
and for protecting my daughter.  I was always hoping his mother would
be the one to take him down to the drugstore and show him how to... buy
those things."
     The Knight smiled.  "All in the job description of a Knight, but
you're welcome."
     The Knight sighed as he looked around the green of the forest. 
"This has been a nice life while I was here.  The only thing I'll
regret is that I won't be able to physically be there as Brannigan when
Thane is defeated and Cedric takes back his throne.  But Shanea will
be."
     "Your daughter?"
     The Knight nodded.  "When the time comes, she will evolve into
what I am now.  She's only in a training bra now.  She has a great
destiny in service to the Creator.  I just wish I could have had more
time with her.  She's a hottie."
     The Knight turned and watched the 6 Galacticans walk towards them
in a line with their arms about each other, first kicking one leg, then
the other, in perfect unison.   Well, all except for Starbuck.  Despite
what some other writers think, he really dances like a Cylon; the
friendship and love they  shared shining brightest at that moment,
until they started singing "Dancing in the Moonlight" and began a disco
line dance.  Adama also turned and smiled at  the sight.  It looked
pretty funny -- like something out a bad Xena episode.  Were we ever
that stupid?  He wondered.
     The Knight sighed.  "The name Crisdean that I gave Apollo was my
own son's name.  He died at the hands of evil when he was just a lad,
but it feels just like it was yesterday.  The sword was supposed to be
his to fight evil at my side.  Besides, it didn't fit anyway, it was
too small.  You're a lucky man, Adama.  You have the devout love of two
children that God blessed you with and the love of 4 others.  You're a
very lucky man.  Thank Him for your blessings everyday."
     Adama looked at the Knight and then back to his children, all of
his children.  "I already do.  But I think I'll invest in singing and
dancing lessons.  Know anybody?"
     "Well, there is this Tigger?"

Epilogue: And they all lived happily ever after.  Except Apollo, who's
still trying to get the foil off.