The Sum of All Parts, Episode Two: Lupus in the Fold by Carla Written for, Battlestar Galactica (1978) stories There is no copyright infringement intended by this story. It is for the purpose of entertainment only. 'There are those who believe that life here, began out there. Far across the universe with tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. Some believe that there may yet be brothers of man who even now fight to survive somewhere beyond the heavens.' Chapter One Scene One The main recreation area of the pleasure ship Rising Star was uncharacteristically silent. As was the case with every ship of the Colonial Fleet, there were routine maintenance cycles during which areas of the oblated delta-winged cruiser would be subjected to many varied structural integrity scans. These sweeps made by the technicians from the Battlestar Galactica's science laboratory were a precautionary measure, one of the many basic elements of Colonial life that had evolved over the last two yahrens. It was over this span of time that the survivors of the Destruction of the Twelve Colonies had travelled through unfamiliar space in search of the lost Thirteenth Colony. There was no stationary port, no place of rest for the amalgam of escape ships. The journey had become a backdrop for the people of the Fleet to carry on a daily existence, living in space for what was surely to be an indefinite measure of time. Just one more trip back to the Galactica, clear out the equipment and I'm finished piloting lab-techs to and from every cruiser in this fleet, Athena sighed as she fastened the safety harness, pulling the clasp across her lap and leaning back in the pilot seat of the military transport shuttle, one of many small ships that facilitated the day to day operations of the Colonial Fleet in an ever evolving network of technical transport and maintenance missions. Communications was her specialty, but like all warriors, in particular those with Command Centre assignments, she pulled occasional shifts to perform other tasks for which her multi-faceted skills were required. "Core Command to Maintenance Shuttle Alpha," the Lieutenant started slightly as Bridge Officer Omega's voice was transmitted from the tiny speaker in her headset relay, "Come in Maintenance Shuttle Alpha." "Core Command, this is Maintenance Shuttle Alpha," Athena adjusted the earpiece with a touch of her index finger, "Lieutenant Athena here. What is your message, Core Command?" she spoke in the practiced tone of an experienced Communications Officer, enunciating each syllable in a measured and calm manner. "Maintenance Shuttle Alpha, please be advised, we have a medical emergency on Agro-Ship Seven. You are the most immediate transport to the Galactica. Launch now and land in aft Agro-Port. Please acknowledge, Lieutenant. Over. "This is Athena. What about the scan maintenance crew and the lab-techs? I'm their ride home. Over. We're sending another shuttle for them. Launch now and get that patient to the Galactica. We have med-techs standing by." "Affirmative," Athena powered up the shuttle and initiated the rear hatchway control as she scanned the gauges and various other displays on the main navigational and communications console, "I estimate arrival at aft Agro-Port in twenty centons. Over. "Affirmative, Shuttle Alpha," Omega's voice reflected Athena's own professional calm, "Please advise on Agro-Port landing and loading, estimated arrival on Galactica Landing Bay Alpha. Core Command Out." Almost immediately after the hatch closed with a muffled clang of metal on metal, the main booster was powered up and lifting the shuttle up and out of the boarding bay beneath the main body of the Rising Star. Under Athena's practiced maneuvering, the smaller ship's trajectory and speed were adjusted for the shortest possible journey to Agro-Ship Seven. She positioned the scanner display outline of the aft section of the food production complex, designated Agro-Ship Seven, in the center of the crosshairs on the primary navigational targeting scanner and depressed the auto-lock initiation sequencer. Barring any sudden drift from surrounding ships, or random debris, the shuttle's swift flight would not require any more manual input until landing maneuvers were initiated. Athena had not inquired as to the nature of the emergency. It did not matter. As she and Omega well knew, the urgency of her deployment from the Rising Star suggested a serious injury requiring the resources of the Galactica's Life Station. In the event of a less serious situation, transport time would not be a primary concern and the affected parties would have waited, as the lab-techs aboard the Rising Star now did, for a second shuttle to be launched from the battlestar. "Agro-Ship Seven, this is Galactica Emergency Medical Transport Shuttle Alpha," as Fleet military protocol required, Athena altered the designation of the shuttle to reflect the nature of its current function. This was a convenient and efficient means of communicating ship to ship and, particularly in the event of imminent attack from enemy forces. In the last few sectons, squadrons of Cylon raiders had appeared in the space surrounding the fleet at random intervals, attacking any Fleet ship within range of their laser cannons, then disappearing into space as mysteriously as they had appeared. The Galactica's sensors, and those of its fighters, had thus far been unable to identify the source of the Cylon activity. Since the mysterious destruction some sectons ago of an artificially constructed planet upon which Adama's two surviving children had discovered evidence of the trail left by the Thirteenth Colony, no basestars or planet bound structures had been discovered. This had resulted in a state of battle readiness for Athena and her fellow warriors. "Priority clearance aft Agro-Port. I am responding to a medical emergency. Acknowledge and confirm aft landing. Over." "Galactica Shuttle, this is Agro-Ship NavCom. Please proceed as advised. Aft Agro-Port is ready to receive. Patient secured and standing by. Over." "Aye, Agro NavCom. Shuttle Alpha is coming in on manual now. Over." Athena depressed the auto-lock release, moved the navigational control in a smooth arc, rotating the shuttle one hundred and eighty degrees on its axis and then touched it down precisely over the center indicator, a bright orange disc stencilled over the center point of the large receiving and loading area within the pressurized perimeter of the Agro-Port structure. This would facilitate a direct launch on the last leg of the journey to the Galactica. She tethered the control stick in its console holster with her left hand as she initiated the main hatch release with her right. *** Chapter One Scene Two "Athena!" The young Lieutenant's face registered surprise as she recognized her brother's voice. She turned to see Captain Apollo entering the front cabin of the Galactican shuttle to stand behind the co-pilot seat. Balancing with his hands on the headrest before him, he leaned toward her and spoke in an urgent, but professional tone, all-business, as his military command training dictated in emergency situations, "We have an agro-tech with internal injuries. Sheba's immobilized her on a portable anti-grav platform. They're securing her in the aft cargo section now. She fell from an upper deck. The rail gave way, and she hit the lower deck pretty hard. Advise Life Station that she's likely got several broken ribs, possible internal bleeding and a superficial head wound." "Aye, Captain," Athena responded crisply, as her own well-conditioned instincts took over," Galactica Core Command, this is Alpha Shuttle. Advise Life Station that we have broken ribs, possible internal bleeding and apparently superficial head wound. Estimate arrival Alpha Landing Bay in," the young woman raised her eyebrows questioningly at the Captain. He, in turn, glanced back to see the aft hatch secured and the slim figure of Lieutenant Sheba emerging quickly from the cargo section, gesturing with a wave that indicated an 'all-clear' sign to her fellow warriors, then disappearing once more into the rear compartment of the shuttle. "All clear," Apollo relayed to Athena as he secured himself in the co-pilot seat, lifted a headset relay from the receptacle clamp on the console directly in front of him and positioned it over his right ear. "...arrival Alpha Landing Bay in approximately fifteen centons, Core Command. Over. Agro NavCom, we are underway." Athena retrieved the control stick from its tether and moved it forward, initiating a gradually inclining launch trajectory from the Agro-Port's pressurized area and retraced her route out through the sequence staggered air-lock doors that held back the open space from the interior of the Agro-Ship. The Lieutenant input the most direct trajectory to the Galactica, depressed the navigational auto-lock once more and leaned back in her seat, turning to face the Captain, "You and your wife-to-be having a day off together, big brother?" "Trying to," Apollo responded with a humourless smile, "we thought we might have the whole mid-day to enjoy a little fresh air away from the Galactica." Athena knew that her brother and Sheba had been trying once or twice every secton to slip into the relative anonymity of the civilian population of the Fleet for a brief furlon. This was no easy feat, considering the Fleet's current alert status. Apollo in particular, as primary Strike Leader for all of the Galactica's fighter squadrons and Blue Squadron Commander, often found it necessary to deny himself such greatly valued personal time. The Agro-Ships in particular afforded the couple an occasional escape for a day or two of privacy together away from their duties, their family and friends, and the good-humoured but sometimes awkward scrutiny of their fellow warriors. Since the two had announced their plan to marry, they had been faced with the effort of trying to balance their personal lives with their every day responsibilities as warriors. Sheba had suffered in particular from the good-natured ribbing of her comrades from the Silver Spar Squadron over her plan to marry the handsome and serious young Squadron Commander. Her plan to seal with the Squadron Commander was fodder enough for the pilots to chew on, but the fact that he was also the Galactica's Strike Leader, the son of her Commander, and the battlestar's third highest ranking warrior had resulted in a gleeful barrage of friendly, but often embarrassingly personal and pointed remarks. The one primary saving grace that had spared her from more extreme potential torment and mock accusations of nepotism was her own pedigree as a pilot of the highest rating and the daughter of Cain, one of the Twelve Colonies' most legendary strategists and the Commander of the Battlestar Pegasus. The significance of Apollo and Sheba's family histories was not lost on those who knew them. What more natural direction in life could there be for the descendents of two of the most renowned and respected military clan families that the Colonies had ever produced than that they had chosen one other to seal with? On more than one occasion of late-night jocularity, the female pilots that shared the barracks where Sheba currently resided had only half-jokingly likened the volatile and passionate relationship between the two young warriors to the historically based romantic drama serials now currently popular with viewers of the mid-day Inter Fleet Broadcasting entertainment transmissions. "Well," Athena glanced at her brother with a look that conveyed sympathy, "difficult as it is for you to enjoy some privacy in the Fleet, it's lucky for that agro-tech that you two were there to administer first aid." Apollo nodded rather grimly and settled back in his seat, gazing distractedly through the forward screen at the view of the star field and various ships of the fleet that appeared, subjectively, to hang suspended in space before them. "What's our arrival time?" Brother and sister turned in the direction of Sheba's voice. "About ten more centons," Athena responded, smiling in greeting as Sheba moved to balance herself, as Apollo had, leaning slightly forward with her hands on the headrest of the co-pilot seat. "The patient's lost consciousness, but I think she'll be fine. I've given her some mild stimulants to hold back the shock until the med-techs can get her into a bio-bed." Sheba sighed in resignation as she rested a hand on Apollo's left shoulder, "So much for a few centaurs of freedom." "We will still have the rest of the day," Apollo said reassuringly as he glanced up into Sheba's warm brown eyes, reaching to lift the slender fingers from his shoulder and touch them to his lips for a brief, but tender, kiss, "once we hand her over to the med-techs, we'll find some quiet place to escape the sweet embrace of our family and friends," the Captain's tone was mockingly sarcastic as he smiled slightly and turned to look into his sister's blue eyes, so strikingly disparate in colour than his own deep green ones, "no offense intended to present company, little sister." "None taken. Just give me a heads up for Starbuck's gaming pool on your choice of sealing date, and we'll call it even," Athena mirrored her brother's smile before returning her gaze to the main navigation array and depressing the auto-lock release for a second time, "Core Command, this is Emergency Medical Transport Alpha. Confirm approach vector for Alpha Bay. Over." "Shuttle Alpha, you are cleared for landing on your present trajectory," it was Lieutenant Rigel's voice that responded to Athena's transmission this time. Due to the necessity wrought by limited manpower, Omega's duties as ranking Bridge Officer under the Commander and Colonel Tigh often overlapped with those of his subordinates, like Athena and Rigel, who served in the Command Centre on the main bridge of the Galactica, "medical team is standing by. Over." "Thank you Core Command. Shuttle Alpha is coming in on manual control now. Over and out." Athena brought the control stick around in a speedy, yet gentle maneuver that deposited the shuttle on the deck in the pressurized area of Landing Bay Alpha, one of two vast structures comprising a part of the wing-like projections that flanked the main body of the Battlestar Galactica. Releasing Sheba's hand, Apollo, from his position as co-pilot, helped his sister in powering down the shuttle's engines and various other systems by running his practiced pilot's fingers across the series of relay switches within his arms' reach. Athena once more tethered the control stick and tripped the hatch release to admit the medical team that waited in front of the lift entrance some fifteen metrons from the shuttle's now static position on the deck. Disentangling themselves from their safety harness restraints, brother and sister rose to join Sheba as the three warriors turned and proceeded quickly aft toward the now opened hatchway. They emerged into the rear cargo area to see Doctor Salik and three med-techs rush forward through the opening, med kits at the ready, to approach the prone figure that lay strapped securely on the anti-grav platform that Sheba had appropriated as a make-shift medical transport device. "Cassiopeia, get an internal scan of the abdominal area," Doctor Salik spoke in his usual gruff tone to the pretty blonde med-tech at his side and gestured with his hands for the three warriors to vacate the shuttle, "and don't bother with the portable bio-bed. We'll power up the anti-grav platform and take her onto the lift as she is." "Yes, Doctor," Cassiopeia responded clearly and nodded a brief acknowledgement to her friends. The three young warriors carefully stepped past her and the other members of the medical team, hands positioned on their leg holstered laser pistol grips to avoid unintended impact and accidental discharge in the now close environment of the shuttle. In part, to free up the main lift, they exited through the hatchway and proceeded together, in the unspoken assent of familiarity, toward the hatch connecting Landing Bay Alpha to its adjoining launch bay. This was a shortcut to the Command Centre Access Junction, a central location from which to access any other area of the Alpha Deck, including express lift access to the crew quarters, recreational areas, commissary and learning centre complex. It was a route taken often by Apollo, his sister and his wife-to-be as well as the other dozens of Colonial Warriors who lived and worked within the metal skin of the Battlestar Galactica. *** Chapter One Scene Three Cassiopeia focussed her bright blue eyes on the display built into the ultrasonic scanning device that she held in one hand as she lifted the attached sensor wand with the other to sweep the tiny sensors over the prone agro-tech's body. "Doctor Salik," she furrowed her brow and stood back as the two other med-techs powered up the anti-grav platform upon which the agro-tech lay and rushed it out the hatchway, across the landing bay deck and lowered it gently onto the decking that comprised the floor of the main lift. This was the most direct route to Life Station, rivalling the travel time of its counterpart from the Junction. "There's an unidentified compound registering on this scan," Cassiopeia held up the scanner as she and Salik quickly retrieved their med-kits and rushed to join the others on the lift. "Clear," Diana, the diminutive redheaded med-tech on the side nearest the lift control called out as emergency protocol required and visually scanned the perimeter of the lift decking. Seeing that all seemed in order, she initiated the command sequence that propelled the lift downward toward the corridor outside the Life Station. All four of the Life Station Officers crouched down to stabilize the four respective edges of the oblate anti-grav platform as the injured woman began to regain some degree of consciousness, as evidenced by the soft moans that had begun to escape from her partially opened lips. "It's going to be alright," Cassiopeia whispered encouragingly into the agro-tech's ear, "we're taking you to Life Station right now. Hang on. Try to stay awake," the blonde med-tech touched the patient's face softly with her fingers in an effort to keep the woman from drifting back into unconsciousness. The head wound was apparently superficial, but unconsciousness could be dangerous in the case of a concussive injury. It was medical protocol with such injuries to keep the patient awake during transport in order to avoid possible coma, or worse, until a more thorough examination could be performed in the medical facility. "When we get to Life Station, I want this woman in a bio-bed on a high level hydration mixture, then immediately hooked up to a diagnostic station. We'll need a full array of testing," the Doctor had taken the ultrasonic scanning device from Cassiopeia's proffered hand and studied the small display with an ever deepening frown. He carefully set down the device on the platform beside the patient and reached for a small cylindrical tube that protruded from the utility sleeve on the front of his tunic. With the tap of a small switch, and the quick motion of the Doctor's hand, the cylindrical torch cast a light into first one and then the other of the patient's now partially opened eyes. "You were right, Cassiopeia. It says on Lieutenant Sheba's notation that she administered the stimulant packet from the emergency med-kit on the agro-ship, as recommended for the head wound, but this scanner shows an additional compound," Salik replaced the small torch into its utility pocket and sat back on his heels, gazing thoughtfully at the prone woman before him, still steadying his side of the platform with his left hand. "What is it, Doctor?" Cassiopeia asked with a concerned tone, her eyebrows furrowed as they had over the scanner display, "What does it mean?" "It means, Cassiopeia," the Doctor paused as the lift stopped its downward motion and came to rest on its appointed level, five metrons down the corridor from the medical facility's main entrance. Salik stood with the others as Diana powered up the anti-grav platform. The four medical officers guided the platform steadily through the lift access and stepped in measured paces along the corridor toward the Life Station. Cassiopeia's eyes opened wide and her lips parted in quiet concern at the gruff Chief Medical Officer's next words, "...it means that this woman was somehow poisoned with an unknown toxin just moments before she fell from that platform." *** Chapter One Scene Four "I'd better report in to Command Centre. I was on a routine piloting assignment when I got called to the agro-ship. I should make sure my passengers made it back on the secondary shuttle." Athena broke away from Apollo and Sheba as the three young people emerged into the Command Centre Access Junction. "Enjoy the rest of your day off, you two. Don't forget that Boxey is stopping at Father's quarters after learning period, Apollo. Father wants us to have an evening meal together," the young woman paused and smiled at her sister-to-be, "all of us," with a final wave, she disappeared through the opening into the lower aft gallery of the Galactica's massive Command Centre. "Where to, Captain," Sheba smiled brightly and tilted her head as she approached Apollo, gesturing toward the array of express lift access hatches that extended several metrons along the large bulkhead before them. "Maybe we should just stand here in the Junction for a while," Apollo laughed as he reached for Sheba's hands and pulled her to him, "what are the odds that anyone will find us here?" he released her hands to slide his own up the sleeves of her flight jacket, grasping her slim shoulders as he bent to kiss her. Sheba smiled seductively, her shining light brown hair catching the light from the overhead illumination panels as she moved to press her palms to the Captain's chest and return the gesture." "Well, what luck meeting you two here!" Lieutenant Starbuck's voice jarred the couple from their moment of happy oblivion in the all too brief privacy of the Junction and from their anticipation of the now sidetracked kiss, "Are we interrupting anything?" the blonde Lieutenant's voice and expression merged to effect an assumed air of wide-eyed innocence as the two lovers moved apart, each reddening slightly, hooked their thumbs on either side of their respective gun belts, and turned together to regard Apollo's wingman and best friend with matching grim and quiet expressions that could only be compared to birds of prey regarding a potential meal. Starbuck jammed his seldom absent fumarello into his mouth and fished through his pockets for a match. His search unsuccessful, he lowered the unlit fumarello and glanced back toward the other two warriors who now emerged from the main lift access behind him. Boomer and Bojay moved to join their companion in front of the express lift that moved up and down between the Junction and the recreational area. "Before you ask, no, I do not have a light," Boomer's deep mellow voice echoed softly against the bulkheads of the Junction's main chamber, "I thought you were trying to cut down?" the dark Lieutenant shot a commiserating look at Apollo and Sheba as he and Lieutenant Bojay moved to flank Starbuck in front of the control panel beside the express lift access. "You should get a flinton, Starbuck," Bojay grinned in greeting to his friend and some time wingman Sheba and nodded with warmth, but slightly less familiarity to the Captain. "Then he'd try to corner the flinton refuelling market and find some way to blow up the Officer's Club now that it's finally been rebuilt," Boomer remarked to the group at large and gestured toward the lift access behind him. A few decks below the level of the Junction, where this particular lift was programmed to stop, was the corridor that led into the newly restored Officer's Club. The bar and gaming centre, as Boomer and his fellow warriors well remembered, had been destroyed days before the Fleet's narrow escape from the planetary explosion that had marked the return, some sectons ago, of the Cylon threat to their daily existence. Starbuck had arranged a competition pitting Doctor Wilker's prototype survey drones against one another in a challenge that had begun as a gaming venture in the guise of scientific testing in the previous incarnation of the Officer's club. Boomer also knew well that the destruction and mayhem that had ensued that day had been caused by the combined circumstances of a mushie dropped into the firing chamber of a combustion weapon and mistaken for an incendiary pellet and a survey drone's misinterpretation of the potential threat posed by a suddenly ignited flinton that had been proffered by the barman's outstretched hand. Starbuck had bent forward to ignite his fumarello in the heat of the flinton's small, seemingly innocuous flame. Somehow, one of the two survey drones had erroneously processed the conclusion that a military threat was imminent. By the end of the day, the Officer's Club and approximately fifty per cent of the commissary had been completely destroyed and Lieutenant Starbuck had been enveloped in a residue comprised of several hundred blue mushies fired at high velocity from the drones' suddenly enabled compression weapons. It was only within the last secton that the recreational and food service facilities had been rebuilt and equipped with prominent signs forbidding the entry of any unauthorized drones or other automated mechanisms. "I can see that you all lack the vision to appreciate my efforts on all your parts," Starbuck proclaimed dramatically, with a look of mock disapproval and exaggerated shake of his blonde head. He gazed soulfully into Boomer's eyes, "You don't appreciate the many trials that are necessary to get a money-making franchise off the ground." "I still don't have a light," Boomer responded dryly, his serious tone belied by the expression of humour in his dark eyes. He tapped the control plate on the panel beside the express lift access, "Coming with us for an uneventful drink, Captain? Sheba? Starbuck could use the extra supervision. I think he's suffering some after affects from his mushie allergy." "No thanks, guys," Apollo responded quietly. His long-suffering expression softened as he regarded his friends. "Maybe next time," Sheba said, as the lift access opened with a brief warning in the form of a low electrical hum. "By the way, have you two set a date yet?" Starbuck shot the remark over his shoulder as he entered the lift behind Bojay and Boomer, "It's not too early to let me know so I can close the pool. I could find a way to cut you in on the proceeds." "Starbuck," Apollo's voice carried a warning tone. He and Sheba had recently discovered that their fellow pilots, among many others, had been enthusiastically laying bets on the status of their relationship since long before the two had announced their engagement. Estimates of the total cubits currently riding on the varied permutations of projected wagers regarding such things as the sealing date and how long it would be before the couples' next major argument were running into the tens of thousands. It was well known that the two, though they obviously cared deeply for one another, could clash unpredictably over the most unexpected things and the 'Sheba puts Apollo in Life Station' option had been a front runner from the beginning. "I just want to know when I need to have my dress uniform cleaned and pressed. The best man has to set a dignified tone," Starbuck smiled broadly into his best friend's face and waved the still unlit fumarello with a flourish as the lift doors closed between them. *** Chapter One Scene Five "Poisoned?" Commander Adama strode from behind his desk to stop beside the two men in medical tunics who stood side by side before the broad work top, Doctors Salik and Paye. "How did this happen? "Doctor Salik consulted with me as soon as the patient was stabilized, Commander," Doctor Paye, head of the specialized and long term care section of the Galactica's medical complex, and an authority on biological chemical analysis, "At first we theorized that Agro-Tech Jain may have unknowingly ingested some form of botanical mixture, causing disorientation leading to a fall. Agro-Ship Seven is, after all, stocked with a vast variety of chemicals." " 'At first'?" Adama repeated the young man's words and turned to share a grim expression with Doctor Salik, "Surely that poor young woman couldn't have tried to harm herself deliberately," the Commander's words cut through his lips with an edge of horror. "We've communicated with almost everyone who was present when she fell from the upper deck," Doctor Salik kept his voice level and his expression enigmatic. Years of experience with the many varied medical emergencies that could and did arise in a time of war had given him an impressive degree of self control that had become second nature to him. He was one of the small exclusive group of men, including Doctor Wilker, Colonel Tigh and a few others, who had been offered assignments to the Battlestar Galactica shortly after Adama had been appointed as its Commander. Those many yahrens ago, when the Commander's family had still been very young, even before the youngest of his children, Zac, had been born, Adama had charged Doctor Salik with the task of managing the battlestar's large medical complex. The unproven Salik had risen to the challenge and had efficiently refined the speed and quality of care the Life Station administered to the warriors and civilians alike who lived and worked aboard the Galactica, risking their lives in the struggle against the Cylon tyranny. In the process, the doctor had earned the reputation as a no-nonsense authoritarian, with clear and demanding expectations for himself and those who served under him. He was also one of the few officers aboard the battlestar who could, in a medical emergency, outrank the Commander. "There has been no indication that Jain was suicidal, or even mildly depressed. In fact, her supervisor had given her permission to end her work period ahead of schedule. Apparently, she was planning to meet a young man for evening meal, and finished her duties early. She was thought to have already caught a ride to the Galactica on one of our maintenance shuttles," the gruff Doctor Salik paused and crossed his arms over his chest, physically punctuating the serious nature of his words, "Paye and I have examined the patient thoroughly, and we believe that this woman was not only deliberately poisoned, but may have been pushed or thrown from that upper deck. She landed on the lower deck with far too much force." Salik exchanged a glance with Paye, "Her injuries just don't support the suggestion that it was a sudden misstep." "We also found what appears to be a small puncture wound on the left side of her neck, close to a major artery," the tall young man took over from where his superior had left off, "It's not from any stinging insect or thorny plant known to be aboard the agro-ship. We're currently waiting for the molecular imaging results, but we believe that the wound may have been caused by a medical injector of some kind." "Good Lords," Adama breathed, the expression on his face had become even more grim. Reaching for the communications console on his desktop, he tripped a small switch and spoke in the direction of the device, "Colonel Tigh, get a maintenance shuttle ready to return to Agro-Ship Seven. Have them standing by with toxic element filters. Doctor Paye and a medical research team will be with them shortly to give them more detailed instructions. I also want a thorough inspection of the scene of that accident, with particular attention paid to the condition of the decking that the young woman fell from. Have you got that, Colonel?" "Aye, Commander," Tigh's deep, melodious tones were emitted from small speaker built into the communications device, "I can re-route the maintenance shuttle scheduled to leave from Launch Bay Beta for the Celestra. They're scheduled for launch in about twenty five centons. Is there a problem, Sir?" "There could be, Tigh," the Commander responded thoughtfully, "I'll have to fill you in after I'm finished here. Adama out," he tripped the switch into the 'off' position and then returned his attention to the two doctors, who stood quietly waiting for their superior's next words, "What is Agro-Tech Jain's present condition?" "She's still in a semi-conscious state. The broken ribs will heal on their own, the internal damage is negligible and, fortunately, there doesn't seem to be any injury to her brain. The stimulant that Lieutenant Sheba administered kept her cardiovascular system from shutting down until we could get her on assisted respiration. We've administered a full range of anti-toxin treatments," Doctor Paye straightened his shoulders and unconsciously tensed the muscles of his jaw as he addressed the Commander, "but, until we know the nature of the substance she's been exposed to, it's the best we can do." "We'll need to limit access to and from the agro-ship," Doctor Salik interjected, "there's no evidence that anyone else has been affected, but I want to examine everyone who's been in contact with Jain within the last two daily cycles. I don't want to take any chances." Adama and Salik shared an unspoken thought in one brief glance. Kobol. It was just days before the discovery of the planet Kobol that Lieutenants Jolly and Boomer had skipped decontamination to attend a send-off for their Captain. Apollo and Starbuck had returned from a routine patrol to find almost all of their fellow warriors, and much of the bridge crew, infected by an unfamiliar virus. It had taken the untested skills of several cadets, including Apollo's then wife-to-be Serina, to destroy an asteroid-based Cylon launch platform and clear the way for the medics to retrieve a needed sample of the microbe that had almost wiped out the Fleet's one means of protection. It had been a single factor within a series of events that had ended with the recovery of the Galactica's warriors, and the return of Starbuck, but also with the violent death of Apollo's young bride within days of their sealing. The disaster had caused Adama to tighten up decontamination protocols. Anyone going planetside at any time was required to undergo decontamination procedures before leaving the landing or launch bays to re-enter the ship. There were no exceptions. "Doctor Paye," Adama brought himself back to the present with a slight nod toward the chemicals specialist, "get down to the launch bay and get your team together. I want you to supervise this investigation personally. Report to me the centon you learn anything pertinent, and Gentlemen," the Commander lifted his hands expressively as he addressed both of the medical officers, "Let's keep this as quiet as we can. I don't want the civilian population panicking, particularly over the fear of deliberate criminal violence. " "By your leave," Doctor Salik said as the Commander gestured toward the door. Paye followed Salik, with a nod of deference toward Adama, and the two men disappeared into the corridor. The door hissed to a close behind them. Lords, tell me there isn't a killer among us. Constant alert status, and now this, Adama stopped suddenly in his own exodus into the corridor, a new concern adding to the grimness of his expression, Apollo and Sheba. They were at the scene, and Athena was in the shuttle with them. Whether it's a toxin or a killer we're up against, or both, they could all be at risk!. Relaxing the muscles of his face and assuming a deliberately impassive demeanor, Adama hurried out the door, leaving his quarters and heading for the Command Centre with a renewed sense of urgency. *** Chapter One Scene Six "I just wish that the Cylons would go away," Sheba's voice struck a sad, mournful tone as she sat down roughly, slightly jostling Apollo as the two now faced one another on the bench seat beneath the view port, "I know I must sound like a petulant child, and I admit that I don't just wish it for the sake the people we're sworn to protect. It's because I feel a personal resentment toward those machine heads for keeping us on alert, and apart, day after day. The little bit of time that we managed to be alone was interrupted by poor Jain." The star field cast a soft illumination through the transparent tylium of the viewport and into the dim central chamber of the Captain's quarters. It seemed to him that the starlight was dancing in the soft waves of the Lieutenant's light brown hair. "I'm tired of this ever circuitous route we're on," Apollo knew that Sheba alluded not only to the somewhat spiralling course that the Commander had chosen for the Fleet in order to prevent the Cylons from deducing their primary course, but to the interference by the duty so unavoidably laid on their shoulders at a time when they least wanted such responsibilities," If only the alert would end, then we could get married." "I know," Apollo put his right arm around her shoulders and leaned back against the upholstered bench, pausing to enjoy the sensation of her warm body, in turn, leaning into his embrace. With the first two fingers of his left hand pressed gently against her jaw, he lifted her face slightly, "there's no denying that it's difficult, but we both know that in spite of the personal torture we've endured from almost every other warrior and support worker on this battlestar, duty comes first before everything," the Captain's voice reflected the way he had been feeling for the last few sectons, tired and frustrated, "I am so sorry," he kissed her gently on the lips, then pulled away to look once again into her eyes, "I will do my personal best to get rid of them so that we can get on with our lives," Apollo gave her shoulders a slight squeeze and bent to kiss her again. "Who will you get rid of first? The Cylons," Sheba slid her arms around the Captain's neck, pulling herself closer to him, "or Starbuck and his wagering pool?" Sheba felt the Captain's lips smile as they brushed against her own. "Starbuck," the Captain said his best friend's name with a tone of studied resignation. He sighed deeply and settled back further into the upholstered seat, with Sheba held firmly in his arms, her head resting on his shoulder, "As usual with most of Starbuck's schemes, things are completely out of control. That pool has grown to monstrous proportions. I actually had a technician from Beta Deck ask me when I'd be entering catharsis therapy." Apollo leaned his own head toward Sheba's, feeling the softness of her hair against his jaw, "He said he had thirty cubits riding on it and he was thinking of putting double or nothing on various permutations," the young warrior shook his dark head in disbelief at the memory, "He actually used the word 'permutations', as though it was perfectly normal to be betting on the state of my mental health and our personal interactions. From what I understand, any action of ours that could potentially be observed by at least two witnesses is fair game for a wager." "That's nothing, Skipper," Sheba threw out the nickname in an affectionately mocking manner and turned once more to smile up at him, a little of her usual good humour and bravado coming back into evidence, "the girls in the barracks are waiting for me to injure you in a fit of bad temper, and in various terrible ways," Sheba stopped and gave Apollo a questioning look that he found difficult to read, "Do we really disagree that much?" "I didn't think so, but there's apparently a lot of money on one or both of us winding up in Life Station with some unpleasant and inconvenient condition," Apollo chuckled, grudgingly giving up some of his bad temper, and watched the same reluctant humour lift the ends of Sheba's lips as her own laughter escaped from them to join his. "I understand that Colonel Tigh initially overlooked the gambling for the sake of morale," Sheba knew, as did Apollo, that there were times that having a higher rank than the majority of those who had survived of the entirety of the ancient, respected and once vast Colonial Forces had to involve being singled out in one way or another, often with the sacrifice of a little personal dignity. "But that was back when things were quiet and everyone was bored, before we encountered that planet full of Cylons and before the two of us discovered our own pilots plotting out that damned pool on a banner. The thing was three metrons long, and that was two sectons ago. Now we're on daily alert status, with off-duty restrictions and I feel as though we're living in some kind of nature exhibit. Everyone's keeping their thoughts away from the next Cylon attack by watching us and waiting to see who's won the wager on whatever we're seen doing next. I can barely manage a turbo wash in the barracks before I get cornered and interrogated for information. It's a little like being back in strategic ground force training, only without the live ammo and the mocked up Cylon centurions." Apollo and Sheba smiled at one another and began to laugh again, letting out a little of the angst that had built up within them toward the people and the circumstances that had kept them from their personal desires. They both understood, as Apollo had reminded her, and having descended from two of the most renowned military clans in Colonial history, that duty was ingrained tightly into the details of their lives. For them, it was not just a vow kept to the Colonial Fleet. For the two of them together, with the responsibilities they carried between them, it meant that they would often be called to sacrifice their own time together in service of their people. It was the common belief above all that the children of Cain and Adama had each been raised with, that for a warrior, commitment to duty must be primary above all else. "At least we're here together, with Boxey sound asleep in his chamber and no wagering pool observers present," Apollo extricated himself from the embrace to stand and pull Sheba to her feet beside him, keeping a gentle hold on both of her hands, "this is about as private as it gets, unless you want to have the Commander marry us with a field combat ceremony in his office. You could move out of the barracks and wait for Starbuck and his wagerers to realize that we've bean sealed right under their noses." "Starbuck would never stop whining if we got married without him, for a lot of reasons," a bittersweet smile crossed Sheba's face as she gazed into Apollo's green eyes. He had once shared with her the difficult memories of the conflicting emotions he had experienced when he had married for the first time, to Serina, during the Fleet's journey through the magnetic void around the sun of the planet Kobol, thinking at the time that Starbuck had died, unaware that the Cylons had abducted the Lieutenant on Baltar's orders. Sheba knew how important it was that Apollo's best friend be present at their sealing, whatever choice of ritual they settled on. "Let's wager that no-one is looking for us right now," Apollo pulled her closer. "Captain Apollo, report to Life Station," the Captain opened his lips in disbelief as he heard the Unicom transmit the summons throughout the multitude of chambers and corridors of the massive battlestar, then continue with another, "Lieutenant Sheba, report to Life Station." "Looks like we would have lost that bet," Sheba quipped in a humourless tone, as the Unicom repeated its message to them, "Someone on the ship is probably collecting on that Life Station wager right now." The two warriors shared another brief embrace, before donning their jackets, checking their sidearms and, with a quick glance by Apollo into Boxey's bedchamber to confirm that Muffit sat in silent vigil, they proceeded out the door and, as duty dictated, off to the nearest lift to Life Station. *** Chapter One Scene Seven "I hope it's nothing serious," Sheba said as she and Apollo stepped from the lift to the corridor and headed toward the nearby Life Station entrance. "I'm guessing it's not a family emergency. Father and Athena were both fine at evening meal and we know Boxey's home safe with Muffit," the Captain reached for the door control and activated the 'hatch open' sequence, "this probably has to do with the accident on the agro-ship." The two warriors were welcomed into Life Station by the sight of a team of lab-techs spraying fine mists of vari-coloured liquids from small tubes attached to a large machine that Apollo recognized as one of Wilker's molecular imaging prototypes. The ability to identify compounds with a brief scan was a scientific necessity for the gypsy Fleet. The Colonials relied on tylium rich asteroids and planets for their fuel and various types of raw materials required to keep the Fleet moving on its long journey while making the living conditions of its people as comfortable as possible. However, it was not the large, wheeled imaging device that captured the couple's attention. It was the object that the lab-techs were alternately spraying and then illuminating with small hand torches that drew their gaze. There before them, lying across three bio-beds, was a large metal structure that looked to Apollo, at first glance, like a larger version of a child's metal building set. "What…?" Sheba found herself struggling for words as she stared blankly at the mass of twisted metal rods before them. "That machine is an imaging prototype from Wilker's lab," Apollo gestured with a raised hand, "but what's that thing they're testing?" "It's the railing from the agro-ship," Apollo and Sheba started slightly as they turned to see the glum scientist standing behind them. "Paye didn't want to bring it down to Lambda Section, so I had to bring the imager up here. The Commander wants to keep it quiet for now." "Keep what quiet, Doctor Wilker?" Apollo felt a sensation that had become all too familiar of late, confusion, "What in Hades is going on? Why are we here? Why is that here?" the Captain gestured toward the railing that seemed to him like a large, ugly flower with the half dozen lab techs swarming around it with brightly coloured tubes of liquid in tow, like insects after pollen. "They're testing it for evidence," at the sound of his father's voice, the young warrior straightened his back and turned to see Adama emerging from behind a diagnostics station, where Cassiopeia sat busily adjusting various switches and knobs. Directly behind the med-tech, Athena stood with a printout in her hand, a clear look of concern on her dark face. "Father, what's going on? Was this railing faulty? If so, then why are we keeping it quiet? It was just an unlucky accident," Apollo could not help but recognize the grim expression on the Commander's face and spoke the last two words with little conviction, "wasn't it?" "It would appear that Agro-Tech Jain has been the victim," Adama hesitated, his face projecting the gravity of his words, "of an attempt at deliberate termination." "Murder?" Sheba breathed the word incredulously, "But why? Who would want to kill her? It's unbelievable," she shared a look of consternation with Apollo, then turned back toward the Commander, "I know Jain on a casual basis. I've spoken to her on many occasions during visits to the agro-ships. She's never struck me as the sort of person who makes enemies. She's quiet and shy, always hovering over her plants and singing to herself. I don't understand why anyone should wish to harm her." "We'll know more when the technicians have interpreted their results. In the meantime, you two follow Doctor Salik's instruction. Doctor Wilker has some results to discuss with me," the Commander placed a hand on Apollo's shoulder, "I will check in on you, later." "Captain! Lieutenant!" the gruff voice of Doctor Salik interrupted any further conversation, as Adama squeezed his son's shoulder and exited quickly with Doctor Wilker. "I'll need a blood sample from each of you," at Apollo's look of concern, the Doctor softened his tone slightly, "It's merely a precautionary measure, to be sure that the chemical in Jain's system wasn't administered to anyone else. I doubt if either of you has been infected, but you were at the scene when she fell and we need to rule that possibility out, for your own safety," the Doctor ushered the two young people past the crowd buzzing around the amputated railing and over to a treatment platform near the diagnostics station. Athena looked up from the printout in her hand and smiled at her brother, "It's alright. They took my blood earlier. I'm trapped here, too. It'll only hurt for a while." "Very funny," Apollo removed his jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair, loosening and rolling back his right sleeve as he sat down on the edge of the platform, "Did you have a wager on me giving blood in the Life Station?" since their climb over the mountains on the Cylon infested planet on what was to have been a routine survey mission, but had ended in the destruction of the artificially created planet and the return of the Cylons into their lives, the Captain had made a point of fostering a closer relationship with his sister. They'd had an emotional discussion of their feelings over the loss of their beloved little brother, taken so violently in the first wave of the attack that had heralded the Destruction of the Twelve Colonies. Now, over the last few sectons and much to their Father's delight, they had begun to lapse into the affectionately teasing tones that they had used with one another as children. "No, but I have a few cubits on some other options," Athena said the words distractedly, her mind obviously drawn from sibling banter back to the task at hand, and turned once more to consult Cassiopeia as she pointed to a line on the printout, "What do you make of this?" The two women consulted quietly, Athena's dark head leaning down over Cassiopeia's blonde one as they marked and copied certain items from the long piece of paper, inputting the information into the mainframe of the medical analysis computer. Apollo's attention was quickly redirected toward Doctor Salik as the older man unceremoniously grasped the young Captain's arm and smoothly inserted an extraction instrument into a vein with a practiced hand. Beside the Captain, perched on the edge of the treatment platform, Sheba was receiving a slightly gentler version of the same procedure at the hands of Diana, the small red-haired technician. "I'll need you to stay here in Life Station until we get the results. Athena and the last of the agro-techs are waiting as well. The medical staff has already been cleared. It shouldn't take more than a couple of centaurs," the Doctor paused to glance at the couple as he saw protestations beginning to form in their expressions, "it's a precautionary measure. No exceptions." "But, Boxey's home alone and we both have patrols in," the Captain looked down at his chronometer, then continued speaking to Doctor Salik's implacable face, "we have active duty in four centaurs," Apollo looked over at Sheba with the resigned look that had become a common feature on his own face of late, "it's been a long day, hasn't it?" "You might as well call someone to go sit with Boxey while we try to get some sleep in this madhouse. Starbuck and Bojay will be waiting for us when the active patrols rotate in four centaurs," Sheba said mournfully as she scanned the busy movement of people and machines throughout the crowed Life Station, then laid down on the platform behind Apollo, with a forearm draped over her eyes, "I wonder who has the winning wager on this scenario?" "Like I said," Apollo took in and then exhaled his breath in a slow and measured manner, "It's been a long day." *** Chapter One Scene Eight "Alpha Patrol, this is Core Command, you are cleared for launch," the familiar voice of Lieutenant Rigel resonated clearly from the speaker in the communications array in Captain Apollo's viper. "Affirmative, Core Command. Alpha Patrol launching," the Captain wasted no time and pushed forward the control stick with his left hand. Bracing for the gravitational force that forced him back into the cushioned seat of the viper, he closed his eyes and allowed the sensation of speed to wash over him. Emerging from the launch tube into the open space, he opened his eyes and took in the sight of the star field. In all the countless times that Apollo had launched into space, the experience had never lost that rush of awe and wonder for him. There were times, when the enemy was not in evidence, that he would pause and admire the vast and beautiful space around his viper, feeling much like a small boy indulging in his dream. "Alpha Two, this is Alpha One," Apollo looked through the transparent tylium canopy to see his wingman's fighter edge smoothly into formation next to his, "Starbuck, confirm heading on navigational computer at zero one seven." "Right behind you, Apollo. Zero one seven, heading confirmed," Starbuck's voice filled the small pocket of air that sustained the Captain within the canopy of the Colonial Viper, "Do you think the new sensor arrays are going to pick up the Cylons on long range?" "Only one way to find out," the Captain responded grimly. Every warrior in the Fleet had been waiting for the lab-techs to bring out their latest gadgetry. The ongoing attacks from the Cylon raiders that seemed to materialize mere hectons away from the convoy of ships, and then disappear from the scanners shortly after the Colonial Vipers had deployed, were wearing on everyone's morale. Nerves were frayed. The Commander had, only last secton, ordered that at least three active patrols be on duty until further notice. This meant that Apollo had been required to tighten up the duty roster to accommodate a constant rotation of triple sets of wingmen. The first patrol, the one Starbuck and Apollo were currently conducting, had the longer range, scanning the space around the Galactica and the Fleet in a sweeping arc. The other two sets of warriors on this duty period, were moving throughout the spaces between the varied ships of the Colonial Fleet, ready to rush to the defense of any ships suddenly accosted by a triad of Cylon raiders. Sheba and Bojay were assigned directly aft of the Fleet, and Boomer and Jolly flew in gentle arcs like satellites near the center, "If only we could detect them on long range," Apollo's voice registered the confusion and frustration that everyone in the Fleet had been feeling, to varying degrees, "This constant alert status is getting to people." "Oh?" Starbuck illustrated one of his common reactions to stress, changing the subject to something more entertaining to him, "and are these people getting some catharsis therapy? I heard it's a beneficial activity. By the way, how was your sleepover in Life Station? Cassiopeia said you were snoozing in a chair when she left you to check on Boxey." "Very funny, Starbuck. My back is rather sore, if you really care to know. But, I was told that Jain is slowly coming around. I'm just grateful everyone else's blood tested negative for the toxin." the Captain laughed rather mirthlessly, "And I doubt that I'll be going for professional counselling any time soon. You might as well tell everyone that you're removing that option from the pool." "Pool? Oh, you mean that friendly little wager I've got going with some of the guys?" Starbuck hardly hid his amusement at his friend's predicament, "I really haven't checked in with them recently. I think Greenbean had collected a little currency for a few harmless bets last time I thought to ask." "Starbuck, you're flat out lying," Apollo said bluntly, with more than a little pique, "the last time I saw that banner, it was at least three metrons long. I can't make a move without someone writing something down on a slip of paper, then rushing off the check the permutations. That's right, you heard me, I said permutations," the Captain willed himself to take one of many countless deep cleansing breaths, "This is what you've driven me to, my friend. Sheba and I are like hunted animals." "Now, buddy," Starbuck's voice took on a conciliatory tone, "I would think that you'd appreciate the encouragement of all those people who are wagering on your happiness. It's a true testament to your leadership abilities that the men feel comfortable enough with you to show how interested they are in your welfare and state of mind. You're a lucky man, Apollo, to be surrounded by so much love." " 'All those people' , huh?" Apollo couldn't help but laugh at his friend's theatrically dramatic protestations of innocence, "I thought you said that it was just a little wager among some of the guys?" "Who's counting?" Starbuck smiled through the panel of transparent tylium to his left, across the space that separated the two friends, and felt some relief to see the Captain smiling in return. Even Starbuck had begun to realize that the pool had grown in complexity and size to an almost unmanageable degree. He'd had to plot the wagers out on the banner to avoid conflicts, and more than a few people had commented on the Captain's short temper of late. In fact, 'Apollo chokes the pogees out of Starbuck' was currently one of the more popular options in the pool, right behind 'Sheba blackens Apollo's eye', but ahead of 'Sheba blackens Starbuck's eye'. "Well, somebody must be counting something. We've been under almost constant surveillance for at least the last secton," a familiar beeping sound drew Apollo's attention to his display, "Starbuck!" the Captain's voice was all business now. "I see them, Apollo," Starbuck responded in kind as the two warriors brought their fighters into an optimal defensive formation, "The new scanners didn't help at all. Those raiders are barely a decahecton away from the Galactica. They just appeared from nowhere like all the others." "Strike Leader to active patrols. Enemy raiders confirmed in alpha search quadrant. Assume defensive maneuvers and watch where you're going. We don't need any collisions with the ships we're supposed to be protecting. Core Command, be advised, Alpha Patrol is engaging at least three enemy raiders in alpha search quadrant. Transmitting targeting scanner output, now. All active patrols battle ready," the Captain refined several settings on his targeting scanner and, with another, more serious, shared look through the transparent canopies of the Colonial Vipers, Apollo and Starbuck accelerated together to intercept the enemy. *** Chapter One Scene Nine "It was just the same as last time, Father," Apollo threw out his arms in a gesture of helplessness, "They appeared from what our scanners, and our eyes, observed as empty space, terrorized a few of the Fleet's more vulnerable ships, and the raiders we didn't destroy just disappeared from our targeting scanners." "It was like they blended into the star field, Commander," Starbuck, thumbs hooked over his gun belt, shook his blonde head and fixed Adama with a steady, questioning gaze, "Where are they coming from? If they have a concealed base star nearby, then why don't they just attack and get it over with? Since when do the Cylons care about terrorizing us a little at a time? It doesn't make any sense, Sir." "I wish that I had some answers for you, Lieutenant. I know that you are all very frustrated," Adama spread his arms to indicate the six warriors who stood before him. The three sets of wingmen, having engaged the Cylon raiders and apparently driven them away, had rotated with the next duty shift and emerged from decontamination to report directly to the Commander's office, "but we have been slowly gathering intelligence. It is Doctor Wilker's assertion that the Cylons must have discovered some way to mask their signals from us. A magnetic generator of sorts. With every progressive attack, we glean a little more information from the scanner readings. We must all try to be patient and hope that our technicians encounter a breakthrough, before our resources become dangerously depleted. Perhaps that is the enemy's reasoning, to engage us until we are forced to stop for tylium." Adama crossed his arms and leaned back against the large desk behind him, "In any event, since we currently have no other viable options, we shall continue with the current duty rotations. Go and relax for a while, then get some sleep. Apollo. Sheba. I would like the two of you to remain for a few centons." Lieutenants Bojay, Boomer, Starbuck and Jolly headed for the door and, each with a deferential nod to Adama, exited obediently into the corridor and off to the limited recreation that was afforded them while they remained on alert status. Apollo and Sheba stood silently waiting for their Commander's next words. Adama gestured them over to the bench seating beneath the view port and seated himself adjacent to them, "Regarding Agro-Tech Jain. Paye tells me that she has recovered a great deal of consciousness, and has been asking for you, Sheba. I am sorry to interfere with your limited off-duty time, but I need you to go Life Station and see if you can uncover any information for us as to who could have done this to her. You indicated to me previously that you have a passing acquaintance with her. Do you know the name of her young man? According to her supervisor, she was to have taken the maintenance shuttle here to the Galactica to meet him for evening meal before she was injured, but we know nothing about him." "No, Sir," Sheba shook her head in confusion, "I was under the impression that she wasn't involved with anyone. When we spoke, the subject was usually whatever sort of botanical project she was working on at the time. Now that I think back, Adama, I don't recall her sharing very much in the way of personal information." "I see," the Commander sat back in thoughtful repose, "well, at the very least, perhaps we can find out why she is asking for you," Adama shifted his gaze to his son, "There is another matter that I want to discuss with both of you. Now, as you know, it is not my habit to interfere in my children's personal lives..." "Father, if this is about us getting sealed, we..." "We've considered having a military field ritual, here, in your office," Sheba had, in one short sentence, not only silenced both Adama and Apollo, but dumbfounded them as well. "Sheba, what..." Apollo opened and closed his mouth several times before the ability to speak stopped eluding him, "I thought you didn't want to be married in the middle of an alert." "It's not my first choice." Sheba turned to face the Commander, who had managed, with some effort, in a few brief microns, to adjust his expression from abject shock to pleasant surprise. "Adama, the alert won't likely be lifted any time soon, and to be quite honest, I just don't think I can take any more of Starbuck's wagering pool and its insidious effects. If we are going to be without any meaningful sort of personal liberty, for an indefinite duration of time, then we might as well be married. We'll be under surveillance no matter what we do." Adama smiled fondly at his daughter-to-be. How like Cain she is in that way. The most direct route to the solution of a problem, obstacles be damned. "It's just a little bit perverse, isn't it?" Apollo felt the smile, and then the laughter begin to take over his expression. His green eyes seemed suddenly more animated than they had at any other time during the long, monotonous state of alert they'd been in since shortly after he'd asked her to marry him, several sectons ago, "Effectively, you are suggesting that we be sealed right away in order to end Starbuck's pool?" "In the process, we get our lives back," Sheba found herself returning Apollo's smile, then turning to face her Commander and father-to-be, "that is, if we have your consent, Sir." "My dear Sheba," Adama reached for her hand and held it warmly between his own, "It will be my eternal honour to become your second father, through whatever ritual the two of you have chosen." "Then it's decided," Sheba faced Apollo once again, her hand slipping gently out of Adama's grasp and moving to rest lightly on Apollo's knee, "What would you say to tomorrow evening? We'll gather Athena and Boxey, and a few selected others, and we'll just get married. Would that be alright with you?" "Are you sure that this is how you want to start married life, in a state of alert and in an environment of constant vigilance?" Apollo's teasing tone told her that he had no objections. "It is what we were born into, isn't it?" Sheba glanced at the Commander, who smiled in understanding, "what better way to officiate a union between two military clans than that we be sealed with an ancient military ritual," the daughter of Cain turned once more to face the son of Adama, "and it affords me the opportunity of scandalizing both Cassiopeia and Athena by getting sealed in a flight jacket. I'd like to know if anyone has a wager on that option." "Well then, Father," Apollo reluctantly pulled his gaze away from Sheba's determined face and grasped the hand that Adama had placed upon his son's shoulder, "tomorrow? We'll gather everyone here for evening meal, after which you can perform a simple field ritual. Perhaps everyone will be so taken off guard that they'll forget to follow us around for a while." "Tomorrow it shall be then," Adama smiled broadly at the two young people before him, "and may the Lords of Kobol bless this union, no matter the ritual through which it is sanctified. My children, after all of the losses and heartaches you have each suffered in your young lives, I am so grateful that you have found and chosen one another." Adama coughed discreetly, and reluctantly returned his attention to a more immediate matter, "In the meantime, we still have a crime to investigate. Sheba, as I said, I want you to try and get some coherent information out of poor Jain. I deeply regret allowing this fearful shadow to darken your mood, but the fact is that we likely have an assassin in our midst. A lupus in the fold, if you will. Get down to Life Station and do what you can, then try to enjoy whatever is left of your personal time. And don't be late for evening meal tomorrow." The smile returned and made its way across the Commander's face, bringing a glistening layer of tears to his eyes. Adama, Apollo and Sheba rose together. The young couple each embraced the Commander briefly, and then proceeded through the door to the main corridor, their timeliest route to the Access Junction, and then Life Station. Adama strode over to the side table in the large chamber's dining area and poured a mug of hot yama root mixture. Settling in the soft chair in front of his desk, he crossed his feet, long legs stretched out in front of him. He stayed that way for some time, a smile of contentment on his unguarded face. *** Chapter Two Scene One "You know Starbuck," Bojay nodded in thanks to the barman as the empty mug before him was replaced with a fresh one. It was not necessary to confirm any orders for the table that the Silver Spar Squadron Leader currently shared with his comrades from Blue Squadron. In times of active alert status, the Officers' Club barman and the warriors who came to sit within it's newly renovated bulkheads all knew that the two drink limit per person per daily cycle was to be strictly adhered to. "Sheba and Apollo have been looking a little rough around the edges lately. Maybe it's time to let everyone cash in on the current wagers and refund the pending ones. The guys in Silver Spar have been riding Sheba pretty hard, and the other day when I surprised her in the corridor outside her barracks, she nearly took me down with a ground force maneuver. The surveillance resulting from the pool has been taking a toll on her nerves." "I know what you mean." Boomer interjected from his seat between Starbuck and Jolly, taking a small sip from his own fresh mug of ale, "The Captain's been doing a lot of measured breathing. He takes that breath in and gets that eerily calm look on his face. Then he breathes out and puts that fixed smile on his face," Boomer shuddered slightly at memory of Apollo's stiffly smiling face contrasting sharply with the expression in those angry green eyes, "I wouldn't want to be the unlucky warrior who's in his path when the cleansing breaths stop working and his temper finally snaps," the dark-skinned Lieutenant looked pointedly at Starbuck, "I'm sure that wouldn't be pretty." "Jolly," Starbuck lowered his drink to fish around distractedly in the various pockets and utility sleeves in his flight jacket, "tell these guys it's impossible to stop the pool now. Think of all time and energy that Greenbean and the others have invested in keeping the wagering on a friendly, sporting level." "Oh no, Starbuck," Jolly leaned back in his chair and raised his arms in a mock defensive maneuver, "you're not dragging me into this. When the dust finally settles, I don't want to register on the Skipper's targeting scanner. In fact, I'm wagering that, after Apollo and Sheba are married and this pool is finally resolved, they'll be finding some creative way to exact their revenge on those who were most responsible for this period of torment," the big man now leaned forward with an ominous look that would rival that of a professional sooth-sayer and pointed directly across the table at the Captain's wingman, "that would be you." "Look," Starbuck placed his unlit fumarello gently on the tabletop, and paused in the search and rescue mission he had been conducting in his jacket, ostensibly determined that a match lay waiting for him somewhere in its depths, "I think that you're all underestimating Apollo and Sheba. They were just fine on patrol duty today. When the raiders appeared, he was the same old Apollo and Sheba did just as well as she's ever done," Starbuck turned to his left and lifted his eyebrow's in Bojay's direction, "didn't she?" "Well, sure Starbuck," Sheba's sometime wingman responded, "but we all know how committed those two are to their oaths as warriors. Think of where they both come from for a moment. That's the thing. They've each been conditioned to think strategically and uphold ancient Colonial traditions and principles since early childhood. They're both very good at putting aside their personal concerns to defend the Fleet. It wouldn't occur to either one of them to let something like this pool, or their own personal desires, interfere with duty." "That's a nice speech, Bojay," Starbuck resumed his search in an inner pocket and exhaled sharply in triumph as he pulled out a single, lint-covered match, "Did Athena help you write it?" Starbuck made an elaborate show of igniting his fumarello with a sputter of sparks from the poorly preserved, yet still viable match. A speculative gleam of his pale blue eyes intruded into his expression of assumed innocence, "I assume that's why you can so often be found on the bridge lately, near her regular duty station." His smile broadened as he noted the subtle flush of colour travelling up Bojay's neck and tinting his earlobes with the slightest shade of red. "We're not talking about me, Starbuck," Bojay said flatly. "Why not? I'm sure there's room on the banner for a few side wagers on the groom's sister." "Careful, Starbuck," Boomer's voice filled Starbuck's right ear with its deep, melodious tones, "You and Athena may be friends again, but I wouldn't go out of my way to show up on her targeting scanner if I was you. She's still got access to the steam purge controls." Starbuck knew that Boomer referred to the incident, a lifetime ago, shortly after the Destruction, when Starbuck's tryst in a launch tube with Cassiopeia had been cut short by the steam purge function that a spurned Athena had activated upon discovering her then boyfriend's infidelity on the observation monitor. It had taken some time for Athena to forgive him for ultimately choosing Cassiopeia over her, but ,after a fashion, the two had managed to rebuild their friendship. Starbuck had broken Athena's heart, and he knew it, but his feelings for Cassiopeia had gradually slowed his wandering ways and the two were now exclusive. The womanizer, in spite of his once perpetually wandering eye, had fallen in love with the vivacious and fun-loving Cassiopeia. Still, he had experienced bittersweet feelings regarding Athena and the memories of the brief love affair he had once shared with his best friend's sister, when he had inadvertently become aware of the quiet relationship that had begun to develop between the Commander's daughter and Lieutenant Bojay. "Speaking of targeting scanners," Jolly smiled slightly, noting the look of relief that crossed Bojay's still reddened features at the big man's interruption, "the Commander wasn't too forthcoming about any more advancements from the lab-techs. I don't get the sense that we're standing down from alert status any time soon." Jolly took a sip of his ale and glanced around the table at the other three warriors, his expression becoming more serious, "Then there's the scuttlebutt about the agro-ship accident. There are a lot of rumours of criminal activity flying around. The lab-techs searched that agro-ship pretty thoroughly and questioned everyone who knows or works with the injured girl. The Skipper couldn't fill me in when I asked him about it, though it's clear he knows something. He gave the distinct impression that he was under orders not to discuss the matter." "Are you sure you're not just concerned with the food supply slowing down, Jolly?" Boomer's dry tone brought a larger smile to the big man's face. Boomer's dry banter regarding Jolly's struggle with his expanding midsection was a regular feature of the interaction between the two warriors. The warriors closest to them knew that it was Boomer who often joined Jolly during his workout periods in the exercise rooms on the level below the barracks. Boomer uncomplainingly sweated along with his friend and provided encouragement at those times when Jolly was ready to surrender to the aching of his muscles and his desire for a decadently fattening meal. "Very funny, Boomer," was all Jolly said, "But the food supply won't matter much to the next victim if there's a violent criminal hiding in the Fleet." "Let's just hope," Starbuck exhaled his smoke and emptied his mug, setting it down deliberately in the center of the table, "that there is no next victim." *** Chapter Two Scene Two "So tell me," Apollo pressed the control inside the Life Station express lift and relaxed against a wall panel of the mobile chamber with his arms folded across his chest, "what made you suddenly decide to marry me with a combat field ritual after supper tomorrow in Father's office? It wasn't just Starbuck's pool, was it?" The Captain felt pleasantly light-headed with the realization that he had agreed to that very plan not more than five centons ago in Adama's quarters . "No." Grinning, Sheba lounged against the opposite wall panel to the one that the Captain currently occupied and crossed her arms, playfully mimicking Apollo. The two regarded one another thoughtfully across the width of the lift chamber. Apollo held her steady brown gaze with his piercing green eyes, and a more serious, slightly distant, expression crossed her face, "It was when those raiders appeared out there in space. As Bojay and I started a pin wheeling maneuver, flying through the body of the Fleet, I could hear your voice on the ship-to-ship frequency, updating our status and giving orders, all to keep the Fleet alive and bring us home safe, and I thought about who we are. You and Athena are the only other people left who can truly understand what it means to be the inheritor of a military dynasty. If our families end, then the remnants of the ancient Colonial Forces become even more diminished," Sheba uncrossed her arms and walked toward the Captain, stopping when she was close enough to slide her slim arms around his neck, leaning into him and staring tremulously up into his now brightened eyes and his warm smile, "But if we marry, and raise children, we build a future for the protectors of humanity, and thus for humanity itself. Who cares about alert status or Starbuck's pool? I just want us to get married. And the very best part of it is," she moved a little closer and spoke softly into his ear, "I love you." Apollo uncrossed his arms, hooked his fingers gently onto either side of her gun belt, and leaned down, his mouth opening to speak... The lift chime sounded and the door opened to reveal Medical Technician Cassiopeia and Lieutenant Athena, each holding a large assortment of computer printouts in their respective arms. At the sight of the couple embracing in the lift, Cassiopeia stifled a sound that escaped unbidden from her lips. Athena suffered a similar reaction, but made no attempt to stifle her laughter. "Are we interrupting you?" Athena smiled sweetly into her brother's face. "Not at all," Apollo responded in kind, kissed Sheba soundly on the lips and then, disentangling himself from her embrace, paused to kiss his sister's cheek as he made his way around her and her large paper burden, "Don't forget we're having evening meal with Father again tomorrow. Oh, and Cassiopeia," he grinned happily at the quizzical look on the med-tech's face, "It's very important to me that you come as well," he reached back to take Sheba's hand, and with an uncharacteristically roguish lift of an eyebrow, turned and walked toward the Life Station entrance, Sheba's hand clutched firmly in his own, the sound of the couple's laughter lagging slightly behind them. Athena and Cassiopeia gazed in silence into the now empty express lift chamber. They turned toward one another, making no effort to enter the lift before the door closed automatically. "Was that Apollo who just gave Sheba a big kiss in the express lift right in front of the two of us?" Athena asked with a quiet, thoughtful voice. "Yes, I believe it was." Cassiopeia responded in a similar tone. "You know what this means, don't you?" "Yes," Cassiopeia and Athena each smiled and began to giggle like two small girls. Cassiopeia reached for the control panel and tripped the 'door open' key, "It means that we've won that option in the pool!" In spite of the gravity of their current assignment, the two young women could not help but succumb to the peals of laughter that escaped from their lips. The door opened in front of them, and they walked into the lift chamber, laughing hysterically as the door closed and they rose toward the Junction and another express lift that would, in turn, lower them to the level of the science lab, where Doctor Wilker waited for them to personally deliver the printouts they carried for him from the Life Station to Lambda Section. *** Chapter Two Scene Three After leaving Athena and Cassiopeia at the lift entrance, Apollo and Sheba made their way, hand in hand, along the corridor, stopping about two metrons short of the main entrance to Life Station. Apollo, still laughing softly, leaned down and kissed his wife-to-be once more, speaking the words that had been stopped at his lips by the arrival of the lift at its appointed level, "I love you, too." the Captain released Sheba's hand after giving it a slight squeeze and adjusted himself into a less casual pose, straightening his shoulders and assuming a more neutral expression. "Now Lieutenant, I suppose we'd better get in there to see Jain," he indicated the Life Station entrance. "Yes, Sir," Sheba smiled happily into Apollo's face once more, then quickly assumed a more neutral expression of her own, heading toward the entrance along the line indicated by Apollo's outstretched arm, "I don't know what good it will do, but if she's asking for me, perhaps she has something to say that will shed light on who did this terrible thing to her." Apollo and Sheba entered the Life Station to find it, in contrast to the previous evening, quite deserted. Doctor Wilker's molecular imaging prototype sat powered down, silent, its multiple tubes and wires wound neatly in round bundles and hanging from brackets welded onto the machine. Even the usually occupied chair behind the main diagnostics station was empty. Sheba walked over to the bio-bed that had, only yesterday, supported Agro-Tech Jain. It was, like everything else in the Life Station, powered down and deserted. "I don't understand," Sheba shrugged and spread her hands to indicate the space around her, "where is everyone? Hadn't Athena and Cassiopeia just come from here when we met them at the lift? Everything's shut down and it's quite cold in here." Sheba blew out her breath to see it emerge in a visible cloud of vapour. A vague sense of dread was beginning to creep into her consciousness, "How can this be? Do you ever remember the Life Station being powered down like this?" The Lieutenant turned to see Apollo studying the console on the diagnostics station, touching one control after another, a deepening frown slowly dominating his face. "These controls are frozen. They indicate full power, but I can't get any response," the Captain moved quickly past Sheba and toward the back wall of the Life Station. The diagnostics station in front of Doctor Salik's office was as unresponsive as the first. Apollo continued on into the medical chief's small office chamber and tapped a series of controls on the work top console. "Nothing, no communications, no response from any of these controls," Apollo looked up as Sheba moved to stand in the doorway, "They must have evacuated, for some reason, without sounding an alarm. Let's get out of here and find a communications console. We need to report to the Bridge." The two warriors strode quickly back to the main entrance and came to an abrupt stop as they impacted forcefully with what felt like an invisible wall. "What..." Apollo staggered back and quickly regained his balance, reflexively reaching to steady Sheba with his right hand under her elbow. He then reached forward with his left hand, "it's like some sort of energy field. See, it ripples under my fingers, but it only yields so far," the Captain pressed against the slight distortion that appeared to hang in empty air and surrounded the plane of his flattened hand, "I've never encountered anything like it." "Well, whatever it is, it's preventing us from accessing the main entrance," Sheba shared an expression of growing realization with the young Captain beside her. Without a word, the two of them rushed to first one, and then the other, of the two additional doorways that normally allowed traffic out of the Life Station. They found the same apparently impassable barrier blocking their path, "What is the meaning of this?" Sheba's voice reflected the confusion that both warriors were experiencing. "I wish I knew," Apollo turned and scanned the perimeter of the Life Station's interior, his warrior's mind quickly grasping for strategic options. The dim lighting and cold temperature added to the now seemingly ominous appearance of the complex. "Perhaps I can help," Apollo and Sheba spun on their heels at the sound of the voice behind them, weapons drawn, to see the diminutive figure of Medical Technician Diana standing near the center of the Life Station, an expression akin to amusement gracing her freckled face. She shook her head, creating an undulating wave that moved down the length of her wavy red hair, "I am sorry. It was not my intention to startle you. You won't need those laser pistols. I think you'll find that they are presently inoperative. Besides, you don't need to fear me. As I said, I'm here to help you." *** Chapter Two Scene Four "I imagine that we'll be hearing a decision on that sealing date at dinner tomorrow evening," Athena smiled cheerfully over at Cassiopeia as the lift carried them upward, "perhaps Starbuck's pool has finally driven them to it." The two women worked at recovering from the mirth that had overtaken them upon their recent discovery of Apollo and Sheba in an intimate embrace in the lift chamber that they themselves now occupied. "I have noticed that they've been a little edgy for the last couple of sectons. It can't be easy for them between the alert status and the wagering." "If I know my brother, he'll either find some way out of the situation, or completely lose his temper. At this point, it could go either way," Athena leaned back against the rear panel of the lift chamber, changing the subject as she noted the progressively increasing number on the level display over the lift access panel. "We should be at the Junction in about two or three centons." "If Wilker hadn't insisted on having the science lab rebuilt down in Lambda section, it probably would have been attached to the medical complex. That would have made for a slightly shorter trip. If only there was a more direct route straight down to that level from the Life Station." Cassiopeia looked at the bundle of printouts that she cradled in her arms, "Why weren't these just relayed electronically? Doctor Salik doesn't normally go out of his way to send anyone into Wilker's domain." "That's just it," Athena responded, "Doctor Wilker would never be happy with so much foot traffic nearby. He's always made it clear that he requires solitude to do his best work." For as far back as the young bridge officer could recall, the glum scientist had kept to himself, avoiding contact with others unless compelled to do so by the necessity of his work. Among the few people that he had exempted from this code of behaviour were the Commander's wife and children. Athena recalled many carefree childhood visits to Wilker's lab, the one that had been ultimately destroyed during the Galactica's last encounter, several sectons ago, with a Cylon basestar. Along with her brothers, she had come to see the science lab as a fascinating playground full of wonder and mystery. Wilker had, at varying times over their early yahrens, instructed all three of Adama's children in the concepts and mechanics involved in the many functions performed by the Chief Science Officer and the lab-techs who worked under him. "As far as the data goes," Athena's thoughts came back to the present as she adjusted her grip on the bulky sheaves of paper resting in her own arms, "Wilker wasn't prepared to field test the prototype yet. His technicians had only just assembled the mechanical components. The data compiling functions are in place, but the transfer protocols have yet to be installed." The door chime sounded and the lift access opened to reveal the main Junction. The two women walked quickly to another lift access that would take them on the next leg of their brief journey, down to Lambda Section and Wilker's new science lab, unaware of the steady gaze that followed the movement of their slim figures from across the large main chamber of the Access Junction. *** Chapter Two Scene Five "Commander," Colonel Tigh nodded grimly as Adama climbed the steps to the plateau of the command platform and joined the Colonel to stand behind Officer Omega's station, "Our active patrols are picking up some anomalous scans forward of the Fleet, Sir." "Anomalous, Tigh?" Adama donned the headset proffered by Omega as he gestured toward the Command Centre's main view screen, "In what way?" "Omega's bringing up the scanner logs now, Sir." Tigh gestured toward the display that now appeared in an insert screen on the lower left of the massive main view. The rest of the larger screen displayed the same area of space directly forward of the Galactica in current time. "As you can see, Commander, there were three separate instances in the last thirty centons, when the primary active patrol picked up that signal." "What do you make of it, Tigh?" Adama crossed his arms across his chest, lifting one fist to rest lightly under his chin, his brow furrowed in thought. Suddenly his eyebrows lifted in an attitude of recognition, "We've seen this signal before, haven't we Tigh?" "Yes, Sir," the Colonel held out his hand, "Omega?" The young bridge officer silently handed his superior a small printout that had appeared from within the slot at the bottom of his console, an enigmatic look upon his face, "The computer calculates an eighty five percent probability that this signal," Tigh gestured once more to the scanner log display, fixing Adama with a steady gaze, "is one of two signals that our long range carrier scan detected behind the moon of that artificially constructed planet." "Could it be a basestar?" Adama asked gravely, "If so, then perhaps Wilker is right. He theorizes that the Cylons may have developed some sort of magnetic field technology that enables them to shield themselves from detection by our conventional scanners." "An invisible basestar." Tigh pursed his lips in frustration, "Doctor Wilker must be right. How else could they have kept up these attacks all these sectons?" "The good news is," Adama leaned forward to check some readings now displayed on the command console, "If there is a hidden basestar out there, then it's probably alone. Why else would they come at us with multiple attacks in small numbers? A larger force would surely strike to destroy us." "Sir," Omega turned and looked up at the Commander with his usual air of crisp professionalism, "Alpha Patrol Leader reports no more contacts. They've swept several search grids and haven't picked up the signal again. It seems to be gone for now. No signs of enemy activity. Shall I bring them in for regular rotation?" "Yes, Omega," Adama clasped his hands behind his back and stood staring at the main viewer, as if willing the image of unknown space to give him the answers he desired, "Carry on with the current rotations until further notice," the Commander turned toward his Executive Officer with a sigh of frustration, "It's all we can do, basestar or not, until we have some way to detect them." "Commander," Tigh gestured to a point behind the Commander, a slight smile forming on his face. Adama turned to see his grandson enter the lower gallery from one of the small access corridors that effected a direct route to the bridge from the Commander's quarters. It was a route that Boxey often used to find his grandfather, when Apollo was not available. The little boy slowly ascended the steps to the command platform, his mechanical daggit close on his heels. "Are you busy, Grandpa?" he asked carefully, knowing that if the men on the command platform were occupied with important matters he would be expected to proceed directly to the Commander's quarters and wait there. "I think we've done all we can for now," the Commander glanced meaningfully at Tigh and Omega, then turned once more to the little boy before him, "I thought you'd be at home with your father by now, Boxey. Does he know that you're here?" Adama knelt down in front of the boy. "Dad was supposed to be home a long time ago, Grandpa," Boxey rubbed his obviously tired eyes with the back of his small hand, "but he never came. He told me that if that ever happens, I'm to come and see you. It's a junior warrior rule." "Well, now," Adama stood and lifted the sleepy child, settling him into the softly yielding upholstery of the command chair, "I'm certain that he's just been held up in Life Station. I sent him down there to run an errand with Sheba. Omega," the Commander turned to the bridge officer, "call down to Life Station. See how much longer the Captain will be, would you?" "Aye, Sir," Omega smiled briefly at Boxey and touched a series of keypads to access a direct line of communication from the command console to the Life Station, "I have Doctor Salik on the viewer now." "Doctor," Adama moved to stand facing the communications monitor, which powered up to display the familiar features of the Chief Medical Officer, and the bustle of activity in the portion of the Life Station that could be seen behind him, "can you tell me when Sheba and Apollo will be finished with Jain?" "I don't understand, Commander," Doctor Salik's face registered surprise and confusion, "We're still waiting for Lieutenant Sheba down here. I thought perhaps she'd been held up on some other business." "I don't see how that can be, Doctor. I sent her down there with Apollo not more than half a centaur ago. They should have been there long before now," Adama's voice registered the same confused tone as Salik's, "I'll see if I can track them down. Have the Captain call for me immediately if they should arrive." "By your leave, Sir," the Doctor responded. Adama powered down the monitor, and turned toward Colonel Tigh, "I'll take Boxey to my quarters and put him to bed. See if you can find Captain Apollo, would you?" "Yes, Commander," Tigh did not miss the look of concern on his Commander's face. Both men knew that it was not like Apollo to leave Boxey waiting for long without relaying a message or sending someone to sit with the child until the Captain's return. The Colonel stepped aside as the Commander plucked the nearly sleeping Boxey from the chair and into his arms, gesturing to Muffit to follow as he descended the steps down to the lower gallery and out the same hatchway through which Boxey had arrived only centons ago. "Omega," Tigh said, as soon as Boxey was out of earshot, "Call Captain Apollo over the Unicom. Have him contact the bridge immediately." "Aye, Colonel," the young man responded as he reached for the communications console and the Unicom input panel, "Captain Apollo, contact the Command Centre. Captain Apollo, please contact the Command Centre." Omega repeated the message several times over the next fifteen centons, but there was no reply. *** Chapter Two Scene Six 'Thanks for working with me on the data transfers, Athena. So many of the protocols are unfamiliar to me," Cassiopeia tapped the 'door close' key on the lift control. With a dull metallic sound, the door closed and the lift began its descent to Lambda section, "I just don't have the technical background that you do." "Well, I was stuck in Life Station last night waiting for the blood toxin results anyway." Athena smiled humourlessly at the memory of the short quarantine that she and some others, including Apollo and Sheba, had been subjected to in the busy and brightly lit medical complex at a time when she had hoped to have been sleeping peacefully in her bunk, "Besides, Father wants to keep the theory of attempted murder as quiet as possible for now. I was already there, so why bring in somebody else?" "Does it bother you?" Cassiopeia's face took on cautious expression mixed with something that Athena could not quite recognize, "me being invited for dinner, Apollo treating me like another sister? And Starbuck..." Athena now realized that the expression was worry, worry that Athena would be angry. "It used to," although slightly taken aback, the Lieutenant looked directly into the blonde woman's pale blue eyes, strikingly similar in colour to her own, and answered in a steady voice, "I loved him, and he broke my heart." "I know." Cassiopeia looked downward at the bundle of paper that she held, "I wasn't sure how much you blamed me." "At first, I thought you were just another one of Starbuck's flings. Everything was so chaotic and unbearably sad in the beginning of the Destruction. I rejected him when he tried to comfort me. I can see now that I'd always known deep down inside that I was the fling, the distraction. It was hard on my pride to admit that I wasn't the girl he'd been waiting for, that we just weren't suited for one another. Then you came along and it became clear very quickly that you are the love of his life," Athena waited a moment until Cassiopeia raised her eyes to look at the Lieutenant once more. The dark haired woman smiled with genuine amusement, "And now, you can have him." "Does your much improved broken heart have a new object of affection?" Cassiopeia asked with a fair approximation of Starbuck's common air of affected innocence, "I understand that Silver Spar Squadron is always needing something or other from the bridge, or is that just the Squadron Leader?" The med-tech laughed delightedly, and with more than a little relief, feeling at ease now that she had received the answer she'd hoped for. Athena did not harbour any resentment for past hurts and had in fact found some way of leaving the pain of them behind, "I hope Starbuck isn't foolish enough to start a pool." "He wouldn't dare." Athena assumed a look of horror then, grinning mischievously, she raised her eyebrows and tilted her head, "I could still order a steam purge of whatever dark chamber he might be hiding in." Cassiopeia opened her mouth in shock and felt her face flush slightly at the memory of that first night with Starbuck, and the launch tube, astonished that Athena would have come so far as to find that funny. She recovered her composure quickly and smiled warmly at the dark haired woman beside her. "We've come a long way, haven't we, Athena?" "Yes, we..." Athena's words were cut short as the lift suddenly stopped in its downward movement, causing both women to fall to the floor decking in a cloud of paper printouts. The lights flickered out and the dark red emergency lighting initiated within two microns. "Cassiopeia, are you alright?" Athena raised herself to her knees, sliding on paper as she struggled to her feet and turned to help the other woman with an outstretched hand. "I...I think so," the med-tech responded, rising awkwardly to her feet to stand beside Athena, "What's happened? Why has the lift stopped here?" she nodded toward the level indicator display over the doorway. It no longer registered a steadily progressing number. It flashed instead as a large red rectangle, indicating an input error. "I don't know," Athena reached for the panel beside the lift control that accessed the emergency communication console, "Core Command, this is Command Centre Access Junction Express Lift Lambda. Can you hear me, Core Command?" the young Lieutenant lowered her hand from the communication keypad, and turned to Cassiopeia, "It's a good thing we've come such a long way, because it looks like we're stuck in here until somebody notices we're missing." The two women stood, printouts momentarily forgotten on the floor, looking at each other through the dim red lighting, each trying to hold back the fear that was threatening to overtake them. *** Chapter Two Scene Seven "Missing?" Starbuck put his hands on his hips, inhaled and exhaled sharply, then lifted his eyebrows and spoke earnestly to Commander Adama, "How can they be missing? They wouldn't just disappear in the middle of alert status." "I know, Starbuck," Adama spread his hands outward in obvious confusion and frustration, "Omega has called for both of them several times over the Unicom for the last centaur. Colonel Tigh hasn't been able to trace their movements after the point that they left here several centaurs ago. I'm certain that they intended to take the express lift down to Life Station. In any event, they never got there. I'm having the entire ship searched, from the celestial chamber right down to the waste reclamation complex. There have been no ships other than our fighters, observed to launch from or land on the Galactica." The two men stood facing one another in the area directly in front of the Commander's desk, each mirroring the other's expression of concern and confusion. The other three warriors in the room, the other members of Apollo and Sheba's current duty patrol, exchanged looks of helplessness with one another. Adama had called for them in the hope that they might know where to find the Captain and Sheba, but they could provide no explanations. Every one of them recalled taking their leave of the Strike Leader and Cain's daughter right here in the Commander's office area, not more than a few centaurs ago. "Commander!", Colonel Tigh rushed in at the sudden chime and opening effected by his use of the door control panel on the corridor side of the main hatchway to Adama's right, "Events have taken an unexpected turn, Sir," the Executive Officer stood at attention and looked directly into his old friend's eyes, "It seems that Athena and Cassiopeia have gone missing as well." "Athena!" Adama turned with a lift of his brow when he heard his daughter's name escaping reflexively from Lieutenant Bojay's mouth. The young man registered an apparent surprise at his own unintentional speech and stepped back unconsciously under the focus of the older man's line of sight. "And Cassiopeia? How?" Bojay was relieved from his Commander's scrutiny by Starbuck's wide-eyed reaction, "What's going on, Colonel? We must find them." "Starbuck!" Adama struggled to maintain a calm and controlled demeanor. The revelation that, within the span of a centaur of one another, both of his surviving children had seemingly disappeared without a trace was a blow that he was not willing to absorb without resistance, "Report, Colonel," the Commander's hardened tone of voice projected a reminder of the authority with which he spoke. Starbuck remained silent, hands hanging from his gun belt as the Colonel resumed speaking. "It appears, Sir, that Athena and Cassiopeia were delivering the last of those print outs of the agro-ship scans. They were bringing them from Life Station to Lambda Section. They were to have taken the lift up to the Access Junction and then another lift down to Wilker's level. The two women were last seen leaving Life Station together, carrying the print outs. Wilker called up to Salik just centons ago to ask about the print outs. He never received them. The women haven't been seen since, and," the Colonel paused and said pointedly, "the express lift down to Lambda Section has very limited traffic. No-one would be likely to check that lift chamber until the shift rotation in Wilker's lab. That's not for another four centaurs. Salik reports nothing unusual with the Life Station lift. He checked on it himself, when he realized they might be missing. Then he called the bridge." "You men," Adama gestured to include the four young warriors in front of him, "Get to the Access Junction. Tigh, stop all lift traffic and get two technical and rescue support teams together. Send one to the Junction near Lambda and Life Station access points. Have the other ready to mobilize. Once all lift chambers are secured at their end points, I want those chambers and shafts visually searched. Start with the lift down to Lambda Section. Call down to Wilker's lab and have someone check out their end of the lift access. Our missing people may have been right under our noses the entire time." Colonel Tigh tapped a key on the door control panel, ushering Starbuck, Boomer, Bojay and Jolly out through the doorway and into the corridor. Nodding to the Commander, he moved to follow them. "Tigh." The tall dark man paused in the door opening, his long fingers resting on the control panel, as Adama spoke grimly. "I'll be in Command Centre, but first I'm going to call for a security detail of two warriors to guard the entrance to my private chambers. Apollo and Athena have both turned up missing. I'd like to be sure that Boxey isn't next." "Or you, Sir," Tigh's voice did not conceal his attitude of concern. Neither man, seasoned warriors though they be, could shake the feeling of unease that had come with this confrontation with the unknown. Strange things were happening in and around the Fleet, and both men knew, as always, that it was ultimately up to the two of them to solve any mysteries and make final decisions. "By your leave, Sir, I'll get over to the Junction." Tigh nodded once more and disappeared into the corridor. As the hatch sealed behind the Colonel, Adama removed his hand from the spot on the work top of the desk that he had been absently rubbing his fingertips back and forth over, and moved it to the communication console to call for the security detail. *** Chapter Two Scene Eight "I don't understand," Apollo checked the small parameter display built into the hilt of his laser pistol. It read that the weapon was fully charged, but the mechanisms that allowed it to discharge were frozen in place. It was as the young woman standing near the center of the room had said. His weapon was inoperative, and judging by the look on Sheba's face, hers was as well. Holstering his pistol and indicating with a nod for Sheba to do the same, the Captain took one step in the direction of the small red-haired woman in the med-tech uniform who had appeared as if from no-where to assure the two warriors that she had come to help them, "Help us? What do we need your help with? And how did you get in here? What do you know about the barrier around the perimeter of this chamber?" Apollo felt Sheba's hand come to rest lightly on his left arm. He reached over with his right hand to squeeze her fingers, knowing that her warrior's senses felt the same ominous, but vague, sense of danger that his did. "This place, its appearance," the woman said, spreading her arms to indicate the frigid Life Station, "is a manifestation created from your minds in order that I may communicate with you in a form that you can most easily comprehend. Perhaps it would be best if I showed you," Diana moved swiftly forward and, before the two warriors could react, had touched each of them on a shoulder. The couple looked down in amazement and stunned recognition as they realized that their uniforms, indeed everything they wore, right down to their gun belts and boots, had turned a brilliant shade of white. "Both of you, as you were already instinctively aware, are in a great deal of danger," Apollo and Sheba stood together, looking directly into the diminutive woman's face, now knowing with certainty that she was not the person that she had previously appeared to be, "and I have been sent to help you." "You're not a medical technician, you're not even human," Sheba said with a ribbon of awe running through her words, "you're one of the light ship aliens, one of," Sheba swallowed hard and looked at Apollo with stark fear now showing in her eyes, "one of Count Iblis' people." "He was once one of us, that is true," the being known as Diana shook her red hair with an expression of sorrow, "but he has evolved so far away from us, that he barely remembers what is was to exist in a state of enlightenment. He has been overcome with his own capacity for evil." Diana looked up into Apollo's face, "He has been consumed by his hatred for you, the way that you and Adama resisted him, and the sacrifice that you made to snatch Sheba away from his dominion and, in so doing, effect his banishment by us." "But your people told us, after they," Sheba felt her eyes mist at the memory of Apollo's still form lying at her's and Starbuck's feet, while Iblis had stood beckoning to her, Come to me. Don't be deceived. You are mine, Sheba felt a dark place in the back of her mind shudder in fear as she recalled the Count's words. There will come another time, another place. Then we will meet again, "After they brought Apollo back to us, to me," she began again, struggling to stay in the present, away from the memory of the sound of that insidious voice, "they told us that Iblis' powers had been taken from him." "His dominion remains, diminished in punishment for taking that which was not freely given to him, but his life force continues to evolve," Diana's voice was gentle, "Evil is never truly destroyed. It merely alters its form like any other type of energy," she paused and touched Sheba's hand softly, "and the entity that you knew as Iblis has evolved in such a way that he has gathered his resources to reach out and strike at you once again from the realm into which he has, up to now, been banished. He has found a way to influence the actions of certain weak spirits that do not possess the knowledge or the will to resist his subtle direction. One such as this, is the agro-tech called Jain." "He won't harm you," Apollo took Sheba's hand in his own and held to it firmly, "We have plans that don't include him or his dominion," he said simply, as he looked into Sheba's eyes, his heart aching to comfort her and sweep away her anxiety. He turned back to face Diana, "What do you need us to do?" *** Chapter Two Scene Nine "Express Lift Lambda! Can anyone hear me? Over." Colonel Tigh spoke forcefully into the small microphone that dangled from the mass of hastily rigged cables that Boomer and one of the rescue technicians had pulled out of the control panel beside the access to the lift. The Colonel listened carefully to the static that emanated from the speaker above the remains of the control panel, "Nothing. Can we be sure that they're receiving us?" "No, Sir," the voice of Corporal Komma carried from across the large main Access Junction chamber, "That's why I'm here." The group of warriors and technicians that had gathered around the access to Express Lift Lambda paused in their various activities to see the Corporal rushing over to them with the handle of a small tech-kit grasped in his hand, "I got here as quickly as I could, Colonel. Doctor Wilker sent me up an alternate lift, Sir," Komma nodded officiously to Colonel Tigh and quickly set the kit down on the deck directly front of the lift access, opening it to reveal a mass of thin wires and cables attached at either end to two sets small communication transmitters and receivers, "If we lower one end of this emergency communication line down to the lift chamber, and somehow get the attention of the people inside, they can open the maintenance cover over the ventilation grid on the roof, and pull their end of the line in. That would give us clear two-way communication. We could at least establish their status before we send a rescue team down the shaft into the unknown, Sir." "Good thinking, Komma," the Colonel felt relief at the prospect of a definitive plan of action, "The tapping of their end of the line on the top of the lift chamber should get their attention," Tigh gestured to the others to step aside as Komma carefully unclipped an end of the emergency line and stepped forward toward the edge of the decking bordering the darkness of the lift shaft. A technician wordlessly looped a safety line around Komma's midsection and stood ready, with two of his colleagues, about two metrons behind the young enlisted man, to pull him back from the opening should the necessity arise. Komma, a little taken aback at not being ushered out of the way by some more experience warrior or technician, but instead being thrust into the center of the rescue effort, struggled for his usual air of professionalism in the face of chaos and tentatively lowered one end of the emergency communication line down into the darkness of the lift shaft, playing out it's length slowly with his other hand as it uncoiled like a snake from the tech-kit that lay open on the deck behind him. "According to the distance increments on this line and Wilker's estimate of the lift's current level, Sir, we should be touching down on the roof at any time," Komma turned his attention back to his superior, "Colonel, we have to hope that they've noticed it." "Hope, be frakked, Komma!", Tigh cried out in the stern voice of authority that all of the assembled warriors had been on the receiving end of at one time or another, "Don't just hang there like a limp grain slurry composite! We've got to ascertain the status of the people in that lift chamber! Corporal," The Colonel extended a long, elegant index finger in the direction of the lift shaft, "Waggle that line!" "Waggle it, Sir?" Komma stared fearfully at the Colonel's wide-eyes and clenched jaw. "You heard the man," Lieutenant Boomer leapt forward to place his hands firmly over Komma's and move them steadily back and forth, causing a longitudinal wave to make it's way down the dangling length of the line that he held, "Waggle it, Komma!" "I can't see a thing down there," Starbuck, unable to contain his need to act, rushed forward and peered down the shaft, Bojay close behind him, "We should lower down a light." As the words left his mouth, there was a sudden disturbance in the steady movement of the line. It moved spasmodically in response to an apparent tug on the unseen end in the shaft. Boomer, releasing his grip over Komma's hands, stepped behind the Corporal and picked up the end of the line that lay draped over a small clip in the tech kit. He walked quickly over to the lift control panel and, handing the small transmitterreceiver to Colonel Tigh, secured the attached line to a cable clamp inside the aperture from which the lift controls now dangled in disarray. "Express Lift Lambda! This is Colonel Tigh! Can you hear me? Over." "Colonel?" At the sound of Athena's voice, the rescue team breathed a communal sigh of relief, "Colonel! This is Athena. Cassiopeia's here with me. What's happened? The lift just stopped moving. Everything but the emergency lighting is non-functional and we've been trapped down here for a while. Over." "We're not certain what caused the malfunction yet, Lieutenant. The control panel was badly damaged when we got here, but we don't know how it happened.. What's your status? Who else is down there with you?" Tigh and Boomer exchanged worried looks as did Starbuck, Bojay and the others. They inhaled and held another communal breath as they waited for Athena's reply. "It's just the two of us," the breath was expelled, but only in partial relief, "The lift chamber seems secure for now. We're a little bruised from the sudden stop, but Wilker's print outs cushioned the worst of the force when we hit the decking. When can you get us out of here?" "Sit tight, Lieutenant," the Colonel responded, carefully disguising any expression of his feelings of concern for Apollo from the ear of the Captain's sister, "We'll have two rescue workers coming down to fetch you directly. Over." "Affirmative, Colonel," Athena's voice clearly registered her relief with a dry laugh, "we'll be waiting right here. Express Lift Lambda, over and out." Down in the dark redness of the lift chamber, the two women embraced in happy relief, while up in the main Junction, the expressions remained grim. Glad as the assembled men were at finding the women safe, every one of them had turned their thoughts to the fact that two warriors were still unaccounted for. *** Chapter Two Scene Ten "Starbuck, really, I'm fine," Cassiopeia smiled up into the blonde Lieutenant's face, "Although, I admit it's sort of nice to see how worried you were about me." Starbuck pulled her to him in a firm embrace and she continued speaking into the fabric of the tunic that covered his broad shoulder, "What I'd like to know is, where are Sheba and Apollo?" The two pulled apart as Starbuck stared helplessly into Cassiopeia's now serious face. "Nobody knows what to make of it, Cass," he said in a worried tone, "We were hoping that we'd find them in the lift chamber with you, but..." his words trailed off as he exhaled in frustration, "Where in Hades could they be?" "Athena!" Adama's voice carried from the main entrance of the Life Station to the bio-bed where the young bridge officer sat. Doctor Salik lowered the small torch with which he had been testing the pupillary response of her eyes and gestured to her in a gently dismissive manner. The young woman smiled conspiratorially at Lieutenant Bojay, who, from his stance behind the Doctor nodded with an understanding smile of his own. They shared a common thought, now is not the time. Athena then turned to run into her father's embrace. "Oh, my dear, thank the Lords of Kobol that you have not been harmed," the Commander said gravely. "Father," Athena pulled away from him and looked searchingly into his eyes, "Bojay and the others have told us about Apollo and Sheba. I don't understand it. I saw them standing not more than three metrons from the Life Station entrance just before Cassiopeia and I entered the lift. Doctor Salik says they never arrived, but it doesn't make any sense. Where would they go. Where could they go?" "I know," the Commander maintained his grave tone, "and there's more. The lift controls. When Colonel Tigh and the others arrived at the access to the lift you were in, they found the control panel damaged, smashed into pieces," Adama held tightly to his daughter's shoulders, pausing with the gravity of his next words, "It would appear that someone deliberately damaged those controls after the two of you had entered the lift. It wasn't an accident, Athena. While the control must have clearly indicated that the lift was in transit, some unknown person destroyed the panel. If it hadn't been for the fail-safe on the lift brake..." Athena stared at her father in shock as his words registered on her consciousness. "Father, are you saying that someone intended to deliberately kill us?" Athena felt a chill rush up her spine. She glanced at Cassiopeia, who stood nearby with Starbuck's arm planted firmly around her waist. The two women shared a look of horrified confusion, "But, who? And why? What's going on?" Adama's response was cut off by a sudden flurry of activity from the back of the life station. He and the others all turned to see a group of med-techs struggling with a woman that they quickly recognized as the recently injured Agro-Tech Jain. She was flailing wildly as she struggled forward, staring blankly as one in a trance-like state. With surprising force, she pushed through the medical staff that were trying vainly to restrain her without injuring her further. "Sheba! She is mine! She has given herself to me freely!" the wild-eyed and seemingly disoriented Jain staggered forward to stand directly in front of Lieutenant Starbuck. She pulled reflexively at her dishevelled brown hair, the connective cables from the various medical devices to which she had been attached dangled like tentacles from her thin frame, "Death to her, Apollo! May her soul curse you through eternity!" The agro-tech stood staring blankly with unnaturally black eyes into Starbuck's stunned face, then slumped into unconsciousness as Boomer and Doctor Salik rushed forward to catch her. "Starbuck, what is it? What's wrong with you?" Cassiopeia looked fearfully at the Lieutenant, whose face had been suddenly drained of its colour, leaving him with a sickly ashen appearance. He stumbled backward in obvious shock and Cassiopeia braced to steady his arm, "Starbuck, what did Jain mean?" the significance of Jain's words began to register on her, "Why is she threatening Sheba and Apollo?" Starbuck opened and closed his mouth and looked deeply into Cassiopeia's eyes, regaining a little of his equilibrium, then turned to face Adama. The Commander raised an eyebrow expectantly as the young man regained his power of speech. "Commander," Starbuck gently released his arm from Cassiopeia's grasp and straightened to an attitude of attention, "What Jain just said," the Lieutenant swallowed hard and continued in an incongruously calm and emotionless tone, "Those words were spoken by Count Iblis, during our last encounter with him, when Apollo..." Starbuck wet his suddenly dry lips with his tongue and struggled to complete the sentence, "when Apollo challenged Iblis and the Count struck him down, killed him right in front of us. If it hadn't been for the beings on those ships..." Starbuck felt unable to continue, the horror of the memory of his friend's lifeless body lying at his feet, and of the rage that he, Starbuck, had let loose and directed toward the creature that had called himself Iblis, came rushing into his consciousness, along with a more remote and indistinct impression, an elusive glimmer of someone's voice calling out to him, Tell the Commander. The enemy is near, seeking to destroy all of you. You must act now. You must have faith and believe us. Listen to your spirit, you know what to do, the Lieutenant resumed speaking as the colour slowly began to return to his face, "Commander, I believe that I know what's happened to Apollo and Sheba. They're not on the Galactica, or anywhere in the Fleet. I believe that those Ships of Light have returned in pursuit of Count Iblis. I think the aliens, or angels or whatever they are, have taken Apollo and Sheba. I don't know how to explain it to you, Sir, and I'm not sure that this has anything to do with what happened to the lift controls, but I know what we must do, and we must act quickly." *** Chapter Three Scene One "What do you need us to do?" Apollo's words appeared to evoke an expression, on the face of the woman that he had known as Medical Technician Diana, that he could not readily identify. It seemed to him that, despite the gravity of her words, she maintained an attitude of something akin to amusement. "I don't understand why Iblis..." Sheba's voice caught on the name as it emerged from her lips, "…why he would use someone like Jain to get to us. She's the one who was injured. It doesn't make sense to me." "Jain's injuries were not completely of Iblis' doing." Diana responded, "We believe that his ultimate goal was to have Jain befriend you and exert subtle influences over you in order to bend your will to his. Not even we had anticipated the actions of the anomalous individual that interfered with his plan," the diminutive red-head moved as she spoke, walking slowly across the width of what had first appeared to Apollo and Sheba to be the Life Station, frigid and abandoned. If Diana was to be believed, what they actually saw around them was merely a manifestation of the place that had been plucked from their own minds. Apollo shivered as he looked around him at the ghostly frost that had begun to form on the surfaces throughout the 'room'. Why it was so cold, he could not guess, but did not bother to ask. It had been his limited experience with these aliens that he should choose and word his questions carefully if he hoped to get anything resembling a direct answer. These creatures were enigmatic. They seemed to have had an honest difficulty in simplifying their thinking enough to communicate with him during their previous shared encounters. Even the affable entity named 'John' had appeared to face a similar challenge during Apollo's visit, some sectons ago now, via one of the Ships of Light, to the planet Terra. It was frustration enough to cause Apollo to disregard the impulse to ask questions about such details. "What anomalous individual? Is there another of your kind living in the Fleet amongst us?" the Captain hoped that this question would be specific enough to evoke a clear answer. "He is not one of us," Diana responded carefully, "but a poor unfortunate whose mind has lost its grip on your reality. He has buckled under the weight of his pain and suffers from the delusion that he is a warrior of sorts that was sent by some mystical force to save the two of you. He is the one who injured Jain. He has no direct knowledge of Iblis' plan, no knowledge that Jain was being influenced by an unseen force. His motivation hinged merely on the passing acquaintance that had begun to develop between Jain and Sheba. His delusion caused him to believe that Jain was befriending Sheba in order to get closer to you, Apollo, and, in a sense, this was true, though not in the way that he had surmised. He is, however, not the enemy of which I speak." "The Cylons," Sheba spoke in a level tone, in spite of the fear that had been threatening to overtake her senses, her strategic warrior's mind raced as she recalled recent events, "there is a concealed basestar in the space forward of the Galactica, isn't there? It's the only reasonable explanation for the constant attacks. Those raiders have to be coming from somewhere." "The Cylons are indeed an intrinsic element of Iblis' agenda. He has nurtured and influenced their evolution for over a millennium of yahrens in your perception of time. Their empire has germinated from a seed that he planted. The original Cylons were brought to ruin by their own machines as a direct result of Iblis' interaction with them. It is a measure of his neural engrams that are imprinted into the data files of each progressive Imperious Leader. They form the basis of the logic with which the Cylons function." Apollo and Sheba stood stunned, staring at the woman before them in abject shock and fascination. Never had either of them ever suspected that the usurping of the reptilian Cylons by their machines had been anything but an evolution of science. To learn now that an evil entity had inspired the insidious expansion of the Cylon tyranny under which their people had been nearly eradicated, was more than just a revelation to them. It altered for them irrevocably the very nature of their conflict with the Cylon Empire, and reaffirmed their common conviction that, to effect any measure of freedom or peace for their people, the Cylons must ultimately be destroyed. "Is this why you've brought us to this place?" Apollo took a step toward the entity called Diana, an earnest expression on his face, "to tell us about the origin and the nature of the Cylons? "In part," Diana responded, "and also to effect a..." she paused as if searching for the right word, "…a correction of events that were not meant to unfold as they have." Apollo glanced over at Sheba and saw a mirrored reflection of his own confused expression. Turning back to face Diana, he didn't bother to speak. He decided instead to wait for her explanation in her time. After all, if he was right in his interpretation of what he had just heard, it could be that the aliens that had saved him after his confrontation with Iblis were again planning to intervene in the course of the Colonials' destiny. He sensed Sheba moving from behind him and felt her slender hand against his. He closed his fingers over hers and turned to look deeply into her eyes, willing her not to be afraid. It was their fear that Iblis would be able to feed on. "You are correct in your thinking," Diana paused as Apollo turned once again to face her, "Iblis does feed on fear, as does any malevolent force. Fear does not leave room for the enlightenment of a people. Only in a quest for the common good, can an enlightened civilization flourish. It is through the means of constant enemy attacks that one of Iblis' more complex followers is being directed to demoralize and weaken your resolve. Baltar is, in fact, directing the squadrons aboard a concealed baseship to batter your fleet and demoralize you." Once again, the couple stood stunned. Once again they turned to gaze at one another. Both had the same thought, the same word come roaring into their minds. The name that had been heard over their distorted communication frequency by the pilots probing the dark side of a moon orbiting an artificially created planet, the destruction of which had marked the resurgence of the Cylon presence that had, in turn, necessitated the current alert status under which the Colonial Fleet functioned. It was the same name that had just emerged from Diana's lips. BALTAR. *** Chapter Three Scene Two "Commander, I can't explain it to you in a way that won't make you suspect that I'm delusional," Starbuck spoke urgently as the Commander strode with him through the hatchway into the lower gallery behind the command platform on the bridge of the Battlestar Galactica. Behind them entered Athena, with Bojay and Jolly close on her heels. Then came Cassiopeia and Boomer. The group had been ordered by Adama to stay together for safety in light of the apparent attempt on the two women's lives. The other less fortunate victim of violence, the woman Jain, had been restrained under guard with a warrior security detail in a secure compartment in the medical complex. Lieutenant Starbuck had insisted upon such measures being taken, in light of the agro-tech's apparent association with the entity that they knew as Count Iblis. "Then just explain it to me, Lieutenant, delusional or not," Adama and Starbuck rushed up the steps to stand on the command platform with Colonel Tigh, while the rest of their party gathered in the gallery below. "Bear with me, Tigh," the Commander gave his Executive Officer a longsuffering, but hopeful look before turning back toward his son's wingman, "go ahead, Starbuck. "Sir, it's like these aliens, the entities from the Ships of Light, are communicating with me directly. There's terrible danger ahead for the Fleet, Sir," Starbuck paused, gauging what words to use in trying to convince his superiors to act on his assertion that a voice in his head was the only source of the information on which he was basing his request, "You must focus the Galactica's targeting scanners on a heading of zero two seven, Sir, and be prepared to fire at full power on the signal. You must also have the active viper patrols converge forward and starboard of the Fleet. This will be their optimal maximum firing range on the approaching raiders." "You wish us to fire on specified co-ordinates in apparently empty space on your signal, and gather our protective force in one small area with no targets currently showing on our scanners based on intelligence within your mind that you claim has been put there somehow by these aliens suggesting that we are in imminent danger of attack by Cylon raiders. Is that a fair assessment?" the Commander studied Starbuck's face with an attempt at stoicism that only slightly concealed his incredulous expression. "Yes, Sir, that's basically it, except that the raiders will be accompanied by a concealed basestar," The Lieutenant smiled weakly and spread his arms in acknowledgement and, to a degree, appeasement, "and it's not me who's giving the signal, Sir." Starbuck lowered his hands to drape his thumbs over his gun belt and grimaced slightly at the appearance of perversity that he found himself operating under, "Commander, that will be up to Apollo and Sheba. They should be coming back very soon." "The aliens told you this," Adama did not voice it as a question, "Starbuck, how can you be sure? Perhaps this sudden knowledge is from another more malevolent source, disguising itself as a benefactor. We all observed the condition of Jain." "No, Sir," Starbuck held the Commander's gaze, "I know it for a fact, Sir. I have nothing to convince you but my word as a Colonial Warrior," the young man leaned forward, his gaze remaining steady, as if to force his own awareness onto Adama's mind, to show him what he, himself, had been internally shown, "If you've ever trusted my judgment, Commander, then trust me now." "Tigh," Adama spoke to the Colonel, but kept his eyes on Starbuck's face, "have the targeting scanners set to co-ordinates zero two seven," the Commander paused, looking deeply into the young man's clear blue eyes, "and prepare to fire on Captain Apollo's signal." *** Chapter Three Scene Three The Life Station was much quieter than it had been over the last two days. During this period, most of the facility's resources, along with those of the science lab, had been busily engaged in the investigation of two apparent murder attempts. The victim of the first, the agro-tech, Jain, was currently the only patient under Doctor Salik's care in the Life Station. Two young enlisted warriors sat quietly vigilant on either side of the door that led to the small treatment room in which the Doctor had ordered her restrained, after her bizarre confrontation with Starbuck. They were the only others currently on duty in the lab, Salik having sent his current, overworked, shift of med-techs to rest in their billets unless called for emergency duty. Doctor Salik sat in his small, sparse office chamber, contemplating the notations that Doctor Wilker had made upon finally receiving the print outs that Athena and Cassiopeia had been charged to deliver before their confinement in the sabotaged express lift. The rescue workers who had scooped the scattered sheaves of paper up from the lift deck and into a large fire resistant blanket, had unceremoniously dumped the bundle, blanket and all, in the center of the main chamber of the science lab down in Lambda Section. The Chief Science Officer had, for the last centaur, been steadily sending up the results of the multiple scans made on the agro-ship and on the patient, Jain, as he had compiled them from the mass of data laying in various stages of organization on the deck of his lab and then handed them off every fifteen centons to couriers, who used an alternate lift aft of the currently inoperative Express Lift Lambda to hand deliver the results to Doctor Salik in Life Station. Particular attention had been paid to the molecular scan results from the upper deck railing that had apparently crumpled under Jain's weight. The relevant length of railing still lay, where it had been delivered by several members of Doctor Paye's investigative team, across three bio-beds in the main area of the Life Station. "Damn that Wilker," Salik muttered to himself as he gazed through the opening of his office chamber at the large metal mass that now occupied a large section of his medical facility, "Why does he have to be so antisocial. All these yahrens, and he's just as stubborn as ever. Worse, in fact. If he'd just allowed them to put the new lab next to the medical complex..." the Doctor paused in his gruff monologue at the sound of the main door opening and the sight of the two latest arrivals from Lambda Section. One lab-tech could have easily delivered the small electronic pad into which Wilker had input the latest increment of permutations, but in light of the recent murder attempts, Adama had ordered all personnel on the ship to travel in groups of two or more. No-one was to move about the ship alone, until the source of the violence had been found and neutralized, and no-one was to use any lifts unless a security detail stood ready to visually ensure the safety status of all relevant lift access points. This too, had contributed to a general quiet throughout the area of the Life Station, and indeed, the entire ship. "This is the last of them, Doctor," the shorter of the two lab-techs reached into the office chamber to hand Salik the data pad, nodding in deference to the older man, and promptly proceeding back out the main entrance with his companion. It's as we suspected from the initial structural analyses, Salik leaned back into the upholstery of his chair and, with another slightly bitter look out at the twisted length of deck railing, stared thoughtfully at the data pad in his hand, this woman had to have been poisoned with a toxin delivered by a medical injector and then pushed from the upper deck with a great deal of force, but there's no evidence of anyone being up there with her, from a finger imprint to a strand of genetic tissue, nothing, the Doctor shook his head in annoyance and snorted derisively, If Lieutenant Starbuck hasn't completely lost his mind, then perhaps Count Iblis pushed her off the railing and disappeared in a puff of smoke, the Doctor was not impressed by theology or mysticism. To him, evil was just another disease to conquer, a tumour to be excised. He was not easily rattled and, even in the face of the battle between good and evil, he waged his defensive front from the Life Station, fostering healthy minds and bodies for those that may face adversity and difficult decisions upon leaving the medical facility. This was his contribution, and he took it very seriously. The distinctive sound of a soft moan from the main chamber caught Salik's attention. Rising from his chair and emerging from the access to the office chamber, his gaze was drawn to the now open hatchway of Jain's treatment room. It was not the open door, however, that inspired his sudden movement forward, but the sight of the two Colonial Warriors laying slumped on the floor on either side of it. Rushing through the opening, the Doctor collided with what he had first assumed to be empty air. Staggering back from the impact, Salik was momentarily stunned by the apparent rippling of the space before him. The sound of something hard hitting the deck was followed by the abrupt appearance of an emaciated and wild-eyed young man, his clothes in disarray and inarticulate sounds emanating from his open mouth. Seeing a botanical atomizer clutched in the thin, arachon-like fingers of the young man's left hand, Salik delivered a quick, sharp blow to the shoulder and enveloping the hand that held the atomizer in his own larger fist, spun the man around into a restraining hold. Thanking whatever medical gods there may be that he had been an active member of the Caprican Medical Academy's championship wrestling team, the Doctor squeezed firmly on a nerve near the base on the intruder's skull, inducing unconsciousness and altering his grip to catch the man as he fell. Dragging the now immobile intruder to a nearby storage compartment, Salik unceremoniously dumped the man inside and pressed the locking mechanism beside the small door. Rushing back to the doorway of the treatment chamber, Salik was relieved to find, with a touch of a finger to the base of their respective lower jaws, that both warriors, though unconscious, each appeared to have a reasonably stable pulse rate. Leaning against the treatment chamber hatchway, the Doctor slowed his breathing and then bent to pick up a small object that lay on the decking near his feet. It was a portable electronic device of unfamiliar design. Looks like it was built from scraps like Wilker's damned prototypes, the Doctor's thoughts were interrupted by a moan from the bio-bed contained in the chamber. "You are mine! Come! Be with me!" Jain emerged, screaming, into consciousness and fixed the Doctor with the steady glare of her unnaturally black eyes. "That will be quite enough, young lady!" Salik slipped the mysterious device into a pocket built into the wide hem of his tunic and strode angrily over to the bio-bed, fixing his patient with a glare of his own, "Now see here!" the Doctor crossed his arms across his chest and clenched his jaw muscles reflexively, "I don't know if you are possessed by some malevolent entity, or just lonely and disturbed, and, honestly, I don't care!" Salik raised a meaty index finger and shoved it abruptly into Jain's now stunned and immobile face, "What I do know is that whatever kind of adversity you may be up against, it's your choice as to how you want to deal with it. What sort of a life do you want, girl? Decide now. If there is some sort of evil influence using your weak will to play out some cosmic melodrama, then begone with it. Decide that you won't have it anymore," Salik raised his finger until it pointed toward the lighting element inset into the ceiling panel above," because there's no room in my Life Station for this metaphysical felgercarb!" It seemed to the outraged Doctor that Jain's face became blank of all expression for a micron, maybe two. Then, to the Doctor's utter astonishment, the blackness of her eyes began to diminish, until Salik could see her natural shade of dark green emerging from under the waning shadow. Jain opened and closed her dry lips several times, and turned jerkily to see that her arms and legs were secured to the sides of the bio-bed. "What," Agro-Tech Jain whispered in a laboured, crackling voice. "Yes?" Doctor Salik softened his tone and leaned down to hear the woman's barely audible words. "What am I doing here? Why am I in this bed?" "We're just scaring off what ails you, my dear." the Doctor touched Jain's shoulder gently, "You've had a little accident, but you're going to be just fine. Jain's eyes closed as she drifted off into a deep, apparently natural state of sleep. Salik pulled the blanket up and tucked it snugly around her small frame, then sat heavily into a nearby chair, running a hand through his thinning hair, "And we can thank the Caprican Medical Academy's Wrestling Program for that." *** Chapter Three Scene Four Apollo took another step toward the alien called Diana, Sheba beside him, her hand still enveloped in his. He squeezed her fingers as he felt her shiver in the ever increasing cold of the space that they occupied. The darkening manifestation of the Life Station was now coated with a layer of thickening frost. The warriors could clearly see their breath becoming visible vapour. "Are you saying that the creature that we knew as Iblis has influenced Baltar?" Apollo's tone was more than a little incredulous. It was all so much to take in, "Taken advantage of his weak and traitorous nature, somehow plucked him off of that planet that Adama left him on, and insinuated him back into the command of a basestar. And he can do all of this, because he was the architect of the extermination of the Cylon people and of the evolution of the Cylon machines. What did he promise the Cylons?" "He subverted the Cylons in the same way that he has subverted others," Diana stepped forward and touched Sheba's free hand, "He felt your loneliness. He mirrored it back to you and gained your empathy for his own solitude. That is how he ensnared you. He made his way into your mind, until he found your most vulnerable wish, and promised that it would be fulfilled," Diana's tone became firmer, as Sheba continued to stare into the alien's eyes, her own eyes misting with tears at the memory of Iblis' treachery and how desperately she had believed his promises. It was more than an embarrassment that she had fallen so easily under the evil one's influence, dismissing the skepticism of others, especially Apollo. It was a deep sliver of shame that pierced her consciousness, that Apollo had nearly been lost in trying to save her. "But, in the end, you rejected Iblis and reclaimed your freedom of choice. That is the one barrier that he cannot penetrate. The simple rejection of his lies." "You still haven't told us what we are to do about the basestar and Baltar. And what about Jain. Is she under Iblis' control? And what about the person who attacked her?" Apollo was becoming aware that the room appeared to be shrinking, the light source above them dimming and causing the perimeter of the frozen chamber to become less distinct to his vision. It was giving him the sense that their time here with Diana was coming to an end. The small red-head moved away from Sheba and turned once more to face the Captain, "There is a concealed basestar at a heading of zero two seven, forward of your fleet, preparing to attack the Galactica. Lieutenant Starbuck, at our urging, has convinced your people to fire on the basestar's position and engage its launched raiders on your order. As far as Jain and her assailant go," the alien smiled in what appeared to Apollo to be genuine amusement, "it seems that Doctor Salik has appeared as a fortuitous anomaly and diminished that aspect of Iblis' influence with his famous bedside manner. However, the would be assassin still holds the key to the Cylons' new technology. It originated on the planet that you encountered shortly after Baltar's rescue from his banishment and his return to the Cylons' domain. The artificially constructed planetary core was comprised of a distinctive magnetic ore. You will recall that your survey team collected several samples from the area around the site of the Kobollian ruins, before the Cylons became evident. Have Doctor Wilker test them and verify his inventory," Diana stepped back, further into the darkening shadow that seemed to be swallowing the room. "Wait!" Sheba stepped forward, still holding tightly to Apollo's hand, "Is my father out there? Did he leave his flinton in front of the astral chart in the ruins as a sign for us to find? To tell us that he's out there, waiting for the right time to appear? Please, you have to tell me. I have to know." "There is one truth that Iblis spoke to you. He said that you would see Cain again. At the time, he meant it as a cruel promise, knowing that, at best, you would be in time only to see your father's lifeless form," Diana raised a hand at Sheba's look of pain, "But in denying the evil one, you have altered that potential future, altered your destiny. Have hope, Sheba. That is all that I can be allowed to tell you. It is time for me to return to my realm, and for me to return you to yours," once more the diminutive woman grasped Sheba's free hand, "It is as you said, in the lift, before you arrived here. If you, and others like-minded as you, marry, and raise children, you build a future for the protectors of humanity, and thus for humanity itself. Do not allow Iblis to alter your plans. Events are now evolving in the direction that was intended. The time line has nearly returned to its original configuration. You must go now," Diana once more stepped back into the shadow that was moving to envelope them, disappearing into the darkness. Apollo pulled Sheba to him and tightened his grasp on her hand. Sharing a tentative look of determination, the two walked decisively into the darkness, as Diana had done, going back in the direction from which they had originally come. *** Chapter Three Scene Five "Commander," At the sound of Lieutenant Boomer's voice rising from the gallery below and behind him, Adama turned from his vigil on the command platform, Starbuck and Tigh standing in tense preparedness on either side of him, Omega sitting ready, watching the displays on the console before him, his head cocked in awareness of the communication traffic being broadcasted by his headset speaker. The young bridge officer's hand lay ready on the console plate near the main forward laser cannon array initiation control. Starbuck and Tigh turned with the Commander to look down toward the group still assembled in the gallery. "By your leave, Sir. If Starbuck's right, then we should get to the launch tubes and get out there with the rest of the welcoming party," Boomer gestured toward his fellow pilots, Bojay and Jolly. "That's right, Sir," Bojay moved forward, from where he stood between Jolly and Athena. Cassiopeia, from her position at Boomer's right hand, looked knowingly up at the command platform, resignedly certain that Starbuck would agree with his patrol wings, and request that they be allowed to join in the, according to the voice in Starbuck's head, imminent space battle. She smiled a little sadly, then turned her attention back to Bojay as he continued to speak in a determined tone, "we should be out there ready to fight. There's nothing for us to do here on the bridge, Commander." The glance that Lieutenant Bojay exchanged with Athena was not lost on her father. "Let us get out there and haul those Cylons out into the open, Sir. They've been terrorizing us like trapped animals for sectons now." Jolly stepped forward, hands on hips, looked upward at the white-haired warrior standing on the platform above him and waited for his Commander's orders. As the Commander opened his mouth to respond to the pilots' request, a bright flash of light that appeared to emanate from behind the group in the gallery momentarily blinded him and cut the words off at his lips. Adama squinted and held his palm out above his brow like an awning over his slowly refocussing eyes. His mouth opened in shocked relief as his vision cleared and he saw the face of his son, Cain's daughter beside him, stepping, as if having entered the gallery through the bulkhead, out from behind Bojay and Athena. "There's no time for that, Father," Apollo, releasing Sheba's hand, rushed forward and up the command platform steps to stand beside Starbuck, You must fire lasers at maximum setting to an area in space converging at a forward heading along coordinates zero two seven. There is a concealed basestar at that position, preparing to attack the Galactica full on. You must hit them hard, now, with all we've got, if we are to have any hope of using the element of surprise to destroy them!" "Omega, commence firing, now!" the Commander did not hesitate at Apollo's confirmation of Starbuck's assertions of danger, "Do as the Captain says and give them all we've got!" Adama afforded himself the brief luxury of smiling broadly into his son's face, before turning his attention toward the front of the ship and resuming a more serious expression, "Put those co-ordinates on main view screen, visual range magnification, and order all Squadron Leaders to stand ready." "Aye, Sir!" Omega's fingers came down on the laser initiation control, sending several deadly beams, from the Galactica's forward laser turrets, forward into space to converge in a concentrated vertex at the co-ordinates that Starbuck and Apollo had each been given. The bridge was silent but for the sounds of various instrument panels performing their multiple functions. The men on the command platform, as well as the people in the gallery, waited with bated breath as the beams continued their steady assault on the unseen enemy. "There's something happening," Athena cried, running over to her regular tactical communication station and leaning helpfully over the grateful shoulder of her current relief trainee, Corporal Lena. There's some kind of distortion wave forming, Father," the Lieutenant looked up toward the command platform with a grave expression, "Omega, check your readings, it looks like a gigantic magnetic field, and it's expanding outward from the target point!" "Affirmative," Omega adjusted some controls on his console and looked up at the Commander, "Athena's right, Sir. We haven't seen readings like this for sectons, not since we saw that artificially constructed planet explode. In this case, however, the energy levels are much lower. Whatever's hiding behind that magnetically charged field, is not as large and dense as the planet was. In fact, it looks to be about the size of a..." Omega's words failed him as he followed the suddenly rapt gaze of the other men on the platform and turned to look at the main view screen. There on the screen, an outline became visible. It was a shape that all of the warriors in the Command Centre were familiar with. There was a sound of multiple peoples' inhaled breath as the outline began to gain substance to reveal what they all knew could be nothing other than a Cylon basestar, appearing to materialize from behind it's field of concealment. "Continue focusing that beam at full power, Omega. Tigh, have the combat wings stay well back from the distortion wave. Defensive positions only." As the two men moved to respond to Adama's orders, the Commander, Apollo and Starbuck watched, as did the others in the gallery below, fascinated as the distortion effect seemed to encompass the basestar, giving its exterior structure the appearance of rapid expansion and contraction. "Commander!" Rigel's voice carried from her station in the forward gallery, "Cylon raiders are appearing from beyond the target area! Shall I instruct Squadron Leaders to engage?" "Negative, Lieutenant," Adama looked briefly in Rigel's direction, "Instruct fighters to hold back in defensive positions only. Keep them well away from the basestar," he studied the main view screen for a micron only before ordering in a firm voice, "Omega, continue firing at maximum power and close blast doors!" The last sliver of forward space that was seen by anyone on the bridge before the blast doors closed with a dull clang of metal on metal, was the first explosion in a chain reaction that quickly encompassed the circumference of the basestar. It was only through their screens and scanner displays that they watched the resulting final explosion that reduced the basestar to a debris field and caught nearly half of the nearby raiders in its wake. "Squadron Leaders report only ten to fifteen raiders left in view," Rigel called into the relative silence that had once more overtaken the Command Centre, "most appear to be badly damaged. Sir?" Rigel turned and looked up at Adama. "Order the fighters to stay clear of the debris field. Maintain defensive positions for a while longer," Rigel nodded an acknowledgement to the Commander and relayed his orders to the pilots in position slightly starboard of the Galactica. "Cease fire." Adama turned his gaze toward Omega, "Open blast doors." The great doors reopened onto the sight of the large debris field and several Cylon raiders hanging listlessly in space. The few raiders that had escaped without damage were being methodically picked off by defensive target shooting from the Galactica's vipers. Adama turned as he scanned the Command Centre slowly, stopping to look into his son's bright green eyes, Ila's eyes, Adama allowed a slight chuckle to escape from his lips as he placed a firm hand on Apollo's shoulder. "Welcome home, my Son," the Commander squeezed Apollo's shoulder with his strong fingers and spoke warmly, "When we couldn't find you, I was afraid that you and Sheba were going to miss evening meal," the two men shared a smile, and then a laugh of relief, as Adama reached to embrace his son. *** Chapter Three Scene Six "Commander," Cassiopeia set down her goblet of ambrosia and glanced solemnly at the group assembled around Adama's table, "Why was this man, Calvin, following Apollo and Sheba around in the first place. According to Paye's cathartic specialists, he's convinced that he's some sort of multi-dimensional warrior sent to save them from their enemies, but what was it that put him so far over the edge of reason?" "Well, my dear, according to Doctor Wilker," Adama dabbed his lips with his napkin, and leaned back in his chair at the head of the large table, sliding his nearly empty plate slightly forward, "the portable field generator that Doctor Salik knocked free from Lab-Tech Calvin's belt was comprised of materials that had been scavenged from the science lab. Early on in his investigations, Wilker had already discovered the potential for the cumulatively toxic effect of the field generated by the magnetic ore that Athena's team collected from the area of the ruins on the artificially constructed planet. Wilker has determined that, without some sort of protective shielding, the electromagnetic concealment field that Calvin generated, using a small sample of the ore, taken from the isolation compartment in the laboratory, likely intensified the delusional state of his mind. Wilker, Salik and Paye are all convinced that constant unshielded exposure to this particular type of radiation would ultimately trigger an increasingly extreme level of dementia in any human brain. Fortunately, there's some hope that the effect may be reversible. For the time being, poor Calvin will be kept under Doctor Paye's custody in the long-term trauma care section. "What about Baltar?" Apollo spoke with a sombre tone from his positon on the Commander's right, "If we can believe the alien, Diana, in her assertions, then Baltar was aboard that basestar. How would exposure to a massive concealment field of that magnitude have affected his personality? We know that the Cylons tend to generate barely enough atmosphere in their ships to facilitate the movement of sound waves, even when other, oxygen-breathing life forms are present. Would they go to the trouble to shield the interior from radiation for the sake of one human? For that matter, if he was ever there, how do we know he didn't escape when those raiders launched? The readings were all over the place. We wouldn't have necessarily detected a single raider heading away into space from behind the target area." "And Iblis," Sheba, who sat across from Apollo at the Commander's left hand shot a thoughtful look around the table, "was he really here? Was he truly influencing Jain, as Starbuck believes?" she turned to Adama with a look of confusion, "Diana said that he was evolving and had been influencing Baltar to conduct the endless attacks we've endured all these sectons. She said that it was our refusal to accept his lies that would save us from him. Of course, in light of Jain's improved condition, Salik says it's all 'metaphysical felgercarb'. And what about the Pegasus, Sir?" Adama's face assumed a kindly, fatherly expression as he considered Sheba's question, "Well," the Commander's deep voice struck a chord within her that acted, as it was intended, to diminish her fears, "we've all seen the destruction of that one basestar. However, there were two signals detected behind the moon of that planet. If Cain had managed to mine enough of that ore, before the Cylons were able to interfere, to conceal his own ship and beat them at their own game..." the Commander let his words trail off tantalizingly. "But, the side-effects of the radiation," Sheba's tone was grim, "if the Pegasus is out there, shielded behind a toxic electromagnetic field..." "There, there Sheba," the Commander smiled encouragingly, "Cain is one of the most brilliant strategists that the Colonies ever knew." Adama cocked his head, with a return to his previous look of good humour, "You don't think he'd let a little toxic radiation slow him down, do you? No, Sheba. If Cain is using the ore to hide out there," Adama gestured toward the view port across the main chamber of his quarters, "then rest assured that he will have thought to shield himself and his people from its harmful effects," he placed a hand on her slender arm, where it rested on the table beside him, "That is what I choose to believe." Adama squeezed Sheba's arm affectionately, then released his grip, straightening slightly in his seat, "As to what caused Calvin's initial obsession with Apollo and Sheba, well," Adama looked to the place down the table across from Cassiopeia, where Starbuck sat regarding his unlit fumarello, rubbing his stomach in satisfaction, as evidenced by his own empty plate, "it appears that Calvin was an enthusiastic participant in a certain wagering pool that has been spreading in popularity throughout the ship, and some of the Fleet, over the last several sectons." "Wait a centon," Apollo shared a look of consternation with Sheba, then the two of them turned to join Adama in his speculative observation of Starbuck, all three warriors sharing a communal expression akin to a pack of predatory animals inspecting potential prey. The Captain's green eyes intercepted the attempt of Starbuck's blue ones to avoid the gaze, "Father," though he spoke to Adama, he maintained his visual fix on his best friend and wingman, "Do you mean to tell us, that it was Starbuck's wagering pool that incited a psychotic, magnetically irradiated laboratory technician to follow us around and commit deranged acts of violence on our behalf?" "Now, Apollo," Starbuck's voice was a little shaky as he glanced down the length of the table, beyond Boomer's place at his right, to smile weakly into Sheba's dark eyes, "Sheba," turning back to face the Captain, Starbuck stabbed the air before him with the fumarello and willed some smooth stability into his tone, "I think that you're missing the bigger picture. I admit that the wagering may have gotten a little out of control in some aspects," he glanced again, worriedly, toward Sheba, as he heard a short exhalation of derision escape her lungs, "but, if it hadn't been for the constant surveillance that you were under, you might have been killed by Calvin during one of his psychotic episodes. I guess you're just going to have to concede to the fact that it was the wagering pool that saved both of your lives!" Starbuck chomped down on his fumarello, while still managing a flashing white smile, and spread out his hands with a dramatic flourish, speaking through the grimace of his slightly clenched jaw, "Please, you don't have to thank me. Just seeing the looks on your faces is thanks enough!" Cassiopeia could hold back no longer and began to giggle. Athena, from her place at the foot of the table, between Bojay and Boxey, followed suit and began to sputter with laughter. The tide of hilarity moved up the table, washing over Bojay and Boxey, moving through Starbuck and Cassiopeia, and making its contagious way through Boomer and Jolly, from where they sat next to Sheba and Apollo, respectively. Adama's lips twitched with humour as he regarded his son and daughter-to-be. "In any case, Father," Apollo smiled in spite of himself and barely managed to avoid the indignity of laughing aloud at his own discomfort. He turned to the Commander, struggling for a more serious tone, "It appears that we've reached the end of the evening meal. Perhaps we should tell everyone why they've come to dinner in battle dress," the Captain pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, as did Adama, and then Sheba. Apollo and Sheba donned their flight jackets as Adama strode across the chamber to his desk, where he touched a control and initiated the communication relay, "Tigh, would you join us in my quarters, please? We're almost ready to begin. Oh, and bring the book with you." "Aye, Commander," The good humour in Tigh's voice was plainly perceived by the increasingly confused assemblage of dinner guests, who were exchanging questioning glances about the table, "I'm on my way, Sir. Tigh out." "Boxey," Apollo extended his hand in a beckoning gesture as he moved to stand before Adama in front of the large desk, Sheba facing him from Adama's other side, "Come here and stand with me, Son." The Captain glared at Starbuck in mock disgust, "Starbuck, put down that fumarello and put your jacket on. We'll be needing you to join us. In fact, we'd appreciate it if you'd all gather over here with us for a few centons." "Apollo, what's going on?" Starbuck stared confusedly at his friend as he voiced the simple question that was uppermost in all of their minds. "Here you are, Sir," Tigh's arrival through the main entrance adjacent to Adama's desk interrupted the Captain's response. The Executive Officer extended his hand toward the Commander and proffered a book, obviously of ancient design, with recognizably Kobollian characters on it's well-worn cover, "I've marked the appropriate passages, Sir." With that, Tigh stepped back to stand behind Apollo with his hands clasped behind his back, a solemn expression struggling with the obvious humour in his dark eyes. "Well, Starbuck," Apollo placed his hand on Boxey's shoulder and smiled down at the boy's curious expression, then faced his friend across the room, a rare boyish grin brightening his dark face, "Close your mouth, put your jacket on and get over here. What's the matter with you? Haven't you ever seen anyone get married before?" *** Chapter Three Scene Seven "...and in the tradition of the warrior priests of Kobol, who, upon learning that their sun was dying," Adama spoke with a mellow voice as he read the translated portions of the text of the ancient military field ritual, traditionally believed to have been handed down from the very warriors that had defended the founders of the Twelve Colonies of Man, "pledged to protect their people from harm on the long journey ahead, we here witness the sealing of these two warriors on the field of combat," Adama smiled at Sheba, "Does the family of this woman, a warrior of her clan, give consent for her to be sealed to Apollo, son of Adama?" Sheba turned expectantly toward Bojay, who stood slightly behind her, and lifted her eyebrows. "Yes," Bojay considered, for a heartbeat, that he was standing in for his absent Commander, and took note of the moment, I may have to describe his only daughter's sealing ceremony to him some day, so I'd better not screw this up, "I do so consent," he leaned down impulsively and kissed his wingman, his sister in battle if not in blood, affectionately on the cheek. "Does the family of this man, a warrior of his clan, give consent for him to be sealed to Sheba, daughter of Cain?" Adama gazed fondly down at his grandson and nodded. "That's you, Son," Apollo said quietly to Boxey as he gently squeezed a small shoulder, "Is it alright with you if we get married?" the Captain smiled encouragingly down at Serina's son with a lump in his throat, I've done my best, Serina, my love, I hope you approve of my choices. "Yes, I consent," the boy used the most serious tone that he could muster and then smiled up at Apollo, with the eyes of his mother. It felt to the Captain that his first love possibly did approve in some way, perhaps through her son's happiness. Apollo placed his hand lightly on the boy's head for a moment, then turned his attention back to the sealing ritual, and his second love. "Then, by the pledge made and kept by the Warrior Priests to the ancient Lords of Kobol," the Commander closed the book over it's marker and handed it off to Starbuck, who, unfamiliar with the meaning of this part of the ritual, took the book from Adama's hands with what he hoped was the appropriate amount of gravity, held it to his chest with a forearm and stood stiffly at attention to watch as Adama unclipped the amulet that denoted his rank from the yoke of his tunic, and placed it in Apollo's left hand. The Commander then reached for Sheba's left hand and placed it over the amulet, pressing their fingers gently together to grasp the icon, "I, Adama, Commander of this vessel and of these two warriors, declare that they are sealed." Apollo and Sheba leaned forward in a brief kiss before disentangling the fingers that grasped the amulet, returning it to Adama. The assembled group relaxed their stiff poses in an unspoken agreement that the formalities were over, and came forward, one after the other, to express their congratulations to the now married warriors. "I have to say, Skipper," Jolly grasped his Captain's wrist and smiled broadly, "You sure pulled one over on us. I don't think anyone saw a surprise sealing coming." "Well," Apollo laughed and put an arm around his wife's waist, pulling her close to him, "We figured it was the only way to stop Starbuck's pool." "Hey, Dad," Apollo, smiling happily, looked down in the direction of Boxey's voice, "If the sick invisible guy tried to hurt you because of Starbuck's pool, but people watching you for the pool saved your life, then does that mean that its not Starbuck's fault that Aunt Athena and Cassiopeia got stuck in the lift?" "Hey! That's right!" Athena turned to face Cassiopeia as the two shared a speculative expression, "What do you have to say about that, Starbuck?" Athena paused and, receiving no response, scanned the chamber to see the blonde Lieutenant poring busily over a sheaf of paper that was tucked neatly into the book that Adama had handed him during the sealing ritual. "Starbuck?" Cassiopeia called over to him in mock indignation, "What do you have to say for yourself?" "Hm?" the young man looked up from the book to see Athena and Cassiopeia before him, respective arms crossed, "Well, um, look, Cass. Athena. It's like this..." Starbuck reached over to the table, setting the ancient book down carefully and picking up the still unlit fumarello from his previous place at the table, "I had no idea that Calvin was unstable. I mean, to think that he put you through," Starbuck began to pat down the various pockets of his flight jacket, "put you through such a, well, thank the Gods that you're both alright! Cass, I was so worried about you in that lift. And Athena, I,…" Starbuck smiled a little desperately at the two women, waiting for inspiration to tell him what to say. "Oh, for Sagan's sake!" Sheba moved out of her husband's embrace, reaching into the utility pocket on her jacket sleeve. She stood to one side of the other two women, her expression much the same as theirs and held up the flinton with the stylized crest of a sword and wings in red and the inset auricon beneath that spelled out the name, CAIN. With a flick of her thumb, she opened the hinged lid and struck the mechanism. The flinton belched out a small, fiery flare, then stabilized into one steady flame. Starbuck raised his fumarello to his lips and gingerly accepted the light, inhaling the small cylinder into ignition, "Don't thank me, Starbuck," she cut off the words that were forming on the Lieutenant's lips, "I just thought that Athena and Cassiopeia might like to know about the tragic fire that claimed your wagering pool banner earlier today. It was very sudden," Sheba held Starbuck's gaze as she snapped closed the flinton lid to extinguish the flame, leaning forward with an icy smile, "there was nothing I could do to save it." "Well, I'm sure you tried, Sheba," Starbuck decided that bravado would be his strategy for the moment, "Congratulations!" he kissed her cheek quickly, and moved past her to grasp Apollo's wrist, "Congratulations, buddy, and don't worry about the banner. Greenbean has a backup data pad!" moving quickly, before Apollo could respond, Starbuck plucked the book back up from the table and reopened it to the page that he had been studying, "Commander, is this whole translated section here related to the combat field ritual?" "Yes, it appears to be, Starbuck," Adama did not bother to hide his confusion, "Why do you ask?" "Well, Sir," Starbuck smiled happily as he chomped on his smouldering fumarello, "Since the basestar is now destroyed, is the state of alert ended?" "Well, we will have patrols launched as a precautionary measure for the next few daily cycles, but yes, I would say that we can tentatively stand down from alert status. Starbuck, what are you getting at?" "It says right here, Sir, under the main text of the combat field ritual, that if the ritual should be performed at a time when attack from the enemy is not considered imminent, that," Starbuck cleared his throat to recite the translation, " 'The celebrations of the warriors shall progress in shifts of three daily cycles for not less than twelve days, and not more than is sufficient for each progressive rotation to have imbibed their share of the bounty provided.' " Starbuck closed the book gently and handed it to Adama, "that means that I have a party of more than twelve days in duration to conduct. It's the least I can do for my best friend's sealing." Starbuck ran back to kiss a bemused Cassiopeia soundly on the lips and then paused only long enough to put his hands on Apollo's shoulders and shake him gently, looking into his best friend's bright green eyes with a warm smile. Then, pressing his finger to the door control panel, he disappeared into the corridor. "How does he do it?" Athena asked incredulously. "I don't really know," Cassiopeia responded with a smile, "but he's very good at it." The room became filled with laughter, and Adama ushered the group back over to the dining table with the offer of more ambrosia as Apollo turned to smile at his wife, and she, replacing the flinton into the pocket on her sleeve, moved to enter his embrace once more. *** Chapter Three Scene Eight "I can hear the sound of the party from here." Sheba stood looking out the view port in the main chamber of the quarters that she was now to share with her new husband and son, "I hope that basestar didn't have any reinforcements on the way." "Father seems certain that the basestar was one of many that have scattered through space, looking for us, like the last one we encountered. If that's true, then, hopefully, any communications that they might have managed to transmit would take a while to reach the nearest Cylon base of operations. By then we'll have moved to another area of space. Father is keeping us on our meandering course for a while before we risk a linear approach on our primary heading." Apollo rose from the chair near the small work area on the other side of the chamber and moved to slide his arms around her slender waist, "In any case, we still have rotating patrol wings monitoring the Fleet while the warriors are celebrating. I've just finished inputting the last of the shift rotation notes for Colonel Tigh to take over." Turning within the circumference of his embrace, Sheba faced the Captain with a smile and slowly moved her arms until they encircled his neck. "I hope Adama is right," a hint of laughter escaped from her lips, "If Starbuck manages to maneuver the supplies he needs from the commissary, the officer's mess and any other victual storage area that he can plunder," she paused as Apollo pulled her closer, tilting his head to study her face with a thoughtful gaze, then continued with a smile, "then, considering our numbers, and assuming three days of revelry for each shift rotation, and assuming that Cassiopeia and Athena don't stuff him into the nearest lift shaft, and that he finds some way to mollify the civilian population, probably by including them in the festivities, that the celebration of our sealing could go on for fifteen days or more. From the way Adama explained it to me, according to his best interpretation of the ancient field manual, the parameters of the sealing ritual dictate that, barring a full alert, the sealed warriors are to remain available only for family responsibilities during the 'imbibing of the bounty'. Something to do with keeping away evil spirits. It appears that your incorrigible best friend, in his own inimitable style, has managed to gain for us that privacy we were hoping to attain, even if it means he's pillaging the supplies to do it." "It appears so," Apollo's expression became more serious as he bent to place a lingering kiss on her lips. After a micron or two, he pulled away and once again fixed his green eyes on his wife's face, "and I admit, the thought doesn't make me feel guilty. This is one time that I feel like being selfish for a while." "When is Boxey due home?" Sheba asked, with a glance at the entrance to the smaller of the two bedchambers, the one that the boy normally occupied at this time of the evening cycle, "I didn't get much of a chance to talk with him, what with all the congratulations and toasts after Starbuck ran off, but he seemed to handle the surprise ceremony quite well." "He's fine. Father has enticed him to stay over for the next three days with the promise that he could visit the party for a while," the Captain reached up to place a gentle hand on each of her shoulders, "It's as I've told you. He understands that you're not taking his mother's place, that you're making a place of your own. He doesn't resent you. In fact, I overheard him explaining to Jolly that he's planning to ask us for a little brother," he smiled at the slight flush that moved across her face. "And you?" In spite of her smile, Sheba's eyes betrayed a small hint of uncertainty, "No regrets?" "Hades of a time to ask me, wife," Apollo assumed a light tone of mock anger and then laughed and reached to slide her arms from around his neck, grasping each of her slender hands in his own, an expression of intensity crossing his face, "Again, it's as I've told you, it's true that I will always love Serina. I won't pretend that isn't so. A part of me will always be with her, as I believe that her spirit will always be with me and with Boxey," he said the words carefully and slowly, with a slight rasp of emotion in his throat, willing her to let go of her insecurities, trying to eradicate her fears, "and I don't pretend to understand why the Gods have allowed events to unfold as they have, how you and I chanced to come together through the vastness of space, but the one thing that I do know, is that I love you, and I promise you that I will do my very best to make sure that you never have any regrets over loving me, either." "Well then, Skipper," A few stray tears coursed down her cheeks as her smile widened and the cloud lifted from her warm, brown eyes, "That's a promise that I intend to spend the rest of my life ensuring that you keep." Apollo lifted his wife's hands to his lips and kissed her fingers gently, then together the two of them walked through the hatchway to the larger of the two inner chambers, and to seal their pledge that they would face the unfolding of their future, together. *** Epilogue The Cylon raider made it's way soundlessly through space, its aft section scorched and pitted, though the damage was superficial. The two centurions in the forward piloting positions maintained the steady series of adjustments required to keep the raider from deviating from its designated course. Have your centurions maintain this course for another twelve centaurs. You shall find a ship waiting for you. Board it and proceed upward to the Command Chamber. You will await my further instruction from there. "And then we shall destroy the Galactica? Exact our revenge?" the voice that emanated from beneath a hooded cloak in the rear command position behind the centurions had a manic quality, of one who has wandered close to the outskirts of stability. Exposure to massive concentrations of the magnetic ore that had been installed aboard the now destroyed basestar had taken a toll on Baltar's judgment. He no longer cared to wonder at the disembodied voice that conversed with him. He was not certain that it was real. His perceptions had become confused since shortly after the isolation of his marooning had ended with the arrival of a Cylon raider. He had been deposited on the basestar and instructed by the ranking centurion to oversee the installation of the ancient ore that was to power the magnetic scanner shield. The subsequent series of attacks on the Colonial Fleet blurred together in his clouded mind into one endless battle for supremacy. At one point, he mused to himself, he had been certain that he had seen two battlestars. Now, he was certain of nothing but the voice that commanded him. No. First you shall take command of the waiting ship and then I shall direct you in your task of affecting my return to your space. Then we shall take measures to establish my dominion over the Colonials. I have taken greater numbers than theirs in single magnificent displays of power, and I shall return to my former glory. They shall worship me or die. Apollo shall fall first, so that Adama may watch his line end at my order. Baltar lowered the hood and ran a handful of skeletal fingers through his long black hair. He glanced distractedly about the cabin of the raider and began to laugh, slowly and quietly at first, then manically as he listened to the voice that he knew, even in his electromagnetically induced state of disassociation, he must not dare to disobey or disregard. There will come another time, another place. Then we will meet again. Inside the raider, the sound of humourless and increasingly manic laughter filled the pressurized cabin. The laughter continued for several centons while the raider continued on it's outwardly silent and predetermined course, speeding on its way through the vastness of space to fulfill its part, for better or worse, in effecting the ultimate convergence of destinies. *** 'Fleeing from the Cylon tyranny, the last battlestar, Galactica, leads a rag tag fugitive fleet on a lonely quest. A shining planet known as Earth.'