The Empyrean Talisman
By Lisa Zaza
May, 2005

Part One

     Starbuck thought this must be one of his proudest moments.  Sectars
ago this group of eight cadets became his responsibility.  He had taken
them from raw recruits to a skilled and talented squadron of Colonial
Warriors.   As he was still recovering from a serious leg injury, he had
been kept on light duty.  Every time he climbed into a simulation for
longer than a centar, his leg would start cramping painfully.  As a
result, Apollo decided he could teach fulltime until he received medical
clearance.  The lieutenant smiled as one at a time Colonel Tigh replaced
their cadet collar pins with that of ensign as they stood at attention
along side the other cadet squadrons.  Starbuck had helped train cadets
before, but this had become a special group.
     Luana and Lia, the Empyrean princesses, had indeed followed up on
their vow to become warriors.  They had badgered Starbuck incessantly
until he promised to try to influence the strike captain's decision to
put them under the lieutenant's supervision.  Truthfully, Starbuck knew
it would only take one word if Apollo felt any hesitation at his friend
becoming the instructor of the two women that had become so close to him. 
Then again, Starbuck also knew that the captain didn't quite believe the
fact that his womanizing friend considered them as informally adopted
sisters.  Apollo was quite familiar with the way Starbuck treated
sisters... well, his own anyhow.

* * * * *

     "I have some... concerns, Starbuck."  Apollo had informed him when
the request was made over a pint of Empyrean Ale.  "I'm worried that
your... relationship with Luana and Lia may influence your... behavior
with them."
     "Serina."  Starbuck had replied as he took a long, satisfying drink
from his mug.  Hades, it was good.
     "That's not fair."  Apollo had complained, giving his friend a dirty
look.
     "Life's not fair, buddy."  Starbuck grinned at him.  "I think I'm
professional enough to remove my..." he chuckled, "... relationship from
the equation."
     Apollo studied his friend.  He realized a refusal would be the
equivalent of a slap in the face to Starbuck.  The lieutenant had told
him a few times that he was simply friends with the girls, but rumours
were running rampant.  He had heard so many tales from various warriors
of Starbuck's supposed escapades with the beautiful, young women that he
couldn't help think there had to be some truth to it.  After all, it
wasn't exactly against the man's character.  On the other hand, not
bragging about it was.  He took another sip of ale as he watched his
companion order two more glasses.  "Remind me, Starbuck, what exactly is
your relationship with Luana and Lia?"
     Starbuck shook his head and sighed.  "C'mon Apollo, haven't we been
over this?  We're friends.  That's all.  Can I help it if our squadron
mates feel it's necessary to create fictitious situations because of
their own frustrations with their personal lives?  I'm going to start
circulating a few rumours about you and then you can see what it's like
constantly facing a jealous woman when you're perfectly innocent of all
suspicions."  He pushed another ale across to his friend.
     Apollo raised his eyebrows as he considered Starbuck over his still
practically full glass.  "Did you say 'perfectly innocent'?"  
     Starbuck grinned, "... of all suspicions."  He laughed with his
friend.  "Hey, they're kids."
     "So was Miri," Apollo noted.
     "All I did was kiss her goodbye." Starbuck protested.
     "I heard a few stories to the contrary."  Apollo returned.
     "Not from me, buddy," Starbuck rejoined.
     "Fictitious stories?  Frustrated personal lives?"  Apollo asked.
     "Yep."  Starbuck looked over the Officer's Club where their fellow
warriors had also gathered.  In the past, he hadn't minded a few tales
being circulated about him.  Hades, he had even encouraged it.  After
all, when you had a reputation of a womanizer the ladies tended to take
encounters a little less seriously.  A little less serious was exactly
how Starbuck had liked his relationships to be.  Lately, though,
Cassiopeia and him had become... well, exclusive.  Really they had been
that way for a while and he just hadn't realized it.  Cassie had pointed
it out to him.  At first it hit him like a triad ball to the head.  Then,
after getting used to the idea, he realized he liked it.  It kind of made
him feel warm inside to know that someone was... ugh, what the frack are
you thinking, Bucko??!!
     In the end, Apollo had conceded that perhaps Starbuck could be
involved in a platonic relationship with two available, intelligent,
beautiful women.  At that, Apollo bought them another drink as he was
almost moved to tears.   It was the end of an era he told Boomer as he
approached their table.  As they were both apparently well into their
ales and their mood was a bit on the maudlin side, Boomer kept going.

* * * * * 

     The fact that Luana and Lia had been raised on a planet where space
travel had become obsolete was a challenging problem in itself.  The
Imperial Empyreans had decided to start over again in their ancient
traditions.  This meant living off the land and isolating themselves from
the liberal and progressive ideas of others.  To this end, the original
settlers had sent their freighter on with the rest of the thirteenth
tribe towards Earth. 
     Starbuck had discovered early on that the young Empyrean women were
not familiar with basic science concepts that even Boxey had learned.  As
he began his lessons he could see Luana and Lia staring at him blankly,
and as the class progressed, nervously.  By the end of class they had
withdrawn and ceased to contribute.  Starbuck always had a gift for
putting people at ease.  It was one of the many reasons his cadets
excelled; they trusted their instructor.  He dismissed his class early
and asked the sisters to stay behind.
     They sat quietly beside each other in their chairs nervously
watching Starbuck as he sent the other cadets on their way.  He had
assigned some further reading and had made individual comments to each of
them.  He was clearly assessing their strengths and weaknesses and
already making suggestions to bring each of them up to speed in
preparation for their next class.  As they departed he returned to the
sisters.  He pulled up a chair and straddled it backwards, his arms
resting on the back on it.  He raised one hand and rested his chin in it
thoughtfully.
     Luana couldn't stand his silence.  "Say something, Starbuck," she
demanded.  She was certain that they were about to be demoted from cadets
back to civilians.  They clearly didn't have the basic education that
even the younger recruits in their class possessed.  She felt as though
they had disappointed Starbuck and themselves.  Oh, Albus and Regus would
have a laugh when they found the young women couldn't hold their own
against the other recruits.  So much for Lia's declaration that Empyrean
women taking charge was a sign of things to come.
     Starbuck smiled at Luana as her forceful personality reappeared. 
"Ah, you've found your voice again."  He teased her.  "What about you?"
he asked Lia.
     "I don't have much to add.  I feel stupid, Starbuck.  Stupid and
humiliated.  I can't believe it didn't occur to me that your basic
education would be so beyond our own that we couldn't even begin to
comprehend the information in your initial class.  Everyone else knew
exactly what you were talking about.  I'm not familiar with being the
dimwit in the class.  I can tell you right now that I don't like it." 
Her dark eyes flashed as she spoke passionately.
     "Well, then, let's do something about it."  Starbuck stated.  "I
have a... friend who's a teacher.  Let me talk to her about tutoring
you."  Starbuck wasn't sure how Athena would react to his request, but he
had nothing to lose by trying.  He knew he would probably have to get
past the same suspicions her brother had about his relationship with his
cadets.  Realistically, he knew he might have to get past a few other
biases she harboured as well.  He pondered his hesitation in calling
Athena a friend.  They had become distantly polite with one another as it
became increasingly clear that Starbuck was not ready to make the
commitment that Athena had seemed to need from him.  At that point,
Athena had expectations that he wasn't prepared to fulfill, while
Cassiopeia was content to enjoy each encounter as it happened without any
promises, rules or obligations.  He sighed as he realized that Athena's
and his relationship was yet one more victim of the destruction.  
     Luana didn't miss Starbuck's hesitation.  "This so called friend of
yours, are you certain she'll want to help?"  She had watched the myriad
of emotions as they played across his face.  She was definitely curious
about this teacher and her relationship to their friend and mentor.  
     "Well, she's... busy."  He really didn't want to get into this with
them.  "Besides teaching she also works on the bridge.  It doesn't leave
a lot of time for extra curricular activities."
     "Then why do you think she'd help two complete strangers?" asked
Lia.
     "Because that's the kind of person she is."  Starbuck replied
without hesitation.
     "Sounds like you let a good one get away, Starbuck."  Luana noted as
she watched him closely for his reaction.
     His composure didn't slip as he grinned at her.  "Mind your own
business, Lu.  We'd be here until next yahren if I told you all about my
relationship with Athena."
     Luana grinned back at him, "All right.  Ten to one I'll hear about
it eventually anyhow."  She was glad she had convinced Starbuck to
introduce her to gambling.  She found calculating the odds on any given
situation a fascinating pastime. 
     Starbuck shook his head as he looked at her, "I've created a
monster".

* * * * *

     Nothing could have surprised Athena more than a hesitant Lieutenant
Starbuck hovering at the entranceway to her classroom.  Athena had just
dismissed her own pupils and couldn't suppress a giggle as the mob of
youngsters almost knocked Starbuck over on their mad dash to leave.  She
swore he was turned in two complete circles as the whirlwind that was her
students enveloped him shouting in excitement before they all disappeared
out the door leaving them alone in sudden and complete silence.  By then
she had her emotions in check and she smiled pleasantly at him as she
leaned against her desk with her arms crossed in front of her.
     He turned back to face her.  She looked friendly enough.  Actually,
she looked a bit amused.  He pushed his hair back off his forehead. 
"Reminds me of a Cylon pinwheel attack, " he smiled at her.
     "You seem to have escaped intact," she noted his actions.  Starbuck
always played with his hair when he was nervous.  Just what was he up to?
     "Yahrens of skill with evasion tactics," he regretted the words as
soon as they left his lips.
     "You are the master," she agreed.  He suddenly looked like he wanted
to crawl under a very big rock.  She hadn't seen Starbuck squirm this
much since he had tried to explain his simultaneous dates with her and
Cassiopeia on the Rising Star.  Of course, rumour had it he was also
squirmed quite a bit after she had caught him in the launch tube with
Cassie and had treated him to a steam bath.  She would have to think it
over to award a winner.  The Squirming Starbuck Story Finalists.  She
found she kind of enjoyed his evident discomfort.  She was long over the
illustrious Lieutenant, but it had irked her how he had been avoiding her
if at all possible.  What she had missed most of all had been the easy
companionship they had once shared.  After all, he was her brother's best
friend.  She had known Starbuck a long time and she now regretted that
their romantic entanglement had destroyed their friendship.
     "Athena, can I buy you a drink?  I really need to talk to you about
something."  He chewed on his lip as he awaited her answer.  Suddenly,
neutral territory seemed like a great idea as he looked around the
classroom surrounded with her presence in so many ways.  Pictures from
the kids where they illustrated their teacher stared back at him from
every corner.  A few small knick-knacks from her home on Caprica sat on
her desk.  Even her familiar perfume was haunting his every breath.  Yep,
best to get the frack out of here, Bucko.
     She considered her answer.  Part of her wanted him to spit it out
and tell her what was on his mind.  The other part remembered the
difficult days when he had so recently laid in the Galactica's Life
Station fighting for his very life.  Oh, how she had wanted to go by and
offer her support to a friend, but their deteriorated relationship had
held her back.  Maybe they could salvage something of that friendship if
she was willing to meet him halfway.  "Sounds intriguing.  Where do you
want to go?"
     His eyes lit up in surprise.  He had really expected her to tell him
to cut the felger and spit it out.  Followed closely by, 'Go to Hades
Hole, Starbuck'.  "Uh, the Officer's Club?"  
     The next thing they knew they were entering the Officer's Club
together.  Starbuck was sure a few people would be reporting shortly to
the Life Station for complaints of whiplash the way heads were twisting
in surprise at their appearance.   He was half tempted to take Athena's
arm and escort her to a table at the back of the room, but was well aware
that kind of reaction was only likely to get him in trouble.  Hades, it
was still tempting.
     Athena watched the smile playing at the corners of Starbuck's mouth. 
She knew what he was thinking as she watched the reaction to their sudden
arrival together.  She missed that mischievous side of him.  He could
never resist getting a rise out of people.  Hades, she ought to know. 
Impulsively, she grabbed his arm and pulled him closer.  "Where to,
handsome?" she asked him with a disarming smile on her face.
     Starbuck could see the devilry in her eyes.  He had really missed
that.  He remembered Boomer ribbing him once that they were bound to have
fun as a couple because she was young and he was immature.  "Wherever you
want to go, beautiful," he replied with an equally charming smile.
     She shook her head as she laughed.  She was well aware that
Cassiopeia and Starbuck were in a solid relationship, but it was fun to
indulge in some meaningless flirtation.  It had been a long time.  She
was so busy being bridge officer, teacher, daughter, aunt, sister and
friend that she didn't have much time left over to be Athena.  Athena,
the attractive, alluring woman, was definitely a role she had lost touch
with the last few sectars.  She nodded towards the nearest empty table
and he led her there.  She smiled at him as he pulled out her chair for
her and motioned towards the barkeep for a couple ales.  He suddenly
stopped in his actions.
     "Sorry, I'm assuming.  What would you like to drink?" he asked a
little chagrined.
     "Ale's perfect.  Actually, I've really been enjoying the Empyrean
Ale."  She was suitably impressed that he had realized she might have a
new drink preference since they had last shared one.
     He again signaled the barkeep for two ales and sat down in the chair
next to her.  He pulled out a fumarello and rolled it between his
fingers, making no attempt to light it.  People were still watching them
carefully.  The worst thing was they weren't even trying to be subtle
about it.  He looked on in amazement as Jolly and Greenbean actually
turned their chairs around so they wouldn't miss anything.  Oddly, they
seemed to be settling their chairs so they would be able to see Starbuck
and Athena on one side and..."Oh, frack,"...Apollo was sitting at the bar
also watching the spectacle that had become Starbuck and Athena.
     "What?" Athena asked him.  Starbuck didn't look like he was having
fun anymore.  She followed his glance to meet the eyes of her brother. 
His eyebrows were raised so far they had disappeared under his hair.  His
hand was resting in his chin and he simply blinked as their gaze met.  He
looked at Starbuck and then at his sister.  She could see him shaking his
head in bewilderment as he turned back to the bar to order his
well-deserved glass of ale.
     "Sorry, maybe this wasn't such a great idea after all." Starbuck
murmured quietly to her.
     "The location or the drink?" she asked him.  She was beyond caring
what all these people thought about her.  
     "The location," he replied.  He raised his glass to her.  "The drink
is overdue.  It's good to see you, Athena."  He smiled as he touched his
glass to hers and they shared a drink.
     "You too.  Uh... how is your leg?  You seem to be getting around all
right."  She was again regretting that she hadn't been to visit him in
the Life Station.
     "It's a lot better.  I'm just about finished the therapy sessions. 
Apparently, I'm a good healer.  At least when I'm not carrying a curse
around with me," he replied good-naturedly.  He was sure Apollo or the
commander had probably filled her in on his experiences with the Empyrean
Curse.  He would just as soon not get into it.  After all, he was still
having nightmares about giant crawlons and crazed healers trying to cut
off his leg.  Luckily, the billet was a place where nightmares were
generally accepted as a way of life, especially since the destruction. 
He could usually count on Boomer to give him a shake and wake him up
before his leg turned into mush and was devoured by the multitudes of
crawlons that...
     "Starbuck, are you okay?" Athena asked in concern as he snapped the
fumarello in two.  He looked like he was far away for a centon.  
    "Uh... yeah.  Sorry."  He looked down forlornly at his fumarello. 
Luckily, Ama gave him a new supply just about every other secton. 
Empyrean Ale and Empyrean Tobacconists were the toast of the fleet.  Ama
knew he had lost most of his commission trading it off for favours while
helping to set up the business for her.  Truth be known, anytime Starbuck
wanted a few cases of ale they were his for the asking.
     "So, what do you want to talk to me about?" Athena asked him.  After
all, she was curious what had precipitated his dropping his guard to come
and see her.
     "Well," he sighed, "I guess I need some help."  He explained to her
how Luana and Lia had decided to become warriors and the subsequent
problems that had arisen with their lack of a Colonial styled education. 
"I know you're really busy.  I probably shouldn't even be asking."
     "So far you're not," she pointed out.  She smiled at him in
encouragement.  She had heard from Apollo that Starbuck was going out of
his way to help these young women make the transition from planet bound
hunters to Viper pilots.  She actually found it kind of sweet and would
have loved to have been there when Starbuck defended his intentions to
his captain.  She had also heard from Sheba stories about the cadets and
couldn't help but become one of the many women on the Galactica who were
silently rooting for them especially because of the Empyrean noblemen
that evidently had predicted their failure.
     "I was hoping you could find some time to tutor them," he told her
hopefully.  "They're intelligent and hard working.  They want to be Viper
pilots so badly they can taste it."
     "Sounds like a story you once told me about yourself," she remarked. 
When Starbuck had decided he wanted to become a Colonial Warrior, he had
studied long and hard to get his grades up to a level where he could be
eligible for the Academy.  Prior to that academics was low on his list of
priorities.  After all, there were girls, and cards, and girls, and
friends, and girls.  He didn't have the cubits to spend hiring tutors so
he simply worked like a demon until he had reached his goals.  Other kids
at the orphanage had teased him about suddenly always having his nose in
a book.  He had even overheard his teachers saying he didn't have the
capacity to apply himself to the extent it would be necessary to raise
his grades.  He had overheard more than one of them saying he didn't have
the intelligence either.  It was then he decided that he would prove them
all wrong.  Determination, stubbornness, tenacity, and resentment worked
together to give the young man the impetus to achieve his goals.  He also
had wanted to be a Viper pilot so badly he could taste it.
     Starbuck simply shrugged.  Maybe there were some similarities
between the young women and him, in attitude anyway.  They knew what they
wanted and he knew they were also prepared to do anything to achieve it.
     "Maybe we could go over your course plans so I can coordinate my
lessons with yours.  That way they would get a lot more out of your
classes as they're working their way through mine.  It will probably help
their self-confidence as well.  They must feel a bit inadequate after
being totally lost after one class.  Let's move this to my quarters.  You
go get your course plans and we'll set up a schedule."  Athena finished
her ale.
     Starbuck was staring at her in admiration.  He pulled her in for a
quick, tight hug.  "Thanks, Athena.  After everything that has happened
between us, I guess I didn't expect you to help." He sighed as she held
him tightly in return, and then he pulled back to look into her eyes. 
"By the way, what's a course plan?"

Part Two

     As Starbuck expected, under the tutorage of Athena, Luana and Lia
quickly caught up to the rest of his class.  To give his other cadets due
credit, they were all supportive and helpful towards their Empyrean
classmates.  He noticed the two women were especially helpful.  An
unofficial sisterhood seemed to be forming throughout the Galactica,
which encouraged any and all repressed females in the fleet to begin
anew.  Capricans had not seen for a movement like this over a
centi-yahren.  He knew he shouldn't have been surprised when Siress Tinia
showed up one day while he was running his cadets through their first
simulation.
     "All right, let's remember this is simply the basic handling of your
Viper.  We'll be practicing formation flying; keeping her straight and
level; turning; ascending and descending flight; and when I'm confident
you have all mastered those skills we'll move onto landings and
launches."  His class groaned in disappointment.  "That's right boys and
girls, no Cylons today." He grinned at them as the Siress made her way
through the hatch.  "Uh... can I help you Siress Tinia?"  
     "Just observing, Lieutenant." She replied pleasantly.  "Please, just
carry on as though I'm not here."
     Starbuck looked at her inquisitively.  She smiled at him and sat
down in a corner.  He sighed.  "Okay, who's first?"  All of his eager
cadets jockeyed for position around the Viper.  He laughed.  "Quick, who
can tell me the function of the pressure suit without mentioning
G-Forces?"
     "It's a pressure pad designed to help the body withstand the forces
of acceleration and deceleration," Sandor snapped back at him as though
he had the textbook in front of his nose.
     "Step right up, Sandor."  He indicated the cockpit and stood back
and watched the young man reverently approach the simulator.  So far the
kid was top of the class.  However, Starbuck knew a lot of cadets at the
Academy who had excelled in the classroom and had sadly lacked the
ability to perform in the cockpit.  The difference here was most of these
cadets were training specifically to become pilots in an accelerated
program that Colonel Tigh and Captain Apollo had designed.  This was no
four yahren Academy program where one could end up specializing in any
number of occupations.
     Sure enough within centons Starbuck was advising him to reduce
power, steady up, reduce power, keep an eye on his gauges, and reduce
power as the youngster finally experienced some of the sheer exhilaration
his instructor had been describing.  "Remember, you're just trying to get
the feel of her.  She's very sensitive.  Easy, now."  He encouraged the
cadet as he tried to remember the Siress was watching his every move. 
"That's it, Sandor.  Now keep her steady.  You're drifting to port. 
You're overcompensating.  Open your eyes, Sandor.  Believe me, it really
helps."
     Each cadet took a turn at the simulator with varying results. 
Starbuck suspected Varick had some previous experience he wasn't
admitting to.  He was a bit older than the others and seemed more
confident in the cockpit.  Lia had been terrified.  She kept asking him
if she could use autopilot and he reassured her it wasn't necessary in
simulations.  Drina, Haya, Elek and Boaz all performed averagely.  It was
Luana that surprised them all.  She just seemed to have a feel for this
advanced piece of machinery that she had never laid eyes on until so
recently.  She had a light touch on the controls and the Viper simulation
followed her lead like a hesitant dance partner.  "Great job, Lu." He
congratulated her as she left the simulator.  The other cadets also
gathered around her offering their encouragement.  It was a great group
of kids.  "All right.  Let's take a break.  I'll see you back here in
thirty centons and we'll do it all again."
     He watched the cadets file past him and then approached the Siress
who was entering data furiously into a compupad.  "Care to tell me what
this is all about?" he asked her.
     "Perhaps it would be better coming from the Captain," she nodded her
head in the direction of the hatch.
     Starbuck turned to see Apollo entering the room; he looked furious. 
"What's going on?" he asked the Captain.
     Apollo shook his head angrily.  "All instructors are being evaluated
on their performance by order of the Council of Twelve."
     "What?  What the frack does the Council have to do with military
training?"  He had stopped caring there was a Siress present.  She always
seemed to be the bearer of bad news anyhow.
     "Technically, Lieutenant, these young women are considered civilians
until they graduate.  As such, we feel it is our responsibility to see
that they are being treated respectfully while under your supervision."
Tinia informed him.
     "Just the young women?" he asked her sarcastically.
     "Well, no, of course not, all of your recruits.  I mean, all of the
recruits."  She corrected herself hastily hoping he wouldn't notice.
     He noticed.  "I see, so you're evaluating all of the instructors or
just me?"      
     "Well, all of them... in time.  We are starting with you,
Lieutenant.  I'll be shadowing your classes for the next two sectons.  I
promise not to get in the way.  I will give you a fair and impartial
evaluation.  If you conduct all of your classes the way you did today, I
foresee no difficulty in recommending that you continue.  Your students
seem to like and respect you and, more importantly, they learn from you."
     That surprised him.  "If you think so highly of me, what is this all
about?"
     "Albus and Regus." Apollo replied.  "They're influencing certain
Council members.  Seems the Empyrean women are rebelling in droves. 
Apparently, they're blaming you, buddy."  Apollo had just left the
Commander's quarters where he had been informed of the Empyrean
Noblemen's accusations of 'conduct unbecoming an officer' towards
Starbuck.  Apparently, the rumours on the Galactica had made their way to
the Malocchio Freighter only now they also included his sister.
     "Siress Rea has even taken to wearing pants," Tinia shared.
     Starbuck chuckled at the visual of Sire Regus emphatically telling
his wife to remove the offending pants.   He again looked at Tinia.  She
was trying very hard to keep her composure.  Evidently, even she had a
sense of humour, despite how carefully she kept it hidden.  No matter. 
He could live with this.  After all, when he was finished here he had an
appointment with Dr. Salik.  Once he was cleared for active duty again
everything else in life would be more tolerable.

* * * * *     

     Apollo had been searching all the usual haunts for his unusually
elusive friend.  He knew Starbuck had another appointment with Dr. Salik
after his classes had finished for the day and had fully expected to be
cleared again for active duty.  However, he had just received the
notification that Starbuck had once again been denied due to medical
grounds.  Salik had made a note that 'despite the lieutenant's excellent
conditioning the left intermediate lateral and the medial great
quadriceps muscles continue to spasm when he is seated in a restrictive
position for greater than one centar'.  Translation: he still couldn't
sit in a Viper long enough for even short patrols.  Salik had gone on to
recommend Hatha Therapy whereby the lieutenant would be focusing more on
stretching his muscles while strengthening them.  Apollo was unfamiliar
with the practice, but was certain Starbuck would be able to fill him in. 
To that end, he finally decided to look for his friend in the Fitness
Center.
     He entered the exercise room to find Kale, the resident physical
fitness trainer, finishing up a conversation with a willowy woman. 
Apollo was struck by the contrast between the couple.  Kale, his head
shaved bare, stood almost sixty centimetrons above the woman and his body
seemed to be carved from solid rock.  His muscles were well defined from
years of strengthening exercises.  He was wearing his usual uniform of
shorts and t-shirt.  It was difficult to guess the man's age, but Apollo
knew he had been a professional trainer for twenty yahrens.  Conversely,
the woman was petite in all regards.   Her dark hair was short and softly
framed her face.  She wore a body suit that reminded Apollo of a pressure
suit.  Kale nodded at the Captain and pointed to the back of the room. 
Apollo smiled his thanks.
     Sure enough, there was Starbuck running in place on one of the new
treadmills.  He was wearing his shorts, but his shirt had been sacrificed
as a towel and was wrapped around his neck.  Over his eyes a set of
holographic optical modifiers were in place.  Apollo had not found the
opportunity to try the new technology, but he knew they superimposed
various images to make the wearer believe he was running through the
countryside, along a sandy beach, or even up a mountainside for those who
wanted the additional training benefit.  The treadmill was programmed to
adjust its angle as the terrain changed.  Starbuck had obviously chosen
the mountainside as the angle was adjusted to a steep incline.  His body
was slick with perspiration.  Apollo could clearly see on the panel
readout that his friend's workout was just about finished.  The treadmill
began to slowly level out as he entered a cool down phase.  Apollo became
aware of the lieutenant muttering to himself between breaths as he
approached him.
     "Fracking Doctor and his... fracking recommendations."  Starbuck
pulled off his holographic modifiers.  "Lie on some fracking mat like
some... fracking sap..." He grabbed his saturated shirt and started
mopping off his face.  "You'll be back in the cockpit in no time,
Starbuck.   Just stick with the fracking, gall monging, mind-numbing,
good-for-nothing therapy. "  He tossed the shirt behind him and turned to
find it now draped across the head of his Captain.  "Nice look on you. 
Breaks up the monotony of your face."
     "I was going to buy you a drink."  Apollo offered removing the foul
smelling piece of clothing and tossing it back to Starbuck.
     "I guess you didn't notice, I'm not in a good mood."  He caught the
shirt and threw it over his shoulder.  
     "Oh, I noticed.  Do you want to talk about it?"
     "No."  He headed towards the turbo wash.  "Thanks for asking," he
added before he slipped through the hatch.
     "Starbuck..." Apollo called after him.
     "Let him cool off, Apollo," Kale walked up to him and collected the
discarded holographic modifiers from where Starbuck had dropped them.
     "How long has he been at it?" Apollo asked.
     Kale snorted in reply, "Ever since Dextra tried to show him his new
stretching exercises.  He wasn't impressed."  Kale started chuckling. 
"You should have seen his face when she tried to teach him a cross-legged
position and then proceeded to rest her feet on top of her thighs."  The
big man started to double over in mirth at the memory and Apollo found
his laughter contagious.  "He just stared at her...and said, "You're
kidding, right?"
     Apollo shook his head.  This was Hatha Therapy?  What the frack was
Dr. Salik thinking?
     "Then she told him he would have to learn to stretch his mind in
harmony with his muscles..." Kale again erupted in laughter.  "Imagine
Starbuck meditating!"
     "Uh... what about you, Kale?  Do you have any more... appropriate
recommendations for Starbuck?" Apollo asked him, trying to keep a
straight face.  
     "Honestly, he just has to stick with what he's doing.  Lords, he's
in great physical shape.  He's been in here every day since the doc
cleared him.  He does stretch after his workouts... well, normally
anyhow.  I don't understand why his leg cramps up on him.  Frankly, it
doesn't make much sense to me.  The doc gave him some muscle relaxants to
try, but you know Starbuck.  He hates taking any medication."
     "Dr. Salik didn't mention that."  Apollo commented.
     "He probably knows he won't take them."  Kale told him.  "After all,
he can't fly if he's on relaxants, right?"  Apollo nodded in
confirmation.  "I guess time is the answer.  There's no reason he can't
go back to flying."
     "Thanks, Kale."  Apollo knew his friend was frustrated.  He hadn't
been in a Viper for a couple sectars.  While Starbuck enjoyed teaching,
he lived for flying.  He had once told Apollo that there was no better
feeling than hurling out of a launch tube and realizing he was in total
control of the immense power that was the most sophisticated fighter
known to man.  He headed into the turbo wash not believing for a centon
that his friend really wanted to be left alone.
     Starbuck quickly turbo washed with the intent of leaving through the
back hatch before Apollo followed in pursuit.  As the hot water hit his
body his anger began to wash away with the sweat.  He switched off the
water and suddenly felt drained.  Couldn't have anything to do with
running up a fracking mountain, could it, Bucko?  He wrapped his towel
around his waist and sat down heavily on the bench.  Sixty-three days. 
Grounded for sixty-three long, repetitious, disheartening days.  He
rested his elbows on his knees and his head in his hands.  His hands
curled into fists while combing back through his hair.  He thought about
earlier in the day when Siress Tinia had informed him of the Council's
decision to evaluate his performance.  Frack, he hated the political
felgercarb.  Probably why he loved flying.  No bureauticians, ridiculous
policies, red tape or even complicated relationships.  It was freedom in
its purest form.  He opened his eyes to see a pair of boots standing in
front of him.  Frack.  Captain's boots.  Not that they were any different
from anyone else's boots.  Well, maybe a little cleaner than his own. 
Definitely shinier.  It was probably just the stance, now that he thought
about it.  Legs slightly apart with that no nonsense, I'm not going away
attitude.  He sighed.  Apollo always thought it was better to talk about
your feelings.  No doubt Adama and Ila had raised him that way.  Even
when Starbuck shot off his mouth his buddy would still be there for him. 
Starbuck really didn't deserve him.
     "What did I ever do to deserve you?" he asked his friend's boots. 
He wasn't quite ready to ask his friend.      
     "I'm not sure how you mean that?"  Apollo replied as he sat down
beside him.
     "Let me know when you figure it out."  The boots were gone, but
there was a particularly interesting puddle on the floor that was taking
the shape of a purple panthelon.  Quite remarkable.
     "You're being an astrum."
     "Yep."
     "Do you really want me to go away?"  Apollo asked.  
     "Yep."  
     "I heard about your Hatha Therapy.  Sounded... interesting."  He
looked at the lieutenant who hadn't changed position.  He seldom saw a
dispirited Starbuck.  It didn't seem right somehow.  Starbuck was always
forthcoming with a joke or at the very least a sarcastic retort.  He
watched as his buddy finally lifted his head, resting his chin on his
intertwined fingers.  If Apollo didn't know better, he'd almost think he
was praying.
     "I hate this."  Starbuck told him.  "I feel like I've been cursed
again.  Everybody tells me that my leg is completely healed, yet every
time I run a sim to get cleared for duty, the muscles cramp up again. 
It's been three consecutive sectons.  I can just about predict it by my
chronometer.  One centar exactly."  He climbed to his feet and opened his
locker.  
     "Kale said Dr. Salik gave you some muscle relaxants.  Did you try
them?"  Apollo asked.
     "I only cramp when I'm in the cockpit.  Seems a bit pointless to use
them if I can't fly when I'm on them."  He pulled the medication bottle
out and held it up distastefully.  "Besides, I had to use them once
before for a triad injury and I know that they make me tired.  I can't
very well teach if I'm falling asleep between simulations.  'Straighten
it out, Sandor.  That's it.  Zzzzzzz.'  Yeah, that would go over really
well with my new warden."  He pulled off his towel and started dressing.
     "Kale says it will just take time.  He's certain you'll requalify."
Apollo tried to reassure him.
     "Yeah, yeah, yeah."  Starbuck sat down beside him and started
pulling on his boots.  "Look, buddy, I know you just want to help, but I
need to be alone right now."
     "To feel sorry for yourself?" Apollo asked gently.
     "Sure, whatever.  How many times do I have to hit you in the head
with my dirty laundry before you hear me?"
     "Apparently, more than once."  Apollo got up.  He grasped his
friend's shoulder.  "I'll be in my quarters if you change you mind."  He
headed towards the hatch.  "Oh, and Starbuck...?"
     "Yeah?"
     "Don't think I won't get you back for your smart astrum remarks," he
remarked as he disappeared through the hatch.



Part Three

     Two sectons later Starbuck awoke as a content man.  He looked at his
chronometer to see he still had a couple centars before he had to get to
the launch bay for his patrol with Apollo.  The billet was abuzz with the
usual early day activities.  He stretched out languidly as he listened to
Boomer berate Jolly for leaving his boots lying around where everyone
could trip over them.
     Coincidentally, as Starbuck's cadet squadron was preparing to make
their first solo flights, he had finally been cleared to fly short-range
patrols.  Salik had requested that Starbuck avoid the longer ones for
now, but that was fine with him.  Most importantly he'd be out there.  He
was beginning to get concerned that he would have to assign another
instructor to take his cadets out... not to mention he'd never get back
into the cockpit.
     "Hey, Starbuck, I hear you're finally earning your keep again." 
Bojay ribbed him on his way to his locker.  
     "Yeah, well, I guess I can't ride free on my charm and good looks
forever," Starbuck returned grinning.
     "Charm!  Hah!  Frankly, Bucko, you've been so fracking miserable
lately that we're all glad you'll be launching into space.  Just a short
patrol today?"  Boomer asked feigning disappointment.
     Starbuck climbed out of his bunk amidst the teasing and laughter of
his friends.  He knew he'd been an Imperial pain in the astrum.  However,
there was nothing anyone could do to put a damper on this day. 
Seventy-seven days grounded, he reminded himself.  He grabbed his towel
and headed to the turbo wash.
     Five centons later Starbuck got an unpleasant surprise as the hot
water suddenly ceased to exist.  Frack!  An icy, cold stream hit him and
he quickly rinsed and shut off the water.  Likely, it was someone's idea
of a joke.  A bit lame as far as the lieutenant was concerned.  Reminded
him of the old days at the academy when the water shut off after three
centons whether you were rinsed or not.  As he toweled off he realized he
was alone.  He couldn't remember the last time he'd had the facilities to
himself.  That was the story of his life.  From an orphanage to the
academy to a battlestar, Starbuck had spent far too much time sharing
space with a large group of males.  For now, some time alone in his Viper
would do nicely.
     He walked back into the billet to find it completely deserted.  He
started to get an eerie feeling.  Wait a centon, why was it so... tidy? 
Not a thing was out of place.  Again it took him back to his academy
days.  Surprise inspections could come at any time so all cadets were
expected to have gear stowed neatly and bunks made to Colonial standard. 
He shook his head in wonder as he crossed the space to his locker.  He
opened it to find it empty, save his triad shorts.  He snorted in
amusement.  Okay, now this was definitely an improvement over the cold
water prank.  He pulled out his shorts and pulled them on as he quickly
surveyed the billet.  Nope.  Not a stray piece of clothing to be found. 
He combed his hands through his hair and went to check the time but
realized his chronometer had also become a victim of this practical joke. 
He did one more sweep of the area before conceding defeat and heading out
the hatch.
     "Hey, Starbuck, looking good!"  Dietra whistled at him from down the
corridor.
     "I thought you had patrol, not triad.  Not that I mind the new
look."  Brie added with a grin.  
     A small group of female pilots seemed to be congregating for no
apparent reason.  Lying in wait was probably more likely, Starbuck
thought, as he waved to them and headed to the Fitness Center.  They
stayed hot on his trail as he wandered barefoot ahead of them.  This
prank had all the appearances of being epic.  He recalled Apollo telling
him that he would get even with him for his smart astrum comments. 
Apollo?  Nah, this was bigger than the Captain could muster.  On the
other hand, with the way he'd been acting for the previous sectons, there
was one Hades of a lot of people who could be in on this.  He tried to
wipe the smirk off his face as he entered the Fitness Center.  
     "You're here early, I thought you had patrol," Kale said innocently
to him as Starbuck shrugged and crossed to his locker.  He had been there
so much recently that he had taken to leaving an extra uniform for
convenience.  He pulled open the locker to find his triad helmet and
chronometer.  He could hear giggling behind him as he shook his head and
strapped on his timepiece.
     "That will keep you warmer, Starbuck," Sheba told him.
     He turned to find the small group of female pilots had doubled. 
"Sheba, you too?" he asked her in mock dismay.  He tried to think of
where he should go next.  Hmm.  "Excuse me, ladies, and believe me, I use
that term loosely, but I must continue on my quest... in search of my
pants."  They continued to heckle him as he deked down a service corridor
leading to the Colonial Laundry Service.  When he arrived there was a
sign posted on the door saying, "Closed, due to excessive fabrication". 
He rolled his eyes.
     "You don't think we'd make it that easy, do you Starbuck?" Luana
asked.  Oh great, even his Cadets were in on this.  That's okay.  The
lieutenant prided himself on his resourcefulness.  He strode off again
and turned the corner to come face to face with Colonel Tigh.
     Tigh appeared positively grim, as he looked him up and down. 
"Lieutenant."
     "Colonel." Starbuck greeted him, getting himself into some semblance
of an attentive stance.
     "Get some clothes on, Starbuck."  The colonel told him in apparent
disgust.
     "Yes, sir.  I'm working on it, sir."  Starbuck replied.  At that
moment his posse started to come around the corner.
     Tigh's eyes flickered briefly over the women before returning to
rest dourly on Starbuck.  "Are you having difficulty in that regard,
Lieutenant?"
     "Yes, sir."  Again giggling started from behind him.
     Tigh smiled triumphantly, "Come with me, Starbuck."  He briskly
walked away.  Starbuck suddenly had a bad feeling about this.  He
followed after directing a dirty look back at the women.
     Tigh led him to the Supply Office.  "Corporal, the lieutenant is in
dire need of a new uniform as you can see."
     "I'm afraid we don't have much left because of all the new recruits,
sir." Corporal Ximen replied.
     "Well, he can make do with whatever you have then." Tigh informed
him.
     Ximen disappeared into the storeroom.  Starbuck stood nervously
beside the Colonel praying they wouldn't come out with anything too
horrendous.  Tigh stood quietly by occasionally shooting disapproving
looks in the lieutenant's direction.  Ximen returned with a pile of
clothes.  "They may be a bit big, sir," he told Starbuck.
     Starbuck grabbed the pants and held them up in front of him.  A
cloud of dust so thick that the pants actually disappeared from his sight
for a micron permeated the air.  He shook them out, certain that he could
fit half of Blue Squadron in them.  "Just a bit?" Starbuck asked the
Corporal as the women behind him erupted in laughter.
     "There is a drawstring, sir."  The Corporal added, trying to be
helpful.
     "Thanks a lot, pal."  
     "Put the pants on, Starbuck," Tigh ordered him.  "We can't have you
parading around almost naked."
     Starbuck pulled the pants on and tightened the drawstring.  They
were at least ten centimetrons too long and he found he had to roll them
up to prevent tripping over them.  He turned around to find Tigh holding
out an equally dusty tunic.  To the Colonel's credit his face remained
impassive.  Starbuck shook the tunic out and pulled it over his head.  It
was also several sizes too big and the material was disintegrating.  He
tucked it in and rolled up the sleeves and while doing so perforated the
right cuff with his fingers.  The boots were the piece de resistance. 
While approximately the correct size, they had long lost their shine. 
The leather was old and cracked and the fastenings were broken.  The
soles of both feet were separating from the uppers.  Ximen also handed
over a roll of duct tape.  Starbuck shook his head as he realized that
was how he would keep them together.  He pulled them on and couldn't help
laughing as Luana and Lia came to his assistance, taping them up
securely.  He turned around slowly to show them his new ensemble.
     "Lieutenant, your uniform is a disgrace.  You're fortunate that I'm
in a generous mood or I would put you on report." Tigh glowered at him. 
"Dismissed.  Oh, I believe you are expected in launch bay Alpha."

* * * * *

     Starbuck and his entourage descended into the launch bay.  Surely
enough that was where the rest of his friends had disappeared.  Most of
the squadrons were gathered near his Viper where they had set up a few
card tables and were seemingly engrossed in pyramid.  Starbuck had rarely
seen a busier bay.  Not only was it filled with pilots and crew, but also
with a large group of spectators who had clearly come to participate in
the lieutenant's torment.  Cassiopeia kissed him as she replaced Luana at
his side.
     "I told you he'd love it."  Apollo spoke aside to Boomer as he threw
in his bet.  Starbuck looked ridiculous in the archaic XXXL uniform they
had dug up.  The boots had been Boomer's idea with the tape being the
crucial piece of the outfit.  Apollo almost lost it as he saw the back of
the soles flapping as his friend walked.  Starbuck was a man who seemed
to look great no matter what he was wearing.  It was definitely time to
turn the tables on him.  In his usual form, Starbuck was protesting
indignantly to the group of women escorting him towards the Viper, but
the smile on his face would have lit up the deepest, blackest abyss.  It
was a welcome sight to all of them to see that grin back on Starbuck's
face.
     Apollo stood up as his friend approached.  He looked at his
chronometer.  "It looks like you're a little early for patrol, buddy. 
Then again, it will probably take you a while to do your pre-launch
checks.  You're out of practice."
     Starbuck laughed as he approached his Viper.  The front end of his
fighter was wrapped completely with paper from the turbo flush and
decorative ribbons of the same origin were strewn from the wing tips down
to the nose.  Bottles of Empyrean Ale dangled from the laser turrets.  He
grabbed a bottle and untied it.  "Cold too, what a waste," he told them
ruefully.
     "Go ahead, Bucko, I'll take your patrol," Giles told him.
     "After seventy-seven days the ale can wait." He tossed it to Giles
who shrugged and cracked it open.  Starbuck hitched up his pants, which
had suddenly become subject to a gravitational pull, and climbed up on
his bird to see what awaited him in the cockpit.  They had outdone
themselves.  Within sat a model of a skeleton that was wearing one of his
uniforms.  It had playing cards attached to one bony hand and a fumarello
to the other.  Around its neck hung a sign that read, 'Still awaiting
medical clearance'.
     He sat on the edge of his ship and watched the group of people
surrounding him.  He couldn't believe they had gone to this much trouble
for him.  Must be what a natal day surprise party feels like, he
reflected.  He sighed as he recalled how miserable he had been acting
lately.  Emotion overwhelmed him and he was speechless.
     Apollo and Boomer came to his rescue as they grabbed a leg each and
pulled him back to the deck.  Starbuck again had to grab his pants and
yank them up.  They laughed as they led him to another table set up
behind his ship.  Food and beverages covered the surface.  "Sorry, it's
just from the mess.  We didn't want you launching without eating." Apollo
told him.
     Starbuck nodded thankfully as he realized how hungry he was. 
Everyone converged on the table and dug in.  Boomer handed him a mug of
java and then joined the jostling, hungry group.  
     "Welcome back, buddy," Apollo slapped him on the shoulder.
     "Thanks.  I can't believe you pulled this off," Starbuck told him in
amazement.  "How the frack did you get Tigh to go along with it?"
     "Are you kidding?  Even my Father offered to help.  Don't you know
how many people want to be in on 'Starbucking' Starbuck?"
     "Hmm, actually it's a little alarming," he chuckled.  "Pure artistry
though.  I'm impressed."
     "I thought you would be."  Apollo headed for the food, "Oh, and
Starbuck, be careful with the paper when you unwrap your ship.  Tigh
wants it recycled."



Part Four 

     Four sectars later, Starbuck poured over his evaluations for his
cadets.  He reviewed the statistics to proudly see that five of his
students would be graduating at the top of their class.  Apollo was
already scheduling the duty roster around the addition of the new pilots. 
As usual, that would take some pressure off of the rest of them.  In a
rare display of tact, Starbuck had kept his mouth shut about assignments
to squadrons.  Apollo had been supportive throughout the training and in
appreciation the lieutenant decided to let him do his job without any
obtrusive meddling.  He hit the 'send' icon on the computer and made it
all official.  Apollo would receive the final results within a micron.  
     Later that day would be the graduation ceremony.  Starbuck knew
there would be an influx of Empyreans from the Malocchio to witness the
triumphant success of Luana and Lia.  He expected to see another group of
young Empyrean women enlisting soon.  He suspected Lady Aurelia would be
one of them.  It seemed like yahrens ago that he had danced with her at
the Empyrean Ball and she had kissed him setting off the bizarre course
of events that had ensued.  
     He had been incredibly busy since he had started flying again. 
Between his usual patrols, teaching, playing triad and trying to maintain
a relationship with Cassiopeia, he didn't have a spare centon.  He was
looking forward to reducing his workload now that the cadets were
finished.  Part of his difficulty had been the transition of teaching
fulltime back to part time.  He had invested a lot of extra time with his
cadets.  At first it was to get them up to speed with the other classes. 
Then it was to fill his spare time and to prevent the utter boredom and
self-pity that seemed to be setting in.  Finally, it had become a routine
that was difficult to break.  Three days a secton, they had gathered for
additional training.  The topics changed frequently based on the needs of
the class.  Starbuck wasn't the first to recognize that a twelve secton
course would never come close to the training received in a four yahren
academy program.  It was at Luana's prompting that a self-defense program
would now be running continuously every secton.  In the condensed
program, warriors learned marksmanship with their laser pistols and,
obviously, with their Vipers.  Even in the cross section of people within
the cadet's squadron, there had been many different arts of self-defense
practiced.  Luana and Lia were both very skilled with a knife and
volunteered to teach their fellow students their craft.  Starbuck had
conferred with Boomer and they increased the participation to include all
of the classes so the instructors could demonstrate simple hand-to-hand
combat skills that had once been mandatory.  The demonstrations were so
popular the cadets had begged that they continue indefinitely.  Somehow
Starbuck had convinced Luana that this would be a great leadership
project for her to take on, so at least he wasn't responsible for
organizing the future classes.
     "This arrived for you, Starbuck," Boomer walked in and threw a
sealed envelope at him.
     "Thanks, Boomer," Starbuck tore open the envelope and peeked inside. 
He grinned as he recognized the contents and pulled out two tickets. 
"Can you switch patrols with me tomorrow, buddy?"
     "You mean for that long-range patrol you're pulling?"  He chuckled
evilly.  "Let me think about it.  Uh, no."  He laughed at the look on his
friend's face.  "Why?  What are the tickets for?"
     "A show on the Rising Star.  Cassie's been trying to get tickets for
a sectar.  She's dying to go.   I got lucky with a couple of contacts and
now I'm stuck on a recon patrol."   He thanked the Lords Ama had
mentioned she had extra tickets that Luana and Lia weren't using as they
had chosen not to take dates.
     "Try Sheba.  I know she doesn't have tickets because she was griping
about it to Apollo earlier.  She's probably the only one who will be
sympathetic to the romantic angle." Boomer replied.

* * * * *

     Starbuck found Sheba in the Fitness Center.  She was just leaving
the women's locker area as he entered the room.  "Sheba, any chance I
could switch patrols with you tomorrow?"
     "Why?" she asked suspiciously.
     "I tracked down tickets to the show on the Rising Star.  You know
how much Cassie wants to go.  I was hoping to make a night of it.  Some
music followed by dinner and dancing.  It's an early natal day surprise. 
Besides, I'm scheduled to fly with Apollo.  Nothing like a long-range
patrol for making long-term plans." He winked at her suggestively.  
     She laughed at his obvious coercion.  "Starbuck, sometimes you
suffer from an appalling lack of tact."   Then she imagined Apollo's
pleasant surprise when he discovered she would be his wingman.  "All
right, but you owe me one."

* * * * *

     Apollo had searched high and low for tickets on the Rising Star.  He
couldn't believe that Luana was standing before him in the duty office
offering him a pair of the coveted tickets and volunteering to replace
him on the recon patrol.     
     "I heard you were looking for tickets.  I thought I could help out. 
Besides, I owe you one for letting Starbuck get us through training.  We
couldn't have done it without him."
     Apollo hesitated for a centon.  Luana was graduating at the top of
her class.  According to the Galactica's long-range scans, this recon
patrol was looking fairly routine.   Since Luana would be accompanying an
experienced pilot like Starbuck, it should translate into an excellent
learning opportunity.  Besides, he and Sheba had very little opportunity
to spend time together enjoying the arts.  "Thanks, Luana.  Any other
particular reason you want to do this?"  After all, Starbuck was the
girl's mentor, thus the likelihood of an ulterior motive was high.
     Luana flushed.  "Well, it's my first long-range patrol as an ensign. 
I thought it would be kind of... special to fly it with Starbuck.  After
all, he taught me everything I know.  I guess that sounds sappy and
sentimental."  She ducked her head in embarrassment. 
     "Actually, I think it's kind of sweet."  He smiled at her.  "All
right.  Report to launch bay Alpha at 0800 centars."  He laughed as she
whooped in excitement and left the duty office.  He sat down at his
computer and quickly sent a text message to Sheba.  'Great news about
tomorrow.  Plans confirmed.  Looking forward to spending some time alone
with you.  Apollo.'  He returned to adjusting the duty rosters.

* * * * *

     The graduation ceremony passed by quickly.  Starbuck couldn't
believe the large amount of people who had turned out to support the new
ensigns.  Usually, the gatherings were relatively small.  After leaving
the colonies, a large percentage of the population had little or no
family remaining and they usually made up the majority of the guests. 
Oddly, he recognized quite a few council members present, including his
recent shadow, Siress Tinia.  True to her word, she had given Starbuck a
glowing recommendation for his teaching efforts.  Apollo had
confidentially revealed that some of her peers were less than pleased
with her.  Translation: Albus and Regus' attempt to discredit Starbuck
had failed miserably.
     Starbuck quickly congratulated the recently designated ensigns and
departed as soon as he was able to.  He had seen Luana trying to get his
attention, but had hurriedly kissed her on the cheek and told her he'd
see her the next day.  After all, he still had to tell Cassiopeia the
good news about the tickets as well as make dinner reservations on the
Rising Star.  He knew that would cost him a few cubits, but since he had
introduced Empyrean Ale and Tobacconists to the Chief Steward, he had
found dinner reservations came much easier.  
                                                                    
* * * * *

     Luana arrived early the next day for her patrol with Starbuck.  She
commenced her pre-launch checks as she tried to think of a way to make
amends to Lia for giving her ticket away to Apollo.  She had thought that
Ama was still in possession of a couple extras.  After all, her godmother
had made repeated suggestions about possible male companions the sisters
could invite along.  However, apparently the old crone had finally
accepted that neither young woman was actively looking for a relationship
right now and had given the two extra tickets away.   Luana sighed as she
realized she was comparing all the young men she met to one Lieutenant
Starbuck.  Worse than that, they were all falling short of her
expectations.  Not that she was interested in Starbuck as a prospective
mate, she told herself; after all, he was a bit old for her.  He was also
in a somewhat serious relationship and he clearly considered her more
along the lines of a sister.  She decided to stop her introspection and
recheck her Viper before she admitted something to herself she wasn't
ready to face.  Don't even think it, Lu.  You're a bit old to be getting
crushes.  She chuckled to herself as she again remembered escorting him
along the bank of the stream on Empyrean.  The moonlight was reflecting
off his damp skin accenting his well-toned body.  He was a sight to
behold.  Hmm.  Of course, he was also the first male under the age of
sixty that she had the pleasure of observing since she was a child.  Oh,
get over it, girl!
     Sheba approached her ship wondering what Luana was doing there. 
Surely Apollo would have told her if he wasn't able to make it.  She had
received a brief message from him telling her he was looking forward to
spending this time with her; therefore, it really didn't make any sense. 
Luana was obviously doing her ritual checks.  She wondered what had
happened.  "Luana, are you flying this patrol?" she asked in confusion.
     Luana whirled around.  She was equally surprised to see Sheba. 
After all, wasn't Apollo supposed to be taking her to the concert? 
"Sheba?  Where's Starbuck?"
     "Starbuck asked me to swap with him so he could take Cassie to the
concert.  I thought the duty roster said Apollo was scheduled for this." 
Sheba mused.
     "Oh, no!"  Luana replied shaking her head.  How had this managed to
get so screwed up?  And how could she blame it on Starbuck?  "I gave
Apollo tickets to the concert late yesterday.  He wanted to take you so I
volunteered to fill in for him."
     Sheba looked at her in dismay.  "You mean Apollo thinks I'm going to
a concert with him?"  She had totally misunderstood his message.  Wait,
how could he not have seen the change she made with Starbuck? 
Unless...She reversed directions and marched over to where the duty
roster was posted.  Sure enough, Starbuck had failed to notify the
captain of their exchange.  Usually, it didn't make much difference, but
in this case... She took a couple deep breaths to calm her rising anger
as she didn't want Luana to think she was less than impressed they would
be sharing a patrol.  Frack.  She promised herself that she would get
even with Starbuck for this.



Part Five

     Six centars into the recon patrol it was becoming routine.  The
Vipers continued scanning planets and recording information to return to
the Galactica.  At first, Luana had taken advantage of the opportunity to
perfect her geotechnical scans.  Sheba delegated her the duty of
identifying the usual atmosphere and composition analyses that had become
routine for seasoned pilots.  After five centars even Luana had lost
enthusiasm for reporting the obvious and had relinquished the
responsibility to her computer.  Since then Sheba had been enjoying her
temporary wingman's steady flow of humorous banter as they continued on
their mission.  Currently, she was teasing Sheba about Apollo.
     "So what's taking you two so long to get together?  You're obviously
attracted to him.  What's the problem?"  She prompted.
     Sheba sighed.  "Timing.  Seems one or the other of us is usually
working.  Then there's Boxey.  Obviously, he needs to spend time with his
son.  It's just difficult to get together sometimes."
     "Oh, come on, Sheba, he's the strike captain.  If anyone could
manipulate a duty roster to his advantage, surely Apollo could."  Luana
speculated in wonder.
     "There's more to it than that, Luana."  Sheba smiled.  She could
almost hear Starbuck's voice in place of Luana's.  Sometimes it was
spooky how much he influenced her.  "Apollo has to coordinate wingmen
carefully.  Sometimes it's a matter of ensuring there's experience
balancing inexperience.  Sometimes it's as basic as compatibility.  There
are a lot of factors.  It's a complicated job and I admire him for how
well he does it.  I truly don't know if I would want the responsibility." 

     Luana nodded to herself.  The Captain was held in the utmost regard
by his squadrons.  Starbuck certainly always spoke highly of him, unless,
of course, the captain was within earshot.  Suddenly, she noticed
something on her scanner.  "Sheba, I'm picking up a faint signal being
transmitted from the planet we're scanning."
     Sheba checked her readout.  Indeed, it appeared to some kind of a
low intensity beacon.  "Let's get closer and check it out."  They banked
their ships and began a descent towards the coordinates of origin.  The
planet reminded her of a much drier version of Empyrean.  She reminded
herself she had visited the bog-like planet in the rainy season.  The
atmosphere was breathable with ideal nitrogen and oxygen levels.  Her
composition analysis was beginning to identify mineral deposits that
could be useful for replenishing their waning metal and fuel supplies. 
Plant and animal life seemed to be abundant and relative to that, water
was also plentiful.  With or without this beacon to investigate, this
planet would be of great interest to the fleet.  The signal grew stronger
as they neared the site.  Sheba could see a ship that was about four
times the size of a Colonial shuttle.  "Luana, hold your position.  I'm
going in for a closer look."
     "Right, Sheba," Luana replied.  She could also see the craft.  It
looked familiar to her, but she couldn't place it.  Likely, it was
something she had skimmed over in one of her brief classes on vessel
identification.
     Sheba swept in low for a better look.  The ship was resting on the
edge of a plateau in a grassy field with large trees sporadically
interspersed.  Flat grasslands bordered the field approximately two
hundred metrons to the west from where the craft had come to rest.  
Below the plateau and to the east, a thick forest extended as far as the
eye could see.  She checked her scanner.  "There are life forms in the
area, but the computer is unable to identify them."   The vegetation
surrounding the ship had overgrown the vessel.  In addition, there was no
sign of a crash or even a landing, which led her to suspect the craft had
been there quite a while.
     "Can you identify the ship?" Luana asked.
     Sheba checked her war book.  "Negative, it's quite ancient though. 
Mind you, that doesn't mean it's not functional."  She thought back to
the ships Apollo had told her about from the Proteus Colony.  Despite the
age, the well-maintained ships had flown for yahrens beyond expectations. 
"I don't see any weaponry.  It looks like a passenger craft of some
type."
     "What now?" Luana asked.  
     "Well, we're beyond communications range with the Galactica so we're
on our own.  Let's go down and see what's in that ship." Sheba replied.

* * * * * 

     Starbuck was impressed with how Cassiopeia's natal day celebration
was going.  He had managed to secure them a cozy table for two in the
dining room where they had enjoyed an epicurean adventure with each
course outdoing the last.  How the Rising Star managed to provide such
culinary treats as fresh greens with fruit and roasted nuts, subtly
flavoured with herbal vinaigrette; roasted mollusks; a fine cut of
marinated bovine grilled to perfection; a varied assortment of aged
cheeses; and lastly, something the establishment referred to as 'Death by
Coca'.  Their server had also suggested an 'appropriate libation' for
each and every course.   
     Starbuck couldn't help but smile as he gazed into the sparkling eyes
of the beautiful, blonde woman across from him.  Cassiopeia looked
breathtaking.  Oh, she had always been attractive, but at this centon
something about her simply held him spellbound.  He listened as she spoke
of the musical trio they were going to see.  Her eyes were alight with
happiness and excitement.  
     "Okay, what is it?  You haven't said a word in five centons.  I'm
worried." She teased him.
     He shook his head.  He hadn't realized he was being so quiet.  "Just
overwhelmed, I guess."  He took her hand across the table and squeezed it
gently.
     "By what?" she asked.  Her fingers entwined in his.
     "You," he replied simply as he smiled at her. 
 
* * * * *

     Apollo couldn't help but grin as he glanced over at Lia.  When Sheba
had commed him from the launch bay and informed him of the complete farce
that had resulted from Starbuck neglecting to mention a patrol switch, he
had been disappointed and increasingly angry.  Had it not been for the
several commitments he had made with the intention of being off duty, he
would have joined her there and then.  When Sheba then suggested he take
Lia, as Luana had apparently given her sister's ticket away without her
consent, he had been reluctant.  Now, he realized she was his saving
grace.  Apollo found himself answering endless questions about the Arts
of the Colonies.  Lia was like a sponge soaking up every little bit of
information available to her.  She had an apparent love of music and
regaled him with tales of her own experiences of the Empyrean Arts.  The
Empyreans had a tradition of passing down their history through their
music and commonly the entire community would gather around an enormous
fire to share their stories through their songs.  Apollo admired the
girl's lack of self-consciousness when she simply started singing to him
as they were seated on the shuttlecraft.  She had perfect pitch and a
lovely, clear voice as she sang a lament from Empyrean days long ago. 
Several people sitting around them paused in mid-conversation to listen
to the beautiful, young woman with the golden voice.
     "Please don't tell me you have a song about Starbuck?" he grinned at
her as she finished and she broke into laughter, realizing the lieutenant
now certainly figured into their history.
     "Like he needs a melody to boost his self-concept," She rejoined. 
"Seriously, there are songs that refer to our savior... but let's keep
that between you and me.  Luana and I have agreed to stop mentioning
'savior' in front of him.  Every time we gave him the slightest bit of
trouble in class, he'd tell us that prophesized saviors get treated
abysmally by Empyreans princesses."  She rose with him as they
disembarked from the shuttle and joined the steady stream of people also
heading towards the theatre.  She had felt a little intimidated when
Apollo had first invited her along to the performance.  However, once he
explained the series of events that had culminated in Sheba going on
patrol and him being alone with two coveted tickets, she had readily
agreed to accompany him.  Truthfully, she found the attractive captain
fascinating.  She had not realized there were so many layers to the man
that she simply had thought of as her Strike Captain.  Sheba was a
fortunate woman. 
     They moved into the cozy theatre that was specifically designed for
musical performances in that the acoustics were magnificent.  They were a
bit early, but easily passed the time chatting like they were two old
friends.  
     "What the frack are you doing here?"
     Apollo looked up into the confused face of Starbuck.  He was looking
from Apollo to Lia as if they were the last two people in the galaxy that
he had expected to see.  "Nice to see you too, Starbuck.  Hello
Cassiopeia, you look lovely tonight."  He murmured politely in direct
contrast to his friend.
     "Thank you, Apollo.  Nice to see you, Lia." Cassie smiled at them
both.  What a pleasant surprise to not only have friends joining them,
but also have them seated together.  Oddly enough, Starbuck seemed a bit
flustered by it.  She let Starbuck take the seat next to the captain, as
he seemed keen to speak with him.
     "What happened?  You're supposed to be on patrol with Sheba."
Starbuck told him.  He had worked out the perfect plan for everyone, yet
somehow Apollo and Sheba had managed to screw it up.
     "Could it be that perhaps you forgot to mention something to me?"
Apollo asked calmly, enjoying his friend's agitation.  By now his anger
was diffused and he was ready to enjoy a performance with a fellow
connoisseur of the arts.  He smiled at Lia who was looking around in
excitement.  After all, she had never been in a theatre before.  He
realized she was experiencing a lot of firsts since she had joined the
fleet.  Really, the young woman was adapting amazingly well as she took
on each new adventure.
     Starbuck mused over Apollo's words.  What was he talking about? 
Surely to God, Sheba had spoken to his friend about their plans.  In any
case, what was he doing here with Lia?  He must realize the girl is too
young for him.  Oh, Sheba would be impressed with that move.  This wasn't
like Apollo at all.  Too many long-range patrols and suicide missions
must have finally caught up with him.  "What are you doing?  Are you
crazy?  Does Sheba know you're here with Lia?  She's a bit young for you,
buddy."  He looked at Apollo with concern bordering on disappointment.
     Apollo's eyes opened wide in surprise.  Leave it to Starbuck to turn
this disaster around to make it look like the captain was the one doing
something wrong.  He shook his head.  No matter how long or well he knew
the lieutenant, his friend never ceased to amaze him with his somewhat
askew perceptions.  "Starbuck, you're the one who didn't notify me of you
switching patrols with Sheba.  Luana gave me her and Lia's tickets
because she thought it would be nice to do her first patrol with you. 
Not only did you end up disappointing Luana, but instead of Sheba and I
spending some well-deserved, not to mention, incredibly elusive, time
together she's off on patrol and I'm left holding an extra ticket. 
That's why I'm here with Lia.  You didn't seriously think we were dating,
did you?"  
     Lia laughed aloud at that.  She had been only half listening to
their conversation.  She watched Starbuck process the information the
captain had given him.  He had been looking at her protectively as he
recited his ridiculous accusation.  She was well aware he seemed to have
taken on the role of her protector.  Perhaps it had something to do with
saving her life.  Possibly his people had some strange tradition of being
responsible for a life saved.  Maybe she would ask Apollo later.  Luana
seemed to have escaped his custodial tendencies.  However, Luana was a
lot more self-assured and would be more likely to tell him to back off if
she thought he was interfering in any way.  Lia actually thought it was
kind of sweet that he felt it was necessary to defend her honour, even to
a man with the integrity and principles of Apollo.
     Starbuck was disconcerted.  Apollo was right.  What was he thinking? 
He knew Apollo would never sneak around on Sheba and especially with one
of his new cadets.  For some reason it had really thrown him when he saw
his friend sitting there happily chatting with the young woman who was
almost like a little sister to him.  Oh, frack.  Maybe this is somewhat
how Apollo felt when he was dating Athena.  He looked at his friend with
a bit more insight as he tried to decide how exactly he should eat his
words.  
     "Uh..."  Uh, was generally a bad start to any apology, he knew. 
Apollo, with arms crossed over his chest, was watching Starbuck and
clearly awaiting some more comprehensible words.  "Sorry."  
     After all, it didn't have to be flashy.
     "Apology accepted," replied his friend.          

* * * * *

     Sheba and Luana were walking through the tall grass towards the
mystery ship.  Luana couldn't help but feel uncomfortable.  The dried
grass was at least two metrons tall and she could imagine any number of
predators lurking within it.  Her senses were acutely attuned to her
surroundings, but no matter how hard she listened and looked, she could
see no imminent danger.  The wind was gently blowing and she could hear
the rustle of the grass moving with the breeze.  She could feel her heart
beating faster as it did before she hurled out of a launch tube.  She
looked over at Sheba who was also carefully assessing the vicinity.
     "I don't like this Sheba.  I have a bad feeling."  Luana briefly
touched her chest and then chastised herself.  You don't need that
superstitious felgercarb, Lu.  Just imagine what Starbuck would say if he
knew you were wearing it.
     "I know what you mean.  Keep alert, Luana."  They approached the
craft and quickly did a perimeter check around it.  Sheba wished they had
a large blade to cut through the grass as the density hampered their
progress.  They circled back to the hatch to find it intact and closed. 
The vegetation was encroaching so much on the ship that she doubted that
it would open at all.  She looked around to see Luana scampering up
topside.  "Can you see anything?" she asked.
     Luana turned slowly in a circle.  "Grass, grass, and more grass,"
she called back.  Underfoot the vegetation was minimal, but the dirt and
dust more than made up for it.  She suspected if you weren't looking for
this ship by air it would be missed entirely.  She slowly traversed from
the back to the front until she reached the flight deck.  It had
essentially become the hatch, as the safety glass was long gone.  The
pilots' seats had been torn away and grass and dirt were everywhere.  It
was amazing the beacon was still functioning.  "Sheba, we can get in
through the flight deck." She called down.  
     In no time Sheba was standing beside her with her weapon drawn. 
"I'll go first.  Stay sharp."  Sheba climbed in.  The ship was a mess. 
The interior had begun to disintegrate with the exposure to the elements. 
She quickly did a sweep of the craft.  "All clear here." She called out
putting away her weapon.
     "Here too.  I'm coming in."  Luana entered the ship to find Sheba
carefully examining two very old and fragile looking books.  "What are
they?" she asked.
     "I think they're log books.  Here's something interesting."  She
held up the thicker of the two books to display a crest on the cover.  It
was circular in design with a band around the exterior and the elongated
shape of an eye within.  A long, thin brow extended over and a pupil was
centered at the crest of the eye.  It made the eye appear to be looking
up towards the heavens.  To Sheba it closely resembled the Evil Eye that
Apollo had described the Empyrean necromancers wearing.
     Luana gasped as she took the book almost reverently.  She held it in
her hand and gently brushed off the cover.  "Sheba, this the symbol for
our Empyrean Talisman."  She pulled an amulet out from beneath her tunic
to show Sheba.  Sure enough, the symbol was identical.  Luana gave it a
quick rub between her fingers and tucked it back beneath her tunic.  She
gently opened the book and squinted in the poor light trying to decipher
the script.  "It's in the old tongue.  I recognize some of the symbols
from my father's scriptures."  She sighed.  "I can't read it.  Ama may be
able to though."  She turned the pages slowly considering the symbols
before her.  "Our father used to talk of an ancient book that told of the
voyage from Kobol to Empyrean.  It was only a myth.  At least, I thought
it was."  
     "Luana, do you realize a book like that may give us some insight
into the thirteenth tribe's navigational path to Earth?  I mean we have a
heading from the Ship of Lights, but to have some insight into the actual
planning would be remarkable.  It would also be something concrete that
people who have been relying on faith for so long could actually see." 
Sheba explored the possibilities.
     "Yeah, on the other hand it might just be a record of who was on
duty and what broke down on each day." Luana replied.  "We won't know
until we can get someone to read it, so don't get your hopes up."
     Sheba nodded, "True enough.  You know, the other thing I can't help
but wonder is what is an Empyrean book doing on this vessel?"  The pages
of the book were of a light, but strong, fibrous nature.  Sheba was
flabbergasted that a book of its apparent age could be intact.  Commander
Adama would be as excited as a child on his natal day when he saw the
ancient tomes.  She started carefully skimming the smaller book.  Again
it was full of symbols of an ancient people, she assumed Empyreans or
some other race of Kobolians.  She imagined the incredible historical
discovery it would be if it was in fact the journal recording the voyage
from Kobol to Empyrean and beyond.   
     "Well, our father always said that the ships that carried the
Empyreans were redistributed amongst the rest of the thirteenth tribe and
continued to Earth.  Now that I think about it, I remember seeing an old
charcoal drawing one of our elders had.   The ship illustrated looked
very much like this one, however, I recall an Empyrean Talisman crest
being on the outside of the hull.  The problem is the grass is so high, I
don't think we'd be able to find it.  I wonder how the people came to
land here," she pondered aloud.
     "I wonder what came of them."  Sheba said quietly.  She again
started to search the ship.  She felt something crunch beneath her boot
and knelt down to move aside the debris.  The bones of a hand appeared. 
She stifled a gasp as she scooted backwards.  "Frack!"
     Luana moved ahead of her and continued to remove the debris
eventually uncovering a human skeleton.  "Too bad he can't tell us what
happened."  
     "It has broken legs." Sheba remarked noting complete breaks at both
femurs.  "Looks like some kind of a head injury too."  The occipital
region of the skull was crushed.  
     Luana started searching the rest of the ship for further evidence of
human remains.  "Funny, for a ship this size, you'd think there would be
a few more like him lying around."
     "Maybe they're out there.  Perhaps they intended to settle here like
your people did on Empyrean.  After all, the planet seems ideal with
water, food, resources, and atmosphere.  It could be that your people
weren't the only ones who grew weary of traipsing across the galaxy."
     "Maybe they came here to settle, but if so, I don't think they got
around to it, Sheba.  First of all, the ancient Kobolians would have
taken better care of their dead.  Secondly, I don't think they would
leave such important historical documents lying around this craft." 
Luana reasoned.
     "You know, the frustrating thing is one of those books could
probably tell us what happened and neither of us can read them."  Sheba
remarked.  The more they looked around, the more she was beginning to
think they should finish their search, gather up the historical documents
and finish their composition scan of the rest of the planet.  "Let's give
this bird one last look and get back to our Vipers."   
     Suddenly, a low, throaty growl came from outside the ship.



Part Six

     Apollo strode towards the bridge wiping slightly bleary eyes.  The
previous evening seemed ages ago.  The musical trio had been spectacular. 
Starbuck had convinced Apollo and Lia to join them for drinks and dancing
afterwards.  Lia actually managed to drag Apollo onto the dance floor as
she insisted that she didn't know the first thing about dancing and could
only make him look good.  As it turned out, if Lia had simply stood still
in the congregation of writhing bodies she would still have made every
male head turn.   She had a natural rhythm and grace and soon caught on
to the liquid motions and subtle gyrations that were dance... at least in
a lively club on the Rising Star filled with young people.  The girl
simply exuded jubilance as she discovered yet one more fascinating part
of culture within the fleet.  The evening had passed quickly and before
he knew it he was staring in astonishment at his chronometer, which
precipitated a headlong dash to the docking lounge to catch the final
shuttle back to the Galactica.
     I'm getting too old for these late nights, Apollo mused as he walked
onto the bridge.  He didn't know how Starbuck did it.  On the other hand,
Starbuck didn't have to get up with Boxey shortly after falling asleep
due to one of the boy's nightmares.  Apollo finally pulled his son into
bed with him to settle him.  Sure, Boxey then fell quickly back into a
deep slumber, but Apollo spent the night blocking elbow and knee blows to
unprotected and unsuspecting parts of his body.  Finally, he delivered
his son back to his bed in a last attempt to get some rest before
beginning another day.
     Apollo, I was just about to comm you to the bridge," Colonel Tigh
said as soon as he spotted him.
     "Has something happened?" Apollo asked in concern, all thoughts of
the previous evening disappeared.
     "Yes, our long-range patrol is overdue," Commander Adama replied. 
"We have a bearing on their marker beacons which places them here," he
indicated their location on the navigation board.  "They appear to have
landed.  They haven't changed position for centars."
     "So they're out of communication range," Apollo stated.  "Did they
send any kind of distress signal?"
     "Negative," Tigh answered.  "It's possible that they simply found
something worth investigating that has delayed them."
     "Of course, but it's equally possible they could be in trouble,"
Adama added.  "This is Ensign Luana's first patrol since graduation, is
it not?"
     "Yes, sir," Apollo replied.  He couldn't help but be concerned for
both Luana and Sheba, despite the lieutenant's experience.  He wished he
could trade his fun filled night on the Rising Star to be with Sheba as
Starbuck had originally planned.
     "Well, Starbuck is one of our best."  Adama paused as Apollo looked
up in surprise.  "Starbuck's name is on the duty roster.  Did he not make
this patrol?"
     "Sorry, Commander.  Starbuck and Sheba traded patrols.  It never was
changed on the roster."  Apollo informed him.
     "I did make note of it when they launched, Commander," Tigh added. 
"An apparent oversight that it didn't get updated.  Sorry, Adama." 
     Adama sighed.  "Very well.  Apollo, find Starbuck and get ready to
launch.  I want you two to find out what happened to our patrol."

* * * * *

     Apollo immediately commed Starbuck at Cassiopeia's quarters.  He
quickly briefed him and agreed to meet him in launch bay Alpha.  He knew
he had some time before Starbuck could get ready, so the captain
attempted to contact Lia to let her know the situation.  He became
frustrated as he tried repeatedly to reach her without success.  As a
final effort he even contacted the Malocchio Freighter, however, neither
Lia or Ama could be located.  Finally, he made arrangements for Athena to
take care of Boxey and then headed to his ship.  He turned a corner to
barrel directly into Lia, almost knocking her to the ground.  
     "Sorry, Lia."  He said while steadying her.  "Are you okay?"
     She didn't look okay.  Her eyes were wide with concern and he could
see the moisture threatening to brim over into tears.  She was nervously
rubbing a small amulet between her fingers, which she wore around her
neck.  "What's happened?  Is Luana okay?"
     Apollo looked at her in surprise.  Surely, she couldn't have already
spoken to Starbuck.  "Sheba and Luana's patrol is overdue.  Starbuck and
I are on our way to go find out why," he explained while still holding
her arms.
     "I want to come, Apollo."  Lia declared.  She stoically blinked back
tears, straightened her back and held her head high returning her amulet
to its usual location beneath her tunic.
     "Lia, you don't have the experience and I'm concerned your emotional
state could be a detriment.  Starbuck and I will find them."  Apollo
tried to reason with her.
     She pulled back from his embrace and put her hands on her hips
challenging his judgment.  "She's my sister, Apollo.  If you can stand
there and truthfully tell me that if Athena went missing you'd back off
and let Starbuck and Boomer go find her because your emotions were
running high, then I'll keep my mouth shut and sit in operations waiting
to find out if my only living family is still alive or not."  
     He didn't have time to argue this out with her.  Damn, Starbuck was
rubbing off on both the sisters.  "All right.  But remember this, you are
to follow orders at all times.  Challenging me on a mission may cost you
or someone else their life.  Do you understand, Ensign?"
     "Yes, Sir.  Of course I do.  Who do you think I am?  Starbuck?" She
replied cheekily with a triumphant smile before rushing away to get her
gear.

* * * * *

     Starbuck had already checked his Viper twice and Apollo's once.  He
looked at the turbo lift for what seemed like the hundredth time as he
debated whether to check the captain's ship again.  What the frack was
taking him so long?  Starbuck had been just getting ready to leave
Cassie's for the billet when Apollo commed him and quickly told him what
had happened.  He'd been cooling his heels for centars... he checked his
chronometer... well, okay, maybe centons was more accurate, but it seemed
like centars.  Once again he berated himself for switching patrols with
Sheba and then for not letting Apollo know about it.  Frack, this was his
fault.  If anything happened to Luana or Sheba... He sighed.  Try not to
think about it, Bucko.  You're going to find them.  That's all there is
to it.  
     He heard the lift descending and once again turned towards it.  He
was surprised to see Ama, the retired Imperial Empyrean necromancer,
surrounded by Council Security.  Her long white hair was as wild as ever
and she still sported the animal skins of her people.  He could hear
Reece telling her that the launch bay was a secured area and she had no
business being there.  He decided to intervene when he heard Ama threaten
to turn Reece into the squealing porcine that he had likely evolved from,
however slightly.
     "Ama, what are you doing here?" he asked as he strode towards her. 
He realized he had better tell her about Luana in case Apollo had not
reached her.
     "Starbuck, tell this dunderhead who I am.  He's treating me as if
I'm some kind of a common criminal."  Ama ordered him.
     "Reece, back off.  I'll take responsibility for Ama." Starbuck told
him.  
     "Starbuck, there are no unauthorized people permitted in the launch
bay.  You know that.  I'm just trying to do my job.  Why don't you back
off and let me."  Reece returned.  He was standing with his legs apart
and his hand resting on his weapon.
     "Reece, I don't think you understand who this lady is."  Starbuck
told him.  "She's the Empyrean Necromancer.  You know, the one who cursed
me and put me through Hades.  I'm sure you've heard the stories."  He
could see Reece falter.  "Yeah, I thought so.  On the other hand, maybe
being transformed into a porcine wouldn't be so bad.  At least it would
get you off duty.  I hear wallowing in the mud on the livestock ship is a
nice pastime... for a porcine."  Reece actually took a step back as he
looked between Starbuck and Ama in uncertainty.
     "Uh, well,..." Reece stammered.  He had actually heard that the
necromancer had also transformed Starbuck into a putrid, some hideous,
foul smelling beast from the planet Empyrean.  Maybe challenging her
wasn't the best idea he had come up with.
     "Just give us a few centons and then you can escort her out of here. 
I promise you, it will be easier on all of us.  That entire
transformation process is not pretty."  Starbuck grimaced as if
remembering something unpleasant.  He took Ama by the elbow and led her
to his Viper.
     "I did not curse you."  She accused him.  "I saved your sorry astrum
if you remember correctly."
     "Never mind that now," Starbuck stopped her short.  "Luana's
missing."
     "Why do you think I'm here, dear boy?" she asked him watching the
bemused look cross his face.  
     "Apollo has already talked to you?" Starbuck asked to clarify.
     "Starbuck, my contacts are far more impressive than your Captain." 
She grinned at him.  Just about every second tooth was still missing. 
"Now, we only have a few centons.  Come here."  She grabbed him behind
the neck and pulled him to her with astonishing strength until their
foreheads met.  
     "Ama!" he tried to pull back.  "Stop with the felgercarb already.  I
thought you said you were retired."
     "By all that's sacred, Starbuck, stop squirming and listen to me." 
She demanded with her eyes blazing into his.  
     He sighed.  Frack.  Here we go again.  He stopped squirming and let
her pull him closer.  He could feel the eyes of the crew upon them both. 
They were definitely keeping their distance.  He again looked into her
eyes and this time let her hold his gaze.
     "May the light of the Lords surround you.  May the Empyrean Talisman
watch over you.  May the strength of the trinity bring you all safely
home."  She continued to look into his eyes.
     "Can you let go of my ears now?" Starbuck asked her.
     She shook her head at him in disgust and let him go.  "Barbarian."
     "I'm the barbarian?" he asked in disbelief.
     "Now give me your hand." She ordered, ignoring him.  She generally
found that when dealing with a reluctant savior, ignoring him was the
best policy.  Especially, with Starbuck.  After all, the fates would take
care of the rest.
     "Why?" he asked suspiciously as she grabbed his right hand anyway. 
In a flash she had pierced his finger with a blade so small he didn't see
it hidden in her fist.  "Oww!" he snatched his hand back.
     "I'll do much worse than prick your finger if you don't stop acting
like a child, Starbuck.  Now, give me your hand."  Her lips were curled
up over her terrible teeth.  She looked like a savage.
     He sighed.  He had found that when dealing with a necromancer it was
generally easier to just give her all the blood she desired.  Especially,
with Ama.  After all, he would be back in control as soon as this was
over.  He held out his hand.  She grabbed his lacerated index finger and
squeezed a drop of blood onto a small amulet.  It was round with a band
around the exterior and the elongated shape of an eye within.  A long,
thin brow stretched over the eye and a pupil was centered at the crest of
the eye.  A leather cord was attached to the amulet and she put it over
his head.
     "This is an Empyrean Talisman.  It will protect you.  In combination
with Lia and Luana's it will be a very powerful force against the evil
you will encounter."
     "What evil?  Do you know what happened to Luana and Sheba?"
     "How am I supposed to know?  You said it yourself, I'm retired." Her
eyes mocked him as she threw his words back at him.
     "For Sagan's sake, Ama, tell me what you know!" Starbuck insisted. 
This time it was he grabbing her by the arms and pulling her closer.
     "That's all I know.  I can feel the evil, Starbuck."  She drew back
as she felt him release her.  Her arms crossed over her chest and she
rubbed them as if suddenly chilled.  "You will have to make a difficult
choice, Starbuck.  Follow your instinct."  She turned on her heel and
walked briskly towards the turbo lift with Reece and his fellow officers
hurrying to catch up.

Part Seven

     Starbuck examined the Empyrean talisman now hanging around his neck. 
He shook his head.  Frack, that woman could throw him for a loop. 
Starbuck's rational side was insisting that Ama was a few cards short of
a full deck, but his gut was telling him to prepare for another
extraordinary sequence of events.  He quickly tucked the talisman under
his tunic and turned to find several sets of eyes watching him.  Luckily,
the turbo lift was again descending and somehow Starbuck knew Apollo
would be on it.
     "There you are.  What took you so long?  Did you talk to Lia?" The
lieutenant was eager to get underway.
     Apollo nodded.  "Yeah.  I couldn't get Ama though.  Colonel Tigh is
going to try."  Starbuck looked unusually agitated, he noticed.  "Are you
okay?"
     "Sure, just great."  He ran his fingers back through his hair.  He
still wasn't sure how much he believed of what Ama told him.  He should
probably just spit it out and tell Apollo everything, however, there
would be plenty of time for that on the way to the planet.  "I talked to
Ama.  She already knew about Lu and Sheba being missing.  I was sort of
hoping you'd told her though."  Starbuck still wasn't comfortable with
the alternative.  "I checked out your ship.  Let's get going."  He turned
to head towards his Viper.
     "Starbuck, wait."  The Lieutenant stopped and looked at him.  "Lia's
coming too."  The crew was already preparing another Viper for launch.
     "What?"  He snorted in disbelief.  "Apollo, she doesn't have the
experience.  I think Luana and Sheba may be in real trouble.  This is
hardly the time to drag a brand new ensign into action."  Ama's words
suddenly came back to him.  'In combination with Lia and Luana's, your
talisman will be a very powerful force against the evil you will
encounter.'  Oh, frack.  He hadn't realized the implications of that.  He
knew he was hooped.  The lift was again in motion and they both saw Lia
jump off before it landed and run towards them with a pack slung over her
shoulder and her helmet in her hand. 
     "Luana's her sister, Starbuck.  She's coming."  Apollo moved over to
Lia's fighter and started pre-launch checks to facilitate a quick
departure.  
     Starbuck sighed and walked towards Lia.  "I hear you're coming.  Are
you sure you're up for this?" he asked in concern.
     "Starbuck, I don't want to argue with you too."  She started towards
her ship.
     Starbuck reached out and grabbed her hand, pulling her back to him
in a tight embrace.  "Hey, I'm not arguing with you.  I'm just worried
about you."  He felt her arms encircle his waist as she held him tightly. 
  "Tell me the truth, can you do this?"  He loosened his grip to look
into her dark eyes.
     He was acting more like her old instructor and friend again.  Thank
the Lords he had dropped out of protector mode.  She knew he wanted a
realistic evaluation of her emotions and whether she was going to put any
of them at risk.  She nodded at him, "Yes, I can do this.  I'm
experienced at separating duty and emotion.  After all, I was raised to
be an Emperor."  
     He nodded at that.  "Good enough.  Let's go find our lost patrol."  

* * * * *

     Luana sat up from where she was lying on the ground next to the
lieutenant.  Sheba was deeply asleep.  She knew she should be as well. 
They must have walked for thirty kilometrons through the dense forest
until it grew so dark they could barely see where they were going.  They
had been pulled along by the arm for the last centar or so until the
ground disappeared beneath them and they landed unceremoniously on their
backsides in their current location.  Frack, it was dark!  Not even a
moon to shed some light on their temporary prison.  Yes, temporary. 
We're going to get out of here... well, maybe after Sheba wakes up.  She
again looked around straining to see where they were.  It was cold.  She
rolled slowly onto her back protecting her injured shoulder.  Her head
still ached dully.  She could see the stars shining safely out of reach. 
They almost seemed to be mocking her.  She sighed.  Oh, how she had loved
flying her Viper among those stars.  She remembered the first time
Starbuck had told her about flying.  His eyes were shining and his face
was so animated.  She had asked him if there was anything in the universe
he loved more and he had laughed.  "How could anything else even compare,
Lu?" he had asked her in reply.  Starbuck.  She sighed.  She had never
really sorted out her feelings for Starbuck.  Well, now was hardly the
time to do it.
     Luana thought back to the sudden appearance of their captors.  She
and Sheba had felt increasingly uncomfortable even as they made the
incredible discovery of the ancient Empyrean tome.  They were actually
ready to do a final cursory check and leave when Sheba heard a growl. 
Both women spun to spot three of the strangest creatures they had ever
seen heading towards them.  They must have been more than two metrons
tall as they climbed into the flight deck.  Overall, they appeared to
have the shape of a human with the usual two arms and legs.  However,
that was where the similarity ended.  They appeared to be avian from
their feet, which had four clawed toes, up to their knees, with bird like
scales wrapped horizontally around the legs.  Silver reptilian scales
extended from the knees throughout the trunk and arms and up to the neck. 
The immense head was out of scale with the slender build of the beast. 
It reminded Luana of a hairy male bovine complete with stubby horns on
either side of its head; however, its lower jaw was twice as wide.  Its
two eyes were cloudy and appeared almost opaque.  As Luana thought back,
she now wondered how well the beasts could see.  The most frightening
feature though was their teeth.  They must have been four centimetrons in
length each and seemed to curve slightly inward with great gaps between
them.  These teeth were made for the tearing of flesh.  
     The warriors had quickly pulled their weapons on the advancing
beasts, the ancient tomes cast aside.  Luana had noticed small clubs held
within the grip of their scaly hands.  "Sheba??" Every fiber of her being
was crying out for her to fire her weapon.  Her eyes were glued to the
largest creature slightly ahead of the others. Instinctively, the hunter
in her knew that it was the dominant beast.  Luana watched as the corner
of a fat lip curled and its nostrils flared.  It growled again.
     "Fire!" Sheba yelled at the same time the beasts launched themselves
at the women.  
     Luana fired her weapon hitting the leader squarely in the chest.  It
shrieked an earsplitting avian sounding protest, but continued to come at
her.  She hurled herself to the side avoiding it and fired at its head. 
This time the beast dropped where it landed.  
     "Aim for the head!" she called to Sheba as she rolled the other way
and fired again at another creature.  Again, it was a minor hit and the
beast advanced, flinging itself on top of her.  It struck at her weapon
with its club knocking it out of Lu's grip.  She managed to get her feet
up between them and pushed against her enemy with all of her strength. 
It was surprisingly light and flew off of her.  Luana noticed in despair
that more creatures were climbing in through the flight deck.  They
leaped across the wreckage at her.  She threw herself towards her weapon
and felt another creature grab her around the neck.  Her hand was scant
centimetrons from the laser when she felt something tearing into the
flesh on her left shoulder.  She screamed in pain.
Sheba was fairing a little better.  As soon as she heard Luana's yell to
aim for the head, she blasted at the two approaching creatures and
dropped them both.  Like most Colonial pilots, Sheba had more experience
at blasting Cylons in space than in ground assaults, however, she was a
deadly shot.  Unlike most marksmen, her aim seemed to improve under
stress.  Must be in the genes, she mused as she took aim on another
target.  Suddenly, she heard Luana scream.  She whirled around to see a
beast sinking its teeth into the ensign.  Her heart raced as she dropped
to a knee to improve the angle of her shot as she fired.  The beast
collapsed on top of Luana.  Sheba was struck from behind and tumbled
forward onto her stomach.  Her weapon was trapped beneath her as she felt
her hair grabbed and pulled sharply back.  Tears filled her eyes as her
head snapped back.  She could feel pressure in the small of her back as
her arm was wrenched behind her.  Her other arm was also grabbed and they
started to pull her roughly to her feet.
     Luana heard Sheba's shot and felt her attacker collapse.  She could
still feel its teeth in her shoulder as she wrenched herself free and
reached for her weapon.  As her fingertips touched it she could feel
another attacker fling itself onto her back.  She gripped the laser and
rolled herself to the right coming face to face with the enemy.  It
growled down at her as it opened its mouth wide.  Lu shoved her weapon
into the orifice and fired.  Tissue fragments rained down upon her as she
pushed the light creature to the side and rolled quickly to regain her
footing.  Stars suddenly exploded before her eyes as a blunt object hit
the back of her skull.  She swayed slightly and found herself again on
her stomach being grabbed from behind by her arms.  Her weapon was pulled
from her loose grip as she was hauled to her feet.  She reeled with
dizziness as she was pushed ahead of her captors and almost fell to her
knees.  Her right arm was gripped to steady her and she found herself
being contemplated by yet another of the hideous creatures.  Her nose
detected a musty smell as she looked into the large, cloudy eyes.  It
cocked its head slightly to the side and hissed at her as it held her
gaze.  She spat in its eye.  A low growl started in its throat.
     "Luana, are you trying to get yourself killed?  Stand down, Ensign!"
Sheba ordered as her guards pushed her roughly across the flight deck.
     Luana heard her, but standing down really wasn't her style.  She
grinned inanely at the beast.  It stopped growling and cocked its head to
the side, studying her.  Interesting.  She imitated it and cocked her
head to the same side.  Luana suddenly detected a musk emanating from the
creature.  Its scales started taking on a reddish hue.  "You think I'm
kind of cute, don't you?"  
     "Luana, what the frack are you doing?" Sheba yelled as she was
pushed out of the craft.
     The ensign again grinned inanely at her guard and then felt it pull
her gently forward to follow Sheba.  She exited the ship to find Sheba
flanked by two guards and the rest of the creatures gathering metrons
away from them in a circle.  Her guard led her to stand beside the
lieutenant.
     "Luana, can you reach your communicator?" Sheba asked her quietly. 
She didn't know why she was whispering.  It wasn't like the creatures
could understand her.
     "Yeah, but who am I supposed to communicate with?  The Lords of
Kobol?" Luana asked.
     "Set it to stand-by.  That way if a search party comes they can use
it to track us." Sheba explained.
     "What do you mean 'if'?  Starbuck will come.  He wouldn't leave us
here to die." Luana declared vehemently.  She pulled her arm free of her
guard.  She noticed its right horn was broken off.  It let her go and
continued to study her.
     "Neither would Apollo." Sheba reassured her.  She just hoped they
would be in time.  This was the first real sign that the ensign was
afraid.  Sheba had thought that somehow Starbuck had also passed on his
bravado.  Perhaps the brain washing wasn't complete after all.  
     "Sheba, should we try the languatron?"  Perhaps they should try and
communicate a little more effectively.
     "This far from the colonies, I'm not even sure it will work.  After
all, it's programmed to translate languages we're somewhat familiar with. 
I've never seen or heard tell of creatures like this before.  I'm also
kind of worried if we pull out the languatrons they'll notice our
communicators and take them.  Right now I'm more concerned with a search
party being able to find us.  Of course, if they suddenly look like
they're going to kill us on the spot I'll probably realign my
priorities." Sheba told her somewhat ruefully.
     "I think if they wanted us dead, we'd be dead.  You're probably
right, looks like we're going for a walk."  The gathered beasts had begun
to growl and the noise level increased drastically.  She looked back over
to the assembly of creatures.
     Enclosed within the circle were two beasts slowly swaying and
watching each other.  The assembly began to growl as they advanced on one
another.  Suddenly, one beast hurled itself towards its rival and swung
its club.  The adversary surprisingly leaned into the attack and took it
full on the chest.  Its vicious jaws opened wide and it lunged forward
clamping its teeth down into the neck of its foe.  The victim shrieked in
pain as the aggressor shook its head from side to side ripping its flesh
apart.  The attacker pushed its prey to the ground and continued to rend
the flesh with every motion.  The victim slumped.  The victor stood above
it and growled in concert with the excited assembly.
     "I think I'm going to be sick," Sheba whispered.  She looked in
horror at the triumphant beast, blood running down its jaws and neck. 
Apparently, they had a new leader.
     "Don't.  It will make you look weak." Luana begged her.  She also
felt nauseous, but knew that these creatures would not tolerate weakness.
     
Part Eight

     Apollo had found Starbuck strangely quiet on the long flight to the
planet.  The captain was accustomed to his friend keeping up a steady
stream of banter.  He was curious if Ama had said something to make
Starbuck so contemplative.  He tried to draw him out a couple times, but
the lieutenant answered in monotones seemingly occupied.  Lia started
asking the captain any random question that popped into her head and he
finally realized she was trying to distract him.  He realized she seemed
to have some protective instincts regarding Starbuck for some reason.
Either that, or she knew what was on his mind and was letting him have
some introspective time to think about it.  Finally, centars into the
flight Starbuck piped up.  The topic, however, really caught Apollo off
guard.
     "Lia, tell me about the Empyrean Talisman," he asked hesitantly. 
Starbuck had been pouring over his conversation with Ama for centars.  He
could deal with the fact that his friends were missing and they could be
in danger.  After all, as a warrior he had been in this position before
and he knew the situation would have to be played out.  He did his best
not to imagine worst-case scenarios, as that would just make him
increasingly anxious.  After all, if he wanted to make himself anxious he
could just think about Ama sharing with him that she could feel the evil
and that he would have to make difficult choices.  This was the part he
was having some difficulty with.  He kept reminding himself that she had
told him to follow his instinct.  That was his saving grace.  He always
followed his instinct.  Oh, sure, occasionally it got him into trouble,
but that was more often associated with his personal life.  Generally,
following his instinct as a Colonial Warrior caused him to excel.
     Lia was wondering if this topic would come up.  She suspected Ama
had sought out Starbuck.  He had been so quiet that he must be coming to
terms with something.  She wondered what the necromancer had in mind for
him.  "How did you know about my talisman?"
     "Then you are wearing one?" Starbuck asked curiously.
     "Of course, I've worn it all my life.  Our parents gave them to us
as children.  They represent protection and wisdom and are supposed to
give us an ability to see with clarity and truthfulness."  Lia shared the
history with him.
     "Does Luana still wear hers?" Starbuck asked.  He had always thought
of Luana as slightly removed from her superstitious roots.  
     "Believe it not, she does.  I think to her it's more of a memento of
our parents than any representation of her beliefs."  She smiled to
herself.  "I think she'd be embarrassed if she thought you knew about
it."
     "Me, personally?" Starbuck asked.  He didn't know why Luana would
care one way or the other what he thought about her beliefs.  After all,
they were raised in different worlds.  Obviously, they would have
differences in opinion.  Frankly, Starbuck had found it was usually best
to keep your mouth shut when it came to spiritual beliefs.  It was the
one topic that was always open to debate, but people rarely moved on
their opinions and were quite vehement in their views.  They were also
less inclined to want to play cards afterwards, which was the real
tragedy.
     "Of course.  You're not exactly known for your calm acceptance of
necromancers and their spiritual significance."  She could hear Apollo
snorting his agreement.
     "Hmm."  Well, apparently he wasn't as good at keeping his mouth shut
as he thought he was. Starbuck paused in thought.  "So, what does the
power of the trinity have to do with your talisman?"
     "So you talked to Ama before we left?" Lia asked him.  
     "Where else would I get this felgercarb?" he returned.
     "Have you ever stopped to consider that it may not be felgercarb?"
she returned.  He was trying so hard to maintain his status quo.  It was
like a wall he had built around himself.  Every now and then, he would
peek over his self-erected barrier to take a look around.  
     He sighed.  "All right, so it might not be felgercarb.  What's the
strength of the trinity?" 
     "Well, it's kind of complicated," she started.
     "I'll try and keep up, " he remarked wryly.
     "Don't start with me.  Every time someone mentions necromancers your
eyes glaze over and your brain tries to come up with some rational
explanation for the inexplicable." She retorted.  "Maybe you should stop
trying to make sense of it and just believe it."  
     "Never mind that, Lia.  Just tell me how the trinity works."
     It would take a lot to get him all the way over that wall.  She
sighed.  "Our people believe that the power of the trinity is universal. 
It will always be with us.  Our worlds have a tripartite nature
consisting of the heavens, soil and water.  As humans, we consist of
body, mind and spirit.  The ancient necromancers invoke the powers of the
Goddess Triquetra, who is maiden, mother and crone to our people.  Simply
stated, we believe our strength is fortified in groups of three."
     "So the Empyrean Talisman gives you three times the protection,
wisdom and insight if worn by three people?" Starbuck asked.
     "Well, essentially, yes."  She stopped to think about his question. 
"Starbuck, did Ama give you an Empyrean Talisman?"  
     "Yep." He sighed.  Oh well, sometimes you had to stack the deck in
your favour no matter how you did it.
     "Did she consecrate it?" Lia asked curiously.  With a complete
trinity, their chances were vastly improved.  She felt more confident and
optimistic that Luana and Sheba would be found... alive.
     "Well, I'm guessing Empyrean consecration has to do with my blood. 
Am I right?" he asked.
     "Yes."  She smiled.  At least he was interested and learning.   It
was a start. 
     "Well, then, it's consecrated."

* * * * *

     Sheba awoke to see the sun starting to peak up over the horizon
through the dense canopy of tree tops.  She could feel Luana huddled
beside her asleep.  She lay still and surreptitiously looked around. 
They appeared to be in a small, but deep pit.  It was about four metrons
across each way as well as almost four metrons deep. She could see one
creature looking down at them over the rock wall.  She surmised it must
be a guard.  She rolled over and bit back a groan as her aching body
protested.  She found her neck was so stiff she could barely turn her
head.  Her right arm, shoulder and back were all aching and just about
every muscle below her waist hurt from their forced march across rough
terrain and thick brush.  Frack, you think you're in pretty good shape
until something like this happens.  She promised to devote a little extra
time to the Fitness Center after she got back to the Galactica.  She did
a quick inventory and realized they still had all their equipment.  She
wondered if Luana had a knife secreted away in her boot as she did when
she was on Empyrean.
     Luana moaned beside her.  Sheba managed to sit up and look at the
young woman.  She looked extremely pale and dirty.  Her flight jacket
covered any evidence of her shoulder wound.  "Luana?" 
     The ensign opened her eyes and blinked several times trying to get
her bearings.  She looked up at Sheba and smiled weakly.  "Do I look as
bad as you do?"  
     Sheba was a mess.  Her usually neat long hair was full of twigs,
grass and dust.  Her face and uniform were smudged with dirt.  She was
moving slowly and painfully.
     "No matter how bad we look, we're still more attractive than our
captors."  Sheba told her as she looked up at their guard.  They truly
were the most hideous creatures she had ever seen.  The beast had its
head cocked to the side and was studying them.  "Hey, is that your
friend?"
     Luana looked up at the guard.  Surely enough its right horn was
broken off.  "Hi, handsome," she gave it her toothy grin.  The creature's
scales again changed to a reddish hue and it began hissing.  "I think the
hiss is a good sign.  It seems to occur in conjunction with the colour
change.  They begin to growl when they're becoming violent."
     "Oh, I figured out the growling part.  How's your shoulder?"  Luana
hadn't moved since she had awakened.
     "Hurts like Hades," she admitted.  It was throbbing.  Even squeezing
her left hand or turning her head seemed to exacerbate the pain.  She was
also aware of a slight headache from being hit in the back of her skull,
but it really seemed minor in comparison.  I knew that fracking talisman
was useless.  On the other hand, maybe I'd be dead now if I wasn't
wearing it, she mused.
     "Sit up and let me take a look," Sheba instructed.  She helped Luana
sit up and slowly started removing her jacket.  She heard the ensign
inhale sharply and noticed her biting her lower lip.  "Easy, Lu," she
murmured as she slipped the garment off.  She carefully undid the young
woman's tunic at the shoulder and as she folded it back it the wound was
exposed.  The bite marks were red and swollen.  Redness extended up her
neck and covered her back over her scapula.  Sheba sighed.  She didn't
have a thing to dress or clean it with.  Suddenly, she heard a thud
behind them.
     Sheba quickly stood up and turned only to have her neck spasm
painfully.  Luana's friendly guard was there.  It moved over to the girl
and leaned down closely to look at the wound.  Sheba's first instinct was
to knee it in the head, but the creature was still hissing and remained a
friendly shade of red.  Luana had better be correct about that.  It
remained staring at the wound for some time, but never actually touching
it.  Then, as abruptly as it had arrived, it scurried back up the rock
and disappeared over the edge.
     "What now I wonder?" Sheba asked as she continued to look up.  Well,
at least she knew she could climb out of here if she needed to.  Luana
couldn't though, that was obvious.  She tried to see over the edge but
couldn't make out anything of use.  Rock, rocks and more rocks were
blocking her view.  She couldn't even see any other creatures, but that
didn't mean they weren't there.
     The creature reappeared at the edge and jumped down gracefully
landing beside Luana.  It stood still and studied them again while
holding something leafy in its grasp.  "Give 'handsome' a smile, Sheba. 
It will put him more at ease." Luana encouraged.
     "Handsome?  Didn't you used to call Starbuck that?"  Sheba tried to
imitate the absurd smile she had seen on Luana's face.  The creature
approached Luana tentatively.  It kneeled down and gently put the leaf on
her shoulder wound.  Sheba could see there was a powdery substance on the
makeshift bandage as it was opened up.
     "As they say, there's no accounting for taste.  Thanks, handsome."
Luana smiled again.  She could feel a pleasant cooling sensation setting
in.  After all, these beasts probably patched up a fair amount of similar
wounds so it was only natural they would have a treatment.  She hoped it
worked well on Humans.  "I wonder what they're planning for us?  Maybe we
should try the languatron on handsome?"
     Sheba thought about it.  The creature seemed more curious than
dangerous.  "Try it, but go slowly.  The last thing we pointed their way
killed them." Sheba warned her.
     Luana slowly pulled her languatron out.  The creature took a step
back and its scales started to return to the usual silver tone.  Luana
gave it a big grin trying to reassure it.  Handsome cocked his head and
waited.  The ensign activated her languatron and pointed it at the
creature.  Frack.  What now?  What do you say when introducing yourself
to a creature?  Especially after killing a few of its friends.  "I'm
Luana."  She tapped her chest and indicated herself.   Well, that was a
good start.  Simple.  Direct.  Friendly.  Now he was required to say
something in return for the electronic felgercarb to do any good. 
Starbuck always told her that electronic felgercarb was nice, but it
didn't replace intelligence, skill, planning or instinct.  She smiled to
herself when she recalled Lia and her had both thought the term
'electronic felgercarb' was an official one until another student had
indicated it was just something Starbuck said a lot.  Handsome hissed
back at her and tapped his chest.  The languatron lit up and the lights
flashed furiously while the machine tried to process the unknown
language.  
     "DeeDiddleydiddleydiddleydee."  The languatron told them.  
     "Uh, Sheba, is that its name or is the languatron not working?" 
Luana asked perplexed.
     "I don't really know," Sheba replied.  She knew the machine had its
limitations.  On the other hand, the creature's name could be
DeeDiddleydiddleydiddleydee.  "Try something else," she encouraged.
     "What are you going to do with us?"  Luana asked.
     "DeeDiddleydiddleydiddleydie." The languatron translated... maybe.
     "I don't like the way that end bit sounded," Luana commented.
     "I don't think it's working," Sheba told her.  "Try again.  Point to
the rock."  That would be a good test.  If it was a
DeeDiddleydiddleydiddleyrock then maybe the machine was working.
     Luana nodded and pointed to a large rock.  "Rock," she said.  
     The creature again hissed and the machine translated,
"DeeDiddleydiddleydiddleydee".
     Luana shook her head in disappointment.  "Frack.  So much for
technology."  The creature turned around and again scurried back up the
wall, returning to its post.

* * * * *

     Lia looked down at the planet her sister had disappeared on.  From
their approach it looked very much like her home, Empyrean.  She had not
admitted it to anyone, but she really missed her home.  Life on a
battlestar didn't compare with breathing fresh air and wandering through
rain forests hunting and tracking to her heart's delight.  She knew Luana
felt the same.  She had seen the longing in her sister's eyes when they
reminisced about their childhood.  However, she knew she had done the
right thing in joining the fleet.  After all, after their parents had
died, things had changed.  A controlled sense of desperation was in the
Empyrean people's eyes as they saw their men die from disease and
warfare.  Time had become their enemy.  Thankfully, the Colonials had
become their friends.
     "Apollo, I have a fix on the marker beacons," Starbuck informed him.
     "I've got it, Starbuck.  Hmm, that's odd.  I'm also picking up a low
intensity beacon from the planet, but it's not ours." He watched the
readouts flash across his screen.  "This is probably why they landed to
begin with."
     "It could be some kind of trap," Starbuck suggested.  He was picking
up Humans on his scanner, but also life forms that the computer could not
identify.
     "I agree.  Okay, let's go in and find out."  
     The Vipers descended through the atmospheric layers.  As they hit
the lower portion of the stratosphere Apollo heard Starbuck queuing Lia,
"Remember, Lia, this is most likely where we're going to experience
turbulence due to the convective air currents."  His mind was off
talismans and trinities and he was back to being the consummate pilot.
     "Right, Starbuck, thanks." Lia replied.  She was still fairly new to
flying in the troposphere and landing on planets.  She appreciated every
tip an experienced pilot was willing to give her.  Especially, a pilot of
the caliber of Starbuck.  She tightened her grip as she felt the
turbulence affect her fighter.  Luckily, it seemed to be a clement day on
the planet and she had no problems.  They soon spotted the Vipers and
another ship in a field as they tracked the signals.  
     "I'm going to have a closer look," Apollo told them and he banked
his Viper down for a low sweep of the area.  He could see the bodies of
creatures around the larger ship.  They appeared to be dead, as he wasn't
reading any life signs for anything that large.  "There are some bodies,
not Human," he hastily added, "They seem to be concentrated at the larger
ship."
     "Apollo, it looks like something stalked them and surrounded the
ship by the pattern in the foliage," Lia added.  "Can I get a better
look?"
     Apollo was impressed.  He had forgotten they had a tracker and
hunter with them.  "Affirmative, Lia."
     Lia followed the captain's path and swept in low for a couple
passes.  "It looks like there must have been quite a few of them.  They
seemed to have circled around the Vipers and come in across the field en
masse.  I could tell you more after we land."  She didn't want them even
thinking about leaving her flying around out of harm's way while they
checked out that ship.  Her sister's body could be in it after all.
     "Starbuck?" Apollo asked.  The captain knew what they could find in
that ship.  He wasn't certain Lia was prepared to deal with it.  Perhaps
he and Starbuck should go in and check it out first.  He could tell Lia
to be prepared to back them up from the air in case of an unexpected
attack.
     "Let's go in, Apollo.  All of us." Starbuck replied.  

Part Nine

     The Vipers landed in the field on the plateau.  Lia didn't miss the
fact that Apollo and then Starbuck positioned their fighters closest to
the unidentified ship.  So much for being determined to be the first one
in.  As her cockpit opened she steadied herself with a couple deep
breaths.  Frack.  Get your astrum out of the Viper, Lia.  She shook her
head as she realized she was starting to think like Starbuck... or Luana. 
She pulled off her helmet and climbed out of her ship.  She could see
Apollo and Starbuck having words and started towards them.
     "Starbuck, wait with Lia and I'll check out the ship," Apollo had
told him the centon before.
     "Yeah, right," Starbuck replied heading towards the ship.
     "Starbuck, I mean it."  He grabbed the lieutenant's arm.  "You know
what could be waiting for us in there.  You're close to Lia.  She could
use your support right now." 
     "Apollo, I've been sitting in a fracking Viper for six centars
waiting to see what's happened to two good friends.  Lia is a warrior. 
She doesn't need to be supported right now.  She needs to know what
happened to her sister.  Just like you need to know what's happened to
Sheba.  Cut the felgercarb and let's go find out."  He pulled his arm
free as Lia walked up to them.
     Lia looked from one to the other.  They were both determined to have
their way.  She could tell Apollo was just trying to protect her.  He
thought of her as a sensitive, young woman who was beginning a new life. 
Starbuck knew the tough, stubborn side of her.  He had a better idea of
what she had already been through and he realized that above all what she
really needed right now was the truth.  She looked at the lieutenant, "If
I talked to you that way you'd keelhaul me."
     He looked at her in surprise and grinned.  "And you'd deserve it,"
he added sheepishly.
     Apollo shook his head at them and blew out a deep breath.  "All
right.  Let's go."  He pulled out his weapon and proceeded towards the
ship.  
     "Seems like we should be sneaking or something," Lia muttered to
Starbuck as they followed the captain similarly armed.
     "You've been watching too much IFB.  If they're around, they know
we're here after landing three Vipers on their front lawn."  He glanced
at the dead creature lying not far away from the ship.  "What the frack
is that?"  
     "Its neck has been ripped apart," Lia stated indifferently.  As a
hunter she had seen that before.
     "Check out the teeth, and I thought Ama needed some serious dental
work." Starbuck replied nervously.  Lords, if that was what attacked
Luana and Sheba...  They followed Apollo topside.  Centons later they
were all standing in the ship looking at the dead creatures.
     "I don't know whether to be relieved or scared that they aren't
here," Lia remarked.  
     "I know what you mean," Apollo replied.  While he was relieved to
see the warriors weren't dead, it didn't comfort him knowing what had
taken them.
     Starbuck collected the weapons from where they laid abandoned on the
deck.  "Did you notice they're all shots to the head." He indicated the
dead.  "Probably worth remembering."
     "So we shoot to kill?" confirmed Lia.
     "Yes," replied Starbuck.
     "Wait a centon, Starbuck.  I know it looks bad, but remember the
Borays?  After actually talking to them you were able to work something
out." Apollo mused.
     "I also remember the Ovions, buddy." Starbuck returned.  "I really
think when the alien looks like it came directly from Hades Hole, shoot
first and ask questions later is a good policy."
     "Technically, we're the aliens here," Apollo told him as he leaned
over to retrieve a book lying on the deck.  He turned it over to see the
familiar crest on the cover.  "Lia, look at this."
     She joined him and stared in surprise at the ancient book.  "The
Empyrean Talisman."  She took the book and carefully turned the pages. 
"It's our ancient script.  Much like you would have seen on Kobol."  They
had talked about Kobol as Lia was also fascinated by her people's
history.  She had found it astounding that Apollo had visited the
pyramids on their mother planet.  Oddly, he had spoken of it reluctantly
and a little bit sadly and she suspected that he may have lost someone
close to him in the attack.  
     "Let's bring it with us and get out of here." Starbuck told her.  He
handed Apollo one retrieved weapon and kept the other for himself.  "The
sooner we get moving, the sooner we'll find them."
     They left the ship and Apollo asked Starbuck to check out Luana's
Viper for clues.  Lia followed him and she kept a close watch on the
perimeter and her scanner as he rifled through the ship.  
     "Just her pack," Starbuck held it up.  "Frack, what's she got in
here?"  It was heavy for the usual survival equipment they stowed.  He
climbed back down beside Lia.
     "Luana and I augmented the original kit," Lia told him.  "It seemed
like you guys thought you could survive on your good looks," she teased
him, trying to ease her tension.
     "Hey, it's worked so far," he grinned and winked at her.  He peeked
into the pack.  "Well, it's good to know Apollo and I can build a shuttle
if we need to."
     She smiled and grabbed his hand.  "Thanks, Starbuck," she leaned in
and kissed his cheek.
     He shrugged, a little embarrassed.  "For what?"
     "For your totally inappropriate sense of humour.  It's just what I
need right now."
     "Starbuck!" Apollo shouted to him from atop Sheba's Viper.  They ran
over to join him.  "They have their communicators on.  We can track the
signal and find them."  He held up his own communicator.
     "Any idea how far away they are?"  Lia asked him.  She turned on her
own unit to see the signal.  "This means they're together, doesn't it? 
That should make it easier to follow, right?"
     Apollo smiled and nodded.  "No, yes, yes.  I think one of us should
take a Viper up and see how close we can get to the signal.  If we can
land somewhere nearer to them it would help."
     "Well, the tracks lead down to that forested area and so does the
signal." Lia added.  "I'll go," she volunteered.  She could see the men
glance at each other.  No, they hadn't planned on the surveillance being
done by her.  For as much as the Colonials had surpassed the ancient
Empyreans in regard to sexism, it certainly wasn't extinct.  She reminded
herself that Starbuck had not included her just centons before in the
building of his shuttle.  "I am qualified to do this." She reminded them. 
"You," she prodded Starbuck in the chest, "qualified me."
     "Yes, I did," he sighed.  "Captain?"
     "We can tweak your scanner to track the comm signal, Lia.  That
should make it... more efficient."  He didn't dare say easier.  There was
no reason she couldn't do this.  She was right, she was trained for this
and graduated in the top three of her class.  They moved to her ship and
manually adjusted her scanner.  "Stay in constant communication with us,
Lia.  I don't want any surprises."  She climbed in her Viper and the
Captain handed over her helmet.  "Remember, when you find their location,
report back to us.  You are not to land by yourself.  Hopefully, you can
find a spot that we can set down all three ships.  If it's not
considerably closer than where we are now, it's probably not worth it. 
After all, we're hoping Luana and Sheba will be able to fly their Vipers
out of here."
     "If not, we can use Starbuck's shuttle," Lia told him and he looked
at her blankly as Starbuck laughed behind him.

* * * * *

     Sheba was going a little stir crazy.  They had been sitting in the
bottom of their pit for centars since Handsome had dressed Luana's wound. 
Surely, the creatures weren't going to just study them.  She tried to
imagine living out the rest of her life as an exhibit.  Intermittently, a
creature would look over the edge at them and stare.  Occasionally, Luana
would grin back at them with varying results.  Apparently, not all of the
beasts found her as charming as Handsome did.  They could hear growls and
hisses all around them.  Suddenly, Sheba remembered something.
     "Luana, do you have your knife?"
     "Of course, Sheba." She was Empyrean, after all.  "I haven't really
seen an opportunity to use it though."
     "No.  Neither have I."  Still it was comforting to know they had one
weapon.
     "I was awake for quite a while last night." Luana told her.  "The
activity around here really settled down.  If we are going to make a
break for it, that would probably be our best bet.  Unless, of course,
they decide to partake in some more death sport like those two facing off
back by the ships.  That distracted them nicely."
     Sheba smiled.  "What are our odds?"
     Luana grinned in return, "You don't really want to know that do
you?"
     "Evidently not," she replied.  "Still, I'd rather die trying than
wait to find out what they have in mind for us."
     "Exactly." Luana nodded.  She hadn't gone out on a limb and altered
the course of her life to die in a rock pit at the mercy of the ugliest
creatures known to man.  She found herself rubbing her talisman
unconsciously.  She quickly tucked it back in her tunic.  Starbuck should
be here by now.  Apollo would be too.  Lia would do everything within her
power to be with them.  Luana shifted as her shoulder ached.  It was
actually feeling much better.  She could use her arm and move her head
without pain shooting through her.  She wondered if an enemy would patch
up a captive and then kill her later.  She noticed that the growls
surrounding their prison seemed to be growing in intensity.  Wait a
centon.  What was that sound?
     "Luana, I hear a ship!" Sheba exclaimed.

Part Ten

     Lia had tracked the signal, but could see no evidence of either
warrior through the dense forestation.  She flew by a few times with a
dubious hope she would see some sign of her sister or friend.  As she
rolled her ship away from the homing signal, she proceeded with the
second part of her assignment, finding a closer spot to land in.  She
reported her findings back to Apollo as ordered and became increasingly
frustrated as she soon realized the thick growth spread for kilometrons
in every direction.  
     Why was it she couldn't help but feel that if Starbuck had taken
this assignment they would all be headed to some grassy meadow a few
hundred metrons from where Luana and Sheba were being held?  Oh, of
course, it was ridiculous, but she couldn't help but feel a little
inadequate.  It was probably a mixture of trying to prove herself to the
seasoned veterans and simply being frustrated with the failure of her
assignment.  She surmised she was wasting precious time that could be
spent hiking closer to the missing warriors and headed back to Starbuck
and Apollo.  She could see Apollo sitting atop his Viper, but could not
see Starbuck.  Apollo waved to her and jumped down heading towards the
large ship where she could now see Starbuck climbing through the cockpit. 
She checked her scanners one final time to confirm there was still no
sign of the unusual creatures sneaking up on them and then brought her
fighter in for a landing.
     "Apollo, I disabled that signal," Starbuck told him jumping down
from the large craft.  "Now no one else will be lured down to this spot
to investigate a dead ship."  
     "Good idea.  It seems strange, Starbuck.  I assume for the creatures
to sneak up on Sheba and Luana they must have arrived quickly.  However,
they're being held at least fifteen kilometrons from here."
     "It could have been a hunting or scouting party."  Starbuck
suggested.  He watched Lia land safely.  Nice form.  "They were in the
wrong place at the wrong time."  Again, he wished he had flown this
patrol instead of spending the time stuffing his face on the Rising Star. 
He sighed.
     "What?" Apollo asked as he watched the emotions play across his
friend's face.
     "Nothing," he shook his head.  "I found another book underneath one
of the bodies."   He handed it over to the captain.  "Smaller and no
Empyrean Talisman, but similar script."
     "It's probably a log book."  He reflected that the one human
skeleton in the ship had possibly recorded what had happened to the rest
of the occupants.  There were so many questions and all the answers were
probably in the two books that none of them could read.  "Did you find
anything else?"
     "Yeah," he replied hesitantly.  "One of the creatures that was shot
in the back of the skull had blood on its fangs."  
     Apollo nodded.  Starbuck didn't miss much.  One of the women was
injured then.  They moved off together to meet Lia.  She was walking
towards them with two packs slung over her shoulders.  She handed one to
Starbuck as she fell into step with them.
     "Two shuttles?" he asked her as he took it and slung it over his own
shoulder adjusting the straps to his larger frame.
     "You never know what you might need." She replied to him as they
moved over to the edge of the plateau.  She pointed further along.  "It
looks like we could get down over there."
     Apollo and Starbuck looked at her indicated path.  It looked
unlikely that the creatures had taken this route.  It was covered in
loose dirt and rock and the angle of descent was incredibly steep. 
"Uh... I don't think they went this way," Starbuck started as Lia moved
over to the edge and began planning her descent in her mind.
     She looked up at him.  "We could probably cut a couple centars off
our trip if we go down here.  We wouldn't have to circle around."
     "This from the girl who hurled me into a raging river to save time,"
Starbuck said to Apollo.  Lia was usually the epitome of good sense, but
Starbuck would never forget being pulled into the river on the planet
Empyrean.  He thought they would all drown, but as it turned out, only
Lia did.  He had to resuscitate her in front of her hysterical sister. 
He would never forget the desperation in Luana's eyes as she watched him
performing compressions on Lia.
     "I have a line, " Lia added helpfully.  She started to pull the rope
out of her pack.  "It's not quite long enough, but the lower part of the
trail looks pretty tame."  She expertly began to secure the line to the
nearest tree.
     Apollo studied the possible routes down the cliff as he considered
her plan.  He got the feeling she was intending to follow through with or
without them.  The path, for lack of a better word, was difficult and
dangerous, but with the line it should be possible.   Starbuck looked
doubtful and the captain wondered how his leg was holding up.  "Starbuck,
how's the leg?  Can you do this?"  It wasn't that long ago that his leg
would cramp up after a centar in the cockpit.  
     Starbuck looked at him in surprise.  His leg was the last of his
concerns.  Tumbling head first down a cliff was actually foremost in his
mind.  Oh, right, Apollo used to do a lot of recreational climbing.  He
had forgotten.  That was what gave the captain the experience necessary
to qualify for the mission on Arcta.  Starbuck, however, had simply
hacked into the program that was selecting the team and had inserted his
name on the list.  "My leg's fine," he muttered.  
     "Hey, you did this at the Academy, didn't you?" Apollo asked. 
Cadets trained extensively in various ground assaults and basic
mountaineering was a part of that skill set.
     "Well, actually, I missed that part of the training," Starbuck
replied reluctantly.  He now wished he could go back and reverse the
complex plan he had come up with to get him and two buddies out of their
mountaineering expedition and instead assigned to part of a ceremonial
honour guard.  It had taken a fair amount of hard work on his part, well,
maybe flirting with the colonel's daughter hadn't taken as much effort as
he remembered, but the harrowing display of disappointment on his face
when the disciplinary duty was meted out was definitely arduous. 
     Apollo shook his head at his friend.  "It was part of basic
training.  How in Hades could you miss it?"
     "It's a long story, best told over a long, tall Empyrean Ale."
Starbuck told him.  Meanwhile, Lia was digging through her pack for
something.
     "Starbuck, take a look in Luana's pack.  We both carry a couple
pairs of gloves." Lia instructed him as she pulled them out of her own
pack and tossed a pair to Apollo.
     "Thanks, Lia." Apollo told her.  He felt a familiar exhilaration as
he pulled on the leather gloves.  He had missed climbing.  While at the
Academy he had discovered climbing was not only a great outdoor sport,
but also a welcome diversion from studies and protocol.  He had started
traditionally with lines and full protective gear, but had then
discovered free climbing.  There was no rush that compared with ascending
a summit with nothing but the rock, the avian and the wind.  No lines, no
protective gear, just skill.  "This does look like the best route down,"
he agreed with Lia.  "I'll lead.  Starbuck, why don't you take up the
rear?  Just take it slow and watch us.  You'll be fine."  He grabbed the
line and held on tightly while lowering himself hand over hand down the
first few metrons of the short vertical drop.  He landed gently on soft
dirt and loosened his grip beginning to pick his way carefully down the
steep hill.  "Don't get too close.  The dirt's soft and stone fall could
be a real hazard."
     "I guess I'm next." Lia said to Starbuck who had finally found his
gloves.  She lowered herself slowly until her feet touched down.  Apollo
wasn't kidding.  The soil was loose.  She gingerly started down his
chosen route.  The captain was moving steadily and confidently.  He
obviously had a great deal of experience with climbing.  She looked up to
see dubious blue eyes staring down at her.  "Are you okay?" she asked
Starbuck.
     "Oh, sure," he responded despondently.  "Just what I was hoping to
do today, fall off a fracking mountain."  He watched Apollo crisscrossing
the cliff side; he was as sure-footed as a mountain caprine.  He took a
deep breath and pulled on his gloves.  "Better get out of my way, Lia. 
I'm coming in for a landing and it could be a rough one."
     Lia chuckled as she maneuvered further along the path.  She found a
solid foothold and stopped to watch Starbuck lower himself down.  He went
slowly and cautiously, realizing that getting himself hurt or killed just
wouldn't be much of a benefit to the rescue mission.  He felt his feet
touch the dirt and looked along the path to see Lia waiting for him.  She
smiled her encouragement and he realized the tables had turned and she
was now the teacher.  He looked down at Apollo who had stopped and was
waiting for them.  He looked a bit impatient to move on.  
     "Get your feet further apart.  You need to have a wide base of
support to help keep your balance especially when you're going down." Lia
encouraged him.
     Starbuck adjusted his footing and followed her holding on tightly to
his lifeline.  It was slow going, but that was fine with him.  The
lieutenant didn't even care that he slid part of the way down on his
astrum.  He suspected Lia would be keeping up easily with Apollo if she
wasn't babysitting him.  Approximately, three quarters of the way down
they caught up with Apollo who was sitting on a large rock and peering
over its edge.  It was another vertical drop that they simply couldn't
see from the top looking down.
     "Is the line long enough?" Lia asked as she joined him.
     "Just long enough," Apollo replied.  He looked over at Starbuck who
was rubbing his left thigh.  "How's the leg?"
     The lieutenant nodded abruptly, "Fine."  So much for thinking he was
in great shape.  His leg was cramping up again.  He rubbed at the knot
trying to work it out like Kale had done so many times in the Fitness
Center.  Frack, I don't have time for this.  He looked up to see Apollo
still watching him.
     "Fine?" Apollo repeated.  Starbuck didn't look fine.  A permanent
grimace was set across his pale face and he was sweating heavily.  "Lia,
do you have a med kit in there?"
     Lia rustled through her pack and handed the captain her med kit.  He
opened it up and found the drug kit and hypospray.  "Starbuck, pull down
your pants."
     "Why?" he asked somewhat startled.
     "I'll inject some corticosteroid into the muscle.  It's an
anti-inflammatory.  It should stop the cramping." Apollo explained
patiently as he approached the lieutenant.
     "And I need to pull down my pants why?" Starbuck repeated noticing
the cheeky grin on Lia's face.
     "Well, because you're covered in dirt and it probably wouldn't be
beneficial to inject the dirt into your leg with the drug."  He smiled at
his friend's reluctance to undress in front of Lia.
     Well, Starbuck couldn't argue with that so he quickly lowered his
pants.  Apollo kneeled down beside him and palpated the contracted
muscle.  He applied the hypospray and activated it.  "How long does it
take to work?" Starbuck asked as he pulled his pants back up.  He wasn't
feeling much relief.
     "About ten centons.  Just sit still and relax." Apollo told him. 
"I'm going to head down and scout out the rest of the route."  He sat on
the edge and grasped the line, lowering himself down and looping the line
around his leg while using his opposite foot as a break as he descended. 
He hadn't counted on Starbuck's lack of climbing experience or his leg
giving him trouble, but the medication should help.  Apollo realized that
the lieutenant was less than thrilled with his impromptu mountaineering
lessons, but Lia's experience and support had been an unexpected bonus. 
He grinned as he recognized that Starbuck would drag his astrum through
just about anything, especially if he thought he might be upstaged by a
woman.  Eventually, his foot connected with solid rock and he looked up
to see Lia giving him the thumbs up.
     "He's down." Lia relayed to Starbuck.  "My turn."  She followed the
captain's lead.
     Starbuck's cramping leg had eased off.  He moved to the edge to
watch Lia moving methodically down the rope.  Luckily, he had shown up
for the Academy class in which they spent a grueling amount of time
inching their bodies up and down lines suspended from the ceiling.  He
remembered at the time wondering why the frack he needed to learn the
useless task if he was intent on becoming a pilot.  He had been working
on a plan to get him out of that as well, but he was still young and
inexperienced, and it didn't come off quite the way he had planned. 
Actually, he recalled having to repeat the task about ten times more
often than the rest of the cadets due to the fact that his not so well
thought out plan had been discovered.  He looked down to see Lia finally
had reached the end of her rope.  He chuckled to himself at his private
joke as he sat down and adjusted his gloves.  
     "Come on, Starbuck!" Lia shouted up to him.  "Apollo says the rest
of the way is easy!"
     Well, coming from a guy who got his kicks from clinging to the side
of a rock without a line, that wasn't exactly comforting.  He looked down
and realized the difference between the Academy and this mountainside. 
No mat.  No big, padded, comforting, incase-you-fall-on-your-head type
mat.  Frack, it must be twenty metrons down.  His mouth suddenly felt
parched.  Imagine admitting to the guys back in the squadron that he had
suddenly discovered a fear of heights.  Well, really it was more of a
fear of falling on his head.  Let's get this over with, Bucko.  
     He grabbed the line tightly with both hands swinging his body down
beside it.  He then maneuvered himself so the line was wrapped around his
leg, and clamped his opposite foot onto it.  He allowed most of his
weight to rest on his legs for the moment.  He started his descent
keeping his eyes on the rock in front of him, counting off the metrons as
he went.  Nineteen, eighteen, seventeen, sixteen...  Suddenly, the line
twitched from above.  What the frack?  He could hear Apollo returning to
Lia below.  
     "Hey, keep moving!  We don't have all day!" Apollo teased him. 
Starbuck was doing well.  Well, at least he hadn't conned his way out of
climbing up and down lines as well.  Suddenly, the lieutenant was letting
go of the line and lunging desperately for a large, outcrop of rock as he
started to fall.  Apollo watched in horror as the line began to drop
uselessly to the ground and his friend was left swaying by one hand while
frantically searching for another hand or leg hold.  Lia screamed and
they heard a chorus of growls from above the cliff top echoing over the
valley.

Part Eleven

     "I am so fracking tired of sitting in this pit like some kind of
zoology exhibit!" Luana raved.  She was pacing restlessly.  "If you're
not going to kill us then for Sagan's sake feed us!" She shouted up at
the current guard who seemed rather disinterested in its charge.  She
could hear the growling around their hole increasing once again.  They
had noticed it picked up when the Viper had flown overhead, but things
had remained relatively quiet since them.  She saw the guard turn away
again to monitor the events that were likely the cause of the beasts'
commotion.  She signaled to Sheba who was positioned just below the
station of the guard.
     Sheba started climbing up the edge of their makeshift prison.  It
was easy going as the dirt had turned out to be more the consistency of
clay and footholds were easy to find.  She looked back at Luana who
nodded at her to continue.  She climbed up the last couple of metrons and
peeked over the edge.  The beasts were again gathered in a loose circle
with two opponents facing off.  Frack, they were a bloodthirsty bunch. 
She looked around to see a small meadow camouflaged well by enormous
trees.  Noticing her guard had made its way closer to the engagement, she
pulled herself up on the ledge and crouched behind a rock.  She took a
good look around and saw that every beast within sight was involved
watching the latest battle to the death.  "Luana, we're clear!" she
whispered.
     Luana hurried to the wall and began slowly making her way up.  She
had already plotted out the best course for her to try as she wandered
around the hole raving to her captors.  They had watched for a little
while, but had lost interest when she failed to perform any other new
tricks.            She took a deep breath as yet another pain shot
through her shoulder.  It was much better than that morning, but it still
hurt like Hades Hole.  She tried to keep her left arm as close to her
chest as possible to minimize the strain on her muscles while trying to
climb with the other hand.  She shook her head at the pitiful distance
she was having trouble covering.  Her body bumped roughly into the clay
as she lost her balance.  She stopped and rested for a couple microns
before beginning again.  Within a centon she felt Sheba's hands on her
right arm pulling her up the rest of the way.  "Thanks," she said
breathlessly.
     "We have to move quickly." Sheba told her pointing in the opposite
direction from the creatures' death sport.  She took Luana's arm and
propelled her forward keeping them both low to the ground.  She could
hear the growls reach a crescendo as they cleared the edge of the meadow. 
She knew they would only have centons before their escape would be
discovered.  She pulled Luana upright and they ran into the dense forest. 

     Normally, Luana would be in her element in the woods.  However, her
shoulder was aching with every step she took as she ran for kilometrons
behind Sheba.  She couldn't help but wonder if their pursuers would be
capable trackers or simply be trying to spot them as they fled.  She
regretted not finding out much about their weaknesses, but they did not
have the opportunity.  After all, when a chance to escape came up, it was
usually preferable to take the risk than to stick around to gather more
information about the enemy.  
     At least they knew that a search party had arrived.  That meant they
would likely be homing in on them with the communicators.  Frack, if they
got clear of the beasts, they may be able to take the time to communicate
directly with their fellow warriors.  She wondered what the range was on
their communicators.  It was likely one of the many things she had
learned as a cadet, but right now it had slipped her mind.  Lia would
know.  Lia always remembered the little details that Luana would
disregard as not very important.
     They arrived at a river and both looked over their shoulders as they
reached in for great handfuls of cold, clear water.  So far there didn't
appear to be any pursuit.  "This is weird.  I thought they'd be snapping
at our heels by now," Sheba told her breathlessly as she splashed the
refreshing water over her face.
     "So did I," Luana replied thoughtfully.  "Maybe they're ahead of
us... or circling around.  That was what they did at the ship.  They
surrounded the field and then attacked."  She listened carefully for any
sounds of pursuit.  Nothing.
     "They would have to move really fast to flank us, " Sheba mused.  "I
didn't notice them moving particularly quickly at any time."
     "No.  I agree.  They move at our speed.  What is it then?" Luana
stood up and looked around.  Wait a centon, what was that?  As she looked
across the river she could see a mound of rough stones piled upon each
other which was partially hidden behind thick brush.  "Sheba, take a look
over there.  It looks like some kind of cairn."  
     Sheba followed her line of sight.  "Let's find a way across and
check it out."  She looked up and down the river and spotted a fallen
tree stretching most of the way across.  "Let's try over there."  
     They made their way down to the possible crossing.  "I don't know. 
It doesn't look very stable."  Luana observed.   She stepped out on to
the mini bridge gingerly.
     "Well?" Sheba asked.
     "It's not too bad," Luana told her.  "I guess the worst case
scenario would be getting wet."  She moved across the tree carefully
balancing with her arms.  She was thankful for her Colonial issued boots
as the tree sagged beneath her weight and she found herself immersed
ankle deep.  "One at a time, I think," she told Sheba.
     Sheba watched Luana make her way across and was impressed with the
girl's balance and natural grace.  She looked like she could be a
performer on a high wire.  She watched as the water climbed up her boots
to mid-calf.   Quickly, Luana ran out of tree and simply leaped nimbly
across the last metron of space to jump onto dry land.  She made it look
easy.  Sheba stepped out on to the tree trunk which immediately began to
wobble to either side.  She hastily put her hands out to her sides to
help gain her balance and began taking hesitant steps forward.  She could
feel herself descending into the water slowly on the sagging dead wood
and came to a stop.
     "You're doing great, Sheba, keep going!"  Luana encouraged her.
     "Uh, I think I'm sinking deeper than you did," Sheba told her
worriedly.  Sure enough the water was almost at the top of her boots and
she wasn't even half way across.  Suddenly, the tree plunged downward and
Sheba fell on top of it landing in the deep water.  Frack, it was cold. 
She clung to the traitorous tree as she caught her breath.
     "Are you okay?" Luana called to her.  Sheba would have been more
impressed with the girl's concern if she didn't look as though she was
about to burst into laughter.
     "Sure, just perfect," She replied grumpily as she pulled herself
along the tree until her feet touched bottom.  She climbed up onto the
bank beside Luana and started peeling off her clothes and wringing them
out.  Wet clothes would not make for a pleasant night.  Oh, mong!  She
pulled her communicator off her belt to find it was completely dead.  "At
least we still have yours, " she told Luana.
     Luana nodded and went to pat the communicator where it hung on her
hip.  "Sheba, it's gone!" she exclaimed as she patted her hip instead. 
"Where did I lose it?" she looked with wide eyes at Sheba.
     "Think back.  When do you remember having it last?" Sheba encouraged
her.  Could they simply retrieve it from close by?
     "I don't know," Luana tried to remember.  "I know I checked it
before I climbed out of the pit, but we've been running ever since then. 
It must have fallen off when we were running.  Frack, it could be
anywhere."   
     Sheba nodded.  "I can't believe that we've escaped only to find that
the communicators have become more of a hindrance than a help.  Now we
have to try and find our search party before they end up in the middle of
a congregation of creatures while looking for us."
     "Right.  First let's see what that cairn is all about.  After all,
you did expend a lot of energy getting over here."   They moved towards
the cairn to discover a small meadow with large stones laid out.  On each
stone was an ancient symbol.  The Empyrean Talisman.  Below the symbol
was ancient script, probably grave markers.  
     "Well, we wanted to know what became of the people who landed here."
Sheba reflected.  She moved hesitantly between the stones.  "Why would
the burial site be way out here?"
     "Holy ground." Luana replied.  "Our people have very specific ideas
about what makes a suitable site for holy ground.  Necromancers have a
sacred responsibility to locate an appropriate place where demons are
forbidden."
     "Demons?  Come on, Lu, isn't that a bit much?" Sheba responded.  "I
never expected to hear you talk about holy ground and talismans keeping
away demons.   I suppose Lia or Ama come to mind when I think about
Empyrean superstition... I mean spiritualism." She added.
     Luana laughed at her friend's apparent discomfort.  "Oh, I know all
about the old ways.  They were drilled into me as a child.  I guess I had
a harder time swallowing them when I saw so many people I knew die from
battles and diseases.  The Empyrean Talisman did a frackin' poor job of
protecting its people and giving us wisdom and the ability to see with
truth and clarity as far as I'm concerned." She added bitterly.  "How are
you supposed to believe in a higher power when everything happening
around you seems so senseless?"
     Sheba nodded empathetically.  "I think that when faced with such
adversity people either cling to their faith for strength or..."
     Luana cut her off, "or have the strength to stop clinging." 
     Sheba smiled, but shook her head in disagreement.  "I was going to
say or lose their faith completely.  You and Lia seem to be examples of
both extremes."
     "We used to have some real battles about it.  Neither of us
understood the other's point of view."
     "It's something very personal," Sheba told her.  "So do you really
think the talisman protects the holy ground?"
     "Hey, do you see any demons?" she grinned as Sheba shook her head
and laughed.  
     "Wait a centon, I thought your people stayed on Empyrean.  We may
not be dealing with Empyrean beliefs here."  Sheba pointed out as she
wondered if that was the case, why was the Empyrean Talisman so
prevalent?
      "You know, I previously thought that somehow our ancient book was
left on that ship when our people settled our planet and sent the ship on
to Earth, but now I wonder if a group of Empyreans moved on with this
bunch.  It would make more sense as to why the book would be with them,
not to mention the talismans."  She paused in thought.  "Frack, we're a
fractured people."
     "It only seems that way because you were isolated for so long,"
Sheba told her.  "In reality, most tribes didn't stick together the way
your people did.  People change.  It's rare for us to have a common goal
or belief that is strong enough to unite us forever."
     "Survival." Luana stated briefly as she met her friend's eyes. 
Sheba smiled slightly and nodded.
          
* * * * *

     Starbuck reached desperately with his right hand to grab a hold of
the same rock outcrop that he had somehow managed to snag with his left
hand, when the line he had been descending on had been cut.  His body
betrayed his efforts as he swung in the opposite direction.  He knew his
arm wouldn't be able to take much more of this.  Apollo was shouting
something at him.
     "Swing your body back the other way and grab the rock!" he yelled up
to Starbuck.  
     No kidding.  The lieutenant gritted his teeth and again tried to
gain the momentum required to swing himself back the other way.  One,
two, three... He grabbed the rock.  He felt his body stop swaying.  His
left shoulder was aching already from the strain of catching and holding
his body weight.  His heart was pounding furiously and felt as though it
would burst out of his chest at any micron.
     "You need to get to the face to get a foothold!"  Apollo again
yelled.  "Move hand over hand to the edge of the rock!  It's only half a
metron!" 
     Having just obtained a good grip on the outcrop he felt reluctant to
give it up.  He forced himself to swing one hand forward and then the
other until his forehead was almost resting against the rock face.  He
moved his right leg out trying to feel for a foothold, but only found a
smooth, hard surface.
     "How are you doing, Starbuck?" Apollo shouted up to him.
     "Oh... hanging in there," Starbuck retorted breathlessly.  He made a
note to himself to avoid smart astrum comments and just focus on
breathing until he got off the cliff.  He moved his left leg out to try
and find something to support himself, but again found nothing.  Frack! 
Frack!  Frack!
     "Starbuck, I'm coming up!" Apollo yelled up to him.  He had been
mentally picking out a free climbing route that had a lot of hand and
foot holds.  Starbuck was just too far up to see where to direct him.  He
pulled off his gloves, grabbed a handful of dirt, rubbed his hands
together and quickly started up the face.  Frack, combat boots were not
the best footwear for scaling rocks.  
     Starbuck looked down to see Apollo climbing steadily up the rock
face like some kind of childhood super hero.  Crawlon Man!   His arms and
shoulders burned from supporting his weight.  He dug in with the toes of
his boots at the rock again hoping to find a ledge, but his feet slipped
uselessly. 
     Apollo was just a couple metrons below him now.  He looked around
and soon spotted a solid hold.  "Starbuck, about a half metron to your
right, just below your boot is the perfect foothold."  He watched as
Starbuck's foot stretched out just short of the hold.  "Right there! 
About four centimetrons lower."  Starbuck stretched out again and still
didn't quite reach it.  Apollo could hear his rapid breathing.  The
captain pulled himself upwards again until he was almost level with his
friend.  "Okay, your choice.  Either you have to loosen your grip on the
outcrop so you can drop down a bit to reach the foothold, or you have to
let go with your left hand and reach the hold over here."
     Starbuck nodded as he looked below him for the foothold. He feared
if he let go with one hand at this point his aching shoulder would not be
able to support him.  He loosened his clenched fingers and felt his body
start to drop, as he felt frantically for the hold with his boot.  His
boot found the ledge and his descent stopped.  He tried to put more
weight on his foot, but found he was stretched out as though he were on
an archaic torture devise.  The sweat was running down his face from his
fear and exertion.
     "Drop your left hand down to about a third of a metron directly
opposite your shoulder." Apollo directed him.  He watched as Starbuck did
a visual check and then took a deep breath and let go.  His hand clamped
tightly onto the hold and his body rocked as he tried to regain his
precarious balance.  "Now, the right hand, Starbuck.  Your hold is just
above your right shoulder.  It's not quite as big as the left, so be
careful."
     Again Starbuck dropped his hand and reached for the hold Apollo had
identified.  He grabbed it tightly and rested his face against the rock. 
It was cool and comforting.
     "You did it, Bucko." Apollo encouraged him.  He let his friend catch
his breath as he picked out the easiest route to get him down.   He could
see Lia below scanning the perimeter for any sign of an attack while
keeping a nervous eye on the warriors' progress.  "Okay, now just a few
simple rules to make it easier.  Keep your weight near the wall; stand on
your toes; and keep your toes pointed in the same direction, sideways to
the wall.  We're going to go horizontally across the wall as we descend. 
It will make it easier.  Okay?" He watched Starbuck nod his agreement. 
"Let's go."

Part Twelve

     Starbuck let out a deep breath as he jumped down from the rock face
behind the captain. He couldn't remember ever being so glad to feel the
dirt beneath his feet. Apollo turned around and grinned at him as Lia
gave the lieutenant a crushing hug. 
     "I thought you were going to fall a few times. You had me scared to
death." Lia told Starbuck still holding him tightly. 
     "What's a rock face to an old war jock like me?" Starbuck rolled his
eyes and dramatically wiped the sweat off his face. "Let's take the long
way round on the way back, huh?" He gave Lia another squeeze. 
     Apollo clapped him on the shoulder, "You did well with your first
lesson in free climbing." 
     "You mean my last lesson in free climbing," Starbuck told him. "I'd
rather play triad with Borellian Nomen than do that again." He pulled
free from Lia and took off his pack and jacket to help cool him off. Lia
handed him a drink and he drained the fluid quickly. 
     "We better get moving," Apollo told them, noting that Lia had
already retrieved the line and repacked it. He turned to head down the
gentle slope. 
     "Apollo," Starbuck grabbed his friend's arm. "Thanks, buddy." 
     Apollo smiled at him and shrugged it off. "You'd do the same for
me." 
     "Not if it involved climbing back up that face I wouldn't." Starbuck
grinned at him. "I think I'd send Lia instead. It would be good
experience for an ensign to lead her first rescue mission." He stepped
quickly out of the way as Lia swung her pack at him. "I think there's a
regulation against striking at a superior officer. Isn't that right,
Captain?" he grinned as he stuffed his jacket in the pack and pulled it
back on. 
     Apollo headed down the hill again. "Theoretically, there is.
However, as the officer in charge I absolve the ensign of any wrong doing
due to the extenuating circumstances. After all, she has undergone undue
stress which can be directly attributed to your constant company these
last sectars." Apollo smiled as he heard Lia laughing behind him. 

* * * * * 

     Sheba watched Luana as she scavenged for food. She was suddenly glad
that the young woman was with her as she watched her picking berries and
fungi that she would have been reluctant to eat. Her smile turned into a
grimace as the ensign overturned a rock to reveal a large collection of
insects. 
     "How do you feel about eating a few bugs?" Luana asked her. 
     "Please tell me you're kidding," Sheba replied. 
     "They're a great source of protein." Luana told her. She picked up a
large beetle and expertly started to peel it. 
     "Aren't you even going to kill it first?" Sheba asked in disgust. 
     Luana grinned at her, "Will you eat it if I kill it first?" 
     "Uh... no. I don't think I could." Sheba truthfully told her. She
had been feeling hungry, but that sensation was quickly being replaced by
revulsion coupled with a tinge of nausea. 
     Luana nodded and went back to peeling her beetle. "We'll need some
protein for energy, Sheba." She grabbed another insect and continued in
her task. "So what is it about insects that you find revolting?" 
     "I don't know. Maybe that you found them under a rock." She
retrieved the other food items and went back to the river to wash them as
Luana chuckled at her. The lieutenant's clothes were strung out on a bush
in an attempt to dry them as the women paused to get some nourishment.
Sheba was dressed in her undergarments and Luana's flight jacket and was
glad that it was a mild climate that they found themselves in. She moved
back to see Luana carefully dicing up the beetle flesh. 
     "They taste better cooked," Luana told her. "Oh, well, I always did
like my meat a bit on the rare side." She winked at Sheba and popped a
piece into her mouth. She dramatically chewed it as Sheba looked on in
disbelief. "A bit crunchy, but not a bad cut of bug at all." 
     Sheba closed her eyes and shuddered. She turned and looked the other
way as she nibbled on the berries. They were a bit bitter, but at least
they weren't squirming. She heard Luana spitting something out and turned
to look at her. 
     "Missed a leg." Luana explained. "I hate it when they get stuck in
your teeth." She burst out laughing at the expression of utter revulsion
on Sheba's face. 

* * * * * 

     Apollo took a deep breath and savoured the clean, fresh air.  He was
reminded of hiking and climbing on Caprica.  There was nothing like the
scent of pine to invigorate you as you stood atop a cliff and admired the
view.  Of course, they weren't there to admire the view; they were there
to find Sheba and Luana.  Come to think of it, the last time they were on
a planet like this one they were anxiously searching for the missing
Lieutenant Starbuck.  However, at least he was pleased with the progress
they were making. They had traveled a few kilometrons before stopping at
the top of a bluff to eat some survival rations. Apollo was standing at
the edge of the bank and checking the route down. He munched on a protein
bar as he considered the relatively short drop. 
     Starbuck moved beside him and peeked over the edge. It was steep and
rocky, but only about five metrons down to the ground. He felt Apollo's
eyes on him and turned to meet the searching gaze. 
     "What do you think?" Apollo asked him. They could easily go around,
but after successfully climbing down the rock face this was child's play.
However, he wasn't the one who had been dangling by his hand over a
fifteen-metron drop to his death. He could certainly understand if
Starbuck wanted to take the slightly longer path. 
     Starbuck shrugged and stepped back unconsciously putting the captain
between him and the edge. "Fine with me," he didn't want Apollo to keep
thinking he needed some kind of special treatment. He hated to be fussed
over... well, unless it was by a beautiful woman. He smiled as his mind
took him back to memories of Cassiopeia after their perfect evening on
the Rising Star. They had returned to her quarters on the Galactica where
they had continued their perfect night. She had changed into a
translucent little number that accented every curve and soon he had
pulled her into his arms and... 
     "You look like you've changed you opinion of mountaineering," Apollo
stated in amusement wondering just what was going through his friend's
mind with that 'feline that ate the avian' look on his face. 
     "Huh...?" Starbuck replied looking back at his friend. Suddenly, he
heard a low growl and spun around to see something coming straight at his
head. He dove to the ground and reached for his weapon as the creatures
rushed them. From a prone position, he fired at the head of the closest
creature and it dropped to the ground. 
     "Apollo!!!" Lia screamed. 
     Starbuck turned his head to see his friend had disappeared. He heard
Lia scream again and he twisted to see two creatures rushing her. She
fired her weapon at close-range as a beast careened into her, knocking
her roughly to the ground and landing atop her. She wasn't moving and
neither was it. The four remaining creatures turned towards Starbuck and
formed a phalanx as they approached him. He fired two shots in succession
before they reached him and two more adversaries dropped, but the others
lunged on top of him knocking him to the edge of the cliff. 
     Starbuck looked up into the horrifying face of his attacker. It
growled menacingly as it lowered its ferocious teeth towards him. He
tightened his grip on his weapon and walloped it in the head. He could
feel the skull crushing beneath his blow as it tumbled off him and over
the edge. He almost laughed at the ease of it. Frack, they were
lightweights! He rolled back from the precipice to see a club descending
towards his skull and raised his arm in defense. It connected painfully
with his left forearm, but again Starbuck was surprised by the lack of
strength behind the blow. The creature hurled forward teeth first and the
lieutenant again raised his left arm in protection while cramming his
weapon into the face of the creature. He knew the range was too close,
but fired anyway as he felt the fangs penetrate the flesh of his arm. The
heat from his weapon was intense as the laser incinerated the beast's
face. It shrieked in pain and then dropped dead on the spot, filling his
senses with the reek of death and the pain of his own singed and
lacerated flesh. 
     He pushed the creature away and rolled to his knees, cradling his
left arm against his chest. He heard Lia quietly moaning and looked over
to see her starting to push the dead beast off of herself. He put his
good hand on the ground and leaned over the edge searching for Apollo. At
the bottom of the cliff lay the captain crumpled in a heap, unmoving. 

Part Thirteen 

     Starbuck looked back and forth between Apollo lying unconscious part
way down the cliff and Lia groaning on the ground near the woods. A sharp
burning sensation was growing on a small area of his chest.  He realized
it was the talisman.  The metal must have heated with the laser backlash. 
He quickly grabbed the narrow leather band around his neck and pulled the
amulet off his skin and onto his tunic.  Strangely, it didn't seem
especially warm once revealed.  He moved over to Lia. "Are you okay?" 
     His eyes scanned the immediate area for any signs of further attack
while his hand gently palpated her scalp to find a laceration that was
already rising into an impressive lump. "Did I forget to tell you not to
use large rocks for a pillow?" he teased her as she looked up at him in
confusion. His hands gently ran down her body assessing for injuries.
Other than her head injury, she seemed all right. Starbuck picked up her
weapon and replaced it in her holster. 
     She moved her own hand to the spot on her head, which was throbbing
with each heartbeat. She closed her eyes as a wave of nausea hit her and
she rolled to the side and vomited up her rations. "Oh... I feel like
mong," she moaned. 
     "Come on, sweetheart, we have to move," Starbuck put his arm around
her waist and started to pull her upwards.  He froze as he heard a growl
from behind him.  Frack!  He abruptly dropped Lia to the ground and
pulled his weapon whirling around in one fluid motion.  
     Standing back behind a large tree was another creature.  It looked
around the trunk of the tree almost nervously as if it was well aware
what the warrior who had already killed five of its peers could do to it. 
Starbuck kept his weapon aimed at it though cognizant that he didn't have
a clear shot.  His eyes once again scanned the foliage looking for
further enemies.  He could hear Lia trying futilely to get up.  He
motioned for her to stay put, waving her back.  At least he was between
his friends and his foes.  He took a step towards the beast.
     The beast cocked its head to the side and watched him carefully.  It
hissed at him.  Starbuck paused, wondering if he was being surrounded. 
Every sense was acutely tuned in to his environment.  He was aware of a
slight musk coming from the creature as the breeze blew gently in his
face.  He noticed the other sounds of forest life had ceased to exist and
the world had become unnaturally still.
     The creature stared at the lieutenant for several microns before
suddenly jerking its head back and hissing loudly.  It waved its hand in
front of its chest several times and Starbuck watched its fist clench and
unclench mysteriously.  It then backed up cautiously watching Starbuck
and staying out of his line of fire.  He briefly considered pursuing it,
but suspected it was trying to lure him away from his friends.  He opted
to watch it withdraw into the forest and stood for several centons
assessing for any sign of aggression.
     "Starbuck," Lia whispered to him.  He backed up slowly until he had
returned to her side and again put his arm around her and helped her
stand.  She swayed dizzily and collapsed against his chest. She heard him
gasp and the smell of burnt flesh and fabric permeated her senses. Nausea
again hit her and she pulled back quickly from him before beginning to
retch. She could hear him cursing as her stomach heaved. 
     "Easy, Lia," Starbuck told her while trying to support her. His neck
and upper left chest felt like they were on fire where she had collided
with him. He knew he had to get to Apollo. Frack, frack, frack!  "Take
deep breaths. It will ease your nausea," he told her calmly. All right, a
definite concussion for Lia. Some first, possibly second degree burns for
himself. He started to steer her towards the edge keeping an eye open for
further attack.
     "Apollo? Is he okay?" Lia asked sharply. It had suddenly come back
to her. She had been eating a protein bar when she heard a growl and saw
Starbuck hit the ground to avoid the club being hurled at him. Apollo
turned towards her just in time to get clobbered in the temple with the
projectile. She wasn't sure if it was the power of the throw or just the
fact that he was on the edge of the cliff when he got hit, but he fell
backwards and plunged over the side. 
     "I don't know," he said softly. The first rule when triaging was to
ensure the area was safe. The second was to help the conscious before the
unconscious. He knew there had been no point in climbing down the cliff
to check on Apollo if Lia was in danger of being attacked again.  After
all, Apollo could be... He took a deep breath. "Can you get the line out
of my pack?" 
     She looked at him curiously and saw his injuries for the first time.
His uniform was singed on his left arm and chest and smears of burnt
flesh, not Starbuck's though, clung to the tunic. Oddly, the talisman was
in plain sight.  His left hand and neck were a fiery red. She could see
blood on the same arm and the fabric was torn. "What happened to you?"
she asked as she took the pack he held out to her. She kneeled on the
ground looking down at the captain. Oh, mong. 
     "Just a laser burn," he replied. "I'm fine." He watched her pull the
line out as he retrieved the other pack and dropped it over the edge to
the ground. Two med kits were probably going to come in handy. He took
the line from her and secured it to a small tree. He flexed his burnt
hand as he tied the knot. The skin hadn't blistered yet so he still had
plenty of time to treat it. Glancing back at Lia, he could see she was
still shaky. He sighed as he tried to come up with a workable solution.
He returned to her side. "Why don't you stand guard?" he suggested. "On
second thought, sit guard." He gently lowered her to the ground and she
sat thankfully while pulling out her weapon. 
     "Be careful," she told him as she handed him a pair of gloves. 
     He nodded as he put on the gloves. He grabbed the rope and started
lowering himself down to Apollo. As he reached his friend he found a
couple good footholds to support himself as he leaned over the captain,
who was positioned on his side facing the cliff. He was breathing and his
pulse was strong.  Apollo had blood covering his face from where he was
struck in the forehead. Starbuck quickly palpated his head finding
another bump at the back of his skull. Terrific.  Head injuries were
popular today.  He noted the captain's limbs all appeared to be aligned
in the proper direction, which boded well. "Apollo?" he prompted.  Lords,
please let him be all right. 
     The captain's eyes flew open and he pushed back in fear as the pain
in his head and leg consumed him. His sight was blurred and he struck out
against the foul smelling beast leaning over him. "Aarrgghh!" he cried as
he tried to protect himself. 
     Starbuck was unprepared for the sudden attack as he was propelled
off the face and suddenly found himself lying on his back looking back up
at the captain. The breath was knocked out of him and he struggled to
regain it as he watched his friend tumble off his ledge and follow him
down. "Oomph," he grunted as Apollo landed on him. Thank the Lords; it
had only been a short drop. He felt an elbow slam into his gut and he
arched upward to find a weapon pointed in his face. He croaked a barely
audible protest as Apollo's right hand grabbed him by the throat and he
looked down the barrel of a Colonial laser as the captain straddled his
chest. 
     "Apollo, no!!!" Lia screamed from above watching in horror as the
captain attacked his friend. 
     Lia's screaming penetrated Apollo's fog of pain and fear. He blinked
furiously to clear his vision, but it was as if a curtain was being
lowered through his field of sight. He became aware that the flesh
beneath his hand was smooth and hot as he increased his pressure on his
enemy's throat, forcing it flat against the ground. His finger stilled on
the trigger as he tried to comprehend what was wrong with the situation. 
     Starbuck couldn't breathe as Apollo's hand crushed his windpipe. He
brought his hands up to fight off the Captain, but paused as he looked
into the panicked face and heard Lia scream.  If he attacked, it might
just be the stimulus that would cause Apollo to pull the trigger. His
mind flashed back to his own encounter with the beast biting his arm,
which motivated him to fire at point-blank range, though he knew he'd be
burned. His instinct told him to wait. 
     "It's Starbuck!!!" Lia screamed down at them. She grabbed the line
and swung down onto it, rappelling down the face. 
     Starbuck??!! Apollo loosened his grip on the throat and heard a
gasping breath as his friend inhaled and coughed.  Flashes of light
penetrated the captain's vision as his head pounded. He pulled his weapon
back out of Starbuck's face. "Starbuck?" 
     Starbuck peered up at the confused face of his friend. Apollo seemed
to be having difficulty focusing. "Get off me," Starbuck rasped. He could
feel blood trickling down his neck from where Apollo's nails had dug into
the flesh and penetrated the already damaged epithelium. 
     Apollo let go of Starbuck's throat. He started to put his weight on
his left knee to get up, but suddenly felt excruciating pain in the
joint.  He yelled in agony and felt the bile burn his throat as he
vomited. 
     Lia was so dizzy she almost fell over as her feet hit the ground.
She was just in time to see Apollo vomit all over Starbuck. She paused to
regain her equilibrium and grab Luana's pack before moving towards the
men. 
     Starbuck lay quietly on the ground with his eyes tightly shut.
Frack, talk about adding insult to injury. He wiped the emesis off his
face with his sleeve and looked up into the white countenance of his
friend. Apollo was grimacing in agony and clutching his knee. Lia grabbed
him by the shoulders and started to ease him off of Starbuck and his
injured knee as she whispered reassurances to him. 
     Apollo laid down on the ground next to the lieutenant. He couldn't
believe he had first tried to kill Starbuck and then puked all over him.
He again tried to clear his vision, but only had glimpses of sight.
Everything he tried to focus on either blurred or disappeared completely.
He was aware of gentle hands running over his body assessing his
injuries. Lia. "I can't see," he told her. 
     "No kidding," Starbuck deadpanned from beside him. He sat up and
pulled his tunic off, wiping himself off with it. He cast the foul
smelling clothing away. 
     "Starbuck," Lia admonished him. 
     "No, he's right. Sorry, Starbuck." Apollo apologized. He tried to
sit up and felt a strong hand press on his shoulder keeping him in place.

     "Just lie still," Starbuck told him. He pulled the med kit out.
"Sorry, buddy. With that head injury, I can't give you much for the pain,
just a mild narcotic and some anti-inflammatory. I can give you something
for the nausea if you need it." Thankfully, the lieutenant had not only
shown up, but had excelled in basic field medicine at the Academy. 
     "The nausea isn't bad," Apollo stated as he felt Starbuck press the
hypospray against his skin and the drugs enter his system. He felt some
relief from the overwhelming pain. 
     "Yeah, I guess not with an empty stomach and all," Starbuck reminded
him as he wiped away the blood from the captain's face and cleaned his
lacerated forehead. He then grabbed a small light and shone it in
Apollo's eyes, "Look up." 
     Apollo looked up into the light. "Everything's blurry. Whatever I
try to focus on moves away. It's like a curtain falling across my
vision." 
     "Both eyes?" Starbuck asked. He put one hand over the captain's
right eye and left it there for half a centon. Then he repeated the test
with Apollo's other eye. 
     "Actually, the right eye is full of spots and blurry and the left
eye is where I just have partial vision, like a curtain dropping." Apollo
clarified. 
     "Do you know what's wrong?" Lia asked them. 
     "No," Apollo replied. 
     "Could be your retinas," Starbuck guessed. "When you hit your head
they could have torn or detached." 
     "How do you know about detached retinas?" Apollo asked him. 
     "I had a buddy who had one," Starbuck answered vaguely. "If that's
it, Dr. Salik can fix you up as good as new," he reassured him. He moved
down to look at Apollo's knee. "I guess we better take off your pants.
Lia, could you give him a hand?" 
     "Starbuck!!" Lia and Apollo said in unison. Only the lieutenant
would suggest such a thing. 
     "What?" he replied innocently. "I meant his boots!" he insisted, but
he could tell they had their doubts about that. He smirked as Lia went to
work on the boots and Apollo undid his pants. Quickly, they pulled off
the pants to see the knee was already becoming grossly swollen. "Frack." 
    No wonder Apollo had puked on him. The knee looked bad. Starbuck
started digging through the pack, but his burned hand was hampering his
progress. "Lia, is there anything we can splint his knee with?" he asked
her as he handed her the pack. 
     She dug into the pack and came up with a roll of duct tape. "Will
this do?" 
     "Perfect," Starbuck replied. He took it from her and pulled some
tape off the roll. 
     "Can't I pull up my pants first?" Apollo asked. He suspected this
entire pants-off episode was simply a petty form of revenge for getting
Starbuck to drop his own pants for the cortisone injection earlier that
day. Sagan, he could have told them that his knee was swollen. 
     "Nope." Starbuck replied. "It won't support your knee if it's
slipping around on your pants." 
     "How do you know?" 
     "I had a buddy who had a knee injury," he replied elusively. 
     "Seems to me a lot of your buddies get injured." Apollo told him
accusingly. 
     "Case in point," Starbuck agreed. "Luckily, not many of them puke on
me." 
     "Do you two ever stop?" Lia asked them. She rubbed her head wearily.
"You're like an old sealed couple for Sagan's sake." 
     Starbuck looked up in surprise at Lia. Warriors had a long history
of using humour to diffuse tense situations and Starbuck had a reputation
for excelling in the age-old tradition. Now, Lia wasn't exactly known for
her grumpiness so something else was going on. She was pale and tired
looking. He held up the hypospray. "Come here." 
     She leaned over to him and quickly felt an analgesic enter her
system. She knew that, like Apollo's, it would be a mild drug, but it
still helped. "What about you?" she asked Starbuck as she got a good look
at his burned neck, chest, arm and hand. His arm looked particularly
nasty and the flesh was torn. She grabbed his arm gently and pulled it
towards her across Apollo's supine form. "What's that from?" It looked
like some kind of bite. He hadn't mentioned that. 
     "It tried to make a snack out of me," he told her. 
     "Starbuck, are you hurt?" Apollo asked him. He felt a little ashamed
that he hadn't thought to ask about their health, but everything had
happened so fast. 
     "I'm fine. Just a bit crisp around the edges." Starbuck told him.
"Raise your knee a bit and flex your foot. This would probably work
better if you could stand on it, but we'll have to make do for now. By
the way, the tape will probably pull every hair on your leg out by the
roots when it comes off. Just thought I'd let you know." He started
wrapping figure eights around the knee. 
     "Do you really know what you're doing?" Apollo asked him. "This
isn't some plot to get even for the practical jokes we played on you, is
it?" He grunted as Starbuck manipulated his knee. 
     "Sure I know what I'm doing. I had a buddy who..." 
     "Yeah, yeah, yeah, sure you did." Apollo grumbled at him. Frack,
that hurt. "Lia, are you okay?" 
     "I think I have a mild concussion," she told him truthfully. "I got
one of them though." 
     "Well done." He told her proudly. 
     "Starbuck got a laser burn and one of the creatures bit him on the
arm." Lia added. She smiled as Starbuck glared up at her. 
     "How did you get a laser burn?" Apollo asked. 
     The lieutenant sighed. "I fired at point-blank range." He shook his
head hating to admit it. "That was when it was gnawing on my arm." He
finished taping the leg. "Okay. It's done."  He helped his friend pull
the pants back on. 
     "Remind me, why did I need to take off my boots?" Apollo suddenly
asked. 
     "You really do have a head injury, don't you?" Starbuck said. 
     "You're bluffing, Bucko," Apollo accused him. 
     "Because you've fracked up your knee and we needed to check the
circulation in your foot." Starbuck told him. 
     Apollo hated it when he couldn't see Starbuck's face. He thought
that sounded reasonable. Maybe. 
     "Oh," he said almost convinced that it could possibly be true. "And
how is my circulation?" 
     "Fine," Lia told him, affirming that it was indeed the truth. 

Part Fourteen

     Apollo sat silently weighing the options.  Of their three-person
rescue crew, Starbuck and Lia were the only ones still mobile.  The
captain listened to Starbuck's recap of the creatures' attack as Lia
treated the lieutenant's burns and lacerations and bandaged up his arm.  
     "This burn on your chest," she pointed to a small, circular area. 
"It looks just like the talisman.  Is that from the amulet?"
     "Yeah," he replied.  "Just my luck, the frackin' thing is supposed
to protect me and instead gives me a second degree burn.  It heated up
from the laser blast.  It was strange though," he paused, lost for words.
     "What was?" she prompted him while gently applying a cooling burn
gel to his chest.
     "Well, next to my chest it felt like it was on fire, but when I
pulled it out it was barely warm to touch."
     "Your skin is probably just extra sensitive with the burn." She
reasoned as she held up the hypospray. 
     Starbuck shook his head maintaining that his injuries weren't that
painful.  Apollo insisted on an antibiotic injection though and after
recalling his recent episode with a crawlon bite, the lieutenant quickly
agreed.  
     A new problem arose when they discovered that they were only
receiving a signal from one communicator now.  Of course, there were many
possible explanations for this including simple mechanical failure. 
However, the other possibilities did not bode well for Luana or Sheba.
     "How are you doing, buddy?" Starbuck squatted down next to Apollo.
     Apollo could smell him before he could see him, an acrid combination
of perspiration and vomit.  Starbuck had already told them he fully
intended to plunge into the first body of water they came across.  Until
then, Apollo and Lia lived in hope.  "Starbuck, you and Lia need to go on
ahead and find Sheba and Luana.  I'm just going to slow you down."
     "You don't really think I'm going to leave you alone sitting on your
astrum practically blind, do you?" Starbuck asked him incredulously.  
"Hey, I know I stink, but you're not going to get rid of us that easily."
     "I'll be fine.  I do have some sight."
     "Forget it.  I'm going to leave Lia with you.  I'll go on alone. 
First we need to find a more defensible position for you in case of
another attack." Starbuck told him.
     "Frack, Starbuck!  I don't need a nursemaid.  Take Lia with you. 
You're going to need her help." Apollo insisted.  He heard a deep breath
being expelled by his friend.
     "Look, you can argue with me until you're blue in the face, but I've
already decided what I'm going to do and you're not going to change my
mind.  If you want to put me on report, go ahead.  I'll just tell
everyone about your head injury and your more than questionable judgment. 
If our positions were reversed, you know that you would do the same and I
know that I would hate it as much as you do right now.  Frack, Apollo, I
don't leave my friends behind.  None of them.  This is the best we can do
in this situation."
     Apollo let the words digest.  Like most warriors, Apollo didn't want
to be the one holding them back.  Starbuck was right though; he wouldn't
leave the lieutenant without backup if their fortunes were reversed. 
Frack, this would be a great time for Boomer to show up.  He rubbed his
hands over his useless eyes in frustration.

* * * * *

     Sheba watched Luana doze.  The lieutenant's clothes were just about
dry and it was time to come up with a concrete plan and move on.   She
wearily looked around for what seemed like the hundredth time despite
Luana's assurances that holy ground would protect them.  There was still
no sign of attack from the curious creatures that seemed to dominate this
area.  Sheba still couldn't figure them out.  Luana thought that they
were primitive and as such had no complicated modus operandi.  Sheba
couldn't help but think that there was more too it than that.  After all,
they had gone to a lot of effort to capture them to simply let them
escape.  They would continue on cautiously, after all, what else could
they do?     
     Luana opened her eyes and glanced at Sheba, who looked deep in
thought.  Luana knew they would have to figure out the best way to meet
up with their fellow warriors, but right now this warm piece of soft
ground was feeling exquisite.  Her shoulder was beginning to ache again,
but not only that; she was starting to feel like mong.  If she told
Sheba, the lieutenant would no doubt blame it on eating a few bugs. 
Luana suspected that whatever medicinal component that was in Handsome's
treatment for her shoulder wound was wearing off.  She was feeling
chilled and she knew that was a symptom of an increasing temperature. 
She wondered if she could talk Sheba into just leaving her there to go
find help.  After all, she was reasonably certain she would be safe in
the ancient Empyrean burial ground and if she wasn't, then it would be a
convenient place to die.  Frackin' appropriate actually.
     "Hey, I didn't know you were awake." Sheba noticed the open eyes. 
"My clothes are almost dry.  Time to think about getting out of here."
     "Hmm.  I thought you'd say that." Luana complained.  
     "We can't stay, Lu.  We have to try to find Apollo and Starbuck.  I
think our best bet would be heading back to the Vipers.  After all,
trying to meet up with them would be unlikely at best." Sheba looked with
concern at the girl.  She looked lethargic and was not the usual
energetic, outgoing, young woman she had come to know.  "Are you feeling
okay?"
     "No." Luana couldn't actually remember ever feeling this way.  Most
of her life she had been healthy and generally avoided the pesky common
illnesses that afflicted the rest of her family and friends.  Rhiamon,
the Empyrean healer, used to tell her she wished she could bottle her
immunity and use it in trade; she would have been the wealthiest woman on
Empyrean.  Of course that generally translated into being well fed having
lots of ale, and the best of bloodletting equipment available.  Luana
chuckled to herself.  Oh, to be so wealthy!
     "What's funny?" Sheba asked her.
     "Sorry, just thinking about Rhiamon," Luana told her.  "It would be
nice to have a healer with us right about now."
     "Let me look at your shoulder," Sheba moved over beside her and
began undoing her tunic.  She lifted the leafy cover off the wound.  It
was red, hot, puffy and otherwise a colourful display of black, blue and
purple.  Sheba was relieved that there wasn't any foul  to the wound for
now.  Other than the bruising, it didn't look much different than just
before Handsome treated it.  All the same, she would still be relieved
when she could get to a med kit and ultimately to the Galactica's Life
Station.  "It doesn't look too bad," Sheba tried to reassure her.
     Luana tried to turn her head to examine her own shoulder, but the
pain was restricting her movement.  "Well, it feels frackin' awful," she
complained, never one to hold back.  "I think I'm getting a fever.  Why
don't you go without me?  Send me back a good looking lieutenant with
blue eyes to carry me out of here."
     Sheba looked at her in shock.  "I'll eat a bug if you tell me you're
kidding," she promised.  Sagan, Luana sounded like... Ama!  
     Luana shook her head.  Might as well get it off your chest, girl. 
"Not kidding.  Just make sure he's clean."
     "Luana!" 
     "What?  I hate it when he stinks.  What's so strange about that? 
Don't tell me you've never got a whiff of Apollo after a game of triad? 
Oh, sure, the sweat glistening on the body looks nice, but when you get
up close, watch out!" she muttered.
     Sheba put a hand on the girl's forehead.  She was burning up.  In
light of their conversation, Sheba wasn't sure whether to be relieved or
upset.  "You have a fever.  You're probably delirious." 
     Luana smiled, "So I can say whatever I want and you'll attribute it
to my fever?"  She felt as though she had won a high stakes game on the
Rising Star.  
     Sheba shook her head, "Don't count on it.  Lu, we have to get you
cooled off.  Any ideas on how we could do that?"  It was probably best to
let her come up with the obvious.
     Luana winked at her, "I could share a few tall glasses of Empyrean
Ale with Starbuck."
     Sheba rolled her eyes.  This was getting painful.  "Starbuck's not
here yet and somehow I don't think he'll have any ale with him when he
gets here."
     "Oh," she replied despondently.  She looked around a bit and kept
glancing back at Sheba self consciously,  "What did you ask me?"  
     "C'mon, Lu," Sheba started to pull her to her feet.  "We need to
cool you off so I'm going to help you get out of your clothes and you're
going to take a little dip in the river.  It will help bring down your
fever."

* * * * *

     "Okay, buddy, time to get on your feet," Starbuck pulled on his
flight jacket.  He watched as the captain took a couple deep breaths
before reaching around him and pulling him up.  The lieutenant wrapped an
arm around his friend's waist and held on to him by his belt.
     Frack, it hurt!  Apollo tried not to lean too heavily on his friend
as he took his first tentative step with his taped knee.  Surprisingly,
the knee held.  Thankfully, Apollo's weak side was supported by
Starbuck's strong side.  Sagan, they were a mess.  "What are you going to
do if we come up against more creatures?"
     "Drop you." Starbuck responded grinning.  Lia was ahead of them and
acting as an advance scout.  Thankfully, she was starting to feel a lot
better after some nourishment, rest and painkillers.  Starbuck knew that
her hunting and tracking experience would be a great benefit.  She was
trying to find a secure position for her and Apollo to hole up in.  They
started forward into the lush forest.
     Sunlight filtered down through the canopy of the trees.  Starbuck
looked around in wonder at the incredible size of some of the giants. 
They must be a thousand yahrens old.  Tall ferns surrounded the warriors
and they cut a path through them.  The sound of wildlife was continuous. 
It would be quite beautiful if they weren't in their current
circumstances.
     Apollo was breathing hard.  Starbuck could see the beads of sweat on
his friend's brow as he tried to put as much weight as possible on his
injured leg.  The captain kept his eyes partially closed.  He had
mentioned that the blurriness and flashing lights were more of a
distraction than a benefit in the eye that had some sight.  They traveled
on in silence waiting for Lia to report in.
     Starbuck's communicator came to life, "Lia to Starbuck, come in." 
Her voice was very quiet.
     Starbuck pulled his communicator off his belt with his bandaged
hand, "Starbuck here, Lia.  Go ahead."
     "Scouting party heading your way.  Go to ground."
     "C'mon!" Starbuck directed them towards a massive tree.  If they
were going to go to ground, he'd rather not be out in the open where he
could get stepped on.  Apollo panted beside him as he tried to get his
dysfunctional leg to move.  "Lean on me!" Starbuck demanded.
     Apollo knew they were running out of time and gripped Starbuck
tightly.  They began to move in concert as though they were contestants
in a three-legged race.  The momentum carried them quickly to their
destination and Starbuck remembered at the last micron to tell Apollo to
stop, as they were about to crash into the tree.  The lieutenant eased
his friend to the ground and crouched down beside him, weapon in hand.
     "Do you see anything?" Apollo asked breathlessly as he rolled onto
his side towards Starbuck.  He reached his comm unit and turned it off. 
It would not be a good time for anyone to try to talk to them.
     "Not yet.  Keep down."  Starbuck turned off his communicator as
well.  "The ferns are about half a metron over your head."  He was
crouched low so he could spring into action if necessary.  He reached
into his boot and pulled out a knife, Empyrean style.  "Take the knife,"
he told Apollo and carefully put it into his hands.  He knew his friend
would not even attempt to use his laser for fear of hitting Starbuck.
     Apollo held the knife slightly comforted.  He knew that if he had to
use the weapon they would really be in deep mong.  The captain was
actually incredibly proficient using the blade, but that was when he had
his vision.  He listened carefully for sounds of the approaching
creatures.  Silence.  Total silence.  No avian, insect or any other sound
of life.  He once heard if one of your senses was damaged you could often
compensate through the others.  That was likely through yahrens of
practice he reflected. 
     Starbuck felt Apollo tense next to him.  A micron later he heard the
approaching creatures.  Instinctively, they ducked lower as the enemy
approached.  The creatures fanned out and swept slowly across the area as
if they were aware their quarry was near.  They hissed to one another as
though deep in conversation.  Scant metrons from where they were hidden a
beast came to a sudden stop.  It put its head back and inhaled deeply as
if trying to detect the scent of its prey.
     Starbuck looked out between the ferns.  He could see the nostrils
flaring as the creature inhaled.  He knew they were downwind of the
creature.  Frack, the way he stunk, they had better be.  His muscles
tensed as he waited.  The creature slowly rotated in a circle continuing
to sniff the air.  It stopped and seemed to be looking straight at them. 
Starbuck's heart was in his throat.  He figured he could hit at least
half of the eight creatures before they would be upon the warriors.  He
swallowed, attempting to return his heart to its original position, and
prepared to do battle.

Part Fifteen

     Lia watched carefully as the eight-creature patrol passed by her. 
They were stretched out across a twenty-metron swathe of land and combing
through it methodically hoping to flush out their prey.  She smiled to
herself as she recalled one of her father's rules; no one ever looks up. 
She looked down at them from the camouflage of a tall tree and said a
quick thank you to the spirit of her father.  She knew though that
Starbuck wasn't going to be able to get Apollo up a tree, not to mention
that she had not shared her father's wisdom with him.  She took another
good look around with the intent of doubling back behind the enemy and
coming to her friends' aid.
     The captain's fall and subsequent injuries had really shaken the
young ensign, perhaps more than she was willing to admit.  She had simply
thought that Apollo would always be there to lead them as their strike
captain.  She wasn't sure what it was about him that had made her think
of him as impenetrable.  Well, obviously he wasn't laserproof and that
made her realize that neither were the rest of them... well, with the
possible exception of Starbuck.  She smiled to herself at that.  Lia had
never really contemplated death.  Oh, she had seen plenty of it with the
death of family and friends on her home planet, but just hadn't figured
herself into the quotient.  When Luana had told her that her heart had
stopped after being under water too long in a raging river on Empyrean,
Lia had a difficult time believing it, never mind accepting it.  After
all, when you're twenty yahrens old you tend to think you're immortal.
     She noticed further southeast was a pronounced hilltop.  She climbed
up her perch a bit further to get a better look.  It looked promising. 
She pulled out her scanner and did a geotechnical survey.  Yes!  There
was a cave up there.  That meant shelter and a more easily defended
position.  Add Father's rule to the mix and it just might be perfect. 
She rubbed her talisman.  Sometimes she wondered about the validity of
the charm.  After all, Starbuck had almost fallen off a cliff as well as
received some laser burns, she had a minor concussion and Apollo had
sustained some significant injuries.  However, Apollo did not have a
talisman and perhaps Starbuck and herself would be worse off if they were
not wearing the charm.  Only the Lords knew for sure.  Suddenly, she
heard a noise from below.  She looked down to see three more creatures
passing through.  Hmm.  Maybe they were more intelligent than they had
thought.  They have a clean up crew.  She reflected that if she had not
stopped to investigate the hilltop, she would probably be battling these
creatures now.  She leaned in close to the tree as she watched them pass
by.  Frack, I can't use the communicator to warn Starbuck.  She waited
until they were a safe distance from her until she shimmied down the tree
and began tailing them.  

* * * * *

     From where he was crouched on the ground, Starbuck watched the
creature move a little closer.  A low growl started in its throat as it
tensed its body to lunge forward.  Starbuck's aim was true and it dropped
just short of him with a lethal shot to its skull.  A horrific chorus of
growls penetrated the meadow as the other creatures raced towards him.
     "Seven of them coming this way," Starbuck yelled as Apollo climbed
painfully and awkwardly to his feet.
     Apollo cursed his distorted vision as the forest and creatures
blurred together into an abstract landscape.  He held tightly to his
knife as he heard Starbuck fire two more shots in quick succession.
     "Frack!" Starbuck cursed as his second shot went wide of its mark
merely wounding the intended victim.  The beast screeched in pain and
launched itself towards him swinging its club.  He dodged the creature
and pivoted around sharply for another shot.  This time he hit his mark
as the enemy crashed to the ground.  "Five!" he yelled.
     Apollo got his back up against the tree to improve his balance while
waiting for the attack.  "Where are they?" he yelled.
     Two more creatures approached more slowly as the others raced across
the meadow to join them.  Starbuck noticed them targeting him again. 
Oddly, they seemed to be ignoring the captain all together.  He moved
slightly away from Apollo to see what they would do and they followed. 
"Two over here," he told his friend as he fired again.  The creature
dodged to the ground and his shot went wide again.  Now, now, you're
supposed to just stand there and get shot.  He feinted as if to shoot the
creature again, but switched targets at the last micron and blasted its
partner. That's your four, Bucko, he thought as the last three creatures
ran full tilt at him as he attempted to aim again.
     He managed to get off one more shot and heard a screech as they
barreled into him.  He fell roughly to the ground and held tightly to his
weapon.  From the corner of his eye he saw a club descending towards him
and he rolled to his right to avoid the blow.  He felt large hands grasp
his arms and he fired his weapon again in hopes of winging one of them.  
     Another creature shrieked in pain as the laser hit its chest.  It
smashed its club down on its victim's arm, detaching the vicious weapon
from his grasp.  The beast growled in victory as it heard the first cry
of pain from the brutal enemy.  It raised its club high above its head
and growled long and loud watching its companions do the same.   They
joined together in chorus with clubs held high to bludgeon their enemy to
death.

* * * * *

     Sheba hurriedly helped Luana get dressed again after her dunk in the
river.  She had tried to coerce the ensign into voluntarily taking a dip,
but once Luana was up to her shins, she got cold feet.  
     "Frack, this is cold!  Are you out of your mind?  I'm not going in
there," she started backing up while raving wildly at the lieutenant.
     Sheba heard a something that sounded like a laser firing.  "Shh! 
Listen!" she ordered Luana.
     "I've heard enough!  You're not going to talk me into climbing into
that water.  I don't care how high my temperature is."  She started to
turn towards the bank as Sheba moved deftly into position and banged her
knee behind Luana's causing the ensign's knee to collapse.  She quickly
eased her into the water in one efficient motion while supporting her so
she didn't hurt her shoulder.  
     There it was again!  Two more shots that were definitely laser fire! 
She watched Luana sit up in the river spitting water out of her mouth. 
"Luana, Starbuck's close by!  Listen, I hear a laser."
     Luana had been preparing to verbally blast her superior officer when
Sheba's words sunk in.  She shut her mouth and listened... holy frack,
she was right.  She started to climb out of the river with Sheba hot on
her heels.  They couldn't be far away.   She started pulling her clothes
on, but every motion caused her shoulder to spasm painfully.  She watched
Sheba finish pulling on her boots as she was still struggling to pull on
her pants.  Sheba moved quickly to assist her.
     "How far away do you think they are?" Luana asked Sheba.  They had
heard four more shots while getting dressed.
     "I'm not sure," Sheba replied.  "Let's move.  Keep your eyes open
for the creatures."  She led them in the direction of the shots.

* * * * *

     Lia tailed the three creatures stealthily.  She had not hunted for
sectars and it was wonderful to use her abilities again.  She missed
freely roaming the hills of Empyrean now that her life was on a
battlestar.  There were a lot of transitions for her and she tried to
focus on the more positive aspects of life in the fleet.  The culture was
fascinating.  The entertainment, sports, games, foods, customs,
institutions, traditions and politics of one of the colonies were
interesting, but within the fleet existed the culture of many different
peoples.  Lia was intoxicated by the wealth of information available to
her.  
     The beasts came to a sudden stop and she paused in kind to watch
them begin to hiss to one another in communication.  They appeared to be
waiting for something.  She crouched low and waited.  Soon another beast
joined them from the direction that the warriors were attacked.   It
hissed and waved its hands in front of its chest.  The others seemed very
agitated by what it was communicating to them.  They took off at a run in
the direction of the main search party.
     Lia looked around carefully assessing for any further creatures. 
They seemed to be everywhere.  She took off at a trot keeping a safe
distance behind them while not losing them from her sight.  Suddenly, she
heard a shot.  Frack!  She sprinted after the creatures who had also
turned on the speed.

* * * * *

     Starbuck stared up at the three creatures as they threw back their
heads and howled.  His right arm throbbed painfully where the club had
hit it and it was held immobile by one of the creatures.  His left arm
was also restrained and he helplessly gazed up as they raised their clubs
and garnered their strength.  Frack, this wasn't how he had planned to
go.  He had always imagined he would die in his Viper in battle.  It
would be nice if he could have taken out a few Cylons beforehand of
course.  A heroic death would have been ideal.  Not this.  Not being
battered to death by the ugliest creatures in the universe while his best
friend stood by helplessly awaiting his own turn.  He had also failed
Luana and Sheba.  Oh, Ama would be so choked at him.  He couldn't help
but close his eyes and turn his head as he saw the clubs start a downward
swing towards his skull.

* * * * *

     Luana tried to keep up with Sheba, but was feeling winded.  Her
shoulder throbbed with every footstep and soon she had to slow to a
pathetic trot.  Despite the chill of the river, she could feel herself
sweating.  The bile rose in her throat and she fell to her knees
vomiting.  Bugs always tasted better going down than coming up.
     She felt an arm encircle her shoulders and looked up to see Sheba's
anxious face.  "Go on, Sheba.  They may need help.  I'll be right here. 
I promise."
     "Sorry, Lu.  I can't leave you.  Starbuck would kill me."  She
smiled gently.  "The sooner you get on your feet, the sooner you'll see
him.  C'mon, Ensign, let's move."  Sheba pulled her up and steadied her
as Luana stumbled against her.  She began to drag her forward.  Luana's
features were pinched and pale.  Sheba knew she was hurting badly, but
she also recognized that her best chance lay in the direction of the
laser fire.  The warriors would have a med kit with them.  Besides, if
Starbuck was there, he would be able to get Luana to be more cooperative. 
She definitely had a weakness for him.  Until recently, Sheba had not
realized that Luana was also attracted to Starbuck.  She had actually
believed that it was more of a brotherly and sisterly relationship. 
Frack, Starbuck better not be fooling around on Cassiopeia.  She would
have his hide if that was the case. 

* * * * *

     Apollo couldn't tell what was going on.  He held his knife in front
of himself expecting to be attacked at any centon, but that wasn't
happening.  He felt helpless and what was worse, useless.   He had heard
the thundering of footsteps, as the beasts seem to run straight towards
Starbuck.  He had limped painfully in their direction trying to
distinguish his friend from the beasts.  He then heard another shot and
the sound of Starbuck hitting the ground as their enemies tackled the
lieutenant.  The growls of the beasts echoed around the meadow as they
attacked.  A loud thump was followed by his friend's cry of pain.  He
moved towards the horde and pulled his weapon dropping the knife.  He was
out of options and so was Starbuck if he didn't do something.  He aimed
at the conglomeration of shapes moving before his eyes and fired.


Part Sixteen

     Starbuck had his eyes shut tightly as he waited for the first
crushing strike of a bludgeon.  Suddenly, he heard laser fire and the
growls above him turned into sheer shrieks of terror.  His arms were
suddenly free and he looked up to see the creatures contorting in agony
as blood poured down their faces from their eyes, ears, noses and mouths. 
He tried to squirm out from underneath them and watched in horror as they
dropped their clubs and grasped their heads as if to somehow ward off the
pain.  What the frack??!!  He twisted his body hard to the right in
another attempt to break free of the beasts, but they effectively had him
pinned by their collective weight.  
     "Starbuck!" Apollo yelled desperately.  All he could hear was the
shrieks of the beasts and he had no idea what was happening.  He knew
that if he had fired his laser on the regular setting he could very well
kill Starbuck and thus he had set it to stun.  That way the worst he
could do was incapacitate the lieutenant.  At least that was his hope.
     "Get me the frack out of here!" Starbuck screamed back as he watched
the creatures exsanguinate before his eyes.  He twisted and turned
furiously trying to free himself from the death throes of his enemies. 
One beast stopped its tortured cries to collapse fully on top of him, its
eyes staring blankly at him in death.
     Apollo limped towards Starbuck's terror-stricken voice as quickly as
his affected leg would let him.  "What's happening?" he yelled.  He
couldn't tell if Starbuck was being attacked or not.
     "They're dying!" Starbuck yelled back still fighting to escape the
terror.  Another creature collapsed on him.  The third continued its
violently painful struggle and never ceased in its shrieks of agony.
     Apollo reached the group wondering how stun could kill the creatures
and then how Starbuck could perceive this as a bad thing.  He still could
not make out his friend from the creatures.  "Where are you?" he hollered
over the shrill screeches.
     Starbuck looked over at Apollo who was less than a metron away.  He
was holding his weapon in front of him.  "Give me your laser!" Starbuck
yelled reaching for it.  He could end this suffering... the beast's and
his own.
     Apollo followed his voice and moved towards his friend.  He felt his
weapon grasped by the barrel.  "Starbuck?"
     "Got it!  Let go." Starbuck pulled the weapon from Apollo's grasp
wincing as the pain in his forearm reminded him of his recent blow.  He
took aim on the creature's head, noticing at the last micron that the
laser was set on stun.  He deftly changed the setting and fired.  The
creature's forehead collapsed inwardly and the horrifying shriek turned
to a final wheeze of breath.  It slumped forward onto the lieutenant.
     Starbuck lay gasping under the weight of the creatures and the
terrifying encounter.  He had never witnessed such a horrifying demise
before.  He reminded himself that they were about to bludgeon him to
death before Apollo fired on them, but all the same he couldn't
rationalize the terror and suffering that had seized them in their final
moments.   Apollo was trying to kneel down to help him, but the makeshift
splint on his leg was preventing it.  Starbuck focused on slowing his
breathing, realizing he was close to hyperventilating in his panic driven
attempt to escape.
     "Starbuck, talk to me for Sagan's sake!" Apollo demanded.   He could
hear Starbuck breathing hard and the usual sarcastic array of
off-the-cuff comments were suspiciously absent.  He moved forward and
grabbed the first reptilian body he came into contact with.  He had
surmised that Starbuck was trapped beneath them and roughly pulled the
beast by the arm off of the lieutenant.  "Are you okay?"  
     Was he okay?  Frack, Starbuck couldn't remember ever feeling this
shaken up at the death of an enemy.  "Yeah," he replied, not really
believing it.  Apollo hadn't seen what had happened.  How could he even
try to explain what he was feeling to the captain when he was having
trouble understanding it himself?
     Apollo listened to Starbuck's affirmation that he was unharmed as he
pulled another beast off his friend.  He could see a blur dragging itself
away from the scene on the ground.  "Starbuck?"
     Starbuck scurried back from under the dead creatures on his astrum. 
He looked down at himself realizing he was covered in blood.  He licked
his dry lips and suddenly tasted the metallic tang of blood.  He lurched
to his side retching in revulsion.     
     Apollo moved over to where his friend was heaving.  He stretched out
his leg and sat down beside the lieutenant needing to determine that he
was indeed all right.  He put a hand on his friend's shoulder and pulled
it back sticky and wet.  He could see and smell the blood, but whose was
it?  Apollo took a deep breath to steady himself and returned his hand to
Starbuck's shoulder.  "Are you bleeding?"
     Starbuck shook his head and then realized that Apollo couldn't see
him.  Frack.  He took several deep breaths and rolled back to face the
captain.  "No, it's their blood...it just poured out of them..." He could
feel Apollo's hand on his shoulder trying to lend him some strength.  He
could use it just now.
     Apollo turned his head hearing a faint growl approaching.  "Frack,
don't they ever let up?  Can you help me up?"  What he really wanted to
ask was if Starbuck was up for another encounter, but he knew that the
lieutenant would pull it together.  He had no choice in the matter.
     Starbuck looked in the direction of the growls to see four more
beasts running towards them.  In the distance he could see Lia in
pursuit.  They were obviously so intent on their objective that they
didn't know she was there.  He got shakily to his feet and pulled Apollo
up beside him.  "Four of them with Lia on their heels."  He looked around
quickly trying to spot his weapon and retrieved it from where it had
fallen.  He put Apollo's laser back in his hand and noticed the captain
switching the setting back to stun.  After all, he reminded himself, it
was a very effective setting for killing these creatures and keeping the
warriors safe... especially for a blind man.  
     Starbuck grasped his weapon tightly as they approached, having every
intention of shooting to kill.  After all, he had been able to take out
four of them the last time and this time Lia would be able to help as she
arrived from the rear.  "Don't use the stun unless you have to, okay?"
Starbuck told Apollo.  The captain may find the request odd, but Starbuck
still had not come to terms with the suffering they had caused another
living creature.  Things were so much simpler when you were in a Viper
battling Cylons.  Starbuck decided that he hated this infantry style of
battle.    Especially today.

* * * * *

     Luana leaned heavily on Sheba as they continued to move in the
direction of the laser fire.  The ensign was breathing hard and grunting
in pain as she tried to keep moving under the power of the lieutenant's
momentum.   One foot in front of the other.  Okay, now do it again.  Her
shoulder throbbed painfully and she was again battling against the bile
rising in her throat.  Stop it.   Try to think about something else other
than the pain, the nausea and the overwhelming dizziness and exhaustion. 
Sleep.  No, don't think about sleep.  Later.  Think about something
motivating.  Think about Starbuck, Lia and Apollo.  Frack that.  Think
about Starbuck.  Hmm... the first time you saw him.   Ah, yes.  Bathing
in a pond on Empyrean.  Standing alone surrounded by the lush foliage
scrubbing off the mud from a wild slide down the embankment.  Hmm...
water trickling over his lean body.  First time I was ever jealous of
water, she reflected smiling to herself.  They came to a sudden stop and
Luana dropped to her knees unprepared for the cessation of movement.  
     "Luana, get up." Sheba said quietly.
     Luana looked ahead to see four creatures heading their way.  They
spread out and began to encircle the women.  Talk about spoiling a
beautiful daydream.   She looked back to where they had left the
sanctuary of the Empyrean holy ground well behind in their mad dash to
find their fellow warriors.  The women would never be able to make it
back.  Especially, the way Lu was moving.  Only one choice really, fight. 
I wonder if vomiting on the enemy can be considered an effective offense? 
She stumbled back to her feet and saw Sheba grab a heavy stick.  She
looked around for a similar weapon, but Sheba pushed another thick stick
into her hand.
     "This is it, Lu.  Time to stand and fight." Sheba told her as she
tried to support her friend and grasp her weapon simultaneously.
     "Prop me up against that tree, Sheba.  You'll be more effective if
you're not hanging onto an invalid." Luana directed her.  "We'll have a
better chance."
     Sheba considered that.  She was loath to leave the ensign alone, but
knew Luana was right.  She moved the exhausted women to a large tree and
leaned her against it.  She looked back at the creatures to see they had
fanned out to cut off their chances of escape.  She could stand here like
a target waiting for them to close in on her or she could take the
offensive and battle the closest one before the others reached them. 
Well, she knew what her father would do.
     She grasped her weapon and started running towards the creature the
farthest to her left.  She had noted the most land obstacles between this
beast and the others.  Barriers that could effectively give her more
time.  Frack, she was not going to be taken without taking one or two of
them out first.  The creature saw her approach and stopped short.  She
grinned smugly as she realized the change in tactic had thrown her
opponent off.  She raised her stick as she approached and swung with all
her strength at the skull while the beast started backing away from her
in apparent confusion.  Crack!!  The beast's head caved in and it
crumpled to the ground.  
     Sheba looked back to Luana and saw her swaying against the tree in a
feeble attempt to stay upright.  She wouldn't be able to do much to help. 
Two creatures were heading towards Sheba growling their battle cry as the
third stopped hesitantly considering Luana.  Sheba let out a challenging
scream of her own hoping to get the distracted creature's attention.  It
worked.  All six huge, bulbous eyes were on her now as she again started
running to meet her enemies.  What the frack, it worked the first time.  
     She jumped over rocks and tree trunks as she tried to find the most
direct route to the next opponent.  Oddly enough, she realized she felt
empowered, not afraid.  It was much like flying in her Viper and doing
battle amongst the stars.  She grabbed another large stick in her left
hand and leapt across a fern to meet the next beast.  This one was more
prepared and it immediately flung its club at her, as she was in mid-air. 
She raised a stick to block it, but still it hit her hard on the shoulder
and she tumbled to the ground rolling head over heels to jump back to her
feet.  She twisted around to find herself nose to nose with her enemy. 
Reflexively, she gouged her sticks into the creature's eyes going for its
closest weak spot.  The creature screeched in pain and careened back out
of her immediate grasp with its hands covering its eyes and blood running
down its face.  She raised her arm and weapon to strike.
     "Watch out!" Luana cried as she saw a creature leaping off the top
of an immense boulder towards Sheba.  Her body was shaking under the
strain of her exhaustion and pain and she found herself sliding down the
tree to the ground.  She heard a hiss and looked to her right to see a
creature that had one horn broken off on the right side.  Handsome? 
Where did he come from?  Just her luck, she was about to die and the
wrong Handsome showed up to send her off.   Starbuck, where the in the
frackin' depths of Hades Hole are you?
     Sheba looked up too late.  The beast landed hard on top of her
dragging her roughly to the ground.  She held tightly to her stick as she
tried to catch her breath.  The beast grabbed her by the shoulders and
shook her.  She felt her head snap back and forth before her enemy
crashed her shoulders back onto the ground knocking her breath out of her
again.  She looked up to see another beast looming over the first.  She
felt her arms being seized and was dragged to her feet.
     The painful shrieks of the injured creature continued and she
watched in disgust as one of her assailants suddenly jumped its injured
companion sinking its teeth into the neck and ripping the flesh. 
Apparently, Luana was right about them not tolerating weakness, she
reflected as she watched the attacker climb up off its victim.  She
looked hastily back to Luana to see her being pulled gently to her feet
by another creature.  She wondered where it had come from, as it was not
one of the original attack force.  Wait a micron, why was the creature so
gentle?  Ah, Handsome.  She was pushed roughly ahead of the remaining
beasts towards the ensign.
     Luana let Handsome pull her up.  He hissed to her and held onto her
upper arms in support, somehow instinctively knowing she needed it.  She
gave him a weak grin.  "Hey, Handsome, where did you come from?"  His
hide took on a reddish tinge to it in apparent pleasure at her words or
smile, she wasn't sure which.  His left hand moved to her neck and she
steeled herself for an attack.  She suspected that the beasts would not
tolerate her weakened condition and they would kill her and take Sheba...
for whatever it was that they wanted them for.  Ah yes, the ability to
see with clarity and truthfulness.  Thank the Gods for the Empyrean
Talisman and its wisdom and protection, she thought bitterly.
     Instead of sinking its long teeth into the woman, Handsome instead
grabbed her tunic and pulled it open.  After a centon, Luana thought he
was checking her shoulder wound, but then she realized he was actually
holding her talisman in his hand and studying it carefully.  She thought
back to the pit the women had been held in and the long look the creature
had taken over what she had thought was her wound.  Perhaps then he had
also been studying her talisman.  It would certainly have been exposed
with her tunic wide open at the neck.  Growls were heard as the other
creatures approached roughly shoving Sheba in front of them.
     Handsome moved Luana protectively behind him and continued to hold
onto her amulet.  He seemed to be holding it up on display to the others. 
They stopped and stared in fascination.  One of the creatures began
waving its arm in front of its chest in agitation.  Handsome's reddish
tone reverted back to his natural silver and he growled at his companions
determinedly.
     Sheba stared at Luana's talisman.  They seemed to be arguing about
something and the talisman appeared to be some sort of bargaining chip. 
She looked up as she again heard laser fire.  She wondered just how
intent on the argument they were as she slowly reached towards another
large branch, which would make an ideal weapon.  She was pushed savagely
to the ground and felt a claw like foot on her back keeping her in place. 
Apparently, they weren't that distracted she reasoned as she spat the
grass out of her mouth.
      The creatures growled back and forth at each other for centons
before they seemed to reach some kind of conclusion.  Both women felt
nervous suspecting they weren't going to like the outcome.  Sheba was
again seized by the arms and pulled to her feet.  They grabbed the
neckline of her tunic and pulled it open.  Handsome hissed triumphantly. 
They started marching the lieutenant forcefully away.  "Luana!" she
called.  
     "Sheba!" Lu called back to her.  She didn't know which one of them
was the successful applicant for the unposted position, but she had a bad
feeling one of them was about to die.  Handsome moved behind her and
pulled her back against him.  It was a great position for either ripping
her neck out or for restraining her, she speculated.
     Sheba was pushed, pulled and dragged across the landscape in the
actual direction of the laser sounds, which she realized had stopped for
several centons now.  As they propelled her along she began to notice
they were heading towards the edge of a cliff.  She began to fight in
earnest as the edge of the precipice drew closer.  Within, microns she
was standing on the brink looking down at a steep decline where a few
rocks and small trees were sticking horizontally out of the face.  At the
bottom of the drop was pure rock.  Bone crushing rock.  She heard Luana
begin to scream and joined in her chorus as she was shoved off the
precipice.



Part Seventeen

     With Apollo at his side, Starbuck watched the four creatures
sprinting towards them and he moved forward to intercept.  They didn't
appear to have a strategy in mind and were in close formation and still
apparently unaware of Lia behind them.  He raised his blaster as they
raised their clubs.  He shot as they threw.  With satisfaction he saw his
first target drop, but then noticed the projectiles being hurled his way
and only had time to raise his arms and attempt to dive to the side.  The
impact on his already burnt left hand was painful, but the other clubs
hurled harmlessly past him... he hoped, thinking fleetingly of Apollo. 
He heard laser fire and the shriek of a beast in the background as he was
attacked.  The creature grabbed his head and pulled it upward and then
slammed it down onto the ground.  Stars appeared before the lieutenant's
vision as he felt the hands then wrap around his throat.  Large fingers
pressed into his trachea and he immediately reached upwards and jammed
his thumbs into his opponent's eyes.  The beast shrieked in pain, but
held tight to his throat.  Starbuck dug his thumbs in further as his
vision grew hazy around the edges.   He heard another shot and the
creature collapsed on top of him.
     Lia continued to sprint forward as she fired at the beast atop of
Starbuck.  She nodded in satisfaction as the creature dropped and aimed
again as the last beast lined up for another attack on the lieutenant. 
She fired and the last creature dropped beside its brethren.  She ran
over to Starbuck and arrived at his side at the same time as Apollo. 
Starbuck looked awful.  He was covered in blood from his head to his
thighs with no obvious injury to explain it.   She did notice that his
burnt neck was again bleeding, but that was minor.  "By all that's holy,
what happened?"  
     Starbuck rubbed his sore throat and looked up at Lia.  "Thanks, I
needed that," he croaked out and coughed.  He looked at Apollo who
appeared no worse for wear.  "You okay?" he asked the captain.
     Apollo nodded briefly.  His leg was throbbing and so was his head. 
He was exhausted and honestly didn't think he could go on much longer. 
Frack, he felt like mong.
     "What the frack happened to you, Starbuck?" Lia repeated.
     "Apollo shot some creatures with stun.  I don't know what it did to
them physiologically, but they started bleeding out of... everywhere.  
Their organs must have ruptured.  They bled to death." Starbuck replied
shortly.
     "Why are you covered with their blood?" Lia asked in confusion.
     "They were attacking Starbuck when I fired." Apollo explained
wearily.  "They had him pinned down and effectively bled to death on top
of him."
     "Is that what the shrieking was?" Lia asked.  She could hear the
creatures' screams as she approached while tailing their brethren and had
hoped it meant Starbuck and Apollo were kicking astrum.  She watched as
Starbuck nodded while not quite meeting her gaze.  She realized it must
have been horrible for him to witness.  She wanted to reach out to him
and offer her support, but he was such a bloody mess!  Later.  "Hey, I
found a cave we could hole up in while Starbuck goes to find Sheba and
Luana," she told them.  They could use some good news.  
     "Is it far?" Starbuck asked.  He didn't think Apollo would make it
much further.  
     "No, about half a kilometron," she replied.  Suddenly, a woman's
scream echoed across the valley and it was joined by another.
     Starbuck jumped to his feet.  "Lia, get Apollo to the cave.  That's
an order!"  He raced off in the direction of the screams.

* * * * *

     Luana pulled against Handsome with all of her reserves briefly
breaking free to stumble towards the cliff.  Sheba's scream had abruptly
ended and the ensign could feel her tears running freely down her face. 
The two creatures that had murdered Sheba grabbed her roughly and started
dragging her back towards Handsome.  She sobbed in despair that she
couldn't even see for certain that Sheba was dead.  Frack, how could she
not be dead?  
     Handsome growled at his companions and they pushed her roughly
towards him.  He gently took her arm and tried to lead her forward again
as the others fell in behind.  She pulled back roughly almost falling and
again tried to move towards the cliff.  "You murderous demons!  Let me
go!" she yelled as the same two creatures grabbed her again.  She deftly
reached into her boot and pulled her knife slashing it across the neck of
the nearest beast.  Its eyes widened in shock as blood gushed out of the
wound.  She began to pivot towards the other, but her head exploded in
pain and blackness engulfed her.
     Handsome watched the strange alien crumple to the ground.  He
lowered his club as his companion tore the neck out of their wounded
brother.

* * * * *

     Starbuck pulled his communicator off his belt while running,
realizing he still had the frackin' thing turned off.  He switched it
back on and stopped in confusion.  Okay, he was sure the scream had come
from southeast, but the signal was coming from due east.  Frack!  What
now?  Okay, Ama said to follow your instincts, Bucko, so move your astrum
southeast.  He started running again and realized he was probably
surviving on adrenaline at this point.  The problem with adrenaline was
it usually only lasted short periods.  He snorted.   No doubt when it
wore off another group of creatures would reappear to kick start it
again.
     He found himself in a deserted meadow and almost kept going when he
noticed a body.  He moved over to the beast cautiously.  Its neck had
been ripped out.  Frack, its eyes were practically ripped out as well. 
He pondered the fact that he had just used that technique on his recent
attacker as he scanned the area.  Tracks, Bucko.  He examined the ground
where large areas were flattened by an encounter.  He followed the tracks
slowly trying to identify the trampled ground.  He soon found himself
with two paths to pursue.  One led towards the cliff and one uphill.  He
moved quickly towards the cliff and discovered the body of another
creature.  Again,  its neck was ripped apart.  He moved to the edge of
the cliff and looked over.
     Half way down the steep, headlong drop was Sheba hanging onto a
small tree.  Starbuck could see she was trying to wrap a leg around the
trunk to take her weight off her arms.  "Sheba!  Hold tight!  I'm on my
way!" he yelled down to her as he shrugged his pack off his shoulders. 
He pulled the climbing line out and quickly anchored it to a large tree. 
He looped the end around his waist and secured it, pulling out both pairs
of gloves as an after thought.  I can't believe I'm doing this again!! 
He took a deep breath and started backing directly down the steep drop. 
He remembered seeing Apollo rappel at one point down the cliff side, but
decided against trying the unfamiliar maneuver.  It would be his luck
he'd break a leg trying to mimic the captain.
     Sheba looked up watching Starbuck lowering himself down the cliff. 
Wow, she was fortunate he obviously knew what he was doing.  She clutched
tightly to the trunk.  It was unbelievable that as she had tumbled down
the steep drop she actually made contact with this tree.  She had thought
that she was a goner.  Every muscle in her body hurt now and she noticed
for the first time her hands were raw and bleeding.  That shouldn't be a
big surprise, you grabbed everything sticking out on your way down here
to try and break your fall.  She again looked up trying to catch sight of
the rest of the rescue party.  Starbuck continued down towards her, but
no one else was evident.  Where were they?  Where was Apollo?  She mused
perhaps the others had gone after Luana.  Wait a centon.  Apollo was the
climbing enthusiast, wouldn't he be doing this?  At least he would stick
his head over the side and say hello, wouldn't he?  What the frack was
going on?
     Starbuck was only metrons away now.  Sheba looked battered and
tired, but didn't appear to have any serious injuries.  Amazing really,
considering where she'd landed.  He lowered himself down beside her,
finding some footholds as Apollo had taught him.  "Hey, what's a
beautiful girl like you doing hanging out on a limb like this?" he asked.
     Sheba stared at him in shock.  Frack, he looked like he'd been to
Hades Hole and back.  He'd lost his tunic somewhere along the way and he
was covered in blood.  Frack, he didn't smell too fresh either.  She
mused she probably didn't exactly look like she was prepped for the
Empyrean Ball herself.  "You look like mong, Starbuck.  Where's Apollo?"
     "Nice to see you too, Sheba." He could tell she was worried.  First
things first.  They needed to get off this cliff.  "He's with Lia.  Come
on, let's get back up top."  He moved laterally across to her and helped
her position herself in front of the line.  He then supported her as she
eased the extra gloves onto her raw hands.  "Uh, do you know how to
climb?" he asked.
     She looked at him in surprise.  "Of course, it was part of basic
training."  She started climbing using the line for support as she easily
found footholds to propel her upward.  Starbuck was right behind her and
made her pause to secure the line around her waist as soon as they had
enough slack.  He climbed very cautiously she mused, which was totally
unlike Starbuck.  At last she pulled herself over the top and turned to
see Starbuck join her.  He really did look like mong, but it was so good
to see him.  She felt tears well up in her eyes as he moved towards her
enfolding her in his arms and holding her tightly.
     "I've got you," he murmured and he felt her tremble as her body lost
its adrenaline rush and all that was left was exhaustion.  She felt the
sobs rack her body as she let her tension go from her latest near death
experience.  She clung to Starbuck for his friendship, his tenderness,
and his support.  "Sagan, you stink," she hiccoughed.
     He chuckled as he wiped away her tears.  "Sweet lady, you always
have a way of letting me know exactly where I stand with you," he shook
his head and smiled gently, letting her know he wasn't the least bit
offended.  "Sheba, where's Luana?"
     She took a deep breath and lifted her chin.  "They took her,
Starbuck.  I don't know where.  I think it had something to do with her
talisman."  Her eyes widened as she noticed he was also wearing an
Empyrean Talisman.  "Where did you get this?"  She lifted it off his
chest and then noticed the replicated image burned into his skin beneath
the amulet.
     "Ama," he stated briefly.  "Sheba, how do you feel?  Truthfully.  I
hate to tell you, but you look like mong too."  His eyes bore into her
own, so intent was he on her next words.
     She knew he needed to make an important decision and, therefore,
needed the truth.  "Fine," she lied.  More importantly, he looked like he
could use the help.
     He looked at her critically, shaking his head.  "Don't take up
gambling, Sheba, you don't have the face for it."   He untied the line
and started reaching into his pack searching through it.  "Look, I don't
want to leave you on your own, but I need to move quickly to get to
Luana.  Frankly, you look wiped and I don't think you're up to it."  He
sighed.  What a frackin' mess this all was.  He didn't want to abandon
Sheba, but had a gut feeling that right now Luana needed him more than
the lieutenant.  
     "Lia could use your support.  She probably has a concussion and
though she puts on a brave face, I think, no, I know that your experience
would go a long way in helping her through this.  Besides, she's been
waiting for news of Lu and at least you could give her some."
     She sighed.  "What's the plan?"  Part of her was relieved she was
heading back to Apollo.  Starbuck was right, she would just hold him
back.   At least he had the good grace not to use those words.  Imagine,
Starbuck being subtle.  Oh, how things changed.  Lords it would be good
to see Apollo... to hold him.
     Starbuck pulled out Luana's weapon and handed it to her.  "First, is
Luana wearing her comm unit?"
     "No," she told him.  "She lost it."
     "Okay, you take my communicator and join Apollo and Lia."  He had
already noticed she was no longer wearing hers.  "They're heading for a
cave not far from here.  If you come across any more beasts, you probably
know that you need to shoot for the skull."  He saw her nod her
agreement.  "If you come across a group of them hit them with stun.  It
causes them to bleed to death... slowly and painfully," he added.  He
pulled out food and drink rations and handed them across.  He quickly
looked at her hands, but decided they could wait until she caught up to
Apollo and Lia.  "Apollo's hurt.  He wrecked his knee and probably has
detached retinas.  He's practically blind, Sheba."
     Well, that explained why the captain wasn't there.  She knew she
would have to wait to get the rest of the story from Apollo and Lia. 
"Luana's injured too.  She got bit by one of those things on the
shoulder.  She's feverish and exhausted.  You may have to carry her out. 
Are you sure you're up to it?  You don't look too spry yourself."  
     "I smell worse than I feel," he reassured her.
     "You likely smell worse than any of us feel," she teased him.  "What
is it with you and body ?  Not going to get many dates that way,
hotshot."
     "Yeah?  Well, talk to Apollo.  First he puked on me and then he
stunned those frackin' creatures and they bled to death on top of me."
     "Not even going to take responsibility for your own body ?  How
typical.  Hey, look, I do have a suggestion.  Just between you and me
though, okay?"  She was walking on thin ice here.  Knowing Starbuck
though, this wouldn't be news to him.
     He stopped rifling through the pack and looked at her in surprise. 
"Okay," he agreed curious as to what she was thinking.
     "Do you have a hypospray?" She watched him pull the med kit out of
the pack and hand the item to her.  "Look, we have a standard stimulant
for medical use loaded in the hypo.  If you give yourself a couple shots
of it, it will get you through if you find you don't have any energy
left."  She handed it back to him reluctantly after pondering a hit for
herself.  It was better to not start that up again.
     His eyes narrowed.  He was certainly aware of stimulant use among
warriors, but Sheba was one of the last people he would have expected of
it.  "You use stimulants?"
     She shook her head.  "No... well, not now anyways.  Look, when the
Pegasus was doing round the chrono strikes on the Cylons a lot of the
warriors used drugs to keep them functioning.  When you're dead tired
they make you more alert and give you the energy to get you through." 
She could see the question in his eyes.  "Yes, I used them too.  I
thought it gave me an edge.  I thought I needed that edge to impress my
father.  Pretty pathetic, eh?"  She had trouble meeting his eyes.  Maybe
she shouldn't have brought this up.
     "I wasn't there," he stated neutrally.  It took guts to tell him
this.  "Okay.  If I need it, I know how much to use."   
     "I guess I'm a little surprised that you haven't used them before,"
she mumbled a little embarrassed.  
     He smiled.  "Don't I have enough vices without adding stimulants? 
Seriously, I don't like drugs.  Not the injected type anyhow."  He
certainly was comfortable with the beverage version as were most of his
current friends.  "I saw a lot of them when I was young and lost a couple
friends because of them."  
     She nodded and wondered about Starbuck's life before the service. 
He definitely had street smarts and had probably seen a lot more than he
would ever admit to.    She didn't like drugs either, but like them or
not, stimulants could be useful in the right circumstance, especially, if
it meant saving Luana's life.  "If you find Luana and get back here, how
will you locate us without the communicator to track us?"
     "I'll fire a flare.  You can send Lia to meet us.  I know the
general direction that the cave's in.  If all this works out, we're still
going to have to hike out of here and arrange for a shuttle to get all
you invalids back to the Galactica," he teased her.
     Normally, she'd never let him get away with a comment like that, but
right now she was too tired to care.  "Just be careful.  Oh, and
Starbuck, if you happen to come across some water, Luana did mention that
she'd like you to be clean the next time that she sees you."  Sheba told
him and laughed at the confusion that crossed his face as she started
walking towards the cave.  

Part Eighteen

     Lia knew they couldn't go much further without a break.  Truthfully,
Apollo and her hadn't made it that far.  Between his injuries and hers,
they were just running out of steam.  She mused that they would have made
it if Starbuck was still with them, but she was just too slight to be
much help to the captain as he tried not to lean on her too much.  She
kept her eyes open for something he could use for a crutch.
     "Let's have a rest," she suggested.
     "Good idea," he replied.  His knee felt like it would collapse under
him at any time.  He was tired and thirsty and worried about the
implications of the screams they had heard.  He had been so tempted to
follow Starbuck, but had to admit to himself that he likely wouldn't be
able to make it.  Lia was tiring as well, that much was obvious.  He felt
bad trying to put any weight on her slender frame, but she insisted on
trying to support him... as ordered by Starbuck.  The lieutenant's last
words had rankled.  Get Apollo to the cave.  He sat down heavily on a
boulder as she pulled out the hypospray.  He nodded when she offered it
to him, dosing him with another shot of anti-inflammatory.  His pants
were uncomfortably tight at the knee due to the edema and he asked to
borrow her knife remembering that he had dropped Starbuck's.  Funny how
such a simple tool could be so useful in so many ways.  It should be
standard Colonial issue.  He took the knife and cut carefully through the
material of his pant leg releasing the pressure.  He could sense Lia
watching anxiously.  It was one thing to feel useless and quite another
to have everyone else treat you that way.  "I'm fine, Lia," he told her a
bit briskly.
     "Are you now?" she asked.  "You're blind, you can barely walk even
with your knee duct taped together, you have a head injury and now you're
grumpy to top it all off."  She watched his face redden, but didn't know
if it was in anger or embarrassment.  She reached across and put a drink
in his hand.  "I don't know about you Captain, but I'm just about all
done in.  Let's get some nourishment into ourselves before we head off
again.  Hopefully, we can make it to the cave before nightfall... Sir."
     Apollo found himself smiling at her pragmatism.  "Sorry, Lia.  I
guess I'm not used to being so useless."
     "You're not useless, Apollo, you're injured.  I know how hard it is
to be sitting here waiting for Starbuck to do what we both want to be
doing.  Don't forget, that's my sister out there.  I'm so worried right
now I'm close to vomiting up my rations.  All we can do is trust in the
Gods... and Starbuck."
     He reached out and grasped her hands pulling her to him for a tight
embrace.  "You're right."  He knew his friend would do everything within
his abilities to find the women.  His concern was what Starbuck would
find.

* * * * *

     Starbuck carefully followed the trail left behind by the creatures. 
Oddly, he could see Luana's footprints to begin with, but they had
quickly disappeared.  He had to assume she was being carried.  He
honestly didn't think that the creatures would have the strength to carry
her far, but reminded himself that the young woman was slight of build.  
     The sun was beginning to set and he looked back down the steep,
rocky mountainside he was ascending to briefly admire the view.  The
lyrical sounds of wildlife surrounded him as he again turned to follow
the trail that seemed to endlessly circle this mountain.  He was
breathing hard and realized he had been moving constantly since his brief
rest and nourishment just before Apollo had been injured.  That was at
least four or five centars ago.  He pulled off his pack and found some
rations which he began to nibble on as he walked.  His mind began to
wander back to Sheba and her suggestion of using the stimulants.  He was
tired.  He quickly drank down another beverage and looked uphill.  He
caught a glimpse of something moving and reached into the pack pulling
out a set of field glasses.  Sure enough, there they were.  Two creatures
were pulling Lia along between them.  Well, the fact that she was mobile
again was encouraging.  He looked further up hill to try to determine
where they were going.  The mouth of a cave came into view.  He shoved
his food back in his pack and began anew, no longer following their
trail, but attempting to scramble directly up the hillside to hopefully
intercept them.  He felt his natural adrenaline boost and told himself he
could do this without artificial stimulants as he started yet another
climb.
     Twenty centons later Starbuck was pulling off his crusty, blood
covered flight jacket and stuffing it into the pack.  He noticed the
large bruise starting to form on his forearm where he had been hit by the
club.  Good thing these boys are lightweights.  His body was slick with
sweat and his leg was beginning to cramp again.  He pulled out the
hypospray and held it to his thigh injecting the corticosteroid once
again.  Frack, he felt done in.  What was that Apollo had said about
injecting dirt into the muscle with the drug?  Oh, whatever.  Too late
now.  Hmm   ... maybe another prophylactic dose of antibiotic would be in
order.  Why not?  He gave himself another injection.  He stood and
contemplated the stimulant once again.  Too bad you can't inject a sleep
substitute, Bucko.  Maybe they could get someone working on that when
they got back to the Galactica.  Something to fool your body into
thinking it just had a great rest... uh, I guess that would be the
stimulant.  He took a deep breath and held the hypospray up to his neck. 
C'mon Bucko, its not like you're the first one to do it.  You're probably
at the end of a long list of disreputable warriors who have used drugs to
enhance their performance... Sheba for instance.  He activated the spray
again.  
     Yeehaw!!  Energy seemed to surge through his body as the stimulant
took effect.  He tossed the hypo back into the pack, slung it over his
shoulders and began trotting up the mountain.  Sagan, this stuff was
great!  No wonder people got hooked on it.  He wondered how long it would
last as he steamed ahead.

* * * * *

     Sheba followed the homing signal on the comm unit.  She reflected
that she should have given herself a dose of painkiller from Starbuck's
hypo before she began her journey.  Her body was again reminding her of
how much walking and fighting she had done in the last day.  She realized
that she still had a constant soreness in her neck, but by now it was so
overshadowed by the rest of her aches and pains that it barely
registered.  Two words, Sheba; bubble bath.  She sighed as she thought
about how glorious it would feel.  She kept her weapon in her hand as she
progressed, keeping a careful eye out for the enemy.  She heard a noise
and came to a stop carefully scanning the area.  Two life forms: human.
     "Apollo!" she called out instinctively.  She immediately wished she
could swallow her words.  Not very cautious, lieutenant.
     "Sheba!" two equally excited voices returned from close by. 
     Sheba took off at a run to soon see Apollo and Lia.  Frack, he
looked awful.  He was covered in dirt and his knee appeared to have shiny
silver... something... wrapped around it, which was revealed through the
ripped pants.  As she neared him she could see his eyes looking in her
general direction, but not quite focusing on her.  She flung herself into
the captain's arms just about knocking him over. 
     He laughed as he regained his balance and held her close.  He was
reluctant to let her go... ever.  She kissed him then, releasing the
feelings that had been bottled up inside of her since first landing on
the cursed planet.  He returned her kiss passionately as his emotions
overwhelmed him reminding him of all his fears, hopes and dreams
regarding this woman.  
     Lia watched the reunion uncomfortably.  She was glad to see Sheba,
but had been hoping that maybe Luana and Starbuck would be just behind
her.  She walked in the direction Sheba had just come from praying to get
a glimpse of the others.  There was no sign of them.  She looked back to
see the captain and lieutenant had come up for air, but were still
holding each other tightly running their fingertips lightly over one
another as if to confirm that they were both okay.
     "Where's Luana?  Is she okay?" Lia asked as tears threatened to
spill from her eyes.  
     Sheba caressed Apollo's cheek before moving to embrace the young
woman.  "She's alive, but wounded.   For some reason they took her with
them."  She stood back to look at Lia.  "Starbuck has gone after them. 
He sent me back to you.  I think he considers all of us the walking
wounded."
     "Really?" Apollo drawled.  Well, at least he was part of a club now. 
"Are you really okay, Sheba?"  He moved towards her again, limping
heavily.
     She met him halfway and slid in under his left shoulder to support
him.  "Mostly bumps and bruises.  Dang tired too.  It's one Hades of a
story, which I'll be happy to share once we get to that cave Starbuck
told me about.  Lia, are you ready?"
     Lia grabbed their gear.  She held up the hypospray.  "Do you need
something for pain?"
     Sheba nodded thankfully as she felt the medication enter her system. 
Oh, the wonders of medicine.  "What's with your armour?" she asked Apollo
looking down at his shiny knee.
     "Duct tape." He replied.  "Starbuck used it to immobilize my knee. 
It's actually working pretty well."
     "And your eyesight?" she asked concerned that the loss could be
permanent.
     "Dr. Starbuck thinks I have detached retinas." Apollo smiled. 
Really, it was as good a guess as any and at least it left room for
improvement.
     "Yeah, he mentioned that.  What do you think?"  She was uncertain as
to the captain's level of medical knowledge.  Hers did not exceed their
basic first response training from the Academy.
     "I have no idea.  He said he had a friend who had detached a
retina... and wrecked his knee... and wore a knee support of some
kind..." Apollo finished lamely not believing Starbuck's stories any more
now than he did then.
     Sheba grinned.  "You probably don't know this but Cassiopeia
recently finished her qualifications for a third level med tech.  She
roped Starbuck into helping her study.  She scored ninety-eight percent
on her final so I'm reasonably sure Starbuck knows what he's talking
about.  He probably didn't want to admit to you just how he's been
spending his romantic evenings alone with Cassie lately."
     "That explains a lot!" Apollo chuckled.  Oh, how even the mighty do
fall!
     "Well, she did admit that she had to make it 'interesting' for him." 
Sheba added as she smiled back at him.  When they got back to the
Galactica she had a few interesting plans of her own for the captain.

* * * * *

     Luana was having trouble keeping her eyes focused on the path ahead
of her.  Her head was throbbing and she was trying to remember whose legs
she was walking on.  They couldn't be hers because she didn't recollect
her own legs being made of rubber and she was certain she could feel
them.  Yep, definitely someone else's legs.  She briefly looked down at
them to try to determine whose.  All right, so they were doing a
convincing impersonation.  She reminded herself that the enemy surrounded
her, thus deceit would be likely.  
     She was being marched between Handsome and the other creature that
had murdered Sheba.  She reminded herself that she still had to kill that
creature to avenge her friend's death.  The further up the mountain she
was propelled, the less likely that was looking.  Especially, now that
she had misplaced her legs.  Don't give up yet, girl.  
     Handsome let go of her arm and dropped back behind them.  That was
odd, she thought.  She tried to look back at him, but was again pulled
along by the foul, murderous beast.  Earlier Handsome had briefly stopped
to reapply another poultice to her shoulder wound.  She puzzled over the
strange creature and his inexplicable kindness to her.  She smiled as she
realized that she tended to think of Handsome as male when she didn't
really know if it was true.  She had not seen a creature that could be
considered female.  For all she knew they were an androgynous race. 
Hmm... the poultice must be working.  I'm starting to think somewhat
intelligently again, she mused.  Uh oh, maybe not.  A fuzzy image of
Starbuck materialized in front of her eyes.
     The image was holding a large stick and swung it into the skull of
the creature that was holding her.  She heard the sound of crushing bone
and was astonished when the beast fell to the ground.  Frack, that was
one Hades of a hallucination!  She snorted to herself as the image
grasped her arms and steadied her.  Familiar blue eyes gazed into hers
with concern.  
     "If you're going to go to the trouble of materializing in front of
me, the very least you could do is get cleaned up first," she informed
the image.  She looked him up and down.  He was a fracking mess.  Can't
even get my fantasies in order, she admonished herself.  Well, at least
he was missing his tunic and jacket.  She got that part right.  She put
her hand hesitantly against his chest.  The skin was hot and she could
feel the moisture from his perspiration.  Amazingly, she was even
palpating a pounding heartbeat.  Lords, she was good and delirious!
     "Lu, it's really me," Starbuck told her for the third time.  She
didn't seem to be hearing him and started to lightly run her fingers down
his chest tracing a trail of sweat down to his abdomen.  He grabbed her
hand as an involuntary shiver ran through him and his abdominal muscles
contracted.  "Luana!" he cried in surprise.
     She stared down at the hand gripping hers tightly.  Now just wait a
centon... she looked up at him again.  "Starbuck?  Is that really you?"
she asked.  She kind of hoped not, because she'd just made a fool of
herself if it was.
     Wide blue eyes showed his relief and he pulled her close to him. 
"Yeah, it's me.  Who the frack did you think it was?"  He held her close
and looked around wondering where the other creature had gone.  He looked
up towards the cave where he could hear growls coming from within.  He
had wisely chosen to not use his blaster, as he feared they would hear
his assault even from the fifty or so metrons they were away.  He had
dropped his pack metrons away to facilitate his attack and looked back
towards it.  No creature.  When Luana didn't answer him he stood back and
looked at her carefully.  Her eyes were filled with tears and they were
running freely down her face.  He hadn't seen her cry since Lia had
drowned on Empyrean.  "Hey, what is it?"  He hoped she wasn't going into
shock.
     Overwhelming emotion choked Luana and she was unable to speak.  She
was shaking all over and began to sob as she felt him pull her close
again.  She clung to him realizing she had given up hope of seeing him or
Lia ever again.  Lords, he felt good... even if he did smell like a
mountain caprine... one that had been puked on.  She snuggled her head
into his chest shamelessly enjoying the embrace.  Her arms wrapped
tightly around his waist as she tried not to breathe through her nose...
after all, his body  was putting a damper on her fantasy.  
     Luana seemed to be calming down.  Starbuck realized he felt a bit...
trapped by her embrace.  His internal klaxon went off as he detected
definite snuggling.  Starbuck's klaxon was tried and true and had warned
him of many an unwanted attachment in the past.  Wait just a micron,
Bucko; this is Lu!  She doesn't think of you that way.  He shook his head
and wondered if there was a drug in the hypo that would ease the
tremendous swelling of his ego that would make him think such a
ridiculous thing of the young woman that he thought of as a little
sister.  Then again, his body had definitely reacted to her touch...
     He heard a low growl behind him and instinctively flung himself and
Lu forward as Handsome's club struck a glancing blow to his shoulder.  He
couldn't help but wish that his self-preservation klaxon worked half as
well as his unwanted-attachment klaxon.  He pushed Luana out of the way
as he pivoted and reflexively drew his laser.  He was still reluctant to
fire, however, due to the noise of the weapon.  They wouldn't have much
of a chance if a cave full of creatures were suddenly pursuing them down
the mountain.  
     The creature grasped his club tightly assessing his adversary.  It
attempted to circle around back to Luana, but Starbuck refused to be
moved and met it head on.  He swung his laser at the beast's head, but it
ducked gracefully out of the way and twirled around swinging its club. 
It connected painfully with the warrior's left flank.  Starbuck grunted
in pain and hit the ground hard, rolling out of striking range of the
creature's club, which was once again in motion.  Terrific.  The only
beast that really knew how to fight had to show up now.
     Starbuck grabbed a handful of dirt and threw it at his opponent's
face.  The beast growled ferociously as it briefly wiped its face with
its hands and threw itself towards the lieutenant.  Starbuck tried to
evade it, but the beast followed him with surprising agility and swung
its club at the warrior's head. He dove to the ground once again feeling
as though he was street fighting back in Caprica City as a youth.  Back
then there were three simple rules to stop an opponent; take his eyes,
take his breath, or take his ability to remain on his feet.  Thus far
targeting the eyes hadn't worked very well in this encounter or his last
one.  Taking its breath, well, the frackin' creatures didn't appear to
possess the crucial piece of anatomy for that, a scrotum.  He hadn't
tried any attacks to the knees yet; it just might work since they did
seem so lightly built.
     Starbuck's hand came in contact with a bludgeon as he rolled onto
his feet and hands.  He realized it must have been the club that the
other creature had dropped as he clutched it in his right hand, after
replacing his laser deftly in its holster.  The creature ran at him again
with its club raised over its head for a deadly downward blow to his
skull.  Starbuck kicked out laterally at its knee while staying low to
the ground.  The beast shrieked in pain as it crumpled onto its broken
limb and fell short of the lieutenant.  Starbuck jumped to his feet and
prepared to deliver his own deadly blow to the skull.
     "No!!" Luana screamed.  She stumbled towards Starbuck and grabbed
his arm.  Handsome lay on the ground with his broken leg folded beneath
him, looking up at them.
     "Lu, what the frack are you doing?" Starbuck yelled in shock.  For
Sagan's sake, the creature had just tried to kill them.
     "You don't understand," Luana clutched his arm like a vise.  "He's
helped me."
     Starbuck stared at the delirious girl sympathetically.  "Lu, it just
tried to kill us."  He watched the creature gaze up at the girl who was
obviously trying to help it.  The beast hissed quietly and its hide took
on a reddish hue.  "What the frack...?"  Oh, great.  Luana and the
creature had some kind of 'thing' going on.  Starbuck took a couple steps
back pulling Luana with him. 
     "What do you want to do?" he asked her.  He thought about binding
and gagging the creature, but how do you gag a mouth that covered almost
the entire expanse of its face?  
     Luana looked up at Starbuck helplessly.  She knew that Handsome's
brethren would tear out his neck if they found him injured.  "Can we take
him with us?"
     "No!!  Are you out of your mind??" he replied diplomatically as
always.  "Do you really expect me to carry that thing out of here?  It
would rip my neck out the first chance it got."
     "Maybe not," she suggested.  "Move over to him and... smile."
     "Smile?" he repeated incredulously.  
     "It worked for me?"
     "What about Sheba?  Did it work for her?" he asked sarcastically.  
     Luana looked away.  Sheba.  Handsome didn't stop the other creatures
from killing Sheba.  She could feel tears welling up in her eyes and
realized her misplaced loyalty to this creature.  "I'm sorry, Starbuck,"
she sniffed quietly and let him go.
     He looked at the dejected girl and back at the beast.  The reddish
hue was fading back to silver.  It knew its time was up.  A low growl
started in its throat as it stared in hatred up at Starbuck.  "Sorry pal,
she's with me."  He began to raise the club as he watched Luana look
away.
     The beast suddenly threw a handful of dirt at the lieutenant's eyes. 
Starbuck dropped the club and raised his hands to his eyes as he was
blinded.  Handsome quickly put his weight on his good leg and propelled
himself towards the warrior's knees knocking him to the ground.  He
growled viciously, scrambling on top of the warrior and lowering his jaws
to Starbuck's neck.
     Whack!!!  Luana belted Handsome with the club that Starbuck had
dropped.  The lieutenant felt the creature drop on top of him and warm
blood oozed onto him from its crushed skull.  He rubbed at his eyes,
trying to clear his vision, surprised at how quickly his opponent had
picked up his fighting tactics.  He decided ruefully that he was glad he
hadn't introduced the strike to the groin rule.

Part Nineteen

     Luana gazed numbly down at Handsome lying dead atop Starbuck.  As
kind as the creature had been to her it was about to kill the lieutenant,
leaving her with no choice but to stop it.  She could feel bile rising in
her throat and swallowed, forcing back her nausea.  She had made a fool
of herself already, which had almost resulted in Starbuck having his neck
torn out.  She was danged if she was going to make it worse by vomiting
in front of the lieutenant.  She was a Colonial Warrior and an abdicated
Empyrean princess; she had her pride.  She tried to force herself
forwards to help pull Handsome off of him, but her body refused to obey
her brain's commands and she barely felt the club slip from her
fingertips as it dropped to the ground.
     Starbuck rubbed the grit out of his eyes and pushed the beast to the
side.  His heart was pounding so hard he was surprised that his enemy had
not bounced off his chest with each successive heartbeat.  He looked over
at Luana as he sat up and realized she had a tenuous grip on her
self-control.  Her face looked determined, but her body language gave it
all away.  He could see her jaw was tightly clenched and her chest rose
and fell with each slow, deep breath she forced into her lungs.  She
stood woodenly as if unsure of what to do next and her fists were
clenched as she folded her arms protectively in front of her.  Starbuck
rolled over to climb to his feet ignoring his own aches, which he
reflected was easily done on his persistent stimulant high.  
     "Luana..." he climbed to his feet and gently reached out to her.  
     She stared at the blood running down his neck, unsure of whether it
was Handsome's or Starbuck's.  Retreat seemed the most sensible course of
action as she felt tears fill her eyes and she turned away.  "I'm okay...
We better get moving."  She stumbled down the path that she had been led
up.
     Starbuck watched her move away walking as if she had an Empyrean Ale
or two too many.  He quickly checked the cave entrance, grabbed his pack
and caught up to her.  She lurched away from him at his approach as if
repelled by his very presence.  She very well could be, he mused.  She
obviously had some feelings for the creature... even if Starbuck had some
trouble understanding what those would be.  He tried to imagine having to
kill something that you were fond of.  Muffit came to mind.  He figured
he could probably cope with that one more easily than he would ever admit
to Boxey.  He reached out to grab Luana's arm and steady her.
     "Don't touch me!" she hissed.  What was it with everyone on that
fracking battlestar?  Every time you needed ten centons alone to gather
your thoughts and emotions someone was reaching out to you.  Starbuck was
usually the exception to that rule and seemed to know when she needed
some space, but now when she critically needed it, he was all over her
like... well, like stink on Starbuck!
     Starbuck withdrew his hand and watched her continue to teeter along
the path.  Just what he needed.  Now she was determined, delirious and
angry.  What ever happened to the days when you saved the damsel in
distress and were rewarded handsomely?  Well, Bucko, you aren't exactly a
prince and the princess did have to crown her demonic friend to save your
astrum in return.  He sighed following her as she continued to weave a
path down the mountainside.  This was really stupid.  They should be
heading across country, not down the very path that led to the creature's
cave.  "Lu, we need to get off this path.  It's too dangerous."  He
almost bumped into her as she came to a sudden halt.
     Luana felt dizzy.  She didn't think she could go on much longer. 
She was dang sure she couldn't go cross-country down the hillside.  She
looked up at the sun that was beginning to dip below the horizon.  It was
a beautiful sunset.  She could feel the wind blowing softly on her face. 
It felt so refreshing on her hot skin.  Her eyes closed and she tried to
imagine she was still on Empyrean with the slight heat of the sun kissing
her face.  She smiled.  She could almost smell the purple panthelons.  A
wonderful sense of warmth and comfort surrounded her and she decided she
could stay there forever.
     Starbuck was unprepared when Luana's knees buckled and he barely had
time to reach out and grab her beneath the arms as she collapsed.  Frack,
frack, frack!!!   He lowered her to the ground, only to once again pick
her up more securely and move them further inland.  Once he was safely
out of sight from the path he laid her back down.  She was burning up.  
     He reached into the pack and pulled out the med kit.  As much as he
had fooled Apollo and Lia into believing he felt confident with his
assessments and treatments, right now he wished Cassiopeia was here.   At
least he need not waste any energy on bravado or reassurance with his
unconscious patient as he pulled off her flight jacket and undid her
blood stained tunic.  A strange looking dressing covered a nasty shoulder
wound.  Her skin was puffy and red, but the infection seemed to be
localized which he knew was a good sign.  He grabbed the hypospray and
injected a broad-spectrum antibiotic.  Now, whether to replace the
dressing or not was the question.  Well, she actually hadn't been
complaining of pain; therefore, he reasoned, the treatment was likely
effective.  He couldn't help but think of the crawlon bite he had
received on Empyrean and how the locals had a simple, effective poultice
for it, while the Colonial's so-called advanced treatments had almost
cost him his leg.  Starbuck examined the dressing again.  It did look
like some kind of poultice so he would leave it for now.
     He quickly assessed her for any other injuries.  She had quite a
bump on her head and an impressive array of bruises, but so did the rest
of them.  Starbuck looked up at the fading sun.  He would dearly like to
get off this fracking mountain before dark, especially since there was
likely a cave full of demonic creatures at the top of the hill.  He
pulled his pack over both shoulders, wincing as it swung against the raw
flesh of his left flank where the creature's club had struck him.  He
could deal with that later when they were further away.  The lieutenant
lifted Luana over his shoulder so he could grab his weapon if necessary
and started off while the stimulant was still coursing through his veins.
     Starbuck trudged downhill by the fading light of the sun.  He
reasoned he had made it up in forty centons in the full light so he could
make it down in under a centar.  Luana was still out cold on his shoulder
and he stopped a couple of times to make sure she was still breathing. 
She must be fracking exhausted as well as injured to be so deeply
unconscious.  She was worrying him quite honestly.  His other problem was
that even though his heart was still racing with the effects of the
stimulant, every muscle in his body ached and his burns felt as though
the skin was torn and bleeding.  He was slick with what he thought was
sweat, but just as likely could be his blood in a few places.  His
bandage on his left hand was in tatters after a day of fighting with
creatures and he could barely stand his own stink.  He really hoped he
would be able to find a source of water to get cleaned up in.  Fresh
drinking water would be a treat too.  Rations were running low and he
knew he had to save some water to give Luana, especially with her
fever... assuming he could wake her enough to drink it.
     As the sun set he found he could still easily find his way with the
light of the full moon.  He was surprised how warm he was in the night
air.  Actually, it was warmer now than when they had first landed on the
planet... wait a centon, that doesn't make any sense.   Luana groaned
quietly and he eased her to the ground propping her up against him as he
pulled off the pack and grabbed some water.
     "Starbuck?" Luana looked up at him as she relaxed back against his
shoulder.  She felt a bit light-headed still and took deep breaths trying
to get her bearings.
     "How are you feeling, Lu?"  He brushed her hair gently back from her
face with his hand.
     "A bit better... I think."  Indeed, she felt a little more like
herself.  Her nausea and weariness had eased significantly and she no
longer figured that dropping dead was a viable option.  She felt him
raise the bottle to her lips and she drank the warm, yet refreshing
liquid.  "Where are we going?"
     "Lia found a cave.  We'll meet her, Apollo and Sheba there and camp
out for the night.  We're just about off the mountain and it's only
another couple of kilometrons to the cave after that."  He took a long,
satisfying drink before meeting her wide-eyed gaze.  "What?"
     "Sh...Sheba?" What exactly did he mean?  Sheba was dead... wasn't
she?  
     "Yeah.  I sent her on ahead to meet up with the others.  She was
exhausted and I didn't think she was quite up for this excursion." He
watched her struggle to hold back tears.  Frack, what a complete idiot he
was.  She thought Sheba was dead.  You did find her hanging off a cliff,
Bucko!  "Hey, she's okay.  I'm sorry, Lu.  I didn't realize that you
thought she was..." He pulled her close and kissed her hair, stroking it
as he felt her shiver.  Her skin was cold despite the warmth of the night
air.  Oh, all right, the perhaps questionable warmth of the night air.
     "I'm cc.... cold." She told him.  She remembered lying close to
Sheba the night before and both of them trying to share body heat to stay
warm.  It looked like it was going to be another cold one.  Starbuck was
still bare-chested, but his skin was surprisingly warm.  She reminded
herself that he had just climbed a mountain, fought a demon for
her...Hmm, more on that bit later, Lu, she promised herself...and then
carried her down the mountain.  Yeah, she would probably be warm too.
     He reached into the pack where he had stuffed her jacket and helped
her into it.  As he dug a little deeper he came across a survival blanket
and wrapped it around her.  "Better?"
     "Much better," she agreed and allowed him to pull her to her feet. 
He put an arm around her and began to lead her back down the mountain. 
Luana noticed he was still looking around carefully for any signs of the
creatures.  "Last night, the beasts got really quiet.  I think they're
diurnal.  We might have some peace until dawn."
     "Really?" He hadn't been expecting any kind of reprieve.  "How far
do you think you can make it?"
     "I can make it," she promised him.  
     "Have you noticed any ponds or streams around here?" he asked her
hopefully.
     She grinned at him.  "Lords, that's a great idea.  Yes, we came
across a river earlier today.  Sheba and I both had a bath.  Let me just
figure out where it was... it wasn't far from here."  She looked around
trying to get her bearings.  It never failed to surprise her how
different things looked at night when you were outdoors.  Her father had
always taught them to pick landmarks that would stand out in memory in
any light.  "This way, Starbuck."

* * * * *

     Apollo almost groaned in relief as he was lowered to the ground
after climbing up the hill to the cave.  It had been a slow and arduous
journey with him struggling along between Sheba and Lia.  His knee had
actually given out on him a couple times near the end and he had been
tempted to drag himself up the rest of the way on his astrum.   He
reflected it would be the reverse motion of Starbuck sliding down the
cliff earlier that day.  Lords, it was hard to believe that had been the
same morning.  It seemed like days ago.
     "What do you think it is?" Lia's voice asked.
     "I don't like the look of it," Sheba replied.
     "What?" Apollo asked in frustration.  He had been so relieved to
reach their destination that he was totally unaware there was anything
wrong with it.  
     "Sorry, Apollo.  It looks like some kind of... altar."  Sheba moved
closer to the large stone tablet resting near the mouth of the cave.  The
moonlight shone on it, perfectly illuminating the brownish stains on the
otherwise perfectly white stone.  
     Lia joined her bending over the stains.  She pulled out her knife
and chipped at the surface.  "It's very old.  I don't think it's been
used in quite some time."  She looked around the base of the altar for
further clues as to what horrors she suspected occurred here.  Sure
enough the stone was grooved at the top and bottom of both sides of the
base as if restraints had been wearing away at the stone over a period of
time.
     "What's old?  Used for what?" Apollo asked.  His knee was forgotten
again as he awaited Lia's answer.
     "There's old, dried blood that has stained the altar.  I think maybe
it was used for sacrifices." Lia replied.  She was actually certain of
the fact.  She was well aware the ancients used to sacrifice humans to
please the Gods, but had thought the practice was extinct at the time the
tribes had set out in search of earth.
     "What kind of sacrifices?" Apollo asked.  He had a bad feeling about
this.
     "Probably human."  Lia replied.  She pointed the grooves out to
Sheba.  "See the marks?  That's how they were restrained.  It must have
been used for a long time before the race died out.  I kind of thought
that the people here met with a quick demise, but maybe not.  It would
take a lot of sacrifices to wear these grooves into this stone."  She
looked forward to the day Ama or Adama would be able to translate the
symbols in the books she and Starbuck carried in their packs.  
     Sheba looked around the cave a bit more.  The only recent residents
appeared to be small animals that retreated further into the cave on
their arrival.  "It looks clear.  At least it's shelter for the night and
when Starbuck fires that flare, we'll be able to see it easily from
here."  C'mon, Hotshot.  Where the frack are you?
     Lia kneeled down getting rations and the med kit from her pack.  She
shared the food around and then activated the cryo-pack to apply to
Apollo's knee.  "This will be cold, Apollo, but it might help with the
swelling."
     The captain actually found the cold pack a welcome relief to his
grossly edematous knee.  He knew from experience that the cryo-pack could
be reactivated once it started to warm up again.  Ah, the wonders of
modern medicine.  Now, at least they could all get some rest while they
waited for Starbuck and Luana.

* * * * *

     Starbuck looked at the river like a long lost friend.  He dropped
his pack and immediately started pulling off his boots and undoing his
pants.
     "Ah hem," Luana cleared her throat.  He didn't seem the least bit
concerned that he was stripping in front of her.  She really didn't mind,
but etiquette made it necessary that she should appear to object.
     "What?" he asked as he pulled his pants off.  He looked over at her
as she attempted to screw her face up in a disapproving glance.  He
figured that if she was truly uncomfortable with his state of undress,
she would be looking the other way.  Besides, he was feeling so grimy
that at this point he wouldn't even hesitate to strip off and jump in the
river if the Quorum of Twelve was convening in front of him.
     "Lady present," she noted as she watched his every move in a very
un-ladylike fashion
     "Where?" he asked with a wicked grin as he pulled off his briefs and
waded into the water.  The water was cold, but felt wonderful against his
hot skin.  He felt the burning of his various wounds ease as he submerged
himself and rubbed vigorously at his hair and skin.  He surfaced for air
tossing his wet hair back off of his face and combed through it with his
fingers.  "Lords, that feels good."  He looked over at Luana who was
watching him intently.  She caught his eye and quickly returned her gaze
to the pack, pulling out the med kit.  He smiled and waded towards dry
land.  "Fair warning, princess, here I come."  For some reason, he was
more uncomfortable with Lia seeing him with his pants around his knees
than he was at this moment with Luana seeing... well, everything she
cared to take a look at.  Maybe it had something to do with moonlight. 
Maybe it had something to do with Apollo not watching.  Probably it was
because they had survived a life threatening situation and just about
everything had ceased to matter in the traditional sense.
     Luana looked up at him again determined not to act like an
embarrassed school girl.  She'd show him.  She got up and walked to the
water's edge with the blanket wrapped around her.   She couldn't help but
smirk as he slowed his approach.  His cocky fa‡ade had slipped.  Luana
unwrapped the blanket and held it up to him as he neared.
     "Uh...thanks." He took the blanket and wrapped it around him.  Her
body heat was still with it as he gathered it around him.  She looked
amused.  What game was she playing exactly?  
     "Come sit down.  Let me look at some of those wounds." She directed
him as she reminded herself that Starbuck was involved with a certain med
tech that she was actually quite fond of.  Well, that sounded very
sensible, very 'Lia-like'.  Relax, Lu, it doesn't hurt to look.  She
watched him study her.  His body was tense and he hadn't moved.  She took
a step closer and leaned in.  "Hmm, you smell better."  
     Starbuck could feel the heat of her breath caress his skin.  He took
a deep, ragged breath and leaned back from her.  "Lu..."
     Luana wasn't sure what her long-term plan was, but she had found
they were always overrated anyways.  After all, not many epic romances
had this moonlight, this isolation, not to mention the handsome, naked
man wrapped in the survival blanket, so wouldn't she have to be crazy not
to go with the moment?  She was really a live for the centon kind of girl
and at this centon she wanted nothing more in the world than to kiss
Starbuck.  She stood on her tiptoes and tentatively pressed her lips
against his as she slid her hand through his wet hair and pressed herself
against him. 

Part Twenty

     Starbuck wasn't sure when the gentle, tentative kiss that Luana had
started had turned into a passionate embrace, but he was willing to admit
it that it was at least partly his fault.  He was unprepared for his
intense reaction to her searching kiss.  His fingers deftly freed her
hair from the tether she always kept it secured with as he caressed her
face.  He wrapped his other arm around her and pulled her closer.  His
hand found its way beneath her tunic and he stroked her warm, soft skin. 
Their proximity was the only thing holding the blanket up between his
nude body and her.  
     Luana's head was spinning.  She was sure her skin must be aflame
where he was touching her.  Nothing else existed but his touch, his
scent... vastly improved, she might add... and her body's reaction to
him.  This was so much better than flying a Viper!  She slid her hands
down over the lean muscles of his back finding her way down to his hips. 
Her right hand pressed against a hot, sticky area as she explored his
body and she felt his body stiffen as he jerked back from her.
     Starbuck had felt a growing pressure in his left flank since
descending the mountain.  He was doing his best to ignore the discomfort
and the other growing pressure in his... well, never mind... suffice it
to say that it was an effective distraction.  As Luana's hand pressed
against his excoriated skin, he felt a sharp, stabbing pain which took
his breath away.  He groaned as he backed away bringing his hand to his
back.
     "What is it?  What did I do?" Luana asked him feeling bereft with
the absence of his body heat.  She followed him watching him almost
double over in pain.  Frack!  Here she was with her wildest fantasy
coming true and now this happens!  "Starbuck, talk to me!  What's
happening?"
     Starbuck dropped to his knees in agony.  What the frack???  The pain
had started in his flank, but was now radiating down to his abdomen
straight through to his legs.  His felt bile rise in his throat and
vomited up the water he had so recently swallowed.  His body was covered
in sweat and he had an intense urge to urinate.  He could feel spasms in
his lower abdomen and swore he was going to pass out from the pain.
     Luana grabbed the hypospray and gave him a dose of painkiller.  No
reaction.  He was still in agony kneeling on the ground bent double with
one hand clutching his abdomen and the other still on his back.   He was
breathing hard between his endless retching.  She gave him another dose,
wondering if hyposprays ran out of drugs and how you could tell if that
happened.
     Starbuck felt a warm, liquid sensation between his legs and knew he
had lost control of a bodily function.  Oh, how dignified, Bucko.  Yeah,
you're a real lady-killer, pal.  The pain began to recede and he slumped
forward still kneeling with his upper body curled onto his thighs and his
head resting on his knees.  He felt the blanket being draped over him and
Luana kneeled beside him with an arm draped lightly around his shoulders. 
She tenderly brushed his hair back from his face and her lips lightly
touched his forehead as she waited for him to catch his breath.
     "Starbuck, what's wrong?" Luana was afraid.  She had given him two
doses of analgesia, which hadn't even touched his pain.  She could smell
his loss of bladder control and knew that was a very bad sign.  Now, he
was barely responding to her.  She stroked his hair reflecting that she
had dreamed about doing that for a long time.  His skin was so warm, but
now she wondered if he was feverish and not just a wonderful supply of
thermonuclear potential.  
     Starbuck was having a hard time focusing.  His previous painful
attack had receded to a dull ache.  His head felt heavy and he wanted
nothing more than to sleep for a glorious secton.  Even breathing seemed
like a strenuous task.  His mind was dully aware of the acrid smells of
urine and vomit and he tried to remember how he could have fouled himself
again so quickly after his refreshing dip in the river.  Something about
pain. . .  He closed his eyes and gave in to the double dose of narcotic
in his system. 
     "Starbuck?" Luana felt his body slump towards her and panicked.  She
moved over, easing him to the ground on his side.  She quickly lifted the
blanket to peer at his back.  The skin was broken and excoriated, but
that was no indication of why he was now unconscious.  It was really too
dark to get a good look at him so she grabbed her pack and dug through it
until she found an illuminator.  She again examined his wound and other
than a significant amount of bruising which the blow could explain, she
found nothing conclusive.  She felt incredibly inadequate with her basic
first response training.  Of course, it was one more course in which
cadets now received a condensed version of the original Academy program. 
All right, Lu, think.  You can do this.  
     She laid Starbuck on his back and leaned over him.  She could feel
his pulse and bent low over his face watching to see if his chest was
rising.  She waited... and waited... and waited.  His chest rose and fell
slightly and she could feel his breath on her cheek.  His breathing
seemed very shallow and she had a bad feeling about it.  She waited
another fifteen microns before he breathed again.  That's about four
breaths a centon.  That's not right, is it?  Sagan, help me.  I don't
know what the frack I'm doing.
     She shook him by the shoulders, "Starbuck, wake up!"  He didn't
budge.  Oh, fracking Hades Hole, what if I've overdosed him?  Wait a
centon; Starbuck should have a communicator on his belt.  Perhaps she
could contact Apollo, Sheba and Lia.  She ran over to where he had shed
his clothes and weapon and searched through the pile.  She couldn't find
it.  Luana shone the illuminator on the immediate area in case it had
fallen off the belt, but still couldn't find it.  She felt tears of
frustration prick her eyes as she returned to the unconscious lieutenant. 
She again checked his pulse and waited long, tortuous microns for his
next breath as her mind reviewed her medical knowledge.  The hypospray! 
She was certain there was a drug used to reverse the effects of too much
narcotic.  What was it?  She dug through her pack again looking for the
medical data pad she had stowed for a quick reference guide.  Ah hah! 
She quickly found the information and again activated the hypospray
against Starbuck's skin.  The effect was instantaneous.  Starbuck's eyes
opened wide and he took a gasping breath.      
     "Starbuck?  Are you all right?  Say something!" Luana demanded.
     He looked up at her in confusion.  "What... happened?"  His back was
aching dully and his mouth had the foul taste of bile in it.  He pushed
himself up to a sitting position as Luana hovered anxiously.
     "What happened?" she repeated.  "Well, after the most amazing kiss
of 'my' life you doubled over in pain, threw up, wet yourself and passed
out.  Not exactly great for my morale, I might add."
     Her words were light, but he could see her concern.  "Not exactly
great for my reputation either," he added.  
     "Oh... yeah, I guess not..." she mumbled.  Tears pricked her eyes. 
His reputation.  Frack!  Is that all she was to him.  Wait a centon, why
was she thinking this and not telling him to his face?  "So, that's all I
am to you?  Just another girl the great Starbuck kissed?  Just another
meaningless kiss to add to your long list of meaningless kisses?  Frack,
Starbuck, if you weren't interested, why didn't you just tell me instead
of enjoying a grope first?  How do you think I feel right now?  Any idea? 
Well, I'll tell you how.  I feel used and betrayed!"  Her eyes flashed in
anger, which was preferable to tearing in self-pity any day.
     "Lu..."  
     She jumped to her feet.  "By the way, what the frack have you done
with your communicator?  I could have used a little help when you were
lying there trying to decide whether or not to stop breathing.  It would
have come in handy to just call up the captain and say 'I could use some
help here, I think your wingman's dying'."  She started searching the
ground for something as she pushed her long, thick hair back from her
face.  She paced like a caged animal until she picked up the hair tether
he had dropped carelessly during their passionate embrace.  "I think we
better get moving.  I'd kind of like to see my sister."
     "Lu, wait." Starbuck climbed slowly to his feet and watched her as
she started jamming gear back into her pack.  He saw her wince with the
discomfort of her forgotten shoulder wound.  Looking down at his thighs,
he noticed they seemed to be sticky with... blood.  He could feel the
perspiration beading on his forehead and felt dizzy.  He closed his eyes
and took a deep breath, pulling the blanket tighter around himself in the
cold night air.  Well, at least he wasn't hot anymore.  
     "Are you coming or not?" Luana looked over at him in the dim light. 
He wasn't getting any place fast.  Certainly, not fast enough for her. 
She gathered her anger around her as her only defense.     "Well?"
     Starbuck shook his head to clear it.  He had to talk to her.  He
couldn't let her think she was just another conquest to him.  Of course,
the problem was... he didn't know exactly how he felt about her.  The
other problem was he felt like mong.  "Luana, come here... please," he
asked her.  "We need to talk about this."
     "I don't want to talk about 'this'," she insisted.  "Let's just go
find the others and get off of this fracking planet."  She pulled the
pack gingerly over her injured shoulder and then her good one.
     "Sagan's sake, Lu, will you just listen to me for a centon?  I'm not
using you.  I care about you."
     "Care about me?  Starbuck, you don't know how to really care about
anybody.  That's why you drift from one relationship to the next.  I'm
sure you think you care about Cassie too, but she would probably want to
know how that translates into you locking lips with me when she's not
around."  She told him bitterly.  Just what the frack was she thinking
anyways?  She knew about Starbuck's reputation.  He was the womanizer
extraordinaire around the Galactica.  Every male cadet wanted to be him
and every female cadet wanted to date him.  The really stupid thing was
she realized she had never even thought about Starbuck in a romantic
sense until she went through training.  Oh, she wasn't denying that she
had enjoyed her first look at him as he bathed in Paradise... yeah, she
enjoyed her second, third and fourth look too as she and Lia had led him
naked downstream with their weapons trained on him.  One thing was for
certain; the lieutenant was easy on the eyes.  However, it was in
training that the constant rumours and stories about Starbuck's conquests
had first materialized.  Her interest was piqued about the man who had
changed her life.  Suddenly, the relationship they had established wasn't
quite enough for her.  
     Starbuck didn't really know what to say.  There had been an
unsuspected and undeniable chemistry when Luana kissed him that he had
simply responded to.  However, what Luana had said was true.  Why was he
kissing her if he really loved Cassie?  Yeah, he was a bit confused about
this whole episode.  It also hurt to hear her opinion of his character,
or lack thereof.  "Look, Lu, I'm sorry.  You're right.  I shouldn't have
walked up to you, pressed myself up against your naked body and kissed
you.  Oh . .  . Right... it was you that did that."  Okay, he'd said it. 
Why the frack was she taking this out on him?  She started it. 
     "Well, occasionally I make mistakes.  'You' would be my biggest
mistake to date." She said vehemently.  "The thing about mistakes,
Starbuck, is I never repeat them.     
     "That's a relief.  I guess I'll be able to leave here with my virtue
intact after all," he remarked responding in kind.
     People had once told Luana that Starbuck was not someone that you
would want to take on in a battle of words and wits.  At that time, she
had laughed trying to even imagine the situation where that would occur
and had reassured them that she would be more than able to hold her own
against him or anyone else.  Now she saw what they meant and his words
cut her to the quick.

Part Twenty-One

     Luana turned on her heel and started walking away from Starbuck. 
She knew they should stick together, but right now she was just too
tempted to reach down, grab his laser and shoot him.  She hated him.  She
wasn't quite sure how they had gone from potential lovers to enemies in
the space of ten centons, but she had heard that with Starbuck anything
was possible.  
     "Luana, wait!" he called.  Common sense finally penetrated his brain
and he knew they couldn't split up, especially, with both of them
injured.  She kept going with her back straight and her head held high. 
"That's a fracking order, Ensign!"  he barked at her and saw with a small
amount of satisfaction that she had stopped.  She remained with her back
to him, akimbo, foot tapping impatiently waiting for him.  He pondered
stressing the respect of your superior officers a little bit more with
his next group of cadets as he dragged himself over to the river and
quickly rinsed off the blood, urine and vomit that he continued to be
sporting for the season.  There was still an uncomfortable ache in his
left flank and he really wanted nothing more than to curl up on the
ground and rest, but he knew their best chance lay in being reunited with
their fellow warriors and, if possible, getting back to the Vipers before
dawn.
     Starbuck waded out of the river and back to his discarded clothes. 
He noted Luana had not changed her impatient stance.  As he struggled
back into his clothing-or at least his pants and boots, everything else
was either disgusting or discarded-he shivered in the cool night air,
recalling that his flight jacket was stowed in the pack.  Of course, that
was inconveniently located on Lu's back.  He covered his shoulders with
the damp blanket and caught up with her.
     As soon as she heard him approach, Luana started walking in the
direction she and Sheba took earlier that day.  She heard him sigh, but
she was danged if she was going to let him get another rise out of her
and started trudging forward, impatient to find more tolerable company. 
She expected him to tell her he would lead the way, but he stayed quiet,
apparently satisfied with her chosen direction.  As she walked she again
thought back to the course of events that started her thinking of
Starbuck as more than a friend.  She realized now that she had definitely
given in to the same rumour mill about his legend as the rest of the
female cadets.  Ruefully, she remembered he was one Hades of a kisser and
he did things to her senses that would probably be considered immoral if
not illegal by the Ancient Empyrean Houses.  After all, a young woman of
her age was naturally curious about such things.  Especially, a young
woman from a world with no men.   Starbuck was not only incredibly
attractive, but she trusted him.  She snorted to herself.  Correction,
she used to trust him.  Now, wait a moment, girl.  Just what did you want
him to do?  Toss Cassiopeia aside and settle down with you to have two
kids, two Vipers and a daggit?  She shuddered at that mental picture,
especially when the daggit looked suspiciously like Muffit.  What exactly
was she looking for from Starbuck when she kissed him?  The truth was she
wasn't really sure.  She just wanted her first passionate kiss from
someone she was attracted to and could trust not to be talking about her
in the barracks the next day.  Well, after his follow-up act she could be
assured of that at least.  However, that kiss would probably have gone a
lot further if he hadn't been suddenly stricken with... whatever the
Hades that was.  If she was honest with herself, she would have been an
eager participant.  That was the surprising part really, she was just
looking to be kissed, but when clutch came to grab, their passion would
have taken them beyond her wildest dreams.
     Starbuck trudged after Luana, the chill in the air helping to keep
his exhausted body alert.  How the frack did he manage to screw up all
the good things in his life?  Quite the track record you have, Bucko.  He
shook his head as he tried to figure out what had happened to destroy his
relationship with Luana.  He should have followed his gut back on that
mountain when it was warning him about Luana's snuggling.  Well, at least
then he would have had a clue when she started ogling him by the
riverbank.  At first, he had thought it was just Luana being...well, Lu. 
She had a way of flirting with him, which he had become comfortable with. 
It was just harmless flirting he had told himself several times.  Hades,
he was the master of harmless flirting, he could give as good as he could
take.  He suspected that she had very little sexual experience and the
way she had looked away when he caught her watching him bathe confirmed
that for him.  She was just curious.  He could live with that.  However,
when the innocent young woman met him as he waded in and offered him the
blanket that was still warm with her body heat... frack, that was erotic. 
It had caught him completely off guard.  He smiled at his recollection of
inanely thanking her.  Smooth talker.  She had mentioned something about
looking at his wounds, but he was still stuck on the erotic blanket
exchange.  Then she leaned in and whispered in his ear and he couldn't
believe his body's response to that seemingly innocuous gesture.  She
kissed him.  What in Hades was it about that kiss?  He could still
remember the light caress of her lips and thinking he should give her a
gentle kiss, the way he had with Aurelia so long ago now at the Empyrean
Ball.  Then her hand entangled in his hair and she pressed herself
against him and all Hades broke loose.  It was like blasting out of a
launch tube the way their passion had suddenly erupted.  Just when he had
thought he was happy in a somewhat long term, monogamous relationship
with Cassie, this happens.
     Cassie.  Oh, Cassie was going to kill him when she found out. 
Starbuck knew he had to tell her and suffer the consequences.  She had
put up with a lot of felger from him already and this would be one more
black mark against him.  He wondered how she would take it.  There was a
time when she would have laughed it off, almost expected it of him, but
those days were gone.  They had matured in their relationship after all,
and she had the right to expect more of him.  Well, maybe it was just
Cassie who had matured.  Starbuck wondered if he actually had the genetic
predisposition to mature in a relationship.  Was that it?  Did he do
these things on purpose to get out of commitment?  Sheba had said that to
him once.  She could see right through his pathetic self-pity and 'it's
really not my fault' declarations.  How was he going to handle this when
they connected with Sheba and the others?  Apollo would kill him too;
especially after his vow that Luana was just a friend and a kid!  Well,
looking on the bright side, if Apollo, Sheba and Lia decided to kill him,
he wouldn't have to face Cassiopeia at all.


* * * * *

     Lia stayed alert as she possibly could curled up against Apollo
looking out the entrance of the cave.  Lia and Sheba flanked Apollo on
either side with their only survival blanket pulled up over all of them. 
It was actually kind of cozy in a strange sort of way.  Sheba had told
them that it was even colder than the previous night when her and Luana
had spent their hours huddled beside one another in a pit.  They had all
shared some nourishment and then started trying to rest as much as
possible, which was difficult when you were acutely aware of an
ever-present altar that was probably used for human sacrifices.  Sheba
had taken the first watch and now it was Lia's turn.  She had thought she
would see Starbuck's flare by now and was beginning to get worried.  The
only encouraging factor was that Sheba thought the creatures slept at
night and thus far, there had been no signs of them.  
     Suddenly, a welcoming bright red filled the sky.  She just about
jumped for joy and certainly startled Apollo and Sheba from their
slumber.  They blinked their eyes.  Even Apollo could see the flashes of
light they had been awaiting anxiously all evening.  "Okay, I'll be back
soon." Lia said to them as she grabbed her pack and slung it over her
shoulder.  
     "Lia, slow down." Apollo warned her.  "I know we haven't seen any
signs of the creatures, but just stay alert and don't take any chances." 
He had been torn when Lia had insisted on making this trip.  Sheba had
far more experience, but Sheba was exhausted.  Even the lieutenant
admitted that Lia was the best warrior for the job.
     "Don't worry, Apollo, I'll be careful.  I always am.  Just ask
Starbuck... soon." She told him as she grinned and headed down the hill
to find her sister.
  
* * * * *

     Starbuck watched Luana fire the flare.  They had come as far as the
meadow that they had been attacked in and Luana was having some
difficulty following the trail to the cave.  He knew she was tired and
sore, otherwise her keen eyes would have no trouble finding the trail of
one heavily limping man escorted by two women.  Now they were simply
waiting in silence for their contact to show up.  It should be any centon
if they were really as close as Lia had said.  They had barely said
anything to one another on their brief walk from the river.  Well, other
than him telling her to fire a flare and that he had prearranged with
Sheba to be on the lookout for their sign.  His back and abdomen were
beginning to spasm painfully again and he wished he could send her ahead
so he could be alone in his humiliation and agony.  It would be his luck
that she would get apprehended by a party of creatures that had stayed up
late for an illicit card game.  He tried to take slow, deep breaths and
he slid his way down the trunk of a tree as his legs started to give out
under him.  The pain seemed to be higher up this time and he thankfully
realized he didn't have an overwhelming need to urinate.  It's the little
things in life, Bucko, that make you happy.  
     Luana put the flare gun back in the pack and looked out anxiously
awaiting her sister.  She knew Lia would be the one to come.  Sheba would
be dead on her feet and Apollo was injured.  Starbuck had filled her in
on some of the events that had befallen them as they had made their way
to the river.  Of course, that was before the kiss and all the horrible
things they had said to each other.  She was reasonably sure that she had
only spoken two words to him since then.  "Yes, sir."  She knew that
would drive him crazy.  She looked back at him then and was startled to
see him curled up in a ball kneeling at the base of a tree.  Frack!  She
ran over to him and was again uncertain what she should be doing to help. 
She pulled the hypospray out, but then second guessed herself as she
remembered the last doses of pain killer did nothing to help while he was
suffering and had then just about killed him afterwards.
     Starbuck was sucking his breath in between his teeth in an effort to
avert the rising nausea.  He tried to think of a suitable mantra to get
him through this.  Don't wet your pants-in.  Don't wet your pants-out. 
Maybe he was paying more attention than he thought to his brief session
of hatha therapy.  He became aware of a gentle hand smoothing his hair
back from his face and he lifted his head from his knees to stare into
Luana's gentle, dark eyes.  His own eyes misted up when he saw her tears
spilling down her cheeks.  He closed his eyes again as another spasm
racked his body feeling as though it would rip him apart.  He felt her
hands gently cupping his face as she lowered her forehead to his while
muttering words that were meant to be soothing.  Frack, he wasn't going
to have to worry about whether Apollo or Cassie would kill him, this pain
was going to beat them to it!
     "Luana!  What happened?" Lia shouted on the run.  She had been
startled to see Luana kneeling down in front of Starbuck, almost like a
lover, they were so close.  It had only taken a micron for her to realize
something was very wrong.
     "Lia!  Thank the Lords!" Luana looked around, but didn't let go of
the lieutenant.  She felt like whooping for joy she was so relieved at
her sister's arrival.  Lia had spent some time with Rhiamon, the Empyrean
healer, and she would be able to help Starbuck... she hoped.  "It just
started suddenly.  He has pain in his back and stomach.  It happened once
before and when I gave him a couple shots of painkiller it didn't help at
all.  Just knocked him into next secton when the pain let up."
     Lia kneeled down on Starbuck's other side.  He was still sucking
each breath in through his teeth, his body tense with pain and effort. 
She wondered where his flight jacket had gone to and put a hand on his
chilled skin pulling the blanket tighter around him.  What was she
supposed to do if she couldn't give him a painkiller?  She shook her
head, wondering where the pain was coming from.  This was hardly the time
to do a proper examination.  Her eyes looked over her sister.  Luana
looked awful.  Sheba had warned her of her sister's shoulder wound and
surprisingly Luana didn't seem to be the least bit affected by it right
now.  Lia noticed the tears on her sister's face and reflected that Luana
had been feeling as helpless as Lia presently did.  Finally, Starbuck's
body began to relax and his breathing slowed.
     "What's going on, Starbuck?" Lia asked him.
     Starbuck opened his eyes to gaze in surprise at Lia.  How long had
she been there?  Frack, so much for keeping his little problem to
himself.  He felt totally drained and all he could mutter was, "I'm fine
now".
     "What is it with you and Apollo and your fracking 'I'm fine's'?  Do
you have some kind of stupid code whereby you only admit to being injured
if you're missing a limb and have arterial blood spurting out of your
stump?" she asked him incredulously.  Men were so bizarre.  
     He smiled at that.  Lia wasn't far from the truth in her assessment. 
'Fine' meant he could continue.  He knew he would need a few centons, but
like the last attack, he would be back on his feet soon.  Starbuck looked
over at Luana who was still scant centimetrons from his face.  She
watched him with concern as she continued to stroke his hair.  He closed
his eyes and enjoyed the sensation of her touch unconsciously tilting his
head towards her hand.  
     Lia looked from Luana to Starbuck wondering what was going on.  If
she was more like Luana, she would just ask.  Unfortunately, she had been
raised to conduct herself with discretion and tact.  It was a pain in the
astrum sometimes.  "Starbuck, where is the pain?"
     "My back... mostly."
     "Where else?" Lia asked.
     "From my gut right on through to my legs." He looked up at Luana
again.  She must think I'm dying or something.  Not a sign of her
previous anger.  
     "Any injuries?"
     Luana replied, "He was hit hard by a club to his lower back.  Took
off some skin and caused some bruising, but that's all."  She noticed
Starbuck look away.  "That's right, I almost forgot.  The last time... he
sort of... well..."  Starbuck flashed her a warning look.
     "What Luana?  Tell me." Lia demanded.
     Luana had a hard time looking Starbuck in the eye.  She knew how
humiliated he was by this, but it could be important.  "He... lost
control of his bladder."  There, that wasn't so hard, was it?
     "Was there any blood?" Lia asked.
     "I... uh... don't know." Luana told her.  "Starbuck?"
     "Yeah," he responded reluctantly.  He couldn't believe he was
discussing his incontinence with Lia and Luana.  How degrading.
     "There was?  Why didn't you say something?" Luana demanded. 
Starbuck raised his eyes to hers and his look said more than any words
could.  Of course, he didn't say anything.  They had just finished
hurting one another with malignant words that they both wished they could
take back.
     Lia noticed the exchange once again.  "Starbuck, you know more about
this stuff than I do.  Did you ever have a friend with these symptoms?"
She decided now was not the time to let him in on Sheba's revealing
little story.
     Starbuck looked at her suspiciously.  She was on to him.  "It may be
my kidney," he replied.
     "Frack, your kidney is bleeding!  Isn't that dangerous?" Luana
asked.
     "Fortunately, I have two." He said matter-of-factly as he rested his
head back against the tree and closed his eyes.  He was just about ready
to remove his kidney by himself.  He wondered what the logistics would
involve.   Apollo would know.  After all, he was the captain.
     Lia put her hand to his forehead.  He was warm, but that could be
the aftermath of his kidney attack.  He looked done in.  "Where's your
jacket?"
     Luana looked at her guiltily.  She was well aware it was in her
pack, but had been so angry with the lieutenant that she'd decided if he
didn't ask nicely, he would just have to make do with the blanket.  Now
she realized the blanket was damp from his repeated dunking in the river. 
Why the frack did she have to be so porcine-headed?  The bigger problem
was he was just as stubborn as she was.  "I'll get it," she said as she
pulled his jacket out.  The jacket felt crusty and stiff and she wondered
what it was covered with.  No wonder he had stowed it.  
     "Starbuck, we need to get moving.  Let's get you into your jacket."
Lia told him.  He said nothing in response.   
     "Starbuck!" Luana shook him roughly wondering what was wrong this
time and his eyelids flickered open in surprise. 
     "Easy, Luana," Lia told her sister.  "He fell asleep.  That's all." 
Luana had just about reached her limit.  Lia obviously didn't know all
the details, but between being injured, apprehended by the creatures,
dragged all over the countryside, and whatever had happened between Lu
and Starbuck, well, she couldn't take much more.  

Part Twenty-Two

     "Can you see anything?" Apollo's voice came from where he was still
lying, attempting to rest his leg.  Sheba was standing at the mouth of
the cave looking down the hillside for any sign of their friends.  She
had just finished explaining to the captain for the umpteenth time that a
blind man couldn't take a turn at watch.  Realistically, she wanted him
to get as much rest as possible for when they took off towards their
ships.  It would be an arduous journey with an injured knee, very little
eyesight and mainly the moonlight to guide them.  Sheba hoped Starbuck
would be up to helping his friend.  Suddenly, she caught sight of Lia
coming out of the forest.  Starbuck and Luana followed closely behind.  
     "Here they come!" Sheba informed him.  
     "How do they look?" Apollo asked as he started to stand up.  He
wished he could see for himself if they looked injured or just tired.
     "They all look fine."  Starbuck and Luana really seemed to be
dragging their feet.  No doubt they were exhausted by now.  She wondered
if Starbuck ever took the stimulant.  She couldn't imagine continuing on
this long without it.  
     Apollo moved over towards her and felt her take his hand to guide
him.  He was amazed they were finally all united.  What a disjointed mess
of a mission.  He could hear them climbing up the steep hill, their boots
knocking loose rocks and dirt as they proceeded.  They were very quiet. 
Not at all what Apollo expected of Starbuck and Luana.
     Luana embraced Sheba tightly as she entered the cave.  She felt her
eyes well up with tears once again.  She had never cried so much in one
day.  Sheba held the girl for a long moment.  They had both thought they
would never see one another again.
     Starbuck trudged his way into the cave past the embracing women. 
"Nice place you have here," he clapped Apollo on the shoulder before
heading over to the closest thing to a bed.  He sat down heavily on the
altar and watched his friends hugging.  Apollo and Lia were in on the act
now he noted wearily as he laid down and closed his eyes.  
     "Do you know what you're lying on, Starbuck?" Apollo asked walking
over to join him.  He had heard Lia's dismayed gasp as she described the
lieutenant stretching out on the sacrificial altar.
     "Sorry, buddy.  Is this your bed?" Starbuck mumbled resting his arm
across his face.  He had no intention of moving.  He had seen the
survival blanket on the cold, unwelcoming ground.  If that was where they
wanted to sleep when there was a perfectly good bed here that was fine
with him.  The further away from the crawlons he was the better.
     "No, it's an altar used for human sacrifice." Apollo informed him,
expecting Starbuck to leap off of it.
     "Figures," he responded indifferently.  The sacrificial altars were
quite comfortable on this planet.  Nice for the victims, he thought. 
"What's the plan?" He could feel his body relaxing and knew he would be
asleep in centons if they would let him.
     "Get some rest for two centars, then we have to move out. 
Hopefully, we can get to our ships before dawn and send for a shuttle. 
Are you okay?"
     "Fine.  You?" Starbuck asked sleepily.  Two centars of sleep; he was
going to enjoy every micron of it.
     "Fine."

* * * * *

     The cave was quiet as the warriors dozed, trying to rebuild their
strength before starting out.  Sheba sat at the entrance on the look out. 
Starbuck had fallen asleep almost immediately after arriving.  Lia and
Luana had given Apollo a quick report of what had befallen them as well
as briefing them on Starbuck's injured kidney.  Lia and Sheba had quickly
redressed Luana's shoulder and administered another dose of antibiotic
before the sisters had huddled together to get some rest.  Sheba watched
the lieutenant as he rolled over on his altar.  How typically Starbuck. 
He didn't even care what he was lying on as long as it wasn't being used
for that purpose currently.  She heard the clink of metal hitting stone
and realized his talisman must have shifted and dropped to the altar when
he moved.
     Starbuck felt strange.  He had been in a deep sleep but something
had disturbed him.  He kept his eyes closed hoping to go back to sleep,
but a sudden chill had seeped into his entire body.  He could almost
track it as it spread from his chest and radiated out to his extremities
until he was irritatingly awake.  He tried to roll over and curl into a
ball to conserve his body heat, but he found he couldn't move.  A musty
smell penetrated his senses and he heard a low growl.  His eyes flew open
to see four creatures standing over him holding their clubs.  His eyes
briefly flickered over the background to see a dimly lit cave that was
adorned with the damaged skulls of former victims.  The beasts lifted
their weapons and smashed them into the warrior's skull as they howled in
victory.
     Sheba leapt up as Luana and Lia screamed, "NO!!!"  The sisters
jumped to their feet and ran over to the altar where Starbuck was sitting
up shaken and pale.  Luana reached out to him with a hesitant hand as if
not quite believing he was really there.
     "What the frack happened?" Apollo yelled.  Like the others, he had
jumped to his feet when he heard the women scream.  His left knee just
about gave out on him and he struggled to regain his balance as he
gritted his teeth against the pain.
     "A dream..." Starbuck started.  His heart was pounding as his mind
kept revisiting the vivid images of his nightmare.  His right hand ran
lightly over his scalp and he looked at Luana whose eyes had filled with
tears. 
     "They killed Starbuck," Lia told them as she stared back at Luana
and Starbuck in wonder.  Could they really have had the same vision? 
This was extraordinary.  She looked at her sister expectantly.
     "The creatures tied him down and ... crushed his...  skull with
their clubs." Luana trembled.  She felt him pull her close and wrapped
her arms around his waist.
     "You all had the same dream?" Sheba asked incredulously.
     "It sounds like it," Lia said.  She watched Starbuck finger his
amulet as he held Luana close.  "Is the talisman warm?"
     He looked at her in surprise, "Yeah.  What's it supposed to mean?"
     "It's a warning.  It's working to protect you," Lia replied.  She
moved closer to him and put her own amulet into his hand.  It was also
warm.  He touched it briefly and let it fall back against her chest not
quite meeting her gaze.
     "Starbuck?" Apollo wondered what was going through his friend's mind
after this unsettling occurrence.
     "I think we'd better go." Starbuck stated.  "I'm not really in the
mood to be sacrificed... ask me again later though."

* * * * *

     They had been walking constantly for almost three centars.  Luana
and Lia took point with Starbuck helping Apollo closely behind them. 
Sheba followed as rear guard.  Starbuck had been listening to the
captain's grunting and groaning for almost forty centons and it was
beginning to grate on his nerves.  He stopped.
     "Why did you stop, Starbuck?  Are you okay?" Apollo looked at him in
concern.
     "You need something for pain, buddy." Starbuck told him as he
signaled the women over.
     "I'm fine," Apollo told him.  "It's going to be sore.  Look, I have
enough wrong with me without adding drugs to the mix."
     Starbuck shook his head as he helped his friend sit down on a log. 
"Drugs are good.  Pain is bad.  It's a simple theory, but true
nonetheless.  Stop being such a hero."
     Apollo snorted in self-derision.  "Some fracking hero.  Blind and
crippled.  I'm leaving the heroics up to you this time, Bucko."
     Starbuck chuckled.  "Yeah, right.  Wets himself with great alacrity! 
Passes his blood clots in a single cramp!  It's Incontinence Man!"  He
sat down beside Apollo.
     Apollo shook his head and chuckled along with him.  "Frack, what a
pair we are!  Thank the Lords, the women are all right.  Hopefully, they
can drag our sorry astrums through this."
     "Not a bad looking pair of astrums if you ask me," Luana told them
in amusement as she approached from the other side of the log. 
     "Luana!" Lia exclaimed.  Sometimes her sister went a little too far. 
Luckily, the captain looked amused.  Starbuck was watching Luana
intensely as if trying to figure something out that was unfortunately
beyond her.  
     "Lia, could you coerce Apollo into taking something for pain?"
Starbuck asked her as he watched Sheba approach from the rear.  "Let's
take five centons."  He got up and took Luana by the arm.  "I need to
talk to you."  He led her away from the others.
     "What's going on?" Apollo asked Lia as he heard her open her pack
searching for the hypo.  He had noticed the tension between Starbuck and
Luana.
     "I don't know and I'm not sure that I want to," replied Lia. 
"They've been acting weird since I met them in the meadow."
     Luana let Starbuck lead her away.  She wasn't sure how this was
going to go and was feeling a little bit nervous about it.  Frankly, she
had finally become comfortable with reverting back to the way she used to
treat Starbuck.  A little harmless flirting and keeping everything light
and the others would be none the wiser.  He clearly wasn't comfortable
with that and had kept his distance.  She was a little surprised at how
far away he was taking her.  He obviously wanted them out of sight as
well as out of earshot.  Besides, it would be easier to hide the corpse
if things went wrong.  She just wasn't sure who's corpse it would be.
     Starbuck couldn't get his nightmare out of his mind.  Lia had said
it was a warning, but what if it was some kind of portent?  He wanted
things settled with Luana... or at least for her to know that he didn't
mean to hurt her.  His ache in his flank was getting continuously worse
and he didn't know if that was a sign of another blood clot trying to
pass or whether his kidney was just about to explode.  He was beginning
to wonder if he was going to get off this fracking planet.  Starbuck
found a secluded little spot not too far from the others and motioned for
Luana to have a seat on the stump.  
     "I think I'll stand," she told him.  She wondered why she was
feeling defensive again when he hadn't even said anything yet.
     He sighed.  This wasn't going to be easy.  It never was easy for him
to talk about his feelings.  Face it, Bucko, you have a hard time just
trying to sort out your feelings.  The really frustrating thing was he
had thought that he finally had everything figured out with Cassie. 
Never mind all that now.  Just make your peace with Luana and tomorrow
will take care of tomorrow.  He reflected that it was that kind of
forethought that usually landed him in trouble.  
     Starbuck ran his fingers back through his hair as he looked at
Luana.  She looked like she was getting ready to fight or flee.  It
really could go either way.  "Luana... I'm not really sure where to
start.  I just want you to know that I never meant to hurt you.  What
happened between us... caught me off guard.  I wasn't expecting... well,
I didn't think I would... I didn't know that you...Frack!!" He turned
around in frustration.  Why was this so difficult?
     She couldn't help but smile as she gazed at his back.  He was
running his fingers through his hair again like he always did when he was
flustered or upset.  There was something so endearing about his inability
to communicate.  Luana couldn't help herself as she moved up against him
and wrapped her arms around his waist from behind.  Her hands found their
way beneath his jacket of their own accord and they caressed his skin as
they traveled around his waist finally coming to rest against his
abdomen.  She could feel his muscles contract beneath her hands.  She
liked the way his body reacted to her touch.  
     "Whatever happened to the smooth talking womanizer I've heard so
much about?" She asked lightly as she rested her head against his back. 
She could feel his lungs move as he sighed.  Then he chuckled and she
realized she had never been so in tune with someone else's body... and
all she was doing was hugging him.
     He twisted in her embrace until he was looking into her eyes. 
"Lines are easy.  This is hard."  He brushed a stray lock of her hair
back out of her eyes.  "Lu, the truth is I really care about you.  I
thought it was just... as a friend.  Now, well,... I'm not sure what I'm
feeling. . .  I do know that I don't want to hurt you... or Cassie. . ."
He knew he couldn't leave Cassie out of this.  He was trying to clear the
air, not mislead her.
     "It's complicated, isn't it?" She snuggled closer.  "Whatever
happened to living for the moment?"
     "Sweetheart, if I was living for the moment we wouldn't be talking
right now." He told her with his usual cocky attitude.
     Luana grinned up at him and barely held back the whoop of joy that
was close to bursting out of her.  Her mind started reeling and she
smiled coyly at him.  "Maybe it was just a fluke.  After all, there was
the moonlight and we were coming out of a life threatening situation..."
     His smile faded as he listened to her words.  "A fluke. . .??"  He
wondered if he had just made a fool of himself.  Not like it would be the
first time, Bucko.
     "Starbuck, all I'm saying is that maybe you should kiss me again...
just so we know what we're dealing with." Luana's dark eyes sparkled with
devilry as she watched his reaction.  
     "I'm not sure whether to be more afraid of the creatures or you," he
tilted his forehead down to touch hers.
     "Don't worry, Starbuck.  You have your Empyrean Talisman to protect
you," she told him just before he claimed her lips with his own.

Part Twenty-Three

     "It will be dawn in about a centar.  We really should get moving."
Sheba told Apollo and Lia.  Starbuck's five-centon break had stretched
into about fifteen and there was still no sign of them.
     "Who's going to go find them?" Lia asked.  
     "Just use the communicator," Apollo told them.  He sensed they may
need to be... discrete.  He sighed.  Starbuck would never change.  Apollo
could not really understand why his friend had such difficulty committing
himself to one relationship and one woman.  He certainly had let some
wonderful ladies slip away, including his sister.  Cassiopeia had been in
for the long haul and she really deserved more than Starbuck frolicking
in the forest with Luana.  The captain felt bad for the one time
socialator turned med tech that had changed her life so completely since
the destruction.  Starbuck had been both a pleasure and a challenge to
Cassie, but now it looked like the lieutenant had gone too far.  Apollo
doubted very much that Cassiopeia would tolerate this.
     Sheba took the communicator that Lia proffered, having had returned
Starbuck's to him before leaving the cave.  "Come in, Starbuck.  I
repeat; come in, Starbuck." Sheba was angry.  It didn't take a pedagogue
to figure out what was going on between Starbuck and Luana.  Cassiopeia
was a good friend of hers and Starbuck was behaving like a complete
louse.  
     "I read you, Sheba.  Luana here.  Over," the comm unit replied.
     "We need to move out... now.  Over." Sheba said in a clipped voice. 
She set her jaw as the pause lengthened.
     "We'll be right there, Sheba.  Over." Luana told her over the comm.
     Sheba sighed and shook her head.  Lia took the communicator back,
but wouldn't meet her eyes.  She felt Apollo's hand caress her back as if
to sooth her.  She suspected he was disappointed in Starbuck, but the
difference was Apollo probably wouldn't tell him that.  Sheba, however,
fully intended to blast him as soon as they were off this fracking
planet.
     Sheba turned around as she heard them coming.  She couldn't read
either of their faces.  Starbuck was apparently giving Luana lessons in
deception as well as... She took a couple of deep breaths to calm down.
     "Sorry about the delay." Starbuck told them steadfastly avoiding
every searching gaze.
     "Oh, that's all right, Starbuck.  It's only our lives at stake after
all." Sheba replied in a forced cheerfulness that clearly got her message
across.
     Starbuck flushed, but met her angry gaze.  Luana touched his arm in
support and stared angrily back at Sheba ready to do battle.  "Don't...
just let it go..." Starbuck said quietly to Luana as he swung her pack
onto his back. 
     "Let's move out," Apollo told them, diffusing the situation.  They
had been planning to pair Luana and Sheba up to take the lead, but the
captain realized the former strategy would be the wisest.  "Luana and
Lia, take point again.  Sheba, rear guard."  
     Luana and Lia moved out silently and gracefully with many years of
hunting, tracking and traveling side-by-side strengthening their
position.  Starbuck moved in beside Apollo, supporting him on his weak
left side.
     "Did you have something for pain?" Starbuck asked.
     "Yeah.  It feels better." Apollo replied shortly.
     "Good."
     "Do you know what you're doing?" Apollo asked him after a few
centons silence.
     "Which part?" 
     "Luana."  Apollo heard his friend sigh as they stumbled through the
high, dense foliage.  For a change, the lieutenant seemed short on words. 
"I thought you said you were just friends."
     "We were..." Starbuck defended himself.
     "And now?" Hades, as long as they were stuck with one another, he
might as well say what he was thinking.
     "We're still friends," Starbuck replied eventually and evasively. 
He was getting that pain again and could feel it spread from his flank
through to his abdomen.
     The communicator came to life, but Starbuck didn't hear the message. 
He was too busy trying to breathe his way through each excruciating
cramp.  He trudged onward holding onto Apollo, hoping the pain would pass
quickly as it had done when he was just with Luana.  Lu had not been
impressed that her second kiss had been interrupted much the same way as
the first.  
     Apollo was saying something to him, but Starbuck just didn't hear
him, so intent was he on trying to get through his latest bout of pain. 
Suddenly, his right foot disappeared beneath him into empty space and the
rest of him followed, pulling Apollo down with him.

* * * * *

     Apollo reflected that perhaps Starbuck hadn't just been ignoring him
as he lay in about thirty centimetrons of water at the bottom of some
kind of pit.  Taking a mental inventory of his body, he was surprised
that nothing was broken.  He recalled that he felt as though he was being
swallowed alive as he felt through soft dirt and foliage until he slid to
a stop in the water.  He crawled over towards Starbuck who was retching
in between moans of pain and gasping breaths.  The lieutenant did not
sound good.
     "Starbuck?" Apollo reached his friend who was curled up against the
wall of the pit with his head resting against the cool surface he had
found there.  The captain reached out to his friend and found an arm.  He
blinked furiously wishing his vision could let him determine if Starbuck
had received any further injuries from his fall or if this was the pain
that Luana and Lia had described.
     Apollo grabbed his communicator to contact Lia only to find it
defunct.  Apparently, the manufacturers didn't recommend submersion in
water.  Microns later he heard Starbuck's comm unit crackle to life and
Sheba's voice coming through.
     "Apollo, Starbuck, do you read?"
     Apollo reached around his friend to find the unit on his belt. 
Luckily, the lieutenant wasn't quite as soaked as his captain.  "Apollo
here.  Go ahead.  Over."
     "Are you okay? Over." 
     "I'm okay.  I'm not sure about Starbuck.  He's having a lot of pain
and he's vomiting.  I can't tell if it's another kidney attack or
something new.  Over."  He rested a hand on Starbuck's shoulder.  His
friend was taking deep, shuddering breaths and his body was tense.
     "We can see where you went down, but it seems to have back filled in
on itself.  The hole is closed from up here.  Is there another way in or
out?  Over." 
     Oh, frack!  Just perfect.  Here he was blind, in the dark, injured,
waist deep in water, with his best friend in agony from an undetermined
source.  Add to that the fact that Starbuck would have to be the one who
could see if there was another way out, unless, of course, the captain
wanted to crawl around on all fours until he found something.
     "Sheba, I can't see a fracking thing and I don't know if we're in a
tunnel, a cave or buried alive.  Just wait a couple centons and I'll get
back to you.  Over."  
     Starbuck suddenly started squirming frantically and Apollo backed
off not knowing what his friend was trying to do, but realizing he needed
some space to do it.  Starbuck gave a loud, long-drawn-out groan of pain,
which reminded Apollo of someone giving birth in one of those ridiculous
shows on the IFB.  Finally, his groaning stopped and he took several
short, gasping breaths while muttering, "Fracking, gallmonging,
snitradeous, son-of-a-daggit..."
     It was music to Apollo's ears and he couldn't help grinning as he
listened to Starbuck recite every curse word known to man and a few that
he probably made up on the spot as the lieutenant's breathing slowed to a
more normal rate.
     Starbuck looked around wondering who turned off the lights.  "Where
the frack am I?" he asked anyone who happened to be listening.  He was
dirty, wet and uncomfortable.  Frack, I can't take a bath and stay clean
for more than five centons!
     "You tell me," Apollo replied.  "We fell down here just after Lia
warned us over the comm that there was some kind of camouflaged animal
trap we should avoid.  Are you okay?"
     Starbuck snorted.  "Define 'okay'.  I don't remember Lia warning
us."
     "Well, did your pain start before we fell or after?"
     "Uh..." he remembered.  "Before.  Frack, I'm sorry, Apollo.  This is
my fault.  I should have just stopped... I guess I thought it would pass
again." 
     "Again?" Apollo asked.  "How often are these attacks coming,
Starbuck?"
     "Too often." Starbuck was sure he had just passed the blood clot
from Hades Hole and was optimistic he was due for a reprieve.  
     Apollo could hear him squirming around again and making a few more
adjustments.  "Did you pass blood again?"
     "I hope so, either that or I'm a mother." 
     "Not funny." 
     "Try passing a blood clot and you'll know how 'not funny' it really
is." Starbuck got to his feet reaching around to take off the pack.  He
dug through blindly until he found the illuminator and turned it on. 
"What about you, are you...?  Holy frack..." Starbuck gazed around him in
horror.  They were in a small chamber that had two exits.  Closer to the
exit on his right was an altar.  Starbuck flashed the light up on the
walls of the chamber to reveal hundreds of cracked or crushed skulls
staring back at him.  He slowly turned in a circle as he made certain
that the dead and decapitated were their only companions.
     "What is it?" Apollo asked.  He did not like Starbuck's tone of
voice and prepared himself for the worse.
     "It's the chamber from my... nightmare.  Even the altar and the
skulls.  Two exits though.  Frack, Apollo, let's get the Hades out of
here."
     "Wait a micron, Starbuck.  Let me talk to Sheba first.  If we get
too far away, we may lose the signal."  Apollo told him.  "Come in
Sheba."
     "Go ahead, Apollo."  She replied through the comm unit.
     Starbuck half listened to Apollo talking as he made his way to first
one exit and then the other.  The exit on the right seemed to emanate a
slight musty smell that did not agree with the lieutenant's
sensibilities.  He walked down it about ten metrons and his unease grew
though he couldn't exactly pinpoint why.  Quickly backtracking, he tried
the second exit.  A faintly familiar sound resounded through the tunnel
as he made his way along it.  He knew he should be able to place it, but
right now the fact that it just didn't set off any internal alarms gave
it a glowing recommendation in his books.  They would go left.  He
returned to the chamber.
     "All right, Sheba.  Thanks for the assist.  Over." Apollo was
concluding his conversation.
     "Well?" Starbuck asked.
     "Great news.  Boomer just arrived via shuttlecraft.  Sheba raised
them on the comm.  They did a fly by and their geotechnical scanner shows
both tunnels and two exits to the outside.  Apparently, the path on the
right..." Apollo pointed about half way between the two exits, "... is
the shorter path.  We could meet up with them close to our ships."
     "What about the other path?" Starbuck asked.  He watched as the
captain again indicated an area about half way between the paths.  Apollo
was obviously a bit disoriented.  Not surprising, considering his loss of
sight.
     "Well, it's a lot longer.  It would come out close to our ships as
well, but it basically loops out and around the other path and approaches
from the opposite direction.  It would take twice as long to cover.  The
women are going to head towards the ships to meet up with Boomer. 
Hopefully, we'll be seeing him soon."  Apollo felt a sense of relief that
they had some back up.  He wasn't sure why Commander Adama had the
prescience to send another rescue party, but he was certainly glad that
he did.
     Starbuck knew in his gut that the 'right' way was the wrong way. 
"Apollo, I think we should go left."
     "Why?  Boomer's scans didn't pick up any unidentified life forms in
either tunnel." Apollo replied.  He knew his knee wasn't going to last
much longer and the shorter path would be a lot easier on it.   
     "I don't know, buddy.  I just have a bad feeling about that route."
Starbuck told him frankly.
     "Starbuck, you've been hanging around Ama too long.  You're getting
as superstitious as the Empyreans." Apollo chuckled.
     "Well, if you remember correctly, in the vision it was my head
getting bashed in by demonic creatures with big clubs, not yours.  That
alone should give me some say in this." Starbuck argued, not entirely
appreciating Apollo's sudden sense of humour.
     "C'mon, Bucko.  Don't start to lose it on me.  We need to pull it
together if we're going to get out of here." Apollo knew his friend was
in pain as well as exhausted.  Frack, he could relate to that.  He needed
to get Starbuck off his superstitious tangent and back to reality.  The
reality was that Boomer gave them all the evidence that supported taking
the path to the right.
     Oh, great.  Now Apollo thought he was losing it.  He admitted his
last statement might not have been the most rational argument for taking
the longer path.  Starbuck wanted to end this little jaunt as much as the
captain, but still had a strong sense that they should go left.  He
reflected his instinct had been very good to him over the yahrens, but in
the service one did not qualify their actions based on gut feelings and
especially on, "Well, this Empyrean necromancer told me to follow my
instincts if I had to make a difficult choice".   Yeah, that would go
over really well.  Under normal circumstances, Apollo would be more
likely to listen to his friend, but Starbuck knew the captain was hurting
and getting impatient.  When push came to shove, Starbuck reasoned he
would rather trust his instinct over some electronic felgercarb. 
However, he still knew he wasn't going to change the captain's mind.  He
sighed deeply as he swung the pack over one shoulder.  "Okay, buddy, but
if you're wrong, you owe me several Empyrean Ales and at least as many
fumarellos."
     "It's a deal." Apollo smiled.  Good old Starbuck.  He could always
count on him in the end.
     Good old Starbuck put an arm around the captain to support him and
carefully maneuvered him towards the path as he began to describe exactly
what made Empyrean Ale and Tobacco so vastly superior to their
predecessors.  As they proceeded he could hear that familiar noise
getting louder and noticed the air getting warmer.  He hated to mislead
the captain, but it really seemed to be the only course of action right
now.  At least, this way he wasn't disobeying a direct order.  Hades, if
they could get to the ships quickly enough, Apollo may never even realize
he had been hoodwinked.  Yeah, right, Bucko.  Tell me another one.




Part Twenty-Four     

     Lieutenant Boomer stood just outside the hatch of the shuttle
looking out over the deserted landscape.  It was almost sunrise.  It had
been a long time since he had an opportunity to just watch a sunrise.  He
could hear Cree and Giles unloading the landram.  He had just checked in
with Bojay who was organizing the geotechnical surveys that the Commander
had suddenly deemed necessary.  As a seeming after thought, Adama had
told Boomer to take a shuttle, a med tech and five warriors to rendezvous
with Apollo's rescue team.  After all, any injured warriors would not be
capable of flying their Vipers.  When Boomer had asked if Apollo had
contacted them, the Commander had responded in the negative.  However,
Boomer felt Adama was holding back something.  Of course, the other
unusual aspect of this landing party was the inclusion of Athena.  The
Commander had assigned her to the mission as shuttle pilot.  Boomer was
well aware Athena had to maintain a minimum of hours to keep up her pilot
status.  He felt confident in her abilities as she was both an
outstanding pilot and warrior.  It was unfortunate they had lost her to
the bridge.
     "Lieutenant Boomer, Sir, Lieutenant Jolly wants to talk to you,"
Varick told him.  
     Ensign Varick was a recent member of Luana and Lia's graduating
class.  The strange thing about Varick was that he was the epitome of
military protocol.  He had said 'yes sir' to Boomer so many times that he
was beginning to feel positively archaic.  The really mind boggling thing
about the ensign was he was a member of Starbuck's class.  Two things
about this confused Boomer.  The first was who in Hades had hammered the
protocol into Varick's head because he had a very hard time believing it
was Starbuck.  The second was how Starbuck hadn't strangled him in the
middle of a 'yes sir', thereby, curtailing the man's graduation all
together.
     "I'll be right there, Varick." Boomer told him taking another look
in the distance for the enemy.
     "Yes, sir.  I'll inform Lieutenant Jolly." Varick disappeared back
into the shuttle.
     Boomer shook his head and wondered what his 'yes sir' limit was. 
Perhaps this was Starbuck's idea of a sick joke.  That was probably it,
now that he thought about it.  Starbuck had probably told the ensign that
Boomer was a stickler for protocol; therefore, ensuring Varick would
annoy the Hades out of him the first chance they got to spend any
prolonged amount of time together.  Typical Starbuck.   He grinned as his
keen eyes scanned the vicinity.  He had forgotten how beautiful a sunrise
was.  Subtle shades of pink, red and orange were strewn across the sky
with the sun a fiery ball of bright yellow.  Breathtaking.  One last look
and he entered the shuttle.
     "Athena, keep an eye out." He told her as he passed by on his way to
the cockpit.  Athena nodded and headed outside.  Boomer sat down and
grabbed his headset.  "Boomer here, Jolly.  Go ahead."
     "Boomer, we have a problem.  I just scanned that tunnel we tried to
send Apollo and Starbuck through.  It's crawling with 'unidentified life
forms' all of a sudden.  The good news is they didn't take that tunnel; I
scanned two humans in the longer tunnel.  However, that tunnel also has
some of the same life forms in it, just not nearly as many."
     "How can that be?  Are you picking up the life forms entering the
tunnel?" Boomer asked perplexed.
     "Negative, Boomer.  All of a sudden they're just there.  I can't
explain it.  It's like our scanners just woke up and started reading
them... or maybe..."
     "Or maybe the creatures just woke up and we could suddenly read
them." Boomer finished.  "They could go into some deep sleep that doesn't
allow our scanner to pick them up."
     "Didn't Sheba say they were diurnal?" Jolly asked.
     "Yes, she did.  Any sign of the women?" Boomer asked.  Once he
realized that the missing warriors would be passing through tall
grasslands as they circled around for their approach from the west, he
decided to meet them in the landram.  At least if these creatures woke
ready for a confrontation, they would have the necessary firepower to
incinerate them.  He was glad Sheba had been able to brief him on the
enemy before he encountered them.
     "Yep.  They're only a kilometron to the northwest.  You should be
able to pick them up easily.  Still no signs of the enemy.  By the way,
the Skipper and Starbuck are only half way through the tunnel and they're
moving slower than a geriatric conga line."
     "Thanks, Jolly.  We'll be under way in a few centons.  Over." 
Boomer moved into the back of the shuttle where the med tech was
gathering her equipment.  "Cassiopeia, we're almost ready.  I'll give you
a hand with your equipment."
     "Thanks, Boomer." Cassie told him as she handed him a large bag full
of medical supplies.  She knew she had probably brought way too much, but
since they had the space in the landram, she would rather be oversupplied
than undersupplied.  She was anxious to see her friends and especially to
make sure they were okay.  Boomer had informed her that they were almost
all injured in some capacity, but they were also still carrying on
despite their injuries, which was encouraging.  Most of all she wanted to
make sure Starbuck was all right.  Sheba had mentioned his bloody urine
and the med tech realized that could be serious.  She reassured herself
that if he was still supporting Apollo as they walked through a tunnel,
it was probably relatively minor in aetiology.

* * * * *

     Luana was amazed at how effectively Sheba was avoiding speaking to
her.  However, there was nothing that annoyed Luana more than being
ignored and Sheba's avoidance tactics just spurred her on towards a
confrontation.  The truth of the matter was Luana liked everything out in
the open.  She didn't have any use for diplomacy.  Wasn't that something
that came with age?  She wasn't ashamed of anything she had done with
Starbuck... frack, they had barely done anything!!  Just a couple of
libidinous kisses that she would treasure for the rest of her life should
their relationship never go any further than that.
     Luana had spent a lot of time wondering about her relationship with
Starbuck.  She knew he was attracted to her, but Starbuck had told her
despite that attraction he didn't want to hurt Cassie.  Mind you, he also
had stated he didn't want to hurt her.  What was the alternative?  Didn't
he have to hurt one of them?  She knew Cassiopeia would take it very hard
if Starbuck did pursue his relationship with Luana, but Cassie was
resilient.  Besides, Lu had heard that the med tech had openly been
involved with an old guy named Cain at the same time she was seeing
Starbuck.  Apparently, the old guy was Sheba's father.  How weird was
that?  If Cassie could date Cain and Starbuck at the same time, wasn't
Starbuck seeing Luana just fair turn around?
     "Keep your eyes opened.  The sun's coming up." Sheba told the women
behind her.  She surveyed the area for any sign of the creatures, but
reasoned they had to come out of their lairs before they could catch up
with the warriors.  
     "How much further do you think it is?" Lia asked, simply to make
conversation.  She was tired of deflecting the tension between Sheba and
Luana.  Oh, it would be wonderful to see Boomer's friendly face.  She was
so tired that she was sure she could sleep for days on end... well, at
least once she knew Starbuck and Apollo were safe.
     "Boomer said he'd meet us in the landram.  I'm surprised we haven't
heard it yet.  Should be any time now, Lia." Sheba reassured her.  She
was also keen to end their endless hike around this cursed planet.  It
must be almost forty centars since she and Luana had landed on the
planet.  Forty centars of absolute Hades.  She was relieved that Boomer
was there.  After Apollo, there was no one she would rather be
responsible for running this type of recovery mission.  Boomer was as
reliable and steadfast as they came.  The only surprises with Boomer were
the seemingly endless talents the man had that came in handy in every
situation imaginable.  
     "I think I hear it now," Luana added.   
     Sure enough Sheba heard the vehicle's approach within a couple of
microns.  Rescue.  She could feel a surprising tightness in her throat
and chest and had to blink back tears.  Steady, Sheba.  They still had to
find Apollo and Starbuck.  This isn't over yet.
     Lia watched curiously as the landram approach.  She had never
actually seen one in use before.  Nice big laser right on top, she noted
with enthusiasm.  Very effective for battling their demons.  She wondered
fleetingly if there was any symbolism in that last thought.  As the
vehicle approached she realized it was Varick on top the manning the
impressive gun.  He must be in his element.  She felt the smile spread
across her face as Luana whooped in joy when she recognized her
classmate.  
     "Varick, I always knew you'd turn into a big shot!" Luana hollered
at him and laughed as he grinned in response to her harassment.  She felt
like dancing rings around the landram as it came to a stop and the hatch
opened.  
     Varick leapt down and hugged both sisters happy to know their
graduating class was still intact so few days after the ceremony. 
"Luana, the whole class said to give you a hug.  We thought we lost you,
brat."  He gave her another hug as if to make good on his promises to his
classmates.
     Boomer walked out of the hatch to see Ensign Varick embracing his
friends.  Yeah, the guy probably wasn't as big a pain in the astrum as
he'd thought.  Definitely some Starbucking going on here.  He moved over
to Sheba to give her a hug.  They all looked relieved and exhausted. 
"How are you holding up?" he asked Sheba.
     "I'll be a lot better when we pick up Apollo and Starbuck.  How far
away are we?" She asked as he released her.
     "Only about two kilometrons to the tunnel.  The problem is, they're
only half way through.  Come inside.  I'll brief you all as we go. 
Cassiopeia wants to check you all over."

* * * * *

     Apollo couldn't believe how humid the tunnel was.  He felt as though
he was in a steam bath the further they progressed.  His knee was getting
increasingly sore and he knew he should stop and get something for pain. 
He must be getting old.  It didn't seem that long ago that he had taken
something for pain.  His laboured breathing echoed in his ears as he
trudged alongside Starbuck.  Why was he so fracking sore all of a sudden? 
He reached up and wiped the sweat away that was pouring down his face. 
He really needed to lose the flight jacket.  This was discouraging
because he thought they would be out of the tunnel by now.  Yeah, not
like you can see your chronometer to see how long Starbuck has dragged
you along.  Wait a centon... that was it... Starbuck wasn't dragging him
along anymore.  No fracking wonder he was so sore.  He was just limping
along on his injured knee bearing most of the weight himself.  Starbuck
was also breathing hard; in fact, his breathing was shallow and ragged.
     "Starbuck, let's take a break." Apollo told him breathlessly.  He
heard an incoherent reply, but they came to a stop and the lieutenant
helped lower him to the ground.
     Starbuck felt like mong.  He sat down beside the Captain and handed
him a beverage.  He dared not drink anything himself because his bladder
was so distended that it was going numb and he couldn't fracking urinate! 
He licked his cracked lips.  It had been centars since he had braved the
drinking of beverages and he found the humidity in the tunnel a welcome
relief.  He listened to Apollo guzzle down the beverage as he wondered
just how much further he could go on.  So much for instinct, Bucko.  You
choose the longer tunnel only to collapse part way through it.  A
stabbing pain shot through his left flank and he arched his back and
gritted his teeth, a groan escaping his lips.  He closed his eyes noting
how the light from the illuminator penetrated through his eyelids.  Now
would be a good time to be sacrificed... just incase anyone wanted to
know.
     Apollo grabbed the hypospray after rifling through the pack and
tried to see the setting for analgesia.  Frack!  Even when he was trying
to do something that should be simple he was thwarted.  Wait a centon. 
What was the last drug given?  He racked his brain.  Well, it was either
an anti-inflammatory or an analgesic and Starbuck could probably benefit
from either one right now.  He activated the hypo.
     Starbuck felt a slight dulling of his pain.  He took a few deep
breaths waiting for the blood clot to pass.  This one was high up.  It
must be right at his kidney.  He had a constant pressure in his side, a
pounding headache and to round things out nicely was beginning to feel
lightheaded and nauseous.  He took some more deep breaths and tried to
think of something pleasant.  His mind focused on Cassie.  She had looked
so beautiful on their last date.  He wondered if there was a med tech
with Boomer.  Maybe it would be Cassie.  Something in the back of his
mind nudged him, but he chose to ignore it, as only Starbuck can do.
     Apollo was tempted to give his friend another injection, but
recalled Luana's warning about double dosing the lieutenant.  Imagine
Starbuck being sensitive to narcotics.  He didn't know why that seemed so
bizarre, after all, Starbuck smoked and drank, he didn't abuse drugs. 
The captain put his hand on the lieutenant's wrist and noted with alarm
that his pulse was alarmingly high and seemed irregular.  He mused that
the tables had turned and it was going to be up to him to get them out of
there.  



Part Twenty-Five

     The rescuers were excited to see their friends in one piece and
greeted them all warmly.  Within no time Cassiopeia had efficiently
examined them, treated them and cleared them as fit for duty, with the
exception of a very annoyed Luana.
     "What?  How can I not be fit for duty?  I've been hiking all over
Hades Hills with this shoulder injury and I've done just fine!" Luana
argued.  "I'll be damned if I'm going to sit in this fracking landram
when Starbuck and Apollo are still out there in danger!"
     "That's exactly what you're going to do," Cassie informed her. 
"You've been running on adrenaline for so long that you don't even
realize that your shoulder is not only lacerated, but your trapezius
muscles are damaged and you have a low grade fever.  It's time to rest,
Luana.  You've certainly already done your part."
     "She certainly has." Sheba added.  She met the younger woman's glare
with her own.  If Cassie only knew what her patient had been up to with
Starbuck, she may be a little less... professional.
     Cassie's gaze flickered over both of them.  Just what was going on
here?  Sheba and Luana were both known for being a bit... temperamental. 
Not unlike Starbuck, she mused with a smile.  She caught Athena also
looking at them perceptively.  Hmm.  What had Athena figured out that she
hadn't?  She again looked at Luana who seemed to be avoiding her eye. 
She sighed... Starbuck.

* * * * *

     Apollo reached into the pack searching for the duct tape.  If he was
going to be hauling Starbuck along beside him, he was going to have to
wrap his leg tighter.  He pulled the tape out and ran his fingertips over
it lightly, trying to find the end.  Frack!  Everything had to be
difficult!
     Starbuck could hear Apollo cursing softly to himself.  He looked
over to see the captain battling with the tape.  It was actually quite
amusing to watch him trying to find the end.  It was one of those stupid
things that happened to people everyday, but was made all the more
frustrating by virtue of the fact Apollo couldn't see.  He thought about
smiling, but was too tired to do so.
     Apollo finally managed to find the end and began to tear a strip off
the roll.  He leaned over his leg in concentration attempting to wrap it
like Starbuck had done previously.  Of course, he chose to leave his
pants in place, deciding this was the least important part of the ritual. 

     Starbuck watched as his friend began to wrap the tape around his
leg.  He shook his head in wonder as dirt, pebbles, and wrinkled fabric
were taped to the pants.  Part of the tape had folded over on itself
rendering most of the exercise pointless.  The captain then began cursing
anew as he realized he didn't leave himself a tagged end to restart the
process.  Once again he began searching for the end of the roll.
     "Let me," Starbuck found himself saying.
     Apollo looked up in surprise.  He had actually thought the
lieutenant had passed out; he was so quiet after the last series of
spasms.  "Are you sure you can?"
     "Yeah, but ... lose the pants.  It won't work." He winced as his
head pounded.  Apollo didn't reply at first, but Starbuck waited
patiently for him to comply.  After all, he wasn't going anywhere.  He
closed his eyes until he heard the captain shifting his body and clothing
as requested.
     "Okay, Starbuck." Apollo had been ready for a few centons.  He was
wondering if his friend was still conscious.
     Starbuck's eyes flew open.  Oops.  He began tightly wrapping
Apollo's leg.  "How's it feel?"
     "Sore," the captain replied.  He could feel Starbuck's hands shake
as they wrapped his leg.  "Bucko, tell me the truth.  How are you?"
     "Not so good."  Starbuck sighed.  "Hurts like Hades."
     "What does?" Apollo asked.
     "My bladder is going to burst... and I can't...urinate.  My back is
killing me.  I have a... headache from Hades." 
     "Sounds like you need something else for pain at the very least,"
Apollo told him.  "Luana said last time you had two doses she was afraid
she'd overdosed you, but if you're still in a lot of pain it should be
fine."
     "Care to join me?" Starbuck asked as if they were sitting down to
share drinks.
     "I'd love to." After all, that was why the captain had first decided
to stop.  He felt Starbuck stop wrapping his knee and soon felt the
hypospray against his skin.  Whoosh!  Oh, that took the edge off his
pain.  He heard Starbuck mutter, "anti-inflammatory" and felt another
drug enter his system.  Much better.
     Starbuck gave himself a narcotic and then, after feeling only
marginally better, decided to repeat it.  Whoosh!  Well, they say three
times is the charm.  Whoosh!!  He suddenly felt Apollo's hand on his own.
     "Hey, don't kill yourself, buddy."  Apollo had counted four doses in
total since the last kidney attack had begun.  Starbuck was clearly in
one Hades of a lot of pain to still be upright after that.  He quickly
checked the lieutenant's pulse, which had slowed to a more normal rate
and was still strong.
     Starbuck's mind worked on a wide array of possible comebacks to that
comment, but his heart just wasn't in it.  He started working on Apollo's
knee again and finished immobilizing it.  "Done."
     "You're done my leg or you're done in?" Apollo asked as he
readjusted his clothing.
     "Your leg, but... I don't know if I can..." Starbuck stammered. 
"Why don't you...oh, frack..." He realized he couldn't send Apollo ahead
alone.  He can't fracking see, you idiot!!
     Apollo knew what his friend was thinking.  He also knew Starbuck
would drag himself onward until he collapsed if doing otherwise meant
putting the captain at risk.  "We're going to get out of here, Starbuck. 
I promise you that."
     "Right." Starbuck said doubtfully.  He had heard something moving
their way from ahead of them.  "Move it, buddy, we have company coming." 
In a micron he had climbed to his feet and was pulling Apollo up to join
him.  
     Apollo tried to carry his own weight so as not to be a burden to
Starbuck.  All of a sudden they seemed to be on their astrums sliding
down some kind of embankment.  Apollo could smell a strong  and the
moisture in the air increased substantially.  He heard his feet splash
into something wet as they came to a stop.  
     "Shh!!" Starbuck whispered.  The small underground stream had
paralleled their path for some time now.  It appeared to be some kind of
thermal spring.  In any other circumstance he would have tried it out by
now, not to mention figured out a plan to market it.  Wait a centon; he'd
forgotten the pack!  Frack.  Nothing was going their way.  At least
they'd topped up on painkillers before losing it.
     Steady footsteps approached until they were just above the warrior's
hiding place.  They paused and hissed to one another.  A low growl was
heard and then the footfalls hurried off in the direction Starbuck and
Apollo had first come from.
     Apollo sighed in relief.  "I thought Boomer said there were no
creatures in the tunnels.  For that matter, I thought we'd be out of here
by now."
     "Uh..." Starbuck thought about telling the captain the truth.
     "What?" Apollo asked.  His friend had truly become incoherent...
even more so than usual.
     "Well, I kind of..." They say it goes better if you confess your
sins before death.  Mind you, that would take a very long time.  Starbuck
didn't think they actually had that kind of time.
     "Starbuck??!!" Apollo suddenly realized they were in the wrong
tunnel.  "Why in Hades would you take us the long way?"
     Starbuck was actually wishing a cramp or an enemy attack would come
along about now.  "It just seemed to be the right course of action at the
time."
     "And what about now?" Apollo asked in disbelief.
     "I'd like to postpone my answer until I've checked in with the local
soothsayer."  Narcotics are a nice thing.  He was finally starting to
feel a bit better.  "Can you swim with one leg?"
     "Are you whacked out?" Apollo asked him.  
     "I don't think that answers my question.  I'm on drugs though, so
explain it to me if I'm wrong."
     One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.  Deep
breaths.  Don't slap him, he's injured, Apollo reminded himself.  "How
deep is the water?"
     "Don't know." Starbuck got up and waded into the stream first
removing his holster and belt.  He was quickly up to his chest.  The
water was warm and soothing.  "Chest deep.  Might actually be easier for
you.  Think of it as hydro-therapy."
     "That's the most sensible thing you've said since you had the
narcotics.  Can you help me up?" he was still unable to get up with his
knee immobilized into the extended position.
     Starbuck returned to his friend and pulled him to his feet after
taking a quick look for the abandoned pack.  Make that the abandoned
missing pack.  Starbuck's head spun as they stood upright.  Probably the
drugs.  He guided Apollo into the water and heard a happy groan as the
warm water surrounded the captain.
     "It's like Paradise." Apollo said.  He lifted his laser above the
water and half swam and half hopped along propelling himself downstream. 
He could see the blur that was Starbuck just ahead of him and followed in
his wake.

* * * * *

     "Well, not much choice here people.  Frontal assault.  One way in,
one way out.  The latest from Jolly shows about a dozen of the enemy in
the tunnel mainly located here." Boomer indicated the spot on the
tactical board in the landram.  He had quickly configured a map on the
computer for their attack.  "There are others outside, but the landram's
gunnery should take care of them.  Right, Ensign Varick?"
     "Right, sir." Varick reassured him.  Lieutenant Boomer so far didn't
seem quite as uptight as Starbuck had led him to believe, but his
instructor did say that if he stuck to protocol the man should be easier
to get along with.  "Just watch out for his temper," Starbuck had warned
him.
     Boomer closed his eyes.  Yet another, 'sir'.  "At ease, Ensign." He
said in an exasperated voice.
     "Yes, sir," Varick responded.  Apparently, Starbuck was right. 
Boomer did have a temper... a somewhat misdirected temper, at that.
     Boomer shook his head.  "All right, Sheba, Lia and Varick are with
the landram.  After Sheba's briefing, we can confidently blast away at
anything that isn't human.  Especially, 'unidentified life forms'.  Aim
for the Alrinachs' heads.  Athena, Cree, Cassiopeia and Giles are with
me.  We go in quietly until we locate Apollo and Starbuck, and then we do
what we have to until we get them out.  There's an underground stream
that parallels the path.  If we have to we can move into the stream to
avoid the Alrinachs.  That just may be where we find our friends anyway."
     "You may have to carry Apollo out of there." Sheba warned them.  She
was still getting used to the enemy having a name.  Apparently, it came
courtesy of Ama.  Go figure.
     "I have the anti-gravity stretcher." Cassie reassured her.  When she
was done with Starbuck they may be wishing she had two of them.
     "What about me?" Luana met Boomer's gaze.  "C'mon, Boomer, I can't
just sit here."
     "Jolly will be standing by for a strafing run if we need it on your
call, Luana." Boomer told her.  "You are to stay inside the landram. 
That's an order, Ensign.  Understood?"
     "Yes, sir." She replied somewhat mollified to be doing something
useful.
     The warriors took their positions and the landram started off. 
Boomer knew they would be at the mouth of the tunnel within centons.  He
checked his weaponry and wished he could risk using the communicator. 
However, for all he knew Apollo and Starbuck could be in a tenuous
position in which a sudden spiel could put them in danger.  According to
Jolly, they were almost at the point where the creatures had congregated. 
Thankfully, their pace had picked up.  Besides, communicators worked both
ways.  They could contact him. 

* * * * *

     Starbuck froze as he heard hissing.  He grabbed Apollo's arm to
steady him as they collided.  Again, there it was.  He killed his
illuminator as he moved closer to the bank.  "Stay put, I'll check it
out," Starbuck whispered to the captain.
     Starbuck silently made his way downstream where the water became
deeper and he ended up swimming. It was quite a challenge while trying to
keep his weapon dry.  Terrific.  There were about ten creatures lazing on
the bank.   They had never looked so lizard-like as they did now, as they
curled comfortably on the ground, well, except for the avian feet and the
bovine head.  He continued to watch them and realized they weren't
moving.  They seemed to be asleep.  Just the occasional hiss coming from
one of them.  Perhaps that was their rendition of a snore.  He retreated
and returned to Apollo.
     "I counted ten.  They might be asleep.  Also, the water gets deeper. 
I had to swim." Starbuck relayed.
     "Might be asleep?  Any way to make sure?"
     "What do you want me to do?  Throw a rock at them?" 
     "Hey, it's just a very big 'might be'.  If they're not asleep, we're
in big trouble." Apollo replied.
     "We could try the path again.  Especially, if you're not up to
swimming." Starbuck suggested, though he was reluctant to leave the
comfort of the mineral spring.
     "We'll probably make more noise on the path than we will in the
water."  Apollo reasoned.  "Besides, you were right.  It's easier on my
knee in the water." 
     "Fine.  They wake up, we shoot them." Starbuck suggested the
obvious.
     "That's a good plan." Apollo smiled at him.  "Let's just hope a
dozen more don't follow the sound of our weapons."
     "Yeah... good point." Starbuck just wanted this adventure to be
over.  He gripped his weapon tightly and led his captain downstream.

Part Twenty-Six

     Athena followed Boomer through the entrance to the cave.  It was
surprisingly warm and the air was humid.  He pointed to the steam rising
from the stream and she nodded.  She wondered if Starbuck had figured out
how to turn this place into a health spa to make his latest fortune.  She
could just imagine the patrons climbing out of the warm water to cool
themselves down with an ice cold Empyrean Ale.  Of course, the murderous
Alrinach's would have to go.  Perhaps Starbuck could come to some sort of
arrangement with them as he had done in Serenity.  She could almost
picture the strange creatures wearing vests and bowties and carrying
serving trays of ale.  Oh, you have spent far too much time with that
man!  You're beginning to think like him.  
     That was one of the things she had loved about Starbuck... still
loved about him.  He brought out her offbeat side.  She knew she had
inherited that from her mother.  Ila had adored Starbuck when she met
him.  He had stopped by their house in Caprica City to meet the infamous
Adama family when he realized he and Apollo were on furlough at the same
time.   By the end of the evening he had firmly entrenched himself in
their hearts.  Certainly that was most true with Ila and Athena.  Apollo
had watched in amusement as his mother and sister fussed over his friend. 
Of course, Starbuck enjoyed every centon.  It was quite a surprise to all
of them when Adama had shown up unannounced the following day.  No one
was more surprised than the Commander when he walked in to find Starbuck
sitting at the kitchen table being served java, home made biscuits and
fresh brambleberry jam... all of Adama's favourites.  Starbuck had taken
it in stride and only seemed slightly uncomfortable when Ila had
explained to her husband that she had invited Starbuck to stay for the
duration of his secton's leave. Adama had raised his eyebrows more than
once in the next few days, but not at Starbuck's antics so much as his
family's.  They had joined in the young man's shenanigans and even tried
to outdo him.  Adama had wondered when Zac had become such a prankster
and decided he could comfortably blame it on Starbuck's influence. 
Actually, it was a joy to see his family so relaxed and simply having
fun.  More often than not, Adama's furloughs were spent trying to make up
for lost time with loved ones and counting down the centars that were
simply too few before he again had to leave his family behind. 
     Since Athena had agreed to tutor Luana and Lia, she and Starbuck had
slowly renewed their old friendship.  It had been great fun for her to
spend some time with him without the strains or stresses of working on a
'relationship'.  It was also a relief to be able to join a group of their
friends without worrying about whether the 'ex' was going to show up.  It
was wonderful to see the easy camaraderie that they used to share
reinsert itself back into their lives.  After rejoining their mutual
circle of friends it wasn't a big surprise to Athena when Starbuck's
quirky friend, Ama, had approached her in the Officer's Club the night
before.
     Athena's first thought was to wonder what the civilian was doing in
the OC.  Then she recalled the latest rumour that Ama had threatened to
turn Reece into a porcine and surmised that Council Security probably
weren't the only ones who were intimidated by the woman.  She was an
imposing figure as she crossed the room wearing her animal skins with her
wild, white hair sticking out in every direction.  Apparently, the
retired Empyrean Necromancer had still not discovered the hairbrush.  Ama
gave her a mostly toothless grin that pretty much cleared the chairs
around her when Athena's companions realized whom the wild woman was
targeting.
     Ama laughed as she saw Athena's friends scurry away.  The look on
the poor girl's face was priceless.  She was trying very hard to smile,
but was clearly perplexed by the necromancer's sudden arrival.  "Athena,
so good to see you again.  You're looking ravishing, my dear.  I can't
believe that your male admirers are so yellowbellied.  Throw them all
over and find yourself a real man; one who has the guts to stand up to an
elderly, retired necromancer at the very least."
     Athena couldn't help but laugh.  "Oh?  Do you happen to know any?"
     Ama shrugged as she sat down opposite Athena.  "I admit they are a
bit rare around these parts.  What about Starbuck?"
     "No thanks, I've gone that route already.  Besides, he's taken."
     "Are you certain about that?  I don't recall being invited to a
sealing." Ama asked as she slouched down in her chair.
     "He's most assuredly with Cassiopeia.  You know that, Ama.  What are
you up to?"
     "Things aren't always as they seem Athena.  That's all.  Even an
aged crone like me can be surprised once in a while." Ama answered
elusively.
     "What's that supposed to mean?" Athena asked.  Ama seemed to be
beating around the proverbial battlestar about something.
     "You want me to be direct?" Ama asked seriously.
     "Well, as direct as you can be," Athena answered.  She had heard
many a story from Starbuck about this woman.  Directness wasn't always
her forte. 
     "I think Starbuck and Apollo are in grave danger."
     "Can you be more specific?" Athena asked although she was suddenly
getting shivers running up and down her spine from Ama's penetrating
stare and her soft, intense voice.  She leaned towards the old woman.
     "What's more specific than 'grave'?" Ama retorted.  "Where I'm from
that's as specific as dangerous can get."
     "You mean their lives are in danger.  Why do you think that?" Athena
asked.  Surely, she couldn't be expected to approach her father on a
hunch.  Wait a centon, where did that come from?  Who said anything about
approaching my father, Athena wondered.  She noticed Ama grinning at her
again.
     "So, you'll talk to Adama?  Good girl.  I knew I could rely on you. 
One thing about Starbuck, he does have great taste in women.  All of us!" 
She laughed uproariously and got up to leave.
     "Ama!  Wait just a micron!  What am I supposed to say to the
Commander?" Athena jumped to her feet.  Why was she feeling so anxious
all of a sudden?  Frack, no wonder this woman drives Starbuck to drink. 
     "Athena, I don't want you to talk to the Commander.  No, my dear, I
wouldn't ask such a thing of you.  I want you to beseech your father to
save your brother's life.  Quite a distinction, dear heart."  Ama reached
over and touched Athena's cheek gently.  "Love is a powerful weapon,
Athena.  You are the best warrior for this excursion."
     Athena wasn't sure if Ama meant the trip to visit Adama or the
rescue mission to the planet.  Ama winked at her as she turned to go and
it became clear that the necromancer meant both.
     Before she could string two logical thoughts together, Athena found
herself standing in front of her father's quarters.  An overwhelming
feeling of panic was growing within her and she almost didn't hear her
father's request to "enter".  By the time she found herself standing in
front of him she could feel tears welling up in her eyes as her anxiety
threatened to overcome her.
     Adama looked at his daughter in astonishment.  "Athena, what is it?" 
He took her by the shoulders and pulled her to him comforting her.  He
had not done this in a long time, he reflected.
     "Father, this isn't going to make any sense, but I have to tell you
anyway." Athena pulled back and warned him.  He nodded at her to continue
as he watched her with growing concern.
     "I think Apollo... and Starbuck... are in danger.  I think they need
help." She started.
     "Ama?" Adama asked.
     Athena's eyes opened wide in surprise.  "How did you know?"
     "I know she's been trying to speak to me, but I've been too occupied
to contact her.  I admit, Colonel Tigh has been... running interference
for me."  Adama had his usual day of trying to command a battlestar while
dealing with Council issues and fleet concerns.  In his wisdom, he had
decided that Ama could wait another day and if it was really important,
she would undoubtedly find some cosmic way of communicating with him.  He
had finally sat down for what he thought would be a moment's peace. 
"What did she say?"
     "I'm not even sure I can tell you.  She told me that Apollo and
Starbuck's lives are in danger.  Also that things are not always as they
seem.  She wanted me to talk to you and then told me that I should be on
this rescue mission.  I know that doesn't make a lot of sense, but... it
was almost like she was putting ideas into my head and emotions in my
heart."  Athena sighed as she turned around trying to remember what Ama
had said.  "Finally, she said to beseech my father to save my brother's
life."
     Adama reached out for his comm.  "Tigh, find Ama, the Empyrean
Necromancer, and bring her to me."

* * * * *

     Adama had many beliefs in life and one of them was that just because
he couldn't explain something, that didn't necessarily make it untrue. 
The Book of the Word was only one of several books of Holy Scripture he
had read in his lifetime because he knew that knowledge could only be
gained through study.  While he knew very little of Empyrean
Necromancers, Ama certainly had an impressive record for predicting the
future and lifting mystical curses.  Finally, as a father, he wasn't
about to put his son in danger if there was something he could do about
it.  Of course, the same could be said about the Commander regarding his
warriors.  He poured Ama a large glass of Empyrean Ale and placed it in
her hand.  He picked up his own glass and raised it to her.
     "Welcome, Ama.  I am honoured to share my bounty with the recently
retired Imperial Empyrean Necromancer."  A plate of Caprican delicacies
sat between them.  Sometimes it paid to be the Commander.  More often
than not, it was Adama who paid.
     Ama grinned and took a drink of the dark, brown beverage, swallowing
a third of the liquid in one gulp.  "No, Commander, it is I who am
honoured that you remember our traditions." She motioned to the food and
drink before them.  Any formal meeting between Empyrean Nobility was
preceded by food and beverage.
     "It is the least I could do when I took an inordinate amount of time
responding to your request.  Forgive my haste, but I gather the issue is
time sensitive." Why did he feel like he was talking to Siress Belloby?
     "Don't be so hard on yourself, Adama." Ama consoled him.  "You knew
I would find a way to reach you if it was important enough.  You can't
keep a good woman down."
     "Is mind reading also among your skill set, Ama?"
     "Simply the powers of deduction, my friend." She reassured him.  It
was always best to keep a man slightly out of kilter.  Frazzle them with
felger, so to speak.  She smiled as he thought about her words.  Adama
truly didn't know what to think of her.  How delightful!
     "You think our warriors are in danger." Adama reiterated what Athena
had told him.  Perhaps the direct approach was best with this woman.
     "I do," she agreed.
     "Why?" He sat back in his chair his arms resting on his chest,
fingers tips from each hand touching their opposite partner.
     "How can I elucidate on what I know to be true?  Can I explain a
lifetime of living and learning the art of necromancy so as to justify a
decision you must make?  I cannot.  I can merely tell you that if you do
nothing then evil will prevail." Ama returned.   It was that simple.  All
was up to Adama now.  There was nothing further to say... not if she was
to remain civil anyhow.
     "Very well.  Thank you for your time, Ama." Adama had not moved.
     "Is that a dismissal, Commander?"
     "I'm afraid it is.  I need to plan a rescue mission."  Adama stood
up.  He was beginning to think through some ideas of how he could explain
to the council a second rescue mission and using further precious
resources.
     "I'm no bureautician, Adama, but I understand the Council has been
pressuring you to replenish our ever diminishing tylium stores.  Perhaps
a complex geotechnical survey of the planet is in order.  However, that
would require significant manpower due to the dangerous presence of the
Alrinachs and I wouldn't be in a position of knowing whether you could
spare it."
     "On the contrary, Ama, you are an exceptional bureautician." He told
her as he watched her help herself to some Caprican Samples.  Not only
was the woman shrewd and perceptive, but incredibly well informed.
     Ama gave him a wink as she proceeded to wrap some food in a napkin
to take with her.  She rolled her eyes in appreciation as she savoured
the taste of the delicate tidbits.  "Very nice.  May the Lords be with
you, Adama.  You have a difficult choice to make.  Follow your instinct." 
That was always a good parting line with men: it puffed them up and got
them to think it was all their idea.  It was one of her many capstones,
to use a phrase of Starbuck's.  
     Adama was already running through procedure and policy in his mind
as Ama left his quarters.  It wasn't until after he had spoken with Tigh
and arranged to have Captain Bojay and Lieutenant Boomer summoned that it
suddenly occurred to him... the Alrinachs?

Part Twenty-Seven

     Starbuck's eyes adjusted to the slight glow that the rocks were
emitting as he swam closer to the creatures.  Apollo was just behind him
and he slowed slightly so he didn't outdistance his friend.  Apollo was
amazing.  The lieutenant tried to imagine attempting to swim with the use
of only one leg.  He almost wished he could climb out and take a good
look to see exactly what kind of stroke his friend had created that was
propelling him along.  He looked back at the captain who appeared to be
fully concentrating on keeping his head above water as he moved silently
and steadily forward.
     A sharp pain in his flank took Starbuck by surprise and his body
contorted as he took a gasping breath.  His lungs protested strenuously
as water tried to enter them.  Spasms racked his body and his arms
reached out frantically to get above the water, but he was paralyzed by
yet another shooting pain.  Although he was desperate to take a breath,
there was simply no air.  Despite his eyes being shut it seemed as though
his vision was fuzzy or perhaps that was his brain?  Within microns
Starbuck felt as though he was floating on a soft, gentle cloud. 
     A moment after Apollo saw Starbuck's blurry form disappear beneath
the water something brushed against his hand.  He reached out
instinctively trying to grab whatever piece of Starbuck it was, but
missed.  Frack!  Why didn't they think about what would happen if
Starbuck had another attack?  As he dived beneath the water he realized
that his friend would have bet against this happening regardless.  The
captain reached out blindly knowing this would be his best opportunity to
find Starbuck.  He didn't think the water was very deep and soon felt the
silt of the bottom against his hand.  He saw a shadow close by and swam
over to touch the unforgiving density of a rock.  Frack!!  His blurred
vision was even worse underwater.  Apollo started moving around reaching
out for any shadow or blur that could be his friend.  His lungs burned
with the need for oxygen as he proceeded and he finally surfaced for air. 
He took a frantic, gasping breath and then dived again.  

* * * * *

     Boomer was surprised that thus far they hadn't come across a single
Alrinach.  The scanners had shown them initially at the mouth of the
cave, but by the time the landram had arrived they had moved on.  Likely
they were out searching for the Colonial Warriors.  Athena was keeping a
close eye on the stream as they progressed down the tunnel.  She had
mentioned the possibility that Starbuck and Apollo would likely be moving
just as silently downstream and could possibly pass them by.  However,
first they would have to get past the congregation of Alrinachs that
wasn't far now.
     Athena knew they were almost upon the creatures.  Her eyes searched
the water carefully for any sign of her brother and friend.  She noticed
it was getting lighter as they drew nearer to the beasts.  The rock had a
strange luminescent quality that softly illuminated the area.  The air
had a musty odour to it that was growing in intensity with each passing
micron.  She heard a strange sound like liquid squeezing its way out of a
narrow passageway and the hissing of creatures echoed through the tunnel. 
She looked up to see Boomer bringing them to a halt as they all stared at
the bizarre sight before them.
     Ten creatures were squatting beside the stream in a trance-like
state.  They had dug burrows and the warriors could see a gelatinous
excretion oozing out of each perineum.   The Alrinachs seemed totally
oblivious to their presence.  
     "They're laying eggs," Cree whispered.  A wonder of nature was
occurring before their eyes and they continued to watch in fascination as
they got their first look at the strange creatures.
     Athena caught a glimpse of something out of the corner of her eye.  
She could see a head peaking out of the water and was surprised that she
didn't miss him.  Suddenly, she realized why she had almost not seen him
as he dived under the water after taking a gasping breath.  
     "Boomer!  In the water!"  She shouted before she took a running jump
and dived into the deep pool swimming as quickly as she could towards the
unknown warrior.
     Boomer watched Athena dive into the water and cross the pool with
strong, steady strokes.  He was about to join her as he noticed the
Alrinachs come out of their reverie.  Their growls echoed through the
tunnel as they stood and faced the intruders.  One of them let out a
shriek that had the warrior covering his ears.  With Athena in the water
and Apollo and Starbuck nowhere to be seen, there were few options.
     "Fire!" Boomer shouted.  He targeted the shrieking Alrinach and it
collapsed in a heap as Boomer's laser connected with its head.   Much
better.  He noted that Cree and Giles had also dropped their targets. 
Cassiopeia had disappeared and he whirled around to find her in the water
swimming slowly in Athena's wake, her medical equipment abandoned on the
bank.  Laser fire blared again as two more of the enemy dropped and
Boomer joined Giles and Cree in quickly eradicating the remaining
Alrinachs as they moved forward to attack.  The element of surprise was a
very effective and deadly tactic.
     Boomer approached the stream to reassess the status of the others. 
He could see someone beginning another dive and dropped his gun belt and
flight jacket, shouting back to Giles and Cree, "I want the best swimmer
in the water and one to stand guard.  Someone's drowning!"  Boomer dived
in to join the others.
     Giles pointed towards the water, "Go!" he shouted to Cree.  He hoped
the ensign was more adept at swimming than him and sighed in relief as
the younger man swam with the skill of a professional athlete and joined
the divers within microns.  Giles kept an eye out for Alrinachs
alternating with checking the status of the divers.  The tunnel was so
quiet it was eerie.  The only sounds were the splashes of the divers and
their deep breaths as they surfaced.  Frack, the time ticked by slowly
and though it was less than a centon, it seemed as though a centar had
passed when Cree surfaced supporting the limp body of a warrior.
     "I've got him!  It's Starbuck!" Cree shouted.  He hooked an arm
around Starbuck keeping the man's head above water as he swam steadily
towards the bank.  He was relieved to find Boomer at his side as his feet
struck bottom and the lieutenant helped him lift the warrior onto the dry
ground.  Cassiopeia was leaning over Starbuck and starting rescue
breathing so quickly the ensign wondered where she had materialized from.
     While relieved they had found Starbuck, Athena immediately realized
Apollo was still unaccounted for.  She looked around frantically for her
brother.  "Apollo!" she screamed.  Where the frack had he gone?  A head
surfaced only a metron away and gasped for air.  "Apollo!" she yelled
again afraid he would simply take another deep breath and dive again.
     Apollo couldn't believe the agony in his leg.  He knew he had
overused and abused it since falling into the tunnel, but he had little
choice since he was Starbuck's only chance.  The leg spasmed painfully
and he had trouble catching his breath as he attempted to tread water. 
He could feel himself slipping under the water as a yell penetrated his
senses.
     Athena reached out towards her brother as his head began to slip
beneath the water. She quickly got her arm around him and kicked strongly
towards the surface propelling him upward.  
     Apollo coughed and sputtered as his lungs fought to expel the
liquid.  Someone had him, but he didn't know who... or what.  He started
to struggle as he caught his breath.  He needed to find Starbuck!
     "Apollo!  It's Athena!" She shouted in his ear as he fought for his
freedom despite the spasms in his leg.  
     "Athena?"  Apollo stopped struggling and tried to help his little
sister by kicking with his good leg.  He groaned as the opposite leg
cramped again.  Frack.
     "Relax, I've got you." Athena told him.
     "But Starbuck...!" he started.
     "We've got him." She looked over to see Cassie's back leaning over
the supine warrior.  She couldn't tell what was happening.  Athena
started swimming towards the shore as she supported her brother.  She
thanked the Lords that Ama had come to find her the night before in the
Officer's Club.  Had they not been here Apollo just might have drowned. 
She looked anxiously in Starbuck's direction.

* * * * *

     Sheba sat atop the landram with Varick.  She couldn't believe things
had gone so smoothly.  No sign of the Alrinachs yet.  Suddenly, a
terrible shriek emanated from the tunnel followed quickly by laser fire. 
Hopefully, that meant Boomer's force had found Apollo and Starbuck.  She
listened as the laser fire stopped.  It was all over in half a centon.  
     "Sheba!  Varick!  We have company!" Lia shouted from the ground. 
Coming out of the woods on one side and the tall grasses on the other
side were the Alrinachs.  Lia began methodically firing as they
approached.
     "Incinerate the frackers!" Sheba said vehemently to Varick as she
jumped down to join Lia.  It was an awesome sensation to be standing in
front of the enemy fully armed with the power of the landram's gunnery to
back her up.  She had waited too long for this moment.
     Varick began blasting the enemy as ordered.  He realized as the
first Alrinach fell that this was the first life he had taken in combat. 
It was like a splash of cold water.  He gripped the laser tightly with
both hands as he again took aim at the enemy, the powerful weapon
dropping groups of them at a time as they rushed the warriors.
     Luana watched helplessly from within as her fellow warriors
decimated the enemy.  Frack, she wished she could have a go at that
weapon.  She could feel the power behind each pulse as the landram
shuddered beneath it.  It was just not fair that she was stuck inside out
of harm's way.  She banged her fist down on the control panel and a
stabbing pain shot through her shoulder.  Frack!
     Sheba couldn't believe the rage that threatened to consume her as
the memories of her capture flickered through her mind.  All of her pain,
fear, anxiety and sorrow washed over her like a storm as she pulled the
trigger on her weapon repeatedly until there was not a single Alrinach
left standing.  

* * * * *

     Cassiopeia tried to stay dispassionate as she pinched Starbuck's
nose and began breathing for him.  How long had he been under the water? 
What had happened to cause him to drown?  What other injuries did he have
besides the burns and skin tears on his neck and chest?  Her right hand
rested lightly on his carotid artery as she monitored his pulse.  Thank
the Lords for the pulse!   She couldn't believe that she had hurled
herself into the water like that, following Athena as if she was capable
of swimming well enough to save a drowning man!  Terror had gripped her
as she realized that either Starbuck or Apollo was under the water and
the remaining man was trying to save him.  She could admit now that she
was mainly terrified that somehow Starbuck's famous luck had run out and
it would be him.  As much as she loved Apollo as a friend, rational
thought would probably have replaced her blind rush to do anything to
save her lover, had it been Apollo they were diving for.  At one point
her common sense had returned and she struggled to make her way back
closer to dry land.  The others were in the water searching for the
missing warrior and she knew it was imperative that she be able to treat
him.  Of course, that wouldn't be possible if she was struggling to keep
her head above water.
     She could hear Athena screaming Apollo's name in the background and
wondered if he would be her next patient.  One at a time, Cass.  Focus. 
C'mon Starbuck, she silently cheered him on as her own heart raced and
tears welled up in her eyes.  Don't you dare do this to me, Starbuck!  I
have a few things to say to you, dammit!  She had been in the position of
losing him before, but not like this.  Not where her expertise and
experience were all that stood between life and death.  For a brief
moment she regretted her decision to become a med tech.  Why did she
never consider the possibility that one day she could be solely
responsible for losing someone she loved?  What if Salik was wrong when
he told her she was ready to take on more responsibility after finishing
her Third Level Med Tech qualifications?  Cassie had always been a
confident woman, but suddenly her heart was filled with fear, confusion
and self-doubt.  Starbuck coughed and Cassiopeia smoothly rolled him on
his side, away from her.  Her professional instinct was rewarded as he
began retching. 
     Boomer quickly moved out of the way as Starbuck curled onto his side
dry heaving and coughing.  He could see Giles wading into the stream to
help Athena with Apollo.  Cree was just behind him.  The blasts from the
landram's gunnery resounded through the tunnel and he knew that their
fight was far from over.  Cassiopeia was running her medical analyzer
over Starbuck.
     "Can we move him?" Boomer asked her.  They had to get out and soon. 
The sound of the artillery would bring more of the enemy.  He would
rather be in the landram on the way to the shuttle when that happened.
     Cassie examined the readouts.  She took several deep breaths to
steady herself as she nodded to Boomer.  "We're going to have to.  I need
to insert a nephrostomy tube and a urinary catheter and I'd rather not do
it here."
     "How serious is it?" Boomer asked.  He didn't know what a
nephrostomy was, but it didn't sound good.  Starbuck had stopped heaving,
but was curled tightly in a ball moaning in pain.
     "He's been bleeding internally.  His renal pelvis is distended with
urine so his ureter must be obstructed.  His abdomen is grossly distended
and I think it's mostly his bladder.  It's probably a urethral
obstruction."  She saw Boomer blink at her as she verbalized her
thoughts.  He had only understood part of what she was trying to explain. 
"Sorry, I need to do a more detailed scan.  I have the equipment on the
landram.  His blood pressure is very high and his renal function is
impaired.  We need to get him out of here soon, but he's holding his own
for now."  She leaned down and gave Starbuck something for pain.
     "Is Starbuck okay?" Apollo asked as Giles replaced Athena as his
crutch with Cree on his other side.
     "He's stable." Cassiopeia replied briskly.  She wasn't happy that
the lieutenant wasn't responding verbally, but she would have to assess
him further later.  "Put the captain down here." She directed his
subordinates as she motioned beside Starbuck.
     Cree and Giles lowered Apollo to the ground and watched as Cassie
examined him.  They noticed the blasts from the landram were only
sporadic now.  That boded well for a hasty exit from this tunnel.
      Boomer put a hand on Apollo's shoulder.  "How are you holding up,
buddy?"
     "I've never been so glad to hear your voice, Boomer.  Are Sheba, Lia
and Luana okay?" Apollo asked.  
     "They're fine.  Sheba's got us covered from the landram.  We'll be
out of here soon and on our way home.  Cassiopeia?" Boomer looked
enquiringly at the unflappable med tech.
     "Good to go, Boomer.  Apollo, you have a torn retina in one eye and
a completely detached retina in the other.  One of your ligaments is torn
in your knee.  I'm afraid you're going to have to wait until we get back
to the Galactica before we can do anything to help you.  Dr. Salik will
need to operate."  
     Apollo nodded.  "That's what Starbuck figured.  You've turned him
into a fine med tech, Cassiopeia." 
     She looked at him in surprise.  It was a shame that the personality
transfer didn't work both ways, she thought ruefully.  She could use some
of Starbuck's confidence and brashness right now.  "Apollo, how long do
you think Starbuck was under the water?"  She pivoted back to the
lieutenant again assessing his vital functions.
     "I'm not sure, Cassie.  Two or three centons at the most.  I think I
dived maybe three or four times before Athena pulled me out of there.  Is
something wrong?"  Apollo felt a hand gently squeeze his arm and knew his
sister was keeping a close eye on her big brother.  He patted her hand
affectionately in return.
     "Starbuck seems... for lack of a better phrase... out of it." She
replied honestly.  "I know that's common with drowning victims who have
been deprived of oxygen for too long.  It's also quite possibly related
to these chemistry results I'm getting." She noticed the confused faces
looking her way.  "His blood work is out of whack." She replied simply
and they nodded.  
     Athena leaned over Starbuck and whispered in her most seductive
voice, "Starbuck?"  She could hear the warriors snicker and even
Cassiopeia had to smile at her tack.
     Starbuck could hear the murmuring voices all around him but was
having difficulty trying to differentiate words.  If only the pain would
stop.  The pain was all around him and came repeatedly in waves that
started in his back and radiated through his genitals and down into his
legs.  He felt dizzy, nauseated and confused.  It he stayed very still
and tried not to breathe too deeply, it was tolerable... almost.  The
voices were all familiar and that strangely comforted him as he lay there
curled on his side waiting, hoping and praying that the pain would stop. 
Oh Lords, make it stop!  Suddenly a woman's voice whispered his name so
closely to his ear that he could feel her warm breath tickle his neck. 
He opened his eyes, which he didn't even realize were tightly shut.  A
gentle hand moved his hair back from his forehead and stroked his face. 
"Cass...?" he whispered tentatively.
     Tears filled Cassiopeia's eyes when Starbuck uttered her name, not
Athena's and certainly not Luana's.  All her anger and doubt evaporated
as his blue eyes flickered over vaguely familiar faces searching for hers
while he rolled slightly onto his back until he saw her.  He groaned in
pain as he moved and Cassie immediately gave him a larger dose of
painkiller.  She remembered Dr. Paye telling her that kidney pain was the
only discomfort that even came close to that of a woman in labour.  "I'm
here, Starbuck," she reassured him and was rewarded with a slight smile
and a relaxing of his features before he closed his eyes in reaction to
the analgesic and drifted off to sleep.

Part Twenty-Eight

     The warriors were ready to move.  From the tunnel, Boomer had commed
Sheba to confirm that the landram's team had secured the area and it was
safe to transport the wounded.  Starbuck was still in the grips of a deep
narcotic induced sleep and Cree and Boomer had easily lifted him onto the
anti-gravity stretcher.  Cassiopeia once again checked his life signs as
they prepared to leave the tunnel.  She nodded at Boomer to let him know
she was ready.
     "Okay, let's move out.  Apollo, Cree and Giles are going to help you
out of here." Boomer told him as the warriors helped him to his feet.
     Apollo's first thought was that he was fine, but as he was hoisted
to his feet, his head spun with the sudden change in altitude and he was
relieved to have their assistance.  His first steps were painful, as his
knee had become accustomed to the easier movement through the water.  
     Boomer led the rag tag team of sodden warriors back to the mouth of
the cave where he checked in again with Sheba.  The scanners were clear
as they covered the short distance to the landram and moved the injured
warriors inside. 
     "Boomer, I checked in with Jolly.  There are quite a few Alrinachs
amassing at the shuttle.  Jolly is standing by for a strafing run.  We're
in for a fight." Luana told him.
     "Shouldn't be much of a fight with our artillery," Sheba added.  "We
annihilated them, Boomer.  Varick did one Hades of a job."
     Boomer knew the ensign was still atop the landram manning the
powerful weapon.  From Sheba's input it sounded as though it would be a
good place to leave him.   Maybe he could forgive a few 'sirs' too many
after all, especially since he was ninety-nine point nine percent certain
that Starbuck had something to do with it.  He nodded to Sheba as he
watched Giles slide behind the wheel to drive.   "Okay, get Starbuck
secured and we move out ASAP."  He ducked back outside to speak to the
ensign.  
     Varick watched Boomer wearily.  The lieutenant looked as though he
had something to say.  Varick wasn't sure what he was doing to annoy the
man, but it looked as though it was about to come to a head.
     "Good job, Varick.  How are you holding up?" Boomer was well aware
the ensign had just killed in the line of duty for the first time and no
matter what you were killing; everyone reacted on a different emotional
level to taking a life.
     The ensign looked down in surprise.  "I'm fine, Sir.  How's
Starbuck?" 
     Starbuck.  Just Starbuck.  Boomer shook his head.  "He's holding his
own.  Cassiopeia needs to do some more tests.  She may have to wait until
we launch the shuttle because it will be a rough ride back."
     Varick nodded.  He knew a bumpy ride was hardly conducive to medical
treatment.
     "The shuttle area is lousy with Alrinachs so be prepared.  Jolly is
going to take out some by the air just before we get there.  Questions?"
     "No, Sir.  I'm ready." Varick replied.  He felt proud to have
Boomer's confidence in him reinforced as he was left in charge of the
massive laser.
     Boomer nodded and reentered the vehicle to find Lia frantically
searching through the equipment.
     "Did you find a pack, Boomer?" Lia asked him.  "Starbuck was wearing
one." 
     Boomer shook his head.  A lost pack was the least of their worries. 
"No, I'm sure there was no pack.  Why?" He was confused by her
crestfallen reaction.
     "The pack had an ancient Empyrean book in it that we think may have
been the lost history of our people's journey from Kobol to Empyrean."
Luana told him.
     "It could have included the navigational path the thirteenth tribe
were using to go to Earth." Lia added.  Obviously, the history of the
Empyreans would have a much more personal interest to her people, but the
inclusion of a possible path to Earth would get the Colonists' interest.
     "Something that could collaborate the heading from the Ship of
Lights?"  Boomer asked in astonishment as Lia and Luana nodded.  "Apollo
do you have any idea what happened to it?" Boomer asked him.
     Apollo shook his head.  "No, I thought Starbuck had it too.  We had
the pack just before we had to make a run for it when the... Alrinachs...
almost caught up to us." Alrinachs.  The name was familiar somehow, but
he couldn't quite place it.  "I suppose we could have left it behind. 
I'm not sure Starbuck even knew the book was in the pack." He tried to
remember when he and Lia had decided to separate the ancient tomes to
lessen the risk they would both be lost.  Talk about irony.  If they had
just left both books with Lia they wouldn't be having this discussion.
     "Cassiopeia, is it possible to wake Starbuck up enough to ask him?"
Boomer enquired.
     "Well, yes.  I could give him some xalone to reverse the narcotic. 
However, it not only wakes him up, it completely eradicates the analgesic
properties.  He'll be in excruciating pain.  Is this really necessary?"
She was asking as a med tech and the man's lover.  His best interests
were foremost in her mind.
     Boomer sighed.  He wished Apollo were in charge... Hey, wait a
centon... "You're the captain.  What do you think we should do?"
     Apollo could understand why Boomer didn't want to make this
decision.  It could only go one way.  In the interests of the fleet, they
needed to know what had happened to that book and whether or not it was
recoverable.  "Sorry, Cassie.  We need to know what happened." Starbuck
would understand, even if Cassiopeia didn't.
     Cassiopeia bit her lip as she reached for the hypospray.  She
clenched her jaw as she administered the injection.  Though she knew it
wouldn't put Starbuck at risk, she hated to put any patient through pain
unnecessarily.   
     Starbuck drew a sharp breath in through his teeth as he awakened. 
He shot up to a sitting position as he tried to reorient himself.  Where
the frack...?
     "Easy, buddy," Boomer gripped the shoulder of his disoriented
friend.
     Starbuck took deep breaths as he looked into Boomer's eyes.  He
looked around to find himself surrounded by his friends who were looking
at him anxiously.  He arched his back and groaned as the pressure in his
back and bladder became unbearable.  
     Cassiopeia reactivated the hypospray and gave Starbuck a smaller
dose of analgesic.  She could still make him more comfortable without
sedating him.  He relaxed visibly as the drug entered his bloodstream. 
"Starbuck, once we get you on the shuttle I can insert some tubes to
decrease that pressure you're feeling." She told him.
     "Where?" he asked her as he grabbed her hand so he had her complete
attention.
     "In your kidney and bladder." 
     Starbuck looked at her distastefully.  That was revolting.  "Can't
we wait and do it on the Galactica?"
     Cassiopeia shook her head.  "No, it's too far away.  Your kidney
function is already compromised.  I need to do something about it soon. 
I'd do it now, but we need to stay still for at least twenty or thirty
centons and I don't have the irrigation system on board the landram."
     "Irrigation system?  You're going to irrigate me?" He asked
astounded at the concept.  He could only imagine the massive irrigation
systems he had seen in agro communities.  This was sounding more and more
like something he'd like to avoid completely.
     "I'm going to insert a tube that will not only drain your bladder,
but will also irrigate it to keep it clear of blood clots." Cassiopeia
explained patiently.
     "Uh... and where exactly is this tube going?" Starbuck asked in
growing alarm.  If it was going where he thought it was going... well,
she'd have to catch him first.  He looked at Boomer who was awfully
amused for someone who used to be his friend.  "What's so fracking
funny?" he asked him.
     "Where do you think it's going?  Do you have another entrance to
your bladder that we don't know about?" Boomer chuckled at him.
     Starbuck looked at Cassie who nodded at him to confirm his worst
nightmare... well, since that one where he had his head bashed in by the
creatures.  "I think I'll pass," he told her quite seriously dropping her
hand.
     "Starbuck, this isn't a card game.  You can't pass." She informed
him.
     "Starbuck," Apollo knew they had better move on.  When Starbuck was
in this mood it was better to just sedate him and do what they needed to
anyway.  "Buddy, do you know what happened to Luana's pack?"
     "What?  She wants to stick a garden hose into me and you want to
know about a pack?" Starbuck stared at him as though he had just turned
into a giant crawlon that had regurgitated its stomach contents.
     "Starbuck," Lia grabbed his hand and asked him insistently, "What
happened to Luana's pack?" 
     "I left it in the tunnel," he started.  He could see eyebrows raise
and heads shake.  "What?"
     "Where?" Apollo and Lia asked simultaneously.
     Starbuck shook his head as he tried to remember.  He rubbed his
hands over his eyes.  "We had it just before the creatures came down the
tunnel.  We used the hypospray.  Right?" he asked Apollo.
     "Yes, I remember.  Did you have it on when we went into the stream?"
Apollo asked him.
     "No... I think the creatures picked it up after we went over the
side of the bank.  I looked for it after they had passed by, but it was
gone." Starbuck explained and received disappointed looks in return. 
"Why?"
     "The larger Empyrean book was in it." Lia replied.
     Starbuck covered his face with a hand.  Frack.  He knew how much it
would mean to Lia to have a written history of her people.  It would have
also been a chance to discover why some of the Empyreans chose to settle
and others chose to depart from their adopted planet.  He looked at her
again, "I'm sorry, Lia.  I really didn't know it was there."
     Lia nodded.  "The important thing is you and Apollo made it out of
there," she told him, pragmatic as usual now that she was more rested.  
     Starbuck snorted, "Tell that to Ama and the Commander."  He was also
well aware how thrilled the Commander would have been to pour over the
ancient script looking for clues to the thirteenth tribe's route to
Earth.  If only he could turn back time.  Yeah, what would you do, Bucko,
take the pack and leave Apollo for the creatures to find??  He reckoned
that the Commander would be just as displeased with that scenario.
     Boomer squeezed his friend's shoulder in support.  "Hey, you didn't
know.  You were in a tight spot and you did the best you could.  Lia's
right, you and Apollo making it out is more important than a book that
'might' give us the path to Earth and then again, might not."
     Starbuck looked up at Boomer in gratitude.  He was right.  They were
all assuming the book had information in it that just may not exist.  For
all they knew it was a book of hot vacation spots for the single, ancient
Empyrean male.   He thought of Rogane, the toad, and figured it was
probably a book they could live without.
     "Let's move out, Giles." Boomer told him and the landram headed off
towards the shuttle.

* * * * *

     Jolly flew in low over the shuttle.  The Alrinachs were swarming the
warrior's ships.  He could see the landram approaching the area and
prepared for his first strafing run.  He had mixed feelings about mowing
down these creatures that were armed with simple bludgeons and as he made
his approach he could see bloody battles breaking out amongst the
primitives. Frack, they were a bloodthirsty bunch.  He turned his ship
around and lowered his stick once again coming in low and hitting his
lasers.  It was a massacre.  They dropped where they stood not expecting
the air attack.  
     Those Alrinachs left standing threw their clubs at the disappearing
ship.  They could hear the approaching landram and the air filled with
their growls of fury as their prey advanced on them.  They rushed the
vehicle as it closed in on them.
     Varick felt a shiver run down his spine as he saw and heard the
remaining Alrinachs swarm towards the landram.  He had never seen a
population of... whatever you would classify them as... that had such a
blood lust.  These things made the Cylons look like pet daggits on a
leash.  He swung the landram's weaponry towards them as they came into
range and started firing.  There were but fifty or sixty of them left as
the heavy artillery annihilated their ranks.  Varick couldn't help but
wonder if these were the last of an age-old civilization that he was
destroying to save but a handful of Colonial Warriors.  He knew he could
get a bit too philosophical for his peers at times; this was obviously
one of them.  
     Varick almost lost his balance as the landram lurched to a stop just
short of the shuttle.  Dead Alrinachs surrounded the area and Varick
jumped down and took a good look at one of the enemy for the first time. 
Demons from Hades Hole.  He murmured a quick thanks to the Lords of Kobol
for getting them through this as he headed for the opening hatch.
     Boomer came through supporting Apollo.  "Good work, Varick.  Help
get the Captain aboard.  We'll load up Starbuck and the landram and get
out of here.  You take Starbuck's ship.  I want to get as many Vipers in
the air as we can manage." Boomer clapped the ensign on the shoulder and
deked back into the landram before the man could utter his next, 'yes,
sir'.
     Apollo felt Varick slide into position replacing Boomer on his left
side.  "I hear you're one Hades of a shot, Varick.  What's your
background?" He felt the ensign stiffen slightly.
     "Uh... a misspent youth, Captain Apollo.  Too much time spent in
arcades." Varick replied hesitantly as he propped up Apollo and opened
the shuttle's hatch.  So much for impressing his superior.  
     "Are you serious?" Apollo chuckled.  
     "I'm afraid so, Captain.  Starbuck said that us arcade junkies
acquire impressive reflexes.  My first time in the simulator it was just
like being back on Piscon playing Starhounds with my friends."
     "Starbuck was an arcade junkie?" Apollo asked.  Starbuck was one of
the most natural pilots Apollo had ever met.  He just had an amazing feel
for his ship and could always coax that little bit extra out of it that
would have everyone else ending up overrunning a turbine or blowing an
engine in the same circumstances.  Of course, part of what made Starbuck
an exceptional pilot was the fact that he was always willing to cross the
line and take chances.  He had proved that time and time again as
Apollo's wingman.  In fact, Starbuck seemed most comfortable sitting 'on'
the line that others feared to cross.  That was not only true in his
professional career, but also his personal life.
     "Apparently so." Varick agreed.  That hadn't surprised him in the
least.  Many a bored young man would pass time in the arcades...
especially before discovering the opposite sex.  On the other hand, with
Commander Adama as a father, Varick suspected Captain Apollo would have
spent very little time being bored as a youth and just hanging out with
his friends.  He watched Lieutenant Sheba approach them.  Apparently, she
wanted a word with the Captain.
     Cassiopeia prepared to set up her mini Life Station in the shuttle. 
"Boomer, am I going to have time to insert the tubes before we leave?"
She asked as he reentered the landram.
     "Isn't the question 'is Starbuck going to let you insert the tubes
before we leave?'" Boomer rejoined as he looked at his chronometer. 
"There's time.  We still need to load the landram and check all the
ships."
     "Good.  Starbuck will be no problem.  I just sedated him."  She
shrugged good naturedly as Boomer raised his eyebrows at this.  "Lia and
Athena will help me, if you can spare them." 
     "Could Luana help you instead of Athena?  I want Athena to fly one
of the Vipers out of here.  She'd probably like to check out her own
ship." Boomer told her.
     Cassie looked up at him chewing her lip.  "I'm not sure Luana's up
to it... with her shoulder injury." She responded lamely.
     Hmm.  This was no time for interpersonal complications.  "I'm sure
she'll be fine, Cassiopeia.  After all, you don't need her to hold him
down.  Right?"
     She looked down and nodded briefly. "Right, Boomer." She had managed
to avoid Luana since returning to the landram.  She wasn't sure why she
felt so uncomfortable.  She wasn't the one who... She sighed.  That was
just it.  She didn't know what had happened between Luana and Starbuck. 
She sure as Hades didn't want to find out from the girl in front of her
sister and the rest of the people who would be cramming into the shuttle. 
Actually, if Boomer was planning to fly as many Vipers out of there as
possible, it was likely that Apollo, Luana, Starbuck and Cassiopeia would
be the only ones in the back of the shuttle on the long trip back to the
Galactica.  They might be having a confrontation after all if she could
just get rid of Apollo.  She was sure she could talk the Captain into
spending some time on the flight deck.  She headed towards the shuttle to
start preparing her sterile field.
     Sheba had just finished having a quiet word with Apollo and now it
was Boomer's turn.  Boomer was checking with Jolly to find the perimeter
was still clear as Giles and Cree moved the anti-gravity stretcher
towards the shuttle.  True to Cassiopeia's word, Starbuck was out cold.
     "Boomer, I need a small favour," Sheba approached him as he signed
off with Jolly.
     Boomer shook his head.  Is this what command was all about?  One
hundred little things coming at you constantly from all directions. 
"What do you need, Sheba?"
     "I want to fly my own Viper out of here, " she responded.  She
squared her jaw and raised her chin in her best impersonation of her
father.  All she needed was a swagger stick.
     "I already told Athena she would be flying a Viper out of here,"
Boomer started.
     "I cleared it with Athena." Sheba told him.  "She said it was fine."
     "Are you sure you're up for it?" Boomer asked her a little
concerned.  She had been through a lot.  Mind you, what was the
difference really between piloting the shuttle and a Viper?  Unless, of
course, they entered a combat situation.  However, they hadn't seen a
Cylon for at least a couple sectars.
     "I'm sure.  Boomer, you know what it's like; it's bad enough having
a search party come out after us, but not even being able to fly my bird
out of here would be even worse." Her manner entreated that he
understand.
     Boomer sighed.  "Wouldn't you rather be in the shuttle with Apollo?"
     "I think he might actually close his eyes and get some rest if I
wasn't, Boomer.  He understands.  We talked about it." That was the easy
part.  Apollo understood her need to complete her mission even if he was
concerned about her health.  She had promised him she would enter sleep
mode as soon as they had cleared the planet's thermosphere and were on
their way back home.
     "It sounds like you've covered all the angles." Boomer remarked and
grinned wryly as she nodded her agreement.  
     "Athena and Lia can pilot the shuttle.  My only regret is I won't be
there when Starbuck wakes up." Sheba grinned evilly.
     "Oh?  Why's that?" Boomer asked perplexed at her sudden devilry.
     "I would love to see his face when he wakes up on a shuttle filled
with four women who have all seen him naked."
     Boomer shook his head at her.  "Sheba, you're a sick and twisted
woman that I am honoured to call my friend." He grinned back at her.  It
would be the perfect revenge for the Varick plot.  Heh heh heh.

Part Twenty-Nine

     Luana followed her sister aboard the shuttle.  As much as she had
wanted to be with Starbuck there was too much to be done to be hanging
about uselessly watching him sleep.  She was almost relieved when Boomer
had told her and Lia to help Cassiopeia with her patient.  Starbuck was
still on the anti-gravity stretcher and Cassiopeia was busily setting up
medical supplies before him.
     "Cassie, what do you need us to do?" Lia asked.  She had watched the
Empyrean healer, Rhiamon, many times as she treated patients so she was
prepared to do anything that was necessary.
     Cassie barely looked up as she replied, "You could start by getting
him undressed.  There's a survival blanket over there to cover him with
when you're done."
     Lia simply nodded and began undoing Starbuck's boots.  "Good thing
he's unconscious," she muttered.  She knew that this shouldn't bother her
especially since she had seen Starbuck naked when the sisters had
captured him on Empyrean.  However, now he was like a kinsman to her and
somehow it seemed indecent; like catching your father with his pants
down.
     Cassie smiled at the girl's reluctance. Luana started trying to tug
an arm out of his flight jacket and quickly gave up, pulling out her
knife.  "This would be a lot quicker," she told them pragmatically as she
sliced her way through the sleeves and peeled the garment off of him. 
She repeated the procedure with his pants and grinned at her sister's
embarrassment as Lia quickly covered him with the blanket.     
     "Now what?" Luana asked.  
     "Just hold his hands incase he wakes up, Luana.  I don't want him
trying to interrupt the procedure.  Lia, take the hypo and stand by.  On
my word, hit him with another sedative." Cassie instructed them.  She
carefully raised the blanket from his legs up to his waist providing a
certain measure of draping for his modesty... a professional courtesy she
was accustomed to providing.
     Lia moved to the head of the stretcher with hypo in hand.  Luana
stood next to her holding Starbuck's hands and watching his face for any
sign of impending consciousness.
     Cassie cleaned her patient carefully to prevent transmission of
bacteria.  She checked her supplies once more ensuring she had everything
she needed before applying her sterile gloves.  "Ready?" she asked her
assistants.
     The young women murmured their agreement as Cassiopeia began the
insertion procedure.  Starbuck groaned, but did not awaken as the
catheter was inserted into his bladder.  Cassie could see dark, blood
stained urine return to the collection tray before she connected the
tubing to the irrigation system.  She pulled off her gloves and activated
the machine programming it with numbers and sequences that were beyond
the young warriors.  She moved over to assess Starbuck's abdomen and
could visibly see the reduction in his abdominal distention.  He would
feel much better when he did awaken.  
     "Okay, now we need to roll him onto his stomach so I can insert the
nephrostomy tube." Cassiopeia again joined the women along side Starbuck
and they rolled him smoothly into the prone position as a team with her
direction.  Cassiopeia looked up from adjusting the blanket as Athena and
Apollo entered the shuttle. 
     "This will work out perfectly." Apollo was saying to Athena as they
closed the hatch behind them.  "All five Vipers will get flown out of
here."
     "We're lucky Lia is able to co-pilot.  How are you doing?" Athena
asked Cassie as she guided her brother to a seat.
     "I'm just about to drain the kidney," Cassie replied.  
     "Uh... I think I'll just get ready for take off," Athena muttered as
she looked distastefully at the assembled equipment.  "Apollo, do you
want to help?"
     "Yes." Apollo replied without a pause and he stood up again feeling
his way to the cockpit by touch. 
     Cassie chuckled as the brave warriors made their way forward.  "What
about you two?  Are you still with me?" she asked Lia and Luana.
     "I'm not going anywhere," Luana replied, still watching the sleeping
warrior.  She moved his hair back from his eyes and froze as she felt
Cassiopeia's eyes on her.  She met the med tech's gaze and held it.
     Cassie didn't flinch.  She calmly watched the young woman who was
somehow entangled with her man.  Later, Cass.  Now is not the time.
     Lia watched the encounter and smoothly moved between the women
blocking their stare-down.  "Whatever you need us for, Cassiopeia, we're
happy to do it," she told the woman intervening.
     Cassie nodded at Lia.  "All right, Lia.  Again, just make sure that
if he wakes up his hands stay away.  Do you have the hypo?"
     "I'm ready," Lia replied watching Cassiopeia wipe Starbuck's back
with a florescent pink cleanser.  
     "What about you, Luana?" Cassie asked with an odd inflection in her
voice.  "Are you ready?" She pulled an odd looking pair of goggles over
her eyes that resembled field glasses.
     "I'm always ready, " Luana replied as she watched the med tech pick
up a tube with a sharp metal point on one end.  Luana leaned over
Starbuck pressing his upper body down onto the stretcher and immobilizing
his left arm against his side.  She watched in fascination as Cassiopeia
penetrated his skin and guided the tube towards its destination, his
blood trickling from the puncture site.  "What do you see through those?"
she asked, their rivalry suddenly forgotten. 
     "His kidney," Cassie replied.  "The tube needs to be placed in the
renal pelvis." She concentrated as she watched the tube penetrate the
exact area through her goggles.
     A sharp pain in his back penetrated Starbuck's consciousness and he
groaned as he tried to move away from the jabbing sensation.  Something
was holding him down.  It occurred to him that he should be fighting
harder, but he was so fracking tired and sore that groans of protest and
weak movements were all he could muster.  
     Lia activated the hypospray with the sedative as Starbuck writhed
beneath her sister.  They watched as his contorted features again relaxed
in sleep. 
     Cassie sighed in relief as she pulled the guide wire out of the
nephrostomy tube and quickly stitched it in place.  She removed the
medical imaging goggles as dark red urine pooled into a collection dish. 
She then connected the tube to a drainage device.  That was the first
time she had positioned a tube on her own.  She felt pleased with her
efforts, but also recognized the important contribution of her
assistants.  "Good work, ladies.  We can lift off now.  I can do the rest
of the treatments once we've launched." She still had dressings to do on
his burned hand, neck and chest, not to mention a laceration of some type
on his arm.  He was a mess all right.  She started an intravenous access
to give him some badly needed fluids.  He was terribly dehydrated and
might even need a blood transfusion if the bleeding didn't show signs of
stopping once they had reached the Galactica's Life Station.
     Lia watched Cassiopeia immerse herself in her work as she left to
join Athena and Apollo on the flight deck.  "The tubes are in.  We're
ready to go." She told them as she plunked herself into the co-pilot's
seat.
     "How's Starbuck?" Athena and Apollo asked simultaneously.  
     "I sedated him again.  There's some disgusting fluid pouring out of
his kidney and bladder.  I didn't know urine could look like red sludge."
Lia grimaced.  "Cassie's still hard at work.  She's very good, isn't
she?" She was glad that the med tech was with them.
     Apollo nodded.  "Yes, she's excellent.  Starbuck's very lucky to
have her... Uh, sorry, I didn't mean for it to sound like..." He suddenly
felt a bit uncomfortable.  He'd almost forgotten about Luana and Starbuck
and he wasn't sure what Lia knew or how she felt about it.
     "It's okay, Apollo.  Honestly, I don't know what's going on either."
Frankly, Lia wasn't all that sure that even Luana and Starbuck knew what
was happening between them.  Those two might be able to speak their
minds, but they certainly didn't know their minds.
     "Are you sure it's okay to leave those three alone back there?"
Athena teased her as she began the launch sequence.
     "How much trouble can they get in if Starbuck's out cold?" Lia
quipped.

* * * * *

     Luana helped reposition Starbuck onto his back and then watched as
Cassie continued to care for the sleeping warrior.  She could feel the
med tech's eyes on her several times as Lu watched the gentle rise and
fall of Starbuck's chest.  She hated the awkwardness that had fallen on
them when they had been friends only days before.
     "I kissed him." Luana expelled a deep breath with her confession. 
She felt better just saying it.
     Cassie smiled slightly.  "You kissed him?" Was the girl trying to
protect Starbuck?
     Luana nodded.  "Just a kiss... well, two kisses."
     Cassiopeia snorted.  "And what do you expect to come of these two
kisses?" Her blue eyes stared frankly at Luana.
     Luana shrugged.  "I don't know.  I guess... we'll have to wait and
see what Starbuck thinks."
     Cassie chuckled at that.  "You don't really think he'll choose
between us, do you?"
     Athena, secure in Lia's ability as a pilot and wanting to check on
the threesome, chose that moment to interrupt them.  "Sorry, bad timing. 
I'll come back later."
     Cassie reached out a hand towards her.  "No, please stay, Athena.  I
think you could help clear up a few things for poor Luana."
     Poor Luana?  Luana looked at the med tech suspiciously.  "What do
you mean by that?" she asked.
     "Well, it's obvious you think you're in love with Starbuck.  After
all, Athena and I are well versed in that particular affliction."
     "Affliction?" Luana gaped as she saw Athena begin to laugh.
     "It's really more of an ailment than an affliction." Athena
protested with a grin.
     "Actually, Athena, this almost reminds me of when you and I were
first vying for Starbuck's affections." Cassie said as if sharing a fond
memory.
     Athena watched Luana's eyes dart from one of them back to the other
as she listened.  She was always an apt pupil.  "Very true, Cassiopeia. 
Only this time you're me." 
     Cassie nodded her agreement.  "And Luana's me." She smiled at her
former competition and then looked down at the topic of conversation
whose eyelids flickered almost as if he knew he was being discussed.
     "How's that?" Luana asked Athena.  She wasn't sure she trusted
Cassiopeia on this subject.
     "Well, when Cassiopeia met Starbuck, he and I had been seeing each
other for quite some time."  Athena moved over to look down at her former
lover.  "After the destruction of the colonies, he wanted to talk about
our future together.   I didn't think any of us had a future." She sighed
and looked up as Cassiopeia squeezed her hand in sympathy.  "He reacted
to the horror by seeking comfort and I reacted by pushing him away.  Not
a great combination for a relationship." She reflected ruefully.  "I
needed time, he needed comfort.  He found that in Cassiopeia."  Athena
nodded at Cassie to continue.
     "Starbuck wasn't the only one looking for comfort.  Our lives were
turned upside down and inside out.  He was the first person that was kind
to me." Cassie smiled.  "I know that sounds corny, but I went through
Hades on that ship until Starbuck found me and treated me like a human
being.  He told me he just wanted to help me when I acted suspicious."
She smiled at the memory of him raising his hand and swearing that it
wasn't personal.  "He was handsome, kind and fun to be with.  Gods, I
needed to laugh and... just feel like I was alive.  Starbuck gave that
back to me.  When I was with him I just knew there was a future.  He gave
me back my hope.  At the time neither of us made any promises or had any
great expectations.  We just clung together and held on through all the
madness that surrounded us.  Passion is a powerful emotion."
     Luana considered their words.  Oh, all right it was mildly
interesting the similarities between now and then, but Starbuck had told
her he didn't want to hurt her... or Cassiopeia.  She was right back to
being confused as Hades about where she stood with him.  She wished he
would wake up and clear this whole matter up.  "Aren't you even mad at
him?" she suddenly asked Cassie.  She seemed unbelievably understanding
about this whole event.
     "Yes, of course I am.  The thing is... well, Starbuck's just a bad
bet." Cassie said bluntly.
     "I couldn't have said it better myself," Athena supported her as
Luana widened her eyes in astonishment.
     "How can you say that about him if you really love him?" Luana
gasped.  She couldn't help but think that if she were with Starbuck she'd
be the happiest woman in the fleet.  She wouldn't be standing here
insulting him.
     "I can say it because I know him so well.  Don't get me wrong,
Luana, I love Starbuck.  But loving Starbuck isn't just about passion,
laughter and fun, it's about understanding and accepting his faults. "
     "And believe us, Lu, he has quite a few." Athena added smiling
fondly at the culpable individual on the stretcher.
     "You have to remember that he was raised as an orphan.  As such, all
of his relationships were temporary.  He didn't have a single example of
a stable, loving, enduring relationship to learn from." Cassie smiled at
the forlorn look on Luana's face. "Now, now, don't start pitying him. 
He'd absolutely hate that.  The one thing that he took away from all that
was this... irrational fear of needing someone else."
     Athena nodded in agreement.  "It's like some kind of internal switch
that seems to go off whenever he starts to get too close to someone.  It
doesn't matter how good his intentions are... he simply screws up
royally."
     "Exactly!" Cassiopeia affirmed.  They should have had this talk ages
ago.  This could be what she needed; a team devoted to figuring out
Starbuck. 
     "Just like the time he ended up having dinner with both of us on the
Rising Star.  If he had just told me that he had a dinner date already, I
probably would have been disappointed, but I wouldn't have been so
furious with him as I was when I bumped into you in the corridor." Athena
remembered.
     "He didn't want to hurt your feelings," Cassie surmised.  "He
thought he could get away with juggling his way through dinner with both
of us.  He almost did." They shared a smile.
     "Then there was when Lady Aurelia kissed him at the Empyrean Ball."
Athena added.  "Again, it was supposedly not his fault, but it almost
ended your relationship."
     Cassie looked over at Luana.  "And now you tell me that you kissed
him.  Once again, not really his fault.  He just sort of happened into
the situation.  Poor Starbuck.  What about the second kiss?  Did you kiss
him again?  Did you dare him to kiss you?  It must have been just
slightly beyond his control.  Let me guess, you survived a
life-threatening situation and it just felt good to be alive.  Nothing
matters at moments like that.  Nothing can make you feel as alive as
passion can." Cassie again squeezed Athena's hand in an attempt at an
apology that was long overdue between friends.  Their eyes locked and
understanding passed between them.  
     Athena shook her head slightly and returned the pressure to Cassie's
hand.  She knew her friend was hurting right now for more than one
reason.  Cassie finally understood exactly how Athena had felt as she
watched Starbuck slip away from her due to circumstances and emotions
beyond her control.  She whispered, "It's okay," as she watched tears
well up in Cassie's eyes.
     Cassie shook her own head.  "I'm sorry," she mouthed, but barely a
sound escaped as she felt the first tear run down her cheek.  She felt
pressure on her other hand and looked down to find Starbuck holding it
tentatively, as though he was unsure if he had the right to.  
     Starbuck couldn't stop the tears that filled his eyes as he realized
how much he had disappointed and hurt Cassiopeia.  He was well aware that
they thought he was asleep as he lay quietly at first only partially
understanding their words through a haze of drug-induced drowsiness.  His
first thought was that the intense pain he had been feeling was finally
gone.  His body felt utterly exhausted and he was simply unwilling and
unable to open his eyes as the women discussed him in candid terms.  He
understood they weren't being malicious, but that didn't stop the
tightness in his chest or the lump in his throat as they discussed his
inability to commit to them: the affliction that was loving Starbuck.
     Cassie blinked back her tears as she let go of Athena's hand and
leaned over Starbuck.  "How long have you been awake?" She heard him take
a deep, steadying breath and swallow almost convulsively.  
     "I'm sorry, Cass..." his voice broke as he struggled to get the
words out.
     "Now's not the time, Starbuck..." she started as she gently caressed
his face running the back of her fingers along his cheek as she followed
the track of a runaway tear.
     "Cass..." He didn't really know what to say.  Everything they had
said was true.  He was a bad bet. 
     "Shh!  You need to rest now.  We should talk about this later, when
we've had a chance to think it through... and when you're not so
medicated." Ironically, she reached for the control panel on the
intravenous medication administrator.
     "No!" Starbuck wasn't ready to be put down quite yet.  He reached up
and grabbed her free hand.  "Please, Cassiopeia, just listen to me." He
got an elbow beneath him and struggled to sit up almost pulling his
nephrostomy tube out in the process.  Cassiopeia's deft hands quickly
moved it out of the way and she gently pushed him back down.
     "Starbuck,... I don't know if I can just now..." her voice trailed
off as she blinked back tears.
     "I know I hurt you... I'm sorry." He held her hands tightly as if
willing her to understand him.  "I'm a complete louse and... you deserve
better." Starbuck took a deep breath as he looked into her pain filled
eyes.  "Lords, Cass... I love you.  I know I have an astrum backwards way
of showing it sometimes..." What in Hades was he thinking when he was
with Luana?  She was just a kid, for Sagan's sake.  "I can't give you a
good reason for kissing Luana, it just happened.  I know it shouldn't
have..." Why did he always end up doing something so bloody stupid?  He
felt positively ill as he realized he was probably going to lose her and
that it would be totally his own fault.  His throat tightened as his
tears threatened to choke him.  Lords, he was going to lose it!  His body
broke out in a sweat as he fought for some semblance of control.     
     Cassiopeia didn't know what she had expected, but it certainly
wasn't this.  He looked like he was about to have a melt down.  Starbuck
had clearly heard most of their conversation and for a moment she
regretted the harsh words the women had used.  However, her regret was
brief as she rationalized that perhaps cutting through the felgercarb was
what had finally penetrated Starbuck's psyche.  He had always worn his
bravado as his armour; preventing him from recognizing his greatest
emotional weakness was his inability to allow himself to need someone
else.  He had surrounded himself with a large amount of friends,
flirtations and lovers so he could minimize the effect when someone died
or drifted out of his life... like Athena.  Now, he appeared so
completely bereft that she surmised he was fully prepared for her to walk
out of his life.  If she did, the cycle would be complete.
     "Choose." Cassie found herself saying.  She wasn't sure why it was
suddenly so important when not long before she had chuckled about the
unlikelihood of Starbuck choosing between her and Luana.  He had never
chosen between her and Athena.  Cassie had always felt like she had won
him by default.
     Cassie pulled her hands out of his and stood back to reveal a very
pale Luana standing watching them.  "Can you do it, Starbuck?  Can you
choose between us?" his lover asked him.
    Starbuck loves Cassiopeia.  Starbuck loves Cassiopeia.  It kept
repeating in Luana's mind until she thought it would make her crazy. 
Cassie and Athena were right.  A moment of passion could bring two people
together, but she knew now, it wouldn't necessarily keep them together. 
Lu had never seen anyone bare himself emotionally like Starbuck had just
done in front of an audience for Cassiopeia.  Starbuck really loves
Cassiopeia.  Fracking bloody Hades hole.
     "Lu..."  He didn't know she was still there.  Frack.  Well done,
Bucko.  Now you've hurt Luana and Cassiopeia.  He shook his head while
running various scenes through his mind to get himself out of this one. 
Just when he thought things couldn't get any worse.  He slowly sat up.
     Luana didn't say a word.  She just stared back at him and then
finally sauntered forward until she could take his hand.  "It's a shame,"
she sighed as she gently stroked his face.  "You are one Hades of a
kisser."  She smiled at him and was rewarded with his answering grin.  He
wasn't expecting that.  He probably thought she was going to get all
emotional or hysterical on him.  No... she would save that for later when
she was back on the Galactica.  She leaned forward and lightly touched
her lips to his.  "Just a goodbye kiss," she murmured to him as he
watched her tenderly.
     "Come here," Starbuck said and pulled her gently to him in a tight
hug.  "I'm sorry, Lu.  I never meant for you to get hurt."
     "Me neither," she muttered as she blinked back tears.  She pulled
back to see his eyes were moist once again.  "You and Cassie need some
time alone.  I'm going forward."  She squeezed his hand once again and
turned away walking out of his life.  "I love you, Starbuck," she
whispered, though she knew he would never hear it.

Part Thirty          

     Apollo was getting tired and sore.  Come to think of it, he'd been
tired and sore for a couple of days now.  He and Lia were doing their
best to keep up a steady stream of conversation to avoid listening to the
events in the aft of the shuttle.  The problem was the confined space
afforded little privacy. Every pause in speech revealed more of the
conversation between their friends.  Apollo could just about palpate the
pain and misery in the air.  Despite the fact that they should be
exhilarated that they were all alive, instead they were dispirited and
exhausted.  Really, he wanted nothing more than to stretch out across a
row of seats and close his eyes.  If his vision wasn't already blurry
from his injuries, he knew it would be blurry from exhaustion.  He even
caught himself stifling a yawn a couple of times when he finally heard
Luana's footsteps approaching.
     "How much longer?" she asked Lia.
     "Still a good three centars, Luana." Lia told her.  "You okay?" She
looked up in concern at her sister.
     "Sure, just great," Luana mumbled.  Lords, how she wanted to be off
this shuttle and in the privacy of... frack, where in Hades was she
supposed to go to find some privacy?  It was either a five-centon turbo
wash or the turbo flush.  Ah, the romantic and exciting life of a
Colonial Warrior!  She looked down at Apollo, glad that he couldn't see
her discomfort.  He looked done in.  His face was ashen and she could see
beads of sweat on his forehead.  "Apollo, you look like mong.  Go lie
down."
     Apollo looked up in surprise.  He knew she was hurting, but he
didn't really like being talked to like a daggit.  "Pardon, Ensign?"  At
times like this, he forgot that Ama was the girl's godmother and not a
blood relative.  They were quite alike in temperament.
     Luana sighed.  She really wasn't in the mood for the officious
felger.  "C'mon Captain, you don't look very good.  You need to get some
rest." He hesitated.  She knew he felt much like he looked.  "Besides,
I'd kind of like a quiet word with Lia... please."  That should do it,
she reflected.  
     "I hate to say it, Apollo, but you do look like... mong." Lia tried
the word out aloud and decided she liked it.  She was getting as bad as
Luana with picking up Colonial slang and their dreadful profanity. 
"Didn't Cassiopeia say something about trying to peel that duct tape off
your knee and applying a proper immobilizer?"
     "I don't mean to gang up on you, Apollo, " Athena added as she
joined them, "but you really do look like..."
     "... Mong.  Yeah, I've heard." Apollo muttered.  "I thought we
should give Cassiopeia and Starbuck some time alone."
     "They have a lifetime ahead of them..." Luana retorted before
wishing she could keep her big mouth shut.  So much for keeping in
control until they reached the Galactica.  "Sorry... it just slipped
out."
     "Don't worry about it." Athena responded empathetically.  She
remembered feeling bitter for quite a while after realizing that Starbuck
had drifted away from her.  Of course, a big part of that was that they
never discussed it.  They just let it happen.  "That was a classy thing
you did back there, Luana.  You have a lot of guts." Athena squeezed her
arm gently in support.
     "Thanks..." Luana smiled faintly.  Right now Athena was right about
her guts.  Unfortunately, most of her plentiful guts were aching with
bitterness and the rest were feeling sick with disappointment.  She
looked aft to see Starbuck and Cassiopeia embracing.  He was holding her
tightly to his chest and murmuring words that were meant to be only for
her.  Her eyes were closed and she looked contemplative, but content.  "I
think they're good now."
     Athena followed Luana's gaze.  "I think you're right.  Cassie, are
you ready for your next patient?" she called back.  
     Cassiopeia pulled back from Starbuck giving him a gentle push and
encouraging him to again lie down.  "Okay, Apollo.  Let's take a good
look at your knee."  She motioned to the row of seats and turned to pick
up some supplies.
     Athena put an arm around her brother letting him lean on her for
support.  However, being Apollo he was obviously putting most of his
weight on his knee and little of it on his slender sister.  "You can lean
on me.  I won't break," she told him.
     Apollo's knee was agonizing as he made his way aft.  He was
beginning to get one Hades of a headache and was feeling a little dizzy
and nauseated.  He simply nodded at her at he slipped onto the nearest
seat awaiting Cassiopeia.  
     
* * * * *

     "Okay, tell me what happened," Lia demanded from her sister while
the others were occupied giving them some privacy.
     "I don't want to talk about it," Luana replied.  She plopped herself
down in the co-pilot's seat and crossed her arms over her chest. 
     "Well, why did you say you wanted a quiet word then?" Lia asked her. 
She was feeling a little excluded.  After all, they used to be able to
talk about almost anything... well, other than religious beliefs.
     "Apollo didn't look so good.  I figured if I acted a bit soft he'd
be more likely to go get some help from Cassiopeia," she replied.  She
could almost make herself believe it.  
     "Yeah, right.  Good try.  At least let me know if I should smack
Starbuck, feel sorry for him or something in between." She looked at her
sister trying to figure her out.  Luana was a determined woman and if she
had set her sights on Starbuck, well, it would have been a full-scale
frontal assault.   However, if Starbuck had tried to take advantage of
her sister... no, that just wasn't his style.  
     "Hmm.  I think you should do all three." Luana concluded with a
grin.
     "Oh, that really clears things up," Lia griped.  "C'mon Luana, talk
to me.  It might make you feel better."
     "That's just a theory.  Personally, I think it's overrated." Luana
found the more she concentrated on arguing with Lia, the better she was
feeling.  Don't think about Starbuck; just think about annoying the Hades
out of your sister and winning this debate.
     "I know you're hurting, Luana.  I love Starbuck too... just
differently than you.  He's become like a brother to me.  I feel like
he's part of our family.  Even Ama has practically adopted him.  That's
what makes this entire situation so difficult.  You're my sister and I'll
back you up no matter what.  You've never lied to me about anything
important.  That's why I need to know now what really happened.  I feel
like I'm being torn in two different directions."
     "You think it's my fault, don't you?" Luana asked defensively, all
thoughts of winning the discussion suddenly gone.
     "I doubt that subscribing blame even comes into it.  I was down
there too.  I know the stress we all went through and that was escalated
for you being hauled away by the Alrinachs.  People tend to cling to one
another when they're undergoing stressful situations.  Even people that
might not otherwise end up together."  Personally, Lia thought Starbuck
and Luana were too much alike to be a couple.  They were both a bit too
self-absorbed and often didn't think things through beyond the emotions
they were experiencing in a given moment.  Yes, the live for the moment
twins.  What a disaster that relationship would have been.
     Luana thought about her words.  It was true enough that she would
never have made a move on Starbuck back on the Galactica.  She had never
even thought about it.  Oh, sure, she knew she had a little crush on him,
but that would have faded in time.  In the meantime she had enjoyed
having him as a friend and mentor.  "Frack, I've really made a mess of
all this," she covered her eyes with her hands as she felt tears again
welling up.  Damn Lia!  She could always find the chink in her armour.

* * * * * 

     "You don't look so good, buddy," Starbuck noted as he watched the
pale, diaphoretic man sit shakily.  Truthfully, Starbuck knew exactly how
he felt.
     "Right back at you, Bucko," Apollo returned.  Though he could only
see a fuzzy image of his friend, he knew he had a couple hoses connected
to his body draining his bloody urine.
     "How would you know?  You can see about as far as I can urinate,"
Starbuck remarked as he watched the captain in concern.
     "I thought you couldn't urinate," Apollo said as he stretched out
and relaxed back onto the pillow that Athena positioned under his head
and shoulders.  
     "Exactly," Starbuck agreed.  He closed his eyes, feeling a bit
dizzy.
     "Enough, Starbuck.  Personally, I'd rather not hear about your
urinary capabilities." Athena admonished him, though she knew he was just
trying to keep the atmosphere light.  
     "I already told you, I have none." Starbuck responded with a smile. 
He opened his eyes wondering if the shuttle would stop spinning if he
could focus on a point of reference.
     Athena shook her head and grinned back at him.  "I'm going back up
front to check on Lia.  I know she's cleared for duty, but she's still
been through a traumatic event.  It's probably best for one of us to be
with her."
     "Good idea," Starbuck replied.  "Uh... how's Lu?" His face became
suddenly sober as he awaited her answer.
     "She's back in form.  Don't worry, Starbuck." Athena walked over to
him and whispered in his ear, "It's not fatal." She mussed his hair as if
he were Boxey and went to join the sisters.
     Starbuck sighed as he watched Cassie settle down beside Apollo.  The
captain was lying on his back with his leg in the air attempting to
remove his boot.  He looked ridiculous, but Starbuck decided he could
keep that to himself.  He had lost the will to make any further comments,
sarcastic or otherwise.  His eyelids seemed to have a mind of their own
as they repeatedly tried to close.  
     Cassie came to the captain's aid and was soon cutting her way up his
pant leg to reveal the edematous knee.  "Apollo, I'm going to give you
something for pain as well as the swelling.  It's going to hurt when the
tape comes off." 
     Apollo felt the medications enter his system.  Cassie gently started
removing strips of tape finally reaching the layers attached to his
skin... and hair.  She warned him as she quickly pulled the first piece
of tape off effectively giving him his first unofficial, though only
partial, esthetic treatment.  He just about jumped off the seats as he
felt his hair ripped out by the roots.  "Frack!"  He made a mental note
to himself to be less judgmental of hairy legs on women in the future.
     "Sorry," Cassie muttered.
     She wasn't sorry for long, Apollo noted, as she returned to ripping
his leg hair out by the roots.  He breathed a sigh of relief when it was
all off.  Once again she assessed his knee, finally wrapping it securely
with a large, padded splint that comfortably supported his leg.  "All
done.  I just want to run a few blood tests and take another look in your
eyes.  Okay?"
     "Sure," Apollo nodded.  He felt a small prick as the minute amount
of blood was drawn.  
     Cassie applied the sample to the laboratory analyzer.  She quickly
looked over at her patients as she waited for the results.  Starbuck and
Apollo both had their eyes closed and their pallor and exhaustion was
evident.  She sighed as she considered how this part of the rescue party
had ended up in worse shape than the lost warriors.  She grabbed her
ophthalmoscope and peered into Apollo's eyes.  His retinal tear was now a
complete detachment.  She wasn't impressed that so much time had passed
since his retinal injuries.  Time was a precious factor in ophthalmology. 
She heard the beep of her analyzer and looked at the results.
     "Apollo, your blood sugar is low.  I'm going to give you a dextrose
infusion, which will probably make you feel better.  When did you last
have something to eat?" She prepared her infusion.
     "Uh... yesterday, just before sunset," he mumbled.  Apollo realized
he should have known better, but he had been basically too busy or tired
to even think about nourishment.  He felt a slight burning sensation in
his arm as she injected the dextrose.  Immediately, his headache
diminished and his nausea and dizziness abated.  "Oh, that's better. 
Thanks, Cassiopeia."
     "You're welcome.  Now try to rest, Captain."  She turned sharply as
the alarm beeped on Starbuck's bio monitor.  She could see the bright red
blood now draining from his nephrostomy tube.
     Cassie moved over to Starbuck's monitor to find his pulse elevated
and his blood pressure dropping.  He was actively bleeding again.  She
furiously punched the control panel on the intravenous administrator to
give him a bolus of solution to treat his hypovolemia.  Frack, you should
have bolused him sooner; you knew he was dehydrated.  The problem was he
seemed to be doing so well.  Once the tubes were in and the irrigation
system activated, his kidneys had showed every indication that the
hemorrhage had stopped.  Of course, the fact that he drowned and had gone
into respiratory arrest had confused the issue, as she didn't want to
overload him and his lungs as well.  Pneumonia was such a common
complication from drowning.  She reached for some volume expanders as she
racked her brain to try and remember if anyone aboard was Starbuck's
blood type.  
     "Cassiopeia, what's happening?" Apollo asked from where he was
lying.  The alarm was still sounding on the monitor and Cassie seemed to
be in a flurry of activity.
     "He's hemorrhaging," Cassie told him briefly as she started another
intravenous site to get more of the precious blood products into his
cardiovascular system.  She couldn't stop the bleeding, but she could try
and replace the vital fluids.  "Can the shuttle go any faster?"
     Well, now he didn't even have to ask how serious it was.  "Yes," he
responded as he swung his legs back to the deck and hollered forward,
"Athena, Lia, we need maximum speed out of this tub.  Now!  Alert the
Galactica that we'll need a med team standing by in the landing bay."

* * * * *

     The Galactica had never looked so wonderful as it did now, Athena
reflected from the pilot's seat of the shuttle.  Her eyes felt as though
someone had thrown sand in them and she rubbed at them one more time to
ease the discomfort.  Of course, it only made it worse.  She would have
asked Cassiopeia if the med tech had something for her eyes, but Cassie
was too occupied with Starbuck.  Apparently, she was pumping volume
expanders and fluids into him to maintain his blood pressure.  They would
have to wait until they reached the Life Station to give him any blood as
none of them shared his blood type.  He would be rushed into surgery on
their arrival.  The shuttle was quiet with tension and Athena had plenty
of time to think about Ama's words when she had told her she was the best
warrior for this mission.
     Athena's mind wrapped around all of the 'what if's'.  She couldn't
help but wonder if Starbuck and Apollo would have drowned if Ama had not
come to her and convinced her to speak to Adama about launching a
subsequent rescue party.  Further to that, when Cree had pulled Starbuck
out of the water the warriors were totally focused on reviving him and
had not really noticed that Apollo hadn't surfaced.  Athena pondered if
Apollo would be alive now if she had not convinced her father into
putting her on this mission.  She felt a chill run down her spine at the
thought of losing yet another member of her family. She shook her head as
she reflected that Starbuck might still lose his life despite their
rescue effort.  It was time to get away from this morbid contemplation. 
She contacted the bridge to prepare for her landing.

* * * * *

     Ama waited impatiently in the crowded landing bay.  She glared at
the Colonial Security Officer as he started to approach her.  He kept
advancing so she splayed her fingers and began raising her hands slowly
while shaking them slightly from side to side.  She knew this looked very
impressive to a barbarian.  The security officer stopped in his tracks. 
Ama could hear the turbo lift descending and knew Adama would be on it. 
He should be able to tell her how Luana and Lia were.  Her heart told her
they were fine, but her head wanted to hear the facts from the Commander. 
She stopped her antics as Adama strode towards her passing the guard.
     "Ama." Adama said disapprovingly.  He had seen her display as well
as the security guard who was apparently frozen to the spot... hopefully
just in fear.
     "Adama, how are my girls?" Ama demanded.  She couldn't shake the bad
feeling that hovered over her like a dark, foreboding cloud.
     "Lia's fine.  Luana has a shoulder injury, but should have a
complete recovery."
     "How are our boys?" Ama asked as her eyes glanced over the med team
standing by.
     Our boys?  A strange choice of words, Adama reflected as he filled
her in on Starbuck and then Apollo.  Then again, Starbuck was a member of
his extended family.  It just never occurred to him that he would inherit
Ama along with Starbuck.  They watched as the shuttle landed and the med
team swarmed the hatch.  Adama held Ama's arm to keep her from
interfering.  He was surprised to find she was content to stand beside
him and watch.
     Starbuck was quickly carried off the shuttle still on the
antigravity stretcher.  Two units of blood were transfusing into him. 
Dr. Salik was on one side of him and Cassie on the other as they made
their way across the landing bay.  Ama grasped her amulet as she broke
from Adama's light grip and met them at the decon chamber.  Starbuck's
face was covered by a life mask and his eyes were closed as she
approached, but as she laid her hand on his chest, heavy eyelids opened
to contemplate her.
     "Thank you, my dear boy, for bringing me back my family." Ama smiled
fondly at him.
     Starbuck shook his head at her as he pulled his mask aside,  "I
screwed up, Ama," he admitted, his voice sounded thick and sluggish.  For
all he knew she was already aware of his affiliation with Luana as well
as the fact that he lost the ancient Empyrean tome.  
     "I'll be the judge of that, Starbuck." She winked at him.  "When is
the surgery?" she asked Dr. Salik.
     "As soon as we get him to the Life Station." Salik responded.
     "Take good care of him, Salik." Ama lightly patted Starbuck's cheek
with her fingers as she moved to reapply his mask.  "I'll see you soon,
Starbuck."
     "You sure?" Starbuck asked tremulously again pushing the mask away. 
He was starting to feel as though he was in another world.  Everything
seemed fuzzy around the edges and Ama sounded as though she was getting
further and further away.
     "By all the Lords, are you finally turning into a believer?" she
laughed.  Inwardly, she didn't like the looks of the boy.  
     "Anything to stack the deck in my favour, Ama..." his eyelids
fluttered closed as he lost consciousness again.

Part Thirty-One

     Commander Adama entered the shuttlecraft to see Apollo being
assisted onto a stretcher.  His keen eyes took in the weary appearance of
all the warriors as they patiently saw to it that the captain was
attended to first.  Athena rushed to greet him and he put an arm around
her and held her close as he moved closer to his son.  "How is he?" Adama
asked his daughter.
     "Cranky and impatient," she responded.  They all were.  It had been
a very long couple of centars for them as they wondered if they would
reach the Life Station in time for Starbuck to receive treatment.  Cassie
had luckily come well equipped with enough intravenous fluids and blood
products to keep the lieutenant stable.  Even with those, he drifted in
and out of consciousness alarmingly.  As a warrior, Athena was used to
losing her friends quickly and suddenly.  The long drawn out process
grated on her every nerve as she urged all the power she could out of the
shuttle's turbines.  
     Adama put a hand on Apollo's shoulder and pulled him into a tight
embrace.  "Son," he muttered.  Thank the Lords he was safe.  Though the
commander wouldn't let it show, Ama's prediction of doom had shaken him. 
Somehow he knew the woman was right and that though she seemed a little
outlandish at times, she was generally reliable.  "How are you feeling?" 
   
     Apollo felt his father's anxiety.  "I'm fine.  It's Starbuck we're
all worried about."  He shook his head.  The last centars had completely
depleted him.  Nothing was worse than sitting by helplessly while your
best friend lay bleeding to death and all you could do was try and come
up with ways to make the fracking shuttle go faster.
     The med techs moved Apollo off the shuttle and towards decon. 
Giselle muttered that Starbuck was still in his decon chamber and the
captain couldn't help but think that with every passing centon his
friend's chances of survival may be diminishing.  The process took too
long!  They had to develop the technology to shorten the procedure.  He
wondered if Sheba had landed yet as he heard the fighters coming in.

* * * * *

     Cassie started another unit of blood as she watched Dr. Salik doing
his assessment.  Salik had known that they would have to stop in decon,
thus had fully equipped the chamber with anything he might need should he
have to act fast.  Even Ama's presence didn't fluster the man as he read
the readouts from the medical images he had just performed.  
     "You've done a good job, Cassiopeia." Salik told her.  "Starbuck's
stable enough to take to Life Station for surgery.  I was concerned we
may be doing it right here."
     Cassie smiled as she recalled that he would do whatever he needed to
in order to save a life.  Dr. Salik was that kind of man; he was
inspiring.  "Thank you. I had my doubts," she confided in him.
     "Cassie, your patient is alive.  You've done well." He reassured the
young woman that he regarded so highly.  She had excellent intuition
backed up by knowledge.  Not only that, but she was wonderful with
people.  
     Ama had been a bit taken aback when the good doctor informed her she
would be joining them after touching the lieutenant.  She listened to
them as they discussed Starbuck's clinical status and Cassiopeia's
treatments from the time the warriors had found him until the shuttle had
landed.  The older woman could tell Cassie was a very strong individual;
not many could stand by calmly discussing her professional decisions as
her lover lay on a stretcher beside her.  She was probably looking for
some reassurance that she had chosen the appropriate treatments at the
appropriate times.  Ama listened quietly which she knew was out of
character for her, but she was eager to get out of this tiny, stifling
room and to see her girls.  She reminded herself not to touch them until
they had been through this unpleasant process themselves. 
     Salik reviewed the recorded treatment on the medical data pad.  It
boggled his mind that at one time people used to write out in longhand
the concise sequence of events and each subsequent treatment as it was
occurring while trying to also treat the patient.  "Cassie, with these
clinical indicators, I wouldn't have done anything different." 
     Cassie let out the breath that she was holding and nodded, at last
satisfied with her decisions.  She looked down to see Starbuck's head
loll from one side to the other as he fought to open his eyes.  He looked
around in confusion trying to figure out where he was.  "We're in decon,"
she told him.  He nodded and once again slipped back into oblivion.

* * * * *

     "Apollo!" Sheba yelled as she jumped down from her Viper and jogged
towards him.  He was just about to enter decon on the stretcher and if
she hurried they could spend the centons together.  She nodded at the
Commander and Athena following close behind him.  Adama motioned for her
to join his son and she smiled gratefully at the man.  She entered the
chamber and embraced him as the hatch closed behind her.
     "Sheba," Apollo muttered as he held her close with his legs dangling
off of the stretcher.  It had been difficult for him to agree to let her
fly the fighter, instead of selfishly keeping her with him in the
shuttle.  At first he had been a little confused about why she wouldn't
want to be with him.  However, Sheba was a very effective communicator
and she clearly conveyed her need to finish her mission.  He reflected
that it was the 'Cain' in her that gave her the fierce determination that
he loved.
     "How are you?" she asked him.  Sheba had entered sleep mode as
promised shortly after beginning their return voyage.  She had awakened
refreshed centars later only to learn that Starbuck was in critical
condition.  She could only imagine what they had all gone through as they
waited to get their friend home.
     Apollo sighed and kissed her forehead.  "Tired.  Worried. 
Frustrated."  He pulled her close again. 
     "I love you." Sheba whispered to him.  They had come too close to
losing each other and she needed to let him know exactly how she felt
about him.  To Hades with trying to spend more time together getting to
know each other.
     Apollo looked in the general direction of her eyes and smiled.  "I
love you too," he chuckled as he realized he could barely see her face,
never mind her eyes.  "It never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to
see you the first time we said that."
    "I can give you a navigational fix on my lips if its really
necessary," she teased him.
     "I think I can manage," he retorted as he caressed her cheek and
leaned down to kiss her tenderly.
     Sheba pressed against Apollo as they kissed at first softly and then
with increasing ardour.  He pulled her up to join him as they reclined on
the stretcher.  She laughed in delight with him, feeling as though they
were teenagers about to be caught making out in his father's hover
mobile.  
     "Are you sure this is a good idea?" Sheba asked even as she cuddled
up next to him and began nibbling on his lower lip.
     Apollo ran his hand through her disheveled hair combing it back from
her face.  "Don't ask me, I'm on medication," he warned her as he closed
in to claim her... nose... with his lips.  They laid back and laughed
uproariously as all their pent up tension found a much needed release.

* * * * *

     As Lia and Luana left their decon chambers, they were greeted by an
unusually emotional Ama.  She pulled the young women to her and held them
tightly and then one after the other touched her forehead to theirs and
said a silent thanks to her Gods.  Ama couldn't help but wonder if she
had somehow sacrificed Starbuck to the Alrinachs when she had conscripted
him to save her goddaughter.
     "To the Life Station with you, my dears," Ama directed them.  "Dr.
Salik wants a complete physical on you both."
     "Cassiopeia already cleared me," Lia told her.  "We need to get to
the bridge and give our report to the Colonel.  I do have something for
you though."
     "Are you trying to distract me, Lia?" Ama grinned.  The girl was so
obvious.  "I'm a mature adult and you can't change the subject so easily
with a woman of my determination and stature.  What is it?"
     Lia reached into her pack and pulled out the ancient Empyrean tome. 
"You tell us.  We think it's a logbook of some sort.  It's written in the
ancient script.  I'm sure Commander Adama would like a look at it as
well... actually, I suppose I probably should have given it to him
first." She looked suddenly reluctant to hand it over.  After a lifetime
of allegiance to Ama it was difficult to remember that she now had a
commanding officer to answer to before anyone else.
     Ama snatched the book out of Lia's hand and opened it.  Her eyes
sparkled and her tongue licked her lips as if she were enjoying a
gastronomic adventure.  "I promise to be good and share with our
illustrious Commander.  In fact, I'll tag along and set up a meeting with
him so we can study it together."
     "Ama, we're on a Battlestar.  You can't just walk through restricted
areas as you please," Lia told her.
     "Who's going to stop me?" Ama asked her.  "Luana, you're very quiet. 
What's vexing you, girl?"
     Luana just shrugged.  "Just worried about Starbuck..."
     Ama grasped Luana's arms.  "Ask yourself a question.  Do you regret
what happened between you and Starbuck?"
     "How do you know what happened?" Luana asked in consternation.
     "Lords, you've been following him around like a baby daggit for
sectars.  Take some advice from your sage godmother.  If you can live
with what happened and even find a way to treasure it, then it's time to
move on.  Life is too short to spend it regretting what you've done.  I
think your parents raised you to make intelligent decisions, thus
whatever happened between you and Starbuck is something you likely don't
need to be ashamed of." 
     Luana nodded.  More advice.  Frack, she had better start working on
her game face.  They could all see right through her.  She liked this
angle though.  She certainly didn't regret kissing Starbuck.  It was an
experience she would hold onto for the rest of her life.  Yeah, she could
get past this.  She only hoped Starbuck could... in more ways than one.

* * * * *

     "I'm just going to administer some eye drops to dilate your pupils,"
Giselle was telling Apollo as he lay on the stretcher in the Life Station
preparing for surgery.  
     Dr. Paye had examined his eyes and knee on his arrival and had
subsequently informed the captain that they were awaiting the arrival of
Dr. Dristi, a renowned ophthalmologist.  Due to the lapse of time between
the actual retinal detachments and the time of surgery, Salik and Paye
agreed it would be best to leave the procedure to the specialist.  No one
had mentioned the possibility that he may not regain full vision before
this.  
     Ever the bearer of good news, Paye had also told him that his knee
what so grossly swollen that he would have to undergo some regeneration
treatments before they would be able to operate.  Paye then returned to
assist Salik with Starbuck's surgery.  Once again, it was like a kick in
the teeth to finally arrive in the Life Station to once again wait before
any effective action could be taken.
     Giselle had then taken over his care helping him get cleaned up and
comfortable as she started his knee treatments.  Apollo knew that Colonel
Tigh was debriefing Sheba, Boomer and the others, and Commander Adama and
he waited a bit impatiently for word of Starbuck's condition, the arrival
of Dr. Dristi or the support of his friends.  Apollo had finally closed
his eyes realizing that rest was a viable alternative to worrying when he
heard the sound of Starbuck leaving the operating room with his team of
surgeons and med techs.
     "I still don't know why he started bleeding again after Cassiopeia
inserted the tube.  There's no evidence of damage in the renal pelvis."
Salik was saying as Cassiopeia began hooking up the various tubes that
were attached to the unconscious warrior.
     "I believe it has something to do with that pharmaceutical
compendium he has in his system." Paye replied.  "I'm awaiting the
toxicology results.  With his impaired renal function, the drugs could
have interfaced.  I'd like a list of everything he took when he was down
there.  I think we're missing something."
     "If that's true we may need to reassess the medication availability
in the med kits.  I'd hate to think we've given them so much freedom with
self medicating that complications can arise." Salik added.
     "Damn warriors.  Give them a hypospray and a little information and
they act like kids in a confectionery." Paye grumbled.  They could have
lost Starbuck.  Frack, wasn't it just a couple sectars ago they had
patched him up the last time?  Paye sighed as he looked down on the
intubated man.  It frustrated the living Hades out of him that their own
Colonial issued med kit may have poisoned him.
     "How is Starbuck?" Apollo interrupted their discussion.  
     "He'll be fine.  We stopped the bleeding easily enough and were able
to save his kidney.  He's still intubated, but that's normal after an
anaesthetic.  Once he starts breathing on his own, we'll remove the
endotracheal tube.  He should be awake soon." Salik replied.  He was
almost glad that the captain needed to undergo treatments for his knee
and they could delay his orthopedic surgery.  At least they could
concentrate on the aetiology of Starbuck's anti-coagulation.  
     "Captain Apollo, do you know what drugs Starbuck took while he was
on the planet?" Dr. Paye asked him.
     "Well, I know he had a lot of painkillers and some antibiotics.  Oh
yes, also a corticosteroid.  I'm not sure about anything else." Apollo
replied.
     "Were you separated from him?  Could he have taken something else?"
Paye continued.  He loved to sink his teeth into a medical mystery.
     "Yes to both questions." Apollo responded.  "I'm afraid you're going
to have to ask him."
     "What about the hypospray?  Did you bring it back with you?" Paye
continued to push.  He could run a quick inventory on the medication
dispensed and soon have his answer.
     "No, it was lost on the planet." What exactly did Paye think
Starbuck was up to? "Didn't you say he'd be awake soon?  He will tell you
what he took." Apollo defended his friend.  
     "Yes, I know.  I was just hoping to clear this matter up." Paye
returned.  "We're concerned about a reaction between medications that may
have precipitated the bleeding.  It was probably compounded by his
impaired renal function.  One of the kidney's functions is to filter the
blood.  If that ability is suppressed the drugs aren't cleared from the
bloodstream.  It's the cumulative effect and incompatibilities that we're
worried about."
     "It may be an idea to dialyze him just to eliminate the accumulated
toxins," Salik suggested to his colleague.
     "Let's wait a few centars, Salik.  I'm optimistic his kidney
function will improve on its own.  He's been through enough.  Let's give
him a chance and see how he does without dialysis." Paye replied.
     "Fair enough." Salik agreed.
     "He's starting to wake up," Cassiopeia told them as she watched his
eyelids flutter.
     "Let me do the honours," Paye told Salik as he positioned himself to
remove the endotracheal tube that had been breathing for Starbuck until
now.  He disconnected the tube and swiftly removed it before the warrior
could open his eyes.
     Starbuck felt like someone had just reached down his throat, turned
it inside out and removed it.  He coughed and then felt a life mask being
applied to his face.  Cool, misty oxygen soothed his dry membranes as he
opened his eyes to see a familiar face peering down at him.  
     "Just take some deep breaths, Starbuck." Paye told him as he watched
the readouts on the bio monitor.  The oxygen saturation levels were
adequate.  He nodded in satisfaction as he watched his patient's chest
rise and fall.  They would have to keep a careful eye on those lungs. 
"Can you hear me, Starbuck?"
     Starbuck nodded.  Other than a sore throat, a pain in his abdomen
and an ache in his back he was feeling relatively good, at least when he
compared it to how he was feeling in the decon chamber when he was
uncertain if the last thing he would ever see was Ama's face.  He really
needed to talk her into visiting a dental technician. 
     "We stopped the bleeding.  Your kidney should be fine." Paye told
him.  "We do need to know what kind of self medicating you did with the
hypospray though.  What drugs did you use?"
     Starbuck swallowed as he allowed the words to sink in.  He still had
both of his kidneys.  He looked around to see Cassiopeia just above his
shoulder.  She looked knackered.  She was wearing her operating scrubs
and had obviously participated in his surgery after a long mission to the
planet as well as keeping him alive on the shuttle.  He was going to do
his best to make it all up to her... if she would let him.
     "Lieutenant, what drugs did you use from the hypospray?" Paye
repeated.  After an anaesthetic and a multitude of medications, Starbuck
evidently had the memory retention of a paramecium.
     Starbuck looked back at Paye and tried to formulate an answer. 
Something about drugs.  Yeah, he was definitely on drugs.  A smile
stretched languidly across his face.  It was actually quite pleasant.  He
recalled telling Apollo that drugs were good and pain was bad.  Obviously
he was even more intelligent than he first thought.  He sighed and closed
his eyes.
     "I think you may have to wait for your answer, Paye." Salik shook
his head in amusement.  Apparently, the cumulative effect of narcotic in
the warrior's system was still keeping him more than comfortable.  
     "Maybe not," Paye retorted as Sheba, Lia, Luana and Boomer entered
the Life Station.  "Perhaps this crew can help us."
     "Help with what?" asked Boomer as his eyes ran over his friends.  
     "How's Starbuck?" asked Lia.
     "Could you save his kidney?" Luana wanted to know.
     "When's your surgery, Apollo?" asked Sheba.
     "We seem to be getting more questions than answers from this group,"
Salik reflected as he listened to the barrage of inquiries. 
     Paye shook his head impatiently.  "Starbuck's fine.  We saved his
kidney.  Apollo's surgery is imminent; we're just waiting for the
specialist, Dr. Dristi.  What we need help with is what medications
Starbuck took on the planet.  Apollo remembers the narcotics, antibiotics
and corticosteroids.  Did he have anything else that you're aware of?"
     "Yes, I had to give him that drug that reverses the effect from too
much narcotic.  I can't remember its name." Luana told them.
     "Xalone." Paye stated.
     "Wait, isn't that the same thing Cassie gave him when we had to wake
him up again in the landram?" Boomer asked.
     Cassie nodded, "It's on the data pad.  Sorry, I thought you knew."
Dang, she was tired!
     Paye sighed.  He'd missed that one.  Too much going on.  "Anything
else?" He looked around as heads shook in the negative until he looked at
Sheba.  
     Sheba nodded slowly.  "I'm not sure, but he may have taken a
stimulant as well.  He was all but exhausted when he still had to climb
the mountain to catch up with the Alrinachs and Luana.  I suggested it
might help get him through it."
     Eyebrows rose around the room.  Stimulant use in the Colonial
Service was a real problem in the past and had been all but eradicated. 
Rumours had circulated about its high level of usage on the Pegasus. 
Salik and Paye had even discussed doing random blood tests when the
Pegasus crewmembers had been integrated into the Galactica's personnel. 
They had finally left it alone when it became clear that neither Sheba
nor Bojay had any traces of the drug in their blood screens from their
stay in the Galactica's Life Station.
     "A toxic cocktail indeed." Paye muttered as he looked at Salik with
his best 'I told you so' countenance.
     "Could that do it?" Salik asked his colleague.  Paye had much more
experience in such matters.
     Paye nodded.  "Not only would the combination thin his blood, but
the stimulant would raise his blood pressure, causing the hemorrhage.  As
you know the steroids and stimulants are hard on the kidneys anyway."
     "But why the delay in the hemorrhage?" Giselle asked.
     "He had a lot of narcotics up until I inserted the tubes on the
shuttle.  They would counteract the stimulant and reduce his blood
pressure." Cassie interjected.
     "Of course.  So it wasn't until the pain was relieved by the
catheter and nephrostomy that his blood pressure shot back up due to the
absence of any more narcotic, the renal failure and the stimulants.  
That resulted in the hemorrhage." Salik finished.  He looked around to
see the warriors watching them with expressions of confusion and surmised
the med team wasn't about to receive the standing ovation that they
deserved. 

Part Thirty-Two

     Adama wasn't sure how he had come to be seated in his quarters on
the long seat with Ama studying the ancient logbook.  She had a
remarkable grasp of the symbols that he was having great difficulty
deciphering.  Who would have ever thought they would share a common
interest in the study of Ancient Kobolian Script and Linguistics?
     In true Ama fashion, she had shown up with a six-pack of Empyrean
Ale and two fumarellos from her personal humidor.  Adama decided he might
as well go along with the woman and, shelving his Proteus Ambrosa, went
in search of chilled glasses.  He discovered the ale was delicious and
refreshing, however, he drew the line at the fumarello.  
     Apollo had received his eye surgery and was expected to make a full
recovery.  Adama had brought Boxey by the Life Station as his father was
awakening from his anaesthetic.  Unfortunately, due to the nature of the
surgery, Apollo had to lie face down for forty-eight centars while the
gas bubble that had been injected into his eyeball exerted the necessary
amount of pressure on the exact section of the retina that had been
repaired before it naturally dissipated.  Apollo had ended up muttering
into his pillow with his eye patches intact while his son giggled at the
apparent hilarity that only a child could find in the situation.  
     Starbuck was still heavily sedated from the accumulation of
medication in his system.  His blood work showed every indication that
his renal function was improving and they expected the drowsiness to be
wearing off soon.  The boy still looked a mess with tubes entering and
exiting him everywhere one dared to look.  Paye had stated emphatically
that he wasn't out of the thorn forest yet... which the Doctor evidently
found amusing.  The man was a brilliant physician, but his manner still
left a lot to be desired.
     "You look far away, Adama," Ama noted as she watched the Commander. 
It had been a stressful few days for all of them.  When she had suggested
to Adama that she could assist with the translation of the logbook he was
blindsided by the suddenness in which she had invited herself to his
quarters that very day.  She knew he was intrigued by the settlers' story
and wondered if there would be any connection to Earth.  Earth was his
passion after all.  What man couldn't be influenced by his passion?
     "I'm sorry, Ama.  I was thinking about... our boys." He shared a
smile with her.  
     Ama nodded.  Adama was a good father to all of his children... even
the ones not related by blood.  She had never met such an impressive man. 
He'd be quite the catch.  Hmm.  Maybe it was time to look into that
dental work that Starbuck mentioned every other secton.  She couldn't
help but smirk as she tried to imagine them as a couple.  On the other
hand, she really wasn't up to investing that much effort into breaking in
a new man.

* * * * *

     Starbuck opened his eyes to the dimmed lights of the Life Station. 
He could hear muttering coming from nearby and strained to hear what it
was.  The voice was familiar, but the sounds were incomprehensible.  He
rolled over towards the noise to see another patient lying on a biobed. 
The man was prone, so Starbuck couldn't see his face.  However, the
familiar dark brown-haired man seemed to be having quite the discussion
with his pillow.  
     "Apollo?" Starbuck croaked.  Frack, what happened to his voice?  He
swallowed when he received no response from his friend.  He gingerly
propped himself up on an elbow despite the pain in his abdomen and back. 
Apollo's hands were tightly clenching his pillow and his head was shaking
back and forth.  Either he was now having one Hades of an argument with
his pillow or he was in the throes of a nightmare.
     "Apollo?" Starbuck said a little more forcefully this time.  Apollo
continued to mumble.  Starbuck wondered if he could make it to his
friend's side to give him a shake.  Apollo would do that for him.  The
lieutenant slowly swung his legs over the side of the biobed.  Frack!  He
seemed to be attached in several places to the bloody bed.  He pulled at
the tubes in his nose, which were easily removed.  The room spun a couple
times and he blinked his eyes to clear his vision as his body ached. 
Maybe this wasn't such a good idea.  "Apollo, wake up!  You're dreaming,
buddy!" he said loudly.
     Apollo bolted upright at the sound of the voice that penetrated his
nightmare.  Frack!  He couldn't see!  Starbuck was drowning and he
couldn't find him!  Wait, where was he...?  He took a few deep breaths
and lowered himself back onto the pillow as he realized it was just a
nightmare.
     "Apollo, are you okay?" Starbuck asked.  He could see a med tech
approaching from a private cubicle.  The man looked startled to see him
sitting up.
     "Starbuck?" Apollo asked. 
     "Yeah.  You're in the Life Station." Starbuck reassured him.  It was
disconcerting awakening in the Life Station at any time, never mind also
having patches covering your eyes as Apollo did now.
     "What in the name of Almighty God are you doing out of bed?" the med
tech asked of Starbuck.  "Sagan's sake, don't you know what could happen
if you pulled out those tubes?  I'd have to wake up Dr. Paye and then
there would be Hades to pay, I can tell you." The med tech blustered at
him.
     Starbuck looked at the man in confusion.  Where in Hades did they
get this guy?  He knew the Life Station had been short staffed for a
while, but surely they could do better than this!  "Are you the
sanitation technician?" he asked with a hesitant smile.  That must be it.
     "I'm Hinnus.  First level med tech.  I'm looking after you this
shift." The man replied gruffly.
     "All by yourself?" Starbuck looked around in search of a real med
tech.  Preferably one of the female persuasion.  There was none to be
seen.  He found the thought disconcerrting.
     "Yes, all by myself!  So get your astrum back into bed, Captain!"
     "Uh... Lieutenant." Starbuck automatically corrected him.  
     "Whatever.  Are you having trouble understanding me?  Do I need to
put you into bed myself?" he spoke a little louder to more effectively
communicate with his patient.  
     Starbuck widened his eyes at the man.  He was built like a landram. 
He was well over two metrons tall and the closer he got to Starbuck, the
bigger he looked.  Lords, he could give Kale in the fitness center a run
for his cubits.  He started to lift his legs back onto the stretcher only
to find a tube looping around one leg and subsequently realizing it was
his urinary catheter that he was tugging on.  "Frack!"  A new noise was
coming from Apollo's biobed.  It sounded suspiciously like smothered
laughter.
     "Do you need some help, Lieutenant?" Hinnus grabbed Starbuck's leg
and tugged on the tube to unwind it.
     "Hey!" Starbuck cried as the catheter was roughly pulled on. 
"Frack, where did they find you?  The Prison Barge?"
     In retrospect Starbuck realized that might not have been the
brightest thing to say to the new med tech that was in charge of his
care.  He spent the next centar being taught breathing exercises to
expand his lungs to ward off the evil pneumonia that Hinnus seemed so
paranoid about.  He was starting to get more and more uncomfortable and
was sweating from the minor exertion.  The whole time Apollo lay quietly
face down emitting the odd snicker in his direction and behaving like the
ideal patient.
     "Apollo, how are you feeling?  Would you like something to drink?"
Hinnus politely asked him.
     "Yeah, that would be nice.  Thanks, Hinnus." Apollo was promptly
delivered a cold glass of water.  
     Hinnus checked his bandages and even plumped his pillow.  "How's
your back holding up?" It was common to get a sore back from lying prone
for an extended period.
     "It's a bit stiff," Apollo admitted.  
     Hinnus immediately returned with a heated pack and applied it to the
captain's lower back.  "That should help.  If it doesn't let me know and
I'll give you a rub down.  I used to be a personal trainer and I give a
deadly back rub."
     "Can I have something to drink?" Starbuck asked.
     "Lie down." Hinnus said as he approached the lieutenant.
     "Is that an answer to, 'Can I have something to drink'?  Where I'm
from we usually just say 'yes' or 'no'." Starbuck griped.  He was tired,
sore and thirsty.  He missed Cassiopeia and Giselle.  Hades, he'd even be
glad to see Dr. Paye about now.
     Hinnus sighed.  He'd heard that pilots could be a pain in the astrum
and this one was definitely living up to his expectations.  What in Hades
was he thinking when he volunteered to leave his cushy job in the
infirmary on the Prison Barge to help out with the Galactica's med tech
staffing problem?  Thanks the Lords Apollo was a decent fellow.  "Listen,
buster, I need to assess your abdomen before I start feeding you fluids
or you're going to toss your mushies and that will be the least of your
problems."
     Starbuck held up his hands in surrender as Hinnus pulled down the
sheet covering him and scanned his abdomen.  "Are you always such a pain
in the astrum?" Hinnus muttered as he read the results.
     "Especially in the Life Station," Apollo answered for him.  Starbuck
never would learn to refrain from the smart astrum comments.  If he was
feeling particularly uncomfortable or frustrated, he was even worse; like
now.  
     "You work together?" Hinnus asked.
     "He's my wingman." Apollo responded.
     "Amazing you're still alive," Hinnus retorted.  
     "Just where were they trawling when they pulled you up?" Starbuck
interjected.  He was getting fed up with this guy.  All he did was ask
for a fracking glass of water.
     Hinnus narrowed his eyes.  He'd put up with much worse from the
inmates on the Barge.  The difference was he was doing Dr. Salik a favour
being here.  Sure, he was a bit out of his element with the acute
surgical patients, but it wasn't anything he couldn't handle.  Part of
his frustration was that if Hinnus was on the Barge he would have thumped
Starbuck by now.  Unfortunately, thumping the patients wasn't part of the
official policies and procedures in the Galactica's Life Station.  Pity. 


* * * * *

     "The log book was recorded by Prodo, the commanding officer of the
passenger carrier, Empurios." Ama read from the ancient book.  They had
poured over the ancient leather bound tome for the sake of pure enjoyment
at first.  It was rare Ama or Adama had the honour of examining a text
that was well over a thousand yahrens old.  Finally, Adama had
surrendered the book to Ama, who was clearly more adept at deciphering
the symbols.  She had curled up at the end of his long seat with the book
in her lap reading to him.
     The Empurios had carried one hundred and forty passengers to the
planet Alrin.  Most of the people were of Empyrean decent who, like the
majority of their brethren before them, had decided to abandon the
thirteenth tribe's quest for Earth.  Many of them had in fact regretted
the decision to leave behind their kin on the planet Empyrean, but at the
time of the first exodus, they had not been prepared to abandon their
crusade.
     After spending endless more sectars traveling through space they
grew weary and disillusioned with the search for Earth.  Many believed it
never even existed and thought of it as simply the ramblings of a crazy
prophet that some fool had deigned to record in the ancient book of the
Word.   The Empyreans even began to doubt the prophecies written by the
Great Kaula.  They began to search for a planet that would sustain life. 

     Disease broke out on many of the vessels and just when the
passengers of the Empurios had reached their bleakest moment, they found
Alrin.  They decided to land and settle on the lush planet that offered
all they needed to survive and even thrive.
     "Top me up, Adama, if you would." Ama passed her empty glass to him. 
He was comfortably sitting on the other end of the long seat with his
feet up on the table sipping on his own drink.  "Prodo goes on to discuss
supplies and equipment scavenged from other ships to ease their
settlement on Alrin.  Oddly, he wouldn't part with the Empurios. 
Oh...wait... no, that's wrong.  He needed some parts for the Empurios
that he couldn't make, rig or steal.  She was falling apart.  I guess
that explains why she's still sitting there.  There are a lot of details
about setting up their community and their daily events that aren't
particularly enthralling.  I'll skim over those, if you don't mind." 
     Adama nodded as he handed her back her glass.  What an surprising
woman.  There is certainly a lot more than what meets the eye to Ama,
retired Empyrean Necromancer.  He would have never thought that the wild
haired woman in animal skins could be so learned and spiritual in her own
right.  Time and time again we learn to not judge a book by its cover
only to just as often repeat the transgression.
     The settlement thrived for a yahren with the occasional glimpse of
the locals, which the settlers called the Alrinachs.  They seemed to be
timid creatures that lived underground and disappeared as the sun set
each night.  However, about every three sectars the creatures would
become agitated and get increasingly aggressive towards the settlement.  

     During one of these periods, the settlers' livestock began to
disappear over a period of three days.  Despite the loss, they spent more
time talking about the problem than doing anything about it.  "That's a
sure sign there were Empyrean noblemen in charge," Ama remarked.  "They
do love to expend their energy on endless debates.  It even says they
formed a committee to address the issue."
     Adama chuckled.  "That sounds alarmingly familiar."  
     Ama grinned at him.  "Yes, bureauticians have been around as long as
Sagan himself."
     The committee was not any further ahead when three sectars later the
Alrinachs abducted two children who had been playing in a field.  This
time the commoners took the matter into their own hands and pursued the
creatures.  Neither the children nor their would-be rescuers were ever
seen again.  
     During the next yahren the people spent time fortifying their
settlement and fighting off the invasions which seemed to occur at the
change of seasons.  As the attacks continued the Alrinachs' horrific
actions were eventually discovered by the Empyreans.  The creatures were
sacrificing the abducted humans to their own God in some bizarre ritual
that involved bludgeoning them to death.
     The people fell back on their spiritualism for strength and the
Empyrean Talisman became their symbol of hope.  The necromancers became
powerful forces in the community and soon went back to ancient traditions
that had been abandoned five hundred yahrens before.  It had seemed
harmless enough when the first blood had been spilled giving strength to
their prayers for the Goddess Triquetra to protect her people.  It was
simply the venerable Orrick who had used his Empyrean blade to surrender
a few drops of his own sacred blood onto his powerful amulet.  As the
Alrinachs' attacks continued the necromancers began performing
bloodletting ceremonies on their people to sustain the power of
Triquetra.
     We believe that our blood contains mana, a supernatural force, which
pleases the Gods." Ama elucidated.  "It is a common ritual to spill our
blood in prayer."
     Adama couldn't help but think back to Starbuck's experience on
Empyrean.  The healer, Rhiamon, had restrained him in order to spill his
blood in the belief that it would cure his illness.  A thousand yahrens
after the Empurios landed on Alrin, the Empyreans continued to believe
strongly in bloodletting rituals.
     As the number of settlers diminished, the venerable Orrick decided
to make the ultimate sacrifice.  He would offer his firstborn son to the
Goddess Triquetra to quell her obvious fury with her disciples.  A
sacrificial altar of white stone was prepared for the revered event.  The
young man was lead to the altar where he was honoured as their savior and
then restrained.  His own father, the venerable Orrick, Empyrean
Necromancer, thrust his blade through his son's beating heart.
     "Lords..." Ama stuttered as she dropped the book in her lap.  
     Adama shook his head slowly in disbelief.  "How could a father...?"
     As the blood lust of the Alrinach's increased, so did that of the
necromancers.  They advocated for another savior to honour the Goddess
with his life's blood.  The people balked at the very idea.  As time
progressed and the senseless attacks continued according to the seasonal
calendar, the citizens became increasingly inventive with a new policy
for selecting sacrificial victims.  The stockades were emptied a detainee
at a time and at the end of a yahren virtually every crime was met with a
sentence of sacrifice.
     "We now live in a community where a man can lose his life for a
delay in payment to his landlord or for looking twice at another man's
wife." Prodo had recorded.  "Our people are afraid to leave our
settlement for fear of becoming abducted by the Alrinachs and are afraid
to stay for fear of becoming the next victim of spiritual enlightenment."
     Ama again stopped reading.  "These were my people, Adama.  I can't
believe that they were driven to this and rationalized it all through
their spiritualism."  She was filled with dread and disgust.
     Adama had never seen Ama appear so shaken before.  The woman's
spiritualism defined her to a great extent.  "It is surprising how easily
one can pass from disciple to zealot."  There were certainly enough
examples of life lost due to religious views during the yahrens.  He
squeezed her hand in empathy and couldn't help but smile when she again
raised her glass for a refill.

Part Thirty-Three
     
     So dry.  As dry as a man with a massive hangover that was wandering
lost in a dessert in Hades Hole in the midday heat.  He could see the
oasis just beyond his reach.  It mocked him as the possessive hand of the
Strike Captain guarded it.   He could actually see the droplets of
condensation as they dribbled down the side of the tumbler and over the
captain's hand.  He licked his lips but his tongue was thick and coated,
providing no relief to the cracked skin.  This called for desperate
measures.
     His eyes were alert as they scanned the room carefully for any sign
of the enforcer.  The massive man was occupied in a private cubicle with
another one of his poor victims.  This was his chance.  He carefully
pulled out the sharp cutting instrument that he had secreted away when
the enforcer had inspected the invasive devices that penetrated his
flesh.  A satisfied smirk crept across his face.  His fingers were still
as nimble and quick as when he was a youth on the streets.
     He knew he had to eliminate the security monitor first.  He had
watched carefully through half closed eyes as the enforcer pushed the
buttons on the blinking machine.  It was going to be almost too easy! 
His eyes again scanned the room for any sign of ambush.  All clear,
Bucko.  He pushed the power button.  The security monitor went dark. 
Phase one complete.
     A slight mumble came from the captain.  Starbuck froze.  He watched
the man closely as he raised his head and brought the straw in the
tumbler to his lips.  The level of fluid began to decrease and Starbuck
held his breath praying to Fortuna, the Goddess of Chance, that his
superior officer would be satisfied quickly.  His prayer was answered as
the captain reached out to the side precariously aiming for the bedside
table that the enforcer had left for him.  The tumbler was abandoned as
the captain settled his head back into the pillow.  Bonus.
     Starbuck reached under the sheet for the large tube that had
painfully secured him to the bed.  The fracking gown that was a lame
excuse for clothing was in the way.  They hadn't made the captain wear
the ridiculous getup.  He pulled it off and when it wouldn't clear the
tube that was in his arm, he simply performed a little surgery on the
scrap of material, thereby removing it completely.  He again reached for
the tube.  Every time he moved it pulled uncomfortably as a bloody
looking fluid entered his body from a machine at the bottom of the
biobed.  He didn't know what they were trying to insert into him, but it
was going to stop right now.  Snip.  He cut it off where it entered his
penis.  Another large tube in his back also anchored him to the bed and
he reached around for it.  Snip.  He shuffled to the edge of the biobed
to realize he still had to do something about the tube in his arm that
was attached to the security monitor, which he had deactivated.  Snip. 
Finally, he pulled the tube out of his nose.  Phase two complete.
     He scooted to the edge of the bed and dangled his legs over the
edge.  He was only a metron from the prize.  The captain appeared to be
sleeping once again.  He again scanned the room for the enforcer.  All
clear.  He placed his feet on the deck and held onto the bed as he swayed
with vertigo.  No fracking way he was going to let a little dizziness
stop him from drinking the sweet elixir just three steps away.  Something
dripped onto his bare foot and he looked down to see dark red splotches
on the floor beneath him.  He held up his arm to find the root of the
problem.  It looked like blood.  His blood.  It was dripping down his arm
from the tube that he had cut and was landing on the floor.  Where was
that sanitation technician when you needed him?  He grabbed the tube and
yanked it out of his arm.  Blood continued to drip to the floor, but he
didn't notice as he focused on taking a step forward.
     His head was pounding and his vision was blurry at the edges.  He
knew it would all improve dramatically if he could just drink some water. 
He put a hand on the security monitor as he took a step.  The monitor was
on wheels!  It moved with him providing him with support.  This was much
better than those bloody bio-crutches he had used when... When was that
exactly?  He took another step closer to the prize as beads of sweat ran
down his face.  All of a sudden, he felt the bile rise in his throat.  He
tried to swallow, but his mouth was so dry he felt as though he was
choking down a fur ball.  He tried to stop himself from coughing and the
tears ran down his face as he restrained himself.
     "Starbuck?" The captain had moved his head to the side.  "Are you
okay?"
     Starbuck again froze.  He wrapped an arm around the monitor and held
on for dear life.  He had to get to the water!  Only one more step.
     "Bucko?" Apollo was sure he had heard Starbuck gasping.  Perhaps his
friend was having a nightmare.  He could hear rasping breaths coming from
close by.  Very close by.
     Starbuck reached out a shaking hand towards the tumbler as he took
one more step.  His hand wrapped around the cold, wet surface and raised
it to his mouth.  Phase three complete.  Mission accomplished.  The
elixir of life... 
     "What in the name of our dear Lord Sagan do you think you're doing?"
The booming voice of Hinnus resounded across the Life Station as he left
the private cubicle to see the lieutenant leaning heavily on the
bio-monitor, stark naked, with blood dripping down his arm, reaching for
the very substance that Hinnus had spent half the shift denying him.
     Starbuck startled and the slippery tumbler fell from his grasp to
the deck.  He watched as it rolled away spilling the precious elixir. 
His knees buckled beneath him and he slumped to the floor groaning in
defeat, the bio-monitor following him down.  Within microns, strong hands
grasped Starbuck's shoulders as he kneeled on the deck in pain and
misery.  
     "Hey, buddy, what's going on?" Apollo asked.  He had pulled off his
eye patches and jumped off his bed when he heard Starbuck crash to the
deck.  Lords, Starbuck was burning up!
     "... Need a drink..." Starbuck croaked as he looked up at Apollo. 
The pool of water felt cool and refreshing beneath his aching body.
     "Starbuck, you can't drink yet.  Remember?" Apollo reminded him.  He
shook his head at Hinnus who was looming over Starbuck like a
professional fighter going in for the kill.  The med tech took a step
back.  Apollo had believed the lieutenant had finally drifted off to
sleep after spending centars doing breathing exercises while exchanging
barbs with Hinnus.  How wrong he was!
     Starbuck bowed his head and lowered it to Apollo's shoulder.  He
could feel a sob threatening to escape his throat and he swallowed it in
shame.  Apollo felt cool.  He probably should, having the benefit of
drinking cold water all rest period.  
     Apollo watched as a slightly blurry Hinnus crouched down with a
dressing, which he firmly applied to Starbuck's bleeding arm.  The
lieutenant didn't budge as he leaned on the captain.  He was spent.
     "Bloody Hades Hole.  He cut the catheters off at the insertion
sites." Hinnus remarked as he saw the stub of the nephrostomy tube
emerging from Starbuck's flank.  "I'm going to have to comm Dr. Paye. 
You should get back into bed, Apollo.  You're not doing your eyes any
favours."
     "Hinnus, Starbuck has saved my astrum more times than I care to
remember.  I'm not going anywhere.  You comm Dr. Paye and I'll get
Starbuck back on to the biobed," the Strike Captain instructed him as he
held on tightly to his slightly delirious friend. 

* * * * *

     Paye knew this was a bad idea.   You can't get a fracking prison
guard to do the job of a med tech.  Oh, sure, Hinnus was also a level one
med tech, but the focus of patient care on the Barge was a little
different than that of the Galactica.  They needed people who could think
ahead and not just respond to a given situation.  He pulled on his tunic
and headed through the hatch stomping towards the Life Station.  Salik
should be pulling this on-call shift.  After all, it was his bright idea
to bring Hinnus over here.
     He looked at his chronometer as he neared the Life Station.  0400
hours.  Sagan's sake, he should still be sleeping, not babysitting.  He
was supposed to start his actual shift in three centars.  Should take
about twenty centons to get the lieutenant sorted out, then he'd be
heading back to bed.  Just get it over with, Paye.
     Dr. Paye entered the Life Station to find Captain Apollo sitting at
the lieutenant's bedside.  Hinnus appeared to be more concerned with
mopping up the blood and urine on the deck than with caring for his
patient.
     "Starbuck, try to relax.  Hinnus just wants to put your intravenous
back in.  You have a fever and you need the fluids, buddy," Apollo was
telling him.
     Starbuck shook his head.  He just couldn't make Apollo understand
that Hinnus was the enemy.  He watched the enforcer as he wielded the
large stick just beside his bed.  He was pretty certain the man was going
to whack him with it.  Hinnus watched him through narrowed eyes as he
moved closer with both hands wrapped around the stick.  Thank the Lords
that Apollo was there... even if he wouldn't let him have a drink.
     "What's going on?" Paye asked in exasperation.
     "The lieutenant won't let me near him, Doctor." Hinnus told him. 
"He still has what's left of his nephrostomy tube and catheter in.  He
wouldn't let me remove them.  I can't even hook up the bio-monitor."
     Paye advanced on his patient.  He put a hand on Apollo's shoulder
noting that the captain seemed to be making an effort to maintain his
face down position even as he tried to calm his subordinate.  "Starbuck,
do you know where you are?"
     Starbuck looked up at Paye.  What an absurd question.  Of course, he
knew where he was!  "I'm in a fracking dessert where a dying man can't
even get a glass of water.  That's where I am!"  He noticed Apollo's
mouth quirk.  "What?" he asked him.
     "You're in the Life Station, Starbuck." Apollo told him.
     The Life Station?  "I know that," he backtracked uncertainly as he
looked around to see the somewhat familiar surroundings.
     "Do you know who I am?" Paye asked as he grabbed a portable
bio-scanner and reached over the captain running it over Starbuck.
     "Of course," Starbuck replied vehemently.  What was wrong with them
all?  
     "Who am I?" Paye asked him as he read the readouts.  High fever,
elevated blood pressure and pulse, consolidation in the lungs.  "What's
his urine output been like?" he asked Hinnus and was handed the data pad
in reply.  Low urine output.  Frack.
     "Don't come to me with your identity crisis.  I have enough problems
of my own." Starbuck crossed his arms over his chest.  A piece of gauze
rubbed uncomfortably on his arm and he pulled it off.
     Paye sighed.  This particular warrior was never easy.  He looked
through the data pad to see when Starbuck had last received analgesia. 
"He hasn't had anything for pain?" he asked Hinnus in disbelief.
     "No, he's been comfortable," Hinnus explained.
     "Define comfortable," Paye demanded.
     "He's moving around and doing breathing exercises without any
discomfort.  He didn't ask for any analgesic." 
     Paye sighed again.  Delirium caused by inadequate pain control,
dehydration and fever, secondary to pneumonia.  Deep breath in, deep
breath out.  His Hatha therapy had been working wonders with his anger
management issues... secondary to the constant chaos of working more than
fulltime in the short-staffed Life Station.
     "Starbuck, are you going to let me remove your tubes and restart
your intravenous?" Paye asked him.  They could do this the easy way or
the easier way.  He didn't care which.  
     Starbuck looked at him suspiciously.  What was he talking about?  It
was best to bluff for now.  "Let me think about it."  At least the man
wasn't threatening him... whoever he was.
     Paye nodded agreeably.  He reached for the hypospray.  "All right,
Starbuck.  We'll do it your way."  He reached over the captain again and
applied the medication administrator to the lieutenant's skin.  Whoosh!
     "Frackin' turncoat..." Starbuck mumbled as his eyes closed and his
body went limp.

* * * * *

     Adama sat in a chair beside his son's biobed.  He had just finished
summarizing the events recorded by Prodo in the Empurios logbook.  Sheba
sat at Apollo's side and listened intently as the story unfolded.  In the
end, the Emyreans had been reduced to a fear filled existence as the
Alrinachs continued to sacrifice their people.  The once timid behavior
exhibited by the creatures completely disappeared and the humans were
targeted with a blood lust that they had never seen in any other race. 
Prodo finally retreated to the Empurios in the faint hope that he could
get it worthy for travel to at least another part of the planet to escape
the Alrinachs with the handful of Empyreans still alive.  
     "There was one human skeleton on the Empurios.  Its skull was
crushed.  That was probably Prodo." Sheba told him.
     Adama nodded his agreement.  He and Ama had made it through the book
late in the rest period.  He arranged for her to stay in an empty chamber
that had recently been doubling as a storage room.  Space was of a
premium on the Battlestar.  She had refused, insisting on bunking in with
Luana and Lia.  She knew 'her girls' would want to hear the contents of
the logbook.  She seemed certain there would be an empty bunk in the
billet and Adama didn't want to know why, though he could well imagine.
     Dr. Dristi had been examining Apollo's eyes as the commander
arrived.  He had been satisfied with the result of the surgery and
advised the captain to continue with the positioning orders for a further
twenty-four centars.  He left the eye patches off and warned Apollo his
vision would be a bit blurry, but if that persisted it would be easily
corrected with laser surgery in about a secton.   In the meantime the
regeneration treatments were effectively reducing the inflammation in
Apollo's knee and he would be able to have it operated on the following
day.
     Starbuck was once again in a deep sleep.  Apollo had filled Adama
and Sheba in on the lieutenant's delirium and the surrounding events.  
Giselle was on duty and Starbuck had been cleaned up and was tucked
comfortably on his side propped up with pillows in the biobed next to the
captain's.  His tubes were reinserted and antibiotics and fluid boluses
had been started.  His temperature was almost back to normal and they
expected a vast change in mentation when the man awoke.  The urine that
drained from his bladder and kidney had changed in colour from a dark red
to a light pink which Giselle assured them was a good turn of events.  
     Cassiopeia had been in and out several times.  She had actually
arrived at the ungodly centar of 0430, as she had just wanted to check in
on Starbuck... and Apollo, of course.  She had taken over from Dr. Paye
since she was well aware the man had to return to put in a full shift
within a few centars.  Cassiopeia assisted Hinnus to reinsert the tubes
and took the opportunity to do a little teaching with the man regarding
normal postoperative assessments.  Hinnus agreed that if he had more
experience with the expectations regarding postoperative pain, urine
outputs and delirium, that things would have turned out much differently. 
As it was, he had begun minimizing his assessments on his difficult
patient to avoid the aggression that was directed at him at a time when
he should have realized something was wrong.  Cassie was an excellent
teacher and med tech and reassured him that he had acted within his
capabilities and experience.  She encouraged him to begin his upgrading
course and continue to pick up shifts in the Galactica's Life Station. 
"If you have any doubts about something, you should ask.  Never hesitate
to call the on-call Doctor if something's wrong.  Our priority is patient
care and safety, not ensuring Dr. Paye gets a good sleep," she added
ruefully.  Actually, Paye had been a lot easier to get along with since
he had decided to try out Hatha therapy.

* * * * * 

     Starbuck felt as though someone was watching him.  He had been
drifting in and out of sleep for the last centar or so trying to make
sense of his muddled memories.  Apollo had mentioned that Starbuck had
made it his personal mission to penetrate the enemy forces that protected
the life-sustaining beverage known as ice water.  The captain had been
face down in the pillow at the time thus Starbuck was uncertain if he was
putting him on or not.  He had a bad feeling that his friend was telling
him the truth.
     The lieutenant was extremely comfortable.  Giselle had removed his
drainage tubes so he was down to just low-level oxygen, a couple of
dressings and the intravenous.  He had been warned though that when he
next awakened he would be getting up for a walk.  He was doing his best
to delay the inevitable sojourn across the Life Station.
     "Open those baby blues for me, Starbuck," Ama demanded from above
him.  "I know you're awake," she added.
     "Go away.  I'm sleeping," he mumbled in reply.  His conversations
with Ama were too intense and stimulating for a man who was so
comfortably propped up with pillows.  His body was the perfect
combination of tired and numb that he knew would keep him dozing through
at least the next couple of centars.  Apparently, he didn't get much
sleep during rest period.  Something cold and wet landed in his ear and
he shot upright in bed to see Ama holding a small cup of water.
     "Aha, you're up.  Good," she grinned at him.
     He stuck a finger in his ear wiping out the liquid as a sudden
thought occurred to him.  "Is that water?"
     "Yes, it is.  What of it?" Ama asked as she moved the cup further
away from him.
     "Give it to me." Starbuck stated.
     "You're not supposed to drink anything yet.  You need to squeeze out
a fart first, dear heart."  She laughed at his horrified expression.  It
was plain to see he thought she had way too much information about his
medical condition.  "Don't worry.  It will come."
     "Yeah, well, it came fairly naturally up until now." A hint of a
smile played around his lips.  He watched with envy as she quickly drank
the water and winked at him as she swallowed the last drops.
     "How are you feeling?" Ama sat in the chair beside him.
     "Don't you already know?" Starbuck teased her.
     "Of course." She shrugged.  "Is there something you wanted to talk
about?"
     "Going back to sleep?" Starbuck asked.  He didn't ask her to come...
but it was kind of nice to see the crotchety old crone.
     "Let me refresh your memory.  I believe the phrase you used was, 'I
screwed up, Ama'.  Sort of makes an old woman wonder what you think you
did wrong." Ama stared him in the eye as she awaited his answer.
     "Did you talk to Luana?" Starbuck asked hesitantly.
     "Of course." Ama replied.
     "Did she tell you what happened?" Suddenly, the tube in his arm was
quite fascinating.
     "Most of it.  So?"
     Starbuck looked at her in surprise.  Maybe Luana didn't tell her
anything at all.  "What did she tell you?"
     "That if I was eighty yahrens younger I should make a considerable
effort to kiss you passionately... preferably while you were naked if I
really wanted the full effect." Ama replied.  She laughed as she watched
him flush in embarrassment.  "She also told me you love Cassiopeia very
much.  She bears you no ill will, Starbuck.  Life goes on."
     "Frack, you took that well." Starbuck muttered in surprise.  "I
thought I was going to get cursed again."
     "She's my goddaughter, not my child.  She's also a mature adult,
though it's difficult to tell sometimes.  She's perfectly capable of
making her own decisions.  You were one of those." Ama told him
truthfully.  She wouldn't tell him that she felt almost the same way
about him.  She wasn't sure why she was so drawn to Starbuck, but at
times he seemed like the son she had never had.  
     "There's something else.  There was another book.  An ancient
Empyrean tome.  Lia and Luana thought it might have told the tale of the
trip from Kobol to Empyrean.  It was in the pack that I lost in the
tunnel," he admitted.
     "Maybe it was and maybe it wasn't.  I guess we'll never know." Ama
told him.  She had never expected to see the book.  It had been lost for
a millennium.  It was hardly practical to consider it a loss again now.
     "Thanks, Ama." Starbuck sighed.  He suddenly felt as though he had
been vindicated.
     "Don't fash yourself, son." She smiled at him as she got up to
leave.  "Oh, and Starbuck, if you don't squeeze out a fart by tomorrow,
I'll send Rhiamon around to see you."

Part Thirty-Four

     Starbuck was thinking about all the choices he had made on Alrin and
was trying to figure out which one Ama had been referring to when she had
warned him it would be a difficult choice, but to use his instinct.  He
had meant to ask her about it when she was visiting him, but had
forgotten after she had exonerated him of his self imposed feelings of
guilt.  He smiled to himself as he realized she had just fulfilled the
part of a religious leader who exonerated a follower of their sins.  He
wasn't sure why the woman's approval was important to him, but it was.  
     He fingered the Empyrean Talisman that Giselle had returned to him
earlier in her shift.  The amulet was cool and smooth as he flipped it
between his fingers and it made its way across his knuckles.  What part
did it really play in protecting them?  Did it play any part at all?  He
would have liked to have a chat with Luana about it.  She was a bit more
cynical about her beliefs than Lia.  Her thoughts more closely mirrored
Starbuck's own.  They would probably have to wait for that chat while
emotional wounds healed.
     Luana and Lia had stopped by briefly for a visit.  He admired
Luana's character.  People accused her of acting immature at times, but
she had proved them all wrong when she walked up to him and gave him a
hug.  "I was so worried about you, Starbuck.  I'm glad you're feeling
better.  I would have been awfully choked if we didn't have the chance to
straighten out our friendship out before you died."  She had grinned at
him as she saw his evident relief.  The word 'friendship' clearly relayed
that they would move on.
     Cassiopeia was due to start her shift soon.  Apparently, she had
been in to see him several times, but each time he had been asleep.  He
figured that it was a good omen.  There was something he was thinking
about asking her, but the more he pondered it, the more he wondered if it
was a good idea.  What if after all his thinking about choices that it
came down to this one?  What if this was the choice that Ama had foretold
as being the difficult one.  Use your instinct, Starbuck, she had told
him.  Well, his instinct was failing him.  If he went out on a limb and
asked the question, it could go two ways.  She could happily go along
with him and that would make him the happiest man in the Colonial Fleet. 
It would be everything he ever wanted... well, let's be realistic here,
Bucko, it's really only been preying on your mind recently.  This was
something that he hadn't given a lot of thought before.  Then again she
could say no.  That would be really difficult.  Perhaps he was feeling a
little fragile, but he didn't think he would handle it well if Cassie
turned him down.  Oh, he would probably deserve it all right, but it
would still be tough to take.
     Starbuck rubbed the talisman as if it was a good luck charm.  He
could use all the luck he could get, especially with Ama threatening to
send Rhiamon, the Empyrean healer around to see him.  Rhiamon seemed to
specialize in two treatments, bloodletting and poultices.  He smirked, as
he doubted that either treatment would encourage him to "pass flatus" as
Giselle so delicately put it.  Undoubtedly, Rhiamon would have some other
disgusting procedure to inflict upon him.  Honestly, she did scare the
mong out of him, so maybe her mere presence would be effective after all.
     Dr. Paye had made a point of reading the riot act to Starbuck about
his stimulant use while on Alrin.  He clearly pointed out that it was the
stimulant that caused his delayed bleeding and could have killed him. 
The man made Starbuck feel as though he was a vagrant abusing Elysium,
not a warrior who made a difficult decision in a rare circumstance.  Wait
a centon, maybe that was the choice Ama referred to!  Oh, frack, he was
going to drive himself crazy second-guessing every choice he made.  He
should just take a page from Ama's book and decide that what's done is
done and there isn't much any of us can do about it now.  Life goes on. 
Yeah, right.  
     Starbuck looked up as another figure passed through the entrance to
the Life Station.  He was hoping it was Cassie, but he couldn't be more
wrong.  The man was immense and filled the entranceway as he passed
through.  He reminded Starbuck of Kale in the fitness center.  The man's
eyes flickered over Starbuck uncertainly before he changed tack and moved
towards Dr. Paye.  They were speaking quietly at the desk.
     Starbuck sighed as he looked at his chronometer.  Cassie should be
here soon.  He wished he could just have it all over with.  He shook his
head at his nervousness.  The confident ladies' man was nowhere to be
seen.  C'mon Starbuck, did you leave your backbone down on Alrin?  You
can do this.  It's very simple really, just a yes or no.  He thought
about practicing his game face until she arrived, just incase she did say
no.  
     "Lieutenant?" 
     Starbuck looked up from the talisman to see the immense stranger
looking down at him.  Dr. Paye was behind him with a hand on his
shoulder.
     "Yes?" Starbuck said.  The man seemed nervous.  Well, Starbuck could
relate to that emotion.
     "Do you remember me?"
     "Uh, no... should I?" Starbuck asked him.
     "I was the med tech that looked after you during rest period.  My
name is Hinnus."  Hinnus rocked from foot to foot as he watched for
Starbuck's reaction.  The whole episode had really upset him despite
Cassiopeia's assurances that he had acted responsibly.  He couldn't help
but think he had screwed up the lieutenant's care and had put him at risk
unnecessarily.  He had asked about Lieutenant Starbuck and the man seemed
to be really popular.  Apparently, he wasn't usually a complete equines
astrum as he had been with Hinnus.
     "Oh... uh, sorry.  I don't remember very much about rest period." 
The man now did seem familiar.  "Wait a centon?  Did I call you a
sanitation technician?" Starbuck asked.
     The man cracked a smile.  "Among other things."
     Starbuck winced.  He needed to talk to Dr. Salik about this delirium
problem he kept developing.  Well, at least this time he hadn't awakened
holding Apollo's hand.  "Sorry.  I hope I wasn't too much of a pain in
the astrum."  Though he knew from Apollo's comments that an astrum was
exactly what he was.
     "That's okay.  I'm sorry too.  If I had known you were getting
delirious and not just being obnoxious, I would have called Dr. Paye
sooner."
     "It is often difficult to tell the difference between the real
Starbuck and the delirious Starbuck," Paye told Hinnus as he patted him
on the shoulder.  "He does his best to cover it up when he's confused. 
He's very adept at the art of deception.  Most patients use insults and
anger to mask their uncertainty, fear and confusion.  Consider this your
first lesson on your path to the second level med tech designation." 
Paye headed back to the desk where Salik had just arrived for his shift.
     The damn Doctor talked about Starbuck as if he wasn't even there. 
He was simply another case study.  "That, my friend, is a great example
of a poor beside manner.  Consider that your second lesson on your path
to the second level med tech designation." Starbuck commented wryly.  
     "I'm afraid I've already perfected the poor bedside manner.  Just
ask the captain here." Hinnus nodded in Apollo's direction.  "I was
giving just as good as I was getting part way through the shift."
     "Don't worry about it.  I really don't remember." Starbuck reassured
him.  The man obviously felt bad about it.  Starbuck again looked towards
the hatch.  Still no Cassiopeia.  "Besides, didn't Apollo tell you I was
behaving out of character?"
     Apollo chuckled from his pillow.  "Actually, until you started your
stealth mission, you were pretty much in character.  Grumpy, but still
you."
     "Thanks, buddy.  I appreciate your support." Starbuck griped at him. 
"By the way, shouldn't your face be a little more firmly inserted in the
pillow?  If you need any help, I'm here for you.  After all, I am your
wingman."
     "Case in point." Apollo affirmed.
     Hinnus chuckled.  "Sorry, Captain.  I definitely see a difference...
however small it may be."
     "Did you ever feel like everybody was against you?" Starbuck asked
nobody in particular.  After all, he suspected that no one was listening. 

     Luckily, at that moment Cassiopeia walked through the hatch.  She
smiled warmly at him as she made her way across the Life Station stopping
at the desk to get her report from Giselle.  Well, she at least looked
happy to see him.  That was a good sign.  He would wait to talk to her
before he decided whether or not to ask the big question.  Once again he
began fingering the talisman nervously.  He hoped someone would bring him
a deck of cards soon.  He was starting to feel like an old woman
fingering her worry beads.  Then again, the last time he had been
permitted to bring cards into the Life Station Dr. Salik had evicted him
for turning the place into a gambling chancery.
     "I'll see you at rest period, Lieutenant," Hinnus was saying. 
Apparently, he was returning for another shift.
     "The name's Starbuck.  See you later, Hinnus," he returned as the
man headed for the hatch.  Cassie was still occupied looking over the
data pad with Giselle.  Lords, she looked wonderful.  Okay, maybe he was
biased, but even when they had found Cassie hungry, with a broken arm and
persecuted by her fellow passengers, she was still an alluring woman. 
One thing that had always struck him about her was her confidence.  She
exuded that confidence as a woman and a med tech.  
     Frack, she was taking her time.  At this rate he'd be an old man
before he got his answer.  His eyes followed her as she started making
the rounds and seeing her patients.  Why didn't she come right over? 
Hmm, she was probably saving the best for last.
     "Something bothering you, Bucko?  You're as nervous as a groom on
his sealing day." Apollo commented.  Starbuck had been fidgeting like a
Viper pilot with a steam burn...
     Starbuck startled.  "Uh... no.  I'm fine." He put the talisman down
on his table.  "Were you nervous on your sealing day?" he asked
hesitantly.  After all, he hadn't been around to see Apollo get sealed,
courtesy of Baltar and the Cylon Empire.
     "What?  Are you serious?" Holy frack!  
     "Uh... yeah.  Why?  Is it still hard to talk about it?" Starbuck
asked him.
     Apollo smiled at his friend's concern.  "No.  It's true about time
healing wounds.  No.  I wasn't nervous.  I knew that Serina and I were
meant to be together.  It felt right.  Of course, the timing wasn't
particularly great with my best man traipsing across space to look up
Baltar, but we made due."  He heard Starbuck sniff loudly at that. 
"Thank the Lords that we did get sealed that day.  If we hadn't..." he
lapsed.
     "You really knew that it was right? How did you know?" Starbuck
asked.  They had never really had this conversation before.
     "I can't explain it, Starbuck, but I've never been more certain of
anything in my life." Apollo told him lifting his head from the pillow to
meet his friend's gaze.  
     "How are my favourite warriors?" Cassie asked as she approached. 
"My, you two seem deep in conversation.  Maybe I'm interrupting?"
     "No, no.  I've been waiting all day to see you." Starbuck told her. 
As fascinating as his conversation was with Apollo, the woman he loved
was a lot more interesting.  The woman he loved.  There's a phrase that
doesn't run through your head everyday.  
     "They did tell you I'd been in, didn't they?" Cassie asked him.  He
certainly did seem happy to see her.  He was probably wondering if she
was going to drop him like a bad habit.
     "Yeah, they did." Starbuck nodded.  "Can we talk?"
     "I think that's my cue," Apollo stated rising from his bed.  "I need
to have another regeneration treatment on my knee anyways."
     "Apollo, you don't have to go." Cassie told him.
     "Oh, yes I do.  Starbuck, I'm proud of you, buddy.  It's about
time," he added as he limped away on his bio-crutches. 
     Starbuck shook his head as his friend walked away.  Yeah, it was
about time.  "Do you have a few centons, Cass?"
     "Starbuck, I love you very much, but now is probably not the time to
be discussing this." Cassie smiled at him.  He had almost died.  She
didn't want him proposing to her as some kind of reflexive action to
almost losing her.  Besides, as fetching as he looked in his life center
gown, she had really always imagined a slightly more romantic setting.
     Starbuck swung his legs slowly over the side of his bed.  He was
still a bit sore, but that was not going to interfere with his
determination.  "They say there's no time like the present, Cass," he
took her hand and pulled her gently towards him enfolding her in an
embrace.  He felt it as she molded her body into his in a way that was
both familiar and intimate.
     "Your pulse is increasing.  Maybe this isn't a good idea." She
teased him as the biomonitor displayed his vital signs.
     "It's a very good idea," he growled into her hair as he pressed her
against him.
     "Do you want Dr. Salik evicting you again?" 
     "Who?" Starbuck nuzzled her neck.  She was better than any drug. 
Actually, she was his drug of choice, powerful, intoxicating and mentally
and physically addicting.  
     She pulled back reluctantly.  "I think you're a bad influence on me,
Lieutenant." Cassie smiled at him and smoothed his hair back from his
eyes.
     Starbuck grinned at her in return.  "Are we okay then?  I know I put
you through a lot, Cass.  It won't happen again.  I promise." He face
became more solemn as he awaited her answer.
     "Starbuck, I know you don't do it intentionally, but I'd be a fool
to believe it won't happen again.  You have a genetic predisposition to
get in trouble." Cassie caressed his cheek.
     "Did this come up on my genetic scan with Chameleon? You could have
told me, Cass," he returned quickly, but had difficulty meeting her eyes.
     "Hey, it's okay.  I had a long talk with Athena." She grinned, as he
looked up horrified.  "You know, when we started this relationship I was
a lot better at accepting you for who you are.  Somewhere along the way I
became like so many other women who decide they need to change a few
things.  I realized that I fell in love with one man and was trying to
change him into another man.  Somehow, I think the man I was molding
would be a lot less interesting than my current one." She grinned.  "I've
decided to keep you just as you are."
     "Thanks a lot... I think," he muttered as he considered her words. 
Cassie and Athena's conversation on the shuttle came back to him.  A bad
bet, they had called him.  Cass was apparently somewhat of a gambler if
she was staying in the game despite the odds.  He knew he wasn't much of
a prize, but apparently he was what Cassiopeia wanted.  He must be.
     "I love you." Cassie told him and was rewarded by his smile
returning to his face and his eyes returning to hers.
     "I love you too." Starbuck told her.  Maybe they would be okay after
all.  He again weighed whether or not he should ask his question.  Did he
ever decide one way or the other?  He sighed.
     "What?" she asked him.
     "I want to ask you something.  I don't want you to feel like you
need to feel obligated..." he started awkwardly.
     "Starbuck, we don't have to do this now." Cassie reassured him.
     "I need to do this now, Cass.  I'm dying to do this now.  If I go
any longer... frack..." he muttered.
     Cassie nodded.  "Okay.  Go ahead.  What is it you want to ask me?"
     "Cassiopeia, please..."
     "Sorry, have I interrupted something?" Dr. Salik asked as he
approached the suddenly intense looking pair.
     "Could you give us a centon?" Cassie asked him and nodded in thanks
as he retreated.
     "Cass, I know this may not be the right time..." Starbuck started
again.
     "Haven't you asked her yet?" Apollo asked as he returned from his
treatment.  
     "Frack, it's like being in the middle of a parade." Starbuck
complained.
     "Okay, okay.  I'm going." Apollo headed for a bed far away.
     Starbuck took a deep breath and let it out.  "Any other probable
interruptions that you can see?" he asked Cassiopeia.
     "I think we're clear." She assured him.
     "I can't believe how difficult it is to ask a question." Starbuck
told her.  He took both of her hands in his.  This was getting a bit
ridiculous.  He looked around nervously as he noticed everyone watching
them.  Frack, can't a man have any privacy?  Yeah, right, Bucko.  Privacy
on a battlestar?  "Look, Cass, I just want to know if... I can have a
drink of water?"

The End