TITLE HIDE AND SEEK
AUTHOR FINGERS

RATING NC- 17
WARNINGS - NON CON SEX - ONE OF OUR BOYS AND SOMEONE ELSE.  VIOLENCE.  I
will admit that the depiction of Apollo might in some quarters be regarded
as umm unsympathetic - I know this, so if you are a die hard Apollo fan
don't read

CONSTRUCTIVE COMMENTS APPRECIATED
ARCHIVE : BYC and Heart Attack yes - anywhere else ask first
This is a repost of something that has already been posted on BSG slash
except that it now has an ending

Feedback: MandyHall@pelton.claranet.co.uk

Thanks to Claire and Rita for helping with this.


The shuttle was crowded with the pilots from Blue squadron and those of the
other squadrons that could wangle themselves out of duty that night. Blue
squadron had been granted a furlon to celebrate the novayahren of one of
its newest members, and the fact that in the last encounter with the Cylons
they had the highest number of Cylon kills.

Starbuck and Boomer for once had made it down to the shuttle early and
grabbed two relatively spacious seats, although they both fought over who
had to sit next to Reese. Starbuck wondered what Reese was doing going over
to the Rising Star, probably snooping to see if he could get any dirt.
Reese met his unfriendly stares with a smug smile. Starbuck shifted in his
seat, knowing they would have to be extra careful tonight if Reese wasn't
going to get wind of what he was planning. Well, he wasn't sure exactly
what his lover was planning but Reese still shouldn't get to hear of it.

He turned to Boomer who had nudged him in his ribs. "Hmm, Boom-boom?"

"Just wondering whether you were still with us, Bucko. Got any spare
fumarello's with you?"

"Of course, do you want some?"

"Well the only time I get to smoke them is when we are on one of these
nights out. Jenny keeps sneaking into my locker and grabbing whatever I've
got in there and trashing them."

Starbuck smiled. "I thought you were the electronics expert, fix the lock
so she can't break in." He reached into his pocket and produced three.
"Three enough?"

Boomer smiled at this unexpected generosity, Starbuck was as careful with
his fumarello's as he was with his cubits during a game of pyramid.
"Enough? Three is great." He grabbed them out of Starbuck's hand before he
changed his mind. For a joke Boomer planted a wet kiss on Starbuck's cheek.

"Boomer!" Starbuck jumped and jostled Reese. "Yuck, don't do that. Didn't
you know fraternisation between members of the same squadron is frowned
upon?"

Boomer laughed and handed Starbuck a cloth from his pocket. Starbuck
snatched it out of his hand and wiped the cheek dry. Boomer looked at his
timepiece and commented, "Did Apollo say he was coming tonight?"

The question was met with an answering roar from the other pilots as
Apollo, Sheba and Bojay squeezed in through the closing door of the
shuttle. Apollo mouthed over to the pair of them 'Women!' and pointed at
Sheba who was using a piece of polished metal to adjust her hair.

Boomer moaned, "Why did he have to bring them two along?"

Starbuck jokingly answered him, "Diplomatic relations, Boomer. He had to
include someone from Silver Spar or else they would have sulked all
sectar." He paused as he looked at the trio. "Hmm he did have to bring the
most attractive member of the squadron."

Boomer chuckled. Ever since Cassi and Starbuck had split several sectons
ago there had been a running wager to see who would be Starbuck's next
conquest. To date there had been little open activity on that front and yet
Boomer knew that Starbuck was so happy and content he 'must' be seeing
someone. He followed Starbuck's glance and thought 'Sheba?' He must have a
little wager on that next time he saw Omega in the O' club.

At last the short flight was over and the warriors descended on the
lounges. Starbuck and Boomer headed for the chancery. Boomer wondered
whether this was a good idea as Starbuck began to rub his hands together
with glee. He reluctantly handed his cubits over to the blond instantly
regretting getting hooked up with one of his systems. He noted with relief
Apollo approaching with Bojay and Sheba trailing behind him. He dragged
Starbuck over to them before he could get near one of the tables.

"Evening, Apollo!" Boomer smiled at the two people behind him, "Bojay,
Sheba."

"Hello, Boomer, have we arrived in the nick of time to save your cubits for
another day or system?" Apollo laughed at the scarlet face of Starbuck
behind him. He began to chat to Boomer to forestall any arguments or
protestations about the reliability and profitability of any of Starbuck's
systems.

Starbuck decided this would be a good time to get a drink. He saw one of
the waitresses who patrolled the chancery providing free drinks so that
people would be encouraged to spend more time in there. He smiled at the
young girl, maybe 18 yahrens old. "Hi, aren't you new here? I don't believe
I've seen you here before."

Helle smiled at the famous pilot stood before her actually speaking to her.
She blushed. "First week, sir."

"With a smile like that I am sure you will be here a long time and rise to
the top in no time."

Helle blushed even deeper.

Apollo and Boomer laughed as they observed the waitress wander off. Apollo
turned to Boomer and commented, "How many feet do you think she is off the
ground?"

"Oh, about six or seven. Bucko's charm has worked again, guess whose table
is going to be the best served tonight? Oh no, I think you'd better grab
him he's getting too close to the pyramid table."

Several centars later the party was beginning to break up. Boomer noted
drunkenly from his seat that Apollo had gone missing along with Sheba and
other of the pilots. He managed to raise himself to a position vaguely
resembling upright and looked around for Starbuck. He frowned to himself.
That young waitress was still flirting with him. Starbuck noticed him and
kissed the young girl goodnight on her cheek and came over to Boomer. "Hey,
Boom-Boom, you look as though you need a hand there. Come on old pal. I'll
get you to bed." Boomer stared at his empty glass and nodded in reply.
Starbuck slung a limp arm over his neck and pulled Boomer out of his chair
effortlessly.

@@@@

Starbuck laughed to himself as he let himself out of the small cubicle that
Boomer had rented for the night. It consisted of a small bunk and nothing
else. Then again Boomer was so drunk he probably wouldn't appreciate
anything else. Again a broad smile came over his face, he knew that his
soul mate had rented something more spacious for the occasion. He was also
glad that everyone else was so drunk that they didn't notice that he had
barely touched anything all night. He walked down the corridor towards the
more exclusive and expensive accommodations. He failed to notice that Reese
followed him all the way down the corridor.

Starbuck reached for the door chime but suddenly took his hand down from
the door. He knew once he stepped over the threshold there would be no
going back. He moved from one foot to another. The thoughts that had kept
him awake over the past few nights came back. Thoughts of pain and tears
and yet more pain as the men used his young body. He stopped himself with
an effort. 'No, he had promised it wouldn't be like that, that he wouldn't
do anything he didn't want him to do.' He smoothed back his hair and took a
deep breath. He pressed the door chime. The door slid back and Starbuck
stepped through. The door closed behind him.

@@@@

From his vantage point Reese smiled. He muttered, "Lieutenant, don't you
know the rules about fraternisation?" He slouched off down the corridor to
get ready to do the job he had really come to the Rising Star to do.

@@@@

Starbuck stepped inside the door and waited for a moment for his eyes to
adjust to the dim lighting. He smiled shyly as his lover was waiting for
him naked on the large bed that dominated the room.

"Hello, love. You took your time, I thought you'd run off with that pretty
young waitress." The voice waited for a reply and continued when he didn't
get one. He put an arm out. "Come here, Sta, undress in front of me. I want
to see your body."

Starbuck smiled and went over and quickly removed his dress uniform. He
instantly relaxed, there was nothing now between him and his lover, no
rank, no war, no destruction. He slid onto the bed and looked into those
green eyes. "Well I'm here, Ap. What are you going to teach me tonight?"

Apollo laughed, "I want to make sure that you remember our last lesson."

Starbuck laughed back, "Of course I do!"

Apollo took a large shuddering deep breath in as Starbuck's mouth suddenly
took hold of his cock and began to suck it in bit by tiny bit. Each tiny
piece was taken in and treated to the same tongue, teeth and lips massage.
Before he was even halfway in to Starbuck's mouth Apollo was trying to
thrust to speed the process up. Starbuck easily put a hand on each hip and
forced them back on the bed.

"Frak, Sta, you don't have to be this good so soon. Have I told you yet you
are such a damn tease? Did you have to flirrrrrrrrr" Apollo's voice rose in
frustration as Starbuck slowed down and the massage became even more
intense. He became silent and smiled, as the silence seemed to spur
Starbuck on. Apollo suddenly found he could move his hips. He began to
thrust gently at first and then harder, faster. He felt fingers dancing all
over his groin and ass. Without knowing it he was floating and pumping into
the receptive mouth. He eventually came back down. "Sta, you are so good.
Oh lords that was fantastic." He looked up into those blue eyes and grinned
at the love he found there. "But, Lieutenant, there are certain things I
have to discuss with you." He pulled a compliant Starbuck over onto his
back and straddled his chest.

"Yes, sir, and what are those? Technical specifications for the new Viper?"
Starbuck reached quietly behind Apollo and began to tickle the Captain's
sac. He knew that this would distract the oh so serious Apollo from
anything.

"No. Did you really have to flirt with that waitress all night? She must
only have been on the Rising Star for less than a secton. Sta, don't do
that, it's ticklish. And I'm sure you've got poor Boomer convinced you're
after Sheba."

"Laying a smoke trail. Anyway how else to stack the wager that's on me? You
know, Captain, it's not fair to let all the poor suckers string it out
secton after secton."

"Ok, ok point made. Mmmm maybe you could go back with Cassi for a few
sectons and then let it die down again. Then no-one will suspect us.. .
Sta, don't do that!" Apollo rolled off Starbuck laughing at the way
Starbuck broke up the awkward moments. He idly put a hand out and started
playing with Starbuck's semi erect member. He looked up at the man beside
him. "I think tonight we'll do something special, what about it?" He tried
to remain relaxed but he knew of his lover's childhood and wanted him to
get past that.

"Hmmm I'm not sure." Starbuck paused and swallowed, "What did you have in
mind?"

Apollo grinned. "I thought you might like to experiment on me or more
appropriately in me." He gently stroked Starbuck's face. "We'll take it
slow and gentle. I've already prepared myself so we'll skip that part 'til
the next time. How about it?"

Starbuck looked into those deep green eyes and decided yes, this was what
he wanted. What he desired. He knew when he had come into the room tonight
that this would happen. He nodded, not trusting his voice. Apollo raced a
hand down his lover's spine and smiled at the tiny shudders this simple
movement brought on.

Starbuck looked into those deep green eyes and decided yes, this was what
he wanted. What he desired. He knew when he had come into the room tonight
that this would happen. He nodded, not trusting his voice.

Apollo raced a hand down his lover's spine and smiled at the tiny shudders
this simple movement brought on. He followed this up with a searching
tongue finding the hollows on Starbuck's upper body. He took particular in
delight in tracing the contours of Starbuck's throat, he knew from past
experience that this particularly turned his lover on.

Starbuck gasped as Apollo's hands and tongue worked their magic on him. He
lay back and let Apollo play with his body, not like those that played with
him before he knew Apollo loved him. He arched his back again as that
tongue worked its way round his neck. He was shivering with anticipation.

@@@@

Helle finished her shift in the galley area of the Rising Star. She smiled
shyly as the staff teased her about her great conquest of the evening. She
was glad that her father wasn't around to hear the comments, she was in
enough trouble as it was coming to work here. She didn't notice the
glowering man watching her as she moved round the galley.

Pallas looked at the time piece on the wall and decided to make a move back
to his cabin. He took one last look at the petite girl, her long ash blonde
hair floating round her as she tidied her work station. His hand strayed to
the front of his hips. He left the kitchen.

@@@@

Chief investigator Gollat registered the late arrival of Reese with an
annoyed sigh. He turned to confront the security officer. "Reese where have
you been?"

Reese bristled at the investigator's tone. He smiled though, "Just
following up something sir." It had been nothing to do with the case but he
was pleased that his observations and suspicions of the last few weeks had
been right after all. He was pleased that his friend had managed to fix up
the monitoring of the suite. He idly wondered how much fun he could have
with the resulting tape. It would be good to have the two most famous
warriors under his thumb. With reluctance though he turned back to the case
in hand. He questioned the investigator, "Are you sure sir that the
assailant is going to hit again tonight?"

Gollat turned the pages of the file in front of him and sighed. "I don't
know. The pattern fits, the assailant only strikes when Blue or Silver Spar
squadron is on board." Gollat fixed his fish eye stare on Reese. "Make sure
your men are ready. Psych reports indicate that the perpetrator is
increasing in the scope of things he does."

Reese nodded; he knew how hard both security and the investigators had
worked on this case and how quiet it had been kept.

@@@@

Starbuck was wondering how much more of this teasing he could take. He was
putty in the practised hands of Apollo. With what shreds of consciousness
he had left he wondered how shy Apollo had gotten so good at this. He
shrieked as Apollo fingered his ass hole. "Ap,please. Oh gods, let me oh.
Take me" He decided to take matters into his own hand as even Cass hadn't
driven him this wild. He reached down and started to pump himself.

Apollo smiled. He was hard and rigid himself. Starbuck's response to his
caresses had been earnest and wanton. He looked at the blue eyes that were
beseeching him to give him release. His cock and ass ached, he wondered
whether he should take advantage of his willing partner and shook the
thought from his brain. He had promised Starbuck they would take it nice
and slow. He felt the movement of the hands down his body and followed
them, he brought them up to his lips and kissed them. "No, Lieutenant,
you're not getting away with that."

"But, Ap, I can't hang on for much longer, I'm, I...."

"Sssh there." Apollo stretched for the lube and smiled as it had retained
its warmth nicely. Without saying anything he reached down and started to
gently spread the lube over Starbuck's cock. From the looks and feel of it,
this first time would probably be over quickly. The next time they would be
more confident of each other to play for longer. His fingers noted the
large amount of pre-cum dripping from his lover's now engorged cock. He
wondered for a second on which position would be best for a first time and
then matters were taken out of his hand. Strong hands whipped him over onto
his front and he felt the lubed cock tip at his entrance. He smiled.

Starbuck couldn't believe the time Ap was taking to lube him. The pain Ap's
gentle hands caused him was so mind blowing; he couldn't wait any longer.
Basic instincts took over. He whipped Ap over onto his stomach and
straddled him. He paused for a moment and then pushed in. He chewed his lip
as he went in, involuntarily remembering the pain as his users stretched
and entered him. Then the memory was gone as a wave of adrenaline and
sexual release pounded through his body. He screamed his release, "APOLLO!"

Apollo had been taken aback by the decisiveness of Starbuck but as his
soulmate pounded past his prostrate he was taken along on the wave of
release. He knew he must have screamed his lover's name at some point. For
the second time that night he came and came hard. His penis pumped his cum
out onto the bed for what seemed aeons. Eventually it stopped. Apollo
rolled onto his side and looked at his soulmate. He quirked an eyebrow.
"Well, lover, I think we've passed that test." All he got in reply was one
of those special Starbuck smiles. He decided to try a question, "Were you
like that with Cass?" He didn't even want to know about his sister.

He didn't get an answer for a centon or two, it was almost as if Starbuck
had forgotten how to speak. "Erm, me and Cass? No it was never like that.
Cass was good, don't get me wrong but that was fantastic." Starbuck
stretched lazily as his energy and control returned.

@@@@

Reese with reluctance turned off the audio feed. 'Frak they had sounded as
though they were flying!' Listening to their climax had almost made him
climax at the same time. Luckily he had managed to control his body, as it
would have been embarrassing to do that in front of Gollat. He saw with
concern Gollat turn off an intercom.

"Anything, sir?"

Gollat nodded solemnly, "I'm afraid so. We have a report from A deck. Shall
we go?"

@@@@

Helle heard the voices but couldn't process the words. She curled up trying
to protect herself. Someone touched her she flinched. She felt a cover
drape over her. She held it to herself; it cut her off from the outside
world, from what had just happened.

***

At last her duties had finished and she was off on her way back to her
cabin. She hoped that during her shift a message had arrived from her
second cousin Demeter who was a trainee technician on the Galactica. She
smiled at the thought of meeting up with him again soon. Their home ship
was deliberately stationed at the back of the fleet. Their people were
proud, aloof, and very traditional. Demeter's mini-rebellion in becoming a
trainee and moving to the Galactica had spurred her to break out of the
traditional roles that were earmarked for women in her society. Helle
walked quickly out down the deserted corridor. She laughed to herself about
the comments she would receive from Demeter about her meeting Starbuck and
the other pilots. She was therefore unprepared for the hand that snaked
round her waist and roughly pulled her into the alcove.

Events after that passed in a blur. She tried to fight but the person was
too strong for her and held her down easily enough. Eventually she just let
it happen. She didn't know who or how she was discovered. She didn't know
that in her hand she held several blond hairs.

****

@@@@

Starbuck and Apollo had decided to take a quick turbo wash, by the time the
morning came they wouldn't have enough time. Apollo had also insisted in
changing the sheets on the bed. Starbuck sighed but knew this was all part
of Apollo's 'no-one must suspect' paranoia. Personally he didn't care who
knew but respected Apollo's wishes. His fingers and mouth itched for a
fumarello but knew Apollo would refuse to let him smoke. He turned to
Apollo who was now settling down in the bed. "Erm, Apollo, I'll think I'll
go for a smoke. Be back in a while. Ok?"

Apollo grunted. Starbuck dressed quietly and let himself out of the room.
He wandered down the corridor and onto A deck. He flopped down onto one of
the seats and looked through the observation window onto the fleet.
Gradually contentment and exhaustion claimed him and he dozed off.

@@@@

The medtech called to the scene, luckily female, had managed to uncurl
Helle's hand to see what she clutched. Gollat immediately had the hairs
bagged and held them up to the light. "Blond. How many blond males are
there on board tonight?" He sighed.

Reese nodded. He thought about the situation, he had been talking to the
woman who had found Helle. "Sir, the woman who found the girl said that she
was drawn to the alcove by noises. So perhaps whoever it was didn't get too
far..." Gollat nodded and indicated to Reese to make the necessary
arrangements.

Reese strode down the corridor. He was followed by two subordinates who
were on careful watch for any male with blond hair. Reese knew that they
were probably chasing a phantom. It would be a fool who would keep himself
out in the open. He was interrupted from his thoughts by a voice from
behind. "Sir."

"Yes?"

The subordinate pointed to a row of chairs by one of the observation
windows. Lying fast asleep across them was a sated Lieutenant Starbuck; his
fumarello hanging from his fingertips.

Reese almost told his guards to leave him alone. He knew he was the only
one with a cast iron alibi; hadn't he heard it himself? But then decided he
wouldn't be able to explain the lapse to Gollat. Besides he could have some
fun with this. Would the loyal lieutenant betray his lover and superior to
save his own skin? Reese doubted it. He smiled thinly, he wondered what
sort of excuse he would come up with instead. He shook Starbuck's shoulder
to wake him. "Lieutenant, wakey, wakey."

@@@@

Starbuck woke up slowly. He had been having a wonderful dream and then some
fool had to wake him up. He opened an eye and shut it again as he saw
Reese. The shaking continued so he sat himself up and groaned. "What do you
want, Reese? Sleeping on the chairs become an offence now and have you got
the job of policing it?"

Reese smiled. "No, Lieutenant. We need you to answer a few questions on
your whereabouts and actions this evening."

Starbuck ran his hands through his hair. "What do you mean?"

"You'll find out soon enough. I hope you'll come with us willingly."

Starbuck eyed the two heavies behind Reese and decided not to argue. He
hadn't got a clue what Reese was on about. He nodded. He noticed Reese was
relaxed so it didn't appear to be anything too serious. He got up and
walked back down the corridor with them.

@@@@

Reese's face dropped when he saw that an IFB crew had already got wind of
the story and was covering the doorway to the investigation office, there
was no other way round it. He pushed through the crowd. He tugged on
Starbuck's elbow, discreetly he hoped and pushed the confused warrior
through the melee into the office.

They both heard as the door was closing. "Viewers, as you are no doubt
aware that was Lieutenant Starbuck. Neither security operative Reese or the
Lieutenant were prepared to answer questions about the attack earlier this
evening or why the lieutenant was going into the office."

@@@@

Starbuck angrily turned to Reese. "What's this about an attack? Who?"

Reese was about to answer when Gollat intervened. "There has been a serious
attack upon one of the staff of the Rising Star this evening. We are in the
preliminary stages of the investigation but we hope that we can eliminate
you quickly."

Starbuck sat down. He recognised Gollat as part of what passed for the
Investigators department of the security forces. "Ok, sir, go ahead."

@@@@

Far away towards the rear of the fleet, the viewer was flicked off angrily.
The man, Silanus, turned round and looked at his family gathered round him.
"So that is what the rest of the tribes call progress. Things like that
don't happen in our way of life." Some of the older men nodded and agreed,
despite them being rescued from the Destruction they worked to keep the old
ways going.

He stared angrily at the younger members of the group almost daring them to
make a remark about wanting to follow Demeter or Helle off the ship and
into the main culture of the survivors. They all hung their heads to avoid
his gaze.

@@@@

Apollo woke slowly. A smile played on his chest as he remembered the early
hours of the morning. He sleepily stretched out to touch his soulmate. He
woke up rather quickly when his arm touched a cold and empty sheet. He
looked around him confusedly, 'where was he?' He got out of the bed and
looked in the turboflush area. He looked at the chronometer and swore under
his breath, he had to get back to the Galactica now or else he would be
late for the heads of department meeting. He dressed quickly. Doubtless
Starbuck had got caught up in a pyramid game when he had gone out for his
fumarello. As he dashed along to the shuttle bay he half-heartedly wondered
whether he should try and get him out of that habit as well.

He arrived at the shuttle bay in time to catch a shuttle that would take
him back in time. He looked round in vain for Starbuck but he wasn't there,
but that wasn't surprising, as he wasn't officially on duty until the next
cycle. Boomer was there. Apollo made his way over to him.

"Hi there, Boomer. You look as though you had a bit to drink last night."

Boomer grimaced as the shuttle banked to avoid a medical shuttle
approaching the landing bay as they exited it. "You could say that. Say
have you seen Bucko this morning? I want to thank him for getting me to bed
last night." Apollo shook his head. Boomer continued, "Do you know what all
those security men were doing rushing round A deck this morning?"

Apollo shook his head again and the pair lapsed into silence.

@@@@

Starbuck lowered his head into his hands and sighed. He just hoped Gollat
would take his word for what he had got up to and not start digging around
too much. He raised his head when he heard Gollat cough.

"Lieutenant, we need to, to perform certain tests to erm exclude you from
the inquiry." Starbuck quirked an eyebrow. Gollat continued. "We need a
semen sample and some blood and your clothes."

"My clothes? What am I going to wear to get back to the Galactica?"

"We've already requested a replacement uniform for you." Gollat paused;
this was the part he was most embarrassed about. Although he guessed that
Starbuck wasn't telling him the whole truth about what he was up to last
night, he could see that almost certainly the lieutenant wasn't the person
they were looking for. He coughed and continued, "The sample has to be
given in the sample of two witnesses. One will be Dr. Salik and the other
Reese."

Starbuck dropped his head again; his day had just gone from bad to worse.

Gollat continued, "It is for your own protection. We'll be doing these
tests on everybody we pull in for questioning."

"It's just that I was the first one Reese and his boys has brought in?"
Gollat reddened and then nodded.

Gollat indicated a small room off the main office. Starbuck sighed and
walked slowly to it. He walked through the doorway. It silently swished
shut behind him. He stood there looking at the two men in front of him. He
smiled nervously at Dr Salik who smiled back and then he switched his
attention to the smirking Reese. He gulped.

"Ok, let's get this over with."

@@@@

Silanus gripped the arm of his seat in anger. Just before he had left the
Liviad to go to the Galactica to see his daughter, he'd received a vid tape
of one of the fleet pilots flirting and chatting with his daughter, even
worse he had dared to kiss his daughter. He glanced at his companions and
smiled; fleet justice wouldn't be needed.

@@@@

Starbuck was having problems. Salik had ignored the regulations and turned
his back but Reese was sat there leering, a definite turn off if ever there
was one.

Reese coughed to attract his attention. "Lieutenant, perhaps you need some
stimulation from an outside source."

Starbuck took a step back, "Not from you I don't." He shifted nervously at
Reese's smile.

Reese knew that maybe he was perhaps showing his hand a bit early but the
Lieutenant was obviously in need of some help, and he was certainly in no
position to complain. He swept his eyes over Starbuck's limp anatomy. He
took out the receiver which had the night's pleasure recorded on it. He
handed it over and suggested, "Here use this, lieutenant. This might help."

Starbuck looked in confusion at Reese but decided not to refuse the help.
Salik had retreated to the other corner of the room and was taking samples
off Starbuck's uniform. He took the receiver and put the earpiece in.

His eyes widened as he heard the first words, "Come here, Sta, and undress
in front of me." He threw an angry glare at Reese who just put a finger up
to his lips and pointed at Salik. He looked down at his cock and realised
that his cock was reacting to the tape almost as well as it had done
earlier. He allowed himself to get lost in the emotion again.

Reese struggled to keep his reactions under control as he watched Starbuck
climax. He was glad he was wearing black pants as he failed. He smiled as
he realised Starbuck had to bite his lip hard when he had climaxed to stop
himself shouting out Apollo's name.

Starbuck handed Salik the now used receptacle. He smiled confidently at
Starbuck as he took it away for a preliminary examination. Starbuck gladly
returned the smile. He knew that the match would be negative. He turned
round to face Reese, he knew now wasn't the time to confront him. "Can I
get dressed now?"

Reese nodded with a grin; though it was a pity such a fine body would be
covered.

@@@@

Starbuck angrily gathered up his recently delivered clothes. He turned away
from Reese and started to dress. When he was finished Reese ushered him
back to the interview room. Starbuck slumped in a chair. Reese offered a
drink of Java that he grumpily took. He heaved a sigh of relief when Reese
moved out of his line of sight.

Gollat looked at the preliminary results that Salik had produced from both
the initial samples taken from the girl and Starbuck. "Well, lieutenant, I
think you are almost certainly in the clear. I would like to keep yourself
available though we may have need of you again."

"Cylons permitting," commented Starbuck coldly.

"Hmm well yes." Gollat looked down at his shoes.

"Can I go?" Starbuck left immediately Gollat nodded.

@@@@

Starbuck leant his head against the bulkhead of the almost empty shuttle
and tried to keep his seething temper under control. 'Damn Reese! Damn
Gollat! Damn IFB! This would be plastered all over the fleet in centars and
no one would believe him. Damn Apollo! He should have come out and told
Gollat who he was with straight away but Apollo had infected him with this
secrecy thing about their relationship. Damn! Damn!' His day couldn't get
any worse. He heard a pinging from the shuttle control panel. His day had
just gotten worse.

@@@@

Apollo rushed into the launching bay to supervise the launching of Blue
squadron. "Come on, people, let's hurry it up here." He caught Boomer as he
ran past, "Are you sober? Have you seen our favorite lieutenant yet?"

Boomer nodded and then shook his head. Apollo let him go to his viper. He
picked up his helmet when he saw a flash of blond hair. 'At last.' He
shouted across, "Starbuck, here now!" He knew now was not the time for a
dressing down but ... "Where in Hades have you been?"

Starbuck flushed, "Can't explain now, not enough time. Had a meeting with
Reese. See you later." He dashed off to his Viper.

Apollo stared after him and became angrier when he caught a scent hanging
in the air. Starbuck's scent, the delicious one that hung around him after
his climax. 'Well he had to put that to one side, the Cylons were waiting.'
He climbed in his viper and launched.

@@@@

Adama watched the battle unfold and noted with satisfaction that once again
the skills of the pilots were gaining over the greater numbers of the
Cylons. He watched as the bridge crew went about their tasks as efficiently
as ever. His gaze fastened on the communication station where Athena was
stationed. He quirked an eyebrow at the amused expression she had on her
face and at the amused figure of Tigh who was also listening into
something. He quietly adjusted his console and picked up an earpiece that
would relay whatever feed Athena had on her station.

The feed was from Blue squadron. Two voices Adama picked out straightaway.

"Lieutenant, would you mind helping Boomer over there."

"Of course, Captain."

"Thank you, Lieutenant."

The two voices were clipped and precise, very unlike their usual mid battle
banter.

Adama jumped as a hand touched him on his shoulder. He saw the smiling face
of Tigh. He rapidly got rid of the earpiece. He asked Tigh, "Any reason for
the formality?"

Tigh sighed, "I heard from the ground crew that Starbuck arrived late,
apparently Apollo was angry."

Adama joined him in his sigh he had the preliminary report from Gollat,
"Well we know the reason why he was late. At least it looks as though he is
in the clear." Adama paused although now was not the time to be thinking
about this, he couldn't help but wonder where Starbuck had been for those
missing hours. His mind suddenly brought up a picture and he chuckled at
it. He wouldn't be surprised if it was true. He looked at Tigh and asked,
"How is it going?"

@@@@

The shuttle pilot was swearing under his breath. He had been on his final
approach to the Galactica when he had been forced to pull out by the alert.
He had spent the battle hugging the superstructure of the ship, hoping the
Cylons would ignore him. He tapped the console in front of him and finally
saw that the battle was diminishing and the area now appeared to be safe.
He contacted flight control who agreed with him and so he decided to go
ahead. Now as he arched away from the super structure he saw a lone Cylon
headed for him. He began to make evasive manouvouers but the Cylon was
getting closer.

@@@@

Starbuck suddenly saw the shuttle appear from nowhere and then the lone
Cylon following it. He peeled off from his original flight path and set off
after the two craft.

@@@@

The shuttle pilot noted the viper peel off and follow. He only hoped it
would get to the Cylon in time. All of a sudden he saw that the Cylon
wasn't there anymore and the Viper overtook him and did a victory roll. He
waggled the shuttle from side to side in answer. He looped round and
landed. He was glad to get rid of his passengers, they didn't look happy
people.

@@@@

Silanus didn't let go of the seat arm until they had landed and the doors
to the shuttle were open. He had seen the frightened face of the pilot and
knew how close they had been. He would be eternally grateful to whoever
that Viper pilot was. He still wished he was back in time 3 or 4 yahrens
ago and the Destruction had never happened. He stepped out of the shuttle
and a figure came forward.

"Silanus? I am sorry you have to visit under these circumstances." Gollat
held out his hand to greet the men.

"Where is my daughter? These are some of the elders of our family."

Gollat nodded at them, he wasn't surprised to find there were no women with
them. Their culture was almost excessively patriarchal and repressive
compared to the Caprican one. He indicated the way put of the landing bay
and had to walk quickly to keep up with Silanus.

@@@@

Apollo sat through the debriefing with increasing impatience. He looked
across at where Starbuck was sat almost dozing, indeed he was asleep. He
knew Tigh had noticed it but wondered why he hadn't said anything. At last
the debrief was over. Boomer poked Starbuck and he woke up. Apollo thought
this would as good a time as any and got up to go over and ask him what was
up but Tigh got there first.

"Lieutenant, the commander wants to see you in his office now."

Apollo was concerned about the fearful expression on Starbuck's face, "Yes,
sir."

Tigh smiled at him. "It's ok. I'll come up with you."

Apollo went over quickly before they had chance to leave. He controlled his
curiosity and simmering temper, "Starbuck, I need to see you straight after
you've finished with the commander."

"Can't I have a turbowash first?" Starbuck was acutely aware of the sort of
smell Apollo would pick up on.

Apollo smiled coldly. "No. I expect to see you straight afterwards.
Understood?"

"Yes, sir."

Boomer and Tigh looked at each other over the heads of the two protagonists
and shrugged their shoulders.

Apollo watched his love go out of the door. He knew he was jealous but he
wanted to know why Starbuck had left him and gone straight into the arms of
someone else.

@@@@

Starbuck left Adama's office and breathed a sigh of relief. Adama had been
sympathetic and Starbuck was glad he was going to be ruled out of the
investigation. Adama hadn't even inquired deeply into where he really was
during the hours in question. Starbuck was relieved that even Adama seemed
to accept the lie. Starbuck sighed, his next appointment would be the most
difficult. He wandered down to Apollo's office and was surprised to find it
empty. He wondered where he could be and then decided to avoid the issue.
He needed a turbowash desperately and a sleep as well. Apollo could wait,
he'd have to work out what to say to him about Reese.

@@@@

Apollo waited for Starbuck in the dome. He knew Sta would realise he would
be here when he found that his office was empty. He guessed that the
contents of the conversation would be too personal to take place in his
office. He thought they would probably end up having a row but was looking
forward to the make-up sex after that. Pity Boxey had his drama group
presentation tonight. He glanced at the small chronometer and over two
centars had passed since Starbuck had disappeared with Tigh. He absently
tapped the console in annoyance; his father wouldn't have kept Starbuck
that long. He made a decision.

He wandered down to the O'club to see if Starbuck was skulking in there.
His mood was getting worse by the minute. He went up to the bar and pressed
past the bunch of pilots looking up at the IFB broadcast. He asked the
bartender "Seen Starbuck anywhere?" The bartender smirked and commented,
"Yes in a manner of speaking!" He indicated the IFB broadcast that at
present was showing the picture of Starbuck being escorted into an office
in his dress uniform.

A pilot from the other end of the bar shouted, "No wonder he looked so
exhausted. Captain, he's asleep on his bunk." Apollo indicated his thanks
and walked out of the bar.

Boomer and Jolly passed him on the way in and decided that Starbuck had not
kept his earlier appointment. Boomer grimaced inwardly, for some reason
Apollo had been upset with Bucko all day.

@@@@

Apollo walked into the Blue squadron's bunk room and found Starbuck out
cold on his bunk. He shook him angrily. "Lieutenant, when I give you an
order I expect you to obey it."

Starbuck woke up slowly. This time the usually bewitching sight didn't work
on Apollo. "Uh, Oh hi, Apollo. What time is it?"

"Two hours past our appointment time or had it slipped your mind?" Starbuck
sat up, the bed covers slipped down to reveal that he had nothing on.
Apollo's eyes briefly switched their focus and then with an effort he
refocused them on Starbuck's face. Apollo reached into the locker beside
the bunk and threw Starbuck a pair of under shorts and uniform trousers.
"Put these on, now."

Starbuck deciding that speed was of the essence didn't argue and put them
on. "Don't I get a tunic?" He asked when he was done.

"NO! Follow me, Lieutenant." Apollo strode off to the spacious store
cupboard that doubled as the pyramid room when the pilots were so inclined.
When both of them were in it. Apollo locked the door. "Ok, Sta, I want an
explanation of what's been going on today."

Starbuck took a deep breath and nodded. "When I left you I went up to A
deck. I fell asleep and then the next thing I knew was being dragged away
by Reese and his goons. "

"Why?"

"Apparently one of the waitresses had been assaulted, I am not sure how
badly but I think I can guess."

"Oh. And?"

"Well I gave an explanation for where I was and then they had me do a
sample and took my dress uniform and then Salik did the matches and then I
was told I wasn't under suspicion anymore."

"Is that all?" Apollo was relieved, no wonder he wanted to have a shower
and a sleep.

"What do you mean 'is that all?'. I've been up half the night, accused of
rape, made to masturbate in front of Salik and Reese and you say 'is that
all?'." Starbuck paused as he worked through Apollo's logic. "You thought I
was with someone else didn't you?" His face screwed up into a grimace. "You
didn't trust me, the instant I didn't come back you thought oh there he
goes off again. You didn't even look for me until the alert and then all
you were concerned about was one more pilot to go out and risk being killed
by the Cylons. Oh thanks a lot, Apollo."

Apollo began to get angry. Starbuck's analysis had cut a little too close
to the bone. He thinned his lips. "Anyway what explanation did you give
that was so convincing to make Gollat let you go? And my Father what did
you tell him?"

"What do you mean what did I tell him?" Starbuck turned to the door and
went up to it.

Apollo moved quickly and placed himself between the door and Starbuck. "I
want to know, lieutenant, what alibi did you give to Gollat?"

"Don't worry, captain, you're not implicated. I didn't think you would want
your tawdry little affair to be held up in public so I told him that I'd
been too drunk to find my own way back to my cabin so I decided to flake
out on one of the chairs. He is such a pathetic investigator that the man
believed me."

"What about Reese?" Apollo had flinched at the words' tawdry little
affair.'

Starbuck started, "He doesn't believe it but I don't know what he can do
about it seeing as I'm not part of the investigation anymore." Now was not
the time to discuss the real reason behind why Reese didn't believe him.

Apollo was still concerned with the alibi, "And my father?"

Starbuck sighed, not for the first time he wondered why Apollo was so
paranoid about being seen to go out with another man. Perhaps it was their
positions. He didn't care anymore; he had had it up to his neck today. "I
told him the same thing I told Gollat, if one has to lie, one has to be
consistent. This whole paranoia of yours, Apollo, is getting a little
tiring. I'm sick of lying to everyone especially those closest to me about
this whole subject."

Apollo grew cold at this change of tone in Starbuck's voice. "What do you
mean?"

"Well perhaps I'm sick of skulking about with you. I like to be able to
show my love off everywhere Apollo. All I can do with you is to have the
occasional tumble in a bed. That's not a relationship it's more like,
like." Starbuck broke off, unable to say the word. The voices from his
childhood clamoured at him threatened to engulf him.

"You think I'm using you? You think I don't love you?" Apollo moved closer
to Starbuck. He put a hand out and touched his arm.

Starbuck threw him off. He turned cold blue eyes on him. "Captain, just get
out of here before I'm up on genuine charges of assault."

Apollo's eyes glinted, "Starbuck, it's not like that at all. Please believe
me."

"Ok, go to your father and tell him about us, tonight."

"It's not that easy."

"Yes it is. Just say the words, 'Father I'm going out and having sex with a
man, Starbuck.' But you won't will you, Apollo?" Starbuck's voice rose.
"I'm not that important am I? You're just being a coward, using me to
release your sexual frustrations just because you can't get Serina out of
your mind and you don't want to sully her memory with another woman."

Apollo's mouth dropped open. Before he could reply the door opened and
Boomer appeared. "Are you two ladies finished yet? We want to have a game
of pyramid in here. Starbuck, are you in?"

Starbuck replied, "Yes we're finished. I'll be in the O'club if anyone
wants me." He shot a glance at Apollo. He left the room.

Boomer raised an eyebrow at Apollo and then seeing his expression quickly
retreated. Apollo stormed out of the store cupboard and went up to
Starbuck's bunk. "Lieutenant. Remember we are on a deep space patrol
tomorrow. I suggest that you take that into account when you are
considering your alcohol intake. I would hate to put you on report for
something only green cadets do."

Starbuck stood to attention, which he knew, would get Apollo's back up
immediately. "Yes of course, sir. Advice duly remembered and retained. I
would hate to do anything that would entail you having to put extra work
in." Apollo turned on his heel and stalked out.

Boomer and the rest of the pilots were astounded by the actions of the pair
of them. They had heard the general angry tone of the argument but not the
words. Boomer went up to Starbuck and commented, "Bucko, you do know how to
rub Apollo up the wrong way sometimes."

Starbuck wheeled round. He grabbed his flight jacket and finished tucking
his tunic into his trousers. He snarled at Boomer. "Keep your nose out of
my business, Boomer." He raised his voice so that everyone else could hear.
"And that goes for anyone else you hear?" He stalked out of the room,
passing Athena who had brought some notices in.

Athena went up to the shocked Boomer and queried, "Boomer, what's going on?
I've passed Apollo who looks as though he is about to pop and then Starbuck
who looks the same. "

Boomer smiled at Athena. "If I didn't know anything different I'd say a
lover's tiff. Starbuck was reacting just the way he always used to do when
you and him had an argument." Athena smiled at the memory. The rows were
horrible, Starbuck always knew the right words to hurt a girl, but then his
makeup sex was brilliant.

@@@@

Gollat looked at Silanus and his dour aides. He had just finished
summarising his investigation so far. After the fiasco with Starbuck and
the IFB he had not progressed at all.

Silanus pondered on what the fish eyed man had told them. "So this Starbuck
is the only suspect you have?"

Gollat paused, "Well. He's not exactly a suspect, the initial tests were
negative we are still waiting for confirmation. The alert held up them up."
Gollat paused. "Yes he is the only suspect we have so far. You have to
believe that we are investigating the matter with all due care and
attention." He sighed inwardly when Silanus seemed to accept this.

Silanus asked a further question, "Is it possible for my nephew Demeter
here to show us round this wonderful ship of yours? I know it is a strange
request but we have so few opportunities to see anything of other
cultures." Demeter shifted in his seat. He knew what his Uncle really
thought of other cultures.

Gollat nodded. "Of course. There will be certain areas that you will not be
able to go into. Your shuttle leaves in three centars."

Silanus rose to his feet, "Thank you. Please keep us in touch with your
investigation."

He swept out of the room. At no time did Gollat register that Silanus
hadn't spoken of his daughter once.

@@@@

The barkeeper looked at the extremely drunk lieutenant before him and
touched the blond hair to rouse him from the stupor he was in. He wasn't
surprised when there wasn't a reaction. Must be woman trouble, he only got
into these moods when he was having woman trouble. "Oh, lieutenant." He
cooed into Starbuck's ear. That finally got his attention. "Hmmm yesss." He
looked down at his glass it was empty. "More ambrosa."

"No you've had 10. Shall I call Boomer and get him to take you back to your
bunk?"

"Only 10? I'm slipping, I used to be able to drink 20 in two centars."
Starbuck decided as he was on patrol with Captain Tight Ass Apollo in the
morning he'd better go and sleep it off. "K, I'm going." He got up and slid
off his stool and managed to just about retain a vertical stance. He
struggled down the main corridor. On a whim he decided to go and see if
Apollo was sulking in the dome. Maybe they could make things up partially
at least. Otherwise it was going to be a very long patrol tomorrow.

@@@@

Demeter was getting more and more uncomfortable about his uncle's presence.
He had shown some of the interesting points of the ship but he still had
more than a centar to fill in before the shuttle went. He took the small
party down past the O'club and slowed down when he saw who was ahead of
them. He hoped his Uncle hadn't seen him.

@@@@

Apollo was finally relaxing, it had been a long and tiring day. The short
drama presentation that Boxey and his friends had done was short and funny.
He was waiting for him to come out of the dressing room. The door opened
and Boxey ran out. Apollo swung him up into his arms and congratulated his
son. "That was wonderful, son. What shall we do now?"

Boxey looked sheepish for a second or two and then asked, "Dad, do you mind
if I stay with Dalla tonight as well as tomorrow? He's got this great game
and we were playing it before we came here?"

Apollo frowned, "Does Dalla's mother know you want to stay with him an
extra night?"

A female voice interrupted them, "Yes she does. I don't mind Apollo."

Apollo agreed, "Ok then!" Boxey struggled out of his dad's arms and ran
back into the dressing room shouting for his friend of the month. Apollo
laughed and thanked Dalla's mother and left Boxey in her capable hands. He
was glad of the break from Boxey, he had to see his father.

@@@@

He half hoped Adama wouldn't be free but he knew Starbuck was right, there
was no future in a relationship that had to spend its time skulking in the
shadows. He got to the cabin door and announced himself and steeled himself
at the greeting "Come." 'Well Starbuck I am going to do this for better or
worse.'

Apollo entered and moved to where his father was sat in an easy chair
looking out into the stars. "Hello, Apollo, is this business or pleasure?"

"Oh family, I think."

Adama looked up at his tone and gestured across to the desk where he had
some ambrosa. He heard a glass being poured and watched his son sit down in
the chair opposite. He waited a while for Apollo to begin. When he didn't
look as though he was going to say anything he began himself. "I hear you
chewed out someone this afternoon and then was chewed out yourself."

"You could put it that way," came the reply after a while. Apollo queried,
"How do you know?"

"Athena told me." He paused. "She was laughing when she came back to the
bridge after she had been to the bunkroom. She told me that Boomer
described it as a lover's tiff. Is it true?"

Apollo swallowed, "Which part?"

Adama looked at his son for a while and smiled slowly. "Both."

Apollo looked at his hands and nodded. "I, I, was chewing him out for being
late. Then it snowballed."

"How long?"

"A sectar and a half. It's been building for longer than that though but
I'd finally convinced Starbuck to get past some of his childhood stuff and
then I got mad and jealous and with the day it's been it all came out
wrong. Starbuck told me to come and tell you, I wanted to keep it a secret.
He lied in his statement this morning because of it."

"I thought he had. Why the secrecy though, afraid of me, the crew or
yourself?"

"I don't know and I think I've lost him because of it." Tears started
pouring down his face. His father came across and held him.

"I am sure you haven't, you know what Starbuck is like. Once he calms down
he'll be all right."

@@@@

Starbuck saw the dimly lit service corridor and remembered it crossed with
one of the corridors that led to the Celestial Dome. He started to walk
down it.

@@@

Silanus had speeded up the progress down the corridor, he stopped when he
saw Starbuck turn off into a dimly lit corridor. Demeter's stomach told him
to be cautious, he didn't like what was happening. His uncle twisted his
arm. "Nephew, where does that corridor lead?"

"It's a service corridor, a corridor that is barely used. That's why it's
got low lighting. It must connect somewhere with another corridor. People
use them sometimes as a short cut. Please, Uncle, don't even think about
it. They'll know it's you and then they will come and get you."

Silanus hissed, "That doesn't matter because I will have had my justice."

Demeter argued, "You heard Gollat, he didn't have any proof that it was
him. If they did I'm sure he would be under guard."

Silanus laughed. He nodded to two of the group who sprinted up the
corridor. Demeter hung his head; those two were the fastest and quietest
hunters in the clan. Silanus pulled Demeter into the corridor with him.
They followed the hunters.

@@@

Starbuck wandered slowly along the corridor, wondering how they had gone
from being lovers to a pair of fur flying felines within a day. A man
suddenly hit him from behind. He struggled briefly but before he knew it he
was hooded and his arms were bound painfully behind him. "Hey." His words
were cut off by a thump to his nose and mouth. He could taste the blood
starting to flow. He was pulled up and pushed back in the direction he came
from. He stumbled along, falling heavily once or twice. Both times he was
kicked painfully until he got up. He was rapidly sobering up. He had a deep
fear in his guts. 'Apollo, it would be good if you could come down this
corridor now.' After what seemed centars he was pushed to the ground.

Silanus looked at the lieutenant kneeling before him and kicked him in the
stomach.

Starbuck let out a whoosh of breath but refused to let a cry of pain come
forth. He was picked back up again.

Silanus saw that this man was going to be stubborn before he would give him
the satisfaction of knowing he had extracted justice from him. He knew he
couldn't do it in this corridor. He took his nephew a little way down the
corridor and asked, "Can you get us into one of these store rooms?" Demeter
paused and only nodded after a painful twist of his arm from Silanus. He
saw a side corridor, which contained two store rooms. Both were locked,
Demeter worked on the control panel of one of them. He struggled with it
due to nervousness, he had an idea what Silanus had in mind. He hoped that
Silanus would not expect him to take part. The door whooshed open at last.
He stepped back as the lieutenant was pushed past him. To his relief
Silanus told him to stay outside. The door closed silently, Demeter leaned
on it.

Starbuck wondered what was going to happen as he was pulled up and pushed
along a little way. He didn't think it was going to be anything good. He
heard a door close behind him. He tensed and wasn't surprised when he felt
an arm crash against his ribs. Another arm crashed across his kidneys. He
stuttered forward a few steps and then felt a foot trip him up. He crashed
to the floor; his head hit the floor hard. Kicks flew into his body from
all directions. His control began to lessen as his head throbbed and the
beating didn't stop. He tried to focus on something and smiled as Apollo's
face came into view. He hung on to that. He didn't notice the tears flowing
down his face. Starbuck hoped that all they wanted to do was to beat him.
What scared him was they did this in silence. At least when the Cylons had
tortured him they were asking questions.

@@@

Apollo left his father's room with a spring in his step. Maybe he could
find Starbuck tonight and they would make it up before the patrol tomorrow.
He went down to the O'club. He went into it with a smile on his face and
hope in his heart. He went up to the bar for the second time in a day. The
barkeeper smiled.

"I sent him back to his bunk about 20 centons ago. He'd had enough. Has he
got woman trouble again?"

Apollo smiled, "Something like that. Thanks."

He went down the corridor towards the bunkroom and saw the service
corridor. He smiled; maybe he had gone to the dome. 'Hmmm it is time to
christen it.' He walked down the corridor.

@@@

Starbuck felt with relief the kicking stop. He coughed a little and tasted
the blood. He doubted that he would make the patrol in the morning. Strong
arms grabbed him and he felt something tugging at his flight jacket. He
heard the tearing of cloth. He closed his eyes to try and block the
sensations. He stiffened and tried to struggle but he was held tight. A
hand slapped him heavily stunning him. An old mantra that he used in the
orphanage at times like this popped into his head, he cried as the memories
surged forwards. Past and reality became mixed.

Silanus smiled as the man's posture changed. He appeared to become
accepting of his fate. The elders back home always said that this was an
indication of true guilt. His conscience was further salved. The man
appeared to be quietly muttering something, perhaps a prayer. Silanus
thought 'good he is preparing himself.' He saw that the last of the man's
clothes had been removed. He knew himself to be ready. Silanus indicated to
the others who all nodded and smiled and indicated that they too were
ready.

@@@

Starbuck felt himself being moved into position. His mantra sped up. He
felt the pressure and then a tearing pain that radiated throughout his
entire body. He screamed, "Apollo, Apollo." He cried with shame as he felt
the unwanted stimulation of his prostate begin to have effects elsewhere.
He heard the laughter as he came. He relaxed as he felt the man withdraw.
He shouted "NO" when he felt a second man take up position. His head was
still ringing from the resultant slap when the man climaxed inside him.
After that he just let them do as he wished, he tried to keep hold of the
vision of Apollo in his mind. He lost count after the third and never even
noticed when they had finished.

@@@

Demeter, even with his head leant against the door, couldn't hear what was
going on. The storerooms were soundproof due to the designer recognising
the need for strong walls to prevent damage and also to aid temperature
regulation. He could just about imagine what was going on, 'why couldn't he
do something to help?' He knew he should but he also felt the pull of clan
loyalty, he had been brought up to respect his uncle as clan leader even
his rebellion of coming to the Galactica hadn't broken that. He wiped the
tears away from his eyes. He tensed as he heard someone come down the
corridor. He crept to the intersection with the main corridor and stared
out into the dim light. He ducked back as the man passed him and then
stopped breathing as the man stopped and turned round.

@@@

Apollo creased his eyebrows as he 'heard' a cry of Apollo! Starbuck's
voice. He listened out again but couldn't hear anything. Even so cold hands
worked his way up and down his spine. He heard it again, this time weaker
than before. He smiled to himself; it must be his unconscious bringing back
sweet memories of last night. At last he turned round and made his way
swiftly to the dome. His spirits lifted thinking of the make up sex to
come. He smiled to himself, in a rash moment Athena had once told him the
times after rows were the wildest for her and Starbuck. He wondered whether
he could get Starbuck to repeat his performance of last night when he had
taken him so decisively and forcefully. He patted his flight jacket pocket
to check the lube was still there.

@@@

Demeter breathed a sigh of relief as Apollo made his way down the corridor
away from them. He then checked his chronometer; 'they would have to move
soon or else the shuttle would be gone.' Just as he was thinking that the
door opened. Silanus walked out looking satisfied, the same expression was
held by the five other men. Demeter swallowed. Silanus shut the door. He
turned round to Demeter and ordered, "Lock the door."

The group moved out into the corridor. Demeter wondered what to do, he knew
if the door was locked the lieutenant might not be discovered in time. He
flicked a glance and realised his uncle could not see him. He delayed a few
microns and then left and walked with them back down the corridor. The
lights of the open door lock shone out through the gloom like a solitary
star in an interplanetary space.

@@@

Apollo waited for two centars at the dome. He decided to check whether his
errant lover was in his bunk like he should be. His earlier irritability
returned when he wasn't there. He certainly wasn't going to descend to the
level of searching Cass's room for him. He'd just have to have a 'chat'
with him on the patrol.

@@@

Starbuck awoke to a sea of pain and darkness. He was warm though. He tried
to get up but his legs hurt too much. He decided to stay where he was,
wherever that was. The darkness and warmth quickly lulled him back to
unconsciousness

@@@

Apollo paced up and down the launch bay beside Starbuck's Viper. Starbuck
was now ten centons late. He was getting angrier and angrier. He had not
gotten very much sleep as those cold fingers he had felt in the corridor
returned and haunted him through his sleep. The voice of Starbuck had
returned growing weaker over the night. Apollo decided that the dreams must
mean that Starbuck had decided that he was giving up on them. He looked up
as he saw Boomer enter the landing bay. "Well, Lieutenant?" he snapped.

Boomer spread his hands, "He's not there, his bunk hasn't been slept in. I
asked Cassi, she swore she hadn't seen him in days."

Apollo came to a decision. He walked over to the Comm. unit on the wall.
"Colonel Tigh, please."

There was a short delay. "What's the problem, Apollo?"

"More like who, Colonel. I'm formally reporting Lieutenant Starbuck AWOL."

Boomer's eyes widened and he inwardly groaned. 'You've really gone and done
it this time, Bucko!'

"Captain isn't that a little premature, it's not the first time he's been
late and."

Apollo interrupted Tigh, "Yes and if I have anything to do with it, it will
be his last. Please place him on report. Boomer's down here already, he can
go out with me instead." Apollo turned away from the communication panel
and signalled to the Viper crew to replace Starbuck's Viper with Boomer's.

Jenny glared at Boomer who swallowed and went up to Apollo. "Apollo, I
can't go out on a long patrol today, me and Jenny have plans for the late
cycle tonight. Can't we wait a little longer for him to turn up?"

Apollo stared at Boomer. He asked flatly, "Are you disobeying a direct
order lieutenant? Are you not the reserve pilot?"

"No and yes."

"No and yes what?"

"Sir!" Boomer said smartly. He only hoped he would be able to get to
Starbuck before he was thrown into the brig, he would lay some bruises on
him.

Apollo turned to complete his pre-flight checks on his viper. Boomer spread
his hands helplessly at Jenny, who looked as if she wanted to get her hands
on Starbuck as well.

@@@

Tigh turned away from the screen as the two vipers launched. He hoped
Apollo's temper had improved by the time he had got back in twelve centars
time. He sighed as he made the necessary notes in the daily log. He would
have to show it to Adama when he got back from the council meeting. He
looked at the list of things to do today, just the usual range of
housekeeping jobs. He saw one item on the list, a request by Dr Salik for a
search to find some medical supplies he felt were somewhere down corridor
d-4. He looked over the personnel working on the rota on the bridge. Athena
was sat at her console looking bored already. Maybe he would send her out
later.

@@@

Apollo and Boomer circled round the Galactica making sure their instruments
had the correct co-ordinates and were set to the right navigational
frequency. Apollo looked down at the ship and fought the irrational urge he
had to land and search it from top to bottom to find his soulmate. He was
certain despite his anger and bluster that something was desperately wrong.

Boomer looked over at his wing mate and wondered what was going through
Apollo's mind, it looked as though he had set the viper on a return path.
"Hey, Captain. Is there a problem?"

Apollo started. He checked where he was. "No, Boomer. You set? Let's go."
The two vipers blasted off along the planned trajectory. Apollo and Boomer
both couldn't resist a look back at the Galactica.

@@@

Cassi looked into Helle's private room and saw two sleeping figures. She
smiled at the devotion of the young lad who had been into visit last night
with the other members of her clan. She knew that they both were regarded
as rebels in their clan.

The medtech she was taking over from commented. "He's been there all
night." She smiled. "Her mood really lifted when he came back. Did you see
her family at all when they came?"

Cassi thinned her lips. She knew she should not be judgmental but she
couldn't help it in their case. "They weren't concerned about her more
about catching who did it. I know that is important too but they were only
here for about five centons."

"Know the type. Anyway my bunk is calling me. See you later."

Cassi started to check her patients.

@@@

Starbuck found the darkness and warmth comforting. It allowed him to float
without feeling the pain. He didn't notice the passing of time.

Outside the door lock open light shined like a beacon.

@@@

Tigh looked at his chronometer, nearly mid-cycle. He called Athena over.
"Dr Salik has requested somebody to locate some medical supplies that he
thinks are located along D4. It's quiet today so I thought you might want
to do the job for me. Oh and you'd better take a medtech along, what
about..."

For the second time he was interrupted by a member of the same family,
"Cassi, so I can gently pump her for any clue to the whereabouts of our
missing Lieutenant Starbuck?"

Tigh smiled, "You'll make a command officer one day."

"I intend to, sir."

Athena quickly left the bridge and made her way down to life center. She
knew Cassi would probably have no more idea where Starbuck was than she did
but she would have a try.

@@@

Cassi was making slow progress in trying to get Helle to open up. She would
ask for the essentials but other than that she was silent. She left her to
eat her mid cycle meal and found that Athena was waiting for her.

"Hi, Athena, what brings you down here?"

Athena returned Cassi's smile since Cassi and Starbuck had broken up they
had become much better friends. "Oh, Tigh wants us to go on a mission to
find some lost medical supplies."

Cassi laughed, "You mean he wants you to pump me to see if I know where
Starbuck is?"

"Basically."

"I already told Boomer that I haven't seen Starbuck in days."

"Apollo's listed him as AWOL."

Cassi's face fell. "Oh no. I heard the two of them had a massive argument
last night."

"Yep. Nobody knows what it was about though."

"I'll go and get my jacket, it's cold in some of those storage rooms."

Twenty centons later they were walking down corridor d4. They had looked in
the few storerooms that were directly off the gloomy corridor. Cassi
shivered as she walked down the corridor.

Athena queried, "Cold?" She hadn't felt a draught or the temperature drop.

Cassi stopped as though she was listening. Her training as a socialator had
included a small amount of psi training, enough for her to sense emotions
and atmospheres. She put a hand out to stop Athena talking. She
concentrated on the emotion of fear and hurt that hung heavy in the air.
She looked around with the flashlight wishing these service corridors were
more brightly lit. Then as strongly as the emotion had hit her it
disappeared. She was left with little more than an icy feeling crawling
through her spine. "Yuk, Athena, sorry about that. I felt something. Hmm I
know where the rumours come from about these corridors being haunted!"

Athena chuckled with relief, "Glad I wasn't the only one. I felt a little
creepy there too. Maybe we should come back after getting some food?"

Cassi considered the idea but the knowledge that something was badly wrong
spurred her on. "No, there is something wrong here. Badly wrong."

@@@

The two quickened their pace down the corridor, their original search
forgotten. They quickly found a small side corridor. This corridor was even
gloomier than the one they had left. Athena was going to ignore it when
something caught her eye, a small light on the wall panel. They both
quickly went up to it and noted the room number d4f2. Cassi noted the door
wasn't locked. She put her ear to it. She couldn't hear anything. The two
women looked at each other.

Cassi opened the door. They both instantly recoiled at the smell that came
from the room. Athena stepped back gagging. Cassi closed her mind to the
smell and started analysing the components. They were all human smells,
bodily waste and then there was blood and then something underlying it all,
stale sex. She sniffed again and her stomach flipped when she recognised
one of the sex scents. She shone her flashlight into the gloom of the half
lighting and saw a body on the floor in the far corner. She turned to
Athena. "Athena, find a Comm. panel fast. Ask for a medteam and security,
ask them to come urgently." Athena looked blankly at her for a second.
Cassi stressed, "Please, Athena, remember room d4f2 and tell them quickly."
Athena nodded and ran.

Cassi went into the room; she found the switch to bring the lights up to
full. She cried out in anguish as she saw who it was; who she had known it
was. She ran over to him.

@@@

Starbuck heard the door swoosh open and then a raised voice commanding
someone to do something. He hoped it wasn't him, whoever it was must know
he couldn't do anything. It hurt too much. He flinched as footsteps came
across to him.

@@@

Cassi saw him flinch as she approached. She knelt by him, not caring about
what it was she was kneeling in. She felt for the pulse in his neck, it was
weak and very erratic. She whipped off her jacket and gently laid it over
him so that it covered his lower back. She couldn't do anything about his
bound hands; she didn't have anything sharp on her. She started to softly
sing an old Gemonese lullaby as she moved to remove the hood. Cassi noted
how he had flinched at all of her movements. She took the hood off nice and
slow. A tear dropped from her face when she saw the beating he had taken to
his face through the hood. "Oh, Starbuck. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

@@@

Starbuck couldn't help but flinch at each of the gentle movements. He heard
the song, he didn't understand the words but it helped him relax a little
bit when whoever it was moved to his head. He felt the material covering
his face being lifted away. He was scared at that; the darkness had made
him comfortable. His pain was rapidly returning. He heard the words the
kind sounding lady was speaking. All he could think about was the trouble
he got into at the orphanage the last time this happened. He remembered
being locked away in a room for sectons because of it. He struggled to find
his voice. The lady ssshed him. He suddenly found it. In a hoarse whisper
he asked, "I won't get into trouble for this will I, lady?"

He felt a comforting hand on his face and the voice said, "Of course not.
Don't worry."

He tried to open his eyes but they hurt so much, he couldn't.

@@@

Cassi wept as she saw him trying to open his swollen eyes. She continued
singing her lullaby as she waited for the medteam to arrive. Her ears were
alert for any sound of the Medteam even though she knew that they would
probably only have just have got the message. She tried not to think of the
injuries they would find when they started to examine him.

@@@

Athena ran down the corridor, trying to remember where the nearest Comm.
panel was. At last she reached it. She thumbed the signal for the bridge.

"Bridge." It was Rigel.

"Rigel." Athena panted. "I, we need a Medteam and a security team to d4f2
immediately."

"Athena! What's going on? Are you alright?"

"We have a casualty." Athena paused as her mind finally latched onto one of
the scents in the room. She crumpled against the wall for a micron. "I
think we've found Starbuck!"

Rigel suddenly became businesslike. "Request logged and assistance
requested. Repeat location d4f2."

"D4f2 correct. Please tell them to come quickly."

@@@

Athena ran back to the room. She arrived to stand at the doorway. She saw
Cassi stroking a blond head and singing a soothing song. She forced herself
to go over. She knelt on the other side of the head and looked across at
Cassi. "He is still....?"

Cassi tried to smile but tears just came instead. She nodded. Athena joined
her in comforting Starbuck.

@@@

Tigh saw the buzzing on his command console and pressed the intercom, "Yes,
Rigel?"

"Sir, I've just had a request from Athena sir. She wanted a medteam and a
security team." Rigel paused. "She said they thought they had found
Starbuck, sir."

'Lords' prayed Tigh. He jumped up and leant over and looked down and saw
Omega there, "Omega, you're in charge of the bridge until either the
commander or I get back, understood?"

"Sir!"

Rigel shouted after him, "D4f2."

@@@

Adama stared at the wall chronometer and then looked at the two women
slumped in chairs in front of him. It had been eight centars and they were
still not finished in surgery. The Comm. panel in the room beeped. Adama
went over to it, "Yes?"

"Sir, we've received long range scan indications of the Captain Apollo's
patrol returning. They will be in Comm. range in five centons. Do we advise
him of the situation?"

Adama thought rapidly. His son would be tired and if he heard what had
happened over the comm doubtless he would put all speed on to get back and
that would be dangerous. "No. Inform me when he will be landing and someone
will inform him personally."

"Yes sir."

@@@

Boomer was glad that the patrol was almost over. Apollo had been so silent
that occasionally he didn't know whether he was awake or asleep. He smiled
at the thought of the dressing down that Starbuck would get when Apollo
managed to collar him. He watched Apollo land and then quickly followed him
in.

He popped the canopy open and threw his helmet down to the waiting crewman.
He climbed out, relieved that the crewman didn't want to talk. He smiled as
he saw the stern looking Apollo do the same on the other side. He wondered
if he could get some form of monitoring gear into the room when that
interview would take place. He was astonished to see Adama appear on the
deck. Boomer followed closely behind Apollo towards the decom area.

Adama stepped in front of the pair of pilots. He could see the fatigue in
both of them but he could also see the anger in Apollo's eyes. He
swallowed.

Apollo put a hand out onto Boomer's chest to stop him and said, "Have you
found him?" Adama nodded. Apollo smiled tautly, "Where was he in the bottom
of the ambrosa vats in the O'club? The chancery at the Rising Star? Licking
his wounds with Chameleon?"

Adama swallowed again, he knew his son rarely let go of his anger so he
knew how much this had been building up over the past twelve centars or so.
It made it even harder to tell him what he had to tell him. He nodded to
Boomer to proceed to the decom room. Apollo deserved to be told in private.

Apollo stopped Boomer with a hand to his chest. "You can tell me, father,
in front of Boomer. After all Starbuck not turning up for his duty
disadvantaged him as much as it did me." Apollo stared his father out.

Boomer looked from man to man and saw something in Adama's expression he
didn't like. He suddenly thought back to the mournful faces of the crew and
the strictly business like way they had been guided in by the bridge. There
had been none of the usual gossip or banter. His stomach started to flip.
He knew Apollo was too angry to take note of any of these. He broke the
stares by asking hesitantly, "Is Starbuck, erm, all right, sir?"

Adama was relieved that Boomer had broken the ice. He saw the sudden
realisation on his son's face. He grabbed an arm to support him. He looked
from friend to friend. "I am sorry. He was attacked, best guess we have is
sometime last night. His condition is extremely grave."

Apollo looked into his father's eyes and saw the sympathy there. He was
aware that someone, Boomer was supporting him. His mind flashed back to
that wander through the corridor when he had 'heard' Starbuck scream his
name. He forced his voice to work, "Where was he found?" He knew the answer
before it came.

"Corridor D4."

@@@

Apollo barely knew how he got to life center, he certainly didn't notice
Boomer or his father following him. He saw through a corner of his eye his
sister sleeping curled up on a few seats strung together. He ignored her
and went into the main area. He stood looking around for a few microns
unobserved by the knot of staff gathered up by the station. He began to
check the private cubicles, two were empty, and in the other were a young
woman and presumably a relative. Another empty one and then he was there.
He paused at the doorway and then entered.

Cass stood up in shock as Apollo entered. "Apollo, you shouldn't be here."
Cass moved to stand by Starbuck's head.

Apollo ignored her comment for the moment. He was focused on the figure on
the bed. Starbuck seemed to be cocooned in dressings, tubes, and wires. His
face, his beautiful face was purple and swollen. A breathing tube went into
his throat. 'Oh, Starbuck, love. Who did this to you?' Apollo picked up one
of the limp hands and held it gently. He wondered at the flinch that
resulted. Whilst still holding his hand, he finally commented on Cass's
opening remark. "What do you mean I shouldn't be here? Who found him? What
investigations have been done?" Without knowing it his voice had become
louder and louder.

Cass looked up in alarm at the monitors. "Apollo..." She suddenly realised
he didn't know. "Let's discuss this outside."

"Why not here?"

"Come on." Cass looked up the monitors, although she knew Starbuck was
deeply unconscious, the monitors were showing that enough of Apollo's tone
had filtered through to make him frightened. His pulse rate and blood
pressure were climbing dangerously. She pleaded, "Please."

Another voice interrupted the pair, "Captain, please leave now. Cass take
him to the relatives room."

Apollo looked up in confusion at Dr Wer, she was normally stationed on the
agro ship. Somehow he let himself be taken out of the room. Cass comforted
him; "Come on, Apollo, Starbuck'll be fine. We need to let him rest now."

@@@

On the Rising Star a figure crept around in the shadows. He had decided he
wanted another try at what he did the other night. Hopefully this time he
would get longer to enjoy the experience.

@@@

Apollo sat down in one of the chairs next to Athena. He noticed Cass
speaking quietly to his father about something. Boomer was staring at the
ceiling. Athena was quiet and pale but very awake now. He decided that he
hadn't been told the full story. He coughed loudly. "Excuse me but what is
going on here?"

Cass and Adama looked at each other. Athena bit her lip and looked at the
floor.

When nobody answered Apollo appealed to his father. "Father, you know I
have the right." he gestured to Boomer. "Boomer here is Starbuck's oldest
friend. He has the right too. You three obviously know something. I think
we should know it too."

Cass and Athena exchanged glances at Apollo's words, 'I have the right.'
Suddenly they understood the reason for Starbuck's recent contentment.
Athena closed her eyes as she knew it would make the words her father would
say next all the harder. Boomer moved next to Apollo, smiling a little at
having had his unconscious suspicions confirmed.

Adama breathed in and then nodded. "Apollo, Boomer. The medics have told us
that at some point during his assault, Starbuck was raped. Several times."
He put a supporting hand on Apollo's shoulder only to find it roughly shook
off.

"No, No, you're joking. Not Starbuck, not again. I should have listened to
him, stopped it." Tears crashed down his face.

Athena moved to embrace her brother, "Apollo. Don't cry. There was nothing
you could have done. We found him in a storeroom, the door had been closed.
If we hadn't been looking..."

Apollo's tone got cold, "How did you know where to look?"

Athena looked at Cass who answered, "We were in the corridor looking for
some medical supplies. I, I felt something was wrong so we were looking
around and we saw this door lock open light where there shouldn't be one."
Apollo turned to face the wall whilst Cass was speaking.

After what seemed to centons he turned round. He laughed coldly. His gaze
was fixed on the floor. "I was no more than 20 centons behind Starbuck. I
went to the O'club to find him and the barkeeper said he'd gone back to his
bunkroom. I then saw the corridor and decided to see if he'd come to his
senses and had maybe, maybe had gone to the dome. I wandered along it and
then when I was about halfway down I heard in my head Starbuck screaming my
name." He paused and swallowed. "I even heard it again. I stopped and
looked around but I just thought it was me thinking about what we did the
night before." Apollo paused again. "So I went on my merry way. I couldn't
sleep all night because I kept hearing him scream, I just stupidly thought
it was because of the argument." He looked up at Boomer. "When I went out
on patrol, I almost landed again because I thought, knew something was
wrong. I should have done but no, all I could think about was how angry I
was with him for not being around when I wanted him to be." Apollo snorted.
"I didn't look for him again that night when I couldn't find him as I was
so sure I'd find him your room, Cass. I'm sorry, I've been so stupid." Cass
came and took in him in his arms as he started to cry again.

Cass briefly looked at Adama who nodded. She quietly whispered to Apollo,
"Come on, Apollo, it's not your fault. Shall we get you to bed, I bet
you're tired. Starbuck's gonna be fine. Dr Wer doesn't want him to have any
visitors just for the moment. Sssh there come on let's go." Cass pulled an
unprotesting Apollo out of the room, she shook her head at Boomer when he
came over to help.

@@@

As soon as the door had closed behind the pair, Athena asked her father,
"What did Apollo mean when he said 'not again'?" She didn't really want the
answer.

Adama knew that whatever was said within the four walls of the room would
stay there. He sighed. "According to his records, at one of the orphanages
he was in when he was about 12 yahrens old, he was, was assaulted in a
similar fashion." Adama stared at his hands for a few centons. He looked up
when the silence became oppressive. He saw Boomer with his head against the
wall letting the tears run and Athena sitting there staring. "You two look
as though you need some rest. I'll check with Dr Wer and then I'm going to
rest myself." He paused, as his words didn't seem to get through. He tried
again, "Look, Starbuck will need us more in the next days than he does
right now. We'll need to be strong and alert then not stupid now."

Athena nodded and gave her father a faltering smile. "Come, Boomer, you can
walk me back to my cabin." Boomer nodded.

Before they left, he fixed them with a stare. "The rest of the ship know
that Starbuck was attacked and is ill, they do not know the full extent of
his injuries. Understood? Chameleon is on his way here, Dr Wer and myself
will brief him when he arrives. " They both nodded.

@@@@

As the two of them left, Adama went into the main area. Dr Wer came up to
him. "Commander, we've managed to stabilise him again. Do you want to see
him for a few centons? I believe as long as people are calm and don't touch
him, he should be fine." Adama nodded.

@@@@

The pair passed the open doorway to Helle's room. Helle, not being able to
sleep with the comings and goings outside her door for the past two centars
or so vaguely wondered what was going on. She looked at Demeter who for the
second night running had come to sleep in her room. He wasn't his usual
cheerful self either. Must have something her father said or done last
night when he had come over to see her. She recognised the old man as the
Commander, Adama. After a short time he passed again going in the opposite
direction. This time he was wiping his eyes.

A medtech came in to check on her and was surprised to find her awake.
"Hello, Helle. Are you ok? Need anything? Something to help you sleep?"

Helle whispered back not wanting to wake Demeter. "I'm fine I think. I
can't sleep with all the noise tonight."

"Oh sorry about that. We have a very ill patient down the corridor." The
medtech turned to go.

Helle whispered a question, "I know I shouldn't ask but is it one of the
Commander's family? I saw him before and he looked really upset."

The medtech shook her head but because this was the longest conversation
anyone had had with her she gave her the information she wanted. "No, well
not quite. It is one of the Viper pilots, Lieutenant Starbuck. He was
assaulted last night; no one found him until about nine centars ago. And
now, young lady, I think you ought to go to sleep like your young friend
there." Helle slid down the bed and pretended to go to sleep.

Helle let a tear drop from her face. That night must have been fated, first
her and now Starbuck. She smiled a little at the thought of the way he had
been so kind to her. It had been her first night in the chancery and she
had been secretly frightened at the thought of being there with all the
pilots there. She'd heard stories from the other waitresses about the
amount they could drink and what they got up to but there had been none of
that, well apart from the drinking. She opened her eyes again when she knew
she wasn't going to go to sleep anytime soon. She saw Demeter staring out
of the door, tears dripping down his face. She nudged him.

"What's the matter?"

Demeter wiped his face, "Nothing."

"Yes there is. Tell me."

"I'm just worried about you. You didn't deserve anything like this to
happen." Over the past few centars he had tried to convince himself
Starbuck was guilty, that he deserved what had happened to him. He had been
walking through Life Center when they had wheeled him through out of
surgery. He was glad that he had been found.

Helle closed her eyes as the words brought the feelings and pain back. She
knew she wasn't to blame but she could hear her father's voice tell her
that she had brought it on herself. The fact that he hadn't asked the staff
if she could go back with him told her plenty about her position in the
clan now. All he seemed to ask her was if he had seen who had done it. She
had to say no like she had said to everyone who asked. She wondered if even
Demeter would have her now. He would probably go back to the clan when he
had finished his training and use his skills on the Liviad. She was alone
and friendless now. She flinched from the touch of Demeter.

Demeter sighed. He knew she was hurting, more than he could possibly know
but he also knew he couldn't stay here on the Galactica at least at the
moment. He had to go back to the Liviad and see what his uncle intended
doing, he knew that tradition demanded a public announcement that the
Kav'shar had been carried out. He also feared that if this were done then
who knows what backlash would follow. He would speak to her in the morning.

Helle spent the rest of the night awake unable to sleep for fear of
nightmares and worrying over the tone of Demeter's words. Her thoughts kept
turning back to the Kav'shar, the ancient ritual of justice. Her mind
refused to allow the possibility of it happening. They were supposed to be
fully integrated in a civilised and advanced society; things like that
didn't happen anymore. She noted with pain she knew all too well things
like that did happen. She would talk with Demeter in the morning. She
finally slept.

@@@@

Apollo lay staring into space. His heart bursting with pain for his love.
How could he have not listened to what his heart was telling him. He knew
he must only have been yards away from him when he 'heard' him scream, he
could have stopped it then, but no all he could think of was his own
selfish desires. Well he had learned to live without them after Serina's
death, he would do so again. That was the only he could protect his friends
and himself from this type of pain ever happening again. He knew Starbuck
would probably never want to have contact of that sort again anyway.

@@@@

Three sectons later...

Boomer was chatting to Jenny about a date when he saw one of the early
passengers arrive for the inter-ship shuttle. Chameleon. He excused himself
to Jenny and walked over to him. "Hi, Chameleon. Going back?"

"Yes, Boomer. Have to keep the Siress happy. If I don't keep going back I'm
sure she'll forget me." He didn't smile for very long after his attempted
joke; it was a little too near the truth.

Boomer looked at his shoes, "How is he?"

Chameleon shook his head, "Still stuck. Unfortunately Starbuck was
obviously never a good kid like Boxey either." Chameleon stopped. If it
were anyone else he would probably have been amused but seeing how
streetwise the kid was at the age of twelve really made him hurt. He missed
what Boomer was saying. "Sorry, Boomer?"

Boomer repeated himself. "Do you know if anyone else will be let in to see
him? Is there anything I can do for him."

Chameleon smiled to help ease Boomer's pain. He personally thought the
psychologists were wrong in cocooning him away from everyone apart from
himself, Adama, Cass, and Athena. He had taken it upon himself to tell
Boomer once he had got over the shock that Apollo hadn't told him of
Starbuck's true status. He knew there were lots of Starbuck's friends who
would help if they knew what sort of state he was in. "Maybe there is. Like
any kid he's getting bored and when he gets bored... Do you know of any
electronic games that a twelve yahren old might like? I am behind the pace
these days."

Boomer smiled, it would take a bit of tinkering, but he knew exactly which
'game' Starbuck might like. "Yes, I'll find something suitable. When are
you coming back?"

"Oh, a secton or so. There'll be lots to catch up with on the Seniors
ship." Boomer nodded.

@@@@

Athena was having the daily whispered argument with Apollo whilst Boxey got
himself ready for a study trip. "Look, Apollo, he really needs you. Please
come and see him."

"No. He doesn't need me, I don't think he ever really did. Anyway what's
the use, I don't need another kid to look after."

Athena with an effort remembered to keep whispering. "This is Starbuck
we're talking about. You love him, don't you want to see him well? Look if
he doesn't get better soon they're talking about sending him over to the
'Hospital ship.' Do you want him to spend the rest of his life over there?
He really would be in the best environment there wouldn't he? I can just
imagine that he would be really protected and cared for over there!"

Apollo winced but going to see Starbuck would mean admitting to himself his
guilt about starting the whole damn thing off by having that argument and
that was caused by jealousy. He said nothing in reply.

Athena looked at her brother and knew he was hurting too inside. 'Damn him.
He's got a guilt complex about arguing with Starbuck that day and won't
admit it. So what does Captain Apollo do? Shut down on everybody including
the one person who needs him the most.' She raised her voice, "Boxey, are
you ready yet? We're running behind time."

Boxey bounded through the doorway. "I'm ready. I've been ready for ages I
was just waiting for you and dad to stop shouting at each other."

"We were whispering," Apollo objected pedantically.

"All the same to me." Boxey paused. "Were you arguing about Uncle Starbuck
again? I miss him."

Athena knelt down and embraced him. The first few days after the incident
when Apollo had first refused to visit, making all sorts of excuses there
had been some terrible rows between Apollo and her followed by him and
their father.

Apollo's miserable voice surprised her, "So do I, Boxey, so do I." Perhaps
there was hope after all, she thought. That was the first tiny crack in the
armour she had seen for three sectons.

@@@@

Starbuck pushed the food round his plate. That was the only thing wrong
with this place. The food was well, horrible. It was much better than the
orphanage. The staff were kinder and much more patient with him and they
didn't expect anything... He remembered times when he was ill and they
still would want or expect him to do things for them. He smiled, he liked
one Medtech in particular. She brought him mushy bars and stuff when the
doctor wasn't looking. The other visitors he had were much more serious
though he felt they all liked him.

@@@@

Apollo and Athena waved Boxey and his friends off on their secton long
study tour of the agro and science ships. Athena was wondering if Apollo
could be persuaded to visit now that Boxey was out of the way. Cass had
told her that the decision over Starbuck's immediate future was looming.

Apollo caught the play of thoughts over her face and caught her arm,
"Athena, don't even think about it. I'm not what he needs. He needs, he
needs."

Athena spoke quietly not wanting a public row on this subject. "Friends
Apollo." She hissed, "Before you were lovers you were the closest of
friends." She paused. "What was the basis of your relationship, brother?
Was it just good sex? I know you must have had that, anything else?" She
followed on, unconsciously echoing Starbuck's words, "Was that all he was
to you? A good tumble in the bed because every time you tried it on with a
woman you remembered Serina?"

Apollo went red and quickly looked round to see if anyone was near enough
to overhear. He dragged his sister into the shadows. His hands bit into her
arms. "No! You know that's not true."

"Do I, Apollo? Prove it!" Athena prised Apollo's hands from her arms and
stalked angrily away. Apollo leant his head against the bulkhead wall for a
few centons and then, shrugging, went to start the daily mound of paperwork
that always came his way.

@@@@

He entered the duty office and found Boomer working away at one of the
terminals. Boomer was whistling some nonsense tune. "You're happy with the
world today," he snapped angrily at the absorbed Boomer.

Boomer absently nodded, he was dealing with a tricky bit of programming.

Apollo thought 'great I am nagged at by my sister for at least an hour and
ignored by my best friend. Frak did I really think that? Boomer's not my
best friend.' Apollo mentally shrugged, 'He is now. Even if he was well,
when he gets well, he'll never forgive me for not being there.' Apollo took
up a piece of paper and stared at it for a long time without registering
its contents. He sighed and swivelled his chair to watch Boomer. His mood
lightened as he watched Boomer try and play what obviously was a terminal
game with the joystick under the desk. "Taking up a new career, Boomer?"

Boomer blushed and put the joystick down. "Erm, a friend of Jenny's asked
me to create a program for her son's novayahren." Boomer flicked a glance
at the chronometer anxious to avoid the subject especially with the mood
the Captain was in this morning. "Actually can I go? Her duty cycle ends
soon."

Apollo looked at him sharply for a centon or two and let the lie pass. He'd
already had two arguments this morning, he didn't want a third. It was
going to be a very long secton without Boxey. 'I'm glad Athena didn't
accuse me of using Boxey as a shield.' "Yes ok. Remember we've got to test
that new scanner after mid-cycle."

Boomer smiled and left.

@@@

Starbuck poked his tongue out at the retreating therapist. Her exercise
sessions were boring and made his arms and legs ache.

"Don't do that. It's rude," commented the medtech behind Starbuck's back.

Starbuck turned round in shock. "Have you got eyes in the back of your
head, Cass?"

Cass laughed. She pulled at his earlobe. "No, I just knew what you would
do, you horrible brat. She's only trying to get you better. And you'd
better not let Dr. Salik hear you call me Cass."

"Salik, I can handle him." He grinned mischievously.

Cass sighed, much like Chameleon; she was shocked and saddened at how much
the boy was like the man. She handed him a drink. "Drink this." At
Starbuck's grimace she laughed. "Well, my young friend, it is either this
or someone sitting with you through each meal making sure you eat your
greens." She wasn't surprised when the drink was taken and rapidly
disappeared. "Right I want you to get into bed and rest now and no IFB."
She left the boyman curled up obediently in his covers. She doubted though
that her last order would be obeyed. Indeed as she closed the door she
could hear the opening strains of some program.

@@@

She sighed as she saw Sheba standing there talking to Boomer. She knew
Sheba had been in for a dressing to a burn she had got from when her comm
panel sparked whilst on patrol. She didn't know what Boomer was doing
there. She took the opportunity to evade their attention when Helle walked
past her. "Helle, how are you doing? Heard from Demeter?"

Helle, who was in Life Center to continue her counselling, smiled shyly at
Cass. "Hi, Cassi. I'm doing a little better. Thanks again for finding me
that accommodation with Rigel. No I haven't heard from Demeter." Her face
fell as she remembered when Demeter had left for the Liviad, they had left
so much unspoken especially about her father's visit and the Kav'shar, she
knew from his expression it had been carried out. On the wrong man she knew
for sure.

@@@@

Demeter sat on his bunk. He flicked through the technical manual he had for
about the thousandth time. He knew his uncle had probably by now withdrawn
him from his training program. He looked at the locked door and was
frustrated that it was one of the few rooms on their level that did not
have a lock inside the room. Demeter sat and wondered what the time
actually was. He knew that Silanus was trying to break him and get him to
submit to the discipline of the clan. Get him to admit that Silanus was
right in doing what he did. Demeter sighed as he thought of Helle left
alone, hurting, on the Galactica.

@@@

Cass swallowed as Helle left her to go into her counselling session. Boomer
waved to her. She went slowly up to him. "Hi, Boomer." She flicked her eyes
over the listening form of Sheba.

Boomer smiled nervously, he wished Sheba would go away. "Hi, Cass. How's
things?"

She flicked an anxious eye over to the cubicle she had just exited. "Fine,
he's still unconscious." That was the cover story that had been concocted
for not allowing any visitors. She could see that Boomer didn't believe
her. She wondered who had told him, probably Chameleon. She bit her lip.

Before Boomer could reply a door opened and a plaintive cry sounded out,
"Cass, it hurts."

Cass's eyes rolled to the back of her head. 'Brilliant timing brat.' She
walked back to the room. She heard the following footsteps of Boomer and
Sheba. Starbuck was curled up on the bed hugging his stomach. She closed
the door behind her. "What's the matter? What hurts?"

"My tummy."

"Ok, how many mushy bars did you eat overnight?"

"Seven, I think."

"How many are left?" When the brat didn't reply she started to look through
the drawers. She found a stockpile of twenty. "Ok who's been getting them
for you?"

"You." Cass almost laughed as he avoided her eyes just like he used to do
sometimes when they were an item.

"And who else?"

"Erm one of the old gentlemen."

"Which one?" 'Chameleon, you spoiler of children especially this one.'

"Adama, the other one taught me to play pyramid." Cass laughed and mussed
his hair.

"Don't do that!"

"Stomach better?"

"Hmmm?"

Cass thinned her lips. No doubt he had had a bit of stomach ache but what
he had really wanted was some attention. "Will you go to sleep now for a
little while? I'm going to be busy for a while and then I will be in with
the mid cycle meal. Ok?"

"Ok."

She mussed his hair again and then watched him curl up. She left the room,
sealing the door. She walked straight into Boomer and Sheba.

Boomer almost laughed at the guilty expression on Cass's face. He whispered
into her ear and said, "Driving you mad is he? I came with something to
entertain him. Sheba doesn't know but I think she will have to now."

Cass nodded. She had felt bad about leaving Sheba out of the circle on
this. "Sheba, we need to talk, in private. Boomer, do you mind going in on
your own? He won't bite - he's past that stage thank goodness." Boomer
smiled.

@@@

Starbuck looked up as the door opened. His mouth dropped open, 'a Colonial
Warrior! By the looks of it a member of Blue squadron!"

@@@@

Boomer took a deep breath as he saw that there were still deep bruises on
Starbuck's face and the parts of his body not covered by the night wear.

@@@@

Boomer smiled. "Hi. I'm a friend of, of Chameleon's. He asked me to find
something to entertain you. I bet it's boring in here?" He inwardly smiled
as Starbuck could only nod. He knew that was what he would have been like
when he was 12, if a member of Blue Squadron had visited him. "Got any
mushy bars?" Starbuck smiled and opened one of the drawers and offered one
up wordlessly to Boomer. Boomer took it. "I bet Cass tells you off if you
eat more than two at a time."

"Yep. I ate seven last night though. Where is that entertainment thingy you
brought me?"

Boomer hefted the small sack he was carrying onto the bed. "Ever played a
terminal game?"

"No, at the orphanage, we didn't, didn't play those games."

"Ok, well I'll show you how to set it up."

@@@@

Sheba looked at Cass and knew she was only telling part of the tale.
"Cassi, I understand what you're telling me about what the after effects
have been but." She paused. "But the attack couldn't have been a 'simple '
beating could it? I mean Starbuck has probably had the same from the Cylons
but it didn't send him into a flat spin then. Oh no." She suddenly paused.
"He wasn't was he?" Cass could only nod. "Frak! How's Apollo coping? It
must be hard for him to visit all the time."

Cass laughed coldly. "Yeah, Sheba, really hard, so hard he hasn't been here
once since the first night." Cass looked at Sheba's shocked face and smiled
sadly. "Come on, Sheba, let's go and see whether Boomer's survived him. I
warn you he is just like the older version but without any of his redeeming
qualities."

"What redeeming qualities? I don't what you and Apollo ever saw in him."
Sheba smiled to soften her statement. Although she and Starbuck hadn't got
on at first, she'd lately come to respect and like him both as a pilot and
a man.

"Apollo?" queried Cass.

"It was so obvious. Apollo spent the entire night when we were last on the
Rising Star watching him like a lovestruck cadet. Even Bojay commented on
it."

Cass smiled at this comment. She knew to what lengths Apollo had gone to
hide the relationship. He had told her that first night when he was
hysterical with remorse.

They walked into Starbuck's room. Cass stepped back and let Boomer
introduce Sheba. She nearly cried when she saw the innocent excitement on
his face.

@@@@

Sheba watched them play the game over Boomer's shoulder. She smiled as she
recognised the base of the program. It was the tactical training tape the
cadets used now, it was mostly made up of post destruction actions, mostly
those of Blue squadron and three special pilots in particular. She
marvelled at the skills that Starbuck showed.

Boomer looked up at the chronometer and sighed. He mussed Starbucks' hair
and said, "Have to go now, my Captain awaits."

Starbuck looked up at Boomer. "Captain Apollo?"

"Yep," said Boomer carefully. He looked into Starbuck's eyes and wondered
whether he saw a small sign of recognition.

"He's Adama's son isn't he? Adama comes and sees me."

"It's Commander Adama, scamp, and yes he is. You can keep the equipment as
long as you take good care of it. Ok?" He was answered by an eager nod.

Suddenly a pinging rang through the Life Center. "What's that?" a small
voice asked.

"Nothing to worry about, just means we have to go now. See you later."

"Ok." Starbuck shifted uneasily as the two warriors ran from the room. He
noticed suddenly people outside started to run around. He was worried
without knowing why. He sat on the edge of the bed and swung his legs
wondering if he should be doing something. Cass shouted at him as she
rushed past, "Starbuck stay there and stay quiet."

Helle appeared out of her counselling session and shouted at Cass. "I'll
make sure he behaves." She knew the signs of an alert. She went into
Starbuck's room and smiled at the figure swinging his legs aimlessly. "Hi,
Starbuck, got any mushy's?"

A shy smile appeared, "Yep want one? I'm not supposed to have one but I
don't think Cass will get to know. Is she busy?"

Helle sat down on the bed next to Starbuck and they both sat there chewing.
Finally Starbuck fell asleep, half eaten mushy bar in his hand.

@@@@

The battle had been difficult. Apollo had to continually stop himself
talking to Boomer as if he was Starbuck. At last the alert was over, the
Cylons banished for the time being. The pilots started returning to the
Galactica. As Boomer and himself were waiting for landing clearance, he
thumbed the private transmitter. "Hey, Sta. Fancy another lesson in massage?
I've got three cycles off and Boxey's away. What do you say? I think you
could teach me something as well." He whiled away a few microns feeling his
erection grow at the thought. It was quickly banished at the reply.

"Erm, Apollo, it's Boomer here. I would take you up on the invitation but me
and Jenny have other plans." Luckily for Boomer they were then cleared for
landing over the public channel.

Apollo was still red as they exited from their vipers. Boomer decided not to
say anything. On the way to the debriefing Apollo asked, "Erm did your
friend's son enjoy that game?"

Boomer looked sideways at Apollo, he smiled. "Yes, yes he did. He was quite
good at it in actual fact." Boomer paused and then continued. "But I think
he enjoyed meeting two Colonial Warriors more though."

"Two?"

"Sheba was there at the time I met his mother." They both knew the mother
was a convenient lie.

"Oh."

@@@@

Apollo flopped into his chair. It was silent and empty in his cabin. The
long hours spent cramped in the Viper cockpit had made him feel sweaty and
dirty, but he didn't really have the energy to move. He loosened the
waistband of his trousers and began to doze.

@@@@

"Ohh, Sta, that's good, just there, no a bit higher. It's really stiff just
there. OOHH not so hard please. Lords, you have magic fingers. Oh please
don't stop." He cried as the fingers that had been massaging his neck lifted
away.  "I'm not stopping. I think you have more stiff parts of your body
that need some special treatment." Apollo didn't open his eyes but rose in
his seat when quick fingers opened his waistband and began to massage his
cock. "Sta, can you do something from me?" He looked up green meeting blue.

"Hmmm?"

"Take me in your mouth, please?"'

"Apollo, I, I am not sure. Please just let me massage you like this."

Apollo sighed, "K, we'll have a talk about this later."

"Ok."

The rest of the massage was carried out in silence.

@@@@

Apollo sighed as the door chime interrupted his doze. He wondered who could
be calling now; everyone apart from essential crew should be resting. He
stood up and fastened his trousers up with difficulty. He frowned, 'must be
that conversation with Boomer.'

@@@@

Cass stood outside the door hoping that Apollo would answer soon. She looked
at the tired confused figure stood next to her and smiled. She didn't get a
smile back in reply. She stroked his hair to comfort him.

Apollo opened the door and groaned as he saw Cass. Lately every conversation
with her started as an argument and ended as an argument. "Cass, what do you
want?" he snapped.

Cass looked at the tired captain and had sympathy with him and then she saw
the condition of his bulging trousers. "Am I interrupting something?"

Apollo pinked and shifted on his feet. "No. What can I do for you?" He still
hadn't invited her in.

"I need to ask you a favor, can I come in?"

"Ok." Cass took the opportunity and pulled her companion through. Apollo saw
who it was and bristled. "Cass, my bedroom please." He blushed even further
as the figure smirked.

Cass also noted the smirk and swatted Starbuck on the butt; "You've got a
drain for a mind, brat. Sit and stay and don't touch."

Apollo waited until the door had closed behind Cass before he exploded.
"What in Hades are you doing here with him?"

"Finding him a bed for a night or, or more. Apollo, Life Center needed
Starbuck's bed, we took heavy casualties."

"Why me?"

"Apollo, they were going to transfer him to the hospital ship. You are the
only person with the room to take care of him. He needs you please."

"He won't fit in Boxey's bed."

Cass was pleased that Apollo hadn't trotted the usual excuses out. "He can
sleep in your bed tonight and then I'll help you move an extra bed in here."
She looked around the relatively large room; it would fit another bed in at
a pinch. "Please, Apollo, you should have seen him when Boomer and Sheba
visited with him. I am sure if he's around familiar people more it would
help him."

Apollo looked at Cass and eventually nodded. "We'll give it a few cycles and
see how it works."

Cass smiled softly at him. "Thanks, Apollo."

The pair exited the room. Cass went over to the dozing figure. "Starbuck
wake up."

"Hmm, Cass?"

"This is Captain Apollo. You're going to stay with him but you've got to
behave and do as he says. You're still going to come back to Life Center
every day for some therapy ok?"

Starbuck looked at Cass and the stern Apollo, he knew who he would rather
stay with. "Can't I stay with you?"

"No, we've discussed this haven't we?" She waited until Starbuck nodded and
then turned to Apollo and told him about his medication, his special
nutritive drinks, and his therapy regime at the Life Center. Apollo took all
the details down. Eventually Cass left. Apollo turned from the door and saw
him curled up fast asleep on the floor, his head resting on a cushion taken
from the seat.

Apollo sighed and picked him up. Starbuck barely stirred. Somehow the top of
his hair rested just below Apollo's nostrils. Apollo drank in the still
familiar smell of Starbuck, it was tinged with the clean smell of the Life
Center but the beautiful smell was still there. He could feel his erection
returning. He quickened his pace to the bedroom and placed Starbuck into the
bed. He removed his outer robe and pulled the covers up. "Sleep tight,
Starbuck."

@@@@

Apollo quietly found his own nightclothes and an extra blanket and made his
way out to the main room. He was tempted to try Boxey's bed but knew if
Starbuck was too big for it, it wouldn't be big enough for him. He lay down
on some cushions when he was ready and gladly fell asleep; it had been a
very long day.

@@@@

Despite the earlier alert, business on the Rising Star was busy. Macro
finished his shift and wondered what he should do. He was relaxed in all but
one direction. Since Helle there had been no one, not even a willing
partner. He had tried doing it himself but somehow that was never as
satisfying as being with another person.  He laughed as he considered trying
it with another man. Macro eyed the crowd and picked out a young looking
blond who seemed to be more than a bit drunk. He smiled, perfect. He
followed him out of the room, keeping far enough back to not excite
suspicion from the man.

The blond heard in his ear, "He's following. Don't worry we're both ahead
and behind you." He continued to slightly roll his steps. He didn't even
tense as the man pounced, he knew where Reese was.

Reese signalled to his men and they pounced. He went in after them, "Take
him to the barge." He helped his other man up from the floor. "Are you all
right?" He smiled as the blond nodded.

Gollat appeared now that the dirty, rough work had been done. "Well we could
have a lead on our other case here as well. Don't you think, Reese?"

Reese deigned not to answer the question. He knew they had got the Rising
Star case solved but he doubted that the man that had just been taken away
was the perpetrator of the other attack. He simply turned round to the
Investigator and said, "Sir, I thought we didn't have any other cases like
this on our book?"

Adama and the council had insisted that the investigation on *that* case be
kept as a simple assault. He knew Gollat was going about the case in the
wrong way but he was only a security man when it came down to it and
couldn't do anything but follow orders. Gollat quickly looked around and
nodded. They followed their captive to the launching bay.

@@@@

Apollo woke, the room was dark. He heard a quiet whimpering. "Boxey?" He
shook his head, 'Boxey was off ship.' The whimpering came again. He groaned
as he remembered who it was. He got up and padded into the bedroom. Starbuck
was thrashing around on the bed. Apollo went over to him and held him tight.
"Ssshh it's only a dream. Sssh there."

The moaning stilled after a few centons. Apollo relaxed against a pillow
pulling Starbuck back with him. His body registered Starbuck's presence with
its usual reaction. Apollo twisted away. A small voice came, "Do you want me
to deal with that, sir?"

Apollo wanted to cry. He stroked the blond head. "NO!" He modified his tone
as he felt Starbuck tense. "Starbuck, Starbuck. You're here to get well, not
to do anything like that again. I only came in because you were crying out."

@@@@

Starbuck looked at the kind man holding him. If he had wanted him to do
something, he didn't really mind. It only bothered him when there was more
than one person, those were times he got hurt. He accepted his words. "Ok."
He was relieved when the glum man smiled back at him. He still preferred to
stay with Cass, she was fun.

@@@@

Apollo wondered what to do and looked at the clock, it was about two centars
off wake up time. He could see that both of them were not going to go back
to sleep. "Want a drink?" There was some of that drink that Boxey liked
somewhere around in the galley area. "Come with me."

Twenty centons later, he'd made himself a strong cup of Java and looked at
Starbuck drinking down a second cup of Boxey's favorite. "Want to tell me
about the dream?"

Starbuck made a face, he knew there was going to be a payback for the drink,
there always was. "It was dark and I hurt but they wouldn't stop."

Apollo breathed in deeply. He gently probed, "Stop what?"

Starbuck shook his head, he could guess but didn't want to tell, not after
the Captain's reaction of earlier. He wiped his face with the sleeve of his
night top.

Apollo saw his distress and sighed. "Its ok, Starbuck. It's ok. If you
remember anything will you tell me or Cass?" He waited until Starbuck
nodded. "Ok now we're both awake so what do you say you show me this game
that my lieutenant gave to you?"

@@@@

Athena picked her way through the corridor. She had woken up early and
decided that even though her brother would doubtless have some work to do
today due to the alert yesterday, she would drag him kicking and screaming
to the Life Center if it killed her. She saw Sheba walking towards her.

Sheba stopped Athena. She looked around and made sure the corridor was
clear. "Athena. I saw Starbuck yesterday."

"Oh," came the cautious answer.

"Cass told me that Apollo doesn't visit. Is that true?"

Athena twisted her face. "Yes. I'm on my way now to try and persuade him
again. It would be nice to have some company."

Sheba nodded.

@@@@

Apollo didn't even look up as the door chime sounded. He was trapped in a
pinwheel. "Come."

@@@@

Athena walked in after hearing a vague 'come.' Sheba followed closely behind
and knocked into the stationary Athena. They looked on as Apollo and
Starbuck were concentrating on a terminal, both with joysticks. The banter
between them sounded strangely familiar.

"Starbuck, I wish you'd hurry up here. I'm in a pinwheel."

"Well that's not my fault. I'm coming."

Sheba and Athena both walked over to view what was happening. Starbuck's
moves were a little jerky but he was just about keeping up to speed with the
battle.

Starbuck shouted, "Frak!" As he was ambushed and blown up by a Cylon
sneaking up on his nearside.

Athena pulled his ear. "Starbuck, remember what I said the last time you
said that word?"

Sheba and Apollo laughed as Starbuck went red. "Sorry, Athena. It was just
that I got caught by that Cylon." He pouted and looked up from under his
eyelashes. He knew that this had worked on Cass. It didn't work on Athena.

She grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him up. "Go to your room. I want
to talk to Apollo in private."

"Appppoooolllllllloooooo" Starbuck appealed to Apollo.

Apollo wanted to laugh at the expression on Athena's face. He swore that she
was enjoying having Starbuck as a 12 yahren old so she could order him
around without getting too much mouth back. He shook his head sternly at
him.

Starbuck slouched into 'his' room.

Athena turned to her brother "What's he doing here?"

Apollo sighed and went over to the galley to make some Java. "With the
casualties last night, they needed Starbuck's room or something. Cass
brought him to stay over here until we can figure out what to do with him.
They were going to transfer him to the hospital ship otherwise." He grinned,
"He wanted to stay with Cass though." His grin faded a little when he
remembered Starbuck's offer and being tempted by it. He dashed his eyes of
the tears that threatened to form. "Oh, Athena," He was now oblivious of
Sheba, "Starbuck told me before this happened about his childhood but I
never imagined that it had been so, so hard. He, he offered himself to me;
he was so scared of me. I should have been there, should have been there,
stopped all this!"

"Oh, Apollo, there was nothing you could do, come here, brother." She
cradled Apollo as the tears came. She hoped that as soon as one started
healing the other would.

@@@@

She saw Sheba go to the door of Apollo's room and go into the room. She
returned to concentrating on comforting her brother.

Sheba entered the room and saw a pensive Starbuck. "Does he want rid of me?
They usually do." He thought back to the night when Apollo refused him, 'had
he said something wrong then?'

Sheba smiled and shook her head. "Of course he doesn't. It's just he's a bit
upset at the moment, a friend of his was hurt a little while back and he's
having a difficult time because of that." She paused for a few seconds and
asked, "Do you have any normal clothes?" Starbuck shrugged. "Wait here."
Sheba left the room.

She noted that Athena and Apollo had disappeared somewhere. She went to the
com panel. A few centons later, she smiled when she heard the chime. She
opened the door; it was Boomer, who was holding a pile of clothes. "Thanks,
Boomer. We need to take Starbuck away from here for a while. I think having
Starbuck here has made Apollo crack at last. I'll be back in a moment." She
re-entered Apollo's bedroom and then exited quickly, leaving the boyman to
dress himself.

@@@@

Gollat looked at the man in front of him. There was no reaction to his news
that his daughter's attacker had been found and had confessed to his crime.
He coughed. "I can assure you that he will get the maximum sentence from the
tribunal despite his confession." Gollat looked at Silanus and shivered, he
was a cold fish. He shuffled his papers and then found what he was looking
for. "Oh, you requested the name of that pilot who saved you that day?"
Silanus nodded. "It was Lieutenant Starbuck."

Silanus blanched a little but hoped that Gollat wouldn't have noticed. He
made to smile, he knew that Starbuck had been found alive and then all had
gone strangely quiet. He wondered exactly how much was known about the
assailants. "Thank you. Is there any chance that I could say thank you to
him in person?" As Silanus finished speaking he beagn coughing loudly.

Gollat thinned his lips and waited for Silanus's coughing fit to pass before
speaking; "I'm afraid not. The lieutenant has since met with an unfortunate
accident that he is still recovering from. The doctors and close family are
all who are allowed to see him at the moment." Gollat paused and looked
closely at the man who was now sweaty and pale.  "Are you allright? Do you
want a medtech?"

Silanus appeared not to hear the enquiries after his health and instead
sympathised with the lieutenant's accident, "Oh dear. Yes, I think I
remember hearing about it on the IFB, but that was nearly three sectons ago
wasn't it?"

Gollat sighed, "Actually it's over three sectons."

"Time passes so quickly. I hope your staff have done the same efficient job
and have apprehended the perpetrators." He sighed as Gollat shook his head.

"It's as if they were there one minute and gone the next."

Silanus nodded. "Well I mustn't delay you any longer. Thank you for your
time and your work."

Gollat smiled at the compliment.

@@@@

Boomer asked Sheba, "Where are we going?"

Sheba smiled, "Just wait." She kept a careful tight hold on Starbuck's hand
as they made their way through a maze of back and service corridors.

At last they were at their destination. Boomer smiled at the sign, Viper
simulation room. "Great idea, Sheba."

Starbuck was confused; the trip through the corridors was a little
frightening, and he had made sure he had kept up with Sheba as she had
dragged him through them. He looked up at the sign and thought 'what's a
simulation?'

Sheba smiled as they let themselves into the room. "I knew it would be empty
today." She whispered, as they watched Starbuck go up to the mocked-up
cockpits. "We can't risk taking him down to the launching bay, this is the
next best thing. How about a go at re-qualifying him?"

Boomer smiled, "Do you think he is that good?"

"Tigh and Apollo say Starbuck is the nearest thing to a born pilot as you
are ever going to get."

"Ok." Boomer looked up and smiled at the figure that was running a hand over
one of the cockpits. "Starbuck, come here."

"Yes?"

Boomer laughed at the excited expression.

"You know the terminal game?" Starbuck nodded. "Well this is a bigger
version of that." Boomer started punching some buttons. A screen beeped
asking for input of a name. "Ok what rank do you want, Lieutenant?" Starbuck
shook his head. "Captain? Colonel?" Starbuck nodded vigorously. Boomer
rolled his eyes, 'now he has delusions of grandeur!'

@@@@

On the bridge the activity had been noted and also the power drain it was
causing. Adama sighed; he would have to call a halt to the proceedings. The
attack of the day before had temporarily knocked out one of the ship's power
supplies and they had had trouble balancing all their needs without this
extra drain.

Tigh came over and volunteered, "Shall I go and see who it is and ask them
to stop, Commander?"

Adama grinned briefly. "Oh I don't know. It won't be a group of cadets, they
don't have the security access."

"I've already checked the access codes and it would appear that it was
Lieutenant Boomer who accessed everything."

Adama arched his brows; he had called in at Life Center already that morning
and found that Starbuck had been moved. Cass had told him happily about the
game that Boomer had brought. Maybe it would be just what he needs to bring
him back. He decided. "No, leave them for another 30 centons, then they
would have had a centar and a half." Tigh nodded and checked his
chronometer.

@@@@

Inside one of the simulators, Boomer was cursing as Sheba had increased the
difficulty of the simulation again. 'Frak' he jerked his viper to the side
as a blast came a little too close.

A small chuckle sounded in his earpiece, "Boom-boom, you're getting old and
too slow. The tin cans nearly got you there."

Boomer swallowed, "Bucko?" No answer came, so he thumbed the com panel to
Sheba. "Did you hear that, Sheba?"

"Yep, I did. Try again, his scores are great."

"Starbuck?"

To Boomer's disappointment, the small, childish voice came through, "Yes? Am
I doing ok?"

Boomer hid his disappointment. He cheerily commented, "You're doing great.
Do you want to stop now or keep going?"

"Can we keep going for a little while longer?"

"Of course." Hope surged through Boomer. Maybe there could be a way out of
this nightmare. Hopefully Apollo would be able to build on the small step
Starbuck had taken here.

@@@@

Silanus glared at his daughter. She glared back at him. She held her hand to
her face, she could feel the bruise forming already.

"If you don't come back to the ship with us, you will be lost to us. None of
us will ever see you again. That includes Demeter, he has seen the light and
wants nothing more than to be separate from these people."

Helle looked at her father. She knew he was wrong, the day of destruction
had made the old ways of separatism and isolation untenable. She couldn't
believe Demeter agreed with him either, he must be a prisoner or something.

Silanus looked at the woman and turned round in disgust. "Let's go to the
shuttle, it is time we left this ship." His entourage followed him out of
the door.

Helle looked at the door and wanted to call out to her father but she knew
that she could, would not.

@@@@

Starbuck looked guiltily at Boomer who was standing to attention with Sheba
before an angry man. He shrunk into the background, he could hear Boomer
pointing at him and hearing his name mentioned a few times. He knew it was
his fault Boomer was getting into trouble. The last time he had been 'hurt',
one of the kinder workers had called a doctor for him, the orphanage
director had come in and shouted and slapped the worker for being stupid. He
was then taken and locked in a room on his own for sectons. When he came
out, when he was better, the worker had gone.

@@@@

Boomer sighed internally as Tigh let rip about wastage of scarce power
resources and warrior time to basically play in the simulator for a centar
and a half.

Tigh drew breath. Boomer quietly commented, "I'm, we're trying to help
Starbuck, sir. He was so good at the game I made up for him and then Sheba
saw him this morning with Apollo and for the short while they were playing
this game, he was almost back to normal. And then just before, I swear for a
moment he was just like his normal self."

Tigh looked at Sheba curiously. She smiled and nodded in reply. "Where's
Apollo?" He asked.

"Don't know, he was with Athena."

"Athena was on the bridge when I left." Tigh leant over the console and
spoke into it and heard that Apollo was in the launching bay discussing
Viper repair times with the flight crews.

"I'll go and get him for you, he needs to see and hear this stuff too."
Sheba turned to leave. The two men turned to talk about the damage from the
attack. As she passed the door, she saw Starbuck curled up, apparently
dozing. She smiled and took her jacket off and placed it under his head.

@@@@

Starbuck woke up from his doze when he heard the distracted tone of Captain
Apollo echo down the corridor as he approached the room. "Can't it wait,
Sheba? What's he done now? Why couldn't you just have taken him to the Life
Center for his therapy? If this is how everyone is going to behave around
him, he might be better on the Hospital ship!"

@@@@

Sheba seethed; as usual Apollo was being Captain 'I always put duty first
and foremost, hell to my personal life or my friends' Apollo. Why Starbuck
ever wanted a relationship with this guy she didn't know, must be good sex.
She refused to reply to him.

Starbuck shrunk into the shadows in the dimly lit room. Apollo went straight
to the console. "Ok what's up?"

Boomer smiled at Apollo, "Just listen and look." Apollo put on the headset
that was thrown at him and joined Tigh in viewing the recording of the
simulation. Boomer and Sheba smiled at the changing expression on Apollo's
face. They both pretended not to notice when Apollo wiped his eyes. Boomer's
eyes misted, as he knew what Apollo had heard.

Apollo looked down at his feet for a micron after he had taken the headset
off. He smiled; Starbuck was coming back to him. He looked across at Boomer
and Sheba, "Thanks. These scores are pretty high. Colonel, can we consider
him re-qualified?"

Tigh scowled at Boomer who wilted, as he knew what he was annoyed at. "No, I
don't think so. There has been some false documentation here. 'Colonel'
Starbuck indeed! The day Starbuck makes my rank will be the day a Cylon eats
a mushy bar." Tigh slapped Apollo across his back and smiled. "Of course
he's re-qualified, but there is still one tiny problem to be handled. How do
we get him to grow up before the next Cylon attack?"

The group laughed. Sheba turned round to check on the dozing Starbuck. She
queried, "Starbuck?" When she saw her jacket lying discarded on the floor.
Something in Sheba's tone made Apollo look round. "He was there when I went
to fetch you."

Just then the dim lighting got suddenly dimmer. "Frak, the power's failed
totally now." Apollo shouted. Those same cold hands that had assaulted him
in the corridor three sectons or more ago began to creep up his spine again.

Tigh shouted, "Don't panic, Apollo, he's probably just outside in the
corridor or somewhere. Don't worry he won't get far."

@@@@

Starbuck wandered the corridor trying not to cry. He had so enjoyed the
simulator but obviously he had done something wrong again. He had heard the
Captain talk about moving him to the hospital ship. He knew he didn't want
to go there, he had seen Cass's expression last night when the doctor was
discussing him with her. All of a sudden the lighting went down and red
emergency lighting shone through the corridors. Starbuck looked around him
and wondered where he was. At the end of the corridor was a slightly
brighter area. He set off towards that, hopefully he might find someone who
could help him and most importantly persuade Captain Apollo not to be mad at
him.

The instant the lights went down, the alert signal pinged out.  The quartet
raced to the door and looked at each other, Starbuck would have to wait.
Tigh raced off to the bridge.  Boomer and Sheba were dumbstruck when Apollo
looked up and ordered them to the launch bay. "You two go ahead.  I'll meet
up with you there."  Apollo looked down the corridor towards the shuttle
launch bay.  Sheba and he had come down through the shuttle launch bay.

Boomer asked, "Where will you be?"

"I'll meet up with you there.  I'll just go down this way.  GO!"

Boomer and Sheba dashed off towards their respective launch bays.

@@@@

Starbuck finally found the brighter area and looked around him.  The area
was completely empty apart from a small ship.  He recognised it as a shuttle
of some kind.  He cheered up; he had never been this close to a shuttle
before.  He saw there was a door open.  Starbuck looked round and confirmed
that there was no one around, 'it wouldn't hurt just to take a look.'

@@@@

Apollo ran down the corridor and knew that he was running out of time. He
vaguely felt the first Vipers launch.  Starbuck must be down here, Apollo
insisted to himself.  He ran into the shuttle launch bay.

@@@@

Boomer was finishing off his pre-launch checks.  He kept whipping glances
off to the empty Viper next to him.  'Frak, Apollo, where are you?  I am
sure Starbuck will be ok.  He's probably found himself a nice warm corner to
curl up in.'

Boomer's com panel crackled into life.  "Lieutenant Boomer."  It was Tigh.
"Do you know if there is a problem with the com system in Captain Apollo's
viper?"

Boomer thought 'not apart from him not being there.'  He tried to steer Tigh
away from the subject.  "Not sure, Sir.  Been too busy trying to sort out my
viper, sir.  What's the situation out there?"

@@@@

Apollo closed his eyes for a second as he recovered his breath.  He could
sense Starbuck was near.  He wondered where he could be and then he spied
the shuttle.  He frowned slightly as the door had been left open; perhaps
they had been in the process of loading it with some cargo.  He smiled
slightly as he remembered that when he was twelve an open shuttle door was
like an invitation.  He ran up to it.  He felt more vipers launch.

@@@@

Starbuck ran his hands over the console.  Somehow it seemed familiar but not
so at the same time.  He wandered towards the back of the shuttle and saw a
lot of boxes and crates secured under webbing.  His hand ran against a
bulkhead and a door opened, he jumped and then relaxed when he saw it was a
small turboflush.

@@@@

Apollo in his haste to get across to the shuttle to have a look tripped up
over a pipe left on the deck.  "Frak!"  he shouted as his shin protested as
it hit the metal pipe.

@@@@

The sound of the shout made its way into the cabin.  Starbuck looked up in
panic.  'Captain Apollo!'  And he sounded angry.  He quickly looked around
and then saw that the webbing around the boxes was loose.  He scurried in
underneath it and managed to work himself into a space, he curled up.

@@@@

Apollo entered the shuttle.  He looked around and couldn't see anything out
of order.  He listened to his body and sniffed the air. Somehow he knew that
Starbuck was there or had been there.

"Starbuck?"  Just then a large jolt hit the entire deck.  'Frak!'  He looked
around again and knew he couldn't delay any longer.  He sighed and left the
shuttle.  Before he left the shuttle, he turned the lights off and then
closed the door behind him.  Apollo raced for the passageway that linked the
viper and shuttle launch bays.

@@@@

Starbuck breathed a light sigh of relief as Apollo left.  The darkness and
warmth of the shuttle quickly lulled him into a deep sleep.

@@@@

Boomer was running out of excuses and breathed a sigh of relief as Apollo
appeared.  He made signals to Apollo to indicate that the bridge thought he
had a com problem.  Apollo signalled back to let him know he understood.
They launched within centons.

@@@@

Sheba waited for Apollo and Boomer to climb down from their vipers. She had
noted their late arrival into the skirmish and wondered whether Apollo had
found Starbuck.  She caught his helmet as he threw it down.  She could tell
from the expression on his face that he hadn't.

She jumped when she heard Tigh's angry voice behind her.  "You're going to
need your helmet, Captain."

Apollo finished climbing down from the viper.  Sheba noted that he was
limping.  "Why?  Has Starbuck turned up yet?"

Tigh shook his head.  Long range scanners have indicated some readings that
could indicate some Cylon stragglers. I want you and the lieutenant here to
go and follow up the readings."

Apollo exploded; his anxiety had been building during the skirmish. For once
he wanted to be back on the Galactica.  "I can't go just yet. Send someone
from Red squadron.  I am sure Starbuck is somewhere down by the shuttle
launch bay.  I need to go and find him."

Tigh shouted back, "I'm sending you two out because your little detour round
the launch bay has made you two the freshest pilots we have out there.  Red
and Silver Spar have been on alert for two cycles now."

Apollo stared the Colonel out.  "I'm going to my father..."

Tigh sighed.  Typical of Apollo to get a guilt attack during an alert.
"Look, Apollo, I know what this is about.  Sheba and I will look directly
after the debrief.  He can't have gone anywhere.  Tell me where you checked.
Look by the time you are back in two centars time he will be found, tucked
up and asleep.  I promise you."

Apollo looked at Boomer who shrugged.  "Ok.  Thanks."

@@@@

The shuttle pilot thanked launch control and signed off.  It would be a
fairly long trip to the back of the fleet so even despite the still
semi-alert status of the fleet; he tuned his receiver to pick up IFB who
were showing re-runs of famous Triad matches of the past.  He decided to
feed this through to the passenger cabin.  He smiled; he decided it was time
for the yokels he had on board to experience some fleet culture.

@@@@

Starbuck stirred slightly as the shuttle took off but then returned to his
sleep.

@@@@

Silanus stirred angrily in his seat, he decided not to react to the
challenge thrown out by the pilot.  He knew of Triad but regarded it as a
child's game played by grown men.  He grew even angrier as he realised what
name the crowd was chanting. Again the choking cough attacked him again.
Once the cough had died , he rested his head back against the headrest.

@@@@

Starbuck's mind vaguely heard the noises in the background.  His body
shifted slightly as he fell into a dream.

***
The adrenaline surge was still running through him.  'Frak that had been a
tough game.'  He sat down on the bench in the locker room, he wasn't sure
what to do with the cool water in his hand, chuck it over his head or drink
it.  He smiled at his best friend Apollo who was sat down in much the same
condition.  He was answered by a wry smile. They both agreed to stay where
they were until their opponents had finished cleaning up.  Starbuck wondered
how this particular ritual had started but he knew both of them appreciated
it.  A few snatched moments alone with each other.  Time for both of them to
think.

At last their opponents left.  Starbuck immediately began unbuckling the
triad suit and then swore under his breath as a shoulder muscle pulled.

"Here let me help you with that."  Cool but skilled hands worked on the
muscle.

Starbuck relaxed into the massage and was disappointed when it was over.  He
shook his head and murmured "Hmm?"  When he realised that Apollo had been
speaking.

"I'm heading for the turbowash, coming?"

 Starbuck stared at the naked body in front of him and bit his lip. He
suddenly realised what he could use the bottle of cool water for. He also
noted Apollo's state of arousal and decided he'd better not follow him into
the turbowash just yet.  "Erm no, I'd better go and stretch this muscle
before it cramps up again.  I'll catch you up later."

"Ok."

Starbuck shook as his eyes followed the sight of Apollo into the turbowash.
His hand absently traced the path Apollo's fingers had taken over his
shoulder.  Finally he got up and did a few stretching exercises.  He
wondered what Apollo wanted from him.

***

Starbuck moaned slightly in his sleep as his dream moved onwards.

***

It was about a secton later.  There had been some kind of celebration at the
O'club and Apollo had for once got a little tipsy.  Starbuck who was more
than tipsy himself took it on himself to take the captain back to his cabin.
He took him through to the bedroom and placed him on the bed.

As he moved to go away, a voice floated up from the bed.  "Starbuck?"

"Are you ok, Apollo?"

"Hmmm.  Starbuck, love you."

"Hmm, ok Apollo."

"Do you love me?"

"Ok, yes."

"How?"

"Not sure.  How do you love me?"  This had been building for the past
secton.

"Well that would be telling and is a big secret.  Be fun finding out
though."

"Oh."  Starbuck looked at the captain and was suddenly unsure as to where
everything was leading.  He had made a vow to himself many yahrens ago that
never ever would he let himself be used again.  He wondered how many yahrens
had it been since, since.

"Kiss me."  Starbuck didn't disobey the insistent command.

Their lips brushed.  Apollo's breath stank of ambrosa.  Apollo grabbed
Starbuck's head and pulled it into closer towards him.  A thought ran
through Starbuck's mind as he wondered whether Apollo was as drunk as he
appeared to be.  Then he was lost in a wave of emotion and stimulation.
When they finally broke for air, Starbuck stood up and took a few steps
back.  He smiled at Apollo, "Look, Apollo, I, we will have to take time over
this."

"Ok."  Again that lazy confident smile.  "Remember our big secret."
***

@@@@

Appius was resting; at last the triad game had been muted. He shifted
uneasily; these shuttle trips reminded him of all that had been lost when
they had been evacuated from their township.  He believed they should have
gone down fighting to the last individual.  These pilots and 'warriors' hid
behind machines, they even fought their illnesses with machines, unlike the
tribe, even now they relied on the plants and herbs of their home left far
behind.  He resisted the urge to cough, not here, not in front of the
others.  Once the urge had passed, he relaxed but then tensed as he heard a
slight moan come from behind him.

@@@@

Starbuck woke feeling nauseous and with a massive headache.  'I only had two
drinks all night.  That blonde waitress must have spiked my drinks.
Probably Apollo's doing, probably trying to get me relaxed.' He cautiously
opened his eyes and looked around him.  He could see crates and boxes.  He
felt the vibration and noise of a shuttlecraft engine.  He tried to work out
quite how he got here and was worried when he couldn't remember hardly a
thing about the evening apart from the young and pretty blonde waitress.  He
groaned again.  'This was probably Apollo's revenge.  He must have succumbed
to her charms and Apollo thought I'd ratted out on him.'  Starbuck relaxed
as he heard someone pull the webbing away from its hooks.  'Ah Apollo coming
to rescue me and give me a dressing down.'

@@@@

Appius investigated his suspicion there was someone in amongst the cargo.
Silanus noticed his man's movements and got up from his seat and idly
followed him.  Appius disappeared for perhaps thirty microns into the maze
of finely balanced crates and then reappeared smiling. He motioned to his
chief who went in to the maze by the same route.

@@@@

Silanus quickly came into a small space and found the unconscious body of
Starbuck.  He smiled.  Appius was a good hunter and knew when to leave prey
alive but disabled.  Silanus reached into his outer robe and removed the
cord, hood and this time gag, that every male of the clan wore everyone that
is but one notable exception.  He made sure that Starbuck was secured before
he left the space.  Appius nodded to Silanus to indicate that there had been
no suspicious movements from the pilot.  Silanus moved back down to his seat
and turned his mind to wondering how to get the lieutenant off the shuttle
without any of the regular crew of the Liviad realising and letting the
Galactica know.

@@@@

Apollo and Boomer scanned the region where the scanner had picked up the
stray Cylon traces but they weren't there now.  After only a few centons
scanning, Apollo decided to turn back.  He had something more important to
look for than chase after scanner ghosts.  They had been on the patrol for
more than a centar now and it would take more than a centar to get back
after they had weaved their way through all the traffic that was getting up
again.  Indeed as he flew over the large ex-cargo freighter, he saw a
shuttle enter the ship's landing bay. As he made a few passes over and
around the ship cold hands again gripped his spine.  He shook his head to
clear it of the coldness and remembered Tigh's comforting words.  Kicking
his turbos in, he headed back to the Galactica. Maybe the power had been
brought back on-line.  If that were so, he would take Starbuck back down to
the simulator room.  This time Apollo thought he would come back again for
longer this time. He smiled to himself as memories of their first kiss came
back.

***
It was a secton after that encounter in the locker room.  The invitation to
massage Starbuck's shoulder had been more than he could resist.  Apollo
sensed Starbuck's reaction and smiled.  He had not been too disappointed
when Starbuck had declined to join him in the shower.  He knew about some of
Starbuck's past from what was listed in the command personnel data and that
he would have to take it slow. He had managed to con the con artist into
taking him back to his cabin by pretending to be more drunk than he was.
Somehow he had managed to make Starbuck kiss him, at first it had been a
tender brush of the lips, just like the type he had observed him giving both
Athena and Cassiopeia recently.  A chaste brotherly kiss.

Apollo wanted more, needed more.

Grasping Starbuck's head he brought the reluctant lips down onto his.
Starbuck's breath tasted mostly of ambrosa and fumarello's but then Apollo
recognised the faint taste of arousal.  He let the head go when they needed
air and despite the fact that Starbuck instantly retreated, Apollo knew that
Starbuck deep down desired him as much as he had always desired Starbuck.
He decided not to force the issue.  If they both knew that each loved the
other then he could let it take its course.

***

Apollo sighed as the memory faded; he hoped they both would get a second
chance together.

@@@@

Rigel sighed as she made her way back to her quarters, she would be glad to
see her bunk.  It had been a long double shift with the alert and all the
business with Athena, Apollo, Sheba, Tigh and Boomer creeping around in the
service tunnels that encircled the launch bays.  She wondered briefly what
that was all about, she knew Adama had been especially anxious about the
search.  Rigel wryly smiled to herself, the mobile link up with Tigh he had
got her to rig up had been on a classified wave band. The search team had
eventually come back to the bridge and had been dismissed until the morning.
She shook her head and decided she would no doubt find out about it next
cycle.  She opened the doors to the quarters she shared with Helle and heard
a quiet whimpering.

Quickly closing the door, Rigel reached for the light switch. As soon as the
dim half-light came on she went over to the young girl cowering on her bunk.
"Helle what's the matter?"  Rigel turned Helle over and saw the bruise on
the girl's face.  "Your father?"  Helle nodded.

Rigel shook her head and went over to the com panel to contact Cass.

@@@@

Reese sat down at his desk and rubbed the back of his neck, glad to be sat
down for a change instead of supervising emergency repairs and evacuations
of compartments.  Pouring himself a glass of cheap ambrosa to relax him, he
decided to look over some of the items found in the room of the perpetrator
of the attacks on the Rising Star.  The collection was meager, a few
security tapes, a memory disk or two, some lurid, pre-destruction posters of
men and women in various states of undress, even a couple of still pictures
of some of the patrons of the Rising Star.  Reese sat down and sighed
deeply, a tawdry collection at best.  He couldn’t shake the feeling though
that they were significant somehow.  Glancing again at the security tapes
and other evidence of voyeuristic behaviour, he decided to clear them out of
his sight; he picked them up, not noticing the message confirmation receipt
remaining on the desk.  Reese decided the guy must have been watching and
listening for a while before he started his crimes, then getting off on
watching people was no longer enough.

As he searched the shelves of his small office for somewhere to put the
tapes his eyes flicked up and focused on the recording that he'd kept.  He
supposed he really wasn't any better. 'Frak he'd better go and make a clean
breast of it to the Captain.' He picked the recording up and placed it in
his pocket.

@@@@

Cass sighed as she saw the bruise on Helle's face.  "Oh Helle, did he do
anything else to you?"  Helle shook her head but mumbled something. Cass
thought she sounded a bit confused.  "What was that Helle?"

Helle looked up at Cass and murmured quietly, "Starbuck."

Cass smiled, after Demeter had gone back to their home ship, Helle had taken
Starbuck under her wing. Though she was confused about what he had to do
with this particular situation.  Maybe Helle had seen Starbuck at some point
today, if so it might be helpful in pinpointing where exactly he was.  She
asked Helle, "Have you seen Starbuck tonight?"

Cass sighed as Helle shook her head, put her head down and cried.

@@@@

Apollo stood in his cabin finally acknowledging he was too tired to think
any longer and without knowing it walked over to the porthole and looked out
across the tiny portion of the fleet he could see from the window.  He
smiled as he remembered with relief that at least he knew where Boxey was.
He felt sure that Starbuck was no longer on the Galactica.  He knew it in
his bones as sure as he knew that he loved Starbuck.

Depressed he moved over to his bed and murmured,  "Oh Starbuck give me a
sign where you are, please."  As he lay staring at the ceiling voices came
back to him reminding him of his loss.

***
Adama had taken Boxey for the night; he said to give Apollo some time off.
He had been too tired to go out even down to the O' club so he just sat down
in the cabin, lights dimmed.  He had just had a turbowash so he was clean
and relaxed.   The bottle of ambrosa was pre-destruction.  He groaned when
the door chimed. "Who is it?"

"Who do you think it is?"

"Come."

The door opened promptly. "That’s an invitation I couldn't resist."

"I thought you were scheduled for late duty."

Starbuck smiled nervously,  "I swapped it with Boomer.  He's got a date
planned with Jenny next secton when he's on late duty so I volunteered.
I'll go back and swap it back with him if it's not permitted."

Apollo frowned, it wasn't really permitted, but then the two of them were
equal rank and experience so.  He smiled and then a thought occurred to him.
"Where does he think you are?"

Starbuck sighed slightly but then smiled, "Hidden somewhere working out a
new system."  He looked around at the lighting levels and sniffed the
ambrosa bottle.  "Good stuff."

"Point made, there's glass over there."

There was a small tinkling of glass against glass  as the bottle was poured
and then Starbuck queried, "Erm, Apollo, do you mind if I take a turbowash
and borrow one of your robes?"

Apollo smiled, "Of course I don't, what about a back rub later?"

"Just a back rub?" Apollo remembered looking at Starbuck and seeing a flush
rise over his friend’s body.   It turned out to be more than a back rub.

***

Apollo twisted in bed as he felt his erection rise at the memory of this
encounter, he half woke, feeling his cock stir as the memories of Starbuck
taking him in his mouth for the first time crowded into his conscious and
unconscious mind.  He didn't fight the growing pulsing in his cock, he
moaned in pleasure at the feelings.

As he was nearing his climax, the entry bell chimed. Apollo wanted to
ignore it, he tried to get back into his waking dream and then he moaned in
disappointment as he could feel his dream Starbuck disappearing as
effectively as the real one had. 'Frak, frack, frack.  That had been the
nearest he had been to any sort of release since this whole nightmare began.
Whoever it was had had to have a good excuse.'  He got up and flung his robe
on over his naked body, awkwardly acknowledging his persistent erection.  He
just hoped it wasn't anyone like Cass or Athena they would really take him
to task.

He hit the door opening key hard and groaned as the door opened to reveal
the late caller, it was worse than Cass or Athena.  Reese. "May I come in,
Captain?"

Apollo silently showed him in.  He sealed the door behind the security man.
Luckily his unfulfilled erection was rapidly disappearing. "What brings you
out from under your stone?"

Reese hung his head in shame, "I, I..."

Apollo shouted, "Spit it out!"

Reese brought the small memory disk out.  "How's the lieutenant?"

Apollo sighed, "Missing."

Reese looked up startled, his primary purpose for coming here forgotten.
"What do you mean missing? I mean he is...."

"We were down in the simulation room when the alert came and the power went
off.  He must have panicked and ran."

Reese smiled, that cleared the mystery of why so many senior officers had
been walking round the corridors near to the launch bays late cycle.  He
remembered where he was when he found himself on the floor coughing.
Picking himself up, he straightened his uniform, "Um, Captain that brings me
to the reason I'm here. He found the memory disk.  You remember that night
on the Rising Star?" He fought the urge to smile at the body language being
put out by Apollo.

"Yes but what has that to do with anything?"

"Well the reason that I knew that Starbuck wasn't involved in the attack on
the girl was..."

His words were cut off in the choke hold that Apollo had him in. "Frak,
Reese, you knew that Starbuck was not involved? Before or after you took him
in?"

Apollo released his grip on Reese to let him talk. Reese looked at the
floor.  "Before."

"How?"

Reese coughed and tried to twist away from the grip of Apollo.  He steeled
himself when Apollo's grip was iron.  "I saw your name on the Rising Star
accommodation lists.  I'd been curious to see who Starbuck was dating, I'd
got a big pile of cubits in the wager."

Despite himself, Apollo asked still not admitting anything, "So why my
room?"

"Because my bet was on you.  Only Omega knows that I placed my money on your
name.  I, I had a receiver linked up to your room, this disk is a recording
of what went on." Reese gave Apollo the memory disk.  He attempted to joke.
"It came in useful when Starbuck had to give his sample."  His smile was cut
off by a hit to his mid section.

Apollo hit the bulkhead in frustration, 'Frak this is what had spooked him
when we had that argument! Of course I never asked him just went off the
deep end.'  He turned to Reese who quailed under his gaze, "How long have
you known?"

"About a sectar or so.  You were both good in covering your tracks but there
was the odd time, the odd look and gesture."

Apollo chuckled, "Starbuck was never good at hiding his feelings."

Reese chuckled back, "Captain, Starbuck is one of the best pyramid players,
it wasn't him that gave you away."

Apollo stared at him for a micron or two and then hung his head.  "Anyway
what makes you bring it here now?"

Reese released from Apollo's grasp, leant against the bulkhead for a micron.
"I was going over the evidence in the Rising Star case and I saw Macro had
been a voyeur and it struck me that I was just as bad as hi......"
'Felergecarp, the tape was of the Rising Star chancery that night.'

Apollo looked at the security man, "What's the matter daggit? Forgotten
where you put your copy?"

"No.  Just something strange about the tape that's all."

"Oh? What tape?"

"Come with me, you may be able to help me."  Apollo didn't particularly
trust him but followed him anyway.

@@@@

Silanus relaxed as he saw the door close on the room where they had secured
their surprise guest.  He made sure his aide locked the door.  It had been
simple to convince the cargo master that his people would unload the shuttle
and the pilot had been more than willing to leave the deck for a visit to
the Liviad's mess hall.  Now he would have some time to work out what to do
with the lieutenant.  He started as Demeter passed him, he was glad that the
lad had shown some sense, it was a pity that Helle hadn't seen the same
amount of sense.

Demeter kept his head down as he passed his uncle but he noted what room he
was leaning against.  His lips tensed as he recognised it as another store
room.  He wondered whether his uncle had news of Helle, he knew he had come
back from the Galactica alone though.

@@@@

Cass had finally managed to calm Helle's hysterical crying, she was just now
quivering with fear and emotion.  Cass stroked the girl's hair.  "Helle,
tell me about what's the matter please.  Did your father hurt you anywhere
else?"

Helle's shook her head.  She grasped Cass's hand. "You won't hate me
please?"

"Hate you for what?"

"I know what happened to Starbuck."

Cass sighed; she knew how hard it was to keep secrets in the life center.
"That's all right, Helle."  Cass started to clean up Helle's face, she
decided it was not quite bad enough to take her to life center.  Cass paused
before she asked the next question, "Do you want to see security for this?"
Cass felt that Helle's father should be taken to task over this attack.
'Frack when will these tribes stop living in the past?'  She moved to the
com panel when Helle nodded.

@@@@

Reese and Apollo were going through the evidence collected from Macro's
cabin.  Apollo found the message confirmation and clenched it into his fist.
He went back over his last patrol, he had flown over the Liviad and the
shuttle craft.  He even remembered the shuttlecraft ID.  He closed his eyes
in shame as he remembered his vow to listen to his feelings.  Reese watched
in astonishment as Apollo rushed to the com panel and asked for details of
the last shuttle to the Liviad.  Apollo hit the bulkhead with his fist.  He
shouted "Frack!  Frack!  Frack!"

Reese kept a safe distance and asked, "Care to fill me in?"

Apollo paused and breathed in deeply.  "The shuttle that was on the launch
bay when Starbuck disappeared went to the Liviad on its circuit."

Reese bit his lip and shrugged, "Co-incidence, anyway that's too flimsy a
piece of evidence to go on.  We have to find something more."

At this reluctance to do anything yet again, Apollo finally left his temper
soar out of control.  "Why you... Who was it that took Starbuck in on the
flimsy evidence that he was blond and on the right deck?" All the time
Apollo was leaning over Reese who was sat at his desk.

Reese stood up and shouted back, "I had to."

"Why because your dirty piece of attempted blackmail would be found out?"

Reese chuckled involuntarily again at the memory of Starbuck masturbating to
the recording.  "Starbuck didn't seem to object at the time.  Hmm when you
get him back perhaps we could share the moment?"

Apollo saw red and let loose with a fist.  Reese saw it coming and then
retaliated with a hit to Apollo's chin.  After this the blows and kicks came
thick and fast.  The pair rolled around the office.  Files, datapads, and a
com unit went flying to the floor unnoticed by the two who were kicking and
hitting each other.

@@@@

In Rigel's cabin, Cass gave up on trying to contact Reese for the night.
Helle had gone to sleep.  She flopped down on Rigel's bunk as Rigel had
agreed to swap cabins for the night.

@@@@

Apollo woke up sometime in the early cycle.  At first he thought he'd fallen
out of bed and then his vision cleared.  He was in an unfamiliar office.  He
sat up and moaned as his skull, face and body protested.  'Frack, I must
have been in a fight!'  He looked around as he heard a low moan come from
beside him.  He slowly turned and saw his worst nightmare.  Reese, who was
in a similar state to him.  'Well at least he looks worse than I do!'

@@@@

Demeter looked over from his corner of the communal room.  His morning
rations weren't going down very well, he had a sick feeling in his stomach,
and he wasn't sure what was causing it.  He tried to keep his head down, his
uncle seemed to be jumpy this morning.  Demeter kept careful watch on
Appius, he seemed to be going back for another portion of food.  He tracked
the man with his eyes and didn't fail to notice that Appius left the room
almost instantly.  He got up and followed Appius and wasn't really surprised
to find him disappear into the same storeroom that he had seen Silanus come
out of late cycle.

@@@@

Starbuck blinked as the door slid open.  The room had been totally dark
since he had woken up.  His eyes had adjusted to the dark and he could make
out shapes of cargo bins.  His head ached and he was thirsty.  Starbuck
tensed as he saw the figure approaching and wrinkled his nose at the food
smell, it smelt worse than the rations from the mess hall on the Galactica.
The man's quietness made Starbuck shiver with fear; why exactly he didn't
know.

@@@@

Outside, Demeter looked on from a small alcove as Appius left the storage
area. He tried to concentrate on the position of Appius's hands as he
operated the lock. Just as he was about to cross the deck to the door, he
heard his uncle call him.  He looked at the door and then back at his uncle
and decided he wouldn't arouse his suspicions just yet.

@@@@

Starbuck played for a while with his bowl of gloop and wondered if he would
get anything for the pains in his head.  He began to feel sleepy and decided
that sleeping would be the best thing to do until Apollo came to rescue him,
just like he always did.

@@@@

Cass held onto the still crying girl as she signalled at Reese's door.  She
had awakened to the sound of Helle crying again; soon she was crying too as
she heard Helle's entire story.

She braced herself as the door opened; she had to be strong for Helle, had
to be able to cope with Reese to protect Helle from him.

@@@@

Gollat carried on his argument with Apollo while Reese answered the door.
"Look, Captain, what are you trying to say to me? That Silanus, when he was
in the middle of coping with his daughter's rape, went off and, and, "

Cass coolly commented, "Raped Starbuck?"

Gollat nodded his thanks and went to carry on with his argument, stopping
when he saw who accompanied Cass. "Oh Helle is it?  Hi there.  What can we
do for you today?"  He beamed his most encouraging smile.

Helle looked at Cass, who nodded.  She moved to hide behind Cass.  Cass
looked coldly into Gollat's, then Reese's, and then Apollo's eyes.  She
noted the bruises on the security officer's and pilot's faces and raised her
eyebrow.  Cass brought Helle back around in front of her.  "Helle told me
this morning what she feared had happened." Cass held a hand up as Apollo's
face began to darken.  "She was too frightened to come forward before, but
when her father was here last cycle, he did this to her. He did it because
she wouldn't go back to the Liviad with him.  She's afraid to go back
because she knows what will happen to her when she gets back."  Cass lifted
Helle's hair away from her face and the men gasped as they saw the black and
blue bruise on her cheek. "So, yes, I believe he would rape Starbuck."

Reese and Gollat looked at each other, waiting for Cass to speak again.
Apollo came forward, grasped Helle's hands, and smiled at her. "Helle, do
you feel up to answering a few questions?"  Cass smiled in relief at how
gentle Apollo was being.  Helle just nodded. Cass leaned over and whispered
in her ear.  Helle looked at the Captain and smiled back at him. It was
Apollo's turn to raise an eyebrow.

@@@@

A centare later, Apollo waited impatiently for his father and Gollat to
finish asking questions of Helle.  He wandered up to Cass who was leaning
against a bulkhead watching Helle carefully for signs of exhaustion.  "What
did you tell her to make her co-operate with me before?"

Cass smiled broadly, "I told her that Starbuck loved you and you two would
probably be sealed one day." She smiled even more broadly as Apollo pinked
and coughed and then shook his head.

Apollo leant back and sighed, "I wish."

Cass came back with her own question. "What are the bruises all about,
Captain?"

Apollo frowned and muttered, "Private business among Starbuck, me, and
Reese. It's dealt with now." Cass nodded.

@@@@

They broke off their conversation as Adama came up to them. Adama looked at
them and wiped his hand over his face.  "It's a mess. This is the sort of
thing I have been fearing would happen with the mixture of people we have
throughout the fleet."

Apollo asked, "Do I have your permission to go and detain them?"

Adama shook his head, "No, Reese will do that with a squad of his men."
Adama paused. "I think Investigator Gollat should stay here and review the
files and prepare the case, see where he went wrong." Adama paused again and
looked into the eyes of his son. "But Reese will need a military escort.
Maybe it's time to get among these people.  I'll come, too.  Oh, and we may
need a medtech. I wonder where we can find one?"

Cass looked across at the very young woman now resting in a chair, head
between her hands.  "Commander, sir.  I think it might be a good idea to
take Helle.  She can guide us on the customs of the clan if there's a
problem."

Adama, after a micron's pause for reflection, nodded and then looked at
Apollo. "Brief Boomer as to where you will be. Actually we'll need a second
pilot. I have to brief Tigh. Cassiopeia, ready your equipment and make sure
Helle is fit to travel.  We'll leave in 30 centons." With a backward glance
at Helle and a shake of the head, he swept out of the room.  Apollo and Cass
followed him.

@@@@

Demeter had finished the minor task his uncle had set for him and looked up.
He saw his uncle and his aides had gathered for a small meeting. 'Must be
some briefing from the ship's captain.'  He looked down at the floor as his
uncle turned towards him as he flicked the switch on the view screen.
Demeter looked through his fringe and saw that the group of men was now
concentrating on some discussion.  He licked his lips and decided that maybe
now would be as good a time to get away as ever.  He slowly moved across to
the open hatch, only daring to breathe when he'd crossed into the corridor.

@@@@

Starbuck stretched and yawned as he woke up.  He looked around him in
confusion, this didn't look like the simulator room.  He smiled briefly as
he remembered playing that game.  'I'll have to see if Captain Apollo will
let me play it again.'  He held up his hand against his eyes as the door to
the room opened and lights flooded in from the corridor.

@@@@

Silanus stood in the center of the group of worried men.  He glanced at each
one in turn, their gazes hard and unforgiving.  For the first time in a long
time, since he had become head of the clan, he didn't know what to do.  He
turned to Appius, his most trusted adviser. "Speak."

Appius stepped forward. "There is only one solution, Silanus.  He must be
got rid of and Demeter, too. They will only tell of what happened, then the
Galacticans and the others will have the excuse they need to break us up and
destroy our honored way of living." Silanus made to speak but Appius held
his hand up and continued, "I know that he saved our lives and you are
honor-bound as the head of the clan to honor that, but what is more
important: the outward honor of the clan or its survival?"

Silanus nodded realising he had no other way of defending the clan's
survival. "Let's do it quickly.  The Galacticans will be here in just over a
centare."

@@@@

Starbuck resisted the young man's pull on his arm. "No. I've got to stay
here. Captain Apollo will be very angry if I move from here."

Demeter hissed at the man, not understanding the true nature of his problem,
"Look, don't you understand? If you stay here, we'll both be killed.  We've
got to go now."

Starbuck wailed; his head was aching and he just knew if the Captain knew
that he'd gone off somewhere with a total stranger, he'd be in a lot of
trouble. "NO, can't go.  Look if he gets any angrier at me, he'll send me
back to the orphanage and I don't want to go back there."

Demeter looked at the man in confusion; he could see the tears leaking from
the blue eyes.  He wondered what was going on and decided to ask the
question, "Starbuck, how old are you?"

Starbuck wiped a hand over his eyes and used his sleeve to wipe his nose. He
sobbed, "Twelve. Please don't let them send me back to the orphanage."

Demeter rolled his eyes up to the ceiling and then knelt down. "I won't, I
promise.  It's ok, Captain Apollo asked me to take you down to the shuttle
deck. We'll meet him there."

"I don't think so, nephew."

Demeter grabbed hold of Starbuck's hand at the sound of his uncle's voice
and turned around to face him.  "Uncle!"

Appius came forward with two sets of rope in his hand. "It was convenient
for both of you to be here; saves us having to go looking for you."

Demeter shrugged off Appius, he could see in the older man's eyes what he
intended.  "Uncle, you can't mean this, please. Helle..."

"Helle is dead to the clan; she has made her choice. "

Demeter choked back a cry of pain as Appius grabbed his arms and wrenched
his arms behind his back.  Demeter could hear Starbuck struggling and
crying.  He shouted over to him, "Starbuck, everything will be all right.
Be quiet."  Demeter caught his uncle looking at him and wondered at the
change in him.  He looked shrunken, suddenly old, without the honor that he
carried as his authority.  Demeter licked his lips; he remembered his
teachings about clan justice. There was one slim chance.  He pitched to his
knees and managed to crawl forward to his uncle.

@@@@

Apollo sighed as the shuttlecraft didn't seem to be making any progress.
Boomer looked at him and pressed his lips together.  "Captain, Apollo, we're
flying at maximum speed."

Apollo looked at Boomer and saw the message of support, "I know Boomer, I
know.  But if anything happens to him because of this delay..."

Boomer chuckled; Apollo stared at him in shock. "I'm sorry, Apollo, but you
just sound like Starbuck did once."

"Oh?"

Boomer checked the instruments again and then looked at Apollo.  "Yeah.
Remember that expedition on Gemon when you got lost?"

Apollo sniffed. "I think 'separated from the main party' would be the term
that I would use."

Boomer waved an arm, "Yeah, whatever.  Well, remember Starbuck was miffed at
you over something."

Apollo smiled. "Yeah, 'cause I got off with the woman he was fancying in the
bar the night before."

"Well he erm fiddled with your compass before you left on the scouting
patrol that morning. "

"Why the little daggit, the trouble I got into about that..."

Boomer chuckled. "Why do you think he volunteered for the Scorpion
expedition the same secton?"

"I thought it was because he fancied the female cadet leader..."

Boomer shook his head, "He let you think that because he couldn't admit to
you what he'd done.  He was beside himself when you were in the life center.
When he saw the posting for Scorpia he applied for it straight away."

Silence fell between the two for a while, Apollo remembered the secton he
was in the life center recovering from exposure and a twisted ankle, and the
aching disappointment he'd felt when he discovered Starbuck had shipped out
on a two-sectar-long expedition to Scorpia.

@@@@

Starbuck panted as he tried to keep up with Demeter.  He didn't really
understand why they had to play so hard at this game.  Hide and seek at the
orphanage was never this serious. It was usually out in the open, too; here
it was in this rusty, dirty cargo hold, no fun at all.  Starbuck paused as
he heard Demeter swear and then fall to the ground.  He caught up with him.
"What's the matter?"

Demeter winced and held his knee, "Frak! I've twisted my knee."

Starbuck knelt down, he looked at the swelling knee and said, "That's ok, we'll
just call the game off." He smiled, "I'm hungry anyway."

Demeter rolled his eyes and grabbed hold of Starbuck, "NO! Listen Starbuck,
the men chasing us are very bad.  They hurt people when they catch them.  Do
you want that?"

Starbuck's eyes grew wide, memories of a dark and silent room and someone
hitting him invaded his mind.  He whispered, "No, no. What shall we do?"

Demeter gritted his teeth and said, "Help me up and we'll move as fast as we
can and try and hide in a storage area or something."

"Ok."

@@@@

Not more than five centons behind them, the party of hunters moved fast.
Silanus smiled, he hadn't been on a Kav'Shee for more than ten yahrens.
'Even if it is in this dank hole rather than on the open plains of Scorpia.
It was a good decision of Appius to use this area as a training ground to
keep our skills honed.'  He came to a stop as Appius motioned with his hand.

Appius listened hard and caught the echoes of voices not too far ahead.  He
smiled and signalled to the pack that the prey was not too far ahead and, if
he read the noises right, one was limping. The pack moved forward as one,
now silent.  Silent that is until one of the back markers hit a pipe and
tripped and caused a pile of metal junk to slide to the floor.

@@@@

Starbuck and Demeter stopped and looked at each other as they heard the
crash.  They both knew the noise was too close for comfort.  Starbuck looked
at Demeter's knee and knew he couldn't go any faster.  They had to delay
their pursuers somehow, if not stop them.  Starbuck's eye caught a sign on
the wall and a memory flashed back to him.

****
It was Caprica Day but because he'd been naughty or something, the director
made him stay back in the orphanage. He'd wandered around the place until
he'd found the handyman doing some work and was content to watch him work.
Content that is until the pipe he was working on ruptured.

Starbuck smiled as he remembered that the smell hadn't gone out of his
clothes and hair for days, for which he was grateful as it gained him a
respite from...

****

He pulled the panel open and read the notice, 'For emergency venting, press
red button.'

Demeter called out to him, "Starbuck, what are you doing?"

Starbuck smiled, "Last yahren in the orphanage there was an accident with
one of these.  I'm going to see if it has the same effect now. I'd take a
deep breath if I were you!"

Demeter sighed and obeyed the command.  He watched as Starbuck pulled the
hose out and pressed a button.

Starbuck ran to Demeter and pulled him along. "Let's get out of here!"

@@@@

Apollo sighed as the shuttlecraft settled gently down in the landing bay.
He let the security men get out first but exited before his father.  He saw
the captain of the ship hop nervously from one foot to the other.

Apollo watched as Adama spoke quietly but urgently to the captain who
responded in kind.  Adama turned towards Apollo and called, "Follow me;
we're going to where Silanus's tribe are accommodated."

@@@@

The tribe's quarters were only down one deck.  Apollo grabbed at Helle as
she barged past him as they arrived in the communal area.  "Where do you
think you are going?"

Helle turned around and said, “I’m looking for Demeter.” She paused and then
admitted, “My father too.”  She dropped her gaze to the floor.

Apollo laid a protective hand on her shoulder, “Don’t worry, we won’t let
him harm you again.  You know that don’t you?” Helle nodded. Apollo calmly
asked, looking around the large chamber,  “Does your tribe live here all the
time?”

Helle looked around the room, at the silent wary people who crowded together
for safety.  “We sleep in small family groups, but most of the time is spent
in here, unless the men are needed for work elsewhere on the ship.”  Her
eyes moved over the groupings, stopping when she found her mother and
younger brothers who all turned away from her.  A hand went up to her cheek.
Her attention switched to the end of the room nearest where her mother
stood.  Helle retraced her eyes over the room, she couldn’t see Demeter
anywhere and then she realised who else was missing, she called out, "The
council are missing."

Apollo looked at the Captain, who shrugged his shoulders as if to say, "I
don't know any of them."

Apollo and Cassie followed Helle to where she had accosted a boy her own
age.  They were both talking in a strange dialect.  Cassie shook her head at
Apollo's mute question.

After a little while Helle turned around to the waiting party and drew a big
breath in. "They've been gone nearly a full centare."

Apollo paled and repeated quietly, "Gone?"

Helle nodded, "To save his and Starbuck's lives, Demeter initiated the
Kav'Shee."

"Kav'Shee?"

Helle looked into the Captain's soft, dark green eyes and nodded. "Umm, it
is one of our justice rituals, like the Kav'shar. It's umm a chase, the
hunted hide and the hunters umm have to seek them. If they are caught the
original sentence stands. There has not been one since I was alive, but my
father and Appius keep the old ways. They practiced it here on the ship."

Apollo asked in a hoarse voice, "Where Helle?"

"An old cargo deck.  I am not sure where." She pinked, "Women are not
allowed to participate.  I always wanted to, but they never let me."

The youngster next to Helle spoke up. "It's Cargo Deck C.  It was sealed up
when we came on board.  Silanus told us it was just to deny us space; the
elders use it for their games."

Apollo whirled as he heard the Liviad's captain swear under his breath.  He
asked him, "What's the problem?" knowing he wasn't going to like the answer.

The captain replied, "The deck was sealed up because of a leutrim spill two
or three sectons before the Destruction.  How did they get in? The door has
remained sealed."

The youngster spoke quietly, "There is a hatch at the end of this deck, it
leads to a tube which connects to the deck."

Adama nodded and patted the youth on his shoulder in thanks, he then turned
to Cassie, "Leutrim Cassie, how long does it remain active?"

Cass bit her lip. Leutrim was possibly worse than Solonium for its ability
to poison.  "Three to four yahrens." The Galacticans fell silent.

Apollo asked hesitantly, "What's the exposure time?"

Cass took a big breath in. "Dr Salik could tell you for certain, but I think
you'd get a mild dose of poisoning after about two or three centars."

"How then…?"

Cass held her hand up, "The studies have only survived for Capricans; maybe
this tribe have some built-in resistance, but I guess they'll all have had
lethal doses by now if they've been in there on any regular basis.  I guess
this deck, too, will have some contamination.  I should contact Dr. Salik;
he'll need to send a team over. I wouldn't recommend sending in a security
patrol."

Adama nodded slowly and, before his son could say anything, he said, "Don't
be in there for longer than two centars, remember you have Boxey, Athena,
and me to think of."

Apollo looked at his father for a short while.  "And Starbuck."

Adama nodded and repeated, "And Starbuck."

Boomer joined them and commented, "I suppose if I'm to be best man at your
sealing I'm going to have to go in with you, Apollo."

Apollo looked at his old friend in surprise and then clasped his arm.
"Thank you." Emotions dealt with for the moment, he turned to the captain of
the ship who, had been on the com to the bridge.  "Any indication of where
they might be?"

The captain shrugged. "There was a venting episode a short while ago in
Corridor F3."

Apollo laughed. "That'll be Starbuck.  I don't suppose I should ask what was
being vented?"

The captain rolled his eyes and Boomer joined in the chuckling, then he
turned his mind to the matter at hand.  "Where is the corridor?"

@@@@

Silanus and Appius had just barely managed to avoid being hit by the deluge
of foul smelling liquid as it poured from the vent tube.  They had climbed
onto a platform that was raised from the floor.  The rest of the pack had
become engulfed and all lay listlessly around the corridor choking and
coughing.

Silanus looked at the fluid that was oozing its way down the corridor.
"Well Appius, how are we to get past this?"  Appius was the one that had
done the most exploring on this deck.

Appius smiled and held up a little box. He pressed a switch and the platform
moved slowly down the corridor.  Silanus smiled back. 'With any luck we'll
be ready to greet the Galacticans when they arrive.'

Starbuck stiffened when he heard the machinery noise and wondered what it
was. Whatever it was, it was coming closer.  He held onto Demeter who needed
a lot of help to move.  Starbuck paused as they came to a railed area that
looked over a small sunken area.  He glanced up at the bulkhead and saw that
there were some chains hanging down.  He tried to think through the
returning headache and decided their only chance would be to cross the
sunken area.

Demeter followed Starbuck's glance and remembered playing the same game
Starbuck was obviously planning on.

@@@@

Apollo and Boomer moved quickly through the corridors.  They didn't need the
cover of silence.  They smelled the foul liquid before they got there.
Apollo screwed his face up and muttered, "Felgercarb!"

Boomer was checking the four comatose men; he called Apollo over and
commented, "These guys have got the symptoms Cassie described." He reached
into his pocket and fixed a transponder onto one of the men.  They had
agreed to this procedure so that the med teams could move in and locate any
casualties quickly.

The pair moved quickly, alert to the sound of echoing machinery and voices
on ther otherwise dead deck.

@@@@

Starbuck sighed as their swing over to the opposite corridor hadn't put
their pursuers off.  He was starting to feel tired and his headache was
getting worse.  A wave of dizziness made him waver and slump against the
wall.

Demeter tried to prevent himself overbalancing but couldn't; they slumped
into a pile.  Demeter shook Starbuck. "Starbuck, we've got to keep moving."

Starbuck looked at the three faces that were dancing before his eyes.  He
panted, "Can't; gotta wait for Apollo, he's coming."

Demeter listened and heard footfalls. "No, that's not Apollo; c'mon we've
got to get going."

@@@@

Silanus and Appius slowed as they heard the rhythm of the feet ahead change
and falter.  They quickened their pace.

@@@@

Apollo and Boomer saw the swinging chains and guessed what had happened.
Apollo grinned and grabbed the only remaining chain.  "C'mon, Boomer."

Boomer looked at the gap and asked, "Can't we just walk over?"

"No, take too long.  Grab onto me."

Boomer relaxed as his feet reached solid deck again; he'd never done this as
a child and only under protest as a cadet. Once they were on the other side,
they were greeted by a choice of two corridors.  Apollo took a chance and
reached out mentally. 'Starbuck, which corridor are you in?'

Apollo 'heard' an answering cry: 'Apollo, here; bad men;please hurry,
please.'  He set off down the corridor he knew was the correct one.  He
withdrew his blaster and put it in stun mode.  He knew Boomer was doing the
same.

Silanus smiled as he saw the two panting men trying to move on the floor.
He wondered whether Appius had any ideas on killing methods.  He coughed
once and then again, 'I'm getting old; soon I'll have to resign my
position.'  A wave of pain hit his abdomen and he slumped to the floor.
Vaguely saw Appius struggling, too, before his vision greyed.

@@@@

Apollo was breathing hard as he pounded down the corridor.  All of a sudden
he saw the shapes on the floor.  He pulled up and felt a muscle snap
somewhere in his right leg as his legs protested at the sudden change in
movement.  He limped forward and saw the body of Silanus, blood still
dripping from his mouth.  He left the other one to Boomer as he looked at
the pair of figures hugging the wall.

He limped slowly over, Demeter was stroking Starbuck's head.  Apollo knelt
down and with trembling fingers felt for a pulse.  It was a little more
rapid than he thought was good, but at least it was there.  He vaguely heard
Boomer asking for a med team over the communicators they had with them.
Apollo trailed his fingers through the blond hair.

Demeter spoke, "He said his head was hurting him, sir.  He got all dizzy."

Apollo nodded silently.  He started as Starbuck began coughing, he became
worried as red flecks began to appear on the hand that he had rested on
Starbuck's cheek.  Apollo turned to Boomer and asked, "How long are those
medics going to be, Boomer?"

Boomer, who had just finished talking to the bridge, commented, "Not long;
they have our position. How is he?"

Apollo shifted position and winced as he felt his leg. "Not good, Boomer."

Boomer moved to Demeter who had been silent since his initial comments. "Are
you ok?"

Demeter shook his head, "My knee hurts.  I twisted it, Starbuck helped me
move. Are they?" Boomer nodded.  Demeter queried, "Why?"

Apollo sat back and said, "This deck was sealed because of a spillage, a
poison that takes years to become inactive. It appears your people have a
resistance to it but it does take its toll in the end." Apollo looked down
at Starbuck and said, "Let's make him more comfortable.  It'll take the
pressure off your knees."

Starbuck felt the hands and weakly tried to struggle; he felt hands hold him
still.  He cried out, "No, no, no please."

A voice reached out to him, "Sta, Sta, it's ok; sssh it's ok. I'm here, I'm
here."

Starbuck opened his eyes and saw a blurry image of his lover, friend.  He
reached out a hand and sighed, "Apollo you came.  You heard me."

Apollo fought back the tears, he grasped the weak hand, and replied, "Yes I
came yes, I heard you.  Sssh there, just rest easy. Cass will be here soon."

Starbuck gently smiled as he felt a hand stroke his hair; he let the
blackness claim him again.

@@@@@

Starbuck became aware of something tickling his ear and then a faint zzzing
noise.  He opened an eye experimentally and found himself looking at the
ceiling of Life Center.  He knew it was Life Center, he'd been in it too
many times not to know it.  He opened the other eye and decided it was night
as the area was dimly lit.  It still didn't explain the ticklish ear and the
zzzing noise.  He turned his head slowly, as it was painful, and smiled as
he saw the ticklish sensation was brown hair from the head of a captain who
had fallen asleep on a chair by his bed.  Starbuck gingerly rotated his body
so he could fall asleep again with his hand and arm over the shoulders of
his lover.  He blessed whoever had put his IV pole over that side.  He
snuggled down and let the blackness take him again to somewhere pain free.

@@@@

Three sectons later….

Starbuck sighed as Apollo swivelled his feet onto the bed.  "Look Apollo, I
am capable of getting into bed on my own you know."  He was sick and tired
of the constant fussing of Apollo.  "When are you back on duty?"

Apollo sat down on the bed; he knew why he was being such a fusspot.  He
stared off into the middle distance.  "Salik said the muscle was healed, so
any time really, but you're still not well enough to leave on your own.
Starbuck, I don't want to leave you alo…"

Starbuck sighed.  He had been told about everything that had happened but in
a way it didn't seem real.  His only nightmares came when the room was dark
and he was on his own.  "Look I can deal with the nightmares, you know, and
I can manage to get around your quarters.  Heck I could go back to the
bunkroom now. I'm almost up to being back in the sims."

Apollo got up and began to get undressed.  "Is that what you want? To go
back to the bunkroom?"

Starbuck thought for a moment or two and shook his head. "No, but I don't
want to prevent you from getting back on duty." Starbuck paused. "Is this
just because you feel guilty? Or…"

Apollo looked up. "Or what?"

"I mean, I mean.  I don't know." Starbuck yawned.  Apollo offered Starbuck
the lactate drink that Cass had said Starbuck had to drink every night.

Starbuck wrinkled his nose at it, the smell of the spice in it was strong
but he supposed it must be doing him good.  He sipped at it carefully, the
propped up position made it difficult to drink.

Apollo dressed in a robe, went to check on Boxey and smiled when he saw that
he was asleep, and then crossed over into the living area and began to pull
out the temporary bed that he slept on.  He smiled as he saw Muffit go into
the bedroom to get his usual goodnight pat from Starbuck but then frowned as
he heard an angry splutter and a high pitched Muffit whine.  Muffit ran out
of the room and straight into Boxey's.  Apollo went to check on Starbuck as
he could hear angry splutters.  Apollo laughed out loud as he saw the
damage.

The remains of the lactate drink had been spilt into the curve in Starbuck's
stomach created by the position he was lying in.

Starbuck frowned and demanded, "Don't just stand there, help me.  Mop it up
with something, Apollo; it's cold."

Apollo moved closer. "I'm just inspecting the area, I need to know what
equipment I need."

Starbuck just moaned, "All you need is a frakkin' cloth!"

Apollo sighed; he sat down on the edge of the bed and put a finger in the
small pool of white liquid.  "Hmmm Vanill. Haven't had this since I was a
kid.  Must be artificial of course but still good." Starbuck groaned.
"Starbuck, I must get Cass to prescribe them for me."

"Apollo, please get the cloth.  I want to sleep; I'm tired."

"Thought you could manage without me?"

"Pllllleeeeaaasse."

Apollo took another dip with his finger, he was lost in childhood
recollections.  Without realising it, he dipped his tongue into the rapidly
drying small pool.  He took another lick and then another.

Starbuck started to squirm under his attention, the lapping motion was
strangely erotic. He slipped lower on the bed so the dribbles ran up his
body.  Apollo's tongue followed the dribbles as they made their way across
the sleek chest.  He licked past scars from viper crashes and Cylon torture,
the attention of the tongue making their owner forget their painful origins.
The Vanill found its way around the nipples, haloing them in circles of
white.  The nipples rose to pay their thanks to the tongue for its loving
attention.  Apollo felt the rise of the organ beneath the covers and decided
to see if the Vanill had made its way down there.

Starbuck couldn't fight the feelings coursing through him as the tongue
scraped and smoothed its way across his body, searching for any trace of the
spice.  When the loving mouth enclosed itself around his penis, he couldn't
avoid making the thrusts and soon, before he could control himself, he was
coming long and hard into the mouth of his lover.

Apollo was slightly disappointed when his lover's  cum didn't taste of the
wicked spice but didn't mind too much. He felt his own climax building but
was content to let Starbuck have the pleasuring tonight.  He released the
now limp penis and began to explore the body for more traces of the Vanill.

Starbuck stroked the now very hard penis of his lover and wondered what he
should do.  As his mouth was explored yet again, he saw the desire and
longing in the green eyes.  Breaking free of the grasp, he asked "Ap, do you
want to?"

Apollo panted, "Only if you want it too; I can deal with this elsewhere.
I'm sorry."

Starbuck smiled. "I know you won't hurt me. I don't really remember
anything, you know. It's all right love."

Apollo looked at the tube of lube that had magically appeared and took it in
his shaking hands….

@@@@

Apollo stirred as he heard the sounds of someone in the living area.  He
looked at the chronometer and sighed; they'd overslept.  Boxey would be late
for instructional center.  He pulled away from the figure next to him and
grimaced as he felt his skin sticking to the other's skin.  The three empty
lactate glasses standing on the nightstand registered in his brain.  He
groaned quietly.  Gently he peeled himself away from the sleeper and put on
his robe.  He wandered out into the living area.

Cass greeted Apollo with a smile.  "Athena let me in, she took Boxey to
instruction. I'm just filling up Starbuck's lactate supplies.  What flavors
do you like?"

Apollo looked in confusion at the med tech. "I like?"

Cass smiled and said, "Well unless Starbuck has changed, I think someone
else has been drinking all the vanill ones."

Apollo shyly smiled.  Cass embraced him and said, "I'll go and you can put
him in the turbowash and then I'll be back in thirty centons.  Tigh wants to
see you. I believe there is a mission he wants you to head.  There's a new
planet ahead."