My Master's Son by Rita G Mac Auslan (mommacita1@juno.com) Rating: NC-17 Pairings: S/A, Adama/Tigh, Adama/S, Tigh/S Warnings: None Part One "Cree. Boyar. Giles." Apollo looked up in surprise at the last name he read off from the sealed envelopes. Giles shrugged and gave an embarrassed grin as he took his. "Brie. Cabriolet. S-st-starbuck?" He choked over the name printed on the last envelope. Starbuck had been standing to one side, maintaining a carefully neutral expression on his face and nonjudgmental body language. He knew what the envelopes meant and agreed wholeheartedly with Apollo's decision on how to treat those so unexpectedly reminded of a former lifestyle. He watched the expressions of those whose names were called. Some were clearly delighted; others, like Giles, embarrassed. He had been relieved that none appeared fearful, although from the calculating look on some faces, not all intended to return to remain at their renewed status for long. Then Apollo stuttered out his name. He sighed and made his way to the front. He had hoped all had been legally disposed of, but had steeled himself against this very occurrence. Clearly Apollo had not. Starbuck took the envelope held loosely in Apollo's hand, murmuring, "It's all right. I half-expected it." Apollo shook his head, violently negating Starbuck's words. "No. You know I..." Starbuck cut him off. "Not here!" he hissed. "Dismiss them first." Apollo blinked, then nodded. Of course his second in command was right. "All right everyone. I'll just remind you one more time, especially those of you who *didn't* receive a notice. The Council's decree affects off-duty status only. Those who choose to accept it as a full-time status will be given honorable discharges. Those who choose to renew their status on a part-time basis, will remain warriors in good standing - at least if they were in good standing uuntil now." That brought mild chuckles. "Finally, if you choose to dispute this notice or to change your status and the ... other party does not agree, the Commander has placed the full legal and financial capabilities of the military at the disposal of those who received notices and prefer not to return to their previous status. You can see me or Colonel Tigh to discuss the possibilities you can pursue." He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Now I will reiterate what I said originally. No one - and I mean *no one* - no matter what his or her choice is to be treated any differently than they were before. This applies to on-duty or off. I will not tolerate any show of bigotry or discrimination or bigotry from warriors. I don't care what the Council has said is acceptable behavior. You will be summarily dismissed from the Service if you are found to be treating any current or former warrior as anything but an equal and full citizen. Dismissed." The warriors filed out. Starbuck noticed Giles hesitate, then square his shoulders and virtually march towards his destination. Brie and Cree, who had never shown any indication of knowing each other before becoming cadets, met and hugged at the door, before walking away arm-in-arm, Brie rubbing herself sinuously against Cree's side. 'Well, you never know,' Starbuck thought, smiling at the two. 'They'll be applying for discharges I'll guess. Hope their master or mistress can afford them!' "Very good," Starbuck praised the Captain teasingly as the latter sagged against his desk.. "Now I probably won't get raped on my way to..." he paused to unseal the envelope and scan its contents. "...Your father's quarters. Well, that's a relief." "A relief? A relief! How do you figure that one? He gave you to me!" Apollo went from appalled to irate at Starbuck's words. "And I freed you." Starbuck did something he hadn't done since their second sectar at the Academy. He leaned forward and kissed Apollo softly on the lips. "I know. You wanted a friend, an equal. And I'm ... grateful." The last word sounded awkward, forced; Apollo's eyes narrowed, and Starbuck hurried on. "And I have been your friend and equal, haven't I?" "Always, Bucko," Apollo's voice was tenderly reassuring. He, too, did something he hadn't since their second sectar at the Academy. He reached forward and stroked Starbuck's cheek. "So why are you relieved that it's my father?" he asked, confused and somewhat hurt. "Because it could have been Uri," Starbuck whispered. In a more normal tone he continued, "I was never quite sure that the Commander had made the ... exchange legal. I mean, he actually stole me right out from under Uri's eyes, sneaking me out the bedroom window. When Uri was going to give me and Boomer the Cluster, it was great fun 'cause I knew he hated knowing I was still around, let alone honoring me. But then this had been banned, so I was safe." "But if it wasn't legal, wouldn't he have taken action at the time?" Starbuck shook his head. "He had abused me physically as well as misused me according to the law. He couldn't risk that being known. Better to lose me. Now, though, if an exchange of title hadn't been made, he'd be my owner of record." Starbuck shuddered. "I don't even want to think about what that would have meant." "But you could..." Starbuck smiled at his best friend's naivete. "The wheels of justice grind slow, remember? Undoubtedly I'd eventually be freed or remanded to someone else, like your father, but Uri would have had me until then." He shook the thought off. "But it doesn't matter. Apparently your father somehow forced him to give me up legally. That's good." "Well if my father was so diligent about the legalities there, why didn't he take care of them when he gave you to me?" "Don't know. I can ask him. I'd better get up there before Security comes for me. The way this thing's been scheduled out, I *know* the Colonel's had a hand in it." Apollo couldn't help but smile. "You're right there, Bucko. But I'm coming with you. I'll ask my father myself." Starbuck put a hesitant hand on Apollo's shoulder. "Apollo, I just lost the right to ask any favors," he waved the notice in his hand. "But, for our friendship's sake, I'd rather you weren't there." Apollo shook his head. "Not because you haven't the right, but because it's *my* right to know, I'm coming with you." Starbuck bowed his head in a submissive manner that Apollo had hoped he'd never see again. "All right, my master's son," he acquiesced. The notice fluttered unnoticed to the floor as the two men left. A few centons later, Boomer came in to take his shift as duty officer. He picked it up and read: To the former pleasure slave known as Starbuck: Be it known that by decree of the Council of the Twelve Colonies, the legal ownership of both utility and pleasure slaves and indentured servants is resumed. Those slaves who have masters and mistresses surviving within the Fleet are remanded to the custody of said masters and mistresses. The citizenship status of these slaves is hereby revoked with the exception of career status, which may be maintained at the discretion of the slave. Fleet records indicate that you are the pleasure slave of the master known as Adama, currently Commander of the Fleet and residing on the Battlestar Galactica. Your citizenship in the Fleet is revoked with the exception of your status as Warrior Lieutenant and Viper Pilot. You are remanded to the custody of Commander Adama. You are hereby ordered to surrender yourself to Commander Adama no later than 1300 on the day of receipt of this notice. Failure to comply will result in your arrest and incarceration at the whim of your master. Signed, Sire Adar, President, Council of the Twelve Colonies Boomer folded the notice carefully and put it in the inside pocket of his jacket. He sat heavily in the desk chair and put his head in his hands. "Poor Starbuck," he murmured. Then he shook his head. "Poor Apollo." *** Part Two "Get the door, Tigh." "Yes, Master." Tigh opened the door to greet Starbuck and Apollo. He was not surprised that Apollo had accompanied his best friend. Too bad slaves couldn't bet with their masters. Adama had thought Apollo would show up alone, having hidden Starbuck somewhere. Tigh knew the ever-so-proper, not too say slavishly devoted to regulation, Captain would never do something like that. Besides, Starbuck wouldn't let him risk his career that way. Starbuck returned the greeting with a murmur, casting his eyes down, as he walked past Tigh and into Adama's quarters. But Apollo stood and gaped at the sight of the Colonel out of uniform. Way out of uniform. Almost out of clothes. Starbuck turned back at the tap on his shoulder. "You want to do something about this?" Tigh asked, smirking. Starbuck considered just closing the door in Apollo's face. It would be easier all around. If Adama wanted him, Apollo was just out of luck. And Apollo only wanted him as a friend anyway. "Should we ask our Master?" Starbuck said submissively. "Well, he is a member of the household, so to speak." "Apollo?" Starbuck waited until Apollo blinked and tore his eyes away from Tigh. "You really should go now. You've delivered me safely." "That isn't why I came with you and you know it." Apollo turned back to Tigh, forcing himself to look only at the Colonel's face. "I want to see my father. Now." "Take it easy, Captain," Tigh said, posing provocatively. "I'm his first pleasure slave, not his butler. You want to see him, go ahead." Apollo pushed past Tigh and Starbuck, and into the main room. Tigh stared after him, then commented to Starbuck, "You'd think he'd never seen a pleasure slave before. He grew up with us around him all the time." "He has selective recall," Starbuck said. "Where's my outfit?" "You need to see the Master first," Tigh informed him. "He hoped he'd be able to explain to you what was going on before he had to face Apollo, but I guess even a Commander doesn't get all his wishes." "I can't go to him in uniform, that's not right," Starbuck protested. Tigh nodded approvingly, but said, "I have nothing for you to wear." "Well, then," Starbuck said, beginning to undress. "Nothing is what I'll wear. Maybe that's what the Master wants." "No, Starbuck," Tigh assured him. "You don't have to..." Starbuck shook his head. "I know you're my superior, even here, as first slave. But maybe I need to remind myself that I am a slave." He finished stripping, folded his clothes neatly and put them in a pile next to the door. Then he got down on his hands and knees and crawled into the main room. *** "Ah, there you are, Starbuck. You may walk upright in these rooms." Adama interrupted Apollo with an upraised hand as Starbuck entered the room. "Thank you, Master," Starbuck murmured as he rose, eyes on the floor. "Come, sit by me," Adama invited. Starbuck obediently walked over to the Commander's chair and gracefully folded himself onto the floor next to it. Adama stroked the down-turned head. "You should hear this, too. Apollo, I would like you to take a seat and hear me out. Then I will listen to your objections." "Very well, Father," Apollo said coldly. "But I would like my slave, the slave you gave me, to sit with me, not you." He sat on the couch opposite Adama's chair and folded his arms belligerently across his chest. Adama sighed. "As you wish. Starbuck, go and sit by my son." "Yes, Master." "I was against resuming this whole business of owning people. I want you to know that," Adama said after Starbuck has seated himself at Apollo's feet only have Apollo pull him up next to him on the couch. Both of the younger men nodded. They had no doubt this was true. "However, I have only one vote on the Council and the majority miss their ... pleasures. So I was outvoted." He rose and paced. "Tigh and I searched every military and governmental tome we could find for a precedent, but we could find no way to declare an end to slavery under military jurisdiction. We consulted Solon, who was also appalled to see this practice restored, and he, too, failed to find a way to prevent it." Adama sat again. "I'm sorry, son. I had the paperwork filled out to transfer Starbuck to you when slavery was repudiated. But I never finished the last details because the ban came through just then." "At least you filed the paperwork to show your ownership of me," Starbuck murmured without looking up. Adama cleared his throat. "Well, that's the other thing. I had to get Uri to sign Starbuck over to me before I could sign him over to you. We were negotiating when the universal ban on slavery was declared." "But, my letter said I belonged to you!" Starbuck cried out in horror. Immediately he fell to his knees and crawled to Adama. "I'm sorry, Master. I didn't mean to raise my voice at you, but ..." Adama stroked the blond head again. "It's all right. I don't blame you for yelling at me. I've been cursing myself since the issue first came up. I worked out a deal with Uri. Not quite as good a deal as the one I had been finalizing on Caprica, but the best I could manage under the circumstances and time constraints." "What kind of deal, Father?" Apollo was looking at Adama with narrowed eyes. "Uri signed predated paperwork showing that Starbuck had been my pleasure slave before the original ban," Adama began. "Fine. Then sign him over to me. Now." "I wish it were that simple, son. But I know that the first thing you'll do is free him." "Of course. I've already done so, yahrens ago." "I know. But it wasn't legal then. You do understand that, don't you?" "And now?" There was menace in Apollo's voice that made Starbuck look up at him and shake his head warningly. Adama sighed and reflected he was doing that a great deal. "Uri was only willing to sign Starbuck over to me under certain conditions." "One of which was that you couldn't free him, I presume." Adama nodded. "But if you transfer him to me, you won't have freed him." "Uri's not a stupid man, Apollo," Adama said. "He foresaw that loophole. Any transfer, be it gift or sale, has to have the same codicils attached to it." "Meaning I can't free him if he becomes my slave?" "Yes. That and the other things." "Which are?" "When he's off-duty - and that was put in only because the Council voted down Uri's amendment to deny career options - when he's off-duty and not in his master's private domicile, Starbuck must be completely unclothed and tethered. He's not allowed outside on his own under any circumstances, except when he's on-duty." "In other words, Uri's determined he'll either be under house arrest or humiliated - your choice." "I think humiliation is his goal. Of me as well as Starbuck." Adama shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "There's one other condition." "Oh?" "Yes. Ah, Uri gets the use of Starbuck once a secton for twenty-four centars." "Frak." "I actually used stronger language. But it seemed better than letting Uri have ownership and then fight him in the courts." "Just barely." "No, my master's son. Much better. Believe me." Starbuck spoke softly but passionately. He turned his face up to Adama. "Thank you for saving me again, Master," he said with deep sincerity. *** Part Three When we left off, Apollo had just found out the terms of Starbuck's being Adama's slave instead of Uri's. Now he's had time to mull that over ... "All right, I'll do it." With those words, Apollo sealed his fate - or so he thought. But it had taken him three sectons to come to the conclusion that there were no other alternatives, so he didn't get the reaction he expected. "You'll do what?" the Commander asked. He looked down at Starbuck, curled in his usual spot at the Commander's feet, then over at Tigh, who had followed his son into the living area after greeting him at the door, but both slaves looked as confused as he was. "I'll abide by Uri's rules," Apollo sighed. Starbuck's head jerked up. He looked frantically from his Master's son to his Master. 'No, Master, don't let him do this. He doesn't really understand. He won't be able to,' he pleaded silently. "Apollo, are you sure?" Adama asked sternly, at the same time stroking Starbuck's head to let him know he understood. "Yes. I'm sure; very sure," the Captain responded equally forcefully. He looked squarely at his father. "He's mine, Father. I want him legally. I'll play by Uri's rules as long as Uri does." "I've offered..." Adama began, but Apollo brushed him off. "I don't mean that," he said curtly, then saw Starbuck sag in disappointment and amended his statement. "Not while he's yours." "So that's why you've declined every invitation I've given you," Adama said. "Yes," Apollo admitted. "I can't bear seeing him like this, even just among the family." At his father's frown, he hurriedly added, "Not that I think you would..." It was Adama's turn to brush his words aside with a gesture. "You're right. I wouldn't. But do you understand what we've been waiting for?" "For Uri to overstep and break the Council's edict?" Apollo asked. "That was pretty obvious the first time Starbuck showed up with a cut over his eye." "I have to allow him to keep pushing the limits." When Apollo did nothing but press his lips together in a disapproving line, Adama added, "And so do you." "I understand," Apollo ground out from between clenched teeth. He stared at the discolored bruises around Starbuck's nipples. He was almost afraid of what else had been hidden under the uniform until now. "What do we have to do?" "We have to make an appointment with Solon or Anton to make the exchange in the presence of one of them - they were the only two people in the entire Fleet the Council could all agree would be impartial." Adama shook his head; the pettiness of the Council never failed to surprise him. "We'll fill out the paperwork in advance, but sign it in front of one of them and he'll witness it." He hesitated. "I'll bring Starbuck." "You mean..." Apollo began, his voice quivering. "He'll be off-duty, that's required of course or he couldn't be present. So he'll have to be ... as described in the agreement with Uri." "Can't we have the exchange here?" Apollo asked desperately. "No, it has to be in a public setting." "I swear, Starbuck, this is the only time you'll be humiliated this way," Apollo said to the blond. "Don't," Starbuck said quietly, then looked down. He shouldn't have spoken without leave. "Don't what?" Apollo asked. Starbuck sighed. "Don't make promises Uri will ensure you can't keep. I have to go to him and return to my Master each secton. I can go one way direct from duty, and that counts as the end of 'on duty', so I can be in uniform. But the other way..." He shrugged. "Frak!" was Apollo's immediate response. "Besides," Starbuck added in an entirely different tone. "I like being naked and cared for - in private." Adama petted him and pressed Starbuck's face against his leg until both noticed Apollo's glare. Starbuck sighed as Adama let go of him. "Okay. I know. We've had this conversation before." 'And we will again, before I let you free me,' he finished silently. Apollo was thinking the same thought. Changing the subject, he turned to his father for advice. "How have you been working it?" "We've been arranging Starbuck's schedule so that he goes to Uri at the beginning of his secton-break. So he goes directly from his duty station to Uri's quarters. One of Uri's paid servants brings him here and he still has a full three-cycle period to recover before he's due on duty again." "Frak," Apollo repeated. "Do you still want to be Starbuck's Master?" Adama asked gently. He nudged Starbuck and nodded that he should speak, too. "It's all right if you don't, Apollo," Starbuck said quietly, but with obvious sincerity. "It won't be easy for you." "And I suppose it is easy for you?" Apollo burst out. Starbuck shrugged. "I've gotten used to it. It's only once a secton; it used to be all the time. I keep that in mind." "Do you ... goad him, Starbuck? Try to make him break the law?" A grin flitted across the blond's face. "I just have to be me, Apollo; I don't have to do anything special to upset Sire Uri." He turned serious. "If I thought it would work, I'd egg him on, but ..." He shuddered. "I can't. I know what he's capable of. If he thought I was purposely misbehaving ..." "If he thought Starbuck was trying to slip him up," Adama interjected, "there's a good chance Starbuck wouldn't survive Uri's 'disciplinary action'. And Uri'd claim Starbuck must have had an undisclosed physical weakness." Apollo started to object, but Adama held a hand up to silence him. "He's done it before, 'Pol," Starbuck whispered. Apollo looked at his father, who nodded. "And if the slave being disciplined doesn't survive, who's to naysay him?" "Oh Gods," Apollo said, sinking into a chair, face in hands. "You don't have to do this," Adama and Starbuck said together. Adama continued. "We're working on it. But I have to get Starbuck back alive in order to file a complaint and have Starbuck testify to abuse." "No." Apollo straightened and dropped his hands to his lap. "*I* have to get Starbuck back, injured enough to be unable to go on duty, but able to testify." He thought for a micron. "We'll have to reverse the order to push things a bit, but that will seem reasonable with a change in owners, won't it?" Adama looked thoughtful then nodded. "It might speed things up at that. It would be harder to prove you or I didn't cause the abuse if the bruises aren't the proper age, so to speak, and so far Uri's been careful to make sure Starbuck will be able to go on-duty after a turn's rest. But if he had to go directly to his viper from Uri's quarters, that might be a different story." "I can push him a little, Masters," Starbuck offered grimly. "All right, but be careful. Don't endanger yourself," Adama admonished. "In any case, we'll have to finalize the exchange first. It has to be published for a secton and is open to public viewing. I've no doubt the good Sire will attend to see to the legality of the transfer." *** "Do you, Captain Apollo, swear to uphold the law regarding ownership of pleasure slaves as well as the codicils that pertain to the slave being transferred?" Solon intoned. Anton, who was also present, nudged Apollo, who seemed on the verge of making a politically incorrect response regarding those codicils. He shook his head slightly and looked significantly at Sire Uri. The portly Sire was smirking and rocking back and forth on his feet as he regarded the legalities with his beady eyes. "I so swear," Apollo responded correctly. "And do you, Commander Adama, swear that you are transferring ownership of this slave to Captain Apollo of your own free will and under no duress?" "I do," the deep voice replied. "And have you, to the best of your knowledge, disclosed all facts concerning this slave, his background, and any constraints or limitations, physical, mental, emotional, environmental, or of any other sort." "I have." "Do you believe this to be true, Captain?" "I do." "This transfer is a gifting. Therefore, no benefit is being derived by you, Commander, is that correct?" "It is." "And you, Captain, are offering nothing of monetary or other value, including but not limited to goods or services in exchange for ownership of the slave?" "That is correct." "Then by the power vested in me by the Council of the Twelve Colonies, I declare that this exchange is valid and lawful and affix my seal to the documents presented here to so attest. If you would sign here, Commander?" Solon paused while Adama signed the documents. "And you, here, Captain." Apollo signed where Solon indicated. "Would you care to witness with me, Sire Anton?" Solon asked politely. "It would be my honor," the elderly Councilor replied and signed with a flourish. "I shall be equally happy to add my signature to the emancipation documents when this nonsense is seen for the travesty it is." "As will I, old friend," Adama agreed. "And I," Solon said somberly, then smiled at the surprised looks he got. "Gentlemen, as Chief Opposer I will uphold the law without question, but that does not mean I must refrain from speaking out against it if I feel it's unjust." Apollo nodded his agreement, then looked down as something brushed softly against his leg. It was Starbuck's head, nuzzling him. *** "Thanks, Pleiades. I can make it the rest of the way myself." "You sure, Bucko? You don't look very good." He dropped the leash and looked down at the bruised body. Uri insisted that Starbuck crawl home on his hands and knees. Pleiades thought that this time it was just as well; Starbuck couldn't have gotten to his feet and walked anyway. "Yeah, I'm sure. I just gotta get cleaned up and dressed before my Master gets home. He doesn't like me lounging around naked and smelling of sex." "I'm not supposed to just leave you, you know," Pleiades said, hesitating at the door. "It's okay, really. My Master isn't like ... Master Uri. I couldn't displease my Master if I tried." "I don't understand why he lets Uri..." "Look, let's not go there, okay? I don't feel all that great, but I can manage." He paused thoughtfully. "Pleiades?" "Decide you need my help after all?" the young servant said hopefully. "Yes, but not with getting myself cleaned up." "Sure, Starbuck. You know I'll help you any way I can - as long as the Sire doesn't find out." Starbuck had settled on the floor lying on his side, his knees hurt too much to continue crawling or kneeling, and he knew he couldn't sit or lie down on either his back or stomach. "Believe me, I understand. He could make sure you never found work again if he wanted to. The man has too much power and he abuses it to boot." He chuckled and winced. "Sorry. Bad pun." Pleiades shook his head. "I don't know how you can joke about what he does to you." "Survival technique," Starbuck explained. Then he returned to his original topic. "If, somehow, his ... excesses ... came to light - through nothing you did, of course - and you were asked to testify to what you might have seen or heard in the course of your employment ..." Starbuck stopped. He knew he was risking everything if Pleiades was loyal to his employer. But Uri had lost control this time - the first time Starbuck and been with Uri since Apollo became his Master. Apollo hadn't even had the opportunity to meet with Uri to discuss a new schedule. Starbuck knew he was badly hurt, much worse than he was willing to let Pleiades know, and feared they, or at least he, was running out of time. He felt the need for a backup plan. Uri would pay, Starbuck was determined, even if he wasn't there to see it for himself. "Would I lie for him?" Pleiades finished for Starbuck, thinking the injured man had paused to wait out a wave of pain. "No. I'd tell the truth. I'd tell everything I saw and heard. He doesn't own me." He reddened. "Sorry. Bad choice of words. His cubits don't buy any loyalty. They just pay for the work I do." He squatted next to the blond. "You're not all right. Let me get you into a bath and then a bed - you do sleep in a bed here, don't you?" "Yes, I do. And no, thank you. I can manage." Starbuck rolled onto his knees and gasped. "Please, get out before Apollo - I mean my Master - gets home. I want to be fully clothed and under the covers so he doesn't see most of this. It just upsets him needlessly. I'll be fine by next duty cycle. I always am." "Starbuck, you can't see it, but that belly wound doesn't look like just a bruise ..." "It hurts like Hades, too. But I'll ice it and it'll be fine." Pleiades stood and stepped towards the door, which slid open at his approach. He turned back and hesitated again. "You're sure." "Please." Starbuck's face was white as he forced his body to obey him and rise to a standing position. Slowly he moved towards the turbowash. "Go. Now. I'll see you in a secton." Pleiades had turned away again when he heard a thump and a weak cry. "Oh Gods! Starbuck!" He ran over to the fallen man and turned him onto his side. Blood ran from the slack mouth and dripped from the discolored penis. The blue eyes were vacant and staring. "What have you done to him?" came a cry from the still-open doorway. "Starbuck! Starbuck!!" Apollo dropped to his knees next to Pleiades. "Emergency med alert!" he yelled in the direction of the Comm unit. "To this location immediately." Cradling the limp blond's torso in his arms, he turned to Pleiades and repeated, "What have you done to him?" *** Part Four "Is he all right?" "All right is a relative term," Dr. Salik, finally finished with all he could do for Starbuck, answered the question Apollo had asked every time the Doctor came out of surgery for a break. "Doctor, all we'd like to know is Starbuck's condition." "Ah, so you'd like the prognosis on your pleasure-slave?" Salik knew he was bordering on insubordination, but one of his favorite young pilots, although he'd never admit it, was teetering between life and death and he really didn't care about political correctness at the micron - not that he ever paid much attention to it. "He's not my pleasure slave," Apollo retorted hotly, then immediately backed off. "Well, he is legally, but I don't use him ..." He trailed off, realizing the futility of his defensive response. "Doctor," Adama said in a stern voice, "What is the prognosis for Lieutenant Starbuck?" "Ah, the prognosis for Lieutenant Starbuck is what you want," Salik said in a voice dripping with sarcasm. "*Lieutenant* Starbuck can survive this attack if he wants to." He paused for that to sink in. Adama sighed and shook his head. "Doctor," he said patiently, "We'd like to know the condition of our ... good friend Starbuck, as well as any information you can give us about his recovery - how complete it will be and how long it will take." "Humph. Well, if you're going to get all legalistic on me, Adama," Salik began. The Commander interrupted him. "We just want to know how he is and what we can do to help him recover." "Freeing him and keeping him out of Uri's clutches would be a start." Salik had to force himself to say that. It was his expected response, but it didn't quite fit the definition of "in the patient's best interests", not after what Starbuck had told him. "All right, I'll stop the snide comments. Starbuck isn't out of danger and he's drifting in and out of consciousness. I'm not convinced he wants to survive this." That was all he could say without breaching doctor-patient confidentiality, and to Hades with the notion that slaves didn't have that right. "But if he doesn't survive ..." Apollo began then didn't know how to finish the sentence. 'If Starbuck doesn't survive, I'll have no reason to go on living. True, but do I want to make a public announcement? If Starbuck doesn't survive, Uri won't be punished. Possibly true if no witnesses step forward, but since Starbuck was his only target, it would be a moot point. If Starbuck doesn't survive, it will be my fault. Now that's self-serving. If Starbuck doesn't survive, he'll die without knowing I love him. Well, we're back to public announcements - too late to do any good, too. Well done, Apollo.' Fortunately for Apollo, Adama spoke up. "What can we do to convince him, Doctor?" he said quietly. Salik sighed. 'There's not much you can do,' he thought. 'Now your son, on the other hand...' But again doctor-patient confidentiality prevented his saying the words aloud. "He's drifting in and out of consciousness, but he's lucid when he's awake. I think he can hear even when he seems unresponsive. So perhaps if you both spoke to him and told him ... how much he was needed, how much you want him back, well, if you're sincere maybe it will make a difference." "Of course we will - and there's no question of sincerity - I love that young man ... as much as I do my own children," Adama said, hesitating only as he considered how the word 'love' might be misconstrued under the circumstances. "Apollo?" he prompted the Captain. "What? Oh yes! Anything! He has to survive! He can't die," Apollo responded, coming out of his reverie. *** "Starbuck? It's me, Apollo," the Captain said softly, sitting on the edge of the bio-bed and taking the blond's limp hand. "Can you hear me?" He waited. Over the past secton - had it really been that long? - sometimes Starbuck seemed deeply comatose and at other times he roused enough to open glazed eyes and whisper "Master" or, more rarely, "Apollo" or "'Pol". Apollo had spoken until he was hoarse, keeping Starbuck up-to-date on the goings on in the Fleet, among the warriors, even what was on the IFB. He had spoken of everything except two subjects: Uri, because he didn't want to drive Starbuck further away from life, and himself, because, if he was brutally honest, he was afraid to speak the words out loud. He knew his father, too, spent centars here, and Boomer did as well. There were others, fellow warriors, friends of both sexes, who had come in to visit, although only a few had enough to say to return from cycle to cycle as the time passed. And Dr. Salik said Starbuck was getting weaker. "Starbuck, I need you," Apollo said, speaking barely above a whisper. It was all he could admit aloud. He changed the subject, approaching the other forbidden topic. "If you don't get well, Uri will get away with this. He could purchase another slave and do this all over again." Starbuck had stirred at Apollo's opening words, then started to retreat when he realized Apollo wasn't speaking personally. 'What did you expect?' he asked himself. But he forced himself to respond when Apollo's fears about Uri registered. "No," he rasped, his voice so low Apollo had to lean close to hear him. "Don't need me. Pleiades knows. Said he'd testify." He sighed and let himself drift away completely, farther than before. It was so easy to just let go, stop feeling, stop thinking. Alarms began to sound along with Apollo's wail. "No! Starbuck, no! That isn't why I need you! No! Don't go!" He was pushed out of the room by a med tech as Salik and his team tried to revive the dying man. Centars later Dr. Salik exited the room, head bent, pulling off a mask and gloves that Apollo didn't remember him having on. By that time both Adama and Boomer had joined Apollo in the waiting area. All three men looked up expectantly, but no one wanted to ask. Finally Salik spoke the words they didn't want to hear. "I'm sorry. He didn't want to go on. There was nothing more any of us - or you - could do." "There's one thing," Apollo declared fiercely though tears streamed down his cheeks. The others looked at him. "He spoke to me, just before he ... before the alarms went off. He told me what to do." He turned to his friend. "Boomer, will you help me?" "I'll do anything you say, Apollo," the dark man vowed. "What did Bucko want done?" "One of Uri's employees - a free man named Pleiades - witnessed ...what happened, what Uri did to Starbuck. He'll testify. But if I seem interested, I know Uri will find a way to get rid of him. Could you..." "I'll find him and keep him safe, don't you worry," Boomer assured his friend. He turned to Adama. "Commander, I'm feeling ... unbalanced. I don't think I'm fit to fly. I wonder if you should relieve me of duty until I'm feeling more ... myself." "I'll make sure Colonel Tigh understands that you're unable to perform your regular duties until further notice," Adama said. Boomer nodded his thanks and left quickly. Adama turned to Salik who had remained quiet during this oblique discussion. "Starbuck's ... remains. He has no family, but I ..." Salik shook his head. "As his owner, the Captain has the right to do as he wishes. But Starbuck made a request for specific private arrangements, during a fully coherent interval. He asked that I beg your indulgence, both of you, but he would prefer no service or remembrance of any kind. His exact words were, 'just make it right; that will be enough.'" Adama glanced at his son, receiving a hesitant nod in agreement followed by a stifled sob, before responding. "Very well. Perhaps closure of some sort would be preferable, but we won't go against his wishes." Looking towards the shadowed room in which Starbuck lay, he said, "We'll make it right, son of my heart. I promise you we will make it right." *** Part Five Apollo crept silently into the Life Center Cold Room. He couldn't let Starbuck go without saying goodbye. Without telling him what had transpired. Without letting him know, at the end, too late, but he had to tell him, that he loved him. He put all his skills at espionage behind Cylon lines to work so that no one would know he was even thinking of Starbuck, let alone thinking of going to talk to the still, cold body Salik had let him have one last glimpse of as the doctor moved it into storage prior to disposal. "He wanted nothing to go to waste," Dr. Salik had finally told Apollo and Adama, after they swore they would not hinder fulfillment of Starbuck's requests, no matter how much they disagreed. "His internal organs are too badly damaged to be reused, even for research, and we have no need for eyes or skin." Apollo had breathed a sigh of relief at hearing that. His beautiful love would not be desecrated for science or the greater welfare. "So, we decided that the best place for him would be the Agro Ship. But in order to ensure he's not disturbed, I've decided to hold him here until the furor's calmed down and everyone's gone back to their own lives. I'll wait until an addition over there won't be noticed, then I'll see to the transfer myself." "He won't be ... embalmed?" Apollo asked. "No," Salik explained. "Everything will be left as is so that nature can take its course." Adama had listened with bowed head. This was not the Kobolian way. But then, when had Starbuck followed convention or tradition? Somehow this seemed fitting. "It's unconventional, but appropriate," he said aloud. "Those whose beliefs direct them to other avenues can urge his spirit onward in private. I know I shall. A spirit like his cannot vanish; I refuse to accept that." Apollo had said little once he understood Starbuck's wishes. He, too, would make peace with the Gods and try to understand, he assured his father. And so, a secton later, he was here in the Cold Room. He paused to let his eyes grow used to the dark. The room was sealed to prevent its contents from decaying, so he could have called the lights up, but it seemed like the wrong thing to do. The room was cool, but he wondered whether it was actually cold enough to prevent decay. 'Salik must know the right temperature,' he chastised himself. As his eyes grew accustomed to the dim recessed lights, he saw that the room held a bed with a bedside table and a chair next to it. He'd expected a gurney or perhaps a coffin. 'The doctor has feelings, too,' he realized. 'He must have cared for Starbuck to arrange his waiting place like this.' His heart lurched as he thought the words "waiting place" but that's what it was. "Starbuck, are you waiting for me?" he whispered. "I'll always wait for you, 'Pol," a soft voice answered him. "You should know that by now." It didn't occur to Apollo that no one should be answering him. He turned towards the voice. "You're free now," he began, as always unable to say what he meant. "Yes. Free. Just as you freed me before," the voice answered. "Freedom can be very lonely though." Apollo's head drooped. "I didn't think you'd be lonely. You always had plenty of people around you." "I told you once, I keep a lot of people around me because I have no one to hold close. I knew then that you, with your family to support you, couldn't understand what I meant." The voice paused. "But at least until now I could be close to you, even if I couldn't hold you close." "I want to hold you," Apollo murmured. "I want to keep you close to me always." "Do you?" The voice sounded surprised. "I didn't think you did. I thought that's why you kept wanting to free me, to make me just your friend." "No. Not for me. Oh Lords!" Apollo was crying now. "Never for me! I would have kept you enslaved to have you to myself. But I couldn't do that. That wouldn't have been right. You deserved to have the same opportunities I did, to use your talents, your gifts. You had to be free to do that. Not enslaved to me or indebted to my family. I couldn't let you give your love because you had to or felt obligated to." "Come sit down before you fall down. You look in worse shape than I am." The voice sounded amused now. Apollo stumbled towards the bed, where Starbuck's figure appeared, through some trick of the light, to be propped up on one arm, looking at him. Apollo knew he was talking to himself, holding two sides of a conversation out of grief and guilt, but the illusion was so real he let himself believe it, just for the micron. He hesitated, looking at the chair - did Salik keep vigil over Starbuck's body? - then sat on the edge of the bed. Apollo started when a cool hand touched his cheek, then leaned into it, trying to share his body's warmth. He had the ridiculous notion, he recognized it was ridiculous even as he thought it, that he could share his life with Starbuck by warming him with his body-heat, pulsing life through him with his heart beating for both of them. When Apollo's silence stretched on, Starbuck, or the part of him that had taken on Starbuck's persona, he could no longer tell which, spoke again. "You shouldn't be here. I'm glad you came, but you shouldn't have. " A soft laugh. "I really didn't expect you to come, even though I hoped you would. It isn't like you, Apollo. You're all logic and duty. Why did you come?" All the "wrong" answers reached Apollo's lips, but he discarded them. To say goodbye, no. To make sure your body was properly prepared, no. To let you know that Uri's been punished and slavery only allowed by mutual consent, breakable by either party. Well, that was important if this was Starbuck and not some insanity. Starbuck wouldn't have thought that compromise was possible, given the Council. But Sire Anton had worked a miracle. "Could you work another one, just for me, Uncle?" Apollo whispered, using the childhood endearment. "Apollo? Who are you talking to?" The voice was concerned and the hand moved to his arm and tightened. It was Apollo's turn to laugh. "Someone else I know can't hear me right now. The only difference is, he's still alive, just not here. You're here, but you're dead." The laugh turned to a sob and threatened to become hysterics. "Am I going crazy?" The silence lasted so long that Apollo thought he might, indeed, have had a breakdown. "Apollo," the voice returned at last, in a tone that indicated a decision had been made. "I'm dead. You have to accept that. Believe it. I'll be waiting for you, watching you, but not there physically." "But I love you! You're all I care to live for! And I never held you, not as a lover, not at all in yahrens!" There, the words were said. Too late, but at least spoken. "Oh, Apollo! I've wanted to hear that, forever." The voice broke. "Thank you for telling me. It helps. It helps me a great deal." There was a sigh and the hand gripping his arm let go. Apollo had imagined it and now he imagined the bed shifted as the figure in it lay down under the sheet. "But now I can never hold you," he whispered. Another endless pause greeted his words. And then another sigh. "I shouldn't do this. I have to let go. And you have to move on. But," the hand reached for him again. "If you want to, hold me this once. One last time." Somehow Apollo found himself under the sheet, holding the body that occupied the bed, sharing his warmth and pressing life into it. 'Oh Gods, let it be real, let it happen!' Apollo prayed silently as he kissed and stroked Starbuck's pliant body and felt it respond. He clung tighter. Was that a heartbeat? Did he feel breath against his cheek? The only sounds were his, but Starbuck had always been able to be silent, although few would have believed it of him. Apollo knew he it was wishful thinking. He was making love to a dead body, animated only by his fantasies - or maybe temporarily reinhabited by his love's spirit through the grace of the Gods. His thoughts were jumbled and passion quickly overtook him. Equally quickly it was over. Somehow he was dressed, his hair smoothed down. Someone was telling him, "You have to leave now. Someone will be in to check. You can't be here." "Come with me. Come back to life," Apollo begged. "Please let me stay dead," Starbuck begged in return. Apollo stood over the bed and finally nodded. Bending, he kissed the cool forehead, smoothing the soft blond hair. "I love you, Starbuck. Take that with you. And wait for me. I will join you." "I'll be waiting." Apollo nodded, knowing he had to return from whatever mystical place he was in where he could talk to, make love with, his beloved. He nodded knowing Starbuck couldn't see the nod, even had the blue eyes been open, which they weren't. He straightened and walked to the door, listening closely for any sound from outside. "I forgot to tell you," he said, turning back to look at the still figure on the bed. "We made it right. Uri will do no more harm to anyone." That was one of the things he had come to tell Starbuck. And now for the last thing. "Goodbye, love," he whispered. There, he had done all that he had come to do. He reached for the handle when he realized there was one other thing - the thing Starbuck hadn't foreseen happening, couldn't know. The one thing that made his death so futile. Apollo was compelled to tell him. "Starbuck, one other thing you should take with you: slavery, it's not banned. But it's voluntary. Two people can choose to be slave and master and set the terms in a contract. Like a sealing, but a purposely unequal one. Sire Anton thought of it. He was thinking of Father and Tigh, but, oh Gods, Starbuck - it could have been us!" He choked back a sob and slid down the metal door. "It could have been us!" Someone was holding him, rubbing his back and telling him it still could be, not to cry. "Please open your eyes, 'Pol. It will be all right, really all right. You can open your eyes." Apollo shook his head. "No. If I open them, you'll be cold and dead." "What is this? You'll believe I'm alive to make love to me and then let me go back to being dead, but you won't believe I'm alive and ready to be enslaved to you?" Apollo opened his eyes at that. That exasperated tone did not come from inside his had or from an hallucination. That tone came only from a very annoyed and alive Starbuck. He grabbed the shoulders of the man kneeling in front of him and shook him. "How dare you! How dare you let me believe you had died! And you were going to do what? Hide on the Agro Ship, wasn't it?! And I'd never know! I'd grow old thinking I had lost you! How dare you!" "All right, that's enough. He brought you out of it, now let me get him back to bed before you undo all the repair work I did on him." That was Salik's voice. Apollo watched as the doctor helped Starbuck up and back to bed. "What's going on?" "He's not well. He's alive but he is - or should be - confined to bed. It'll be sectares before he can be up and around for more than centons at a time. Uri almost did succeed in killing him. If your slave here wasn't so frakking stubborn he would be dead." Despite his harsh words, Salik was almost tender as he tucked the covers around Starbuck and addressed him. "Now, I'm going to bring the temperature up slowly. It'll be at least two cycles before I can bring you back into Life Center." He turned and glared at Apollo. "And I suppose you'll be wanting to stay here with him?" "Yes, please," Apollo said meekly. "Leaving me to do all the explaining, as usual," Salik grumbled. Well, fine. I should be used to it by now. After I've told everyone, I'll send Sire Anton in to work out your contract with you. Otherwise, knowing you, Captain, you'll up and leave my patient again and he'll have a relapse." He glared at both of them. "You're more bother than the entire rest of the Fleet, you two!" He left, still grumbling, but Apollo noticed he had closed the door softly. Apollo approached the bed again. Now with full light he could see how pale and thin Starbuck was. The blond smiled up at him. "Mad at me?" he asked. "Yes. No. I'll have to think about it," Apollo said. "You can punish me once I'm well and your slave again," Starbuck offered with a wink. "I'll be thinking about that, too," Apollo assured him. Then Starbuck lifted the edge of the covers and Apollo kicked off his boots and stretched out beside his lover. "Plenty of time to think though." "A lifetime," Starbuck agreed. "I love you, my Master's son." "And I love you, slave, warrior, pilot, whatever you want to be, I'll love you," Apollo promised. Salik chose that micron to poke his head in. "Sleep!" he ordered. "Both of you." He shut the door gently again as both men complied, safe in each other's arms.