ty was out of control when Apollo and Starbuck rounded the corner into the corridor that led to the Officer’s Club. Apollo winced slightly. He had been communing with the stars and taking a quiet joy in his safe return in the Celestial Chamber, when Starbuck had persuaded him to come to the party that was wrecking the Club at that moment. A couple of very drunk Warriors staggered out of the room into the corridor, one hitting the wall and sliding down along it, before his companion bent over him with great care and managed to pull him back to his feet. They continued on their way past Apollo and Starbuck pausing to salute them with great solemnity. Looking inside the Club Apollo couldn’t see how he and Starbuck were going to get in. It was crammed with Warriors as they shouted, laughed and cried with each other as they celebrated the victory they had fought for that day. Apollo could feel the heat of so many bodies pressed into the Club wafting out into the cooler corridor, he felack cotton. Sheba couldn’t make out any other feature about him, only that his hands, uncovered, were a dark brown colour, large and looked dried up and wrinkled, the fingers curved inwards like claws. She watched as he raised them to his head and slowly unwound the cloth. There was nothing else she could do but watch. Her arms and legs were useless, stuck to the floor and although her spirit rebelled furiously at the thought of being almost helpless she resigned herself to the fact that she was. She managed to curl some sand up in her hand with the thought that she could at least throw it in his face. Her heart raced and she prayed to the Lords of Kobol that something unpleasant wasn’t going to happen to her. Her mouth went dry and she started to sweat and shake a little. "Who are you?" she asked The cloth revealed a face that was as wrinkled as his hands. His eyes, small and dark, surrounded by a network of lines, creased up as he smiled, showing a line of yellow pegs in Caravan Prologue From the log of Commander Adama. Thank the Lords - we defeated the Cylons! Lieutenant Starbuck found the basestar lurking in the backwaters of an insignificant star system at the edge of the galaxy. I decided that the Fleet had run for too long. Apollo and Starbuck sabotaged the basestar’s scanner, enabling the Galactica to mount a surprise attack. It was a dangerous and highly risky mission and they almost did not make it back. If it hadn’t been for Lieutenant Starbuck’s resourcefulness and sometimes irrelevent manner, Lieutenant Boomer’s keen eye would not have recognised their purloined Cylon raider and it would have been blown out of the sky. I am pleased to report that the Council have seen fit to reward Apollo and Starbuck with the Gold Cluster for their heroic efforts. Meanwhile, the Fleet celebrates. I have given the Warriors leave to celebrate in the Officer’s Club. I can only hope that it survives the onslaught. Chapter 1 The parCaravan Prologue From the log of Commander Adama. Thank the Lords - we defeated the Cylons! Lieutenant Starbuck found the basestar lurking in the backwaters of an insignificant star system at the edge of the galaxy. I decided that the Fleet had run for too long. Apollo and Starbuck sabotaged the basestar’s scanner, enabling the Galactica to mount a surprise attack. It was a dangerous and highly risky mission and they almost did not make it back. If it hadn’t been for Lieutenant Starbuck’s resourcefulness and sometimes irrelevent manner, Lieutenant Boomer’s keen eye would not have recognised their purloined Cylon raider and it would have been blown out of the sky. I am pleased to report that the Council have seen fit to reward Apollo and Starbuck with the Gold Cluster for their heroic efforts. Meanwhile, the Fleet celebrates. I have given the Warriors leave to celebrate in the Officer’s Club. I can only hope that it survives the onslaught. Chapter 1 The part his own sweat start to pool around his collar in anticipation and he pulled at the collar with his finger. He grinned suddenly at Starbuck "The noise!" he shouted. Even in the corridor it was tremendous. Apollo could make out music above the sounds of humans enjoying themselves, it sounded like Sagittarian ragga, there was certainly a trumpet involved and a large booming bass rhythm that he could feel thumping through the floor of the corridor. Starbuck laughed and stuck an unlit fumerello into his mouth. He clasped his hand on his friend’s shoulder and pulled him into the room "Come on buddy" he said "I’ll get you a drink". Apollo was immediately jostled up against an attractive red haired waitress who was endeavouring to push pass several warriors in order to clear some glasses. "Captain!" she screamed as she recognised him and threw her arms about his neck. Apollo found himself enveloped in an exotic musky scent and slightly damp arms and her soft lips pressed enthusiasthis mouth. "Vigil?" he said. He was speaking a language Sheba had not heard since her days at her Education Centre, an old dead language, one she had only seen on the sides of old monuments or in only one book, scrawled in a spidery pictorial script. Old Kobolian, only the word seemed to spring from the back of his throat, in a husky, guttural sound. She raided the storerooms of her mind. Old Kobolian was the language students had to learn in order to read the Book of the Word, one that all children raised in the faith had to learn. She took her mind back to her litteranum, and the dry tones of Instructress Quinta. "Vigil?" the man spoke again, he came over to her and knelt beside the bed. Sheba struggled with the words, "Vigil?" she repeated, he nodded vigorously. She raised her hand to her aching head and fought her way through years of instruction, she tried to recall the Book of the Word, it sat in the corner of the litterroom, on a pedestal, on sunny days the sun woulty was out of control when Apollo and Starbuck rounded the corner into the corridor that led to the Officer’s Club. Apollo winced slightly. He had been communing with the stars and taking a quiet joy in his safe return in the Celestial Chamber, when Starbuck had persuaded him to come to the party that was wrecking the Club at that moment. A couple of very drunk Warriors staggered out of the room into the corridor, one hitting the wall and sliding down along it, before his companion bent over him with great care and managed to pull him back to his feet. They continued on their way past Apollo and Starbuck pausing to salute them with great solemnity. Looking inside the Club Apollo couldn’t see how he and Starbuck were going to get in. It was crammed with Warriors as they shouted, laughed and cried with each other as they celebrated the victory they had fought for that day. Apollo could feel the heat of so many bodies pressed into the Club wafting out into the cooler corridor, he felty was out of control when Apollo and Starbuck rounded the corner into the corridor that led to the Officer’s Club. Apollo winced slightly. He had been communing with the stars and taking a quiet joy in his safe return in the Celestial Chamber, when Starbuck had persuaded him to come to the party that was wrecking the Club at that moment. A couple of very drunk Warriors staggered out of the room into the corridor, one hitting the wall and sliding down along it, before his companion bent over him with great care and managed to pull him back to his feet. They continued on their way past Apollo and Starbuck pausing to salute them with great solemnity. Looking inside the Club Apollo couldn’t see how he and Starbuck were going to get in. It was crammed with Warriors as they shouted, laughed and cried with each other as they celebrated the victory they had fought for that day. Apollo could feel the heat of so many bodies pressed into the Club wafting out into the cooler corridor, he felically against his. He blinked in astonishment, and a huge roar went up from the warriors around him as they applauded the scene. Apollo pushed the waitress away and grinned at her, then he felt a hand at his shoulder as Starbuck yanked him free. "Hey!" Starbuck shouted at him, "How come you get all the luck?" Apollo laughed, "Comes with the rank!" he shouted back. They started to push their way through the tight throng of warriors. The Club was full of the smell of stale ambrosa split from upturned or broken glasses, smoke from fumerellos and the odour of so many human bodies crammed into a small space. Apollo and Starbuck’s contribution to the meant that they found themselves being manhandled by every warrior they had to force their way past. One female warrior snatched Starbuck’s fumerello from his mouth and waltzed off with it. Another warrior pumped Apollo’s hand so hard, he thought his elbow had become dislocated. Apollo laughed and smiled, shouted back to some as they d stream in the window and illuminate the dust in the air. She had always wanted to run out the litteranum and play in the pasture outside. Sheba cursed that she hadn’t been the best student of Kobolian, but she had been an intelligent student. "Vigil, veni, veci" she repeated to herself. "In the beginning the Lords…. Vigil." The man opened his mouth to speak but then the word translated itself in Sheba’s head, it was like a screen was lifted. "Awake?" she said. She pointed at herself, "Vigil?" She frowned as she pulled the right word from her mind. "Ita. Ita" she laughed weakly. The question he’d asked was now superfluous she was obviously awake. "Ita. Yes" * * * * * * His name was Mudachamad, she established over some days of difficult and stilted conversation. He had found her staggering and falling, delirious, in the desert, some cycles before. "The sun has risen six times since" he said to her while they ate some kind of stew one night.t his own sweat start to pool around his collar in anticipation and he pulled at the collar with his finger. He grinned suddenly at Starbuck "The noise!" he shouted. Even in the corridor it was tremendous. Apollo could make out music above the sounds of humans enjoying themselves, it sounded like Sagittarian ragga, there was certainly a trumpet involved and a large booming bass rhythm that he could feel thumping through the floor of the corridor. Starbuck laughed and stuck an unlit fumerello into his mouth. He clasped his hand on his friend’s shoulder and pulled him into the room "Come on buddy" he said "I’ll get you a drink". Apollo was immediately jostled up against an attractive red haired waitress who was endeavouring to push pass several warriors in order to clear some glasses. "Captain!" she screamed as she recognised him and threw her arms about his neck. Apollo found himself enveloped in an exotic musky scent and slightly damp arms and her soft lips pressed enthusiastt his own sweat start to pool around his collar in anticipation and he pulled at the collar with his finger. He grinned suddenly at Starbuck "The noise!" he shouted. Even in the corridor it was tremendous. Apollo could make out music above the sounds of humans enjoying themselves, it sounded like Sagittarian ragga, there was certainly a trumpet involved and a large booming bass rhythm that he could feel thumping through the floor of the corridor. Starbuck laughed and stuck an unlit fumerello into his mouth. He clasped his hand on his friend’s shoulder and pulled him into the room "Come on buddy" he said "I’ll get you a drink". Apollo was immediately jostled up against an attractive red haired waitress who was endeavouring to push pass several warriors in order to clear some glasses. "Captain!" she screamed as she recognised him and threw her arms about his neck. Apollo found himself enveloped in an exotic musky scent and slightly damp arms and her soft lips pressed enthusiastshouted at him, let his hair be ruffled and turned down glasses of ambrosa as some tried to force them into his hand. He looked around the Club as his colleagues as they celebrated victory in their own particular way. Boomer was sitting in a corner, his arm along the back of a chair that contained a sultry female warrior. He seemed to be taking a great deal of care to tell her something, Apollo could see him punctuating his words by prodding his fumerello into the air. She sat, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, mouth in a half smile. Apollo didn’t think she looked convinced at all, even though Boomer looked painfully earnest. Another roar from his right made him turn to see Jolly finish a large elongated glass tube of Caprican ale. The plump warrior wiped the ale that was streaming down his chin and neck and then burped loudly. He wavered on his feet for a moment, the warriors around him suddenly silent and focused, then crashed to the floor. There was then a flurry of activity as She was well enough by this point to sit up beside the fire he built every night. Sheba had managed to find out that Mudachamad was a venalicium, which she had translated as a type of "trader, she had not been able to find out of what. She found him to be kind and he had invested a good deal of energy to restoring her physical wellbeing. He had some skill in medicine she had discovered, certainly her injuries were quickly healing. Curiously she had come to trust him. He was old enough to be her grandfather and he fussed over her constantly making sure she was comfortable. Often she found him regarding her with a twinkle in his eyes, especially when she struggled to make herself understood. "The structure?" she questioned him. He shook his head and looked puzzled. She put down the bowl she was eating from and tried to pull the words she needed from her mind. "Large structure, aedificium." She gesticulated in the air to try and illustrate "Large, big…. Erm.. Vastus!" sically against his. He blinked in astonishment, and a huge roar went up from the warriors around him as they applauded the scene. Apollo pushed the waitress away and grinned at her, then he felt a hand at his shoulder as Starbuck yanked him free. "Hey!" Starbuck shouted at him, "How come you get all the luck?" Apollo laughed, "Comes with the rank!" he shouted back. They started to push their way through the tight throng of warriors. The Club was full of the smell of stale ambrosa split from upturned or broken glasses, smoke from fumerellos and the odour of so many human bodies crammed into a small space. Apollo and Starbuck’s contribution to the meant that they found themselves being manhandled by every warrior they had to force their way past. One female warrior snatched Starbuck’s fumerello from his mouth and waltzed off with it. Another warrior pumped Apollo’s hand so hard, he thought his elbow had become dislocated. Apollo laughed and smiled, shouted back to some as they ically against his. He blinked in astonishment, and a huge roar went up from the warriors around him as they applauded the scene. Apollo pushed the waitress away and grinned at her, then he felt a hand at his shoulder as Starbuck yanked him free. "Hey!" Starbuck shouted at him, "How come you get all the luck?" Apollo laughed, "Comes with the rank!" he shouted back. They started to push their way through the tight throng of warriors. The Club was full of the smell of stale ambrosa split from upturned or broken glasses, smoke from fumerellos and the odour of so many human bodies crammed into a small space. Apollo and Starbuck’s contribution to the meant that they found themselves being manhandled by every warrior they had to force their way past. One female warrior snatched Starbuck’s fumerello from his mouth and waltzed off with it. Another warrior pumped Apollo’s hand so hard, he thought his elbow had become dislocated. Apollo laughed and smiled, shouted back to some as they warriors exchanged cubits and insults and Jolly was pulled along the floor to where he was propped up against the wall, his head falling into his chest. Bojay was wrapped around a dark woman on the dance floor. It didn’t seem to matter that the beat of the music was a fast ragga, he and his partner moved slowly and sensuously to a beat they could only hear themselves. Periodically, they were jostled by other dancers, who were more enthusiastic in their interpretation of the music. He realised he had been looking for Sheba when he noticed that she wasn’t in the room. He frowned, he hadn’t seen her since her restrained welcome in Alpha Landing bay after he had Starbuck had extracted themselves from the Cylon raider they had smuggled themselves aboard the basestar in. Starbuck had been enveloped by Cassiopeia who was limp with relief. Adama had embraced his son in a more sober fashion, his jaw stern but his eyes moist, while Athena had stood beside her brother rubbing his arm, tehe cried in triumph. This was the pattern their conversations followed most of the time. He shook his head. "Solo" Sheba could understand that at least. Many of the Colonial languages were derived from Old Kobolian and sometimes it took some of what her father would have called "strategic thinking" to understand and be understood. She had been alone, then in the desert when Mudachamad had found her. She couldn’t remember much before waking up in the tent since Apollo’s urgings to watch what she was doing, but she had a vivid memory of she and her Viper plummeting downwards through a green tunnel and of the structure she had found on her scanners rushing up to meet her. Mudachamad had told her that she had had a bad head injury and Sheba knew from the tender skin underneath the loose shift he had given her that she had burns down her left side. That lead her to believe that she had been able to bring the Viper down but how she had no recollection. Sheba had no doubt where sshouted at him, let his hair be ruffled and turned down glasses of ambrosa as some tried to force them into his hand. He looked around the Club as his colleagues as they celebrated victory in their own particular way. Boomer was sitting in a corner, his arm along the back of a chair that contained a sultry female warrior. He seemed to be taking a great deal of care to tell her something, Apollo could see him punctuating his words by prodding his fumerello into the air. She sat, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, mouth in a half smile. Apollo didn’t think she looked convinced at all, even though Boomer looked painfully earnest. Another roar from his right made him turn to see Jolly finish a large elongated glass tube of Caprican ale. The plump warrior wiped the ale that was streaming down his chin and neck and then burped loudly. He wavered on his feet for a moment, the warriors around him suddenly silent and focused, then crashed to the floor. There was then a flurry of activity asshouted at him, let his hair be ruffled and turned down glasses of ambrosa as some tried to force them into his hand. He looked around the Club as his colleagues as they celebrated victory in their own particular way. Boomer was sitting in a corner, his arm along the back of a chair that contained a sultry female warrior. He seemed to be taking a great deal of care to tell her something, Apollo could see him punctuating his words by prodding his fumerello into the air. She sat, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, mouth in a half smile. Apollo didn’t think she looked convinced at all, even though Boomer looked painfully earnest. Another roar from his right made him turn to see Jolly finish a large elongated glass tube of Caprican ale. The plump warrior wiped the ale that was streaming down his chin and neck and then burped loudly. He wavered on his feet for a moment, the warriors around him suddenly silent and focused, then crashed to the floor. There was then a flurry of activity asars in her eyes. Sheba had stood at a slight distance and had said "Welcome back" when Adama and Athena had released him. He had looked at her and had not been sure of what to do next, his only thoughts had been that he was profoundly relieved to be back safe on the Galactica. "Thanks" he had said, and she had turned on her heel and walked away. As he looked for her, his mind replayed their last conversation in the Cylon raider as he had gone through his pre-flight checks. She had climbed into the raider and informed him in her unique imperious way that it needed three people to fly it. That she had tried to come along on the mission had not surprised him. He had smiled, while he had checked the navigational scanner. What she had to say next had totally wiped his pre-flight check list out of his mind. He had been unable to do nothing but look at her as she had accused him of dealing with his grief for Serina by repeatedly taking dangerous or even suicidal missions. He didn’t he was. She was on the planet she had Apollo had been investigating. The only question she had in her mind was when she was on this planet. She had puzzled this out in the days and nights she had lain in the tent waiting for the ground and her stomach to stop heaving every time she moved her head. Time travel was a subject she had taken a great deal of interest back at the Academy, so the concept had not seem unreasonable to her. "Aedificium vastus" she tried again. Mudachamad shook his head. Sheba moved to sit beside him and drew her hand across the sand so that it lay smooth and flat. She took her finger and drew in the sand the image she had seen on her scanner, two upright stones with a third lying horizontally across the top. She heard Mudachamad’s gasp, he sprang to his feet, his bowl of stew flung to the ground. Sheba watched as the bowl rolled on its side, the precious stew spilling into the sand. "Vetus unus! Prohibeo! Non!" he wailed. "Prohibeo!" "Mudachamad w warriors exchanged cubits and insults and Jolly was pulled along the floor to where he was propped up against the wall, his head falling into his chest. Bojay was wrapped around a dark woman on the dance floor. It didn’t seem to matter that the beat of the music was a fast ragga, he and his partner moved slowly and sensuously to a beat they could only hear themselves. Periodically, they were jostled by other dancers, who were more enthusiastic in their interpretation of the music. He realised he had been looking for Sheba when he noticed that she wasn’t in the room. He frowned, he hadn’t seen her since her restrained welcome in Alpha Landing bay after he had Starbuck had extracted themselves from the Cylon raider they had smuggled themselves aboard the basestar in. Starbuck had been enveloped by Cassiopeia who was limp with relief. Adama had embraced his son in a more sober fashion, his jaw stern but his eyes moist, while Athena had stood beside her brother rubbing his arm, te warriors exchanged cubits and insults and Jolly was pulled along the floor to where he was propped up against the wall, his head falling into his chest. Bojay was wrapped around a dark woman on the dance floor. It didn’t seem to matter that the beat of the music was a fast ragga, he and his partner moved slowly and sensuously to a beat they could only hear themselves. Periodically, they were jostled by other dancers, who were more enthusiastic in their interpretation of the music. He realised he had been looking for Sheba when he noticed that she wasn’t in the room. He frowned, he hadn’t seen her since her restrained welcome in Alpha Landing bay after he had Starbuck had extracted themselves from the Cylon raider they had smuggled themselves aboard the basestar in. Starbuck had been enveloped by Cassiopeia who was limp with relief. Adama had embraced his son in a more sober fashion, his jaw stern but his eyes moist, while Athena had stood beside her brother rubbing his arm, teknow, he had thought about it during his contemplation in the Celestial Chamber, perhaps she had she wanted to say that she had feelings for him, because she felt he wouldn’t be coming back. "Have you ever considered the fact that maybe two people who snap at each other for no reason are trying to hide their real feelings?" He had shaken his head. "I've thought about it quite a bit." Then she had kissed him lightly on his mouth and climbed back out the raider. If he thought back, he could still feel her soft mouth against his and the warmth that had spread to his body. After she had left, he had sat in a revere, full of confusion and pain, until Starbuck’s exuberant arrival had jolted him back to his pre-launch checks. Starbuck punched softly on the chest "Apollo!" he shouted, "Wake up!" Apollo found himself back in the crowded club again. He and Starbuck had made it to the bar where Cassiopeia sat, looking a little lost, twisting a cocktail glasses between her fingers. Her fhat’s wrong?" Sheba struggled to her feet, it was still difficult for her to move quickly. She stood beside him and watched as he buried his face in his hands and started to moan. She put her hand on his shoulder but he flinched away from her. He threw his face toward the sky and clasped his hands together under his chin. He started to sway backwards and forwards on his feet, and keened softly a chant under his breath, the words of which, Sheba could not hear. * * * * * * The fire crackled and sparked in the cool desert air, the sky had darkened quickly from the deep blue that stretched unbroken from horizon to horizon, to the deep blue that was the colour of command uniforms, then black sprinkled with stars. Those pinpricks of light, vast cauldrons of fire and fusion millions of miles away, tamed by the distance, reduced to pretty specks of light. It had started to turn cold as the sun set, the air losing the warm embrace of the sun. The planet, Mudachamad ars in her eyes. Sheba had stood at a slight distance and had said "Welcome back" when Adama and Athena had released him. He had looked at her and had not been sure of what to do next, his only thoughts had been that he was profoundly relieved to be back safe on the Galactica. "Thanks" he had said, and she had turned on her heel and walked away. As he looked for her, his mind replayed their last conversation in the Cylon raider as he had gone through his pre-flight checks. She had climbed into the raider and informed him in her unique imperious way that it needed three people to fly it. That she had tried to come along on the mission had not surprised him. He had smiled, while he had checked the navigational scanner. What she had to say next had totally wiped his pre-flight check list out of his mind. He had been unable to do nothing but look at her as she had accused him of dealing with his grief for Serina by repeatedly taking dangerous or even suicidal missions. He didn’t ars in her eyes. Sheba had stood at a slight distance and had said "Welcome back" when Adama and Athena had released him. He had looked at her and had not been sure of what to do next, his only thoughts had been that he was profoundly relieved to be back safe on the Galactica. "Thanks" he had said, and she had turned on her heel and walked away. As he looked for her, his mind replayed their last conversation in the Cylon raider as he had gone through his pre-flight checks. She had climbed into the raider and informed him in her unique imperious way that it needed three people to fly it. That she had tried to come along on the mission had not surprised him. He had smiled, while he had checked the navigational scanner. What she had to say next had totally wiped his pre-flight check list out of his mind. He had been unable to do nothing but look at her as she had accused him of dealing with his grief for Serina by repeatedly taking dangerous or even suicidal missions. He didn’t ace lit up as she spied Starbuck. "Hey sweetie!" Starbuck bawled at his lover, "You on your own? Where’s Sheba?" "I don’t know" shouted Cassie "I think she said she had to go look at her Viper, something about the targeting scanner going off line" She looked straight at Apollo. He turned to Starbuck and put his hand on his shoulder. "Keep a cold one for me, friend" and before Starbuck could utter the words that were about to fall from his open mouth, started to push his way back through the party. The Galactica bridge was quiet that shift, and that was the way Colonel Tigh liked it, the muted sounds of beeps, twerps, humms and blips the bridge monitors made were a balm to his ears. He was standing at the helm of the Galactica at that moment, checking the Galactica’s course. After the diversion when they had dealt with the basestar, they were now on the course heading Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba had brought back with them from the Ship of Lights, straight for the planet called Eaappeared to call it Sabulo, had two satellite moons that rose late in the evening, their full round discs gleamed in the dark sky, infusing the whole area with a delicate white light. The desert had never looked more beautiful than at that hour. Sitting, leaning against the side of the tent alone, Sheba had watched the stars as the sky went from dark blue to black and the air got really cold. She wondered if people sat beside tents on planets that orbited those stars and wondered about people like her. She thought about how big the Universe was and whether it had a bigness or whether it kept going for ever. She wanted to quantify the Universe, measure it, somehow reduce it and understand it. But she really thought the Universe was just the Universe, there was no limit to it. Perhaps the only limit was the limit it was given in the minds that lived in it. Maybe all the Universe was, was the product of all the minds in it, working at it, forming it, sculpting it. She thought of Apoknow, he had thought about it during his contemplation in the Celestial Chamber, perhaps she had she wanted to say that she had feelings for him, because she felt he wouldn’t be coming back. "Have you ever considered the fact that maybe two people who snap at each other for no reason are trying to hide their real feelings?" He had shaken his head. "I've thought about it quite a bit." Then she had kissed him lightly on his mouth and climbed back out the raider. If he thought back, he could still feel her soft mouth against his and the warmth that had spread to his body. After she had left, he had sat in a revere, full of confusion and pain, until Starbuck’s exuberant arrival had jolted him back to his pre-launch checks. Starbuck punched softly on the chest "Apollo!" he shouted, "Wake up!" Apollo found himself back in the crowded club again. He and Starbuck had made it to the bar where Cassiopeia sat, looking a little lost, twisting a cocktail glasses between her fingers. Her fknow, he had thought about it during his contemplation in the Celestial Chamber, perhaps she had she wanted to say that she had feelings for him, because she felt he wouldn’t be coming back. "Have you ever considered the fact that maybe two people who snap at each other for no reason are trying to hide their real feelings?" He had shaken his head. "I've thought about it quite a bit." Then she had kissed him lightly on his mouth and climbed back out the raider. If he thought back, he could still feel her soft mouth against his and the warmth that had spread to his body. After she had left, he had sat in a revere, full of confusion and pain, until Starbuck’s exuberant arrival had jolted him back to his pre-launch checks. Starbuck punched softly on the chest "Apollo!" he shouted, "Wake up!" Apollo found himself back in the crowded club again. He and Starbuck had made it to the bar where Cassiopeia sat, looking a little lost, twisting a cocktail glasses between her fingers. Her frth. The monitor showed that the navigational relays were working perfectly, Tigh sighed. Quiet times were rare for the fleet, and he always appreciated them, he revelled in the satisfaction of observing the perfect operation of the Galactica’s systems. He walked over to the traffic controller’s monitor, manned that shift by Athena. She looked up and smiled at him as he approached her. "Status?" he enquired. "Traffic is running smoothly, sir" she said and showed him her monitor screen. Tigh could see the whole fleet laid out on the screen, the Galactica at the point, with the two hundred and twenty-odd ships of the fleet following. Two small blips at the back of the fleet were two Vipers, always on patrol in that area, scanning behind the fleet and perhaps more importantly, ensuring that no ship in the fleet were left behind. Some of the older vessels seemed hardly spaceworthy enough to take the short hops between the colonies let alone withstand the rigours of a inter galactic voyllo and she wondered if in that great vast Universe he was there somehow thinking of her and wondering where she was. Was he missing her? Did he feel the vast, gulf of loneliness that she did when she thought of him, the huge vat of longing she seemed to disappear into when she remembered how his smile would sometimes just crack his face wide open? Part of her soul almost seemed to leave her body and try to reach towards him. She remembered the last time they had been together when they had kissed in the hangar. How his body was so different from hers, the strength in his arms, his muscles and sinews so much nearer the surface of his skin. She remembered how she had felt his muscles of his shoulders bunch and move under his flight jacket as he had moved his hands over her and then she recalled the hard feel of his fingers moving through her hair. Sheba sighed. She regretted that so much time had been wasted with him, even though that was not her fault but his own stubborn reluctanceace lit up as she spied Starbuck. "Hey sweetie!" Starbuck bawled at his lover, "You on your own? Where’s Sheba?" "I don’t know" shouted Cassie "I think she said she had to go look at her Viper, something about the targeting scanner going off line" She looked straight at Apollo. He turned to Starbuck and put his hand on his shoulder. "Keep a cold one for me, friend" and before Starbuck could utter the words that were about to fall from his open mouth, started to push his way back through the party. The Galactica bridge was quiet that shift, and that was the way Colonel Tigh liked it, the muted sounds of beeps, twerps, humms and blips the bridge monitors made were a balm to his ears. He was standing at the helm of the Galactica at that moment, checking the Galactica’s course. After the diversion when they had dealt with the basestar, they were now on the course heading Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba had brought back with them from the Ship of Lights, straight for the planet called Eaace lit up as she spied Starbuck. "Hey sweetie!" Starbuck bawled at his lover, "You on your own? Where’s Sheba?" "I don’t know" shouted Cassie "I think she said she had to go look at her Viper, something about the targeting scanner going off line" She looked straight at Apollo. He turned to Starbuck and put his hand on his shoulder. "Keep a cold one for me, friend" and before Starbuck could utter the words that were about to fall from his open mouth, started to push his way back through the party. The Galactica bridge was quiet that shift, and that was the way Colonel Tigh liked it, the muted sounds of beeps, twerps, humms and blips the bridge monitors made were a balm to his ears. He was standing at the helm of the Galactica at that moment, checking the Galactica’s course. After the diversion when they had dealt with the basestar, they were now on the course heading Apollo, Starbuck and Sheba had brought back with them from the Ship of Lights, straight for the planet called Eaage. Tigh nodded, pleased. Athena was one of the best bridge officers he had ever served with. She was efficient and highly focused, like her brother, and her father. Tigh had served with Adama for over twenty yahrens, through battles, furlons and the devastation of the colonies, had seen all his children grow up, from solemn children who seemed to have been born with that sense of responsibility almost bred in them to the efficient warriors they had become, still carrying a burden of obligation. Tigh wasn’t sure that he thought that this notion of responsibility made them better warriors, but he noticed that Apollo seemed to function better in Starbuck’s company, a warrior who seemed to wear irresponsibility on his sleeve. Tigh, he reflected, had served a similar purpose with Adama when he was younger, some of the situations he and Adama had found themselves in when they were Viper pilots, would he was sure, make Adama blush if Tigh choose to remind him of them. Tigh did of course, to see what was there between them. Starbuck had seen it, she knew, she could still see the gleam in his eye and the smile playing with his mouth whenever she and Apollo had one of their disagreements. Sometimes she had wanted to scream at Apollo for not seeing in himself his own desire for her. She had cautioned herself to remain quiet, to give him time so that he could mourn his wife. She hadn’t wanted to just be comfort for him, she had wanted to be so much more. Patience didn’t come easily, sometimes she had felt she was wrestling demons but she had managed to surprise herself by her stillness. Until the day he took the cylon raider to the basestar and she knew she could not be quiet any longer. His face! When she thought of it she laughed quietly to herself. He had looked stunned, but she could see the truth starting to trickle through to him in the confusion in his eyes. Such beautiful green eyes, and they had looked so puzzled and full of pain. She felt tears prick herrth. The monitor showed that the navigational relays were working perfectly, Tigh sighed. Quiet times were rare for the fleet, and he always appreciated them, he revelled in the satisfaction of observing the perfect operation of the Galactica’s systems. He walked over to the traffic controller’s monitor, manned that shift by Athena. She looked up and smiled at him as he approached her. "Status?" he enquired. "Traffic is running smoothly, sir" she said and showed him her monitor screen. Tigh could see the whole fleet laid out on the screen, the Galactica at the point, with the two hundred and twenty-odd ships of the fleet following. Two small blips at the back of the fleet were two Vipers, always on patrol in that area, scanning behind the fleet and perhaps more importantly, ensuring that no ship in the fleet were left behind. Some of the older vessels seemed hardly spaceworthy enough to take the short hops between the colonies let alone withstand the rigours of a inter galactic voyrth. The monitor showed that the navigational relays were working perfectly, Tigh sighed. Quiet times were rare for the fleet, and he always appreciated them, he revelled in the satisfaction of observing the perfect operation of the Galactica’s systems. He walked over to the traffic controller’s monitor, manned that shift by Athena. She looked up and smiled at him as he approached her. "Status?" he enquired. "Traffic is running smoothly, sir" she said and showed him her monitor screen. Tigh could see the whole fleet laid out on the screen, the Galactica at the point, with the two hundred and twenty-odd ships of the fleet following. Two small blips at the back of the fleet were two Vipers, always on patrol in that area, scanning behind the fleet and perhaps more importantly, ensuring that no ship in the fleet were left behind. Some of the older vessels seemed hardly spaceworthy enough to take the short hops between the colonies let alone withstand the rigours of a inter galactic voyrespectfully, if he ever thought Adama was becoming carried away by his own convictions. Tigh’s attention was suddenly caught by Omega who was standing next to the long range scanner console. He was engaged in a quiet conversation with the officer manning the scanners, Phaedra, a blonde Gemon. She was frowning over her display. Feeling a prickle at the back of his neck, Tigh knew the feeling meant the quiet period the Galactica had been enjoying had just ended. As he walked over the monitor, Phaedra looked up. Tigh noticed, a faint pink colour rise up her face as he approached the two officers. He had been aware that Ensign Phaedra had a crush on him for some time and as usual Tigh felt a stab of pain . The young woman’s regard for him made him think of home and family, obliterated in the Destruction. "Ensign?" prompted Tigh gently. "Sir," she looked up at Omega, who nodded for her to continue. "We’re picking up some strange energy readings from the scanners." "Show me", Tig own as the thought came to her that she might not see those eyes looking at her again. Even if they were scowling at her, at least they were looking at her, taking her in, experiencing her. She hadn’t realised until this moment how much she had wanted to touch him and how much she wanted him to touch her. She had wanted him to linger in his touch, to really taste her through his fingers. And now he was far away, somewhere and she was lost in time. Alone without him. Apollo looked at Boomer, his stomach shifting uneasily. His thoughts had unfolded to the only logical conclusion there was. If the Viper had been there for one thousand yahrens, what would they find when they managed to shift open the canopy? His mind touched that terrible place and Apollo knew he couldn’t be the person to find out. He looked at Boomer. Boomer’s calm dark face looked back at him, his hand gripped Apollo’s forearm. "Captain," Boomer said "Why don’t try and find out where those energy readingsage. Tigh nodded, pleased. Athena was one of the best bridge officers he had ever served with. She was efficient and highly focused, like her brother, and her father. Tigh had served with Adama for over twenty yahrens, through battles, furlons and the devastation of the colonies, had seen all his children grow up, from solemn children who seemed to have been born with that sense of responsibility almost bred in them to the efficient warriors they had become, still carrying a burden of obligation. Tigh wasn’t sure that he thought that this notion of responsibility made them better warriors, but he noticed that Apollo seemed to function better in Starbuck’s company, a warrior who seemed to wear irresponsibility on his sleeve. Tigh, he reflected, had served a similar purpose with Adama when he was younger, some of the situations he and Adama had found themselves in when they were Viper pilots, would he was sure, make Adama blush if Tigh choose to remind him of them. Tigh did of course, age. Tigh nodded, pleased. Athena was one of the best bridge officers he had ever served with. She was efficient and highly focused, like her brother, and her father. Tigh had served with Adama for over twenty yahrens, through battles, furlons and the devastation of the colonies, had seen all his children grow up, from solemn children who seemed to have been born with that sense of responsibility almost bred in them to the efficient warriors they had become, still carrying a burden of obligation. Tigh wasn’t sure that he thought that this notion of responsibility made them better warriors, but he noticed that Apollo seemed to function better in Starbuck’s company, a warrior who seemed to wear irresponsibility on his sleeve. Tigh, he reflected, had served a similar purpose with Adama when he was younger, some of the situations he and Adama had found themselves in when they were Viper pilots, would he was sure, make Adama blush if Tigh choose to remind him of them. Tigh did of course, h said. Phaedra’s fingers danced across scanner controls and brought up a strange oscillating pattern on the monitor. Tigh frowned, the energy reading seemed to consist of an endlessly repeating wave, but at a frequency and amplitude he had never seen before. "Could it be a communication of some sort?" he asked Phaedra, looking right into her green eyes. She blinked, mesmerised for a moment and Tigh felt a mixture of irritation and concern. However, she collected herself almost immediately. "I don’t think so sir, I’ve checked it against all known languages in the lingua banks. Sir," she paused, "It doesn’t match any known Cylon signal" Omega said, "That doesn’t mean it isn’t them." Tigh looked at him, "Quite." The quiet of the hangar was balm to Apollo’s ears, stressed by the volume of noise at the party. There were a few maintenance crews dotted around servicing the vipers that had just returned from combat. Hatches had been pulled out of bodywork showing intestinal tw are coming from?" Apollo nodded slowly. With one last look at the cracked and glazed canopy he clambered down the Viper until his feet rested on the red sand. Cassie looked at him with quiet sympathy. He took a deep steadying breath and tried to focus on the scanner he held before him and not the noises Boomer made as he hammered at the canopy with a jemmy tool he had in his backpack. Cassie stood beside Apollo, standing close like Starbuck would have done if he were here. Both looked at the scanner, the readings were fluctuating, the trace on the scanner screen, dancing wildly. As Apollo moved the scanner across the area of ground they stood on, he noticed that the pattern peaked just one metron to the right of where he and Cassie were standing. The splintering from above told Apollo that Boomer had managed to prise the canopy of the Viper open. Then there was a huge groaning, wrenching noise that seemed to vibrate through Apollo’s body as Boomer levered the canopy open. Then therrespectfully, if he ever thought Adama was becoming carried away by his own convictions. Tigh’s attention was suddenly caught by Omega who was standing next to the long range scanner console. He was engaged in a quiet conversation with the officer manning the scanners, Phaedra, a blonde Gemon. She was frowning over her display. Feeling a prickle at the back of his neck, Tigh knew the feeling meant the quiet period the Galactica had been enjoying had just ended. As he walked over the monitor, Phaedra looked up. Tigh noticed, a faint pink colour rise up her face as he approached the two officers. He had been aware that Ensign Phaedra had a crush on him for some time and as usual Tigh felt a stab of pain . The young woman’s regard for him made him think of home and family, obliterated in the Destruction. "Ensign?" prompted Tigh gently. "Sir," she looked up at Omega, who nodded for her to continue. "We’re picking up some strange energy readings from the scanners." "Show me", Tigrespectfully, if he ever thought Adama was becoming carried away by his own convictions. Tigh’s attention was suddenly caught by Omega who was standing next to the long range scanner console. He was engaged in a quiet conversation with the officer manning the scanners, Phaedra, a blonde Gemon. She was frowning over her display. Feeling a prickle at the back of his neck, Tigh knew the feeling meant the quiet period the Galactica had been enjoying had just ended. As he walked over the monitor, Phaedra looked up. Tigh noticed, a faint pink colour rise up her face as he approached the two officers. He had been aware that Ensign Phaedra had a crush on him for some time and as usual Tigh felt a stab of pain . The young woman’s regard for him made him think of home and family, obliterated in the Destruction. "Ensign?" prompted Tigh gently. "Sir," she looked up at Omega, who nodded for her to continue. "We’re picking up some strange energy readings from the scanners." "Show me", Tigistings of wires and switches, in some cases, wires protruded in multicoloured, meshed bundles. Legs poked out of cockpits and from under the ships. A strobing light caught Apollo’s attention and he saw that a shower of sparks came streaming from the tail of one Viper, as one of its tail struts was being reattached. Apart from occasional tapping noises, hisses of steam and frizzle of the welders, all Apollo could hear as he walked through the Vipers looking for Sheba was the occasional murmurs of human speech as various workers requested tools and repair parts from each other. He found Sheba hanging upside down in her cockpit. All he could see was the lower half of her body as she leant over the side. "I’ve found it!" he could hear her muffled shout. She was talking to her flight mechanic, Plato, a dark burly Scorpian lying under the nose cone. "It’s a loose connection in the scanner relays. Get me the laserwelder!" Plato levered himself to sit upright and scrabbled about in his toole was silence. And Boomer shouted "Apollo, by the Lords! She’s not here!" Energy readings forgotten, Apollo scrambled back up the Viper and peered inside. The seat was cracked and torn, long perished, but it was empty. Boomer had leant inside the cockpit and was scanning the interior. "No signs of biological debris" Boomer said. Apollo didn’t know what to feel. Confusion wrapped his mind in cotton wool and he suddenly felt all the energy leave his body. He slumped on top of the Viper, his arms and legs feeling like lead. Then Cassie asked. "If she’s not there, where is she?" "I don’t know" said Apollo. "I just don’t know" He looked at Boomer who had leant back on his heels and was clearly ruminating on the situation. "It’s possible she survived her landing" Boomer said. "That would mean…" Apollo said, his confused mind beginning to think the impossible. "She is one thousand yahrens in the past." "What?" exclaimed Cassie "Is that possible?" "Theoreticalh said. Phaedra’s fingers danced across scanner controls and brought up a strange oscillating pattern on the monitor. Tigh frowned, the energy reading seemed to consist of an endlessly repeating wave, but at a frequency and amplitude he had never seen before. "Could it be a communication of some sort?" he asked Phaedra, looking right into her green eyes. She blinked, mesmerised for a moment and Tigh felt a mixture of irritation and concern. However, she collected herself almost immediately. "I don’t think so sir, I’ve checked it against all known languages in the lingua banks. Sir," she paused, "It doesn’t match any known Cylon signal" Omega said, "That doesn’t mean it isn’t them." Tigh looked at him, "Quite." The quiet of the hangar was balm to Apollo’s ears, stressed by the volume of noise at the party. There were a few maintenance crews dotted around servicing the vipers that had just returned from combat. Hatches had been pulled out of bodywork showing intestinal twh said. Phaedra’s fingers danced across scanner controls and brought up a strange oscillating pattern on the monitor. Tigh frowned, the energy reading seemed to consist of an endlessly repeating wave, but at a frequency and amplitude he had never seen before. "Could it be a communication of some sort?" he asked Phaedra, looking right into her green eyes. She blinked, mesmerised for a moment and Tigh felt a mixture of irritation and concern. However, she collected herself almost immediately. "I don’t think so sir, I’ve checked it against all known languages in the lingua banks. Sir," she paused, "It doesn’t match any known Cylon signal" Omega said, "That doesn’t mean it isn’t them." Tigh looked at him, "Quite." The quiet of the hangar was balm to Apollo’s ears, stressed by the volume of noise at the party. There were a few maintenance crews dotted around servicing the vipers that had just returned from combat. Hatches had been pulled out of bodywork showing intestinal tw bag. He had his back toward Apollo. Apollo could see that the Viper had scorched streaks along its nose cone of carbonised hull where it had flown too close to Cylon lasers, and a chunk had been blown out of the lower right hand tail strut. He frowned to himself and reminded himself that he must speak to her about her flying tactics. This wasn’t the first time she had limped home with damage and some of the stunts she pulled where foolhardy. And he had a deathwish. Plato had found the laserwelder Sheba had asked for and as he turned to hand it her he saw Apollo. He made to greet Apollo, but Apollo signalled him to remain silent. "Can I take that?" Apollo asked quietly. Plato nodded and smiled, showing a fine set of teeth. He handed the welder to Apollo and went back to his work under the nose cone. "Dammit Plato!" Sheba shouted "Where are you?" She reached a hand back to grab the welder. Apollo leapt up to join her at the cockpit and put the welder in her hand. She snatistings of wires and switches, in some cases, wires protruded in multicoloured, meshed bundles. Legs poked out of cockpits and from under the ships. A strobing light caught Apollo’s attention and he saw that a shower of sparks came streaming from the tail of one Viper, as one of its tail struts was being reattached. Apart from occasional tapping noises, hisses of steam and frizzle of the welders, all Apollo could hear as he walked through the Vipers looking for Sheba was the occasional murmurs of human speech as various workers requested tools and repair parts from each other. He found Sheba hanging upside down in her cockpit. All he could see was the lower half of her body as she leant over the side. "I’ve found it!" he could hear her muffled shout. She was talking to her flight mechanic, Plato, a dark burly Scorpian lying under the nose cone. "It’s a loose connection in the scanner relays. Get me the laserwelder!" Plato levered himself to sit upright and scrabbled about in his toolly time travel is possible" said Boomer pulling out another piece of equipment from his backpack. "It’s just that the technology was never developed on the colonies" Apollo sat on the edge of Sheba’s Viper, feeling as helpless and out of control as one of the grains of sands being blown about on this accursed planet. The view was calm in front of him, Cassie stood below him, Apollo could see her puzzled face peering through the visor of her HE suit. Boomer was scuffling about beside Apollo taking readings. Apollo was sure his mind, ordered, logical and quick was working out what happened to Sheba here. He knew Boomer was racing through possibilities in his mind, calmly sifting through the evidence, discarding this and keeping that. Apollo couldn’t think the impossible, part of him was leaping and dancing with joy, and he could feel the heat of it starting to thaw the rest of his frozen mind, but then he felt a river of ice, chilling the joy, killing it. Because he knew that even if sistings of wires and switches, in some cases, wires protruded in multicoloured, meshed bundles. Legs poked out of cockpits and from under the ships. A strobing light caught Apollo’s attention and he saw that a shower of sparks came streaming from the tail of one Viper, as one of its tail struts was being reattached. Apart from occasional tapping noises, hisses of steam and frizzle of the welders, all Apollo could hear as he walked through the Vipers looking for Sheba was the occasional murmurs of human speech as various workers requested tools and repair parts from each other. He found Sheba hanging upside down in her cockpit. All he could see was the lower half of her body as she leant over the side. "I’ve found it!" he could hear her muffled shout. She was talking to her flight mechanic, Plato, a dark burly Scorpian lying under the nose cone. "It’s a loose connection in the scanner relays. Get me the laserwelder!" Plato levered himself to sit upright and scrabbled about in his toolched it out of his hand, he felt the brush of her skin against his and he shivered slightly. Sparks started to fly as she began working with the tool. Apollo peered past her behind and watched as she began to re-fuse the loose relay to its terminal. She had skill, he noted. "Is that the way you always speak to your mechanic?" he asked mildly. Sheba jumped violently and the hand that was meticulously guiding the welder slipped, tracing the beam of the fine laser across her free hand. "Ow!" she yelped, she pulled herself to upright, her long, blond hair was tied back, but wisps of it fell about her face. "Look what you made me do Apollo!" she waved her injured hand in the air, trying to cool her super-heated skin. She glared at him, her face flushing. Apollo caught her hand and drew it toward him, "I’m sorry" was all he could think to say. There was a narrow red wheal bisecting the smooth skin of her palm. "Does it hurt?" He looked up to see Sheba working her lower lip be bag. He had his back toward Apollo. Apollo could see that the Viper had scorched streaks along its nose cone of carbonised hull where it had flown too close to Cylon lasers, and a chunk had been blown out of the lower right hand tail strut. He frowned to himself and reminded himself that he must speak to her about her flying tactics. This wasn’t the first time she had limped home with damage and some of the stunts she pulled where foolhardy. And he had a deathwish. Plato had found the laserwelder Sheba had asked for and as he turned to hand it her he saw Apollo. He made to greet Apollo, but Apollo signalled him to remain silent. "Can I take that?" Apollo asked quietly. Plato nodded and smiled, showing a fine set of teeth. He handed the welder to Apollo and went back to his work under the nose cone. "Dammit Plato!" Sheba shouted "Where are you?" She reached a hand back to grab the welder. Apollo leapt up to join her at the cockpit and put the welder in her hand. She snathe survived the landing she must be dead anyone. One thousand yahrens dead Apollo knew that the secrets of what happened to Sheba lay with the monstrous stones surrounding them. He looked at the stones and hated them. Like dark sentinels, brooding and evil and suffocating. they loomed all around him and he felt his mind begin to slide and the stones appeared to waver and ripple and move. He felt their presence begin to squeeze the air out of his lungs. Panic swept across him and he propelled himself off the Viper to try and escape. He landed on the sand, feet first and the jolt that jerked through his body seemed to throw his mind out of the confusion and panic and when he looked back the stones again, they seemed as inert and immobile as they had ever been. Boomer was scanning the ground near where Apollo had seen the energy peak. He knelt down and started to dig the sand away. Cassie, curious moved beside him. Boomer’s movements were fast and energetic and there was somethin bag. He had his back toward Apollo. Apollo could see that the Viper had scorched streaks along its nose cone of carbonised hull where it had flown too close to Cylon lasers, and a chunk had been blown out of the lower right hand tail strut. He frowned to himself and reminded himself that he must speak to her about her flying tactics. This wasn’t the first time she had limped home with damage and some of the stunts she pulled where foolhardy. And he had a deathwish. Plato had found the laserwelder Sheba had asked for and as he turned to hand it her he saw Apollo. He made to greet Apollo, but Apollo signalled him to remain silent. "Can I take that?" Apollo asked quietly. Plato nodded and smiled, showing a fine set of teeth. He handed the welder to Apollo and went back to his work under the nose cone. "Dammit Plato!" Sheba shouted "Where are you?" She reached a hand back to grab the welder. Apollo leapt up to join her at the cockpit and put the welder in her hand. She snattween her teeth. She released it to say "Yes. A little." Her eyes met his. Apollo became aware of the smallest things about her. The way her hand felt in his, the pulse he could see beating furiously in her neck, the rise and fall of her breaths as they came in short gasps. Her green eyes, with their large black pupils. Her mouth. Sheba started to pull her hand away from his, but Apollo wasn’t quite ready to let go. Her action upset his precarious balance and he felt himself falling backwards. He let go of her hand and flailed about in the air. Sheba made a grab for him but all she could grasp was the lapels of his combat jacket. He managed to wrap his fingers around the edge of the cockpit and pull himself upright again, but with Sheba’s help they overcompensated and the next thing Apollo knew was that Sheba was holding him firmly by the lapels of his jacket, her fist bunched under his throat as if she were throttling him. Their faces were only inches apart and Apollo couldched it out of his hand, he felt the brush of her skin against his and he shivered slightly. Sparks started to fly as she began working with the tool. Apollo peered past her behind and watched as she began to re-fuse the loose relay to its terminal. She had skill, he noted. "Is that the way you always speak to your mechanic?" he asked mildly. Sheba jumped violently and the hand that was meticulously guiding the welder slipped, tracing the beam of the fine laser across her free hand. "Ow!" she yelped, she pulled herself to upright, her long, blond hair was tied back, but wisps of it fell about her face. "Look what you made me do Apollo!" she waved her injured hand in the air, trying to cool her super-heated skin. She glared at him, her face flushing. Apollo caught her hand and drew it toward him, "I’m sorry" was all he could think to say. There was a narrow red wheal bisecting the smooth skin of her palm. "Does it hurt?" He looked up to see Sheba working her lower lip beg in his actions that seemed optimistic. "Apollo" he called "Come over here" Apollo shook off the dark and forbidding thoughts he had had on the Viper and went to join Boomer and Cassie. They were scrabbling at the sand, like children on the beach, shifting it into peaks and furrows, immersing their hands finger deep into the sand and pulling it back. Many times their hands pulled more and more of the heavy stuff away and soon a deep hole was formed surrounded by a wall of sand. And then Apollo’s fingers brushed against something hard. Tigh was examining the large map of the sector that the Galactica was approaching while appreciating a large cup of Kafe, when Phaedra, who had been crouching over her station for several centars suddenly started. "Colonel Tigh!" she exclaimed. Tigh quickly put down his cup and moved toward her station "What is it ensign?" She looked up at him, fear written in the furrows made by the frown expressing itself across her lovely face. "Sir." ched it out of his hand, he felt the brush of her skin against his and he shivered slightly. Sparks started to fly as she began working with the tool. Apollo peered past her behind and watched as she began to re-fuse the loose relay to its terminal. She had skill, he noted. "Is that the way you always speak to your mechanic?" he asked mildly. Sheba jumped violently and the hand that was meticulously guiding the welder slipped, tracing the beam of the fine laser across her free hand. "Ow!" she yelped, she pulled herself to upright, her long, blond hair was tied back, but wisps of it fell about her face. "Look what you made me do Apollo!" she waved her injured hand in the air, trying to cool her super-heated skin. She glared at him, her face flushing. Apollo caught her hand and drew it toward him, "I’m sorry" was all he could think to say. There was a narrow red wheal bisecting the smooth skin of her palm. "Does it hurt?" He looked up to see Sheba working her lower lip be feel her breath on his skin. Afterwards he wasn’t sure who had started it, but they suddenly moved toward each other and sank into a deep kiss. Sheba’s hands let go of his jacket and slid round until her hands were flat against his shoulders. She pressed her body against his and Apollo groaned at the sensation, his hands found the knot in her hair and pulled it out so that it entangled in his fingers. He was oblivious to everything but her, her skin, her smell, how she felt, how she kissed him very thoroughly. Until his communicator started to bleep. Apollo released Sheba slowly, and pushed her away gently his hands on her shoulder. They were both breathing hard. "Sorry" he said. She nodded and took a deep breath, turning away from him slightly. He jumped to the ground and ran his fingers through his hair before taking the communicator out from his flight jacket. "Apollo" he said, the hand holding the communicator shook slightly. "Captain," Tigh sounded over the communictween her teeth. She released it to say "Yes. A little." Her eyes met his. Apollo became aware of the smallest things about her. The way her hand felt in his, the pulse he could see beating furiously in her neck, the rise and fall of her breaths as they came in short gasps. Her green eyes, with their large black pupils. Her mouth. Sheba started to pull her hand away from his, but Apollo wasn’t quite ready to let go. Her action upset his precarious balance and he felt himself falling backwards. He let go of her hand and flailed about in the air. Sheba made a grab for him but all she could grasp was the lapels of his combat jacket. He managed to wrap his fingers around the edge of the cockpit and pull himself upright again, but with Sheba’s help they overcompensated and the next thing Apollo knew was that Sheba was holding him firmly by the lapels of his jacket, her fist bunched under his throat as if she were throttling him. Their faces were only inches apart and Apollo couldShe swallowed. Tigh was held still by the anxiety in her green eyes and waited with a heavy feeling of dread to what she had to report. "Sir, the energy readings from the planet are showing a spike again" she said. Tigh spun toward Omega, who nodded before Tigh even spoke "Commander Adama to the bridge" Omega spoke into the comm system. Athena reported from her station, "Colonel, I’m trying to raise Captain Apollo and his team, but I can’t cut through the interference" "Phaedra, tie your station to Omega’s" Tigh ordered. Phaedra’s fingers moved quickly as she tied the telemetry the scanners were recording to Omega’s station. Tigh wanted to make sure that the Galactica could react quickly to any further change in the energy readings coming from the planet ahead of them. Apollo could also see the energy readings coming through strongly on his scanner. He, Boomer and Cassie were standing in a corridor beneath the structure. The hard surface Apollo’s fingers had encountered had tween her teeth. She released it to say "Yes. A little." Her eyes met his. Apollo became aware of the smallest things about her. The way her hand felt in his, the pulse he could see beating furiously in her neck, the rise and fall of her breaths as they came in short gasps. Her green eyes, with their large black pupils. Her mouth. Sheba started to pull her hand away from his, but Apollo wasn’t quite ready to let go. Her action upset his precarious balance and he felt himself falling backwards. He let go of her hand and flailed about in the air. Sheba made a grab for him but all she could grasp was the lapels of his combat jacket. He managed to wrap his fingers around the edge of the cockpit and pull himself upright again, but with Sheba’s help they overcompensated and the next thing Apollo knew was that Sheba was holding him firmly by the lapels of his jacket, her fist bunched under his throat as if she were throttling him. Their faces were only inches apart and Apollo couldator "We’re picking up some strange readings from our scanners." "Cylon raiders?" Apollo guessed. Tigh sighed. " Although the readings are not showing as Cylon, we can’t rule out the possibility that a few raiders may have survived the attack. Could you and Starbuck check it out?" "I’m here" Sheba said at Apollo’s shoulder, "I’ll go out with Apollo, Colonel." Apollo turned to object, but Sheba covered the communicator he was holding with her hand, "Starbuck is enjoying himself at the party, let me ride wing with you." Apollo nodded, "Okay, Colonel, Sheba and I will go and take a look." Before he had finished talking to Tigh, Sheba had walked over to Plato. "Come on Plato, we have to get this Viper out on the prowl" Plato swung himself from underneath the nose cone and let go a string of Scorpian expletives. "It’s not ready!" he bawled back at her. "You’ll be lucky not to break up during the launch." "Felgercarb!" Sheba retorted "You say that every time. You’re just a pe feel her breath on his skin. Afterwards he wasn’t sure who had started it, but they suddenly moved toward each other and sank into a deep kiss. Sheba’s hands let go of his jacket and slid round until her hands were flat against his shoulders. She pressed her body against his and Apollo groaned at the sensation, his hands found the knot in her hair and pulled it out so that it entangled in his fingers. He was oblivious to everything but her, her skin, her smell, how she felt, how she kissed him very thoroughly. Until his communicator started to bleep. Apollo released Sheba slowly, and pushed her away gently his hands on her shoulder. They were both breathing hard. "Sorry" he said. She nodded and took a deep breath, turning away from him slightly. He jumped to the ground and ran his fingers through his hair before taking the communicator out from his flight jacket. "Apollo" he said, the hand holding the communicator shook slightly. "Captain," Tigh sounded over the communicbeen a large stone slab. It hadn’t taken he and Boomer long to lift it. When it had come up, the air that had been trapped below it had rushed out in a long moan. Below them a stairway had led down into darkness, without much hesitation all three had descended into the dark. The corridor that they now found themselves in was dark, except for a faint blue luminescence that gleamed softly from the walls. Apollo had taken a closer look at the walls and found the light was caused by lines scoring and intersecting with each other in an amazing map of complex patterns. There seemed to be no logic in the patterns, in fact they really weren’t patterns at all, just lines, running up and down and across the walls. Sometimes, a thicker line could be discerned which soon branched into smaller lines. The phosphorescent light was bright enough to light their way as they walked down the corridor. Boomer headed up the their party, Cassie following and Apollo brought up the rear. Apollo had n feel her breath on his skin. Afterwards he wasn’t sure who had started it, but they suddenly moved toward each other and sank into a deep kiss. Sheba’s hands let go of his jacket and slid round until her hands were flat against his shoulders. She pressed her body against his and Apollo groaned at the sensation, his hands found the knot in her hair and pulled it out so that it entangled in his fingers. He was oblivious to everything but her, her skin, her smell, how she felt, how she kissed him very thoroughly. Until his communicator started to bleep. Apollo released Sheba slowly, and pushed her away gently his hands on her shoulder. They were both breathing hard. "Sorry" he said. She nodded and took a deep breath, turning away from him slightly. He jumped to the ground and ran his fingers through his hair before taking the communicator out from his flight jacket. "Apollo" he said, the hand holding the communicator shook slightly. "Captain," Tigh sounded over the communicrfectionist. The scanner relays are fine and you’ve fixed the fuel line haven’t you?" "Your manoeuvring thrusters are still sluggish," Plato complained. Sheba snorted, hands on her hips, she glared at him. Apollo intervened. "If your Viper is damaged Sheba, you shouldn’t come out with me" Sheba tossed her head. "I’ve fixed the scanner relays Apollo, they should be fine. There’s nothing wrong with the manoeuvring thrusters that Plato hasn’t been complaining about for months." Plato waggled the tool he was holding in Sheba’s face "You don’t take enough care of yourself" He turned to Apollo "This one, just like her father, thinks she’s indestructible. But she’s not." Sheba sighed and looked at the foot that was tapping on the ground, impatience visible in every movement and gesture. Apollo would have smiled, but the situation was too serious to risk launching a Viper that was not spaceworthy. "Can the Viper be launched?" he asked the flight mechanic. Plato sighed and lator "We’re picking up some strange readings from our scanners." "Cylon raiders?" Apollo guessed. Tigh sighed. " Although the readings are not showing as Cylon, we can’t rule out the possibility that a few raiders may have survived the attack. Could you and Starbuck check it out?" "I’m here" Sheba said at Apollo’s shoulder, "I’ll go out with Apollo, Colonel." Apollo turned to object, but Sheba covered the communicator he was holding with her hand, "Starbuck is enjoying himself at the party, let me ride wing with you." Apollo nodded, "Okay, Colonel, Sheba and I will go and take a look." Before he had finished talking to Tigh, Sheba had walked over to Plato. "Come on Plato, we have to get this Viper out on the prowl" Plato swung himself from underneath the nose cone and let go a string of Scorpian expletives. "It’s not ready!" he bawled back at her. "You’ll be lucky not to break up during the launch." "Felgercarb!" Sheba retorted "You say that every time. You’re just a peoticed that Cassie had been very quiet. But despite her lack of speech he had found her steady presence vital. Sheba had been her friend too and Apollo had seen some of his feelings of shock and grief reflected in her blue eyes, but he had also been aware of her quiet worry for him. A couple of times when he felt that he was on the edge of losing his rationality, Cassie had appeared at his side. It was almost like she was taking Starbuck's place he mused, wishing for a moment that his friend was with them. They had walked down the tunnel for about 13 metrons, according to Apollo's scanner, the light emanating from the walls had become progressively stronger and it was now clear that ahead the tunnel opened out into something a lot wider. The energy readings in Apollo's scanner had now become so strong that instead of showing on the scanner as erratically jumping spikes, the display was now showing a rolling oscillating wave. Adama strode onto the bridge "Colonel Tigh?" he raised a dator "We’re picking up some strange readings from our scanners." "Cylon raiders?" Apollo guessed. Tigh sighed. " Although the readings are not showing as Cylon, we can’t rule out the possibility that a few raiders may have survived the attack. Could you and Starbuck check it out?" "I’m here" Sheba said at Apollo’s shoulder, "I’ll go out with Apollo, Colonel." Apollo turned to object, but Sheba covered the communicator he was holding with her hand, "Starbuck is enjoying himself at the party, let me ride wing with you." Apollo nodded, "Okay, Colonel, Sheba and I will go and take a look." Before he had finished talking to Tigh, Sheba had walked over to Plato. "Come on Plato, we have to get this Viper out on the prowl" Plato swung himself from underneath the nose cone and let go a string of Scorpian expletives. "It’s not ready!" he bawled back at her. "You’ll be lucky not to break up during the launch." "Felgercarb!" Sheba retorted "You say that every time. You’re just a peowered his arms, "Yes Captain, she should be fine." He looked at Sheba, and Apollo could see the affection he had for her in his eyes. "Take care of her" he said gruffly to Apollo as he walked away. "Launch in five centons" Apollo said and strode away. "Sheba?" "Yes Apollo?" "About what happened in the hanger..." 'You mean when you kissed me." The vastness of space only seemed to emphasise the intimacy of the conversation Apollo was having with Sheba as the Vipers streaked toward the location of the strange scanner ghosts. Even although she was several hundred metres off his right wing, her voice sounded very close in his ear, almost like she was talking straight into his mind. 'What do you mean when I kissed you? You kissed me!" 'Yeah right!" Sheba laughed, "You kissed me Captain. Right after you jumped me with the laser welder." "How is your hand?" Apollo was concerned, in their rush to get away, he had forgotten about her injury. "It’s fine, I had porfectionist. The scanner relays are fine and you’ve fixed the fuel line haven’t you?" "Your manoeuvring thrusters are still sluggish," Plato complained. Sheba snorted, hands on her hips, she glared at him. Apollo intervened. "If your Viper is damaged Sheba, you shouldn’t come out with me" Sheba tossed her head. "I’ve fixed the scanner relays Apollo, they should be fine. There’s nothing wrong with the manoeuvring thrusters that Plato hasn’t been complaining about for months." Plato waggled the tool he was holding in Sheba’s face "You don’t take enough care of yourself" He turned to Apollo "This one, just like her father, thinks she’s indestructible. But she’s not." Sheba sighed and looked at the foot that was tapping on the ground, impatience visible in every movement and gesture. Apollo would have smiled, but the situation was too serious to risk launching a Viper that was not spaceworthy. "Can the Viper be launched?" he asked the flight mechanic. Plato sighed and lark eyebrow. "Sir, we’re showing an energy spike coming from that structure" Tigh reported. "By the Lords" Adama "Captain Apollo and his team?" "We can’t raise them" Tigh said. Adama stared into the distance for a micron. "Colonel, take the Galactica back to a safe distance. Away from the planet." Tigh looked at him, he could see the heaviness of the decision Adama was making weighing in the downward droop of the muscles of his face. "Aye, aye Sir" Tigh said softly. The sands of the desert seemed to Sheba to sift and ebb as dune after dune rolled endlessly towards the blue hazy horizon. She and Muchamad had been travelling for two days, but Sheba did not know where they were going. She had tried to no avail to have Muchamad take her to the stone ring but every time she had raised the subject he had cowered in terror, eyes rolling. Sheba's main hope was now that he would take her to a town, or some other collection of people, where she might find someone willingrfectionist. The scanner relays are fine and you’ve fixed the fuel line haven’t you?" "Your manoeuvring thrusters are still sluggish," Plato complained. Sheba snorted, hands on her hips, she glared at him. Apollo intervened. "If your Viper is damaged Sheba, you shouldn’t come out with me" Sheba tossed her head. "I’ve fixed the scanner relays Apollo, they should be fine. There’s nothing wrong with the manoeuvring thrusters that Plato hasn’t been complaining about for months." Plato waggled the tool he was holding in Sheba’s face "You don’t take enough care of yourself" He turned to Apollo "This one, just like her father, thinks she’s indestructible. But she’s not." Sheba sighed and looked at the foot that was tapping on the ground, impatience visible in every movement and gesture. Apollo would have smiled, but the situation was too serious to risk launching a Viper that was not spaceworthy. "Can the Viper be launched?" he asked the flight mechanic. Plato sighed and lwered the welder down so there wasn’t a lot of energy left in the beam. Now what where you saying about when you kissed me in the hangar Captain?" "Lieutenant Sheba, you’re contradicting a senior officer" Apollo reprimanded. "Are you going to pull rank on me whenever we have a disagreement in the future Captain?" Apollo chuckled. "I’m glad you think you think we have a future." Sheba replied softly "Oh yes, I certainly do." Then she changed her tone "Apollo, I’m picking up something on my scanner, do you see it?" Apollo checked his scanner quickly, "Yes, on the lee-side of that planet at bearing zero mark 40?" Apollo’s scanner screen was showing a slowly oscillating wave. "I’ve never seen anything like that before." "Could that be responsible for the readings the Galactica picked up?" "I don’t know, I think we need to take a closer look" Apollo said. Apollo banked his Viper and directed it toward the planet, Sheba following still flying on his right wing. As they got closowered his arms, "Yes Captain, she should be fine." He looked at Sheba, and Apollo could see the affection he had for her in his eyes. "Take care of her" he said gruffly to Apollo as he walked away. "Launch in five centons" Apollo said and strode away. "Sheba?" "Yes Apollo?" "About what happened in the hanger..." 'You mean when you kissed me." The vastness of space only seemed to emphasise the intimacy of the conversation Apollo was having with Sheba as the Vipers streaked toward the location of the strange scanner ghosts. Even although she was several hundred metres off his right wing, her voice sounded very close in his ear, almost like she was talking straight into his mind. 'What do you mean when I kissed you? You kissed me!" 'Yeah right!" Sheba laughed, "You kissed me Captain. Right after you jumped me with the laser welder." "How is your hand?" Apollo was concerned, in their rush to get away, he had forgotten about her injury. "It’s fine, I had po to take her back. She grimaced, the beast on whose back she was riding, had large flat feet to deal with the fine sand and it made the ride bumpy and painful. Occasionally its feet would slip and she would be jarred in the rough leather-like saddle, strapped across the beast's back. Muchamad had called the animal a camelus. It had a bad temper and had a habit of stopping suddenly, making Sheba lurch forward in the saddle. It would then stand chewing thoughtfully while Muchamad would spend minutes trying to persuade, cajole and force the animal forward by pulling on its bridle. If he pulled too hard the camelus would suddenly eject a long green volume of spittle from its bristly mouth. The beast was certainly ancient and mangy, coloured like the sands for which it was perfectly adapted. Sheba had grown fond of Muchamad while she had been recovering from the worst of her injuries. He had nursed her and had proved to be entertaining company. He had been trading for many yowered his arms, "Yes Captain, she should be fine." He looked at Sheba, and Apollo could see the affection he had for her in his eyes. "Take care of her" he said gruffly to Apollo as he walked away. "Launch in five centons" Apollo said and strode away. "Sheba?" "Yes Apollo?" "About what happened in the hanger..." 'You mean when you kissed me." The vastness of space only seemed to emphasise the intimacy of the conversation Apollo was having with Sheba as the Vipers streaked toward the location of the strange scanner ghosts. Even although she was several hundred metres off his right wing, her voice sounded very close in his ear, almost like she was talking straight into his mind. 'What do you mean when I kissed you? You kissed me!" 'Yeah right!" Sheba laughed, "You kissed me Captain. Right after you jumped me with the laser welder." "How is your hand?" Apollo was concerned, in their rush to get away, he had forgotten about her injury. "It’s fine, I had poer the planet started to fill the window of his cockpit. His computer told him that it was about the same size of Caprica, but unlike the planet of his birth, it was a barren, lonely world. In the main, it’s surface was a virulent red colour, with occasional scorings of black. As he got closer the data streaming into the computer showed savage dust storms scouring the surface and an average surface temperature of 56 radiants, well below the temperature necessary to support life. "Diameter, 24,000 metrons. Atmosphere, almost completely nitrogen with some argon, neon and chlorine. No oxygen. Not a place I’d like to visit on furlon" Apollo said. "No life signs, no plant life, no microbial life. Looks dead." "Apollo" Sheba said suddenly "Are you reading - some sort of structure?" "Yes," Apollo adjusted his scanners to take more detailed readings. They showed a large structure on the planet, "There must have been a civilisation here once" "I wonder what happened to it?" Sheba sawered the welder down so there wasn’t a lot of energy left in the beam. Now what where you saying about when you kissed me in the hangar Captain?" "Lieutenant Sheba, you’re contradicting a senior officer" Apollo reprimanded. "Are you going to pull rank on me whenever we have a disagreement in the future Captain?" Apollo chuckled. "I’m glad you think you think we have a future." Sheba replied softly "Oh yes, I certainly do." Then she changed her tone "Apollo, I’m picking up something on my scanner, do you see it?" Apollo checked his scanner quickly, "Yes, on the lee-side of that planet at bearing zero mark 40?" Apollo’s scanner screen was showing a slowly oscillating wave. "I’ve never seen anything like that before." "Could that be responsible for the readings the Galactica picked up?" "I don’t know, I think we need to take a closer look" Apollo said. Apollo banked his Viper and directed it toward the planet, Sheba following still flying on his right wing. As they got closahrens, what in Sheba had not been able to find out, the word he had used had no meaning for her. He seemed to be about 55 yahrens old, the constant travelling in the desert had turned his skin, brown and leathery, creased with a thousand cracks. "Muchamad" she said, as the camelus, slid down the side of a dune for what seemed like the hundredth time that day, the bone jolting movement making the wound in her side ache yet again. "Tell me the story of how you met your wife again." Sheba loved this story, in a way, it reminded her of how her father and mother had met and fallen in love. Somehow, telling the story had made Muchamad much more of a friend and a companion, and less a compassionate stranger. "It was the middle of the month of Shabala, in the week that the jazel berry trees burst into flame flowers at the edge of the mountains of the maiden." He talked while striding out in front of the camelus, holding the rein attached to the bridle. "And I was taking sowered the welder down so there wasn’t a lot of energy left in the beam. Now what where you saying about when you kissed me in the hangar Captain?" "Lieutenant Sheba, you’re contradicting a senior officer" Apollo reprimanded. "Are you going to pull rank on me whenever we have a disagreement in the future Captain?" Apollo chuckled. "I’m glad you think you think we have a future." Sheba replied softly "Oh yes, I certainly do." Then she changed her tone "Apollo, I’m picking up something on my scanner, do you see it?" Apollo checked his scanner quickly, "Yes, on the lee-side of that planet at bearing zero mark 40?" Apollo’s scanner screen was showing a slowly oscillating wave. "I’ve never seen anything like that before." "Could that be responsible for the readings the Galactica picked up?" "I don’t know, I think we need to take a closer look" Apollo said. Apollo banked his Viper and directed it toward the planet, Sheba following still flying on his right wing. As they got closid "Do you think it has anything to do with the readings we’re picking up?" In his fascination with the planet Apollo had forgotten about the energy readings. He checked them again and found to his dismay that Sheba had moved her Viper closer to the source of the readings. "Sheba!" he called, "Don’t go too close" "Apollo, " Sheba said "Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’m going to initiate a tachyon scan of the structure" Alarmed, Apollo shouted "Sheba!" as the energy readings spiked. A green ray streamed out from the structure on the planet, heading straight for Sheba’s viper. "Sheba!" Apollo shouted "Take evasive action! Get out the way..." But then she and the Viper disappeared, and so did the readings on his scanners. Chapter 2 She was gone. Apollo's mind shattered, thoughts flew off like shards of glass into a thousand directions. There was no coherence to them, they flitted through his mind like excerpts from a movie vid; random, he would see his father's er the planet started to fill the window of his cockpit. His computer told him that it was about the same size of Caprica, but unlike the planet of his birth, it was a barren, lonely world. In the main, it’s surface was a virulent red colour, with occasional scorings of black. As he got closer the data streaming into the computer showed savage dust storms scouring the surface and an average surface temperature of 56 radiants, well below the temperature necessary to support life. "Diameter, 24,000 metrons. Atmosphere, almost completely nitrogen with some argon, neon and chlorine. No oxygen. Not a place I’d like to visit on furlon" Apollo said. "No life signs, no plant life, no microbial life. Looks dead." "Apollo" Sheba said suddenly "Are you reading - some sort of structure?" "Yes," Apollo adjusted his scanners to take more detailed readings. They showed a large structure on the planet, "There must have been a civilisation here once" "I wonder what happened to it?" Sheba same cornelflower jam from my mother to my aunt. The sun was high in the sky and it was a perfect day. Just after the vernal rains, when the whole desert is suddenly carpeted in bright flowers of every colour. They last just a week, psipsina." Psipsina, was an endearment he had started to call Sheba. She smiled at its use. "I was walking past a catculrul farm." Sheba grimaced. Catculrul was the bitter tasting, but water rich succulent that seemed to serve as staple diet out in the arid desert. He continued "When I saw a young woman, milking a camelus, in the shade of kookle tree. It was an old, bad tempered beast, kicking its feet and spitting like a fountain. I stopped afraid for the girl for she seemed to be small and thin and not to have a great deal of strength in her skinny white arms to deal with a beast that had the temperament of a demon. As I got closer I noticed her hair, black as the sky at night, gleaming in the sun. And her perfume! Despite the smell of ter the planet started to fill the window of his cockpit. His computer told him that it was about the same size of Caprica, but unlike the planet of his birth, it was a barren, lonely world. In the main, it’s surface was a virulent red colour, with occasional scorings of black. As he got closer the data streaming into the computer showed savage dust storms scouring the surface and an average surface temperature of 56 radiants, well below the temperature necessary to support life. "Diameter, 24,000 metrons. Atmosphere, almost completely nitrogen with some argon, neon and chlorine. No oxygen. Not a place I’d like to visit on furlon" Apollo said. "No life signs, no plant life, no microbial life. Looks dead." "Apollo" Sheba said suddenly "Are you reading - some sort of structure?" "Yes," Apollo adjusted his scanners to take more detailed readings. They showed a large structure on the planet, "There must have been a civilisation here once" "I wonder what happened to it?" Sheba saface, hear Sheba's last words, see her Viper disappearing, view the red planet rotating beneath him. Around him was the cold vastness of space, that he knew went on forever and forever. Space was black, the kind of black that Apollo had always felt might smother him completely if he didn't have the lights in his cockpit or the sounds of other beings on his communicator. But with Sheba gone, he felt the blackness the void sweep in to embrace him like a cold and deadly lover. Panic flew up at him, sparking through his body. Everything else in the Universe was normal. He could hear fleet chatter in his helmet, see the telemetry recording his flight progress. The Viper sailed through space, the stars glinted at him. His thumb was still on the joystick, moving automatically, steering the Viper to avoid the area of space Sheba had just disappeared into. On the scanner the computer recorded the energy readings, the ones that had spiked only a few seconds before. Somewhere in the middid "Do you think it has anything to do with the readings we’re picking up?" In his fascination with the planet Apollo had forgotten about the energy readings. He checked them again and found to his dismay that Sheba had moved her Viper closer to the source of the readings. "Sheba!" he called, "Don’t go too close" "Apollo, " Sheba said "Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’m going to initiate a tachyon scan of the structure" Alarmed, Apollo shouted "Sheba!" as the energy readings spiked. A green ray streamed out from the structure on the planet, heading straight for Sheba’s viper. "Sheba!" Apollo shouted "Take evasive action! Get out the way..." But then she and the Viper disappeared, and so did the readings on his scanners. Chapter 2 She was gone. Apollo's mind shattered, thoughts flew off like shards of glass into a thousand directions. There was no coherence to them, they flitted through his mind like excerpts from a movie vid; random, he would see his father's he beast, she smelt like the vernal rain, fresh and pure. I could not see her face, as she had thrust it fiercely into the side of the camelus. The beast was still grumbling and howling, and kicking up its feet, scuffing sand onto the skirts of the girl. Suddenly, she turned her head towards me and I fell into her eyes. Eyes the colour of amber, yellow like a felix." Sheba waited for the part that had most reminded her of her own mother. "She stopped groping for the beast's mammalies and opened her mouth. I expected a sweet voice, but she let out a string of curses, so that the most hardened of pikal tanners would have blushed. I fell in love with her in that centon. We were married for ten yahrens and then she died. I could not stand to be in the home we had made together so I left and became a trader in the desert." Sheba laughed. Muchamad's wife reminded her of her mother. Small, petite and beautiful but spirited and who would let no man help her. Her father haid "Do you think it has anything to do with the readings we’re picking up?" In his fascination with the planet Apollo had forgotten about the energy readings. He checked them again and found to his dismay that Sheba had moved her Viper closer to the source of the readings. "Sheba!" he called, "Don’t go too close" "Apollo, " Sheba said "Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. I’m going to initiate a tachyon scan of the structure" Alarmed, Apollo shouted "Sheba!" as the energy readings spiked. A green ray streamed out from the structure on the planet, heading straight for Sheba’s viper. "Sheba!" Apollo shouted "Take evasive action! Get out the way..." But then she and the Viper disappeared, and so did the readings on his scanners. Chapter 2 She was gone. Apollo's mind shattered, thoughts flew off like shards of glass into a thousand directions. There was no coherence to them, they flitted through his mind like excerpts from a movie vid; random, he would see his father's le of all his internal tumult, that part of his mind that was a Squadron Captain, initiated a scan of the surrounding space, looking for debris, life signs, anything. It came up with nothing. No vaporised particles, no residual energy trace of an explosion, no debris. No life signs. Sheba's viper had vanished into thin air, only that wasn't appropriate for the cold vacuum of space. There should be something, the Squadron Captain, said insistently, to the rest of his mind. This is not normal. The thought trickled to the rest of his mind and bit by bit, the parts of his mind that had been skittering thoughts like a daggit on a frozen pond, began to realign themselves. He turned the scanner's attention to the planet, to the structure that Sheba had scanned. As it came up on the screen he could see that it was circular in arrangement, about two hundred metrons in diameter, consisting of individual squared off columns. They were massive, standing proud of the planet's surface, each weiface, hear Sheba's last words, see her Viper disappearing, view the red planet rotating beneath him. Around him was the cold vastness of space, that he knew went on forever and forever. Space was black, the kind of black that Apollo had always felt might smother him completely if he didn't have the lights in his cockpit or the sounds of other beings on his communicator. But with Sheba gone, he felt the blackness the void sweep in to embrace him like a cold and deadly lover. Panic flew up at him, sparking through his body. Everything else in the Universe was normal. He could hear fleet chatter in his helmet, see the telemetry recording his flight progress. The Viper sailed through space, the stars glinted at him. His thumb was still on the joystick, moving automatically, steering the Viper to avoid the area of space Sheba had just disappeared into. On the scanner the computer recorded the energy readings, the ones that had spiked only a few seconds before. Somewhere in the middd fallen in love with her in much the same way, only it had been the navigational relays in a shuttle, her mother had been wrestling with. Muchamad suddenly stopped and peered into the distance. "This is the spot I think" Sheba looked all around her, there was nothing but desert and blue sky in all directions. She frowned "Here?" Muchamad spat out a long brown stream of baccal. "Here". He swung Sheba down from her perch on the camelus. She landed in the soft sand. A slight breeze wafted against her hot face. "Why here Muchamad?" She asked. He stared into the distance. "There" he pointed toward the horizon. Sheba squinted into the glare of the desert. Far to the north, just as the yellow of the desert sand met the sky, she could see a faint brown smudging, like smoke building, just staining the sky, but as she watched the stain was coming closer and closer. "Distances are deceptive in the desert" Muchamad murmured in her ear "And so are men!" Sheba turnedface, hear Sheba's last words, see her Viper disappearing, view the red planet rotating beneath him. Around him was the cold vastness of space, that he knew went on forever and forever. Space was black, the kind of black that Apollo had always felt might smother him completely if he didn't have the lights in his cockpit or the sounds of other beings on his communicator. But with Sheba gone, he felt the blackness the void sweep in to embrace him like a cold and deadly lover. Panic flew up at him, sparking through his body. Everything else in the Universe was normal. He could hear fleet chatter in his helmet, see the telemetry recording his flight progress. The Viper sailed through space, the stars glinted at him. His thumb was still on the joystick, moving automatically, steering the Viper to avoid the area of space Sheba had just disappeared into. On the scanner the computer recorded the energy readings, the ones that had spiked only a few seconds before. Somewhere in the middghing many megons, each twenty metrons high. The computer calculated a three dimensional picture of the structure, and Apollo could see how the stones towered above the surface in pairs, with smaller blocks of stone lying across each pair. Apollo froze, at the south side of the structure, a metallic object was registering that hadn't been there before. He decided to take the Viper in for a closer look and soon he and the Viper were enveloped in the obliterating red haze of the atmosphere. It had been a long time since he had flown blind, it required a different set of skills, and he fought with himself not to look out of the Viper cockpit and concentrate on the navigation instruments that could still read bearings on the planet's surface. The Viper was now being buffeted by the strong winds that scoured the planets surface. Apollo could feel her being thrown about like a toy in the hands of a child, and it was difficult to keep her on course. He could feel her protests in the movemle of all his internal tumult, that part of his mind that was a Squadron Captain, initiated a scan of the surrounding space, looking for debris, life signs, anything. It came up with nothing. No vaporised particles, no residual energy trace of an explosion, no debris. No life signs. Sheba's viper had vanished into thin air, only that wasn't appropriate for the cold vacuum of space. There should be something, the Squadron Captain, said insistently, to the rest of his mind. This is not normal. The thought trickled to the rest of his mind and bit by bit, the parts of his mind that had been skittering thoughts like a daggit on a frozen pond, began to realign themselves. He turned the scanner's attention to the planet, to the structure that Sheba had scanned. As it came up on the screen he could see that it was circular in arrangement, about two hundred metrons in diameter, consisting of individual squared off columns. They were massive, standing proud of the planet's surface, each wei abruptly but not before Muchamad had grabbed her wrists. Sheba struggled against his grip, suprisingly strong in a man of his age. Really from this distance he smelt worse than the camelus. "What are you doing?" she cried, pulling against the hold he had on her. She twisted her body violently and she pulled her right leg up and kicked him in the solar plexus. He fell back with a grunt and let go of her arms. He staggered back a few steps and grinned at her. "Temper" he said. "Temper?" she shouted back at him, breathing hard. "What in Sagan's name are you doing?" "Just a little business transaction, cara" he said, gesturing toward to horizon. Now the stain could be seen as a large dust cloud filling her entire field of view to the north. She could now here, men shouting, camelii barking and the noise of a large group on the move. She could smell the stink of camelii and Muchamad's camelus started to shift uneasily and snort through it's nose. It flicked its ele of all his internal tumult, that part of his mind that was a Squadron Captain, initiated a scan of the surrounding space, looking for debris, life signs, anything. It came up with nothing. No vaporised particles, no residual energy trace of an explosion, no debris. No life signs. Sheba's viper had vanished into thin air, only that wasn't appropriate for the cold vacuum of space. There should be something, the Squadron Captain, said insistently, to the rest of his mind. This is not normal. The thought trickled to the rest of his mind and bit by bit, the parts of his mind that had been skittering thoughts like a daggit on a frozen pond, began to realign themselves. He turned the scanner's attention to the planet, to the structure that Sheba had scanned. As it came up on the screen he could see that it was circular in arrangement, about two hundred metrons in diameter, consisting of individual squared off columns. They were massive, standing proud of the planet's surface, each weient of the joystick which traveled all the way up his arm jarring his bones and making his muscles shudder, and hear her almost visceral screams as her engines and maneuvering thrusters were flown to their limits. Apollo prayed to the Lords that they wouldn't fall apart. "Come on, come on" he muttered. Apollo had never had the ability to charm his Viper the way Starbuck had and who swore that it had brought him home safe on more than one occasion. The Viper was suddenly thrown upwards, and Apollo struggled with the joystick. It took the strength in both his arms to get her level again and when he had, he found he was above the structure. On his scanner the energy readings were stronger than before and were showing a wild and chaotic pattern, they were interfering with his readings but he was able to see that to his astonishment the metallic object was registering as a colonial Viper, the computer identified it by rotating a luminous green outline of a Viper on its monitor and fittghing many megons, each twenty metrons high. The computer calculated a three dimensional picture of the structure, and Apollo could see how the stones towered above the surface in pairs, with smaller blocks of stone lying across each pair. Apollo froze, at the south side of the structure, a metallic object was registering that hadn't been there before. He decided to take the Viper in for a closer look and soon he and the Viper were enveloped in the obliterating red haze of the atmosphere. It had been a long time since he had flown blind, it required a different set of skills, and he fought with himself not to look out of the Viper cockpit and concentrate on the navigation instruments that could still read bearings on the planet's surface. The Viper was now being buffeted by the strong winds that scoured the planets surface. Apollo could feel her being thrown about like a toy in the hands of a child, and it was difficult to keep her on course. He could feel her protests in the movemars back and rolled its eyes, Sheba had thought the beast couldn't get any uglier. Muchamad came back after her with a twine rope, this time trying to wind it about her neck. She threw her arms up, breaking the hold he was trying to obtain round her neck and punched him hard in the midriff. She pushed him to the ground and sat on his chest so that he couldn't breath. She wrestled the rope out of his grasp and bent his head back into the sand wedging the rope under his chin. He glared up at her. "What is going on?" She spat, her hair falling around her face so that the ends drifted across Muchamad's face. Muchamad grinned. Too late Sheba heard a scuffle behind her and the world went black. "You're right Muchamad" a deep voice drawled lazily. "She does wash up quite well." Sheba lifted a heavy head from the rich carpet she was lying on and turned in the direction of the voice. Muchamad was sprawled on a pile of exotically coloured cushions, smoking whaghing many megons, each twenty metrons high. The computer calculated a three dimensional picture of the structure, and Apollo could see how the stones towered above the surface in pairs, with smaller blocks of stone lying across each pair. Apollo froze, at the south side of the structure, a metallic object was registering that hadn't been there before. He decided to take the Viper in for a closer look and soon he and the Viper were enveloped in the obliterating red haze of the atmosphere. It had been a long time since he had flown blind, it required a different set of skills, and he fought with himself not to look out of the Viper cockpit and concentrate on the navigation instruments that could still read bearings on the planet's surface. The Viper was now being buffeted by the strong winds that scoured the planets surface. Apollo could feel her being thrown about like a toy in the hands of a child, and it was difficult to keep her on course. He could feel her protests in the movement of the joystick which traveled all the way up his arm jarring his bones and making his muscles shudder, and hear her almost visceral screams as her engines and maneuvering thrusters were flown to their limits. Apollo prayed to the Lords that they wouldn't fall apart. "Come on, come on" he muttered. Apollo had never had the ability to charm his Viper the way Starbuck had and who swore that it had brought him home safe on more than one occasion. The Viper was suddenly thrown upwards, and Apollo struggled with the joystick. It took the strength in both his arms to get her level again and when he had, he found he was above the structure. On his scanner the energy readings were stronger than before and were showing a wild and chaotic pattern, they were interfering with his readings but he was able to see that to his astonishment the metallic object was registering as a colonial Viper, the computer identified it by rotating a luminous green outline of a Viper on its monitor and fitting it perfectly with the ship below. The burst of joy that engulfed him was doused just as quickly as the scanner failed to read life signs. His heart collapsed inward and he sagged back in his seat, suddenly feeling heavy. Automatically, he pulled back on the joystick and started to the long and difficult journey back through the atmosphere. Once out into the calm smoothness of space, he took a deep sobbing breath and rubbed at his eyes. He swallowed hard and opened a channel. "Blue leader to Galactica" "Galactica," Tigh's voice sounded over his helmet mike. He sounded relaxed. When Apollo didn't report immediately, Tigh said "Apollo are you there?" Apollo took another deep breath and composed himself, "We have a pilot down Galactica." He couldn't say, Sheba's gone. "Sheba?" Tigh swore "Lords! Apollo are you all right?" Apollo hung his head in his chest and then looked up toward his control panel. "I'm fine" and nearly laughed. Fine was blue skies, a child's smileent of the joystick which traveled all the way up his arm jarring his bones and making his muscles shudder, and hear her almost visceral screams as her engines and maneuvering thrusters were flown to their limits. Apollo prayed to the Lords that they wouldn't fall apart. "Come on, come on" he muttered. Apollo had never had the ability to charm his Viper the way Starbuck had and who swore that it had brought him home safe on more than one occasion. The Viper was suddenly thrown upwards, and Apollo struggled with the joystick. It took the strength in both his arms to get her level again and when he had, he found he was above the structure. On his scanner the energy readings were stronger than before and were showing a wild and chaotic pattern, they were interfering with his readings but he was able to see that to his astonishment the metallic object was registering as a colonial Viper, the computer identified it by rotating a luminous green outline of a Viper on its monitor and fittt looked to be the mouthpiece of the vile sounding instrument Jolly sometimes played on the Galactica. Bubbles burst through a vivid green liquid in a large glass tankard next to him as he inhaled. He had the air of a man who entirely content with his universe. "She is a princess, my friend" he gurgled happily. "Hmmm" murmured his companion, sprawled next to him, seemed to Sheba to be as equally as smug. He stretched his long legs out in front of him and returned Sheba's glare with a cool gaze. He raised a dark eyebrow and smiled. He reminded Sheba of a large panthera, graceful and deadly and also very, very dangerous. His appraisal of her made her squirm slightly and she felt a faint blush stain her face. Outraged that any one should look at her in such a manner she pushed herself to her feet and glared down at the two men. "Where am I?" she demanded. "Outstanding eh?" Muchamad gestured at her with his pipe. "Answer me!" Sheba restrained herself from stamping it perfectly with the ship below. The burst of joy that engulfed him was doused just as quickly as the scanner failed to read life signs. His heart collapsed inward and he sagged back in his seat, suddenly feeling heavy. Automatically, he pulled back on the joystick and started to the long and difficult journey back through the atmosphere. Once out into the calm smoothness of space, he took a deep sobbing breath and rubbed at his eyes. He swallowed hard and opened a channel. "Blue leader to Galactica" "Galactica," Tigh's voice sounded over his helmet mike. He sounded relaxed. When Apollo didn't report immediately, Tigh said "Apollo are you there?" Apollo took another deep breath and composed himself, "We have a pilot down Galactica." He couldn't say, Sheba's gone. "Sheba?" Tigh swore "Lords! Apollo are you all right?" Apollo hung his head in his chest and then looked up toward his control panel. "I'm fine" and nearly laughed. Fine was blue skies, a child's smile, Sheba's hair, the feel of her against him. No he wasn't fine, his body was whole and still breathing, the stars shone coldly, the planet rotated beneath him, and Apollo was no where near fine. He banked the Viper and turned and headed for home. * * * * Tigh took his usual seat in Adama's quarters. Adama had summoned, Tigh, Boomer, Starbuck to debrief Apollo. They had just reviewed the telemetry he had brought back with him from the planet. The atmosphere was sombre and heavy. It was if grief and pain infused the very air, Tigh felt worse with every breath he took and with every scene and piece of data that unfolded before all their eyes. All, except Apollo, he stood at the window, gazing at the starfield. He had not said much since his arrival back at the Galactica, but Tigh could see the stiff, coldness in his body, and the eyes that had no life in them. Tigh thought Apollo would never had to go through another day like the day he had brought his wife, Serina, back ting her foot on the ground. The men just laughed. Sheba felt a wave of fury spread through her body, she sprang forward and whipped Muchamad's pipe from his hand. It flew across the tent, spilling the green liquid across the floor coverings. The tent was filled with the scent of herbs. Muchamad looked startled for a moment and then laughed. "I don't know, my old friend, " said the younger man. "She could be more trouble than she's worth. But" he looked up at her "on the other hand, she does fill a mushatie very great style." Sheba looked down at her body and realised with a shock that she was no longer wearing the long robe Muchamad had given her. Neither was she wearing her uniform. She was almost not wearing a wispy, delicate garment which left very little to anyone's imagination. Her breasts seemed almost to touch her chin, they were being so ably supported by something that resembled two hankerchiefs. She ran her hands down her body and groaned. Her stomach ing it perfectly with the ship below. The burst of joy that engulfed him was doused just as quickly as the scanner failed to read life signs. His heart collapsed inward and he sagged back in his seat, suddenly feeling heavy. Automatically, he pulled back on the joystick and started to the long and difficult journey back through the atmosphere. Once out into the calm smoothness of space, he took a deep sobbing breath and rubbed at his eyes. He swallowed hard and opened a channel. "Blue leader to Galactica" "Galactica," Tigh's voice sounded over his helmet mike. He sounded relaxed. When Apollo didn't report immediately, Tigh said "Apollo are you there?" Apollo took another deep breath and composed himself, "We have a pilot down Galactica." He couldn't say, Sheba's gone. "Sheba?" Tigh swore "Lords! Apollo are you all right?" Apollo hung his head in his chest and then looked up toward his control panel. "I'm fine" and nearly laughed. Fine was blue skies, a child's smile, Sheba's hair, the feel of her against him. No he wasn't fine, his body was whole and still breathing, the stars shone coldly, the planet rotated beneath him, and Apollo was no where near fine. He banked the Viper and turned and headed for home. * * * * Tigh took his usual seat in Adama's quarters. Adama had summoned, Tigh, Boomer, Starbuck to debrief Apollo. They had just reviewed the telemetry he had brought back with him from the planet. The atmosphere was sombre and heavy. It was if grief and pain infused the very air, Tigh felt worse with every breath he took and with every scene and piece of data that unfolded before all their eyes. All, except Apollo, he stood at the window, gazing at the starfield. He had not said much since his arrival back at the Galactica, but Tigh could see the stiff, coldness in his body, and the eyes that had no life in them. Tigh thought Apollo would never had to go through another day like the day he had brought his wife, Serina, back to die. But then there was today. Tigh looked around him. It had been a while since he'd been in Adama's quarters. They were a shadow of their former glory. Battlestar Commanders were entitled to luxurious, comfortably fitted quarters and no-one would have criticised Adama for keeping his that way. However, Tigh knew, that Adama couldn't live in splendour when so many others in the fleet lived in squalor, crammed into cargo holds and scraping a marginal living in corridors. So gone were the comfortable cushions, the luxurious velvet drapes, and now only a single bed remained hugging a corner of the room and Adama's command desk, from which he now presided over the meeting. Adama froze the telemetry data at the time Apollo had flown close by the structure on the planet. He studied it closely, Tigh wondered if it were another ancient structure left by a tribe of humans from Kobol, but by the puzzled look on Adama's face it was obviously nothing that Adama could recognise. Starbuck g was bare except for some kind of chain that tranversed her belly and her hips were barely covered by a few wispy fronds. Round her ankles tinkled bracelets with small bells attached. She looked up to find Panthera-man gazing at her breasts. Sheba longed to knock his teeth down his throat, just as she had done to a few spotty boys in her adolescent when she couldn't bear them staring at her chest any longer. He grinned her, showing a shock of white teeth. He leant toward Muchamad "I'll give you two camelli for her." "Wait a minute" said Sheba outraged, "Those mangy beasts? I'm worth a lot more than two of them." Panthera-man looked at Mudachamad. "She is lippy that one. Too much trouble. One camelus" Mudachamad sighed "Okay, but not the one with the squint." , Sheba's hair, the feel of her against him. No he wasn't fine, his body was whole and still breathing, the stars shone coldly, the planet rotated beneath him, and Apollo was no where near fine. He banked the Viper and turned and headed for home. * * * * Tigh took his usual seat in Adama's quarters. Adama had summoned, Tigh, Boomer, Starbuck to debrief Apollo. They had just reviewed the telemetry he had brought back with him from the planet. The atmosphere was sombre and heavy. It was if grief and pain infused the very air, Tigh felt worse with every breath he took and with every scene and piece of data that unfolded before all their eyes. All, except Apollo, he stood at the window, gazing at the starfield. He had not said much since his arrival back at the Galactica, but Tigh could see the stiff, coldness in his body, and the eyes that had no life in them. Tigh thought Apollo would never had to go through another day like the day he had brought his wife, Serina, back to die. But then there was today. Tigh looked around him. It had been a while since he'd been in Adama's quarters. They were a shadow of their former glory. Battlestar Commanders were entitled to luxurious, comfortably fitted quarters and no-one would have criticised Adama for keeping his that way. However, Tigh knew, that Adama couldn't live in splendour when so many others in the fleet lived in squalor, crammed into cargo holds and scraping a marginal living in corridors. So gone were the comfortable cushions, the luxurious velvet drapes, and now only a single bed remained hugging a corner of the room and Adama's command desk, from which he now presided over the meeting. Adama froze the telemetry data at the time Apollo had flown close by the structure on the planet. He studied it closely, Tigh wondered if it were another ancient structure left by a tribe of humans from Kobol, but by the puzzled look on Adama's face it was obviously nothing that Adama could recognise. Starbuck got up off his seat and walked toward Apollo. He put his hand on his friend's shoulder and squeezed it gently. He didn't say anything to Apollo but just stood close to him, Tigh imagined, perhaps Starbuck felt he could infuse some warmth and comfort into Apollo just by being close to him. Starbuck had been called away from the party that had been winding up in the Club, he had strolled onto the bridge in his usual relaxed style only to stiffen with shock when Adama had broken the news. Boomer had been quiet, but that was not unusual for the dark skinned warrior. Adama had called him to the debrief because of the skills Boomer had been developing in the areas of electronics and particle-wave physics. He was now studying the energy readings Apollo and Sheba had detected on their instruments and was hunched up over the monitor looking chilled. Tigh wondered if any of them would feel warm again. It was always the same after they lost a warrior and worse if they lost more than one. Tigh t