Discoveries


"Here they come," Sheba said as she talked with Jolly
and Brie in the landing bay.

"Are the kids here yet?" Apollo asked breathlessly as
he and Starbuck ran over to the small group of
warriors.

"Yeah, here's one right here," Jolly said and gave
Brie a pat on the head.  He laughed when Brie elbowed
him and nearly knocked herself over.

Sheba chuckled then looked up at Apollo.  "The cadets
are on the way down now.  Were you able to find
Athena?" she asked softly while the other warriors
playfully taunted each other.

"Yeah we talked to her," he said as he lightly ran his
hand down her back before placing both his hands on
his hips.  "She's mad at us now."

"Look who I found," Boomer said loudly as he walked
back into the launch bay following a man in a wheel
chair.

Apollo's brows drew together as he saw the bearded man
recklessly wheeling toward them.  The hair was longer
and the uniform was gone, but he would recognize his
old squad leader anywhere.  "I don't believe it.
Colonel Kaden."

Kaden did several pirouettes with his chair on his way
over to the group of warriors.  He extended his hand
first to Apollo then Starbuck.  "Still a lieutenant I
see," he said to Starbuck.

"I've still got a problem with authority," Starbuck
returned and Kaden chuckled.

"I had no idea that you were even in the Fleet,"
Apollo told him.

"Yeah, we heard you were killed at the Battle of
Maako," Starbuck added.  "What happened?"

He shook his head.  "Those Akin pirates left me for
dead when we were ambushed by the Cylons.  I crashed
on Maako and my legs were crushed on impact," Kaden
told them.   "But I managed to pull myself out of my
Viper eventually.  I'm not sure how long it took me to
drag myself over to a small pond, but that's where
some of the villagers finally found me five sectaries
later.  By then my legs were gone."

"How did you survive?" Apollo asked.

"Luckily the pond was fresh.  I drank as much as I
could whenever I woke up and was able to catch some of
the aquatics."  Kaden leaned over slightly when he
caught sight of the woman standing just behind Apollo.
 "Well hello there lovely lady."  He rolled his chair
back then jutted forward to make Starbuck and Apollo
jump back out of the way.  "And what might your name
be?"

"Sheba," she returned with a laugh when he grabbed her
hand and lightly kissed it.

"Oh I'm sorry," Apollo said.  "Colonel Kaden, this is
Lieutenant Sheba.  Colonel Kaden was our first
squadron leader," he informed her.

"Don't tell me you're with one of these losers," Kaden
said to her.  When she shot a glance over to Apollo,
he had his answer.  "Ah well.  So much for taste."  He
lightly rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand as
he smiled suggestively.  "Maybe I can change that over
a glass of ambrosa?"

Apollo grabbed both of their wrists and pulled their
hands apart.  "She has plans," he told him and tucked
Sheba's hand into the crook of his elbow.

"What's the matter Apollo?" Kaden asked with a grin.
"Afraid of a little competition?"

"Wasn't there that woman on Leosia who both of you."
Starbuck began.

"Would you stop?" Apollo interrupted.

Starbuck stuck his unlit fumarello into his wide grin
as Boomer and Kaden laughed.  Apollo and Kaden had
made complete fools of themselves to get the attention
of one particularly beautiful woman.

"So what are you doing on the Academy barge?" Boomer
asked the colonel to give Apollo a break.  "Somehow I
can't see you working as one of the instructors."
Many of the warriors who were no longer physically
capable of combat had become instructors on the barge.
 Their experience gave them a unique insight that
helped produce some of the finest warriors they had
seen since the destruction of the Colonies.

Kaden swerved his chair around so that he could see
Boomer.  "Naw, they've got me working on a new Viper
prototype.  Very hush, hush," he told them with a
grin.  "Wilker keeps coming up with improvements and
I've got to figure out a way to make them fit."

"If anyone can do it, it's you," Starbuck complimented
him then looked over at Sheba.  "Kaden knows every
circuit board, wire and whatever other felgercarb
there is on a Viper."

"From nose to thrusters," Boomer added.

The excited awe of the new Academy students entering
the bay broke into their conversation.  "Looks like
the cadets have arrived," Apollo said then looked back
at Kaden.  "I wish we had more time to talk, but it
was good seeing you again, Colonel."

"You too Captain," he returned as he shook his
proffered arm.  "Are you taking these junior war
daggits out on their first flight?"

"Yeah, lucky us," Starbuck returned less than
enthusiastically.

"Did you guys get caught raiding the Officer's rations
again?" Kaden asked out of curiosity.

Apollo chuckled.  "No, my son is in the class."

Kaden shook his head.  "You're a glutton for
punishment.  Last group the warriors took out ended up
blowing chunks in the training Vipers."  Starbuck and
Boomer shot Apollo a look.  "Have fun!"  Kaden
chuckled and rolled away.

"We'd better get to the kids," Apollo said and made a
quick exit as well.  "Hello junior warriors," he
called out to get the children's attention.  They had
scattered out somewhat to take a closer look at the
Vipers.  "I'm Captain Apollo and these." he looked
back at Starbuck and Boomer who were giving him the
evil eye, "kind men and women are Blue Squadron."  He
glanced at Jolly.  "Except for the big guy there.  He
just became Red Squadron Leader."  Jolly tossed a wave
then froze when an unexpected cheer from the kids made
him blush.

Apollo took a moment to introduce each warrior
individually before continuing.  "I know that you're
instructor has told you all about what it's like in a
Viper, but we're going to show you what one can really
do.  When we take off, you're going to feel a little
light headed and probably a little queasy, but that
should go away after a few centons.  If it doesn't,
don't be afraid to let us know.  Flying in a Viper
isn't for everyone and sometimes it can be very
disorienting.  Now, does everyone have their pressure
suits on?"  He received a smattering of responses from
the kids so he stood a little straighter.  "What was
that cadets?"

"Yes sir!" the majority of them yelled.

Apollo smiled.  "That's better."  He clapped his hands
together.  "Okay, since there are so many of you,
we'll have to take you out in two groups."  He crooked
a finger at Boxey who quickly walked over to his
father's side.  "Pair up with one of the warriors and
let's get these Vipers in the air."  A cheer went up
from the kids as they hurried around to get near one
of the warriors.

Apollo went down on one knee as he put his hand on
Boxey's shoulder.  "Are you ready for your first
flight?"

"Yes sir," he replied crisply and gave his father a
salute.

Apollo chuckled.  "Then let's get to it."

It took several centons before they were able to get
everyone situated in the training Vipers.  The
warriors took the back seat to give the children the
best view and to avoid having regurgitated primaries
on their uniforms.  Apollo couldn't keep the smile off
of his face as the Viper canopy came down.  "Is
everyone in?" he asked over unicom.

He could barely make out the responses over the
chatter of the children, but he signaled the bridge of
the barge to let them know that they were ready.
"Blue Squadron, launch when ready," the response came.

"Hang onto your lunch boys and girls," Apollo ordered
then hit his thrusters.

Boxey's eyes grew wide as he was shoved back into his
seat.  Ribbons of steel and light flashed by as they
were propelled down the launch tube.  Microns later
they were zooming out into space like a cork from a
bottle.  "Yeeeeeoooooo!" Boxey yelled excitedly and
his fists shot up into the air.

Apollo laughed when he saw Boxey's hands smack hard
against the canopy.  "You okay?"  He got back a
strangled "yeah" and laughed again.  He flipped on the
unicom once more and heard a horrific scream.  "Who's
got the howler?" he asked loudly.

"That'd be me Skipper," Jolly yelled back.

There was a moment of silence when Apollo started to
respond, but then the girl with Jolly let loose again.
 "If you can't get her to calm down, head back to the
barge," he ordered.  "And switch off your transmitter.
 I can't hear a thing."

"Imagine how I feel," Jolly returned before switching
off his broadcast signal.

Once the shriek was gone, they could hear the other
warriors chuckling over the unicom.  "Poor Jolly,"
Sheba said as the squadron formed on Apollo's lead.

"All right Blue Squadron," Apollo said.  "Let's head
away from the Fleet and show these cadets what a Viper
can really do."

The warriors took the cadets through a series of
standard maneuvers as they made their way out of the
solar system.  They flew past one of the more colorful
planets in a roll to give the cadets a better view
then fired their way through a small asteroid belt as
the cadets cheered.  Once they were away from the
system, the Vipers spread out.

"Are you ready to give it a try?" Apollo asked Boxey
and saw him try to turn in his seat.

"Really?" Boxey asked excitedly.

Apollo chuckled when Boxey had to readjust his helmet.
 "Take the stick firmly in one hand and try moving it
gently forward," he instructed.

Boxey's heart was pounding in his chest as he grabbed
the control stick with both hands before putting one
down.  He eased the stick forward and they started
moving away from the rest of the squad.

"That's good," he returned with a broad smile.  "Now
ease it a little to the right."  The Viper tipped
slightly as Boxey complied.  "Now straighten it back
up," he said and they slowly moved back.  He was
impressed at how smoothly they were gliding.  Cadets
generally moved the stick too quickly or
overcompensated, but Boxey was handling it like a pro.
 "Are you ready for some speed?"

"Yes sir!" Boxey returned enthusiastically.

"When I tell you, I want you to hit the button on the
middle of your stick and hold it for a count of five.
You're going to jerk back so make sure that you don't
pull back on the stick as well."

"Okay," he returned as he shifted slightly in his seat
and fixed his eyes on the stars ahead.

Apollo smiled as he looked at Boxey's reflection in
the canopy.  "All right Cadet.  Punch it."  He kept
his eyes on the instruments as Boxey kicked in the
turbos and let out another yell.  Apollo laughed and
shook his head.  Boxey was maintaining a perfectly
straight line.

"Okay.  Now show me what you can really do," Apollo
ordered once they had picked up enough speed.

"Anything I want?" Boxey asked uncertainly.

"Just don't fire the lasers," he returned.

"All right!" Boxey returned and they immediately
started to spiral.

Apollo reached out and grabbed the console on either
side of him as they spun.  He was about to ask if
everything was okay when Boxey leveled back out.  Next
he pulled back on the stick and took them around in a
large loop before spinning for several microns again.

"You okay back there Dad?"

Apollo laughed.  "Yeah, I'm okay."

"I've been dying to do that."

He laughed again as he shook his head.  "Why don't you
see if you can bring us back around to join up with
the squad?"

"No problem Dad.  I mean Captain."

Apollo watched in amazement as Boxey studiously
followed his instruments to bring them back to where
the other cadets were practicing their skills.  He
switched on the unicom.  "Form up on us Blue
Squadron," he ordered.  "Okay Boxey.  Set that dial in
front of you to four-two-seven."

"I'm on it."

Apollo smiled broadly as they watched the other Vipers
fall into line around them.  "Any casualties out
there?" he asked over the unicom.

"We're okay here," Sheba said.

"We've got a minor malfunction in our lower turbines,"
Starbuck reported.

"Can you make it back to the Fleet?" Apollo asked.

"Not a problem.  We'll just need to send it in for
repairs."

"There are only a couple of kids left.  We can do
without one Viper."

"Make that two," Boomer interrupted as he wiped at the
canopy.  "This one needs a hose down and I need a
clean uniform."  Laughter erupted over the unicom.
"You and I are going to have a little talk, Captain,"
he warned.

"Boomer, how did it get on you when you're behind the
kid?" Starbuck asked as he grinned broadly.

Boomer sighed heavily as he dropped the saturated
cloth to the floor.  "We were in the middle of a loop
when the kid let loose and it came right over his
head."  There was a roar of laughter over the unicom
once more and Boomer's mouth contorted as he nodded.

Apollo did his best to keep down his mirth.  "Let's
head back to the Fleet," he ordered then shut off his
transmitter as he laughed again.  "Okay Boxey.  I want
you to hold down the thruster button until I tell you
to let go and stay on this heading."

"You're going to let me fly back?"

"Just to the edge of the Fleet then I'll take over."

"All right!"

Apollo was bursting with pride as they made their way
back through the ships in the Fleet.  Boxey was a
natural in the cockpit and he executed orders without
hesitation.  Apollo listened to the excited chatter
over the unicom as cadets pointed out their various
home ships to the others while he brought the squad
around for a better view of the Galactica.

"That's not where the Galactica was when we left,"
Boxey noted.

"That's very observant of you," Apollo complimented
him.  "The Commander has a bit of a surprise planned."
 He switched channels to contact the Galactica.
"Captain Apollo to Galactica.  Blue Squadron is in
position."

Microns later, the sky around the Galactica became
illuminated in flashes of blue and white as it used
its various systems to put on a light show for the new
cadets.  Laser cannons on the far side of the
Galactica started firing, streaking red bolts out into
the flashing lights in a choreographed pattern.  The
display only lasted a centon, but it was the perfect
ending to the cadet's first flight.

~~~

"She will see you now," the young woman told Tollen
then gave Athena a pointed look.  "Alone."

Tollen took Athena's hand into his.  "My apologies for
abandoning you like this.  I'm sure my mistress will
want to meet with you, but we have business to discuss
first."

"I don't mind waiting," she returned and gestured to
the low benches next to the door.

He smiled broadly and brought her hand up to his lips.
 "I promise not to be long."

She only got a glimpse into the next room when Tollen
left her, but it was enough to see that it was
someone's private quarters.  She glanced around before
pulling the hood of her cloak up over her head and
making herself comfortable on the low bench along the
wall.  She took slow deep breaths and focused her
attention on Tollen.

It wasn't hard for her to pick up on Tollen's presence
in the next room.  His mistress had some harsh words
for him and his defenses were down.  It was almost as
if she was eavesdropping on the conversation.

"What do you think you're doing bringing her here?"
she demanded.

"I simply took advantage of an opportunity," Tollen
returned.

"You do not know enough to be take advantage of any
situation," she hissed back.  "Uri took advantage of
an opportunity as well.  Would you like the cell next
to his?"

Tollen chuckled at the reference.  "Uri was merely a
pawn."

"And what do you think you are?"

He jerked back slightly.  "I am the messenger, the
voice of our lord."

"Don't overestimate your importance, Tollen.  You are
merely one in a legion.  We all have a job to do and
you have overstepped your bounds."

He shook his head.  "I am well acquainted with our
Master's desires," he argued.  "Perhaps it is you who
is concerned with your station.  Athena would make the
perfect Countess."

"You think that's why he wants Athena?"  She laughed
out loud.  "You are as big a fool as Uri, weak and
easily manipulated."  She stood in front of him.
"Typically, you've come too soon and expect me to be
pleased with your efforts.  Did it ever occur to you
that she is spying for Adama?  That she's trying to
find out who I am?"

He chuckled as he shook his head.  "Now you
overestimate your importance.  What would be the
point?  It's too late to stop anything.  Soon we will
be re."

"Silence!" she ordered as her eyes bore into the wall
over Tollen's shoulder.  She had been so irritated
with Tollen's stupidity that she had missed the gentle
probing.  "She's listening."

Tollen turned to see that they were still alone.  His
first instinct was to say that it was impossible for
Athena to hear them through the thick walls, but then
he remembered that Athena had been blessed with many
gifts.

She took a tentative step closer to the door as she
shook her head.  She couldn't quite put her finger on
it.  "That's not Athena."  She moved quickly toward
the door and Tollen followed on her heels.  Microns
later, they walked out into an empty corridor.  "Find
her," she ordered.  "Now!"

~~~

Adama nodded uncertainly as Boxey words spilled out in
one long sentence.  "We were going so fast and I just
thought about spinning and we did and then I made a
big loop and then we spinned again and then Dad let me
fly back to the other Vipers and then I lead Blue
Squadron back into the system."

"That's incredible!" Adama returned appreciatively as
Apollo laughed.  "A squadron leader at seven yahrens?
That's got to be some sort of record."

"You would have been so proud of him, Father," Apollo
told him as they finished their dinner.  "Boxey is a
natural in the cockpit.  He was even able to use the
instrumentation to lead us back to the squadron."

"Gillian and I have been reading ahead in the manual,"
Boxey informed them.  "Did you know that there is a
whole section in there about battles?  They're like
stories and tell how the pilots did different raids
and stuff."

"Did you know that one of the Commander's battles is
in that book?" Apollo asked.

"No!  Really Grandfather?"  His eyes were wide as he
looked at Adama.

Adama smiled broadly at his enthusiasm and nodded at
his grandson.  "I was one of the pilots at the Battle
of Gal'Adriel."

"No way!" Boxey returned as he stood up out of his
chair and went to his grandfather's side.  "That's one
of my favorite stories!  Gillian and I act that one
out all the time!  Were you one of the ones on the
Battlestar or in the patrol?"

"I was one of the four surviving pilots from the
patrol," he returned.

"You were in that daggit fight?" he asked
incredulously.  "You wiped out two full squadrons on
your own!"

He shook his head.  "Well, I had a little help."

"I can't wait to tell Gillian.  She's not going to
believe it."

"Then we'll just have to invite Gillian to dinner and
I'll tell you both the story," Adama promised.

"Really?"  His eyes lit up.  "Thanks Grandfather!"  He
dropped down against Adama's chest to give him a hug.

Adama chuckled as he gave Boxey a squeeze then his
gaze dropped down to his napkin while Boxey returned
to his seat.  "Besides, it will be nice to have some
female companionship with our meals again."

Apollo shot his father a glance.  It had been awhile
since Adama had pressed him about his love life.  He
had never been subtle when it came to prying into the
personal matters of his children.  "Yeah, where is
Athena anyway?" Apollo countered then took a sip of
his drink as Adama grinned.

Boxey looked from his father to his grandfather
knowing that there was something behind their comments
even though he wasn't sure what it was.  He couldn't
understand why grownups didn't just say what was on
their minds.  "Are you going to marry Sheba?"

Apollo spewed out the juice he had been drinking as
Adama burst out laughing.  "What?" Apollo finally
managed as he reached for his napkin.

"You were kissing her," Boxey returned with a shrug.
"Doesn't that mean you want to marry her?"

Apollo shot a glance at his father who had his face
covered with his hand as he looked down into his lap.
He couldn't hear anything, but he could see Adama's
shoulders moving and knew that his father was still
laughing.  "You see Starbuck kissing women all the
time and you never ask if he's going to marry them,"
he returned.

"That's because he's Starbuck," Boxey replied with
another shrug.

Apollo shot another look at his father and knew that
he wouldn't get any help from him when he saw Adama
discretely wiping away tears.  He looked back at Boxey
curiously.  The conversation had taken on a decidedly
adult tone.  "Let me ask you a question," Apollo
tested.  "If I should decide to get sealed again and
I'm not saying Sheba and I'm not implying that I even
want to get married again."  He sighed heavily after
adding the qualifiers.  "How would you feel about
that?"

Boxey shrugged.  "You need someone in your life, Dad.
You seem so lonely."

Apollo felt like the wind had been knocked out of him
at his son's response.  It almost sounded as though
Boxey had already thought the possibility through.
"You wouldn't think that I'm trying to replace your
mother?" he pushed.

Boxey laughed at the thought.  "You can't replace my
mom.  Even if you had an exact duplicate, she still
wouldn't be my mom.  Just like Muffit."  He looked
down and smiled at the mechanical daggit when it
barked and twirled its ears.  "I still miss Muffit I,
but that doesn't mean that I can't love Muffit II.
He's my best friend.  Aren't you Muffy?"

Apollo's mouth dropped open as he sat in stunned
silence watching Boxey talking to his daggit.  "Is it
okay if Muffit and I go to the Rejuvenation Center for
a centar?" Boxey asked.  "Boomer said that he would
play some compartment billiards with me if I came
down."

He shook himself out of the fog.  "Uh, yeah, sure.
But only for a centar.  You've got to get some sleep."
 Apollo shook his head in disbelief once he was alone
with Adama.  "When did he grow up?"

Adama smiled as he leaned his elbows on the table.
"Like most children, when you weren't watching."

~~~

Gaea rushed to the launch bay as her stomach churned.
Someone onboard that ship had the mental ability to
attack psychically and was using that power to slow
her down.  She could feel the energies of others
drawing closer even as her own energy was drained.
She fell against the wall and struggled to stay on her
feet.  It was Semele.  She was certain of it.  She
could almost hear an evil cackle in her head at the
knowledge.

Gaea's head dropped back against the wall and she
deliberately looked up into the bright light above
her.  The sudden pain deep in her eyes gave her the
instant that she needed to regain her thoughts.  She
pushed down the assault on her senses and clenched one
hand into a fist as covered it with the other.  She
envisioned that fist holding onto the riot of emotions
being sent toward her and she was able to gain some
relief.

She could more clearly sense the people looking for
her and the direction that they were in, but there was
something else.  Her gaze shot down the corridor
leading to the landing bay.  "Starbuck," she
whispered.  She couldn't believe that he was there,
but she could sense his presence onboard the Adena.

She pressed her hand over her warring stomach and ran
toward the launch bay.  As her attention became
focused on finding Starbuck, she could feel the
taunting images coming back to her and her stomach
churned even more.  Gaea pressed a hand to her
forehead as her head began to throb.

She was sweating by the time she reached the landing
bay.  She leaned against the cool metal next to the
door and tried to get her eyes to focus on the control
panel.  Steeling herself once more, she drew in a deep
breath.  "Back off!" she ordered aloud and was given
only a slight reprieve.  She wiped at her face then
looked down at the control panel and punched the door
open.



"I can't believe I let you talk me into this,"
Starbuck told Cassiopia as he toted an assortment of
medical boxes off of the shuttle.

Cassiopia smiled as she checked off the list on her
data pad.  "I really appreciate the help," she told
him sincerely.

"How did you get suckered into this anyway?" he asked
as he dropped his load onto the small pallet.

"Everyone has been so busy lately that we're two
sectaries behind with the deliveries."  She gave Jolly
a warm smile as he exited the shuttle with the last of
the boxes.  "If someone didn't step in then these
medical supplies would still be sitting in storage."

"You volunteered?" Starbuck asked in disbelief and
sighed heavily.  "Haven't I taught you anything?"

When Cassiopia shook her head Jolly interrupted.
"When are you going to ditch this guy and go out with
me?" he asked as he dropped his boxes onto the pallet.

"What?" Starbuck shot a look over at Jolly then did a
double take when he caught a glimpse of Athena
stumbling into the landing bay over Jolly's shoulder.
"Athena?"

Cassiopia and Jolly both turned when Starbuck started
across the bay then dropped everything to rush after
him.  Athena clung to Starbuck as soon as he was
within reach and he struggled to keep her from hitting
the flight deck.

"Athena?  Are you all right?  What's going on?"
Starbuck looked up the corridor just before the door
to the landing bay closed and saw no one following,
but it was obvious that she had been running.

"Get me off this ship," she ordered, grateful for his
strong arms around her.

"Is someone after you?"

"Please!" she insisted and felt her knees starting to
buckle.

"Maybe we should get you to the Life Station on
board," Cassiopia suggested instead as she tried to
help her stand.

"I've got to get to the Commander now."  She squeezed
her eyes shut as a wave of nausea nearly overwhelmed
her.

Starbuck hesitated until he felt more of her weight
against him.  "All right," he said as he gathered her
close.  "Come on.  It's only a few metrons to the
shuttle."

"I'll get her fired up," Jolly said and hurried back
to the cockpit while Cassiopia and Starbuck helped
Athena onto the shuttle.  When Starbuck tried to strap
her in, she pushed his hands away.

"Launch," she told him.

"I've got to wait for clearance or." Jolly began.

"Launch!"

Starbuck jerked back at the command then hurried to
the front of the shuttle.  He had never seen Athena
behave that way, but he could hear the urgency in her
words.  Something was definitely wrong.

Within microns, Starbuck and Jolly launched.  As soon
as they cleared the ship, Starbuck jerked off his
headset to silence the flight crew screaming into his
ear about their recklessness.  "Head straight for the
Galactica at best velocity," he ordered Jolly.

Starbuck crawled out of the pilot's seat and walked
back to see Athena hunched over holding her stomach.
Cassiopia was hurriedly searching through a medkit for
something to ease her nausea.  "Athena?  What's going
on?"

"I'm not Athena," she told him and the shock that he
felt pushed her stomach over the edge.  She rose
quickly and rushed back to the turbo flush.

~~~

"Yes, Boomer told me about finding the patrol schedule
this morning," Adama returned while they went over the
duty roster.

"If it's okay with you, I'd like to arrange a lecture
on protocol for the new cadets with Colonel Tigh,"
Apollo requested.  "He has a way of driving home the
fact that the regulations are there for a reason."

Adama nodded.  "An excellent idea.  I'll say some."

"Commander!" Starbuck interrupted as he walked into
Adama's office with Gaea tucked under his arm.

"What happened?" Adama asked as he hurried over to
Gaea's side.

"We need to talk," she said listlessly as she
transferred her weight from Starbuck to Adama's arms.

"Call Dr. Salik," Adama ordered Apollo.

"No!" Gaea insisted.

"She wouldn't let us use Fleet communications,"
Starbuck explained.  "Cassiopia is on her way to the
Life Station to get Dr. Salik herself."

"Please, I need to sit," she said weakly as she moved
toward the bench in Adama's office.

"What happened?" Apollo repeated while Adama helped
Gaea to the seat.

Starbuck shrugged uncertainly.  "Jolly and I were
helping Cass deliver some medical supplies to the
Adena when Gaea came stumbling out into the launch bay
looking like Athena."

"What?" Apollo said softly.

"They're after her," Gaea told them and had everyone's
attention.

"Athena?" Adama asked as he sat down next to Gaea.

"Who's after her?" Apollo demanded.

"The Illuminati," she clarified.  She brought her hand
up to her forehead as she felt her stomach turn.
"Please stop the questions," she begged and took a
moment to try to get her senses under control.

Adama gestured for Apollo to get a drink for Gaea from
his serving tray as she focused on closing off her
telepathic abilities.  "I know that this is going to
sound like a strange request, but please try to keep
your emotions under control," she said as she centered
herself.  "I know what your questions are and I will
answer what I can."

Adama took the glass of ambrosa from Apollo and waited
while Gaea drew in several slow breaths.  He didn't
need to be psychic to see that Gaea was quite ill, so
he didn't press her and did his best to shut off his
thoughts to give her some respite.  All three men
waited quietly as she took the glass from Adama and
drained nearly half its contents.

"I was on the Rising Star when Tollen came in with
some of his people," she began.  "Someone came to him
and told him that is mistress wanted to see him, so I
followed."  She looked up at Adama.  "I hoped that he
might talk to me if he thought that I was Athena.  I
thought he might see her as a kindred spirit and it
worked, but I had no idea how na‹ve that was until we
arrived on the Adena.  Tollen and I talked at length
about the Illuminati, but that is unimportant at the
moment."  She brushed it aside as she reached out to
take Adama's hand.  "Tollen's mistress is the one
pulling the strings.  She had one of her people
manipulating Sire Uri, but he ruined her plans by
trying to seize control of the Council.  I don't know
why the Illuminati wants Athena, but Tollen wasn't
supposed to be the one to bring her."  She looked up
at Apollo, hearing his unasked question of then who
is?  "I could be any one of a thousand people.  The
Illuminati have been careful about hiding their
membership with the exception of Tollen."  She looked
back at Adama.  "Commander, the person you have been
looking for is Siress Semele."

"Semele?" Adama repeated in shock.

Gaea nodded.  "It was her all along.  She has been
manipulating events in the Fleet for some time.  I
even suspect that she was the one behind the
destruction of the Earth ship.  She said that they
were one of a legion.  She must have people in every
conceivable position in the Fleet.  There's nothing
that she doesn't know about or can find out."

"Which is why you didn't want us to use Fleet
communications," Starbuck said.

"Everything that goes on in this Fleet, she knows,"
Gaea reiterated then she looked back at Adama.  "She's
very powerful.  Her skills with the mind are beyond
anything I had imagined.  She has the ability to block
out any psychic contact.  The only reason I knew it
was her was from seeing her through Tollen's mind."
She looked up at Apollo as his mind continued to race.
 "I can tell you which quarters are hers if you want
to check them out, but I'm certain that Semele has
gone into hiding."

"We may find something there that will tell us why the
Illuminati want Athena," Apollo said to his father and
received a nod in response.

"She's the true leader of the Illuminati, but there's
something more."  She shook her head as she tried to
organize all of the images she had received while
listening in on their conversation.  Tollen's mind had
opened up to her once he thought that he was in a
protected place and she had absorbed as many images as
she could bear.  "A power struggle of some sort.  I
sense that Semele is the one in control, but Tollen is
looking for any opportunity to take her place."

"If they're planning on using Athena as a pawn then
all we have to do is make sure that no one can get to
her," Starbuck stated.

"Easier said than done with Athena," Apollo responded.

"We could always just lock her in her room."

"I wish it was that simple," Adama interjected.
"Putting Athena into seclusion may be just what the
Illuminati want us to do.  If they have people on the
Galactica, what's to stop them from locating her?"

"If you ask me," Starbuck said, "Athena would be
better off without Sire Leto and Croft as company."

"Who asked you?" Athena said angrily as she stood in
the doorway to Adama's quarters.  She had only caught
the last bit of their conversation, but it was enough
to know that she had been the focus.

Starbuck and Apollo turned at the sound of Athena's
voice and exchanged a guilty look.  "We were just."
Apollo began.

"Talking about me again," she finished for him as she
folded her arms across her waist.  "Didn't you get the
message earlier?  I am not spying on my friends for
you or anyone else and what right do you have to bring
Father into it?  Or Gaea?"

"Athena, it's not like that," Adama began as he stood.
 "We're just concerned about your safety."

Athena's mouth dropped open as she pointed over to
Apollo and Starbuck.  "So you agree with them?" she
asked incredulously.

"Perhaps if you understood our reason."

"I'm a grown woman Father," she interrupted.  "I don't
need you or anyone else deciding who my friends will
be."  With that, Athena turned and stormed out of the
room.