Council Puppeteers Croft watched in silent confusion as Dr. Salik took one scan after another on him. Waking up to find, not only Apollo, but the Commander standing over his bed left him searching for recent memories. "What happened?" he finally asked. "That's what we'd like to know," Apollo returned softly. "You tried to contact me and the com-link went dead. Shortly after, we found out that you had been attacked." Croft's brow furrowed and his eyes squeezed shut when the memory of a stunning blow returned. "I was hit from behind," he said after long thought. He could remember a sharp pain and a blinding white light, but nothing else. "I don't remember anything after that first blow." "So you have no idea who attacked you?" Starbuck clarified. Croft shook his head again. "I could venture a few guesses, but I didn't see a thing." He lightly rubbed his hand over his head, hesitated then rubbed his fingers more forcefully against his scalp. "No cut?" he said in puzzlement as he looked at his hand. "No blood?" Apollo and Adama exchanged a glance. "You were hurt quite badly when you were brought to the Galactica," Adama explained. "Dr. Salik did everything that he could to help you, but your injuries were too severe." He looked down at his body and did a quick inspection of his arms and torso. "I don't feel any bruises or even have a headache," he replied, still perplexed. Adama sighed heavily. There was no point in denying Athena's gifts any longer. "You were touched by a healer." Croft laughed then, after a glance at everyone's faces, he grew quiet. "You're kidding me, right?" When no one responded, his eyes shot over to the door where Athena had passed through. "That woman who just left?" he asked, still trying to piece together what had happened to him. Adama nodded. "My daughter, Athena." He tried to catch fleeting images that toyed with his mind. "There were two of them," he said softly, then looked up at the Commander for confirmation. "Gaea is Athena's magister, her teacher." He stared off into space as he tried to remember. He had only seen the backs of the women as they had walked out, but he knew that he would recognize their faces if he were to see them again. What he didn't understand was how? "Croft," Apollo said softly. "Do you remember why you tried to contact me?" he asked. "Were you able to find out who owns that salvage barge?" "Yeah, I did," he returned and rubbed a hand over his head. He was still trying to wrap his mind around what had happened with the healer. "Turns out that it wasn't a Council member at all, but a guy named Leto. Apparently he's the sole surviving heir of one of the major houses of Libra. Rumor has it he's a favorite of the siresses. Young and old. And they have been known to be very generous with their gifts to him." "Are you certain he owns the barge?" Apollo asked. He had been so sure that they would finally uncover the architect of the conspiracy in the Council. He shook his head. "As sure as I can be. Leto owns a number of vessels in the Fleet, but I've seen enough manipulation of the logs to know that anything can be suspect." Apollo looked at his father. "So where does that leave us?" "Dr. Salik to launch bay Beta," Rigel's voice commanded over the com-tell. "Medical emergency." Microns later, Colonel Tigh's voice filtered into the room. "Bridge to Commander Adama." Adama quickly walked over to the communication panel near the door. "Go ahead Colonel," he ordered. "Commander. Cadet Brie just landed with Delos." There was a moment's hesitation. "He has collapsed and they are unable to revive him." "We're on our way." ~~~ Salik hovered over Delos with a scanner for only a centon before checking his eyes and shaking his head. He walked back down the short flight of steps from the Viper platform where Delos had been placed in an attempt to resuscitate him. "I can't be sure until we perform an autopsy, but I'd venture to guess he had a major stroke on top of a massive heart attack." Adama closed his eyes in silent prayer. He had hoped for the chance to speak with Delos again. There was so much he could have learned from him. "Such a great loss," he said softly. "I'll have Colonel Tigh contact Dr. Wilker immediately. He will know if Delos had any family in the Fleet." "Father," Apollo said softly. "Was this the man you were telling us about?" He motioned to Boomer and Starbuck who both had the same concerned look on their faces. "The one suffering from side effects from an agro diet?" "I'd say that was a little more than a side effect," Dr. Salik said gravely as he gestured back to Delos' body. Apollo's heart began to pound as he searched his father's face for answers. "Is that what we have to look forward to?" Adama shook his head as he closed his eyes a second time. "This is not the time or place to get into that discussion Captain," he said succinctly. Apollo straightened slightly. "Yes sir," he said with a note of sarcasm in his voice. Adama gave Apollo a stern look. He admired the fact that his son stood up for his beliefs, but there were times when Apollo pushed just a little too much. "Doctor, please inform me of your findings once you have finished your examination." ~~~ Adama stared out at the stars through the small window in his office as he cradled a glass of ambrosa. So much had transpired recently that he hardly knew which way to turn. His guilt for sending only a handful of men to the Borella freighter taunted him. He could imagine the way the warriors had fought against overwhelming numbers. If only he had sent a full squadron, things might have turned out differently. He knew that it was unlikely the other three ships would have been able to slip away unnoticed if it hadn't been for the Borella freighter demanding full attention. And yet, he couldn't help but feel that there was more to the story. He might have believed that it was a case of convenient timing if it wasn't for the fact that Tiamat had developed a sudden incompetence for his job. He was certain that someone was manipulating events behind the scenes, but that increased his feeling of inadequacy. How could someone arrange so much without his notice? It only added to his bourdon to know that the missing ships were now at the mercy of Baltar, a man proven to have no compassion for a human soul. His mind often drifted to those Colonists. He wondered if they had, by chance, landed on the other side of the planet from Baltar, if they had taken adequate protection with them or if they had decent shelter. His thoughts turned to the expectant mothers in the Fleet and the children that they would bear with an addiction to the agro pod food. That was where the deepest of his guilt lie. The children were their future and he had put them on an unalterable course. "What have I brought upon you?" he asked softly. He looked down into his glass and swirled the ambrosa. "Will you ever be able to forgive me?" He sighed heavily then looked back out into the stars. "Everything that you need to know about the future of the Fleet is in the Book of the Word." Delos words returned to him and he latched onto them. He had to believe that he was doing the right thing for his people. He had to trust. He had to have faith. He thought of the way that he had bristled at Apollo's question of the cause of Delos' death and knew that he wasn't angry with his son. He was angry with himself for having the arrogance to think he could lead an entire civilization without such tragic results. Now he could only pray that choice was the right one. Adama raised his glass in toast to the heavens. "To you, Delos, wherever you may be. I hope that your scholar's heart is filled." ~~~ "Hello?" Boomer said uncertainly as he walked into the small storage area carrying a large bouquet of exotic flowers. He sighed heavily as he let the flowers drop against his leg. "I give up," he said as he looked around at the clutter of containers filling the room. "Someone must have some twisted sense of humor." He shook his head and started to leave when the sound of a panel opening from behind stopped him. "I thought I heard voices," Athena said and smiled warmly. "How in the world did you find me back here?" "It wasn't easy," Boomer replied as he took a step closer. "An old storage room isn't exactly where one would expect to find a healer." Athena smiled. "It's pretty much the last place you will find anyone," she teased. "No one comes back here." She waved him in and he followed her into a much larger storage area that had been completely emptied except for two sleeping pallets and an over abundance of candles. "I love how you've decorated the place," Boomer teased. "Maybe these will help spruce things up." Athena's eyes lit in surprise. "For me?" she asked breathlessly. "I can't remember the last time someone gave me flowers," she said and inhaled the sweet aroma appreciatively. "Except for the one you gave me, of course." She smiled broadly then leaned in to give him a light peck on his cheek. "Thank you Boomer." "I guess I should have brought a vase for those flowers," he said as he watched her move back to one of the pallets and sit down. "It doesn't look like you have anything around here for them." "I'll get something later," she told him as she snuggled back under the covers. "I didn't wake you, did I?" he asked as he gestured back toward the door to indicate his willingness to leave. "No, I was just resting," she assured him then reached out her hand. "Come sit with me and tell me about what happened when we were with Croft." Boomer didn't hesitate to take her outstretched hand and sit on the edge of her bed. "Don't you remember?" he asked with concern. He knew very little about healers and Athena's wavering health had him worried. "Not much," she sighed. "I remember feelings more than anything." Boomer stared down into her velvety eyes and pushed his own concerns aside. "You didn't say much," he told her. "Everything was very still when you reached out to touch Croft. Microns later, you yelled `no'. I thought Apollo was going to launch across the room, but your father stopped him." He lightly rubbed his hand over hers. "Apollo was understandably worried about you and started pacing. About that time, one of the monitors started beeping and you yelled `silence'. I think everyone in the room jumped at that one." Boomer smiled at the memory then grew more solemn. "That's when I saw what you can really do," he whispered as he toyed with her hand. "I was looking at your hands on Croft's face when I realized something was happening." He held her hand lightly in his palm as he studied it. "I couldn't figure it out at first. Croft just looked.different. Then I realized that the scar on his cheek was fading away. Microns later, you screamed and Croft was suddenly awake." Athena searched his face. The confusion was easy to see and the wonderment, but she couldn't find any sign of the aversion she had expected. "Does it bother you?" Boomer's brows drew together. "Bother me?" he repeated. She shrugged uncertainly. "That I've suddenly developed these weird powers," she clarified. He took her hand firmly into his as he considered her question. "I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't worried," he told her as he looked into her eyes. "You were pretty sick and this woman that you're hanging around has made all of us a little uneasy." He gave her a reassuring smile. "But it doesn't bother me to see you reach your full potential," he told her. "I've always known that there was something special about you," he teased lightly. Athena smiled. She always liked Boomer and was glad that she could still depend on him as a friend. "You're a great guy Boomer," she told him with certainty. "You're going to make some woman very happy one day." "Whoa, now hold on there," he censured her. "I'm a little young to be thinking about settling down and too old to get set up on dates," he added quickly when she opened her mouth. When her smile broadened, he knew that he had guessed right and she had been about to suggest someone as a possible companion. "Do you mind if I ask you something?" "Of course not," she returned as she adjusted her pillow to get more comfortable. "I was surprised when Gaea let you perform the healing ceremony on Croft after the severe reaction you had from healing Apollo and Brie. I was half expecting to find you strapped down and drugged after healing Croft, but you only look a little tired. Why was this time different from the previous two?" Athena smiled. "Because Gaea showed me how to do it right." "Come on now," Boomer cajoled. "All Gaea did was stand there with her hands on your shoulders. I don't think she even said a word until after Croft was awake." She shook her head slightly as her gaze drifted away. "No, she did much more than that," she said softly. "She was actually with me in the vision." "The vision?" he prompted. "It was as if we had stepped into someone else's dream." Her eyes narrowed as she tried to describe it. "It was complete chaos at first then Gaea was somehow able to bring some order to it. She told me how to find the wounds that Croft was suffering from and dispose of them safely in a beautiful gilded box." Boomer looked at her skeptically. "A gilded box, huh?" Athena's eyes gleamed up when she saw the look on his face. "Yeah, about that big." She held her hands apart to illustrate the small size then smiled. She knew that he didn't believe her, but that was okay. She wouldn't believe it either. "It had a glowing light coming out of it too," she told him as she leaned up and grabbed onto his arm playfully. "All right, all right," he said as he brushed her hands off. "You don't have to tell me." She chuckled as she laid back. "Believe it or not, that's what happened." She smiled wistfully at the memory. "It was the most incredible voyage of my life." Boomer looked at her with mock disbelief. "Are you telling me it was better than riding the Megalith Canyon?" Athena's smile broadened. She was barely sixteen when she decided to stow away in the modified hovercraft. She had a huge crush on Starbuck and couldn't resist going along when she heard Apollo talking about it. "I would have enjoyed that a lot more if I had been in a seat instead of the storage compartment." "And who's fault was that?" he taunted. "I thought Apollo was going to..Oh frack! What time is it?" He grabbed his wrist to flip open his chronometer. "I'm supposed to be meeting Apollo and Starbuck on the bridge." It had taken him longer than he expected to find his way back to her. "Do you need anything?" he asked politely. "Food? Something to read?" He glanced around at the dark room then looked back at Athena. "A light?" She chuckled softly. "I'm fine. Really," she assured him. She enjoyed his company and hated that he needed to leave so soon, but that was the way of life on the Galactica. "Actually, you can tell Apollo to stop worrying about me." Boomer laughed at the thought. "Yeah, that will happen." ~~~ Errors-To: bsg-fanfic-bounces- airys=mirarialpacafarm.com@lists.eyrie.org X-UIDL: ?aP"!5~n!!b2L!!e_b"! "Whoa," Starbuck said softly as he leaned over Apollo's shoulder and stared at the monitor. "This guy gets around more than I do." Apollo punched in the appropriate commands to copy the entire list onto a computape. Their activities on the bridge had thus far gone unnoticed by the crew, but he didn't want to press his luck. He would much rather look at the list of names associated with Leto in his private quarters, but he couldn't resist scrolling through them once while they were up on the screen. "This guy knows everyone in the fleet with any sort of influence." "It's like a who's who of the elite." Starbuck's eyes locked onto a single name. "Look," he ordered as he tapped a finger against the screen. "Councilman Anton." "And Siress Cybele," Apollo added as he pointed to a name further down the list. "There's Sire Geller and Rybeck," Starbuck said in awe. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. "And Sire Uri," Apollo said with a shake of his head. "So much for this getting any easier," Starbuck sighed as he leaned against the monitoring station to study the names. "We need to find out if Leto's affiliation with the Council is political or social." Starbuck looked down at the captain. "Leto has enough influence that anyone with political ambitions would seek him out." Apollo sighed as he stared at the screen. "There has got to be someone pulling the strings." "Or a group of someone's," Starbuck corrected and Apollo's eyes darted up to his. "All right men," Boomer said as he approached them rubbing his hands together. "What have we got going here?" He leaned against the monitoring station in much the way that Starbuck was to look at the monitor. "These are the names that came up when we did a search on Leto's associates," Apollo informed him and Boomer leaned closer to the screen. "You've got to be kidding me," Boomer returned and shot Apollo a glance. "We need to find out how Leto is linked to each of these people," Apollo stated and gave Boomer a little smile. "That's right up your alley." Boomer looked down at Apollo suspiciously. "You're trying to get me to volunteer for long range patrol, aren't you?" "Ah, good," Adama said as he walked over to them. "You're all here." Apollo stood as the other two warriors straightened to face the Commander. "We've just been doing a check on everyone associated with Count Leto," Apollo enlightened him. "And?" Adama prompted. Apollo sighed. "Half of the Council is listed among the names. I've asked Boomer to do a detailed check." Adama nodded as he pondered the possibilities for a moment. "That will have to wait for now," he instructed and looked back up at Apollo. "I've just been called into Council chambers and I would like all of you there to report on what you found on the salvage barge as well as what happened with Croft." "I can have Sheba meet us there with everything she has downloaded from the disk we discovered," Boomer told him. "Good," Adama retorted then looked back at Apollo. "After the meeting, copy the list of names for me and give me a full report on all of the data that you have gathered thus far." "Yes sir," Apollo returned. ~~~ Adama rested his elbow on the arm of his chair as he leaned his chin against his thumb and stroked the side of his index finger lightly against his lips. He had wondered when the Council would see fit to bring him into their discussion, but it didn't bode well that they had taken such pains to ensure their privacy. Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer had been stopped at the door and weren't allowed in even though they were Adama's escort. The guards normally standing inside the Council chambers by the door were asked to wait outside. He took a moment to look at his fellow Council members around the table. Several were decidedly uncomfortable while others, such as Sire Uri, seemed almost smug. "I take it I'm not going to be offered an award before you try to retire me this time," Adama finally said to break the tension in the room. Sire Anton darted a glance around the table before reluctantly beginning. "Commander Adama. We know that you have led our people to the best of your ability, but some rather serious charges have been brought against you." Adama nodded. "Yes, I'm sure it's a carefully orchestrated account of my inability to lead." Anton darted another look around the table. "Commander, I suggest you choose your words more carefully. Some of the evidence against you is rather compelling." Adama weaved his fingers together as he leaned back in his chair. "Please continue," he instructed. "I'm most anxious to hear this.evidence." Sire Anton cleared his throat. He had been expecting more of a reaction from Adama at the news, not the nonchalant attitude. He glanced down at his notes to reorganize his thoughts. "First, Commander, let me ask you if you are aware of a man in the fleet named Delos?" "Of course," he returned. Anton shot a glance at Sire Uri. "Then you are aware that the man's condition is fatal and that it was brought on by the agro food that everyone in the fleet is consuming?" He felt his heart thump at the loss of Delos. "All too aware, Sire Anton." "Were you planning on informing the Council of this?" he asked. "I attempted to report to the Council on Delos at our last meeting, but everyone was more interested in discussing my family." Sire Anton shifted uncomfortably. He did have a vague recollection of Adama mentioning Delos' name and something about testing. "The Council has heard many remarkable things about this man and we would like the opportunity to meet with him." "I'm afraid that will be quite impossible," Adama returned. "He." "Impossible Adama?" Uri interrupted. "Didn't you meet with him in your chambers just a few centars ago? Isn't Delos on the Galactica at this very moment?" Uri leaned over the table. "Commander, are you deliberately trying to keep this man from the Council?" Adama sighed heavily. "Absolutely not, Sire Uri. You're more than welcome to meet with Delos, but I doubt that it will do you any good at this point." "And why is that Adama?" Uri asked sarcastically. "Have you already twisted his mind to follow your little schemes? Or have you simply threatened him into submission?" "Sire Uri please!" Sire Anton admonished lightly then looked at the Commander. "Why would Delos be unwilling to speak with the Council," he asked point blank. "It's not a matter of unwilling, Sire Anton," Adama explained. "Delos died a short time ago." An audible gasp filled the room then Uri was on the attack once more. "You allowed someone of Delos' abilities to die when you have a healer in your own family?" he said to stir the conversation. Adama leaned forward. He was tired of the not-so-subtle game that Uri was playing. "Let me see if I can cut through the felgercarb," he said and shocked the Council into silence with his unusual choice of words. "At this very moment, we are collecting the data on food and munitions dispersal in the Fleet. We have discovered that the missing ships, including the Borella freighter, were secretly stockpiled with the necessary supplies to stage the mutiny." "Something easily accomplished by, say, the Commander," Sire Uri taunted. "Or someone who has strategically placed personnel around the Fleet," Adama countered and fixed Uri with a hard look. "An easy task for someone with enough wealth and influence." When Uri faltered in a retort, Adama continued. "Furthermore, we have learned that it was a rumor which spurred the Nomen into revolting from the Fleet." "What sort of rumor?" Tinia asked softly. She had known that Adama would have an explanation and she was anxious to hear it. "That the Council had the Nomen on the prison barge executed," Adama said simply. "Good lord," Sire Geller said as he glanced around the table. "We're lucky that the Nomen didn't go on a blood hunt and come after all of us if they believe that the Council had Maga executed." "And it's for that very same reason that I don't believe a word of it," Uri argued. "The Nomen wouldn't have left thinking that we had killed one of their greatest leaders." "On their last known trajectory, the Nomen where heading for Luna 7," Adama added. "We can only assume that they are going in search of Maga." "Highly unlikely," Uri scoffed. "It's true the Nomen hold to their own code, but to risk so much for just one man?" "You said it yourself," Tinia interrupted then straightened when she gained everyone's attention. "Maga is one of their greatest leaders." Adama nodded at Tinia for her support. She had been the only one to speak out on his behalf. "To continue," he said, "we have learned that one of our salvage ships brought aboard an actual vessel from Earth." When the Council erupted into excited chatter, Sire Uri's voice arose above the rest. "And where is this vessel now?" he demanded and the room grew quiet. "It was destroyed," Adama returned in a grave voice. Uri laughed. "How convenient. I suppose that we are simply to take your word for this?" Adama slipped a computape out of his uniform and inserted it into the slot on the table in front of him. Microns later, the image of the satellite being brought onboard the salvage ship came up on the monitors around the table. Uri was getting frustrated with the way the conversation was turning. He had been certain that Adama would fall under all of the evidence he had compiled, but now it seemed that the Commander had him in his sights instead. "Yes, yes. That's a nice bit of footage you have there." He waved it aside. "But anyone with computer knowledge could create exactly the same thing. Doesn't Lieutenant Boomer have some skill in that area?" he asked suggestively. "A bit convenient that the ship was destroyed, wouldn't you say?" "Actually, I would call it treasonous," Adama returned. "But why would anyone have an actual artifact from Earth destroyed?" Siress Cybele asked. "I believe that there is a conspiracy in the Fleet geared toward convincing this Council to reverse course and go in search of the celestial lights," Adama said succinctly. "Any evidence uncovered of Earth's existence would be catastrophic to that end." When a commotion was heard near the door to the Council chambers, all eyes turned to see Tigh rushing in. Apollo, Starbuck, Boomer and Sheba slowly followed him in as they returned their pistols to their holsters. "Forgive me Commander," he said as he hurried over to his side. "My com-link wasn't being allowed through and Council security wouldn't allow me in." "That's because this is a closed meeting Colonel," Uri said loudly. Tigh drew in a deep breath then deliberately put his back to Sire Uri. "Long range patrol just reported in," he told Adama. "A basestar is closing in on the planet where we left Baltar and, according to transmission intercepted by the recon patrol, there are two other basestars less than a sectarie behind." "Was our patrol spotted?" Adama asked. "Doubtful sir," Tigh responded. "There were a lot of asteroids in the area and Flight Cadet Dietra returned as soon as she spotted the oncoming basestar." "And the Fleet?" "We're far enough away from the planet that the system itself should hide most of the convoy for the time being." "Alert all ships to prepare for maximum speed at once." When Adama started to follow Colonel Tigh out of the room, Sire Anton stopped him. "We have yet to conclude our discussion, Commander," he insisted. While Tigh disappeared out the door, Apollo, Starbuck, Sheba and Boomer came to stand behind the Commander as Adama faced the Council once more. "Sire Anton. If the Council decides to retire me then there is nothing that I can do about it. But right now there are three baseships within scanning range of the Fleet. If they haven't already established contact with Baltar, they will soon. To make matters worse, the ships that fled to the same planet have our present course. If we don't get out of this system, there won't be a Fleet to search for those celestial ships." Adama straightened. "Now, if you don't mind, I have a job to do." With that, Adama turned on his heel and marched out of the Council chamber with his warriors following closely behind.