BATTLESTAR GALACTICA                      

TITLE: A NEW LIFE
BY Naugh
Naugshroyer@aol.com
Rated: G                            
Disclaimer: You now the drill I just love to write nothing more.

     Starbuck slowly walked onto the balcony of his apartment. He looked
down and saw that almost everyone was dancing on the street and having
fun. Loud music filtered up to his home and he smiled at the people below
him. "You all deserve this day. Without any of your help this day would
have never came to be," he said softly.
      "Now daddy that is not true."  A petite blond hair young lady
walked onto the balcony. "Without you this day of freedom would have
never happened."
     Starbuck looked at his daughter and put the biggest smile on his
face. "You're only saying that because I am your father and the president
of our people."
     "Yea what ever!"
     Starbuck started laughing. "I wish your mother could see you now." 
He looked back down at the party. "A leader of our warriors, what more
could I ask for. I couldn't be more proud of you."
     "Well it helps when your father is the best teacher around." She
also looked down at the street. "Why aren't you down there?"
     "I'm too old!"
     She looked at her father. "Don't give me that  dad. You won't go
because all your friends are dead."
     He sighed. "Sarah, there's a time where someone of authority should
not go to a party. I don't want them to feel uncomfortable with me
around."
     "That never stopped you before."
     "I'm not the same man anymore! I have more responsibly."
     She interrupted, "Stop it dad, you're starting to sound like a real
bureaucrat.  No one wants you to change. They love you for who you are,
not what you have become" Sarah's Voice was soft. "You're Commander
Starbuck of the Battlestar Galactica 2, hero to millions, and friends to
everyone." She slowly grabbed her father's hand. He slowly turned to face
her. "Why can't you see that?"
     He heared the anger in her voice. "I was fracking lucky that's why ,
just pure dumb luck." He walked away from her and went back into his
apartment.
     She followed her father in. "Stop it," she yelled at him. "You can't
bring mother back or anyone else who die that day, but you can be their
representative at the festival." 
     "I know I can't bring her back honey, but ,,,,,"  He sighed.
     "You still have me and you will always have me. There are no more
cylons."
     "No one is sure that they are all dead."  He turned to face her. 
"We must always keep a lookout for them.  Their like snakes, hiding till
it's the right time to attack. There will be another Baltar and we must
never forget that."
     "What has gotten into you? I've never heard you talk that way
before."
     "Sit down." They both sat down on the couch and Sarah looked into
her father's eyes and saw the sadness in his eyes. "When we had our last
war with the cylons, we were caught off guard. Everyone thought the
cylons had given up on us because we didn't see any trace of then for 10
Yarhens. So,,,,"
     "So you decide to relax a little."
     "Not at first but after a while yes. When the cylons attacked,
almost  all the vipers were being refitted so there wasn't enough to
fight against  them." Starbuck lowered his head.  "Within the first hour
we lost four ships, one of them was the orphan ship, all those children
and I couldn't save them." Tears were running down his face.  "By this
time I was the last viper in the air and the Galactica was on fire almost
everywhere. I don't know how I was able to land my viper." He took a deep
breath. "If the people from Earth did not arrive when they did I would
have died too. Only 22 people lived, 22."
     Sarah grabbed her father's hand and held it tight. "You did your
best." Her voice was soft. "You're only one person. Those who live don't
blame you, why should you. I don't, Troy doesn't. You yourself got hurt
pretty badly getting us off the Galactica. The Doctors were not sure if
you were going to live, and by the way why are you not using your cain."
     Sarah saw a small smile on his face as he looked her in the eyes.
     "I don't like them. Everyone thinks they have to help me get
around."
     She giggled.  "Oh daddy."
     "Don't oh daddy me young lady."  
     "You need to go down there with your people. It's the best medicine
for you. Please father." 
     Starbuck looked up at the ceiling as if he was asking for help from
the heavens, then slowly got up off the couch.
     "What are you waiting for let's go to the party." Starbuck held his
hand out to his daughter.
     Sarah slowly got up and grabbed his arm. "Waiting for my father. I
love you."
     "Love you too." He kissed her on the check then they walked out the
door.
 
Fin.