Date: 23 Jan 1999 From: "Ivan & Marita Chisholm" The following story was written primarily for the A-Team fan fiction site in response to a challenge issued by another fan fic writer. The aim of the challenge was to have the A-Team taken off planet earth and a story revolving around that. Hope you get a laugh out of it anyway. Regards Marita. In response to Javelin's challenge on getting the guys "Off Planet Earth", here is my response. Hope you enjoy it. Chance Meetings Off Planet Earth (Cross over with A-Team) by Marita "Murdock where the hell are we? What did you do?" Face asked, regaining his footing. Hannibal stood and looked around, trying to locate a familiar surrounding or at least something that would give him a better idea of where they were. He walked over to a portal and looked in awe at the scene displayed before him. "Uh guys, somehow or another I don't think you are going to believe this," Hannibal uttered, almost not believing what he was seeing. BA, Murdock and Face walked over to where Hannibal was and took in the view that lay before them. Face blew a low whistle and shrugged. "Murdock what exactly did you touch in that lab?" BA was not as pleasant as Face had been. Seeing Murdock he grabbed the captain by his jacket collar. "I told you I wasn't flyin' with you no more fool." BA rebuked, "You know man I don't even know why they let you out of the crazy ward. You're a complete idiot." Offended by BA's latest remark, Murdock countered it with, "I am not a complete idiot. Some parts of me are merely missing." "Guys can it. Someone's coming. Get behind those crates, now," Hannibal ordered as three men came into view. "Apollo I'm telling you that if we want to beat Reese and whoever he has suckered into his team, we're going to have to practice," Starbuck said as he reached into his jacket for a fumarello. "Besides you don't want that poor excuse for a security detail beating us do you?" Apollo shook his head. "I guess not. Boomer could you tell Sheba..." Apollo never finished his sentence as he saw a reflection of light from behind one of the stacked crates. "Tell Sheba what Apollo?" Boomer asked when his friend did not finish his sentence. Apollo didn't reply but instead signaled for Boomer and Starbuck to each go to either end of the crates and flush out whoever or whatever was behind them. "Come out now with your hands raised and drop any weapons that you may have," Apollo ordered, taking cover to the side of one of the stacked crates. "Now what do you suggest Colonel?" Face whispered. "Maybe we could just introduce ourselves. Never hurts to give a good first impression," Hannibal suggested and then smiled as Face rolled his eyes at the colonel's proposed course of action. Hannibal signaled to BA and Murdock to throw their weapons in front of the crates and follow his lead. "Okay don't shoot, we're coming out," Hannibal said as he nodded to BA and Murdock to do as he and Face were. Boomer moved forward and collected the weapons studying them, never having seen anything like them before. Starbuck moved in beside Apollo and had his laser trained to the same spot as Apollo. When Hannibal and Face step forward with their hands raised, followed by BA and Murdock, a silence filled the cargo bay. Starbuck and Face looked at each other as though they were looking at their own reflections, just different clothes. It was obvious that Apollo and Boomer had also noticed the similarities and focused their attention on the two identical men in front of them. "Hi guys," Murdock said breaking the silence and then started to lower his hands. When Apollo heard what Murdock said he instinctively aimed his laser at Murdock. Quickly Murdock repositioned his hands above his head and looked at his colonel. "Colonel, can we go home now?" Murdock asked, his eyes resembling that of a puppy that had lost its master. Apollo stepped forward and instructed the four people in front of him to lower their hands. "I am Captain Apollo, Blue Squadron leader of the Battlestar Galactica. This is Lieutenant Starbuck and Lieutenant Boomer, also of Blue Squadron," Apollo said, as he introduced himself and each of the lieutenants. Boomer offered his greetings. Apollo jabbed Starbuck in his side getting him to do the same. "Uh hello," Starbuck said finally taking his gaze of Face. Hannibal then responded in kind, introducing himself and his team. Apollo suggested that they all make their way to the Commanders quarters, as the cargo bay was not the most ideal place for this meeting to be discussed. Hannibal agreed and instructed his team to follow Boomer. As they walked through the corridors to the Commander's quarters, the A-Team was given a lot of strange looks. Hannibal looked over at Face who had tried to make himself inconspicuous and understood the reason for it. 'How often do you get to see your own double in the middle of the galaxy?' Hannibal thought to himself. He was broken out of his reverie when they reached the quarters belonging to the Commander. Apollo knocked on the door and introduced himself. "Enter," said a voice from the other side of the door. The door slid open. The Commander looked at the group in front of him and then looked at Face. "Lieutenant Starbuck, what are you doing out of uniform?" Face looked at Hannibal as to whether he should answer or not, when Starbuck stepped into Adama's line of vision. Adama's gaze went from Starbuck to Face and back again, trying to take in the likeness of the two men. "Lieutenant Starbuck, I apologize for my incorrect assumption," Adama said as he sat down heavily in his chair. While Adama gathered his thoughts and contacted the bridge for Colonel Tigh to join them, Hannibal reached into his pocket hunting for his ever present cigar. Unable to find one he looked at Face. Knowing what his colonel wanted, Face pulled a cigar from his jacket pocket and handed it to Hannibal. Before lighting his cigar Hannibal asked if would be all right. Adama nodded and offered Hannibal a lighter. When Colonel Tigh arrived, Adama watched his expression as he to saw Starbuck and Face. Both Starbuck and Face said in unison, "This is becoming real old, real fast." Everyone looked at them and smiled. "By the Lords of Kobol, I thought one was enough." Adama said. The commander then remembered protocol and began the introductions. "I am Commander Adama. This is my second in charge Colonel Tigh. I take it that you have already met my son, Captain Apollo and Lieutenant's Starbuck and Boomer." Hannibal nodded and then responded by introducing the members of the A-Team. "I am Colonel John 'Hannibal' Smith. This is Lieutenant Templeton 'Faceman' Peck, Captain HM 'Howling Mad' Murdock and Sergeant Bosco 'BA' Baracus." With the introductions finished he extended his hand in greeting to Adama. After the introductions Hannibal asked where they were. "You are aboard the Battlestar Galactica on a heading for Earth," replied Adama. Murdock was happy to hear the news and smiled. "Colonel we are going home." Unsure if he had heard the captain correctly Adama repeated the captain's last word. "Home?" The members of the A-Team looked at each other in disbelief. Hannibal asked the question that they were all thinking. "If you're not from Earth where are you from?" asked Hannibal, taking the cigar from his mouth. Adama nodded and with Tigh they both explained the countless atrocities that their people had suffered from on the colonized planet of Caprica and surrounding planets. Adama explained to Hannibal that they were being relentlessly pursued by the Cylons, a race that despised humans and would not stop until they had annihilated every last surviving human. "But why Earth? What do you expect to find there?" Hannibal asked and then added, "Not that you wouldn't be welcome." After Adama explained in detail the mission and search that the remaining survivors had endured, Hannibal smiled. "And we thought we had problems." In reply to Adama's questioning look, Hannibal explained how he and his men had been on the run from the military on Earth who were trying to have them incarcerated for a crime that they did not commit. "May I ask you how you got to be aboard the Battlestar Galactica? We did not detect any ships on our radar on the bridge," Tigh said, glancing at Starbuck and Face, still unable to get over the similarities. "In all honesty Colonel, I am not sure. What I do remember is being in a lab looking for a disk while we were completing our latest mission. Murdock pushed some keys on a keyboard. I remember there was a bit of a storm going on and the next thing you know we're taken up residence on your doorstep." Hannibal sighed as he stretched his neck, trying to free it up a little. Adama was still confused. Murdock stepped forward to try and answer Adama's question. "Oh brother, this should be good," Face muttered and received a wary look from Murdock for his comment. "Commander Adama, I am more than certain it had something to do with a continuum in the temporal vortex through the portal that was open at the time, causing us to be displaced in time and pitching our tents on your back lawn," Murdock answered, believing that his theory was possible. Face motioned to Murdock. "Unless you hadn't realized Murdock, they don't have a back lawn." Starbuck laughed at Face's comment, leaned over and whispered to Boomer, "I liked that one." "You would," Boomer acknowledged and thought how Starbuck probably would have said the same thing, had the roles been reversed. "Well I don't know how long you are going to be with us, but may I suggest so as you do not feel so conspicuous that we offer you some uniforms from the Galactica to wear while you are here. With appropriate insignia of course." Adama smiled. Tigh left with Boomer to get the uniforms, leaving Adama, Apollo and Starbuck with their guests. Hannibal thanked Adama for his hospitality and agreed with his suggestion of wearing similar clothing as the others aboard the Galactica. He looked at his lieutenant and also at lieutenant Starbuck. "If I didn't know better I would swear that you are twins." BA and Murdock chuckled at Hannibal's comment. While on the other side of the room, Starbuck and Face who were standing next to each other said in unison, "Oh brother, now it starts." While waiting for the uniforms to arrive, Hannibal and Adama spoke with each other about Earth, Caprica, Cylons, battles and then the two lieutenants who were now out of ear shot. "Tell me Colonel Smith, exactly what is Lieutenant Peck like?" Adama spoke as he poured himself and Hannibal a glass of Ambrosia. "Please Commander, call me Hannibal, everyone else does," Hannibal said raising his glass. "Hannibal it is, and please call me Adama," Acknowledged Adama as he too raised his glass. "Now that we are on a first name basis, I have to tell you that Face, Lieutenant Peck, is like a son to me. I guess I am about the only father figure he has had in his life. I met him when he was 19 years old. He was heading for a new residential address in the military stockade, when I offered him a choice between that or coming to work for me in the Special Forces unit. As you can see he opted for the Special Forces unit and we have been together ever since," Hannibal said, taking a sip from his glass. "You said you are the only father figure he has had in his life. How is this?" Adama asked intrigued at finding out about the man in front of him. "Face, I mean lieutenant Peck was an orphan and spent until the age of 15 in an orphanage. After that he fell in with the wrong crowd and spent going from one detention centre to another, before enlisting to fight in the Vietnam war. As I said earlier that is where I met him. Since the war and our whitewash of a trial, we've all come to depend on each other and see one another through all sorts of strife," Hannibal explained and took another drink of the Ambrosia. Adama smiled and told his story about how he had met Starbuck. "When I met Lieutenant Starbuck, it was at the Academy enlisting service day on Caprica. Starbuck, like Peck, had been orphaned as a child and spent much of his time in the rehabilitation service homes. He too fell in with the wrong crowd and possibly saw enlisting as a way of going straight and staying out of the detention cells. If not for Boomer, I don't think Starbuck would have joined. You see, although Boomer came from a well to do family, he still fell in with the more undesirable side of life. Needless to say he too spent time paying for his crimes. Boomer encouraged Starbuck to give the flight simulator a go. Surprising everyone he surpassed all the top scores. He was a little hesitant at joining the Academy at first but soon passed through all the classes. After a successful mission to save the lives of the children at an orphanage by defeating the Cylons and putting his own life in danger, he was commissioned to serve aboard the Galactica. Not something that comes easily, as the Blue Squadron is the most prestigious service, I dare say much like your Special Forces service." After Adama had concluded his story about Starbuck, both he and Hanibal focused their attention to the two lieutenants in front of them. Face leaned over and whispered to Starbuck, "Do you think they're talking about us?" Starbuck nodded. "Well if they're not they're up to something." Athena entered with the uniforms for the new guests and was greeted by Adama who introduced her to the members of the A-Team. Face moved forward and gave Athena one of his famous smiles. "Gentlemen," Adama said, rising from his chair, "This is lieutenant Athena." Seeing Face edge forward even closer, Adama quickly added, "my daughter." Face looked at Adama and slunk back beside Starbuck. "Don't feel bad Face, that was my first reaction too when she was introduced to us." Face chuckled and accepted the uniform that Athena had given him. Adama showed them where they could get changed and then spoke to Athena about what had been happening on the bridge. They're brief discussion ended when the A-Team returned dressed in Galactica uniforms. Hannibal wore the blue uniform that Colonel Tigh and Adama wore, while BA, Face and Murdock wore the brown and tan uniforms as the colonial warriors wore. Adama nodded and introduced the new 'warriors' of the Galactica to Athena. "So Earth really does exist!" Athena exclaimed excitedly. "It certainly does Ma'am," Hannibal replied. "Colonel Smith, it is an honor to meet you." Athena smiled. "But, may I ask why you and each of your team has unusual nicknames?" Hannibal began to explain to her what the nicknames stood for. "BA stands for Bad Attitude. He does have one when children or innocent lives are at stake. HM stands for Howling Mad. During the war it paid to be mad to be able to cope with the capers that Murdock was involved with. Ahhh and last but not least Face." Hannibal smiled, taking a puff of his cigar. "Con man and womanizer extroadanaire. Aptly named Face as he can, shall we say, procure almost anything out of thin air." When Hannibal had finished talking he saw the looks on Adama's, Tigh's and Apollo's faces. "Oh Sagan, not another one!" Athena said and joined everyone but Starbuck and Face in laughter. Starbuck and Face looked at each other and shrugged. Turning to face the others they asked in unison. "What?" When neither got a reply, Starbuck suggested to Face that they leave. Face nodded in agreement and both turned to ask their respective leaders if it would be all right. Adama suggested that Apollo, Boomer and Starbuck would be able to show the team members around the Galactica while Hannibal remained with himself and Tigh. As expected on their tour of the Galactica, both Starbuck and Face were given quizzical looks. BA who had now gotten over the funny coincidence glared at anybody about to remark or make jokes about both Starbuck and Face. "Handy guy to have around," Starbuck commented to Face. "He sure is," Face agreed and saw BA smiling. "Hey Apollo, since we're not on duty, how about taking our guests over to the Rising Star?" Starbuck asked. Apollo nodded and sent a voice message to his father to let him know of their plans. When they were in the shuttle bay to board a flight over to the Rising Star, Face and Murdock knew that they'd have a protest on their hands from BA. "Starbuck can I borrow that?" Face said indicating towards the laser that Starbuck carried in his holster. "What for?" Starbuck asked, unsure whether he should give it to Face. "The big guy has a fear of flying," Face answered. When he was preparing to make BA more comfortable for his flight, Face was surprised to hear from BA that there would be no need to knock him out. "But BA you hate to fly!" Face exclaimed. BA turned and glared at Face. "I said I'd fly man, so don't you go hitting me over the head again," BA growled as Face slunk away. "BA you great big angry mud sucker, you really gonna fly?" Murdock asked as he bounced up and down beside him. "Yeah fool 'cause you ain't flying this thing," BA retorted. Starbuck walked up to BA and Murdock and suggested that they get on board or they'd be left behind. "Sorry Faceyman," Murdock apologized as he got past BA and moved towards the shuttle. "Murdock, I'm not Face, he is," Starbuck said as he pointed to Face who was now talking to Cassiopeia, Starbuck's girlfriend. "Hi Cass," Starbuck said coming up beside his girlfriend. "Starbuck?" Cass asked, confused about two identical men in front of her. "Yep it's me Cass. This here's Face. I mean Lieutenant Templeton Peck," Starbuck replied, placing his arm around Cass's waist. "Oh," Cass replied. She held onto Starbuck's arm for support before she collapsed. "Don't tell me. One is enough, right?" Face smiled. His gaze shifted from Cass to Athena, when he saw her board the shuttle. He excused himself and found a spare seat next to her. He received many strange looks from the other passengers and shrugged his shoulders. "Is this seat taken?" Face asked, standing to leave. "No, please sit," Athena replied, "It is not taken." Athena smiled when Face accepted her invitation and made himself comfortable beside her. "What's everyone looking at?" Face whispered to his new found friend. "It's a long story," Athena answered. "Let me guess, it involves Starbuck," Face summarized. Athena nodded and told him of her courtship with Starbuck. "Some yahrens ago Caprica was destroyed along with the other colonies by the Cylons. Before that Starbuck and I had been seeing quite a bit of each other, but things became strained between us. When my father ordered the fleet to get moving and away from the Cylons, Starbuck had asked me to get sealed to him. At the time I couldn't accept. We drifted apart and never really did get passed being just friends again. There are times when I wish we had more than a brother and sister relationship. And there are times when I am grateful that we are not sealed." "So that is why we are receiving all the strange looks. They think I am Starbuck." Face laughed. Athena joined him in his merriment and then saw Starbuck and Cass enter. Athena nudged Face in his ribs and gestured towards the new arrivals. "This should be good," Face said as he stifled a laugh. The rest of the passengers were dumbfounded when Starbuck and Cass sat down opposite Face and Athena, not knowing what couple to look at first. Before anyone could speak, BA stood in front of the two couples and scowled at the people who were going to comment. All eyes turned away from the two couples and the large man who glared at them. When Boomer, Apollo and Murdock boarded the shuttle left for the Rising Star, in all a very quiet journey between the two vessels. "What do you do round here for fun, after you're done chasing the bad guys?" Murdock asked. Apollo answered Murdock's question. "Well Captain, for relaxation we like to go to the rejuvenation centre and drink and dance or play Triad. Starbuck likes to play Pyramid and win cubits off the unsuspecting." Murdock thought for a moment about the game called Triad. "That is what you were talking about in the cargo bay, isn't it?" Murdock asked. Apollo grinned before answering, "You wouldn't be interested in a game would you?" Starbuck looked at Apollo and smiled. "Maybe we could change the rules a little and play three to a team?" Boomer agreed that it would be fun to play three on three and radioed ahead to book the court. The rest of the journey was spent discussing the rules of the game. BA decided that it sounded a lot like basketball and suggested that since the game had the same objective a mixture of playing rules be accepted. Not wanting to argue with the burly sergeant, Apollo and Boomer quickly agreed to the proposed changes. At the court Apollo handed the necessary clothing to Face, BA and Murdock, telling them it was the Triad uniform. "Uh Apollo... would you have any shorts that are not so brief?" Face asked, looking distastefully at the shorts he had been handed. Apollo laughed and walked off to his changing room. "Must be a rough game. They've given us helmets and padding for elbows and knees," Murdock said, changing into the uniform he had been given. Face continued to grumble at the uniform and how snug it fitted. "Awww don't worry Faceyman I am sure Athena will love it." Murdock smiled and ducked avoiding the projectile that Face had launched at him. "Come on guys, lets get it over with," BA said moving towards the door. Once on the court they saw their opposition dressed in white uniforms identical to their own. Not feeling so embarrassed about their clothing they began to relax and practiced a few lay-ups and defensive charges. At the other end of the court they saw Apollo and Starbuck running their standard maneuvers and marveled at the speed. The audience in the auditorium had increased from two to two dozen and still growing. News had spread that a Triad game was being played between the blue squadron team of the Galactica and a visiting team. In the audience were Hannibal, Adama and Tigh, along with Apollo's girlfriend Sheba, his son Boxey and Muffit, which was Boxey's daggit. They all sat together with Athena and Cassiopeia. When the game was ready to start, the team from the Galactica huddled and shouted. "For the honor of the Galactica!" Murdock got BA and Face to huddle and they returned the challenge, "For the honor of the A-Team!" The game that ensued was fiercely fought with skills from both sides coming into force. BA blocked several shots from Boomer and dribbled the ball down court to where Murdock was waiting to sink the basket. He looked across to Face and nodded. Murdock leapt in the air. Face did likewise and sunk the shot that Murdock had started to deliver. "Wow!" Exclaimed Athena "What kind of a shot was that?" Hannibal chuckled and said, "That my dear is was is known as an Ally-OOP, done to perfection." During the course of the game a collision occurred mid-court between Starbuck and Face. Both were knocked flat on their backs and hit the floor with a resounding thud. When neither of them moved, Cass and Sheba made their way to them. "Starbuck? Face? Answer me," Cass pleaded, trying to get both of them to respond. After a short while, Cass called for two stretchers to be brought onto the courts. "Are they going to be all right Cass?" Apollo asked. "I won't know until I get them back to the Galactica to the Life Centre," Cass answered as she worked on her two patients. Hannibal walked over and leaned down beside the stretchers. "BA, Murdock.. help me with the stretchers." Cass stood and beckoned for the med. tech assistants to come forward and transport the stretchers to the waiting shuttle. "It is all right Colonel. We can get them to the shuttle. We'll meet you there after your men have changed from their uniforms," Cass said and followed her patients to the shuttle. By the time that Cass had made sure that the stretchers were secure and had started to check her patients vital signs, Hannibal and his team were ready to board along with Adama and his party. On the way back to the Galactica, Cass spoke to Hannibal. "Looks like your lieutenant has broken his leg, he must have landed on it awkwardly." "How's Starbuck?" Hannibal asked after he heard the news about Face. "He'll be fine. Probably won't be playing Triad again anytime soon. He's broken his shoulder." Hannibal and Adama exchanged glance and both said, "Kids!" In the examination room of the Life Centre, Hannibal and Adama began to compare notes on their lieutenants again. Cass had told them that Starbuck and Face shared almost identical scars and healed bone injuries. "Well Commander, if Starbuck is anything like Face I dare say he may also be somewhat recalcitrant," Hannibal said. Adama grinned. "Let's not forget, a scoundrel or risk taker." The friendly exchange of comparisons went on and continued even when Starbuck and Face were now conscious and listening. "I think they're talking about us again," Face complained to Starbuck. "Really do you think so?" Starbuck replied sarcastically. BA and Apollo thought that they could also add to the ever growing list. "They both complain when they're hurt," Apollo said. BA added, "And they get really sarcastic!" "BA, BA wake up. Who's sarcastic?" Murdock asked as he handed BA a glass of milk. Looking at his surroundings, BA looked at Murdock with total confusion on his face. "Where am I?" BA asked. "Boy that must have been some hard knock to your head big fella. You and Face were playing basketball and..." Murdock started to say before he was cut off by BA. "You mean it was all a dream? We didn't play Triad against Apollo, Boomer and Starbuck?" BA again asked as he tried to sit up. "BA, I think I'll go and get Maggie. You're going to be sharing a room with me and Barclay if you don't start thinking straight," Murdock answered. "Hi BA, good to see you awake again." Face smiled, coming through the door on crutches with his leg in plaster. "How'd you do that? Playing Triad on the Rising Star?" BA asked hysterically, not sure whether he had just been dreaming or whether it was real. "BA, we collided mid court. The way I landed with you on top of me, I broke my leg," Face explained and moved aside as he saw Maggie coming in. "Doc he's yammering about playing Triad and being on the Galactica," Murdock said. "Don't forget the Rising Star," mentioned Face. "Okay you two scat. I want to check our patient." Maggie smiled, ushered them from the room and continued her examinations. "BA, that's one mighty bump you took to the head. Give it a few more hours and we'll try getting you up." "Maggie, how's BA?" Hannibal asked when he entered the room. "Apart from a bump to the head and recalling his dream, he's fine," Maggie replied. "Have you seen Face? I have a surprise for him," Hannibal said, looking around for him. Maggie said that she'd go and find him and left BA and Hannibal together. "It was so real man. It's like we were there on the Galactica," BA admonished. "Don't be embarrassed about it BA. You've probably just been reading those books of Face's again." Hannibal smiled. "You wanted to see me colonel?" Face asked as he hobbled into the room. "Yeah I did, kid. I have a late gift for you. I had tried getting it before Christmas but with you been sick an' all not to mention spending time with Decker," Hannibal replied, with a gleam in his eyes. "Don't remind me," Face mumbled. "Ah well don't worry about that anymore. Here's your gift," Hannibal chuckled as Lorne Greene walked out from behind him. Face looked at Hannibal and then back to Lorne Greene. "You mean Mr Bonanza is my present." Face chuckled. "Ah Face, this is Lorne Greene..." Hannibal started to say before BA interrupted. "You're him, the commander from the Galactica, with Apollo and Starbuck!" BA exclaimed. Lorne smiled and went over to BA's side. "I see you watch the show," he said. "Mr Greene, you'll have to forgive BA. He took a knock to the head and well, he thinks he was on the Galactica," Hannibal explained. "Oh I see. Anyway Lieutenant, I have a gift for you. And no, I am not your gift. This is," Lorne said as he handed face a package. Eagerly Face ripped the package open and revealed a brown and tan flight jacket as worn by the colonial warriors. "Try it on," Murdock urged. Face leaned on the side of the couch for support and tried the jacket on. "Ohhh Face, it's you. It really is," Murdock said in his best poncey voice. Face was so pleased with his jacket, he embraced Hannibal in a hug not unlike that of a son hugging his father. "Thanks Hannibal. It's great," Face said. "I'm pleased you like it kid." Hannibal smiled and then spoke to Lorne. "I'm absolutely grateful that you were able to do this. As I told you when Face was rather sick, we all read the books he had been collecting over the years on the show Battlestar Galactica. I appreciate all the trouble you went to." "Hey dad, I mean Commander, we're going to have to get going," Apollo said as he and Starbuck walked in. "Hi Face, the jacket looks great." Starbuck grinned. "Thanks Starbuck, but next time when we play Triad I think I'll wear my own uniform." Face laughed. "You're on. Well we had better get going. Don't want to keep Cass waiting," replied Starbuck. BA who had been listening to the conversation between Starbuck and Face, maneuvered himself in front of them and asked them to repeat what they had said about Triad. "Uh Starbuck did you say anything?' Face asked. "Nope. Did you?" Starbuck replied. Not satisfied with their answers BA growled that he was going to kill them. "Come on BA, would I lie to you?" Face asked trying to convey an innocent expression to BA. "Yeah you would. You're worse than Hannibal when he gets on the 'Jazz.' I'm gonna make you pay Face!" rebuked BA. "Now BA, you wouldn't hit someone who's leg you broke would you?" Face spluttered as he tried backing out of BA's path. "Face, before BA kills us, what's the 'Jazz?' " Starbuck asked. Face looked at Hannibal waiting for him to give an explanation. When none was forthcoming, Face said, "The Jazz is kind of like nature's way of sticking your finger in a light socket. Our problem is Hannibal likes it." Still none the wiser Starbuck made a hasty retreat and called to his friends. "Apollo, Boomer, anytime you want to step in here guys?!" "Uh Hannibal, you want to sort this one out?" Face grimaced as BA moved closer. Hannibal ushered Adama, Apollo and Maggie out the door and called Murdock to join them. "Sorry guys you're on your own this time," Hannibal chortled. Looking first at an angry BA and then at each other they both said in unison, "FRAK!" The End