The Empyrean Curse
Lisa Zaza
December, 2004

Part One

     Commander Adama stood behind the dais considering the melee before
him.  One of the many challenges of fleet life was the amalgamation of so
many peoples with as many customs and beliefs.  Siress Tinia had been
heading a delegation that was attempting to unite these people to focus
on the positive aspects of similarities instead of the glaring
differences.  It was imperative that they unite as humans and come to
forgive and accept variances.  She had been working very hard with the
Empyreans and this celebration was the culmination of her efforts.
     The Empyreans were an ancient race tracing their heritage back to
Kobol.  As such they were proud and very set in their ways.  They
originated on a large island isolated from the rest of their brethren on
Sagittarius.  For centi-yahrens they had existed in an archaic society
that respected title and lineage ahead of anything else.  Even within
this society of sectarians were different regimes with opposing views. 
The Ancient Empyreans believed in the continuance of their longstanding
traditions without any deviation from the True Path.  The New Empyreans
had a more progressive and tolerant stance.  While still having an
unwavering belief in the Gods and the Book, they could see the advantages
of assimilating modern advances into their lives.
     This was supposed to be the beginning of the end of an age-old
battle between the two regimes.  The noblest of each regime was there
with their eldest child.  Barring any unforeseen circumstances or natural
disasters, if everything had gone to plan at the end of the celebration
there would have been an important announcement proclaiming the sealing
of Rogane, Son of Regus, to Aurelia, daughter of Albus.  Unfortunately,
unforeseen circumstance had arrived in the form of Lieutenant Sheba and
natural disaster in the form of Lieutenant Starbuck.

Part Two

     Adama thought back sectons ago to his discussion with Tinia where
she convinced him to assist in her ordeal by helping to organize a ball
to bring the two Empyrean families and their kith and kin together.  At
the time, he had been hosting a large dinner party with his own family
and friends.  As the talk turned to politics all eyes turned their way.
     "Tinia, what makes you think that Sires Regus and Albus would agree
to attend?"
     "They have agreed in principle to the sealing of their eldest
children.  Finally, the Empyrean people will be united again.  They will
announce the engagement at the celebration."
     "Excuse me, Siress Tinia," Sheba interrupted, "I thought that Albus'
daughter was only a young girl.  How could they be arranging her
sealing?"
     Adama raised his eyebrows.  He was impressed by the warrior's
knowledge of the Empyreans.  
     "Actually, the date of the celebration is the sixteenth anniversary
of Aurelia's natal day.  According to Empyrean tradition, that is the day
a young woman is first presented to Society."
     "Poor kid.  Sounds like a short coming out party."  Starbuck
remarked.
     Silence settled on the table as all eyes turned towards Tinia.  She
considered her words carefully before replying.  "The Empyreans view the
occasion as much more of a celebration of tradition than a... party,
Lieutenant."
     Starbuck smiled.   "I suppose an arranged sealing is one of 'those
customs that we need to accept if we're going to learn to co-exist
peacefully'."  He paraphrased what he had heard her telling Apollo
earlier.  "Even if it does involve children... Siress."  
     "The arranged sealing in not strictly a tradition of the Empyreans,
Lieutenant.  It has existed for generations in many societies, including
Caprican."  Siress Tinia continued.
     "It isn't particularly the arranged sealing that Starbuck has a
problem with, it's sealing in general."  Boomer joked, trying to ease the
tension.  Everyone laughed at the lieutenant's expense.  Cassiopeia,
however, laughed a little less heartily.

Part Three

     Lieutenant Starbuck was late.  He was supposed to be at a briefing. 
He shook his head in disgust that some officer, probably Colonel Tigh,
thought it was necessary that there even be a briefing to attend this
Empyrean Ball.  This fracking ball had been a pain in the astrum from the
first time he had heard it mentioned.  He grinned as he remembered the
discussion he had been having with Siress Tinia about the arranged
sealing of the Lady Aurelia.  She had implied he was less than refined. 
He was about to prove her correct when Boomer lightened the mood with a
joke.  Sometimes there was just no going back.  Besides he had too much
respect for Commander Adama to insult his... just what in Hades was Tinia
to Adama?
     He willed the turbo lift to move faster.  He hadn't really wanted to
go to this upper-class snob fest, but when Cassie found out about it he
knew he was committed.  What was it about women and finery?  He chuckled
to himself when he recalled Cassiopeia convincing him to meet for dinner
with Chameleon and Blassie just last secton only to realize he'd been
conned into an Empyrean Waltz lesson.  Cassie was an amazing woman.  Even
when every other part of his life resembled a turbulent ride in an
out-of-control viper, he could always count on Cass.  Not that she didn't
surprise him now and then.  
     He jumped off the lift and hurried down the corridor.  He had been
scheduled for an early shift with Apollo the next day, but had managed to
swap patrols with Giles.  Unfortunately, flying Giles' patrol was what
had made him late now.  At least he could go to the ball and try to have
a good time without worrying about getting up early.  Ah yes... he should
try and remember to mention the switch to Apollo.
     He finally found himself in front of Cassiopeia's quarters.  Much to
his surprise, she answered her door wearing her med tech uniform.  Not a
good sign.  "Are you running late too?" he asked.
     She smiled faintly and motioned for him to come inside.  "Running
late for what?"
     He turned to look at her in shock as the door closed behind him. 
"For the Empyrean Ball."
     "Was I supposed to be going to the Empyrean Ball with you?" She
asked a little too innocently.
     Starbuck felt his jaw drop.  "Aren't you?"
     "I'm working." 
     "But... the new dress...the dance lesson... the gossiping about
Empyrean etiquette...What was all that for?" he asked in bewilderment.
     "I was...waiting for you to ask me.  You didn't."  She replied
simply.
     "I didn't ask you?" he repeated dumbly.
     "No, you didn't."
     Starbuck ran his hands back through his hair.  He felt like he'd
been blindsided by a shuttlecraft.  "Cass, what are you talking about?"
     "I've been doing some thinking..." she started.
     Uh oh!
     "I think you've started taking me for granted." She finished.
     Starbuck's eyes opened wide.  "Huh?  Taking you for granted?"
     "Starbuck, you're going to have to do a lot more than just repeat my
sentences back to me if we're going to discuss this."  She said in
annoyance.
     "Sentences?  No, no, these are not sentences, Cass.  Sentences are
supposed to contain a complete thought or idea.  Definitely, not
sentences."  He barked back at her.
     Well, things kind of deteriorated from there.  Twenty centons later
Starbuck left a furious Cassiopeia.  He had remembered part way through
their argument that she had spent the previous evening with Athena and
Sheba.  He had a suspicion that they had something to do with this. 
Angry feminists unite!  Happy, single man on the horizon!  Frack, he
still had a briefing to get to.  That was the nice thing about briefings;
they tended to be brief.

Part Four

     Captain Apollo watched his warriors.  They were trying to decide
whether or not to be offended that they were being briefed on Empyrean
etiquette.  However, he saw eyes open widely in surprise quite a few
times as he explained the seemingly minor offences that could disrupt
this peace initiative.  He had to keep reminding everyone that a peace
initiative was what this was, not just a cotillion.  He had just finished
as he noticed Starbuck slip into the back of the room.  He took a deep
breath and headed in the direction of his friend.
     "Hey, Boomer, " Starbuck joined him.
     "Where's Cassiopeia?  I thought you were bringing her to the
briefing."  Boomer had fully expected them to show up together.  
     "I thought so too, apparently not.  Hey, have you seen Sheba?  I
need to have a word with her."
     "She's here.  Just like everyone else who's going to the ball. 
Except you, of course."
     "I got ... delayed.  Did I miss much?"
     Apollo was suddenly right in front of Starbuck.  "Just the entire
briefing, Lieutenant."  He pointed out.
     "Hey, I can explain..."
     Apollo interrupted, "I don't even want to hear it this time.  I
should just leave you here on the Galactica."
     "Fine with me, Buddy." Starbuck replied, "I never wanted to go to
this soiree to begin with."
     Apollo stood glaring at the Lieutenant.  Starbuck held his ground.
     "I think perhaps 'Sorry, I'm late' would have been a better choice
of words, Bucko," Boomer interjected.
     Starbuck sighed.  "Apollo..."
     "No, I really am not in the mood for your lame excuses, Starbuck. 
The only reason you will be attending is the bizarre fact that Lady
Aurelia is a triad fan and has personally asked to meet you.  If you
embarrass me," he poked a finger squarely in the middle of Starbuck's
chest,  "I'll have you flying so many long-range patrols that your astrum
will need to be surgically removed from your cockpit."  He turned and
angrily strode away.
     "Nice, buddy."  Boomer remarked.
     "Oh, yeah.  Cassiopeia thinks I'm insensitive and Apollo thinks I'm
an embarrassment.  And these are my friends."
     "What about me?"  Boomer asked in amusement.  "Do I get to have a
go?"
     "Oh, I wouldn't want you to feel left out.  Let me have it."
     "I think you tend to let your temper get in the way of your
judgment.  Tonight you seem to have an especially short fuse.  What
happened with Cassie?"  
     Starbuck laughed bitterly.  "I'm still not sure.  Apparently, I take
her for granted."
     Boomer was surprised.  "I thought you two were pretty serious."
     "Yeah, so did I.  I guess I don't do 'pretty serious' very well. 
Another apparent character flaw of mine."  Starbuck was really not in the
mood for this party...oh, right... Empyrean Ball.

Part Five

     The Malocchio Freighter was one of the larger passenger ships in the
fleet.  It had to be to hold the two Noble houses of the Empyrean world
and all of their people.  While Siress Tinia had suggested the Rising
Star as the obvious location for the Ball, both Regus and Albus had
insisted on staying on the Malocchio.  Both houses agreed that the Rising
Star was a symbol of luxury, excess and sin, and as such, was
inappropriate for the occasion.  Instead, Siress Tinia joined forces with
Siress Rea, Regus' wife, and Siress Akela, Albus' wife, to transform an
enormous storage area into an elegant ballroom.  Nobility from all over
the fleet was arriving for the occasion. All were eager for their first
glimpse into the lives of the Empyreans.
     Sheba was in awe as she entered the ballroom on Apollo's arm.  The
corridors leading there had been in disrepair, much like other ships in
the fleet.  They even had to duck a few times to avoid colliding with low
pipes and rebar.  Luckily, all areas had been well identified to prevent
any avoidable injuries.  The sheer elegance of the ballroom in contrast
to the passageway was breathtaking.  The Siresses had worked magic.  The
subdued lighting, while masking the functional nature of the space,
contributed to the ambiance.  Candlelight gently flickered throughout the
room adding to the gentle, romantic mood.  Her eyes widened when she saw
the orchestra playing sweet, enchanting music.  She recalled that the
Empyreans had an impressive collection of talented musicians.  She had
not enjoyed an orchestra in yahrens.  As Commander Cain's daughter, Sheba
was no stranger to elegant functions.  However, she admitted that she
thought of herself more as a warrior than a commander's daughter these
days.  Still, a celebration of this magnitude was quite an occasion.
     Apollo was also impressed with the transformation of the storage
area.  He smiled tenderly as he watched Sheba, her eyes sparkling with a
childlike fascination.  Now here was a transformation he enjoyed even
more.  That of Lieutenant Sheba, Colonial Warrior, to the beautiful,
wondrous woman he was escorting.  Sheba was wearing a magnificent gown
that accentuated her figure.  Her hair was swept up off her neck with
tendrils gently framing her face.  She was admiring the dancers as they
circled the floor.  Uh oh.  Dancing.  Apollo grimaced.  He knew he wasn't
much of a dancer.  Sheba clearly wanted to be out there on the dance
floor.  Where was Starbuck when he needed him?  Oh, probably late as
usual.
     Boomer and Starbuck entered the ballroom.  "Do you see the bar?"
Starbuck asked.
     Boomer snorted.  "Is that all you have to say?  Look at this place. 
I don't know about you, but I've never been to a shindig of this calibre. 
Just let me enjoy the moment."
     Starbuck crossed his arms and studied his friend.  In truth, this
was his first time surrounded by enough nobility that the prominent noise
was the rattling of jewelry rather than the sound of the orchestra. 
Starbuck had perfected the art of nonchalance.  If he felt uncomfortable
standing there in his dress uniform with Boomer as his date, he was not
going to let anyone else know it.  "Well, can we find the bar now?"
     "All right, let's go."
     Apollo saw Starbuck and Boomer heading to the bar.  Starbuck seemed
to be getting an early start at the bar and probably needed a reminder
that they had early patrol.  Besides that, Sheba had that 'do you want to
dance' look in her eyes.  "I'll go get us a drink, Sheba.  Ambrosa?" 
     "Oh... sure.  Ambrosa's fine."  Dang.  Sheba was hoping to entice
the Captain out onto the dance floor.  She knew he was using diversion
tactics on her.  She also knew Apollo wasn't much of a dancer and would
probably wait for a nice, slow waltz before he would get up his courage. 
She watched him make his escape.  Aha, there was Starbuck and Boomer.
Suddenly the Captain's need for a drink became much clearer.  Now, where
was Cassiopeia?  They had been planning this night for sectons.  She even
had Cassie give her some impromptu Empyrean Waltz lessons.
     Starbuck was enjoying a large Sagittarian Ale.  Ah, yes.  Maybe this
shindig wouldn't be so bad after all.  How bad could these people be when
they served their ale at just the right temperature?  He was standing
back trying to focus on Boomer's sudden lesson on Empyrean etiquette.  He
attempted to nod and smile in all the appropriate places, but his
attention was elsewhere.  Across the ballroom, a vision had suddenly
appeared.

Part Six

     Aurelia seemed to float into the room.  She was tall and slender and
held her back straight and her head high.  She was not particularly
looking forward to her entrance into Empyrean Society, especially knowing
it was going to end all too quickly by her premature engagement to that
toad, Rogane.  Her Mother and Grandmother had outdone themselves when
they had designed her gown.  The ivory tones promised her chastity. 
However, the way the bodice clung to her shapely curves, she was clearly
a women come of age.  Aurelia had thick, chestnut hair that cascaded
softly in waves down her shoulders, swept back off her face with a tiara. 
She hated the tiara.  It was so pretentious.  However, Akela and Ama had
insisted that her position as Lady Aurelia of the Noble House of Albus be
clear.  Especially, at a function where so many commoners were present.
     Aurelia suddenly felt an intense gaze upon her.  She looked across
the room to see a handsome warrior in dress uniform.  He carelessly
brushed his dark blond hair back from his forehead to get a better look
at the young woman.  She swore that she had never seen eyes so blue.  Oh
alright, maybe she couldn't see his eyes across a crowded, candle-lit
ballroom, but Aurelia had followed the triad and military career of
Lieutenant Starbuck since she was fifteen yahrens old.  She had watched
him on the IFB and was very familiar with those blue eyes and the trim,
fit body that was beneath the uniform.  She licked her suddenly dry lips
as she met his gaze.  Hmmm.  Maybe this event wouldn't be a total
disaster after all.
     "Starbuck,"  Suddenly the enchantress before Starbuck transformed
into the much less attractive form of the Strike Captain. "don't forget
we have early patrol tomorrow."
     "Sorry, I forgot to tell you," Starbuck started to straighten his
friend's dress cape, "I switched with Giles.  I'm off the hook so I get
to enjoy the party."  Suddenly, the thought of enjoying the party
actually seemed possible.  He tried to look beyond his friend back to the
seductress he had in his sights moments before.  Apollo again blocked his
way. 
     "Do you know who you're leering at, Lieutenant?" Apollo asked.
     "No, but I do plan to find out."  Starbuck started to step around
his friend.
     "Starbuck,"  Boomer grabbed an arm stopping his escape.  "have you
been listening to anything I've told you?"  He asked in irritation.
     "Sure, Boomer.  I've been hanging on every word."  He winked at
Apollo.  "So, who is she?"
     "Well, now, just off to her right is her father, Sire Albus; off to
her left is her mother, Siress Akela; and she is..." Apollo started.
     "Siren Aurelia, "  Starbuck finished in disappointment.
     "Lady Aurelia,"  Boomer and Apollo corrected him simultaneously.
     "That beautiful woman is a sixteen-yahren-old girl!" he exclaimed,
"The Gods are trying to drive me crazy."
     "It's a short walk from where you stand now, Starbuck."  Boomer
added.
     "Besides, I don't think Cassiopeia will appreciate you ogling anyone
else."  Apollo tried to lighten the mood.
     Starbuck snorted, "I'm free to ogle as I please tonight."  He raised
his glass to the Captain.
     Apollo's eyes widened in surprise.  "What did you do this time?"
     "Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence!"
     Boomer laughed.  "Well, you do have a certain reputation.
     Starbuck looked at his friends in disgust.  "With friends like you
two, who needs Cylons?"
     "Stop dramatizing.  I'm sure you'll work it out.  In the meantime,
what you need to cheer you up is a little exercise."  Apollo suggested.
     "What?  Do you have some crates that need moving?"  Starbuck asked
sarcastically.
     "No, no, I was thinking more in the direction of a dance."
     "As dashing as you look tonight, Captain, I don't want to dance with
you.  Besides, I've seen you dance.  You have two left feet."
     "You don't need to remind me, Starbuck.  I'm well aware of my limits
on the dance floor."
     "It's really more of a disability.  Let's be honest, buddy."
     "Okay, okay!"  Apollo held up his hands.  "Please, do me a big
favour and dance with Sheba.  She's just dying to get out there."
     "Hey, didn't you say you wanted to talk with Sheba anyway?"  Boomer
encouraged.
     Starbuck sighed.  Well, Cassiopeia wasn't here.  Lady Aurelia was
definitely out of bounds.  His eyes settled on Sheba.  Actually, Sheba
looked stunning.  She also looked abandoned.  The problem with Apollo was
he just didn't know how to treat a lady.  He nodded his agreement to his
friends and strode over to Sheba.  She was turned the other way, clearly
searching for someone.  He gently grasped her hand and turned her towards
him.  "Sheba, daughter of Cain; Lieutenant of Galactica; woman of great
allure and beauty..."   He raised her hand to his lips and tenderly
kissed it.  Mischievous blue eyes twinkled and smiled into her brown
ones.  "May I have this dance?"
     Sheba actually caught herself giggling.  "How can I refuse such a
gallant gentleman?" she asked.  Trust Starbuck to turn the pretentious
into the preposterous.   She took his arm and he led her onto the dance
floor where they joined the twirling, whirling masses.  She heard him
chuckle.  "What?" she asked.
     "Sheba, I know this is difficult for you, but you're supposed to let
me lead."  He smiled at her.
     "Let me get this straight, you lead and I follow?"  She asked in
mock horror.
     "It's not a new idea, Sheba.  In fact, it's been done for
generations by most societies."  He  impersonated Siress Tinia to the
best of his ability.
     "This isn't one of those customs that we need to accept if we're
going to learn to co-exist peacefully, is it, Starbuck?"  Sheba's
impersonation of Tinia was much better. 
     He laughed. "Try to think of it as a celebration of tradition,
Sheba."

Part Seven

     "They look great out there."  Boomer remarked as he watched Starbuck
and Sheba circle the floor.  "Where did he learn to dance?"
     Apollo felt a twinge of jealousy before he could shrug it off. 
Anything that had to do with romancing a woman came easily to Starbuck. 
Starbuck used to joke that being stuck in an orphanage it was only
natural he would interact easily with the opposite sex.  However, since
he'd met him, Cassiopeia was the closest to a serious relationship that
Starbuck had known... well other than Athena.  Apollo didn't really know
what had happened between Starbuck and Athena.  Didn't really want to
know.  It was tough having your best friend dating your sister.  "I don't
know.  Ask Starbuck."
     Boomer nudged his friend, "Don't tell me you're jealous."
     Apollo laughed.  "I guess I sound like it, don't I?"  He watched his
friend nod his agreement.  "I don't get it, Boomer.  How can he be so
smooth with women, yet all his relationships crash and burn?"
     "Ah, the enigma that is Starbuck.  Many a song was sung..."
     "Many a tale was told..." Apollo added.

----------

     Other eyes were watching the dashing lieutenant make his way around
the ballroom.  Her grandmother was escorting Aurelia closely and
carefully.  Apparently, it was Ama's responsibility to see that the young
woman did not step out of line.  Ama had seen her young charge follow the
lieutenant with her eyes, rather inappropriately.  She knew she had to
keep a tight rein on the girl tonight.  Several times she tried to steer
Aurelia towards her intended, Rogane, but the girl had outmaneuvered her. 
She stopped and chatted to strangers as though they were old friends. 
She was now deep in a conversation with Commander Adama and Siress Tinia.
     Sheba found that when she did let Starbuck lead, she enjoyed the
dancing even more.  She stopped trying to remember the steps and just let
Starbuck guide her around the floor.  She still had not spotted
Cassiopeia.  "Starbuck, where did you hide Cassie?"
     He gazed at her intently.  "You don't know?"
     "Should I?"
     "Well, I thought that maybe you and Athena had something to do with
her decision to work tonight."
     She looked at him blankly.  "What?  I thought she was coming.  What
happened?"
     "I don't know, Sheba... Look, can we just drop it?  I've already
been through this with Boomer and Apollo and it's starting to get old."  
     "What did you do?" she asked.
     "Frack!"  Starbuck briskly escorted her off the dance floor.  "Why
does everybody assume I've done something?"  He took her by the arms and
pulled her close.  "I went to her place to pick her up and she was
wearing her med tech uniform.  Next thing I know, she's telling me that I
take her for granted.  That I didn't even properly invite her to the
frackin' Ball.  She says I'm insensitive and I don't even know the first
thing about making a commitment to a woman.  I flirt too much; I drink
too much; I gamble too much; I smoke too much; I fly Vipers too much.  I
frackin' breathe too much.  Okay?  Are you satisfied?"  He let a very
shocked Sheba go and turned away, leaning against the wall with a hand
over his eyes, and taking deep breaths.
     Sheba stood staring at Starbuck's back.  She'd never seen him lose
control before.  She gently touched his arm.  "Hey, are you okay?"
     "Yeah," he sighed, "I'm perfect."
     "She loves you, you know."  She turned him towards her.  She'd never
seen self-doubt in Starbuck's eyes, but it was there now.  He just
shrugged and shook his head.  "She does.  I think she just wants what
most women want.  She wants to feel special.  You have an incredible
ability to make people feel special, Starbuck.  You've done it with me
tonight.  Problem is, you should be back on the Galactica focusing on
Cassie, not me or anyone else here."  She looked in the direction of
Aurelia who she'd noticed watching them closely.
     He sighed.  "You probably won't believe me, but I didn't want to
come here.  Captain's orders.  Seems Lady Aurelia wanted to meet me."
     "Are you trying to tell me that if you weren't here now, you'd be
talking to Cassie and sorting all this out?"  She saw him smile at her
frankness.  "Don't try to Starbuck me.  I think I know you better than
that."
     "I guess you do at that.  You're right.  I'd probably be talking
myself into moving on.  Cassie said as much.  I expect things to come
easily and if they don't..." he let the sentence hang.
     "You turn tail and run, Starbuck.  Cassiopeia deserves better than
that.  So do you, if you really want a shot at happiness.  Time to grow
up, Starbuck."  She squeezed his hands to gentle her words.

Part Eight

     Siress Tinia was pleased with the success of her efforts.  The
Empyrean Ball was the sensation of the yahren.  Even the lovely Lady
Aurelia seemed to be having a wonderful time.  The lady's only
disappointment was that she had not yet met her hero, Lieutenant
Starbuck.  She hastily sent Colonel Tigh to remedy that oversight.  The
fact that the lady had not been seen with Rogane also niggled at her
consciousness.

-----------

     Colonel Tigh was none too pleased to be used as Siress Tinia's
messenger.  He searched the room to locate Starbuck.  Ah, there he was...
holding hands with Sheba.  What was wrong with that man?  After all,
Apollo was supposed to be his best friend.  Lords, Starbuck just couldn't
keep his hands off the ladies.  No wonder the man's relationships never
worked out.  He grasped Starbuck's shoulder.  "Lieutenant, your presence
is required... now."
     Starbuck let go of Sheba's hands.  "But..."
     "That's an order, Lieutenant.  This way."  Tigh headed back across
the room expecting Starbuck to obediently follow.
     "Frack, what does he have stuffed up his rear thruster?"  Starbuck
wondered aloud.
     "Careful, hot shot."  Sheba warned him.  "The Empyreans don't look
kindly on... profanity."  She nodded in Tigh's direction.  "You'd better
go."
     He brushed his lips against her cheek.  "Thanks, Sheba."  He quickly
followed in the Colonel's wake.

----------

     Apollo watched Starbuck pull Sheba off the dance floor.  Just what
was going on?  If he didn't know better he'd think Starbuck was making a
move on her.  Sure as Hades looked like Starbuck was up to something. 
Well, he wouldn't find out standing here watching them.  He started
over... only to see Colonel Tigh interrupt them.  Tigh said a few words
and left.  Starbuck again kissed Sheba... well, her cheek anyway, and
followed.  Maybe getting Starbuck to dance with Sheba was a tactical
error.  Ah, a nice, slow dance.  He approached his lady.  "Would you like
to dance?"
     She smiled happily at him.  "I thought you'd never ask."
-----------

     Colonel Tigh approached Lady Aurelia.  He could sense Starbuck
hurrying to catch up.  How he envied Omega who had duty right now.  If
only he could be on the bridge instead of introducing triad players to
noblewomen.   Just smile and say the words, Tigh.  It will soon be over. 
"Lady Aurelia, may I have the pleasure of introducing Lieutenant
Starbuck."
     If possible, at that moment Lady Aurelia became even more radiant. 
She clearly had a very big crush on Starbuck.  She held out her hand to
him and smiled joyously.  "I'm very pleased to meet you, Lieutenant."
     Starbuck had to grin at that dazzling smile directed at him.  After
all, there hadn't been too many friendly faces looking his way.  He took
Aurelia's hand and raised it to his lips.  "Congratulations on the
anniversary of your natal day, Lady Aurelia."
     Aurelia blushed prettily.  Ama hovered nervously.  Everyone's
attention turned towards them.  Especially Rogane's.  He watched as his
intended flirted with the handsome lieutenant.
     Aurelia started talking.  She couldn't stop herself.  She'd say
anything to stay in the warmth of Starbuck's smile for as long as
possible.  She could feel her mother and grandmother moving in
disapprovingly.  She then saw Rogane determinedly headed her way.  She
felt trapped.
     Starbuck was enjoying this lovely and charming young woman.  He
chuckled as he listened to her regale him with stories.  She was becoming
increasingly agitated as her elders started to close ranks on her. 
"Would you do me the honour of dancing with me, Lady Aurelia?"  Mouths
all around them opened in shock.  A commoner asking a Lady to dance?
     "Oh, Lieutenant Starbuck, as you are one of the decorated protectors
of our people, the honour would be all mine."  Aurelia had learned a few
things about political prowess.  Mouths snapped shut as Starbuck led the
Lady onto the dance floor.

Part Nine

     The music changed and Apollo decided they had done enough dancing. 
He led Sheba off the floor only to see Starbuck escorting Lady Aurelia
on.  He wondered briefly how that was going to go over with the
Empyreans.  Sheba was smiling happily at the captain.  Dancing with
Starbuck was fun, but within Apollo's arms was where she belonged.  They
decided it was time to join the Empyreans and do some mingling... and
perhaps some damage control if necessary.  

----------

     Aurelia was happier than she could ever remember being.  If only
Starbuck could be of the Noble House, instead of that toad, Rogane.  He
was so handsome, kind and charming; all of the things she had imagined
about him.  His eyes were the bluest she had ever seen.  She knew they
would be.  Just when she thought it was all about to end, he had whisked
her onto the dance floor.
     "Starbuck?  What's it like to fly through the stars in a Viper?" 
She gazed adoringly up at him.
     He grinned at her.  The girl's enthusiasm was contagious.  "It's
hard to describe, Lady Aurelia."
     "Please call me Lia."  She winked at him.  "At least here on the
dance floor where no one else can hear you."
     He laughed.  "Alright, Lia."
     "Please try to explain how you feel when you fly.  If you could sum
it up in one word, what would it be?"
     He smiled wistfully at her.  "Freedom," he replied honestly.
----------

     Apollo and Sheba were deep in conversation with Siress Rea and her
son, Rogane.  Sheba could see why Aurelia was enjoying Starbuck's company
so much.  Rogane was a short, chunky, prematurely balding man.  Sheba was
not one to judge people on appearance and she quickly reminded herself
that he was also pretentious, obnoxious and bad-tempered.  He was also
watching Starbuck's every move on the dance floor with an ever-increasing
jealous rage in his eyes.  Sheba was watching too.  To Starbuck's credit,
he was being the perfect gentleman.

----------

     Aurelia smiled sadly at Starbuck.  He hated to see the light go out
of her eyes.  "Freedom.  I knew you'd say that.  I wish I could feel that
freedom, Starbuck."
     "I take it you're not too thrilled about your upcoming nuptials,
Lia?"
     She smiled at the sound of her name on his lips.  "I knew you'd be
easy to talk to.  I wish I was sealing with you Starbuck."
     "Hey, now.  I'm a bit too old for you.  Besides I'm just a nobody. 
No blue blood running through these veins."  
     "Starbuck, you're twice the man of that toad I'm supposed to be
sealed to.  You're brave, handsome and you've contributed far more to the
welfare of the fleet than all of these noblemen combined."
     He smiled, "Sweetheart, you really don't know me that well.  I've
cornered the market on character flaws.  Just ask my friends.  Besides,
there are some great men here; Commander Adama, for instance."
     "Starbuck, you offer all that you have.  Your life.  Isn't that the
noblest gesture of all?"
     "Lia, weren't we talking about you?"  She was good for a man's ego
that was for certain.
     "I'd rather talk about you.  You have more of a future, after all." 
She looked very vulnerable.
     "I doubt that.  Come on, be creative.  Don't you have any say in
your future?"
     "You think I'm acting like a victim, don't you?  Be honest with me." 

     She had a way of cutting through the felger.  Starbuck liked that. 
"Alright.  You want to steer your own ship, you'd better start now.  It's
the first step to freedom."
     "I have thought of one way out.  It may be a bit drastic though."
     "Hey, if it works, it works."
     "You really believe that?"
     "Lia, I've lived my life believing it."
     "Well, in that case..."  She pulled him close and kissed him. 

Part Ten

     Commander Adama had been enjoying a pleasant conversation with a
group of Empyreans when suddenly Sires Albus and Regus appeared at each
elbow and started to propel him towards the dais.  It had been erected
specifically for the announcement of Rogane and Aurelia's engagement,
however, that had been planned for the end of the evening.  Adama, as
leader of the fleet, had agreed to introduce Albus and Regus who were
then to proceed with their proclamation.  "Sires," he interrupted, "I'm
afraid I don't understand the sudden urgency."
     "You're quite right, Commander; you don't understand.  Our
necromancer has foretold the disaster that will befall us this night.  We
must prevent that at any cost; if we're not already too late."  Sire
Albus responded.

----------

     Sheba watched Commander Adama being marched towards the dais. 
Obviously, Rogane wasn't the only one who was nervous.  She looked around
the room.  Half of the eyes were on Adama walking and the other half were
on Starbuck dancing.  The orchestra played their final note as it
happened.   The room took a collective gasp as Starbuck's lips gently
kissed Aurelia's.  "Holy frack!"  It was out of Sheba's mouth before she
realized she was even thinking it.  Siress Rea's eyes opened wide staring
in disgust and horror.  Her skin blanched and she swooned towards the
floor.  Suddenly, the room erupted in pandemonium.
     Apollo caught Siress Rea just before she was about to hit the floor. 
He looked towards Rogane only to see the back of the man heading towards
Starbuck and Aurelia.  He couldn't believe this.  Not only had Starbuck
kissed the vestal virgin but Sheba had used profanity.  He gently laid
the Siress on the floor and hurried towards Starbuck, dragging Sheba
behind him.
     Aurelia's kiss felt like a whisper of innocence.  It took Starbuck a
micron to even become aware of the metamorphosis of the Siress Ama into
the howling banshee now at his side.  "My curse upon you, Lieutenant
Starbuck."  She raged wildly at him with arms outstretched.  "I curse he
who has offended the Empyrean House and upon our daughter has brought
shame.  All my calamity, harm and misfortune for a yahren upon you.  May
rain, fire, ill wind and hail follow you.  May your brothers look upon
you with a jaundiced eye.  May your friends and lover forsake you.  May
pain and sorrow be your only true companion.  I bind you by the grave
injunctions of my magic."  Several candles in their immediate vicinity
spontaneously extinguished.
     The room again went quiet.  The Empyreans backed away from the
lieutenant with hands over their chests and heads bowed, protecting both
heart and soul.  The only sound was Aurelia quietly sobbing.  "You had no
right.  You had no right."  She repeated accusingly at her grandmother. 
Starbuck stood protectively beside her shaking his head in wonder. 
Rogane had reached them now, but even he stood apart, reluctant to
approach Starbuck. 
     Apollo and Sheba arrived on Rogane's heels.  Apollo had thought he
would be pulling angry Empyreans off of the lieutenant; instead, they
were distancing themselves from him as if they were somehow afraid of
him.  Starbuck had his hands on Aurelia's arms trying to comfort the
weeping girl.  Apollo could hear her repeatedly telling Starbuck how
sorry she was.
     Adama arrived with Regus and Albus.  Siress Ama presented herself
proudly before the men.  "It is too late," she stated, "It is done."  
     "Undo it then," Regus ordered.  "You know the child's part in all
this."
     Apollo looked searchingly at his father, but Adama appeared as
confused as the rest of the Colonials present.
     "She is innocent.  A mere child."  Ama insisted.  "It is he who
should pay."  She hissed in the direction of Starbuck.
     Starbuck was starting to get a bad feeling about all of this.
     Adama stepped forward.  "Sires?"
     "Commander, we should speak of this in private.  Please return...
the offenders to the Galactica.  They are no longer welcome aboard the
Malocchio."
     Adama nodded.  "Apollo, you and Boomer escort Starbuck and Sheba to
quarters.  They are to remain there until I personally send for them. 
Understood?"
     "Yes, sir."  Apollo replied.  Sheba followed the captain closely,
but Starbuck remained at Aurelia's side, reluctant to leave her to an
unknown fate.
     "Lieutenant Starbuck," Adama approached him menacingly,  "having
received a full briefing on the Empyrean traditions you still chose to
defile this young woman. To make matters worse, you now hesitate to obey
my orders!"
     "Lady Aurelia will not be harmed in any way, I give you my word." 
Sire Albus stated quietly.  "Please go."  He watched the unfortunate
young man leave reluctantly.

Part Eleven

     Apollo pulled Starbuck behind him down the passageways.  "What were
you thinking?  Oh, my mistake, 'thinking' is too strong a word for you!"
     "Apollo!" Sheba said in shock.  "I think you're being a little hard
on poor Starbuck."
     "Poor Starbuck?"   He turned around to face Sheba.  "Poor Starbuck
just ended the peace initiative between the Empyreans!"
     "Leave her alone, Apollo.  It's alright, Sheba, I can fight my own
battles."  Starbuck intervened.
     "I...  kind of... screwed up too, Starbuck."  Sheba volunteered.
     He grinned at her.  "Please don't tell me you kissed Rogane."
     "No, I used... profanity."  She avoided Starbuck's eyes.  She knew
she had to.
     "No way, " he replied, "You're the one who warned me about..."
     "I know... It just slipped out."  Keep it together, Sheba.  Don't
lose it in front of Apollo.
     Starbuck snickered.  Sheba snorted.  They both burst out laughing.
     Apollo stared at them.  They had obviously lost their minds... if,
indeed, Starbuck really ever had one to begin with.  "I don't believe you
two.  Don't you realize the implications of your actions?" the captain
demanded.
     "I think so.  Two houses of nobility that have been at each other's
throats for centi-yahrens are still going to be at each other's throats." 
Starbuck stated.
     "And one very young girl will not be getting sealed to one very
unpleasant... toad." Sheba added.
     Boomer shrugged at Apollo.  "That pretty much sums it up, buddy. 
Seems minor when you put it up against the human race being targeted for
extinction by the Cylons.  We had better make ourselves scarce." He
suggested as he urged Starbuck ahead of him down the Malocchio's
corridors.  "Besides, if my memory serves me correctly, don't you have
some long-range patrols you wanted to brief Starbuck on?"
     Apollo smiled sheepishly.  "You're right; all of you.  Sorry, Sheba. 
You too, Bucko."
     Starbuck turned back slightly to reply when something hit his right
eye.  Sparks flew and he felt as though his head was exploding.  The next
thing he realized he was lying on his back, holding his hand tightly over
his eye and the pain was incredible.
     "Starbuck, let me see. " Apollo was saying.  He was trying to pry
his friend's hand away.  Blood was oozing down Starbuck's face. 
"Starbuck, it's okay.  Let go.  I need to stop the bleeding."
     Starbuck moved his hand away.  He felt Sheba grab it in support...or
restraint.  Apollo started to wipe away the blood.  "Frack!" Starbuck
exclaimed.  That really hurt.
     "Easy, " Sheba soothed him.  She was trying to see past the blood. 
He appeared to have a large gash just below his eyebrow.  Whatever it was
had missed his eye.  "Boomer, did you find anything?"
     Boomer was searching for the offending object.  "No, I don't know
what it was.  Strange."
     "Starbuck, can you sit up?" Apollo asked.
     "How's my eye?" he gasped.  A steady trickle of blood and the
welling of tears obstructed his vision.
     "It's okay.  Just a scrape, buddy.  C'mon, sit up." Apollo helped
him.
     Starbuck's head spun.  "A scrape?  My head's going supernova.  Get
me off this tub, will you?"

Part Twelve

     Commander Adama was lead to a Spartan meeting room.  Sire Albus made
him comfortable and Sire Regus poured him a drink of ambrosa.  Adama was
intrigued.  They were behaving as if it were he that was owed an apology
and not the other way around.  He waited patiently for them to begin.
     "We regretfully apologize, Commander Adama.  We do have procedures
and rules, which were not followed.  I'm afraid Siress Ama took the law
into her own hands."  Albus said.
     Adama looked at them blankly.  "I'm afraid I don't understand.  It
was my warriors that offended your traditions.  Why are you apologizing
to me?"
     "The Empyrean Curse," stated Regus.
     "A curse?" Adama repeated in wonder.
     "Ah, perhaps you did not understand at the time.  Siress Ama cursed
your warrior."  Albus clarified.
     Adama quickly rested his jaw in his hand as he felt the corners of
his mouth quirk.  He nodded solemnly at the men.  By the Lords of
Kobol..."I admit I am unfamiliar with the Empyrean Curse."
     "It is an age old penalty and a tradition preserved by the Empyrean
Houses.  It has only ever been imposed on traitors and murderers... until
now."  Albus continued gravely.  
     "I'm not sure I understand the gravity of the situation in regards
to Lieutenant Starbuck."  Adama stated delicately.
     "Truthfully, Commander, I'm not sure I can explain it to you." 
Albus said mysteriously.  
     Adama sighed.  Why did they feel the need to be cryptic all of the
time?

Part Thirteen

     Sheba settled Starbuck into the rear of the shuttle as Apollo and
Boomer made preparations to pilot them back to the Galactica.  She could
hear them getting final clearance.  Starbuck was lying across a few seats
with his arm across his eyes.  The shuttle lifted off.  Suddenly, it
lurched to the side and Starbuck was dumped unceremoniously onto the
deck.  Sheba held on tightly as they regained a steady flight path. 
"What happened?" she yelled up front as she knelt beside a cursing
Starbuck.
     "I'm not sure," Apollo replied.  "We'd better get her checked out
when we land.  Are you two okay?"
     "Oh, perfect!" Starbuck growled.  He was sitting up, this time
leaning back against the row of seats.  His eyelid was again bleeding. 
Sheba grabbed the medical kit.
     "Hold still, Starbuck," she directed.  She grabbed a bandage and
started to wipe at his eye.
     "Oww!  Hey, that hurts!" he pulled away from her.
     "Oh, stop your whining.  I'm just trying to stop the bleeding."
     "Could you at least pretend to be gentle?" he asked.
     "Just keep it up, Starbuck," she threatened menacingly.
     "Do you need help back here?" Boomer suddenly appeared.
     "Yeah, buddy." Starbuck stated, relieved to have reinforcements.
     "I was talking to Sheba," Boomer retorted. He knelt down beside them
and grabbed Starbuck's head.  He held his face up towards the light
examining the seeping wound.  Starbuck tried to back away, but found he
could go no further tucked in between his friends and the seats.
     "You know how he can get," Sheba grumbled.
     "Hey!  This is supposed to be helping?" Starbuck protested.  He
pulled at Boomer's hands.  Boomer looked him in the eye.  The good one.
     "Stop it." He threatened.  Sheba handed Boomer the medical supplies
and he skillfully applied a pressure bandage to the wound.
     "Thank you, Boomer."  Boomer suggested.
     "Thank you, Boomer."  Starbuck repeated obediently, palpating the
large dressing that seemed to cover half of his face.  "Is this really
necessary?"
     "Tell me you're kidding." Boomer loomed over him looking rather
irritated.  It took a lot to irritate Boomer.  Starbuck let out a deep
breath and chewed on his lower lip.  "I'm going back up front to co-pilot
incase this bird starts giving us grief again.  You," he poked Starbuck's
chest, "stop giving Sheba a hard time."
 
Part Fourteen

     The shuttle's landing was much smoother than its take off.  Starbuck
decided to play it safe and stay seated on the deck.  He was just getting
up as Apollo entered.  "Starbuck, we better take you to life station
before the billet."
     "Life station!  Hey, I'm okay." Starbuck protested. "You said it was
just a scrape."  Apollo looked at him curiously. 
     "Cassiopeia's on duty."  Sheba explained.
     "You're a very fickle ally, Sheba."  Starbuck complained.
     "C'mon Starbuck.  The way it keeps bleeding we should get someone to
look at it." Apollo gently pushed Starbuck towards the hatch ahead of
him.  "Boomer, can you make sure Starbuck gets back to the billet
afterwards?"
     "Of course.  Hey, Bucko, watch your..."
     With his eyesight impaired by the bandage, Starbuck managed to walk
head first into a metal bar.  Whack!  His forehead bounced off it and
Apollo caught him under the arms as he fell backwards.
     "...head." Boomer finished redundantly as Apollo lowered Starbuck
back to the deck.
     "Ooohhh," he groaned, holding his head.
     "Starbuck, how many fingers am I holding up?" Sheba asked.
     "If you'd stop shaking your hand I could tell you." He declared
indignantly.
     "Let's get him to the life station." Apollo instructed as he helped
sit him up.

Part Fifteen

     Commander Adama sat in his quarters considering the fragmented
information he had received from the Empyreans.  He had wasted a couple
centars with Albus and Regus.  He was still at a loss about what he
should do.  He shook his head as he commed Colonel Tigh and asked him to
have Starbuck and Sheba report to him.  He realized he would first have
to deal with their breach of protocol.  

-----------

     Starbuck was lying on his bunk reflecting on one of the worst days
of his life.  That's saying a lot when you're a Colonial Warrior who has
survived the destruction of his home world.  Well, all right, maybe it
was a disaster more on a social level, but a disaster nonetheless. 
Apollo and Boomer had practically carried him into the Life Station. 
Sure enough Cassiopeia was on duty.  She had indicated which stretcher to
put him on and had then returned ominously snapping her latex gloves into
place.  She had then roughly pulled up his head as she removed the outer
bandage that secured the pressure dressing in place.  She had started to
peel off the inner dressing as he yelped in pain.  It was stuck solidly
to his wound.  She was not to be deterred.  She then grabbed a cold
bottle of sodium chloride solution and generously poured it onto his
head.  She told him patiently that this would saturate the dressing
enough to remove it without disturbing the wound.  She tested the
dressing and repeated the dousing for good measure.  When his wound was
finally exposed to the air, she declared it a minor abrasion and
suggested he return the next day to have it laser healed.  Unless, it had
closed on its own by then, which was likely for such a minor scratch. 
Apollo mentioned the blunt metal object hitting his head with the
resulting blurred vision and dizziness.  Cassiopeia suggested they could
do a scan of his brain but she was sure they would find nothing. 
Starbuck hadn't necessarily liked the way she had said that.  She
relented and did the scan, which appeared to be negative.  Starbuck had
deferred from asking what it was negative for.  He went back to the
billet, never really having had a chance to talk to her despite several
attempts; all resulting in further uncomfortable medical 'treatment'. 
     "Starbuck, the Commander wants to see you now."  Boomer was back.
     Starbuck rolled over onto his back and sat up.  Boomer looked at him
aghast.  "What?" Starbuck asked.
     "That's quite the shiner you have there, Bucko."  He pointed at the
now edematous and bruised eye.  Starbuck had been lying on his right
side, which was apparently the wrong position for an eye that had been
poked, shocked, bandaged, doused and generally abused.  "How are you
feeling?"
     "Doomed." Starbuck replied as he followed his friend out of the
billet. 

Part Sixteen

     Starbuck had plenty of time to think on his way to see Adama.  He
remembered his Commander's ire when he had not immediately obeyed orders
to leave the Malocchio.  He also recalled Adama mentioning the Empyrean
etiquette briefing.   Apparently, the Commander was not aware of his
absence.  As much as he thought it was best that Adama remain ignorant of
the fact, he realized that was highly unlikely.  Ignorant was not a word
that anyone associated with their leader.
     He arrived at the same time as Sheba.  She looked tense.  Apollo was
at her side.  The Captain assessed Starbuck's latest injury.  "Don't tell
me you've injured it again?"  Starbuck just shook his head and shrugged.
     "Good luck, " Boomer said as he quickly departed.  He was happy not
to be a participant or their superior officer.  Starbuck and Sheba
watched him go as Apollo signaled their arrival.
     "Enter," they heard from within.
     The door opened and they walked in.  Adama stood officially before
his desk.  The warriors stood at attention before him and waited.  Adama
raised his eyebrows when he saw Starbuck's black eye and bruised
forehead.  He sighed. That would come later.
     "Lieutenant Starbuck, Lieutenant Sheba, despite having had a
thorough briefing to prevent such a calamity you have acted together to
prevent the uniting of a people who have been divided for hundreds of
yahrens.  I am disappointed to say the least in both of you."  Adama
noticed Sheba's eyes drop.  He walked directly in front of Starbuck. 
"Lieutenant, you also delayed obeying a direct order to depart the
Malocchio."  He could see Starbuck's jaw muscles tighten, but he managed
to meet his commander's intimidating gaze.  Adama returned to his former
position behind his desk.  "Lieutenant Sheba, have you anything to say?"
     Sheba squared her jaw and took a deep breath.  "No, Sir."  Now
standing here in front of Adama, she felt ashamed and it showed.
     Adama nodded at her.  "Lieutenant Starbuck, what do you have to say
for yourself?"
     Starbuck noticed the difference in phrasing and hesitated.  His eye
was itching and his head was pounding.  He just wanted to get his
punishment duty and get out of there.  "I'm... sorry for my behavior,
Sir.  I was just..."Adama crossed his arms waiting for the excuses to
begin.  "... wrong.  I didn't mean for my actions to reflect upon you,
Sir."  Starbuck shifted his weight uncomfortably and dropped his gaze for
a micron before again meeting the commander's eyes.
     "I see," Adama muttered in surprise.  By the Lords, was Starbuck
finally taking responsibility for something?  "Captain Apollo, do you
have anything to add?"  
     Apollo also looked surprised by Starbuck's response.  He shook his
head.  "No, Sir."
     Adama nodded.  "Our scanners have picked up a small planet ahead of
the fleet.  It appears to have an abundance of water and plant life as
well as a small population of humans.  I plan to send two teams to the
surface.  The first team will be responsible for testing and if
appropriate, replenishing our water supply.  Captain Apollo will lead
team one.  The second team will be collecting plants that our botanists
need to replenish badly depleted pharmaceutical supplies.  The synthetic
versions of these medicines are so degenerated that the situation will
soon be critical.  Lieutenants Starbuck and Sheba, you will be in charge
of team two."
     Well, this didn't seem like much of a punishment; getting off the
Galactica to wander around a planet picking flowers.  Sheba wished the
situation were less formal so she could feel comfortable asking... 
     "Sir, what's the...  catch?" Starbuck apparently felt more
comfortable than Sheba.
     Adama leveled a daunting look at Starbuck.  "It is the rainy season
so expect it to be unduly wet.  We actually doubt that you will be able
to land the shuttle close enough to where the targeted vegetation is as
most of that area is saturated with water.  Colonel Tigh feels the
shuttle would be at a high risk of simply sinking into a bog.  The second
team will be required to hike to the final destination and set up camp to
collect the necessary flora.  Upon completion they will need to carry the
acquired botanicals out again.  You will have three days to complete the
assignment.  Colonel Tigh has already started to organize the teams.  You
will leave in ten centars."
     "What about the human population?  What do we know about them?" 
Apollo asked.
     "Very little.  There do not appear to be any formal cities or
settlements.  Simply a scattered population of primitive people.  You may
not see them at all.  Colonel Tigh will join us shortly to brief you all
more thoroughly.  I have one more matter I need to discuss which involves
you, Starbuck."
     "Sir?" Starbuck asked.
     "Apparently, you have been cursed."  He watched the younger man's
lips quirk, much as his own had.
     "Sorry?"  Starbuck clearly wasn't sure how seriously to take his
commander.
     "Starbuck, what happened to your eye?"  Adama asked reasonably.  He
motioned for them all to sit.
     "Uh, something on the Malocchio hit me in the eye on the way to the
launch bay."  Starbuck was still standing, shifting restlessly on his
feet.
     "Something?"  Adama seated himself on the edge of the desk.
     "Boomer couldn't find whatever it was that hit Starbuck." Apollo
added.  "Actually, you have had some bad luck since then with both the
shuttle incidents and the... uh... Life Station... incident."  Starbuck
flushed and held his tongue.  "Oddly enough, we ran a diagnostic on the
shuttle and couldn't find anything wrong."
     Sheba looked on perplexed.  "I remember Siress Ama screaming
something at you, Starbuck, but I didn't make out what most of it was." 
Sheba watched him carefully.  Starbuck looked uncomfortable.  He sighed
and lightly touched his eye.
     "It was an ancient curse of the Empyreans."  Adama elaborated.  "I
spoke with Sires Albus and Regus.  Unfortunately, they would not tell me
specifically what the curse was.  It is... forbidden to speak it aloud."
     "A shame Siress Ama didn't know that," Starbuck complained. "Maybe
she missed the briefing too..."
     "Siress Ama is the Empyrean Necromancer.  She alone may speak the
words."  Adama explained.  His eyebrows rose in annoyance. "You missed
the briefing."
     "Uh...well, I..."  he stuttered.  Maybe stupidity was part of the
curse.  That must be it.
     "Starbuck."  
     "Yes, Sir... personal reasons." He flushed again.  "Sorry, Sir."
     "How do you manage to get yourself into these situations?" Adama
asked shaking his head.  He took a deep, calming breath.  "They did say
that you would likely be able to remember the curse, Starbuck.  Do you?"
     Starbuck sat down heavily.  He rested his head in his hands.  "Yeah,
parts of it anyway."
     "Well..." the commander prompted him.
     "Something about bad weather... I guess that one's about to come to
fruition."  Starbuck remarked looking back up at them with a wry grin on
his face.
     "Think, Starbuck.  Albus said you'd be able to repeat it verbatim." 
Adama interrupted.
     "Is it that important?" Starbuck asked him.  He'd just as soon
forget the curse.
     "It is.  Think back to... the kiss.  Try and remember Siress Ama's
reaction." 
     Starbuck stood up.  His headache persisted.  He pushed his hair back
off his forehead.  "I remember.  She was wailing like a banshee."  He
started pacing across the room.
     "Do you remember the words?  Think now.  Focus on her words."  The
room went quiet while Starbuck collected his thoughts.  Adama, Apollo and
Sheba all waited expectantly.
     "All my calamity, harm and misfortune for a yahren upon you," he
started.  He rubbed his bruised forehead.  "May rain, fire, ill wind and
hail follow you.  May your brothers look upon you with a jaundiced eye." 
He stood up and crossed the room looking out the view port.  "May your
friends and..." He cleared his throat.  "...lover forsake you.  May pain
and sorrow be your only true companion.  I bind you by the grave
injunctions of my magic."  Standing there, Starbuck suddenly felt very
alone.  Almost as if everyone else in the room had ceased to exist.  He
knew it was silly, but he was afraid to turn around and look.  A strong,
comforting hand gripped his shoulder and he turned to see the commander
watching him solemnly.   He felt a sudden lump in his throat.  You are so
fracked, Bucko.

Part Seventeen

     Starbuck had never felt so waterlogged in his life.  He had been
sloshing through the wetlands for a few centars and had decided the
planet Morass had very few redeeming qualities.  As Commander Adama had
warned, the shuttle was forced to land some distance from their
objective.  The team of six had loaded their packs and headed out.  It
took about ten centons for Starbuck to realize his right boot was
leaking.  Sheba was also grumbling.  Apparently, the humidity had an
adverse effect on Colonial Warriors.  The botanists, on the other hand,
were thrilled.  The three women and one man scampered around merrily
identifying flora and becoming increasingly irritating.  Starbuck
wondered if Colonel Tigh had hand picked them based upon a certain
desired level of annoyance.  Yes, this was definitely a punishment
detail.
     Tuija, the head botanist, was muttering about large plants with
bright, purple flowers.  Apparently, the flower had antibiotic as well as
antifungal properties and was very rare.  Starbuck pondered how
multi-faceted his career had become since the destruction.  One day
flying Vipers and fighting Cylons and the next .  .  .looking for the
elusive purple Panthelon.
     "The Panthelon is usually found around a source of water."  Tuija
was explaining.  She was a powerfully built woman who clearly enjoyed the
outdoors.  Starbuck reminded himself that she and her peers had probably
not been on a planet for a long time.
     "Well, water we've got."  Starbuck remarked dryly as he looked at
Sheba... who seemed equally enthralled with the Panthelon pursuit.
     "No," corrected Tuija, "I mean a river or stream.  Not just an
accumulation of water."
     They continued along an embankment.  They had gradually entered a
thickly forested area that was quite beautiful.  The botanists collected
their bounty as they went along.  Tuija was excited with their extensive
finds.  They had far exceeded their expectations for quality and
quantity.  They stopped for some rest and nourishment.  Sheba was
standing at the edge of the embankment looking over the lush vegetation
and called Starbuck over.
     "What is it?" he asked.
     "Listen." She instructed him.
     He could hear the muted sound of rushing water.  He grinned at her. 
Maybe they could shorten this trip if the Panthelons were nearby.  He
stood at the edge of the embankment looking down.  
     "Is there a safe route down?" Sheba asked.
     "Well, it seems really steep all the way, but we could probably...
Whoa!!!"  Suddenly, he slipped and was on his back careening down the
hillside through the muck and mire.  He must have traveled a hundred
metrons before he slid to a gradual stop in the underbrush.  He realized
he had come to rest in a muddy pool and was submerged from his waist
down.  Luckily, his pack had prevented his complete immersion.  Oh, how
perfect.  
     "Starbuck!  Are you okay?"  Sheba yelled down the embankment.  She
couldn't see him.
     Starbuck lay still and took inventory.  He figured his backpack must
have taken the worst of the impact.  He struggled out of the pack and sat
up.  He was covered in mud and soaked to the skin.  He gingerly stood up. 
He could feel mud between his toes... and other places he didn't want to
think about.  He knew he had some bumps and bruises but that was about
it.  "I'm okay!" he yelled back up to Sheba.
     "Are there any Panthelon's?" he heard Tuija shout.
     "No really, I'm fine!" he shouted back up sarcastically.   Frackin'
flower.  He looked around.  He could easily hear the rushing water now. 
"I'm going to take a look around!" he yelled back up.  He headed towards
the growing noise.  The vegetation grew denser as he moved along.  He
walked through the overgrowth and came out to look upon a waterfall.  Now
he wished he had brought his pack.  It was not everyday he had a chance
to jump in a pool of crystal clear water.  It was not every day he needed
a bath this badly.  The second thing he noticed was the ample amount of
purple flowering plants with huge black stamens as described by Tuija. 
He took another long look at the scenic paradise.  Too bad it wasn't
warmer.  He shivered as he headed back to the bottom of the embankment.
     "Sheba!"  He could vaguely see her outlined in the mist.  "I found
the Panthelons!"
     "Great!"  Sheba exclaimed.  She could also foresee them leaving
early.  "We've found a safer path down, but it will take us a good twenty
or thirty centons to get to you."
     "Alright."  Perfect.  He grabbed his pack and headed back to the
waterfall.  His gear seemed intact, but he hadn't brought an extra pair
of boots or another jacket.  He would have to rinse them out the best he
could and hope they would dry later by a fire.  A fire had never sounded
so inviting.  He quickly stripped off his filthy clothes and dumped them
in a heap then dove into the pool.  On impact, it was so cold it took his
breath away.  He washed and then swam a few leisurely lengths getting
used to the temperature.  Finally, he floated peacefully and just enjoyed
his little paradise.  It was idyllic.  
     Suddenly, he had a strange feeling that he was being watched.  He
carefully scanned the perimeter as he quietly treaded water.  He could
hear the local wildlife, but saw no sign of a predator.  He realized he
was likely running out of time and he quickly exited the pool.  He again
took a careful look around.  He still saw nothing.  He started to dry
off, which seemed hopeless in the constant rain, and pulled on clean
pants.  Sure enough, as he was reaching for his tunic Sheba and her merry
band of botanists arrived.
     Tuija's first thought as she approached the waterfall was that the
fauna definitely rivaled the flora.  Starbuck was only half dressed and
bent over his pack.  She paused to admire the view.  She felt her two
female peers, Galena and Raizel, come to a stop beside her.  From their
appreciative murmurs she could tell they weren't assessing the
Panthelons.
     "I have never seen anything so glorious!" Timon exclaimed.  The
ladies chuckled.  He was clearly looking at the Panthelons.  
     Sheba approached Starbuck.  He was pulling on his tunic.  "Starbuck,
you're the only cursed man capable of falling off a cliff, sliding down a
mountainside, landing in a bog and then turning it all around and
proceeding to find Paradise.  I'd say your luck is holding."

Part Eighteen

     The botanists started exploring the little piece of paradise
Starbuck had found.  The purple Panthelons were abundant as apparently
were several other plants they had on their list.  It became clear to the
lieutenants that whatever their initial destination, that this bounty of
botanicals was the final objective.
     Starbuck was sore and chilled to the bone.  "Let's set up camp.  I
need to dry out," he suggested to Sheba as he pulled on his wet boots,
distastefully. 
     Sheba handed him a survival blanket.  "Here, at least it will keep
you dry.  We'll need to move to higher ground if we're going to pitch
tents."  She directed her attention to Tuija.  "Starbuck and I are going
to scout out a spot for camp.  We'll let you get to work here."
     Starbuck and Sheba headed to higher ground.  They found a suitable
position within ten centons of leaving the aptly named 'Paradise' and
proceeded to set up camp.  Sheba, remembering the Empyrean Curse,
insisted she build the fire.  Starbuck simply grumbled and moved onto the
next task at hand.  They erected a shelter close enough to the fire to
provide heat and protection from the steady rain.  The tents were pitched
in a circle around the fire.  Starbuck spread out his gear to dry and
helped Sheba prepare some hot food and beverages.  Soon they were sitting
in a companionable silence.  Starbuck huddled close to the fire in his
survival blanket, finally getting warm.
     "So, did you get a chance to talk to Cassiopeia?"  Sheba asked him,
handing him a mug of java.
     He shook his head. "I tried, she said she didn't want to talk.  Too
tired."  He gazed into the fire scratching his foot.  
     "She must have heard about the kiss."  Sheba commented.  Starbuck
just nodded.  "Don't you dare give up, Starbuck." She threatened him.
     He looked up at her in surprise.  Was that what he was doing?  He
had honestly gone to Cassie ready to make amends only to once again be
rejected.  He knew he didn't take rejection well; especially when his
lover and friends were slated to 'forsake' him. 
     "What if everything that has happened to you since the Malocchio was
a coincidence and not the Curse?"
     "That would be one Hades of a coincidence, Sheba." He replied.  He
pulled off his sock and examined his right foot.  It was getting red and
hot.
     "So you're going to stop trying simply because you are convinced
that it's inevitable that you will fail?" She asked incredulously. 
"That's not the Starbuck I know."
     "I haven't given up, I'm just... regrouping."
     "Really?" she snorted.
     "Yeah, really.  As soon as I thaw out, dry off, my eye heals, my
headache goes away, my foot stops itching, and I get off this festering
bog of a planet, I have a serious plan to sweep Cassiopeia off her feet." 
He remarked wryly and smiled at her.
     "That's better."  She looked over at his foot.  "So, what's the
problem now?"
     "Festering foot.  My boot has been leaking since we got off the
shuttle.  Have you seen the medical kit?"
     "I think Galena has it in her pack.  She's an herbalist and healer
besides being a botanist."
     On cue the botanists arrived, packs brimming with vegetation.  They
quickly settled into the shelter and joined the warriors in hot food and
drink.  Sheba soon asked Galena about the medical kit and explained about
Starbuck's inflamed foot.
     Galena's eyes lit up and she quickly took his foot in hand.  "Let's
see."  She poked at the erythematous skin.  Starbuck jerked his foot
back.  "Ticklish?" she asked in surprise.  The others laughed at the
squirming man trying to regain possession of his foot.  "It's a fungus,
Starbuck.  I'm certain of it."
     "Yeah, of course it is.  I feel like I have fungus growing on me." 
Starbuck complained.
     "You don't have any other areas you'd like me to check, do you?" 
She asked delicately.
     His eyes opened wide and then he joined them in their laughter. 
"No, only my foot is festering, but thanks for asking."  He winked at
her.  
     "Actually, the Panthelon would be the perfect treatment for your
foot, Starbuck."  Galena informed him.  "I can make a paste out of it and
you'll be good as new by morning."
     "I knew there would be a purpose to the pursuit of the purple
Panthelon," he responded.  
     "I suspected as much.  You, Lieutenant, are alliterate."  Tuija
bantered.
     The chatter around the campfire continued and soon the warriors and
botanists were acting like old, treasured friends.  Galena made her
Panthelon paste and efficiently applied it to Starbuck's foot...after
Tuija agreed to sit on his leg to hold it still.  The others cheered them
on.  Nightfall came quickly and soon the team members were retreating to
the warmth of their tents in the cool night air.  Unfortunately,
unbeknownst to Starbuck, something had already taken up residence in his
tent.

Part Nineteen

     Starbuck climbed into his tent.  He was finally warm.  His foot had
even stopped itching since Galena applied her remedy.  He was definitely
ready for a good night's sleep.  He smiled to himself as he realized he
had not thought in terms of day and night for ages.  He crawled over to
his bed roll and was starting to climb in when something hissed and then
growled at him.  He yelled in alarm and jumped back towards the opening
as he was sprayed from head to toe with the most putrid of chemicals
excreted from his attacker.  He clawed his way out of the tent with tears
streaming down his face.  He gasped for a breath as he was overwhelmed by
the stench that now covered him and his recently clean clothing.
     The others came pouring out of their tents with electronic
illuminators in hand.  The odour coming off Starbuck made them reluctant
to approach him, despite the fact that he was rubbing frantically at his
eyes and fighting for each breath.  It was Galena that finally grabbed
his hands.
     "Stop rubbing your eyes, it will only make it worse!  Timon, get
some water to flush his eyes.  Hurry!"  She shouted her orders.
     Starbuck's eyes felt as though they were on fire.  The harsh aroma
made it difficult to breathe and when he did take a breath, he was
overwhelmed with nausea.  He snatched his hands out of Galena's grip and
bent over retching.  As soon as he was done he was roughly grasped and
pulled backwards over someone's lap.  Water was poured over his face as
someone tried to force his eyelids open.  He knew that they were trying
to help, but now he was really having problems breathing.  He fought to
get to a more vertical position as he coughed and sputtered.  Even he
could hear the terrible wheezing sound his chest was making.
     "He's in bronchospasm!"  Galena shouted.  "Sheba, get me the medical
kit!"
     Starbuck felt himself again pulled somewhat upright and someone slid
in behind him, supporting him.  A life mask was forced onto his face and
a nebulizer administered a bronchodilator.  Within microns he was
breathing easier.  He opened his eyes to look into the blurred, concerned
face of Sheba.  
     "Hey, hot shot, you okay?" she asked.  
     His eyes still stung and tears continued to flow down his cheeks. 
He looked around at the rest of the team.  Raizel and Timon were again
keeping their distance.  They appeared to be investigating the rear of
his tent.  Galena was on his other side and it was Tuija supporting him
from behind.  "I'm okay..." he coughed again as he breathed in the
medicated mist.
     "Don't talk, just breathe."  Galena directed him.
     Thank the Lords for Galena.
     Starbuck heard murmurs and watched as Sheba propped up some
blankets.  They reclined him against them and Tuija quickly retreated to
take a few deep breaths of her own.  Starbuck closed his eyes.  Well, now
they had plenty of reason to look upon him with a jaundiced eye.  And
talk about ill wind.  This made the turbo flush in the billet seem like
an olfactory blessing.  At least the nebulizer was easing his breathing
and his nausea.  He felt a hand on his knee and opened his eyes to see
Sheba.  She wasn't quite so blurry this time.
     "Some kind of animal chewed its way into your tent." She informed
him.  "It's gone now, but I promise you this; you don't want to go back
in there.  How's the breathing?"
     "Better.  Can I take this off now?" he indicated the life mask. 
Galena joined them nodding her approval.
     Starbuck pulled the mask off his face and the stench hit him again. 
"Oh, Sagan, I stink!" he exclaimed.  Sheba and Galena grinned and nodded
their agreement.

Part Twenty

     Starbuck was thankful for the prescience that had determined he
leave his pack outside of his tent when he turned in for the night.  He
hovered at the tent's entrance.  Sheba was right.  If it was possible, it
reeked even worse than he did.  His team members were all searching
through their own packs and effectively keeping their distance. 
Suddenly, he heard a gentle thud beside him.  Several other thuds
followed.  He looked down to see five bars of soap.  "Oh, thanks.  Like I
couldn't figure that out for myself," he remarked.
     "Do you need a towel, Starbuck?"  Raizel asked innocently.
     "Here's an illuminator, Lieutenant."  Timon added helpfully.
     "The pool is that way, Starbuck."  Sheba directed him.
     "Yeah, yeah, yeah," he grumbled as he pulled yet another set of
clean clothes out and prepared to head off in the cool night air.  Tuija
handed him his now dry jacket and boots.  He sighed.  Starbuck knew that
the right boot would stay dry for about ten centons.
     "I fixed your boot, Starbuck.  Should be as dry as an Otori prayer
meeting now."  She grinned at him.
     He glanced at her in surprise.  "Tuija, I love you," he declared. 
It was hard to believe that earlier in the day he could hardly wait to
get away from these people.  Now, he was proud to call them friends.
     "Go get clean.  We'll sort you out a place to sleep," she added.
     "Yeah, right after we burn your tent," Raizel told him seriously.
     "Be careful," he warned.  "I suspect it will be quite the bonfire."
     "Then you support the burning of the tent decision?"  Timon asked.
     "Well, I'm NOT carrying it back out of here," he replied as he
pulled on his warm boots and made for Paradise.  He could hear Galena
shouting, "Did you remember the soap?" and the ensuing laughter as he
disappeared down the hill.

Part Twenty-One

     The full moon was reflecting off the pool as Starbuck arrived at
Paradise.  He briefly thought perhaps that meant the following morning
would be sunny, but then remembered where he was.  A sighting of the moon
during the rainy season was likely a rare occurrence.  He laid down his
clean clothes wrapped in his jacket, attempting to keep them dry and
tucked his weapon beneath them.  Dang, the air was cold.  He reluctantly
stripped off his malodorous clothing and dumped it on the ground.  Burn
or bury?  Decisions, decisions.  He sighed.  Let's get this over with,
Bucko.  
     He grabbed his soap and plunged into the cold water.  Frack!  He
quickly lathered up every centimetron of his body and rinsed off.  The
odour slightly decreased, but he still reeked.  Oh, terrific.  Maybe I
should just roll in the purple Panthelons.  He lathered and scrubbed,
lathered and scrubbed, lathered and scrubbed.  Frackin' Curse!  Frackin'
Empyreans!  Frackin' planet!  
     "Don't move."  A soft, assertive voice ordered.  He froze.  Sagan,
he was already freezing.  He looked over to see a beautiful young woman
with dark hair, tied back off her face.  She was aiming an ancient weapon
at him.  A very deadly arrow pointed his way.  He became painfully aware
that his only weapon was the putrid odour that stubbornly clung to his
body.  He dropped the soap.
     "Did you want to get that?"  Another soft voice from the other
direction giggled in his direction.  He looked over to where she was, but
she was standing in the shadows.  The only thing he could clearly see was
that she had a similar weapon to her companion.  Both arrows were loaded
onto a wooden stock with a propulsion mechanism.  "Raise your hands," she
added.  He slowly complied.  
     "Who are you?" he asked.
     "We'll ask the questions," the young woman in the shadows responded. 
"Start walking slowly towards the stream," she ordered him.
     He paused, now acutely aware of his state of undress.  "Uh..."  
     "Move it, handsome."  
     "The name's Starbuck.  Could I have my clothes?" he asked, thinking
not only of his modesty, but the laser hidden beneath his clothing.
     "No.  Now, move it."
     He slowly waded to the stream flowing away from the pool.  He was
relieved to find it was still fairly deep.  The bottom was softly covered
in silt.  The women flanked him on either side of the stream motioning
for him to continue upstream.  They were both young and fit.  They kept
their weapons aimed on him, while keeping a safe distance from him.  He
sighed to himself as he tried to think of a plan.  What was he supposed
to do, splash them?  He could imagine Commander Adama's voice: Starbuck,
how do you get yourself into these situations?  

Part Twenty-Two

     Sheba and Tuija were on their way to Paradise.  Starbuck had been
gone almost a centar.  That was enough time for them to burn his tent and
all the gear inside.  Starbuck had been correct; it had gone up like an
inferno.  Raizel and Galena had squeezed their gear into Raizel's tent
and then they set up the remaining tent for Starbuck.  They had been
expecting him to hurry back to the fire after a quick dunk.  Galena
suggested that perhaps the noxious spray was more potent than a quick
dunk could eliminate and that was why he was taking so long.  Finally,
they were all getting concerned and Sheba and Tuija volunteered to check
on the lieutenant.
     They arrived at the pool to see his discarded set of odoriferous
clothes and his carefully wrapped pile of clean clothes, but no Starbuck. 
They called his name and still nothing.  Sheba started searching the
surrounding area while Tuija shone her light into the water.  
     "Is he a good swimmer?" Tuija asked the obvious question.
     "Uh, I don't really know.  You don't think he's drowned, do you?"
     Tuija shrugged.  "Where would he go without his clothes?"
     "With Starbuck, anything's possible." Sheba replied, as much to
convince herself as her companion.  "Besides, if he drowned, wouldn't he
be... floating on top?"
     "Depends on why he drowned," she responded.
     Sheba again called his name.  They continued to search for clues to
the missing lieutenant, but realized it was just too dark.  They could
find his footprints leading into the pool, but none coming out.  They
realized that by dawn the rain would likely wash away any traces of
tracks.  It didn't look hopeful.  Lords, Sheba wished Apollo was there.

Part Twenty-Three

     Starbuck wasn't sure when his teeth had started chattering.  It must
have been over a centar that he had been wading through the stream.  He
had realized some time ago that it had finally stopped raining.  That
probably explained why it was so cold.  It was a clear, cold night to be
wandering naked waist-deep in water, flanked by two armed guards.  They
were a sight to behold.  Long slender bodies were tightly wrapped in what
appeared to be some kind of animal skin;  the interior warm and the
exterior shiny and obviously impervious to water.  Each wore her long
hair tied back off her face.  They were so alike, they could be sisters. 
Starbuck found them vaguely familiar.  Each moved gracefully and silently
through the foliage.
     Early on he had tried to find out what they wanted, but they
threatened to gag him unless he kept silent.  Soon it was taking all his
energy to try to stay warm enough to keep placing one foot in front of
the other.
     "Maybe you overestimated how far we should make him walk?" the guard
on the right suggested.
     "How was I to know that it would be this cold tonight?" her
companion replied.
     "You should have asked the old crone, isn't that what she's for? 
You're always telling me that full moons are one of her specialties."
     "Don't call her that!  Besides, we're almost there.  He'll make it. 
After all, he's young and strong."
     "And his lips are almost as blue as his eyes,"
     "She was right about his eyes.  Do you really think he's the one?"
     "She thinks he's the one.  I guess we'll find out soon enough."
     It occurred to Starbuck that they were talking about him.  He
suddenly stepped into a hole, lost his balance and went entirely under
the water.  He came up gasping.  They were standing there with weapons
ready to discharge, evidently thinking it was some kind of a trick.  He
raised his hands quickly.  They relaxed slightly.  They could also hear
his teeth chattering.
     "Does he smell any better to you?" the guard on the left asked.
     "No, not much.  All right, Starbuck, you can get out of the water
now."  She pointed ahead to a moss covered log that crossed the stream. 
Her companion was nimbly traversing it now.  Starbuck walked woodenly
towards it and pulled himself onto it.  A rough blanket was wrapped
around him.  "This way," the guard indicated.  He slowly stood up,
pulling the blanket tightly around his shaking body.  He followed one
guard as the other trailed a safe distance behind.  A small back pack was
hidden beneath a large tree.  His guard pulled some pants out of the pack
and thrust them towards Starbuck.  "Put these on."
     He took them from her but was having difficulty getting his fingers
to work and they dropped to the ground between them.  They both leaned
forward to pick them up and their heads collided with a resounding thud. 
He was hurled to the ground as his other guard tackled him.  She held a
knife to his throat.  He looked up into a face that looked so much
like... 
     "Lia? " he whispered in wonder.

Part Twenty-Four

     The fierce face that stared down into Starbuck's changed in
appearance as she heard him utter her name.  "How do you know my name?"
she asked suspiciously.  Her knife put a little more pressure against his
jugular artery.
     "I... uh...could...talk better if...  there wasn't a... frackin'
knife at my throat." Starbuck had reached his limit.  He was freezing
cold, naked and trapped under a beautiful young woman who, as Empyrean
Curses would have it, was threatening him with a very sharp blade.  This
was wrong on so many levels.
     He then realized her partner had moved into position above them, her
weapon aimed at his head.  She looked deadly serious.  "Hey, hey,
hey...easy!"  He again raised his hands in surrender.
     Lia rolled off of Starbuck, strategically keeping herself out of the
way of her sister's shot.  She retrieved her weapon and also took aim on
him.  "How do you know my name?" she demanded.
     Starbuck slowly started to sit up.  Apparently, now it was okay if
he talked.  Obviously, they were now far enough away from the camp that
no one would hear him if he called out.  He thanked the Lords that at
least the blanket was still maintaining his modesty.  He took another
good look at Lia.  She wasn't Lady Aurelia, but the likeness was amazing. 
"You look a lot like someone I know.  Her name's Aurelia."  He told her.
     She watched him closely, weighing his words.  He seemed to be
telling the truth.  "Aurelia is from the archaic.  I'm just Lia."
     "What's frackin'?" her sister asked.
     "Luana!" Lia gasped at her.
     "What?  I want to know what it means.  What's so bad about that?"
Luana asked.
     Starbuck looked from one to the other as they bickered back and
forth.  Yes, sisters.  "You really don't know what frack means?" he asked
Luana.
     "Frack.  Oh, I like that better.  More succinct.  Is it...
profanity?" she asked hesitantly.
     "Profanity?" He narrowed his eyes at the bizarre concept that
flashed though his brain.  "Wait a centon, are you Empyrean?"     
     "Of course, we're Empyrean.  What else would we be on a  planet
called Empyrean?" Lia looked at him as though he was a little addled.
     "The planet Empyrean?" Starbuck replied wryly.  "Sorry, you forgot
to post a sign with the planet's name on it for new arrivals.  Look,
could I have another try at those pants.  It's cold."   
     "Frackin' cold." Luana added proudly as she reached for the pants
and threw them to him.  
     Starbuck stood up and pulled them on slowly.  His hands were still
shaking.  He was fumbling with the fastenings when Lia abruptly moved his
hands away and did them up for him.   He looked at her in surprise.  For
a young Empyrean lady, she seemed quite comfortable fastening his pants. 
On the other hand, Lady Aurelia wasn't exactly a wallflower either. 
Luana threw a shirt to Lia and she also helped him on with that.  She
motioned for him to sit down and started pulling soft skinned boots onto
his feet.  Everything fit him perfectly, almost as if they had known his
size ahead of time... 
     "How long have you been watching us?" he asked.
     "Since you arrived at the waterfall this morning." Lia replied.
     Luana laughed.  "You made quite a splash."
     "You were there when I was getting cleaned up, weren't you?"
Starbuck recalled feeling as though he was being watched.  They obviously
had a pretty thorough look at him then.  No wonder his newly acquired
clothes fit so well.   They just nodded, watching him curiously.
     "What about the beast?  Did you have something to do with that?"
     Luana nodded.  "Of course, we had to lure you back to the pool and
capture you.  A prisoner is much easier to apprehend if he's naked.  The
'putrid' was the obvious solution."
     He looked at them in surprise.  This whole episode had been an
elaborate plan to capture him?  "But, why do you want me?  Where are we
going?"
     "To see our necromancer." Lia told him.
     "Why?"
     "She said you would be coming.  She said you would save us."
     "From what?"  He noticed it had started to rain again.  Oh, frack,
was that hail?
     "Extinction."

Part Twenty-Five

     Luana, Lia and Starbuck hurried along the trail.  The hail pelted
down upon them.  The landscape changed and soon they were scurrying
across huge rocks.  Within ten centons they were at the bottom of a
canyon facing, what seemed to be, an impenetrable rock face.  Starbuck
was wondering where on Empyrean they would be going now.  Perhaps their
necromancer would magically create an inclinator to take them to the top
of the enormous rock cliff.   Now be realistic Bucko, he told himself. 
This is an archaic society.  The way your secton has been going it's more
likely a huge Empyrean basket attached to a rope will drop out of the sky
and land on your head.       Surprisingly, Lia instead swept aside some
vegetation to reveal a small crevice opening into a cave.  They slipped
inside .  Lia took one last look at the hailstorm before letting the
natural camouflage fall into place.  
     "This weather is bizarre," Lia commented, "you'd think one of us was
cursed or something."  She looked at Starbuck meaningfully.
     "Uh...what did you mean before by my saving you from extinction?" 
Starbuck asked as he stood watching the hail pelt down upon the ground,
ignoring Lia's statement.
     "Hey, that can't be good.   If he's here to save us from extinction,
shouldn't he be aware of it?" Luana asked her sister.
     "The Gods work in mysterious ways."  Lia replied.
     "What's that supposed to mean?  Just another empty Old Empyrean
adage, that's what that is.  This is all so much... teach me some more
appropriate profanity, Starbuck, oh, savior of the Empyrean Empire."
     Starbuck looked at her in amusement.  "Felgercarb."
     "All so much felgercarb!  Oh, I like that one too!  Thank you,
Starbuck."
     "Well?" Starbuck asked again.
     "Oh, it's far too complex for us to explain.  Ama will explain it to
you."  Luana evaded his query.
     "Ama?  She's your grandmotherly necromancer?" A sense of dread was
setting in. 
     "Yes.  How did you know that?  Do you have the sight too?" Lia
asked.
     He snorted, "Would I be in the position I am if I had the sight?"
     Luana laughed.  "He's got you there, Lia."
     "Are you serious about an Empyrean Empire?"  Starbuck had thought
the human population was quite small and scattered.
     Lia shrugged.   She started pulling food out of their pack.  "A long
time ago there was an Empire.  It's dwindled to about a hundred
survivors."
     "Survivors of what?" he accepted some dried meat from her.  It
tasted bitter, but at least it filled the empty space in his stomach.
     "War, famine, disease.  The usual." She said it with the calm
acceptance of someone who had seen it all.  "Let's get some rest.  We
still have quite a ways to go."  She stretched out on the ground and
began to eat.
     Starbuck sat down studying his captors.  While friendly and somewhat
informative, they were also incredibly efficient.  He was impressed that
one of these women always had a weapon trained on him.  He wondered if he
would even get a chance to disarm them.  Frankly, he was really curious
what this was all about.  Especially what his part in it was to be.  Then
there was the Empyrean connection and similarities about which he was
feeling uneasy.  One encounter with an Empyrean necromancer should be
enough for any man.  However, he also was aware that in two days the
Galactica would be moving past the planet Empyrean, with or without him.

Part Twenty-Six

     It had been a busy morning.  Apollo had been contacted by a
distressed Sheba the previous night.  She had told him that Starbuck had
disappeared and short of dredging up the pool, they had found no trace of
him.  Things were running so smoothly on Apollo's end of the mission that
both he and Boomer decided to help with the search and left Jolly in
charge.  Apollo was now aiding Sheba in doing a stone to stone perimeter
search.  Boomer had donned diving gear and had the gruesome task of
looking for their friend at the bottom of the pool.
     Apollo saw Sheba was completing her sweep of the area.  "Anything?"
he asked.
     She shook her head in disgust.  "Nothing.  If there were any tracks,
the rain has washed them away."
     "Try to concentrate on broken foliage." He suggested.
     "Problem with that is the botanists were all over this area
acquiring samples yesterday.  Not to mention the hailstorm last night.  
It's difficult to differentiate."  Sheba explained.
     "Let's get Tuija to identify where they were.  The botanists seem to
have used the same route to get in and out.  If Starbuck left the area,
there has to be another trail somewhere.  There's too much foliage here
for there not to be some sign of it." 
     Boomer chose that moment to surface.  He pulled off his breathing
gear.  Apollo and Sheba waited expectantly.  "Nothing," he told them,
"Starbuck didn't drown."  
     Sheba released the breath that she didn't realize she was holding. 
"I knew it.  I guess it's time to find the locals."
     "When Boomer and I flew in, we did scan humans, but only randomly
and in small groups.  I'm not sure where to start.  We really need to
find a trail to follow." Apollo reiterated.
     Boomer looked around.  "Well, if I wanted to walk someone out of
here without leaving a trace, I'd lead him up the stream."
     "Of course," Apollo agreed, "Let's check it out."

Part Twenty-Seven

     Starbuck became vaguely aware of someone shaking him.  He felt
incredibly groggy and just couldn't get his eyes to stay open.
     "You gave him too much," he heard someone saying.
     "Why is everything always my fault?  He's just sensitive to the
drug.  How was I supposed to know that?"  Lia asked her sister
defensively.
     "Well, you could have asked the ole crone..."
     "Oh, stop it!" she snapped.  "We need to wake him up.  Make yourself
useful."  Lia suggested.
     "Starbuck?  Hey, wake up.  We have to get going."  Luana lightly
slapped his cheeks.  
     He swatted at her hands but didn't even come close to making
contact.  He felt warm and comfortable.  He wasn't going anywhere.  He
snuggled towards the warm body next to him.  
     "Ugh!" Luana pulled herself away from him.  "I appreciate the
sentiment, handsome, but you still stink."  She looked at him lying on
the cold dirt floor with his head on a bed of pebbles.  He didn't look
very comfortable.  "Lia, he's really out."  
     The women had known the night before that they all needed to get
some rest before starting out again for their home.  However, they didn't
trust Starbuck to lie down quietly and sleep, feeling it more likely that
he would try to escape or, even worse, capture them.  This left them with
two options: bind him hand and foot to prevent escape or sedate him with
the already drugged food they had brought with them for just such an
eventuality.
     "If he doesn't wake up, any pursuit will catch up with us soon. 
That hail really slowed us down.  We should be home by now."  A sense of
urgency set in and Lia, as the leader, was feeling it.

----------

     The warriors were making good time as they headed upstream.  They
were fortunate enough to have Tuija and Galena join them on their hunt
for their missing friend.  Tuija's love of the outdoors had been acquired
through many years of not only studying botany, but through a lifetime of
hunting, fishing, camping and hiking with her family on Caprica.  She
eventually picked up the tracks of Starbuck's captors.  She remarked to
the others that one would have to be an expert tracker to even see the
subtle signs that were left behind.  Apollo, Boomer and Sheba all agreed
with her as they had difficulty detecting the signs when they were
identified before their eyes.  They soon came to the log crossing where
Starbuck had exited the water.
     Tuija brought them to a stop.  "Well, this is where it gets easier. 
Now we can follow Starbuck's trail.  He isn't as light on his feet as his
captors."  
     "Tuija, even I can follow this trail."  Boomer told her.  "Do you
think Starbuck is injured?  His tracks make it look like he had too much
ambrosa."
     Galena interrupted.  "It could be hypothermia or exposure, Boomer. 
It was really cold last night and it would take him a lot longer to wade
upstream."
     "I don't see anything obvious to indicate an actual injury, Boomer. 
No signs of blood anyway."  Tuija added.  Boomer nodded his head,
somewhat satisfied, but still concerned for his friend.
     They continued along until they came across a rocky landscape. 
Tuija was again having difficulty picking up their trail.  They all
scoured the ground for clues.
     "Tuija!" Apollo called her over.  He pointed out a recently scuffed
area in a small patch of dirt.
     "I think Starbuck is trying to help, my friends." She told them. 
"The one small patch of dirt for metrons and he hit it.  Let's go."
     They kept going and found themselves in a deep canyon.  "This looks
like a dead end."  Sheba said what they were all thinking.  "Did we miss
something?"
     "Could have done,"  Tuija replied, "I admit I'm out of practice. 
Let's just take a good look around in case we're missing something." 
They proceeded to do just that.

----------

     Lia could hear the warriors just outside the cave.  She whispered to
her sister, "We're out of options.  We have to do this.  We can't let
them get Starbuck back.  The prophecy..."
     Luana didn't like this plan.  On the other hand, Lia was right. 
What were they supposed to do; reveal themselves and their drugged
prisoner and ask the strangers for help?  They would probably be executed
on the spot.  They had seen the weapons the warriors carried.  No, there
was no other option.  They had to do this and now.

Part Twenty-Eight

     Starbuck smelled something...putrid.  His eyes began to water as
they flew open.  He was looking into the hesitant brown eyes of Luana. 
He became aware that his arms were tightly bound behind his back and he
was gagged.  He forced himself backwards from the horrendous odour.  His
eyes focused on the bloody hand of Lia holding a small sac that the odour
was coming from.  What the frack?  Why did these women keep changing the
rules on him?  Just when he thought they were dropping their guard, he
awakens to find he was drugged and restrained.  His head felt heavy and
he knew the effects of the sedative had not totally worn off.
     Lia dropped the sac with great disdain and cleaned her bloody hands
on the dirt floor.  Then she grabbed Starbuck under the right arm
signaling Luana to the left arm.  They pulled him quickly to his feet and
started propelling him to the back of the cave.  He spotted the dead body
of a familiar looking and smelling beast in the corner.  Apparently, they
had killed the putrid and extracted its gland to use to wake him up. 
Starbuck also realized that the three were tied together with a long rope
approximately two metrons apart each.  Lia was in the lead, Starbuck in
the middle and Luana the rear.  He shook his head to try and clear the
fuzziness.  What were they doing?  Why the rope?  
     Lia disappeared into another crevice and pulled Starbuck in behind
her.  A tunnel appeared before them.  He realized she was holding his
illuminator to light their way, resourceful as always.  He stumbled along
behind her, hearing Luana close behind them.  In the distance he could
hear a slight rumble.

-----------
 
     Tuija was carefully examining the rock face when she smelled
something vaguely Starbuckish.  She chuckled to herself.  At least that
was how Starbuck smelled when she had last seen him.  She followed the
smell to a small collection of hanging vines.  She carefully moved them
aside, not wanting to disturb the beast if this was where one was
sleeping.  She was quite amazed to see a small crevice reveal itself. 
"Over here!" she called.  "Bring an illuminator!"
     Sheba pulled their illuminators out of her pack and passed them
around to the team.  One at a time they squeezed through the opening into
the small cave.  
     "Sagan, that smells awful." Boomer commented.
     "That's how Starbuck smelled when the beast first sprayed him." 
Sheba told them.  
     Apollo found the carcass and followed the trail of blood.  "What
the...?"
     Galena grabbed a piece of cloth and carefully picked up the
discarded gland.  "It's the excretion gland from the beast," she told
them.  They all looked at her in horror.  Poor Starbuck, what in Hades
were they doing to him?
     Tuija carefully shone her light on the ground and then touched it. 
"I think someone was lying here very recently.  The ground is slightly
warmer here."  She shone the beam around the cave.  
     "They didn't come out, so they must still be in here somewhere." 
Apollo started searching the cave as they had the rock face.  They all
joined him.
     "Here!" cried Galena moving through the next crevice.
     "Galena let me go first.  We don't know what these people are
capable of." Apollo moved past her in the small tunnel, followed closely
by Boomer and Sheba.  Tuija took up the rear position as they quickly
made their way sensing they were close to their friend at last.  

----------

     As they reached the end of the tunnel the rumble had become a roar. 
Starbuck stared wide-eyed at the underground river racing through the
cavern.  They pushed him to the edge.  He tried to back up and muttered
furiously through his gag as he realized why they were tied together. 
Lia and Luana intended for them to jump in the river.  He would drown
with his arms bound.  Hades, he would probably drown if his arms weren't
bound.  What were they thinking?  He felt a knife at his jawbone and
suddenly the gag came away.  He spat the ball of cloth out of his mouth.
     "Are you frackin' crazy??!!" he shouted at them over the roar of the
white water below them.  "We'll all drown!"
     "We used to do this all the time as children, Starbuck," Luana told
him unconvincingly.  "It's just a big, wet chute that will propel us out
the other end into the river.   It's the shortest route."
     "I'll bet that was not in the rainy season!  Lia, you have more
sense than this.  What's the frackin' hurry?"
     "Sorry, Starbuck, we're running out of time.  Don't worry, Luana
will cut your hands free just before we jump."
     "Do you really think that will matter?  Why don't you just shoot me
through the head with your weapon right now.  At least then I'll die dry
and warm."
     Luana chuckled, "Wouldn't it be better to die clean?  Especially,
after tangling with a putrid."
     Starbuck looked into their eyes.  They were determined.  He didn't
remember anything in the curse about falling into swirling, rushing
rivers of death.  It was probably in the fine print.  He could feel Luana
move behind him and he roughly backed into her, knocking her over.  Lia
came to her assistance and together they wrestled the bound man to the
ground.  He was struggling on his side at the edge of the riverbank.  
     "Starbuck!!!"
     Starbuck looked in the direction of the yell to meet the desperate
eyes of Apollo.  The captain was sprinting towards them.  He was about
four metrons away as he launched his body towards his friend with his
hand outstretched.  Starbuck felt his hands come free at the same moment
as Lia and Luana hurled themselves into the river... pulling him behind
them.  Apollo briefly felt the smooth, soft texture of the animal hide
Starbuck was wearing before it slipped through his fingers and the
lieutenant plunged into the river behind the women.

Part Twenty-Nine

     "NO!!"  Apollo screamed as he watched Starbuck disappear beneath the
churning water.  He hesitated a moment and felt strong arms grab him.
     "Don't you even think about going in after him!"  Boomer yelled in
his ear.  "It's suicide."  Apollo pulled against his grip.  "Think of
Boxey!"
     "Frack!!"  Apollo's reason quickly returned.  They had come so
close.  "He can't be gone, Boomer.  He just can't be."  Apollo could feel
tears of frustration and loss welling up in his eyes.  He looked at his
friend to see his raw emotions reflected back at him.     
     Sheba, Tuija and Galena caught up to them.  All stared into the
surging water that had taken their friend to an unknown fate.  Sheba was
oblivious to the tears running down her cheeks.  Apollo pulled her into
his arms and held her tightly.  Tuija and Galena were surprised to find
they were also blinking back tears.  After a few centons they slowly made
their way back through the tunnel.  No one said a word until they have
exited the cave.
     "I can't believe he's gone.  I have to be certain.  I know it sounds
crazy, but Starbuck's a survivor."  Apollo started.
     "I know how you feel, Apollo.  I refuse to believe a little running
water could take him out."  Boomer added.
     Sheba nodded her head vigorously.  "That Starbuck luck is legendary. 
We have to find him.  Either way.  I refuse to give up on him, Apollo."
     "You're all crazy," Tuija reasoned with them.  "There's no way he
could survive that.  I know you loved Starbuck, but you have to be
realistic.  He is not a force of nature."
     Apollo smiled, "That's where you're wrong, Tuija.  He's very much a
force of nature, as are all of the human race.  Right, Boomer, Sheba?"
     Sheba nodded her head also smiling.  Boomer clasped him on the
shoulder, "Let's go find him."

Part Thirty

     Starbuck's lungs felt as though they would burst.  He could feel
himself turning head over heels as the water propelled him on.  He tried
to swim for the surface, but he was having difficulty telling up from
down.  Suddenly, he came to a lurching stop.  The rope had snagged on
something.  He pulled himself along it and broke the surface taking
gasping breaths into his lungs.  The rope had apparently caught on a
fallen tree lying perpendicular in the river.  He looked both ways trying
to catch sight of Lia or Luana.  He couldn't see either of them.  He
yelled for them, but could hear very little over the sound of the rushing
water.  He pulled on his rope to the right.  The rope was at surface
level, which was encouraging.  He started to make his way around an
enormous branch when he spotted Luana.  She was holding onto a branch and
trying to climb on top of the tree.  He felt the rope go taut on his left
side.  He was stuck.
     "Luana!" he called to her.
     She saw him as she got a foothold and scampered up the log.  She
hugged the tree tightly and crawled towards him.  "Have you seen Lia?"
she yelled back.
     "No," he responded, "but we know she's at the other end of the rope. 
I'm stuck.  Give me your knife."
     "You're not going to cut her loose!" she screamed at him.
     "No, I'm going to cut you loose and go after her!  Give me the
frackin' knife, Luana.  I haven't hurt you yet, though Sagan knows you've
both given me plenty of reason!"  He locked eyes with her.  He could see
a trickle of blood on her forehead running into her eyes.  She looked
scared and disoriented.  She was taking short rapid breaths and he
wondered if she had other injuries that he couldn't see.  "If she's under
water, she'll drown!  Now give me the knife!"  
     She reached down and pulled her knife out of her boot, quickly
passing it down to Starbuck.  He cut the rope between them in one slice
and pulled himself back around the branch.  He followed the rope,
fighting against the rushing current.  His hands started to feel numb in
the cold water, but if the blood oozing from them was any indication the
numbness was probably a good thing.  Sure enough the rope disappeared
beneath the water.  He took a deep breath and dived.
     He pulled himself along the taut rope until he came up against the
root system.  Entangled within the roots was Lia.  Her eyes stared
sightlessly at him.  He traced along the rope with his hands and had
started to cut through it when the knife fell from his cold fingers. 
Frack, frack, frack.  He couldn't see where it landed.  He reached for
Lia's boot and pulled out her knife.  He resumed his hacking job on the
rope.  Lia suddenly slipped free and just about out of his grasp, when he
desperately grabbed her by the hair.  He pulled her into his arms and
swam for the surface.  His sight was growing blurry and his lungs
screamed in protest.  He broke the surface once again.
     "Lia!" Luana screamed.  She had tied herself to the tree with the
remains of her rope and now reached down towards her sister, safely
secured.  Starbuck moved as close to Luana as he could and tried to help
get Lia on top of the tree.  Luana hoisted her limp sister upwards and
collapsed with Lia on top of her.  "Lia!" she screamed again
hysterically.
     Starbuck was functioning on pure adrenaline.  He grabbed branches
and pulled himself up until he was beside the sisters.  He rolled Lia off
of her sister.  Luana screamed in protest, "leave her alone!"  She
punched him in the jaw.
     "Stop it!  I'm trying to help!" he yelled at her.
     "She's dead, you idiot!!"  She screamed back, tears mixing with the
blood on her face.
     "I can still help!" he yelled.  He reached down and checked for
Lia's pulse.  As he suspected, she had none.  He kneeled down and tilted
her head back, locking his lips on hers and giving her two deep breaths. 
He shifted his weight onto his other leg and started chest compressions. 
Crack!  Oh, frack!  Broke a rib.  He adjusted the depth of his
compressions slightly.  He finished his compressions and shifted back to
his other leg for two more breaths.
     Luana watched dumbstruck as Starbuck continued to repeat his cycle. 
She didn't know what he was doing, but he seemed so confident and
determined she let him continue.  She prayed that he was indeed the
savior.  She was torn between wanting to push him off of her sister and
waiting quietly in hope.  Finally, Lia started coughing up water. 
Starbuck quickly rolled her onto her side so she didn't choke.  Luana
continued weeping, this time in joy, as her sister's eyes focused on her
own in confusion.

Part Thirty-One

     Starbuck was exhausted.  He kneeled beside Lia, knowing they had to
get her warm and dry as soon as possible.  Luana was clinging to her
sister, whispering reassurances in her ear.
     "Luana, we have to find some shelter," he interrupted.   Starbuck
reached over and cut her free from her support rope.  She motioned for
the knife, which he hesitantly returned.  He put his arms under Lia's
shoulders and knees and gently picked her up.  "Can you walk?" he asked
Luana.  He was still concerned about the young woman's injuries.
     "I'm okay.  Mostly bruised."  She assured him.  She rose shakily and
helped him steady himself as they traversed the length of the log.  "It's
not far to our home now.  Do you think you can carry her or should I go
for help?"
     "Forget that, I'll walk.  Put me down, Starbuck."  Lia ordered him. 
   
     "I'd love to.  You're water logged."  He complained as he continued
to follow Luana up the hill.  "How far?"
     "We'll be able to see the cave from the top of the hill."  Luana
told him.
     "Put me down!"  Lia stubbornly started to struggle and felt a sharp
ache in her chest.  She gasped in pain.
     "You have at least one broken rib," Starbuck informed her.
     "How do you know?  You didn't examine me... did you?"  She asked
suspiciously.
     "No, I broke it.  You might as well know I lost Luana's knife too."
     "You gave him your knife?" Lia accused her sister.
     "He cut you free from the tree while you were underwater.  He saved
your life, Lia.  You were... dead."
     "Holy frack, he really is the savior!" Lia mumbled in awe.  
     "Ah, the training is complete."  Starbuck winked at Luana.
     "But how did you do it Starbuck?  Magic?"  Lia looked up at him
wide-eyed.
     "No, just anatomy and physiology.  Part of my basic training."
     "It sounds very powerful," Luana told him.
     He looked down at the battered girl in his arms.  "I guess it is."
     They reached the crest of the hill and Starbuck could see the cave. 
The valley would be spectacular when it wasn't awash with mud.  The
cave's occupants quickly spotted them and three women hurried up the hill
to meet them.  They all regarded Starbuck cautiously as they approached. 
He noticed they were armed and, as per Empyrean standards, all weapons
were pointed directly at him.
     "You two can start telling them about my impeccable character any
time now." He suggested to Lia and Luana.
     "Sorry, Starbuck, but they're not going to trust anyone who smells
of the 'putrid'.  It usually means he's been cursed."  Lia told him.
     "Hey, you put that beast in my tent!" he protested.
     "Life is filled with amusing ironies, don't you think?" Luana teased
him.
     The women surrounded Starbuck.  "Stop there and don't move," a
powerfully built, dark-haired woman ordered him.  "He smells cursed," she
wriggled her nose in disgust.
     "Oh, I'm cursed all right," he replied giving Luana and Lia a
pointed look.

Part Thirty-Two

     The women closely escorted Starbuck into the cave.  They entered a
comfortable chamber where they directed him to put down Lia.  A healer
was waiting there to treat her.  Luana hovered close by, reluctant to
leave her sister's side.
     "Starbuck, go with Kella."  Luana indicated the dark-haired woman
aiming an arrow at him.  "Kella, you won't need your weapon.  He's a
friend."  Kella lowered her weapon, but did not put it away.
     "If you don't mind me asking, where are we going?" Starbuck asked
Kella as they headed down a warm tunnel.
     "You can not be presented to an Empyrean Necromancer smelling or
looking as you do," Kella replied.
     "You are a disgrace."
     Starbuck stopped in his tracks.  "Really?  Well, I looked and
smelled a whole lot better than this before the terrible twosome put a
putrid in my tent to attack me; lead me butt naked and freezing cold down
a merry path while threatening me with arrows and knives; drugged my food
and sedated me; and finally tied me up and dumped me in a frackin'
freezing whitewater river that we barely survived!"  
     Kella stood considering his statement.  "What is frackin'?"
     Starbuck stood glaring at her.  "Is that it?  Everything I've been
through and all you can say is 'What is frackin'?"
     "Very well, you are very fortunate to have survived considering you
are a cursed man."  She resumed her trek down the tunnel assuming
Starbuck would follow.  
     He snorted and shook his head.  How did she know about the curse? 
He watched her disappear around a bend.  Well, he was curious about quite
a few things and this was the only way to get answers to questions.  He
followed.  
     The tunnel opened up into a small room filled with warm, humid air. 
He saw a natural pool in the middle of the chamber with steam rising from
it.  Kella was waiting for him.
     "You can bathe here.  There are minerals in the water that will
eradicate the putrid's odour.  They will also help with treating your
superficial abrasions.  I will return later with clean clothing.  Stay in
the water until I return.  It will require a prescribed amount of time
for the treatment to be effective.  Oh, and try not to fall asleep.  It
would be unfortunate if after all the effort the princesses put into
getting you here, you were to drown in the mineral pool."  Kella left him
standing there dumbfounded as she walked away.
     "Princesses?" he muttered.

Part Thirty-Three

     Starbuck had been soaking in the mineral pool for a long time.  He
found himself nodding off repeatedly.  He had not realized how many cuts,
bruises and abrasions he had acquired on his wild trip down the river but
the healing waters were definitely making everything feel better... or at
least numb.  His hands seemed to be the worst and would likely require
some attention.  He wondered if his hosts would provide such a service. 
Thus far, they were treating him more as a cursed prisoner than a savior.

     He heard exaggerated footsteps approaching.  Kella returned loudly
yelling ahead of her, "I trust you are still alive as I advised!"  The
tender concern of the woman warmed his heart.  She entered the chamber
carrying clean clothes and blankets.  "I will return shortly."  With
that, she turned on her heel and left.
     He reluctantly got out of the gloriously warm water and dried off. 
The clothes were identical to the ones Lia and Luana had given him.  He
put them on being careful of the deep cuts on his hands.  As he was
pulling on the boots Kella returned.
     "Let me see your hands." She ordered him and simply grabbed them
regardless of his reaction.  She wrapped them efficiently with clean
bandages and stood back to take a look at him.  "You clean up nicely. 
Come with me.  It is time to see the Empyrean Necromancer."  She abruptly
left the room expecting he would follow.  He shook his head... and
followed.
     Starbuck followed Kella deeper into the caves.  He had a good
general sense of direction and had proven it many times as a pilot, but
in centons he realized he was in a labyrinth.  He passed many small
living quarters and their occupants and soon came to realize that he had
not seen another man since Apollo's desperate plunge to try and reach him
before he tumbled into the river.  He found himself almost bumping into
Kella as she stopped suddenly before a large chamber.  Two guards were
posted at the entrance.
     "She will see you now," Kella motioned for Starbuck to proceed into
the room.  He started to pass her and she grabbed his arm.  "We will be
waiting.  Don't do anything foolish."  She warned him with a glare.
     "I wouldn't think of it."  He gave her a charming smile.  He thought
he heard her growl at him as he entered the dimly lit chamber.
     Starbuck's eyes immediately met Ama's.  She was not at all what he
expected of the Empyrean Necromancer.  If she was indeed a blood relative
of Lia and Luana then she was also a member of the Empyrean Imperial
Family, but she didn't look the part.  Her long, white hair was thick and
unruly.  She also wore the animal skins of her guards, but she had a long
tunic covering her ample hips.  She was the first Empyrean he had seen
unarmed, at least since being at the Empyrean Ball on the Malocchio.  She
was relaxing against a long seat covered in thick, warm, comfortable
furs.  There was a low wooden table in front of her that was covered in
food and drink.  Starbuck's senses took in the incredible array of
carbohydrates and proteins.  Wait a centon, he'd been thinking in terms
of synthesized rations for too long.  Luscious white fruit was sectioned
and presented on a wooden platter.  The delicious aroma of warm bread
filled the chamber and a woven basket was overfilled with an incredible
variety from which to choose.  A small bowel of thick, creamy spread sat
beside it and Starbuck, though not certain what it was, knew it would
melt and soak into the hot breads.  A raised platter held three large
wedges of cheese, each a different colour and texture. The final serving
dish held an impressive collection of roasted meats, cut into bite-sized
pieces.  Starbuck's mouth watered and his stomach reminded him it had
been at least ten centars since he ate.  A pitcher with two very large
goblets was placed directly in front of Ama.
     "Come and break your fast, young man."  She patted the space beside
her.  "I am, Ama, daughter of Arion and Annica of the Empyrean Imperial
House.  I am the Empyrean Necromancer.  I am grandmother, protector and
guardian to Princess Lia and Princess Luana.  And you are...?"
     "Starbuck," he grinned at her.
     She waited with a raised eyebrow.
     "Just Starbuck," he shrugged indifferently.  He'd been 'just
Starbuck' for his whole life.  He was comfortable in his skin.
     "Oh, surely you can do better than that?" she insisted dramatically.
     He sighed, "Lieutenant Starbuck of the Battlestar Galactica."  He
bowed to her.
     "Oh, nice touch!" she responded gleefully.  When she smiled she
revealed she was missing just about every second tooth.  She again patted
the space beside her and he sat down.  She poured them both a dark, brown
beverage and handed one to him.  "What are you doing on Empyrean,
Starbuck?"
     He accepted the glass.  He was unsure of what she knew, but assumed
she had had a detailed conversation with her granddaughters.  "Collecting
depleted botanicals to restock our medical supplies."
     "Is that all?" she asked.
     "Yes, other than being persecuted by your granddaughters." 
     She grinned at him, her grey eyes twinkling in delight and then
raised her glass to him and drank one third of the fluid.  "Tradition,
Starbuck.  We Empyreans are obsessed with tradition.  We begin any formal
meeting in this manner."
     He reciprocated and swallowed the beverage.  It was a cold, smooth,
rich, dark ale with a malty aroma.  His luck was improving.  Apparently,
these Empyreans were brew masters.  
     "Here's to tradition," he said raising his glass again.  She joined
him in his toast.  Starbuck began to suspect Ama had an impressive
capacity for Empyrean Ale.  They finished their drinks and began to eat. 
The food was delicious.  Everything was fresh, hot and exactly the colour
it was supposed to be which was the opposite extreme from the food on the
Galactica.
     Ama studied Starbuck as they ate in a comfortable silence.  She knew
he was enjoying himself.  If he were from a battleship he would not have
enjoyed good quality food for some time.  Smiling at him, she realized
she had not enjoyed the company of an attractive man for some time.  She
poured them another drink as she pondered how the course of events
outlined in the prophecy would unfold.  Prophets seemed to feel a need to
be cryptic.  The prophecy even contradicted itself.  Hopefully, she could
loosen Starbuck's tongue and all would become clear to her.  She
continued to ply him with ale and food.  He was a very willing
participant.

Part Thirty-Four

     It had been centars since Apollo had seen Starbuck disappear into
the river.  First they had to return to Paradise, where they found Raizel
and Timon had packed all the desired botanicals for transport and well as
breaking camp.  Then they had to hike back out to the rendezvous point
with the shuttle.  Apollo was uneasy with the elapsed time span and
couldn't help thinking if Starbuck was alive and injured; his chances
were diminishing with every passing centon.

----------

     Starbuck finished his third ale.  Ama was relaxing in his company
and he was hoping to get more information out of her.
     "Tell me of this Empyrean Aurelia, her people and how you came to be
together," she requested.
     "I'm not sure where to begin," he started.  He was supposed to be
getting details from her.
     "Begin where we all did, on Kobol."
     "Hmm, Commander Adama is the historian.  He should be telling this
story, Ama."
     "I don't mark on accuracy.  Besides, I suspect you tell an
enthralling story."
     "Oh, sure, when I have license to make it up as I go along," he
laughed.
     She poured him another drink for courage as he began telling her the
history of his people and exactly how they had come to be on a path that
led them to the planet Empyrean.

-----------

     Boomer breathed a sigh of relief when the shuttle set down.  He too
was concerned about the amount of time it was taking to resume their
search for Starbuck.  They were soon aboard and returning to the
coordinates of the river with all scanning equipment fully operational. 
While the original scans from the Galactica had been of a more general
nature, they were now doing a topographical analysis to trace the path of
the underground river.  Apollo had contacted the Galactica to give the
Commander a more detailed report and Adama quickly consented to their
search.  After all, both teams had successfully completed their missions
ahead of the allotted time.

----------

     "Starbuck, your history makes it seem as though merely one group of
people made up the tribe that left Kobol in search of Earth, but actually
many different groups of people made that voyage, much as yours are now. 
 The Empyreans were but one of them.  The Empyrean Imperial House was
weary of the politics with the other Great Houses.  When our people set
out from our home world they were intent on a new life.  However, as you
may find yourself, we tired of our journey.  The Empyreans had been a
sectarian society, which made it even more difficult to try to adapt to
the strange ideas and customs of others.  We believed we had found the
perfect compromise.  We settled on our own planet and thrived for over a
thousand yahrens..." Ama began her peoples' history as Starbuck poured
them another drink.

----------

     Sheba sighed as further scans of the river basin finally revealed a
small human population to the southwest.  At last, some progress.  This
seemed to be the most logical starting point.  The warriors debated
amongst themselves the wisdom of leaving the shuttle on the ground due to
its considerable weight.  The area was so waterlogged that it could very
well sink in the bog, thereby complicating any further exploration, not
to mention their departure.   The debate continued as Jolly flew a
low-level approach over the river.  All eyes poured over the area for any
signs of life... or death.

----------

     Starbuck wasn't sure when he had decided to sit on the floor, but
other than a slight numbness in his buttocks, he felt comfortable. 
Suddenly, Ama was kneeling beside him.  She grabbed him around the neck
with both hands and pulled him gently but firmly forward until their
foreheads met.  She held him thus for a centon and then let him go.
     "You call that a curse!" she laughed derisively.  "It is no
necromancer that has cursed you Starbuck, but a parlour trickster!  What
is the name of this charlatan?"
     "Ama," he winked at her and poured them another ale.  "Charlatan,
eh?  Can you lift this charlatan's curse, oh great and worthy Imperial
Necromancer?"
     "I could eradicate such a decrepit spell with the snap of my
fingers... for a price."  She leered at him.
     "Really?  What's the price?" Starbuck asked nervously.
     "Have you noticed our decided lack of male company, Starbuck?"  She
pulled two thick fumarello's from a small case and began to expertly
light them.
     "Yeah, definitely a predominantly female civilization."  He accepted
the fumarello and inhaled, immediately noting its smooth flavours.  The
perfect elastic draw filled his pallet with a creamy smoke.  He was
surprised to find it tasted as good as it smelled.
     "Well, it's worse than you believe.  We have no males on Empyrean. 
It has been about sixty yahrens since the last recorded male birth.  War,
disease and genetics seem determined to end our civilization.  However,
after speaking with you, I find I have a couple new ideas for possible
solutions."  She poured yet another drink.  "Now, let me share them with
you."

----------

     Jolly finally maneuvered the craft to a small hilltop that would be
stable enough to serve as a temporary landing area.  "Feels like I'm
trying to land on a cubit," he complained.
     "That's appropriate, Starbuck owes me a few of those," Giles
rejoined from beside him.
     Apollo joined them.  "We'll be out of communications range if we
enter the caverns.  Plan to deliver Tuija's people back to the Galactica
and rendezvous in three centars."  The warriors disembarked.
     Apollo, Boomer and Sheba approached the system of caves that these
people seemed to abide in.  As they drew near the entrance three woman
met them.  They held on tightly to ancient weapons, but kept them pointed
at the ground.  A powerfully built, dark-haired woman stepped forward.
     "You search for your missing male."  She stated.  "Come this way. 
The Imperial Necromancer awaits."
     "Wait," Apollo started, but all three women retreated into the cave
without a backward glance assuming they would follow.
     "Informative bunch," Boomer commented, "Well, Captain?"
     "I guess we follow them."

----------

     "Happy holidays, Starbuck!" Ama hiccoughed at him.
     "What holiday, Ama?" he asked continuing to puff happily on his
fumarello.  Brew masters and tobacconists.  He loved these Empyreans.
     "My dear, young friend, the universe is immense.  Some being
somewhere is celebrating a holiday!"
     "I'll drink to that!"

-----------

     Apollo, Boomer and Sheba followed the women through a maze of
passageways.  They attempted to at least ascertain that Starbuck was
alive, but each attempt at conversation was met with a rude rebuff or
stony silence.  They finally approached a guarded chamber.
     "Enter," their escort ordered.
     Apollo paused in the entrance to adjust his eyes to the dim lighting
and froze in astonishment.  On a long seat covered in furs reclined an
elderly woman with wild, white hair.  She was holding an animated
conversation with someone who was lying on a large fur that covered the
ground between the seat and the table.  That someone was Starbuck.  Other
than a few scrapes and bruises he looked the picture of health.  He was
holding strangely shaped cards in his bandaged right hand and studying
them intently.  In his left hand, which was also wrapped, was an
unusually large fumarello.  On the ground beside him was a half full
goblet.  The woman laughing down at him was also holding a hand of cards,
smoking a fumarello and matching him drink for drink.  Actually, by the
looks of her she may have surpassed his intake of alcohol.  Starbuck had
just drawn a card from the pile on the seat above him.  He whooped in joy
and held his winning hand up for her to see.
     "Why you dirty, sneaky, conniving...I'll snap my fingers and turn
you into the putrid you so despise!"  She hollered at him and the guards
gasped in fear.  However, they soon relaxed as she started cackling in
glee.  
     "Ahem," Apollo cleared his throat.  They both looked up in surprise.
     "Apollo!"  Starbuck jumped to his feet.  However, having achieved
the upright position his brain promptly informed him that this was a bad
idea.  His head spun and he landed on his astrum.  He clutched his head
and tried to hold it still on his shoulders.
     "Heh, heh, heh," the old crone chortled, "I always win in the end,
Starbuck!"
     Apollo slowly entered the room.  Boomer and Sheba were still taking
the whole scene in from the entrance.  "And you are?"  Apollo asked
hesitantly as he approached the woman.
     She directed her orthodontically challenged smile at him.  "Why, I
am Ama, daughter of Arion and Annica of the Empyrean Imperial House.   I
am the Empyrean Necromancer.  I am grandmother, protector and guardian to
Princess Lia and Princess Luana.  And you are...?"
     "Captain Apollo of the Battlestar Galactica.  This is Lieutenant
Boomer and Lieutenant Sheba."
     "Now he's a quick study," she patted Starbuck's shoulder somewhat
sympathetically.  "I will leave you all to your tender reunion with your
missing friend.  I will return when I am ready to speak with you,
Captain.  Please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy our hospitality." 
As she left the armed guards remained pointedly at the exit. 

Part Thirty-Five

     Starbuck thought it was safe to let go of his head now.  The room...
and his head... had stopped spinning.  He looked up into the annoyed face
of Apollo from his place on the floor.  Starbuck exhaled slowly,  "Kind
of sneaks up on you and kicks you in the astrum," he mumbled referring to
the ale.
     "Yeah, I ought to kick you in the astrum.  Do you know we've all
been worried sick about you?  We thought you were dead or seriously
injured.  All this time you've been filling your belly with food and
drink!"
     "...And smoking fumarello's," Boomer added approaching the still
seated Starbuck from his other side.
     "...And playing cards."  Even Sheba looked angry as she watched him
from directly across the table.  Now he was really in trouble.
     "Well, it's good to see all of you too!" he replied bitterly as he
pulled himself up onto the long seat.  His head started spinning again. 
No wonder he was lying on the ground!  The after effects were obviously
affected by altitude.
     "Starbuck, what is going on?  What are Empyreans doing here on
Morass?" Apollo asked him.
     "We're not on Morass," he replied.
     "He's drunk," Sheba stated.
     "Maybe just delirious," Boomer corrected her.
     "I am not... delirious," he chuckled to himself.  He was definitely
drunk.  He hoped Ama was feeling at least half as bad as he was starting
to.
     "How many did you have, Bucko?" Boomer asked him.
     Starbuck decided to lowball his reply.  "Twelve... maybe thirteen." 
He knew he was answering on the conservative side.
     "WHAT?" they all shouted at him.  He realized he was completely
surrounded.  Apollo was on his left; Boomer his right, Sheba in front of
him and the beginnings of his hangover was making itself known at the
back of his skull.
     "Starbuck, how do you get yourself into these situations?  What
could you possibly hope to achieve by drinking yourself into oblivion
with the Empyrean Imperial Necromancer?" Apollo asked in disbelief.
     Starbuck studied Apollo carefully.  Did he suddenly metamorphose
into his father?  No, he was pretty sure that was still Apollo. 
"Oblivion sounds good right now.  You're not going to show up there too,
are you?" he glared up at the captain.
     "Hey, easy Bucko," Boomer stepped in, "we've had a stressful day
with trying to find you, then losing you and not even knowing if you were
still alive.  Then we had to load up Tuija's project and organize a
search.  We're still feeling a bit tense, buddy."   He patted Starbuck's
shoulder.
     "Yeah, well my last twenty-four centars hasn't been that great
either.  I fell down a hillside; was attacked by a vile creature in my
own tent; was captured and led naked down a frackin' cold stream; had my
one scrap of food drugged so I wouldn't escape; was gagged and bound and
then dumped in a raging river; and finally had to free a drowned girl
from under the water and resuscitate her," he angrily raged back at them. 
"Believe me, there isn't enough alcohol on the planet Empyrean to make me
forget Lia's dead eyes staring at me, and Luana just screaming because
she was in so much pain..." His voice cracked.  He had only come close to
loss like that once when he thought Iblis had killed Apollo.  He could
still see the naked emotion in Luana's eyes.  He never wanted to
experience that level of emotional anguish.  "...So much pain from losing
her sister... It almost makes me glad to be an orphan."  He lowered his
head, embarrassed at his emotional outburst.  He took a deep breath. 
"Sorry," he added.  What was wrong with him?  Couldn't be the fifteen or
sixteen glasses of ale, eh Bucko?
     Apollo watched him trying to regain control.  Generally, it was not
part of the captain's character to fly off the handle like that, but
Boomer was right; they had a stressful day.  He reflected on the fact
that he had previously run through their reunion in his head much
differently than it had turned out.  Maybe it was the curse.  Great
excuse, Apollo.  "No, I'm the one who should be sorry, Starbuck."  Apollo
slumped down beside him.  "I should be thanking the Lords you're alive
and instead I'm dressing you down for trying to relax."
     Boomer snorted.  "Maybe it's the curse, Starbuck, but frack, you're
annoying lately."
     "I think the general idea is you're not going to forsake me if you
find me my usual charming self that you can't help wanting to be around." 
Starbuck gave them a weak smile.  "Try me on ale, Boomer, I'm willing to
bet I improve."  He motioned to the glass in front of him.
     "Is it good?"
     "It's like heavenly angels peeing on your tongue," he replied with a
twinkle in his eye.     Fresh food and drink again arrived and Apollo,
Boomer and Sheba dug in with the gusto of people accustomed to their food
being served with the ever popular game of "What do you think this is
supposed to be?".
     "Do you want anything, Starbuck?" Sheba asked him.
     "No, I'm fine, but thanks."  His stomach was feeling a little on the
unsettled side, but he certainly wasn't going to admit it.
     "Starbuck, can you fill us in on what you've found out about these
Empyreans?" Apollo requested as he filled his plate with food again.
     Starbuck proceeded to tell them everything that had happened to him
since he was apprehended at Paradise including the history of how the
Empyreans had come to inhabit the planet and their likely path to
extinction.
     "What about this prophesy, Starbuck, did she tell you what it was?"
Sheba asked.
     "Yeah, but it didn't make a lot of sense," he replied.
     Boomer chuckled as he poured himself a glass of Empyrean Ale.  "At
what point were you into your libations when it came up?" 
     "Maybe not far enough," Starbuck suggested.
     "Do you remember any of it?" Apollo prompted him.
     "Think Starbuck," Sheba tapped her head.  "Try to remember the
moment..." Starbuck glowered at her.  "Try to remember Ama's reaction..."
He threw a bun at her as she erupted into laughter.
     "Commander Adama, you're not," he declared.
     Apollo also joined Sheba in her laughter.  Boomer looked on in
confusion.  "What?" 
     "The Commander said something similar when he was trying to get me
to remember the Empyrean Curse."  Starbuck was also smiling at her little
joke.  "All right, it went something like this:  A cursed man with eyes
of blue will drive asunder two houses striving for unity.  He will unite
us and make us strong.  He will save our Emperor.  The Empyrean Empire
will cease to exist."
     "It seems contradictory," Apollo observed.  "The first part about
driving two houses asunder was obviously when you kissed Lady Aurelia and
Rogane refused to marry her."
     "He did?" Starbuck asked.  "I hadn't heard that."
     "It's official as of yesterday.  Rogane has broken off the
engagement."  Apollo declared.
     Sheba smiled. "Lucky girl."  The others nodded their agreement.
     "He will unite us and make us strong?"  Boomer looked at Starbuck. 
"What ideas did Ama have for saving the Empyreans?
     "Well, either they stay here hoping to draw some healthy, virile,
male specimens or they come with us."
     "Any particular 'healthy, virile, male specimens' mentioned?" Apollo
teased him.
     Starbuck grinned, "Don't laugh, you made the short list.  I guess
they were watching you track us.  Apparently, they liked what they saw,
buddy."  He started laughing as Apollo flushed.  Boomer joined in
heartily.  "You're on the list too, Boomer," Starbuck added.  Boomer
laughed harder... then suddenly stopped.
     "Wait a centon.  What were you betting on when you were playing
cards?" Boomer demanded.
     Starbuck squirmed in his seat.  "Uh, betting on... we weren't really
betting on anything."
     "You don't play cards unless there's something on the table, even
with Boxey.  Come on, Starbuck, out with it."  Apollo was also on to him.
     "You don't really think I'd wager anything on a card game that I was
unfamiliar with, especially when I've recently been cursed, do you?"
Starbuck asked them incredulously.
     "Yes." They stated in unison.
     Starbuck shook his head.  "With friends like you..."
     Boomer cut him off, "Yeah, yeah, who needs Cylons?  I think we're
familiar with this particular distraction technique.  Not this time,
Bucko.  What were you betting on?"  He carefully aimed a dark bun at him.
     Starbuck sighed.  "All right, just remember, you asked me.   I lost
Blue and Red Squadrons in the first hand."
     "What are you talking about?" Apollo asked.
     Starbuck shrugged.  "Just the men though.  They really have enough
women here already."
     "Are you saying you wagered Colonial Warriors in a card game?" 
Apollo poured himself a glass of Empyrean Ale, as his other options
seemed a bit violent in nature.
     "Uh... well, sort of.  Hey, the good news is by the end of the game
I had a fifty percent share in Empyrean Tobacconists and Empyrean Ale." 
Oddly enough, his friends didn't look impressed.  His stomach was
starting to ache along with his head now.  Boomer's bun bounced off his
forehead.  Oww!  Of course, it was baked with whole grains.
     "Starbuck, clear this up for me or you will cease to be a healthy,
virile male anything," Apollo threatened ominously.
     "It was like playing with chips.  We were just trying to make the
game more interesting.  You're both still free men, well, at least Boomer
is." He winked at Sheba who had mentally predicted his response.  Sheba
suddenly felt alarmed.  She was beginning to understand Starbuck.  
     "Back to the curse.  Who is this Emperor you saved?  Is Lia the
Emperor?  And how do you 'unite and make the Empyreans strong' while
their Empire ceases to exist?" she asked.
     "Lia is a princess, not an Emperor." Starbuck replied.  "As for the
rest, I told you it was confusing."
     "Well, does she seriously think Commander Adama would leave men here
to help them populate their planet, when we need them to defend the
fleet?  What if it's truly a genetic problem and baby girls continue to
be born?  Are these Empyreans against coming with us to Earth?" Sheba
fired more questions at him. 
     "I suggested she talk to Commander Adama.  Ama has thought about all
of those things.  Another factor is would they be safe here with the
Cylons on our tails?  On the other hand, maybe they would be left alone
and could continue to live on a planet with fresh air and water, good
food and lots of room to wander and live the life that you choose."
     Apollo could hear a yearning in his friend's voice for all of those
things.  "...And Empyrean ale and fumarello's," he added.  Starbuck got a
slight smile on his face and nodded.  "Would you stay here if you were
given a choice?"
     Starbuck hesitated in answering, "I don't... No."  While his friends
considered his words, Starbuck got up slowly and crossed the room to
where the guards stood.  He said something quietly to them and the guard
on the right indicated he should follow her.  "I'll be back soon.  I'll
try to track down Luana and Lia and see what's going on."
     Apollo followed him.  "Are you okay?" he asked in concern grasping
his friend's arm.  "You're leaving kind of suddenly.  Something I said?"
     Starbuck shook his head, "Something I drank," he muttered quietly as
he followed the guard away. 

Part Thirty-Six

     Within twenty centons Ama, the Empyrean Necromancer, had returned. 
She swept into the room with the energy of someone much younger.  "Thank
you for your patience.  Captain, I would like you to arrange a meeting
with your Commander Adama.  I would also like to meet with the heads of
the Empyrean Houses, Albus and Regus.  I assume members of your council
may find it necessary to be present as well.  We are considering joining
your Fleet, if you will have us.  Obviously, there is much information to
be exchanged by all considered.  If your Commander consents I would like
to entertain them here.  If you warriors are any indication, they would
probably enjoy a change of menu.  Perhaps we could consider a late
morning meal on the morrow.  Then your people are not unduly rushed, yet
we can complete these negotiations in a timely manner.  My people can be
prepared to leave at short notice.  They are already aware this may be a
necessity if time is a factor.  Any questions, Captain?"  
     "How many people would be joining the fleet?" he asked.  When this
woman made up her mind she didn't hesitate.
     "Forty-Four," she replied.
     "Only forty-four out of a hundred?" he asked to verify the number of
residents Starbuck had conveyed.
     "Correct, Captain.  We have become farmers and hunters.  Many of our
people would prefer to live out whatever remains of their life in their
home, rather than exist on a freighter closed in tightly by four walls."
     "They are aware of the dangers of a Cylon invasion?"
     "I believe Starbuck made that quite clear, however, I will be
reviewing this information at the meeting.  I tend to believe the word of
a warrior before that of a politician.  Speaking of Starbuck, I would
like to keep him here as a liaison between our people and yours.  I trust
that will not be a problem, Captain." 
     That was not a question, Apollo noted.  "Where is your liaison now?"
     She chuckled.  "Doing research?"  They looked at her suspiciously. 
"All right, he has two princesses holding his head over a scuttle.  I
doubt his commander would appreciate seeing him in such an undignified
manner, especially with the trouble he's managed to get into recently.  
We'll have him back in shape by the morrow.  I should have warned the
poor boy that Empyrean Ale likes to sneak up on you and kick you in the
astrum.  He and Luana had a fright you see.  They both seemed to think
Lia was dead and somehow Starbuck brought her back."  She shook her head
in amusement.  "I've connected with him and he has no talent at all in
that regard.  You can certainly see him on your way out if you wish?"
     "Uh..." Apollo was glad he wasn't going to be a part of the meeting. 
This woman was very pragmatic about getting her point across and kicking
your astrum out the door when she was done with you.  "I think we
probably should look in on him, thank you."  They followed her out the
door and through a series of endless passageways.  Obviously,
resuscitation was not a practice on Empyrean.  Their medical care seemed
to have stayed on the archaic side of things along with their weapons. 
They also seemed to believe much more strongly in forms of magic.  Oddly
enough, when Adama had first told Starbuck he was cursed, Apollo didn't
put much credence in it.  Then he began to recall the bizarre mishaps and
occurrences that had suddenly followed Starbuck.  Apollo had also been
surprised that his father had taken it so seriously.  Well, subsequent
events had certainly changed the captain's views of necromancers. 
Starbuck's luck certainly seemed to have deserted him.  However, he had
survived each event, so perhaps his famous luck was only impaired by the
curse.  He shook his head at the direction his thoughts were taking.  
     "In here, Captain," Ama stood aside so he could pass.  As he entered
the small room, he noticed a guard moving into position firmly blocking
Boomer and Sheba's path.  She muttered something to them, but he could
not hear it.  Ama turned around and retreated back down the passageway. 
A beautiful, young woman was in the room sitting beside Starbuck as he
lay on a slightly raised platform covered with sleeping furs.  She was
replacing a cloth on his forehead.  His eyes were tightly closed, even in
the muted light of a few candles, and he was pale and diaphoretic.  This
didn't look like a simple hangover.
     The woman raised her index finger to her lips and spoke softly, "he
has a terrible headache."
     Apollo nodded and kneeled down beside Starbuck.  He took his wrist
and checked his pulse.  It was strong but rapid.  Starbuck's eyes
reluctantly blinked open at the pressure.  Lia generally didn't monitor
his pulse.
     "You look like felger.  What's wrong?" He touched Starbuck's
forehead beneath the cloth.  It was warm, but not unreasonably so.
     "Killer headache," he whispered in reply.
     "Did you vomit?"  Was this or wasn't it a hangover?  Of course,
trust Starbuck to get this sick on foreign ale that they weren't familiar
with.
     "No... not a bad idea though."  Starbuck's bandaged hand resting on
his stomach stood out against the dark material of his clothing.
     "Do you feel nauseous?" He was surprised Starbuck hadn't vomited. 
That was usually the first reaction to overindulgence, not an
afterthought.
     "Not really," Starbuck wished Apollo would stop asking all these
annoying questions and go away and let him die.
     "Are you having pain in your stomach?" Apollo continued.  Something
wasn't right. 
     "Yeah, not bad though,"
     "Heartburn?"
     "Yeah, could be,"
     "Is or could be?" Apollo persisted.
     "I dunno."
     Apollo moved Starbuck's hand and gently pressed on his abdomen. 
Starbuck gasped and pushed his hand away.  "Starbuck, I think you should
come back to the Galactica with us.  This seems more serious than a
hangover."
     Lia interrupted, "Captain, he is not well now.  You are not taking
him anywhere.  I owe Starbuck a debt for saving my life.  He just needs
to sleep off the ale.  He will be fine in the morning."
     "You must be Lia," he surmised, "you must realize that Starbuck can
get better medical treatment by our physicians than he can get here.  He
saved your life and he's simply a warrior, not a physician.  Our medical
technology is very advanced.  If this is nothing more than a bad
headache, we can even relieve that.  My concern and instinct is that it's
more severe than that.  He needs to be in our Life Station," he reasoned
with her.  He was suddenly struck by her likeness to the Lady Aurelia.
     "He can't go," she argued simply, but effectively.  "He's the
savior.  We can't lose him or we'll lose everything."
     "You just said you owe him a debt.  If his life is in danger, what
better way to honour your debt?  If the prophecy is correct and Starbuck
is your savior, I doubt anything we will do will alter your path. 
Tomorrow your people will be united with your brothers and sisters from
the colonies."
     "Then you may have him back tomorrow." She replied.
     Apollo was getting frustrated, "He needs medical attention now!"
     "If the prophecy is correct and Starbuck is our savior, I doubt
anything I will do will alter his path." She paraphrased him.  Apollo
began to realize the truth of Starbuck's words regarding these young
women.  She was maddening.
     "If he isn't your savior, he could die.  Then where would you stand
in your supposed debt to him?"
     "I have faith, Captain.  If the prophecy is to be fulfilled,
Starbuck will be here to see it done.  Your people take aches and pains
too seriously; perhaps it is because of your ability to treat them.  I
will have our healer see him, if you wish.  He will be staying here
regardless of what you say."
     For a micron Apollo considered drawing his weapon, but he knew they
would never find their way out of the labyrinth without help.  Not to
mention the guard now standing at the door with her weapon loaded and
aimed at him.  He could see other guards surrounding Boomer and Sheba in
the corridor.   His friends were no longer wearing their weapons.
     "This will be considered a violent act towards our people.  You
better consider that before you commit to this." Apollo was all out of
ideas.  He hoped this worked.
     "When Starbuck walks out to greet you in the morning, your people
will know we were right.  It is not a violent act, Captain.  Starbuck is
very dear to us.  We would not intentionally harm him.  You are simply
overreacting."
     "Then ignorance is your defense?" Apollo demanded.
     Lia narrowed her eyes, "We do not consider ourselves ignorant,
Captain Apollo."
     "Apollo..." Starbuck interrupted their argument.  Apollo was
starting to sound like him.  
     "Yeah, buddy?" Apollo turned worried filled eyes towards his friend.
     "Did I mention my headache?"  His arm was now resting over his eyes.
     Both Apollo and Lia couldn't help but smile.  "Starbuck, I think we
need to get you back to the Galactica.  Lia doesn't feel comfortable
losing her savior until after the meeting tomorrow.  Any ideas?"  After
all, Starbuck knew these people better than he did.
     "Lia, please go get Ama." Starbuck moved his arm to gently touch the
girl's cheek.  He knew that Lia felt Ama was all-powerful and
all-knowing.  She nodded and moved past Apollo slowly, guarding her
injured right side carefully.
     "I'm sorry, Captain, but you'll have to surrender your weapon," she
added.  The guard now had her arrow pointed at Starbuck in silent threat. 
Apollo handed it over.  Lia nodded at him and left.
     Apollo started to move to get up, but Starbuck grabbed his arm. 
"Find Luana, she's my only chance at getting out of here.  Ama and Lia
will stick with their prophecy.  Luana will know what to do."  He
whispered quietly to the Captain.
     "Okay.  The shuttle will be back in a centar.  Any idea of how I
could find Luana?"  Apollo realized Starbuck had just sent Lia on an
errand to allow them to speak privately, as long as they were quiet about
it.  The guard at the door watched them suspiciously, but did not leave
her post to come closer.
     "I think she'll find you," he muttered, "Luana and Lia have already
had the same argument.  Luana left."  He took a couple deep breaths. 
"She's smart, resourceful and she thinks she owes us a debt."  He winced
and rolled onto his side, curling slightly into a ball to try and relieve
the pressure in his abdomen.
     "We'll get you out of here, buddy," Apollo promised him.  He wished
he could do something to help in the meantime.  "Do you want me to leave
Sheba or Boomer with you?"
     "Better not.  They may not guard me if you all leave."  He had to
make this as easy as possible if none of them had weapons.  Easy.  Yeah,
right, Bucko.  You just need to get back on your feet and follow Luana
down an endless maze of passageways past thirty or so guards and a
necromancer without being seen to rendezvous with the shuttle.
     Apollo got up to go as Ama walked into the room.  "What's this all
about?  Let the poor boy get some rest, Captain.  He will be fine in the
morning." 
     Apollo wondered where Lia had gone.  He knew he had to get moving if
he was going to find Luana or she was going to find him.  Best to let Ama
think he had come to his senses and just leave graciously.  He still
didn't feel comfortable leaving Starbuck though.  "Ama, I apologize for
my reaction.  Starbuck says he's starting to feel better already."  He
looked at Starbuck who was attempting to play the role.  He smiled weakly
at Ama.  "We almost lost him today and I guess I'm feeling a bit
overprotective."
     Ama nodded in understanding.  "Apology accepted.  All the same,
Kella will return your weapons to you when you leave our abode.  We will
take good care of him, Captain.  I suspect I will see you on the morrow. 
Goodbye."  She motioned for him to leave.  
     "I'll see you tomorrow, Starbuck.  Get some rest."  Starbuck gave
him slight wave as he walked out of the chamber.

Part Thirty-Seven

     True to Ama's word, the warrior's weapons were returned to them at
the entrance to the cave.  Apollo had kept quiet about his exchange with
Starbuck, apart from telling Sheba and Boomer that their friend was
starting to feel better and they would see him the following day.  Now
that they were without an escort of Empyrean guards, he quickly caught
them up on the course of events in Starbuck's chamber.  They still had
about fifteen centons until Jolly returned with the shuttle.  Apollo
suspected that Kella had led them in a wide, confusing loop on their way
out of the cave to further disorient them.
     "Starbuck seemed certain that Luana would try to contact us."  He
told them as they drew near the hilltop where they would wait.
     "She'd better or we're out of options already." Boomer told him. 
"There's no way we'll find our way back to him and those ladies are well
trained and well armed."
     "I don't like having to put all our trust in a young girl that
Starbuck has a hunch about." Sheba contributed.
     "Starbuck is a good judge of people for the most part."  Apollo's
mind briefly reminded him of Chameleon.  "It's the card player in him. 
Besides, it sounds like he got to know them fairly well." 
     "I'd say Starbuck is an excellent judge of character," a voice from
above them said.
     They looked up to see a slender, attractive, dark-haired women
sitting comfortably on the branch of an enormous tree.  They were aware
it was possible they were being watched and quickly returned their gazes
to each other.
     "Luana?"  Apollo asked, but the girl so resembled her sister that he
knew it was she.
     "Of course.  Just stay under the tree.  This would be a natural spot
to wait for your ship.  After all, it's the only tree large enough to
give you all shelter from the rain.  Kella is waiting to make sure you
leave.  I'm certain she can't see me though."
     "Luana, I'm Apollo.  This is Sheba and Boomer."  They nodded their
greeting.  "Starbuck needs to get back to the Galactica for medical care,
Luana.  How can we get him out?" Apollo asked.
     "I've been thinking about it for quite a while.  I think our only
chance is for me to sneak him out through another exit.  He's deep inside
the caverns.  There is an old passage that isn't used any longer.  I
explored it with my father when I was young so I know it well.  It will
lead us to the other side of that ridge."  She pointed west.  "I'll need
time though, at least until dark for things to quiet down enough to get
Starbuck out.  And it will take us a while to emerge from the mountain."
     "Did Starbuck look fit enough to hike through an abandoned passage?" 
Boomer asked Apollo.
     Apollo sighed.  "I'm not so sure.  Luana, could we meet you in this
passage in case Starbuck needs help?"
     "Well... I think I could probably give you good enough directions to
find the mouth of the cave, but it is hidden.  Once you found the
entrance though, it would be easy to get lost in the tunnels unless you
knew where you were going.  I'm afraid it's not as easy as saying 'stick
to the right'.  Look, if Starbuck can't do it, I'll leave him and come
get you, but he's strong and stubborn and would just hate having a girl
go one up on him.   I'm willing to bet he'll make it."
     "Sounds like Luana is an excellent judge of character too.  Or at
least in Starbuck's case."  Sheba chuckled.
     Luana proceeded to give descriptive details of landmarks to identify
the entrance to the cave.  She also suggested how far away they land the
shuttle so as not to be seen by the Empyreans.  Apollo started to give
her a time for a rendezvous when he realized he had not seen a
chronometer on the Empyreans.  They spoke in terms of late morning and
after dark.  They seemed to keep track of yahrens though.  Odd.
     "Luana, do you know how long a centar is?"  Apollo asked her.
     "Roughly.  We don't have a functioning timepiece anymore.  We track
time more by light of day now."  She replied.
     "Well, then, roughly how many centars would it take for you to get
Starbuck out of the cave?" 
     "Roughly three centars.  That would be complete darkness."
     Boomer checked his chronometer.  "I'd make that 1800 centars.  Will
people be settling that early?"
     "Oh, yes.  We sleep when it's dark and work when it's light.  I will
need two of your illuminators.  Lia has Starbuck's and somehow I don't
think she'd lend it to me."  Sheba handed them over.  They had come
prepared to light their way in the caves.
     "Luana, how will your people react to your helping Starbuck?" Apollo
asked.
     "Well, if tomorrow's meeting goes well, none of that will matter. 
I'm going to join the Colonial Service and become a warrior."  She
replied proudly.
     "You will be a fine warrior," Apollo responded.  Boomer and Sheba
nodded their agreement.

Part Thirty-Eight

     Starbuck was lying very still.  His head was still pounding.  His
stomach was burning in such discomfort that he was starting to feel as
though he had made a meal of molten lava.  He knew his internal
temperature was rising and he should drink something, but his last
attempt had caused excruciating pain in his stomach.  He had lain back
down and had not moved since.  The water sat barely touched beside him. 
He tried to conserve his energy for when Luana returned... if Luana
returned.
     He heard voices approach and raised his head to see Ama, Lia and
Kella return with another woman he had seen before.  He tried to recall
where.
     "Starbuck," Ama started, "this is Rhiamon, our healer.  She will
ensure you are well by the morrow.  We can't start our relationship with
your people on a note of distrust."
     Oh Frack.  "Really, Ama, I'm fine.  I just need some rest... and
quiet."  Starbuck tried to reassure her.  This was the last thing he
needed.
     Lia intervened, "Starbuck, I promised the captain we would take care
of you.  Just let Rhiamon look at you.  Please."
     He sighed.  He knew how stubborn Lia could be when she got an idea
into her head.  He might as well just get it over with.  "Just a look?"
he clarified.
     Rhiamon was very old, but her eyes were sharp and her body fit.  Her
long grey hair was neatly tied back off her face, much as Lia wore hers. 
"I simply need to touch you," she told him holding her opened hands in
front of her as if to convey that she was no threat to him. 
     Starbuck hadn't heard a woman say that to him since...
     Rhiamon moved over to him and simply put a hand on his forehead. 
She then took his wrist and felt for his pulse.  She wrinkled her face up
in thought as though doing some complicated calculation.  She gently
replaced his hand and grasped his head between her hands lowering her
face to his and gazing into his eyes.  Starbuck stared back
uncomfortably.  He could feel the sweat that had recently beaded on his
brow run down his temples and into his hair.  She moved his head gently
to the side and took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling his scent. 
Starbuck started to shift when he suddenly felt her tongue run up the
side of his temple tasting him.  He quickly sat up and moved back out of
her reach against the wall of the cave.
     "Hey, you said nothing about licking me!" he complained strenuously.
     The other women chuckled at his response.  Rhiamon got up and joined
Ama.  "It is as I thought.  His humors are out of balance.  His heart is
racing, he is hot, and his eyes are mostly black now with the bad blood. 
I need to relieve the pressure."
     Ama nodded her approval.  "It is as I thought.  Proceed, Rhiamon."
     "Now just wait a centon, " Starbuck started to get off the platform,
"what exactly are you planning to do to 'release the pressure'?"
     "Why bleed you, of course.  Surely your people are advanced enough
in their skills that they are aware of the practice?"  Rhiamon asked
incredulously.
     "What?!" Starbuck stood up slowly.  "That's barbaric!  Sagan's sake,
my eyes are almost black because my pupils are dilated.  That's what
happens in a dark room!  Next you're going to tell me you need to bleed
me because I taste salty!"
     Rhiamon looked at him in surprise.  "Then you are familiar with the
practice!"
     Kella and Lia advanced on him as Rhiamon pulled her blade out of her
boot.  "He is also agitated and restless, Ama.  The bloodletting will
help with that as well," Rhiamon continued as if Starbuck was a willing
patient.  At some unspoken signal the three women threw themselves upon
him hurling him back on to the furs.  He struggled against them and even
managed to dislodge Rhiamon onto the ground.  He was torn between
defending himself and the bizarre realization that he was fighting women,
one whose life he had recently saved.  Reinforcements arrived and two
more guards jumped into the fray.  He could feel leather bindings tied to
his hands and feet, and was soon secured to the frame of the platform. 
Ama watched silently.
     "What the frack do you think you're doing?  You can't do this!" he
bellowed at them.  Kella was tightening his wrist bindings so his arms
were  overextended laterally.  He could feel his arm and shoulder muscles
stretching uncomfortably.  Two other guards were similarly tightening his
foot restraints.  He could not move a centimetron in any direction.
     "Starbuck, we are trying to help you.  Why can't you understand
that?" Lia pleaded with him to understand.  He could see tears in her
eyes and knew she did not want to be a part of this.
     "Lia, this is not going to help me!   Our society proved
centi-yahrens ago that bloodletting only weakens the body's natural
immune system.  It makes things worse.  Now, get me the frack out of
here!"  He struggled ineffectively.  He realized his only weapon now was
his teeth or profanity.  Well, he wasn't close enough to bite them so he
let them have it with the profanity.  Ironically, they had no idea what
he was calling them.
     "He is delirious, Lia, pay him no mind."  Ama indicated that the
young woman should leave.  She did so with a concerned look back at
Starbuck.

Part Thirty-Nine

     Commander Adama sat behind his desk considering his warriors. 
Apollo, Boomer and Sheba had just told him the most outlandish tale
regarding another race of Empyreans and their belief that Starbuck was
their savior.  If it weren't for their serious countenance, he would be
awaiting the punch line.  He looked over at Colonel Tigh and surmised his
own face was equally a mask of disbelief and incredulity.
     "I know this sounds ludicrous, but it's all true," Apollo had
realized how extraordinary it all sounded as it left his lips.  
     Adama sighed.  Starbuck..."Well, first of all, how much time do you
have to get back and meet with Starbuck and Luana?"
     "Just over a centar.  We still need to get some equipment together. 
From this point on, the earlier we get back the better.  If Luana needs
our help, I'd much rather be there early and waiting for her."
     "Boomer, go organize the equipment you will need.  Sheba, get a med
tech.  Make sure he or she is equipped for any emergencies."  Adama
ordered them.
     "Yes, sir," they replied and quickly left.
     "Now as for these people joining the Fleet, do you think that they
meant to cause Starbuck harm or that they are truly ignorant about what
his medical condition is?"  Adama asked Apollo.
     "I believe they are quite fond of Starbuck.  He did save Lia's life. 
 Even if they don't believe in her resuscitation, they know if Starbuck
hadn't cut her loose she would be dead.  They seem to be clinging to
their belief that he's their savior.  For some reason, they think if he's
out of their sight the extermination of their race will really happen. 
It defies any logic.  They are simply and incredibly superstitious."  
     "Much like their brethren here in the fleet.  What do you think will
happen when they discover Starbuck is gone?" Colonel Tigh asked.
     Apollo shook his head.  "I don't know.  Luana didn't seem concerned
about it.  Perhaps she has something planned that she didn't share with
us."
     "A very bright young woman," Adama commented.
     "Yes, Sir.  Very much so." 
     "Very well.  We will arrange for the appropriate people to shuttle
down to the planet Empyrean tomorrow.  It will be interesting to see
Albus and Regus respond to their newly discovered Imperial Family."
     Tigh smiled, "Especially when they discover the Imperial Necromancer
has been carousing with the infamous Lieutenant Starbuck.  Yes, that will
be quite the sight to see."
     Adama also smiled at that, "Apollo, in the meantime you get back
down there and find Starbuck.  Again.  Good luck."  Just how did Starbuck
get himself into these situations?

Part Forty

     Luana crept quietly down the deserted passageway.  She had a heavy
sack over her left shoulder and a weapon in her right hand.  Starbuck's
weapon.  She had seen Starbuck carefully tuck his weapon under his
clothes back at the waterfall.  It seemed many days ago now, but she
reminded herself it was only the day before.  While Lia was occupied,
Luana had slipped the weapon into her pack.  She had seen Lia take the
torch, but was certain only she was aware of the weapon.  She knew Kella
would still be guarding Starbuck and she needed the advantage this weapon
would give her.  She stealthily moved in the shadows as her father had
taught her.
     "Luana," she heard her sister whisper.  She tucked the weapon out of
sight and waited.
     "What do you want?" Luana demanded rudely.  Just what she needed;
little miss do-my-duty ruining her plan.
     "I know you have a plan.  I want to help.  We have to help
Starbuck."  Lia knew there was little time for lengthy discussions here.
     "Why the change of heart?" Luana had not expected this.  She had
finally given up on her sister.  All their lives Lia had been pulled in
two directions.  Ama and Mother had taught her the ancient traditions and
how important they were to uphold.  Father had taught her, them both
really, that you had to follow your heart and your instincts.  He told
them change was inevitable so embrace it rather than fight it.  Lords,
she missed Father.
     "Luana, Starbuck looked... well, like Father did before he died. 
Ama had Rhiamon come and bleed him.  We have to get him back to his
people or I'm sure he'll die."  Lia was determined to get Starbuck out of
there.  She knew Luana was his best chance.
     Luana nodded briefly.  She had been counting on Starbuck being able
to walk out of there.  "Do you think he can make it through the abandoned
passageway?"
     "I'm not sure.  It will depend on how much blood they take."  Lia
replied honestly.
     "His friends will be meeting us at the entrance.  If we have to, one
of us will meet them and lead them back to carry him out.  Okay, let's
go.  Kella was standing guard when I last looked."
     "She still is, I was just there."
     "Can you distract her, Lia?  If I can sneak up on her I can
neutralize her."
     "Using what?" Lia asked.  Luana held up Starbuck's weapon.  "Where
did you get that?" Lia hissed.
     "It's Starbuck's from the waterfall."
     "I don't remember you taking it."
     "You were occupied watching him bathe I believe."  She chuckled as
Lia flushed.  "Let's go.  I'll fill you in on the rest of my plan as we
go along."

----------

     Starbuck still lay bound.  He opened his eyes slightly to see the
silhouette of a guard standing outside the entrance.  She was looking
outwards, not expecting any opposition from within.  He looked at his
freshly bandaged arm where Rhiamon had pierced his inner elbow with her
blade and held it there while blood trickled into a collection cup.  He
had watched helplessly.  Finally, he had closed his eyes and willed the
nightmare to end.  The strange thing was it did.  He actually heard
Rhiamon explain to Kella, the only other person in the chamber at that
point, that when the patient lost consciousness they had drained off
enough blood.  He had pretended to be unconscious while they gently
cleaned and bandaged his arm.  Rhiamon carefully wiped his sweaty brow
before she left him.  His headache was only a slight throb now, but he
wasn't going to tell them that.  His stomach was still burning painfully. 
His arms and legs also ached from being overextended and secured.
     He became aware of a voice near the entrance.  The guard moved away
in the direction of the voice.  A shadow quickly and silently passed his
field of vision.  Soon all was quiet again.  Two shadows were suddenly in
the entranceway heading towards him.  The dim light at his side was
shining in his eyes, affecting his vision enough that he could not see
who was approaching.
     Luana leaned over him.  "How are you?"  She reached above him with a
knife and cut his bindings.  His muscles painfully contracted at the
sudden change of position.  A slight groan escaped his lips.
     "His muscles will be really sore."  Lia said as she sat beside him
and started massaging his arms to get the blood flowing.  Luana moved to
his feet and cut those bindings as well.  
     Starbuck tried to speak, but his mouth was parched.  His lips were
dry and cracked, he realized.  When did that happen?  He tried to clear
his throat ineffectively.  Lia grabbed the goblet of water and handed it
to him.  He raised himself up onto an elbow and took a tiny sip and
swished it around his mouth before slowly swallowing.  His stomach
contracted in protest at the intrusion.  He gasped and rolled onto his
side, clutching his abdomen in agony.     
     "Lia!" Luana whispered in alarm.  Lia was right.  This was exactly
how Father looked before he died.  Mind you, she had seen Rhiamon
bloodletting a lot of precious fluid from her Father and she had always
suspected that had much to do with his death.  Starbuck's eyes were
tightly closed, he was taking quick, shallow breaths and sweat was
pouring off of him.  She touched his face and he was hot.   Lia handed
her a cloth and she wiped his face repeatedly with cool water.  His
breathing started to slow and his tense body began to relax.  "Better?"
she asked.
     "Yeah," he croaked.  "What's the plan?"
     "Can you walk?  Really?" Luana asked plainly.  He nodded.  "Prove
it," she ordered him.
     Starbuck gave her a pained look and slowly sat up.  He lowered his
head between his knees as his head started spinning.  He knew this time
it was likely from blood loss, not Empyrean Ale.  He took several deep
breaths before he raised his head again.  Come on, Bucko.  You can do
this.  He saw Luana's and Lia's outstretched hands reaching for him as he
slowly stood up.  They grasped him around the upper arms on either side
of him as if he was a senior needing support.  He almost shook them off
in protest when he realized a terrible thing; he did need their support. 
 "Where's the guard?" he asked.
     "I took care of her.  If you can walk we'll move Kella back in
here." Luana said proudly.
     He started forward one step at a time.  They held on tightly.  "How
did you take care of Kella, hit her with the shuttle?" he asked ruefully.
     "I used your weapon," Luana responded with a grin.
     "What?!" he demanded in horror.  "Take me to her!"
     "What's wrong?" Lia asked as they helped him out to the main tunnel
where Kella was lying on the ground.  He kneeled shakily down beside
Kella and checked her pulse.  It was there.  Thank the Lords.  He sighed
deeply and looked back up at the sisters who were staring at him quite
puzzled.  He rolled Kella over but could see no wound.  "Where's my
weapon?" he asked.  Luana pulled it out of her pack and showed him.  "How
did you use it, Luana?"
     "I hit her over the head with it." She responded simply, still
looking at him strangely.  
     The most advanced hand held weapon known to man and Luana uses it as
a bludgeon.  "Give it to me," he directed her.  She handed it over, still
not understanding his reaction.  "This weapon shoots a laser which can
easily kill a human."  Luana and Lia looked at him in stunned silence. 
"If you don't know how a weapon works, you should never touch it, never
mind use it on a human."  
     It sounded like something their Father would say.  Luana felt deeply
ashamed.  "I'm sorry," she said quietly.
     "No harm done," he replied.  He felt a little guilty for treating
her like a cadet, instead of a friend who was trying to save him.  "Now,
can you help me up?" he smiled at her.   They quickly grabbed him under
the arms and pulled him to his feet.  He wiped the sweat out of his eyes. 
His legs felt shaky and he was feeling slightly nauseous.  He was
beginning to lose confidence that he would make it, even with their help.

Part Forty-One     

     Sheba sat on the shuttle considering her friend.  Cassiopeia had
been quiet and angry since Sheba had contrived to ensure that she was the
med tech who came with them.  Cassie had silently and efficiently packed
her equipment as the junior tech, Giselle, again reviewed her list of
reasons, mostly supplied by Sheba, why she couldn't go.   Now they had
been in flight for ten centons and Cassiopeia had not said a word.
     "I don't understand, Cassie.  Starbuck's life could be in danger. 
Why are you so mad at him?" She wasn't going to get an answer unless she
asked.
     Cassiopeia looked up in surprise.  "Why?  Sheba it's all over the
fleet!  Do you just expect me to ignore it?"
     Sheba shook her head in confusion.  "Ignore what?  Please don't tell
me this is still about the peck on the lips he gave a sixteen-yahren-old
girl."
     Cassiopeia snorted, "You don't need to protect him, Sheba.  I've
heard several versions of the story already.  The best part is, Starbuck
isn't even back on board to embellish them."  She folded her arms across
her chest.
     "I still don't know what you're talking about.  Besides, you know
me.  Do you really think I'd protect Starbuck if I thought he'd done
something out of line?  Remember, I was there the night of the Ball. 
Starbuck was the perfect gentleman with Lady Aurelia."
     "You know that's not what I'm talking about.  It's the way he's been
carrying on with those Empyrean Princesses on the planet."
     "Carrying on?  Just what have you heard?"  Sheba looked at her in
bewilderment.
     "Oh, that he's taking midnight swims with them in the nude!"  Cassie
remarked outraged that Sheba was still protecting that... that...the
usual insults would just not do.
     "What?" Sheba started laughing.  She forgot that rumours did tend to
run amok on a military vessel.  Just leave it to the fertile imaginations
of Viper pilots for the tales of Starbuck's misfortune to get twisted
into a romantic midnight dip with two exotic women.  She thought she
could detect some Bojay touches on this one.  "Cassiopeia, Starbuck has
been to Hades and back down there.  Look, there's a lot you don't know
that you probably should.  Starbuck tried to tell you some of this before
we left, but it sounds like you were behaving like he usually does."  She
gave her friend's hand a squeeze to let her know she didn't mean it
maliciously.  Sheba knew that Cassiopeia usually dealt with Starbuck in a
straight-ahead manner.  She had been astonished when Starbuck had told
her Cassie didn't want to speak with him before leaving on their mission.
     Cassiopeia studied her feet.   Sheba was right.  She had been
behaving somewhat childishly.  Lately, the mere thought of that man
irritated her.  She hadn't given him a chance to explain what had
happened on the Malocchio.  There was a time when she would have laughed
it off as being typical of what kind of trouble seemed to follow Starbuck
around.  It was one of the things she used to find charming about him. 
Wait a centon.  It was a part of Starbuck.  She wondered when she had
stopped appreciating those characteristics and had started wanting to
change them.  "All right, tell me what really happened."

-----------

     Lia and Luana propped Starbuck up against the side of the tunnel.
This was it. "Now, look Starbuck, you need to find the energy to get
yourself out of here.  Lia and I can help you, but we can't carry you. 
Remember she's injured as well... thanks to you I might add."   Luana
thought Starbuck looked... well, like felgercarb, but they had a long
ways to go yet.  Now she had to motivate him.  She felt attacking his ego
was a good place to start.  Yes, a nice mixture of ego attack followed by
a onslaught of guilt for good measure would get him moving again.  "We
need to move Kella into the chamber, we'll be right back."
     He watched them as they dragged Kella away.  Lia returned, but he
could see Luana going back into the chamber with a heavy sack.  She
stayed inside a few centons before returning to them with the empty sack. 
"What was in it?" he asked.
     Luana grinned deviously.  "A putrid.  When Kella wakes up she will
find you gone and a putrid in your place."
     "Why?" 
     "Everyone knows that Ama threatened to turn you into a putrid. 
Well, what else will they think?" she replied.
     "That I escaped and someone put a putrid there in my place,"
Starbuck replied.  Was he missing something here?
     "Oh no.  Ama and Kella would never admit that you escaped.  Besides,
it's been yahrens since Ama performed any actual transformations.  She
won't let the chance slip by to impress everyone." Luana assured him. 
"Later when you reappear, she will simply say she transformed you back."
     Lia looked very impressed.  "Then she will actually gain status with
our people through our betrayal."
     Luana grinned, "Exactly.  Ready Starbuck?"
     "No, but let's get it over with," he replied.
     They took an arm each again and headed for the deserted tunnels. 
They were both pleased he had indeed found some inner strength to keep
moving.  They soon were passing through a well-hidden fissure and walking
carefully along the tunnel.  Large webs covered their way and they
brushed them aside as they continued.  Starbuck realized it was getting
colder.  He had not really noticed until now how warm the inner chambers
of the cavern had been.   The women didn't seem to notice the temperature
change; then again, they hadn't been sweating.  He could feel the
moisture that was trapped against his skin as it started to cool his
overheated body.  It was a relief.  At first.

-----------

     Apollo and Boomer were searching through wet foliage looking for the
entrance to the cave.  They had easily followed Luana's directions and
were only now having difficulty.  Apollo suspected it had become
significantly overgrown since Luana had last been there.  Sheba and
Cassie joined in the search.  Jolly and Giles had stayed with the
shuttle.  They needed to be there in case the landing area decided to
swallow the shuttle whole.  None of them had much faith in the saturated
land.
     "Here it is," Boomer yelled out.  He pulled the foliage aside to
reveal the entrance.  They got out their illuminators and shone the
lights inside.  
     Cassiopeia let out a shriek, as the first thing illuminated was a
hairy crawlon the size of a large serving plate.  She jumped back a
metron and right into Apollo.  He caught her, as she was about to tumble
down the hillside.  "I'm sorry, Apollo," she said mortified.
     "That's okay, I wasn't expecting anything quite so big either," he
said gently.
     "Makes me glad we're waiting for them out here," Sheba told them. 
They nodded their agreement as they waited.

----------

     Luana was becoming concerned.  Starbuck was starting to lean on them
more heavily.  His breathing was rapid and shallow and he was hunched
over.  The perspiration was dripping off his face and she could feel him
shivering with cold.  They had changed position so his arms were over
their shoulders and theirs wrapped around him.  Luana had his weapon back
in her sack as he had come close to dropping it a couple of times. 
Suddenly, he lurched to a stop and dropped to his knees.  He immediately
started vomiting.  He clutched his stomach painfully as he continued to
retch.  
     Lia was shining her light at the ground.  "That's blood, Luana. 
He's not going to make it."
     Luana nodded, "I'll run ahead to get Apollo and Boomer.  They're
going to have to help him the rest of the way.  I won't be long.  Now
that you've stopped, watch out for the crawlons."  She threw the sack
back at Lia and ran as fast as she dared.
     Lia kneeled down beside Starbuck.  He had stopped heaving, but was
obviously in a lot of pain.  His eyes were shut and his face was
contorted.  He was bent almost double and was still holding his abdomen. 
She realized he was holding his breath.
     "Starbuck, breathe!" she shouted at him.  He groaned as he drew in a
breath and shuddered as another escaped him.  Several small, shallow
gasps followed.
     "You're not breathing deep enough.  You're going to pass out if you
keep this up!" Lia held him around the shoulders.
     "And that would... be bad... how?" he muttered, but tried to take
deeper breaths.
     "Well, there are really big crawlons all over this cavern.  They
bite and it hurts a lot.  Not only that, but what they bite goes numb. 
That's how they disable their prey."
     Starbuck told himself that a few arthropods were the last of his
worries, and then he saw one about a metron away.  His eyes opened wide
in disbelief at the massive size of the thing.  Evidently, Lia was the
Princess of Understatement.  What really shook him was the fact that when
he spotted it, the crawlon hunkered down as if to try and hide.  Perhaps
it was trying to allay his concerns.
     "Lia, can these crawlons... actually eat a human?"  Amazingly, his
stomach didn't seem so bad all of a sudden.
     "Well, when it bites its prey it basically vomits stomach juices
over the wound repeatedly.  Something in the juices breaks body
components down into liquid mush.  Then the crawlon sucks the mush in as
a meal.  It would take a long time and a lot of crawlons, but in theory
we'd make a tasty banquet."  She had also spotted a couple crawlons
heading towards them.  "Starbuck, your weapon, you said it could kill a
human, how about a few crawlons?"
     Starbuck was trying to imagine Apollo and Boomer's reaction when
they came across him on his knees in front of a pool of vomit taking
potshots at crawlons while Lia helped hold him up.  Ah, yes, the brave
warrior defending the beautiful princess.  Not exactly a recruitment
poster, Bucko.  A sharp pain erupted in his left thigh and he twisted to
see a crawlon firmly attached by its fangs to his leg.  As he yelped in
pain, Lia's reaction time was impressive; she clobbered it with her
illuminator.  He reached for the sack and removed his weapon.  
     "So, tell me my leg isn't going to turn to mush right away," he
begged her.  He looked around amazed at how many crawlons had turned out
for the free food.  Well, you were always a good draw, Bucko.  He hastily
set his weapon to stun and fired.  The crawlons dropped.  Thuds echoed
down the passageway as they also dropped off the top and sides of the
tunnel.  Frack, there was a lot of them.
     "Starbuck, behind us!" Lia yelled.
     He twisted to fire again.  It started raining crawlons.  Mercifully,
they were either stunned or dead.  Starbuck honestly didn't care which. 
His thigh was now on fire from the crawlon's bite.  As usual, Lia was
right.  It hurt a lot.  He shifted off his legs from the kneeling
position, as that put too much pressure on the wound.  Lia helped him
stretch out his leg and carefully wiped away the arthropod's saliva from
the wound.
     "It should start to go numb soon," she guessed.  "Mind you, you're a
lot bigger than its usual prey.  It may take a few centons."
     He nodded.  At least it was a distraction from the burning in his
stomach.

----------

     Luana exited the fissure at a run.  She simply brushed away the
crawlon and its web as though they were no concern to her.  Their torches
illuminated the woman and they could clearly see she was covered in webs,
dust and one very large crawlon who was making its way up her left boot. 
Boomer quickly brushed it off with his illuminator.  Luana just ignored
as it scurried away.
     "He started to throw up blood.  Lia is with him.  The crawlons will
go after them if they're sitting still.  We have to move now!" she issued
her orders with the authority of an experienced officer.  "Did you bring
a healer?"
     "I'm a... healer."  Cassiopeia replied picking up her med kit.
     "Good.  He's lost blood too.  While I was meeting with your people
our healer had him restrained and performed a bloodletting ritual.  Let's
go!"  She turned on her heel and headed back into the cave.  They
followed as they processed her information in horror.
     They hurried down the twisting tunnel.  Sometimes it narrowed so
much they literally had to hug the surfaces to get through the fissures. 
Luana assured them it would widen soon and it did.  Unexpectedly, the
path was soon littered with motionless crawlons.  Just ahead they could
see Starbuck and Lia.
     Apollo and Cassiopeia ran to him.  He was lying on his side with his
head on Lia's legs, curled into the fetal position.  His eyes opened as
Cassie kneeled down and touched his forehead.  He was burning with fever.
     "Starbuck, can you roll onto your back?  I want to use the medical
scanner." She directed him.  
     He rolled over with a low moan escaping his lips.  She pushed his
arms out of the way as she activated her equipment.  Her brow furrowed in
obvious puzzlement.  
     "What is it?" Apollo asked.
     "I'm not exactly sure.  I've never seen this before.  Starbuck, you
have a hole in the lining of your stomach.  That's where the blood came
from.  It's not serious, though it probably feels like it.  I'm going to
give you something for the pain."  She pulled the hypospray out and
administered an analgesic.  "I'm also going to give you something to
decrease the acid level in your stomach.  Otherwise, your own gastric
enzymes will continue to damage your tissue."  She reset the hypospray
and repeated the process.
     Almost immediately Starbuck felt better.  The pain decreased to a
dull ache.  Cassie again held the scanner over his abdomen and adjusted
the tissue depth of her assessment.  "Hmm."  She fiddled with settings
until she seemed satisfied.  "I think it's some kind of parasite.  It
looks like it's burrowing through your stomach, Starbuck.  We're going to
have to get you back to the Galactica.  You may need surgery to have it
removed."
     "I don't feel so well," he muttered.  Apollo patted his shoulder in
support.  Cassie knew better and moved out of the way as Starbuck turned
his head and again vomited a small amount of blood and bile.  Apollo bit
his lip as he admired his newly accessorized boots.  He reminded himself
it was raining outside and that his boots were hardly spit and polished
to begin with.
     Cassie again had her hypospray in hand.  "Starbuck, this is a broad
spectrum antibiotic.  I suspect your fever has something to do with this
parasite.  You're also severely dehydrated."  She turned to Apollo.  "Do
I have time to start a line and give him some intravenous fluids?  He'll
be a lot more comfortable for the trip out of here."
     "How long will it take?" Apollo asked.
     "Ten to fifteen centons."
     He nodded.  "Go ahead.  Starbuck, what did you use on the crawlons?"
     Starbuck could feel Cassiopeia starting a venous access.  At least
she was being gentle.  He still hadn't forgotten her last medical
treatment.  "Stun."
     "I forgot to tell you," Lia interrupted them, "one of them bit
Starbuck on his left thigh."
     Cassiopeia started her fluid bolus and shifted her attention to his
leg.  "Where?  I can't see it."
     Lia showed Cassie the small puncture wounds.  Luana pushed her way
into the group and quickly cut away the pant leg from the groin down. 
Cassie smirked in amusement at the young woman's disregard of Starbuck's
modesty.  The leg was already red and hot, radiating out from the upper
thigh puncture site where a cubit-sized lump had formed.  The redness
extended towards his knee and up beyond where he had managed to retain
some coverage.  
     Luana held up the knife.  "More?" she asked.
     "Hey!" Starbuck protested.
     Cassie chuckled.  "Oh, are you still with us?  You've been awfully
quiet."  She shook her head at Luana and quickly cleaned and bandaged the
wound.  "How does the leg feel?"  She hadn't noticed any of his usual
complaints.
     "Numb," he replied.  Lia ran over her commentary on crawlons eating
their prey and the resulting numbness.  They were all very glad that
Starbuck had his weapon.
     "Ready to transport," Cassie informed them as she obturated
Starbuck's venous access.
     "Sorry, buddy, but the tunnel is too tight to put you on any kind of
stretcher.  Boomer and I are going to have to carry you out." Apollo
informed him.
     Starbuck sighed.  Even his rescue wasn't going quite right.  His
stomach pain was reduced to a slight ache and his leg was numb, but he
knew he could still stand on it.  "Just get me up.  I think I can walk
with some help."
     Apollo looked at Cassie and she nodded her agreement.  "Okay, let's
try it."

Part Forty-Two

     Sixteen centars after leaving the planet Empyrean, Starbuck lay
quietly in the Galactica's Life Station.  He was still drowsy from the
anaesthetic.  Dr. Salik had informed him that all the parasites had been
removed.  Apparently, the one that Cassie had detected on the scanner had
laid eggs.  Those had hatched and his stomach wall had become a meal for
its offspring.  Salik had repaired his stomach easily, but he would not
be able to eat or drink anything for three days.  Cassie had told him the
tube in his nose went directly into his small bowel.  They would give him
his nutrients through it while his stomach healed properly.  Sometimes
these medical people just give you a little too much information, he
thought.
     He had indeed been capable of walking out of the cavern with
support.  His numb leg had only collapsed under him once.  Okay, maybe
twice, if you counted when he was dropped by his friends.  Fortunately,
Apollo and Boomer only dropped him once.  That being when they upset some
foliage and a deluge of crawlons landed on them from above.  Fortunately,
these crawlons were inert.  Starbuck wished he had Sheba's view of the
episode.  He missed the look on Apollo and Boomer's face as they dropped
him like a bad cubit and pulled their weapons.  Starbuck insisted they
switch sides after that; therefore, dropping him wouldn't be necessary
should they feel the need to be armed again.  They were suitably
chagrined.
     Starbuck pulled up the thin sheet that covered him to examine his
leg dressing.  Dr. Salik seemed concerned.  Apparently, once bitten by
these monstrous crawlons, you were simply supposed to be ingested. 
Starbuck, as usual, had upset the normal flow of things.  By the time
they had returned to the Galactica a small abscess had formed which Salik
had to drain, debride and culture.  Cassie said the odour had just about
knocked them over when he had incised it.  Starbuck's fever had
persisted, so Salik had applied an enzymatic/antibacterial gel to the
wound and was monitoring it closely.  It seemed they were using just
about every antibiotic known to man.  If his wound didn't respond to the
treatment, there was talk of sending someone back down to retrieve a live
crawlon so they could analyze its venom and neurotoxic agent.  The good
news was he was off active duty, so he wouldn't get that particular
assignment.
     "Everything still there?" Cassie asked in amusement.
     Starbuck dropped the sheet back into place.  "Funny.  You think you
could spare a blanket or two?  It's cold in here."
     "Sorry.  You're still feverish.  Dr. Salik wants you cooled down. 
You're only two tenths of a degree from a cool sponge bath as it is." 
She strategically moved aside the sheet and checked his abdominal
incision and leg dressing.  "How's the leg feel?"
     She had given him a painkiller not long ago, which had decreased the
continuous throbbing to a more manageable persistent ache.  "Sore.  Now
about that sponge bath..."
     "Is he getting out of line already, Cassiopeia?" Apollo asked as he
entered the Life Station with Boomer.
     "Was he ever in line?" Boomer added.  "How are you doing, buddy?"
     "I've been better, but not recently."  He smiled at them.  "Is the
Empyrean Meeting over with?"  Apollo had been asked to join the
delegation assigned to the meeting when it became apparent that the
official liaison, Starbuck, would not be able to attend.
     "Yes, they've decided to join the Fleet.  Albus and Regus are going
to accommodate them on the Malocchio.  All the Empyreans will be
together."  He will unite us and make us strong.  "There are a couple of
unexpected occurrences you may want to be aware of though."
     "Oh?"
     "Apparently, next secton is the twentieth anniversary of Lia's natal
day."
     "I'm not going to the Ball.  You can't make me." Starbuck averred.
     Apollo chuckled.  "Relax, there isn't going to be a Ball.  Seems at
the age of twenty if the princess remains unmarried she ascends to the
throne as Emperor."
     "What?" Starbuck asked in surprise.  "Well, I'm not going to the
inauguration either. Then Lia really is the Emperor?"
     "Not Empress?" Cassiopeia asked.
     "No, apparently the Empyreans call their ruler Emperor, male or
female."  Apollo replied.  "It is supposed to signify ultimate power. 
So, that part of the prophecy is also true."  He will save our Emperor.
     Starbuck nodded.
     "Here's the surprising part.  Lia and Luana are the only surviving
heirs directly in line to the throne.  Apparently, Ama isn't really their
grandmother.  She's their godmother.  Lia and Luana have both announced
they are abdicating in favour of becoming Colonial Warriors."
     "Lia?  I guess Luana doesn't surprise me, but Lia?" Starbuck said.
     "Lady Aurelia was there too, Starbuck.  She asked me to mention
something about 'freedom' if the topic of Lia's abdication came up." 
Apollo watched him curiously.
     Starbuck knew these young women had a lot in common.  They were both
raised for a purpose, Aurelia to marry and Lia to rule.  Obviously,
neither woman was interested in following their designated path.  Perhaps
now they could choose their own path.  "Aurelia and Lia were talking?"  
     "Extensively.  Obviously their likeness brought them together.  Then
they began to see how much they really did have in common.  Apparently,
your name came up several times."
     "Hmm." Starbuck stole a glance at Cassiopeia.  She was examining the
drainage on his leg dressing.  She looked thoughtful.  He wondered if she
was considering his wound or Apollo's words.  He reached down and gave
her hand a squeeze.  She smiled at him and reached for her dressing
supplies.
     "Anyhow, the end result is the end of the Empyrean Empire.  The
Houses will continue as they have in the Colonies.  I suspect they will
become less of a male dominated society very quickly though, especially
if Lia and Luana have anything to do with it.  Even Lady Aurelia set a
precedent when she kissed Starbuck and proceeded to end her engagement to
Rogane.  There is a lot of change ahead for the Empyreans."  The Empyrean
Empire will cease to exist.
     "What about my disappearance?" Starbuck winced as Cassie started
removing his bandage.  
     "Ama approached the commander directly upon his arrival.  She
suspected we had something to do with your 'early departure', as she
called it.  She enquired about your health and apologized for any
misunderstanding.  As for the Empyreans, they are convinced you were
transformed into a putrid and then back to a man again.  The commander
isn't about to tell them otherwise.  She owes him one, I suppose."
     Cassie now had the dressing removed.  The area was still inflamed
with streaks of red now evident up and down his leg.  A foul odour was
coming from the wound along with a purulent discharge.  "I'll be right
back, Starbuck.  Dr. Salik wanted to see this.  I'll go get him."
     "Doesn't look too good, does it?" Starbuck noticed his friends had
turned a couple shades paler.
     "Hmm," said Boomer moving away to examine a spot on the floor.
     "Uh," replied Apollo covering his mouth and nose to avoid the odour.
     "I guess I should stop worrying about being fed through a tube,"
Starbuck said with a snort.
     "Starbuck, Ama wants to come see you." Apollo told him.  "Maybe she
can help?"
     "Which Ama?  The one who cursed me or the one who set the
bloodsucking healer on me?"
     "Well, both actually."
     "Terrific.  Now, I've destroyed the Empyrean Empire too.  Do you
suppose there's something they can do to me that's worse than the curse?" 
They all looked at his festering leg.  "Don't answer that."
     Dr. Salik chose that moment to return with Cassiopeia.  He smiled
empathetically at Starbuck and looked at his wound.  "Apollo, I need
someone to return to the planet Empyrean and catch a living crawlon. 
It's the only way to find a treatment for Starbuck's leg."
     "I'm on my way, Dr. Salik.  Boomer?"  
     "Let's go.  Don't worry, Bucko, we've been in worse spots than
this."
     "How come you two only say that when I'm in trouble?" Starbuck asked
them.
     "Because you notice." Apollo grinned at him.
     "Besides, when aren't you in trouble?" added Boomer.

Part Forty-Three

     The great crawlon hunters of Blue Squadron descended upon the lair
with intent in their hearts and confusion in their heads.  Just how did
one capture a giant crawlon?  Apparently, there was someone on the
Maxidex Freighter responsible for insect and pest problems, but he had
informed Apollo that he only killed them.  It was not a part of his job
description to capture them alive.  Along that line of thought, just why
was it that every job that didn't have a responsible body attached to it
ended up being delegated to Colonial Warriors?  They had obtained an
enclosed cage designed for carrying animals from the man.  Now they
needed some bait.  As they stood at the entrance of the cave they
realized they had made one crucial error.  They didn't bring Luana.
     "It wouldn't take long to hike to the main entrance and find her,"
Boomer argued, "It would probably save us time and frustration in the
end.  Not to mention a wound to match Starbuck's."
     Apollo was shaking his head.  Surely, they could come up with a plan
to capture one crawlon.  He didn't like this assignment any better than
Boomer, but it wasn't like he could send Starbuck to do it.  "Come on,
let's get this over with."
     Of course, this time there wasn't a crawlon conveniently hanging in
the entranceway.  They made their way inside the cave shining their
illuminators over the surface area of the tunnel.  Not a crawlon to be
seen.
     "I hate to say it, but Luana did mention that they tend to
congregate when their prey stops moving.  Let's go back closer to the
entrance and have a seat.  Maybe they'll show up?" Apollo suggested.
     "This is why I wanted to go get Luana," Boomer complained.
     "You're starting to sound like Starbuck again," Apollo ribbed him.
     Boomer just grinned.  "What if they only feed at night?  I remember
seeing crawlons last night when we entered the cave.  I don't see a
single one right now.  I'm still all for finding Luana before someone
transports her up to the Malocchio.  We could be sitting here a very long
time."
     "Five centons.  Let's see if any crawlons show.  If they don't we go
find Luana.  Come to think of it, we haven't even asked her if the
Empyreans have a treatment for the crawlon's bite.  After cohabitating
with them for a thousand yahrens they may have a remedy." 
     Boomer shook his head at their flagrant omission.  "I guess we were
all still thinking about Starbuck's bloodletting episode.  You're right. 
We may not be giving their healer enough credit.  Capturing this crawlon
may not even be necessary.  I'm willing to admit that I would be more
than happy not to add 'captor of giant crawlons' as a specialized skill
on my personal file."

-----------

     Commander Adama entered the bustling Life Station.  He had come to
talk with Starbuck about a conversation he had with Siress Ama and...
Ama.  He was still trying to adjust to Ama.  She told him she was 'just
Ama' now.  Without an Imperial House, there was no need for an Imperial
Necromancer.  She had informed him that she was retiring as a necromancer
and was going to become an entrepreneur.  "After all, our people will
need a role in the fleet."  He had asked her what type of business she
planned to set up.  She had evaded his answer, but had mentioned that
Starbuck had given her the idea.  Whatever it was, Starbuck had
apparently already negotiated his percentage of the take. 
     Adama knew that Starbuck had his surgeries early in the day and felt
this would be a good time to talk with him as the anaesthetic should be
out of his system by now.  He was not prepared for what he saw.  Starbuck
was shivering, pale and restless.  His eyes were closed, but his body was
in perpetual motion.  He had a hold of his feeding tube and was in the
process of pulling it out of his nose.  His venous access had obviously
been the first victim of his actions and Adama could see blood trailing
down his arm and into a large stain on the white sheets.  Intravenous
fluids were pouring onto the floor instead of into the patient.  Dr. Paye
and Giselle were at the other end of the room occupied with other
patients.  Their backs were turned to him and they were oblivious to his
activities.  "Starbuck!" Adama shouted as he ran to him and grabbed his
hands.  Of course, the Commander was a micron too late and now the
feeding tube had joined the intravenous on the floor.
     Dr. Paye and Giselle quickly joined Adama.  Starbucks glazed eyes
were open and he was looking at his Commander in confusion.  Lords, the
boy felt hot!  Giselle had a small bandage and was applying pressure to
his bleeding arm.  Paye was looking unimpressed.  He quickly checked his
bio readout.
     "Giselle, get a antipyretic and a hypothermic cover.  We need to
cool him down.  He's getting delirious." Paye barked off his orders like
a drill sergeant.
     "How do you want to administer the antipyretic, Doctor?" Giselle
asked.  "After all, he pulled out his feeding tube."
     "Well, then, I guess there's only one route left.  Isn't there?" 
She nodded and went to get the necessary items.  "Unfortunately,
antipyretics can't be given by a hypospray," he informed the Commander.
     "Can't you just put the tube back down?" Adama asked him, realizing
the man was referring to a rectal approach.  Starbuck's eyes had closed
and he seemed to be drifting off into a restless sleep.  His right hand
had latched on tightly to Adama's.  Surely a suppository would just be
adding insult to injury.
     "Not much point if he's just going to pull it out again."  Paye
rejoined.  "I don't waste my time.  It's too valuable."
     Adama could see Giselle returning with a silver sheet and a
suppository.  "I'll sit with him.  Put the tube back down to give him the
medication. I'll make sure he doesn't pull it out again."
     Paye raised his eyebrows.  "All right, Commander.  Have it your way. 
Giselle, reinsert the tube."  Giselle spread the cooling cover over
Starbuck and then hurried away again to get more equipment.
     "Dr. Salik said the surgery had gone well.  What happened?" Adama
asked.  Starbuck still had a tight grip on his hand and was quietly
mumbling in his sleep, but at least he had stopped pulling at things.
     "It's the leg wound.  We cleaned it up, but the infection is getting
worse."  Dr. Paye restarted the intravenous access as he spoke.  "He's
not responding to our treatment.  As you can see, the redness is
spreading."  He pulled back the sheet.  
     Adama could clearly see that they had been tracking the course of
the infection with ink marks.  Each line had a corresponding time
recorded on it.  The redness had apparently been at his groin level after
surgery, but now had extended up his hip to his waist and all the way
down to his knee.  "I hate to admit it, Commander, but if Apollo doesn't
get back soon with that crawlon, I may have to consider amputation." 
Paye pulled the sheet back in place.
     "Amputation?" Adama asked.  He had been engaged in duties of a more
political nature all day and was concerned and annoyed no one had seen
fit to notify him of Starbuck's condition.  After all, he was practically
family.
     "We still have time, but it's not looking good.  That's why Salik
sent Apollo down to get us a crawlon. Then we can analyze the toxins it
excretes.  It's our best chance at finding a treatment." Paye explained. 

     "Apollo knew about Starbuck's condition?"
     "Well, the lieutenant has deteriorated quite drastically since the
captain left for Empyrean.  His temperature and the inflammation have
markedly increased.  He's requiring twice the amount of painkiller to
stay somewhat comfortable.  However, the delirium didn't start until
now."
     At least that explained why his son hadn't sent for him.  "I would
think Cassiopeia would want to be here, at least."  Exactly whom had they
notified?
     "Cassiopeia is due to be back on duty this evening.  She did a
double shift already last night.  I'll notify her if he becomes critical. 
She needs some rest too." Paye defended his decision not to disturb her.
     "Surely, if you're considering amputating his leg, he is critical."
Adama pointed out.  Starbuck was muttering incoherently.  He had
tightened his grip on Adama's hand.  The lieutenant's head was slowly
shaking from side to side.  His face was contorted.  Adama wondered what
was going on in his mind.

----------

     Starbuck was feeling cold.  He was having difficulty opening his
eyes.  When he did he realized he must be back on the planet Empyrean. 
He was ever so slowly making his way downstream.  He looked left and
right, but oddly Lia and Luana weren't there.  The water was very cold
and he wanted out of it.  He started towards the bank, but no matter how
many steps he took towards it, it only seemed to get further away.  His
left leg was starting to hurt again.  He was surprised he was able to
stand on it.  He could feel Apollo's hand gripping his in support as he
walked, but when he looked he could not find Apollo.  He called his name. 
Wait a centon.  Apollo was in the cave, not the stream.
     The scenery changed and he was walking through the cave.  It was
still very cold.  He noticed he was still naked.  No wonder he was cold. 
Lia and Luana must have taken his clothes.  He called for them.  His leg
was really throbbing now.  He looked down at it to see an enormous
crawlon attached to it.  He heard Rhiamon telling Ama they would have to
amputate.
     He was back in an Empyrean chamber secured again to a platform. 
Instead of warm, comfortable furs the platform was covered in crawlons. 
He could feel them moving beneath him.  Rhiamon was coming towards him
with a large knife.  He could see her sharpening it on a stone as she
approached.  He looked down in horror at his leg.  The crawlon was still
firmly in place, but his leg was a gelatinous mass of liquid mush.  Other
crawlons began to climb onto his leg for their share of the meal.  He
felt Apollo's hand pull free from his grip.  Rhiamon brushed several
crawlons out of the way as she lined up her knife with his thigh and
started stabbing into it in quick, piercing motions.  Starbuck opened his
mouth to scream, but not a sound left his throat.  

Part Forty-Four 

     Apollo and Boomer quickly found Luana at the main cave.  They
explained that they had come to retrieve a crawlon, but had thought it
was wiser to consult with their healer first.  Luana reassured them that
the Empyreans had been treating crawlon bites successfully with a Spuzzum
root poultice.  She quickly took them to see Rhiamon.  Her small chamber
was crowded with various drying botanicals, most of which were suspended
from vines stretched in a web-like pattern occupying most of the room. 
Apollo's eyes were drawn to a leather bound tome a scant metron from the
entrance.  It was on a small table and the page it was opened to was
illustrating bloodletting.  Beside the tome laid a concave bowl with a
residue of dried blood within it.  His doubts increased once again about
this woman doing anything to help Starbuck.  The healer politely greeted
them and asked them what she could do for them.
     "Rhiamon, Starbuck was bit by a crawlon.  The infection is getting
worse.  It doesn't seem to respond to our medicines.  Luana said you have
a treatment for the crawlon's bite."
     Rhiamon's eyes widened in surprise.  "Forgive me, Captain.  I had
assumed that your medical care was vastly superior to our own.  I'm
surprised you can't treat a simple crawlon bite."
     Apollo wondered if Rhiamon had heard about his discussion with Lia
by her carefully chosen words.  "Your people have lived with these
crawlons for centi-yahrens; ours have not.  Starbuck is very sick. 
Please Rhiamon, if there's anything you can do to help..."
     "Of course, Captain.  Let me get my kit."  She efficiently gathered
up her supplies.  Apollo noticed her grabbing her bloodstained bowl at
the last centon.  "Take me to Starbuck."

----------

     Adama was considering Dr. Paye.  While a perfectly competent
physician, the man lacked the sympathy and empathy of his peer, Dr.
Salik.  Paye had just informed him that Starbuck's military record stated
he had 'no family'.  For 'emergency notifications' Starbuck had left it
completely blank.  This was apparently all the reason Paye needed to
leave the delirious young man alone in the Life Station.  Going to the
effort of researching who Starbuck's loved ones were was evidently
another waste of the man's time.  He pulled his hand free of Starbuck's
with the intention of updating the record himself.  He had moved about a
metron towards the computer when Starbuck screamed in pain and terror.
     "Frack!" Paye shouted as the recently restarted intravenous was
yanked out of Starbuck's arm.  The small table holding medical supplies
crashed to the ground as Starbuck's flailing arms upset it.  Incredibly,
Starbuck already had one foot on the floor in an effort to escape his
hallucination when Paye and Adama grabbed him by the arms and thrust him
back onto the biobed.  All the time he was yelling, "No!" and "Apollo,
help me!"
     "Giselle, sedate him!  Now!" Paye yelled at her.  She was already in
motion and rapidly injected the sedative into Starbuck.  Within microns
his body went limp.  Giselle moved his legs back onto the biobed as Paye
and Adama hoisted him to the top of it.
     Giselle quickly assessed the unconscious Starbuck and then turned
and looked at the other six patients she had barely attended.  The
situation was just getting out of hand.  "Dr. Paye, you put the feeding
tube back down.  I'm going to get Cassiopeia." She turned on her heel and
left the Life Station.  A stunned Dr. Paye stared after her.  

----------

     One centar later, Apollo, Boomer and Rhiamon entered the Life
Station.  Cassiopeia was sitting on one side of Starbuck and Commander
Adama on the other.  They each had hold of one of his hands.  Starbuck
was restless and incoherent.  Cassie was speaking softly to him.  His
tubes had been replaced and he was once again receiving precious fluids
and nutrients.  Giselle was replacing the hypothermic cover with a sheet
once again.  
     "His temperature is a degree lower now," Giselle was explaining to
Adama, "if we cool him off too much he'll just start shivering until his
temperature is right back to where we started."
     "What happened?" Apollo asked as he closed the distance between
them.  When he had left Starbuck had been looking a bit sore, but
otherwise healthy.
     "He was hallucinating.  He pulled out his tubes and tried to jump
out of bed.  Luckily, the commander was here to help and we were able to
sedate Starbuck before he could do himself any damage.  He's starting to
come out of it now, as you can see."   Giselle filled them in.  "Did you
get a crawlon?" she asked expectantly.
     "No, we couldn't find one.  Luana surmised that the dead or stunned
crawlons became a banquet for the remaining ones.  They had all crawled
away to sleep off their gluttony.   We brought Rhiamon instead."  Boomer
replied, thinking to himself that she had something in common with the
crawlon; they both gave him the creeps.  "She's the Empyrean Healer.  Her
people have developed a successful poultice for treating the crawlon's
bite."  Introductions were quickly made.
     Cassiopeia turned skeptical eyes on Rhiamon.  "What is in this
poultice?"
     "That will depend on how the wound looks.  I don't prescribe
treatment until I've completed my assessment."  Rhiamon told her.  She
turned to Dr. Paye.  "May I see the wound?"
     "Giselle, take down the dressing for Rhiamon." He replied standing
back and distancing himself from this intruder in his Life Station.  He
was frustrated that they had to resort to quackery to try and save this
young man.  Still, if this was Starbuck's only chance they had to take
it.
     "I can do that myself," Rhiamon told him conveying that she didn't
consider it below her station, even if he apparently did.  "Perhaps if
you could assist me by holding his leg, Giselle?"  
     "Cassie, could you give Starbuck another dose of analgesic before we
start?" Giselle asked her colleague as she moved into a better position
in which to assist Rhiamon.  She was thankful that Cassie was there and
could help even though this was officially her time off.
     "Apollo, could you take his other hand?  He may try to fight us."
Cassiopeia requested as she administered the drug and monitored his vital
signs.   
     Apollo sat next to Starbuck and took his hand.  He was surprised at
how warm the lieutenant felt.  He looked across into the bemused eyes of
his father.
     "He was calling for you earlier," Adama squeezed his son's hand. 
"You must have been in his dreams."
     "What was he saying?" Apollo asked, truly curious.  
     "Apollo, help me," Adama quoted.  "I wonder if he knows that was
what you were doing while you were down on Empyrean?"
     "I hope to God it's true." Apollo replied.  
     Apollo watched Rhiamon carefully unwrap Starbuck's leg.  Once again
a terrible odour was released.  The wound was significantly wider and
deeper due to the tissue destruction from the infection.  The edges of
the wound were black and the discharge was a thick, greenish sludge.  The
skin on the leg was bright red, tight and shiny.  Rhiamon pressed on the
edges of the wound and further greenish discharge oozed out of a newly
discovered fistula.  Apollo could hear his father murmuring reassuring
words to Starbuck who had considerably tightened his grip on their hands
while moaning in pain.
     "Normally, I would just cut the leg off at this point." Rhiamon said
to the people gathered around.  They all opened their eyes wide in shock. 
"Considering when he was bitten, the infection should not have progressed
so far this quickly even without treatment.  The boy is cursed, is he
not?"  
     "What possible difference could a curse have to do with his medical
treatment?" Dr. Paye asked outraged.  He knew it was a bad plan to let
this quack in here.  So much for going out on a limb and trying
'alternative medicine'.  He ground his teeth in irritation.  Luckily, his
shift was over soon and Salik could deal with this felgercarb.  
     "It could be the difference of whether he lives or dies.  Starbuck
needs a necromancer just as much as he does a healer.   I can certainly
apply the poultice, but I swear upon the graves of my ancestors, that
unless the curse is lifted, this boy will die."  Rhiamon responded
grim-faced.

Part Forty-Five

     Commander Adama summoned the Empyrean Necromancers to Life Station. 
Apollo had wanted to find them himself, but Adama thought it was more
important he stay.  Apollo, along with Cassiopeia, had turned out to be a
calming influence on the delirious lieutenant.  Adama was beginning to
realize that the busy Life Station needed all the calming influences it
could get.  Adama also recognized that it bothered him that Starbuck had
not identified anyone under emergency notifications.  Surely, he realized
by now that he was a part of their extended family?  
     Rhiamon patiently pulled her supplies out of her kit and started
pulverizing ingredients in a bowl.  Apollo noticed it was the bloodied
bowl that had likely held Starbuck's blood as its last function.  He
wondered if his friend's blood was an integral ingredient for this
poultice.  He rolled his eyes in disbelief that they would ever be
sitting waiting on necromancers and archaic healers to save a life. 
However, Dr. Paye admitted he was out of ideas for further medical
intervention, unless it was amputation of course.  Apollo tried not to
think of Starbuck awakening to find he was one leg short.  Starbuck would
probably have to point out that at least it wasn't two legs, because then
he'd be a whole lot shorter.  The Captain watched as Rhiamon added water
until the mixture became a thick paste.
     "I need to irrigate the wound before I apply the poultice," she told
Giselle, who agreeably brought the necessary items.  "Now, either we
apply restraints or you, gentlemen, will have to hold him perfectly
still."
     "Can't he just have more medication for the pain?" Apollo asked.
     Dr. Paye shook his head.  "Look at him."  Starbuck again appeared to
be asleep.  "He's got a lot of narcotics on board already.  We're just
compromising his respiratory system if we further depress it with
narcotics he may not require.  If he still needs a top up, we can do it
then.  We could call Security.  They usually help us with restraining
patients if it's necessary.  I can certainly understand if you don't want
to hold him still."
     Apollo looked at Boomer who was shaking his head.  They both knew
Starbuck wouldn't appreciate awakening to find Reese applying restraints
or holding him down.  "We'll hold him," Apollo also realized that
applying restraints would be like subjecting Starbuck to a repeat of his
previous encounter with Rhiamon.  "Boomer, can you hold his legs?" 
Boomer moved into position holding his legs down.  Dr. Paye reluctantly
joined him after a look from Adama.
     "Here we go..."  Rhiamon started washing the wound clean.  Starbuck
winced as the solution hit his raw, exposed tissue, but did not react
otherwise.
     "Is that as bad as it gets?" Boomer asked somewhat relieved.
     "No," Rhiamon replied.  Once she had cleaned off the green sludge
she took a catheter and started probing the area looking for the hidden
fistula as Cassiopeia assisted by compressing the wound edges to express
the exudate. 
     "NO!" Starbuck screamed, his torso thrusting upwards in an attempt
to escape.  Apollo and Adama held on tightly while Giselle administered
further painkillers.  Starbuck's body relaxed as his head lolled back and
forth and he weakly protested, "Stop... please... stop..."
     "Aha!" Rhiamon declared victoriously as she fed the catheter into
the small opening.  She immediately started irrigating the fistula until
the returns were clear of the horrible exudate.  She removed the catheter
from Starbuck's leg and then started smearing her paste onto a clean
bandage.  "Ready?" she asked them.   The men again held Starbuck tightly
as she put the poultice on the wound.  Starbuck's body tensed from head
to foot as he sucked in a breath between his teeth and held it...and held
it... and held it.  His body trembled from the exertion.  Finally, he
took a gasping breath and his head rolled to his shoulder in blissful
oblivion.   

----------

     Apollo began pacing.  He was unaccustomed to sitting and waiting. 
He was also unaccustomed to feeling so utterly helpless.  Memories of
Serina's last centars flooded his mind as he looked down at the
unconscious form of Starbuck.  Frack!  It was just so unjustified.  The
man had survived the destruction; numerous Cylon attacks; Cylon captures;
crash landings; murder charges; infiltrating a baseship; Borellian Blood
Hunts; not to mention all of the calamities that had occurred since he
was cursed, to finally be staring death in the eye because of an
oversized crawlon.  That was the biggest problem with waiting; there was
too much time to think.  He wished that he and Boomer had gone to find
the Ama's and could almost convince himself that they would have been
delivered to Life Station by now.  He sighed as he berated himself for
his apparently inflated opinion of his abilities.  He tried to convince
himself that Jolly and Giles or Sheba and Bojay would find them in time. 
However, that wasn't their best friend lying there dying.

----------

     Sheba was getting frustrated.  She had just talked with Jolly who
was on the planet Empyrean searching for the missing Ama's.  If any of
the Empyreans knew where the necromancers were, they were not sharing the
information.  Sheba had enlisted Bojay's assistance in her search on
board the Malocchio.  They also seemed to be getting the runaround.  She
had commed Apollo in the Life Station and was well aware of the urgency
of the situation.  She knew that Apollo wished he was the one looking for
the Ama's because, like her, he hated to be idly waiting.  Adama had been
quite insistent that Apollo stay at his friend's side.  She wondered if
it had something to do with the curse.  Perhaps Adama felt Starbuck would
be more likely to succumb if he indeed felt as though his friends had
forsaken him.  Obviously, he wouldn't know they were out searching for
the supposed key to his recovery.  Perhaps having his lover, his best
friends and the only father figure he had really known with him at this
critical point was the best plan.  In the meantime it was up to her to
find those elusive necromancers.  Finally, she had gone in search of
Luana.  In most matters Empyrean, Luana seemed to have the capability or
at least the answer.
     Luana was in a heated discussion with Kella.  After all, Kella was
Ama's foremost guard and also a trusted confidante.  If anyone knew where
the former necromancer was, it would be she.  
     "I'm telling you, Kella.  If the curse is not lifted soon, Starbuck
will die!  You know that Ama values life above all else, even her
ridiculous traditions.  You've seen the heartbreak she suffered as she
lost her husband, her friends, and especially her daughter.  If you don't
tell me now where she is our savior's death will be on your head.   May
the Gods have mercy on your soul if you let that man die."
     Kella was clearly considering Luana's words carefully.  She had
received very specific orders that the meeting was not to be disrupted. 
However, Luana spoke the truth.  Life was a precious gift and there was
no bigger loss than death.  "There is a meeting of the Great Houses.  Ama
has proposed the lifting of the curse as her last official act as
Imperial Necromancer.  They are still in debate and have ordered no
interruptions."  She paused.  "You are correct, Luana.  There will be
little point in debating any longer whether or not to lift the curse if
Starbuck dies during the discussion.  I will take you to them."

----------

     The meeting was still in session as Kella, Luana, Sheba and Bojay
burst through the door.  Sheba was startled to see Aurelia and Lia were
also in attendance... and so was that toad Rogane.  Regus was in full
bureautician mode regaling them with the importance of maintaining their
traditions.
     "What is the meaning of this outrage?  We left specific instructions
NOT to be disturbed."  Regus turned on the newly arrived group.  "Does
your Commander know that you have taken it upon yourself to intrude on an
Empyrean Quorum?" he addressed his question to Bojay even though he was
standing at the rear of the group.  
     Sheba put her hand on Bojay's arm before he could reply.  How dare
Regus ignore her because she was a woman.  "I'm in charge here, Sire
Regus.  Are you aware that Commander Adama summoned both necromancers to
the Galactica's Life Station several centars ago?"
     "Of course, my dear girl.  However, as our Quorum was in session it
was not convenient.  They will be along as soon as our debate has reached
a satisfactory conclusion.  Be a dear and inform the Commander.  That is
all.  You may leave now."  He took his seat.
     "First of all, I am not your dear anything.  I am Lieutenant Sheba,
a Colonial Warrior and a good friend of the man who is lying in Life
Station dying because of the ridiculous curse your necromancer put on
him.  I did not come here to be spoken to in condescension or to run your
errands.  I came here to bring the Ama's back to the Galactica and
nothing you can do or say is going to stop me.  If you feel it necessary
to call your Empyrean guards, I'll tell you now that they are on my
side."  Kella nodded in support at that.  Sheba walked to the head of the
table and slammed her hand on it.  "I hereby conclude this meeting of the
Empyrean Quorum."
     Sires Regus and Albus sat in astonishment staring at the young woman
who had dared speak to them in such a contemptible manner.  Regus
recalled she was the same warrior who had left in shame after profaning
in front of Siress Rea.  In addition to the intrusion, this was the most
disruptive Empyrean Quorum he had ever participated in.  Every time he or
Albus tried to explain the logical path was to leave things as the
prophecy had directed, one of the Imperial Empyreans would interrupt with
a passionate plea for change.  Rogane, who was usually content to sit
quietly and let his father orate, started to participate in the debate. 
Granted, he was supporting his father's position, but who did the little
upstart think he was?  Once Rogane entered the discussion, Lady Aurelia
also jumped into the fray.  She had combed through the prophecy line by
line, all one hundred and thirty-three pages of it.  The part referring
to Starbuck was but a small component of the Great Kaula's Prophecy.  It
was written on Kobol over a thousand yahrens ago and both the Sagittarian
and Earth Bound Empyreans had their copies.  It had been poured over by
scholars, noblemen, necromancers and commoners alike.  Aurelia pointed
out that while the prophecy did not suggest the curse was lifted it also
did not suggest it wasn't.  Aurelia told the Quorum that in cases like
this it was time to write their own history.  Even Siress Ama admitted
that the warrior had not really done anything to warrant a death
sentence.  Lady Aurelia supported her in this, conceding that she
initiated the kiss with Starbuck to enrage Rogane enough to cancel their
engagement.  Of course, this caused Rogane to jump out of his seat in
fury.  It was one thing to think he had lost his intended to a handsome
warrior and quite another to find she probably would have kissed a Boray
that night if it meant she didn't have to marry him.  The whole time the
Imperial Necromancer, about to be retired, kept calling for a vote.  She
told Albus and Regus to stop treating them as though they were children
sitting at the knees of their elders.  She had done quite well without
them until now and there was little they could say to change any of her
opinions.  Regus knew that with time came change, but this was too much
too soon.
     Ama's hair was as wild as ever and she still wore her comfortable
animal skins.  She started laughing as Albus, Regus and Rogane sat in
apparent shock at Sheba's speech.  She clapped her hands in delight. 
"Superb, Lieutenant, absolutely superb.  I hereby second your motion to
conclude our meeting.  Time to vote.  All in favour to eradicate this
death sentence on one of the fleet's finest warriors and the Empyrean
people's savior say 'aye'."  Both of the Ama's, Lia, and Aurelia stood up
and stated 'aye'.  "That would be four to three in favour of eradication
of the Empyrean Curse.  Let it be written."
     Albus stood up in protest.  "Ama, Imperial Necromancer, this is
highly irregular..."
     Lia cut him off, "You better get used to it Albus for it is a sign
of things to come."  She joined Sheba while dragging her godmother behind
her.  Aurelia pushed Siress Ama determinedly to the group.  They left as
quickly as they had entered.  Bojay gave the men a wry grin and closed
the door behind him.
     Regus sat shaking his head.  "Women," he muttered.

Part Forty-Six

     Starbuck opened his eyes to see a slightly distorted looking
Cassiopeia sitting on his left and an equally odd looking Apollo on his
right.  They both were gripping one of his hands and talking quietly. 
Starbuck had trouble following their conversation try as he might.  He
felt as though he was not quite in the same time or place as them. 
Almost as if he were in a dream watching them.  Either that or you're on
some serious drugs, Bucko.  He chuckled to himself, or at least he
thought he did.  If his hearing was any indication it seemed to come out
somewhere between a cough and a choke.  Suddenly, Cassie and Apollo were
looking at him and speaking to him, though it seemed to be in slow
motion.  He tried to focus on their words, but the sounds weren't in tune
with their lips.  Cassie said something to someone over his shoulder.  He
tried to see who she was talking to, but couldn't get his head to
cooperate enough to turn in that direction.  Apollo was again trying to
get his attention.  Starbuck watched his friend's lips carefully.
     "Hoooowwww aaaaaarrre yyyyyyoooooouuuuu
ffffffeeeeellllliiiiinnnnng??????" Apollo asked.
     Starbuck stared intently at his friend.  "What?" he said.  He
blinked his eyes and tried to refocus them.  Apollo still seemed to be
speaking in tongues.
     He heard the mechanical beep of a piece of medical equipment.  The
world around him came back into the proper perspective within microns. 
"That should eliminate the extra-pyramidal side affects from the
narcotics he has in his system." Cassie was explaining to Apollo.
     "How are you feeling?" Apollo repeated.  
     "I'm not sure..." Starbuck started.  The last thing he remembered
was Apollo and Boomer heading down to Empyrean to get a crawlon.  He
recalled getting increasingly uncomfortable after that, but... He looked
around to see Boomer, Commander Adama, Dr. Salik and Rhiamon all in
attendance.  He started when his eyes set upon the Empyrean healer. 
"What the frack is she doing here?"
     "Trying to save your leg," Salik replied.  "She's applied a poultice
and as unconventional as it is, it seems to be working.  At least your
wound has stopped pouring out green sludge and we don't seem to be losing
any further tissue to maceration or necrosis.  Your temperature has come
down a bit and you obviously don't need the same amount of analgesia to
manage your pain."  He defended Rhiamon who stood at the bottom of the
biobed looking at her patient in amusement.
     "Oh," Starbuck replied, slightly embarrassed at his reaction to her. 
After all, the last time she had licked him and proceeded to perform a
bloodletting ceremony on him.  "Sorry."
     "Quite all right, Starbuck.  I understand that you have mixed
feelings about me."  She moved to the head of the bed.  "I promise I
won't lick you again.  I'm really here more in consult for the care of
your crawlon bite."  She reassured him, even as he backed into the
pillows as far as he could burrow.
     "Starbuck!"  Cassie declared amused by his less than heroic
behavior.
     Starbuck watched Rhiamon cautiously, fleeting images of his
nightmares running through his mind as he tried to separate dreams from
reality.  Hades, he really didn't have good memories of her in either
place.  His stomach suddenly felt as though it was tying itself into
knots and he became aware of Apollo pulling his hand free of his crushing
grip.
     "Hey, buddy, easy now.  I may need that hand in the future," he
smiled warmly at Starbuck as he flexed his hand.
     Starbuck had forgotten he had been grasping Apollo's hand.  Cassie
was also painfully pulling her hand free and he let up on his grip. 
"Sorry..." he felt a bit discombobulated.  He seemed to be apologizing a
lot for someone who had just awakened.   
     He felt a hand squeeze his shoulder and saw Commander Adama enter
his field of vision.  Rhiamon had returned to the bottom of the bed.  
"Starbuck, Sheba is on her way with the necromancers," Adama told him. 
"They want to hold a sacred ceremony to eradicate the Empyrean Curse."  
     Starbuck noticed everyone was a bit on the 'touchy, feely' side and
was wondering why.  "Am I dying or something?" he asked the Commander,
clearly befuddled. 
     "Why do you ask?" Adama smiled at him in concern.  
     "Well, no offense Apollo, but I'm not used to waking up holding your
hand."  He looked at his friend who was still at his side.
     "And I'm all for keeping it that way, Bucko." Apollo grinned at him.
     "So am I," Cassiopeia winked at him.
     "Well, now that we all agree, what's with the death watch?" Starbuck
asked in a direct manner.  He watched his friends' eyes dart around the
room looking at one another.  "Commander?" he beseeched hesitantly.
     Adama sighed as Apollo made room for him on the chair next to the
biobed.  "Starbuck, I don't quite know how to say this.  Maybe Dr. Salik
could tell you better?"  He looked at the doctor who seemed to be
encouraging him to continue.  Adama knew Salik would join in when he felt
it was appropriate.  He sat next to Starbuck and patted his arm.  "The
poultice seems to be improving your wound, but medically you seem to be
losing ground.  Dr. Salik can't really explain it.  There isn't an
apparent medical reason for it."
     "The Empyrean Curse?" Starbuck asked.  Why else would the
necromancers be on their way?  He noticed he was starting to feel a bit
short of breath and very tired from simply talking.
     Dr. Salik nodded.  "Starbuck, I'll tell you now that this whole
Empyrean Curse scenario goes against everything I have ever believed in. 
I'm strictly a science man.  If there isn't a pathophysiological reason
for something... well, I'm a bit lost here.  Before Rhiamon showed up,
Dr. Paye was seriously considering amputating your leg before an entire
multi-system breakdown occurred.  You were becoming septic."
     Starbuck looked at Cassie, "What did he say?"  He rubbed his eyes
with his hand.  He realized he was having some difficulty comprehending
Salik's explanation.  Maybe Cassie could put it in terms his drugged mind
could comprehend.  Frack, he was tired!
     Cassie again squeezed his hand.  "Your temperature was so high that
we suspected the infection was going systemic.  It was in your blood. 
Nothing was bringing it down, Starbuck.  With a fever that high it is
possible to have a seizure or even a cardiac arrest.  Luckily, Rhiamon's
treatment has helped reduce your fever to a less dangerous level.  It is
still high though."  She nodded at Dr. Salik to continue.
     "Just when everything started to look more positive, you developed
some consolidation in your lungs.  You seem to be developing pneumonia. 
It's still in the early stages and we are treating you with antibiotics. 
If you start to feel short of breath we'll put you on nebulizers and
oxygen.  Again, it just shouldn't happen to a man of your age in peak
physical condition.  None of this should."  Salik explained to him.
     "When I first saw your wound, Starbuck," Rhiamon told him, "I
couldn't believe it had just happened the night before.  It looked more
like the wound was a secton old and untreated.  I know your physicians
had tried everything in their knowledge base to heal it.  It must be the
Curse.  I also thought that we should just go ahead and amputate your
leg.  You didn't seem to have much time left.  We decided to try the
poultice and send for the necromancers to lift the Curse.  If they can."
     "If they can?" Starbuck repeated back to her.  He could feel his
heart starting to pound like a drum in his chest.  He took a couple
gasping breaths and suddenly was struggling to get enough air into his
compromised lungs.  
     "Cassie!" That was all Salik had to say and the oxygen mask was in
place and the nebulizer started within microns.  Starbuck coughed as the
cool mist hit his airway.  "Deep breaths, Starbuck, in and out," Dr.
Salik spoke in time with Starbuck's breathing repeatedly until he saw on
the bio readout that his pulse had slowed to a more normal rate, his
oxygen saturation level was normal and his respirations were less
laboured.
     Starbuck could hear Dr. Salik telling everyone that he needed to
rest and that only two of them should remain.  He could see Rhiamon
starting to leave.  "Rhiamon, wait!" Starbuck called desperately.  She
paused and looked at Salik who nodded his permission.  The healer
returned to Starbuck's side.  "What did you mean... if they can?" he
asked through the mist of the nebulizer.
     Rhiamon hesitated.  She knew his anxiety over her words had probably
brought on this attack.  However, she also recognized that he was a man
who needed to know the truth.  "Starbuck, in Empyrean history there have
been but a handful of people who have been cursed.  I do not know of a
case where that curse was ever eradicated."
     He nodded his thanks.  He simply wanted to know what he was up
against.

Part Forty-Seven

     Siress Ama, Empyrean Necromancer, and Ama, the Imperial Empyrean
Necromancer, entered the Life Station followed by Sheba, Lia, Luana,
Aurelia and Bojay.  Adama, Boomer and Rhiamon had been waiting for them
and halted their procession to Starbuck.
     "Dr. Salik doesn't want this turning into a spectacle."  Adama
informed them.  "He wants most of us out of here.  We've moved Starbuck
into a private room so we don't... alarm any of the other patients. 
There will only be room for an additional six people, including the
necromancers."
     Ama pushed her wild hair back from her face.  "I would like to
choose who stays, if I may Adama?  I think it could influence the outcome
of the ceremony."  Adama nodded.  "Everyone who just arrived with us may
leave.  It's the inner circle of Starbuck's friends who have known him
the longest that must be present."
     Sheba nodded.  "We'll be in the waiting room."  Rhiamon joined them
as they quietly left.
     Starbuck laid in his bed with his eyes closed.  The nebulizer had
eased his breathing, but Cassiopeia had insisted he still needed to wear
the oxygen.  She had exchanged the mask for nasal prongs after he
grumbled.  Apollo was still at his side watching his friend in concern. 
Dr. Salik had instructed Starbuck to get some rest because "Sagan only
knows what those necromancers plan to do to you."  Apollo recognized that
this was probably the one time Salik had been less than comforting.  The
captain could tell that though Starbuck's eyes were closed he was not
getting any rest.  His fingers were twitching as though they were
fingering a deck of cards.  Apollo smiled as he decided that perhaps if
he could put a deck of cards in his friend's hand, he might be able to
relax.  Starbuck gave up trying to sleep and gazed up at his friend.
     "What do you think they're going to do?" he asked, clearly agitated
about the upcoming ceremony.
     "No idea.  Hey, it can't be that bad.  You didn't feel a thing when
you were cursed.  Did you?"  Apollo was suddenly curious.  He had never
thought to ask before.
     Starbuck hesitated.  He chewed his lip thoughtfully for a moment. 
"Well, my head was aching a bit, but that could have been from the abuse
I was receiving from my friends."  He grinned at Apollo as he shrugged it
off.  "Now that I think of it, my head's been aching almost constantly
for one reason or another ever since then."  
     "What are you really worried about?" Apollo asked him, trying to get
him to actually talk about it.  Starbuck was a master at using sarcasm as
a shield.
     Starbuck paused in thought considering his answer.  "Well, I guess
the weird thing is I don't really believe in necromancers and curses.  I
suppose I just thought I was having one Hades of a run of bad luck."  He
chuckled to himself as he remembered; "Your father actually spooked me
when he told me about the Empyrean Curse.  I mean if he believes it,
maybe there is something to it."   Starbuck sighed and ran his fingers
through his hair.  "It's just... what if it's true?  And worse, what if
it's true and the Ama's can't do anything about it?"
     "After all you've been through, you're still not sure you believe in
it?  Starbuck, after Count Iblis I'm willing to take a close second look
at just about anything."  Apollo told him.  "Besides, Sheba said the
Ama's were in an Empyrean Quorum to propose the eradication of the curse. 
If they didn't think it was possible, why would they bother?"
     "You're right... possibly."  He smiled at Apollo as Ama entered the
room.  Well, he was about to find out anyway.
     "Starbuck, we're here to lift the curse.  Let's get on with it. 
Siress Ama, set up the room please.  I believe we require a little more
ambience."  She moved into the small space with her usual dominating
presence.  Siress Ama came in behind her and began placing candles around
Starbuck in a circle.
     "What happened to 'I could eradicate such a decrepit spell with a
snap of my fingers'?  What's with the candles?" Starbuck asked Ama.  He
noticed that Cassie, Boomer and the Commander were lingering in the
doorway trying to stay out of the way.
     "My dear young friend, a spell of this complexity requires special
training in the esoteric tradition."  Starbuck raised his eyebrows at
her.  "Oh, all right.  I may have mislead you about the efficacy of my
finger snapping."
     "Hmm," Starbuck replied.  "Can you really do this Ama?  Stop
shoveling the mong and tell me the truth."  Siress Ama stopped what she
was doing and glared at Starbuck.
     "How dare you speak to the Imperial Necromancer so!" she admonished
him.
     "Settle down, Siress Ama." Ama put a hand on hers.  "Starbuck is
correct and I think with what we have put him through he has earned the
right to some straight talk."  She moved over to him and grasped both of
his hands.  "Starbuck, I vow to you now that I will release you from this
curse.  You will again be healthy and strong.  You will fly through the
stars, drink Empyrean Ale, smoke Empyrean fumarello's and enjoy your ten
percent commission.  Will that do?" She gave him her trademark smile,
with half of her teeth missing.
     "What are you going to do?" he asked, apparently not quite
satisfied.
     "Well, there's not much to it really.  We'll light the candles,
everyone will join hands, we'll do a little chanting, and that's it." Ama
replied nonchalantly.  She released his hands.
     "No bodily fluids?" Starbuck asked.
     "Starbuck, my dear young friend, you don't trust me!" Ama laughed in
delight at him.
     "It's experience, Ama," he replied, watching her suspiciously from
his bed.
     "Oh, very well.  We will require just a touch of... your blood." She
smiled innocently at him.
     "What is it with you people and my blood?" Starbuck demanded.
     "Oh, don't be such a baby!  Just a drop from the tips of two
fingers!" she insisted.
     "Can't you get some from Dr. Salik?  He has vials of the stuff."
Starbuck returned.
     "Aarrgghh!  Is he this difficult all of the time?" She asked his
friends.  They all nodded back at her.
     Ama shook her head at Starbuck.  "No, the blood has to be fresh and
warm for it will represent life.  Your life.  Are you sure you want the
representation of your life to come out of a cooler in the Life Station?"
she hissed at him, baring her teeth.
     "Well, maybe not," he replied, reflecting on her words.
     "Good.  Are we ready, Siress Ama?" the Imperial Necromancer asked
her.
     The Siress nodded and pulled up on a silver chain around her neck to
reveal an amulet.  It was oblong shaped with an eye cut into the center
of it.  Her fellow necromancer followed suit revealing the matching
amulet.  They stopped for a moment gazing upon each other in unspoken
communication.
     Adama gazed upon the amulets in revelation.  The amulets appeared
quite ancient and were likely handed down from one generation to the
next.  His keen eyes noted they were identical.  The necklaces had been
updated and likely reflected the owners.  Siress Ama's was a finely
linked silver chain while Ama's was a simple leather cord.  He nodded in
recognition as he realized the name 'Malocchio' was of an ancient tongue
that could be translated into 'evil eye'.  He remembered now an old
friend telling him how his grandmother had put the 'Malocchio' on the
neighbour for awakening the baby.  At the time, Adama had laughed it off
as superstitious nonsense.  He figured that the Malocchio was likely an
Empyrean Freighter from yahrens before the destruction.  He had just
assumed it was another ship that people had desperately fought for space
on when they were leaving the colonies.
     Siress Ama lit all the candles and dimmed the lights then asked the
others to join them.  "Now, if there is anyone here who does not believe,
tell me now.  It is fine to have some doubts, but if you truly are not
certain that Starbuck is cursed or that we can do anything about it, I
need to know."  She looked at each of Starbuck's friends one by one and
they all met her eyes.  Apollo, however, was looking at Starbuck rather
strangely.
     "Uh... does that include me?" Starbuck asked reluctantly, having
received a clear signal from Apollo that he should probably check on
this.
     Siress Ama turned on him in disbelief, "Do you even now doubt the
power of my curse?"
     Ama laughed, "Why do you think the boy is still alive, Siress Ama? 
You never really did quite believe it, did you Starbuck?  At first I
thought your curse was perhaps less than impressive, Ama, but it was his
love of life, his will, and his spirit that seemed to counteract it. 
Rituals and spells can certainly influence the outcome but by now he
should have been dead.  Just ask Rhiamon or Dr. Salik.  Still, he fights
on.  I love it!  'I refuse to believe and therefore I refuse to succumb'. 
It's brilliant, my dear!"  She reached over to Starbuck and embraced him
warmly.  He looked at Apollo, silently pleading for help.
     Siress Ama sighed and shook her head.  "Everyone join hands."  The
necromancers stood on either side of Starbuck and grasped his hands. 
From them the circle was formed from the right with Apollo, Boomer, Adama
and Cassiopeia.  The Ama's released Apollo and Cassiopeia's hands
respectively and each removed a small ceremonial knife.  They could all
hear Starbuck take a deep breath as they pricked the index finger of each
hand simultaneously.  A drop of blood fell onto the center of the eye of
each amulet.  Ama took Apollo's hand and placed it in Starbuck's.  Siress
Ama took Cassiopeia's hand and joined it with Starbuck's.  The
necromancers raised their amulets over their hearts and began chanting
together.
     "May the Empyrean demon who seeks to devour the soul of this man,
     Rise up and return from whence thou came,
     For we are the heart and the soul of the Empyreans
     And we command thee, Release Starbuck at once."
     As had happened on the Malocchio, the candles extinguished in the
room.  Everyone remained silent, unsure of whether to move or speak.  
     "It is done," Siress Ama stated calling for the lights.  Everyone
looked at Starbuck who sat quietly still within Apollo's and Cassiopeia's
grasp.  
     "How do you feel, Starbuck?" asked Apollo.  He squeezed his hand as
he tried to prompt his friend for an answer.
     Starbuck took a deep breath.  He shook his head.  "I don't feel any
different.  Should I?" he asked Ama.
     "Did you feel different this soon after you were cursed?" she asked
him.
     "No, not really.  So, now we just wait and see?" Starbuck asked in
disappointment.
     "What were you expecting?  Demons to be scampering around the room
fleeing from our incantations?" she teased him.
     "Well, at least it would have been a little more conclusive," he
complained.
     "Adama, our debt is settled."  Ama smiled ruefully at the Commander
as she made to leave the room.  "Take care of him for me, all of you. 
Lords knows with the trouble he gets into it will probably take all of
you to do it."  She laughed and winked at Starbuck as she left.  Siress
Ama quietly followed her.

Part Forty-Eight

     It had been an interesting secton since the Imperial Empyreans had
joined the Fleet, Commander Adama reflected as he waited for the elusive
Lieutenant Starbuck to finally make an appearance.  Adama had been trying
to track the lieutenant down on an informal basis for days.  He had
wanted to check on Starbuck's progress since his release from the Life
Station.  He had recently discovered from Dr. Salik that release was
perhaps the wrong word for Starbuck leaving his care.  Salik suggested
that ejected was closer to the mark.
     Apparently, two days after the Empyrean Necromancers had eradicated
the Empyrean Curse, Starbuck's health took an incredible turn for the
better.  His pneumonia cleared up overnight and his leg wound started
healing beautifully.  By the end of that day, his temperature was back to
normal and so was Starbuck.  Dr. Salik walked into the private cubicle to
find Starbuck engaged in a meeting with Tuija, Galena, Timon and Raizel. 
He had thought the small group was paying a social visit, until he saw
them with compu-pads in hand giving Starbuck statistics on some kind of
equipment.  Salik didn't get the complete picture, but as Starbuck
proceeded to turn the Life Station into a place of business, by the next
day it became clearer to him what the lieutenant was up to.  
     Twice more the same evening Dr. Paye had discovered his patient
engaged in business meetings.  Again he had thought that Greenbean, Jolly
and Giles were simply visiting the lieutenant, but instead they seemed to
be reporting to him on various interested parties that had signed on for
a sample of the new Empyrean product.  Starbuck seemed to be trying to
arrange a time and place for the presentation of this new product, Paye
wasn't sure what it was, and his squadron mates were doing the legwork
for him for a cut of the profit.  Paye hastily ended the meeting telling
Starbuck that Rhiamon was there to do another dressing change and he was
also due for some physiotherapy on his weakened leg.  Starbuck concluded
his business cheerfully and let Rhiamon begin the treatment.
     Paye had left the room asking Rhiamon to call him when the wound was
exposed so he could monitor the progress.  A centar later, he finally
returned to Starbuck's cubicle to find him again in conference with
Rhiamon and Ama.  They were discussing the successful transfer of 'cargo'
to the Malocchio Freighter.  Paye reminded Starbuck that whatever he was
planning on the side that the focus of his stay in the Life Station was
to get him on his feet and back out defending the Fleet.  Starbuck simply
agreed and apologized to Paye for distracting Rhiamon from her work. 
Amazingly, his leg was healing beautifully.  Paye was astonished at the
amount of healthy granulation tissue that had started to cover the cavity
that the infection had caused.  He noted Starbuck was not accepting any
analgesics at all, unless he needed to bear weight on the leg.  Paye
finally decided to move Starbuck back into the main area of the Life
Station so he could keep an eye on him and hopefully curtail his new
entrepreneurial tendencies.
     The next morning Dr. Salik arrived in the Life Station to find six
of his patients sitting around the two biobeds of the 'sickest' patients. 
All eight of them were engaged in a lively game of pyramid around four
small clinical treatment tables that had been taped together.  At the
head of the table was the infamous Lieutenant Starbuck.  Salik
immediately looked around to locate the med tech.  Giselle was occupied
in a private cubicle with a woman in active labour.  She told him that a
card game in the main room was the least of her worries with the shift
she had just pulled.  She had apparently needed to summon Dr. Paye back
to Life Station twice for complications with her patients.  She also told
Salik that she was getting tired of working short staffed and it was time
for him to look at training more techs.
     In frustration, Dr. Salik broke up the card game and told the
ringleader to get into his office STAT.  Starbuck hastily grabbed the
bio-crutches he had been practicing on and followed Salik.  Salik
completely ignored the wince on Starbuck's face as he mobilized on a leg
with a significant hole in it.  The doctor knew the crutches would adjust
themselves as Starbuck got stronger so that he would be required to bear
more of his weight, but perhaps they were set a bit too optimistically
for the man's current level of therapy.  Salik quickly read through
Paye's report of the previous evening, noting the extracurricular
activities of one lieutenant.  He slammed the door shut as Starbuck
entered the office.
     "Lieutenant Starbuck, this is a Life Station.  It is not a boardroom
from which you conduct and arrange business opportunities.  Nor is it a
gambling den for you to increase your stake."  Starbuck started to object
at that but Salik quickly cut him off.  "I don't care if there wasn't a
cubit to be seen, or if you were playing for ear swabs and dental
cleansers.  The fact remains that you seem bent on disrupting this health
facility.  Now according to your chart you're still having your bandage
changed twice a day by Rhiamon.  You will report here at 0800 and 2000
hours daily for the next secton for treatments, physiotherapy and
antibiotic infusions."  He pulled a small bottle out of a cupboard. 
"Take one or two of these for pain every eight centars as needed.  No
more than that, although your addictive traits don't seem to lean towards
prescription medications."  Starbuck raised his eyebrows and started to
open his mouth at that. "No, I don't want to hear an excuse, an
explanation or an apology.   I simply want to see your astrum heading out
the door."  He opened the door and pointed the way as if Starbuck was in
need of some directions.
     "But..." Starbuck started but a simple glare from the doctor stopped
him.  He reactivated his crutches and headed through the door after
tucking the painkillers into a pocket.  Salik could hear him cheerfully
telling his fellow patients that he had been released and wishing them
all well.
     It was later that day that Commander Adama finally had an
opportunity to pass by the Life Station to visit Starbuck, only to be
informed that he had been released.  At the time he was only pleased that
the lieutenant seemed to be doing so well.  Adama was on his way back
from a meeting with Sire Albus, Sire Regus, Ama and Siress Tinia, who had
volunteered to assist as the new official liaison with the Empyreans. 
Thus far, the Imperial Empyreans seemed to be settling in nicely with
their ancient brethren.  Adama had quickly looked over the reports of
transport from the planet to the Malocchio Freighter and had found an
unusually large amount of cargo had been brought aboard with the sixty
passengers.  Apparently, an additional sixteen Empyreans had decided to
join the fleet.  He mentioned this to Albus who ensured him that there
was sufficient space on the Malocchio for the additional people and
cargo.  "Perhaps we will not be able to hold Empyrean Balls in the
future, but it is more important that our people are again united and
strong," he told Adama.
     Days later it came to the Commander's attention that there was a
phenomenal amount of construction occurring on the Malocchio.  Colonel
Tigh suggested that the activity on the Empyrean Freighter might be
linked with the sudden disappearance of superfluous equipment from the
Science Ship and the Agro Ships.  Now, while the ships' captains had
appreciated no longer having to store the aging paraphernalia, they also
shared the same dilemma.  Though all equipment was properly requisitioned
and signed for, none of them had a record of where it went should it
become necessary to scavenge some of it back for their own requirements. 
The Colonel's only lead was the description of the man who had supervised
the loading of the equipment.  Ironically, it matched that of Lieutenant
Starbuck.
     Adama wondered what Starbuck was up to now.  No doubt it had
something to do with his ten percent commission that Ama had mentioned at
the curse lifting ceremony.  Empyrean ale and fumarellos would be his
first guess.  A beep sounded and Adama bid him, "Enter".
     Starbuck walked into the room with only a slight limp.  He was still
attending physiotherapy twice a day, but his treatments were only once a
day and his antibiotic course was completed.  His contusions and
lacerations were completely healed.  He had been spending time with
Cassiopeia every evening and had taken Sheba's advice and put his best
efforts into making her feel special.  Their relationship seemed stronger
than ever.  The Empyrean Curse seemed a distant nightmare now and the
'Starbuck Luck' had been restored.  Lieutenant Starbuck was a happy man.
     The Commander stood to meet Starbuck and grasped his arm
affectionately.  "Starbuck, good to see you looking so well.  How are you
progressing?"  Adama motioned him towards a chair facing his own across
the desk.
     "Great, Commander.  Dr. Salik cleared me for light duty today." He
paused and smiled.  "But you probably know that."
     Adama returned his smile and nodded.  "I believe Apollo mentioned
something about filing back- reports for the last couple sectars."  He
chuckled at Starbuck's pained expression.  Then he noticed the compu-pad
in Starbuck's hand.  "What's that for?"
     Starbuck handed it to him.  "Well, I figured you'd want to know what
I've been up to on the Malocchio.  This covers it."
     Adama considered him for a moment and then picked it up.  He knew he
shouldn't be surprised at Starbuck's perceptiveness.  "All right.  Give
me the highlights, Starbuck.  What is the agro and science equipment
for?"
     Starbuck nodded.  He was all business now.  "Ama wants to start two
companies for the Empyreans to run, Empyrean Ale and Empyrean
Tobacconists.  When I was on the planet Empyrean, Tuija was telling us
about an ancient technique of growing plants without soil by simply
adding nutrients to water.  The advantages include the fact that the
plants can be grown closer together, thereby increasing yields, and
multiple crops can be grown in the same tank.  It also eliminates weed
and pest problems.  The disadvantages being that the equipment can be
expensive to maintain and they didn't have the personnel or space to
spare."
     "Enter the Empyreans." 
     "Exactly," Starbuck replied.  "The Malocchio is immense.  The
Empyreans are so sectarian that very few other people want to live there. 
Most outsiders found other space on a ship that was more welcoming.  They
have a lot of area they want to designate for the use of growing tobacco,
malt and hops.  They still have plenty of capacity for the processing and
curing.  The botanists want to get involved with the intent of expanding
the idea to botanicals and even food."
     "Sounds promising.  And the Science Ship?"
     "That was pure scavenging, I'm afraid.  We needed the artificial
light and heat.  It's all from equipment that wasn't being used though. 
You know we don't scrap anything in the fleet; we never know where or
when we'll find a use for it.  Boomer knew some of the science techs that
were willing to help us out.  Actually, Boomer has spent a fair amount of
time over there tinkering with electronics and he had a pretty good idea
about what was lying around in storage."
     "Now, the cargo brought aboard by the Empyreans, what was it?" Adama
asked.
     "A lot of seed, seedlings, tobacco already in the curing process. 
They even disassembled their curing house.  It's built from cedar, which
is a very fragrant wood fiber.  Ama insisted that it was essential to the
process.  Then there are the finished products for both ale and
fumarellos that were being stored already.  Finally, just personal
belongings.  Luckily, as far as that goes they pack light."
     Adama held up the compu-pad.  "This is your full report?"
     "Yes, sir." Starbuck replied.
     Adama sat back in his chair and contemplated the lieutenant.  "And
your ten percent commission?"
     Starbuck snorted.  "Well, let's just say after I split up my ten
percent amongst all the warriors, botanists, science techs, and purveyors
that are helping me get the business up and running, there wasn't a whole
lot left over."
     Adama laughed.  Well, one thing was for certain.  Starbuck was back
in true form... and so was his luck.

The End