Comments can be sent to the author at rriley@wavetech.net **Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. It is not intended to in any way infringe on the copyrights held by Universal Studios regarding the television series Battlestar Galactica. This piece is not to be used for profit in any way, but intended for fan enjoyment. Please respect the author's wishes in this matter. Battlestar Galactica Kobol Remembered. . . . by Rae Part 1 Apollo had a very uneasy feeling at that micron. It felt like it was beginning to overtake him, to overpower him. A very sick gnawing feeling that was growing in the pit of his stomach threatened to take over every fiber of his being. He was reliving the nightmare all over again. A three yahren old nightmare that he thought he had put behind him. Apollo felt the hot desert breeze swirl around him, driving the stinging particles of sand against his face. The sun, its bright yellow rays that were gradually becoming crimson, slowly started its descent over the horizon, taking with it the dry intense heat of the day. Apollo looked at the scene around him, feeling the slowly mounting wave of terror that was starting to take control of his mind. As he looked at the scene in front of him, he fought the urge to run, taking his father and Sheba away from here. He felt like he was reliving a nightmare, only this time it was Sheba who was here beside him instead of Serina_his wife. The time weathered sand colored stone columns rose upward to the sky as Apollo slowly walked towards them. Columns that stood supporting nothing now but their own weight. At one time though they must have supported a massive structure. As he stepped foot on the stone flooring that was laid in the sand, he felt his heart racing. Standing in front of the ruins of the ancient building directly ahead of him stood his father, Starbuck, Athena and Sheba. The nightmare was becoming clearer and clearer. But this wasn't Kobol. This was another planet totally. Kobol happened over 4 yahrens ago. Kobol was many light yahrens away in a totally different solar system. Apollo looked over at the great stone pyramids made of an aging crumbling yellowish stone that were scattered over the landscape, no pattern for their location. They just seemed like they were built where ever the people wanted them to be. No pattern, no reason. Just like Kobol. "Apollo, are you all right?" a voice said to him softly. Apollo turned to face Sheba, his worried green eyes searching her concerned features. He felt fear - fear that it was happening all over again. Only this time, if it happened, he would not be able to survive. If Sheba died, there would be nothing that would be able to pull him back from the abyss that he instinctively knew he would fall into. He had barely survived the death of Serina. Now beside him stood a woman that he loved with his very being. A woman who had stood beside him, fought beside him and had lain beside him for over 3 yahrens. Apollo only had Serina in his life for a very, very short time. Now he desperately wanted Sheba out of here. "Please go back to the Galactica," Apollo asked Sheba, as she met his gaze, his hands griping her arms. Sheba saw the concern in his eyes, she saw the love for her, but she also saw something else. Something that she had not seen very often in Apollo's eyes. She saw fear. She had seen Adama's looked of amazement when she had describe the planet that she and Bojay had discovered. She had seen the shocked faces of Adama, Starbuck and Athena when they had stepped off the shuttle and looked at the planet before them. And now Apollo had the look of a man desperately wanting to run from the situation in front of them. Sheba looked over at Starbuck, Adama and Athena, all of whom had their backs towards them, looking at the columns and the crumbling building before them. Sheba reached out and lightly touched Apollo's arm. "What is wrong? Why are you acting this way?" Apollo looked at her, trying to control his rampaging emotions. This was not Kobol. He had to keep telling himself that. But, as he looked around, it was identical to the mother planet that they left behind. A place of destruction and death. The cylons had attacked them there. Serina had been shot to death there. Even though she died on the Galactica, she essentially died on Kobol. Before his eyes. She took a laser blast because he had felt a slight level of comfort that the cylons had not landed on Kobol. He had turned his back and was not on alert for any danger that was lurking out there. And she died for his misjudgment. Apollo looked back at the dark brown eyes of Sheba. He had promised her yahrens ago that he would not let Serina come between them. That he would not be obsessed by her death anymore. That he had a reason to live. But now he feared that history was going to repeat itself. That he was going to lose his reason to live. "Please Sheba, go back to the Galactica." Apollo's voice carried an underlying tone of urgency to it. Sheba shook her head, mystified by Apollo's attitude. In reality, she was mystified by everyone's attitudes since they arrived on this strange and fascinating planet. A planet that held such wonder for her. "I just don't understand what is wrong with all of you." Sheba turned and walked back to the group. Starbuck watched as Apollo slowly followed. Apollo stopped beside his friend and looked around him. "It's like reliving a nightmare that you wanted to forget the first time," Apollo said quietly. "It is eerie, isn't it?" asked Starbuck quietly, his manner subdued. "I half expect Baltar to step out from behind one of these columns and greet us." Starbuck looked over to where Sheba was looking at the red stone statues that were carved out on each side of the doorway. "She wouldn't leave would she?" Starbuck looked sympathetically at Apollo, who just shook his head. "You should have told her. She maybe just needs to know why. She wasn't here when it happened. She can't possibly know." "When we started our relationship, Sheba and I discussed Serina and my time with her in detail. I promised Sheba that I would never bring Serina or what happened to her between us again." Apollo ran his hand through his dark hair and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture that Starbuck hadn't seen since their academy days. "I wish to heaven I had never made that promise. I want her to go back to the Galactica. I want her as far away from this place as I can get her." Apollo sighed. "I just want her safe." "Maybe, just maybe we are over reacting, Apollo. Maybe this place is totally harmless. Maybe this place is just a coincidence. We think what we see is the same as someplace we've been before." Starbuck looked pointedly at Apollo as he said quietly. "We left Kobol behind yahrens ago." "I want to believe that too. God only knows how much I fervently want to believe that. But my gut is telling me otherwise." Apollo said, the trepidation he felt coming out in his voice. "Well, we have to go on. We have no other choice at this moment," Adama said quietly beside Apollo. He had never even heard his father's approach, but Apollo wasn't surprised by it. He had noticed his father's concerned glances at him from time to time. His father was a man of many surprises and one of them was how well he had come to know his son. No, Adama knew Apollo's feelings at that micron. "We can go back to the Galactica. We can leave this planet," Apollo said quietly, as he looked imploringly at his father. Adama shook his head. "How far do you think we would get? We need fuel. And this planet has it. And we ideally want to have enough fuel to fill all ships to capacity. No, Apollo. We have no choice but to remain here another day." Apollo kept silent as he turned and walked ahead. Adama and Starbuck exchanged concerned looks, then followed. Apollo stood a short distance behind Sheba as she looked at the giant carved statue, her expression in awe. "Apollo, isn't it magnificent? Have you ever seen anything like it?" Sheba turned to face him, her eyes sparkling with excitement. Apollo just remained silent, not wanting to infringe on her excitement and wonder at what was before her. Not wanting that light that shone in her dark eyes to disappear. "I wonder how old these structures are?" "Probably several millennia old," Apollo said quietly, trying to hide his feelings from her, but he was losing that battle. He had never been very good at hiding his emotions from those who loved him and knew him. Usually what he felt was written clearly on his face for them all to see. A lot of times, Sheba was more in tune to his emotions than even he was. Today was no exception to that rule. "Apollo, what's wrong?" Sheba came up to him and rested her hand on his arm, her dark eyes looking deeply into his clear green ones. Apollo was fighting a losing battle with himself. He wanted her out of here as he broke eye contact with her and looked around the familiar site. He had definitely been here before. It was just so familiar, so vivid in his memory - this place. Not a place Apollo was likely to forget. It was so identical to a dead planet they passed what seemed like a lifetime ago. A lifetime that Apollo did not want to relive again. "Nothing." He shook his head as he looked in the eyes. He could tell that she didn't believe him, but she wasn't going to press the issue at that micron. Sheba slowly nodded and then turned her attention to the columns and their carvings. The story that seemed to be there. As she very slowly moved back towards the carving, she opened her mouth to say something more to Apollo about the scene before her. Suddenly, behind him, Apollo heard a sound. A strange sound. A sound_ "Apollo!" Starbuck shouted frantically. Apollo heard that warning tone in Starbuck's cry that he had heard countless times before and working on instinct alone turned quickly, drawing his weapon at the same time. He saw out of the corner of his eye that Sheba already had her weapon drawn and her face had a look of terror on it as he saw her start move towards him in what alsmost seemed like slow motion. "Apollo!" Sheba cried, running. Apollo turned quickly and saw several beings that had came up behind them, strange looking weapons in their hands. He tried to get his laser up to fire at the threat that was before him, but they were faster. Apollo felt Sheba's attempts to push him out of the line of fire and felt the blast hit them at the same time. The searing pain Apollo felt through his chest as the blast showered them in sparks. Apollo grabbed Sheba's falling injured form to him as they both fell to the ground together. He could tell that she had been seriously injured. He felt the warmth of her blood cover his hand and arm as they laid still on the ground. Apollo faintly heard the shouts of his father and Starbuck, the screams of Athena as he heard lasers being fired at those beings. He felt Sheba's still form beside him, fear gripping him. A fear that he knew well and had hoped to never feel again in his lifetime. But it was here again as Sheba's still form laid against him. She wasn't just hurt_she was dead. He knew that. He felt that in his heart as the pain tore at him. Sheba was dead. And he was dying, his life ebbing out of him on almost the same sands that Serina had died upon. And now Sheba also laid dead on those sands, just like Serina. Apollo didn't have the spirit to want to live anymore. The grief and pain that he felt overwhelmed him. He watched everything before him melt together like hot candle wax as he heard his father's voice calling him. He heard Athena's screams, crying out his name and Sheba's. Starbuck's desperate, fearful voice telling him to hang on. But Apollo felt the cold hand of Death take over his body_. It was over_. Apollo woke with a start, bolting upright, his body covered in sweat, his heart racing madly in his chest. He looked quickly beside him to see Sheba's sleeping form laying there, resting quietly. Apollo quickly looked around the room, reassuring himself that they were both in the safety of his own quarters, then he carefully leaned down not wanting to wake her, lightly touching Sheba's hair, making sure that she was alive and breathing. Reassured, he closed his eyes and let out a sigh of relief. It was a dream, he thought to himself. It was just a dream. More like a nightmare Apollo thought as he gathered Sheba to him, lying back down on the bed. He drew the blankets around them both like a protective cocoon, as Sheba nestled her head on his shoulder and draped her arm over his chest. Apollo tried to get his rapidly beating heart and his fear under control. He had been there again. He had relived the same nightmare again. One that he had been having over and over again for the past secton. Only this time, both of them died. Both he and Sheba died. In the other dreams, she had died, leaving him alone. He had caught her lifeless body and held it close to him as she died there on the hot shifting sand. But this time, it was different. But where were they? Where was this planet that they were on that was just like Kobol? Was this a premonition? Or was it just a nightmare? Last night he had cried out from the same dream, waking Sheba, who had held him tightly to her comforting him as tears had ran down Apollo's cheeks. He had held on to her tightly, thankful that she was there and alive beside him. He hadn't wanted to let her go, but he had eventually. Sheba had been so concerned and worried for him. Not understanding why he would not tell her about the nightmare that plagued him. But how do you explain to someone that the nightmare is about her death? And now with this latest nightmare, both of their deaths. It was so vivid, so detailed. Never had his dreams been so detailed, so real. He felt the heat from the sun. He felt the shifting sands against his skin. He had felt the warmth of Sheba's blood as it covered his hand and arm. Apollo didn't bother to wipe away the tear that escaped from the corner of his eye. "Apollo_" Sheba whispered in her sleep as she draped her leg over Apollo's. Apollo slowly stroked her hair as he quietly laid there, any hope of sleep gone from his mind. As he gently kissed the top of her head, he silently thanked the lords that he had her beside him. Alive and well. And he would fight heaven and hades to keep her that way. ************* Adama thoughtfully looked over the golden sands of the planet that they had come across a couple of days ago. The fleet was desperately in need of fuel and this planet was very rich in tylinium and at a purity level that had not been seen in a very long time. It would not take much to process it and refine it for use by the fleet. They had not had a find like this since Carillon and the fleet was in too dire of straits to not take advantage of the situation presented to them. Adama had marveled how much this planet resembled the mother planet of Kobol. But they had left that planet far behind over 4 yahrens ago, even though the painful memories of what happened there remained with them. Adama felt the heat of the sun on his face and the warmth of the breeze that blew around and over him, filling his senses with memories of that desert world they left behind long gone but had never forgotten. Too much had happened there. Too much to be forgotten in such a short span of time. Reluctantly, Adama could see it all as if it happened yesterday. The star mysteriously appearing at Apollo and Serina's sealing ceremony that guided them to the mother planet Kobol, the walk through the ruins of the great city of Eden, finding and entering the tomb of the Ninth Lord of Kobol. But then the tide turned quickly on them. Baltar's sudden appearance and his talk of defeating the cylons by trickery. Then the final blows came. The destruction of the tomb, the destruction of the tablet that told of the exodus of the 13th tribe. Then the most painful blow of all - Serina, his daughter-in-law of just a few short days laid dying, shot in the back by the cylons. Adama could still see the raw pain and fear etched in Apollo's face as he looked up at his father, at Starbuck, at Dietra as he tried to comfort Serina. Desperation the like that the battle weary commander had never seen before in his son's face. And Adama prayed fervently the like he would never see again. Adama had noticed Starbuck and Athena's reactions when they stepped off the shuttle to the planet surface. He would have had to have been blind not too see it, but as he himself looked around the desert world, Adama had felt the same reaction himself. Starbuck's only comment had been, 'No wonder Apollo high-tailed it out of here.' Adama had no choice but to agree with Starbuck's assessment. He had seen his son's reaction after Apollo's return from the surface, no matter how hard he had tried to hide it. The pain even after all this time. But Apollo had always been the most sensitive of his three children. He had always felt things more deeply than Athena or Zac ever had. Adama had watched with guarded concern as Apollo assigned Sheba to anything, no matter how mundane or trivial aboard the battlestar, anything to keep her away from that planet. And she had done what he ordered, but with questioning looks and some frustration apparent. Adama had seen the tension that laid just below the surface in both Sheba and Apollo, and was about to interfere when Colonel Tigh unknowingly did. He assigned Sheba to accompany the refueling teams to the surface, which Sheba gladly accepted. Adama carefully scrutinized his son's slowly approaching form. Now that Sheba was here, so was Apollo and he was not looking happy about it. In fact, thought Adama, he looked pale and tense. On edge. Adama stood back and watched as Apollo quietly talked with Sheba , then after she left his side, watched as Starbuck with faked casualness walked over to talk to Apollo. Adama decided he needed to intercede with Apollo about the situation that was developing and his feelings about this world that they stumbled across. The white-haired commander wandered over and stopped, silently listening to what Apollo and Starbuck were saying to each other. "_again." Adama took notice of Apollo as he ran his hand through his dark hair and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture that Adama hadn't seen his son do since he was a teenager. "I wish to heaven I had never made that promise. I want her to go back to the Galactica. I want her as far away from this place as I can get her." Apollo sighed. "I just want her safe " "Maybe, just maybe we are over reacting, Apollo. Maybe this place is totally harmless. Maybe this place is just a coincidence. We think what we see is the same as someplace we've been before." Starbuck looked pointedly at Apollo as he said quietly. "We left Kobol behind yahrens ago." "I want to believe that too. God only knows how much I fervently want to believe that. But my gut is telling me otherwise," Apollo said quietly. Adama knew how his son was feeling at that micron from the tone of his voice. The Commander also knew that he needed to interject some reason into this conversation, before the fear that Apollo was feeling threatened to overwhelm him. "Well, we have stay here. We have no other choice at this moment," Adama said quietly beside Apollo. His oldest son looked at him, slightly surprised. He had not heard his father's approach. "We can go back to the Galactica. We can leave this planet," Apollo interjected quietly, as he looked imploringly at his father. Adama shook his head, wishing he could do as his son asked. "And just how far do you think we would get? The fleet needs fuel desperately, and this planet has an overtly abundant supply of it. And we ideally want to have enough fuel to fill all ships to capacity since we don't know when we'll find a resource like this again. No, Apollo. We have no choice but to remain here another day." Apollo kept silent as he stared at his father a micron, then turned and slowly walked ahead. Adama exchanged a concerned look with Starbuck, who shrugged his shoulder, then Adama followed. Athena came to stand by her father as Adama stopped and looked at the crumbling giant statue on the left side of the doorway. "This place gives me the creeps." Adama smiled a bemused smile at his only daughter's comment. "Not exactly a concise military assessment, but it seems pretty accurate at the moment." Athena lowered her voice even more as she said to her father, "Apollo looks like he would prefer to be on a cylon baseship than here at this micron." Adama nodded. "I agree with that." He sighed as he looked at his daughter and back to the statue. "It's this planet. It's just so much like Kobol." "Too much," Athena agreed as she looked around their surroundings. "There is not enough cubits in the universe to make me relive that time again." Adama looked at his daughter, wordlessly nodding his agreement. Then suddenly Adama heard it - a sound_ a strange sound_ "Father_" Athena whispered in awe as she slowly reached for the laser at her side. Adama turned just as he heard Starbuck's desperate shout of Apollo's name. Without any conscious thought Adama swiftly reached for the laser at his side, drawing the weapon at the same time he saw Apollo spin quickly around, drawing his own weapon at the same time. Adama gave a fleeting thought that everything happening before him seemed like he was watching a badly made vid. But he knew this was not a vid. Adama could feel his heart pounding harder, faster as he felt the terror of a father grip his soul to it's deepest foundations. He couldn't get his voice to function to cry his firstborn's name, nor could he get his legs to move so that he could snatch Apollo from harms way. No. He could only watch with horror at what he knew was going to happen next. Knowledge gained from too many battles fought, too many lives lost. Experience was a cruel, heartless teacher, especially to a man who loved his children as much as he did. It was happening A father's deepest darkest fear was coming into sharp, painfully clear focus and Adama's mind screamed in a voice that no one could hear. Not even his son. Sheba's screaming of Apollo's name as she ran towards him to shove him out of harm's way seemed to be the final tolling of the bell for Adama. He knew she was too late but he couldn't stop what was going to happen next. Adama felt a chilling feeling wash over him that it was happening all over again. He was reliving the time when the cylons mortally wounded Serina, but in a flash the scene shifted to here and now. The place was the same, but the faces were slightly older, one face was new. Now the scene in front of him was happening in very slow motion, every detail enhanced and embedded on Adama's mind. He saw the aliens fire at Apollo as Sheba reached for him and tried to push him out of the way, but not in time. The blast hit both of them and Adama watched in horror as sparks flew from the bodies of both warriors as they fell to the ground together. Athena screamed out Apollo and Sheba's names as she fired angrily at the indistinguishable creatures before her. Adama quickly fired in rapid succession at the creatures along with Starbuck, feeling anger, hatred and a deep seeded pain. Suddenly the creatures vanished as suddenly as they appeared, the blast of the colonials weapons passing harmlessly through them. Adama stood for a micron in shock as he lowered his laser, then looked over at the still forms of Apollo and Sheba on the sand covered ground. He felt like he was watching a program on the IFB as Starbuck reach them first and knelt down beside them, touching them gently in mute shock, then grabbing his communicator yelling for a medical team. Adama couldn't find the strength to walk over and check on his fallen son, so he continued to stand there, his eyes wide as his mind grappled with the scene before him. He watched there as Starbuck begged Apollo to hang on, then effortlessly Apollo's eyes closed with seeming finality. Sheba never moved, never made a sound as she laid there, her head resting against Apollo's chest. Adama slowly walked over and knelt beside Apollo and Sheba, as Athena kneeling beside Starbuck, cried and desperately begged them both to hang on. He watched shock numbing him further as Athena stroked her brother's hair, begging him not to leave her. Starbuck touched Sheba's neck, searching for a pulse. Adama knew instantly from his expression that he didn't find one. Then Starbuck did the same thing to Apollo, moving his fingers several times, "No. Apollo. Sheba." Starbuck cried softly. Athena rose her head, looking at Starbuck, hate and anger filled her eyes. "They are not dead! They are not dead!" "Athena_" said Adama softly. Athena turned on him. "No!" she shouted angrily. "No! Apollo wouldn't leave me! No! He'll be all right. He's_.he's just hurt. They both are. We'll take them back to the Galactica and they'll get better." "Athena, they're _gone_." Starbuck's voice broke, as tears of grief ran unheeded down the lieutenant's cheeks. "NO!" Athena shouted angrily, wanting to deny the truth. She put her face close to her brother's. "No_Apollo_" Adama suddenly woke with a start, sitting upright in his bed. He looked around at the familiar surroundings of his quarters, then felt the wetness on his face. His head throbbed painfully, his heart felt like it was shattered. They died on that planet. Apollo and Sheba both. No_No_ Adama brought a hand up to his head as he covered his eyes and brushed away the tears. Adama looked at his surroundings again, fighting to get his bearings. No. It never happened. It was all a dream. Rather a nightmare. An intense, very vivid nightmare. What was happening? Why would he have a nightmare like that? A nightmare that was so heartbreaking for Adama. His son and the woman that Adama had hoped would someday become his daughter-in-law. Adama had always treated her as if she was more like his own daughter ever since she came on board, first as a favor to an old friend, then in truth because he came to love and admire the headstrong young woman. Adama shook his head, trying to clear the troubling images from his mind. Apollo and Sheba loved each other so much and had been together since her arrival on the Galactica. First as antagonists, then as close friends, then their relationship took a deeper direction. Now they were together for eternity in his nightmare. The ringing of the intercom interrupted the commander's rampaging thoughts. "Yes." "Commander, you're needed on the bridge," Tigh said quietly. "I'm on my way," Adama replied with a slight hesitation as he worked quickly to pull himself together before he had to make an appearance on the bridge. ********** Twelve centars later, Sheba and Bojay stood quietly side-by-side, waiting for their turn to speak to their commander and Sheba could barely contain her excitement. A planet was ahead that had the fuel that they needed to continue on. Just when they thought that maybe their luck had finally run out, the scanners had picked up this system. Three planets and one sun. The one closest to the sun was the only one that had any readings of tylium on it. And it was such a huge deposit of tylium that Sheba couldn't believe her eyes when she read the scanner read out. It was the best news she had heard in some time. Sheba and Bojay then made a pass through the planet's atmosphere, which scanners had told them initially was compatible for human life support. Sheba had been in awe of the buildings that she had seen as they made their pass of the planet's surface. No life forms appeared on the scanners and many of the buildings were in ruins. But to Sheba's amazement the structures that were littered along the planet's surface were ones that she had seen in history books in school and the ancient records that Adama had in his vast library. Even though the structures were nothing more than ruins, they fascinated Sheba from the air and she could barely contain her excitement to go down there and see those structures firsthand. But first she had to give her report to her commander, then she would volunteer to accompany the scientific and fueling teams to the surface. Sheba stole a quick glance over at Apollo, Athena and Starbuck standing quietly behind Adama. None of them looked expectant or excited at the news of the discovery. In fact, Apollo looked as though something about this discovery _bothered_ him. Sheba, puzzled, turned her attention back to her commander, who also seemed a little distracted today as he intently looked over the star chart in front of him. Tigh had been at his side, whispering to him softly, then at one point seemed to be speaking tersely to his commander. Adama had looked over at Sheba with an expression that she could not read, but for some reason it disturbed her somewhat. Adama then turned his attention back to his executive officer, who turned angrily and left to do the commander's bidding. Adama continued to look at the star chart in front of him a little longer, as if he had found something fascinating on there. Sheba stole another glance over at Apollo, who's face showed some signs of strain on it. She wasn't sure as to exactly why, except she knew he had not been sleeping well for the past couple of sleep periods. He had awakened several nights ago from a sound sleep, shaking and tears running down his cheeks. Sheba couldn't get a word out of him as to what the nightmare had been about, but she knew it must have been very disturbing for Apollo to have awakened in such a state. He had held her so tightly to him that she wondered if she would ever be able to breathe again. But he had calmed down eventually, but still didn't tell her what the dream was about. "Bojay, what did you find?" Adama asked as he turned his attention to the blond captain. "The section of the planet that I scanned was pretty much a desert. Temperatures seemed to be around 105 degrees, no water that I could see, but scans show that there is a rather large aquatic area under the surface close to the ruins that Sheba investigated . We can tap it and check for water quality when we get teams down to the surface. Reading on the atmosphere were comfortable for humans. No radiation or other contaminants that we could ascertain from our pass. Although Sheba's sector had some pretty interesting ruins in it." Adama turned his attention to Sheba. "Ruins?" Sheba could barely contain her excitement, but worked on it as she started to give her report. "Yes Commander. With structures the likes I have only seen in history books and in your collection of ancient texts. Pyramids and tall columns that reached up high into the sky. Once upon a time, they must have supported a large structures, but now it was just the tall pillars and stone beams running the length of them with nothing to support. It looks to be the remains of an ancient city." Sheba stopped for a micron, staring at Adama strangely. She could have sworn that Adama had gone very pale and a haunted look came to his eyes, which he quickly disguised. He turned away from Sheba and Bojay and looked back at the star chart. "Anything else?" Adama asked with a strange cache in his voice. "Ah, it looked as though the structures had been there for a very long time. There was evidence of erosion on the pyramids and on the other structures. No sign of life anywhere, and from what I could see there had not been anyone there in a very long time. But large deposits of tylinium were evident around the area. A deposit large enough that it would sustain a fleet our size for a long time." Sheba chanced another glance over at Apollo and at the expression on his face. His face wore an almost _haunted_ look about him, which she watched him quickly hide behind a stoic facade before he thought anyone noticed. But Sheba wasn't fooled for a micron as she turned her attention back to Adama. What in frack was happening here? "Well, our next course of action seems very clear." Adama said as Tight returned to his commander's side. "This planet has the fuel that we need and we can't ignore that need or this planet." Adama turned to his executive officer. "Tigh, coordinate the scientific liaisons to research this planet in detail. Before we send our fueling teams in, I want to make sure that this planet is absolutely safe. I'd like the reports from these teams on my desk by tomorrow afternoon." Sheba looked at her commander, her puzzlement clearly in her expression. She knew that Adama was cautious, but this seemed a bit excessive. In the past, Adama had sent in the fueling teams and the scientific teams at the same time, since they were usually just one step ahead of the cylons. But Sheba knew better than to argue, especially the way that Adama had been acting for the past centar. "Dismissed." Apollo quickly made his way over to Sheba under the watchful eye of his sister. Athena was concerned by the reaction she had seen from her brother regarding the report Sheba and Bojay had given. And there was _something_ bothering him that Athena could not put her finger on. Apollo walked over to Sheba, his apprehension seemed to be getting the best of him. "Apollo_" Sheba started but Apollo stopped her with a glance. "Meet me in my quarters in a centar." Sheba looked at him with questioning eyes. Apollo didn't have time to go into detail, but he had to talk to her before he and Starbuck launched for the planet with the scientific teams. "Please Sheba." Sheba looked at him and nodded her agreement, not understanding his actions at all, then watched as Apollo quickly walked away. She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Athena come up behind her. "Something's bothering him." Athena said quietly. Sheba turned and looked at her friend, nodding her agreement. "But what?" Sheba shook her head, unsure of what to say to Apollo's sister. "I wish I knew, Athena. I really wish I knew." "He's been acting this way for a while. Is there anything_.wrong between the two of you?" Athena chose her words carefully "Not that I know of. Everything's been just wonderful for a while now. Ever since we got back together, nothing's been wrong. No arguments, no disagreements." Sheba smiled. "We haven't even had a good debate in a while." "No problems with Boxey?" Athena asked, curious since her nephew had been a large part of the reason for their breakup almost 5 sectars ago. Sheba shook her head again. "No, nothing. Boxey and I have been talking and working a lot of things out between us. Not even involving Apollo in any of our talks." Sheba looked at Athena. "He's been acting like this for only a short while. I know he hasn't been sleeping well lately. He had some nightmare that woke him up a couple of nights ago. But he wouldn't tell me about it." Athena looked at her brother's girlfriend thoughtfully. Athena fleetingly wondered what was the nightmare about that Apollo had and if that was what was wrong with him now. Athena was concerned. She had seen some apprehension on their father's part in the past couple of days, and now Apollo was acting differently. Athena wondered in the back of her mind if her father and brother were having words about something, a disagreement of some sort, but then pushed that thought out of her mind. Apollo would have told her if that was happening, but he hadn't said a word. But it wasn't like him to keep something that was bothering him totally to himself. He either told someone. Herself, Sheba, Starbuck, Boomer_.. Bojay came over to Sheba and said to her quietly, "Sheba, we have to file our report regarding that patrol and I'd like to get it done so we can hopefully be selected to accompany any one of the teams to the planet. So can we get moving?" Sheba looked at her friend and nodded. "Sure, Bojay" Sheba turned back to Athena. "Look Athena, I really have to go. I wouldn't really get too worried about what's bothering Apollo. Sooner or later he will talk to one of us about it if it is important. He's put in long centars with the fuel crisis and he's probably just tired." Then Sheba added, "And who knows? Maybe the nightmare he had that night was just that, a nightmare and not even connected to what's bothering Apollo." Sheba tried to look reassuringly at Athena, but she felt like she failed miserably. Athena watched Sheba and Bojay leave the bridge, then looked thoughtfully for a micron. Maybe Sheba was right. Maybe Apollo was just under a lot of pressure because of the fuel shortage. Maybe she should just step back and not get too worried about her older brother. Apollo was always very self sufficient, even when they were children. He sometimes took things a little too seriously, but that came from being the oldest son in a military family. In having a father that was absent a great deal of the time and 2 younger siblings to help with at home, along with other responsibilities. Maybe he was just concerned about something that he would have to work it out himself. And maybe she was just worrying about him out of habit. Apollo always did call her the 'mother feline' because of how she always fussed over her brothers. Athena walked over to her station trying to get rid of her concern for her brother. But it wouldn't go away. ************ Cassie moved around the medical station, gathering supplies for her sojourn on the surface of the planet below. She had been excited to volunteer to be the medical technician in charge of the life station that would be based on the surface. She pulled out the list of supplies again and checked it over carefully, making sure that she had all that she needed for the several days that they would be down there. Cassie sighed as she signed off on the supply roster, then closed the storage unit, marking it so that the team knew it was ready to load for transport. She walked over to the next container, starting to do the next checklist, but she found that her mind suddenly was not on the job at hand. And she couldn't help it. The dream that she had last night was still bothering her and she didn't know why. It would help if she could even remember it, but she couldn't. All Cassie could remember was the cold feeling that she had. The feeling of being trapped someplace where there was no light and no dark, no warmth and no coldness. That there was actually nothing there. She couldn't touch anything and she couldn't feel anything. It was like she was in some type of void that held her bound to it or within it. She didn't even now how she got there in the first place. But she had some strange feeling that it had to do with the planet that they had discovered. Cassie knew that Starbuck was concerned about her. She had awoken from a dead slumber, crying and screaming in fear. Starbuck had awakened and calmly tried to get through to her as she cried, sitting there in her bed, holding the covers against her chest. She had looked around her quarters several times trying to reassure herself that was where she actually was. Then she had made Starbuck turn on the lights as bright as they would go. Starbuck had done as she asked, but was concerned as he watched Cassie carefully. Cassie felt relieved when the lights came on and she could see the colors and shapes in her quarters. Starbuck had patiently tried to draw out of her what was wrong, but she couldn't tell him. How could she explain to him a dream that she didn't understand herself? Starbuck did not accept her explanation, but remained quiet and didn't push. He had held her as they laid there, quietly reassuring her that everything was all right. And Cassie silently fought that internal struggle with herself that she always did when it came to leaning on someone else. That was something that she had never had the option of doing in her life. Not her parents, not her clients, not her teachers, not her friends. She had always been straight-forward and independent. Depending on no one but herself. The only person that she had ever leaned on was Cain. But that had been relatively easy to do. Cain was a commander and was use to being in charge. Someone for others to lean on and look up to. Cassie had found herself at times leaning on Starbuck. She loved him with all of her heart. But there were times when she was unsure of where he stood in her life. Especially where he stood regarding their future. So she still kept things to herself. She didn't doubt that he loved her, what she doubted was that he wouldn't run at the mention of the word 'commitment.' Cassie had commented to Sheba several sectons ago that there were times when she wished that Starbuck was more like Apollo. Sheba had laughed at that comment and when Cass had inquired as to why her friend found that so funny, Sheba had looked at Cassie, the mirth still in her eyes. Then Sheba had said quietly that Starbuck and Apollo were more alike than anyone she ever knew. Commitment was not exactly a word in Apollo's vocabulary and Sheba sometimes wondered if it would ever be again. That comment had surprised Cassie. She had been there when Apollo married Serina. She had been there when Serina died and had watched a man that she had come to care a great deal about lose himself in his grief. But after a while, Cassie thought that Apollo had improved. And then when Sheba came aboard, she sat and watched the sparks ignite off the two of them. Cassie knew that their relationship had a rocky start, and that the breakup that they had almost 5 sectars ago had been trying on the both of them. It had not been something either had wanted but they had done so for Boxey's sake. The animosity that the boy had towards Sheba at that time had been difficult to handle. But Apollo had handled everything, no matter how painful it was for himself. Cassie had never seen him shirk from commitment. But she had seen Starbuck shirk it, more times than she cared to count in the past 4 yahrens. But he also had other quantities that endeared him to her. That made her never fully give up on him, even when faced with other choices. His loyalty, his caring nature, his determination, his gentleness. All good qualities in a man. So why couldn't she tell him about her dream? Why? Cassie rummaged through the container in front of her as she tried to turn her attention back to the task at hand. That damn test_.. Cassie stopped cold and felt distinctly faint at that micron. She reached out and caught herself on the container, looking shocked like she had just seen an apparition. Test? What test? Where had that come from? Cassie quickly laid down her list and hurried from the room ignoring the stares that she drew. She felt herself break out into a cold sweat as she made it to her office and shut the door behind her, locking it. As she leaned against the coolness of the metal, she tried to get her thoughts together. Test. What test? Then she remembered. It was a part of her dream. As she had been searching the darkness for some avenue of escape, she remembered that it was all a test. Everything was a test. But that was what she didn't understand. A test. A test for what? And who was the test for? For her? She felt confusion clouding her mind as she tried with all her might to come up with an answer. But there was none. Just this cold numbing fear that started to take over her mind and spirit. She wanted to fight it but found she didn't have the strength to do so. "What is happening to me?" Cassie said aloud to the empty room as she sank to the floor, tears falling freely down her cheeks. Why she didn't know. "What in the name of heaven is happening to me? ********** Boxey looked at the holopic again as he sat quietly on the couch in the living quarters that he shared with his father. His fingers stroked the images almost reverently as he gazed at it thoughtfully. It was a holopicture that had been in his mother's possession when she died. Something that his father had overlooked in his desire to put everything of his mother's away out of sight. To rid himself of the pain that he felt. But Boxey, searching for something one day, had found it by accident over 5 sectars ago. And it had caused a time of turmoil and hurt for himself and people he loved. It was a picture of his mother and himself. And his father. His real father. The man his mother had married on Caprica 9 yahrens before the destruction. A man that she had claimed to love with her very soul and that she would love him forever. And when he had died, Boxey remembered how heartbroken his mother had been. How she stayed in her darkened bedroom for days on end. His grandmother had come over and taken care of the both of them, not trusting his mother to be able to take care of her small son while she dealt with her grief. Boxey sighed as he touched the image of the man contained there. His dark hair so like Apollo's. But his eyes were brown, just like Serina's. Like his own. Apollo had told Boxey that he would understand if Boxey wanted to find out more information about him and he would be more than willing to help. But Boxey had declined his father's offer. He had seen the hurt in Apollo's eyes when Boxey had shown him the picture and Apollo had seen the love and happiness between Boxey's parents. Between the woman that Apollo had loved and married, and another man. And that reaction - his father's reaction had been the catalyst in a time that Boxey would never forget. And neither would anyone else involved. Boxey wondered how Sheba could even stand to be in the same room with him after everything he said to her. All the mean and hateful things that Boxey had yelled at her. All the things he had said to Apollo - his father, a man that he loved and admired - in anger and confusion. But they both said that they forgave him. But Boxey couldn't forgive himself. He had been the reason that his father and Sheba had ended their relationship for a time. It had been all his fault. Because he was being selfish. Boxey looked over at the picture taken several sectars ago of his father and Sheba, Starbuck and Cassie, his grandfather, Aunt Athena, Boomer and Dietra along with himself and smiled. At least he had gotten them back together. And Boxey was forging a new and better relationship with Sheba, as well as a new one with his father. Both of them stronger than the past one. But Boxey couldn't understand what was wrong now. His father seemed on edge and Sheba seemed as confused as Boxey was. The 10 yahren old boy looked at the silent droid that sat deactivated in the corner of the room. This was one of those times he wished he hadn't turned Muffy off. That Muffy would understand. Boxey about jumped in surprise as the door suddenly opened and his father walked into the room. Boxey quickly hid the holopic under one of the pillows on the couch and looked up at his dad. "Hi dad." Apollo stopped and smiled warmly at his son. "Hi Boxey. What are doing here? I thought you were working with Marc on a project for instruction?" "I'm waiting for him to show up with his dad, then were going down to the robotics lab to talk to Dr. Dagmar about our project." "Has Sheba been here yet?" Apollo tried to sound casual to his son, but it didn't quite make it. "No, why?" Boxey wasn't sure what to make of his father's demeanor. He knew he didn't like that false offhanded tone of his father's voice. "Oh, nothing. She was just suppose to meet me here in a centar, and I was hoping I hadn't missed her." "Nope. I've been here the whole time." Boxey watched carefully as his father walk over to his desk and pick up a paper off of it, staring at it intently. There was something different about his father lately. Something he had noticed several days ago. "Dad, is something wrong?" Apollo looked at his son in surprise. "No, nothing's wrong. I'm just a little preoccupied. We just found a planet that has the fuel that the fleet needs and I need Sheba to take care of something up here while I go to the surface with the ground teams." Boxey looked at his father, now puzzled. That was unusual. Sheba usually went with his father on recon missions, just as Starbuck or Boomer did. "Sheba's not going with you?" Apollo looked over at his son. Sometimes he still wished for the small boy that Boxey had been at one time. Now his son was growing up more and more every day with an understanding sometimes of adult situations that was more mature than his yahrens. He was tall for a 10 yahren old boy who would soon be 11, almost to Apollo's shoulders. But his build was still very thin. And that would be changing soon. Apollo felt a tug at his heart at the thought of Boxey growing up and someday not needing Apollo anymore. ` "Ah, no Boxey. I need her to do some things for me here on the Galactica." Boxey wasn't convinced. "Couldn't someone else do what you want Sheba to do?" Apollo looked at his son, his mind trying to figure out what Boxey was up to. He didn't understand why his son was questioning him like this. "Boxey, is something bothering _you_?" "No," he replied as he shook his head. "Then why all the questions?" Boxey shrugged his shoulders. "No reason," he replied as he got up off the couch and walked over to the door of his room. Boxey still didn't like the tone that he heard in his father's voice, even though Apollo tried to hide it. Boxey knew better. He wasn't 6 anymore and there were times that he felt his father forgot that fact. But Boxey decided not to push him about it. He knew his father could be very stubborn when pushed, so Boxey kept quiet. But there was one thing that Boxey knew for sure. Sheba was not going to be very happy if his father assigned her task to do on the Galactica, when there was a new planet to explore. He hoped Sheba got here before Marc and his dad did. This should be pretty interesting. ************ Starbuck looked closely at his chronometer as he rapidly walked down the corridor that led to Cassiopeia's quarters. Dietra had called him, her normally calm and confident voice seemed tinged with worry as she asked Starbuck to come to Cassie's quarters as soon as possible. Unsure of why it had been Dietra that called him and not Cassiopeia herself, Starbuck imagined the worse, even though he did not know exactly what the worse was. Starbuck turned the corner almost in a run nearly mowing down several crewman, wishing he had a chance to let Apollo know where he was and what was happening. But then Starbuck didn't even know what was happening if anything, so how would he be able to explain anything to Apollo? And with the mood Apollo had been in for the past couple of days, Starbuck knew that there was no way Apollo would accept any explanation that did not have at least some details to it. So until Starbuck had more to go on, Apollo and explanations to the Captain would have to wait till he found out what in Hades was going on. Starbuck reached Cassie's quarters slightly out of breath and had just placed his hand on the buzzer when the door suddenly opened and a very worried Dietra stood there. "Thank heaven you're here." Dietra said breathlessly and sounding relieved as the expression on her attractive face relaxed. Starbuck felt a knot tighten in the pit of his stomach. He had known Dietra a long time in a different capacity than he knew her now since she began her relationship with Boomer. Starbuck and Apollo had trained her to be a pilot and in time as she grew confident in her new role, Starbuck had come to admire the coolness and determination that she possessed. When she had first trained and became a viper pilot, it had been at a time when the Galactica had been in very dire straits. All the pilots with the exception of Apollo and himself had been stricken with a deadly virus. The only line of defense the fleet had was the training of the women who were already shuttle pilots and the like as combat pilots. Dietra had been part of that group. At first, she had been very impulsive and reckless. A casualty waiting to happen. But over the past 4 yahrens, Starbuck had watched her mature and her attitude change. Evolve in ways that only experience provided. No longer was she reckless and determined to exterminate the Cylons for what they had done to her and her family, in fact to the whole human race. No. Now she possessed a level-headed coolness that rivaled Boomer's. A determination to prove that she was as competent and capable as the male pilots. And she had honed her ability to remain calm under pressure. But Dietra didn't look very calm or cool at that micron. "What's going on, Dietra?" Starbuck asked as he stepped into Cassie's quarters and looked around. "Where's Cass?" "In her bedroom." Dietra said, her dark eyes reflected her worry for her friend. Dietra had gone to the Life Station to coordinate the transportation of the medical supplies with Cassiopeia, but when she had gotten there, she had been surprised that the packing of the crates was only about half finished. And Cassie had been no where in sight. Larkin, a young med tech had told Dietra that Cassiopeia had ran out of the room and locked herself in her office. She wasn't answering any pages. Larkin was concerned and about to inform Dr. Salik, but Dietra had arrived. Dietra had gone to the office door and finally after several centons gotten a response out of Cassiopeia. But the state she had found Cassie in startled her, and Dietra finally admitted to herself, scared her. Cassie looked like a wild woman. Her eyes were wide, her expression frightened. The normally in-control med tech had thrown her arms around her friend and cried, unnerving Dietra all the more. Cassie always seemed like a rock to her. In the past 4 yahrens, she had seen the many different facets of Cassie - angry, furious, stubborn, loving, patient, caring, and extremely gentle. Also brave beyond any pre-conceived perceptions that Dietra had of the woman. But she had never seen Cassie cry - really cry. Dietra had finally regained a firm grasp her own emotions and concerns, and began talking quietly to her friend. Trying to comfort her. Dietra had thought about calling Starbuck or Sheba, even Apollo, but Cassie seemed to calm down when Dietra brought up the subject of calling any of the three people. Cassie had asked Dietra to accompany her to her quarters where she would explain everything to her concerned friend. But Cassiopeia hadn't explained anything as she had promised. She instead had started to cry again, to pace and cry some more. She had started talking nonsense about a dream where there was no light and no dark, no warmth and no coldness, just a void of nothingness that she floated in unable to escape. Then the Chief Med Tech stated babbling about a test. A test for what she couldn't even tell, but there was a test. Dietra, her thoughts racing, decided to find Starbuck because this was getting too out of hand for Dietra to handle by herself. The whole meaning of Dietra's world was immediate calculated action, and this situation was not one that the young female lieutenant felt needed her style of handling. And now she had a worried Starbuck on her hands as well. How was she going to explain this? "What's wrong? Why did you call me and not Cass herself?" Starbuck was bothered by the concern he saw in those dark eyes, but her confused expression concerned him more. "I'm not really sure, Starbuck, what's wrong. Cassie is pretty upset, but she won't tell me exactly what it is that has upset her." Starbuck looked exasperated as he tried to understand. "Has she said _anything_ that could shed some light on what is going on?" Dietra shook her head as she looked at the man that she had come to admire as a pilot and as her instructor, and now regarded as her friend. "The only thing she has really said has sounded like a bunch of nonsense, Starbuck. She just keeps talking about basically_..nothing." Starbuck looked at Dietra enquiringly. "What do you mean?" She shrugged her shoulders as she turned and walked away from Starbuck. "Cass started talking about a dream that she's been having where there's no light and no darkness. No warmth and no coldness. A place of nothingness that she can't escape from." Starbuck stood straighter as he thought quickly back to last night, when Cassie had awakened suddenly from a dream. A dream she wouldn't tell him about. But she had been very upset, more upset than he had ever seen her before. She had sat there and cried, begging Starbuck to turn on the lights as bright as they would go and she wouldn't calm down until he did what she asked. She had seemed reassured as she looked frantically around the bedroom, taking in every detail, then she had let out a sigh as she looked at the blankets that she had clutched in her hands. Starbuck had tried to understand what was happening to the woman he loved, but when he had tried repeatedly to find out what had scared her so deeply, she had kept it from him. Saying that she couldn't remember. Starbuck didn't buy that explanation for a micron. He had too much experience reading Apollo, the champion of unreadable expressions, over the yahrens to accept Cassie's answer. For some reason she was keeping it from him. And the more he pushed the issue, the more she seemed to back away from him, which scared him more than her dream. He needed to be needed by her, something that was new to Starbuck. And it was something he was not sure he understood. He had always given the impression to people over the course of his life that he could care less if someone wanted him or needed him. He learned his lessons well after Caprican officials removed him from his first foster home because the two people that he had come to love and care for as his parents were unable to keep him any longer. They had made the mistake of wanting to adopt Starbuck, but the children that survived the destruction of Umbra were still considered not adoptable at that time. And it was still unknown if they would ever be available with so much unknown about the 3000 children. It had been a painful lesson for the 7 yahren old boy, but Starbuck was a survivor. Until Apollo came into his life, then Boomer, Jolly, Giles and the other friends that he had in his life, Starbuck had never had any long term relationships with anyone. Of course there was Aurora. Then Athena who he had asked to seal with him, but she refused. And Starbuck understood why, even though he had been a little hurt at the time. And now there was Cassie. Even though some other women had crossed his path in the past 4 yahrens, he had always returned to Cassie. But he just couldn't bring himself to commit to her. Now he was a little concerned that he may not get that chance. "She's said nothing else?" "Just something about a test. But that made no sense either." Starbuck shook his head. "Look, I'm going to try to talk to Cassie. Would you go find Apollo and tell him why I'm going to be late. Just give him the high points. I'll explain the rest to him when I get to the launch bay." Dietra nodded. looking a little relieved to be able to hand the problem over to Starbuck. "Sure. Starbuck, if Cassie happens to need me or need someone to talk to_." Starbuck smiled and nodded to her, glad that this woman was a good friend to Cass. "I'll tell her. And Dietra, thanks for being here for her." Dietra smiled. "No problem," she replied as she left to find Apollo. Starbuck took a deep breath and pressed the release button as the door silently slid aside to grant him access. The sight before Starbuck pained him. Cassie was laying curled up in her bed, holding a pillow to her as she cried softly in the dimly lit room. Just what had upset her so badly? Starbuck wished he knew so he could make whatever it was go away. So he could make her smile again. Starbuck said nothing as he quietly leaned over and touched Cassie's soft hair gently. She looked up at him, her blue eyes filled with unshed tears. Starbuck slowly sat on the bed, taking the pillow from Cassie and setting it aside. Then he leaned back against the pillows, drawing her with him as he wrapped his arms around her as he held her close with her head resting on his shoulder, trying to comfort her. Starbuck knew that he was good at turning a phrase with the ladies, complementing them, charming them and he could talk his way into or out of most of the trouble he found himself in. But words of comfort and offering comfort in times of trouble. That he had difficulty with. He avoided those situations, with the exception of Boxey. Starbuck could handle a small boy's tears and fears. It was adults that he had his problems with. But now Cassie needed desperately those words of comfort. Starbuck tried to form a tangible thought of what to say, but came up blank. So he thought of Boxey. "Cassie, it's okay. I'm here now." Starbuck said quietly as he continued to hold her and stroke her hair. "Whatever is bothering you, I'm here for you." Cassie said nothing, just wrapped her arms around Starbuck as they reclined there. The slight trembling that Starbuck had initially felt slowly ceased as did the quiet mewing sounds of her cries. Starbuck took that as a sign that his words and presence had gotten through to her. It was her dream, or rather the details that he had learned from Dietra, had bothered him more than he was willing to admit to Dietra, to Cassie, or even to himself because of his own dream that he had been having for the past several days. The one with the woman standing silently in the distance, on the sands of a barren planet. Where he was in that dream he didn't know. All he knew was the pain that he had felt. Not a physical pain, but an emotional one. One that a doctor or a med tech could not treat, but it was also one that Starbuck could run away from. But no matter how diligently he searched, Starbuck couldn't find the source of that pain in his dream. It was debilitating to him as he stood there in the heat of the sun, on hot sands with nothing around him but barrenness as far as the eye could see. Starbuck slowly stroked Cassie's soft hair and breathed in the light scent of flowers that drifted up from her hair. He felt a small sense of security in that familiar fragrance. He knew he had to come to grips with the dream before it drove him crazy. But the more Starbuck thought about his dream, the more he wondered what it meant. Starbuck remembered shouting at the woman as she stood a short distance away, pleading with her for information as to where he was or why he was there. Her beauty was the first thing that had struck a cord with Starbuck as he stood there. Her long dark hair in contrast to her very pale skin. He had fleetingly wondered how she could remain so pale on a planet that was a desert world. Where just a centar in the intense sunlight either burned your skin red or darkened it to a golden brown. But there she stood, tall and straight on the hill of sand, the long white dress that she wore wrapped itself around her legs from a breeze that Starbuck never felt and wondered where it was coming from. Starbuck tried getting closer to her, but no matter how much he walked, he never seemed to be any closer to her. Then Starbuck unexplainably stumbled, his hands digging into the hot particles of sand. As he brought his hands up, he was terrified to find that they were covered in dark red blood. Shocked, Starbuck searched his hands, frantically looking for the source of the blood, but found none. He looked at the woman, shouting at her, questioning what was happening to him. Where was he and where were the others. The woman remained quiet, unmoving. Starbuck looked at his bloody hands again, and then back to the woman. As he continued to shout at her to answer him, he was started when she finally did, telling him that the blood was of his own doing. Starbuck had looked at her unsure of what to say. His own doing? What did she mean? So he pressed on, asking her for more information, angered by her silence. He desperately wanted to wash this blood off of his hands, to rid himself of the gruesome sight, but there was no water as far as the eye could see. Just sand. An endless sea of sand. Starbuck sat there wishing he understood what was happening to him. What was happening to Cassie. He only knew a little from what Dietra told hi and that wasn't much at all to understand what was going on in Cassie's head. But the point that stood out in his dream was the woman and her cryptic answers to his questions, if she answered at all. Before he had awakened from his dream, he heard her voice say to him that the fate of his people laid in his hands. What did she mean by that? The fate of his people laid in his hands as well as the other pilots who flew in defense of what was left of the colonies. He was only one man. A pilot who was definitely not the epitome of everything that was good in his people. He did even have the ability to maintain a commitment to anything or anyone. Starbuck sighed quietly as he looked at his chronometer. Apollo would be out after his tail, if he wasn't already, even if Dietra had found him and told him what was happening. But Starbuck was confident that he would be able to calm Apollo down after his friend knew the full reason that he was late. And Starbuck considered Cassie and her wellbeing to be the best reason of all. ********** Thirty centons later, Starbuck arrived at the landing bay amidst a flurry of activity from the bay crew and the scientific teams alike. Everyone was working fast and furious to load the equipment needed so that the scientific teams could go to the planet surface and complete their mission. The bay crews would then swiftly prepare the shuttles for the fueling teams so that they could leave for the surface as soon as the scientific teams gave the all clear sign. Every member from the bay crews to the teams to the viper escorts knew that every centon that passed made their mission that much more urgent. Many of the fleet's vessels had almost totally exhausted their fuel supplies and without fuel, many of the ships would also loose life support. Time was of the essence. The dark blond-haired lieutenant weaved his way around the people darting by him and around him as he made his way to the viper launch bay pretty much unnoticed by the crews in charge of loading shuttles. The intensity of activity in the bay always seemed to put Starbuck in the mood for a mission but this mission was one that Starbuck had a very funny feeling about. And that was not good. Not good at all. Starbuck looked around the viper launch bay as he entered that section, looking for Apollo as he went. He felt was prepared to answer all of Apollo's questions about why he was late, but he just didn't know what kind of mood his friend would be in. Starbuck had been wondering about the Captain's foul mood for the past couple of days, but had been avoiding even the task of asking Apollo any questions about whatever it was that was bothering him out of a pure sense of self-preservation. Apollo's temper was as legendary aboard the battlestar as was Commander Adama's endless patience. Starbuck himself had ran across Apollo's temper more times than he cared to count or comment on. He just hoped Apollo would be open minded. Considering it was Cassie that Starbuck was taking care of, he felt confident that Apollo would immediately back down from whatever tirade he decided to go on. He knew that Apollo was pretty protective of Cassie, just as he was Sheba or Athena. Starbuck figured Apollo would end up being more worried about Cassie than being angry with him.. Starbuck spotted Bojay over by his viper, preparing to launch, but there was no sign of Apollo nor did Starbuck see Apollo's ground crew. Nor was there any sign of Sheba for that matter. If Bojay was getting ready to launch, where was Sheba? She was his wingmate. "Bojay!" Starbuck shouted over the noise of the bay, trying to get the former Pegasus Captain's attention. Bojay turned and nodded to Starbuck in acknowledgement. "Well, Starbuck. It's nice to see that you finally decided to join us." Bojay said with mock joviality even though his eyes showed no mirth in them. "and that you could fit this little excursion into your busy schedule." "Just cut the felgercarb, Bojay." Replied Starbuck, irritably. "Have you seen Apollo lately?" Bojay looked at him with puzzled disdain as he handed the printout back to his crew chief, then turned his full attention to the blond lieutenant. "Now why would Apollo be here?" "Cut the comedy, Bojay." Starbuck was getting impatient and more than a little tired of Bojay's attitude. "Because Apollo and I are supposed to be going with the scientific teams to the planet. That's why he would be here. Beside the fact that he's the captain and the flight commander." "Well, you're right on the point that you're going. But the Captain's not going on this one." Now Starbuck was really puzzled about that comment even though he was suspicious as to its truthfulness because it was coming from Bojay. He stood there, hands on his hips as he looked skeptically at the blond captain. What was going on? Apollo lived for these exploratory missions to planets they came across. Boomer commented one time that Apollo was almost 'giddy' when it came to exploring a new planet. If Apollo wasn't going, something was definitely wrong with his friend. "Bojay, just what in the devil are you talking about? Why isn't he going?" Bojay shrugged his shoulders as he walked over to stand in front of Starbuck. "That's something you'll have to take up with him when you see him. All I know is that I received orders to report to the bay to accompany the scientific teams to the planet. You, myself, Jolly, Brie, Greenbean and Giles will fly escort for the teams to the planet. Once they are set up and it's determined that everything is in order down there, then the fueling teams will be sent down with their escort." "What about Boomer? And how about Sheba? Why aren't they here?" "Boomer is going to be in command of the group flying escort for the fueling teams. And Sheba, " Bojay looked down at the bay floor then back to Starbuck, a strange look on his face. "Well, Sheba wasn't selected to go to the planet." Starbuck looked surprised at this revelation. First Apollo not going and now Sheba? What was going on? "Why not?" "I have no idea. All I know is that I'm very glad I was not there when Apollo told her that she was to stay on the Galactica and help coordinate the fueling teams. She was definitely not very pleased, I can tell you that one." Bojay's pleased expression would have made Starbuck angry if he wasn't so preoccupied with trying to figure out what was going on with Apollo. "I know she was _really_ looking forward to exploring this planet. And if Apollo has not learned it by now, Sheba's temper is nothing to mess with. Especially if there is no _good_ explanation for keeping her off the mission." Bojay looked at Starbuck, seriously. "I can't wait to see what condition Apollo's in when we get back. Sheba's anger was extremely close to the surface last time I saw her. I pity the person that says the wrong thing to her. For that matter, a simple greeting may cost some unsuspecting soul his or her life." Starbuck shook his head. This was definitely not normal. First Apollo wasn't going, now Sheba, who wanted to go. And the fact that Cass was in the state that she was in. And the dream that she told Dietra about. And his dream with the blood on his hands. Starbuck shook his head, perplexed at everything that was happening. None of this was making any sense at all. As Starbuck continued to ponder over his thoughts, Apollo entered the bay, not looking the least bit happy. Bojay's overtly smug expression changed rapidly as he caught sight of Apollo entering the bay. In fact it held just the slightest twinge of fear, and with good reason. The reputation regarding Apollo's temper was well known within the confines of the Galactica and Bojay had seen it in action many times over the course of his association with Apollo. In recent sectars, Bojay had been on the receiving end of that temper more than he cared to discuss or be made public. That was a matter between he and Apollo. Of course Bojay knew that Starbuck was more than well aware of the tension between himself and Apollo. And right at that moment, Bojay was not prepared to deal with the sometimes volatile captain's temper. Bojay nodded. "Our fearless leader has arrived. And from the look on his face, I'm not sure that I would want to talk to him right at this micron." With that, Bojay turned and hastily walked back over to his viper, making sure he looked totally occupied with preparing his craft for launch. Starbuck looked disgustedly at Bojay, then turned and slowly made his way over meet Apollo. Starbuck had to agree with Bojay's appraisal though - Apollo did not look happy at all. He knew that Bojay probably did the smartest thing by quickly acting occupied with preparing his viper for launch, considering the level of rising tensions between both captains. And Starbuck knew that he had better face Apollo now, rather than later. Besides, Starbuck had loads of experience dealing with the Captain and his moods. "Well, Starbuck, I'm so glad that you decided to join us for this escort mission. Are you sure we didn't take your attentions away from something more important? Like a winning hand of pyramid?" Apollo said sarcastically, as he stood there deceptively casual with his hands on his hips. Starbuck decided a direct blow would work wonders with Apollo. So he delivered. "Yes as a matter of fact you did. But I was able to take care of Cassiopeia's hysterics effectively and thank you very much for your concern." The sarcastic expression left Apollo's face in an instant, changing to one of concern. "Cassiopeia's hysterics? What are you talking about? What's wrong with Cassie?" Apollo demanded, mentally berating himself for his initial outburst. There was no reason to take his foul mood out on Starbuck. And hysterics from Cassie was unheard of. "I wish I really knew. Did Dietra find you at all?" "No. I was tied up with Sheba for a couple of centons telling her something she definitely didn't want to hear." Apollo practically muttered as he looked around the activity of the bay. "Like she's not going to the planet?" Apollo hesitated a micron, then nodded as he looked at his best friend. He was hoping that Starbuck would drop whatever questions he had, because Apollo knew that Starbuck, unlike Sheba, would not accept Apollo's explanations at all. Although Apollo honestly didn't really believe that Sheba accepted his explanation either. Neither would Colonel Tigh. There was no good reason for keeping an experienced officer and pilot such as Sheba on the Galactica when she could be put to better use on the planet that they were getting ready to launch to. And once Starbuck latched on to something, he was like a lupus with a kill. Starbuck would push till he got answers that he believed, unlike Sheba who held her tongue and her temper in check because of Boxey's presence at that time. "And neither are you, I understand." Starbuck folded his arms across his chest. "Would you like to explain why?" Apollo tried his only defense as he stood straighter and squared his shoulders as he looked pointedly at his friend. "Are you questioning my decisions?" Starbuck wasn't backing down. He'd charged ahead this far. "You bet I am. And only because I know you, Apollo. I know how much you love going to explore new worlds. Revel in it. And this is not like you at all." Starbuck looked at the set expression of Apollo, then mirthlessly chuckled. "If I didn't know better, I would almost say that you're hiding out up here within the fleet for some reason." Apollo's face suddenly turned stoic and his expression cold. Starbuck now definitely knew that something serious was up. He had touched a very sensitive nerve. "I just decided to give someone else a chance at the experience, that's all." Apollo explained lamely, not quite meeting Starbuck's gaze as he spoke. Starbuck moved closer to Apollo and lowered his voice. "You know something, my friend, I'm going to let that lame excuse slide on by right at this micron, only because we're getting ready to launch and I don't have the time to argue with you about this. But you're not getting out of this one. You and I are best friends and something is definitely bothering you. Just like Cassie." Starbuck felt the frustration he felt at Cassie's situation return. "Dietra called me to Cassie's quarters because something serious was and still is bothering her. I used up all my time and then some trying to calm her down, dry her tears and reassure her that everything was all right. Now something is bothering you. Something you won't discuss with me outright. But I know you, Apollo. And you also know I'm right." "Starbuck, nothing is bothering me. I told you_" Apollo got defensive and Starbuck interrupted. "And you are the worse liar I have ever known. And you're lying to me right now." Starbuck looked over at Jenny, putting the finishing touches on his viper. "Now Sheba's fit to be tied according to what I hear because she's stuck here in the fleet doing something that a cadet could do. Now you're staying here also. Why?" Apollo kept silent as Starbuck paused. "I will find out. You know that." Starbuck stared at Apollo a few more microns then sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Right now I have to figure out the meaning, if there even is one, of Cassie's dream that she's been having lately." Starbuck watched as Apollo's face went deathly pale, almost as though he was going to pass out on the flight deck. Starbuck watched almost spellbound as it seemed as if Apollo almost stopped breathing and his eyes grew wide. Starbuck had part of his answer now all he had to do was get the rest. Starbuck was ready to nail Apollo on that subject when Cassie entered the bay, still looking a little upset, but better than she was a short time ago. She walked over to join Starbuck and Apollo. Starbuck reached out and touched her arm as she stood beside him. "How do you feel?" Starbuck asked gently, concerned. Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Apollo get control of himself, then turned his attention to Cassie also. "Fine now. " Cassie smiled. Not a bright happy smile, thought Starbuck, but a smile none the less. It was a start. "Cassie, if you don't feel up to going, Dr. Salik can find someone else." Apollo said quietly. Cassie looked at her friend thankfully, but shook her head. "No, I'll be fine Apollo. I'm a med tech in the colonial service. And I'll do what needs to be done." Cass looked over at the shuttle they were loading. "Right now I'd better see to the loading of the medical supplies before Dr. Salik decides to replace me on this expedition." Cassie turned and walked over to the medical shuttle where Dr. Paye was going over details with 2 other techs. And before Starbuck could say anything else to Apollo, he turned and walked away from Starbuck without a word, disappearing into the activity of the bay. "Starbuck!" Athena's voice drifted over the bay as she stepped off the lift and headed over to confront her brother's friend. Something was bothering Apollo and Athena wanted to know what it was. She had ran into Sheba several centons ago and was surprised when Sheba informed her that she wasn't selected to go to the planet. And Athena wanted to know why. She knew she had no right to question Apollo's decisions, but there was no logical reason for this order though. It didn't sit well with her. Starbuck felt like throwing his hands in the air in frustration as he turned to answer Athena. He was glad that their relationship, which he knew would never be close friends, had at least reached a comfortable level again. But her timing was not good when all Starbuck wanted to do was pull answers out of Apollo. Now unfortunately it would have to wait until he got back. Whenever that would be. "What is going on with Apollo?" Athena demanded from her brother's closest friend, her expression matching her tone of voice. "Has he talked to you about whatever it is that's bothering him?" "No, not really." Starbuck replied, in a patient tone. He knew he needed to keep an even demeanor with Athena. Especially when she was concerned with her older sibling. "In fact I was just trying to talk to him, but he got away from me when you shouted for me." "Sheba_." Starbuck held up his hand to stop Athena, before she could even begin. Starbuck knew what she was going to say, and he agreed with her. "I know about Sheba. I don't know why yet, but I know she's not going planet side." "This decision makes no sense, Starbuck. Not with Sheba's qualifications and experience. It just makes no sense at all." Athena said mildly frustrated with her brother. " Maybe I'll get a chance to talk to him on the planet." "How? Over the comm line?" Athena furrowed her brow, looking at Starbuck questioningly. Starbuck knew he'd better answer quickly before she started asking questions that he had no answers for_..yet. "Apollo's not going to the planet either." "Why?" was all Athena could think of asking. "I wish I knew. But right now I don't have the time to find out. These shuttles are almost ready to launch and I still have to go over my pre-flight with Jenny." "I'm flying the medical shuttle down, so I still have my pre-flight to do." Athena shook her head, disturbed by the knowledge that now Apollo wasn't going. He was not acting like himself at all and Athena wanted to know why. Their father had also seemed preoccupied lately. Athena had tried to get a private moment alone with her father, but the opportunity never presented itself. It was almost like he was avoiding her. But why would her father do that? Was he hiding something from her? Is that what was bothering Apollo? No, she thought. Apollo would have told her if there was something seriously wrong with their father. That was not something he would keep from his sister. "Maybe he'll talk about it when we get back. Or maybe he'll change his mind and come down to the planet." Starbuck had his doubts on that one, but wasn't going to voice them to Athena. One thing he did know about her was that she was very protective of her family. When Zac was still alive, Athena had watched closely over their little brother, while Apollo tried to stand back and let Zac discover his own way. And now that Zac was gone, the concern and protectiveness Athena usually displayed towards Zac as the younger brother had transferred itself to Apollo, which at times annoyed Apollo to no end, but he kept quiet, not wanting to hurt his sister that he loved. Starbuck didn't think her concern was misplaced, just a little hard for Apollo to handle since as the oldest, he always was the one expected to look after his younger sister. "It's possible. I can't tell you for sure." Starbuck looked over at Jenny, who was looking impatient and motioning him to meet with her. "Look Athena, I'll try to talk to Apollo later. And if I find out anything, I'll let you know. We're both probably concerned over nothing." Starbuck tried to stay upbeat to keep Athena's concern at arm's length. Athena looked at him thoughtfully, then slowly nodded her agreement, unsure of what else to say at the micron. "Okay. But let me know." "I will. I promise." With that Starbuck turned and quickly walked over to the impatient Jenny so that he would be ready for launch. ************ Dr. Joscelyne of Scorpia stepped off the shuttle into the bright sunlight of the planet. Instead of warmth from the planet's sun, she felt cold. A terrible cold. A frigid type of cold that she felt clear down to her soul. Unfortunately, she couldn't say that she didn't know where it stemmed from because in actuality she did. And as much as she wanted to, she couldn't stop her tremors that passed through her body as she stood there looking at the scene before her. The sand of the desert seemed like it was shimmering in the morning sun of the planet. Slowly she looked over at the ruins that were spread out before her like a table set for an evening meal. The two pyramids rising above the desert floor reaching for the beautiful sky of blue. The crumbling ruins of a great city from the past. The writings covering the stone columns spread out before her, telling a story of long ago of a race of people long dead. Everything seemed to be in it's place, just as it was on Kobol. Kobol. Just the thought of the planet they had passed so long ago made her heart skip a beat. A place of wonder. A place of mystery. And to her, a place of death. A place of destruction. A place where her life as she knew it ended. She had been there almost 4 yahrens ago, doing the same job that she was assigned to do now. Only then, at her side was her husband of over a yahren, so full of life and wonder at the planet that they had discovered. Both had survived the holocaust, which was more than they could say for any other members of their families. All had perished that fateful night and if by some small miracle they had survived, they never made it to the spaceports to escape from Scorpia. Joscelyne had no idea why she was chosen to survive and not her parents, her 2 brothers, her younger sister. She was the oldest, the pride and joy of her family. Joscelyne had graduated with honors from the Scorpian University at Tamiron City. She had worked hard for her degree and when she had received it, she had been filled with pride that she had succeeded where a woman of her tribe had never gone before. She had been the undeniable proof that a woman could break Scorpian tradition. That a woman could study the ancient scrolls and records, that she, a woman, would not be struck blind by reading the original text of the Book of the Lords. She had studied the ancient rituals, the texts and spent more than her fair share of time in the archaeological digs in the Mithanier Desert on Libra. The Lords must have felt that she was blessed for she had met her husband there, at those digs. Joscelyne sighed and leaned back against the shuttle, making sure she was out of the way of the other team members, lost in her thoughts and oblivious to the activity going on around her. But she could see him, standing in the sunlight of this planet. Mikhos. The love of her life. The man she had married against the wishes of her family and dreamed of raising a family with. The man who was not a member of her tribe, but from Libra. The man who believed in her totally and without question. But he was also the man that she had left lying back on the bloodied sands of Kobol. Dead. Or was _this_ Kobol? Joscelyne looked at the scene before her, her thoughts muddled. There was not any possibility feasible that this place could be just another planet that the fleet had come across in their travels. Maybe they had done nothing but travel in a large circle. Joscelyne pushed those conflicting thoughts out of her mind. That was totally unacceptable. And unbelievable. She could not believe that they had done that. Just traveled in a circle. There had to be a better explanation than that one. But how could there be two planets that looked so much alike? Even down to the placement and replication of the ruins? How? Nothing in Joscelyne's logical, highly educated mind could answer that question with any semblance of reason. Her eyes were not deceiving her. She knew Kobol by heart. She had replayed the nightmare of what happened to Mikhos there over and over in her mind. Every detail as fresh as the night that it all happened. The cylons had killed him on Kobol. They were running from the surprise attack - she, Mikhos and their team. As the laser blasts fell around them, they ran as fast as they could for the safety of the shuttle. They heard the launching of the vipers from the planet surface as they ran. But she had stumbled and fell, twisting her ankle. Mikhos had came back for her, ignoring her pleas that he get to the shuttle. Helping her up and pushing her ahead of him. He had quickly leaned down to pick up a piece of equipment that someone had dropped in their flight. It contained too much valuable information about the writings to leave behind. As Mikhos picked it up and started to run to the shuttle, a cylon raider's shot rang true. The small storage containers sitting out on the desert floor exploded violently. Joscelyne had watched in horror from a short distance away from the shuttle as her husband was caught in that explosion, fire consuming his body. Horror took over her mind as she tired to run to Mikhos, tried vainly to save her husband. She barely remembered Iaian grabbing her and dragging her kicking, screaming into the confines of the shuttle. She continued to fight him clawing at him as he shut the doors of the shuttle, yelling for the pilot to take off. And then Iaian, her husband's friend from their days at the Libran University, held her close as she screamed and cried for her husband. Her best friend. The only person she had left. Now as Joscelyne gathered her courage, she moved away from the relative safety of the shuttle. There had to be a logical reason for all of this to be as it was. There had to be. There was logical reasonable way that this planet was Kobol. She looked around at her surroundings, her highly trained eye taking over as her mind seemed to be trying to shut down and avoid the pain that she was feeling at that centon. Four yahrens had not diminished that pain by much. She had just buried it away and tried to continue with her life. A life without Mikhos. Iaian had been her constant companion since that time. He had helped her deal with the loss of Mikhos. He had listened to her as she had mourned him and he had patiently listened as she tried to make some sense out of her loss. He had cheered her up when she felt that there was nothing to smile about, taken care of her when she was sick, watched over her as she buried herself in her work. They had laughed together and cried together. Now after 4 yahrens of being Joscelyne's anchor, he wanted a change in their relationship. A secton ago, he admitted to her that he was in love with her. The revelation had shocked and astonished the auburn-haired woman more than she ever though anything could. This was a man she trusted, that Mikhos had trusted. Now he was admitting that he was in love with her? That he wanted to have a relationship with her? Not only one of friendship, but one with romantic overtones. But what bothered Joscelyne more than Iaian's confession was her confused emotions. The idea did not _repulse_ her like she thought it would. After Mikhos had died, the thought of being in love or having an intimate relationship with another man was repulsive to her. She had kept all men at a distance, except Iaian. Maybe her confusion was the reason that she was having her__dream. Or was it her nightmare. As Joscelyne ran her hand over the carvings in the stone, she thought back to those disturbing dreams. The ones with the strange woman in the distance, beckoning her. Calling her. But not with a voice or an audible sound, but still calling her. And in her dreams she had followed the woman, like a young child follows someone they trust. Followed her into one of the pyramids. Followed her into a chamber. Not a burial chamber like she had seen before in other pyramids. No, this one was very different, in ways that she couldn't quite put her finger on. This one had a different style of painting on the walls. She wasn't quite sure what the paintings told about, but she was certain that it was not about the life and death of a revered leader, or tributes to an important person from the past. In her dream, Joscelyne had looked at the strange stone table in the center of the room. As she had drawn closer, she had discovered that it was not a table, but an altar of some sort. The paintings that were on the walls of the room were also depicted on the altar. She ran her hands lightly over the carvings, unable to stop herself or suppress the urge that she had to touch them She felt a definite chill in the stone altar, one that made her blood seemingly run cold, but her heart beat rapidly in excitement. Suddenly, she felt an urge overwhelm her. An urge to lay on that stone altar. It was something that she couldn't even explain to her own self. Joscelyne had looked up and saw the woman standing on the other side, her hand outstretched as if telling Joscelyne to go ahead and lay on that altar. Joscelyne felt comforted by the woman's seeming reassurance, so she gave in and laid down on the rough stone altar. Suddenly a strange warmth took over her body. Her hands touched the stones of the altar that had been cold only microns before. Now they were pleasantly warm and they gave her body the warmth that it craved. Her eyelids for some unexplainable reason felt heavy at that micron, so she closed them. The next thing she remembered was a warm liquid covering her body, like the heated water of a bath. It was so comforting that she lost herself in the sensations. Suddenly a chilling scream filled the air and Joscelyne opened her eyes, quickly sitting upright. She looked around her frightened, wondering who had screamed. The only person there was the woman that she had followed here to this place. And she stood there, strangely passive, staring at Joscelyne with a look of almost disdain on her face. Joscelyne felt almost sticky and looked down to find herself covered with blood. Her clothes were saturated with it, as was the altar she laid on. As was the floor of the room. Now Joscelyne wanted to run, but found that she couldn't. Her body wouldn't obey her mind and she just continued to sit there on the bloody stone edifice, staring at the woman that she had trusted. The woman smiled a smile at her that contained no humor, no mirth. But it was a smile that chilled Joscelyne's heart. What was happening to her? Why was she covered in blood? Where did it come from? She felt something sharp beside her and looked down that the small jewel encrusted knife that laid on the altar beside her. Not a single drop of blood was anywhere on that knife. And Joscelyne could find no signs of injury on herself. Suddenly the woman spoke. She told Joscelyne that she was the cause for all the blood that was spilled. She was the cause of much death and destruction. That the blood of innocents was on her soul. Now Joscelyne was confused. What was this woman talking about? And just who was she? But the woman pointed to her and said that many would die at her hand, just as they had in the past. Now she was very confused. Joscelyne had never hurt anyone in her life. She asked the woman in her calmest voice why she was saying that. Why was she accusing her of such atrocities? Suddenly a man appeared beside Joscelyne, a man that she had seen before, but was unsure of his identity. And for some reason, she felt in fear of this man. He looked at her, a stoic expression on his face as he reached out and took the knife from it's resting place beside her. Suddenly, Joscelyne knew what was going to happen. She knew what this man was going to do to her with that knife, but she felt unable to do anything to change it. To stop it from happening. Instead she sat there, staring at him, then laid complacently down on the altar before him. He stood beside the altar, with the knife held in both of his hands, the blade pointed to her heart. And she felt calm. At peace. As though this was what she survived for. The woman looked at her, then said quietly that she was the salvation of her people. She was the one who would pay for their sins against others. With her death, she would save her people from certain destruction. And he was the executioner, because that was his role in his life. To execute other races. Joscelyne didn't question, just laid there as the man looked down at her, his eyes lifeless and dead. Suddenly the blade fell__. And that was when Joscelyne usually awoke from her dream. Suddenly she heard something behind her and turned quickly to find Iaian behind her, his look concerned. "Joscelyne, are you okay?" he asked, as he took in her pace face and wide eyes. Joscelyne quickly recovered and looked at Iaian carefully. What did he want? "I'm fine, Iaian." "Well you weren't just about 5 microns ago. You scared Tabitha to death. She just came to me and said that you were acting very strange. Staring into nothing and not answering her when she spoke to you." Iaian hated sounding defensive with Joscelyne, but he felt like he had to be on the defensive lately. Ever since he admitted his feeling to her. Now he regretted that admission. But he had felt that after 4 yahrens, she should have healed by now from her loss. She was still young and vital and very attractive. Iaian knew that Mikhos would be upset if he thought that Joscelyne was mourning him after all this time. He would have wanted her to get on with her life. To enjoy it and be happy. Now Iaian saw the folly of his admission to her. Now he had felt like he had lost her and that hurt him. She deserved to live and love again. Why couldn't she see that? "I'll go apologize to Tabitha. I didn't hear her. I was concentrating on these carvings." Joscelyne wouldn't meet Iaian's gaze. She really didn't want to deal with him right at this moment. "If you'll excuse me_" With that Joscelyne walked away from Iaian, leaving him standing there. He silently watched her retreating form wondering what he should do next, if anything. Maybe he should just give up on her. Let her live her existence in her own misery. Not let her realize the joy of living that she was missing. The happiness of being loved and in love again. The joy in holding your child in your arms. The spontaneity of sharing your life with another. Maybe he should just give up. But he couldn't. ********** She watched quietly from the shadows as the drama unfolded in front of her. Humans. They were here once again. And they would fail once again. Just as they had before. In the many yahren they had been here, many of the human species had passed this way. Fervently attesting to them that all they wanted was peace and the chance to explore galaxies that they had never seen before. To meet beings that were different from themselves. But they had lied. They did not want peace, they wanted war and conquests. Greed and power ran their existence as she and the others had watched them overpower other races that were different and rob them of their riches. Then either annihilate or enslave that race for their own profit. Barbarians. That's all the human race was. Barbarians. They killed their own people without any thought and any remorse. Why should these travelers be any different? She watched as they set up their crude and flimsy shelters on her planet's surface. The strange almost square boxes they rode in. So unlike any vehicle she had ever seen in her lifetime. And she couldn't understand how it flew through the sky. Such a crude, backward device. But for as much as she hated the human species, she unlike the others of her species, found them in some ways fascinating. Emotions ran high with this species. They did not have any control over their intense emotions. She could feel them now. The enormity of those emotions. Hate, love, grief, hurt, pain, agony, happiness, sadness, confusion, frustration, greed, envy, fear, disdain, jealously. That was a dangerous one. Jealousy. Along with love. They seemed to go hand in had with humans. To love, you have jealousy. To have jealousy, you have love. Keenan wasn't sure she understood how that worked, but it seemed that some violence amongst humans, as well as some other races that they had observed, love and jealousy were very prominent. Greed was next along with envy. Well, soon, all that would be put to the test. A test that would prove if this band of humans should be permitted to continue on, or if their journey was to end here on this planet. ********** Apollo quietly sat in the celestial dome, his mind racing as he sat there with his arms resting on his bent knees on the floor of the ancient chamber. Twelve centars. That was all. Twelve centars was all that had passed since the scientific teams had launched to the planet a short distance away. Apollo continued to wait, growing more impatient with every passing centon for the notification to come through from Starbuck that the fueling teams could launch. The other warriors that were selected to fly escort, with Boomer in command were presently on stand-by status, waiting for their orders from core command. They would launch with the fueling teams. If everything went according to the plan, within at least 26 centars after the fuel team's launch, the fleet would be able to leave this place far behind. That was it. That was what he waited for. When they could leave, continue on. And Apollo could hardly stand the wait. He could deal with the hastily covered concerned glances that he had been receiving recently from his father. Apollo could also deal with Colonel Tigh's questioning looks and unasked questions, but Apollo knew from vast experience that neither man would stay silent for long. They would both start asking questions that Apollo was not sure he had logical and reasonable answers for. At least answers that would appease both men. Apollo had seen the questions that also lurked in Athena's eyes and knew from past experience that she also would not keep quiet for very long. They were very close, but very different in some ways for a brother and sister. No one knew Apollo in the ways that Athena did and no one knew Athena in the ways that Apollo did. It had been the same with Zac when he was alive. It use to strike the three siblings as humorous sometimes when their friends, even some of their cousins would claim to know any of the three of them better than anyone else. Apollo quickly thought of all the things that no one knew about each of them, except each other. Apollo sometimes felt that was what he missed most about Zac, besides his continually upbeat nature. His camaraderie. His part in their adventures. Sometimes Apollo wondered if that was the piece that was missing in his relationship with Athena - the fact that instead of three, they were now only two. Apollo, the shy, responsible one who took care of everything; Athena, the diplomatic one who everyone turned to when there was an argument to be settled; Zac, the good natured, practical joking optimistic one who could make the most disagreeable person laugh in spite of himself. "I need you here now, Zac. I need you to tell me that no matter what, that everything is going to work out for the best," Apollo said quietly to himself. He was not surprised that he felt a little calmer a few microns after he uttered those words. Then Apollo thought of Starbuck. He knew without a doubt that he would have to deal with Starbuck whether he wanted to or not. Starbuck would not back down from pressing Apollo for answers to his questions, even if Apollo threatened him with insubordination charges and time in the brig. Starbuck would push and continue pushing until he got his answers. With the added stress of Cassie's earlier display of tears that Starbuck had told him about, Apollo knew that his best friend would more than likely be pushier than usual. Boomer would be another problem, but the difference between Starbuck and Boomer was that Boomer knew when to back up and give Apollo his own space until the opportunity presented itself for the patient lieutenant to press his questions. But then there was Sheba and she was another problem all together. Apollo looked out at the stars that seemed to wink back at him as he sat under their watchful gaze. Strangely enough, the dark-haired captain derived no comfort in looking at them, sitting quietly amongst them as he usually did. Instead Apollo felt like they were mocking him. Chiding him for his fears. For his cowardice. Apollo had always hated that word - cowardice. He could never tolerate it when he had seen it in members of the military, especially commanders or high ranking officers that would seem to hide behind their men and women who served them. Pushing them into danger while they sat on their metal heavy astrums, safely behind the battle lines. Behind the fire. Now it seemed ironic that Apollo was doing what he hated most - sending men and women under his command to face something that Apollo feared himself. All because of a dream. All because of Serina. No. All because of his own fear of losing someone he loved again. Apollo wanted to try to reason out his actions as an act of self-preservation but he couldn't do it when in actuality that wasn't the whole truth. The truth was_.. Apollo's thoughts drifted off as he hung his head, rested it on his arms and sighed. The whole and honest truth of the matter was that Apollo, Captain in the Colonial Service and a highly decorated warrior, was just plain afraid. But he wasn't afraid for himself in as much as he was afraid for Sheba. He loved her. He wanted her to stay alive. To be with him. To have a future with him. He had fought so hard against his attraction to her. His feelings.. Denying them. Rejecting those emotions while hiding behind the guise of friendship. Apollo had honestly thought that these feelings would go away. That they would die a natural death. But instead, they had grown stronger and stronger, until finally he had no choice but to stop denying what he felt for another woman. A woman who was not Serina. Not his wife. Not the woman he married that day when the star appeared that guided them to Kobol. Where Serina tragically died. Apollo felt a tear escape from the corner of his eye. Letting it roll down his pale and drawn cheek, making no move to brush it away as he continued to look to the heavens. He had loved Serina so much. The depth of the emotion had scared him, because he had never felt something that moving and awe inspiring before. He had dated other women in his life. But when he saw Serina on Caprica, dirty, clothes torn, scrapes on her hands, on her cheeks, something deep inside of him was touched. He knew who she was. How could he not? One of the most famous faces on the vid. Almost as well known as the Council of Twelve. And he had to admit that he thought that she was a very lovely woman. Someone to admire from afar, but never to meet face to face. Apollo had thought that he would never see her again within the fleet after that initial confrontation. There was no reason for their continued association with each other. Except one. Boxey. Serina's son. On Caprica, Boxey had wanted to ride in Apollo's viper and Apollo had gently turned him away. But then, as the fleet was leaving their home worlds behind, Serina had seeked Apollo out to help her cheer up that hurt child. A child that had lost his pet daggit that he loved and adored. Apollo had known the pain that Boxey felt that day. Even though some would say that you could never compare Apollo's loses with a boy losing a pet, but Apollo felt that in a way you could. The deaths of Zac and their mother that day had caused Apollo his own deep abiding pain. He had to deal with his own recriminations that day - that he should have never left Zac alone, his ship damaged. That Apollo should have tried harder to save their worlds. To save his mother who was alone when she died that day. Apollo had pushed the thoughts of his mother to the back of his mind, because if he hadn't, the guilt would have finished him. Apollo gave his pledge when he entered the academy and again when he graduated to protect the colonies with his very life if necessary. And he hadn't even been able to protect his own mother. Apollo still wondered what it had been like for her those last moments. Had she seen the cylons attacking Caprica? What about the fear that she felt and none of them was there to comfort her? Did she suffer at all? Was she asleep as his father had assured him she probably was? They never found her body. Even when he and Athena returned to their home and searched more than he had with his father earlier, they still found no trace of her. Had she possibly escaped? Did they leave her to die on Caprica at the hands of the cylon eradication teams? "I'm sorry, Mother. I'm so sorry," Apollo said quietly as he leaned his head back against the wall. Now because of a dream, because of a damn planet, he was having to deal with emotions that he thought he had buried a long time ago. Emotions that he had adamantly refused to deal with. Had their time finally come? Apollo let his thoughts drift back to Serina. How she had looked on Carillon that night. Her hair gently cascading to her waist, her shoulders bare, the way the blue dress she was wearing had floated around her. The sparkle in her eyes that night. The night he realized that he was in love with her. He remembered kissing her goodbye as he ran to his viper when the cylon plot was discovered. He remembered the night he built up the courage to propose, then Serina became a shuttle pilot and Apollo's heart had sank when he saw her in that uniform. Then the mysterious illness raised it's ugly head and the pilots, the only line of defense, were struck down. Suddenly the shuttle pilots were to be trained as warriors. And Serina was one of them. It had driven him almost crazy; the worry he had felt for her. To have her out there with him. And she had been stubborn enough that she would have just proceeded to follow him if he tried to leave her behind, where it was safe. Then Starbuck disappeared and Serina had begged Apollo that they seal immediately. He had felt at that time that it was almost as if she was testing his love for her. So Apollo had caved in. They were sealed. Then came Kobol. Apollo's tired, body shivered with cold, but there was no draft or cold chill in the dome. Just his own memories. It was so sudden. So quick, so unexpected. The planet was a planet of fascinating wonders. Apollo had been in awe of it all. His father had been beguiled, entranced, totally spellbound by it all. But then the deceptiveness of Baltar intruded and his promises, included was the return of Starbuck with his startling, chilling revelation of what was out there waiting for them. While Apollo was confronting his father with the information that Starbuck divulged, along with Serina and Baltar, it happened. The attack. They were all trapped in the crypt, but then, miraculously a blast opened the blocked door. Escape. Baltar, the traitor, was trapped. Even though they had tried to move the great stone, they could not. So they left Baltar there to his fate and ran towards thiers. Starbuck, Dietra, his father. Starbuck had turned and seen the cylon appear out of the shadows, cried out in warning, but too late. Serina was shot in the back by the cylon with Apollo right beside her, unable to do nothing. He had stood there helplessly, looking down at her in shock and disbelief as she had laid there on the ground. Starbuck, his father and Dietra all shot down the cylon, but it was too late for Serina. She died, with Apollo at her side on the Galactica. And he had fallen into an abyss of grief that he thought he would never arise from again. But the Lords smiled amongst themselves for they had other plans for him. They brought Sheba into his life. Independent, stubborn, willful. A fully trained warrior with skill that almost matched or was equal to his own. A legend for a father. Trained by the great Cain to be a warrior. She was everything that Apollo swore to avoid. Everything that Serina had tried to be. But against his own best intentions, he fell for her. And she for him. Apollo had desperately ran from those emotions and hidden behind his grief and Serina's memory. But everyday, she faded a little more from the forefront of his mind. Then one day Apollo realized that he had put Serina and his love for her away - in his memories. Not that she didn't matter anymore, but Apollo felt differently. He was in love with another woman but he felt honestly that is what Serina would have wanted him to do. Continue on with his life, be happy and love again. Sheba knew him so well. Better than Serina probably ever could have. Sheba knew when to step back and let him alone, when to stand quietly in support of him, when to tease him into fits of laughter, when to confront him as he would get lost in his own thoughts or crazy ideas. She was not afraid to match him temper for temper, to yell at him when he was acting stubborn. Sheba was not afraid to love him for all his faults, quirks and eccentricities. And now he sat here, in the silence of this dome, terrified that he was going to lose her. _That damn dream!_ It was consuming him. Making him think of things that were better left buried. He was turning over emotional and morbid. He was slipping back into that dreaded abyss that he had escaped from long ago. He had angered his best friend with his actions and he had angered and hurt the woman that he loved beyond reason. Over a damn dream! But _was_ it a dream? Apollo had asked himself that question over and over again. He had listened intently, his heart beating rapidly as Sheba and Bojay both gave their oral reports to the commander. Apollo had then read the report that Bojay and Sheba had submitted to Colonel Tigh and himself, his heart felt like it had stopped. It sounded like the planet in his dreams. It sounded just like Kobol. Too many details were the same and the burning in the pit of his stomach returned in force. And Apollo fought with himself. Where was his logical, analytical mind at when he needed it? Why were his emotions, that he usually was able to keep under tight control, running rampant? Running his decisions? He was a fully trained, competent, highly decorated warrior, but here he was, acting as though he was a child. Not explaining his actions to people. Letting his emotions get the upper hand with him. This was just so unlike him. He didn't know how much longer Colonel Tigh was going to let what Apollo had been doing slip by, but he knew from experience that it would not be much longer. No matter how long Tigh had known Apollo. No matter how long the exec had served Adama. Tigh would seek Apollo out and start questioning him as to why he was looking so drawn, almost haggard, and more pointedly, why Apollo was doing what he was doing. And honestly, Apollo had no logical answers to offer. ********** Colonel Tigh sat silently in the small, dimly lit briefing room, off of the Galactica's bridge, his mind pondering the situation at hand. The more he looked at the readouts that he held in his hands before him, the more confusing everything that was happening around him seemed. Just too much information was coming to his attention for him to ignore the situation any longer. He wondered what in hades was happening on this battlestar? Adama's sudden change in demeanor had Tigh wondering, whereas Apollo's increasingly strange actions had the executive officer debating with himself if he needed to have a talk with the young captain. Tigh leaned back in his chair, tossing the readouts aside on the table as he brought his hands up to rub his face. He could feel the tension that had built up like a lump between his shoulders at the base of his neck. Nothing was making any sense recently. Since shortly before they had come upon this solar system. Since they just *happened* upon this _miracle_ planet. The seeming answer to their prayers. Tigh rubbed his eyes as he tried to put some order to his thoughts and found that he was lacking in that skill at the micron. But that is what had made him an excellent executive officer. That skill he had to organize and quickly analyze information had helped him rise though the ranks of the Colonial Service. In all the yahrens that he had known Adama, this was one of the few times that he could think of where he couldn't figure out what was bothering his superior officer, who also happened to be a close personal friend from as far back as their academy days. Through the yahrens, Tigh had been there for Adama at many points in his life. He had been with both Adama and Cain as the three of them entered the Academy together. Sometimes when he and Adama sat down to reflect and remember old times, the antics that the three of them had experienced together made the two of them think of Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer. They had been a close trio. When the trio graduated from the academy on Caprica, the three went their separate ways. Tigh had been there, along with Cain when Adama met Ila and both had also been there the day that they sealed. But that was where the trio parted ways for the last time. After 2 tours together, the trio became a duo with Cain being assigned to another battlestar apart from Tigh and Adama. It was Tigh who had been there with Adama for the subsequent births of Apollo, Athena and Zac. And it had been Tigh who had sat quietly with his friend as Adama would tell him of Ila's descriptions of his children's antics as they grew. Helped Adama chase away the loneliness that he felt as he missed his beloved wife and three growing children. And Tigh was there for the high and low points of both their military careers. Then Adama was made the Commander of the Galactica. Adama had been honored to have been chosen to be the old girl's commander, just as his father was before him. But it had been Tigh who had sat there and listened to Adama's self doubts about his ability to lead the Galactica as his father had done. Listened as Adama voiced his worries about his already long absences from his wife and family, which would be longer as a battlestar Commander. And Tigh sat there and listened and counseled as he had always done. Tigh was promoted and appointed Adama's Executive Officer on the great battlestar. Tigh had stood steadfastly beside Adama though his military encounters, and his personal trials. Tigh had watched with pride as the three children that he had watched grow and mature came to serve under their father. A long time dream of Adama's since he had missed so much of their formative years fighting a war that had lasted for too many yahrens. He had watched Adama strive to build relationships that he never really had with each of them as they came aboard. Apollo having been the most difficult because he had been the oldest. Athena had always been her father's daughter, while Zac had wanted to emulate both his father and his older siblings. And Tigh had mourned with Adama, Athena and Apollo at the loss of Zac and then Ila during the holocaust. Now, as he sat alone in the semi-darkness, Tigh had no plausible explanation for Adama's recent mood change. The man had said nothing to him about anything besides the normal routine of maintaining the battlestar and her fleet. Nothing out of the ordinary. A thought came to Tigh though. That planet that they had found_..or had it found them? Tigh still could not explain why that planet and it's system did not appear on long range scanners until several days ago. They should have been able to detect it over a secton ago, but they hadn't. And it seemed to Tigh as he tried to put his thoughts in perspective that as they had grown closer to the unusual system, that Adama had seemed to change. Not dramatically, but gradually. Tigh had no explanation for what he was seeing, but it still__disturbed him. Then there was Apollo. Tigh deeply sighed as he reached out to pick up the duty assignments again, then shook his head in disbelief as he looked at them. It was like a slap in the face. Apollo's name was lacking from the escort teams. For as long as Tigh had known Apollo, he never had seen the young man bypass an exploratory mission to a planet. Apollo had always been captivated by the thrill of researching and exploring a new world, meeting a new race or species of beings. The adventure drove him to be the first to go to any planet that the fleet had come across in it's flight. But *this* planet Apollo was avoiding. It almost seemed to Tigh that the young captain whom he had known all of the younger man's life, was. . . . .running from the planet. It was almost too hard for Tigh to believe, but everything seemed to point to that conclusion. But why? Then there was Sheba. Cain's daughter. Well versed in the procedures concerning exploration of a new world and well trained by her father. Why in the lord's name had Apollo assigned Sheba of all people to a task that a first yahren cadet could do? That assignment had practically hit Tigh in the face like a hard slap. Sheba was a highly experienced officer. Her skills were undeniable. She should have been assigned with Starbuck to go with the scientific teams. She had requested the assignment, expressed an intense interest in going to the planet as part of the teams, but instead she was still within the fleet. Doing a very mundane task for a person with her skills and training. What was Apollo doing? The highly competent executive officer set aside the printouts again, as he leaned back in the chair and rested his head against the back of it. As hard as Tigh tried, he could come up with no logical explanation for what was happening. And not to just with Apollo and his unusual actions. There was still the matter of Adama. His silence was what concerned Tigh most. It was almost as if Adama was *expecting* something. The way he kept watching. Kept looking around him. The way he listened for every report to come from the planet. Searching the printouts for every detail, no matter how small it is thought to be. On the bridge earlier, Tigh had noticed something else. Sheba had brought up the reports concerning the ships in the fleet. Apollo had been on the bridge at the time. Silently watching the screens for *something*. Tigh didn't know what. But Tigh stood quietly watching the interaction between Apollo and Sheba. Watching Adama watch the two people closely - the son he loved deeply and the woman that Adama considered as a second daughter. Tigh could have sworn that a chill came over the bridge as Apollo did not raise his gaze from the screens in front of him and Sheba quietly handed the reports to Omega, turning smartly and leaving the bridge. Tigh had watched closely Adama's reaction and it concerned him. There for a brief moment was a pained expression. Concern. Then Adama closed his eyes for a centon as though he was saying a prayer to the Almighty. Tigh quickly glanced at Apollo, only to note the tension written on his young face. Then a look that seemed like one of regret fleetingly crossed his face, but was quickly replaced by an expression of stoic demeanor. Tigh was confused beyond normal reason. And he was highly concerned. But concerned or not, Tigh felt that he had to remedy the situation. At least the one concerning Sheba and her duty assignment. There was no reason to keep her on this battlestar when her talents and experience could be put to better use. Tigh reached over and pressed the comm line, speaking quietly to Omega. "Omega, this is Colonel Tigh. Please have Lt. Sheba report to me as soon as possible." "Yes sir." Was Omega's competent reply. The decision had been made. Tigh was going to give Sheba her wish. Not because of who she was, but because her skills were needed on the planet below. Tigh in a rare decision of this nature was overruling the young captain. Something tht Tigh knew was not going to sit well with Apollo at all. But Tigh was not in the position he was to please everyone at all times. He had to think of what was best way to handle for the situation at hand. . *********** Quiet was the word of the micron. Quiet. But it was an eerie quiet. No klaxons sounding, no heart pounding sounds of running feet or the whirling sound of pilot transports. In fact no voices of any kind echoed through the empty halls and pilots quarters of the great battlestar. This was something that the other occupants of the rag tag fleet of ships wished for daily. They would have settled for just one centar of peace. No crowding, no noise, no cries of other people. Blissful silence. And to Sheba the silence was a overwhelming and an ever present reminder that she had been left behind while her comrades went on the mission that she desired to participate on so desperately. They were down on a planet that looked from the air to be so wondrous. Just as it was mysterious. She couldn't explain to anyone the feelings that she had felt as she had flown over the planet's surface. She had felt_drawn to it. Pulled to it. It was beckoning her to come, explore it's wonders. Sheba angrily whipped the towel off her head as she sat down on her bunk in the women's quarters and began to brush her wet hair. Her thoughts were running rampant as she worked on getting the tangles out, taking out the frustration that was building within her over the situation. She had thought that a hot turbo shower would alleviate her tension and feelings of disappointment, anger. But it hadn't. As she had stood there with the warm water cascading over her tense body, she had relaxed slightly but even with that semi-relaxed feeling came more questions, difficult questions that had played over her tangled thoughts about the situation at hand. Or rather the situations that she was trying to understand. And then her anger had grown anew because the understanding she sought eluded her. There were just times when she wished she understood men - one in particular. Now that was an age-old wish for women from the beginning of time. But it seemed like the more she tried to understand Apollo, the more she seemed to get frustrated that she couldn't understand him. And Sheba knew that she would never *totally* understand him. That was like asking for a miracle. And she knew that he would never totally understand her. It was just something that would never be. But what was happening with him now, the way that he was acting just dumbfounded her. Sheba remembered that there were times that she could not understand her father either. He would do things that baffled Sheba, so she would just stand there in silent amazement and as hard as she tried, she could never figure out what his logic was behind that particular action. And she never dared to ask him either. How did you question a man who was legendary? A leader, an innovator in tactical strategy? And for her it was a double edge sword. Besides being her commander, he was her father. He never demanded her loyalty and her blind devotion, but he expected it. There were times when she could understand the difficult position Apollo and Athena were placed in at times. Even though Adama was not Cain, and the Galactica commander's style of leadership and tactics were different from the brasher commander of the Pegasus, still Adama expected the same loyalty and devotion from his remaining son and daughter. She felt there were times that Adama expected that same loyalty and devotion from herself, Starbuck, Boomer, Cassiopeia because the man considered them as members of his family - his other children. Unlike Cain though, Adama listened if there were questions and doubts raised by any one of them, giving each of their ideas and suggestions great thought and consideration. And sometimes he acted upon them. Sheba felt very fortunate to serve under such a commander and she had come to admire him almost as much as she admired her father. . But Apollo's actions here and now bothered Sheba the more she thought about it. Apollo had given her a assignment to do that a cadet could have easily done. She was more than qualified to go to that planet. Sheba stopped brushing her hair and stared at the wall in front of her as she grappled with her whirling thoughts. What was Apollo's reasoning? His actions were not logical, not as assured as they usually were. In fact, it had bothered her when she had found out that he had decided not to go to the planet either. If she had not been so surprised at her own assignment, she would have questioned his decision not to go because it was totally out of character for Apollo. Sheba just sat there in the stark silence of the women's quarters, lost in her thoughts. Trying to make sense out of things that she wasn't sure that anyone could make sense out of. Her mother had always told her to be patient with men. Where women through the centuries had always silently maintained the right to change their minds and dumbfound a man with her actions, a man felt that he had the same privilege, when all he succeeded in doing was to confuse himself. At this point, Sheba had to agree with her mother wholeheartedly. Men sometimes made absolutely no sense at all. Sheba shook her head and reached over to grab the dryer for her hair. As she began to dry her hair, she let the warmth of the air calm her thinking and she tried to clear her thoughts. For even though she was angry and confused by Apollo, she still loved him with all her heart. Even at these exasperating times. Her only desire right now was for him to come to her and explain his actions to her. She would try to understand. But he was not even doing that right now. When she had last seen him on the bridge, his eyes had been almost glued to the screens flashing information that was being sent by the teams from the surface. Apollo had looked pale to Sheba at that micron. Tense almost anxious. Like he was looking for something in that information that would give him__something. Sheba had turned and left the bridge, her mind confused. She just wished she knew what it was that he was looking for. A thought crossed Sheba's mind. It was though the more she thought about it that Apollo was acting almost_..afraid. Sheba felt a shiver course though her body even though the room was warm and the warmth of the air from the dryer blew gently across her skin. She also felt a sudden sense of unease come over her, like someone was walking on her grave. Like someone was intently...watching her_ Sheba slowly pulled the dryer back and turned it off while she carefully looked around the room. No one was there. Nothing but silence. She was the only person in these sleeping quarters. Sheba knew that most of the other women were assigned to the fueling mission. She was the only female pilot left behind. The few other women that remained on the battlestar that were assigned to these quarters were in the middle of a duty shift on the bridge and would not be here.. Sheba carefully looked around the bunks to be sure, but could find nothing amiss. She shrugged her shoulders, dismissing the feeling that she still felt but now not as strongly and went back to drying her hair. Later, as she brushed her now dry hair till it hung neatly, Sheba felt a cold chill suddenly go down her back again. Stronger than the one before. And the feeling that she was being watched came over her again. Sheba stopped and looked around the bunk area again, still seeing nothing out of the ordinary. "Is anyone here?" Sheba asked loudly as she rose from her bunk and looked around the seemingly empty room. No reply came . Nothing but silence. No one was even here but her. She stood quietly for a few centons, then Sheba shook her head and put her stuff away. Opening her storage locker, Sheba brought out the her flight uniform and laid it on her bunk. She tenuously looked around the room again, still unable to shake the feeling that *someone* was watching her. Sheba quickly dressed and hurriedly put her belongings away. The feeling would just not go away. But as far as she could see there was no reason for her to feel the way she did. But she still hurried. As Sheba put her flight jacket on and straightened it, she felt something...like someone stroking her hair, ever so lightly. Sheba stiffened and spun around to see who was there, but there was no one there. Now she was beginning to feel more than a little trepidation as she stepped back a couple of steps. She knew that she felt that - someone touched her hair ever so gently. "Is *anyone* here?" Sheba called out, her voice a little shaky. Silence was her only reply. She looked again around the room and then cautiously walked back to the aisle than ran between the beds. She felt the sense of unease the she experienced earlier return as she began to slowly walk down the aisle to the door, her heart racing as she fought the urge to run from the room. She cautiously looked back, still seeing nothing there, then started walking just a bit faster till she reached the door. It slid open with only a whisper of a sound, breaking the almost unbearable silence. As she stepped into the relative safety of corridor, she turned and looked back again into the room, watching carefully for anything - a movement, a shadow, a sound that someone was there. But she neither saw nor heard anything. Sheba then shook her head and headed down the corridor towards the officer's club at a slightly quickened pace, still uncertain what had just happened to her. But she knew that she just experienced....something. "Sheba!" Sheba just about jumped out of her skin as she spun around in the direction of the voice, her expression startled as the golden haired young woman ran up to her from down the dimly lit corridor. Lt. Brighid. One of the women warriors from the Pegasus. Brighid looked at Sheba concerned. "Sheba, are you all right? I didn't mean to startle you." Brighid asked, the concern evident in her expression. This was something that the young lieutenant had not seen in the normally self-assured woman who had been her squadron commander on the Pegasus. Sheba always seemed in control of any situation. But Brighid's gaze noted the pale pallor and wide eyed expression on Sheba's face. And then she watched as Sheba quickly struggle to get herself under control. Sheba looked back at the concerned expression of Brighid and felt a twinge of remorse for being so jumpy. Sheba worked to get her rapid breathing under control along with her jumpy nerves and racing heart. This was just silly. It was only Brighid, a woman Sheba had known for yahrens. But she knew instinctively that it wasn't Brighid back in her sleeping quarters. Who or whatever had been watching her then and touched her hair. "Sheba? Maybe I should get a hold of the Captain_." Brighid started to say as she looked at the normally assured woman in front of her. "NO!" Sheba said forcibly, but shakily. She did not need that. Apollo would start asking her all sorts of questions and she didn't need that. Not after the anger she had felt towards him earlier today. In fact still felt. "I'm fine Brighid. Really." Sheba assured the woman in front of her. Brighid tried looking into Sheba's normally expressive eyes, then still not fully reassured, accepted grudgingly Sheba's assurances. "Colonel Tigh wants to see you right away." Sheba looked slightly puzzled. What would the Colonel want with her? Brighid must have seen the question in Sheba's expression for she dispelled that question in Sheba's mind with a simple reply. "The word has come from the teams that the planet has been found to be safe. The fueling teams are getting ready to launch and the Colonel wants you to fly with the escort." Sheba excitement at the prospect of going to the planet overrode her feelings that she had just had microns ago. Jubilation at the thought that Apollo had changed his mind. Sheba quickly started towards the bridge to meet with Colonel Tigh, with Brighid at her heels. ********* Silently amongst the shadows, she appeared. Beside her, around her multi colored lights glimmered and shone in the dimness of the corridor. Keenan felt anger at that micron and it wasn't directed at the humans that she was assigned to observe, but at a member of her own species. The others that accompanied her knew that she was angry and why. All except the one that she was angry at. He seemed totally unconcerned about her emotions. "Innnnnteressssting, wouldn't you ssssssay, Keenan?" The oldest member of their group said softly. "In what way, ancient one?" Keenan asked as she tried to get her emotions back under control. It would not do for her to speak in anger at a member of her order. Other pressing matters were at hand and she needed to focus her attention on that instead of feeling useless emotions and acting upon them. It would defeat the whole purpose of what they had to do. And it would not advance her any further within the order. She needed to remain aloof from the proceedings. In control. She was in charge of this assignment. She was the observer. "Ttttthatttt woooomannn. Ssssshe sssensssed our presssenccce. Ssssshe knew weeee werrrree hereeee." "No." Keenan dismissed the ancient one's observation. "She did not sense our presence. No. What she felt was Elyas foolishly touching the human female." The one called Elyas said quietly. "It was not foolish as you say Keenan. It was an observation. To see if the humans have changed or evolved to a higher plain as the centuries have passed." "It was totally unnecessary to touch her Elyas. We are here to observe these humans by sight only, not by touch. To gather pertinent facts and information on which to base our decision about this species. It is not how they look or 'feel' that will determine their continued existence, but how they act and perform when faced with a life-threatening test. What they choose to do when placed in a such a situation will be true test of their species." Keenan stood straighter as she looked at the humans that walked by her, unaware of her presence. "We have chosen the ones that we will test. How well or how poorly they do will decide the fate of their people." The ancient one spoke. "I feel that tessssting this sssspeciesss again is not calllled for. They wereeee found to be barbaric, viollllent, unworrrrthy of continued ssssurvival." Keenan turned and looked at the ancient one. "You dare question what the council has decided?" "This is a ussselessss wasssste of enerrrgy and time. Judgement wasss passssed many centuriessss ago about this speciessss. The councccilll ssshould sssstand by thattt decccission." Another one of the lights spoke "But what if they have grown and evolved? Became more 'civilized' in their actions towards themselves and others that are very different than they are?" The ancient one's voice carried a hard edge as he replied, "They are only conccccerned about themssselvessss. They care nothing about racessss and ssspeciesss that are very different than they are. They only wissssh to conquer, pilfer another'sss wealth and the ensssslave them for their own amussssement and pleassssure" "I agree." Another of the lights said, her voice carried a note of disdain. Keenan turned her attention to the wise one. "They don't even care about others of their own kind" Keenan stated quietly. She had to agree with the ancient one but she also had her role to fulfill. "They enslave other humans on other worlds, rob them of their self respect and personal freedoms. Then use and abuse them for their own pleasure. A race like that will never change, no matter how much time has passed." "I too have doubts about any change in this race, Wise one. But the council has so ordered that we examine and test these humans. And that we will do." Keenan folded her arms across her chest as a self-satisfied hint of a smile flicked across her face. "And if they fail their test, as we know they shall, then the council will have no choice by to eradicate the race from all existence." Keenan could hear the others voice thier agreement with her. All except Elyas. He let Keenan know the extent of his displeasure at her attitude. "You have condemned them, Keenan, in your own mind. To have decided that they are doomed before they have the chance to properly prove their worth. You are not impartial, and that is an important part of your role as leader of this circle. Impartially. It is the cornerstone of what we strive to achieve. Fairness. An open mind. The ability to judge on the here and now and not the distant past." Elyas' scorn was felt by all. "Maybe the council should ask another circle to judge these humans. One that is not so bias." Elyas was silent and Keenan stood there, mulling over his words. The others waited in silence. Elyas had made a serious charge against Keenan. One that was not made lightly. "You feel that they have changed for the better, Elyas?" Keenan asked, trying to carefully mask her skepticism in her voice. Elyas could be a problem. One that Keenan did not need or want. This test was her chance to prove herself to the council. And she would not let him stand in her way. Elyas was thoughtful for a micron, then replied, "They should be given the opportunity to prove themselves. Without holding the mistakes of others that came before them against them." Keenan thought about what he said, then nodded her agreement. "Alright Elyas. I will be open minded and will judge this group as though no other of their species came before them. But be warned, Elyas, the council will not look kindly on a member of the group who wishes to start trouble." Elyas transmitted his agreement with what Keenan proposed. "BUT if they are found to be unchanged, you will never again question my decisions. Understood?" Elyas understood. He just hoped that his trust in time and evolution was not misplaced. But from what he gathered by touching the female, this was going to be a very interesting test. *********** Starbuck quickly jumped out of his viper, tossing his helmet to Jenny, and giving her a thumbs up greeting. He really didn't have more time for pleasantries and knew Jenny knew that too. And he had to make his report about the planet to the Commander, but Starbuck felt that at this point could wait. He knew that the Commander had a multitude of reports to go through about the planet. Then Starbuck felt a shiver go down his spine. The normally brash and impulsive lieutenant had been anxiously waiting for the time to arrive that he could leave that planet far behind. It had been too spooky. Like he was reviewing an old vid on the IFB. Only this one he had lived. And he didn't want to repeat the experience. Not now_not ever. And he knew that he did not want to have to live the emotional upheaval all over again. And he had to shield someone else from it too. Starbuck had to find Apollo. He felt this unexplainable driving _need_ to find his friend. That planet. Starbuck shook his head impercievably as he walked. That planet. Kobol. It looked just like Kobol. The planet that had caused more grief than happiness as far as Starbuck was concerned. He had not been there when the fleet had initially discovered Kobol. He had been captured by the cylons. But to his surprise and amazement, he had been released by Baltar. Brie and then Athena had been the first persons to greet him on his arrival there. Then Apollo had flew down and hugged his friend in happiness. But that mood had changed quickly when Apollo found out what Starbuck had been released from. Then the cylons attacked and Starbuck had to lead a bunch of inexperienced warriors into battle. Many had died out there. The only saving grace was that the stricken warriors from the Galactica had rallied themselves and came to their rescue. Starbuck and Dietra had returned to Kobol to find Apollo, Serina and Adama. Then, suddenly the cylon had appeared. Starbuck had felt his heart stop as he had turned at an unexplained sound and saw the cylon point his weapon at Apollo and Serina's unsuspecting backs. He had barely gotten out his warning when Serina was shot and Apollo stood there in shock looking down at his wounded wife. Starbuck acted along with Dietra and the Commander. The look that Starbuck saw on his best friend's face was one that still haunted him sometimes, if he allowed himself to remember.. And now that he was in love with Cassie, Starbuck fully understood the tormented and anguished expression that had been on Apollo's face. As they had flown Serina back to the Galactica, Starbuck had seen something else in Apollo's eyes - resignation. Apollo knew as Starbuck did that Serina was not going to make it. The wounds were too serious, the damage too severe. Starbuck walked out of the landing bay and into the corridor that would lead him to the decontamination unit. With a nod the officer in charge, he entered the chamber and listened to the door silently shut behind him. His thoughts drifted back to the planet. To the feelings that Starbuck couldn't explain. To the dream that he had been having lately. To the dream that Cassie had been having lately also. Then finally to Apollo and the inconsistency of his actions. Apollo was not telling whatever it was that he knew. Whatever was bothering him about that planet. Starbuck would almost swear that Apollo knew somehow about that planet and what it looked like, without ever being there. But that was impossible, thought Starbuck as he pushed that thought from his mind. There is no way that Apollo could know what that planet looked like. Even with the reports that Sheba and Bojay completed, both verbal and written. Apollo would have to see the planet to know. But a shiver passed through Starbuck again. But he could almost _swear_ that Apollo knew. But how? No, Starbuck thought to himself. It was impossible. Then Starbuck stopped and looked at the empty corridor ahead of him with a sense of wonder on his face. Or was it? Starbuck thought back to his dream. He had been on a desert world. What if...just what if Apollo was having the same dream? Starbuck put his hands on his hip and leaned back against the coolness of the bulkhead. No, that was impossible. Two people could not and CAN not have the same dream. Then just what was wrong with Apollo?! His actions were totally out of character. Starbuck knew Apollo longer than anyone aboard this battlestar, with the exception of Adama and Athena. And he _knew_ Apollo in ways that neither one of them did. Nothing was making sense to Starbuck. Nothing at all. Not the planet, not his dream, not Apollo's actions, and not Cassie's dream. Starbuck pulled the reins on his frustration and pushed his tumult of unexplainable thoughts to the back of his mind as he started down the corridor again to the launching area. Suddenly, Starbuck felt something very cold run across the back of his neck. It suddenness and intensity of the cold shocked Starbuck so much that he spun around and looked down the deserted corridor behind him. Nothing. No one. He turned his attention from the corridor to the vents above his head and placed a hand to the ventilation system in the wall. The air was warm and comfortable. Nothing to explain the coldness that he just experienced. Starbuck, his senses on alert, slowly walked down the strangely quiet corridor and was grateful when the doors silently slid open to admit him to the launch bay. Starbuck expelled a sigh of relief as the doors slid shut behind him as he saw the hustle and bustle of the launch bay. Starbuck looked over and saw Sargent Jarlath from Silver Spar looking over a print out, before signing it and handing the clip board back to his ground crew supervisor. "Sargent Jarlath," called Starbuck, motioning the man to come over to him with a wave of his hand. The Sargent responded quietly with a nod of his head, then made his way over to where Starbuck stood. "Yes Sir?" "Have you seen Captain Apollo around anywhere? "Why yes sir, over there with Lt. Treasa going over our orders." Starbuck raised his eyebrow slightly as he silently wondered where these pilots were heading to. The fueling teams had already launched when Starbuck himself left the planet and it's escort squadron with it. So where were these ships headed? He pushed this question also to the back of his mind. He was sure that he would find out the answer to that question along with the rest of the unanswered questions he had. Just as soon as he could corner the elusive captain. Suddenly, Starbuck saw opportunity stare him right in the face and thanked the lords for his luck. There, standing with Lt. Treasa was his quarry. Starbuck was too intent on finding answers to his questions that he didn't notice the stress that played over the Captain's features and demeanor. The lines of worry and the shadow of fatigued cast a cloud over Apollo. The officers and crew in this bay thought that maybe the captain was just overworked and needed time to rest. So they made sure that the preparation for the assignment that they had to do were completed efficiently. To take some stress off their flight commander. Starbuck was intent on his own agenda. As Starbuck walked over to Apollo and silently waited as Apollo looked over the forms that the young woman who stood patiently beside him needed to complete her job. The young Ariean woman sighed quietly with a mixture of relief mixed with admiration for the dark-haired captain as Apollo signed the final military paperwork needed. She took the forms from him with a nod of her head as she smiled a shy smile in his direction, then left as Apollo turned and almost walked straight into Starbuck. "Care to introduce us?" Starbuck asked innocently, his blue eyes flashed with male admiration as he looked over to the retreating form of the young woman in question. Apollo looked from Starbuck to the retreating form of the shapely lieutenant and shook his head. "You must have a death wish." Apollo replied quietly, the slightest hint of a smile played across his lips. He knew Starbuck always had an eye for the ladies, and even Apollo had to admit that the young Arieian woman was very lovely. "Why do you say that?" Starbuck turned his attention back to Apollo. "I'll give you one word." Apollo said as he started over to the rear of the launch area, trying to stay out of the crews way. "Cassiopeia." Starbuck gave his friend his most innocent look. "All I asked for was an introduction." Starbuck replied as he walked beside Apollo, then turned to steal a look at the young woman in question. Apollo seemed to relax a little as he gave Starbuck a knowing look. The lines of stress and fatigue around Apollo's eyes seemed to fade slightly. "And I know just where your 'introductions' go. And Cassie would gladly feed your sorry hide to a pack of hungry lupus." "Oh," Starbuck glanced slyly at Apollo. "And Sheba wouldn't do the same to you if she saw you with that lovely lady? Especially the way that she was looking at you? To which I might add, you were *not* totally immune to." Apollo just looked to the floor and shook his head. "Right now, I think Sheba's thoughts are leaning more towards what the best method of torture is so that I suffer the greatest amount of pain." "Can't honestly say that I blame her for those thoughts. Considering your actions over the past couple of days. Would you care to explain to me what is going on with you?" Starbuck asked with mock casualness. Apollo shot his friend a glance that warned Starbuck to back off. "Nothing is going on with me." Apollo replied casually but with a barely hidden harshness. "You know Apollo, there's an old aquarian proverb that says 'you can fool some people some of the time, but never try to fool your best friend.'" Apollo looked at Starbuck with annoyance. "You just made that up," Apollo replied accusingly. "Maybe," Starbuck moved closer to Apollo, his expression still one of total innocence, but his blue eyes flashed a message that Apollo understood all too well, but chose to ignore. "Apollo, you can fool your father. You can fool Athena. You might even be able to pull a fast one on Boomer. And I happen to know for a fact that Sheba is in the dark about your actions and is totally frustrated. But I _know_ you, Apollo, so come clean with me." Apollo turned away from Starbuck and walked over to the bay duty officer's desk, picking up the print outs of the escort team roster. "There is nothing to come clean about." Apollo muttered angrily. Starbuck marched determinedly over to the desk and placed his hands on his hips, his expression grim. "You know Apollo, you are more stubborn than a Piscian swamp swine. Why can't you just tell me what in hades is bothering you, then we'll deal with it and move on." Apollo started to feel anger rise in him as he listened to Starbuck. He looked at the man who probably knew him better than anyone, including Apollo's family, ready to tell him exactly what he thought right at that micron, when he noticed that Colonel Tigh had entered the bay. Apollo's anger and annoyance with Starbuck evaporated into thin air as he felt a sinking feeling come over him. This was not good. Not at all. Apollo watched as Tigh spotted them and walked over, a computer print out in his hand. "Colonel Tigh." Apollo said respectfully. Starbuck quickly turned his attention to the dark colonel, standing a little straighter. "Captain, lieutenant." Tigh said firmly, almost stiffly as he handed Apollo the papers that he held in his hand. "This is the new print out of the pilots that were sent to fly escort for the fueling teams." Tigh watched Apollo's guarded expression carefully as he said his next words. "I added Lt. Sheba to the escort team." Tigh watched as Apollo's face seemed to pale right before his eyes. The executive officer almost reached out to catch the young man for he thought for a milli-micron that Apollo was going to faint. What in hades was going on with him? Tigh knew he had to stand firm with Adama's son no matter what Tigh thought on a personal level. He just wished the young man would come and confide in him whatever it was that was going on. "Captain, I have no conceivable idea why you made the decision that you did to keep Lt. Sheba within the fleet when a person with her experience and skills are better served on the planet below. " Tigh's voice then dropped. "And I also have no idea what is going on with you right now Apollo, but I will not put up with it. Nothing that I know of warranted Sheba remaining within the fleet doing jobs that a first yahren cadet could have done. Now what ever is bothering you, deal with it! Do I make myself clear?" Apollo nodded stiffly as Tigh stared at him as if he was trying to probe Apollo's psyche, then nodded as he left the two officers standing there. Apollo stared mutely into space for a centon, before he started walking to the other side of the bay. Starbuck continued to stand there almost frozen for a micron trying to comprehend what just transpired between his friend and the colonel. Then, as the shock wore off, he quickly ran after his friend, noticing with some concern that Apollo was headed straight to where their vipers were at the ready for launch. "Apollo, where are you going?" Starbuck asked almost breathlessly as he tried to keep up with Apollo's quickened pace. "To the planet." Apollo said, resignation in his voice Starbuck stopped and stood there, torn between following Apollo to the planet and the report he knew he had to give to Adama. "Oh Lords." Starbuck muttered with dread as he knew what Apollo would find down there. Starbuck only wished he could be there when Apollo saw the planet for himself. ********** Almost a centar later, Apollo stood in the almost oppressing heat of the desert sun, and shivered. As he looked at the two pyramidal structures in front of him, he was reminded of the day that they discovered Kobol, the mother world of all humans. He, his father, and Serina who had just centars before became his wife had walked towards the structures in the bright sunlight. The larger pyramid on the left, the smaller on the right, both still in tact. And next to the smaller pyramid were the ruins of a third smaller structure. And further on were the ruins of a vast city. Apollo walked hesitantly towards the structures, feeling his blood run cold. It was happening again, just like before, just like in his dream. Apollo might have found some perverse humor in the fact that he had a second chance to inspect the ruins that he had wanted so much to explore with Serina on Kobol. He had wished for a chance to investigate them without any military excuses coming into play. Apollo had been a interested in history since he was a boy, enchanted and captivated by the past. But there was no humor of any kind in what was happening here and now. It was happening. Just as in his dream. What dream - it was a nightmare. Sheba had been so excited about this place. The artifacts fascinated her and she had begged him to come down to the planet surface, to explore this place with her. And now against his wishes, Apollo was on the planet. But not for the artifacts, the sunshine, the clean air or the knowledge contained here that they could benefit from. He came down because of one woman. He could have cared less if he ever set foot on this planet. That he ever saw this planet's "wonders." He wanted to be back on the Galactica. He wanted to leave this place far behind him.. Sheba happily ran over to greet Apollo as he made his way through the ruins to where she had stood microns before talking excitedly to Athena, Dietra and Brie. Apollo absently noted that all three women's faces wore the same expressions of dread that he felt. Dietra kept her hand on her laser, alert and ready for anything that moved. Brie's eyes were wide and wary as she looked around at her surroundings, wishing fervently that she was back on the Galactica. Neither woman shared in Sheba's barely contained wonder and excitement at what was before her. And from what Apollo could see, neither did Athena. Athena looked at her brother as he carefully moved to meet the excited Sheba, who greeted him with unbridled excitement. They made a sharp contrast, one to the other. Sheba's face was flushed with her interest and heightened emotions while Apollo's face was very pale and did not look the least bit excited or happy - it could have been set in stone. Athena felt that she could almost sense the turmoil her brother was going through. She knew that there was little that would have gotten Apollo off the Galactica and down to this planet's surface. If Sheba had stayed on the Galactica, that's where her brother would have happily stayed and she knew it. But no, Tigh had sent Sheba to the surface so reluctantly, Apollo came too. Athena wished fervently that Apollo was strong enough emotionally as well as physically to handle being here. A place that reminded him of a great personal tragedy. But Sheba at that micron was blind to what others were seeing. Her excitement at being on this planet bubbled over as she greeted Apollo expectantly, her earlier anger with him was all but forgotten. She was happy that he had finally decided to come down to this planet that was so full of exciting discoveries for her - ones that she wanted to share with Apollo. "Apollo, isn't this place a marvel? Isn't it just awe inspiring?" Sheba looked at Apollo's set face, his unsmiling features. She watched his eyes as they showed his concern. The happiness and excitement that she had felt just microns before vanished as she felt a knot grow in the pit of her stomach. Something was wrong. "Apollo what is it? What's wrong?" Sheba asked urgently. Apollo took Sheba's hand in his as he led her away from the hearing range of the other women, unaware of his sister's worried eyes following them. When he felt that they were a safe distance away from the others, Apollo said quietly. "Let's go back to the Galactica. Let's leave here." Sheba stood staring for a micron at Apollo, her dismay at his suggestion evident on her face. "Apollo, why?" "I don't have the time right now to explain everything to you. Sheba please..." Apollo pleaded with her, his eyes showed the unmasked fear and urgency that he was feeling. "Let me take you back to the Galactica." Sheba stared intently into Apollo's expression, her concern for him and his unusual reaction to this place, then hesitantly Sheba took another look at her surroundings. This time a very detailed, analytical look at what she saw before her. There was something slightly...familiar about this place, but she wasn't sure exactly why. She knew that she had never seen anyplace even remotely like this before, except maybe the ruins on Scorpia when she was a child, so why did it seem almost familiar to her? "Sheba, please." Apollo pleaded with her, his heart felt like it had fallen into the pit of his stomach for her silence bothered him even more than if she was shouting in anger. "Let me take you back to the Galactica, where it's safe." Sheba turned her attention back to Apollo and her confused look changed to one of mild surprise. "Safe?" She asked in a puzzled tone. Sheba was totally confused by Apollo's actions but she knew that she had to find out what was happening to him. "From what? Apollo, please." Sheba wanted to understand what was bothering him so that she could change whatever it was. This planet was so wondrous. So full of undiscovered treasures. She wanted the opportunity to spend some time here and explore. She wanted some time alone with Apollo, who's interest in ancient artifacts was well known. But Apollo's expression did not change as she had hoped for. "Sheba, I can't explain it now. Just let me take you back. . . ." Sheba then looked at him intently, taking in the lines of worry on his face. Slight shadows under his eyes. She gathered herself together for what she had to say, what she didn't want to say. An idea had dawned on her an instant ago, when she noted his eyes. She had always told Apollo that his eyes were like a window into his soul. But she did not even want to touch this subject. They promised each other_ But she now had no choice. "Apollo," Sheba said quietly, her expression one of nervous trepidation as she looked down to the ground and then to him. "I haven't been here before or any place like this in our travels. But_but I've heard about a place like this, haven't I?" Sheba watched his expression become guarded, but she knew then at that micron that she had to say it all. To have it out in the open. No matter how much pain it caused her. "Over 3 yahrens ago, when you and I began our relationship, I heard about this place. Not this place exactly, but one very similar to it." Sheba paused as she gathered some courage to push on. "Kobol." She watched Apollo stiffen as she finished with a painful heart. "Kobol, where Serina died." Sheba knew instantly all that she needed to know from the reaction that Apollo gave her. She averted her eyes to the ground as she struggled regained some control over her rampaging emotions. When she felt she had succeeded in some small way, she gazed back to Apollo, her voice soft, but it sounded volumes in the deafening silence that hung between them. "I guess I was wrong. You haven't totally gotten over her." Sheba tried smiling a mirthless smile even as she felt her eyes begin to swell with unshed tears that she desperately did not want Apollo to see. "I_.I guess I'm still competing for you against a woman whose memory has always had a very firm grip on your heart." Sheba took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. She had to keep control. She was not going to embarrass herself here and now in front of him. She was not going to break down into tears. Not now. There was time enough for that later. "And I guess that even after all this time if it hasn't changed, it's not going to." Sheba removed her hand from his and quickly turned away. Apollo grabbed her arm and turned her back to face him. He felt like he was unable to breathe at that micron. His life was falling apart right before his eyes and he felt powerless to stop it. She just had to be made to understand. "Now you listen to me." Apollo said, his voice tinged with desperation as he placed his hands on Sheba's upper arms, determined to make her stand there and listen to him. "I've been over Serina for a long time now. She is dead and you are alive, here and now. I love you, Sheba." Sheba looked at him, the doubt that she felt creeping into her voice, along with a lot of the hurt. "You love me?" her voice cracked as she stared into Apollo's pale features. "Apollo, look at you. Would you please just take a look at yourself? You want to leave this planet. You want to go back to the Galactica where its 'safe'. Apollo, look at this place." Sheba pleaded. "This is _not_ Kobol. This is a totally different planet light years from that place. It maybe has some of the same characteristics as Kobol, but this is not Kobol." Sheba shook her head as if she was trying to clear her thoughts. "The cylons killed Serina there and we haven't seen any cylons in almost a yahren. Scans show that there is no life whatsoever on this planet besides us. The cylons are not here, no one is here but us. You claim to be over Serina's death but your actions now are saying that you're not." Sheba stepped back from him angrily, shaking off his restraining hand as she tried to hide her hurt behind that anger. "Go back to the Galactica if you want. I want to explore this planet. I want to see what wonders it holds. There is so much here." "I'm not leaving here without you." Apollo said firmly to her, his eyes flashing. He was getting exasperated with Sheba. Why was she being so difficult? Why couldn't he get her to see reason? If she stayed here, there was a good chance that she would die. That he would lose another woman that he loved, and this time, Apollo was very sure that he would never recover again. It had been Sheba that had helped him realize that he could feel again. Feel more than just a distant friendship with a woman. That he could love again. And could allow himself to be truly happy again. Apollo was more than willing to fight to keep what he had. Sheba stared at him, desperately wanting to understand him, but when she tried, all she could see was that the death of a beautiful woman that Apollo loved and married still had a powerful hold on him. And it hurt. It hurt so very much, like a physical pain, only Cassie couldn't treat this kind of pain. Cutting so deep to her soul. Sheba could not see beyond that pain. And her memories of an Apollo that seemed so different than the one that she had came to love so deeply. When she had met Apollo, he was so wrapped up in his grief for Serina that she swore he possibly had a 'death wish.' He volunteered for every high risk mission that came up, Starbuck right beside him. Apollo acted sometimes as though he didn't have the responsibility of being the only parent for a young boy. Serina's son. Then he seemed to change. They got past their animosity and became friends, close friends, and then they fell in love with each other. Sheba had wholeheartedly believed him when he told her that night in the rubble of the Gaziantep with fires burning all around them that he was over Serina. That he was in love with her - Sheba. But now_but now the facts showed otherwise. Sheba sighed in defeat, as she averted his eyes, then brought them slowly back up to look at him. "I guess you're going to have to, because I'm not leaving here Apollo. I volunteered to go with your father to explore the tombs and I plan to do just that." Apollo looked at her surprised. "My father isn't here." "No yet. But he should be here in about 3 centars. He wants to explore the ruins for himself. Starbuck is accompanying him." Sheba felt as though a knife was twisting in her heart as she carefully shrugged off Apollo's restraining hands and slowly backed away from him. The distance between them seemed to be as wide as the Arian Canyons and just as deep. Sheba didn't know how to reach him, or if she wanted to again. The only thought repeating itself in her mind was that he still loved Serina_and that she had to get away from him before she embarrassed herself by breaking down and giving into the pain that she was experiencing. With the strongest voice that she could muster, which still sounded weak to her ears, she said, "Go back to the Galactica, Apollo. Go mourn your wife." Sheba shook her head as she stepped back a couple of more steps, then said firmly, "Just go back to mourning Serina. Maybe that's the best thing for both of us." With that, Sheba quickly turned and ran from Apollo as fast as she could. Apollo stood there, shocked, unsure of what to say or do. Sheba was hurt - deeply hurt. He could see that in her dark eyes. She didn't understand. All he wanted to do was *protect* her! Keep her alive and safe with him. He loved her - Sheba. Not Serina, at least not anymore. Serina was dead. She was nothing more than a short but sweet memory. A very brief time in his past. What in the frack was wrong with her? Apollo mulled over her parting comment. It sounded like she was putting and end to their relationship by telling him to go back to mourning Serina. Like hell he will! Apollo took off in the direction that Sheba ran in with a mixture of frustration and urgency. He had to make her understand! There was no other choice. The dream, rather the nightmare by his way of thinking, was too real. He had felt the heat of the desert and the sand stinging his face. It was too, too real. And now this place. With a urgent sense of determination, Apollo caught up with Sheba as she was quickly walking towards the pyramids in the distance. He reached out and grabbed her arm, swinging her around to face him. Her face registered the surprise she felt by his actions. "Now you wait a micron. You're not walking away from me like that. Not after everything we've been through together and what we mean to each other. And don't tell me to go back to mourning Serina. You might as well say that was over from the moment I saw a holovid of you in your father's quarters. I love you, Sheba, so don't you dare walk away from me like this. Yes, I loved Serina and I married her almost 4 yahrens ago. Those are facts and my past. But she is dead, Sheba. She is dead. Died before you ever came on board the Galactica. Before I ever even knew of your existence." Sheba fought with herself as she gathered her rampaging emotions and said, "But you are not over her. Look at you. Look at your reaction to this planet. It is not Kobol, Apollo, and we both know I am not Serina nor am I anything like her. I just can't compete for you with such a perfect woman." She sighed and said mournfully as she looked at Apollo's determined face. "And I guess I won't. I'm done, Apollo. I just can't do this anymore. I just hope that some day that I find a man loves me as much as you love Serina." Sheba felt numb all over at that moment as she smartly turned and walked away, fighting the urge to run as fast as she could.. Apollo stood there for a micron, shocked at what just happened. This was not what he had planned. Not at all! "We are not 'done' Sheba!" Apollo said angrily after her. "I was stupid enough to give up on us once and realized that I couldn't live without you. I will not let you repeat my mistakes." Sheba stopped but didn't turn around, and sighed. "Just give it up, Apollo. Serina has won. I concede to her memory. Please don't make this any harder than it already is. I promise to stay away from you and not intrude anymore. Now if you don't mind, I have a very fascinating planet to explore." With that, Sheba quickly walked away. Apollo stood there, wishing he could hit something. He would probably feel better. How could he explain to Sheba that a dream was making him this way, not the continued mourning of Serina? He even had to admit that he had mourned Serina above and beyond what people would have considered 'normal'. But what they had been through during that span of time would not have been considered normal either by any stretch of the imagination. And Apollo supposed that guilt played a factor in his mourning also. Zac had died because he left him behind and his mother died because they had not been there to save her. A thought crossed Apollo's mind. Maybe the dream was just that - a dream, because now aspects of it had changed. Well, he still wasn't willing to take the chance. Sheba was not going to die on this planet - not if he could stop it. And neither was he. ********** Dr Iaian of Libra was beside himself and he knew the reasons why. It didn't take a 'seer' to know what the problems were. He just wished he knew how to solve them. Most of his problems centered around Joscelyne. How she had been acting towards him since he had been a fool and told her about his feelings for her. He had honestly thought that after 4 yahrens that she was over Mikhos. But it seemed that maybe he had miscalculated her emotions in this matter. And now he was afraid that maybe, just maybe, he had lost her for good. Her love and her friendship. Iaian ran his hand through his light brown hair as he looked at the large stone remains of an old temple and sighed. She was so different when he first met her. Lighthearted, carefree, eager to grasp life with both hands. And he had fallen for her as hard as any man could. Unfortunately for him, she had met Mikhos first. His overly handsome, charming friend. And the hardest part of all was that Iaian was nothing like his friend. Mikhos had a way with words where Iaian had always wished he could sound as witty and charming as his friend. Mikhos always said that if Iaian just had some self confidence, that he would be able to go far. But Iaian never had been overly abundant in that department either. Iaian shook his head in resignation and entered the ruins. As Iaian walked through the still standing doorway, his lantern cast his shadow over the light yellowish beige colored stone walls. He gave a passing glance at the paintings that started to show up on the walls of the passageway, but he only mentally noted them in the back of his mind, promising himself that he would look at them later. He would make sure that a team came and took holopics of all of these hyroglyphics for later study. Iaian glanced at the drawing of a man with a young boy as he proceeded down the corridor. He found his thoughts drifting to his father, a most disagreeable man who was now long dead. A man, Iaian felt, never knew what love was or how to give it to his children. But especially Iaian. His own father never believed in his second son or his choice of a profession. No, his father had been a colonial warrior. Assigned to the Columbia. Leader of the Squadrons and a person for his men to believe in. A man who commanded and demanded respect. A brilliant and highly respected officer. Unlike Commander Adama, his father had always put his career first before his family. His visits home few and far between, which often disappointed his mother and his siblings. But not Iaian. He never looked forward to his father's visits because all his father did was find fault with what he did. Unlike his older brother, Iaian had never been drawn to the Colonial Service. His mind had been into tales of the past. Studying the ancient text, the rituals of the ancestors, even going as far as to delving into the black arts at times, until his fear of what could happen if he dabbled too far into that spectrum stopped him from exploring that route. He studied the Books of the Lords and the Book of the Word in detail. Spent long hours reading over the latest studies and discoveries from digs all over the twelve worlds and beyond. His profession had chosen him at a young age. Iaian's worse nightmare came true the day that he had been called to his father's study on one of the rare occasions he visited his family. Iaian had been ready to graduate and his father had assumed that his second son would follow his footsteps as his older son had done, straight to the Libra Military Institute. It had taken all of the courage Iaian could muster to oppose his father's demands, and in the process, Iaian had lost his father's time and attention, which to Iaian was no great loss to begin with. His older brother had always been first. Then came Iaian's two sisters, then Iaian, himself. His father had told him that there were great adventures out in space. That being in the colonial service was the way to go. Well, Iaian felt that he was living a great adventure now. His father, his mother, his brother were all dead. Only he and his two sisters had escaped the destruction that fateful night. And as for being a warrior, Iaian felt that he was serving his commander very well in the capacity he was assigned to. He was fortunate to have a commander such as Adama, who understood the need to know about the past, and how the past influenced the future. Iaian's dismal and depressing thoughts were interrupted as he suddenly came upon a very large room. Stones were scattered throughout as though they had fallen from the structure of the temple itself. But a quick glance around the room with his lantern assured Iaian that no stones were missing in either the walls, ceiling or floor. Why were these stones here? As Iaian cast his light around the room he noted more drawings on the wall, but they were unlike the ones that were painted in the corridor. In fact, as Iaian looked closer at what was before him, the drawings on the walls were unlike any that Iaian had ever seen before anywhere. Dark and foreboding, they looked at him as though they could actually *see* him and were observing his every move. Iaian shivered in reaction, backed slowly away then turned cautiously and moved further into the room. For some reason, the hair on the back of his neck seemed like it was rising and he wished he knew why. Those paintings were unsettling, but not enough to give him the feelings that he was experiencing now. He almost looked back at those paintings but decided not too. His imagination was beginning to run away with him. No painting can be *watching* you. That was impossibile. Iaian carefully walked over to one of the larger stones setting on the floor of the room, then moved to the stone quickly at what he saw there. To his amazement, there were outlines all over the stone that showed him there were ancient writings on these stone. Moving his light closer, he leaned over and gently brushed the sand and debris away so that he could make out what was there, curious as to what the writings contained there had to say. He knew that he would be unable to clean this stone properly and noted that he had to bring the team in here to record the markings for later study. But this was a discovery that made his curiosity even more abundant. After a few centons though, something caught his attention as he slowly picked up his lantern, moving around the stone he was studying to what had caught his attention. Iaian was puzzled as he looked at what seemed to be the largest of the stones there in the room. Much larger than any of the others. So large that Iaian wondered how the builders of the temple got this stone here in the first place. There was no way that it would have ever fit down that narrow passage that he came down. The stone before him was just huge. It stood up to his waist and was long enough for a person or a number of persons to lie on. He wasn't sure what it was used for, but one grisley thought came to mind. At least if it was used for an altar, Iaian didn't want to even imagine what kind of altar it was used for. He could see that it was a very dark stone, it looked almost black in color underneath all the debris that had collected on it over the yahrens, but Iaian was unsure just what color the stone actually was in this light. Or even what kind of stone it was. It seemed to have collected quite a bit of sand deposits on it over the millennia. But it was the writings on the top and on the sides of the massive stone that fascinated him to no end. Writings that he was unsure if he had ever seen before, like the paintings in the passage or the paintings on the wall in this chamber. Iaian carefully looked at the rock that laid before him. The writings were intriguing in themselves. As he studied them closely, he could see that they were variations of some of the writings that he had seen in the Archives on Libra. So usual. Now Iaian's curiosity was starting to become heightened as he gently bushed away the sand and debris that seemed to have gathered in the carvings over time. Images came forth with more clarity but the markings were still not relating themselves in his mind. Only a smattering of the symbols he had seen before and he thought he knew their meaning. Words like 'cold,' 'test,' and 'survival' leapt out at him as he brushed away more and more debris. Iaian pulled an instrument out of his pack and began to use the thin metal pick to pull hardened sand out of the deep carvings. It looked to him like a mixture of carvings of the ancient languages that he had seen on Scorpia, or Tauria. Even in the tropical jungles of Piscia. Iaian's curiosity engulfed him. The word 'Guardian' leapt out at him. What was all this meaning? A crash behind him startled him as he jumped at the loud sound. He felt a bit of nervousness come over him as he looked around the darkened room. Maybe he should not have impulsively come in here by himself. No one knew where he was and that was against the first rule of excavating old ruins. Tell someone where you will be at all times. Iaian felt foolish that he had let his concern of Joscelyne and his problems with her override his caution. After looking around the chamber for several centons, observing no movement or anything the least bit threatening, Iaian sighed and decided to take one last close look at the stone before he left to bring a team back. This was an interesting discovery and he found it difficult to leave it. He moved the light over closer to the stone so he could make out more details. As he looked closer at the writings, Iaian suddenly felt a chill come over him, but he ignored it, thinking that it was just the dampness of the millennia old ruins. He uncovered another symbol --- this one meant 'danger' and Iaian stopped for a micron in surprise. He wished he understood what the symbols in between these others meant. Then the meanings of the ones he understood would be clearer to him. Moving his light to sit on the stone, he cleaned out another symbol. This one meant 'death' and Iaian leaned back to observe what he had uncovered, his mind whirling with conflicting thoughts. The symbols, their meaning. And for some reason the darkened chamber seemed colder than it was a few centons ago. Iaian absently rubbed his arm as he looked closely at the symbols. "Run." Iaian about jumped out of his skin at the sound of the whispered voice. He spun around looking for whoever had said that to him. He felt a rush of adrenaline as he looked warily around the darkness. "Who's_.there?" He asked the darkness, but silence was all that he heard. That mingled with his own rapid breathing and racing heartbeat. Slowly he turned and looked around the tomb fighting the fear that clawed at his being. His thoughts strayed to the fact that no one knew where he was and he kicked himself again for his stupidity. For some reason the cold felt like it had grown even colder and a strange odor mingled with the damp and musty air. It smelled so strange, not repulsive but almost. . . lulling. Iaian felt slightly tired as he turned and picked up the lantern, knowing that he had to leave this place now. Unsure of what was happening, but knew that something was. Iaian started to attempt to quickly walk over to the passageway that had brought him here. His legs felt suddenly heavy and it seemed to him that it was more difficult for him to walk. And that strange odor was becoming stronger, almost overpowering. "Oh my God, " he said, but his words sounded slurred as he said them. Iaian knew that he was in trouble. Serious trouble. No one knew where he was. No one even knew where to begin to look for him. He leaned against the wall as he stumbled over to it, leaning against the images that just centons ago he had thought looked dark and foreboding. Now he was leaning against them, trying to gather the strength that he felt ebbing from him. Cold. The wall was very cold. He pushed himself away from it and tried to make it to the passage that he knew was only small metrons away from him, but it seemed like light yahrens. Suddenly, he saw something. . . or rather someone standing in front of him. A woman. A very beautiful woman. What was she doing here? His thoughts were becoming cloudy and muddled as he tried to focus his blurring eyesight on the woman before him. Why was she just standing there? Where did she come from? At that micron, Iaian didn't really care to have the answers to his questions, all he knew was that she was there and could help him get out of this place. "Help. . . help me. . . please," Iaian asked as he felt darkness start to come over his mind. He thought he saw the woman smile, but to him it wasn't a warm smile, a friendly smile. Or even an assisting smile. It seemed almost. . . evil to him. Like she was pleased at what was happening to him. "No," he heard her say. "You are one of the selected. You must help yourself." Iaian felt himself drop to his knees as he heard the clatter of the lantern falling out of his limp hands to the stone floor in the back of his mind. As the darkness won in his mind and his body fell towards the sand covered stone floor, he could of sworn he heard her say, "If your people wish to survive." ********** In the intense reddish hue of setting of the planet's sun, Sheba quietly stood looking at the outside of the pyramid that rose from the desert before her. The stones were weathered and crumbling, looking like they were made of the same sand that made up this desert world. Had the ancients that built these structures made the blocks out of the sand? Or had they transported these stones from another location on this world? A place that the colonials has not seen yet. Where ever they came from, Sheba was in awe at the sheer size of the structure. She had seen structures like this on Scorpia, Canceria, and Leo but none of those structures matched this one for its sheer overall size. Sheba started to walk around the structure. Many tribes on Scorpia believed that the pyramid was the source of great spiritual power and healing. The healer from the tribe would stand directly underneath the point of the pyramid where an altar stood and would use herbs and incantations to wield great power. Her mother had told her that in ancient times, the altar was used to give sacrifices to the gods and to expand on the power of the healer. But those had ended hundreds of yahrens ago. Just after the beginning of the war with the thousand yahren war with the cylons. Her mother had told her that the people had made great advances in knowledge since those times. Sometimes she wondered about the healing power of the pyramids for when she would go to Scorpia to visit her mother's tribe, she saw some things that she had termed then as miraculous. Her father had scoffed at it, being a typical Gemon, but her father had told her that he never would say anything in front of her mother against her tribes beliefs. In fact, when her mother was dying, Cain himself had gone and asked the healer to help her. To save his beloved wife. But the healer had told him that he was too late. There was nothing he could do. After her mother died, Sheba never went to the great desert of Scorpia again. Now she wondered if prayer to the gods would heal her - would give her the wisdom to understand and accept what she had to do. As a warrior, she had been trained by her father to look at the whole aspect of the situation. To analyze the possible moves of an opponent. But that didn't work in her present situation. Apollo was not a battlefield or an enemy. And if she tried to analyze him, her emotions got in the way. And now, her heart was ripped apart. Instead of him ending the relationship, this time she did it. Over a planet. Over a memory. Sheba paused. Over a ghost. As Sheba deeply sighed and as she looked up at the point of the pyramid, she wondered if any person could successfully compete with a ghost. She had seen the holopictures and watched Caprican Broadcasting footage of Serina. Sheba even had to admit that the woman was beautiful. Ethereal. A delicate quality about her. Very feminine, but she also had a certain strength of spirit about her. Sheba was different in some ways. She was raised to be a warrior. Her parents never could have any more children and she knew that her father was disappointed that he would never have a son to follow his footsteps. So Sheba had tried to fill those shoes. While other girls were dressed in fancy dresses and ribbons in their hair, Sheba dressed like a boy and ran with the boys. She played their games, participated in their sports, and had more male friends than female ones. Her goals were different than any of her female friends. She wanted to be a pilot. Women were not viper pilots, but she was determined to follow her dream. And follow her esteemed father's footsteps. Prove once and for all that she was worthy of being the child of the legendary Cain. The only time Sheba regretted her decisions and choices was when she was in the Academy. She was attracted to a cadet who was not the least bit interested in a woman who had aspirations of becoming a viper pilot. He had told Sheba that if she would act more like a woman then maybe he would have been interested in her. She had remembered that barbed comment and how deeply it had hurt her. She never told anyone but her friend Moira about what had happened. Moira had been angry, defending Sheba by saying that the cadet was not worthy of having such a woman as Sheba. But then helped Sheba in toning down the strength of her character, assisting her in developing a more feminine image, to the surprise of her mother and the disdain of her father. Sheba knew that her mother had hoped for such a change in her and her father feared it. Cain worried that some man would take advantage of her or hurt her if she was totally feminine. She guessed her father's fears came true but in the opposite direction, because Sheba had been rejected because of her strength and determination. For her dreams and not for having a totally "feminine' image. In time, she outgrew being a nieve 16 yahren old and realized that the boy had been too weak to handle a woman with Sheba's character. He wanted a woman to submit to his will. That was one thing she would never, ever do. Moira had told Sheba when her friend had came to say goodbye as the Pegasus left on it's mission to Molokai, that she should not change herself to please a man's image, but just be herself. That the man who was Sheba's destiny would value her strength and determination. And Sheba thought she had found that man in Apollo. There were times that he was so stubborn and so determined that he even wore her down. But there were times when the same was true about her and she wore him down. But Sheba also knew that you can't compete with a ghost. A memory. Now one that had its grip so firmly around Apollo's heart and mind. Sheba sighed and walked over to sit quietly on the rocks that were a short distance from the pyramid. She had walked a ways from camp trying to deal with her emotional turmoil while still performing her duty. But there was only so much that you could hide from your close friends. Cassie and Dietra had tried to draw her out a noon meal. So had Athena. It had been hard for Sheba not to tell the woman who was her friend as well as Apollo's sister what was wrong. That her relationship was over with Apollo. Sheba hoped that when Athena did find out, that she would not lose the young woman's friendship. Sheba valued it as she did her other friendships. It was Athena who told her earlier before noon meal that her brother had returned to the Galactica, but did not say why. Even though Sheba appreciated that bit of information, it just made her even more depressed for it proved what she said to Apollo earlier was true. He had left just like she told him to do. He had left and gone back to mourning Serina. And Sheba was left alone. As she sat quietly in the now star lit darkness of night, Sheba wrestled with her hurt and other emotions, trying to make sense of everything that had happened over the past several days. And trying to figure out how she was going to be able to work with Apollo after her return to the battlestar. So wrapped up in her own misery, Sheba didn't hear the person come up from behind her. Apollo walked up from the direction of camp and quietly stood behind her. Part of him wanted to yell at her for wandering this far from camp alone on an alien planet. But another part of him wanted to just hold her and kiss her until she quit being stubborn, jealous and saw his reasoning. Until she believed him that he loved her. He had been angry that he had been recalled to the Galactica to handle a problem with the fuel transfer on one of the ships. But he hurried back as fast as he could. Apollo had been worried when he couldn't find her and had been relieved when Athena had finally told him where Sheba had gone off to. He ignored the anger and the questions that filled his sister's eyes and had hurried off to find Sheba. As he looked at the woman sitting there quietly, he wished he knew what to say to her to make her understand. Maybe he should just open up and tell her everything. Apollo took a deep breath began. "Now are you ready to calmly talk about this?" Apollo asked her quietly. Sheba quickly brushed her tears away, hoping Apollo didn't see them for she knew how he hated to see a woman cry. She sat a bit straighter as she worked to make sure her voice was steady, keeping her back turned to Apollo. "Just please go away Apollo. Don't make this any harder than it already is. I promised to stay out of your way. Can't you give me the same courtesy?" "No." Apollo said pointedly. "No I can't. Because I don't want to stay away from you. I never agreed to this idea of yours. I don't want to end this relationship. This is all your idea. You're the one who wants this separation. I sure as hell don't." "It's for the best." Sheba's voice wavered slightly, as she kept looking straight ahead of her into the darkness. Apollo walked the rocks and stood in front of her, looking intently at her. "The best for whom, Sheba? For me? I definitely don't think its best for me. For you? Early in our relationship, you accused me of running from our problems. Being unwilling to discuss them with you and work them out together. Now your doing it." Sheba raised her head and looked at him angrily. It hurt Apollo to see her tears, but the anger that flashed in her dark eyes gave him some hope. "You are doing it, Sheba." Apollo put his arms across his chest and looked at her. "We need to talk." Sheba's face set in a stubborn look. She was not accepting what he said. "I thought we said everything that we had to say." "No, you did all the talking. I tried but you were not in the listening mood." "I thought you went back to the Galactica. Where its safe." Sheba said that last word with a sarcastic edge to her voice. "You just want to be difficult, don't you?" Sheba looked at him, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "If you think that I'm so difficult, why are you here wasting your time with me?" Apollo grinned and Sheba felt her heart melt. "I like challenges." Then his expression turned serious. "And I love you." Sheba's heart missed a beat as she wanted to desperately believe what he said, but then reality took over. He wouldn't be acting like this if he loved Sheba as he said he did. Maybe he just didn't realize how he was acting. How much his actions pointed to the fact that he still loved Serina. Sheba looked down and shook her head. "Serina_" Apollo quickly interrupted her. "Serina has nothing to do with this. She has nothing to do with why I want to take you back to the Galactica. I want to protect you, Sheba. Is that so hard for you to understand and accept? God, I know we had a rough beginning. And I thank the lords that you stuck it out with me through all my doubts and my own need to not be hurt again." "Before you ever came to the Galactica, I loved a woman who I thought I would spend the rest of my life with. Then she died. She died because I turned by back, dropped my guard. I was standing right beside her, my hand was on her arm. Starbuck shouted a warning but the cylon was faster than I was. That part alone was very hard to accept. The fact that I loved her and she was dead was hard. Boxey was an orphan, having lost his father not very long before the destruction and then his mother just a sectar after. But I love him and I am raising him as my son." "Then I met you and I felt a strong attraction to you, but everything started out all wrong. Then I felt this need to protect myself because you were a warrior and warriors die. But then I realized later that you were taking the same risk as I am every day. I wasn't being fair to you or myself by trying to place restrictions on you, a warrior with your skills, your instincts. And over time we have worked a lot of things out. I thought we had worked out Serina. But I guess I was wrong, but it will be worked out once and for all. I promise you that we are going talk everything out about Serina. Every single doubt or worry you have will be discussed and taken care of. And we will never have to discuss Serina again. And you will have no doubts left as to how much I love you." "Apollo, this planet and your reaction to it_" "Is because of a dream I've been having." Apollo laughed mirthlessly. "More like a nightmare." Recognition came across Sheba. "The one that woke you the other night_" "Same one. One that I have been having for over a secton. And in it you were the one dying as I held you. Then last night, it changed. Both of us died here." "Oh my god_" "I don't want you here because I don't want to lose you. I don't want you to die and I don't want to die either. We have a future together. The only thing that Serina's memory has to do with it is that the location looks exactly like it was on Kobol. And the woman I love dies." "The cylons shoot me_or rather both of us?" Apollo shook his head. "I saw something but not cylons. I don't know what or who. I never seem to get a good enough look. But my father, sister and Starbuck are there with us in the dream. Just as they are now." Sheba got up and stood in front of Apollo, looking into his eyes. "Apollo_" "I am not going to let that nightmare become reality." Apollo said determinedly. "Why didn't you just tell me about this in the beginning, Apollo? Why did it have to come down to this for you to tell me about what was bothering you?" Sheba looked at him, worried both about Apollo and his dream. Apollo shook his head and looked at her, wishing he could explain some things to her. About being the oldest in the family. About shouldering the responsibility that he had when he was growing up with his father gone a great deal of the time. About protecting his siblings and being there for them when they needed him. And being there as his mother's helper, the place that should have been taken by his father's presence. "It's not something that I am use to doing. Everything was always my responsibility." "Well, we are going to have to work on your communication skills, Captain. This is a 50-50 relationship. _You_ are not the one who has to take care of everything. I can take care of myself as well as take care of you, if you haven't noticed by now." "Oh yeah," Apollo said smiling, "I've sort of noticed that about you. You are also one of the few people who can handle my_" "Moods?" Sheba interrupted, raising an eyebrow. "Stubbornness? Ego even?" "Okay," Apollo conceded, smiling. "I give up." Sheba's face took on a serious look as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "I love you, Apollo. Never forget that. No matter what ever happens." Apollo wrapped his arms around her, looking deeply into her dark eyes, feeling his soul become lost in them. If anything happened to her_. Apollo felt his heart leap to his throat at that thought as he pulled her closer to him, wrapping his arms tightly around her. "And I love you, Sheba." Apollo replied softly, with deep emotion. "Never doubt that. Ever." With that Apollo leaned over and kissed her, pulling her closer to him. He reveled in the feel of her body close to his, warm, alive and well. He held on to the love that he felt between them, just as he felt that Sheba was also grasping that love and holding on to it strongly, which she was. But she was also reveling in the fact that she loved him and he was here. Unfortunately though, the nagging ghost of Serina was still in the back of her mind. And she wished that was one thing that would go away permanently. But she didn't know how to deal with it. But she knew that she was going to have to and soon. Before she destroyed everything they had between them with her doubts and insecurities. ********* Starbuck awoke suddenly with a very uneasy feeling. It was not one that he could describe in words, but he knew this feeling. It was one that he had been having for several cycles now. As he carefully sat up, trying to make sure that he did not wake Cassie as she slept peacefully beside him, he sighed and ran his hand through his sleep messed hair. Cassie didn't stir as she slept on, oblivious to the unease that Starbuck was experiencing. As he sat there, he turned his attention from the sleeping form of the woman he loved more than he could understand, and looked carefully around the dark shelter. The morning sun still had not risen so that the day's activities could begin. Starbuck knew that the fueling teams had run into problems yesterday but was hoping to get those resolved by noon meal. Problems, problems and more problems. That was all that they seemed to be experiencing since they landed here. Machinery problems, personnel problems. Starbuck wished he understood what was going on. But he didn't. The arguments between personnel were escalating, some of them almost coming to blows. Boomer had called him over to a situation yesterday where a warrior that Starbuck and Boomer had gone to the academy with was sitting in a cave, crying like a little boy. Travis didn't even seem to recognize either Starbuck or Boomer. He just _sat_ there like a child. Nothing he said made any sense. He rambled on about death and darkness. A void that was immense. People crying and floating in the void, unable to escape. And that worried Starbuck. People who's personalities seemed to change right before his eyes. People he had known and worked with for yahrens, suddenly becoming fearful, anxious, angry, or combative. The people who seemed the strongest seemed to suddenly become the meek and mild. Why was this happening? Boomer seemed the same and Cassie seemed to be just fine. Jolly, Giles, Greenbean, Brie all seemed to be perfectly normal. Bojay. . . .well, Starbuck could wish for a change in Bojay. But he still seemed his same surly self. At least he hadn't had any run ins with Apollo. At least not yet. Starbuck just wished that Apollo would fully see what the frack Bojay was up to and knock some sense into him. Apollo. . . Starbuck's thoughts shifted to his friend. Starbuck could see the anxiety in Apollo's face when Starbuck arrived from the Galactica. Earlier yesterday, Apollo was short and curt in his interaction with him before the Captain had to leave for the Galactica to handle a problem with the fuel transfer. And that worried Starbuck. And he could see the same concern in Boomer and Athena's faces as they also watched Apollo from a distance. Athena was braver than Boomer or Starbuck. She shadowed her brother's every movement, even walking up to try to talk to him before he left for the fleet. The conversation looked very heated at one point, with Athena seeming to be angrily speaking with her brother. Then, the look of the conversation changed to one of sadness, fear and in the end, Starbuck and Boomer watched as the siblings embraced each other, then Apollo climbed into his viper and left. And it was the look that Starbuck had witnessed on Athena's face that unnerved him the most. The siblings were alike in many ways, but one difference was that Athena was able to maintain a stoic expression better than her older brother. There was no hiding that look that Athena gave her brother. More than sisterly concern. Starbuck almost wanted to grab Athena and force her to tell him what Apollo said to her. But he knew that action would get him no where with her. Boomer just sighed and shook his head as he stood quietly beside Starbuck, then with a parting glance walked away. As Starbuck turned, something had caught his eye. In the distance stood Sheba, leaning against a massive stone pillar, a look of intense sadness etched on her face. Starbuck watched almost as if he was watching a vid as Athena slowly walked over to Sheba and said something to the troubled woman. Sheba just seemed to nod and turned to walk away. Starbuck noticed that Athena seemed to be fighting a battle with herself, like she wanted to follow her friend, but didn't. Starbuck's puzzlement grew by leaps and bounds. He wished fervently that he understood just what was happening on this god forsaken planet. All Starbuck wanted to do was leave, but the Commander had been adamant when he came down to this planet. He was here for the duration to study the writings and the ruins that littered this planet. Starbuck was in no mood to argue, his own thoughts jumbled with Cassie, Apollo and this planet. And his dream. What did it all mean? What was happening to them? Starbuck wanted answers and all he got were more questions. The answers eluded him to the point that Starbuck felt like screaming at the top of his lungs in frustration. Now in the darkness and quiet of his shelter, Starbuck rested his head in his hands, unsure what to do or how in the name of all that was holy he could remedy the situation. Starbuck knew that Apollo was back and had disappeared. Where in the frack was he? Starbuck sighed and folded his hands in front of him as if he was praying, resting his chin on them. Probably with Sheba. Now that was another situation that Starbuck wish he knew exactly what was happening. Sheba had been mopping around this camp all day, looking as if at any moment she would burst into tears. Bojay had hovered close to her until she finally took off, wanting to be alone, then Bojay had stalked off, his anger clearly etched on his face. Apollo had returned later as the sun was setting and quickly disappeared after talking quietly to his sister. Hopefully, whatever was wrong between the two of them would be worked out. If ever two people needed each other, it was those two. Starbuck sighed as he unconsciously rubbed his bare arms. He felt the uneasy feeling return, slowly creeping over his being. And a_cold_ Like there was someone_..or something was in this shelter with them_watching them_ Starbuck stole a glance at the sleeping Cassie and then reached out feeling for his laser by his bedside. He found it and rested his hand on it, still looking around the small confines. Suddenly Starbuck felt a chill go down his spine and could have sworn he also felt the touch of a cool breeze. The normally casual man felt himself go on edge, expectantly looking around the small shelter. _Something_ was in here with him and Cassie. Something that he couldn't see. Starbuck felt his heart beating faster as he tightened his grip on his laser. He carefully listen for anything that would indicate movement of some kind, but silence was all he heard. Starbuck felt himself slowly relax as he watched and listened for several centons as only silence and the sounds of the night greeted his ears. The shelter seemed comfortable again and Starbuck quietly admonished himself for letting his imagination run away with him. It was just this planet_ Starbuck suddenly tensed as he sat straight up, his laser tightly gripped in his hand. Someone *touched* him_he felt that! And the chill_.it was back! Starbuck started to reach over to wake Cassie when he heard Boomer's voice cut through the silence. "Starbuck?" Starbuck got his jittery nerves under control. He swallowed hard and then replied to his friend, hoping fervently that his voice was steady. "Yeah Boomer?" Get up. The Commander wants you, Athena, and Sheba to go with him up to the pyramid. So better get moving, buddy." "I'll be right out." Starbuck expelled the breath that he hadn't realized he'd been holding. Damn planet! Starbuck very slowly began to relax as he gathered his clothes and got dressed. The sooner they got off this crazy place, the sooner Starbuck would feel better. ******** Athena woke with a start and looked around her shelter wide-eyed., unsure what had awakened her She quickly glanced over to the other bed and saw that Sheba was not there! Athena's heart raced for a centon, before she felt herself get control over herself again and the thoughts that were crowding her mind. The slight chill of the desert night air stole over her bare arms and she shivered slightly. 'This damn planet,' Athena thought to herself. She just wanted to leave here, return to the Galactica and not look back. She hated this place. The sooner they were gone, the happier she would be. Hopefully today was the day that they would leave. She knew Apollo would be just as happy as she would be when they left here. Athena pushed back her dark hair and looked over at Sheba's bed. Not slept in. Hopefully that was a good sign. Hopefully Apollo had gotten through to Sheba and made her see reason. Athena's heart reached out to her brother as she thought of the little bit he told her of the situation as he left the planet. Well, at least what he could tell her in the few centons he had to explain after she laid into him. Athena now fully appreciated how her brother had felt when she was seeing Starbuck. How he had felt being between his best friend and his younger sister. Now that Athena was experiencing it first hand being between her older brother and her close friend, she understood Apollo's actions back them with a lot more clarity. And she didn't envy him at all. Athena slowly got out of bed, reaching for her uniform as she decided she should just get up and get dressed. Whatever had awakened her had made whatever need for rest she felt fly right out the window. As she went though her morning routine, she found her thoughts drifting to Apollo and his situation. It was not an easy one to be in. But Athena had not realized just how insecure Sheba really was in dealing with Apollo's past marriage to Serina. Of course her brother had not really helped in his own actions of seclusion and depression that he had gone into when Serina died. Athena herself had liked Serina, but had not been able to be a friend to the newswoman. Athena had thought that Apollo had moved too fast, sealed too soon after the holocaust. But Athena also wondered how much 'pushing' Serina had done with Apollo. Athena knew her brother better than anyone, with the possible exception of Starbuck. She knew how easy it was to get around Apollo, especially when it came down to his making the people he loved happy. And Serina had a way about her that made a request from her hard to say no to. Athena had felt some measure of grief when Serina died, but most of her grief was for her brother. She knew how deeply he had loved Serina. But in the middle of his grief entered Sheba. The daughter of the man that Apollo had idolized in his youth. And they got along as well as the human race did with the cylons. But Athena saw something more. When Apollo got into a verbal sparing match with Sheba, he came alive again. He fussed, he got angry. He even got downright mad. And fights, squabbles. Those two took the show. Starbuck chuckled one time that if those two didn't kill each other first, they would make quite a couple. Boomer had laughed and made some joking retort, but Athena didn't laugh. She just smiled. She knew those two would end up together. And so did her father. But now two people that Athena loved seemed to be so miserable. When Apollo told her that Sheba broke off their relationship, Athena had been in shock. Even more shocked that the reason was this planet and the ghost of Serina. Athena could see that her brother was extremely upset and tried to give him some comfort. Then he asked Athena to keep a close watch on Sheba till he got back, which she willing agreed to. Athena quickly brushed her hair and straightened her jacket to her uniform. It was still strange seeing herself as a pilot. Assigned to Blue Squadron under her brother's watchful and protective eye. But if that was the price she had to pay to be where she was now, a place that she dreamed of as a child, it was one that she would willingly pay. She could handle Apollo. And Starbuck and even Boomer, she thought smugly to herself. Zac would have been proud of her. With Sheba as her wingmate, Athena knew that she could and would handle any situation that needed to be handled. Suddenly, Athena felt_.something. An unease. Athena felt a shiver go up her spine as she turned around the shelter and looked around, her blue eyes carefully taking in every detail. Nothing seemed amiss, out of the ordinary. But that feeling. That. . . disconcerting feeling. Athena looked around, then suddenly dropped to her bunk, her legs suddenly seemed to be unable to support her. They were shaky, weak. A lethargic feeling came over Athena and she tried to cry out, to call for help of some sort. In the darkness of her tent, Athena sat on her bunk, her body felt like it wasn't her own. She felt strange. Out of control. Like she was an observer in her own body, but was suddenly unable to control her own actions. Her own thoughts. Now, Athena felt warmth, a warmth that slowly crept over her body. In a flash, she wasn't in the darkness of her shelter anymore, but in the bright sunlight of day. Around her the wind blew and she felt the particles of sand sting her face. She looked down and still saw herself clad in her warriors uniform, but gone was her laser, her only means of defense. Suddenly Athena felt a twinge of fear. Where was she? What was happening to her? "Athena!" Athena heard her name being called. She looked around hoping against all hope that there was someone else here with her. Anyone who could help her. Athena finally saw a silhouette in the distance. The outline of someone walking towards her, waving to her. "Athena!" the voice called again. "Hurry up! You need to catch up to us. Are you coming?" Athena felt fear clutch at her throat as she looked around then tried shielding her eyes from the bright blinding light of the sun. That voice! That voice! It couldn't be. There was no way. He was dead. He was gone. There was no way that he could be here. Zac. Zac! "ZAC!!" Athena screamed at the top of her lungs. A gust of wind carried sand particles into her eyes and Athena quickly wiped the stinging sand away. She looked at the form in the sunlight and finally, she was able to see him. See him clearly. Athena felt her heart leap for joy! Zac. He was here! He was alive! "ZAC!" Athena shouted and looked in the distance. She could see his dark hair shining in the sunlight and his face with a full smile of happiness on it. But. . . Athena looked closely at her younger brother. He wasn't in uniform. Zac, who loved the Service and dreamed of it for yahrens, was not in his uniform that he always had worn so proudly. Athena thought that strange, but the next micron, it didn't seem to matter. The only thing that mattered was Zac and he was alive! She had to tell Father! She had to tell Apollo! Suddenly Athena looked and saw her older brother, walking slowly across the sands towards Zac, his face smiling in greeting of his younger brother. Athena watched as her brother stopped, only metrons from their younger sibling and turned towards her. Again, Athena noted that Apollo wasn't dressed in his uniform. He was dressed in civilian clothes. Athena felt a warning flash in her brain. A troubling though came to her as she looked at Apollo. Something was wrong! Something was terribly wrong! "APOLLO!" Athena screamed as she tried running to her brother. "APOLLO! STOP!!!" The sand seemed to take on a life of its own as Athena tried running towards her brother. She was terribly frightened. Apollo! She had to get to Apollo. She had to protect him. He was in danger. In danger from. . . Athena tried to formulate it again. She turned and looked at Zac as he stood there smiling at her. Zac. Something was wrong. Apollo was in danger from Zac?? It couldn't be! What was happening?! Where was she? She had to save her brother. Apollo. He was in danger! Athena ran with all her might, but didn't seem to be getting any closer to Apollo. Her brother turned his back to her and started moving towards Zac again. No! He had to stop! Athena looked over at the waiting smiling visage of Zac and then looked back to Apollo. Suddenly, right before Athena's eyes, it happened. A bright flash and Apollo was falling. Athena screamed as she saw her brother turn towards her, his chest covered with blood. Athena looked at Zac, still standing there, still smiling. His expression never changed. "Goodbye Apollo. . . " Zac said, still smiling. In slow motion, Apollo fell to the hot sands and laid totally still, the desert wind rustled his clothing, but otherwise he was still. "NO!!!" Athena screamed and ran to her older brother, finally reaching him, grabbing him and pulling his bloodied body close to her. Tears were streaming down Athena's cheeks and she felt a pain like she had not felt in a long time. Not since the holocaust. And Zac was killed. Along with their mother. Dead. Apollo was dead and Athena cried, rocking his body back and forth as she knelt on the desert sand. "Apollo." she cried as she stroked her brother's hair. In her grief, she looked up at Zac, who was still smiling. "What have you done?!!" She screamed at him. Zac just continued to smile. "Payment and retribution." Zac said, his smile never wavering. "You failed the test so you must pay the price. The price is one you love." "What test? What are you talking about? Zac please help me. You would never hurt Apollo. He's your brother. You love him. Why have you done this?" "But I didn't do it. You have done it yourself." Zac said. Athena looked at him, bewildered. "You kill and kill and kill again. You are a murderer. I did not kill Apollo, Athena. YOU did!" Rage built up in Athena and burst forth. "LIAR!" she screamed as she held Apollo's body closer to her, protectively. "Liar! I would _never_ hurt Apollo. You," she said venomously. "You are _not_ Zac!. My Zac would have never, ever hurt Apollo or myself. You are not Zac!" "You have blood on your hands, those of innocents and of the ones that you love. You must pass the test, Athena. Or pay the price for failure. It is your choice." And with that, Zac mysteriously vanished. Athena looked around at the barren surroundings. Where did he go? Then she looked down at the still face of her brother, slowly bringing her bloodied hand up to gently brush his hair back from his face. "Oh Apollo," Athena cried quietly. "What am I going to do? I'm sorry. I'm so sorry" Athena cried and she lowered her head to rest on her brother's "Athena!" a voice disturbed her grief. Intruded. "Athena! Wake up! Athena!" Athena felt herself being shaken, but she wasn't letting go of her brother's body. Suddenly, Apollo's body was gone, and Athena sat there, her arms empty, Apollo's blood still on her hands and staining her uniform. "NO!" She screamed and started crying harder, uncontrolled. "Athena!" Athena finally recognized the voice. Boomer. Boomer! Athena opened her eyes and saw Boomer's dark face looking down at her, worry etched in every line. "Boomer!" Athena cried and wrapped her arms around her friend. Athena felt his arms encircle her and lift her off of her bed. She felt him rise, then gently sat down on her bed, encircling her in his protective embrace. Boomer had not been as frightened at the holocaust battle where they were outnumbered 100 to 1 as he was now. He had heard Athena crying out in her sleep, so he had entered her shelter to find her laying down on her cot, asleep, tears pouring down her cheeks. Crying uncontrollably. Plaintively. He had tried several time to wake her up and had been afraid when she didn't respond. Just as he was about to run for Cassie to help Athena somehow, to his relief she awakened. Now, he sat there comforting the distraught woman as if she were a small child. Boomer stroked her hair and talked to her softly, reassuring her that it was nothing more than a bad dream. A nightmare. But Athena still cried and Boomer felt the hurt that was contained in her tears. "Athena, it's all right. Everything is all right." Boomer said softly as he continued to stroke her hair and hold her close to him. Boomer sat there, comforting the young woman, unsure if he ever wanted to know what had frighten Athena so. But vowing silently, that he would make sure that she was alright, then he would find a way to make sure that whatever happened to her never, ever happened again. ********* Apollo sat quietly reclining semi-comfortably against the rock formation, staring into the fire that crackled and blazed before him with a comforting warmth. Against him was Sheba, sleeping soundly, her head gently resting on his shoulder. Apollo slowly stroked her long hair as he sat there mulling over the events of the past couple of cycles along with the 'dreams' that he had been having over the past secton. Because of those recent dreams, sleep had eluded him and even though his body craved the much needed rest, he didn't want to have the dream again and again. Soon they would be leaving this planet. Sheba had convinced him to stay long enough for her to accompany his father on his expedition to the largest pyramid and then they would leave this planet as fast as a viper could carry them. Apollo smiled to himself as he continued to stroke her soft hair, gaining some measure of comfort from that action. Sheba was just as bad as he was. That insatiable curiosity about the past that had reminded Apollo of his own self. If it was anywhere but this place. God, it was so much like Kobol. The atmosphere. The landscape. He thought maybe that he was the only one who noticed the similarities, but he had found out recently that he was wrong. He had seen the expressions of several of his warriors who had also been on Kobol. Starbuck, Athena, Brie, Dietra. At least he had gotten through in some way to Sheba, promising himself though that he was going to have a long, detailed conversation with her about the past. About Serina. Apollo made a vow to himself that Sheba would understand and be secure in the love that he had for her. Apollo sighed as he rested his head against Sheba's. He had finally understood where she was coming from though, after she had fallen asleep while he sat wide awake mulling over everything that she said to him. In an instant Apollo _had_ understood where Sheba was coming from with her thoughts and feelings when he realized something that he had not really fully admitted to himself. HE had felt the same way. He never really thought about it too seriously at that time for he was so caught up in the emotions of the micron, but the more he thought of it, the more he completely understood where Sheba was coming from. Because in the back of his mind, hidden away from even himself, was the nagging thought about Serina's relationship with Boxey's father. It was something they never really discussed. Serina had said that this was a time for new beginnings. Everyone was starting over and Apollo had accepted that. But when he had discovered those holopics of Serina and her 'husband' along with Boxey, Apollo wondered if Serina had loved Apollo as much or even more than she had that man in the holopicture. Serina had been almost 8 yahrens older than Apollo and her experiences vastly different than his. She would evade his questions about Boxey's father, but in the end Serina called Boxey's father her 'husband,' but Apollo had never found any record of a marriage. And Apollo knew that the man was dead - died over 6 sectars before the holocaust. But Serina never explained much else. Then suddenly, she was dead and Apollo was totally lost. Lost in his anger that Serina had died and left him alone. Lost in his anger that she avoided answers to questions that he asked. Lost in his grief that the woman that he had loved was dead. He had the responsibility for a boy that he cared for, maybe even loved at that time, but was not sure that he was ready for the responsibility that raising a child alone brought. But Apollo took on that responsibility like he did everything else - because it was expected of him. And in time, he had come to really love Boxey as his own child. As his son. But Apollo also had to face the fact that he was not Boxey's biological and legal parent. That came up to slap him in the face sectars ago when Boxey's real father's family stepped forward to claim Boxey and challenge Apollo's legal right to him. But now, papers were filed and approved and documents put into effect by a Colonial Court. Boxey belonged to Apollo and his family. And Apollo was moving forward again. With Sheba. Now he understood and now he planned to resolve this issue. Not leave it hanging anymore. He would explain Serina to her and every other woman in his past if she found it necessary. Apollo found that he wanted to know more about Sheba's past and he was a little bothered that he didn't know much about Sheba's past. And he wanted to know. Apollo planned to not be left in the dark about Sheba's past as he was Serina's. Apollo listened to the quiet of the night and the crackling of the fire in front of him. Sheba stirred lightly as she snuggled closer to him. The blanket that he had covered her with earlier had fallen to her lap, so he carefully reached down and brought it back protectively around her body. In the distance, Apollo heard the beginnings of warriors stirring, preparing to start another day. He faintly heard Boomer's voice call out to Starbuck, along with his friend's muffled reply. Apollo later thought he heard someone crying, but the sound had quickly ceased and he went back to staring at the flames of the fire, as the crackling of the wood was the only other sound to break the silence. A short time later, Apollo faintly heard some movement beside him and looked up to see Starbuck looking down at him as he sat there. Starbuck walked over to the fire and filled a cup with some java as he walked back over and sat down beside Apollo. "Wondered where you had disappeared to," Starbuck said absently. "Before I left to go back to the Galactica, Sheba had decided that I was 'obsessed' with Serina's memory. So she decided to put an end our relationship." Starbuck glanced over at Apollo at those words, his eyes questioning and concerned. "I got recalled to the fleet but as soon as I got back, I had to find her. I had to try to talk to her. To make her understand. About this place." Apollo looked over at the pyramid in the distance and sighed again. Starbuck nodded his agreement. "I'd rather be anyplace else in the star system but here." "That makes two of us. Unfortunately for me, Sheba was not with us at Kobol. Was not there to live through everything that happened to us there. To understand why we feel what we feel." Starbuck smiled, chuckling quietly. "What's so funny?": "Oh, I just wondered how they would have gotten along. Sheba and Serina." Starbuck said quietly as he took another drink of his java. "Would things have turned out differently?" Apollo slightly shook his head as he continued to stroke Sheba's hair. "I don't even want to think about that, Starbuck. I just want to keep what I have now. Not lose it." Starbuck blew a deep breath out of his mouth as he said quietly, "She's a hell of a warrior, Apollo. She nearly blew both of us out of the stars when we met her. She's better than a majority of the warriors we have. In fact, she's almost as good as we are." Starbuck looked slyly at his friend who was grinning at him. "And if you ever tell her I said that, Apollo, I'll deny it with every last breath in my body." "I don't think she would believe you said that, so your secret is safe with me." "I can't have my image blown." "Starbuck, anyone who knows you knows what a fraud you are sometimes. Cassie is the only woman who's found the real you underneath all that conceited bravado you exude and that is why she has stuck with you for the past 3 yahrens." Sheba stirred beside Apollo and slowly opened her eyes. Starbuck smiled reassuringly at his friend, then got up and walked over to where Athena and Boomer were making their way to the fire. Apollo looked down at the woman beside him. "Good morning." Apollo said quietly. Sheba looked up at Apollo and smiled. "Good morning to you. What time is it?" Apollo looked at his chronometer. "About 0430 centars." Apollo gently pushed her hair behind her ear as he looked down at her. "Are you ready to do what we have to do so we can leave this place once and for all?" Sheba looked at Apollo as she sat up and nodded, for now she understood more of the reasoning behind his actions as of late. He wanted to protect her from the events of his dream and the reality of his past. If her going back to the Galactica made him breathe any easier and relax, then she would do it. As soon as she fulfilled her assignment with the Commander. "Ready to get it done and over with so we can be on our way." Sheba smiled at him and gave his hand a squeeze. Apollo looked at her tenderly as he whispered "I love you." and watched her smile grow larger, brighter, happier. As much as he wanted some quiet time alone with her, he knew that he had better get down to business so that they could all get off this planet. Apollo turned his attention to Starbuck, Boomer and his sister. When Apollo looked at Athena, though, a frown came to his face. His sister looked upset about something, but Apollo knew that she would not tell him anything while anyone else was around. Athena was like he was in that respect. They had grown up almost constantly in the spotlight because of their parents and family background. So things that they did and places they went made society columns and things they did wrong made the news reports. But still the expression etched on Athena's features bothered him a great deal. Apollo decided to keep the conversation on what was happening now. "Where's Father?" Apollo asked, watching his sister guardedly. "Over at the tomb that he wants to check out," replied his sister, her eyes never meeting her brother's. She knew that if Apollo saw what she felt, he would start asking questions and try to protect Athena. He couldn't protect her from what she saw in that dream, vision or whatever you wanted to call it. But she could protect him from the possibility that the dream was foreshadowing the future. A future Athena did not want to see or experience. "Why the rush?" asked Starbuck as he poured himself a second cup of hot Java, feeling himself become more and more alert. Waking up as he did made him feel lethargic and out of sorts. The java was helping his brain clear out the cobwebs and start thinking about what was happening here and now. In the present. In reality. Athena shrugged her shoulders as she walked over and sat down beside her brother. "I don't know. He seemed in a hurry to get down here the last time I talked to him and I don't really think that it has much to do with the ruins, ancient text and the artifacts. He's been acting different since we've been down here and honestly, Apollo, I'm more than a little concerned about him." Apollo tried to brush aside his sister's concerns. Her mother hen complex was coming to the surface. "I wouldn't be too concerned, Athena. You know how Father gets when he's around artifacts like this." Apollo smiled at his sister as he took a drink of the cup of java that Starbuck handed to him a few centons earlier. "There are times I wonder why he entered the military when he would have been happier as a Kobollian scholar or an ancient studies scholar." Athena smiled slightly at her brother looking a bit happier as she shook her head. "Could you imagine how the three of us would have turned out then? Instead of running around military installations, battlestars and bureaucratic meeting halls, we would have been running around ancient digs. Would we have even enlisted in the military?" "Who knows? Personally right now I'm concerned with the present." Apollo looked at his sister seriously. "About getting off this planet and on our way again." "I second that," replied Boomer. "Put as much distance as possible between us and here." Apollo and Starbuck looked at each other and then to Boomer. He hadn't even been on Kobol for Boomer had contracted a virus that almost killed him and the rest of the pilot contingent. He had never stepped foot on Kobol. Apollo found this reaction curious. Starbuck was unsure what to think about it. Considering everything he had been experiencing since they arrived here. "Well we better find your father, before he starts without us," said Starbuck, as he finished his java with one final drink from his cup. ********* Adama carefully walked around the misshapen ruins of what once looked to be a great and powerful civilization. Where had all the people gone and what had happened to them? What had been the cause of their downfall? These questions stood out in Adama's mind. They were questions that he had asked himself before. Almost 4 yahrens ago. On Kobol. Adama sighed as he looked up at the great pyramid. Kobol. He would not have believed it unless he had seen it with his own eyes just how much this place reminded him of the lost mother world. It had been a while ago. In a place so far away. Kobol. A planet where dreams had been born and realized. And a place where those dreams had died. Suddenly and very painfully. Adama had put duty before his family many times in the past and he regretted those decisions many times but felt that they were necessary for the continued survival of their people. But that...dream if you wanted to call it that, had brought those past decisions, those past choices of duty before family to the forefront. Because if it came true, if the dream became reality, than Adama would lose two lives that were precious to him. A son that he loved more than his own life, his firstborn child. And a woman he had come to love dearly and was hopeful that she would one day become a true member of his family. Adama sighed as he looked to the statues that seemed to guard the doorway before him. The fuel that this planet offered was very important to him. It meant that they could continue in their journey. That the fleet would avert yet another crisis and make it further in space, maybe closer to Earth. But at what personal cost to Adama. He had given up so much in his life for his people. How much more was going to be asked of him? Demanded from him? His beloved Ila was dead. His youngest son obliterated in space by the cylons, his daughter in law Serina taken from them before she and Apollo had even had a chance to begin to live a life together. How much more was going to be asked from him? Was there no end? Adama let his mind drift to another time, another place. In Adama's mind it seemed like it happened only yesterday. He could still see the joy in Apollo's face when Adama had sealed his son to Serina. Adama respected his new daughter, but something about her and her relationship with his son bothered him for some reason. Adama had wondered about the suddenness of the relationship and the swiftness at which the two of them had sealed. Adama just had questions in his mind as to the reasons behind the seeming rushed atmosphere that was apparent when Apollo sealed with Serina. Adama had only to see the happiness in Apollo's face, and his hesitations vanished. Adama had seen at that micron something that he thought he honestly would never see again. A light that emanated from Apollo. Adama turned and looked back at the tall stone columns and his thoughts drifted to Kobol. He, Apollo and Serina had walked through columns just like these on that world. Now here they were again looking almost identical. Adama gave an involuntary shiver as he thought he could almost see the images of himself, Apollo and Serina walking amongst those massive pillars of sand and stone. In fact, the memories became so vivid that Adama finally had to turn away. But something drew him, pulled him around again. Suddenly, it wasn't Serina coming through the pillars with Apollo and himself. Suddenly it was Sheba. Sheba?! Adama blinked and rubbed his eyes. When he looked again the images were gone. He could see nothing of what he saw just microns before. After a few microns, Adama turned his attentions again back to the massive structures before him. They were just so familiar and so fascinating to him. His love of the ancients and the teachings of the 12 Lords had been important to Adama since he was a boy, listening intently to the stories his own grandfather had told him. The same stories that he imparted on his own grandson, Boxey. Stories of the 13th tribe, of the shining planet called Earth, of the 12 Lords that stayed behind with each of them taking a world that they could call their own. The creation of the 12 colonies and the ensuing history and culture that they created over the millennia. So many things and so little time to impart that knowledge on the next generation. Adama had been surprised at how much of that history and how much of those stories that Athena and Apollo had remembered from their childhood. And Boxey was just as bad as Apollo on that note. Athena's interest did not go to the extent that her brother's did, but she was still knowledgeable young woman. And would that knowledge of the past, of the ancient past save their people? Give them the strength they needed to continue on? Adama was fighting a battle with the council of 12. They were tired of the journey and wanted to find a world on which to settle and begin again. What they did not understand was even if they did stop and settle on a planet, how long before the cylons caught up to them? How long before another holocaust would happen again. No, they needed to continue on. To find Earth. They would not be defeated. They would not be held at the mercy of another race's hands again. Not if he could prevent it. But Adama balked at the personal cost to him. Would it cost him his two surviving children? Would it cost him the men and women who mattered to him as if they were his own children? Adama stood and looked up at the stoic faces of the statutes standing guard. They guarded the entrance and the secrets contain therein. And Adama stood guard over his people, but especially his children. Now the price had gotten too high. Adama thought of his dream. It was not going to happen. He was not going to let it. ********** Keenan stood quietly amongst the ruins watching the leader of the humans intently. She knew his emotional turmoil as he walked around the structure and noted the carvings that surrounded the doorway. She had made sure that everything was the way it was back then. She had carefully scanned his memories of a painful time, but a time that had caused this human so much wonder and enlightenment. And that she found to be a curious mix. Especially in one of this species. He was different than the others that traveled with him. The others had emotions that were wide ranged and just as varied. She had found love along with hate, joy with sorrow, hope with resignation, frustration along with anger. But she never found the one emotion that she was looking for . Defeat. They never admitted defeat. They fought on this small band of humans. They hated the ones called the Cylons with every fiber of their being. They also hated the one that was named Baltar for he was a betrayer. A traitor to his people. And even though this leader had lost much - his home, his mate, his offspring, the life that he cherished - this man, this single man, had the strength of his convictions as the only thing keeping these people going. She had found much to use in testing his resolve, in testing the worthiness of this band of humans. For if he passed this test, he would ensure the survival of his brothers and sisters. Keenan looked up at the sky. It was almost time for the test to begin. The others were coming. The one named Apollo linked all that were chosen somehow in some way. And through him, she would prove once and for all to her brethren that the humans were totally unworthy and should be dealt with accordingly. They had not changed in the ensuing millennia. Just as blood thirsty and hateful as they had been the first time they were encountered. And there was no hope for change as she could see it. Keenan stood in the shadows quietly. They were here. It was time. ******** Apollo felt like his nightmare was coming true as he stood there watching Sheba look at the carvings on the walls. Apollo turned and looked around the surrounding landscape. It was identical to Kobol, identical to his dream. Apollo's senses seemed to be on alert as he looked to his father, who seemed to be acting as though the place greatly disturbed him too. Athena was right in her concerns. Apollo wondered if his father was possibly having the same nightmare as he was, but pushed that idea from his mind. His father was just probably remembering the painful events that happened at Kobol. Sheba turned to look at Apollo as he looked around him expectantly then she watched him moved further away from her. Sheba looked over at the Commander, whose face held an expectant, but guarded expression. She watched as he seemed to watch Apollo, then he looked at her and nodded. Sheba wasn't quite sure why, but she was going to try to find out what was going on. . "Apollo, are you alright?" Sheba said softly to Apollo as she walked over and stood in front of him, her eyes searching his strained features, concerned. Apollo turned to face Sheba, his worried green eyes searching her face. A feeling of deja vue came over him. He had been in this position before in his nightmares. Apollo felt the fear that he had felt in his dream come over him. He had to keep a level head. He had to keep his wits about him. It was only a dream and dreams are just that - dreams. But the dream_. Apollo looked around. The sun was rising over the horizon, the crimson hues highlighting the sky. Maybe he was over reacting again. In his dream, it had been night time. The sun was setting in the sky. But it was morning now. It was a beautiful morning. Apollo quietly berated himself. He was over reacting. He needed to get himself under control. But he had this overwhelming intense desire to get Sheba to the Galactica. NOW! He desperately wanted Sheba out of here. "Please go back to the Galactica." Apollo asked Sheba one last time unable to help himself, as she met his gaze with those dark brown eyes that he loved, his hands griping her arms. Sheba just looked at her lover, understanding fully Apollo's attitude now that she had discussed it with him - brought things out in the open. But this planet held such wonder for her. And even Apollo had said that it was a nightmare. Nothing that had happened to them so far had happened in his dream. Maybe it was all just a coincidence. "Apollo, everything is fine. You said yourself that it was only a dream. I'll tell you what, after I quickly get a look at some of what's here, both of us will return to the Galactica. We won't wait for your father and the others. We'll go home. Is that okay?" Apollo nodded his agreement, fighting the desperation he felt. Sheba smiled reassuringly at him, turned and walked back over to look at the doorway that they had all met at. Starbuck watched as Apollo slowly followed behind her at a distance, then Apollo stopped beside his friend and looked around him. "It's like reliving a nightmare that you wanted to forget the first time." Apollo said quietly. "It is eerie, isn't it?" asked Starbuck quietly, his manner subdued. "I half expect Baltar to step out from behind one of these columns and greet us." Starbuck looked over to where Sheba was looking at the red stone statues that were carved out on each side of the doorway. "She wouldn't leave would she?" Starbuck looked sympathetically at Apollo, who just shook his head. "You should have told her. She maybe just needs to know why. She wasn't here when it happened. She can't possibly know." As soon as Starbuck said those words, Apollo felt as though someone had just kicked him in the gut at that instant. His eyes grew wide as he looked at Starbuck, who was looking at him with a strange look on his face. It was happening. Just like the nightmare. Apollo had this discussion with Starbuck earlier. At the fire. Apollo's mind was screaming out to run and get everyone away from this place. Apollo ran his hand through his dark hair and rubbed the back of his neck, a nervous gesture he hadn't used in a long time. But Apollo frozen in mid action, then pulled his hand off of his neck and looked at it intently, like he had never seen it before. Then he stared straight into nothingness. My god, it was happening. No_.no_.he wouldn't let it. Apollo looked quickly over at Sheba who was staring intently at the writings in the stone. "Maybe, just maybe we are just over reacting, Apollo. Maybe this place is totally harmless. Maybe this place is just a coincidence. We think what we see is the same as someplace we've been before." Starbuck looked pointedly at Apollo as he said quietly. "We left Kobol behind yahrens ago." Starbuck noticed Apollo's pale features and wide eyed expression. Then watched as Apollo stared at his hand, like he had never seen it before. Now Starbuck was getting concerned. "Apollo?" Apollo didn't respond. "Apollo, are you okay?" "Starbuck, we have to leave. We have to get out of here." Apollo blurted out in a rush. Desperation clawed at him, cutting him deeply where no one could see. They were going to die unless they left here...now! "What? Why?" Starbuck stuttered, surprised by Apollo's actions. He had not seen that wild look in Apollo's eyes in a long time. And it frightened Starbuck to see it there now. "I can't explain it Starbuck, you just have to trust me. We have to get out of here and now." Starbuck shook his head, dumbfounded by Apollo's sudden actions. "Apollo, I trust you_" Apollo reached out and touched Starbuck's arm, his voice pleading, his clear green eyes wide and almost frightened looking to Starbuck. "Then do what I ask. Please Starbuck." Apollo started over to Sheba as swiftly as he could, then suddenly stopped in mid stride. The cold that he felt_it was back. And stronger than before. Apollo's mind whirled as he thought quickly of the nightmare. No... he had to stay as far away from Sheba as he could. They wanted him. Not her. If he got close to her, she would die and Apollo felt his heart almost stop at that thought. Apollo looked around searching form something. On guard for what was going to happen next and he knew that it was coming. He had seen it in his dream. He had to save them. He had to save the people he loved...that mattered to him more than his own life. His own continued existence. Apollo stood there waiting for what he knew was going to come, not noticing that Starbuck had began to run over to Adama and Athena, but stopped before he reached them. The normally brash man turned looking around him in expectation and fear. Starbuck could almost swear that he heard laughter. A woman's soft laughter. But Starbuck found nothing amusing here. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Starbuck looked back to Apollo and noticed that he had stopped and was slowly backing up, away from them, away from Sheba, his hand resting on his laser, his knuckles white arond the grip of the weapon. Starbuck felt that a nightmare was unfolding in slow motion around him as he watched Apollo look around him, then turn his attention back to Sheba. Starbuck wanted to scream at Apollo, to shout to him a warning. But what would he tell Apollo? About the cold, about the dream_about the blood that covered Starbuck's hands. Starbuck felt a wetness and looked down at his hand, his eyes widened as he saw the dark red blood on them, dripping from them. NO! The blood_ Starbuck looked at Apollo terrified, then back to his hands. To his amazement, the blood was gone! What was happening here? Suddenly, Sheba heard a sound, a strange sound and turned around in what she felt was very slow motion, looked over at Apollo. Everything around her suddenly felt like she was in some sort of dream that she could not stop. It was not in her power to do so. She suddenly heard Starbuck scream Apollo's name as out of the corner of her eye, she saw Adama start running toward his son a look of intense fear on his face with a startled Athena close at his heels. Sheba felt like she was watching a vid running at the wrong speed as Apollo turned quickly, drawing his laser at the same time. Then Sheba saw them. She saw the 4 strange looking creatures appear a short distance away from Apollo with their weapons drawn as she also shouted his name frantically. Sheba knew in her heart and mind that she wasn't going to reach Apollo in time. It was happening so fast, but in slow motion to her . Sheba pulled her laser and frantically fired on the creatures as they fired on Apollo. Sheba watched everything go to even slower motion it seemed as their shot was true and hit Apollo squarely in the chest. He silently fell to the ground in a rain of sparks as she heard the cries and shouts of the others. And her own blood curdling screams. Sheba screamed louder as she ran to him, her heart beating frantically, disbelief at what was happening starting to overtake her mind. Starbuck reached Apollo before the others did, reaching for his communicator on one hand as he reached down to check on Apollo with the other. Sheba knew it was bad as he watched Starbuck visibly pale and the terror that briefly crossed his face as he started shouting at the top of his lungs into the communicator, his tone clipped and desperate. "Starbuck to base camp. We need a medical team by the great pyramid now! Captain Apollo has been shot by unknown entities. We need help!" Starbuck looked up from the bloodied body of his best friend, his brother to see that the entities were gone. He stared for a micron mutely at where they had been a micron before than looked down at his communicator, trying to figure out what was wrong. Suddenly he realized that it was dead, Nothing came from it - no acknowledgement of what he had said. Nothing. Not even static. "Starbuck_" Apollo's faint voice reached Starbuck who looked down at his friend. "Hang on Apollo. We'll get help for you." Starbuck looked at the large wound that ate into Apollo's left side and at the burned and blackened skin on his chest. Starbuck tried to swallow the lump that had formed in his throat but found that it was almost choking him as he tried to put his rampaging emotions together. His fear was not going to save Apollo and Starbuck knew it. HE had to save him. Apollo was not going to leave Starbuck alone again. Suddenly the shell shocked man realized that the Commander was there and so was Athena. Sheba also suddenly appeared beside Starbuck, the fear written on all of their faces. "Apollo," Adama tried to get his voice under control as he looked down at the fallen form of his son. Adama looked at the blackened skin and burnt edges of the uniform as he looked at the wound that still smelled of burned flesh and clothing. Adama knew that Apollo would die without immediate medical attention. . "Commander," said Starbuck quietly, his voice hoarse to Adama's ears "I can't raise base camp. Communicator is dead." Adama looked intently at the pale pain filled face of Apollo, then at the wound that was bleeding heavily now. Adama could see that the wound was extremely serious and didn't want to even imagine the pain that Apollo was experiencing at that centon, as the shock of the injury wore off. He had to get medical attention for Apollo and fast. There was only one way to do that if the communicator was useless. "I'll carry him back." "Commander..." Starbuck started to speak. "Father..." Athena said, fright tinged her voice. Adama leaned down and stroked the hair out of his son's face as he said quietly. "I'm carrying you back to camp." "Father_." Apollo's voice was so faint that Adama felt a lump form in his throat that seemed like it was going to choke him. Adama carefully knelt down and lifted his son to him as Apollo tried to stifle the groan of pain that surged through his body, but was unsuccessful and then was silent. Adama looked quickly at Apollo, not surprised that he had lost consciousness. Adama carefully adjusted Apollo's weight in his arms as he continued to looked at his son's still face. "Hold on, son. Please hold on." Adama said quietly as he hurriedly carried Apollo across the expanse back to camp. He felt his heart racing as he cradled Apollo's body close to him, feeling the blood from his son begin to soak his own uniform. The dream_it had came to partial reality. Sheba was unharmed and Apollo was badly injured, but still alive. Adama did not even notice if the others were following close behind or not. All he concentrated on was the rise in the distance that held on the other side the camp and medical help waited for Apollo. He had to get his son there and he would not fail one of his children again. The price that was asked of him was now too high for Adama. Too high indeed. ************* Cold. Nothingness. An dark, seemingly empty place where no light shines to illuminate what is there. A place of total blackness, where the light of the soul and the illumination of intelligence are the only things that break through the emptiness before you. A place where you see things through a feline's eyes. Eyes that have the ability to see in the darkness. Where you feel as empty as this place before you. Where you have nothing that you care about as you seem to just exist in this place. A place far removed from the reality that you have known forever. The young woman felt a sensation of floating aimlessly though the darkness that surrounded her. Faces...the faces that passed by her, devoid of emotion, passing as though they had no feeling, no cares, no existence outside the stark barren place that they presently inhabited. Floating aimlessly, drifting in the darkness that surrounded her and them. Joscelyne thought that she continued to feel and live if the others here did not. She thought that she felt....cold butt she wasn't sure. She did not shiver as she would from the sensation of being cold. She felt almost....comfortable in this place. The cold surrounded her, but did not overtake her. And how could she be so comfortable in a place that seemed so devoid of warmth from any source. She watched in mute fascination as the....bodies of people she knew passed by. A closer look at their faces revealed that those faces were not devoid of emotion but instead contained the same awe and wonder that she felt at where she was and what was happening around her. She felt no fear but she also did not feel any joy or happiness. Nor as each centon passed was she even the least bit curious about where she was or how she got here. She was just_.here in this place. The last thing she remembered was dressing for sleep period, her mind whirling with her troubling thoughts. Thoughts of the past, of the present and contemplation of her future. And it had been her future that had troubled her the most. Dealing with the past was not easy. And the present - knowing what she knew now about Iaian's feelings for her that he had hidden all this time. And she had no inkling about the feelings of a man that she considered a close friend. That she cared about very much. The more she thought about it, the less it seemed to bother her. Iaian had successfully avoided her since they arrived on this world. Joscelyne had been concerned when she did not see him at evening meal, but just figured he got involved with some project that he was working on and forgot the time. Now she felt the rising tide of concern wash over her as she floated there with the others. Iaian. Her friend. Mikhos' friend. Her confidant. Her emotional support since Kobol. A man she cared about and maybe, just maybe even possibly....loved? Was that the word. :Loved? Yes, it was possible that she loved him. Of course she did! He was her friend, so of course she loved him. As her close friend. As her best friend. Where in the name of all that was holy was Iaian? And where was she? The sense of peace that she felt just centons before evaporated, her concern for Iaian rippled through the calm like a pebble creating motion in a still, quiet pond. She felt the cold fingers of trepidation crawl over her. Where was she and how did she get here? How did the others get here? And just where was here? Where was this place? She had to get back to her shelter! She had to find Iaian! Joscelyne tried to turn, to look at what surrounded her, but found that she could not. She moved her eyes to look around her as much as she could, searching for some way to leave this place. Some way to escape. Searching for hope of seeing her reality again, but finding it fleeting. Finally she felt a despondent desperation come over her at the thought of Iaian and his fate that she had not felt since Mikhos died on Kobol. With a suddenness that startled her, Joscelyne now saw a light that seemed to come from above her. It was a warm bright light. Like sunlight only different. Joscelyne looked at the light and felt herself floating towards it and she tried reaching out for it with her fingers. Fingers that seemed to refuse to obey her mind. The light she felt was hope and she let the warmth that radiated from it envelop her, letting it carry her to someplace different than this place. A place of warmth and light_... In a flash, it was happening again. Joscelyne watched as she entered another place that seemed the same as the one before, except this dark place was alive with a kaleidoscope of colors that surrounded Joscelyne, lightly dancing around her like a group of hexlar dancers, their highly colorful burst of light and color twirled and sped by her. Now she noticed that the light that had drawn her here was straight above her head, still bathing her in its comforting warmth. As she reached that light and passed through it's brightness, she again found herself in another place. This place was very different that the places she had just came from. This place was identical to the place in her dream. Joscelyne found herself standing in a room that was very familiar to her, but at the same time strange, for she had never been there before. Only in her dream had she stepped foot in this place. Something caught her eye and she turned to look over at the very strange and unusual stone table in the center of the room, knowing full well in her mind that this was not just an ordinary table. This stone was an altar of some sort. In fact, the same altar from her dreams. Joscelyne felt fear come to her at the thought of her dream. She felt a powerlessness that angered her. An inability to stop what was happening around her against her own volition. Joscelyne watched her own actions with fascination at she ran her hands lightly over the carvings on the dark stone altar, unable to stop herself or suppress the powerful urge that she had to touch them She felt the chill within the stone altar, one that she had felt before in her dreams. The chill suddenly made her blood run cold, but her heart beat rapidly in excitement. Just like in her dream. What was happening to her? This all felt so real. She could feel the roughness of the stone, the coolness of the altar to the touch. She could smell the mustiness of the room, the staleness of the air. But this had to be her dream, replaying itself over again in her mind. Now, as she stood there combating her conflicting emotions, she felt an undeniable urge come over her. One that she had felt before. Again in her dream. But was this really happening? Maybe she was still floating with the others in the dark nothingness of the void. But Joscelyne could see everything so clearly right at that moment. She looked quickly around the room, her hand resting on the ebony stone. The urge to lay herself on that stone altar and it was that feeling that Joscelyne could not stop herself from carrying out. No matter how much she knew in her mind that she had to fight that urge. No matter that Joscelyne knew without any doubt what would happen to her if she dared to lay her body on that stone. Joscelyne then glanced up and saw the woman from her dreams standing on the other side of the altar. Her face was even more beautiful than it had been in her dreams. Joscelyne thought that she could almost see the color of the woman's eyes. It was then she knew in her heart that this was no dream. There was no logical way that this could still be her dream. She was living this. It was happening and no matter how hard she fought against it, she knew that she would inevitably lose the battle. Joscelyne's gaze was drawn to the strange woman's hand, outstretched as if telling Joscelyne to go ahead, give in to the urges that she felt. Joscelyne felt strangely comforted by the woman's presence so young doctor gave in and placed herself on the rough stone altar. She felt the stone scratch her skin, but not draw any blood. Fear began to course through her body. She knew that she couldn't go through with this. She couldn't let it happen to her. Laying down placidly awaiting her own death at the hands of another. Joscelyne wanted to leave, but her body refused to obey her. Now Joscelyne felt a terror unlike any that she had ever felt before. She was not in control of her own body. Of her own destiny. She could not stop or change what was happening to her. She felt like she was just a rag doll like the one that she had as a child. Complacently doing what another commanded, with no will of her own. Trapped in her own body. Unable to save herself. Joscelyne cried in her mind, but the tears never fell from her eyes to her cheeks. Suddenly a strange familiar warmth took over her body. Her hands lightly touched the stones of the altar that had been cold and rough to the touch only microns before. Now the stone was pleasantly warm and it gave her body the warmth that it craved. Her eyelids suddenly felt heavy as though they were being forced to close, so she closed them and sighed. She knew what was coming now and she was unable to change it. Maybe this was her destiny. Her fate. But for some reason that Joscelyne could not explain, she could not believe that this was what the Lords had in store for her life. She survived the holocaust for some reason when she should have died. She lived through Kobol when her beloved Mikhos didn't, and she continued to just exists, or so she thought. Now just when she felt that she was on the brink of an amazing discovery within her own self, she was in this situation. Her dream. Now, she felt the warmth of an almost soothing liquid beginning to cover her body, just like the heated waters of the healing springs on Aquaria. It was so comforting that she found that she was losing herself in the sensations of comfort and peace. Suddenly a chilling scream filled the air and Joscelyne's eyes flew open as she swiftly sat upright. She looked around her frightened, wondering who had screamed, her peace and tranquility shattered in an instant. The only person with her though was the woman that she had seen in her dreams. The woman that was here in this place when she arrived. And that same woman just stood there, strangely passive, staring at Joscelyne with a look of intense disdain on her face. Just as Joscelyne remembered from her dream. Not distress on her face. Nothing to indicate that she was the one who screamed. Just a stoic look of disdain as she stood there mutely, staring at Joscelyne. The next thing she knew, Joscelyne felt uncomfortably sticky, then looked down to find herself covered with dark red blood. Her clothes were saturated with it, as was the altar she laid upon. It was all around her on the altar. She looked terrified at the sight before her as she held up her hands in disbelief at the blood that coated them red. She slowly looked down at the floor, as she saw the blood running in small rivers over the stone floor, filling the cracks and valleys of the floor, then spread out slowly covering the yellow stone floor. Now Joscelyne felt the intense urge to run as far and as fast as she could away from the horrifying sight before her. but found that she couldn't. Her body wouldn't obey her mind and she just continued to sit there on the bloody stone edifice with her hands out in front of her, staring at the woman that she had mistakenly trusted. Trusted for reasons that escaped Joscelyne at the micron, but that she wished with all her soul that she could remember. The woman smiled a smile at her that contained no humor, no mirth. But it was a smile that chilled Joscelyne's heart. What was happening to her? Why was she covered in blood? Where did it come from? Was this her dream or some demented warped reality that she desperately needed to escape from before it consumed her mind. Suddenly, the frightened woman felt something sharp prick her finger. Looking down she saw the small, jewel encrusted knife that laid on the altar beside her. Not a single drop of blood was anywhere on that knife even though there was blood all around it. As she inspected her own body, Joscelyne could find no signs of injury on herself. With a sigh of unimaginable relief, she turned and looked at the strange woman with anger, intermixed with her fear. "Who are you? Why is this happening to me?" Joscelyne was not expecting an answer and was very surprised when the woman suddenly broke her silence and spoke. "You are at judgement's door." The woman said calmly and rationally, no change of expression on her face. "You are the cause for the innocent blood that has been spilt. You and others like you are the cause of much death and destruction. The blood of innocents is on your soul and the souls of those with you. The others like you. You were judged once before and found to be unworthy of continued existence. Now you have returned." Now Joscelyne was confused. What was this woman talking about? And just who was she? "I don't understand what you are talking about. I am a scientist. A researcher. I search for answers from our past to help us in our future. I have harmed no one. I have killed no one." But the woman ignored what Joscelyne said and pointed to her. "Many have and will die at your hands and the hands of ones just like yourself, just as they had in the past!" Now she was very confused. Joscelyne had never hurt anyone in her life. At least not consciously. She took a deep breath and asked her accuser in her calmest voice "Why are you saying that? Why are you accusing me of such atrocities? I have never done anything like you say!" Suddenly a tall dark-haired man clothed in black robes appeared in what seemed like a wink of an eye beside Joscelyne, startling her into silence. As she looked at the stranger's face, she realized that she had seen this man before somewhere. She wished that she knew where. His face was so familiar. She looked into his eyes and saw that they were compelling eyes. Clear crystal green. Eyes that she had seen before, but where? She felt that she knew this man, had seen him before somewhere and wished that she could just put her finger on where she had seen him. And who he was. For some reason, she felt in fear of this man. He looked at her, the same stoic expression on his face as there was on the woman's, as he slowly reached out and grasped tightly the knife from it's resting place beside her. With sudden clarity and insight, Joscelyne knew what was going to happen next. She had seen it before in her dreams. She knew what this man, whose face was so familiar, was going to do to her with that knife, but she now felt unable to do anything to change it. Unable to stop the inevitable from happening to her as it had in her dream. Instead she sat there, staring at him for several centons, then carefully laid complacently down on the altar before him, accepting what was going to happen next. The man stood silently beside the altar, with the knife held in both of his hands, the blade point resting lightly on her chest directly above her heart. And, unexplainably, she felt calm. At peace with herself and her fate.. As though she realized that this _was_ what she had survived for. The woman looked at her, then said quietly, her voice drifting over to Joscelyne like a spring song on a breeze. "You are the salvation of your people. With your death and the death of another, you will be the saviors of your race. Of your people. You are the ones who will pay for the human race's sins against others different than they were. With your deaths, you will save your people from certain destruction." Unexplainably, the strange woman looked at the handsome dark-haired man. "He has been chosen to be your executioner, because that was his role in his life. To execute other races. To judge, rape and plunder other worlds." Joscelyne laid there on the altar quietly and didn't question anything that the woman said, but just laid there as the man looked down at her, his green eyes strangely lifeless, almost dead. He slowly raised the knife in both of his hands till it hung suspended directly above her swiftly beating heart. It was the end. It was over. No more suffering, no more confusion. No more having to deal with her conflicting emotions regarding Iaian. She prayed for her soul. She prayed that she would be with her beloved Mikhos soon. And she prayed that she would feel no pain, no suffering. That death would come quick. She looked into the empty eyes of her executioner, praying also for his soul and his release from the hell this woman was inflicting on him. He eyes seemed vacant. Lifeless. She hoped that he would not remember what he was about to do to her. Then, without warning, with one swift motion the blade fell__. ************** The sandy barren rise that 30 centons ago seemed so far in the distance was now a reality as Adama slowly climbed up the hill that he knew overlooked the camp below. And there at that camp was the medical attention that Apollo needed so desperately. Exhausted with the heat of the early morning sun on the rise, Adama's overtaxed muscles protesting from the exertion of carrying his son's limp form. Breathing heavily, Adama stopped his climb and shifted Apollo's weight in his arms, the warmth of his son's blood soaking the front of his navy blue command uniform. Desperation clawed at his very being. Apollo's life was ebbing away from him with every drop of blood, with every micron that he lacked medical help. And that thought made Adama all the more determined as he fought with himself to keep the fear and desperation at bay. And so Adama forced himself to trudge on, focused on his mission. The burden of carrying his son's unconscious form meant little to him. He would gladly give his life in exchange for his children. Starbuck had offered countless times to carry Apollo, to share the burden, but Adama had rejected all offers firmly, but with underlying gentleness. He knew the bond that Starbuck and Apollo shared. A bond bothered many and was questioned by some. A bond that had bothered Athena and Zac, but it had especially bothered Zac. The youngest of Adama's children always felt that he could have had a closer relationship with Apollo if it wasn't for Starbuck. The intensity of the jealousy that Zac had harbored surprised even Adama, who had been leery of the free spirited young boy that he had met many yahrens ago. But to Adama, Starbuck had proven himself to be a true friend to Apollo over the yahrens. Apollo himself had stuck his neck out many times over the course of their friendship, believing in Starbuck when no one else would and Starbuck had never let Apollo down. Adama had grudgingly come to admit that he had been wrong about the enterprising young man. And to this day, Adama felt that tragedy would befall those two if they were ever separated. Apollo without Starbuck, or Starbuck without Apollo was something Adama prayed fervently that he would never see. Even Zac agreed that once he gave Starbuck the chance, that his relationship with his brother improved dramatically. Adama suddenly stumbled in the sand and quickly righted himself. He stopped and shifted Apollo's silent form again in his arms, his muscles in his arms and back protesting loud and long. But Adama pushed himself to continue on. He stood there for a micron, his feet sinking in the shifting sands as he tried to rest and gather his reserves. They were almost there. They just had to get to the top and down the other side. They would be there. Starbuck quickly came up from behind Adama, standing there beside his commander, perspiration rolling down his back as the sun's brightness brought on the promise of the heat of the day. Starbuck was panting from the climb and the pace they were setting. He knew he had to try again to convince Adama to let Apollo go and let Starbuck carry his friend. He could see the strain on the aged commander's face as he bore the burden without protest. With a determination that Starbuck had seen many times over the course of the yahrens that he had known the Commander. Starbuck had seen that same determination many times in Apollo, and in Athena and Zac. "Commander, let me take him. You can't..." Starbuck protested quietly, concern tinged his voice as he noticed the pale pallor to the commander's skin, and the heavy breathing as he stood there. Perspiration rolled down Adama's face, making the man look even more drained from the exertion. "No!" Adama replied forcibly, as he stood there trying to catch his breath. All Adama could see was that he could not turn Apollo over to anyone. HE had to be the one to carry his son. He had to be the one to get Apollo the help he needed. Adama looked down at Apollo, at the blood that covered the front of his body. Adama could hear the shallowness of Apollo's breathing and could also see the extreme paleness of his skin. The blood flow was decreasing as the blood started clotting and turning dark brown. Adama was frightened beyond any real coherent thought. Starbuck stole a glance at Apollo, who was still unconscious. The silence of his friend was scaring Starbuck and he wished the Commander would let Starbuck help carry the burden of Apollo. But Starbuck noticed how the Commander's grip tightened on Apollo's injured form. He could see the hurt and pain in those expressive eyes. And at that moment, Starbuck saw and realized that this is what he had missed all of his life. What his best friend had all of his life. A home that he could call his own. Siblings, a large network of relatives to share his childhood with, the opportunities that his family's position afforded him, and the intense love and devotion of two parents, such as Adama and Ila. Starbuck realized just how much he envied his friend, even though Starbuck knew all of the drawbacks that Apollo lived with. "Commander," Starbuck said quietly and Adama looked at him intently. "We will get help for him. But let us help you carry him. You can't do this all by yourself and it won't help Apollo any if you collapse from trying to carry him on your own." Starbuck looked at Adama steadily. "Please, let me help you carry him." Adama sighed as he knew logically that Starbuck was right. What good would his own collapsing from the stress and strain of carrying Apollo do for his son? He had to be there for Apollo. He had to be there for Athena. And for Starbuck, Boomer and Sheba. And then there was Boxey. Adama turned and looked down the sandy incline at Sheba and Athena making their way up the hill. In their faces he could see each woman's emotions clearly written on them for all to see, and Adama felt ashamed. Here he had been so concerned for Apollo, so determined to save his son that he had forgotten for a short time the emotions and the needs of his daughter and a woman that Adama knew would be his daughter by marriage - if his son lived. As he looked back to Starbuck, Adama realized that he had also forgotten the emotional bond that Starbuck had with Apollo. Adama mentally admonished himself. Here he was, a well trained military man, forgetting a promise that he made to himself many yahrens ago. As he married, as he rose through the ranks, as he became a father three times over. A promise to never forget others and their own feelings. A promise to never, ever become a man who forgot what it was to love, to experience life and all its joys and sorrows. At this point his own value to the fleet be damned. There were those within the fleet and within the Council of Twelve for that matter who voiced their dissention about his leadership and their search for Earth. Many wanted to stop and settle. Others factions wanted to leave the fleet and strike out on their own, more willing to take their chances with the cylons and any other hostile forces that were out there waiting for them. Adama sometimes found even himself having doubts and concerns about the course that he had set all of these people on. What if Earth was just a mythical planet? What if he was leading these people on a wild chase through the stars to find a planet that does not exist? Adama quickly pushed those doubts from his mind. He had to have faith. He had to believe. Just as he had to believe in himself and the others under his command. Just as they fully believed in him. And he had to be there for them. Adama looked at Apollo and then over to Starbuck who was for once, patiently waiting for an answer. Adama gave Starbuck a slight smile and said quietly, "You're right, Starbuck." Adama sighed as he looked down at Apollo again, noting the paleness of his face and the almost peaceful expression. He looked back at Starbuck, fighting the unshed tears that he could feel building in his eyes. Adama forced a small chuckle out of himself. "He's not as light as he was when he was a little boy." Starbuck gave a slight smile of reassurance to his friend's father. He understood what Adama was trying to do and appreciated the attempt. "No sir, he's not." Starbuck reached out and carefully took Apollo's limp form from Adama, averting his eyes away from the gaping wound in Apollo's side where a small amount of blood still trickled along with the burns on his chest. Starbuck knew from experience just how heavy Apollo was and was willing to bear the burden one more time, if it meant that they would get help for his friend. Starbuck carefully adjusted Apollo's weight, trying to be careful in the jostling of his friend, even through he knew Apollo couldn't feel anything. But still, what did they know about what an unconscious person experienced or felt. He knew from experience that he had seen things and experienced things while being unconscious. Heard conversations and heard people talking to him. "It's alright Apollo. We're almost there." Starbuck whispered to his friend, wishing that it was he and not Apollo lying there so silent. All Starbuck could think of telling himself was that Cassie was just on the other side. She could help Apollo. He would be just fine. Starbuck nodded to Adama and then started his ascent up the hill. The heat of the sun beating down on his head. As Starbuck looked down at Apollo, he noticed how flushed Apollo's face seemed to be. Starbuck thought it looked like the beginnings of a sunburn, but couldn't be sure until he was able to put Apollo down. Starbuck carefully looked back and saw Sheba and Athena not too far behind him. The Commander had waited and joined the two women as they continued on. Starbuck turned his attention back to the climb and almost shouted for joy as he made the last steps to the top of the hill. They were there! Help was at hand! But Starbuck felt his joy at the thought of finally reaching the camp turn to shocked dismay as he looked at the scene before him. Where just 4 centars earlier, they had left a bustling camp of over 100 people, now there was nothing! Nothing at all! No shelters, no campfires, no people, no vipers or shuttles. Absolutely nothing! Not even a sign that anyone had _ever_ been here!. Starbuck felt his heart almost stop at the sight. Everyone was gone. But where? Did they return to the Galactica? What had happened here? Questions filled Starbuck's shocked mind as he tried to grapple for some semblance of logical thinking. Reasoning. But the sight before him just made that clear reasoning elusive to him. Starbuck barely noticed as the Commander along with Sheba and Athena came up alongside him. He heard the gasps of disbelief and could almost feel the shock and horror that they felt at what they were seeing before them. "Where is the camp?!" Sheba said, shock made her voice inexplicably soft. Her dark eyes surveyed everything before her. She felt as though her mind was reeling from the unexplained sight before her. The camp - where was it? Maybe they took a wrong turn somewhere along the way. The desert can be deceptive. It can play tricks on you.. NO! her mind screamed out to her as she fought to keep her emotions in check. Losing her self control was not going to help Apollo in any way. She had to keep a cool head about her. Sheba stole a glance sideways over to the still form of Apollo gently cradled in Starbuck's arms. The wound was very serious and she considered his loss of consciousness throughout the trek back to this point a blessing. They had nothing to alleviate the pain that he must be experiencing. The pain that would hit him full force if he was awake and aware of what was going on around him. Sheba could see that he had lost quite a bit of blood and worried about the damage to him internally. About the possibilities of infection to the open and untreated wound. Where _was_ everyone? What in the name of Kobol was happening here on this planet? Adama was asking himself the same questions but in mute silence. He found that he was incapable of coherent speech at that micron, considering the fact that what he saw in front of him with his own eyes was an impossibility. They had only been gone for four centars. This area looked as though it had never been touched. Never seen anyone or anything on it's barren sands. Where was everyone? Apollo needed medical attention desperately. Without it, Adama knew that his son would inevitably die from no medical attention. There had to be a logical explanation for this. There had to be _something_ but what? Tigh would not have left them here on this planet. There was no sign of attack. Athena just looked at what was before her with shock, amazement and some curiosity. They had left this place only 4 centars ago, but it looked untouched. It looked as though no one had ever been here. No one had ever disturbed these sands. But they _had_ been here. Over 100 people. Medical personnel. Scientific teams, fuel teams, warriors. Jolly, Giles, Greenbean, Brie, Dietra. Cassie had been here. So had Boomer. He had been awake and drinking a cup of java when they had left to meet her father at the great pyramid. Athena tried to shake her last image of a man that she considered a good friend. Not just her brother's friend, but hers as well. Athena wondered where everyone was and prayed that they were on the Galactica, safe and sound. But for some reason, a reason that Athena could not phantom, she knew in her heart that they were not. She knew with certainty that her friends were in grave danger. Not from the Cylons and not from any of the other races that the fleet had encountered in it's journey. But from something new. Something that Athena did not quite understand, but it left her with the sensation of a cold hard fist gripping her very being. Her very soul. Athena tried desperately to shake off that feeling, but she found that she couldn't. That it just would not go away. And it frightened her more than she could express in words. She found herself wishing that Boomer was here with them. For some reason, she found some small iota of comfort in the thought that if he was here, that they could depend on his cool head, his logical mind to get them out of this situation. He had displayed that trait when the cylons made their suicide run on the Galactica in a vain attempt to destroy the battlestar. Athena had been trapped with Boxey and Boomer in the Rejuvenation Center. And it had been Boomer who had saved everyone there. She had admired that ability to take charge that Boomer had displayed then and she had found that she and Boomer had became closer friends after that incident, much to Apollo's silent surprise. Athena shook off those memories. The memory of her brother's amused glance brought Athena back to the present, and back to reality. The graveness of the situation that faced them right now. Athena looked over to her father, worried as she noted the pale pallor of his skin. Athena worried for she knew that her father's heart was not what it once was. Even though Adama had been very healthy and active, Athena still worried about the stress of the positions her father held within the fleet and his responsibilities regarding the safety of their people. The added burden of Apollo's injuries was doing nothing to improve the situation. Only creating a stress that Athena worried would make her father ill. Adama broke the silence that had hung between the group for the past 5 centons. "Sheba, try to raise the fleet." Sheba stood there a micron then almost as though she was in a dream, she slowly pulled out her communicator and tried to raise the fleet. Athena just stared ahead of her, then over to her brother's quiet form. Athena noted the wide eyed stare that was on Starbuck's face. That look and something akin to a look of fear. Something Athena had never really seen on her former fianc‚e's boyishly handsome face. Starbuck always looked in control and always had a flippant remark for any serious situation. Now, he stood there in silence, almost uncertain what to do. "Commander," Sheba's voice broke Athena's thoughts. "I can't raise the Galactica. In fact, I can't raise any ship in the fleet." Sheba paused as Adama turned to stare at her, feeling a lump in her throat that she just could not get rid of. "Are you getting anything?" Adama asked, his voice almost hushed. Sheba shook her head. "Nothing. Not static, not a noise of any kind. Just silence." Sheba looked at her communicator then back to Adama, disbelief boardering on almost a type of awe clearly showing on her face. "It's almost like_they're not there." "That's ridiculous!" exclaimed Starbuck, coming out of his shock and turning to Sheba. "They have to be there. A fleet that size cannot just vanish into thin air." "I know that Starbuck." Sheba replied testily. "I know that they have to be up there. But they are not answering. There is nothing. No reply. Not a sound. And look at this place. There is not any sign that we were ever here!" Sheba felt her frustration and anger at the situation come close to the surface. "Where is everyone? What has happened to them? None of this is making a single bit of sense. People just do not disappear. They do not just vanish! So where are they?" Athena looked around the surrounding landscape. Everything looked eerily quiet and desolate. "Maybe something happened that forced them to leave?" "Yes but what?" Adama remarked quietly. Almost with some reverence. Starbuck shifted Apollo in his arms and that action was all it took to help Adama shake off his lethargy that he felt. "We have to find shelter though. We have to get Apollo and ourselves out of this heat. We have to find water and food, then we have to treat Apollo the best that we can." "And after that?" Starbuck asked cautiously. Adama sighed. "After that, we have to figure out just what is happening here. There has to be some logical explanation for all of this. And I plan to find out exactly what that explanation is." ************* "No, you are one of the selected. You must help yourself." The words echoed around in Iaian's head as he slowly become aware of his surroundings, his mind clearing out the last of the fog that Iaian had felt overtake him some time ago. He wasn't sure how long he had laid there on the coolness of the stone floor, but he knew he had been there for some time. He felt stiff and sore as he slowly tried to move his hands and legs before he took the big step and tried to raise himself off the floor. Iaian was surprised to find that his lantern, laying where he had dropped it, still lit and shone brightly lighting up the room with some clarity. But a voice kept intruding his thoughts. The one of the woman who had been there with him earlier, before he had collapsed. The ominous sentence that she said at the last made a chill go up his spine as he heard her softly say it again, "If your people wish to survive." Her words played over in his mind with amazing clarity. The same words over and over and over again. But it was the woman herself that he remembered as much as her words. Her actions, her emotions_..or rather was it the LACK of emotion that bothered him the most about her. How she seemed as though she was just doing something for the sake of doing it? What was happening here? And just who was that woman that had just stood there like a observer taking in every movement he made. And where had she came from? All preliminary scans of this planet had shown no life of any kind. So who or what was she? Iaian slowly opened his eyes again as he slowly pushed himself up off the stone floor, his two hands bracing his body as he brought his knees up under him. He remained there for several centons, making sure that to room stopped spinning on its faltering axis. Then slowly, with what seemed to be a great effort, finally righted himself into a standing position, using the stones as his support. Iaian sat there for a few centons, waiting for his energy level to return to the point that he felt he could get out of this place under his own steam. He tried to clear his head of the disturbing voice that played over and over again, but the more he tried to block out that voice, the more his head throbbed and pounded. It's like someone or something was trying to make sure that he could not tune them out and still get the message that they were trying to send to him. Trying to get him to understand. Iaian soon found that if he did not try as hard to tune out the voice that the pain in his head lessened and so did the insistent voice of the woman. Just who she was still remained a mystery to Iaian. She had been dressed in clothes that reflected the attire of the ancients, but she she was not an illusion from the past. She had been standing there before him, so real that he felt he could have reached out and touched her He was positive that she was not an apparition of any kind. She seemed to be solid enough to him, not something that his hand would just pass through as though it wasn't there. But it was her words that she spoke that tolled like a death bell. The foreboding sense of doom that he felt from her words. Chosen. He was one of the chosen. Chosen for what? He was not a spiritual leader. He was not a man who felt a calling from his God to do some divine work. He was nothing more than a mortal man. A man of science and knowledge, wishing to learn all he could from the past so that maybe the ancients would impart some sort of wisdom that would help future generations avoid what seemed to mean the demise of the past generations. His mother called him a detective at one time. She said that his clues were the artifacts that he uncovered and he had to decipher what they meant or what they were used for by deductive reasoning. Iaian smiled. His mother was right in that department. He had always loved to read a good mystery book, but he deplored violence. So he went into the field that offered him the opportunities to uncover and solve a perplexing mystery. And it was a field he loved. And he had met the woman of his dreams within that field. Joscelyne. Iaian's thoughts turned to a sad note as he thought of her. Did she wonder where he was? Was she looking for him? Or was she hiding still behind that wall of grief so that she didn't have to face life head on? Iaian just didn't know what he was going to do about Joscelyne, but he knew that he was going to have to find some resolution regarding the situation that faced them both. The facts were simple - he was in love with her and had been for a long time. But she was too full of grief to notice or care about anyone. Including herself. Iaian wondered truly if Joscelyne was using Mikhos' death to hide herself from feeling any tangible emotions towards anyone -- man, woman or even child -- and that way, she saved herself from pain of loss if anything happened to them. Iaian wished that he could get through to her, like the voice kept repeating to him about his being one of the chosen kept insistently repeating itself in his mind. One of the chosen. Well if he was one of the chosen then who else was in this situation with him? And just what in the name of all that was holy were they chosen to do? And that woman. How could the instruments not register her presence on this world? She also stated that he must help himself if his people were to survive. Help himself how? Iaian just wished he had more to go on besides a seemingly cryptic message from a woman who didn't exists. He felt frustrated over the fact that he did not understand what was happening to him and he wondered if this was happening to anyone else that was here from the fleet. He laughed a mirthless laugh as he thought to himself, 'Maybe the others who were chosen with me are dealing with this also. I'd feel a lot better if I knew that I was not dealing with all this alone. In a tomb.' Iaian turned his attentions from the woman's words to the symbols that he had uncovered on the dark ebony stone. Danger, death, and guardians. What did it all mean. He knew what the words meant by themselves but what was the message that the stone was trying to tell him. If he could just decipher the other symbols. Maybe then he would understand the message that it was trying to impart to him. Danger. Was there danger here? Iaian thought back to what happened to him. Yes there was danger, but what was the extent of that danger. Was the danger that the stone warned him about on the same plateau as the danger that the cylons represented to their people? Death. 'As humans we are born, we live and we die.' Those words of wisdom imparted upon him by his grandfather when he was a boy rang back to him. The truth of those words. We were born, we live and then when our time is through, we die. But his grandfather also told him that the Great God that they worshiped and praised every holy day wrote that death was the final step in the journey to the great white heavens where there was no war, no suffering, no sickness and no death. So was death something to be feared as many humans did, or was it something to be looked forward to? Iaian had watched over the course of his lifetime how people were afraid of death, fought against it. He always wondered why if death was as his grandfather stated, something to look forward to? His grandfather told him that the young wanted to experience more of before they went to serve the great God. But the old, the sick and the war-weary greeted death with open arms. Wished for it. Dreamed of it. Saw it as a release from a body that was tired, worn out, sick or suffering in pain . Longed for death so that they could run free again as they did once upon a time. Did this race of people fear death? See it as something different than his grandfather did? And guardians. Who or what were they to these people? Iaian felt his head spinning as his thoughts whirled like a summer storm on Libra. So many questions and the answers seemed so elusive. But Iaian felt the insistent need to find those answers. And to find who else was chosen besides himself. Iaian slowly rose to his feet and took in the dark room around him, with some apprehension. He still did not know what was out there, if SHE was still out there, or what caused him to slip into unconsciousness here in this chamber. In the soft glow of the lantern that still laid on the floor, Iaian thought he saw something in the darkness. Something that was not there before. He reached up with one hand to rub his eyes to clear the slightly blurred vision while his other hand rested on one of the stones to keep him upright. As his vision cleared a little more he could see something was laying on the altar that was not there before. He could not make out what it was in the darkness, but it looked like a form - a human form. Iaian felt a shiver run down his spine as he swallowed hard and tried to quell the nervous tention he felt arise in his stomach. Whatever it was had not been there earlier. But now here it was. Something. Iaian wondered if he should just get the frack out of here and find his team. He had never been good with dealing with dead bodies. Even mummified ones that he encountered in his work. Joscelyne would laugh at him and tell him that he was lucky he had not chosen to become a medical doctor. His patients would have been picking him up off the floor considering the way he felt about blood and gore. And he would have never made it as a corner or understaker. Iaian had found humor in her jab about being weak when it came to certain things. She herself had problems with reptiles and spiders and the like. Iaian pushed those thoughts from his mind as he strained to see if he could make out what the dark form exactly was on the ebony stone. But he couldn't. And he knew that he would not just walk away from whatever it was. He couldn't. What if it was nothing to be frightened of? What if it was just dirt or sand from the ceiling? It really could be anything. There was nothing that said that it was absolutely a body. He was just speculating. Iaian took a deep breath and carefully reached down for his lantern. As he brought it up and thrust it out in front of him, he found that he could not fully make out what it was there. So Iaina moved towards the altar again, carefully after he stumbled on a small rock in his path. He kept the lantern out in front of him, hoping that it's light would show him what was there before he got too close. Slowly the light cast a dim light on the object that was lying there. Iaian felt his heart begin to race as he spotted the whiteness of a human arm laying there. Not mummified, but still quite_there. He wondered if this was the woman who he had seen earlier, who had spoke to him of being one of the chosen. As he moved closer he could see the dark long hair that curled almost familiarly to Iaian. The color of rich brown - almost the color of a rare minknar on Libra. Iaian had compared Joscelyne's hair to that of the minknar. That rich brown, soft to the touch. Iaian felt his heart beat even faster as his light caught a flash of something on the delicate hand that laid there so still. His breath caught in his throat as he recognized the ring on that hand. The vivid green emeraldis stone, so carefully cut so that the light caught the facets, making the stone almost emanate a warmth. He knew that ring. He himself had given it to Joscelyne for her last natal day. The green of the stone matched the green of her eyes. Iaian felt decidedly sick to his stomach. He moved a little closer praying fervently that his suspicions were wrong -- that this was not who he thought it was. Choking back a sob, he saw the blood that covered the body of the woman. Her clothes were saturated with it. Where it once was red, now it was turning a dirty color of brown. The smell of the dried blood permeated the air the closer he got to the altar and her. he found himself praying a little prayer that he had learned as a child when he was worried or scared. Now he said it over and over again, hoping against hope that what he was seeing was not true. But it was. As he looked down at the peaceful looking face of the woman, he felt his heart stop as he recognized Joscelyne laying there. Iaian felt his eyes tear up and grief start encompassing his heart like a vise. "No." he muttered over and over. "No." Iaian reached out and gently touched her face, then pulled it back in surprise when he felt the warmth of her cheek. He quickly moved the lantern closer to her and watched carefully for signs of life. He was rewarded with the gentle rising and falling of her chest. She was ALIVE! Iaian let the tears fall unheeded as he gave into his mixture of emotions. She was alive. He quickly looked her over for a source of the blood - for any injury at all and to his surprise found none. But what he did find was a knife, gently curved blade with a jeweled handle. The blade had blood on it, but there was none anywhere else on the knife. Iaian set it aside as he tried to rouse Joscelyne. "Joscelyne!" He gently shook her as he waited for her eyes to open. "Joscelyne! Do you hear me?!" Joscelyne groaned as she moved her head slowly to one side. Someone had turned on the lights and she wished they would turn them off. She was so tired. She just wanted to sleep. "Joscelyne!" "Go away, Iaian." Joscelyne said sleepily. "No! I can't!" He said insistantly, shaking her gently. "Wake up! You have to wake up!" "Ohhh_" she groaned as she slowly opened her eyes slightly so that she could look at the only person who would dare disturb her sleep. "What is it now? Can't it wait until after I wake up and get first meal? Do you have to wake me up from a good night's sleep?" "Josce, we're not on the Galactica. You're not in your quarters. Get up!" Iaian's voice was insistent and Joscelyne opened her eyes wider. "What are you talking about?" Joscelyne noticed the lantern in Iaian's hand then shot upright as she looked around her surroundings, fully awake. She wasn't on the Galactica. Where was she? Joscelyne looked around the dark chamber, her eyes wide as she started to remember her dream. The knife. The man in the dark robes. The lifelessness of his eyes. Joscelyne looked into the worried face of Iaian, noting his red eyes and tear streaked face. Then she looked down at herself and cringed in horror. "Oh, my god, it wasn't a dream_." Joscelyne looked at Iaian, her green eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "What?" Iaian looked at her surprised by her statement. "What dream?" "The dream that I've been having." She replied absently as she looked down at her clothes again, touching the dried blood, unsure of where it came from. It couldn't be from her. Then she remembered the river of blood on the floor and the blood that appeared on her body from no where. The woman in the distance. A hazy memory of her came through, but what Joscelyne remembered most was the man. Her executioner. The lifelessness of his eyes. "He stabbed me." "Who?" Iaian looked at her puzzled. "Who stabbed you?" Joscelyne turned her gaze back to the worried man beside her. She could see all his conflicting emotions in his eyes. She thought how expressive those eyes were. How full of life. Joscelyne felt different at that micron. Like she had just awakened from a bad nightmare and was seeing the light for the first time. She turned and looked around the chamber again and then back to Iaian. "A man. A man with lifeless eyes. He was my executioner." "WHAT?!" Iaian exclaimed, almost as a yelp. "We have to get out of here. Iaian. We have to get off this planet." "I agree with you whole heartedly at this micron. I really am not feeling very welcome here." Joscelyne quickly jumped down from the altar and grabbed Iaian's hand in hers. Her mind raced that they had to get out of here and now. That there wasn't a micron to spare. With careless disregard for her appearance, she started pulling the seemingly surprised man towards the only passage that seemed to lead out of this torture chamber. "Let's go. Now!" Iaian was more than just confused at everything that was happening. Especially the fact that there seemed to be a totally different direction in Joscelyne's attitude towards him. Hell, her attitude all together. It was almost like the past yahrens had not happened at all and that he had awakened from a very strange dream, making his mind twist and turn with the unrealness of the situation they were presently in. Joscelyne was unexplainably acting as she did before Mikhos' death. Before the tragedy at Kobol. The fun loving, full of life person that she once was. Strong willed and ready to take charge if she had to of any situation. Iaian wasn't going to question this change, just accept it and run with it because it gave him the most hopeful sign that he had seen in the past yahrens. A sign that Joscelyne was willing to take the initiative by awakening and taking charge of her life, her destiny again. And giving Iaian the hope that maybe, just maybe she was willing to give him a chance in her life. That she was willing to accept that Mikhos was dead, and that she wasn't. That maybe they had a future together that involved more than just friendship. More than just sharing their passion for the past and desire to discover answers to the secrets that the past sometimes held in a tight fisted grip. Iaian's heart felt as though it skipped at beat, possibly even more than just one beat, when she took his hand in hers, grasping it tightly. Now Iaian himself felt like he was the one existing in a dream. A dream that he had been having for a long time now. And this dream he hoped he would not wake up from. The dream that Joscelyne felt something for him, more than friendship, more than companionship, and more than just a camaraderie. The surreal reality in which the woman that he loved more than his own life, actually loved him in return. Iaian didn't care to stop her as she pulled him towards the passage that led to the light. ************* To Be Continued.....