HEATHER'S STORY CHALLENGE: Tigh's underwear A triad costume going missing A Viper exhaust pipe Cassie finding Starbuck and Athena in a compromising position The Celestial Dome The Galatica's crew of cleaners saving the day STORY CHALLENGE RESULTS: THE NATAL DAY SURPRISE By Maggie H. March 5, 2000 Cassie ran her fingers lightly through Starbuck's hair as she drew him closer. Their lips touched lightly as they savored the moment and the quiet, the only sound the music of a soft Gemini instrumental piece. They were alone in the most isolated part of the Galactica, the Celestial Dome. Cassie and Starbuck had come on a whim, a last minute decision. Through the open shield, the stars shone bright and steady, brilliant without the dimming effects of an atmosphere. The stars were also unnoticed. Their lips pressed together, and Cassie's arms slid inside the lieutenant's flight jacket, caressing his shoulders as she drew him tight against her. She could feel the gentle rhythm of the music as they swayed as one. She could feel his heart beat accelerating in unison with her own, feel his hands massaging her shoulders, her back, sliding forward... Suddenly, he pulled back, exclaiming, "Oh, Frak!" "What? What is it?" Cassie tried to pull him close again, but he resisted. "Look, Cass," Starbuck said, a bit breathless. "I completely forgot - I promised someone that I'd help them out tonight." He pulled his arm out to check his chronometer. "Frak, I'm late!" "Starbuck!" Cassie could not believe what she was hearing. "Can't it wait?" She tried to pull him close one more time. For a moment, Starbuck's will falter as he leaned in, kissing her soft lips... then he forced himself to pull back. "Cass, I wouldn't go if it weren't important. Look," he tried to explain as Cassie withdrew, arms folded, her face set in a pout meant to entice him back. "Look, it has to do with Apollo's Natal Day celebration tomorrow. I promised Ath - someone -- that I'd help them with some preparations. Now, I can't exactly put _that_ off, can I?" Cassiopeia gave a long, drawn-out sigh, resigning herself to having to let the evening wait... knowing Starbuck as well as she did, she knew it must be important if he were able to resist her advances. "All right," she said with mock sternness, "but I expect to be repaid for my patience." Starbuck had a truly pained look on his face as he hurried to put on the mufflers and prepared to exit. "I really need to run, but I promise - believe me! - I'll make it up to you. You coming now?" he added. Cassie shook her head. "I think I'll enjoy the view for awhile." She waved, one last tempting smile gracing her lips, making it as difficult as possible for him to leave. With more strength of will than he knew he had, Starbuck yanked open the hatch and hurried down before he gave into the temptation. Cassie sat for about fifteen centons, mulling over the unexpected ending to their evening, not exactly too happy about it. True, tomorrow was Apollo's Natal Day celebration, and Starbuck was usually involved in planning something for him, always making the day interesting for the captain. In addition, they were also playing a big triad match tomorrow, defending their championship. Maybe she should see if she could help out... ***** One centar later, Cassie was headed for the launch bay, vastly curious as to what sort of Natal Day preparations Starbuck would have there. She had tracked down his present location with some carefully asked questions to various people. It had not been easy. As the lift to the launch bay whined to a stop, Cassie hopped down and looked around for the lieutenant. As she walked slowly, searching, she heard their voices first. Cassie moved slowly, listening, recognizing Starbuck's voice and not quite identifying the second voice. Then it clicked - Athena. That was Athena's voice. She couldn't make out the words yet, but she had a general sense of where the voices were coming from. She rounded Starbuck's viper to where Apollo's stood. The voices suddenly became clear. "A little to the right. A little more..." Starbuck's voice. Cassie froze at what she saw. Starbuck sat in the cockpit of Apollo's viper, and a leg was visible against his shoulder. Starbuck's hand was wrapped around the calf of the leg, and his attention was focused on the rest of the body below in the cockpit. Cassie gazed in shock and confusion at the scene. A moment later, with a lot of shifting, Athena's head appeared, and she started to say something. She stopped when she astutely noticed Cassie standing a metron from the viper, mouth open, face growing redder by the micron. Starbuck, seeing Athena's eyes widen, turned in that direction. He nearly pushed Athena out of the cockpit trying to untangle himself when he saw Cassie. Cassie turned on her heel and headed for the lift. Starbuck managed to scramble out and dashed off after her, shouting, "Cassie! Cassie, wait! It's not what you think!" Cassie stopped abruptly, turning quickly and saying, "Really. And what do I think?" Her words were curt, her mouth a thin, straight line, her eyes narrowed. Starbuck stopped, out of breath, and tried to organize his explanation. "Cassie - it's not - I mean - Athena and I were just trying -" He glanced quickly back to the viper where Athena sat motionless, watching, her face radiating embarrassment and surprise. Cassie started to turn again to leave, but Starbuck grabbed her arm. "We were just trying to arrange a surprise for Apollo before our patrol in the morning!" He finally managed to spit out the words. Cassie seemed to consider this, her expression softening a fraction, until, that is, she noticed for the first time what Starbuck was holding in his left hand. "Excuse me!" Her face reddened even more. Starbuck followed her gaze and groaned. He had completely forgotten what he was holding. In his left hand dangled a pair of Colonial-issued underwear. Cassie jerked her arm free and marched resolutely towards the lift. Her jaw was clamped tight, her breaths coming in deep gulps. Starbuck practically threw himself in front of her, grabbing her shoulders to stop her. Realizing he still held the undergarment, he flung it quickly to the floor, then grasped her shoulder again. Cassie, furious, pulled back and swung her hand at his face. Starbuck deftly caught her arm and said loudly and slowly, "Cass. Let. Me. Explain!" "You've got one centon, Bud." Cassie jerked her hand free, then crossed her arms across her chest, glaring at the lieutenant. Starbuck, tongue finally untied, said, "Athena asked me to help her set up a prank on Apollo. The underwear is - ah - Colonel Tigh's - and we were going to leave it in Apollo's viper. But first we had to rig the alarm so that he'd get a warning light before we launched tomorrow. That's what we were doing - that's what you saw. I promise. I swear!" Starbuck gazed steadfastly into Cassie's blazing eyes. The fire abated slowly. Confusion replaced the anger. "What in the name of Kobol were you doing?" she finally asked. Starbuck, seeing that Cassie was not going to exit or to slug him, motioned for Athena, who stood on the ground next to Apollo's viper, to join them. "Okay, I know this looks strange, but it was Athena's idea to arrange a practical joke on Apollo. I mean, you know he's way too serious sometimes." Starbuck retrieved the undergarment. "We were planning to stick this in the exhaust pipe of his viper. We've rigged the panel so that he'll get an external-systems warning light before we launch... we'll inspect the ship and find... well, you know." Athena, sensing that it was safe to join the conversation, said, "Cassie, I swear, it's just as he said. It was all my idea. Starbuck's just helping me with the details. Cassie shook her head. "You two... I'd expect something that childish from Starbuck, but you, Athena?" Athena grinned, and all three began to laugh as the tension eased. Cassie finally asked, pointing to the underwear, "How in Kobol's name did you get Tigh's..." Starbuck, confidence and poise returning, answered, "Well, I've got an acquaintance who works in the laundry service, and I just worked a little deal for him to swipe a pair of the Colonel's skivvies." Cassie raised an eyebrow. "You have a connection in the laundry service? Never mind." She smiled devilishly. "Well, let's finish the job!" ***** Starbuck grinned at Apollo's back as they entered the locker room. It was 50 centons until the big game, and so far, the day had come off even better than expected. Apollo had been totally unsuspecting when the warning light had blinked on his panel. Apollo and Starbuck had dismounted to explore the cause of the alarm, and Starbuck had skillfully maneuvered him to where he had a good view of the exhaust pipe. In the meantime, Athena and Cassie had gathered a crowd and they had hidden out of sight. Even the Colonel was there, much to Starbuck's discomfort. Apollo had spotted the beige object in the exhaust, exclaiming, "What's this?" as he pulled out the undergarment. At the moment he realized what it was and was about to query Starbuck about it, the observers had jumped out, yelling the classic, "Surprise!" Apollo had nearly jumped out of his flight jacket. The only negative aspect, which Starbuck thought was worth it, given Apollo's reaction, was the Colonel's ire when he realized whose underwear it was. He had fixed Starbuck with an angry glare and had said, "You have not heard the end of this, Lieutenant!" Later, Starbuck had led Apollo into another surprise that had been prepared by Boxey and the commander. Since the game was scheduled for the evening, everyone had had an early celebration in the OC. That had been four centars ago. Now, it was time to settle down, to focus on the game. Apollo and Starbuck were the defending champions, but to hold onto the division lead, they had to defeat their opponents, Boomer and Castor. Starbuck could feel his adrenaline starting to pump as he pulled open his locker and pulled out his triad uniform. He stopped abruptly when he heard Apollo exclaim, "What the --? Starbuck, we don't have time for this!" Starbuck looked at Apollo blankly. "What are you talking about?" Apollo gestured angrily to his open locker. "Where's my triad uniform? We don't have time for any more of your pranks!" Starbuck glanced over to see an empty locker. "Look, Apollo, I didn't have anything to do with this! You know I wouldn't mess around when it comes to the game. Really!" Apollo was getting angrier. "Then where in Hades is my uniform?" Starbuck started quickly pulling open every locker that he could. Nothing. The adrenaline was now coming from mild panic. Without a uniform, they would have to forfeit the game. Then an idea hit. "Just hold on. I think I know what to do." Starbuck grabbed the intraship communicator from its wall mounting near the door. Every room and corridor had at least one such communicator. Punching in the code quickly, he waited impatiently for an answer on the other end. Apollo was pacing and glaring at Starbuck, not convinced that this was not another practical joke. Finally he got an answer. "Yes. Yes. May I speak with Branagin? Okay." He tapped a foot as he waited. A glance at his chronometer showed that they had 30 centons before the game started, but they still needed to warm up. A voice spoke into his ear. "Branagin! I need your help! We're missing Apollo's triad uniform. Do you have another one there? Well, we need one, size 10, and we need it now! Yes, anything!" He waited another agonizingly long three centons. Finally, he said, "Great! Just send it down fast! Yes, yes, I know. I'll take care of it in a cycle or two, okay?" He slammed the communicator back into its slot and turned to Apollo. Apollo stared at him. "What was that all about?" Starbuck grinned. "I have an acquaintance in the CLS. They're sending another uniform down right now. Should be here in five centons." Apollo shook his head and laughed. "Only you would have connections in the Colonial Laundry Service!" THE END