Subject: Sealings The Organization of Colonial Warriors cordially invites you to attend the sealing ceremony uniting Lieutenant First Class Starbuck of Blue Squadron and Doctor Cassiopea of the Fleet Medical Corps in marriage. The ceremony is scheduled for 10:00 centaries, the fourth of the Caprican month of Stagen on the fifth level observation deck of the Battlestar Galactica. There will be a brief reception following in the Officer's Lounge. Replies are appreciated but not necessary, as the couple wish as many of their friends and associates to attend as possible. [the following insert is present in those invitations delivered to Colonial pilots and bridge officers] Captain Apollo and Lieutenant Boomer invite your participation in the following wagering pools regarding the above mentioned turn of events: 1) Who will back out first and when? 2) Odds on whether or not the groom will pass out and at what point in the ceremony. 3) How long do you think this marriage will last? 4) Will the bride or groom make a dash for the nearest exit? Note: If you value your life, or ours, please do not let Starbuck or Cassiopea get a looksee at this! Boomer will be keeping track of the wagers. The Sealing--Starbuck's POV "ALL if them. You want me to wear ALL of them? Come on Apollo, have a heart. It's bad enough that I have to wear this uniform," Starbuck exclaimed. "That uniform," Apollo chided, motioning to the dark blue high formal uniform Starbuck was wearing. "is the traditional dress of a Colonial Warrior about to be married." Then he grinned mischievously. "Besides, it brings out the color of your eyes. And yes, you have to wear all of them." He nodded at the box. "How often do you get to wear them anyway? Don't you want your bride-to-be to be suitably impressed?" Meanwhile, the eyes in question were gazing balefully down at the little box Apollo, despite Starbuck's best efforts to hide it, had dug from the lieutenant's locker. It overflowed with with medals and ribbons, the sum total of a rather brilliant career as a Colonial Warrior. Starbuck at that moment thought it looked entirely too full, and he began to seriously doubt the wisdom of asking Apollo to help him get ready. Not that anyone else would have been much better. "Hmmph. Cassie thinks I look just fine in my battle suit. Which is what I'd rather be wearing right now." "Yeah, you'd rather be wearing it right now in your viper several thousand metrics from here. Sorry, bucko. Everyone's been waiting for this day for a long time. So you're going to wear every single one of these medals if I have to call Boomer and Jolly in here to hold you down while I pin them on you." "You would, wouldn't you. And enjoy every micron of it. Okay, okay, you win. I'll wear them, " Starbuck sighed in resignation. "I knew you'd see it my way. Okay, now where shall we begin. Oh yes, definitely with these, " Apollo said as he pulled out two gold clusters--the highest military commendation one could receive. "Remember how we got the first of these." Starbuck grinned at that in spite of himself. "You mean how your father got it for us? The Council was so stunned at the near disaster on Carillon that they had to give into Adama's demand that they honor their promise to award them to you, me, and Boomer. Wish I could have seen their faces! And I'll never forget that second one either. It's not every day that I get to go sneaking around on Cylon basestars." "And come back to tell about it. Waggling!" At that, both men broke up laughing, though Starbuck's held a tinge of nervous hysteria. After they regained some semblence of self-control, Apollo took a deep breath and straightened up. "Okay, let's see if your chest is big enough for all of these." Starbuck focused his eyes up towards the ceiling as Apollo began arranging the medals on his uniform. 'I can't believe I let him talk me into this,' he thought. Suddenly he took a sharp breath and exclaimed "Hey, watch it!" "Sorry. It would help if you wouldn't breath so much, " Apollo replied as he proceeded to arrange the rest of the medals. Suddenly Starbuck stiffened, and Apollo turned to see Commander Adama enter the room, with Boxey following proudly behind him, grinning from ear to ear, as he cradled a small jewel case in his hands. Adama was in his own formal attire, similar to the uniform Starbuck and Apollo both wore. Boxey was in formal civilian dress, also dark blue. He'd been very excited to be included in the ceremony. "How are the preparations coming, gentleman? I take it as a good sign that our intended groom has not fled the scene. I hope you're almost ready. The ceremony's set to begin in 10 centons, " Adama remarked. "Just putting the finishing touches on now, Father. But shouldn't you be seeing to the _arrangement_ of the honor guard?" Apollo looked conspiratorily at Adama. "It's all taken care of. I just wanted to give our brave warrior here a little sealing present before the ceremony begins, " Adama replied. "Commander, that's, um, really not necessary..." Starbuck began. "No, I must insist." Adama said, a smile breaking across his face. He stepped in front of the confused lieutenant and pulled out two small insignia from the depths of his uniform. "I think you should wear these. They are as much deserved as all the other medals you have there. Lieutenant Starbuck, it is my honor to award to you the rank of Captain, in acknowledgement of your distinguished service to the Colonial Fleet. " So saying, he deftly pinned the insignia on the stunned man's uniform. "You're _promoting_ me? Now? I..I don't know what to say. I'm honored..I...," he trailed off, too amazed to reply. "He's in shock. Maybe it'll take his mind off his nerves, " Apollo remarked. Both he and Commander Adama formally saluted the new Captain, a gesture that was hesitantly returned. Then Adama smiled. "I don't think there's any remedy for that. Well, let me be the first to congratulate you--both on your sealing and your promotion, " Adama said as he reached out to grasp Starbuck's wrist in the traditional salutory handclasp. "Now, I must be off to my place. I'll see you gentlemen shortly." With that, Adama turned and left the room. "Congratulations, buddy. You do deserve it. Just don't let it go to your head, " Apollo remarked. He then walked over to where Boxey had been silently observing the proceedings. "My, don't you look handsome. Now, do you remember what you're supposed to do?" he asked as he knelt next to the boy. "Yessir. After Starbuck says 'I will'...and you better not back out, Starbuck...I give him this case, " Boxey replied. "That's right, " Apollo said. Then he leaned a little closer and whispered, "I don't suppose I can get you to tell me what's in that case?" Boxey shook his head. "Nope, I promised I wouldn't tell. And you told me that a Colonial Warrior always keeps his word." Apollo sighed as he gave Boxey a hug. He then stood up and began straightening Boxey's uniform. As he did so he said over his shoulder to Starbuck, who'd been watching the transaction with a hint of amusement, "I don't suppose you'll let me in on this little secret, Captain?" Starbuck managed a weak smile. *Fat chance*, he thought. "Sorry, Apollo. It's, well, it's kind of a private part of the ceremony. Just between me and Cassiopeia. A compromise between an old Gemonese tradition and something Chameleon told me about. And, right now, I really don't want to think about it." That remark caused Apollo to give him an odd look. Starbuck shrugged. It was the truth--he didn't want to think about it. In fact, he wished he'd never agreed to do it. But Cassie had insisted that they both have some visible token of their sealed status. He suspected she just wanted to make sure that other woman would get the 'hand's off, he's spoken for' message loud and clear. He wasn't entirely comfortable with such tokens. The modern Caprican society he'd grown up in eschewed such things. Instead, they believed that love, honor, and trust were enough--a sealed person would let those of the opposite sex know of his status verbally. The only tokens they exchanged were promissory tokens. But the Gemonese sect in which Cassie had been raised believed in more obvious means of identifying sealed couples. Preferably something that could not easily be removed without leaving a mark. Nose studs had been popular in the region of Cassiopeia's birth and upbringing. He'd put his foot down there--no way, no how. So, in an effort to find a suitable compromise, he'd gone to ask Chameleon's advise. What he'd learned was that not all Caprican's followed the mores of modern society. The agrarian region where he'd been born--Umbra and neighboring towns--had a peculiar tradition of their own. After the ceremony, in the privacy of their own quarters, the bride and groom would reaffirm their vows and adorn each other with matching pieces of jewelry--necklaces, bracelets, ear cuffs and the like. Chameleon had gone on to say that ear cuffs had been especially favored in Umbra because they tended not to get caught on agricultural implements. When Starbuck had mentioned this to Cassie, she'd gone nuts over it--said it was very romantic and just the kind of thing she wanted in their wedding. Only, ear cuffs hadn't quite been permanent enough. In the end, they'd settled on matching ear studs--a blue stone in silver settings. He hoped the jewel smith thought they were both for her, to match the necklace he'd ordered as a promissory token. He didn't want to begin to think about how it was going to get in his ear tonight (hopefully by then he would have had enough Ambrosa that it wouldn't really matter), and he really didn't want to think about what Apollo, Boomer, Sheba, and all his other friends would say. He just hoped Cassie's estimation that it would look 'dashing' was correct. Or perhaps, if he combed his hair right.... He was brought back to the present as Apollo, finished his last minute checks on Boxey's appearance, as well as his own, turned to him and said,"Are you ready?" Starbuck took a deep breath to clear his head. It didn't help. "No, I don't think I'll ever be ready. So we might as well get on with it." With that, he and Apollo moved toward the door that led into the observation room, Boxey following behind. 'Here goes nothing,' he thought to himself as Apollo opened the door. Starbuck looked out the door in time to see Adama take his place behind the podium from which he would perform the ceremony. After a moment, Adama looked in their direction and nodded. Starbuck took a deep breath and slowly stepped out, walking in measured steps to where he would stand in front of Adama. Apollo and Boxey walked a few steps behind, Apollo prepared in case his friend were to try and flee back the way he came. As he took his place, Starbuck silently cursed whomever had established the tradition that the groom had to wait up front while the bride got to make a grand entrance from the rear. Of course, given his present state of mind he doubted he would have made it down the center aisle without falling flat on his face. Especially with all those medals pinned to his chest. Could that be the reason he was having so much trouble breathing? Or was that the fault of the too tight collar of the high formal uniform? He wondered if Cassie would notice his new rank insignia. That had been a surprise--he wondered how long that had been in the works. Just like Adama to spring that on him now, of all times. However, it did spare him another ceremony. He wondered what Cassiopeia would say when she noticed? He glanced nervously toward the back of the room where she should be appearing any moment. What was taking so long? His hand began to move involuntarily toward his hair, but Apollo grabbed his arm, forcing it back down. "Stop that," Apollo hissed. "This is supposed to be the happiest day of your life, so stop acting like you're about to face a Cylon execution squad. Smile." Starbuck resisted the urge to stomp on Apollo's foot. *You'll get what's coming to you soon enough, ole buddy,* he thought grimly. Where was Cassiopeia? If he had to wait much longer, he was sure his nerve would give out. He clasped both hands tightly behind his back to keep himself from making anymore embarassing nervous gestures. And to keep them from shaking. The sweating he couldn't do anything about. As he looked around the room, he noticed that the honor guard, traditional for a military wedding and consisting of friends from his own squadron, had all been positioned between him and the exits. That was Adama and Apollo's doing, of course. He'd overheard that remark last night about whether or not it would be appropriate to shackle him in place. Taking yet another deep breath, he forced himself to adopt one of the neutral expressions he found so useful when playing pyramid. How much longer did he have to wait? He glanced back again, and wondered if perhaps Cassiopeia was having second thoughts. He doubted it, considering how she'd reacted to the proposal in the first place... ************************************************************************** It had taken a lot of planning, finagling, begging, and outright bribery to set up the perfect evening as a prelude to asking Cassiopeia to be his wife. He wasn't sure exactly what had made him decide to do it--the way he felt when he was with her or the horrible way he felt whenever he thought of losing her. He'd come up with and discarded half a dozen scenarios before deciding how he wanted to broach the subject. He secretly suspected Adama had used some influence in order to be sure there was one private dining cubicle left on board the Rising Star for that night. Finding the perfect bottle of Ambrosa had been a bit more challenging, though once he procured it, it was a simple matter to get the server to bring it with the meal. Ordered and paid for well in advance so as not to have any unwelcome intrusions on the big moment. Finding someone to make the necklace he'd wanted to give her as a promissory token had been even trickier, and it had taken several sectons' pay beside. When the night arrived, everything seemed to go without a hitch. The dinner was perfect, the Ambrosa even better, and he'd been very successful in concealing the small jewel case from her. Perfect. Except that when the appropriate moment arrived a major case of nerves, only slightly eased by the consumption of several glasses of Ambrosa, caused him to forget the eloquent speech he'd prepared. As the conversation suddenly died, and he began to appear more and more flustered, Cassie had gotten suspicious. "Um, Starbuck, I know there has to be some reason you went to all this trouble. I mean, I know it's not my birthdate or anything. Could it be yours?" she'd asked. "Like I'd know if it was. No...um...actually, I had something important to say. See, I've been thinking alot about things. Us. And...well...," his voice faded out as he became, for what might have been the first time in his life, utterly at a loss for words. He ran his fingers through his hair, licked his lips nervously, took a deep breath, and tried to continue. "Cass...Cassiopeia, I wanted to say...that..I.., that is, I.." another deep breath and it all came out in a rush, "I love you and I want us to get sealed." 'Oh, that was just lovely. Very romantic. No wonder she's staring at me like that--I've just made a complete fool of myself,' he thought. In an attempt to salvage what was turning into a complete disaster, he pulled out the jewel case, removed the necklace and offered it to her. "I, um, I had this made for you and I want you to keep it. Whatever you decide. Look, I know it's kind of sudden and if you need some time to think I...," he'd gotten no further because at that moment, Cassie threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Hard. And quite thoroughly. When he could breath again, he gasped, "I take that as a 'yes'?" Cassie had looked at the necklace with tears in her eyes. She nodded slowly as he motioned for him to fasten the delicate chain around her neck. As he did so, she kissed his cheek and whispered, "Yes, I do want to be sealed to you." ****************************************************************************** Starbuck was jolted out of his reminiscing as Apollo cleared his throat. He realized that he'd been staring fixedly at the back of the room with a ridiculous grin on his face. He wondered if she'd still be wearing the necklace today. She hadn't taken it off since he'd given it to her. Hopefully the clear blue signet stone on the silver chain would fit in with whatever else she'd be wearing. He wondered what type of dress she'd chosen to wear. Probably Gemonese. He didn't know too much about Gemonese sealing traditions, but he remembered something about linking sealing with death ceremonies--both marking passages into a new existence. Would she really wear black? Somehow, to his current state of mind, the analogy between sealings and death seemed all too fitting. Why, oh why, had he ever decided to do this? He glanced around the assemblage one more time, trying to inconspicuously determine who was present. Out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of Chameleon sitting towards the back. He smiled to himself, glad the old con man could make it. There were a few of his warrior friends who hadn't drawn honor guard duty scattered amongst the guests. There was Omega--must have traded duty shifts with someone. Probably Athena, since she was conspicuously absent. He imagined she was up there now venting her frustrations on defenseless pieces of electronics. Just as well. If she'd attended she would have just spent the whole time glaring at his back. Well, it wasn't like he hadn't tried, that one time just after the destruction of the fleet. True, his timing had been off, but her abrupt rejection had really hurt. He'd never felt quite the same about her afterwords. Just then there was a bustle of movement in the back. Starbuck strained to see if he could spy Cassiopeia as the Gemonese melody she'd chosen as here processional began to play. He didn't know whether to be relieved or more nervous now that things were underway. More nervous won. As Sheba came in to view, he heard Apollo's sharp intake of breath. 'Oh yeah, you'll get what's coming to you very soon, indeed,' he thought. Sheba certainly looked fabulous in that royal blue bridesmaid gown. Apollo didn't have a chance. When Sheba was halfway down the aisle, Cassiopeia appeared, arm in arm with Dr. Salik. He nearly fell over. 'Ohmigod,' he thought, as his mouth went absolutely dry and his eyes threatened to leave his skull. She looked absolutely, positively gorgeous. That gown--it was on the verge of being scandalously tight up top, off the shoulder with tight fitting sleeves that reached all the way down to the backs of her hands. Black, as he'd kind of expected, broken at the middle with a long ivory sash whose ends swayed rythmically as she walked. From the back of the dress flowed a delicate lace cape that drifted softly behind her. The necklace he'd given her stood out as the only ornamentation. She'd worn no head covering, leaving her golden hair free. She looked positively radiant and totally self-possessed. It really wasn't fair. Here he'd been suffering silently all this while and she'd been calmly preening in the back. Still, he couldn't argue with the results. He gazed in rapt attention at her, but her gaze was fixed on the Star of Kobol above and behind Adama's head as she made her way down the aisle. Apollo whispered something in his ear which he didn't hear as Cassie finished her measured walk down the aisle to stand next to him. They joined hands as she looked at him for the first time. Right into his eyes. It was like being hit by a laser blast. Somewhere in the back of his mind he realized that she was as scared as he was. He also realized that, in spite of all his fears and reservations, this was somehow _right_. Even so, he still swallowed convulsively out of nerves as Adama cleared his throat and intoned, "Shall we begin." Sealing-Cassie's POV Cassiopea felt slightly foolish standing there in front of the mirror still as a statue waiting for Sheba to zip her into the dress. Sheba, by comparison, was a burst of energy, a blue blur that was flying around the room in an effort to make sure everything was ready for the bride to make her grand entrance into the observatory. To make matters worse, Cassiopea couldn't get a stupid children's song out of her head: *Some say she scrubbed the floors till she learned where he was kept Some say she climbed a vine to the window where he slept Some say the Gods lifted her up and placed her where he lay Well, no one knows How the real truth goes It all depends What you hear from friends It's no surprise If it's all just lies But that's what some say...* "What?" Cassiopea turned around to find Sheba openly staring at her. "'What' what?" she asked. "You were saying something under your breath. It sounded like it was in Gemonese. What is it?" Cassiopea winced. She hadn't realized she was actually singing aloud. "It's an old children's song about how folk tales are started," she quickly explained, praying Sheba's Gemonese was so rusty that she didn't catch most of the words. She turned back to the mirror and muttered, "Can't get the stupid thing out of my head." "Now, now. No need to get into a fuss," Sheba soothed as she moved behind her. "Now, suck in your breath. I'm gonna zip you up." Cassiopea did as ordered. "Oh, Lords. I think I gained weight. This thing's too tight. I can't breathe." "That's probably panic. It fits like a glove," Sheba said as she finished the job. "Like a very tight glove, you mean." Sheba only grunted in reply as she smoothed out some last minute wrinkles. That done, she stood back to admire the result. She hadn't really seen the wedding dress, since the seamstress seemed to delight in torturing the bride-to-be by waiting until the very last micron to finish it. The affect was so startling that Sheba was at a loss for words. At that moment, she felt really bad for Starbuck. *Sucker never had a chance when he tangled with this woman,* Sheba thought. *Neither did my father, for that matter.* The dress was deep black, the Gemonese traditional color of mourning and weddings. It presented a striking contrast to Cassiopea's light skin, blonde hair and blue eyes. The neckline cut straight across the chest, leaving her shoulders and neck completely bare, except for Starbuck's promisary gift: a clear blue signet stone on a silver chain. The dress did have "sleeves," however, which were attatched somehow to the dress' torso. The cuffs came to a point at the back of her hand, giving her arms a smooth line to her fingertips. A shawl, a cape really, of fine black lace cascaded down her back, starting from the back half of the neckline and trailing onto the floor. The slightest movement caused the lace to somehow float, giving the otherwise plain dress an otherworldly look, as if the bride was a dark angel. Or a ghost. "Sash," Cassiopea said. Startled out of her reverie, Sheba scurried to retrieve the long, ivory silk cloth from the couch. She hestitated before turning it over. "You sure you want to ruin the affect? Black and white. I dunno..." But, Cassiopea's hand stayed out and, with a sigh, Sheba gave it over. Once Cassiopea neatly folded it in half, she said, "O.K., Sheba. I need you to thread this around my waist. Try not to get the shawl tucked in there." The lieutenant felt somewhat foolish following Cassiopea's instructions, especially since the good doctor stretched her arms out and looked to the ceiling as she did so. "All right, now what?" Cassiopea carefully took either end of the sash, tied a perfect square knot and let it and the loose ends dangle down the front. Sheba was somewhat disconcerted to notice that the loose ends were almost exactly the same length and nearly reached the floor. "I take that back. The affect is amazing," Sheba commented wonderingly. It was. From the waist up, the dress did fit like a tight glove, but from the waist down, the dress fell in loose, flowing folds, though it didn't balloon out like so many other traditional wedding dresses from the other Colonies. With a wide grin, Cassiopea turned away from the mirror. "Well, thank the Lords I don't have to wear a shroud over my head." "A shroud?" "Yeah. It's supposed to be a symbol of the family's faith in the bride's purity." Sheba tried choking back the laughter. She really did. But all things considering, it was a pretty funny comment made all the more funnier by Cassiopea's straight-man delivery. "Glad to see you agree with my decision," Cassiopea chuckled. "And don't think I didn't hear that wonderful round of speculation you and several others engaged in at my bachelorette party." "Speculation?" Sheba asked innocently. "Let's see if I remember the question. 'Who has the most experience, to put it politely, Cassie or Starbuck?'" "Hey! You won!" Sheba protested. "Just barely. And that's because I was a socialator." Cassiopea suddenly became serious. "I know this is going to sound really strange, but I need you to ask for payment." "Payment? C'mon, Cass. I'm happy to do this. Why would I want to get..." "Just do it," Cassiopea said. She added, "Please, it's tradition." Sheba rolled her eyes and wearily said, "O.K., O.K. What are you going to pay me for helping you out?" Cassiopea smiled. "Not exactly properly worded, but it'll do." With a deft movement, she removed a fine gold bracelet from her left wrist and held it out. Sheba was so stunned she just looked at it. She had argued with Cassiopea only that morning, asking why she was even bothering since no one was going to see the thing under the sleeves. Cassiopea insisted on wearing it, but wouldn't tell Sheba why. When she found her voice, Sheba stammered. "Cass, I..., I..., I can't take this. It must be worth a fortune!" "It's a Gemon tradition to pay the bridesmaid money the day of the wedding to reimburse her for her time and effort. I figured you'd be insulted if I offered you money, so I decided to give you this instead. Don't shake your head no. You'll take it and wear it in good health. It's bad luck to refuse anything from the bride." Sheba gingerly accepted it. "Thank you." "Well, that's done," Cassiopea sighed with relief as Sheba closed the bracelet around her wrist. "Now all I have to do is make my entrance." "I'll go see if they're ready yet," Sheba said. She stopped short of the door, turned around and studied Cassiopea speculatively. A sly smile started creeping across her face. "I still say you should've worn something other than sandals underneath that dress. It's positively scandalous." "Sheba!" Cassiopea cried in mock exasperation before breaking up into giggles. "I told you. It's tradition. All the sealings on Gemon happened during the Worship of the Sunstorm, so..." "...the bride and the groom need to get on with their honeymoon as quickly as possible?" Sheba asked innocently before she, too, got infected with the giggles. "Starbuck'd die if he knew. Can you just image what he'd say?" Cassiopea's smile turned wicked. "When he tells me later, I'll let you know what he said." As Sheba left the room, Cassiopea studied her reflection in the mirror. She slowly reached up a hand and touched the necklace. The utter lack of ornamentation on her dress caused it to stand out in a way that was strange to her own Gemonese sensibilities. Wearing it was her nod to the Caprican tradition of brides wearing the promisary token at their weddings. Not exactly tradiditional, but... *Oh, cut it out, Cass. You're not exactly marrying traditionally are you. Caprican and Gemon. Not a mix you get often, is it?* Despite herself, she giggled. When she thought of what Starbuck agreed to do for the sake of her tradition, she doubled over in laughter... *************************************************************************** ***"You want me to WHAT?" Cassiopea tried to steady her trembling hands as she sipped caff from her mug. She had invited Starbuck over to discuss a very serious subject, cursing herself as she did so. She couldn't understand this overwhelming need to revert to a tradition that never served her well. His reaction was pretty much what she had expected. "No. Absolutely not. It's... it's... it's... barbaric." Cassiopea looked up. "Are you saying I'm a barbarian?" "No. No, I'm not," Starbuck hastily apologized. "Really. It's just that...that... through the NOSE?!" Cassiopea sighed. "Capricans. Look. Let me explain this to you one more time. It's tradition among the Acropolean Gemons to pierce their noses as a symbol of their sealed status. It's permanent..." "And sounds very painful. Absolutely not. No way. Unh-unh. This is where I draw the line." "But..." "Don't 'but' me. I know the real reason behind this request of yours." Cassiopea started. "Real reason? What the hades are you talking about?" "You want to telegraph a 'hands-off' message to everyone woman in the fleet and this mutilation..." "Nose ring," Cassiopea corrected. "Mutilation," Starbuck angrily stressed, "Is your way of doing it. What isthis? Don't you trust me? For Sagan's sake Cassie, didn't I ask you to get sealed? Do you think I made this decision lightly? If I'm sealed to you, I'm not going to..." "So this is what this is all about," she interrupted hotly, slaming down the mug as she did so. The hot caff splashed over her hand, but she was so angry that she didn't even feel it. "You don't want it generally known that you're no longer available. What? You get off on women coming on to you?" "That was uncalled for!" "Was it?" "Listen, Capricans do NOT get their noses pierced. They don't get ANYTHING pierced. Now, if you want to mutilate that pretty nose of yours for whatever mysterious Gemonese religious or superstitious reason, you go right ahea--" "'Mysterious Gemonese religious or superstitious reason?'" Cassiopea's voice took on a dangerous edge. Starbuck shuddered. "Is that it? Back to calling me a barbarian again, are you?" "That's not what I..." "But that's what you implied," she growled. She pointed dramatically at the door. "Out. Out now. You win. No nose ring." "But..." Starbuck had just won the argument, but he suspected he just lost the war. "No buts. The subject is closed. If you stay, I'm afraid this argument will just keep going and I don't want to say anything I'll regret." ****************************************************************************** Cassiopea was startled out of her reverie when she heard Sheba's voice through the door. "You coming out soon?" "In a centon," Cassiopea shouted back, not taking her eyes off her reflection. She had to admit, she was relieved when Starbuck put his foot down about the nose ring. She really didn't want it anyway. As much as she hated to admit it, she agreed with him. It was a barabaric tradition. But a case of nerves and Starbuck's violent reaction to the idea just sparked her anger and the irrational argument. The next night he was back, all apologetic. She was about to tell him to forget the whole thing. It was stupid ingrained tradition and she had no right to force him to do anything he didn't want to do. But before she could say anything, he offered a compromise. Apparantly Chameleon gave him some fatherly advice. The region where he was born, well, where he thought he was born, anyway, had a tradition where the bride and groom exchange tokens on their wedding night. Jewelry, mostly. Necklaces, rings, ear cuffs... "Ear cuffs?" Cassiopea remembered saying doubtfully. She wanted to ask what they were because she never heard of them. Starbuck had thrown up his hands in frustration. Here he was, offering a compromise and she didn't want to hear it. Fine. Just terrific. Since she wouldn't be happy until he experienced SOME pain, maybe earings would be good enough. Would the dangly kind do? Before she could stop herself, Cassiopea honed in on the idea. Earings! Perfect! Starbuck stood there blinking. He was being sarcastic. He was not about to wear earings. And definitely nothing that would dangle. She pressed. Who said anything about dangling earings? A stud in one ear. That's it. It was something she could definitely live with and she certainly prefered it to a fraking nose ring. Those things could get pretty irritating if you got a cold anyway. Starbuck still hadn't been sure, but when Cassiopea threw her arms around his neck and passionately kissed him, he found himself agreeing to it. Cassiopea knew he STILL had doubts about it, depite all her assurances that he would positively dashing with one. He was probably planning on squirming out of it tonight. A bottle of ambrosia would take care of that. *That man must really love me to put up with all of this,* she thought as she shook her head. She froze. *Oh my God! He loves me!* She panicked and began to pace the room, barely glancing at her startling reflection as she passed the mirror in her sweeps back and forth. Her usual calm assurance now shattered, she was reduced to operating on raw nerves and mumbling, "...ohmygodohmygodohmygodohmygod..." Sheba strode into the room. "Cassie, Salik's been waiting for centons to give you away and I think Starbuck's about to bolt though the closest door. Can't hide in here forever, my blushing bride to be. What are you..." Cassiopea stopped and looked at her bridesmaid. "How long do you think it would take for them to notice I was gone if I hopped aboard the next shuttle?" Sheba groaned and rolled her eyes to heaven. "Don't do this to me. Not now. You've been so good. PLEASE don't do this to me." "You know," Cassiopea said, the enthusiasm building in her voice. "It's not too late. I can stop this. Yes I can...." "Yes it is too late. It was too late the micron you agreed to get sealed," Sheba said, trying to soothe Cassiopea's last centon attack of nerves. "A mistake. A momentary lapse in good judgement. If I plead insanity, there isn't a tribunal in the fleet that would convict me." "You're hysterical," Sheba observed. "Can you blame me?" Cassiopea asked. It looked like she was about to burst into tears at any moment. She wandered over to the couch and collapsed. She looked dazed. "Oh, what have I done to myself?" she groaned as she put her face in her hands. Sheba nervously adjusted the folds of her flowing royal blue bridesmaid dress as she grasped for something to say. Cassiopea looked up. "How did this happen? How did this happen to ME?" she demanded. "I was a good socialator. Good socialators do NOT get..." "You're not a socialator. At least, not any more. Besides, you almost got sealed with my father," Sheba reminded her. "O.K., O.K., so I WASN'T a terribly good socialator," Cassiopea allowed. She muttered, "This is what I get for letting my emotions take over. Shoulda said no. Stop it before it got outta hand." Mumbling something bluer than her dress in her native Scorpian dialect, Sheba bounded to Cassiopea's side and tried to budge her off the couch. No luck. Cassiopea remained glued to her seat, face buried in her hands. After a few microns of trying to move her by physical force, Sheba gave up and sat next to the distraught bride on the couch. "Look, you and Starbuck...He needs you. Really, I wish someone needed ME like that. You're just getting cold feet. That's all. We'll sit here a few microns and wait for you to calm down." Cassiopea looked up. She seemed somewhat at peace. "I'll just go in there in call it off. Declare it a big mistake." She leaned over and whispered conspiratorily to Sheba, "Starbuck would be extremely relieved if I did, you know. Ten-to-one, he doesn't want to go through this hades any more than I do." "Stop it." "Wha?" "I said stop it," Sheba said finally. "Regardless of my earlier remark, Starbuck's out there waiting for you. He keeps looking back here for YOU, you fool. No one else. Not Athena. Not Aurora. Not even ME. Not anyone else but YOU. If HE didn't want to go through with this, HE wouldn't be here. HE wouldn't've asked you in the first place." "He wouldn't've asked me if he wasn't drunk, either." Sheba dismissed this last remark with a wave of her hand. "All the ambrosia did was break down the path of resistance. Make it easier. He had to plan it, the whole business, anyway. I don't even want to think about what he had to go through, let alone the expense, to get that necklace you're wearing. Then there was that dinner on the Rising Star..." "All that means is that he's gone insane," Cassiopea interrupted. Sheba exploded. "Look! He's here! You're here! Let's get this over with already!" Cassiopea looked at the lieutenant and burst out laughing. "You are such a romantic. 'Let's get this over with already.' Honestly..." Sheba grinned. She was finally getting through. "So, does this mean you'll go through with it? You're ready?" Cassiopea got up and rustled over to the mirror. She stared at her reflection for a few moments. "No, I'm not ready. But I'm going through with it." "Good," Sheba's grin grew broader. "That means I can count you out of the competition if my father ever comes back. I've been having nightmares about calling you 'mom.'" Cassiopea chuckled. "Me? Mom? Heaven forfend!" Sheba got up from the couch and hugged Cassiopea. "I'm happy for you. Really. I am. I think you two will have a great future together." When the two women separated, Cassiopea was positively beaming. "Well, I better go. Salik's going to be growling at me all the way down the aisle about me being on time for my own funeral." Cassiopea headed for the door, but stopped short of going through. She looked back at Sheba, for one last time, and smiled radiantly. "Sheba, thanks. I suppose I'm going to be returning the favor one day soon, so I won't make a big production out of it." "What makes you think...." Cassiopea's smile grew wider. She quoted from a man who once dropped the same cryptic hint to her. "Well, you never know." Her thoughts were still racing around themselves when she took Salik's arm. *I should've gone with the traditional Caprican off-white color. I look like someone just died. I'm gonna strangle the Gemonese male who came up with the bright idea that sealings and deaths are linked passage rites.* "Nervous?" "Hunh?" "I said, you look nervous," Salik grumped, even though he was grinning from ear-to-ear. "A little," Cassiopea lied. Oh, well. Half a truth was better than no truth at all. *Why the hades haven't those fraking musicians started yet?* she thought wildly. "I must say, doctor, you look ravashing." It was Salik's attempt at trying to keep her mind occupied. It worked. Sorta. "I was thinking I should've gone more Caprican," Cassiopea mumbled. "Why, oh, why did I revert back to being Gemonese?" "Weddings and funerals," Salik shrugged. "In times like these, we always go back to our own traditions." Cassiopea started biting her lip. That stupid nervous childhood habit. It got her into a lot of trouble when she was at the Temple training to be a socialator. *Stop it! Stop it! You are not a socialator, so stop thinking about it!* Cassiopea chided her self as she began to chew her upper lip. *Damn it! When is the music going to start?* Salik leaned over and said, "Looks like they're about to begin. Before they do, I just wanted to say..." Inwardly, Cassiopea sighed with relief. Salik was about to growl about her being late. Thank the Lords some things were constant. "...how much I appreciate being your protector. I just wanted you to know I'm touched that you think of me like a father." Cassiopea stared at the doctor in surprise. His eyes looked like they were tearing up. It took her a few moments to figure out why. Salik had come close to getting sealed in his younger days, but the life of a doctor in the Colonial Service took a harsh toll on his relationship and it was called off. She mumbled some foolishness that she was glad he accepted.... ****************************************************************************** ** "You're late!" Salik growled. "Just because you're now a full-fledged doctor doesn't mean you have the right to..." "Sorry," Cassiopea hastily apologized. "I had to come in from the Rising Star and the shuttle was delayed. Won't happen again. I promise. If it does..." "The Rising Star," Salik said suspiciously. "I thought you were going there last night." Cassiopea blushed crimson and tried to keep a straight face. "Ahh. Well. Was delayed. You know how it is..." she trailed off. Salik sighed. "With Starbuck involved, I don't want to know. Spare me the details." "He asked me to get sealed!" The words just burst out before Cassiopea could contain herself. She immediately felt stupid and wished she could wipe the huge grin off her face. Salik stopped, stared and tried to say something. The only sound he could make was a cough. "I haven't told anyone yet. Not even Sheba." The words were coming out in a rush, she couldn't help it. She ran up to Salik, threw her arms around him and kissed him firmly on the cheek. "You old grump. You said he'd never do it. But he did! He finally did it!" Salik tried very hard to keep his usual crusty edge, but it crumbled in the face of Cassiopea's VERY firm embrace. "I assume you said yes," he commented dryly. "Are you kidding?" Cassiopea let go of him, but still remained firmly attatched to his hand. Salik was struck for a moment at how radiantly happy she looked. "I have to ask you something, before I lose my nerve," Cassiopea said. "If you say no, I understand, but it's just that..." "Yes, you can have a secton off." "Oh. That. No, no that's not it," Cassiopea said. She hesitated, uncertain, but plunged ahead anyway. "Ummm. You've been always here for me. Since I got on the Galactica, I mean. You took me in to be a medtech. Taught me the ropes. Then you got me to take the physicians' certification exam and allowed me to intern on the Galactica. So, I was wondering, ummm, if it isn't to much trouble, would you, ummm, be my protector? I mean, you've been like a father to me and all." Salik was stunned. This was an even bigger bombshell than Starbuck's proposal. He looked at the hopeful Cassiopea, biting her lip in that endearing nervous habit she had. How could he say no, really? ****************************************************************************** Cassiopea was brought back to the present when the music finally started. *What is that fraking song called?* Cassiopea thought wildly as she saw Sheba make her entrance. *"Human Part." "Human Tart." No. No. I remember. "Human Heart." Yeah. That's it. I remember.* Salik moved forward, taking Cassiopea by complete surprise, but she recovered before she fell flat on her face. Barely. *Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. That's how you walk,* Cassiopea thought giddily. She wondered how many people in the crowd thought she was smiling stupidly about her impending sealing when she was really trying to remember how to put one foot on front of another. *Starbuck's got it easy. The slime. All he has to do is stand there and wait,* Cassiopea thought fiercely. *I'm gonna fall and break my neck before I even get up there. Thank the Lords of Kobol Salik's holding me up.* She fixed her eyes firmly on the Star of Kobol over Adama's head, not really wanting to look at Starbuck. She was afraid she'd either burst out laughing or flee from the room if she did. Not that she would've gotten far if she decided to make a break for it. Her spirits sunk to find that the military honor guard was literally standing between her and every escape route. Probably Sheba's idea to put them in exactly those spots, too. They got to the front much too soon. Salik placed her trembling hand in Starbuck's and stood to one side. Cassiopea steeled herself. She was going to have to look at him. Can't have the bride staring like she had space madness, now can we? She looked up. Right into his eyes. For a moment, her breath caught in her throat. Then, to her utter surprise, she found that she was really happy, REALLY happy, for the first time since the Destruction. The first coherent thought she had was, *He's as terrified as I am.* The second immediate thought was, *I made the right choice.* Adama cleared his throat. He asked, "Shall we begin?" It was all Cassiopea could do to keep from shouting, "YES!" The Sealing--Apollo's POV What an accomplishment. Captain Apollo stood there in front of Commander Adama, waiting for him to begin.Apollo seemed quite satisfied with himself that he'd successfully seen to dressing his wingman and best friend up in full dress uniform, got him to quit playing with his hair, and finally gotten him to stand up straight and still. Starbuck was ready, so he thought. But was the good Captain ready for what was perhaps the most important milestone encountered by this duo since Apollo's own wedding ceremony. Apollo was reminded of the sense of guilt and loss that Starbuck must have felt when that ill- fated marriage was ended with one cleverly-placed laser bolt from a Cylon cannon; it was almost too much for Apollo to bear at some points. It made him feel bad enough that Starbuck missed his best friend's sealing, even though he was helpless to do much about it. Apollo knew that Starbuck was only concerned for him when he disobeyed orders; that benevolent act on his friend's part was the very act that caused him to miss the sealing ceremony...somehow Apollo felt partially guilty for that, but he got over it in time. Right now, he was happy to finally settle his friend down for the event at hand. However, Apollo's self-satisfied humor was melted and replaced by a solemn sense of respect and awe when he stopped for a micron to realize at just what a point that he and Starbuck were at in their friendship. They'd been through so much together...through events and perils that were too many to stop and meditate on...in battle, in victory, in defeat, in joy, in sorrow, the list was endless. What was to become of their unique, long-standing friendship? Apollo knew the answer to that one when Starbuck asked it of him before his sealing, but now? For the next few microns, which must have felt like centares to him, Apollo was taken back to a related conversation that he and his wingmate had across the commline while they flew on patrol on the eve of Apollo's wedding. He remembered how Starbuck violated orders and flew ahead of him to take up the more risky position in front of him as they penetrated the seemingly endless void before the planet Kobol, where the origin of their people, and the key to Earth, were said to be found. He mused over the lighthearted lecture he had to give Starbuck, reminding him that nothing would change between them, that he wasn't going away, or anything like that...Starbuck was so hard to convince. "Consider it a wedding present," echoed the memory of that conversation in Apollo's mind. Now it was Starbuck's turn... "Wedding present...wedding present....wedding...." continued to echo through Apollo's mind. Flashbacks of his beautiful Serina, all in a period of microns, flashed through his mind. A bittersweet exilir of pleasure and pain satiated his memory's thirst for more of what happened that day. The satisfied expression on his father's face as the words "I now declare you sealed..." echoed throughout the candle-lit chamber. The overjoyed look on Boxey's rosey cheeks as he smiled up at his newfound father....the love in Serina's eyes....ooooh that hurt....the supportive smile on his sister Athena's face as she hugged him afterward...and lastly, his own feelings of joy overflowing as he had finally found the everlasting love he so desperately but silently sought. Fleeting memories of Serina flitted through his mind as he stole a quick glance at Starbuck, adorned brilliantly with every medal he ever earned pinned to his chest. That sight of the newly-decorated Captain Starbuck crossed paths with an image of Serina before their sealing; Apollo briefly caught a glimpse of a memory from back when the Fleet was still orbiting Carillon. He could see Serina holding him closely before he received his first gold cluster, still in the transport, saying "...and the guest of honor looks absolutely delicious!" So many memories, so fast... Apollo thought quickly on Starbuck and on the new frontier that his best friend was about to explore. Oh how Apollo wished silently that his journey in that frontier had not been cut so abruptly short by the enemy. He knew that that journey could never again be embarked upon with the one he once called his wife. That memory almost made him envy Starbuck, but he loved his comrade too dearly to give that thought any attention at all. Still, Apollo knew he wanted to finish that journey with Serina...alas, who could even come close to replacing her at his side? No one, he thought. No one at all could come close to being the wife, the mother, the friend, that Serina was. Apollo had spent yahrens convincing and re-convincing himself that never again would he meet such a worthy mate. Sure,the good Captain had found brief interests and had a few close female friends in his time...he really had to restrain himself when he was marooned on Equellus...Vella was quite a temptation...but no, the memory of Serina would be honored; Apollo would be true to her. Apollo could think of no one to this very day who he would rather love. Still, every now and then, the desire to move on in his journey would all out to him. A still small voice...but an audible one. It would whisper in his ear at unexpected moments, and oh how he hated that, or did he? Apollo quickly remembered one of the most "audible" announcements of that voice, a culmination of feelings he had done his best to suppress ever since the disappearance of the only other surviving battlestar, piloted by his idol, the legendary Commander Cain. Apollo had originally been enthralled by the Juggernaut, yet was originally repulsed by the childish arrogance and insecurity of his only daughter Sheba. But by the Captain's own edict, they had to learn to fight together if they were hoping to survive. They often disagreed, Apollo and Sheba, but with no Pegasus to return to, and with the ragtag Colonial fleet's survival hanging on how well these warriors worked together to defend it, Sheba learned to work with Apollo. She learned to admire his technique and his leadership, and eventually his person. Apollo was brutally reminded of that admiration when Sheba demonstated her discomfort with his suicidal decision to sabotage that Cylon basestar...the incident he'd been joking about with his buddy, the groom, only centons ago. Glancing at Starbuck's second gold cluster, Apollo was reminded of when Sheba made her discomfort known...right on his lips! WHY was he thinking of HER at a time like THIS!!! She thought about it "quite a bit", Apollo remembered Sheba's words to him before that sabotage mission...about how he had always included her in his tight circle of friends. He'd never admit that to Sheba openly, but she was right and he knew it. Thoughts of Sheba drifted backward in time to when her father's disappearance was confirmed, in the light of the destruction of at least two attacking Cylon baseships, and possibly a third, over the planet Gamoray. Apollo remembered his father's words to Sheba just before they wheeled her off to the Life Station..."Until your father does communicate with us, I want you to consider yourself part of our family." Sheba's reply to Adama began to echo in Apollo's mind, sending it into an even deeper state of contemplation... "I already do..." As Apollo's mind fixated on that phrase, he hadn't realized that the ceremony had been initiated by the Commander; he remained lost in thought. Suddenly, Apollo's preoccupation abruptly ended as thought it was a monitor unplugged from its console. A wave of shock rudely awakened Apollo like a cold sip of ale as it passed through his entire body. Looking as stunning as ever, Sheba entered the hall. Apollo could only gasp in shock. Never had he seen Sheba looking so beautiful than on this night. The blue dress she had chosen simply had Apollo dumbfounded as it draped over the contours of her body. Apollo quickly caught his breath and regained his composure. As the bride entered the hall behind Sheba, Apollo tried to cover his tracks...he whispered into his friend's ear, "Okay buddy, you're on your own." Starbuck was oblivious to Apollo's remark; his eyes were glued on the gorgeous blonde that he would be spending the rest of his life with. It was time. Sealings--Chameleon's POV Chameleon settled himself in the back of the crowded room with an unreasonable sense of pride. It isn't like he'd even tried to look for the boy, let alone raised him, but it was nice to know that one of his children not only survived, but thrived, despite all the odds. There was a time when he had another name, a real name that he often forgot. The intervening yahren, layers of assumed identities and the memory of a community put to Cylon flame had killed that man and sent what was left reeling onto path he couldn't leave, despite the best intentions. The crowd was restless, waiting for the bride to appear. Up in front, the groom looked calm and very happy. Starbuck certainly looked striking in the dark-blue uniform, which, he noted with another small swell of pride, sported a number of medals, including, to his astonishment, two Star Clusters. He only knew about the one Starbuck received for his part in a raid on a Cylon basestar. Where did the other one come from? Starbuck kept looking towards the back, straining his neck for some sign the bride, with an expectant smile on his face. Chameleon was relieved to see that. Of course, he never expected this day to come, really. That's why he promised Cassiopea that he'd tell Starbuck the truth on the day he got sealed. It was a promise he had no intention of keeping. Whatever family the two of them could've forged died in a night time raid on Caprica more than 20 yahren ago. When the two of them first met, Chameleon dropped all the right hints that there might be a family connection. Starbuck turned out to be an easy mark. He felt somewhat guilty taking advantage of the lieutenant's hunger for a past, especially since he had lost his own family at Umbra, but his life was at stake. How was he supposed to know the lieutenant would REALLY turn out to be a son? Refusing to tell him was the most unselfish thing he had ever done, he constantly told himself. He enjoyed Starbuck's friendship, company and their occasional visits. Why change it? But, in those rare moments when Chameleon would be completely honest with himself, he would admit that he didn't want Starbuck to know because he knew, for a fact, that the man would've found nothing but a bitter disappointment in his father. It was during one of Starbuck's sweeping glances around the room that the two men briefly exchanged glances. Chameleon saw the slight smile and found himself pitifully grateful that Starbuck was glad to see him there. *He must be Gabriel,* Chameleon thought. *Gabriel was the youngest and Starbuck's the right age.* Gabriel was also the only one of his three children whose body was never found, but Chameleon didn't like to think about it and often forgot that fact. He also didn't like to think how things could've been different. If only someone hadn't fallen asleep while watching Caprica's defense net and let the Cylons slip through. Why they picked a tiny agro community like Umbra, Chameleon would never know. He shook himself. He hated it when the past invaded his present. It was happening far too often nowadays. Maybe he should just slip quietly out of Starbuck's life. But he discarded the thought before he finished it. It would be impossible for him to stay away, especially now that there was a possibility of grandchildren someday. Not that they'd ever know he was their grandfather. But he would know. So would she... ****************************************************************************** "Chameleon, open up. It's me. It's Cassiopea." Chameleon silently groaned. He was expecting this visit ever since Starbuck enlisted his services to find a craftsman for that necklace and those earings. The woman currently outside his door really did remind him of his late wife, what he could remember of her that is. Same eyes. Same hair. Same sense of humor. Same sense of honor. Maybe if he pretended he wasn't home. "I know you're in there, Chameleon. Siress Blaise told me you were home. So open it up. If you don't, I'm gonna stay right outside your door. You've got to leave eventually." Did he forget to mention this woman was as stubborn as his late wife? Knowing he had no choice, he let her in. Cassiopea strode into the room. Without even so much as a 'hello,' she got right to the point. "You have a promise to keep." "Promise?" Cassiopea glared at him. "Don't try to squirm out of it. You promised to tell him." "I promised to tell him the day he got sealed," Chameleon said. He knew it was a stalling tactic, but he needed to think. He needed to convince this woman that it was in her best interest to keep the secret. "Don't play innocent with me. I know that you know that we're going to be sealed next secton. I also know Starbuck received some fatherly advice from you about a problem we were having. You had your chance and you said nothing. Absolutely nothing." Chameleon could see she was really angry. He was going to have to tread carefully. "I'm waiting for the right..." "Don't give me that felgercarb," Cassiopea cut him off. "You have no intention of saying anything. You never did. I bet you never really thought Starbuck'd get sealed, especially to me, so you never thought you'd never have to live up to your end of the bargain." "If you know that, then why are you here?" Chameleon's mind desperately ticked through the list of excuses. He had to go after her weak spot. "To make sure you live up to your end of our agreement. At gunpoint, if necessary." "And where are you going to get a gun?" Cassiopea snorted. "With all the planet falls and survey missions, Core Command decided it was a wise idea to send doctors down with the warriors. Guess who's on the rotation." "O.K., O.K., so you've access to a gun," Chameleon said lightly. "But you're not going to succeed by bullying me into telling him." That seemed to calm her rage. A little. "It seems to be the only way to get you to keep your word." "I'll tell him. I will. Really," Chameleon said fervently. "When you both have your firstborn." That stopped her cold. Chameleon knew it was too much to hope that she believed him, so he added a little more fuel to the fire. He had her now and knew it. "What? You don't believe me?" "Actually, no. I don't," Cassiopea said slowly. "It's just that I never was raised with the thought that I might have children someday. It was an option that was simply out of the question." "I image getting sealed was also another option that was out of the question," Chameleon commented. She gave him a strange look that caused him to shudder. It was a look he couldn't translate and he wasn't sure he really wanted to know. Mercifully, she kept silent. Chameleon nervously cleared his throat. It was now or never. "Maybe I should just lay my cards on the table, Cassiopea. The fact is, you're right. I'm not going to tell him. Not now. Not ever." Cassiopea started as if she was slapped. She had expected resistance, but not an outright refusal. "But, you promised. For the Lords' sake Chameleon, you're his father. He deserves to know. He has a right to know." "You're right again. He does." That confused her. "Wait a centon. If I'm right, then why are you..." Chameleon felt oddly calm. He had her exactly where he wanted her. "Why, I'm only thinking of you, child, and your future happiness." "Me? What does this have to do with me?" He waited a theatrical beat before answering. "The problem, my dear, is that you're not thinking clearly. You're emotions are getting the better of you. Now, I want you to listen to me very carefully. How do you think it would look if it came out that you falsified a medical document for your own convenience?" "You mean our convenience," Cassiopea corrected. "Quite right. Our convenience," Chameleon said dismissively. "Still a criminal offense, either way." "But..." "Regardless of that tiny fact," Chameleon continued, as if Cassiopea said nothing, "Think of how Starbuck would react if he found out that I was his father and that you knew about it all along and said nothing." Her shoulders slumped. "So you see, it really is best if we continue to keep this between ourselves. Don't worry, though, I promise I'll stay in his life. I won't disappear. Where am I going to go, really?" Cassiopea paced over to him and studied his face for a few moments. She was beaten and she knew it. She only had one question, "Why?" That last question was a surprise, but Chameleon took it in stride. "I told you. After all this time, that man doesn't need a father. He needs a friend. And as his friend, I know it's best for him to never know. As another one of his friends, you know, in your heart of hearts, that it's best for him, too." Cassiopea slowly nodded and turned away. She left the room without saying good-bye. ************************************************************************ The sound of music brought Chameleon back to the present and he turned expectantly to see the bride. He was surprised to see the dress was black, but then again, she was Gemonese. That tribe really was a strange lot. Despite the out-of-place color, she looked positively radiant as she kept pace with her protector. Chameleon briefly wondered who he was and decided it was probably one of Starbuck's friends. His eyes followed her to the front of the room and watched as the protector placed her hand in Starbuck's. Chameleon saw the bride and the groom lock eyes in a glance that spoke volumes. Chameleon fervently prayed. *After everything you've been through, I hope you'll be happy Gabriel.* *Starbuck,* Chameleon angrily corrected himself. *His name is Starbuck.* The End