Title: At The World's End Part 3
Author: Athena13
Copyright (c) 1998-99
Rating: See individual chapters

Disclaimer: This is a fiction story based on the series Battlestar 
Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. Larson.  This 
story is not being sold for profit and no infringement of any copyright 
rights are intended.  All unrecognized characters and plot lines are 
mine and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely 
coincidental.

Summary: Continuation of my alternate universe, Athena-centric, story 
At The World's End Part 1 (Part 2 has not yet been written). The Fleet 
has entered a new solar system, having been successful on their attack 
on the hiding Cylon baseships in the Hand of God episode. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Chapter 1 - A Hero's Welcome
Rated PG

Athena put her headphones down on the console and took a deep breath 
before running her fingers through hair that had been crushed beneath 
instrumentation for centars. She didn't even want to know what it 
looked like. 

'Well, no worse than it will look after being under a viper helm!' 
Athena thought excitedly as she remembered this was her last official 
cycle of bridge duty.

"That was some battle, sorry I missed it. Of course, I'm glad I don't 
have to be out there in a viper though. I don't think I have the nerves 
for that on a regular basis," Lieutenant Kable had just arrived for his 
shift.  

"Yeah, it was pretty amazing. After the baseship was pummeled we sent 
the squadrons out for cleanup. The IFB showed most of that didn't they? 
I disagree about being out there though! I would, will, love it! My 
shift _here_, however, is done and I gladly turn this console over to 
you!" Athena picked her headphones back up and presented the chair to 
her replacement. 

"I sincerely hope that your watch is quiet, but I think we got them 
all. Keep checking the orbit of that second planet, there may be 
raiders hiding out there yet," Athena smiled at the young warrior 
before walking over to Colonel Tigh. "Colonel?"

"Going to welcome your brother and Starbuck back from another hero's 
mission?" Tigh turned and asked his now-former assistant.

"It's a habit that's hard to break, they keep doing heroic things, I 
keep welcoming them back with a sigh of relief and the remnants of a 
nervous breakdown," Athena smiled tiredly at her superior officer.

"Changed your mind?" Tigh asked, referring to her recently finalized 
transfer request.

"No way! I certainly would rather be with them than waiting for them to 
return," Athena responded earnestly.

"I for one am going to miss you on the bridge. Don't be a stranger," 
Tigh advised.

"I won't be," Athena ducked her head and smiled. "You, uh, haven't 
happened to have heard any rumors?" Athena asked hopefully.

"That is not my news to deliver," Tigh shook his head.

Athena sighed in disappointment. "I guess I'll find out soon enough.  
I wanted to let you know that I was leaving and that Kable has taken 
over. Sir, it has been a pleasure working with you. May I offer a bit 
of advice? Go get some rest Colonel. It's been a long day."  

Tigh just smiled at Athena's habitual mothering and waved her away with 
a smile.

Athena headed to the landing bay where the active squadrons were 
returning from the clean-up mission. 

When her lift reached the landing bay floor she saw Cassiopeia had 
gotten there before her. Athena took a deep breath and walked over to 
the pretty Med Tech. 

"We've played this scene many times before. I'll be happy if the ending 
always remains the same," Athena commented.

Cassi turned and looked at the young Lieutenant in surprise.  Though 
they were often in each other's company, they had rarely held a one-on-
one conversation since Starbuck's release from the prison barge a 
couple of sectars before. And even before then there had been conflict 
over some false rumors standing between them. Cassi wasn't sure what 
had changed between then and now, but she no longer held the same 
animosity towards the young woman. "I've heard that you aren't going to 
be waiting here with me for much longer. Congratulations, I guess."

"Thanks. I know you can't understand why I would choose to be out 
there. But it beats sitting on the bridge and waiting, helpless, to 
watch what happens. Cassi, I didn't come to this ship to sit on the 
bridge to be a spectator," Athena said passionately.

"I can understand how you feel, even if I can't imagine what it's like 
out there. I'll be waiting for you too," Cassi said quietly.

"Thanks Cassi, that means a lot. I think it's one of those things that 
keeps a pilot on track - remembering those who are waiting for them to 
come home safely," Athena looked down for a micron, gathering her 
thoughts. 

"I know we haven't always been the closest of friends, but Cassi, 
that's something I would really like to change. I always knew it was 
irrational to blame you for turning Starbuck's head. Just like it was 
irrational of you to blame me for the rumors made up by others. I'd 
like to put all the bad feelings behind us," Athena smiled.

Cassi reached over and held Athena's hand. "Consider it all forgotten."

Athena pulled back after a few microns. "Well, I feel like a huge 
weight has been lifted. I have a feeling Sheba is going to be just as 
happy as I am," Athena said referring to their mutual friend who had 
often been stuck in the middle of the two women's chilly relations.  

"She definitely will," Cassi tilted her head to the side and thought 
for a micron. "Starbuck, on the other hand may be a bit more wary," 
Cassi chuckled, imagining Starbuck's reaction to his former girlfriend 
and his current girlfriend being pals. Despite the fact that Starbuck 
and Athena seemed to have put their romantic history behind them, Cassi 
doubted he was quite up to being comfortable with this new development.

"Starbuck's always wary, it's a natural condition," Athena responded 
with a roll of her eyes.  

Cassi laughed. 

"There they are!" Athena pointed to a group of pilots approaching.  
Athena didn't even look to see if Cassi was keeping up as she took off.  
Before she reached the group of pilots, Bojay turned from the group and 
saw her approach. He opened his arms and caught her hurtling body.

"Whoa! You're going to hurt me more than a Cylon," he laughed as his 
arms closed around his good friend.

"You were awesome! I watched those slime on your tail, the way you spun 
around and got them! I practically forgot to breathe!" Athena said 
breathlessly.

"From what I hear, you invented that move over Carillon, and in a 
shuttle no less. I for one hope you get assigned to Silver Spar," Bojay 
winked.

"You're the squadron leader, use your influence and friends in high 
places," Athena leaned back in Bojay's embrace. "Welcome back warrior 
man," Athena leaned forward and the two kissed.

"If that's my welcome back, I think I'll go out there everyday, I'll 
assign myself extra patrols," Bojay quipped.

Athena moved away and blushed. "I hadn't planned on that. Not that I 
didn't enjoy it, I mean, we never talked about going in that 
direction...," Athena rambled on, shocked and embarrassed at her 
actions.

"Athena," Bojay pulled the striking future pilot towards him. "Let's 
not discuss, let's just do it again. I've been waiting sectons for 
that." With those words, Bojay pulled Athena back into his arms and 
thoroughly kissed her.

"I think I've missed something?" Sheba said from beside the couple.  

"Me too," Boomer agreed.  

The couple parted, Athena still blushing. Bojay held her to his side. 
"Just a hero's welcome," he explained with a wink.

"I thought you were supposed to tell your wingmate everything," Sheba 
answered.

"Welcome back, Sheba. You all were pretty great out there," Athena 
changed the subject and leaned forward to embrace her friend. "Later," 
Athena whispered in Sheba's ear.

"Has anyone seen Starbuck and Apollo?" Cassi interrupted the jovial 
reunion.

Athena pulled out of her hug with Boomer to respond, "They were cleared 
to land, they probably just got held up greeting people. See, here they 
come. Apollo!" She called her brother over as Cassi ran over to meet 
Starbuck.  

With their attention on the arriving heroes, no one noticed Sheba slip 
behind them and out of Apollo's line of sight. Athena slipped into 
Apollo's waiting arms and squeezed him tight. The siblings held onto to 
each other for a few centons. 

"How's father?" Apollo asked his sister quietly.

"Fine now that he knows you two are okay and successful and this is all 
over. Not to mention extremely proud. The Council is already 
considering giving you two _another_ medal. You two are going to tip 
over at the next dress occasion. I'm proud of you too." 

Apollo smiled and kept his arm around his sister's shoulder as he 
greeted everyone else waiting for him and his wingmate.  

After a few centons, Apollo excused himself from the melee to look 
for Sheba. She was in the middle of talking to Jolly when he came over. 
"Hi Jolly, can I talk to Sheba for a micron?"

"Sure, Captain. Great work on that baseship," the warrior patted his 
Captain on the back and headed away.

Sheba looked at Apollo warily.  He was looking down at his feet, 
obviously fumbling for something to say. She hadn't expected him to 
seek her out after the way they had parted on the Cylon Raider.  

"Congratulations on another successful mission," Sheba decided to break 
the awkward silence first.

"Don't you mean a failed suicide mission?" Apollo shot out.

Sheba turned to walk away, unwilling to be goaded into a fight and 
adopting Apollo's usual tactic of avoiding emotional confrontations.

Apollo grabbed Sheba's arm, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to start out that 
way. I guess I really don't know what to say right now," Apollo sighed.

"I'm sorry too Apollo," Sheba paused, "About Serina, I was out of line.  
It's none of my business how you mourn her, or for how long. I'm 
sorry."

"You're my friend, Sheba. Probably the bravest friend I have, besides 
my sister. No one else dares mention Serina to me." At Sheba's look he 
amended, "probably because I jump all over them if they do. I've had 
some time to cool down, you sort of ambushed me on my way out. I 
haven't had time to really think about it all, though. I didn't get 
much thinking done on that baseship," Apollo said with a smile that 
plainly begged her for some indulgence.

Sheba carefully held her face in a blank smile trying not to betray her 
shock and alert Apollo to how out of character he was acting. 
Volunteering to talk about emotions! Acting so calmly instead of losing 
his temper. She was stunned. And hopeful.  

"I guess I have some thinking of my own to do," she told him, knowing 
she had feelings for Apollo on some level beyond platonic friendship.  
She just had tried really hard not to figure out how deep they were, 
never thinking that the opportunity to take them out of the box she 
kept them in would be coming anytime in the present millenium. She had 
just been so scared and upset with Apollo before he left on that 
mission to the Cylon baseship that she felt she had to say something to 
him just in case she never had the chance later. Apollo was a man of 
his word and, it seemed, she was going to get that chance to examine 
those feelings after all.  

Apollo and Sheba smiled awkwardly at each other once more and returned 
to the celebrating crowd.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Starbuck!" Cassi cried out as she flung herself into his arms. 

Starbuck lifted her off the ground and spun her around. The couple spun 
around slowly as their lips met.  "I told you I would be back," 
Starbuck whispered as he put her down.

"Welcome home," Cassi said softly.

"I am home Cassi, I am home," Starbuck kissed her again and held on 
tight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

"I'd like to welcome the heroes back, but they seem to be otherwise 
preoccupied. Sheba gave me a hard time, but it looks like she might be 
keeping things from me," Bojay turned Athena's attention towards Apollo 
and Sheba deep in conversation in the far corner of the landing bay.

"I hope so, I really hope so," Athena answered. She hoped that, 
somehow, Sheba had managed to break through her brother's incredible 
restraint. "I don't know about you, but I'd like to shower and change 
before heading to the O Club."

Bojay raised his eyebrows, causing Athena to blush. "I know that wasn't 
an invitation, I just couldn't resist. You're just so cute when you 
blush. Come on. I can't wait to have a drink," Bojay put his arm around 
her and began to walk with her towards the lift.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Officer's Club

"Hey Apollo, good job out there," Bojay complimented his rival squadron 
commander.

"Thanks, you too Bojay. Athena, Boomer said you wanted to talk to me?" 
Apollo asked his sister with feigned ignorance.

"I wanted to talk to you about my assignment. Today was my last 
assigned bridge duty and I still haven't been told which squadron I've 
been assigned to. Tigh said I had to wait for the official directive 
from you. Although, I really don't think this is normal protocol to 
wait until the last micron, although I am so glad you were so certain 
you were going to kick Cylon astrum out there," Athena crossed her arms 
and smirked at her brother.

Apollo smiled. "I asked him not to tell you. I wanted to talk to you 
about it myself. Can you give us a centon Bojay?" After the other 
warrior acquiesced, Apollo continued. "You've been assigned to the Blue 
Squadron. I'm going to be promoted to Flight Commander of the 
Squadrons. Father and Colonel Tigh are going to announce it tomorrow."

Athena put her hand on Apollo's arm. "I'm proud of you, but what does 
your promotion have to do with this?"

"Um," Apollo glanced guiltily away.

"What haven't you told me yet Apollo?" Athena demanded, suddenly 
worried.

"There's one more thing," Apollo said hesitantly. Athena raised her 
eyebrows to urge him to continue. "Starbuck is going to be your 
wingmate."
 
"What!" Athena shouted, attracting the attention of the warriors 
standing around them. "Are you all insane? We get along much better 
now, but, but, wingmates? Are you still trying to get me to change my 
mind? Whose brilliant idea was this? He wasn't exactly thrilled to take 
me out on practice runs!" Athena continued in a lower tone.

"Actually, I believe it was a group decision. The same principles apply 
to this assignment as they did to training. His well-honed skills will 
be invaluable as you learn and you've flown with him before," Apollo 
continued in what he hoped was a well reasoned tone.

Athena stood speechless for almost a centon. "So this was a set up! 
Starbuck was right. I take it that Starbuck wasn't in on this 'group' 
decision? He's going to be really, really...," She couldn't believe 
this was really happening.  This has to be a joke! 'Me and Starbuck! 
Wingmates!' Athena was too stunned to finish the conversation and 
walked off in a daze. Not bothering to ask whether Starbuck knew 
yet.

Apollo sighed.  He knew neither Athena nor his wingmate, former 
wingmate he amended, were going to be happy. Apollo, however, was 
relieved that Starbuck would be around to look out for his baby sister.  

Somehow Apollo had conveniently forgotten the last time he had asked 
Starbuck to look after his sister. The last time had been when Athena 
had come to the Galactica and Apollo was worried about the male 
warriors taking advantage of her innocence and naivete, in Apollo's 
eyes. Things hadn't turned out exactly as he had planned and his best 
friend and his sister had ended up in a tumultuous relationship that 
had made Apollo's life miserable. But none of this occurred to Apollo 
as he formulated his rationales. 

And failed to inform his wingmate of the decision.

END CHAPTER 1