At The World's End III
Part 15 - Tempest

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By Athena13
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Apollo had believed her with hardly a micron's hesitation. After all these sectons he had taken her at her word and gone to find Cassiopeia. Sheba was heartened by this realization in the middle of everything else. As she watched Starbuck carrying a badly injured Athena toward the Life Center with poorly concealed tears in his eyes. As she watched her own hand swing up and fire at her wingmate. Her friend. As she watched the same man crumble to the ground. She didn't hear anything and images were moving in slow motion around her. But the fact that Apollo believed her was the only thing that was real, that she could hold onto.

How could this have happened?

"Sheba?" Apollo's stricken voice broke through the haze and she focused her vision to find him standing centimeters in front of her. His hands were on her arms. Dumbly, she looked down and noticed that her laser was on the floor at her feet.

"She's in shock," Apollo said, apparently about herself. She couldn't argue with his observation. She could, however, resist when he tried to lead her out of the room and away from Bojay.

"Bo," she whispered brokenly.

With a dull roar reality reasserted itself and for a moment the room tilted. Then she was kneeling by his side.

Apollo's trust forgotten.

"Bo," she cried as her shaking hands traced over his chilling features. For so many yahrens he had been her best friend and much of the time her lifeline. How could she have failed him? How could she have...killed him.

"No!" she screamed and sobbed.

How could he have tried to kill Athena and Apollo?

"Sheba," Apollo's tender tone tickled her ear. His warm body cradled her.

"Why?" she asked as her cold form molded itself to his heat.

"I'm not sure," he murmured.

Sheba's tears slid down his neck.

Apollo's deep, green eyes glittered dangerously as his mind conjured up the answer. Iblis.

Chilling laughter filled the room.

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"He, he thought I was Caylin," Athena said weakly as Starbuck lay her gently onto a treatment table.

Starbuck's brow furrowed as he searched his mind for the reference. The only Caylin he could remember was someone Apollo had mentioned a few times yahrens ago. When they had all been on the Atlantia. Shaking his head Starbuck gave up trying to figure it out and turned his attention back to the woman whose hand he was still holding.

"It doesn't matter," Starbuck tenderly brushed the hair back from Athena's bruised cheek.

Doctor Salik and Cassi moved efficiently over to the other side of the table and began to assess the patient. Starbuck moved back, but didn't release his connection to her.

"I don't know why," Athena said with a tired sigh as her eyes slipped closed.

Starbuck's eyes widened and he looked at Cassi.

"She's just tired," Cassi said softly.

"It's best if she sleeps," Salik said grimly as he handed Cassi a hypospray. "Has anyone informed the Commander?"

Before anyone could answer the red alert siren went off.

"Go Starbuck, she won't be waking for some time," Cassi said.

Starbuck hesitated for a moment as he searched for some unbattered part of the woman, giving up he pressed a light kiss to her fingers before rushing off.

Cassi looked after him for a few microns before returning her full attention to the bleak task ahead.

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"What else could happen?" Starbuck asked himself naively as he headed towards the launch bay where Blue Squadron's ships waited to do battle.

"What are you all waiting for?" he asked breathlessly when he found Boomer, Jolly and the others just standing around instead of jumping into their ships.

"It's them, the ship of lights," Boomer said soberly.

"Oh," Starbuck blew out a breath. Then he tensed. The last time he had seen them...

"Where's Apollo?" Starbuck demanded.

"Not here," Jolly said.

"Frak!" Starbuck turned around.

"Lieutenant," a voice lashed out and halted him in his tracks.

Starbuck looked over and saw Captain Biehn rushing towards him.

"Where's Apollo?" Starbuck asked.

"He's fine. He's with Sheba," he finished quietly, clearly not wanting the other warriors to overhear.

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"Look where her love for you has brought her. If you had allowed her to give herself to me freely, as she had chosen she wouldn't have this pain now," Iblis's cold, deep voice stated.

"Iblis," Apollo said, releasing Sheba to stand and face his nemesis.

"I told you we would meet again," the faux count confirmed.

"This one," he pointed carelessly to the fallen form, "gave himself to me freely. But I can bring him back."

"How?" Sheba asked from her position on the floor beside Bojay.

"Don't ask that!" Apollo ordered.

"Come now, you know you can't stop her. It is her choice," Iblis said.

"She told you she would never follow you again," Apollo said.

"Did you make him do these horrible things?" Sheba asked.

"Ah, my pet, I didn't have to. My helpful assistant was able to arrange all of it for me. I never even had to reveal myself to your little friend," Iblis smiled almost gleefully.

Apollo was repelled by the gruesome expression.

"Porta," Sheba said slowly.

Apollo glanced back at Sheba sitting by her fallen friend, then the heavy weight of his foolishness began to hit him. Instead of protecting anyone, her had fallen right into Iblis trap. And now Bojay was dead and his sister...

"Yes, very intelligent our Sheba, is she not Captain. Or is it Major now? Foolish humans to advance someone so ruled by emotion as you," Iblis's chuckle echoed through the small room.

"Don't listen to him," Sheba's hand gripped Apollo's arm.

"How sweet," Iblis said.

"Leave them alone!" Starbuck's voice rasped in horror at the scene before him.

"Ah, Apollo's dear, foolish friend. I suppose I should congratulate you on choosing just one woman after all," Iblis turned toward the visitors. "I'm sure that news doesn't sit well with you Captain."

Biehn looked in askance at the other occupants of the room, but had the sense to remain silent.

"Your friends are here, so perhaps it's time you left," Starbuck sneered.

"You're not going to find anyone here who chooses your way," Sheba said.

"Not even to restore your friend?" Iblis tempted.

"Never is never," Sheba's voice dripped with malice.

"Pity. I underestimated you my pet. Send my regards to Adama. And my best wishes to dear, sweet Athena. Such a lovely woman Stabruck, don't you think?" Iblis said and then was gone in flash of light. Just as suddenly the red alert ended.

"Sheba, I'm sorry," Apollo dropped his head.

Sheba nodded, but didn't respond. With drooping shoulders she turned back to Bojay.

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Adama's face was thoughtful as he took in the story, which Apollo pieced together from the various accounts.

Iblis had attempted to exact vengeance by taking advantage of Bojay's historical bitterness towards Apollo and childhood loyalty to the avaricious but beautiful Doctor Porta. The woman herself had gone missing at the same time as Iblis. One could only guess her fate, but it was likely she would not be heard from again. Adama couldn't help but lament the loss to the Fleet scientific community and fear who would be Iblis's next tool.

"He'll be back," Adama answered Apollo's unspoken question.

"And I'm useless to stop him," Apollo said.

"Don't be hard on yourself Son," Adama put a hand on his son's shoulder. "He used your heart against you. No human is a match for that and he is no match for the human heart."

"It makes me doubt myself," Apollo said.

"Then doubt will be your weakness and you have no strength," Adama said.

"I've hurt Sheba terribly. And Athena. I'm not sure either can forgive me," Apollo said.

"Your sister will forgive you and she needs you right now. Sheba, Sheba needs you too. Now, we have a sealing to plan for," Adama said.

"Starbuck getting sealed, I never thought I'd see the day," Apollo's mood lightened.

"I did," Adama said.

"What?" Apollo asked, detecting something strange in his father's tone.

"Nothing, nothing. Let's go visit your sister," Adama said.

END OF STORY
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