Blind Rage Syndrome

...Continued...

Jodas didn't answer. He ran from the station and disappeared into the corridor. Stopping at a telecomm, he dialed Captain Baaton's quarters.

"Get to the launch bay!" he ordered. "I'll explain later!"

Then he hung up and continued down the corridor.

He nearly bowled through Athena and Bakki as they came around a junction in the hall.

"What's going on?" Jodas demanded."Duce and Subin," Athena said. "They left us about three centars ago, told us they were heading back to the billet room. But they never made it."

"Looks like Duce and Subin just stole one of the Raptors and high tailed it out of here." Jodas said. He looked at the two warriors. "Come on!"

Baaton was waiting for Jodas when he, Athena, and Bakki stepped off the lift.

"I got down here as quick as I could," said Baaton, his black eyes darting nervously between his partner and the two younger warriors. "So what's up?"

<<>>

In the blackness of the void, Duce felt alive. The fire in his mind drove him on, fueling his entire being. He could feel the universe as it flowed around him, subject to his every whim.

A voice broke in through the com.

"Raptor nine," this is Silver-Spar patrol three. We have been ordered to escort you back to the Galactica. Alter your course and prepare for escort.

"I got your escort right here," Growled Duce as he activated the attack computer and brought the weapons online.

Subin squinted down at the readout monitors in front of him. They blinded him, making his head pound with relentless agony. With one hand shading his eyes, he began shutting off all the monitors. This meant shutting off the adjoining systems, and that meant the Raptor soon went dark and vanished from the Viper's screens.

A few centons later, Duce swept in behind the two returning Vipers and blasted them from the sky. His laugh was loud, deep and maniacal as he wheeled his ship over, spiraling through the spreading debris and flames.

"I am the best," he said to himself. Then louder, as if to the vacuum around him.

"I AM THE BEST!"

Behind him, Subin laughed out loud in insane exhilaration.

<<>>

"They did what?" asked Adama in cold horror.

"Destroyed both Silver-Spar Vipers," said Omega.

"They have gone insane," said Tigh, his voice tight with fear and fury.

"Sir," said Omega. "Two more Raptors requesting permission to launch and pursue Raptor nine?"

"Who?" asked Adama.

Omega spoke quickly into the com and then looked back up at the Commander.

"Lieutenant Athena, and Colonel Jodas, Commander," said Omega.

Adama shook his head.

"No. Tell them to hold position." He turned back to the console and looked at Tigh. "Scramble the squadrons to read status. Have them - "

"Two more ships launching, Commander." Omega reported again. "Raptor seven and Prototype Raptor three."

"I told them to hold!" Adama said angrily. He watched as the two Raptors shot out of the bay.

"Commander," Tigh reported. "We just got the telemetry report from the scans Athena did on those wrecks, as well as an I.D. on the wrecks. The Peledon was the flagship for the lost 6th Fleet."

"The one that sent the final signal about some sort of epidemic?" Adama asked, wracking his brain to remember the bit of history.

Colonel Tigh nodded. "The Peledon was the latest and most advanced Battlestar ever built.

Unfortunately, one of her crew members picked up some type of virus at one of her first stops. It was passed to a number of the crew while dormant, but flared up and began to drive the men and women crazy. They killed themselves out there. And I think Duce and Subin somehow managed to catch it."

Tigh looked down at the notes he carried. "There was one communication from The Herion prior to their vanishing. Apparently they had taken control of the bridge of the Peledon and then fearing that members of their own crews were carrying a virus that could kill us all, they forced the entire fleet towards deep space. Doctor Wilker and several other engineers studied the scans Athena and Subin brought back. The Peledon was destroyed by internal explosions."

Adama stood rigid, his mind reeling.

"Adama," Tigh said grasping the Commanders arm. "They killed each other!"

Adama nodded. "I want anyone who has been in contact with Duce and Subin placed under strict quarantine. No external contact until we figure out what this is."

"Yes, sir." Said Tigh, avoiding the issue of Athena and Bakki. "I'll notify Doctor Salik at once." <<>> "Uh," said Athena. "We did have clearance for this, right, Colonel?"

"Never mind that for now." Jodas answered evasively. "Set course for the last position of the Silver-Spar patrol. We'll pick up Duce's trail from there."

"Roger," said Athena, and the two ships blasted out long plumes of flame as they leapt further into the darkness.

They reached the scene of the ambush a few centons later.

"Okay boys," said Jodas. His eyes were scanning the void in all directions. "Fire up those scanners. Looking high, looking low, find me a big chunk of hi tech stuff that's still ticking out there."

"I'm hunting, grandpa," said Baaton, as his fingers flew over the keys.

"There's an awful lot of debris out there for them to hide in."

"Bakki," said Athena, her mind reeling. "Filter out all debris with a random spin or orbit."

"Working on it," said Bakki.

"What's on your mind, Lieutenant?" asked Jodas.

"Think about it, Colonel," said Athena. "If you go somewhere to hide, then what's the first thing you want to do?"

"Sit perfectly still, in the dark," said Jodas, nodding. "Very good Lieutenant." He leaned his head back towards Baaton. "Talk to me, partner."

"I'm lookin', I'm lookin'," Baaton replied.

Jodas gave him several more microns before he sighed. "Okay," he ordered. "Sweep forward. Take it nice and slow, people."

The two Raptors coasted into the edge of the debris field.

"I don't like this," said Bakki.

"Me neither," Athena replied, her eyes scanning the various spinning chunks of metal.

"Just stay cool, people," Jodas's voice was tight. "We know they're out her, and they know we're out here."

His eyes scanned the roiling chaos.

Suddenly he had a flash of inspiration.

"Hey Duce!" He called over an open channel. "I know you're out here. And I know you can hear me! Come on out and let's go home! Game's over!"

He thought for a moment, recalling Duce's maniacal call from earlier.

"You think you're proving anything by skulking about in the shadows? A good pilot would face his opponents in the open! That's what the best pilots do!" He watched carefully, knowing he was pushing buttons. "Far as I'm concerned, the two best pilots are right here! You got something to prove you little rat? Then get your astrums out here and prove it!"

The answer was immediate, and brutal.

Floodlights burst to life off to one side and Jodas saw the flare of turbos behind it. The black ship hurtled at the silver prototype with suicidal fury.

Jodas kicked the ship over and felt the shields absorb the impact, sending them spinning out of control. Alarms wailed as he wrestled with the stick. Behind him, Baaton cursed elaborately.

"Get it back Grandpa!" He called out, practically begging. "Get it back!"

The alarms silenced as the ship settled back into normal flight.

"Nice, Gramps!" said Baaton. "Very nice!"

Jodas hit the turbos and hurtled back up towards Athena.

Athena's ship was whipping away, making for the open space away from the debris field.

Jodas eyed the situation and keyed the private mic.

"He's coming at you hard, missy," he said. "He's gonna snap roll to his right and drop right behind your ass for the kill. Break left on my command."

Athena watched the sky around her as she sped away from the hazardous space. Meanwhile Bakki craned his neck to watch behind them, his head turning rapidly from side to side.

"There he is!" Bakki called out.

At precisely the same micron, Jodas yelled, "Break!"

Athena kicked the ship over and hit the turbos, diving away from the other ship.

Duce recovered from the maneuver quickly, dropping into a tight roll and falling back behind Athena.

"He's still back there!" Bakki announced. "Man is he steamed!"

"Hi, boss!" Came Subin's insanely friendly greeting.

Athena tuned him out, trying hard to remember that Subin was NOT behind her, watching her back.

"He's still back there!" Bakki Announced. Red lances of energy exploded around her ship.

Another voice, deep and filled with maniacal rage, drifted over the channel.

"Athena. I'm better than you. I've always been better than you. You can't even dream of beating me."

Duce.

"Oh yeah," said Athena. "Follow this!"

She cut the thrusters, and yanked the nose of the ship straight up, flipping them completely over until their tail section was directly in front of Duce's ship. Then she hit the turbos, the brilliant white flame, bursting like an eruption.

A fiery eruption that Duce flew right through.

Athena finished her wild flip, and came up behind and below Duce.

She could hear him bellowing in rage as his ship flew erratically. Her cross hairs lined up on Duce's ship. She rested her fingers on the fire button and then froze, her eyes wide with shock.

"Take the shot!" Shouted Jodas.

Athena banked away, putting some distance between herself and Duce's ship.

Duce bellowed with rage as he fought to calm the fire in his brain and rid his sight from the blinding flash of Athena's backwash. His free hand waved impotently in front of his face. He looked around and spied her ship hurtling off in another direction.

Slamming both hands against the sides of the cockpit, he grabbed the controls and savagely whipped the ship around. He keyed his missile system on.

"You little bitch!" he bellowed, watching the targeting system lock on.

"Try this!" He let loose the missile.

"Oh frack!" yelled Bakki. "We got a live one, homing on us! Get out of here!"

Athena arced around a large chunk of debris and suddenly felt her ship shudder as the missile exploded into the metallic mass, sending shrapnel tearing through her shields and into her ship. Panels arced and smoked, and the acrid scent of burnt electronics wafted through the cockpit.

"Bakki!" Athena cried out."We're in one piece!" Bakki announced. "Engines are good!"

His fingers danced across the other working readouts.

"Frack! He took out our laser generator!" Bakki cried. "We can't shoot Athena! We can't shoot a damned thing!"

"You're mine, Athena!" Duce bellowed. "You're mine!"

The com crackled and Jodas's voice rang through.

"Take heading three three seven, mark six." He ordered. "Bring him to us!"

Athena rolled her ship away, with Bakki watching his partner, closing in for the kill.

"Here he comes!" He announced.

Jodas and Baaton watched the two ships hurtling towards them.

"Kill the warheads on the missiles," ordered Jodas. "I wanna shave that little snitrad so we can take him home."

"You got it Grandpa," said Baaton, as he entered the commands.

"Take the fire controls, partner," said Jodas. "You were always better at this than I was."

"Just do the flying, Grandpa," said Baaton. "I got ya!"

Jodas sent his ship on a reckless dive towards the two combatants.

"One shot partner," Jodas ordered. "I don't want to lose these kids!"

"Targeting." Baaton said.

"Okay," said Jodas, his cheek muscles twitching. "Here they come."

Closing...closing..closing..almost there. Look for the sweet spot, look for the sweet spot!"

The targeting system wailed.

"Shoot him in the astrum!"

Baaton kissed the air as he let the weapon fly.

He bellowed in rage and spun the ship wildly, letting loose with the ship's entire arsenal.

The dud missile struck the Raptor squarely between the engines, blasting through electronics and components, effectively shattering the ship into useless, but intact metal.

"Look out!" Baaton cried out as the three missiles and barrage of laser fire streaked past them. One missile slammed into the left engine and wing, blasting large portions of it to rubble. Flames erupted from the ship's underside as the shields collapsed.

"No!" Athena cried out.

Jodas fought the ship back under some semblance of control.

"Baaton?" he called out.

"Still with ya, grandpa!" came the shaky reply.

<<>>

"Colonel!" Athena shouted.

"I'm still here, miss," said Jodas. "Notify the Galactica to get a shuttle out here to get those two."

"No," came a weary voice that Athena immediately recognized.

"Subin?"

"No way to go home, boss," said Subin in a raspy voice. "Kill.all. Kill everything. They weren't." He gasped. "We're sick. Something."

"Hang on Subin," Athena pleaded.

"Fly, boss," Subin said. "Fly."

A bright light came from the center of the wounded Raptor, and it flared like a small star before exploding into a brilliant cloud of flaming gas.

The shock wave rocked Athena's ship as she fought back tears. She watched the debris scatter, blending into the chaos of the deserted battlefield.

"Colonel?" Athena called.

"Already limping home, miss," said Jodas, his voice tight. "Better scoot on ahead and let them know I'm coming home messy."

Athena banked her ship away and thundered toward the Galactica.

"Raptor seven to Galactica!" Athena called. "Colonel Jodas will be coming in hot! His ship is all shot up!"

"Understood Raptor seven," came Rigel's voice. "You are cleared for Beta Bay."

<<>>

It had been almost ten yahrens since Jodas last had to land a crippled ship on a Battlestar. That thought kept playing through his mind as he and Baaton made their final approach toward the Galactica.

"Galactica Control," Jodas called. "This is Raptor fourteen, I am declaring an emergency. Have all rescue personnel standing by."

"Understood Raptor fourteen. The pattern has been cleared." Rigel repeated.

Jodas started dumping his excess fuel, fighting his sluggish controls.

"Here we go partner," he said to Baaton.

"Find us a soft spot, Grandpa," Baaton replied, bracing himself for the inevitable impact.

<<>>

Athena stood at the edge of the landing quarter of the bay, with Bakki by her side and a host of other onlookers, most of them ground teams and rescue personnel.

They watched the silver ship as it wobbled in its final approach.

"Come on, come on," Athena whispered under her breath as if she would help land the ship by will alone. She visually watched as the ship lurched towards the bay.

"Nose up," she thought. "Keep it level. Power, power, power."

Something went wrong and before the words "Waive off!" had even crossed her mind, the Raptor hit the deck, bounced once on its wing and began rolling over and over, smashing equipment, storage cells, support beams, sending debris scattering in a million different directions.

She screamed. Her voice drowned out by the cacophony of twisting and crashing metal.

The wreckage settled, and there was no burst of fire. Before anyone could stop them, Bakki and Athena were next to the canopy, wrenching it open.

Baaton's face was a mask of blood; his eyes squeezed shut in that final expression of fear, dead.

Athena pulled the canopy open and reached in to Colonel Jodas. He convulsed once and sat back, his face a mask of total agony."Baat!" he called out, as if on impulse.

"Dead," Bakki replied.

Jodas let his face drop as he cursed.

The med techs arrived and made ready to carry the wounded Colonel to the Life Station, once he was extricated from the wreckage.

Every movement of either himself or the ship around him brought a string of curses and bellows of rage.

They finally pulled him free, his legs hanging awkwardly in several places not associated with joints on the human body, obviously broken.

As they laid him on the stretcher, he gave a short bellow.

"Easy!" he chided the med tech. "You bust me up, mister, and I'll kick your astrums from here to the Celestra!"

"Yes, sir," the med tech replied.

Jodas closed his eyes, trying to remember through all the pain, that this brat was not one of his own people.

Athena moved beside the Colonel and took the old warriors hand.

"Colonel?" she asked, fighting back the tears.

"None of that," Jodas said quickly. "We did good out there today."

"We did?" she asked, confused.

"Damn right we did!" Jodas said fiercely. They began wheeling him away from her on the gurney, every slight bump or jostle bringing out a fresh wave of bellows and curses.

"We did damn good!" He shouted in between the curses. "Go back and read that sign in the billet room Lieutenant! Read it! And know it! You did damn good! That's what I expected from you! All heart and guts, flying like a wild comet and looking for all the glory of Caprica! Ow! Easy with me you snitrad! You did good missy! You did damn good!"

His voice faded away as he was wheeled out of earshot, still sending back a mixture of praise and curses.

Athena actually gave a laugh through her tears and Bakki stood next to her, his arm coming to rest across her shoulders, shaking his head in amusement.

"He never quits," Bakki said.

"Nope," said Athena, still staring after him. "Kind of like someone else I used to know."

She looked up at Bakki. "Come on," she offered. "Let's go buy a few drinks."

<<>>

Colonel Jodas sat in bed, in a back section of the life station, miserable.

"For cryin out loud, missy," he said to Cassiopeia. "You already put me back together. Let me out of this damned place!"

"Easy Colonel," Cassiopeia said, trying desperately to maintain her patience. "We got you back together, but you still need a few days to recuperate."

"Like hell," Jodas retorted.

"Excuse me?" Athena's voice came from behind them. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Not at all," said Cassiopeia, pressing the aching Colonel back onto the bed. She stood up and backed away. Before she had turned, Jodas began moving again, to which Cassiopeia turned on him sharply and barked.

"Stay there!"

He froze, locking eyes with the fiery med tech, and then sullenly settled back into the bed.

"And do not move!" Cassiopeia finished with emphasis.

"Giving you trouble, is he?" asked Athena, a smile on her face.

"Every micron he can," Cassiopeia replied wearily. "Do me a favor. Stay with him for a while, and keep him here. I need a break."

"Sure," Athena laughed. She stepped over to Jodas's side.

"Did you buy the round?" Jodas asked sharply.

"Yes," Athena said softly. "Now relax, Colonel. Or I'll get Doctor Salik to watch you."

That seemed to strike a chord of fear in the old warrior, because he immediately stopped his fidgeting.

"Actually," she continued. "I came by to give you something."

She held out a thin leather folder.

Jodas looked at it, and then at her.

"Michas's writings?"

She nodded and placed them on the bed beside him.

"I don't think I'll be needing them any more," She said, and she pulled a stool up closer to the bed.

Jodas nodded. "Found the fire, did ya?"

Athena nodded. "Took a while, but I found it."

"Good." Jodas said. He took the folder and opened it, flipping briefly through the writings and then tossing them onto a nearby table.

"So, what brings you here to see me?" He continued.

Athena reached out and took the man's hand.

"I just wanted to talk, and see how you were feeling."

And talk they did, for a long, long time.

END
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