Moving On - Chapter 7
by P>Katrina

Rating PG.

Disclaimer: This story is for fan enjoyment. This story is in no way trying to infringe on the rights of Universal Studios or any "Others". No profits are being made of any kind.

Post Hand of God

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"Wake up, Athena! You're going to miss all the fun!" Zac laughed as he pulled the pillow away from Athena's face.

"Go away, Zac. I'm tired . . . what fun? What are you talking about?" Athena grumbled as she slowly started to wake up, opening one blue eye to stare at her younger brother.

"It's mom's natal day, silly! Father and Apollo are already down in the kitchen making flapdaniels! You should see the mess!" Zac laughed again as he turned to leave Athena's bedchamber. "You are coming, aren't you?" He paused when he reached the door, a charming grin on his handsome face.

"Yes, I'm coming. I can't let you guys destroy mom's kitchen, she'll never let us hear the end of it," Athena groaned before an amused smile formed on her lips as she pushed the covers aside and slipped out of bed.

"I'll see you downstairs. And hurry up!" Zac smiled, waving both arms in the air at her to hurry up, before disappearing down the hallway.

Athena walked over to the closet shaking her head at her younger brother's antics. She reached into the closet, pulling out a pale blue cotton jumpsuit and froze as a painful realization hit her. Zac and her mother were dead. They died over a yahren ago, during the Destruction.

Closing her eyes to the pain, Athena thought back to her mother's last natal day. It started out just like this one. Zac, home from the Academy, had come into her bedchamber and woke her up. Father and Apollo had been home on leave, the same as she, and they had started cooking the morning meal. They had made such a mess by the time she had entered the kitchen. And now it was all happening again.

"This can't be real," she whispered. A single tear escaped from her blues eyes as she opened them again. She was finally putting their deaths behind her and now . . . now she was seeing Zac, talking to him even, like nothing had happened. What was going on?

The last thing she remembered before waking up here in her supposed bedchamber was Count Iblis telling them . . . something. "What's going on? Why is Zac here and more importantly, where are the others? What evil is Iblis up to?" Athena chewed on her lower lip as the jumpsuit floated to the ground in a forgotten pale blue puddle.

"Hurry up, Athena! Mother is going to be done in the garden soon and then we're all in trouble!" Zac's voice carried up the stairs, as Athena was trying to make sense out of what was happening. Soon, the aroma for cooking flapdaniels and porcalsia links penetrated Athena's consciousness, making her stomach grumble in response.

Shaking her head, Athena ran an unsteady hand through her long dark hair. Zac was dead. She heard him die. She was there when the survivors gathered to remember the loved ones that perished during the Holocaust. For well over a yahren, she would go and sit in the Chapel of the Faithful everyday, trying to understand why the Lords of Kobol and God had let the Cylons destroy their worlds, their civilization. And why they had let Zac and her mother die. And now, he was here. She was just talking to him. He still . . .. How can this all be happening? It must be some type of trick.

"Athena, why aren't you dressed yet?" Zac demanded from the doorway, an impatient expression on his face.

Startled, Athena spun around to see Zac standing in the doorway, with his hands on his lean hips as he waited for an answer. "You are not real. You are not Zac. I don't know who you are, but you are not my brother," Athena said hastily as she stared at the image of her baby brother.

"What are you talking about?" Zac's voice was filled with puzzlement and concern as he stared at Athena.

Swallowing the lump in her throat as she continued to stare at the image of her younger brother, Athena paused a moment before she continued, "You may look like Zac, sound like Zac, but you are not Zac."

"Athena, did you . . . did you have something strange to eat or drink last night when you and Starbuck went out?" Zac took a careful step into the room, waiting for her response as he studied her expression.

"There is nothing wrong with me! Who are you and why are you doing this?" Athena held her ground as the Zac image slowly approached her position by the closet door.

"Athena, I don't know what you're talking about, but I think we better go downstairs and get Mother to take a look at you."

"Mother is dead, just like you are. I am not going anywhere with you." Then looking around the room, seeing the familiar sky blue walls and the white linens on the canopy bed she remembered, she yelled aloud, "Iblis, it's not going to work. This . . . image is not my brother! Show yourself or are you afraid of me?"

"I am afraid of no one, Athena," Iblis replied smoothly as the image of Zac metamorphosed into that of Count Iblis. After having read her thoughts, he realized that this initial approach wasn't going to be entirely successful and needed to change tactics.

"If you are not afraid of me, then why the parlor tricks. I know who you are and what you are. Apollo told me everything that he could remember about you," Athena replied with hatred for the evil figure in front of her.

"I wouldn't believe everything Apollo tells you, Athena," Iblis smiled with malice at the untruth, as the walls of the room faded back into the lush gardens of the temple. They were standing on opposite ends of the X and O game board in one of the gardens.

"Oh, I'll believe Apollo any day, Iblis. He's had first hand experience dealing with you, remember?" Athena took a small amount of satisfaction at seeing Iblis's soulless hazel eyes harden in response to her own jibe.

"Oh, I remember Apollo dying at my hand, if that's what you mean, Athena," Iblis countered, smiling as she straightened her back at Iblis's taunt.

"But, that was then and this is now. I understand that you are quite apt at the game of X's and O's. I relish the game myself and haven't had a worthy opponent in many, many hundreds of yahrens. Somehow, I get the impression that you would give me quite a challenging game. How would you like a chance to win your freedom and the freedom of the others?" Iblis inquired offhandedly, all the while hiding an evil smile behind his carefree charm.

Frowning at him, Athena wasn't sure what to make of Iblis's so-called offer. She was sure he was up to something, but . . . maybe, just maybe, she could beat him at his own game and protect her family, so long as she made sure the rules were clearly spelled out. It was her chance, her opportunity, to protect what was left of her family. The chances would still be slim. But maybe if she … "And how would this game, this chance for freedom work? Not that I'm agreeing, but let's say I'm interested enough to ask," Athena placed her hands on her hips and watched Iblis's face for any clue she could use to her advantage.

Turning to conceal his delight, he walked along the outer border of the game board before he responded, "We'll play the game and if you win, you win your freedom plus that of the others. If I win . . . I get you. To make this a little more interesting, we'll play the best of three, to give you a . . . better chance of winning."

Athena felt her heart pounding heavily within her chest as she contemplated the offer before her. Should she dare challenge Count Iblis as Apollo had - a challenge he had ultimately lost according to Starbuck and Sheba? Or should she turn him down and see what other diabolical plans he had in mind for her? However, this offer seemed like the best opportunity of getting out of here and back to the fleet.

Taking a deep breath, pausing to hold it a micron, Athena closed her eyes as she tried to make her decision. She was good at the game but she would have to be even better than that, using all her wits to win and then some. She had to take the chance . . . for her family. "Okay, I'll accept your challenge on the condition that you play fair, no cheating. And if I lose, you don't get my soul. You may keep me here, but you don't get my soul," Athena replied determinedly.

After studying her for a moment, a smile formed on Iblis's features as he realized his plan could still work beautifully even if he didn't get her soul in the game. He would still possess her and that would destroy Apollo. And that in turn would destroy Athena and give him her soul. "Agreed," Iblis replied as he smiled graciously.

"Athena! Get away from him! Don't let him get any closer to you," Starbuck yelled, a sense of increasing panic in his soul as he and Bojay ran down the temple stairs toward the garden where she was standing.

"You're too late, Lieutenant. She has already agreed to play the game," Iblis took great satisfaction in watching the horror spread across Starbuck's face as he realized what had happened.

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Athena watched the horror spread across Starbuck's face as he came running across the garden towards her.

"Well, Iblis, she's going to back out of playing the game with you! Athena, tell him you changed your mind," Starbuck ordered, swinging his head, first from Iblis and then to Athena.

"Didn't you hear me, Lieutenant? It's too late. She cannot change her mind now. She is in the game until the very end." Iblis smirked at Starbuck, an idea forming on how to handle the brash man before him.

Ignoring Iblis, Starbuck took hold of Athena's arms as he continued, "Athena, you can't challenge Iblis. You have to stop this now and tell him you won't play whatever game you've agreed to."

"I've agreed to play the game, Starbuck. I'm not backing out now. If I win, he's agreed to let all of us go, no strings attached." Athena didn't like the way Starbuck was ordering her around, even if it was out of concern for her welfare. He gave up that right when he chose Cassie over her. Anyway, why was she thinking about their ill-fated relationship? It had been over for a yahren.

"No strings?! Are you crazy? Athena, you can't trust him, no matter what he's promised. He tried to kill Sheba, and I swear he did kill Apollo the last time we met him. I'm not going to give him a chance to hurt you, or anyone else this time around!" Starbuck couldn't believe Athena wasn't seeing reason; he knew firsthand what Iblis was like. He knew what was at stake.

"I'm not crazy, Starbuck. I know I can't trust him. But, this is my chance to protect my family and get us out of here. I've accepted this challenge under the condition that he plays fair, no cheating. I know what I'm doing." Athena was trying to convince Starbuck as much as she was trying to convince herself.

"I'm not going to let you do this, Athena!" Starbuck tightened his hold on her arms, feeling a deep-seated panic stirring in his gut. He was not going to lose her!

"You have no say in this, Starbuck. The deal, however . . . crazy, has been made and I intend to keep my word." Athena shook off Starbuck's restraining hands as she took a step backwards, her blue eyes flashing.

"See, Lieutenant, the challenge has been made and accepted. There is nothing you can do," Iblis chirped in that patronizing tone Starbuck was all too familiar with.

Starbuck swung around to face Iblis, his hands clenched into tight fists, rage swirling within his blue eyes. "I'll find a way to defeat you, Count! I won't let you win!"

"We shall see, Lieutenant," Iblis countered, a satisfied smile creeping across his face.

While Starbuck's attention was focused on Count Iblis, Bojay walked over to Athena, opposed to her accepting any type of challenge himself. 'Apollo should never have let her come along on this mission,' he thought. Touching her arm, he watched her face carefully as she turned to him.

"Athena, are you sure about what you're doing? From the little that Sheba told me about this Iblis person, I have to agree with Starbuck. And you know how much I hate doing that. You can't let Iblis trick you into doing something you're not up to facing. You would only be playing into his hands. Please, reconsider your decision to accept his challenge. I don't want to lose you now that I've finally found you." Bojay hoped that by appealing to this side of Athena, she might listen to what he had to say.

"Bojay, I've made up my mind. As far as I can see, this is our best option out of this mess. I'll be careful. I promise. I'm not about to stay here for all eternity with Iblis." Athena squeezed Bojay's right hand appreciating his concern. She was hoping to build a relationship with him too. But they had to get out of this situation first.

"Athena, something. . . " Bojay began.

"Enough! It is time to begin the game. Athena, if you will take your place here beside me, we can begin. Starbuck and Bojay, if you wish to remain and observe this challenge, you may move the game pieces into place for us. However, I will tolerate no interference. Athena has chosen to accept this challenge of her own free will. And if you chose to stay, you will abide by the rules," Iblis dictated, his flowing white robes swirling around his form in the wind.

"Why you pompous astrum! Move your own frakin' game pieces. Since Athena isn't interested in listening to reason, I'm staying right here to keep an eye on you. You agreed to play fair and I'm going to make sure you do!" Starbuck's hand was itching to pull his laser and fire on the Count, even though he knew it would only amuse the evil creature standing in front of him.

"Starbuck, don't! That's not going to be of any help here," Athena reached out to grabbed hold of Starbuck, trying to stop him from doing anything stupid. She saw his hand caressing the barrel, knew what he was contemplating.

Looking into Athena's worried blue eyes, Starbuck let out a long, frustrated breath, "I know. Athena, please, don't do this. You can't trust him."

"I have to do this, Starbuck. Have some faith in me. I'm a lot stronger than I look," she smiled before walking over to join Count Iblis on the old weathered stone game board.

End Chapter 8

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