The Pilots - The Twin Goddess
1998
Chapter 2 - Stirrings

Science Ship Paracelsus

	Captain Apollo squirmed in his seat.  It was his second 
interview with Doctor Scully about his experience with Iblis 
and the "Ship of Lights."  Since both Sheba and Starbuck 
swore he was dead and his med scans showed that his body had 
indeed experienced massive trauma, from which it appeared he 
suffered no lasting effect, the Galactica Life Center had 
sent his records and those of the formerly missing pilots to 
Dr. Scully to examine.

	Apollo was dreading this interview.  It was obvious the 
young doctor didn't believe his memories.  Even the recital 
by him and his friends of the coordinates in tandem had not 
swayed her skepticism.  The idea of "advanced beings living 
on a ship of lights" was not rational enough for her.

	He tried not to remember the other reason for his 
discomfort - his more than obvious arousal during the 
physical exam she performed.  Apollo visibly flushed at the 
unwanted memory.  Just the memory of her small yet strong 
hands running over his body caused him to shift 
uncomfortably.

	Dr. Scully hid a smile behind her data recorder 
monitor, her blue eyes twinkling as she noted her patient's 
obvious discomfort and correctly guessed its cause.  'He's 
not your patient Scully,' she reminded herself with a grin, 
not immune to the attraction most women in the Fleet had for 
the brash yet serious Captain.  She ran a hand down her chin 
length red hair and schooled her features to their usual 
professional mien before coming out from behind her desk to 
sit more comfortably across from the man.

	"Relax Captain, I just have a few follow-up questions 
before I finalize my findings.  I promise this will be quick 
and painless," she said coolly and with a tinge of 
amusement.

	"I think they teach all doctors to say that back in 
bedside manner courses.  It's never true in my experience," 
Apollo mumbled as he unconsciously watched her cross her 
legs.

	Scully allowed a slight smile to cross her features as 
she noticed the normally stoic Captain's preoccupation 
before turning her attention to her data recorder.  "You 
said that Count Iblis appeared to have taken on the 
appearance of a 'red-horned creature' and that the image was 
'flickering'.  Did you notice any light coming from any 
direction that appeared inconsistent with sunlight?  Maybe 
even just a brief flash or reflection on a distant metal or 
glass source?  Even for a micron?"

	Apollo sat up straight, his absorption with the woman's 
physical attractions disappearing.  "There was no projector, 
it was real.  I know what I saw.  Sheba and Starbuck can 
confirm what I saw," Apollo said hotly.

	Scully pinned him with a placid look.  "Shall I take 
that as a 'no' Flight Commander?"  Scully said, stressing 
his rank to remind him, subtly, that he was acting like an 
overeager ensign rather than a responsible warrior.  "You do 
understand that I must investigate every possibility, it is 
not meant to doubt your personal integrity.  Your companions 
say they are sure you were dead which you are obviously not.  
I can't just blindly accept what everyone has perceived," 
she finished more gently.

	Apollo felt himself flushing again, this time in shame 
for taking his frustrations out on the competent scientist.  
He had to admit to himself were he in the same position he 
would be asking the same questions.  His father had showed 
him that powers of the mind weren't limited to mythical 
figures in ancient writings.  But there was just something 
about this woman doubting him that raised his ire.  
'Probably because you're attracted to her,' his inner-voice 
piped in. 'Shut up,' he told it before turning his attention 
back to the matter at hand.

	"I'm sorry Dr. Scully.  I know you have to ask these 
questions.  I've asked them of myself.  I can only say with 
certainty that I have nothing further to add to my original 
narration of events.  I was 'dead' for most of it after 
all," he grinned apologetically.

	Scully made a notation into her notes and powered the 
hand-held computer down.  "I understand it's frustrating.  
We are done here so you needn't be so formal, 'Scully' is 
just fine," she turned the full-force of her smile on him 
for the first time.

	Apollo shifted uncomfortably, again, and nodded 
stupidly.

	Scully smiled to herself.  'He's so cute when he's 
flustered,' she thought, pleased she had managed to place 
the usually self-assured Captain at a disadvantage.  She was 
sure it was an achievement.  Like most women in the Fleet 
she had admired the hero from afar; unlike most, however, 
she had been witness to the tragic loss of his new wife 
sectars before.  She had been called in to consult on 
Serina's case, but rather than providing the miracle cure 
hoped for, she could only confirm the fatal prognosis.  She 
had never gotten the chance to talk to the grieving husband 
but she suspected that he had known of her involvement.  
'Perhaps that accounts for his reticence to talk to me or 
trust me now?' she wondered.  His grief and his tenderness 
towards his wife's son had touched her.  He was a better 
man, she thought, than most people knew.  She wondered if 
she should just suppress her attraction in light of their 
previous encounter?

	"I know you did all you could for my wife Dr. Scully, I 
never thanked you properly," Apollo suddenly spoke up, 
uncannily echoing her train of thought.  At Scully's 
startled look he gave a brief chuckle.  "I could tell by 
your expression that you were wondering whether to bring up 
something unpleasant.  I'm not psychic! I know there was 
nothing you could have done.  Thank you for trying," Apollo 
said quietly as he remembered the nightmarish centars 
following the attack on Kobol.

	Apollo was startled from his reverie by the touch of a 
hand on his.  He looked up to see Scully had moved forward 
and their knees were almost touching.  He looked at her and 
found himself drawn into the blues, greens and grays of her 
eyes.  The memories of the past suddenly vanished and he 
thought he was looking at the tempestuous Caprican seas.

	"I'm sorry I couldn't save her Apollo.  There's little 
else that can make a medical doctor feel useless," Scully 
said with uncharacteristic candor, feeling that she had to 
share something personal in return for witnessing him at a 
vulnerable time.

	Apollo found himself reaching out and grabbing Scully's 
hands, touched by her admission.  Somehow he sensed that she 
was like him, reticent to admit any fallibility.  He felt 
special being allowed to see inside her heart like this, but 
before he could formulate a response she removed her hands 
and returned to the safe place behind her desk, leaving 
behind only a whiff of her fresh, feminine scent.  

	"Thank you for your time Captain Apollo, I know how 
busy you must be, I don't want to keep you from your 
duties," Scully said, clearly back in her professional mode.

	Apollo stood awkwardly.  He realized he was being 
dismissed but felt compelled to extend their time together.  
His earlier embarrassment had vanished in the wake of their 
brief intimacy.  For the first time in sectars he brushed 
away any feelings of disloyalty to his deceased wife and 
asked what he had been afraid to.  "Actually I have a few 
centars free and was planning on getting a meal.  I would 
like it if you could join me."

	Scully looked at him slightly startled by the sudden 
turn of the conversation.  One micron they were talking 
about is wife now he was asking her for a meal.  She wasn't 
sure of his motives, but had to admit that she wanted to 
spend more time with the warrior.  "That would be very 
pleasant Apollo, maybe you can share some of your views on 
the upcoming Triad Championships?"  she asked playfully.  
Like most women she drooled over the revealing costumes the 
men wore.  And she had heavy bets with some of her 
colleagues.

	"I would enjoy telling you how Starbuck and I are going 
to ream the competition Scully."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Paraclesus Dining Hall

	Scully sat back in her seat and dabbed her eyes which 
were tearing with laughter.  She couldn't remember having 
such an enjoyable interlude, not since before the 
Destruction.  The shackles of her responsibilities and the 
horrors they had lived through had made it virtually 
impossible for her to just forget and have a good time.  
Even triad games, a not-so-secret passion of hers, were 
watched while she was in the lab.  Sitting here now, with 
this man, felt good.

	Apollo himself was thinking along the same lines.  He 
couldn't remember feeling this relaxed, not even during his 
brief time with Serina.  The thought made him feel guilty 
for a micron, but he admitted that their relationship had 
been forged during a period so fraught with danger and 
despair it was understandable they couldn't just relax and 
enjoy each other.  Apollo shook his head trying to shake off 
thoughts he didn't want to have right then.

	"Oh my Lords," Scully exclaimed looking at the 
chronometer on her wrist.  We've been here for centars.  I 
hope I haven't kept you from duty?"

	Apollo looked around and for the first time noticed 
that the previously full cafeteria was virtually empty.  
"No, even if my chronometer alarm failed Starbuck would beep 
me.  I hope I haven't kept you too long from your duties."

	Scully shook her head.  "Not at all.  Doctor Pendrell 
will be more than glad to have the lab to himself for a 
change.  I think after all these sectons I needed a break 
from this investigation to get my thoughts together.  I only 
have one more interview to complete and I can finalize my 
findings.  Speaking of which, when you see Lt. Mulder please 
tell him I need to speak with him.  Although I am afraid you 
may have to order him to do it, he doesn't seem to trust me 
very much."

	"Mulder doesn't trust many people, it's nothing 
personal.  His paranoia is a quality that has saved his life 
and the life of my sister on more than one occasion, so I 
can't fault him for it."

	The pair looked at each other silently for a few 
microns.  Both appeared loathe to end their time together.  
Scully broke first.  "Captain, I must admit that I enjoyed 
myself immensely.  May I return the invitation for sometime 
soon?" Scully held her breath, a little startled and fearful 
at her forwardness.

	Apollo grinned brightly.  "You certainly may Doctor. 
How about the dinner cycle after next on the Galactica?  
It's not as fancy as the Rising Star, but I can promise the 
food is good and you won't run into any Council members, 
other than Siress Blasi."

	"I would love to Captain," Scully stressed his title in 
response.

	The pair stood simultaneously.  "Let me walk you to 
your office," Apollo gallantly offered.  At her nod he stood 
back and allowed her to proceed him.  Once they reached her 
office door a few short centons later, the pair stood 
looking at each other again.  Both were clearly uncertain of 
the protocol.  Their lunch had started innocently enough but 
the attraction had sizzled between them.  

	Once again Scully took matters to a head and put her 
hand behind Apollo's neck.  She looked him in the eyes for a 
micron and when he didn't object she placed her lips over 
his.

	The man and woman shared a kiss that began as an 
exploration of their unspoken attraction and became an 
acknowledgement of their mutual passion.  After a few 
centons they pulled back and looked at each other, shock 
evident in their expression.  Without a word they moved into 
Scully's office and once the door slid closed they shared 
another passionate kiss.

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

Special Agent Fox Mulder shifted restlessly on his leather 
couch, knocking the television remote to the floor.

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

	"I already agreed to have dinner with you Apollo, you 
didn't need to try to convince me," Scully whispered, still 
clasped in Apollo's embrace.

	"Well Scully, I didn't want to leave anything to 
chance," Apollo smiled down at the petite woman.  "So are 
you thoroughly convinced?"

	"Yes," Scully winced at the sound of her own voice, 
raspy with desire.  Then she kicked herself for not 
requesting some more convincing.

	"See you tomorrow," Apollo mumbled putting his lips 
against her one more time.  A few centons passed before he 
could pull himself from her body.  Any longer and he didn't 
think even a red alert could make him leave.  He walked out 
the door of the office and headed down the hallway.  At the 
first turn he threw himself against the wall, closed his 
eyes and took deep breaths trying to control the throbbing 
of his body.  "My Lords, what that woman does to me," Apollo 
whispered.  He suddenly felt the barest brush of fingers on 
his temples.  He opened his eyes and confirmed that he was 
indeed alone.  Before he could wonder at the sensation he 
felt a feeling of peace pass through his entire being.  All 
feelings of guilt regarding Serina and his feelings for this 
"other" woman suddenly disappeared.  'She wants me to be 
happy and live,' Apollo suddenly realized it was Serina 
giving him her blessing, or at least his conscience.  Apollo 
let a smile cross his features and for the first time in 
sectars it stayed as he walked to the launch bay to head 
back to the Galactica.

	Doctor Scully sat down on her desk and the smile 
disappeared from her face.  She was not normally one to let 
her control go as quickly as she did when Apollo kissed her.  
'When you kissed him,' she reminded herself.  Her movement 
knocked some of her case disks to the floor.  She sighed and 
bent down to pick them up.  As she gathered them in her 
hands she noticed the labels on the top one - "Lt. Mulder" 
she read and sighed again.  "That man is so impossible!" she 
remarked out loud as she placed them back in order on her 
desk.  She took one more look around her office, ensuring 
that she was alone, before heading back behind her desk and 
back to work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Galactica Landing Bay Gamma 

	Starbuck paced impatiently in the landing bay waiting 
for the patrol to land. His impatience was obvious in his 
position, arms crossed and foot tapping as he leaned against 
a landed viper; and in his expression, eyes squinting and 
mouth pursed. To the landing bay crew he was a source of 
amusement. Everyone had been witness to his steam burns a 
yahren before and his subsequent antics with the lovely 
Athena and newly-designated Med-Tech Cassiopea. Although he 
appeared to be exclusive with Cassi now, his constant 
presence in the landing bay following Athena's patrols 
hinted that all was not as it appeared.  For his own part, 
Starbuck was oblivious to the deeper meaning everyone was 
attaching to his new habit. 'She's my wingmate's sister, I'm 
just concerned for her safety for his sake,' he told himself 
whenever he thought about the attractive warrior.  

	Unfortunately, some of those occasions had been when he 
was in his girlfriend's company and his distraction hadn't 
gone unnoticed.  Nor was she too pleased to discover it's 
cause and _she_ didn't seem to be buying his claim of 
brotherly concern. She had stopped just short of ordering 
him to avoid the woman.  He just didn't understand women 
sometimes.

	Starbuck straightened from his pose as he heard the 
patrol gain clearance to land. He again told himself he was 
waiting there instead of preparing for his own patrol in 
order to make sure that her wingmate hadn't fallen asleep 
outside his sleep period as he had the last few patrols. His 
claims of brotherly concern didn't explain, however, why he 
straightened his uniform and his hair as he moved forward to 
where he knew the patrol would be landing.

	A few centons later the patrol landed and Athena doffed 
her helmet and climbed out. She got to the ground and shook 
out her hair which had been flattened from centars under a 
helmet. Just as her hair settled again onto her shoulders 
she felt a hand on her neck. "Mulder, not in front of 
everyone," she whispered. Just as she finished speaking the 
hand was removed and she turned around to reassure her 
wingmate that his attentions were otherwise welcomed. 

	Instead of reassuring her wingmate Athena ended up 
surprised.  Standing in front of her wasn't Mulder, but her 
ex-boyfriend Starbuck. "What are you doing Starbuck? Was 
there something on my neck," she asked with eyebrows raised.  
She was getting a little tired of his constant forays into 
her personal space.

	"Um no," Starbuck fumbled. He wasn't sure why he had 
felt compelled to touch her in that way, or at all for that 
matter. Before he could come up with an answer Athena's 
wingmate appeared and put his arm around her shoulders.

	"So why are you touching my wingmate, that's my job?" 
Mulder squeezed Athena's shoulder, clearly enjoying 
Starbuck's discomfiture. "And why are you always here when 
we land. According to the schedule you don't go on a 
secondary patrol for another centar?"  Mulder decided he 
might as well point out that he had noticed Starbuck's odd 
behavior and maybe scare him off.

	Athena smiled to herself as she watched the usually 
suave Starbuck again stumble for an answer. If she wasn't so 
tired she might have considered forcing the poor man to 
answer, instead she spared him the torture. She wasn't sure 
she wanted to know why he was hanging around her so much 
again. She figured he was having problems with Cassi. She 
wasn't going to get involved in that again. "Whatever 
Starbuck. Mulder let's go. I need to get some sleep before 
dinner cycle. I had teaching duties before patrol and you 
could use some sleep yourself," Athena finished in a 
suggestive murmur and began pulling Mulder away from the 
other warrior.

	"You mean he didn't take an unscheduled nap on patrol 
this time?" Starbuck demanded after them, halting their 
exit.

	Before Mulder could respond Athena pushed him back and 
put herself in Starbuck's face. "Why don't you mind your own 
business Starbuck. You are neither my squadron commander, my 
big brother nor my father. So stop hovering around and 
threatening my wingmate.  Spend your attentions on your 
girlfriend and stop bothering me!" Athena glared at the 
startled warrior before whirling around and stomping away in 
a huff.

	"Isn't she beautiful when she's angry? The flushed cheeks, 
the sparkling eyes, the heaving chest?" Mulder asked Starbuck with a grin. "Too bad you threw her away comrade," Mulder winked before 
following his wingmate to the lift.

	Starbuck just stood there. He wasn't sure what just 
happened, but suddenly he wasn't believing his own 
rationalizations.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Science Ship Paraclesus - Captain's Office

	Science Ship Captain Skinner ran a hand over his nearly 
bald head. These reports were driving him crazy. Most of the 
scientists on his ship were well-behaved and quiet. They 
virtually locked themselves in their labs and hardly ever 
saw the light of day. 'Well, none of us see the light of day 
thanks to the Cylons,' the Captain reminded himself, his 
square jaw tightening at the thought. He shook off nis 
morbid thoughts and turned back to the incident report on 
the monitor in front of him. 

	Like chronometer-work his scientists who studied 
"alternative" theories caused him trouble. The incident with 
Count Iblis and the Ship of Lights had only increased the 
turmoil in those circles. The group known as the Lone 
Turret-Watchers and "Doctor" Werber had begun inciting 
civilian passengers with their publications and speeches. 
They claimed that this Iblis and the strange ships were 
actually the Lords of Kobol and had made contact numerous 
times with the Colonies throughout history. The LTW's even 
claimed that the Council knew about this and had conspired 
to hide the facts from the citizens. Dr. Werber and his 
"patients" claim that they had been abducted, studied and 
then returned by those same Lords. The disappearance and 
return of the warriors and rumors about Captain Apollo's 
experiences had only incited these groups further. And as 
ship's Captain, it was Skinner's responsibility to rein them 
in before they caused real civil unrest among the Fleet.

	"Why didn't I get a nice warrior position again?" he 
asked himself out loud before changing screens and beginning 
to draft yet another warning to his ship residents.

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