Based on the characters created by Glen A. Larson
Well, here we go again. I received one challenge to my request, and so, ran with it. This is the fifth installment of the Black Raptor Series. I think everyone knows who owns what, so I'll let you get right to the reading. Enjoy! E-mail comments/criticisms to leatherknight@hotmail.com
The ship was enormous in size, composed of two massive saucer shaped sections, fastened together at the center by a massive support pylon.
She was the finest that Cylon had to offer. A base ship, loaded with all the necessities for laying waste to planets and other ships.
Within the command section of the massive vessel, a figure strode between two rows of glittering computer banks, his own processor lights blazing spiral trails through the transparent dome of his head.
His robes were cobalt blue, and metallic in color, with a sheen that sparkled in the flicker of thousands in tiny lights. His own face place was merely a darker hue from his robes, in contrast to the two red sensor lights that rebounded back and forth in the tiny eye slits of his face.
Shadow was old. He had been built at the onset of the reign of the first Imperious Leader. He had been the pride of his time, then, and had been given his base star as a promotion for what the Imperious Leader had called "logical action beyond the call of duty." If Shadow could have smiled, he would have. He knew that the compliment was merely the Imperious Leader's diplomatic way of stating that he was different. He possessed the ability to appreciate the "illogical" actions of humans and other organic life forms.
Shadow knew he was merely a well programmed machine, with an innate understanding of illogic, as well as logic.
He stepped through the sliding hatch into the command center and stopped before a tall golden Centurion.
"Report, Kadal," he said in a smooth accented voice.
The golden head turned slightly to face him and the deep droning voice thundered.
"Base Ship four twenty two has been destroyed."
"Indeed?" asked Shadow, his upturned lip lights flashing in time with his speech, indicating amusement. "How?"
"Telemetry indicates that it was destroyed by unknown fighter craft," Kadal reported.
"Show me," Shadow commanded, and he turned to the view screen.
The image flickered for a micron and then showed the doomed Base ship's perspective of the attack.
Four ships approached with turbos blazing, apparently on a suicide run.
He stared at the craft, feeling slightly confused. Running a check in his own memory bank, he did not recognize the strange configuration.
The four ships fired missiles from beneath their wings and then fanned up and away from the ship in parade style formation, with the telemetry of the Base Ship showing laser turrets tracking them. Then the image vibrated violently as the missiles struck their target, and behind that...
"Well, well," Shadow cooed, seeing the al too familiar tri winged profile of a squadron of Colonial Vipers. They came in, with no resistance, firing orange lances of energy into the dying ship. The image flickered and then vanished in a wall of static.
Shadow turned back to Kadal. "Those ships were obviously of Colonial manufacture, Kadal." He said. He backed up the recording and settled on a view that allowed a bottom profile of the other anomalous craft. Centering on one, he magnified and enhanced the image, showing the clearly Colonial markings.
The ship was slightly larger than the standard Viper, and had twin engines instead of the regular triple engines.
"I want you to do a search on variants of Colonial design," he ordered. "Find out what type of craft this is."
"By your command," Kadal droned.
"And set course for the site of the battle. I want to find the Galactica myself. Deliver your report to me as soon as it is compiled."
Again, Kadal droned. "By your command."
Shadow stepped away from the monitor and moved towards the exit.
"Poor Darnos," he said, as if to himself. "Then again, he never was very imaginative." He left the command center chuckling to himself.
"Come on Starbuck," Apollo asked, looking over and watching the other Viper next to him. "You haven't said more than three words since we launched."
He and Starbuck were on, yet another of their long patrols.
"I've been doing a lot of thinking," said Starbuck.
"Yeah?" Apollo asked. "What about?"
"Well," Starbuck started, then he stopped. "I don't know. Athena-"
"Hold on a micron, buddy," said Apollo. "You're not still sore at her are you?"
"No," said Starbuck defensively. "What are you talking about?"
Apollo smiled. His sister, Athena, was a member of the new Black Raptor Squadron. She had gained the post by defeating Starbuck in a simulator competition. It hadn't been the fact that he had lost, but in the sheer brutality Athena had shown in beating him.
In the contest, Athena had veritably taken Starbuck apart, piece by piece until he had been forced to surrender.
"You know what I'm talking about," said Apollo. "She's becoming one of the best pilots in the fleet."
"Yeah," said Starbuck. "But that's good. It takes some of the pressure off of me."
"Felgercarb," said Apollo. "I know how you feel about flying. You want to be the best, and the only one considered the best."
"So?" Starbuck replied. "What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing," said Apollo. "Unless you have competition."
"Look, buddy," said Starbuck. "You know that there's nothing I like more than good competition. It's not that it's-" his voice trailed off.
Apollo's eyebrows rose slightly, and he glanced over at his friend's ship.
"Starbuck?" he asked. "Are you regretting something?"
"No!" Starbuck said quickly. "I mean, yes. I don't know. I'm happy with Cassiopeia and all, and I know she cares about me, but at the same time I just-" His voice trailed off again.
"I think you're just scared of committing," Apollo said. "That was why you went after Aurora when Cassy got too close. That was why you went after Cassy, when you and Athena got to close. Never mind Nodai, and Miriam, and-"
"I get your point," Starbuck cut him off.
Apollo smiled, glancing down at his scanner.
"Well," he said. "Looks like this sector is clear. Time to head back."
Starbuck gave a grunt, and the two Vipers rolled smoothly over, their turbos flaring to life as they turned for home.
"Tell you what," said Apollo. "Why don't you take a furlon when we get back. Take some time and think about things. Figure out exactly what you want, and then go after it. No more games."
"What?" asked Starbuck. "Where's the fun in that?"
"You'd be surprised," said Apollo. His mind drifted to Sheba, and he smiled in spite of himself. "If you find someone you're good with, the surprises don't ever stop."
"Maybe," said Starbuck.
The two ships slicing through the void were large and black, shaped like savage birds of prey.
At the controls, Athena checked her scanner and looked over at the other Raptor that accompanied her.
Captain Milesar and his R.O. or Recon Officer, Rega, sat relaxed as their ship coasted through space.
"How you doing back there, Backis?" she asked over her shoulder.
"Just fine," Backis' gentle voice replied. "Nothing more challenging than staring at a blank scanner screen."
"How's you fuel, you two?" Captain Milesar's voice rang through their com system.
"Holding up pretty well, Captain," said Backis as he checked the gauges.
"Well," said Milesar. "We have enough fuel to take it a little further, if you're up to it?"
After four centars, what's one more? Athena thought to herself. Then she keyed her mic.
"No problem, Captain," she replied. "But it'll cost you an extra drink at the Officers Club."
Milesar's chuckle came through the speakers. "Fine," he said. "We'll call it overtime."
The two Raptors broke in a new direction.
"So," Rega asked casually. "Since Backis is sealed and all, have you thought about who you're going to the party with?"
"Why, Rega?" Asked Athena. "Are you making a proposition?"
"No," said Rega. "I'm making conversation. So, have you thought about it?"
Athena shook her head, smiling. "Well, I thought bringing myself would be enough. I could always hire one of those Saggitarian male escorts?"
"Oh, Hades no!" said Backis. "Those guys drink half a party out of house and home, and they do nothing for me!"
"That's because you're not a woman," Athena said mischievously.
"I thank the lords of Kobol for that, every day," said Backis. Then he continued.
"Come on, Boss. There has to be someone you'd want to bring?"
Athena shook her head. "Sorry, boys. I'm not in the market for a man right now."
"Athena," said Milesar. "One of these days, some guy is gonna walk into your life and sweep you right off your feet."
"Maybe," said Athena. "When I'm ready to let one, then it'll happen."
"Yeah, right," said Rega. "When it happens, and it WILL happen, I'm willing to bet that you don't see it coming until your already caught."
"Then I'll just have to keep my eyes open," said Athena resolutely. A relationship was the last thing on her mind. She had far too much going on, being second in command of the Black Raptors. It was a job that required a lot of her personal attention.
The Galactica slowly made its way through the blackness, followed by the myriad of ships in the fleet. On the bridge of the mighty carrier, Commander Adama stood erect and proud, staring down at the monitor and watching the progress of the ships under his care. He turned his eyes to his second in command.
Colonel Tigh, his coffee colored skin shining slightly in the lights of the bridge, looked back at him and shrugged.
"I feel strange saying this, Adama, but there's nothing out of the ordinary to report."
"A pleasant feeling, isn't it?" Adama replied, a smile touching the corners of his lips.
At his station, Flight Officer Omega turned to face the commanding officers.
"All the patrols have reported in," he said. "We are clear ahead and astern for a minimum of four sectors."
"The extended range of the new Raptors is helping out a great deal," said Adama. Then he turned back to Colonel Tigh. "Very well. Supervise the retrieval of our patrols and maintain current status. I'll be in my quarters for some much needed rest."
"Of course Commander," said Tigh.
As Adama descended the steps from the command station, Tigh stepped forward quickly.
"By the way," he said. "Doctor Salek told me to remind you that you're due for your regular physical. He wanted me to make certain you hadn't forgotten." Tigh smiled slightly, knowing that his friend hated these routine checkups.
Adama looked at him for a micron and then nodded. "Thank you Colonel." He said.
"Shall I schedule the appointment for you, Commander?" Tigh asked, knowing in advance what the response would be.
"I'll see to it, Colonel. Thank you." Adama replied, not looking back.
Tigh's smile widened. "Blazes you will," he said. Then he returned to his duties.
The Cylon Base ship hovered before the shattered remains of its counterpart. Sections of plasteen sheeting, burnt and peeled alloys and pieces of centurions floated in the chaos.
Shadow stood at the observation port of his own ship looking out at the remains.
"My, my," he said to himself. "Darnos probably never knew what hit him."
He watched as a shattered centurion's torso bounced harmlessly against his ships' shields, leaving a pale blue coronal flash.
With a hiss of released gasses, Kadal strode into the room. He stopped a respectful distance from his superior.
Shadow did not turn, his bouncing sensor lights still taking in the destruction around him.
"Report, Kadal," he finally sighed.
"Our patrols have located the Battlestar Galactica," Kadal intoned.
"Indeed?" Shadow said, his upturned lip lights flashing with amusement.
"How far away is she?"
"Six, point three two hectars distant and still withdrawing," Kadal droned. "We can easily overtake them."
Shadow stepped away from the viewport, and away from the carnage beyond it.
"I'm sure," Shadow said, the amused tone thickening in his voice. "And what should we do, once we catch them?"
Kadal replied immediately. "Attack and destroy them."
If Shadow had eyebrows and real eyes he would have rolled his eyes to the ceiling.
"You centurions are so limited in your ability to appreciate the subtleties of the human mind," he said. He moved for the exit, then turned to face his lieutenant.
"Have our ship move to pursue," he instructed. "But stay well beyond her scanner range. Have our fighters patrol ahead far enough to confirm the location and heading of the trailing vessels in the fleet. No further."
"You do not wish our fighters to engage the Galactica?" Kadal droned.
"Not yet," Shadow mused. "Carry out your orders."
"By your command," Kadal droned, and he turned and left.
The music was loud the lights garishly bright and flashing beneath the transparent surface of the gaming table, the crowds were boisterous. People darting to and fro, drinking, eating, smoking, all dressed in a myriad of colors and styles, representing every culture from the colonies.
The atmosphere was just the way Starbuck liked it. Plenty of people being free with their money and time.
He lifted the edge of the cards and smiled, his fumarello sending up a continuous wisp of sweet smelling smoke.
"Build me," he said, looking up at the dealer with a knowing look and his trademark grin.
The dealer set one hexagonal card down on the table, then set one down for each of the other three players. Two gentlemen folded and sat back, while Starbuck and the third player, a fashionably dressed older lady looked at each other.
Starbuck gave her a friendly wink, and then looked down at the neat little stacks of golden cubits in front of him. He deliberately began setting stack after stack forward, into the betting circle. The move elicited gasps of astonishment from the assembling group of people.
"I'll hover with these," Starbuck said confidently.
The other remaining player set her bet out and nodded, and the dealer threw her last card.
A collective gasp rose from the surrounding spectators as Starbuck collected his winnings by the narrowest of margins.
He smiled and scooped the large pile of cubits, hiding the nervous adrenaline rush from the near loss.
"Still playing those long shots, are you?" came a wizened voice behind him.
Starbuck smiled in recognition as he turned around.
"Hello Chameleon," he said, grasping the older mans forearm.
"Hello, son," said Chameleon, his bright blue eyes sparkling. He measured Starbuck's winnings with a knowing eye. "Looks like you're doing fairly well tonight."
Starbuck took a long drag on his fumarello. "Yup, I've got a real good hot streak going here."
"How many hands have you won?" Chameleon asked, his eyebrows rising, wrinkling the skin on his forehead.
Starbuck shrugged. "Eight, nine, I don't know."
"Then you're due," said Chameleon. "Come on. You can buy me a drink or two." He grasped the younger man's forearm, and pulled him in fatherly fashion from the table.
"Wait a centon," Starbuck stammered. His head swiveled back and forth between Chameleon and the amused card dealer.
"Hold on a centon, I'll be right back... Chameleon, wait.. I'll be right back... Chameleon..." he sighed. "Watch my cubits," he said to the dealer, and he gave up the game of tug-o-war with the older man.
Chameleon led Starbuck to the bar, and settled onto the stool, his eyes looking at Starbuck with a knowing gaze.
"What?" asked Starbuck, his shoulders shrugging slightly.
"I was just wondering what you were doing out here, while you're not scheduled for a furlon for some time, if I remember correctly?" Chameleon rambled slightly, his eyes drifting towards the ceiling, as if thinking to himself.
Starbuck smiled. "Apollo told me to take a couple of days and figure things out," he confessed.
"Really?" asked Chameleon. "What sort of things?"
As if on cue, a small group of four or five warriors entered the casino, all of them wearing the insignia of the Black Raptors. A few other newcomers followed, wearing slightly different insignia. Theirs were the image of a red claw on a gray field. The Gray Talons, Galactica's latest Raptor squadron.
Starbuck looked past Chameleon's shoulder and saw Backis, Brie, a couple of other warriors that he didn't know, and Athena. His eyes fixed on her, watching her smiling and laughing as she socialized with the other members of her squadron.
Her flight partner, Backis, stood besides her, filling in gaps in the conversation, his hand resting casually on Athena's shoulder.
IF there was one thing that unnerved Starbuck over everything else, it was the sight of an ex, in the company of another. He didn't understand why it disturbed him so much, but it did. Now, with the camaraderie that was formed between the two person flight teams of the Raptor Fighters, he was seeing it all the time where Athena was concerned, and it bothered him.
Chameleon looked at Starbuck, then over at the small crowd of brown jackets, spying Athena. Then he looked back at his son. He saw the look in Starbuck's eyes and nodded.
"Ohhhh," he said. "Those sorts of things."
"Hmm?" asked Starbuck, his eyes popping back to Chameleon. "Oh, no, nothing like that. I just have a lot on my mind, and, well...you know," he trailed off.
"No, Starbuck, I don't," Chameleon pressed gently. In actuality, he knew just about everything. He knew about Apollo and Starbuck's conversation while on patrol. He knew about Starbuck being on the Rising Star. He also knew that Apollo had sent Starbuck on furlon when he had, because Athena and the rest of the Black Raptors were on their regular furlon. All that was left was to tie everything together, so Apollo had contacted Chameleon, and convinced the old man to confront Starbuck as a friend. Apollo, Starbuck and everyone else, with the exception of Cassiopeia, still did not know that Chameleon was really Starbuck's biological father. That secret had been kept at Chameleons request, so Starbuck could continue to focus on his own life. Instead, Chameleon had assumed the roll of friend and confidant, which suited him just fine. He could be a father, without "being a father" and maintain a comfort zone for Starbuck. Allowing his son to remain at ease with him during trying times.
Now, the elderly, former con-artist, assumed the roll of curious, but uninformed confidant.
"Well," said Starbuck uneasily. "I've just been doing a lot of thinking," he said. "About the past. Regrets, that sort of thing." His eyes kept darting from Chameleon to Athena standing on the other side of the room.
"I thought you were happy?" said Chameleon, feigning shock. "That you and Cassiopeia were doing alright-"
"We are." Starbuck said, almost defensively.
"But?" Chameleon said, rolling one hand forward as his other reached for a glass of ambrosia.
"I don't know," said Starbuck. "I mean, I love Cassiopeia, don't get me wrong. She's a great girl. And she's confident in ways I've never seen in other women-"
Chameleon smiled. "Are you trying to convince me? Or yourself?"
"No, no. Nothing like that, honest," Starbuck said seriously. "I don't need to convince myself that Cassy's a great girl. It's just that, well, I wonder sometimes where I'd be if I had stayed with someone else..." His voice trailed off as he stared at Athena again.
Chameleon looked over towards the other warriors for the sake of not smiling on front of his son.
"He's definitely mine," he thought. Then he composed his face and turned back to Starbuck. "You certainly have a thing for picking out beautiful women," he complimented, and then he purposely pointed towards Brie.
Starbuck began to nod, and then stopped.
"Not her," he said. "Her." He pointed at Athena just as she looked up and spied him and Chameleon at the bar. Starbuck felt as if a Cylon had just locked onto him and shot him down. He was caught. He let his other fingers uncurl, trying to casually change his point to a friendly wave. A smile creasing his face. It was not one of friendly greeting. It was the face of a man caught in the act.
"Frack," he muttered.
Chameleon joined Starbuck in the greeting and the two men turned back to their conversation.
"She's a very lovely young lady," said Chameleon. "How long did you two...?" he finished with a gesture.
"A few yahrens," said Starbuck. "After the destruction of the colonies, everything just sort of- you know."
"You said something, or did something that you regretted?" asked Chameleon.
"I think we both said a few things," said Starbuck. "Then I met up with Cass, and I got so caught up in how she made me feel that I - " He stopped.
"Before I knew it, we were a "couple", and I didn't even see it coming. Then the other ladies, like Aurora and Nodai, and -"
Chameleon held up his hands to stop the rambling young man.
"Starbuck," he said gently. "I have no doubt that you are a very passionate young man. You are passionate about everything you do, from flying a Viper, to playing Pyramid, and loving women. You might even be better at those things than I was at your age?" He shrugged. "The bottom line, son, is that you have to grow up eventually."
"You mean, make a decision and stick with it," said Starbuck, nodding.
"I mean," said Chameleon, his bright blue eyes fixing on Starbuck. "Get your head out of your ass, young man."
He looked about as if someone else might have overheard the statement, then he looked back at a shocked and dumbstruck Starbuck. Starbuck's mouth opened and shut, but no words came out.
Chameleon leaned forward. "I don't mean to hurt your feelings by being so forward. But you've graduated the academy. You've survived a holocaust, and you've become one of the best warriors in the fleet. Now it's time for you to make a decision that you can trust, not live with. Believe me, you can "live with" anyone. It's that one special person that brings meaning to every micron of your existence. That's what you want to find. You want to find the person you'd be willing to live for, as well as live with."
He looked at Starbuck for a long micron, his forefingers coming together to press up under his bottom lip in thought.
"You had that once," he said, studying Starbuck's face. "Didn't you?"
"I thought I did," said Starbuck. His eyes still wandered over towards Athena.
Chameleon smiled gently. "Apollo sent you on furlon to think. That's what he meant when he told you to go. Take some time and think about it," he said. "Not to play games. So think, and find out who you want to live for, then go after them."
Starbuck nodded, and then he stopped, looking at Chameleon.
"Wait a centon," he said suspiciously. "How do you know what Apollo said?"
Chameleon rolled his eyes in a helpless gesture of innocence that brought a smile to Starbuck's lips.
"Why do I feel like the victim of some sort of conspiracy?" he asked.
"I have no idea what you mean," Chameleon said theatrically. Then he looked at Starbuck seriously. "Apollo cares about you, and so do I. You're changing, though you refuse to see it. Everyone else around you notices a different look in your eyes. Figure out who it is that occupies your heart the most, and then go after her, no matter what may face you."
"No matter what, huh?" asked Starbuck.
"No matter what!" Chameleon repeated with emphasis.
"What was that all about?" asked Backis, as he surreptitiously watched the exchange between Starbuck and his companion.
Athena shook her head. "I don't know." She answered honestly. Then she turned back to the others. "Well, let's get everything set up."
The group cleared an area making ready for a party as the rest of the Black Raptors and Gray Talons arrived.
Captain Milesar was the last one to arrive. He jogged in, and called everyone around.
"They'll be here in a couple of centons," he said. "Everything ready?"
"All set," said Athena, as a waiter brought a large tray laden with cakes and mushies. The waiter set the tray down on the table and withdrew, while a second on set several bottles of ale and ambrosia around the trays.
Jodas stood impatiently while his wife, Zera, fixed her hair and makeup staring at one of the mirror smooth support pylons in the Rising Star's shuttle lounge.
"You look fine, Zera," Jodas said impatiently.
Zera turned and stared at him with fiery blue eyes. "At ease, Colonel," she said. "This'll just take a micron."
She finished primping, mentally counting out enough time for Milesar to get to the casino and have everyone set.
She finally turned and faced her husband.
"There," she said. "All ready. Come one."
She hooked her arm under his and half walked, half dragged him towards the casino.
"Why don't we just go home and have a nice quiet dinner?" Jodas suggested.
"No," said Zera, her blonde hair bouncing as she walked. "I want to have fun."
"Everyone else gets to do what they want on their birthdays," said Jodas.
He stopped, causing his wife to jerk back, spinning her around into his arms. "Why don't I?"
"Oh, stop it," she said, a smile beginning to show on her face. "It's only for a few centars, then we can go home." She batted her eyes at him, bringing a smile to his face.
"Let's go home now," Jodas suggested, trying desperately to get out of the situation.
Her face changed in an instant from subtle seduction, to annoyance.
"I want us to have fun, Colonel," she said sharply. "Then we'll have other fun at home." She reached up and kissed his cheek. "I promise," she whispered. Then she gave him a sharp tug in the direction of the casino.
"Now, come on!" she ordered.
She and Jodas rounded a corner and a burst of cheers erupted from the other people assembled.
Jodas froze, seeing the members of the Black Raptors and Gray Talons, glasses raised, or clapping, and each one with a broad smile on their faces.
Zera was laughing with glee as Jodas turned his face away, an embarrassed smile on his face.
"Oh, no," he muttered, his shoulders sagging in defeat.
Athena and Brie stepped up and each one planted a kiss on Jodas's cheeks.
"Happy birthday, Colonel," said Athena, and she laughed with glee.
Jodas turned to the assembled crowd and shrugged, a smile creasing his face.
"This is really stupid," he said, but he didn't believe it, any more than the rest of the squadron did. He looked at his wife with a "you will pay" stare and then resigned himself to the fact that, come hell or high water, he was going to have a good time.
Adama sat at his desk, reading one of the many books from the shelves behind him. His wall com chimed, and he quickly hid the book and spread the papers out on his desk.
"Yes?" he asked after quickly composing himself.
The slightly round face of Doctor Salek appeared on the twin monitors in the wall.
"Yes, Doctor?" Adama asked casually.
"Commander," Doctor Salek said, his usually gruff voice taking on a more aggressive tone. "Are you aware that you are due for your annual physical?"
"Yes, Doctor," Adama said, shuffling through the papers. "Colonel Tigh has informed me."
"Then I can assume that you will be here, in the Life Center, after your duty period?" Salek pressed.
"Unfortunately, I'm incredibly busy, Doctor," Adama said. "Perhaps I can schedule it for another time?"
Salek's face seemed to darken with impatience.
"Adama," he said. "You and I both know how you really feel about these things. I call your office all the time, and this is the only time your desk vanishes under a deluge of paper. Now, you can come down here of your own accord, or I can relieve you of your command and order you down here. The choice is yours."
Adama looked down at the paperwork on his desk and then back up into the stern face of his doctor. The feeling of being a child, caught lying, seemed to wash through him.
He gave Salek a stern look.
"Perhaps if you would work on your bedside manner," he said. "Then I wouldn't find these things so bad?"
"Commander," Salek began, and Adama knew he was about to say "the words".
"All right, Doctor," Adama raised his hands in surrender. "You don't need to relieve me. I'll be down shortly."
"You have fifteen centons," said Salek, his eyes drifting down to his chrono. "Then I send out a security detail to find you."
"I understand, Doctor," said Adama. Salek nodded, and signed off with a humph.
Adama counted five microns before rising to his feet and tucking his book under one arm.
If he left now, he could be on the Rising Star, lost in a crowd before Salek could make good on his threat. He smiled at his own cleverness. He couldn't be relieved of command if the Doctor couldn't find him and say "the words".
The door hissed open and Adama stood there, the smile slowly fading from his face.
"Why, hello Commander," Cassiopeia said demurely. She stood, leaning casually against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, her blue eyes flashing him a knowing look. "I see you're on your way to the Life Center. Mind if I accompany you?"