Title:  Altered Perceptions
Author: The Twin Goddess (Athena13@ixpres.com)
Rating: NC-17

Summary: It only takes a micron for perceptions to change.

Disclaimer: This is a fiction story based on the series Battlestar 
Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. Larson.  This 
story is not being sold for profit and no infringement of any copyright 
rights are intended.  All unrecognized characters and plot lines are 
ours and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely 
coincidental.

The lyrics in this story are borrowed from Rick Springfield (Zac). 
Citations at the end of the story.

Authoress' notes: This is a Twin Goddess/OAD story, but our readers 
will be surprised, we promise!
<><><><><><><><><><><>
CHAPTER 1

Athena took another sip of her grog and sat back in her seat. In a few 
centons Braedon was going to start his performance, and she could 
hardly wait. 

It had been sectars since she had managed to take leave from her duties 
to attend a show on the Rising Star. When she had heard that Braedon 
was going to be performing, she knew she had to take the time. She was 
hoping that the night out might lift her out of the introspective, and 
even depressed, mood she had found herself in lately.  

Just being here, and away from the Galactica, was already cheering her 
up.

The fact that her friends had agreed to accompany her was also helping.

Sitting to her left was Dietra, her best friend since the Academy. 
Next to Dietra was Sheba, another old friend but one she had known 
since childhood. Next to Sheba was Cassiopeia, a friend of hers and the 
girlfriend of Starbuck. Sitting next to Cassi was Starbuck himself, 
Athena's wingmate, former boyfriend and her brother's best friend. 
Next to Starbuck was Boomer, another of her brother's best friends and 
a good friend of hers as well. 

Finally, next to Boomer was her brother Apollo on her right. Despite 
the fact that Apollo was her only blood relative at the table, Athena 
felt as if she was surrounded by family. She could feel tension seeping 
out of her shoulders as she savored the feeling of spending time with 
her "family" without responsibility and war on their minds.

Athena was taking another sip of her drink just as the lights dimmed, 
signaling that the show was about to begin. She felt her heart begin to 
pound as she impatiently waited to set her eyes on the evening's star. 
Braedon. Of course, that didn't make her all that different than the 
multitude of other women in the room. 

Braedon had been a big singing star throughout the twelve worlds before 
the Destruction. It was hard to decide which he was more popular for - 
his singing, his songwriting or his good looks. His voice could arouse 
even the most married of women; his words could bring tears to the eyes 
of the most hardened warrior; and his looks, well, no one denied the 
man was incredibly gorgeous. All three blessings had given him fame, 
wealth and a life he enjoyed.

But Braedon had practically walked away from it all after the 
Destruction. In the Fleet he had dedicated himself to helping orphans 
and improving the living conditions on the poorer civilian ships. 
Public appearances such as this were rare. It was only happening, in 
fact, as a charity performance. All the proceeds were being donated to 
buy extra supplies for the orphan ship, and make a point to the 
regular, wealthy patrons of the Rising Star.

Unlike most, Athena wasn't surprised by the vast change in lifestyle he 
had chosen. She had discovered Braedon's serious and giving side 
yahrens ago. Athena, her brother Zac and Dietra had met Braedon one 
yahren during a charity event on Caprica where he was helping to 
collect toys and clothes for orphans for Yule. Somehow, and Athena 
could never understand why, Braedon had taken a liking to the trio and 
had spent the rest of the day with them and after it was over, he had 
stayed in touch and invited them to visit him whenever their schedules 
would allow.

After the Destruction, Dietra and Athena had searched passenger 
manifests and discovered Braedon's survival in the Fleet and had 
immediately sought him out. It had been a joyous reunion, not to 
mention an extremely fun one, on board the Rising Star. That had been 
over a yahren ago and the last time Athena had heard Braedon perform. 
She was definitely looking forward to it tonight. Music chips failed to 
capture the raw sensuality of his voice once you had heard it live.

Athena's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by the sound of wild 
applause as Braedon walked on stage. In the room of hundreds, only 
Athena and Dietra remained silent as they watched their friend.

"He's still gorgeous," Dietra leaned over and whispered to Athena.

Her friend was right, he was more than enjoyable to look at. Athena 
wondered idly why she had never made a play for him in her more 
carefree days.

'Because then we would never have become friends,' she quickly reminded 
herself. She was certain it was the fact that Athena and Dietra were 
careful from the very first micron to treat Braedon as a platonic 
friend that had enabled a strong relationship to develop.

'But how did we ever control ourselves?' she shivered as his smoky 
voice reached her ears and coursed through her body.

Apollo shot her a knowing look at her movement. Athena blushed and 
looked away.

<><><><><><><><><><>

A few songs and another cup of grog later Athena was completely caught 
up in the performance. She could almost pretend that they were at the 
Colonies enjoying a pre-Destruction concert. Or in an out of the way 
liquistation on Caprica or Taura.

'Almost,' she thought as she caught sight of Cassi's blond hair. As 
usual, the med tech was leaning close to a smirking Starbuck. Athena 
didn't even want to know where Cassi's missing hands were. With a sigh 
Athena turned back to the stage.

Before Cassi's appearance in their lives, Athena's personal life had 
been just that, personal. Since then, however, Athena had become an 
object of interest and conjecture. Some of it innocent. Some of it 
malicious. Most of it false. Whatever the incarnation, however, Athena 
didn't like it one bit. She was by nature an intensely private and 
reserved person when it came her personal life and with a few 
exceptions, she worked hard to keep it that way. Her romantic 
relationship with Starbuck had started the cycle, both in others' minds 
and in her own behavior, that had destroyed that privacy. After the 
Destruction, the scrutiny had gotten worse and her reaction to it had 
become more extreme. After about a yahren, the general populace seemed 
to lose interest in the boring daughter of the Commander and had begun 
to leave her alone and Athena had gotten even more protective of her 
privacy. 

'Perhaps that's why I haven't taken a night off?' Athena realized. 
Appearing in public with Starbuck and Cassi was bound to spark a 
modicum of conjecture. Athena took a sip of her fresh drink and 
wondered what she could do about it. From the corner of her eye Athena 
could see Starbuck lean back and his satisfied grin spread wider as 
Cassi leaned back against his body, her hands still missing from view. 
Athena tossed back the rest of her drink.

It wasn't that she was jealous. Far from it. Athena had accepted the 
fact that she and Starbuck were wrong for each other back when they had 
been together. Starbuck had been frightened of the prospect of 
commitment and Athena had found herself less in control of her feelings 
and actions than she liked. All in all, it hadn't been a good 
combination. Starbuck and Cassi's current public behavior bothered her 
because it was going to cause public musings that were nastier than 
they might have been otherwise. The fact that Athena was present was 
guaranteed to revive the comparisons of Athena and Cassi's sexual 
performance.

According to the old rumors, it was a given that Starbuck had dumped 
the "novice" Athena for the "professional" talents of the former 
Socialator. Considering that Starbuck had never actually managed to 
sample Athena's talents mooted the comparison as far as she was 
concerned, but didn't stop her from feeling violated by the extreme 
personal nature of the talk.

And those rumors never did much for her social life. Many of the non-
warrior men she had met in the Fleet presumed that the rumors of her 
"inexperience" were true and believed it was their personal duty to 
"teach" Athena the finer arts of sexual performance. Knowing this made 
it difficult for her to accept dinner offers as past experience had 
shown her what the men expected by evening's end. Needless to say, her 
romantic life had been sorely lacking since the end of her 
"relationship" with Starbuck.

"You're getting maudlin," Dietra leaned over. "Cut it out!"

Athena smiled weakly at her friend and nodded. "One more grog should 
take care of that!" she waved at the server for another before turning 
her attention back to her own enjoyment. Or so she thought.

"This next song was written by some good friends of mine, both of whom 
happen to be in the audience tonight and happen to be pretty decent 
performers themselves!" Braedon announced to the audience.

"Oh Frak!" Athena sunk down in her seat and put a hand over her eyes, 
as if she could disappear from sight. She just knew he was talking 
about her and Dietra. And here she was thinking about how much she 
hated being an object of scrutiny and gossip!

"There's goes the best kept secret in the Academy," Dietra announced 
with a wicked grin. 

Unlike Athena, Dietra had never been bothered by being the center of 
attention or conjecture. The fact that Braedon was now comfortable 
telling people that they knew him was fine with her. Athena, on the 
other hand, was grateful that Braedon had wanted to protect his own 
privacy and theirs by keeping the friendship quiet. By the same token, 
not being a military commander's daughter, Dietra hadn't cared who knew 
that the three of them had sometimes performed as members of a band on 
Dietra's home colony Taura. And that Braedon sometimes joined them.

Whatever her preference might have been, it was now a faint memory as 
Braedon called Athena and Dietra by name to the stage to "help" with 
their song.

Athena stood up very reluctantly and followed Dietra's determined 
stride to the stage. She had to admit that the shocked looks of their 
friends were almost worth the disclosures. Almost.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Athena was blinded by the lights as she tried to look out at the 
crowded room, but as the music started she realized she had missed 
this. The energy and euphoria that performing always provoked in her 
soul. It was an intoxicating rush. It was almost erotic she admitted as 
her body began to pound in time with the music.

Athena and Dietra stayed on stage for another two songs after the 
first, enjoying themselves immensely. Between the audience's 
enthusiastic response, the music and Braedon's playful interaction, it 
was hard for them to give it up, but this was Braedon's show and it was 
for charity. When they were done, however, they got hugs and kisses 
from their friends and acquaintances as made their way back to their 
seats. There were also some raised eyebrows and promises to tell 
stories later.

As the two women sat down they saw that most of their companions seemed 
to have enjoyed themselves, but hadn't quite gotten over their shock.

Dietra didn't imagine for one micron that her behavior was the cause of 
the glazed look in Apollo's eyes or the furrow in Starbuck's brow. They 
might be best friends, but Athena and Dietra were very different 
people, Dietra knew. Seeing Dietra get up in front of a crowd and throw 
off social inhibitions was not all that rare a sight.  It was 
definitely Athena who had surprised the frak out of them!

"What in hades was that?" Apollo demanded in a shocked whisper, 
confirming Dietra's conclusion.

Athena raised her eyebrow and smirked at her brother. "Major, if that 
needs to be explained then maybe we should get you to Doctor Salik and 
have your faculties checked out? Perhaps the slowness isn't just a 
psychological condition?" she remarked innocently, casting a glance at 
Sheba who was having a hard time biting back laughter.

"Ha ha. I mean, how do you know Braedon, and since when do you 
do...that?" Apollo waved a hand absently at the stage.

"Big brother," Athena put a hand on Apollo's shoulder, "there's a lot 
about me you don't know," she replied with sly grin, still feeling the 
high of performing. She had to admit her earlier introspective mood was 
broken.

"Since Academy," Dietra answered, taking pity on her friend. "We used 
to hang out with Braedon a lot, so did Zac."

"Zac? Sang?" Apollo was clearly stunned.

"He also wrote songs," Starbuck interjected.

"You knew about this?" Apollo turned to his friend angrily.

"I knew about Zac's interest in music, the rest of this, no way!" 
Starbuck insisted, holding his hands innocently in the air.

Athena's attention was diverted from the sparring friends by the melody 
emanating from the stage. 'Lords,' she felt tears come to her eyes. 
"That's one of Zac's songs," Athena told her companions mechanically as 
she tuned them out and listened to the words and Braedon's voice. 

***I can see the path you're cutting, it cost me a little piece of my 
heart I can see the doors you're shutting, 'cause they were open at the 
start Baby loving you has been hard on me.

You're such a tough little sister just looking for Mr. Right
On the wrong side of town. 

You better love somebody, it's late, you better love somebody, 
don't wait You better love somebody, don't tempt fate

You're gonna push it just a little too far, one night****

The song was pure Zac. 

He had such a zest for life and love. He never settled for long with 
one person, but always claimed her was looking for "the one." Athena 
just nodded gamely at her brother's explanations, while deep insider 
she had been certain that Zac thrived on the passion and zest that the 
beginning of relationships gave him. It was the added edge he needed 
until he got into the cockpit of a viper.

By the same token, Zac couldn't understand why Athena was so careful in 
romance. She could count on one hand the number of men she had serious 
relationships with. Her tumult with Starbuck probably could be 
considered one of the few non-committed relationships she had dared to 
enter.

That was the meaning behind the song. Zac had written it for both of 
them. Both siblings had been wary of love and Athena had been 
disdainful of settling for less than that. With a few exceptions. All 
of them before the Destruction. Since then there had been practically 
no one. And certainly no one she had made love with.

'Maybe that's why I've been depressed?' Athena asked herself. 'Am I 
lonely?'

Athena remembered when Zac had written this song and the few times he 
had performed it before giving it to Braedon. The words seemed to speak 
to her now more than ever.

***Your eyes are wild, your skin's so white, you're undernourished 
and overfed.

She's got the teeth, she knows how to bite, 'cause when you bit I bled
You got the perfect image of the perfect man.

You're a tough little sister, but you'll settle for a mister tonight
But you're running out of time***

"Excuse me," Athena mumbled and stumbled out of her seat and out of the 
club.

<><><><><><><><><><>

Athena didn't stop running until she found a darkened corridor to hide 
in. Slumping against the wall she covered her face with her hands. It 
was as if her beloved brother had returned to give her message. A 
message she sorely needed. 

It was time for her to start living, and loving, again.

"Athena?" Starbuck's voice startled her from her reverie.

"What are you doing here?" Athena dropped her hands and looked warily 
at her wingmate.

"Checking on my wingmate's well-being. I figured hearing Zac's song had 
upset you," he stopped at her side.

Athena moved away quickly and turned to face him from a couple of 
meters down the corridor. 

"He was so full of life. It's incomprehensible that much life could 
just disappear," Athena indirectly confirmed his suspicions. "But I 
guess it hasn't," Athena continued and began to pace. "You know, if 
anyone could find a way to defeat death and come back to 'thunk' me on 
the head it would be Zac," she chuckled.

"What are you talking about?" Starbuck asked and leaned back against 
the wall Athena had vacated.

"It's a message. Listen to the words. He wrote it for me yahrens ago, 
but it's still true. He's talking about the thrill of love, about the 
energy within, all the things I am coming to realize I've forgotten. 
Heck, I don't think I ever experienced it at all," Athena said in a 
distracted voice, as if she was speaking to herself.

"What do you mean?" Starbuck sounded a bit miffed.

"Practically my entire life, other than our....whatever it was, I've 
been cautious in romance. Sure, there were a few flings, but very few. 
And even those were well calculated," Athena stopped pacing as she 
explained to him, and herself, how she felt. "Since coming to the 
Galactica and being under the watchful eye of my father and Apollo it's 
only gotten harder to have a personal life. You were probably a 
compromise more than anything," Athena surprised herself with the 
revelation, oblivious to the angry look on Starbuck's face. 

"You," Athena turned to him now. "You, one of my Father's star warriors 
and my brother's best friend. Not to mention the guy I had a crush on 
when I was a kid. You were perfect. I could date you and keep my family 
off my back. And you weren't interested in commitment, deep down I knew 
that, so you would be the perfect cover while I took my time to look 
around. Or course, all my ideas backfired didn't they," Athena finished 
with a whisper, looking up the face of the man she had fallen in love 
with a long time ago.

"And do you have any idea?" she asked him.

"Any idea of what?" Starbuck asked hesitantly.

"How long it has been since I've made love? How long it has been since 
I've felt the thrill of falling in love? I've never even had an affair, 
just a plain old, no future potential having a good time together 
affair! I think it's time I start living," Athena stopped pacing and 
looked at Starbuck for the first time since he appeared.

"I'm still young, I'm free, what the frak am I waiting for?" Athena's 
eyes widened and she laughed. "Boy, that was a relief. Thanks 
Starbuck," Athena patted her wingmate on the arm and walked back to the 
club. "Who knows, maybe living a little will kill those stupid rumors 
about why you dumped me," she called back to him.

Starbuck stood in the darkened corridor looking as shocked as he had 
when Athena started singing on stage just a half-centar before.

"Sure," he waved to no one there. "No problem." 

He wasn't certain what was perplexing him more, her admission of being 
sexually deprived or the way she viewed their past relationship. Even 
held up against his own amorous past, he placed her at the top of the 
list as one of the most meaningful relationships of his life. He had 
asked her to marry him for Sagan's sake! He knew that she had loved 
him!
 
'And as far as her not having sex for a while,' he bitterly mused, 
'that's no fault of mine!' his jaw locked as he remembered all the 
times he had tried to seduce her into sleeping with him. 

It had been an unexpected challenge, her refusal to give her body to 
him. More often than not Starbuck found himself in a woman's bed on the 
first date. Athena was the first exception, and the last, since early 
in secondary school. Heck, Cassi had slept with him and they hadn't 
even officially been on a date, never mind in a relationship. By then, 
though, he had been tired of and frustrated with Athena's refusal to 
sleep with him. Added to her refusal to marry him, he had been sure 
Athena hadn't loved him as much as he loved her and he had been eager 
to find a way to get her to dump him, knowing he couldn't walk away 
from her himself. 

It wasn't until later that Starbuck discovered how wrong he had been. 
Athena had loved him and he had tossed her away. 

'I guess that's what she meant about everything backfiring on her,' he 
realized. She had never intended to fall in love with him, but only 
meant to use him to divert her family's intense scrutiny of her life. 
So despite her love for him and his for her, he now discovered that she 
couldn't even call it a relationship. 

And despite this new, biting, information, Starbuck couldn't fight off 
the feelings being near his wingmate aroused in him lately. For sectons 
he had shrugged it off and attributed it to the fact that they spent so 
much time in each other's company as wingmates. While after Serina's 
death Apollo had been prone to periods of reflective silence during 
patrol, Athena always engaged him in banter. Most of it was 
intellectual, but sometimes it was suggestive, either way the long 
centars in each other's company flew by. Although, back on the 
Galactica, they kept a careful distance between them in front of 
others. Still, Starbuck found himself enjoying her company more and 
more as time went on. Seeing her on that stage tonight and hearing her 
words just now, he could no long just brush away reality. 

The vibrancy and joy she had exhibited on stage had made him catch his 
breath. Literally. Luckily Cassi's playful hands had provided an excuse 
for his reaction. Kobol, it was a side of Athena he knew existed, but 
had rarely seen. Or at least not in a long time. Coupled with her vocal 
recognition of her physical needs, well, a man could be excused for 
being turned on.

The arousal that pulsed between his legs as he watched her figure 
disappear spoke volumes.

<><><><><><><><><><><>

Feeling as if she had been reborn, Athena's walk had an extra bounce as 
she re-entered the concert hall. She eyed the table where her friends 
were sitting but didn't feel like returning yet. She did enough sitting 
in her viper. She was feeling empowered by her new resolve to make the 
most of her life and was in the mood to walk around and talk to people.

As she was straightening the straps of her short, white sheath, Dietra 
came up beside her.

"Where did you run off to? You're missing the end of Braedon's concert! 
And where's Starbuck?" she asked pointedly as she watched her friend 
smooth the figure hugging lines of her dress.

Athena placed a confident hand on her friend's shoulder. "Dietra," she 
proclaimed, "I have had a revelation, an...awakening, if you will."

Dietra's eyes widened, almost in despair. "Oh no," she sighed. "Do I 
even want to know?"

Athena laughed and took her friend by the hand, not bothering to 
explain that it had nothing to do with her wingmate. "C'mon," she led 
them towards the side of the concert hall to the corridor leading to 
the backstage area.

Braedon would be a great source of inspiration for her new persona.

END Part 1

Note the new website for the OAD: 
http://www.ixpres.com/mitiori/splash.html