We've Come This Far By Faith TBAABSG

by Me

Angels help Galacticans keep faith in Earth through fierce battle and sad aftermath. Now with story from 2002 or so as the other chapter,big battles in space and struggles on earth

1. Default Chapter Title

Summary: The angels must help the the people retain faith in Earth after learning Earth isn't the perfect place with weapns to fight the Cylons that they expect, and after Boxey is feared lost in an attack.

Disclaimer: The characters Monica, Tess, Andrew, and Adam are owned by the creators of CBS' "Touched by an Angel." This is a fiction story based on the series Battlestar Galactica and its characters created and owned by Glen A. Larson. No infringement of any copyrightrights are intended. All unrecognized characters are mine and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental.

Chapter One

President Adar of the First Fleet met Commander Adama privately aboard one of the fleet ships. "I know it's unusual, Commander," spoke the president, "and I'm still dealing with the issue myself, but I thought you'd best be forewarned."

Adama frowned. "What can it be - why keep it so secret?"

"Well, the problem is...word's already leaking out. Someone is picking up transmissions and sending them to us, we're afraid. And we think that someone might be Baltar."

Adama nodded. Lt. Boomer had been masterful at picking up little snippets from broadcasts that, from all indications, originated from Earth. But, what would Baltar be doing with them? Were the Cylons that close? "What can it be - we know Earth's had to have some tough times, but you saw the Apollo XI broadcast, and the other things. What if they're advanced enough..."

"Yes," Adar agreed, sighing, "but part of it's because we're running low on food again, part of it's because the legends make us think it's going to be a much better place than this." He depressed a button on a comm panel, causing a video to appear. The news anchor spoke of famine, disease, and drought. He spoke of many problems that made it seem so much like the world they'd left.

"Commander, I know you always had such faith in Earth - you were a natural to lead the Galactica and the fleet. Now, we've kept this off Inter-fleet broadcast to some extent, but they've been jamming us and getting it through a little. And then there's the technology level - they won't help us beat back the Cylons, not if the date on the lunar landing was any indication. It seems as though the signal's much more recent than we thought." The men sighed as they stared at the viewscreen. "I hate to say it, but now at least you've been forewarned. This is a battle which will be hard to fight, maybe harder than any we've had. A battle to keep the people, and the other members of the leadership, focused on Earth, and wanting to even go there. "

Andrew, a Caseworker angel, Monica, a search-and-rescue angel who sometimes assisted in their casework, Adam, a caseworker and angel of death, and Tess, their supervisor, met in an Iowa coffeeshop. Tess, a dark-skinned angel with graying hair, explained. "Okay, angel babies, this next mission will be a tricky one. First...Andrew, do you remember when you couldn't find me a few years back, when you had a case?" He nodded. "I said it was something far away - you have no idea how far. Let me start there and explain."

Tess told them of a frigid planet with temperatures below even those of Earth's Antarctica. She'd dressed in a huge fur coat and many layers underneath. She could sense the evil coming from the Cylons, creatures who sought to destroy the humans of the fleet headed toward Earth. She'd been dispatched due to a sudden call of faith' - this was when a person cried out to God for help without really knowing how or why, or in some cases even who He was. Guardian Angels Meg and Joy stood around, pointing to a small boy; Tess could tell as she entered the shuttlecraft they, too, had just arrived. Tess had no idea what this was about, only that she needed to assist. And, God had said this was too important for her underling, Andrew.

"Hello," came Tess' greeting.

"Wh-who are you? Did you come down on the shuttle, too," murmured the boy in a frozen whisper, shivering as he spoke.

"No, I just wanted to tell you God heard your prayer asking Him for help. What you've felt about Him from your grandfather's stories is real, just like Earth is. He loves you," remarked Tess. She was invisible to anyone else.

"It's c-c-cold," came the boy, named Boxey. His dad was one of the greatest fighter pilots on the spacefaring ship called Galactica, and they were there to destroy a space gun which their enemies planned to use to wipe them out. Tess received this information in a still, small voice as she looked warmly upon the lad.

"You have great faith," remarked the angel. "It will be rewarded one day. Do not fear, God will protect you and your people, and your dad and the others will destroy this weapon." The boy smiled, and Tess vanished, flying in angelic form back to Earth.

With Tess' story concluded, she explained. "Some angels have been handling things there, mostly Guardians, but now their faith in Earth has been greatly challenged, and the Father has assigned us an awesome task, to try and guide them home."

Monica, sipping coffee as she listened, was shocked. "And now...we're going into space?" came her Irish accent.

Andrew whistled. "Closest I've come is that mission with Mrs. Lovell when her husband was aboard Apollo 13." He and Adam gave thanks they hadn't had to go to the wounded craft.

Tess grinned. "Yes, you did a great job with her. Her faith was sorely tested, as have some peoples' on board the fleet." Monica asked how they would help restore it "Can't tell you yet. First, we have to let things run their course."

Monica, Andrew, Tess, and Adam appeared on board the Galactica as biologists. They would be from one of the many fleet ships when visible, and do work on the agroship, working to grow more and better food. Monica looked at Boxey sleeping. "That's the boy I told you about," came Tess. Adam related when the boy's father, Apollo, had died. He vividly recalled Apollo asking if he were dead, and if he could make sure someone went to comfort his son. The two went toward a great light, which his companions saw as a Ship of Lights. Adam had told him that God had picked him to receive the exact co-ordinates of Earth. The well-timed prayers of Boxey had combined with Starbuck's request, and God did what He'd planned to do anyway, which is send Apollo back.

Another angel - Meg - came up beside Monica and Andrew. "I've been his guardian angel for a long while, believe me when I say his meekness will fool you - he's pretty daring in a way."

"Tess has told me," agreed the auburn-haired angel. "Is he part of our mission, Tess?"

"Angel Girl," came the pet name, "this whole fleet is part of our mission, because the actions of one man can make a big difference." She would wait till later to tell the other angels they expected Earth to be something of a Paradise. "You better get down to the nature room, he's going to awaken any second, and you can help him locate something."

Meg explained. "The archangel Raphael ensured it was protected - he's had Guardians on it since before they launched."

Monica raised her eyebrows. "What is it?"

"Their peoples' old, dusty family Bible - in scroll form," quipped Tess.

Boxey ran into the nature room where he'd felt led to look. He was followed closely by Apollo. Monica noticed Tess informing the Guardian Angels that the Lord was allowing the items to be seen. Boxey turned to Monica, who was now visible. "Hello, have you come looking, too? I haven't seen you before."

"Looking for some peace and quiet, yes. I'm Monica."

"I mean looking for the box with wisdom. I felt like a...well, a still, small voiuce telling me to come here." He grinned. It wasn't like before when he'd stowed away on the shuttle - he knew this couldn't pose any danger. Monica pointed them to the cave with the invisible angels before vanishing herself as Boxey and Apollo entered. Meg rushed past her as the boy sprinted to the cave and found the crate with many scrolls. Your charge, came the crate Guardians' looks. Meg confirmed this, as all three kept scrolls from being ripped by the sudden movement. Thankfully, Apollo quickly told Boxey to be careful, and he listened.

Monica listened in as the two spoke, considering the creation of a "cave" in a ship like this. It was quite a large ship, so she supposed it wasn't all that odd. "Careful..." Apollo shouted, startling the lad. "These are...so old...they predate our ships, anything within memory." He began to scan the items, then muttered the word "earth." The angels noticed he sat up very straight. Apollo's mind wandered as he considered the journey they'd made almost totally on faith till now. A planet they had scant pictures of and from which they'd received some signals, signals they didn't even have till after they launched. And a drawing of a star system - not much to go on. And yet, they'd launched toward it just the same, and had been leading a fleet there for quite some time.

Tess walked over to Monica and explained. "They're about to learn about the legendary planet' to which they're headed."

"Are they from Earth," Boxey wondered.

"No...but we might be. We may just be...heading home." But to what, he asked himself as he considered the rumors beginning to hit the Galactica. No, he told himself, that's not possible. It can't be that bad. He glanced at his boy. "Run, get Commander Adama down here as fast as you can." Boxey sprinted away as Apollo began reading, with Meg in hot pursuit, lest the boy stumble and fall in the darkened corridors. The viper pilot gasped as he read. "A man shall fight many great battles in those times of the end. He shall see great sorrow and loss of family, and witness horrible, untold numbers of deaths. But his son shall...lead him to joy unspeakable?" He couldn't believe - though as a loving father he wanted to - that that verse alluded to him. In another verse, he read something that could only refer to him. "Sailing the black seas, he shall be taken to a place...where an angel of the Lord shall tell him the exact location of Earth!" His mouth stood agape for several moments, until Boxey approached him once more.

"Are these true - did God inspire these prophets," wondered Monica. "Is Earth only a legend to them - how did they..."

Tess shook her head. "So many questions, Miss Wings. Give things time. "

"I was there," explained Adam. "I led Apollo to where he received the location." He grinned. "I must say it's the swellest job an Angel of Death ever had - you're helping someone, taking them to the brink - yet you get to see someone coming back to life."

Tess explained. "God worked with these people to get them away from the land of their ancestor Cain. However, they insisted on building a ship with the help of fallen angels, instead of staying on Earth. When they didn't put their whole trust in God, He allowed them to venture on their own, and colonize other worlds. They think of one of Tubal Cain's thirteen children as the thirteenth tribe because she stayed behind, planning to go later." She smiled as Apollo tried to explain this situation to Boxey while reading. "He keeps trying to win them back to His love, but until recently they had forgotten about God."

"Until that boy - Boxey - simply had faith that God must be out there and must hear him," Monica guessed.

"That's right," spoke Tess. "They believe in the Lords of Kobol, it's a misinterpretation of what they'd learned. The whole family has faith, that's why they're leading the fleet toward Earth, and why God has blessed them. But we have problems, including some warrior angels battling one Count Iblis - you won't have to worry about him, that's another story. And also..." She trailed off., pondering the news of famines and other problems on Earth. "I'd be spoiling the surprise if I went further, Angel Babies. You ll find out. Part depends on what they choose."

Walking on the Galactica, and wishing the ship had good coffee, Monica spied a robotic dog running up to her and giving a mechanical bark. As Monica contemplated Tess's dog, Boxey sprinted up to her. "Sorry about that," he said quickly, calling the dog to his side.

"Nice dog," came Monica's soothing voice. Andrew was completing his work with the civilian government of the fleet, so she was left to do a little caseworking.

"You mean daggit? Thanks. It's just like real except it's a robot so it won't die. It's already been rebuilt once." Boxey paused and said to himself "I wonder if they have creatures like this on Earth."

Do they ever, Monica considered, finding it hard to resist giving away information. "Oh, yes, they do...that is, I'm sure they do."

"Do you believe in Earth," asked the child as Apollo and Starbuck walked up to them. She did. "My grandpa tells me so many stories about Earth. I think it's a real paradise."

She was intrigued that Boxey asked about her belief as some would about God. "It's out there, I'm sure of it." What should I say about the paradise part, she asked herself, finally saying "I don't know if it's Paradise, though."

"I know people who don't believe it exists, they say maybe those signals and pictures are from somewhere else...hi, Dad," came Boxey. "This is Monica. Monica, this is my dad Apollo and his friend Starbuck."

"How do you do," both viper pilots remarked, shaking her hand. From the looks each gave, she hoped neither would fall in love with her. Yet, somehow she knew these men would be part of the assignment.

"I'm from one of the fleet ships. My brother Andrew and I came on board a short time ago, we're biologists, we study how things grow in different climates. I was just telling your son, Apollo, that I'm sure there will be real dogs - what you call daggits - on Earth."

Apollo was intrigued. "What brings you to that conclusion?"

Monica didn't know what to say without giving something away. She simply shrugged and said in her typical Irish twang "I believe in a Creator who made everything. And that He wouldn't have made creatures for some places and not others."

Starbuck glanced at his watch and realized he was due on viper patrol. He excused himself, and Monica walked with Apollo, Boxey, and Muffy back to their quarters. The viper pilot grinned. Here was someone who had equal faith. "Funny you should say that," he considered, "I've been thinking about that recently. Especially with..." He'd not seen Monica in the cave, and so deduced that he shouldn't tell her about the scrolls. But, what could he tell her about? Something had certainly begun to get his attention. Monica, for her part, prayed that she have the strength not to give away anything specific about Earth.

"With what, Apollo?" she finally said. "You know, I've heard things, too - from my Father. He says there may be hidden scrolls telling more about Earth, or us."

Apollo smiled, holding her hand as they prepared to enter his quarters. He felt glad to meet someone he could confide in about the possibility of said scrolls. And, he felt she would understand his keeping them from her. "You know...he might be right. The concept is...very odd to me, though." Monica smiled sweetly, and pretended to walk onward. After a moment, she became invisible and entered the quarters to observe.

"Good job, Angel Girl," Tess complimented her. "I was afraid you'd give yourself away, but you showed him a common interest - and that will help later, if not with you with Andrew. You might have a future in casework yet."

"What's going to happen, Tess," she inquired seriously, a hint of concern in her Irish voice and on her face. "I keep getting all these hints, and yet I can't put my finger on it. And what about when they find Earth - it's not a paradise right now."

"That's something we have to work on, too, the notion that Earth isn't perfect, and doesn't have the technology to help them fight the Cylons. We have to help them see God can win their battles for them no matter what. There are already rumors about Earth's problems, and it's causing quite a bit of worry. If certain things transpire, the more we say about it being imperfect, the less faith they will have. They may not even wish to come to Earth then." Tess sighed. She hated to burden her charge with the spiritual warfare being waged. It hadn't touched this ship yet. However, a number of people in the fleet had begun to lose hope as it was, and now Baltar, a leader of the Cylons, was convincing some in the fleet that there was no hope, and that they should come over to their side. The utter darkness depressed even her. One Lucifer headed up the Galactica's enemies list - and as head of the Cylons, he had been named after the Prince of Darkness himself. Baltar spoke of this Lucifer as being the chief lord of Kobol.' Outer space was witnessing a spiritual battle the likes of which no human could believe.

Yes, she told herself, maybe I should warn her. "Monica, there are major battles for souls here. People are losing hope in Earth. Especially because it has been a legend' for so long. And yet..." She fretted, praying for the right words. "If they learn about the scrolls now, they will either have no faith in them either and defect en masse, or they will trust only in Earth and not in the God who made them and it in His love. Then they would lose faith when Earth cannot provide them what they think it will. Either way..."

Monica smiled sadly. "Telling them the truth will make it worse...but they believe a lie now."

"Their lone records of Earth are from when it wasn't nearly as bad as it would get. And it was much more sparsely populated and tranquil." Tess rested a hand on Monica's shoulder. "Ease them slowly into the reality; and keep them from fearing. You need to strengthen their faith in the Creator, not the planet."

At that moment, Commander Adama entered the quarters carrying the box with the scrolls. They felt quite heavy, but he insisted on carting them himself until he got to their doorway. As the others helped him carry the pile in, he explained in a huff. "The council agrees with me, until we can understand more of their contents, we should tell noone of the scrolls or their existence. After all, they speak of places on Earth where it would be very tranquil, and now they're starting to wonder which is true." He wiped sweat from his brow. "The others merely think I was carrying something top secret for you, Apollo." Tess nodded slowly.

"Nobody - not even Starbuck?!" Starbuck was Apollo's closest friend and a fellow viper pilot. "Surely he should know."

"Now, none of this seems to concern him." Adama sighed. A very practical man, he knew the dangers of letting everything get out. Already, he knew Baltar used previous knowledge to draw some people in the fleet toward him. They needed to remain united. "We have turned away from our faith, we did so even before the Holocaust, fearing our legends were just that. The only thing we clung to was this notion of Earth. Some doubted its existence..."

"He's their commander - sounds like he's helped them keep faith," noted Andrew.

Tess whispered "he and the civilian leadership, yes. Shhhhh."

Apollo shook his head. "Come on, Dad, you never doubted."

"No, but some did doubt either its existence or its perfection. We can vouch for the authenticity of these findings, but what we need is for them to play themselves out." He pulled out a scroll. "Let me give you an example; this is what I showed the leaders which proved my point. I am going to read from the prophet Yanius. He shall be with his troop on a planet of ice, to destroy a large sword which would bring down all of them. His son shall be aboard without his knowledge, and the boy's pet." Apollo's mouth flung open. "They shall bring down the sword, and though the boy shall fear, God shall hear his call, and find him faithful."

Apollo gasped. "That's...remember that ice planet...when Boxey stowed away..." And it was prophesized a couple thousand years ago?! Tess grinned, recalling the occasion.

"See what I mean? Suppose we had known these things before, you would have made sure Boxey did not stow away with you." He smiled at the boy. "I'm sure you remember."

"I do, Grandpa; that's when I remembered stories you would tell me, and I prayed the only way I knew how." He turned to his dad. "I felt a lot of peace then."

"For hundreds of yahren we did not hear from the lords of Kobol," Adama explained.

Apollo shrugged. "So why - I guess I could say why were we allowed to find out now, when we're not near Earth yet?"

Adama leaned back. "Apollo...you ask questions only the lords can answer."

Boxey muttered "I think it's just one God," but the adults paid little attention. Adama considered that they could be - he'd seen some things which seemed to indicate that in the early scrolls. As for Apollo, the warrior was finding all of this very hard to comprehend.

Apollo especially couldn't believe his ears about the scrolls' predicting of events of his life so many yahrens ago. He was used to great feats, to surviving by the skin of his teeth in space battles. He'd never chosen the military life; if he'd had his druthers he'd have been exploring for the sheer sake of learning. However, neither of these prepared him for the work which could lie ahead. "Will it be safe with us...what if there's something I don't like again?"

"Perhaps this is deemed to be the proper time for you. Perhaps now you have enough faith. And remember - it's faith which has brought us all the way here, despite what any of our own abilities have been." Or, perhaps our minds will be closed to certain things to protect us, he told himself. Adama decided he could inform the master fighter pilot of this. "There is a decisive battle looming ahead someday. I read in Issachar last night. The fleet shall reach Earth, but first they shall learn of the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But before all this, they shall see a battle unlike any they have encountered...'"

The statement thrilled Monica. She recalled the Lord describing Himself this way. From the many people who she'd led back to God, or taught of God, she sensed that something extraordinary was about to take place. "How will God let them know," she wondered aloud.

Tess grinned. That girl's always looking for hints, she told herself. How in the world can one do their job and let humans make choices if they know all that will happen ahead of time? "All I can to tell you is that this is proof they will one day reach Earth."

Boxey was speaking. "I talk to God a lot. He helps me when you're away, He comforts me."

His dad turned to him. "When you say...God...I don't understand, why not the Lords of Kobol like we all learned?"

"I don't know, but it always seemed like if there was more than one they might argue like people do." He looked at the scrolls. "Isn't that what they say?" Apollo and Adama nodded slowly. Yes, it made sense, from tyhe early writings; indeed, Lords of Kobol was never mentioned. And this, God was who Boxey was calling to?

Tess explained that "the lords of Kobol' is a misinterpretation of their Scrolls - in one of their prophets he speaks of how there is one God manifest in three persons - Father, Son, and Spirit."

Apollo threw up his hands. "This is too weird. This is too weird for me right now." He glanced at his watch. Luckily, he had patrol duty in a short time. "Guess I need to get going." He hastily hugged his boy and fled, all the while thinking about the scrolls, the knowledge, his son, the journey, everything What a crazy day it had been so far.

"Okay, places everyone. Monica, you stay by Boxey for the time being, Adam is going to remain near the basestar in this wormhole, and Andrew and I've got some other work to do." Monica fretted a little, but decided that this merely let her be ready to understand others whenever things got really hairy. Who knew, maybe an opportunity as a caseworker angel lied ahead.

Starbuck's viper appeared alongside Apollo's. "Hey, what's up; you've been awfully quiet."

The other pilot woke with a start. "Huh? Oh, just thinking, I guess."

"That wormhole Boomer found a while back looks pretty good, they think it might get us closer to Earth. Couldn't have come at a better time, huh?" He smiled thoughtfully. "I bet that's what you're thinking about, huh? Or maybe Sheba - you thinking maybe she's the one for you?"

"Yeah, maybe." He gazed at the wormhole Starbuck spoke of - he'd had little time to ponder it with everything else that was happening. Of course, Boomer was close to tying in to more of Earth's communications - that man was a true genius with technical items. He could probably have all of Earth's history downloaded for them by the time they got to the third planet. "Ever think about fate?"

"Huh? Oh, yeah, sometimes. Like what, about Earth?"

"Yeah, like about Earth, and us. Like those angels..." Oops, he'd let something slip. You're not thinking, Apollo, you're the leader. You're the one who needs to be on top of it all. "Those, whatever, who told me right where Earth was, and now this."

"Yeah, I know, funny, huh?"

Apollo and Starbuck both daydreamed for several moments. Suddenly, the fleet of vipers found themselves surrounded.

Chapter Two

Boxey was studying his homework, as Monica and Meg looked on from the spiritual dimension. "Nice to pull an easy job, huh," commented Monica.

"I'm only here because Joy is off doing the spiritual warfare." She looked upward. "I think it'll only get stranger for a while."

Suddenly, both angels felt trouble lurking. Monica advised Meg to help out those guarding Apollo, feeling she could do this casework business herself. She murmured in Boxey's ear. The boy hustled Muffy into a closet. "Come on, we need to do some serious praying." Where did I learn that word, he asked himself as he began to praying Maybe that's what this kind of talking is - whatever it is, it's awesome, he said to himself.

Yes, it is, agreed Monica, praying that the boy be kept out of trouble, and for the viper pilots to be safe. More than you can imagine. She felt troubled when she learned through a still, small voice that the vipers were all captured. However, even that didn't prepare her for what was to come, as a series of large jolts rocked the ship.

She tried hard to steady several items that could fall and hit Boxey on the head. The boy quickly scampered out of the closet and looked out the door, only to see firefighters rush out to try and combat the blazes. Meg and two other guardian angels entered the room, but Meg quickly left as Boxey also departed. Andrew rushed into the picture and became visible. "I'll take it from here, watch the scrolls," he said to Monica before approaching Boxey.

"What happened, is my dad all right," came the quick queries.

"Don't go that way," Andrew commanded him, "that's where the fire is, where those men are. Come on to the communications section if you need." Boxey followed Andrew, the angel able to see quite a bit of spiritual warfare going on as angels of darkness tried to plant ideas in peoples' heads from the spiritual realm, telling them there was no hope. Meg threw a block on one such angel who was trying to get at Boxey. "Scary, huh," he said to the boy.

"Yeah, this happened once before," answered Boxey as they went up to the communication center. Tess asked what the boy was doing there, and Andrew answered that he wanted to go find help, so this was the best place.

Tess grinned from the spiritual realm, invisible to the others. "I kind of figured - if he mentions an angel helping at one point in the last fire, that was Meg." She pointed out the Guardian Angel standing over Boxey. "She led his dog through some ductwork to get oxygen masks while Joy stayed and watched him. She'd shown herself for a second because someone on the bridge had thought about letting Boxey crawl up there for help, and she was ready. "

Andrew nodded. He showed Boxey some communications signals they'd picked up from Earth. "Old speeches and things."

"Hmmm." He sat in front of a microphone which could be used to broadcast to the fleet. Before Andrew could stop him, he began speaking "First of all," came the young voice, "let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself!"

Tess groaned inwardly as she made her way, visible, to the bridge. Why hadn't Andrew stopped that - she'd warned him the boy would act quite exuberant about helping. Boxey moved on to several of Winston Churchill's speeches as she approached Colonel Tigh. "I'm Tess, I'm from one of the fleet ships, I was near here when the Cylons attacked, can I help with anything?"

"Yeah," he said, sighing. I'd like to send her down where Boxey is, but this is better than nothing. Plus, he doubted anyone could get there from the bridge right now. "Help those people working on Commander Adama, and get him to Sickbay. Then, if you've got medical skills, stay down there; if not, come up here, and we could use some computer help." Tess agreed. Medical, she could handle. Man-made things like computers were beyond her in her human form.

Andrew, unsure of who he'd be helping on this assignment - Tess indicated it was still up in the air - decided to befriend Boxey. "I'm Andrew, you met my sister Monica before. You're Boxey, right?" He nodded. "You sound pretty sure of your words."

"Of course. I know my dad will come back; he always comes back."

Andrew noticed a little uncertainty in the boy's voice. "But you're still scared sometimes, right?"

Boxey chose to admit it. "Yeah, a little. And I think about it quite a bit, I guess. But I know God will protect him."

Is he going to lose his father, or what - give me a clue, Andrew prayed silently. None was forthcoming. Instead of preparing the boy for the loss of his dad, he merely spoke about God. "You say God' a lot; some of the others here say lords of Kobol.' I believe in one God, too."

"Me, too. It doesn't make sense there'd be more than one because then what if they don't agree on something." Andrew admitted that made sense. "Monica says your dad talked about scrolls - what did he say about them?" He wanted to know if it was what they had found.

Andrew explained. "Well, they say God made Heaven and Earth. And that the first man was Adam, and he lived 930 years. "

"That's what we found," came the excited voice before he could stop it. He suddenly realized he wasn't supposed to tell anyone of the scrolls. Timidly, he asked Andrew not to let anyone know he said that.

"Don't worry, I won't. But we can talk about them in private if you have any questions." Uh-oh, he thought to himself, was that wise? After all, he might ask very pointed questions about who his Father was, and who he was. If not him, then Apollo or Adama might. Just then, he received a peace about the situation. This could still work out well. He asked "do you ever think about Earth, wondering how it will be?"

Boxey grinned. "There will be peace, and we will all be happy. There will always be enough food, and we ll have fun."

Andrew felt a little uncomfortable about the boy thinking the Earth was perfect, but he felt Boxey could be told a little more than the adults. Childlike faith was hard to shake. "You know, that sounds more like what Heaven is like." Heaven? "That's where God lives."

"Wow, your father tells you lots of fun stuff."

"Yes, He knows a lot," came Andrew, meditating on God. "I wonder if Earth might have some problems. Do you ever?"

Boxey thought a second. Andrew had learned that Apollo and Starbuck had visited quite a few planets. Earth would be much like those. Yet, he thought to himself, to Boxey, it won't seem so ordinary. To him, meals that didn't consist only of proteins and mushies, or sunrises and sunsets instead of the bleakness of space, would be spectacular. Thank you, he prayed silently, for helping me understand. The boy finally spoke. "There must be something special about it," was all he would say. With that, Andrew decided not to press any more.

Meanwhile, Tess spoke to Adama, who was barely conscious, in Sickbay. She considered whether or not to inform the commander of the presence of angels on the ship. Things appeared bad, but not as bleak as they had been before. Still, she could sense the commander's worry. He knew the scrolls needed protected, he knew his son and a few dozen other viper pilots had been captured. Still, she also realized that he had pretty much faith himself, and that not much would shake it. "Commander," came her soothing voice. "My name's Tess, I'm volunteering here because there are so many injured."

"Yes...this happened...before," he muttered. "Need help...for fleet."

Tess soothed him. "Yes, well, it isn't as bad as last time. God is protecting us."

"Lords of Kobol...one," inquired Adama, with enough faith to make the leap in understanding from what he'd always believed. At least, he told himself, I think I have the faith. Yes, Tess informed him, they were. "Who...is He?"

Wow, what a question. There was so much to Him. She always stood in awe of His magnificence. "God is love, that is the most important thing. He is also righteous - He must punish sin, and keep it out of Heaven so Heaven can be that perfect place there there is no pain, no suffering, no evil. And He hears our prayers, when we talk to Him. He made everything - even the Earth."

"Always believed...in Earth." He began to close his eyes. Tess assisted in surgery, and felt relieved that Adam wasn't around. The Angel of Death would not come here.

"It's real, I'm sure of it." What good fortune, she told herself, to have leaders who believed in Earth, who held such faith that they would set out like this, and not just wander all over the galaxy as some had from their world. And how sad that the Cylons had turned so far away from God. Once God's people, too, they had built machines to destroy humans. She sighed. Someday, they would not have to worry about all this.

Apollo and the others returned soon after the surgery. Adam had been busy - twelve viper pilots had been killed during the raid and rescue operation. Apollo said he noticed a way to destroy the basestar. Tess called Adam, Andrew, and Monica to a meeting on the bridge, unseen by others, and explained the plan. Andrew quickly went down to meet Apollo as he headed toward Sickbay and his father. Apollo refused any congratulations on being rescued, though, remarking that he tried to blame that blind spot in their vipers, but that he knew the real reason they'd been captured was his own daydreaming.

"Thinking about Earth," Andrew inquired.

"You're the second person who's asked that today. Yeah," Apollo commented, "but I wonder...I mean, I believe in Earth, I even..." He considered whether to tell Andrew. No, that was so special, so personal, so hard to describe, only Adama, Boxey, Athena, Sheba, and Starbuck knew. But, the Ship of Lights had been awesome, and had increased his faith - for a time. However, the constant Cylon attacks made him wonder at times, just how real was that, and was it worth it? Could it have been a dream? No, Earth was real, he told himself, it just takes more faith. It has to be real, he reminded himself again.

Andrew realized what Apollo meant. "You're using your own understanding, that's just human nature." And that statement would help when we speak of Earth's imperfections later.

Apollo smiled. "Yeah, true, it is. Boomer and the others stepped out in faith to rescue us."

"I think people have the hardest time when they think; not that thinking is bad," noted Andrew, recognizing that Adama had always been very pragmatic, "but while your dad is quite practical in his thinking, he's the one who believes strongest in Earth." Apollo agreed. "As does your son."

Apollo grinned. Yes, Boxey held immense, childlike faith. As they sat by Adama's side awaiting his return to consciousness, he and Andrew discussed the events of the years since they left their home world. Andrew shared Boxey's broadcast, apologizing for not stopping him.

As Adama awakened, the commander said "I bet the council's in an uproar, they have people wondering how we know it might be the last battle and they don't know what to tell them."

A short time ago, Apollo would have agreed to hide the truth, as he'd begun to comprehend his father's wishes. The notion that he was prophesized made little sense to him. However, times had changed drastically. He'd begun to believe the Cylons would be wiped out quickly, and that Earth may be very close. "Look, you read the scrolls, you know this is a time to test our faith, to stop relying on pragmatism and go for broke! Let's tell everyone, we're going to a great place."

Andrew smiled, thinking of Peter being so boastful of his faith. "And yet, you wonder if you can, huh," came Andrew's calm voice.

"I'd love to," Apollo remarked. "And, deep inside, yes, I believe with all my heart. More than ever before, since we found the scrolls."

The angel looked compassionately at the captain as he tried to implant a little less ocnfidence in the creation and more in the Creator. "But also, then, in Earth's being a paradise. How much, do you think; I mean, our own understanding is faulty..."

Apollo shook his head. "I just know we'll love it." Andrew wondered if the viper pilot truly belived that.

"You sound like what I hear our fighters were like after Boxey spoke; and it was a good speech." Adama moaned. "I just wish we'd had more time to prepare the people. Luckily, Colonel Tigh has reassured them a schoolboy is not leading them."

Apollo laughed, then changed the subject. "Dad...Commander...we've hung an awful lot on our faith in Earth. But I just wonder...I mean, not only Earth, but I believe the scrolls are real, don't you? And they talk about it being wonderful. Sure, that was thousands of years ago, but...it has to be the same, right?"

"They confirm Earth," mumbled the man. Andrew reminded himself to focus their attention on God, not on a planet.

Still, it seemed to be working out well as Apollo mused out loud. "They speak of some joy unspeakable' - is that beating the Cylons? Or what? Can we beat them - I know the end has to come sometime, but it seems our own abilities are faulty, too."

"If God created it," interjected the angel, "God can give any kind of ability He wants. So with His help, it seems like we can."

Adama nodded tiredly. "Several battles...have felt like the Hand of God was with us."

Apollo, however, still seemed a little too focused on Earth as he continued. "Maybe...but what about that joy unspeakable?" He was anxious to find it after so much trouble in his life. "I want to know about that, and I think others do, too. Like Starbuck, who lost all his relatives in a Cylon bombing when he was little."

Adama nodded. "Faith...brought us this far. But that joy may not have anything to do with Earth," noted the commander. "Tired now...we can talk later."

Andrew and Apollo left. "Your father sounds like a very wise man."

Apollo nodded. "He is, I just think..." He couldn't quite explain it. Was it a major gamble? They'd had many battles they thought might be the last, but this seemed so much more definite, so able to fit in with the rest of the scrolls. "Well, I think we've been too unsure for a long time." He recounted a time when Adama had declared that he, too, was tired of running from the Cylons, and their crew proceeded to win against them. "I think that's what we need to do here, instead of being unsure, let's just go right out there and fight them."

"How come you sound so sure of yourself?" wondered the angel. Apollo was going toward the viper bay, so Andrew followed. He still sensed a little confusion in Apollo's voice - and despite what others thought, he wondered if the viper pilot's little outburst wasn't due to defensiveness about his faith.

Apollo explained to Andrew, the assembled viper pilots, and Colonel Tigh that he'd discovered a way to destroy the basestar while he was being taken to the holding cell. There was a small opening which, if one fired directly into it with one shot, would blow the thing to smithereens, as it housed the main component that produced the field in which they and the Galactica and fleet traveled at faster than light speed. One hit, and suddenly the flux would be too great.

However, the chance of going down with the ship was profound. Maybe, just maybe, he could zing right past and go through the wormhole if he couldn't get turned around in time. But it was a very iffy proposition, and he didn't know if anything was close. Yes, the wormhole seemed to take them closer to Earth, but how could one be sure anything lay on the other side. And would he have enough fuel to return? That, too, was iffy.. Still, he was their best pilot, and he wasn't about to let anyone else endanger their lives.

Andrew grinned as Apollo concluded his remarks. "That was a good speech." Noticing Tess in the invisible, angelic realm, he asked "okay, is this my mission?"

"Just get him focused on God, and stay tuned," requested the superior angel.

Andrew jogged over to Apollo as the pilot checked and rechecked his viper. "Have to make sure everything's ready, huh?"

"I've got enough extra supplies to last a while," he explained. "Of course you probably realize, fuel is the main concern. That's if I can get away from any blast, and even that's a real tough call " The angel nodded.

"I ll bet your son's proud of you," noted Andrew.

Apollo was more convinced than ever his son would be okay. "I don't know about this prophetic stuff - but I do sense great faith. That'll never go away, I hope."

"It shouldn t. Your whole family has had faith in Earth for a long time," Andrew pointed out, "and putting one's faith in that naturally leads to other things. Like God. Maybe learning of Him is that joy' spoken of."

Apollo grinned as he prepared to enter his viper. He already looked forward to - hopefully - fulfilling whatever those scrolls spoke of. His mind had wandered back to Earth. The scrolls confirmed its existence - they had to. They'd had other items they thought were from Earth, such as pictures of cave paintings, but this... "You know, Andrew, we're striking them now, while they don't know what hit them as far as the rescue. We should have a very good chance."

As he boarded the viper, and eighty such craft took off, Tess appeared behind him and lowered her head, speaking. "He's a little too sure of himself. He didn't mention God helping them win; he's still focused on Earth; and its perfection. You've tried, though..."

"Was his finding the scrolls a bad thing, then," Andrew inquired.

Tess shook her head. "No, God is the one who awakened Boxey and urged him to look. It just means us angels are going to be a lot busier the next few days."

They launched eighty vipers toward the craft, located inside a wormhole, a shortcut through space. It proved more menacing that any other item because it was tucked inside something in a way which was hard to reach, and yet it could wipe out the entire fleet. With the small fire just now being put out, and much damage to clean up, Adama had wished to wait. However, not only would the Galactica soon be in range, but the leadership was extremely worried. More and more people were questioning the existence of Earth, or its perfection, or were leaving the fleet for Baltar's basestar and for the forces which, Baltar promised, "will destroy Galactica and Earth." Apollo silently agreed with the council - from what he'd seen, they might have the weapons to do just that.

Monica, meanwhile, was following Boxey. Suddenly, the boy scampered into a viper, with Meg following behind, invisible. Monica called to him to stop, but Boxey ignored her, putting his helmet on.

The angel was nearly in hysterics as Tess appeared before her. "Oh, Tess, we've got to do something..."

"We can't, people have to be allowed to choose their own paths."

Monica glared at Tess. "But he's just a child, surely..."

"Don't think God can't use this for His glory, Miss Wings." She smiled. "Besides, haven't you ever heard of a little shepherd boy named David?" Monica fretted, thinking about the bleakness of space, and the ferocity of the battle which loomed. The boy was flying a mere toy, given to him for his eighth natalday. Yes, it boasted some firepower, but her concern for his well-being almost made her step in and intercept the boy. Meg, she could tell, had even more trouble as she followed the boy but didn't appear in the corporeal world to stop him. Tess instructed Monica "just get in your angelic glory and be ready to go into space."

The opening appeared much smaller as Apollo's group of fighters approached it, and a much greater number of cylons than expected swarmed around it. It was as if they knew this was their last chance to stop them before they reached Earth. When Apollo noticed a larger number of craft than expected, both Cylon and a small handful of people streaming from the fleet, he suggested regrouping and determining how best to approach this situation.

Suddenly, from out of nowhere, arose a larger problem. Was that who he thought it was on his right? "Boxey, what are you doing out here?" came the rebuke. The boy flew a small viper, equipped with weapons, fashioned so if he ever was out flying with his father and the Cylons appeared, he could fire at them and not be defenseless should one be between him and the Galactica. Not that he was supposed to fly out far enough to allow that, but he was the sort of child who would try.

Boxey learned much about the art of flight from his father, and excelled at it. However, his father was unprepared for what would happen next. Adama suddenly recalled one of the scrolls verses and nodded slowly. "He shall repeat his former feat, this time winning the battle by letting God do the fighting," murmured the ailing man, wondering if Boxey might be in danger. Tess appeared alongside to soothe him.

"Dad, I had to come, you face danger all by yourself all the time," explained the boy. "That man is saying evil things, and telling people we're the bad guys and to follow him!"

Apollo agreed silently that there was great evil there, even without seeing the spiritual warfare, but still...they needed more time. "That's because I love you and I want to protect you," exclaimed Apollo. "It's my job to be out here, you know that!"

Boxey shook his head, displaying his youthful innocence. "If you had the faith that you could do that, you'd fly in there right now, and destroy that enemy base. I could."

"But it's so much harder than I dreamed, you don't understand anything..."

"Who allowed it all to be made, man or God?" God had. "Then let this battle be the Lord's, for there is none more powerful than He who made the world - our world, Earth, every world." With the others in shock, Boxey pressed his turbo' button, very dangerous near so many ships, but something which preventing the Cylons from getting a clear lock on him. The other fighters hastily provided a diversion, unsure of what else to do, as the boy shot straight toward the massive base and fired one shot. Adam, the Angel of Death, having ridden the viper out there, followed the shot into the narrow opening, just to make sure it hit the precise spot. Just like David with Goliath, the shot was a perfect one. The base exploded with tremendous force, destroying the cylon ships and almost sucking the vipers into it as well.

Chapter Three

Andrew nodded slowly from inside the viper bay. Monica had fled to points unknown, Tess was comforting Adama, and Adam - he hated to thnk where the Angel of Death was. Yes, he told himself, being an angel is a lot harder than people think. He waited wordlessly for Apollo, Starbuck, and the others to return.

Guardians now did their work as vipers struggled to avoid the pull. "Turbo, everyone," gasped Starbuck, resisting the urge to scream. Apollo hit his turbo belatedly, unable to speak. He continued to dabble at the edge of the explosion, flying around in search of Boxey's craft. Boomer called out to him several times to no avail. Numerous people watching on the IFB stared in awe at their viewscreens, trying to figure out what had happened. All the vipers scanned the vast stretch of debris fearing the worst. Finally, about to run out of fuel and facing mental fatigue from their heavy concentration on each glimmer from subspace, they called it quits.

Exhaustion hit the crew all at once, and Apollo needed to be coaxed back into the hanger. He wanted to search out there till his ship ran out of fuel. Starbuck, still wishing to hold onto some faith but not wanting to see his best friend die, too, convinced him he should come back to at least refuel before he went out there again. Andrew smiled. That's one bit of work he didn't know if he was capable of in human form; flying a viper. Even as the viper was returning down the long runway into the Battlestar, Apollo broke down in gigantic sobs. The viper bay workers, cleaning up debris from the fire, were scared - after all, they'd let Boxey sneak around them. Andrew assisted the viper crew which was ready to work on Apollo's craft after it landed. Monica will feel even worse, he told himself. She was watching Boxey. But, where is she?

Andrew could think of no words to say. He looked at Apollo for the longest time, pitying the man sitting in his viper. If you would only come out and let God's love console and comfort you, he thought to himself. However, the zombie-like walk and blank stare exhibited by the pilot on the way out of his craft made Andrew cringe. He glanced around to ensure there were no fallen angels enticing Apollo - no, he told himself, this is a case where they don't need to work, Apollo's in enough shock as it is. He couldn't even imagine being told that God loved him would do any good; as the captain trudged to his quarters.

Instead, the angel went over to Starbuck. Starbuck could tell it was best not to approach Apollo for a while. Andrew decided to soothe the sensitive Starbuck, feeling that now that he knew something of the man and his tragic losses, perhaps he could help. Indeed, maybe he could help with Apollo; they seemed like good friends. He put a hand on Starbuck's shoulder. "I...don't know what to say."

"I can't believe what I just saw," came the absent reply.

Andrew sighed. "Apollo's going to take this harder than you can imagine, I have a feeling. Surely harder than I can." The pilot nodded. He wished he could help his friend, but first he had to overcome the shock himself. "What would you do first?"

"I'd get everyone together to help. And that means going to see Commander Adama," spoke Andrew.

Starbuck told Andrew that sounded like a good idea. They reported to Commander Adama in the Recovery area. Perhaps thankfully, he was asleep. Starbuck told the angel "at least it won't get any worse till he wakes up." One thing is good, Starbuck considered, maybe he didn't see or hear anything. Still, people already began to murmur about the battle, and discuss with who had fired the shot. Coming to grips with it would take a while longer.

"I think you need to be here to be the one to tell him." Starbuck agreed solemnly. He remained by his bedside in shock till Adama awoke. By then, news had spread like a wildfire throughout the Galactica and the entire fleet. Starbuck cringed. Why are they assuming he's dead? Then again, why not, it was the same way with my parents, and with so many others. Would anything ever be right?

Not only that, but would this sacrifice - great as it was - amount to anything, or would they once more be fighting in a hopeless effort? He struggled to avoid those thoughts, forcing himself to feel they would see no more Cylons. Baltar was certainly out of the picture.

Andrew finally spoke. "I guess you've had a lot of losses before," he noted gravely.

"I think everyone in the fleet has lost brother, sister...parents...children..." He noticed Adama looking at him, and suddenly the forlorn expression worsened. "Commander..." Starbuck began, choking on the words. Andrew hoped the rumors of Earth's many problems wouldn't cause the man's spirits to dip further than they were. Starbuck continued. "Commander...Boxey took his viper out and got off a shot at the basestar...He destroyed the Cylon craft with one shot...But now...we can't find any sign of him." Starbuck began to weep.

Andrew didn't know if it would be appropriate or not to comfort the stranger, but felt God's love had to be shown here a little. He put a hand on Adama s. "Your son, Apollo, is safe, but in his quarters. He's devastated," came the caring voice.

Adama heaved a huge sigh. Andrew felt his choice had been prudent - Starbuck, not wanting to see more tragedy, had refused to utter the word "dead." So, too, had he, though he didn't know quite why he didn't. The commander spoke lowly. "Keep looking...just in case." It was then Adama told them of the prophecy in the scrolls, and how Boxey had been fulfilling so many things. They listened about the ice planet, and about the fire in space. The memory of the child made Starbuck weep all over again, and now Andrew did, too. While Adama wept, he also showed a little bit of hope in his voice. As he murmurred "all I'm saying is...there's a chance." Words I've lived my life by, he told himself. Just like with Earth.

Starbuck pondered Earth. It had been a legend. And they were so close, it seemed. And yet, could his friend Apollo make it. Or, did any of them want to - would they just starve on Earth, or face just as many problems there as they did now? Starbuck shook his head, the rumored problems of Earth starting to get to him. His past was brought back in stark detail. The hopelessness, the fear. He needed something to hold onto, even if that something was as simple as finding Earth, or - hope against hope - going back out there and finding that boy alive.

Monica, clothed in angelic glory, pondered the vastness of space, and the incredible bleakness, as she flew toward Boxey's spacecraft. Talk about a search and rescue mission, she told herself, I don't think any angel has ever performed this broad of a search. Luckily the Lord guided me.

Boxey didn't recall how long he'd been out; only a sudden jolt as he flew away from the impending explosion, through what was called a wormhole. This linked part of space with another in a shortcut. He awoke, dazed and startled. With total darkness around, he wasn't sure where to go, or what he was doing. The light of the Sol system's sun shone in the distance. Is this what happens when people die, thought the boy as he prayed silently. "God, I'm sorry for the bad things I have done. I know that You must love me, though I have never met You. Can I hear your voice at least once right now?"

Suddenly, Monica appeared, startling him. I must be dead, he told himself, though I don't know what this is. It looks almost like that woman I met on the Galactica earlier...but she's so bright now. "What's happened?" He murmurred "Monica?"

There was very little room for Monica, clothed in white, as she soothed him. Hoewver, she didn't wish to appear any odder by sticking her head out the window. "Be not afraid," spoke Monica in a loving tone. "I am an angel of God."

"W-where am I?" Boxey meekly inquired. "Am I...going to see my mom?" His mom, Serina, had been killed by a Cylon.

Monica smiled sweetly. "You shall someday. She is with God now, in eternal peace. Now, you shall not hear His voice, as He does not normally speak that way to humans. This was necessary for your people just this once." The angel further explained that "you shall speak through prayer, but God shall speak through His written Word, and through the Holy Spirit. You will land on the third planet." She explained where he was to land, and promised that the Lord would guide him with birds. "A man named Peter Henneman will answer your questions, and tell you what to do then."

Boxey wondered if it could be true. He had to guess. "Earth..." She nodded. He grinned, recalling the stories his dad told him, the pictures of the star system, and now the scrolls. "I have heard many legends about Earth. Is it true that there are other humans there; are we from there?"

"Yes, God's inspired word is true. I must go now, but do not fear, God will be with you." Boxey grinned broadly. He'd heard the legends for so long, yet unlike all but a few others, such as Commander Adama, he'd always believed them. The scrolls supported its presence. It was supposedly a paradise. Now, he was to land there. Did that mean he was dead? No, he didn't think so. He felt a little scared as he looked around, the bleakness of space once again appearing to surround him now that the angel had left. He didn't think one could feel scared in Heaven. What would he say? What would he do? Oh, how he wished his dad were here to help him. Oh, please, God, he prayed, fidgeting nervously, be with me here, I'm really scared.

With the computer set on automatic landing, it determined the proper landing angle, and soon Boxey was descending into the lower atmosphere. A flock of birds formed a "v" in front of him, and he chose to follow the birds, descending as they did till he was over a cornfield. He felt like landing there, since there was an open space, unlike the congestion in many parts of the third planet, which many knew only as a pristine legend, a planet without blemishes, or with very few, the more realistic said. Quite a few of the people in the fleet wondered whether it existed at all. He felt like he was landing in a storybook. And, if there were problems - well, his childlike faith told him they could easily be overcome.

Harry Kirok slowed his tractor to a crawl. "What in tarnations," he asked himself as he saw the ship slowing and descending. Must be one of them new-fangled air force planes making an emergency landing, he considered as he detected the touchdown and watched it glide to a stop. He figured he knew why, too; the "plane" had no landing gear that he could tell. Its wings were also unlike anything he'd seen. And, what was that opening in front of the plane?

He left his tractor and jogged over to the viper. "May as well do my good deed for the day, an' see if this pilot needs help," he mumbled, calling to a son who was playing near there. "Jimmy," he cried out, "go tell yer mom we got a new kinda Air Force plane or somethin', I'm gonna offer the pilot some help if he needs. Have her set another plate of that delicious lunch ready for him just in case." After he left, bouncing excitedly at the thought of the pilot of one of those big, fancy planes coming here, the farmer saw the cockpit open and muttered to himself. "A U.S. Air Force plane with ancient Egyptian helmet markings? What in tarnations..."

Having helped Starbuck notify Commander Adama, Andrew decided he'd better go check on Apollo. Where's Monica, he wanted to know. Tess and Adam were working with cleanup efforts, and soon they would depart for one of the fleet ships. The Galactica was his alone for now. He reminded hmself not to push too hard. However, Tess had said that now, they needed to boost the spirits of people, telling them that Earth could be better than they think. He knew before the angel said anything that the ones who needed the most encouragement would now be the leadership.

Having wept bitterly for a long time, Apollo gazed at Boxey's things. The robot dog, Muffy, barked, needing food. Apollo felt like a robot himself as he fed the creature. Walking like a zombie, he mumbled as he laid down the dog's dish. My boy had my gift for exploration, he had my daring spirit, he thought to himself. If only he'd not been so foolish this time.

He grimaced, not wanting to think negatively about him. If only it had been me. I shouldn't be here now. It should have been me. He seized his pilot's papers as Andrew sought admittance to the room. Apollo hung his head as he trudged out of his room. Andrew inquired as to what the documents were that Apollo carried. "Just some things I don't deserve to have," snarled the man.

Andrew walked alongside him as Apollo headed toward the hospital wing of the Battlestar. "Starbuck and I told your dad. I wish I could say something to help..."

"Well, you can't, so don't try," Apollo muttered under his breath.

Andrew pondered what Captain Apollo would say as they overheard several conversations along the way, speaking of the battle, and of Boxey's heroics. Did you see that explosion? I can't believe the kid did that. Do you think he's...really dead? Could this be the last battle - what a way to end. Yes, this is so wonderful - though at such a high price. He pondered what the Lord would do - surely he should say something to the man as they walked together. "It sounds like everyone feels for you," commented Andrew.

Apollo snapped at him. "They'd better be feeling for me! I lost my son!"

"He is at peace now, with God..."

"And what good does that do me here? What good does God or Earth or anything do me here?!" The captain grumbled as he stormed ahead.

Andrew followed Apollo at a distance as he wearily wandered over to where his dad, Commander Adama, sat. Adama tiredly reached his hand up to touch his fighter pilot son's. "Apollo..." he began.

The man hurt too much inside to converse. "Dad, I'm through with flight. Let Starbuck take over as lead pilot for my group, he's a good man, he deserves to lead. I don't."

"Apollo...think this over, there..." He knew from the scrolls there might be hope, but he was too weak to express it, and couldn't explain it very well even if he could have told him. Even then, though - could he come back? He'd been gone longer than Adama imagined he could be. He, too, began to weep.

Andrew could sense Apollo's agony, even before he spoke. "Don't give me that," shot the captain. "I just lost my own son, and you just can't understand what that's like. I know, you've lost a son as an adult, but when he's still a little boy..." He crumpled the papers, flung them down and trounced off, sniffling and ignoring the compassionate glance given him by Andrew. Tess walked up to them in physical form, and whispeed to him to give Apollo a little time. She suggested going over to Starbuck instead.

Andrew did so, as Tess checked on Adama and a few other patients. "Hi, Starbuck," came Andrew's consoling voice. "I understand you lost your parents when you were young. I imagine that was quite shocking."

It was. Starbuck lowered his head. "I've always clung to hope...that maybe my dad survived, there was a chance..." He inhaled deeply and looked into Andrew's eyes, sensing great warmth. "I don't know how much of a chance, and I never liked to talk about it because it's so painful, but you...I don't know, you just seem so compassionate, so understanding."

"That's my job," came the angel's reply.

"I really apprciate it, Andrew, I really do. I wasn't very consolable for the first few days after my loss, Apollo will be the same. Will you stick around, though - can you stick around - to help when Apollo's ready." Andrew agreed. He sensed that was a major part of the mission. "There's something else I wanted to mention...maybe we should talk with the commander..."

"Sure, I think he's okay now, I ll ask the nurse." Tess agreed that Adama could talk for a few moments.

"Commander, I don't know if I introduced myself before, I'm Andrew." They shook hands. "I'm sorry about your loss."

Adama nodded slowly. He'd been thinking about the reports of Earth, considering stories that it wasn't quite a "land of milk and honey." Now, the loss of his grandson greatly increased his pain over thinking that they might not get all they bargained for. Shuld they simply go to the next available planet, even if it wasn't Earth? He groaned. Earth held so much promise, there was so much in their legends, backed up by the scrolls, of how good Earth was. But, then again, were they supposed to go to another place? After all, Earth certainly wasn't perfect. Still, he had to cling to faith...at least,that's what he'd told the council earlier. But now, he wondered.

Too much to think about, he told himself. We don't have to decide till we hit the next planet, do we? Starbuck inquired as to Apollo's state of mind. "He's taking it really hard, huh?" came the lieutenant. He picked up the papers. "Is this what I think it means?"

Adama confirmed Starbuck's thoughts. As the doctor walked over to tell Starbuck to leave so Adama could get his rest, the commander instructed "take over for now...and...keep looking." I don't know what the scroll means, but just maybe...

Keep looking? Sure, for Apollo I'd do anything, he thought as Andrew followed him out into the main corridor. But, where, Starbuck wanted to ask. And, why? And how could he have survived that? But the commander had already fallen back asleep. He glanced at Andrew. "I don't know what your Father would say about this faith that Commander Adama has. But he's right about one thing."

"What's that?"

"Sometimes that's the only thing we have to go on. But that makes it so much more painful when you find out there is no hope." He shook his head as he walked to the viper bay. Tess appeared behind Andrew, giving a knowing grin and perplexing Andrew.

Boxey studied the fuel gauge just to double-check. Yes, he had enough fuel to lift off and go back into the wormhole - but the Earth's and solar system's orbits would mean it wasn't going to be perfectly aligned much longer. He punched in a few calculations and discovered he had a 30 hour window.

That's good, he said to himself. Now, he had time to examine his surroundings. Opening his hatch but not yet ready to depart, he glanced outside at the dumbfounded Kirok. Oh, no, he said to himself, I hope he's friendly. Good thing we learned all that English from the Earth broadcasts, he told himself. I need to find this Mr. Henneman. Could that be him?

Harry stared at the blond-haired fellow in the cockpit. Either the Air Force is admitting midgets, he told himself, or this is a child; and one about my kids' age. But in an Air Force plane? "Uh..." he began, totally confused.

Just like nightmare monsters, Boxey told himself. They're as scared of me as I am of them. He exited the viper still in his suit, still awestruck that after so long on board a ship he was finally setting foot on a real planet, one which housed life. This was a paradise, all right - at least this part. But, what was that blowing in his face - was that what he barely recalled as wind? It smelled so fresh. What were those stalks standing as high as the man in front of him? That's no American uniform, Harry considered as Boxey grinned slightly. "I look for Peter Henneman."

That's my pastor, considered the dumbfounded farmer. "Uh...why?" And who? And what? So many questions!

Boxey had no inhibitions about revealing this information - it was as natural to him as anything. He never expected disbelief if he revealed everything, so in the English he'd learned in school - he could tell that's what this man spoke - he explained. "I Boxey, from Galactica. We have lots of people and are looking for Terra, which some call Earth. We learned where it was and beat all our enemies, and now I am here looking for the only begotten of the Father, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I was told by an angel meet with Peter Henneman and he would say what to do."

Harry had barely heard the rest. His mind remained fixed on the words "looking for Earth." This was too weird to be true, wasn't it? He was human, and yet, here was this ship he'd been flying, appearing nowhere near Earthlike. What else could it be? "Aren't...aren't you supposed to say take me to your leader' or something like that?"

Boxey continued to soak in the atmosphere, as Harry gazed inside the viper. Clearly not from this planet, he told himself. Boxey grew amazed at the birds overhead, the bright blue sky, the brilliant sun, and the little white puffs which he thought might be clouds, from the science he'd learned. Wow, we do nice things in our nature rooms, he considered, but nothing can approach what is here. As he considered the surroundings, he gasped. Awe had overtaken any fear or loneliness. "Angel tell me find Peter Henneman. Where is he?"

Just then, a boy about Boxey's age and size came running up to see them. Boxey thought it might be a child, but was unsure. "Dad, Mom said she'd set an extra table; figured it was a sonic boom she heard. An Air Force plane, that's so cool!" He stopped as he got to within a yard of them and glanced around. "Where's the pilot? Who are you?"

I don't want the military bugging us, Harry told himself. "Tell you in a minute, Jimmy. Go get the tarps I use to cover the equipment in the wintertime, bring as many as you can, we gotta cover this plane." He figured it wouldn't fit in the shed, even if he removed his experimental aircraft and crop duster. The boy complied, running into the nearby shed. "Don't worry, we'll take care of you."

"Why cover plane," came the suddenly concerned youngster.

"Because we don't want too many people asking a kid like you questions, they might not be very nice." He paused. "Uh, you are a child yet, aren't you?" Boxey nodded, but gave his age in yahrens. "Look, I dunno what a yahren is, sounds like something you knit sweaters with," Harry remarked as he, Jimmy, and Boxey covered the viper with tarps, "but I bet you're Jimmy's age or about, right? Say," he thought as a light bulb appeared to flash on in his mind, "how many yahrens till you're grown up?" He didn't know what Boxey would consider an adult, but hearing a number about the same as his present age, Harry nodded. "Then you are about Jimmy's age, I reckon. Listen, I gotta go get him..." He slapped his forehead. "Wait, how do you know English?"

"We hear signals from Earth, find out meanings and learn in school."

Harry nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I thought it might be one of them universal translators." He instructed Jimmy to take Boxey back to the house to eat, and left for the church.

Peter Henneman, of tiny Christ Church deep in rural Iowa, was deep in prayer. He'd prayed for almost an hour and a half concerning many things, and he truly loved the "mountaintop experience." He thought nothing of how much he could do on his own, however. He merely wished the whole time that God's will would be done.

Shortly after, he began reading the Bible. He found himself concentrating on the flood that wiped out every creature - besides those in the ark - on the Earth. His mind kept drifting back to Tubal-Cain, who had made many things with iron. He began to think...no, that was silly, he told himself. Or, was it? The verse "it is God's will that none perish, but that all come to repentance" entered his head. The Spirit is really giving me interesting thoughts today, he told himself. "How do I connect these - the way I am thinking seems so odd, Lord," he said aloud, kneeling beside his desk, "but only to me, and I want to know if this is from You, what I am thinking. Guide me with Your Spirit, Lord. Let me only think what is true."

At that moment, Monica appeared in the lobby and picked up some literature. Peter rose and went out to greet her. "Hello, new in town?"

"No, just passing through, I enjoy visiting small local churches." He looked up. "I was at Auntie Em's' for lunch today. You are a great and humble man of God." And they serve great coffee, she thought to herself.

Peter blushed slightly. "I try, don't always succeed."

"You never boast of yourself, or of the souls the Lord has touched through you. That makes you special in my book - His too," Monica noted The pastor nodded. "There are people just like you and me on other planets, made in God's image. All who are made in God's image need ministered to by someone who will praise God for it, and not brag to others about it."

"But, aren't we only on Earth?"

"Someone may have come from Earth once, but if they are in God's image they must be ministered to." The pastor thanked her, though thinking the event odd. He went to get more materials for the front desk. How odd, he considered, that that was just what he'd been thinking. When he returned, he decided to peak out the front door, figuring the stranger had to have a car. But, he not only saw no person, but also saw no sign a car other than his had been there all day. Scratching his head as he noticed Harry Kirok pulling up in his truck, the verse that some have entertained angels unawares came to his mind.

Boxey heartily gobbled down his food. He hadn't eaten for a long while, and hadn't had real food in yahrens, it seemed. "You eat like my nephew," Mabel remarked. "I don't know how his parents find enough food for him."

Jimmy continued to gawk. Boxey had explained the situation as best he could, and Jimmy and his dad had confirmed that the viper was not Earthly in origin. However, they still had trouble believing that this boy wasn't human. "I thought Martians were all green," blurted Jimmy.

"I human just like you. My people leave 150 years before great dis-as-ter that killed all but a few people on Earth," explained Boxey, trying to say the word right.

"Noah's flood," inquired a six-year-old girl, assuming Boxey was joking. Her older brother and his friends loved to do such silly things. What is it with boys, she said to herself.

"I do not know. Our scrolls tell of Tubal-Cain, and his work with iron, and the ships that were builded." The others at the table giggled. He's funny, they said to themselves. As Boxey mentioned a couple other names, Jimmy rose from the table and ran over to the Bible.

"Jimmy, finish your plate."

"I gotta look up about that Tubal-Cain to see if he's tellin' the truth," explained Jimmy.

Mabel shooed him away and led him back to his seat, not wanting what she felt was pretending to let him get away from nourishment. "God's word hasn't changed in thousands of years, it'll be the same after you eat." Jimmy sighed, then picked at his food for a little while. "Like it? It's chicken an' dumplings, with some carrots and peas mixed in." Boxey nodded. "If Jimmy doesn't start eating his I'll give it to you, too." Jimmy began scarfing down his food, unwilling to let someone else enjoy this favorite meal of his. "We grow lots of our own food here."

"What tall things?" He motioned with his hand to ensure he'd said the right word.

He had. "That's corn, that's that yellow and white stuff you ate off the cobb."

"Can you show me how to make back on Galactica?"

The family laughed. "God grows that stuff, Boxey," explained the mother. She wrote herself a note. "I'll give you some seeds, though, an' some wheat an' some other stuff, too. You bring your family next time, it's dangerous for you to be flyin' around like that by yourself." She figured this was all an elaborate joke - like her oldest daughter, she knew boys loved to pretend. She enjoyed playing along. Jimmy, having finished his plate, ran from the table into his room, and invited Boxey to join him. "You boys can work on that till the pastor gets here, then while he talks with Boxey, you have chores to do, Jimmy." He nodded excitedly.

First, he discovered in the Bible that Tubal-Cain and the other names Boxey mentioned appeared in their own Bible. Not all the names, but some. And Adam had lived to the same ripe old age Boxey said their Scriptures stated. Boxey finally finished eating, and took his plate and glass to the kitchen sink, as requested by the mother. It must be nice to have two parents, he told himself as he joined Jimmy in the boy's room.

Next, Jimmy pulled out a poster with the solar system pictured on it. It looks a lot like the picture I saw once, Boxey told himself. "Where do you live?"

Boxey wasn't sure. He'd been on the ship so long, he couldn't quite tell. He sadly explained, "we haven't been there in a long time." He sighed heavily. He was beginning to miss his dad, though this new planet still held lots of excitement. I hope my dad missed me this much when he was gone, he told himself. He grinned a little. Yeah, he had to, he reassured himself.

Jimmy scanned the galaxy, and put a hand on his shoulder. "You miss your family, I bet?" Boxey nodded. "Hey, I remember this summer when I spent the whole week at camp for the first time. It is hard. But there's fun stuff here, too." Boxey thanked him and asked what camping was. "Well, there's two kinds. One is a real camp with cabins and counselors and you learn all sorts of fun stuff, and the other is when I have friends over and we sleep out in the backyard under the stars, and listen to the farm animals, and just look at the stars and dream."

Boxey didn't understand the first type, but the second sounded very interesting. "You have friends over and do this? Can we camp tonight?"

Mabel overheard the excited query from her room while collecting laundry . Entering the boys' room, she explained the house rules. Seeing that Boxey was perfectly human made it very easy to accept him, as well as to presume they might be pretending. "In this house the host has to invite you, we don't just ask people if we can do stuff without their permission."

Boxey apologized, and Jimmy invited him to spend the night. "I don't know if you haft go soon, but if you can I'd really like to camp out with you." Boxey agreed, and thanked him for the invitation.

At that moment, one of their younger children, a four-year-old, ran to look out the window. "Daddy's comin' with Pastor Henneman," she announced, her loud, high-pitched voice carrying through the house. She reminds me of a warning siren, Boxey told himself.

Since only Jimmy and Mabel suspected Boxey's true identity - the others, to prevent them spilling a secret, had been told this was just a friend of Jimmy's - Mrs. Kirok hustled the children out to the barn to do their chores together. Boxey stepped out on the front porch, and gazed in awe at Peter Henneman. The man stood six foot five, and looked like a giant; he didn't recall anyone that big on the Galactica. Could this be the one spoken of, that "only begotten?" The boy fell on his knees.

Peter quickly held out his hand. "Don't do that - I'm just a man. You can get up." He inquired into Boxey's presence as the three went into the farmhouse.

As the three sat, Boxey explained. "I Boxey, from Galactica. We have lots of people and are looking for Earth. We found where it was and beat all our enemies, and now I am here looking for the only begotten of the Father, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I was told by an angel meet with Peter Henneman and he would say what to do."

Peter nodded, the similarity to one of the stories in the Bible overwhelming him. "I am Peter Henneman. I was praying in my study, and reading the bible, when one I believe could have been an angel appeared to me, and told me there are people just like you and me on other planets, made in God's image. All who are made in God's image need ministered to.' And then Mr. Kirok came and told me you sought me."

"Who is this only begotten of the Father?'" Once Boxey spoke, the pastor explained God's love, forgiveness, and salvation to him.

Tess and Andrew observed the immense black field with white specks all around. Tess grinned broadly as she pondered God's immense creation. "There is so much mankind doesn't understand."

"Some have wisdom enough to come to the Father," noted Andrew, "but you're right, they just can't fathom His love." He noticed several vipers, barely visible to him in the distance. "Where's Monica," he inquired absently.

"On a very special mission." Tess remarked that Starbuck was once more searching, then explained that a larger problem loomed. "They need to be kept here for a couple days. And their president is coming with some questions about whether or not they should continue toward Earth; the council needs the input of these people so they and the Quorum can choose."

"I thought they all had that faith in Earth," came the angel.

Tess admitted that "they still do, to some extent. But some are beginning to question that, because they've heard Earth isn't Paradise, and because they now worry that they won't be able to provide them with technology to beat any more Cylons. Which they don't"

"Was that the final battle, though?"

Tess explained. "That can be taken a number of ways. But even if it wasn't, they must learn they can trust in God and not machines. So, you know what you need to do."

Andrew felt he comprehended. "Sure, build their faith; they ll listen better to these people than us. But, don't they have to wait anyway, so the rest of the fleet can go through that wormhole, too?"

Tess shook her head. "Perhaps, but remember, they're not sure where to turn. They may feel they're better off ignoring it." And that seemed a possibility now. "Yes, they had faith, but I think the one with the greatest faith, as you've pointed out, is Adama."

Andrew sighed as he walked to the viper hanger. Along the way, he found Tess was right - there were a large variety of opinions being expressed, all of which wondered if Earth was going to be the Paradise it seemed to be in the legends, or if it boasted advanced technology. And, while that might not have been a problem under normal circumstances, now the leadership wondered the same thing, and the military command structure had perhaps the largest doubts of all. He greeted Apollo in the hall as he walked by, but the viper pilot didn't return the greeting; he merely stared blankly ahead as he walked back to his quarters. He's still in total shock, Andrew told himself. He's shut down his feelings because he knows he ll explode if he doesn t. Andrew chose to follow him, turning and asking "is there anything I can do to help?"

Apollo merely lowered his head and remarked "I can't believe he's gone."

Andrew had heard the same reaction occurred when Starbuck was thought lost. There had been more wailing at first here because Boxey was, for obvious reasons, closer than his good friend Starbuck. However, now he was shutting down. The angel offered to assist in any way no matter what it was, but Apollo merely muttered a thanks' and strode into his quarters. It didn't quite seem like the same Apollo, he could tell, but death did strange things to people. He had much experience with that as a caseworker angel.

Meanwhile, Starbuck and several others flew aimlessly around the wormhole entrance. Presumably, until the entire fleet caught up and repairs were made, they would remain outside the wormhole, going through closely together and figuring that Earth lay somewhat closer there than if they went the long way.

On the other hand, Adama considered as he was brought the dreary update, is it worth it? He understood the leadership's position, that going to Earth might not be the best thing, if there are too many problems. But, how did one tell? And, maybe a similar planet, one which could be colonized, lay between them and Earth even with the wormhole shortcut.

No, he told hismelf, stop thinking like that. You began your course toward Earth, you trusted in it for your whole life. Back when you had nothing but cave paintings and a map of a solar system to go on. Don't be deceived, this could be a mistake, right? Couldn't there be two planets named Earth? Of course. Anything was possible. True, their faith had been shaken a little as they learned different things over the pervious few days, but what if Earth was just like the other worlds they'd visited? Didn't that make it still far better than a world ravaged by a thousands plus yahrens of war, a planet now completely destroyed? No, it wouldn't have the advanced technology to beat any future Cylon attacks, but so what? Maybe paradise means something different than we've been thinking.

Still, when people expected Paradise, to give them something less was...well, it would be very hard. But, it would still be the pragmatic thing to do. They knew where it was. They knew it held life. And, they'd set their sights on it long ago. There were others who'd gone to different worlds, but this wasn't just a pipe dream they'd had about reaching Earth. This was a hard and fast goal.

Outside the Battlestar, the viper squadrons continued to roam randomly, their search patterns having dissolved after a while. What are we doing, Starbuck wondered. Why do we keep looking - the debris from that basestar has dissipated, there's nothing here. He attempted several times to radio Boxey's viper, but it was useless. If I'm doing this, he said to himself, what's Apollo doing? Probably calling out from his quarters in agony in the middle of the night. He's living the nightmare I lived as a child, only more so now, since we adults are supposed to be so good at hiding our emotions. He hung his head, wishing something could be done. Still, there was no way he'd survive this long, was there? Unless...no, it wasn't possible to cross it and go to Earth, was it? Not that he knew. And, while the field was turned off now, with the Galactica at a standstill, that didn't help the situation as it was back when the battle took place. Perhaps the shock waves from the explosion did something?

You're thinking too much, Starbuck, he told himself. It might be healthier than what Apollo's feeling, but isn't it the same thing we're dealing with? And yet, his own childhood had been so difficult, he needed something to hold onto. Something on which to hang his faith. He'd felt the scrolls would provide it - a valuable missing link in their history. But, now? After he'd seen a child...did he dare admit it? Give his life? And what of Earth - would his faith in that dream, that pristine planet, also be shattered someday? Was it in the process now?

He ordered the squadron back into the Galactica. We may as well face what we saw, he said to himself. And he began to cry, as well. He hurt not only for Apollo, but for himself, the pain of his past catching up to him. And as he pondered what he'd seen, he began to wonder if Earth, too, would turn out this way. It had to, didn't it?

Andrew met Starbuck in the viper bay, the lieutenant still weeping. "No luck, huh?"

"No luck, and no hope," mumbled Starbuck. "I know what I saw but..."

"You haven't found any debris that's his for certain," Andrew remarked.

"No, but we've gone out there quite a few times, and been all around the ship." He shook his head. "You don't know much about vipers, do you?"

"Can't say that I do."

"Well, even if he never used any fuel, or let's say he went to the other side of the wormhole and back, which is possible, I suppose, he'd still have the problem of food, water, and oxygen. He's gone enough he could still be out there, but very weak, without the first two. But the third, there's no way." The voice sounded more hopeless than it had been before, but Andrew noticed a glimmer of hope still in it.

The angel chose to cling to that. "You've kept a great deal of faith, haven't you?" He had. "Looking forward to Earth, huh?"

"I used to, but..." He trailed off, starting to walk again, with Andrew beside him. "Lots of things have been happening the last few days."

Andrew considered revealing himself as an angel, but thought the time wasn't quite right. "What's the thing that bothers you the most about what you might find - what are you afraid of the most?"

"For me, it's rejection." Starbuck smiled. "It's funny, I've lost so much in my life, I need to be accepted. But I've always had this nagging thought - what if Earth people don't accept us as their brothers and sisters? I mean, it's possible, right?"

Andrew prayed silently. "I think God will make sure they do; He ll send angels to assist if He has to."

"Whatever. I never told anyone that, but...well, you understand, don't you?"

"More than you realize," came the warm, compassionate grin.

He must have lost qute a bit himself, Starbuck pondered. "It's not something I thought about much till recently. Now, with others, it's something different. I know a few people who have really felt the pinch when we ve had food shortages; we feed the children first, then families, so soemtimies some of us go with a little less than our body needs. With others, it's the space - they all were hping they'd have enough room to live comfortably. Of course, one hope we had perhaps dashed is that the technology would be advanced enough to beat the Cylons - that worries quite a few people, and they're the ones who are most worried now and ready to go elsewhere, because they didn't have a huge deal of faith to begin with." He apologized for rambling. "You don't want to hear my problems. What about you?"

Andrew knew this was an importnat time to speak. "I'm not worried about what you ll find on Earth. I think God will be faithful, since you had enough faith to search," Andrew told him. "And that He can win battles against the Cylons by Himself." He chose not to mention the last miraculous win out of respect.

"But at what price," Starbuck wondered aloud, remembering his parents as well as thinking of his friend.

Andrew sighed. "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away" was not the right thing to say. Neither was a reference to Heaven really the best thing - they were still in the flesh. Was Starbuck starting to feel Earth would be imperfect? Perhaps. "Look," he maintained, "I know this war against evil has been hard; it's been hard on all of us." The angel continued. "But God is a God of love, of mercy. Not the Lords of Kobol' like you've thought, either; that's something you thought you understood because you used human wisdom."

"I guess that's something that confuses me, too; He's one God?" Andrew noded. "Does He always love us? What about all these wars?"

"God loves you more than you can imagine. The wars and things come about because of human choice. That choice is something even angels have trouble dealing with sometimes."

The viper pilot stopped to remember how much love he felt from his family on board the battlestar. It was a wonderful notion; one he wished he could explore further. "Maybe you're right," Starbuck agreed as they made their way to the bridge. Colonel Tigh stood there, along with President Adar, their presence prevent Starbuck from asking any questions about how Andrew knew the things he stated, things which made the Earth legends pale in comparison. "Mr. President, this is Andrew, he's a biologist. Just came aboard a few weeks ago." They shook hands.

"I met him briefly earlier, yes. I was hoping to to get some idea of the flagship's feelings regarding Earth." The president smiled apologietically. "I know it's awkward, with Commander Adama in the hospital still; I was hoping to get input from several others. I suppose Apollo is still grieving the loss of his son," spoke the man sadly.

"Agony is more like it, Sir," Andrew noted.

"I lost a number of close family members in a Cylon attack," explained Adar sadly, "so I know it will be very hard."

Andrew knew Starbuck and Tigh were the ones he wished to hear. However, he also realized that his input could, at least, be useful. "I think you understand then, Sir, the importance of not making rash decisions during a time of loss."

"A wise statement, Andrew," he agreed. "Which is another reason I think Colonel Tigh and Lt. Starbuck will be of assistance; not that you two don't feel the loss," he quickly added, "but while you were perhaps closer to him than a lot of people, to you it's not as devastating personally. It's more the fleet's feeling - merely great shock and sadness."

"I will support my commander on this," Tigh remarked.

Andrew nodded. "I think we all do. He's a very wise man, prudent despite being of such faith. That means he must have seen some good in Earth, and will no matter what is found."

Starbuck had been vacilating, but began to realize that his faith was important. He needed to say he'd had faith in something. Yes, the pain would be great if he found Earth wasn't a paradise, didn't have the right technology, but what if he didn't put his trust in it? He'd be regretting it his whole life. And, he didn't know how much longer it would be till they found another world.

Hence, he agreed with Tigh. "I say we need to keep going toward Earth; we can always resupply and go from there. And, maybe we'll find it's not as bad as we're afraid of; maybe we're meant to find it, and once we get there...who knows what's in store, just like Andrew says. We can't afford to miss out. There's a reason we've survived so many losses."

Adar smiled. "Yes, those are good points, especially about the faith, and I shall bring them up, along with yours, Andrew. Adama, for now, believes it would be a tragic mistake to fail to reach Earth, since that is what we set out to do in the beginning. I believe that will be sufficient." He seemed satisfied. The president had also come, of course, to pay his respects to the family, but mostly, he wanted to see the reactions, to determine if the faith was still there. He found that it probably was; though he sensed a little wavering. They were more willing to follow Adama than anything. Perhaps we will wait till the fleet catches up and the family mourns, and then make a decision. He knew he could buy them that much time with the Council and the Quorum.

Boxey and Jimmy lay in sleeping bags on the back lawn of the farmhouse. Mr. Kirok had shown Boxey how to use a camera, and he'd taken several dozen photos. Those had been taken to a one-hour photo processing lab, and other pictures from their albums had been taken to get copied. What fascinating creatures these are on this farm, Boxey considered, a little saddened. Not only dogs, but so many other interesting things. He hoped he'd be able to convince Apollo to live here on Earth with him. His dad loved space travel, though. Perhaps too much to ever settle down. But, he would do it. To God, he prayed claiming a farm which was up for sale. That will be my land, dedicated to You and Your great creation, and used for Your glory, he murmurred, still in awe of the great beauty out in the open. He never imagined anything quite like that sunset he'd seen; there had been so much smoke from attacks when he was little, he couldn't recall ever seeing a true sunset before now.

"You got that almanac I gave you in your ship," Jimmy wanted to know.

"Yeah," he remarked dreamily as the crickets chirped. They heard a car pull into the driveway. Soon, an air force officer was walking behind the house with Mr. Kirok and a sheriff's deputy. Monica was with the deputy, acting as a reporter riding along to cover the average day of a policeman in that area.

Chapter Four

Boxey cringed slightly; he'd heard that these people with uniforms might not act very nice if they found out he was an "alien." But, he wasn't, was he? Of course not, he was as human as any of them. If they believed their Bibles, Peter had said, they would know Boxey spoke the truth when explaining their common ancestry.

"What have we here," gruffly inquired the officer, Monica considering several answers.

"Oh, this is my boy Jimmy, he's camping out here with..."

Jimmy didn't wish to lie, so he jumped right in and said "Boxey."

"That's an unusual name," remarked the officer.

"Lots of parents use unusual ones," explained Mr. Kirok. "Boxey here is...a cousin, from Montana."

"He's from Galactica," explained Jimmy, thinking of the battlestar's name as that of a planet.

"Yeah, yeah...Galactica, Montana. Really small town, you won't find it on a map," elaborated Mr. Kirok. The man tried to explain the name. "Kid earned his name, always played in boxes when he was little. You buy him a toy, and he'd only play with the box." You're getting crazy, Dad, Jimmy said to himself. I can see what I sound like when I try to lie sometimes.

"People have been calling saying they heard a sonic boom," explained the deputy. "And saw a weird looking ship near here. But, the Air Force says it doesn't have any new kinds of planes."

Jimmy got tired of hearing his dad stammer. He also sensed the officer had walked right into a trap with that statement. Before he could say anything, Monica interrupted. "Well, of course, they say that, if it's top secret I don't expect to hear, would you?!"

"Well, I..."

The officer rescued the policeman. "We don't have anything, but we picked something up on radar for a short time, and we traced it here..."

Jimmy rose from his sleeping bag. "Of course, that won't be the official story, it can't be. Because, Sir, if you think the Soviets or Chinese or whomever made it clear out here to Iowa, you need to be checking your coastal defenses before anything."

"Well, it's just that..." He didn't know if he should say UFO or not. "Well, if it wasn't for the sonic boom, we would figure like the deputy and Monica here say, it was some city slicker who didn't know what a crop duster was. But..."

Mr. Kirok recognized what Jimmy was doing. He chose to burst out laughing. "Oh, yeah, I know - little green men from Mars." This was better than lying; hopefully it would work. Still, Boxey had needed to be from somewhere! "Well as you can see, Boxey here is perfectly human, and besides, what would green men from Mars be doing in an Iowa cornfield? They'd go where the action is, like New York City. Why, some of these people you see on TV are so nutty, you'd swear they were aliens, wouldn't you? All those rings in their noses and those tattoos - gross!" He made a face. Boxey shook his head. He still didn't feel like talking, but he was much less frightened now. "Isn't it nutty what some people do?"

"It sure is. Look...we're just concerned because of that sonic boom." He turned to Boxey. "You didn't see any unusual planes on the way over, did you?" He didn't think he had - but then again, he wasn't quite sure what a "plane" was. Still, he figured the safe answer was "no," so that's what he said. "How about you?" Jimmy hadn't, either.

As the deputy and sheriff went over to the car to confer, Boxey asked quietly "how do I get out of here - will they look for my viper?"

"Once he leaves, the only thing you'll need to worry about is the noise. And I've got an idea on how to explain the noise," whispered Mr. Kirok. As the men returned, he spoke to them. "You know, it would make a lot more sense if you'd just act like the official story is the real story. You come out here and ask around about little green men, and you'll blow your cover. Do you check to see if thunder is really a sonic boom every time?"

"Well, no...look, I understand you fly experimental aircraft, one of our choppers flew overhead and saw something that might be one, but there was a large, flattened out..."

"Oh, yeah, our kids love to play like they're from another planet. You can ask my wife." In fact, the officer had asked her. "Well, then, you can understand why that's there; a little trick to play."

"Maybe." He considered asking to see the aircraft - it sure didn't look like a Cessna was under that tarp! Still, the Kiroks had a point. Sticking to the official story made a lot of sense. Besides, there were no "little green men" here. He silently bade the people farewell, and Boxey breathed a huge sigh of relief.

As they settled back down in their sleeping bags, Boxey gazed up at the stars. "That Monica who was with them - she's an angel."

"Realy?" This sounded too bizarre even for Jimmy's imagination. "But she didn't have wings."

"Who says angels have to have wings? We've never heard those kinds of stories," Boxey told himself. Jimmy could think of no good answer. Boxey continued. "I guess it's not quite the...Paradise like my grandpa said our legends tell us." He'd heard Peter speak of the increasing degradation which plunged Earth into God's judgment, along with the Redeemer who saved the people. He didn't really understand the part about the flood, and how the world changed However, he added "it's still a nice place, this Iowa. No thousand yahren wars like on our world."

"Yeah. Sleeping out under the stars really is fun. I wish I could go there with you," Jimmy fantasized, picturing all sorts of wild exploration, and many amazing discoveries.

"Trust me, it's much better here, where there is peace." He sighed. "I do miss my Dad, though. I ll go back early tomorrow. After the rooster wakes us up." What an amazing concept, thought the lad. Who would have expected anything like it?

"Like my dad says, if you start to get low on fuel, just come back here. I'm sure your dad would rather have you safe here." Boxey smiled. This was what family was supposed to be like. This was what he'd longed for all his life.

Andrew solemnly listened as plans were made for a memroial service. Tess walked up beside him. "Not exactly what they expected a week ago, huh? There's still lots of shock here."

Tess nodded. "God's angels are used to dealing with people who's lives are turned upside down by one moment. It's the love of God that gets them through, that's what we have to show."

"How did the leaders sound when they met?"

Tess shrugged. "Well, of course, it was quick, just a short informational thing to hear their president. I think they want to wait a little while before passing judgment, maybe see if a few more signals from Earth can be picked up."

Colonel Tigh happened to overhear Andrew and Tess speaking. He joined them at the table. "You know, it's really sheer luck that we get certain signals; there are lots of directions that they can bounce off. I think the council really senses the desire by the people to think this over."

"God allows to be sent whatever signals He wants," noted Tess. "His power and ability are awesome."

Andrew wouldn't allow Tigh to get a word in edgewise. "That's probably wise, until the rest of the fleet catches up to us."

"Well, we could have another problem." Tigh folded his hands in front of him. "The wormhole's losing stability, likely because of that explosion. It could collapse."

Tess knew it had to stay open for God's plan to work. "Is there a way to keep it opened? At least a little while longer?"

Tigh grinned. He could tell she wasn't a physicist. "God may have the power, but I don't think even ten battlestars have that kind of power." He thought to himself. "If you're thinking can we keep it open till the fleet catches up and we go through, maybe. Then again, I don't know. We might still not receive any more signals. They're like..." He tried to think of an analogy.

More accustomed to Earthbound things, Andrew explained this way. "I don't know if you ve ever played with a radio set, Sir? But if I understand you right, it may be like how someone on one continent - one large land mass - can receive a signal from across an ocean if the atmospheric conditions are just right, if the radio is on the precise setting, and not a smidget above or below it. And maybe then, only for a very short time."

Tigh smiled. Yes, back on their home world, he had heard of that. "You know, that's exactly it. And maybe that's why I'm willing to tell you this...I just sense, I don't know, some extra wisdom, some grand abilities to understand and comfort others. Everyone else talks about it, too" Colonel Tigh sat back and licked his lips. "I can't explain it, but I feel like you grasp the situation far beyond what we can ever hope."

"It's all because of our Father," Tess spoke.

"I would love to meet Him."

"Don't worry, you will one day," came Andrew's soothing voice.

"I shall look forward to it. But right now, we must contemplate getting started on our way again. The fleet shall have caught up with us rather quickly, and there is enough of a food shortage that I don't know how much longer we can wait."

Tess quickly jumped in. "Hopefully, you can stay another day or so - till after the memorial service."

Tigh grinned. "Starbuck been thinking about going out there again," he tried to joke. "Seriously, I think we all know there is little hope - nobody has picked up anything on sensors." He paused a moment to reflect. "But, yes, I suppose till after the memorial service would be appropriate." He thought of the numerous times he'd gone to inform Boxey his dad was returning. If he'd ever had to tell Boxey Apollo had been lost, they would probably have stopped, too, out of reverence for the lead viper pilot. The irony hit hard.

"Maybe then something launched into space, sent out in a viper or something," considered Tess. Tigh agreed that some sort of capsule could be created, and then departed.

Andrew turned to Tess. "Why the need for the wait? Will there be another signal from Earth or something?"

Tess didn't wish to inhibit Andrew's ability to express remorse with his "fellow Galacticans" over the loss. Had Tigh been more insistent, she would have revealed herself in her angelic glory - Tigh knew there was something different, so that wouldn't have caught him too much by surprise. As it was, she elected to keep Andrew in the dark for a while longer. "Something fabulous," was all she would say.

Boxey inspected his assortment of photos, seeds, Earth reference material, and a small number of Bibles to be copied and passed around. He observed the uncovering of his viper as if it were a ceremonial unveiling. That ship looked great to him. Maybe I've got a little exploration in me, he told himself, though living on a planet for a while would be great. "Is that a normal...Galactican craft?" he heard Mr. Kirok say.

"It's smaller, but it does the same stuff. Like a toy," explained the lad. As he climbed into the viper, Boxey waved to the Kiroks. He knew he couldn't fly the craft very well himself, but the computers would help - a little. And unbeknownst to him, once airborne Monica would assist.

Jimmy sensed the timidity. "A little scary, huh?"

"Yeah." Boxey grinned. "I wasn't supposed to fly this when I did; I guess I was lucky God wanted to use me like this." He realized he had no idea what he'd tell people first about Earth. Besides Jesus, there was so much else amazing that he'd learned. And what of it not quite being a paradise - that wouldn't come until what was termed "the Millennial reign of Christ." I see why adults have trouble with these things, he told himself. Maybe I'm finally starting to understand my dad a little. He studied the control panels, and input instructions into the computer as best he could.

Jimmy had run back to the house, and brought out a small stuff dog. "Here, my grandpa made this for me," he told his new friend. "You can have him. His name's Muffy."

Boxey was amazed. "My dog's named Muffy, too. He's just a robot, but he's close enough." The boys laughed at the coincidence, and Boxey waved goodbye to Jimmy and his dad. They backed up, and soon the computer was sending the viper over the meadow, toward the cornfields, and up into the air. Mr. Kirok patted Jimmy on the shoulder, praising him for his thoughtfulness. The viper whooshed down the center of the cornfield, rising toward the clouds with a tremendous roar.

Commander Adama couldn't watch the portion of the service where the battle was shown. The service would be broadcast on the IFB, and most everybody in the fleet would see it.

After numerous crying spells, Apollo had grown rather cold and stone-faced as the time approached His agony reminded Starbuck of what he'd gone through as a child, losing his parents. No, he told himself, you don't want to bring back those painful memories. This is hard enough, seeing your friend suffer. Andrew sat beside them, listening to Colonel Tigh welcome the gathered throng and mention in passing the fight to rescue the viper pilots which occurred before the fateful encounter.

Apollo turned away and closed his eyes as the Cylon basestar exploded. He relived it constantly. Why couldn't that have been me, he once again asked himself. First Serina, and Zac, now Boxey. When will this madness end? Only after the film did Commander Adama enter, walking gingerly. He sat beside Apollo and winced, partly in physical pain, partly mental, noticing his son's anguish. He put an arm around him but said nothing. People had kept quiet out of respect when he was around, but he knew what they spoke about - the sacrifice, the victory, the thought tht perhaps this was the final battle. All that seemed so hollow now.

Once again, his mind drifted to Earth as various people spoke. Would the discovery of Earth be hollow as well? He could tell Apollo sensed it - the viper pilot now wondered if the vision he'd had wasn't supposed to indicate they were supposed to be turned away from Earth. Adama agonized over that possibility - he'd dreamed of Earth for an incredibly long time. He couldn't imagine turning away from it, but sometimes it felt as if he were the only one with faith left in the fleet. Maybe we'd just been too lucky, he consoled himself. Maybe this was too much of a shock, to see a child blown away by those dastardly Cylons. But, we'd all faced death before, hadn't we? Yes, but now we're facing it with the knowledge that Earth had problems, that it wasn't going to be 40 acres and a mule for everyone. It might not have any more advanced weaponry than we do. Things had changed somewhat since they'd last heard of Earth, maybe too much for them. No, he told himself, you have to keep the faith. Earth is out there, and it has your name on it.

Apollo stood up, went to the podium, and stood speechless for a couple moments, replaying thngs in his mind. Why couldn't I have had more faith, he asked himself. Why couldn't I have done something. He broke down again. "I'm sorry, Boxey," he gasped as he made his way down the podium again, collapsing in his father's arms. Adama nodded slowly. This will take a long time for all of us to get over, he told himself. Athena managed to speak a little, as she'd been preparing school lessons concerning Boxey, who had already grown to legend status. She would have to tell this to schoolchildren tomorrow, after all.

"What a way to reach Earth, if he did make it," mumbled the commander. He considered the "ship of lights," where someone - probably an angel, as described by the prophet - had told Apollo the exact location of Earth. He hadn't known his son was dead for long enough to mourn. He'd lost others, but as Apollo had said, this just wasn't the same. This was a child.

Apollo hadn't paid attention to the comment, but Andrew recalled it. It was hard for him to hide his grin after Tess had told him of Boxey's impending return. Andrew walked up to Adama. The commander was being checked before being released for bridge duty. "You think it's possible he reached Earth?"

"I don't know how far it is," explained Adama, "but that is one hope I cling to. And it's one perhaps I'll live to find out, perhaps not. But, I do know there are forces greater than we out there, helping the brothers of man to survive." And maybe that's why I intend to press on to Earth, he told himself; because no matter what, we have help..

Andrew sorely wished to be able to tell Adama the truth - that he was an angel. However, angels normally didn't reveal themselves in front of all these people. Besides, he didn't want to shock Adama too much - he would already be shocked in a little while, provided everything went well. Hence, he simply agreed. "God has a plan. And sometimes it's very hard for people to understand. But His plan is perfect, and ever loving and compassionate."

"It will be hard to explain that to Apollo...it is hard for even me to believe." He sighed. "But if we've stepped out this far toward Earth, then perhaps I can believe that, too." Though I wonder now how much is true of the legends sometimes, even with the scrolls, he admitted. But, that's just because of my loss - our loss. He reminded himself again, don't do anything rash.

"Believe me, Commander, it's hard for any mere mortal to fathom."

"I can tell you and Tess know a great deal about that God spoken of in our scrolls, who we mistook for the Lords of Kobol. I shall be anxious to learn more sometime." They started toward the bridge.

"Earth is still a very worthwhile target, despite its problems," Andrew reassured Adama.

The commander nodded. Yes, there were murmurrings, people who wanted to abandon Earth, or at least who wanted to forget about going through the wormhole. The second was soemthing he'd considered was probably needed, though even that he hoped he wouldn't have to do. Events might warrant it, though. The first - well, of course, he'd alwys believed in Earth. He couldn't see abandoning it now. "Thank you. I shall highly consider that." But, will the leadership be willing to go along? He hoped so. There had to be something special.

Andrew left the bridge and went down to the viper bay. The others were still too shocked to launch later that day. Adama was still rather weak, and Apollo didn't care if he never flew again. Therefore, it would fall to Starbuck to eject a ceremonial bouquet and several other items from his viper. He was glad for the duty, if only to allow him to cling to hope a little more. Andrew now knew his precise purpose - make sure Starbuck stayed out ther long enough to see Boxey coming. "Going to be a tough flight, huh?"

Starbuck nodded grimly. "I don't know if I really want to do this; it seems so pointless, and we could do this from in the ship. But yet, part of me..." How would he put it into words?

"Thinking about Boxey - or your own family," the angel inquired. "You know, this life isn't all there is. God is in Heaven, a place of perfect love."

The viper pilot smiled. Such a great story - just like Earth. And I'm beginning to believe just through faith, like I did in Earth. And, I guess, still do, in a small way. He shook his head, still stunned at the feelings of warmth. "I don't know why, but I feel like I can confide so much in you; you seem so understanding. Yes, this is probably the loneliest I'll ever be, even when I lost my parents there were others, and by being a great viper pilot or something else I could excel and get noticed." He stopped and observed the technicians stuffing the bouquet and capsule into the fornt ofthe viper, to be fired toward the wormhole. "But here, even thinking about God..."

"Think it'll be worth another look," Andrew wondered.

Starbuck wished it were. He clung to hope, anyway, even though he felt it was ridiculous. Hope was something that never had to die. "Yes, I suppose I've got a little faith left - just like there's someone I've always sort of hoped might possibly be my father..."

"Commander Adama," guessed Andrew.

The pilot smiled slightly. Other times, he would have laughed. "No, not Commander Adama. Not possible, though Apollo and I are kind of like brothers; actually Boomer and I are even closer." He grinned. "It would be nice, though. I take it your Father is still living?"

"Oh, very much so." The viper bay workers had left. Andrew wondered if he could tell Starbuck now. "He is full of love, compassion, and mercy. Especially for those who have been hurt by so much tragedy, such as yourself and the others of the fleet."

Starbuck wasn't sure he dared to ask. "He seems to know a lot, from what you've said. What does he do? Does he know what Earth's like?"

Now is the time. Andrew suddenly transformed into radiant splendor, brightening greatly and with a halo. The sound of doves echoed around the viper bay. Starbuck gasped with awe. "Yes. I am an angel of the Lord, and God is my Father."

Starbuck's mouth seemed prepared to have a viper thrust into it. "An angel? What...why? Are there more..." He recalled the Ship of Lights. "Was it you..."

"A colleague, named Adam. He was here for a little while but had another assignment. Tess and Monica are angels, too. We came to help you and your people keep your faith for a few days. Go now, and wait outside near the womrhole for something very special."

Starbuck hurried up and sped out into space, though he couldn't fathom what might be on the horizon. An angel? He tried to put the entire series of events into perspective. The vast realm of outer space still seemed rather bleak and lonely, and he longed for Apollo to be able to fly this mission. Maybe Andrew could console him a little better than he could - no wonder he d appeared so loving. Then again, he worried his friend might do something crazy like flying off looking for the boy if he did. And, Adama was too weak to really fly a viper well. It would be hard for Athena, too, since she'd also been family. The silence was deafening as he flew; he could almost hear his own hearbeat.

He maneuvered his lone viper as close to the wormhole as he dared, wondering where the best spot to shoot the items would be. He scanned the opening, devoid of most light, and wondered if this was a good location. It sure looks lonely, he thought to himself, but what part of space doesn't. Maybe it'll make it to Earth someday. He sat there, pondering the vast expanse, not a sound anywhere. I can see why Apollo's taking it worse, he told himself. This is bleak out here. His boy didn't even have the dignity of a warm, cozy planet.

Suddenly, he thought his onboard computer was malfunctioning. He was picking up something from inside the wormhole. Could it be a Cylon - no, they couldn't have survived this long without refueling, and this was moving. He tried to watch for its appearance, but before he could see anything, he heard a voice. "Galactica, come in, do you read me," it said.

Starbuck nearly jumped out of his seat. He banged his head on the cockpit ceiling, and cried out "Boxey...is that you?!?"

"Yes, is that you, Starbuck? Go, tell everyone - and my dad - that I've been to Earth. And do I have some great stuff to tell you!"

Starbuck zoomed into the docking bay, and almost got out before his ship was done moving. He called the bridge via a wall panel and asked for Commander Adama. "Commander... come down to the viper bay...bring Apollo..." He was speechless with excitement. Adama, unsure what was happening, and not wishing to disturb the grieving man, chose to venture down himself. Starbuck searched for the angel, but found him nowhere. Instead, Andrew and Tess were observing out of sight, in the angelic realm. Monica, having followed the viper from Earth, joined them.

Starbuck watched at Boxey's viper sped into the docking bay. Gasps of amazement filled the bay as the boy hopped out of his viper and ran over to Starbuck, the two embracing in a hug that Starbuck wished could last forever. Finally, something in his life had been worth keeping the faith. Something he'd thought lost could come back. As for Boxey, he was just glad to be home - though he most longed to see his dad and grandfather. He really liked Starbuck, too, but he was just a great guy - just like that Mr. Kirok had been.

Starbuck considered it best to ease Adama into the reality of Boxey being "back from the dead," so to speak. However, Adama noticed Boxey right away, breathed a huge sigh of relief, and quickly knelt down and awaited Boxey as he ran into the man's arms. "Oh, Boxey, you're all right." He wept as they embraced, still amazed at the situation. He thought the boy could have possibly reached Earth. He never imagined he'd return to them. It really is him, came numerous murmurs from the viper bay crew, as their shock gave way to excitement.

"I made it, Grandpa, I made it all the way to Earth," he exclaimed.

"Earth..." Adama had told the boy so many stories about it. He couldn't imagine the excitement over being the first person there. How had Boxey taken it, he wondered. Did the boy fully comprehend the feat? How advanced were they? Suddenly, several prophecies from the scrolls began to come to mind. About one reaching first. About someone being lost three days as a sign. How had he missed understanding that? And, how close were they - was the wormhole mere days away from Earth? His heart raced with enthusiasm as he forgot his earlier concrens for the moment. The goal was within reach - if the wormhole remained steady.

Boxey looked around after several moments, explaing they were about a day away from Earth, counting the wormhole, though it was moving farther away. "Where's Dad?" came the concerned voice.

Adama looked Boxey in the eyes. "He's very depressed and dismayed right now," explained the commander. "He thought for sure you had died, just like the rest of us thought." Adama nodded, forcing himself to admit it. "Yes, even I thought so...though I had hopes that you may have somehow reached Earth, perhaps with the help of that ship of lights,' I never dreamed you would come back."

Boxey lowered his head. "I hope he won't be mad at me."

"He'll be happier than he's ever been," declared the commander as he stood. As am I. "Earth," he muttered again dreamily, still not sure if he should be expecting Paradise, or what. What would he ask first?

"I got so much stuff," Boxey declared, pointing to the viper. "Pictures, seeds, a Bible, an almanac, even a stuffed dog. It's incredible." He pulled some photos from his pocket. "Look, I got a lot more than this in a bag in my viper."

Adama and Starbuck gazed at the snapshots of a brilliant blue sky, of small white clouds, of a small stretch of green grass, of tall cornstalks stretching as far as the eye could see, and of a gorgeous sunset that made the men weep with joy. Nothing like this had been seen in so long, and the sights were breathtaking even in a photo. It was so much more incredible than they had dreamed, even though Earth had problems. The boy couldn't even begin to explain the wonder of feeling wind, or the sun, or laying in real grass in a sleeping bag camping. Both men remembered their home world as they observed the photos. Neither thought they would ever see anything like it.

"Is...is that Heaven," gasped Starbuck, not quite grasping that Boxey had lived through that.

Boxey grinned excitedly. "No, it's Iowa! Not all Earth is this nice, and there might be some problems with people wondering if we belong there. I don't know how easily we can get there, but that shouldn't be a problem with God helping." He tried to think of how to explain all that he'd learned the previous day. "Come on, let's go see my dad."

As Adama jogged off to Apollo's quarters, Starbuck asked a favor of Boxey. He'd kept a journal of many of his experiences through the years. Somehow, he had a feeling his chronicles would be very important for future generations, detailing the many trials gone through in searching for Earth. "Boxey, will you do me a favor. Tell me everything you recall about that trip, so I can write it down. I think..." He laughed to himself. No, the idea was silly. Or, was it? After all, many very amazing things had happened the last few days. "I think years from now, there will be things about this that will belong in the same place as those great old scrolls that contain all of the Wisdom and Rules of the Ancients."

Apollo was still sulking. Adama walked up to the weeping man as he sat, alternating between staring at the boy's toys, his daggit, and at the scrolls. "Son..."

Apollo pounded the air with his fists, ignoring the happy tone. "Why didn't I have faith! Is this my punishment? What kind of a god takes away a wonderful boy like that just because I wouldn't go in there myself!" He got up and started prancing. "And where's my unspeakable joy? Where?!"

Starbuck, too, had been avoiding Apollo until now. He opened the door, but found his friend ready to throw the scrolls at him. Boxey stood behind him, frightened by his dad's demeanor. "And you, how did you ever let him get by you? Surely you could have done something!"

"Apollo, look..."

"Why are we looking for Earth anyway, maybe we should wait a few hundred yahren or something till they get things cleared up," Apollo ranted. "I know it doesn't have anything for me! I used to think it would be a great place, but I used to think my son and I would land in a shuttle and walk hand in hand off it!"

"But Apollo, we can go to Earth right now, and..."

The prancing fellow couldn't stand the smile on the lieutenant's face. "Don't you dare grin when this is happening to me! First my wife and brother, and my whole planet, and now my son is dead!"

Boxey couldn't recall the man being as anguished as he sounded. He still felt a little scared because of that, but figured Adama and Starbuck would protect him if his dad was too mad at him.

However, he had no need to fear that. As soon as he popped out from behind Starbuck and shouted "I'm right here, Dad," his dad gawked at him, speechless. They then ran toward each other, embracing even tighter than he and Starbuck had. Apollo's tears of agony became tears of joy, as he snuggled for several minutes with his son. He had, indeed, never been happier in his life. Boxey had been just about the only true connection he felt with his former world, as well as the only hope he held for the future. "I thought you were gone for good," he declared several times. Is this what the scrolls mean by "joy unspeakable?" Now I know what he must have gone through all those times when I was out there, not thinking of him like I should. Is this what I was supposed to learn, he asked himself. "Where were you?" he inquired after the embrace finally ended.

"He'd gone to Earth, it was almost a straight shot through that wormhole," explained Starbuck.

" Joy unspeakable,'" Apollo considered aloud. "To have my son back like this and to know Earth is so close - is that what the prophet meant?"

Boxey related his time on Earth, and his discoveries. The initial landing and other events, he explained, were breathtaking. Words could not begin to describe them for him, so he pulled out the pictures. "Wait, there's the best news of all," he remarked as Apollo gazed at the photos. "You know that verse in our prophecy about the Way, the Truth, and the Life? Well, there is one called Jesus who was God in the flesh as a person. He never sinned, but He died for our sins - the bad things we say, think, or do. All those bad things keep us from God's perfect Heaven, where there is no pain, no suffering, no tears, no sin, only joy and happiness and love. Jesus became sin for us, and took our punishment. And he was buried and rose again the third day, so we could get to Heaven."

Adama pulled out the last chapter of the prophecy of Yanius. "And just as the child was feared gone three days, so was this Jesus three days in the center of the Earth, His death an atonement for all of our sins."

"The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." Adama pointed to their own prophetic references as Boxey explained. "For God so loved the world - that's each and every one of us - that he gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. He is the only way to Heaven. We need to tell everyone right away. He's the one I was to find out about on Earth, and I did."

Apollo's head was swimming at this point. "Wait, you mean...well, how do I..."

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved." Adama nodded. The prophet had written thousands of years before that Boxey would say these exact words. The thought flabbergasted and awed the others. He continued to speak excitedly. "All you need to do is put your trust in Jesus as having paid the whole price for your sins, repenting and accepting Him as your Savior."

Commander Adama hmself broadcast the triumphant return of the Galactica's "legend," and along with Boxey told the whole fleet the Good News. Monica, Tess, Andrew, and Adam stood in the viper bay, ready to depart. "They still have a choice to make, don't they," Adam spoke.

Tess agreed. "It would be great if they could put their trust in God now, before the wormhole collapses. He might be leaving it open to keep them from having to travel twenty or thrity more years."

"Like Kadesh Barnea," suggested Andrew.

"Like Caleb's mountain, God will let Boxey have that farm in Iowa because he had faith," Tess told them. "But, while this miracle of sorts has helped a good number initially get saved through faith now, they need to make their own choices, and they ll have hurdles to consider. I think it'll be fairly easy for them to be accepted there, though - they are human, after all."

"And the food - there aren't that many of them, there'll be enough," spoke Adam.

Suddenly, Commander Adama approached them. "I wanted to see you off - Starbuck tells me you're really somethng special." He winked.

"I hope you make it, Commander, really soon," noted Moinca.

"We're not sure how well that wormhole will hold," explained Adama. "However, I think after what we've seen, our faith and trust in the Creator has grown by leaps and bounds. And, it makes it easy for us to choose - we are going through that wormhole toward Earth." The angels grinned happily. "It may seem hard, but we ll blend in with others well enough."

"God will always reward such great faith," remarked Monica.

Adama agreed. "It's not perfect, but no planet run by people can be. Even if that wormhole does break up too quickly and we take 20 more yahrens, we will reach Earth. After all, we've come this far by faith."

Sometime Later:

The shuttle landed just outside a small cornfield in Iowa. Adama, Apollo, and Boxey walked off of it arm in arm. Monica stood by, a scribe who would go back and report nothing had been seen - the United Nations felt it best not to escalate the Cold War by starting an arms battle, with each side trying to obtain the new, powerful weapons. Hence, money was given to as many as wanted to come to let them quietly settle down in various regions that were not too populous.

Yes, Adama thought as Apollo and Boxey eyed the spectacular scenery and embraced, we have a Battlestar lightly manned just in case, and we have other ships elsewhere. But we made it. We put our faith in something, and got a great new home in return. A wonderful world called Earth.