The Light of Apollo
By Carolina Blue
A/N: Takes place in S2, between "Home Part 2" and "Final Cut."
Disclaimer: Anything you recognize is property of the show "Battlestar Galactica," all rights reserved, etc. etc.
…Okay, so I lied. I kinda like writing this story and I think it wants me to write it. So I'm going to attempt to write 2 fics at the same time, which should be hard for someone as lazy as me… wish me luck!
xxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxo
CHAPTER TWO
Helo prided himself on being a pretty level-headed guy, self-controlled. He looked on the bright side of things and always took everything with an even-tempered eye. But today he was a nervous wreck and, if he was completely honest with himself, scared out of his mind. He wouldn't show it, but today was his first day of pilot re-certification, and he was tense as all hell.
He walked through the halls quickly, trying to avoid as many people as possible. Many of Galactica's crew regarded him with suspicion or scorn because of Sharon. Helo hated to admit it, but the judgments were starting to get to him. That was why he was getting to the squadron ready room so early. He didn't want to walk in and automatically feel every eye in the room go to him. Especially since the other people in the room would be the newest batch of nuggets going on a test run.
He stepped into what he thought would be an empty ready room, but was surprised to see the CAG already there, filling out flight rosters and reports. He paused in the doorway, taking a moment to observe the other man. For a second Helo was disappointed, he was hoping Starbuck would be in charge of the training today. Not that he didn't like Apollo, contrary to popular belief. They had actually done a rotation together on the battlestar Triton a few years ago and gotten along really well. Apollo had always been a pretty closed off guy- he had to have perfected that masked expression when he was six or something- but he was a good guy, a good sparring partner, and actually pretty funny once you got to know him. When he had shown up on Galactica for the decommissioning ceremony, Helo had been kind of excited to hang out with him again.
But then, of course, the Cylons frakked everything up. And he had held a gun to Apollo's head, while Apollo had pointed one at Sharon. And granted, the fact that Helo's new girlfriend looked exactly like the thing that had nearly killed Apollo's father (right in front of Apollo, naturally) had aided in their tension since the Kobol… mission? Incident? Whatever it was, he and Apollo hadn't exactly bonded since then. But then, watching the newly re-instated CAG sigh heavily, rub a hand over his face, Helo had to wonder if Apollo was doing much of anything besides work these days.
"Hey Captain," he said lightly before stepping into the room so as not to startle the other man.
Sure enough, Apollo's mask slid back into place, and Helo could almost forget what he had just seen. "Lieutenant," Apollo nodded, looking down at the papers in his hands again. "You're here early," he commented.
Helo slid into a corner seat in the front. "Couldn't sleep, thought I'd wait around here till the briefing," he only semi-lied.
Apollo gave a dark chuckle. "Same here."
Helo looked at him again, but the mask hadn't changed. Then it hit him- he hadn't really seen Apollo in the pilots' quarters in a few days. "When have you been sleeping, Apollo?" he asked before he could stop himself.
The CAG shook his head. "When I can," was his non-answer. "Look, I want to run something by you before the nuggets get here." He suddenly looked a little hesitant. "During the briefing, I want you to call me by my call sign. Not Captain or sir or whatever. And I'll do the same to you."
It wasn't what Helo was expecting. "Okay. Why?" He almost smiled at Apollo's awkward demeanor. This was more the Lee he remembered.
Lee scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable. "I want the nuggets to have a good impression of you. Instead of you being treated like some Cylon defector, if they see us on easy terms, maybe…" he shrugged. "It'll make things easier for everyone."
Helo grinned, he couldn't help it. "Aw, Apollo, I'm touched."
Lee snorted. "Yeah, in the head." He waved some papers in the air. "I'm going to fly as your ECO today; we'll work around the Vipers. Now shut up and let me figure out these fuel runs."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The test run with the nuggets went well. None of them dared to cross the CAG, so when he treated Helo fairly, so did they. A couple of well-cracked jokes and some fancy maneuvers in the Raptor, and they began to like him too. All that, plus finally getting Raptor re-certified, left Helo feeling pretty damn good at the end of the day. A few pilots were waiting on the deck when they landed, there to congratulate the newest class. Helo exited the Raptor somewhat cautiously, as he always did when confronted with a large group of people anymore.
"Alright rooks, the celebration starts now in the rec room. You're not there in five minutes, you're doing the 3am CAP for the next month!" Racetrack yelled.
"Welcome to hell!" Hot Dog smirked as the nuggets hurried out.
Just as they were exiting, one new guy- call sign Crow- turned back to the Raptor. "Helo, you coming?"
Helo paused for a second, looking to the other pilots uncertainly. Racetrack met his gaze steadily and then cocked her head to the side. "He better be," she answered for him. "Or his ass will be flying that CAP in a Raptor." Then she smiled a little, gesturing with her head for him to join them.
Helo covered his shock well, smiling himself and throwing up a half-mocking salute. "Yes sir," he said, jumping down to the deck. He forgot Lee was still there until the CAG clapped him on the back, passing him and heading out a different door.
"Welcome back, Lieutenant," he said just quiet enough for only Helo to hear him, smiling a little. He was honestly relieved that there was now one less thing he would have to worry about among his pilots.
"Apollo…" Lee turned back around at Helo's call. The larger man looked like he was going to say something serious, heartfelt, and Lee braced himself for the awkwardness. Instead, thankfully, Helo grinned. "You're not coming?"
Lee shook his head. "They've got it under control. I've got reports for the day to fill out."
"Come on man, you need the break." Helo was still smiling, but he was serious. Apollo was going to crack if he didn't rest sometime soon.
"I need the rack time," Lee replied, hoping that admitting that would be enough to throw Helo off. He was uncomfortable with other people's concern, especially when those other people were those he was supposed to be responsible for. "I'm going to finish these and get in my bunk before your drunken asses crash in the pilots' quarters."
"If you're sure…" Helo was already heading out to the rec room.
Lee opened his mouth but was interrupted by Gaeta's voice over the comm. "Captain Adama to CIC. Repeat, Captain Adama report to CIC immediately." Lee sighed, shoulders slumping heavily, before regaining his composure. He glanced around self-consciously, hoping no one in the deck crew had seen his reaction. If they did, they didn't show it. Thank the gods for small favors.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"The mission aboard Niobe was successful?"
"Yes Father."
"And the rest of the team has stayed behind to see if He will appear."
"Yes Father."
"Very good… very good."
"Father? What if He does not come to Niobe?"
"He will; He is the true Incarnate. But no matter, I've also sent some of our order to Galactica."
"Galactica?"
"He is the Aphetoros Incarnate. A battlestar is the only home he would have."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
When Lee entered the CIC, he immediately threw a salute in Adama's direction, not forgetting their interaction from that morning. Truth be told, he thought at some point in his life he'd be over the need for his father's approval, but this morning had proven otherwise. It had actually hurt that after everything they had been through in the last few weeks, the Commander still couldn't see him as anything other than an officer who was lucky to be doing his job. That the ship's need for somebody- anybody- to be CAG was greater than William Adama's need for a relationship with his son. It shouldn't surprise him after all these years, but it did. He shook the dark feelings off, joining his father, Tigh, and Gaeta at the center console.
Adama barely noticed the salute. "We've got a situation in the fleet, Captain. A civilian transport ship, the Niobe, was attacked this morning."
"Cylons?" Lee asked, surprised this was the first he was hearing about it.
"We're not sure," Gaeta answered. "There was an explosion in the galley, but there was minimal damage to the ship, and there's been no follow-up attack."
"Casualties?" Lee forced himself to ask.
"Thirty-two dead, a couple dozen injured." Bill's voice was grim. "I'm sending over a team to do a preliminary investigation, check for any more threats, begin relief efforts. I want you to head it, Captain. Starbuck and a squad are on their way to the flight deck." The way he said 'want' meant it really wasn't a wish, it was an order.
"Yes sir," Lee hoped his voice was much steadier than he felt. Gods he was tired, but it wasn't like he could request some time off right now. He saluted again, forcing his arm to go up straight and steady, and left before anyone could officially dismiss him. He wanted to leave before he had to hear his father say "Captain" again instead of "Lee." It was stupid, sure, and immature. But he couldn't help it. Stress and fatigue were playing with his mind and his ability to reason. 'Just get this mission done, then maybe you'll be able to sleep,' he told himself.
"Don't mind me saying sir, the CAG is looking a little worn down these days," Tigh murmured after Lee was gone.
"We all are," Adama's reply was short, biting. Gaeta looked up at the sharpness of the Commander's tone, but a look from Tigh sent him away. Bill was alone with his thoughts. Was Lee bitter with him for doing his job now? For gods' sakes, he was trying to treat Lee like any other CAG to show that he trusted him to get the job done. And anyway, it seemed like all Lee did anymore was CAG duties, so why did he begrudge his father for doing the same? 'Because all you've ever done is your duty,' a nasty voice in the back of his mind scolded him. But since that voice always sounded so much like his ex-wife, it was easy for Bill to ignore.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Landing on Niobe, Lee quickly took charge. He sent Starbuck and the soldiers to the central holding bay to distribute food and supplies while he followed the ship's captain to the sight of the blast. They passed the medical station on the way, and it took everything in him not to throw up when the smell of burned flesh reached his nose. It must have shown on his face, because Captain Franks gave him a commiserating smile.
"I never get used to it," she said quietly. Lee nodded, put the nausea out of his mind, and followed her to the galley. Or what was left of it. Niobe's deck crew was hard at work, repairing what they could, salvaging what they couldn't.
"It wasn't meant to destroy the ship," Lee commented to himself. Franks nodded. "Small, contained blast, barely even damaged the hallway outside." He raised his eyebrows at her. "Hardly the Cylons' style."
"One of the reasons we don't think it was Cylons, Captain Adama." Franks beckoned forward one of the crewmen who held a mangled, metallic contraption in his hands. He turned it over to Lee, who examined it closely.
"Homemade bomb," he said, again talking to himself. "Someone knew what they were doing with this- the timer, delayed fuse, controlled pressure release…"
"All stuff that could be found on this ship, sir," the crewmen added. Lee nodded absent mindedly, running his hands over some raised markings on the underside of the bomb.
"What the hell is this?" he said under his breath. He looked over to the crewman, noticing a pad of paper and pencil in one of his pockets. "May I borrow that?" he asked. When the man handed it over, Lee flattened a sheet of paper onto the casing and shaded over it with the pencil until an image began to appear: a sun, with half of its circle also forming an archer's bow.
"The frak is that?" one of the crew asked.
"I'm not sure. Yet." Lee held up the paper. "Captain Franks, do you mind if I-?"
She waved a hand. "Take it. See what you can do." She and Lee left the galley then, heading back to the hangar.
"So we're looking for humans. Real people did this to my ship," she stated grimly.
"It looks that way," Lee half-sighed. "Anyone on the ship seem suspicious in the last week or so?"
"No," she answered after taking a moment to think. "People come and go here on a regular basis, but everyone who stays does their share, pitches in. We're a community on board here. We…" she shook her head. "We have families here."
Lee ran a hand tiredly up his face and through his hair. "So either this symbol is a big old clue to what happened, or it was a random, crazy act- which sure as hell doesn't seem likely- or someone in that galley was a target," Lee slowed his pace then, knowing what his next step had to be and already hating it. "Captain Franks, can you take me to the sick bay?"
xxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxoxxxXxxxo
TO BE CONTINUED…