Apollo pulled Starbuck behind him down the passageways. "What were you thinking? Oh, my mistake, 'thinking' is too strong a word for you!"
"Apollo!" Sheba said in shock. "I think you're being a little hard on poor Starbuck."
"Poor Starbuck?" He turned around to face Sheba. "Poor Starbuck just ended the peace initiative between the Empyreans!"
"Leave her alone, Apollo. It's alright, Sheba, I can fight my own battles." Starbuck intervened.
"I . . . kind of . . . screwed up too, Starbuck." Sheba volunteered.
He grinned at her. "Please don't tell me you kissed Rogane."
"No, I used. . . profanity." She avoided Starbuck's eyes. She knew she had to.
"No way, " he replied, "You're the one who warned me about. . . "
"I know . . . It just slipped out." Keep it together, Sheba. Don't lose it in front of Apollo.
Starbuck snickered. Sheba snorted. They both burst out laughing.
Apollo stared at them. They had obviously lost their minds. . . if, indeed, Starbuck really ever had one to begin with. "I don't believe you two. Don't you realize the implications of your actions?" the captain demanded.
"I think so. Two houses of nobility that have been at each other's throats for centi-yahrens are still going to be at each other's throats." Starbuck stated.
"And one very young girl will not be getting sealed to one very unpleasant. . . toad." Sheba added.
Boomer shrugged at Apollo. "That pretty much sums it up, buddy. Seems minor when you put it up against the human race being targeted for extinction by the Cylons. We had better make ourselves scarce." He suggested as he urged Starbuck ahead of him down the Malocchio's corridors. "Besides, if my memory serves me correctly, don't you have some long-range patrols you wanted to brief Starbuck on?"
Apollo smiled sheepishly. "You're right; all of you. Sorry, Sheba. You too, Bucko."
Starbuck turned back slightly to reply when something hit his right eye. Sparks flew and he felt as though his head was exploding. The next thing he realized he was lying on his back, holding his hand tightly over his eye and the pain was incredible.
"Starbuck, let me see. " Apollo was saying. He was trying to pry his friend's hand away. Blood was oozing down Starbuck's face. "Starbuck, it's okay. Let go. I need to stop the bleeding."
Starbuck moved his hand away. He felt Sheba grab it in support. . .or restraint. Apollo started to wipe away the blood. "Frack!" Starbuck exclaimed. That really hurt.
"Easy, " Sheba soothed him. She was trying to see past the blood. He appeared to have a large gash just below his eyebrow. Whatever it was had missed his eye. "Boomer, did you find anything?"
Boomer was searching for the offending object. "No, I don't know what it was. Strange."
"Starbuck, can you sit up?" Apollo asked.
"How's my eye?" he gasped. A steady trickle of blood and the welling of tears obstructed his vision.
"It's okay. Just a scrape, buddy. C'mon, sit up." Apollo helped him.
Starbuck's head spun. "A scrape? My head's going supernova. Get me off this tub, will you?"