(Okay, another short one, but no less significant for it. Author's notes at the end.)Part 25

Battlestar Olympus

Conference Blue, E Deck

+22:10:19

(Mahn)

I had learned much about my charges in the hour since their parents had sent us away. It made for diverting enough study so I would not worry myself over how completely the Colonel and the Delegate would likely tear each other apart. The fact no general alarms sounded and there had been no calls for medical teams – yet – was less encouraging than it probably should have been.

First-hand experience had shown me how quickly the Colonel could destroy anyone who threatened her, and the Delegate did not appear to be any lightweight either.

Rather than worry over what could not be changed or influenced, I instead turned all my attention to ensuring the children were sufficiently engaged. Secretary Richards (how many times a day did she have to remind herself of his new title?) had shown good foresight in sending them to Conference Blue; it was really a reception room, with deeper carpeting and minimal furniture around. It was also close enough to the kitchens that response time would be close to immediate should they require food.

Aurora was a known quantity to me, whose ease with others clearly extended to Cassandra and Payamintra. Or rather, 'Kasey' and 'Paya', as the former quite forcefully corrected me as soon as we were settled and the XO had left. It was an interesting dynamic, to say the least. Fortunately, having been the eldest of three children and having legal custody of the younger two gave me some preparation for such things.

Even so, no sooner had we settled and I placed out a few model ships brought over from Planning than Paya began vigorously rubbing her eyes. Settling Aurora to the floor and making sure to keep her clearly in sight, Kasey and I laid out one of the sleeping bags that had been stockpiled there. Paya lay down without comment and was quickly asleep.

"Paya gets tir-urd easy," Kasey informed me gravely.

"So I see. And are you tired?"

Kasey shook her head sharply, thick curls swinging this way and that. "I don' like sleepin'."

"Oh?"

"My momma went to sleep an' didn't get up."

"Ah." I resisted the urge to tell her I had undergone a similar loss, seeing no sense in encouraging the child's discomfort. "Would you like to play with Aurora and me?"

Kasey nodded and quickly sat down opposite Aurora, grabbing up a Viper model. Aurora fixed her with curious stare, and then resumed gumming the Battlestar model she had picked up. The child seemed to prefer the larger ships, despite her mother's continual efforts to interest her in the fighters. I constantly feared she would attempt to take the child up with her in the cockpit since she had regained her flight status.

"You going to say anything?" Kasey challenged Aurora, who just blew a raspberry and grinned widely. "Whoosh!" was Kasey's response, 'flying' her Viper so it nearly touched Aurora's nose. I was uncertain how to respond to this, mindful this was a daughter of a member of the Colonial government; it might not stand well if I were to discipline her, old school.

Then again, she was also the daughter of Lee Adama, whom the Colonel had pontificated over (at length) for the last year and on a nearly daily basis. The few times I had spoken with Katherine about it, I had been assured this was all a sign of affection despite the rather...colorful...declarations to the opposite.

"Cassandra..." I began, which provoked the sharp retort I had hoped for.

"Kasey!"

"As you wish. Kasey, please be careful playing with Aurora. You are older and should be a better example for her."

My chiding might have been more effective if Aurora hadn't burst out laughing that same moment. The toddler seemed to find everything amusing these days, or at least everything aboard ship; she was normally far quieter in our quarters on Nellis, where distractions were minimal.

Kasey thankfully appeared to take my words to heart, sitting back so she was less in danger of tumbling into Aurora. She picked up a second Viper from the small pile and began waving them about in a weaving pattern. Aurora eyes tracked the Viper's every movement with the sort of fascinated attention I often felt chilled by. The toddler carefully set down her battlestar and began mimicking Kasey's hand movements, albeit without much precision.

I truly dreaded reporting this to her mother. The next thing you would know, the engineering staff at Nellis would be constructing customized flight suits for her and installing a second seat in her mother's plane.

Or not, given the common-sense strictures upon the Colonel's movements and stick-time these days. Although, why the three of us hadn't been shuttled off the Olympus the moment Case ZULU had been called I have no idea.

Kasey had noticed Aurora's moving in time with her, biting her lip in thought. I wondered if I would need to intercede again when Kasey suddenly leaned forward, holding out one of her Vipers to Aurora, who looked at it for several seconds before dropping the battlestar and grasping the offered toy. She then began waving it about, rocking herself back and forth as she did. Kasey soon joined in, now following Aurora's 'lead'.

Pleased with this small turn of events, I felt confident enough to check on Paya. Making sure I kept the other two clearly in sight, I moved to kneel beside the sleeping child. I was immediately struck how her breathing appeared slightly labored, and a fine line of sweat now covered her forehead.

I fought down my alarm lest I disturb the otherchildren; I rose and reached for the nearest wall-phone. Keeping an eye on all three of them, I punched in the general address code and spoke into the receiver. "Pass the word: CMO please contact Conference Blue."

No sooner were the words out of my mouth than a most familiar voice chimed over the receiver. "Conference Blue, Commander Creo."

"Lieutenant Mahn here, Sir."

"Is it urgent, Lieutenant?"

"I am...uncertain, Sir. I have two Colonial children here, one of whom appears to be in some distress."

"Colonial children? Wha...?"

"The daughters of a member of the Quorum who is visiting."

"Of all the idiotic...I'll be there in five! Creo clear."

I settled the receiver back on its cradle and turned back to my charges. Kasey had retaken the 'lead' and was executing mini-barrel rolls around Aurora's plane. For her part, Aurora was attempting to copy these moves, her limited dexterity impeding this but only a bit. I would have marveled still longer at her ever-growing store of surprises when Commander Creo breezed in barely two minutes later. I had learned the man was not one or stall when it came to children; he'd been a more frequent visitor to the Colonel's quarters aboard Olympus than the CO, XO and CAG combined. He also carried a surprisingly large medical case, clearly having come loaded for bear.

I moved to obscure his arrival from Kasey and quickly directed him towards Paya. Even so, Kasey sensed the new arrival and leaned around to view Commander Creo placing his stethoscope on Paya's chest.

"Who that?' she questioned practically.

"He is our ship's doctor. I am concerned about Payamin...Paya." I had hoped my faux pas would be enough to distract her from asking further. No such luck.

"Wus' he doin'?"

"He's checking to make sure nothing is wrong with Paya."

"Oh."

"Find out if she has any medical conditions, Lieutenant," the CMO ordered, readjusting the stethoscope's position.

"Kasey, does Paya get sick often?" I calmly asked her in her native tongue.

"No. Doc, she ha' a breathin' problem or somethin'."

I nodded and called gently over my shoulder "Sir? Her sister says she has some manner of lung condition that interrupts her breathing."

Commander Creo nodded and wrapped the stethoscope around his neck. "Yeah, that sounds about right. Doesn't sound like asthma right now, thank god. Probably a mild infection…" He opened the case and extracted a simple inhaler, making some small adjustments to its capsule, followed by a cool compress. "Lieutenant? A moment please?"

"Stay here please, Kasey,"I directed, then quickly moved to kneel beside the CMO. "Sir?"

He handed me the compress and inhaler. "Use these. I'm fairly sure it's nothing more serious than a bit of phlegm. The cloth goes on the back of her neck to reduce the sweats. Use the inhaler if she starts coughing when she wakes. Call me immediately if that happens. Understood?"

"Aye, Sir."

"And what the hell was Rich thinking, letting kids aboard like this?"

"I believe they accompanied their father aboard."

Commander Creo gave me a pointed look. "That was a rhetorical question, Lieutenant."

"I know, Sir."

Another look followed this, along with a shake of his bald head. "Thrace is really rubbing off on you, isn't she?"

"Yes, Sir."

"God help us. When her father gets back, inform him I very strongly advise him to bring both girls to MedBay so I can check them through."

"Yes, Sir." We saluted one another and he departed, doubtless to read a riot act to the CO. I did not envy the Commodore.

Turning back to Paya, I carefully eased the compress behind her neck and made sure she wasn't further discomforted. She appeared to relax however, which proved no small relief. Just as well as that was the same moment Aurora somehow unbalanced herself and tumbled onto her back.

The carpeting was sufficient padding that she wasn't hurt by this. If anything she appeared to appreciate this new perspective on the world as much as she had playing with Kasey, who just stared as if the toddler had suddenly grown an extra pair of arms. I moved back over to them, mindful to keep an eye on Paya as well, I knelt beside the ever-active Aurora, who ceased her wiggling and rocking from side to side as she started back up at me with her ever-clear blue eyes. Her intensity was…disconcerting…for one so small and fragile.

Not wanting to be left out, Kasey moved to kneel on the opposite of her and looked down as well. At first sight of her new playmate, Aurora resumed her waving and rocking.

"You're weird," Kasey declared, her tone not entirely friendly.

Aurora simply giggled, which led Kasey to glower even more.

I wondered how much longer we would have to wait for their parents. The odds of a diplomatic incident between these two were clearly increasing by the minute.

TBC…

De Author Seez: I realize recent chapters have been on the short side; chalk it up to a Muse that's been sparing with words and confirmation of a new arrival to the family. Plus which I'm under pessure from several directions, which is cutting into writing time seriously. I'm also sad to say this will be it for the next week or so as I will be out of the country for a personal matters this weekend. Thanks to everyone who has stuck with me thus far; I promise there will be more substantive developments to come.

In the meantime, please don't be shy about further feedback. It helps bribe the Muse! See you next week.