True to Ama's word, the warrior's weapons were returned to them at the entrance to the cave. Apollo had kept quiet about his exchange with Starbuck, apart from telling Sheba and Boomer that their friend was starting to feel better and they would see him the following day. Now that they were without an escort of Empyrean guards, he quickly caught them up on the course of events in Starbuck's chamber. They still had about fifteen centons until Jolly returned with the shuttle. Apollo suspected that Kella had led them in a wide, confusing loop on their way out of the cave to further disorient them.
"Starbuck seemed certain that Luana would try to contact us." He told them as they drew near the hilltop where they would wait.
"She'd better or we're out of options already." Boomer told him. "There's no way we'll find our way back to him and those ladies are well trained and well armed."
"I don't like having to put all our trust in a young girl that Starbuck has a hunch about." Sheba contributed.
"Starbuck is a good judge of people for the most part." Apollo's mind briefly reminded him of Chameleon. "It's the card player in him. Besides, it sounds like he got to know them fairly well."
"I'd say Starbuck is an excellent judge of character," a voice from above them said.
They looked up to see a slender, attractive, dark-haired women sitting comfortably on the branch of an enormous tree. They were aware it was possible they were being watched and quickly returned their gazes to each other.
"Luana?" Apollo asked, but the girl so resembled her sister that he knew it was she.
"Of course. Just stay under the tree. This would be a natural spot to wait for your ship. After all, it's the only tree large enough to give you all shelter from the rain. Kella is waiting to make sure you leave. I'm certain she can't see me though."
"Luana, I'm Apollo. This is Sheba and Boomer." They nodded their greeting. "Starbuck needs to get back to the Galactica for medical care, Luana. How can we get him out?" Apollo asked.
"I've been thinking about it for quite a while. I think our only chance is for me to sneak him out through another exit. He's deep inside the caverns. There is an old passage that isn't used any longer. I explored it with my father when I was young so I know it well. It will lead us to the other side of that ridge." She pointed west. "I'll need time though, at least until dark for things to quiet down enough to get Starbuck out. And it will take us a while to emerge from the mountain."
"Did Starbuck look fit enough to hike through an abandoned passage?" Boomer asked Apollo.
Apollo sighed. "I'm not so sure. Luana, could we meet you in this passage in case Starbuck needs help?"
"Well . . . I think I could probably give you good enough directions to find the mouth of the cave, but it is hidden. Once you found the entrance though, it would be easy to get lost in the tunnels unless you knew where you were going. I'm afraid it's not as easy as saying 'stick to the right'. Look, if Starbuck can't do it, I'll leave him and come get you, but he's strong and stubborn and would just hate having a girl go one up on him. I'm willing to bet he'll make it."
"Sounds like Luana is an excellent judge of character too. Or at least in Starbuck's case." Sheba chuckled.
Luana proceeded to give descriptive details of landmarks to identify the entrance to the cave. She also suggested how far away they land the shuttle so as not to be seen by the Empyreans. Apollo started to give her a time for a rendezvous when he realized he had not seen a chronometer on the Empyreans. They spoke in terms of late morning and after dark. They seemed to keep track of yahrens though. Odd.
"Luana, do you know how long a centar is?" Apollo asked her.
"Roughly. We don't have a functioning timepiece anymore. We track time more by light of day now." She replied.
"Well, then, roughly how many centars would it take for you to get Starbuck out of the cave?"
"Roughly three centars. That would be complete darkness."
Boomer checked his chronometer. "I'd make that 1800 centars. Will people be settling that early?"
"Oh, yes. We sleep when it's dark and work when it's light. I will need two of your illuminators. Lia has Starbuck's and somehow I don't think she'd lend it to me." Sheba handed them over. They had come prepared to light their way in the caves.
"Luana, how will your people react to your helping Starbuck?" Apollo asked.
"Well, if tomorrow's meeting goes well, none of that will matter. I'm going to join the Colonial Service and become a warrior." She replied proudly.
"You will be a fine warrior," Apollo responded. Boomer and Sheba nodded their agreement.