Starbuck was lying very still. His head was still pounding. His stomach was burning in such discomfort that he was starting to feel as though he had made a meal of molten lava. He knew his internal temperature was rising and he should drink something, but his last attempt had caused excruciating pain in his stomach. He had lain back down and had not moved since. The water sat barely touched beside him. He tried to conserve his energy for when Luana returned . . . if Luana returned.

He heard voices approach and raised his head to see Ama, Lia and Kella return with another woman he had seen before. He tried to recall where.

"Starbuck," Ama started, "this is Rhiamon, our healer. She will ensure you are well by the morrow. We can't start our relationship with your people on a note of distrust."

Oh Frack. "Really, Ama, I'm fine. I just need some rest . . . and quiet." Starbuck tried to reassure her. This was the last thing he needed.

Lia intervened, "Starbuck, I promised the captain we would take care of you. Just let Rhiamon look at you. Please."

He sighed. He knew how stubborn Lia could be when she got an idea into her head. He might as well just get it over with. "Just a look?" he clarified.

Rhiamon was very old, but her eyes were sharp and her body fit. Her long grey hair was neatly tied back off her face, much as Lia wore hers. "I simply need to touch you," she told him holding her opened hands in front of her as if to convey that she was no threat to him.

Starbuck hadn't heard a woman say that to him since . . .

Rhiamon moved over to him and simply put a hand on his forehead. She then took his wrist and felt for his pulse. She wrinkled her face up in thought as though doing some complicated calculation. She gently replaced his hand and grasped his head between her hands lowering her face to his and gazing into his eyes. Starbuck stared back uncomfortably. He could feel the sweat that had recently beaded on his brow run down his temples and into his hair. She moved his head gently to the side and took a deep breath through her nose, inhaling his scent. Starbuck started to shift when he suddenly felt her tongue run up the side of his temple tasting him. He quickly sat up and moved back out of her reach against the wall of the cave.

"Hey, you said nothing about licking me!" he complained strenuously.

The other women chuckled at his response. Rhiamon got up and joined Ama. "It is as I thought. His humors are out of balance. His heart is racing, he is hot, and his eyes are mostly black now with the bad blood. I need to relieve the pressure."

Ama nodded her approval. "It is as I thought. Proceed, Rhiamon."

"Now just wait a centon, " Starbuck started to get off the platform, "what exactly are you planning to do to 'release the pressure'?"

"Why bleed you, of course. Surely your people are advanced enough in their skills that they are aware of the practice?" Rhiamon asked incredulously.

"What!" Starbuck stood up slowly. "That's barbaric! Sagan's sake, my eyes are almost black because my pupils are dilated. That's what happens in a dark room! Next you're going to tell me you need to bleed me because I taste salty!"

Rhiamon looked at him in surprise. "Then you are familiar with the practice!"

Kella and Lia advanced on him as Rhiamon pulled her blade out of her boot. "He is also agitated and restless, Ama. The bloodletting will help with that as well," Rhiamon continued as if Starbuck was a willing patient. At some unspoken signal the three women threw themselves upon him hurling him back on to the furs. He struggled against them and even managed to dislodge Rhiamon onto the ground. He was torn between defending himself and the bizarre realization that he was fighting women, one whose life he had recently saved. Reinforcements arrived and two more guards jumped into the fray. He could feel leather bindings tied to his hands and feet, and was soon secured to the frame of the platform. Ama watched silently.

"What the frack do you think you're doing? You can't do this!" he bellowed at them. Kella was tightening his wrist bindings so his arms were overextended laterally. He could feel his arm and shoulder muscles stretching uncomfortably. Two other guards were similarly tightening his foot restraints. He could not move a centimetron in any direction.

"Starbuck, we are trying to help you. Why can't you understand that?" Lia pleaded with him to understand. He could see tears in her eyes and knew she did not want to be a part of this.

"Lia, this is not going to help me! Our society proved centi-yahrens ago that bloodletting only weakens the body's natural immune system. It makes things worse. Now, get me the frack out of here!" He struggled ineffectively. He realized his only weapon now was his teeth or profanity. Well, he wasn't close enough to bite them so he let them have it with the profanity. Ironically, they had no idea what he was calling them.

"He is delirious, Lia, pay him no mind." Ama indicated that the young woman should leave. She did so with a concerned look back at Starbuck.