Halls
of Osiris
part
5:
Adama
leaned back in his chair and rubbed a hand over weary eyes. He and Tigh had been studying the sensor
logs from Bojay's viper for centauri now and he was still no closer to
understanding exactly what had taken place.
The
sensors had indicated a sudden energy spike across several bands emanating from
a planet that had shown no signs of habitation on the patrol's previous
fly-by. The patrol had contacted
Command and received permission to investigate with caution. Apollo and Bojay had flown over the area
where the mysterious energy spike had occurred, finding only a single structure, what Apollo had described as looking like a monument of some sort.
He
and Bojay had landed to investigate further, Apollo leaving his vessel to approach the structure while Bojay reported
their progress. No sooner had Apollo
gotten within a few metrons of the structure than the energy readings had
suddenly started to climb, coinciding
with the audio recording of a sound like heavy machinery followed by a rushing
of wind. Then new life form readings
appeared, apparently out of thin
air.
The
audio recording offered the most information about the next events: the unmistakable sound of energy weapons
being discharged; Apollo's voice shouting
for Bojay to launch; the sound of the
viper's engines powering up; the sound
of weapons' fire hitting its mark, causing the damage to viper and pilot that had left Bojay wounded and
adrift in orbit above the planet's surface.
The
viper's damaged sensor array had recorded nothing further, and its pilot had yet to regain
consciousness.
"There's
no real choice, Adama," Tigh's voice broke into his thoughts, calm and reasonable as always. "We have to know what happened to those
pilots."
"I
know, my friend. I know. I just hate the thought of sending more warriors into that system with
as little information as we have. It
could be a death-trap."
"Which
is precisely why they have to go."
"Yes. We can't lead the Fleet through this area of
space without knowing for certain that we haven't an additional enemy poised on
our flank." The Galactica's
commander contemplated the stylus in his hand for a long moment, then nodded to his exec. "Go, then. Arrange a briefing with
the senior officers and select the landing party. Have them ready to go as soon as possible."
"Yes, sir." Colonel Tigh turned on his heel and strode sharply to the door, where he hesitated before turning back to
his commander and friend. "Adama—Apollo. You know it's possible—"
Adama
nodded sadly, touched by Tigh's awkward
attempt to console him. "Of
course, Colonel," he said gravely. "Anything is possible."
**********
Monitors
blinked sightlessly in the still of the ship=s night. Life Station was quiet, with only a few
patients and most of the personnel off-shift. Strange how, even after two years aboard ship, the human body sought out its natural rhythms of rest and
wakefulness.
Cassiopeia
moved slowly between the banks of life pods and stopped to check the readings
on the single occupied device. She
started slightly as something moved in her peripheral vision.
AHow is he?@
Cassiopeia
glanced toward the visitor but paused to make a slight adjustment to the pod=s settings before answering.
AThere=s been some improvement over
the last few centauri. Dr. Salik thinks he may regain consciousness
soon.@
The
man nodded, shuffling slightly.
AGood,@ he commented belatedly.
Cassie
watched him out of the corner of her eye as she finished with her patient.
ASo,@ she said, breaking what was becoming an
awkward silence. AAny word from the recon
flight?@
He
winced, then grimaced in an attempt to
cover his first reaction.
"They
found what was left of the other viper," he answered flatly.
Cassiopeia
took a deep breath. "He crashed, then."
"No."
She
waited for him to continue.
He
sighed heavily, running one hand
through his hair in a gesture of frustration.
"From
what they saw it doesn't look like he even got it off the ground."
She
closed her eyes briefly. "Oh, Starbuck. I'm so sorry."
The
warrior shook his head slowly. "Not
yet, Cassie. They haven't found any evidence that Apollo was in the viper when
it blew." He attempted a cheeky grin
that never made it to his eyes.
"Have
they found any evidence that he wasn't?" she asked softly.
"Don't give up on him yet." The words emerged as a pained whisper.
She
smiled sadly and reached out to lay a hand on his shoulder. He allowed the contact for only a moment
before stepping just out of reach.
"I
haven't given up on him, Starbuck. It's just. . ." She sighed softly. "I
think you should be prepared. . ."
"I
am prepared," he snapped. "We're warriors. We're always prepared. Just—not yet, okay, Cass?"
She
nodded silently. Stepping forward, she encircled his waist with her arms, laying her head softly against his
chest. After several microns he relaxed
into her embrace and returned it.
"Has
anyone spoken with Boxey?"
Starbuck
shifted uncomfortably. "No. He knows his dad is overdue, but that's all. The Commander wants to wait until we know for sure."
Cassiopeia
pulled back a little to study his face.
"He's
going to need someone, Starbuck," she said carefully.
The
warrior shrugged, using the motion to
pull out of her arms.
"Athena's
there," he replied diffidently.
"That's
not what I meant."
"Yeah. I know. Listen, Cassie," he rushed to change from the uncomfortable
subject. "I need you to talk to Salik
for me. Get me off the sick list."
"Starbuck—"
"Cassie. The Commander's sending a squad down to that
planet to check it out. I want. .
. I need
to be on it."
"You
haven't finished the antibiotic series yet."
"I
feel fine. There's only a little bit
left. I'll finish the series
planetside."
Cassiopeia
eyed him for a moment, trying to judge
her chances of changing his mind. He had been on desk duty for two sectons due
to a mild upper respiratory infection that had traveled to his inner ear. Starbuck was a restless patient in the best
of circumstances, but since Apollo had
gone MIA. . .she sighed again.
"Come
back in the morning. I'll schedule you
for reassessment. When Dr. Salik gets here he can check you out
himself. If there's no sign of the
infection, I'm reasonably sure he'll
let you go."
"Thanks, Cass."
Starbuck
reached out and took her hand, squeezing it briefly before turning to go.
