Whirrrrrr. Whirrrrrr.
"Stop it."
*SNAP*
"Uuhrrrup. "
"Stop it you frakin daggit!"
*SNAP*
"Boxey! We don't use language like that here."
"Yes, auntie Athena."
Athena put down the toys she was picking up and walked over to sit in the chair next to Boxey. He didn't look up but continued to stare at the pile of broken color drawing sticks that were piled into a small mound on the table before him, deliberately ignoring Muffet. "What's wrong?" she asked "Don't you want to play with Muffy?"
"No." Boxey picked up another stick and snapped it in two. *SNAP*
Athena moved the few remaining sticks away from Boxey's destructive grasp. "Why not?"
"I just don't!" With a rush of anger Boxey jumped up from his chair and marched across the room over to the vidscreen and turned it on.
Athena frowned and followed him dismayed at his mood. "Boxey, do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently. She'd been busy all afternoon with her hands full, watching and supervising the Youth Center's kids, and she hadn't noticed until now how quiet the normally rambunctious Boxey had been.
"No." He crossed his arms across his chest as he flung himself down to sit on the couch, staring stubbornly at the vidscreen,giving a clear indication that he was upset and didn't want to talk about it. Not a situation Athena thought should be left alone.
Moving over to the couch she sat quietly next to her nephew and watched him for a few centons. Athena knew Boxey had been having a hard time with his grandfather's death. He had unexpectedly thrown quite a tantrum the night they'd told him about Adama's death and poor Apollo had been completely unprepared for it. Boxey had been through so much, and they'd been so lucky that he'd managed to coped so well with it all, that when he didn't, they were at a loss at how to handle it. Then, today, when Athena had arrived at the Youth Center, and Boxey appeared to be doing just fine, she'd let herself think that he was over the worst of it. She shook her head in reproach. How could she expect a small child to be over it when she, an adult, was not? "I miss your grandfather too," she whispered finally.
His eyes suspiciously sparkled with unshed tears, but he still refused to look at anything but the vidscreen.
"Don't you miss him too?" Athena asked gently trying to get past the pain she could now see behind those all too bright eyes.
"No." Boxey croaked out the one word response as a barely contained sob.
Athena was taken aback by his response. "Why Boxey?" she asked as she leaned over to wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him close, but he angrily pushed it off and moved farther down the couch. The angry scowl on his small face would have been comical if the situation wasn't so serious. Athena sat there unsure what to do but afraid to push him at this point.
Just then Sheba entered the Youth Center and spotted Athena. "Athena? I didn't know you were Youth Protector today," she said as she looked around the room. "I was looking for Cassiopeia."
"She said she had some tests to run in Life Center so she asked me to help out for a few hours today." Athena got up and walked over to where Sheba stood by the door. "Rigel's in the video room with most of the kids."
"Oh, I was hoping to catch Cassiopeia and have a word with her." Sheba looked around at the mess of toys and papers strewn across the floor. There was no unruly herd of kids currently playing in the room but she could hear the loud jabbering of kids talking over the sound of a video in the next room. "I didn't think this was something you'd want to volunteer for."
"Oh, why not?" Athena asked as she walked over to the table " I love kids." She began to pick up the broken color sticks then looked back over at Boxey, a worried frown on her face. Straightening up she turned her attention back to Sheba. "As a matter of fact I was one of the first teachers when Kenton set up the learning center."
"Really? I didn't know that. So why aren't you still teaching?" Sheba asked curiously.
"Well, there were others more qualified for the job than I and in the end it was a bit much with my bridge duties. Besides, I needed the extra time so I could get as much in-Viper flying time as I could." Sheba nodded in understanding. Adama had tried to keep his only daughter safely on the bridge. Subtly but not overtly stalling her attempts to remain an active pilot, stating that they needed bridge officers as much as they need pilots. Perversely Athena wondered what her father would have thought of how ironic that situation had turned out.
Looking past Athena, Sheba spotted Boxey and smiled. "Hi Boxey, how are you doing?" she asked, but Boxey studiously ignored her. Sheba looked inquiringly at Athena who motioned her back over to the door.
"He's really upset today and won't talk to me about it."
"Oh." Sheba looked back over at Boxey her concern evident as she took in the crossed arms and angry face. "How did he take...Adama's death?" she asked, and Athena didn't know if was emotion or sympathy that caused her to hesitate.
"About as well as the rest of us," Athena sighed then looked over at Sheba and let how worried she truly was show through. "Worse actually," she confessed. "He refused to believe me when I told him. He kept yelling at me that I was wrong, that the bridge was the safest place on the Galactica and his dad would come and prove him right and me wrong." Athena looked anxiously back over at Boxey. "It broke my heart to see the look of betrayal Boxey gave Apollo when he showed up and had to tell him it was true. Apollo's had a hard time with him ever since."
"Really?" Sheba looked troubled. "I didn't know."
"You didn't? But, I thought...." Athena began but Sheba cut her off with a shake of her head. Now that was news to Athena. The last time she had taken notice of her brother and Sheba, they were clearly an item. She wondered what had happened and when?
"No, not for a while." Sheba looked away obviously not wanting to discuss the matter. "Do you mind if I try and talk to him?" She gestured to Boxey.
"No, please." Athena stepped aside and watched Sheba walked over to where Boxey sat, arms no longer crossed but still obviously upset, as he circumspectly watched Sheba approach. Athena decided to stay where she was, not wanting to make Boxey feel like they were ganging up on him but still close enough if needed.
Sheba stopped and stood beside Boxey waiting for him to take notice of her. When he refused to do so she knelt down before him. "Hi Boxey, it's good to see you. I've missed you."
"No you haven't," Boxey challenged back, staring straight ahead, even though he could no longer see most of the vidscreen."
"I haven't? Of course I have, why wouldn't I?" Sheba countered. She was worried about this cold and almost hostile greeting.
"You would have come to see me if you did," he answered as his anger seemed to drain out of him. "But you didn't," he whispered softly, bewildered and hurt. "You just stopped coming." Athena could barely hear him now and she wondered how much this was hurting Sheba as her own tears threatened. But, Boxey wasn't done with his mood swings for the day and just as suddenly as his anger had left it returned in full force. Athena cringed; the look he turned on Sheba was filled with resentment "I guess I was just a silly little kid to think you cared about me."
Sheba was obviously taken aback by this. Athena knew how much Sheba cared for Boxey - loved him in fact. She had once described him to Athena as a sometimes-annoying yet lovable little boy that she couldn't get out of her system. It must have been very painful for her since well, whatever had happened between Apollo and her. It was quite apparent it had hurt Boxey too.
"Oh Boxey, of course I care about you. I'll always care for you no matter what." Sheba took his small hands in hers trying to get him to look back at her. Athena could see the tears brimming in Sheba's eyes.
"But, you stopped coming by. I figured you didn't care about us anymore," he said his anger once again replaced by uncertainty.
"I'm so sorry Boxey, it's all so complicated." Sheba squeezed his hands as he looked doubtfully down at her "But, you're right, that's not an excuse. I didn't mean to hurt you and of course I care. It's not like I can stop caring for you like I would turn off a switch."
"But you stopped caring for my dad."
Sheba looked helplessly over at Athena, who was by no means any help at all, as she raised her eyebrows, also awaiting Sheba's response.
Sheba looked back at Boxey. "It's complicated with adults Boxey." She gave his hands a gentle shake "But, I DO care for you and I have no intention of stopping. I've missed you. How about I talk with your dad about us spending some time together. OK?"
"Then you still care about me?" he looked back at her uncertainly.
"Yes, I do," Sheba said forcefully.
"Then why don't you come by anymore?" Boxey asked.
Sheba sighed and spoke very softly, "You'll have to ask your dad that one."
_____________________________
Two sleek Vipers flew silently through the darkness of space rapidly approaching a planetary system that stretched out before them. The light from the systems sun was so dim at this distance that the ships' blood red markings appeared gray.
"Hey Boomer you awake over there?" Across the darkness of space Starbuck could just make out the illuminated outline of Boomer's face as he turned his head to glance over in his direction.
"Yeah, I was just thinking," came the subdued response.
"Hum, careful you might get into the habit," Starbuck replied solemnly.
"Huh, oh thanks!" Boomer grumbled, injured..
"Anytime." Starbuck shot back, cheerfully.
"Doesn't anything bother you when you're out here?" Boomer wondered anew at Starbuck's never-ending optimism.
"Lots of things but, I just don't given 'em a chance to ruin my naturally charming disposition."
Boomer could just imagine Starbuck tossing his head back, brushing his hair out of his eyes and giving one of his devilish smiles as he spoke. He snorted. "Uh huh. Seriously, it's a bit scary when you think about our odds of survival out here."
"I don't do *seriously*," Starbuck interjected "and I definitely don't put it and *odds* in the same sentence!".
"Yeah right, well...."
"No, really Boomer." And now Boomer could hear the earnestness in Starbuck's voice. "I've given up on doing the odds for this fleet. The odds have been against us since day one of this nightmare and if I had believed in those odds I would've given up sectars ago! But, this fleet doesn't *do* odds. What this fleet does *do* is miracles! And yes, at times it seems like it would take a miracle for us to survive. But then again Boomer, that's what we do best."
"You know you have a very unique perspective on things, Starbuck." Boomer replied, his mood improved despite himself.
"That's what they pay me for!" quipped Starbuck.
*Beep* *Beep*
Boomer could hear the alarm sounding in Starbuck's Viper a micron before his own sounded.
"Got something." Starbuck was all business now.
"Yah, I got it too." Boomer watched his scanner try to lock on the signal it had detected. It couldn't identify it. He switched the view selector to directional mode and watched as the screen shifted to a view showing the solar system before them, one sun and seven planets. Then, as his systems tracked the source of the signal, the view changed again to show the third planet with its five satellites.
"It looks like it's just beyond the second moon of the third planet," Starbuck said. "You wait here while I go in behind the planet and take a closer look."
"Be careful we don't want to be detected ourselves," Boomer cautioned.
"Careful is my middle name." Starbuck said as his Viper sped away from Boomer's and headed toward the planet.
_________________________
Athena put three fruit juices down on the table, "I think Cassiopeia told me they were Kella flavor today."
"I haven't had Kella fruit in so long I think I've forgotten what it tastes like," Sheba exclaimed. "How about you, Boxey, do you like Kella fruit?"
Boxey shrugged his shoulders noncommittally as he punched his drinking straw through the thin foil cover of the fruit juice container.
"What is your favorite flavor then?" Athena asked as she watched Sheba try unsuccessfully to punch her straw though the top of her fruit container.
"Frak, I can never do these things."
"We aren't supposed to use that kind of language here," Boxey replied with a sidelong glace at Athena.
Athena had to stifle a laugh with a cough at Boxey's obvious attempt at doing an impression of herself. She caught the mischief in that glance and wondered anew at the rapid change in moods kids could have. "You're right! What do you think we should do about it?" she asked him as her eyes implored Sheba to go along. "Shall we have Sheba stand in the corner?" she asked, but at Boxey's shrug, she tried harder. "Or maybe make her write an apology on the wall board 10 times?"
"Yeah, maybe," he said as he looked over at Sheba then back at Athena. They both saw the mischievous spark that ignited in his eyes. "Maybe we should...."And he dashed from the couch and grabbed up a small canister from the floor.
"Oh no!" Sheba got up holding her arms out before her and began backing up. "No, that's not a good idea...." she began as Boxey let loose and sprayed her with that childhood favorite and adult nightmare, Crazy String. She felt it should have more correctly been called Staining String and groaned loudly as she allowed herself to be pelted with the rope-like, rubbery, colored strings. Boxey giggled maniacally as he closed in for the kill, spraying the sticking stuff on Sheba's hair and face. Athena was no help, as she laughed encouragingly from the safety of the couch.
"What's going on here?"
They all froze guiltily and stared at the doorway where Apollo and Cassiopeia stood quite stunned at the sight before them.
"Boxey, how many times have I told you kids not to spray that stuff on people's hair!" Cassiopeia admonished as she regained her senses.
Apollo just stood inside the doorway and looked on in amazement at all the strings clinging to Sheba and tried not to laugh.
Cassiopeia quickly crossed the room and held out her hand to Boxey.
"It's Sheba's punishment...." Boxey began as he reluctantly handed over the offending weapon.
"We were just having some fun," Athena interrupted.
"No harm was done..." Sheba protested as she tugged at the stringy mess in her hair.
Boxey walked back to the couch, kicking at an errant toy on his way.
Apollo's smile faded as he watched his son sulk to the couch and plop himself down in front of the videscreen. "Boxey?" he called out after him, only to have his son studiously ignore him. Apollo sighed heavily and looked over at Athena. "How was he today?"
"Quiet. I was so busy with the other kids I barely even noticed him today. Then just a while ago I caught him swearing at Muffit. When I asked him about it he got mad at me. Luckily, Sheba came along and together we managed to improve his mood. As you can see, it was not without some cost on Sheba's part."
"Too bad it didn't last very long," Sheba pointed out.
"Yeah." Apollo motioned to her yards of newly acquired strings. "Thanks for your sacrifice. It looked like he was enjoying it."
"He was." Sheba stopped tugging at the coating of strings and looked up at Apollo "I was, too. I've really missed him." Sheba searched Apollo's face for a moment then turned back toward Boxey. "He thinks I stopped caring for him simply because I haven't been around. He's wrong." Sheba looked back at Apollo, who was staring at her, his expression unreadable. "I'd like to spend some time with him occasionally, so he doesn't forget that." Sheba paused then asked " Is that alright with you?"
Apollo didn't say anything at first. He just stared at Sheba with a unreadable expression. "Sure," was all he finally said.
Athena watched the interchange between the two and didn't know if she dared breathe, lest she break the moment. Sheba had clearly indicated that she and Apollo were estranged; yet the atmosphere around the two fairly shimmered with desire. Athena was dying to know what was going on.
Then the moment was lost, and Apollo turned away.
Sheba walked over to Cassiopeia as Apollo went to stand next to Boxey.
"Boxey?"
Boxey sat rigid, his eyes fixed on the screen before him, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge his father.
Apprehensive, Apollo sat down next to Boxey. His voice filled with emotion as he softly whispered, "Boxey, please look at me."
"No," came the stubborn reply.
"Please?" Apollo was trying to keep his emotions under control. He didn't think he could go through another scene like last night with Boxey shouting that he hated him.
"I don't wanta." Once again he crossed his arms across his chest, determined to be angry.
"Why not?" Apollo coaxed. Apollo knew Boxey was angry with him for breaking his faith by telling him his grandfather was gone. Apollo could still remember that look Boxey had given him. It was as if he'd extinguished something inside him. Apollo had always been amazed and thankful for Boxey's resilience to all that had happened; the destruction exploding around him, the lost of his dagget and then the terrible loss of his mother. Yet, he had gone through it all and still retained that spark of innocent hope that things would still be alright in the end. It was that spark that Apollo feared he had extinguished, along with his son's trust in him.
"Because."
"Are you mad at me?"
"I guess," came the uncertain answer.
"Oh," was all Apollo could say for a few moments. He desperately looked around the room as if looking for something that could help him solve his problem. His mind searched for a way to get past Boxey's anger. His gaze passed over Sheba as she talked to Cassiopeia on the other side of the room. He smiled slowly. If Sheba had seen it she'd have been better prepared.
"Sheba, could you come over here?" he called out to her.
Sheba looked over and saw him bend down, then stand up and gesture for her to join him by the couch. As she approached she noticed Boxey looking worriedly from one adult to the other. Once she was there, Apollo turned back toward Boxey.
"You know, Boxey, it's not right to spray this stuff in other people's hair," Apollo said in his most official "Captain" voice. Boxey looked guiltily up at Apollo then over to Sheba. His anger was gone in a moment of panic as he sensed a disciplinary storm coming.
Ignoring the panicked look on his son's face, Apollo continued, "If you're going to shoot someone, the proper place is between the eyes." And before Sheba could react, Apollo aimed the can he'd retrieved from the floor at her head and set words into action as he shot her, right between the eyes, with strings.
Ignoring her started protests, Apollo then turned his weapon on Boxey. Boxey's jaw dropped and he looked up at his father, stunned. Surely his dad didn't just do that? As Apollo turned the can toward him, Boxey let out a squeal as he ducked the first shot and propelled himself off the couch, giggling as he ran across the room. He grabbed up his confiscated can from the shelf where Cassiopeia had put it and turned to return fire, only to find Apollo was already on him. They faced off and splattered each other with yards and yards of colored sticky stings, howling in sheer joy. Laughing, both stood there admiring each other's new coating of strings, when Apollo grinned at Boxey and purposefully looked back over his shoulder at Sheba.
Sheba's eyes went wide as she feebly placed her hands before her to ward off the attack, but it was too late, as two cans of strings pelted her, plastering her uniform with a new coating of strings. Once Boxey's can was empty, he launched himself at his dad, tumbling him into Sheba, and they all went crashing to the ground in a heap of giggling, laughing strings.
Boxey climbed up on Apollo's back, giggling with delight as he proclaimed himself king of the daggit pile with whoops of laughter. Apollo laughingly looked down at Sheba, who lay beneath him shaking, helpless with her own laughter. She looked up at him, and her smile froze on her face as his gaze turned from humorous to something else. She just stared at him like a forest antelope caught in a hovercraft's lights. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her but then Boxey tumbled off Apollo, accidentally kicking him in the side, breaking the spell.
Apollo quickly rolled off of Sheba and got to his feet, stripping off the strings as he went. Hastily, he turned back to offer her a hand up, but she was already on her knees and didn't take the offered hand as she rose to her feet.
Athena, who was now standing next to Cassie, noticed the exchange. As Sheba turned away and began removing the strings from her hair, Athena watched Apollo. His gaze fairly devoured Sheba but as soon as she turned back, he looked away.
"What's with that?" she quietly murmured.
"I wish I knew" Cassiopeia responded.
Athena looked over at Cassiopeia to inquire about what she might know about the situation when the alert sounded.
Apollo and Sheba reacted immediately as they both bolted for the door, but the sudden scream from Boxey stopped them in their tracks.
"NO! Don't go!" Boxey lunged forward. Apollo barely managed to catch him as he leaped up and clasped his arms around Apollo's neck, holding on for all he was worth. "Don't go. Don't go. Please, Dad, don't go!" .
Apollo was shaken by the sudden emotional outburst. Never had Boxey acted like this before. Apollo was at a loss on how to deal with this new disturbing aspect of his son. "Boxey, I have to. I don't have a choice. You know that," he said trying to sooth his son, yet gently pry his arms from around his neck. Once freed, Apollo held Boxey's hands in his and looked into his son's terrified eyes. "Boxey, I'm a Warrior," he started, then stopped and tried another approach. "I'm not leaving the Galactica. I'll just be on the bridge..."
"I know, I don't want you to go there," Boxey whispered, his fear still very evident.
Apollo understood, and he hated himself for what he had to do, but he didn't have the time they needed to discuss this. "I know you don't, but I have to go." Apollo lifted up Boxey, handed him over to Cassiopeia and turned and left. He tried not to listen to Boxey call out after him as the door closed behind him.
___________________
"What is it?" Apollo asked Omega as he came up behind him.
"We're getting a partially jammed transmission from one of our patrols, " Omega answered, his voice calm as ever. Apollo wondered if anything would jar that calm while Omega was on duty.
"Let's hear it"
".......Patrol 1 to Gal..tica.......detected........third moon.......lon......"
Apollo instantly recognized the voice - Starbuck! There was no emotion in the static filled transmission, but Apollo had been Starbuck's wingman long enough to hear the concern in his voice, and a concerned Starbuck was a Starbuck in trouble.
"That's it. The rest is just static," Omega said as he stopped the playback and turned around to look at Apollo. "Possibly the transmission is just being affected by the nebula Patrol 3 discovered and not actually jammed. It was giving off tremendous radiation bursts."
Apollo gave Omega a knowing look "You don't believe that anymore than I do," he said. "Launch Blue and Green squadrons to check it out." Apollo had to fight down the suffocating anxiety as he ordered others out to do what he desperately wanted to do himself - help Starbuck. "What sector were they patrolling?"
Omega walked over to the large star chart behind the bridge's main station. He pointed to a system in the upper right of the chart. "They're checking out a planetary system in quadrant Gamma delta 4, by Beta 3, delta 2."
"It sounds like they may have found our missing basestar," Apollo said as he looked over the chart, noting the distance of the system to the fleet. Most definitely close enough to be the basestar that had launch the attack on them. Far enough away to avoid detection and attack but close enough to keep and eye on them. "What's the status of our maneuvering thrusters?"
"Still off line while under repair," Omega replied.
"Get me Shadrick. We're a sitting target if we can't maneuver!"
"Stop it."
*SNAP*
"Uuhrrrup. "
"Stop it you frakin daggit!"
*SNAP*
"Boxey! We don't use language like that here."
"Yes, auntie Athena."
Athena put down the toys she was picking up and walked over to sit in the chair next to Boxey. He didn't look up but continued to stare at the pile of broken color drawing sticks that were piled into a small mound on the table before him, deliberately ignoring Muffet. "What's wrong?" she asked "Don't you want to play with Muffy?"
"No." Boxey picked up another stick and snapped it in two. *SNAP*
Athena moved the few remaining sticks away from Boxey's destructive grasp. "Why not?"
"I just don't!" With a rush of anger Boxey jumped up from his chair and marched across the room over to the vidscreen and turned it on.
Athena frowned and followed him dismayed at his mood. "Boxey, do you want to talk about it?" she asked gently. She'd been busy all afternoon with her hands full, watching and supervising the Youth Center's kids, and she hadn't noticed until now how quiet the normally rambunctious Boxey had been.
"No." He crossed his arms across his chest as he flung himself down to sit on the couch, staring stubbornly at the vidscreen,giving a clear indication that he was upset and didn't want to talk about it. Not a situation Athena thought should be left alone.
Moving over to the couch she sat quietly next to her nephew and watched him for a few centons. Athena knew Boxey had been having a hard time with his grandfather's death. He had unexpectedly thrown quite a tantrum the night they'd told him about Adama's death and poor Apollo had been completely unprepared for it. Boxey had been through so much, and they'd been so lucky that he'd managed to coped so well with it all, that when he didn't, they were at a loss at how to handle it. Then, today, when Athena had arrived at the Youth Center, and Boxey appeared to be doing just fine, she'd let herself think that he was over the worst of it. She shook her head in reproach. How could she expect a small child to be over it when she, an adult, was not? "I miss your grandfather too," she whispered finally.
His eyes suspiciously sparkled with unshed tears, but he still refused to look at anything but the vidscreen.
"Don't you miss him too?" Athena asked gently trying to get past the pain she could now see behind those all too bright eyes.
"No." Boxey croaked out the one word response as a barely contained sob.
Athena was taken aback by his response. "Why Boxey?" she asked as she leaned over to wrap an arm around his shoulders and pull him close, but he angrily pushed it off and moved farther down the couch. The angry scowl on his small face would have been comical if the situation wasn't so serious. Athena sat there unsure what to do but afraid to push him at this point.
Just then Sheba entered the Youth Center and spotted Athena. "Athena? I didn't know you were Youth Protector today," she said as she looked around the room. "I was looking for Cassiopeia."
"She said she had some tests to run in Life Center so she asked me to help out for a few hours today." Athena got up and walked over to where Sheba stood by the door. "Rigel's in the video room with most of the kids."
"Oh, I was hoping to catch Cassiopeia and have a word with her." Sheba looked around at the mess of toys and papers strewn across the floor. There was no unruly herd of kids currently playing in the room but she could hear the loud jabbering of kids talking over the sound of a video in the next room. "I didn't think this was something you'd want to volunteer for."
"Oh, why not?" Athena asked as she walked over to the table " I love kids." She began to pick up the broken color sticks then looked back over at Boxey, a worried frown on her face. Straightening up she turned her attention back to Sheba. "As a matter of fact I was one of the first teachers when Kenton set up the learning center."
"Really? I didn't know that. So why aren't you still teaching?" Sheba asked curiously.
"Well, there were others more qualified for the job than I and in the end it was a bit much with my bridge duties. Besides, I needed the extra time so I could get as much in-Viper flying time as I could." Sheba nodded in understanding. Adama had tried to keep his only daughter safely on the bridge. Subtly but not overtly stalling her attempts to remain an active pilot, stating that they needed bridge officers as much as they need pilots. Perversely Athena wondered what her father would have thought of how ironic that situation had turned out.
Looking past Athena, Sheba spotted Boxey and smiled. "Hi Boxey, how are you doing?" she asked, but Boxey studiously ignored her. Sheba looked inquiringly at Athena who motioned her back over to the door.
"He's really upset today and won't talk to me about it."
"Oh." Sheba looked back over at Boxey her concern evident as she took in the crossed arms and angry face. "How did he take...Adama's death?" she asked, and Athena didn't know if was emotion or sympathy that caused her to hesitate.
"About as well as the rest of us," Athena sighed then looked over at Sheba and let how worried she truly was show through. "Worse actually," she confessed. "He refused to believe me when I told him. He kept yelling at me that I was wrong, that the bridge was the safest place on the Galactica and his dad would come and prove him right and me wrong." Athena looked anxiously back over at Boxey. "It broke my heart to see the look of betrayal Boxey gave Apollo when he showed up and had to tell him it was true. Apollo's had a hard time with him ever since."
"Really?" Sheba looked troubled. "I didn't know."
"You didn't? But, I thought...." Athena began but Sheba cut her off with a shake of her head. Now that was news to Athena. The last time she had taken notice of her brother and Sheba, they were clearly an item. She wondered what had happened and when?
"No, not for a while." Sheba looked away obviously not wanting to discuss the matter. "Do you mind if I try and talk to him?" She gestured to Boxey.
"No, please." Athena stepped aside and watched Sheba walked over to where Boxey sat, arms no longer crossed but still obviously upset, as he circumspectly watched Sheba approach. Athena decided to stay where she was, not wanting to make Boxey feel like they were ganging up on him but still close enough if needed.
Sheba stopped and stood beside Boxey waiting for him to take notice of her. When he refused to do so she knelt down before him. "Hi Boxey, it's good to see you. I've missed you."
"No you haven't," Boxey challenged back, staring straight ahead, even though he could no longer see most of the vidscreen."
"I haven't? Of course I have, why wouldn't I?" Sheba countered. She was worried about this cold and almost hostile greeting.
"You would have come to see me if you did," he answered as his anger seemed to drain out of him. "But you didn't," he whispered softly, bewildered and hurt. "You just stopped coming." Athena could barely hear him now and she wondered how much this was hurting Sheba as her own tears threatened. But, Boxey wasn't done with his mood swings for the day and just as suddenly as his anger had left it returned in full force. Athena cringed; the look he turned on Sheba was filled with resentment "I guess I was just a silly little kid to think you cared about me."
Sheba was obviously taken aback by this. Athena knew how much Sheba cared for Boxey - loved him in fact. She had once described him to Athena as a sometimes-annoying yet lovable little boy that she couldn't get out of her system. It must have been very painful for her since well, whatever had happened between Apollo and her. It was quite apparent it had hurt Boxey too.
"Oh Boxey, of course I care about you. I'll always care for you no matter what." Sheba took his small hands in hers trying to get him to look back at her. Athena could see the tears brimming in Sheba's eyes.
"But, you stopped coming by. I figured you didn't care about us anymore," he said his anger once again replaced by uncertainty.
"I'm so sorry Boxey, it's all so complicated." Sheba squeezed his hands as he looked doubtfully down at her "But, you're right, that's not an excuse. I didn't mean to hurt you and of course I care. It's not like I can stop caring for you like I would turn off a switch."
"But you stopped caring for my dad."
Sheba looked helplessly over at Athena, who was by no means any help at all, as she raised her eyebrows, also awaiting Sheba's response.
Sheba looked back at Boxey. "It's complicated with adults Boxey." She gave his hands a gentle shake "But, I DO care for you and I have no intention of stopping. I've missed you. How about I talk with your dad about us spending some time together. OK?"
"Then you still care about me?" he looked back at her uncertainly.
"Yes, I do," Sheba said forcefully.
"Then why don't you come by anymore?" Boxey asked.
Sheba sighed and spoke very softly, "You'll have to ask your dad that one."
_____________________________
Two sleek Vipers flew silently through the darkness of space rapidly approaching a planetary system that stretched out before them. The light from the systems sun was so dim at this distance that the ships' blood red markings appeared gray.
"Hey Boomer you awake over there?" Across the darkness of space Starbuck could just make out the illuminated outline of Boomer's face as he turned his head to glance over in his direction.
"Yeah, I was just thinking," came the subdued response.
"Hum, careful you might get into the habit," Starbuck replied solemnly.
"Huh, oh thanks!" Boomer grumbled, injured..
"Anytime." Starbuck shot back, cheerfully.
"Doesn't anything bother you when you're out here?" Boomer wondered anew at Starbuck's never-ending optimism.
"Lots of things but, I just don't given 'em a chance to ruin my naturally charming disposition."
Boomer could just imagine Starbuck tossing his head back, brushing his hair out of his eyes and giving one of his devilish smiles as he spoke. He snorted. "Uh huh. Seriously, it's a bit scary when you think about our odds of survival out here."
"I don't do *seriously*," Starbuck interjected "and I definitely don't put it and *odds* in the same sentence!".
"Yeah right, well...."
"No, really Boomer." And now Boomer could hear the earnestness in Starbuck's voice. "I've given up on doing the odds for this fleet. The odds have been against us since day one of this nightmare and if I had believed in those odds I would've given up sectars ago! But, this fleet doesn't *do* odds. What this fleet does *do* is miracles! And yes, at times it seems like it would take a miracle for us to survive. But then again Boomer, that's what we do best."
"You know you have a very unique perspective on things, Starbuck." Boomer replied, his mood improved despite himself.
"That's what they pay me for!" quipped Starbuck.
*Beep* *Beep*
Boomer could hear the alarm sounding in Starbuck's Viper a micron before his own sounded.
"Got something." Starbuck was all business now.
"Yah, I got it too." Boomer watched his scanner try to lock on the signal it had detected. It couldn't identify it. He switched the view selector to directional mode and watched as the screen shifted to a view showing the solar system before them, one sun and seven planets. Then, as his systems tracked the source of the signal, the view changed again to show the third planet with its five satellites.
"It looks like it's just beyond the second moon of the third planet," Starbuck said. "You wait here while I go in behind the planet and take a closer look."
"Be careful we don't want to be detected ourselves," Boomer cautioned.
"Careful is my middle name." Starbuck said as his Viper sped away from Boomer's and headed toward the planet.
_________________________
Athena put three fruit juices down on the table, "I think Cassiopeia told me they were Kella flavor today."
"I haven't had Kella fruit in so long I think I've forgotten what it tastes like," Sheba exclaimed. "How about you, Boxey, do you like Kella fruit?"
Boxey shrugged his shoulders noncommittally as he punched his drinking straw through the thin foil cover of the fruit juice container.
"What is your favorite flavor then?" Athena asked as she watched Sheba try unsuccessfully to punch her straw though the top of her fruit container.
"Frak, I can never do these things."
"We aren't supposed to use that kind of language here," Boxey replied with a sidelong glace at Athena.
Athena had to stifle a laugh with a cough at Boxey's obvious attempt at doing an impression of herself. She caught the mischief in that glance and wondered anew at the rapid change in moods kids could have. "You're right! What do you think we should do about it?" she asked him as her eyes implored Sheba to go along. "Shall we have Sheba stand in the corner?" she asked, but at Boxey's shrug, she tried harder. "Or maybe make her write an apology on the wall board 10 times?"
"Yeah, maybe," he said as he looked over at Sheba then back at Athena. They both saw the mischievous spark that ignited in his eyes. "Maybe we should...."And he dashed from the couch and grabbed up a small canister from the floor.
"Oh no!" Sheba got up holding her arms out before her and began backing up. "No, that's not a good idea...." she began as Boxey let loose and sprayed her with that childhood favorite and adult nightmare, Crazy String. She felt it should have more correctly been called Staining String and groaned loudly as she allowed herself to be pelted with the rope-like, rubbery, colored strings. Boxey giggled maniacally as he closed in for the kill, spraying the sticking stuff on Sheba's hair and face. Athena was no help, as she laughed encouragingly from the safety of the couch.
"What's going on here?"
They all froze guiltily and stared at the doorway where Apollo and Cassiopeia stood quite stunned at the sight before them.
"Boxey, how many times have I told you kids not to spray that stuff on people's hair!" Cassiopeia admonished as she regained her senses.
Apollo just stood inside the doorway and looked on in amazement at all the strings clinging to Sheba and tried not to laugh.
Cassiopeia quickly crossed the room and held out her hand to Boxey.
"It's Sheba's punishment...." Boxey began as he reluctantly handed over the offending weapon.
"We were just having some fun," Athena interrupted.
"No harm was done..." Sheba protested as she tugged at the stringy mess in her hair.
Boxey walked back to the couch, kicking at an errant toy on his way.
Apollo's smile faded as he watched his son sulk to the couch and plop himself down in front of the videscreen. "Boxey?" he called out after him, only to have his son studiously ignore him. Apollo sighed heavily and looked over at Athena. "How was he today?"
"Quiet. I was so busy with the other kids I barely even noticed him today. Then just a while ago I caught him swearing at Muffit. When I asked him about it he got mad at me. Luckily, Sheba came along and together we managed to improve his mood. As you can see, it was not without some cost on Sheba's part."
"Too bad it didn't last very long," Sheba pointed out.
"Yeah." Apollo motioned to her yards of newly acquired strings. "Thanks for your sacrifice. It looked like he was enjoying it."
"He was." Sheba stopped tugging at the coating of strings and looked up at Apollo "I was, too. I've really missed him." Sheba searched Apollo's face for a moment then turned back toward Boxey. "He thinks I stopped caring for him simply because I haven't been around. He's wrong." Sheba looked back at Apollo, who was staring at her, his expression unreadable. "I'd like to spend some time with him occasionally, so he doesn't forget that." Sheba paused then asked " Is that alright with you?"
Apollo didn't say anything at first. He just stared at Sheba with a unreadable expression. "Sure," was all he finally said.
Athena watched the interchange between the two and didn't know if she dared breathe, lest she break the moment. Sheba had clearly indicated that she and Apollo were estranged; yet the atmosphere around the two fairly shimmered with desire. Athena was dying to know what was going on.
Then the moment was lost, and Apollo turned away.
Sheba walked over to Cassiopeia as Apollo went to stand next to Boxey.
"Boxey?"
Boxey sat rigid, his eyes fixed on the screen before him, stubbornly refusing to acknowledge his father.
Apprehensive, Apollo sat down next to Boxey. His voice filled with emotion as he softly whispered, "Boxey, please look at me."
"No," came the stubborn reply.
"Please?" Apollo was trying to keep his emotions under control. He didn't think he could go through another scene like last night with Boxey shouting that he hated him.
"I don't wanta." Once again he crossed his arms across his chest, determined to be angry.
"Why not?" Apollo coaxed. Apollo knew Boxey was angry with him for breaking his faith by telling him his grandfather was gone. Apollo could still remember that look Boxey had given him. It was as if he'd extinguished something inside him. Apollo had always been amazed and thankful for Boxey's resilience to all that had happened; the destruction exploding around him, the lost of his dagget and then the terrible loss of his mother. Yet, he had gone through it all and still retained that spark of innocent hope that things would still be alright in the end. It was that spark that Apollo feared he had extinguished, along with his son's trust in him.
"Because."
"Are you mad at me?"
"I guess," came the uncertain answer.
"Oh," was all Apollo could say for a few moments. He desperately looked around the room as if looking for something that could help him solve his problem. His mind searched for a way to get past Boxey's anger. His gaze passed over Sheba as she talked to Cassiopeia on the other side of the room. He smiled slowly. If Sheba had seen it she'd have been better prepared.
"Sheba, could you come over here?" he called out to her.
Sheba looked over and saw him bend down, then stand up and gesture for her to join him by the couch. As she approached she noticed Boxey looking worriedly from one adult to the other. Once she was there, Apollo turned back toward Boxey.
"You know, Boxey, it's not right to spray this stuff in other people's hair," Apollo said in his most official "Captain" voice. Boxey looked guiltily up at Apollo then over to Sheba. His anger was gone in a moment of panic as he sensed a disciplinary storm coming.
Ignoring the panicked look on his son's face, Apollo continued, "If you're going to shoot someone, the proper place is between the eyes." And before Sheba could react, Apollo aimed the can he'd retrieved from the floor at her head and set words into action as he shot her, right between the eyes, with strings.
Ignoring her started protests, Apollo then turned his weapon on Boxey. Boxey's jaw dropped and he looked up at his father, stunned. Surely his dad didn't just do that? As Apollo turned the can toward him, Boxey let out a squeal as he ducked the first shot and propelled himself off the couch, giggling as he ran across the room. He grabbed up his confiscated can from the shelf where Cassiopeia had put it and turned to return fire, only to find Apollo was already on him. They faced off and splattered each other with yards and yards of colored sticky stings, howling in sheer joy. Laughing, both stood there admiring each other's new coating of strings, when Apollo grinned at Boxey and purposefully looked back over his shoulder at Sheba.
Sheba's eyes went wide as she feebly placed her hands before her to ward off the attack, but it was too late, as two cans of strings pelted her, plastering her uniform with a new coating of strings. Once Boxey's can was empty, he launched himself at his dad, tumbling him into Sheba, and they all went crashing to the ground in a heap of giggling, laughing strings.
Boxey climbed up on Apollo's back, giggling with delight as he proclaimed himself king of the daggit pile with whoops of laughter. Apollo laughingly looked down at Sheba, who lay beneath him shaking, helpless with her own laughter. She looked up at him, and her smile froze on her face as his gaze turned from humorous to something else. She just stared at him like a forest antelope caught in a hovercraft's lights. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her but then Boxey tumbled off Apollo, accidentally kicking him in the side, breaking the spell.
Apollo quickly rolled off of Sheba and got to his feet, stripping off the strings as he went. Hastily, he turned back to offer her a hand up, but she was already on her knees and didn't take the offered hand as she rose to her feet.
Athena, who was now standing next to Cassie, noticed the exchange. As Sheba turned away and began removing the strings from her hair, Athena watched Apollo. His gaze fairly devoured Sheba but as soon as she turned back, he looked away.
"What's with that?" she quietly murmured.
"I wish I knew" Cassiopeia responded.
Athena looked over at Cassiopeia to inquire about what she might know about the situation when the alert sounded.
Apollo and Sheba reacted immediately as they both bolted for the door, but the sudden scream from Boxey stopped them in their tracks.
"NO! Don't go!" Boxey lunged forward. Apollo barely managed to catch him as he leaped up and clasped his arms around Apollo's neck, holding on for all he was worth. "Don't go. Don't go. Please, Dad, don't go!" .
Apollo was shaken by the sudden emotional outburst. Never had Boxey acted like this before. Apollo was at a loss on how to deal with this new disturbing aspect of his son. "Boxey, I have to. I don't have a choice. You know that," he said trying to sooth his son, yet gently pry his arms from around his neck. Once freed, Apollo held Boxey's hands in his and looked into his son's terrified eyes. "Boxey, I'm a Warrior," he started, then stopped and tried another approach. "I'm not leaving the Galactica. I'll just be on the bridge..."
"I know, I don't want you to go there," Boxey whispered, his fear still very evident.
Apollo understood, and he hated himself for what he had to do, but he didn't have the time they needed to discuss this. "I know you don't, but I have to go." Apollo lifted up Boxey, handed him over to Cassiopeia and turned and left. He tried not to listen to Boxey call out after him as the door closed behind him.
___________________
"What is it?" Apollo asked Omega as he came up behind him.
"We're getting a partially jammed transmission from one of our patrols, " Omega answered, his voice calm as ever. Apollo wondered if anything would jar that calm while Omega was on duty.
"Let's hear it"
".......Patrol 1 to Gal..tica.......detected........third moon.......lon......"
Apollo instantly recognized the voice - Starbuck! There was no emotion in the static filled transmission, but Apollo had been Starbuck's wingman long enough to hear the concern in his voice, and a concerned Starbuck was a Starbuck in trouble.
"That's it. The rest is just static," Omega said as he stopped the playback and turned around to look at Apollo. "Possibly the transmission is just being affected by the nebula Patrol 3 discovered and not actually jammed. It was giving off tremendous radiation bursts."
Apollo gave Omega a knowing look "You don't believe that anymore than I do," he said. "Launch Blue and Green squadrons to check it out." Apollo had to fight down the suffocating anxiety as he ordered others out to do what he desperately wanted to do himself - help Starbuck. "What sector were they patrolling?"
Omega walked over to the large star chart behind the bridge's main station. He pointed to a system in the upper right of the chart. "They're checking out a planetary system in quadrant Gamma delta 4, by Beta 3, delta 2."
"It sounds like they may have found our missing basestar," Apollo said as he looked over the chart, noting the distance of the system to the fleet. Most definitely close enough to be the basestar that had launch the attack on them. Far enough away to avoid detection and attack but close enough to keep and eye on them. "What's the status of our maneuvering thrusters?"
"Still off line while under repair," Omega replied.
"Get me Shadrick. We're a sitting target if we can't maneuver!"