The klaxon wasn't ringing, and Starbuck had no intention of leaving Rene until it did, maybe not even then, but Jake's signal to him, with a look as well as with a hand sign was surprisingly reassuring. It was a complicated sign Jake flashed him. In a mission it meant that someone else on the team had intel on the situation or was more knowledgeable about their position. Mutated for the Copper Squadron it simply meant Jake had dealt with this more often than he had. The Sewer Rat brains had been made into mush back on the Colonies, shoved into brain scans that searched for information that they didn't have. Waking up confused was nothing new for Rene.
Plus, Starbuck had to give the young man credit, he'd been more responsible lately. He'd been helping with the kids and was downright respectful of the arrangement they had for sharing quarters. Even more than that, it was Jake that helped Starbuck the most when he woke up sweating and swearing with his own nightmares.
Jake followed up on his actions with words. "Big brother" reminded Starbuck that the man knew his place in this convoluted relationship.
Gage's soft voice held the notes of command, "Captain, duty calls. There is a fleet to protect, and your family."
Starbuck cursed, looking at his wife. Her breathing was still too fast, and he could see her rapid heartbeat racing up and down her tense neck muscles. He couldn't take her with him, she wasn't in the moment, lost in the past that was six sectars and several quadrants away.
He let go of her, patting Jake on the shoulder. "She gets worse, you take her to Salik. And call Dixon. I know you don't like him, but she does. Trust him. He's kept her from pulling the trigger."
"Aye Aye, Captain," he answered, letting Starbuck know he wasn't thrilled with the idea, but he would do it.
Jake had the situation in hand, but that didn't mean it was easy to walk away. While he stepped out of the turbo and grabbed his uniform from the floor, finding it unscathed from the vomit that had spilled, he kept his eyes on Rene. As he sat and buckled his boots, he ordered Jolly to stay with his family, to come get him if anything got worse.
"You got it, Skipper," Jolly answered, handing him his weapon.
The words had him shaking his head. He wasn't used to that word being used on him, skipper, the one in charge. He sure as hades wasn't in charge of this situation. He buckled his holster, checked his blaster's charge. He crossed the room to get his chrono, noting the time, still a couple of centaurs before they would be waking for another cycle.
"Lieutenant, you're stalling," Gage commanded. Starbuck cast him a Rat worthy sneer before looking back to the turbo. All he could hear was Jake's humming. Rene had her eyes closed, but she looked to be breathing slower.
"This had better be a dire life and death kind of emergency." Starbuck waited for Gage to lead him from his quarters.
"It is, Starbuck," Gage filled in once they were in the corridor, providing details that they had found a large civilian liner. "It was one we left behind. It looks intact from a long-range scan, under full power, but it is alone."
"The Shiva scanned it? And nothing else? Then they can deal with it," he said, almost turning back.
Gage's hand was on his shoulder, keeping him facing towards the bridge. "Commander wanted your expertise on this. You've done well with everyone from Dante's fleet, especially those who originally didn't want to be part of Dante's visions of Utopia that represented the seven levels of Hades. Your notoriety has gained you some loyalty."
"Is that so? My charm is so powerful that it wins over borays and rapists, or do they just want to frak me over too?"
Gage halted their steps but kept his hand upon Starbuck's shoulder. "You do have a way with Dante's warriors. But it might just be that you don't always follow the rules, and it seems to get you promoted. Plus, there's the stories of you being the life of the party, who also managed to find fun without the violence and sadism. If that wild dagget can have some morals and settle down and be a family man, there might be hope for all of us."
Starbuck rolled his eyes and shrugged, a move worthy of any of the Rats before he remembered who he was dealing with, a man who was a little too close to his family even if it was for their benefit in the past. "Yeah, about that," he drawled in Crius's country boy twang, "Never found a need to cause someone pain, unless it was to win at Triad. Love making should be pleasurable, for both parties."
The words were said with probably more venom than he meant. Gage flinched as if hit before hastily replying, "You know I agree with you on that, right? You know I did what I could to change things."
Starbuck wasn't in the mood to rehash the past that had his wife waking from night terrors. He held his opinion to himself that Gage could have done more, shifting instead to the present. "So, what are you doing here anyhow? I thought you were reassigned to the Zakar?"
"I was. I asked to stay on the Galactica."
Starbuck raised an eyebrow, about to ask, but Gage answered before he could. It was some of what he thought, and it didn't make him feel any better.
"I want to remain close to Rene. I have witnessed her miracles on more than a few occasions. I think she has a few more to perform."
"Only miracle I'm hoping for right now is the birth of our child, healthy and with no web feet," Starbuck replied, wanting to add that then she was retiring from the Colonial Service and Gage didn't need to wait for any more supernatural occurrences, but th2at wasn't really the truth if she was willing to work with Peryton. There had not been time to contemplate what that might mean for Rene and the family, let alone for the fleet.
Gage squeezed Starbuck's shoulder. "I understand. I'm not here to make things difficult, I assure you. I am here to help and if that means staying out of the way, then I will do that too. But the truth," Gage hesitated as his eyes went dark. "She makes me a better person. And on my own I struggle to find reasons to continue this existence. So forgive my intrusion in your lives for a while longer."
The man turned away, and Starbuck was left unsure what to do with the man's confession. He couldn't be jealous of the man's desire to hold on to a family that had Starbuck not shown up might have been his own. It was a complicated, sometimes dysfunctional family and many a cycle Starbuck was begging for help. Gage had not overstepped his role, at least not where he and Rene were concerned, not like Jake when he basically moved in and ruined their honeymoon. Then there was the fact that Gage had just given him the same speech he'd given Jake. He hated it when his own words bit him in the astrum.
Plus, there were the nice quarters Gage had all to himself. They might come in handy and could be turned into a barracks or a getaway if he and Rene needed some time alone.
Starbuck caught up to Gage, mumbling to him, "Understood. We could use the help. The Rats trust you."
Gage nodded in reply before turning back to business. "We had a fleet of civilian ships for a short time. Dante left them behind when the Zakar lost an engine trying to tow the Hawk, one of the Strike Stars, in the middle of a battle with a Basestar."
"Left them or sacrificed them? I suppose it gets the Cylons off your back if they are busy slaughtering civilians." Starbuck said, not hiding his contempt for Dante's tactical decisions.
"No, it was not a conscious decision. It was made in desperation. We blew an engine; the enemy was attacking. Dante used the military vessels to engage, and told the civilians to flee as fast as they could. He drew the enemy to him, kept them occupied, but it meant a retreat. We got lucky that day, but we left behind twenty-two ships."
"Not so lucky for them."
"No. And we didn't turn back for them, assuming they were destroyed or in hiding. We kept going at top speed. We assumed the enemy was chasing us, and if we turned back, we would be endangering everyone. This ship looks like one of the larger of the civilian ships. It was a luxury liner owned by Elonos."
Starbuck's steps faltered as he tried to imagine Adama not bothering to check for survivors, at the same time as he recognized the name of one of the richest men in the colonies, a man famous for his profiteering through selling war items. Not a likable guy, but it was rumored he could buy his own planet if he wanted to.
"Did you meet him?"
Gage shook his head and looked away to the door to the bridge. "Once the Shiva was taken, I was on the Zakar and was never given a chance to leave. We were never sure if he was aboard. The captain of the vessel was a man none of us knew and he was not happy with Dante demanding all their food stores. It was an unarmed vessel and yet I am told it was an ugly scene when Dante came to collect the price for protection."
"Yeah, I bet. Not sure I would want to give it up if it was me, but Rene said people were starving on the Zakar. It makes sense to distribute the food. You would want to make sure the people protecting you were fed, wouldn't you?"
"It didn't make sense, especially from what I inventoried. The liner was well supplied and the Zakar was carrying a crew nearly triple that of a Battle Cruiser carries. We picked up several refugees from smaller vessels and bases. Those rescues were almost always rushed affairs, no time to take anything but the personnel. If Dante seemed cruel in his selection of refugees, just know he was calculating who he could afford to feed and who he could not. We struggled with finding enough until we found Dilmun. It was harsh economics."
"Doesn't mean you leave people behind. It's not economics, its people," Starbuck said before coming onto the bridge.
Gage reached out a hand pulling Starbuck back a step. "I agree with you. Don't make me into one of Dante's followers. I am just explaining why the decisions were made. But they weren't mine to make. You know I would have done things differently, don't you?
Starbuck examined the man, one who had confessed just a moment before that he may be just as suicidal as the rest of the Sewer Rats. Gage held a high rank with Dante, and even he was powerless to stop the man. He had been outnumbered, and had compromised his values, trading between lesser evils.
Taking a measured breath, he tried to remember Rene's words to him often, "You weren't there. You don't know what you would have done in the situation."
He wanted to say that he would have remained true to his Colonial Creed, but then he'd experienced first hand the choices Dante gave you, not your punishment, not your death even, but someone else, someone you cared about. If it came down to his family and the rest of the fleet, he knew he would choose his family. He was no better than Gage, he just had been luckier.
Gage seemed to be waiting for an answer, but Starbuck didn't know what to say. Despite the possible justifications, he couldn't help believing that had the man really tried, then things could have been different. But that considered, Gage had still seen that the Sewer Rats survived when Dante had deemed them disposable. Like most of life, it was complicated.
"I think you did what you could in a tough situation." It was vague but seemed to be enough for Gage as he eased his grip.
"I am loyal to Adama."
"Alright, let's go prove that and get the job done we signed up for, saving our fleet." It was a pep talk, not just for Gage, but for himself.
Despite the early centaur, the bridge was fully manned, including Mars. He and Adama were near the star chart, plotting course corrections.
"I want the orphan ship moved closer to the Galactica and the foundry ship protected by the Cheetah. The Eagle bash should be relocated closer to the Rising Star, to keep shuttles out of the picket patrols. Captain Starbuck, sorry to wake you so early. I'm afraid we may be in need of your skills in Dilmun Diplomacy."
"Sir, respectfully, can this wait. I have a situation at home and need a centaur or two and then I…" He halted as Adama shifted his attention to him. It had been a while since he'd been the focus of Adama's stern gaze, not since proposing the mission to Caprica.
"Captain, can I speak to you alone for a moment. Colonel Mars, make the corrections please." Adama turned heading for the command dais.
"Sir, I'm sorry, but Rene was attacked yesterday and she's not doing well. Surely someone else might be more appropriate at the moment to handle this." Starbuck spoke to his Commander's back as the man continued up the stairs to the platform, seeming to ignore Starbuck's words. Adama waited until Starbuck had climbed the stairs as well before he turned to him.
Captain," Adama began sternly before pausing and his tone became softer, "Starbuck, I understand your position all too well. It is difficult separating your duties as a husband and a father from those of your commitment to the Colonial Service. During my days, I was told that my wife and children were not issued to me with my uniform and therefore, not my concern. I never appreciated those lectures and do not wish to repeat them."
And yet Starbuck realized he was repeating that very message. He bit back a smart remark to that effect as Adama's gaze suddenly changed, his eyes going dark and distant with sorrow. The Commander looked away scanning the bridge and its crew. Starbuck found himself following his lead, taking in the various crew members at their stations doing their jobs and Starbuck found himself wondering how many of them also had families, children.
Adama's voice brought his focus back to his commander.
"I was standing here when I learned of the death of my youngest son. My first instinct was to turn for home, to be with my wife. I did leave the battle at Cimitar to head for the colonies. It was not just to try to warn the colonies of the disaster coming and to offer protection. I wanted to be home. I wanted my wife to know of the loss we had suffered. Many more lives were lo2st due to my decision."
Starbuck shut his eyes, trying to block out that moment in the heat of a losing battle when the Galactica turned tail. At the time he was dealing with the enemy and didn't have time to contemplate the reasons why, only that he was being abandoned. Now that memory was tainted by the guilt that it was his patrol that Zac had taken. He should have been the one with Apollo. The rational part of his mind knew Zac might have died anyway as so many others had at Scimitar. But there were too many emotions for that day to be dealt with logically. The Galactica leaving the massacre was the right tactical move for the moment or she too would have been lost like the rest of the fleet. He opened his eyes and decided to tell the commander as much, but Adama held up his hand asking for a moment more.
"I was too late. I went to Caprica with Apollo because of my impulse to find my wife and to be home. That desire led to us saving lives. I also learned that without our families we are nothing. I understand what you are going through, and while I don't have all the answers, I do know, son, the best way you can help your family is by ultimately doing your duty."
Starbuck nodded, not trusting his voice at the moment. Adama pitched his voice lower as he said, "I have learned since that fateful day that it might have been a blessing that my wife perished without knowing she had lost a child. It would have added to her pain to know she had lost Zac. The Lords of Kobol have a plan and we are not always understanding of their mercies." Adama looked away for a moment, composing himself before he spoke again. "I have fleet security as well as Warriors looking for the attacker. We scanned the security cams and have a good image of the scene. We have identified her attacker."
"Who?" Starbuck asked.
"According to Dante's records it looks like Lt. Agenor, but he has not been registered since our flight from Dilmun. We can only assume he made it somehow and has chosen to remain unofficial."
"She shot him, sir. He's dead. I really don't think it is him."
"Are you sure?" Adama asked.
"Pretty sure. Full blaster in the face. It may be someone who looked like him, Dante employed bruisers, but," Starbuck shook his head. "Vid cams don't lie. She would be able to recognize him if it is Agenor or whoever it is."
"I will see that the image is sent to your quarters for her to identify. In the meantime, I have placed guards on the entrances to the corridors for command quarters. Your family should be safe to negotiate those corridors. The council of twelve is also concerned as the attack happened near the council chambers and they insisted on civilian security as well. I hope you don't mind, but I also asked our new Caprica refugees to provide protection. Avery has volunteered to be her bodyguard, on and off duty."
"Oh," Starbuck was shocked by the news, not sure if he should object or not. Rene had not dealt with Avery much, but his wife and her were on good terms. "Yeah, that could be interesting."
"I understand if you need the time to deal with any issues, but I would not have sent for you unless I felt it was necessary. Do you need to go Captain?"
He winced at the poignant mention of his rank. Adama had a point, he was a warrior, and his duty was to a lot of people. He commanded a squadron, and now as Strike Wing, he oversaw all the squadrons, not just Blue or Copper. Plus, Jake did know Rene better than he did and there was no point in him being there if the enemy was just going to mow him down when he could do something about that.
"No Sir, for now it should be…okay. I have others watching over her, although I suppose I can't help but feel nobody can do that as well as I do. I will want to check on Rene later."
"Of course. Together we will navigate these new roles: Captain, Strike Wing, Husband, Parent. Just know you are not the first to have dealt with these dilemmas. I'm not saying I was the best at managing my various roles, but you learn to compartmentalize your emotions and to delegate where needed. You need to learn to trust others to handle situations when you can't be there. It was a shock to me to find out my own wife was much better at handling affairs in my absence, mostly due to a network of wives and family members. You have the benefit of a large network of friends and family. Use them. I hope in time to have you and the family on the Zakar because I know you have a support network there as well."
Starbuck nodded, and was about to add "Yes sir," when Adama continued.
"But when the alert sounds, you will need to decide where you belong. You will need to commit to that decision without hesitation."
"Yes sir," he said, knowing that had the alert sounded, he wouldn't have hesitated. He wanted to protest that this was different, but he also didn't really know what was going on, just a rough outline of events. Also, Gage was right, he might know a bit more than the others. He understood Dante's warriors, didn't agree with them, but he knew why they made their choices.
"Where can I help, sir?""
The words earned him the fatherly smile Adama was famous for before he turned back into his Commander. "The Shiva is still within our scanner range, not having traveled far since yesterday. Tigh decided not to take her up to full speed until cleared of the civilian vessels, so they were not alarmed. But that has had an added bonus of doubling our scanner range. On the edge of that range, Tigh found the vessel. She is in the registry of ships from the colonies and appears to be intact and unscathed. We have not attempted communications with the vessel, taking a wait and see approach."
Adama brought up the scan of the vessel. Her markings were clear, registration numbers on her bow. "I have yet to find any logs from Dante or his commanders on the incident of abandonment. Gage has told me what he knows. Commander Thales is shuttling over, but he curiously asked me what I knew first before giving me roughly the same story."
"You think he's holding back something?" Starbuck asked, noting that Gage and Mars, while both near the star map, were not speaking to each other, standing as far apart as possible.
"Asardin and Haban have both had a case of amnesia. I am giving them some time to solve their illness before I remove them from command."
Starbuck jerked in surprise. "You're serious? I thought we weren't holding them accountable for what they did before?"
"Yes, and no. There is a clear line between accountability and denial. They have had their opportunity to unburden their souls and be forgiven, but I think I agree with many that my continued policy of forgiveness appears that I may condone their actions. I do not. They all swore by the Colonial Creed at one point in their careers. Their failure to provide me with the information I am requesting is tantamount to defiance. They either accept my command or they are relieved of their command."
"You haven't done it yet? Why the wait, sir?" Starbuck absorbed the information now realizing why he was here. They were in the beginning stages of a mutiny. Pirate Captain Starbuck needed to report for duty and maybe steal himself a light cruiser or two.
"Cowards need time to make decisions.," Adama said bluntly.
"Alright," Starbuck replied. "So, you want me to assemble a boarding party?"
"Not yet. And we have others for that task if necessary. It is your diplomacy I am relying on for now."
"Convince them to share, is that it?" Starbuck analyzed Gage and Mars again, remembering what the Rats had told him the night before. He made the snap decision to act on that information as he spoke.
"Start with Mars. Gage has told you what he can, but I think he's right, he wasn't one of Dante's favorites. Mars was. But the Rats think he has some Colonial pride left in him. Might be time to give him a medal and get him to recite the Colonial Creed while he salutes the Flag. I pledge allegiance and my planet tis of thee, Caprica the beautiful, all of it. Lay it on so thick he chokes on it."
"And that Starbuck is why I needed you here. Good suggestion. I had not considered that strategy, but it might just be the tonic they all need. My first assignment for the new head of fleet morale. I will get Athena on it. Any suggestions for what to call his commendation?"
Starbuck chuckled as he ran through his options, all of them snide insults like "too impotent to consider raping" or "best astrum kisser". He chose not to share them with his Commander who merely raised an eyebrow at his laughter. "Keep it simple, sir. Warrior of the Centaur. I believe that's how you got me in line."
"Now you know that was not the intent of that program," Adama said, "but it was a great recruitment tool, and you did not seem to mind all the free drinks after each showing. Let's move this to the war room. I am taking your advice and avoiding meetings in my office. We have had more success with the war room as it reminds them that despite our differences, we have the same enemy. Our squabbles will not matter if they wipe us out."
Squabbles? Starbuck considered his commander's word choice as Adama strode to the star chart to gather his officers. What happened among Dante's officers was not minor differences, it was complete dereliction of duty and shattering of social mores and morals. Starbuck was glad he was here to remind the Commander of the distinction.
Once in the war room, Adama called up the scans, adding to what he had shown Starbuck of more angles of the ship, plus the empty space behind the yacht. He also pointed out the new positions of the various ships of the fleet. The Zakar was still with them. "Probably waiting on Boomer to join him," Starbuck realized and wished once again that he would be joining Apollo on the mission to scan ahead of the fleet. He understood the decision made for the benefit of the fleet, especially now that Rene was working with Peryton and Wilker, but it did not mean he agreed with it.
They were waiting for Rene to give birth, but he suspected that then the babies would still be the excuse to keep them here. The truth was the fleet was not a safe place and as he analyzed the scans of their current quadrant, he contemplated again finding a planet and relocating the family. He had found many settlements that were free of the Cylons. Yes, they were small obscure out of the way outposts like Serenity and Attilla. He took note of the planets in the quadrant the Shiva was heading for, not that far from Miri and her family.
He shook his head as he remembered Attilla had not been free of the Cylons. While he'd helped them wipe out the garrison that was there, surely more would come. Miri and her family may not be there, but with what Rene could do, he could go back and find out. It was an option from here without Rene's powers in the original Cora, fully fueled and lacking her guns for the extra fuel capacity.
He leaned back against the wall, arms crossed as Adama queried Mars about the civilian fleet left behind. Mars was beginning to share more about the civilian ships. Starbuck suspected his Commander was right. It was the room itself, and the scans still on the table of the base ships following them and the mysterious objects in their path. Nothing like the unknown to make you choose the devil you do know versus the dead devil of a commander back on Dilmun.
The door to the war room opened and Starbuck pulled himself up to offer a salute to Commander Thales. The man ignored him, engaging with Adama and Mars, and he went back to leaning against the wall, contemplating the scans, his options few as they may be, and what might be the best approach with this new ship. It was obvious from the argument that was brewing between Mars, Thales and Gage, that none of them had stepped foot on the private liner.
That was the most curious part of Dante's fleet for Starbuck. How had the man kept control of everything? Surely he had too many details to juggle them all. The officers followed his orders, even when they disagreed. But that level of micromanagement took time, effort, and dedication. It took loyal lackeys and they had not left all of them on Dilmun. Dante and his lackeys had not struck him as that motivated to put in the hard work for that level of control. What would it take to make them crack and begin to spill?
Or maybe they should just move forward without the information. Maybe it was the fact that they weren't Dante's fleet that might be to their advantage when making contact? Did they need to know the past to move forward to the future?
Starbuck was lost in thought when the door to the war room opened again. He was slow to come to attention, and even slower to recognize it was his wife that was admitted to the room. She looked better than when he'd last seen her. Not great, no, that bruise covered half her face. He forgot the brass in the room as she came to him, and he drew her into his arms.
"You're, okay?" he asked. She nodded to him before speaking softly.
"I knew you would worry. I'm okay. Sorry."
"Not your fault," he said, realizing there were too many in the room for the conversation he wanted to have. "Let's go in the corridor. We can talk there."
But Rene was moving away from him, taking in the scans and the conversation before turning back to him. "They haven't found any of the logs from Dante or the Commanders, have they?"
Starbuck shook his head, wondered for a moment what he should tell her, if she was even allowed to be a part of this or if this was all classified, before dismissing the thoughts. She might know some information and she would be more willing to share it than those in the room.
"No. We found one of the civilian ships that was part of Dante's fleet. Do you know anything about it?" He guided her to the table pulling the image towards them.
She cursed so softly he barely heard it, giving him a clue that she did know something, and it wasn't good. He waited for her to talk as he watched her reach out, sliding a finger down the lines of the ship. "I had a dream. Last night before…I8 was flying around her and then I was back on the Zakar launching into a battle. I don't know what it means. Are they not talking?" She nodded her head indicating Thales and Mars.
"I think they are sharing what they know. But it isn't much."
Rene nodded and pulled herself closer under his arm. He felt her tense for a moment before she looked up to him, anguish on her features for a moment before she relaxed and let it go. He was about to ask what was wrong when she spoke.
"Dante recorded everything in his office."
"His logs were deleted, scrubbed clean," Starbuck said but she shook her head no.
"Not official. On the bookshelf there's a statue of Anubis. The camera is in the eye. The recordings are in the books. The books are just shells. There might be something in them that might help."
Starbuck winced as he remembered, "He liked to watch." He understood why she hadn't shared this information before and wondered what it cost her now to mention it.
"There might be something," she shrugged, "There might be nothing. I don't know. I don't want Apollo to be the one who watches," she choked on the last word.
He caged the rage that threatened to eat him alive as he replied, "Understood. My word as a Warrior."
She attempted a smile as she met his eyes, "I know. I trust you."
He pulled h2er close for a moment before pulling back. Duty called. "Commander Adama, we might have some information that could help."
Starbuck tried to wipe the evil grin from his face as Mars and Thales paled as Rene spoke the words, "Dante recorded everything in his office. There might be some information to be found there."
Mars tried to override her as she told the Commander about the recordings and where they could be found. "His records were purged and if he had any recordings, they would not have any relevance on this situation."
"Then perhaps you can provide more information that might be relevant, Colonel." Adama's voice was like steel. Mars hesitated a heartbeat too long and Starbuck wondered if the Rats were right about the sexual appetites of Colonel Mars. Would he be on those vids?
"Shall I put in a call to the Zakar, sir?" Starbuck asked
Adama did not hesitate. "Yes. Immediately. Return once you have made contact."
"Yes sir," Starbuck replied, keeping Rene under his arm as he gave a sloppy half salute. "That's right, you lousy borays" he thought in his head, "Salutes don't make you a good warrior. Your character does."
He waited until they were in the corridor before he pulled Rene even closer. "Good job." He wanted to ask why she waited so long, but he knew why. He wasn't sure back when he first met her if he could have handled seeing the scenes of horror in those vids, but in the six sectars since, he'd learned a lot. He still wouldn't be the one8 watching them, not any time soon. He suddenly realized he didn't want Adama to witness the violence his wife had endured. But who? Some random computer tech? No. His wife would be in those recordings.
He was still running through his options as they walked to the bridge when Rene offered the solution. It seemed appropriate that it was Rene's decision.
"Sheba. I trust her and she can…she will…" Rene struggled for the words, so Starbuck supplied them for her.
"She's tough and she will know what's important for us to know, and what isn't."
He paused before entering the bridge, pulling her into his arms, leaning down to kiss her on the cheek that wasn't black and blue. He pulled back, "Thank you. I am going to be busy today. I may not be home for dinner. There's talk of me going to the Shiva."
She nodded, accepting the news. "I could shorten the trip." She offered and he was tempted to take her up on it. He didn't want to leave her here. He did not like that she read the hesitation. She would take that as acceptance if he didn't squash the idea.
"No. Stay here. Stay safe. Move in with Lizbet. I'll be taking Crius with me. Just don't let Jake move into my bed, not that I think you two will do anything but sleep in it," he added quickly, "but I already share my toothbrush with him. I think a pillow might be going too far. Keep him on the couch."
"Yes sir," she said, her lip curling into a sarcastic smile. "No pillows for Jake, your orders. You sure I can't come?"
"No, I'm not sure." He decided she deserved the truth. "So don't do anything crazy while I'm gone. Now let's go call the Zakar."
Fleet to fleet communication was still fuzzy as the Zakar was heading for the edge of scanner range, but it was good to see Apollo if only on a camera. The request was simple, check a statue, go through the books on the bookshelf. Knowing Dante, they'd be labeled, maybe even dated. Start with the date of the attack when they abandoned the civilian vessels, ignore anything that wasn't related to ship movements. Have Sheba go through the data.
"Rene doesn't want it to be you, and I think we owe her that for the information," he added.
Apollo looked off screen for a moment before he looked back. "I can't guarantee that, Starbuck. Remind her that I was there when Dixon brought her over. I have kept her confidence. I didn't even tell you."
"What? Wait? What do I need to know?" But it was too late, Apollo had logged off.
Rene was chuckling at the comment. "He's messing with you. He wasn't there for any of the real stuff in that office."
"Uh huh," Starbuck said, "and you never lie to me." He'd meant the words to be playful, but it wiped the mirth from Rene's face.
"I don't mean to lie to you. I haven't in a long while."
Starbuck sat back in the Commander's chair and reached for her, pulling her into his lap, not giving a flying frack who was on the bridge and what they might have to say. "I know. It's okay. You do what you must in order to survive. Just promise me, you will survive."
"I always do. For you," she said.
He held her pretending for just a moment that it was his own battlestar he was commanding, and his own fleet at his back for protection, and his children were down on some planet playing in the sun and counting down the days for their father's return from a victorious battle so they could spend the rest of their days in peace. He held onto the figment for a moment longer before he moved Rene from him.
"I have to go. Duty calls. But if you can think of anything else, you come find me."
He walked with her back to the war room where Jolly was waiting to escort her back to the family. He walked with a new confidence into the room, casting a jaunty salute to Thales, Mars and a smarter one to Adama.
"That's right boys, watch your cubits," he thought, "Pirate Captain Starbuck reporting in."
