Chapter Ten
Starbuck stared at the door as it closed behind the protector. He blinked as he considered the man's words. Apparently, he wasn't eligible for a decent defense based on the fact that he had no money. Captain Corpeus was evidently at the bottom of the barrel for state appointed counsel. That was why the man wanted the case tied up by the end of the day. That was all the effort he was willing to put in to it.
"I'm so fracked." Starbuck muttered as he shook his head, feeling a desperate desire to run or . . . maybe just to trash the room. He jerked his leg, and the restraint clanged loudly against the rail of the biobed, the noise somehow comforting. An immediate result to an action. Oh, it wasn't much, but it still felt good. He did it again, this time denting the rail.
"Hey." Apollo put a restraining hand on his shoulder, as he watched Starbuck's white knuckles gripping the rails of the biobed. "That's not going to help."
"Tell me what is." Starbuck sniffed, his body tight with tension, his mind overwhelmed.
"You could start by telling me what happened." Apollo replied, deliberately calm as he pulled up the chair.
"Didn't you hear him? It's all in the report." Starbuck retorted as he watched the Phoenix leader turn the chair around and straddle it.
"I don't believe that." Apollo shook his head curtly.
Starbuck considered him for a moment. You don't? --He thought, somewhat surprised. Tears pricked his eyes for a split micron and he blinked rapidly to clear them. He was not going to start feeling sorry for himself! He ran a hand over his face, covering his tumultuous emotions. Buck up, Cadet!
One of the many facts of life was that it was inequitable. He had lived his entire life, at least what he remembered of it, knowing that. Hades, it had been drilled into him, not in words, but in behavior and treatment. It had given him a thick skin and a cynical attitude.
Well, here it was once again, kicking him in the teeth. Someone had once told him it's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters. He let out a deep breath as he tried to remind himself of that. Maybe if it hadn't come from a ten-yahren old girl with porcine-tails in her hair . . .
"I think I've come to know you pretty well, Starbuck. You're no drug trafficker or user." Apollo's voice bordered on contemptuous as he watched the effect the situation was having on his usually carefree friend. "The life style just isn't compatible with being a fighter pilot. Especially a pilot with your reflexes and instinct."
Starbuck studied the flight leader. Apollo exuded sincerity, determination and indignation; three qualities that he had come to equate with the man. "You sound more pissed than I am."
"Damn right I'm pissed!" Apollo exploded, his face flushing as he tried to control his anger. "A state appointed protector just walked in here and told you you're not worth his trouble. He should be reported and disbarred!" How dare Corpeus! All Capricans were entitled to the same legal defense, despite their income!
A faint smile hovered on Starbuck's lips. For some reason, Apollo being just as upset, if not more so, made him feel better about the entire situation. Face it, you just find it comforting to see him lose his temper. It gives you hope that there's still order in the universe. "Uh, can we work on getting me off the hook before we get Corpeus disbarred? I do better work when I'm not incarcerated."
Apollo smiled ruefully in return and nodded. "Okay, tell me what happened. From the beginning."
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The third time will be the charm; at least that's what she'd always heard. Well, this was the third time Imara had drummed up the courage to enter the infirmary, and once again she stood poised at the bottom of the steps with her hand on the rail.
There were too many fracking steps. That was the real problem.
Too many steps. Ain't it the truth. Step one: learn that Starbuck had been hauled off to the infirmary with a head injury and under custody for trafficking drugs and assaulting her father. Step two: have an internal battle all night long, trying to convince yourself that Starbuck could possibly be guilty of the charges. Step three: finally realize that you saw no evidence of his supposed drug-addicted personality and brutal aggression towards senior officers. Step four: come to the conclusion that said charges were complete and utter felgercarb. Step five: suspect that Starbuck was totally set up by her father and his whacko sidekick, Sergeant Brand. Step six: get up the courage to go see Starbuck to find out what the frack happened.
A six-step program. Each step tortuous and a voyage of self-discovery. Hades, she felt like she had just undergone some new and advanced self-analytical evaluation. Just thinking about it left a bad taste in her mouth.
Starbuck . . .
He had been a thing of beauty when she had first laid eyes upon him. It wasn't so much his good looks, as it was his spirit that had first attracted her.
Coming from a home with a father who had been a strict disciplinarian and a mother who had spent more time berating her children than encouraging them, Imara had ended up a bit . . . introverted.
Oh, she knew she had a sense of humour. And every man with a pulse, from her teachers to strangers on the street, had convinced her she was attractive. She even had an intelligence quotient that had universities attempting to recruit her, before she finally made up her mind to follow in her father's footsteps and enter the Caprican Academy.
Yeah, according to her friends, she had all the goods; she just didn't know how to package them. Then she saw Starbuck.
Hades, it was almost two yahrens ago when she first felt that breeze of fresh air gently caress her. He just had an easy way about him that led her to believe that everything he did was effortless. It was like listening to the most incredible crooner sing, or watching the most fluid of dancers circle a ballroom. He was akin to watching the most intuitive of pilots become one with his fighter . . . oh yeah, that was Starbuck.
Okay, maybe she had a little crush on him.
Her rational side had told her that they came from two different worlds, her background rich in tradition, obedience, achievement and his . . . well, truth be known, he hadn't really talked much about it, but she instinctively knew it was vastly different. She had heard the stories about his frequent, yet always casual relationships. His on-going search for the ultimate card game. His practical jokes. His incessant need to find the shades of grey between the military rules that were so black and white.
Yet, for all his vices, everybody seemed to like Starbuck. Well, other than Ortega, and he had been spawned, after all.
Then that day had finally come when they had almost collided in the commissary. His hand had been warm on her arm, as he steadied her and impulsively asked her out. She had known it was spur of the moment, she could see it in his eyes. He had looked thoughtful and then put on a devil-may-care grin before saying, "Imara, tonight's supposed to be a beautiful night. Would you like to sneak out and share some moonlight with me?" It was the merriment in those twinkling blue eyes that did her in.
Her mother had once told her in a candid moment, that the best parts of love were infatuation and lust. Well, admittedly she didn't know much about love, but she was damned sure that infatuation and lust exceeded all of her expectations. Being with Starbuck was the closest she been to flying without the benefit of her Starfighter.
Yeah, that probably would sound ridiculous to anybody else, especially since they had only gone on two dates. But, sometimes life was about intensity.
Her cheeks flushed as she thought about their passionate encounter. Oh, she had run it over in her mind time and time again by now. She had been surprised by her fervor when Starbuck had kissed her and began caressing her sensuously. She knew he too had been a little surprised at her enthusiastic response.
"Must be the moonlight." She had muttered to his delight, as he had lifted her up in his arms and carried her to a stack of survival supplies where she pulled him down beside her. What they lacked in atmosphere, they made up for in passion, enthusiasm and ecstasy.
Imara chewed her lip as she thought back to her denial of 'sleeping together' to Apollo. Admittedly, they didn't do any sleeping, so really it was just a little fabrication of the truth. Of course, at the time, she had been hurt at the idea of Starbuck blabbing about his conquest to his buddies. Then she had found out that he hadn't done anything of the kind. That was when she had first started thinking about falling in . . .
Don't even think about it! There is no way in Hades you and Starbuck are going to pull this relationship out of the burning wreck that it's become. Frack! Life was just so damned unfair at times.
"Imara."
Apollo's voice startled her out of her reverie. She quickly averted her head and wiped away the tears that trailed down her cheeks.
"Are you okay?" Apollo put a hand on Imara's shoulder, turning her towards him. He was startled to see she had been crying.
She nodded briefly, her eyes flickering back to the doors of the infirmary. "Did you see Starbuck?"
Apollo nodded. From what Starbuck had told him, Imara was also witness to a lot that he had heard in the hangar. "He told me everything, Imara." Her eyes searched his own. "Everything."
"Oh." She replied, dropping her gaze. She couldn't stand Commander Adama's son knowing what her father had done. She wished she could close her eyes and just disappear from the shame of it all. Her father's and her own.
"You're his only chance, Imara. His protector wants him to cut a deal and accept expulsion. Corpeus didn't even want to listen to the truth." Apollo grasped her other shoulder. He had been about to go looking for her when he had opened the door of the infirmary to find her hesitating on the bottom of the stairwell.
She could feel tears welling in her eyes once again. She could choose between betraying Starbuck or her father. That was the black and white edition. In reality, if she betrayed her father, she would destroy her family . . . and likely her future. Her chest felt tight and she covered her face with her hand, feeling Apollo's penetrating gaze upon her.
"I can't . . . " she choked out, before her voice failed her. She swallowed the sobs that threatened to consume her. Oh, this was not going well!
"Imara, this is Starbuck's life we're talking about." Apollo begged her.
She shook her head, knowing he didn't understand what she meant. Honestly, she wanted to help Starbuck, she just didn't know how to do it without destroying her father. Her gaze once again turned to the doorway. She couldn't see Starbuck right now. Not like this. She pulled away from Apollo.
"I'm sorry . . . " she muttered, as she turned towards the barracks and ran.
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Apollo had once been told that to gain a true understanding of a person, one had to put himself in her shoes. He snorted to himself as he tried to comprehend what Imara must be going through.
Really, he wasn't clear as to her relationship with Starbuck. Once again, he couldn't help but think that Starbuck had been unusually closed-mouthed about them. It kind of made him suspect that their relationship had either crashed and burned and his friend was too humiliated to discuss it, or it had been the beginning of something really special.
Obviously, Imara was feeling distraught. The problem being, was it due to her concern for her father, her concern for Starbuck, or both? Clearly, she wouldn't be as inclined to help the cadet if her father was her sole consideration.
On the other hand, Imara was an ethical person, and it was just plain wrong to let things evolve as Diallo and Brand had meant them to. Perhaps she just needed some time to figure things out. Apollo was uncertain just how much time Starbuck had though. Lords, he wished he was further along in his studies of the criminal code. He should really make a point of speaking with his professor to better understand his friend's rights. Surely to God, there was an alternative to Captain Corpeus.
He also needed a few points clarified in the official report. He methodically ran through his mental record of where Starbuck's story varied from Diallo's. Unfortunately, Starbuck's recollection of his actual arrest was a bit hazy, as was everything else from a centon before that right up until he was treated on the landram.
As he walked towards the commissary, he caught sight of the slight med tech that had cared for Starbuck. As luck would have it, Zhi appeared to be moving in the same direction as the Phoenix leader. He picked up his pace until he caught up to him.
"Med Tech Zhi?"
Zhi turned around, his mop of dark hair falling into his eyes. He nodded at Apollo, brushing his hair away. "Apollo, right? You're Cadet Starbuck's flight leader."
"Right. Do you mind if I ask you a couple questions about yesterday?"
"Of course not. I was waiting for someone to. I just thought it would be Starbuck's protector, not his squadron leader." Zhi shrugged.
"So did I." Apollo mumbled. "Uh, maybe you can just give me your impressions of what happened first of all."
Zhi smiled. "You're new at this, aren't you? Sure. When I got there, Starbuck had a decreased level of consciousness. He was drowsy, but roused easily. Especially when Colonel Diallo barked at him." He added distastefully. "He was in pain, and was nauseated. I wanted to treat him first, but Diallo as much as ordered me to treat Ortega, who in contrast was alert, oriented and appeared stable."
"The next part was really weird. Colonel Diallo should know . . . so should Sergeant Brand, for that matter . . . you don't move someone with a head injury until he's been assessed, but they hauled him to his feet . . . " Zhi's fine features suddenly filled with humour as his mind recalled the ensuing events.
"What?" Apollo asked curiously.
Zhi grinned widely, "Oh, Starbuck projectile vomited all over Brand. It was almost worth it." A shadow crossed his face.
"Worth what?" Apollo asked.
Zhi bit his lip, instinctively looking around him. "Colonel Diallo treated Starbuck like an enemy spy, not one of his cadets. It was disgusting. Hades, he was even ordering me around like I was some first year tech that didn't know my astrum from my elbow. He's supposed to defer to my expertise at this point." He grumbled.
"Then what?" Apollo asked the disgruntled tech.
"Well, then I assessed Ortega, which took all of three centons. I told him the splint they had put together had done a great job of immobilizing his injury. He told me Starbuck rigged it. I think he was a little in awe of Starbuck at that point, especially after he realized the guy was really injured. No wonder the cadet collapsed, practically carrying Ortega out of that ravine, all the time sporting a concussion. Amazing what the human body can endure."
"Diallo has intimated in his report that Starbuck was able to achieve this solely due to his coca usage." Apollo told the tech, anxious for his take on that.
"Figures. Well, the only problem with that theory is we did a drug screen on Starbuck as soon as we got him into the infirmary. Dr. Alpheus insisted on it, considering the charges. It was negative. No evidence of coca use, either recent or sustained."
"Sustained?" Apollo enquired, unsure of the ramifications of prolonged coca use.
"There are clinical indications that reflect subtle changes in liver function when someone has been abusing coca. None of those changes were evident with Starbuck."
Apollo nodded calmly, while his hope of clearing his friend soared. "Admissible evidence."
"Absolutely." Zhi agreed. "It's in the medical report."
"Did you see them find the coca on Starbuck?"
"Yeah, but let me back up a bit before that. I was starting to tell you; I ended up waiting for Sergeants Brand, Murata and Silus for quite a while. I was anxious to assess Starbuck, after all. Well, they finally arrived and we loaded up Ortega. They still were in no hurry to get back to the landram. Again, it just seemed weird. Then we heard Colonel Diallo yell. Well, that got them moving. Brand and Silus took off ahead of us. When we caught up to them, Starbuck was face down on the ground being restrained by Silus. Diallo was a bit scratched up, but otherwise seemed fine. He made it seem like Starbuck had overpowered him. Frankly, from the shape the cadet was in, I find it highly unlikely. Ridiculous even."
"This is the part Starbuck doesn't remember." Apollo commented.
"No doubt. He was half-conscious. In pain, retching . . . " he shook his head at the memory. "Diallo started telling us how Starbuck took off from the landram and he tackled him. Then he got Brand to search Starbuck. Brand basically leaned over him and pulled out the coca."
"He planted it." Apollo suggested.
"Don't lead your witness."
"Have you studied the Code?" Apollo asked, with a rueful smile.
"No, but I've seen enough episodes of Code and Decree to be aware of it." Zhi grinned in reply. "He may have planted it. I couldn't really tell. But . . . "
"What?" Apollo prompted.
"Brand asked Ortega if he had any part in it. Well, Ortega denied it, of course. He looked like he was about to have an anxiety attack over it. Diallo as much told him not to worry about it. That he believed him. It just seemed . . . weird."
"How so?" Apollo asked to clarify.
"Well, he was so willing to incriminate Starbuck, but didn't have the slightest hesitation about believing Ortega's innocence. It just didn't make sense. After all, Ortega was with Starbuck. He had every opportunity to be in on a deal."
"Well, they don't exactly have a history of getting along." Apollo explained.
"Yeah, that's why it would be so perfect if they were in league together." Zhi suggested with a grin. "Right out of the second season, episode finale . . . uh, sorry. Guess I'm getting carried away." He winced, a bit embarrassed.
"Don't be. With your testimony alone, Starbuck stands a pretty good chance of this going to tribunal." Apollo smiled in appreciation. It had been an open and shut case based on Diallo's report. With Zhi's input, Apollo had enough to force Captain Corpeus to take it to tribunal. He hoped.