Part 5
Dr Salik cleared in throat as he moved to stand before the Commander and his son in the observation area of the Life Centre. Apollo looked behind him through the window that separated them from the treatment area. He wondered what Salik wanted and why the contamination procedure was in force. Behind the glass he saw Starbuck sitting up in bed and grinning at Cassiopeia as she fussed around him. He obviously said something inappropriately funny as she giggled and swatted him jokingly. All appeared as is should.
Apollo sighed, remembering the panicked trip back from the planet surface that seemed so outlandish that it had now taken on all the characteristics of a nightmare in his memory. Starbuck had quivered and moaned as Cassie had tried to make him comfortable. He had screamed in his pain, muttering as if in a fevered conversation and then his body arched and fists clenched tightly as he reared off the gurney, tears of agony rolling down his face.
Apollo still remembered the stark terror in Cassie's voice as she had cried out to him for assistance. "Apollo, I can't help him! We have to get him to the Life Centre. I don't understand what's happening to him - the scans are all over the place!"
It had been touch and go but they had managed it and Dr Salik had been able to stabilise the blonde pilot's condition. His fever had cooled, his strange muttering silenced, the retching and vomiting stopped and Starbuck had awoken dazed and distracted initially but soon he appeared calm and refreshed and almost glowing with health.
"I don't know how he does it!" His father's voice cut through Apollo's reverie, bringing him back to the present.
"Pardon?" he muttered, realising he had missed the conversation.
"Doctor Salik says that Starbuck has only minor injuries from the crash – another episode of that amazing Starbuck luck!" Adama smiled and Apollo wanted to do likewise but stopped when he saw Salik remained aloof and serious. If everything was all right why had the Commander been summoned?
"I'm not entirely sure about that," the doctor said and something inside Apollo went cold at Salik's severity.
"About what?" The Commander asked his tone curious but still mild.
Salik sighed. "About whether he has been lucky or not. He has few injuries from the crash it is true, but there's something else showing up on the scans."
Apollo remembered. "Cassie noticed something strange on the way up," he offered.
"What?" Adama asked.
Salik cast a glance over his shoulder to where Starbuck and Cassiopeia were still whispering. "I don't understand," he said finally. "I've checked Starbuck's last med exam results, it was only six sectares ago – there was no sign. For it to have got this big, this quickly!" He shook his head exasperated. "It makes no sense."
"Doctor," Adama began in his most authoritive tone. "What are you talking about?"
Salik ran his hand through his thinning hair. "There is a growth in his stomach…" He stopped.
"A growth?" Adama's voice was cold as Apollo shuddered beside him. "Is it malignant?"
"I'm still running tests but it appears not. In fact it exhibits none of the characteristics I would expect."
"What is your prognosis, Doctor?"
"I need more information. Sometimes the scans don't give enough and there is no alternative - I have scheduled exploratory surgery for this afternoon but I thought you should know."
"Does Starbuck know?" Apollo asked.
"Not yet," Salik replied.
"But doesn't he have a right to know?" Apollo's voice was so loud it echoed around the observation area.
"Of course, Captain," Salik snapped. "But where fleet security is concerned I need the Commander's permission above all others before I proceed."
"Fleet security, Salik? What do you mean?"
"Whatever is inside Starbuck does not appear to ….." The doctor hesitated before continuing, "I can't scan it properly because it keeps moving."
"Moving?" Apollo gasped in horror.
Adama sighed. "Some sort of parasite from the Planet?"
Salik nodded. "Maybe."
"That accounts for you isolating him at least." Adama moved away to look through the glass panel at where the blonde pilot lay, fidgeting impatiently now Cassiopeia had moved away on to other work. The Commander stared at the pilot for a long time. "And if you cut into him, you run the risk of letting it, whatever it may be, out," he mused.
Salik nodded. "It's a risk I am willing to take."
"I don't know if I am," Adama turned back to them. "Delay the surgery Salik," he ordered. "Observe the growth only. See if we can at least come to understand it a little better."
"What about Starbuck?" Apollo asked.
"As far as I can tell he is in no immediate danger," Salik replied.
"If that changes at any time I want to be informed immediately," Adama ordered.
"Of course, Commander."
"Aren't we going to tell him?" Apollo pressed.
Adama looked back at the oblivious pilot, his features unreadable. "Not yet," he said finally. "He remains in isolation here. Ensure that all protocols are followed, Salik."
"But…" began Apollo.
"Not yet," Adama repeated. "Not until there is more to tell him."
The buzz of the com was not what awoke Apollo; he had not been able to sleep even before its bleep broke into the silence of the room. Although it was well into sleep period the Captain had lain restless in his bed for centons, unable to find the required peace of mind to drift off. Many thoughts careened about crazily in his head but the most important were his fears for Starbuck. He did not agree with his father that the pilot should not be told of his condition and he felt increasingly guilty that, due to his isolation, no one save Cassiopeia and Salik had visited him since his return.
The buzz of the com was an almost welcome escape from the self-reproach that Apollo was feeling.
"Captain Apollo?" It was Cassiopeia's voice, strained and tired.
"What is it Cass?" Apollo asked.
She sniffed. "He's gone!"
All traces of slumber left him as fear fizzled through his veins. "What happened Cass?" he asked. "Tell me."
She sniffed again. "We thought he was sleeping – I gave him the sedative, I know I did! I went for a break and when I came back, his bed was empty. I don't understand." She drew in a deep breath and her voice when it came again was clinically efficient. "I have to call Security, Apollo but I want you to find him…. please."
"Of course. Get Boomer too!"
Apollo was half dressed before the link went dead and then he was skidding down the corridors. He had no idea where his friend would go but one thought clattered about his head; in the clearing, on the planet that animal-thing had said that Starbuck would return there. While Apollo didn't believe it for a second, he knew he had to eliminate it as a possibility and so he made his way to alpha launch bay.
As he threw himself out of the turbo lift his eyes flashed toward the bays, his ears already hearing the whirl of the engines. There was a crumpled figure on the floor to his left. He ran to it – Ensign Greenbean groaned painfully and rubbed his head.
"What happened?" Apollo asked as he lifted the kid up.
"Dunno," he muttered. "Something hit me from behind."
Apollo nodded and stood. He turned back to the viper that was powering up. The canopy was going down as the crew moved away. "Stop! Starbuck stop!" Apollo screamed.
But his words were lost as the engines reached full throttle and then the sleek craft leapt forwards, out into the gulf of space beyond.
"Starbuck – what in Hades?" Apollo muttered as he hit his thigh with frustration.
Behind him Greenbean climbed gingerly to his feet. "That was Starbuck?" Apollo nodded. "Frak, next time he wants to do my patrol I hope he just asks – I got a stinking headache now!"
"He's not doing your patrol, ensign," Apollo responded sadly. "What he's doing is going AWOL!" He ignored the sharp intake of breath from the shocked pilot behind him. "And I wish I knew why…."
Apollo left Greenbean nursing his head and darted over to the second viper ready for patrol, pausing on the way only to grab his own helmet. "What is Greenbean doing?" Jolly asked indignantly but something in the way Apollo looked at him, stopped him from complaining further.
"Get out of the viper," Apollo ordered.
The big flight sergeant looked shocked but did as he was told. In seconds Apollo was gunning the thrusters of the viper and blasting out into space.
"Starbuck!" Apollo worked hard at keeping his voice emotionless. "Starbuck do you read me?" He could see Starbuck's craft in front of him and he cursed when he realized the blond lieutenant was setting a course back to the planet he had been rescued from. "Starbuck, what in Hades are you doing?"
He waited a few seconds before trying again. "Lieutenant Starbuck I order you to turn your craft around and return to the Galactica now!"
The viper in front of him continued its silent, arrogant flight towards the planet as Apollo tried to keep his temper under control. "Starbuck! Starbuck – what are you doing? C'mon buddy, talk to me!"
Apollo banged his fist frustratedly on the console in front of him, desperately searching for a way to get through to his unresponsive friend. Finally he decided there was only one way. Hating himself none-the-less he said. "Lieutenant Starbuck, you are ignoring a direct order in flagrant violation of fleet procedure. I order you now to turn that viper around and surrender yourself to my custody immediately! I am warning you if you fail to comply with my instructions I will have no alternative but to take action accordingly!"
He waited, heart beating horrendously in his chest and ears itching to hear Starbuck's familiar relaxed drawl. "C'mon Bucko," Apollo murmured. "Don't make me do this!"
The com link remained dead save for a fleeting cackle of static. Then a voice came through causing hope to leap momentarily into Apollo's heart, only to be squashed when he perceived the owner of the voice. It was his father not Starbuck.
"Blue Leader, this is Galactica. What are you doing, Apollo?" Adama ordered.
"Galactica this is Blue Leader. I read you."
"Apollo, need I remind you we have a fuel crisis? There is an embargo on all non essential flights. What are you doing?"
"It's Starbuck, father."
"What's Starbuck?"
"In the other viper!"
There was an audible intake of breath over the com link. Adama's voice, when it came, was uncompromising. "Captain Apollo return to the Galactica now."
"But…"
"That's an order!"
Apollo signed. "Starbuck, do you read me?" he tried again, one last time.
"Captain Apollo!" Adama's voice boomed.
"OK," Apollo said defeatedly. "I'm coming!" He threw one last longing glance to where the ion trail of Starbuck's fast retreating viper still lit the sky. "I hope you know what you're doing, Starbuck," he breathed unhappily.
TBC
