Part 8

"Captain!" Boomer's outraged voice smote through the air. Apollo knew why the lieutenant sounded so indignant; he felt exactly the same but made himself tamp down his emotion.

After meeting Magawincha in the dead forest and calming the blade of pure fear that had stabbed at his heart following her disclosure, Apollo had spent a great deal of time speaking with her. She was timid and afraid and obviously had little experience of interacting with beings other than those of the small group she had spent her life with, but eventually she had learnt to trust him and had told him much of what she knew about her culture and the events that were taking place now. Finally she had even agreed to lead him to this most sacred of places but only after she had forced him to promise that he would not interfere. And it was that vow to her that made him control his outrage now.

In this place the rain had stopped which was a blessing they all rejoiced in but even here the mists hung heavy in the air. The vegetation was lush with green trees climbing towards the sky above which remained stubbornly grey; no sun appeared to pierce its bleak apathy. The ground had soft green moss on it that was springy to the touch but its cover was only sporadic and the awful mud still seemed to hold sway. Apollo could not shake the feeling of growing doom that seemed to emanate for everything on this planet. It seemed to eat into his soul tainting it with unassailable despair and though he fought hard to control it, he feared it would ultimately be too strong for him.

As Magawincha brought them to the glade, there had been many deer creatures milling across their path, some munching softly on the moss, others throwing curious glances at the strange group that had just arrived and others whispering secretively.

Magawincha told Apollo this sudden influx of creatures had been what had caused her to flee her people. She had thought Beagragon's band had been the only ones left, the truly blessed who had been chosen for the ritual but when more and more of her people had arrived, drawn by the drums, and proclaiming their own superiority and right to serve the Chosen One, Magawincha's world had been rocked. She found she could no longer get close to Starbuck, always there were others, eager to serve him, eager to use their heavier weight or more advanced years to explain why she was no longer needed.

Desperate, she had run to Beagragon but he had been too engaged in trying to argue his position against the leaders of other bands and had no time to fight Magawincha's battles.

Magawincha had tried one last time to see Starbuck but he was in a world she could not reach, a prisoner of the spasms that rocked him and unable to speak or communicate in any way; he was completely at the mercy of those who had forced Magawincha away. Dispirited and alone, no longer able to fight the inevitable, she had wondered away from the glade, sure her own place in history had been stolen from her and equally sure that she was betraying Starbuck, leaving him when he needed her more than ever.

At first she had been paralysed with fear when the outlandish Warriors had taken her. But the brown haired one who led them seemed so friendly. When he spoke of Starbuck to her she could perceive a warm glow in those the piercing green eyes and she knew he cared deeply for the golden one. Once she believed that, and coupled with her own festering dissatisfaction at the way she had been treated, it did not take her long to decide that she would take him wherever he asked, even to the scared place. The world for Magawincha had always been simple and her faith, though strong, was grounded in the straightforward concept that she must obey unquestionably and only in her own deference would she find the way to true happiness. She had followed Beagragon's instructions completely and unthinkingly for many years. When he was not there, she unconsciously sought out another to direct and instruct her in the way he had done. Apollo, as leader of this troop, fit the role completely for Magawincha and she soon began to obey without question.

She had led them; Apollo, Boomer and Cassiopeia, along the tree lined walkway, anxious to be past the curious stares of her people. They had come to a stop at the mossy mound that seemed to grow out of the earth. Behind it a grey monolith reached dispassionately to the sky but Apollo's eyes rested on it only fleetingly; his attention focused instead on the person on top of the mound.

Starbuck was naked save for a piece of coarse material that stretched across his middle, covering his upper thighs and groin area. His skin was grimy and stained by the mud but beneath that layer of dirt it appeared almost translucent with a strange ethereal glow. His eyes were tightly closed and he was sucking strongly on a tube which contained a greenish liquid being drawn from a bowl at his side – he looked like a babe at a nipple. His face was streaked with dirt and dried sweat, his chin shadowed by the growth of a couple of days stubble and his hair matted about his head with mud and grime. His physical appearance was cause enough for concern but Apollo was horrified to see his friend was tied in place on the mound. Twine was wrapped around both of his wrists and attached to stakes that had been driven into the ground at either side of his waist. His ankles were likewise restrained and there was twine stretched across his body at his knees, his chest and his neck. All of which had the affect of holding him completely immobile.

Apollo made to move forward but he hesitated and watched in fascination as a violent spasm started at the the tips of Starbuck's toes and washed through him, contracting every single muscle in his body in a rapid contraction. The blonde lieutenant, eyes still tight shut let the straw fall from his mouth, a feeble gasp escaping his lips as the wave washed by, he tightened in his bounds and then relaxed again.

"It is nearly over." A voice said from Apollo's right.

He turned to see a deer creature regarding him with those wide, unblinking eyes. Although they all looked frightening similar to Apollo's untutored glance, he fancied there was something familiar about this one. His mind went back to the glade. "Beagragon?" he guessed.

The creature bowed its head. "Captain Apollo," he said.

"What do you mean 'it's nearly over'?" Apollo asked fear fluttering in his stomach once more.

"This phase," Beagragon said his tone neutral. "The next is thankfully calmer. He will do himself no harm; the thrashing will stop and we will be able to release the bounds. He may even be able to speak with you."

"I want my Med Tech to see him now!" Apollo spat defiantly.

"It is not necessary," Beagragon responded smoothly.

Apollo glared at him. "I think it is!"

Beagragon nodded slowly. "Very well but Magawincha informs me you promised not to interfere. I must warn you if you do so you will kill him and all he has suffered thus far will be for naught!"

Apollo snorted, flexing his fists impotently. "Cass!" he directed over his shoulder and the blonde Med Tech rushed forwards fighting to quash the emotion that ran through her. She concentrated hard, pushing the thought from her mind the identity of this miserable figure who needed her aid. Not daring to allow her true feelings to rise to the surface, she sought solace in her clinical detachment and held on to it grimly.

Boomer moved to whisper in his Captain's ear. "Apollo, we cannot let this continue. Look at him! Look at what they are doing to him!"

"I know!" Apollo snapped. He liked it no better than Boomer but he could see no alternative at the present time. He felt powerless and inadequate and he snorted impatiently.

Cassiopeia was scanning Starbuck's jerking body. "I can't…" she stopped, as her grip on her objectivity slipped and then she let out a shriek as the whole of Starbuck's stomach contracted in on itself and then flopped out again. "What is in there?" she whispered in horror.

Magawincha had moved around to the pilot's other side, taking advantage of the fact that his other servers had sidled away fearfully when the humans had arrived. "The seed," she said firmly, her eyes glinting with zeal. "It grows!"

Cassiopeia looked at the creature beside her, her mouth scowling in distaste. She shook her head. "Whatever it is, it's killing him!"

Magawincha nodded. "Of course; that is the price he will pay," she said. "He agreed to it."

Cassiopeia turned back to Apollo. "My scanner is reading pure nonsense – nothing is where it's supposed to be. But I don't need that to tell me he is dying, Apollo. We have to get him out of here, soon!"

The Captain stood motionless as a wave of impotent rage rushed through him. He knew what Boomer and Cass were saying. He could feel their eyes wild with fear and anger boring into him, pleading with him. Still he had given his word to Magawincha, but what was the power of his word when Starbuck's life was at stake?

He glanced down as another contraction tightened and then released Starbuck's muscles. He let out a long breath then turned back to Beagragon. "He will be able to talk during the next phase?" he asked.

Beagragon nodded. "His heart is strong, his mind too. I do not see that it will be a problem for him. The next phase is the calm before the storm; a chance to gather himself for the final reckoning."

Apollo looked back at Starbuck. "Then I will wait," he said firmly. "Starbuck flew himself down here after we had rescued him. He had his reasons; I want to hear them from his own lips. Only then will I be able to make a decision on what we should do."

"Apollo!" Cassiopeia was shocked. "He's dying!" She looked to Boomer for support but the lieutenant's empathetic eyes did not waiver from his Captain.

"Boomer," Apollo began after Beagragon had left. "I want you to find out everything you can about this 'process'. They talk about writings and scriptures – take the men and find them!"

"Of course, Captain!" With a last lingering look over his shoulder the Lieutenant moved away.

"Cass," Apollo moved to embrace the distraught Med Tech. "I know how you feel, believe me because I am feeling it too. But you know when he was on Galactica Starbuck was not right. Think what he did to you to escape – we both know he would not ordinarily hurt you for all the twelve colonies. We have to wait. I have to talk to him, Cass. Do you see that?"

She nodded slowly. "But I want to help him," she said. "I don't want to see any man in pain but Starbuck least of all."

Apollo gently mopped away the tear that ran down her cheek. "You can make him as comfortable as you can; you and Magawincha both. Maybe that's all any of us can do."


"'Pollo."

A soft,weak voice pierced through Apollo's reverie. He had been sitting beside Starbuck for centars, sometimes stroking him gently, others simply watching, powerless as the spasm wracked through his friend's body. Magawincha and Cassiopeia had been present too but both seemed to have moved away at this point. Now Apollo looked down to see blue eyes, dulled of their normal intensity regarding him.

"Starbuck!" he breathed. Once more he resisted the urge he had been resisting all the time he had knelt beside his friend; the need to untie those fraking bindings and take his friend in his arms, only this time it was even more difficult to subdue. He forced himself to make do with gently stroking the blonde hair darkened by sweat and dirt. "Starbuck," he repeated.

To his surprise the pale and tired features broke into that familiar award-winning smile. "'Pollo," he breathed, his voice low and strained. "What are you doing here?" The words were slurred as if the pilot had indulged in one too many ambrosias again but Apollo had seen his friend in such a state often enough to decipher his meaning now.

"Looking for you," Apollo tried to match the smile. "Why else would I be on some forsaken planet, up to my elbows in mud while the Galactica sails away into space! How do you feel?"

Starbuck gulped. "I…" he stopped and licked his lips. "You need to go back," he said.

"Not without you, buddy," Apollo responded.

Starbuck tried to shake his head. "Can't move," he whispered weakly.

"Here," Apollo ignored the outraged howl from behind him, where Beagragon hovered, and began to undo the twine at Starbuck's wrists, chest and neck. Then he finally took hold of the pilot and lifted his upper body, clutching it to his own in a long embrace. "I missed you, buddy," he murmured as he placed a chaste kiss on top of the other man's head.

Starbuck's body was boiling and sweat seemed to be leeching out of every pore. He shuddered in Apollo's strong arms but the spasms did not increase in intensity. The two men stayed together for a long time, each simply enjoying the closeness of the other, eventually Apollo lay Starbuck gently back onto the moss.

Starbuck smiled again but this time it was a sad, melancholy expression. "I have to do this," he said softly.

Apollo brushed the hair away from those blue eyes. "Do what?"

Starbuck gulped. "She offered me so much, Apollo. She offered me a place, a family, a purpose. I've done nothing all my life that wasn't for me. How could I refuse what she offered?"

"That's simply not true, Starbuck – you are the bravest Warrior I know. Why do this?"

"I didn't get a choice but if I had I would have chosen this."

"You're not making sense, Bucko. You're talking in riddles." Apollo tried to keep control of his temper. "Can't you understand - this is killing you! Why would you choose it? And what is 'it' anyway?"

Starbuck sighed. "I grant you she didn't say it would be this painful but, hey, I never was one for details any way. You know me, any sign of glory and I'll rush right in there especially to save the pretty girl!" His flinched and gritted his teeth as further pain flashed through him.

"Let Cass give you a painkiller."

Starbuck shook his head stubbornly. "No, it has to be the way, it's written."

Apollo snorted, biting back his growing frustration. "What is written and how do you know? Why believe any of it, Starbuck? She wasn't honest about the pain."

Starbuck's smile was rueful. "You know me, Apollo – always bet on the long shot – the rewards are so much higher when you win."

"But what if you don't win!"

Starbuck's smile was brilliant. "I always win, Apollo! You know that! System can't fail!" But he was suddenly tired, a confused shadow passed across his eyes and his head lolled back to the moss as his energy left him. He let out a strangled weak cough, and Apollo watched as a small trickle of blood meandered from the side of his mouth.

"Arrrh," Beagragon's voice, which Apollo was fast beginning to hate, came from beside him. "The third phase begins – the bleeding."

"What?" Apollo could no longer control his horror.

Starbuck weakly wiped away at his cheek with the back of his hand. His glazed eyes gazed dumbly at the scarlet streak they saw there. "Frak," he whispered weakly. "I'm leaking!" His eyes rolled back up into his head and letting out a soft sigh he fell back onto the mound beneath him.

"What is the meaning of this?"

Apollo gently let go on the unconscious Starbuck and looked up to see a bigger deer creature had stalked up to them, behind him was assembled a whole mob of the creatures in apparent support.

Apollo sensed the animosity between Beagragon and this newcomer immediately as the bigger animal began. "Unbelievers are not welcome. They bring bad spirits and humours which could damage the process. Who allowed this to happen?"

Beagragon snorted. "You know I did, Fallinfech," he stated. "I am leader here. It was my place that the Chosen One showed himself! I am the one to decide!"

Fallinfech seemed to pull himself to a greater height. "You are nothing, Beagragon!" he snapped. "You have but two immature females to support you. I am the power here – my band is bigger and stronger than any other. Now you will do as I say!"

Apollo felt his heart sink. Not only was Starbuck in big trouble, it also appeared the deer creatures had issues and conflicts of their own. He stepped forward, his hand on the butt of his blaster, a full head and shoulders above any of the deer creatures.

"I may be an unbeliever!" he spat with authority. "But you have one of my men here and I am not leaving him!"

Fallinfeck looked up at the imposing figure and Apollo noted for future reference the flicker of fear that ran across his silky haunches. "Very well," he conceded and then turned back to Beagragon. "But you cannot cut us out!"

Beagragon snorted. "I would never dream to do so. I follow the scriptures minutely!"

"Then you will allow me to be present with the Chosen One at all times?"

Beagragon sighed, avoiding Apollo's stare, he considered the facts. His band was small and if this came to a fight they would be overcome immediately. Fallinfeck was simply asking to be involved and if he was, then he could protect Beagragon's band as well as his own. He inclined his head. "Of course," he agreed.

Apollo shook his head. Starbuck's life was seeping away in the most painful of ways and he seemed unable to do anything to help his friend, while these strange deer-like creatures seemed intent on making the whole experience a spectator sport! Where the hell was Boomer? Hopefully he would find something that they could use to put an end to this whole sorry mess!

TBC