Man and Machine 16

[Sorry about the delays in chapters. In addition to this story, I am also giving attention to my other stories like Armageddon Z, and original projects, not to mention real life worries like work. I shouldn't advocate anything else, but if you like my writing, consider picking up a copy of the Serpent Fleet on amazon]

In the Galactica officer's club, Starbuck set his mug of ale down on the table beside Buck Roger' and sat in the vacant seat. He held the cigar between his teeth while studying his Earth friend's expression.

Buck was glowering at a table on the far side of the room where Wilma Deering and Apollo sat, obviously enjoying their conversation.

"I understand how you feel, man," Starbuck said, "but I'm the last person who should offer any love advice."

Buck glanced over at the Colonial, "But?"

"But nothing, I shouldn't offer advice. Look, I'm a lot like you. A girl in every port, spending so much of my time making every girl I meet feel like she's the only one, so that I when I find a girl that I genuinely care about, I can't show it. It hurts, a lot, almost as much as it hurts them," Starbuck said. "I once invited two women to a date at the same time, and juggled them in separate rooms, worked out great until they bumped into each other while leaving."

"I know," Buck said, glowering over his drink, continuing to stare. "I like Apollo, I really do, and I want Wilma to be happy, I just always thought I would be the one to make her happy, but I have hurt her so many times over the years. She deserves better."

"Apollo has been my best friend since before I can remember," Starbuck said. "He's been hurt a lot, and doesn't show his feelings easily. I would hate for him to get involved with a woman whose attentions are divided. He isn't as strong as we are when it comes to that."

Finally, Buck looked away from the other couple and stared long and hard at Starbuck's innocent face, wondering what exactly he wanted him to do.

Across the room, Apollo and Wilma were looking down at a computer printout of a map of Earth. "See, we have been allowed to scan different portions of the Earth, or been given scans of the planet from random patches at different times, sometimes of the exact same areas of the planet; it feels like your Council is trying to confuse us so we don't realize what we have and what we don't."

"I'm sure the Computer Council has reasons for whatever it does. They wouldn't do anything to jeopardize anyone's safety," Wilma said.

"But when we lay out all the sections and place them together, there is this large patch on the far side of the planet which remains completely unknown," Apollo said.

"Maybe there's nothing there?"

Apollo pointed to a point on the map, "There is nothing here, except higher Radon levels. Why show us this, but not that? They are hiding something."

"I'm sure the Council must have a reason for protecting us from whatever is there… but Buck would agree with you. So would Hawk, and I've come to trust both of their intuitions. I know none of you will stop until you find the answer to this puzzle you have imagined for yourselves… so I will help you."

"You will?"

"Yes," Wilma said, "If just to protect you from yourselves, I will help you find a way around the Council to investigate this uncharted area of the planet… provided we will abort if the radiation levels get too high."

"Certainly," Apollo agreed, then changed the subject abruptly. "You know this conversation is making him jealous."

"Oh, I'm making him jealous? We're just discussing business, when he conducts business… it doesn't seem very much like business."

"I've hung around Starbuck long enough to tell when he is serious about a woman. I think Captain Rogers likes you a lot more than he lets on."

"If so, you think he could show it from time to time."

"He doesn't?"

"Sometimes… but something always comes up, some emergency or another."

Buck Rogers stood and crossed the room to stand before the two of them, offering out his hand, "Col. Deering, may I have this dance?"

"But, Buck, there's no music playing," she said.

"So?" Buck pulled her up and into the middle of the room and began to slow dance with her in time to the rumble of the Galactica engines.

Starbuck and Apollo shared a knowing smile across the room.