He made it back from the patrol with enough time to make it to dinner and help the kids with homework. He couldn't help but distracted as he watched the pilots complete their homework for the trainings they were taking. The current class was electronics so they would understand the panels in their vipers in case things were damaged in battle. It was never anyone's favorite training session as half the lessons began with "In the event of a crash" or "when your viper is hit by a laser". Plus if you showed any aptitude, you were quickly shifted towards mechanics and viper techs. He watched Rene trying to keep everyone on task when it was obvious that Jake and Nik were more interested in talking about triad. It suddenly became clear to Starbuck why the female pilots of this squadron might be a little more interested in keeping up with the studies. They didn't want to have to face a reprimand from Pallus.
Starbuck got the kids going on their work before he came over to join Rene. He walked through some of the schematics with her while feeding Leia and getting her to sleep. He enjoyed the refresher on some of the other systems. He waited until they were putting the work away to deal with the kids and bed time before he asked how the training was going. It was the body language he paid attention to, not the verbal answers that things were okay. They all mumbled that it was going fine, but not a one of them would look him in the eye. Didn't they know he played a lot of pyramid? You couldn't just flat out lie to Starbuck.
"You do know if there's a problem, you can tell me at least, right?"
Almost in unison they all shrugged and looked away.
"You can put an officer on report, you know that, right?" He focused on Jake. "I know you don't want me knowing about that fight you had, and that's fine, I get it. But if you didn't start it, you can report it? Hades, even if you did start it, if they had it coming, you can…"
Jake cut him off. "Yeah I get it. File a report that goes nowhere. Get myself more notice, not exactly the way I want to go with it. Besides, nothing happened."
"Cut the felgercarb, alright. I'm serious."
Jake got up from the table and Starbuck considered going after him, but instead he looked to Crius. His wing mate just shook his head at him.
"I'm serious!" Starbuck started again, but it was Rene that shut him down.
"We know, Starbuck. We just have a different way of dealing with things."
"And it's not working! If someone's giving you problems, you need to fix it, the proper way, through channels. Things are different here."
It was Nik that voiced what they all obviously were thinking. "Is it? Hadn't noticed yet."
"That's because you haven't tried to make it different. You're just doing the same things you did before. You're all warriors, full-fledged Lieutenants. Isn't it time you started acting like it?" Starbuck looked around the room to blank faces. He dove into that wall of resistance. "Dammit, if you don't fight it, it will keep happening!"
Rene shoved her chair away and got to her feet, storming from the room. Starbuck got to his feet and followed her. Once out in the corridor, he grabbed her arm to stop her, spinning her around.
"Fracking talk to me!"
Had he been a smarter man maybe the explosion of anger in her eyes would have worried him, but instead it had him grinning at the hope he could get her to open up.
She shouted at the top of her voice. "You don't know a damn thing! You think you are so fracking superior, you know that? You don't know what you are talking about. Real Lieutenants aren't shoved into cadet training. Nothing's changed. Nothing's different."
"You're not being flogged!"
The words did not have the affect he wanted as it shut Rene down. Her lips clamped tight and he cringed.
"Dammit, Rene, talk to me. Tell me why it's not different, and I can tell you why it is, okay? I don't know what it was like before. So tell me!"
"Tell you what?"
"I know you have to deal with Pallus. I know he's the one who beat up Jake a few cycles ago, and he's the one who beat him up on the Zakar and then he…."
He'd been slapped by a woman before, many women, but this was different. The knuckles connected with his cheek and snapped his head back. He hadn't been expecting she would take a swing at him. She'd put some force behind the blow and now she stood before him, fists clenched in a fighter's stance. Starbuck backed away wincing at more than the pain in his cheek, hands up in surrender.
"Who told you?" she barked at him.
"Rene, it doesn't matter. You should have told me!"
"Told you what?" She dropped her hands a little, trying to pull up her camouflage of nonchalance.
Starbuck dropped his hands and leaned in closer. "Don't do that! You can hit me, fine, but don't you try to fake me out, got it!" He raised a hand to point at her and she batted it away.
He reached out to grab one of her hands just to stop her. She wrenched it away while trying to punch him with the other hand. He had to let go and dodge to avoid the strike as he cursed, more at himself than at her. It was pure instinct from the triad court that had him shoulder checking her into the corridor wall and then pinning her there, grabbing at both her hands. She fought back and the flash of panic that lit up her eyes was like an electric shock. Starbuck abruptly let go and stepped back to the opposite wall of the corridor, hands up to show her no harm.
"Dammit, Rene! I just want to talk!"
He had expected her to flee down the corridor, and he knew he would deserve to find himself locked out of their quarters. She stood her ground, glaring at him, back to a fighter's stance with fists raised.
She answered him warily. "So talk. Doesn't mean I have to."
Starbuck sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Rene," he said it softer followed by a sigh. "I'm just trying to help. That's it, I swear."
They stood there in the corridor for more than a few centons sizing each other up. She didn't lower her hands until she realized he wasn't going to say anything more, nor was he going to go away. He tried not to pace, just stood still measuring out his breaths as evenly as he could despite the desire to destroy something. Rene finally relaxed her stance but Starbuck still waited her out until she sighed letting the tension go.
"You have helped. It's better here, alright? So can we just forget what happened before, okay? Can we just move forward?"
Starbuck made the effort to not take the steps towards her he wanted to. He wanted to take her in his arms anytime she even mentioned the past. But his cheek that was still throbbing told him he should probably hold his position or face another attack.
"I want that more than anybody, Sweet Lady, I do, but you are still having to deal with it, aren't you? Half the captains, that's what you said. I just want to help you deal with it, that's all."
She crinkled her nose and he recognized her little tell for when she was annoyed at herself. "I didn't mean it. It's not that bad. And everyone has been on their best behavior here on the Galactica, even Pallus. Crius told you, didn't he?"
"Does it matter? It should have been you that told me. I found out, that's all that matters and if Pallus lays a hand on you, I will kill him. You have my word on that."
She sighed angrily and he watched her as the emotions played across her face before she sighed again. "No, you don't. We don't need you in the brig. All of us need you. Kiff is just now warming up to you, and you're the only one Jason will listen to. Leia needs you. No one else can get her to sleep."
Starbuck smiled at Rene's attempt to lighten the mood before he said softly, "What about you? You don't need me? Who would put you to sleep if I wasn't around?"
He saw the anger fade and a hint of a grin play across her lips. "Yeah, you bore me. It puts me right out."
Starbuck grinned as he picked up the banter like a lifeline to reel Rene in. "Boring? I need to step up my game then. I thought you liked the way I made you tired in bed. You wear me out, that's for sure." He took a step towards her with open arms as he saw the smile win over her anger. "Just trying to help."
"Sorry," she mumbled as she let him pull her into an embrace. "Just sick of dealing with it, okay? It's Nik and Jake you need to help. They won't let it go, and I don't need you adding to that, alright?"
"Got it. But it's not going to get better if we don't talk about it and deal with it."
"Sounds like more work."
The words reminded Starbuck that he needed to have a chat with the Commander. All of the Dilmun Warriors had come from an intense battle, a rotten command, and gruelling details, to just be shoved into more details, more duties, and more training. In some ways, it wasn't better for them. It was still the Colonial Service with rules, routines, and regulations. As it had been pointed out to Starbuck on numerous occasions, these pilots were young. Even at the Academy there had been scheduled times to cut loose and relax. Maybe that's what they needed before they could deal with all of the complications of the past. Maybe in a more relaxed frame of mind, they might open up a little bit.
"You know, I been meaning to ask. How would you like another night on the Rising Star? Your friends, and mine. Be nice for you to get to know some of my friends. It didn't go so great the last time I know, but then you had a little different agenda that night, didn't you?" Starbuck reminded her of the first time he'd taken her to the luxury liner and her attempt to have him distracted while she tried to take her own private tour of the fleet via the civilian shuttle system.
He felt her suck in the breath for another sigh and she mumbled a sorry into his chest. "Oh, I didn't mind how the evening ended." Starbuck reached down to stroke the ring still on her finger. "So why don't we try again. I can get us some leave and some passes. I've got plenty of cubits since we've been staying in most nights. Plus, I noticed you've got more than enough. I've been meaning to ask about that by the way? You're not picking more pockets, are you?" he half teased. He couldn't puzzle out how she had gone from broke after her tour of the civilian fleet, to suddenly loaded. He'd found stacks of cubits stashed around their quarters, even some stashed in the food prep area.
She laughed into his chest before pulling away to look up at him. "I didn't tell you something. I stole the Dilmun payroll before I left. I was going to stash it in our quarters, but Apollo said that was a bad idea."
Starbuck wasn't sure he believed her, so he teased back, "So there's more? How much are we talking about and just where did you stash it then? Not with Apollo I hope. Don't let him fool you, he's no better with his cubits. He just gives them away at the tables on the Rising Star or to me. Or squanders it on Boxey . . ."
She grinned up at him. "Four crates worth. I never did get to roll around in them. Maybe I'll ask the Commander if he still has them."
"Wow, that's a lot. You gave them to Adama? Oh pretty lady, is that why he's letting me stay in our quarters? You paid him off? I mean four crates, that's only four nights of my time. My fee is quite large, I'm in high demand." He felt the last of her anger melt with the joke, and the smile became more than a hint of a grin. He reached a hand to stroke her face.
"I like you much better as Warrior of the Centaur, instead of Worrier of the Centaur," she purred playfully at him.
"Want to know a secret? I think Adama would have paid you to get me to settle down and behave. You got taken." He couldn't resist her mischievous grin and leaned down to kiss her. Thank the Lords their quarters were close, as the kiss turned into so much more. She did not look bored, but maybe a little tired by the time they were done.
Starbuck wasted no time the next morning, tracking down Adama to ask the favor of the passes and the time off for the Rising Star. The Commander did not like being hit up for that and asked straight out why Starbuck wasn't asking Colonel Gage who had been assigned the duty rosters for the Galactica. Starbuck couldn't resist checking on Rene's story, to see if she was just teasing with him or not.
"Well sir, it doesn't usually take four crates of cubits to bribe you. I can usually win you over with a promise to avoid any pranks."
When Adama's eyes widened a little and he did that slight commander stutter, uttered the "Well," and paused, Starbuck had all the proof he needed.
"By all that's holy! I'm a rich man."
"Now Starbuck, those cubits are not yours, nor Rene's. They belong to the Colonial Service so don't get any ideas."
Starbuck grinned. Rene was teaching him a thing or two about negotiations, and he gave it try. "Who me? I was just trying to get some passes to the Rising Star, but some cubits for drinks would certainly be appreciated. Thanks, Commander. Or I could just let everyone know you have four crates of cubits in your office and we can see how long they stay there. I heard Boomer's good at picking locks."
"Are you blackmailing me, Lieutenant?" The Commander smiled at him despite his stern tone.
"Just spreading rumors, sir. I have to ask though, did you roll around in them, because I know I would have."
Adama just turned away chuckling, tossing over his shoulder, "You can have the passes and the leave, but after that comment you'll have to pay for your own drinks, Lieutenant."
"Oh you did!" Starbuck chuckled. "I am so jealous!" He left the bridge laughing as Adama jokingly threatened to put him on report. "I didn't roll in them naked, you did," Starbuck issued as a parting shot before the lift doors closed.
Since he didn't have a patrol today, was due in the duty office, and wasn't looking forward to paperwork, he decided to swing by the training rooms and check for himself how things were going. Every chair in the room was full and Pallus was in the middle of a lecture, so Starbuck took up a place leaning against the wall. It took a few microns for Rene to notice he was there as she was intent on the data pad in front of her. She flashed him one the rat's signs, asking him what was up. He flashed one back for nothing and she rolled her eyes and shrugged. They both knew why he was there. He wanted to see for himself how things were going.
By all appearances, nothing was amiss. It was boring old training that Pallus led like a Colonial Instructor should. He even had the courtesy to finish his talk before he asked if Starbuck needed anything. Starbuck told him a half truth, that helping with a study session he realized he could use a refresher. Pallus didn't question it, just got Starbuck a schematic and went back to instructing. Starbuck had a hard time reconciling the Colonial Captain leading the class with the story that Crius had told him. The story made Starbuck want to rip the man apart with his bare hands. But the man in this room was a decent instructor. It made Starbuck wonder what had shorted out in the Captain to change his wiring. Had the fleet already fixed the problem?
The only thing that might look a little odd is that the gals didn't ask questions. They turned to their male friends, and then the boys asked the question if they couldn't answer it. But Pallus answered every question, and didn't seem to be ignoring the female pilots. Starbuck hung around until midday meal, just to be sure it wasn't just a show for his benefit.
He ate in the mess hall with the Dilmun pilots, listened to their banter, and decided they'd been right. Things were going okay and he'd have to dig a little deeper to find out about the fights the boys were having. Pilots were notoriously hot headed, so maybe that's all it was, like they had said. He walked Rene back to the training, waved goodbye. She flashed him a hand sign from the manual that meant to stay alert. He knew he'd be asking about that later.
He still didn't want to face the paperwork, but he did want to set up their time on the Rising Star, so he headed off to the duty office and made sure he found his wing mate, Crius, as well as Giles and Boomer. Then he messaged Apollo and miraculously everything worked out for the next night. There was even a new act on the Rising Star, and the Commander, true to his word, had bumped Starbuck's name up on the reservation list for the dining lounge. There was just one detail he needed help with. Rene and her friends had left Dilmun with nothing to their names. Starbuck didn't mind if the gals wore their dress uniforms to the Rising Star, but his last time there with Rene, she had been right. The men wore dress uniforms, and the ladies wore dresses. He didn't want Rene prancing around in the outfit she made for last time, especially not after Starbuck had learned what Dante's version of the Officer's Club had been offering in the way of entertainment. But he honestly didn't know where in the fleet you bought a dress. He figured Rene wouldn't mind missing a few cubits for that purchase. It was the where, not the cost that was the obstacle.
He thought to ask Cassiopeia, but the two had spoken little since Dilmun. It had become even more awkward as Cassie and Jake had been spending some time together. Starbuck was well aware of how hypocritical it was that he thought Cassiopeia was too old for Jake, so he just kept his mouth shut when he was around Cassie. He pointed out other lovely ladies to Jake which earned him a rather angry glare each time like Starbuck was planning on having the girls himself, so he stopped.
He finally decided to ask Athena. Since having kids, she had grown a size or two larger and probably still had her old dresses thinking she'd slim down eventually. They'd probably fit Rene and Lizbet perfectly, especially since Rene had finally put on some weight with the baby on the way, and Lizbet was still slimming down for the babe she had a few sectons ago. Starbuck hadn't meant to offend Athena with all that information. He didn't exactly get to pick out the dresses as Athena threw them at him, and it wasn't until he was back to the Council chambers that he realized one of the dresses was the one Athena had worn on Carillon. He swore it still reeked of those insects after all these yahrens and was almost as revealing as the dress Rene had made. He'd save that one for Lizbet. The other was a blue number Starbuck didn't remember, low cut which he would like, and less revealing elsewhere. Besides, the blue would look nice with her eyes.
He didn't get time to show the girls the dresses until long after the kids were in bed. Since most of them were taking the following night off, they had taken over the kids giving the others a break. Jake nearly bolted from the council chambers at the news. Lizbet was thrilled, but Rene just quirked an eyebrow at him over the more sedate dress. When she wore it the next night, Starbuck hadn't remembered it having a slit on each side almost up to her hips, plus he thought the sleeves had been a bit longer. Now they were cut to show off the tattoos on her arms.
Starbuck had long gotten used to the markings, the triangles for her kills and the names etched in her arm. In fact, he had insisted on being the one to write Ari's name on her forearm near her wrist the night of the funeral. He had thought that the ritual of adding the homemade tattoos would have been filled with more emotion than it had been, perhaps have more significance, but it had come up almost as an afterthought. Many had been drinking, not drunk exactly, just toasts to those now dead. Someone had said, Nik maybe, "Oh yeah, we should probably do this thing, get it over with."
The process was crude, yet not gruesome. He'd seen it before in the orphanages, only there it bordered on barbaric. Being warriors they'd had access to some medical supplies, sterilized needles and laser scalpels were brought out. The ink was the same though, stolen stylus' were broken open. Rene had chosen red for Ari's name. She'd been a bit surprised when Starbuck picked up the laser scalpel and mumbled, "It was my fault."
When he noticed how many others were joining in the process, everyone in the family had some markings, and many of those who were just friends, Starbuck suggested he should have a mark too, but Rene had told him no. The way she said it, the closest to tears she came that day, he decided it was probably her decision not his. He'd insisted on her having a drink, figured one wouldn't hurt the baby and would help some with the pain. As he cut and dabbed the ink in with a needle, she just gritted her teeth and shut her eyes, hissing only a few times.
Now in the harsh glare of the landing bay lights, the name was still a bit red and raised. The colors of the other marks were less prominent with the baby blue dress providing some coverage. But Ari's name stood out. It was harsh reminder that things had changed since their last trip to the luxury liner when all Starbuck had in mind was having a good time.
Now this trip meant a lot more. He'd hoped to ask Rene officially in front of all his friends to be his wife and maybe they could set a sealing date to keep the Commander happy. Starbuck wasn't happy that Apollo wouldn't be there, having used the usual excuse that he had duty, but when Boomer pointed out that the dress Rene was wearing had been Serina's, Starbuck decided it was an omen that tonight might not be the best time to propose. It still was an important trip as it was the first time many of his new family had ventured beyond the Galactica.
Rene was a bit more subdued since their last trip, but Starbuck counted that as a bonus that he wouldn't have to chase off half the men on the dance floor. He probably wouldn't be able to pull off spending half the night in a private suite, but the two of them didn't need that now that they had quarters so he was looking forward to showing Rene the chancery and maybe even the triad arena. He had games coming up in a secton for the playoffs.
Starbuck had made a point of inviting Jake, that is as long as he had a date, but Jake's chosen date, Cassiopeia had duty so Jake declined. Starbuck hoped that meant that Rene's attention would be on him and not divided as it seemed to be most of the time. But instead of Jake, Rene had paired up with Lizbet and the two gals talked during the whole shuttle flight as Rene detailed out the fleet for her friend. "Well at least it's not an ex-lover," Starbuck reasoned.
The dinner had been fantastic. They weren't able to secure one big table for all of them, but tables of four so Starbuck and Rene had Crius and Lizbet join them, Giles and Maia wound up with Nik and Dara and Boomer and Dietra wound up with Jolly and a beautiful gal from Shiva, Tamela. The meal was good, loaded with fresh food from the Agro Ships, and even the ambrosia was a better quality. The conversation was easy and light, and he and Crius could even talk triad. They decided to swing by the courts after the meal and check out the current playoff game, then the lounge and the chancery. They were going to get the most out of this night. Everyone was excited. The only one who seemed to not be enjoying themselves was Lizbet who constantly fretted over how they would get back to the Galactica if something happened. Rene reassured her friend several times that the shuttles left often and the luxury liner was in good repair and well protected. It seemed to help a little, but didn't completely erase the worried look on the young woman's face.
The triad gallery had been packed, so the four of them had to settle for the seats in the back near the IFB commentator's booth. The crowd had issued a little cheer when during a timeout the IFB had focused the camera on Starbuck and mentioned the upcoming game. Crius ate up the attention putting an arm around Starbuck's shoulders for the camera to get a shot. During the next timeout, a reporter approached them, asked a few questions about the game, and Crius drug out his country boy twang to the reporter's delight.
Then the reporter turned to Starbuck and asked about his date for the night. Starbuck put his arm around Rene and introduced her to the blond woman who had done his Warrior of the Centaur segment. He felt Rene tense when he used the words "my betrothed." The reporter latched on to the words, asking about the date for the sealing ceremony. Starbuck looked down to Rene, and realized his mistake as she blanched, her lips not in a smile, but more of a grimace.
"Uh, we haven't had time to discuss that yet with the games coming up. All my focus is on beating the other team and taking that trophy." Starbuck had tried to shift the interview back to triad, but the reporter wasn't letting it go, beginning to ask all sorts of questions about the ceremony, where it would be held, who would be officiating, what kind of flowers. Rene next to him felt like a felix crouching down ready to spring away. Starbuck finally had to tell the reporter they had somewhere they needed to be, and leave the courts, which was a shame because it was an exciting game. The reporter tried to follow them out into the corridor, where Rene had begun to pick up the pace to flee the area. Starbuck let her lead him, plus Crius and Lizbet, to the lounge. They joined the others and Starbuck waited until they'd found a seat and were served drinks, letting it go that Rene had ordered a watered down vino, but still more alcohol than she should be having. Starbuck figured she needed it after dealing with the IFB.
"You alright?" he asked reaching for her hand.
He watched her take a deep breath before she fixed a smile on her face. "Yeah, I just forget sometimes." She drew herself closer as she reached over and pretended to polish one of his gold clusters. "You don't wear those often in our bed. There you're just my hero, not everybody else's."
He smiled for her, leaned in and whispered in her ear, "I only want to be yours." The words had the right affect as she shivered a little and relaxed.
"So prove it and dance with me, just once, I promise."
It was a request he couldn't deny considering the circumstances. Plus he figured the public display might give the IFB what they wanted, and quiet some of the rumors that he was available. The dance was a slower one and true to her word, once done Rene let him lead her back to a table where he and Boomer talked, mostly triad, but some about work. Crius had buddied up with Giles and Jolly which Starbuck thought was a good start at making his wing mate feel a bit more at home in the fleet. Rene, Lizbet, Dara and Dietra had their own conversation and without even asking the guys, the women took to the dance floor with each other. All the men seemed to breathe a sigh of relief that they wouldn't have to do any more dancing, then the table got a little quiet as they watched the girls. Starbuck didn't think too much of it, but Crius nearly growled when he announced, "I need a drink so I can be drunk enough to do some dancing and not embarrass myself. You want one?"
Starbuck glanced to the bar and saw it was packed with mostly male warriors, many from the new ships added to the fleet, and recognized that Jake was asking for a bit of backup amongst that crowd. "Yeah, think I'll join you."
They found a gap in the group with enough room to ask the bartender for drinks before Starbuck realized that one of the men near him was Captain Pallus. Starbuck hoped he could just get the drinks, and go back to his table before he had to acknowledge the man whose training he had sat in on, but lady fortune seemed to be saving all her luck for his love life.
"Hey, Starbuck!" The man had obviously had more than a few drinks as he slurred Starbuck's name. "This place is great! I'll give your Commander credit, he knows how to keep people happy." The man held up his drink and gestured towards the dance floor. Starbuck hoped his drink would hurry up, and bit his tongue so he would not have to comment on the boray's remarks.
Crius was no help though, as he chimed in, "The girls aren't for sale here."
"Oh no, much better than that. Can get one with just a few drinks." The man grinned and turned back to Starbuck. "You picked a good one. She's got more moves than she's showing on that dance floor. I found she's even better on her knees."
Starbuck's fist was clenched and already punched into the man's mouth before he grasped what he had done. He knocked the man back into the group behind him. Pallus' drink had spilled all over his dress uniform. Pallus didn't issue a taunt or a reprimand, just threw his glass down to smash it on the floor before he brought up his fists and threw a punch. Ducking it, Starbuck felt it would be rude not to throw one back. The fight was on, consequences be damned.