He'd been right all along. It had begun with just a niggling idea that Ama was somehow behind the cascading series of events that had propelled him through the wringer of character disparagement, and had turned his life upside down in the space of twenty-four centars. Apollo had pointed out how unlikely it all was then, much as he was doing now.
"Look, I know you're going through a lot right now, but this really isn't about you, Starbuck." Apollo pointed out.
"Right." Starbuck humoured him.
"C'mon, think about it. How likely is it that everything you've been through has to do with the Empyreans?" The Captain tried again.
"'Bout as likely as finding a putrid in your tent in the rainy season on Empyrean." Starbuck rebutted. "Not great odds, but still possible." He added, having experienced the aromatic encounter with the foul beast.
Apollo shook his head. The trance that Ama had put Starbuck into had clearly left him a bit addled and paranoid. While the man had a propensity for being a bit egocentric, it usually didn't cloud his judgment. "I agree with you that it looks like the riot was manipulated and then largely exaggerated to force the Defense of the Empire Act into effect. And the engagement you obviously had nothing to do with, but the triad accusations, the attack on Oriana . . . I don't see a connection. It just doesn't add up."
Starbuck's lips quirked. "That's because you don't have a system."
"Starbuck . . ." Apollo growled in warning.
"I have a theory. Want to hear it?" Apollo gave him a skeptical look that leaned towards the negative. "I was hoping you would. I think Ama hatched this plot to unite the Empyreans again through an Imperial Wedding, trying to ease the bureaucratic climate. Regus tried to thwart her plan by discrediting me, and he convinced Sire Dracus to make those accusations about me throwing games. After all, with elections coming up, even Sire Dracus isn't beyond buying a few votes, especially when that whole sports betting thing has been a thorn in his side anyway."
"The obvious problem with that theory is that you were still with Cassiopeia while all this was being supposedly formulated. So it doesn't make much sense that Ama would be assuming you and Luana would get together. Unless you're trying to tell me that she had something to do with Luana and you getting together?"
Lords, he hadn't even considered that angle. Could she . . . ? Nah. "Forget it, buddy. I'll sort it out." Starbuck shrugged. "You better report to the Commander. They'll need to send a representative over to deal with the Empyrean Quorum. I assume that will be the lovely Siress Tinia." His eyes twinkled as he changed tact, diverting the captain's attention from himself. Apollo clearly thought he was a few Vipers short of a squadron.
"Well, since she's the official liaison to the Empyreans, I imagine you're right." Apollo replied, nodding at a couple warriors who were patrolling the corridor to maintain order. It was turning into a light duty, as Empyreans obediently remained in their quarters. "Why don't you go take a break. Get some nourishment."
It sounded like less of a suggestion, and more of an order, though the pat on the shoulder and the concerned demeanor eased the sting of the captain's words as they entered the landing bay. Maybe he was off base with the whole thing. After all, he was turning it into some kind of conspiracy theory that entirely revolved around him. He sighed as Boomer strolled towards him, a wry smile on his face.
"Still single?" Boomer asked.
"Yeah." Starbuck nodded.
"Just barely," Apollo smirked. "Have Luana's innamorato check in with the med tech and get some nourishment. He's a bit out of sorts. I'm going to report to the Commander."
"Innamorato? Lords, you are betrothed, aren't you?" Boomer snorted in amusement, as the Captain headed for their shuttle. He steered his friend towards the transport that had been set up as a temporary Life Station, though until now, it hadn't been utilized.
"Why do you say that? It just means 'lover'." Boomer's immediate chuckle of amusement stopped him short. "Doesn't it?"
"Inamorato means lover. Innamorato, with an Empyrean inflection, actually means 'one's true love' or 'soul mate'." Boomer chuckled some more as Starbuck grimaced, closing his eyes, and shaking his head in disbelief.
Starbuck felt Boomer's hands propel him along by the shoulders. Hades, no wonder Luana had been looking at him that way. Lords, what next?
"I guess we're going to miss the card game." Boomer muttered quietly.
"Frack, I forgot all about it." He sighed deeply. "Oh, well. Everything is set up, so at least a few of our friends will be playing pyramid tonight."
"True enough. I'd be a lot happier if it was me though." Boomer grinned ruefully. "Oh, and buddy, I should warn you . . . "
The few words caused a cold knot to form in the pit of his stomach as he headed up the ramp to the shuttle. "About . . .?"
"Cassiopeia is part of the medical team."
Starbuck came to an abrupt stop as he reached the entrance to the shuttle. It was already too late. Cassiopeia was regarding him coolly from where she sat organizing medical equipment. Her lips tightened marginally, but otherwise she remained professional as she stood up to receive him.
"Problem, Lieutenant?" She asked, her voice courteous.
"Uh . . ." He realized there was no correct course of action. If he hightailed it out of there, he would be a cad for not talking to her. If he stayed, she would let him have it with both barrels for his sudden and very public betrothal to Luana. Dr. Paye regarded him curiously, and with a somewhat sympathetic expression.
"The Captain ordered him to report here for an assessment. Seems he went through some kind of test and hasn't been the same since." Boomer smoothly inserted to break the sudden and undeniable silence.
"I see." Cassie murmured. "Sit down, Starbuck." She gestured towards the biostretcher and smiled as he took a seat somewhat reluctantly. "I think I can handle it, Dr. Paye."
"Oh?" The physician almost sounded a little disappointed. "All right. I'll go . . . check with the captain. Perhaps we can report back to the Galactica if the situation is as stable as it seems." He quickly made his way past Boomer and out of the shuttle. Boomer hesitated in the entryway.
Cassie smiled at him, as she helped herself to a biomonitor. "You too, Boomer. I'll be fine."
"I'm sorry about this Cassiopeia. I know it's awkward for you." Boomer hovered, reluctant to leave as he looked between the two of them.
"It's part of the job." She returned with a small shrug. "It shouldn't take too long. At a glance, he looks all right to me."
Starbuck sighed feeling like somebody's mentally deranged second cousin once removed and twice bitten, as they talked about him and apologized for him . . . in front of him. He watched Boomer's departure and turned to the med tech who by now was running the biomonitor over him.
"I really am fine." He assured her.
"What should I be looking for?" Cassie asked, looking steadfastly at her monitor. She had heard that he had stopped by the Galactica's Life Station on two separate occasions looking for her, wanting to talk to her. At the time though, she was too furious with him to care. Over the centars, she had had a little time to calm down and think.
"An apology, I expect." He returned, laying a hand over hers to stop her examination. "I'm sorry, Cass. Luana and I aren't really engaged. It's just some bureaucratic ploy by the Empyrean Quorum which was set up without either of us knowing about it."
Her eyes flickered over him briefly, before dropping to their hands. She pulled hers back. "I haven't noticed a public denial on either of your parts."
"I know." His jaw tightened. "I'm under orders to . . . keep my mouth shut."
"Then why are you telling me, against orders?" A smile tugged at her lips. Sometimes orders were merely a formality with him that were open to his own interpretation. It would invariably be what would hold him back professionally in the yahrens to come, she had no doubt. He wouldn't care either, preferring to steer his own ship, even if it was only a fighter.
"Because I didn't want you thinking it was the truth, when it isn't. And I don't think you're a likely security breech." His eyes held hers in a way that asked for reassurance, even as he told her he trusted her in the matter.
She took a deep breath and straightened her shoulders, nodding for his benefit. "So what am I suppose to say when people ask me why you and Luana are suddenly engaged, Starbuck?" It hadn't happened yet, but the looks of pity and 'I told you so' were already adding up. She didn't appreciate either. She had even thought of transferring off the Battlestar, but had decided to wait it out. After all, she didn't want him to think he was the reason she was going. Running away wasn't her style. She raised her chin a notch as she awaited his answer to her impossible question.
"I don't know, Cass. Whatever you need to." He watched her golden tresses cover her face as she turned her head, hiding her thoughts from him. He raised a hand automatically to brush back her hair, but then halted his movement, knowing he no longer had that right.
She looked up slowly, a faint smile on her face. "Are you encouraging me to trash you?"
"Only if it helps." Starbuck shrugged. After all, she wouldn't be the first one. She was obviously thinking it over. He fidgeted where he sat, studying his hands.
"It just might at that." She agreed, enjoying his sudden discomfort. "I may even form a club."
What? He lifted his eyes to hers abruptly, seeing the devilry on her features. "Very funny," he sniffed.
She grinned in reply. "Now, what was this test?"
He paused for a moment. "Oh, that. I had to walk barefoot across a bed of burning coals. The Fires of Truth."
She sniffed in amusement, clearly not believing him. "You do come up with them. So, I should check your feet?"
"No, my head. After all, shouldn't any guy who would do that, have his head examined?" He grinned at her smile. It didn't seem the least bit forced this time. They might be all right.
"I'll get the electrodes." Cassiopeia replied, enjoying the grin dropping from his features to be replaced with a look of horror. "We've had a few intermittent power surges, but the odds are favourable that you'll have few residual effects . . . especially if I shave your head first."