It had been centars since the new and enlarged Empyrean Quorum had disappeared into Ama's chambers to decide in which bureaucratic direction the people would be going. Shortly after Apollo had made his report to Commander Adama, Siress Tinia and Sire Dracus of the Council of Twelve had arrived to table an offer from the Council members.
Since then, the Malocchio had remained a virtual ghost ship, with few occupants venturing out while the Defense of the Empire Act was still in place. The medical team and three shuttles had returned to the Galactica, the last remaining to transport a small group of warriors, security officers and bureauticians back to the Battlestar upon completion of the meeting.
"Are we there yet?" Boomer quipped upon his return from patrolling the quiet corridors, most civilians now abed. He watched Starbuck dexterously handle a deck of cards. His friend had survived his encounter with Cassiopeia intact, and had been cleared from a medical point of view.
"Pick a card." The lieutenant replied, as he fanned out the deck before his friend. If he didn't do something to keep busy, he was going to nod off.
"Don't do it, Boomer. You know it can only cost you in the end." Jolly warned him as he wandered over.
"What's the bet?" Boomer asked.
"I have early patrol." Starbuck replied.
"I have late patrol, and you're supposed to be playing triad then." Boomer informed him.
"So?" Starbuck grinned, trying not to think of the game ahead of him. "I thought you could do both of them."
"Don't think so." Boomer replied. "A double patrol? It would have to be more challenging then 'pick a card' for that."
"Yeah, what kind of idiots do you think you're dealing with here?" Jolly grinned.
"Good point. There are several categories." Starbuck replied, looking around. "Where's Giles?"
They chuckled good naturedly as Giles appeared from behind the shuttle. "Someone call?"
"Giles, pick a card." Starbuck held out his deck again.
"Frack, Starbuck, a twelve-yahren-old could do that trick." Giles shook his head in disgust.
"All right then." He held out the cards to Giles. "Go find one."
"Yeah, good luck at this centar." Giles returned, waving him off.
"Ah, come on. I'm disappointed in you guys. No takers?" Starbuck razzed them.
"Can't you just do the trick without a bet involved?" Jolly pulled up a crate, curious to see it.
"What am I? Cheap entertainment?" Starbuck snorted, once again shuffling the cards.
"Well, now that you mention it . . ." Boomer chuckled.
"How about a hand then, boys?" Starbuck suggested, beginning to deal the cards out on the crate of Empyrean Ale he was sitting in front of, before anyone bothered answering.
"If the Skipper catches us playing on duty, he'll have our heads." Jolly mentioned, even as he raked in his cards, looking them over.
"Not much happening around here. Besides, we'll be above reproach as long as there's no money on the table." Starbuck returned.
"Hades, there's not even a table." Boomer added, pulling up a discarded box to sit on.
"However, there could be some cubits under the table," Starbuck suggested slyly.
"He's determined to play tonight." Giles said with a laugh. "How did you survive to this point in your career with your work ethic?"
"Luck." Starbuck shrugged. "And good friends."
"Awww." Giles made a point of grinning grotesquely.
"Gawrsh." Jolly smiled just as prettily.
"Shucks, Bucko." Boomer drawled.
"Too bad none of them are here with me now." Starbuck shrugged nonchalantly, only to suddenly find himself dodging his squadron mate's flying cards. He laughed, and then paused, picking up the familiar clap of boots crossing the deck. He quickly put a card to his forehead and closed his eyes in apparent concentration. "Just shy of two metrons tall with brown hair, green eyes and a captain's insignia, I'd say."
"I might be impressed if he wasn't the only other person authorized to be down here." Boomer chuckled.
"Put the cards away, Starbuck." Giles whispered warningly, as the lieutenant gathered them and slipped them into an inside pocket just as Apollo came into view.
"Listen up. Our passengers will be boarding in a few centons. We'll be transporting Siress Tinia and Sire Dracus back to the Galactica for a further meeting of the Council." Apollo told them.
"What happened?" Starbuck asked, rising to his feet.
"I don't know yet. Apparently, they've struck a deal. It just has to be formerly voted in through a Council majority. We'll probably have to wait until tomorrow until we find out, especially if you and I have early patrol in the morning, Starbuck."
"Hmm." Starbuck gazed pointedly at his squadron mates. "What about Luana and Lia? Did they abdicate again?"
"I don't know that either." Apollo shrugged.
"They're not keeping that under wraps too, are they?" Starbuck watched the captain shrug wearily again. It had been a long day.
"I doubt it. After all, I'll need to know for the roster if we're losing our pilots." Apollo rubbed his tired eyes.
"They wouldn't . . ." Starbuck began, less comfortable than he cared to admit with the idea of Luana returning to civilian life. He stopped mid-sentence as two Colonial Security Officers led Tinia, Dracus, Luana and Lia towards the shuttle. Oh, he could just imagine sitting in the back of the shuttle with Sire Holier-Than-Thou for the entire trip back to the Battlestar. Hades, nobody had that much self-control. "Hey Jolly, mind if I pilot?"
"No. Who did you have in mind to co-pilot? Dracus?" Jolly returned sardonically.
"Luana?" Starbuck looked to the captain. He'd rather try and get the whole story out of her. After all, he really didn't want to wait until after patrol . . . that certainly hadn't gone well for him the last time.
"Ah, isn't he romantic?" Giles gushed. "It'll be almost like a date."
"Sure, Starbuck. Just nice and steady . . . and don't bounce the landing." Apollo told him half-heartedly.
"Who? Me?" Starbuck replied innocently. "Never occurred to me."
"I'll bet." Apollo replied lightly, knowing full well that Starbuck would tow the line, but playing the required part anyway. They were all weary from the sedentary duty, and they needed the repartee to keep them motivated. Besides, he knew his men would be disgruntled to have missed out on the clandestine card game that Starbuck had been so quietly putting together. Lords, missing his own game of the sectar--his friend's luck had definitely bottomed out.
Everyone involved in the long meeting looked tired as they approached the remaining men. The rest of the warriors seemed to rise as a group, eager to return to their base ship.
"Ensign Luana, you're with me on the flight deck." Starbuck told her briskly, heading up the ramp.
"Yes, Sir." She replied, right on his heels.
Tinia paused, watching their retreat. "They could be a little warmer towards one another, Captain." She said aside to Apollo. "After all, they're supposed to be betrothed."
"They are on duty, Siress," Apollo replied. "Unless something has changed with Ensign Luana's designation?"
"But it seems so impersonal. Perhaps while they're in public, they could be just a little more . . ."
Lu didn't wait to hear the captain's reply as she disappeared into the shuttle. She turned the corner to collide fully with Starbuck, as he pulled her into his arms.
"Tell me you abdicated again."
She smiled, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling her face into his neck. "You feel good." She whispered.
"Lu . . ." he pulled back looking into her eyes intently. "What happened?"
"I'm sworn to secrecy." She replied. "But, I think it will all work out."
"And?" He pressed her.
"I'm still with the Service." She thought she would melt at the smile that stretched across his face. "You can't say anything though."
"Not a word." Starbuck nodded, leading her by the hand to the flight deck before the others interrupted them. "What about Lia?"
"You're awful." She laughed, as he continued to grill her. "What do you think?"
"I wasn't sure. She has that responsibility gene in her. Just like Apollo. I was kind of worried she might get drawn back into Empyrean bureaucracy out of a sense of duty."
Luana nodded, as she began to join him in flight checks. "I know. She surprised me though. She really believes the right path for our people lies in leaving Imperial leadership behind them and proceeding on a more democratic path."
"And us?" He paused in his actions to wait for a reply.
"Which us? The betrothed us, or the us us?"
"Their us. Our us will take care of . . . us self." He grinned, deciding that was probably the best way to handle it for now. One day at a time. No rushing into anything. Well, in an emotional sense anyhow.
"Later," she whispered as the others began to board.
"Figures." He muttered, finishing his checks and nodding at her as she contacted the Malocchio's bridge for flight clearance.
"Starbuck, we're all set for take off back here." Apollo wandered forward.
"Just awaiting clearance." He adjusted his headset. "Guess they're busier than they let on." He nodded his head towards the empty landing bay.
"Will we be leaving anytime soon, Captain?" Sire Dracus called impatiently from the rear. "We do have an important meeting of the Council to attend."
Starbuck smiled deviously. "Tell him to hold on tight, I want to try something."
"Any centon now, Sire Dracus." Apollo spoke over his shoulder, and then added more quietly. "You can have your revenge on the courts tomorrow night."
"And here I thought we were playing Bojay and Barton, but if Dracus is subbing, well
. . ." An evil grin crossed his features. Oh, a rib block followed by a body check . . . ah, if only it wasn't just an errant fantasy brought on by a need to avenge his honour.
"We're cleared for take off." Luana interrupted.
"Then take us home . . . and don't over-rev the turbines, Starbuck." Apollo clapped him on the shoulder before heading aft.
"You heard the man," Starbuck started up the engines. He quickly checked his chrono. 0030 centars. Lords, no wonder he was tired. The card game might still be going, but he had to be up for patrol in five centars. So much for a chance of pulling this mong heap of a day out of the flusher.
"Are you up for a little walk when we get back?" Luana asked him hesitantly. She smiled mischievously as she awaited his answer. Time to up the ante. "The equipment room in the fitness center should be free."
"A walk would be perfect." Good fortune had once again smiled upon him. Oh, she was fickle.