The Star Kobol Journals

(NOTE: This is unfinished and needs major editing. I was attacked by my plotbunnies during my lunch break at work today and they were vicious little beasts until I got it all out of my head and into the computer. I just don’t have time to edit it at the moment. Maybe after NaNoWriMo is over.)

 

 

Apollo, Starbuck and Boomer on a turbiolift talking about Triad. There is another couple there, but they leave. As the doors are about to close a graceful and seductive female hand floats through the opening, halting the door’s closure and forcing it to open once more. At the wrist of this lovely hand is tied a strip of red fluttering material. As the door opens a beautiful blond haired woman of average height is revealed and as she glides into the lift as if dancing on air her gaze flits quickly about taking in the three warriors. Smiling, she stops and twirls gently one hundred and eighty degrees to stand facing the closing door.

 

“Good evening gentlemen, “she purrs. Mischief twinkles in her sky blue eyes.

 

 Three pair of appreciative eyes look her up and down. The dark skinned man is the first to speak.

 

“You’re looking exceptionally lovely this evening, Cassiopeia.”

 

Her head tilted coyly in his direction and she gave him a warm smile and the briefest of nods.

 

“Thank you, Boomer. You’re looking quite handsome yourself, Going out tonight?”  

 

“I’m taking Johanna and her Eletsen out to dinner on the Rising Star. What do you and Starbuck have planned?”

 

“Oh,” she managed a coy reply laced with a sigh. “we’re not going out tonight. Starbuck has that Pyramid Tournament he signed up for. If I remember correctly, tonight is the grand finale’.”

 

“There’s a very good chance I’ll win, too.”

 

Starbuck was hoping to steer the conversation away from the fact that he was standing up his girl for this event. They could go out tomorrow night after all. What’s the big deal?

 

“Correct me if I’m wrong Cassiopeia, but isn’t today your Natal Day?”

 

The words hit Starbuck like a punch in the gut. Frack! Was that today? He hadn’t even gotten her a Natal Day gift he’d been so wrapped up for the past secton in this gambling tournament.

 

 

“Yes it is, Boomer. How thoughtful of you to remember.”

 

“Well Happy Natal Day. If you’re not going out with Starbuck then is it okay to ask what you are doing tonight?”

 

The lift was nearing the next stop and slowed.

 

She didn’t have to go far to summon up pleasure for her next words.

 

“oh I don’t mind telling you, Lieutenant. I am going out to dinner with the most handsome and eligible bachelor on board the Galactica.”

 

The lift doors hissed open and she turned to Apollo who had remained quiet since the woman’s entrance. “Shall we?”

 

Now was Apollo’s micron to shine. He offered her his elbow in a most gentlemanly fashion and smiled.

 

“It’s my pleasure.”

 

Her smile was infectious and he returned it with a twinkle in his own forest green eyes.

 

Starbuck’s jaw dropped, but the words stuck in his throat. The pair walked off the lift before he found his voice.

 

“Hey! Wait a centon!”

 

He stepped forward, but the lift doors were already closing and cut him off. His shocked  hesitation had cost him precious microns and the lift moved once more.

 

“Bad move, buddy!”

 

“ Boomer… I…”

 

The lack man shook his head.

 

“You… are pathetic, pal.”

 

 

In the corridor the woman’s gate changed and she sighed, shoulders slumping just a little. By all outward appearances nothing had changed in her appearance, but it translated through her close physical contact with the Captain.

 

“He didn’t mean to mess up his events like this. You know his memory’s better than that.”

 

Sighing, she stopped them in the middle of the corridor and turned to face her escort.

 

“Is it, Apollo? I mean, really? This is the second time in as many months he’s forgotten something so important to the both of us. Last month it was the anniversary of our first real date. When we started gong steady. This time…”

 

All the happiness drained from the woman’s face and her gaze was downcast. She couldn’t look up an show him the moisture that was gathering in her eyes.

 

“I don’t know why I keep doing this to myself. I know what kind of a man Starbuck is. I think I know him better than he knows himself. Still…”

 

She shrugged, blinked, then looked Apollo in the eyes. “I know what he is. How he is. I just can’t seem to help myself.”  

 

“Are you sure you want to do this? Sheba and I…”

 

“No! No, really! I’m fine.”

 

She took a deep breath and a half-smile worked its way onto her face once more as she squared her shoulders. Turning, she initiated the walk this time.

 

“I’m more than happy to watch Boxey for you while you and Sheba have a night out. Lords knows you two get so little time together off duty as it is. Besides, like I told Boomer, I planned on going to dinner with the most handsome and eligible bachelor on this ship and I intend to do just that!”

 

“I’m sure Muffett will miss you two. “

 

Cassiopeia giggled. “No Daggett’s allowed in the Grand Dining Hall of the Rising Star. Sire Uri’s such a stickler for rules.”

 

It was Apollo’s turn to sigh. “I’d love to be able to tell Sire Uri where he can stick his rules.”

 

A heartbeat later he added...

 

“Father won’t let me.”

 

There was genuine regret laced with the barest hint of venom in his tone.

 

“Oh I’m sure everyone in the fleet would love to tell Sire Uri where he could stick one thing or another.”

 

“Cassiopea!”

 

“With all due respect of course.”

 

“Of course,” the Captain echoed.

 

Yea. Neither one of the bought that load of feldergarb.

 

They paused outside the closed door to the family quarters Apollo shared with his son.

 

“I’d see you in, but Sheba’s waiting for me in the bay and the shuttle to the Agro Ship leave in five centons. I’ll see you later, and thank you again.”

 

“My pleasure. Have fun.”

 

She watched the Captain hurry down the corridor before turning to the closed door to ring the chime.

 

Let that hotshot playboy stew over this for a while. Many yahrens ago her own father had once accused her of wanting far too much. Was this the way her life was going to go? Always wanting that which she couldn’t have? Since the betrayal and meeting Starbuck she had re-prioritized her life. Her wants and desires. For some strange reason the image of a sandy haired, smart mouth, egotistical fly-boy always seemed to rise to the top of her decreasingly short list of wants and needs.

 

The door opened and she entered, hoping that she wouldn’t turn around one day to find that even that one thing on her want list had disappeared.