Something I've Been Meaning To Tell You --------------------------------------------------- Captain Apollo arrived at the Commander's office in response to his father's summons. "Father, you wanted to see me?" "Yes, Apollo. I want to take a landing party to the planet we've just arrived at. I'm hoping we can arrange to trade for some supplies," said the Commander. "What do you want me to do?" asked Apollo. "You don't need me for a trade mission." "No, but I think it would be a good idea to have one or two warriors with us, just in case there is any trouble. I want you to join us. Bring one of your squadron with you. We'll be leaving at 0800 tomorrow." "Yes, sir. I'll be there," replied Apollo. He then sent a message to Lt. Starbuck, asking the warrior to come and see him. There was no question that Starbuck was the one who would accompany him on this mission. The two men were always together, on and off duty. In fact, the other residents of the Battlestar seldom saw one of them without the other. Their names got run together as if they were one - "ApolloandStarbuck." Except, of course, when Starbuck was with one of his many women. The two of them were friends, best friends, as close as brothers. And if Apollo's feelings toward the Lieutenant were sometimes more than 'brotherly', well, he just tried to ignore them as best he could. Starbuck arrived at the Captain's quarters, smelling strongly of perfume. "What's up, 'Pollo?" he asked. Just then a small boy and a robotic daggit flung themselves at him. "Hi, Starbuck!" exclaimed Boxey at the sight of his favourite 'uncle.' Muffit barked and wagged his tail. "Hi, Boxey." Starbuck smiled affectionately at the small boy and tousled his hair. "I came to talk to your dad. " Boxey pouted, but brightened at Starbuck's promise of a story later. He and Muffit went off to play with some of their friends. "He worships you, you know," Apollo told his friend. "What can I say? Women, children, daggits - they all worship me. It's a tough job, but someone has to do it. What did you want to see me about?" The Captain laughed and shook his head. Would Starbuck ever change? Probably not. Did he want Starbuck to change? Not really. He briefed the Lieutenant on the upcoming mission. "Sounds simple enough," Starbuck commented when Apollo was finished. "That's what worries me," replied the other warrior. "Worries you how?" "The missions that sound simple seem to be the ones that go wrong most often," Apollo observed. "You are cynical, aren't you?" Starbuck teased him. "I'm realistic," Apollo answered curtly. "Okay, okay. You're realistic. You don't need to bite my head off." "Well, we can't all be like you, living from one conquest to the next," the Captain said harshly. //Frac, what am I doing?// Apollo asked himself. //You're pushing him away// was the answer that came to him. Starbuck looked bewildered and a bit hurt. "Um, okay, *Captain*," he said, emphasizing Apollo's rank the way he only did when he was being sarcastic. "Tell Boxey I'll be by later to tell him that story I promised. I'll see you tomorrow at 0800." He turned and left Apollo's quarters. "Starbuck - " Apollo started to say, but the lieutenant was already gone. "Felgercarb," he swore. Starbuck was completely confused. One moment he'd been having a friendly conversation with his friend, the next moment the same friend was treating him like something the daggit dragged in. He sighed. It was true that he and Apollo were very different in their approaches to life - almost polar opposites. But Starbuck loved him anyway. Love. Yes, love. He was in love with his very straight and very conservative, uptight Captain. Not that he expected Apollo to love him in the same way - might as well expect the Cylons to make a complete surrender. He had a couple of centares before he had to deliver his promised story to Boxey. If he was lucky, maybe some of his squadron-mates would be willing to play a few hands of pyramid. Two centares later, with a few extra coins in his pockets, Starbuck arrived back at Apollo and Boxey's quarters. To his surprise, Athena was there instead of her brother. "Hey, 'Thena, where's Apollo?" he asked. Athena shook her head. She and Starbuck had dated on and off for more than a yahren, but the lieutenant was, as always, more interested in her brother than he was in her. She wondered when the two warriors would stop dancing around each other and admit their true feelings. "I think he went to talk to Colonel Tigh about the mission tomorrow," she said. "Why, did you need to see him about something?" "No, I just promised to tell Boxey a story before he went to bed. I already talked to the Captain about the mission." Frankly, he was relieved that Apollo wasn't there. //Uh-oh// thought Athena. //Something happened between those two. He's calling Apollo 'Captain'. He only does that when he's pissed at him.// Just then Boxey heard Starbuck's voice and came running out, demanding his story. When he was finished and Boxey was asleep, Starbuck politely said goodbye to Athena. "Is there anything you'd like me to tell Apollo when he gets back?" Athena asked. //Yeah, tell him that I love him// "No, nothing. Why?" "Just ... wondered. Goodnight, Starbuck. Have a safe mission." The next morning Starbuck and Apollo met the others - including the Commander - who were going on the mission. The warriors would travel to the planet in their Vipers, while the rest would arrive in a shuttlecraft. The settlement they would be visiting was apparently a peaceful, agrarian society. Adama was hoping to get some food and hydroponic equipment to grow food for the fleet. The settlement seemed quite peaceful. In fact, it was downright dull. Starbuck and Apollo did a reconnaissance around the area where the Galactica's people were camped, but found nothing out of the ordinary. As for their relationship, they soon fell back in to their easy camaraderie, their dispute of the previous day all but forgotten. Perhaps Apollo was a little tense, not quite as at ease with his friend as he usually was. But Starbuck had forgiven him; he knew that he would forgive Apollo for anything. Sure, a counsellor would probably say that wasn't healthy, and maybe would relate it to his childhood in the orphanage, saying that Starbuck was so desperate to be loved that he would let Apollo treat him badly. Personally, Starbuck thought that was a load of felgercarb. He'd forgive Apollo because he loved him. It was as simple as that. Something was making Apollo nervous about this place. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it was just too quiet. Starbuck would probably laugh and tease him again about being cynical, but somehow this little village just could not be what it appeared to be. Finally, he told his father about his suspicions. "I don't know what to tell you, Apollo. The people here have been very good to us. I don't see any hidden motives, but if you're worried, go ahead and do some investigating. I doubt you will find anything, but perhaps it will put your mind at ease. Take Starbuck with you." Apollo couldn't tell his father that he didn't feel up to taking Starbuck's teasing about his suspicious mind or his cynicism. He didn't see that Starbuck had any misgivings about their situation; he'd even made friends with some of the inhabitants. Female, of course. Without bothering to find the lieutenant, he set out to explore the area further away from the settlement. Apparently, Starbuck had other ideas. No sooner had Apollo left camp than the blonde warrior was at his side. "Hold up, Apollo. Where are you going?" "I thought I'd investigate a little farther out than we did previously. Something just isn't right about this place and I need to find out what it is. You don't have to come - I know you think I'm just being paranoid," the Captain said. "Didn't I tell you a long time ago that I can't stand to see you going anywhere without me?" Starbuck inquired. "Anyway, I feel it too. Somehow this place is just too perfect to be real." Apollo grinned in relief. He clapped his friend on the shoulder. "C'mon, let's do some snooping around and find out what's really going on around here." The two warriors tried to appear casual as they walked away from the Galactica camp and the nearby village. They walked for several centons, getting further away from the village than they had before. Occasionally Apollo would sneak a glance at his friend. Sometimes he wondered why Starbuck put up with him; he knew that most of the warriors considered their Captain to be rigid and inflexible, obsessed with rules and regulations. Or they believed him to be somehow privileged because he was the Commander's son. They didn't know that Apollo worked ten times harder than any of them to win Adama's approval, which the Commander often withheld *because* Apollo was his son. "Apollo?" Starbuck's voice interrupted his train of thought. "This is an agrarian society, right? Farming? Not a lot of machines or electronic equipment." "Yes, Father said they don't have much use for technology. They prefer things 'simple.' Why?" "Look here." Starbuck pointed to an object half-buried in the ground. "If I hadn't almost tripped over it, I wouldn't have known it was there. It's an outlet for a power supply. Why would they need a power supply?" Apollo crouched down and cleared dirt and leaves from around the outlet. Sure enough, there were wires running along the ground. The warriors followed them to a hill. But there they seemed to stop. The wires ran directly to the blank cliff face and vanished. "Well, now what?" asked Apollo. Starbuck ran his hands over the rocky cliff, looking for handholds or hidden triggers. Suddenly there was a 'click' and a door appeared in the hillside. Starbuck bowed. "After you," he said to Apollo. Laser pistols drawn, the two men entered the cave. Inside they found all kinds of electronic equipment: radios, monitors, video screens, scanning devices. And some of those scanning devices were trained directly on the Galactica personnel. Others were trained on the ship itself. "Frac," said Starbuck softly. "You can say that again," muttered Apollo. "Why do I have the feeling that these 'peaceful farmers' are neither?" Suddenly Starbuck dragged his friend around a bend in the corridor. "Someone's coming," he whispered. They flattened themselves against the wall and carefully peered around the corner. Cylons. Two Cylon warriors had entered the room. Fortunately they did not seem to be aware of the presence of the two humans. The warriors listened to the Cylons' conversation. They did not like what they heard. The 'peaceful settlers' were actually carefully constructed androids. The entire planet was a Cylon base where they had planned - and succeeded - to lure the Galactica with the promise of supplies for the fleet. Apollo and Starbuck drew their weapons and quickly dispatched the Cylons. Apollo then aimed his pistol at the banks of electronic equipment. The lieutenant stopped him with a hand on his arm. "If we shoot out their scanners, we're going to have every Cylon in the sector on us in centons." "So what do you suggest we do?" asked the Captain. Starbuck smiled and reached into his jacket. He withdrew several explosive charges. "I brought some toys with me from the Galactica, just in case we needed them." "Do we have time to set the charges and still evacuate everyone from camp?" Apollo asked worriedly. "No, that is why *I* am going to set the charges, and *you* are going to take care of the evacuation," replied his friend. "Starbuck, no!" Apollo cried in fear. "I can't leave you to face gods-know-how many Cylons alone! Not to mention the risk of blowing yourself up along with them." Starbuck grabbed Apollo by the shoulders. "Listen to me, *Captain*. You have a family on the Galactica. You have a son who needs you. One of us has to warn the others about the Cylons and get them back to the ship and away from this planet. That's you. Me, I'm going to give the tin cans a little surprise." And with that he set the timer on the first charge. "I can't leave you," stated Apollo. "You have to." A look passed between the two men. Neither could say exactly what it was. Somehow it transmitted the mutual longing between them. Suddenly Apollo grabbed his friend and kissed him almost desperately. Then he pulled away. "Starbuck, I - " Before he could apologize, Starbuck pulled Apollo to him and kissed him back. Then he released him and said, "We'll have plenty of time to talk - *later.* Right now, you need to get out of here and get everyone else out of here too." "Starbuck...." Apollo began, but the words he'd been longing to say for yahrens stuck in his throat. He was so used to pushing them down, he didn't think he *could* say them. "I know, Apollo. Me too. Now go." Apollo took one more look at the man he loved. He kissed him quickly. Then he ran as fast as his legs could carry him to the site where the Galactica's personnel were camped. He ran straight to his father's tent. The Commander was with one of the 'farmers' from the village. "Father!" he blurted. "I have to talk to you, now!" Adama frowned at his son. "Apollo, I'm in the middle of an important meeting. Can't this wait?" "No, it can't," answered the Captain. He pulled his laser and shot the 'farmer', who collapsed in a shower of sparks. "That was an android," he said at his father's stunned look. "They're all androids. This entire planet is a Cylon base. Starbuck is taking care of their control center. We have to get out of here before the entire place goes up." Adama strode purposefully out of his tent and called his people together. He briefed them on what was happening and together he and Apollo organized a speedy evacuation. As Adama boarded the shuttle, he turned to his son. "Where is Lt. Starbuck?" he asked. "He stayed at the control center. He was setting some explosive charges to destroy their electronic equipment. They had scanners monitoring the Galactica. He told me to go on ahead." Apollo could not quite mask the fear in his voice. "Starbuck is a warrior. He'll be all right," Adama said reassuringly. Apollo wondered if his father knew about his feelings for Starbuck. He wouldn't be surprised if he did. As a father himself, he knew how difficult it was for children to conceal anything from their parents. He looked at Starbuck's viper for a long moment before boarding his own and taking off. He'd considered waiting for the lieutenant, but he remembered what Starbuck had said about his family. He would be mightily pissed if Apollo waited for him. As he flew towards the Galactica, explosions rocked the planet below. Several centares passed and there was still no sign of Starbuck. The Commander finally ordered Apollo off the bridge, where he'd been keeping an eye on the scanners, and back to his own quarters. He complied reluctantly, knowing that he should relieve his sister of her babysitting duties. When he arrived, Athena's first words to him were, "Is there any sign of Starbuck?" Of course, thought Apollo. Athena and Starbuck had been seeing each other for some time. "No, Thena, I'm sorry, there isn't." "Apollo ... You love him, don't you?" Apollo didn't bother to ask her how she knew. "Yes," he said simply. His sister kissed his cheek. "He'll come back," she said. "He can't stand to be away from you for very long." And she left. Apollo put his son to bed and then sat at his desk. Paperwork was always there. Every mission had to be documented. He didn't feel like going to bed himself, so he started working on his report. But he couldn't get Starbuck's face out of his mind. The feeling of Starbuck's lips on his. He couldn't believe he would never see him again. He hadn't even told him that he loved him. He put his head down and soon was asleep. Sometime later - he had no idea how long he'd been asleep - he felt a hand on his shoulder and a voice speaking softly in to his ear. "Pollo?" said the voice. No. It couldn't be. Starbuck was dead. He couldn't be here. The hand shook him a bit. "Apollo? Galactica to Captain Apollo, come in Apollo." Apollo opened his eyes slowly. Sure enough, Starbuck was standing right beside him. He closed his eyes again. "You're not here," he said. "You're a dream." "Well, I will admit to having dreams in which you feature prominently, but I assure you, we're both awake here. Although, if you like, we can act out one or two of my dreams," he added with a twinkle in his eye. Apollo stood and stared at his friend. "You're really here?" he asked, hardly daring to believe his eyes. "I'm really here," Starbuck assured him. "You're alive?" "Last time I checked," answered the lieutenant. Apollo grabbed the other man in a tight hug and held on for dear life. "I thought you were dead," he said through his tears. "And I never told you ..." "Never told me what?" "I love you, Starbuck." Starbuck made a small choking sound and pulled away. Apollo cursed himself. He'd obviously misjudged Starbuck's feelings. Then he looked at the lieutenant. He appeared to be trying to gain some control over his feelings, but he wasn't succeeding. Tears were rolling down his cheeks. "I never thought I'd hear you say that, 'Pollo. I've been wanting to hear it for so long. I love you, too." Apollo pulled his love back in to his arms and kissed away his tears. "You will hear me say it every day for as long you want to," he said. "Always?" asked Starbuck. "Always." He kissed the other man again. "Where were you, anyway? I saw the Cylon control center go up, but I didn't see your Viper." "I got off the planet just as the whole thing went to hades, but I had to play hide and go seek with some Cylon patrol ships. I didn't dare risk leading them back to the Galactica. Took me a long time to lose them - I barely made it back before I ran out of fuel." "Thank the gods you did," breathed Apollo. "Will you stay with me tonight? Boxey's asleep in his room, so we can't really do anything, but I need to have you near me, or I'll wake up and think this was a dream and you're dead and..." Starbuck cut him off with a kiss. "I'll stay with you every night for the rest of our lives, if you'll have me." "I will indeed have you. Boxey has learning period first thing tomorrow, and neither of us is on duty. I intend to have you repeatedly." Starbuck grinned. "Is that an order, Captain?" "You bet it is, Lieutenant." Starbuck flung an arm around Apollo's shoulders and turned him toward the bedroom. "I think I'm going to like being lovers with a superior officer." END