Apollo sighed, looking out across the vast plain. The setting sun painted the land in splendid shades of gold and orange, fading through a series of pinks. A few birds sang their evening songs in the trees beneath the balcony he stood on. One thing was certain, these Earth folk knew how to appreciate the beauty of a good view.

"Lovely, isn't it," a voice said softly behind him.

Apollo turned away from Sol's dying glory slowly, to find one of the council members with him on the balcony. "It is indeed," he smiled. He turned back to the sunset, discovering that the colors had shaded into purples.

"I imagine you haven't seen that many sunsets." The man leaned casually against the balcony railing.

"You imagine correctly." Apollo sighed again. "Sadly, there is little variation between night and day upon a starship."

"Did you then never spend time on a planet?"

"Hardly- I have been on many planets, in conditions ranging from indescribably harsh to purely delightful. But the majority of the time I was on the Galactica."

"Ah, yes- the Galactica. Greatest of the battlestars, sole survivor of the Great Destruction of the colonies- and now, great disruptor of our culture."

Apollo smothered a laugh. "That's putting it mildly."

"Indeed. Personally, I think it a fine thing to have you lot here. Earth's children have grown complacent. They were in dire need of a shock."

"You sound as if you count yourself apart from them, Councillor...?" Apollo glanced inquiringly at the man, admiring his clean-cut good looks. Thick black hair combed neatly back in precise waves, clear grey eyes, an almost military precision about his bearing and dress- altogether pleasing to the appreciative eye.

"Zymand," he said, with a charming smile. "And you are Captain Apollo, am I right?" Apollo nodded. "Scarcely fair, I know- you have to learn so many of our names, but there are so few of you. Nearly all of us know all of you on sight."

Apollo laughed. "Indeed, I have noticed that as well."

Zymand smiled, barely visible in the last of the waning light. A gentle breeze ruffled his hair, teasing at the careful grooming until a few strands blew free. "And now, I must be incredibly rude and move on. I have an appointment to keep. Perhaps we can continue this conversation later?"

Apollo smiled with real warmth. "I shall look forward to it."

The Councillor grasped his arm lightly. "Until later, then."

Apollo watched Zymand leave, full of wistful longing. It had been a long time since he'd had anyone show even slight interest in his company... other than Starbuck, of course. Starbuck, the ever-present, ever-oblivious companion, who would never in a million yahrens- or should he say years, in the new Earth fashion- guess how badly Apollo wanted more than friendship from him... What a pity Starbuck was unrelentingly straight, in addition to being dense.

Soft lights flicked on, lighting the balcony with a dim glow that was enough to ensure safety. Apollo took that as a sign that he should return to his quarters, since Troy would be expecting him back soon. What a pain in the astrum he was becoming- ever since he'd decided he was grown up now, he'd been constantly pushing his limits, trying to cross every boundary Apollo had set for him. Such was the way of teenagers everywhere.

The following day found him in a similar situation- in front of the Council, arguing endlessly for the right to set up a proper military training Academy. But today saw a difference- today, he gained a supporter, in the form of Zymand.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Zymand said clearly into one of the thunderous pauses so common after one of Apollo's arguments. "The man has a point. What would we do if the Cylons he speaks of were to attack? Or worse yet, what if the wars resumed? And do tell- is it possible you want to lose all the amazing technology these people brought with them?"

"Well, no, but-" the Council leader replied, decidedly off balance.

"But-" and Zymand paused dramatically, sweeping the assembly with challenging eyes, "the knowledge will be lost if there is no place to teach it."

"My point exactly!" Apollo couldn't keep the exasperation from his voice. He'd been saying the same thing repeatedly for the last three days.

"Perhaps the point bears consideration," the leader mused. "Council will adjourn to consider the proposal of a training academy."

Apollo sat in his seat for a moment, allowing the Council members to push their ways out of the chamber without him- all except one. Zymand remained behind as well, smiling faintly at the Captain.

"Thank you, friend," Apollo said quietly, rubbing his forehead, where a headache of monumental proportions was settling.

"Anytime... friend."

Apollo looked up in time to catch the slow smile which spread across the other man's face.

"Your support was welcome and quite timely. I was nearing the end of my patience."

"I could see that. Perhaps you would be interested in a walk through the gardens, to ease your mind?"

"That sounds wonderful."

They rose together and Zymand led the way through the labyrinthine halls of the government building to the formal garden.

Apollo stopped dead at the entrance to the garden, staring in amazed wonder.

"Is something wrong?" Zymand paused as well and turned back, concern on his handsome face.

"No! It's- it's-" Apollo sought for a word to describe the amazing, lush riot of color before him. "Beautiful... amazing... incredible. That doesn't even begin to describe it."

Zymand chuckled. "Something told me you'd appreciate the unique beauty of this place. Come, walk with me."

He took Apollo by the arm and led him along the carefully tended gravel pathways. Apollo's eyes, accustomed for so long to the emptiness of space, feasted on the rainbow of color.

"I've never seen anything like this before," Apollo confessed, still gazing in wonder at the hundreds of different species growing here.

"It is a world of many wonders which you have come to, Apollo," Zymand said, with a twinkle in his eye.

"And you shall show them to me?" Apollo smiled and quirked an eyebrow upwards, inviting comment.

Zymand laughed- an open, happy sound, which invited all listeners to join in the glee. Apollo felt an answering laugh bubble up within him. "Yes- yes, I think I shall."

Then he stopped and swept Apollo into his arms for a kiss. Apollo's eyebrows shot straight up in surprise, but within a millicenton the surprise had been abandoned in favor of pleasure. Zymand was a good kisser. In fact, Zymand was an excellent kisser, and Apollo clung to him, anxious to have the contact last as long as possible. Ye gods, had it really been so long since he'd kissed anyone?

"Ahh..." At length, Zymand broke away. "Well, I suppose that answers my question."

"And what question was that?" Apollo tried not to tremble with the aftershocks of that earth-shattering kiss.

"What would he do if I kissed him?... Of course."

"Now you know the answer- I'd kiss you back."

"I'd noticed..." A gleam of good humor shone in the grey eyes. "And here I'd thought you were fixated on that Starbuck."

Apollo winced. "Him? He's straight as an arrow. We're friends- exceptionally close friends, true, but still, nothing more."

"Good."

The two stood together for a long moment there in the sunlight and the gentle breeze, smiling at each other. Then Zymand tucked Apollo's arm under his own in a proprietary manner and led him away.

"So... what is it you think of this world you have come to after such a long journey?" Zymand spoke with the right amount of interest and attention to make it seem as if Apollo's answer was the most important thing in the world.

"It's... different," Apollo said, cautiously. "Completely different from what I've always known."

"I imagine it must be- after all, a planet has infinitely more variety than any space vessel."

"Yes. Variety, space, unpredictability- not to mention the people."

Zymand laughed at Apollo's tone of dismay. "Come now, surely the people aren't all that bad."

"Well, certainly some of the people aren't bad at all..." Apollo shot a teasing look at his companion.

"You only say that because you do not know me." A wicked look crossed Zymand's face.

"Oh, really now?" Apollo grinned. "And how bad are you?"

"I've been told that I'm very, very bad indeed..." There was no mistaking the desire in those compelling eyes, nor the challenge.

Apollo was leaning close for another kiss when someone hailed him. He jumped away from Zymand, startled, as Starbuck came hurrying up.

"Starbuck! What brings you here? I thought you were-"

"Out on another bloody mapping run, yes- I was." Starbuck shot a puzzled look at Zymand, then dismissed him as irrelevant. "But they want me to do something a little more interesting this time- go out on a long range mapping run, so to speak."

"Where to?"

"The rest of the solar system." Starbuck grinned.

"What? They don't even have maps of their own solar system? But that could take-" Apollo stopped, stricken.

"Months," Starbuck finished for him. "Yes. They want detailed maps of all the planets, far more detailed than what we brought in with us."

"And you're telling me this because I'm coming with you, right?"

Starbuck dropped his eyes. "No."

"What!"

"They want you here to continue fighting for the Academy. You seem to be making the most progress with it-"

"Bloody hell. Then who the frack are they sending with you, if not your wingman?"

"I'm taking a shuttle and a team of four- Boomer, Jolly, and some Earther chick- uh-" Starbuck glanced at Zymand and gulped. "I mean, a local cartographer."

"Frack. When do you leave?" Apollo felt the good mood brought on by Zymand's excellent company shatter irretrievably into a million brittle shards.

"Tonight."

The single word hung in the air between them. Tonight. Barely enough time to say goodbye, to get used to the idea that someone had deliberately seperated one of the most effective teams from the Galactica...

"In that case," Zymand broke the silence, "I shall leave you to say your goodbyes. Apollo- don't forget what I said." A cool smile for Starbuck, a warmer one for Apollo, and then he was gone. Apollo sighed.

"What was that all about?" Starbuck stared after the departing man in a decidedly unfriendly manner.

"Nothing. Come on, buddy- I guess we'd better see to getting you a proper send off."

"Hey-" Starbuck grasped his shoulder lightly. "Don't look so down- it's only for a few months."

But his eyes held a matching sadness for the thought of months spent alone, without the other half of the Starbuck-and-Apollo team.

Zymand found him the next day in the gardens, sitting in a snug little nook sheltered with climbing vines on a trellis. The late afternoon sun dipped towards the horizon, lighting and warming the inside of the nook on the chill autumn day.

"I missed you at the meeting today." He settled to the bench beside Apollo.

"Hello, Zymand." He looked up from the twig he'd been shredding, long enough to smile. Then he resumed his mindless destruction of the twig. It kept his hands occupied while his mind ran in circles, trying to figure out what had ever posessed his father to suggest splitting him and Starbuck up on seperate missions.

"Missing your friend?" An undertone of sympathy ran through the rich voice.

"Of course. You don't spend nearly every day for twenty years with someone at your side and then not miss them when they're taken away from you."

"That's true. Pardon me for being a callous boor, but- are you free tonight?"

Apollo looked up, startled, to find Zymand looking at him with hope and longing. A brief battle of conscience ensued within him, with part of him insisting that he remain loyal to Starbuck, and the rest of him saying it was high time he had some fun. He laid his conscience to rest with the reminder that Starbuck didn't give a damn about him in that way and smiled. "Of course I'm free. Did you have something in mind?" He dropped the twig and focused all his attention on the man beside him.

"Possibly," Zymand said, with a coy smile. "Perhaps some dinner, a trip to the local theater- you seem the type to appreciate the arts, am I right?"

Apollo's eyes lit with interest and he nodded eagerly. Starbuck had never cared for theater, so he'd rarely been to one.

"Excellent! Shall we meet here, then, in an hour?"

"Hour- that's a centare, right?"

Zymand laughed. "Yes, I do believe it is. Funny how you lot measure time."

"Not funny to us- in fact, it makes perfect sense to us. It's your time measurements which are funny..." Apollo grinned and rose, feeling a lightness of heart brought about by anticipation.

Zymand rose as well and clasped Apollo's hand between both of his own. "I rather thought you'd see it that way. Until later, then?"

"Yes. Until later."

With a final smile, Apollo reclaimed his hand and headed for his quarters. Even after nearly a month of living here in the governmental complex as an ambassador, he still had a difficult time finding his way around. Ambassador. He snorted at the thought. He'd gotten the job because the government was too afraid of the military power his father and Colonel Tigh held, and because Adama had wisely decided to limit the temporal power of the Council of Twelve in this new attempt at cohabitation. Starbuck was technically his aide, despite the fact that he was always being sent out in his Viper on mapping expedtions. Apparently Earth had been through more than her share of wars, losses, and technological setbacks over the many yahrens, and now had little usable knowledge left. Tantalizing records told of times when mankind had been more advanced, but they were of little use.

Apollo put aside the pain of seperation and made what he hoped was the correct turn, around a blocky building. He spotted a familiar landmark- a fountain, shaped like a sea-beast known as dolphin- and hurried forward. Two turns to the left past the fountain, past the ugly pink building, and there he was- the diplomatic quarters. One good thing about being designated an ambassador, these dirtsiders- ahem, Earth people- sure knew how to roll out the red carpet for dignitaries. His apartment here was larger than any four back on the Galactica. Larger, and far more elegant- the furnishings were rich enough to satisfy a deep craving in his very soul, a craving for the lost elegance of his home back on Caprica.

He took the time to scrawl a brief not to Troy, saying that he was going out and didn't know when he would be back, and remember to finish his homework. He smiled as he set the note prominently on the low table in front of the couch, what he'd heard called a coffee table- he had little doubt Troy would completely ignore his homework in favor of sitting up all night and watching movies on the television. Oh, how delighted the IFB folks had been to discover that Earth had television broadcasts as well...

Apollo plunged into his wardrobe, searching for something he thought he still had- it was yahrens old, but Zymand wouldn't know that, and it should still be just as stunning as when he'd bought it. Ah, yes- there it was, black velvet trousers and a spectacular color-shifting shirt with full sleeves and an open collar. He shook it, and obediently the shirt glimmered through a dozen different shades of green, a deep emerald predominating. Lovely. Starbuck had a matching one in blue. They'd bought them at a planet which had been entirely devoted to pleasure and commerce, a heaven for the bored Galacticans. It should be just the thing for a night out on the town with Zymand. Apollo stroked the fabric lightly, remembering how incredible Starbuck had looked in his blue shirt, then put aside the memory and went in the bathroom for a quick shower.

The appointed hour found him once again in the garden alcove, clean and feeling decidedly odd in civilian garb. The sun was balancing on the horizon and the ever-present breeze had picked up enough to tug at his black velvet cape. The style would stick out here on Earth, but Apollo didn't care- he looked good, and he knew it. It was a pleasant change from his uniform, even the dress uniform which he'd been wearing to the council meetings.

"Pardon me, is this space taken?" Zymand stepped up beside Apollo with a charming smile.

"It is now," Apollo smiled in return. For once his fashion sense had served him right- Zymand's garb, although of a distinctly different style, was clearly of the same quality as his own. The man looked simply stunning. Deep burgundy satin, accented with black and russet inlay in an abstract leaf pattern over the shoulders, tight black trousers and high leather boots similar to Apollo's own- Apollo sighed deeply in appreciation. Despite the lack of Starbuck, this was promising to be an interesting evening.

"Come, there is a table waiting for us at Grisanti's, down the way." He took Apollo by the hand and led the way through the garden.

Apollo put all thoughts of Starbuck from his mind and simply enjoyed the evening. The food was delectable, the conversation stimulating- it had been far too long since he'd had anyone to discuss any kind of philosophy with, most of his friends being warriors, with a warrior's distaste of abstractions. Zymand had no such distaste, and was quite pleased to linger over a fine wine debating casually over philosophical issues. The play, although in an archaic speech pattern which Apollo found difficult to follow, was still enjoyable. According to the program, it was a story written thousands of years ago, by a great bard in a now-defunct country known as England. Evidently it had stood the test of time far beyond its author's wildest dreams.

And then came the moment of truth. Zymand paused in the theater lobby, turning to Apollo with a warm smile. "It's been a lovely evening. I trust you've enjoyed yourself?"

"I have indeed, Zymand. It has been an altogether wonderful experience." Apollo smiled through the pleasant haze left over from the excellent wine and the good company.

"Good. And now- join me?" A hopeful look, a quirk of an eyebrow, a bold invitation- and Apollo felt a rush of warmth sweep over him which had nothing to do with the wine. His smile broadened, and he reached out both hands to Zymand in response. Zymand squeezed his hands, then set off, presumably for his home. Apollo followed eagerly.

Zymand lived in one of the wealthy quadrants within easy walking distance of the governmental complex and the arts district. Apollo was struck again by how well-planned this city was. One of the lessons Earthers had learned well over the years was how to plan their cities for maximum convenience and minimum vehicular travel.

"Nice place," Apollo commented, craning his neck to get the best view of the ornate carvings on the ceiling of the atrium.

"It serves my needs well," Zymand replied. His apartment was on the eleventh level.

It was no surprise to Apollo to find the apartment as spare and elegant as the man himself. Everything was organized neatly, nothing out of place, creating an overall impression of ordered elegance. He settled on the deep cushions of the couch as Zymand disappeared into the kitchen area. He reappeared a moment later with two goblets of something sparkling and sat next to Apollo.

Apollo sipped his drink, a flock of nervous butterflies migrating into his middle. "Well."

Zymand sipped from his own drink and smiled. "Yes, well." He sat his goblet on the table and Apollo followed suit, suddenly short of breath. "My dear Apollo, I have you here at last..."

And then they were kissing. It was nothing like the kiss the other day, in fact it was worlds away more intense. Here where there was no worry of interruption or being seen, where there was no need to pretend he was here for anything else- Apollo felt free to give himself over entirely to the feel of Zymand in his arms, the feel of Zymand's lips and tongue, to the burning passion which consumed them both... At some point, Zymand pulled him to his feet and led him to the bedroom, but Apollo was long past the point of rational thought by then. It had been so long, so very long- and even before, there had only been women. He hadn't found a male partner since- hellfires, shortly after he'd left the Academy. Zymand sent him over the edge into wanton passion in a way that no woman ever could. And what of it if he had to fight to keep from calling out Starbuck's name as he came? Starbuck didn't care, not that way... but Zymand did.