"Excuse me, Major Apollo?"

"Yes?" Apollo turned from the simulators to find Cera, the counsellor who'd agreed to help with Zymand several days ago. "What is it, Cera?"

"I expected to find Zymand here with you. Have you seen him?"

Apollo choked. "What do you mean, have I seen him? He's supposed to be in the holding cell!"

"He wanted to see you," she said, drawing back from his wild eyes. "He's been doing so well- I thought surely it wouldn't hurt to let him..."

"You poor fool." Apollo shook his head with regret. "Don't you know who he is? He's the leader of the bloody Cylon Death Cult!"

"Oh my..." Cera's eyes widened with horror. "The pilots you had guarding him went with him-"

"Don't say a word about this to anyone," Apollo interrupted. He walked away and left her standing there in the middle of the training room.

He located Starbuck with a minimum of effort- in the middle of a Pyramid game at Jack's Cantina, now officially doing business in the converted storeroom.

"Starbuck," he called, over the general babble.

"Not now, Pol- my system's working!" Starbuck grinned as he raked in his winnings- which largely consisted of debt vouchers.

"I need you now, Captain- there's a problem."

Starbuck looked up, saw the serious look on Apollo's face, and swore.

"All right, folks- looks like duty calls. I'll be back later, though-"

Just then, the power flickered ominously several times, then went out.

"Frack! Starbuck, come on." Apollo grabbed Starbuck by the arm and hauled him out of the Cantina at a jog, bumping into tables and trying to ignore the confused shouts of the patrons.

"What the hell is going on, Apollo?"

"Zymand got loose."

Starbuck stopped dead. "Frack! And now he's in the main computer bank..." He pulled an emergency handlight off his belt and lit it. "Come on, what are you waiting for?"

He set off at a dead run for Main Control. Apollo followed.

They stopped running when they reached the corridor leading to Main Control and Starbuck extinguished his light. They crept forward silently through the dark, side by side. The control room door was open a crack, allowing them to see a faint light. Sounds emerged from within.

Apollo burst through the door, weapon drawn. "Freeze!" he yelled, searching the room in the light of Starbuck's reactivated handlight. No one was there.

"What the frack?" Starbuck looked around, then rested his light on the wreck of the main computer. "Oh... fuck."

"Never mind that for now, we have to see where he went. Shine that beam around, would you?"

The light caught a faint movement overhead. Starbuck aimed it upward and revealed a swinging vent.

"Shit! He's in the ductwork!"

"Not for long," Apollo said grimly. "That shaft runs straight to the surface- there's even handholds in there, for the maintenance crew. He must be nearly out by now. Bloody hell. There's nothing we can do in here- and with the power out, he's trapped us. We can't even get the door open to launch the Striker for aerial recon."

Starbuck swore viciously. "So what do we do now? Just let the bastard go?"

"I can't think of any way to get him- we can't even work the bloody lifts to get to the surface. Unless you think it's worth climbing up there and trying to catch him afoot?"

"Frack. No, I suppose not. I'd rather take a look at what he did here- do you think it's repairable?"

"Lords, I hope so." Apollo took the handlight and approached the computer. Wires dangled out from the shattered console and smashed chips littered the floor.

"I don't suppose there's a computer repairman in our motley crew out there, is there?"

Apollo looked up from the ruins with dawning hope. "I think there is... and I know we have the manuals for these things, and spare parts! Hot damn, he hasn't ruined us after all."

"I guess we'd better go let everyone know what's up."

"Don't sound so excited, I might think you were having fun." Apollo smiled, a mere upward quirk of his lips. "I think we'll tell the others that this was a strike by the Cult, rather than letting them know the leader of the Cult suckered us so badly."

"Yeah. Ordinarily, I'd be shocked by you being less than honest, but I don't like looking like a fool. He did that crazy act very well, didn't he?"

"Yeah." Apollo started out the door and Starbuck followed.

They were nearly bowled over as they emerged into the corridor by the pilots who had been guarding Zymand.

"Where is he?"

"He got away," Apollo replied.

"Sorry, Captain," one of the pilots said, looking at Starbuck in the dim glow of handlights. "He knocked us out- I was barely able to get Beaker here up."

"Don't worry about it right now," Starbuck said. "We've got more important things to deal with. And remember, don't tell anyone who that was or what happened."

"Gotcha, Captain."

The two fell in behind Apollo and Starbuck as they resumed their trek through the darkened halls.

All three hundred and fifty two of the base's current inhabitants had congregated in the mess hall, as Apollo had instructed in the event of an emergency. Starbuck attracted their attention and Apollo spoke into the sudden silence.

"First off, thank you all for remembering to meet here when the lights went out. And congratulations to all of you who were wearing your emergency kits and now have lights."

A ripple of nervous laughter passed through the crowd.

"As some of you may have guessed, there was an attack by the Cylon Death Cult. They were able to do some pretty serious damage to the main computer. But-" Apollo raised his hand to forestall the distressed comments of the crowd- "all is not lost. We have manuals, we have spare parts, and I'm sure at least one of you has the knowledge to help in this situation. Any volunteers with computer repair experience?"

A low murmur rose from the crowd. Then a single voice spoke up.

"I can do the job, if there's no one else." A small man with long mousy brown hair stepped forward. He had the look of someone who didn't care about his appearance, someone with more important things on his mind. His jumpsuit was wrinkled and smudged, but his eyes showed sharp intelligence.

"What's your name?" Apollo asked. He felt an irrational dislike for this reluctant savior, on whom so much depended.

"Name's Jade," he replied, with a sardonic look.

"Then Jade, we thank you for your willingness to help us all out with this near-disaster. If you need anything, anything at all, let Captain Starbuck or myself know, and we'll see about getting it for you. Would you come with me now?"

Without waiting for a response, Apollo turned to leave. He shot a look at Starbuck, who nodded understanding- he'd finish up here, reassuring the crowd and answering what questions he could.

Apollo heard footsteps behind him as he left the relatively well lit mess hall. He pulled out his own handlight and turned it on. "The damage is pretty severe-"

"I'll determine that, if you don't mind," Jade interrupted.

Civilians, Apollo thought sourly. "Very well, then."

He led the way to the control room in icy silence. Jade followed him, but not too closely- Apollo wondered what his problem was. "Here you go," Apollo said, when they at last reached Main Control. He opened the door and shone the light on the remains of the computer console.

"Give me that." Jade snatched the handlight from Apollo and darted in to the computer. He lifted wires, examining them and making small sounds of dismay. He shone the light into every crack and crevice of the damaged console, touching the damaged chips with tender sorrow. Then he straightened and turned to Apollo.

"Whatever asshole did this had no clue what he was doing. He only smashed chips controlling peripheral functions. He left the motherboard and most of the memory chips intact. The wires look worse than they are. I need access to the spare parts you mentioned."

"Certainly," Apollo nodded. He felt a vast relief at the terse assessment of the situation. "The spare parts and tools are in those cabinets along the wall."

Jade swung the handlight around until he located the appropriate cabinets. He was in them in a flash, searching for the parts he needed.

"Looks like everything's here," he said. "With these parts, you could rebuild this entire system three times over."

"Excellent." Apollo nodded, satisfied. "I'll leave you to it, then. Any estimate of time?"

"You really ask a lot, don't you?" Jade glared. "Before midnight."

"Thank you." Apollo made his escape, leaving Jade to his cleanup and repair job. He walked with one hand trailing along the wall to count turnings, as he'd left his light behind. Zy sure is acting odd, he thought. It isn't like him to not do a thorough job at whatever he does- and what is up with the shit he tried to pull before, about Troy? He's gotten very strange indeed... as if his running the damn Cult wasn't proof enough of that!

Apollo entered the mess hall to find over three hundred expectant faces turned towards him. "Good news," he said lightly, smiling at the crowd. "The computer is repairable, and should be working again soon. Perhaps by midnight, if we're lucky. So everyone is free to go now, unless there was anything else?" He lifted an eyebrow at Starbuck.

"Not at the moment. Just stay out of trouble, folks." A polite ripple of laughter followed his remark, then people began moving towards the doors. Apollo caught Starbuck's eye and jerked his head towards one of the tables. Starbuck waited until the flow of traffic around him had eased, then sat with Apollo.

"What's up?"

"That Jade is a complete asshole, but he thinks he can get the job done." Apollo ran a hand through his hair, exasperated.

"Good. I've been thinking, Pol-" Starbuck set his light on the table.

"And?"

"And I wonder- why did you let him go?"

"Excuse me?" Apollo blinked.

"Zymand. Why didn't you even try to catch him?"

"Oh, him. Because he had such an advantage, remember?" Apollo frowned. He had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"Did he? Did he really? Or did you just want him to get away because you still care?"

Apollo sighed. "Look, it's been ten years. Even if I had some shred of feeling for him left after the breakup, Zy did a pretty good job of eradicating it with that whole Fleet versus Earth deal. I'll never forgive him for that. And I have no need to go looking for affection from a half-crazed ex-boyfriend, understand?"

Starbuck hit him with a hard, disbelieving look. "He said that even after all this time, you were still a good kisser."

Apollo's jaw sagged. "He said that? To you? That lying bastard!"

"Lying? You mean, you didn't kiss him?"

"Shit. When he had his goons pin me in the dark, in the storeroom up above- one of them held me still, one of them held a hypo against my neck, and he came up and kissed me as I passed out. It was hardly my choice."

"Did you enjoy it?"

Bloody hell! Apollo felt tension wrap like iron bands around his head and shoulders. "No. I would have hit him, if I could have."

"That's not what he said." The accusation on Starbuck's face finally snapped Apollo's control.

"What the hell's your problem? Jealous of someone I dumped ten years ago?"

"You mean, someone who's on your mind all the time lately?" Starbuck glared at him.

"Dammit, Starbuck, get a clue!"

"Now, wait just a frackin' minute here! Don't you-"

"No! No, hear me out. I've loved you and wanted you since I was fifteen, but I thought it was hopeless- you were too damn busy with your girls to ever notice me. What'd you expect me to do, stay a virgin all my life because I couldn't have my One True Love? Sorry, Bucko- I saw no reason why you should be the only one getting laid, while I remained faithful to the hope that someday I'd get you in bed. So now you're going to throw it in my face that ten years ago, I had a boyfriend- who just now happens to want to kill you, me, and the rest of our fracking species. Where's the logic in that, man?"

Starbuck underwent an astonishing transformation as Apollo vented his frustration. His face went from dusky with anger, to a hope so bright it was almost painful. "Loved... me?" he said, in a tone of pure wonder. "All that time... this isn't just a passing thing, then? You really, truly care about me?"

Apollo was caught off guard by the sudden change in mood. "Yes," he admitted. "For a very long time."

"I don't have to worry then?"

Apollo took one of Starbuck's hands in his own. "Worry about what? You can't possibly think you're going to get rid of me? Not after I've finally gotten what I wanted, all these years..."

"It's hard for me, Pol- you know that." Starbuck had an open, vulnerable look in his eyes that made Apollo wish they weren't in such a public place.

"I know- which is why I'll let you make it up to me, for accusing me of having a thing for Zymand-the-psycho." Apollo smiled, squeezing Starbuck's hand.

He actually blushed, visible even in the dim light. "Apollo... Ah, hell- I'm sorry. I know you wouldn't do that to me, but this is still so... so..."

"I know, love," Apollo said, tracing his fingers lightly over the back of Starbuck's hand. "So what are you going to do, hmm?"

A slow smile started at the corner of Starbuck's mouth and traveled all the way up to his eyes. He took Apollo's hand and lifted it to his mouth, then licked along the first finger and sucked the tip into his mouth.

Apollo closed his eyes and drew in a deep, shuddering breath, fighting for control. "Your place or mine?"

"Mine's closer. Come on." Starbuck got up, still holding Apollo's hand. He led the way through the dark corridors to his room and pushed the door open.

Apollo followed in a haze of anticipation. He stumbled over something on the floor- felt like cloth, it was probably a discarded uniform. Starbuck never had been too good at keeping his room tidy. Starbuck steadied him, then helped him find the bed.

"Apollo," Starbuck said, kneeling in front of him, "I'm sorry. I was being very stupid, and I'll never do it again." He wrapped his arms around Apollo, pulling his head down for a long kiss. "Just promise me you won't ever run off and leave me, okay? Now that I've found out how truly wonderful you are, not to mention what I've been missing out on-" he slipped a hand down to Apollo's crotch for a quick feel- "I don't like the thought of losing you, know what I mean?"

"Yes, I know exactly what you mean," Apollo said softly. He traced the familiar features of Starbuck's face in the dark, then kissed him lightly on the forehead. "And I promise-" he kissed both temples- "I will never-" little nipping kisses along the jawline- "ever run off and leave you." Then he kissed Starbuck deeply and passionately, happy beyond all capacity for rational thought.

When the kiss ended, Starbuck sighed. "I feel better now," he said, then started undoing the fasteners on Apollo's clothing slowly. Apollo shivered. He started to help, but Starbuck stopped him. "Let me do it this time," Starbuck said, sliding his hands under the fabric and sliding it off Apollo's shoulders.

"Whatever you say." Apollo was willing to sit back and enjoy. Starbuck's hands traced tingling patterns all over his torso. Then they dropped to his pants and so did Apollo's attention. He quivered as Starbuck tugged at his pants, raising his hips off the bed as they descended slowly.

"No- stay there." Starbuck forstalled his effort to stand with a hand on Apollo's hip.

"But-"

"Just stay there."

Apollo surrendered, leaving his pants hanging about his thighs. He loved to hear that tone in his lover's voice- husky and slightly breathless, a tone that said only one thing mattered in the entire universe and that one thing was Apollo. He heard the sounds of clothing being shed and discarded.

Without warning, a warm mouth fastened onto his nipple. Apollo gasped at the shock of sensation. Starbuck's hands slid around his back, holding him close. Apollo shivered as Starbuck flicked his nipple with little fast licks. He gasped again as Starbuck switched to the other one.

Then the seeking mouth moved lower. Apollo ran a hand through Starbuck's hair as he kissed slowly down... down... down. He tensed with nearly unbearable anticipation- was he going to do it this time? Or was he just going to tease, and then quit?

Starbuck's lips grazed the head of Apollo's dick and he smothered a cry. The lips brushed over the head again, then fastened on the shaft, kissing and exploring. Apollo clung with both hands to the blankets behind him, breathing in shallow little gasps. Then a hot wet tongue slid along the shaft from balls to head and Apollo nearly lost it.

"Star... oh, Star..."

The hot, teasing mouth closed over him. Apollo was lost in the sensations as Starbuck sucked and licked.

"You like?" Starbuck mumbled. The vibrations of his voice sent a thrill down Apollo's spine.

"Very much," Apollo panted. He gasped and twitched as teeth brushed him.

"Sorry..."

"Don't be."

It was over far too soon. Apollo heard muffled cursing and rustling sounds, then Starbuck pressed a tube of lube into his hand. "Your turn."

Apollo's breath caught in his chest. "You sure?"

"Yeah. I want to feel what it's like."

Apollo quivered and pulled Starbuck up onto the bed. He fastened his mouth to Starbuck's neck, sucking as he slipped the rest of the way out of his pants. He felt the other man trembling deep within. He eased Starbuck down to his back, hands wandering the whole time. He kissed and caressed and licked until Starbuck was moaning with pleasure, then squirted some of the lube into his hand. He sucked a nipple as he spread the cool gel on himself, coating his fingers as well as his dick. He set the tube carefully aside, then slid a slippery finger down between Starbuck's asscheeks. Starbuck gasped and tensed. Apollo held his finger still for a moment while he licked an especially sensitive spot along Starbuck's ribs. Then he started stroking Starbuck's ass, teasing it until he was moaning and raising his hips for more. Apollo nipped lightly at a nipple as he slid the finger in. Starbuck writhed and panted. Apollo smiled as he continued to lick, suck, and nibble various parts of his lover, even as he slipped another finger inside and sought out that special place inside. He felt the lump of the prostate gland and Starbuck moaned very loudly and pushed against Apollo's hand. He rubbed the spot long enough to have Starbuck whimpering incoherently, then pulled his fingers out and replaced them with just the head of his dick. Starbuch tensed all over with a gasp.

"Pol-"

"Shh, relax. I won't hurt you." He kissed his way up to Starbuck's neck, feeling how his lover was trembling at the unexpected sensation. He slid in slowly, holding to his self control with everything he had. It felt so good, he just wanted to let go and enjoy... but he wanted Starbuck to enjoy this, too. "Let me know if it hurts, and I'll stop..."

"No, 'sokay," Starbuck panted. His fingers dug into Apollo's shoulders.

Apollo's control was severely tested as Starbuck moved against him, pushing his dick further inside. He pulled nearly all the way out, slid forward again... and stopped, because Starbuck let out an almost inaudible whimper of discomfort. "Relax, Star- it's okay, I don't want to hurt you. I know this isn't what you're used to..." He pulled out. Starbuck's fingers clenched then released slowly.

"I'm sorry, Pol- I just can't..."

"Shh," Apollo kissed him quiet. "Don't worry, it's okay. I know, it takes some getting used to." He moved, allowing his dick to touch Starbuck's. "Now shut up and enjoy," he said with a chuckle. They moved together, rubbing their dicks against each other and kissing. Starbuck ran his hands over every part of Apollo he could reach. The sensations were enough to bring them both right to the edge as they ground against each other in a frenzy of overheated passion. Then Starbuck bit down on Apollo's shoulder, and he exploded into an orgasm. He heard Starbuck cry out in a throaty howl which matched his own, then he collapsed into his lover's willing embrace.