Home
Complications
Written by Rebecca Stephens
The Final Chapter
As soon as the landing bay was filled with oxygen,
Colonel Tigh and
Commander Adama, along with several members of security, hurried forward.
Both Tigh and Adama tried not to move too quickly, but the lightness in their
steps betrayed their eagerness.
Tigh watched as the shuttle doors opened and Boomer and Apollo emerged,
followed shortly by Starbuck and a tall, grey-skinned humanoid, who he could
only assume was the Primary Pathchooser. He waited for more people to exit
the shuttle, assuming that a high ranking individual would not travel to a
foreign vessel without at least one bodyguard. Finally, realizing no one
else was on the shuttle, he looked at Adama, who was already making
introductions.
"I am Commander Adama and this is Colonel Tigh. Welcome to the
Galactica."
"Thank you, I am Lyrahmi, Primary Pathchooser for the Mik'baran vessel,
Expedition."
"Pleased to meet you," Adama answered. "Would you like a tour of the
Galactica?"
"Yes," she answered with typical Mik'baran candor.
Tigh was a bit taken aback by her directness, but if Adama was similarly
affected he didn't let it show.
"Very well, then," Adama answered. "While I give you a tour of the ship,
Colonel Tigh and Lieutenant Boomer can . . . catch up."
Lyrahmi looked at him rather strangely as he finished but said nothing.
Adama and Lyrahmi left to tour the ship and Tigh turned to Boomer, "Why don't
we start from the beginning; exactly how did you end up on the alien vessel?"
Adama and Lyrahmi entered Adama's office after finishing the tour, having
avoided the more important areas of the ship, of course. He'd hoped to be
discreet enough not to rouse her suspicion, but had failed miserably. He'd
learned that her directness was not a sign of mental infirmity or gullibility
when during the tour she and turned to him and said, "I understand you do not
wish for me to see your weapons systems or central computer output unit,
there is no need for you to try to beguile me into believing that they do not
exist or that you simply didn't think of showing me such areas."
When she'd said that he'd very nearly swallowed on his tongue trying to
choke out an explanation (more for underestimating her than for not showing
her the key areas of the Galactica). In the end, he'd simply said, "I
apologize if I have offended you." Then they'd simply continued with the
tour, deception apparently forgotten.
All through the tour he'd questioned her about her people. He'd been
astounded by some of the answered he'd received. They seemed a most strange
people. According to Lyrahmi they possessed a very small military and a very
loose government which allowed individuals a level of freedom almost unheard
of. M Yet, if what she said was to believed, they had virtually no crime and
no power-hungry individuals seeking to seize power. They seemed to have a
paradicial homeworld, and yet left it. Despite their candor, they had great
respect for the cultures of other species. Apparently they had profitable
trading contracts with a great number of governments. Adama wondered how
they had managed to accomplish so much with such an unorganized structure,
and weak government. As he listened to the tale of Boomer's rescue, he'd
wondered if it could possibly be true; was it possible that a ship would
radically alter its course for no other purpose than to return one alien to
his home?
Adama drug his mind back to the present. Lyrahmi was questioning him,
"If it's not to painful, I would very much like to know more about your
'colonies,' and their destruction."
Meanwhile Tigh was just finishing Boomer's debriefing. Boomer was
beginning to wonder if the debriefing would ever end. He'd already told
Colonel Tigh everything that had happened to him. He'd also confirmed that
the Mik'baran were exactly what they seemed. He'd told Tigh all that he knew
about them, from their homeworld to their recreational activities. Now Tigh
was wrapping up the proceedings.
"Glad to have you back, Lieutenant," Tigh said with a smile.
"Glad to be back sir," Boomer replied, utilizing all his will to keep
from jumping up and bolting out the door to see Athena. He stood and shook
Tigh's hand, then walked towards the door.
Just as Boomer reached the exit Tigh said, "Oh, and Lieutenant," Boomer
forced himself to turn back to the Colonel as the man continued speaking, "I
believe a 'Welcome Home' party is being held for you in the officers club."
Boomer plastered on a smile, "Sounds great, sir." Boomer left Tigh and
hurried to his old quarters. The closer he got to his old quarters, the more
nervous he became. By time he reached the door, he was nearly frozen with
apprehension. His hand shook as he rang the chime.
The door slid open and Boomer found himself staring into the face of the
woman he loved. "I love you," he breathed. He eyes lit with joy and he
could restrain himself no longer. He swept her into an embrace . . .only to
pull back less than a micron later. He looked down, saw her rounded stomach,
and looked back at her, his eyes wide with amazement.
She disentangled herself from his arms. "Come in," she said. He stepped
inside and the door closed behind him.
Meanwhile, in the officers club, the party was going strong. Starbuck
was smoking a fumarello and talking to Apollo. "Hey, after talking to their
leader, I've got a good feeling about these Mik'baran." He paused to take a
swallow of ambrosa, then continued, "She seemed honest, and hey, we all know
I'm a great judge of character." He grinned and put his fumarello back in
his mouth.
Just then Colonel Tigh walked up behind the two warriors. "Well, I
expected Boomer to be catching up with you guys. Or is he dancing with one
of the women that seemed very eager to see him?"
Starbuck looked startled. "You're through with his debriefing? He
hasn't shown up yet; we figured he was still busy."
"I wonder where he is. Seems strange that he didn't even show up at his
own party."
"Well," Starbuck answered, "maybe he ran into one of those eager ladies
on his way here." Starbuck and Tigh both laughed, neither noticing that
Apollo joined in neither the conversation nor the laughter.
In counterpoint to his friends' laughter Boomer was silent. Finally he
spoke, "We're going to be parents."
Athena had felt a flame of joy ignite when Boomer said he loved her, only
to have it dim as he pulled back in shock. As he spoke again she felt the
flame grow a little brighter; he'd said 'we.'
Boomer shook off his daze. "When are you due?"
Athena answered him, gesturing with one hand; Boomer still held the other
one, unwilling to let it go.
Boomer smiled slightly, "Do you know if it's a boy or a girl?" he asked,
happiness creeping into his voice.
"A boy," she answered in a quavering voice, flame of joy made brighter by
the happiness in his voice.
"We're going to have a son!" Boomer's face was split by a grin and he
hugged Athena tightly. He kissed her deeply and embraced her yet again. "I
love you," he whispered into her hair.
"I love you, too," she responded and Boomer felt as if his heart would
explode in exultation. He'd seen the look on her face when he first told her
he loved her and had known she felt the same, but hearing it was one of the
greatest joys he'd ever felt. He knew those three words must be the greatest
words in existence-- if they came from Athena. He held her tighter.
They walked over to the couch and sat down, facing each other. Boomer
captured her other hand. "You're beautiful," he said softly. Then his tone
became more pragmatic, "We have a lot to do. I have to get my things, we
have to make sure everything is ready for the baby, set a date for the
sealing ceremony-"
"Sealing ceremony?" Athena said in a teasing, playful voice. "I don't
remember you proposing."
Boomer grinned; this was his Athena, the playful side of her she so
rarely exposed. "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?"
She kissed him deeply and stole his breath. When they broke apart she
answered. "Okay."
"Speaking of which," he said, "we have to announce our engagement."
"Do we?"
Boomer looked at her curiously, "What do you mean?"
"Well, there's a party going on right now. Everybody's there. It's the
perfect time to announce our engagement." Her face split with a mischievous
grin, "We could call Apollo and have him announce it for us."
Boomer took in Athena's expression and knew that he was missing
something. He reviewed all the conversations he'd had since returning to the
Galactica, and remembering the deal he and Athena had made, suddenly it
dawned on him, "Apollo's the only one that knows. He's the only one that
knows it's my child!"
Her grin just got wider.
Adama and Lyrahmi's meeting was coming to an end. They'd arranged for
the Mik'baran to receive a copy of the book of Kobol, along with disk
versions of over fifty other literary and artistic works from the colonies in
exchange for a fair amount of miro seed.
Lyrahmi spoke, "My of us were very distressed when we heard what had
happened to your home, and it has made us fear for our own. Speaking to you
has only intensified my need to see home once more. I have no doubt that the
other Pathchoosers will agree. After we make the trade tomorrow, we will be
heading home. It will take us a long time to get there, but I will log your
request about Earth in the main computer banks on Mik'bara. If there is ever
any knowledge available I will endeavor that another Mik'baran vessel inform
you."
"Thank you," Adama answered sincerely. He escorted Lyrahmi back to the
landing bay and she boarded a shuttle to take her back to the Expedition.
Then Adama went to the officer's club. He saw his son with Sheba,
Starbuck, and Cassie, but he didn't see Boomer anywhere. One of the on-duty
personnel got Apollo's attention and Adama watched his son go over to the
only quiet place in the club and answer the in-ship communicator.
"Hello." A smile broke on the young pilot's face, "That's great. . .You
want me to what?" Apollo said into the mouthpiece. "Why can't you announce
it yourself?" He listened for a few more microns. "Fine, fine. Okay. But
I'm not answering any questions. . .Alright, bye."
Apollo walked over to center of the room, commonly used for entertainers
to address the audience from, turned on the voice-amplifying device, and
spoke. "May I have your attention, please," the room quieted instantly.
"Some of you may have noticed that the guest of honor is missing. Well, I
have just received word from him. He has asked me to announce his engagement
to my sister, Athena." For a moment the room filled with silence broken only
by the sound a few glasses shattering against the floor. Then a roar broke
out. People cheered and gasped, asked their neighbors if they heard
correctly, and some even answered their neighbors' questions. The "Welcome
Back" party had become a "Congratulations" party, they'd gone from one guest
of honor to two. . .neither of whom ever actually showed up for the party.
Epilogue
Boomer and Athena cheered as the bride and groom kissed. Athena handed
her two sectar old son, Zac, to her father. Adama adored his new grandson.
Boomer and Athena, along with Apollo and Sheba walked over to congratulate
Starbuck and Cassie.
Starbuck and Cassie had gotten engaged at Athena and Boomer's sealing
reception. Actually, he'd asked her, and when she'd said yes he'd grabbed
her, picked her up, and spun her around, all the while whooping. He'd had to
explain himself when he noticed everyone staring at him.
Sheba and Apollo announced their engagement at one of the once-a-secton
dinners when Zac was a sectar old. They hadn't set a sealing date yet.
Boxey was happy at the idea of having Sheba for a step-mother, though it had
taken some time for him to get used to it. It seemed that they had waited
for his approval before announcing their engagement, so no one actually knew
how long they'd been engaged.
Athena looked at her son, sleeping in his grandfather's arms. Boomer walked
up behind Athena and wrapped his arms around her. She looked at their son
once more and then up at her husband. She was very, very happy.
THE END
RSteph1981@aol.com writes:
> That's right, it's finally finished! Everyone who was waiting for it
> to be
> completed, read it now.
>
> Feedback is craved.
