Chapter Ten: All That Remains

Ministry of Intelligence Research Laboratory:

Edessa, Caprica:

"Has the shipment arrived?" John Bledsoe, Deputy Director of the Ministry of Intelligence, asked.

"That's correct sir, Project Lysippe can now begin once we have the shipment at the facility," Assistant Director Joseph Shea said.

Project Lysippe was named after the warrior queen Lysippe, who was rumored to be the leader of a fierce group of women warriors from ancient times. When the person they had selected for this turned out to be a woman, the name was officially chosen.

"I'm amazed she was even alive when your people found her," Bledsoe commented.

Shea's team had boarded the SLA base, or what was left of it, after the bombardment had ended and the Erebea vessels that had not jumped away were disabled or destroyed. They had come across a room with four bodies in it, two men and two women, and it was realized that one of the women was still alive.

"Let's go have a look at her," Bledsoe said as he started making his way towards a nearby elevator.

"She's down in the lab right now, they haven't removed her from the life support pod they had her in," Shea said as he tried to keep up.

The metal doors opened and the two men stepped in. Bledsoe produced his MoI badge and inserted it into a slot underneath the numbers for the floors.

When the door closed Bledsoe turned to Shea, "Does Barron know yet?"

"Yes, we told him as soon as we found out. He is of course under strict orders to not let a word out other than the official story," Shea said.

"Can we trust him to do it?"

Shea shrugged his shoulders, "In truth I believe so, Keene Barron was a good Marine and a damn fine officer but above all he is loyal to the company. He knows what is expected of him and he'll do it."

"I wish I shared your optimism Shea. What about Braden?" Bledsoe was referring to Vice President James Braden, who was the actual leader behind the Sagitarron Liberation Army.

"I've sent McQueen to handle him; we should be hearing results from that endeavor soon."

"I'm surprised you were able to get him off of his assignment on Canceron," Bledsoe said.

"If there's one thing Albert McQueen takes seriously it's an attempt to harm the President and his family. He said the Basileus will still be there tomorrow."

"I suppose we owe him a bit of thanks for that," Bledsoe said as he looked at his watch.

The elevator came to a stop and the doors opened. The two men stepped into a corridor of white-painted metal that had a cold sterile feel to it. They made their way to a pair of sliding glass doors emblazoned with the emblem of the Ministry of Intelligence. Bledsoe slipped out his badge once more and entered it into a slot similar to the one on the elevator. The doors hissed open and the two men walked into a room that reminded them of a hospital operating room.

"Greeting gentlemen, come by to see our visitor have we?" Dr. Stuart Rathbourne asked the two MoI Directors.

"Yes we did, how is she doing?" Shea asked as he walked over to the table on which the arrival had been laid out.

"Amazing she even survived the attack in one piece," Bledsoe declared as if he were describing a dinner plate that had fallen from a shelf. "To say nothing of being alive. The others were not even close to as being so fortunate I can assure you."

"She sustained a great amount of internal trauma but it's nothing we can't fix," Rathbourne insisted.

"When we're done with her she'll be healed completely and become the human weapon we've dreamed of," Bledsoe said as he touched the cheek of the woman.

"Yes we will, heal up nicely, my dear…we have big plans you, Galit Malka," Shea said as he looked down at the MoI officer who they would mold into the weapon they envisioned when they created Project Lysippe. In truth she was the perfect candidate for the project.

She had been officially listed as 'Dead'.

Three Months Later:

Fort Milledge, Isle of Brenna, Caprica:

The cold wind blowing off the Issus Ocean stung Tolan's cheeks and was enough to almost make his eyes tear up. He was miserable here, but the truth was there was little he could do to escape this place that had become the home of him and his team for the past three months. The only one who was allowed to leave was Keene Barron; it seemed the Ministry of Intelligence needed to debrief the only half of the MoI rescue team to survive the escape from the SLA base.

He was now standing on the top floor balcony of the warden's house, looking out at a dreary ocean that seemed to heave as though it thought its waves could crash down and rid the speck of an island of the structures and people that currently resided on it.

"What are our families being told about us?" a voice called out to Tolan, breaking him out of his reverie.

"Officially we are still being listed as missing in action, though of course the Colonial Fleet has yet to give up hope of finding us," Tolan said as he took a cup of coffee from Major Artimus Bowman.

"In that case I hope they find us soon, this whole 'Missing in Action' business is starting to get old," Bowman said with a laugh before he took a sip of coffee.

"Tell me about it, if this goes on long enough I might actually start to believe it," Tolan said, which drew a laugh out of both men.

"It can't be easy on your wife, sir," noted Bowman as he and Tolan began leaning on the handrail looking out at the sea.

"No it can't but she's tougher than she looks. Oh and drop the 'sir' ok?" said Tolan. "We're equal prisoners in here."

"Don't you mean 'missing prisoners'?" joked Bowman.

Tolan laughed and shook his head. He suddenly stopped as his mind cast back further through time to someone who had since departed from this universe.

"What is it?" asked Bowman as he noticed the long gaze Tolan had emanating from his eyes.

"I was just thinking; that sounds like something...she would say."

Bowman smiled half heartedly. "I guess I picked up a few bad habits from Galit."

"Her sense of humor wasn't a bad habit," commented Tolan as he took another sip of his coffee.

"It was what made her who she was. Hold onto it and she will never truly be gone to you."

"That was rather poetic," said Bowman somewhat surprised that words as profound as that were coming from Tolan's mouth.

"Yeah well, I'm full of surprises," he uttered.

"So what are you going to do about that girl back home in Delphi? Brooke was it?"

"I don't know," uttered Bowman staring into the sea.

"We didn't exactly leave on good terms. It's funny how the right thing isn't always the best thing. I called it off with her just before I took up my posting as Valkyrie CAG. I think you may have had some of the fallout for that when we first met and for that I am sorry. I called it off because our relationship was tearing her family apart and I couldn't stand that. She didn't want me to go but...I don't know."

"I guess, as someone once put it to me, you have to fight for what you want," said Tolan quoting one of Galit's last words.

"Hey guys, check this out," Corporal John Harbrecht called out from inside the study that the balcony joined in on.

Tolan and Bowman exchanged a look and walked into the room. The channel was turned to the Colonial Broadcasting Channel's news network. A reporter was talking about the scandal that had erupted over the practices of one Dr. Bryce Sabus.

"For our viewers just joining in, what is the latest development in the Sabus story?" Ashley Jewell, the anchorwoman, asked a reporter who was on another screen.

"Well Ashley," Jack Ainscough began, "It would appear that Dr. Sabus was engaged in a form of eugenics when it came to the royal bloodline that he is a part of. He would select female patients to pair off with male members of his family for the purpose of keeping the Sabus line genetically strong. This latest development involves a young woman by the name of Courtney Senn. Mrs. Senn was a senior at Delphi University who was married and on the verge of graduating with a degree in Engineering."

"Alright Jack, so what does this have to do with Sabus?" Jewell asked.

"She was seen by Dr. Sabus who, according to notes that have recently come to light, tried to persuade her to marry his younger brother Robert. It seemed he then discovered that when she was younger, Courtney Senn had developed a case of the Aquarian Flu. He saw this as an imperfection of her and had her murdered rather than let her marry into his family. We learned from Douglas Senn that around this time he had begun to have problems with his marriage and wondered if Dr. Sabus had been influencing her somehow."

"Has that been the only development in this story?" Jewell asked.

"We have just learned that Dr. Sabus was discovered at his Caprica City apartment dead from what I've been told by a source close to the Police Department, is a 'self-inflicted' gunshot wound. Following the fatal heart attack of Vice President James Braden, it seems that the news has been filled with high-profile deaths as of late."

Harbrecht turned the channel to a college pyramid game between Abry Military Academy and the Colonial Fleet Academy.

"Hey Harbrecht you better turn that off before the Commander and the Major come to blows," Private Richard Somers said as he saw the looks exchanged between Tolan and Bowman.

"We all know Commander Tolan and Major Bowman would not just have a fight here and now, I'd have to start a betting pool and advertise it appropriately," Petty Officer Robert Imlay said.

"One day Imlay I will give you the chance to do all that, but it won't be here on this island," Bowman said with a laugh. Perhaps one day he would get to spar with Tolan and see just how well the Commander was at boxing.

"I'll be glad when they let us out of here, these walls are closing in on me," Somers said.

"Believe me, I know how you feel. I wonder if my girlfriend's given up on me yet," Harbrecht said.

"You got a girl back home on Scorpia don't you Somers?" Imlay asked.

"Yeah, her name's Vanessa Joiner and we started dating a year ago but I don't know if she's ready to cry over my grave just yet if you know what I mean? What about you Imlay?" Somers asked.

"I have a wife and two kids back on Virgon, I'm sure her and the boys are wondering where I am," Imlay replied with a bit of sadness in his voice.

"I'm due to be married soon, so hopefully my girl here on Caprica will keep waiting for me," Harbrecht commented.

"Didn't realize you were set to tie the knot Corporal," Tolan commented.

"Uh, yes sir, her name is Ava Suggs. She lives over in Auburn, she's a dental assistant there," Harbrecht said as his face betrayed the emotions he was trying to hide when he talked about his fiancée.

"One of the things I want to do when I get out of here is go visit Virgon, that's where Zayre's family lives," Bowman said. "I should be the one who tells them."

"I'm going with you then," Tolan added.

"No need to, Zayre was one of my pilots and he's gone because he went on that mission," Bowman said. He felt the weight of guilt crushing him knowing that Zayre had to have volunteered for the mission in the hopes of repaying the debt he felt he owed the Major.

"That may be, but he was one of the people on the mission that I led. Just like I'm going to visit the family of Jaillet and the other two Marines lost so I can personally give them my condolences for their loss. They deserve at least that much," Tolan said.

"It looks like we're going to be visiting them together then, since I was the XO for the mission," Bowman said knowing that Tolan would undoubtedly go along with it.

"Fair enough," said Tolan.

Ministry of Intelligence:

Gray, Picon:

The wall facing the huge entrance doors of the Ministry of Intelligence had a collection of stars adorning its face. Each star represented an agent killed in the line of duty, and today three men were there to witness the addition of a new star. Commander Scott Tolan, Major Artimus Bowman, Petty Officer Robert Imlay, Private Richard Somers, Lance Corporal John Harbrecht, and Agent Keene Barron were here out of respect for their fallen comrade-in-arms Galit Malka.

"We almost didn't make it." Bowman said, breaking the silence that had fallen over the six of them.

"If Galit and the others had not volunteered to stay behind it, we wouldn't have." Barron said.

"We owe them big time for that." Tolan said in agreement. He had struck yet another deal, this time though it was a heavier price. The five men had agreed to let Lt. Myra Apperlae take credit for the rescue of President Adar's niece, in exchange none of them would face any retaliation for trying to stop Apperlae's rescue attempt.

"It's still not right," Bowman said.

"I know it's not. Eight people are dead who shouldn't be." Tolan knew that if Apperlae had not blown their cover then both Galit Malka, Marcellus Britt, Bryon Esmond, Coralie Jaillet, Hannah Nicholson, Daniel Carmick, Erin Mallow, and Morris Zayre would still be alive.

"They gave us up for dead based on what she had reported." They had barely made it to their shuttle when the bombardment of the asteroid base had begun. The Tenth Fleet and Fifteenth Fleet wasted no time in obliterating it and everyone inside. The shuttle had taken heavy damage, and all they could do was sending out a distress beacon in the hope they would be found before life support failed.

"Just remember what you promised us Commander Tolan," Imlay said once Keene Barron had moved out of earshot.

"Don't worry, that won't be leaving my mind for a long time," Tolan said as he thought of the day he would end Myra Aperlae's career.

"When you do that, we'll all get together and have a round of drinks to be remembered," Bowman said as he fought back a surge of emotion when he thought both of Aperlae and Galit Malka.

The star was affixed to the wall, and the six men silently paid their respects to the fallen agent.

"I'm going to my office and try to get back to work, gentlemen it was an honor working with both of you." Barron said to the five other survivors. Handshakes were exchanged and without a word Keene Barron turned and walked off.

Tolan turned to Bowman and said quietly, "Our ship for Caprica leaves in three hours..."

"Yes of course," said Bowman tearing his eyes away from the freshly applied star. Tolan started to walk away. Before Bowman followed him uttered, "Good-bye Galit. I hope you find your family."

Caprica City, Caprica:

Alexander J. Dallas Spaceport:

Tolan and Bowman walked outside and into the sunlit Caprican afternoon. All around them life went on oblivious to the drama that had unfolded in space. It was a sobering thought to the two men that while they may have gone through hell the twelve worlds continued on with their daily routines.

"I still can't believe she did that, not to mention Britt and the others." Bowman said.

"She and the others stayed behind to open the doors between us and the shuttle bay and keep the SLA soldiers from getting to us. They were heroes in my book."

"Somebody dying for me though…she didn't have to. Th-That's something I can't fathom. From the moment I first put on the uniform I was prepared to give my life for my people but to have someone do it for me. They just can't prepare you for that."

"I know she cared about you, maybe even fell for you." Tolan said as he reached into a pocket and took out a pair of sunglasses.

"What is it with you and sunglasses?" Bowman asked, trying to lighten the somberness.

"They give me that charming rogue look, plus it completes the Viper pilot image I spent years trying to perfect."

"You do realize that you're not a pilot anymore, sir?"

Tolan shrugged, "Old habits are hard to break, and once again you don't have to 'sir' me. Anywhere I can take you to while here in the city?"

"I'm heading to Wilson Elementary School," said Bowman firmly having made up his mind. Tolan grinned as he respected his former XO for having decided to make a stand. Bowman was no longer the bitter and resentful man he had been at the start of this mission. He was now focused and full of purpose. "I can make it there on my own."

"Nonsense, I have a car right here and I'm sure I can find it without any problem." Tolan said, not wanting to let it known that he had a tendency for becoming lost in Caprica City.

"Really, that's not necessary." Bowman said.

"Alright then, Major Bowman I am ordering you to let me drive you to Wilson Elementary School. From there you are on your own."

Bowman saluted in a friendly mocking fashion, "Aye sir!"

The two men walked down the street to where Tolan had parked his black convertible sports car.

"Nice car Commander!" Bowman exclaimed.

"We're both off-duty right now, you can call me 'Scott'." Tolan said as he opened the driver's side door and got behind the wheel.

"You'll have to give me a while to get used to that...Scott," said Bowman.

Tolan started the high powered engine and it growled into life. He revved it several times to get a feel for the horsepower that was at his command.

"Don't worry Artimus," said Tolan smiling cheekily. "I have a feeling you're going to have plenty of opportunities to practice it."

Before Artimus could say anything the sports car surged forwards. Once they were on the road Bowman let his thoughts go to Brooke Garner, and wondered about their relationship. All the ups and downs in the past because of the feelings of her family towards them as a couple, and it never once let up when they were together.

He had let the controversy over their age difference get the better of him, and after himself so close to death coupled with a sacrifice he had to repay he was not about to let that get in the way.

"So Scott, what are your plans?"

"I'm going to Caprica City and spend time with Emily. Damage control; y'know?"

"You did say on the Jabin that she's younger than you are, right?"

Tolan nodded, "Yeah, she's ten years younger."

'Like Brooke and I.' Bowman thought to himself before asking, "Did that cause problems for the two of you?"

"We couldn't have cared less, if anyone in our families had trouble with it they were more than welcome to get over themselves. I suppose you can that when it came to that issue my 'Give a damn' was broken."

Bowman could not help but laugh, "Duly noted."

"Artimus, you know you can believe what I said back at Fort Milledge. When the chance comes for me to put an end to Aperlae's career I'll make sure it happens," Tolan said with the same determined voice he had used when he had first talked of the plan.

"I'll buy the drinks when that bitch's career is over," Bowman said.

"I'll remember that, but by the time we're done celebrating there might be any alcohol left," Tolan said with a laugh.

"In that case, I'll just borrow your credit card," Bowman said before joining in on the laughter before finally sobering up enough to say, "I think about her, and I get so mad about it that I want to vent my anger and yell at the stars."

"My grandfather told me that there are three times in a man's life when he has a right to yell at the stars: when he marries, when his children come, and... and when he finishes a job he had to be crazy to start."

"Is that it with you Scott, were you crazy to take part in this damn rescue mission?"

"To make our part of that mission happen I had to sell a part of my soul. There's no telling if I'm every going to get it back."

The two officers chit-chatted about different topics such as their careers in the Fleet, family, and other topics of that nature until they finally arrived at Wilson Elementary School; this time Tolan did not get lost.

"Well Major this is it, I can honestly say it's been a privilege to have worked with you."

Bowman exited the car and turned to salute Tolan, "A privilege for me as well. Do you think we'll work again in the future?"

"Someday Bowman, perhaps someday….in the meantime keep in touch. There's no regs against officers being friends."

"Aye aye, Commander!" Bowman turned and made his way towards the school's entrance. He heard the peeling of rubber as Tolan took off in his sports car.

"That man has a thing for speed." Bowman muttered to himself as he walked into the school and to the receptionist's desk. A few minutes of waiting and he learned that Brooke was still in her classroom her students having gone for recess.

The walk to classroom 2-AE was an eternity for Bowman. The last time he had spoken to Brooke was when they had fought over the disapproval from her family, and he told her it was best they end it. Now he stood before the door and managed to work up the courage to knock.

'Suddenly the tenth fleet firing at me doesn't seem so scary'. There was Galit's voice in his head once more as if she were there trying to coax him onwards. He sucked in his nerves before knocking on the door.

"Enter," the woman inside replied.

Bowman entered the room and there was Brooke sitting behind her desk grading papers. She was so enthralled with her work that she hadn't even looked up yet to see who her visitor was standing nervously in front of her. His heart beat insanely in his chest. She hadn't changed a bit although it had only been six months it felt like years.

Wondering why her visitor hadn't announced his presence yet she looked up from the paper she was grading, not a particularly successful one given the amount of corrections she had made to it, and looked at him for the first time. She dropped the pen in her hand as she gasped at the sight of him.

"Artimus?" she asked in disbelief that it was him. "What are you doing here?" He looked down at her with eyes that screamed hurt at the sight of her. Despite their break up she felt a wave of concern wash over her as she looked at him "What's going on Artimus?" Brooke asked, seeing the pained look on his face. She rose up onto her feet and almost absent mindedly went to throw her arms around him before remembering they were not a couple anymore.

"I don't know where to begin," he uttered. "For the past few months I've been shot at, almost blown up, and left to die in a derelict shuttle. Let's just say it put things in perspective for me."

"What kind of things?" She asked, her cool demeanor thawing out at this bit of news.

He moved closer to her, "About us…I thought I was going to die without you knowing just how much you mean to me."

She suddenly started to recoil away from him as her defenses went up. "What do you mean?"

He put his arms around her and looked her in the eyes, "When it comes to the people who don't think we should be together…"

To his dismay she pushed him away. "Don't!" she barked angrily at him. "Don't you dare play with me like this. Do you know how much you hurt me?"

"I know. I'm sorry," he pleaded.

"I can see you've been through a lot," she continued. "And I will be here as your friend if that's what you want but don't pretend this is more than it is."

He put his hands on her arms making sure he had her full attention. "Listen to me! I've never been surer about anything in my life. I want to be with you and Gods help anyone who wants to get in the way of that. I've been offered a promotion and a posting to Caprica so no more months away on a Battlestar but if you want me to I will give it all up. Just say the word and I'll take one of thsoe shuttle pilot jobs. I'll do it all for you. That is if you want me?"

"Oh Artimus," she sighed. "Of course I do. I just dont want to get hurt again." They were suddenly interrupted by the sound of the bell. "Look, let's talk about this over dinner tonight. What do you say?"

"You bet," said Bowman. "I'll pick up at, say, eight oclock?"

"Best not pick me up from my place. My brother is home on leave."

"Good! To quote my most recent Commander my Give-a-damn is broken."

She started laughing, "Wow…that is…wow…which one said that?"

"Commander Tolan…but the fact is that you're the one I want to be with and I don't care who has a problem with it."

Brooke's class of third graders started filing into the room and taking their seats each one curious about the military officer who was with their teacher apparently oblivious to their arrival.

"You're quite a man Artimus."

He smiled at her, "You're quite the lady Brooke."

He noticed a slightly disappointed look on her face, "What's the matter?"

"I had the strangest feeling that you were going to kiss me."

"Well, I have kissed you before." He said before letting her go. It was then that he spun her around, and kissed her on the lips.

The whole class exploded in jeers and laughter as their teacher kissed the military officer. Several teachers walked passed and peered in stunned at the display of affection in front of the students while at the same time a little green with envy.

When their lips finally parted she looked dazed, "Ah! I... I... I thought I'd been kissed by you before."

Caprica City, Caprica

Tolan Vacation Home:

Scott Tolan pulled the car into the driveway and turned the engine off, this was something he had to wait almost five months for. A part of him felt nervous but then again there had rarely been a time he'd let his nerves get the better of him.

He took out his keys and put them into the door, well the locks had not been changed so that was a good sign. He opened the door and felt the cold rush of the air from the air conditioning.

"Honey, I'm home!" Tolan called out quite feeble knowing it was the understatement of the century and waited to see who would come out to see him.

"Scott, please let that be you," Emily Tolan said as she came out of nearby room. She saw him standing there and dropped her book in shock as she threw her hands to her face before running upto him and wrapping her arms around her husband.

"It's me baby," Tolan said as he wrapped his arms around his wife and held her as close to him as he could.

"I was starting to worry Scott, I thought you might not have been found," Emily said she wiped her eyes, "I said that when you came home I was going to kiss you and then I was going to hit you."

"Why'd you want to do that?" Tolan said though he knew the answer.

"You know I've been through my own personal hell here and you were nowhere to be found. I don't know what I was mad at more, you or the Colonial Fleet."

Tolan shrugged his shoulders, "At times Em, I don't think you can really differentiate the two."

"I needed you and you were on some mission, and not even on your ship. How did you end up missing in action anyway?"

"I was leading a boarding party onto the base and we got trapped in a section of the base when some debris fell and blocked our way. Our wireless equipment didn't work and we had to wait to be found."

"It took them three months to find you?"

"There was a lot of damage to the base, thankfully we were trapped near a food pantry so we had food and facilities to make ourselves comfortable," Tolan said as he repeated the story he had practiced all the way here. It was the 'official' one issued by the MoI.

"Isn't that fortunate," Emily said as though she did not believe a word of it.

"If you knew what all I went through there. I was shot at, almost blown up, and left to die in a place where there weren't a whole lot of people who I would describe as 'friendly'. Really Em, what do you want from me?"

"I want a husband who will be here with me when I need him the most, I want a man who doesn't go throwing himself into the thick of danger on a whim, I want you to be here with me and…out of all the men in the worlds why does it have to be you that stirs me?" Emily said as she leaned in and kissed him.

He wanted to say something but he just wanted to make the kiss last as long as he could. Gods how he had missed this woman he was blessed to have married!

"I don't want you to deploy again, it's like I lose you to the Vanguard every time," Emily said when she pulled away from her husband.

"That won't be a problem for now; I've been relieved of command of the Vanguard. I have new posting now," Tolan said as he prepared to share the news.

"Oh really, and where is that?" Emily asked wondering if this would be good or bad news.

"I've been reassigned to Caprica; I'm overseeing the decommissioning of three to four battlestars. So for the next two years at the most you and I are going to be together here on Caprica. That is if it's alright with you," Tolan said as he flashed a smile that he knew she loved.

"Yes Scott, I would like that a lot," Emily said as she moved in to give Scott yet another kiss. She really did love this man, even if she had to share on occasion with the Colonial Fleet.

Epilogue:

Two Years Later:

Freedom, Sagittaron:

In the small town of Freedom was a bar known simply as 'Archer's', it was here that three men sat at a table playing a friendly game of triad. Two of them were younger looking, one of whom looked as though he had just stepped off of a Colonial Fleet recruitment poster. The third man was considerably older but seemed to carry himself as though he was a military officer in a former life.

Lieutenant Mark 'Archangel' Hunter of the battlestar Atlantia looked over the cards he was holding, his friend Skeeter had already folded and now it was down to him and this older gentleman.

"What's your move going to be?" the man asked Hunter with a gaze that did not show any clue as to what was going on behind his eyes.

"I think I'm going to go all in on this one," Hunter said as he pushed his stack of cubits into the center of the table.

"You sure that's what you want to do Archangel?" Skeeter asked as he saw his friend put all the money he had brought with him into the pot in the center of the table.

"Our friend the General knows I have his number," Hunter said with a confident smile.

"What makes you say I'm a general?" the man asked with an amused expression.

"Just something about you that's all. Anyway, let me show you how I'm going to win this," Hunter said as he laid his cards on the table, "Prince High Red, you can be awe of my Triad skills anytime you want."

The older man smiled, "Yes that is one hell of a hand to beat right there, I've faced worse odds before and come out just fine," he then laid his cards down and said, "Full Colors, you did good there Archangel but it just wasn't your night."

"Well played," Hunter said as he stood up and offered the man a handshake with was accepted.

"The pleasure was mine gentlemen, till next time," the old man took the cubits and promptly left Archer's. He hoped the man would not put the pieces of the puzzle together; most of the residents of Freedom had taken to keeping him safe from the Colonial authorities. To them, General Jonas Sano was a respected leader and a man who tried to fight for their freedom against a system that often took advantage of them.

Caprica City, Caprica:

Major Myra Aperlae opened the door to her luxury apartment in the Colahan Tower in downtown Caprica City. It had been another day appearances on the various news outlets to mark the three year anniversary of the rescue of Renee and Rachael Adar, her CO on the Mercury had been hesitant to let her off but she used her connections with Admiral Corman and President Adar to make it happen. Now that it was over she was ready to draw a hot bath and just relax for the rest of the day.

She turned opened the curtains to let the mid-afternoon sunlight into the apartment's living room. It was there that she saw a note folded in two sitting upright on the coffee table. She picked it up and examined the red formal-looking script on the outside of the note.

"Better luck next time," she said and immediately she felt a chill run down her spine. She opened the note and read what was on the inside.

Myra Aperlae,

I know the image you've projected throughout your life has been that of a tough woman that none can cross and live with the consequences. The funny thing is that the MoI had a scouting report done on you prior to the rescue mission. The report was right, deep down you are soft. In truth you should be scared that the SLA did not kill me, the reason for this is because I'm going to kill you. I'll catch up with you one day. I don't know when, but I'll catch up. Every time you turn around, expect to see me. One time you'll turn around and I'll be there. I'm going to kill you Myra.

Galit

PS: The authorities will find it hard to believe I left you this note. After all, I'm 'dead' remember?

Myra stood there frozen on the spot clutching the letter she had found. She felt as though a pair of eyes were boring into the back of her skull. Was someone behind her? She couldn't be sure. The only way to find out was to turn around but the warning of the letter ran through her mind and she lacked the courage to do it. For almost half an hour she stood there too frightened to move until finally she could take no more and she turned around...

Abry Military Academy:

A multitude of friends and family were turning out for the wedding of Artimus Bowman and Brooke Garner at the Eberle Temple on the grounds of the Abry Military Academy.

By the time they had exited the temple, the honor guard had formed two lines opposite each other in front of the temple steps. First out were the best man and the maid of honor. In this case it was Emily Tolan on the arm of Archibald Bowman. Those in attendance might have found it an interesting sight as the former Combat Search and Rescue pilot, and grandfather of the groom, walked out of the temple with a cane in one hand and a former Miss Caprica beauty queen on his free arm. The former 'Raptor Wrangler' had winked at a few friends and uttered the words, "I still got it" which always generated a riotous applause and laughter.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my honor to present to you Lieutenant Colonel and Mrs. Artimus Bowman.", the head of the honor guard said as his voice carried loud enough for all to hear.

"Officers, draw swords," he called out to the officers making up the honor guard.

On the command of "draw swords" the officers raised their swords with their right hands, with the cutting edges facing up.

Artimus looked at Brooke and smiled at her, he could not get over how beautiful she looked. They stopped at the beginning of the arch and kissed before walking through. The newly married couple then saluted the honor guard as they passed through the arch. Artimus made sure that he had it to where Brooke escorted him on his left arm. This allowed him to use his right for saluting the officers.

As the bride and groom passed through the arch, the last two bearers dropped their swords, forming a cross to block the path of the couple. Artimus then kissed his bride. The crossed swords were raised for the couple to pass through.

Artimus had warned Brooke what would happen next. The bearer on the bride's side, as she passed by, gently swatted her on the backside before saying, "Welcome to the Fleet, Ma'am."

Brooke looked at the man, and decided to have some fun. She winked at him and gave him a sly smile. The officer, the one in charge of the honor guard, returned the wink and smiled back at her.

After the two had exited the arch, Rear Admiral Scott Tolan called out, "Officers, return swords."

Bowman leaned in close to Brooke and whispered, "He enjoyed that."

Brooke whispered back, "I know he did."

Bowman was amazed at how life had changed for him since the mission three years ago. He had now married the love of his life, earned a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and had earned a reputation for being a tough but fair Raptor instructor at Vaught-Hemingway Fleet Air Station in Oxford, Caprica. In addition to his professional good fortune him and Brooke had become close friends with the Tolan family. Emily and Brooke in particular had become fast friends and he felt that would ease his new bride into the life of a military wife.

He opened the door to the white convertible sports car, a wedding present from the Tolans, and noticed a letter taped to the window on the driver's side. He closed the door once Brooke was inside, and walked over to examine the envelope.

It was a simple white envelope with 'Artimus' in large letters across its front. He opened the envelope and pulled out a letter. His eyes grew large as he read it:

Artimus,

Congratulations on your wedding, it looks like she's a keeper. I'm glad to see you took my advice, though there will always be a part of me that wished things had turned out differently with us. You will be in my heart for the rest of my days, and know that we will always have our time on the Valkyrie and of course the Jabin.

All my love,

Galit a.k.a. 'Psych'

Bowman turned and quickly scanned the crowd, wondering if he'd see Galit. He had given up on it until he saw a woman with blonde hair in a green dress wearing sunglasses. She looked at Bowman, smiled at him, then turned and disappeared into the crowd. From his memory he thought it was Galit, but could he really be sure about it?

"Ready?" Brooke asked snapping him out of his gaze.

"Yeah," he said to his new wife as he put the letter into the inside a pocket of his uniform jacket, "I'm ready."

He may never find out if it was Galit in the green dress or whether the letter was from Scott trying to help his friend finally lay her to rest. Either way it didn't matter now. He had a new life to start living. The galaxy was his for the taking and he intended to make the most of this new life he had seemingly stumbled into. As he started the car and put it into gear the happy couple waved furiously at the well wishers before shooting off to begin their honeymoon leaving 'Galit' or whoever she was firmly in the past.