Once Burned:
Written by: Wes Imlay
(Author's Note: This story takes place two years after my story 'Ride of the Valkyrie'. I take credit for wrting most of the story but I could not have done it without the help of my friend Anthony Wilkins aka The Wilky Bar Kid, the man who is responsible for the creation of Artimus Bowman and the Battlestar Hermes. The work of this and other stories would not be possible without his collaboration.)
Chapter One: Ghosts of the Past
Four Years Before the Fall
Oxford, Caprica:
Vaught-Hemingway Fleet Air Station:
The afternoon sun bore down on the large military installation, considered by many to be the 'Birthplace of Colonial Fleet Aviation'. Vaught-Hemingway Fleet Air Station was one of the places throughout the Twelve Colonies where the men and women of the Fleet honed their craft as pilots of Vipers and Raptors.
Lieutenant Colonel Artimus Bowman stepped out of the debriefing room where he had just finished addressing the 'Raptor Wranglers' he had taken through the paces of various Raptor maneuvers. They had been at it since the morning hours and the last thing he wanted to do was burn them out too quickly. They were still at an early phase in their training and he had already figured out their breaking points but now it was up to them to do the same. He knew from his years of experience in the cockpit of a Raptor that the trainee always thought his breaking point was sooner than his instructor knew it actually was. The hard part was getting the trainee to push through it and reach their actual limit and not just when it got hard. Flying Raptors was hard no matter what any Viper-puke ever said to the contrary.
Walking across the flight line he watched as a Raptor that was clearly piloted by a rook because of the rather sloppy way it banked over the boundary of the base. He was ready to go to his office, take care of the paperwork that he was sure waited for him, have a brief chat with Chief Robert Imlay, and then drive home to Delphi to see his wife Brooke.
He navigated the maze of buildings until he found the one he was looking for. The Apollo Soucek Building was where most of the officers in charge of training had their offices, Bowman's was located on the third floor and he was pleased by the fact that it had a window. He wanted privacy but he didn't want total seclusion either.
He walked in through the doors and nodded a greeting at the receptionist, a young female civilian worker whose beautiful features made Bowman the envy of many of his peers. He walked passed her without saying a word although this was not through rudeness. Just the look from him was the equivalent of a long conversation to her but he clearly had no romantic or even lustful interest in her. He only had eyes for one woman.
In less than five minutes he was on the third floor and heading towards his office. He then noticed something that seemed out of the ordinary…his door was open. This was odd. He was always very careful to make sure his door was locked whenever he left his office. He felt his curiosity getting the better of him, he walked up to the door frame and saw the man sitting at his desk.
"If it were under normal circumstances I'd order you out of my chair," Bowman said.
The man looked at him with an amused look in his eyes, "In that case it's a good thing I have dirt on you that goes back several years."
"Are you at least comfortable? I'd hate to think I got a chair that a person would hate to sit in," Bowman said as he walked over to the desk.
Major Gregory Eaton stood up and put an arm on Bowman's shoulder, "It's been some time since we last spoke but it's good to see you Artimus. Have your trainees been driving you crazy?"
"Alright Greg, we haven't spoken since the inquiry and now you show up all of a sudden. What's going on?" Bowman asked.
"I don't know if you heard about Cate?" Eaton said.
"Can't say that I have, I haven't spoken to anyone from the squadron since the inquiry…I'm sure you know why," Bowman admitted.
Eaton took in a deep breath before he answered.
"Her husband found her dead this morning, it seems she took an overdose of pills," Eaton said quietly.
Bowman's head dipped solemnly.
"I always worried about her," Bowman said. Caitlin Watson had been in the Raptor that was damaged during the maneuver that went so badly. Her ECO had been killed but she lived. It seemed her guilt over having survived finally got to her.
"We all know you took that hard but we all forgave you for any perceived guilt you felt," Eaton added.
"Not everyone forgave me," Bowman said.
Eaton let out a sigh, "It seems Mrs. Jaclyn Armstrong has not either from what I read on that letter. That can't be good for you to read."
"Every year she sends me a letter on the anniversary or near the anniversary to remind me that her son is dead because of me and it's never something pleasant."
"She shouldn't," Eaton said before adding, "Cate left the Fleet because she couldn't deal with what happened and the rest of us have stayed in despite it. Just hold on to what good you can find in this frakked up situation."
"Thanks Greg, if you're ever in Delphi look me up and we'll have drinks," Bowman said.
"Leaving so soon?" Eaton asked.
"I have to go home and visit my wife and a couple of friends," Bowman said.
Bowman left his office and walked to the parking lot, he had a feeling his ride should be there soon if not already there waiting. He scanned the lot and saw the blue and white convertible sports car, its occupant seemingly interested in tuning into the local wireless station.
"You look bored," Bowman said as he walked up.
"You look like you've logged one too many flight hours in a Raptor but I'm not the type to judge," Commander Scott Tolan said.
"Considering you're a Viper jock you really have no room to talk. Did Brooke draft you to come and make sure I got home," Bowman asked.
"You can torture me, you can starve me, you can even put bamboo under my fingernails but I will never betray a confidence…especially when she's the friend of my wife! Have you managed to better your group of Raptor pilots?"
Bowman shrugged, "Only a few but I'll work the rest out in time. I thought you were still working on the Talos."
"We finished the work on it a few days ago, ahead of schedule I might add, and now I have a date with the Quorum."
"What do you have to meet with them for?" Bowman asked.
"You don't remember that talk we had two months ago?"
"No," teased Bowman who knew full well what Scott was referring to. His wife Brooke was best friends with Scott's wife Emily and every phone call between the two wives of the Colonial Fleet officers seemed dominated by the news. "I'm drawing a blank."
"Really, something important about my meeting with the Quorum…still drawing a blank?"
"Y'know if it was something important Scott I'd remember it without any trouble," said Bowman sarcastically and at the same time allowing Scott Tolan to explain it himself.
Tolan was going to say something until it dawned on him, "You're doing this on purpose aren't you?"
Bowman simply smiled, "After all you've put me through since we became friends it's the least I can do."
Tolan laughed, "Well played Artimus."
Bowman did half of a bow, "Thank you. So moving along, are you nervous?"
"I'm only going for my confirmation hearing to see if not only I get flag rank but also the job as head of the Bureau of Ships…no pressure at all."
"I thought you'd be a better liar…Admiral."
Tolan shrugged, "I'm working on it."
"You're here early though; I thought you'd go visit the Quroum Building or something."
"I wanted to see you and Brooke and spend time with Em, it seems any moment she might pop with the triplets and the doctor has put her on bed rest. At least Brooke is there to help look after her…" Tolan was quiet before he added, "There seems to be something bothering you. We have some time before we make it to the Caprica City house. You want to talk?"
Bowman mentally kicked himself for making it seem obvious, "If you got the time I suppose I could, it goes back to my time on the Daedalus."
"We never talked about the Daedalus, not really at least."
"It's something that is simple to explain, I screwed up and someone died. I never forgave myself for it," Bowman said as he took a seat.
"That's a harsh assessment," said Tolan. "Even for you."
"I was in command. No matter what the external circumstances it's always the guy in charge's fault."
"When I was touring the Reserve Fleet I saw the Daedalus there," Tolan said before he moved on to the question he was not sure his friend would answer, "Who was it that died, I never really read the details of the report…just what I needed to get you to go on that rescue mission two years ago."
"His name was Garret Armstrong, and he was one of the pilots on the Daedalus in the Blue Hawks Raptor Display Team…"
"Was he the pilot or the ECO of the Raptor?" Tolan asked.
"The ECO…" Bowman said but the thought of Cate Watson's suicide were too fresh in his mind, "I'd rather we moved on to something else. Have you heard anything regarding your confirmation hearing?"
"I've heard bits and pieces in the news; it's not a guarantee by any means. I don't know if I owe Corman or Adar for this or if I'm getting it on my own merits," Tolan said.
"I have my suspicions but you may not like them, you have sort of had a rocket strapped to your back with the switch turned on. Especially in light of two years ago," Bowman said as he closed his eyes and let the warmness of the Caprican sun wash over him as though it could warm the coldness he was feeling inside.
"In some good news, Lacey is here for a week or so," Tolan said.
"I wasn't expecting her to visit Caprica for another two months," Bowman said. Lacey Tolan was Scott Tolan's first cousin and had lived with his mom since the death of her parents back when she was five. In the two years since the Valkyrie mission Lacey had become an honorary niece to Artimus and Brooke.
"Her school is on a break of some kind and she's here to watch the hearing, her Colonial Government teacher told her it would be a valuable learning experience for her," Tolan said though his voice seemed to betray a doubt about the value of the experience.
"It'll be good to see her, and I know Brooke has to be excited to have her. If Emily is as close to delivering as it seems then she might be there for the birth as well," Bowman said, it was nice to have some kind of conversation that did not involve the recent revelation.
Tolan's mobile phone began to vibrate and Bowman looked down to the center console to see if it was Brooke or Emily calling. It was a number he did not recognize.
Tolan picked the phone up and press the button to accept the call, "Hello…yes sir…I'm heading to Delphi at the moment…I'm driving from Oxford…Near the Macona Forest…I have company with me, Lieutenant Colonel Artimus Bowman…"
Bowman tried to get a read on Tolan's feelings but his friend's face remained expressionless, as though he was playing a high-stakes game of Triad and wanted to keep things as close to the vest as possible.
"He can accompany me, that won't be a problem…I can be at the Executive Mansion in about an hour and forty-five minutes to two hours depending on traffic…Yes sir, I'll see you when we arrive," Tolan said before he ended the call and placed the mobile phone back in its original place in the center console.
"Executive Mansion, Scott what the hell is going on?" Bowman asked.
"You may want to call Brooke and tell her that there's been a change of plans," Tolan said.
"Why's that?"
"Because we've been ordered to the Executive Mansion, it seems Admiral Corman is there visiting with President Adar and my presence was requested. When I mentioned that you were in the car with me I was told to bring you along," Tolan said and for once his voice was not in the neutral tone he had used on the phone.
"This is a first for me, I've never been to the Executive Mansion before," Bowman admitted as Tolan plotted in the coordinates into the satellite navigation system of the car. "Do you think this is some effort to bump us both off at the same time perhaps? Make it look like an accident."
Tolan laughed. "It's the second time for me and it bears an eerie resemblance to the first," Tolan said as he mentally wondered what lay ahead for them.
Two Hours and Twenty-One Minutes Later:
Caprica City, Executive Mansion:
"Commander Tolan and Colonel Bowman, I hope your travel here wasn't too troublesome," Brandie Nicholson, a member of the Adar staff, said as she escorted the two officers to the suites that made up the Executive Office.
"Apart from that accident over on Herrera Avenue we had an uneventful trip," Tolan said with a smile.
"Both President Adar and Admiral Corman hate that it had to be short notice but they appreciate you taking the time to come so quickly," Nicholson said as she opened the door to one of the sitting rooms, "They will be here as soon as they can so make yourselves comfortable."
When she had left, the two officers took seats that were on opposite sides of a coffee table.
"Was this where you met them at when you were here?" Bowman asked.
Tolan shook his head, "I was in one of the family sitting rooms. Things were a little less formal on that specific occasion. I'm sure I don't have to explain why."
It was not long after he said that when one of the doors opened and in walked Adar and Corman. Both officers stood to attention and saluted both men.
"At ease gentlemen, please sit down," Adar said and the two immediately did so.
"Commander Tolan, it's been a long time," Adar said with what looked like a practiced smile.
"It's been a little over two years to be exact," Tolan said.
"I heard you've been busy since then, you were given two battlestars to decommission if I'm not mistaken."
"As I was telling you earlier, Commander Tolan has overseen the decommissioning of the battlestars Courageous and Talos," Corman interjected.
"I see, and as you for," Adar said as he turned his attention to Bowman, "I'm afraid I don't know much about you Colonel Bowman."
"Lieutenant Colonel Bowman was Tolan's XO during that mission two years ago when your sister and niece were kidnapped. He's now a Raptor instructor over at Vaught-Hemingway," Corman said before Bowman could introduce himself. Bowman never pretended to be an ace when it came to politics but he knew enough to realize that Corman was doing his best to control both the events and the flow of information in this room.
"Admiral Corman told me that he met your grandfather once during the Cylon War, it seems Raptor service runs in the blood," Adar said with the same smile he had given Tolan.
"I suppose so Mr. President," Bowman said after glancing at Corman to ensure the Admiral would allow him to speak this time without a sudden interruption. Politics bored Bowman immensely and he was soon itching to leave.
"If you don't mind me cutting to the chase Mr. President, why are we here?" Tolan asked.
"You should have learned by now that you do not get to make demands of the President," Corman said.
"Relax Peter, I find that Commander Tolan is not a man to waste time…a quality I can respect," Adar said.
"With all that has been going on lately it's best to not waste time," Tolan said in response.
"Indeed, well as you know you have come up for promotion to flag rank. This is not without controversy considering your age and your family…'connection' back on Canceron," Adar began.
"As I figured would be the case, along with the fact that I realized I was being placed far ahead of other candidates," Tolan said.
"I have had a discussion with the twelve members of the Quorum and I have a feel for who is on your side and who isn't," Adar said before adding, "Both Peter and I want you to make flag rank if for no other reason than as a 'Thank you' for the discretion you and your team showed two years ago."
"In that case, how is Lieutenant Aperlae doing?" Bowman asked through a slip of the tongue without hiding any of the disgust in his voice. Tolan had led the rescue mission two years ago to rescue Rachael and Renee Adar from the Sagitarron Liberation Army and the Tauron pirate group the Erebea. Lieutenant Myra Aperlae had been sent on the same rescue mission to cover the fact that Adar had to use Tolan's connections to the Canceron criminal underworld. Aperlae had double-crossed Tolan and the members of the team that did survive barely made it off of the SLA space station alive.
"That is 'Major' Aperlae now and she is on Commander Tolan's old ship, the Mercury, as its Tactical Officer," Corman said.
"I see," Bowman said and immediately felt sorry for asking.
"We all went along with the cover story but as you can imagine it was not an easy thing to do," Tolan said in hopes to diffuse the situation.
"Of course we understand that," Adar said before Corman could say something, "which is why we are going to do all we can to compensate you and your people."
"Who on the Quorum is with this and who is against it?" Tolan asked.
"Right now it's an even split, the Vice President may have to cast the deciding vote if it stays that way," Adar said before adding, "The members in favor of your confirmation are Marta Shaw of Caprica, Carlton Woods of Virgon, Elisa Campbell of Picon, Michael Torsten of Scorpia, Bianca Cantrell of Aquaria, and of course there's Gwen Rhodes Canceron. The other six are opposed to your promotion for various reasons."
"Your father-in-law is rumored to be using his money and influence on your behalf as well," Corman added.
Tolan shook his head, "I'd rather not have Alfred Graystone campaigning on my behalf, the last thing I want is for him to try to advance my career."
"I'd have figured you would appreciate his efforts on your behalf," Adar said.
"Knowing him he wants me up the ranks so it will be more socially acceptable to have me as his son-in-law, that's the only reason he has even an inkling of interest in my career," Tolan said.
"I'll see if I can keep him from doing that, out of respect for you," Adar said though in reality he had no intention of doing so.
"If that will be all I believe the Colonel and I need to take our leave," Tolan said.
"Of course, we just wanted to remind you about the official story of that incident two years ago and to let you know that we are doing all we can to make your confirmation hearing a success," Adar said as the two officers stood to leave the room.
"That was an interesting conversation," Bowman said once he and Tolan were out of the Executive Mansion.
"Yeah, it seems it was their way of reminding us to keep to the cover story and they have my back," Tolan said as he hit the button on his keychain to unlock the doors of his convertible.
Delphi, Caprica:
Colonial Fleet Investigative Services, Caprica Division Headquarters:
CFIS Agent Catherine Odessa was at her desk finishing up the last of the paperwork on a case involving a group that had been caught stripping parts off Vipers and Raptors to sell on the black market on Tauron. These groups had agents placed on several Battlestars including Ark Royal, Redoubtable, Sphinx, and Hermes as well as a few far outposts. It had taken five long months of investigating but they finally caught a break and put the perpetrators in jail. It was a case that threatened to rock the Colonial Fleet and for that very reason it was being hushed up much to Odessa's frustration.
The phone at her desk began to ring and after the second ring she answered the call, "This is Odessa."
"Agent Odessa this is Director Medina," CFIS Director Abram Medina said from his office in the CFIS' main headquarters in the city of Pailyn on Picon.
"Yes Director, what can I do for you?"
"I have had some information come across my desk that I need you to investigate."
Odessa could tell her curiosity was getting the better of her, "What does it involve?"
"The person in question is Lieutenant Colonel Artimus Bowman; he's a Raptor instructor over at Vaught-Hemingway Fleet Air Station. There is a chance he is responsible for the murder of a fellow pilot from his time on the battlestar Daedalus when he was the leader of the Blue Hawks Raptor Display Team. There was an accident that claimed the lives of one of the crews of the Raptors in the team. The official inquiry cleared him but someone has come forward with information that suggests it was anything but an accident."
"Send me over any information on the case, and I'll go over the original inquiry and decide where to proceed. I'll bring Bowman in and question him about it and that should be that," Odessa said.
"Let's have our information straight before we proceed with questioning, Bowman has a rather influential ally."
"Who would that be?" Odessa asked.
"Commander Scott Tolan," Medina said and began to give Odessa background information on the Commander.
What Odessa did not tell the Director was that it was not necessary. She knew Scott Tolan well; the two of them had a history that was not entirely pleasant. Perhaps it was her previous dealings with him and the times she had to deal with the Basileus but it colored her feelings on this case.
She would work hard to bring Bowman down and as such get a little payback against Tolan and his family. After all, anyone who was allied to the rightful heir of the Basileus Crime Syndicate MUST had to be dirty too.
She had seen where Tolan had been in the news; he was scheduled to meet with the Quorum for a confirmation hearing in regards to his promotion to the rank of Rear Admiral. A close friend being indicted for murder would probably be enough to derail the hearing.
"Scott, I'm going to enjoy every minute of this…" she said to the empty room.
Bowman Residence, Delphi:
Tolan pulled up into the parking lot underneath the Bowmans' Delphi flat and Tolan cut the engine, neither had spoken much since leaving the Executive Mansion. It was as though the mention of the Valkyrie mission two years ago, and the deal Tolan had made with Corman, had put the men in a reflective mood that left little room for talking.
"Is that Brooke?" Bowman asked Tolan.
"I believe it is," Tolan said as he exited the car after putting the convertible's roof back in place.
"Sorry I'm late getting home," Bowman said to Brooke when he walked up to her, "Hurricane Scott blew into my day and carried me along against my will."
"You're cute but it's not going to work," Brooke said.
"For what it's worth Brooke, we had an order from the President to come to the Executive Mansion," Tolan said as he tried to explain a little of what had happened.
"This was waiting for me on the door when I came out here to see if you had pulled up," Brooke said as she produced a white envelope.
"What is it?" Bowman asked as he took the envelope from Brooke.
"It's got your name on it, I didn't want to pry."
Bowman nodded as he opened the envelope and took out the letter. He immediately turned to Tolan, "Do you know anything about this, is it your idea of a joke?"
Tolan held up his hands defensively, "While I may pull my share of pranks, this is new to me. What is it?"
Bowman handed over the note and Tolan read it, in large red letters was the word 'MURDERER'