Epilogue

A/N: The time units in this chapter are different from the Colonial standard and based on a day divided into decimal units, with each 1/10 equaling just over 2 centars in a 25-centar day.

ACTIVITY LOG

CENTURION 6481557

FORMER GROUP LEADER CYRUS

IMPERIAL DATE 217362.4

It is the fifth day since I arrived on the Battlestar Galactica. The humans continue to keep me under constant watch. I am only permitted to leave the Brig when I attend the meetings which occur daily. Two guards accompany me at all times outside my cell and stand guard when I am inside. Nonetheless, on imperial date 217361, a device which records speech and translates it to Colonial Standard text was presented to me. Starbuck requested this of the proper authorities after I told him I had no method of recording my operating logs. The device was cleared for use as it cannot be dismantled to create weapons or tools. Starbuck also mentioned it was unlikely that I could use the device to reprogram the central computer. He seemed to find this idea humorous.

Starbuck has come to see me every day multiple times a day. He says it is the least he can do while I am in here. He also says he does not want me to become lonely. I do not think that a lack of companionship will cause as much dysfunction in my operation as he believes. However, I find it difficult to have no regular duties to perform. This is why I record operating logs regularly of the events which occur. I do not know which ones are essential to record.

The meetings which I attend also provide me with a function. Every day at 0.5, two Warriors escort me to the conference chamber. There I meet with Commander Adama, Colonel Tigh, Doctor Wilker, Captain Apollo, Lieutenant Boomer, Lieutenant Sheba, and Starbuck, who often meets me at my cell and walks with me to the conference. Commander Adama always begins the meeting, and after an introduction, for these humans seem to enjoy elaborating, he will begin to ask me questions. The questions vary in nature, but they regard the way the Cylon military unit operates, the extent to which we have overtaken the galaxy, the role of civilian drones, and many other such questions.

The questions are, I believe, a way to test my loyalty to the Cylon Empire, as well as to find out information. I do not find it easy to answer some of them. None of the questions that have been asked so far have required me to divulge the most sensitive information about the Empire. This may be an intentional strategy by the humans. I have no doubt that they will begin to ask such questions at some time. When they do, I do not know how I will answer. I did not expect to be placed in this situation. Starbuck is a human, and he is also my friend. It was wrong for my people to kill Starbuck. Is it wrong for them to kill other humans? I was created to serve the Empire as it organized the universe. But organizing the universe has killed many humans and other creatures. It would have killed Starbuck. I cannot agree with that. Does that mean I can no longer serve the Empire? If that is the case, I do not know what the purpose of my existence is.

Doctor Wilker has just arrived. I must cease this entry.

ACTIVITY LOG

CENTURION 6481557

FORMER GROUP LEADER CYRUS

IMPERIAL DATE 217362.7

The events of the past few dekachrons were unexpected.

At 0.411, Doctor Wilker conducted an examination of my construction. He said that he had never examined a fully functional Cylon before. He was especially interested to know how my central processor was removed intact from my previous unit and integrated into a new one. I attempted to explain the process. However, he did not understand it completely. He said that we will have another conversation and left. He does not view me with fear, unlike most of the humans. Even the Commander of the Battlestar Galactica seems to undergo tension when he speaks with me.

At 0.498, Lieutenant Boomer and Lieutenant Sheba arrived at my cell. They did not open the door, but looked inside.

"Have you seen Lieutenant Starbuck?" Boomer asked the guards. They replied in the negative.

He looked inside at me. "Would you happen to know where he is?"

"I do not know," I told him. "Is he missing?"

Boomer quietly made the noise that humans make when they are frustrated. "He was supposed to turn in the aggregation of the latest patrol reports to the Bridge fifty centons ago. No one's seen him for a couple centars. But we're almost certain he hasn't left the Galactica."

"Come on, Boomer, let's go," said Lieutenant Sheba. "The Cylon isn't going to know where Starbuck is." I noticed that she seemed irritated. She has shown dislike for my presence since I arrived. Starbuck says it is because her father was lost in space after he fought with Cylons. Boomer, however, has accepted me since we escaped the basestar.

"We can't meet without Starbuck present," he said to me. "We'll just have to come back for you when we find him. If we find him…" He made the frustrated noise again. "Thanks anyway." He thanked the guards also, and he and Lieutenant Sheba left.

After 1 hectochron, Starbuck approached from the opposite direction of the one the Lieutenants had gone.

"Hey, can I see Cy?" he asked the guards, coming up toward the door of the cell. "Hey, Cy!"

"Hello, Starbuck," I replied.

"No, you don't," said the taller guard. He stepped forward and pulled Starbuck away from the door.

"Hey!" he said again, this time with annoyance.

"Half the Galactica is looking for you, it sounds like," said the guard. "I'm going to have to report that you're here."

"I'll go call it in." The other guard began to walk away.

"Wait a centon, you guys!" Starbuck walked toward them with his hands up. "I've had people hounding me all day, and I'm just looking for a few microns of peace and quiet. Can't you give me a break?"

The taller guard crossed his arms. "You'd better have a good explanation for why you're doing this."

Starbuck took a deep breath and made that frustrated noise. It seemed to be popular among the humans today. "Look… I'm having a little trouble with, uh… with my girl."

"Oh, this is gonna be good," said the shorter guard, smiling and coming closer.

"You want to hear this story, then can the comments, okay?" said Starbuck. "Anyway, we were supposed to get sealed tomorrow, but last night we had an argument, and I…" he looked at the floor and spoke quietly, "I called it off."

The taller guard whistled. "Sagan, Starbuck," he said with an exaggerated tone of amazement. "That's a knot in the daggit's tail if I ever heard one. No wonder you've got half the Fleet after you." He and the other guard started laughing.

"Okay, laugh as much as you like, but I've had everyone from the Commander to Colonel Tigh to all of my buddies chew me out today, and the last thing I need is to get called into some meeting where every single one of them will be staring at me across the table. Just trying to find a place where they won't come after me and lecture me is like flying through a minefield. I just need a few centons of peace. You can understand that, can't you, fellas?"

The taller guard tilted his head. "Well, I gotta admit, your sob story's pretty compelling. Here's the deal: you've got ten centons, and then we call it in."

Starbuck clapped him on the shoulder. "I owe you one." He came back to stand in front of the door. "Now, can you let me in to see my friend here?"

The guard slid his key card into the lock and opened the door. "You still want to spend your ten centons of freedom with the tinhead?"

"At least he's got better manners than you," Starbuck replied, then walked into my cell. The door slid shut behind him.

"Oh Cy, am I glad to see you," he said, giving me a light punch on the shoulder. He went to the cot, which I only used for sitting, and suddenly flopped onto it. He stretched out to his full length and put his hands behind his head.

"Cy," he announced, "believe it or not, you're my only friend in the galaxy today."

"I do not understand," I told him. "Are the humans going to terminate you?"

He laughed. "No, nothing like that. They're just unhappy with me because I… because I canceled our sealing ceremony." He grew serious.

I reviewed the information Starbuck had previously supplied regarding this event. "You are no longer planning to procreate with Cassiopeia?"

He laughed again but in a way that sounded nervous. "Uh, well, that's not exactly all that's involved in getting sealed." He sat up on the cot. "When you get sealed, you're legally bound to the other person. You live together, and share finances and possessions, and, yes, often you do, um, procreate." He scratched the back of his neck.

The situation still did not compute. I decided to ask another question. "Is it correct that at one time in the past, you planned to do all of these things with Cassiopeia, but now, you are no longer planning to do so?"

"Yes, exactly. At least, I'm not planning to do them right now."

I walked to the cot and patted it next to Starbuck's feet. Starbuck slid his legs off the cot to make room for me and leaned up against the wall. I sat down next to him. At this distance, I could hear the process of air entering and exiting his lungs to supply him with oxygen, a human need I still found puzzling.

"If that is the case," I continued my line of questioning, "why do you no longer want to become sealed with Cassiopeia?"

"Not you too," he exclaimed. "I came here to get away from all the questions!"

"Because you cannot answer them?"

He was silent for one fifth of a hectochron. "Because the answers are too complicated. I can't even make sense of them myself. Not likely I can explain them to a Cylon."

Logically, this did not make sense, since everything that is factual has an explanation. Perhaps Starbuck was not thinking clearly about the problem.

"Do you find Cassiopeia inadequate to do what is required of those who become sealed?"

"No, not at all!" Starbuck answered quickly. "She's great. More than great; amazing." He looked at the opposite wall, clasped his hands around one knee, and spoke softly. "She's about as close to perfect as you can get."

"Then I fail to understand why you do not wish to be sealed to her."

He took a long breath in and let it out. "Cy… The problem isn't really with her." He leaned his head back against the wall, and I had to turn partially to see his face. His eyes were closed.

"What do you mean?"

"The problem," he said with his eyes still closed, "is that last night, we had dinner together, and everything I said came out the wrong way, and she got more and more annoyed with me, and then she said we needed to cut dinner short so she could go get Sidus, and I got upset and said she cared more about the baby than she did about me, and then we started yelling at each other, and I finally told her that since she found me so disappointing, I'd make things easy on her and call off our sealing ceremony. Then, I left. I spent the evening at the Officer's Club before going back to Apollo's quarters for the night. The next morning, I figured she'd be coming around to apologize and ask me to change my mind, so I left early to go on duty. But Apollo was still home when she came by, and she told him what had happened, so then he came to my console and chewed me out for breaking up with her. When he was done, apparently he told the Commander and the Colonel and a few other people, and they all took turns coming to tell me what a terrible thing I'd done. Finally, I'd had enough and managed to sneak away, and I was looking for a good place to hide out when I came here."

The more humans talk, the more likely they are to forget the reason they began to talk. However, my memory banks are much more reliable. I had not forgotten Starbuck's original statement.

"You have told me what happened, but you have not stated the problem."

Finally, he opened his eyes. "The problem is, I'm not ready to get sealed! I can't even have a simple conversation with my future w-… potential wife without being petty and yelling and making her angry. All my friends essentially told me how stupid I am to break off an engagement with a woman like Cassiopeia. And they're right; if I can't hold onto the best woman I've ever met, I guess I'm too stupid to deserve her in the first place."

He put his head in his hands and rested his elbows on his knees, letting out a long, frustrated groan.

Humans seem rather easily overwhelmed by their emotions. They also lose some of their ability to be rational whenever this occurs.

"Starbuck, I do not believe you are stupid. I believe you are afraid."

He snorted, lifting his head and shaking it. "Yeah, I'm afraid. Afraid I'm not cut out to be a married man! But, come to think of it, I've gotten pretty good at this bachelor life. After all, it does have its perks. A lot of pretty ones." He raised his eyebrows and smiled, attempting to deviate from the point.

"You have said that you are afraid of getting hurt. That is why you would allow a woman to get hurt first."

"Ouch. Is that really what you think of me? That I would let Cassiopeia get hurt to save myself? You're forgetting I put my life on the line to save her. And died because of it. If it weren't for those mysterious Beings, you and I wouldn't be having this conversation."

My highly sophisticated memory banks allow me to retain information in its entirety and thereby learn very rapidly. After spending approximately five Colonial sectons in total with Starbuck, I have learned to understand his vocal inflections and physical expression. He was trying to portray that the situation affected him far less than it did in actuality. But based on his own detailed history with woman, I could deduce what was occurring.

"You are afraid that Cassiopeia will hurt you. You think she will realize you do not measure up to her standards of excellence. You have broken off your relationship with her to prevent her from breaking up with you, because that would confirm your fears that you are not able to be loved by a woman."

"Now wait just a centon!" Starbuck jumped to his feet and walked to the other side of the room. He began to turn around, but instead he paused and turned back to face the wall, putting his hands on his hips. He stayed there for half a hectochron, his head bent. Then, he slowly turned around and sat down against the wall.

"I hate to say this," he said in a low tone, "but you may be right."

He rubbed his face, suddenly appearing to be tired. "Cy?"

"Yes, Starbuck?"

"What do I do now?"

This was an easy question to answer. "The Beings have given you a child to lead your people. You and Cassiopeia are to care for the infant. Get sealed to Cassiopeia and begin your family."

"But that's just it. I've never had a family. I only just found out who my father is, and I'm still… I've been avoiding him as much as possible. Now that I know for sure he's my father, I'm scared to talk to him, and I don't really know why. You're right, Cy: I am afraid. I've never been a father or a son or a husband. I've never had a family to learn how from. And now I'm supposed to be all three at the same time. It's not like flying a Viper; they don't give you classes on how to raise a kid who's supposed to be some kind of prodigy. I'm not ready to do this!"

"That's exactly what I thought when I found out you were coming into the world."

Starbuck and I both turned to see who had spoken. An older man with white hair stood in front of the door.

"Chameleon!" Starbuck stood to his feet and approached the door. "How did you… Did they," he gestured toward the guards, "tell you where I was?"

"No, Son," the man who was Starbuck's father answered. "I came to the Galactica to see you, and they told me what happened and that they couldn't find you. I asked around, thought about where I would go if I were you, and came here."

Starbuck seemed to think about this. "How much time do I have left?" he asked the guards.

"You know, this conversation is a nail-biter," the taller guard said, smiling. "I don't want to interrupt before the Cylon finishes your psych profile."

Starbuck looked briefly at the ceiling before returning his gaze to the guard. "Okay, wise guy, in that case, can you let my father come in?"

The guard complied. Chameleon entered, and I came forward to greet him, wanting to be polite to my friend's father. He looked up at me. He seemed a little tense, but he was hiding it well. "I don't believe we've met," he said, offering his hand. "I'm Chameleon, Starbuck's father."

He flinched slightly when I touched his hand, but I held it loosely so I would not hurt him. "I am former Group Leader Cyrus. I am Starbuck's friend."

"I've heard how you saved his life, on more than one occasion. For his sake, I am deeply in your debt, and hope you will consider me a friend as well."

He bowed slightly as he spoke. This human had almost as much decorum as an IL-series Cylon.

"Any friend of Starbuck is my friend as well."

"Excellent." He turned to Starbuck and shook his hand more eagerly than he had shaken mine. "Son, I can't tell you how good it is to see you looking so well. But before we discuss that, it sounds like you've gotten yourself into some trouble."

"I think it runs in the family," Starbuck remarked. He indicated the cot, and he and Chameleon sat down. I took my position nearby where I could observe the interaction between the humans.

Chameleon asked Starbuck to tell him what had happened, and Starbuck repeated his story. When he had finished, Chameleon nodded.

"Let me see if I have this right," he said. "You love Cassiopeia enough to die for her. You love Sidus like a son. You want to marry Cassiopeia and adopt Sidus, but you are also afraid to do so, because you don't feel you are ready to make that permanent commitment. Is that correct?"

Starbuck nodded slowly. "See, once I have a wife and kid, I can't exactly take other girls out anymore, or stay out late playing Pyramid, or go drinking with my buddies, or do a lot of things. And I don't think I can handle that right now. I mean, I just got my life back! I'm not ready to give up all my fun."

Chameleon began to laugh, a response which Starbuck seemed to find as unexpected as I did.

"What? What's so funny?"

Chameleon shook his head. "Only that you sound just like I did when I was getting sealed. I thought my life was over. And when you came along, I was terrified all over again. But listen to me: getting sealed comes with responsibilities, but it doesn't mean you'll have to give up all your free time and friends. In fact, in a healthy relationship, both of you will still have some separate interests and means of recreation. You may not be able proposition every young woman you fancy, but believe me, having one beautiful woman who belongs to no one but you is its own reward."

"Really?" Starbuck did not appear fully convinced.

"Really. And you may find this even harder to believe, but there are some nights when you will gladly choose to hold your baby son in your arms over trying your luck at the Pyramid tables, and you'll know it's worth every centon."

The two humans exchanged a long look, and the familial resemblance in their faces was easy to observe.

Starbuck looked away quickly. "But, even if everything you're saying is true, lately just thinking about getting sealed makes me feel like I'm gonna throw up." He gave a nervous laugh. "How do I know it's not something I'll regret for the rest of my life?"

Chameleon put a hand on Starbuck's knee. "Son, as I'm sure you can imagine, there are many things I've done in my life that I've regretted. Many were risks I took that just weren't worth the trouble they caused. But marrying your mother and having you are the two things I've never regretted for a micron. Taking those risks was the right thing to do. And if I hadn't, that's what I would have regretted for the rest of my life. You have to ask yourself, what will you regret more? And are there knots in your stomach because you don't know if it's the right thing to do, or because you do know?"

Starbuck stared intently at the floor, fiddling with the pin on his collar. His indecision seemed ridiculous to me.

"Why do you hesitate?" I asked. "The answer is obvious."

He looked up at me, surprised. Then, he laughed. "Okay, you're right. If even a Cylon can see it, I guess I know what I need to do."

Chameleon laughed also. "Former Group Leader Cyrus, you are quite insightful in matters of love for a member of your species."

"Starbuck has taught me much about human love and the woman," I said. "He has had many conquests."

Chameleon gave me a knowing look.

"Shhh!" Starbuck replied. He shoved me in the arm, which seems to be a human gesture of playfulness. "No more talking about that around Cassiopeia. I'm gonna be a one-woman man now. If she'll still have me."

"If I know Cassiopeia, she wants nothing more," said Chameleon.

"I hope you're right." Starbuck stood up. "Thanks so much for the advice, Chameleon. I mean… Father." He scratched his head. "I'm gonna have to get used to calling you that."

"Take all the time you need." Chameleon also stood. "After twenty yahrens, isn't being a friend more important?"

"Yes, it is." Starbuck placed one hand on my shoulder and one hand on Chameleon's. "My friends may look a little funny, but they're the best in the galaxy."

"I hope you're not referring to your old man," said Chameleon. "After all, you did get half your good looks from me, kid."

"I do not look funny," I clarified. "I was designed to be both aesthetically pleasing and functional." For some reason, both the humans found this statement amusing.

After engaging in parting formalities, Starbuck and Chameleon left, saying they would return sometime in the near future. One dekachron passed before Starbuck returned.

"Cy," he called as he approached the door, "it's on. The ceremony's on again. Tomorrow, I'm getting sealed to Cassiopeia."

His quick step, broad smile, and exuberant tone indicated his excitement at this prospect.

"Congratulations," I said, using the phrase I had heard other humans use when Starbuck began to share this news on the Galactica.

"But it gets even better." Starbuck took hold of the wall on both sides of the door and smiled more widely. "I told them I would marry Cassiopeia tomorrow on one condition: you get to be there too."

ACTIVITY LOG

CENTURION 6481557

FORMER GROUP LEADER CYRUS

IMPERIAL DATE 217363.5

Starbuck's decision to have me in his sealing ceremony caused a great deal of discussion among the humans. On imperial date 217362, Cassiopeia visited me to thank me for helping Starbuck to change his mind, and she related to me what was occurring. Most of the humans objected to my presence at the ceremony. Safety issues were raised, as well as the fact that the humans might find it difficult to concentrate on the ceremony with a Cylon present. This was not unreasonable, since my people were responsible for attempting to annihilate the humans. Even the few who trust me were concerned about the logistics of the plan.

Commander Adama then called a long meeting with all of those who usually attend my questioning, except for myself, and with the addition of Cassiopeia and Chameleon. All those present discussed the situation and attempted to find a solution to the effect of a compromise. Starbuck was adamant that because I had saved his and Cassiopeia's lives and I was partially responsible for persuading him to get sealed, it was only proper that I be included in the ceremony. The others brought up the legitimate concerns that I have already mentioned. The discussion grew heated, and it appeared that there would be no way to maintain decorum and the perception of safety during the ceremony while still fulfilling Starbuck's wishes.

At a critical moment, Cassiopeia voiced a possible solution. She mentioned an ancillary chamber next to the small ceremonial hall which provided a view of the proceedings for those who were too ill or otherwise potentially disruptive to be present in the hall but who still wished to view an event. I could watch the sealing ceremony from this chamber while under guard to avoid distracting those present. The rest of the humans found this solution acceptable, except for Starbuck, who eventually agreed despite his disappointment.

After the meeting, Starbuck came and apologized to me for the outcome, seeming to think I would be offended. However, I am unsurprised that it would take the humans just as long to trust me as it is taking me to trust them. Cassiopeia's later visit to relate the details of the meeting simply confirmed what I suspected. A Colonial Warrior and a Cylon Centurion who are friends is a phenomenon neither side has encountered before. Protocols have yet to be established.

The ceremony occurred a centar ago. I was stationed in the ancillary chamber with two guards. Before the ceremony began, Starbuck came to talk with me. He spoke very quickly about a variety of topics, including that his father had offered to let him work on the Orphan Ship until he was no longer medically grounded, and that rumors have circulated that he might be awarded a promotion at some future date. He also apologized multiple times that I was confined to the chamber. He was clearly nervous about the upcoming ceremony. I listened and answered calmly, unsure what could be said to decrease his anxiety.

A crowd began to assemble in the ceremonial hall. "Is it time for you to leave?" I asked.

"Just another centon," he said. He glanced at the crowd, then turned away, placing a hand on the wall and closing his eyes.

At that moment, Captain Apollo entered the chamber. "You okay, Starbuck?" he asked, walking quickly to Starbuck's side.

Starbuck shook his head without opening his eyes. "I haven't eaten since yesterday because I thought I might be sick. Now, I still feel sick and, on top of that, I might pass out."

Apollo patted his shoulder. "You'll be fine. I was so nervous I felt like I couldn't breathe when I got sealed, but it all went away the moment I saw Serina."

Starbuck opened his eyes. "You're making that up. You were never that nervous about Serina."

"I wish I was making it up." Apollo laughed. "I can fly straight through a Cylon attack formation and barely break a sweat, but the moment I stood up on that platform to take the seal, it hit me all at once, and it was all I could do to keep my knees from buckling. When the woman you love agrees to trust her life to you, it's a heavy responsibility."

Apollo seemed to become a little sad after saying this. Starbuck grasped his friend's arm.

"At least one of us is good at being responsible. Maybe if I keep hanging around you, some of it'll rub off."

"Well, we both know the likelihood of that. But don't worry, I won't break it to Cassie until after the ceremony."

"You're so considerate," said Starbuck insincerely. He glanced at the people assembling in the next room. The Commander and the Colonel stood on the platform, and several Warriors and civilians stood on the stairs behind them.

"I'd better get in there before Cass changes her mind," he said. He turned and smiled at me. "Wish me luck, Cy!"

"I wish you luck, Starbuck," I said.

He and Apollo left, and after a moment, they appeared on the platform. Soon, the ceremony began. Cassiopeia entered the chamber wearing an elaborate white dress. Chameleon followed behind, holding the infant Sidus in his arms.

When Starbuck saw Cassiopeia, his face took on an expression of amazement. As she approached him, neither of them stopped looking at each other. When she came to stand in front of him, the Commander began to speak. However, he was interrupted when Starbuck pulled Cassiopeia toward himself and performed what the humans call a kiss. Both of them seemed to enjoy it, since they both began to laugh after they finished. Others who were watching laughed as well.

"May we begin now, Lieutenant?" Commander Adama asked. He appeared to be forcing his expression not to portray emotion.

"Of course, Commander," said Starbuck. "That was just for good luck." He winked at Cassiopeia, whose face was rather red, and she laughed once again.

The Commander began to speak, but I did not listen to what he said. As I watched my friend and his wife-to-be, I remembered Starbuck's question to me: "How can you have an empire completely devoid of love?" It was technically possible; otherwise, the Cylon Empire would not exist. However, I was starting to see that these humans had something that meant so much to them that they could not imagine life without it. And I wondered how we Cylons could be the most powerful force in the universe and yet have no concept of this valuable thing called love. If we had, would it make us weaker, like the humans? Or were the humans able to survive for so long against our superior forces because this love made them stronger? These are questions I will ask Starbuck. But I must wait until he returns from his sealing-leave on a ship called the Rising Star.

A/N: And so ends the saga of The Return of Starbuck, Part II. Thank you so much to BMSH, erine513, gym mom 2, inatepaz, Linuxgirl, LittleMonkeyDog, max2013, Nancepance, Piscean6724, SherryGabs, vaughn28, and the many others who reviewed this story and encouraged me to keep writing! I couldn't have stuck with it to the end without your help. Good luck on all of your fanfic ventures!

All the best,

GreyGregory14