"Commander, everyone in this chamber is aware of who has the power, weapons and authority to back up decisions and laws. None of that resides with the indigenous people of Paradis."
Apollo sighed. It was like trying to reverse thrusters past the point of no return. But he had no alternative but to keep fighting the inertia of the Council.
"No one is listening," he said. "Let me try again. Before I left the Gamon village they said that we would have no choice but to leave Paradis."
Sire Opis howled with laughter. "We're listening to you; we just can't believe that you take any of this seriously. The Gamon have no power! Their threats mean nothing. If you want to help them, don't believe their childish fantasies but persuade them to return to their villages and allow Ryis to continue his work in peace."
Another Council member made a suggestion. "Shouldn't we be the ones making the threats?"
Sire Opis appreciated the support. "Exactly. Commander Apollo needs to inform his friends among the natives that if they don't leave New Caprica City we will have no choice but to take extreme measures in removing them."
"It's not too late to defuse the situation," said Apollo. "Even as we speak there is a stand-off between the two sides. If we move swiftly, we can—"
Sire Opis interrupted. "Commander Apollo, it is later than you think. On behalf of the Council I formally request that you have the Galactica's lasers and cannons directed toward the principal villages of the Gamon, as well as selected targets around New Caprica City. We hope that we will not have to resort to such a massive show of force but we must be prepared to exercise the option. You have twenty-four hours to accomplish this task."
Apollo was stunned at the turn of events. The sheer audacity of the man impressed him.
President Tigh took advantage of Apollo's momentary shock to try and reassert some modicum of his authority. "Apollo, before you say anything please take a moment to think this over."
Sire Opis pressed on. "We wouldn't want to have to replace you, Apollo, especially after all you've managed to get us through these past several yahren; but a new era is dawning in the grand march of our civilization and we have to be prepared."
At that precise moment, Apollo was prepared to ram his fist down Sire Opis's throat, but he wasn't about to give his enemy yet another weapon to use against the warriors and the Gamon. Opis was doing everything he could do to goad the commander into rash action.
Only Tigh understood what Apollo was feeling. The two men didn't have to say anything. This was a time for Apollo to stay low, out of the line of fire.
But Opis couldn't leave bad enough alone. He decided to twist the blade in Apollo one last time and inadvertently gave the leader of the warriors something that Apollo could use for his side of the debate.
"You should send warriors down to the planet to aid civil authority in maintaining order," said the self-appointed spokesman for the Council.
"I think we could manage that," said Apollo, surprising everyone. He was thinking about the warriors on the ground right now. This offhand request had the backing of the Council, a most useful development indeed.
Sire Opis didn't fathom what he had just done but he didn't like the sudden cooperation from the commander. He decided to lay it on a bit thicker. "That doesn't shorten your deadline to have the weapons of the Galactica directed at the new targets."
"Nothing can shorten a deadline," said Apollo grimly.
The first thing he did when he was outside the chambers was get back in touch with Starbuck. First things first, he wanted to ascertain if anyone had done anything stupid yet. Starbuck said no, so Apollo passed on the good news.
"As of this moment, warriors are assigned to maintain civil order between the construction crews and the Gamon."
"You're kidding," said Starbuck. "How the hell did you pull that off?"
"A long story and it won't be long before we're ordered to do things we aren't going to do. But for the moment you can make it official that there is to be no violence against the Gamon at the site where you're assigned."
"How do I explain this to the foreman and the chief of police?" Starbuck wanted to know. Although the weapons had been lowered, they could have him and the other warriors back in their sites in a heartbeat.
"Let me talk to them," said Apollo. By the time he had finished explaining that he was acting under the express dictates of Sire Opis, the foreman and the policeman were addressing Apollo as "sir." He knew this subterfuge wouldn't last long. Sire Opis would order the warriors to join the police and the construction workers in firing on the Gamon.
But nobody at the site knew that. And by the time they figured it out, Apollo hoped to have formulated another ruse. There were times when even heroes had to be devious.
He thought that Baltar would approve.
He returned to his private quarters and lay down on his bed. He hadn't slept in days but sometimes it was good to adopt the prone position just to remember what it was like to sleep. Just going through the motions seemed to ease the mind.
Then he had to do what he wished he could put off indefinitely. Using the technology the Gamon held in such low regard, he contacted Athena. It was like a tonic to his soul to see his sister's face on the screen.
The love he felt for his sister was one of the few certainties in his chaotic life.
He brought her up to speed. "We'll need to send more warriors down to the planet. They can back up Starbuck and the others in the current crisis. I'll delay a final reckoning with Sire Opis and Ryis as long as possible. But meanwhile, we have no choice but to train our weapons on select Gamon targets."
"Frack," was all she could think to say.
"They won't rest until we annihilate the Gamon."
"They're crazy."
"Even more than you think. This may the be the most insane action ever taken in all Colonial history. For the moment, we have to follow orders. Realign the lasers and cannon. I'll meet you on the Daedalus in five centons to discuss our options."
No sooner did he break off communications with Athena than Starbuck was back on the line. The report was so far, so good.
"What do we do next?" Starbuck asked.
"Withdraw from the city. Make sure the construction crew leaves with you. That's crucial."
"What about the Gamon?"
"What are they doing right now?"
"Just holding back, watching us watching them. Maybe they're satisfied to just knock out the equipment today, although I'd love to know how they do it. It must be the same way they incapacitated the Vipers."
"Just be grateful they left your Viper alone. For right now, just leave the Gamon where they are. I have a few things to attend to first and then I want you and Boomer to meet me on the bridge of the Daedalus. I'll let you know when."
"We left Boomer back at the cave complex that Dalton and the others discovered," said Starbuck. "He wanted to check out the ruins of a possible starship. But I'll be there."
"Starship?" Apollo asked.
"Yeah, so much has been happening that I haven't had a chance to make my report yet. Rhaya discovered it on that same mission where she, Troy and Dalton went missing. As I said, Boomer is staying behind to check out the ship."
This was turning out to be a most interesting day. A patrol mission that had been assumed a disaster with the loss of good friends may have turned out to be the single most important mission ever flown on Paradis.
A starship? They thought they'd found the wreck of a starship?
"Have Boomer report to me as soon as he returns," said Apollo.
"You got it."
Chapter Eighteen
We are all fragments of the primary consciousness.
The elder sent out the message to every Gamon who could receive it. He was not alone in the dream hut. Others were with him, including Yarto. They could have been anywhere on the planet and heard the calling. But this was a special meeting and several Gamon leaders had joined the most elder of the elders in his dream hut.
"The last time we met here, the subject was the humans and your personal relationship with the one called Apollo," the Elder thought-spoke to Yarto.
"I have carried your insights with me since," answered Yarto.
The Gamon sat in a circle and breathed the blue mist. They were in the in-between place and appreciated that nothing more sacred could be experienced on this plane.
The second oldest Gamon expressed a strong opinion. "These invaders are not part of the consciousness and never will be."
"Some can be," said Yarto.
The second oldest did not back off from his challenge. He was not satisfied with small portions of anything as he demonstrated by taking the largest portion of the ritual herb. "None of them have potential. They are hardly better than animals."
"But animals are part of the consciousness," the elder corrected him.
The second oldest was chastened. "I did not express myself well. I recognize that all life is important."
The second oldest tried one more time. "What I mean to say is that the invaders have betrayed their own nature; and in closing off their spirit eyes, however weak and flickering those portals might be, they place themselves below animals. They betray themselves and have no role to play here and now or during the Great Change."
"Their lives are short and souls weak," said another of the elders. "They are not good examples of sapience or sentience."
Yarto understood that this was a preliminary to a more serious trial. He had been linked when the elder engaged with Gar'Tokk and Apollo. He still had hope that the situation could be turned around. In that sense he was a perfect mirror of the commander of the fleet.
"What of Apollo?" asked Yarto of the entire circle.
The elder breathed in and exhaled the blue aura of the sacred Gamon site. "The last time we convened I said that it was too soon to judge these beings. I stressed that they had not used their weapons against our people. That has changed."
"There is no denying that," admitted Yarto, "but is it right to judge an entire people by the actions of a few?"
Everyone felt a disturbance in the dream hut. The Elder came as close as he ever had to projecting anger. "The few now, the many soon. The question is do we save a spiritually dead people for the sake of the few?"
A wave of contentment came off the second oldest. As far as he was concerned, he had won. The other minds reached out for Yarto and examined his thoughts and feelings from every possible angle. He had made himself spokesman for the Colonials and all present waited for his next expression of hope.
"Apollo may turn them," he said.
"It is possible," the senior elder agreed, "but the next move is his. We await his realization of what he must do. It must come from him."
The murmuring of assent was both vocal and mental, as if the actual sound of music were perfectly fused with the abstract notes underneath.
The elder pronounced a warning. "Yarto, you are not to help Apollo with the next step. You know that any such action would corrupt essential perfection."
Yarto bowed his head. He could only trust that Apollo would realize what must be done. Otherwise the next meeting in the dream hut would have grim consequences for the people who had come from outer space; they might be returned to the great void without their ships.
Apollo was about to leave his quarters when there was a knock on the door. He was surprised by his visitor.
"Koren," he said, "come here, will you?"
The boy walked over and they hugged. Apollo reminded himself that nothing was so important that a father couldn't find a moment for his son. If the whole world was literally coming to an end then a few moments with loved ones was of even greater importance.
Crisis situations ate at the heart like a corrosive acid. It was so easy to forget the important things in life.
"Are you okay?" he asked, pulling Koren over to his berth where they both sat down.
"Yeah, I guess so," said the boy. He was a bit sullen.
"You're not lonely, are you?"
The boy shrugged. "A little bit. I saw Caran not long ago. I like her better every time I see her."
Apollo smiled at that. "I've been meaning to tell you that Gar'Tokk and I saw an actual Gamon child."
"Cool! I knew there had to be some. Did you get his name?"
Apollo shook his head. "The boy didn't hang around long or I would have thought to do that."
Koren was very grown up about it. "Let me know if you run into him again."
"That's a deal. You know, I'm sorry I've been neglecting you lately," said Apollo.
"At times like this, you must really miss your real father."
Koren looked him in the eye. "I miss you, Apollo."
They sat together in silence for a few moments and then the boy started talking. "I do miss him, though. I don't think about it much but I feel it a lot. I mean, I feel him around me sometimes. At times like that it's as if I can hear him talking to me."
"What does he tell you, if that's not too personal a question?" Apollo asked softly.
The boy rubbed his eyes. He wasn't crying. Maybe he wanted to stop the tears before they started.
"Well, he says that I'm not alone so long as I can trust myself. He says I should trust my heart and listen for voices when everything is silent."
Apollo didn't have a ready reply. He let silence gather between them as if a comforting blanket. Then he said, "Jinkrat was right. Being alone is one of the great challenges we face in life, but if anyone has ever truly loved you then you are not completely alone, even if you were the last person alive in the universe. It can be extremely challenging to trust your heart. You have the courage, don't you?"
"I try," said the boy.
For a moment, Apollo remembered his encounter with the Gamon elder. He'd heard a lot in the silences that day.
"I've had to learn the hard way that our minds can play tricks on us," Apollo told the boy. "We can think ourselves into perfectly logical traps."
"You have a lot of problems right now, don't you?" asked Koren with keen insight.
Apollo put his arm around the boy's shoulder and gave him a hug. He felt more like Koren's father than he ever had before.
"You know it. I have so much going on in my brain that it's a wonder my head doesn't explode."
"Ugh," said Koren. "That would be disgusting."
They both laughed. "Issues can become too complex," said Apollo. "They can get to the point where they seem impossible to resolve. But I've learned a secret."
"What is it?"
"When we're really centered and have quieted down the noise in our head, we can hear a deeper wisdom speaking to us."
"Wisdom is in the heart?"
"Better than the kidneys!" said Apollo and they both laughed. "It's just a saying. I think that wisdom comes from the heart and mind working together in some profound way. Maybe we don't have to understand how."
Koren felt that he was making up for lost time. Apollo had never talked to him this way before. "What is wisdom?" he asked.
Apollo grimaced. "You're giving me hard work, young man.
Philosophers argue over that one all the time. One of the great thinkers of Kobol suggested that wisdom is moving from a narrow and limited point of view to a more expanded perspective where we can hopefully make educated and knowledgeable decisions about life in general."
"Has coming to Paradis made you think more about these things?"
God, the kid was really sharp today. "You, too! How can a planet like Paradis not make us think about these things? Now enough pontificating." He tousled the boy's hair. "Time for you to get to bed. You'll need your sleep if you're going to help me solve the problems of a whole planet."
Koren gave his new father a friendly punch and then headed off down the corridor with a, "Goodnight, Apollo."
"Sleep well," said Apollo. He remembered Troy at that age and returned to his small room that suddenly seemed so much larger in the glow of what had just happened. M
aybe everything was going to be all right.
As he lay down on his berth and again imagined what it would be like to actually sleep for a few Centons, he suddenly realized the importance of what had transpired between him and his son. Apollo had an epiphany.
Since he and Gar'Tokk had taken their leave of the Gamon elder, something had been nagging at the back of his cranium. There was something he had left undone. The conversation with Koren helped him to understand.
Leaving the presence of the elder did not mean the dialogue between them had to end. He could resume the conversation right here and now if there was still a link between them.
Breathing deeply, he attempted to quiet his mind the same way he did when he tried to reach his center. Meditation was natural to him but now it seemed different. There was a large mind, a collection of large minds and hearts, on the other end of his questing self.
Slowly, so very slowly, he felt the elder responding to the questioning tendrils of Apollo's consciousness. The communication was not about words or sounds; it was a fluid substance that enveloped the mind in total understanding.
Contact was made. The elder congratulated Apollo on taking the first step. Other Gamon minds floated in the background with encouragement and expressions of thanksgiving. Apparently this was a very important moment in Apollo's life and he could thank Koren for inspiring him to seek out the elder with his mind alone.
He began to describe details from the Council meeting but found that it was unnecessary. The elder already knew every disgusting and scandalous detail.
"The Gamon will do what must be," came the message into Apollo's brain with the sharpness of an icicle.
"And what is that?" Apollo asked.
"Enough for now. We will speak again soon."
As the communication ended, Apollo felt light-headed as if he'd been drinking the whole time. There was something intoxicating about full-immersion telepathy.
As he stumbled toward the door, he encountered Cassie. Where had he gotten the crazy idea that he'd have a little privacy in his quarters? He should just put up a sign announcing an Open House.
"Are you all right?" she asked, the concern on her face a mirror to what he must look like. His recent experience had drained him even though he never wanted it to end.
Battlestar Galactica-05-Paradis Page 19