BY YOUR COMMAND - Static ARCHIVE

Boxey came running into the room just as Apollo was finishing up dinner and threw his books on the couch. Apollo shook his head at his son's forgetfulness and asked him how his school day went.

"It was great, Dad. We're learning about the ancient myths and legends, some of them dating all the way back to Kobol."

"Oh, is your teacher telling you stories about the thirteenth tribe?"

"No, not today, this time the lesson was about a legend even better than the thirteenth tribe."

With a small chuckle Apollo said, "You had better not let your Grandfather hear you say that. So what old legend is even better than the thirteenth tribe?"

"Vampires. She told us all about them."

Apollo suddenly went white and tightly gripped the counter top so his son could not see the way his hands where trembling.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Boxey."

"Then how come you're so pale, and why are you shaking like that?"

"I'm just not feeling so hot all of a sudden, it should pass as soon as I get something to eat." Apollo lied to the boy.

Together the two set the table and Apollo dished out the food, but as the two sat down and started to eat Boxey started to tell Apollo what he had learned that day.

"Our teacher told us that vampires sleep in coffins during the day because they have to stay out of the sun light because it will kill them. But then at night they wake up and come out looking for blood, and if you get bit by a vampire and live, you turn into a vampire, but he has to bit you and suck your blood thr..."

"Can we please change the subject?" Apollo snapped.

"But why? I think the legend is cool, Dad, a bit silly but still pretty cool."

Apollo ran his hands through his hair then looked over at his son. "I just don't like vampire stories, okay?"

"But their just stories..."

Apollo became angry. "Look, I said I don't like those stories, so can we please talk about something else?"

"Sure, Dad. No problem."

Apollo could hear the hurt in Boxey's voice, then the boy perked up a bit as he said, "How about werewolves? Do you like werewolves?"

"*No*." Apollo snapped once more.

************************************

A few days later Apollo, Starbuck, Boomer, Sheba, Bojay and Jolly where ordered to take a shuttle to a deserted planet and check for fuel sources.

Scanners aboard the Galactica had recorded a huge amount of fuel in the area near a large mountain range on the eastern hemisphere. Other landing parties had been sent to areas where food and water where in a rich supply and where now busy picking enough fruit and vegetables to feed the fleet for the next five yahrens. The flash freezing people would soon be very busy.

During their descent, Apollo and the others had noticed the ruins of what appeared to be a large city, and Apollo quickly informed the Commander of their presence. It was possible the planet had been a stopping point of the thirteenth tribe and Adama may wish to inspect the ruins for any clues that could give them the lost tribes whereabouts.

As soon as the shuttle landed, Sheba quickly ran a portable scanner over the mountain range and found that it was indeed showing high concentrations of fuel. Enough to keep the fleet going for the next twenty yahrens if they could get enough dug out and refined.

"Hey, Apollo, there's a cave opening over here, looks like it was once some sort of a mining operation." Starbuck called over to the Captain.

Apollo swallowed and bit his lip. He had always feared caves, as well as what could be lurking inside them, but didn't want anyone to know about that. Since he was in command of this operation, it was his responsibility to lead them into the cave to inspect it. Quickly ordering his men to grab a portable lantern, he gathered up his courage and entered the opening.

"Oh, Starbuck, what a lovely smell you have discovered." Sheba joked as she wrinkled her nose.

"Why, thank you. I think I`ll call it toilet O shit," Starbuck snickered back at her.

"Better be careful where you step, don't want to be falling into anything sticky," Boomer added.

"Cut the jokes people and lets get this job done." Apollo snapped at the others.

Starbuck and Boomer exchanged a startled look, both men had noticed the tremble in Apollo's voice and wondered just what the captain was afraid of.

Suddenly, the cave tunnel widened into a large chamber. The smell was worse than before and the floor was slippery and sticky. Shining their lanterns onto the floor and looking more closely they saw that it was littered with some kind of animal waste.

Sheba whispered, "I think you guys had better check out the ceiling."

"What are those things?" Jolly spoke up for the first time.

Suddenly Apollo screamed. "*OH MY LORD! THEIR BATS! LETS GET OUT OF HERE*!"

Apollo turned and ran for the entrance, shoving the others out of his way. They all slipped in the sticky mess and landed on their backsides in the bat droppings. Apollo ran screaming for the cave opening, but his screams woke the bats from their peaceful slumber and they flew screeching out towards the entrance, chasing the thing that had awakened them. The others quickly picked themselves up and ran after their Captain and the bats.

Outside, they saw Apollo still screaming and running in circles, swatting at the bats.

"GET AWAY! GET AWAY FROM ME!"

Suddenly, one of the larger bats swooped down and bit Apollo on the neck, sending the poor Captain into even more hysterics. "*AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH! HE BIT ME! HE BIT ME! THE VAMPIRE BIT ME!*"

**********************************

It took the other five members of the team almost a centar to get Apollo onto the shuttle and back to the Galactica where Cassie and Dr. Salik were waiting for them in the Life Centre. Starbuck and Boomer carefully laid their sedated friend on the exam table while Salik informed Adama that because Starbuck and the others were unable to catch the bat that had bitten Apollo, the captain would have to undergo a series of rabies shots for the next secton. Adama then asked Starbuck why Apollo had been sedated.

"Well, Sir, he was in hysterics after the bat bit him, kept screaming and crying that the thing was a vampire and that we had to stay away from him because now he was going to turn into a vampire at any moment and then start biting us." Starbuck told the Commander.

"Starbuck`s telling the truth, Sir. We tried to calm him down and explain it was just a bat, I mean everyone knows vampires aren`t real, but he wouldn`t listen. He really believes in the damn things, and even when we tried to tell him that even if they were real, the bat only bit him once, not three times like the legends say, he still wouldn`t believe us, so Starbuck and I were forced to tackle him to the ground while Sheba got the hypo spray ready, and then Bojay and Jolly had to help hold him down."

Adama could tell by the tone in Boomer`s voice that the lieutenant was still very upset by the event.

Adama sighed heavily and shook his head "I thought he was over that old fear of vampires. His mother even took him to see a specialist in the old myths about them, and the man explained it to him, I can`t believe just a bite from a bat got him all worked up like this again."

"He`s done this before?" Starbuck asked

"It was a long time ago, Starbuck, before the three of you met. He was about 10 I believe. He went to the movie house with his grandfather and they saw a vampire movie. The thing scared him half to death and for the next yahren he would wake up in the middle of the night screaming that a vampire was after him. The boy was convinced he was going to be turned into a member of the walking dead."

"I thought they were called the undead," Boomer said, his voice still sounding stunned.

"He believed those old stories?" Starbuck was shocked.

"Yes Starbuck he did, and it appears he still does." Adama sighed again.

Cassie came out of the exam room then and told them that Apollo`s wound had been cleaned and bandaged and his first rabies shot administered and a blood sample taken.

"But we still have to give him the shots daily. By the time rabies symptoms show up it`s too late for the medication. He'll be able to go home in the morning, but he`s still asleep from the sedation you guys gave him, plus Dr. Salik wants to keep an eye on him for a few centars."

"Very well, keep me informed on him, oh and please make sure he doesn`t try to climb into a coffin somewhere," Adama said as he turned to leave.

"A coffin sir?" Cassie asked, confused.

Adama waved towards Starbuck. "I`ll let Starbuck explain it all to you. I need a drink."

When Cassie turned to Starbuck he just grinned as Boomer doubled over laughing.

*******************************

Cassiopeia had lost count of the number of times she had come into Apollo`s room to check on him. She knew that even with the amount of sedative Starbuck and the others had given the captain, the man should be awake by now. Wondering if maybe Dr. Salik had missed something on his examination she quickly ran the scanner over Apollo`s body. Without warning Apollo`s hand shot out and grabbed her by the throat.

"Now I have you my pretty. Soon you will be mine." Apollo snarled as he jumped off the bed and knocked her to the floor.

With an evil growl, Apollo quickly bent down and bit the tender flesh of her neck, drawing blood. Cassie tried to scream as she felt Apollo`s tongue lap up the blood flowing from the wound. Discovering that her hands were still free, she started pounding on his back and pulling his hair in a vain attempt to remove him. However he was more powerful than she was, so she kicked out at the small wheeled table by the bed side, knocking it over and sending instruments clattering to the floor. The noise alerted another med tech just outside the door who quickly poked her head in and yelled.

"Hey, what`s going on in here?"

The med tech screamed when Apollo looked up suddenly and growled at her, baring his teeth, Cassie`s blood running down his chin. "Oh Lords, Captain, what`s gotten into you?"

Apollo then lunged for the girl, chasing her out into the main exam area. Before he could catch her Dr. Salik entered the room and Apollo turned on the older man, growled and knocked him to floor on his way out the door.

Cassie came running out, her hand covering the still bleeding wound on her throat "He bit me. Apollo bit me."

Picking himself up from the floor Salik replied, "Dear God, it`s true. Apollo really does believe he`s a vampire. Someone get me the Commander quickly, and get Cassie`s throat patched up immediately."

"I don`t have to take those awful rabies shots do I?" Cassie whined.

***

Apollo ran down the corridors of the Galactica, ducking into dark alcoves whenever he heard someone approach. He had lain perfectly still for what seemed like days, waiting for Cassie to come close enough for him to grab. Now that he had turned her into one of the living dead he searched for his next prize. There was someone he wanted more than anyone else in the universe, had longed to feel those arms around him for yahrens, but was to afraid to do anything about it. Now that he was a vampire he could do it, he could capture his true love. bite the smooth skin on the slender neck and in an instant Starbuck would be more than willing to worship the ground Apollo walked on.

Apollo grinned evilly at the thought of making Cassie watch that.

***

Starbuck and Boomer stood in the commander`s quarters and listened while Dr. Salik briefed them on what had happened in the Life Centre.

"You will have to search every area of the ship for him, especially areas where it is cold and dark. It`s very likely that is where he will head to rest."

"I`m not an expert on the tales of vampires, but won`t he look for a coffin or box of some sort to sleep in during the day time? Won`t it be easier to find him during the day shift when he`s sleeping?" Starbuck asked.

"I don`t think we can go by what the old legends say. After all we don`t have any sun light on the Galactica, so he won`t need to hide from it. We go by our clocks, not the sun." Adama noted

"Which means he`s going to sleep when he feels like it," Starbuck added.

"Exactly, and probably in a cold dark room like Dr. Salik suggested. After all, we don't have many coffins lying around either," Adama said. "Now, I want you two to form as many search parties as possible. Make sure everyone knows they are not to be alone at any time, and that they must watch each other`s necks."

"Sir, he can`t possibly be that bad," Boomer said.

"The attack on Casseiopia was very vicious. He believes he's a vampire and will bite without a moment's thought. *Watch your necks*," Salik repeated.

*************************************

From his hiding place amongst the pipes that ran the length of the ceiling in the lowest level of the Galactica, Apollo silently watched Starbuck and Boomer search each room along the corridor. Earlier he had been in the ship`s laundry room and managed to steal an extra shirt belonging to the Commander as well as the older man`s dress cape that had been sent for cleaning. Now not only was he a vampire, but he looked the part as well.

His evil smile grew wider as his prize stepped closer to the hiding place. When the two warriors were directly underneath him, he pulled out the laser he had lifted from the supply closet off the landing bay and, double checking that it was still on stun, fired at his two best friends knocking them out in a micron.

Jumping down he chuckled wickedly as he ran his finger along Starbuck's cheek. "Soon my love. Very, very soon."

Lifting Starbuck up and placing him over his shoulder, he disappeared into the darkness.

****

Boomer woke up some time later, feeling stiff and sore."What the frack happened?...... Starbuck? *Starbuck*!"

Looking around him he saw that Starbuck was nowhere to be seen.

"Oh frack, oh Lords, please don`t tell me Apollo did this."

Boomer carefully picked himself up and headed for the comm unit at the end of the corridor and contacted the bridge, telling them that he and Starbuck had both been stunned and that Starbuck was now missing.

***

Starbuck woke up and blinked his eyes. He was laying on the floor of a cold dark room, his arms and legs tied tightly in a spread eagle position. The cold metal floor on his back side told him he was naked.

"Oh good, you're awake, now I can have fun with you." he heard Apollo whisper in his ear.

"Apollo, what are you doing?" Starbuck tried unsuccessfully to hide his fear.

Apollo chuckled at the way his true love's voice trembled. "Don`t you know? Can`t you figure it all out on your own?"

"Um, well, no, not really. Wait, I know, this is all a game to see if you can scare me half to death right? Well, okay, Apollo, you win, so untie me, and then I can get dressed again and we go back upstairs and nothing will ever be said about this. I'll forget the whole thing ever happened."

"Wrong my love. So very, very wrong."

"Your love?" Starbuck was sure he had heard Apollo wrong.

"Yes,*my* love. Now where should I bite you first?"

Starbuck could feel Apollo`s warm hand running up the inside of his leg, stopping to squeeze his inner thigh.

"Maybe here, on the warm tender flesh of your upper leg? Or maybe up here," Apollo`s hand moved up over Starbuck`s hip, "on the smooth skin of your belly, or maybe I`ll start here," the hand moved once more, "maybe I should drink your blood from your nipple."

"Apollo come on, game over. You're really scaring me here."

"Hush now my love. It will only hurt for a little while, and when I`m done making you one of the undead, making you mine, it will feel like heaven."

"You know Apollo, you really don`t have to bite me to make me yours, all you have to do is ask and I`ll........"

Starbuck stopped talking when he felt Apollo`s tongue slowly trace the outline of his trembling lips.

*************************

Adama paced the length of his quarters as he made Boomer repeat for the fifth time exactly what had happened in the lower deck. Boomer was getting tired of having to tell the same story over and over again and wanted desperately to go back and look for his friends. The longer the Commander wasted time asking him the same questions the more likely it was that Apollo was going to hurt Starbuck by biting his neck, if he hadn't already, and if Apollo bit Starbuck they might not find him in time.

"Sir, with all due respect, we have to go back down there and search for Apollo and Starbuck. Apollo's hiding spot has got to be close to the place where he stunned us. He couldn`t have carried Starbuck very far. He may have already bitten Starbuck`s neck and now Starbuck's lying someplace bleeding to death waiting for help to arrive."

"Don`t you think I'm as worried about Starbuck as you? Good lords, that man is like a son to me. Besides Apollo and Starbuck should be locked up in a room making love to each other, not biting each other's necks."

The last part of what Adama said shocked Boomer a bit. Sure he and the rest of blue squadron had made jokes about the two in private moments. They had all noticed that the two acted more like lovers than best friends, but he hadn't aware the Commander felt the same way.

"All the more reason to find them, Sir," was all he could think to say.

"I have Giles and Greenbean down there searching that area as we speak."

"Sir, maybe you're not aware of this, but Greenbean is afraid of the dark."

"He is?"

"Yes, Sir."

"Oh. Well in that case, I suggest you get down there, Lieutenant."

***

Starbuck tried very hard to keep his tears from flowing but the pain was just too bad. Apollo had bit him first on the tender skin of his inner thighs, then on the belly, drawing blood each time. Now he was sinking his teeth into Starbuck`s left nipple and sucking the blood that seeped out.

"Oh please, Apollo, stop! It hurts!" he screamed

Apollo ran his tongue around the bleeding nipple then whispered,"Not yet my love. Just one more small bite on your other nipple and then you can make your promise to me."

"Make my promise? And just how do I do that?" Starbuck sobbed.

Apollo grinned evilly as he replied, "You will see, beautiful. You will see."

Starbuck screamed louder as Apollo bit into his other nipple.

****

AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

"Did you hear that?" Greenbean cried

"Yeah, it sounded like someone in extreme pain," Giles answered

"Or a ghost, it could be a ghost."

"Oh come on Greenie, there are no such things as ghosts." Giles rolled his eyes.

"That`s what everyone said about vampires, but now Apollo is one of them."

Giles sighed heavily as he said, "Greenie, Apollo is not a vampire. He just thinks he is because some stupid bat bit him."

"Yeah? Well everyone knows that vampires can turn themselves into bats."

"Hey guys, any luck down here?" the two heard Boomer call from behind them.

"Well we heard someone cry out in pain, it could have Starbuck." Giles told him.

"No it wasn`t. It was a ghost." Greenbean trembled.

"Yeah, well, Greenbean why don`t you go on back up and get yourself something to drink in the OC? Giles and I can take care of things down here."

"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks, Boomer." Greenbean said as he ran off towards the turbolift.

"Now what direction did these cries come from?"

Giles pointed down the darkest corridor. "That way."

"Okay, then, let's get going, you take one side and do the other."

****

"Apollo please, stop. Stop this. It hurts so bad," Starbuck cried loudly.

"For now my love, but just for a little while. Now it`s time for you to do something for me," Apollo said as he sat up and removed his clothing.

Apollo straddled Starbuck's chest and slowly moved forwards. When his legs rubbed against Starbuck`s swollen and bleeding nipples, the other man cried out in pain, and Apollo used the chance to force his hardened cock into his mouth.

"Now suck on me. Promise to be mine for now and all eternity."

Starbuck slowly started sucking on Apollo`s cock, trying to ignore the pain in his bleeding nipples.

********************

Giles and Boomer stopped and listened. They were both sure they had heard a scream of pain coming from the far end of the corridor. Boomer motioned to Giles with his finger to his lips and waved at him to follow. Together the two tiptoed to the far end where they saw three closed doors. Double checking to make sure their lasers were on stun, they held them ready as Boomer opened each one in turn. When the third door opened they found their friends.

Apollo heard the door open and turned quickly and hissed at the two warriors standing there, but before he had time to react Boomer quickly stunned him, sending him forwards on top of Starbuck`s face.

"Quick, Giles untie Starbuck`s legs."

Boomer quickly rans and lifted Apollo off his choking and crying friend.

"He bit me, Boomer. He bit me and it hurts. Please be careful."

"It`s okay buddy, we`re gonna take the both of you to the Life Centre and you`ll be fine."

"He said he wanted to make me into a vampire too, and turn me into his sex slave."

"Well you two do belong with each other, Bucko."

"His nipples are bleeding, Boomer," Giles gasped.

"Yours would be too if someone had bit them off," Starbuck sobbed

"They are not bit off Starbuck, just bit into real good. Apollo must have really strong teeth. Come on now and I`ll help you stand and get you out of here." Boomer said in a calm voice.

"Not without my uniform."

Boomer quickly found Starbuck`s uniform and helped him dress, then Giles helped Starbuck walk out while Boomer threw Apollo over his shoulder and carried him to the Life Centre.

***

A few centars later Starbuck stood in the doorway of Apollo`s room looking in at him. Dr. Salik had ordered that Apollo be restrained to the bed to keep him from escaping again. Now Apollo was crying and pleading with Starbuck to let him go.

"Please Starbuck, we can leave quietly and go back to our love nest, no one will find us."

Suddenly Cassie was standing behind Starbuck. "Apollo, you also bit Cassie. What were you thinking?"

Apollo smiled evilly as he said, "I was going to make her watch me make love to you. She's never going to have you again."

Cassie just rolled her eyes as she said,"Oh for Sagan's sake, Apollo, all you have to do is snap your fingers and Starbuck comes running to do your bidding."

"He will now, he's under my spell."

"Apollo, you are *not* a vampire," Starbuck said forcefully.

"Yes I am, I was bitten by the vampire bat on that planet. Now I'm a vampire too."

"Well then you won't mind if Cassie and I do a little vampire test then. Ready, Cassie?"

"Oh I`m looking forward to this."

The two approached the bed. Both were wearing very smug grins, their eyes sparkling with mischief. Cassie pulled a test tube out of her pocket and showed it to Apollo. It was filled with a clear colourless liquid.

"What is that?"

"Nothing much really, Captain. Just some water that has been blessed by the high priest."

"*Holy water*? No, get it away, get it away."

"Sorry Apollo, but this is for your own good," Cassie said as she opened the bottle and poured the contents out onto Apollo`s belly. Apollo closed his eyes and started screaming.

"*It burns it burns.*"

"Lords Apollo but you're a baby. There isn`t so much as a mark on you, and no smoke either," Starbuck teased "Now time for my test. Hungry, Apollo?"

"No, not really."

"Too bad, because you'rr going to eat anyway." Starbuck then reached into the pocket of his robe and pulled out a bulb of garlic. He then climbed onto the bed and straddled Apollo`s chest.

"Here you go Apollo, eat the garlic, come on eat it," Starbuck ordered as he broke off a clove and forced it into Apollo`s mouth.

"No, Starbuck please, vampires can`t eat garlic, it kills them," Apollo cried as he tried to spit out the garlic. "Help me, someone help me, he's trying to kill me."

"What`s all this yelling about, Apollo?" they heard Adama say from the open door.

"Father, help me, Starbuck and Cassie are trying to kill me."

"Oh really? Now why would they want to do that? I mean all you did was bite poor Cassie on the neck, then you stunned Startbuck and carried him off to some cold dark room were you stripped him down, bit him in various places on his body and then tried to rape him. Now why would they want to kill you?"

"Because I`m a vampire."

"Oh is that all? Well now I have one final test for that. See that lamp over there by the wall? Well that`s a very special lamp Apollo. It was built long ago, back in the days when my father was just a boy, and it has the power to kill vampires. Why don`t I get it and bring it over to show to you."

"No you can`t do that, you're my father. You can`t kill me."

"But Apollo, you're a vampire, you said so yourself." Adama responded as he plugged in the lamp and placed it over Apollo`s face, then helped Starbuck climb down from on top of Apollo. "Now I can`t allow a vampire to roam around the ship, Apollo, even if that vampire is my son. I`m sorry."

Apollo closed his eyes and screamed as Adama turned on the light. After a few centons Adama shut the lamp off.

"Open your eyes Apollo." the Commander ordered.

Slowly Apollo did as he was told. "I`m not dead. Your lamp didn`t work."

"Apollo, you have had holy water poured over you, garlic forced into your mouth and then this lamp shone in your face. Not one of them destroyed you. Do you think that maybe it`s possible you are wrong about being a vampire?"

"No, I`m not wrong, I`m a vampire."

"But Apollo, you were only bitten once," Cassie said

"So?"

"In order to turn into a vampire you have to be bitten three times, and have your blood sucked out," Starbuck stated.

"And then you have to drink some of the vampires blood. You can`t forget that part. It`s very important," Adama reminded them all.

"That`s right, and since that`s not what happened........." Starbuck looked at Apollo.

"I`m not a vampire," Apollo pouted.

"No, just a fool who got all hysterical over a bat bite. And now because of his foolishness two more people have to have rabies shots," Dr. Salik said from the doorway.

Apollo looked up at Starbuck. "Will you forgive me for biting you?"

"I`ll think about it," Starbuck sniffed, "but you are going to have to make it up to me."

"I will, I promise, I`ll do whatever it takes."

Starbuck grinned evilly. "Anything? Really?"

"Yes, just name it and I`ll do it."

"Okay, how about you do to me what you tried to force me to do to you before Boomer and Giles came rushing in that door."

Adama put his hand and his chin and stared at the two men.

Apollo blushed and grinned shyly. "I think that can be arranged."

Adama then turned to leave the room, muttering, "Well at least one good thing came out of all this."

***

A few centars later the two men were released from the Life Centre, with orders to return each day for their rabies shot, and sent home. Apollo still felt rather silly because of the way he had allowed his old childhood fear to take control of him, but he knew deep down that vampire really didn`t exist. Now he walked back to his quarters holding Starbuck`s hand. After his father had left the room, Starbuck had surprised him by bending down and gently kissing his lips and whispering "I love you" in his ear. That was when they made plans to return to Apollo`s quarters, put Boxey to bed, and then enjoy each other`s company in a more "adult" fashion.

Apollo quickly keyed in the security code and the door opened. When they stepped through the door they were greeted with a loud ROAR and Apollo found himself staring into the eyes of a vicious beast.

"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH! A WEREWOLF!" he screamed as he turned and ran out the door.

Starbuck looked down at the small boy as he removed the wolf mask.

"Does this mean you have to go searching for my dad again?" Boxey asked

"I`m afraid so, kid," Starbuck winced.

***

Fin