PEACE BETRAYED--ANNIHILATION

          "Hey, Jolly!" came Starbuck's call as soon as he entered.  "Come join us for a game or two of Pyramid!"

          "Perhaps later, Starbuck.  I need to have a word with Lt. Colonel Aiden and Colonel Alexei," he said, turning to the table at the back of the room and heading for them, pausing briefly at a table to say, "Captain Apollo, Lt, Zac, would you both join me for a moment?"

          "Sure, Jolly," Zac said as both he and Apollo got to their feet, moving with him to the tables where Harry, the Durins, and several Counter-Intelligence Officers sat.  "What's going on, Jolly?  You seem to be on a mission."

          "I am, and in a micron, Zac," he answered, his face serious, a little worried.

          Harry, Aiden, Alexei, and several others all looked up at Jolly's approach, with a few smiles, and even more curious looks.  Especially as most Warriors tended to give those in Counter-Intelligence a wide birth.

          "Good evening to you, Flight Sergeant Jolly.  You look troubled.  Is there a problem?"

          "I think there may just be, Lt. Colonel Aiden.  Are you all free for a few centons to talk about something that may be important?"

          "Of course, Jolly.  Here, take a seat," one of the many cousin's said as he stood to grab a chair.  "Apollo, Zac."

          "Kaden," Zac said as he pulled an empty chair over and sat beside Jared, another cousin.

          "Would you care for a drink, Jolly?"

          "No, but thank you for the offer, Lt. Colton.   I have patrol soon."

          "You said there may be a problem.  What is it?"  Alexei asked as soon as everyone had settled.

          "Captain Roark, Sir."

          That got their attention.

          Everyone's.

          Immediately every one of their eyes was locked on him and Zac, who had been in the process of lifting his mug to drink, instead set it down, sitting forward to rest his arms on the table.  Harry sat forward too, his emerald eyes suddenly intent.  If Jolly had been anyone else, he would have squirmed.

          "What ABOUT Roark, Jolly?"

          "Is there something about Roark that worries you, Flight Sergeant?" Doctor-Major Robin asked as he too sat forward, setting his own mug on the table.

          "Yes Sir, there is.  He was in the launch bay a few centons ago."

          "There's nothing new about that, Jolly," Apollo said.  "You can usually find him in the launch OR landing bays when he is off duty and in need of some solitude."

          "So I and several others have observed on several occasions, Cap, but...something was different this time.  Something that made me decide to approach him and ask him if he was alright."

          "Different HOW, Jolly?" Roan asked from where he sat beside Bill.

          "When I got close to him, he had this...peculiar smile on his face.  You know, I'd not really noticed before, but he has a very nice smile."

          "That he does," Fili said with a warm smile.  "So why don't you tell us what has you so worried about my cousin so suddenly?"

          "We were talking about how much he likes to fly, about his job here aboard the Galactica, and about how he misses his husband."

          "We're aware he's having some serious problems being separated from Rodolphus," Dylan said, his voice holding just a bit of tension.

          "Just as we are fully aware that Harry is having the same troubles being apart from Rabastan.  It comes from being so tightly bonded."

          "As is to be expected for the both of us," Harry said then.  "What was it specifically that has you so worried, Jolly?" he asked.

          "It was something he murmured after I told him he would be seeing Rodolphus as soon as we got home from the conference.  It was a cryptic comment if ever I heard one, and his tone of voice literally gave me shivers."

          "And what was that comment?" Jacen asked from where he sat with his arm around the back of Kili's chair.

          "IF we got home."

          Silence.  Along with every one of them looking at each other.  Then, after a few microns, Aiden sat forward.  "Thank you, Jolly, for coming and sharing your concerns with us.  We will, of course, take care of it."

          He smiled.  "Just as I knew you would, Sir.  That is exactly why I decided to come to you."  He stood, pushing his chair back.  "If you will excuse me, I need to get back to the launch bay for my patrol."

          They nodded, watching him weave his way back through the crowd before returning their attention to the problem.  Harry pushed his mug aside and got to his feet, the motion followed immediately by his uncles.  Next to their feet were Dylan, Kili, Roan, and Colton.

          "We'll go talk to him," Roan said.  "Hold tight here."

          "You will call us if you need us?"

          A dark brow shot up at the question.  "Of course, Severus.  As if I would ever dare not to."