THE JOURNEY CONTINUES: FINDING KOBOL

          Roark and Rodolphus walked onto the bridge together, Roark with their giggling son in his arms as he kept trying to pull his papa's officer's pins out.  Those that were on the bridge turned from their assigned tasks, smiling as Thorin turned immediately, moving to take his nephew's son. 

          "As I have said," Rodolphus grumbled, "it's a wonder we get to hold him at all."

          "Oh, do stop complaining.  You two get him all to yourselves as soon as you lock your quarter doors." Thorin kissed Hunter's brow.  "What happened out there?" he asked

          A soft snort.  "What didn't would probably be the better question."  Roark sat on the corner of the command console, reaching over Omega's arm.  "Life Center?"

          "Hey, Cass, how's Evan and Rabastan?"

          "They're grouchy as hell--Rabastan Lestrange, you get your gorgeous ass back into that bed or so help me you will regret what I do!!  Sorry, Rory, gotta go."

          Omega was chuckling as the transmission was cut short.  Roark shook his head with a deep chuckle of his own.  "As soon as the shuttle landed safely, we decided, Evan, Dolph, Roark, and I, to take a closer look at that listening post."

          "We were well below their radar detection when they launched a patrol."  Rodolphus leaned back against the metal rail of the upper bridge, watching as Omega reached out to tickle Hunter's bare feet, making him giggle.  "We had left Captain Deedra in charge of the squadron as Rabastan and Harry had gone down with the shuttle."

          "The ladies picked up the patrol on their scanners, and seeing they were getting closer to their location, decided to take them out."

          "Bad move?"

          "Not necessarily.  Better to destroy them than let them report back, and they DID manage to destroy a few, but..." he paused, shook his head, "things went to hell quickly when one of the Cylons managed to contact the post.  They sent out a full phalanx against us."

          "I immediately let the shuttle know our circumstances, and then the four of us went after that listening post.  No way we were leaving it operational."

          "You destroyed it then?" came Roark Sr.'s question as he came up the steps, having heard that last bit.  

          "Harry and Rabastan joined the girls in their fight until we could join them," he gave a smile.  "They didn't do half bad out there.  The only real problem was inexperience.  The six we lost were because of little errors in the estimation of where the Cylon was.  Both Evan and Rabastan took hits, Evan to the bottom of his viper, Rabastan to his port side engine."

          "I see.  Their injuries?"

          "Not as bad as it COULD have been.  Cassie was yelling at Rabastan, Evan is..." his head tilted, a little smile curving his lips. looking over at Rodolphus.  "Are you getting this?"

           He chuckled.  "He's as impatient as hell, but he also feels...tired.  Sore."

          Roark stood, moving to take Hunter from his Uncle.  "I think Dolph and I will head back to our quarters.  It's time Hunter ate something, then was put to bed."

                                                                    cccVccc

         "Harry did WHAT?!" he cried once Rabastan had finished explaining what had happened, and why Harry had not returned with him from their patrol.

          "Easy, beautiful," Evan murmured, slipping his arms around him and drawing him back against him.  "You said they didn't fire on him."

          Rabastan ran his hand through his sable hair in agitation.  "He said, just before I lost coms with him, that it seemed to him as they swarmed around him, that they wanted to capture...not kill.  He said they had demanded he release the control of his viper and follow them."

          "That is...out of character."

          "To say the least, Thorin,"  Roark said.  "I know you're nearly as tightly connected as Roark is to Rodolphus.  Can you tell if he's alright?"

          That question had Roark's head coming up, silver eyes focusing on his brother-in-law.  He watched Rabastan's head tilt slightly and pulling free of Evan, he moved to him, slipping his hand around the crook of his right arm.

          "Oh...hh," Roark breathed, "that is so...oo not good," a little smile twisting his lips.

          A chuckle.  "He's playing with...someone...probably Baltar if he was the one to order the capture of a warrior...I don't think he thought he'd get lucky enough to land himself Harry.  He will also very likely regret it by the time Harry gets done with him."

          "I gather Harry is amused?"

          "He's amused alright.  He is also very annoyed, and you know what an annoyed Harry is like."

          Laughter rang out across the bridge.