Title: C.O.R.A. Author: vipercadet Date: Feb 2001 Rating: PG Disclaimer: They're not mine. Feedback: vipercadet@crosswinds.net Summary: Cupid can take on awfully strange forms sometimes... Lieutenant Starbuck was whistling a cheerful tune as he made his way over to the launch bay. He was due for a long patrol with the new recon viper, 'C.O.R.A.'. She didn't have lasers, but she was faster than any other viper in the fleet. The best thing about Cora though, in Starbuck's opinion, was the fact that she had personality. She didn't speak like a computer like some of the other 'communicating' vipers did. Cora was as close to a woman as a computer could ever be, and Starbuck had a soft spot for her. He tried to ignore the fact that she was a man-made machine, instead treating her like she was a real person. Boomer had mockingly called Starbuck's patrols with Cora a 'date with a dream viper', and had inquired if he brought her flowers and candy, and what Cora would say if she knew about Cassiopeia? Starbuck didn't mind. If jokes about him and Cora would keep them from discovering his real love interest, he would gladly bear the jokes. In fact, Cora was the only one who knew. One day, during a long and particularly boring patrol, he had told her his heart's secret, after swearing her to absolute secrecy first. He didn't quite know how he felt about sharing his feelings with a computer, but he just tried not to think about it. It was safer this way. If he told one of his friends, they would try to get him to confess his love to... no. He couldn't tell them. But at the moment, Starbuck wasn't thinking about any of his problems. All he knew was that he was about to have a long, relaxing patrol and probably some nice conversation with Cora. For a machine, she sure was up to date. She knew exactly what was going on in the fleet, and Starbuck suspected that he wasn't the only pilot who liked to talk to Cora during patrols. He hopped into the viper with all his youthful elan, grinned at his flight crew, and switched her on. 'Here we go sweetheart.' 'Starbuck!' was her delighted reply. 'It's so good to see you, honey!' He grinned cheerfully and hit the turbo. 'Ready for some action babe?' 'You bet.' If a viper could grin, Cora was definitely grinning. Once they were out in space, Starbuck leaned back and closed his eyes for a moment. 'What are you thinking honey?' came Cora's sweet, feminine voice. 'What do you think I'm thinking?' he snapped. They fell silent for a while, and Starbuck found himself gazing at the stars. He wondered if he should apologize to Cora for snapping at her, but did you really need to apolozige to a viper? He sighed. She may be a computer, but she's still a woman. And all women need apologies, even when you don't think you did anything wrong. 'Cora, I'm sorry.' No reply. 'C'mon, I said I'm sorry Cora!' 'You will never really understand women, Starbuck.' she pouted. 'If it was up to me I wouldn't need to.' said Starbuck, chagrined. 'Oh honey... why don't you just tell him? He couldn't turn you away, no one could... who in their right minds would push away your honest love?' Centons passed before Starbuck's answer came. 'Apollo would, Cora...' he whispered. 'Apollo would...' --------------------------------------------------- The next few days were surprisingly uneventful. Life went on as usual for Starbuck, which meant that he spent most of his time chasing skirts, playing pyramid and avoiding Cassiopeia and Athena. Until one day over lunch, Apollo told him excitedly that he would get to fly the new recon viper that very evening. The Captain had never flown with Cora before, and he was dying to find out what all the excitement was about. Starbuck nearly choked on his food. He had never considered the fact that Apollo and Cora could get to meet each other. If only she would keep his secret... 'Starbuck, are you alright?' his friend asked worriedly. 'Yeah, I'm fine... ah, look, Apollo... are you sure you don't want me to trade patrols with you? 'Cause I don't mind, you know, if you want to take the evening off...' 'What makes you think I want the evening off? I'm looking forward to flying with Cora, she is said to be state of the art technology.' She is... Starbuck thought. She is also the only one who knows that I love you. --------------------------------------------------- Apollo didn't quite know what he'd expected Cora to be, but her soothing, feminine voice wasn't exactly what he thought a viper should sound like. 'It's nice to meet you, Captain Apollo. I've heard so much about you.' She had a memory? Apollo found himself gazing at the little screen that represented the first viper with a personality he had ever seen. So this was what all the other pilots talked about. 'Ah, nice to meet you too, Cora.' He found himself almost hesitant to press the turbo button, wondering if she would feel anything if he did. He grinned at his own silliness, and hit the turbo. Computers don't have feelings, do they? 'What are you grinning at, Captain?' asked Cora teasingly. 'Just wondering about you.' Apollo replied in all honesty. 'You said you heard a lot about me... what exactly have you heard?' 'Oh, the pilots adore you.' she said sweetly. 'You have quite the reputation, Captain. From what I hear you are a bit strict, but always loyal and nice to be around.' Apollo felt himself blushing, and silently thanked the Gods that Cora didn't have eyes. 'You, ah, you're serious?' 'Yes sir, I wasn't programmed to joke around.' She sounded almost offended, and Apollo once more found himself wondering just how human-like a viper could get. And if Cora had her own personality... would Cylons have one, too? He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't like what he was thinking. 'So, ah, Cora... how do you like the pilots?' He just didn't know what else to say. He honestly couldn't believe he was asking a computer how she felt. 'I like most of them, they are very nice.' Cora chattered away happily. 'Especially Lieutenant Starbuck, he is so... gentlemanly.' Apollo felt like something just stabbed him through the heart. He didn't like the way this 'Cora' talked about Starbuck, with her sweet, feminine voice. He could almost see her winking at his wingman, pouting her full, red lips at him, suggestively licking her lips to see the effect she had on him... wait a centon. She was a viper, she couldn't possibly be a threat to him. And besides, he had no rights to claim Starbuck. As much as he wanted to have him, the sexy Lieutenant wasn't his. 'Apollo?' He swallowed nervously. 'Ah, yes Cora?' 'I think there is something you should know...' ---------------------------------------- That night, Starbuck woke up tossing and turning. In his nightmare, he had been chased by a viper with a mouth instead of lasers, threatening him to reveal his secret to Apollo. He looked at his chronometer and realized that Apollo was about to return from patrol. He sighed and hauled himself out of bed, deciding that attack was the best form of defense. He would wait for Apollo in the landing bay, and find out exactly how much Cora had told him. ---------------------------------- Captain Apollo was still visibly shaken as he climbed out of his viper and tossed his helmet at one of his flight crew, but there was a happy grin on his face. He looked up to see Starbuck standing at the other end of the landing bay, looking anxious. Apollo walked over to his friend, grabbed him by the shoulders, and looked him right into the eyes. 'Do you have any idea at all how much time you wasted?' 'Ah...' said Starbuck, confused at his friends reaction. 'You idiot! We could have had yahrens together!' Apollo grinned and pulled his friend close to his chest. 'Starbuck you fool, I have loved you since I first met you at the Academy.' he whispered into his friend's blonde hair. Starbuck pulled away in disbelieve, his mouth wide open. 'But... but you never told me! How could you not have told me!' They stared at each other for what seemed like an eternity, then their mouths locked just for a micron, and the two men tasted each other for the very first time. When they finally became aware of their surroundings, they were being loudly cheered by flight personnel and tech crew. 'Um, 'Pollo?' 'Yeah...' 'You want to go somewhere, ah, private?' 'Anytime, lover... anytime.' ---------------------------------- The End