Destiny (book)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For information on the destiny storyline of Kara "Starbuck" Thrace in the Re-imagined Series, see The Destiny.

Destiny A book of the Richard Hatch line
Book No.	6
Author(s)	Richard Hatch and Brad Linaweaver
Adaptation of
No. of Pages	{{{pages}}}
Published	June 29, 2004
ISBN	0743486854
Chronology
Previous		Next
Paradis	Destiny	Redemption
Paperback Version
Available at Amazon.com – Purchase
Available at Amazon.co.uk – Purchase
Audiobook Version
Available at iTunes – [{{{itunes}}} Purchase]

Destiny is the sixth novel in Richard Hatch's continuation story based on the Original Series. The novel confronts Apollo's Fleet with its most morally devastating crisis yet: after Paradis catastrophically disintegrates and their aged vessels prove incapable of sustaining the entire population, eight hundred colonials must be chosen by lottery to remain behind in an uninhabitable system while the rest continue toward Earth. The story examines how desperation, hope, and the weight of impossible choices can transform even the noblest survivors into potential tyrants—or heroes willing to sacrifice everything.

Summary

Prologue

The opening meditation centers on the philosophical contrast between Starbuck and the Cylons, exploring what makes humanity's warriors truly dangerous to Imperious Leader. Starbuck embodies a paradox the Cylons cannot comprehend: a warrior who loves life passionately yet remains willing to sacrifice it completely for those he protects. His devotion to his daughter Dalton and his bond with Apollo's family have made him braver rather than more cautious, forging steel in his soul through twenty-five yahren of suffering in the exodus. The narrative establishes that Apollo and Starbuck share the same internal music—a fundamental harmony between leader and warrior that makes them exceptionally dangerous. If Imperious Leader could see into their minds, he would prioritize their extermination above all other humans, recognizing them as true heroes whose love for freedom demands any price. The prologue concludes with the somber observation that such heroes are not meant to live in any paradise.

Chapter One

The chapter opens with Baltar's nightmares, haunted by countless eyes following him like a skyeye surveillance system. Cassie experiences her own troubling dreams where Paradis speaks to her, warning of doom while she gives birth in the surf as dead fish wash ashore. Meanwhile, young Koren observes Paradis from a viewing portal and witnesses the planet's atmosphere beginning to show alarming color changes—tendrils of bright orange snaking across the blue-green surface, soon joined by pools of angry red. Blaring alarms confirm Koren's growing dread as he realizes the planet that had become their home is dying.

Apollo convenes an emergency meeting with Athena and President Tigh in Adama's secret chamber, the only appropriate setting for such a momentous decision. The three leaders understand that the vote must be perceived as fair or the colonials will revolt, potentially destroying everything they have worked to achieve. Tigh explains that after twenty-five yahren of deprivation, the people will accept nothing less than absolute parity between military, council, and civilians in determining who leaves and who stays behind—meaning essential personnel excepted, everyone must be placed in the lottery and at risk. Athena forcefully argues that they must face this terrible reality immediately, as Paradis shows every sign of imminent disintegration.

Galactica's instruments reveal a possible habitable planet approximately three light years away, requiring travel at maximum hyper-speed if supplies and fuel are to hold out. The brutal mathematics are inescapable: fifteen ships are not deep space worthy, and eight hundred colonials must stay behind. A young boy in the assembly volunteers to stay and fight the Cylons when they arrive, his courage striking Apollo as both inspiring and heartbreaking—these are the true horrors of war. Apollo leans over to whisper to Athena that their father would be very proud of her command presence, recognizing for the first time that he has an equal partner.

Chapter Two

The Fleet prepares to return temporarily to Paradis with the non-space-worthy vessels, as Apollo makes the command decision that the entire fleet will escort the unfortunate ships back to the planet before continuing the journey. Koren desperately wishes he could contact Caran, having had no contact since the exodus back to space, and fears he might not learn what happened to his young friend until he reaches another solar system.

As the Fleet watches, Paradis dies with tremendous power and dignity, actually seeming to grow three times its natural size before fragmenting. An old man marvels that at this moment, he is stronger than a planet simply because he still exists, and considers that when his time comes, he might find it easier to die from the example of Paradis and the Gamon. His teenage niece Caran watches with him, thinking of Koren and regretting their lost contact—she had deliberately waited to reestablish communication until after knowing where she and her family stood in the lottery, not wanting special favors because of Koren's relationship with Apollo.

Sheba experiences unique grief as she watches the final resting place of Commander Cain vanish in flame and silence. It seems ironic to have come so far and said farewell on a verdant hillside only to witness her father's body returned to space, which would have been his preference all along. She comforts herself with philosophical reflections that all burials must ultimately be in space, as no planet will survive the heat-death of the universe, and remembers her father laughing and living and happy to hold his daughter.

The destruction leaves behind a resource-rich debris field containing iron, cobalt, titanium, mercury, tin, chromium, silver, gold, bismuth, and countless other elements—all the ingredients of a living planet now spread thin and begging to be harvested by space-faring technology. The cruel irony is that the ships most qualified to exploit these resources are the ones certain to leave this system, while the scientists and engineers most capable of using them will continue the Quest. Young warriors including Dalton, Trays, Troy, and Raya ignore Bojay's orders and launch their Vipers to witness Paradis's death throes up close, marveling at the stunning array of colors left as the planet's signature and epitaph.

Chapter Three

Starbuck reflects on how the destruction of Paradis leaves him unmoved, as he has never felt strong attachment to any place since the Cylon attack on the home worlds thirty yahren ago. For Starbuck, home has nothing to do with planets or space ships—people are what count, especially Cassie. Every time he has flirted with death, his mental image of Cassie has grown in power as a symbol of life and the best reason to struggle back from the brink, from his near-death experience on Kobol with the Ships of Light to his life-threatening injury on Paradis. His tumultuous relationship with Athena has paradoxically taught him to appreciate Cassie even more.

Troy speaks philosophically to the other pilots, suggesting the Gamon had somehow transcended death and "made it back," explaining their compassion and forgiveness despite Colonial aggression. Trays pragmatically worries about the immediate crisis: without even a dead planet to use as a base, some colonials will be left in "space coffins" of rickety ships, and he doubts any of their people will face death as stoically as the Gamon did. Troy concludes that the answer to their predicament will determine the ultimate destiny of the fleet and the human race, expressing relief that he is not in Apollo's position.

Starbuck visits Dalton in the Med Lab, where she confronts her father about his inability to choose between Cassie and Athena. She bluntly tells him that Cassie is the love of his life, that he will never find someone like her again and will never settle for less, warning that if he does not make up his mind soon, he will end up a bitter old man. Her wisdom about living in the moment and reminding loved ones they are alive brings Starbuck to tears, and he thanks her for bringing her "old man back to life just in time to do something."

Chapter Four

Apollo prepares for his confrontation with the Council of Twelve, forcing himself to take sufficient time despite his fury, remembering his father Adama's diplomatic example—Apollo represents a synthesis of Commander Cain's fury and his father's caution. Starbuck and Boomer wait for him outside the council chamber, assuring Apollo they will always watch his back. Boomer observes that perhaps the fault lies with Paradis itself—after experiencing freedom and fresh air, the people will not easily settle for yahren in tight, miserable quarters again, though he notes they complained before on recycled air and fresh air did not stop their belly-aching.

Inside the closed meeting restricted to elites, Apollo wastes no time making his opening statement: fifteen ships are not deep space worthy and must be left behind, meaning eight hundred colonials must stay behind as well. The brutal fact is that food stores are inadequate to sustain everyone during the long journey to the newly discovered habitable planet, and even with eight hundred left behind, the remaining ships are overburdened. Apollo poses the critical question: who will run the lottery fairly, and who will be put at risk by inclusion in the list of names?

Sire Uri responds with smooth, velvety tones, arguing that the council represents the people and should run the lottery, with the military and council obviously exempted from inclusion since without their "mature guidance" there would be a breakdown of civil order. He insists the military has a duty to back the council and ensure order if the people prove recalcitrant. President Tigh attempts a moderate position, acknowledging Uri's points make sense under most circumstances but arguing that in this case, the people have lost faith in their leaders—if they do not trust the leadership, they will not accept dictates, and an open revolt would kill more colonials than the immediate threat.

Athena takes the floor to present the plan she formulated with Apollo and Tigh: the people themselves should be put in charge of the lottery, voting on who will lead and organize it. The military will set guidelines including determining essential personnel absolutely necessary to running the fleet and protecting passengers, and will decide who among the leadership must put their names in the lottery and be at risk. She forcefully declares they have no choice—they must make hard choices in the name of justice or the people will revolt. Sire Uri dismisses this as beautiful words that make no sense, insisting they cannot throw out their system of government on an emotional whim.

Chapter Five

The chapter continues exploring the political maneuvering around the lottery. A prisoner named Ryis discusses with his right-hand man how, if he were still in power, he would commandeer a good ship with functional FTL and go his own way, separate from the fleet's continuing quest for Earth and not remaining as a sitting duck in this system. Ryis philosophizes that whenever enemies give you two choices, one should start looking for third or fourth options. The final destruction of Paradis will provide stronger impetus to get on with the selection process, and despite his animosity for Apollo, Ryis does not envy the commander his current duties—no sane man would volunteer for that job.

A nameless little man sits next to the body of his little wife, a couple who lived together for thirty yahren without making a ripple on society, surviving the war with the Cylons until this moment. The man reflects with surprise that he placed his weak hands around his wife's throat and strangled her, demonstrating how the lottery crisis is driving even the most unremarkable colonials to desperate acts.

Chapter Six

Koren wakes from troubling dreams involving Gar'Tokk and Caran, feeling like he is in the middle of a tornado. When Caran actually appears at his door, he initially thinks he is still dreaming. She has come to deliver important news: Koren's name is not on the list of those who will stay behind. However, Caran reveals that her entire family has been chosen to stay behind, though she philosophically notes at least they will not be separated from each other.

Koren immediately and emotionally declares that if she stays behind, he will do the same. Caran tries to dissuade him, warning that when the fleet disappears into hyperspace there will be no turning back and he will regret it for the rest of his life, no matter how brief. Koren insists this is his choice and his life, and Caran must understand that he truly cares for her. The scene demonstrates how personal relationships become paramount when facing mortality and separation.

Chapter Seven

Koren confides in Gar'Tokk, expressing frustration that the colonials seem to fight themselves more than they fight the Cylons, especially since his birth. He cannot believe some of them will have to stay behind when the fleet makes the jump, and asks why they do not all stay and face the final battle together. Gar'Tokk acknowledges Koren has a warrior's heart but does not think like a commander, explaining that Apollo has a duty to all and did not create the trap they are in—he will fight with every ounce of strength to save at least a remnant of his people.

When Koren reveals his fear of losing Caran, Gar'Tokk offers genuine comfort by noting that very few were left behind on Paradis, then calls Koren "young warrior" for the first time. Gar'Tokk takes Koren to a special gymnasium reserved for warrior training, signaling his acceptance of the boy's growing maturity and commitment.

Chapter Eight

Cassie finds herself reflecting on how the vicissitudes of their demanding lives leave so little free time that idle fantasies must replace real decisions about personal lives. She idly wonders what it would be like if only she, Apollo, and Starbuck existed on some far-off world—would she be lover to both of them, and are they mature enough for such an arrangement? She concludes that when placed against endless disasters, the problems of three people amount to very little, as there is always a crisis.

When Apollo arrives, Cassie prepares to take him to Baltar, but Apollo insists there is time and that they need to talk. He takes her hand and apologizes for not being there for her, but Cassie understands and does not require explanations. Apollo kisses her fingers as they trail across his lips, expressing his regret, while Cassie accepts the commonsensical realities that do nothing to fill the hole in her heart or address the bitterness of her frustration—she does not have the relationship she desires.

Chapter Nine

Troy and Dalton meet in the star chamber sanctuary, where Troy initially feels surprised and uncomfortable at Dalton's romantic overtures, conscious of their seven-year age difference. Dalton bluntly addresses the age gap, pointing out she is now eighteen and he is twenty-five, and in five more yahren the difference will matter even less. She pushes Troy back onto the bed and prepares to tell him a secret about when she was fifteen and he was tutoring her in Evasive Maneuvers in the Viper Flight Sim Unit.

Later, lying together in the star chamber, Dalton expresses concern about their future, noting how everyone seems to lose "the magic" as they grow older. Troy insists they should focus on the moment, but Dalton persists in wanting to preserve how they feel, saying she would not mind if this were the last day of her life as long as she can be with him and have this incredible feeling. Troy admits he was not being completely honest with her earlier, suggesting even his logical arguments feel incomplete against the emotional reality of their situation.

Unbeknownst to the young lovers, Cassie has been sleeping in the sanctuary and wakes to find them there. Not wanting to interrupt or spoil their tender moment, she remains silent and watches, finding it difficult not to cry because she is so proud of both of them. After they leave, she walks over to the star gazing seat and reflects on the absurdity of their situation—travelers between the stars finally in circumstances where many must end the journey.

Chapter Ten

The newly elected civilian leadership led by a woman named Diana announces the results of their deliberations regarding the lottery. Prominent warriors including Starbuck, Boomer, and Sheba are included in the lottery, while younger warriors like Dalton, Troy, and Trays are excluded based on logical criteria of training, knowledge, and command experience. Apollo, Athena, and Tigh are excluded from the lottery due to their irreplaceable command experience—the new leaders refuse to repeat the council's mistakes of allowing ignorance and envy to guide decisions.

In what many see as proof of the new regime's fairness and logic, every member of the Council of Twelve is included in the lottery. Apollo expresses satisfaction at imagining Sire Uri's reaction, while Athena jokes she wants to see his face first. However, not every decision satisfies Apollo and Athena—Cassie is included in the lottery despite being the mother of a young child, as the new leadership decided mothers will not be separated from their children but also will not be automatically exempted. Athena expresses genuine astonishment at this decision, noting it is bad enough to be left behind without being left alone.

Chapter Eleven

The lottery results are posted, and the reactions vary dramatically across the fleet. Most colonials expected to be in the lottery and had reconciled themselves long before details were worked out, with the majority behaving in mature fashion. Young couples take their cues from the posting of names—those who had postponed making love are not waiting any longer, while serious couples get married and often make pacts that if one must stay behind, the other will give up their slot for the next name on the list.

Wealthy council members attempt to purchase abandoned tickets, insisting price is no object, but the surprise is that no one seems interested in their cubits. Sire Uri himself witnesses young people using cubits to light fumarellos, a sight that strikes terror into his soul as he realizes the fundamental social contract is breaking down.

An ex-teacher named Etooey murders another man in the first killing directly attributable to the lottery. After opening the victim's head with surgical instruments and spreading brains across the floor, Etooey shrieks "He has an open mind!" while giggling, representing the psychological breaking point for some colonials.

Apollo begins his day alone in his quarters with the first printing of the complete list, requesting a physical paper copy rather than receiving the information electronically—it seems like the right thing to do. He makes himself read the entire list aloud, pausing between each name, wanting to feel the full weight on his tongue as he goes through all eight hundred names. When he reaches "Starbuck," he has to put down the list, half having expected it—usually Starbuck is lucky, having won enough hands of pyramid to prove it. Apollo reflects on their many arguments over the yahren and realizes he had never admitted to himself that he could not imagine losing Starbuck to anything but a dogfight against Cylons, yet here is the separation at last, a name on paper as irrevocable as the law of gravity.

Chapter Twelve

Sire Riggbok becomes the first council member caught attempting to bribe his way out of the lottery. The military police arrest him immediately, though the incident represents only the first of many expected challenges to the lottery's integrity. Apollo dreads this first arrest since declaring martial law, recognizing it is best to let the threat do the work rather than having to follow through against those foolish enough to test a true leader's resolve.

Athena had suspected Riggbok specifically because he was "shooting off his mouth" at a previous meeting—she admits she does not like anyone on the council, but he represents the worst she has encountered lately, suggesting Sire Uri needs a better caliber of villain to help his cause. The communicator then brings priority news from the Med Lab: Baltar is awake.

Chapter Thirteen

Baltar experiences vivid nightmares and visions of the Cylon world, running across platforms and surfaces while pursued by a massive pyramid structure with a single bloodshot eye. He descends through a door into a gigantic spiral emptiness that forms the heart of the Cylon world, hearing vast groans and sighs of alien machines working forever to produce and control what must be made and commanded for Imperious Leader's purposes.

Baltar feels woefully inadequate to the task of understanding it all and doubts whether his knowledge would be useful to Apollo in saving people from these monsters. He reflects that everyone knows only Baltar is suited to his current purpose—on this grim fact, Apollo and Imperious Leader can agree, along with the recognition that Cylons never sleep.

When Baltar awakens, he immediately contacts Apollo with critical intelligence about the Cylon civil war. He explains that Imperious Leader initially tried to feed him lies about a functional colony the Fleet could use in this system, but Baltar was insulted by the amateur quality of the deception—the real purpose was to keep the fleet in place so the Cylons could exterminate everyone. Baltar reveals a massive Cylon force is heading their way, suggesting Imperious Leader has consolidated his power, though with Cylons one can never be certain.

Chapter Fourteen

The mobs and civil unrest grow as the lottery crisis deepens, with hundreds of civilians housed in cramped cargo ships since leaving Paradis, stacked together "like so many oxygen tanks" in uncongenial surroundings where there has been no laughing or smiling. Even before the lottery, these people had found no dignity in the metal cavern that became their home, and afterward the conditions only worsen.

Apollo observes the crowds through his screens and notes too many young people and teenagers in the mobs. He tells Athena it is one thing dealing with older obstructionists, but the recent reports from Starbuck and Boomer about problems with renegades in their own ranks complicate matters—they are not about to start mowing down frightened crowds that include so many youths. Apollo insists the people need a gesture of good will, something tangible to restore faith in the leadership, and orders arrangements for bringing a large group together in one place rather than making speeches entirely through flatscreens and TransVids—they must show they are not afraid of the people.

Chapter Fifteen

A massive meeting is held in one of the main cargo ships where hundreds of civilians have been housed since leaving Paradis. The voice of Sire Uri is heard on emergency channels, no longer hiding behind anonymity but making demands in his own dulcet tones. Uri insists that he and the council must be returned to power, claiming Apollo's martial law and the lottery amount to nothing more than a coup d'état. When the council is restored, they will review the lottery from start to finish and make final decisions based on "reason" rather than faith, determining who is valuable to Colonial civilization.

Uri delivers an ultimatum: the council has placed bombs throughout the fleet and will detonate them unless returned to power within one centon. He proclaims they are the legitimate government and will never abide by a vote, lottery, astrological ritual, or hand of pyramid—they demand victory or will blow the fleet into oblivion. Athena calculates the destructive potential and passes her findings to Apollo, who declares he will not give in to blackmail regardless of whether Uri destroys everything, most, or even one ship.

Tigh plays his usual thankless role as moderate influence, noting that if they do not give in, they may never escape this system, but Apollo insists they must determine who "we" actually are in that scenario—he speaks for all colonials who refuse to let the council make such determinations, especially now that they have revealed themselves as criminals.

Chapter Sixteen

Apollo successfully defuses the council's bomb plot through a combination of martial law authority and tactical intervention by loyal military forces. In the aftermath, he grapples with how to address the larger crisis of morale and unity as the fleet faces its darkest hour—eight hundred colonials must still be chosen to stay behind, and the psychological toll of this decision threatens to tear the remaining society apart.

Cassie makes a pivotal decision regarding her relationship with Starbuck and Apollo. She explains to Apollo that her making love to Starbuck again was not planned but happened because she needed someone, admitting she was lying to herself about that—something within her wanted it to happen, as she still loves Starbuck despite all his flaws and agendas. She has tried exhaustively to move on with her life but always seems to leave Starbuck behind, and now she is too exhausted to continue trying. She needs to be with him now more than ever, especially as he is going to need her, so she has decided to stay behind with him even though she has a way out, and she wants her child to stay with her and the nurse.

Cassie sobs out her decision and asks Apollo to forgive her, explaining she loves him more than any other man except Starbuck, finally realizing no one could ever take Starbuck's place in her heart. Apollo responds there is nothing to forgive and simply rises to join her. She kisses him once and hurriedly leaves before she cannot keep the tears bottled up any longer, while Apollo never tells her the personal news he received from Gar'Tokk just before the council's attempted coup: Koren is also staying behind even though his name was not on the list, a decision that fills Apollo with pride that is hard to express.

As Apollo gazes at the magnificent starfield, he realizes the last thing in the universe he wants to do is work on another speech—life must be more than stringing words together. Discovering something wet on his face, he breaks open his emotional reservoir and weeps from the depths of his soul.

Chapter Seventeen

Duty remains Apollo's taskmaster and truest lover as he arrives on schedule for his speech. The Council of Twelve is being held under arrest along with their criminal conspirators, with the portion of their armed escort that refused to join the mutiny absorbed into other police functions. Apollo enjoys entering the council chamber for the first time in his life because every council member is tied up and gagged, while the civilians in attendance enjoy the spectacle of the bound aristocrats, helping maintain order. Apollo insists there will be no more closed meetings—the newly elected officials are present, full of respect and healthy fear for the commander who saved them yet again.

In short order, Apollo tells everyone present and all those listening over TransVids what Sire Uri and his conspirators attempted. By the time he finishes, the crowd has something else to think about besides the lottery—one angry grandmother shouts to "space the fracking mugjapes" if they can get their "fat asses into the airlocks." Apollo holds up his hand and restores order more quickly than usual, as nothing compares to heroics for making people take notice.

Apollo keeps Sire Uri's mouth shut, explaining he is doing the council a favor because if they attempted any defense of their actions, there would not be enough warriors and police to protect them from the enraged crowds. He announces the council's attempt to hold the fleet hostage and blow it up represents the last time they will cause trouble, leaving their fate to the people while suggesting everyone calm down before deciding. He notes that martial law saved them from an internal attack that would have destroyed them as completely as a Cylon attack, and now they must move on.

When asked about the lottery, Apollo assures everyone that their decisions will be honored, saluting those volunteering to stay behind so others may be removed from the loser's list, and those choosing to stay because of love and loyalty to others. He declares they have proven by example that democracy can work, unlike the council members who thought most colonials were "dumb animals ready to tear apart society" if they did not get their way. He observes that only a minority rioted, and when it came to the crunch, it was the council who acted in truly uncivilized fashion by threatening everyone.

Apollo then makes his stunning announcement: he has decided to stay behind as well. The crowd gasps collectively, while Tigh mutters "Oh, no" from his seat beside Apollo. A small voice cries out—Cassie waving and crying, but with a different quality to her tears. Starbuck appears at Apollo's side as if by magic, calling him a hero, to which Apollo responds "Look who's talking!" Starbuck laughs and hugs his best friend, saying they are probably out of their minds but facing death together is his idea of a happy ending.

Apollo reveals he is taking Starbuck's place in the lottery, declaring that Tigh and Athena are more than capable of running the fleet. He places himself in the people's custody under the newly elected officers, offering his sacred oath as a warrior and commander that he is their servant, always has been, and this is how he offers to make amends for the times he had to restrict their liberties. The people cheer as any last undercurrents of anger evaporate—Apollo has achieved unity at a time of greatest disunity.

Apollo reminds everyone the Cylons are coming, using those tried and true words full of menace to quiet the throng, warning that the war is not yet over. He instructs those chosen to stay behind to gather their belongings and be escorted to appropriate ships, suggesting the people can place the council with other prisoners in a ship if they choose to be magnanimous enough to grant them their lives, though they must ensure the council has no weapons or explosives—it will be unfortunate if they run into the Cylons, but at least they will never threaten fellow colonials again. The crowd goes wild with support for Apollo.

Chapter Eighteen

Galactica and the other ships designated to stay behind face grim realities regarding survival. For those remaining, there are minimal food stores that will not sustain them long, and energy and power will last only a little longer—they will be dead by the time the lights go out. Apollo explains there are resources they could tap in this solar system, but the cruel irony is they can only make use of those materials if they strip all FTL technology off the departing ships, which would allow everyone to survive in this system until the Cylons arrive to wipe them out.

Rhaya asks about the air supply, to which Apollo responds with morbid humor that the air runs out just about when the food and water do—they will not starve but will all just go to sleep, a peaceful end if the Cylons do not get them first. Sheba announces she is staying, while Rhaya also volunteers, but Sheba orders her younger sister to go back on active duty with the fleet. Apollo continues to find that each time he hears "I'm staying" from people he cares about, it does not hurt any less than before.

Apollo tells them if he could save all of them, he would pay any price and stand waist-deep in liquid nitrogen, to which Sheba responds with alarm that they want him to stay handsome right until "the end." Apollo knows the end is coming—he can see it on the horizon in big black letters: THE END—but this is not how it was supposed to be. He and Starbuck had often fantasized they would go out in a blaze of glory taking swarms of Centurions down with them into eternity, but prosaic reality lacks the requisite glamour.

When Tigh and Athena arrive for one last tour of Galactica (Athena on leave from Daedalus with her bridge crew's complete sympathy), the ceremony has a dark, dreamlike quality for Apollo. Perhaps now he has an inkling of what Baltar has been going through. At the landing docks, Tigh and Athena take turns hugging Apollo as he prepares to leave with the final shuttle to the considerably smaller ship that will be his new base of operations.

Athena speaks first, thanking her brother for honoring her with his faith, love, and trust. Apollo responds that he has always believed in her, having had far more worries about himself. Athena presses him one final time, insisting it is not too late and the people will understand if he changes his mind, but Apollo remains firm in his resolve—the people have been betrayed too many times, and he will keep his oath. Tigh curses, while Athena chokes out that she cannot stand this. Apollo explains that those who stay behind need someone to run things, they have asked him to handle operations as usual, and until the last centon he will do his duty. When Apollo reminds them he has traded places with Starbuck and that is irrevocable, Tigh and Athena look at each other and both begin to cry—Apollo reflects he thought he had seen everything until that moment, but facing the end of everything is a guaranteed way of learning new things about friends and family.

Chapter Nineteen

Baltar makes contact with Apollo one final time, revealing the full scope of his plan. The enemy force is so huge that Apollo can see them from the view port even though they are still at a safe distance—Baltar's sense of timing is only matched by his sense of the theatrical. Baltar announces he is about to give the council a lesson in applied civics, proclaiming that good government must always make some provision for defense. When Apollo asks what he is going to do, Baltar tells him to watch and enjoy the show, adding he is too busy to say goodbye to the council but not too busy to say goodbye to the Cylons.

The Cylons never know what hits them as Baltar prepared his old ship well. The destruction is a work of art combining applied physics and working knowledge of tylium's potential—whatever he used has the force of a small exploding sun. The mega explosion consumes the Cylon ships in a brief moment that seems to stretch to infinity, with the shock wave covering the distance until it reaches the colonial ships and the sky goes white outside the viewing portal. Apollo shouts that no one should look directly at the blinding flash that sends Baltar on his final journey.

Apollo wonders if it truly is a final journey, given Baltar's assertion about the possibility of a duplicate brain and another self. He imagines a succession of Baltars in imperial robes striding down the corridors of time. When Sheba asks what happened, Apollo places his hand against the smooth viewing port now that it is safe to look through once more and chooses his words carefully, composing an epitaph: "An extraordinary human being just found his way home."

Epilogue

Closing his eyes, Apollo lets himself drift, wondering how much a single human mind can contain. When it comes to the commander of the fleet, there seems no end to the steady stream of information and experience. A vision comes to him of the Gamon elder, and Apollo realizes how much he missed the one friend he made on Paradis.

The Gamon speaks: "You and your people have chosen a new destiny; one that leads to life instead of annihilation. You and your people will be given a new opportunity for your civilization to evolve. Please accept our parting gift to you as a token of appreciation for reminding us that all life is capable of growing into the oneness of spirit."

Sheba wakes Apollo, though he insists he is not asleep but encourages her to keep touching him. She notes the air is starting to thin, but Apollo responds that he taught everyone in their cargo ship how to breathe more shallowly and believes they have behaved well enough to be rewarded in this life. Sheba asks if he knows what is outside their ship, and when he shakes his head with a little smile, she leads him past sleeping figures to the viewing port.

Apollo's first impression is that a few Cylon ships must have survived Baltar's grandstand play, but the stars are blotted out by a craft larger than any of the Cylon fighters. Apollo murmurs "So that's what he meant," referring to the Gamon elder, and announces they are receiving the gift of life from a Space Ark of the Thirteenth Tribe—they have found their destiny. Sheba's eyes grow wide at the huge dimensions of the craft as she points at the line of silver oxygen canisters drifting from a portal on the side of the ship. Apollo reflects that even if it had been the end, he could have faced it gladly after Baltar's heroic sacrifice.

Notes

• Destiny represents the culmination of the lottery crisis that began with Paradis's destruction, examining how impossible moral choices can reveal both the worst and best of humanity—from Sire Uri's attempted coup using bombs to Baltar's ultimate redemptive sacrifice and Apollo's willingness to trade places with Starbuck.

• The novel explores the philosophical question of what defines "home" for the eternal wanderers of the Fleet, with Starbuck concluding that home has nothing to do with planets but everything to do with the people one loves, particularly Cassie and Dalton.

• Apollo's decision to take Starbuck's place in the lottery and stay behind represents his willingness to sacrifice everything to maintain the people's faith in their leadership after so many betrayals, embodying the principle that a leader serves rather than rules.

• Baltar's character arc reaches a surprising redemptive climax as the "Great Traitor" becomes the "Great Patriot," using his intimate knowledge of Cylon technology to sacrifice himself and destroy an entire Cylon fleet, earning Apollo's epitaph as "an extraordinary human being" who "found his way home."

• The romantic relationships remain complex and unresolved until the crisis forces clarity: Cassie definitively chooses Starbuck and commits to staying behind with him, Koren volunteers to stay behind for Caran, and Troy and Dalton's relationship deepens despite their age difference.

• The lottery crisis reveals class tensions within the Fleet, as wealthy council members attempt to buy their way out of the lottery only to discover cubits have become worthless—young people literally burn currency to light fumarellos, symbolizing the breakdown of the old social order.

• Psychological breaking points emerge among the colonials, with the first lottery-related murder committed by an ex-teacher who kills a man and spreads his brains across the floor while shrieking "He has an open mind!"

• The newly elected civilian leadership demonstrates fairness and logic by including all council members in the lottery while excluding Apollo, Athena, and Tigh based on irreplaceable command experience, and including prominent warriors like Starbuck, Boomer, and Sheba while excluding younger warriors like Dalton, Troy, and Trays.

• The appearance of the Thirteenth Tribe's Space Ark at the epilogue represents a miraculous intervention, with the Gamon elder's prophecy fulfilled as those left behind receive oxygen canisters and the "gift of life" as reward for choosing unity and sacrifice over chaos.

• The novel's title carries multiple meanings: the individual destinies of characters choosing to stay or go, Baltar finding his ultimate destiny in redemptive sacrifice, and humanity's collective destiny being determined by moral choices in their darkest hour.

• Athena's growth into a commanding presence equals Apollo's leadership, with their father's spirit palpably present in Adama's secret chamber as they make the most momentous decision since the exodus began thirty yahren ago.

• The destruction of Paradis leaves behind a resource-rich debris field containing all the elements of a living planet, presenting a cruel irony: those with the technology to exploit it will leave, while those staying behind lack the means to survive long enough to make use of it.