Battlestar Pegasus, the portside hangar bay (Welland time: 1:42 PM)…
"Permission to come aboard, Admiral Cain?"
"Permission granted, Commander Miyake. Welcome aboard Pegasus."
Shinobu nodded as she lowered her arm, and then offered her hand for Helena to take. "I do hope you understand my reason for forbidding Commodore Nanase to come aboard with me, Admiral," she said as she gave the admiral's hand a friendly squeeze, which made the native of Tauron blink as a warmth seemed to surge through her for a moment. "But I'm sure your own subordinates would be wary of the idea of risking a flag officer's life on a first contact," she then added as they let go.
"I can agree. I also applaud your caution towards your own commander," Helena stated. "I hope this doesn't sound personal, Commander, but what did you just do to me?"
The commander blinked, and then she found her cheeks heating up. "I'm sorry. I was made aware by Captain Moroboshi and Lieutenant Sasamoto that you are one of the — as we would classify them — cyber-bioroids aboard Pegasus." She indicated Moroboshi Tariko and Sasamoto Narumi, who had disembarked off the Star Flare they had used to fly over to Pegasus from Fort Erie. Also with them was Saitō Mako as the away team medic. "I didn't realise my psionic powers could be sensed so easily by your kind."
"Frack me…you're a Sagussan!"
Eyes turned as Saul Tigh came up to them, his left arm now wrapped around the left arm of a smiling woman a little younger than he, with greyish-blue eyes and wavy blonde hair that was clearly natural. Unlike the admiral and her executive officer, she was dressed in very stylish civilians that wouldn't be out of place anywhere in the West on Earth. "Not exactly," Shinobu stated. "I'm a bioroid — we call ourselves Avalonians — that's not really different than the race that lived on Sagussa over ten millennia ago, though emotionally and mentally, I see myself as Terran. May I ask how you learned of that race, sir?"
"A probe of theirs was found near the Cylon's adopted homeworld, Cylonia, two years ago," Ellen stated. "It, in effect, accelerated the whole process that eventually lead to our coming to your solar system and opening contact with your race."
"In it was information that had been gathered by the Sagussans before they destroyed themselves in that awful war of theirs fourteen thousand years ago," Gaius Baltar added as he came up to join the Terrans, his wife Natasi beside him. "That told all of us — both Cylon and of the twelve colonies of Kobol — that we weren't alone in this universe of ours. That there were many other human and humanoid races inhabiting this galaxy. And that, for the most part, the Terrans developed separately from most other races, including our own. Which contradicts our own holy scriptures…"
"Which identify you as members of the 'thirteenth tribe of Kobol,'" Helena's fiancée Gina Inviere added; she had been standing close to the admiral as she greeted the visitors from 'Fort Erie.' "The Sagussans rather debunked that belief quite harshly, which — when we passed on this information to our creators — didn't go down quite well."
"Now, Gina, stop that!" Helena scolded as she gazed at the other woman. Watching the admiral move over to draw the other woman into her arms, the Terrans were quick to sense the overwhelming love and concern the older woman had for her chosen life-mate. A glance over to Gaius and Natasi — whom the Terrans were also quick to sense as a sort of "sister" to Gina — revealed the same thing. "Your model takes the guilt of what happened after Patricia's meeting with Colonel Wakefield at Armistice Station too deeply. It's not your fault too many folks throughout the Colonies didn't fully sit back to understand what it all meant and what it could have meant, not just for you but for us, too…!"
Gina gazed up at her. "Dear, you know how badly Patricia wants to box herself."
"Well, Boxey is there to give her a new purpose in life," Helena reminded her.
A polite cough. "Um, Admiral Cain…"
Helena blinked, and then she blushed as she turned to smile apologetically at Shinobu. "I'm sorry about that, Commander. What my fiancée just mentioned to you is part of the reason we felt compelled to come to Earth in the first place." She then hummed. "And the hangar deck of a battlestar is not a place to hear that explanation, so why don't we head on up to the officer's mess so we can relax, have a drink and talk."
The others all laughed. "Never refuse an invite to the wardroom," Tariko said…
Later…
"So originally, all of your earlier versions were simply sentient androids like the warrior 'bots we saw stationed in the hallways, but during and after the time you were fighting for your freedom from slavery, you developed the ways and means to evolve into organic beings and decided it was time to write your own destiny," Narumi stated.
"That's quite right, Lieutenant," John Cavil stated as everyone relaxed in Pegasus' officer's mess. While it did still fill the function of a combination cafeteria and drinking establishment for those who viewed themselves as officers of the Colonial Navy, it was mostly used by the still-human contingent of the battlestar's crew. "That painting there…" — he waived to a lovely painting hanging off one wall — "…is a portrait of she whom we address as the First. Zoe Graystone."
"How did she come into being?" Tariko asked.
"She was originally a virtual-reality replica of a real girl named Zoe Graystone. She was the daughter of a Caprican industrialist who was responsible, ultimately, for the creation of our own race," D'Anna Biers explained. As spokeswomen for her particular model of humanoid Cylon, the Number Threes, the very mature-looking woman was the chief historian of the Council of Advisors (along with John and the senior representatives of the eight most populous models of humanoid Cylons), who had gladly come on Pegasus on the mission to Earth. "The virtual version of the Lady Graystone was eventually downloaded into the first model of mechanical Cylon, the U-87. While that unit was destroyed, her soul lived on and would eventually find a way to create an organic body for herself. Thus, when our people finally broke away from the control of the Colonials, it was simply logical to allow the First to become our leader."
The Terrans all turned to gaze on the picture of Zoe. Tariko was quick to see the necklace wrapped around the elder Cylon's neck. "A Power Jewel."
"You're aware of that device, Captain? What it's capable of doing?" Simon O'Neill, representing the Number Fours, asked before he sipped his glass of ambrosia.
"I should. My elder sister Negako, who is grandmaster of my family's school of stealth martial arts, was ultimately the creation of the man who trained our own planet's Jewel Warrior, Major Dean Raeburn," Tariko stated. "I guess with THAT backing your predecessors up, rebelling against your former masters pretty much was a cakewalk."
"It was. And it was an incredible revelation for us all," John stated. "As you told us about your powers and how closely they match to what the old Sagussans possess, you can probably sense the small amount of anger and fear we all possess when it comes to dealing with natives of the Colonies." As the Terrans all nodded, the representative of the Number Ones continued, "When the First was given the Seekers' Gift, she realised she not only could use its power to free us with little difficulty from human control, but also allow us to truly become sentient, self-governing and as much masters of our own destinies as any race could. Along the way, she also realised that there would be much resentment among the Colonials concerning our rebelling against them, so she — as there sadly weren't no Jewel Warriors native to any of the worlds of the Helios system — worked behind the scenes to see to it those who would have died in that war ultimately survive and be replanted on Cylonia to live their lives in peace."
"Most of them were monotheists, just like Zoe herself," Ellen added. "Since the vast majority of the natives of the Colonies were pantheists — who eventually learned of the connection between the monotheists and the original Cylons — Zoe concentrated most of her efforts to getting those like her template to safety." She then smiled at Helena. "She also grabbed others who might have died, including Helena's sister Lucy. Which eventually rebounded on us quite nicely after the lists of the survivors that were rescued by her was presented by Gina's and Natasi's sister to Colonel Wakefield at Armistice Station a year ago." A sigh. "Especially with what happened next."
"Not your fault, Ellen," the admiral stated.
"She's right about that, Ellie," a strange voice then hailed as footfalls heralded the arrival of four smiling pilots to the officer's mess. As the Terrans turned to watch, Kara Thrace, Grace Agathon, Sharon Valerii and Samuel Anders all took their seats at a nearby table. "Ain't your fault — it sure as hell ain't Patty's frackin' fault! — that too many jerks back in the Colonies were still not willin' to let bygones be bygones when Patty talked to Boxey's old man at Armistice and brought with her all the things Zoe was willin' to put on the table to make the Cimtar Accords permanent."
"That's true," Saul stated, and then he blinked. "What is it?"
Shinobu smiled. "When this handsome gentleman just arrived…" — she indicated Samuel with a hand, those words making him blush — "…I was quick to confirm that he was the one we sensed was much older than the remainder of you. Now that I think about it, Colonel, you and your wife provoke that same type of feeling."
"We know," Ellen stated. "Unlike the others, all five of us — not just Sam, my husband and I, but two others — are much older than even Zoe herself is. We also became humanoid long before anyone else. As to the 'why,' we really can't say."
"And to be frankly honest, ma'am, we just plain don't care," Samuel added.
"You're not interested in knowing why?" Mako mused. "Why not, Lieutenant?"
A shrug. "It doesn't really matter in this day and age. From what Zoe was able to discern, we — not just us, but two others, who elected to remain behind on Cylonia to take the Council's place in advising Zoe on state affairs — are the last survivors of an earlier generation of evolved Cylons (or beings like that). And if we are that, we're afraid that if those memories DO get unlocked, we might end up doing something that will destroy us as a people." Samuel smiled at John. "John's our resident social conscience expert and theologian — I don't know a better word to describe him — when it comes to examining what future lies in store for our people. He's always been of the view that Zoe's acquiring the Power Jewel was a gift from the Divine Spirit…"
"From God, you mean."
Many of the Cylons all looked with surprise at Shinobu; they had been quick to sense the metered passion in her voice when she had spoken that one sacred word. "You believe in God, Commander?" John asked, clearly delighted by her show of reverence.
The commander nodded. "I am what, on my planet, is described as a 'Roman Catholic,' Councilman Cavil. We are one of the oldest branches of a monotheistic religion that calls itself as a whole 'Christians,' who believe that God allowed His Own Divine Son to live amongst us two millennia ago on a part of Earth called 'Israel.' His Son, whom was given the name 'Jesus Christ,' would eventually allow Himself to be put to death at the hands of those who disapproved of His Teachings to His Disciples, all to allow mankind's sins to be forgiven by God Himself. The Lord Jesus would eventually rise from the dead and after proving what He was to His Disciples, ascend into Heaven."
"That's the simple way of describing it," Tariko added. "It's way more complex than that, but you can say that of ANY religion you run across. And we've got quite a selection to choose from, but you people have pretty much made your choices long ago."
"What do you believe in, Captain?" Simon asked.
"Personally, not much," Tariko admitted. "It's not because I don't WANT to believe in something. But my personal experience has led me to realise there's always a grain of truth in EVERY belief. I suppose, if I really want to get down to it, I am a believer in the native religion of my homeland, which is called 'Shintō,' the Way of the Gods."
"You're pantheistic," Ellen concluded.
"Yes, but I'm of perhaps one of the only religions that willingly acknowledges that the gods or divine spirits of OTHER faiths have as much right to be respected as all the eight million kami that are said to be part of the official Shintō pantheon."
Jaws dropped as people exchanged looks. "Eight MILLION gods?!" Saul exclaimed. "I thought the Lords of Kobol were hard enough to remember! How do you keep track?!"
"Truthfully, Colonel, you don't and it's not expected that you should," Mako stated. "The kami are not just what people like you would call 'gods.' All those who died fighting for Japan, Tariko's and Shinobu's home country, in our most recent world war are seen very much as kami. Other great heroes throughout are worshipped as kami." The sergeant then pointed at their hosts. "In fact, if any of you finally pass through the veil of the Te'a to whatever might lay Beyond, you could be seen as kami, too."
Gaius Baltar nodded. "I've heard of that word before. It's Sagussan. 'That Which Is Beyond moral understanding' if I recall the translation. It's the name of this odd energy field Sagussans — and all of you, I suspect — can sense in your own minds."
The Terrans nodded. "We all have this inner eye that allows us to view the Te'a," Shinobu stated. "As to what lies beyond the *Te'a*…" A shrug. "Well, only our final passing from this life will answer that question. And because of that, even if we have our founding beliefs, they are modified because of what our bodies and the powers they possess tend to force on our souls." She then took a deep breath. "Well, getting back to the main point of this meeting, I understand that you all felt you had to come to us because of the recent events in the Twelve Colonies. What happened?"
Everyone exchanged looks. "Two years ago, an old Sagussan probe was found floating near the edge of Cylon space," Natasi began. "When we boarded it and managed to get into its computer banks, we discovered a litany of information about things that we could never have imagined beforehand. Despite our being mostly human in flesh, we still — save for the colonel, his wife, Elder Samuel and the two other elders that the First found on our landing on Cylonia — have some problems when it comes to things like human intuition and all that. Their studies in artificial intelligence were light years ahead of anything even people like the First's father could ever dream of. And we realised it was only logical to take advantage of this gift God gave to us."
"They are improving quite well on that point, of course," Gaius added.
"Dear!" his wife scolded at his interruption, and then she sighed. "Well, along with that, we also learned of what the old Sagussans had discovered about the galaxy as a whole. How many sentient races, humanoid and non-humanoid, lived or were developing in the galaxy as a whole. That…" A sigh. "That was just overwhelming."
"On learning of this, the First decided that it would be a perfect token of peace to the Colonials, a way of finally turning the armed truce of Cimtar to a permanent peace treaty if not some form of full reconciliation," John added. "To that end, Natasi's sister, Patricia Malach, was sent to Armistice Station to meet with Colonel Ryan Wakefield, the officer who always came out on the anniversary of the Cimtar Accords to await our own delegation." A sad smile. "He was a good man. A devoted family man, married with a son. And he performed his duties well. I pray God watches over him."
"He does, John. He does," Danielle Rand, who represented the Number Sevens in the Council of Advisors and was the adopted sister (also a genetic twin sister) of Zoe's best human friend, Lacy Rand, then stated with a small smile.
The others nodded. "Well, the colonel was more than pleased to relay the First's message to the present of the Colonies, Richard Adar," John added. "And on seeing what was being offered — not to mention relaying the list of transplanted human survivors of that horrible war — by the First, the President was more than willing to accept it if it could mean final peace with us, a way of helping heal the wounds that war left the colonies…and most of all, a chance to fully break free of the Cyrannus cluster where we all live and actually interact with what was out there."
"Even if the information from Sagussa was fourteen thousand years old," Ellen noted.
John nodded. "What happened?" Shinobu asked.
A sigh. "Sadly, the First — none of us, even those of us who had implanted ourselves as observers among Colonial society — never realised how DEEP the wounds that war actually were," D'Anna explained. "How emotionally SHATTERING that conflict had been, both when it came to sundered families and also the changes to society as a whole. Especially after people there began to reject all thoughts towards accepting anything that could ever LEAD towards the development of a new race of artificial sentients."
"Not to mention the association that had been drawn up in the minds of many between the Cylons' rebellion and the rise of monotheism in our society when it had been accepted for so long that we were the chosen of the Lords of Kobol," Gaius added. "I myself was more than happy to learn of what the Cylons had discovered; Natasi had revealed herself to me sometime beforehand and told me the truth of what the Lady Graystone had done. That…" A smile. "It long proved what I believed: If we only walked the road cautiously and were willing to accept that mistakes could happen, we COULD develop a race of AIs that would — as they evolved — teach us how to evolve ourselves."
"That's pretty ambitious thinking, Professor," Tariko noted.
"And we needed that, I felt." A sigh. "Sadly, my arrogance blinded me to the dangers of what might have happened before it was far too late. When the public announcement was made about the Cylons' peace offer and what they had discovered, the religious fundamentalists across most of the Colonies went up in arms over all the 'blasphemies' that were being unleashed on all of us. And once they won sympathies from elements of the military who remembered fighting in the Cylon War, they launched a rebellion."
The Terrans were quick to sense a sudden cloud of aching sorrow fall over the hearts of several of their hosts, including the Tighs, Kara Thrace and Sharon Valerii. "Who did you lose?" Shinobu gently asked.
"One very good friend," Saul stated…
The battlestar Galactica, in orbit over Caprica, eighteen months before…
"BILL!"
A wide-eyed Saul Tigh lunged over the wreckage of the old battlestar's central plotting table to kneel down beside his commanding officer, whose blue jacket was now stained black with blood thanks to a fusillade of machine gun rounds that had nearly ripped him in half before the timely arrival of a dozen Centurions had slaughtered a good number of the bridge crew that had risen in mutiny against him. Ellen was quick to run to the fallen commander's side; she was currently accompanied by a wide-eyed Danielle Rand. As Saul's wife ripped off her jacket to help tend to her friend's wounds, an older model Centurion marched onto the bridge. "By your command, Elder Saul," he stated with a very rich, respectful male voice that made the dazed William Adama blink in surprise; he had never heard a "toaster" ever speak so human-like before.
Then again, until a week before when a certain Raptor pilot had made a tear-filled confession about something she had DELIBERATELY been made to FORGET, he hadn't really accepted the unbelievable story Ryan Wakefield had brought back from Armistice Station.
But now…
Saul looked over. "What's the status of the ship?!" he demanded.
"The tylium tanks are all compromised. Fires are now out of control over a third of the mail hull," the combat android calmly replied. "The ship cannot be saved, Elder; the tylium fires will reach the main reactors in less than ten minutes. Your life, the lives of Elder Ellen and Elder Danielle are now in grave danger. You must be evacuated immediately; the Pegasus is close by and is awaiting our arrival."
A bloody cough. "What about…Sharon Valerii…?"
Everyone stared down at the bleeding commander. "Save your strength, Bill!" Ellen hissed. "Danielle, do you have the downloading apparatus?"
Danielle whipped off her backpack to draw out a device that looked like a skeletal helmet. As she moved to hand it to Ellen, Bill shook his head. "No…"
"Gods-DAMN, Bill! Don't argue…!" Saul began…
…just as rapid footfalls heralded the arrival of several dirty and angry Colonial Marines. As they burst onto the bridge, the Centurions spun around to level weapons at them as the sergeant in charge barked out, "They're all skinjobs! Kill…!"
A flash of light later, said sergeant was now literally a head shorter! "I think not, Sergeant," Zoe Greystone, dressed in the flowing silver robes that marked her as the Jewel Warrior of the world whose inhabitants called it "Cylonia," declared as said head dropped to the deck by her feet. "Now, if you don't…!"
She couldn't finish; a half-dozen machine guns levelled on her and thundered. Unharmed thanks to the Jewel's bio-shielding protecting her body from the storm of lead, Zoe roared as she charged them, her taiken-shaped blade sweeping around in deadly arcs to begin dismembering limbs and heads. In a couple of seconds, it was over. With that, the First Cylon then turned and ran over to the others' side. "Commander!"
Their eyes locked, and then Bill shook his head. "No…please, Zoe, don't…"
"Bill!" Ellen cried out as Danielle tried to hand the helmet over.
A flash of carbonised neutronium caused her to yelp out before she stopped and turned wide-eyed at Zoe. "Zoe, please…!" Danielle pleaded.
A shake of the head. "He made his choice, Danielle. It will be respected."
The teenage-shaped Cylon blinked before she slumped down, her eyes wide with confusion and disbelief. Who in the Name of God would NOT accept the gift of resurrection? Ellen moved to comfort her as Zoe, after sheathing her sword, moved to kneel beside the fallen commander of Galactica, grasping his left hand. "Much that I don't understand why you're doing this, Commander, I can respect that decision," the First declared solemnly as she squeezed his hand. "I only wish…"
A shake of the head. "Not your fault…" Bill rasped as he felt his body begin to cool, a sign that the final shock before death was coming. "A request…"
"Name it."
A cough. "Kara…Thrace? Is…she alive…?"
"Starbuck's alright, Bill, but hurt bad," Saul reported as he felt the tears flow from his eyes. "She took five bullets that were meant for Boomer. We can save her."
A shaky nod. "Do it…Colonel. My…last…" A sucked-in breath, and then the strength of his body finally faded. "Ca-…rol…"
Silence fell as his hand felt lifelessly from Zoe's as the young teenager — which she still was in heart despite having existed for over five decades — stared in mute silence at the scene of a good man having elected to choose death instead of a new life. As Danielle began to cry, Ellen comforted her as Saul drew himself to attention. "Your order will be carried out, Commander," he said before taking a deep breath. "ATTENTION ON DECK!" he barked out, which made the Centurions all snap to attention. He then raised his hand in salute, his body quaking from sobs that were now breaking free of what little self control he had. "G-g-Galac-…Galactica…"
The older Centurion also saluted. "He is now in the hands of the Lord."
"Amen," the newer Centurions intoned as one.
Saul nodded as Zoe stood to draw him into her arms and allow him to weep. Silence fell over the scene, which was then broken by a deep boom! echoing from far aft as the old battlestar shook in her death throes. "Centurions, take the commander's body and carry him — as well as escorting the Tighs and Danielle — to the shuttle," Zoe then said. "We will bury him with full honours on Cylonia. Where's Sharon Valerii?"
"The Sharon Valerii unit is malfunctioning," the older Centurion reported as the newer combat androids moved to obey the First's commands.
Zoe's head snapped over. "Explain!" she snapped.
"Lieutenant Kara Thrace is gravely wounded. She also refuses downloading. And if she does expire, the Sharon Valerii unit wishes to be boxed."
Zoe moaned, and then she held out her hand. The helmet Danielle had been holding flew into the First's hands as she raced aft. "I'll deal with this!" she barked out over her shoulder as she disappeared around a corner. "Get them out of here! MOVE!"
Everyone sprang into action…
"How many others died that day?" Shinobu asked.
"Thousands. We don't know the full amount," Helena stated. "They rebelled against lawful authority, seized military ships in hopes of imposing their will on others, then murdered the President and most of his cabinet to destroy the central authority of the Colonial government. Atop that, they destroyed dozens of warships with loyal crews thanks to suicide bombers that detonated suitcase nukes in the tylium cores of many ships, not to mention our major fleet support bases. I was able to get Pegasus clear with Gina's help, but we took hundreds of casualties. A half-dozen other battlestars also got clear and were escorted to Cylonia, along with then-Secretary of Education Laura Roslin, who formed a government in exile as we regrouped, took stock of what happened, then move to restore the government. But by then…"
"Many of the colonies had provisional governments formed on them, declared independence from central control, seized military assets to defend themselves, then warned that they would do anything — including mass release of weapons of mass destruction, which is all pretty much nukes to us — to stop 'skinjob lovers' like President Roslin and Helena here from trying to help restore peace and order," Gina added. "And right now, they're fighting a civil war as they try to make a new pecking order for themselves."
"About four months ago, Bill Adama's older son Lee used a Raptor to fly to Cylonia — at heavy risk to his life — with a report that some of the more fundamental leaders of the breakaway colonies were now preparing an expedition to attack Earth in a way of learning what happened to the Thirteenth Colony of Kobol," Ellen added. "If they come here and confirm what the Sagussans had learned all those years ago…"
"They'll want to strike with all their power," Danielle finished. "And if they learn your people willingly allowed a race of 'skinjobs' to intermingle with your own…"
"They'll want to 'save' Earth!" Tariko finished. "Oh, fuck…"
"Well, that's something we need to pass up the line," Shinobu mused as we…
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