Date: Wed, 25 Sep 1996
From: Cynthia Howe <bq669@freenet.carleton.ca>
Subject: The Cyloness, Part I


The stars were endless in the night sky. It wasn't quite night, just spacial.
A massive ship travelled quietly in light speed, tracking down, meanwhilst, 
that elusive human fleet. It looked like an hourglass as well as imposing,  
with many lights and portals making up its endless pock-marked side.

Inside the imposing ship that travelled at quiet lightspeed, a glass portal
chimed its opening, bearing forth a tall, metallic, and possibly handsome 
cut of figure wearing a shiny red robe that resembled sleepgear (but was 
not). His red eyes, pulsating swiftly left to right and back again, were 
fixed on a high-mounted chair that swiveled when at attention.

The room itself was lacking in decor, to paraphrase that shiny star-pilot.
Who was this pilot? Where is he now? Ah well. The lights were dim, high-
lighting the darkness that surrounded it otherwise.

'By your command', the red robed figure said.

The chair turned toward him. The man in the chair looked impressive upon it. 
All in green with beautiful gold trimming around the edge of the cape, a 
white collar stood in the middle of his throat. He didn't look all that 
handsome, but he had his moments.

He stared betwixt his knee length beige boots.

'Speak Lucifer,' he said.

'We are currently underway in pursuing the Galactica. However, we are also
in the midst of experimentation.'

'Experimentation?'

'Yes, Baltar,' Lucifer replied, 'we need to understand more carefully the
human mind. So, with the Imperious Leader's approval, I have decided to 
build our first humanoid Cylon to interact within the human structure in
order to bring about its defeat. First, we must understand their anatomy 
more fully to get the gist of its inner and outer shell, so-to-speak.' 

'So you want to experiment on me, do you?' the human shot back.

'No, we were thinking of building a female prototype who will work with you
so we may get the information necessary to destroy the Galactica and then 
the rest of scathing humanity.'

'Understand our makeup, eh?' Baltar asked.

'Yes, and explore all human ideas, concepts, even.....relationships.' 
Lucifer was highly amused by the latter bit. He knew what he wanted out 
of Baltar. After all, Baltar's original usefulnesss died after his last 
blunder of surrendering himself to the Galactica when those mysterious
lights appeared. Since the rescue from marooned-doom, Baltar had one last
chance with the Cylon Empire. If he succeeds, he and the-will-be-Cylon can 
remain together, as long as he, too, 'becomes' Cylon. If he fails, it's 
back to square one with him as he will reface termination.

Baltar, with all the yahrens under his belt, never knew the word 
'relationship'. Probably never had one; and if he did, he lost it all on
his home world that was destroyed along with the rest of the twelve worlds
of humanity, no thanks to him, as according to the Galactica, he was re-
sponsible for it. Who on Kobol would be sick enough to explore a relation- 
ship with him?

'Relationship, you say? You know, I'm not the easiest fellow to work with.'

'Don't I know that?' Lucifer snidely remarked.

'You said something, Lucifer?' Baltar paused, 'Ah, you don't think I could
go thru with a woman, no matter what species, eh? Well, I'll take that dare
and I will succeed!' Baltar laughed menacingly, as always, with his most 
wickest smile and rudely turned his chair round. 

'By your command' Lucifer humbly replied, then thinking, 'I bet you would.'
He then left the command chambre as it was. Cold, Clammy and devoid of any
warmth neccessary to lead a normal life, whatever that meant. 


c. 1996
Subject: The Cyloness, Part II

In the brightly envisioned labratory, a new consciouness was formed. The  
figure inside the glass chambre stood just about five feet and looking
ever-so-human, with pretty brown eyes and long golden brown hair that hid
the intricate circuits Cylon technology had to offer. Her dress was shiny
beige coloured; a sleeveless, high necked look that flowed down to her feet.  
Lucifer was quite pleased with his creation. He hoped that this hot model
could be passed off as human...it sure looked the part. She will be a wonder,
he mused, for it took many yahrens to plan and build this model......

'Activate power switch,' Lucifer ordered to the nearby technician.

'By your command,' came the obvious answer.

There was an enourmous surge of energy in the room. The figure, newly 
activated, touched the glass panel with her small, but graceful hands, 
as if trying to open it. Her eyes were open in childlike wonderment as 
she looked round at her new, yet enclosed, enviornment.

'She's alive,' Lucifer exclaimed, 'bring Baltar at once!' 

The centurion who stood by the door exited to find him. At that moment, 
Lucifer walked toward the glass chambre and released the door.

'You are the one,' the figure said.

'That is correct,' Lucifer cooly replied.  'I am your creator, Lucifer.
You are the first humanoid Thea-class Cylon. Thus you will called Thea. I 
built you for experimentation with the human ways of being as well as 
something even more specific. Your mission is to incorporate every bit of
information known about mankind. The human in our service, Baltar is to 
brief you on aspects not recorded in a book. Beyond the facts, so-to-speak.
The latter part mission will be revealed to you in time. Meanwhilst, you
will learn all you can from him and enjoy the bonding.'

'To what end sir?'

'To know them is to annihilate them.'

'I see,' Thea stood bemused.

The centurion and Baltar entered the room. Lucifer quickly paced toward 
them.

'Ah Baltar, come meet the new member of our basestar and secret weapon,
my lovely creation, Thea, the first Thea-class humanoid Cyloness.'

'Thea, hm?' Baltar looked at the figure, 'she looks convincingly human.
Very impressive. Is she fully functional?'

'Yes, Baltar, in all respects,' Lucifer acknowledged. If he could smile, 
he would at this moment.

'You must be Baltar, the human,' Thea said.

'Yes, that's right,' came the quick answer.

'Too bad. You would make a good Cylon'.

Baltar blushed at this. Was that a complement?, he thought.

'I understand I am to teach you about humanity; the more intricate parts.'

'Affirmative. Lucifer briefed me on the first part of my mission. You are
to be my teacher. My basic intelligence tells me, however, that you were
the one responsible for the near-destruction of your race'.

Embarrassed, yet undaunted, Baltar paused at this. Yes, he was 'the traitor'
but what can he do? He had his life with the Cylons. Much better than the 
prison barge, he thought. And with this 'female'....! 

'You are to teach me their ways in order to finish the survivors off.'

Lucifer chimed in, 'That is correct. Baltar, take Thea to your chambres
and begin at once.'

With ironic proficiency, Baltar replied, 'by your command. Come, my friend,
we have much work to do.'

To himself, Lucifer said, 'and much pleasure...'

The corridor was long and whiny, what with communications lights buzzing
about. Thea was silent but intruiged at the human beside her. He was full
of enigmas and very complex. She wondered why the Cylons would let him work
and live, thus, since the Cylon basic code was to destroy *all* humans.
She had much learning to do and knew what she must do. Baltar walked stiffly
beside her. Was he nervous around her or was it inexperience? 

'Baltar,' she said, 'it seems to me that you don't have much contact with 
other females, as I am one, tho' a Cylon. Did you have one where you came
from?'

'I lost everything and everyone back on the Colonies the Cylons destroyed 
a few yahrens ago.'

No emotion here for Thea. 

'Acknowledged. So I am to be your 'one'.' 

'Yes.'

'If the Cylons destroyed your lot, then why do you work with them?'

'That, my dear, is part of why humanity is so complex and what I must 
teach you. Why humans place much value on one another; why some people 
make decisions contrary to logic; the emotional side of things'.

'Too bad you're not Cylon'.

Again the inquisitive questioning.

'And why is that?'

'You are torn between your people and ours. It is illogical and in-
consistent.'

Baltar realised the complexity of his goal with Thea. Self-preservation
was strong in him and how could he explain the 'evils' done, as the  
Galacticans saw them, to this innocent inquiring figure?

'Human life presents a wealth of complex decisions, rivaliries, one-against
-another-style problems. We are complicated beings. Full of conflict, emotion 
and who-knows-what.'

This is going to be harder than I thought, both of them figured respect-
ively. 

They approached the chambre door, as with a similar chime to the command 
room, it opened. This room was just as devoid of comforts as was the
command room but for bare essentials needed for humanoid survival. Soft 
light emitted from above as it flared down, illuminating the space as well
as Thea's soft hair, making it lighter and prettier. Baltar cut a nice
figure in this light, too.  

'Take a seat, Thea,' he said. 

Thea looked around and found a small footstool by the desk. She sat on it.
Cold metallic sensations were simulated within her artificial flesh. Baltar
leaned in his chair and continued to brief her about his life, as he  
thought, that how can his Cylon friends create something so deadly, but 
beautiful? 

'It seems to me you have the depth, experience, and mania associated with
humanity.'

Baltar smiled at her, 'you are a very insightful creation, my friend.' 

'I am programmed with basic intelligence with the capacity to further my
knowledge and store it all in my memory banks.' 

Thea looked at Baltar very closely. 

'Tell me more about human relationships,' she asked eagerly. 

'Well,' Baltar continued, 'they are what bond people together in all
respects.'

'And male-female relationships are even more important, thus?'

'Definitely. That is how more are created.'

'I see,' Thea was very anxious. Baltar wasn't entirely handsome, but an 
attraction was forming.

'Tell me more about these humanoid experiences.'

'I will, and for the Cylons, I will not fail,' he said. 

Oh I will, he thought further, as he came closer to her. 

They kissed. 

The End