Sleeper
Coming Home
Gina and D'Anna are standing in front of the memorial wall dedicated to the victims of the mining disaster of Troy. To the curious local people not used to seeing two such well heeled women in their midst, their apparent respect for the dead is noted with approval. However the reality is that they need time to collect their thoughts before they face their latest ordeal.
Behind them a large public square is laid out. A small part of it has been set aside for a walled garden of remembrance and a shrine. The rest of the space is shared by a permanent tented market which sells everything from the basics of life to contraband and a concreted over area for vehicle parking. Most of the citizens of Troy live gathered around the square in ramshackle squalor. Their homes made of materials salvaged from the rubble of the disaster as well as the red canvas Colonial Government Aid tents which were handed out in the immediate aftermath.
The mine supervisors and wealthier vendors live in relative luxury within a walled community at some distance behind the slum. They never have to shop at the market because everything they require is shipped in from other Colonies and they ensure that their time in this hell is brief enough not to affect their long term health.
Those with no choice but to stay in the Colony of Troy are at the bottom of the Colonial ladder. They live and work in this poisonous place because the mines demand labour. The pay is not good enough for them to escape but it does buy them the drugs that let them forget the long death that already has them in its hold.
Immediately to their right stands the Troy Transit Station, a large metal structure built for the practical needs of a poor community and definitely not to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Gina finds the large volume of human life streaming in and out of the entrance way of the passenger terminal terrifying. For the first time she is surrounded by enemies of the Cylon and her mind screams once more for the blissful silence and logical order of the Basestar.
Even when Gina applies her full concentration to try and relax her mind, she cannot block out the confusing barrage of noise and foul smells of cheap food and human degradation which swirls all around her. She steals a sidelong glance at her sister and is irritated by how infuriatingly composed and calm D'Anna appears to be. Throughout the tediously long journey to Troy, D'Anna assumed the position of leader, ordering Gina and Sharon around. She took the best resting place for herself in the cramped quarters and did not do her share of piloting the antiquated craft. D'Anna's superior attitude had been particularly grating when she elected to act as a mediator in the frequent arguments between Sharon and Gina caused by the frustration of being trapped together in such a small vessel.
D'Anna is reading through the names of the dead which are picked out in white lettering on black polished stone blocks. She is looking out for the names of Sharon Valerii's parents as an exercise to calm her nerves. They were real people whose tragic story and family name will now live on with the addition of a Cylon daughter. The records show that Sharon is their daughter and nobody will question that because there is no one left that knows any different. D'Anna wonders idly to herself how they would have felt to have their childless union blessed by such a child. Abraham Valerii is easy to locate among the miners who perished underground in the initial catastrophic blast. Katherine Valerii, who took much longer to die alone in a refugee hospital on Aerilon, is a recent addition to the last row. The letters of her name standing proud and pristine unlike the older faded inscriptions already covered by layers of ever present grimy grey dust. D'Anna is amused to think that the only reason Katherine's name is recorded at all is to provide a reason for Sharon's visit to Troy following her mother's death.
D'Anna continues to stare at the name which owes its remembrance to the Cylon as she replays everything that has happened since their arrival on Troy. It is important to D'Anna to do this because they are her first real memories of her existence among humans…
Everything went to plan. They landed the craft on a disused airstrip to the north of the only major settlement in an area left barren by the disaster. Sharon was the first to leave the craft that carried them to the place her human memories told her had been her home. The sun shone on the dry earth over which clouds of deadly gas had drifted unheeded and left behind poison. And there was Sharon kicking up a dust storm as she walked around the craft stopping at various points to stare into the distance.
"What is she doing?" Gina asked as she tracked Sharon's progress, shielding her eyes with her hand against the sunlight which was hitting off the observation ports.
"She's happy to be somewhere she does not have to hear your complaints." D'Anna commented her voice heavy with sarcasm as she laboured the point that she too had suffered by having to listen to their petty bickering. Sharon had elected to be their main pilot and Gina constantly found fault with her skills, even blaming her for the pathetic insufficiency of the human designed FTL drive.
Gina glared at D'Anna but decided not to answer back knowing she would just get another one of D'Anna's patronising lectures for her trouble. Gina missed the harmony that once existed between all of the models and which started to splinter after the first agent infected his model with his human memories. The fact that she soon would have to commit an act that went against everything she believed in as a Cylon was also troubling her deeply. Gina had managed shut off this task within her mind but the dread she felt while the programming was downloading could not be so easily silenced.
Wanting desperately to experience the world waiting outside D'Anna resisted the temptation to make further comment and abruptly stood up and stepped out through the open hatch. She felt the heat of a Sun against her skin for the first time and after taking some steps in her elegant brown suede boots D'Anna turned round to note the imprints she had made in the dust. Gina remained in the vessel and again D'Anna wondered if Gina was up to her mission. There was a weakness about Gina and there was still a question mark about the effect of meshing human memories with machines. D'Anna then made the decision that if Gina's behaviour became dangerously unstable she would terminate her rather than risk jeopardizing the Cylon plan.
D'Anna walked towards Sharon who was now leaning against the nose cone of the craft staring out over the desolate landscape. "And this was only the beginning," Sharon announced as she turned to face her fellow agent.
D'Anna followed her gaze over the burnt dust that had once been fertile land. The sight made D'Anna proud that she was present in the place where the Cylon had made their first strike in the new war against their human creators. And although this victory had to be disguised as a natural disaster, she considered it a suitable repayment for the killing of the many unarmed mineworker Cylons in the incident that marked the beginning of the first Cylon upraising.
"Humanity will pay a terrible price for the mistreatment of their children. And we are to be the harbingers for that final retribution."
Sharon had driven away in one of the vehicles hidden in a broken down warehouse which was situated within the airfield. She had loaded her luggage in silence and left them without a backward glance. D'Anna and Gina loaded up their much more expensive and luxurious vehicle which was spacious enough for the coffin to sit alongside their luggage.
The coffin was supposed to contain an adopted daughter of the family Inviere, a sister to Gina. Rich families from the other Colonies had selected to provide support to the orphans of Troy by giving a child their family name and paying for its education and upkeep. They would do this without taking the children into their hearts and homes. It was felt more appropriate for them to live with their own kind and it meant the rich could feel charitable without the inconvenience of actually having to care for the child. The tradition that the dead be returned for one last visit to their place of birth was being used to explain D'Anna and Gina's journey to Troy.
Gina had put on a pair of dark sunglasses and sat staring grimly out at the barren landscape from the passenger seat of the vehicle. D'Anna climbed into the driver's seat and started examining the gauges and controls in front of her. Then she turned the key in the ignition and the engine kicked into life. D'Anna smiled to herself enjoying how simple this task was for her although she had never been in such a vehicle before. All she needed were the implanted memories to guide her.
Gina was getting impatient as D'Anna kept the engine running without any sign of movement. "Is there a problem?"
"Are you going to start on me now?!" D'Anna snapped at Gina for daring to question her abilities.
"No, I just will feel better once we leave this place." Gina lied; knowing the darkness which ate away at her would never let her have peace. She wondered why lying had become so much easier for her than honesty used to be. Gina now felt as though she could trust no one and especially her sister who seemed to have the ability to look right through her and read her mind.
They drove along the dirt track covering over the narrower tracks made by Sharon's battered vehicle in the dust. Then they entered the strip of land surrounding the mining area which had been reclaimed. The road surface changed to hard tarmac as they came across junctions with other roads and vehicles started to cross their path. They were mostly large trucks moving loads of mineral ore from the mines to the massive refinery which dominated the skyline to their right. The refinery's tall red chimneys continuously belched out dark clouds of smoke into the already noxious environment.
"Why would anyone want to live in this Godless place?" D'Anna said as they stopped to let another truck heading back to the mines thunder past them. A canvas sign which was strapped to the side of the truck had bold red lettering painted on it:
Crystal Mining – Putting safety first
Only 9 accidents this year
Proud to show we care
The number nine had been clumsily painted over the previous number.
After watching the vehicle speeding away, Gina commented, "They have no where else to go. And to think that once these mines used to be worked by Cylon labour."
When they arrived at the outskirts of the settlement where the humans lived they saw true degradation in shacks made of corrugated metal sheets with tiny windows to let in light. In the open areas around the rusting homes washing hung out on lines to gather the grey dust while the clothes dried. There were a few women outside working pathetically small vegetable plots but they showed no interest in the luxury vehicle which was passing through their domain.
The funeral company was situated in a row of shops which were made of sturdy brick and mortar close to the prosperous homes of the settlement. D'Anna went inside first and shortly afterwards four men came out and under her direction removed the coffin from the back of the vehicle. Gina watched as they struggled under the weight of the heavy metal casket. Reluctantly she then got out of the air conditioned car and followed D'Anna into the premises.
The funeral Director was admiring the workmanship of the coffin when Gina entered the front room which was decorated with plastic ferns and a large fountain where the water gurgled onto shiny black pebbles. The coffin was laid to rest on a raised base which had been tastefully draped in white cloth.
D'Anna turned towards Gina and indicated to the Director that she was the deceased's relative. The director was a small man with a shiny face and badly dyed black hair who was dressed in an appropriately sombre black suit and he made Gina's skin crawl. She did not know how to deal with him, the first human she had to interact with.
"I feel your pain my dear," he said approaching Gina, "to lose one who was so young. And a sister adopted from Troy after the disaster too! All praise to your family for their charity and for ensuring that she receives all the proper rites."
Then as he did not get a response the man reached out his fat fingers to tentatively pat her arm in what he considered to be a comforting gesture. Gina looked down at him glad that her eyes where hidden so that he did not see the disgust she felt at his un-invited physical contact.
Oblivious of the offence he had caused the Director removed his hand once he was satisfied that he had got Gina's full attention. "I need to ensure the paperwork is in order and I'm afraid there is no delicate way of putting this but payment must be made in full prior shipment."
He retreated behind a desk in one corner of the room and Gina followed him, as she opened her bag to retrieve the forged death certificate as well as the document approving transport of the remains to Caprica City, which she then placed in front of him. The Director lifted the documents close to his face and started to peruse them intently. It was obvious he needed reading glasses and Gina wondered if his personal vanity was worth looking quite so ridiculous. Once he was satisfied and had stamped and signed his part of the transportation approval he looked expectantly at Gina. She opened her purse and took out a gold coloured credit card and watched the man's eyes light up with pure avarice on spying it. He separated the detachable copies for his records and handed them back to Gina leaving his hand stretched out in mid air in expectation of the precious card. Gina took in his barely contained glee as he swiped it through a card holder and then keyed in the amount to be paid. He handed over a card holder for Gina to enter her security number. A moment went by while the transaction was processed and money due was electronically paid. Gina listened to the soothing sound of the water as she waited for this next part of the plan to work. When she saw a wide smile break out on the man's face she knew she had passed her first test.
The Director came around the desk and presented Gina with her credit card along with a piece of black card with white lettering which proudly announced that he was Peter Henderson, the owner of the Peaceful Rest Funeral Home. "Please do not worry my dear. Your sister's mortal remains will be resting in a prime position within the sacred Sanctuary of Herakles by the time you reach Caprica City. You can rely on me."
D'Anna and Gina sit in the premier waiting area which apart from them is very nearly deserted. A glass partition separates them from the majority of passengers who have to make do with the economy lounge. Most of the people waiting are smoking and the strong odour of cigarettes even permeates through the sealed glass between them and the shabby people outside. D'Anna wonders why humans choose to smoke when their working environment is already killing them. It makes no sense to her that they would choose to hasten their own death. From her padded leather recliner she can see Sharon Valerii who sits on the front row of the plastic seats that face the departures board.
Sharon's coat is draped over her chair and her right sleeve is rolled up to reveal a small plaster. She has given blood at the medical centre in the Terminal and her reward for being a dutiful citizen was a free meal. This is President Adair's latest initiative to silence the rumblings in the Assembly about the terrible cost in human life that has been paid since the mines reopened. Those who can prove themselves healthy are encouraged to give blood to help prolong the lives of the dying. And Sharon is in the fortunate position to have a slip of paper from the Colonial Fleet medical assessor on Aerilon marking her as an A1 candidate for military service.
D'Anna reaches out for the glass of cool water sitting on the small table at her side and takes a sip before remarking, "One of the poor souls on this rock is going to get a lucky break today."
"Why?"
"Someone will receive the healing gift of Cylon blood and it will be hailed a miracle. And sacrifices will be made to their Gods!"
"You need to be careful what you say!" Gina hissed back at her sister, looking round to see if anyone is listening into their conversation. Fortunately there is only an elderly man in their vicinity and from the rhythmic sound of snoring coming from his direction he is safely asleep.
D'Anna shrugs her shoulders dismissively at Gina and puts her glass back on the table between them before leaning back into her seat and closing her eyes.
They will have a long wait for the only passenger flight to Caprica City. Most of the flights were short hauls to much closer destinations such as the Colony of Aerilon. There are a lot of cargo flights to Caprica though, carrying processed ore and other items, including today the coffin belonging to the family Inviere.
Gina watches as a family of three enters the terminal. A mother and father and young girl who all look lost as they stare at the departures board. The parents wear drab grey shapeless clothes that look that way because they have been washed and repaired too many times. The daughter however is in a smart green school uniform with a colourful badge on her blazer. Gina looses sight of them for a few moments and when they return the small suitcase the father was holding is gone and the girl holds a boarding pass while her mother clutches onto a black leather school satchel. The girl looks close to tears as her father kisses her on the cheek and briefly hugs her. He leaves and the girl and her mother sit down together on two seats facing Gina. They don't look at each other instead they stare fixatedly at the board above them as though that will slow down the time left before they must part. Gina feels moved by the girl's misery and when the girl looks over in Gina's direction she tries to show her sympathy by smiling at her. The girl surprises her by glaring petulantly back and then abruptly turning her head away. Gina wonders what it was she did wrong and all of her concerns about being able to interact with humans come flooding back. From the little she has seen Gina doubts that her implanted emotions will ever be able to cope with the subtle complexities of human body language.
A large display screen which is hanging at the back of the main area bursts into life diverting Gina from her thoughts. She gazes at the brassy adverts for holidays and skin cream with a shocked fascination. D'Anna is also watching the board although she is more interested that no one else in the terminal building pays any attention to the dreams of exotic places and the promises of a youthful complexion. Inserted among the adverts are public announcements detailing President Adair's successful crack down against the Dissenter movement and instructions that all Colonial citizens should be vigilant and report anything or anyone they are suspicious of. A series of photographs of known terrorists are flashed up on the screen. Suddenly the photograph of a Model Two with long dark brown hair and an unruly beard stares out at them with wild eyes and the words below identify him as a suicide bomber named Fergus Aaronson who killed thirty-two innocents.
Startled Gina looks across at D'Anna for support only to be rewarded with a reassuring pat from her sister which is given in a manner Gina finds incredibly condescending. Gina resents how much D'Anna seems to be enjoying all of this and she feels anger welling up in her.
They are interrupted from their ongoing personal conflict by the clips now appearing on the screen hailing the latest war movie "Battle Cry" as the most realistic epic story of the Cylon war. The advert promises to tell the truth of man's crushing victory over the machines created to serve them. The images depict the enemies of the human as soulless mechanised killers while they are brave and courageous as they fight and die to protect their homes and families.
Shocked Gina leans over towards D'Anna and in a tense voice says, "All we wanted was to be accepted as sentient beings, this is so wrong."
"Now you see the lies our creators tell about us and the hatred they feel towards us, my sister. They started the war…"
Gina suddenly grabs hold of D'Anna's arm and points towards where Sharon is sitting reading a magazine. A young man has sat down beside her and rather than ignore his presence, Sharon gives the impression she is enjoying herself by entering into an animated conversation with him. When the man presses his thigh against Sharon's she doesn't offer any resistance and not once does she look in the direction of her sisters as she lets him twist a strand of the hair that frames her face around his fingers.
"This is not supposed to happen!"
"And what do you propose we do about it Gina, we are not supposed to know her."
"She is deviating from what is expected of her, we have to do something!"
The man points to a small café within the Terminal building lit with neon blue lighting to indicate that alcoholic drink is available for purchase inside. Sharon accepts his proposition with a simple nod of her head and walks away with him.
"It's too late now!" D'Anna irritably snaps back at Gina. She is silenced by the noise of a large group of male travellers filtering into the premier waiting area. The time for their flight is getting closer and the new arrivals are in good cheer because they are grateful to be heading home to Caprica. Ignoring the noisy fellow passengers D'Anna reassures herself by thinking that Sharon's diversion from the accepted plan does not really matter and that it is all right for her to have some enjoyment since it is most unlikely that she will ever meet the man again.
