Cellmate 9

"I'd like to thank you for finally granting me this interview." D'Anna Biers smiled as her cameraman finished checking the equipment, "Would you like a drink?"

"I'd kill for a Coke, but nothing I've tried since I got here tastes anything like it." Xander shifted uncomfortably in his seat: the woman made his skin crawl, and he was only there as part of a deal he'd made with Admiral Adama to get a few extra amenities in the cell he shared with Sharon.

"That's a shame." D'Anna smiled again, "Well, we're almost set up, so we should run through some of the questions I'll be asking. I know that the President and Admiral have vetoed some subjects, but there is still a lot I'm sure the people of the fleet would like to know about you and Earth."

"Don't expect too much in the way of in-depth answers: I never went to collage." Xander looked at the cameraman, "We ready to start this thing or what?"

"We're good." The man nodded, getting back behind the camera and turning it on, "Three...two...one...Action!"

"I'm here for a Fleet News Service exclusive interview with the young man who's startling, and some would say, miraculous appearance among us three months ago has the entire fleet talking: Alexander Harris." D'Anna smiled into the camera before turning to her subject, "Mr. Harris, welcome and thank you for finally agreeing to this interview."

"Admiral Adama seemed to be getting a little, stressed with the constant requests for access to me." Xander smiled as sincerely as he could, "So, in the hope that I can answer as many questions as possible at once, here I am."

"Indeed; here you are." D'Anna crossed one leg over the other in a manner that reminded Xander of Basic Instinct, "You claim to be from Earth, but you have nothing to back up these claims. There are those who say that you are a Cylon agent sent to infiltrate the fleet, while others, including President Roslin, seem to think you are a prophesied warrior, sent by the Lords of Kobol to help us in our hour of greatest need."

"Well, I have undergone every test your doctors and Vice President can come up with, and it has been decided that I'm not a Cylon." Xander chuckled, "As for the rest of it? There is an old saying on Earth: may you live in interesting times. Well I've lived in very interesting times most of my life, and while I have no problem believing, for reasons I'd rather not go into, that I was sent here by what you call the Lords of Kobol, I feels it's best not to speculate at this time."

"So do you believe in the Lords of Kobol?" D'Anna seemed very interested in what his response would be, "What religion is followed on Earth?"

"Well, we don't know the Lords of Kobol by that name, but there are those who believe that life on Earth began out here, far across the universe. With tribes of humans who may have been the forefathers of the Egyptians, or the Toltecs, or the Mayans. They may have been the architects of the great pyramids, or the lost civilizations of Lemuria or Atlantis." Xander shrugged, "But then, I was taught in school that all the evidence seems to point to human life evolving on Earth. And as for religions? Take you pick; we've got hundreds. Some believe on one god, some in many, others in none at all."

"So Earth has lost all knowledge of the Thirteen Tribes of man and the fall of Kobol?" There was an undeniable sparkle in the reporter's eye, "Would they be willing to welcome us if and when we get there?"

"Well, it'll be and interesting thing to see." Xander admitted, "There are those who'll want to welcome you with open arms, while others will likely call you demons and call for your destruction."

"Could they do that?" D'Anna asked, "And more importantly, could they defend us from the Cylons?"

"Earth is under the protection of the Great and All Powerful Oz, so I don't see the Cylons as a threat" Xander managed to stay completely straight faced, no matter how much he wanted to laugh out loud with the enormity of the lie, "And we have a big, powerful fleet of our own: one of our legendary heroes is Captain James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise. Now there's a guy you don't want to get on the wrong side of."

"Sounds like a paradise." D'Anna seemed strangely downcast for someone who'd just been told that all her prays had been answered, "Do you know how long it could take us to get to Earth?"

"Hard to say: our ships have what we call 'warp-drive', which is a lot different than Colonial FTL technology." Xander shrugged, "And if they ever finish that hyperspace express way they're always talking about, it could be sooner rather than later."

"Sounds hopeful." D'Anna smiled faintly, "I'm afraid that's all we have time for: hopefully we won't have to wait another three months for another interview."

"I make no promises." Xander smiled back, glad that it was all over with. He remained seated until the reporter and her cameraman were gone, and then walked over to the phone attached to the wall and entered the number he'd been given, "Alexander Harris for the Admiral."

"Yes?" Adama asked as soon as they were connected.

"It went as planned, and I think she bought it." Xander lent back against the wall, "I fed her as much bullshit as I felt I could get away with. Only time will tell how effective it was."

"Thank you: we know that there are still Cylon agents within the fleet, and the more disinformation we can feed them, the better." Adama sounded truly thankful, "Will you be returning immediately?"

"No: I have another engagement." Xander looked at his watch, "I'll probably be another couple of hours."

"I'll tell the Raptor to remain on station until you need it." The gruff old Colonial officer sounded distracted, "Adama out."

"And the Academy Award for best actor goes to..." Xander sighed as he put the phone down, "This is another fine mess you've gotten me into Cordelia."

To Be Continued...