-Chapter 9-
The Heavy Raider lands in the hanger as the rear door opens Tricia waits hearing the news that they had recovered not only one but two humans made her very excited, even though apparently one was injured the report came back that it was minor. Either way she had Simon standing by to rush the person to the infirmary once they arrived, the ramp touching the floor the centurions begin to escort the man and what appeared to be a little girl in his arms.
Quickly Simon runs up to them checking the little girl's vital signs, he ignores the man holding her as he asks many questions. Tricia seeing that he is frantic places her hand on his shoulder "It will be ok she is in safe hands" giving him a gentle smile he nods handing the child over to him. They head for a gurney as Simon lays the child down the centurions cart her off, the man trying to follow her is held up by Tricia feeling that the doctor would have everything under control that he might get in the way she decides to try and distract him "Let him do his job, please."
He turns to her with a scorn look on his face "I have to make sure she will be ok."
Trying to help him cope "…is she yours?"
"No, but I swore I would protector her after her father died."
Her smile returning she appreciated his loyalty a trait that was rare even in most humans "My name is Tricia… what's your name?"
Before he can answer she hears her friend's voice as it approaches from behind "His name is Braidon…"
Her smile quickly turns into shock "Where's your helmet?"
Shrugging her shoulders "Buried under a couple of tons of rock… hey but don't worry I'm ok."
Giving her a smirk "Of course I'm worried about you, but… never mind get back on the ship stay there until I can get Luce hopefully he will know what to do." Not happy she shakes her head returning to the ship, trying to put her smile back on her face she returns her attention to the man "So… Braidon was it?"
Nodding his head he looks around the room amazed at all the stuff that was aboard, living in the mountains of Canceron he never knew such marvels could exist "Why are humans working for the Cylons… this doesn't make any sense."
"No I imagine it wouldn't, for the most part everyone you see onboard is from the Cylon Nation… except me… well sort of. To be honest it's complicated the important thing is you are here now."
"Why is that important are they ready to execute me?"
Smiling "oh no… things have changed since you originally went into hiding. The war for all intensive purposes is over, and now all the Legion wants to do is give your race a chance to thrive."
"Why now? Why after all the years?"
"Once again it is a long story" ushering him "please come with me I will take you to a room that is close to the little girl."
"Her name is Gabriel…"
"Of course… while we wait I will try to explain everything that has happened, well at least all I know but first I need to stop by a friend's room before we go any further."
Walking the halls he takes in the sights, as he sees many copies of the same design he was confused at what he saw, many humans but all of them resembling each other in some shape or form. The things that he has always referred to as monsters he learns that they are called centurions, machines that have a conscience of their own they are people who are represented by the one called Zero and with the humans they contrive of seven separate councils that decide the fate of this Empire.
They finally reach a room as they wait for the occupant to greet them, the door begins to slide open and he sees a weird man with an oblong head that flashed with red eyes that rotated back and forth, wearing a red robe he seemed to glide across the floor.
"What do we have here?" he says as he offers a short bow.
Smiling Tricia presents her guest "This is Braidon… he is a survivor from the planet Canceron."
"Interesting, I thought with as much time that had passed that all of humanity would have finally died out. Welcome aboard Mr. Braidon…"
Still confused he was lost in his feelings for so long he had hated what these things represented, and now they believe simply apologizing that they can move on. Of course they are going out of their way to ensure Gabriel was safe, but still can that be enough to start the healing. With hesitation "…Thank you… I think, you must excuse me I have hated your kind for so long that I can't really be sure what to say without sounding offensive."
"The crimes against your kind are vast so if you wish to have any outburst I'm sure everyone here will understand and not hold it against you."
Wanting to take him up on the offer, he so wanted to get was on his chest off but chose to postpone it for later. Tricia seeing his restraint decided that she had better hurry with her business so that he could check on Gabriel status "Luce, excuse me for interrupting but I need you to respond to the Hanger deck immediately… Zero had a problem on the planet's surface and lost her helmet."
"Oh my that is serious, but I'm not sure what we will be able to do to fix the problem I have no replacement for her."
"Either way can you please meet with her" pointing over to Braidon "I need to get our visitor to the infirmary one of the guest was injured on the planet before arriving."
"I understand" bowing to the both of them he glides off rushing to get to his friend this was a situation that could disrupt his plans for awhile, but as bad as it was it shouldn't affect them too much.
Waiting on the ship bored out of her mind she begins to pace wishing that Lucifer would hurry about and get there to fix the problem. Excited that her missions were finally paying off, finding one human was a good start but the possibility of finding a whole encampment that they would have a chance to thrive made her feel even better.
Peering out the rear of the shuttle she surveys the hanger searching for her friend, as the hanger doors open she sees him gliding across the floor relieved that he finally made it she returns to the front of the ship to keep herself out of sight.
Reaching the ramp Lucifer enters the ship stopping at the top of the platform he stands looking at her. She hadn't expected him to yell, even in their most difficult times she had never heard him raise his voice but then his monotone voice was probably worse as if when he spoke it gave a feeling of disappointment that flowed with it. Smiling at her mentor she waits.
"Well it was bound that your secret would be revealed, even though I would have preferred that it be later I can only assume that now would be the most opportune time…" turning he begins to glide away gesturing back "…unless of course you would like to remain on the ship until I make you another one."
Grimacing she shakes her head "No I'm fine with them knowing, they have accepted me to this point why wouldn't they continue."
"Indeed, we will make our announcement in the Command Center" escorting her they leave the ship heading for new waters this should be interesting is all they think.
After announcing Zero's true design the council handled it quite well to include the John's, with no serious consequences Lucifer received the worst for keeping it from the council, but with his past accomplishments towards the Legion it was merely an admonishment making him promise to include them in future secret experiments.
Zero relieved that she no longer had to hide herself from everyone's view rejoiced, but reassuring everyone that she was the same person that they could count on that she would still fill her duties in representing the centurions for the council.
Everything was beginning to pan out to include the human girl Gabriel who was making a full recovery, the Simon had reported that there was minor internal bleeding and had they not got her to the ship when they did she would have surely died a few days later. Braidon appreciative of the news began to soften up, but still kept his defenses up watching everyone for some kind of deception.
A few days went by when Tricia believed he was becoming more receptive of the idea of living with the things he for so long hated had asked that he bring the rest of his people to join them, and after the last few days of asking he finally conceded that he would allow them to come aboard, Tricia happy with the news then began planning for their return.
With the shuttle finally returning to the ship it had taken Zero a little longer than expected to locate them but now with their return Tricia grabbed Braidon rushing him to the hanger to meet them.
Standing there anxious he began fidgeting, Tricia simply places her arm around his shoulder "It will be ok Zero reported that they were nervous but they were all doing fine."
"I know it's just none of us thought something like this could ever happen."
Smiling "Think of it this way… this is the easy part, once we return to Tauron you guys will then be given a choice of where you would like to reside, chose someone to represent you, and then start your lives over but allowing all of you to chose on how you will contribute in this new society that I promise will be a little more complicated."
Smirking he doesn't respond diverting his attention to the shuttle as it makes it landing on the hanger bay he begins to walk towards the ship as the doors slowly begin to open. Seeing Zero his smile doesn't fully peak until he sees Jest and the rest of them exiting the ship. Sarah looking possibly the most frantic runs up to him hugging him she quickly asks "Where's my baby?"
"She's good they have her in one of the rooms being spoiled by everyone on this ship."
"Spoiled?"
Tricia interjects "Yes, nobody onboard has ever seen a child as young as yours and are enjoying her company."
Giving a forced smile "Can I see her?"
"Of course" ushering her to Kona they make introductions as they watch them leave she turns back to the rest of the group "So what does everyone else want to do?"
Hungry they all request food, not sure what was going on while Braidon was gone they were afraid to hunt and with the rations all gone they hadn't ate in the last couple of days. Taking them to the galley they engorged themselves on foods they had never tried, for once in their lives and with full stomachs hope of a better life began to enter their eyes. Tricia enjoying the moment knew that this day was a fresh new start hoping herself that they would all enjoy what tomorrow would bring.
