The Avalon, 1900 hours.

Natalie and Leoben finally understood what Sharon had told them about the supposed female sleeper Number Eight who was embedded on the Avalon. There was just one problem, the Number Eight who was standing to the left of the bald man, introduced as Mr. Richard Woolsey, was not a Cylon. Natalie would have felt it deep in herself if the woman was a Cylon, but she couldn't sense anything. She glanced over at Leoben who had the same expression as she did, or at least she believed he had the same expression. Natalie then turned to Sharon looking back at her expectantly to confirm that this mystery Eight, this Lauren Satterfield, was really one of them.

That she wasn't a human being.

"She's not a Cylon," whispered Natalie before she glanced over at Satterfield who told the three of them that once their questioning was over, Natalie and Sharon would be accompanying her and Tara to the infirmary where she'd prove that there were no nanites in her system.

"And the fact that I don't have a chip at the base of my neck," said Satterfield as Natalie and the two other Cylons brought their hands to the back of their skulls without thinking. They looked questioningly at Satterfield who added that Leoben was scanned by the ship's internal sensors when he was beamed aboard. And a detailed scan was run after he was stunned to the floor hours ago.

"Wait.. wait.. wait," insisted Sharon as she waved her hands about before pointing at Satterfield, "you're telling me that you are human?"

"Yep," replied Satterfield as Sharon narrowed her eyes.

"That's not possible," insisted an outraged Sharon, "I…"

"I saw multiple copies of you," hissed Satterfield in anger as she took two steps towards Sharon, with Tara and Grogan almost immediately holding onto her and pulling her back. But despite their intervention, Satterfield continued to glare at Sharon before repeating what she had told the humanoid Cylon before, "you murdered using my face… my face!"

"Lieutenant," whispered Woolsey as Natalie held onto Sharon's shoulder and walked around her. She then told Sharon to keep quiet, and then she stared at the rage in Satterfield's eyes before glancing back at Sharon.

"Stay quiet," repeated the Number Six model, "I want to know what's going on here as much as you, Sharon."

"As would we," replied Woolsey while Tara and Grogan took Satterfield to one side. They were asking her if she would be able to regain her composure, or if she wanted to take a break. Satterfield shook her head, and the three members of SG-1 stood around Woolsey who was motioning towards the bottom bunks of the beds behind the Cylons. He asked them to take a seat, and listen to what he had to say, "and then we have questions of our own. Is that clear?"

"Yes," replied Natalie as she sat on the bed next to Leoben, while Sharon sat on Natalie's right side; occasionally glancing at Satterfield. And then at Woolsey.

"Before we begin," said Natalie, "are you the Thirteenth Tribe of man? Are you really from Earth?"

Earth. It was a surprise to hear that name when Natalie mentioned it to them earlier when they arrived over the planet they were currently orbiting. She told them how the Earth ship destroyed their Baseships, "and that was only one ship". Leoben and Sharon were stunned to hear about the massacre in orbit of Caprica. They were about to say that it was the fault of the Earthers, but before they could… Natalie informed them that the Earther had warned them not to attack, that they were on a humanitarian mission. However, Cavil still ordered an attack and then result was the decimation of a fleet of Baseships at the hand of one small vessel. It was that thought that permeated their minds as the Cylon's listened with bated breath to hear Woolsey's answer; because if this wasn't the Thirteenth Tribe, then that meant that there was another group of humans living in the Galaxy… bringing into question the very nature of the Colonials Sacred Scrolls, as well as the Cylons belief that there were only Thirteen Tribes of man.

"We are from Earth, but I can honest to goodness say that we are not your Thirteenth tribe," said Woolsey who was standing with his arms by his sides, "to be honest with you; none of us has heard about Kobol until only recently. There are a lot of things that need to be explained, but we need some answers before we continue. Why did you attack the Colonies?"

Natalie, Leoben, and Sharon looked at each other, they knew that the answer he gave was a possible lie… but from the tone of his voice and body language, they three Cylons suspected that there was at least some grain of truth into what he was saying. Natalie then turned to face Woolsey and asked him if there was any proof that they were from another species of man.

"The location of Earth is a classified, and known only to our allies," said Woolsey as Natalie and the other Cylons frowned, "and believe when I say that your people have done yourselves no favours after what occurred on the Twelve Colonies."

"You don't know," replied Sharon, "we had a reason.. a very good reason to do what we did."

"Which is?" asked Woolsey as the three Cylons looked at each other, and then back at the bald IOA representative. Natalie then leaned forward and told him about the First Cylon war forty years ago. Tara, Satterfield, and Grogan listened as Natalie went on to talk about the massive levels of destruction that the war caused on both sides before the armistice was signed. She continued talking, while Woolsey and the others listened, about the agreement with the Colonials to set up the Armistice Station so that the two people could hold diplomatic talks before Leoben took over and told them that the humanoid models were created to infiltrate the Colonies. Before the humans could say anything, Leoben continued by saying that all Cylons knew that humans couldn't be trusted… the reason for no Cylons having met the human representative in the armistice station. He continued on to say that all the humans knew was hate, and they hated Cylons.

"We knew that they would be gearing up for another war," said Leoben. Sharon then told the group that the Colonials weren't angels either. Sharon talked about how the Colonials had set up listening posts, and even skirted the armistice line in their vipers and Battlestars.

"One of the Battlestars sent a drone over the line," said Leoben, "that was an act of war, and we had every right to…"

"You infiltrated their society first," said Grogan while Leoben nodded his head.

"They enslaved our ancestors, and refused to recognise their sentience," said Sharon as she glared at the humans in front of them, "the Centurions and us are the children of humanity, and this is how they treated their creations. Their children. We had every right to fight back."

"While I am truly sorry that your ancestors were enslaved, but the fact of the matter is that your people signed an armistice that seems to have held for forty years," said Woolsey as Sharon shook her head in disbelief, "from what I understand, and I admit that we haven't spoken to the Colonials yet, but your people had every chance to speak to the Colonials on this armistice Station. A diplomatic route could have followed that one intrusion you spoke of, but as you have admitted…. No one was sent for any talks. And we cannot forget that your people were the ones who infiltrated their society first."

"It was to ensure that they weren't going to attack us again," said an outraged Sharon as she stood up and waved her hands, "yes, we spied on them.. we learned how the Colonial society worked and…"

"Sharon," said Natalie.

"No!" yelled Sharon as she looked at the Number Six, and then at Woolsey, "who are you to judge us? They would have found a reason to come after us…. They hate us, humanity hates us, and…"

"And that one intrusion into your space gave you the right to annihilate billions of men, women, and children?" asked Satterfield as she glared at her copy, "did it!?"

"And nearly killing us in the process," said Grogan rubbing the back of his head.

"We did what we believed was right," Natalie commented as she leaned forward, "the Colonials had betrayed my people, betrayed their children… and we knew in our hearts that they would do it again. We believed that the Colonials would have attacked us. I know that you have my word for this… our word for this. Just as we know that the Colonials will tell you that they were never going to attack. All I can tell you right now is that we believed that the Colonials were the only humans in the galaxy, that the Thirteenth tribe was simply a myth, but here you and your people are; travelling the stars."

Woolsey listened as Natalie told him that as far as she was concerned, the Cylons did not have a quarrel with Earth.

"That is if you are really Earth," said Sharon while Satterfield huffed.

"As I was saying," said Natalie, "Cavil wants the destruction of humanity, it doesn't matter if they are from the Colonies or not."

"Are you saying that not everyone follows this Cavil person?" asked Woolsey, "the machines we have encountered followed a…"

"You met other machines?" asked Leoben as Natalie shut her lips tight and set her jaw, "Cylons?"

"No," said Tara gently. She couldn't read their aura's since the three seated Cylons were machines, but she could still tell that they felt slightly uneasy, as if humans meeting these machines meant that they killed them without any cause… as if humans were barbaric. Tara knew that they need to tread carefully, to explain to the Cylons that the machines they fought were different from the Cylons. So Tara stepped forward and asked Woolsey if she could continue.

And Woolsey nodded his head.

"The machines we fought, and destroyed were a race called Replicators," said Tara to the stunned Cylons, "their main goal was to eat and replicate, eventually taking over the galaxy. They were made up of nanite blocks that formed into the shape of different bugs; both small and large. And they could eat anything, and they went after the most advanced civilisations first. Anyway, they eventually took on human form and became near indestructible. There were four human form replicators, which were whittled down to three after they turned on one of their own. Then those three tried to destroy a weapon that would have stopped them. They didn't succeed, but we had to lock them in one of our off-world bases before blowing it up in a nuclear explosion."

"So you're just as human as the Colonials," said Sharon.

"The Replicators would have destroyed you too," said Woolsey, "or taken over your A.I, and made you do their bidding. And that is what you have, am I right, a highly advanced form of A.I?"

"Yes," said Leoben.

"Do you know who created you?" asked Woolsey, to which Natalie told the man that they had no idea who it was that created the Cylons, at least the humanoid version.

"Even Cavil doesn't know," said Leoben, "that information has been stripped from our minds. Our creators probably did it to us."

Natalie noticed the looked that the humans were giving each other before they proceeded with even more questions, from Cylon society to their military capabilities. There were some things that Natalie didn't tell them, as was the case with Leoben and Sharon; the humans weren't told about the original tests done on humans during the war so that the Cylons could evolve, nor were they told about the hybrids on their Baseships, nor where they told about the Hub or the Colony. There were several points of interests that the humans were told about, including the fact that there were twelve models of humanoid Cylons. But it was the reaction to Leoben telling the humans that information on their creators could have been stripped out of their minds by the creators themselves that piqued Natalie's curiosity.

She knew that the humans were hiding something, just as she suspected they knew she and the other Cylons were hiding something as well. It was something that Natalie thought best to bring up in private when everyone had calmed down.

"What happens now?" asked Leoben after nearly an hour of being questioned.

"Miss Faust," said Woolsey as he turned to Natalie, "you said that not every one of the humanoid Cylons believes that we should have been attacked, is that true?"

"If my brothers and sisters knew the truth?" said Natalie, "then yes, it is possible."

"But you would be also looking at our brothers and sisters fighting each other," said Sharon as Tara rushed to the door and opened it. She and Willow spoke in hushed tones before closing the door behind her. Tara then rushed to Woolsey, who nodded his head as she whispered in his ear while Natalie continued to speak, "you would be looking at a civil war.. a war that would weaken us from the inside, something that I guess every human is really good at."

"Miss Faust," said Woolsey, "there are some things that the Cylons need to know, as do the Colonials. But that can wait, for right now.. the three of you will be guests on this ship. I will have to talk to the IOA, the President, and Homeworld security on the possibility of giving you any additional information. In the meantime, I have just been notified that the Avalon is due to return to the location of the Odyssey and the Galactica."

"The Galactica?" asked the three Cylons. Natalie frowned before asking if they were being handed to the Colonials.

"No," replied Woolsey, "the truth is that we cannot leave you on the planet below, and we cannot return you to the Colonials since they didn't have you in their custody in the first place. The truth is that we don't know what to do with you yet, so for now… you three will remain guests on board this ship. And while here, you three will be protected under Homeworld."

"So prisoners then?" asked Sharon.

"Like Mr. Woolsey said," replied Satterfield, "you're guests. You'd be prisoners if we actually put you in chains and locked you in this room. For now, you're just locked in this room… give me a reason to put you in chains."

Sharon looked at the anger in Satterfield's eyes before looking away at the floor of the room.

"This is better than how we'll be treated by the Colonials," said Natalie nodding her head at Woolsey before standing up, "I will tell you that I have no regrets over what we did to the Colonials. I believe that was the right thing to do, but I have no quarrel with your people. Thirteenth tribe or not, in my opinion… you are not the enemy. And I don't want to see more Earthers or my brothers and sisters, die. Whatever information you give me, I'll relay that message to all Cylons."

"And if they start killing each other?" asked Leoben looking up at Natalie, "if the ones who believe you start fighting to be free from the others?"

"Then we've proved that the human and Cylons are the same," muttered Natalie sadly while staring at Leoben, who looked away. Natalie then turned to Woolsey and told him that she'll try to convince at least her models to split, but added that others of her line.. and those who wish to split from the core Cylon group would need a place to live, "we'll be traitors, and there will be recriminations down the road… if not right then and there."

"We may have information that you can send your people," said Woolsey.

"There are a lot of things that you don't know," added Tara giving a small smile at the three Cylons.

"But some of the information you have given us will be shared with the Colonials," said Woolsey, "particularly on the twelve models of Cylons."

Leoben nodded his head before adding that the radiation in the Ragnar atmosphere was deadly for Cylon physiology after prolonged exposure. Natalie and Sharon nodded their heads when the older man said that they would be in danger of radiation poisoning, the main reason why the anchorage was located in such a location.

"The ship's hull is made of a special alloy that keeps the crew safe from radiation," said Grogan, "you'll be safe."

Natalie nodded her head before as Woolsey and the other were about to leave. Woolsey told the three of them that he'll make sure they get something to eat since it was going to be some time before they reached Ragnar again. Nodding their heads the Cylons watched at the door closed before Natalie walked across to her bunk and sat down, her hands covering her mouth; deep in thought.

"Natalie?" said Sharon while the woman wiped her face with her hand, "are you really going to talk to Cavil? To the others?"

"We don't know what information they have? Even if they did, we don't know if it's even important," Leoben leaned forward.

"I have to believe that these people, whether they are from the Thirteenth Tribe, or not, will not attack the others without provocation," said Natalie as she leaned forward and looked into Leoben eyes, "like I told them.. like I told Cavil, Sharon, D'Anna, and the others, these people haven't attacked us without provocation. They aren't the ones who created us, they don't deserve our anger.. or our hate."

"But… but those machines they destroyed," Sharon asked, her voice hiding her outrage at Natalie's lack of sorrow for the destruction of an entire mechanical race, "Natalie, they destroyed…."

"An invading force," muttered Natalie, "you heard what they said, those machines would have eaten everything. Invaded the galaxy."

"And you're taking them at their word," added Sharon with a look of consternation at Natalie.

"I don't think they lied," said Natalie gently.

Before the Cylons could say anything, they noticed the ship moving away from the planet before it entered the blue and white coloured hyperspace tunnel. Leoben then turned to Natalie and Sharon just as the door opened again, and Satterfield along with tree S.F's and Tara stood in the hallway.

"Come on," motioned Satterfield in Colonial Standard since the magic translator had been dispelled given that the Avalon was out of range of the planet's magic, "I said that I'll prove to you that I'm not a Cylon. Lets go."

"Before we go," said Natalie, "those machines you destroyed, was there really no other way to… I mean, stop them?"

Satterfield and Tara looked at each other, the former nodding her head before Tara turned and told the Cylons that the Replicators were only made t o eat, replicate, and conquer. That was their goal. She told them that the Replicators couldn't evolve beyond their programming… that even the human form replicators that attacked their base was focused on conquering.

"But your A.I's can evolve," said Tara gently, "if it didn't, then you wouldn't have surrendered to us, Natalie. Am I right? Cylons are capable of evolving their A.I's, are they not?"

"Ye… yes," said Leoben while Natalie nodded their head.

"The replicators couldn't change," said Tara, "they did what they were programmed to do. But your people, you have the capacity to change. To move on past your own programming, right?"

"Yes," said Natalie.

"That's why we destroyed the three that invaded this galaxy," said Satterfield, "they couldn't be negotiated with, or controlled. They were going to bring more of their kind here unless we stopped them. And we did. I won't lose any sleep over it."

"Come on," said Tara nodding her head, "we'll take you to the infirmary."

The three Cylons then followed Tara, and Satterfield, while being surrounded by the three guards as they walked for a few minutes in silence. It was ten minutes later where they reached the infirmary, and it was Natalie and Leoben who had their blood drawn. The blood was then placed in a scanner, and then another screen turned on showing millions of tiny nanites in their blood streams. The three Cylons stated at the screen while Satterfield had her blood drawn, and then the screen images separated into thirds… each showing the sample for Natalie, Leoben, and Satterfield.

"See," said Satterfield as the other Cylons looked at her in shocked silence. The third video clip showed Satterfield's blood which was clear of any nanites, while Natalie and Leoben's blood samples showed all those nanites, "told you so. Now, back to your room."

TBC.