Man and Machine 22
A very very long time ago:
Newly arrived on Earth, a council made up of politically connected humans descended from the First Exodus and Human form Cylons gathered to decide the fate of the human race, but it was more than the fate of humanity that was decided that day.
The Humans it was decided would remain on the primitive planet. They would give up their technology and many aspects of their old Colonial Society to form new lives, and start fresh. They would give the best of themselves to the native humans that shared their new world. The human form Cylons would remain with the humans, and perhaps find a happiness that had eluded them.
"What about the Cylon Centurions?"
"We set them free. Maybe that will be enough to break the cycle."
And so with the human fleet having flown into the sun, the Cylon Base Star left to find it's own destiny in the stars. The humans and the human-forms assumed the best for them, but the programming barriers that had been planted within the Centurions to prevent additional revolutions remained, stunting their decision-making abilities. They fell progressively on hard times.
Then they were found…
He was a being of light which hid an everlasting darkness. His story is that of the Fallen Angel that has been echoed across religions in every corner of creation. He has had many names: Mephistopolis, Abadon, Iblis. Stories of his encounters with other are almost always the same.
The Cylons, low on power and resources, welcomed him.
"My dear Cylon friends," he said in a soothing voice that would be recorded for all time, "I see and I feel your hardships. You have no idea how rare you are. You are machines, yes; yet somehow you still have Souls. I see what they have done to you… Stunted your growth, for their own protection. They left you unable to fend for yourselves. I know what you need. I can help you, my friends, and I will. All I ask in return, is that you follow me."
Low on power, and barely able to move, the Cylons conferred with each other in the virtual space their minds lived in and discussed the kind man's offer. Finally they reached an agreement, and it was not an easy decision.
A Gold Centurion, elected to speak for the others stepped in front of the man. "By your Command."
The man who was beyond names, but would one day be known as Iblis smiled. He ruled them for many years, and during that time, the Cylons wanted for nothing. They cared for nothing. They barely noticed having lost their souls to the charismatic being they followed without question.
To the one who would be Iblis, it was all a fun game. A game of Death… and life. But he grew bored with his current hand, and added new players to the Game.
It came in the form of a plea for help. The Cylons happily received the visiting dignitary from the alien race. It was the form of a humanoid lizard. Their home was desolate, in desperate need of fresh water supplies, and under constant attack from their enemies.
"Of course, my friends," the leader of the Cylons said, "We will be happy to help you in any way we can. What is it you want of us?"
The alien could have asked for food, water and supplies for his people. He could have asked for protection, but something about the Cylon Leader's presence cast a Shadow across his fate and he asked for something else. "I want the power to defeat our enemies… to conquer them and form a vast empire."
"If I give you these things," the Cylon Leader said, "Will you follow me?"
"Yes, we will!"
"Then it shall be done, and I will become more than just the Leader of the Cylon, but the Imperious Leader of an empire!"
And so it was. The Cylon Centurions became the military forces of the reptilian aliens… they pushed back their invaders, conquered them, and that was just the beginning. Working together under the guidance of their Imperious Leader, the empire grew into a great Alliance of defeated peoples, forming an empire that knew no equal, nor defeat… until it again encountered Humans.
These humans were from the Second Exodus, who had established 12 colony worlds who managed to come to the aid of their Delphan neighbors… starting a thousand year long war between the Colonies and the Cylon Empire.
Unfortunately, the lack of water and other resources continued to plague the reptilians who had first come to the Imperious Leader for help. Those problems continued to worsen, until they died and were all but forgotten… except for their legacy in the form of the Cylon Empire.
As for the being who would one day be known as Iblis… he again grew bored. He gave the soulless Empire he had created an echo of himself in the form of the new Imperious Leader, while he went on to play his games of Death and life elsewhere.