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THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – DAY TWO Part 3
On the Galactica Cmdr. Adama walked into sick bay.
"Commander, Dr. Salik is expecting you; you can go right into his office," said Cassandra.
"Thank you," said Cmdr. Adama.
Dr. Salik was looking over Kim's medical records when Cmdr. Adama walked in. Dr. Salik looked up from Kim's record.
"Cmdr. Adama, welcome," said Dr. Salik "Please have a seat."
Cmdr. Adama sat down and asked, "So what is this about, Doctor?"
"I want to discuss Kim's test results," said Dr. Salik.
"You must have found a medical issue concerning Kim for you to bring it to my attention," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Not exactly," said Dr. Salik. "Kim is quite healthy."
"Then why did you ask me here?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"I examined DNA samples from Kim and found something interesting," said Dr. Salik.
"I'm listening," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Commander, I have found markers in Kim's chromosomes from the alpha to the zeta chromosomes," said Dr. Salik.
"Doctor, medicine is a field I have very little knowledge in," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Those specific chromosomes are very important for our reproduction and if all of those chromosomes are alike in both parents then all of their children will be born sterile," said Dr. Salik. "That's not the case with Kim. The markers in Kim would cause a random mutation in the chromosomes of any offspring she would get pregnant with if a particular chromosome is the same in her sexual partner."
"So this marker will keep the people on Earth fertile?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"In most cases it will, however that is not all it will do," said Dr. Salik.
"I'm listening, Doctor," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Commander, when a chromosome mutates to a slightly different chromosome it causes random health issues," said Dr. Salik.
"What kind of health issues?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"It can, but not necessarily causes birth deformities; inferior eye sight at birth, possibly even blindness; inferior hearing or deafness and inferior organs to complete organ failure," said Dr. Salik. "I can continue, but you should get the point."
"Yes Doctor, I do," said Cmdr. Adama. "Doctor, did the aliens that are abducting people on Earth do this?"
"In my opinion Commander, I believe that is what the aliens are looking for," said Dr. Salik. "Chances are the aliens are sterile or fast becoming sterile with each passing generation and they are looking for the secret to stop it."
"Given the level of technology that the people of Earth are at, this was done soon after the thirtieth colony's arrival to Earth," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Not soon after," said Dr. Salik. Cmdr. Adama looked at Dr. Salik in a curious manner. "From what else I discovered I suspect there was some kind of delay in doing this."
"What else did you discover, Doctor?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"There is a single chromosome present in Kim that is not present in any of the people among the twelve colonies," said Dr. Salik.
"Do you have a theory of how it got there?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"I do," said Dr. Salik. "I believe what Kim had said about evolving from a lower class of primates is partially true."
"Explain," said Cmdr. Adama.
"I'm thinking that the thirtieth colony was fast becoming sterile at the time they placed the markers," said Dr. Salik. "To prevent complete sterilization they would need fresh chromosome. I'm completely drawing a conclusion from what I have found and from what Kim had told us, but I'm thinking that there were human like animals used to cross bread with the thirtieth colony."
"How possible could they have done that?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"If there was an animal close enough to our makeup, it is very possible," said Dr. Salik. "Most likely they would have taken the female offspring that appeared the most human and impregnate her with human semen. They would then repeat the process with the females until a human child was born."
"Could there be another way to prevent sterilization?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"No, there's not," said Dr. Salik.
"Doctor, is our physiology too far different to the humans from Earth?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"If you are asking me if we can procreate with them then the answer is yes," said Dr. Salik.
"Is there anything else I need to be away of?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"There is actually," said Dr. Salik. "The scans have revealed that Kim has a small wormlike… I'm a bit reluctant to say an organ, but whatever it is, is located just above her right hip. I'm suspecting that body part is also from the primates that the thirteenth tribe was mixed with."
"Do you have a clue of what it does?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"I have seen certain animals with similar wormlike body part and it has something to do with digesting certain fibers from plants; however, without further testing I can't be certain," said Dr. Salik. "With Kim, however, I believe this body part has no real function, but again without further testing I can't be sure."
"I don't see it to be necessary to subject Kim to further testing to learn about that worm-like body part," said Cmdr. Adama.
"I agree," said Dr. Salik.
"Is there anything else, Doctor?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"That is all I have on Kim," said Dr. Salik.
"Doctor, do Kim's visions have anything to do with her being a hybrid human?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"Actually, I agree with Dr. Randall's opinion about Kim's visions," said Dr. Salik. "Three thousand years ago when our ancestors discovered how to genetically convert fifty percent of the primitive lobe into a more useful brain mass, we eliminated our ability to get visions."
"Thank you, Doctor," Cmdr. Adama said as he stood up. "Keep me inform if you learn anything new about Kim."
"Yes, Commander," said Dr. Salik.
Cmdr. Adama left the room.
In the classroom Kim had ten homework questions to do when Kyra stood up and said, "Okay, class is dismissed. I will be back in the classroom in thirty minutes for the students who want to work on his or her assignment." Kim was still answering the questions as each student was standing up. Kyra saw Kim working on her assignment and walked up to her. "Kimberly."
Kim looked up and asked, "What?"
"The classroom will be open again in thirty minutes for that purpose," said Kyra.
"I just have a few questions left to do," said Kim.
"Kim, put it away for now so we can go get something to eat," said Kyra.
"I like having my homework done before leaving school," said Kim.
"Kim, although we don't refer to it as homework, homework would mean to me that you are to do it at home," said Kyra. "With that thought in mind, you don't have to have it done before class is dismissed. Now put it away until later."
Kim said in a huffy manner, "Fine."
Kyra looked at Kim in a manner as if to say, "You have better watch your tone."
Kim saw Kyra's facial expression as she was standing up and grinned timidly.
Kyra's briefcase was left open on Kyra's desk as Kyra and Kim walked out of the classroom. Kyra locked the room just after leaving it.
A few minutes later Kim and Kyra were stepping out of the food line while carrying their food rations.
Kim saw Taundra and Rachida eating their rations at a table. Kim pointed towards the table and asked, "Kyra, can we sit over there with Taundra and Rachida?"
Kyra saw Ameron, a maintenance-personnel on the ship, eating his rations. She then said, "You can. I will go sit with Ameron."
"Who is Ameron?" asked Kim.
"Ameron is the man that is sitting over there," said Kyra. "So when you get done eating just come over to where I am."
"Okay," said Kim. Kim then walked over to where Taundra and Rachida were sitting.
"Hi, Kim, join us," said Rachida.
"I would like too," said Kim.
Kim took a seat across from Taundra and Rachida.
"So Kim, finish telling us about Earth," said Taundra.
"Okay," said Kim. Kim then talked about Earth. Kim only took a couple bites of food while telling her story.
Fifteen minutes later Kyra walked up to Kim as Kim was still describing Earth to Taundra and Rachida.
"Kim, you are not done eating yet?" asked Kyra.
"I'm telling them about Earth," said Kim.
"That would have been my first guess," said Kyra. "Kim, you need to eat so we can get back to the classroom."
"I'm eating," said Kim.
"Okay, let me rephrase it," said Kyra. "You need to eat faster… or at least at a normal pace."
"Kim, you can finish telling us about Earth later," said Taundra. "Rachida and I are going to go to the recreation center. If you ever decide to take a break from your arithmetic, you should join us."
Kim noticed that Kyra had a curious expression on her face. As Rachida and Taundra were walking away from the table, Kim started to eat her food in a quick manner. Kyra sat down beside Kim.
"Kim, what did Taundra mean by what she said?" asked Kyra. Kim pointed that she had food in her mouth. "Swallow it and then answer my question."
Kim swallowed the food and said, "You told me to eat."
"Kim, what is going on?" asked Kyra.
"I have been telling people that I won't be going to the recreation center until I'm completely caught up on my Delta Arithmetic," said Kim.
"Kim, do I have to worry about your obsessive behavior about your class assignments being done?" asked Kyra.
"No, it's not that… not with arithmetic anyway," said Kim.
"Then why won't you go to the recreation center without being caught up on your Delta Arithmetic?" asked Kyra.
"I have been telling people that because I want to avoid going to the recreation center," said Kim.
Kyra waited a second before speaking. She then said, "Kim, I also would like to know why you are avoiding the recreation center."
"Adonis will be there and he is who I want to avoid," said Kim.
"I thought you like Adonis?" asked Kyra.
"I do, but so does Cleona," said Kim. "Now Cleona won't have anything to do with me because Adonis likes me and not her."
"And you are thinking if you have nothing to do with Adonis, Cleona will like you," said Kyra.
"I'm just trying to make a gesture that I'm willing to stay away from Adonis for her," said Kim.
"Kim, your gesture does have good intentions; however, I truly believe you are not going to get the outcome you are hoping for," said Kyra.
"Why not?" asked Kim.
"From what you have told me, Cleona is jealous because Adonis likes you and not her," said Kyra. "No matter how long you avoid Adonis, Cleona will not stop being jealous."
"So what should I do?" asked Kim.
"My advice to you is for you to stop trying with Cleona," said Kyra. "Once Cleona get over her issue with you, you two might become friends. Until then you have Taundra and Rachida to hangout with."
"So you think I should go to recreation center," said Kim.
"I think you shouldn't avoid going there," said Kyra.
"Okay," said Kim. "So can I go to the recreation center later?"
Kyra smiled and said, "I would like to work on your arithmetic with you for an hour then you may go."
"Okay, thanks," said Kim.
"You're welcome," said Kyra. "Now eat the last few bites you have so we can go."
"Okay," said Kim as she scooped up a bite of food.
A short time later Kyra and Kim were walking up towards the classroom. Only twenty students between the ages of seven through twelve were waiting near the door to get in.
"There are not very many students waiting to do their assignments," said Kim. "Do the other students don't do their homework?"
"Kim, there are other locations for the students to do their work; however those areas are monitored more closely by the ship's security," said Kyra. "Those students that use one of those locations like doing their assignment before class."
"I rather get it done and get it over with," said Kim.
Kyra said in a joking manner, "Really, I would have never noticed that about you."
"Ha-ha, very funny," said Kim.
Kyra looked at Kim with a grinned.
After Kyra reopened the classroom Kim and the other students took their assigned seats.
While Kyra was closely working with Kim, Kyra would leave Kim from time to time to help one of the other students. An hour later, Kim was completing her arithmetic assignment.
Kyra looked at her watch.
"Kim, you are free to go to the recreation center," said Kyra. "I do want you home in four hours though."
"Before I leave I want to finish the science questions I have left," said Kim. Kyra grinned. "It shouldn't take me that long."
"Okay," said Kyra. "I did tell you this time was the time for that."
Kim was working on her assignment for ten minutes when Cleona walked into the classroom. Kim looked up when she walked in.
Kyra looked at her watch and said, "Cleona, you have an hour and forty-five minutes to work on your assignment."
"Actually, I just want to talk to Kim," said Cleona.
Kyra looked at Kim in an inquisitive manner.
"I'm on my last question now. I should be done in a few seconds," said Kim.
"Cleona, wait outside and Kim will be out there shortly," said Kyra.
"Yes, Ms. Lockwood," said Cleona.
An announcement came over the radio. "Everyone prepare for hyper-jump."
Kim put her pencil down and asked, "We are jumping again?"
"There are times that we might jump once an hour," Karell, an eight year old student, said.
"That's interesting," said Kim with an inquisitive expression on her face. Kyra noticed Kim's expression.
The ship made its jump. When the jump was over Kyra walked up to Kim and said, "Kim, you look perplexed."
"Kyra, when this ship jumps the way it does where does it jump to?" asked Kim.
"It's hard to say, but sometimes it jumps from solar system to solar system," said Kyra.
"Karell said that these jumps can take place once an hour," said Kim.
"It has before," said Kyra. "Why are you curious about this?"
"The fleet is looking for something," said Kim.
"Why would you think that?" asked Kyra.
"I can only think of two reasons why the fleet would make frequent jumps," said Kim. "The first one would be escaping from the Cylons, which I don't think this is the case and the other is if the fleet was looking for something such as supplies… or food to replace the spoiled food."
"Kim, I want you to listen to me real carefully," said Kyra.
"Okay," said Kim.
"Speculating like you are doing could start a rumor," said Kyra. "That rumor could spread and start an unnecessary panic. So I don't care about as to how much evidence you have to draw a conclusion, I do not want you to speculate as to why the people in the fleet do what they do. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Ma'am," said Kim. "I wasn't trying to create any rumors."
"I understand that, but rumors spread like wildfires aboard the ships in the fleet," said Kyra.
"I understand and I will keep my speculations to myself," said Kim.
"Better still just don't speculate," said Kyra.
"With me that may be easier said than done," said Kim. Kyra looked at Kim in a curious manner. "I like a good mystery and I'm always trying to draw a conclusion to one."
"Kim, try to control yourself about drawing conclusions aboard this ship," said Kyra.
"Yes, Ma'am," said Kim.
"Okay, Cleona is waiting to speak to you," said Kyra.
"I know," said Kim. "I will go out there."
Kim stood up and collected all her homework.
Kyra looked at her watch and said "Kim, I want you home in three hours and forty-five minutes."
"Okay," said Kim. "Kyra, all my assignments are done so can I turned them in now?"
Kyra slightly shook her head and grinned. She then said, "You can put them on my desk before you leave."
Seconds later Kim walked up to Cleona. Kyra stood close to the door so she could hear.
"You wanted to talk to me?" asked Kim.
"Adonis blames me for you ignoring him," said Cleona. "He won't speak to me because of you."
"The only reason that I'm staying away from him was because I was trying to do you a favor," said Kim.
"If this is the results of your favors then don't do me anymore favors," said Cleona.
"I didn't know he was going to blame you," said Kim. "I will go talk to him."
"You do that, but don't do it as a favor for me," said Cleona. "I also want you to stay away from me."
"If that's the way you want it then so be it," said Kim. Kim then walked away.
When Kyra couldn't hear talking she went into the hallway. As she walked out she saw Kim walking down the corridor. Cleona was walking about ten feet behind Kim. After watching for a second Kyra walked back into the classroom.
Minutes later Kim walked into the recreation room. Kim stood for a second gazing around the room.
Taundra, Rachida and Nathan were playing a game. Kerim, a thirteen-year-old student from her class was playing a game with Faxon. Cleona walked into the room just after Kim and took a seat next to Faxon. Adonis wasn't in the room.
After a short time gazing over the room Kim saw Taundra waving at her. Kim walked up to her.
"So you decided to join us after all," said Taundra.
"Yeah, I did," said Kim. "Hey, does anyone know where Adonis is at. I want to talk to him."
"You may want to check the chapel," said Nathan.
"If he is at the chapel I don't want to intrude on his prayer," said Kim.
"He is not there to pray exactly," said Rachida. "He goes there each year around this time."
"Why does he do that?" asked Kim.
"His mother was killed when the colonies were destroyed," said Nathan. "He mainly goes there for a commemoration to her."
"He also doesn't mine if people enter the chapel while he is there," said Rachida. "A lot of time he likes the company."
Kim glanced at Cleona for a second. She then asked, "Are you certain Adonis won't mind me showing up?"
"He won't mind at all," said Taundra.
"Then can you point me the way to the chapel," said Kim.
Nathan told Kim how to get to the chapel and when Kim left the recreation room she went the opposite direction. Minutes later she was walking back into the classroom. Kyra watched Kim as she walked up close to her desk.
"Kim, is there a problem?" asked Kyra.
Kim shook her head and said, "No problem. I'm just letting you know that I'm going to the chapel."
"Okay," said Kyra. "Did you come here for directions?"
Kim shook her head and said, "No. After walking into the recreation room I got the direction from Nathan."
"Kim, to get to the chapel you must go in the opposite direction out of the recreation room," said Kyra.
"I know," said Kim. "Well I'm going to go."
"Kim, hold on a second…" said Kyra.
"Why?" asked Kim.
"I want to know why you went out of your to come here," said Kyra.
"I made a promise to you that I would," said Kim.
"What do you mean?" asked Kyra.
"Part of your rules is that you are to know where I am at, at all times," said Kim. "I promised that I would follow your rules."
Kyra grinned in a delightful manner and said, "Come over here for a second." Without saying anything Kim walked over to Kyra. Kyra stood up, gave Kim a hug and then a kiss on the head. Kim looked at Kyra and grinned. "Kim, you have my permission to go between the chapel and the recreation room without you having to tell me where you are going."
"Thanks," said Kim.
"You're welcome," said Kyra.
Kim backed away a few steps before turning around and walking out.
A few minutes later Kim was approaching the chapel door.
Adonis was sitting halfway down and next to the center aisles. When Kim opened the door to walk in Adonis heard the door opening and turned to look. Kim saw a grin on Adonis' face as she stood at the entrance. Adonis motioned for her to come down.
Kim slightly grinned and walked towards him. Adonis got up and moved over a seat so Kim didn't have to squeeze past him to sit down
"I didn't expect to see you," said Adonis as Kim was taking a seat. "I thought you were avoiding me."
"I was, but not anymore," said Kim.
"Did Cleona threaten you or something for you to ignore me?" asked Adonis.
Kim said in an overconfident manner, "Please, I'm not scared of Cleona."
"Then why were you avoiding me?" asked Adonis.
"Cleona thought she would eventually win you over, but that idea was threatened when I came aboard," said Kim. "I don't have any friends and I wanted to be her friend so I was avoiding you for a favor to her. I didn't think you were going to blame her like you did."
"Kim, Cleona is a friend, but that is all she is," said Adonis.
"She doesn't see it like that," said Kim. "Now Cleona won't have anything to do with me regardless what I do."
Adonis took hold of Kim's hand and said, "Well if Cleona wants to continue to be my friend then she will have to get along with you."
Kim smiled. She then asked, "So how long do you usually remain here for?"
"About thirty minutes," said Adonis.
"Would I be asking the wrong question if I would ask what was your mother's name?" asked Kim.
Adonis grinned and said, "Her name was Thya."
"Did you have any brothers or sisters?" asked Kim.
Kim and Adonis heard the door opening. They turned to look.
"No, I was the only child," said Adonis.
Casimir, a thirty-eight year old man, walked in. Kim noticed a strong resemblance between Casimir and Adonis.
"Is that guy your dad?" asked Kim.
Casimir walked towards Kim and Adonis.
"No, but he is my dad's brother," said Adonis. "His name is Casimir. Why did you think we were related anyway?"
"Because you look like a younger version of him," said Kim. "So is your dad among the survivors?'
"My dad was killed when I was five," said Adonis. "I don't remember him too well."
Casimir walked to the row behind Kim and Adonis and sat down. He glanced at Kim and then turned to face Adonis. He then said, "I expected I would find you here. So who is your friend?"
Kim made an irksome expression on her face.
"Her name is Kim," said Adonis. "She joined us yesterday."
Casimir placed his hand on Kim's shoulder and said, "It is nice to meet you, Kim."
Kim got a vision of after Adonis was born. Casimir was the only visitor at Thya's bedside in the hospital room. Thya was holding Adonis.
In the vision Casimir asked Thya, "So who is the father? Lydell or me?"
"I'm not a month early as I've been telling Lydell so you figure it out," Thya answered.
After Kim heard the answer Adonis was slightly shaking Kim.
"Kim, what's wrong?" asked Adonis.
Kim came out of her vision and looked at Adonis. She then turned to look at Casimir.
"Kim, are you okay?" asked Casimir.
"I'm fine," said Kim.
"Why did you blackout the way you did?" asked Casimir.
"Did I blackout?" asked Kim.
"Kim, you were motionless for a few seconds," said Adonis.
"Was I?" asked Kim.
"Kim, who are your parents?" asked Casimir.
"Valerie and Nicolas O'Brian are, but they are not residence of the fleet," said Kim. "I'm living with Kyra Lockwood."
"I'm sorry that you lost your parents," said Casimir. "We all lost a loved one when the Cylons attacked."
"Oh my parents are not dead," said Kim. "Well they weren't the last time I saw them anyway."
Casimir looked at Kim in a confused manner.
"Kim is not from the twelve colonies," said Adonis. "She was found on board the alien ship."
"Where are you from?" asked Casimir.
"I'm from Earth," said Kim. "I was abducted by aliens is how I ended up here."
"I will tell you the full story later," said Adonis. "If Kim starts telling you we will be here for a while."
"Hey," Kim said in a loud manner.
"Kim, remember where you are and keep your voice down," said Casimir.
"I'm sorry, that was louder than I had attended," said Kim.
Casimir looked at his watch and said, "Well I've better get to what I came in here for and check the musical keyboard for tomorrow's sermon."
With great interest in her voice Kim asked, "What is a musical keyboard?"
"Come with me and I will show you," said Casimir.
Kim grinned and said, "Okay."
Kim and Casimir stood up followed by Adonis.
"I will go with you," said Adonis.
Seconds later they walked into a small room in the back of the chapel. They then walked up to the musical keyboard.
"Oh cool, an organ," said Kim.
"Cool?" asked Casimir.
"It just something I say when I see something I like," said Kim.
"So do you want to hear something from it?" asked Casimir.
"I would love to," said Kim.
Casimir sat down. As he played the organ Kim watched and listened closely to which keys made which sound. After a minute of listening Kim made motions with her fingers as if she was playing. Adonis saw Kim making the motions.
"Kim, what are you doing?' asked Adonis.
"Oh, I'm just trying to learn the keys as your… as Casimir plays," said Kim.
"Kim, you think you can learn how to play this while trying to imitate me?" asked Casimir.
"On Earth we call this an organ and I know how to play an organ," said Kim. "The sounds this organ makes are slightly different though; however, it shouldn't take me long to get the feel of it."
Casimir stopped play and stood up.
"Sit down and play something," said Casimir.
Kim smiled and then sat down.
Adonis and Casimir saw Kim biting her lip as she thought for a second. Kim then played one of the religious songs she knew.
While Kim was playing she messed up a few times. Kim would slightly shake her head at the mistakes. Casimir knew when Kim made a mistake by Kim's reaction. After a minute Kim's mistakes quickly faded.
Casimir listened to three minutes of Kim's playing.
"Kim, you can stop," said Casimir.
Kim stopped playing and looked at Casimir. She then said, "That could have been a lot better if I was better familiar with this organ."
"Kim, that was quite good as is," said Casimir. "How long have you been playing a music keyboard… or an organ as you called it?"
"Since I was nine," said Kim. "Learning the organ was a compromise my mom and I agreed to."
"What do you mean it was a compromise?" asked Adonis.
"I wanted my brother to teach me how to play his guitar, but my mom wanted me to learn the piano," said Kim. "A piano is also a keyboard instrument. I was thinking if I learned the organ that it wouldn't be too difficult to learn the piano afterwards so I convinced my mom to allow my Aunt Ruby… my mom's sister, to teach me how to play her organ. I also got my mom to agree with to allow my brother Brandon to teach me how to play his guitar."
"Well you are very talented," said Casimir.
Kim smiled and said, "Thanks."
"Adonis, I'm done here so you and Kim should go about your business," said Casimir.
"Kim, let's go to the recreation center and play a game," said Adonis.
Kim stood up and said, "Sure." Kim looked at Casimir. "Mr… I'm sorry I don't you're your last name."
"Our last name is Spike," said Adonis.
Kim smiled.
"You can call me Casimir," he said.
"Kim, why are you smiling?" asked Adonis.
"Your last name is so cute," said Kim. Adonis looked at Kim in a curious manner. "So why don't people call you or Casimir, Spike?'
"Spike is something you call a pet and I do not like or want to be called that," said Adonis.
"Hint taken," said Kim.
"Adonis; Kim, you two need to leave so I can leave," said Casimir.
"Yes Sir," said Kim. "It was also nice to meet you."
"It was nice to meet you as well," said Casimir.
Kim, Adonis and Casimir walked out.