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THE GENETIC DUPLICATE Day 3 part 4

Kim went to the recreation center first. When she didn't find Adonis there she went to his quarters and rung his doorbell. Kim waited a short time after ringing the bell and was about to press it again when Adonis opened it. Adonis had a black eye and a few abrasions. When Kim saw Adonis' face, she showed a slight unsettled expression on hers.

"Oh god, are you okay?" asked Kim.

Adonis stood in the doorway and said, "I'm fine. My face looks worse than what it is."

"So did you lose or is Faxon in worse shape in you are?" asked Kim.

"I haven't seen Faxon since the fight so I don't know," said Adonis. He then made a gesture for Kim to enter his quarters. "Kim, you can come in if you would like."

"Is Casimir, here?" asked Kim.

"No; I'm by myself," said Adonis.

"I would like to go to the recreation center instead," said Kim.

"Faxon might be there," said Adonis.

"You and Faxon are good friends so whatever happened between you two it can be worked out," said Kim.

"We were friends, but not anymore," said Adonis.

"You and Faxon just had a friendly little tiff," said Kim. "Like all tight friendship your friendship with Faxon will survive."

"Kim, look at my face," said Adonis. "That fight was not a little tiff."

"So your tiffs are more violent than most people's," said Kim.

"Kim, face it," said Adonis. "I no longer want anything to do with Faxon."

"Adonis, you and Faxon have been friends for five years," said Kim. "What happened for you and Faxon to throw away that friendship?"

"Kim, you should come in so we can discuss this out of the corridor," said Adonis.

"Adonis, I like you so don't take this the wrong way," said Kim. "I'm not going to get a slutty reputation by getting found in a room alone with you. Now if Casimir or another person was in there I would enter. So you can either tell me what happened between you and Faxon with me standing in the corridor or you can tell me on the way to the recreation center."

"Kim, you won't get a slutty reputation for being found in a room alone with me," said Adonis.

Kim crossed her arms and said, "You told two people that we kissed and not even twenty-four hours later over fifty people on this ship know about it. I'm sorry, but as fast as people talk around here I'm not taking the chance. Now I'm going to go to the recreation room and I'm going to do it with or without you."

Adonis thought for a second and said, "Okay. I will go to the recreation room with you." Adonis stepped out of the doorway. The door shut behind him. "I just hope Faxon is not there." Adonis turned and locked the door.

"What went on between you two?" asked Kim.

After locking the door, Adonis faced Kim and said, "I don't think I should tell you."

"Adonis, there is no way you are going to be able to keep of why you were fighting from me," said Kim. "I will eventually hear about it from the ones that witnessed the fight or hear about it through the grapevine from the ones that didn't. Besides I think you are going to have to explain what happen to Kyra. She won't tell me why, but she wants to talk to us about the fight in less than two hours."

"Faxon was saying that I'm not man enough to frak you," said Adonis. "He continued to say that I should stand aside and allow a man to have a chance with you. That was when I hit him."

"If I'm right about the meaning of that F word—" Adonis looked at Kim in a curious manner as she continued to say, "—then not only do you don't have a chance of doing it, no one has a chance of doing it. I'm only fourteen and I'm definitely not ready for that."

"No one is around to hear you so why do you say the F word instead of saying the actual word?" asked Adonis.

"I don't like the word; I don't like the Earth version of it, and I will never use it," said Kim. "Now you might hear me say other words from time to time, but not the F word."

Adonis took Kim's hands and said, "You are an interesting person, Kimberly O'Brian."

Kim grinned and gave him a hug that lasted a few seconds. She then said, "I'm ready to go to the recreation room." Kim and Adonis held hands as they walked down the corridor. "Oh and if Faxon is there I think you should try to reconcile what happened between you two."

"Why should I?" asked Adonis.

"You and Faxon have been friends for a long time and just because he was being a jerk by saying inappropriate things doesn't mean that you have to be one," said Kim.

"Did you just call me a jerk?' asked Adonis.

"No, but I will if you hold a stupid grudge against Faxon," said Kim.

"Faxon shouldn't have said what he did," said Adonis.

"And you shouldn't throw away five years of friendship for what he did say," said Kim.

"After hearing what he said I can't believe you are defending him," said Adonis.

"I'm not defending him," said Kim. "I just believe that you shouldn't be too quick to dissolve a friendship from a little tiff no matter how violent the tiff got."

Adonis stopped and looked at Kim. Kim also stopped. Adonis then asked, "Why is my friendship with Faxon so important to you?"

Kim took a deep breath and said, "My dad is from a large family with three brothers and two sisters. When I was five, my grandparents… my dad's parents were killed in a plane crash. During the funeral my dad and his siblings got into a huge argument. I don't know what the argument was about because us kids were told to leave the room. When that day ended I haven't seen or heard from my aunts or uncles from my dad's side again. Since that day family members and long term friendship have became very important to me so yes, your friendship with Faxon is very important to me."

Adonis thought for a second before he spoke, "Kim, you have my word that I will try to make peace with Faxon."

Kim smiled and hugged Adonis that lasted only a second. She then said, "Thank you."

Adonis grinned. He then slowly leaned in and gave Kim a kiss. Davida was walking through the corridor and saw them as they were ending the kiss. Kim and Adonis heard Davida walking up and turned to look.

Davida smiled and said, "So it is true about you two."

"It is," said Adonis.

"And I don't want to hear any songs about Adonis and me sitting in a tree," said Kim.

Adonis and Davida looked at Kim in a curious manner. Davida asked, "What?"

"Never mind," said Kim. "If you two don't know then I don't want to say."

Davida said in a confused manner, "Okay."

"Adonis and I are going to the recreation room," said Kim. "You are welcome to come too."

"I actually just left there," said Davida.

"Is Faxon there?" asked Adonis.

"No, in fact not too many people are there," said Davida.

"Who is all there?" asked Kim.

"Ameron is still there," said Davida. "I think he is staying to make sure it stays peaceful. Nathan is there along with Tiara, Taundra, Farland…"

Kim interrupted by asking, "Who is Farland."

"Oh he is a guy that lives on this ship," said Davida. "He works in the mess hall. There are a few other people in the recreation room, but like Farland I doubt you know who they are."

"So do you want to go to the recreation center and play a game?" asked Kim.

"Actually I was going home to start my class assignments," said Davida.

"Perhaps another time," said Kim.

Davida said in an unconvincing tone, "Sure; of course. Well I will see you later."

With a distasteful expression on her face Kim watched Davida as Davida walked away.

"Kim, what wrong?" asked Adonis.

"Davida wants nothing to do with me," said Kim.

"Why do you think that?" asked Adonis.

When Kim and Adonis started walking again Kim said, "I can tell from the tone of Davida's voice that she is a loyal friend to Cleona and as long as Cleona doesn't want anything to do with me, neither will Davida."

"Davida and Cleona have been friends for about three years so you might be right." said Adonis.

"Who else can I expect to ignore me because of Cleona?" asked Kim.

"Tiara has also been a good friend to Cleona," said Adonis. "Perhaps even Wiley."

A few minutes later Kim and Adonis walked into the recreation room. After walking in Kim, Adonis, Nathan, Taundra and Tiara played a few games.

On board the Celestra a body belonging to Murdock Whistler was found in the corridors. Murdock was stabbed once in the chest with no visible signs of other wounds or struggle. Minutes later, Mitchell Brock, a thirty-two year old man from the Geminon Traveler, was arrested for the crime as he was waiting to leave the Celestra. He was then taken to the Galactica and placed into the brig. Murdock's body was also taken to the Galactica and placed in the Galactica's morgue.

An hour and forty-five minutes later, aboard the Solar Flare, Kim and Adonis left the recreation center and went to Kyra's quarters. Kyra was preparing the lessons for the following day when Kim and Adonis walked in. Kyra stood up.

"So we are here," said Kim.

"So I see," said Kyra. "Now both of you have a seat."

Adonis sat down on the end of the couch and Kim sat in the middle next to him.

After sitting down Adonis asked, "Ms. Lockwood, is there anything wrong?"

"No and I want to keep it that way," said Kyra. "That is why I wanted to talk to you and Kim. Adonis, I have known you for more than four years and during that time I have never heard of you getting into fights before today. Now should I be concern of this becoming a habit of yours?"

"No Ms. Lockwood," said Adonis.

Kyra saw a confused expression on Kim's face and said, "Kim, you look puzzled."

"I am; I mean you are talking to Adonis like you are his guardian and not his teacher," said Kim.

"Kim, I'm responsible for your safety and if I can't feel that you are safe with Adonis then I won't allow you to be around him," said Kyra.

"Ms. Lockwood, you can feel that Kim is safe with me," said Adonis.

"I won't if you get into anymore fights," said Kyra. "Am I clear on that?"

"Yes Ma'am," said Adonis.

"What if the other guy hit Adonis first?" asked Kim. "Adonis should have the right to defend himself."

"Adonis, who threw the first punch?" asked Kyra.

Adonis nervously said, "It was me, Ms. Lockwood."

"Okay, I know Adonis was the one to who initiated the fight for Faxon saying inappropriate remarks, but the next time Adonis might not be the one to throw the first punch. He should have the right to defend himself."

"Kim, I understand that a person should be able to defend himself or herself," said Kyra. "Adonis, if you don't have any choice other than to defend yourself then I will take that into consideration. However, if I hear of you throwing the first punch just because of some inappropriate remarks then I will not allow Kim to be around you."

"Yes Ma'am," said Adonis.

"Kim, do those terms seem fair to you?" asked Kyra.

"Yes, Ma'am," said Kim.

"Good," said Kyra. Kyra saw Kim turning her head to look at the door leading into the corridor. "Kim, is there anything wrong?"

The doorbell sounded.

"I just heard the doorbell," said Kim.

As Kyra walked towards the door she said, "You hear those doorbells and alarms before they go off." Kim just grinned. When Kyra opened the door Hilton, a twenty-seven year old resident of the Solar Flare and his five-year-old son Julian were standing at the door. Hilton was carrying a small carrying bag. "Hilton… hi." Kyra looked down. "Hi Julian."

"Hi," said Julian.

Hilton saw Kim and Adonis sitting on the couch and said, "I didn't know you had two of your students here. I'm sorry for the interruption."

"You're not interrupting; come in," said Kyra. Hilton and Julian walked in. "In fact I want to introduce you to someone." Kyra gestured towards Kim. "Hilton this is Kim and of course you know Adonis; Kim this is Hilton and his son Julian."

"Hi, Kim; hi Adonis," said Julian.

"Hi," said Adonis.

Kim waved and said, "Hi."

Hilton just nodded.

"Kim is living with me now," said Kyra.

"Oh, I didn't realize you had a child living with you or…" said Hilton.

Kim interrupted by saying, "I'm not a child, I'm a teenager."

"Kimberly," exclaimed Kyra. Kyra was shaking her head when Kim looked at her.

"I don't like being called a child," said Kim.

Kyra gestured for Kim to be silent.

"Well, anyway if I would have known you were taking care of… of Kim I would not have bothered to show up here," said Hilton. "Julian and I should be leaving. Julian, let's go."

Hilton took Julian's hand when Kyra said, "Hilton, wait. What is going on?"

Hilton faced Kyra and said, "Oh, I signed up to help harvest the crops on the planet, but I have no one to watch Julian while I will be away. I thought you still had an extra room so I was going to find out if you would watch him. I guess I will pass this time around."

"I can still watch Julian for you," said Kyra. "There are extra bed covers and pillows in Kim's room and I can make a place for Julian on the couch."

"Or I could take the couch," said Kim.

Kyra looked at Kim and grinned. She then asked, "You wouldn't mind giving up your room for a while?"

"I'm just in there to sleep and I'm like a cat when comes to that," said Kim. "When I'm tired I can sleep anywhere."

"Hilton, as you can see we can make room for Julian while you are away," said Kyra. "So if you are still interested in helping with the harvest then I can watch Julian."

"That would be great," said Hilton. Hilton noticed a puzzled expression on Kim's face. "Kim, is there a problem?"

Kyra looked at Kim.

"I was wondering since Julian is about six and doesn't go to class, who will be watching Julian during the class hours," said Kim.

"Kim, Julian is five and this will be an exception," said Kyra. "Julian will be in class with us while Hilton is away, but he won't be doing assignments like you, Adonis and your other classmates."

"What will he be doing," said Kim.

"Kim, that is something for me to worry about not you," said Kyra.

"I was only –-" Kim said as she realized what she was saying and let her final word fade off, "—curious."

"You were only what, Kim?" asked Hilton.

"She was being overly curious again," said Kyra. "Kim, you got to control those inquisitive impulses that you have."

"I know," said Kim. "I can't help it though. I have always been curious about things."

"You need to try," said Kyra.

Kim grinned to acknowledge the statement.

"Anyway Kyra, here is the bag with Julian's clothes in it; oh and there are a few of his picture books in there to keep him busy" said Hilton. Kyra took the bag. Hilton put his hands on Julian's shoulders. "Julian, I will be gone for about three or four days and you are to listen to Kyra while I'm away."

Kim was focused on Julian as the expression on his face was as though he was about to breakout into tears.

"Yes dad," said Julian.

Adonis saw the expression on Kim's face as Hilton was giving Julian a hug. He then took Kim's hand and asked without whispering, "Kim, is there anything wrong?"

Kyra looked at Kim and although Kim whispered her response to Adonis, Kyra was able to read Kim's lips.

"I can tell that Julian has never been away from his dad before," whispered Kim. "I mean far no more than a few hours here and there."

"Why do you think that?" asked Adonis.

"He wants to cry, but he is not allowing himself to," said Kim. "I'm guessing Hilton told him that he is too big to cry."

Hilton got Kyra's attention by saying, "Kyra, thanks a lot for watching Julian."

"It's no problem," said Kyra.

"Bye, everyone" said Hilton. "Bye Julian."

As Hilton was leaving everyone said, "Bye."

Kyra put her hand on Julian's shoulder and said, "Julian, come with me and I will show you to where you are going to be sleeping while you are here."

As Julian was following Kyra into the bedroom, Adonis asked Kim, "So do you want to go back to the recreation room?"

"Oh I better not," said Kim. "I still have arithmetic to do and I want to get it done before I go to bed."

"How many questions you have left to do?" asked Adonis.

"I have over half," said Kim. "My history assignment and my other assignments are done though."

Adonis whispered, "Since you suck at Delta Arithmetic do you want any help. I'm actually quite good at it."

Kim grinned and said, "Sure, I would love the help."

Adonis smiled. He then leaned over and kissed Kim. Kyra and Julian walked back in while Adonis and Kim were kissing. Kyra loudly cleared her throat. Julian stood quietly at Kyra's side holding one of his books. Kim and Adonis ended the kiss and looked at Kyra.

"Hey, Adonis says he is good at Delta Arithmetic and he is going to help me with my homework," said Kim.

"Adonis, you are good at Arithmetic and if you would like to help any classmate other than Kim then I would be all for it, but I don't think you would be too much of a help to Kim," said Kyra.

Kim looked at Kyra in a curious manner and asked "Why not?"

"Because you and Adonis would be focused on each other and not concentration on your assignment," said Kyra.

"We would be concentrating on the assignment," said Kim.

"Kim, I have been out of the room for less than two minutes and when I returned you and Adonis were kissing; which by the way, Julian doesn't need to see that," said Kyra.

"We weren't working on my homework either," said Kim. "If we were things would be different."

"Kim, nothing you will say is going to convince me that Adonis can properly help you with your arithmetic," said Kyra.

Kim stood up and said, "Then I won't try to convince you with words." Kyra looked at Kim in a curious manner. "Let Adonis help me today and I will prove it to you that way."

"Kim, one day of getting help from Adonis won't prove anything," said Kyra.

"Then what will prove it?" asked Kim.

"Getting excellent grades on your Delta Arithmetic tests after getting help by Adonis will be the only way," said Kyra.

"Consider it done," said Kim.

Kyra stepped up to Kim and said, "Kim, I really think Adonis helping you is a bad idea."

"I don't…" said Kim as Kyra covered Kim's mouth with her hand.

"However, I will give you the chance to prove it to me," said Kyra. She uncovered Kim's mouth. "I will let Adonis help you, but if you don't get good marks in Delta Arithmetic then you are to get help another way."

"I'll take that deal," said Kim. Kim then gave Kyra a hug. "Thank you for giving me the chance."

"You're welcome," said Kyra as the hug was ending.

"Well, I need my homework assignment," said Kim.

Kyra opened her briefcase and took out Kim's arithmetic assignment. As Kyra handed Kim her assignment she looked at Adonis and said, "Adonis, when you help Kim, you are not to give Kim the answers. Kim is to get the answers by working out the problems."

"Yes, Ma'am," said Adonis.

After taking her assignment Kim sat down on the couch next to Adonis.

"Julian, you can sit down and look at your book or if you would like to draw I can give you pieces of paper and a pencil," said Kyra.

"I want to draw," said Julian.

"Okay," said Kyra. Kyra took a few blank pieces of paper and pencil out of her briefcase and handed them to Julian. "Julian, you can go in the bedroom to draw or you can sit in the floor to draw."

"I'll sit in the floor," said Julian.

As Julian was getting comfortable in the floor, Kyra sat down next to Kim and took out her students' papers to grade.

While grading papers Kyra would occasionally looked over at Kim and Adonis as Kim would work out her problems. Kyra would also look at what Julian was doing from time to time. Within thirty minutes Kim was finishing her current assignment. Kyra then had Kim do another arithmetic assignment. Kyra also allowed Adonis to explain to Kim on how to do the problems.

An hour later Kyra looked at her watch. She then placed her hand on Kim's shoulder and asked, "So how much more do you have before you are done?"

"I'm working on my second to last problem now," said Kim.

"When you get done with those two we are going to the mess hall to eat," said Kyra.

Without realizing what she was saying Kim asked, "Mom, how much longer until bedtime." Kyra looked at Kim in a surprise manner and saw that Kim was just as surprised as she was for saying it. "I… I meant to say Kyra, not mom."

Adonis looked at Kyra with an amused grinned. Julian watched what was going on in a confused manner.

Kyra grinned and started to hug Kim. Kyra then said, "Although I'm a little too young to be your mom, I actually don't mind you calling me that."

Kim hugged Kyra tighter and said, "I wish you were my mom."

Kyra broke the hug and while looking into Kim's eyes she asked, "I don't mind you saying that, but why did you?"

"You make me feel good about myself," said Kim.

"Your mom never made you feel good about yourself?" asked Kyra.

"No, my mom is very criticizing," said Kim. "When I told my mom about how I wanted to be a doctor she practically laughed at me. She never made me feel good about myself like you do."

"That explains that hug I got from you earlier," said Kyra. "Well you need to get your last two problems done so we can go and eat."

Kim smiled and said, "Yes… mom."

Kyra smiled. She then said, "Oh and to answer your question about bedtime we got another hour and a half."

"Kim, you want to be a doctor?" asked Adonis.

"It's not, I want to be a doctor, it's I'm going to be a doctor," said Kim.

"You sound very sure about becoming a doctor," said Adonis.

"I am," said Kim. Kim then continued to work on her assignment.

Within ten minutes Kyra, Kim, Adonis and Julian were walking toward the mess hall.

After eating, Adonis went home. Kyra, Kim and Julian went back to Kyra's quarters. Kim wasn't back for ten minutes when she got some blank papers from Kyra to draw on and told Julian an illustrated story of "Goldie Locks and the Three Bears." Kyra sat on the couch and prepared the lessons for the next day. She also observed on how well Kim was with Julian.

Minutes later, Kyra tucked Julian in for the night. Kim changed into her nightgown in Kyra's room. After Kim sat on the couch to prepare for bed, Kyra came out of Kim's bedroom and sat down on the couch next to Kim.

"You are not going to bed?" asked Kim.

"I'm going, I just want to talk to you alone for a minute," said Kyra.

"Okay, what did I do wrong?" asked Kim.

"Kim, relax," said Kyra. "I just want you to know how proud I am of you."

Kim grinned and asked, "Why are you proud of me?"

"You were great with Julian," said Kyra. "Although I don't like you drawing a conclusion about something with only speculation, you were right about Julian. By you telling that Earth bedtime story, I believe Julian won't feel as uncomfortable about being away from his dad."

"What do you mean by drawing a conclusion from speculation?" asked Kim.

"Kim, I know that you told Adonis about how you can tell that Julian has never been away from his dad before for more then a few hours," said Kyra.

"You heard me as I whispered it?" asked Kim.

"Kim, I have been a teacher since I was twenty-two," said Kyra. "During that time I picked up some tricks that have helped me as I interact with the students."

"What kind of tricks?" asked Kim.

"I'm very good at reading lips even from across the room," said Kyra.

"I see I'm going to be covering my mouth if I don't want you to know something," said Kim.

Kyra slightly grinned and said, "All that will do is get me thinking that you are up to something. I would then start enquiring about what you don't want me to know. Oh and in case you were planning to warn your classmates that I can read lips, most of them already know."

"So that was the reason Cleona never tried denying that she had called me a witch," said Kim. "Cleona knew you had read her lips."

"You're quick," said Kyra. Kim grinned. "Well, I have better let you get to sleep."

"Mom, you must like kids for you to become a teacher," said Kim.

"Of course I like kids," said Kyra.

"You never had any kids of your own though," said Kim.

"Kim, my plans to have kids or having a family life was interfered with when the Cylon attacked the colonies," said Kyra.

"That was five years ago," said Kim. "Have you even tried to start a family since then?"

"Kim, that subject is off limits to you, is that clear?" asked Kyra.

"I'm sorry, I'm not trying to get you upset with me," said Kim.

"I'm not upset," said Kyra. "I just want you to know the boundaries."

"Mom, are you dating anyone?" asked Kim.

"Kimberly, that is part of the boundaries," said Kyra.

"Hey, if you are dating anyone then that would affect me as well," said Kim. Kim then showed a cocky grin.

Kyra grinned and slowly shook her head. She then said, "No, I'm not dating anyone. Well, I better let you get some sleep."

Kim started hugging Kyra and said, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," said Kyra. Kyra ended the hug and kissed Kim on her forehead.

Kim lay down and watched Kyra as she walked into her room. She then closed her eyes.