THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – Day 4 Part 1
On Earth 05:39 A.M. local time, the twenty-four year old Kimberly Elizabeth O'Brian, known as Beth for the past eight years, parked her car in a quiet urban neighborhood. Beth's brother Brandon, a policeman for six years, followed and watched her as she walked two houses from her car and entered the backyard of Kenneth Cromwell. Brandon was in his policeman uniform.
As Beth prowled around the back yard, Brandon tiptoed up and watched Beth as she was picking up objects and putting them down.
Beth stopped picking up objects and looked around. She then said without whispering, "Okay, Kenneth Cromwell. I know you are guilty of murder. I need to find proof though. If only I can get a vision."
As Beth was turning her head, the fourteen-year-old Kimberly O'Brian came into view.
Beth looked at Kim in a curious manner. She then said, "After three days I finally get to see you without you vanishing on me." Kim just stared at Beth in a curious manner. Brandon watched and listened to Beth with a concerned expression on his face. "You appearing to me right now is a bad time though. I'm looking for clues that will link the owner of this house for murder… unless you know where I can find the clues I need." Beth got a good view of Kim's face as Kim slowly shook her head. "My God, you look exactly like me when I was about thirteen." Kim suddenly showed an expression of recognition as she stared at Beth. "I wonder if we were related. Well, I don't mean to be rude to the deceased, but I'm going to finish searching for clues."
Beth turned and walked around the corner of the house. Kim followed directly behind. Brandon followed as he remained out of view.
As Beth approached a side door, Kenneth Cromwell jumped out with an ice pick and started stabbing Beth. Kim screamed.
On board the Solar Flare, while remaining fast asleep, Kim sat up and screamed in a bloodcurdling scream. Kyra and Julian were abruptly awakened by Kim's screaming. Kyra rushed out to find out what was going on. Kim continued to scream as Kyra rushed up to her. Julian had also stepped out to see what was going on.
In a loud manner, Kyra said, "Kimberly, what is it?" As Kim continued to scream Kyra realized that Kim was fast asleep and lightly shook her. "Kimberly, wake up! Kimberly!" Kim woke up and when she realized where she was she hugged Kyra in a tightly gripped manner. Tears also ran down both cheeks. "Kimberly, you are hurting me."
Kim loosened her grip, but wouldn't let go.
As Julian was watching he asked, "Ms. Lockwood, what happened to Kim?"
"Kim just had a bad dream," said Kyra. "Julian, you need to go back to bed."
"Yes Ms. Lockwood," said Julian. He then turned and walked back into the bedroom.
"Kim, will you let go and tell me about your dream?" asked Kyra. Kim just held on. "Kim, whatever it is, is over."
"No it's not," said Kim. "He's killing her."
"Kim, who's killing who?" asked Kyra.
"A psycho-killer is killing the other Kimberly on Earth," said Kim. "He kept stabbing her with an ice pick."
"Kim, please turned loose and tell me about your dream," said Kyra. Kim hesitated for a second before letting go. Kim then wiped the tears from her eyes. "Now, do you want to tell me about your dream?"
"It wasn't a dream," said Kim. "It was real."
"Well tell me what you saw then," said Kyra.
"The other Kimberly was pretending to be Nancy Drew and was snooping around the suspect's house," said Kim. "Now she is being stabbed to death."
"Kim, you are going to have to help me out here," said Kyra. "Who is Nancy Drew?"
"Nancy Drew is the main character of one of those mystery stories I told you I like to read," said Kim. "She would go around looking for clues to solve crimes."
"Kim, I think you were just having a dream," said Kyra.
"It was not a dream," said Kim.
"Kim, why would the other Kimberly be snooping around a suspect's house?" asked Kyra.
"It may have something to do with the dream I had yesterday morning," said Kim.
"What dream?" asked Kyra.
"The one about Kimberly working in the morgue and found evidence that someone was murdered," said Kim. "I no longer think they were dreams though. I think they were real events."
"Kim, I believe you when you say your dreams were real," said Kyra. "Unfortunately the only thing we can do is pray that she wasn't killed in the attack. Now I need you to try to relax. Can you relax for me?"
"I'll try," said Kim.
"Good," said Kyra. "I know you maybe too upset to go back to sleep right now, but I want you to lay your head down, close your eyes and lay there quietly."
"Stay with me," said Kim.
"Kim, I promise I won't leave until you tell me to or you fall asleep," said Kyra. "If you move down just a little I will sit down next to you and hold your hand."
"Okay," said Kim
Kim scooted down to give Kyra room to sit down. After Kyra sat down Kim held Kyra's hand.
After thirty minutes of lying quietly, Kyra noticed that Kim had dozed off. Kyra then carefully got up and went into her bedroom.
Two and a half hours later on Earth, Beth woke up in the recovering room at the hospital. Her mother, her grandmother, Brandon and Alicia Baxter were in the room. Alicia was a good friend to Beth and a psychic that was able to see the dead. Alicia was the first one to see Beth waking up.
"So how do you feel?" asked Alicia.
"I have definitely been better," said Beth.
Brandon stepped up and said, "Maybe now you will listen to me. I told you not to go snooping around, but you wouldn't listen."
"Kenneth Cromwell is a murderer," said Beth. "If you would have taken me more seriously I wouldn't have to go snooping around."
"Well, rather he had killed his brother or not, he is now in lock up for the attempted murder of you," said Brandon. "Little sister, you are damn lucky I decided to follow you tonight or that attempted murder would have been murder."
Kim appeared in the room in the opposite direction where Beth was looking. Kim observed what was happening in the room.
"Okay, I messed up," said Beth.
"Yes you did," said Valerie. "I can't believe how thoughtless you can be at times."
"Mom, I am in no mood to put up with your opinions of what I did, so please keep them to yourself," said Beth.
"I don't care if you are over twenty-one, you are my daughter and I will speak my mind," said Valerie.
Brandon stepped in and said, "Mom, please back off. She knows she messed up and she doesn't need you ragging on her right now."
"Fine, I will back off," said Valerie. "In fact, I can see that you don't want me here, so I'm going home."
"Mom, I didn't say I didn't want you here," said Beth.
"Well, I'm going anyway," said Valerie. "I will see everyone later."
Beth had a frustrated expression on her face as Valerie was walking out. She then said, "That woman makes me so… every time I'm around her I can choke her."
Joyce, Kim's grandma, stepped up and said, "Your mom just loves you. You are a smart person and she hates it when you don't use good sense."
"According to her I never use good sense, Grandma," said Beth. "For one day I would like to hear her say, 'You did good.' That is never going to happen though."
"Just forget about mom and focus on getting some rest," said Brandon.
"You're right," said Beth. "I will just remain here and rest. In fact Brandon, I will probably be out of class for a few days. Can you go to my classes and get my homework, so I don't get behind."
"Consider it done," said Brandon.
"Thank you," said Beth. Beth then turned her head and caught a glimpse of Kim. "Alicia, look around the room and tell me who all you see."
Alicia looked around for a second and said, "I see you, your grandma and Brandon."
"You don't see a ghost; a girl about thirteen?" asked Beth.
"No, do you?" asked Alicia.
"I'm fourteen and I'm not a ghost," said Kim.
Beth saw Kim forming the words, but wasn't able to hear her.
"Alicia, you don't see her?" asked Beth. "She is trying to tell me something, but I can't hear what she is saying."
"There is no ghost in this room," said Alicia. "If there was, I would see her."
"She is standing beside my bed," said Beth. "I can see her almost as plain as I can see all of you."
"What does she look like?" asked Joyce.
"That is the interesting part," said Beth. "She is a spitting image of me when I was thirteen."
"If someone is there then perhaps she is not a ghost," said Alicia.
"What do you mean?" asked Beth. Beth then watched Kim as she faded away.
"She might be astral projecting," said Alicia. "I don't know what it is about you, but I can't see you when you astral project, so maybe that girl is the same way."
On board the Solar Flare, Kyra unintentionally woke up Kim as she was getting her briefcase.
Kim looked at Kyra and said, "She's not dead."
Kyra faced Kim and asked, "What was that?"
Kim sat up and said "Kimberly wasn't killed. I think my brother Brandon followed her and kept her from being killed. Well her brother I guess. Kimberly was taken to the hospital."
"Kim, are you sure you are not dreaming this?" asked Kyra.
"I'm positive this is not a dream," said Kim. "My dreams are never this… sequential I guess is the right word. My dreams are also never so detailed. When I dreamed of the other Kimberly, it is more like the visions I started getting."
"Okay, I believe you," said Kyra.
"Mom, when I see the other Kimberly she is able to see me too," said Kim.
"Since you are a psychic chances are she is one too," said Kyra. "It only makes sense if you can see her then she should be able to see you."
"I guess that make sense," said Kim.
"Kim, was you able to determine how old the other Kim is from your vision?" asked Kyra.
"I'm not sure," said Kim. "The other Kim isn't a doctor either. I mean she isn't a doctor yet. In my dream or vision she mention to Brandon about getting her homework for her so I think she is in medical school. I think her job at the morgue is to help pay her way through medical school."
"Being a medical student would explain why the lead doctor didn't take the other Kimberly seriously about her suspicions," said Kyra. "Kim, why do you think that Brandon followed her?"
"Brandon was wearing a cop's uniform, so I believe I would have gone to him first with my suspicions" said Kim. "Brandon is my older brother and I went to him a lot. Normally if I can get him to help I would do it anyway."
"So Brandon would have known that about you and followed you or in this case the other Kim," said Kyra.
"That is what I'm guessing," said Kim.
"Kim, I'm going to my room and grade papers…" said Kyra.
"You can do it here," said Kim.
"Kim, I was about to tell you that you still have another hour to sleep before I was going to wake you and Julian up for breakfast, so you don't have to get up right now," said Kyra.
"Oh I'm wide awake," said Kim. "I don't think I can go back to sleep right now if I tried."
"If you are certain that you don't want to try to sleep some more then I can grade papers in here," said Kyra.
"I'm certain," said Kim. "Actually, what I want to do is to read more of that book I was reading two nights ago."
Kyra grinned and said, "You can go and get it from my room."
Kim stood up and said, "Thanks."
"Kim, before you leave take your covers and put them on my bed…" said Kyra.
"They belong in my room though," said Kim.
"Since Julian is in there sleeping, you can't put them where they belong and I don't want the covers or the pillow in here if you are not going back to sleep," said Kyra.
"Okay," said Kim. She gathered the covers and the pillow. She then walked into Kyra's bedroom. After returning with the book Kim sat down next to Kyra.
On board the Galactica in one of the sick bay's wards, Cassandra was checking the vitals of six genetic duplicates. As she stepped up to a thirty-three-year-old man with dark black hair, she noticed his eyes twitching. She then quickly checked his vitals.
"Congratulation," Cassandra spoke out. "You will be the second one to wake up."
Cassandra glanced at the ones she hadn't had a chance to check the vitals on and walked out. She walked back to the reception area, picked up the phone and dialed the bridge.
"Bridge," the duty officer said.
"Yes, this is Cassandra from sick bay," she said. "I need to either talk to Cmdr Adama or get a message to him."
Cmdr. Adama was on the bridge and heard Cassandra. He then told his officer, "You can patch the call to me."
"Yes Sir," said the officer. "Cassandra, I am patching you to Cmdr. Adama now."
A second later Cmdr. Adama asked, "Cassandra, what is it?"
"Sir, the genetic duplicate in bed four is responsive," said Cassandra. "I believe he will be gaining conscious very soon."
"Cassandra, you are to sedate that person until Dr. Salik can return to the Galactica," said Cmdr. Adama. "I don't want him waking up without anyone present."
"Yes Sir," said Cassandra. "Cassandra out."
While Cmdr. Adama was hanging up, he spoke out, "Get Dr. Salik up here as soon as possible."
"Yes Sir," the duty officer said. He then dialed to contact the surface.
Two hours later, Dr. Salik was giving the man an injection to wake him up. Cmdr. Adama and Cassandra were standing at the man's bedside.
Seconds later the man was moving around. After opening his eyes he looked at Cmdr. Adama. He quickly turned to look at Dr. Salik.
The man sat up and asked, "Where am I and how did I get here?"
"We will answer all of your questions, but first can you tell us your name?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"It's Seth Whitefeather," said the man.
"Seth, I'm Dr. Salik. This is Cmdr. Adama and my assistant Cassandra," said Dr. Salik.
Seth looked around and asked "Commander? What are you a commander of?"
"That and other things will be explained to you shortly, but first what is the last thing you remember?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"It was late at night," said Seth. "I had been celebrating with some friends after a surprise victory in court. I was driving home after a few drinks and halfway to my house my car died. I remember getting out of the car and lifting the hood to check the battery and… and that's it. I don't remember anything else."
"Do you recall seeing a bright light?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"Now that you mentioned it, I believe there was a bright light," said Seth. "In fact it startled me when it appeared all of a sudden. I remember hitting my head on the hood of the car when the light appeared. Hitting my head didn't knock me out did it?"
"We are unable to answer that," said Dr. Salik.
"Seth, this may be difficult for you to believe, but you have been abducted by space aliens," said Cmdr. Adama.
Seth looked at Cmdr. Adama with a curious expression. He then grinned and asked, "Did Maxwell put you up to this?"
"I don't know Maxwell," said Cmdr. Adama.
"It was Kenneth then," said Seth. "He's always playing a practical joke on someone."
"Seth, no one is playing a joke on you," said Cmdr. Adama.
"How well you are able to keep a straight face, I'm willing to bet that you and your two friends are professional actors… and actress," said Seth. "Claudia must be playing this joke on me. She is the only one that can afford to pay professional performers. I would never expect this from her. Maxwell must have given her the idea. So where are the candid cameras?"
"Seth, there are no cameras of any type and we are not performers," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Hey I know the truth, but since you and your fellow performers insist of continuing this charade, I will play along," said Seth. "So where are we? Wait, don't tell me let me guess." Dr. Salik and Cassandra just looked at one another in a curious manner. "We are at a government facility. Hanger fourteen is out this door; across the street and in the next door."
"You are on a battlestar," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Ooh that's sounds good," said Seth. "What is a battlestar supposed to be?"
"A battlestar is a warship that travels through the stars," said Cmdr. Adama.
"This is getting better and better," said Seth. "How did I get here?"
"The aliens that abducted you were involved in an incident that killed them and left you and six others in stasis," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Let me guess," said Seth. "The others and I remained in stasis for a hundred years and when humans took to stars you found us."
"We do not know as to how long you were in stasis," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Let me guess, you don't know because World War III started and all records on Earth of my existence were destroyed during the war," said Seth.
"We are not from Earth," said Cmdr. Adama. "We are from the twelve colonies of Kobol."
"Ah, an interesting twist to the plot," said Seth. "So you and the others are playing the roll of aliens made up to look like human beings?"
"We are human," said Cmdr. Adama. "In fact we have strong evidence that suggests that the people on Earth are the thirteenth tribe of Kobol."
"Interesting," said Seth. "Is this story something you are making up as we go or is this something you and your fellow performers rehearsed?"
"Dr. Salik, do you have shoes for Seth?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"Yes, Commander," said Dr. Salik.
"I will get them," said Cassandra. She then walked over to get a pair of shoes.
"This must be when you give me a tour of your battlestar," said Seth. Cassandra walked up to Seth. "This charade must cost a small fortune."
"Here are some shoes for you," said Cassandra.
"Thank you," said Seth. As Seth raised his left foot to put on the shoe he paused when he saw his foot.
Dr. Salik noticed a perplexed expression on Seth's face. He then asked, "Is there anything wrong?"
"Okay, what is going on?" asked Seth.
"I don't know what you mean," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Fifteen years ago I lost two toes from frost bite on my left foot," said Seth.
"Another thing about you being abducted was that you were genetically duplicated," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Are you saying that I'm a clone?" asked Seth.
"Clones have flaws within the DNA, but genetic duplicates do not," said Cmdr. Adama. "However, other than not having physical disfigurements from mishaps you are Seth Whitefeather."
Seth felt his toes. He then said, "So the things you told me are true. I am on a battlestar."
"Yes, everything I told you was true," said Cmdr. Adama.
"So if I'm a duplicate where is the other Seth?" asked Seth.
"We have reason to believe he was returned to Earth after the aliens took what they needed to create you," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Before learning all of this I never believed in life on other planets, but now I'm confused to what to believe," said Seth.
"Once you put on your shoes I will have someone show you around," said Cmdr. Adama. "However, certain sections of the ship are off limits to you."
"Of course," said Seth.
Seth started to put on the shoes.
"Seth, what was your profession on Earth?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
"I was a criminal attorney," said Seth.
"We can always use another attorney. Of course our terminologies may be different than what you are used to," said Cmdr. Adama.
"Are you asking me if I would like to continue being an attorney on your battlestar?" asked Seth.
"This battlestar is protecting a fleet of sixty civilian ships," said Cmdr. Adama. "You will be continuing being an attorney within the fleet. Of course you will have to learn our custom and laws."
"I accept your offer," said Seth. He then stood up.
"Good," said Cmdr. Adama. "After you get a quick tour of the ship I want you to see Colby Spritz. He is on the Galactica working on a murder case as we speak. You can assist him."
"Cmdr. Adama, are the ships you are protecting colony ships?" asked Seth.
"No," said Cmdr. Adama. Cmdr. Adama then took the time to explain who they were and what they were doing to Seth.
On board the Solar Flare, Kim and Julian were in the recreation center playing a game of squares. Two empty seats sat at the table of where Kim and Julian were playing. A few other people that Kim didn't know were in the room also. Each time the door to the room opened up Kim turned to look.
While playing the game, Kim would deliberately allowed Julian to win and as he was winning his second game a nineteen-year-old man walked in. Kim watched the man as the man slowly scanned the room. When the man looked into Kim's direction, Kim noticed in the man's eye as if he found what he was searching for.
The man walked up to Kim and asked, "Excuse me, but are you Kimberly O'Brian; the girl from Earth."
"That's me," said Kim.
"Hi, I'm Adam Cisco and I have been wanting to meet you since I found out about you," the man said. He then stuck out his hand to shake hands.
Kim took a deep breath and then reached out her hand to shake hands. When their hand touched Kim got a vision of his very recent past.
In Kim's vision a thirty-six-year-old woman with short brown hair told Adam, "The Earth girl's name is Kimberly O'Brian. I heard she has red hair and freckles so she should be easy to pick out from a crowd. I want you to learn everything that Cmdr. Adama or Pres. Roslin does not want us to know about Earth."
"Don't worry, I will get the information," said Adam.
"Well if you frak this up, you won't become the reporter that you are hoping to be," said the woman.
"So where can I find Kimberly O'Brian?" asked Adam.
"I heard she likes the recreation center, so you should try there," said the woman.
Adam was slightly shaking Kim and exclaiming, "Kimberly O'Brian! Kimberly O'Brian!" Kim came out of her vision and looked at Adam. "Kimberly, what happen? Why did you black out?
"Oh I have this extremely rare attention disability that causes me to space out from time to time," said Kim. Adam and Julian looked at Kim in a curious manner. "So why were you wanting to meet me."
"How many people on Earth have this disability?" asked Adam.
"I just said it was extremely rare," said Kim. "In fact it is so rare that there is not enough information about it to treat it."
"Well, to answer your question from before; I was wanting to meet you so I can learn a little bit about Earth," said Adam. He sat down in a seat next to Kim. "Can you tell me about Earth?"
"I have talk about Earth so many times these past two days that I'm actually tired of the subject," said Kim. "Perhaps we can discuss other things. Tell more about Kobol and the colonies."
"I really like to hear stories from Earth, so can you talk about Earth one more time for me?' asked Adam.
"You want to hear stories from Earth," said Kim. Kim then grinned. "Okay, I will tell you a few stories."
Julian sat back and just listened.
"Good, so what can you tell me?" asked Adam.
"Is there anything specific you would like to know or should I just ramble on?" asked Kim.
"Our ships are going to Earth to seek help in defeating the Cylons," said Adam. "Myself, I'm worried that the people on Earth are not able to fight an enemy like the Cylon. What do you think?"
"I wouldn't recommend preordering body bags for the people of Earth," said Kim. "I mean, I don't know about the people from the colonies, but the people on Earth have been known to pull a few rabbits out of a hat from time to time."
"What do you mean by pulling a rabbit out of a hat?" asked Adam.
"It's just a saying we say when someone does something incredible that was thought to be unlikely," said Kim. "Oh and the imagination that people on Earth have is also incredible; I mean the concept of a Stargate… well I could never imagine that up."
"What is a Stargate?" asked Adam.
Kim slightly grinned and said, "It is a transportation device that will take you from one planet to another without a use of a spaceship. Oh and the other things that people imagine up are equally incredible; like…"
"Wait," said Adam. "Tell more about this Stargate."
"Well, it is huge ring shape object," said Kim. "It has several symbols on the gate and when someone presses a specific combination of seven symbols the Stargate will establish an outgoing wormhole. A SG team consisting of a group of four would then step into the gate. Seconds later they would emerge on the other side of the wormhole and on another planet."
"And Stargate is real?" asked Adam.
"It's a real story," said Kim. "I got a good imagination and all, but I could never come up with a science fiction story like Stargate SG-1. Those writers that work for the Sci-Fi network are top notch…"
"Kimberly, wait," said Adam. "Stargate is not real?"
"It's a real story created by professional science fiction writers," said Kim. "I'm not a huge Sci-Fi fan like my brothers, but I do like Stargate…"
"Kimberly, I'm more interested in talking about facts, not a bunch of lies," said Adam.
"I don't consider fiction as a lie," said Kim. "I think of them as entertaining stories."
"Kimberly, I want to hear facts and not entertaining stories," said Adam.
"I like hearing entertaining stories," said Julian.
"Kimberly can tell you all the stories you want to hear after Kimberly and I get finished talking," said Adam.
"Actually, we are finished talking," said Kim. "Oh and since you didn't get the exclusive interview you were hoping to get from me, I would hate to be in your shoes when you report back to your boss that you failed."
"What are you talking about?" asked Adam.
"I know you are a reporter… or should I say, you are trying to become one," said Kim.
"What makes you think that I'm a reporter?" asked Adam.
"Does the phrase, 'The Earth girl's name is Kimberly O'Brian. She has red hair and freckles, so she should be easy to pick out from a crowd.' sound familiar to you?" asked Kim.
"How could you have known that I was told that?" asked Adam.
"You're the reporter want-to-be so you figure it out," said Kim. Kim stood up. "Julian it is time for us to leave. Oh and Adam Cisco, I might be an optimism, but I feel that the forces on Earth are capable of handling the Cylons."
After leaving the recreation center, Kim and Julian went back to Kyra's quarters. Capt. Lockwood and Kyra were sitting on the couch when Kim and Julian walked in. A formal dress for Kim was hanging near Kim's room. Kim saw the gown when she walked in.
"Kim, you and Julian are back thirty minutes earlier than what I told you," said Kyra. "Is there anything wrong?"
"A reporter sat down beside me and asked me about Earth," said Kim.
Kyra stood up and walked over to Kim. Capt. Lockwood also stood up and asked, "Did this reporter give you his or her name?"
"Yeah, it's Adam Cisco," said Kim.
"That guy isn't any reporter I'm familiar with nor is he from this ship," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Kim, what did you tell him?" asked Kyra.
"Well, he asked me to tell him a story about Earth, so I told him one about the Stargate," said Kim.
"What is a Stargate?" asked Kyra.
"It's a transportation device that would instantaneous take a person from one planet to another that someone would see in a science fiction program," said Kim.
"Science fiction?" asked Capt. Lockwood.
"I will explain later, Dad," said Kyra. "Kim, did you lead Adam Cisco believing that a Stargate was real."
"In the end I made sure he knew that I was telling him a science fiction story," said Kim. "He didn't seem too interested in fiction though."
Kyra grinned and shook her head.
"Kyra, I'm going to check into the matter about this reporter," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Capt. Lockwood, I knew that Adam Cisco was a reporter from a vision when he shook my hand," said Kim. "In the same vision I found out that he was recently recruited as a reporter by a woman with short brown hair."
"Kim; Julian, we are taking a little walk," said Kyra.
"Where are we going?" asked Kim.
"Kyra, I'm gone," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Okay, Dad," said Kyra. Capt. Lockwood walked out. "Kim, to answer your question we are going to have a talk with Velinda so let's go."
Without attempting to move Kim asked, "Who is Velinda?"
"She is Davida's mother," said Kyra. "Now will you step into the corridor?"
As Kim was walking into the corridor she asked, "Why are we going to talk with her?"
"Kim, Velinda is a reporter and I have reason to believe she was the one who had recruited Adam Cisco," said Kyra. Kyra then locked the door to her quarters.
"If she is a reporter then why didn't she walk up to me herself?" asked Kim.
Kyra faced Kim and said, "Because Cmdr. Adama and Pres. Roslin made it clear to all reporters that you are off limits to them. Now do you have anymore questions or can we go?"
"Actually, I do have one more question," said Kim.
"What is that question," said Kyra.
"What's that dress for that is hanging near my room?" asked Kim.
"You just totally switched subjects," said Kyra.
Kim grinned and asked, "So what is the dress for?"
Kyra pointed down the corridor and said, "I will tell you as we walk so move."
"Fine," said Kim as she began walking. Kyra and Julian followed.
"Kim, that dress is a gift to you from Pres. Roslin…" said Kyra.
"Why is she giving me a gift?" asked Kim.
"Kim, we were invited to a formal dinner aboard Cloud Nine by Pres. Roslin," said Kyra.
In an amused manner Kim asked, "Is Cloud Nine a name of a ship?"
"It is," said Kyra. "Why does that amused you?"
"When a person is in a joy like daydream that person is said to be on cloud nine," said Kim. Kyra just grinned. "Mom, do I have to go to that dinner?"
"Yes, you do," said Kyra.
Kyra noticed a revolting expression on Kim's face as Kim said, "I hate going to those kinds of dinners."
"What kinds of dinners are those?" asked Kyra.
"A boring political dinner and I hate going to them," said Kim.
"When have you gone to a political dinner before?" asked Kyra.
"Before I was taken, my father worked for a governor," said Kim. "My father would drag me and the rest of my family to all of those boring dinners. I had to listen to the long and boring speeches they give. I hate being around politicians. I believe every one of them is no good."
"Do you believe Pres. Roslin is no good?" asked Kyra.
"She is different," said Kim. "She doesn't act like one of those no good, uptight…"
Kyra looked at Kim in a surprise manner and quickly exclaimed, "Kimberly Elizabeth, if you finish that sentence you will be in big trouble."
"Mom, can I just stay in our quarters and you tell everyone that I'm sick?" asked Kim.
"Kim, you are going to it and that is final," said Kyra.
Kim said in a huffy manner, "Fine. So when is this boring dinner supposed to begin?"
"Kimberly, you need to change your attitude," said Kyra.
"You are able to make me go, but you can't make me like it," said Kim.
"You don't have to like it, but you do have to act respectable," said Kyra.
"Fine, I'll act respectable," said Kim. She then said in a sarcastic manner, "So when is this fun filled activity supposed to begin?"
Kyra looked at Kim and shook her head. She then said, "Right after I dismissed the class you, Julian and I will be going to take a bath, get dressed in our formal clothes and go to Cloud Nine."
"What are we supposed to do about getting our homework done?" asked Kim. "
"Kim, I will open the classroom two hours before class tomorrow for you and the other students to work on your assignments," said Kyra. "All right?"
"All right," said Kim. "Oh, I'm supposed to go back to the chapel today to practice on the musical Keyboard again."
"You won't be able to do it today," said Kyra.
"Casimir will think I bailed on him," said Kim.
"Kim, I will get a message to Casimir so he doesn't think that you bailed on him," said Kyra. "Okay?"
"Okay," said Kim.
A few minutes later, Kyra was pressing the doorbell to Velinda's quarters. Velinda opened the door. Kim recognized Velinda from her vision.
Velinda looked at Kyra in a surprised manner and said, "Kyra… hi. What can I do for you?"
"She is the woman from my vision," said Kim. "Why are you recruiting cub-reporter to..."
Kyra interrupted Kim as she exclaimed, "Kimberly, I will handle this."
"What does she mean by cub-reporters?" asked Velinda.
"That's not important," said Kyra. "What is important that you were told by Pres. Roslin that Kimberly is off limits to go to for a story."
"Kyra, I never attempted to approach Kimberly," said Velinda.
Before Kyra was able to respond Kim blurted out, "You don't have to, you hired someone…"
"Kimberly Elizabeth," exclaimed Kyra. "I told you I will handle this." Kyra then pointed down the corridor. "Now, if you can't control yourself then you are to go down the corridor and wait there until we are done."
"Okay, okay, I will keep my mouth shut," said Kim.
"Velinda, I know you hired Adam Cisco to get information from Kim," said Kyra.
"I never done anything of the sort," said Velinda.
Kim made a disagreeable grunting noise. Kyra looked at Kim in a stern manner. When Kim saw Kyra's expression she timidly grinned. Kyra then said "Velinda, you are wasting your breath by denying it. Now if any other reporters show up and start asking Kim questions then I will blame you and take action. Are we clear about that?"
"You made yourself perfectly clear," said Velinda.
"Good," said Kyra. "Kim; Julian, we are returning to our quarters."
As Kyra, Kim and Julian walked away Velinda walked back into her quarters. Davida and Cleona walked past Kyra in the corridor seconds later.
Inside Velinda's quarters, Velinda looked at Adam and said, "Not only did you fail, but now I have Kyra, Kim's guardian, breathing down my neck."
"Velinda, I have no idea how Kim or Kyra found out about me or you," said Adam.
Davida and Cleona walked into the quarters. Velinda and Adam turned and watched as they walked in.
"Mom, were Ms. Lockwood and Kim just here?" asked Davida.
"Kyra just had something to say to me," said Velinda.
"Velinda, I should get going," said Adam.
"Adam, since you have failed to get the story that I asked you to get, that job offer is no longer good," said Velinda.
"I expected that," said Adam. Adam then walked out.
"Mom, you have always said that there is not a story that you can't get on your own, so what story are you after that you have to hire someone?" asked Davida.
Velinda looked at Davida for a second and said, "Actually, you are who I need to get the story."
"What story?" asked Davida.
"I would like to know how strong Earth's military is," said Velinda. "Davida, perhaps you can get close to Kim and find out for me."
"It won't work," said Cleona.
"Why won't it work?" asked Velinda.
"Kim gets these visions and if she gets one while Davida is after the story, Kim will know exactly what's going on," said Cleona.
"What kind of visions does she gets?" asked Velinda.
"I overheard that she can see future or past events," said Cleona.
"So that is how Kim knew about Adam and me," said Velinda. "Davida, I would still like for you to try to get the information if at all possible."
"I will see what I can do," said Davida. "I could even try after class. I'll go to the recreation center and get Kim to play a game with me. I can try then.
"You won't be able to do it today," said Velinda. "You, Cleona and I will be going to the Cloud Nine soon as your class is over. There is a presidential press conference with a dinner afterwards."