THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – Day 4 Part 3

As Kim was wandering around she found an opening to a row of bushes. Starbuck was patrolling the parameter and saw Kim as Kim was walking on the off limits side of the bushes. Starbuck hurried to catch up. Kim walked along side the bush and after walking sixty feet she turn and was about to sit down in the grass. Starbuck caught up with her before she was able to sit down.

Pres. Roslin was on the opposite side of the bush and heard Starbuck blurt out, "Kim, don't make yourself comfortable over here."

Pres. Roslin ended the conversation she was having, so she could listen to Starbuck and Kim.

"I'm just going to sit for a few minutes," said Kim.

"You can't do that for at least two reasons," said Starbuck.

"What are they?" asked Kim.

"The most important reason is that you are not allowed on this side of the bushes," said Starbuck.

"I didn't see any signs saying that," said Kim.

"There is a sign, but it is at the door coming in," said Starbuck. "Now the second reason is that you will get grass stains on that nice dress."

"This is real grass?" asked Kim.

"The grass and every plant in here are real," said Starbuck. "Now you need to get back with the others."

"I came here to get away from the others," said Kim. "There is nothing more boring than a political gathering. I don't even know why I was even invited to this thing."

"Kim, if you need to get away just for a short time then go to the women's facility," said Starbuck. "You can't be back here though."

"Well, if anyone calls you looking for a lost kid, the kid will be me and I will be hiding out in the women's facility," said Kim.

"Kim, I know how you feel about politicians, but before you judge the people here you should at least get to know them," said Starbuck.

"I know all I need to know," said Kim.

Starbuck pointed and said, "In any case, you have to go back with the others."

Seconds later as Kim and Starbuck were returning to the proper side of the bushes, Pres. Roslin was waiting.

When Kim saw Pres. Roslin, Pres. Roslin said, "Kim, walk with me for a minute. I would like to talk to you."

"Pres. Roslin, if it's about being on that side of the bushes, I didn't realize it was off limits and I promise I will not do it again," said Kim.

"I'm confident that Lt. Thrace had straightened you out about that," said Pres. Roslin. "I have another matter I want to discuss with you."

"Madam President, I'm going to return to my patrol," said Starbuck.

"Thanks, Lieutenant," said Pres. Roslin. "Now Kim, walk with me."

With a timid expression on her face Kim said, "Yes, Pres. Roslin."

As they began walking Pres. Roslin said, "Kim, first of all I want you to know that I was on the opposite side of the bushes while you and Lt. Thrace were talking."

Kim slightly cringed and asked, "Pres. Roslin, were you able to hear every word I said?"

"Yes I was," said Pres. Roslin.

"Pres. Roslin, I can explain," said Kim.

"There is nothing to explain," said Pres. Roslin. "You made yourself perfectly clear that you do not want to be here and I will not force you to stay."

"You mean I can leave?" asked Kim.

"After I talk with Kyra then you, Kyra and Julian can leave," said Pres. Roslin. "However, before I do that I would like to say that when I invited you here I thought you would give me and this gathering a chance."

"Pres. Roslin, I'm confused to why I was even invited to this," said Kim.

"I wanted you here so you can see how it is done among the colonies," said Pres. Roslin. "Clearly I was mistaken about you."

"What do you mean?" asked Kim.

"I thought you respected me…" said Pres. Roslin.

Kim interrupted Pres. Roslin by saying. "I do respect you, Pres. Roslin."

"Kim, the event hasn't even started yet and you are looking for a place to hide, so do you honestly believe you are respecting me when you are not giving me or the quorum of twelve a chance to prove ourselves?" asked Pres. Roslin.

"I never thought of it like that," said Kim. Kim stopped walking. Pres. Roslin stopped and faced Kim. Kim then said in a sincere manner, "Pres. Roslin, I never meant to do anything to disrespect you and I am so-so sorry that I did."

Pres. Roslin grinned and said, "A sincere apology from you is very pleasant to hear."

Kim grinned. She then said, "Pres. Roslin, I know you have every right not to let me stay, but I've changed my mind. If you will let me I would like to stay."

"I was hoping you would change your mind," said Pres. Roslin. "I honestly want you here."

Kim grinned and said, "Thanks."

Pres. Roslin grinned. She then said, "Later after I make my speech I would like to bring you up on stage and introduce you to everyone."

In a frightful manner Kim said, "I really don't think you should do that."

"Why shouldn't I?" asked Pres. Roslin.

"I have a nervous stomach and if you put me on stage… well let's just say that the cleaning people are going to be very glad that dinner is going to be served after you introduce me and not before," said Kim.

"I believe I understand and thank you for letting me know about your nervous stomach," said Pres. Roslin. "Well, I should get back to what I was doing before. We will talk again later."

"Okay; bye," said Kim.

Pres. Roslin grinned and walked away.

A minute later, Kim was walking up to Kyra. As she walked up she saw Kyra holding a seven-month-old baby. Julian was next to Kyra and feeling the baby's toes. A baby stroller was eight feet away from them.

Kim was grinning when she stepped up to Kyra.

Kyra looked at Kim as if to ask, "What?"

"Is there anything you need to tell me?" asked Kim.

"Kim, this is Lydia and she is Bethany's daughter," said Kyra.

"Okay, who's Bethany?" asked Kim.

"That's right," said Kyra. "I never told you my former roommate's name. Well Bethany is my former roommate."

"Where is Bethany?" asked Kim.

"She went to talk with someone," said Kyra. "Kim, have you ever watch a small child before?"

"My Aunt Jennifer allowed me to help her with her twins, but I was never alone with them," said Kim.

"Kim, I really need to use the woman's facility, so I need you and Julian to follow me to the facility. I will be in there for only a few minutes; however, while I'm in there I need you to watch Julian and Lydia for me."

"I can do that," said Kim.

Kyra walked over and placed Lydia in the stroller. Kyra then began pushing the stroller. Kim and Julian followed. A short time later Kyra was putting the breaks on the stroller next to the restrooms. The crowd in the corridor around the restrooms was heavy.

"Kim, you are not to pick Lydia up," said Kyra. "Is that clear?"

"Yes Ma'am," said Kim. "I think Lydia is about to fade off to sleep anyway."

Kyra turned and walked into the women's room. Kyra was in the restroom for only a few seconds when a loud noise down the corridor was heard. The noise startled Lydia and she began to fuss.

Julian and Kim walked up to the stroller. Kim's back was to the crowd. Julian then said, "Kim, Lydia is crying."

In a slight sarcastic tone Kim said, "Thanks for letting me know, Julian."

Kim squatted down and tried a few things to get Lydia to calm down. When nothing worked, Kim started singing the mocking bird song. Kim sang in a volume so she was heard over Lydia.

A reporter with a live microphone was walking through the corridors with the delegate from Geminon and heard Kim singing. He then paused the interview and walked up behind Kim. Seth Whitefeather was on Cloud Nine and was walking near the restrooms. He heard Kim also and walked up to see who was singing. Kim was focused on Lydia and never noticed the crowd that was forming behind her. Halfway through the song Lydia fussiness faded and turned into a smile. When Kim ended the song she heard whispers behind her and turned to look. Kim's face turned red and her eyes had gotten wide when she saw everyone watching her.

The reporter stepped up and asked, "What was that lullaby that you were singing?"

Kyra was stepping out of the restroom and saw the crowd around Kim.

Kim felt nauseated and when she saw Kyra, Kim said, "Oh god, I'm going to be sick." Kim then rushed towards the restroom while covering her mouth.

"You didn't answer my question," said the reporter.

"Kimberly, what is going on?" asked Kyra. Kim ignored everyone and rushed into the restroom. Kyra then faced the reporter. "Hi, I'm Kyra; that girl's guardian. Is there a problem here?"

"On the contrary," said the reporter. "The young lady just caught my attention and I would say the attention of everyone else's when she was singing an unusual lullaby to the baby." Bethany was walking by and was curious of what was going on. "When I ask the young lady the name of the song she rushed into facility. Since you are the girl's guardian perhaps you know the name of the song."

"I wasn't here so, I don't know what she was singing," said Kyra.

Seth stepped up and said, "It's called 'Hush Little Baby'. I also heard it to be called the mocking bird song."

The reporter walked up to Seth and asked, "What is your name?"

As Seth was answering the question, Bethany walked up to Kyra and asked, "What is going on?"

"I'm not sure myself, but Kim does," said Kyra. "At the moment she is in the facility. If you can watch Julian for me for a minute I will go talk to Kim."

"Of course," said Bethany.

As Kyra walked back into the restroom, Bethany was picking up Lydia.

Kim was spitting into the closest sink as Kyra walked up to her.

When Kyra saw the mess in the sink she asked, "Are you okay?"

In an irritable tone Kim said, "I just threw up."

"I see that you threw up, and in the sink no less," said Kyra. "You couldn't make it to one of the turbo flushes?"

"I barely made it to this sink," said Kim. "I will clean up the mess." Kim then turned on the sink to rinse her mouth.

"Are you okay enough to tell me what happen?" asked Kyra.

Kim spit out the water and said, "Lydia started to fuss, so I sang her a song to try to quiet her. When I was done singing, I turned around and saw this large mob of people staring at me. I thought I was going to throw up out there, but then I saw you and that was when I ran in here. Mom, so who is watching Lydia and Julian?"

"Bethany is out there," said Kyra. "Well, I will let you get done in here and I will wait for you in the corridor."

When Kyra walked out most of the crowed had dispersed. The reporter and the delegate from Geminon had continued about their business. Seth was talking to Bethany as Bethany held Lydia. Julian stood next to Bethany.

When Kyra walked up to Bethany, Bethany said, "Julian told me how Kim was trying to calm Lydia down by singing."

"Kim told me the same thing," said Kyra.

"Kim didn't look very good a moment ago," said Seth. "Is she all right?"

"She will be," said Kyra. "Being the focal point to a large crowd makes her nervous and when she gets nervous she gets nauseated."

"It sound as though Kim has a bad case of stage fright," said Seth.

"Very much so," said Kyra. "By the way, I'm Kyra."

Seth reached out his hand to shake hands and said, "It is a pleasure to meet you. I'm Seth."

Kyra shook Seth's hand and asked, "Seth, how was it that you knew what Kim was singing when know one else did?"

"I'm also from Earth," said Seth.

"I was told by Cmdr. Adama that there are others," said Kyra. "At the time Cmdr. Adama told me that, Kim was the only one out of stasis."

"I'm the second one and I came out of stasis this morning," said Seth.

Seth saw Kim coming out of the restroom and stared at her. Bethany also turned to look at Kim. Kyra turned to see what Seth and Bethany were looking at.

Kim walked up to Kyra.

While holding Lydia, Bethany stepped closer to Kim and said, "Kim, I was told that you were great Lydia."

"I just did what my grandma use to do when she would try to get my younger brother to stopped crying… oh he was a baby at the time," said Kim.

Bethany grinned and said, "Well you did good."

"Thanks," said Kim.

Kyra motion to Seth and said, "Kim, I want to meet Seth."

Kim looked at Seth and said, "Hi Seth."

"Seth is also from Earth," said Kyra.

Kim stared at Seth for a second. She then said, "You are an American Indian… I mean a Native American."

Kyra and Bethany looked at Kim in a curious manner.

"My father would disagree with you," said Seth. "According to him I turn my back on our people for the white man."

"What did you do?" asked Kim.

"I left the reservation and became a defense lawyer," said Seth.

"My mom is a lawyer, but she only deals with legal documents for big companies," said Kim. "So which tribal nation are you from?"

"I'm from the Sioux nation," said Seth. "With your red hair, freckles and bluish-green eyes I would say that you definitely have Irish in you."

"My grandparents on my dad's side were from Ireland," said Kim. "They migrated to America in the late 1950's." Kim then turned towards the speaker closest to her.

Seth noticed and asked, "Is there anything wrong?"

Pres. Roslin had begun her speech and was heard throughout the area by overhead speakers.

"Nothing is wrong," said Kim.

Seth looked at Kim in a curious manner.

Kyra placed her hand on Kim's shoulder and said, "Julian and I are going back in the garden. You can stay here if you want and finish talking about Earth with Seth."

"I actually want to return to the garden too," said Kim.

Bethany placed Lydia into the stroller.

Seth looked into Kyra's eyes and asked, "Kyra, do you have a problem with me tagging along? I would like to get to know Kim and even you a little better."

"Sure, you are welcome to tag along," said Kyra. Kyra then saw a slight grin on Kim's face. "Kim, why are you grinning?"

"I'm just in a good mood," said Kim. Kim began backing away from everyone. "Well, I will meet you into the garden. Hey Julian come with me."

"Ms. Lockwood, can I?" asked Julian.

"Yes," said Kyra. "Kimberly, you and Julian are to wait for me in the garden and not to wander off."

"Yes Mom," said Kim.

As Seth watched Kim and Julian walking away, he asked, "She calls you mom?"

"It is something she just recently started," said Kyra.

Kyra and Seth started to walk towards the garden followed by Bethany while pushing the Stroller.

"Kyra, I saw Kim facing the speaker before this lady started speaking," said Seth. "Does she do that a lot?"

"Yes," said Kyra. "I believe it is part of her ESP ability."

Bethany looked at Kyra in a confused manner and asked, "What is ESP?"

"It actually means extra sensory perception," said Kyra.

"What exactly does that mean?" asked Bethany.

"Not always, but sometimes when Kim touches an object or if she gets touched she will see a future or a past event," said Kyra. "She can't control what she sees though."

Seconds later Kyra, Seth and Bethany walked into the garden. Kim and Julian were among the crowd and watching the Pres. Roslin as she was speaking out. When Kyra and the others walked up directly behind Kim, Kyra placed her hand on Kim's shoulder. Kim looked at Kyra for a second and then turned back to Pres. Roslin.

Seth also stepped up to Kim and said, "Kim, I understand that you have a six sense."

"Yeah; it is something that just started," said Kim.

"Having a six sense is a curse if it controls you, but a gift if you can control it," said Seth. "Kim, I could help you to make sure it doesn't become a curse."

Kim faced Seth and asked, "How?"

"Although, I personally have never been given a vision, my grandfather had taught me on how to go on a vision quest," said Seth.

Kyra and Bethany listened to Kim and Seth with fixed curiosity.

"Have you tried to go on a vision quest?" asked Kim.

"I have gone on a few vision quests without success," said Seth. "My grandfather believes that my heart was not in it."

"Since you never had a vision, are certain you can teach me how to go on a vision quest?" asked Kim.

"As long as you have patience and you can remain focus I can," said Seth.

"Seth, what exactly is a vision quest?" asked Kyra.

"A vision quest is mainly a way to find one's spiritual guide," said Seth. "Once a person's spiritual guide is identified, the spiritual guide can reveal answers to certain questions."

"How does one go on a vision quest?" asked Kyra.

"Normally a person would go to an isolated area to where that a person would go undisturbed by anyone for a few days." Seth noticed an uneasy expression on Kyra's face and continued to say, "I do realize Kim is unable to isolate herself for more than a few hours at a time, but since Kim has a six sense, a few hours at a time might just be enough."

Kim looked at Seth in a confused manner and asked, "To go on a vision quest isn't the person supposed to go without food, water and sleep until the person gets a vision."

Seth glanced at Kyra before looking at Kim. He then said, "Kim, again I do understand that you won't be able to go on a traditional vision quest; however, I believe you can find your spiritual guide and perhaps even initiate a vision from the type of vision quest that you are capable of performing."

"Mom, would it be all right if Seth teaches me how to go on a vision quest?" asked Kim.

"If I allow this, I don't want you to be starving yourself or going without any sleep," said Kyra.

"I won't," said Kim. "Besides you won't even let me skip breakfast when I'm not hungry."

"Okay Kim, I will allow Seth to teach you," said Kyra.

"Thanks," said Kim.

"Seth, two days from now might be the best time for you to teach Kim," said Kyra.

"Why would that be a good time?" asked Kim.

"You don't have class that day or the following day," said Kyra.

"Kyra, are you a resident on this ship?" asked Seth.

"No; Kim and I are from the Solar Flare," said Kyra. She then told Seth how to find her quarters.

"Okay Kimmy…" Seth said as he was being interrupted.

"There is no Kimmy here," exclaimed Kim.

Kyra, Bethany and Seth looked at Kim in a curious manner. Seth then said, "You are Kimmy."

"No, I'm not," said Kim. "My name is Kimberly and I will only respond to Kim or Kimberly. If anyone calls me Kimmy I will pretend that I never heard that person speaking."

"I'm sorry, Kim," said Seth. "I didn't know it bothered to be called that."

"Well it does," said Kim.

"Kim, why does it bother you so much to be called Kimmy?" asked Kyra.

"Mrs. Randall… the dragon lady—" Kyra looked at Kim in a surprised manner. Kim continued to say, "—I had for a first grade teacher called me that."

"Kimberly, be nice," said Kyra.

Kim showed a cocky grin and said, "Oh, I was being nice. Now if I would have called her a …"

In a stern tone Kyra exclaimed, "Kimberly Elizabeth."

"Fine, I won't say it, but Mrs. Randall continued to call me Kimmy even after she knew how I felt about it," said Kim. Kyra noticed Kim was getting emotional and was about to say something when Kim continued. "There were even some hateful kids in my class that year who would just pick on other kids and they also called me Kimmy just because they knew it bugged me."

"Kim, calm down," said Kyra. "That part of your life is over, and I suspect it has been over for sometime."

"The memory of that year is etched in my brain though," said Kim.

"Kim, when something reminds you of a memory you just don't like, you should stop for a second and think of a memory that you do like," said Bethany. Kim slightly laughed. Kyra and Bethany looked at Kim in a curious manner. "Did I say something funny?"

"I'm sorry for laughing; it's just that if you would have said what you did with a Tennessee accent, you would have sounded just like my Aunt Brittany," said Kim.

"Is that good?" asked Bethany.

"I like my Aunt Brittany, so it's not bad," said Kim.

"Kim, what do you mean by a Tennessee accent?" asked Kyra.

"I will repeat what Bethany said with the accent," said Kim. She then repeated the phrase.

Seth grinned and said, "You're good at imitating a southern accent."

"Thanks," said Kim.

Pres. Roslin caught Kyra' attention when Pres. Roslin spoke out on education. Kyra then said, "Hey, I want to hear this."

Everyone turned to watch Pres. Roslin as she was speaking out.