THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – Day 5 Part 1

Kim was sleeping for six hours when a disturbing dream woke her up. Kim sat up and thought for a second. She then said, "Oh god, I don't think I was dreaming." Kim got up, went into Kyra's room and shook Kyra. "Mom! Mom! Wake up."

Kyra opened her eyes. When she saw Kim she abruptly sat up and asked, "Kim, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"Mom, I think there's a Cylon on the Galactica," said Kim.

"Kim, Cylons being hidden among us has been known since the destruction of the colonies," said Kyra. "Unfortunately we are unable to determined who are the Cylons"

"Mom, I realized that, but I think one is contaminating the fresh food supply that the harvesting crew is getting from the planet," said Kim.

"Kim, have you gotten a vision?" asked Kyra.

"Not exactly," said Kim. "As I was sleeping, I believe I astral plane aboard the Galactica. As I was there I saw someone releasing some kind of large scorpion in where the fruits and vegetables are kept."

"What is a scorpion?" asked Kyra.

"It's a type of an eight-legged creature that has a long and poisonous tail," said Kim. "Scorpion also has long pincher coming out from the face. I can draw you one if you would like."

"That won't be necessary," said Kyra. She then got out of bed. "Kim, I'm going to get dressed and go send a message to the Galactica. I want you to go back to the common room and read a book or draw pictures or even go back to sleep."

"Mom, I don't have any paper to draw pictures with," said Kim.

"Before I leave I will get you some paper from my briefcase," said Kyra.

"Thanks," said Kim.

Kyra grinned. She then said, "Oh Kim, if Julian wakes up just read to him until I get back."

"Okay," said Kim. Kim turned and took one step towards the door.

"Kim, wait a second," said Kyra. Kim stopped and faced Kyra. "Kim, did you see the face of the person who was releasing that… that scorpion?"

"It was too dark to see much of anything," said Kim. "The person had a flashlight and I saw the scorpion when the person shined the light on it." Kim gestured towards the door. "I'm going back to the couch and lay back down."

Kyra just grinned.

Fifteen minutes later, aboard the Galactica, a security detail of three men entered the storeroom of where the fruits and vegetables were kept.

After a short search one of the men shined his flashlight on the scorpion. The scorpion was crawling over the fruit. He then said, "Hey everyone, I think I found what we are looking for. There is an octerisious over here."

Another security officer stepped up and said, "I haven't seen one of those, since I vacation on the sands of Pike beach. That was about seven years ago."

The third man said, "Well, we need to get something to capture it."

"Use your hands," said the second man.

"Right, that thing is supposed to be a host to all kinds of germs, viruses and parasites," said the third the man. "If that thing bites me, I could end up in sickbay for a week."

The first person began unbuttoning his shirt and said, "I will wrap it up in my shirt." After taking off his shirt, he threw it on the octerisious.

Aboard the Solar Flare, Kyra was returning to her quarters. Kim was sitting on the couch drawing. One picture she had drawn was of the scorpion.

When Kim saw Kyra she asked, "Did you get a message to the Galactica?"

"I did," said Kyra. "A security detail will be sent to the food stores and check for the scorpion you saw."

Kim held up the drawing of the scorpion and said, "Mom, here is what the scorpion looks like."

Kyra walked up and took the drawing. After viewing it she said, "This is called octerisious. Terrorist groups will use this type of arachnid to start an epidemic."

"How?" asked Kim.

"An octerisious is capable of being a host to a number of parasites and viruses," said Kyra. "Octerisious are normally captured and taken somewhere to be destroyed."

"Octerisious sounds worse than the mosquitoes on Earth," said Kim.

"Octerisious are definitely bad," said Kyra.

"Where are the octerisious from?" asked Kim.

"Originally they are from Sagitaron, but before the destruction of the colonies, they could be found on the beaches on Caprica, Picon—" Kim smiled. Kyra stopped naming planets and asked, "—what's so amusing?"

"I still think it weird that the names of the colonies are the same as the Earth's birth signs," said Kim.

Kyra grinned and shook her head. She did asked, "Kim, are you staying up?"

"Yeah, I'm wide awake," said Kim. "When are we going to go to mess hall for breakfast?"

Kyra slightly grinned and said, "If you had eaten last night then you wouldn't be as hungry now."

"I ate," said Kim.

"Kim, eating a piece of fruit is a snack and not a meal," said Kyra.

"That was all I was hungry for," said Kim. "So when are we going to the mess hall?"

"When Julian wakes up we can go," said Kyra. "Until then, you can put your covers and pillow in my room."

Kim stood up and said, "Fine." She then gathered the covers and pillow. Before Kim walked away with the covers, she looked at the door leading into the corridor.

Kyra noticed Kim's action and said, "I will answer the door." Kim grinned as the doorbell sounded. As Kim was walking into Kyra's room, Kyra opened the door and saw her dad standing there. "Dad, come in."

Capt. Lockwood walked in. He then said, "Kyra, I got word from Cmdr. Adama that an octerisious was found on the Galactica."

"That was quick," said Kyra.

Kim walked in while carrying a book and when she saw who walked in she said, "Good morning, Capt. Lockwood."

Capt. Lockwood looked at Kim and said, "Good morning, Kim."

"Mom, I got one of your books to read," said Kim.

"That's fine," said Kyra.

"Kim, do you like reading?" asked Capt. Lockwood.

"I love reading," said Kim. "As long as I have something to read, I'm never bored; except for the cadet handbook on colonial military. I thought that could have been written better."

"You read the cadet handbook?" asked Capt. Lockwood.

"I read all, but the last two pages of it…" said Kim.

"Dad, I will explain later," said Kyra.

"Kim, what kind of books do you like to read?" asked Capt. Lockwood.

"I like mysteries and horrors the most," said Kim. She then held up the book she had. "I like reading these history books on the colonies also."

"Kyra's history books should keep you busy for a while then," said Capt. Lockwood.

"I wouldn't bet on that," said Kyra. "Kim is a fast reader. In fact that book she is holding is her third book. If she keeps reading history in the manner she is doing, I will have to go into the archives to give her, her history assignments for class."

"I know someone who has a collection of novels," said Capt. Lockwood. "Kim, I don't know what category the books are, but if you're interested in reading any of the books I can see what I can do about getting a few of them for you to read."

"Oh, I'm definitely interested," said Kim.

"Then I will see what I can do," said Capt. Lockwood."

"Thanks, Capt. Lockwood," said Kim.

"You're welcome," said Capt. Lockwood. "Kyra, I've better get going. I just came by to let you know what the Galactica's security found."

"Okay. Bye, Dad," said Kyra.

Kim thought for a second. She then asked, "They found an octerisious, didn't they?"

Capt. Lockwood looked at Kim in a manner as if he wasn't sure if he should respond to Kim's question Kyra then said, "Dad, go ahead and go. I'll handle the inquisitor."

"I'm just asking a question," said Kim.

"Kim, you are always asking questions," said Kyra.

"How else am I supposed to learn?" asked Kim. She then showed a smirky grin.

"Kyra; Kim, bye," said Capt. Lockwood.

Kim waved and said, "Bye."

"I will see you later, Dad," said Kyra.

When Capt. Lockwood stepped into the corridor, Kim looked at Kyra and asked, "So did the Galactica's security find an octerisious?"

"Yes, Kim, an octerisious was found on the Galactica," said Kyra. "As for you asking questions to learn things, there are certain things you don't need to learn."

"And I won't know which ones unless I ask," said Kim.

"Kim, it's too early in the morning for your logic, so just read the book that you have," said Kyra.

"Fine," said Kim. Kim then sat down on the couch and flipped to the first page.

An hour later, Kyra, Kim and Julian were sitting down at a table with their food rations.

Kim took a bite of food. As she was swallowing, she saw Velinda, Davida and Cleona walking in. Kim then asked, "Mom, what's up with Davida and Cleona acting like Siamese twins this past twenty-four hours?"

"What exactly are Siamese twins?" asked Kyra.

"They are identical twins that are physically attached to one another," said Kim. "A lot of the time they would share the same vital organ."

"Ah, I saw a few animals like that," said Kyra. "I never imagine two humans before being like that."

"So what's up with Davida and Cleona being inseparable?" asked Kim.

"Trina, Cleona's mother, is always part of the harvesting crew," said Kyra. "Cleona stays with Davida and Velinda when Trina is gone."

"What about Cleona's dad?" asked Kim.

"Kim, Cleona's dad was killed during the destruction of the colonies," said Kyra.

"I hear all kind of stories about the destruction of the colonies, and I still can't imagine myself living through that," said Kim.

"Kim, most of the survivors in the fleet happened to be in the right place at the time to have survived the destruction," said Kyra. "Only a few of them had actually witnessed the actual destruction."

"What were you doing when the destruction occurred?" asked Kim.

"Kim, please eat your food," said Kyra.

"I just wanted to learn things about you," said Kim.

"Kim, I understand, and if we have more time I would tell you, but right now you need to eat," said Kyra. "I need to open the classroom in thirty minutes, so students can get in and do their assignments."

"You can't tell me your story in thirty minutes?" asked Kim.

"I can, but you have a habit of wanting to hear the finer details of the story," said Kyra.

"Details are important," said Kim.

"Some are, but you get carried away with that," said Kyra. "Now when we have the time, I will tell you the story in the manner that you like. Not right now though. Right now I want you to eat."

"Fine," said Kim. She then took another bite.

As Kyra took a bite of food, she began to think back five years ago.

Four hours before the destruction of the colonies, on the planet Geminon in the city of Herra, near the end of a school day, Kyra was teaching to a group of eight-year-olds.

When the bell sounded to dismissed the students for the day, Kyra quickly spoke out, "Class, please remain seated for another minute or two." The students who were standing up retook their seats. "Class, for the next two weeks, I won't be here, and in my absence Mrs. Wallace will be your teacher. Please show Mrs. Wallace the respect that all of you have shown me." One of the students turned on her light. "Yes, Camorra."

"Where will you be?" asked Camorra.

"This time next week I will be on Sagitaron getting married and after that my husband and I will be on Picon celebrating our marriage," said Kyra.

A boy named Toby spoke out, "Your name won't be Ms. Lockwood no more?"

"Toby, what have I been telling you about speaking out?" asked Kyra.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Lockwood. I keep forgetting to turn on my light," said Toby.

"Toby, turn on your light and then repeat your question, but instead of saying no more, you are to say anymore," said Kyra.

Toby turned on his light and asked, "Your name won't be Ms. Lockwood anymore?"

"No, it won't be," said Kyra. "Class, when I returned, my name will be Mrs. Gallagher; however, until everyone can get use to that, it will be all right for you to keep calling me Ms. Lockwood. Are there anymore questions?" Kyra looked over the room for a second. "Okay, everyone enjoy your two days out of school, and class is dismissed."

As the students were getting up to leave, Kyra was gathering her stuff.

Minutes later Kyra was walking into the office to end her workday. Lance, another teacher, walked up to her as she entered and said, "It's not too late to change your mind."

Kyra grinned and said, "Lance, I keep telling you that you are not my type."

"Cute, but you know that is not what I meant," said Lance.

"Lance, I'm in love with Trevor and I am going to marry him," said Kyra.

"The father and the two older brothers of the man, you are marrying are in prison for terrorist crimes," said Lance.

"And that is them and not Trevor," said Kyra.

"Kyra, by Trevor being related to the people committing terrorist acts, he will be stopped and question every time he tries to get on a luxury ship. And now you are taking his last name," said Lance.

"Lance, you are exaggerating," said Kyra. "Trevor has been stopped and questioned only once. And that was just because his name just happened to have showed up in the newspaper alongside his father's name. He has not been stopped since."

"Just because when he books his flight, he books it on the Solar Flare," said Lance. "Your father is the only one who will allow him on board a ship." Lance looked at his watch. "Speaking of the Solar Flare, when does your flight leave?"

"I have to be at the terminal in two hours," said Kyra.

"That doesn't give you much time to go home and get ready," said Lance.

"I'm going straight to the terminal," said Kyra. "My luggage is in my vehicle. Well, if you will excuse me, I need to place my students' assignments in Mrs. Wallace's mail receptacle. I will then see you in seventeen days."

"I would wish you a good time on your honeymoon, but I'm actually hoping you will come to your senses before the marriage ceremony," said Lance.

"You're just jealous," said Kyra.

"I would say twenty percent of it is jealousy, and eighty percent of it is concerned for your safety," said Lance. "What if Trevor decides to follow in his dad's tracks and stage a protest?"

"Lance, apparently you don't know how Trevor and I met," said Kyra.

"No, I don't," said Kyra.

"Trevor and I met three years ago during the Razzle uprising on Sagitaron," said Kyra.

"You were part of that protest?" asked Lance. Kyra just grinned and nodded. "But you are a citizen of Geminon, so why would you worry about what goes on, on Sagitaron?"

"My father and I are citizen of Geminon; however, my mom is from Sagitaron," said Kyra. "My mom and her relatives were in the middle of the protest and I strongly believed in what they were doing, so I was there to support them."

"So by you having relatives on Sagitaron is the reason why you are getting married on Sagitaron," said Lance.

"It is," said Kyra. "I will be married in the same chapel as my mom's mom." Kyra looked at her watch. "Now if you will excuse me, I need to put these assignment papers up."

"Kyra, you wouldn't comment terrorist acts while protesting would you?" asked Lance.

"Absolutely not and neither would Trevor," said Kyra.

"How can you be sure that Trevor won't comment terrorist acts in the future?" asked Lance.

"I strongly feel that he won't," said Kyra. "If I thought he would, I would not be marrying him. Bye, Lance." Kyra walked past Lance and continued towards the mail receptacles.

"Bye. And have a safe trip," said Lance.

Kyra just waved as she walked away.

An hour later Kyra was walking into the terminal. A luggage handler walked in behind Kyra with Kyra's six suitcases. Kyra went to the process counter to process her ticket while the luggage handler went a separate way to prepare the luggage to be placed on board the Solar Flare. After processing her ticket, Kyra went to the waiting area and sat down.

Kyra sat down beside the twenty-one year old Bethany. Bethany looked at Kyra and asked, "So how often do you take a luxury cruise?"

"Not often," said Kyra.

"If I can get on board, this will be my first trip, myself," said Bethany.

"I'm sorry, but what do you mean by, if you get on board?" asked Kyra.

"I bought a standby ticket," said Bethany. "The lady at the counter said, except for the standby tickets, the cruise was all booked. The next cruise won't be for another week and I just have to get away. I'm not usually this selfish and may the Gods of Kobol forgive me for being the way I am, but I'm hoping that someone will cancel or not show up on time so I can board the ship."

"I don't mean to pry, but is there any reason you have to get away today?" asked Kyra.

"Neven, he's my boyfriend… I mean, ex-boyfriend. I just broke up with him about two hours ago; he just doesn't know it yet," said Bethany. Kyra slightly grinned. "Anyway, Neven will be getting off work in about two hours and once he sees the note I left him, he will be looking for me. I'm hoping to get far away from this city as soon as possible before Neven starts looking and if I get lost somewhere on my way then that is good too, because I'm seriously considering not coming back."

"You wouldn't be missed by family members or friends?" asked Kyra.

"I don't have any family," said Bethany. "I have been an orphan since I was eight. A couple took me in, but we never got too close. I will certainly miss the friends I will be leaving behind, but at this point in my life, I just want a clean slate to start from scratch. Have you ever wanted the chance to start over in a whole new city where no one knows you?"

"I can't say that I have," said Kyra. "My life is pretty much on track. I got a good job, I have a supporting family and I will be getting married around this time next week."

"Oh congratulation," said Bethany. "I wish you and your future husband a perfect marriage."

Kyra smiled and said, "Thank you."

"Oh and if I seem a little jealous of you from this point forward that is because I am," said Bethany. "Since I was fourteen, I have been dreaming about your life for myself." Kyra grinned. "Oh, I should be polite and introduce myself. My name is Bethany Sanders."

"Hi, Bethany. My name is Kyra Lockwood," she said.

"So is your fiancé with you?" asked Bethany.

"No, he is on Sagitaron right now," said Kyra. "I am to meet him there in five days. Bethany, if you are serious about leaving Geminon, I can help you to get on the Solar Flare without you being a standby passenger."

"You're not planning to stole me away, are you?" asked Bethany.

"Not exactly," said Kyra. "My father is the Captain of the Solar Flare. The room I was assigned to also have two beds, so I was thinking that you can roommate with me during the trip."

"You have been sent to me by the lords of Kobol," said Bethany.

Kyra grinned and said, "From your statement, I'm going to believe that you are going to accept my offer."

"You bet I am," said Bethany. "I would be a fool not to."

Kyra stood up and said, "We should go talk to the lady at the counter."

Bethany stood up. She and Kyra then walked up to the counter. Kyra informed the woman that Bethany will be sharing her quarters. After Bethany was placed on the list as a passenger, Bethany was able to sell back her stand by ticket. Kyra and Bethany then retook their seats. They talked for another hour before the Solar Flare arrived. They then boarded the ship.

After boarding the ship, Kyra gave Bethany a tour. While walking through the corridor of the ship, Kyra and Bethany came upon Hilton and his four-month-old son Julian. Julian was fussing. Hilton was doing what he could to hush him up, but everything he tried had failed.

Kyra walked up to Hilton and said, "It looks as if you have your hands full. May I?"

"Miss, if you can get Julian to stop crying I will be forever grateful," said Hilton. Kyra picked Julian up and began to calm him down. Within seconds Julian's fussiness faded. "Miss, can I get your room number for emergency help with Julian."

Kyra grinned.

Bethany asked, "Where is Julian's mother?"

"Her job sent her to Sagitaron for three weeks," said Hilton. "She left five days ago. This was the first trip she went on after Julian was born. She wasn't too comfortable with leaving Julian at a young age, so I thought I would go there and surprise her."

"She'll be surprised all right," said Bethany. "Julian's mother might have been looking forward to a break from Julian."

"Kammy is not like that," said Hilton. "In fact she didn't want to go back to work when she did. I had to talk her into it." Hilton noticed Julian falling asleep in Kyra's arms. "Hey, you got Julian to sleep."

"Kyra, I think you will make an excellent mother," said Bethany. Kyra grinned. "Are you and Trevor planning to have kids right away?"

"I want to, but Trevor actually wants to wait a year or so," said Kyra. "I'm going to see what I can do about changing his mind during the honeymoon. I don't want to be too much older than what I am now before I have my first baby."

Hilton noticed Julian sleeping. He then said, "You did it." Kyra gently laid Julian back into the stroller. When Kyra raised up, Hilton stuck out his hand to shake hands. "Oh, I'm Hilton Bell and of course you basically know my son Julian."

Kyra shook Hilton's hand and said, "I'm Kyra Lockwood." She gestured towards Bethany. "And she is Bethany Sanders."

Hilton stuck out his hand to shake Bethany's hand. He then said, "It is nice to meet you both. Oh and Kyra, I was serious about wanting to know your room number. I don't think I can handle Julian without help, and you and Bethany are the only two I met so far. And you are also so good with Julian."

"Hilton, I will give you my room number, but you are to seek my help with Julian only when you have exhausted every other possibility," said Kyra. Kyra then told what her room number was.

"Kyra, thank you and I promise that I will only come to you as a last resort," said Hilton.

Kyra grinned to acknowledge the statement. She then said, "Well Hilton, I will see you and Julian around. Bethany, should we finish our tour of the ship?"

"Sure," said Bethany. "Bye Hilton."

"Bye," said Hilton.

As Kyra and Bethany walked away, Hilton pushed the stroller in the opposite direction.

While walking down the corridor Bethany asked, "So Kyra, how is it that you are so good at taking care of babies?"

"My older brother lives next door to me and he has two sons; a three-year-old and six-month-old," said Kyra. "Every time he and his wife goes out, I'm usually the one my brother calls on to baby-sit. I love kids, so I don't mind." Kyra noticed Bethany staring at her in a way as if she was trying to figure something out. "What?'

"You have never said what you do for a living and I was trying to see if I can guess to what it was," said Bethany. "How well you like kids, I'm willing to bet that your job has something to do with working with kids."

Kyra grinned and said, "You're right. I'm a schoolteacher. I teach eight-year-old kids."

"Well, I was partially right," said Bethany.

"What do you mean that you were partially right?" asked Kyra.

"If I would have guessed your profession I would have said a career in medicine that dealt with kids," said Bethany. "I wouldn't have guessed a schoolteacher."

"I chosen that career because my mom is also a teacher and she really enjoys her job," said Kyra.

"Does she teach at the same place you do?" asked Kyra.

"No, she actually took a teaching job at a junior military academy two years ago on Sagitaron," said Kyra. "So what do you do?"

"Actually, as of seven hours ago, I am currently between jobs," said Bethany.

"You quit your job to get away from Neven?" asked Kyra.

"Actually I was terminated from my job because of Neven," said Bethany. "That was when I decided I had to get away from him."

"Oh," said Kyra.

Two hour later, Kyra and Bethany were eating dinner with Capt. Lockwood. As they were enjoying their meal in Capt. Lockwood's private dining room, Kenric Tronan rang the doorbell.

Capt. Lockwood paused at what he was saying to Kyra and Bethany and said, "Excuse me." Capt. Lockwood got up, walked to the door and opened it. When Capt. Lockwood opened the door, he saw Kenric standing in the hallway as if he was in severe shock. "Kenric, are you okay?"

Kenric looked at Capt. Lockwood and said, "The colonies." Tears ran down Kenric's cheek. "The colonies are all gone."

Kyra and Bethany heard Kenric. Kyra quickly got up and went the door and stood behind her father. Bethany also stood up and followed slightly behind Kyra.

"Kenric, what do you mean that the colonies are gone?" asked Capt. Lockwood.

"The Cylons are back," said Kenric. "The Cylons… they—" Kenric had trouble speaking and forced himself to say the words. "—they destroyed the colonies. Geminon, Caprica, Sagitaron… all of them; they are all destroyed. "

Tears ran down Kyra's and Bethany's cheeks.

Bethany noticed Kyra as if she was in a deep thought, but before she had a chance to asked, Capt. Lockwood turned to face Kyra and said, "Kyra,—" Kyra came out of her deep thought. "—I have to go."

Kyra wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded.

Present day, in a courtroom on board the Galactica, Seth and Colby prepared their defense for Mitchell Brock's arraignment. The prosecutor, Counselor Regan Dantes, prepared his notes. Friends, family members and witnesses to the crime filled the room.

The bailiff walked into the courtroom and said, "Everyone, rise."

After everyone stood up Arbiter Audre Likens walked in and said, "Take your seats, everyone."

Everyone sat down. After Arbiter Likens sat down she called the court into session. She then spoke out, "Mr. Mitchell Brock, please stand up." Mitchell stood up. "Mr. Brock, you have been charge with the homicide of Murdock Whistler. How do you plea?'

"Not guilty, Madam Arbiter," said Mitchell.

"Your plea of not guilty is duly noted," said Arbiter Likens. "You are now to retake your seat. Counselor Dantes, you may precede with your opening testimony."

Regan got up and started to speak out.

In the Galactica's sickbay Velinda was snooping around along with asking questions about Kim's medical records. Cassandra allowed the suspicion of Kim being a hybrid to slip out.