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THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – Day 5 Part 7
An hour later in Kyra's quarter Kyra and Seth were sitting on the couch and having a casual conversation.
While Seth was telling Kyra a story of him and his partner, Maxwell, Kyra looked at her watch. Seth stopped telling the story and said, "I hope I'm not boring you."
Kyra thought for a second. She then said, "Oh no, I wasn't looking at my watch because you were boring. Kim and Julian should be getting home any minute."
"Well, to make a long story short, Maxwell won the bet, but he had to go to the emergency room to get the pool ball removed from his mouth."
Kyra grinned and said, "I see men on Earth acts in the same insane manner as they do among the colonies," said Kyra.
"I'm not sure if I was insulted or not," said Seth.
"I wasn't trying to be insulting," said Kyra. "Men in the colonies will also put themselves through a lot just to win a silly bet."
"You would be surprised what I have seen people do over a bet," said Seth as the door was opening.
Kyra tuned to face the door and said, "I have seen what people will do over bets, so I wouldn't be too surprised."
Kim and Julian walked in. Julian said, "Kim and Adonis kissed in the corridor."
Kim looked at Julian in a surprised manner and said, "Thanks a lot Julian." Kim looked up and saw Kyra looking at her in an inquisitive manner. "Adonis walked us here and we kissed to say bye."
"You should have had Julian walked in before you and Adonis kissed bye," said Kyra.
"I didn't think about doing that, but I'll do that next time," said Kim.
"Anyway, Seth, you might as well get started showing Kim what you what to show her," said Kyra.
"Seth, where are you going to show me how to meditate?" asked Kim.
As Seth stood up Kyra said, "Kim, you can use your bedroom. I had already folded the bed up to give you and Seth some room. Oh Kim, I don't know if you heard, but Pres. Roslin made the amnesty announcement about thirty minutes ago."
"I heard," said Kim. "Someone had a radio in the recreation center. Oh and I also heard Dr. Salik and Velinda's interview on how the humans on Earth are hybrids. I thought Dr. Salik done a good job explaining things."
Kyra grinned as Seth asked, "Well, Kim, shall we get started?"
"I'm ready," said Kim. Kim and Seth then went into Kim's bedroom.
While Seth was showing Kim the meditation exercises, Kyra read a book to Julian. As Kyra read the book, Julian would say aloud the words that he knew. Kim and Seth were in the room for about fifteen minutes when they came out.
Kyra looked at her watched and asked, "Are you two done this quick?"
"Actually, Seth wanted me to imagine myself being near a flowing stream, and that thought made me needing to use the bathroom," said Kim. Kyra grinned. "Well, I'm going to go potty."
"Well, hurry so you and Seth can finish," said Kyra.
"I will," said Kim. Kim then walked out into the corridor.
Minutes later, inside the women's facility Davida and Cleona were washing their hands. Seconds later Kim walked in and saw them. Kim paused for a second as she and Cleona stared at one another. Kim then turned and took a few steps towards a stall.
"Kim, there is something I would like to know," said Davida. Kim stopped and looked at Davida in a curious manner. In a razzing manner Davida asked, "Certain species of primates have tails. Do the humans on Earth have tails?"
Kim walked up to Davida and said, "Davida, I can whip you to a pulp and wouldn't break a sweat. So do you really want to piss me off?"
Cleona stepped closer and said, "Kim, you talk courageous, but I believe you would coward down if someone stood up to you."
Kim grinned and said, "Cleona, on Earth I have had my ass kicked two different times by the same girl who thought she could bully me and my friends around. The third time we fought I kicked her ass so I'm not scared to have my ass kicked. Can you or Davida say the same thing?"
"Cleona, let's just go," said Davida.
Kim and Cleona stared at each other. Cleona finally faced Davida and said, "I agree, let's go. I shouldn't allow myself to become uncivilized like Kim." Cleona and Davida then walked away from Kim.
"I'm uncivilized?" Kim mocked. "On Earth pagans like you are thought to be uncivilized for the past two thousands years."
Cleona stopped at the door and faced Kim. She then asked, "What did you call me?"
"From your reaction I see that you don't know the meaning of the word pagan and before you get all huffy let me tell you the definition," said Kim.
"I will find the true meaning myself," said Cleona.
As Cleona opened the door to walk out Kim said, "Suit yourself, but it's nothing to get all huffy about."
As the door closed behind Cleona and Davida, Kim turned and entered the stall.
Minutes later, Kim was walking back to her quarters. As she was approaching an elderly woman's quarters she saw the woman's spirit leaving the quarters. Kim stopped and stared at the spirit in a curious manner until the spirit faded away. Kim then walked up and rang the woman's doorbell twice within seconds of each other. When no one answered Kim walked three quarters down and entered her quarters. Kyra, Seth and Julian were sitting on the couch.
Seth saw Kim walking in and said, "So Kim, are you ready to start again?"
"No," said Kim. Seth and Kyra looked at Kim in a confused manner. "Mom, is there an elderly woman who lives three doors down from us?"
"Yeah, she is Mrs. Tadic," said Kyra. "She has been ill for the past few weeks. Dr. Randall tried to convince her to go to sickbay until she got better, but she refused. Dr. Randall does check up on her once or twice a day though, and the workers at the mess hall also take her, her food. Other people checks on her from time to time also."
"I'm not certain, but I think she just died," said Kim.
"Why do you think that?" asked Kyra.
"I just saw a ghost of an elderly woman leaving those quarters and then she just faded away," said Kim. "I rang the doorbell a couple of times, but no one answered."
Kyra walked to the communication panel and pressed a button.
"Dr. Randall here," the man answered.
"Dr. Randall, it's Kyra," she said. "I believe you need to check up on Mrs. Tadic. I suspect that she might have passed away."
"What makes you suspect that?" asked Dr. Randall.
"I suspect it from something Kim had saw," said Kyra.
"I'll be right there," said Dr. Randall.
As Kyra terminated the signal, Kim asked, "Will it be all right if I go into the corridor?"
"No, you don't need to be out there at all," said Kyra.
"I just want to see if I was right," said Kim.
"Kim, I know why you want to go out there and you are to stay in here," said Kyra.
"Fine," said Kim. "Seth, I guess I'm ready to get started again."
"Then let's go in the next room," said Seth. Kim then followed Seth into the bedroom.
Ten minutes later Velinda rang the doorbell. Kyra wasn't sure want to think when she opened the door and saw Velinda, Davida and Cleona.
In a curious manner Kyra asked, "Velinda, what can I do for you?"
"Can we come in?" asked Velinda.
"Of course," said Kyra. She then backed up and allowed everyone to enter.
As Velinda was walking in she said, "I came here to find out what that word was that Kim called Cleona."
Cleona was the last one in and the door was shut behind her.
"Kim called Cleona something?" asked Kyra.
"Kim called me a pagan," said Cleona.
"Well, before we start getting mad over this word, let's find out what it means," said Kyra. Kyra then walked over to the bedroom door and knocked on it. "Kim, come out here."
Seconds later Kim and Seth walked out. When Kim saw Velinda, Davida and Cleona, she asked, "What's going on?"
"Did you call Cleona a pagan?" asked Kyra.
"I did, but it is nothing to get huffy about," said Kim. "In fact I would say that most of the people in the fleet are pagans."
"Kim, I need you to tell me what the word pagan means," said Kyra.
Before Kim was able to answer Seth said, "Kyra, the religion in the colonies is base on a paganish society, and it just means that a person believes in more than one god. Another word for it is heathen."
"Now that I know that the word is not bad, why did you call Cleona a pagan?" asked Kyra.
"Cleona told me that I was uncivilized for defending myself against Davida and I let her know that for the past two thousand years the people on Earth thought pagans are uncivilized," said Kim.
"Davida, what did you do?" asked Velinda.
"I just asked Kim a question," said Davida.
"Asking me if humans on Earth have tails is not just asking me a question," said Kim. "You were heckling me and I let you know that I'm capable of kicking your ass and if you don't…"
Kyra quickly exclaimed, "Kimberly, now I don't want you saying those vulgar words and if I hear you again, you will be grounded."
"Fine," said Kim.
"Other than now, have you said those words in front of Julian?" asked Kyra.
In a convincing tone Kim said, "No."
"Now as for you being capable of defeating Davida in a fight, you are not to get into a fight period," said Kyra. "Is that clear?"
"I am not going to let Davida or someone else walk all over me," said Kim.
"I didn't say to, but you can bring the matter to me," said Kyra.
Kim said in a sarcastic manner, "Right. All that will get me is the reputation of being a snitch and a cry baby, and I'm neither of those."
"You prefer the reputation as a trouble maker?" asked Velinda.
"I do not start the trouble, but I will be the one to finish it," said Kim.
"Kimberly Elizabeth…" exclaimed Kyra.
"Well, I am not a person who turns the other cheek," said Kim.
Velinda had a confused expression on her face as Kyra said, "Kim, you were to stay clear of Cleona and ignore her."
"I was," said Kim. "They just happened to be in the women's facility when I walked in. Davida started in on me as soon as I walked in and all I did was to warn her to stop. In fact my exact words were, 'I can whip you to a pulp and wouldn't break a sweat. So do you really want to… anger me?' except I use a different word than anger."
"Kim, I want you to stay away from Cleona, Davida and anyone else who you might have trouble with," said Kyra.
"And what am I supposed to do when Cleona or Davida walks up to me and starts stuff or get in my face," said Kim. "I should have the right to defend myself."
"Kim, I understand that you should have the right to defend yourself when you are physically threaten, but if you are not physically threaten, I want you to walk away," said Kyra.
"Well, I don't want to be harassed either," said Kim.
"Kim, If I hear of you fighting just because of some harassing remarks then you won't be allowed anywhere on this ship by yourself for a while," said Kyra. "Is that clear?"
Kim showed a distasteful expression on her face and said, "Fine. Do what you have to do."
"Velinda, I will deal with Kim if she does anything, but I want the harassing remarks from Davida and Cleona to stop," said Kim. "When Trina gets back I will make sure she knows what's going on so she can control Cleona."
"Davida; Cleona, you two are to stay away from Kim," said Velinda.
"We will," said Davida.
"Now, if we have things settled, Davida; Cleona, let's go," said Velinda. "Kyra, before we leave, what does the phrase, "turn the other cheek," mean?"
"It just means to be non-aggressive in an aggressive situation," said Kyra.
"And I'm not one who turns…" said Kim.
Kyra quickly said, "Kimberly, you said enough, so you are to hush."
Kim crossed her arms and showed a distasteful expression.
"Anyway, we're going," said Velinda. Velinda opened the door and when she stepped out she saw a security crew around Mrs. Tadic's quarters.
When Cleona saw the security crew she blurted out, "What is going on with Mrs. Tadic? Why is there security there?"
The door was shut behind Davida.
When Kim took a step towards the door Kyra grabbed her arm and said, "I don't want you out there."
"I just want to look," said Kim.
"I know what you want," said Kyra. "Now stay in here."
"Fine," said Kim. "Seth, should we get back to meditating?"
Kyra looked at her watch and said, "I'm going to end the meditation exercise today. Seth, I want you to go for today."
"Kim, we can pick this up tomorrow," said Seth.
"Okay, bye," said Kim.
Seth waved and walked out.
When the door closed behind Seth, Kyra pointed to the couch and said, "Kim, sit down on the couch." Kim looked at Kyra in a curious manner. "Julian, I want you to go into the bedroom and look at one of your books. You won't have to stay in there too long."
"Yes, Ms. Lockwood," said Julian
As Julian walked into the next room, Kim sat down. Kyra sat beside Kim.
"Am I grounded?" asked Kim.
"No, but I do want to talk with you," said Kyra.
"Why is it wrong for me to defend myself?" asked Kim.
"Kim, it is not wrong to defend yourself if someone physically threatens you," said Kyra. "You were not physically threatened though."
"Mom, I wasn't fighting," said Kim. "I just told Davida that she couldn't win a fight against me."
"I realize that," said Kyra. "I also realize that you have a vengeful streak. If we weren't living on a ship, I wouldn't worry about it because I know you also have a good heart and you wouldn't do anything without being provoked; however, we are living on a ship. While we are on this ship, we are going to be dealing with the same people on a daily basis, so I need you to suppress that vengeful streak that you have."
"I only want the harassing comments to stop," said Kim.
"Again, I realize that, but to maintain peace there will be times that you will have to ignore those harassing comments that people make, otherwise it will cause problems for you later," said Kyra. "Now I want you to, as you put it, turn the other cheek. For a favor to me, will you please do that?" Kim slightly laughed. "And why was that amusing?"
"God only knows how far from Earth I am and Reverend Dennis is finally going to get his way," said Kim. Kyra looked at Kim in a curious manner. "He has been preaching to me about turning the other cheek since I beat up a bully on the church lawn. I never even went to his church."
Kyra grinned and hug Kim. Kyra then said, "Thank you." Kyra then ended the hug. "Kim, I believe earlier you were going to ask why humans on Earth were becoming sterile a few thousands years ago."
"That and how does Dr. Salik know that we were becoming sterile," said Kim.
"You and the other people on Earth have markers in your DNA that the people in the colonies don't," said Kyra. "Those markers will help to keep humans on Earth from becoming sterile."
"How will it keep us from getting sterile?" asked Kim.
"Without the markers, if all of your mother's DNA chromosomes were the same as your father's than you would have been born sterile," said Kyra.
"If all of my mom's DNA chromosomes were the same as my father's then that would make them blood related," said Kim.
"Not necessary," said Kyra. "Well, not with the people in the colonies anyway. There is a theory among the colonies that I recently read. It states that one tribe would eventually become sterile if the people of that tribe would isolate themselves from the other tribes. They would become sterile because the DNA chromosomes would eventually become the same in everyone. However, this is not true with the people on Earth. The markers that the humans on Earth carry will cause a spontaneous change if both parents would have the exact DNA." Kyra saw that Kim was in deep thought. "Kim, you look puzzled."
"If a couple would have the exact DNA and that couple would have a baby then that baby would most likely be born mentally ill or deformed," said Kim.
"Dr. Salik noted that to be a possibility," said Kyra. "He also noted more subtle defects in people if only one or a few of the DNA chromosomes were the same. The defects would be inferior eye sight at birth, inferior hearing at birth or even unhealthy organs at birth."
"You just described most everyone I know on Earth," said Kim. "There are only a few people on Earth who I know who don't have bad eyesight or bad hearing." Kyra grinned. "Mom, what is the law about incest?"
"That is another word you will have to explain to me," said Kyra.
"Incest is when blood relatives become a couple," said Kim. "On Earth it is illegal."
"It is not exactly illegal in the colonies, but it is very much frown upon," said Kyra. "Any child they have could be born sterile."
"On Earth the children from incest wouldn't be born sterile, but they would be born with a lot of health issues," said Kim. "Not always, but sometimes they would even be severely deformed."
"Kim, is there anything else you want to know?" asked Kyra.
Kim grinned and asked, "About this subject or about any subject?"
"I was referring to this subject," said Kyra.
"Then no," said Kim. "I don't have any more questions."
"What do you have a question on?" asked Kyra.
"What's the deal between you and Grant Gallagher," asked Kim.
"Kimberly, don't start with that," said Kyra.
"If you tell me then maybe I would understand better," said Kim. "Plus wouldn't it be better if I learn about it from you rather than from someone else? I might even have a vision about it some day."
Kyra looked at Kim in a skeptical manner. She then said, "You are to keep this to yourself and not tell anyone. And I mean anyone."
"I won't tell anyone, I promise," said Kim.
"I met Grant one year after the destruction of the colonies; however, I knew of him, his brother Zeke and his father Bret for three years before the destruction of the colonies and they knew of me as well," said Kyra. "They were also bad news. In fact all three of them were in prison together for their crimes, and I simply don't want anything to do with Grant."
"If you never met them then how did you know them?" asked Kim.
Kyra grinned and said, "I knew you were going to ask that." Kim grinned. "I knew them because I was engaged to be married to Grant's youngest brother Trevor. I had boarded the Solar Flare from Geminon to go Sagitaron to be married. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for me."
"At least fate had plans for you," said Kim. "From what I hear, only a small fraction of the colonies survived."
"I have always considered myself as one of the lucky ones," said Kyra.
"You're not living as though you are one of the lucky ones," said Kim.
Kyra looked at Kim in a perplexed manner. She then asked, "What do you mean?"
"You have given up on love," said Kim.
"Kimberly, I thought I made myself clear to you earlier about that subject being off limits to you," said Kyra.
"You won't even talk about it with anyone," said Kim.
"It's not that I won't talk about it with anyone, it's that I won't talk about it to a fourteen-year-old," said Kyra. "Now this subject is close and I don't want it reopen."
"Fine, but you need to talk about to someone," said Kim. "I don't think Trevor would want you to be alone either."
"Making comments the way you are, is not closing the subject," said Kyra.
"Well, you are too pretty to be alone, and I just think…" said Kim.
"Kimberly, are you trying to upset me?" asked Kyra.
"No," said Kim.
"Well, that is what's going to happen if you don't drop the subject," said Kyra.
"Okay, okay, I'll drop it," said Kim.
"Now, although this is not your concern and despite your belief, I haven't given up on love," said Kyra. "I just haven't met the right person. Now that is it for that subject, and I mean it."
"Fine, you won't hear another word about from me," said Kim.
"Thank you," said Kyra. "Oh and I did hear that compliment a moment ago. Thank you for saying it."
Kim grinned and said, "You're welcome."
Kyra stood up and said, "I'll tell Julian he is able to come out of the bedroom now if he wants."
"Mom, how much time do we have before bedtime?" asked Kim.
Kyra looked at her watched and said, "You have about two hours."
Kim stood up and asked, "Can I get that one book I started this morning?"
"Yes," said Kyra. Kyra then walked into the bedroom.
Kim went into Kyra's bedroom to get the book. She was in the bedroom for a few seconds and as she was stepping back out, Julian and Kyra were sitting on the couch. Julian was sitting in the center. Kyra had Julian's picture book and was about to read to Julian when Kim sat down beside him.
Before Kyra started reading, Julian asked, "Kim, will you read your book to me?"
Kim looked at Kyra as if she wasn't sure how to answer Julian's question. Kyra noticed Kim's expression and said, "Kim, as long as you don't mind reading to him, it's okay. In fact that would give me the opportunity to take some dirty clothes to the laundry room."
"Oh, can Julian and I go with you?" asked Kim.
"Why do you want to come with me?" asked Kyra.
"I never been there before and I would like to see it," said Kim.
"There is nothing there to see," said Kyra.
"It's a part of the ship I haven't seen yet," said Kim.
"Kim, I need you to stay here and watch Julian for me," said Kyra. "You can come with me when Julian isn't staying with us."
"Fine, I'll stay here and read to Julian," said Kim.
Kim flipped to the first page and started to read to Julian. Kyra got up and gathered the dirty clothes.
As Kyra was stepping into the corridor with the laundry bag she saw her dad, Seth, Dr. Randall and two security-officers in the corridor. Kyra walked up to them and said, "Dad, did Mrs. Tadic pass away?"
"She did," said Capt. Lockwood. "We're waiting for Casimir to come for the body. The viewing will be conducted tomorrow morning and then the ceremony will commence around midday."
Kyra turned to Dr. Randall and said, "Dr. Randall, I was thinking Mrs. Tadic's health was improving."
"Her health was improving; however, I suspect that her heart muscle had just gotten to weak from being ill." said Dr. Randall. "If she didn't leave instructions as to not do an autopsy on her, I would do one just to be sure."
"Kyra, early tomorrow I will have a security-detail to remove Mrs. Tadic's personal belongings," said Capt. Lockwood. "After that it will be left vacant, so if you know of someone in the fleet who is looking for some quarters let me know."
Before Kyra was able to respond, Seth asked, "Kyra, can I talk to you in private for a second."
"Sure," said Kyra. Kyra put down the laundry bag next to the wall. She and Seth then walked a short distance from the others. "So what do you need to talk about in private?"
"I just have temporary lodging on the Galactica until I can find a permanent place, and I was just wondering if you would have any objections for me to talk to your dad about me moving in," said Seth.
Kyra showed an uncertain grin, and as she shook her head she said, "I can hear Kim now if you move in."
Seth said in an inquisitive manner, "What will Kim be saying?"
"Oh it won't be anything against you," said Kyra. "In fact, it will be quite favorable towards you."
"Kim doesn't have a schoolgirl crush on me, does she?" asked Seth.
"It's nothing like that," said Kyra. "She just likes you as an adult figure."
"Since you are remaining vague I'm going to assume that the topic is something you don't want to discuss," said Seth.
"I'm sorry, it's just a personal topic for me," said Kyra.
"Maybe one day you will be comfortable enough around me to tell me what we are discussing," said Seth. Kyra grinned to acknowledge the statement. "Until then, do you have any objections of me moving in?"
"I have no objections," said Kyra.
"I was hoping you would say that," said Seth.
"Well, we should go and talk to my dad about you moving in," said Kyra. She and Seth walked back up to the group. "Dad, Seth is expressing an interest in the quarters."
"Seth, I have no objections with you moving in there," said Capt. Lockwood. "The quarters will be ready for you sometime after midday tomorrow."
Seth stuck his hand out to shake hands and said, "Thank you, Capt. Lockwood."
As Capt. Lockwood was shaking Seth's hand, he said, "You're welcome."
Kyra reached for the laundry bag and as she was picking it up she sneezed.
"Bless you," said Seth.
Except for Kyra, everyone looked at Seth in a curious manner. Kyra then said, "Seth, Kim also blesses me or her classmates when one of us sneezes. When Kim done it the first time, I asked her about it. All she could tell me though that it was just something that is said on Earth after someone sneezes. Can you tell me why the phrase, 'bless you,' is said when someone sneezes?"
"It got started with a real old superstition," said Seth. "It was once believed that when a person sneezed, that person's heart would skip a beat, which would give an evil spirit a chance to take over the person's body. When another person would say the phrase, 'god bless you,' or 'bless you,' then that was supposed to have kept the evil spirit from being able to enter the body. Of course that is just a superstition that no one on Earth believes anymore. Most of the people may not even know about the superstition, but we still say, 'bless you,' though."
"That is interesting," said Dr. Randall.
"There are other traditions that got started from superstitions," said Seth. "The most common one is very popular with the kids more so than the adults."
"What tradition is that?" asked Kyra.
"It's called Halloween," said Seth. "On Halloween night kids and a small percentage of adults would put on costumes. The kids would then go around the neighborhood to people's houses for trick-or-treat."
"What exactly is trick-or-treat?" asked Kyra.
"Trick-or-treat is what kids would say when someone answers his or her door," said Seth. "The person would either give the kids a treat or the kids will play a trick on that person. Most adults get into Halloween by putting up Halloween decorations and providing treats for the kids that would come around. The people who don't celebrate Halloween would usually turn off all their lights so all of the kids don't bother going to those houses."
"What was the superstition that started the Halloween tradition?" asked Capt. Lockwood.
"I don't know for certain, but I believe the superstition started about two thousand years ago in Ireland and Scotland," said Seth. "The people there once thought that ghouls and evil spirits from the spiritual world were able to cross over into the living world once a year. On the eve of that day people would set out gifts or treats to try to calm these ghouls and spirits. Some people thought that the only way to be safe from these ghouls was to disguise themselves as a ghoul and roam the streets to blend in. Then the Catholic religion replaced the people's existing religion about fifteen hundred years ago and Halloween was converted into what it is now. When the Irish and Scottish immigrants moved into the United Stated they brought the Halloween tradition with them."
"That's interesting," said Kyra. "Since some of Kim's ancestors are from Ireland, I wonder if Catholic is her religion."
"It's possible, but there are other religions in Ireland as well," said Seth. "Plus almost every religion on Earth is practiced in the U.S… the United States, so even if Kim's grandparents were Catholic they could have converted after migrating to the U.S."
"How many religions are there on Earth?" asked Capt. Lockwood.
"There are more religions on Earth than I can name," said Seth.
Kyra thought for a second. She then said, "Well, I need to get going. I'll see everyone later."
Everyone said, "Bye."
Kyra walked away.