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THE GENETIC DUPLICATE -- Day 7 part 4
An hour later Kyra and Kim were walking though the corridor of the Solar Flare. Midway to their quarters Cleona met up with them and walked beside them. As Cleona walked she said, "Ms. Lockwood; Kim, my mom is okay."
"I'm glad to hear it, Cleona," said Kyra.
"Kim, I'm sorry for treating you the way I did, and I want us to be friends," said Cleona.
"Cleona, I wanted to be friends a few days ago, and you done everything you can to humiliate me, so no, we're not going to be friends," said Kim.
Kyra looked at Kim in a surprised manner as Cleona said, "Kim, I'm sorry for that."
"And one day I will be able to forgive, but it's not going to be today," said Kim.
"You want to be that way, fine," said Cleona. "I want my mom's picture back, and I won't bother you again."
"That picture is in my room," said Kim.
"Cleona, we are going to our quarters now, if you want to come with and get it," said Kyra.
"Yes, I do, Ms. Lockwood," said Cleona.
Kyra, Kim and Cleona were quiet while walking to the Kyra's quarters. Cleona waited in the corridor as Kyra and Kim entered their quarters. Kim walked into her bedroom for Trina's pictures. Kyra sat down on the couch and when Kim stepped out of her bedroom, Kyra said, "Kim, sit next to me for a minute. I want to talk to you before go out there."
Kim sat down and asked, "What about?"
"You shocked me when you failed to forgive Cleona," said Kyra. "I never saw you as being that way."
In an emotional manner Kim said, "Mom, Cleona tried everything she could to humiliate me."
"Kimberly, calm down," said Kyra.
"Mom, the only reason she is feeling sorry for what she did, is because I use my six-sense to find her mom," said Kim.
"Wasn't that what you wanted?" asked Kyra.
"I just wanted her to stop trying to humiliate me," said Kim. "Her trying to be friends with me was not what I wanted."
"I recall at one point that you wanted to be Cleona's friend," said Kyra.
"I stopped wanting that when she called me a witch," said Kim.
"So you're not going to forgive Cleona?" asked Kyra.
"Mom, disappointing you is the last thing I want to do, but I just can't forgive Cleona today," said Kim.
"Kim, I'm not disappointed in you," said Kyra. "You just surprised me that's all; especially after that song you sung in the chapel."
Kim gestured towards the door and said, "Mom, I need to give Cleona the picture before she thinks I got lost."
"All right, go give Cleona the picture," said Kyra.
In the corridor Cleona was leaning against the wall. When Kim came out she stepped up to Kim.
Kim handed Cleona the picture without saying a word. When Cleona took the picture she asked, "Kim, why won't you accept my apology?"
"Actually I do accept your apology," said Kim. "I just can't forgive you right now."
"Well, the way you feel about me, I guess I should be grateful that you returned my picture and in one piece," said Cleona.
"I would never keep your picture from you or harm it in anyway," said Kim.
Cleona slightly laughed and said, "The strangest thing about all this is that I actually believe you." Cleona then turned and walked away.
Kim watched Cleona for a second. She then turned and walked into her quarters.
When Kyra saw Kim walking in, she asked, "So how did it go?"
"It went okay," said Kim. "Mom, I want to read more of that book I had earlier."
"You can," said Kyra.
Minutes later in Trina's quarters, Trina was relaxing on the couch when Cleona walked in while carrying the picture.
Trina saw a dishearten expression on Cleona's face. Trina quickly asked, "Cleona, what's wrong?"
"I'm fine, Mom," said Cleona. "Mom, you wanted to know when Ms. Lockwood and Kim were back on the ship; well they're back."
Trina stood up and said, "I'm going to talk with them."
"I'm staying here," said Cleona.
Trina looked at Cleona in a curious manner. She then said, "All right."
As Trina walked out into the corridor, Cleona walked into her bedroom. Trina was gone for a few minutes when Cleona left her quarters.
In Kyra's quarters, Kim read a history book while sitting on her bed. Kyra had just sat down on the couch to continue preparing her students' lesson when the doorbell rang. When Kyra saw who was at the door she said, "Trina, hi, come in."
As Kyra back up to allow Trina to step in, Trina said, "Thanks."
As Trina stepped in Kyra asked, "How do you feel?"
"I feel fine," said Trina. "Kyra, I understand that Kim, a girl who you are now caring for, had a big part in rescuing me. According to Velinda, Kim has an ability of seeing things."
"That's true," said Kyra.
"So when will Kim be back, so I can thank her for her part in finding me?" asked Trina.
"Actually Kim is in her bedroom reading," said Kyra. She stepped towards Kim's bedroom door. "I'll get her for you." Kyra opened the door and stuck her head in. "Kim, come out here for a minute."
When Kim stepped out she recognized Trina and said, "Mom, what's going on?"
Trina looked at Kim in a curious manner as Kyra gestured towards Trina and said, "This person is Trina, Cleona's mom, and she wants to talk to you."
"I know who she is," said Kim.
"Kim, I understand that you had a part in finding me, and I want to thank you; you helped save my life," said Trina.
Kim smiled and said, "You're welcome Ms. Silken."
"Cleona is lucky to have a friend like you," said Trina.
Kim looked at Trina in a curious manner and asked, "Did Cleona tell you that we were friends?"
"She never told me that you two were, but aren't you two friends?" asked Trina.
"Cleona and I aren't friends, Ms. Silken," said Kim. Trina looked at Kim in a confused manner as Kim looked at Kyra. "Mom, I'm going to use the bathroom."
"All right," said Kyra. "Just get back here when you're done."
"I will," said Kim.
After Kim left the quarters, Trina asked, "Kyra, what's going on between Cleona and Kim."
Kyra pointed to the couch and said, "Trina, sit down and I will fill you in." Trina sat down on the couch followed by Kyra. A short time later as she was in the middle of telling Trina what was happening between Cleona and Kim, the doorbell rang. Kyra opened the door to see her dad at the door. "Dad, come in."
In the corridor at the woman's facility Kim walked up and saw a sign that read, "Temporarily close for cleaning." Kim turned continued down the corridor.
At Kyra's quarters, Capt. Lockwood walked in and when he saw Trina, he said, "Oh, hi Trina; it's actually good that I caught you here with Kyra."
Kyra looked at her dad in a curious manner. She then asked, "Dad, what's going on?"
"Sophia Diamond is back aboard ship," said Capt. Lockwood.
Trina had a worried expression on her face and said, "That girl is a menace. Six months ago Diamond had threatened Cleona."
"She has threatened every girl her age in my classroom," said Kyra. "Dad, I can't believe you let her back on this ship."
"Kyra, her mother was one of the people to commit suicide, and now her only living relative is a resident of this ship," said Capt. Lockwood. "I couldn't exactly tell her uncle that she could stay here."
"I see I'm going to be having a long talk with Kim when she gets back from the facility," said Kyra.
"Kim is a smart girl," said Capt. Lockwood. "She should realize quickly to stay away from her."
"Kim is smart, but I'm afraid that Kim will stand up to Diamond, if Diamond confronts her," said Kyra.
"Diamond is a year, possibly even two years older than Kim, and you think that Kim would stand up to her?" asked Capt. Lockwood.
"I know Kim will," said Kyra. "That's why I said that I'm going to be having a long talk with Kim when she gets back from the bathroom."
Seconds later, Kim walked into the next available facility that was one level down. When Kim walked in she saw Diamond confronting Cleona in one of the corners. Cleona had a frighten expression on her face. When Diamond faced Kim, Kim continued to walk towards one of the stalls.
Diamond stepped up to Kim and said, "This facility is close."
Kim said in a sarcastic manner, "Really. I guess they put the 'temporarily close' sign on the wrong facility. Well, since I'm here, I will use the turbo flush here."
When Kim took a step to go around Diamond, Diamond grabbed Kim's arm and said, "If you value your health you will get out now." When Diamond grabbed Kim's arm, Kim got a vision of Diamond beating up Cleona. "Hey, are you listening to me."
Kim came out of her vision and asked, "What?"
"I said get out," said Diamond.
"Look, I don't want any trouble with you," said Kim. "I just came in here to use the turbo flush, and I'm not leaving here without using it."
Diamond looked Kim up and down. She then said, "You don't look familiar to me, so apparently you just don't know better than to leave when I tell you to," said Diamond. "My name is Diamond, and…"
In a fake delightful manner, Kim blurted out, "Diamond. That is so cute." Kim stuck out her hand to shake hands. Diamond looked at Kim as if she lost her mind. Cleona just watched in a curious manner. "My name is Kim." Diamond continued to look at Kim as if she lost her mind. Kim waited a few seconds and when Diamond didn't shake her hand, she put her hand down. "Okay, I guess you're not big on hand shakes."
"I don't care who you are, but if you don't want an ass kicking, you will leave right now," said Diamond.
"You're telling me if I use the turbo flush that I will get my ass kicked?" asked Kim. Diamond looked at Kim in a serious manner. "For me, it has been two and half years since I found someone… well, around our age that is, who could even kick my ass, and to be perfectly honest, I could really use a good ass kicking. If you're the one who is going to attempt it, I sure hope that you don't disappoint me. I mean I hate to think that you're going to kick my ass, and then it doesn't happen."
Diamond again looked at Kim as if Kim had lost her mind. She then asked, "Are you completely stupid, or are you just fraking insane?"
"Well, if you ask my brother, Brandon, he would say the latter part of your question," said Kim. "But to be perfectly honest, I just don't respond well to threats, so if you think that you can kick my ass then by all means try; otherwise, I'm using the turbo flush, and then Cleona and I are leaving."
Diamond tried to get Kim to think that she was backing off. Kim never dropped her guard to Diamond and when Diamond made her threatening move, Kim quickly evaded Diamond's fist. Kim then, with quickness, precision and power, broke Diamond's nose with her first punch. Blood spewed on Kim's clothes and as Diamond was going down, Kim hit Diamond again across the jaw with her other fist.
Kim wouldn't take her eyes off of Diamond as she back up a few steps.
Diamond's clothes, the front of Kim's clothes and the floor were covered in blood. Diamond, while holding her nose to stop the bleeding, got back on her feet and looked at Kim. Kim just looked at Diamond in a challenging manner. Diamond looked at Kim in timorous manner. She then back away and left the facility in a disgraceful manner.
Cleona stepped up and said, "Wow. What you did was amazing."
Kim rubbed her knuckles of the hand she broke Cleona's nose with and said, "Well, I probably going to be grounded for a few months over this."
"Kim, you were defending yourself and I will go to your quarters with you when you tell Ms. Lockwood," said Cleona.
"I don't know if your presence will do any good, but thanks," said Kim.
"You're welcome," said Cleona.
"Cleona, why was Diamond after you?" asked Kim.
"Diamond use to live on this ship six months ago, and just before she left the ship she overheard me saying unpleasant things about her to Davida and Tiara," said Cleona. "Since then she wanted to kick my ass."
"If I didn't come in when I did, she would have," said Kim. Kim then gestured to one of the stalls. "Well, I really need to use the turbo flush."
"Kim, I don't mean to hold you up, but where did you learn to fight like that?" asked Cleona.
"Do you remember the other day when I told you that I got my ass kicked by the same girl twice?" asked Kim.
"I remember," said Cleona. "What about it?"
"The second time I got my ass kicked, I went to Devin," said Kim. "Devin is the older brother to my older brother's best friend. Devin also just happened to be a boxing trainer. I told Devin what was happening and he gave me free fighting lessons. I haven't been bullied by anyone since."
"Well, I definitely know not to challenge you anymore," said Cleona.
Kim grinned. She then turned and entered a stall.
Minutes later, in Kyra's quarters, Kyra, Capt. Lockwood and Trina were sitting on the couch and talking when Kim and Cleona walked in.
When Kyra saw Kim's clothes, she quickly stood up, walked up to Kim and asked in a concerned manner, "Kimberly, what happen?"
Capt. Lockwood and Trina stood up and stepped closer.
"Mom, I'm all right; this is not my blood," said Kim.
"Then whose blood is it?" asked Kyra.
Before Kim was able to answer Cleona blurted out, "It's Diamond's blood."
Capt. Lockwood asked with a smile on his face, "You won a fight against Diamond?"
Kyra saw the smile on her dad's face and gave him a look as if to say, "Don't be smiling."
"Well, it wasn't really much of a fight," said Kim. "I hit her twice and she went down like a rock. Oh, Capt. Lockwood, I'm sorry about the mess that was left in woman's facility on the next level down."
Capt. Lockwood tried to keep a straight face as he said, "Kim, I will over look it this time."
"Kim, I want you to tell me why you were fighting," said Kyra.
"I walked into the facility one level down to use the turbo flush and Diamond was in there fixing to kick Cleona's…" Kyra gave Kim a look for Kim to choose her words wisely. Kim continued to say, "Well Diamond was about to beat the stuffings out of Cleona, but when I walked in she turned her attention towards me. She told me if I didn't leave, she was going to beat the stuffings out of me. All I wanted to do was to use the turbo flush, and that was even what I told her, but she wouldn't let me walk pass her to use it. She even swung at me, and after I dodged her attack I hit her."
"Kim, why were you using that particular facility?" asked Kyra.
"There was a sign on the one on this level that read, 'temporarily close for cleaning.'" said Kim. "Mom, I know you don't like people fighting, but if I would have left the facility when Diamond told me to, Cleona would have been hurt."
"You're right, Kim, I don't like fighting because no matter what, someone always gets hurt…" said Kyra.
Capt. Lockwood interrupted, "According to Kim, someone would have gotten hurt even if Kim would have walked away."
"Dad, please allow me to finish what I was saying," said Kyra. Capt. Lockwood gestured for her to finish. "Thank you. Kim, as my dad pointed out, someone would have gotten hurt regardless, so in this case, I do believe you weren't given much of a choice."
"So you're not mad at me for fighting?" asked Kim.
"No, I'm not mad, and you won't be punished for fighting this time," said Kyra.
Kim pulled at her shirt and said, "Well, I need to change clothes."
"Kim, before you do that, how is it that you are able to fight as well as you can?" asked Capt. Lockwood.
"When I was eleven I got tired of being beaten up by a bully and I went to a friend who happened to be a boxing trainer," said Kim. "He gave me free fighting lessons."
"Perhaps I should start a boxy club with you as my number one fighter," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Dad, don't even joke about doing that," said Kyra.
"Actually, Devin, the friend who taught me how to fight, told me that I was a natural, and that I should consider boxy professionally when I turned eighteen," said Kim. Kyra looked at Kim in an inquisitive manner. "I would never do that though. I want to be a doctor and heal wounds; not inflict them. I even told Devin that." Kyra gave Kim a hug and then a kiss on the cheek. Kim grinned. "Well, I better change clothes."
"Kim, once you change clothes, I want those clothes you have on so I can take them to have them washed before the blood dries in."
"Okay," said Kim. Kim then walked into her bedroom.
Capt. Lockwood looked at Kyra and said, "Well, I better act like a concerned captain and check on Diamond's condition."
Trina stepped up and said, "How much blood Kim has on her, most likely Diamond will be in the sickbay."
"That's sound like a good place to start; bye," said Capt. Lockwood.
As Capt. Lockwood was leaving Kyra, Trina and Cleona said, "Bye."
"Kyra; Cleona and I need to be going also," said Trina.
"Mom, I would like to talk to Kim before I leave," said Cleona.
"All right, we'll wait," said Trina.
"Ms. Lockwood, can I go in Kim's room?" asked Cleona.
"You can knock on Kim's door and ask her if you can enter," said Kyra.
Cleona stepped up to Kim's door and knocked. She then asked, "Kim, can I come in?"
Kim yelled out, "Come in." Kim was buttoning her shirt when Cleona walked in. The door was shut behind Cleona. "What do you want?"
"Kim, you could have left the facility and let Diamond beat the shit out of me, but you didn't," said Cleona. "I want to know why you didn't."
"Diamond is a bully and I can't stand bullies," said Kim.
"So you didn't do what you did to help me?" asked Cleona.
"Cleona, I don't like the way you treated me, and I'm not interested in being friends with you because of it, but I don't dislike you either, so I didn't want Diamond to beat the crap out of you," said Kim. "Now is that the answer you're looking for?"
Cleona slightly grinned and said, "It was actually."
"Cleona, is the name Diamond a nick name of hers?" asked Kim.
"Her name is actually Sophia Diamond, and although her uncle calls her Sophia she hates being called that," said Cleona. "Well, thanks for saving me, and I will see you around."
Kim followed Cleona out of the bedroom while carrying the blood drench clothes.
In sickbay Dr. Randall was treating Diamond's broken nose. Alec Smithers, Diamond's uncle, stood next to Diamond. Everyone's attention was drawn to Capt. Lockwood as he walked in.
Alec walked up to Capt. Lockwood and said, "Captain, I want to file a complaint to whoever is responsible for breaking Sophia's nose."
Capt. Lockwood mocked, "You want to file a complaint? I find that interesting."
"Why is that interesting?" asked Alec.
Capt. Lockwood walked up to Diamond and said, "Diamond, would you like to tell us what you were doing when you got your nose broke."
"I was in the woman's facility using the turbo flush," said Diamond.
"So you are telling me that you weren't threatening Cleona Silken just before your nose got broke," said Capt. Lockwood.
Alec stepped up and said, "Captain, I can't believe that Cleona is responsible for this."
"You're right, Mr. Smithers; Cleona isn't responsible, but she was a witness," said Capt. Lockwood. "Diamond, tell us who's responsible of breaking your nose."
"She said that her name was Kim," said Diamond. "She's slightly shorter than I am with long red hair and freckles."
Dr. Randal looked at Capt. Lockwood and blurted out in an amused manner, "Kimberly O'Brian broke your nose?"
Capt. Lockwood looked at Dr. Randall and nodded as Alec asked, "Why is that amusing?"
"Kimberly O'Brian is fourteen years old," said Dr. Randall.
"I got my ass kick by a fourteen-year-old?" asked Diamond.
"Actually you got your ass kicked by a fourteen-year-old who had free fighting lessons a few years ago because she was tired of being picked on by bullies," said Capt. Lockwood. "Now I can make a report on this, but do you really want to be embarrassed further."
"Well, I want to know who Kimberly O'Brian's parents are," said Alec. When Alec saw an amused expression on Dr. Randall's face, Alec looked at Dr. Randall in a curious manner.
"My daughter, Kyra, is Kim's parent," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Kyra doesn't have any kids," said Diamond.
"That's true, but she recently became Kim's legal guardian, and Kim does call her mom," said Capt. Lockwood. "Now you can go and talk to Kyra about what happen, but I really think you would be wasting your time."
"Capt. Lockwood, you are enjoying this," said Alec.
Capt. Lockwood smiled and said, "Every minute of it. Diamond, as you are perfectly aware, Kyra doesn't agree with fighting, except if there is no other choice. In this incident Kyra and I both feel that you gave Kim no choice, but to fight. Any future encounter between you and Kim most likely will be seen in the same manner, so I suggest that you end your terrorizing ways while you are aboard this ship. Am I clear?"
In a disgusted manner Diamond said, "Yes, Capt. Lockwood."
"Captain, I have a feeling that you set Sophia up with all of this," said Alec.
"Mr. Smithers, I actually would like to take credit for the justice that the Lords of Kobol had administered, but I can't," said Capt. Lockwood. "Kyra and I didn't even know that Kim had fighting lessons until after she came home with Diamond's blood on her clothes."
Alec gestured towards Diamond and said, "Sophia's nose is broken and you are calling this justice."
"Mr. Smithers, I have over a hundred and fifty written complaints on Diamond; not counting the verbal complaints, and not one of those complaints had been satisfactory resolved" said Capt. Lockwood. "I do feel that this event has been satisfactory resolve, so yes. I feel justice had been served."
"Captain, you keep pointing out Sophia's history, but how do I know that things like Sophia's nose getting broke will not be a common event while Kim is on this ship?" asked Alec.
"Kim has a good heart, and will not fight unless she feels provoked. In fact she has plans to become a doctor." Dr. Randall looked at Capt. Lockwood in an interested manner as Capt. Lockwood continued to say. "She doesn't want to inflict wounds; she wants to heal them."
"And I supposed to believe that?" asked Alec.
"Now you know the uncertainty that everyone feels as Diamond walks through the corridors," said Capt. Lockwood.
"Captain, this better be the last time that Sophia comes here because of Kim, or I will be taking my complaints to the Galactica," said Alec.
"As long as Diamond doesn't start anything with Kim, there's no reason for Diamond to end up here, and if Diamond does end up here then feel free to complain to whoever you want." said Capt. Lockwood. "Now, good day, Mr. Smithers." Capt. Lockwood then turned and walked out.
After Capt. Lockwood walked out, Alec said, "Sophia, if Capt. Lockwood's trained fighter harasses you, I want you to tell me."
"I will, but where in the fleet is there a fight trainer?" asked Diamond.
"Kim is new to the fleet," said Dr. Randall. "Okay, Diamond, you're done."
Diamond stood up and asked, "Where is Kim from?"
"She's actually from Earth," said Dr. Randall.
"I heard from the talk wireless that there were two people from Earth among us," said Alec.
"Well Mr. Smithers; Diamond, have a nice day," said Dr. Randall.
Five hours later on the Solar Flare, Kyra and Kim joined Seth in the mess hall. Kyra sat next to Seth. Kim sat across from Seth and Kyra. Before Kim was able to take a bite of food, Syekydia, a fifteen-year-old classmate of Kim's, walked up to Kim. After stepping up she gestured to a table with four more of Kim's classmates and said, "Kim, we heard about you winning a fight against Diamond; congratulations."
Kim looked at Kyra and hesitantly said, "Thanks."
"Kim, after we leave here, we're going to the recreation center," said Syekydia. "You're welcome to join us."
"I can't tonight," said Kim.
"Well, anytime you're in the recreation center, you're welcome to join us," said Syekydia.
Kim looked at Syekydia in a curious manner. She then said, "Okay, thanks."
"Well, see you later," said Syekydia.
Seth saw a confused expression on Kim's face as Kim watched Syekydia walk away. Seth asked, "Kim, what's wrong?"
"Syekydia, Agnes and the others over there always kept to themselves," said Kim. "Now all of a sudden Syekydia is inviting me to join them."
"I think I know why they are inviting you to join them," said Kyra.
"Why?" asked Kim.
"Everyone at that table is scared of Diamond, and with you with them, they think they will be safe," said Kyra.
Kim thought for a second. She then said, "They just want me with them to be their bodyguard?"
"I don't know for sure, but I believe so," said Kyra.
Kim looked at Syekydia in an unpleasant manner. She then stood up and said, "I'll be back."
"Kimberly, sit down and eat," said Kyra.
"I'm going to tell Syekydia that I'm not anyone's bodyguard," said Kim.
"Kim, I'm only speculating about that; now sit down," said Kyra.
"Well, I still want them to know that I won't be anyone's bodyguard," said Kim.
In a stern manner, Kyra said, "Kimberly, sit down."
When Kim looked at Kyra, Kyra was looking at Kim in a stern manner. Kim sat down and asked, "Why can't I go over there?"
"I know you won't be meaning to, but you could come across as being a bit confrontational towards them," said Kyra
"How?" asked Kim.
"Kim, you became their hero when you won a fight against Diamond…" said Kyra.
"I didn't do that to be anyone's hero," said Kim.
"Regardless, that's was the results," said Kyra. "Now how would you feel if your hero tells you that you're on your own?"
"Lousy," said Kim. "Mom, I don't want to be a hero or a bodyguard."
"I know," said Kyra. "Just be patient and hopefully everyone will forget about it."
"Well, I hope I don't go batty over all this," said Kim.
Seth saw a confused expression on Kyra's face and said, "Batty means insane."
"Ah," said Kyra. Kim looked passed Kyra and saw Alec and Diamond walking with their food rations. Kyra saw a cringing expression on Kim's face. "Kim what's wrong?"
Kim stares at Diamond and said, "Diamond has some kind of bandage across her nose."
As Alec and Diamond were sitting down at a table Alec saw Kyra looking in his direction. Alec then stood up and said, "I'll be right back, Sophia."
Kim saw Alec approaching the table and asked, "Mom, who's that man coming our way?"
"He is Alec Smithers, Diamond's uncle," said Kyra.
Alec stepped up to the table, stared at Kim and said, "So this girl is the trained fighter who broke Sophia's nose."
In a remorse manner Kim said, "My god, I broke her nose."
Alec looked at Kim in a curious manner and asked, "Knowing that bothers you?"
"Well yeah, I never meant to break her nose," said Kim.
Alec said in a sarcastic manner, "Yeah, I'm sure you didn't." Kim looked at Alec in a perplexed manner. "Ms. Lockwood, I sure hope you're not a hypocrite when it comes to Kim and her fighting."
"Mr. Smithers, you're out of line talking to me like that," said Kyra.
"And Kim was out of line for breaking Sophia's nose," said Alec.
In an emotional manner, Kim said, "I never meant to break her nose."
Kyra looked at Kim and said, "Kimberly, calm down."
"Well, he…" said Kim.
"Kimberly, I will handle this," said Kyra. Kim crossed her arms and made huffing sound. "Mr. Smithers, what happened to Diamond is one of several reasons why I'm very much against fighting; however, Diamond gave Kim no choice, but to defend herself."
"That is Kim's version of the story," said Alec.
"Diamond swung on me first," said Kim.
"Kimberly, if you don't be quiet, I'm going to get Seth to take you for a short walk," said Kim. Again Kim crossed her arms and made huffing sound. "Mr. Smithers, Cleona Silken was a witness to the whole thing."
"How convenient that Kim has a friend to back her story," said Alec.
Kyra saw an agitated expression on Kim's face as Kim took a deep breath. Kyra then said, "Mr. Smithers, when Diamond was in my classroom, I had to always watch Diamond to keep her from threatening my other students. Now I do not believe Diamond has change her ways in the past six months; therefore, I have no doubts that Diamond swung on Kim first."
"And Kim just happens to be a trained fighter," said Alec.
Kim blurted out in a surprise manner, "What?" Kim quickly looked at Kyra as she covered her mouth.
As Kyra gave Kim a looked as if to give her a warning, Alec asked, "Are you telling me that you haven't been trained to fight?"
Kim looked at Kyra in a manner as if she wasn't sure if she should answer. Kyra then said, "Mr. Smithers asked you a direct question, so go ahead and answer."
"I had thirteen boxing lessons, and when I went to the gym for my fourteenth lesson my mom and aunt happened to see me going into the gym," said Kim. "My mom had a fit when she walked in and saw me wearing boxing gloves. That was it for any training I had."
Seth spoke up, "Mr. Smithers, I don't believe that thirteen boxy lessons constitute as being trained to fight."
Alec looked at Seth and asked, "Who are you?"
"I'm Seth Whitefeather," he said.
"Well, Mr. Whitefeather, I would appreciate if you stay out of this," said Alec.
Seth stood up and said, "I think I know where Diamond gets her manners from."
Kyra grabbed Seth's arm and said, "Seth, please sit and let me handle this." Seth looked at Alec in a challenging manner without attempting to sit down. "Seth, please."
Seth looked at Kyra for a second. He then looked at Alec again and said, "Mr. Smithers, this is your lucky day." He then retook his seat.
"Mr. Smithers, I would appreciate if you would go back to your table," said Kyra.
"Before you lose control of Seth Whitefeather I'll leave," said Alec. "Kimberly O'Brian, I'll be watching you."
Kim blurted out, "Well, I hope you learn to do things right afterwards."
"Kimberly," exclaimed Kyra.
Kim looked at Kyra in a timid manner.
"Ms. Lockwood, just keep Kim under control," said Alec.
"And you do the same with Diamond," said Kyra.
Alec turned and walked away.
As Alec walked away, Kim said in a sarcastic manner, "He's a delightful fella to be around. Mom, we should invite Mr. Smithers and Diamond out somewhere."
"Kim, how's your food?" asked Kyra.
"I don't know," said Kim. "I haven't taken a bite of it yet." Kyra gave Kim an inquisitive look. "And that was a hint for me to eat."
As Kyra grinned, Kim took a bite.
"Kim, did you continue practicing your boxing after those thirteen lessons?" asked Seth.
Kim looked at Kyra for a second before she answered, "Brandon had a punching bag hanging in the garage. When my parents weren't home I would use it."
"Your parents didn't approve of you punching the punching bag?" asked Seth.
Kim shook her head and said, "It wasn't lady-like."
"Kim, I have to agree with your parents on that," said Kyra.
"Mom, if you were Brandon's guardian, would you allow him to take karate lessons and have a punching bag?" asked Kim.
"Is Karate another word for boxing?" asked Kyra.
"It's a different form of fighting other than boxing, and it's actually considered an art," said Seth. "Most likely the colonies use a form of karate, but call it something else."
"Probably," said Kyra. "Kim, I don't like fighting of any form, so no; I wouldn't let Brandon take karate lessons or have a punching bag."
"Well, my parents paid karate lessons for Brandon and Keith, and when I asked to take karate lessons they told me it was undignified for a lady to learn to fight," said Kim. "I got grounded when I called them a sexist and not so politely told them to join the human race in the twenty-first century."
Kyra slightly grinned. She then said, "Let me guess. Men and women are not seen as equal on Earth."
"Well, there have been great steps of becoming equal since the women's liberation movement about forty years ago, but there are people… like Kim's parents, that clings to the old ideas," said Seth.
"My mother is the one who clings onto the old ideas," said Kim. "My dad is a jellyfish when it comes to my mother, and would go along with whatever she says. The only time my dad would stand up to my mother is when he has been drinking." Kim looked at Kyra. "That's when the argument starts, and I run off to my grandma's house."
"Kim, you indicated a couple of days ago that your parents had money," said Seth. "Were your parents born in a wealthy family?"
"My mom's dad, and even his dad were big time lawyers that made a lot of money, so I guess my mom came from a wealthy family," said Kim.
"So your mom is the third generation of lawyers?" asked Seth.
"Actually, I think my mom is the fourth generation of lawyers," said Kim. "She is also the only lawyer between her and her five sisters."
"Your mom has five sisters?" asked Seth. Kim nodded. "Does your mom have any brothers?"
"Nope," said Kim. "My mom's dad tried six times to have a boy and after my Aunt Jennifer was born, my grandpa gave up trying." Kim looked at Kyra. "My Aunt Jennifer is the youngest."
Kyra grinned and said, "I got that from your statement."
"Kim, is your mother the oldest?" asked Seth.
"No, she's the third oldest," said Kim. "My Aunt Melissa is the oldest and then my Aunt Brittany; except my Aunt Brittany grew up in Tennessee separately from her five sisters. My mom's younger sisters are Aunt Ruby, Aunt April and then my Aunt Jennifer. Oh my mother's name is Valerie."
"Why did your Aunt Brittany grow up separately from her sisters?" asked Seth.
"No one would tell me, but I do know that Aunt Brittany couldn't stand to be in the same room with Grandpa… her dad during family gatherings," said Kim. "For the first nine years of my life I hardly got to see my Aunt Brittany, and then my grandpa died from a heart attack. After that my Aunt Brittany visited a lot."
"So Kim, how wealthy was your dad's family?" asked Seth.
"They weren't poor, but they weren't wealthy either," said Kim. "My grandpa O'Brian was a New York police detective before he died in a plane crash, and my grandma worked in foreign relations at the New York airport before she died in the same accident as my grandpa. My grandma actually got her job because she was able to speak French, German, Russian and Portuguese. My dad's parent also had six kids; four boys and two girls. My dad was the youngest."
"Kimberly, since you sat down, you have only taken one bite of food," said Kyra.
"I was answering Seth's questions," said Kim.
"I know that," said Kyra. "Seth…"
"You don't have to say it," said Seth. "I'll quit asking Kim questions so she doesn't starve herself."
Kim grinned as Kyra said, "Thank you."
Kim took another bite of food. After Kim swallowed the bite she asked, "Mom, are men and women are considered equal in the colonies?"
"Kimberly, I do not want to be here for thirty minutes waiting on you to get done eating," said Kyra.
"I'm eating," said Kim. "I'm still curious to know though if men and women are considered equal in the colonies." Kim took another bite.
"For the most part, yes; however, a couple of the colonies can be accused of being a sexist," said Kyra. "Geminon is one of those colonies. The government uses religion as an excuse for it when it occurs also."
"How?" asked Kim.
"It's written in the scriptures that men and women have distinct rolls," said Kyra. "Woman are to bare the children and men are to share in the experience of raising the children."
"That's just a simple fact of life," said Kim.
"There's more to the scriptures than that, and you can learn more about it later, but right now, I just want you to eat," said Kyra.
"Okay, I'm eating," said Kim. Kim took a bite.
On the planet at the dome, several people were filling four raptors with Eydolians' DNA fragments. Dr Clu-Isic and three others loaded an Eydolian computer aboard one of the raptors.
On the southern hemisphere another raptor lifted off with Abraham's harvesting crew. As they reached orbit three Cylon based ships jumped into the system. The ECO of the raptor reported the Cylons' presence and then jumped away.
At the dome everyone scrambled to get to the raptors. Before the pilots of raptors lifted off, they detonated an explosion device. A series of explosion occurred within the dome that collapsed the dome. The Cylon raiders made their dash towards them just as the four raptors were breaking orbit. As the raiders fired their weapons at the raptors, the crew of each raptor began their jump. As the weapons fire approached, each raptor jumped one by one. Three of the raptors jumped away in time from getting hit. The fourth raptor was hit as it entered hyperspace.
Near the fleet each raptor entered the area. When the last raptor came out of hyperspace Dualla said, "Col. Tigh, one of the raptors was hit. They're reporting malfunction in a few of their systems, Sir."
"Get a crash team and a medical team to the hanger on the double," Col. Tigh shouted out.
An officer said, "Yes, Sir."
"Tell the crew of the damaged raptor that they are cleared for an emergency landing," said Col. Tigh.
"Yes, Sir," said Dualla.
On the planet the Cylons searched through the rubble that was once the dome.