THE GENETIC DUPLICATE – Day 11 Part 3
Kim and Zoey had played several games of squares. Kim won each game, but Zoey was determined to win at least one. As they began to set up for another game, Clara, Brinna, Kerryn, Casey, Faxon and twelve others between the ages of thirteen and seventeen walked into the recreation room. Kim along with everyone else in the room noticed the seventeen teenagers walking in. Each one watched in a curious manner as the teenagers stepped up to Kim.
Kim looked at the group in a timid manner and asked, "What's going on?"
Clara smiled in a pleasant manner and said, "Cmdr. Adama made an announcement about you a few minutes ago." Brite stepped closer to hear what was going on. "We know you're from Earth and I… I mean 'we' would like for you to tell us about Earth."
Zoey gave Kim a stunned look and asked in an excited tone, "You're from Earth?"
Kim showed a nervous grinned and said, "I am." She looked around and saw that everyone in the room was watching her.
Zoey saw the intimidated expression on Kim's face and before Kim was able to say anything else, Zoey stood up and said, "Look, I'm sure Kim doesn't mind telling us about Earth, but you guys can't come at her as a mob."
Clara realized as to what Zoey was talking about and said, "Zoey's right. Kim, I'm sorry for us coming at you like this."
Kim politely grinned and said, "It's okay. I just get overly nervous when a lot of people are staring at me."
"Okay, Kim will tell us about Earth a few people at a time, so let's clear out," said Clara. "Zoey, Brinna, Kerryn, Casey and I are Kim's roommates, so we get to hear first." Kim gave Clara a grinned and slightly shook her head.
As the teenagers were leaving, Kim said, "Clara, thanks for understanding and telling people to clear out."
Clara grinned and said, "You're welcome." Clara, Brinna, Kerryn, and Casey pulled up seats near Kim and Zoey's table. "Okay. Tell us about Earth."
Brite and a few others who were previously in the room stood in hearing distance as Kim talked about Earth.
Kim talked for forty minutes when everyone's attention was drawn to the entrance as a reporter and camera crew came in. Kim immediately stood up after seeing them and said, "It's time for me to leave."
Kim was only able to get midway to the exit when the reporter stepped up to her and said, "Kimberly O'Brian…"
Kim didn't allow the reporter to finish and said, "She's not here, but I'll go find her and tell her that you're looking for her."
The reporter gave Kim a baffled look and said, "I was told that a redheaded girl with freckles was Kimberly and you definitely match that description."
Before Kim was able to respond, Brite said as he gestured towards Kim, "Her name is Saura Tasheba."
Kim gave Brite a curious look before refocusing on the reporter and saying, "I'll go and see if I can find Kimberly for you."
The reporter continued to look at Kim in a baffled manner as Kim and her roommates walked towards the exit. Before Kim and the others had chance to leave Brite called out to his brother, "Mitch, we're leaving." Brite walked quickly to catch up to the others as Mitch ran along side Brite to keep up. "Hey wait up everyone."
Kim and the others slowed down and as Brite and Mitch were catching up, Kim said, "The next time you make up a name for me, make something up other than Saura Tasheba."
Brite grinned and said, "Saura Tasheba was a redheaded girl who use to live next door to me before the Cylons destroyed the colonies."
"I remind you of her?" Kim questioned.
"Only by your hair color," said Brite. "So are you going to the platinum room?"
"Right now, I'm going to find Ms. Roslin and tell her about the reporter," said Kim. "You and Mitch are welcome to tag along."
Kim and the others found Laura within fifteen minutes and after Kim told her about the reporter, Laura said, "You did right by not answering the reporter's questions and coming straight to me with this. I'll make sure that Cmdr. Adama is aware of what's going on. Also it might be best for the first couple of days for you to stay close to your quarters and not to wander the ship."
"I'd be happy to stay in my quarters if I had books to read," said Kim.
Laura grinned and said, "I have a couple of books that I can give you to read."
Kim smiled and said, "Thanks."
"Come with me, Kim, and I'll get those books for you," said Roslin.
Before Kim had a chance to respond, Brite said, "I can see your future aboard this ship, Kim, if you rather read and study."
No one saw that Kim was in deep thought as Laura said, "It's refreshing to have a kid on board this ship who sees reading as fun."
"Kim has to do something to pass the time since Ms. Roslin wants her to stay in her quarters," said Zoey.
Brinna was the first to see Kim as she was concentrating on a thought and asked, "Kim, are you okay?"
"I get visions of future events from time to time from touching things or people," said Kim as she began to touch people around her.
Kim had touched three people before Laura was able to say, "Kim, no one can see the future."
"I can," said Kim as she touched someone else.
Kim was reaching for the fifth person to touch when Laura grabbed her hand and said, "Kim, no one can get vision of the future." Everyone saw as Kim's expression was as if she was trying to work through a complicated puzzle. "Kim, you can't see the future."
"Believing that no one can see the future is the other thing that the experts were wrong about," said Kim. Laura was about to say something as Kim continued. "You're right though when you told me that I'm not from an alternate reality. In fact, this is not a reality at all."
Brinna was the first to asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm dreaming… or I'm having a strange vision. I'm not sure which." Kim then blurted out, "Grandpa, I know that those ghostly figures I've been seeing were of you so show yourself."
"Kim, you're…" Laura was able to get out.
Kim didn't allow Laura to finish and blurted out, "Grandpa, I know none of this is real and I'm done participating. Now show yourself."
"Kimberly…" Laura blurted out.
"Grandpa, show yourself," Kim blurted out. "I know I'm not in an alternate reality."
Everyone around Kim became motionless as Clifford appeared behind Kim in a very translucent manner and said, "I'm here, Kim-Lizzy, and if alternate realities exist then this would definitely be one of them."
Kim faced Clifford and asked, "What do you mean?"
"You have to remember what you were doing before waking up in sickbay," said Clifford.
"Why can't I see you better?" asked Kim.
"The only reason that you can see me at all is because you pulled me in," said Clifford. Kim gave her grandpa a confused look. "Now you have to remember what happen before waking up."
Kim thought for several seconds before saying, "I pushed Diamond out of the way of a light fixture that was falling from the ceiling. I was hit by it. Please don't tell me that I'm dead."
"You're not dead, Kim-Lizzy, but you did drift into a coma a moment ago," said Clifford. "Your subconscious created this alternate reality for a safe haven for your memories."
"What are you talking about?" asked Kim.
"The light fixture that hit you was assembled and placed in storage as a surplus item when the Galactica was being constructed and the events you had experienced was one of many possible futures of that time…" said Clifford.
"How is this vision of an alternate reality a safe haven for my memories though?" asked Kim.
"You were struck in the head by that light fixture and it caused you to have a severe concussion," said Clifford. "Without this alternate reality that your subconscious had created to challenge your memory, you would've woke up with severe memory gaps. There is still a chance that you won't remember certain things when you wake, but there's a way for you to remember everything as you did before if you're willing to do it."
"How?" Kim questioned.
"The state that you're in right now, you have the ability to relive your life as a vision," said Clifford. "By doing that, you'll actually recreate those memories."
"I would be waking up from my coma at the age of twenty-eight if I do that," said Kim.
"You're thinking that time has meaning here, Kim-Lizzy," said Clifford. "It doesn't. You have only been in a coma for a few seconds and during that time, you have lived out hours of an alternate reality from your head."
"Okay, you convince me," said Kim. "How do I relive my life as a vision?"
Clifford reached out his hand and said, "Take my hand."
Kim took Clifford's hand and was instantly taken back to when she was two.
In reality aboard the Galactica, Dr. Salik was checking the vitals of two remaining genetic duplicates who haven't awaken yet. Both of them were women in their early thirties and as he was looking at the vitals, he noticed that one of them was ready to wake up. Dr. Salik's attention was then drawn to the entrance when Cassandra stepped in.
When Dr. Salik looked at Cassandra, Cassandra said, "Kim has drifted into a coma, Doctor."
"Wonderful," Dr. Salik said in a sarcastic manner. "One's waking up from a comatose condition while Kim falls into one." He gestured towards the one who's ready to wake up. "Give this one a slight sedative to keep her asleep until we're ready for her to wake up. And contact Cmdr. Adama about it. I'll go and check on Kim."
"Yes, Doctor," said Cassandra.
Dr. Salik and Cassandra went their respective ways. Dr. Salik took the time to check Kim's vitals. When he was done, he stepped out to where Kyra, Seth and Adonis were waiting.
Kyra saw the concerned expression on his face as he was walking towards her. Kyra, Seth and Adonis stood up. As Dr. Salik was stepping up, Adonis asked, "Is she awake?"
Before Dr. Salik had a chance to answer, Kyra told Adonis, "It's only been a few minutes since Dr. Salik had told us it will be at least six hours before she's able to wake up."
"I'm afraid it will be more than six hours…" said Dr. Salik.
"What do you mean?" asked Kyra.
"There's never an easy way to prepare anyone for this type of news, Kyra," Dr. Salik began. Seth saw tears forming in Kyra's eyes. "Kim has slipped into a coma and we're now playing the waiting game for her to wake up."
"My gods," said Adonis.
Kyra rubbed Adonis' back as she said, "Thanks, Dr. Salik, for informing us."
"If her condition changes, I'll make sure you know right away," said Dr. Salik.
Kyra just nodded. As Dr. Salik was walking away, Kyra, Seth and Adonis sat back down. Without saying a word, Seth put his arm around Kyra to comfort her.
Adonis watched Dr. Salik as he was leaving. Once Dr. Salik had left Adonis's sight, Adonis turned his head in time to see Diamond and her uncle walking in. He stared at Diamond in a resentful manner and uttered out, "Why is she here?"
Kyra looked to see what Adonis was talking about. When Kyra saw Diamond, she refaced Adonis and said, "Adonis, just ignore her and don't be rude."
Diamond noticed the resentful look she was getting from Adonis just before he turned away from her as if she was shunned by him. Diamond ignored being shunned and stepped up to Kyra and asked, "Ms. Lockwood, how's Kim.
Adonis abruptly answered before Kyra did, "She's in a coma because she chose to save your sorry ass."
Alec was about to respond when Kyra blurted out, "Adonis! If you can't control yourself, you are to get up and take a walk away from here."
"I'm sorry, Ms. Lockwood," said Adonis.
"There's no reason for that attitude, Adonis, anyway," said Alec.
"Anyone else would've been glad to watch that light fixture fall on Diamond," Adonis spouted back.
"Watch your mouth, boy," said Alec.
Seth quickly stood up and blurted out, "Everyone needs to calm down."
Kyra had also stood up seconds after Seth and said, "Adonis, don't say anything else, and if you feel that you can't keep your mouth shut then you need to step away from here for a while."
"I'll keep my mouth shut, Ms. Lockwood," said Adonis.
Kyra faced Alec and asked, "Mr. Smithers, you and Diamond need to go about your business."
"Ms. Lockwood, we're here because Sophia wanted to thank Kim for what she did," said Alec.
"Well, Kim is in a coma," said Kyra.
"Can we wait?" asked Diamond.
"Kim could be in a coma for god only knows how long," said Seth.
"You mean gods," Diamond corrected.
"People on Earth only believe in one God and Seth is from Earth," said Kyra.
"To keep peace, I'm going to ignore the Earth people's thought of there being one God," said Alec. Seth grinned and shook his head in disgust.
"I would still like to wait for a while," said Diamond.
"I can't stop you or your uncle from waiting, but I can tell you that I'm okay with it," said Kyra. "Have a seat."
As everyone was taking a seat, Seth said, "Mr. Smithers, there are more religions on Earth than I can name and there is an unwritten rule regarding religion and politics."
Adonis was the first to ask, "What is that rule?"
"Politics and religion are never discussed in public as a general topic," said Seth.
"Why aren't they?" asked Adonis.
"Fist fights between individuals and wars between nations had begun over both topics," said Seth.
"What are nations?" asked Diamond.
"You use the word tribes when people on Earth use the word nations," said Seth. "And there are about two hundred nations on Earth."
"I remember Kim asking you when she first met you as to what tribal nation that you were from," said Kyra. Seth slightly grinned. "Why did she ask you that?"
"We do use the word tribe when referring to a very small group of an independent society," Seth began. "Before the southern half of the North American continent became the United States there were hundreds of tribes separate from each other. Each one had there own language and culture. When Kim used the words, 'tribal nation,' she was just being politically correct. She was also being politically correct when she called me a Native American. She could've easily had asked me as to what Indian tribe I'm from; however, asking that can be taken as an insult… or at least a bad choice of words among a few Native Americans."
"Why is that?" asked Adonis
"Well, for one we aren't really Indians," said Seth. "Indian was a word that was pinned on us four hundred years ago when explorers from the European continent were looking for a fast trade route to the Indies. Those explorers thought that they had made it to the Indies and failed to realize that they had discovered a new continent."
Diamond quickly asked, "How can they not know the geographic map of their planet?"
"Four hundred years ago transportation on Earth only consisted of ocean traveling wooden ships, horse drawn wagons and riding the backs of certain animals," said Seth. "North American and South American continents were unknown to the rest of the world and when they were found as being new continents, they were dubbed the New World. The New World was thought to be filled with precious metals such as gold and silver and the colonies from the European nations, each with its own religion, flocked to the New World with their colonies to reap those precious metals…"
Seth was about to continue when Kyra said, "Seth, I have nothing against you talking about the history of Earth, but you really should get Cmdr. Adama's approval before you do it. In fact, after you get that approval, I would like it if you could get up in front of my class at some point and teach Earth history to my students."
"I have no problem with that," said Seth. "I'll talk to Cmdr. Adama about doing it before we leave the Galactica."
"Seth, are there any religions on Earth of there being multiple Gods?" asked Alec.
"I'm sure there are people on Earth who believe in multiple Gods," said Seth. "More than three thousand years ago there certainly were. I even have living relatives who believe in the old traditions and call them the great spirits."
"What change over three thousand years ago for people to believe in only one God?" asked Diamond.
"According to the Earth scriptures, God spoke to a man name Moses and gave him the Ten Commandments for the entire world to live by," said Seth. "The first commandment is that 'you shall have no other gods before me.'"
"People on Earth are gullible enough to believe that, that Moses person spoke to God?" Diamond questioned.
"That was very rude, Diamond," said Kyra.
"Diamond is fine," said Seth. "There are plenty of people on Earth who are skeptical of God speaking to Moses; however, it is also written in the scriptures that Moses, with God's assistance, had parted the Red Sea for the Hebrew people to escape the Egyptian soldiers prior to receiving the Ten Commandments. The Hebrew people were slaves to the Egyptians and when the Hebrew people were safe on the opposite sea-bank Moses released the Red Sea and the Egyptian soldiers who were giving chase in their horse drawn chariots had all drowned."
"You have to be joking about Moses parting that sea," said Diamond.
"It's written in our scriptures and as I said, there are skeptical people on Earth who don't believe the Earth scriptures, but most people do," said Seth.
"That's interesting," said Alec.
"So what are the other nine commandments?" asked Adonis.
Seth grinned before reciting the commandments.
Cmdr. Adama and Cassandra were looking on as Dr. Salik was preparing to wake up the sixth genetic duplicate. Dr. Salik was discussing Kim's condition as he was giving the genetic duplicate an injection to wake up. The discussion ended when the woman began to stir.
The woman slowly opened her eyes and when she saw her surroundings, she abruptly sat up.
"Easy," Dr. Salik quickly said. "You're safe."
The woman looked over the three before asking, "What hospital am I in?"
"You're not in a hospital, but I am Dr. Salik." He gestured towards the others and continued to say, "He's Cmdr. Adama and she's my assistant, Cassandra."
"Commander? Commander of what?" she asked.
"We'll answer all your questions, but first we need to know your name," said Cmdr. Adama.
"I'm Dr. Lucy Young…" she was able to say.
"You're a doctor?" Cmdr. Adama quickly questioned.
"Yes… I'm an OBGYN at a women's clinic." Lucy saw the confused expressions on their faces as she continued to say, "This room looks like an examination room of some sort. So if I'm not in a hospital, where am I and what happen to me?"
"This is an examination room," said Dr. Salik.
"What is the last thing that you remember?" asked Cmdr. Adama.
Lucy thought for a second before saying, "I was, uh, I was driving to my sister's house… she lives deep in the boonies." Lucy again saw a confused look on everyone's faces as she continued. "My car… a car that I had paid forty thousand dollars for two days ago brand new off the lot died when I was only minutes from her house. First chance I get, I'm calling that sales person who sold me…"
"Doctor," Cmdr. Adama quickly interrupted. "Do you remember what happened after your car died?"
Lucy thought for a few seconds before saying, "As I was stepping out of the car, some kind of aircraft appeared overhead. It lit up so brightly that I couldn't see… that's actually all I can remember and if I believed in UFO's or aliens I might say that I was abducted."
"That's exactly what happened to you," said Cmdr. Adama.
"You expect me to believe that I was abducted by aliens from outer space?" Lucy questioned.
"This examination room is part of the sickbay aboard what you would consider a starship the Battlestar Galactica," said Cmdr. Adama.
Lucy grinned and said, "Okay, where's the candid cameras?"
"I don't understand that reference, but what I'm telling you is true," said Cmdr. Adama. "You're aboard the Battlestar Galactica. We found you and six others in stasis on a crippled alien ship that was drifting in space. The aliens who abducted you were found dead and you are the sixth person who woke up since we found you."
"I'm good at telling when someone is lying to me and you seem to be speaking the truth," said Lucy.
"I am speaking the truth, Dr. Young," said Cmdr. Adama. "We are also not from Earth, but we are humans, and we are in search of Earth."
"You are humans, but not from Earth?" Lucy questioned.
"We are from the colonies of the twelve colonies of Kobol," said Cmdr. Adama.
Lucy gazed around the room and said, "This doesn't appear to be a psyche ward."
"Again, I'm not familiar with that reference…" Cmdr. Adama was able to get out.
"It's a ward for the mentally disabled," said Lucy.
Cmdr. Adama slightly laughed and said, "It's perfectly understandable for you to think that, but you are on a battlestar and there's something else about you that you need to know." Lucy just gave Cmdr. Adama an inquisitive look. "You are a genetic duplicate of…"
"What do you mean by that I'm a genetic duplicate?" asked Lucy.
"Genetic duplicates are a type of clone, but without the DNA flaws and they hold the memories of the original person," said Dr. Salik.
Lucy gave Cmdr. Adama a stunned look and said, "You can't be serious to say that I'm some kind of clone."
"You won't have the scars that you remember having prior to waking up here," said Cmdr. Adama.
Lucy immediately uncovered her stomach and look at it. As she gaze at her stomach she said, "I had an emergency cesarean three years ago and I don't have that scar." Lucy looked up at Cmdr. Adama. "So, I'm a genetic duplicate and you're not from Earth." Cmdr. Adama grinned "Do you know where the real Lucy is."
"You are Lucy Young as much as the other Lucy Young and we have good reason to believe that she was returned to Earth after the aliens got what they needed to create you."
"Do you have an idea of how long I was in stasis?" asked Lucy.
"You were in stasis for slightly more then ten years," said Cmdr. Adama. "Doctor, I'm not familiar with what OBGYN is."
"My specialized field is female reproductive system," said Lucy.
"They specialize in that on Earth?" Dr. Salik questioned.
"They do," said Lucy. "They don't of where you come from?"
"We don't see it to be an area to specialize in and I'm a bit surprise that the medical profession on Earth does," said Dr. Salik.
"What are you specialized in?" asked Lucy.
"I'm not specialized in any field," said Dr. Salik.
"Well, are you a surgeon, or an emergency physician?" Lucy questioned. "Both maybe?"
Dr. Salik gave Lucy a curious look before saying, "I'm getting the feeling that the medical profession on Earth had been broken into different fields."
"Your medical profession didn't?" Lucy questioned.
"Dr. Salik, perhaps of what you discovered with Kim was why the Earth population had broken their medical profession into different fields," said Cmdr. Adama.
"That does make sense for them to need more specialized fields than what we would need," said Dr. Salik.
Lucy gave Dr. Salik a confused look and asked, "Who's Kim and what did you find?"
"Her correct name is Kimberly O'Brian and she is the first genetic duplicate of the seven to wake up," said Cmdr. Adama. "Kim is fourteen and I'll let Dr. Salik go over with you of what was found. Before he does that with you though, I'm curious to know if you know more to medicine than just the female reproductive system."
Lucy gave Cmdr. Adama a curious look and said, "I became an OBGYN after being a surgeon for two years."
"So you would know more than the female reproductive system?" Cmdr. Adama questioned.
"Medical school on Earth is the same for everyone," said Lucy. "It's only after graduating medical school is when the individual would go into his or her respective field. Why are inquiring about my credentials?"
"Surrounding this battlestar are over sixty civilian ships filled with refugees," Cmdr. Adama began. Lucy gave him a curious look. "We have doctors, but not enough to provide quality care..."
"You're offering me a doctor's position among your ships?" Lucy questioned.
"I'm certain that Dr. Cottle would like to certify you as a doctor among the colonies first, but yes, after you have been certified, I'm offering a position in the fleet as a doctor."
"I'm guessing that Dr. Cottle is the head doctor," said Lucy.
"He is and he is also the one who is in charge of our medical school in the fleet," said Cmdr. Adama. "He's also located on the Rising Star." Lucy gave Cmdr. Adama a confused look. "Rising Star is one of the luxury liners in the fleet and although she is carrying passengers she's the primary ship that's being use for a medical ship."
"Cmdr. Adama, other than this battlestar, how many military ships do you have and who are you escaping from?" asked Lucy. "
Cmdr. Adama slightly grinned before saying, "The Galactica is the only surviving military ship after our enemy, the Cylons, destroyed our twelve colonies. We are searching for Earth because we believe that Earth is our thirteenth tribe that originated from Kobol."
"I can see that you are human as same as me, but life on Earth had originated on Earth," said Lucy.
"Kim had told me about the advanced civilization of Atlantis sinking to the bottom of the ocean as being one of the oldest Earth's myths," Cmdr. Adama began. "With that thought in mind and what Dr. Salik had found, we have reason to believe that when the original colony settled on Earth thousands of years ago, a planet wide disaster struck that threw your ancestors into a more primitive state of existence along with losing the records of your true origin."
"What was found to make you believe that the story of Atlantis is real and that we are your thirteenth tribe or colony?" asked Lucy.
"We have shoes for you and once you put them on, you can come with me," said Dr Salik. "I'll show you what we found and then we can go to the Rising Star."
"I would like to see the other genetic duplicates too," said Lucy as Cassandra was getting the shoes.
"I can arrange that too, but Kim was very recently involved in an accident," said Dr. Salik.
Lucy questioned as she was receiving the shoes. "She's dead?"
"No, but she has fallen in a coma less than an hour ago," said Dr. Salik.
"What happened?" asked Lucy as she was putting on the shoes.
Dr. Salik gave Cmdr. Adama a look as if to ask permission. Cmdr. Adama saw the look and said, "The Cylons are chasing us and we will be periodically attacked by them. Kim was struck in the head by a light fixture that was knocked lose during a recent attack."
Lucy looked at Cmdr. Adama as if he had lost his mind and commented, "I think I woke up in a science fiction movie."
Cmdr. Adama grinned and said, "If this helps, I feel the same way at times."
"It doesn't help," said Lucy. "Anyway, who or what are the Cylons?"
Cmdr Adama briefly hesitated before saying, "Cylons are robots that the twelve colonies created to make our lives easier. We created them too intelligent and they rebelled." Cmdr. Adama continued to tell Lucy all about the Cylons. When he was done, he asked, "So I'm not left in the dark the next time I hear the reference, what does the term candid camera mean?"
Lucy grinned and said, "Imagine hidden cameras all about in ordinary places or places where you would least expect it and the ones who know of the cameras will set people up to catch their candid expressions on film during an embarrassing or hilarious situations. When it's time for the victim, so to speak, to be told the truth, the one doing the prank will say…"
"Smile, you're on candid camera," Cmdr. Adama finished. Lucy just gave him a curious look. "When I first told Kim where she was at, her words were, 'please say, smile, you're on candid camera.'" Lucy grinned. "Anyway, Dr. Salik has some data to show you."
"I'll see you around, Commander," said Lucy.
Cmdr. Adama just politely ginned and nodded. He then tuned and walked out. Dr. Salik, Cassandra and Lucy left the room behind Cmdr. Adama.
During following minutes, Dr. Salik showed her the data that was compiled about the humans on Earth being hybrids from thousands of years ago.
Before Dr. Salik and Lucy left the sickbay, Lucy was introduced to Seth, Kyra and Adonis. They briefly talked before Dr. Salik and Lucy left the sickbay.