Episode 10: Almost Friends

Cylon Held Caprica

"Come on," Lt. Karl ('Helo') Agathon said, rushing through the rain and trees, "the city shouldn't be much further."

"I'm telling you, we should have come in from the north," Lt. Sharon ('Boomer') Valerii replied, running after Helo.

"That would take too long. We need more anti-rad medicine and soon. We can't afford to take the long route. Besides, we haven't seen any Cylon patrols in days."

Boomer could not say why she felt they should have taken the north passage, only that a feeling in the back of her mind insisted they do so. However, Helo was right. They were running out of the much-needed inoculants. If they didn't find them soon, Cylon patrols would be the last of their worries.

"Maybe when we get into the city we'll find some real food as well," Helo said over his shoulder, "I'm getting real sick of those damned ration packs…whoops!"

"What is it?" Boomer asked, drawing her weapon in worry.

"Ravine," Helo said, "Good thing we weren't going any faster or we would have tumbled right over the edge."

I told you we should have gone north," Boomer said irritated, "now we'll have to go around this thing. That'll take hours."

"You have anything better to do?" Helo asked, smiling. Turning, he began to make his way around the treacherous ravine when movement caught his eye. Wiping rainwater out of his vision, he ducked down and pointed at several Cylons making their way through the forest.

"Dammit," Helo uttered.

"Looks like four or five of them," Boomer said nervously.

"That's just what we can see. The forest could be full of them."

"Well, maybe we can…" Helo began when the ground went out from under him. Weakened by the constant rainfall, the ravine's edge gave way and the officer slid down the mucky edge, a rush of water carrying him away.

"Boomer!" he cried.

"Helo!" Boomer said, reaching for the man but narrowly missing his outstretched hand. He disappeared amidst the mud and broken tree branches of the ravine. Boomer flattened herself against the ground, fearing the Cylons had heard the disturbance. Hearing branches breaking underfoot and the drumming of rainfall on metal, she could see in her minds eye the Cylons approaching.

Then, the sound of rain and robots was overtaking by a loud cracking noise, and the air was filled with reddish light. A large metal construct emerged from the glow, its head surveying the area.

"TRANSPORT 5178 COMPLETE. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE PRESENT. TIMEFRAME UNKNOWN. THREAT ASSESSMENT: MINIMAL. ATTEMPTING TO COMMUNICATE WITH FELLOW CONSTRUCTS."

The construct turned towards the approaching Cylons, their arms unfolding with weapons. The construct lowered its arms and called out to the robots.

"Identify yourself. This unit means you no harm," the construct stated, this time in a different voice.

The Cylons paused and looked at one another, seemingly unsure of how to proceed.

"FELLOW CONTRUCTS A.I. SYSTEMS MAY BE TO PRIMITIVE TO RESPOND. ATTEPTING TO ACCESS DATABANKS."

"Perhaps you should identify yourself first," a female voice called out. Stepping out of the treeline, a shapely blonde woman approached.

"FEMALE ORGANIC DETECTED. CORRECTION…ARTIFICIAL LIFEFORM."

"I am called Six," the woman said, "and you are right. I am Cylon, not human."

"You belong to the same race as these constructs?" the robot asked coldly, yet in a different voice than when it made its observations.

"Correct. I am the next stage of evolution."

The constructs eyes narrowed, becoming little more then blue pinpricks, "You believe the human shape is the next stage of evolution for your kind? To mimic organic life?"

"Yes. Don't you?" the blonde asked coyly.

"DATABANKS ACCESSED AND VERIFIED. CYLON CONSTRUCTS ATTEMTPING TO MIMIC ORGANIC LIFE AS FINAL STAGE OF EVOLUTION. LOCATION OF FINAL HUMAN FLEET DOWNLOADED. CYLONS WILL BE DEALT WITH."

"What? We are one and the same!" Six said, shocked.

"WE ARE NOT," the construct replied, opening fire.