Unexpected Redemption (A Battlestar Galactica 1978 FanFiction)

Chapter 5

"He's over here." The group followed Dr. Cyprus into the next room. What they saw was not what they expected. He was covered in numerous bandages, and he was not moving. At first, they feared he was dead, but soon they saw the gentle rise and fall of his chest.

"How bad is it?" Starbuck asked.

"I can't know for sure until he regains consciousness, but I think he has a fractured skull, probable concussion, broken ribs, a broken leg, and he might be blind." They all fell silent when they realized just how serious it all was.

When Dr. Cyprus noticed that Starbuck was staring at the bandages covering Apollo's eyes he said, "They are a precaution that might save his sight. You must make sure that he keeps them on for a secton (week) after he wakes up. Any earlier might make it permanent."

"What's all this stuff for?" Jolly asked, pointing to the foreign-looking objects on the side table.

"These are what I was able to make according to the information in the ancient books and manuscripts of Kobol, Terra, and Earth. This object is used to measure heart rate," he said as he picked up one of the items. "You put the two ends in your ears, and you put the other end onto the person's chest, then you can count how many times the heart beats. Here, let me show you." He put the two ends into his ears and then knelt down beside Apollo. Then he pulled back some of the covers and gently pressed the other end onto Apollo's bare chest. Before he could show them what the rest of the objects were, Talnar entered. "What is it, Talnar?"

"Fornax has sent for you."

"But he never sends for me this time of day...." When the realization of what was happening hit him, he turned to Talnar and whispered, "Talnar, before I go, I want you to know that all these yahrens (years) I've considered you my best friend and companion. If it comes to the worst, you must carry out the instructions in my will that is here." He handed him a piece of paper. "And you must do everything in your power to get them back to their Battlestar. I am sure that you will be able to go with them, and they can set you free. Goodbye, my friend." He gave the Cylon a big hug and said to the others, "If you will excuse me." Then he turned and hurried along the passageways to the hidden door that led out into his room.

"We can watch on the security cameras," Talnar said flipping a switch. An image appeared on the wall. It was a big room with a tall throne-like chair in the center. Directly in front of the chair stood a tall IL series Cylon named Fornax. In the corner of the room, a group of centurions were leading Dr. Cyprus to Fornax.

"What do you know of the Colonial Viper that landed here, Dr. Cyprus?" Fornax asked.

"What Colonial Viper?"

"Stop playing games with me. I know you saw it, and I know you had something to do with it."

"I don't know what you're talking about, Fornax."

"Fine. I will play along with your little game and tell you what happened," he paused. "A Colonial Viper came into our scanner range and crashed somewhere nearby. But when I sent the centurions to look, they saw that the ship was consumed in flames. But the escape pod had been launched before it ever hit the ground. They found the pod in flames as well, but the funny thing is, there were human footprints all around the crash site."

"And just what are you inferring?"

"You were either at the site of the crash, or the pilot survived, or more likely, you helped the pilot escape before it blew up."

"I'm afraid I still have no idea what you are talking about."

"Centurions, let's see if we can convince him to tell us the truth." The two centurions raised the weapons, but Dr. Cyprus wouldn't speak. "If you refuse to speak then we will kill you." Fornax waited a few seconds then gave the centurions the signal. They both fired their weapons, and Dr. Cyprus dropped to the floor dead.