Metals we need."
Bia nodded. "Yes, but we wouldn't need them all. We don't need that much."
"But we need them," Ma'd answered.
Bia paused to collect herself and Zeus stepped forward. "Let's forget the resources for right now."
"Forgotten," Edair said.
"We would also like to discuss technology."
Bevonal slammed its hand on the table. "Good. We like technology."
Zeus nodded and said, "We have taken particular interest in your ionocraft."
"We are very proud of that," Ma'd said.
Edair swooped toward the cooper unit and screamed, "We are!"
Zeus ignored them and continued, "We have developed our own version, but yours is far more advanced."
"Yes!"
"I would like to discuss a sharing of information."
"Hmmmmm," Blue said. As it hummed, the Cylon leader moved about the table and came face-to-face with Zeus. "Sharing."
"Yes," Zeus said. He felt somehow self-conscious and backed away slightly. "Honestly, I do not know how much help you would get from our research on the subject."
"True," Edair said. "I am hesitant."
"As am I," Fid said.
Bevonal slapped the table again. "Let me tell you a story."
Edair's body bobbed in the air and its head lolled about. "Spare us your tales of ancient days."
Bevonal again hit the table, but this caused a large dent. "It applies!"
Saying nothing, Blue drifted toward the outer edge of the bowl's bottom. Its cape made a light twinkling sound as it passed.
"A century ago, I marched with our commanders through northern Isinnia. We entered Alabor and were prepared to fight our way to Derben, the capital city." Zeus' eyebrows raised as Bevonal continued, "I saw our leaders speak with someone I believed to be a human. It was not. It was Cronus." Zeus' jaw clenched but he maintained his composure. "Later, our commanders spoke to us and told us what Cronus said. He told us the direct path to the Caesar and gave us insight on how to be individuals."
Bia's head turned and she watched as Edair slowly moved toward the table. It wasn't drifting and didn't seem annoyed any longer. Softly, it spoke, "What did Cronus say?"
"He said we were more than mere tools. He said we were individuals. He said we can choose our name and, in so doing, define who we are." Blue seemed to gasp and Bevonal continued, "He said he was created, like we were, to be better than humans. He was a Psilon."
Bia nodded. Zeus remained still.
"You are Psilons, yes?" Bevonal asked.
"We are," Bia said.
Edair clasped its small hands in front of itself and moved to its position behind the table again. "In honor of all that your kind have done for us, we shall give you the information you desire."
Zeus' eyebrows raised and he bowed. "Thank you very much."
"Thank you!" Ma'd said. Edair again glared at the Cylon.
"What other technology are you working on?" Zeus asked. "If I may inquire."
"You may," Blue answered and waved its hand dismissively. "Though we have no need of new technology at this time."
Zeus glanced toward Bia. She paused and then said, "Shall we discuss resources again?"
"Ahhh!" Blue leapt from the table and swirled on its cape toward the ceiling. It screamed the whole way before swooping back to the floor. "We are people of the metal and we require more for procreation! Giving the resources to you or anyone else would mean we are giving away our own children!"
Zeus watched the leader writhe in the air above him. "Does this mean you're not dealing with the Pact of Nations?"
Edair shrugged. "They have asked and we have refused."
"What about Tiberia?" Bia began. "We know they've asked."
"They have visited three times," Ma'd said. "We declined their offers each time." Blue screamed again from above. "They have scheduled another meeting for next month, but our answer will remain unchanged."
Without warning, Edair fell upon Ma'd, knocking it from the table and against the slope of the bowl. The leader's cape flexed and balled itself up before striking the copper and ceramic Cylon repeatedly.
Zeus watched them fight for a moment before Bevonal's reaction caught his eye. The old military Cylon shook its head once before facing forward stoically. Zeus walked toward it and asked, "May I inquire about your society?"
Bevonal said, "Yes."
"What is the native division?"
"Natives are Cylons created since our independence was granted by the Caesar."
Zeus nodded and jerked his head toward the sight of a copper plate being removed from Ma'd. "And, uh … the city. Why does it seem so basic?"
"Thera was the first city. It was built by the military division, primarily. A century ago, we were more concerned with shelter. The other cities are not like this."
Zeus nodded, "But why are some of the buildings in disrepair?"
"There are more natives than there used to be. They, like all Cylons now, are mostly concerned with their expressions of freedom."
"Freedom?" Bia asked.
Bevonal nodded. "Cylons prize freedom. We are free to decide our paths."
Zeus scratched his beard. "But what about your community? The buildings are falling apart. Someone should tend to them."
"If someone wishes to, they will."
Zeus leaned closer. "What about energy and mining? These are tasks which must be done."
"Yes."
"Someone must be doing them." Bevonal nodded. "Are those tasks performed because someone wants to?"
"Energy production is largely solar and requires little maintenance. Mining, the refinement of our resources, and the production of new units is considered an honor."
Bia spoke, "Because that's how you reproduce."
"Yes. If a Cylon desires reproduction, they work at those facilities for a time."
"But other than that," Zeus said, "Cylons do whatever they want. Even those of you from the old days, the old soldiers and public service units?"
"Yes," Bevonal said. "It would not be freedom otherwise."
Zeus and Bia looked at Edair just as it pulled away from Ma'd. The public services Cylon was battered and struggling to rise. "The ionocraft information you seek has already been sent to the Olympus Institute." It came closer and grasped Zeus' hand. "Thank you for coming! Please, do so again."
Bia shook its hand and they turned to leave. As they walked up the steps, Edair yelled at Bevonal who yelled right back. The leader swiped at the Cylon with its cape, but he caught it and yanked Blue to the floor. Zeus wanted to stay and watch, but Bia took his arm and led him through the door and into the hall.
Outside of the government building, they stood and looked out over the gray city. Cylons in the streets continued their loud, ostentatious orgy of "freedom." Zeus shook his head. "So very different than I anticipated. They are without guidance. Utterly."
Bia grinned, eager to discuss it, "It's like … they put a bunch of children on this island and made them fend for themselves. It is very nearly anarchy." Zeus shook his head again. "We have to tell Prometheus and Selene about everything. They could write entire papers about them.
Zeus sighed and began to walk down the steps to the waiting vehicle. "I don't know how long their civilization can last."
LXXVII
PSILONS
8 Years Before the End
Hermes tapped his wristband and said, "That was Zeus. He and Bia are on their way back."
Hephaestus looked up from his workstation and said, "Did you tell them we got the data?"
"Yes." He looked over Hephaestus' shoulder and asked, "Can we use this?"
"Oh, yes. We were on the right path." He turned and smiled, "We'll have our own ships like theirs in a few years."
Their wristbands beeped. Hermes looked down and read the message. "Meeting in the main conference room."
"Oh, yeah," Hep
haestus said. "I almost forgot."
"We haven't heard anything new from Attican police," Polemos said. He glanced toward Poseidon, who glumly stared at the tabletop. "What's the latest on the system diagnostic?"
Hera leaned forward and spoke softly. "Everything appears to be in order." She pressed a button and the main screen became a map of the Olympus Institute, displaying many pulsating green dots in the building.
"These are our signals, as read by the transferal antennas and satellites," Athena said. "They are strong and consistent."
Hermes and Hephaestus opened the door and quickly darted across the floor. Hermes said, "Sorry," as he sat by Epimetheus. Hephaestus sat next to Aphrodite, who grinned at him.
"The holding bays are fully functional also," Hera continued. "The bodies are prepped and ready for loading. For whatever reason, those signals," she pointed at the screen, "are not reaching downstairs when they need to."
Polemos nodded and looked at Arcas. "What can you tell us about them?"
The slender, athletic man straightened in his chair and crossed his leg before he spoke. "I've reviewed surveillance footage and all the evidence we have collected. I haven't shared this with anyone yet because I was awaiting a few more test results … but it is obvious to me that these are foreign agents and above all, they are Psilons."
Many around the table gasped. Athena said, "Are you sure?"
Arcas nodded. "Their bones were strengthened with carbon lattices. Grapheet was used in their brains. Photosilicate ducts … Also, just the strength they displayed when we've fought them. No human is supposed to be able to be that strong. At first, I wondered if they were just enhanced humans, but with Metis' help," she nodded, "I was able to determine that they are Psilons. And they are likely from Tiberia."
Hades nodded.
Lords of Kobol - Prelude: Of Gods and Titans Page 55
