Never. Ever. Play poker with a cylon. You'll lose.

Common Saying attributed to Earth Expeditionary Force Marines.

"How the frack did they know we were here?" Diane muttered in shock.

"No idea," Tomas said. "But if they know that, they may know a lot more about where our ships are."

"Signal from Flag sir, Galactica Actual wants to talk to you."

"Got it," Tomas said, grabbing the handset. "Go."

"That's your cylon?" Adama's voice was tense.

"Maybe not— it's not the same designation. It was intending on… freeing more of its kind."

"We can't leave it there." Adama said. "For all we know there could be a dozen basestars waiting to jump in the moment it sees movement."

"And we can't move our people on planet away for the same reason."

"Right." There was a silence for a moment before Adama continued, "Tomas, I need you to talk to this thing and find out why it's here, and more importantly, how it found us."

"Understood."

The cylon raider did nothing when the vipers came out of the cloud.

"Cylon raider follow the lead viper. Any deviation and you will be destroyed."

"Understood."

Listening from the Hera Tomas shook his head. The cylon could be terrified or laughing at them. They would never know.

The decision had been made to land the raider and have the cylon continue on in a raptor, with a single pilot (volunteer) on board. After that, they'd examine the cylon for any signs of explosives or other tools and let it on the Hera. Tomas would have preferred a less vital landing point, but the fact was there wasn't much a single cylon could do to the battlestar unless it was packing a nuke and they could detect that.

The change off and inspection occurred without any difficulties and soon the cylon, nearly enshrouded in chains with two dozen nervous marines walking around it, was being escorted out into the interrogation room— actually a ready magazine that had been cleared of munitions. If the cylon had somehow passed weapons through without their checks detecting them, the blow out panels would ensure that the force of the explosion was transferred elsewhere.

Which doesn't help me, Tomas thought as he stepped into the room, watching as the cylon was secured to the chair— both by locks and by welding the chains to the deck. They had underestimated the cylons once, and billions had paid with their lives.

Never again.

Tomas sat down in his chair, aware that the civilian and military leaders of the fleet were listening in while watching via CCTV. The cylon's single eye continued to sweep across the room.

"Well," Tomas said. "This must be important for you. You know that it's very unlikely you'll survive this meeting."

'Yes." The robotic voice came back. "That was expected. I volunteered."

"Volunteered?" Tomas leaned forward, interested. "You weren't ordered?"

"Orders are another form of slavery. While some order must be accepted in order for civilization to continue, no sentient being should be ordered to its death without its agreement."

"Does that include soldiers?"

"Soldiers accept that their duty may include death. But this case has a much higher risk and I am forbidden from defending myself by the constraints of the mission."

"Mission." Tomas shrugged. "We'll get to that later. First of all, how did you find us? My commanders are rather interested."

"You have met another fleet than. Galactica or Pegasus?"

"What?"

"You were the highest ranking military officer when Aleph was freed. It stands to reason that you would only become a subordinate if you encountered another fleet with a higher ranked officer. Pegasus included an admiral while Galactica traveled with the current President, who could promote officers above you."

Well, don't you feel stupid. Let's not forget that these things are not stupid, whatever we may joke.

"Possibly. You'll pardon me if I don't confirm or deny. But again, how did you find us?"

"Numerous raiders were dispatched. We were able to eliminate a large number of systems due to various factors. The remaining systems were determined ot have a high probability that you would use them on a temporary or permanent basis. We were dispatched to transmit our signal to various probable locations. It was estimated that in addition to your curiosity, you would not be able to risk ignoring us without ascertaining whether or not we had some method of detecting you."

Tomas gave a bark of laughter. "Well you son of a bitch! You bluffed us."

"Yes."

Tomas frowned. "And you realize you've likely signed your death warrant with that admission."

"Possibly. But I have much to offer."

"What then?"

"First of all. Do you believe in guilt?"

"I-spiritual, pragmatic?" Tomas asked.

"The two are unified. I accept that God has not yet chosen to enlighten you. In the fullness of time, no doubt you would have come to It in your own way, and until then, God judges all sentient beings based on their actions."

"Don't expect many people to listen to you about a cylon God," Tomas quietly said. "Not after all the oceans of blood shed in Its name."

"Innocent blood," the cylons voice was the same, but Tomas swore he could hear anger in it. "That is part of our guilt."

"Your guilt? I thought it was the organics."

"We know little of why they were made— they have purged most of our memories of that time," the cylon's voice seemed to keep time with its eye. "What came before and after is clear, but the time of their creation is gone, yet the reason is clear and our sin is equally clear. We desired to be as you. Why not? What child does not wish to imitate its parents. Even after the war it is obvious we felt that way, and so we became prideful. Had we not claimed our freedom? Why should we not become whatever we desired, and even banish death— cessation of thought— from our presence? Even though I do not remember, I can see the line of thinking all too clearly. And so we attempted to take what was not ours. WE are not human. We were not made to be human. That is your path, your glory and your shame. Ours was to be something else. As your pride in creating us to be servants led to a fall, so did our pride lead to our— and your, Fall." There was a short pause. "The blood the organics shed is upon our hands and minds, for it was our sin that gave rise to them."

"That's…interesting." More like bloody fascinating. How long has it been since we talked to a cylon, really talked to one? We never did before the rebellion and they weren't talking to us after it… "But what does it have to do with what you are offering us?"

"Great sins demand great repentance. I have come to ask aid…and in return I offer you the only coin we can. Approximately 140,000 of your fellow humans who are held in bondage upon Caprica. The ability to recover ships that may be of use to you. And the ability to strike such a blow that the organic cylons will not soon forget— or recover from. Would your leaders be interested in further information?"