The Uneasy Alliance
by AJ Marks
Part 30
Weapon drawn, pointed at him Adama contemplated his next move very carefully knowing that a lot more was at stake than just Zion now. Perhaps that was Ilbis’ plan all along, get him down here and destroy all of humanity.
“And what is the meaning of this?” he heard ilbis say, and turned around to see Turner along with several others pointing weapons, not at him but the approaching people.
“I have doubts of your course of action,” Turner said firmly.
“You doubt me?” Ilbis said.
“Of course he does, he sees the truth,” Apollo said, stepping forward. “You can only control those who blindly follow you.”
With that Apollo looked over at the group who was approaching and stopped.
“You are being used, he promises a lot, but in the end all he delivers is death,” Apollo stated.
“This is treason general,” Iblis said. “I think you should be relieved of all duties starting now.”
“You don’t have that authority,” Turner said.
“The council does, and I speak for the council,” Iblis replied, his face showing rage.
“Not all of us,” an older woman said, having sat off to the side and speaking up for the first time. “You need to take a vote before doing that, and you’ve been slowly taking more and more responsibility. I’ve been wary of your accumulating power lately, almost as if you are setting yourself up as a dictator. Why is that? Is what this man says true?”
“You’ve known me longer than that, I have the best interest of everyone in every decision,” Iblis said, a lie and Adama knew it.
“And your recent power grabs are disturbing,” the woman said.
“You have no control over people who don’t follow you,” Apollo said.
Adama watched as Iblis paused, as if he was hesitant to do anything.
“You foolish children, do you not see what is before you,” Iblis said. “I am your savior.”
Adama backed up slightly as Iblis rose up, arms outspread.
“I have powers you cannot fathom,” he said looking at Apollo.
“And I rejected you, you have no power to interfere with me,” Apollo replied stepping forward even more.
Everything seemed to freeze for a second all eyes were on the two. Suddenly Apollo opened fire to the shock of everyone there. Adama’s mind raced on how he might be able to get out of there, when instead of harming Iblis he changed upon blaster impact. His face changed into a form he never saw before, looking like a demon from legends.
Several people recoiled upon seeing the form, and one jumped back running from the room.
“I can save you all, I have the power,” Iblis said looking at everyone.
They looked around but even those who had supported him now appeared to backing away from him, leaving him isolated in the middle of the room facing Adama and Apollo.
“We never knew who you were,” the woman said backing up as well. “You are a demon.”
“I am the most powerful person you have ever known and the one who can deliver you from the fate which awaits you,” Iblis said.
“No, you’re hiding,” Adama said. “You’re hiding from them, what did you do this time?”
Iblis raised his arm, pointing it at Adama when a flash of light appeared. Standing between him and Iblis stood a new figure dressed in white, one who Adama recognized.
“John.”
“You have overstepped your limits again,” John said looking at Iblis.
“I will not be limited by the likes of you again,” Iblis said.
Lights of all colors flashed between the two as Adama fell back looking for cover. This fight was something he did not feel like getting involved in. he looked up seeing John merely standing there, his hands moving around either blocking or attacking Adama had no idea. Iblis used more body movement in his attacks and defenses
“You cannot win,” John said calmly.
“You Seraphs are insufferable,” Iblis said, pausing in his attacks, then disappeared leaving the room strangely quiet.
Adama recovered first and moved forward along with Apollo.
“Thought you didn’t get involved?” Apollo asked.
“Count Iblis is a special instance, he is on what you would call probation, and has violated it once more,” John said.
“Why get involved?” Adama asked.
“The moment he lost his support here it was decided upon, it would have meant more interference if we had not,” John said confusing Adama for a second. He gave it some thought and realized Iblis was going to attack him, perhaps that was the reason or the interference. “This is as far as I can help, form here on out you are on your own.”
With that John vanished leaving them to sort out what happened next.
“Well, that was, interesting,” the woman said moving over to sit back down.
“What do we do next?” another person asked.
“A council meeting will be called,” the woman said. “General, release Morpheus, we shall meet with him when the council reconvenes in thirty minutes, let everyone know.”
With that she moved away leaving Adama and Apollo to wonder what might happen next.
*****
Morpheus looked up as Turner walked into the room along with Apollo. Morpheus wondered what happened now and hoped Apollo had not been captured as well trying to rescue him, or something even more elaborate.
Turner opened the door and stood there.
“Well, come on, you’re free, there’s a council meeting in about twenty minutes, they want you to be there,” Turner said.
“Not sure what I can do, Zack seems to have made up his mind,” Morpheus said seeing a strange look on Turner’s face.
“Ah, he, well, he wasn’t who he said he was, and vanished,” Turner replied causing Morpheus to really become confused. The casual tone which Turner used didn’t explain anything as the cell doors opened.
“I’m afraid you’ve lost me,” Morpheus said looking at Turner then over at Apollo.
“Your councilman, Zack, is someone we’ve known and encountered before,” Apollo said.
“How is this possible?” Morpheus asked.
“He appeared before us as well, claimed to be a savior, and performed three miracles,” Apollo replied back to him. “He came through but we learned he really wasn’t responsible, only used certain things and what would happen to foresee people’s reactions. He is a master of manipulation. He leads entire civilizations to their doom.”
“I still don’t understand,” Morpheus said.
“He thrives for destruction,” Apollo said.
“Why doesn’t someone stop him?” Morpheus asked confused as to why someone would do this. “If he’s this powerful then are there not others?”
“They don’t get involved,” Apollo replied. “They have a policy not to interfere with developing civilizations.”
Morpheus made his way out of the jail area to see people all around looking confused. They had a similar look at the time Zion was about to be attacked, a look of the lost. They were lost at a time when war was on their doorstep. A war they did not invite, want or need, but found themselves thrust into once more.
Making his way towards the council he noticed one of the council members talking with a man in blue, white hair, and a posture of command in his motions and realized it was Commander Adama one of the leaders of the Colonials.
Making his way over he waited until they looked over at him.
“Morpheus, it appears you were correct, but things are moving way too fast now, especially after what happened,” the woman said, and Morpheus had to recall her name, Diana.
“I wish I had been wrong,” Morpheus said trying for a diplomatic position.
“Yes, I’ve been speaking with Commander Adama about the situation going on outside of Zion, and I want to hear it from you,” Diana said.
“I don’t have all the information, but the machines on the surface came under attack by a new robot race. At first we were unaware of who, or what they wanted. They attacked the humans in the Matrix,” Morpheus said, as they walked over to sit down.
“It’s logical they would attack there, the Cylons only wish to destroy all of humanity,” Adama said.
“By doing that they threatened the machines,” Morpheus said, so they defended themselves,” Morpheus said. “That’s where we came in, they asked us for help, to rise above the clouds and see what was going on.”
“That’s when you met us?” Apollo said.
“Yes, we encountered you, and learned more about who this enemy was,” Morpheus said.
“And we need Zion’s help,” Adama said.
“That’s where you lose me,” Diana said. “If, you are an advanced civilization as you claim, why do you need us. We are probably considered a backwater group.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, backwater,” Adama said.
“We are low tech,” Diana clarified.
“We need the information you have of this planet, how you survive, growing food,” Adama said.
“Food, its not that great,” Diana said, Morpheus understood.
“At this point, its not what it tastes like, its if it does the job until we can get something better,” Adama said. “We have some supplied, but there is a lot to get done.”
“We have to work together,” Apollo said.
“And that includes the machines on the surface,” Adama said.
“That will take some getting used to,” Diana said. “We’ve lived our entire lives under their threat.”
“I understand, the Cylons destroyed my entire civilization, killed millions including my wife and son,” Adama said, bitterness in his voice.
Morpheus knew there was a story there, one of tragic loss but remained quiet for the moment, waiting to see what might happen next. He knew what was going on, an alliance was being formed and trust had to be formed to work. He could not interfere this time, the leaders had to work it out for themselves.
“Very well, perhaps it’s time we speak with the leader of the machines,” Diana said, turning to Morpheus. “Do they even have a leader?”
“We speak though a machine called DE, who acts as a leader for them all,” Morpheus replied.
He watched as thought about it for several seconds before saying anything else.
“I shall meet with this DE and talk with him as well,” Diana said. “And you should be there as well commander, and you too Tuner and Morpheus.”
“You have my wisdom councilor,” Morpheus said getting the feeling they were finally on the right track to defend themselves and fight this upcoming war.
Now all they had to do was talk with the council and then head to the surface to meet with DE.
*****
Adama was quiet on the way back to the surface despite having more people this time. Morpheus and Daina, a councilwoman, joined them this time. Confronting iblis went smoother than he expected, which made him wonder what he had planned, if anything. Then of course there was the problem with what might be going on when they arrived at the surface, in orbit around the planet and back at the fleet.
“You’re quiet commander?” Diana said.
“Ah, thinking about things, like what is going on back at the fleet, there were reports of a Cylon battlestar nearby,” Adama replied back, hoping Tigh and Omega could handle things.
“I guess its ironic that the largest group of humans are hooked up to the Matrix,” Diana said.
“And they are in danger from another group of robots,” Morpheus said.
“Who are these Cylons?” Diana asked.
“They were created by the race of Cylons, an intelligent race. They depended too much on the robots, and the robots rebelled, gaining a hatred of all organic life,” Adama said.
He watched as Diana appeared thoughtful about this.
“Perhaps, our machines have learned a different lesson, after all, we were dependent on them and now they are dependent on us,” Morpheus said.
Adama watched the interaction wondering if they could trust the machines as well. So far they had little choice, and the machines wanted their help. But what happened after that? Would they attack again, would distrust occur?
Could machines and humans live in peace?
“We’re almost there,” Apollo said from the driver’s spot.
“How do things look?” Adama asked, knowing that how people acted could determine a lot.
“They look normal,” Apollo replied.
Adama relaxed a bit, but wouldn’t fully relax until he heard for himself.
“There is a shuttle, looks like its from the Enterprise,” Apollo said.
Adama nodded, knowing it could mean anything, including transporting personal to the ship, or simple communications. That was a thought as well, they needed a way to communicate with the surface faster. He would ask Doctor Wilker and DE, perhaps they knew of something.
End part 30