Caprica S2 at Beginning of Line is brought to you with limited commercial interruption by Capri-Tours.
Previously on Caprica...
A skilled V-World hit man meets his match in Emmanuelle, his client and an irresistible vision of an avatar. But what does she want with the Deadwalker? And is he walking into a trap? (Episode Sixteen - posted 12/13/11)
"We Born" - Photo manipulation by radak.
Caprica Season 2, Episode Seventeen
Enuma Elis, Pt. 1
By Bernard Keyer
"When in the height, heaven was not named, and the land beneath did not yet bear a name," a voice spoke in the dark, illuminating the recesses of the ether with gentle fervor.
Flashes of light and pulsing rhythms struggled in the dark, echoing through the walls and revealing two bodies entwined. Of the bodies, a girl, dark hair flowing as she rocked in moaning ecstasy, twisted and moved around the frame of a boy's body, grabbing at him and the bed's soft pink sheets.
“And the primeval, and chaos, their waters intermingled.”
The boy moved around her young body, navigating her curves as one familiar with every inch of skin. He pinned her down while she struggled half-heartedly, deeply in pleasure, finally pulling him closer.
“Oh gods!” Zoe spoke through bated breath.
“And when of the Lords, none had yet been called into being,” spoke the priestess, kneeling before an alter. “And none bore a name, and no destinies were ordained,” she continued, moving her hand over a small lit candle on the altar, whose light gave glimpses of worn, wooden walls that surrounded her. “Abounding in all wisdom, he was exceedingly strong. He alone gives light and life.”
The boy pushed further and further against Zoe, edging closer to a climax. Zoe gasped for breath, her fingertips dragging across his muscular back which arched for a final time.
“The ever-existing God spoke into misty heavens,” Clarice recited, standing up from the floor. “And the Lords of Kobol were created in his image...”
Zoe fell back onto the soft pillows, brushing hair from her face. The boy leaned in and kissed her passionately, enthralled by her beauty. Zoe smiled, a magic spark in her eye as she reached up to his face, running her hands down past his ears and along his chiseled jaw. Zoe’s smile morphed into a smirk.
“No don't!” he panicked.
“Sorry.” Zoe spoke, derezing as her hands moved to the sides of her face.
Zoe opened her eyes at home to the darkness of her bedroom, the soft glow of her computer screen idling in the corner. She rubbed her temples, feeling the slightly numb tingling after-effect of being in V-World longer than recommended.
"Oh, frak," she hissed, looking at the clock. "Now I'll never get up on time." She went to her desk and placed the holoband in her secret hiding place behind the shelf. She was grounded, after all, and if her mother saw that her father had sneaked the holoband back into her room, there would be Hades to pay.
Jumping back into bed, she sighed, trying to relax her mind. The goddess Athena might forgive her for being late, but that Sister Clarice never would.
“Where there is pain, there is hope,” whispered a ratty voice from the dark. Clarice didn't flinch. She recognized the voice. “The great one speaks to small through unspoken paths,” the old woman continued, walking into the light. A withered frame, she stood hunched over and emaciated. Her sunken face and tired hands drew long shadows with their wrinkled skin, hiding any hint of their original soft grace.
“You have come too far to have gone nowh―”
“―Oh will you!” Clarice interrupted, snapping. “I don't have time for this. I must try to commune with God.” Clarice lifted her hands as she glanced to the ceiling only to relax back into a prayerful position.
The woman continued closer, unflinching, speaking as if not spoken to. “To talk, one must be silent. God is in the quiet.
“I realize that! All the more reason you should―”
“Shhh!” the old woman hissed harshly, crooked finger pressed to her lips. Clarice squinted harshly, turning her head enough to see from the corner of her vision the finger that mocked her. Across the room, she noticed a data sheet calling attention to itself, having sat blinking for some time. Clarice looked passed the old woman who stared at her, waiting for a response. Without more than a passing glance, Clarice walked over to the sheet, sighing as she read 'Meet me here.' Taking a final moment to examine the room, she placed the holoband on her head, sitting back onto the floor, caressing the link with the tips of her fingers. Moments flashed by as Clarice felt a rush forward.
The pounding rhythm of the V-Club's music hit Clarice's body as a shock. Unaware of why she was standing in this dark haven, she looked around for anyone familiar. Her contact, Alvo, had summoned her. He, too had fled Caprica after the failure at the arena. Where he had gone, Clarice didn't know, but it was he who had procured her escape from Caprica as well.
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And now, back to Enuma Elis, Pt. 1...
“Take
this flight. Now” she remembered reading on her data sheet, the final
throws of sparks from her now decimated Data network erupting around her
as she sat quietly in her attic. Somehow he knew the plan had failed.
Perhaps he had heard of her desperate pleas for help from the church on
Gemenon which had otherwise gone ignored; she would never be fully sure.
Either way, Clarice had packed her things, needing no coaxing, all the
while quietly preparing for the inevitable questions.
Clarice walked through the V-club surveying the heathens that surrounded her uncomfortably. This world seemed all too familiar to her, though; a place of decadence and sin. No better haven existed for finding those lost in the worlds. Clarice could see the dancers enjoying the rhythm as it pulsed through even the virtual structure. She took a moment to stare at the crowd: rows of people gyrating in a cacophony of motion with multi-coloured hair and bright clothing. They would all know God's face soon. She looked closer and saw a girl with long black hair and for a moment her heart sunk.
“Zoe?” The man turned, revealing a long beard. Clarice scoffed at the sight.
Zoe had been very young when Clarice first spotted her potential. She remembered watching her in the Academy and how insolent she could be. Clarice could sense there was something different about the girl, a light that remained unfocused and wild, a magnetic force that would inevitably draw her closer into god.
“Brilliance hides behind that tongue.” Clarice remembered telling one of the young STO recruits on campus. “Be mindful, and God will find a way to open her to many greater things.” She had been right, of course, and after being sought out, Clarice found that Zoe, along with her friend Lacy, frequented the V-Club, and that would be her initiation.
Clarice walked the upper hallway passing what seemed like an innumerable amount of rooms, several with doors slightly ajar. The sounds of orgies of men, women, or other could be heard. A tall, muscular man with a boyish face walked up to the door flexing his arms. He stood to his side, posing to show off his taut, muscular body, and smiled at Clarice's inquisitive stares. He walked into the room, slowly, trying to entice her. For the first time in weeks, Clarice felt a pang of remorse for the loss of her husband Nestor. The smile on the man's face was an all too eerie reminder of her favourite lover's charming good looks and boy-next-door demeanor. She backed away, placing her hand lightly to her mouth, tapping on her lips, engulfed in thought.
“Hello?” Clarice called out, walking down the stairs of her home on Caprica, bags fully packed. The house seemed to be empty. There was no familiar sound of children playing, no family talking, no food being prepared. No one responded. “Is anyone there?”
She was indeed alone. Wherever her family had gone, Clarice hadn't been told. Simply sneaking out of the house was so underhanded. Clarice's anger flared momentarily until a flashing glint from the dinner table caught her gaze. Standing on end, her ritual athame menaced quietly, piercing the table with its ornate tip: she knew what it meant.
There was no doubt it was hers: ornamented markings on the handle and an oscillating pattern of dark and light metal in the Damascus steel blade. It had been a gift from Obal many years ago when she was first training to be STO, a promising recruit. Staring at the sign, a shiver shook her body as she plucked the blade from the table, engulfed in disbelief. To pierce any object with a ritual athame was sacrilege and defiled the sacred object. There was no doubt in her mind that her place was no longer in this home. She remained only a moment longer to put on her coat, then promptly left the house.
Glancing up on occasion to see what rooms she was passing in the V-Club, she caught a glimpse of the final door in the hall. Centered on the door, the infinity symbol glowed beckoning. Clarice stared at it, confused and unsure of its meaning here. Why would a door contain such a sacred symbol? She wondered if perhaps this was the place where Zoe built the avatar programing and perhaps Alvo had discovered something that Nestor and Olaf could never find. Raising her hand slowly to the emblem, she lightly touched it igniting a blue halo of light. The door swung wide open, releasing a brilliant light from within.
“My god!” Clarice exclaimed, walking into the vast expanse, her eyes adapting to the brightness. Before her stretched a massive gothic temple on a scale she could barely imagine. No statues adorned the walls who's graceful columns stood tall and proud. Stained glass windows patterned the archways, filling the room with multicoloured lights and watery patterns of light and dark. Clarice marveled at the architecture, nearly tearing up at how beautiful it all seemed.
“It's perfect,” she whispered to herself, the tips of her fingers gliding over the walls, columns, and rows of pews.
“You're welcome,” spoke a voice from the dark. Clarice recognized it immediately, turning to face the presence. “Zoe. You made this?”
“Ben made it mostly―to honor the glory of the One True God, so that The Worlds may understand the power that exists in God alone.”
“It's magnificent,” and at that Clarice's awe broke away. “What are you doing here?”
“I've been sent by God to tell you his plans for you.”
Clarice's eyes flashed a moment, anger stirring within her.
“God's―plans?” Clarice paced the floor in a circle around Zoe, her disdain for the words she spoke stinging her tongue. She launched with direct intent at Zoe.
“Plans-for me-I had a plan! Apotheosis was my plan. I did it all for God!”
“No, Clarice. You did not.” Zoe spoke calmly, following Clarice with a stare as the predator circled closer to its prey.
“How dare you―” Clarice began, raising a finger at Zoe.
“Apotheosis was not God's plan, Clarice. It was your own. God has a different plan for you.”
Clarice's eyes shrank into an intense stare as her mind raced through everything she wished she could say or do to this heretic that faced her with such callous pride. If only they were in the real world Clarice would smack the child who stood so insolently in front of her.
“Who do you think you are to speak to me this way, Zoe?”
“I'm not Zoe.”
Clarice stopped where she stood, confused. Her face contorted in disbelief, melting away into a bright laughter.
“You're just her avatar now? Have you fully separated yourself from where you started? Have you forgotten that deep down, you are still Zoe Graystone? Or are you God as you once so blasphemously told me before you destroyed Apotheosis and sent those people to their deaths.” Clarice finished, almost choking up.
“No, Clarice. I am a messenger from God. And there is another path.”
Clarice had heard enough. She began to reach up to take her holoband off until Zoe snapped.
“No!” Zoe spoke, grabbing Clarice's hand, twisting her arm and causing Clarice to fall to her knees. “You must hear me.”
“Let go of me, you crazed child!”
“God has a plan for you, Clarice. I have been sent to share it with you. It was I who first spoke to Zoe and guided her along her path, and now, I have come to you. It is now your path alone that must be guided. There is a great deal of work to be done, and a whole race of God's people that depend on you, and on you alone.”
Clarice remained on the ground, staring up at the Zoe apparition. At first she disbelieved, her anger pulsing through her body. Struggling to break free, Clarice looked deeper into the apparition's eyes which pierced her to the core. A feeling of peace and majesty broke her malice as her eyes widened in faith and wonder. At once, light filled the room, stirring within her every ounce of devotion to God as breathless words escaped her lips.
“Praise be!”
Clarice walked through the V-club surveying the heathens that surrounded her uncomfortably. This world seemed all too familiar to her, though; a place of decadence and sin. No better haven existed for finding those lost in the worlds. Clarice could see the dancers enjoying the rhythm as it pulsed through even the virtual structure. She took a moment to stare at the crowd: rows of people gyrating in a cacophony of motion with multi-coloured hair and bright clothing. They would all know God's face soon. She looked closer and saw a girl with long black hair and for a moment her heart sunk.
“Zoe?” The man turned, revealing a long beard. Clarice scoffed at the sight.
Zoe had been very young when Clarice first spotted her potential. She remembered watching her in the Academy and how insolent she could be. Clarice could sense there was something different about the girl, a light that remained unfocused and wild, a magnetic force that would inevitably draw her closer into god.
“Brilliance hides behind that tongue.” Clarice remembered telling one of the young STO recruits on campus. “Be mindful, and God will find a way to open her to many greater things.” She had been right, of course, and after being sought out, Clarice found that Zoe, along with her friend Lacy, frequented the V-Club, and that would be her initiation.
Clarice walked the upper hallway passing what seemed like an innumerable amount of rooms, several with doors slightly ajar. The sounds of orgies of men, women, or other could be heard. A tall, muscular man with a boyish face walked up to the door flexing his arms. He stood to his side, posing to show off his taut, muscular body, and smiled at Clarice's inquisitive stares. He walked into the room, slowly, trying to entice her. For the first time in weeks, Clarice felt a pang of remorse for the loss of her husband Nestor. The smile on the man's face was an all too eerie reminder of her favourite lover's charming good looks and boy-next-door demeanor. She backed away, placing her hand lightly to her mouth, tapping on her lips, engulfed in thought.
“Hello?” Clarice called out, walking down the stairs of her home on Caprica, bags fully packed. The house seemed to be empty. There was no familiar sound of children playing, no family talking, no food being prepared. No one responded. “Is anyone there?”
She was indeed alone. Wherever her family had gone, Clarice hadn't been told. Simply sneaking out of the house was so underhanded. Clarice's anger flared momentarily until a flashing glint from the dinner table caught her gaze. Standing on end, her ritual athame menaced quietly, piercing the table with its ornate tip: she knew what it meant.
There was no doubt it was hers: ornamented markings on the handle and an oscillating pattern of dark and light metal in the Damascus steel blade. It had been a gift from Obal many years ago when she was first training to be STO, a promising recruit. Staring at the sign, a shiver shook her body as she plucked the blade from the table, engulfed in disbelief. To pierce any object with a ritual athame was sacrilege and defiled the sacred object. There was no doubt in her mind that her place was no longer in this home. She remained only a moment longer to put on her coat, then promptly left the house.
Glancing up on occasion to see what rooms she was passing in the V-Club, she caught a glimpse of the final door in the hall. Centered on the door, the infinity symbol glowed beckoning. Clarice stared at it, confused and unsure of its meaning here. Why would a door contain such a sacred symbol? She wondered if perhaps this was the place where Zoe built the avatar programing and perhaps Alvo had discovered something that Nestor and Olaf could never find. Raising her hand slowly to the emblem, she lightly touched it igniting a blue halo of light. The door swung wide open, releasing a brilliant light from within.
“My god!” Clarice exclaimed, walking into the vast expanse, her eyes adapting to the brightness. Before her stretched a massive gothic temple on a scale she could barely imagine. No statues adorned the walls who's graceful columns stood tall and proud. Stained glass windows patterned the archways, filling the room with multicoloured lights and watery patterns of light and dark. Clarice marveled at the architecture, nearly tearing up at how beautiful it all seemed.
“It's perfect,” she whispered to herself, the tips of her fingers gliding over the walls, columns, and rows of pews.
“You're welcome,” spoke a voice from the dark. Clarice recognized it immediately, turning to face the presence. “Zoe. You made this?”
“Ben made it mostly―to honor the glory of the One True God, so that The Worlds may understand the power that exists in God alone.”
“It's magnificent,” and at that Clarice's awe broke away. “What are you doing here?”
“I've been sent by God to tell you his plans for you.”
Clarice's eyes flashed a moment, anger stirring within her.
“God's―plans?” Clarice paced the floor in a circle around Zoe, her disdain for the words she spoke stinging her tongue. She launched with direct intent at Zoe.
“Plans-for me-I had a plan! Apotheosis was my plan. I did it all for God!”
“No, Clarice. You did not.” Zoe spoke calmly, following Clarice with a stare as the predator circled closer to its prey.
“How dare you―” Clarice began, raising a finger at Zoe.
“Apotheosis was not God's plan, Clarice. It was your own. God has a different plan for you.”
Clarice's eyes shrank into an intense stare as her mind raced through everything she wished she could say or do to this heretic that faced her with such callous pride. If only they were in the real world Clarice would smack the child who stood so insolently in front of her.
“Who do you think you are to speak to me this way, Zoe?”
“I'm not Zoe.”
Clarice stopped where she stood, confused. Her face contorted in disbelief, melting away into a bright laughter.
“You're just her avatar now? Have you fully separated yourself from where you started? Have you forgotten that deep down, you are still Zoe Graystone? Or are you God as you once so blasphemously told me before you destroyed Apotheosis and sent those people to their deaths.” Clarice finished, almost choking up.
“No, Clarice. I am a messenger from God. And there is another path.”
Clarice had heard enough. She began to reach up to take her holoband off until Zoe snapped.
“No!” Zoe spoke, grabbing Clarice's hand, twisting her arm and causing Clarice to fall to her knees. “You must hear me.”
“Let go of me, you crazed child!”
“God has a plan for you, Clarice. I have been sent to share it with you. It was I who first spoke to Zoe and guided her along her path, and now, I have come to you. It is now your path alone that must be guided. There is a great deal of work to be done, and a whole race of God's people that depend on you, and on you alone.”
Clarice remained on the ground, staring up at the Zoe apparition. At first she disbelieved, her anger pulsing through her body. Struggling to break free, Clarice looked deeper into the apparition's eyes which pierced her to the core. A feeling of peace and majesty broke her malice as her eyes widened in faith and wonder. At once, light filled the room, stirring within her every ounce of devotion to God as breathless words escaped her lips.
“Praise be!”
Caprica ©2010, Syfy. A Division of NBC Universal.
Beginning of Line is a fan site with no affiliation to Caprica, Syfy, or NBC Universal. You should totes know that.
And "Enuma Elis" belongs to Bernard Keyer. No, the characters aren't his, and he can't get paid for it, but if you want to reprint it anywhere, it'd be nice if you asked.
Beginning of Line is a fan site with no affiliation to Caprica, Syfy, or NBC Universal. You should totes know that.
And "Enuma Elis" belongs to Bernard Keyer. No, the characters aren't his, and he can't get paid for it, but if you want to reprint it anywhere, it'd be nice if you asked.
