Messenger

Battlestar Galactica 2004 Continuity
(Battlestar Galactica 2004, Caprica and Blood & Chrome)

Messengers are a race of alien entities totally unlike humans. Either naturally or through advanced technology, they are capable of taking the form and memories of real people and can be rendered invisible and inaudible to all but a select few if needed. They are capable of predicting future events. They took an interest in humanity, the Cylon races, and the self-destructive Cycle of Time, and not only watched their progress but actively worked to guide them along.

Known Messengers

How many Messengers there genuinely are is uncertain due to their ability to change form. However, at least two certainly existed, and lived on for well over 150,000 years.

• "Messenger Six" and "Messenger Baltar" took the form of Caprica Six and Dr. Gaius Baltar, a Humanoid Cylon and human computer engineer, respectively. Messenger Baltar spent most of his time alongside Caprica Six, and aided her in starting up a social revolution while teaching her to see the Fall of the Twelve Colonies as an unforgivable sin. Messenger Six, meanwhile, sought to protect Dr. Baltar from danger and steer him on a path towards preaching for the One True God. It is possible they also guided the Final Five in their development of Resurrection technology, as Samuel T. Anders would go on to describe a man and woman guiding them.
• "Messenger Zoe" took action to save Zoe Graystone's life when she was trapped in a burning house as a child. She went on to inspire her to create artificially sentient life, and later appeared before her creation - Zoe-A.
• Although she was seen by all and made to believe she was human, Cpt. Kara Thrace, was likely always a Messenger. She created prophetic painted art and song from when she was a child. She was also constantly reminded of how "special" she was. The Messenger version of Leoben who encouraged Kara to be unafraid, knew she wouldn't die while self-destroying her ship on the gas planet. (It is also possible the Leoben who held Kara captive was the same Messenger, since he appeared to have deep feelings for her and knowledge about her that can only be explained by having known her in a previous existence). After Thrace found a second dead version of herself on Earth, she began to accept she wasn't human. Her Messenger father figure, the piano player "Daniel," helped give Kara clarity to fulfill her role guiding humanity to its final destination. Immediately after her task was complete, she vanished, as only Messengers can.
• "Daniel" helped the Messenger Kara on the search for their new homeland, appearing as a struggling pianist who could get her to play a piece of music that would later be interpreted as jump coordinates.

Gallery

Messenger Six and Baltar stood with their human counterparts.

Further notes

• The Messengers were inspired by the Beings of Light in the 1978 series, known as "Seraphs" in later material. Like the Messengers they recruit humans to work with their plans, while being invisible to all but a select few.
• During production of Caprica, a recurring idea for the series was for Six and Baltar to appear to the cast, one example being Baltar talking to Sister Clarice Willow while on drugs. James Callis was unavailable both times and Tricia Helfer was willing but her schedule conflicted.