"The Man with Nine Lives" is the fifteenth episode of Battlestar Galactica. It premiered on January 28, 1979.
In syndication and on streaming, "The Man with Nine Lives" is sometimes listed as the seventeenth episode of the season. This happens when the series premiere episode, "Saga of a Star World", is split into three episodes.
Plot[]
- "It has been twelve sectons since Baltar's surrender and our encounter with the advanced race, the mysterious ones who gave us coordinates which presumably would guide us to the planet Earth. No reference of time seems apparent in the curious directions so it's impossible to know whether we can expect to find Earth tomorrow or many yahrens from now. But our scouts have located increased signs of the trail taken by our ancestors, the Thirteenth Tribe. In my heart, I feel we are getting close. Celebrations are everywhere. Our people's expectations grow with every passing centar. We've given our weary combat pilots time for leisure and rejuvenation. Food, water and hope."
- —Adama
Act 1[]
Galactica's Warriors have been given time to unwind, and Apollo and Starbuck head over to Rising Star by Shuttle. Starbuck is excited to play Pyramid, though Apollo reminds him of his previous bad luck, specifically a time on Pinius when he bet away Apollo's pay.
On another shuttle, Canaris, a man named Chameleon watches a pre-recorded current affairs show hosted by Zed and Zara. It moves on to an advertisement by Omega, calling for volunteers to the military, aged 16–45 and not in occupations deemed critical. The show resumes, with the two hosts introducing Starbuck, their guest Warrior of the Centar. Starbuck gives them his background, that he was raised as an orphan after a Cylon assault on Caprica that destroyed the city of Umbra. Chameleon is interrupted by the shuttle's docket collector; unwilling and unable to pay him, he distracts him with the lie that he is the manager in charge of Inter-Fleet Broadcasting's news and interviews, and he'd like to have the man interviewed for an upcoming story. When the collector asks for the docket, Chameleon is able to persuade him he just gave him it. Chameleon's lies attract the attention of Siress Blassie, a woman sat by him. When they board Rising Star, Chameleon tries once more to bluff his way out of the group, who are largely more wealthy refugees, by saying he left his wallet on the shuttle. Blassie gives him some money, and he offers to pay her back with an offer of meeting him in his billet later.
The Warriors have also arrived on Rising Star, with Starbuck and Apollo watching a show while Jolly and Boomer go for the buffet. Apollo refuses to go with him gambling, sure he will manage to lose money from his friend. The patrons stop what they are doing and turn to the door as three Borellian Nomen enter the room: Maga, Bora and Taba. Boomer comments that he has never seen Nomen in the fleet before, though heard they departed the colonies with the Galacticans. To diffuse tensions, he reminds the patrons the Nomen are only here to enjoy themselves as anyone else. Chameleon urgently leaves the room, alarmed by the Nomen. Taba arms an explosive weapon, a laser bole, which gets the patrons attention and they flee. Maga explains away the event as an accident, and Taba is forced to throw it into a distant pillar as it cannot be disarmed. Boomer and Jolly are not convinced by Taba's actions, and the three head off to the docking lounge to wait for their shuttle ride to Borella. At the lounge, their shuttle arrives, but they do not board it. They discuss the previous event, which Taba defends having seen Captain Dimitri, their enemy.
At Rising Star's casino, Starbuck has persuaded Apollo to join him in gambling. He plays sat next to Chameleon, and uses a small computer to estimate his odds of winning. Chameleon warns him that his computer hasn't taken into account the dealer's odds of winning. He takes away some of his coins before placing his bet and, losing, at least has something left. The three go for drinks, paid for by Chameleon. The two are intrigued by Chameleon, who is as keen a gambler as Starbuck. He introduces himself as a "genetic tracer", and claims to be leading a project to link orphans in the fleet to blood relatives. He talks of his inspiration having survived the Cylon attack on Umbra, learning his wife was dead and his son missing.
Act 2[]
At Rising Star's casino, Starbuck has persuaded Apollo to join him in gambling. He plays sat next to Chameleon, and uses a small computer to estimate his odds of winning. Chameleon warns him that his computer hasn't taken into account the dealer's odds of winning. He takes away some of his coins before placing his bet and, losing, at least has something left. The three go for drinks, paid for by Chameleon. The two are intrigued by Chameleon, who is as keen a gambler as Starbuck. He introduces himself as a "genetic tracer", and claims to be leading a project to link orphans in the fleet to blood relatives. He talks of his inspiration having survived the Cylon attack on Umbra, learning his wife was dead and his son missing. Starbuck presses for the two of them to be tested, but Chameleon insists they do the testing on Galactica as the civilian facilities have too long a waiting list.
Apollo meets with Boomer, who tells him of his encounter with the Nomen. He has not called security due to their agreement to leave, but Jolly returns to inform them they missed their shuttle - Canaris - and are still there. Boomer demands answers from the three, but Maga tries to turn it into a civil rights argument to bluff them. Taba once more takes out his weapon, leading to a stand-off. Maga diffuses it by striping Taba of his people's honour, and assures Boomer they were delayed because Canaris was full. Though he insists they are not on a blood trail, the way he looks at Chameleon as he and Starbuck walk past suggest otherwise. Maga and Bora discuss the matter, and plan to kill Chameleon on Galactica, where they believe he will make himself a target by being comfortable. On the Shuttle ride back, Boomer begins to suspect Taba was taking his weapon out to attack Chameleon, rather than threatening himself and Apollo.
At one of Galactica's labs, Cassiopeia completes a test which confirms they are from the same plant and tribe, with the two related by at least 10 generations. The test is not conclusive, however, and there could be as many as 100 people similarly related to Starbuck.
Act 3[]
Fresh recruits arrive on Galactica.
Apollo, Boomer and Athena meet with Adama to discuss Chameleon and the Nomen. They consider that they really were on a blood trail for Chameleon, and he bluffed his way onto Galactica to guarantee protection. Adama suggests Colonel Tigh run a routine security check on Chameleon. Athena agrees to ask him. On the landing bay, Tigh is welcoming recruits to Galactica, confused by the three Nomen who have volunteered.
Cassiopeia has Starbuck and Chameleon submit to neurocell testing to narrow down their relation. She is approached by Apollo and Boomer, who want her to keep Starbuck with her while they investigate Chameleon, admitting to her it may be a hoax. Chameleon talks to Starbuck, comparing Cassiopeia to his wife, with similar mannerisms, hair and eye colour. Starbuck tells him Cassiopeia is the only women he has ever seriously considered marrying.
Omega leads the volunteers to their bunks and leaves them in the charge of Cpl. Lomas. Maga tries to get information from Lomas, learning Starbuck is billeted with Blue Squadron but, as new recruits, they lack the security rating to go beyond their present location.
Chameleon has drinks with Boomer, who has revealed the present investigation on him. He admits they be after him, as a recent genetic test he did a Borellean orphan them gave an unpleasant result. He insists he did not fake the story of losing his child.
Maga approaches Lomas again, requesting to be given access to another room for private prayer, but he is turned down as security checks have not been completed. Lomas is intimidated to give the three a private compartment, but they push him into a wardrobe and knock him out.
Starbuck catches up with his friends to overhear a security check is underway on Chameleon. He is shocked to hear of the check, and leaves Apollo to catch up with Chameleon. Tigh's check has come back negative, that Chameleon does not exist under that name. When he hears Nomen were after him, he warns the others there were Nomen recruits freshly-aboard. When Lomas fails to answer a call, they become concerned, and Chameleon is to be placed under protection immediately. The Nomen reach Blue Squadron's bunks, but learn from two officers Starbuck is at launch bay alpha with a civilian.
Act 4[]
Starbuck shows Chameleon his Viper, and offers to make-up to him their lost years, knowing inside the test must come back positive. The Nomen confront Starbuck and attack with their bolas, which Starbuck is able to evade. The Nomen stalk him through the launch tube, right in the line of fire of the Viper where Chameleon is hiding. He fires and hits them with the Viper lasers. Chameleon then admits that he had conned the Nomen and was using Starbuck.
Cassieopia comes back with the test results: they are positive. Chameleon convinces Cassieopia not to tell Starbuck that he is actually his father because it could negatively affect Starbuck, and he would rather be his friend. Adama later explains that Siress Blassie will now take full responsibility of Chameleon, and though he is reticent, Chameleon thanks them for their help. Starbuck escorts Chameleon back, and they joyfully discuss their gambling strategies.
Production[]
Notes[]
- Anthony De Longis would later go on to play the Kazon warrior Culluh in the Star Trek: Voyager episodes "State of Flux", "Maneuvers", "Alliances", "Basics, Part I" and "Basics, Part II".
Sources[]
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