LXIV

APOLLO

2,057 Years Before the Final Exodus

 

Apollo was agog. "A monotheist? A priest in Dionysus' temple?"

Leto smiled, "Not just any monotheist. A Cylon."

Apollo shook his head and laughed. "One of the original twelve models or one of their children?"

"One of the original twelve. An Iole."

Apollo poured himself some tea. "I'm assuming she has nothing to do with the man who blew me up last year?"

"No," she said. "Nothing at all. She's a very kind and peaceful woman."

Apollo sat at the table across from Leto and sipped his drink. He paused to look at her quizzically for a moment before he asked, "And how does a Cylon priest in Dionysus' temple become a believer in the 'One True God?'"

"You'll have to ask her when you see her later."

"What do you mean?"

Leto stood and walked around the table behind Apollo, "I mean, finish your tea. We're going."

Apollo clanked the cup back on the table. "No matter. It was too bitter, anyway."

Apollo walked through Olympus and encountered no one. Soon, he was at the skycar and he rode it down to the Olympic Gates. It was dusk and the lights from Theonpolis below made Apollo wistful. "It looks lovely. Like it did centuries ago. Even longer. It's funny," he smiled and turned to Leto, who only studied his face, "I was worried that we were all becoming idle. That we were mired in stagnation. And now, here I am, rushing all over Kobol for a secret cause … nothing very stale about this."

Leto nodded. "The real stagnation is to come."

Before Apollo could ask what she meant, the skycar stopped and the doors slid open. Apollo stepped out and past the bowing Cylon guards. A few people saw the box descending the mount and came to greet him. Apollo smiled and touched each person's head. They bowed and left.

"All the years I've been with you and you're still maintaining the illusion," Leto said, disgusted.

Apollo answered matter-of-factly, "I have to maintain the illusion."

Leto scoffed. "Right. It would be a shame for you to walk down a street and not have people prostrate themselves before you, offering you whatever you would like."

"My father craves worship, not me."

Now she smiled, "Don't forget, he is your father. You do have many things in common."

Apollo shot Leto a glance, wounded. "Perhaps. But not this."

Turning a corner, they entered Pantheon Circle, the street that surrounded the Opera House and featured each of the twelve temples to the primary Olympians. Dionysus' was three intersections away. "She's at the temple now."

Apollo walked past the large statue of Hermes in front of his temple. Across the street, the Temple of Demeter still stood, though in some minor state of disrepair. With the decline of agriculture, fewer people worshipped there. After Demeter herself had "moved on," there was a brief resurgence in her worship, but now … not so much.

Apollo and Leto kept walking. After a few minutes, they heard the sound of music and singing. The columns of Dionysus' temple were bathed in a flickering light from inside. Apollo slowly moved up the steps, trying to avoid drawing undue attention to himself. Within moments, he was leaning against a wall just inside the foyer of the temple, looking up to the dais where several priests and Dionysus himself were sitting. A few hundred acolytes and worshippers were sitting on the floor, standing around the room, listening, clapping, and singing along.

Dionysus finished strumming the lyre and bowed jovially to the applause. "Now, now. It wasn't that good," he laughed. "I should be going. Good evening to you all!"

The worshippers gathered around Dionysus. Some began to leave. Leto pointed to a woman on the left side of the platform who was gathering empty glasses. "That's her. Her name is Tydea, though she goes by 'Pria' these days."

"Doesn't look like an Iole." Then, Apollo looked at Leto quickly and said, "'Tydea?' I know that name."

"Of course you do."

Apollo and Leto tried to approach her without drawing attention, but they did. "Apollo!" Dionysus had spotted him and he was now on his way.

"Dionysus, always good to see you," Apollo smiled.

"Of course it is," he laughed. He slapped Apollo on the arm and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Apollo glanced at Leto quickly and then back, "Just passing through.'" The other god laughed loudly, slapped Apollo's arm again, and turned back to the crowd. Apollo and Leto continued unimpeded to the platform. He placed his foot on stage and said, "Hello, Pria?"

She looked up from the table and saw Apollo. Her face fell and she lowered her head, "My Lord. It is an unexpected honor."

Apollo nodded and got onto the platform with her. He studied her closely, trying to recognize her more fully. "Relax, priestess. I'm here to talk. Nothing more." Tydea smiled, bowed, and returned to picking up glasses. Apollo began to help. "Is there somewhere we can go to speak in private?"

Tydea looked into Apollo's eyes for the first time, "Yes, Lord. We can go downstairs to the offices. I'll be the only one here in a few minutes, most likely." Apollo nodded and picked up some half-empty cups, following Tydea off the stage toward a small kitchen area. "That's the thing about being in Dionysus' temple, Lord. Young people flock to the priesthood here but they don't usually linger to help clean."

Apollo nodded and stared at her again. Even more closely. "I understand."

Tydea laid the cups and glasses in the sink, bowing as she took more from Apollo's arms. "If you will follow me, Lord, we may speak in the offices below."

She moved slowly and cautiously. Her head hung low and she avoided looking directly at him as much as possible. Tydea began to walk toward a concealed staircase behind the platform's lectern. "She's nervous," Leto said.

"She should be."

Tydea flipped a switch and ceiling lamps slowly illuminated. "Please, sit wherever you would like." Apollo nodded and sat on a bench. It was the only thing around big enough to hold him. Her breathing was labored and she spun around the room, trying to find a seat herself.

"I know you."

She had just lighted on a crate. Her face quivered and she lowered her head into her hands. A moment later, she was crying. "Lord Apollo, I am sorry. I have feared this day for months." She sniffed loudly and then raised her head, almost defiantly. Then, she said, "I am somewhat relieved that you've come."

Apollo paused for a second and pondered his next words. "Pria, … Tydea, I believe I will be blunt."

"That may not be smart," Leto said.

"Whatever punishment you have prepared for me, I am willing to accept it. Lord. I … I did attempt to blackmail the gods." She sniffed loudly and folded in on herself. Apollo wavered as he tried to decide if he should comfort her. "I am a horrible sinner and I deserve your wrath."

"Tydea," Apollo said, trying to reassure her. "Tydea, do not fear."

Leto reached for her son's shoulder, "Can't you see she's near an emotional collapse?"

Apollo ignored her. He was certain she was feigning at least some of her pleading. "I know you don't believe I am a god."

She tried to maintain her front, "But Lord, I do not see how … I could not be a priestess if I didn't believe …"

"Sure, you could, Tydea."

Tears welled up in her eyes. "Lord Apollo, I humbly beg …"

"Tydea," Apollo said as he leaned forward and placed his hand on the quivering woman's. "I am not a god."

Leto and Tydea both looked at Apollo, stunned. "I'm sorry, Lord?" Tydea's tears still ran but her face was confused.

"On Olympus, several months ago, you were right." Apollo stood and walked over to a painting of Dionysus at an ancient Bacchanalia. "None of us are gods. The Lords of Kobol are fakers."

Tydea wiped her face and eyes with a tissue. "I still do not understand, Lord, why you are saying this."

"Call me Apollo."

"I still do not understand, Apollo."

He straightened the painting slightly and turned around. "You believe in a single god. A god without physical form. God, Tydea, is love."

Tydea sank in her chair and then she inhaled deeply. Her face glowed and she smiled. She dabbed some of her tears away with the back of her hand. "Lord, Apollo, I cannot tell you what it means to hear you say these words."

"The Lords of Kobol, many of them, anyways, used to believe in God. It's a long story."

Leto sat on the desk between Apollo and Tydea, "She's not to leave the temple."

Apollo tried to look through Leto to Tydea. "Don't leave the temple. Remain a priestess."

Leto stood and walked around behind Tydea, "Ask her how many other monotheist Cylon priests there are hidden among us."

Tydea said, "I will not leave, Apollo, if you wish it."

"Are there any other members of the Thirteenth Tribe who are priests but believe in the one, true god?"

Tydea nodded, "Yes. There are four others that I know of, anyway, here in Theonpolis. And we don't believe it likes to be called 'God.'"

Leto laughed and walked away from behind her. "Tell her about the departure."

Apollo sat on the bench and leaned forward, "Tydea, I need you to listen closely."

"Yes?"

"You know things have become more difficult for the Thirteenth Tribe."

Tydea nodded and then looked shamed, "It is my fault. If I had not gone to Olympus …"

Apollo reached up and gently touched her face. "Do not feel guilty. You have played your part in God's plan." She managed to force a smile and Apollo continued, "When the time comes, Aurora will gather as many of the Tribe as she can."

"Yes," Tydea said.

"There will be an exodus from Kobol."

Tydea remained still. She did not move though she was obviously confused. "'An exodus?' Leaving Kobol? For where?"

Leto shrugged, "I'll tell you later."

"I'll determine where at a later time. But you and your priests need to be ready to leave. Spread the word among as many of the Thirteenth Tribe as you can to be ready. They must gather in Megara when the time comes."

Tydea lowered her head in reverence, "I will."

Leto cleared her throat and spoke. "Now, tell her about the new temple."