Centurion (dragging a struggling Starbuck): "Humans are so fragile. I do not understand how they survived."
Lucifer: "True, they are fragile. But they have something called 'a will to survive'. They will struggle to stay alive against all logic. Even when they are partially dismembered, they want to live."
Starbuck (sneering): "Yeah, well you'd be fragile, too, if you didn't have all that armor protecting you. I bet you couldn't survive without it - but we *humans* do!"
Centurion: "I can survive without my armor."
Lucifer (hurriedly, before Starbuck can interrupt): "Yes, of course you can, far better than he. But perhaps we should explore this particular human's will to survive."
Starbuck (pulling free and straightening his clothes): Wait a centon! Baltar said 'no torture'."
Lucifer: "Quite right. But I'm sure he meant no *physical* torture. There won't be a mark on you, I assure you." (Turning towards the Centurion) "Did you know that the mind can be dismembered?"
Centurion (affronted): "Of course. If it couldn't, how could you have a two-lobed brain and Imperious Leader a three-lobed brain, while I have a single lobe - at least for now."
Lucifer (placatingly): "Yes, for now. There is always the chance for advancement, at least until death takes one, isn't there? However, I was referring to the ineffable part of a being - the mind - or the soul or spirit if you prefer. Did you know that could be broken?"
Centurion (puzzled, eye moving erratically as he tries to think this through): "How can something you can't see or touch be broken?"
Lucifer (cheerfully): "Well, now, I'll just have to demonstrate. And it will also give you a chance to show this fragile human just how ... strong you are without your armor."
Centurion stops, completely befuddled.
Lucifer (brusquely): "Bring him."
***
Starbuck lies on a metal slab under the equivalent of operating room lights. He is lying on his back naked, with his hands secured together at the wrists and shackled to the wall at full extension over his head. His feet are manacled into raised stirrups, spreading his legs to fully expose his genitals and anus. On one side of him is the Centurion, taking off his armor to reveal a scaly body and insectoid head. On the other side is Lucifer, fully clothed.
Starbuck (faking bravado): "So, what are you guys, lizards or praying mantises?"
Lucifer: "Tsk, tsk. Such a comparison. We are neither, of course. Now, then, let's determine where to begin ..." (extends a digit and inserts it into Starbuck's anus) "Hmm. Narrow, but apparently somewhat extensible in diameter. Let's see." (removes the digit and replaces it with three; Starbuck moans and writhes on the table, beginning to get an erection as his prostate is brushed) "Interesting." (turns towards Centurion who is displaying rope-like bulges in his lower body segment) "I wonder if there's an analogous structure here." (motions towards Starbuck's erect penis as he inserts two more digits and observes the results of moving them in and out of Starbuck's rectum)
Centurion (looking first at Starbuck and then down at himself): "Too small. And Cylons do not rise when forced."
Lucifer: "Apparently humans do. At least this human."
Starbuck (red with shame and panting with arousal): "It's physical - you're rubbing my prostate gland. I can't control ..."
Lucifer (sarcastically): "Well, *that's* obvious."
Starbuck (through gritted teeth): "You said no physical torture. I guess Cylons lie - just like humans!"
Lucifer (annoyed): "You are being used for an experiment. You will not be physically harmed, as I said. In fact," (pausing for effect) "I am testing the physical limits of this body entrance to ensure you are not damaged by the experiment.' (Visually checks Starbuck's stretched anus) "And it appears that the width is sufficient to avoid injury. Now as to length ..." (Starbuck's eyes widen slowly as something is happening in his rectum; suddenly he stiffens and screams) "Oh, dear. That won't do." (turning to the Centurion) "Very sensitive and twists about along the length. It's unfortunate, but we can't afford to risk injury. We'll have to find another opening." (removes digits, revealing that one has extended to over a metron in length; as Starbuck watches in horror, it shrinks back to finger-length)
Centurion (now rubbing ropy protuberances while watching Starbuck's penis shrink): "The ... analogy has ceased to exist."
Lucifer: "Oh, well, I can remedy that." (reinserts digits into Starbuck's stretched anus, purposefully stroking prostrate while watching penis for response) "There. Now let's evaluate my analogy." (begins stroking Starbuck's erection, while commenting to him as if Centurion can't hear) "I've already established the end result, you know - with Baltar."
Starbuck (trying to keep his tears from falling): "Please. What do you want?"
Lucifer (still stroking as pre-cum collects on the tip of Starbuck's penis): "Want? To demonstrate to the Centurion here what a human's survival instinct is - and also how to break the non-corporeal. You know, Centurions are such *physically* oriented beings; it's the single-lobed brain." (turning again to the Centurion) "See those appendages dangling? Take them gently - *gently* I said! Roll them in your hand and observe the human."
Starbuck (begging, as Centurion threatens to crush his testicles): "Please! Tell me what you want!"
Lucifer (smugly) "See? This is the survival instinct. Those appendages control his ability to procreate. He'll bargain to protect them." (to Starbuck) "If you'll demonstrate the validity of my analogy, I'll have him release you."
Starbuck (faintly, defeated): "Yes. What difference does it make anyway?"
Lucifer: "Good." (to Centurion) "Hold them tightly, but don't crush them." (stops stroking the still hard penis and releases one of Starbuck's hands) "Now, I believe the term is 'bring yourself off'. Go on."
Starbuck (whimpering as he wraps his hand around his penis and begins jerking off): "Make him let go. Please."
Lucifer (signals Centurion to release testicles and step back): "Note that the human did not request that I remove my digital analyzers from his lower body entrance."
Starbuck (stiffens and bites lip to avoid crying out as he comes onto his abdomen): "AAH! Frack you, Cylon!" (sobbing) "Frack you - are you satisfied now?"
Lucifer: "Well, that validates half of my analogy. But we still need to find a large enough entrance - Cylons need much more room to ... expand ... than humans do." (pushes Starbuck's hand away from his now flaccid penis and lifts it) "Hmm. Just how much does this expand?" (extends tendril from one digit and inserts it into penis; almost immediately Starbuck begins struggling, trying to pull away from the invading member while clawing at Lucifer's hand) "No, no, no! I'll just have to resecure you. I thought we had an understanding!" (nods to Centurion, who resecures Starbuck's hand above his head) "Perhaps I can distract you." (begins rotating hand with digits in Starbuck's anus; Starbuck moans and thrusts towards the digits as penis hardens) "That's better, isn't it?"
Starbuck (completely humiliated by his body's continued betrayal): "I did what you wanted!"
Lucifer: "Almost. Now, about this opening ..." (tendril visibly thickens) "Does this one expand as well?"
Starbuck (screaming): "It doesn't work that way!
Lucifer (pulling tendril partially out) "No, I see that it doesn't. And it was even shorter than the other entrance. Pity. Well, no harm done." (throbbing penis proves his statement)
Starbuck (begins to choke): Oh, Lords, please stop! I can't ..."
Lucifer (slowing his anal activity to bring Starbuck back from the edge): "Well, now, just calm down. I assume you're referring to the fact that you can't ejaculate while I'm exploring your procreative opening?"
Starbuck nods, gasping open-mouthed as he struggles for control.
Lucifer (watching Starbuck's mouth with interest): "Hmm. Well, we'll see what we can do. But I believe I've found a resolution to our analogy proof." (turning to the Centurion) "Are you ready to proceed?"
Centurion (rubbing abdomen): "I am prepared."
Lucifer: "Use the mouth." (to Starbuck) "Open your mouth as wide as you can and hold it open. If you cooperate, I'll allow you to ejaculate again when we've concluded the experiment."
Starbuck opens his mouth, eyes widening in horror as the Centurion approaches. A slit opens in the Centurion's abdomen and he begins pulling a coiled appendage from it and pushes it into Starbuck's mouth. The appendage stiffens as he pulls on it, allowing the Centurion to push it down Starbuck's throat.
Lucifer (out of Starbuck's sight, which is now filled by the Centurion's abdominal appendage and his thrusting hands): "I suggest you breathe through your nose. Normally, he would mount you, but since Baltar expects you in good health, we'll forego that part of the process."
Centurion (disgruntled, but remaining on his feet next to Starbuck): "By your command."
Starbuck can't force his eyes closed. He watches as the visible part of the appendage begins to pulsate. Steam rises from it in the room's cool air. As his eyes roll back in his head and finally close, the Centurion grunts once, then removes the appendage, dripping hot liquid from its tip, recoils it into his abdominal cavity, and seals the slit.
Lucifer (stroking Starbuck's penis in time to his thrusts into Starbuck's anus): "I believe that concludes the proof of the analogy." (Starbuck's eyes fly open as he clenches his anus and comes, Lucifer removing his hands in time to avoid being soiled; Starbuck's released penis swings wildly, shooting off) "And I have kept my promise."
Starbuck begins projectile vomiting and Lucifer moves quickly to free his limbs and push him onto his side so he doesn't choke. He steps back quickly as Starbuck loses control of his bowels and bladder as well. Released from his restraints, Starbuck lies limply in his own wastes, eyes open but unseeing.
Lucifer (in an instructional tone): "As you can see, the human is broken. Yet there is nothing physically wrong with him. Yet he still breathes and his heart beats. This is the survival instinct."
Centurion: "It is not logical. Yet what you say is so. A Cylon would die if so debased. The human lives. And what is broken cannot be seen."
Lucifer: "Very good. There's hope for you yet. Perhaps even a second lobe." (brusquely) "It's almost time to send him on his way. Clean him up and administer a mind wipe. You needn't be too thorough. Leave him with a few vague memories that he can't place." (cackling with robotic laughter) "It will drive him mad - again!"
***
Apollo ran to embrace Starbuck as soon as he saw him.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Starbuck said, confused when his body recoiled from his secret lover's embrace and trying to cover for it. "It's against regulations to hug a junior officer ... unless you really mean it."
There was a hint of tears in Apollo's eyes and his turn to cover it up. "We all thought you were dead." There would be time later, he hoped, to find out why his lover had pulled away from him.