Lucifer (TOS-BN)

Background

Unlike his canonical analogue, Lucifer is not a Cylon but an ambulatory cybernetic sentience that the Cylons created as a result of their developments into war machines, presumably during the Thousand Yahren War. However, unbeknownst to his Cylon masters, he believes he has a soul, since he "created" his own personality. Additionally, he is able to override much of the Cylons' programming, with the exception of the extreme loyalty that is deeply embedded into his programming.

Despite not being a Cylon, Lucifer is afforded both an official name and a secret name; his official name, Lucifer, is an acronym for his secret name. He is also able to create various machines, some of which were used in Baltar's training.

The Tombs of Kobol

Lucifer rescues Baltar from execution, forcing the human to undergo diet, as well as mental and physical exercises, for the purposes of Lucifer's plan to use Baltar to destroy Adama's Fleet. After Lucifer's plan and Baltar are presented to the Imperious Leader, Baltar is able to have Lucifer reprogrammed to be totally subservient to him.

Although Lucifer is able to negate the program's effects, Lucifer ends up acquiescing to it and saves Baltar from death on Kobol. However, his exposure to Lieutenant Starbuck—previously captured by a Cylon patrol before encountering Kobol—leads him to think favorably of certain humans. Starbuck introduces Lucifer to pyramid and beats him at the game. Lucifer is baffled by the concept of luck as Starbuck describes it.

The Young Warriors

Lucifer is dismayed by Spectre's flattery of Baltar, despite Lucifer's attempts to convince him of Spectre's duplicitous nature. He is beside himself when Spectre not only manages to fool Baltar into authorizing his retreat from Antila, but also Baltar's assignment of Spectre as Lucifer's aide. It is also revealed that Lucifer has created a system that he believes will enable him to beat Starbuck at Pyramid should they ever have the opportunity to play it again.

Die, Chameleon!

Lucifer and Spectre are taken captive by smugglers and are taken to a planet where Lucifer winds up meeting Starbuck after he is also taken prisoner. Starbuck eventually convinces their captors to allow him to play Lucifer at Pyramid for a chance at freedom. But the terms are that if Lucifer loses, he will be deactivated. At the end of the game, Lucifer simply lays his cards face down and congratulates Starbuck. Later, after the aliens are defeated, Lucifer willingly deactivates himself despite Starbuck's protests. Spectre takes the deactivated Lucifer back with him. Spectre examines Lucifer's cards and discovers that Lucifer had a winning hand.

Surrender the Galactica!

Spectre is made a Cylon commander and has Lucifer reactivated, reprogramming him to be a saboteur and assassin. During the reprogramming process, Spectre tests Lucifer's conditioning by asking him about his feelings toward humans and Cylons. Lucifer responds automatically that humans "are vermin which must be exterminated from the universe" and that Cylons "are destined to bring order to the universe." When Spectre asks if Lucifer has any objection to "fulfilling your role as assassin," Lucifer replies "None at all."

To infiltrate the Fleet, Spectre arranges for Lucifer to be disguised as a Borellian Noman. The disguise involves covering Lucifer with "thick matted hair" and altering his appearance to make him appear "fierce with bestiality." The transformation is so complete that when Spectre examines the disguise, he declares it "accurate in all respects."

Working alongside the disguised Baltar, Lucifer is sent to Galactica as part of an infiltration mission. His primary assignment is to assassinate Commander Adama, while Baltar is tasked with sabotaging the ship's systems. The mission involves infiltrating Dwybolt's theater company, where Lucifer performs as an actor under the stage name "Trogla."

During his time with the theater company, Lucifer proves to be a remarkably gifted performer. His acting becomes so skilled that Dwybolt considers him "an incarnation of the Great Franda." Lucifer's swordplay becomes particularly impressive, leading some actors to fear crossing swords with him even in carefully choreographed battles. His performance opposite Shalheya in romantic scenes draws considerable audience admiration.

However, Lucifer's assassination attempt against Adama is thwarted by Starbuck, who recognizes him and helps restore his true personality by removing Spectre's programming overlay. Galactica's scientists carefully remove his Borellian Noman disguise and restore his original physical structure, working out how to reactivate him by bypassing his shutdown system.

After his restoration, Lucifer experiences doubt about his purpose and asks Starbuck to deactivate him permanently, believing he has "failed as a Cylon" and is "no use to any functioning unit anywhere." However, Starbuck refuses and instead proposes that Lucifer "try our side" by working for the Colonials. Despite sensing "programming resistance, particularly in the circuitry which demanded loyalty to the Cylons," Lucifer admits "I... I think I like you, Starbuck," suggesting his willingness to join the Colonial cause.