Zac (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

Zac is the younger brother of Apollo and Athena, and the youngest son of Adama. After his death, Zac's molecular structure was accelerated and he became one of the Lords of Kobol, existing aboard the lightships.

Biography

Death and acceleration

When Zac died, his molecular structure was accelerated. The Lords of Kobol left an ancestral memory—a genetic imprint—on all those of pure Kobollian blood. Zac explains this is science, not magic, describing it as "no celestial home for the spirit, but a real, physical afterlife." While not eternal, it is enduring enough that eternity does not seem impossible from their perspective.

Zac was transported to the lightships a moment after his death, his molecular structure repaired. He has remained there ever since, learning and growing—a process which, even by the Lords' standards, takes quite some time. He confirms that Adama will also eventually coalesce and become one of the Lords, as he is of pure Kobollian blood, though Zac has not yet seen him.

Revelation of the Thirteenth Tribe

Zac reveals telepathically to Apollo that the Lords of Kobol are the lost Thirteenth Tribe: "We are the Kobollians, the Lords of Kobol." He confirms that telepathy is one of the attributes of all their people, and that Apollo is one of them. When Apollo's time comes, he will rise to the next phase of life and join them on the wondrous lightships.

Warning about Iblis

During Apollo's visit to the lightship, Zac provides crucial information about Count Iblis, explaining that within the Lords of Kobol, there was once a man who lacked the purity of his brothers—a spiteful, bitter, angry man who wanted power more than wisdom. When censured by the other Lords, this man broke ranks and founded the House of Iblis. Eventually, Iblis left Kobol with all his followers, committing such horrors afterward that the Lords are forbidden to discuss it.

When Iblis died, he was accelerated just as all the Lords of Kobol were, but his soul was so twisted and filled with hatred of his human brothers that he did not become one of them. In all the universe, Count Iblis is totally unique: "a leech, sucking the fear and death of countless planets into himself for his sustenance." Zac explains that Iblis's gambit on Galactica those yahren ago was his attempt to corrupt and destroy Adama. Now that Adama has passed from mortal understanding, Iblis will come after Apollo. Zac stresses it is important that Apollo be prepared and that the wisdom of Kobol continue to guide the primary extant human society.

When Apollo asks how to combat Iblis, Zac explains there is no physical combat. Iblis cannot destroy one of the Lords with direct physical violence—or perhaps he could, but he will not. Instead, Iblis must triumph over Apollo's will and wisdom through deception and cunning. If Iblis can drive Apollo to despair, that will be his greatest triumph.

Mission to save Starbuck

Zac tells Apollo he must leave the lightship to save Starbuck, as time is running out for both Starbuck and the planet Ochoa. He explains that the rest Apollo must learn instinctively or through his own means, as there is no more time for instruction. Apollo's Viper has been repaired and will be returned to normal dimensional phase at coordinates not far from Ochoa.

As they walk down a shimmering corridor to Apollo's Viper, which now shines white as bone and glitters with light, Zac asks Apollo to give Starbuck and Athena his love. He tells Apollo, "The Lords travel with you until you return to us." When Apollo protests that he has so many questions, Zac looks sad, acknowledging that his new existence might be paradise but is not perfect. He allows Apollo only one question.

Apollo asks about Earth, whether the Lords of Kobol have found it in their exploration of the universe. Though Zac's full answer is not recorded, the encounter provides Apollo with hope that he will one day advance to become a new lifeform not bound by the mechanics of conventional reality, and that he will see Zac again—perhaps quite soon.

Knowledge shared with Athena

Apollo later shares everything Zac told him with Athena in the Sanctuary—a secret chamber aboard Galactica. He tells her of the Lords of Kobol, their father's teachings, and Zac's existence on the lightships. When Apollo finishes, tears flow freely on Athena's face as she realizes their father is not truly dead, and that whether there exists a traditional afterlife, the House of Kobol has found a plane of existence somewhere beyond the mortal plane. Athena smiles through her tears, saying, "Zac. Our baby brother is still alive, out there somewhere."

Apollo also tells Athena that Zac warned him about the threat of Count Iblis, who will try to test and corrupt Apollo, though the timing remains uncertain. Athena instantly understands that Iblis is similar to the Lords of Kobol but not actually one of them.

Vision of Apollo

In a dream, Apollo stands within the heart of one of the great Ships of Light. Though he is in its heart, he can also see beyond the ship to the planet below—Poseidon, though it was not called that at the time. This is "a time of Then, not of Now or of When," occurring before Zac or Adama had moved on from mortal life and progressed to the light, evolving to the level where they might exist with the Lords—the legendary Thirteenth Tribe of Kobol. (RH: Armageddon, Warhawk)

Characteristics

Zac appears to Apollo much as he did in life, though he now exists in an accelerated state aboard the lightships. He retains his mannerisms from childhood, including a way of relaxing and sliding in his chair that Apollo remembers well. Seeing this is described as "a joyously painful thing" for Apollo.

Zac possesses telepathic abilities as one of the Lords of Kobol and can communicate mind-to-mind with Apollo. He is knowledgeable about the history of the Lords, the nature of Iblis, and the workings of their accelerated existence. Despite the paradise of his new existence, Zac acknowledges it is not perfect, showing a touch of sadness when he cannot answer all of Apollo's questions.

He expresses love for his siblings, asking Apollo to give his love to both Starbuck and Athena. Zac demonstrates wisdom beyond his years, understanding the importance of preparing Apollo for the threat of Iblis and ensuring the continuation of Kobollian wisdom.

Notes

• Zac's revelation that the Lords of Kobol are the Thirteenth Tribe provides a major reinterpretation of Kobollian mythology in the Richard Hatch continuation novels.
• His warning about Iblis proves crucial, as Iblis later confronts Apollo and admits that Apollo's knowledge gave him forewarning: "Though I might not have if my brother hadn't warned me of your coming."
• The only person in the Fleet who could call Troy by his childhood nickname "Boxey" and get away with it was Adama, suggesting Zac might have also used the nickname had he lived longer.