Messengers

The virtual Six and Gaius Baltar in his lab aboard Galactica.

Virtual beings denote the curious virtual images seen by Gaius Baltar and Caprica-Six.

The season 3 episode "Torn" establishes the Humanoid Cylon visualization process known as projection. In the Miniseries and Season 1, before the term "projection" was introduced, the character of Gaius Baltar has frequent visions of an image of his Cylon love interest from Caprica, now known as Caprica-Six.

After her resurrection from the Caprica mission, Caprica-Six herself is haunted by a virtual image of Gaius Baltar.

Neither character has revealed the presence of these images to each other or any other character as of the episode, "The Woman King" (where the virtual Baltar makes an appearance).

The personality of each image often appears in the clothing that the actual person wore at one time shortly prior to the destruction of Baltar's home. Virtual Six often appears in a revealing red dress, and the virtual Baltar appears in a pinstriped suit, apparently custom-tailored (Miniseries, Night 1, "Downloaded").

Each personality is not a copy of the original character's personality, but generally behaves as a militant version of the original. The Virtual Six espouses Cylon philosophy and religion in a zealous, unwavering manner. Likewise, the virtual Baltar often criticizes Caprica-Six when she attempts to rationalize the genocide of the Twelve Colonies or other Cylon motivations. Both personalities tend to sway its actual opposite to side to their philosophy: For Baltar, the need to become more human (and, like the actual Baltar himself, selfish); For virtual Six, worship of the Cylon god and distancing Baltar from any opportunity to give support to the Colonial causes.

The purpose and origins of the visions experienced by Baltar and Caprica-Six have not been disclosed in aired episodes. Since the effect appears to occur only between Caprica-Six and Gaius Baltar, it is possible that their visions are an unknown side-effect of Cylon technology.

Baltar's Virtual Six

Baltar's virtual Six first appears as he escapes the destroyed world of Caprica on Sharon Valerii's Raptor (Miniseries, Night 1).

Baltar receives his brain scan from Dr. Cottle, as his virtual Six looks on in amusement.

Baltar initially believes that the virtual Six is a hallucination in its first few weeks of appearances, but later believes the virtual Six's initial suggestion that she is generated from a Cylon cybernetic implant. He disproves this notion when Dr. Cottle gives him a brain scan (Downloaded).

Baltar's virtual Six is aware of events, people and places that Baltar does not appear to know consciously. She tells him of a Cylon transponder hidden in Galactica's CIC, and appears to aid him in his conversion from Colonial polythesism to Cylon monotheism through guiding him in how to destroy a Cylon tylium refinery (The Hand of God). The source for virtual Six's deta is unclear.

Virtual Six and Baltar on Kobol.

Baltar's visions of Six not only have the Cylon appearing with him on Galactica, but the two also envision themselves in Baltar's now-destroyed home, on the beach, and other locales. The virtual Six projection appears to be able to force Baltar to see additional items in his environment, such as the human skulls on Kobol as well as visions of the interior of the ancient Opera House and an image of what virtual Six believed to be a Cylon-human hybrid child. When an actual child does appear in the Fleet, the virtual Six claims it is her vision fulfilled (Downloaded).

Over time, Baltar is seen by some characters speaking to himself, which is often the case when he is speaking to Virtual Six. In several instances, the virtual Six appears to Baltar to be a physical entity, grabbing him by his clothes or body, or assisting him with objects ("Six Degrees of Separation", "Taking A Break From All Your Worries").

The virtual Six has never been present when Caprica-Six is near, but has been present when another Number Six agent known as Gina is found on Pegasus. However, as Baltar pursued a sexual relationship with Gina, the virtual Six was rarely present as Baltar began to ignore her until Gina's demise (Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II).

From the end of season 2, the virtual Six now claims more often to be an angel from God.

Caprica-Six's Virtual Baltar

Turnabout is fair play: Caprica-Six and the virtual Baltar (with an actual Number Three in the background.

When a virtual Gaius Baltar appears to Caprica-Six in "Downloaded", the notion that the actual Gaius Baltar was part of a Cylon plan to manipulate him appears to be false. The virtual Baltar's appearance and demeanor is just as an extreme opposite of the actual Baltar as the virtual Six's behavior was to Caprica-Six.

The virtual Baltar immediately tells Caprica-Six that only she can see and hear him, and not to reveal what she sees to the other Cylons present at her resurrection from Caprica. The virtual Baltar has never been asked by Caprica-Six of his origins.

This image confronts her with her guilt in the slaughter of billions of human beings, and with the logical error behind the Cylons' actions. Under the influence of the virtual Baltar, Caprica-Six speaks out against the war alongside another resurrected "hero of the Cylon", Sharon Valerii. The two Cylons forge a new quasi-benevolent path, albeit temporarily, for the Cylon race.

The revelation in "Torn" about the Cylon's projecting abilities suggests that the virtual Baltar is generated by Caprica-Six's own projection ability. Since the actual Baltar is not confirmed as a Cylon, the origins of his virtual Six are questioned by Dr. Baltar himself during the revelation of the principles of projection.

The virtual Baltar has appeared irregularly in Seasons 2 and 3. In "The Woman King", Caprica-Six is observed by Laura Roslin and Tory Foster as Caprica-Six speaks and kisses the virtual Baltar, who is, of course, invisible to Roslin and Foster.

While Baltar's virtual Six claims to be an angel sent from God, Six's virtual Baltar appears to be contemptuous of the Cylons' concept of God (Downloaded). He is also described by Ron Moore as more of a "devil" figure in Six's consciousness.

Notes

• The virtual "Leoben" that appears to Kara Thrace in the episode "Maelstrom" only appears to her in a vision while the pilot was unconscious. Since the virtual Leoben was not in fact a Cylon but another unknown entity, it is not appropriate to count it as a virtual being akin to the virtual Six and Baltar.

• When asked by a fan at a convention about the differences between this Baltar and the real Baltar, actor James Callis described Six’s Baltar as a man who “finally has his shit together.”. (Warning: Video contains some explicit language)

• Callis mentions at the same convention that his personal theory is that Baltar's Internal Six is a being from another universe or higher plane of existence who only Baltar can interact with. This may relate back to the "angel" theory . (Warning: Video contains some explicit language)

• Actress Tricia Helfer has said that she has long since given up on trying to figure out just what Baltar's Internal Six is. She believes Caprica-Six and Baltar both having internal counterparts is related to the scene from the Miniseries where she saves Baltar from the shock wave of the nuclear bomb that destroyed Caprica City.