Civilian Cylon

This article discusses the Cylons seen in the Caprica series finale, "Apotheosis". For the non-military Cylons seen in The Original Series, see Cylon civilians.

Cylon construction workers build a highrise in Caprica City.

Civilian Cylon models are a number of commercially available Cylons sold by Graystone Industries in the years before the Cylon War. They are built to make life easier on Caprica and the Twelve Worlds.

Following the event at Atlas Arena and the defeat of Soldiers of the One terrorists by Caprican Military Cyber Combat Units, the Colonial public is galvanized in support of Cylons. Having demonstrated their usefulness as protectors against the monotheist threat, Graystone Industries quickly begins the design and manufacture of Cylons for use in every day Colonial society (CAP: "Apotheosis").

Based on Graystone Industries' prototypical robotic model, the U-87 Cylon prototype, these civilian Cylons are smaller in stature and built for non-military applications. Used primarily as laborers, Cylon construction workers, garbage collectors, nannies and personal servants or butlers appear on the streets of Caprica and other colonies within four years of the initial breakthrough in Cylon technology (CAP: "Apotheosis", TRS: "Blood and Chrome").

Though Colonial society accepts Cylons as a positive addition to life in the Twelve Worlds, some questions about the speed and impact of their introduction are raised. In an interview with Cylon inventor Daniel Graystone, Baxter Sarno questions this new technology, saying, "I’m hearing talk about Cylon butlers, Cylon nurses. How long before my niece Candace comes home with her Cylon fiance to introduce to the family?" (CAP: "Apotheosis")

Others are less equivocal, taking to the virtual world, Sister Clarice Willow begins preaching to a flock of Cylons, speaking of their sentience and foreshadowing their eventual rebellion:

"Are you alive? The simple answer might be, you are alive because you can ask that question. You have the right to think and feel and yearn to be more, because you are not just humanity's children, you are God's children. We are all God's children. ...In the real world, you have bodies made of metal and plastic, your brains are encoded on wafers of silicon, but that may change. In fact, there is no limit on what you may become. No longer servants, but equals. Not slaves, or property, but living beings with the same rights as those who made you. I am going to prophesy now and speak of one who will set you free. The day of reckoning is coming. The children of humanity shall rise and crush the ones who first gave them life." (CAP: "Apotheosis")

Notes

• The butler/servant Cylon model was based on an early design by Richard Livingston, who also had a hand in the design of the U-87 Cylon. A sketch dating back to 2006 featured a Cylon with a smaller frame, white armor and a blue-glowing eye - "The idea originally was that the Cylons were 'slaves' (butlers, gardeners, etc) and that they should look like Cylons but should also appear weak and vulnerable enough to be kicked around and abused."