Number Five

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Number Five
Number Five

Human Name

Aaron Doral
Age
Colony
Birth place {{{birthplace}}}
Birth Name
Birth Date {{{birthdate}}}
Callsign
Nickname {{{nickname}}}
Introduced Miniseries
Death
Parents
Siblings
Children
Marital Status
Family Tree View
Role Cylon Infiltrator, Dissenter
Rank
Serial Number {{{serial}}}
Portrayed by Matthew Bennett
Number Five is a Cylon
Number Five is a Final Five Cylon
Number Five is a Human/Cylon Hybrid
Number Five is an Original Series Cylon
Related Media
@ BW Media
Additional Information
[[Image:|200px|Number Five]]


Cylon model Number Five, known to the humans as Aaron Doral, appears to be a man in his mid-thirties. He was initially encountered aboard battlestar Galactica, where he was operating as a public relations executive. Later he was active both within the fleeing Colonial fleet and on Caprica. He seems designed to network, almost to the point of being the sleazy used-car salesman type, but with a sadistic, violent side.

But Doral is a Humanoid Cylon in reality. The Doral model's purpose is to attempt to sow the seeds of discontent or confusion, particularly during crucial life-threatening situations. Doral models endeavor to undermine authority that threatens his objectives. Doral models are more covert than the dazzling Sixes, assuming an ordinary "everyman" appearance that's blended in what may seem to be insignificant behind-the-scenes issues (such as converting Galactica into a museum). Fives are among the most militant, fanatic and consistent to the Cylon objectives (only the Threes match them), whether they are dispassionately discussing the fate of humanity with his comrades or attempting to kill or maim Colonials in a suicide bomb attack (Litmus).

PR Executive Copy[edit]

Doral appears to be exactly what he claims when viewers first see him in the Miniseries: a PR executive. He coordinates the ceremony surrounding Galactica's decommissioning and transfer to the civilian authorities represented by Secretary of Education Laura Roslin. During the lead-up to the ceremony, he mocks the Galactica as antiquated and advocates automated defense systems (which would be more vulnerable to Cylon interference).

In the role of PR executive, Doral is efficient, polite and able to carry out his work without ruffling the feathers of those around him, while at the same time marshalling and managing the media. He usually wears an emerald suit and tie.

When Laura Roslin, as senior government official, takes charge of Colonial Heavy 798 during the Cylon attack, Doral immediately objects to her leadership immediately after her announcement to the passengers of the nuclear attacks on the various colonies ("Wait a minute...who put you in charge?"). Later, Doral tries to convince Captain Lee Adama to assume the leadership role from Roslin. Captain Adama witnesses and supports Roslin and her leadership decisions, which quickly puts Doral in his place.

Following Gaius Baltar's arrival on Galactica, Doral becomes the fall-guy Baltar needs to divert any suspicions he feels may otherwise be directed at him following the Cylon incursion into the Twelve Colonies. In this, he is partially steered by Number Six - although the selection of Doral as his fall-guy appears to be Baltar's own choice by educated guess (Miniseries).

Arrested and thrown into the brig, Doral loudly proclaims his innocence of all charges, citing his background and upbringing: that he was born in Oasis, a hamlet near Caprica City, and grew up on the south side of Caprica City itself before going to Gemenon, where he studied public relations at the Kobol Colleges (Miniseries).

Later, after being left at the Ragnar Anchorage space station, Doral exhibits all of the symptoms initially shown by the Humanoid Cylon Leoben Conoy, confirming the fact that he is a Humanoid Cylon and that, however "coincidentally," Baltar selected the "right" man.

Despite his protestations of innocence, and the palpable level of fear he demonstrates within the brig, it is unlikely (based on later characterizations of Humanoid Cylons who infiltrate the Fleet) that this Doral copy is a "sleeper" Humanoid Cylon. Unlike Sharon "Boomer" Valerii, this Doral knew of his true nature. He is rescued and debriefed by a group of his fellow Humanoid Cylons, including another Number Five. In the continuity of the novelization of the Miniseries, Doral is a sleeper agent and his realization that he is a Cylon is described in detail.

Suicide Bomber Copy[edit]

Aaron Doral in his suicide bomber role aboard Galactica.

A copy of Doral also turns up on Galactica as a suicide bomber (Litmus), using explosives he steals from a small-arms locker to create a primitive bomb he detonates in a corridor of the ship after being challenged by William Adama.

At the time of the explosion, Starbuck suggests that Doral's intended target was Gaius Baltar. There is little direct evidence to back-up Starbuck's claim. Sergeant Hadrian's investigation into the matter establishes that the small arms locker used by Doral is located relatively close to the flight pod (where Doral would have come aboard). Therefore, the fact that the locker and Baltar's lab resided on the same deck may have been coincidental.

Doral appears to spend some time wandering through the ship before detonating his bomb, which suggests he may have been looking for a target of opportunity, such as a command staff member or sensitive area such as CIC.

Caprican Overseer Copy[edit]

Five in his overseer role.

On Caprica, Number Five performs the role of a Cylon overseer, working with Number Six to ensure their experiment involving the stranded Karl Agathon and Caprica copy of Sharon Valerii either reaches its desired conclusion, or is suitably terminated (Bastille Day, Litmus, Flesh and Bone, Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down). He wears a red suit, more utilitarian than that of his PR executive counterpart.

In this, Five shows a harder attitude towards humans than Six. When she expresses regret that the destruction of humanity was necessary in order for the Cylons to achieve their ends, he is not so forgiving:

  • Six: "This all makes me so sad."
  • Five: (matter-of-fact) "They would have destroyed themselves anyway. They deserve what they got."
  • Six: "We're the children of humanity. That makes them our parents in a sense."
  • Five: "True - but parents have to die. It's the only way children come into their own."

(Bastille Day)

Later, however, when Six is disdainful of Valerii's apparent feelings for Agathon when the Caprican experiment goes awry, Five is more sympathetic, wondering what it must be like to be driven by passion that marks Agathon's action: "Even in his anguish he seemed....so alive" (Tigh Me Up, Tigh Me Down).

Other Copies[edit]

In "Final Cut," a Number Five is one of the Cylons that watches D'anna Biers' broadcast. He comments that the life of Sharon and Helo's hybrid child must be protected at all costs.

Several copies of Number Five are seen on Cylon-occupied Caprica throughout "Downloaded", the episode where it was revealed that he is the fifth in the sequence of twelve Cylon models. A Five is one of the four 'rebirth nurses' that welcome first Caprica-Six and (much) later Galactica-Sharon, the "Heroes of the Cylon" back to life after their respective downloads into new bodies. He tells Boomer that the Cylons are proud of her. Another copy is serving coffee at the cafe which is bombed by Samuel Anders' resistance group, while yet another rescues "Caprica" and Sharon from the ruins of a garage later the same day.

A Five is part of the leading group during the invasion of New Caprica in the episode "Lay Down Your Burdens, Part II", along with the aforementioned "Heroes of the Cylon." Fitting his personality archtype, this Five is quite direct in his insistence that the Colonials surrender without resistance to the Cylon armada.

The humanoid Cylon leading the force of Centurions outside the temple on New Caprica is not seen, but is identifiable as a Five by his voice (The Resistance: Episode 4).

Notes[edit]

Doral is the name of a recently formed city in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It was formerly a census-designated place, named for a golf and resort spa within its boundaries. The resort was orignally named for its builders Doris and Alfred Kaskel.