"If they've come from the home of the Thirteenth Tribe, then they must know the way back," says Natalie, and Kara completes the thought: "They know how to get to Earth." Athena and Leoben know about the missing Three; Kara realizes her sister in prophecy can be unboxed, and identify the Five. A grand version of the Final Five music begins to play; Sam doesn't look up at all. Natalie looks at Kara, and she nods. "Let's go. Demetrius is waiting for us." Sam looks at the Eight a while longer: at the beauty and the innocence in his people. His people.

Death isn't a metaphor. The end of line, of humanity, isn't a party. Even when the Cylon hop back and forth across the line, they don't stay there more than just a moment. They come back to life; they're resurrected, and then they are alive again. Sam watched Jean Barolay fall, and the Six in her sickness, and felt their deaths inside him: those viewpoints getting burnt off, so that the show could move along into its own redemption. The horrors of war should shame us all, and they are not metaphor but truth: ugly and brutal. We ride that pale horse when we ride to war. But looking down at this fragile Eight, who did nothing but try to save her people from slavery, and died for it, on the run, no food and no fuel, when they were so close to finding an answer. This episode is as much about life, about things being born, as it is about death. Something is alive in him. That's not a metaphor either.

Emily stands on the prow of the ferry across the Styx, the sun shining on her, her beautiful hair and her peaceful smile. Laura stands beside her. All Emily's people appear, as the reach the furthest shore. "We're here," Emily says, peaceful and happy. They smile, and gather to welcome her, excited. Laura looks over, happy for her friend, and she's gone. She looks across the spray from the bow, her beautiful auburn hair caressed by the cool breeze, and there Emily is: On the shore, running into them joyfully, fairly dancing, throwing herself into them with her arms open wide. Laura smiles as her friend is gathered in, by her family, grateful for this love and this warmth.