Jupiter Brains All Over The Wall

Oh man sorry about the very long absence. School, work, and reverse writer's block. That's right, reverse writer's block.

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Six stayed in her room, drifting in and out of fitful dreams until her body's desire for food won out over her mind. Every so often she heard the metal footfalls of the Centurions through her pillow and she would tense under the blankets. The thought of one of her brothers seeing her in a weakened state yet unwilling to change the situation shamed her. They looked to her for guidance and if they wanted to go on in the galaxy proud that they were the reason the galaxy survived she would have to get up. Her stomach agreed with a mighty roar and a sharp bite. Slowly she pushed her blankets off of her, her limbs heavy and aching from the lack of movement. Was this what it felt like to be one of the humans she tortured on New Caprica? Bile rose in the back of her throat at the memory of a man begging to the Centurion with her not to break his leg.

“Six?” the query came from the other side if the rippled glass partition that separated her room from the corridor. “The Centurions said you were up. I brought you some food.”

“Of course, come in.” she replied softly.

The room lightened slightly as the quarian came around the partition with a tray of food. It smelled light and grainy. She tried to stretch her mouth into a smile but it might have come across as a grimace.
Kenn placed the tray on her desk and turned to her. He shifted is weight from left to right and fingered the OSD in his hand.

“We're at Kobol and the Hybrid is working on the data from the base.” he started. “I've also received a couple of bursts from the Flotilla and others through Aria.” He made a show of putting it by her food.

“Thank you Kenn.” Six placed a hand on the quarian's shoulder. He nodded and left her alone to eat and read in peace.

The first message she read was from the Commander from the Parthian Rage explaining how he found how to contact her. The Colonists were being well cared for by the Alliance and the Council wanted to to find her, find out if she was friend or foe. Horizon's colonists were extending an open invitation for her to come and stay on Horizon if she wanted. The second was from some one called the Illusive Man. He headed an organization called Cerberus that took it upon itself to promote the ascendancy of humanity on the galactic stage. Her initiative in going after the Collectors, while hindering to his own investigation with Commander Shepard, showed him that she was an ally he wanted, he needed. Six sneered at the message. She had read reports gained by hacking into the Alliance intels about Cerberus' movements.

Bombing schools of different races, experiments on beings including humans? She wanted to be away from such activities not be an accomplice to them. The first one made her smile, being around a small colony of humans would help her get acclimated to the new galaxy that lived around them. There were other planets she wished to visit but doing so with her brothers would be hard. Plus she needed papers, she needed to exist in the government somehow. Maybe through the turian Commander or the the colonists she could speak to the Council and tell them what she had found and gain some footing. Telling them about her past and what she was would be a hurdle but it had to be done. Putting down the OSD she started on her food letting the motions of ingesting the protein and bread and iced tea give her a rhythm to plan.

The food was bland and she didn't mind leaving the tray on her desk, she would clean it up later. She made her way up to the Primary Hybrid, passing by the Control Center where Kenn was working with the Centurions. It was pleasing to see the young quarian getting along with her metallic brothers though his people had been exiled by their own creations. Maybe being on this ship would give him the courage to change his peoples view of their own creations. Children should never be without the love of their parents. Six's steps softened as she came closer to the Hybrid's chamber. She slipped off her shoes and padded over to the sunken tank that held the woman-thing. It babbled about things logistical and ephemeral, weaving the role of anchor and prophet effortlessly.

“Your hybrids are very interesting.” Morinth's voice drifted from the chamber's entrance. Six didn't acknowledge the asari's presence which didn't disturb the alien. “Their monologues are works of art in their own way.”

Her rubber soled boots made almost no sound as she took the ledge opposite of her and sat cross legged slouching down to rest her elbows on her knees. She cupped her chin in her hands and studied the pale blond across from her.

Six's gaze lifted from the hybrid and up to her. “I apologize for my outburst a few days ago. You should not have had to hear such things.”

Morinth snorted and waved the apology off. “Practically nothing phases me anymore, Six. Do you still want to be called Six? Layla is such a pretty name and you are very pretty.”

“I am a Six.”

“But you're the only Six in the galaxy. You're the only one of your kind period. That makes you-”

“The end.”

“Special.” Morinth snorted and leaned back. “We're both special. I'm a genetic defect who can never have children and you're the perfect doppleganger for humanity. We're both beautiful and both deadly. I say we give the Council the information from the Collectors and tour Humanity's slice of the galaxy.”

“That would mean you couldn't kill anybody. Can you handle not deriving pleasure from others in that way?” Six practically sneered the question.

“Of course I can.” Morinth answered flippantly though she was too quick with her answer to satisfy Six. “I can quit whenever I want.”

Six guffawed. “You sound like an addict.”

“I am not going to justify myself to you.” Her face softened. “Can we at least go to a few clubs while we're there?”

“We have to get there first. I don't know how I'll get my smaller ship there. It was a pirate ship before we liberated it? We could be arrested because of it's previous owners and there is no way I'm bringing the baseship to Citadel space.”

“Kenn might be able to fix that.” Morinth replied. “I'll go see if he can so we can head out in a few days. We'll have to find you a good forger too.”

Six nodded and dipped her fingers into the liquid surrounding the hybrid. The bright light coming from the tank engulfed her fingers. Morinth left the Six in her state and made her way to the command center. Kenn was not at his usual station and after a quick search found him in the main hangar with the Centurions and the ship she and Six had been discussing.

“You wouldn't, by chance, be wiping the history of the ship and giving it a new identity, would you?” she asked with a playful smile and a lovely sway to her hips.

The quarian quickly turned to see the asari killer behind him and gestured to a nearby Centurion. “Ah, no, I'm not. Should I?” he inquired.

“Our dear leader has it in her head to go to the Citadel or somewhere outside of the Terminus Sector.” she came over and leaned against the ship's hull. “Will that be a problem?”

Kenn activated his omni-tool and tapped a few commands in. “Easily done. I've dubbed her the Kobol.”

“How quaint.” Morinth teased. “Are you sure it'll pass C-Sec scrutiny?”

“Of course,” he answered in feigned shock and then chuckled. “I actually did it yesterday. I've learned to think ahead, especially with the moody cylon in charge. Has she told you where we're going after this?”

Morinth shook her head. “No, I don't think she even knows.” she studied him for a moment and then. “After this are you going to go back to the Flotilla?”

“I don't...no, I think I'll stay and help her out, she seems like she needs it.” Kenn replied and turned back to the Kobol.

Morinth took this as a signal that she should leave him be. Maybe she would go back to her rooms and keep an eye on the extranet for anything to do with her protector.


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Layla decided it would be better to move the Baseship out of the system that Kobol resided and jump to a deserted system. From there they would take the Kobol to the Citadel. The extrapolated data from the Base was stored in an encrypted hard drive in a case that only Cylon coding could unlock. The plan was to go to a forger named Fade and get a couple of IDs for Morinth and Layla and then try and see the Human Alliance's Ambassador. From there they could get a hold of the Council and negotiate with the Collector Base data.

The trio stood in the cockpit watching the lavender nebula and the star that was enshrouded by the gases gave off an ethereal glow that made the Citadel a wonder to behold. There were hundreds of ships entering and exiting the airspace like bees exiting a hive. It was large, larger than the Collector Base, almost as large as a moon. Layla barely heard Kenn talk to the traffic control operators, her gaze focused on the Galactic seat of power. She glanced down at her casual suit and then at Morinth in the same outfit that her mother had worn. The asari could pull herself off as her mother in a heartbeat and they were going to use it to their advantage.

The Kobol slid effortlessly into a dock in the Factory District where they would meet up with Fade. Blue Sun mercs milled around the area keeping an eye on the trio as the entered the warehouse that served as Fade's front. Layla had a pistol on her hip but she was hoping she didn't have to use it. The asari and cylon's heels clicked resolutely against the hard flooring. One of the mercs came over and scanned Layla and Morinth for more weapons than what they had presented. Satisfied that there were none he waved them through the door to an office. It was sparse, economical, easy to move if he had been tailed.

Fade was a human, balding, lecherous, perfect for a minor criminal, Morinth wanted to throw him against the wall and turn his insides into liquid. . He gestured for them to come forward and Morinth took point.

“Well, look whose come to brighten my day.” he leered and leaned forward so that his elbows propped him on her desk.

Morinth kept her back straight but she moved like a stalking predator. “ Are you Fade?” she asked.

“That's me, toots. What can I do for you two lovely ladies today?”

“We require two new IDs and we were told you were the one to talk to.” she answered.

Fade grinned and leaned back. “Whoever told you that was correct. I can have those IDs finished in three hours.” he picked up a datapad and slid his fingers over the orange screen. “Have any preferences in mind?”

“We have the identities already worked up.” the asari pulled up her omni-tool. “We just need you to make up the IDs themselves and we shall part ways.”

Fade frowned but shrugged. “I can handle that with no problem. Come back here in three hours and you shall have your IDs.”

After the data transfer and payments were complete Morinth and Layla left the forger's den through a room and exited one of the wards. Three guards stayed in the room and gave them the safe word that they would need once Fade signaled them to return. The front door of the warehouse opened onto one of the Wards. The feel of so many beings around them made Layla smile. Morinth was slightly more immune to the bustle.

“We need to go shopping,” Morinth replied and absently ran her hands down the red uniform she wore. “I'm tired of wearing the same ten things over and over again. You deserve to have some pretty clothes too.”

“We need to tell Kenn where we're going.”

Morinth opened her omni-tool typed out a message and closed it again. “Done. Now we shop.”

She took Layla's hand and started down the concourse towards the taxi and the expensive shops she wanted to frequent. The view of the Citadel from taxi and the transition from the darkness of the Wards to the sunny beauty of the Presidium made Layla grin. Beautiful Asari and human females in beautiful and costly clothes entered and exited the boutiques giving the duo a wide path because of their cheaper clothing.

The centuries old asari stalked about the shops as if the delicate couture were picking and choosing her purchases as a young asari maiden hustled behind her to grab what she was to take. Layla kept her distance from the hunt, instead sitting in a plush chair in a corner with a cool drink. Time slipped through their grasp like a flutter of eyelashes but by the time Morinth's omni-tool beeped to remind them of their appointment with Fade. They would pick up their purchases once they checked into a hotel after they got their new identities.

A volus was waiting for them when they entered the warehouse that served as Fade's front. “Greetings. I am to give you these.” he replied holding out three small OSDs. Morinth took them and looked them over.

“Nice doing business with you.” she replied swiftly and motioned Layla to follow her out the way she came.