Jupiter Brains All Over The Wall

New chapter and I've started working on my other fic and I'm helping a friend with another piece of fiction.

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Fade had lived up to his reputation. The IDs that he made identical to the real things and Kenn, Morinth and Layla were quickly brought into the hustle and bustle of the Presidium docking bays with the Kobol. The throngs of aliens that made the faux sunlit inner ring of the Citadel were well dressed and articulate. Through the translation programs that Layla had downloaded into her silicate mind she could understand the bits of conversation floating around her. Morinth was in her element among the populous and her strides spoke of confidence born from centuries of struggling to stay alive. With a quick call she had a suite of rooms put under her account for herself and Layla. Kenn, as the rest of his race, did not feel comfortable without a clean room and a separate room mainly used for quarian employees to the high rollers that passed through was enough for him.

Layla frowned at the implication of him being less than she or Morinth. The Asari was a fugitive and serial killer and she was being that had described as a walking toaster with artificial skin by those she had fought against so many millenia ago. On the contrary Kenn was the least dangerous of the three and the nicest. On the way to the hotel they had advised the boutiques that they had patronized as to the address of their hotel and the packages were being delivered post haste. Kenn chuckled when he saw the stacks of parcels sitting on Layla's and Morinth's beds.

“I can never understand how one person can have that many clothes.” he replied picking up and thin rectangular box and gave it a shake.

“Up until a couple of years ago I shared many things with my sisters.” Layla replied with a wistful smile as she carefully hung some of her longer garments in a closet. “

“Lucky me. I've never had that problem.” Morinth replied from the doorway of Layla's room. She had changed from her jumpsuit to a sleek dress of red and gray. “I was able to get an appointment for you to see the man who used to be the human ambassador the day after tomorrow.”

“That was quick.” Kenn came closer. “How did you get that done?”

“Told him it pertained to the attacked on the Parthian Rage and Cerberus.” Morinth grinned. “It still gives us a day to rest up after a night of dancing and music tonight.”

Layla frowned as put the last of her wardrobe away. “Do you think that's wise? I don't exactly remember the last time I partied with you.”

“I do and I think you need to do it again. Just to let you unwind. Don't worry I won't let you take any sort of drug except alcohol.”

Layla's brow furrowed as she weighed her options about being out in the throngs of people on the Citadel. She sighed. “Alright but I don't want to be out all fraking night, understand?”

“Of course Layla,” Morinth smirked. “Can't have our little machine's batteries being low when you go and meet Udina. Maybe you'll charm you're way into seeing Councilor Anderson and give him the data in person. Now, I'm going to go and take advantage of the amazing spa they are supposed to have here.”

Morinth fluttered her fingers in a delicate wave and left the room to Kenn and Layla. The quarian shook his head at their biotic's behavior and looked back over to Layla who had picked up a datapad and was going over it as she sat on the immense bed she was using. She quirked a corner of her lips up in a small smile and shrugged in a “what-can-you-do” expression.

“What are you going to do while we're here?” she asked.

“I don't know. There really isn't anything that quarian's can do in the open air.”

“So you're just going to mope about the suite until we're done? That's doesn't seem very exciting.”

“I was going to buy some new converters and stabilizing grids for the Kobol since we're in a location where they won't be hot.” he answered hesitantly.

“Tell me how much you'll need before you go so I can transfer the funds over for you.” she replied and looked back down at the pad in her hand. “I wonder how much information I should entice Udina with in our meeting. I don't want to lay everything out but withholding too much would be just as bad as giving him too much.”

“Give him copies of the gun cam of the Reaper they were building and then of the pods from the base. You'll be giving him the bigger picture but not enough to scratch the itch.”

The blonde nodded and smiled broadly at him. “Too smart by half, aren't you. Go and loaf, see what kind of vids are on.”

Kenn patted the bed in farewell and left his leader in peace. It was strange to be in a place so open an airy after being on the baseship and studying the designs and inner workings of the Centurions, the filthy conditions and the cluttered array of the Flotilla. It was strangely exhilarating to to be in such decadence. The entertainment center was an extension of the decadence, it spanned most of the inner wall and Kenn tried to make sure that the volume wasn't too loud. Hours stretched by as he puttered through the vid stations and settling on a “Fleet and Flotilla” marathon.

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The cocktail lounges on the Presidium were overpriced and filled with people with too much money and not enough taste. The only thing good about it was the drinks and a wonderful view of the Nebula. Morinth sat not far from her flirting with a a slightly villainous looking man with a fine taste for clothing. He glanced a few times over at Layla but kept his attention to the wiles of the blue skinned alien next to him. He was a hunter being hunted by a predator who rarely needed to look over her shoulder for protection.

Though she kept her gaze towards the nebula but her other senses were turned to the rest of the lounge. Through the drifting currents of conversation she picked up what Morinth was babbling on about with the man. It was mindless talk and it was probably intriguing to the human but Layla found it dull and never worth repeating. Then the conversation stopped with a giggle from Morinth and Layla tensed at the silence.

“Layla.” Morinth prying her attention and sight away from the nebula and up to her companion and the human male. He still looked villainous and his smile was appraising, Layla didn't like it one bit but she didn't let on yet.

“Layla, this is Donovan Hock,” Morinth introduced with a small smile. “Donovan this is Layla, my dear friend.”

Donovan extended a hand and Layla warily place her empty hand in his. He bent down and touched his lips to the soft back of her hand and gave her a small smile as he straightened. “A pleasure to meet you.”

“And you, Mr. Hock.” Layla replied and gave him a twitch of her lips as a response to his smile.

“Your friend tells me that you have just come from Omega.”

The man took the seat to her right while Morinth came around and took the seat to her left. Layla glanced at her companion and wondered what was going through her head. Was the asari playing with him? Waiting to do to him like what she did to so many others in the past? Doing so would withdraw Layla's protection from Samara and did Morinth really want that?

“Indeed.” she kept the answer short to lead him to ask other questions.

“It is a place of opportunity to those that find it.” Hock replied

“Which is not many,” she answered back. “Only those with the lack of scruples do well there. Other than that it is a place that no good person should live and the scum that like it there should be wiped from the galaxy.”

“And what of Aria T' Loak? She has the most power there.”

Layla snorted. “Met her and I find her lacking. Her speech about her being queen bee and don't fuck with Aria is old and tired. You shouldn't have to tell people what you are. If you're important enough you shouldn't have to say anything.”

“And if they don't know?”

“Then they're don't matter.” Layla replied darkly, and took a sip of her drink. “Or you don't matter.”

“Do you know who I am?” His accent lent it more towards a tease then serious discussion.

Morinth eyed Layla and saw that she was pulling the man into her grasp. It was something that Morinth loved to do, maybe Layla would do as she did and use him then throw him away. The human was very rich and powerful in the darker places of the galaxy, like Omega and Aria.

Layla matched his lean and smiled, her perfect teeth luminescent in the darkened lounge. “Give me a reason to care?” she asked.

It was easy to read the challenge in her voice, she was not a simpering femme that played and then easily gave in. She would make him work to get whatever he wanted out of her because she didn't really want to give him anything. The man thought she was playing with him, teasing him, making him work for her goods. Her toy gun was actually real and she would shoot him down if she found him lacking. Donovan didn't say a word. It didn't appear that he even gave the question a single thought.

Layla finished her drink and put the glass down. It the clink of the glass on the metal table had the finality of a judge's gavel. “Apparently not.” she replied. She turned to Morinth. “I shall see you in our rooms.”

The crowds shifted seamlessly around her as she made her way from her seat to the entrance of the lounge. The sudden shift of night to day jarred her from her dark haze and she gave the world a small smile. Around her aliens milled and wandered, moving with a determination to some meeting or home. If they noticed the blonde in the blue dress she didn't see it. Her feet carried her to the CRT depot and she made her way back to the hotel. The receptionist at the desk relayed to her that the Councilor's office had asked to see her in the morning. The suite was dark and Kenn had apparently turned in for the night. Layla would wisely follow the young quarian's lead.

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Layla was the first one out of the rooms the next morning, her designer suit pressed a clean against her lean lines and flawless skin. She carried a small satin metal briefcase in one hand and her other hand casually tucked into a small pocket at her hip. A personal taxi was waiting for her out side of the hotel and it bypassed the early morning traffic to the Council's tower. The drive gave her ample time to rethink every eventuality that would happen before, during, and after the meeting. She had to make sure that she was prepared, she was going into unknown territory and she did not want to frak it up.

“Here we are ma'am.” the asari driver replied as she slowed the car down to land on a solitary landing pad.

Layla noticed two turians in armor and a grey haired human waiting for her on the pad. Or maybe he was to use the car after she exited. She steeled herself for the welcome she would receive. The large door lifted open and she slid out, her heels clicking softly as she came towards the trio. The human started forward with the two turians following after him.

He offered her an open hand in greeting. “Welcome to Citadel Tower. I am Ambassador Udina, Advisor to Councilor Anderson.”

“Thank you for seeing me, sir.” she replied switching her case from one hand to the other so that she could shake his hand.

“You're request was intriguing to the Councilor.” he replied as he guided her out of the landing area and through the hallways to a lone door in a secluded hallway. They stopped just outside the door. “Councilor wants to see you alone. These gentlemen will escort you back to the landing pad when you are finished.”

Layla thought of this and nodded. “Thank you.”

The door opened and she stepped past him, the door closing behind her. The office was open and airy with a room length balcony that let in the light. To her right was sleek desk but it was empty. The man she was to meet with was in front of her. He gave off the air of dignity and he was a military man. He was used to leading troops and less on politics.

“Councilor Anderson.” she replied with an incline of her chin. “Thank you for seeing me.”

“Your request to see me stated that you have information involving the Collectors and the Reapers.”

“That is correct.” Layla placed her silver case on a nearby table and clicked it open. She pulled out an OSD and came towards him. “As you are aware a turian vessel named the Parthian Rage was involved in an incident with the Collectors ship and was damaged. Both ships were damaged in the attack. Another ship, of a design not known by any Council race intervened and permanently disabled the ship.”

Anderson nodded. “Teams from both the unknown vessel, lead by someone known as Six and Commander Mycius boarded the vessel and extracted the Colonists inside the ship. When the asari ship Sojourn entered the space the team from the unknown ship departed. Days later it was seen in the Omega system and then disappeared.”

“That ship made a successful trip through the Omega 4 relay and found the Collector Base.” she handed him the OSD. “This OSD contains some of the information that the mysterious ship mined from the Collector ship and the base. It also contains gun cam footage from the assault on the base. The Collectors were abducting the Colonists and using them to provide material for a Reaper construct.”

“So the Collectors were working for the Reapers. Cerberus was right. Shepard was right.” he looked down at the OSD and then up at her. “The Council can't ignore proof if what you say and the data you've given me is real.”

“The immediate threat of the Collectors is gone but the Reapers are another beast altogether.”she said moving to the light of the balcony. She stared out at the people on the Presidium. “If I get more data I will certainly give it to you...for a price.”

“Are you blackmailing me?” Anderson snapped.

“Not at all,” Layla replied with a smile. “It is only that the ones responsible for the data have had a past with humanity and they would like reassurances that they shall not be harmed if they choose to make themselves known.”

“Are you saying that they're batarians?”

Layla leveled a dismissing gaze and stroked the balcony's railing. “Your concern right now, Councilor, is how to broach the subject with the other Councilors without sounding like a lunatic. God has a plan and He brought me to you, Councilor.”

As the last statement left her mouth she wondered at it. She had never been the most religious Cylon in the universe. Her faith had been shattered at the onset of the civil war and holding her dying lover in her arms as the baseship died around her. Now she was talking about the One True God and His plan? What would her Leoben say to her? He would smile knowingly at her and plant a small approving kiss on her lips as his hands slid around her hips to settle on the small of her back. Tell her that she had finally opened her eyes to the stream.

“It will take some convincing but I think that their safety can be arranged. If this proves accurate.” Anderson replied. “What do you get out of the deal?”

“What they get. Atonement, forgiveness for past sins.” Layla stepped away from the balcony. “I will leave you my case and the files in it to read and discuss with your Council whenever you please.” She went to the door and pressed the orange hologram to open it.“Good day, Councilor Anderson.”


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