Jupiter Brains All Over The Wall

So much talky in this chapter....story will pick up I swear.

The blackness that enveloped Layla filled to red and she groaned as the red glow set off a pounding in her head. A cool hand slid across her forehead and she heard some one shush her. A shadow came between her and the glow giving her a chance to try and open her eyes. Morinth's icy blue gaze looked down at her. There was something behind those eyes, something devious. This woman was dangerous and Layla was playing with fire being around her.

“We certainly got carried away last night,” Morinth's voice echoed through her head causing her to hiss in pain. “I can't believe you took that much Hallex and just have a hangover.”

Morinth wrapped Layla's hand around a cool glass and stood up. She moved over to the window facing her and pressed a button. The glass tinted to a soft black, giving Layla some relief. Slowly Layla lifted herself into a sitting position, resting her forearms on her legs, letting her body lean forward. She blindly took a drink from the glass and was met with a syrupy sweet taste, like drinking simple syrup mixed with honey.

“You are an amazing woman, Layla.” Morinth drawled out the name and chuckled darkly. “Though that isn't your name. It's only what Nef calls you.”

“I like the name.” Layla breathed and felt her body lighten.

“Indeed,” Morinth came back over to her and took a seat next to her. “Morinth isn't my real name either. Just one I've taken to live here just as you have taken Layla to be around Nef.”

“Where is Nef?” Layla asked looking around the posh apartment they were in for the young woman.

“Gone home,” Morinth reached over casually to run her fingers through Layla's platinum hair. “She wanted to stay and make sure you were alright but I convinced her to go get some sleep. Don't worry I escorted her home myself so nothing would happen to her. That night when we first saw each other... you were a rival for her. I could see her spark, that fire that made her a creator, and I hungered for it. It's in my nature to hunt such things. But you took her from me and I find that I don't mind that. You're giving me something better: A fight against impossible odds. I can prove that I am better than my mother thought me to be.”

Layla leaned away from Morinth's grasp and watched her with a mix of suspicion and assurance. “Then get your bags packed so we can get out of here.” she replied moving to stand.

“Already done,” Morinth replied and smiled. “I'll come with you to Afterlife and prove to Aria that I'm leaving.”

“No, I'll give you the docking bay where the ship is at and the password to get passed the guards. Wait for me there.”

“Very well, I'll ride with you as far as Afterlife and make my way to the ship from there.” Morinth replied with a small smile. “I left something for you to wear between here and the ship. It's in the bathroom.”

“Thanks.”

It was a long dress like what most of the women wore but it plunged invitingly down the front. She would shower on the ship but used the sink to wash her face and fix her hair into a bun. In the dress she looked icy, dangerous and sophisticated. Her breasts left a tantalizing amount of cleavage available for view. She kept her boots on and left her dirty clothes in the bathroom to be taken by someone else. Her pistol was also on display for any who thought she was an easy target.

Morinth eyed her hungrily as she came down the small set of steps that separated the living area and the sleeping area of the apartment. At her feet sat a black duffel bag that she picked up and swung over her shoulder.

“You look better in that than I did.” she admired. “Lets go.”

The transport depot was filled with aliens but they were quick to step away from the available cars. Layla wondered if it was because of her in the dress or the striking asari in black armor holding a bulky duffel bag. Her lips quirked as a human male quickly opened a car door and stood aside to let them in. Morinth shut the door sharply before the man could get inside and pressed in the coordinates for the main building of Afterlife.

Layla activated her omni-tool and sent off a couple of messages to the Centurions on board and guarding the ship. She also sent one off to Nef laced with sweet words of encouragement. “The password is Kobol and the mechs are equipped with a sophisticated AI.”

“How many are on your ship?”

“Twelve on this ship but I have more.” Layla popped her neck. “I'll be coming back with a new crew member. Then we'll rendezvous with my other ship and start our planning.”

The car sat down long enough for Layla to exit and Morinth to salute her. The car lifted off and flew over the side of the edge of the walkway.

She felt a pair of eyes behind her, glued firmly to her lower half and she really wanted to spin around and clock the owner of said eyes. The eyes staring at her from above kept her reflex in check. Her eyes flicked up casually and she saw Aria staring down, her face the same casual menace that she saw the last time she met the asari 'queen'. She passed the batarian at the bottom of the stairs and she nodded for her to go up.

“Aria's busy.” the batarian replied and for a moment Layla thought he was talking to her.

“Damnit, Shepard. I need a drink.” a heavily accented, gravelly voice spat from behind her.

“We'll be at the bar.” someone, a human by the lack of flanging in the voice, said calmly.

Besides the same guards as the day before and Aria there was a quarian standing meekly off to the side. “You've made quite an impression from last night's amusements. But I just got word that the Ardat- Yakshi is on her way to your ship so I'm making good on our deal. He has agreed to all the terms and is ready to go.”

The quarian stepped forward and Layla noticed the wringing hands. He shakily held out a hand and she took it with a warm smile. “Kenn'Haal nar Kasla.” he greeted.

Layla turned to Aria and caught her gaze. “Then our business is concluded. Good day.” she gestured to the stairway from which she climbed. “Come on, we have a lot of work to do.”

Kenn'Haal followed her closely as they descended. “I am looking forward to getting off this station, ma'am.”

Layla smiled at the title. “I am glad you decided to come along. It is very important work and if Aria has faith in your skill then so do I. It's also good that I have foodstuffs for turians and quarians on board my baseship or we'd be in trouble.”

Afterlife turned into the transport depot and they got into a car. Layla entered the docking bay coordinates and let the car proceed with its program.

“How long shall we be on this job?” he asked.

“A week maybe more maybe less. Don't tell me you miss this place already?” she teased.

“Not in the slightest. I wish I hadn't come here for my Pilgrimage.”

Layla noticed the regret in his voice. “Where would you like to go?”

“I don't know,” Kenn' Haal straightened in his seat and rubbed his three finger hands together. “Anywhere but here.”

Layla sighed. “Before we get to the ship I need to explain some things and hopefully you'll be okay with them.” she took a deep breath. “I'm going after the Collectors. I know where their base is. All we need is the last component and a plan of assault to stop them once and for all.”

“To stop them? By ourselves?”

“Yes, by the way my name is Layla and you may call Layla.”

“Just call me Kenn,” he replied cheerily.

The car landed and they got out. Thankfully there was no fresh blood on the walls and she watched Kenn eye the Centurions warily. She ignored him and looked up at them with a warm smile.

“She hasn't tried anything, has she?” she asked and their slight head shake was all the answer she got. She pushed Kenn closer to them. “This is Kenn'Haal nar Kasla and he will be helping us.”

“Are these mechs?” Kenn asked looking up at the Centurions. “They almost look like Turians.”

Layla feigned a laugh as the door opened and she waved them, all of them, into airlock.

“Before we leave I must tell that my brothers are not simple mechs. They are advanced A.I.s with thoughts and feelings. They are sentient and like all beings all they want is respect and acceptance though they cannot speak for themselves.” Layla replied calmly. “They just want to live in peace.”

Kenn's eyes blinked underneath his faceplate rapidly taking in the sight of the seven foot tall chrome plated giants around him. She could see his stance change to fear and she quickly crossed the distance to place soothed hands on his helmet.

“Don't be afraid of them, they are not geth and they have seen what fear and hatred can do to people first hand. Break past your culture's stereotype, Kenn'Haal nar Kasla and learn from beings that have been through everything that you and your synthetic counterparts have gone through.”

Her passion and empathy on the subject shook the quarian and he nodded slowly. “Very well.... I will not endanger or harm your 'brothers' or you.”

“We shall help you with your Pilgrimage just by you being aboard our ship. None like it exist in the galaxy.”

Morinth was sitting in the bridge with two of her brothers and smiled at Layla as she entered. Her eyes appraised Kenn. “A quarian? Well, you certainly know how to pick for a diverse crew.”

“Kenn'Haal this is Morinth.” Layla introduced and Morinth offered her hand. “Morinth will be helping out with the job.”

The ship made a small jolt and accelerated as it wove through the giant hanging spires that made up Omega's wards. Kenn took a seat in the chair next to Morinth as Layla came over to her brothers ad stood between their large chairs like a taskmaster watching two of her favorite students. Kenn felt his body turn wrong for a moment and then Layla spun on her heels and grinned at them.

“Congratulations you have just survived your first jump. Open the view ports.” she replied to the Centurions and the metal shutters that protected the cockpit in battle slid open to reveal giant black double Y stacked shape of the Cylon baseship.

Both of the aliens leaned forward in their seats as the ship came closer to the truncated middle to enter the largest hangar. Morinth's was the only facial expression she could openly study so the surprise welded on her face satisfied Layla's curiosity on how this galaxy would normally react. To her the ship was Home. She had no planet to call her own and no colony to go to so this was it and it was magnificent to her.

“Do both of you have omni-tools?”

Morinth and Kenn'Haal nodded.

“Good. The Centurions can't vocalize their thoughts so they can configure your omni-tools to translate what they wish to say to a written context. Kenn'Haal I'll show you what you'll be working on before we hit the base. There will be a few places that you two will not be permitted to go such as the CIC and a few other key places until we feel you have earned the trust for that.”

The ship floated up into a cavernous hangar that housed countless smaller decks that kept ships half the size of the one they were on now. The Centurions piloted the ship onto a larger hangar bay that was made to hold the ship. Layla looked out the ships ports to see a quintet of Centurions waiting for them. She gave them a small wave and started for the airlock gesturing her two new crew members to follow. Both were quick to pick up their bags and follow her out.

Layla smiled up at the Centurions. “Nothing bad to report, I hope?” she turned back to Kenn and Morinth. “This is Kenn'Haal nar Kasla and Morinth, they'll be temporary crew while we finish up with the Collectors. Come on lets show them around.”

Morinth and Kenn followed her and the towering silver mechanical giants through the maze of stairs and hallways higher into the baseship. The curved wall and striking white lights should have put the two aliens off about the ship but there was a slight throbbing that calmed them. The Centurions stopped first and stationed themselves at staggered intervals down the hallway. Layla smirked and looked to Kenn.

“Come, I'll you where you'll be staying.” she replied to both of them at once.

She stepped through an archway and around a partition of tightly rippled glass to show a room with a large bed made from wood and covered in silky linens. There was a matching nightstand and and on the far side of the room was another partition. A sleek metal and black desk sat in front of the far partition with a private terminal sitting on it.

Layla stepped farther in and smiled at Morinth. “This is your room. The terminal will give you access to the extranet but I should warn you, the hybrid tends to spy on want is seen and will report strange activity to me or one of the Centurions. If you go down the hall on the left you'll run into the kitchen and a conference room where we'll plan the assault.”

“Thank you, Layla.” she replied and gracefully went to sit on the bed, dismissing her and everyone else.

Layla shrugged at the dismissal and placed a friendly hand on Kenn's back. The quarian followed her down the hallway to another partition. The room was much like Morinth's in shape but instead of a bed was a large square pad with a cylindrical pillow that ran the length of it. She didn't know if Kenn would like the room since it would hinder his movements in hygiene.

“I'm sorry if this isn't ideal.” she replied softly. “This ship wasn't designed to accommodate your species and your needs as such.”

Kenn stared at her for a moment, his ethereal white eyes unblinking behind his faceplate. Slowly he came closer and patted her arm. “I'm not used to having so much room to myself. Back on the Flotilla space was limited so we lived closely together, being in such a space will take some getting use to.”

The reassurance from him made her cock her head and bit her lip. “I'll ask that some of the dextro food comes out from storage for you. If you want to settled I can come back and show you what you'll be working on.”

Kenn looked around the room and then at the Centurion behind her. “May I see what I'll be working on? I don't like to be idle.”

“Of, course.”

Layla guided the quarian out of the room and towards the room down the hall that the Centurions had converted to a makeshift workshop.