Jupiter Brains All Over The Wall

You thought that was the end? Oh Ho but wait there's more! Will Shepard be in this chapter? Maybe...you'll just have to read to find out.

Kenn'Haal found her where the Centurions left her in the hangar bay hours before. She had taken off the outer armor and was dressed only in the slick black under suit that protects the skin from chaffing. The dark color contrasted greatly against her platinum blond hair. Her eyes never registered his presence but her hand patted his arm as he took a seat next to her.

“We did it and we have the visual footage to prove it.” he replied. “With the data that the hybrid is analyzing the Council can't ignore what we did.”

“When do we find out what they were doing with the humans exactly?”

“The Hybrid is taking it slow. A week maybe?” Kenn shrugged. “Though we should get out of the system before the scum and villainy of Omega try to make us a prize.”

Layla chuckled and leaned up, resting her weight on her elbows. “There are 220 conventional and nuclear turrets ready to blow them out of the sky if they try. Besides I'm only going to the station to pick someone up and then we're going to a special place for a little rest. Speaking of special: what about you? Do you want to stay on or shall we drop you off at Omega so you can take a ride somewhere else?”

“Where are you going after Omega?”

“My home system,” she replied sitting up completely and resting her head in her hands with her elbows on her thighs. “It's safe from the Council and pirates, completely uninhabited. Perfect place for the hybrid to disseminate the data from the base and figure out what to do next.”

“I think I shall stay with you, Layla. Those on pilgrimage don't need to rush back to the Flotilla if we find something useful. You get into some interesting situations and I find the Centurions fascinating.”

Layla smiled at him. “I think they find you fascinating as well and I think they feel sympathy as well.”

Kenn snorted. “It's either sympathy or smugness for our ego at creating the geth.” he looked down at her. “Your Centurions let me access some of your records. Your history with your creators and how far it had progressed before you died. I should be angry at your crimes because my people suffered as the humans had but you regretted your crimes and tried to repent them. They wanted me to understand what they knew and that they don't hold me accountable for what happened with our creations.”

“I'm glad to hear that Kenn and it means a lot that they would trust you with such information.” she placed a hand on his and squeezed it gently. “God has a place and plan for everyone, Kenn'Haal and everyone of them is important. Now I should go get showered and changed. I probably smell atrocious.”

“Not atrocious per see but you do have an odor.” the quarian quipped and got to his feet, extending a hand to help her up.

Layla slid back from the ledge of the dock and took the quarian's assistance. For such a being he was stronger than her looked. She walked silently with him until they reached the level in which his quarters were and she left him to climb a staircase to her room. The tub was filled his clean water and she was quick with her hygenial ritual, and changing into a pair of black slacks, red top and black coat that would brush her calves as she moved. Hopefully she could blend into the crowds of Omega easily in the get up.

The Centurions were waiting for her at the ship as she checked one last time that Morinth was safely in her quarters before she got on board. To her credit the asari had tried many times to hack her way into the baseship's systems but the Hybrid was quick in shutting the alien down. It was in the Ardat-Yakshi's nature to be in control of her surroundings and not being able to have an escape plan was bound to drive the creature mad.

Docking on Omega was simple. It was getting in without anyone knowing that wanted to know was a problem and her problem was a familiar Batarian standing in front of her airlock when she stepped out.

“Aria--”

“Yeah, yeah,” Layla interjected to the Batarian's annoyance.. “Aria wants to see me. I get it.”

She didn't give the Centurions' instructions but they fell into the newly acquired routine of standing guard at the airlock, their red optic beams scanning the area and ignoring the Batarian. The smell of Omega was the same, fear, malice, blind optimism and bodily filth assailed her nostrils. Her hands were shoved into the pockets of her coat and she frame slouched to fit into the crowd she was traveling in. Over the din of the populace she could vaguely hear the juxtaposed views of the station's news channels. It was easy to hear with her sharpened senses but she made herself push it away so she wouldn't stop and try to listen harder. Her shoulder hit armor, making her body twist at the intrusion but she didn't stop to address the person whom she had bumped into.

“Watch where you're going, stupid cow.” the barked.

The timbre and inflection was bordering on familiar but she shook the feeling away and kept walking. A large hand gripped her bicep and spun her around. It was an older human man with one white eye and one piercing green. His face bore the scars of battle and he looked as mean a fighting dog. Layla ripped herself from the man's grip and glared at him as she continued on her way.

“Hey!”

“Zaeed, let it go.” a second human replied with a weary sigh.

Zaeed tried to grab her arm again. Instead he got a hold of her coat and tried to pull her back into the one-sided argument. “I said--”

Layla's right fist rocketed towards him and she caught him in the jaw, making him stumble back several feet. He clutched his jaw and the other human and a krogan came over. Whether to admonish him or back him up was unclear and rather unimportant to her.

“Maybe you should learn some manners before you start bitching at other people.” she sneered.

Zaeed growled and shook his fist at her. “Watch it, girly or I'll put you over my knee.”

A bark of laughter erupted from her lips and she turned her back to him. “Whatever crests your waves, skipper.”

If he tried to grab her again then she would strike out again. After a few steps she felt the man's presence leave her perception and she faded back into the crowd. No one touched her, an imperceptible bubble enveloped her and she moved about with ample space. The batarians at the front door of Afterlife nodded her in and the long walk to Aria began. The pulsing music and whiffs of conversation was becoming normal to her. It made her uneasy. Aria was becoming used to her schedule, she needed to change it up to throw the asari off.

Layla's face was stony when she met the asari's gaze.

“You've caused me some trouble, human.” Aria replied. “There are reports of a strange ship the ship of a dreadnought saving a turian patrol ship and stopping the Collector attacks and now that same ship is seen by my system. I even had a Council Spectre ask me about it just after they asked about the Ardat-Yakshi.”

“That problem has been taken care of,” Layla replied flippantly. “If you're so worried about my ship maybe you should stop having your lackeys come and tell me to see you. Leaving me alone might save you some trouble. Have a nice day.”

She turned to leave but one of Aria's guards stopped her.

“Your girl? She's being visited by the Spectre and the Justicar.” Aria replied smugly. “The Justicar seemed very determined to catch the Ardat-Yakshi.”

The guard stepped away and let Layla down the steps. Her feet moved quicker than she thought but slower than she wanted. As she exited the club she burst into a sprint that seemed futile against the doors that were too slow to open. Her heels skidded slightly on the metal floor as she took the right that would lead her to Nef's door. The lock was green but she pressed the buzzer instead of storming the apartment. Hopefully the Spectre and the Justicar were gone so that she could talk to Nef alone or get her to safety. The time between to buzzer and the door opening was enough time for her to crease her lips into something resembling a smile.

Nef's face was red and puffy, her eyes bloodshot from crying. Layla's smile fell off her face as Nef burst into tears. The younger woman flung her arms around her and sobbed into Layla's chest. The cylon wrapped her arms around the shorter woman to hold her close. Movement beyond Nef caught her eye and she glared at the armed trio standing opposite her. One of them was copy of Morinth, down to the back tinting on her head things.

Was she Mother?

Sister?

Hunter.

She was the Justicar and she was led here by Aria. Layla's body flared in anger at the trio and she glared at them.

“Who are you and what have you done to Nef?” she hissed.

“My name is Shepard and was are looking for a dangerous criminal.” the human replied.

“Yeah? Well all I see are three armed people in an apartment with an unarmed and terrified young lady.” she sneered.

Nef leaned away from her chest to look up at her. “They said that Morinth is a kind of asari that kills when she joins with someone.” she choked out and laid her head back on Layla's chest.

“I apologize for upsetting your friend but she was seen with Morinth several times in the last week and seen leaving with you over two days ago.” the Justicar replied.

“So? She asked for asylum aboard my vessel and I consented. In exchange she helped me with a dangerous mission.”

Shepard frowned. “What type of dangerous message?”

Layla dropped her gaze and bite her lip anxiously, her fingers sliding through Nef's hair, soothing her. She had to tell them what she did, it might make the difference for Morinth and get them to trust her or they might kill her. She locked eyes with Shepard. “We went after the Collectors.”

“What?” the turian gaped. “But a turian ship found the Collector vessel that was damaged from Horizon.”

“I was there but the Parthian Rage was damaged and I couldn't risk the lives of any hostages that may have been on board. My ship was able to datamine the Collector vessel and we used its navigational data to find a way through the Omega 4 relay. Morinth and a young quarian helped me with the assault on their base. We just returned a few hours ago.”

She felt Nef slip out of her arms and her body slumped to try and fill the empty space. Shock was palpable in the room and wrapped around her like a metal blanket. Shepard, the Justicar and their turian companion looked at her, their eyes wide and jaws slightly open. Layla looked away from them and figured the couch was and interesting subject.

The turian shook himself out of his shock and took a step towards her. “Wait, you're saying that you've stopped the Collectors? Went through the Omega 4 relay and came back alive?” he looked over at Shepard. “Do you believe her? Do you have proof of your 'assault'.”

Layla could only nod and she looked over at Nef to gauge her reaction to Layla's news. The feeling of Layla's gaze on her made Nef react in the only way some one who almost lost a loved one to their own action would. She grabbed the nearest object that could fit in her hand and flung it at Layla. The cylon's superior reflexes made it easy for her to catch the projectile and she bent to set it down on the table.

“Why didn't you tell me?” Nef sobbed her voice cracking. “You could have died! Morinth could have died! Get out! I don't ever want to see you again! Get out!”

She angrily gestured to the door and stamped her foot. Layla nodded in understanding at the universal sign of rejection. Each step she took towards the door felt like a piece of her heart was slowly being ripped out of her body. Even in the short time she had been with Nef she had felt a connection she had not felt in so long.

“Nef you don't really mean that.” Shepard replied. “She didn't tell you because she didn't want to alarm you. You said it yourself that you knew Layla could survive anything.”

“Don't Shepard.” Layla breathed as she reached the door. “Let her do this. Let her have this power. She deserves to run her own life.”

The door opened and Layla stepped through the threshold. The door slid behind her like and she felt empty. Her steps dragged her away from the one reason she came to the station. Aria was going to get her wish, she was never coming back to Omega. Omega was a black hole of emotions and illusions and she was right to be rid of it. The second door that separated the Markets from the rest of Omega closed behind her and shame at slinking past Afterlife filled sat like a boulder in her stomach. A tiny part of her wanted to go in to the club and plant one solitary bullet in the fucking asari's head.

The urge to get off the station grew until she was jogging towards the transport depot. She shoved a turian out of her way at the nearest car and slammed the door shut on it before he could get to his feet and stop her.

Omega could burn for all she cared.