-Galactic Federation Headquarters, Planet Turo 13:30 Turo Standard Time-

626 watched his creator descend with more mixed feelings than he would have thought. Sure, Jumba deserved everything coming to him, but he was still 626's creator. In some senses, the closest that the experiment had to a family. And with that in mind, a tiny part of 626's brain told him that he should feel guilty for betraying the man who brought him into the galaxy.

He sighed and turned back to the podium in front. The trial of Dr. Jumba Jookiba may have ended, but it seemed that the trial of Experiment 626 was still going on.

The Councilwoman spoke again. "Now that the matter of Dr. Jumba Jookiba has been laid to rest, it is time that we focus on the next matter: what to do with his creation. I would now like to ask the court to consider the following: does is there a place for Experiment 626 in our Federation?"

Gantu stepped forwards. "Milady, I would like to propose a motion granting Experiment 626 full citizenship and all the accordant rights. Since I first met him three months ago, he has shown himself to be fully deserving of my trust, and as such I cannot think of any reason why he should be treated as anything less than a full member of the Galactic Federation."

The Councilwoman nodded. "Very well then. Captain Gantu has formally proposed that Experiment 626 be given full rights as a citizen of the Federation. Are there any other proposals?"

"Aye!" A voice shouted from the far back. 626 looked and saw a small, teddy-bear like councilor leaning into his microphone.

"And what does councilor Clarxine propose?

"What are we thinkin' letting a monster like that in our midst! He SAYS he's good, but can he prove it? It'd be wicked easy for a scientist like Dr. Jookiba to teach his experiment how to fake it – for all we know, he's just waitin for the chance to do us in!"

626 couldn't believe it. Where was this coming from?

"I propose that we keep that thing under lock and key the rest of his unnatural life!"

Right after Clarxine finished speaking, 626 heard a voice from somewhere else shout "Seconded!"

Then, right after that, another voice shouted "Oh, grow up Clarxine! There's no evidence that 626 is anything but what he says he is, and if Captain Gantu believes him so do I!" A squid-like councilor, Halpern, smiled down at the experiment. "I second the original notion."

After that it was anarchy.

"If anyone needs to grow up it's you, squid! Stop being politically correct and look at it! If we let Jumba's creation roam free, that'll just give license to other madmen who want to play God!"

"Oh, certainly, there won't be anything holding them back! it's not like we just handed Jumba a life sentence in a gigamax prison or anything! You're stuck in the last century!"

"You're just a bleeding heart! Clarxine had the right of it! Lock him up!"

"For what? Existing? I think you're just a bunch of bigoted old dogmatics, and I think Halpern and Gantu have more empathy than you ever will!"

"Oh, cry me a river!"

"At least I actually have emotions, you sociopathic fish!"

Sick of everything, Gantu slammed down his fist. "EVERYONE SHUT UP!" The room instantly quieted. "we're in the Council chamber! Not the kriffing schoolyard!"

The Councilwoman shot him a look. "Captain Gantu! I understand your frustrations but watch your language! This is no place for profanity!" Then, addressing the still-silent chamber, she continued. "Still, Gantu has the right of it. If you have nothing substantive to add to this debate, please, keep silent and let cooler heads to the talking."

Clarxine huffed. "As you command. Still, I implore the Council to think things through: if we let 626 go free, what sort of precedent does that set?"

Another councilor near Clarxine spoke up. "It sets a precedent of tolerance. When our Federation was founded, it was founded on the idea of equality and peace. That every race had the right to a say in how the galaxy should be run, and equal space just to be. And," she gestured to a robotic councilor sitting below her, "it's not as though constructed life forms are something totally alien to the galaxy."

"There's a difference between binary load-lifters who developed sentience after years of refinement and an escaped bioweapon." Replied another councilor.

"An escaped bioweapon with no indication that he intends to fulfil that purpose, and plenty to contradict it." Halpern countered. "If 626 really meant to destroy us, wouldn't he have done something the past few months? From what Gantu said it seemed like he spent most of the last two months relaxing on the Durgon, in prime position to strike a military target of significant value."

"But isn't this" – the speaker gestured around the chamber – "an even more valuable target? What after all, our entire government is localized right in this area of Turo. Is it possible that 626 calculated that playing along would get him a better target in the long run?"

Finally, 626 couldn't stay silent any longer and spoke up. "Do you have any proof of that? Any at all?"

The councilor blushed. "Well, no, but…"

"Let me tell you the facts, sir – I went to the Durgon because I thought it was right. I sold out my creator, the closest thing that I have to a family, because I thought it was right. Heck, I even put up with three weeks of maximum security imprisonment because I thought it was the safest option! How am I a monster?"

"But didn't you admit that Jumba wanted you to be one? That if he'd had his way you'd be rampaging around the galaxy?" The 'sociopathic fish' (626 had no idea what his actual name was) asked.

"He did. But that's. not. me. Please, just give me a chance to prove myself. Let me show that I have things inside that are good, despite the fact that I am what I am."

"And what would you suggest?"

626 turned to Gantu. "I've been thinking a lot the past few months, and I've decided that, if I were to leave this place a free man – or experiment, I guess – that I'd repay Captain Gantu, Lieutenant Commander Obrea, and all the others in the Armada by joining them.

"You'd ask us to put a gun in your hands?" Clarxine shouted. 626 did his best not to get angry.

"Think of it this way – yes, I would have guns, but so would everyone around me. And the Gods know that a lot of my fellow soldiers would be just as wary around me as you are." As 626 said it, the truth of what he was saying sunk in: he'd always be distrusted. And even if he were to join the Armada, he'd probably have to deal with some of his fellow soldiers scorning or ignoring him simply based off what he was.

It was a horrible thought. Still, 626 refused to let it swallow him up while he still needed to prove himself, so he continued speaking. "So remember that if I join the Armada, I'll send all my time there under the watchful eye of other people just as armed as I am." Well, save for all the little bonuses Jumba programmed in him, but now wasn't the best time to mention that. "So please. Don't say that I'm a criminal just because I'm an illegal experiment. Understand that I'm better than that." With nothing else to say, 626 quieted.

It was the Councilwoman's turn again. "Is there anyone else who wishes to speak on the matter of Experiment 626?" She waited a moment. "Then I move the matter to a vote. All in favor of Captain Gantu's proposal, please vote yes on your screens."

For a couple of minutes, the council chamber was almost silent as members fidgeted, thought, and voted. After they'd had ample time to enter their opinions the Councilwoman displayed the results on the massive screens in the front. From what 626 could tell, the vote looked narrowly split about 51% to 46%, with the rest abstaining. The results were displayed in black and white, so 626 had no idea which result had passed.

He didn't have to wait to get his answer. "Motion carried. Let it be known that, on this 21st of Sextilis, Federation Year 3620, we hereby grant Experiment 626 full citizenship in the United Galactic Federation and all the rights guaranteed therein."

Finally freed from that blasted case and the council chamber, 626 found himself trapped once again – this time, in a bear hug courtesy of an ecstatic Obrea.

"I can't believe it – full citizenship! Congratulations!"

626 managed to extricate himself from the hug and smiled up at the captain. "Thank you. And by the way, I meant everything I said about joining the Armada. I plan on enlisting as soon as possible."

"We'd be glad to have you, 626. You've shown yourself more than worthy, and if there's any pushback I promise that I will move hell and high water to get you a place in the fleet."

Before they could discuss further, the door to the room opened and the Councilwomen entered. "Ma'am." Obrea saluted.

"Dismissed, Lieutenant Commander. I would speak with 626 alone for a moment."

626 was curious. What did she want?

After Obrea left, she addressed him. "I wish to congratulate you on your good fortune. Things could have gone differently, but in the end I think things went just as they should. You deserve a place in our galaxy."

"Thank you, ma'am. I mean milady. Or, uh, do I call you ma'am?"

The Councilwomen smiled. "Ma'am is fine. Speaking of names, that was the other thing I wished to speak with you about. Now that you are a galactic citizen, if you wish you could change your name. You're more than just a science experiment, after all, so there's no need to go by 'Experiment 626' if you don't want to."

The experiment thought about it. What would it be like, not being 626? Sure, it would be less unique, but like she said, he was more than just some thing cooked up by science. Maybe choosing a real name would let him express himself the way he wanted to, not the way everyone else did.

But then again, was being called 'Experiment 626' really all that bad? When Obrea or Gantu said it, it never felt like they saw it as 'just as number'. Honestly, even though it was just a number, he'd never felt that they'd called him '626' any differently than they called each other by their names. The more he thought about it, the more keeping his name what it currently was felt right, and he explained his thoughts to the Councilwoman.

"If that is your decision, very well. Then, I hereby name you Experiment 626, and welcome you to the United Galactic Federation." And with that, she left, leaving 626 alone. Before long Obrea returned, and then it was off to the Durgon, not as a fugitive or prisoner or piece of evidence, but a citizen looking to join the Galactic Armada and do some good in the galaxy.

Jumba, eat your heart out.