-Chapter 4-

Watching the tube John stood patiently as the body began to mature inside the goo. Starting to believe what Simon had told him regarding the idea of creating a new body for the Imperious Leader might have been lost when Ellen's memory was wiped was just a little discomforting. Still this test was showing promise it was reaching the critical point that he hasn't been able to pass, each second that goes by draws the creation a little closer to being completed with the lights still showing in the green his hopes were becoming more possible.

Checking his numbers once again when all of the sudden he hears the sirens going off. Looking up he watches as the dials begin to rise into the yellow "Damn it!" shouting at the displays he begins to hit the monitors with the palm of his hand but still they go quickly into the red. Turning to the tube he watches as the silhouette of the body insides begins to disfigure as if crawling to get out it begins to bounce around in the tube until it finally stops moving. "Damn…"

Simon standing next to John simply crosses his arm as his other hand grabs his chin "Hmm, I thought the compound might cause the body to destabilize."

John simply shook his head losing count on how many failures they had "It would seem you might have been right about our situation." Turning to Simon he simply looks at him.

"…and what situation would that be?"

Pulling out a gun he points it to Simons head "That creating a new body may not be feasible." Pulling the trigger he watches as the body falls to the ground.

Another John standing behind him steps up "You really need to stop shooting the help."

"Well this one might be the last one for a while plus I've really wanted to do that." Smiling he places the gun on the table "I don't need this Simon anymore go ahead and have his memory strand erased."

Returning the smile the other John gives a slight bow "Consider him gone" exiting the room.

The room became silent except for the computers in the background making constant beeping sounds. John stood there with his hands clasped in front of him staring at the glob of human remains inside the tube slowly dissolving. All he could think about was the meeting he was going to be having with Purevenom, knowing exactly what it was about. Something that he has been avoiding with the hope of fixing before it became a problem, but now it was and he needed to think of a way to tell him.

Leaving the room he heads back to the Command Center walking through the doorway he stops and turns to the centurion guarding the door. "I no longer have need of the contents in that room. Make sure there are no traces of It." Watching the centurion enter the room he felt some comfort knowing that he did do something right when he didn't allow the voice programs to transfer to the new models. Continuing his course he returns his thoughts on his problem.

Entering the Command Center he sees one of his brothers at the main data stream, walking over to him he places his hand on his shoulder "Tell me brother how much longer will it be before we reach the Colony."

Shifting his hand in the relay he grimaces as he looks for the information "The Hybrid indicates we will be there momentarily."

"Good can you let me know when we dock? I have an important meeting with his Excellency."

"Of course Brother." The other John returns to his work while John watches hoping that he would give him a straight answer he is left standing there to watch.

Looking at the panel he frowns at the thought of communicating with the Hybrids, sometimes wondering how his brothers put up with it was beyond him. The Hybrid were very curious to him but at the same time disturbing their thought process are beyond simple logic but yet through all their utterances of unintelligent speech they can control a Basestar better than anything the Cylons have access to in the Legion, since they were created before Ellen and John had arrived it was unknown exactly the method they used since the ending of the war all the original work was lost when the prototype disappeared. Fortunately they had the next generation of Hybrid already integrated into another Basestar John wasn't able to reverse engineer on how they were created but he was able to input the resurrection code to replicate them. It wasn't fair that the Cylons were able to create what Ellen had perfected in the human models if often frustrated John since they all were able to do what he couldn't, made him question his own abilities at times.

The other John finally looks up to see that John was still standing there hovering over him "is everything alright, brother?"

Waking out of his deep thought "Hmm, yes I just have other matters on my mind, can you let me know when we dock?"

Looking at him with a confused expression "as I said I would let you know…" turning back to his station he turns his head back real quick "I think you might want to go downstairs and see Simon in the infirmary, you don't seem to be… yourself today."

Stepping back John turns his head and with a calm gesture looking at the other John "I'm fine" nodding his head he quickly leaves the room in preparation for his meeting.

From his vantage point Purevenom could see a good view of the Colony as he watched many of the ships dock and depart his new home. Standing there he often enjoyed the serene view but prior to his life as a human he had no recollection of ever enjoying such things. Even more curious he could not understand what his life was like before this transformation, the emotions at time were overpowering and often had to do all he could to keep them in check the curse of this life he guessed.

As the door chimed he turned taking his place in his seat he lifts his hand up gesturing to the D'Anna standing next to the door "Let him enter."

John walked into the room and proceeded directly in front of Purevenom kneeling he bows his head "You requested my presence your Excellency?"

"Yes, John I did" standing up he walks back to the window "I'm done being patient… take this armor off now."

John embarrassed with his own failures makes a quick glance to the D'Anna in the room "Your Excellency, what I need to tell you needs to be told in privacy."

"Very well" gesturing to D'Anna she simply bows her head and leaves the room "You have your privacy now what is your excuse?" simply turning he stands over the little man that remained kneeling to the ground.

Slowly lifting his head John is curious if Purevenom would execute him in person or have one of the centurions do it. To top it off he wasn't even sure if his whole line would be boxed because of his incompetence. Finally John begins to talk at a low utterance "I have failed you my Lord."

"What do you mean? That you cannot take off the armor" losing his patients he was tired of these games that he continued to play.

"No your Excellency" getting up he walks over to him and begins putting in the complex code that would unlock his armor. "The truth is your lordship the real reason I created the armor was to protect the real failure. I was not able to create a unique body for you so instead I used one that was already in circulation." Removing the helmet he walks over to the counter picking up a mirror he hands it to Purevenom "Even though the mind transfer downloaded into the body you still have the body of a Simon."

Relieved to finally have the helmet off his head felt like it was as light as a feather. As the blood rushes to his head he becomes light headed and falls into the seat grabbing his forehead he sits there for a second "You mean to tell me that I share the body of a Simon."

"Yes…" waiting for the command to be given to the centurion to fire he stands there for a second "…and that is why I haven't been able to give you your own resurrection code. For some reason the other Simon models will not accept your codes if you were to die everything that you are would be lost. Hence I placed you in the armor to protect your body and deceive everyone to include you of the slight miscalculation I made."

"Indeed…" getting up he walks over to the counter grabbing the glass he takes a drink something he hadn't been able to try till now, wiping his face he turns back to John"…well how close too creating my own body are you?"

"It cannot be done as of now" not really sure what else to say. "That is what I have been working on all this time, failure after failure I kept losing the body that I created."

"I don't understand you were part of Ellen's group why can't you?" the frustration was beginning to get to him his hands were shaking.

"Ellen never allowed me to be a part of that process I worked on the codes for resurrection not the creation of the models themselves."

"Fine, get Ellen out of her box and have her start working on the creation of a body for me." Purevenom watched as John shut his eyes realizing that there was more news that was probably not good he says with a resigned voice "What is it John?"

The resurrection of Ellen and her crew could create complications to John's plan, especially if when he reactivated their memories they recalled his take over. Quickly he responds with another lie "They are all dead." Not really sure if in what he said was signing his own death warrant he hoped that the other version of himself knew what his original plan was and could implement it.

Standing there for a second Purevenom just stood there gently saying "Dead…" shaking his head he turns his attention back to the little man standing next to him "So what is the plan then?"

"Well by keeping the armor on nobody will question your position, but as soon as they see you are a Simon they may think you and I were trying to deceive the Legion and dispose of us both."

"Can't argue with that" Purevenom picks up the helmet "So I will remain in this helmet indefinitely then."

"I will continue with the work on making a body for you, but till then yes." Standing there John adds "since you know now we can have a room specially designed so that you can take the armor off and enjoy yourself."

"Indeed… but I won't be able to enjoy this body to the fullest." Feeling a deep sorrow in his stomach he was rather excited that he would be able to experiment with the body but now that thought had left and was replaced with the idea that he would have to live it in solitude.

"Don't worry your Excellency I'm sure we can fix it." In the crook of his mouth a small smile began to form, not really sure how things turned to his favor he enjoyed watching as the Imperious Leader seemed depressed over the situation. Things seemed to be getting back on track again. John then explained in detail on how he could program a few of the models with basic codes to live in his personal room and serve his needs, finally Purevenom agreed to the idea and John quickly departed getting started on the new project.