Being out of his room for the first time in several weeks was, in 626's opinion, very strange. Not just because he was being followed everywhere by a pair of Federation Soldiers, or because the Grand Councilwoman had been far more awkward and almost distant around him the past few days, but also because, every single place they went, everyone stopped whatever they were doing in favor of staring and whispering. Dr. Scheur had tried to convince 626 that they'd be focused just as much on the soldiers and the Councilwoman as they would be on him, but in truth he could hear almost everything the onlookers were saying, and it was, universally, about him.
"So that's Experiment 626…"
"Man, this is so crazy!"
"He looks friendlier than I expected…" 626's head swiveled around to see who'd said that - a being who looked an awful lot like Captain Gantu at about a third the size, who waved at him. 626 waved back before continuing forwards. Theiga naga have problem with meega? It would be nice, 626 thought.
Unfortunately, the next whisper he heard was far more derogatory. "Uh. I can't believe they're letting that thing out in the open like this."
Again 626's head snapped around to see who'd said that, his eyes landing on a tall, thin, birdlike being glaring back at him with an expression of withering contempt. Unable to restrain it, 626 felt a low growl escape his throat. "Meega naga thing."
"Then what are you, exactly?" The birdlike being scoffed. "Surely you don't think you're a normal being like the rest of us, or even like sentient robots."
626 opened his mouth to protest, but he realized - what would he even say? He wasn't normal, was he? His entire creation had been illegal, after all, and even though he was doing his best to be good he'd still been created to be a monster.
"What's that?" The being taunted. "Can't think of anything to say, can you?" He studied 626, who was continuing to growl at him. "That's why you're trying to scare me, isn't it?"
"Calm down, 626." He felt Oltz gently tap his shoulder. "It's not worth it."
"Pano -" He looked up at Oltz in protest.
"Enough, Councillor." The Grand Councilwoman placed herself between 626 and the birdlike being, although 626 couldn't help but notice she still wasn't looking at him. "I'm certain you have better things to be doing right now."
"Perhaps." He muttered after a moment's hesitation. "You really should keep that thing on a leash, though - the way it's snarling with those hackles raised, it looks like it's about to pounce like some feral animal."
"Not another word. Leave. Now."
"As you wish." The being crossed by 626, seeming to not even dignify him with a glance, but as he passed 626 heard him mutter "abomination."
Habata Iki, 626 thought, for a moment readying himself to lunge and strike, to throw the ignorant fool to the floor or maybe even out the window…
Habaja. 626 blinked and realized what he was thinking. Naga isa graazi. Pano, meega want hurt him? Even after spending all those days trying to overthrow his instincts, the second someone made him mad it was like…like…
A part of him still relished the chance to destroy, he realized to his horror. Suddenly, standing there in the middle of the hallway, he felt ashamed and disgusted of himself.
He looked up at Oltz, and Dr. Scheur, and the Grand Councilwoman, and found he couldn't look them in the eyes. "626 soka…"
They looked at one another. "Talk to him." Dr. Scheur muttered to the Councilwoman.
"Me? But…" She shook her head. "No, you're right." The Councilwoman knelt down in front of 626. "I appreciate the apology, 626, but you've nothing really to apologize for. Councillor Talisim spoke completely out of line there, and it's understandable that you'd get angry."
"Meega wanted to hurt him!" 626 protested.
"I know, but you didn't, did you? You mastered yourself." She smiled at him for the first time in several days. "That's something to be proud of." Standing up, she looked over at Dr. Scheur. "I think I would like to talk with 626 in my office. Just the two of us." She turned to Oltz. "Is that agreeable to you as well, Sergeant?"
"Go ahead. I trust him."
Last time 626 had been in the Grand Councilwoman's office he'd spent the majority of the time imprisoned within a glass case or being ushered into a restraint disk, so being back there was a somewhat uncomfortable feeling even though he was simply sitting in a plastic chair facing the Grand Councillor's desk. Resisting the urge to start scanning for escape routes, 626 forced himself to keep his attention on the Grand Councilwoman. She looked oddly sad, 626 realized; like she'd said or done something she greatly regretted. Gaba Isa Tasoopa? He wondered.
Confusingly, the first thing she said was about him. "Dr. Scheur told me you've been spending a good deal of time looking at a particular picture." She pressed a button on her desk. "It was this one, correct?"
Up popped the image of a family. "Ih."
"What about it catches your eye?" She looked at him, curious.
"Meega naga sure. Meega feel…sad?" He tried to explain as best he could, about how looking at the picture made him feel like there was a hole in his chest, and that there was almost a feeling of jealousy attached.
"I see." The Grand Councilwoman pressed the button on her desk again, and the picture vanished. 626 gave a start, and for half a second pawed the empty air as though it could bring the picture back.
"I see the picture truly does stir up something in you, then." The Councilwoman said, so softly that 626 was fairly sure she was talking to herself more than she was to him. "626, do you perchance…wish you had a family like that?"
"I-ih…" 626 nodded, the realization suddenly hitting him too. "Meega want a family."
"And what do you suppose that would look like?"
"Others like meega." 626's ears drooped. He'd dreamed about it occasionally, in truth, about a mother and a father that looked like him, but bigger, speaking to him in soft, gentle tones. "Family isa parents, ih?"
"It can be, yes."
"Pano, naga have parents. Naga other 626s." 626 rubbed his eyes. "Meega alone." Shaking his head vigorously, 626 tried to push the sudden upswelling of loneliness back down. "Naga nota why yuuga ask, though. Naga to do with earlier today."
"Well, not directly, but -" The Councilwoman sighed. "Well, I've noticed your increasing uneasiness the past few days, and I'm sure you've noticed the same with me. I can't help but wonder if there's any link between that and what happened with Councillor Talisim."
626 nodded; it made sense. "Naga want to talk about family, though."
"Oh? Why not?"
"Because 626 naga have one!" He stood up on the chair. "Isa…isa…isa baba taka! Ih, Jumba make meega, so Jumba isa meega family? Jumba naga bachoota! Jumba isa kapu!" Chest heaving, 626 sat back down. "Meega alone. Meega scared Talisim right - meega just thing."
"Oh." The Councilwoman gave him a long, searching look. "Well, as someone who has spent the vast majority of her time with you the past few weeks, I feel uniquely qualified to say that you are not merely a 'thing'. Particularly in my eyes, which I feel is likely the origin of my own unease."
"Gaba?" 626 wasn't sure what she meant.
"Well, in my eyes you've always been someone with the great capacity for growth, and I've seen you develop into a sensitive, energetic, and amazing being. And because of that, well, I must confess my opinion of you has changed a great deal from when we first met."
"Meega know. Yuuga say that before - isa why yuuga change the goal for meega."
"Oh, my opinion's changed even more than that, 626." The Councilwoman paused before she continued, clearly thinking something over. "It was Ombit that clued me in a few days ago - when we were getting approval from the rest of the High Council for today's little sojourn, she noticed that I tend to get, ah, somewhat more animated when it comes to matters regarding you. And so, I've been reassessing things lately. Do you understand so far?"
"Ih. Hoogota."
"Good. Now, as I said I've been thinking a lot, and it made me realize something important: I care for you a great deal.
"Which brings me back to that image from earlier: although just a few minutes ago you were only mentioning a father - in this case Jumba - in regards to what your family would be, I can't help but notice your attention seemed more drawn to the idea of a mother when you were studying the picture. And, if I am not mistaken, when Dr. Scheur first showed you the image that was what you focused on, correct?"
"Ih." 626 had an idea of where she was going with this, but at the same time, it just couldn't be. It was impossible, wasn't it? Especially since he kept messing up like down in the hallway and way back with Officer Higota. And then there was the fact that they were completely different species even on top of the fact she hadn't been involved even remotely in his creation.
And yet…
Memories flashed through 626's head: her gentle touch when Gantu had been ranting at him, her bringing him pizza and allowing him to hug her and cry into her chest, her just always being there, understanding him as best she could…
Naga. Isa naga possible.
The Councilwoman looked at 626, obviously noticing his inner turmoil. She smiled at him, got up from around her desk, and kneeled down in front of him. "Experiment 626, I would like to ask you a question: is there anyone you picture as your mother? Or a being you would like to be your mother?"
It took 626 what seemed like eons to be able to muster up the courage to answer. "Yuuga." He looked away. "Pano, meega know yuuga naga mother."
"Well, why not?" The Councilwoman laughed. "Don't tell me neither Jumba nor any of us taught you about the concept of 'adoption'."
"Gaba? Ah-dop-tion? Naga know that word."
"Huh. Remind me to have a few words with your creator on what he programs in his experiments." She shrugged. "But that is neither here nor there. Anyways, adoption is basically what we call it when an adult takes a younger being they care for very much and takes them in. Yes, as family."
626's eyes widened. "Yuuga mean…"
"Yes, I do. Experiment 626, I have one last question for you: would you like the two of us to become family?"
"Y-yuuga mean it?"
"Of course." She ruffled the fur on 626's head. "You just said you'd like to have me for a mother, correct? Well, as it so happens, I would very much like to have you as a son. So: any interest in making it official?"
"Ih - ih!" 626 sprang out of his chair and into her arms.
"Wonderful." The Councilwoman said after gently putting him down. "In that case, we may have to workshop a few names."
"Names?" 626 asked. "Meega have name."
"Yes, but frequently when one is adopted they take the last name of their new family - in my case, Zeller. It's just something to think about: would you want to still go by just 'Experiment 626'? 'Experiment 626 Zeller'? Something brand new?"
"Ah. Let meega think…" 626 considered the options. "Meega think…meega like '626 Zeller'. Isa okietaka?"
"Of course!" Bending down, the Grand Councilwoman hugged him again. "Now, let's go tell everyone else the good news."