"Take a look at this, Fron." Councilor Flemian threw the newspaper down on his desk, disgusted. "Of all the ridiculous things for the Grand Councilwoman to do."

Flemian's secretary leaned over, eyebrows shooting upwards. "Am I reading this right? 'Grand Councilwoman adopts Experiment? That's a surprise."

"Right? I knew she was fond of that thing, but this is ridiculous." Flemian started reading the article again. "In a surprise announcement, The Grand Councilwoman has declared her intention to legally adopt the genetic experiment named 'Experiment 626' as her child. Citing her progress with teaching him- ugh, even the papers are calling it a 'him' now -proper social mores as well as observations from doctor Milyon Scheur, the Grand Councilwoman stated 'I can see now impediment towards treating 626 the same as any other sentient being.' What this means for the laws regarding illegal genetic experimentation remains to be seen, although Councilor Mroth- nowthere's a bleeding heart if there ever was one -has suggested loosening restrictions may be on the table." Flemian folded the newspaper up and threw it in the trash. "They're talking about loosening restrictions? Do they seriously wantmoreof these things running around the galaxy?"

"I couldn't say." Fron shrugged. "But to be fair, it's not like 626 turned out all that bad, did it?"

"You weren'ttherein the Council Chamber. You didn't see it." Flemian still shuddered and nearly inked himself at the thought of 626 growling and biting like a rabid animal before nearly using the chance it had been given to speak in order to curse them all out. "Experiment 626 can bat its' eyes at the Grand Councilwoman all it wants, but letting it run free is a mistake. Mark my words - this is just what Jumba was planning on. The second it goes out into Turo City proper, we'll hear screaming. Probably see a lot of buildings fall apart, too."

"I thinkthat'sbeing a little overdramatic, don't you?"

"Fron, Jumba described that thing's only instinct as, and this is an exact quote, the instinct 'to destroy everything it touches'. Maybe it can fight that instinct somewhat; do you really want to bet on that?"

"Well, no, but…" Fron leaned back and closed his eyes, thinking. "Actually, know what? You're right. I was talking to someone the other day, and they said 626 nearly attacked a councilor in the hallway a few days ago just for questioning whether it was safe for it to be out and about. And then there was the whole situation with Higota -"

"Yes, yes." Flemian waved a hand irritably. "I know all about what happened there. I'm pretty sure everyone on Planet Turo knows about that by now." Flemian rubbed his hand over his suit's glass facedome. "You know, in a sane galaxy that would have been the end of this whole charade. The second 626 attacked someone they should've slapped it in a restraint disk, loaded it onto a transport, and set out for the nearest desert asteroid. But here we are, I suppose. Nothing we can do but wait for things to go South and we get the chance to say 'I told you so."

"Indeed…" Fron trailed off, thoughtfully. "Unless… hey, boss, I may have an idea."

"Oh?"

"Well, you think 626 should be exiled, right? I'm willing to bet Officer Higota does, too."

"Fair enough - but how does that change anything? She's just one officer with a grudge, not exactly someone that can move mountains for us."

"No, " Fron held up a declarative paw, "butshe's an officer who can contact beings who CAN." "I wasn't at the trial, so I can't say for sure, but from what I've read and seen of him Captain Gantu has always seemed like the type of being that wouldn't look too fondly on beings like 626. You were there - what was your impression?"

Flemian thought back.Hmm… well, Gantu DID say he thought 626 ought to be destroyed, did he not? And according to Lieutenant Sledge he threatened to shoot 626 when it was in a holding cell…"By the seas, Fron, you may be on to something! Gantu was even more disgusted by 626 than I was." The Captain had also been oddly absent from Turo ever since Jumba's trial, which Flemian imagined was an expression of disapproval towards the Councilwoman's little scheme. "And heiscaptain of theDurgon, which does have quite the secure cell bay…"

Standing up, Flemian grinned. "Fron, send a message to Officer Higota - I want to set up a meeting with her as soon as possible.

Jumba wasn't sure what to think about the news headline. On the one hand: it was a great relief to see that 626 wasn't in any danger of being disposed of by the Federation, but on the other hand it was…disconcerting to see how far he'd strayed from his intended programming.626 becoming goody-six-paws? Is unbelievable.He'd hoped that the Grand Councilwoman would take good care of 626, and even told her as such, but he'd hoped that it would lead to 626 being used by the military or something else that would make usage of the talents Jumba had programmed into him. If 626 was acting like every other kid in the Federation, as the paper seemed to suggest, then where did that leave Jumba? Had he failed then, yet again, to make the perfect fighting machine he'd set out to create?

Signing, Jumba pushed himself off the bed and began pacing his cell. There was barely any room, considering he could only take at most eight steps before turning around, but maybe it would help him work through everything.

He was on his thirtieth walk from one end of the cell to the other cell and still no closer to sorting out his feelings on 626 when the door to his cell opened. "Isn't it a little early for next report on 626?" He asked as he spun around. "Especially since -" Jumba froze, confused. "You're not the Grand Councilwoman. Do I be knowing you from somewhere? You look familiar."

"I was at your trial." The visitor, a small, octopus-like being in a water suit, stepped forwards and held out a glove. "Maudad Flemian, High Councilor for Economics of the United Galactic Federation. You are Doctor Jumba Jookiba, correct?"

"Yes, I am him." Jumba took the Councilor's hand and shook it, confused. "Does this have to do with 626?"

"Indeed." Flemian nodded. "I assume you saw the newspaper this morning?"

"I did. Just finished reading it, in fact." Jumba gestured to where the paper lay discarded on his bed.

"Thoughts on that development?"

"Why are you wishing to know?"

"Doctor, if you're concerned about the ramifications on your prison sentence for what you say, don't be. I swear on my honor as a member of the High Council that everything we say will be off the record."

Oh? THAT'S interesting.All of Jumba's meetings with the Grand Councilwoman regarding 626 had been on the record and thus possessed a certain degree of officiality, but this felt different.I take it Councilor Flemian has reasons of his own for this to not be overheard."Alright, very well." Jumba shimmied a few steps over until the view one of the cell's security cameras would have had of Flemian's mouth was blocked. "Sorry - leg was getting sore. Anyways, you were asking my feelings on 626, yes?"

"Correct. I was merely curious as to your thoughts on 626 being adopted and raised by the Grand Councilwoman."

Rubbing the hairs on his head, Jumba thought carefully before speaking. "I have been trying to figure out feelings on that for some time now. I am glad that 626 is happy, I will admit, and it is relief to know he seems to have escaped imprisonment or exile." Jumba thought he detected a flicker of…something in Flemian's face, but it was hard to tell.Eh, perhaps am just seeing things."But at the same time, I can't help but be disappointed. I designed 626 to be unstoppable fighter, after all, so I would have rather he get a position where he could actually, well, fight."

"Indeed." Flemian crossed their arms. "I will confess, at first I was one of those that wanted to see 626 in detention lest he threaten society, but watching him grow has been enlightening. I was wrong about 626, in truth: it seems he reallycanbe taught to behave himself, and in light of that, I find myself agreeing with you. Perhaps itwouldbe better to make usage of 626's abilities on the battlefield, and there are others who agree with me. In particular, Captain Gantu has expressed regret that his initial reaction to 626 seems to have created a fair bit of bad blood between the two of them, and he shares my views about allowing 626 to use his programmed abilities for the benefit of the Federation."

"Oh?" Jumba could tell Flemian was leaving certain details out and deliberately tailoring his words to what he thought Jumba wanted to hear, but he had to admit: the proposition he was hinting at, if legitimate, would certainly solve his current ethical dilemma. "I do not believe that the Grand Councilwoman would allow you to just take 626 and turn him into soldier - or that 626 himself would want to be one."

"Oh, I'm sure he'd come around as soon as we explained to him how he would freely be able to indulge his instincts. Butuntilthen…hmm, you may have a point. Say 626 does not come easily - what recommendations would you have to keep him contained? As a last resort of course, all as gentle and humane as possible until we can explain ourselves to him."

"What, like keeping 626 under lock and key? That would be being difficult - I designed him to be super strong, after all." Jumba closed his eyes and thought. "Well, I suppose maybe a direct plasma hit could stun him, and to keep him from escaping after he wakes up you could rely on a prison capsule of transparisteel…" Jumba looked back at Flemian. "But you would be treating my experiment fairly and kindly, of course?"

"Of course." Flemian's smile didn'tquitereach his eyes, Jumba noticed. "The best interests of all parties involved is what I always seek, of course."

"Morning, Ensign." Gantu walked onto the deck of theDurgon,suppressing a yawn. "Did I miss anything of importance?"

"Not really, sir." Gatco pressed a button, and a message appeared on the screen in front of Gantu's chair. "Just a message from Turo. Higota sent it, I think?"

"Higota? That's odd. Not sure what they'd have to report." Gantu scanned the message. "Hmmm… this is strange."

"Oh?" Gatco turned to look at Gantu. "What's it saying?"

"Something about a request from High Councilor Flemian? Apparently he's been annoying Higota lately about sending a package back to his homeworld. Higota claims she screened it and it's legitimate, but this just feels…off. I can't imagine why they would need to go through the Armada for something like this."

"Maybe it's some sensitive information?" Gatco suggested. "Something for Flemian's government back home that he can't trust to the regular mail?"

"Maybe. But Higota wants to come along - why? If Flemian's been pestering her I think she'd want to stay well away."

"Unless she just wants a break from idling around on Turo."

"Well, shewouldbe doing more if she hadn't gotten into it with Experiment 626." Gantu pointed out before reading the message again. "But maybe you're right. Maybe she just wants to stretch her legs a little."

"So should we send a reply, sir?"

"Go ahead. Tell her…" All of a sudden an alarm bell began flashing in Gantu's head, although for the life of him he couldn't figure out why. "Tell her that she can transport whatever package Flemian needs sent on theDurgon.I'll be returning to Turo in ten days, so we can meet her then. And," he added, "tell her I don't want any trouble aboard my ship."