The ocean stretched endlessly beneath the cloudy gray-blue sky, its surface broken only by distant shimmer of sunlight . Subject 13 sat with his back against the chain-reinforced fence at the edge of the facility's rooftop, knees drawn up, arms resting loosely around them.
The wind passed through his black hair, carrying the scent of salt and the ocean.
He had been coming here for nearly four years now. At first, the rooftop had felt like a new miracle, or escape for him. The open air, real sky and sunlight, but in the in it was a illusion of freedom. Now it was simply a place to think.
From this height, and with his enhanced vision, Jasen could see far beyond what any normal human should. The horizon curved subtly, and far beyond the endless ocean, nearly thousands of miles away from this island, there was a faint glow. At nighttime a sprawling mass of lights, barely visible even to him.
But he new it was a city of some or town. When he saw that, he made the estimate thought about him being on Earth. The air , them smell, it was all to familiar to him. But unlike his body from his other life, he could notice things he didn't know about before.
He never said it aloud or ever confirmed it with anyone. Especially after what Dr Vorath told him about trusting others. But he knew. The stars at night, the familiar constellations it all fit his previous memory. This facility wasn't on some remote colony world or secret station. It was on Earth. The real question is why, and who is backing these people.
The facility was on a large, heavily fortified island in the middle of the ocean. And the irony wasn't lost on him. Jasen looked down at his hands, brown skin, long fingers, not one scare or birth, from all of the experiments and training accidents. Each wound had healed so cleanly they was nothing visible.
The he realized something else , "Oh yeah I will be twelve next month." June 13th, 2166.
Eight years since he had woken up screaming under white lights. Four years since his "new deal."
And everything had changed… and yet nothing really nothing had.
His new living quarters were no longer a sterile box with a mirrored ceiling. Now he had a room with textured walls, muted colors, not no window, but it had reinforced walls. It overlooked the inner it looked like his old room but made for a scientist. But hey it had it's own bathroom and sink, so better then nothing. He searched around but no cameras or listening devices.
Unfortunately, it was also closer to the Asari commandos' living quarters. That was the part that unsettled him. It was right down the hall from Matriarch Yelara to. Ela would visit often, a little too often.
After research hours, she would appear at his door with that same bright, bubbly smile, asking to talk, to play strategy games, or meditate, or "just sit and read books." Sula was almost always nearby, lingering like a shadow, arms crossed, eyes sharp. Jasen appreciated Sula's presence far more than she probably realized. Ela never crossed a line. Not overtly. But the compliments became a little flirty or lingered too long. The smiles felt rehearsed and false now. The way her eyes followed him… waiting like she was waiting.
And the visions never stopped. He kept seeing the piles of bodies. The smell of sex and death.
Pleasure tangled with unquenchable hunger. After one of Yelara's lectures, everything had finally clicked.
Ardat-Yakshi. Matriarch Yelara hadn't softened the truth. "Ardat-Yakshi ("demon of the night winds") are asari suffering from a genetic disorder preventing. conventional melding of nervous systems during mating. Instead, Ardat-Yakshi electro-chemically ravage their partners' nervous systems, in extreme cases leaving victims as vegetative invalids or corpses. They are rare, and dangerous. A genetic aberration among Asari, Some were isolated and are being studied to this day. Some escaped and continue to escape capture.
Jasen remembered them from the game. So he asked the question he always wondered on that day. "Why aren't they eliminated, if they're that dangerous?"
Yelara's response was cold cold, and layered with politics. "They still have rights, and the ethics, of trying to hide and cure this blight on their species. Not all are monsters, some actually found out in tragic moments, when they were with their lovers. Other's discovered it and developed at taste for it. Since they grow significantly stronger, smarter, and deadlier after each mating."
So from that moment on, Jasen knew Ela wasn't just dangerous. She was a predator waiting.
Whether she was an Ardat-Yakshi, a psychopath, or something worse, but didn't matter. The way she looked at him wasn't curiosity or love, it was lustful anticipation.
Sula, on the other hand, had grown warmer over the years. Protective, even. Less like a warden officer, and more like… a reluctant big sister. He figured she about Ela and was keeping her on a leash. She knew something terrible would happened and was trying to keep her sister contained.
Over the years, Jasen was taught more lessons. The Krogan Korgath, he learned the truth of the genophage. Even though Jasen already new it from the game lore. It was another thing to hear it from someone who lived through it themselves. Not just what it was, but why Korgath was at the facility. Korgath had been blunt, but told him what Jasen thought was a close truth.
" Listen here kid, I'm here to help cure that genophage ," the Krogan had said one night and physical drills, his voice low. " I'm using you, just so were clear." Jasen did appreciate the honesty, but didn't know how or why he would help humans with their project ,would lead to a cure with the genophage.
Jasen had asked the question that had been bothering him. "If Salarians made it… why don't you hate Vorath?" Korgath had been quiet for a long moment, then he said something very profound.
"You can't blame a whole species for the sins of a few," he finally said. "And Vorath? He was part of the original team."
That had surpised Jasen. It was even more surprising that Vorath was still alive. Korgath had noticed. "Surprised?" he asked. "Vorath told me himself. Said the Salarian government knows he's here. Knows he's supposed to monitor, sabotage, and halt any real progress, even if it compromises this entire project."
"And you trust him?" Jasen had asked. Korgath had huffed a humorless laugh. " Trust him? I'm still trying to figure that out. I did hated him once, and probably still do to some degree" he admitted. "But he told me the truth. Said he hated the genophage too, saying it was not necessary, they're were 10 different things they could have done that didn't create this problem. I gave him one chance. So far he hasn't proven me wrong."
Then the Krogan had looked at Jasen differently. "I'm telling you this because I'm getting old," Korgath said. "And because you're the closest thing I have to a son. You carry the best part of me."
There it was again. That phrase. You have the best part of me. Was he talking about his DNA?
That would It explain a lot, but why tell me and what splice a human with alien DNA? Before leaving that night, Korgath had paused at the door.
"You turn twelve soon," he said. "Things are about to change. Come by my quarters before your birthday. I'll show you something… important." Jasen had nodded, not knowing what he should expect.
Vorath on the other hand never eased up. Mental drills, and cognitive tests at the same time. To test his parallel processing. The exercises were layered with logic puzzles and predictive modeling, that adapted.
Dr. Kline… changed in subtler ways. After that confrontation four years ago, she began to teach him more. Philosophy, and Greek mythology. But it was always mixed in with their chess games. From time to time, she gave him holobooks on old stories. The Odyssey, The Twelve Labors of Heracles. and more.
They still played chess. He still never won, but he always came close. Kline noticed this, she never praised him. Only expecting better from him.
Captain Stone was gone now. "Reassigned," they said. Jasen knew better then to believe that. His psychic sense, or whatever it was, showed him fragments when he tried to think of Stone. Conflict, but happy, and regret from his old office. Something about a girl.
The rooftop door hissed open. "Subject 13," a researcher called out, careful, distant. "Dr. Kline is requesting your presence. Medical examination room."
Jasen stood smoothly, hands in his pockets. "I'm on my way."
The facility swallowed him again. The medical examination room was bright, clean, and cold as always. Dr. Kline and Matriarch Yelara stood near the primary monitor, data scrolling rapidly across its surface.
"This is extraordinary," Kline said, voice measured. "He hasn't even reached puberty yet, and his metrics are already here." Yelara nodded. "I agree."
The display shifted.
Designation: Subject 13
Age: 11
Species: Human Hybrid
Height: 157 cm (5'2")
Hair Color: Black
Eye Color: Amber
Ethnicity: African / European Descent
Then the abilities list expanded.
High biotic potential. No implants required. Upper limits unknown. Photographic memory. Advanced dual-processing. Accelerated cognition. Telepathic and psychic manifestations, memory perception, emotional echoing, linguistic integration. High technological affinity through neural-psi interface.
Physical data followed.
Regeneration exceeding baseline projections. Metabolism elevated but stable.
Dermal density requiring high grade metals or species-specific cutting tools or lasers. Immune system rated "extreme." No recorded illness, when introduced.
Dynamic visual acuity, beyond 20/20 vision. Kinetic buildup perception. Ultraviolet spectrum vision. Low-light dominance. Able to see and penetrate cloaked objects and individuals.
Pulmonary capacity allows Subject 13 to be submerged for two hours. Extremely high stamina allowing forty-eight hours of full exertion before decline. Sleep requirement minimal, four hours, with theoretical hibernation state under severe physical trauma.
Strength output: two-ton average across lifting, striking, and impact force. With some signs of 4 tons when mentally pushed. Reflexes: superhuman with no none upper limit. Adrenal secretion control.
Speed: Able to sixty miles per hour. No none upper limit found.
Kline stepped back. "Now we just need to confirm 13's reproductive viability," she said calmly. "He's young, but his body should respond to appropriate stimuli." She reached up, gathering her long curly hair , and began twisting it into a bun.
Yelara stepped closer, smiling faintly. "Beautiful and brilliant… and you always wait until the last second to fix your hair." Kline snorted softly. "That's rich coming from a species that doesn't have to worry about it."
Yelara's hands moved with practiced ease, fingers deft as she finished the bun. "Perfect," she said.
"How did you get so good at this?"
"I've had a lot of practice,"Yelara replied quietly. Yelara stepped closer, one hand lifting Kline's chin gently, thumb brushing her lips. Kline bit her lip lightly as Yelara pulled it away. "How are you always so beautiful?" Yelara asked.
Kline leaned in just enough. "I take care of myself," she said softly. "And black don't crack, love."
They came in close and shared a lingering kiss.
Thats when the door hissed open. Subject 13 stepped inside, and froze. The air felt… off. His psychic sense flared immediately. He felt a elevated heart rate. Residual pheromones. Emotional dissonance. and smelled something familiar, but didn't know what.
Yelara and Kline stood at separate consoles, far apart, but he knew. The slight flush in Kline's cheeks. The faint shift in Yelara's blue skin, and he dilated pupils. The subtle spike in heartbeats.
They hid it well, but he didn't comment.
"You called for me, Doctor?" 13 asked evenly. Kline turned, mask firmly back in place.
"Yes, Subject 13," she said coolly. "Come in."
She gestured toward the examination bed. "Strip completely, and lie down," she said coldly
The room fell silent, as the door sealed shut behind him.