As Subject 13 still slept in a secure room while being closely monitored. In the adjacent room four individuals sat. They were in deep conversation of the current display that Subject 13 had shown.
Dr. Kline sat at the head of the table. She pressed buttons on her orange holographic interface or omni tool. "This is my recorded data of Subject 13 from yesterday. The camera footage, omni tool scans, recorded vitals, and my recorded notes." Kline said as she shared her data on Subject 13 with the three other individuals. Across the table three individuals sat while going over the data. In order was a Asari, Krogan, and Salarian.
Each one reading over the data and processing the information presented to them. After five minutes the silence was broken as the Krogan was the first to speak. He was a large strong looking alien with a thick armor-like hide, with a prominent hump on his back average for his species. He had a grayish green color hide that reflected in the rooms dim lighting.
"So this one actually can use biotics without dying. I would say that's progress, but what about the rest of his body. Any signs of degradation or accelerated aging?"
Kline shook her head. "No Korgath. Subject 13 is 100 percent stable with no signs of degradation or accelerated aging. I would say that this one might even keep up with subject 12 physically."
That's when the Salarian spoke. "Dr Kline. You know subject 12 is a special case. Unlike what that fool Lawson did to his own daughter. Subject 12 was made to be basically superhuman. All of the best traits of a human, and genetically made to help give birth to the next generation of your species." He spoke in a slightly monotoned quick speech.
Kline only gazed coldly at the Salarian. "Dr. Voran, Subject 12 was meant to be the first successful subject to survive the more advance gene therapy before introducing it to your species. Our methods worked on humans since our DNA and gene pool is the most diverse and adaptable. Your species are a little different but I am sure we will push past this boundary together. We have to wait until we can see if both Subject 12 and 13 are fertile, otherwise this will all be a waste."
Then the Asari spoke next. She was a older more mature looking humanoid woman. Her blueish purple skin was radiant as her face was beautiful. Her presence itself gave off a sense of authority and power. She wore the same scientific clothes as Kline and the Voran, but it couldn't hide her somewhat large supple chest and curves. These features were extremely rare for her species.
"Subject 13's biotic spike was incredible from these readings. Are we sure he can be controlled should it occur again?"
Dr. Kline paused for a moment sipping her tea before responding. "Matriarch Yelara, I believe Subject 13 biotic spikes can be controlled with the right sedation and conditioning. Until such progress is made I suggest we place a shock collar on him. We can place a tracking device in it along with a sedative to ensure all forms of control over the subject."
Yelara deep blue eyes narrowed on Kline. There was a unspoken tension between the two females but neither said anything about it.
"That is out of the question Dr. Kline. The subject is still a child and some lines must be drawn somewhere."
Kline crossed her arms with her stoic expression not changing. " Then what do you suppose we do to keep the subject in line Matriarch. I don't know if you noticed but I haven't seen biotic spikes like this from any grown adult let alone a human. He will only get stronger and I doubt our benefactor will like a uncontrollable tool. Which is what he is, he's not the first but the 13th. Have you forgotten that and the purpose of the project for your species?"
Yelara had a calm face but the air around her began to shift slightly. It was noticeable with her tea cup beginning to shake slowly. The others in the room were noticing the slight tremor's in the cup, but chose not to say anything.
"Is there a problem Matriarch?" Kline said coldly.
Yelara only sat there stoically maintaining her calm demeaner. " No there isn't. I just believe your methods aren't necessary for Subject 13."
"Then do tell us Matriarch what methods do you think are necessary for the subject?"
"Everyone at this table is capable of using biotics'. Why don't we all teach him how to control them."
Voran and Korgath looked at each other with curiosity on their faces. The two didn't think it was a bad idea. Then Kline spoke.
"That would be a waste of time an resources. All four of us have our own research to do when we aren't working together for the project. Why would we use four individuals to teach one subject to use their abilities?" Kline said with a indifferent tone in her voice.
"I'm surprise to see a human so bright and intelligent as yourself Doctor, hasn't thought of this yourself." Yelara said as she crossed one long leg over the other, while sipping her tea. "All of us have different and similar ways of using our biotics. If our projected data about 13 is correct, then his biotic potential range is not like anything we or the galaxy has seen before. So if he is the best version of all of us in a human body, then we should show him how it's done and he will adapt and push his abilities to new heights... Not to mention we can build trust with the subject making it easier for him to listen to us without hesitation. Or the barbaric need to use force, and we will still be taking are scheduled turns with the subject like before. I believe the data we can collect will be more fruitful this way."
Kline said nothing at first, as she was thinking on Yelara's plan. She knew that Yelara wasn't wrong and made a lot of great points.
"Okay Matriarch. I see the logic in your plan and I doubt it wouldn't be fruitful to do, but their are two glaring issues." Kline said raising two fingers from her hand.
"The first is you don't spend much time in the facility, let alone on the planet. So in order for your plan to work you have to be here more to pick up more of the slack."
Yelara only smiled. "I understand doctor Kline. I have been letting my duties take priority over this project for to long. I do apologize to you all for having you do more work because of me. So starting tonight I will be staying for the foreseeable future of the project. Does that address your first issue doctor?" Yelara said with a small coy smile on her face.
Kline face didn't change. "What about your Asari Commando unit? Our benefactor will not allow them to stay in the facility. I doubt the government will keep looking the other way either."
"Do not worry I can send them back, but I will need a form of protection that my government will insist on due to my importance. So it's your choice. I keep two Commando's, which will take the least time. Or I get a Spectre which I doubt the benefactor wants access to the facility. Or and this is the one I doubt you or any of us want the least. The Asari will send a Justicar. And I think we all know how this will go down should a Justicar come to this facility ."
The words Spectres and Justicar made Voran and Korgath tense slightly.
"A Spectre will report back to the council so that's out of the question. While a Justicar will probably kill us all on sight. While probably just arresting the Matriarch to be judged by her people. Korgath said. "Man I always wanted to fight a Justicar, I heard they were demons on the battlefield. Then I saw one in person and hope to never see one again."
Voran then spoke. "What happened?"
Korgath looked like he had a thousand yard stare. " I was running with a mercenary group back in the day. We were fighting against a rival group. Both were no name then and still aren't now. But in the middle of our fire fight I saw them. Two Asari battling with their biotics. They were ripping across the battle field and both sides like we were nothing. At one point both sides ended up working together just to stop them. But we were nothing compared to them. The asari worked together against us, as they shot down and tore through 275 men in the span of a afternoon."
Korgath paused and signed before continuing.
"After they were done slaughtering us they went back to fighting each other. I sat their grateful to be alive, and then I saw the landscape as the ground was shaking in the background. A rocky mountain spot was full of holes so big you thought a explosion went off there... I knew at that point I need to do something more with my life. Come to find out a Justicar and Asari Spectre were having a lovers spat. Can you believe that a lover's spat killed 275 men.... Let her keep two commando's. They will be extra security to subdue the subject should he get out of control again... And if the benefactor has a problem I am sure you can talk to them like you normally do. You always have a way of speaking to people to get what you want." Korgath said to Kline with a smile on his face.
"Well that was a nice story Korgath. I will speak to the benefactor to see if he will allow it Matriarch, but there are no guarantee's."
"That is all I ask for doctor. Now what is the second issue?"
Kline then activated her omni tool as it played a recording. "Why do you keep calling me subject 13? My name is Jasen, and I'm from Maryland. How did I end up here in this lab like this?"
Kline ended the recording. "I reviewed all the logs and footage of anyone who has seen or met subject 13. An no one matches that name or come from Maryland. So my question is where did that come from and his brain scan shows activity on the level of a fully grown adult. For the last few years he was basically brain dead and now he is self aware... too self aware."
The other three paused looking puzzled.
Then Voran spoke. "An old colleague of mine would say if we encounter something we can't understand. Then we must eliminate all possible deductions and reasonings, even the most unorthodox ones. Once we do that we can find our answer. So basically we watch him closely until we find out why he said that. He will be either crazy, or something we couldn't even dream of."
The three in the room look at each other and then to Kline.
"We defer to you Doctor Kline since you are head scientist for this project."
Kline sat there calm and composed. She knew Voran and Yelara had a point. She then looked to a monitor that showed the sleeping Subject 13.
"Fine then. We shall proceed to phase two of project Ascendant. I will contact the benefactor and inform them on our results and plan moving forward."
The three aliens nodded to Kline's statement.
"If there aren't any questions, then you are all dismissed. We shall reconvene in 73 hours. I will take the first week with subject 13. Matriarch Yelara you will take the following week. Then Korgath and lastly Voran."
"Understood!" Everyone said in unison as they rose up.
As Kline walked out meeting room she walked past the multiple scientist and security personnel. All greeted her with respect and nervousness of fear in their voices. Soon Kline made her way to her office. After scanning her badge she entered a minimalistic room filled with a desk, coffee table and couch with a arm chair on the side. Behind the desk was a small reinforced glass window that displayed Subject 13 room where slept two floors down.
She undid the top button of her uniform, and proceeded to grab a liquor bottle and glass cup from her desk drawer. She poured the deep blue liquid into the cup. After swirling it and letting the liquor breathe she sipped it.
The smell was something close to blueberries but the taste was more like peppermint. An alien liquor she saves for stressful days.
After taking a moment to enjoy the liquor and breathe, she was interrupted as her computer terminal started beeping.
Kline put the glass down on a coaster. And used her omni tool to answer the call securely. Then the translucent holographic screen on her desk turned on. With only one sentence in the form of a question.
'Subject 13's progress?'
Kline's eyes narrowed as she knew it was their benefactor reaching out for a progress report. She then typed away at the display keyboard, while attaching the recorded data files. She made sure to include the plan Matriarch Yelara presented. Then she sent the message.
"There you go benefactor, hopefully this craves your appetite for now." She said picking up her cup ready for another sip. But before she could put her lips to the glass cup, another message was sent like a automatic response."
Kline's eyes narrowed in surprise. She didn't expect to get a reply so quickly. She knew the benefactor couldn't have gone through everything so quickly. She then opened the message.
"Proceed with plan and update me on any deviation on subject 13's progress or mental state. The moment 13 shows any signs of donor X's trait, contact me immediately. This will be needed in order to move phase 3 of project Ascendant."
Kline's face unresponsive as she read the message. She then took a sip from her glass and sighed. "Remember Evelyn this is for the future of humanity." She said as she looked at a picture frame on her desk before finishing her drink. She then hit the coms on her desk. "Security this Doctor Kline, Wake up Subject 13. I will be down there in three minutes."
A rough male voice came through the comms. "Yes Doctor."
Kline adjusted her uniform and looked out the window down below to Subject 13's room. Her eyes were cold, distant and indifferent. "Let's get back to work Subject 13. I still expect much from you"