The room was silent except for the soft hum of the holoprojectors.
Subject 13 sat perfectly still in the chair across from the projector. Dr. Vorath, stood behind subject 13. His posture straight, his eyes alert. The Salarian stood to the side rather than across from him, arms folded behind his back, large oval eyes flicking rapidly between the displays.
"Begin," Vorath said.
Then the first slide appeared. A grid of symbols flashed for half a second...numbers, shapes, colors layered atop one another...then vanished. "Multiply third column by second row," Vorath snapped immediately. "Subtract total by previous slide's prime sum. Answer."
"Four hundred and twelve," Jasen replied instantly.
The next slide came faster.
"Divide visible sequence by prior result. Ignore redundant variables."
"Twenty-seven point five." He said quickly.
Then another, and another. The slides came faster but Jasen kept up. The complex visual patterns overlapped with mathematical sequences. Vorath spoke rapidly, never pausing between instructions, layering commands on top of one another.
"Use answer from slide seven, subtract visual symmetry value from slide nine, multiply by factorial count from slide twelve...."
Jasen kept pace, without struggle. "Two thousand three hundred and eighty." Vorath's eyes widened by a fraction. His fingers twitched over his omni-tool as the room filled with soft confirmation tones.
Twenty slides and questions were seen and answered. Jasen had zero hesitation. When it ended, Vorath stood motionless, staring at Jasen like he was trying to dissect him without tools.
"…All twenty correct," Vorath said finally, his voice neutral.
Jasen met his gaze calmly, though his was calm heart, but his brain was processing faster than he let on. He hadn't tried to do it fast. The answers had simply came to him… Like the patterns assembled themselves before he was consciously aware of thinking.
Vorath deactivated the display. "This is beyond our expected projectory," he muttered, more to himself than to Jasen.
Jasen had felt a sudden rise in annoyance, but breathed and slowly let it die down.
The following week belonged to Dr. Kline.
Her tests were quieter. No chess games or philosophy teachings. They Memory drills.
She showed him a series of images on two separate screens...maps, equations, written passages, complex anatomical diagrams....for seconds at a time told me to write down what he saw, on two separate pads. She changed them without warning, then asked him to recreate them on the pads.
Jasen didn't simply recreate them. He copied them in great detail perfectly. Every line. Every flaw. Every annotation. Was remade perfectly. Kline knew what this was, without a doubt. Photographic memory.
Kline's fingers paused on the holo-terminal for exactly half a second. Next came a coordination tests. She placed tools in both his hands and gave him two separate tasks, one verbal, one visual. Then three, and then four. Jasen didn't slow down the entire time.
He processed each task independently, his hands moving in different rhythms, both his eyes tracking the different displays. Kline noticed no signs in loss of focus. Or quality of the work. She could tell 13 was also ambidextrous. With early signs of parallel processing.
Kline said nothing. She simply recorded everything, her amber eyes cold and calculating. She was excited from all the data she was collecting. She new Subject 13 was slowly evolving, but if this continues the benefactor will be pleased. Maybe they could receive begin more human trials for thee Alliance.
That night after the test, Jasen lay awake longer than usual. He could feel his mind working even when he tried to rest. He was getting anxious from the constant experiments without breaks. Subject 13 do this or that. He never had a birthday or break. Captain stone was here a little less and less.
He was getting tired of this treatment. H e wanted to escape, but didn't know what planet he was on yet. He felt like he could escape with the right timing, but h would also wait a few more years if need. But he didn't want to do that if possible. It was hard not to have these constant thoughts. It was even more exhausting in a way sleep couldn't fix.
The next week belonged to Korgath.
He focused on hand-to-hand combat. No biotics were allowed for this week. "Rules are simple kid," Korgath rumbled, arms crossed as several armored security officers stepped forward. "You gonna have simulated fights with the officers of the facility. My word of advice adapt or you lose, and it will hurt a lot if you lose."
The first officer was a bald man who smirked when he saw Jasen. Thinking it will be easy. But underestimated him, when Jasen grazed his chin in a quick jab that sent him to the ground.
The second officer didn't. She used a baton and swept his leg and kicked him into a wall. Jasen was thrown, pinned, knocked down more times than he could count, but each time he rose faster. He learned their movements. Their habits and breathing patterns. He couldn't overpower them, even with his enhanced strength. He could outlast them or out maneuver them.
So he made them work for it. He slipped strikes. Redirected grips. Used leverage instead of strength. By the third day, even the larger guards were sweating by the end of their sessions. While Jasen heart rate and breathing were all calm and relaxed.
Korgath watched silently, eyes sharp. "For a eight-year-old human child," he finally said, "you fight well."
Jasen looked at Korgath with a stoic face. "I still loss." Korgath snorted. "Everyone loses before they win."
True Jasen thought, but on thee battlefield losing even once is death.
Yelara's sessions followed the week after.
Jasen's Biotics were under pressure. Sula and Ela stood across from him, their biotics humming softly as sent attacks to Jasen's Biotic Barrier.
"You must be able to hold it, Subject 13" Yelara commanded.
Jasen formed his own barrier, as purple eezo flaring outward, just as Sula struck with a focused biotic blast. The impact rattled his bones, but the barrier held. As attack after attack came his way.
Ela joined in next, her attacks quicker, sharper, more deceptive but powerful. Jasen felt his barrier strain as he tried to maintain it under constant assault. Sweat dripped down his face. His teeth clenched.
"Focus," Yelara said calmly. "Do not just resist, but redirect the power."
Jasen adjusted his barrier. Focusing on being calm and breathing. All the kinetic energy to be absorb and redirected throughout his barrier. The pressure then shifted as, Ela's next strike glanced off instead of slamming through.
Later the roles reversed, and Jasen was on the attack this time. As He launched biotic attacks, but they were pointless. His attacks couldn't break the veteran Asari commando's barrier's. Their barrier's were sturdy and powerful, but he made slight adjustments to his attacks. He reinforce his attacks them. And noticed how the two looked slightly surprised by his last attacks. Like they new if this continued they would have to get a little serious.
A meeting was held a few weeks later.
Yelara sat with her arms folded, her posture regal as ever. Korgath was drinking a pot of coffee. Vorath was reading a holopad, his eyes were rapid with movements. Kline sat at the head of the table.
"Subject 13's rate of improvement continues to increase," Yelara said evenly. "Across all disciplines with biotics, I am going to reinforce his basics, and then show some advance techniques."
"Agreed," Korgath added. "Kid's getting stronger. He's shattering his old records, soon maybe even some of the guards."
Vorath said nothing, which was rare. Kline could tell he was in deep thought.
"What's on your mind Dr." Kline asked.
"There is an issue, or there will so be one" he said. Kline's gaze narrowed on him. "What do you mean, Doctor?"
"It's simple," Vorath replied without hesitation. "Humans are not Salarians. Continuous pressure without release will produces rebellion. Psychological pushback is inevitable."
Kline waved it off. "We conditioned him properly. He is compliant and obedient."
Vorath tilted his head. "For now." Yelara spoke next. "He is still a child. A hybrid basically. We do not know how alien traits will manifest as he grows. Puberty may arrive early. Or violently."
Korgath chuckled. "Could take after me. Then blood might need spilling eventually." Vorath nodded. "Precisely. We should adjust our approach."
Kline folded her hands. "And what do you suggest?" "Give him the illusion of freedom," Vorath said. "Choices that aren't really choices. Controlled autonomy. An indoor garden. Natural light. Fresh air. Goof for children"
Yelara considered. "…Expanding the cage may reduce resistance." Korgath shrugged. "Simulated environments can achieve the same effect."
Kline nodded. " These could work, but there is one problem. We are not here to make him comfortable. He is a lab experiment. Nothing more. If he won't comply then we will force him to."
Her voice remained flat as she continued. "When his testosterone spikes to the point of puberty, we proceed to phase. He will breed with Subject 12. Then we move on to subject 14 as planned. Then you all get your wanted results."
Silence followed. Then a knock at the door.
"Enter," Kline said. Captain Stone stepped in, posture rigid. "Doctor Kline," he said carefully. "We have a situation."
Kline raised a brow. "What Captain. Another scientist developing a conscience?"
"No, ma'am," Stone replied. "It's Subject 13."
Her eyes narrowed. "Explain."
"He's refusing to submit to testing. Says he'll speak with only you, all of you, or nothing."
A pause. Yelara's expression didn't change. Korgath chuckled softly. Vorath nodded once. "Right on time."
Kline stood. "This is why I wanted a shock collar on him from the beginning." They moved together and left the room.
The research lab was tense. Ela and Sula stood at the doors, weapons lowered but ready, allowing no interference. Jasen sat strapped loosely in the examination chair, purple eezo radiating off his skin. Scientists hovered nervously nearby, omni-tools trembling in their hands.
"Subject 13," a female scientist said shakily, "you need to cooperate before Doctor Kline arrives." Jasen looked up slowly, his amber eyes were sharp and fierce. "Oh, I want her here," he said calmly. " I'm done dealing with all of you."
Ela had a faint smile on her face. She was enjoying the show. Which made Jasen more have a shiver sent down his spine.
An officer stepped forward hand on his pistol which was holstered. "Do what you're told or it's going to hurt." Jasen smiled, a cold, humorless expression. "The only one gonna get hurt is you," he said.
The Purple eezo energy flared. Then officer froze. "That's enough, boys," a familiar voice said. Everyone turned.
Dr. Kline entered the room, heels clicking softly against the floor. Behind her came Yelara, Vorath, and Korgath.
Kline's amber eyes locked onto Jasen. "Subject 13," she said coldly. "I hear you've been disrespectful, and noncompliant."
Her gaze was merciless. Jasen met it without flinching. The air between them tightened. And the room held its breath.