Prologue : Captive
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2180, 5th of February
He begins to feel the world around him again. His senses responding to the stimuli. His eyes slowly flicker open, seeing lights pass overhead and a bald man lean in at him with inquisitive eyes. The bald man pulls back, speaking to someone, his voice sounding distant. More voices chime in the distance and another person, a women flashes a light into his eyes. He tries to respond but his arms feel heavy and constrained. He drifts back into darkness.
Suddenly, his senses return, more powerful this time. Opening his eyes he sees doctors moving around preparing medical equipment. There are also armed guards at the door. What happened to me? Where am I? How did I get here? A doctor moves into his peripheral vision. Staring at him, standing tall as if to be observing him.
He speaks but he still sounds distant and muffled. He then signals someone he can't see, a sudden pain shoots through his body but he is too weak to cry out. He tries to speak again but only sounding muffled. Why can't I hear you!? This time when he signals, another doctor comes into sight with a syringe. He pushes his head up forcefully and injects it straight into the jugular vein.
A sharp pain follows but quickly dies down, a strange feeling runs throughout his body, allowing his senses and strength to return to him. He feels the bed he lies on, the fabric of the medical gown he is wearing, the straps that keep him constrained to the bed.
"Where am I!?" he shouts, demanding an answer furiously.
"Ah so now you are fully awake" says the doctor in a Russian accent, he continues to observe the patient, who tests his bonds.
"Any reason i'm tied to a bed doctor?" he spits, doctor sounding more like an insult than a profession of renown.
The doctor snaps his fingers and an assistant quickly comes to his call holding a data-pad and passing it to the doctor before scurrying off again. The doctor takes a good look at the data-pad before speaking, pacing around the table.
"2nd Lieutenant Matthew Teague, born 2157 on Earth in the United Kingdom shortly at the end of the first contact war correct?" asks the doctor, stopping for confirmation.
"That'd be me yeah, what's goin' on here!?" replies Teague, becoming more agitated by the minute.
The doctor returns to pacing "You were detected early in your life as a potential candidate for biotic training. For the short time you were there you succeeded in almost every test with brilliant scores until the corporation in charge was shut down. You were then returned to your family correct?" asks the doctor, stopping again for confirmation.
"Fuck you ya prick!" replies Teague, again displaying his distaste of the situation and his lack of answers.
The doctor faces Teague and puts his hands on his hips "Now, Specialist Teague, we need to go through the information and ensure it is correct. If you don't comply we are authorised to beat you into submission" says the doctor, his voice filled with disappointment.
"Seriously? Who the hell are you?" asks Teague, his voice showing his disbelief of the situation.
The doctor snaps his fingers again and a guard approaches from behind Teague with a baton in hand. Before Teague can even register the threat, the guard slams the baton into his gut, causing him to lose his breath and struggle with regaining it.
"Now, you will comply or do you want to continue to struggle against the inevitability that you won't escape?" asks the doctor, his tone constantly grinding it's way into Teague's head.
Teague regains his breath and gathers his thoughts. His body is bound to the bed and he can't escape his bounds. That also eliminates his abilities to use his biotics for they require the movement of his limbs to trigger. Even though he hates to admit it, he can't really do much at this given moment. His only option being to wait until he can. He swallows his pride for the moment to continue the questionnaire and avoid unnecessary beatings, good thing he doesn't know anything of vital importance about the alliance military.
"I will comply, doctor" grits Teague, as he stares at the doctor.
"Good now will you answer the question?" asks the doctor, readying his hands to issue a beating.
"Yeah, thats me" Teague replies with a sigh as he decides to look around himself. He sees multiple medical machines and equipment. A mirror, likely two way. The same guards outside, other medical personnel inside the room with the doctor.
The doctor returns to pacing "You and your family, that being your two younger sisters and your mother, moved to Elysium when you reached the age of 14. You joined the alliance navy once you turned 18 correct?" asks the doctor, once again stopping his pacing to await confirmation.
Teague remains silent but nods.
Pacing again the doctor asks "You served for five and a quarter years, performing as an exemplary soldier and rising through the ranks until you became an officer, then you were sent to Rio De Janeiro for the Interplanetary Combative Training school. Where you earned yourself the designation of N6, correct?" stopping again, swivelling on his feet.
Teague silently nods again, trying to think who these people could possibly be.
Returning to his walk the doctor asks "You were then assigned to the SSV Manchester and put on tour within the Skyllian Verge and Attican Traverse. You recently managed to defeat a slaver and pirate group, destroying their command hub and outlying bases through expert tactics and viscous combat. You received minimal casualties and were on shore leave aboard the Citadel correct?"
Another silent nod. What were these people up to? Why go through my service record like a damn machine?
The doctor stops pacing, standing at the foot of the bed and staring straight at Teague, data-pad behind his back. "Well Lieutenant, i'm glad your memory is intact and completely undamaged. The work we will be doing will require you to be at your best. We already knew who you were, we just wanted to ensure you are in tip top shape"
"Work, what work will WE be doing eh?!" asks Teague, alarmed by what the doctor is suggesting.
"Lieutenant, you have been selected to conduct experiments to help create a super soldier that will boost humanities strength and pave the way for a new type of warrior" replies the doctor, sounding proud of what he said, as if he planned it. Hell, he probably did.
"I know who you are . . . . . cerberus" spat Teague, knowing his captors and their foul reputation.
"I'm disappointed in you lieutenant. I thought you of all people would want humanity to be stronger. After all, have you not taken the fight to the aliens who threaten us already? Do you not have a deep hatred for what they have done to your life?" asks the doctor, leaning over Teague.
"Yes I do. But i'm no terrorist and I ain't about to be labelled one so would you kindly fuck off?" replies Teague, his annoyance and aggravation showing. The guard wasted no time in beating Teague yet again, this time hitting him twice.
"Whether you are a willing subject or not. You will be doing this for the betterment of all humanity. Take some pride in that thought, embrace it because you may not live through the procedures we have in store for you" replies the doctor, snapping his fingers causing the other cerberus medical personnel into action. Moving medical gear into position.
"No, damn you. GET AWAY FROM ME!" shouts Teague as the medical personnel begin hooking him up to IV's and other medical scanners. He begins thrashing about as much as possible, trying to delay their work.
"Restrain him!" orders the doctor. His lackey's doing so, he pulls out a syringe. "Now now lieutenant, don't struggle or I might just slip" teases the doctor as he slips the needle into Teague's neck, sedating him.
Teague begins feeling heavy, his muscles feeling tired and weak. The chatter of the cerberus personnel becoming distant and muffled as he feels the world peel away as he drifts into a deep sleep.
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2180, 12th of May
The doctor taps a button on his omni-tool, looking out of his observation window to the pre-set test area below.
"3 months after capture, subject-zero of project phoenix has taken to the genetic modification surprisingly well. He has displayed his adaptability and survivability against the other subjects. So far he is ahead of the mark but has yet to be tested with his enhancements.
The gene enhancement program has only given him the biotic specific genes from the Asari species. This was deemed necessary to help create a stronger and more dangerous biotic soldier. Project Phoenix is in first term and proceeding with test trails. Signing off" states the doctor as he switches off his omni-tool.
The doctor switches on the intercom "Test one, subject-zero and subject-one. Deaths not permitted. Release the subjects" orders the doctor. Watching intently at the fight as it plays out before him. Months of pepped up anger and rage from the subjects should cause them to fight and if not then they should fall in line either way.
90 minutes later
"Subject zero attempted to converse with his fellow subject. It succeeded and we had to force them to fight it out. Eventually the did and zero overcame one with relative ease. Lucky for one however, it was just a sparring match"
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2180, 22nd of October
The doctor taps at his omni-tool to begin another log.
"8 months after capture, subject-zero is displaying more and more biotic ability. His powers being enhanced by the Asari genes are continuing to grow past the normal and abnormal human range. We predict his powers will stop growing soon like the others, but still his development is phenomenal.
The subjects are showing a growth in hostility towards their captors, this is not unexpected and should this grow into the predicted path, we will have to begin injections to help maintain their emotional states. Project Phoenix is nearing the end of phase one and finishing the biotic tests. Signing off" says the doctor as he finishes the log.
He opens the intercom "Proceed with test forty-five. Subject-zero and subject-ten. Biotic death match"
30 minutes later
"Subject-zero and ten were in a deadlock for the majority of the test, both trying to get a hand over the other but not succeeding. Zero however, gained the upper hand when he managed to make his biotics manifest as a whip of sorts. He has become able to create one in each hand but it uses up much of his energy doing so but the trade off is immense. The damage he demonstrated was nothing short of spectacular. Unfortunately, ten was ripped apart by the attack, she had been a rival to zero fr the entirety of phase one, but now this test proves which is more powerful."
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2181, 5th of February
The doctor taps his omni-tool, to begin his next log, after countless times before.
"12 months since the beginning of Project Phoenix. Many subjects have passed away, failing their intended purpose. Only the strongest yet remain and even they will run out soon if the predictions are accurate. The next genetic enhancement program will begin tomorrow. The next phase introducing the Krogan gene for regenerative abilities. We hope and predict that it will boost the subjects combat capability by at the very least a multiple of two.
Subject-zero has displayed a varying degree of shutting himself off. He has begun doing as instructed, seeing no other alternative than to take his own life. Fortunately he is not a quitter, he still hopes he may yet escape his torment. If he succeeds in the project to the end and still lives, we may induct him into the ranks of cerberus. I can only hope that he does, he is becoming valuable. Signing off." says the doctor.
The doctor turns on the intercom "Proceed to sedate the subjects. Prep them for the next phase of genetic enhancements" orders the doctor as he overlooks his favourite pet subjects.
10 minutes later
"Subject zero had killed a nurse today and attempted to escape. He managed to kill a guard before he was overwhelmed by a series of tranquillizers. I will need to up security measures on the subjects."
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2181, 27th of April
The doctor preps his omni-tool for the next log.
"Project Phoenix suffered a minor setback over the past few months. The subjects have taken longer to adjust to the Krogan genes than the previous enhancements we gave them. Nevertheless, subjects such as zero, five, eleven, twenty three, forty seven and fifty continue to impress. Both in their quicker adjustment to the enhancements and their overall combat capability. Subject-zero continues to prove invaluable to this project. His capabilities are ahead across the board.
He will be the first to be used for testing with regeneration but I do not doubt he will impress. The Illusive man has begun to see the results of my work and has approved us for additional funding. Perhaps now we can proceed to acquire livestock ready for the later testing of phase three. Phase two is ago, signing off" says the doctor.
The doctor turns on the intercom "Prep subject-zero for testing, test zero-one of phase two under way"
10 minutes later.
"Subject-zero has been able to regenerate severe cuts and lacerations in a matter of minutes, proving the advantages of this phase. His bones took roughly 30 minutes to repair themselves, however we discovered that if his body is overtaxed on regeneration in multiple places, it slows down dramatically.
Unfortunately he has not been able to regrow the severed appendage. His left little finger will have to be regrown in a vat and reattached to return him to optimal testing capability. The other subjects show similar results. Unfortunately subject fifty failed and did not survive the deep cut to his chest cavity."
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2181, 3rd of December
The doctor begins recording his log.
"Subject zero has been a little unresponsive today. Today is the anniversary of his father's death who served in the first contact war, a true human soldier through and through. I find it hard to believe that he knows the current date but perhaps he knows it subconsciously?
When we tried to prep him for testing he displayed aggressive behaviour, more so than usual and ended up letting his biotics run rampant. He almost escaped containment but we sedated him before he could further damage his cell door. Fortunately for us, he completed his test before escaping, his biotics have not declined and still remain in the highest condition recorded in humans yet. Signing off"
2182, 2nd of January
Black Tuesday
Subject zero, that had been what he was called for the time he had been here. It seemed like an eternity, his old life seemed so far behind at the moment. He lay there on his bed. Thinking as that was all he could do.
He did not get much in the way of information from cerberus. They occasionally informed them of what was ahead and what they were expected to achieve in order to survive. Some of the other subjects had failed, not due to their inability to survive, but reacting differently to the genetic enhancements.
He is awaiting the daily return of the good doctor to come and praise him on his progress. He swore that the doctor had become attached to him or something. Zero relished the day he gets the opportunity to severe that connection in the deadliest way possible, even if it was the last thing he managed in his life.
Today seemed strange however, something felt off. He wasn't sure if he was just being paranoid, at this point however that seemed perfectly normal. For his situation was completely off. Captured, imprisoned and experimented on by terrorists who wanted nothing than to utilise him as much as possible.
The worst part was, he had to do as he is told or he would have to be given emotional and memory suppressors. Which he wasn't particularly fond of taking. It had weighed heavily on him. He could, feel the sadness of when he killed another human being in a test for cerberus, all the pain and the guilt. Or take the suppressors and be a complete slave. In the end, he opted to being himself as he always had done, when cerberus slips up he wants to be fully conscious and aware so he could take full advantage of the situation.
The door to his cell opened, in walking two armed guards with their weapons pointing straight at him, leaving enough room for the doctor to enter with his assistant. Zero rose from his bed and stood there, ready as ever for the next test or whatever.
"Subject-zero, you are to accompany us to the next phase of your tests. The last phase in fact" says the doctor proudly as he looks at his best specimen.
"The last phase? I don't suppose you're gonna release me and let me go back to my life after are you?" asks Teague, knowing that his enemy enjoyed each moment of his torment.
The doctor let out a sinister laugh "Leave? No, I'm afraid that if you pass and I'm betting you will and with flying colours by the looks of it, you will be folded into cerberus. Under strict supervision of course. Until you prove reliable and trustworthy" replies the doctor.
His assistant being a young women, nervous at being around a subject of project phoenix. Zero decided to take a moment for himself.
"And who would you be, miss?" asks Teague, with a slight sigh.
She looks for approval from the doctor before answering "I am the replacement for the nurse you er, killed" she says nervously.
"You know what they do here? The experiments, the violations of basic human rights?" asks Zero
"Yes I do" she replies, earning Zero's immediate hatred. Clearly one of the believers that humans deserve to be the dominant race while all others serve humans. Zero agreed that humans should be powerful and some aliens should pay for their mistakes. But how why should their children pay for that by being enslaved. He wouldn't wish such a fate upon any race, even the two he disliked the most.
"What they do here is for the good of humanity and you should already know that. Sacrifice the few for the good of the many" she says further, making herself sound more and more like a loyal dog and mindless fanatic.
"Thats bollocks and you know it. The work being done here will benefit cerberus and only them. This project only ensures the suffering of more beings in the galaxy with each passing day" spat Zero, shutting up the loyal dog before she could preach more propaganda. He had heard it all before.
"Alright that's enough" says the doctor in his authoritative tone. Rather than risk a potential beating and keep his strength, zero complied. The doctor snaps his fingers, signalling the injection. Zero turned around, and knelt down on both knees as usual. The nurse stepped up behind him and administers the biotic-neutralizing drug. The effects being felt immediately by zero as he feels less powerful.
He stands up and the guards place him between them, weapons trained on him alongside the automated defense system. In short, if he tried anything he was truly and actually screwed. So they walk out into the hall way and zero sees the familiar layout he had become so friendly with.
They began walking down the usual path towards the testing bay and the loadout bay. Recently they had make him become accustomed to a specially designed set of cerberus phoenix armour and weaponry. In order to prepare him for the last phase of tests so it seemed.
The doctor began trailing off on his usual tangent, talking about the statistics of whatever and the next bit of bull shit. Zero had begun to ignore the doctors ramblings, mainly in due part because everything he talks about is something that he already knows. So zero begun surveying the area that they were approaching. As they entered the door to the loadout bay, zero noticed the Kodiak drop ship on the landing pad. The facility he is in is clearly underground, because of the large tunnel above the gunship as a means of lift off and protection from bombing runs. Zero had seen its design set up before.
Suddenly however, the entire facility went dark, a power failure. Zero took no time in taking advantage of the power outage as he snaps the neck of one of the guards and retrieves his pistol before the other guard could even put on his flash light. When he does, he is met by a biotic punch to his face, killing him instantly.
Zero took this opportunity, the one he has been waiting for and grabbed the good doctor and held him hostage. Much to zero's surprise however, the facility's power returned and with that a bunch of startled cerberus employee's.
Zero raised his pistol and fired 3 rounds into the ceiling. Bang Bang Bang "GET DOWN ON THE FUCKIN' FLOOR NOW!" bellows zero, aiming the pistol at random people until they complied.
An alarm rang out, making zero realise he does not have much time. He begun dragging the doctor with him to the subject cell block. Intent on making his escape here and now while he has the chance. As he rounds the corner he sees the subjects all at their individual doors, banging and screaming. Hoping that zero succeeds in releasing them.
Zero approaches the console to open each respective cell. He put the pistol to the back of the doctors head. "Release the subjects NOW!" spouts zero aggressively.
"Think about what you're doing! You would waste your potential, all of them for your own selfish needs!?" exclaims the doctor, honestly believing in his cruel work.
"Our own selfish desires? We only want to be free, free of the pain and suffering of this place and your gonna give it to us or I blow your brains out. You won't be missed, you'll just get replaced" spat back zero, releasing some tension that had grown over the period of just under two years.
The doctor did not argue. After all, he could replicate his work, but would zero let him live? Something needs to be done or it will have all been for nothing. The doctor just nods to zero's demands, slowly pulling out a key. He inserts into the terminal and readies himself.
A group of cerberus guards turned the corner, aiming their weapons at zero's back. Zero swivelled on his feet to face his adversaries, creating a biotic barrier with his free hand "I was wondering when they would show up. Now open the doors!" barks zero as he butts the pistol into the doctor's head.
The doctor twists the key and hits the correct button. But at the same time pulling out a syringe filled with a powerful sedative, jabbing its contents straight into one of zero's veins. Zero back hands the doctor to the floor and begins to fumble, growing weak rapidly at the sedative coursing through his veins. He fell to his knees and the doctor caught him, dragging him off out of the way of the oncoming gunfire.
As the cell doors opened, the subjects charged out, throwing biotic attacks at their captors. Bravely attacking the enemy so that some of the others might live. As the cerberus troopers opened fire, subjects begun falling to the floor. The cerberus troopers knew how to kill them, after all a bullet to the head was probably the only thing that could kill a subject at this stage of the project.
Zero watches as he rapidly drifts to sleep, his efforts for naught as the subjects fall to the concentrated gunfire from the cerberus troopers. The un-armoured subjects being slaughtered because zero had miscalculated for the first time in almost two years. The failure consuming him as he drifts off to sleep.
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2182, 3rd of January
The doctor taps his omni-tool, to record perhaps his most disappointing log yet.
"It is with a heavy heart that I say this, but subject-zero had proven to be great liability yesterday. He managed to stage an escape that resulted in the deaths of 33 base personnel and 40 out of the 50 remaining test subjects. The funny thing is that he managed to single out the weak from the strong. Thanks to subject-zero, the less adaptable subjects were killed. He saved us a few months of work in retrospect but what about the chances he killed a subject as useful as himself?
I don't think he understands the importance of himself and the subjects. Once the Illusive man sees what I have accomplished, humanity will be protected by an army of the deadliest humans in existence. Then again, given the Illusive man's tendencies, I suspect he would want the subjects terminated once the project is finished. To ensure the subjects do not escape the grips of cerberus and into the wrong hands.
Unfortunately for subject-zero and the remaining subjects, they will have to be implanted with emotional and memory suppressors. It is the last option I wanted but they have forced my hands to ensure they do not disobey on the last phase. Speaking of which begins with our first test out of system. I look forward to seeing the results of the subjects and there specially made armour and weaponry in combat situations. From the teams predictions, they should surpass all previous expectations. Signing off" says the doctor.
He taps at the intercom "Prep the remaining subjects for implantation. I want it done in 5 minutes or project phoenix may just find more subjects!" barks the doctor, expressing his anger about the events of yesterday.
That day would be remembered as black Tuesday by this project team. The day that the best subject proved a liability. But perhaps a chance at redemption is near, for he will be rid of his past and his emotions. Perhaps he will perform even better under those circumstances.
Perhaps.
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2182, 31st of July
The doctor taps at his omni-tool, preparing himself for the next log.
"After implantation, the subjects have displayed no aggression to their guards or the base personnel. After telling them of their purpose and not alerting them to their previous life, they expressed the want to commit to the program. But they do not display any emotion or recollection of their former selves. They have become an organic version of a machine in my personal opinion.
After fine tuning the memory suppressors in each subject, we managed to allow them to remember their training. It took us months of work but we managed to isolated the memories and only allow access to the training in the facility. They still have not displayed any want or need to escape the facility.
During a combat exercise in the traverse, the subjects worked together and with lethal efficiency. Putting the most skilled veterans to shame by their results. We also dropped them into a Turian military installation, which they proceeded to neutralize and slaughter the military personnel and securing valuable intel. This action did not cause any backlash to the alliance, but they and the Turians have begun discussing joint operations to root us out. Signing off"
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2182, 25th of September
The doctor begins recording another log.
"Yesterday subject zero displayed remarkable will power and mental strength. His mind managed to fight back against the memory and emotional suppressors for roughly an hour. This occurred during an operation out of system, which he proceeded to destabilize by attacking the other cerberus personnel.
The remaining subjects, fifty, twenty three and seven displayed a sense of camaraderie and brotherhood. Instead of killing subject zero, they detained him through their combined efforts and brought him back to base under supervision. After running more tests and simulations of their current mind state, we deduce that within the next 6 months, each subject will be able to fully resist their implants.
Subject zero yet again being the catalyst for change. After we detained him hand brought his implants back online, he displayed his regrets about what happened and would not let it happen again. Not wanting to take chances, we suppressed the memory from each subject to make them forget about the incident. I will continue to monitor their progress, signing off"
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2183, 5th of February
The doctor taps at his omni-tool to begin his last entry.
"Project Phoenix nears it's end. For tomorrow the Illusive man issues his decision to me personally. The last phase of project phoenix proved to be more of a let down than the previous phases. They had shown such promise before, but under the emotional and memory suppressors the subjects have been reduced in capability, I suspect their emotions are required in order to make them completely effective. They began failing their field exercises at the cost of their lives one by one. Perhaps zero achieved his goal after all, forestalling cerberus's army of super soldiers, what a traitor he is to his species.
My faith in zero had not been misplaced after all. Even with the memory and emotional suppressors he has proceeded to go above expectations but to a lesser degree than before. But his template is not lost, thanks to him I may be able to duplicate his very success in the next batch, that is if im given the funding. But I will have to select willing troopers from cerberus's own ranks. It has proven disastrous to capture and attempt to convert other humans from outside of cerberus.
My only regret for zero is that he is becoming resistant to the memory and emotional suppressor implants. On occasion and more frequently lately, he has been behaving and performing as good as he had done before. But the obvious drawback being his memory and recovery of his identity. If the new implant does not work tomorrow with the Illusive man, I fear my pet will be lost and his skill and development will have been for naught. Signing off"
The doctor motions to switch on the intercom, but remembers that nothing else is planned. He retired to his quarters for the night as the next day would no doubt be a long one . . . or short one if the illusive man is not pleased.
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Authors Note : Hi there readers :D i'm glad you have chosen to give my story a chance and I thank you for it deeply. I want to say that I enjoy the new start to the story and I hope you do too. Oh and welcome back readers who read my last story :)
Please leave a review and tell me what you think, be that negative or positive. Just be a mature person and don't give me out right abuse, it isn't welcome. But I don know the difference between constructive criticism and abuse so, feel free to leave criticism :D
Phoenix Subject
