Disclaimer: Slayers is the property of Hajime Kanzaka, Rui Araizumi, and various and sundry publishing companies. Mass Effect is the property of Bioware, Microsoft Game Studios, and Electronic Arts. I am none of these, and as such make no money from this venture.

Word count: 1000

The facility was a mess. The power was spotty and what looked like cryostasis pods were strewn haphazardly around the labs. Some were shattered, some were simply empty. None worked, all life signs were dead. Mordin sniffed, and Shepard turned. He was standing before one of the intact machines, shaking his head. When she approached, he stepped aside so she too could see what was inside.

"Human female. Early adolescent," the salarian spoke quietly in the still room. "Appears civilian, likely died in sleep. Peaceful. Marked as Specimen Zephilia 0032. Others marked similar."

Shepard shook her head and gestured for them to move on. A few rooms further in, they finally found a terminal that still had power. Accessing it revealed a video report from an agitated, pacing man.

"El is getting restless. Subject One has been responding well, but our other Zephilia specimens are failing. We lost forty-five through fifty-two just this morning. What's worse is that the more we lose, the more One's brainwave patterns fluctuate. El is confident she can't wake, but I sure don't want to find out."

"So," Garrus hummed thoughtfully. "Find One and hope there are answers nearby?"

"Seems like the best idea," the Commander sighed, already heading for the far door. Her team fell into step behind her.

The next lab they found with power was also still occupied. A brief firefight and all but one of the scientists were down. The last was held at gunpoint by a dispassionate Garrus. Shepard paced agitatedly while Mordin checked the pods lining the walls. When he returned shaking his head, she whirled on their prisoner.

"What were you doing to these people?"

The man quailed, eyes darting between his captors but straying most often to the gun still drawn on him. "A-ah, w-we were t-testing Subject O-one's biotic potential u-using virtual r-reality. El-sama's p-procedure ensures she d-doesn't require an implant."

Shepard gestured at the lifeless tanks around them, fire in her eyes. "And the rest of them?" She sneered. "Support staff?"

"Y-y-yes. They k-keep her brainwaves stable, k-keeps her believing in the VR, b-but it kills them. W-we're not sure how."

"This El-sama. Where can we find them?"

"I-in the central l-lab, probably..? S-she hardly ever leaves S-Subject One alone."

When Shepard simply stared icily, the scientist darted pleading glances at the aliens flanking her. Finally, Garrus growled, mandibles flared in irritation, "Directions."

"A-ah!" He stuttered them out, tripping over his words as he gestured the turns they would take with his hands. When he had finished, the Commander turned away in silence, starting off through the corridors. Garrus followed, immediately dismissing the man. As they exited the lab, Mordin paused to instruct the man flatly, "Recommend leaving facility. Probability of explosion: 98%. Suggest running."

He had rejoined them by the time they found another occupied lab. This time, none of the scientists survived. Shepard was ready to stalk through the doors, intent on finding their target before Subject One could be terminated, when the geneticist called for her attention.

"Possibility of life, Commander. Several stations retain power. Attempt extraction?"

She moved closer, eyeing each of the 'specimens' through their observation windows. After a moment's thought, she shook her head. "As distasteful as it is, we should try to free One first. If they all stabilise her, she may die if they're removed from the VR system. If we extract her first, hopefully they'll still be alive when we return."

The salarian nodded his assent and they moved on, clearing through three more occupied labs before reaching the hallway that led to their destination. They maintained radio silence now, reflexively checking weaponry as they moved into position. When both Garrus and Mordin flashed her the signal, she opened the door and stepped through, gun held at the ready.

There was only one person in this room and, as soon as Shepard appeared through the doors, the strange woman attacked. A sharp report from Garrus' sniper rifle bit through her barriers and dual Incinerates from Mordin and Shepard disintegrated her armour. Shrieking wordlessly, the crazed woman tossed down her pistol and launched herself at the Commander, fingers curled like claws. Shepard waited for her to approach, lowering her gun to deliver a punishing elbow to her attacker's face before retreating. Another shot from Garrus' rifle and the woman faltered, sagging to the ground with a bullet hole in her chest and a vaguely stunned expression on her face.

All three waited a moment longer before holstering their weapons. As they did, Shepard shot a look at the sniper over her shoulder. He shrugged. "Headshots are messy."

She merely shook her head, amused, and approached the tank with Mordin. The turian kept watch at the door. As Mordin examined the pod, Shepard turned to the console nearby. Before she could touch anything however, a VI interface sprang to life beside it.

"Welcome back, El-sama," it stated pleasantly. "Lina is currently eating, but could be induced to rest if you wish to speak with her."

The Commander glanced at Mordin, who returned her look with a silent negative; Subject One was unmoving. Shepard turned back to the VI. "No. I wish to wake... Lina... up. It is time to extract her."

The VI was silent for a long moment, and she began to doubt it would respond at all. "Extraction not currently recommended, El-sama. Lina has not yet reached full potential."

"Nevertheless, it is time. We are losing too many peripheral specimens to continue. Extract Subject One."

"Very well, El-sama. Preparing removal of Subject One from Project Zephilia. Is there anything else you require?"

"Prepare the removal of all other specimens also. This base is being abandoned."

"Acknowledged. Project Zephilia shutting down. Logging you out, El-sama."

The VI disappeared then and the stasis pod hissed as the fluid inside drained and the door unlocked. Mordin pried it open with nimble fingers and all three watched silently as Subject One took a shuddering gasp and opened startlingly red eyes.