Blood Stains
Jasmine watched with fascination from the shuttle as Mordin activated the device he'd created and dropped it onto the Teltin facility. Almost immediately, the thick, massive tangle of greenery began to wither, turning yellow and then brown before finally black. Like a drop of dye added to water, the effect spread outward, twisting and curling in on itself, becoming lighter and lighter the further away from the device it reached. When at last the wave of plant decay came to an end, Isaac lowered the shuttle onto the landing pad.
Rain pattered softly against the metal above her head, and with all of the plant life, Jasmine knew the humidity level in the air wouldn't be good for Thane. She glanced at him and forced a reassuring smile on her face. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad inside of the actual facility. The shuttle door slid open and they filed out of the vehicle.
The sounds of weapons whirring to life filled the air as Jasmine drew her pistol. She scanned the area, dead plants making it far easier to spot any approaching threats, but she didn't see anyone out there.
"Alright, let's go." Isaac walked toward the stairs leading down from the landing pad, his head swiveling slowly from side to side as he took it all in.
Jasmine and the others followed after, their movements down the metal steps barely making a sound. Once they reached the ground, they spread out a little more, covering one another's flanks. If there was anyone in the rusted, dilapidated buildings, they knew the facility was under attack the moment Mordin dropped his device from the shuttle. With as heavily shrouded as the structures were, though, it didn't seem very likely they'd find anyone inside.
Still, they needed to stay alert. Even if it seemed against the odds for the facility to still be in use, they couldn't overlook the possibility of a staged ambush by pirates or mercs. Someone probably took note of the Iliad the moment they entered Pragia's atmosphere, and the shuttle wasn't impossible to track.
Impassable stairs led to the upper floors of the buildings, entire steps and pieces of railing torn free by vines and branches. Rotten, abandoned crates oozed a dark, syrupy substance she was pretty sure she didn't want to try to identify. Cement blockades formed a partial circle up ahead, dark stains screaming 'blood' splashed across the stone and the ground surrounding the area.
"Aresh said Subject Zero fought her way out, killing anyone and everyone to get in her way," Isaac said, gaze sweeping over the trails of dried blood. "Including the other children."
The thought of a tortured, terrified little girl fighting her way out of the facility crushed Jasmine's heart and made it difficult to draw breath for a few moments. The utter, primal rage and fear Subject Zero must've felt … the shame she probably still lived with each time she remembered the face of another child she felt forced to kill in order to survive. Picturing the shattered bodies of those other kids, the agony they must've been in as broken bones pierced their organs, leaving them helpless until their little bodies finally gave out ….
Jasmine swallowed against the bile rising in the back of her throat and the ache in her soul. Sucking a slow, deep breath in through her nose, she packed up the emotions into a solid, iron box and locked it down tight. She couldn't let the place get to her. If she wasn't careful, wasn't vigilant, it'd drag her back into the self-loathing and despair brought on by a pessimism saturated in the evil, vile things she'd seen in the galaxy. She'd only just escaped the last bout, stopped hearing the constant whispers of her addiction, and she refused to allow it to have her again.
Although nowhere near as suffocating as the air on Kahje, the humidity of Pragia left Thane's chest tight. Despite his best efforts, he remained aware of each breath and the potential damage it did to his lungs, leaving him mildly distracted at a time he needed to remain vigilant. If Jasmine's frequent, furtive glances in his direction were any indication, she, too, worried about what Pragia might do to him. Her concern warmed his heart, but it also left him frustrated with himself for giving her a reason to fret.
Thankfully, the facility did indeed appear to be abandoned, giving them the freedom to roam and explore. And although there were no children filling the bunks of the small cells, seeing the conditions in which any child once lived twisted his insides into knots. The recordings they found didn't prove as illuminating as they'd hoped, but safely aboard the Iliad, Theodus worked hard to salvage everything possible from the damaged servers.
"This must be where they kept Subject Zero," Isaac said as they entered a much larger room with a single bed instead of double bunks.
Watching the man, it was clear he struggled with the ghosts of the atrocities which took place within the Teltin facility. As they all did. Still, Thane prayed Isaac was able to keep himself more composed than he had on Gellix, for Jasmine's sake. She looked up to him and cared for him greatly; Isaac's pain was her pain, and she had enough of her own to deal with. Yet, Thane carried no doubts that should the need arise, Isaac would stow his emotions and face whatever threat with a cool, level head and precise skill.
"It's a two-way mirror." Confusion filled Jasmine's voice as she moved closer to the glass occupying much of one wall.
Thane followed her, looking out over the courtyard they'd passed through on their way into the facility. He recalled the glass appeared opaque on the other side, but he didn't understand why. Perhaps it was meant to protect the girl from solar radiation, though it didn't seem to be a particular problem on Pragia.
"Bossman?" Jasmine called out without turning away from the window.
A moment later, Isaac stepped up to her side. "What's up, Sunshine? Did you find something?"
Tipping her head toward the courtyard, she asked, "What does that look like to you?"
Isaac studied the courtyard for a moment and then, with disgust written all over his face, he said, "It looks like a fighting pit." Scrubbing a hand over his face, he turned to look first at Jasmine and then Thane. "The blood stains out there aren't from when she broke out of here … Cerberus made those kids fight one another."
"Jesus Christ," Jasmine whispered before closing her eyes.
Hearing the truth in Isaac's words, Thane suppressed a fresh wave of anger and pulled Jasmine against him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her forehead on his shoulder. He wished he could rid the galaxy of such terrible crimes, protect her from ever having to know such things existed. Alas, the evil hearts of men would continue to exist so long as any species with the mental capacity to dream up such things flourished.
"Fighting likely only time Subject Zero interacted with peers." Dr. Solus said.
Jasmine lifted her head and turned in Thane's grasp to look at the salarian. "Why do you think that?"
"Isolation probably used to prevent bonding between test subjects, prevent discussion of experiences." Dr. Solus took a couple of steps closer. "Ensures subject responses to test trials uncompromised. Allowed to watch other children play, never allowed to join, except to measure growing strength of biotics in fights. Also, strong emotions provoke biotics. Subject Zero lonely, scared, emotionally and physically hurt. Part of the experiment. Window designed so other subjects never knew she watched them; her observation didn't impact their behavior only hers."
"Aresh said they actually told him and the other kids that the shit they put them through was to test it out before giving it to Subject Zero." Isaac turned away from the window and crossed his arms over his chest, rage in his eyes. "When something hurt them, made one of them sick … or even killed one of them, Cerberus encouraged the kids to blame Subject Zero." He rubbed a hand over his face before tucking it back beneath his other arm. "Cerberus wanted the kids to hate her, and they did. If Mordin's right, then she probably hated them, too."
"Cerberus' records indicate Subject Zero was taken from her family on Eden Prime in twenty-one sixty-five. She wasn't quite four years old. Her parents took her in for a checkup and were told she had a severe seizure brought on by her prenatal exposure to eezo." Theodus pressed his lips into a grim, thin line. "Her parents were told she'd died as a result and convinced to let the doctors keep her body for preventative research purposes.
"Later, Cerberus had the girl's parents killed and the murders staged to look like an accident, just in case they started looking into their daughter's death further. They don't have her birth name listed, she's just referred to as 'Subject Zero.'" Looking up, his gaze found Jasmine's and he added, "There's a similar story for each of the kids in these files."
"Is the doctor's name in there?" she asked, leaning forward to rest her weight on her palms pressed against the table.
He gave her a brief nod. "Assuming it's the doctor's real name, they're listed as a Doctor Castor."
"See what you can find on the doctor. Start with what you have from the Teltin facility on Pragia, but search records on Eden Prime, too." She sucked in a deep breath. "Also, look for medical records on Eden Prime matching the dates and descriptions of Subject Zero's supposed death."
"You're hoping to find Subject Zero?" Curiosity void of judgement danced in his blood-red eyes.
"I'm not counting it out." She shrugged and glanced at Isaac, directing the rest of her statement at him, "If she's still alive and out there, she's probably still incredibly pissed off at Cerberus and seriously dangerous. Who better to help us take down the organization?"
Isaac stroked his chin and hummed. "She might be too unhinged to recruit. With the psychological torture … she may not be in control of herself. Like a kid with a loaded weapon. We can't know she wouldn't turn her biotics on us, but she might know something more about Cerberus she's willing to share."
Jasmine knew he was right, but the more she thought about it, if she went through what Subject Zero went through … she'd damn sure insist on being there in person to take the sons of bitches down. And she'd deserve to be included. "She might be a loaded weapon, but she might also be one we can aim at Cerberus. Just … just don't count her out until we've had the chance to see for ourselves."
Thane answered the call coming through on his omni-tool and smiled. "Hello, my son. How are you?"
"Hello, Father. I am well. I hope you are well, too." Kolyat returned the smile as he settled in at the dining room table.
The kitchen was dark behind him, and no other sounds filled the background. It wasn't quite so late on Kahje, but it appeared Rone and Kelena had already gone to bed for the evening. Thane supposed it wasn't too surprising given Kelena was with child and at a higher risk than most women of miscarrying. Rone likely encouraged her to rest as much as possible. Thane wondered how she and the baby were doing.
"I am, thank you." Thane dipped his head. "I was just thinking of calling you."
"You were?" Kolyat's brow ridges twitched with his piqued interest.
"Indeed," Thane said, taking note of all of the subtle changes in Kolyat, evidence of his continued growth in Thane's absence. "There's something I wished to talk to you about so it doesn't come as a big surprise later. I wanted to give you the opportunity to process your thoughts and feelings on the matter, first."
A darkness shifted over Kolyat's face, fear tugging at his features. Yet his voice remained calm, stoic, even as he asked, "Father, is something wrong?"
"Not at all." Thane held up a placating hand and gave Kolyat a reassuring smile. "In fact, something is very right. I have learned a colleague of mine is, in fact, my cousin."
Eyes widening, Kolyat tipped his head a little to the side. "Your cousin?"
"Indeed." Thane gave him a brief nod. "I would very much like for him to join Jasmine and I when we return to Kahje in a few weeks. I want to introduce him to you."
Kolyat folded his shoulders inward, a gesture of caution. "I believe I would enjoy knowing more about your cousin before meeting him."
"Of course. His name is Theodus, he is the son of my uncle, Haset. He is kind and has a strong sense of humor, much like your uncle, Drali." The comparison brought a chuckle from Thane and a smirk from his son. "He is very intelligent and an excellent problem-solver. Theodus is exceptionally skilled at research and technology. At times he can be very shy and quiet, but when he is comfortable with someone, he is very curious and asks a lot of questions."
Kolyat took a moment, seeming to ponder the information before he said, "I am interested to know if he has met Jasmine."
"He has, yes. They get along quite well and have formed a friendship." Thane smiled and chuckled again, a little louder than the last. "She calls him 'Theo.'"
"Theo," Kolyat repeated, seeming to test out the word.
Dipping his head, Thane said, "Indeed."
"It must have been very surprising for you to learn Theo is your cousin," Kolyat said, a soft, comforting smile gracing his lips, "since you have not spoken to your parents in so long."
Thane chuckled, tickled that Kolyat picked up on the shortening of Theodus' name even as his son's compassion humbled him. "Very much so. I didn't even know Haset ever had children. Theodus hasn't spoken to his family in quite some time, also. He … did not have a close relationship with his parents and left home at a young age."
Kolyat's brow ridge ticked up. "He left?"
"Ah." Of course. Thane should've realized it would seem doubtful to Kolyat given it was his parents who left him when he was young. "Have you heard of the old drell belief called 'the curse of the soulless?'"
"You mean albinism?" Kolyat shrugged and nodded.
"Indeed. Theodus has albinism, and it hurts my heart to know, my uncle and his wife mistreated Theodus because of his albinism, because they believed it meant he is cursed." Thane watched Kolyat carefully, his reaction to the news would be rather telling.
He wasn't quite sure how he'd respond if Kolyat was taught to believe in the curse, taught to despise someone over something so small. He doubted it'd be the case, however. Rone didn't seem to be the type to hold to such nonsense, and what with Irikah being a medical researcher, it just didn't seem feasible for their family to pass on that particular part of drell history and tradition.
"Forgive me, Father," Kolyat said, lips pressing into a thin line, contempt filling his blue eyes, "but that is foolish."
Thane smiled, relieved and proud of his son. "I agree."
"I look forward to meeting Theo." Kolyat gave him a decisive nod. "I will tell Uncle Rone and Aunt Kelena about him so that they will not be surprised, either."
"My thanks." Thane intended to speak with Rone about it as well, of course, but he saw no harm in allowing Kolyat to take such initiative. "Please be sure to tell them I welcome any questions they may have."
"I will." Kolyat shifted around in his chair and draped an arm over the back. "I have news, Father."
Thane tipped his head a little. "Oh?"
"Yes. I spoke with my instructors and learned that if I continue as I am," Kolyat said, turning a palm out, "by the end of the school year, my marks will be more than adequate for secondary."
"Kolyat, that's fantastic!" Thane wished he was there to pull his son into his embrace and kiss the top of his head. "I am so proud of you. I knew you would get there. Jasmine will be very happy to hear, too."
"She is not there with you now?" Clearly disappointed, Kolyat also sounded almost sad.
"She is in the bedroom on a call with her family." Thane lowered his voice, though he doubted Jasmine would hear him either way. "Which is fortunate at the moment. I also wanted to tell you that while we are on Kahje, Jasmine will be having a birthday. I'm certain it would mean so much to her if you and I were to pick out a present to surprise her with for her birthday. We'll have time to go shopping once I've arrived, but I wanted to give you the chance to to come up with ideas."
An almost devious grin spread across Kolyat's face, delight dancing in his eyes. "May I ask Uncle Drali for advice? He knows much more about humans than I, and I am sure he would enjoy the opportunity to surprise Jasmine as well."
Thane chuckled and nodded. "That is an excellent idea, Son."
Grin widening Kolyat said, "Thank you, Father."
"We've got an assignment, Sunshine," Isaac said once the door to the apartment slid closed behind him. He made his way to the couch and took a seat, crossing his long legs and draping his arms over the back of the cushions. "Raúl will be coming with us, too. It probably won't take more than a few days. Maybe a week, max, but I figure we should probably plan on waiting until after you, Thane, and Theodus get back before we try taking on another Cerberus facility. What are your thoughts?"
Folding her legs under her, she sat sideways on the other side of the couch. "Well … it'll be a lot of downtime. You'll still have to pay the Iliad's crew … and Mordin may not want to sit around doing nothing for so long …. Though it would give Nemos more time to take care of the things he's dealing with. And, give us more time to get to know Razik." She shrugged. "I don't know, there seems to be pros and cons either way."
"I don't think we should sit around doing nothing. I've given it more thought, and you're right. I think once we're done with this job, we should try to track down Subject Zero and try to at least talk to her in person." He took a deep breath, pushing his lips out until they touched his nose and said, "And, if she's stable enough and she wants in on what we're doing … maybe we can work something out with her. After what they did to her, to Aresh and the other kids …. Well, she deserves to be a part of this if it's what she wants."
"I'm relieved to hear you say so." She smiled when he met her gaze. "I wasn't looking forward to having to fight you on that one."
Isaac laughed, tipping his head back to look at the vaulted ceiling. "Yeah, I know. I saw it in your eyes during the debrief."
Grinning, Jasmine rested an elbow on the back of the couch and cradled the side of her head in her hand. "So, where's the job?"
"Bekenstien. It's in the Boltzmann System here in the Serpent Nebula." Isaac lifted his hand and waved it around as if her apartment was the nebula itself and not simply a subatomic speck in comparison. "It's a reconnaissance mission on a compound owned by a man named Donavan Hock."
"He's not an actual target?" She arched an eyebrow, interest piqued. She didn't know a lot about Bekenstien, other than the fact that despite being so close to the Citadel, it was a lawless planet, home to some of the richest criminals the galaxy had to offer.
Meeting her gaze, he shook his head. "Nope. If everything goes just right, no one dies on this one."
She frowned and then sighed. "Since when does anything ever go just right?"