Here come's the interesting part. Let us see what our little shep is truly made of.
Year 2023 - Thessia, Armali , Armali genetic testing center
"What do you think will happen, benezia" Tevos asked out of pure curiosity of what she had witnessed "And what was that about asari genetic defects?"
"Ardat-Yaksi" Benezia replied in the old tongue. "Thea this is hard for me, my daughter liara has been identified that she will grow into an ardat-yaksi if i do nothing"
Tevos gasped at what she realised 'She is doing this so liara does not have to live a life of isolation' She put a hand on benezias back and said "I understand. But what about the human?"
"She has given liara a normal life, for this she deserves one as well. I am going to give her that life here on thessia, so she fits she need to be more... asari" Benezia replied with a smile.
Tevos could only shake her head and smile "I will see what I can do about things like the media and press, I would also advise commandos follow her every move. there will be many that hunt her"
"And I will see that she is trained as a commando, shiala can do this along with her biotic training" Tevos gasped "She is a biotic?" she asked suddenly very interested in this new race.
"Yes, although she would have to have had an implant. This alteration puts that need to rest" With a smile "Oh and I have been informed that if the surgery goes well she may be empathetic, and if that is the case. That she will be able to meld like a natural born asari"
Tevos stood in disbelief raising her eyebrow marking's "So theoretically any race with this augmentation can meld?" she asked suddenly worried if this information found it's was to the shadow broker.
"No, not anyone. Only humans that have been exposed to Element zero in the womb like she has. We still need to destroy this information, regardless if it can cure the ardat-yaksi's curse. The damage it could do if it got into the wrong hand's in unthinkable. Humans running around melding with everything because they do not have the mental training" She shudders at the thought.
"Yes" Tevos agreed "How long until the entire process is complete?"
"Five days maximum. You are free to leave or to stay on the estate. I am going to leave, she should be coming around in three days, but I would like to be there" She said.
Year 2023 -Thessia, Armali, Armali genetic testing center
The only thing shiala could feel was her entire body engulfed in a burning pain. She opened her eyes and was blinded by bright lights.
"Ah shiala, you are awake" a gentle melodious tone reverberated around the room.
"Hnnnmm" Was all she could muster.
Dr. T'len quickly crossed the room and was hovering over shiala while checking her readings. "Good good, there has been no issues with you which means that this is a safe procedure" she chirped happily.
"I thought you said that this was a guaranteed safe procedure Doctor" the tone which was coming from Matriarch Benezia.
"This is medicine, nothing is a guarantee" She replied still chipper.
Shiala finally stirred enough to voice her thoughts "Why does my entire body feel like it is on fire" She groaned.
The doctor checked a few reading and then replied "It is a side effect of the sedative I used, had to keep you under for 3 days so it needed to be strong".
"Three days!" Shiala yelled. 'I have been here for three days' she silently screamed.
"Yes, do not worry all your tasks were passed along for the meantime" The doctor replied.
Shiala closed her eyes and drew in a long breath. "When can I leave?" She asked simply.
"2 hours are the minimum time for reclamation of all motor skills" She said.
Shiala mulled over this. "And what of the child?" She asked grimacing at the pain.
"The children are fine the procedure, will happen in 4 hours." With a smile "You may watch if you so desire"
"Children? I thought it was only the human child" she replied still dazed
"You don't know?" She replied with a frown.
"Know what?" shiala asked slightly scared.
"Wait, who is the other child?" she dared to ask.
The matriarch answered "The other child is liara, my daughter"
Shiala slowly turned her head to face the matriarch. "The genetic defect?" she asked confusion plastered on her face.
The matriarch sighed "Shiala, I hate to say this but the scientists have identified that liara will grow into an ardat-yaksi if I don't do something. And they have told me this is the only way she could grow up only normally"
Ardat-Yaksi were asari who when they meld with people they kill them. "I am sorry mistress, I cannot imagine what this is like for you" shiala instantly replied.
"It is fine, shiala" she replied quietly.
"I will not mention another word on the subject" she said quietly.
"I would like you input" She replied with a frown.
"On what?" She dared to ask.
"What we should modify, should she grow tall or short, we can change her skin tone, her hair color and even her irises. shoudle she be strong or weak bioticaly" She replied with a smile.
'Oh dear, what have I gotten myself into' shiala thought. "Why ask me ".
The doctor sighed "You will be training her, alongside the matriarch's daughter."
"I guess i have no choice in the matter"
"No you dont" The doctor replied with a smile.
Year 2023 - Thessia, Armali, Armali genetic testing center. 4 hours later
"Prepare the children for surgery" The doctor's voice sounds over the complexes as workers scurried to get everything together.
Shiala, benezia and tevos were sitting in an observation booth glancing around the room and looking at the two tables laid out.
As the children are brought into the room they could only stare. A few seconds after they are laid out as they attach the necessary equipment a hologram appears in front of the three.
"Shiala in front of you there are all the different things we can change in the human child. The matriarch has chosen liara's modifications already" The doctor informed.
As shiala looked down the list several things caught her eye. Biotic augmentation for the increase or activation of biotic power, Height modification, Physical augmentation, and asari biological healing.
"I have made my decisions doctor" Shiala announced.
"Good but I belive you have missed a vital DNA strand" she called back.
"And what strain would that be?" she asked curious.
"The 86'th DNA strand down and 2 on the left" she informed.
Shiala gasped at what she saw. 'If this information were to spread who know what would happen'.
The section read 'Activation of melding and empathetic traits. Addendum: Requires biotic potential'
"Yes, if she is to live on an asari world and be spending time with asari, this is something that she will need. But we do not know how it will react to non-asari" Shiala announced.
"She will be able to meld and block melds like any other well-trained asari" She replied.
"Do it" Shiala and the matriarch replied at the same time. They looked to eatch-other and just gave a small worried smile.
Tevos just sat there, contemplating what this could change in the future, and how badly this could go wrong for the child.
"You may leave if you wish, the rest of this will be mostly boring for you" Leassa announced "Yes, it will" Dr. T'len confirmed.
"Very well, contact me when you have results" They both nodded and then cut the holo.
Year 2023 - House T'soni, Five months later
Shiala sighed as she took a deep breath to calm her nerves then pressed the intercom. Today was the day of truth as to whether or not the augmentation worked.
"Mistress, I have new's that you may wish to read" She called up.
"Very well, I am in my office" Benezia called back down as the elevator doors unlocked.
When the elevator arrived shiala stepped off and walked into the waiting matriarch's office.
"Yes shiala. what is this important news?" she inquired calmly
"The results of the augmentation have come through" She replied as she let the hint of a smile curl her lips upwards.
Benezia abruptly stood and made her way over to shiala as she took the datapad from her hands she noticed the smile and could not hope but to get her spirits up.
It reads 'Matriarch Benezia. Dr. T'len here, I have recorded a full change in physiology in both of the subject's, all of the selected augmentation's have been applied successfully. This also includes our experimental fix for the genetic defect. And while I dont think this cure should be used common place it is a cure none the less. My contact information and location is below for when you wish to collect them.'
The matriarch smiled as a silent tear of joy ran down her cheek.
"Mistress what is wrong" shiala asked misinterpreting the tear for one of sadness.
"absolutely nothing. In fact this message is telling me that the procedure has worked and we can go to collect them" She replied happily.
"What do you mean. 'them' ,are we not only taking liara" Shiala asked confused.
"No, this human child has given liara a normal life back. I can only repay it by giving her a normal life in return" Benezia replied.
Shiala suddenly understood why Dr. T'len had said that she would be training her. "You wish to raise this child as an asari? Mistress" Shiala asked carefully.
The matriarch laughed "My, shiala have you not been paying attention. This child is an asari now"
"Shiala, I want you and a team of 15 commandos to enter the facility purge all data and bring the scientist to me. This information can not be shared with anyone"
DUN DUN DUN. That was a fun chapter to write, allowed me to let my imagination out of the box.
Please leave a review, tell me if I missed a grammar mistake or misplaced a word. And if you have any ideas or issues please send me a PM or put it in a review.
Shep is now Asari!Shep :D