"I was… born on August 7th of 2145. My parents lived in San Francisco, California…"

Meiou took a gulp of water that Jarred had given her, nervously watching her audience. Jarred had alerted Nicholas and Tristan of her awakening, and they quickly rushed back to the Med Bay after talking to Liara. The asari went with them, and when word spread through the Normandy that the strange, white human had awakened, they gathered to the Board Room, and Jarred helped her get up there. She was seated in the front, and had her hands on her lap, blushing.

"Go on." Tristan said, and she nodded.

"I lived a very peaceful life in San Francisco. I was… pretty normal then, despite having Albinism. I went to school, I had friends. I loved to read and sing. It was bliss."

"But, when I turned 18, I… had a car crash." She closed her eyes as the memories flooded her once groggy brain. "We were driving home, after celebrating my 18th birthday. It was rainy, and… my father lost control of our skycar. There was a malfunction… he didn't know much about skycars. We hit a barricade on the side of the street. My… parents were instantly killed, and I got into a coma for three months. They said the impact almost turned my brain into mush and I had frequent brain bleeds, but I was able to hold on." A tear slid down her face, "Even though… with my parents dead… I didn't want to."

Jarred laid a hand on her shoulder, and Meiou dried her eyes and continued.

"When I woke up, I felt something… different. Like something in my head became open." She shrugged, "That was the first time I noticed that something in me was sort of unlocked. I reached out my hand for a glass of water, and it tumbled and spilled down to my blanket. It shocked me. I did it several times more on other stuff. The TV remote, the pillows, the blankets… I willed my mind to reach for it, and it would fly off into my hand. My doctor saw it, and was surprised. He…" She closed her eyes again, "He was a kind, elderly man. And he had heard about my parents. When I got well, he offered to have me live with him. He would study my abilities, and in return, he had a home and food for me. He never touched me in a bad way. He was just really kind. He took care of me and of everything my parents have left me with."

She swallowed, "Two years after, something happened. I was on my way home from the grocery, and when I got there, the…. Doctor was dead. He was shot. His blood was everywhere." She shook her head, "Some men came and grabbed me. I fought them off with my abilities. But somebody shot me, and I fell asleep."

"You were sedated." Amira said from her corner.

Meiou nodded, "Yes. When I woke up, I was in a room. Scientists were hovering all around me. They told me that if I cooperated, they would release me. I told them no, because they killed the doctor. But they were persistent. They… tortured me, to make me cooperative. They made me kill humans… criminals… using my ability. They ordered them to… 'take' me, and in my anger and fear, I would knock them away and suffocate them with just my thoughts."

"Damn… that's just messed up." Thanikah said.

She nodded again, "They… said something about an implant, which they installed in me. They said that it would make me stronger. I had gained the ability of 'biotics' and using them both, I was able to… kill faster. My powers became too strong for them. I started killing those who would enter my room. They began to grow afraid of me. They said the experiment is risky since I'm already a grown adult had a will of my own. They started experimenting… on children."

From behind the audience, Grunt and Samara exchanged glances.

"They brought in a young girl… around four years old, and other human children from around the colonies. They said that one of them… they called her Subject Zero, was strong, and that since it was a child, it would be much easier to manipulate them."

Grunt and Samara shook their heads.

"They told me I'll be moving into another facility, and they sedated me. I couldn't remember the trip. But I could hear them talking. They were saying something about a new project, of 'preserving me for future endeavors'. The next thing I knew, I was in that glass case. They were freezing me. I couldn't struggle because of the sedative. I wanted to scream but I couldn't. I felt my lungs fill with water. I felt myself getting colder and colder." She lowered her head, "I… blacked out then. Nightmares and dreams were all I had… until you found me."

It seemed like everybody released a breath, and Samara came forward. "I know of the child that was brought in. We called her 'Jack'." She said, pointing to Grunt, "She was with us during the battle against the Collectors. The place you were brought in was called the Teltin Facility in Pragia. It was… a place to improve biotic abilities. But they did inhumane things to the children there. Jack destroyed the facility during her time with us."

Meiou sighed, "I guess that's good." She shook her head, "I'm still in a slight bit of a shock…"

Tristan nodded, "It's understandable. You've been frozen for years, it's only normal to be in shock. Are you tired? I can have Jarred assist you."

But she shook her head, "I… want to stay."

But Jarred squeezed the hand on her shoulder gently, "You've already told us everything we need to know about that Cerberus base you were in. You should rest."

Liara nodded, "The information that Jarred gathered and your story made a lot of sense. That should be enough information for the Council." She smiled gently at her, "Do not worry. If we have to discuss anything else, we will wake you."

Meiou nodded and the crowd before her dispersed. She stood up gingerly, her legs still slightly weak. Jarred took her hand and brought her arm around him to help her walk. She blushed a beautiful shade of pink, "Thank you, Jarred."

"No problem." Jarred mumbled. He could feel his face getting a little warm, and he was thankful that his mandible covered his cheeks. "Do your legs hurt?"

"No." She answered, "It just feels weak. Perhaps once I have rested, I will start walking around again."

They passed by Thanikah, and although Meiou gave her a smile, she merely scowled and walked away. Meiou's eyes furrowed in confusion. She turned to Jarred, "Does she… hate me?"

He turned to where she was looking and saw the drell's retreating back. "No. She's just like that when she first meets new people." He pressed a button on the elevator and headed back to the crew deck. "And that assassin… it was a clone of the assassin that killed her grandfather years ago."

"I.. I see." Meiou said as Jarred helped her into one of the bunk beds in the crew deck. She lay down on it, and Jarred helped her as he pulled the blanket around her. Her body temperature had turned warm again since she woke up.

She sighed, "Fifty two years… so much time has gone by." She turned to Jarred, "Councilor Samara said she was with 'Jack'… she mentioned something about 'Collectors'. What are they?"

Jarred chuckled, "I think you're way too sleepy for a history lesson, Ms. Seishiro."

But she shook her head, "I am not sleepy. And also, there is so much time that I've lost. I wish to learn everything about what had happened during the time I was frozen." She smiled beautifully at Jarred, "And you can just call me Meiou."

Heat flushed around Jarred's face again, "Uhm… okay… Meiou." He coughed, "Where would you like me to start?"