Disclaimer: I do not own Mass Effect, and I make no money with this story.
A/N: People of the Fanfiction Wasteland, you can seeeee me! YEAH BOY! You can't break this computer. I've fought off the attempts of the internet, and Of Soul and Steel has hit 1000 views. I'm celebrating with another chapter. Thank you all, and as always, let me know what you think about the story.
This next chapter's gonna speed up the timeline a bit. I'd initially wanted to write out in detail the sick things that would transpire in a place like this, but now I'm leaning towards it being told in more of a "This is what happened to me" to the major characters. The Shepard(M) tag isn't just there for shits and giggles. Their will be some Point Of View changes as the chapter develops, and we see a shift in character development. Let us commence with the tale. Edit: Read the logs in the voice of Liam Neeson, whom I also do not own.
Titan Research Facility, Uncharted Area, Attican Traverse.
Dr. Decker
Log 476, Dated February 28th, 2177: "Our latest subject has been here for a mere month, and he has shown signs of extreme adaptability. The implants synchronized with his system with success. His body has shown an unusual lack of trouble integrating them; they've almost fused with him. I've forwarded the go ahead for the other implants.
He's shown an adaptability to the different exercises as well, almost as though he knows what he's going to go through before he does it. Impossible, but it's just an observation. He has been a remarkable influence on the other subjects, becoming friends with each while the others simply accept each others presence. I will have to watch this closely, as friendship leads to unity, which leads to rebellion." End log.
(POV Cory)
I lie facedown on the bed in the Medical Office, Sasha examining the damage to my back.
"Well," She starts, "You have some lovely bruises, but you're gonna be okay. What happened?" She then asks, the concern breaking through her mask of indifference.
"They had me sparring with Ghost. He's a helluva biotic." I answer, wincing.
"I'm sorry Cory." She says, now more comfortable with my first name. "The things they make you guys do..."
"You know what the messed up part was?" I say. "They weren't even recording us this time. They were just.. Watching. Cheering as we tore each other apart for their amusement." I shiver a little as she applies Medi-gel to my aching back. "Please, Sasha.." I start.
"No, Cory. They'll make me disappear if I do what you asked." She says.
"Sasha, you have to help us, please. We're gonna be killed if this keeps up, You know that. I only need a few things." My eyes plead desperately with her, trying to show the pain in them.
"... Fine.." She answers, relenting.
"Thank you, Sasha. Thank you." I say as I get myself off of the table, limping. You have no idea how much you'll be able to help."
After I'm escorted back to the barracks, my posture straightens and the look of extreme pain slides off my face. Alpha approaches me, hopeful.
"It work?" She asks, not wanting to be disappointed. I simply nod, and she wraps her arms around me, nearly crushing me with her biotics as she gets too happy for her own good.
"Hey, I need that spine." I joke playfully, and she steps away, embarrassed.
"Sorry." I can see the blush on her face.
"It's fine, Alpha." I smile reassuringly. "Let the others know when they come back, even the new guy."
"You sure?" She asks. "He seems.. Shifty, to me. Rude, and not at all willing to be helpful."
"I'll get him to come around." I assure her. "He's just been through hell, sure as I have."
"Maybe..."
"For now, lets just relax. I'm gonna try to sleep to avoid the pain."
"Really think that'll work?"
"Nah, but I dare to dream."
Decker Log 480, dated March 15th, 2177. Our new subject, Sigma, or 'Shadow', has integrated well into the group as a whole. He remains by far our best-turned candidate, and will weed out any plans for attack. Subject Echo has been surprisingly resistant to the food-based and medical-based control drugs, but we are working on a slow takeover with luck. Delta has been resistant as well, but his size and existing implants already explain this. We will most likely have to dispose of him in the coming months.
As for Alpha, the slow takeover is mostly complete. However, Echo remains an influence on her, and they often seek each others company to talk about their days. We will have to take action. With luck, we will break Echo's will as well.
But for now, we simply monitor for change." End Log
Update Log 480.1, dated April 7th, 2177. "This is an update on the monitoring done by Sigma. We searched for the items that were supposed to be there, but found nothing. The other four are now suspicious, and have seemingly stopped talking about their plans. Still have not traced where the supplies are coming from. We will have to take action. It is time for Alpha anyways. End Log
(POV Cory)
"Ow."
"You should've jumped, Echo."
"Piss off, Delta."
We return to our barracks after our ungodly long training, only to find Alpha still gone. She'd left last night.
"No." 'There is no way.'
"Echo.." Delta tries to lay a hand on my shoulder but I immediately shrug him off. "Hey man, we knew that something was-"
"NO WE DIDN'T!" I explode, emotions starting to get the better of me. "She was fine yesterday, Delta! She would've said something if something was wrong."
"She did." I whip around, and Ghost is standing there, eyes down. "She told me that she felt off, and she's been here longer than any of us. I'm sorry, Echo." And it shows on his face the real sadness and pain that the man never shows.
"Dammit... GODDAMMIT..." I'm in a haze again, unable to accept what I already know. "Why didn't she tell me?.."
"Would you have said something if it was you?" Ghost asks, and I don't answer. I only look to Shadow, staring at what was Alpha's but with sadness.. and something else.
"It's time." I say suddenly, and the three look at me, surprised. I only nod my head in confirmation.'We will go after the final piece of the plan. It will take a while, but we need to move before more of us.. Vanish. Time to talk to Sasha.'
Decker Log 492. June 13th, 2177. "As the remaining subjects go through further training, they grow more resistant to our containment techniques. We've amplified the available power in the restraint bands, but I'm not sure how effective it will be.
Decker Log 498. August 21st, 2177. "We have them. Sigma tipped us off as to the escape day being today, though the exact remains unknown. We have more than tripled the guard count. But I wonder if it will be enough. I wonder if we should just kill them now. We've pulled more information than we've dreamed, but it's ran its course on them. Only Sigma is loyal, and the others are far too dangerous now if they got out of confinement. I will await your instructions, as always. But please consider what I've said."
(POV Cory)
It is time. Delta, Ghost, and Shadow are all in the barracks, and Sasha says she has the gear here in the medical office, but what she is saying now makes me think that she has spoken.
"They've increased the security measures, Cory. You can't do this."
"How did they know?" I demand, waiting.
"I don't know," She responds. "Look, the items are in here but I can't allow you to-" She stops as she sees me approaching her. "What are you doing?" she asks, face fearful.
"We have to get out, Sasha." I say. "And I can't let you stop us." She realizes what I mean, and frantically turns on my wristband. I feel the scorching pain, but it doesn't paralyze me as it has before. Panicking, she tries to run for the door, but I reach out and wrap my arm around her throat.
"I'm sorry." Is the last thing she hears before her neck snaps in one fluid jerk.
I move quickly now, using her Omni-tool to turn off my wristband, and open the locked closet. Inside is the chlorine bombs, the gas masks, and other essential items. 'Time for payback'. After putting the Omni-tool and mask on, and cutting the wristband off, which causes an alarm to start to blare, I dash.
I arm the bombs, placing one at the wristband and syncing it and the remaining one to Sasha's Omni-tool. I run to the subject barracks, and I hear guards converging on my band, and coming this way. I open the door, and the guys are quick to take their masks and put them on. Dropping another bomb here, I cut the wristbands before they can be activated, and I'm the last back out the door as the guards start to arrive. With only a moment's hesitation, I activate the bombs.
While the concussion force was was small, the gas rapidly spreads. At over 800 ppm, it was causing the guards to collapse after a few breaths. We sprint through the gas, but we're forced to split up as helmeted guards start to approach behind us. We created many secondary ideas and routes to the shuttles, and we're putting them to use. I run with Delta to the right as Ghost and Shadow head left.
The gas is starting to be pumped out as we run, and the two guards armed with Katanas that turn the corner we were about to go around. I'm on the first in a flash, shoving the man into a wall and using his own shotgun to scramble his skull inside his helmet. Delta takes a more hands on approach to the second man, grabbing the man's helmet and twisting it to the side with a resounding crack before picking up his own shotgun.
Like that, we were armed.
We sprint towards the small shuttle bay, where many masked scientists are scrambling to get out of the facility. We largely ignore them, and manage to get on a space-worthy shuttle. While Delta fires it up, I activate comms on all frequencies, knowing at this point Shadow or Ghost would've picked up a radio.
"Sigma, Gamma, come in! Guys, we need to go now! where are you?" After a few moments, I get a response.
"Epsilon, this is Sigma. We were cornered at the control room. Ghost.. He's gone. they're coming here to activate lockdown protocols... I'm going to stop them."
"Sigma! Come on, you can get out of here man!" I'm screaming now into the comm. device as I hear gunfire pinging off of the shuttle.
"No, I can't. Go, guys. Live on. I'm activating the destruct sequence on this place. It'll purge the whole facility in fire. A fitting end."
"I.. I'm sorry Sigma."
"Cory.. Call me Kai."
I swallow hard before responding. "Goodbye, Kai." I turn to Delta, who sits in the pilot's seat, head bowed. "Let's go."
(POV Kai)
"Goodbye, Kai."
I turn to the body of Ghost. He never expected the shot in the back, it would seem. I turn to the purge console. While I could kill them all now, something stops me. I've grown to almost respect Cory, and it holds me back. Instead, I activate the purge controls, protected by the only safe room in the facility. 'A fitting end for the sick bastards here. We will meet again, Echo.'
(POV Jack)
"And the facility?"
"Intact, but the computer files were wiped. Most of the personnel were killed as well, unable to complete launch procedures."
"Many files were sent here well beforehand. While the outcome was regrettable, Project Titan has given us a lot of important data towards making our soldiers more capable."
"Sir, we also recorded that the files pertaining to the last four subjects were copied onto an Omni-tool. Should we send a recovery team after the escaped subjects?"
"No."
"Sir?"
"They won't go to any government to be put back in a facility. We can reach them if they do. They will go to ground, and it's not worth it to go hunting them as of now. Monitor if they try to track down anyone tied to Titan or us, but leave them be."
"Yes sir."
"And Miranda?"
"Yes?"
"Mr. Leng has proven himself once again. See to it that he contacts me directly."
A/N: Shit gets real. Next one will be up soon, never fear.