Chapter 6:

Hnngh. My head hurt, as did the rest of me. I felt wrung out, exhausted. My muscles hurt, my bones hurt, but my head especially hurt. A pounding centred behind my eyes hard to ignore, still I did my best to so I could catalogue everything else. My knuckles ached fiercely, still feeling raw and there was countless cuts and bruises covering my body as best I could tell.

Then I felt the clothe around my mouth, shoved into and around my mouth, effectively muzzling me. It was tied tightly around the back of my head and I started breathing faster at that, memories flashing before my eyes as I tensed up, but I did my best to ignore them. The clothe was dry, it was only in my mouth. I could breathe fine, it wasn't the same … it wasn't the same. Aside from the muzzle I was also sitting chained against a wall, pulled tightly to it with my hands behind my back, restraints taught around them.

What happened? Last thing I remembered was … death, destruction, pain, betrayal. The scientists' ploy against me, the things they put me through. Well, they got what they deserved, I only wish it wasn't over so quickly. They deserved worse. I was held there … for years! My entire life! Yet all they got was a quick death. I don't remember as much as I should of the night, just … flashes, but even so I relished the ones involving the scientist. Every cracked skull, every crushed chest, the macabre remnants of explosive blasts. I don't remember much about who I killed, or how, but I remembered it vividly, and I will treasure those memories. It was fitting that they died such an ignoble death from someone who won't remember them. They never let me have a name, and I will not remember there's.

The deaths of the scientist's provoked a viscous satisfaction deep inside my chest, but it's the other flashes that left me conflicted, the children. I fought them, I fought with them. I had spent so long killing them on the scientists' command, and then suddenly we were working together against the scientists and guards, coordinating together to reign down hell. It was like, for a moment, having comrades, companions. I had wanted to interact positively with them for so long and fighting together was a good enough analogue. It was all going well, then the first one attacked me, and I reacted on instinct after so many fights against them.

Throwing explosions at them, ducking under their own, throwing them into walls using shockwaves, beating them using my fists. Having to watch my surroundings constantly for attack, then the blade came out. The one that taunted me in my dreams, tormented me. It made me panic, and the heightened emotions from the fighting and killing, the recently gained knowledge and the previous attacks? They all left me on a hair trigger, and the blade set me off. No longer did I discriminate between friend or foe, their was only foes and my victory. What I did, it makes me sick, angry, and sad, all at the same time. I will never regret anything more, I became what the scientists tried to make me, a viscous killing machine. I massacred them all, and none of the children deserved it, even the ones who attacked me.

I can't … can't think about that right now. I can't handle it, and I need to see the situation I'm in. I'm bound and muzzled in an unfamiliar location, that doesn't seem safe. Mustering up my resolve and ignoring the headache, I raised my head and looked around me into a dimly lit room. It was grimy and grungy, lacking in any sense of civility and I found I wasn't as alone as I first believed.

I had heard the creaking and groaning of metal around me, but I didn't know what was making it, who was making it. I had to blink a few times, still groggy, but looking around again, I confirmed what I thought I saw. I was surrounded by blue aliens. They looked similar to female humans, so I'm going to assume they are, and were all rather attractive, even in this situation, but that's not important. They were bound up like I was, chained to a wall with their arms behind them and cloth stuffed tightly into their mouths. A few were watching me, but most were sitting with their heads slumped, leaning against the wall. Some were crying, some shaking, and some just sat there staring at nothing.

They were sitting in a row across from me, so based on an assumption I looked to my left and right. To my right was another dirty, bare wall, but to my left was more of the strange blue woman with the oddly hair-like protrusion on their heads. At best guess? There was around 2 dozen of us here, all chained up. I also noticed something else. They all had a strange collar around their neck's as well, it looked advanced and I couldn't tell what, if anything it did. I just know I was the only one here without one.

I would try to talk to one of them, assuming we could understand each other, to gain information but that's a moot point now. Can I do anything presently? My muscles all ached, I felt weak and even the thought of attempting to use my biotics made my headache flare up. I could ignore it, but the amount of effort I was exerting just to think made me decide against trying anything more. I tugged at my restraints a few times, and attempted to spit out the cloth in my mouth, but they were all tight. My jaw ached from being held open, and the chains around my wrists tugged and pinched at my flesh. They were too tight to do anything about right now. All that left for me to do was look around the room and see if I could glean any more information. That was largely a failure, the only thing I learned about was that the blue ladies all seemed to wear tight fitting clothing, and some had fascinating white markings on their faces that contrasted nicely against their various shades of blue and purple.

That quickly grew boring, and I still felt exhausted. I was hungry and thirsty, but that doesn't faze me anymore, so I managed to fall asleep after a while, the slight noise around me bothering me more.

I woke up this time to the sound of moans and crying, not really my preferred form of wake-up call. Opening my eyes to see what was going on, I saw that we were no longer alone. There was some different aliens here this time, but these ones weren't shackled up. They were our captors.

There was only a few of them, each what I assume is a different race. They were all bipedal, but they differed greatly aside from that. One of them was vaguely birdlike with sharp edges and a seemingly permanent scowl. Anther looked rather like a frog and the other two had 4 eyes. All of them were touching the blue women in some manner, some just holding their faces, but others had removed some of the women's clothing. I wonder what they're doing. The don't seem to like it, but I don't know why. Is it a part of alien culture in some way? Who knows, but I do know I'd hate them doing it to me. I don't want anyone to touch me.

Unfortunately, I wasn't so lucky. One of the 4 eyed aliens finally spotted my alert form, I probably shouldn't have been staring at them, and came over to me.

"I see the human is awake. How nice" He sneered at me, before reaching down to touch my face and stroke my hair. I jerked my head away from him, but I didn't have much room. I also tried to kick him with my free legs, but I didn't have the leverage and he quickly slapped me across the face, stars appearing in my vision.

"Don't resist!" he commanded, before kneeling on both my legs. I didn't like that, he weighed a decent amount and it hurt my sore muscles, but I didn't have it in me to push him off, my legs were still aching and tired. There was nothing I could do, so I stopped resisting but it didn't stop me from giving my harshest glare and growling at the alien.

"A defiant one, eh?" he chuckled, grasping my chin in one hand. "I like them, they're more fun." He stared into my eyes for a moment before he started stroking my hair. I flinched at the contact but remained still. Something about the gesture makes me want to hurt him even more, but I can be patient. "I've always loved this part of humans. No other species has your hair, and it sure is a nice change from all the Asari around here." He grinned at that. Then in a moment, he reached for my shirt and pulled it up, gazing upon my bare flesh.

"A little young for my tastes, but you'll do." He tsked before grabbing my chest with one of his hands. I didn't like that. He fondled me for a few minutes, looking like he was pondering something. I hated it, it felt strange and unfamiliar. It made me more uncomfortable than I though it would, and for that I'll kill him even more painfully. Still, I chose to remain still, silent. I figure that will achieve the best result, from what I observed around me the ones who just sat there were mostly left alone or were moved on from quick enough.

"'Bah, you're too young to be fun. Too easy too." He sneered at me, disgruntled, before removing his hand and letting my shirt fall back down. He then stood up and moved on, for which I was grateful. My legs didn't appreciate the weight.

Another of the aliens came to observe me, the avian, but all he did was stare at me. He did lift my sleeves, but that was all. He seemed fascinated by my scars of all things, can't imagine why. He did have a lot of them himself, so maybe that gave him an appreciation of them? It was something simple to idle away at, at the very least. It was almost fun to give him more and more pathetic motives.

Before our captors let us be, they distributed these tasteless pouches of what I guess is food, removing our gags momentarily to do so. I thought about attempting to bite the one feeding me, but it was the avian doing so. He looked to have some natural armour on him, including his fingers, so I thought better of it. I was also quite hungry, which contributed to my decision. It wasn't much and some of the blue ladies around me seemed to grimace at the pouch, but it seemed fine to me. It was like a liquid form of my normal food bars, easier to eat too.

We were just fed for the third time, and as far as I can tell it happens once a day or so. Nothing out of the ordinary has happened, much of the same experience as the first day. As always, all I can do is observe my surroundings and think. I could also reminisce, but that leaves me angry and I can't afford that right now. If I get worked up enough I might reveal my biotics and that can't happen. I'm relying on them to free myself when the time is right. I can only assume they have knowledge of biotics, as they seem familiar with humans and I lived near many human biotics while in the facility. Not everyone had them, but enough did that even if it isn't naturally occurring, knowledge about it may have spread. I'm not taking the chance these aliens are both knowledgeable and have access to biotic-restriction cuffs like the facility. That would doom my escape attempt before it even began.

I'm still sore, my muscles still ached, but I haven't really had the chance for them to recover. I've been stuck on this cold metal floor chained to a wall, not really a recipe for recovery. At least my headache's gone, and I don't feel quite so tired. They have been feeding me every day, so I will recover, in time.

Looking around for the umpteenth time, I gaze upon the familiar sight of my fellow captives. Some crying, some moaning, some shuffling, and some staring off into space. It wasn't always like this, some of the blue aliens growing more despondent the longer we were held captive.

I've noticed something about these blue aliens, of which I think are called 'Asari' as the 4-eyed one said, they are weak. Or at least, they have lived easy lives. I saw some cry from the pain of a slap to the face or being touched by our captors. These seem like such … minor things to cry about, I can't imagine doing so myself. I hate to say it, but this isn't that bad. Don't get me wrong, I still intend to kill everyone holding me captive, but I've had worse. I don't believe the Asari have. Maybe that's what life is like outside of the facility, free of pain or suffering. I hope so, my books gave me the impression that what I went through wasn't normal, but many of the characters went through their own trials, each different from the last so I'm not sure how reliable they are as a source of knowledge.

That being said, even if the Asari are weak and have lived pain-free lives, I don't mind that. I wouldn't wish on anyone the life I've lived, not even the scientists. Maybe a little torture for a week or so, but that also leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I don't want to be like them, that would be their victory, that they made me who I am. I refuse to sink to their level, to sink any lower. I have killed many already, so I don't mind continuing to do so, but I have some reservations about even that. I don't want to kill those that don't deserve it, those who are innocent, who have done no wrong. Beings like these Asari. As far as I know, they've done nothing wrong, they seem too soft to do so. I could do it, but I find myself hating the idea. Killing people like the Scientists? I will relish the act, I certainly won't care. But the children? They didn't deserve what I did to them and I will hate myself for doing so for as long as I live.

It's been around 10 days since I was captured, and I'm really starting to hate my captors. They seem to relish tormenting us, tormenting the ones who show weakness. I've largely been left alone, aside from the Alien who enjoys looking at and feeling my scars. I hate him too, these scars are memories of what I've been through, the pain I've suffered, the battles I've fought. At the same time, he is probably the best among our captors. The others are the ones who relish in the suffering of my fellow captives, but the 'Scar' alien doesn't really do much with the others aside from feeding them. I can at least acknowledge that, that he isn't as big a bastard as the others. Still a bastard though.

I've tried to learn more, but that's largely been an exercise in frustration. The Alien's don't talk much about anything relevant. Just what someone or other has done, a fair bit about gambling, and a large amount of grumbling about their work. It leaves me bored and my mind wandering. I try to keep myself alert, listening for any useful titbits but I struggle at times. I don't like where it wanders to, it always raised my temper. I did learn one interesting thing though, we will be landing on 'Omega' in two days, whatever that is. I assume it's another planet, what with me being surrounded by aliens and all.

It's fortunate that it took this long, as I'm still recovering. I imagine I would be almost fully recovered under y normal conditions, but the environment isn't exactly conducive to recovery. All my cuts have long since scabbed over, the bruising had mostly faded. The muscle soreness is largely the same, but in a different way. They didn't feel quite so strained, but I've been stuck here sitting for over a week, aside from the occasional visit to a dirty but futuristic bathroom. That's left me stiff like you wouldn't believe. I'm definitely better off than I was, my nerves no longer twinge at the slightest movement.

The reason I'm glad I've had so long to recover is that even after all this time, my biotics aren't as restored as I would like. I don't know if I strained something in them that day, or even if that was possible, but it's only been over the last day or two that I can feel that sort of 'reservoir' within me starting to refill. It's far from full, and it's also more of an analogy for what I feel, but I have enough in me for one big attack. Something I only remember doing the day I freed myself. While I was on my rampage, I charged up and released an omnidirectional shockwave around me, devastating force shooting off in a sphere. In another few days, I believe I will have enough in me to continue fighting after releasing said shockwave. Although, probably only with my fists, maybe with the barriers around them. I can push less energy into those if desired, unlike so many of my other techniques. It's something I remember doing near the end of the battle when I had long since exhausted myself and my energy was flagging. I did it then, so I have no doubt I can do it again.

There is one issue though, the attack is omnidirectional. I will likely get many of the other Asari in the attack. I hate that I'm still willing to go through with it, but I am. I've grown to feel some sense of kinship with them, for they have experienced some of the suffering I have, and at the very least most of them are innocents. But they are also adults, and I can't imagine what they will experience if I don't go through with my plan will be pleasant. Regardless of my reasoning, I will not just let myself my taken captive again. That is the one thing I refuse to do, no matter what it costs me. There is very little I would be unwilling to do to prevent it.

I hope some of them survive, I really do.

Today's the day. Our captor's visited us far earlier than normal, sometime soon before we sleep being the usual time, and they were far more professional. There was no prolonged groping, they said few words to us and were more professional than I'd even seen them bar 'Scar'.

In short order, a large chain was brought out and we were each attached to it through the chains holding our hands. I could have attempted my escape here, but I didn't know how many of them there was. I believe I'd seen at least 5 different individuals over the course of our trip, and only three of them were currently with us. I needed to wait until I could capture as many of them as I could by surprise. Even with my biotics, I was still less than at my best and unarmed, while they all seemed to carry weapons of various descriptions.

After everyone was attached in one big line, of which I was near the back, we were led out of the ship in a shambling pace. I stumbled around the same as the rest of the captives did, and while I would like to say it was an act, it wasn't. I doubt any of the other here had been through an exertion such as I before we were captured and even then, more than a week of no use would leave even the most hardened of individuals stumbling fools.

The progression through the ship took time, and I took the chance to observe everything I could on the way. The ship had the same look throughout as it did in the room we were held in, dimly lit and grimy. I also looked for as many of the occupants as I could while walking through the ship. Excluding the three leading us there were seven watching the progression. They followed us out after we exited the ship though.

The port we were on was similarly grimy and dark like the ship, I suppose the market for slaves wouldn't exactly be located on a lush paradise. I tensed up as I left the ship, seeing my chance coming. While there were three leading us, most of them decided to walk out after us, and I was located near the back of this line. The line paused after we had all stepped onto land, waiting for the rest of the 'guards' to follow us out. This was it.

I turned my head slightly to the left and watched behind me out of the corner of my eye, attempting to relax my posture. As best as I could tell, they were walking in a group of about 7. Returning my eyes to facing forward, I counted the first two aliens passing me by before I acted. Closing my eyes, I tensed my entire body, activating the nerve within me forcefully. I pulled as hard as I could, as fast as I could. A dense aura swirled around me, the exotic blue catching the eyes of the guards, but they had been lax. Taken by surprise, their eyes widened and they reached for their weapons but all of them had been sheathed, and that was to my benefit.

I poured more and more energy into the aura around me, my teeth grit and my jaw clenched as I condensed it around my entire body. I felt the onset of pins and needles in all my limbs even as I began to shake with the effort, so I knew I had reached my current limit. Condensing a tiny bit more, just to be safe, I pulled the trigger. Screaming, I released an enormous shockwave around me. It exploded from me in biotic fury, reaching the first victim in an instant as all of those around me were shot back at high velocity. My shackled all shattered from the release, even as the bodies of the people around me impacted various objects. Some hit some far-off walls, some hit industrial sized crates and some even hit the ship we just left, which wasn't left unscathed by my attack. It was still so close to me, and the massive explosion pierced through the hull in multiple places, throwing the floating ship out of balance and it crashed down onto the ground beneath it.

It created an orange explosion which, while dwarfed by it, complimented my own blue one nicely. In my effort, I had collapsed to the ground onto my knees, panting for breath. My ears were ringing fiercely from the cacophony of my attack and my vision was swimming. It was a struggle, but I managed to stand up and look around at the carnage I had wrought.

The corpses of aliens surrounded me, of all different colours and shapes. The remains of my fallen captors left me pleased, but the sight of the blue corpses counteracted that. I was saddened by the death I had caused, but that is what I am. For better or worse, the scientists had made me into a weapon, just not one they controlled.

Looking around more carefully, I looked for any movement. Some quickly caught my eye, and I stumbled my way over to where the front of the line had been. There was about half a dozen of the Asari lying on the ground moaning and groaning, at least I assume. My hearing still hadn't come back. Ripping the cloth out of my mouth, I walked over to the two remaining survivors of my captors, currently wallowing on the cold, hard ground in pain. It was one of the four-eyed ones and lucky for me, the broken form of 'Scar.'

First, I dealt with the other one. I reached down to him, my hands being covered with my barriers, and placed my hand around his head. One on the back, and one on his chin. This got his attention, and he looked up to find me grinning down at him, covered in blood, and grinning viscously. He raised his hands up.

"No! Don-" I wrenched my hands in opposite directions, satisfied with the loud crack I received. I released the barriers, having to remain kneeling next the corpse for a moment as I tried to catch my breath before I stood up again. I looked over at the surviving Asari, the ones aware of their surroundings staring at me terrified.

"You're free know. Sorry if I hurt you." I told them, before turning back to 'Scar'. I placed one heavy foot in front of the other until I stood over the injured Alien. He was slumped against a metal crate resting in an indent made by his own body, as he wheezed for breath. He looked up at the sound of my footsteps, finding me standing above him. He didn't day anything, didn't try to beg. He just sighed, before closing his eyes and nodded.

Raising my fist, I covered in its biotic sheath before bringing it down on his face, the impact echoing in the silence around us. His head whipped to the side, the impact extracting a grunt from the man, but nothing else. Well, at least he has the dignity not to beg, it wouldn't stop me anyway.

Sheathing my other hand, I whipped his head back the other way, before grasping his head with one hand using one of the odd mandibles on his face. I proceeded to use it to hold his head steady as I brought my other fist down on his head.

Again and again, I struck him in the same spot. He didn't scream, even as his head started to bleed, even when the mandible I held was ripped off his face, he didn't scream. When I first felt the bone in his head crack, he didn't scream. He only grunted until my hand completely entered the crater that was now his face, his brain splattered all over my hand, the ground, and me.

I was panting for breath by the time I stopped, my arms aching. I collapsed to the ground beside him, not minding the blood and other tissue beneath me as I gazed at the carnage around me. It made me both pleased and horrified at the destruction I could cause. Looking back over to 'Scar', I will be honest, I respect him a little bit. He didn't scream, not even once. He just accepted his fate and took it. The pain must have been excruciating, but he didn't scream. That takes resolve.

Still, I should probably get out of here. I would, but I don't think I can. That biotic explosion took a lot out of me, and then I went and killed two more using my bare hands. My head was swimming once more, my head beginning to pound even as my muscles screamed at me. My chest was also shaking.

It took me a moment to realise what I was doing, but the sound of my haunting chuckles echoed through the air, even as my vision stated going dark, it continued. I don't even know why I'm laughing. I don't feel that happy. I stopped only a moment before I succumbed to my slumber. I wonder where I'll wake up this time.

I sat there, reclined on my couch, and frowned. I had just had a data pad handed to me with the report I requested about the disturbance earlier. A ship destroyed, my port damaged and dozens dead. Both slavers and slaves alike. A few of the former slaves were alive, but badly wounded and unconscious. They were Asari, so I figure if I heal them I can gain something for it, but the issue is the girl, the human.

She was found covered in blood and viscera, unconscious next to the brutalised corpse of a Turian. Considering the blood coating her fists I would say she was at the very least involved and would know more. The marks around her wrists and mouth also indicate she was one of the slaves. No-one nearby at the time was close enough to see what happened, the initial explosion caught everyone's attention, but the camera's nearby were in disrepair to say the least, so she was my best bet at discovering what happened, and who had the balls to fuck with me.

I looked up to the simpering fool who gave me said data pad.

"You have the girl in custody?" he nodded but didn't have the spine to say anything verbally. Pathetic.

"Bring her to me." I ordered, leaning forward, staring at the spineless Salarian. I then took my eyes off him, reclining back onto the couch with my head leaned back. This could certainly get interesting.

I awoke to a kick to the ribs, the impact jarring me awake. My head pounded fiercely once more, I really shouldn't have exerted myself so much so quickly after the last time, but when needs must. I wonder who I'll wake up to this time. Groaning with the effort, I slowly levered myself of the floor, pushing myself up with sore arms as I winced, my eyes still closed. At least this time, I wasn't bound up, and nothing had been taken from me as far as I can tell. An improvement at least. I call also hear pounding music close by, which did my heads no favours.

Mustering up the effort, I opened my eyes to find myself in a room lit with artificial lighting. I was sitting on a hard floor, and directly across from me was a stern Asari staring at me. She was dressed in tight-fitting clothes like all the other one's I had seen, and she had black face-paint on her purples skin, unlike the rest, but that wasn't the biggest change. This one wasn't some weak woman, she was hardened. Blinking my eyes a few more times to make myself more aware, I looked around me. There was two guards a few steps away holding unholstered guns, they were pointing away from me but it was still far from comforting, especially with the laser-like focus their eyes had on me.

I turned back to the Asari that was obviously the leader here, moved into a kneeling position and pushed off one knee to stand myself up with only a slight wobble. Having at least stood up, I returned my eyes to the woman sitting across from me, patiently waiting. If she expects me to speak first, she'll be greatly disappointed. I need to be wary of her, unlike the other Asari, this one looks more willing to get her hands dirty.

We locked eyes for a minute, assessing each other, I held her eyes firmly. The silence dragged on, but neither of us spoke. Finally, the woman raised one of her 'eyebrows' at me.

"So defiant, Child. I wonder why?" she mused, I said nothing keeping my expression neutral. This made her chuckle for a moment before her lips formed a thin line.

"You were involved in a disturbance on my Space station. You will tell me everything that happened, and you will tell me now." She demanded. Alright, so we're on a space station? And apparently she's the leader. That bodes well. Still no use in lying to her, she may just be testing me and there were other survivors. I opened my mouth just as the woman frowned.

"I, alongside a few dozen Asari, were captured by the men on the destroyed ship. I didn't like that, and they underestimated me."

The woman's brow furrowed, as she stared at me for a moment.

"You expect me to believe you caused all that damage? You and what army." She sneered.

"I did."

"How?" she snapped. Because they left me without biotic restraints, because they underestimated me. I didn't say anything to her, reluctant to give away my secret weapon. This didn't sit with the woman well, who raised her hand and I heard the cocking of weapons behind me. I sighed at the dramatic response. Fine, I'll tell you. I haven't been captured yet anyway, although that may change. She would likely be more careful than the slaver's anyway, considering she doesn't believe me to be a defenceless girl like they did.

"I am a biotic, they weren't aware." This time the woman exhaled for a few seconds, a doubtful look on her face, but she lowered her hand.

"And you are capable of all the damage found around the battle site?" she queried, resistant to the idea.

"I got lucky." Lucky that most of them grouped up around me, but she doesn't need to know that. Maybe I set of an 'explosive', that seems to be more believable to her than me being capable of what I am. My being biotic didn't surprise her much so I'm assuming she knows of others like me, but they are likely like the other occupants of the facility. No-one else is like me.

The woman crossed one leg over the other, placing her head on the fist of the arm leaning on the back of her couch.

"What about the corpse we found you next to? The Turian with the caved in skull." She questioned me. I guess 'Scar' was a member of the Turian's then, good to know. The barriers around my fists are far more believable then the explosive, so I didn't see any need to hide it. If it seems like I'm compliant then maybe she will be less thorough in her questioning.

Raising one of my fists, I pulled the trigger inside of me, covering my fist in a thin layer of biotic energy. Doing so was a little challenging, my head ached with the effort, but I kept the pain off my face. I heard some shuffling from the guards behind me, but the woman in front of me looked at ease. She looked at my hand for a moment before dismissing it.

"An unusual version of Barrier then. I imagine you beat him to death with your hands?" she chuckled at the thought as I lowered my hand, releasing the barrier. What does she mean unusual? Am I doing it wrong? I know the other kids did it differently to me, but was their technique better? I could believe that, considering the overall lack of teaching I received.

"I will rule the damage as the Slaver's fault, they had enough credits in their accounts to cover it but none of them are alive, you saw to that. Just who are you, anyway?" the woman looked away, beginning to become disinterested.

"Subject Zero" I answered, and she looked back at me, intrigued.

"That is not a name, girl." She scoffed.

"It is the only one I have." I responded. The woman gazed at me for a moment, in thought.

"You have a designation, but no name. You are heavily scarred for such a young age and don't seem to even acknowledge how precarious of a position you're in and you don't seem to even care about brutally murdering a man with your fists. That's not normal. I doubt you have anything to go back too." She mused. I resisted tensing up at her statement, trying to keep myself calm, but she was staring at me, clearly waiting for a response.

"No."

"Ah, I see." She said, an odd gleam in her eye. "You were captured before, weren't you. This wasn't your first time. Tell me, were you a gladiator? Who held you, Batarians, Salarians, Krogans? And how did you escape." She seemed too interested in me for my liking. She opened her mouth once more, perhaps for more speculation but I had grown tired of it.

"Humans. I was a subject they experimented on to increase my biotic strength. I was one of many, too many for the scientists. They had us fight to change that." I listed off in monotone.

Finally, the Asari sat up and leaned forward. Her eyes hard and her focus intense.

"Who were they? And what happened to them?" I couldn't stop the grin forming on my face here.

"I killed them all, every one of them. I razed the facility to the ground, killing every guard and every scientist. Then, exhausted, I left the facility and collapsed from exhaustion. Then I woke up chained up on the ship, I killed all of them too. Now I'm here." I don't know who they were, but I think I can find out. I still have the collapsed data pad in my shoes, it had been digging into my foot all this time.

The Asari paused for a moment, blinking at me before she schooled her face. She stared at me for a minute, thinking about something but I don't know what. Leaning back onto her couch again, she looked me over before returning her eyes to face mine.

"I don't suppose you have anywhere to go then?" she asked, but I didn't answer her, she didn't seem to mind. "I could use someone like you working under me. You would receive food, water, a place to sleep. In return, you would do my bidding, whatever I want you to. Hurt whoever I want you to. Are you agreeable to such an offer?" The Asari smirked at me. What? That's quite different from what I was expecting if I'm being honest. Am I willing? I don't really have anything better to do, anywhere to stay and I seem to be stuck on this space station considering I blew up the ship I came on, and the ones who knew how to fly it. I know so little about life outside the facility, and it would be risky to strike off on my own.

"I have three conditions." I told her.

"Oh? And what are those?" she looked both smug and amused.

"One, I don't like being called subject zero, I don't care what you call me, just not that." The woman nodded sedately, accepting that easily.

"Two. I don't like hurting innocents, those who have done no wrong. Will that be a problem?" Instead of answering, the woman laughed at me, continuing for a minute.

"We are on Omega, the capital of the Terminus systems, a place full of criminals, sinners and malcontents. There are no innocents here."

Aside from the women I came here with, but for all I know that might be a rarity.

"And the third?" she asked me.

"What's your name?" the woman looked surprised at that one, as if she thought I already knew. She stood up off the couch, walking closer to me. She stopped half a step away, her face close to mine.

"I am Aria T'loak, the Queen of Omega." She purred, stepping closer to me. "Welcome to Omega, Fury."