DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN MASS EFFECT THEY BELONG TO BIOWARE AND EA GAMES.
A/n: Now before any of you decide to kill me with adding the horror element hear me out. First off it was intentional for starters on how cruel Alexandria Wilcox actually is. Now this was one of the reasons why I have made the rating as it was so that I would be able to do this sort of thing. Second of all my beta and I had been discussing possible elements that would get Martha to evolve more into her new role and we will get to it more along the lines of the story. I will not disclose anymore then it is. Just be patient with me there will be more horror before we get to the action bits with Martha's powers. After all she had just discovered them and now this. She is a hybrid of sorts and it will show more as the story progresses.
On the side note with the story I would like to say HOLY SHIT!
I had never thought in my life that this story would exceed twenty chapters. It is now past twenty five chapters. In fact I am on chapter 28 right now! You are reading chapter 28 which is a HUGE achievement for me when it comes to rewriting this story. It is thanks to the many people who helped keep this going including my beta.
But anyways despite the trials I have to endure to write this story and keeping it going I thank you all with all of my soul.
Anyways on with the chapter
MASS EFFECT THE IMMORTAL SERIES PART 1: FLIGHT OF THE NORMANDY
Chapter 28: Alone we Stand, Alone we Fall
TWO WEEKS AGO, TOKYO
Emiko watched as the last transmission of Dr. Alenkov's omni-tool was played before her. The sight of the woman's arm being cut off was just beyond cruel. When she had her agents look into Alexandria Wilcox, they found some horrific things on her.
For starters, they saw how cruel she was to not only her victims, but to innocent people as well. Those who are non-combatants should not have been treated with such means to, 'improve humanity.' To Emiko that was just beyond cruel. Such cruelty had no place here on Planet Earth.
And yet, she saw it every day of her existence for the past several centuries. Regardless of species.
Closing her eyes, she allowed her mind to find its center again where she could focus on the present and not dwell in the past. When she opened her eyes again, she was greeted with the image of EDI still on the table in front of her.
"She never ceases to amaze me in her cruelty," Emiko said to the Artificial Intelligence.
"When I made a passing scan, the omni-tool was not actively reading her vital signs. This can only mean that she unwillingly had it taken from her. As long as she does not give permission to the person wearing it, they have no access to Normandy's systems. However, it will only end with her death. Once the sensors on the device detect the death of the owner without being passed on to someone with authorization, it will automatically lock down its files and systems unless I myself give the reactivation code. By then, the computers inside the omni-tool become useless to anyone without authorization only someone from the Normandy crew can grant." EDI replied making Emiko take a deep breath.
"Someone from the Normandy crew? Kuso! this will be difficult if we managed to get that device back. But what about Martha-san? Isn't she one of the Normandy crew? Why can't Alexandria retrieve her omni-tool?" Emiko asked EDI.
"Martha's omni-tool is linked to and partially consists of the nanites in her system. They moved it to a different part of her body when her arm was removed and brought it back when the arm reformed. However, I sensed a decline in power supply from the nanites at this time. This was likely due to the massive amounts of energy used to restore Martha's body parts. Though her alien DNA allows her some healing powers, the majority of it belongs to the nanites in her system. However, they require raw materials to repair such extensive damages to her body at such great speed." EDI replied.
"So in other words, she needs a lot of food to replenish the power supply and to rebuild the reservoir of raw materials so that they can extract naturally from the environment around them," Emiko replied.
"Affirmative," EDI replied before her.
"I see, so if what we are seeing through the omni-tool is correct, then Martha-san is basically starving to death. What happens when she reaches the critical point?" she asked EDI.
"Unknown, but in regards to the human species, Martha just might reach a point where her mental state shuts down and she, 'goes feral' on everyone there. Given her hybrid nature, we do not know how hard Alexandria is going to push her to reach that point. But we already know that she is seriously traumatized and will need extensive treatments, both physically and mentally, after rescue." EDI replied as she looked at the images again.
"We still can't triangulate where that building is, my people and I am sure your processors are getting error messages," Emiko said to EDI. The blue orb in front of her could only blink a few different colors of blue, white and red.
"It is frustrating to even try to triangulate where the images and the transmissions are coming from. From what I can understand, Martha's biotics are being blocked by a collar of some sort. A brief image is seen here," the image showed a reflection of Martha's body with the collar present. The rest of her was covered in black blood or vomit from many states of Martha's torture. Emiko gasped at the sight of that collar.
"A biotic blocker!" she hissed.
"What is a biotic blocker? Could you clarify it with me?" EDI asked.
"It is a collar that was created by the combined efforts of both the Asari and the Prothean more than five hundred years ago. It had become a common problem back in those days of Asari and Protheans using their powers to subdue humans and other non-biotic races. This led to a conflict with other races until the alliance was created back in the year 1512, when the council was first formed. There was a problem with biotic species such as the Asari and the Prothean battling it out especially on the high seas. Criminals who disagreed with the alliance tried to kill anyone unwilling to agree to their terms. You know how that went," she said to EDI
"So the collars were created as a way to control those criminals?"
"Yes, it blocks the nerve receptors for biotic energy forcing it out of the system. However the oldest models actually didn't do that. It prevented the energy from releasing forcing the modules within their bodies to explode because there is no exit point for all that excess energy. So, over the centuries, the collar had been modified to protect not only the user, but also those around the user. If Alexandria has such technology, then that means she has access to other technology from our facilities. We have to figure out how many moles are in our organization and how we deal with them. If they were my Krogan, I would kill them on the spot for their betrayal. But the others have other ways of dealing with them. I don't know how the Sirena deal with them, but I know the Asari are pretty brutal in dealing with traitors," Emiko replied as she took a deep breath.
"Then we do not have much time before Martha reaches that breaking point, if any. The other question remaining is the location of the base. It is exceedingly difficult, nearly impossible, for me to get a triangulation on their whereabouts, even with my superior tracking technology. They must have a way to block my signals from getting through," EDI sounded distressed when she said this and Emiko stared hard at the holographic form.
"It would seem to me that they either possess some of the old tech from before, or they have been developing this technology for some time," Emiko said to her, her deep voice even more so in her concern over what was going on with the world today.
"So other than trying to find out the location of Dr. Alenkov and Martha, do you have anyone in China who can be of use?" EDI said to her.
"I have every available agent with their ears to the ground trying to find the party that is responsible." Emiko replied.
"I just pray to whatever deity is out there that we find them," EDI quoted a line from a television series.
"I hope so too EDI-san, I hope so too,"
MEANWHILE SOMEWHERE IN CHINA
Dr. Wei Kexing is busy typing away on his computer. The analysis of the latest blood samples showed that the individual he was studying is quite unique. As he looked down the microscope he saw for himself how different the blood sample was to that of an ordinary human. Then, suddenly, the doors to his lab opened up and in walked his husband Zhou Wangji and their third partner the younger Wen Cheng. All three of them were head researchers for this unknown facility. All three came here from different areas around China to conduct research with several foreign research firms to study different ways to help humanity through genetic research and biotechnology.
Here Wei Kexing who was from the University of Beijing was tasked with researching alien biology. His joint P.H.D. in Astrobiology, Xenobiology and Astrophysics made him the perfect candidate for this project. His partner, Dr. Zhou Wangji who was also his husband, studied Astrogenetics and Astrotechnology at the university. Dr. Wen Cheng was an expert on Microbiology and Genetics at the University of Wuhan's lab of Virology so that made him also the perfect candidate to study what Wei Kexing had discovered.
"Ah, you are just in time. I want to show you something that they brought up here earlier," Wei Kexing said as he showed on-screen a sample of tissue they had gotten from a live subject. Both Zhou Wangji and Wen Cheng ran up to the microscope.
"What did you find? Another strange sample from our benefactor?" asked Wen Cheng. He was curious as to why they were suddenly getting strange samples from a facility of unknown origins. When they were brought here the woman, a foreigner had told each of them that they were brought here to research the find of the century. And what they found was shocking.
The samples they had gotten showed that they had come from an origin that was only known to the head of this facility. Or at least outside of the labs. Anyone inside the labs had no idea what they were researching, never mind how they got the samples. All they were told was that it was of extraterrestrial origins and to send their reports to her. They could not question it since the woman claimed that she has government clearance and even showed papers with the governmental stamp on it. Meaning that it was approved by the Communist Party.
"This one is strange," Wei Kexing said to them. He showed the image he recorded.
"The sample had to be put into vacuum to avoid contamination and destruction. It seems like the sample is volatile and if in contact with oxygen would destruct instantly. The container where it came from was put under immediate cryo-freeze to prevent it from disintegrating." Wei Kexing replied as he showed them the microscopic samples.
"Those things look like bugs," said Zhou Wangji as he looked closer at the sample on the screen.
"From what I gathered from this sample, it would self destruct if exposed to our atmosphere. But here we see it inside this tissue sample, which I am not privy as to its origins. But the designs is similar to the ones we saw on those bodies given to us from the alien space craft at the bottom of the ocean," Wei Kexing replied.
"Um, Kexing my friend, the alien ship has risen from the ocean," said Wen Cheng, trying to hide his amusement from his friend.
"It did?" Wei Kexing replied and Zhou Wangji rolled his eyes at him.
"Of course it did, stupid! Were you under a rock! The ship rose out of the ocean weeks ago. It is now landed in Australia and its crew members are out and about in the countries where they originated," Zhou Wangji told him.
At this announcement Wen Cheng burst out laughing as he held his gut by the sight of the two husbands looking rather sheepish. He wasn't surprised, given that they both had gotten married in Hong Kong right before the city state was merged back with mainland China.
"I was busy, dearest! You know how I am in the labs! The samples that were given were phenomenal, but nothing like this one!" he said showing the image again of the little robots.
"So what makes this one more, 'unique' than the rest?' asked Wen Cheng as he sat down and eyed the two husbands.
"This one, as I stated before, is more volatile and it contains these little bugs. I will have to do more research into it and how they got there. Though there is something odd about this sample, it… it is almost human." said Wei Kexing.
"Almost human? Are you sure? Want me to check for you babe?" asked Zhou Wangji.
"If you would be so kind, but remember that it must not be exposed to oxygen or else it would self destruct," said Wei Kexing. And the other man could only nod before getting to work.
MEANWHILE
Wen Cheng walked out of the labs after his morning amusement. Since his lab was located just down the hall from the main labs he set to work on his latest sample. In front of him, he saw a floating example of the DNA-strand that was taken from all the samples of the various, 'extraterrestrials' that were given to them by their benefactor. In fact, when he compared the DNA to other samples that they had acquired, all of them seemed to differ to one degree or another. Some resembled reptiles, while others mammals or fish. Still, all of them were different. But the sample he had gotten from their latest batch showed that it was almost human in a sense. Or at least the strands were nearly human, with a few recent changes as he noted in the sample that he had in front of him.
The floating strand on the screen showed the differences in the genetic makeup between a human being and the alien in front of him. He was still trying to decipher the sequence in which the different, 'non-human' strands came from. It made his research into alien genetics vital to his studies. He had not realized how much time went by as he worked. The hours seemed to tick by while trying to sequence the DNA-strand in front of him.
Suddenly, a song started to play from within the lab and Wen Cheng reached into his pants pocket and pulled out his cell phone.
Looking at the caller ID, he found that it was his wife, Wen Yizuan. Laughing he answered, "Yes, my beautiful wife," he said to her on the phone.
"You are such a flatterer, so when are you coming home?" his wife said on the other side. Wen Cheng looked at the clock and realized how late it was.
"In about an hour, I should be off. We had just gotten the latest samples for our research and I wanted to finish analyzing it before I come home," he said to her and there was a chuckle at the other end, "Don't forget to come home. I am sure our daughters can't wait to see their daddy again," his wife said and he laughed before he told her he loved them both and hung up, keeping the conversation short. Wen Cheng was a married man with a wife who was pregnant with their first children. From what the doctors told him, it was twins and he was excited. As soon as he hung up, he nearly screamed when he saw another figure at the door.
The head of the Genetics department, Laura Stark, stood at the doorway with her arms crossed and the ghost of a smile on her face. Wen Cheng knew that she was currently laughing at him.
"How is Yizuan doing?" asked Laura as she walked in.
"She is doing well, given that the babies are due soon," said Wen Cheng.
"That is good, put in your time off request already?" said Laura as she leaned in. Her light brown hair seemed to defy gravity in its up-do.
"Yeah, we are both ready. A-Yi has already gotten the room ready for the twins and I have been spending more time at home. After all, twins are rare, even among Chinese," replied Wen Cheng. His voice was raised in excitement in his impatience for his children to be born. Because the one child policy was in place his wife miraculously had gotten pregnant with twins. He hoped to have a girl, but when he found out they were having twin girls, his excitement grew. They had tried for years until their new benefactor had supplied them with very strong fertility pills to help her get pregnant. Now, Wen Cheng was excited to become a father.
"Alright you, I think you've had enough for today. Why don't you call it quits early and turn in. After all, you need your rest Cheng," she said to him.
Turning towards the sample Wen Cheng looked it one more time before sighing. "I guess you're right, I will call it a day for now. You know where to find me when you get a breakthrough," he said as he took off towards the doorway that would lead the way out. Laura watched him go and smiled to herself.
MEANWHILE
Martha sat there alone in her cell, as she would call it. They let her see Dr. Alenkov again a few hours ago... or was it days? The time drags when you are trapped in a cell with no windows or vents and the air is hardly breathable. It was so hot that she thanked God every day for being in nothing but a hospital gown to stave off the heat.
But that hadn't staved off the glances of some of the guards. In fact, Martha was well aware that they always looked at her through the window. Somehow, she started seeing their body heat.
Or maybe she was starting to lose it like she thought she would.
The days were non-existent and the nights even more so. They kept the lights on, so she had no idea of the sense of time. Sleeping was also a losing attempt, as she tried to rest, but the men were constantly making noise. Constantly monitoring her and constantly touching her, probing her and in some cases, abusing her sexually or physically, which made her want to take her own life. In fact, she did try a few times to take her own life, but there was no place to hang herself or at first, nothing to cut her wrists.
At one point, she chewed her own wrists, only to have it heal again instantly. Cursing her bad luck, she waited for one of the moments to stab herself and only found out that she healed from that too.
She even shot herself in the head during one attempt, after stealing a gun from a security guard. But that again ended in failure.
Another was a gutting open her belly. She tried that when she was taken out of this room. She had stolen one of the scalpels from a doctor and tried to kill herself then. But it also ended in failure. Shaking with grief and from the impending madness that was slowly consuming her – though she more than likely already was mad – Martha was visibly shaking when she looked up from her corner.
The two way mirror stared back at her as she glared at it. She was weak and starving with the need to go home or kill herself depending on the day. She wanted nothing to do with this place and wanted more than anything to go home. But as she looked at her arm with the healing finger she could not help but wonder what she had become.
No human alive could have survived such trauma and live. Shaking with terror, realization started to slowly dawn on her as she rocked back and forth in her now new cell.
The padded walls and lack of furniture turned the room into something from a mental hospital. All she could see was the two way mirror. She could barely hear the people on the other side. Despite the room being isolated, she could somehow still hear them, muttering away at their notes and telling others of the happenings with Martha herself. Only rarely could she hear them talk about the outside world beyond these four walls. Most of it was garbage with her hearing she could only hear mutterings in Mandarin or whatever language they are speaking. But mostly it was Mandarin, meaning that she was somewhere in China.
She looked at her body and noticed for the first time how skinny her arms were compared to how they were before. She looked down at herself and saw that all the fat she had was gone replaced by nothing but bones. Bruises where she beat herself were no longer an issue or were just weeks ago. Now they were very prominent and very dark still. The cut finger that she had done to herself recently did not heal as it should, meaning that whatever it was that was helping her heal was running out of fuel. Either that or she has used up all her energy in healing that she can finally wound herself enough to finally die. The need to kill herself was so great that she had forgotten what it was like to be whole and healthy.
In fact, she'd nearly forgotten about Dr. Alenkov. She often wondered about what happened to the woman after that last session with them both in the same area, with Dr. Alenkov just beyond the window. Martha could see her when they turned the mirror into an actual window. The woman had looked worse then when she first saw her. The arm now bandaged and in a sling was nothing more then a stump. It burned Martha to see such torture to one of her good friends.
She also saw the faded look on the doctor's face. The protruding bone structure and the gangling hair. No longer was it healthy and full like it normally was. Instead, the blonde hair of the once proud Russian was nothing more than patches of rat bites everywhere. And there were multiple bruises all over her body with signs of broken ribs and bones. Martha could only imagine the torture the woman was going through and at that moment, she wanted nothing more than to help her. At least that distracted her from wanting to die.
As if that were a trigger, Martha had to start somewhere. But then she deflated as she leaned back against the wall. How would she get out to save Dr. Alenkov? How would she find what she was looking for? In fact, she didn't even know where the doctor was being kept?
All these questions went through her head as she tried to get some sleep, hoping against hope that the torture would end.
MEANWHILE
"How is my favorite subject doing?" said Alexandria Wilcox as she walked in on the group of scientists observing her.
"Subject is no longer healing at the rapid rate that she should. Resistance to any form of nutrition is beginning to show on her body. The latest cut on her finger and the bruising from the latest beating session has lasted more then a few hours before it healed. This time, it has stopped. I believe that whatever healing factors that were given to her by the alien ship have been wearing down through our constant experiments." said one scientist.
"Hmm, you would think that such a thing would be worthwhile to research. However, given her nature, I want you to record all you can about her healing abilities. What about her biotic powers, are they blocked well?" she asked them and it was the third man among them who finally answered.
"For the moment, they are and thankfully, our friends have finally found something that can be of use to us in controlling biotics. But the subject here is unfortunately starting to show signs of increased stress and with that, her biotic charge has been dropping rapidly. Such abuses that we inflicted on the subject is showing signs of mental and physical breaks. Add to the fact that the subject's sustenance levels are practically non-existent except through the IV during surgical procedures." The man was blunt and to the point. He saw how Alexandria paid rapt attention to the details that were listed to her. She quickly turned towards the man aware of their nervous nature.
"Keep me informed on how the subject fares and get something into her body. We can't have her dying of starvation when there is so much she can offer to us," said Alexandria as she walked out, leaving the three scientists alone to continue with examining Martha.
"Subject number 356 has shown signs of malnutrition and hallucinations. Random talking has started to show, indicating subject's mental stress has started to increase due to lack of proper rest and lack of enrichment. Subject also shows signs of emaciation as in lack of any sort of sustenance. Rib cage is showing and lack of body fat shows signs of a very high metabolic rate. Will consider a feeding schedule to ensure that the subject matter is taken care of as far as enrichment and sustenance." the first scientist said as he put it down onto his tablet. The others started speaking as well. The second scientist, a woman, began speaking as well.
"Subject number 356 shows signs of alien influence in healing abilities. Subject also is showing signs of mutations in other parts of the body. Senses have increased, vision, smell, sound, touch, and can pick up particles with tongue and transfer them to smell. On the subconscious level, subject is also known to show signs of changes within the eye, skin and hair pigmentation. Indications of stress are showing in the subject's behavior patterns and overall biological functions. Normal functions such as hunger or excrement have become lacking. Subject's reproduction instincts have also become lacking due to increases in stress-induced trauma. Subject also shows signs of random transformations within the skin and bodily functions induced by times of stress. This indicates that the subject is prone to either biotic impulses or physical changes due to stress-induced trauma." The second scientist was reading off the report that she wrote earlier towards her tablet that also had the same screen as the first scientist. However, the data that was put into the tablet was different than that of the first. This one was more of the biological signs of the subject matter instead of the general indications of what is going on with said subject.
The third scientist looked down at his screen before giving off his report to the other two, "Subject 356 is showing signs of mental breakdown. Stress-induced trauma has increased along subject's mental functions with increased eye movement in REM sessions. Sleep cycles are also heavily decreased due to the subject's stress levels being higher then normal. Had to increase the pressure on the collar to ensure that subject's biotics remains within safety parameters. Mental breakdown is also associated with random acts of sexual intercourse by male subjects to test out the capacity of Subject 356's reproductive measures. However, due to the stress levels associated with the subject, reproduction has been drastically reduced and was forced to do an T.U.A. to harvest oocytes within the subject's ovaries." said the third scientist.
"Has the harvest been successful so far?" asked the first scientist, his eyebrows raised in curiosity.
"Negative, subject has been resistant to the harvesting of oocytes," said the third scientist.
"Why has it been negative?" asked the first, wondering why it was so hard to harvest something as simple as that.
"Upon contact with our atmosphere, the oocytes tend to self destruct as had the various blood samples we had taken from the subject beforehand," said the third. His brow was starting to show how nervous he was at dealing with the first scientist.
"Use vacuum methods like what we are doing now to get a small sample of blood. Whatever mechanism that the subject has in her biological makeup has been interfering with progress. Try seeing if that would work, because we need those samples and we need those oocytes!" the first scientist said to the third. The man nodded his head before exiting the room to get things ready.
When he left, the other two scientists looked through the two way mirror towards the huddled form in front of them. The subject was back in her corner again huddled into a corner unaware of the conversation that seems to be happening behind closed doors.
"Subject is becoming increasingly unstable. What shall we do when she reaches that point?" said the second scientist. She turned towards the first, her voice as monotone and professional as always.
"Then we will let the director decide on how to proceed. But if she does become unstable, we might be forced to terminate," said the first scientist as he turned to walk out of the room through another door on the other side of the room. The second scientist followed the third after looking through the glass again at the subject in front of them. Her eyes gave a calculating look before she eventually walked out of the room.
MEANWHILE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.
Wen Yizuan waited for her husband out in the lobby of the main building, her swollen belly a clear sign of her pregnancy to the people around her. When the doors to the elevators opened, her husband walked out with a briefcase in his hand. His happy expression showed on his face as he walked up to her and gave her a hug.
"How are my three most favorite people in the world doing?" he asked her. Smiling, she grabbed his hand and placed it on her belly.
"Your children are doing fine," she said to him and he felt his hand on her belly. Wen Cheng was more then happy to feel them. As if sensing him, they both had their hands to the walls of his wife's womb which he could see through her dress. He put his fingers there in excitement. It was the daily tradition for him to think about his wife and children.
As they made their way home they were seen from the window by none other then Alexandria Wilcox. She watched them leave with cold impassive eyes.
"Who are they?" she asked pointing to the two.
"They are Dr. Wen Cheng and Dr. Wen Yizuan ma'am husband and wife both studying Microbiology and Genetics. Though Dr. Wen Yizuan is expecting since they had been trying for a child for around ten years or so of their marriage," said the security officer who stood behind her.
"Has he made any progress?" she asked him. The man checked his clip boards and nodded, "Both he and his wife had discovered the genetic factors that seems to be adaptations to our planet's climate through their genetic sequencing. In fact, Dr. Wen Yizuan discovered that the larger subjects that are held in area B-51 are resistant to radioactive materials. And they have been the subject of genetic tampering. Though from what she understood, the genetic tampering had originally made them more aggressive in nature. However, from what we discovered through studying their genetic code, it was determined that continued living on planet Earth has decreased their aggressiveness and the original factors in their genetic code have started to restore themselves. The introduced aggressive code is being dumped as 'junk' code, according to the scientists," the officer said to her.
"I see," Alexandria said to them.
"Dr. Wen Cheng right now is studying samples from Subject 356 and is currently trying to discover how to decipher her genetic code. So far he has managed to come up with a few theories but without a valuable sample for him to use it is proving pointless. However he has noticed a pattern when the subject's blood comes into contact with our atmosphere as you are well aware," he said and at this Alexandria could only give a nod to show that she was listening.
"From what he has theorized, the subject matter somehow has a sort of self-destruct system in place within her blood sample to execute upon exposure to the outside air, making traditional studying impossible. Only through keeping everything in a vacuum do we have a chance to get a valuable sample," he said to her.
"And has he gotten a valuable sample?" she asked him and the man nodded.
"As of this morning he has acquired a valuable sample, so he and wife will be working to uncover why the subject's blood becomes useless in the open air," said the security guard.
"How long until Mrs. Wen is due?" asked Alexandria.
"Any day now. She is already on medical leave until the little ones are born. Her husband has been picking up the slack along with Dr. Laura Stark." said the security guard.
Alexandria frowned. She had known Dr. Stark for sometime and she is renowned in her field of physics and biology, but microbiology is out of her field. But then again, she is the head of the science division, so her area of expertise might not be so bad. However, she needs to know how Martha is able to heal at such a rapid rate and how her biotics have become the most powerful she has ever seen. Not even the alien subjects they have locked up in other parts of the facility have that sort of power upgrade. The mutations done to her on the Normandy are phenomenal and an achievement of science that no one else has done before... at least here on Earth.
"Give me a full file on Dr. Stark and update me if there is any changes," she said to the security officer.
"Will do ma'am," the man said before he left, leaving her alone in her office to overlook the city below her. It was a bold move to keep her complex here in the city underneath everyone's nose while they are searching the country side for her. Turning on her heels, she walked towards the back of the office where an elevator awaited her.
Getting in, she pushed a few buttons in a sequence and descended down the shaft towards an unknown part deep underground. When she exited, the environment was totally different than the area above ground. The began to walk down the corridor filled with scientists and workers under her employ. When she entered a door on the far end, she had to stop to ensure that she was sterilized. When she was done, she entered the facility and found to her delight, the security guards standing tall and waiting. She presented her identification and entered without a sound.
The men waiting for her at the end of the tunnel also stood at attention, but their hands on their guns showed that they were ready for action, much to the delight of Alexandria. They opened the door for her as she entered and closed and locked it behind her. Here the elevator that led further down into the earth only fueled speculations among many other things. The deeper underground she went, the more the activities she had been doing became revealed. When she exited, the noise from the many workers going about their business was music to her ears. She walked down the walkway towards another part of the underground compound. Here she walked till she was at last in a part of the facility meant to house their 'guests.'
The guard did not hesitate to call for her identification and verification. Upon doing so Alexandria entered the facility and entered a room on the far left side, labeled 'EXTRATERRESTRIAL HOLDING FACILITY.'
She opened the door and entered the area, waiting for the moment where the security system and the guard would let her in. She went through another decontamination chamber before entering the hallway. Here, in this part of the facility the many sounds of prison cells were met. She was quite pleased to see that no one had breached security yet. As it stood, there were many holding cells each holding a subject that is not from Planet Earth. At least none that have evolved here.
There were even some holding tanks for some underwater specimens, though keeping them alive was a challenge, as the water has to meet certain expectations. As she walked down the corridor of the facility she was met by various forms of prisoners. Both humans and aliens alike, all stared up at her with fear or anger on their faces. All of them wore collars of all sorts. All of them had their legs shackled and all of them looked worse for wear. Many of them wanted to outright die as the looks in their eyes showed prisoners who were bent and broken.
But Alexandria was not interested in them. She is interested in the human at the end of the prison in an area known for solitary prisoners.
When she entered this area, security was at maximum, with guards posted at every door with guns ready. Even automated guns were posted along the rooftops of the prison. When she reached them, she was met with the same respect as before, and the men standing there saluted her before opening the door. When she entered, she was met with the bright lights of any prison cell. Here, a lone figure laid on a bed, strapped to it. Her left arm was missing from her socket and the many IV's and machines plugged into her was a sign that she was not only a prisoner but an experiment. Her face showed signs of torture and she was semiconscious when Alexandria entered.
"Dr. Alenkov, it is a pleasure to see you again. How do you like your accommodations. I hope it is to your expectations?" Alexandria said to her and the only reply back was a groan from the bed. The tubes that were tied to her mouth were the only signs that she was still alive. A machine pumping air into and out of her lungs a sure sign of the weak condition the woman was put under.
"How does it feel to be tortured, Elenna? Does it feel good? At least you are treated a lot better than some of the people we have here. At least you are human," Alexandria said to her, pulling her hair to force swollen eyes to look at her.
"Tell me, Elenna, what does if feel like now to be on the receiving end of this? Does this make you feel better now after years of guilt? After years of you being on the giving end of such torture? I sure as fuck had fun with it," Alexandria said as she slammed her head back onto the bed. Dr. Alenkov only could barely open her eyes out but the look she gave Alexandria was enough to burn her a hundred fold.
"Oh, come now Elenna, don't tell me you didn't enjoy that? After all you and your family had the luxury of enjoying life while I lived in the pits of hell for most part. You took something from me and I want it back. Namely, the Normandy," she said to her.
The look that was given to her said enough.
Go to hell!
"I am sure you will enjoy our newest session for today. After all it is a personal favorite of mine. It is called, 'how much can you scream when I impale you with a hot prod'," she said, holding up a stick in her hand that was in the shape of a penis. The shaking form of Dr. Alenkov was enough for Alexandria to smile when she walked closer.
ELSEWHERE IN THE FACILITY
The sounds of screaming could be heard when all the prisoners looked up towards the one door. The echoes could be heard through the ventilation shafts and into the main corridor where the most dangerous of prisoners are kept. The screams were a reminder of what was to come to them when the torturer was done. And it was a reminder that they were in fact prisoners in this dangerous place.
Many of them hid in their cells, not wanting to be the next ones chosen. Even the larger ones hid behind doors or in their cells. The only ones unable to were the ones in restraints or in the many tanks around the area. Prisoners from those areas could only cry in vain when it happened. All the while, a single voice was screaming in pain sometimes it was muffled and sometimes it was not. But they heard it all the same.
MEANWHILE
Wei Kexing was done with his shift. After nearly twelve hours of working he and his husband are finally ready to call it a day. He promised Wen Cheng that he would meet them at his place for a few beers and sometime together. It had been a while since they had all gotten together for some fun. Due to their work schedule, it was hard enough to keep up with it all.
As he exited, the night was already young as he and his husband Zhou Wangji decided that they would visit the couple before they head on home. As they caught a taxi towards the side street, Wei Kexing spotted something lurking in the shadows watching the building. He shook his head thinking to himself that he was just tired and that he started to hallucinate because of exhaustion.
"Hello! Come in, Come in, dinner was just about to be served!" Wen Cheng said as he brought out the bowls of rice, chicken and vegetables. As they ate their dinner chat was light keeping to the mindset that nothing escapes the compound or work. Suddenly, a gasp could be heard as Wen Yizuan grasp her belly. Taking a few deep breaths she chuckled as she petted her stomach down.
"How are the children?" Zhou Wangji asked her and she smiled at them both.
"They are doing fine they are just settling down to sleep. They always do this to me," Wen Yizuan said to them.
"That is good, at least they are healthy," said Wei Kexing smiling despite himself. He held his husband's hand under the table as the last of the dinner plates were taken away and the four of them sat there chatting away. The night was young as the happy couples told about the good old days or some things that had been bothering them throughout their day. But nothing about the job they are doing despite themselves.
When the hour grew late, the two gay men exited the building where the Wens lived to head for home. As they journeyed home, Wei Kexing could not help but notice that they were being followed. But he puts it down to his paranoia after hours. It was not the first time as they made their way to their own building which was on the other side of the complex. As they made their way home, his husband suddenly stopped.
"You felt it too?" asked Wei Kexing and his husband nodded, "Yeah, I don't like it. I think we are being stalked," he said and Wei Kexing also felt afraid as they hurried home. When he opened the door to their apartment and turned on the lights, everything was as it should be. There was no lights in the others rooms but the living room and the kitchen when they entered, which suited them fine as they took off their outer coats and their shoes. When they went further in and turned on the other lights nothing seemed out of the ordinary.
At least they locked the door behind them.
"Wangji?" Wei Kexing said as he sat down on the couch.
"Yeah, I know. He or she has been following us lately. But I think it might be our crazy neighbor again," Zhou Wangji replied as he sat down next to his husband and put his arm around him.
"I hope so, if it is then I would be relieved. Lou Ching is harmless. Just someone who suffers from dementia so if it is him having one of his episodes again then I would be fine," Wei Kexing said to his husband. Zhou Wangji could only sigh as he held his husband close.
MEANWHILE
The dark alleyway outside of the apartment complex where the two men had exited was still lit even at this late hour. The figure watched as they entered the building and for once did not follow. Walking a ways towards the building across the street, they quickly climbed up to a nearby rooftop to spy on the family within. Taking out a small device and putting on some ear buds, the figure listened in as the two men spoke to the couple over dinner. Then they headed towards their own home while the figure watched from the shadows. After hearing what was said, the person watched as they both got up from the couch and started their routine before bed.
As the lights went out, the figure began to move from the rooftop. Instead of heading downwards they looked around to make sure no one is watching before leaping to another rooftop just next to the building. That was followed by several more jumps before the figure finally got onto the building. The moon above them was only a sliver of its full splendor, but when the light did shine upon the figures, it showed a creature out of a science fiction movie.
A large Krogan stood on the rooftop of the complex. Its figure imposing to anyone who saw it. But due to its large size this one was rather intimidating. But at the same time rather silent and graceful to those who have not trained in the art of stealth and silence. Slowly, the Krogan reached into the back and pulled out a canister. That canister quickly opened to reveal a large bug as it exited from the canister.
"You know what to do," the Krogan whispered to it and the insect quickly made its way into the ventilation shafts of the building. It crawled through a large amount of vents and thanks to its specialized footing was able to cling to even the smoothest of metal. It made its way down into the workings of the building till at last it arrived at the home of the two men. Being an insect of its size, it was able to fit through the shaft and make its way into the apartment.
Making sure the coast is clear it, quickly scurried towards the table, where two devices were plugged in. The two cell phones of the men who lived in this apartment were in easy reach. Slowly, the insect crawled up the wall and made sure the men were asleep before it pulled the cell phones into its mandibles. Using the same way it had gotten in, the insect quickly hid under the bed that the men were sleeping in and began hacking the phones. With rapid work done after years of honing its skills, it managed to break into the phone and see all that the person had done on their phones. It then made a copy on a device thanks to some hacking equipment and placed the phones back where they were. It also left a little present to help record what they had seen to its hosts' computers.
Then, when it was done, it quickly exited the room and headed towards another part of the apartment, where it had the two desktop computers waiting. Looking around, it was about to head over to the computers, when the lights suddenly turned on. Thinking quickly, it hid under the couch, where it saw the large feet of one of the men as they exited the bedroom and headed towards the door to the bathroom. The insect watched as they entered the restroom and then left again to return to the bedroom.
But just before the insect resumed its job the feet paused and it waited as they made their way to the kitchen. As they did so the sound of the refrigerator door opening and closing alerted the insect to what the man is doing.
The sounds of something pouring and then the gulping noises of someone drinking alerted it to the person drinking water. The insect watched and waited till the person's footsteps could be heard going back into the bedroom. As soon as the darkness emerged again and the sounds of the bedroom were silent once again, the insect moved. Taking tentative steps out, it began to make its way towards the computers.
Looking around, it spotted the main house, where the hard drive was kept and made its way there. Then without hesitation, it started hacking into the computer. Inserting yet another device into the computer, it began to download the information by using its own technology. Because humans have inferior tech to the Protheans and the Rachni, hacking into the system was relatively easy. But this system was a bit complicated due to the vast network of safeguards and security protocols. The insect, a Rachni worker-class, knew what must be done in order to obtain the information that it seeks.
Using a device that came from its own technology it planted a virus into the system that was undetectable to any but the most secure and sensitive of human systems. It took seconds for the virus to implant itself into the system and copy all the information that it needed to work. When it was done, it erased its presence within the computer system.
When it was done, the worker started to head out when the light went on again, and this time, the insect hid under the kitchen counter. The vent was just above the stove and the insect waited till the presence was gone before it made its way upwards again.
MEANWHILE
The Krogan was very patient having seen what his Rachni partner had managed to hack. The computer screen in front of him showed the detailed accounts of Dr. Wei Kexing and his husband as well as what other scientists at the building just down the street had been doing.
THE CHINESE UNIVERSITY OF BEIJING was just one of many benefactors here in this city on the opposite side of the country. Being so far north had its work cut out for it but here in this city, the Krogan smiled to itself, but not before the vent came open and his Rachni companion made his way towards him.
"I take it the mission went well?" he said to the Rachni.
"The mission was almost blown. One of them sure loves to get a midnight snack halfway through. The other, I have no idea but was probably asleep," the Rachni said as he took a rest.
"Will you be going back to check the other couple?" the Krogan asked.
"There is no need. All the systems are interconnected in one form or another along a single network. That network has many interfaces throughout this building. From what I discovered from this network is that this building, along with several others, all house employees of the same company. I discovered something else that can't be seen here. We must get to a safe place before I can broadcast it to the Council," it said and the Krogan nodded.
"Very well," he said and the Rachni returned to its transport can. The Krogan was about to make its way towards the edge when it felt a presence just behind him.
He leaped away just in time to avoid a bullet that was aimed at him. Reaching for his gun, he turned just in time to avoid another shot to the chest. Both he and his Rachni companion felt the need to flee from this area. Their time was up and he manged to land on another building and run as fast as his short legs could get him to the edge of the building. When he leaped, he managed to get over a nearby wall that happened to be in front of him and took off down the streets to the city away from the compound and all who live there. There would be another opportunity.
MEANWHILE
Wei Kexing was still panting after hearing gunshots on the roof. His cell phone was ringing off the hook for a while as he reached towards the table for it. On the phone table there was the name WEN CHENG meaning that their friend had heard it too.
"Hello!" he said into the mouth piece. His husband was not far behind him.
"Holy shit are you two alright!?" Wen Cheng said over the phone.
"Yeah we are alright what about you two? Are you both ok?" Wei Kexing said to their friends.
"We are fine Kexing, we are just... startled and shocked, that is all. It was so loud over our roof that it startled the twins," the voice of Yizuan said to him and Wei Kexing sighed with relief that everything is ok with his friends.
"Was the gunshots over your building?" Wei Kexing's husband Zhou Wangji said to them.
"Yeah, it sounded like it was on the roof. I think one of the guards must have noticed someone there. I don't know, we might or might not get a notice tomorrow," Wen Cheng replied on his end of the line. It was baffling to speak to them about such things.
"Tell me about it, we might get it tonight, considering how loud everything was," said Zhou Wangji his face was full of worry as he studied the phone in front of him.
"Well, if anything we will text you if something happened, ok?" Wen Cheng said and Wei Kexing and Zhou Wangji both gave their safe regards before hanging up. When he put the phone down Wei Kexing turned to his husband.
"I find it strange that something was being shot at on the roof. I thought it was that crazy man. What if it was that person that has been following us Wangji?" Wei Kexing replied.
"I do not know but we will keep an eye out for anything. Maybe report it tomorrow morning when we go in to work," said Zhou Wangji.
"Alright, we will do that," Wei Kexing said though his face was full of worry. Zhou Wangji quickly crawled up to his husband and gave him a hug, pulling him closer to him until their bodies were pressed against each other. They held each other in silence until the light of the moon began to rise in the east. Looking at the time it was around midnight.
"Come husband, it is time to sleep," Zhou Wangji said to him.
"Wangji, why do you sound like that. You know you my heart can't take such things!" Wei Kexing said to him his eyes wiggling up and down.
"Go to bed Kexing. I am tired and my mind is too disturbed by tonight's antics for anything other than sleep." his husband said to him. The other man could only pout before he too joined his husband in bed. He was not looking forward to tomorrow, that was for sure.
MEANWHILE
Martha was not looking forward to another session. At least they stopped trying to cut off her parts and use it for something else. She was getting over those.
The sad part was that the healing slowed down alot and now her black blood was staining the white room she was in. Her hand was now bandaged and her stomach began to rumble with hunger once again. She had not eaten since before she was captured and she was ravenous. The sights or smells of food in the hallways made her mouth water with need. But the guards and the scientists refused to feed her. And what they did feed her was nothing more then slop. She refused to eat it, and even when they tried to force her to eat, it tasted like shit. Literally tasted like shit, and she had tasted it before when her face became full of it when taking care of her aunt.
Martha began to see food in odd places. In fact, the walls became stained in her excrement since she has no toilet to go to. The scientists had to send someone to clean her room while they experimented on her. Not only were her excrement all over the room but her black blood as well. She started laughing to herself when she saw her blood was black and not blue or dark purple. The sight of it made her want to both vomit (which she did) or want to scream louder than anyone.
The conclusion that Martha came up with was rather simple, she was no longer human by any standards. It was not normal to suddenly grow back your limbs or any other body parts like some sort of mutant being. She was not supposed to be biotic. Or at least as powerful as anyone could guess. But the worst was the transformation whenever she was upset, which was happening more and more frequently.
As the men came to get her or she was taken forcefully by the guards, she noticed in her weakened state that she was changing. The sight of blood stopped being repulsive and started being more... enticing. It grew worse and worse as Martha's hunger grew. A craving unlike any other for meat had become more noticeable these past few days.
Or was it weeks since her capture.
Maybe months or years.
Time had no meaning in this holding cell. She shook whenever she was forced to move. Her muscles were stiff and sore and her legs were bone thin. No longer the thick legs that they used to be. The legs she sported now were nothing more then skeletons of their former selves. That how much she had become emaciated. She lifted her hospital gown to see nothing but bone and no signs of fat on her at all. Whenever she looked in the mirror, all she saw was bone. And that made Martha even hungrier. The painful stomach growls reminded her that hunger had started to kick in again. Just recently had she noticed what she had become in this state.
But what about Dr. Alenkov? Martha had not seen her in a long time and she was starting to get worried. Her mind came up with all sorts of scenarios about what happened to her and she wanted answers. She was frightened and wanted nothing more than to go home. But how long had it been since she has been here? How long? Would she starve to death? Or would she be beaten and chopped to bits before?
All these thoughts raced through her head as her stomach growled once again, letting her know that she was in fact hungry.
Her hand looked rather appealing right now.
TBC
A/N: I will leave it at the moment with a slight cliff hanger. Martha is definitely slipping further into madness as she is slowly tortured and starved all for the sake of research. And those scientists I mentioned earlier? They will play a role later in the story I just wanted to introduce them to you.
If you are familiar with Chinese drama's as I am sure a lot of you aren't. I have borrowed some names from some shows I had recently watched and mixed them up so I am not outright crossing over things. For Wei Kexing and Zhou Wangji their names are actually the names of the main characters of the Chinese shows the Untamed and Word of Honor. But the names of those guys are Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji for the Untamed and Wen Kexing and Zhou Zishu for Word of Honor.
The Characters of Wen Cheng and Jiang Yizuan are after the side characters of the Untamed. Jiang Cheng and Yu Yizuan namely mother and son. I know sounds kind of weird but in my story they are not mother and son and they are completely different people. But one aspect is the same and that Wei Kexing and Zhou Wangji just like their real life counterparts are gay. That is right I am introducing a gay couple into this story. So take that.
Now when I got this back from my beta it was mentioned that as a reminder China does not view gay couples the same way as here in America. But I thought to myself they do view things sort of the same way. Here in Hawaii however they are viewed differently then their mainland counter parts.
In China it is illegal for same sex couples to be married. That is why I had them marry before Hong Kong merged with China. That way they were already married when they became part of mainland China meaning they had been married for sometime. Since Britain had Hong Kong as part of its territory till the early 2000's. So basically Wei Kexing and Zhou Wangji are already married. It was a simple solution. Though I don't know if there is a same sex law in the UK I will have to research that later.
As for the cruelty mentioned at the beginning of the chapter more will come before the big escape comes to play. Don't worry folks if you have questions please pm me and I will gladly answer them. Don't leave troll reviews unless you read the ENTIRE chapter first. I do my research into M.E. lore first before I write things down. I also bounce back ideas between me and my beta who helps to keep me within the boundaries of Mass Effect lore. So I have my sources. Sorry to sound to standoffish but I am tired and I had a long day at work (My day is your night for I work the graveyard shift,) so I am running on fumes when writing this. So here it is folks I hope you enjoy the story so far and don't forget no FLAMES, LORE MONGERS OR BASHINGS PLEASE! Also no TROLLS! You will be burned if you try hehehe and you taste good with ketchup.