Saleon sat as the Varren mutant paced around his chair. The rooms were empty at this time, a good thing too since now that he had finished the Project, things would get a bit more interesting around here.
Saleon blinked his eyes as he looked into the lights above him. Resting its head upon his lap was the blind Varren, and Saleon patted the blind beast's head as it breathed in a wheezing deep breath.
"You understand, don't you. This power, it's too much to be used in such a limited way. Brute force trial-and-error science is not science at all, it's sloppy. Barely Mad Science. I think you know what time it is, don't you." asked Saleon.
The beast looked up as it began to snarl and croak, vaguely Saleon thought he heard the creature say something, though he could not be sure if it were words or merely the sounds this creature would normally make.
"I think my mental state is declining. Here I am talking to the fruits of my work, and I don't know if I am going mad or not... Well, more mad. Insane really. Sociopathy and Psychopathy is not a good combination."
The Varren beast made an unusual choking sound followed by what sounded to be a cough.
"I suppose that my time here is short. They want to end me, I can feel it, I can see it. Once I give them what they want, I will be put down. Like that tumor Varren abomination. A shame really that they think me to be just mad. Oh, I know I am mad, but that does not stop me from being a genius. Let them scheme. I have my own plans."
The Varren creature snarled a bit before raising itself. It moved quietly back to its cage where a nice sized slab of meat lay. Saleon got up and closed the cage.
Saleon then nodded as he moved to his computer and began going through it, moving files from his omni tool to the computer, Every file on what everyone else was making. Strange beasts that could prove useful, though nothing that could overthrow him as the top scientist of the station. After all, a handful of mutant Varren the other scientists made were not as docile as his own. Saleon sighed as he closed his omni tool, then he looked to the back of the room. A simple cage holding the second Varren subject, the one who would create that potent neurotoxin. Saleon looked next to the cage to see several canisters of that very same toxin that had been collected. Saleon blinked before he thought on those canisters for a moment, but soon after his omni tool went off. He looked and realized that Sil was most likely spilling her guts to Vurlon right about now, might be good to meet up with her.
"And this is accurate?" asked Vurlon.
Sil nodded.
"He let it roam free. I thought is was going to kill me. It just ignored him, like he wasn't even there. Then he shocks it once and leads it back into its cage. It followed him, like it was trained. He has to be training those things." said Sil.
Vurlon blinked a few times before he nodded.
"Possible. I don't know why Jobol allowed that man on this station, but I knew immediately he would be trouble. His personality has worsened. That said, the man does get results.", said Vurlon.
"Sir?", asked Sil sounding confused.
"Saleon is the only one to have anything resembling a step in the right direction. Everything else anyone made is as dangerous as the neurotoxin Varren. Considering that is the only subject Saleon made that we have to actively contain, his track record is better than everyone else. In the past three weeks we have seen test Varren with abilities far more dangerous than anything Saleon has made, and as such are near impossible to control. One was able to squeeze into a pipe less than half a foot across and exhale a chemical gas that made flesh melt from bone. It had to be put down before it escaped. Fact is Saleon is either a genius at not creating things too dangerous, or very lucky. Either way he is our best asset right now.", said Vorlon as he massaged a headache away.
"So this incident won't be punished?", asked Sil sounding somewhat nervous.
"He is not yet expendable. Regardless, secondary testing will commence very soon, but we received word that our benefactors wish to send us another animal subject before sapient trials begin. As I understand it, they have decided they want us to run a few tests on the Blacklight creation called the Coolant Breed. A group of Turians are delivering two dozen to a buyer who will transport them to us. You will ensure Saleon does not exceed his station. He is brilliant, but dangerous. When he is useless to us, you have my permission to put him down.", said Vorlon.
Sil blinked at that. She honestly didn't know what to think of that opportunity. As crazy as Saleon was, he at least was able to act like he knew what he was doing, even if his methods were self destructive to the ongoing projects. Seemed like such a waste really.
"Understood." she said without any outward hesitation.
Vorlon nodded. He took a beep breath as he went back to work. Sil took it as her queue to leave. Once outside she looked to Saleon who was sitting down looking over his omni tool.
"Secondary testing will begin soon." Said Sil.
"I know."
Saleon nodded as he turned off his omni tool and walked over to her.
"Anything else I should be aware of?", asked Saleon as he loomed over her with a smile.
"We will run a few tests on the Coolant Breed before secondary testing starts." Said Sil.
Saleon's eyes seemed to narrow at that before he nodded.
"I see, very well. Shall we prepare the labs?", asked Saleon.
On board a prototype Turian Ship, one Garrus Vakarian was casually poking a blue blob with his gun. The Coolant Breed were a strange species, looking like some cross between a jelly fish and residue commonly found in the nose. The damn thing did nothing but move through the pumps of the ship, keeping it cool. At the moment Garrus as well as the crew were delivering these adorable little boogers to a Salarian group interested in studying them.
Garrus decided to pass the time by poking it with his unloaded rifle and hearing what sounds it made. After a few more pokes the thing made the most adorable noise that sounded like a child trying to talk while covered in ten gallons of mucus.
"...Where did that thought come from?" asked Garrus to no one but himself.
After confirming no one heard him say that he shrugged and poked the thing again, watching it vibrate. After a moment another Turian came into the room, holding a tank with another Coolant Breed within it.
"S-sss-so c-cc-cold." said the Turian as he put the tank down.
Garrus merely nodded.
"Hmm... Something called the Coolant Breed is cold. I'll have to remember that."
"H-h-hate y-y-you... S-s-so mu-m-much r-r-right n-now."
"Hmm, what was that,, I couldn't her you over the blobs... Noise thing. Is it a growl? Pur, Rumble... You know what I mean. I think I should keep one." said Garrus.
The other Turians began to warm himself as Garrus just poked the blob like a child who just found a dying sea creature that washed on the beach. Garrus poked it again thinking of Hanar.
"D-don't you h-have work t-to do."
"Nope. Guns are calibrated, it's my break right now."
"You s-spend your b-b-break poking t-that thing."
Garrus only nodded.
"Its like a Hanar, but more...Cute. They just roll around all over the place bumping into things... It's like a stupid adorable legless Hanar that needs warm hugs to thaw a cold heart."
The Blob started to vibrate a bit as it oozed around the room towards a heat vent.
"Awww. It's hungry."
"K-kill me now.", said the Turian exacerbated with the current situation.
"Hmm. Maybe later."
The response was only a growl. Garrus chuckled as he watched the little blob roll around, just like a stupid adorable legless Hanar that needed warm hugs to thaw a cold heart. Garrus thought himself clever.
Tusar stood along with his brothers to look at the Batarians on the balcony above who seemed to be discussing on matters of some importance. The other 'Salarians' here stood still as they waited to see how things would play out. After a while, one of the Batarians walked forward. Standing above the others he was flanked on both sides by two Turians who held rifles in their claws.
"I am Bardorn, of the Master Slave Caste. There are three slave castes you may join, first is the lowest of the low the Base Caste. You will be expected to do manual labor tasks that your masters wish you to perform. Next is the Assistant Caste. This caste is for the few among you who catch the eye of those infinitely more important than you. You will be expected to serve the house of your master without fail. Finally, there is the Master Slave Caste. This is the caste I belong to. Those in my station train and break you from your ideals to rebuild you for the uses you are designated."
Tusar rose a brow at that. The man before them, who was set to train them, was himself a slave. Curious.
"Do good work and you will be rewarded, do poorly and you will be punished. You may rise up to the Master Slave Caste, though that is unlikely for all of you. This is the highest possible station you may hold."
Bardorn nodded as he looked to the Turians standing next to him. They descended the stairs as if they were preparing to round up the 'Salarians' before them. Tusar instead raised his hand. Bardorn seemed taken aback at the simple gesture, but it did not last before he jumped from the balcony and bee-lined towards Tusar. Tusar made no movement besides watching Bardorn, something that seemed to raise the man's ire. He held a whip in his hand but rather than use it, simply stood as close as he was willing to Tusar and stared.
"You have a question slave?" it was not framed as a question, rather as an accusation of some sort.
To Bardorns growing confusion Tusar nodded.
"Yes, I was wondering where the higher caste Batarians are." asked Tusar.
"They do not deal with slaves until you are broken and rebuilt as they need you. None here exceed the Master Slave Caste. At the moment only the guards and I are here to enlighten you for your new lot in life.", said Bardorn.
Tusar merely nodded.
"I see, one more question. Is this room was sound proof?" asked Tusar.
At that Bardorn seemed to blink in confusion before smiling.
"Yes actually it is, in the event some slaves get ideas, we quell them. The room is built to ensure no higher caste citizen is bothered by the screams.", said Bardorn as he readied his whip.
Tusar nodded.
"Thank you."
In the blink of an eye, Tusar's arm shot out, shifting into metallic claws that easily pierced into Bardorns chest. The Guards raised their rifles before the 'Salarians' around began to leap with almost supernatural agility to pounce onto the unsuspecting guards like the prey to some fierce agile predator. Within mere moments they were broken down into base elements.
Tusar watched as the slurry of flesh that was once Bardon twitched as the cells were infested and altered. Slowly the ooze began to rise and take shape. Tusar found himself staring into Bardon's eyes who merely looked into Tusar's own and quirked his head.
'If you plan on going through with this, you will have to do something drastic.'
Tusar nodded. He expected as much.
'We know. We have ideas.'
Saleon looked at the thing before him. The Coolant Breed was an unusual creature. The blue undulating membrane seemed to attempt to seek out heat as cool fog seemed to emanate from the creatures skin. Saleon did not know how the creature before him was capable of 'feeding' on heat, though he intended to find out.
Taking out a syringe and plunged it into the creature. He looked at the fluid. Clear, but with noticeable specks all through it. He put it aside as he grabbed a scalpel. Cutting the creature open caused fluids to leak out at a frightening pace. Interestingly, Saleon could see small chunks of ice within the solution. The table, which had raised edges for just this reason, was not going to be able to hold everything within before it pooled on the floor. Saleon sighed as he looked to Sil, who was already holding a long hose attached to a pump. Saleon nodded as Sil carefully inserted the tube into the cut.
Saleon took the sample in the syringe and moved it over to a genetic analyzer. He pulled a hatch and inserted the syringe within where it was taken by the internal machinery and the machine began to analyze it. Saleon watched as the results slowly came into view.
Waiting for that to happen he went back to the Blob, and cut off a small bit of its membrane. Seeing as the genetic analyzer was busy, he placed the sample on a slide, and moved over to a microscope. Sliding it underneath, he watched the screen as the skin was magnified to the cellular level. Saleon blinked at what he saw.
"It's part plant.", said Saleon somewhat surprised.
Sil looked to the sample, and sure enough the cells of the thing's skin were very similar to a plant's. Firstly was the cell wall formed from cellulose. Its shape however was round, irregular like an animals cell. It had Chloroplasts as well, allowing it to make its own food. Considering the thing didn't have a mouth, that did answer that... Though that did beg the question how the thing supposedly fed on heat.
"This is unexpected.", said Saleon.
Sil agreed with a nod as she went back to the genetic analyzer. Saleon followed.
"Mostly water and some detection of antifreeze proteins, explains a few things. These here seem to be bacteria within the solution, they seem to be less plantlike than the creature's skin. The bacteria has an unusual membrane protein, seems to act as a nucleation site. Ice-nucleating proteins. I've seen some similar bacteria that cause frost on crops. It promotes water to freeze in warmer temperatures. I don't think it feeds on heat.", said Saleon.
"Maybe heat is used to perform metabolic functions.", suggested Sil.
"Possible, but we'll have to do more tests to be sure. If I recall right, these things squeeze through a series of tubes within ships using Heat Sink technology, with a larger chamber within these sinks. I think they are attracted to heat, and just keep the environment cool as the emissions are pooled within. Still doesn't explain how it feeds. Even plants don't feed on heat, just UV rays used to create a few chemical reactions. If not heat, then what... Do Heat sinks store anything similar to solar energy?", asked Saleon.
Sil shrugged.
"The Turians intend to keep their secrets on what the Heat Sinks do. I couldn't tell you.", said Sil.
"This is impossible biology if I ever saw it. Even putting all these traits together shouldn't do what Blacklight claims it does. We must be missing something."
Before Sil could respond, the Coolant Breed exploded. The two turned back to see the area was now covered in frost, thin fog, and ice. Saleon looked at the scene before the moved to the creature. Saleon looked at a cylindrical organ within the creature. It seemed to be the cause of the explosion. He placed his hand over his chin as he examined it.
"I think this organ held liquid carbon dioxide.", said Saleon.
Sil slowly moved over to the creature. Examining it, she could say that seemed about right.
"The Organ must be able to compress to pressurize Carbon Dioxide gas into a liquid form. Ice might form around it allowing it to hold its shape. If more pressure is needed, the organ pressurizes again and more ice forms around it, increasing pressure. Fascinating really.", said Saleon.
"But... How, it doesn't have any orifice to... Wait... It's part plant.", said Sil as the realization struck her.
"I don't think that's it. Its mostly animal. Taking in Oxygen through the skin, and converting it into carbon dioxide. Some goes to help with photosynthesis, the rest goes into this chamber to become liquid CO2. There seems to be a series of veins that release squirts of the CO2 into the air. These arteries must have a simple valve to release it into the air cooling its surroundings."
"Blacklight said they fed off heat. Why lie.", asked Sil.
"Isn't it obvious? The Coolant Breed avoids enveloping living things, not because they are programmed to do so, but because they don't feed on heat, but they are attracted to it. A well placed shot turns it into a cryo mine. A very strong one at that. A ten foot radius explosion of liquid CO2. Had we been any closer, we would have gotten frostbite. Too close and we freeze to death.", said Saleon.
"But, why are we just now finding out about this. Did the Turians not look into what these things could do?", asked Sil.
Saleon only shrugged.
"Don't ask me. The Turians probably were satisfied it allowed them to use the Heat Sinks longer.", said Saleon.
"Seems rather foolish.", said Sil.
"Never said they weren't. Still this explains a great deal how it does what it does. It's free of the Blacklight Virus... I wonder what happens if one is given the same procedure we gave the Varren?", asked Saleon to himself.
Sil said nothing as she watched Saleon begin to smile.
Shisk looked down at the hundreds of Vorcha that moved around the area. He sniffed as he leapt up to stand on the highest vine, where his home was built into. He clicked his teeth as he moved inside.
'Something Wrong?', asked Chakwas.
"Feel wrong. Too many."
'Hmmm... Vorcha are solitary pack hunters, large groups must go against instinct. Not a real issue though, humans are a family unit social creature, yet we still lived in what could be comparable to an insect colony when we were still human.'
"Wat you mean?"
'Sapience comes with it the ability to go against instinct. Vorcha are sapient. There is nothing wrong with this. It will take some getting used to, but I'm sure you will adapt. Adaptability is more important to life than anything else when change comes.'
"Dey still fight out dere.", said Shisk.
'I never said this was going to be easy, get that notion out of your head. This will be the hardest thing your species will ever have to endure, but with hardship comes great strength to over come them. Your race is stronger than you think, and not just physically.'
"I thinks you think we smarter then we really are.", said Shisk.
'And I think you don't give yourself enough credit.'
Shisk sniffed loudly.
"We gonna see who right in da end."
'You're very cynical of your own kind.'
Shisk only sniffed.
Mordin stared long and hard about the future as he looked to the image of the man before him. Jobol smiled at his nephew as he began sending the data forward.
"The number of Krogan births is growing steady. We think the Genophage may be less effective than we hope.", said Jobol.
Mordin nodded.
"I understand that, but the reports suggest the effect is small. a minor population boom won't cause too much damage.", said Mordin.
Jobol sighed.
"It's true, but do you believe the Krogan are ready for this?"
"I do."
Jobol shook his head.
"We're going through with this with our without you nephew. I hope you would understand the big picture. You're brilliant, no one else on the team I am assembling has anywhere near the same brilliance as you."
"I'm sure they are more than qualified to..."
"To what?", questioned Jobol. "To release a virus to kill the remaining Krogan. You, unlike them understand far more about the importance of this. You could ensure the results only allow us to get the Krogan back into the equilibrium needed. Do you trust anyone besides yourself to do this? Chances are they won't think much of the few who die should their modifications kill only a few. As far as they are concerned so long as some Krogan still live and the results are the same birth rates as the original Genophage they will consider it a success.", said Jobol.
Mordin stayed quiet for the longest tie before he took in a deep breath.
"Fine, I'll do it.", said Mordin.
"Glad you will. A person of your skills has no business on Omega. Goodbye nephew.", said Jobol as the image flickered out.
Mordin stayed silent for the longest time. Only half an hour after the conversation did he say anything.
"Has to be me. Someone else might get it wrong."