Author Note: I do not own Mass Effect. Although I would be excited if they wanted my ideas. Please Review. I need to know if this is an idea worth continuing.

There is a voice in the water. A voice telling me who I am and what I will become. The voice is not my own. I can't remember anything before the voice, but I remember the day I was born.

I hit the floor hard. I rested there on my knees and elbows coughing up fluid. I hear the voice again, except this time it didn't echo through my mind. I hear the voice with my own ears. I blink my eyes open and turn my face upward to the blinding light. My eyes burn because I have never used them before.

As I took my first breath the smell of laboratory chemicals burn my sensitive nose. My aching muscles started to contract as I bring myself to my feet. My head was swimming with new sensations as I forced myself to focus on that voice.

Memories I never experienced flooded to the forefront of my mind as I rushed my target. I pinned the owner of the voice that plagued my thoughts. I held him there against a wall and the force of my own strength. "Human male."

My own unused voice rang in my ears like waves of rushing water. "Subject Echo, release me."

I contemplated his request, but my thoughts were interrupted by a woman's scream. It appeared his female lab partner had begun to panic. I was conditioned to react quickly.

I took the Hand Cannon strapped to the side of the primary lab tech I had pinned to the wall. I raised the pistol and fired at the screaming women. One shot sounded before she slumped on the floor. I then returned my attention to the man before me and fired a second shot.

It was after the room fell silent that I surveyed my surroundings. I stood pistol in hand down two shots four to go before exacerbating the thermal clip. Unclothed and standing in a laboratory a large tank behind me. There are two dead scientists on the floor. They must have computer and security access.

I bend down and removed the women's lab coat and put it on pulling it together at the waste. I also searched the male's jacket for information. After tucking the Hand Cannon into one of the oversized pockets I exited the room.

Silently moving through empty corridors letting the information signs guide me to a computer terminal. I found my target objective and used the male's key pass to slip inside.

Without a proper password I couldn't get into the system. Fortunately hacking was a part of my programming. It only took eight seconds to bypass the security and gain unrestricted access to the projects files.

Chief Compton logging on. Open file Rebirth.

Operation Rebirth. Entry one: Chief science officer Eliot Compton assigned to project rebirth. Who ever thought I'd be working for Cerberus, but hey, out here I don't have to worry about restrictions. The Illusive man is starting this side show incase his first little project fails. I don't know where he gets the money to fund his hobbies, but I'm not complaining. It must have took a fortune to get Commander Shepard's body so I can see why he is interested in making sure he gets his money's worth for it.

We started with a strained of DNA from the Lazarus Project headed by a Miranda Lawson. The DNA sequence we got was heavily damaged. I can only assume her project can't be yielding many results.

Operation Rebirth. Entry Fifteen: Subject Alpha. No one said this was going to be easy. We all knew that our first attempt at cloning Commander Shepard would not be a success. What is that saying again, you have to break a couple of eggs to make an omelet. However it was still a learning experience even if the subject only lived for a week.

Operation Rebirth. Entry twenty-eight: Subject Bravo. Once again the illusive man surprises me. It seems that data from a Krogan cloning facility has fallen into the hands of one of his operatives. The Illusive man pushed a copy our way. Okeer's notes have been very helpful. It's probably pushed our project forward years even.

Operation Rebirth. Entry thirty-one: Subject Bravo. Subject Bravo died today. It seems the changes we've made to enhance the clone happened too suddenly. I guess even Shepard's body can't stand some forms of punishment. Learned all we can from Bravo, must continue forward.

Operation Rebirth. Entry sixty-six: Subject Charlie. It appeared that we have come a long way from our first attempt. However I don't think Charlie is going to make it. I'm started to believe that the problem lies in the corruption of the DNA strain. I'm going to submit my finding to the illusive man and see if he will back our new direction.

Operation Rebirth. Entry Sixty-seven: Subject Delta. I was surprised to see the illusive man so supportive. As it turned out project Lazarus was a success and he was happy to see the new direction. Therefore, we have scrapped Subject Charlie to launch our new test subject, Delta. Delta is a clone of Shepard with some alterations. We are replacing the subjects corrupted DNA with a substitute sequence supplied by Project Lazarus's very own Miranda Lawson. Making Subject Delta approximately 95.6% Shepard and 4.4% Lawson. The most noticeable change is that Subject Delta is female. Adding Lawson's genetic make-up to the project has been incredible. Her own genes have been genetically engineered by her father making the submerge streamline and easy. We may have even improved Shepard.

Operation Rebirth. Entry Ninety-three: Subject Delta. We were told today that Miranda Lawson has gone rouge with humanity's first specter. Orders were given to insert Subject Delta with a control chip.

Operation Rebirth Entry Ninety-four: Subject Delta. Subject Delta has rejected the control chip. Although it did not kill her oxygen supply to the brain was interrupted for a total of seven minutes and fifty-eight seconds. As a result mental function has been on the decline and it would appear that the subject is now suffering brain damage. Subject Delta is to be terminated. A control chip will no longer be used in the project. Alternative ways to ensure loyalty will be researched. Okeer's last notes were forwarded to us and it seems like imprinting maybe the key.

Operation Rebirth Entry One hundred seven: Subject Echo. I got to hand it to my assistant. Tammy Holcomb is quite astute. It was her suggestion that our next attempt use slightly more of Lawson's genes to get some of the finer recessive traits to develop. Maybe the Illusive man will over look some of our failures if we give him a Shepard with blue eyes along with some other finer points. I'd bet he'd go for that. That is if he can even notice things like that with he creepy bionic eyes.

Operation Rebirth Entry One hundred twelve: Subject Echo. Echo seems to be developing at a faster rate than the others. I'm going to go over her genetic code again. I would like to isolate what ever sequence is causing the accelerated learning. I think it will help if we have to start over again. There is still so much to learn from the human genome. She as assimilated everything we have planed to imprint on her. We'll ask the illusive man for further input.

Operation Rebirth Entry One hundred forty-two: Subject Echo. We open the tank today. We'll finally get to reap the rewards from all are hard work. I can't wait to see our creation come to life.

Close program… transfer files.

I saw the benefit of obtaining the knowledge of my creation. I swiped a near by memory stick and began downloading as much of the date base on Project Rebirth as I could. In a second window I pulled up information on the facility I was being held at and protocol for disasters.

Space station. It seemed like more and more Cerberus stations were becoming space stations. It's a smart tactical decision. Moving locations is simple if it were in threat of being discovered; too much could be compromised if a base were discovered on a planet. Even if it is a remote planet in the terminus someone may find it eventually. It looks like Cerberus has had problems with security lately.

Cryo lab two floors down. Sounds like a perfect place for a diversion and for some unfinished business. Docking facility same level on the complete opposite side of the station. I grabbed the memory stick once it finished its download and erased all evidence of Project Rebirth from the station. If the Illusive man had other copies they weren't here. On to my next objective.

It was easy to climb into the ducts. I had the path mapped out in my head. Every movement was natural, easy, flowing. I had flexibility and strength I didn't earn through traditional training, yet I had combat scenarios and weapon knowledge that I would have learned through experience.

My bare feet hit the floor as I dropped from the ceiling. The sign on the double doors ahead read "Laboratory, Office Use and Cryo containment."

I entered to find several cubical in rows containing more computer terminals. I was not surprised to see that some of the workstations occupied. Two men and one woman all human. As I approached the room toward the back which would be the cold storage I was stopped. It was the woman who first spoke, "You can't be in here. Where did you even come from. Why are you dressed like that.?"

Her quarry was pointless I had already taken hold of the pistol in my pocket. All I could offer her was one warning, "You are not a threat to me, please remain seated and look the other way."

She didn't seem to understand. As she continued to look upset one of the men questioned her, "Helen, do you want me to contact security?"

I answered for her, "That wont be necessary." I proceeded to shoot the former Helen and the fore mentioned male. The second male made a dash for the door. He would alert security if I let him leave. It was only natural that I must eliminate him. One shot to the back of his head before he could alert anyone else to my presence.

I continued on to the Cryo fridge. I opened the door to the fridge to be greeted by the scientist in charge. "Can I help you...? I heard some noise."

For the sake of finishing my task quickly I fired my last shot. I unceremoniously pushed the man off of the control panels that kept the cryo sealed and proceeded on. The cold air hit my body and caused my skin to tingle. I looked at my arms and saw the tiny hairs rise. I had not experienced anything like it before, nor did I have knowledge of chemical reactions that took place inside the body. Although exhilarating I entered the blistering cold. I ran my fingers across the tubes that lined the walls, Anderson D., Arterius S. They must be alphabetical by last name.

I sped up my search, Grayson G. Grayson P. Here it is, Lawson M. I picked up the vial and continued my search. Saunders K. and finally Shepard J.

I exited the freezer and made my way back to the office area. I was going to make sure they couldn't create any more. The Illusive man is done playing god and I'll fashion my escape in the process.

After rummaging through desks I had a collection of useful objects. A few credit chips I pocketed. And other items I filled a trash receptacle, objects that would burn as fuel. I was purposed to use what ever was available and so I added a couple chemicals found in the facility that would be flammable. As a final touch I added my pseudo mother and father to the mix. All I needed now was a heat source. I looked at the now empty pistol in my hand. As a weapon it would no longer serve me without ammo. I popped the heat sink into my collection and started to make my exit.

As soon as the fire started the stations alarms went off. Protocol would be to seal off the area and vent the fire to space, but not before giving he occupants of the area some time to evacuate.

It was easy to get lost in the shuffle as humans started emerging from their work stations and pile into the hallways. Security would have a hard time spotting one underdressed girl in the commotion. As people tried to ascertain what was going on all that was necessary was to blend in.

In the commotion people were exiting via escape pods and some were yelling at security for answers. It wouldn't take long to figure out what was going on, but it would be enough time to slip away. Only one last hurdle awaited me.

The guards to the docking bay were still manning their posts. I calmly walked up to them as if I were expected. "Hold it right there, were going to need to see some ID before we allow you into the docking area."

I knew my pistol was empty so I would have to improvise. I slyly grinned and batted my eye lashes. "Sorry, I think I left them in my pants."

"Oh, I see." Replied the guard. He then moved himself closer to me. "I can see how that might be a problem."

Only for you. The man let down his guard leaving me an opening. I grabbed the back of his head and slammed it down against my knee. As I pulled him up by his hair I saw his nose bleeding. I then pushed him away from me to lunge myself at the second before he could pull a weapon.

Both hands reached for his side arm. I quickly side stepped him for a leg sweep to knock him off balanced. I pulled my own empty pistol and aimed for his head. "You aren't going to move. You aren't going to call for help if you want to live through this."

The panic in his eyes gave me his answer. I planed on making the most out of my bluff. I quickly ran toward the ships knowing that I had limited time.

I quickly broke through the encryption on a small personal craft and started the flight sequence. A few heart beats later I was away from the station that birthed me.

I was away. I was free. I was alone with myself. No memories, no past and no future.