Chapter 11 #2
"That's your choice." He nodded to a technician who approached with a syringe. "But it's much easier if you do."
I fought, of course. Kicked and screamed and bit until they pinned me to an examination table. The needle slid into my arm, and warmth spread through my veins. Not unconsciousness, but a heavy lethargy that made resistance impossible while leaving me aware of everything they did.
They stripped me, examined every inch of my body, drew vials of blood, scraped cells from inside my cheek, performed invasive tests while discussing my "reproductive potential" as if I were livestock.
Through the drug-induced haze, I heard snippets of conversation.
"...genetic markers match prototype seven..."
"...ovulation cycle optimal for immediate implantation..."
"...highest compatibility rating in program history..."
When they finished, they dressed me in a plain white shift and moved me to a small, sterile room with nothing but a bed and toilet. The effects of the drug were wearing off, leaving me shaking with rage and violation.
Hours passed before the door opened again. A tall, thin woman with steel-gray hair entered, followed by two assistants wheeling equipment.
"Kalyndi," she said, consulting a tablet. "I'm Dr. Eliza Mercer, Chief Geneticist for the Hybridization Initiative. I've been monitoring your case with great interest."
I sat up on the narrow bed, keeping my expression neutral despite the fire burning in my veins. "What do you want from me?"
"Direct. I appreciate that." She pulled a chair close to my bed, sitting with clinical precision. "What I want is your cooperation in the most important scientific endeavor of our time."
"Creating children who can survive in radiation zones?" I challenged. "Using us as breeding stock?"
If my knowledge surprised her, she didn't show it. "That's a simplistic view of our work, but essentially correct. The Conjunction left vast areas of this planet uninhabitable because of radiation. Areas we desperately need for resources, agriculture, living space."
"So you're creating children to colonize toxic wastelands." My voice shook with disgust. "Children who won't have a choice about their futures."
"We're creating the next evolution of humanity," she corrected. "Children with extraordinary abilities, radiation resistance, accelerated healing, enhanced strength and intelligence. The future of our species."
"By forcing matches and pregnancies? By keeping people prisoner?"
Dr. Mercer sighed as if I were a disappointing student.
"The matching program was never about peaceful coexistence.
That was the story for the masses. In reality, we've been selectively pairing humans and monsters based on specific genetic markers that, when combined, produce offspring with desirable traits. "
"And my match with Redmon?"
"The most promising combination we've discovered." Her eyes lit with scientific fervor. "Your genetic markers, combined with his, could produce offspring with unprecedented abilities. Immunity to radiation, accelerated healing, enhanced sensory perception, potentially even telepathic capabilities."
My blood ran cold. "You've been planning this for years."
"Since before the Conjunction." She nodded to an assistant who began setting up monitoring equipment.
"We identified compatible genetic sequences decades ago, but needed the right subjects.
When we found you during routine screening of terramares populations, we knew we had our female candidate.
Commander Razak's genetic profile was already in our database as exceptional. "
"So you forced us together and expected us to produce your super-children on command?" I laughed bitterly. "How's that working out for you?"
Her expression hardened. "Your resistance has been noted. As has your growing attachment to your mate, despite your initial hostility. An interesting psychological development we're studying closely."
I felt naked under her clinical gaze, as if she could see every private moment between Redmon and me, every touch, every kiss, every whispered confession in the dark.
"Where is he?" I demanded. "What have you done with him?"
"Commander Razak is being held separately while we determine the extent of his sedition. His actions in helping your sister violated numerous protocols." She checked her tablet. "However, his genetic value to the program may mitigate his punishment."
"You can't keep us here. People will notice we're missing."
"Will they?" She smiled thinly. "Your sister has been detained as an accomplice. The few who might inquire about your whereabouts will be told you're in quarantine for a contagious condition. Standard procedure, quite believable."
My last hope crumbled. Selene captured. No one looking for us. No one even knowing where to look.
"Now," Dr. Mercer continued, "we have two options. You can cooperate willingly, understanding the importance of your contribution to humanity's future. Or we can proceed without your cooperation, which is considerably less pleasant but equally effective for our purposes."
"What exactly are you asking me to do?" I kept my voice steady, buying time, searching for any advantage.
"Initially, provide genetic material for our research. Later, when compatibility is confirmed, carry a carefully engineered embryo combining your genetic material with Commander Razak's, enhanced with specific modifications."
Not even natural conception. They wanted to create their perfect hybrid in a lab, using us as mere components.
"And if I refuse?"
"Then we harvest what we need regardless." Her clinical detachment was more terrifying than any threat. "Though the process is more invasive and the recovery more difficult."
I swallowed hard, mind racing through options that seemed increasingly limited. "I want to see Redmon first. Confirm he's alive and unharmed."
Dr. Mercer considered this. "A reasonable request. I'll arrange a brief meeting after your initial procedures are complete."
"And I want information. Everything you know about these hybrid children, their abilities, where they're being kept."
"Also reasonable, though with some limitations." She stood, straightening her immaculate lab coat. "We begin tomorrow morning. I suggest you rest. The procedures can be taxing."
After she left, I paced the small room, searching for weaknesses, escape routes, anything that might help. The door was solid metal with no interior handle. The ventilation grate was barely large enough for my arm. They had bolted the bed to the floor.
They trapped me, leaving me completely at their mercy.
Hours later, a young woman in a technician's uniform brought a tray of food. Unlike the others, her expression held a hint of sympathy as she set it down.
"You should eat," she said quietly. "Keep your strength up."
I studied her, early twenties, dark hair pulled back in a severe bun, eyes that darted nervously to the camera. "What's your name?" I asked.
She hesitated. "Maya."
"Are you a prisoner too, Maya?"
"I'm staff. Research assistant."
"But not by choice," I guessed, noting the tension in her shoulders, the way she kept her gaze down.
She adjusted something on my tray, leaning slightly closer. "Cameras have audio," she whispered. "Be careful what you say."
My heart raced. A potential ally? Or a trap to test my compliance?
"How many others like me are here?" I asked, keeping my voice casual as I examined the food.
"Seventeen active pairs in this facility," she replied, her professional tone at odds with the meaningful look she gave me. "Four with confirmed pregnancies."
"And the children? The ones already born?"
She busied herself with arranging my cutlery. "Transferred to specialized facilities once they reach developmental milestones."
"You mean once you confirm they have the abilities you want," I corrected.
Maya straightened, her voice taking on the rehearsed quality of someone aware they're being monitored. "The Hybridization Initiative provides excellent care for all subjects. Your cooperation ensures the best possible outcomes."
But as she turned to leave, her fingers brushed mine, pressing something small and hard into my palm. I kept my expression neutral, waiting until the door closed behind her before examining the object.
A small data chip, no larger than my thumbnail.
I quickly slipped it into the hem of my shift, heart pounding. Whatever it contained, Maya had risked everything to give it to me.
That night, I lay on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts of Redmon filling my mind. Was he nearby? Was he hurt? Did he know I was here? The ache of separation was physical, a hollow feeling beneath my ribs that surprised me with its intensity.
When had he become so essential to me? The monster I married now felt like the only safe harbor in a storm.
I clutched the hidden data chip like a talisman, wondering what secrets it might hold and how I could access it. I only hoped that tomorrow, when they took me to see Redmon, an opportunity would present itself.
Sleep came in fitful bursts, punctuated by nightmares of laboratories and children with vacant eyes. I woke to the sound of my door unlocking, early morning light filtering through a small window I hadn't noticed before.
Dr. Mercer entered with her team, all business, as they instructed me to follow them. I complied, memorizing every turn, every door code, every potential escape route as they led me to a large examination room.
"Standard genetic sampling today," Dr. Mercer explained, gesturing to an examination chair. "Followed by your requested meeting with Commander Razak."
I sat, allowing them to take more blood samples, tissue samples, and even follicular fluid extracted painfully from my ovaries. I endured it silently, conserving my strength, watching for any opening.
When they finished, Dr. Mercer nodded approvingly. "Your cooperation is appreciated. Now, as promised, you may see Commander Razak."