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The technician nods, making an adjustment to her equipment. "Director Mercer is pleased with your progress. Says you're the perfect embodiment of Project Duality."

"The project is just beginning," Trent responds, settling onto the examination platform with perfect composure. "Phase Two implementation requires significant expansion."

"You mean the other settlements?" she asks, calibrating scanning equipment. "The sympathizer networks?"

"All of it." Trent's eyes fix on the distant wall, seeing far beyond it to the wasteland where Zara now flees with the other Haven children. "Project Duality isn't about creating a few modified operatives or capturing the Haven genetic patterns."

The technician looks up, curiosity evident. "No? What is it about then?"

Trent's lips curve in a smile that doesn't reach his eyes. Thewords come automatically, programmed yet somehow feeling like his own:

"Project Duality is already underway. We're all going to change."