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"You mean you want to weaponize them," I translate.

Her expression doesn't change. "We want to understand them. Your mother's work was brilliant but incomplete. The applications could benefit all of humanity."

"By Unity's definition ofhumanity," I counter.

Before she can respond, the main doors slide open. A man enters—tall, silver-haired, wearing the distinctive gray uniform of Unity Command. Even through my drug-induced haze, I recognize Director Mercer, head of Unity's Security Division. I'd seen him at ceremonies, always at a distance, an almost mythical figure to regular Sentinels.

"Dr. Keller," he acknowledges. "How is our guest?"

"Stable and coherent," she reports. "The suppression compound is maintaining optimal levels."

Mercer approaches my examination table, studying mewith cold eyes. "Sentinel Thorne. Or former Sentinel, I should say. Your defection was quite disappointing."

"Not as disappointing as discovering my entire existence was a lie," I reply, matching his tone.

"Ah, yes." He circles the table slowly. "Did they tell you the whole truth, I wonder? About what you were designed to be?"

I say nothing, unwilling to reveal how little I actually know.

"Your mother was brilliant," Mercer continues. "Perhaps the most gifted geneticist of her generation. But she was also dangerously idealistic, believing humanity should embrace controlled evolution rather than stability."

"And that's dangerous because it threatens Unity's power structure," I say.

He laughs softly. "Unity isn't about power, Ms. Thorne. It's about survival. The climate collapse proved that human nature, left unchecked, leads to extinction."

"So you created artificial environments where every aspect of human life could be controlled," I retort. "Calling it 'protection' while suppressing anything that threatened your authority."

"A simplified perspective," Mercer dismisses. "But not entirely incorrect. Control was necessary after the collapse. Still is."

"And people like me threaten that control."

He stops at the head of my table, looking down at me. "On the contrary. People like you represent the next phase of control. Imagine it—adaptive capabilities that can be regulated, modifications that respond to authorized commands. The security implications alone are revolutionary."

My blood runs cold. "You want to create modified Sentinels."

"We want to ensure human survival," he corrects. "Through controlled adaptation rather than chaotic Splinter evolution or rigid arcology limitation."

Dr. Keller approaches with another tablet. "Director, the initial analysis is complete. The subject's genetic structure is responding to the targeted compounds."

"Excellent." Mercer takes the tablet, scanning its contents. "The suppression formula is working as designed, then?"

"Yes, but with an unexpected side effect." Keller gestures to a molecular display. "The compound isn't just suppressing her modifications—it's allowing us to direct them. Her adaptive responses can be chemically guided toward specific outcomes."

Mercer's eyes gleam with satisfaction. "Precisely what we hoped. Elara Thorne's daughter may accomplish what her mother never could—controlled evolution under Unity authority."

My stomach twists with revulsion. They don't just want to suppress my modifications; they want to hijack them. Use me as a template for creating controllable modified soldiers.

"Where's Trent?" I demand, changing tactics. "I want to see him."

"Sentinel Vanguard is providing valuable information about the sympathizer network," Mercer says smoothly. "His cooperation has been most helpful."

"You're lying," I say with more confidence than I feel. "He wouldn't betray Haven's Edge."

"Everyone has breaking points, Ms. Thorne," Mercer replies. "Even model Sentinels like Vanguard."

The thought of Trent being tortured sends rage coursing through me, temporarily burning away the drug-induced fog. For a moment, I feel my modifications stirring, pushing against the suppression compound.

Dr. Keller notices immediately, checking a monitor. "Adaptation response detected. Increasing suppression levels."