Page 43 of The Sterling Acquisition

The footage showed test animals following researchers like shadows, displaying distress when separated from specific handlers, and performing behaviors that would have been impossible before the treatment. The clinical notes beside each video catalogued the changes with detached scientific precision, as if the complete destruction of natural personality was merely an interesting data point.

Dante looked at the video files and felt sick, a cold sweat breaking out across his forehead. He’d seen countless examples of behavioral modification across territories, but nothing like this—nothing that so completely erased the original personality while leaving the subject believing they were still themselves.

“And Morrison wants to use untested technology on Leo’s Omega?” he asked, though it wasn’t really a question. His voice was flat, professional training kicking in to mask the growing fury beneath.

“Test Subject Number One,” Duckie confirmed, pulling up a new file that made Dante’s vision narrow to a tunnel, his peripheral awareness fading as he focused on the screen. “The first human trial. Morrison thinks using a virgin subject will provide the cleanest data—no previous bonding to complicate the artificial attachment process.”

There, on the screen, was Orion’s photograph alongside detailed medical information and psychological assessments. The image showed him glaring at the camera, eyes blazing with the same defiance Dante witnessed firsthand. The clinical assessments labeled this as “extreme resistance pathology” rather than the fierce independence Dante knew it to be.

Subject Profile: Test Subject #1

Age:26

Designation:Omega, Virgin, Unclaimed

Current Handler:Leo James, Research Associate

Resistance Level:Extreme

Recommended Protocol:Full Tether Implementation with Anchor/Link sequence

Treatment Protocol - Test Subject #1:

Hour 1: Initial sedation and baseline psychological mapping

Hour 2: Anchor serum administration (establishes biochemical receptivity)

Hour 4: Link catalyst injection with bonding initiation to Handler James

Hours 6-24: Monitoring for integration and adverse reactions

The rest of the file was marked with security restrictions that even Duckie couldn’t access.

Dante stared at Orion’s photograph, something primal and possessive twisting in him. The thought of Orion being strapped to one of those tables, pumped full of chemicals designed to make him adore Leo of all people, made his vision blur with rage. His hands were shaking, he realized distantly, a physical response he hadn’t experienced since his earliest training days.

Twenty years of Gensyn conditioning didn’t prepare him for this visceral reaction to seeing someone he—

What? Desired? That was certainly true, but incomplete. Respected? Also true, but still insufficient. The realization that he couldn’t categorize his feelings for Orion within standard corporate parameters was itself disturbing, a sign of how far he’d already strayed from his training.

“When is this scheduled?” Dante asked, his voice controlled despite the irregular pounding of his heart.

“Soon. Morrison’s been waiting for the right biological timing.” Duckie’s discomfort was obvious as he gestured toward a scheduling terminal across the lab. “An exact date is in Morrison’s private system if the Omega doesn’t hit a full heat soon, they’ll use an accelerant to make it happen. He keeps the timeline locked down with triple biometric security—retinal, voice, and DNA verification. He’s paranoid about corporate espionage, especially after what happened with the Chimera Syndicate leak last year.”

“Elaborate,” Dante said, moving toward the scheduling terminal.

“Morrison had another project—behavioral pheromone manipulation—that got leaked to Elysian. He lost months of research advantage, and three researchers were executed for industrial espionage. The SVI board denied knowing about it.” Duckie’s voice dropped even lower. “Since then, critical scheduling and implementation details are compartmentalized. I only know it’s happening soon because Morrison’s been having us prepare the holding cells and calibrate the delivery systems.”

Dante examined the terminal, confirming Duckie’s assessment. The security was beyond what he could bypass in a single visit without specialized equipment.

“I’ll need copies of what you can access,” Dante said. “The technical specifications, the treatment protocols you’ve shown me.”

“I can’t copy everything—the system logs data transfers, and Morrison monitors access to classified files.” Duckie hesitated. “But I could transfer some of the basic research, maybe a few key documents. Enough to demonstrate the technology without triggering security alerts.”

“Do it.”

Duckie began a selective transfer, his movements nervous. “Just... be careful with this information. If Morrison discovers there’s been unauthorized access...”

“Complete discretion,” Dante assured him. “Our clients understand the value of maintaining operational security.”