"Getting information," I said, placing Marok's journal on the table. "Where's Selene?"
"Gathering herbs in the garden. I've been teaching her basic remedies." Kalyndi's eyes narrowed as she took in my tense posture. "What's wrong?"
"We may have visitors today. Unwelcome ones." I nodded toward her papers. "What's all this?"
A small smile curved her lips. "I have sources too, you know." She picked up the vial. "This cost me three months' worth of rare medicinals, but it was worth it."
"What is it?"
"Blood. From a technician at the testing facility." She set it down carefully. "He was persuaded to share some information as well."
I stared at her in amazement. "You bribed a Magnus Terra worker?"
"Bribed, blackmailed, same difference." She shrugged, but couldn't hide her proud smile. "He had a gambling problem and a sick mother. I offered a cure for one and relief from the other."
"Kalyndi the healer, resorting to blackmail." My brow lifted as I nodded. "What did you learn?"
She spread the papers before me. "Our matching wasn't random. They've been tracking my bloodline for generations, back to before the Great War. Something about genetic resistance to radiation and cellular degeneration."
I opened Marok's journal, placing it beside her papers. "And my lineage carries markers for enhanced regeneration and adaptive immunity. They're pairing specific genetic traits."
Kalyndi's eyes widened as she scanned the journal. "These other couples... they all have complementary genetic markers. Different combinations, but always paired for specific traits."
"Marok said three pairs have already produced children. The offspring were taken for 'special education' at age three."
Her face paled. "Taken? By force?"
"Yes."
She sat heavily, one hand going protectively to her stomach in an unconscious gesture that made my heart race. "Why would they do this? What do they want from these children?"
I flipped through her papers, stopping at a page of scientific notation I couldn't fully understand. "What's this?"
Kalyndi pulled it closer. "The technician's notes on potential offspring from our pairing. Based on our genetic profiles, any children we might have would likely possess..." She swallowed hard. "Enhanced regenerative abilities, immunity to most toxins, and possibly accelerated healing capacities. Essentially, they'd be nearly impervious to disease and able to recover from injuries that would kill others."
"Perfect soldiers," I growled. "Or perfect colonists for the dead zones still contaminated from the war."
"Or both." Kalyndi's voice shook slightly. "The notes mention 'terraforming applications' and 'military potential' in the same paragraph."
I placed my hand over hers. "They won't get the chance. Not with our children."
She didn't pull away from my touch. Instead, her fingers intertwined with mine. "What do we do with this information? If we expose them… "
"We'd be silenced before we could speak." I squeezed her hand gently. "We need allies. Other pairs like us who don't know they're being used as breeding stock for some grand experiment."
"The journal mentions a pair near the eastern lakes. Rivek and Amara." Kalyndi traced the entry with her free hand. "They had a child last year."
"We could reach them in three days if we travel fast."
She nodded, determination replacing fear in her eyes. "We should leave tonight, after dark."
"No." I released her hand reluctantly. "Marok warned me. They're coming for you today. For 'special testing.' We need to be ready."
Alarm flashed across her face. "What kind of testing?"
"I don't know. But given what we've learned, nothing good."
Selene entered through the garden door, arms full of fresh herbs. She stopped short when she saw our expressions. "What's happened?"
