“That’s not a variable. That’s being human. That’s what makes us...”
My voice shook.
“Weak. Predictable. Exploitable.”
Dresner finished for me.
“Oxytocin floods the system during bonding. The brain, when truly bonded, fights for survival of both individuals. It overrides the programming.”
He leaned forward slightly, eyes bright with fascination.
“Reaper remembered his humanity. Specter chose protection over programming. And you, Ms. Bolton...”
The smile that crossed his face made my blood run cold.
“You made Blackout want to live.”
The accusation slammed into me.
Because that’s what it was. An accusation.
“His name is Xavier.” Anger cut through fear. “Not Blackout. Xavier.”
“You’re saying I changed him?” The words ripped out before I could stop them.
“I’m saying you freed him. Unintentionally, of course. You had no idea what you were doing. You were simply... being human.”
Dresner straightened.
The way he said it made humanity sound like a design flaw.
My hands fisted against the bindings. “That’s why you took me. Not just for leverage.”
“Precisely. You’re invaluable to my research.”
Research.
The word echoed in my head, bouncing off the walls of my skull with increasing horror.
“I need to understand the mechanism. How does emotional attachment override chemical conditioning? What neural pathways are activated during bonding? Can the effect be replicated? Prevented? Weaponized?”
Dresner pulled up another file on his tablet.
He looked at me again, and the clinical interest made me want to vomit.
“You’re not just bait, Ms. Bolton. You’re the key to the next generation of conditioning. Oblivion 2.0 will account for the human variable.”
No. God, no.
“Your brain chemistry. Your responses. Your bond with Xavier, all data.” He tapped the screen. “And when Xavier arrives...”
His eyes gleamed.
“I’ll have both halves of the equation. The conditioned subject and the catalyst. Imagine what I can learn from observing your reunion. How his neurochemistry responds to your presence. How far he’ll go to protect you. What he’ll sacrifice.”
“He won’t come. Xavier’s smart. He’ll know it’s a trap.”
My voice shook, but I forced the words out.
