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She is isolated and in pain, yet still functions well. It seems she has the resilience of a Ra-ahlian female, but is more easily subdued and controlled. She is just what we need.”
    “My other specimens could be subdued, yes. But this one is willful—”
    “And hopefully that is environmental, not genetic. I believe she can be controlled. Prove to me you can accomplish that. This is your experiment, Ga’rag. When we present this evidence to the Genetic Overseers, I want it to be irrefutable. I want them to beg us to use this specimen to infuse our magnificent race with new vigor and resilience—“
    “And then the Ryersons will be immortal,” Ga’rag muttered. “I wanted to punish them. Annihilate them. But instead, I am gifting them with eternal life.”
    The overlord felt his patience snap. “Do I need to complete this experiment myself? I could send you to assist your brother—“
    “No! I can do it. Give me another chance, Father. Please?”
    The overlord glared for a long moment, then chuckled. “Do not think of it as making them immortal. Think of it as enslaving them for all eternity. Because that’s what it will be. Slave specimens bred on prison farms, never allowed to socialize or travel or educate themselves. Forced to perform backbreaking yet menial tasks while serving as living incubators in which to develop cures for our genetic setbacks.”
    He paused for a moment, enjoying the rapt look on his clone-son’s face. Then he gave him a confident grin. “Immortality? We will make them pray for death.”

Chapter Five
     
    When Brietta woke up, the pain had receded but still lingered behind her eyes. All seemed quiet outside her tent, but there were hoofbeats in the distance, announcing Taggert’s imminent return. She could only pray Hannan and the others hadn’t called him back prematurely.
    Struggling to sit up, she realized Melody was seated in a nearby camp chair, so she gave her a weak smile. “How long was I out?”
    “Thank God you’re awake.” The grad student hugged her impulsively. “Hannan says your eyes rolled back into your forehead. I thought that was just an expression.”
    “Does Taggert know?”
    “Vince wanted to call him on the walkie-talkie, but we stopped him.” Melody hugged her again. “You have to tell him yourself though. You know that, right?”
    “I guess.” Brietta tried to stand and was pleased when her spine didn’t re-crumble. In fact, there wasn’t even a twinge of pain in that region. Just the same throbbing in her head that had plagued her for forty-eight hours.
    Just a fluke , she decided shakily. Like you hit a nerve with that shovel. Almost literally.
    She took a step just to be sure, and smiled at Melody when she succeeded. Then she heard Taggert’s voice from outside the tent as he said with a growl, “How long has she been out? God dammit , why didn’t you call me?”
    “Uh-oh.” She almost laughed when Melody edged away just as Taggert stuck his head through the nylon screen flap.
    To his credit, he didn’t seem angry at Brietta. Just concerned, at least for the moment. “Can I come in?”
    “Sure.”
    He gave Melody a glare. “Go away.”
    Once she had scurried out into the night, he walked right over to Brietta and gave her a warm hug. “Vince says you collapsed. This is nuts, Brie.”
    She allowed herself to savor the embrace, but just for a moment. Then she pulled free. “It wasn’t the sinus infection, Taggert, believe it or not. It was a fluky accident. My shovel hit a rock or something, and it sort of reverberated through my spine. Like a ricochet. I thought I’d never walk again, but look at me now.” She smiled confidently. “Good as new.”
    “You’re saying your head doesn’t hurt? Not at all?”
    “I’m saying I didn’t faint because of my head.” When he scowled, she admitted, “My face still hurts, but that’s to be expected. I told you, it takes a few days for the amoxicillin to kick in. But my back injury