"They saw an opportunity and grabbed it." He paused. "Over ninety percent of clones and ninety-five percent of their lab-bred crosses are sterile, and they have yet to ascertain why."
"I'm facing those same fertility issues," I reminded him. "No one is actually sure if I can get pregnant, either."
"No, no one is sure whether you can carry to term. Right now, you're totally capable of becoming pregnant."
I didn't bother refuting his assumptions. "So who was fucking me in that breeding center? The man with the blue eyes who thinks that I owe him?"
"Yes."
"Was he the only one?"
"No."
"Then who else?"
"One of the men behind the man."
And thanks to the accident, I couldn't remember a goddamn thing. "Why?"
He shrugged. "Because he was there to give instructions, and because he likes a hot bit of tail."
"I'm gathering he prefers his tail lifeless."
My voice was dry, and Misha smiled again. "Feisty is not a preferred option - but it just might hook him where subservience hasn't."
I raised my eyebrows. "That a piece of advice?"
"A dangerous one, but yes."
"Also useless if you don't give me a name."
"All things come in time, Riley."
I was betting it was going to be a long time before I got the name, though. "So why was he there passing on instructions rather than the big man himself?"
"Because it is safer."
But safe from what? Certainly not us, because we had no idea who he was. Not yet, anyway. I studied him for a moment, then said, "If your boss is so dangerous, why are you here now?"
He raised an eyebrow. "If I answer honestly, I want another two hours with you."
Like I had a choice? Like I'd even know if he was being honest? I shrugged. "Whatever."
"The reason is twofold. First, I've long been at odds with my lab-mates and our so-called leader. Their vision has never been mine."
Meaning the leader of this little crew wasn't a lab-mate? Then who - or what - was he? "And their vision is?"
"As I said before, originally it was a quest for perfection. The desire to create the perfect humanoid, one possessing the most desirable characteristics from all branches of humanity."
"I'm guessing that changed when your master of creation died in the fire."
He nodded. "Now it's more a quest for domination and power."
It was on my lips to ask for his name, but he wouldn't answer a direct question. "Did a brother from a previous batch of clones take over?"
"No. We were the first batch to have survivors into adulthood."
"Then who?"