“Sick? Hah! Her mate has no interest in my research, but we serve a purpose that he needs to fulfil—keeping her alive and quiet. If that is the sickness to which you refer. So, he pays the facility’s bills, funds my grants, and leaves us to do whatever we want as long as she exists here, and we don’t ask questions.” His low, hushed voice signals that maybe he doesn’t quite trust either the female across the way, or maybe there are cameras down here. I sit up a little, pushing my hands under the edges of my legs and change tactic. A common ground to show him I’m definitely...