HeatedMatch Read Free Page B

no-nonsense
commander never minced words. Seeing him dance around a topic like a ballerina
was unusual.
    “As you mentioned, we have new challenges to face. Now that
the world knows about us, it’s expected other groups will try to imitate our
science and create their own genetically enhanced soldiers. We need to stay
faster, better and smarter than the rest.”
    He nodded. Shep still wasn’t telling him anything new.
    Shep continued. “Ever since we were exposed, I’ve been
flooded with applications and blood work from females offering themselves as
breed partners. It’s foolish not to take advantage. We need more volunteers
from the current ranks.”
    Adam replied, “What are you getting at?” His head, which had
already been hammering a discordant beat, upped the tempo.
    William Blacker stared intently at Adam’s face, willing him
to understand. “None of your cohorts signed up for the breeding program yet.
The youngest child on campus is three years old. We need babies.”
    Adam flew back out of his seat, banging into the doorknob. No.
Oh hell no. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Is that really on the table? I
thought required breeding disappeared in the eighties along with mullet
haircuts. It’s a whole new millennium. We have the technology to abandon the
breeding program. Can’t we do test-tube babies or something? ’Cause, I’m not
participating.” He turned with a plea for his father. “Sir, you know why I’ve
never signed up to be matched. Has Doctor Wise given her approval?”
    “Doctor Wise feels there is a one in four chance of your
child having a deformity. It’s an acceptable risk to her.”
    “Because it’s not her fetus who’d be terminated.” At the
uncomfortable silence, Adam clenched his fists. “That’s it, isn’t it? She’s
happy to abort my children in the name of medical science. Fuck that. Go for
test tubes, ’cause I won’t be part of it.”
    Adam, you know why we can’t do test-tube babies,” Shep
reminded him. “Doctor Rovinsky’s child-rearing theories are still applicable.”
    “Oh, yeah, the good old Doctor Rovinsky. Well, fuck him and
fuck his ass-backwards methodology. He’s been dead for nearly twenty years,”
Adam said.
    “We honor our founder.” Shep came as close to shouting as
Adam had ever heard. As far as he knew, only a select, lucky few had seen Shep
lose his temper, and they now mopped floors in Qatar.
    “Adam, if we did use your DNA in a test tube, would you
really be able to ignore the fact that there would be a child on campus who’s
technically your son?” his father asked. “You’re a good man. You couldn’t just
ignore the child.”
    “Watch me,” Adam muttered, but his protest was mild. He knew
himself enough to know any child remotely related to him would fall under his
direct protection.
    “Plus, you’re going to want and love your DNA match, like I
wanted your mother,” his father added.
    Wait, what? His father was claiming to have loved his
mother? Now that was shocking. In the fifteen years he’d lived with his dad,
he’d barely mentioned his mom. Granted, they weren’t about the father-son
bonding thing. They had more of a business relationship, but he still would’ve
expected his father to protect him on this issue, especially given the family
history. All Adam remembered was his mom running away with him and his baby
brother. He’d been three at the time. If there’d ever been love between his
parents it had died a quick death when his mom had given birth to a disabled
child who didn’t meet Program standards.
    Adam’s dad rose to his feet as did Commander Shepard. “We
need you, son.”
    “The country needs you,” echoed Shepard. “Finding the
perfect genetic match for you ensures the next generation of elite soldiers.
You’re already thirty. Who will take over for you when you’re too old to do
your job? I, myself, retired comfortably knowing my sons and friends’ sons were
there to take the field.” He