"Zhao. Dr. Marcus Zhao." The words came out less halting and flat, as if the compulsion had managed to overcome the withdrawal jitters.
Kian typed a message to Roni to start researching the name.
"How long has he been working for the Brotherhood?" Toven asked.
"A year and a half, maybe more."
Kian was starting to suspect that the Doomer had been exaggerating his withdrawal symptoms before Toven's compulsion forced him to drop the act. If so, it was clever on his part, and Kian regarded the guy with renewed interest.
According to Soras, only a select few had been chosen for enhancement. Since recently Navuh had been valuing Doomers based on smarts rather than brawn and cruelty, it made sense that Soras was more intelligent than his average brethren.
At the sound of an incoming text, Kian looked down at his phone and read the text from Roni.
Dr. Zhao disappeared about a year ago from a conference in Hong Kong. His lab at Berkeley specialized in neurochemistry. Kaia is going over his published papers. She'll send you a summary.
Kian typed back a thank you before returning his attention to the prisoner.
"I assume that Dr. Zhao was taken against his will?"
The Doomer actually smiled. "He was promised all the beautiful females he could handle if he cooperated and threatened with harm to family members if he did not. This method never fails."
Kian found it curious that this time, Soras had volunteered the information without being compelled.
"What is Dr. Zhao creating?" Toven asked.
"Enhancement formulas." The Doomer shivered, the twitching intensifying for some reason. "Volunteers only. Those who want... want to be better. Many failures."
"Define failures," Kian commanded.
Soras's body convulsed again, and Toven repeated the question using compulsion to force him to answer.
"First batch was twenty volunteers. Fifteen couldn't tolerate it. Seizures. Psychotic breaks. Five survived, became Level One. Stronger, faster, more resilient."
So, there were different levels. That was interesting.
"What level are you?" Toven asked.
"Two." Pride crept into the Doomer's voice. "Twice baseline strength. Reaction time... significantly improved. Can go weeks without sleep."
Kian exchanged a glance with Toven. Weeks without sleep? That alone would be a significant tactical advantage, but there was a chance that the Doomer was boasting.
No one could go for so long without sleep, not even gods.
Sleep was critical to the body, and if the guy had gone so long without, it was no wonder he was psychotic.
"How many enhanced warriors have been made so far?" Toven asked.
"Eighty-seven stable. Twenty more in... in processing. Different levels. Level Three still... problematic."
"Problematic how?" Kian asked.
The Doomer didn't answer until Toven used compulsion to force him to talk.
The guy's face contorted. "They break. Their mind. Mohdes was Three, but he killed four Level Ones before he was stopped. Tore their hearts right out of their bodies."
"What's the goal of this enhancement program?" Toven asked.
Wasn't that obvious? Navuh had discovered a way to expedite the realization of his objective of global domination.
