Days passed in a blur of activity. She had managed to maintain the illusion of unconsciousness through controlled breathing to keep her heart rate down. She felt the urge to escape from this place like a blinding white heat in her head, but she waited in hope that perhaps she might learn why she was here.

Then she heard the words...

"We should be able to complete our work tomorrow. The implants are stable. Behavioral programming can commence first thing in the morning."

"Are you certain it will be successful?"

"Absolutely. What will appear to be independent cognition will simply be adaptive response based on situational variables, according to the programming she receives. Every action will ultimately be driven by what we instruct her to do."

Stifling a shudder, she steeled herself. There was no more time. She would escape tonight.

The last technician had barely shut the lab down for the night when she began to pull the cables and tubes away. A rage boiled up within her, fueling her new-found strength. She forced the containment pod open and stepped out.