Kira looked at Elena in her cell. "The genetic donor speaks. How quaint."

"I'm your mother." Elena pressed against the bars. "I carried you for seven months. I felt you kick. I talked to you. I loved you before they stole you."

"Love is a chemical reaction. Meaningless evolutionary baggage." Kira's voice stayed flat. "Project Apex taught me that. Emotion is weakness. Attachment is liability. We're weapons. Nothing more."

"You're wrong." Tears ran down Elena's face. "You're my daughter. My ...