As days passed Lidda came to understand that there would be no consummation of her and Reddge’s relationship without formalizing their commitment. Reddge explained it was a strict custom and one to which Ring members rigidly adhered. She agreed, but found herself more frustrated every day. It was only by throwing herself into her work and studies with a new passion that she managed to endure. She would be leaving for Provendor in the fall, about the same time Reddge would be back on the road. Lidda was working late into the evening. He had been assisting her but had gone ahead to clean up for the evening meal. She promised she would finish and join him in a few minutes. His long strides took him quickly out of view.

Lidda’s arms were full of plant bundles ready to transfer out to the grounds. As she started to exit, the doors didn't open for her as usual. An older fellow, a janitor, saw her dilemma from across the room.

"The metal bucket there is blocking the door scanner Miss." He motioned with his wrist indicating that she should swipe hers across the scanner.

Curious, Lidda brushed her wrist across the electronic eye and the door opened wide as usual. So, she was being scanned! She knew some type of electronic surveillance was used to track the whereabouts of the day workers. Certain doors were blocked from access to all but upper-level staff, but she had not expected all the doors to be checked. And she had assumed it was through the ID badges, not a chip!

Once she had moved out of view of the janitor, she felt up and down her arm for the tell-tale chip. Just where was it hiding and how did it get there? She felt suddenly violated, deceived. It was one thing to keep a few secrets from her; quite another to implant a chip in her body without her permission or knowledge.

"Reddge!" Lidda called out despite knowing he would not likely be close enough to hear her. "Widhbo, what's going on here?" she demanded. She was shocked to hear a voice other than Widhbo or Casra answer.

It was Reddge's voice coming from the magiton. "Sorry Lidda. I never could find the right time bring this up as yet."

"The time is now, Reddge," Lidda said, her voice angry and full of grit. "Way past time actually."

"I'm sorry. I promised to tell you everything. Meet us in the study off the library."

When Lidda arrived, she found Casra there as well. Reddge had an apologetic look. Lidda was furious.

Casra tried to explain. "I knew it was just a matter of time..."

"Do you know how this makes me feel?" Lidda interrupted. Her anger was demanding an outlet. She could feel Widhbo warm against her breast. "Betrayed. Not only have I been chipped without my knowledge, but you've also both been spying on me. Through this!" Lidda pulled the pouch from her neck and threw the magiton on the table. "Cut this chip out of me or I will do it myself!" Lidda threatened with tears streaming down her face.

Reddge was watching her evenly and waited until she was out of words before speaking. "Lidda, this is just one of many things I planned to tell you. I had to know you were committed first with a formal betrothal to be wed."

"You can forget the betrothal until this is settled," Lidda said, offended by his reserved manner. "Who chipped me? When was it done? What makes you think you have the right to spy on me? I need answers Reddge and I need them now, or its all off!"

"You knew that you were adopted as a child?" It was Mara speaking now. Her smooth voice entered the room before her.

"I don't see what that has to do with any of this, Mara," Lidda snapped back at her. Mara's words penetrated deeper and Lidda realized Mara may know a lot more about her adoption than she did. "My records are sealed and that's all I know."

"I will show you," Mara offered. "You were born right here in this nursery. You have carried the chip all your life. I know since I am the one who put it there."

Stunned, Lidda turned to face Mara. As she took Lidda’s arm, it was as though a cool breeze flowed through Lidda, drying her tears and calming her thoughts. Mara led her to a waiting vehicle. The Tollsuns followed, Reddge wisely keeping his distance. Despite her anger, part of Lidda just wanted him to hold her and make this all go away. They drove to the central Novaland research building and entered through a bolted steel door in the back. The elevator plunged downward instead of up, taking took them to a windowless underground nursery. Mara led them through a humid greenhouse thick with vines and plants. Finally, they came to a secluded laboratory almost hidden by the jungle of vegetation and entered a dimly lighted room.

There before Lidda were a dozen or more unusual plant forms growing quietly in the warm mist. Each plant had a large sac like appendage that appeared heavy and filled with fluid. They were unlike any other plants she had seen in the year she had spent at the Gardens. Reddge pulled out a flashlight to back light one of the plant sacs. Lidda’s anger had dissipated somewhat and was now forgotten in her horror as she viewed the obviously human form growing within the plant.

Lidda looked at the others. They had obviously been here before. "Babies? These are real babies?" she croaked. She could barely talk.

"Yes Lidda. They are real babies." Mara answered. "Just as you once were." Her voice was gently prodding Lidda to the realization. "As were Reddge and Casra."

"We came from... Plants?" Lidda didn’t want to believe any of this.

"The plants have been genetically altered to carry human DNA. The babies are quite human, just with an altered genetic pattern. The genes are the same, but...arranged a little differently."

Lidda felt her knees growing weak and would have fallen except for Reddge coming to her side. He explained further. "Two different species of plants, each carrying a partial set of human DNAs are artificially pollinated to bringing together a complete genome. The plant throws off its own genetic material during the initial reproductive process leaving only human DNA to create the embryo."

Lidda recovered her composure enough to ask a question. "Human DNA from where?"

"Members of the Ring gladly contribute. An unexpected effect occurred when the final combination of DNA formed one big cyclic structure instead of 23 pairs." Casra added.

"The chip had to be placed before we let you go for adoption." Mara continued. "We had to be able to keep track of you. You can't reproduce offspring with a person carrying the normal DNA pairs. It is only with one of your own kind that you will be able to have children."

"How many babies have there been?" Lidda asked.

"Very few. These plants are entirely new species, bred over the greater part of the last century." explained Mara. "As an added security measure, we used two plants that do not grow in the same climate. Either species left to pollinate naturally will only produce more of itself. It is only when the two are artificially introduced under laboratory conditions that a human embryo will result."

"Why? Why in the world..." Lidda felt she just answered her own question. This had nothing to do with her world. Lidda was beginning to put together a few pieces of the puzzle. She looked at Reddge with new eyes. "So, I was actually betrothed to you a long time ago, wasn't I?"

"I never spied on you Lidda. Not once," Reddge said. "I was locked in the magiton until you called for me."

She had been so overwhelmed she hadn't realized Reddge was still holding her up. "Just get me out of here."

Lidda couldn’t recall much of what happened after that. Not wanting anything to eat, Mara convinced her to drink a cup of tea. It so quickly calmed her chaotic nerves that Lidda suspected it was laced with a sedative. She must have fallen asleep on one of the large sofas in the study. She woke in her own bed with Widhbo sitting in his usual spot. Lidda felt Reddge's presence in the room. The phantom was there as well. She could almost feel it lying beside her. They had been watching over her as she slept. Strangely she found it reassuring despite everything else.