"Age six," she said, softly. "I'm not an orphan, but Mother was in prison."

She folded her arms over herself, protectively, and couldn't help the shudder that ripped through her.

"You don't ... want to know the details," she said. He really didn't. Rapture had a way of destroying people's faith in humanity. Even people who thought they were fresh out. "Some of it was undone, later, and the rest ... can't be."

If the slug were to be removed, nothing would keep the ADAM in equilibrium. Her cells would destroy themselves. She'd become another gelatinous blob, just like Dr. Alexander.