Ha, the reason this fic has lurked on my google docs for about four months is that I really don't have the answer to all those questions :)

The best I got - the bond is a biological way, they are born with that capability. Children born with this ability are identified and raised to be 'slaves' (it's not called that, but essentially that's what it is). The implants are put in early to help control them. People with this ability make the best doctors because it gives them mildly telepathic/empathic ability (you should see Wilson with his patients with this extra ability!).

Nobody would deliberately break apart a bonded pair because it would eventually lead to the death of both partners - and they would be useless at work after a period of time. It's probably illegal to sell one without the other. Although someone like Vogler could buy a pair of them and then keep them separated for most of the time if he wanted to amuse himself/ punish them.

Thanks for reading! I'm glad it intrigued you :)