Falstraq has been very distraught since first meeting Pegraf 7, who apparently operates a secret biological project that involves test subjects who had been sentenced to forced labor and then coopted for participation. God was among the test subjects, being experimented on like a laboratory animal when e should have been recruited for employment by the most competitive laboratories on the planet.
After Pegraf fled conference room theta, Falstraq was left with the Lead Scientist who grabbed erim around the waist as the door closed them inside. Falstraq calmed, e had not been held so soundly, so securely, since the death of eris love Belfrat, and e sighs loudly, trying to let go of eris rage.
“You have been made privy to a secret that no other durine on this planet is aware of save myself, and those directly involved in the program. Aside from Pegraf and an assistant who helps him process data, no other scientist is involved with this project, and there are currently only five test subjects under observation.”
Observation. The word bounces around Falstraq’s head as e tries to comprehend what it could possibly mean. E puts a hand to the cheek of the Lead Scientist; Falstraq has never seen anyone touch Duraq 33, but they were so close in the moment, and Duraq seemed to genuinely want erim to be ok with the news e had been given. Duraq pulled away from it at first, like reacting to the coolness of Falstraq’s hand, but then e relaxed and gave Falstraq a smile.
“I regret that things happened as they did for God. I understand your interest in erim, e must have been an interesting durine to spend time with. Rest assured that God will contribute greatly to the future of the Druinte race…”
Falstraq interrupts, “What exactly is being done to erim? Durine experimentation is not permitted, Duraq, you above all others know that. Would you let this happen to your people?”
“You must understand all that this secret program has done for our society,” Duraq said sympathetically. Falstraq moved eris arms from eris waist, and sits in a nearby chair. Duraq kneels before erim. “My previous iterations understood the need for the secret work that scientists like Pegraf 7 have done for a very long time now…”
“What are you doing to God, and to what end Lead Scientist?” Falstraq asked evenly.
“Observation,” Duraq answered, just as evenly. “You understand Druite observation; inquiry for the sake of. Testing limits,” Falstraq looks away as slow tears fall down eris cheeks as e imagines God being ripped apart and put back together, “trying cutting edge medical techniques. It is the work of a scientist, Falstraq.”
Falstraq looked into the eyes of Duraq, big tears welled in eris eyes, “Why are you telling me this? Have I proven myself worthy of your confidence Lead Scientist?”
Duraq nodded sincerely and did not react to the tears on eris face. “I trust that you will help to alleviate our social ills. You are a true leader Falstraq. My previous iteration made extensive notes about the Social Community, and though e was unable to enact the changes that e thought might be beneficial, e predicted that a strong leader of that community joined with a willing Lead Scientist could change Druinte society for the better into the future. I think we are those two durine. Please,” Duraq said, extending a hand to Falstraq, “please continue to work with me in this. I think that we make a great team. My gesture today was to demonstrate my willingness to be completely honest with you as we work to complete this very difficult mission.”
Falstraq contemplated the hand of the Lead Scientist. E grabbed it, and then said very seriously, “I will be your partner until the end of our days in this mission, if you send God away. Banish erim to the banned regions. I’m sure that in the time e has been under Pegraf’s care, you have mined all of the genetic information that you need to create a hundred Gods. Even though you shouldn’t, but you shouldn’t have a secret durine experimentation program, so you might as well make durine to torture.”
Duraq nodded. There were already clones of God being grown in Pegraf’s laboratory, next to the clones of Plenary 287 that no one outside of the secret program knew existed. Every iteration of Duraq understood that durine like Plenary were more than just genetic perfection; they were living weapons on a planet like Druont that did not spend considerable time developing and training with bombs and guns. When fully grown, the God and Plenary clones could serve as sentries to the planet, deflecting any attack without firing a shot. But no one understood, Duraq thought, and there would be no harm letting Falstraq’s God live out the rest of eris days in the banned regions. Especially if it bonded Falstraq to Duraq on a personal level. Eris previous iteration stressed that making the leader of the social community love erim would motivate the social leader to achieve their goals even more.
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