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[yourdistraction]

[ And here appears the face of an elf, one with short and dark hair scattered with braids, tattoos swirling across her face and around her large, almost insect-like green eyes. Her smile is awkward, only half there as aware as she is that it's a poor time to smile. ]

Hello there. This is Merrill again, um. I suppose it has been some time, but then I haven't had anything worth saying. And then I did, perhaps, but it didn't seem a good time. Is it ever a good time? Well, near half a million people have been destroyed despite our best efforts. That doesn't seem like a good time.

I am sorry. Especially to those who were from there. So sorry.

But I cannot put off this question any longer. My curiosity has gotten the best of me, and maybe a distraction would not be out of place for a short amount of time. [ She clears her throat and taps a fingertip to her lower lip, near pouting. ] I suppose a joke or story would be better in that case, but there I go again with my poor sense of timing.

In any case, does anyone here know of the Chimera Project? [ The petite elf holds up a small booklet, or thick leaflet, however you choose to see it. The title is clear as day. It's stained with something, though... ] I regret to say that...ale spilled all over it in the drastic move, sorry about the appearance. But I would like to hear if any Transports or even Initiative employees know of this.

[private; Fenris]

Isn't it strange? Even now, with our friends here...our Thedas is still the most similar. Our Kirkwall, and our Hawke.

[/private]

[ ooc; Sorry I might be slow on tagging back some threads until I hear more about the pamphlet thingy. Will get to them ASAP! ]

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[infiltrative]

[ Huell is at the observatory in a matter of seconds after receiving a text and spotting her goes just as fast and easy.

He doesn't bat an eye at her appearance, plenty of people modified themselves to look like elves back home, it's nothing new to him. The way she conducts herself and greets him is odd to him, however. In his uncertainty how to react, he finds himself very awkwardly doing a little half-bow in return. ]

Uh, hi.

[yourdistraction]

[ Her smile is curious, unsure but certainly not afraid. She may be short, but she knows well enough how to handle herself. ]

You are Rush, correct?

[infiltrative]

[ Not that there's anything to fear from the small teen that's shifting from foot to foot as if he has trouble standing still anyway. ]

Aye, I am. [ A beat and he adds with a nod: ] Merrill.

[ That gets the formalities out of the way, right?? ]

[yourdistraction]

[ Well she's not the most comfortable standing, either, with her bare feet, alas. These floors are not warm. ]

Did you wish to read the papers here, or go somewhere with more privacy? That's a little hard to find about here I suppose, but possible with effort...

[infiltrative]

[ That's too much trouble for something he can read in mere seconds, so he shakes his head. ]

Nah, here's fine. I'll read it fast.

[yourdistraction]

[ Well, all right, at least she can keep it in her sights. So Merrill pulls out the pamphlet of sorts to hand over. The following is a rough summary of what's included when he does read it:

Subjects were chosen based on a display of inherent genetic ability differing from the normal function of Homo sapiens, and the general hope is to be able to breed and sort through different "genetic traits" (powered abilities) to produce individuals capable of adapting to and handling any variety of environments, and further research is to be conducted on creating specialized tasks forces of genetic trait enhanced subjects for use alongside the colonization project.

This project stems off their own genetics research; this portion was phased in as something meant to be an academic discussion (to start making people who are amalgamations of genetic material from different sources) that went forward with the discovery of a Transport (Kaworu) initially when he'd disappeared for over a month. They thought to use this at first with the portals to other worlds and get test subjects that way, but it was to too difficult to get the genetic material, since they couldn't bring living people back over the divide into this world. So it started later in 3312, sometime after October and before a Transport's (Elmer) world was destroyed.

Subjects were initially going to be gene therapied, but it was decided before material was obtained in ready manners that such would not be efficient. It will continue to say they moved to full tank growth at an accelerated rate, and that it is unknown how stable the accelerated growth will make the subjects, nor if they can keep them properly educated without further assistance from the education. For full maturity, months is needed -- up to about puberty, growth can be accelerated over the course of a month to two months with relatively few setbacks. ]

[infiltrative]

[ As promised, he reads it quick— just a few seconds. Those seconds are all it takes to speed read a few times and make sure he's got it memorized. Try as he might to keep a neutral expression, with every reread his brow furrows more and by the time he's holding it back out to her, he looks vaguely unsettled.

It's all hitting home way too close for comfort. ]

Thanks.

[yourdistraction]

[ Well, it's unsettling news, so his reaction isn't suspicious to her. She accepts it again with a nod, waiting a few moments before speaking up. ]

So you understood everything, then?

[infiltrative]

[ He shifts around his feet with new found agitation, staring at the floor until she speaks up. ]

Yeah. [ An uncomfortable beat and he adds: ] It's sick.

[yourdistraction]

Sick? Well...yes, I hardly think it a healthy pursuit, that is for certain.

[ She opens the pamphlet back up, then holds it out and points to a few spots. ]

Can you explain this, then? 'Homo sapiens'? And what of 'genetic' and 'gene therapy'?

[infiltrative]

[ An odd thing to say, but he's more surprised by the sudden questions and baffled enough to just reply. ]

Homo sapiens is the scientific name for humans. Genetics is what traits you inherit from your parents, things like the colour of your eyes and hair and in this case, powers. With gene therapy they try to alter genes.