Welcome to Gaia! ::

"I never suspected you to be a leak, and I still don't." That never go through Lilia's head did it. Though now her comforter was just getting wet. Frankly she felt bad because she was being so dispondent to the girl. But she couldnt' help it, Jelena was really emotionally unavaliable right now...and medication was kicking it.

"I'm sorry...though you should feel good that you have regret about it. That way you don't sleep around with everyone." Okay it soudned a bit harsh but it was a good logic to it really. "You're still young....young hearts heal...you'll be just fine. You're strong...you think I merely picked you because you look good on paper? You had to send in a video submission too remember? You spoke with a strength that was beyond the reach of other who really wanted to hold you down. You belong here...you'll win over what he did. He lost out on you for greed."

A mumbled okay was the only response that Lilia got as Jelena buried her head under her pillow, trying to blot out the world until her medication put her in a sort of amnesic state of mind. Dangerous thing really but she was keen on it for this particular time of year.

Not to mention her birthday was coming up as well. Whee...family's death, birthday and board meeting all in the same week. And people wondered why she never mentioned her birthday to anyone. Well that was why.

"Miss Nickko?"

Lillia looked up from the vital stats of the Griffin she was reviewing and saw the same intern that had been trying to present his proposal for the Sphinx as a new Echo. "Cole, this had better not be about-"

"Lily I know you say that it would be bad but you're just not thinking about the good it would do. I mean, we eventually are goign to have to expand into human experimentation."

"It's Lillia and no. We do nothing with humans. We work with the heretofore known as fictional and legendary craeatures whom we recreate and form through biogenetic evolution and genetic engineering. Nothing else. We do not condone human experimentation and that includes half-human hybrids."


"But think of all the good it would do. Humans wouldn't have to worry so much abotu surgery anymore. We could make an entire human body and then just pull from it any vital organs that are needed. It's like a constant donor."

She shot him a look, "How would you feel if you were just a donor. A human has thoughts, feelings, emotions and the abillity to learn about the world around them. Besides posable thumbs our brains are what sets us apart from so many other mammals and other animals. Tampering with that delicate balance will send everything into chaos."

"The donor wouldn't have to know. We are under no obligation to teach him or her anything. Women wouldn't have to die because of breast cancer or ovarian cancer because they can't stand the thought of living without it. A man who lost his arm can have not a robotic one but a real live human arm, that lives adn works just like his original did. Think of the poor victims."

She stood up and slammed her palms down on the desk. "Mr. Hart, I told you before, we do not do any experimentation on humans. And furthermore to not teach this donor means we are willingly allowing one of our own to be uninformed and using him instead. Does that sound right to you Mr. Hart? Would you like to be created for a purpose that you are not informed of? And then questions you ask, which you undoubtedly will because of the intelligence factor I spoke of earlier, are not answered? Oh and then one day someone comes in and starts cutting you up. How would you feel about that Mr. Hart? Any human who is created whether through genetic means or naturalistic deserves a chance to explore their world and learn all they can. Opportunity isn't always available but I'm damned if I'm going to condone a project that allows for what is specifically against policy. Now do not ask me again!"

Cole stood back and heaved a sigh. "That's the problem with you people! You're so simple minded. You don't think above and beyond. Lillia, what good does a bunch of legendary creatures do anybody? Jelena is brillian, I'm not disputing that. Her formula has made significant jumps in the biological and genetic world and think of all that could be done with it. We could end victims' pain, we could get the National World Peace Award. We could be famous."

She shook her head and sat back down, folding her hands and glancing down at the files. "And that's what really matters to you isn't it Cole? The fame, the fortune, the money! It's not about money for some of us. And no, the Echos aren't out saving the world but that's because the world hasn't accepted it yet. And I guarantee you they will not accept the idea of a donor person being made for the specific purpose of cutting him up. Human rights activists alone would shut us down so fast we wouldn't be able to stop it. If something like that got out...the ramifications could be astronomical." Then she paused a moment and said, "Do you think you're the only one who'd like to recreate a half human Echo or full human Echo like a fairy? I'd love to be on a team that made an actual fairy but it will never happen. Project Echo has specific guidelines and we walk a tight line with the governmental regulations and Earth's tolerance as it is. I refuse to put this project in that much jeopardy to scratch an itch you might have because you think it will give you fame and fortune."

He grumbled a bit under his breath and shook his head, "Well maybe we need to present it to the government. Times change Lillia and it's advantageous to all of us. You just have to give me a chance, I can take this and put Echo on the map! I know I can."

"Mr. Hart, Jelena and I have had a meeting regarding your request. The answer is still no and it will be no everytime you ask me. Now Jelena requested that if you ask again, you be referred to Dr. Fein."

At the name of the infamous mental doctor, the intern's eyes widened.

"I'm willing to pass on that this time. Come ask me again and I'll call down and recommend you for the full treatment. Are we understanding each other Mr. Hart?"

"Perfectly, Miss Nickko."

"Good. Have a good day. And if you have another proposal please don't hesitate to bring it unless it deals with a human or half human hybrid. Goodbye Mr. Hart, I wish you the best of luck."

He nodded and stood up, leaving the office. They just wouldn't listen! It could do so much good. Well if Jelena wouldn't give him the support he needed, he'd find somebody who would. He woudl go and present it to whoever he had to. His creativity with Jelena's ingenious designs could revoltionize the world and that dream of stardom kept him going. Then Jelena would drop James and be with him and they would get married and have a few kids, then spend the profits from their fantastic success. They could honeymoon on Mars, he decided. THey had some killer meteor showers and they could watch them before making love. Lillia might not understand but he'd find somebody who would. And then he'd be famous.

Lillia had just woken up and was heading to the break room for a jolt of caffeine when she passed Jelena's room and saw Erik standing outside banging on the door and pleading with Jelly to come out.

"She's pretty bad off. I saw her in there yesterday. But you're right she does need to come out. She's got some things to prepare for the Board meeting and wont' do her any good to not be clear headed when she goes in frotn of them."

A small pause and Lillia said, "Hey Jelly, come on out. It's okay to wallow for a little while but you've been in there for the better part of a week." Lillia didn't want to have to resort to threatening her with the well being of her Echoes but she could make up horror stories if she had to. She'd already gotten a small taste of it with the Leviathan and the Griffin and those were true.

Lillia capitalized on what Erik was doing and called out frantically, "and the phoenixes have rebirthed themselves three times in the last week, the Unicorn broke his horn, Neroh is extremely unhappy, won't eat, snaps at anyone who tries to feed him. The rest of the Fenrirs cower away from him. It's a mess Jelly, we need you."

She blinked for a moment when Erik told her to hold the wire but she did so, holding it steady and not letting it touch anything. "And did I mention the Kitsune tails are falling off. Oh yes, it's awful Jelly, I just dont' know what to do."

Lying? Of course. All her Echoes were fine btu maybe these scares would get her up and out of that room quicker. And if not, well it was worth a try right?