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At first it seemed she wanted to shy away from him. Hell, he had been there? How humiliating...then again there was a lot of humiliation on that particular day and it's bite was not so harsh to Jelena any longer. Though it still hurt. But then she smiled. "Nice to know not everyone thought I was crazy from the get go." T

hen that smile became sheer wonderment and happiness from the good doctor. And Jelena wasn't often one to show raw emotion from herself. And she had herself a little laugh. "Really now? I had you and your peers in my favor?" The thing was as she listened, that happiness gave way to something else. Sorrow maybe. "Though...I guess I let them down then...seeing as the Echo Project hasn't seem to hit that mark. If it ever will." No need to explain that to James, he knew the restrictions on the Project.

"As much as I appreciate your view on my work, the fact still remains. On Earth they see what I do as me trying to make myself God. Yes, from my own research it is perfectly plausible to engineer viable human organs and the like, anything really. I mean my Echoes' insides are like any other animal's. But to go into the realm of humans is a blunder of the most horrible kind on Earth, an even closer step to making oneself a God. The only place that could be even thought about being done is up here in space. And with the limited Fleet, in order to undertake a Project of that sorts, it would need it's own cruiser. Which means one Project would have to be shut down...which is unlikely."

Jelena was quiet a moment then looked to James again, a smile coming back somewhat. "You know, it's nice to hear that." She nodded then took to that happiness again. Fickle Jelena Trevale. "I guess I have to thank you James. I mean without Metamorphosis I probably wouldn't of gotten Envision. And we both know it's you who keep them alive and up in spirits."

"I remember reading the reports when I first transferred into Fleet. I had made it my own little right of passage to acquaint myself with every Project and all the details that were available to me." But he did speak some truth, they were in a way playing God themselves but it was Jelena who took all the blame for one difference. Metamorphosis was adding on to an already made creation, Echo was creating creatures that were myth, that supposedly God never intended. Fairy tales.

"Seems that way always. If you want to put less feeling into it, one could call it 'acceptable' losses. But that's so distasteful." Then a c**k of her head. "I think that's another reason I wanted to be in Metamorphosis. I thought if I couldn't pull my own ideals, I could at least expand on one that was offered to me...my degrees at least allowed me that."

She rolled her eyes. "Oh yes James, it was you who drew me to Metamorphosis like a moth to a flame." A chuckle and she shook her head lightly. Well this was a most interesting day with James.

"The world of scientists is a harsh one. We're always looking to do better than the other in front of us, always wanting to show off. Sure one can do one thing and another another thing, but when they look at each other they both see something better in the other's work and their own as nothing but flawed and second best. It's not so much hypocrisy as it is pride."

"I know that lesson all to well." Everyone did really, Project Echo's first two years had been horribly rough on the then younger Jelena. Failures of all kinds, mishaps, accidents. For a while she thought Fleet Command would shut her down. But them eventually started to smooth out and here she was now.

"Project Lazerous..." She said it as if testing the name itself. Then she shook her head. "Of course they only think about the science aspect of that, the goal of the experiment. They don't think about the ethics. A human brain can feel, it knows emotion, had memories and desires, urges. Personally I don't think it would enjoy it's new lot in life." Perhaps that was why they looked down on her in her field. She wasn't completely objective in her work.

"Good to know I have at least two allies. But Erik doesn't really count I think he would follow me to the ends of the galaxy just to annoy me in the mornings." She laughed lightly then nodded and grabbed hold to his arm again. Just so happened they were passing a little pack of Innovation techs at that moment as well. How perfect. "Ah yes, planting the seeds of doubt to spare me and my computer."

As usual when floating in her own world she didn't hear or regard others that didn't address her personally, so the actions and the words of the little group really went unnoticed. She could care less anyway, she knew the reactions already. "Some of them are looking to carve a reputation or gain some rank among their peers I'm sure. Women are vicious creatures after all."

But then she just laughed and shook her head. "Now now James, you know that's against Fleet Rules. Though I'm sure if we file the correct paperwork we can have him thrown into the incinerator and made into something else more useful."

"I think I''ll refrain from asking. After all, I''m not sleeping with you now am I?" But she continued at a steady pace in a somewhat spaced set of mind. "We had no choice, every Fleet member gets one, remember?" Then she chuckled. "And he got to do the site because he''s the only one on this Fleet with enough free time and devotion."

Jelena nodded lightly. "Really, Joey is no real threat. And if you break all the bones in his hands he may be inspired to visit Ingenuity to get him some new less breakable hands. Careful what you wish for James."