Ethan

[8/17/XX 16:47]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER - CENTER MONITOR

[Subject #6]

Subject has reached full maturity after 6 cycles. We have provided it with only positive stimuli in order to receive better results than the last experiment. The community is still cleaning up after the devastation caused by Subject #5 who has since been terminated. The Nurture department has seized full control of this project with promises of a peaceful future and are fully willing to hand it over if the subject proves to be dangerous.

Subject #6 is to be monitored at all times. Any sign of injury, or negative response will result in immediate termination as it is a sign of failure. We've warned the Nurture department that this feat is impossible from day one but here we are after 6 years. The subject never cried when it was small, it was always pacified and soothed. Not one illness, not even a scrape or a bruise. I'm not even sure if they said "No" to it. I've never seen a subject so dull. To only learn of good things, it's so subjective, but then again how could it know anything else, how could it know what good means if it doesn't have bad to compare it to? I wish I could know. I wish I could not know.

I have been appointed to monitor Subject #6 with my colleague Dr. Kelsey Marshall as the Handler. I've worked with her a few times before, once with Subject #2 who was the longest running experiment for 11 cycles until it was introduced to war and fixated on genocide. A large population was wiped off the earth and we had to do immediate termination. We believe it was the result of sabotage but further investigation yielded no evidence.

In our efforts for peace, we will hope that this Subject yields positive manifestations. And in doing that, we will only provide a positive, warm environment. To encourage a happy Subject, the Nurture department had raised the Subject with a name, unlike the others. Upon transferring to our facility we must refer to the subject as "Ethan" to ensure that "he" feels welcomed and "loved". Tomorrow we begin.

[8/18/XX 09:26]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER - CENTER MONITOR

[SUBJECT #6: ETHAN]

This is going to be a lot harder than I expected. I have never seen a more dejected, apathetic, soulless creature, and he doesnt know what any of that means. How could he? It would ruin the whole dumb experiment. This thing is supposed to be our savior, our means of creating a better world, and there is just nothing behind it's eyes.

Dr. Marshall and I introduced ourselves to it, and it looked at us with big empty eyes and a meaningless smile.

That smile.

A smile only a person with no moral reference could make. It was like looking at God and them telling you to be an Atheist. I nearly lost all composure but Kelsey reacted so fluidly, so naturally. She gave it a big smile and told it she was so excited to meet him. She asked for his hand, and guided him over to play with some of his toys. Afraid of sabotaging the experiment, I excused myself to the monitor room. As soon as the door shut behind me, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me, I was shaken to my core. Clutching the back of my chair I sat down, staring at the screens connected to the cameras. Watching them play with toy capybaras so effortlessly, no conflict only agreement. He slept when he wanted, ate what he wanted, with no resistance, no consequence.

How could a person live with no reference of good or bad? Who dictates what is good and what is bad these days? Can morality be so black and white?

I realize it is out of my jurisdiction to judge what we do here at the facility. After all, I'm an employee here.

[8/24/XX 11:51]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER - CENTER MONITOR

[SUBJECT #6: ETHAN]

I often forget how dangerous the New Generation can be. It's been almost a week since Dr. Marshall and I have worked with Ethan. He's learning how to read and write with her using dull pencils and thick sheets of paper as to not harm himself. Her attire has changed drastically, instead of standard lab gear and protective equipment, she wears casual attire. I suppose it makes sense, she appears warm and friendly. The subject took special interest in the locket she wears now. A heart shaped locket that carries a picture of Ethan and also one of me, shockingly.

I fear Kelsey isn't taking our job seriously and is putting us all at risk. Her feigned adoration and devotion to make the child happy becomes more and more convincing each day. Doesn't she remember? How can she look at it with so much love without being reminded of the massacres, the destruction, the inhumanity. She almost never leaves it's side while I stare observantly at the screen, my hand perched next to the alarm. Scanning, critiquing, what constitutes a bad emotion? Did it frown right there? How do I know when to call it off? How can a monster like that smile. What did it do to deserve living this life of selfishness.

I just want this all to be over. There isn't a way to contain and control these things. A part of me hopes, that maybe, Ethan will be different. But a part of me knows from experience that this New Generation will kill us all whether they want to or not.

[11/09/XX 18:37]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER - CENTER MONITOR

[SUBJECT: ETHAN]

Incredibly, It has been a few months since anything noteworthy has happened. It's all been routine to this point. Kelsey has moved full time into the facility so she doesn't have to leave Ethan. She has also been much more protective of Ethan, holding his entire body in embrace often. She says it's contact therapy, but I doubt that. What does he need therapy for? I just think she's projecting too much onto him. She forgets that this is a job, but her results work. Ethan is a relatively happy child though you wouldn't notice from the way he looks. You get used to the emotional vacancy in his eyes. I've also started spending more physical time with Ethan. He asks a lot of questions, all pretty harmless, like what my favorite color is or what time is it now.

The subjects we teach him are so cherry picked and carefully worded, it makes me wonder about his planned obsolescence. At what point would it be okay for him to learn what happened to the dinosaurs or about the food chain? He's never eaten meat before, everything he has is cruelty free and full of chemicals. I've had so many people from the Nurture department prep me for probable conversations we could have and I never feel ready at any time. But he's never said anything too out of turn, until this evening.

As it so happens, today was his 7th cycle anniversary. So Kelsey wanted to throw him an actual birthday party since he never had one before. We had cake, and Kelsey brought two presents. The first one was for Ethan of course. She handed him a small blue box and inside was a heart shaped locket just like hers. Ethan shrieked with glee when she opened it up to two pictures of her and I together in the past. His eyes showed a small spark of delight when she clasped the safety lock around his neck then handed me the second box. Inside, of course, was another similar locket with her picture and one of Ethan. I could hardly make eye contact with her but I said my thanks. She excused herself to the restroom leaving me alone with the subject. I started quietly picking things up when he tugged on my sweater. I looked down into his eyes, the depth they contained held me in his glance as I fell deeper and deeper into their abyss. I could almost understand, I could feel a ping of hope, almost.

He asked to leave.

I panicked, I snapped out of this wicked trance he placed on me. I collected myself then asked him why he wanted to leave and he answered "I want to live with you and Ms. Kelsey. I'm tired of being here. I want to live a real life."

How... How does he know? Does he know? What does he think he knows? Was the whole thing an act? What could I possibly say.

Luckily, Dr. Marshall came back in time to diffuse the situation. She knelt down to him and told him we do live a real life, and we are a real family. She said that our home is the best place in the world. He seemed content with that answer, but any sign of light in his eyes was already gone. Kelsey helped me with the rest of clean up and I went back to the monitor room.

Once I heard the click of the door closing I collapsed to the ground a sobbing mess. As embarrassing as it is to admit I feel as if I am too weak for this experiment. I do not wish to find myself in this state of emotional vulnerability again, I have to be stronger. I have a job to do.

[1/07/XX 14:03]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER - CENTER MONITOR

[ETHAN]

Another facility was shut down recently after their subject learned about fire. It's always fire. We may be the last remaining facility. The last hope of the world to control one of the New Generation. We are the last stand against extinction.

Ethan has done so much good so far. He writes about capybaras and happy families. Though his stories are boring and simple, they bring good to the world. The power of creation is something we have tried and failed to manufacture, to harness, but these kids, it comes to then naturally. The Great Meteor destroyed millions of lives and contaminated the rest. No one could produce healthy offspring, and those who did were eviscerated by their own spawn, who then used their powers to benefit only themselves. But with Ethan, I think we've done it. I think we can finally save this broken world.

All of these positive results has the Director wanting to meet with us tomorrow morning. After almost half a year, it's happening so quickly. Ethan could re-write history.

[1/08/XX 09:07]

FACILITY 4

DR. ERMINE CALLASTER

[SUBJECT #6]

The experiment may be ending sooner than we thought. After our meeting this morning with the Director explaining all the good Ethan has made, we were given permission to enter the final stage: sterilization.

The plan was always to rewrite the genetic code once they reached the appropriate age. They would write out that the originals were fertile, that we would be industrious and bountiful. Then they would announce complete loss of power and then shortly after be terminated. Thus ending the reign of the New Generation.

It was happening so fast.

I remember looking over to Kelsey, imagining she would be devastated, expecting her to protest. But she smiled, nodded, and agreed that now was the time to take back total control. Amazing. She really did fake the entire relationship with Ethan. Scary, but impressive.

We excused ourselves from the Director's office to prep to the last week we have with Ethan. I briefly talked with Kelsey about my delight to return to a normal world. She shared my sentiment, and asked if I thought it would be okay to introduce meat to Ethan don't before he is terminated. I thought it would be perfectly fine, he should enjoy what he can now.

We separated to our respective stations. I will be in here making lesson plans about biology, and she's waking Ethan up. As soon as he stirs, she holds him close, clutching him tightly. I see her mouth moving, uttering what I can assume are sweet good mornings to him. Upon closer inspection it seemed she was tearing up. What an actress.

Maybe we should have burgers tonight.