Author's Note: Second chapter in a short series. As the chapter below hints at, I intend to explore the relevance of ethics in Claymore. The writing is still not up to par, but I hope that further continuation would improve it. Please do not hesitate to point out errors.

Organization HQ

Staff

"So, Rimuto, tell me once again why we are embarking on this undertaking?" Orsay stood before the Organization's council, watching as each member studied the twins by his side.

Barely a year old, the baby girls were being cradled by the two Claymores whom had accompanied him on his trip. They had dark brown hair and eyes, hair and eyes that Orsay knew would soon be stripped away, replaced by gleaming uniform silver.

"We have long tried the Soul Link procedure with Luciela and Rafaela, with... certain consequences." He raised his left hand in a dramatic gesture, implying the devastation that the Organization had suffered when that experiment failed. "Are we so prepared to rush headlong into this endeavor? Let us not forget that our numbers One through Five, the bulwark of our Organization, have so recently perished, leaving us severely understrength."

"Four." Rubel replied softly, and the stony faces of his council members turned to face him. "Numbers One to Four. I have taken the... liberty of promoting Rafaela to number Five. She would provide a certain measure of security against such a catastrophic possibility."

"Rafaela? To Five?" Ermita frowned. "But wouldn't her previous experience..."

"Rafaela has the strength to contain this experiment, and, if necessary, terminate it." Rimuto spoke, silencing the rest of the members. "In addition, I will be promoting Galatea to number Three, and Ophelia to number Four. The two have shown enough potential and power to take Sophia and Noel's places."

No one replied. No one argued with Rimuto. Amongst the entire council, Rimuto had served the longest, earning his place as the senior leader of the Organization. Even Daae, leader of the retrieval squad, knew better than to question Rimuto's authority.

"And to reply your question, Orsay." Those pale eyes drilled into his, striking deep into the very core of his being. "Alicia and Beth are a step ahead of Luciela and Rafaela. The two are twins, and hence share a special bond rarer than even between sisters."

"Do not think me so headstrong as to repeat our previous mistakes, Orsay." The voice was calm, but Orsay, even a few meters away, could sense the underlying rage, a carefully-controlled sea of anger concealed under placid waters. "We shall use the same yoma flesh for the two, and train them solely in the art of combat. Neither of them shall be allowed to develop any skills other than what is required to destroy the enemy."

"Crushing their personalities." Orsay concluded. "When have we ever become so..."

"Heartless?" Rubel smiled, and the shades moved slightly. "As Rimuto has mentioned, we do learn from our mistakes. Do recall that if your precious Teresa had not killed off a dozen worthless bandits, we would not have been forced to completely decimate our upper ranks on her. Furthermore, unless you have not received the report, understand that had Teresa not spared Priscilla's life in that instant, we would not be facing this catastrophe."

"Emotions were at fault for that terrible, terrible misadventure." Daae drawled, and Orsay clenched his fists beneath his black cloak. They dared to insult his Teresa? But he was one against many, and if he said the wrong words, he could find himself in a disadvantageous position for some time to come.

"But still, surely we do not have to resort to such extreme measures, do we?" Let me have a shot at reasoning...

"You still do not recognize it, do you, Orsay?" Rimuto's voice ended his feeble protests like a mighty hammer of God. "With Alicia and Beth, we have decided to create a weapons system, not a Claymore."

"A Claymore is half human, half yoma. Their human side rages to keep the monster within them in check, eventually weakening them and rendering them torn between a dilemma, reducing their combat effectiveness."

"With Alicia and Beth, we aim to instill a series of codes within them, logic gates to guide the yoma side. Precious youki and willpower would not be wasted beating back the monstrous side of them, but rather guide it. Since they lack all human understanding and emotions, they will not be able to understand needs such as hunger and sexual arousal, as is common with Awakening."

"Rather, by teaching them an entirely new series of words with different meaning, we will induce a paradox shift that reverberates even to the yoma side within, forcing that illiterate monster to understand the world in an entirely different context."

"In short." Rimuto concluded with an air of arrogance that Orsay found extremely irritating. "Whilst Claymores are humans whom use their youki as weapons against the yoma, Alicia and Beth would be machines, with their youki a generator to power their abilities."

"Enlightening, as always." Rubel praised, but Orsay lacked the same enthusiasm the rest shared. At least, with Teresa, power was guided by ethics. Wasn't that our goal in the first place? How far we have deviated from our true path...

Looking at baby Alicia and Beth, whom once would have been Alicia and Beth Zema, he felt sickened. Those two, so oblivious to the world, so innocent, would forever remain the same. How many more would have to be sacrificed for the greater good?

And as Alicia chuckled, Orsay had to turn away, for he found that he could no longer view them as children, but something more inhumane.

Something monstrous.