A/N: Hope you enjoy the chapter.

Delphine walked into the lab, setting down the tray as she looked over the eleven syringes, studying the blood colors intently as there was a splash. "Are you awake?" She asked, back turned to the wall behind her.

There was a thud against glass, Delphine turning to look at the tank and raising an eye at the water on the ground. "We really should have closed the top. You've gotten water all over the floor." She mused, walking over to the tank and studying Eridan thoughtfully.

The seadweller made a gesture, splashing more water over the edge of the tank before he glanced around the lab wearily, pressing his hands to the tank.

"Now, do you really want to keep getting water everywhere?" Delphine asked softly, arranging the syringes before moving to transfer the blood into vials, making sure the awake troll could see what she was doing. "Shall I explain what I plan on doing?" She asked softly.

Eridan sneered, pressing his hand against the glass again before pulling it back shaking it. He gestured toward Delphine, the woman laughing softly.

"You could talk," she offered quietly. "While you are not in my group, I would like to discuss something with you. Removing the bullet from your hip had been a little tricky. And it was a great chance to study your anatomy. Rather interesting, you can't tell beyond clothes whether or not you trolls really have a gender. Tell me, will you answer my questions?"

The troll opened his mouth, a line of bubbles appearing as he mouthed words, Delphine smiling as Eridan snapped his mouth shut, backing away from the edge of the tank. The female moved forward, resting her finger tips on the edge of the tank, making a small pattern for a moment.

"We were told that you would be too dangerous to allow to live. Would it surprise you if someone you thought you knew had said this? Someone that you had been told stories of by the genetically enhanced animals we created for you to live with? We had been told by the others that it would have been better to kill you. Or to raise you as our own children. But some of us couldn't deal with having genetically mutated freaks for everyday children. You are a project, to be put down at a moment's notice. Have you never wondered why your land seemed so lonely? Why there were only ever twelve of you?"

Eridan watched the woman warily, tracking her movements before his gaze passed over to her fingers, watching them move across the tank before his gaze flicked up to the fair haired woman, a shiver running down his spine as he glanced down to look at his body. It hit him that he couldn't really feel his body, the liquid surrounding him in warmth. He reached a hand forward, pressing it against the glass.

"Realization is a heavy power within the world, isn't it Subject Aquarius? The liquid that is holding you was developed to speed up healing. I suppose you have figured out that it wasn't water by now?" She asked, giggling faintly. "Well, of course, there are many aspects you probably would not understand about our world, being raised the way you were. Maybe I'll go over them with you all as a group."

Delphine watched the troll move in the water, eyes narrowing as he pulled his hand away from the glass before pressing against it again, searching for something normal feeling. She turned away, heading back to the vials of blood and tapping them slightly. "What would you do if I were to forcibly take your blood while you were awake? Would you attempt to fight again?"

She heard the sound of a door opening softly, the rustle of clothes. "He has made a bit of a mess in here, hasn't he?" Sicil asked, Delphine nodding with a sigh.

"I'll clean it up soon enough. How do you wish to take blood from him?" Delphine asked.

"I took some while Nadine was patching up his wound. Not sure where the vial went. As for the time being, what we have shall be good enough. Shall we release him into the room with the others or keep him here?" Sicil turned, tapping a pencil against a clipboard.

"That is your call, he's in your group." Delphine said, holding a vial of blood up to the light. "Did they really classify themselves based on blood colors?" She murmured.

"Do you remember when we found those old story books, about the ancient race?" Sicil asked.

"The dream that started this project. Despite our age differences, we all had the same dream once we started talking. The old race, the race that landed on earth and died out. They called themselves trolls, ruled by blood. The four scientists that found them...who were they again?" Delphine asked.

"Roxy Lalonde, Jake English, Dirk Strider, and Jane Crocker. The four scientists that found the remains of the trolls from another planet. One living, the others dead. They conversed, wrote what they could and helped the troll into a peaceful death. The information they gathered would strike a revolution in the world, so many started exploring space though their home was never found. And now, after approaching the original four, we have found ways to recreate and study the trolls. I can't wait to dissect one."

"Already want to get your hands bloody? And who would you dissect?" Delphine asked curiously, turning to look at what he was writing.

"Subject Libra, the blind one." Sicil decided, writing another note down thoughtfully. "Or perhaps Subject Aquarius. Either way, it will be worth while to see what their anatomy will be like compared to the others. For now, let's go home and take a rest."

"I would like to check on Nadine, but for tonight, this is as far as we should go. Some rest and celebration shall be in store for tonight. As for them, they will be fine." Delphine turned to walk out of the room, watching the troll in the water substance press up against the glass, almost willing him to attempt to escape.

"Good night Delphi," Sicil said, setting the clipboard aside before following Delphine out the door, turning off the lights.

"Good night Sicil," the voice drifted back to the troll trapped in the tank, the icy chill settling over him as he closed his eyes, sinking to the bottom.

Recording has started: Tech, I could see why Gerald left and I don't blame him. As for me, I believe I'll be taking my leave. Heh, let's create new life based off an old tale by some crazy doctors. Heh, you'll get something alright. We agreed to keep the project secret and hell if we haven't kept it too well of a secret. Five years and still, we are here, watching little things grow into mature things. I...miss my daughter in a way, but the others seem to think the mask I took on doesn't have feelings.

The Handmaid, cruel and emotionless, as in the stories that they fabricated for the grubs. Screw them and their lies. I would say something else in here, but really I have nothing to add for their studies. Let them run themselves ragged for a project that will end up with them dead at the very best. Heh, I'm tired of running around. We do logs once a month, but once a month logs are not enough.

I suppose that the project will continue, no matter what any of us do, no matter how many of us leave. Five years since we have started, and already someone has left. Well, so be it if I am the second to leave.

This is log 50, Handmaid signing out.