It was the second day of the project's experiments, and the first day that we actually conducted any experiments. Of course we didn't even have a clue what experiments to do until some raised the idea of just covering as broad a scope as possible so our bosses wouldn't be able to think we didn't try everything.
We settled on taking blood samples from all the children since it was pretty non-invasive, and it would give us a chance to reassure them of their safety and give them lollipops. I have to say, that was probably the only good idea anyone's had within a mile of the project. All the kids were still visibly distraught, but they weren't screaming or crying anymore. It went over so well, we decided to come up with a cover story to tell the kids so they wouldn't worry at all anymore, and might even cooperate with us willingly. A couple of the guys set to work on that while the rest of us started sequencing and replicating the blood samples we took.
On closer inspection, I saw that the only good decisions continued to be made by us. The subjects were widely varied, genetically and geographically. Half of them Faunus, half Human, Half Male, Half Female, and a pair of identical twins for each major genetic group. Not that there was any chance of positive results, but if there was, we've definitely set ourselves up to find them.
Finding that nothingness was an issue for another day though. For now, I sat at my computer and watched as the results of the sequencing came through. I'd always thought genetics was interesting, being able to see so many features and markers. Subject #9 had a high risk for diabetes, #17 was Human but probably had a Faunus great-grandparent, #23 was found in Atlas but had a Vacuo lineage. Some geneticists tended to get a little full of themselves, stuck on the idea they were looking at a person's very being; their essence. I didn't kid myself into thinking I was looking at anything more than physical features and some probabilities.
Under normal circumstances my fascination probably would have cut itself short when I was going over #30's results, but here it was good news. She was lactose-intolerant, a high-risk for celiac disease, and also suffered from cystic fibrosis and haemophilia. The haemophilia should have been obvious right away when we were taking blood, but it was dismissed as a result of her not keeping still. She was in for a difficult life and I really felt for her, but at least it meant we couldn't keep her on.
I ran right to the group in the corner still trying to figure out a cover story, but they didn't have a good one yet. #30 would unfortunately have to wait until at least tomorrow to get home. I hoped that would be soon enough, but I knew it wasn't. If I could get her home right that second it wouldn't be soon enough.
I didn't tell anyone about what I'd found. I was afraid someone might try to score some points with management by finding a suitable replacement subject. The longer I waited, the less viable the idea of replacing #30 would be. I could spare another kid from our pointless experiments if I risked getting a talking-to by not warning anyone early.
My log was much longer this time. I had to write a detailed account of each subject's sequencing results, everything that might be pertinent. I saved #30's for last.
Day 2; 4:48 PM- … #30 presents us with an unsuitable subject. Her many health concerns and risks require unreasonable long-term considerations. Release is necessary.
I refrained from dropping the file and genetic results onto the server. A fairly minor oversight, but a necessary one in order to guarantee her release, and save another from capture entirely. If anyone cared or was smart enough to discipline me for my clerical failures today, it wouldn't be any more than a slap on the wrist. Worth it.
I stopped at the cafeteria again before I left for home. I ordered more pizza, a very different, unusual kind this time. They gave me some heck but said it would be half an hour to make it, and I waited, but I didn't stop to eat it when it was done. A gluten-free, low-lactose cheese pepperoni pizza was a small consolation for being stolen from your home and family, but it was all I could offer, even if it did get a little squished when I shoved it into the food slot on #30's cell.