Challenge #01547-D086: Custom Made Babies
"No matter what side of the argument you are on, you always find people on your side that you wish were on the other." -- RecklessPrudence
"All I'm saying is that a certain amount of strengths are needed in the human genetic structure," argued Doctor Vardian. "My plan was to eliminate genetic disorders. Not... what has happened."
"Purity is more important than anything else," shouted the skinhead in the gallery. "We need to separate ourselves from the filth that has come to corrupt the aryan ideal!"
Dr. Vardian slowly facepalmed. "I'm not affiliated with them," he sighed. "They merely... sponsored... one of my most popular genome models."
"You have done a great service to the true human race," shouted the skinhead. "Be proud of the eventual genocide you have caused!"
"Can we please silence the alleged gentleman in the gallery?" begged Dr Vardian. "His cause is not mine."
The gentleman in question was dragged from the court, yelling "Freedom of speech! Freedom of speech!" all the way out.
"Nevertheless," said the judge, "Your most popular and useful genetic line is the one that the media have dubbed..." the judge looked it up, "The Village of the Damned Model. That definitely speaks to some desire to eradicate diversity."
"I never sought to eradicate diversity," said Dr. Vardian. "But my clinics give my clients what they ask for. We do not insist that anyone's child be pale-skinned, pale-haired, or pale-eyed. They ask for that themselves. As you will see in all our client desire forms."
"But you do replace genes from your clients to make the babies they order."
"We have to, madam. One cannot get a blond, blue-eyed, pale skinned baby from darker-hued parents without... intervention." Dr Vardian sighed. "Our goal is to eradicate genetic disease. The parents who desire a child vastly different from their own genetic makeup are encouraged to... reduce... their desires by my counsellors. Obviously, the customer inevitably gets what they want. For good or ill."
"Nevertheless, there are a lot of these... cookie cutter kids."
"Blond, blue-eyed, pale-skinned children are desired," said Dr. Vardian. "I have no control over what our clients desire."
"So you're saying that your clients are attempting to erase their own genomes?"
"Unfortunately, yes. This is the genetic equivalent of giving a man enough rope."
"Then I am legally obligated to halt all paid production of your cookie cutter babies. You can continue all pro bono efforts to help poor families with genetic hazards in their families, but no client who wants a cookie cutter child is going to get it. Until such time as we finish investigating all your clients and their desired changes."
That was the beginning of the end for the Vardian Process. Those wealthy clients, whose custom sponsored the pro bono work, sued for breach of contract. If they could not get their blond-haired, blue-eyed baby, they would get ten times their money back for time and emotional upset wasted. Money that Dr. Vardian and his employees didn't have.
He still insisted on returning every last cent from the neo-nazis, the KKK, the "alt-right", and any other gathering of like-minded, xenophobic arseholes.
The road to hell is certainly paved with good intentions. Dr. Vardian understood that, now.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / KatarinaGondova]
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