"Yes. They pulled down the experimental curtain a little prematurely if you ask me. But they didn't. No. They didn't... God knows why, I've only been working with the Institute of Correctional History for 15 years, 10 as the leading researcher, 5 under the infamous Dr. Menj who authored the '87 Solution... So I'm a little bitter we didn't get that project. We deserved it, we've been leading the industry for as long as anyone can remember, and with procedures as delicate as this, you need the most experienced. You need the best. No matter the bid. I understand the anti-monopoly laws, but this is not the project to use in order to set an example. So, to answer your question, yes, I do think they pulled down the curtain a little prematurely."
Doctor Ravj replied as he adjusted his glasses, using both hands at the two lengths of metal bridging the lens to his ears. He shifted in his seat, his weight redistributed to his right elbow, propped up against the arm chair. The young reporter nodded his head forward, signaling the Dr. to continue:
"Yes, let's not be a subtle about this project, we all know what it's for, and we all know that it's a good thing. I don't want to talk politics to you, or ideology, or ethics; that's not my place. We all voted, you voted and I voted, and I'm involved with results, people like me, that is. So I'm here to talk results. And that's what I know. I don't concern myself with morals; I do my job and that's it. Together, we all make the decisions... But the curtain came down too soon, if still up today it would have only been 12 days, just under 2 weeks, and preparation studies with mice show they reached non-reproductive status around the 9th day, and humans, being much larger creatures will take longer; 9 times longer, as we've found with our metabolism and weight ratio studies; and it's far more important to get results than to please radical left wing ascetics, society appreciation organizations and what have you. We're here representing the future, our children, we've voted, and we've reached consensus of whom we want to be represented, and..."
"Could you tell me, doctor, what some of the disadvantages of a premature removal could be?" The reporter asked as the old man trailed off into space. The doctor's head swiveled slowly back to the reporter as if pulled lightly by a string and began speaking with renewed focus.
"Of course, Yago, there are a slew of potential hazards for removing the curtain: first, the contraceptive might not have had a chance to fully integrate into each member of the system; second, for this measure to work, we've got to saturate the system, not just tease them with a sample puff -otherwise we'll see terrible things-"
"-what kind of 'terrible things'?"
"Mutations, we could see them reproduce quite normal, at first; birthing a new generation with no complications, only to have them birthed with one arm, or... a missing kidney, or a reduced amount of digits... things like that, and that's the less humane way to go with this project, the end result will come about nonetheless, most mutations would be fatal by the adolescent years, long before another reproductive generation; but we could be much more efficient at this. If the ICH was given this project we'd have prolonged the cure for no more than a year and would have perfected our compound. Achieving the desired result at least 15 years before Ibone."
"Ok, hold that thought a minute, doctor Ravj," the reporter interrupted, removing his hand from under his nose and placing it atop his crossed leg where it began tapping the knee cap. The reporter hesitated before speaking, his mouth hung open as he stared into his lap. He looked up and began to speak: "You're telling me that this administration's policies will allow the slum regions to reproduce for potentially 12, 13, 14 more years?"
"Well that's a possibility Yago, and it's a scary thought, I know. Additionally -now I'm not the expert in this, you'd have to ask someone from the IC psych about all the possibilities- but intuition tells me that having deformed children in the region will surely result in more aggression against our people than a policy our agency would employ, which would entirely decapitate the region with little affectable-antipathy."
"'Affectable-antipathy', could you explain exactly what you mean by that?"
"Sure. Obviously a policy our state directs toward the Slum Region with the sole aim to decapitate their reproductive ability is going to be seen with animosity from the inhabitants of that region. And when I say affectable, I mean how they will be able to affect us. Will they have years to grow and simmer with hatred, or will the procedure be relatively harmless for those people. That's what I mean by affectable."
"Well that's interesting." The reporter said. "Do you think, possibly, that this administration has spies or sympathizers in the chemical industry from the south, say either Urbi or Yerst, and seeks to confuse and... diffuse our policies toward the region?"
"Well I'm not saying that, but I think we all know the objectionable history this administration has of inadequately securing its peoples of threats from the Slum Region and their sympathizers. And, Ibone Chemicals is notorious for making contracts with southern nations. I don't want to start any hysteria, remember, I'm only a research scientist from the ICH, but I'd be careful trusting this administration about what they say concerning the Slum Regions and its policies toward it. They've already botched this referendum passed outlawing the continued growth of the SR, and who knows what else they've been up too. Things are relatively safe, for now, we've had no attacks on our soil for 9 months now, the encasement has sedated the Region fairly well, and the food supplies and diet we've infused them with are being trucked in and have been keeping them sufficiently pacified, but folks from the IC Bio tell me their populations are reaching dangerously high levels and they're on the brink of something big, either rebelling against each other, civil wars and such, depending how they fraction off, if at all; or rebelling against the outside order -us. And I pray it's the former; but, if not, that's just more evidence in support for getting this job done right the first time."
"That's very interesting. And I'm sorry to admit, doctor Ravj, that that's all the time we have now, it was a pleasure, it's certainly been enlightening, and I know where my vote is going next month. I hope we can have you on the show again soon."
"Certainly, thank you, Yago."
