097. Writer’s Choice – Ethics

“Oh damn it.” Setting the book down Vexen crouched to the floor to pick up the papers that had fallen from the bookcase. He began to methodically reorganize and return the scattered pages to the manila folder. It struck him as being odd that he couldn’t seem to remember the folder, especially considering how well he kept his data catalogued. Curious, he slowly scanned through the pages, details of the forgotten experiment flooding to the front of his mind.

It was an old experiment that he’d planned long before becoming a nobody. Unfortunately, when he designed the test Master Ansem pointed out, much to his own disgust, that the experiment would require him to dissect a human alive, a practice considered highly unethical in most worlds. That wasn’t even taking into consideration his own squeamishness towards the idea of someone screaming as he peeled away layers of skin and muscle. He spent weeks desperately trying to figure out another way to conduct the experiment but no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t find a way around the revolting idea. He completely gave up on the idea and filed away the research, moving on to the next big theory.

Vexen smirked as he stood up, folder in hand. He picked up his book and left the room, suddenly eager to return to his lab.

That’s the funny thing about losing one’s heart; bothersome things such as squeamishness and morals seem to fade away.