“Jenny?” Kevin, one of her Co-Workers asked her.
“Sorry? What?” She replied apologetically.
“You were asked about it, you haven’t answered yet.” He reminded her.
Right now, their lunch break had only just started but already Jenny could be seen by the others to be lost in her own thoughts. Having known Jenny for the past few years, they knew her well enough to know that something serious was on her mind.
“You’re thinking about that stuff again. Aren’t you?” Another one, Jason, asked with a sardonic tone to his voice.
“So what if I am? It’s my choice, not yours.” Jenny countered, becoming annoyed at how many times she needed to repeat this fact to him. Amongst others.
“Whatever. I still say it’s a stupid thing to do…” He started to return the fire before being cut off again.
“And what if it is? Listen, I don’t like the idea any more than you, but whether you like it or not, it’s only her own body she’s messing with.” This came from Emily, one of the older workers. She appeared to carry the same disdain for the Animatrix Serum (as well as those who had taken it) as Jason, but at least had the decency to try and keep her prejudices to herself.
“None of which answers the question of why.” Kevin added in.
“Well you know how it can be spread, either by sex or a fluid transfer. That does make one thing close to impossible without serious consequences.” Jenny finally gave a response they‘d been looking for.
“Well, that’s one reason. But there needs to be more than just that.” The last member of the little group, John stated. “What other reason could there be?”
“Well…” Jenny began, unsure as to how to word it right.
“Oh come on! You have to know why!” Jacob exclaimed.
“Watch yourself!” Emily was forced to cut in. “That behaviour will get you a Bad Attitude if you don’t settle down.”
It worked in that he did stop talking, though he clearly looked to be Pissed Off.
“Look. It’s not the sort of thing you can put into words, it’s something you can feel but can’t really describe.” Jenny tried to explain. “And in any case, Clemens has already said, rather a lot, that he’s fine with whatever choice I do end up making.”
“And that’s all that’s really needed.” Kevin supplied, trying to steer the conversation onto better things. “But have you thought about what it would mean? for more than just yourself?”
“Yes. While physically, I would be much closer to Clemens, I already know that’s not the reason he loves me, and I love him.” Jenny paused to consider her next words. “But contingencies have been set aside, so even if I don’t take it myself, we can still have children that we can call our own.”
“I remember that being a reason some take it.” Emily pointed out.
“Yes, some did, others by accident having preceded that major announcement.” John said, referring to the likes of the Fox couple, and George and Molly.
“But we’re covered either way, and besides, we do plan on having a few years to ourselves first before we think about becoming parents.” Jenny added to her point.
“So you said there’s to be an announcement Jenny? About the progress made on the Animatrix Serum?” Kevin queried, trying again to move the topic forwards.
“Yes. It should be on the lunchtime news.” She checked the time. “Which is any minute now.”
“I see. So you’ve been keeping an eye on it?” John asked quietly.
“Clemens has been doing most of the looking into it, but a lot of it he shares with me.” She answered, relieved that the conversation was moving to something she could talk about more easily. “And I suppose I’ve been thinking that what they can do about its drawbacks will make for a deciding factor.”
“Then I’d think it’d be a good idea to take a look and see what they have.” Emily declared as she fiddled with the remote to get the correct channel on.