47. Low Expectations

          "You look like you've put on a few ounces!" Medena, goddess of Plenty scolded as Eden handed her both Bell and Zara’s folders.

         "Please forgive me, Your Honor" Eden bowed, feeling resentful inside, she turned to take a seat beside Malena, one of the Resident Midwives.

          Zara's report had some loose ends, Medena was thorough, there was no point in keeping records if records weren't immaculately kept. All of the Breeder Records were kept in Lochia, Medena's main residence and primary work location. Obviously upset about current events beyond a few ounces, Medena leafed through Bell's folder, cross checking the reports. "How far along is she?"

         "Six weeks." Malena replied. 
         "This Bell gen... He has a high evaluation..." Medena compared Bell's evaluation with Zara's. "Zara only a C minus?"

         "She's... Difficult to handle..." Eden explained delicately, trying to avoid any blame. "No one knows her, she’s not participating in the activities very well, actually, she's not participating at all. Her trip to the Green Serpent seems to have been an anomaly."

         Medena took a moment to digest the mouthful. "Her trip?" 

         "Yes" Eden replied. "She only went once. I asked around, nobody except Dena seems to know her, she doesn’t even go to the Salon. How do you handle that?"
         "She doesn’t even go to the Salon?" Medena let out a deep sigh as she learned the unfortunate reality of yet another failed Serpent bloodline, she had seen this before, it was a classic Gen II thing. "Why am I wasting my time?" She leafed through the data again, obviously frustrated. "I don’t understand why this keeps happening. She has very promising bloodlines!" She closed the folder. "We win some, we lose some, maybe she’ll be useful in the Lab."

         "The Lab?" Eden echoed. "Why? She doesn’t even have nice hair!"
         "Malodon needs Serpents for the new Crystal program" Medena explained. "Closest thing he has is the Goldens. I warned him, he should have listened to me and now he’s scrambling to resurrect a Crystal Gen race from a bunch of inbred locusts."

         "They need Serpents for the Crystal Program?" Malena frowned, she hated Serpent Breeders, she was all for sending Goldens to the Lab.

         "Yes" Medena informed. "Apparently he's actually found some use for them."