[ WP ] In the future , conventional birth is outlawed , and all humans are produced assembly-line style in factories throughout the world . You are a worker in one of these factories .

Tom Designer was putting the final genetic touches on the of Embryo P419 when the staff's manager, Eliza Manager barged into the lab. She zeroed-in on Tom and called him over with a wag of a finger. She confronted him just past the laboratory door, but still within earshot of the rest of the employees. 
 
 `` What's this?'' demanded Eliza as she pointed to a tablet with the schematics of his current project, Embryo P419. 
 
 `` That? That's a computer tablet.'' 
 
 Eliza let out an exasperated sigh. `` Tom, I understand you and the rest of the Designer family are genetically inclined to be artistic in nature. And that with that artistry comes a good deal of rebellion against authority. I get that. But that's why I and all other Managers are genetically inclined to threaten your job security unless you give me a clear answer right now.'' 
 
 `` It's an embryo from the performance artist line to which I gave brown eyes, despite knowing that Performers should have blue eyes.'' Tom averted his eyes as he said this, choosing to instead focus on the assembly line behind Eliza Manager. Had she not interrupted, Embryo P419 would already be on the line moving it's way toward the incubation sector. 
 
 `` This is n't an artistic choice, Tom. Blue eyes are beautiful eyes. Models, actors, singers all need beautiful eyes in order to lead successful and productive lives. The rest of us get green eyes.'' 
 
 `` Right, but who gets brown eyes?'' 
 
 Eliza could tell this meant more to Tom than she originally thought. He was visibly annoyed and his tone was confrontational. She gently placed her hand on his arm. `` Tom, I'm 5'4'' *in heels*. Why? Because a little bit of a Napoleon complex is beneficial to our leadership ability. I did n't like being short when I was young, but once I found my place in the world, I fit right in. Like an Eliza-shaped hole was carved out just for me; small stature and all. Fitting-in is a good thing.'' 
 
 Tom pressed his back against the wall. Embryo engineers all lovingly imagine the potential lives of every zygote they help create. It's his job to visualize how each baby would grow up. He had felt so strongly about giving P419 a unique pair of eyes that she could grow proud of, but Eliza was eroding his resolve. She was a very good manager. 
 
 `` Statistically, Performers who are too far off-spec earn much less money and have less successful careers. Do you want to add such a burden to this embryo?'' Eliza could simply scrap Tom's project herself or strictly order him to abandon it, but she would much rather convince him it's the right call. `` Put it on ice for the time being. We can add it to another family, like Scholar or Enforcer, where brown eyes are somewhat normal. Or the Laborer family where they can fit in. They'll be abnormally tall and slim, Tom, but they'll better fit in there.'' 
 
 `` Alright,'' he abdicated. `` I'll put it on ice.'' 
 
 Eliza comforted him with a rub of the back and a little shove as she led him back through the door into the lab. 
 
 Tom sat back down at his station and grabbed the small capsule, Embryo P419, and cupped her in his hands. The conveyor belt to the next stage was right in front of his workstation. It would be so easy to just set her there and let P419 continue her journey. He thought she would be beautiful with her brown eyes. But Eliza was probably right. 
 
 `` Liz making you drop that one?'' asked Samantha Designer in the neighboring station. 
 
 Tom nodded as he turned his gaze to her. 
 
 `` Shame,'' she added. `` Nobody in our family has brown eyes other than me, and I love my eyes.'' 
 
 So did Tom. He stretched over his workstation and set P419 onto the conveyor belt, then he turned his body toward Samantha. `` Sam. I'm probably getting fired in a few minutes. You wan na go get some dinner with me after you clock out? I know a nice place.''
