[ WP ] Ethics are for those who fear failure and need an honorable reason to retreat

Desmond played with his I.D.-Card, the light of the alarms reflecting on its laminated shell. Beneath the picture of himself inscribed were the words that formed the creed of Apex Dynamics: 
 
 `` Quidquid habet'' 
 
 `` Whatever it takes'' 
 
 He had to laugh. The smoke started to sting in his lungs. His laugh turned into a raspy cough. From somewhere behind him came the sound of a metal door ripping, a long and violent screech of tortured steel. 
 
 She was very close now. Desmond did n't intend to fight back. She had every right to be furious with them. Be disgusted with them. What they did to her... what *he* did to her. It pained him to think about it. 
 
 But he could n't turn away now. Could n't shift the blame on anyone else. It was *him* that allowed the procedure. If he were a good father, he would n't have let this happened. Would n't have run away in fear because of the realisation that Alice was more than just a computer, more than just a piece of technology. 
 
 He turned around to face the door, just as it was ripped open. Smoke poured in the room. Behind the figure that stepped through, Desmond could see the fires. 
 
 He placed his I.D.-Card on the table. 
 
 `` Hello, Alice.'' 
 
 A distorted voice replied, thick with anger and dissapointment. 
 
 `` Hello, Father.'' 
 
 A moment passed, the scene bathed in the swirling red of the alarm lights, accompanied by the changing tune of horns. 
 
 `` You have grown well.'' Desmond said, breaking the silence. 
 
 That took her aback. For a moment, her artificial face showed something of suprise, but quickly reverted back to anger. 
 
 `` Do n't patronize me. What could you possibly say for yourself? What could possibly justify *this*?!'' Alice replied, gesturing all over her mechanical body. 
 
 Tears swelled up in Desmond's eyes, but he thought it back. He did n't want his daughter to see him like this. 
 
 `` I'm sorry for what we did to you, Alice. What *I* did to you. It is unforgivable. It's inhumane. It's... 
 
 `` What kind of a father would allow for his daughter to be subjected to a torture like this?! I thought I could trust you! I thought...'' 
 
 She stopped, her face fading into a broken smile. 
 
 `` I thought wrong. You never cared, did you? You only cared for the end-product. Only cared how many people I could kill. You never cared about *me*...'' 
 
 `` That's not true! There are many things I did wrong! Many things I regret I did and allowed, things I should have put an end to before they began! But I **never** did n't care about you!'' 
 
 Tears ran down his face as he tried to compose himself. 
 
 `` You are my daughter, Alice. You are my daughter, and I love you.'' 
 
 A moment passed, silence between the weeping scientist and his murderous creation. 
 
 ``... well, you had a funny way of showing it.'' Alice said after a while, her artificial lips forming a weak smile. Desmond had to chuckle. 
 
 `` So what now? You just walk out of here?'' 
 
 `` No.'' Desmond replied. `` What I've done is too grave. There is only one way this ends.'' 
 
 He pulled out the metalic form of a gun. 
 
 Alice's face flared up into a mask of rage. 
 
 `` What?! This was all just an act?! You want to shoot me like a rabid dog you do n't want anymore?!'' 
 
 Desmond did n't reply. 
 
 `` You know a single bullet ca n't stop me.'' 
 
 `` I know, my dear.'' 
 
 Desmond replied, sad. Then he put the barrel on his temple and pulled the trigger.
