"I was happy with our success, yes, but happy does not always mean content as well," Aito pointed out, "I said I didn't get to spend much time with you due to other duties, that much is true. But it also holds true for Vegeta as well, I didn't spend much time with either of you. Now that you're both so old I feel it's a moot point to try and fix that, but I do feel badly for it." Other duties required his attention at the time, in particular trying to keep the secrets of Viral's creation just that, a secret. Not from the public persay as artificial life was hardly anything new, but more from the RRA. After Dr. Velkov's less than friendly departure he had grown worried what the man might do in trying to replicate their work, and so much of his time had been spent sealing away important information and entrusting much of it to Ikura. 

There was no doubt that learning all of this was making Viral feel even worse, yet he needed to know. At his age it wasn't right to keep secrets anymore, the Beastman had certainly more than earned his due and deserved to know his origins. Much as Aito was willing to spill the beans now he wasn't overly fond of what he had to say, having been just as conflicted back then as he was now. What he had initially hoped to do was to create life from nothing, to use proteins and some other kind of method to create a living being. When it had become increasingly apparent however that some kind of base organism would be needed then they had to go for what they did, even if he didn't like it. What Aito had hoped to shed some light on Viral's existence only seemed to upset him further, and understandably so. In a way he had been denied a normal human life, and in others he was essentially just a curiosity, a pawn in some mad scientists' cruel game. What could possibly be said to make this right?

"As I said, I didn't ignore you, not willingly. Work kept me away more often than not, but there was a two year span where we spent plenty of time together, and I don't regret a single day of that," Aito recalled, smiling sadly, "June ended up being busy with Vegeta, but she still found more time for you than I did. You didn't quite need the attention that your brother did, so she could simply play with you and that would be that. Given the fact you aged at an accelerated rate as well it didn't seem like you'd want or need the same kind of attention either. Perhaps I was wrong in that regard too." Physical development didn't necessarily mean emotional or mental, and Viral could have been every bit as much a child as Vegeta was. In fact, looking back at it in retrospect it was more likely or not, and giving a child that kind of burden was a terrible thing. The more they recounted the experiment the less fond of it Aito was becoming, beginning to truly have to face the ramifications of his actions. 

Letting out a somber sigh, Aito ran a hand through his hair as he looked to the door, wondering if perhaps they should end this session. No, he couldn't well go and do that just because he felt uncomfortable, he needed to be open with Viral here and now. "I used myself to fertilize the egg... So you really are our child," he admitted, giving Viral a pained, apologetic look. His own son... The conflict he had felt back then was resurfacing, and seeing the Beastman so hurt and angry over everything just made it feel a hundred times worse. Perhaps he was a little rash in thinking he could make this all better, maybe arrogant even. It was his fault any of this had started, if he had just abandoned the project as he'd first thought this never would have come about. Though... If he did then Viral never would have been born. Was it an ideal life? No, not at all, but it was [i]life[/i]. Viral had plenty of time to turn things around, to make it something worth living, but first he needed help.

"I conducted the experiment because of the dwindling number of protectors for Earth. Over the course of my grandfather's life the planet was constantly attacked, and the foes who came were increasingly more and more powerful. With it seeming as though our family was the only one left of Saiyan lineage we needed someone to help defend Earth and her people, as there was no way Vegeta could be expected to do it alone. As we were doubtful that we could produce someone like him again naturally I had opted instead to try and create something, something that could not only hold a candle to but surpass Saiyan might, to defend Earth. Your genes were carefully selected to give you enhanced abilities, to further set you apart from a Saiyan and make you your own being. In the end I can see that everything we did was incredibly selfish, that we had no right to deny you a normal, happy life and turn you into this. Even if you had been born normally you may have been born without the strength that Vegeta has, and maybe that would have been a happier life for you, I can't say now. But..." Aito paused, shaking his head as he looked at Viral steadily, "What is done is done. The only thing I can do for you now is try to help you heal and get you back to where you once were. I already failed as a both a father and a creator, all I've got left to offer is my support, if you'll even have that."