Zeroth Directive

Archive II

Rhine Lab went through a complete reshuffling after the incident. Saria picked a Defense Section member to replace her and officially resigned from her Section Director position. Jara also picked a Human Resource Investigation Section member to replace her and officially resigned from her Section Director position. With Parvis's passing, a leading figure in relevant Columbian academic circles became the new Structural Section Director. The Energy Section Director post was left vacant for almost two months before Ferdinand returned to reassume his position. These might sound like completely normal adjustments, but the next two have practically foreshadowed the upcoming changes Rhine Lab will face. Kristen resigned from her position as Control, and Saria, as co-founder, took over her place as Component Control Section Director. Silence, a former researcher from Structural, transferred to Component Control. She now acts as an executive advisor for that Section, while also serving as Rhine Lab's representative on the Scientific Ethics Consensus Committee. Silence now has both Trimounts and the entire Columbian scientific community watching her. The 'Trimounts Ethics in Scientific Research Joint Declaration' she initiated acutely points out the negligence and abuse of ethics in science by both scientists and their organizations. It also advocates advancing science while enriching the soil it takes root in, to create a more humane environment for scientific research. The Consensus Committee on Scientific Ethics is another result of the declaration—members will maintain the presence of ethics in scientific research, as well as strive to further improve the current standards. It goes without saying why it's so important to have Silence on the committee as Rhine Lab's representative. Of course, Silence was previously just a researcher, and could not have gotten the position without the support of others. Those perceptive enough can even see the various powers behind her wrestling for power. Silence's response to this was brief, but striking: 'I will accept these chains if they are the only way to fulfill my wishes.'

Archive III

Silence shared with the Doctor what she went through. After rescuing Saria from the wreckage of the H.A.M.H.R.R., she returned to Trimounts with her and Ifrit to settle them down. Afterwards, Jara got in touch with her. Jara told Silence she could help her out one last time before she retired. Silence had the opportunity to meet the Tin Man, one of the people behind the Maylander Foundation. Silence knew what that meant; she would be directly talking to the force influencing the country. The only issue was whether she felt she was truly ready yet. 'I decided to take the chance. But I had never expected to find someone else in the office other than the Tin man. Mr. Jackson.' The Vice President of Columbia greeted her with a confusing warmth, but she also realized it was an opportunity regardless. She elaborated to the two of them her views and conclusions on the Rhine Lab incident, and was surprised to have Jackson's eager approval. 'Mr. Jackson said that I was one of Columbia's indispensable talents. I might have believed it in the past, but at that moment my first instinct was terror.' Everything went as smoothly as it should after that. Silence knows it was not due to the greatness of her ideals, but that she just happened to be there. Someone else would have taken her spot anyway had she refused. But she knew at least that taking that position would let her genuinely realize her ideals that so many others saw as simply hot air. 'I know what I'm up against... so Saria is indispensable. To both Rhine Lab and to me.' Rhine Lab losing their Control was akin to losing their backbone, and at this point, only Saria's reputation as the co-founder could assure everyone that everything was going to be fine. After all, no one wanted Rhine Lab to fall. To Silence, her past grievances have now become insignificant. It was more important to figure out how to face the future. She knows that what Saria needs is time, so she handed over the responsibility of Ifrit's guardianship to her. She trusts that their beliefs held no fundamental contradictions, and that they will eventually end up on the same path. Of course, the pursuit of ideals always comes at a price. An obvious one Silence had to pay was Ifrit's annoyance. From Ifrit's point of view, life seems to have been flipped upside down. Saria has now become her guardian, while Silence is the one who's hard to meet. When asked about this situation, Silence pondered for a moment, but said nothing as a bitter smile emerged on her face.

Archive IV

I heard someone say recently that Silence has a higher position now, and acts differently from how she used to. Silence seems to feel that way too, that she isn't as pure as before. Hmph, they don't get her at all. It's true that she has a ton of meetings to go to, and many people to meet, so she can't be a doctor like before anymore. But she still cares about my condition whenever she comes back, and tells me about any relevant developments in medical technology. Last week, she made a special trip to Medical when she returned to the landship, to have a long chat with Warfarin about the latest advancements, and they even did some lab experiments together... After that, she went to all her ex-patients to have a brief chat with them too. Silence hasn't changed at ALL! She just got too busy and is too tired to treat everyone as gently now. Also, it seems like many of the other doctors have been even more attentive to me, because they're afraid of me getting angry over Silence being gone. I mean, Silence always stopped me from seeing Saria, saying I was young and didn't know a thing, so of course I'd be angry. But now I know what she's working on in Trimounts, and she tells me about everything that's going on with her and the place whenever she comes back to eat with us. I can already understand some of the things she and Saria talk about, and I know she's doing some awesome stuff, so obviously I won't get mad. I'm not the kid who wanted her to be with me all the time anymore. I've been the captain of a few field missions now, and I know being the leader means taking on even more responsibilities. Silence never wanted to do it before, but since she wants to now, I should support her decision. That's why I've been studying real hard recently. I'm gonna be real, I had no clue Saria was such a good teacher... But the Medical Department courses are crazy difficult... Anyway, my dream is to stand together with both Saria and Silence. If the three of us work together, no problem in Terra will be a match for us! ——Ifrit's Diary

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Silence the Paradigmatic

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Archive IV