Zeroth Directive

Archive II

Pepe is rather fond of lotus flowers. The things in her room all sport some sort of lotus design. She even added a lotus sticker to her badge. Of the gifts she bestowed upon Rhodes Island, the most precious were lotus seeds. They were planted in the Convalescent Garden, and ever since, all operators can have the opportunity to appreciate their fragrance. Her giant hammer also has a lotus seal engraved into it. Once heated up by the flame jet, it can leave behind a painful lesson for any enemy—a great big lotus brand. It's not hard to see why, considering the lotus is the symbol of Pepe's family, Sargon's most ancient line of historians. Her ancestor once followed Shahanshah Lugalszargus on all his campaigns, and with reed pen in hand, they recorded every epic scene of that heroic age. Ever since, her family would pick the best of each generation to serve the Shahanshah. With the same ancient reed pen, they would record the entirety of the titan that was Sargon, experiencing all they could before finally compiling it all into an addendum to the famous endless tome, 'The Book of Sargon.' As her family's eldest daughter, Pepe has shown an unusually strong interest in history, always seeking to inherit her ancestor's duty to enter the City of Gold and pen the newest chapter of Sargon's history. However, her father preferred her quieter younger brother Senid. This was hard for her to accept. Once an adult, she strove to do all she could to contribute to historical research, all to prove to her father that she was qualified to be the court historian. But his heart was set on the matter, and while Pepe was at an archaeological dig, he sent Senid to the City. This development has not upset Pepe. Though she no longer constantly mentions 'a historian's duty' like she used to, she still pursues historical research with zeal. Not only does she fund, participate in and lead excavations, she also contributes heavily to the preservation of relics. In only half a year, tomb robbers have learned to cower in the face of that lotus pattern. [Audio Log] I always ask myself, why am I so into researching history? Back then, I would have said 'obviously my family's influence'... But now, I'm starting to think you're a reason too. Ever since we were young, we'd study together, play together, scribble in the books together, recite texts as punishment from Father together... Safe to say that sitting at your desk and reading some dusty tome is super boring as a kid, but since you were there, time kinda just flew past while we bickered. Historian... I'm not too interested in the position anymore. Now that you're in the City of Gold, I dunno when we can see each other again. I wonder... If I make some huge discovery... Maybe you'll read my paper on it, and that'll count as seeing each other... Senid... It's been so long. I-If we see each other again, I'll... I'll give you a right trashing. —Pepe babbling to herself after getting drunk

Archive III

Don't mention anything to do with Shahanshah Lugalszargus while talking to Pepe. This was something everyone on the landship quickly learned. There was once an unlucky operator who barely even hinted at this king and his tales during a pre-dinner chat. Pepe then shoved them into a chair and proceed to talk about his glorious deeds for the entire night. From his birth to his ascension to the throne, up until his disappearance alongside Kharanduu Khagan in the foehn hotlands... The piteous soul was trapped until the light of dawn peeked over the horizon, unable to get a word in edgewise, reduced to staring blankly at Pepe's lips as they flapped about in excitement. That operator remembered it as such: 'My mind was completely blank. She kept saying things like 'this is a portrait of the Shah, very handsome I'd say, here, have a look—', then she'd take out a photo album with hundreds of pages and make sure I looked at each and every page real close. 'When she was talking about that shah's life, it was like her eyes were glowing. All I wanted to know is where the Shahanshah actually went in the end... I didn't need to know about how he and Kharanduu Khagan drank, then fought, then drank after they fought...' It's hard to blame Pepe for her adoration of Lugalszargus. The king holds an exalted position in the hearts of Sargonians. Every child falls asleep to his tales, many cities have statues of him, and countless texts cite his words. There is an unending stream of scholars looking into the riddles he left behind, and Pepe is one of the foremost among them. Her research not only portrays Lugalszargus as a great conqueror and military genius, but also him as a son, husband, and father, aspects often overshadowed by his radiant deeds as king. These past few years have seen Pepe wander all over Sargon, reconstructing those who stood by the king's side from time-worn carvings and phrases—loyal retainers, concubines who died tragically young, as well as a prince who stood vigil by his grave in the wake of his departure and a princess who wrote a full account of his life. They were forgotten by history, but thanks to Pepe's efforts, they have seen renewed attention in academia. [Audio Log] True, compared to the Shah's military brilliance, they're basically nobodies when it comes to historical influence. But they all had a deep emotional connection with him. It's these private, moving feelings that round out the Shah, and allow the past to resonate with us now. I believe that no matter the era, genuine bonds will survive history's forward march, shining for all eternity. —A summary of one of Pepe's reports

Archive IV

As the one in charge of guiding Hatshepsut Hanim, I made my way down to the excavation site in the south of Sargon. Though dusk was about to set, the ruins were abuzz with workers scurrying about, laying down rain tarps above the excavation pits. It seems a rare rainstorm was about to hit. When night fell, the storm arrived as expected. While others were falling sleep to the sound of raindrops pattering against the tarps, Hatshepsut Hanim put on her raincoat and set out, checking every part of the site to make sure not a single corner was overlooked during the covering. A sharp piece of rubble had torn her coat, and it was not until I offered her a new one that she realized she was soaked to the bone. After thanking me, she did not return to her quarters, but instead enthusiastically offered to show me around the site. I accepted, and we entered the ruins together. There were only stumps of walls and pillars within, but they were enough for a peek into the past. The scene below the tarp showed a master of a garden enjoying a drink, the deep red within their cup proving the maturity of the wine industry at the time. The ruts in the stone pavement beneath my feet reminded me that this was once a thriving hub with carts passing back and forth incessantly. On the way back, Hatshepsut Hanim explained the discoveries found within the ruins while leading me to their edge. There, she revealed her most astonishing find yet. At the end of a path, she lifted up a tarp close to the ground. I expected to see some priceless treasure, but within the pit all I saw were two even footprints embedded in the soil, one large, one small. Noticing my confusion, she began to explain the principles behind the formation of these footprints. As she spoke, I began to imagine the distant past, walking alongside the footprints' makers as they wandered the city and enjoyed the fresh air and greenery, at least until some natural disaster or the other sealed their footprints in the mud for all eternity. I still remember the last part of her speech: 'Preserving these footprints means preserving a beautiful, fleeting moment, in which these people will live on forever more. They will pass through the desert, walking into the distance... 'Far, far away...' [News Clipping] On the fourteenth of this month, the Padishah's wife Hati passed away after giving birth to her child in the hospital. She was mourned by all her people. The funeral was held in the Padishah's residence on the twentieth, and she was buried in the garden she so loved in a private ceremony. She once mentioned during an interview that she was happiest when running barefoot through the garden with her daughter. Sadly, we can now only witness the tragic sight of her daughter carrying her baby brother while they mourn. That day, countless citizens gathered in the streets to offer lotus flowers outside the Padishah's residence, enough to form small mountains of blossoms... [Garden Closure Notice] From this day forth, the garden will be forever closed. Do not enter without permission. Trespassers will be punished. Date: ■■■ 21st ■■■■

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