Zeroth Directive

Archive III

[Medical Department Audio Log] 'Engineering's pulled ahead, so we can't fall behind. Don't worry, this won't turn out the way it did with Skadi. Since we've formally established a cooperative relationship with the government of Ægir, the person they sent over will definitely be suitable for our tests.' 'Setting aside whether Dr. Kal'tist would see through that bluff, we have to at least consider the image of the department, right? We can't let people think we're all mad scientists obsessed with experiments here.' 'It's called a thirst for knowledge! Surely the Ægir can get behind that!' 'But Underflow's not an Abyssal Hunter. What's there to research with her?' 'The experiment this time is real simple. You've seen her use her sketchpad before, yeah? Of course you have, she uses it every day. What I'm wondering is if she'll retain normal cognitive function if we take it away.' 'Eh?' 'Yes, I suspect she has an issue with her brain. The sketchpad is used to help keep her thoughts in line. Only through drawing can she think properly.' '...Eh?' 'Just try it! There's only so much medicine can do for brain damage, so if there's a way to work around it with an assistive device...' [Addendum] Don't listen to Dr. Warfarin. There are no issues with Underflow's brain. Her shorthand is not a cognitive assistance method, but rather a way to surpass the speed of thought. Her pen is like a needle guiding the central thread of her mind through complex pathways. I am unsure as to what requires such a fast thinking, though. I dare say she really does think more than the vast majority of people, and much faster, though I cannot say for sure what she thinks of. Normally, she only says what is absolutely necessary, and it's rare to hear her talk about what she thinks or feels. As for the drawings and lines on her sketchpad, they are even more incomprehensible. However, she is not completely incapable of expressing her thoughts. Have you seen her trying things out in the kitchen for ten hours straight? That's how she spends her free time. She makes unusual dishes, and insists on sampling them in sequence. She carefully mulls over the sensations of tasting, chewing, and swallowing them, allowing all the flavors soak into her tongue... It's times like these when you can see a variety of emotions from her. At first, you may think it's some form of 'bizarre cooking,' but eat it enough and you'll find that carefully sipping on powder smelling of benthic plants really does have relaxing properties, while chewing tough, sour, and spicy dried meat tinged with a light bitterness can bring tears to your eyes... And then there's the poems and drawings she places next to the meal. More immersive than watching a play. I believe this is her unique way of expressing herself. It's a pity she seems unaware she has fans like me. She never tells anyone when she's done cooking. She just places it wherever in the cafeteria's storage cabinets. Most of the time, her masterpieces have been snatched away by Kay, even if we rush over. Not much we can do about it. Just another habit of hers she brought from Ægir. Apparently, they only need to upload whatever new creation they think up, and anyone in the nation can print it out from some sort of terminal. How very sophisticated.

Archive IV

Ulpianus is certain the regen gel before him was not so brightly-colored yesterday. 'This is your doing, Secunda.' 'Yes, Magister. As I said yesterday, if you alter the experimental conditions, you must also alter the composition of the regen gel.' 'Your concern is valid, but as I explained yesterday, maintaining the gel composition is not a safety risk.' 'This is true, but under new conditions, maintaining it is like introducing a new variable. If there is a data error, it will be very difficult to determine the cause. I have already blended a new formula suited for the new conditions. It's there in front of you. In addition, I gave this hibernation pod the ability to change the gel's composition at any time. If you believe we should return to the original formula, you may do so easily.' '...Have you completed the survey project I assigned you yesterday?' 'Completed as scheduled. I've given the report to Advisor Blandus.' 'Did you sleep yesterday?' 'I did, in that hibernation pod. If you're worried, you can check the logs. Four instances, for a total of eight hours, consistent with my daily schedule. I used those eight hours to test the new gel formulation, with no adverse effects.' 'So you are saying you used your free time for all this.' 'Not all of it, Magister.' 'You could have used that time to do something more productive, instead of expending the effort on improving an experiment that did not need improvement.' 'I am aware of what I should prioritize, Magister. We are not yet free of the Seaborn crisis, so the Abyssal Hunter project is now top priority.' Ulpianus silently operates the pod. Before he lays down in it, he turns and asks: '...Secunda, will you see what you believe in done, no matter what?' 'I will ensure I will not interfere with anyone else's plans, nor delay the advancement of the project, Magister. With these stipulations in mind, I will create the conditions needed to achieve what I believe must be achieved.' As he sinks into slumber, Ulpianus feels both gratification and apprehension.

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