Zeroth Directive

Archive II

Wow, Doctor, you really don't understand Vendela at all, do you?! Obviously you were all together on that Londinium operation that whole time, yet you didn't even know she did flower fortunetelling? Well, I guess it's not that surprising. After all, who'd have time for that when you're busy fighting? Whatever, no excuses, give it a shot when you have time, Doctor. Even my big sister Lancet-2 was really happy with her fortune. What did it say? That's a secret! —A certain anonymous operator While at first glance Vendela does not share the same aura of mystique as a diviner like Gitano—since she always speaks with a kind and gentle tone, barely above a whisper—but the results of her flower divination really are as accurate as the rumors say. —A certain intern head over heels in love *Sigh* I don't know who's going around telling people about Vendela's talent for fortunetelling, but now there's always someone sneaking about trying to get her to tell their love fortune, or if a mission will go well, things like that. It's enough to give even her a headache. It's not even that mysterious—you just have to trust that the last petal you pluck will set your fate in stone—but even so, it's far too cruel to those poor flowers! Ever since she came aboard, more and more of the flowers I'm growing go missing, yet she still can't find it in her to refuse anyone. She even had to come to me secretly to ask for help. Doctor, we really should help her out... Oh, but back to the main topic, Vendela may not handle that many breeds of plants, but she's incredibly skilled at caring for them. —Lena The secret to flower divination? There's no secret, Doctor. It's just a game my grandfather taught me when I was little. Because each kind of flower has a fixed number of petals, all I need to know is what kind of fortune they want told, then I can guess what they want to hear and pick a suitable flower. I love seeing their smiling faces when they find out that their wishes will come true! Huh? You're asking if I can understand the heart of a robot too? ...To be honest, not really, but I do understand the heart of the lady who sticks to the robot like glue. Please please please keep this a secret! —Medical Department Operator Vendela

Archive III

[Mission Report] The reconstruction of Brentwood is proceeding unbelievably smoothly. Although the Victorian Parliament's post-war reconstruction task force has previously suggested that they aid survivors in moving away from the ruins, a majority of residents do not wish to leave where they have lived for generations. And so, with the aid of Parliament, at least 30% of the town has been rebuilt now, but the rest was completely destroyed in the ceremony, with no hope of restoration. It turns out that Vendela's wrecked greenhouse had been rebuilt by the locals from spare materials before we arrived, and they've been taking care of it the whole time. Yet she insisted on turning that small shack into the town's only medical observation post, not only as a temporary resting place for the gravely Infected, but also as somewhere for us to provide further treatment alongside functioning as a liaison office. Fortunately, Vendela is very familiar with the locals, which lets us proceed with our jobs as medics smoothly, and she does her best to settle what few misunderstandings pop up. She also set up a system where staff periodically visit patients' homes and perform tests there, which has already been accepted by the locals. [Work Conversation Recording] ... 'Vendela, are you really not ready to rebuild the greenhouse yet?' 'It's not time for that. Everyone in town still needs our help... There's an even better use for this place now. I'm sure my grandfather will understand.' 'It can wait until next year... Right, next year, when everyone's healed up a bit more, and we've managed to make progress on rebuilding the town. We can't guarantee we'll find anywhere bigger to let everyone rest and recuperate.' 'Let's wait until everyone in town is better, and you don't need my help anymore. Then I'll turn this place back into a greenhouse, just the way that it used to be... Mhm, that's what I think...' 'Everyone also entrusted me with inviting you all to join in this year's harvest festival... Oh, though it does sound a bit strange to hold a harvest festival in the ruins. Ah, that's right, I still haven't asked Miss Lena to help us prepare flowers for the festival...' 'Oh, I've been so busy that I forgot to turn off the recording!' I recognize these seeds. Vendela called ahead to inform me about them. These are new varieties of roses that she bred from local cultivars, and she asked if I had any ideas of my own to add. Perhaps... what's in these other big sacks? These look like crop seeds for faming, and these are... potatoes? Eh? This year was a bumper harvest, so the locals wanted to prepare a special thank-you gift for the returning operators? —Perfumer, shocked by the incredible spread of edible crops before her

Archive IV

Back when you said you wanted to go with the heroes who swooped in and saved our little town, we advised you not to take that risk, but we also knew that that's just who you are—no matter how much you might nod along, you always end up stubbornly following your heart. After the incident, I can understand how you want to hold your breath and keep going, to force yourself to keep walking forward, to do everything you can for our town, but I'm worried you'll lead yourself into a dead end. But thankfully, because of how long we've been apart, this last time you came back you'd grown so big! And though you're not so young anymore, we're all relieved to see you in such good shape! You and your new friends at Rhodes Island have done so much for us, and we'll never forget all the good you've done. I hate to admit it, but while we promised your granddad that we'd take good care of you, in the end it was you who took care of us. We'll try and make sure you don't have to do too much, and help you rebuild the greenhouse and take care of those seedlings you love, and we'll listen to you and the doctors at Rhodes Island... Whenever you're ready to go back to being that carefree young lass from the flower shop, we'll hand your plants back to you right away. Ah, us old fogeys are getting a little emotional, so we'll have to ask the good doctors at Rhodes Island to pass these words along. Please remember to thank those selfless souls for us. —From a recording by a Brentwood resident named Hank, brought out during some of Operator Vendela's daily psychological counselling exercises [Operator Psychological Record - Vendela 05] What does Operator Vendela care about the most? It's not easy to summarize without first going back to simpler times for her. During a few sessions, I played a recording from someone familiar to her. She was moved, and admitted with some surprise that she hadn't noticed any change in herself since the time she first left home. She does not actually have any issues with her self-image. Since her grandfather passed away, she started living alone, and has always been slowly maturing into what she believes is a better person. Recent events have not interrupted this in any way. Though she looks frail on the outside, she hides an inner strength. Her home and her greenhouse are not simply memories of the past with no meaning for her, they are where she places her hopes for life. Will's optimism, Freda's endurance and sacrifice, her grandfather's gentleness, even the suffering of the Sarkaz that she once met in that small town. These have all already become moments where she got to know herself once more. Sooner or later there will come a day when she realizes that what she truly cares about, and what fuels her urge to never stop moving forward, is her unshakeable hope for the future.

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Vendela

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Archive IV