Mad Scientist (1)
I cracked open the status window and checked how much time remained until the base construction finished.
> Base Level 5 Upgrade in Progress...
> Time remaining until completion: 4 days 23 hours 17 minutes
Hmm.
I'd already read the faction summary posts. For the roughly five days I had left, I decided to reclaim some of the resource zones we'd lost, then adopt a concentration strategy for a while to boost our resource intake rates.
Separately from that, it was about time I sat down with Jessica and the others for a proper discussion on which faction we should commit to.
It wasn't urgent, of course — there was no real need to hold the debate right this second — but then...
Ugh.
A quest had dropped on me out of nowhere, and whether I liked it or not, I now understood that it was time to start preparing.
But not long after the discussion began, I realized I'd forgotten one crucial thing.
"Wouldn't the Earth Federation be best? Sometimes a well-rounded hexagon of all-rounder competence is the finest choice of all."
"Mmm."
Belial — herself a well-rounded all-rounder — was recommending the Earth Federation, a faction with a similar style and, lore-wise, her own place of origin.
"With alien technology, wouldn't our ships and the Commander's receive substantial enhancements? And if we leveraged that tech, we could field better weapons as well..."
"Mm."
Ignis, who spent so much of her time in close combat and boarding actions that she'd quietly developed a romanticized fascination with alien tech.
"Tentacles...♡ I feel like the Commander and I could put on a truly magnificent performance together...♡"
"...Mmmmm."
And Pashtura, who for reasons I could not begin to fathom had latched onto the Space Kaiju's tentacles with alarming intensity.
All three superhumans had personalities so aggressively distinct that the meeting showed zero signs of advancing toward any actual conclusion. If Marianne had been here, the discussion would have tilted one way or the other and resolved itself on its own — but unfortunately, our Marianne was busy reining in the pirates who were starting to make serious moves as a faction of their own, and she wasn't at the table.
And I couldn't just pick one myself, either. Between the gallery's opinions and the three of theirs, every option looked reasonably solid in its own way.
Aaaargh, decision paralysis is setting in...!
Despite a debate that dragged on all day, there was no end in sight — and I was forced to endure a truly agonizing stretch of choice paralysis.
But even that suffering eventually came to a close, thanks to Jessica stepping in when she couldn't watch any longer.
"What on earth are you all doing? You still haven't reached a conclusion?"
Jessica had brought food for our meal, accompanied by the base's permanent staff. She took one look at the superhumans still bickering without a decision, and at me sitting at the head of the table with half my soul already checked out, then shook her head and continued.
"Commander, once the base construction finishes, a new person is going to wake from cryosleep anyway, right?"
"Ah... that's true."
"Then wouldn't it make sense to hear their opinion as well — and get a feel for their style — before we make the call?"
"...Hmm."
And as I listened to Jessica, I felt life flood back into my entire body.
Now that she mentions it... this quest doesn't even have a time limit, does it?
The quest's sudden appearance had made me feel like I was being chased, and I'd pushed the discussion accordingly. But just as Jessica said, waiting until after the base upgrade finished — until we saw whoever was about to wake from cryosleep — and then making the decision would be perfectly fine.
Convinced that Jessica was absolutely right, I clapped my hands a couple of times to pull the three still-chattering superhumans' attention my way, and spoke.
"As Jessica just said, I believe it would be best to hear from our new colleague before settling this matter."
And of course, at their Commander's word, the three of them nodded as if the earlier argument had never happened, ready to fall in line.
Time passed, and passed again. Marianne dropped by to top up on Icarosneum, reporting that the pirate-control operations were more or less complete — and right then...
> Base Level 5 Upgrade Complete!
> A random superhuman's cryosleep will now be released from the cryo chamber!
Ah! At last, this day has come.
Nearly half a year had passed since the internal three-person system of Ignis–Belial–Pashtura had solidified, and only now were we getting a new colleague. I shed a quiet tear of emotion and sent the reliable, trustworthy Belial to the cryo chamber to fetch our new(?) comrade.
While Belial waited outside the cryo chamber, I settled into the command post with my adjutant Jessica — and Marianne, who'd tagged along on a whim — to wait for the cryosleep release. We passed the time with some light conversation, of course...
"Eheheh, being with Oppa really is the best."
"Mm."
"Honestly, I'd love to add Oppa to my collection too!"
"...Huh?"
...though listening to her, I found myself feeling an affection that was just a little too heavy for comfort.
Then, after five minutes that felt like fifty to me...
"Commander, I've brought her."
"Oh, finally."
Belial's voice came through the comms from the other side of the door. Heart pounding with anticipation over who it might be, I fixed my eyes on the entrance — and that anticipation was answered as a set of soft footsteps approached, and she stepped into view.
"...Ohoho, it's been quite a while, Jessica. And I see a new face as well."
"..."
"And hello there, Commander... truly, I can't even remember how long it's been since I last saw that face of yours."
Long lavender hair, alluring violet eyes. She wore a white lab coat that looked just a touch too large for her frame, and underneath it, one of those highly revealing outfits of indeterminate era that were so common in this game. A wicked, scheming smile curled at the corners of her eyes as she greeted me.
"Then I suppose I should introduce myself properly once more. Professor Griyanaar — from this moment on, I shall place myself under your command."
"Oh."
"By the way, is there anything around here I could use as a test subject?"
I walked straight up to Griyanaar, took her half-gloved hand in mine, and spoke.
"You've arrived at a most opportune moment. Excellent."
"Hm?"
"I needed you right about now. Looking forward to working with you, Professor."
"My, my. Our Commander has become rather assertive this time around."
Griyanaar simply smiled lightly and shrugged at my reaction.
Once word of Griyanaar's arrival spread, Ignis and Pashtura came over from wherever they'd been, and I left them to their long-overdue reunion — and to catch up however they liked.
Watching them, I couldn't help but feel that everyone's personalities were on full display.
Starting with my adjutant, Jessica.
"Jessica? I really was grateful back then."
"Ah, yes. Is that so."
"If possible, I'd love for you to experience it yourself next time. It's surprisingly pleasant, you know."
"I'm already in that state, so I don't think it would mean much."
"Oh my, oh my — no, no. Next time I'll be performing the procedure myself, so it'll be a bit different."
"Wow. That sounds absolutely thrilling."
What the hell are you two even talking about.