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The pursuit of knowledge —to uncover and understand— such is the nature of most, if not all beings. The desire to learn and acquire knowledge comes in many forms. Some may find themselves innocently curious, exploring their topic of interest whenever the urge strikes. Others may want to discover things on a deeper level and may find themselves seeking tutelage to gather more know-how, and yet another may become obsessed in their pursuit of knowledge. They may dive into a state where the conventional meaning of 'understanding' may not be enough. Striving to establish the boundaries of what it means to truly acquire ‘knowledge’.
To put it simply; there are three categories to this idea.
Where does that place the geniuses, then? Those who have gained such a title are often revered as the ones who have truly mastered the aforementioned pursuit of knowledge. And yet, to those who may find themselves in such a position, the observation couldn't be further from the truth.
To be a genius hardly means that you stop at whatever the masses deem as "mastering the pursuit of knowledge." Geniuses, in all their magnitude, all have one thing in common: an insatiable hunger for knowledge. An ever-burning desire to pursue, to question, to discover, to understand, and to reshape... after all, with the endless possibilities presented by the universe, one can't simply stop questioning everything—and such a nature easily places those geniuses within the third category; obsession.
And with life's many theories and ideas... a certain, peculiar genius finds herself particularly invested in understanding as many concepts as possible.
Genius Society member number eighty-one, Ruan Mei —a prodigy in the field of biology— the woman who singlehandedly managed to deconstruct the entire ecosystem of an empty, long lost planet and re-cultivated it with ease. Sooner, she moved on to even greater heights, being able to create organic lifeforms of vast varieties.
Of course, such abilities have their limits, seeing Ruan Mei hone her skills as she continues her research. The study of life in its purest form, the origin of what most beings across the universe believed in.... Aeons.
In her quest to understand said Aeons, she has tried countless approaches, leading her back to the formation of life itself and yet, her own creations thus far have been... lacking. Sentient and able to move on their own, yet oddly incapable of living up to their master's standards. geniuses, that's what she sought to create but seeing as her creations —eye-catching as they are— ultimately are nowhere near becoming geniuses. Hardly even able to express curiosity on a level which would be fitting of that title. Not to mention... they weren't exactly self-aware enough to begin with, or so she thought.
Way too reliant on recognition from their master and oddly affectionate towards her. Seeing as her creations hardly evolved from such a state, she has given up on them.
Unable to comprehend their odd attachment to her own being, disappointed by the limitations this presented to her. Forced to believe that this may well be the limit of her own research...
If she could at least understand why those creations turned out this way.
If she could, then....
She would try to revert the trait of craving affection to have them centered on a different principle. Unfortunately, organic life could not be rewritten the way a computer program would. Something as complex as the psychological influences which dictate one's behavior.... outward input, affirmation, admiration, affection... if she couldn't rid herself of such influences, she'd have to find a way to navigate them.
She ultimately chalks this problem up to be one of her many headaches.
Seeing as Ruan Mei finds herself troubled with no solution in sight, she wonders.... could she enlist the help of one of her fellow geniuses to assist her in this matter? Previously, she would've hardly even considered the thought. Believing that collaboration would ultimately hinder her progress. And yet, ever since her time at a certain someone's Space Station, she believes that there can be at least some merit when investing in a collaborative effort.
However, if proven otherwise...
The eighty-first ponders on this for a while, unaware of the fact that she would soon be approached by yet another troublesome being. One far more qualified for the title of Genius than her creations. One who inadvertently has also caused her many a headache.
"Ruan Mei?" "Hello~?" "Are you even listening?"
A voice eventually pulls the biologist out of her trance. When she turns her head to inspect who it was that called out to her, does she meet a familiar face.
"Herta... sorry. I didn't notice you were here." Stoicism would sooner meet with eccentricity as her fellow genius would shake her head with a loud sigh. "I can see that. We're supposed to meet up in about thirty minutes, you know?" Herta's voice sounds rather annoyed but Ruan Mei can't seem to rid herself of a sense of nonchalance. After all, Herta often sounded this way.
"Hm? Meeting?" She ultimately asks, prompting the inventor to cross her arms. "Don't tell me you forgot about it. We're meeting with Screwllum and Stephen to discuss the current state of the Simulated Universe." There's a hint of recognition in Ruan Mei's eyes, seemingly remembering the contents of past conversations referencing said meeting.
"Is it necessary for me to be there?"
Her eyes wander around, trying to set her sight on something other than Herta's face but eventually, her gaze wanders back to the other, anticipating a show of great disappointment with her sudden change of plans.
However, what she finds instead, is Herta merely shrugging her shoulders, "I suppose not. I was going to let one of my puppets attend it, as per usual, y'know?" Ruan Mei blankly stares at the other, eyes blinking once, then twice. "You're not upset?" "Why would I be?" "I assumed you'd lecture me about the importance of the meeting but..." The eighty-third simply scoffs as a response. "Don't be silly. If it were a meeting of greater importance, I would've reminded you much earlier. Besides, I can always have one of the puppets summarize it for you in the future."
Ruan Mei eventually crosses her arms, head tilting to the side momentarily as she forms another question: "You don't want to know why?" Yet when Herta retorts with a relaxed "Do you want to tell me?" Ruan Mei finds herself unable to formulate an answer. Ruminating the fact that… she didn't really have an answer. Sure, she was occupied with her own musings at the moment but those thoughts hardly had any relevance to her actual work. Unbeknownst to the biologist, Herta opted to quickly take over, rendering the formulation of a potential answer unnecessary in the process.
"Let's just say, you have your reasons. If you don't want to share them, that's fine by me. Besides, even if you did tell me, it wouldn't make you change your mind, right?" The eighty-first nods. Herta's logic is as sound as always.
She momentarily lets her mind drift... one of Herta's many strange habits... the way she seems to be more aware of Ruan Mei's mood than even she herself is... Well, she doesn't bother to ponder on that thought for much longer. Deeming it as yet another of Herta's unpredictable quirks. One she is intrinsically quite fond of as it saves her the trouble of coming up with an explanation.
The biologist's attention is about to shift again when she hears Herta chime in: "I've notified the others. That's another favor you owe me." She swears she hears the way Herta's mouth curls up into a big smile, causing her to turn around. "A favor? Ah, the usual, I assume." Unbeknownst to herself, Ruan Mei's own mouth curves upward just lightly, sharing a soft giggle with the other.
"No, no. This time it's different. In fact, I'd prefer if I could make use of the little favor as soon as possible." "As soon as possible?" Ruan Mei repeats with a puzzled look in her expression, causing another exaggerated sigh from the eighty-third. "You seriously haven't noticed...." Before she can inquire on what exactly Herta means, the genius points her Index-Finger toward their feet with a light frown on her face.
"Oh."
Ruan Mei exclaims as she is now met with the sight of two cat cakes curling up beside her legs. "These little ones have somehow made their way into my office. I don't suppose you know how that happened?" Perplexed, Ruan Mei stares blankly at Herta. Genuinely incapable of remembering any reason as for why or even, how her creations could've traveled all the way from her laboratory to Herta's office. She finds herself facing Herta again, who eventually just shakes her head. "Be that as it may, they're your creations which means, they're mainly your responsibility."
With a shake of her head, Ruan Mei eventually complies, "You're right... shall we?" she asks whilst picking up one of the critters and holding it in her arms. Herta would follow suit, picking up the second creature which would eventually begin meowing and crying between the Inventor's arms, seemingly dissatisfied with the distance increasing between itself and its creator.
"This one really can't stand being away from you, huh?" Herta utters as she matches her pace with that of the biologist, ultimately making the whiny critter calm down once the geniuses walk side by side. The eighty-first casts a quick glance at the critter and lets her eyes wander to inspect Herta's face afterward.
"Most of them have... an unusually strong attachment toward me. I'm not sure where it originated." She pauses, letting a sigh run through her lips "...I assume they recognize me as their Creator but I can't quite explain how exactly it got to the extent you're seeing with most of them. Ultimately, this development has been... less than favorable."
Herta casts a sidelong glance at her fellow genius. Allowing her to express her thoughts on the critters. She is aware of the fact that Ruan Mei deems them as failures and mostly keeps them around at the request of a certain Trailblazer. After all, Herta was ultimately the one who granted permission to do so in the first place. As an act of leniency toward both Ruan Mei and the person who carries Herta's Stellaron... although, there may be another reason as to why she allows Ruan Mei in particular to keep them.
"The Nameless, she..." Ruan Mei begins to speak but ultimately stops in her tracks, turning her head to one of the large windows of the Space Station. Her gaze is cast into the vastness of the galaxy, almost as if staring into a void. The eighty-third eventually stops her stride as well, remaining quiet as she waits for her fellow genius to gather her thoughts.
"... She said that, not only do the critters see me as their Creator but that they may have developed a sort of... familial attachment towards me. As if I'm their mother," a gentle chuckle sneaks its way through the biologist's lips and yet, the reflection of her face within the window remains unchanged. Distant, void of clear emotions. "While I understand her observation, I don't share her opinion."
Ruan Mei eventually shakes her head whilst setting her body into motion again, "... I can't quite describe what it is. Her logic isn't necessarily flawed, I just don't see it the way she does." The biologist's voice is quiet when uttering that last part. The clear disconnect with the Trailblazer's assertion and Ruan Mei's own view seems to trouble her and yet, it is clear that she finds herself in no position to ponder on the topic for long. Unwilling to entertain an idea that she ultimately deemed as illogical.
Herta follows in silence before eventually chiming in, "The little one has her own way of observing things. She has a sharp eye but ultimately lacks the experience to pinpoint the nuance required to understand your particular field of expertise. Try not to fixate too much on labels when investigating how your critters behave..."
Herta would sooner find her gaze meet with Ruan Mei's, who glances back at her "... their attachment to you is obvious, that much is clear. But if you cannot bring yourself to relate to its nature, it's best to proceed as per usual. No need to concern yourself with the details." She ultimately finishes, granting Ruan Mei the sight of her usual, steady smile. Radiating confidence as she would at any given moment.
Ruan Mei finds Herta's statement aligns quite well with how she has approached the situation thus far, sees the assertion as reassurance to proceed at her own discretion. She eventually shares a quiet nod with the eighty-third as they continue their walk, ultimately arriving at their destination; Herta's office.
Once inside, does Ruan Mei realize the magnitude of the recent outbreak of her creations. Multiple Catcakes have made themselves comfortable within the eighty-third's workplace, creating an atmosphere that's sure to be... less than optimal to get any work done.
A few of the little critters immediately shift their attention to the one standing next to Herta as the two geniuses enter the room. Quickly wobbling over to their Creator, meowing excitedly at the mere sight of her. Eagerly calling out to her as they usually would.
“Ruan Mei is here!”
“She's here…”
“She came back.”
“Ruan Mei came to fetch us personally!”
“Ruan Mei!”
“Ruan Mei…”
Ruan. Mei.
"You know, I was wondering why you didn't simply let your puppets return these to my lab but... I understand why you were so insistent on stringing me along." Ruan Mei chimes through the chants of the critters, her voice is as calm as always but, there's a hint of displeasure in its tone. Despite her compliance with the request, her voiced befuddlement is more so rooted in one of her many headaches related to prior musings… or perhaps the Catcakes are just way too noisy.
"Did I not say they were your responsibility? Their number has nothing to do with this." Herta asserts with a sigh. "Enough talking. Let's just gather them around and bring them back to your lab."
Herta Space Station—————— Herta's office
Thirty system minutes have passed in which the two geniuses have thoroughly collected the Catcakes and brought them back to their dedicated areas. With some residing within the Seclusion Zone while others were brought directly into Ruan Mei's lab —this honor would only be granted to the most whiny critters, as they generally seem to have trouble with being separated from their Creator.
After what felt like way too much time, Herta finds herself in front of a particular pair of Catcakes. Stacked on top of each other and unwilling to move even when prodded with snacks or toys. The eighty-third grumbles while crossing her arms. A questioning look adorns her face.
“Is something the matter, Herta?” Ruan Mei's voice chimes from behind the Inventor who simply shakes her head. “It's nothing.” She begins as she continues to inspect and lure out the two critters.
“Say, Ruan Mei… these little ones are supposed to be us, correct? I always see them together. They're inseparable.” Herta rests her Index-Finger against her chin as she then utters, “Did you have a hand at making them so fond of each other?” “Hm?” Ruan Mei’s response is short. She eventually turns around to join Herta, casting a quick glance at the two Catcakes. “No, they gravitate towards each other naturally...” “They do, huh?”
Herta leans down to get a closer look at the two, stretching her hand out. She stops momentarily when she hears Ruan Mei speak again. “The one on top is Lambda—” “And the bottom one is Wisteria Cake. The one that's supposed to be me, yes?” Herta finishes, eventually placing her head on top of Lambda’s shell, petting it gently. “I'm surprised you're aware,” Ruan Mei states, only for Herta to laugh at the comment. “Of course I'm aware. You showed a list of their names and attributes to one of my puppets, remember?”
The puzzled look on Ruan Mei's countenance when faced with this information only comes to a halt as Herta recognizes a gentle glint in the biologist's eyes. “I assumed that information would mainly be the concern of that specific puppet. I didn't expect you to personally care about them to such an extent.” Herta shook her head. “Of course I would. They're your creations.” When Ruan Mei responds with an even more befuddled look, Herta simply turns back to her, feigning an exhausted sigh as she would so often. “You don't get it, do you, Ruan Mei?”
Herta ultimately turns away from the critters, facing the biologist directly. “We’ve been working together for quite a while now, you know? The least I could do is remember aspects of your work.” The eighty-first simply shakes her head, uncertainty slowly creeping into her mind. Of course, they both knew that the creation of her critters represented a significant part of Ruan Mei's work. Even if she ultimately moved on to a different focus.
However, not even she herself considered the Catcakes valuable enough to assume Herta would personally concern herself with them to this degree. Knowing Herta, she always had a knack for keeping attention to even the finest of details but to Ruan Mei… there was simply nothing special about those creations. So, surely, there was no reason for Herta to…
“I don't like the look on your face. You're wondering why I'd concern myself with the little ones, aren't you?” “Well, yes…” the eighty-first adds, crossing her arms. Disbelief evident not only within the way she looks but also, by the tone of her voice. A part of her believes that, even with Herta's input, her thoughts wouldn't shift but nonetheless, she would still brace herself for an incoming lecture.
“I believe I don't have to remind you of why you're here at my Space Station?” “We've agreed that I'd help you and the others in developing the Simulated Universe…” “Yes, that's part of it. Remember under which condition you joined?” Herta's voice sounds calm, almost too calm. The biologist knows that, usually, whenever Herta would start like this, there would be an undeniable sternness in the tone she'd speak with. Almost like a parent lecturing their child. Today feels different, though. There's no strictness in her speech. On the contrary, she sounds… oddly gentle. And for a moment, Ruan Mei believes this to be yet another new side to Herta which she was now in the middle of discovering.
“At the time, you mentioned that you've just found out how to program replicas of the Aeons into the Simulated Universe. Seeing as we’ve previously discussed my interest in them, I offered my support under the condition of continuing my research at your station… but… I really don't see how our past exchanges are related to this matter,” Ruan Mei spoke earnestly, prompting Herta to shake her finger.
“Your research, Ruan Mei, has been nothing but groundbreaking. From the very early beginnings in which you began to make a name for yourself, all the way to where you are right now… I've been fascinated by the way you manage to outdo yourself with each approach you take...”
Herta eventually breaks out in her usual mannerisms, pacing back and forth in her office. Her arms gesturing occasionally as she continues to speak; “... you may not realize this but even the simplest bit of progress you make is extremely valuable. And yes, even your failures hold a great deal of value. You continue to grow from them until you outdo yourself again and again.” The eighty-third eventually turns toward the two Catcakes, extending her hand into their direction as if to present them to the other.
“What's the name of a few of your experiments compared to what you've contributed and continue to contribute to my own research?”
To call her reaction surprised would be an understatement. If one were to ask Ruan Mei what she'd feel in this very moment, she'd simply shake her head right then and there. Unwilling and unaware of just how exactly to describe her reaction. However, even if Herta embellished her message with too many words, the recipient, at the very least, understood what the Inventor attempted to convey. One hand slowly motions toward her mouth as the biologist covers it, concealing the way her lips curled into a smile as she would so often.
“You talk too much.” “As if you're not used to it by now.” Herta retorts whilst redirecting her attention towards the two Catcakes who remained close by through all of the geniuses' exchange.
“And the little ones still haven't moved yet. Safe to say, these two are especially stubborn… hah, that's almost ironic.” Herta eventually crosses her arms in front of her chest, eyebrows furrowing upward as she ponders on what to do with the critters. “I suppose you're running out of ideas too, aren't you?” She calls out to her companion, although she is only met with silence. "Ruan Mei?” she asks but there's still no answer.
It is only then, that Herta can sense the biologist's arms wrap around her shoulders, feels how Ruan Mei pulls her into a sudden and unexpected embrace. There's a hint of confusion in her eyes as she opens her mouth to speak, voice croaking more than anything. “What're you doing?”
Ironically enough, this causes both Lambda and Wisteria Cake to perk up, their big, bright eyes stare at the two geniuses in front of them with a tinge of whimsy and a dash of curiosity. “As I thought…” Ruan Mei exclaims, all the while still holding on to Herta, pulling her even closer. “Hey..!” Herta yelps out. Her cheeks unknowingly gather a red tint. Meanwhile, the biologist keeps her focus on the Catcakes. Observes their reactions closely.
But even when Ruan Mei eventually extends her hand, waving the two critters over, neither of them makes an attempt to leave their position. The biologist exhales. “Unlike the others, these two have made no effort into simply following us. We could, of course, just carry them to the lab but….” Ruan Mei exhales audibly. “... separating them is out of the question. I've been keeping a close eye on those two ever since they hatched. As you've said before, they're… very stubborn.”
Herta's face contorts into a nervous smile at the revelation, a shaky chuckle leaves her mouth as she blurts out, “you don't say…” the eighty-third eventually lets her arms dangle beside her body, still standing in place as a moment of silence passes between the four of them. The biologist's arms are still wrapped around her frame and for a brief period, Herta believes the other has simply spaced out.
Upon closer inspection, however, she realizes that the two Catcakes have seemingly mimicked their current position. With Lambda still being positioned on top of Wisteria Cake, its paws stretch out just a little as it seems to be tapping on Wisteria’s shell. In response, Wisteria's eyes narrow just a tad bit, mirroring how Herta often looks somewhat annoyed.
“I have a suggestion.” Ruan Mei speaks up eventually. “Let's leave the two of them in your office for the time being. There's something I'd like to test.” Herta rolls her eyes at the suggestion, a gentle scoff escapes from in between her lips. “Surely this isn't another one of your experiments?” “Precisely that.” With a shrug of her shoulders, Herta eventually shakes her head. “If that's what you want, I'll keep them.”
Ruan Mei eventually rests her chin atop Herta's head, uttering a quiet ‘thank you.’ All while still remaining in the same position from not too long ago, prompting Herta to tap her foot against the metal flooring of her office as the inventor's impatience grows ever so steadily. A quick rhythm follows soon and echoes through the room. “Aren't you forgetting something?" “Hm? I'm already observing the two as we speak. I'll be taking notes to collect data later.” The look on Herta's face now closely resembles that of Wisteria as the eighty-third crosses her arms again. “I'm not talking about the little ones, Ruan Mei.”
The biologist seemingly fails to take the hint as the two remain in the same position. That is until Herta eventually steps forward, away from the other. Causing Ruan Mei to finally open her arms again. “Oh? I had hoped you'd assist me with this one…” “Huh? I don't have all day. I'm a busy woman, you know?” Herta retorts eventually as she steps toward the exit. “Just call for a puppet if you need me,” she says before leaving. What Ruan Mei can't see is the faint smile on the eighty-third's face. Evidently satisfied by the outcome of her little favor.
And unbeknownst to Ruan Mei, this exchange has done much to rid her of that headache caused by her litter creations. Leaving her with another means to explore their nature.
And maybe… just maybe, this new revelation may also grant her new insights on how to measure the way her creations interact, react and behave to ultimately reshape their mannerisms in the future.