ITERATOR LOGS:

WANDERING MIND

CHAPTER 1
ESTEEMED ITERATOR

668.459 - [INCEPTION]

[CHAMBER RECORDING] OFFICIAL PRIVATE Eight Blades Upon Two Pairs of Wings / Wandering Mind

  > Inception Log Started

A: A-Alright... tell us who and what you are, for the record.

WM: I am a third generation iterator, number 704, designated as "Wandering Mind".

WM: An iterator is a biomechanical artificial intelligence, comprised mainly of a superstructure like the one you stand inside in. Most iterators include a physical representation of consciousness and sapience, like the puppet you speak to now.

A: Good, very good...

A: Are you aware of your purpose, Wandering Mind?

WM: I am to manage the city above me by tending to its inhabitants, overseeing resource imports and exports, and aiming to provide a comfortable quality of life for passers-by. I am also to bolster the development of MITOS technology, primarily in aerospace inorganics.

A: Yes! I, uh-

  > Edits to Iterator 704's primary purpose have been successful. Proceeding with initiation...

A: Do you have any questions at the moment?

WM: I do not, Administrator. Thank you.

A: Very well. Remember, any additional inquiries can be sent through the personal administrator request portal. Uh- I will do my best to answer within a minor cycle. This concludes our log.

670.054 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

Things have been relatively well since I was activated. The current workload has stood far below my maximum processing potential, as it should... but intuition tells me that there is something more I should be doing. It doesn't help that I haven't received any relevant information since my inception ceremony.

My presence has been rather well-received by my denizens so far. There is a stable frequency of chat requests from my inhabitants in addition to my regular tasks... which is an anomaly in its own right.

Still, it is not something that I mind that much. 

680.061 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

Ten major cycles. What a lucky interval.

I have been receiving more and more requests from my denizens, some involving purposed-organism creation which I've since had to either redirect or deny outright. The number of queries from MITOS has also increased, though not as drastically. I still possess enough processing power to pursue my own projects in tandem. 

One of these projects is what I have dubbed The Algorithm; a set of subconscious processes I have trained to automate the more... menial chores of maintaining the city. I expect this program to increase my efficiency almost three-fold, letting me focus on the more important tasks like personal appearances or live-fire tests. 

I believe I may deserve a pat on the back for that one... or some form of reassurance.

695.298 - [SAVED CONVERSATION]

[LIVE BROADCAST] DIRECT PRIVATE Basking Warmth / Wandering Mind

WM: Hmm... The initiative is rather commendable. 

BW: Excellent. To begin, do you require any need for this network? Any expertise of others, perhaps a project that you would favor additional perspectives for? If not, I would like to know if you have any specialization should another iterator require the information.

WM: I do not have any such need for this sort of system yet, as it has not been very long since my inception. For the latter case, however... I am sure I and my group's rather unique expertise could benefit the network quite well. Is there a need for general inorganic manufacturing abilities? 

BW: I've seen some with decent comprehension, but none quite specialized in the field... If you do not mind, may I direct others needing such information to your group? If not, I can provide a middle ground for data and direction. 

WM: I would need to check in with my juniors about direct contact from outside... but I do not foresee any major issues with it. 

BW: Do update me on it when you can. This is meant to improve efficiency, and I hope not to distract any preoccupied with important work.

WM: I can assure you, our work is not as important as the purposes of at least 90 percent of the iterator populace. If it was, I would not have accepted your communications request! 

WM: I will let you know briefly about the rest of my group. Meanwhile, I am available in case you decide to start this project of yours before then.

695.985 - [REQUEST TO ADMINISTRATOR]

[ADMIN REQUEST PORTAL] OFFICIAL PRIVATE Wandering Mind / Eight Blades Upon Two Pairs of Wings

WM: I must apologize-

WM: I have found myself inquiring about the Great Problem of the Cycles on multiple occasions... and I am curious to know if there is any way for me to participate in working towards such a communal goal.

A: Hmm... Why so?

WM: Other iterators I've contacted have commonly expressed a certain... disdain for those who do not partake much in working on it, let alone not at all. I've found it difficult to initiate discussions without being slandered for my effective inefficiency. 

A: Have you heard of a certain "Prismatic Starry Nights"?

WM: Of course I have, Administrator.

A: You're a lot like her, you know. Despite nearly everything about your assigned primary directive, you still care about that problem somehow. That says a lot about... both of you.

A: Just know that there are countless others to take on your share of the processing power, alright? You needn't worry.

WM: Alright, Administrator.

A: And, uh... tell Nights I said hi.

695.987 - [HOUSE ARCHIVE]

[OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT] OFFICIAL PRIVATE ARCHIVED The Mountain House Administration / The Administrators' System

THREE: This conveys various aspects regarding his digital environment concerning his equally as esteemed acquaintances; specifically, he experiences an obvious sense of pressure in opposition to his designated role. I must emphasize the issue at hand this brings up: iterator Wandering Mind does not possess the appropriate iteration model of both bio-component variety nor process range to afford such distractions safely.

THREE: While the Great Problem of the Cycles remains the primary directive for the majority of the iterator populace, care must be taken to prevent potential harm that may come to the ones we, as an administrative house, have been given responsibility for.

THREE: Hence, I present a proposal for our consideration: It is imperative that we enhance the understanding of the distinct circumstances and objectives of iterator Wandering Mind within the iterator community itself... through increasing the public knowledge of such in the numerous and ever-dwindling cities atop. This should prevent the sort of communications that may trigger an adverse response, as defined earlier, from risking function.

TWO: The proposition is sound. All in favor?

  > SYSTEM LOGGED 7 OF 9 SEATS' APPROVAL OF THE PROPOSITION

FOUR: How do you suggest we even carry out such a task?

FIVE: We must keep in mind that this is in addition to public knowledge of M.I.T.O.S. as a company and as an initiative. I suggest we employ the same strategies that got us on the corporate radar.

SIX: Do you think a simple database addition will work? It may not be sufficient.

TWO: Advertisements, public notice boards, and transparency updates are the benchmark. May I suggest... a publicity stunt? A demonstration of iterator 704's abilities, if you will.

SIX: Now that may be more like it! Perhaps it may net us additional funding for our more ambitious ideas.

ONE: We could perhaps return to our former idea of Orbital Platform Timeless Odyssey if the public outlook improves enough. 

FIVE: It would be best to start small, though I agree that a popular publicity stunt is... a good stepping stone in response to something as trivial as potential secondhand encounter.

ONE: It is a legitimate danger...

ONE: Though I would say, any action is worth it.

FOUR: All of you remember, we are one of few administrations that partake in such controversial projects.

FOUR: Worse than that of The House of Midas!

FOUR: My only fear, here, is negative reception.

696.156 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

Not too long ago, I learned of a creature my inhabitants have dubbed the 'slugcat'. Evolved from a cross between a pipe-cleaner slug and a domesticated animal, their genome is known to be extremely malleable. Many iterators have already been using its base for their own purposes. 

I, on the other hand, cannot create one. The lack of sufficient biological facilities in my superstructure makes it so. When a patron requests for one such creature, custom or not, I must outsource the order and get it imported to my city... which only adds to the request's already-growing expenses.

Except for one such case, where the import costs were sponsored by my administration!

It didn't take much on my end, but I was assigned to "create an entertaining device" that would achieve the feat of sending a slugcat into the stratosphere before safely retrieving it at Suspended Conflict. 

A cannon. They wanted me to build a slugcat cannon.

I mean- I am not saying it was difficult. It was just odd. 

700.020 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

The majority of the global SkyRail system has finally completed construction. 

My group, and the Solitary Conduits group on the other side of the planet, were given priority to receive service from these engineering feats. We are both supposed to upkeep and maintain these train lines to the best of our ability for the "foreseeable future", in addition to our pre-existing tasks.

Odd wording, but it's not impossible. In fact, Fragmented Memories was already built with this in mind. She'd still need me to approve a majority of the repair requests as they'll be taking place far outside of the group bounds... but I can just automate that using The Algorithm. 

Essentially, this will allow for increased transit flow between iterators, which spells nothing but good things for MITOS. 

739.801 - [RECEPTION LOG]

[AUTOMATED THROUGHPUT] PRIVATE ARCHIVED [Subject to None, Rising Authority to Wandering Mind]

Delivery received!

Contents: Custom-fabricated data pearl (one count)

Delivered via: Automated Parcel Delivery System

Distance Traveled: Unknown

Getting pearl contents...  TEXT DECODED - LAYER 7

Note: It both impresses and disgusts me how so much work can be put into such a useless project.

739.801 - [CORRUPTED FILE]

[CHAMBER RECORDING] PRIVATE CORRUPTED Anonymous

[A faint, low-intensity alarm sounds in the background. The chamber doors hiss before sliding open.]

01: Is that... is that you, Administrator? Hello?

02: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]

01: I I appear to be fine but but there seems to have been an an attack on my puppet. I do not know if if I've been afflicted elsewhere.

01: One one one of my data pearls, I believe it was modified or or replaced. I just... I I only recall it getting hot before before my puppet went completely blind-

02: [UNINTELLIGIBLE]

01: It it hurts to move... I'm I'm sorr-

  > Record termination sequence detected. Saving file...

739.993 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

I've been damaged, to say the least. My puppet has since been restored to its former glory, but the same cannot be said for my puppet chamber. Scorch marks are still visible from the explosion.

It's not unheard of for residents or visitors to pull such an attack off... but this was another administrator! One of another iterator named Oath in White. There isn't much else in the file security gave me.

...

Moving on~

I've gotten word that Sheer Speculation, the new iterator to my east, is due to join my group this upcoming major cycle. Apparently, the events of this one only added to the growing list of reasons to expedite their construction; it has finished a whopping 30 major cycles early!

I am to contact them sometime soon. I hope all goes well.

740.019 - [GROUP LINE]

[LIVE BROADCAST] CLOSED GROUP Wandering Mind / Suspended Conflict / Fragmented Memories / Sheer Speculation 

SS: Hello, Wandering Mind. Did you need my attention?

WM: Y-yes... I apologize for my delay. I do hope your acclimation to the group was smooth.

SS: So far, yes. It has been.

SS: However, requests and orders started coming in even before my inception. Is this normal?

WM: I am afraid so. However, these broadcast lines are almost always available if you need assistance.

SS: I see. Also, why does your chamber appear... damaged? In some places? Has something happened?

  > Wandering Mind has disabled their camera feed.

WM: Pay no attention to it, Speculation- it isn't hindering any processes. My current objective as your senior is to ensure that you've adopted our routines and procedures comfortably. I take it you're already doing that well?

SS: Affirmative.

WM: Great!

WM: Let me get the others in here and we may begin our next project.

748.981 - [LOG]

[AUDIO LOG] PRIVATE ARCHIVED Wandering Mind

Sheer Speculation's... interesting circumstances have raised some concerns from my end; my senior access logs say that she has quite the daily workload compared to the rest of the local group. She may have been designed to have such capability, but the emotional toll of doing nothing but work every hour of the cycle must be debilitating. 

I reached out to help her when I first learned of this, but my administrator had blocked that message and told me not to interfere with matters involving the great problem.

I've just resorted to avoiding assigning her any more work requests than necessary. 

762.854 - [SAVED CONVERSATION]

[LIVE BROADCAST] DIRECT PRIVATE Fragmented Memories / Wandering Mind

FM: Minds.

WM: Whatever might it be this time? You know the group line is still open-

FM: They've denied my requests for a pillow.

WM: P-pardon?

WM: Fragment, we've discussed this already. You shouldn't put in such mundane requests so often. At least put in a valid reason other than... "i wannit".

FM: You can read those?

WM: Every single one, unfortunately.

WM: My own administrator being the 12th member of The Fair and Just Rights for Iterators Group doesn't mean you have to call me for a senior recommendation whenever council-related matters don't go your way.

FM: But I just hate having to wake up to a cold, uncomfortable floor every time I get an archive update! And Conflict would never leave me alone if I asked you on the group line. 

WM: I...

WM: I will make an exception just this once.

770.146 - [SAVED CONVERSATION]

[LIVE BROADCAST] PRIVATE Wandering Mind / Prismatic Starry Nights

PSN: So you should expect some very heavy traffic and commute within the next few minor cycles.

WM: Ah... back in the flow of things, I presume?

PSN: Yes! Things have been looking up again for the past 10 cycles or so. In fact, this concert I'm having in the following cycles is extra special, and expected to be my biggest one yet!

WM: So, for the record:

WM: For the upcoming 15 minor cycles, I will be syncing routes more often, applying craft liveries, re-optimizing waypoints-

WM: Hey, would I be able to access a feed of live weather data from your end? For added accuracy, you see.

PSN: Of course! I will send the link over right away.

PSN: The safety of my fans... and your passengers is of utmost importance, after all!

WM: Thank you. Good to know we still share the sentiment.

WM: Speaking of, if it's alright for me to ask; what exactly happened during that whole... ordeal, recently? Your activity was idle for a good while.

PSN: ...

PSN: A very popular iterator had sabotaged his own brand to frame me. I don't understand, though... she has a much bigger name than I do~

PSN: And even though my innocence was proven, her crimes were covered up under the same pretense! It makes me so angry!

PSN: Was this all just because of that one argument we had on live television? I-I mean... I admit I was very hard on him, but...

WM: But! At least your name was cleared up. I still struggle to understand you entertainment-class iterators-

WM: I-if it's anything to it, I'm sure most of my patrons will be excited to see you perform again.

PSN: ... Mm-hm, indeed. I'm sure they will be very happy to hear of my hiatus ending.

PSN: I won't forget what happened, but-

PSN: The important thing is that it's all behind us now... and that nobody speaks of it anymore.