As Xeno-psychiatrist Zelana turned to the next document page, the holographic interface let out a soft, crystalline chirp. She could’ve delegated the review of a basic CT test to a subordinate, but the critical nature of this one demanded her direct involvement.
Her working hours extended beyond comfort, significantly impairing her sense of time. The ship's artificial day-night cycles were intended to alleviate the issue, but for the Langa, a subterranean species with unique sunlight needs, they proved largely ineffective.
Zelana reviewed the findings' summary one more time, still struggling to believe them despite numerous reviews. She scanned the entire page, then reached for the cup on her right for a quick sip, finding solace in the tea's enduring taste amidst less than stellar working conditions.
Extended shifts had become the norm, driven by another uptick in mental illness among the crew. Notably, she continued to function effectively, a feat that most of her fellow Langa probably wouldn't have managed.
The sliding door to her office swooshed open, and Kaz stepped through, pausing several feet from her desk.
“You needed me?”
“Indeed, I do,” Zelana replied. “The review of today's test results on the specimens is now complete.”
Kaz's lip curled slightly, and his whiskers twitched, gestures Zelana recognized as signals of bafflement or surprise.
“You called me here just for this?” he asked, his voice carrying surprise and a hint of irritation. “With due respect, this hardly seems urgent enough to warrant my attention at such a late hour. Could we not have scheduled this for tomorrow?”
“Forgive the ill-timing,” Zelana replied apologetically. “However, considering the circumstances and your forthcoming engagement with the specimen, the urgency is quite justified.”
Kaz's whiskers twitched, and soon after, he strode forward to stand directly in front of her desk, looming over her.
“Elaborate.”
Zelana engaged with the desk’s holographic interface, tweaking the projection angles until both could see clearly. She subsequently opened a file showing a bar graph.
The graph, titled ‘Median Cognitive Intelligence by Race – Big Four’, displayed four distinct bars.
Median Cognitive Intelligence by Race – Big Four
Bar 1: Race: Langa, Score: 162
Bar 2: Race: Pretenti, Score: 134
Bar 3: Race: Prol, Score: 116
Bar 4: Race: Mevik, Score: 101
“This chart delineates the median cognitive intelligences of each principal Union race,” Zelana said, gesturing at the graph to highlight its importance.
She noticed a subtle awkwardness on Kaz's snout as he scrutinized the graph. Given his species' lower ranking among the major races, the brutish feline likely felt some embarrassment, though he displayed little outward sign of it. Without her professional training, she probably would’ve missed it.
A cognitive score of 101, though the galactic average, did not compare to the higher intellects of the Langa and Pretenti. This disparity cast the Mevik in a bad light and soured relations, especially with the Pretenti and Langa, who scorned the Mevik for their perceived intellectual shortcomings.
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“Explain the relevance,” Kaz said, following his examination of the graph.
Zelana hesitated, then her voice deepened to a more serious tone.
“Are you acquainted with what they call the 'theory of cognitive parity'?”
“I'm aware,” Kaz replied. “It posits that as a civilization progresses, individual intelligence within a species equalizes over time.”
Zelana interacted with the holographic controls again, swapping the first bar graph for a similar second one that included both specimens.
Bar 1: Race: Langa, Score: 162
Bar 2: Specimen: Andreas, Score: 141
Bar 3: Race: Pretenti, Score: 134
Bar 4: Race: Prol, Score: 116
Bar 5: Race: Mevik, Score: 101
Bar 6: Specimen: Ross, Score: 76
“I gather you're emphasizing the varied intellectual capacities of the specimens,” Kaz said after examining the new graph. “The significance of this finding is noted, but I fail to see why we couldn't defer its review to a more suitable time.”
Frustration welled up in Zelana as she sighed internally at her captain’s lack of understanding.
“It extends far beyond merely that,” she said, now revealing slight impatience in her tone. “Deviations from the average among outliers aren't rare but observe that even with your own score being fourteen points higher than your racial median, it pales in comparison to the staggering sixty-five-point difference between those two specimens.” Her snout twitched discreetly as she paused. “I have never encountered anything like this.”
“Even so, it would only represent one more instance where this race diverges from expected norms.”
“The implications extend far beyond mere physical characteristics,” Zelana said. “It points to a social structure that's deeply unfamiliar, unlike anything previously encountered.”
The vast difference in cognitive performance between the two specimens, 141 versus 76, could've led casual observers to mistake them for different species. Given its high intelligence, the first specimen could’ve assumed elite Union roles if it wanted. In contrast, the second specimen, with its vastly inferior capacity, would’ve been suitable only for menial tasks that even many Mevik would have considered beneath them.
“Your point is clear,” Kaz said. “I merely struggle to see why this discovery should necessitate my immediate attention outside of regular hours.”
“The implications are the reason,” Zelana said, her tone now strikingly firm for a Langa, followed by a pause. “Can you remember when I first expressed my concerns about this race?”
“Are you referring to the incident involving yourself and Xeno-Biologist Okens in the briefing room?”
“Indeed,” Zelana replied. “Do you recall the specific concerns I pointed out then?”
“I do recall your comments on what you deemed the ‘improbability’ of a civilized primate race.”
“And now, the hard data we've collected supports those concerns,” Zelana said. “Within civilized societies, racial intelligence achieves equilibrium through cooperation and compromise, fostering harmony and gradually leading to a genetic convergence that mitigates existing disparities.” She paused, her voice reflecting growing concern. “Yet, this observation does not hold for this species…”
For a moment, they said nothing, just exchanging concerned glances.
“You think they've reached the level of an advanced civilization state without the necessary social evolution?” Kaz asked eventually.
“Yes! That is precisely what I'm concerned about!” Zelana replied anxiously. “If genetics are unequal, then so is everything else. The implications are profoundly alarming!”
Kaz's whiskers fluttered, suggesting he was pondering her words.
“The Union’s own cognitive gaps among its members haven’t hindered us.”
“That's a completely different matter,” Zelana said. “While the Union is composed of distinct civilizations collectively, each race within it has managed to establish its own internal harmony.”
Their gazes stayed locked in a silent moment until Kaz spoke again.
“Your conclusions are too broad for such limited evidence.” His voice took on an annoyed and accusatory tone. “Not a novel occurrence.” He resumed following a somewhat painful pause. “Consider Ross’s injury; his colleague has stated it compromises his standard functioning. Why should we trust the test results?”
“I understand it's injured, yet that alone fails to clarify the significant differences we see in the results.”
Another silent moment passed.
“Setting aside my reservations, what do you propose I should do with this information?” Kaz asked eventually.
“You have been scheduled to engage with the specimen Andreas tomorrow,” Zelana replied. “I request that you integrate a recorder to document your interactions with him, which I will examine once you're back. I will manage the simulator test for the other in the interim.”
The request drew a slight frown across Kaz’s snout.
“Just this evening, you opposed the violation of the specimens' rights; now, you expect me to spy on them at your request?”
“I hesitate to label it as spying,” Zelana said with a hint of apology in her tone. “Consider it research. It's vital that we understand this species thoroughly before any official interactions occur.”
Kaz replied after a silence that had stretched longer than Zelana found comfortable.
“Very well.”