[These transcripts are for research purposes only, any opinions expressed therein are not wholly representative of species, governments, organisations or conglomerates mentioned. The release of these documents have been authorised by Executive Director Dr. Salhor Laandi]
[Note: CMO Krydon was behind schedule, but he offered his office space so that we might conduct another interview so as not to waste any time. I accepted, Jasmine was happy to comply, once she had finished exploring Dr. Krydons office.]
Dr Xant: I believe we left off discussing the lifespan of a human...
Subject: Yeah, are you still alright to talk about that? You were pretty shaken up the last time.
Dr Xant: I’ve had time to compose myself and I’ve consulted with my peers on the matter, and I was hoping we could talk more about the subject.
Subject: Of course, what did you want to know?
Dr Xant: At what point in your development cycle does the engineering begin?
Subject: (
Dr Xant: When do your engineers begin reconstruction and redesign?
Subject: Where did you get that from? Everything is uhh, still manual, I mean, our longevity is all just medical and hygiene advances… Okay see in the past the vast majority of humans died a lot earlier, I mean it wasn't until the Industrial Revolution that humans began to live longer, more full lives. With medical advances such as penicillin and antibiotics we could stave off more Illnesses that killed people younger, oh almost forgot immunisation, THAT alone saved billions of lives across the century.
Dr Xant: Immunisation?
Subject: You're, you're kidding me right?
Dr Xant: Jasmine I think that through all our time together you would have come to the conclusion our senses of humour are very different.
Subject: Okay, well, immunisation is when a weaker strain of a virus is introduced into the body for our white blood cells to attack and create antibodies for, so when a real virus shows up our bodies are already prepared for it.
Dr Xant: Your species knowingly introduce a deadly virus into your immune system, it adapts and is able to eliminate the threat?
Subject: You’re telling me that’s not how everyone else does it?
Dr Xant: We’ve been adding counteractive measures to our gene pools since the war, but they are scripted to defend against specific strains of virus and bacteria.
Subject: I, you've lost me Xant. Are you saying you create viruses to defeat other viruses?
Dr Xant: Yes, in simple terms, but we do engineer viruses to attack other offending viruses.
Subject: I’m amazed you’re not all dead from some mutated strain…
Dr Xant: Genetic diversity is ensured and perfected during the engineering process, if a species gene pool is too homogenic then they’re susceptible to all kinds of Viral or Bacterial threats… Jasmine, you’ve gone pale.
Subject: Xant, you’re talking about biological warfare…(
Dr Xant: I think, for the first time, I have upset you.
Subject : I'm just thinking of the ramifications. We have diseases locked away that could devastate entire populations in hours, but you guys have been perfecting the one act of war we all agreed was just too horrible to commit.
Dr Xant: If it puts you at ease, it is a dark chapter of the universe that has come to a close. You can refer to the ‘Painful Dynasty’ in the history logs, but we have strayed from the topic; humanity has not yet implemented genetic engineering into their development cycle and yet you have extended your lives beyond what we in the galactic council thought the limit of conscious life.
Subject: The limit? That’s not the limit at all-
Dr Xant: It is the limit we allowed ourselves. Extending it beyond those limitations causes, cultural problems I am not qualified to answer without bias.
Subject: I’m not sure what you’re asking Xant, are you asking how we did it?
Dr Xant: I am sorry Jasmine, this is a very controversial topic amongst the Galactic Council, and I am bound to uphold the views of the company that support it. But if you have not extended your life through overt genetic engineering then it means… I am not qualified to talk about this. I am sorry I tried to probe further.
[Note: Due to the impromptu nature of the interview I did not have the necessary notes available to me at the time of questioning, I will refrain from doing such interviews with the subject in the future. Cultural guidance will be supplied by Dr. Kyda Jess in subsequent sessions.]
Subject: (
[Long pause]
Subject: We can talk about something else? I’m sure there’s more fascinating things about the human body I can wow you with. Did you know we can drink disinfectant fluid and get a high from it?
Dr Xant: I beg your pardon?
[Note: Subject rose from the desk and walked over to Krydon’s medicinal cabinet, pulling out a small vial of a mild disinfectant, sniffing it and returning to her place.]
Subject: Isopropyl alcohol, rubbing alcohol, I mean it’s not the stuff we drink for recreational purposes, but in very small amounts, it produces the same effects. I smelt the stuff all over the living quarters, you don’t forget the smell of cleaning alcohol.
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Dr Xant: Please elaborate Jasmine.
Subject: (
Dr Xant: and when it rises above 0.08%?
Subject: Yeah, that’s the downside, ethanol is still fairly poisonous to the human body, our liver can filter a couple of milliliters at a time, but the buildup causes a lot of problems. It impairs speech, perception, motor skills, memory, we lose balance, and our pain receptors dull too so we don't feel as much when we get hurt. Over long term exposure it degrades our internal organs, restricts circulation, destroys brain cells -
[Note: Subject later explained that during her research for her studies she was exposed to and expected to memorise several different types of ethanol and its chemical structures. She was expected to understand its hazardous effects before producing it as a consumable.]
Dr Xant: If it has such a detrimental effect on the body I can only assume it must also have narcotic properties, Glucose has a very similar effect in the Sulin.
Subject: Huh, the Sulin (lizards) get addicted to sugar? I mean, humans can get addicted to sugar too, combine sugar and alcohol and you get a wicked high that disguises the horrible taste of the thing that gets you drunk. The repercussions of the mixture next morning however, (laughs) Ha, I can imagine, sugar is cocaine to Sulin (lizards) and we're the weirdos for drinking cleaning fluid.
Dr Xant: Organic chemistry may have to be the next subject we discuss, if i recall correctly there were other chemical structures within your initial commutative illustrations that were also cause for concern.
Subject: Which ones were they? Salt, caffeine, chilli powder or vegetable oil? Xant, the only reason I know those chemical structures is because a friend bought me a novelty chemistry kitchen set.
[Note: Almost all the more complex chemical structures the subject outlaid in the initial 7000 illustrations were consumables.]
Dr Xant: Ah yes, that is what it was Caffeine. A great stimulant for the Zenthi and Qzetillia, lethal to the Arvas. As a result its tightly regulated within council space.
Subject: Oh man, Earth practically runs on caffeine, I’m not sure we could work the modern world without it. We have entire professions dedicated to the serving of caffeine, and alcohol too for that matter, Baristas and Brewers, that's what I wanted to be, a Brewer.(Sigh)
[Long pause]
Subject: I’m not surprised caffeine is lethal to the Arvas (grasshoppers) though, I know it can be used as a natural pesticide, my friend Daniel throws all his coffee grounds on his garden, and no bugs.
[Note: Subject seems to be referring to a classification of a species in this instance that may or may not resemble the Arvas in at least appearance but certainly not behavior. Subject also seems to be more comfortable revealing more personal experiences]
Dr Xant: Jasmine, it appears that with every conversation we have it only seems to draw more questions than answers-
Unknown 1: [Muffled] Restrain the specimen immediately!
Unknown 2: whimper! Yelp!
Subject: (
[Note: There was a loud commotion on the other side of CMO Krydon’s office, created by Dr. Duuarn’s Specimen. Subject stood up in an instinctual response to the noise.]
Dr Xant: Jasmine! Get away from the door!
Unknown 2: Whimper! whine!!
Unknown 1: Get it under control now!!
[Session Ended]
Xant shut off the recording as Jasmine practically leapt from her stool to the office door.
“Jasmine!?” Xant called out confused as he watched the normally level headed human swipe her hand furiously at the door’s sensor. The door’s polite chime was ignored, as soon as the white plastic slid open Jasmine jumped through.
Her body tensed and Xant felt a shock through his own system, disgust, anger, fear. He craned his head to see, needing to know what could have caused such a horrid reaction.
“Oh my god puppy...” Jasmine’s voice whimpered. A Sulin handler held one of Duuarn’s specimens by the throat, it’s golden fur scruffed and appendages flailing wildly, tail tucked between its legs. Even without a translator you could see the creature was terrified. Jasmine’s entire body clenched, her face red with fury as she yelled “LET GO OF HER THROAT!!”
Everyone in the room froze. The Sulin handler releasing the specimen from his clawed hand, letting the poor thing drop to the floor. The staff watched on as the golden furred creature scrambled to its feet and ran past everyone, including Jasmine, and into Kyrdon’s office. Yelping in fear at the sight of Xant, before cowering beside the only free standing shelf trying to make itself seem small. Jasmine was not finished however, unleashing a torrent of emotion and intimidation against the confused handler.
“What the hell were you doing?!” She demanded, fists clenched and water forming in her eyes as she glared him down. “You could have choked her! Or severed her spine! You NEVER hold an animal like that!!”
The Sulin handler raised his claws in surrender.
“I-I'm sorry?” He choked through sharp teeth. Jasmine gasped, and took a step back, realising what she was doing.
“I’m sorry,” she muttered quickly, averting her eyes, “Just, don't do it again.” She snapped and spun on her heel storming toward the office.
Xant had barely moved, he had not seen Duuarn’s specimen since they had opened the stasis pods weeks earlier. Now it was awake and moving in the office, trembling as Jasmine had done when he had first encountered her. Jasmine had taken control now, like an Arvas Prince she commanded without words, no one was to go near her or the specimen, no one was to move. Everyone watched on with curiosity and trepidation, observing as she stood her ground against the staff and then as it melted away when facing the creature. Lowering down to her knees, voice becoming soft. A single hand outstretched and beconning.
“It's okay puppy,” she spoke just above a whisper, “You're safe now, it's okay. I won't let them hurt you any more, it's okay.”
The creature’s eyes darted from Jasmine to Xant behind her, its head and ears lowered.
“(Xant, leave the room slowly, don't make any sudden movements)” Jasmine's voice was firm, an order she expected him to obey. The doctor slid his feet, inching out of the room while keeping an eye on Jasmine.
Her focus was completely on the ‘puppy’ whispering comforting words, her hands reaching out to it. It was only after Xant’s exit that the creature moved, approaching Jasmine’s hand for a sniff, before nudging her hand. Gentle strokes upon the head became a full embrace, Jasmine rubbed its fur and pressed her cheek to its face. The ‘puppy’ in turn gave a lick to Jasmine's face before resting its head upon her shoulder.
“(Xant have everyone back up against the walls, I’m coming out.)” Another order came through the translator, but he didn’t need to deliver them. The staff backed off in unison as Jasmine emerged from the office, the large creature cradled in her arms.
“It’s okay puppy, we’re just going to go for a walk (I’m returning to my room) we’re going to go to my room for a play (I’ll let you know when we’ve calmed down) and maybe a nap, definitely some food.” The staff were staring in amazement as she delivered two different but comprehensible messages at once. She walked past them all without even so much as a glance, her arms straining under the weight but showed no signs of faltering.
Xant understood now.
How she was so adept at reading body language, the creature could not comprehend her words without a translator, but understood her intentions completely. An unspoken language.
There was a moment of silence after Jasmine and the creature had left the lab, everyone staring at each other, waiting, wondering for direction.
Dr. Krydon cleared his throat.
“I think that will be all for today…” he announced “Pa, Nu, gather what data you have on the other specimens and send them to my terminal. Ceaan, you’d best have an explanation ready as to why Duuarn’s prized specimen is now in the captive hands of… Jasmine” He turned his head to look at the other Sulin handler through his cybernetic eye. “Nyk, I suggest we have you transferred to another team...” The young handler did not protest, lowering his head dejected.
“Xant,” Krydon finally addressed the other department head beside him “You’d best go and sort this out with the Director before Duuarn gets informed, the last thing we need is that bloated head screeching at us.”
“Agreed.” Xant replied absentmindedly, still staring at the door where Jasmine had left.