Chapter Text
[RECORD START]
SUBJECT: PROJECT DEEPWELL
27/04/3255
"Good afternoon. My name is Doctor Edward Lancaster. I am a lead researcher here at the Horizon Institute of Xenobiological Studies. The subject of today's recording will be the strange new substance that my team has unearthed along the borders of the THETA colony."
The doctor reaches over to a nearby countertop, taking a vial from one of the containers. He then proceeds to present it proudly to the camera.
"What I have in my hands is an exotic substance that my colleagues have dubbed as 'void fluid.' At a glance, it greatly resembles Terran petroleum, or perhaps even black tar in both color, and viscosity–but exhibits several unique properties. Namely, chief and foremost, the unique, dare I say fantastical effects it causes on living beings, despite having been discovered in a world that supposedly lacks the presence of complex life. Research on the substance is ongoing, and we are still pending approval from the bureau to begin experimentation, so I unfortunately cannot reveal much more for sure at the present time. I will continue to post updates as progress continues.”
“Additionally, as most of you already know, it is currently the 100th anniversary of the founding of our world, Veridia. So to any of you who are watching this early, I hereby invite you all this friday to the facility for the party. You may bring your families as well. That is all.”
07/06/3255
"I have great news. Our project has been approved for testing. In the meantime, we have prepared a testbed for the project, which will serve as long term experimental grounds for the effects of the substance. As for the substance in question, we have created a way in which to possibly control this void fluid, at least in the scale and distribution throughout the testbed–by means submerging experimental nanites into the substance, and binding the molecules to the nanites outer layers. This should allow us to have multiple avenues to manipulate the flow of the substance, which should help us more easily separate the test groupings with greater ease.
The scientist moves towards the camera, picking it up and repositioning it towards an expansive glass box behind it, which, despite being positioned on the ground floor, towers above even the current level where the scientist is standing. multiple bridges on all sides connect its lip to the surrounding balconies, which are shown to be on the floor above.
"This- is the testing box. Impressive, is it not? two hundred meters squared by area, and two hundred meters by height. It is so large that we can barely see the top of it, even here in my office! This will be our sandbox. Our very own playground with which to test and showcase the wondrous effects of the void fluid. Let's head down, shall we?"
The scientist picks up the camera, and leaves the office for the elevator.
"Now, you may be wondering. What exactly makes this void fluid so special? Well, if I were to describe it, I would say... Magic. Liquid magic. The first thing we noticed upon discovery was how it seemed to violate the 2nd law of thermodynamics. Its potential in the manufacturing industry alone could make it worth billions– but that is a job for a different department. What me and my team are especially interested in finding out however, are its effects on biology. Namely, intelligence."
Reaching the ground floor, the scientist enters a lab room, pointing the camera towards a set of terrariums, each containing a collection of insects.
"Now, in its natural state, the substance is, well– inert. Our testing on field mice has led us to the conclusion that the void fluid is unable to have any meaningful chemical reactions in the body that does not qualify as 'indigestion'. In other words, the substance acts similarly in this regard to noble gases. A complete lack of reactivity. On most animals, that is the case. Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish, on these there is no effect. But when introduced to invertebrates, however..."
The scientist approaches the terrarium labelled as "control" and picks up one of the insects. It is a fully grown specimen of the species Xylotrupes socrates.
"This is a Xylotrupes socrates specimen. Or rather, a rhinoceros beetle for the uninitiated. A male, as you can see by the large top horn, healthy, and of breeding age. There is not much to remark about it, other than the fact that it is a completely normal rhinoceros beetle. Not much to write home about on this one. But if I were to introduce it to some void fluid however..."
Placing the beetle back in its enclosure, he then directs the camera to the second terrarium, labeled "test".
"This is the test batch. During our experiments, we have noticed that when void fluid is placed in the direct proximity of an invertebrate, the substance becomes instantly attracted to it, pouring into the creature's body from any available orifices. For most insects, this would be through the breeding tracts all around their bodies. What happens next is truly fascinating."
The camera is brought up to the rim of the terrarium, peering inside. In comparison to the rather unremarkable control terrarium, the current terrarium contains artificial structures resembling miniature dwellings.
"Astounding, is it not? What we are seeing here is nothing short of an intelligence explosion. Each and every single one of these beetles, despite having a nearly identical anatomy to their unexposed counterparts, have mutated brains that far exceed them in intelligence. And that is not even mentioning the subtle physical changes to their bodies that have allowed them to manipulate their environment in this complex manner. And it has only been 2 weeks since their initial exposure!”
Once more, the scientist picks up the camera, and walks to the enormous glass wall at the labs center, which from this perspective towers over him. Various scientists are seen working, some with labcoats, others in protective suits, with some busy pooling void fluid at the base.
"As you can see, the objective of our current project will be to create an artificial ecosystem inhabited by invertebrates, with the primary purpose of observing the long term effects of void fluid on living organisms. While the roster for the exact species to be placed within the terrarium is as of yet undecided, I can instead explain the general layout, and the planned sections of the terrarium's interior. The lowest section is to be filled with void fluid, and will serve as our "command center" from which we will interact with the interior ecosystem. More details on that in the future. Later, we will enclose this space with local rocks, and then above that, substrate. After which we will place multiple interconnected subsections, each its own unique ecosystem. We currently have plans for a "gardens", "caverns", and underground river section, of which a general layout is yet to be determined. More updates to come.”
07/25/3255
Hello. I have quite a few things to announce regarding the state of the project. I am delighted to inform you that we have decided upon a name for the enclosure, which I will from now on call “The Vivarium”. Sounds uninspired, I know, but that’s why I have a career in biology, and not in stand up comedy.”
The scientist huffs, before leaving the camera's view, before returning shortly after, hauling a black projector box with him. The screen lights up, showing a long list of invertebrates.
“Now, onto the meat of our one-way discussion. Me and my colleagues have identified multiple potential flora and fauna to add to our ecosystem. Now, the results of the void fluid exposure experiments have not necessarily been… going as expected, I mean–just because most of the species have not developed the same levels of intellect as the first batch, that does NOT mean that the rest of the batches are failures per say. They have developed mutations just as fascinating as those of the beetles. This does not mean that they are to be disposed of, of course. This is the 4th millenium! We’re better than that.” The doctor sighs, exasperation clear on his face.
“Aaaand we’re getting off topic. Anyways, as I was saying, we have decided upon most of the species that will be added to the vivarium. Subject to change, of course, but this is the general plan we have outlined.”
The hologram activates, showing a long list of incumbent species.
“As you may have noticed, the list is indeed rather long. We have multiple orders, all invertebrates, of course, most of which have been artificially given some adaptations to help adjust to their new homes, but otherwise have remained untouched, with most of the changes having been brought about by exposure to void fluid. For simplicity’ sake, I have provided a summarized list for the purposes of this recording. Though if you wish, you may approach me for the more detailed variant.
[Subject roster]
Arachnids
scorpiones(3 species)
Araneae(18 species)
Uropygi(3 species)
Amblypygi(2 species)
Acariformes(2 species)
Insects
Hymenoptera(3 species)
Diptera(97 species)
zygentoma(6 species)
Entognatha(5 species)
Lepidoptera(5 species)
Coleoptera(159 species)
Isopoda(52 species)
Hemiptera(77 species)
Mantodea(1 species)
Clitellata
opisthiropa(8 species)
others
Onychophora(1 species)
Gastropoda(4 species)
“Additionally, we have also placed some GMO's in the roster, mostly for regulation purposes. But don't worry, we have set up some countermeasures to control their numbers, so they shouldn't pose too much of a disturbance to the local ecosystem.”
[GMO subject roster]
“Wyrms”
a specialized “dirtmover” which should help break up the soil. They are carnivorous, and highly aggressive, with the local earthworm population serving as their main diet during the juvenile stage, with the larger earthmovers being used to feed them upon reaching adulthood. They are easily the largest organisms within the terrarium, reaching an impressive 1.5 meters at maximum, though they never truly stop growing, being limited by their lifespans, which reach up to 30 years, the longest among all the species present.
“Earthmovers”
similar in function to the aforementioned wyrms, they are higher in number, and serve as a prey species. Their appearance greatly resembles that of a caterpillar, albeit in the superficial sense. Genetically however, they are actually derived from some type of velvet worm. A very interesting species indeed… Very long lived as well– some specimens may live for up to 25 years at a time, and are quite docile to boot… when they are not feasting on the roots of one of the other GMO’s on this list.
“Rootspirits”
A highly specialized organism formed from the marriage of plant and animal. Funnily enough, I lack quite a bit of knowledge as to its genetic makeup. As far as I am aware, this species was initially used in ecosystem building when this planet was first terraformed. A very hardy creature, it can survive even in the most inhospitable environments. They multiply like rabbits too, but serve as great sustenance for our wyrms.
“As for the flora, I have decided to forego including it in its entirety due to the sheer length, but you may contact me if you wish to view that as well.”
“Excuse me, Doctor Lancaster? Your coffee’s ready, sir.” A voice calls out.
“3 o’clock already? Must’ve missed the alarm… I guess that leaves it for this recording...”
09/09/3255
“Hello there! Its been quite a while! I'm happy to report that our progress has been going smoothly, with minimal delays. As you can see, we are now in the process of constructing the habitats in which our tiny little friends will be inhabiting. Allow me to walk you through the changes.”
The camera is directed to a nearby console, which emits rows and rows of holographic monitors. Each one shows footage of various viewpoints throughout the massive Vivarium. Scientists in hazmat suits are busy constructing multiple chambers, while smaller drones and machines are seen digging through the rock and dirt.
“We have installed quite a few cameras throughout the entirety of the Vivarium. This will allow us to monitor the interior freely. The cameras are small, but extremely numerous as you can see, which should allow us to maintain visuals in the event that some of them inevitably become obstructed, whether by plant growth, damage from organisms or moisture, or some other unfortunate accident.
The scientist interacts with the console, showing a map of the Vivarium's general layout.
Starting at the bottom, we have the primary void storage chamber, with a series of caverns allowing internal access to it. A deep hole 20 meters tall connects the base layer to the central habitats above, the entrance of which being rather discreet as to prevent any larger creatures from making their way in. As you can see from the material being hauled in, The entire zone is to be composed of slate, with scarcely any life within. The general idea is to give this place an ‘ominous’ aesthetic. Like one of those secret levels you're not supposed to access without permission.
Above this layer, we have what is called the “cambrian” biome. Very… Prehistoric, yes? As you can tell from the name, this biome is to house species of the more “ancient” lineages, those that have been around even in the early days of Earth's geological history. The area is to be composed primarily of limestone, with adequate moisture, and very little artificial lighting for plants.
The middle portion of the vivarium is to contain the central cavern complex. It is the area in which most of the species will be living in. The biome is to be made from a variety of locally sourced stone, and is to be primarily dark, with a few light areas to allow some flora to grow. A specialized moss that requires little sunlight to thrive has also been added, which should be the basis of the vivarium's foodchain.
Above this central complex will be what we call the “Underground River”. One of my personal additions. It runs through the entire vivarium, entering through a hill at the top before draining down into a central lake directly above the central caverns, which should provide them with ample moisture. The waters will then continue travelling west before converging with another river, before travelling southwards towards one of the vivarium's exits.
To the east shall be an enormous “chasm” area that extends the full length of the central caverns. This area is to serve as a territory for the future hive of bees we will be adding. This area is to be composed of both mixed rock and soil. This area will be below the “hill” area I had previously mentioned, which will be filled with all manner of minerals and the like.
Now, We get to the exciting part! The Viridian Sea, we call it. A massive section to the west, filled with fertile soil and adequate artificial sunlight. A perfect future home for a whole host of future flora and fauna. Rich soils will provide abundant nutrients for the diverse selection of plants we plan to add, while the liberal application of artificial lighting will keep the biome vibrant and green for the foreseeable future. The layout involves a great lake near the highest layer, which will eventually run down to the east where it will link up with the main river system. I am very excited to see how the biome develops.
And with that, our tour must now come to an end. I hope you enjoyed my little show and tell! This is but a taste of what the vivarium will look like upon finalization. After all, we've barely used 70% of the available space so far! more updates to come.”