Loneliness can destroy a person, especially when you are on a damaged ark that floats endlessly in the dark. This loneliness is magnified many times over. The ruins outside the ark's safe zone, the dark space outside the spaceship, the unchanging cabin, and the rigid mainframe of the spaceship. These things can drive even the most determined of soldiers to the brink of collapse. Other than the immortal beings like the Shiring Apostles or the Gods, few mortals can face such a long and lonely life. I believe that Commander Warren Ferd was a well-trained soldier, and as a servant of the old Empire, he should have possessed the qualities of tenacity and bravery. However, these qualities did not help him survive the twelfth year. Although it was a pity, the records we found showed that his last shred of sanity disappeared in the twelfth year.
However, this was not the end of the story. There were still some rooms in the office that we had not searched. Perhaps there was information left behind by Warren Ferd in the last days of his life. Even though he was in a state of madness, the starship commander was still driven by his instincts to carve the things that were important to him on the walls and equipment. Although most of the words were nonsense, if we carefully combed through them, we could still find information related to this ghost ship. At the very least, based on the information we found so far, we could determine the purpose of this ship, right?
The rooms in the office were opened one by one. More than half of the doors were locked, and Sandora had to forcefully cut them open. However, the other half of the rooms could be entered easily. The doors were not locked. This was normal. After all, there was only one crew member living in this room, so it was meaningless to lock the door. Little Raven released all of her splits. Although they could not read (their mother could not even recognize the words), they already knew that the symbols carved on the walls were what we were looking for. They chattered as they searched in front of us, and we followed behind them to record. More and more information appeared in front of me and Sandora. Most of the meaningful ones were Warren's diary entries before he went mad.
"Warren Ferd's diary, day 96. I seem to be getting used to this life. Regular work and rest, regular meals, regular work and exercise. Other than not being able to communicate with others and not being able to go shopping, everything is the same as before. The life of a soldier has always been monotonous and boring. However, I still hope that there is some interesting entertainment here. The designers of the spaceship, perhaps I should not criticize them, but they do not understand mortals well enough. The entertainment room of this spaceship is almost a joke. They designed this room based on the logic of 'mortals need entertainment', but they did not put anything that I am interested in. Looks like I have to find my own entertainment. "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day 123. Today, I spent half the day chatting with the ship's mainframe. this rigid thing does have a personality, but it is the Shiring Apostles' way of thinking. To me, it looks like a machine. I have never liked her, but today is a little different. This is because I suddenly realized that the only thing on this spaceship that can talk to me is this AI. This silent spaceship was prepared with as few AIs as possible, and the mainframe is the smartest guy that can be found here. Chatted with the mainframe about this mission, escape, searching for other survivors, exchanging information that was not sent out after the catastrophe with other survivors … It is not a very meaningful task, but it must be completed. The mainframe is always emphasizing the importance of this mission. It is as annoying as before, but at least I can chat to relieve my boredom. "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day 150. Another idle day. Based on my habits on the surface, I gave myself a few days off, but I do not know the meaning of a holiday. Chatted with the mainframe about the spaceship's structure, but I did not get the gist of it. Now I have gotten used to calling the AI 'she'. Even though the mainframe claims that it has no gender, I think it makes me feel better to see it as a woman. That's it. In this case, I have a reason to put up with her increasingly frequent health advice and reminders. I am not sick, nor do I have any psychological problems. Why does the mainframe have to warn me to reduce my intake of stimulant drinks every day? "
As we checked each room, we collected the records and arranged the valuable information on the MDT in chronological order. All the information seemed to follow a pattern: the dated records were from the first 12 years, and the nonsensical records were from the later years. But just when we thought that our guess about Warren Ferd was correct, an unexpected entry appeared. It was carved in an inconspicuous corner of a room that looked like the engine room. It was dated and organized:
"Warren Ferd's diary, six thousandth day, a number worth recording. I finally realized what had happened. Everything that happened before today was a nightmare. I almost destroyed myself, but the good news is that I finally made it through. Perhaps I should thank that nagging mainframe computer. Her high-decibel health advice for three consecutive days and nights made it impossible for me to continue indulging in my crazy state. I have to reorganize my thoughts and find an effective method to avoid falling into this crazy state again. Warren, you have to hold on. You are the most outstanding Herconan. You should complete this mission with dignity and tenacity! You are not standing on this spaceship to let others know of your achievements, but to complete the mission of a soldier. Remember this. Remember this. Remember this. Remember this. Remember this. Remember this. Remember this! Remember this! Remember this!
Sandora and I exchanged glances with each other when we read this diary entry. Liliana also had a look of disbelief on her face. "This guy … actually survived by himself? As expected, his mentality is different from that of the people on Earth … "
"There's also the credit of the mainframe computer," Sandora said softly. "The mainframe computer has been trying to help this human to maintain his health, but it was designed to control this spaceship, so it doesn't have many other functions. Warren Ferd's madness seemed to have lasted for more than three years. The mainframe computer should have been trying to wake him up during that period … but other than using the medical robots, it couldn't think of a more suitable method. "
"It would be great if we could find the mainframe computer." I looked around. Theoretically, the terminals of the mainframe computer should be spread throughout the spaceship, but I couldn't hear the voice of the mainframe computer. "We've been in here for so long, but the mainframe computer hasn't responded. Could it be that it has crashed?"
"It's possible. The Specter Ship's navigation system might be separate from the mainframe computer. Its strange navigation might have something to do with the mainframe computer's downtime." Sandora nodded in agreement. "We should find a way to find the mainframe computer and restart the mainframe computer to find out more. However, this human's diary didn't mention any clues about the mainframe computer."
The core area of the spaceship had a strange interference environment and a strange structure that even Sandora couldn't understand. The mainframe computer might even be located in a different dimension. So, we could only hope that Warren Ferd's diary mentioned a way to enter the mainframe computer. Unfortunately, we hadn't found any clues about the mainframe computer.
So, we could only sort through the broken diary entries.
It seemed that Warren Ferd's main activity area had shifted from the rest cabin and the food production room to the radar observation room and two workshops after he had regained consciousness. The diary entries that were dated six thousand days later were all gathered in the radar observation room. Although there weren't many of them, as long as we found the first one, we would soon find the others. We found something even more interesting on the wall of the radar observation room. It seemed to prove that even though the starship commander had regained consciousness, he hadn't completely gotten rid of the nightmare in his mind.
"Warren Ferd's diary, day six thousand one hundred and seventy. Something terrible happened today. I don't know why … I thought I was used to everything here. I thought I was used to doing things alone and talking to the only voice in this place. But suddenly, I heard another person talking in my ear! Yes, another person. Other than Warren Ferd and the mainframe computer, there was a third person in this spaceship who was awake! Where is he? Is he playing hide-and-seek with me? The hibernation system malfunctioned again and woke up another pitiful guy? Oh, maybe this isn't a bad thing. I have another companion, and this isn't my fault … I want to find him! "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day six thousand one hundred and seventy two. Nothing. The 'third person' has been talking in my ear for the past two days. He seems to be living in the room next to me, but that cunning guy can always find my blind spots. It seems like it won't be easy to find the 'third person' with my own efforts. I considered checking the condition of the hibernation cabin to determine which detestable guy has woken up and is playing this nasty joke on me, but the hibernation system is still malfunctioning. The hibernation cabin refuses to open from the outside. I haven't seen those guys lying down for many years. In the afternoon, I tried to ask the mainframe computer for help, but I was rejected. That stubborn guy insisted that the 'third person' doesn't exist and told me to give up on this normal effort. It seems like a machine is a machine. I kind of liked her at first, but now it seems like that AI is really different from a human. "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day six thousand one hundred and seventy three. A gloomy day."
The mainframe computer was right. The 'third person' doesn't exist. Everything was just poor Warren's hallucination. Under the suggestion of the ship's mainframe, I locked myself in a closed cabin and used four sets of cameras to monitor my every move. When the 'third person' appeared again and talked to me about the rising sun of my hometown, it was me who was talking. "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day six thousand one hundred and seventy six. I'm in a bad mood. I might fall into a new madness. I have to find a way to reverse this situation. The mainframe computer suggested that I cultivate a hobby that can be maintained on the spaceship. There is sufficient material supply here, and any hobby that is not destructive can be satisfied. For the first time, I felt that maybe this rigid girl's suggestion had some value. Even though her suggestion was still 'based on logic', it sounded more reliable this time, more reliable than the treatment plan. It's weird. Since when did the mainframe computer make such a suggestion? Don't think too much, Warren. Cheer up and try to find something to do in the next few days. "
After that, there was a long period of blankness. We searched for a long time but did not find any diary entries between the six thousand and seven thousand days, which was a short period after the sixteenth year. During this period, Warren might have found a new place to write his messages. This was a habit of the starship commander. He would write his diary in a fixed place for a certain period of time. This period of time could be as short as ten days, or as long as one or two years. This made it a little easier for us to sort out the information.
At last, in an empty room at the end of the corridor, we found an entry that was even later in date. The date had jumped a good deal further back:
"Warren Ferd's diary, day eight thousand five hundred. I haven't written a diary for a long time, so I forgot the date. I only found out today's date after asking the mainframe computer. I'm in a state of numbness during this period of time, but I think this should be the best state. There is nothing to be happy about, but there is nothing to be depressed about either. This kind of life may be a little boring, but at least it is good to be alive. Think about those who did not escape. And I found a new way to comfort myself. The mainframe computer reported that the damage of the starship is worse than expected. It was originally designed to travel for millions of years, but now the mainframe computer estimates that it can only fly for about a hundred thousand years. Perhaps there will not be a second survivor before the starship disintegrates. The people in the hibernation pods may disappear with the starship into the endless void without knowing anything. What about me? Oh, lucky Warren. Although I was awakened alone, at least I can enjoy the feeling of being alive for a while before the starship disintegrates. I can walk and breathe freely. Actually, this is not bad.
"Warren Ferd's diary, day eight thousand five hundred and twenty-two. Another diary entry to record my good mood. Today, I spent the whole day tending to the vegetable garden. My nursery is growing well this year. I remembered the suggestion made by the mainframe computer a few years ago: Cultivate a hobby that can be maintained on the starship. Now it seems that this suggestion was really the genius of that rigid girl. The plant seeds found in the garage are completely adapted to the artificial soil. Today, I can eat fresh vegetables that I grew myself again. Although the food synthesized by the starship tastes good, the things that I grow myself have a different meaning. I invited the ship's mainframe to have dinner with me, a fresh vegetable soup. Of course, that rigid girl rejected me righteously and used a lot of logical arguments to explain why she couldn't eat. She's always so serious. Fortunately, she's just an AI. "
"Warren Ferd's diary, day eight thousand five hundred and forty-six. Tending to the vegetable garden, recording some data, going to the database to watch those old movies, this is life. I didn't expect that the video data that I brought out for the reconstruction of civilization would become a good distraction. The crazy days in the past few years are really hard to imagine. If only I had realized the value of 'diverting attention' back then, I could have wasted many years less. The mainframe computer said that the video data she found was enough for me to watch for a lifetime. What a considerate person, but a little silly. She thought that those educational videos and formulas were also 'entertainment media'. She enthusiastically sent those things to me as if she was expecting a compliment. Well, at least her motive is good. I just don't know when that Schilling brain of hers will understand what 'entertainment' is. "
After that, there was another long period of blank space. The diary was interrupted or moved to other parts of the cabin that we have not yet discovered. Warren Ferd had been awake for more than twenty years. This ordinary person with the heart of a mortal had gone through a series of changes in these twenty years. He was strong and optimistic, and he used discipline to restrain himself. He relied on some stimulant to numb his heart, and for a short period of time, he fell into madness and gave up on himself. He was trapped in the illusion of a 'third person' caused by schizophrenia. In the end, he was freed with the help of the mainframe computer. He seemed to have even planted flowers and plants on the spaceship and found ways to immerse himself in them.
We still don't know what was wrong with the spaceship's system that caused Warren Ferd to wake up alone. But at the moment, it seems that this mortal officer did not self-destruct in his despair. This might be the only good thing.
If Warren Ferd belonged to a race that had similar physiological indicators as humans, then he should be past middle age. We still need to find the final home of this starship commander.
Liliana had been running around looking for clues with the little crows. Suddenly, she found something and shouted in the corridor outside, "Boss! Boss! There's another cabin here! "
Sandora and I quickly ran out and saw her and the little crows pushing a metal plate away from the wall of the alloy corridor. This metal plate seemed to be a part of the deformable corridor. I don't know if it was Warren or the mainframe computer, but it happened to block another cabin in the work area.
We finally found a new record here. It was engraved on the wall of the corridor.
"Warren Ferd's diary, the 300,000th day. It's definitely a memorable day. Such a huge number. It's been so long since I woke up. It's unbelievable. "
When I looked in the mirror, I found myself old and clumsy. A few days ago, I was seriously ill. Although I was rescued from the medical room, I don't know when the next time will be. Maybe it's almost over. "
The design of this spaceship did not consider the possibility of an indefinite lifespan. This is a hastily built spacecraft that lacks the necessary life modification equipment. Even if it does, it should be in the outer zone that has been completely destroyed. Besides, the Hakonians are not a long-lived species. It seems like it's time to accept reality. "
I left this record because something disturbing happened a few days ago. I thought I needed to leave some words to explain my final destination and explain to the people who wake up later why I made certain decisions. "
Three days ago, I tried to bypass the mainframe computer and activate all the dormant cabins. "
Even though my actions were quickly stopped by the System and I regained my senses, I realized that I was falling into a new round of madness. The crazy thoughts that I thought had been suppressed for my whole life were making a comeback and this time, Old Warren didn't have enough willpower to resist them. "
Activating the other dormant cabins is a foolish idea. The mainframe computer explained the problem. The core system of the spaceship is damaged, and there is no way to provide sufficient resources. If the other dormant cabins wake up, they will die slowly. I believe that girl. We have lived together for so long, and she has never lied to me … So I have to think of another way to prevent myself from doing such a foolish thing again in the future. "
I'm in the small warehouse at the end of the corridor. From today onwards, no matter what happens, I will not leave that room until I die of natural causes. If anyone who wakes up later can see these words, they can find me here and use the MDT on my hand to wake up the mainframe computer. To prolong the spaceship's life, the mainframe computer and other core redundant systems will be shut down after my death. I hope this will buy you more time, little bastards lying on the ground. "
Of course, if you were awakened according to the normal procedure, you must have encountered other surviving spaceships. You probably don't need to come here to look for anything. I hope so. "
Warren Field, captain of Schilling 6, last day on duty. "
We finally found the starship commander in the small warehouse at the end of the corridor.
The air here had been pumped out, and the temperature was maintained at an extremely low level. The interior was similar to space, and the most energy-efficient method was used to maintain the captain's state after his death. This was obviously done by the mainframe computer before it shut down.
A skinny old man sat on a chair facing the warehouse door. His hair and beard were all white. He was still wearing the servant uniform of the old Empire. Apparently, he had cleaned himself up for the last time before he died.
The old man's hands were frozen in front of his chest. The MDT that could wake up the mainframe computer was in his hands.
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