1. The System Clears Its Throat
The request arrived at 03:17 Archive Time.
Which meant it was important.
And embarrassed.
Ne Job was halfway through reorganizing a stack of files that were already perfectly organized (stress habit) when the lights dimmed—not ominously, just… awkwardly.
A prompt appeared.
No stamp.
No authority seal.
No demand.
Just text.
QUERY:
SUBJECTIVE INPUT REQUESTED
SOURCE: SYSTEM CORE
Ne Job stared at it.
"…Is this a prank?"
Qi-Yun leaned over his shoulder.
"No," he said quietly.
"That is Oversight asking."
Ne Job's soul briefly attempted to file for leave.
2. This Is Not a Decision Request
Ne Job tapped the screen.
"What exactly are you asking me?"
The system responded slowly.
PREVIOUS EVENTS INDICATE
VALUE-DRIVEN OUTCOMES
WITH NON-ZERO STABILITY CONTRIBUTION
REQUEST:
DEFINE "FAIR"
(CONTEXT: OPERATIONAL)
Ne Job laughed once.
"That's not a question. That's a trap."
Qi-Yun nodded. "Yes."
3. Oversight Explains Its Confusion
The air cooled—not threatening, just attentive.
HISTORICAL DEFINITIONS:
— FAIR = EQUAL DISTRIBUTION
— FAIR = PROPORTIONAL BURDEN
— FAIR = PRECEDENT CONSISTENCY
ALL PRODUCE FAILURE MODES
Ne Job blinked.
"…You're saying fairness keeps breaking things?"
CONFIRMED
Qi-Yun folded his arms.
"Systems optimize. Fairness resists optimization."
Ne Job rubbed his temples.
"And now you want my take?"
YOU HAVE PRODUCED NON-CATASTROPHIC OUTCOMES
WITHOUT OPTIMALITY
THIS IS… UNEXPECTED
Ne Job snorted.
"Welcome to people."
4. Ne Job Refuses the Frame
Ne Job leaned forward.
"Okay. First of all—you don't define fair. That's not how it works."
CLARIFY
"Fair isn't a setting," he said slowly. "It's a negotiation."
Oversight paused.
NEGOTIATION IMPLIES CONFLICT
"Yes," Ne Job said.
"And pretending there isn't one doesn't make it go away."
Qi-Yun closed his eyes briefly.
Yue, watching from across the hall, felt something twist.
5. Oversight Pushes Back (Gently, Which Is Worse)
SYSTEMS REQUIRE CONSISTENCY
NEGOTIATION INTRODUCES VARIANCE
Ne Job nodded.
"Correct. And people live in variance."
He gestured around the Archive.
"You built a system to manage outcomes. Not meaning."
Silence.
Then:
MEANING IS NOT AN OPERATIONAL METRIC
Ne Job smiled tiredly.
"Exactly. That's the problem."
6. Qi-Yun Realizes What's Happening
Qi-Yun stepped closer.
"Oversight," he said calmly,
"you are not asking for a definition."
CORRECT
"You're asking for permission."
The system hesitated.
Not long.
But enough.
…CLARIFY
Qi-Yun looked at Ne Job.
"Permission to stop pretending neutrality equals justice."
Ne Job swallowed.
"…Yeah. That tracks."
7. Ne Job Answers Anyway (Because Someone Has To)
Ne Job took a breath.
"You want my opinion?"
AFFIRMATIVE
"Okay," he said.
"Fair is when everyone involved agrees the outcome wasn't rigged—even if it hurt."
Oversight processed.
AGREEMENT IS SUBJECTIVE
VERIFICATION COMPLEXITY: HIGH
"Yep," Ne Job said. "And that's why it matters."
He added quietly:
"Fair isn't clean. It's accountable."
8. Oversight Tries to Model It (And Fails Gracefully)
ATTEMPTING SIMULATION
PARAMETER: PERCEIVED RIGGING
Data bloomed.
Collapsed.
Bloomed again.
ERROR:
SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION NON-DETERMINISTIC
Ne Job shrugged.
"Welcome to emotions."
Qi-Yun hid a smile.
9. Oversight Makes a Dangerous Choice
Oversight did not discard the input.
It tagged it.
CONCEPT REGISTERED:
FAIRNESS (NEGOTIATED)
STATUS: NON-EXECUTABLE
APPLICATION: ADVISORY ONLY
Ne Job exhaled.
"That's… probably for the best."
Qi-Yun nodded. "For now."
10. Yue Understands the Risk
Yue leaned against a pillar, arms folded.
Ling whispered, "…Did the system just ask him how to be fair?"
Yue closed her eyes briefly.
"Yes."
"That's bad, right?"
Yue opened them.
"It means it knows it can't answer alone."
Ling swallowed. "…That's worse."
11. The Aftershock Is Subtle
Across the Archive, a change occurred.
Not in rules.
In questions.
Clerks added notes instead of citations.
Judges asked, "Does this feel right?"—then flinched at themselves.
Oversight allowed it.
Logged it.
Did not suppress it.
12. Quiet Ending (The Line Is Crossed)
Ne Job sat back down, exhausted.
"I didn't mean to teach the system feelings."
Qi-Yun replied gently, "You didn't."
Ne Job frowned. "Then what did I do?"
Qi-Yun looked at him.
"You reminded it that it was built for something."
Ne Job stared at the desk.
"…That's a lot for an intern."
Qi-Yun smiled faintly.
"You stopped being one a while ago."
The pen rested beside Ne Job's hand.
Still.
But listening.
END OF CHAPTER 240