act4d0

第一关（前）

11:30 A.M. \ Overcast

Countryside - Rhodes Island Chief Engineer's Office

What are you doing this time?

Kal'tsit, you think I could see the Doctor for a bit?

Has it been too long since you pranked {@nickname}? Feeling antsy?

Oh come on! I'm really a very caring person.

Last time you called yourself a caring person, you set up a facility to broadcast 'Closure's Midnight Video Market' at twelve o'clock for three months straight.

But...

We still have no way to turn the volume down.

Okay okay, I admit it! I want to go tease the Doctor.

Not to mention {@nickname}'s memory loss. I can't say for sure if the Doctor even knows who you are.

Huh? Slept too much and turned stupid, huh? That's sad. I'll have to bring the Doctor some snacks as a little cheer-up gift.

Whatever. Just try not to make a bad impression.

Warfarin went bad enough. Add in the Doctor's misconceptions about vampires and the Kazdel matter will have to be postponed. Indefinitely.

This is an opportunity to rehabilitate yourself in the eyes of the people. Seize it well.

Do I really need rehabilitating?

After the time you set the climate control system to 36 degrees, yes.

That was a power outage in the machine shop.

We found your fingerprints on the console.

It was a power outage in the machine shop!

You hacked the surveillance system and deleted the recording, but the console served as a biological backup. I have thirteen tissue samples from thirteen different instances.

I'm sorry it's my bad that envoy is such an arrogant prick I just want to rub his nose in it sorry.

Anyway, the welcome party. Dr. {@nickname}'s welcome back party. We're not throwing one?

Afraid not. Circumstances such as they are.

Hey, why you gotta be like that, Kal'tsit? This is the Doctor we're talking about, the Doctor with amensia. We gotta create an atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie.

Did you always look at the Doctor so?

Maybe... I've never been that close to the Doctor. But didn't you just say this is the perfect time to make a good impression?

Closure, let's talk about something else.

Hmph. If you're not going, I'll go myself. I don't care what you do.

Did I hear we're going to Lungmen? I think that was on the schedule.

Yes.

And we can operate freely?

Lungmen has become quite dangerous.

Huh? Really? Lungmen? I thought that place was all about law and order.

It's the closest city to Chernobog. That should be pretty self-explanatory.

So why are we going?

Because it's the closest city to Chernobog.

I think you're hiding something...

No. I said everything there is to be said in the last meeting. Right about the time you were slumped back in your chair, wearing an eye mask, fast asleep.

What can I say? Keeping this operation well maintained is tiring work.

I never said I blamed you. Without you, Rhodes Island wouldn't even get off the ground.

But I still want to do away with your suspicions... What is it you called me in for, exactly?

What? I can't just call up an old friend?

I'll be in my lab.

Hey! Wait! Okay... we have a power outage down two corridors in sector three.

Can you come look at the cables with me?

Just send an engineer down there. Is it a problem with the power supply cables?

Or the two of us could go look ourselves.

Whenever I ask you for an inspection, you always delegate it to another operator.

My sense of responsibility as Chief Engineer of Rhodes Island has suddenly awakened! Let's go!

Come on, keep up with me...

Huh?

Huh?!

This is Heavyrain.

Oh. Heavyrain?

Hello, Miss Closure.

What a good little girl! Look, Kal'tsit, look how much more likable she is than you!

Hmph.

Heavyrain, let me see your monitor.

This one...? On my left arm here?

Yes. Be careful not to touch the needle.

Right...

...Numbers look good. Your hemoglobin is up. You're recovering well.

Thank you, Dr. Kal'tsit.

No thanks necessary. Just doing my job. You don't thank people for that.

You know the way back, Heavyrain?

I know.

Then you show yourself out. Closure and I have something to take care of.

But I'm a guard. If I go, will you be okay, Dr. Kal'tsit?

You may be mistaken, Heavyrain.

I asked you to come with us just to give you a the layout of the ship. You may not come here often in the future.

I don't need protection.

Right.

Then, excuse me. Goodbye, Miss Closure.

Yeah, bye.

Did you hear that, Kal'tsit? She called me 'Miss!' Oh what a good little girl...

She really seemed to want to help you out. And you sent her away like that?

Every operator has to find her own place in the world, just like me. Having her waste time with things she's not good at doesn't help anybody.

Would it kill you to talk like a human being every once in a while?

Heavyrain was in the Sargon military.

Before she can establish interpersonal relationships, she needs to find a proper position for herself and integrate into Rhodes Island. That requires both support and tolerance, as well as her own self-awareness.

Yeah yeah, your lectures make my head hurt.

She another one of your strays you brought home?

You kind of have a talent for picking up new pets, Kal'tsit.

How many are we up to now?

It's one of the steps in the 'Acquisition and Cultivation Procedures for Infected Personnel.'

Hold on... Last month, you had a solid 72-hour surgical procedure. Was that her you were operating on?

Indeed.

The surgical team went through like eight or nine shifts, but you didn't sleep for three days?

At least she recovered quickly.

Tell me, Kal'tsit, do you drug yourself?

I refuse to answer that question.

If I don't ask, you'll never say, will you?

What's the point of discussing this?

You're too hard on yourself.

I can handle it.

Dark!

Should we be using backup power?

You can't see?