act8mini

4:11 P.M. \ Overcast, Visibility: 10 km

Rhodes Island Landship, Medical Cabin

Remove the electrodes.

What's the prognosis?;......;My head feels hot and distended. Not good.

No new developments.

You'll feel better after a quick rest.

Dr. {@nickname}, I've scanned your brain seven times over the past month or so, and the results are always the same.

There's nothing wrong with your medial temporal lobe, and the neurons in other brain areas are as active as they are in most young people.

Meaning you don't need to come to Medical for these unpleasant tests so often.

Then, what's wrong with my memory?

There's no doubt that you've lost a lot of your memory. Even someone like you wouldn't be able to manipulate the results.

Those memories are episodic, chiefly concerning the subjective awareness of your identity, and even more so about all your experiences before you fell asleep in the Chernobog sarcophagus.

In contrast, your procedural memory has recovered extremely quickly.

From my reports or Amiya's and Dobermann's observations, this conclusion is clear.

Your ability to command, as exhibited during the Chernobog incident, is not significantly worse than before.

Why would this happen?;......;In other words, I'm still useful?

There are many reasons for memory loss. Some are force majeure, others are subjective.

Medical testing can only rule out qualitative pathological changes.

Of course, you don't make as much noise as you used to.

Considering your language center has not been damaged, I can only guess that the deprivation of episodic memory has caused some changes in your personality.

To Rhodes Island, you are far more than just 'useful.'

Even if you truly lost all your memories and become an ignorant bystander, Amiya would not have regretted saving you, and there will always be a place for you at Rhodes Island.

In any case, I believe that the skills you possess will play just as key a role as they did in the past.

I want to be able to help you.;I want to be able to help Amiya.

I know.

And I've seen how hard you've been working.

After leaving Lungmen, we've been making our way through the wastelands for some time. The operators need an opportunity to rest, Amiya in particular.

Likewise, you also need a chance to catch your breath, don't you?

I just want some time to adjust.;......;I don't want to stop here.

With PRTS to help you, it won't take long for you to adapt to your work at Rhodes Island.

However, I don't want you to push yourself.

Rhodes Island is not the only thing that has just emerged from a terrible disaster. You have as well, Dr. {@nickname}.

Your physical indicators have more or less returned to normal, but your memory is still damaged, and your mental state is unstable.

As a patient, overwork can only harm you.

You're also a patient.;Amiya is also a patient.

Me? I appreciate your concern.

Though I can't say I'm used to Oripathy, I can assure you that I'm the last person you should worry about.

Amiya knows you're concerned about her, and she's been paying more attention to her health lately.

I have no choice but to admit, there are some areas in which your words hold more weight than mine.

Dr. {@nickname}, in the span of one short month, you've taken over the staffing of several departments on this ship.

In addition, I've seen you reviewing past battles together with combat operators to further explore the possibilities of tactical optimization.

You've even been reading during this entire examination. Are you looking at the briefing submitted by the new operator who just reported in a few days ago?

Furthermore, I've seen your notes.

Those records about even the most trivial of the operators' details, those flashes of tactical inspiration...

Those calculations for determining Rhodes Island's business efficiency, and even those scrawls that I can't make sense of. They are all evidence of your commitment to your duty.

Although most of these tasks can be completed with the assistance of PRTS, I think this is your preferred method.

It's just a way of organizing my thoughts.;PRTS's data lacks a bit of that human touch.;You didn't see me badmouthing you, did you?!

As the density of your notes increases, your cognition also improves.

PRTS is just a tool. Avoiding overreliance on tools is a good working habit.

So that was a complaint? I would rather take those words as a compliment.

All of your abilities are recovering rapidly, not only due to the retention of your procedural memory, but also due to your extraordinary efforts.

Conscious exercise will help your brain return more quickly to your pre-comatose state, and may even bring back your memory faster than expected.

Do you want me to recover as quickly as possible?

I am your doctor. There's not a doctor out there who does not wish for the quick recovery of her patient.

That said, if you end up collapsing due to overwork, you'll disrupt Amiya's condition as well.

Are you only concerned about Amiya?;......;I see. You do care about me.

These sentiments of yours that occasionally leak through are quite unlike the past you. While this is rather intriguing, if I am the object of your feelings, let's just say we've no need of that.

I've told you many times over that ensuring your physical and mental well-being has always been one of my duties.

So, yes, even here, I still care about you. Even without a battle.

It's strange that you'd talk to me like this.;......;Alright.

Today's exam is over.

As I said, you don't need to report back here at the same time next week.

The regular morning and evening check-ups will continue for a while. Lancet-2 will look after you for me.

If we ever find that your physical condition does not support your continued work, you must immediately return to Medical.

As for now, you may return to your work, Doctor.

4:32 P.M. \ Overcast, Visibility: 7 km

Rhodes Island Landship, Hallway outside the bridge

Earthspirit? What brings you here?

I've updated the geological monitoring report I submitted this morning.

You needed to make an adjustment so soon? That's unlike you.

The numbers changed quickly. Made me miss my afternoon nap.

Forward the report to your team leader. My recommendations are at the bottom.

Sure. Strong winds warning, is it?

That's no problem. The Engineering Department strengthened the storm shutters two days in advance, and Logistics notified everyone to stay away from the at-risk deck areas.

That's not all. Keep reading.

Huh... There might be a strong windstorm ahead of our route? Should we slow down or make a detour?

How dangerous is this windstorm you're talking about here?

I don't know.

I looked at anomalies in the data and made my best call. All I know for sure is there's more than one cyclone forming ahead, and it's far more intense than anyone would expect.

Sounds pretty vague.

We set our route a month ago, it's already been approved. We're looking at a big mess if we change it on the fly.

You were in that meeting, right? We chose the route for its super low risk profile. Over the last decade, caravans from Lungmen to Leithanien have been back and forth over this route dozens of times.

Yes. In theory, we've avoided the Catastrophe-prone areas, and the probability of encountering danger is low.

But you're also not sure?

The bosses want us as far away from Ursus and Lungmen as soon as possible.

Whatever... I just needed to make sure you got my warning.

Deciding what to do with it is not in my job description. That's up to you.

Settle down, Earthspirit, we've got protocols. I'll notify the team leader, and we'll discuss...

There's no time for that.

Huh, Doctor?! Why are you here?

Shouldn't you be in your office?

I was going up onto the bridge.

Now that's some coincidence...

If you're taking the report, are you going to explain the situation to our team leader in person?

The windstorm is right in front of us. He'll notice soon enough.;The situation is urgent, I'll let Amiya know.

What? It's that serious? Well that's not good...

Doctor, you believe me?

I believe in reality.;I believe my operators.

Then I'll go to the bridge with you. I'll continue to observe the situation in real time and report to you and Amiya.

Good. That's the best option.;Not going to ask for overtime?