Глава 15

Kay made so many cookies.

Those cookies should go to very, very good people.

Lots of wonderful people are setting out on a journey. They took good care of Kay at home, so Kay wants to make sure they don't go hungry.

That's the deal.

Doctor, the copy rooms on each floor have been packed with people these past few days.

This round of field deployments, going out to so many different regions, is the perfect opportunity for us to pick up local souvenirs—the wishlists everyone's been making are long enough to start a whole Terran Expo.

In the past, Closure has suggested that the Procurement Department make unified purchases for the operators, but I rejected the idea.

Let's keep the spirit of the tradition alive. Procurement will be sending out a notice soon regarding reimbursement.

Do you need me to bring you back anything from my trip to Victoria?

Kal'tsit shakes her head. She looks at the cookies Folinic is holding with a bit of suspicion.

Ceobe shoved these cookies at me just now.

She just made a gigantic mess in the kitchen, and Amiya is still trying to help clean it up.

Poor Amiya.

Folinic, you're going to have your hands full on this trip to Victoria.

In addition to recovering data from several offices in the ducal territories, you'll have to monitor Na Saoirsí and Reed.

You'll have to coordinate with all the different offices to provide her as much support as possible.

Of course.

And Londinium?

Let Heidi know that we are temporarily delaying our return to the ship for debriefing. Ever since Londinium's Parliament restored contact with the outside world, it has resumed collecting messages from the Core nations.

The intelligence network that Heidi has been cultivating is extremely important. This is also why I am sending you to provide support.

So overall, things aren't really that great? I see. I'll pay close attention to all of this.

Folinic, you need to take it easier.

Wha?

You have a habit of overloading yourself.

I saw your itinerary. You're stretching yourself too thin. I deleted a few of the tasks.

Try not to dwell on the things you fear—and don't try and force yourself to take control of them, either.

Folinic, I never expected you to be like your mother... or me.

I don't support encouraging those who have experienced suffering to forget the hatred and violence they've endured. If we want to build a better future, we mustn't surrender.

Try to slow down your pace a bit, Folinic. Wanting to have more control over your life is good, but getting all anxious about it is just tantamount to self-torture.

It's a long road to Victoria, but I need you to remember the smile you had when you first walked in this room.

This is my one and only requirement for you.

I will remember that.

I'll pick out a souvenir for you myself when I get to Victoria.

Farewell, Dr. Kal'tsit.

Red, you don't need to hide.

I was afraid you would be angry.

You told me not to be sad about Siracusa... but I made you sad.

I don't want to leave Rhodes Island this time. I'm afraid you will force me.

I haven't prepared the transfer order for S.W.E.E.P. yet, Red.

Stay here on standby. Ascalon's orders will arrive soon.

After we receive the orders, can I stay by your side?

Yes. Didn't you arrive some time ago?

Yes. I arrived a while ago.

Aunt Jemma and Mum prepared these canned golden radishes for me to hand out to my colleagues.

Sorry. There might be a few too many of them. Should we maybe store them in the kitchen first?

There's a veritable mountain of cans here.

I'll leave them with you.

All this stuff happened all of a sudden. It's been too long since I've been home. Mum's stockpile of canned goods is getting out of control. She just keeps dumping them on me over and over.

Didn't you just tell me they were prepared specifically for our colleagues?

Gah... Yes. Right.

Anyways, they're all mine. I'll decide how they're used.

Doctor, might I trouble you to help me distribute these to our colleagues, when you see them? Warmy's on a tight schedule, so I don't have time to do it myself.

Oh, right. The two cans with names on them... I saved them for you and Amiya. Don't give them out by mistake!

They look more or less the same.

—You... Of course they're not the same!

Oh right. I'll also need to take thirty cans on my own trip.

For your own supplies?

No. As gifts.

Warmy and Ray have an old friend, Jerry. Ever since he married Keira, his career has really taken off.

I saw the last photo he sent. His family has been blessed with quite a litter of kids lately. Warmy made plans with us to stop and visit them on the way.

They mentioned this.

Time really flies, huh?

And we haven't really changed much, eh? Well, Amiya sure does seem like she's matured a lot, ever since she returned from Kazdel.

Please take good care of Warmy and Ray.;Please take care of yourself as well.

I'm well aware of the situation in Rim Billiton. I'll make sure they're cared for.

Don't worry, Doctor.

I look forward to seeing you again after the field missions are complete.

Still, this field assignment covers a pretty wide area—I'm afraid it'll be quite a while before I can sleep soundly in my own bed again.

Don't worry. Rhodes Island will wait for you to return.

Righto!

Keep the lights on for me, Doctor.

Hey. What are you still doing here?

I just thought of something. We still haven't been given our medicine/health maintenance manuals yet. We need this guidance so that we can remember our health regimens.

I mean, this is going to be a long trip abroad. Will we all remember to eat our meals and take our medicines?

The medic operators will take care of all that. Why are you worried about it?

But we often <i>do</i> forget to take proper care of ourselves. You yourself, Lava, don't you forget to take your food rations with you, sometimes?

I... uhh... meh... whatever.

Then there's the other members of A1. The squad is going to be taking on some dangerous tasks. Kroos has to go on a long trip all by herself. Will they be okay?

Ugh... Enough already! Will you quit treating them like children?

We've been at this for so long. We're all adults already!

I know... I get it...

It's just that—leaving a place I've spent so many years with everyone, day in and day out… and not knowing when I'll be back—it's a lot to take in.

I just feel a bit... empty inside.

Don't worry. We'll be back.

Rhodes Island is dealing with some stuff right now. I trust the Doctor, Dr. Kal'tsit, and Amiya can handle it all.

All we have to do is complete our own tasks and be patient.

Rhodes Island is our home, and we're not gonna lose our home. No matter what happens, we'll be back.

Someday.

Right...

We'll be together again.

Your body temp hasn't come down. It seems like the old cocktail of drugs is no longer effective.

However, your metabolic rate has not been impacted too much. After the concentration of the old drugs in your bloodstream goes down, I'll administer some new medications.

These new drugs will decrease your pain threshold, but don't worry, I'll up your pain meds.

Alright.

There are a few new empty beds?

They left yesterday. Don't worry. They've just been transferred elsewhere for more targeted temporary treatment.

By the way, a few people left some notes for you. They're in your bedside drawer.

Your condition is rather unusual, and we should keep you in a controlled treatment environment. Staying here with me under my observation is the best option.

Okay. Thank you.

What are you looking at, Chloe?