Operation Room A
"...That's it. We're done here."
Maria Torres cracked her knuckles at the joy of transporting the patient- at least this time he wasn't active. "Nice job. I'll take this idiot to his room." A nurse came in with the transportation cart and was helped with loading. Maria then towed away the cart, muttering 'later' in the process.
Alicia Rosellini took off the blue medical gloves and removed the red ribbon that held her hair- letting gravity do the rest. She worded 'thanks' to the paramedic, but was never able to say it out loud.
CR-SO1 was already returning the tools to their proper places, he couldn't help notice the girl was silent and unmoved. "...Are you going to visit him..?" The fact remains the ex-wife has yet to forgive the ex-husband- she'll only 'put aside' the truth, but most likely never accept it. Unlike himself- Alicia has not much to reason with.
"...Depends if his sanity has returned or not." Dr. Rosellini looked back remorsefully, then glanced at the exit. "He lost his virus...which is a good thing." The professor may have turned out luckier than his own spouse.
The surgeon knew that was true- there was a different reaction than what happened at Alicia's operation. In this operation, they treated the third phase immediately after the second one. "...They said he'll be transported to the prison within days..." She has her chance to see him, but she had better make up her mind soon- time was against it.
"Hm." The girl seemed to take the information nonchalantly. "I'm going back to my office- do you mind?" She would be leaving the post-operation duties to the other surgeon.
"It's fine." Dr. Sartre turned around as he placed the remaining stabilizer into the cabinet. The sound of a closing door made him uneasy. Unless outside forces took action, Alicia will not be able to resolve this on her own.
Next Day
Hallway
11:47 AM
Gabriel was in a slightly happier mood- he got a raise and his recent patients weren't rude. He also got Hank to come along for lunch. They were going to have a tiny celebration; well, it could be bigger if he had someone else tag along, but why would any of the female staff want in on the party? They all dislike him, some even hated him.
And luckily, the kid was coming down the hall in the opposite direction. Perhaps from a scheduled operation.
"Hey kid- you're done right? Wanna head out?" Then again, the kid probably disliked him as well, since he was calling him 'kid' again.
Dr. Freebird had a grin on his face as he added, "Dr. Cunningham and I were thinking of heading to the mall to eat lunch...of course, the bill is mine."
Gabriel smirked- he liked his old buddy; not only was Hank a tough guy, he was generous. "What do ya say?"
"No thanks..." CR-SO1 said as he walked straight by the doctors. He had other issues on his mind.
Dr. Cunningham paused and mumbled, "Just because the other kid's here doesn't mean you're chained to her or anything, right?"
Dr. Sartre stopped in his tracks at that question.
"Gabriel..." Hank hoped his friend would stop with the offensive remarks. "It's his choice..."
The diagnostician took out the cigarette from his mouth and disregarded the kid's silent answer. "Whatever. Let's go. I'm getting sick of all of this..."
Hank bid a farewell and followed his friend up to the lobby. Everyone was tensed up with Alicia and her ex-husband separated across in the hospital, Gabriel the most. That man took bad endings the hardest, for he went through his own.
The surgeon went on his way, but as he approached his office, he heard footsteps behind him.
"Dr. Sartre-!" Emma gasped as she caught the doctor's attention.
CR-SO1 turned to see the nurse was under much more pressure than usual. "What is it?" More than what a simple announcement of 'there's an emergency' needs.
"The prisoner from yesterday- he's conscious...He won't stay put and is demanding..." Nurse Wilson was still trying to catch her breath from the dash she made.
"What did he say?" The surgeon's expression turned to concern- he glanced at his neighbor's closed office door.
"He wants to see Dr. Rosellini...his room is barred, but if this keeps up, the nurses and I won't know what to do!"
Dr. Sartre let out a breath. "...I'll get her. Don't let him do anything rash." His response sent the nurse running down the hall once again. "...(I knew this would happen...)" He turned to face Alicia's office and let out another breath as he approached it. Why did he have to be the one to tell her? "...Hey- Alicia..." He knocked on the door twice, but weaker than what he would have done if the news was casual.
The door was unlocked and opened. The girl stood in the doorway with her eyeglasses still on. "Do you need something..?" She felt the concern from the expression of her visitor, immediately drew to her conclusion of the purpose behind the sudden visit. "...So...what does he want...?"
"He wants to see you." Dr. Sartre prepared for a burst of anger to come from the girl.
Alicia took off her glasses and turned around. "But do I want to see him? Let me remind you...we no longer get along."
CR-SO1 was eased to see she was being lenient with him. But he couldn't let the girl just deny the request, so he stood and waited- hoping she would change her mind.
The girl's back was still facing the visitor. But he wasn't moving an inch from where he was. "...?" She turned around, realizing that he was being persistent for once. "...Fine...!" She walked past the doctor into the hall. "...I can't make an guarantees that this will be resolved."
The surgeon watched as the girl ran off. Somehow, she acted as if she was relieved. He looked into the office, and he only evidence of movement was coming from the patient's bed- adding this to the quick response of his visit and confidence on what direction the destination was..."!..." It was like she was waiting for someone to give her encouragement...
Hall Outside Patient Rooms
This area was for the 'special' patients. 'Special' meaning those in comas, those requiring certain equipment to live, and...those who...belong in prison.
Maria was angrily at the window of the professor's room. She was dying to personally give the now grown-up man a punch or two, but was more anxious to have the girl to do it herself. She looked down the hall and saw the kids approaching. "Finally-! Where were you-? Go in there and get him to shut up!" Maria then became quiet after realizing the situation from the girl's point of view. "...Just...give him a piece of your mind."
"I know." Alicia took a deep breath and entered the room- just as Dr. Sartre arrived.
"You came, huh?" The paramedic murmured as she saw the reflection of the surgeon's face on the window. "...Thanks for getting her out of there." As much as she regretted it, the kid was the only one who could really get Alicia to move.
CR-SO1 noticed this was the same room he used when he was working off his sentence. He quietly looked beyond the glass- though he couldn't hear the conversation from where he was, he can tell who was talking.
Inside
"You came...good." Gwein Rosellini was sitting up in his bed. He looked past the bars to see Alicia unable to speak. "...We're now at different ages..." They looked thirty years apart.
"There's no way I'm going to forgive you. Even if I was dead, you had no right to do all of that..." Alicia refused to look back at her ex-husband. "What do you want? What else do you want me to know that I'll regret as soon as I leave?" She tried her best with the cold shoulder, but was overcame with anger.
"...You don't know..? I thought I left a recording..." His voice was much softer. "Maybe it wasn't important...? I'm good as dead now."
"The recording...?" Alicia looked out the window at the paramedic and surgeon- they were the ones to listen to it. Though they didn't seem to know anything else... "...How long do you have?"
"Not long at all." Hearing the cold tone of his ex-wife's voice was not making him at ease at all. "Do you care?"
"Idiot...Of course I do-!" Her yell surprised the husband. "For one thing- I'm a doctor-!" She glimpsed at him for a second. "Why did you have to take things this far? We could've just lived like any regular couple if you hadn't done any of this-! Now that you'll die, I'll be the only one left..!"
"..." The husband had no response to the abrupt outcry. He could only manage to mutter, "...There are others."
"Rosalia is dead. There were only a handful that survived that fire at the labs. And most of the professors at Cumberland we knew are also gone."
There was a long silence.
"Rosalia's dead..?"
The wife looked at her husband's confused expression. "...You don't know? ...Her virus started an epidemic that nearly destroyed America. Many died before a cure was found." She paused, she didn't know of this either until other told her. "Don't tell me you were trying to develop that 'Bloody Rose' virus the entire time...!"
"I wasn't the only one."
"I thought I told you Aaron is already dead." Alicia muttered. "...Is there anything else you want?" She saw the weak gaze from the professor; he'd finally figured out what he's done.
"...So I started all of that, huh?" He began laughing at himself. "Great, we did that all for nothing..."
"This isn't a laughing matter."
Gwein regained his composure and said, "...I just wanted to apologize- though I guess you don't want it."
"You can apologize to me when I see you later..." Alicia sighed. 'Later' meaning after death.
There was another pause.
"...You think we'll even end up in the same place?" He laid down, his energy was diminishing by the second. "I rather do it just in case... Sorry, Mirana."
Alicia was at a loss of words. "...I know where I'll end up." She turned around and did her best to hold back any tears left as she headed for the exit. "Goodbye."
"...Dammit..." Gwein struggled to mutter, "Hate me as much as you want, but...I don't want you to wind up down there."
"I'm sorry." Her hand was on the knob; she looked back once more. "I can't do that."
"Then...don't hate...yourself." The professor whispered, "You didn't do anything wrong."
"...I could've stopped you..." After all was said, she left.
Outside
"So what happened-?" The paramedic sworn she heard yells; she has to know what was being said.
Dr. Rosellini started heading back down the hall, but then stopped. "Did you two know what was going to happen?"
"What are you talking about- that's why I'm asking-" Maria was interrupted by a nurse.
"Doctors-! His vitals- he's...gone-!" Emma closed her eyes expecting to get questioned. But when she opened her eyes, the attention was all on Dr. Rosellini.
CR-SO1 knew Alicia couldn't have killed the patient- she was roughly two whole meters away. "What-?"
"I'll need permission to go inside of your office, Dr. Sartre." Alicia didn't look back at the others. "I need to listen to that recording..."
"Someone tell me what's going on-!" Maria was completely lost on what just happened.
Alicia glanced back and stated, "Tell the Chief he knew this was coming." So they didn't know. That means there was more to the recording.
"You mean-" The operation was all for nothing. "He knew he was going to die...?" Dr. Sartre waited for a longer explanation.
"If that virus disappears...the patient is as good as dead." The girl was frozen with her words. "That was the difference between him and me..."
The paramedic and surgeon became quiet. Alicia was now officially a widow- and by the way she spoke, there was little chance a formal apology was made.
"No way...!" Maria looked at Alicia then the kid, unable to swallow the truth. "The operation...killed him?" The kids never failed at an operation.
"No...it was chance." Alicia ruefully replied as she turned to the surgeon. "He said this at the end of the recording...May I?" She was answered with a small nod. "...Let's go."
CR-SO1 began following the girl, trying to recall what he heard last time form the device.
"I'll...give Chief the bad news." Dr. Torres ran past the doctors, thinking of how to word out the information to Esha as she sprinted.
Dr. Sartre's Office
1:28 PM
They discovered Tomoe's delivery lunches on his desk that have grown cold before even attempting a search, so it was decided to eat lunch in ten minutes before searching.
It took another minute to search for the recorder; even after Dr. Sartre remembered where the device was last, it took awhile to uncover it from a recently made pile of paper. "Here-" he handed it over for the girl to turn on.
Alicia decided not to rewind and just pressed the play button.
"So...that's what I figured out. It's suicide, I know. Even with a successful operation- if the virus were to disappear, the host would die. And the mortality rate is...seventy percent."
"(Seventy percent?)" It was probably higher with an estimate. Very few would dare get an operation with such a high chance of death... but even without this information, an operation was still held. CR-SO1 saw no change of expression on Alicia's face.
"I'm sorry...I was being stupid...so Mirana, if you're still able to hear this... that means you've probably survived it...You probably hate me, too...a lot. But at least promise me to tell Rosalia the truth, and make sure she's happy... I'm going to..." The recording was stopped when Alicia hit the pause button.
"I'm sorry..." The girl turned away. "I...can't take this anymore." She returned the device without any eye contact, then began to walk to the doorway.
The surgeon stood silently and couldn't say anything in comfort. He looked at the recorder- Rosalia was dead; Alicia had no possible method to reach her. And the husband was gone as well- nothing can be done to take back the impossible promise.
Before the girl exited into the hall, she asked quietly, "You said...Rosalia was happy when you met her...right?"
Dr. Sartre replied 'yeah,' but soon became hesitant. Rosalia knew how to fake happiness- just like her mother, she could hide her emotions very well at times. But... something tells him his doubts are unnecessary. "...I'm sure."
"...I guess now I'll have to explain this to everyone else..." Alicia sighed, knowing the status she's in will make things complicated.
"Wouldn't you rather go to her grave..?"
Alicia was stunned at the sudden suggestion coming from the surgeon. "...But...then..." If she went, who's going to...
"...I'll explain. Don't worry."
The mother made a weak smile and handed the recorder to Dr. Sartre. "...Thank you..." She quickly ran out of the room and went into her office to drop her lab coat and grab the keys.
The surgeon held the recorder tightly. "...(Both professors meant the same in the words the left behind...)" If only he could tell Professor Sartre the truth as well.
Conference Room
2:51 PM
"So that's it huh..?" Maria lowered head after the long but sad speech the moron's computer and the kid gave. "He just dies once the virus is gone?" She asked as the room lit up.
Dr. Tachibana closed her eyes and spoke, "That is unfortunate...the host relying on the virus to live..." There was no way to remove the virus without killing the host- so Alicia will never be cured...?
"Makes sense..." Gabriel grunted. "Without it, the patient would be weak to any normal bacteria and die straight away. Pleasant thought."
Chief Esha clenched her teeth. "Damn. So I have to tell them this...?" Explanations about medical whatnot really wasn't her best ability.
Dr. Freebird looked to the recorder in Dr. Sartre's hand. "What else did he say?"
"Yeah-" The paramedic raised her head and asked, "Any other info we could use...?"
CR-SO1 paused for a moment. "This...Was never meant for us." The message in there was only for the owner to hear.
There was silence among the other doctors.
"Oh...right." Maria looked away. This was Alicia's personal information- nothing they really needed to stick their noses in about...
"Where's Dr. Rosellini now?" The fact that she had someone else present the information was acceptable, but her absence was making Hank worry.
Dr. Sartre wavered on how to answer. "She's-"
"Bah-" Esha waved her hand. "I know- she left early because of this, right?" She sighed at the unexpected departure of a staff member. "That's fine. I'm gonna let it go this time..." She was first to exit the room. "Don't let her overdo the grieving."
Hank looked up to the clock. "I have some appointments...why don't we end this meeting for now?"
"Yeah-" Dr. Cunningham yawned. "I'm already late..." He followed his friend out the door. "Make sure she remembers to pick you up, kid."
Maria Torres turned her head and looked at the kid. "It's gonna get dark soon-" Maine winters are pretty ugly- days are short, freezing hail and snow. "...Hey kid, are you sure she didn't go kill herself or anything?" Looking at all the information so far...the kid had almost tons of reasons to go suicide.
The three doctors spent a whole minute to find contradictions.
Dr. Tachibana reasoned against it. "Impossible- Alicia would never make such a decision." She thought she personally knew her enough that her faith through friendship could be used to oppose the idea.
The paramedic was surprised to hear Tomoe so confident with the name and the statement. "Well- I'm gonna check." The girl can do a lot of rash things- you may never know what to expect. Maria went back to the kid. "You know where she went right? Let's go-!" She pulled the kids arm and dragged him out into the hall.
Tomoe could only sigh. "It is her decision...though I do wonder what Alicia is doing now..."
Evergreen Cemetery
3:25 PM
"Why did I have to take the ambulance...?" Even with her mad steering skills, the cube shape of the vehicle was creating too much drag. But since the kid was coming along, she couldn't use her motorcycle. "Is that it?" She pulled up to a parking lot- beside it was a black fence with a bunch of tombstones and trees inside. "We better hurry, sun's setting right now." She found a large empty spot and parked.
The two exited the ambulance and looked at the grove of pine trees that looked somewhat picturesque with the sunset.
"This way-" CR-SO1 passed the gate and headed toward the direction of a orange light.
"Damn- it's pretty chilly out here..." Dr. Torres murmured as she followed the kid to a gray-building that went underground. "Rosalia's being kept in here..?"
Dr. Sartre pulled out from his lab coat pocket his recently required ID. He looked at the slot to slide it through, but paused. "...I don't think we're allowed to enter..." The words 'family only' was bold-printed aside the mechanism.
"What are you talking about- you're Rose's brother!" Maria snatched the card from the kid's hand and swiped it through the scanner, causing the door to open. "Go on-!" She pushed him inside.
Inside
The surgeon continued walking slowly after hearing the steel door being closed behind him. He went down a dimly lit hall and reached a chamber- there Alicia stood beside the adipocere of Rosalia. Rosalia laid on the same slab of stone, untouched as before.
"I guess it really was my fault...huh?"
That's what he heard- he tried his best to move closer without disturbing the quiet conversation. Too bad the floor was the greatest at absorbing sound- the sound of his footsteps just bounced off and echoed in the chamber.
The former mother raised her head slightly and asked, "Finished already?" Emotionless words.
CR-SO1 was still overwhelmed by the dead silence being broken by her two words. "...I explained the cause of death...that's all."
Dr. Rosellini stood up. She looked over to Rosalia one last time and said, "I only told her so much as well." She turned her eyes to the surgeon. "...Just because of an act of hatred...everything's a mess."
"...Did you ever get the chance to..."
"What?" Alicia found it hard to finish the question. "There were many things I never got the chance to do." The girl walked past Dr. Sartre rather hastily.
"Did you forgive him?" He was afraid to turn around and confront her.
She didn't stir. "...That chance...I let go."
The two stood facing different directions.
"...Sorry- let's just go back..." Alicia disregarded the previous short-lived conversation and went down the corridor casually.
CR-SO1 was still taken by surprise at the subject being thrown aside so quickly. He followed, but paused once in thought.
Outside
"You had me worried." Maria stated. 'You made me angry' was better. She stood in thirty-degree weather for like half and hour. "Next time go someplace warm!" And the graveyard scenario was giving her chills.
Alicia saw the horizon- in a few minutes the sky would be completely dark. "...Sorry."
The paramedic stretched her arm and said, "Forget it- I'm guessing you guys aren't going back to Resurgam, huh?" She began down the path to the parking lot. "I'll tell Chief you aren't coming back, kid. See you guys tomorrow." Maria then ran off- she's got her job to do.
"Bye." Dr. Rosellini said as the paramedic waved back. She turned around to see the surgeon gazing at the dying sun. "...We still have a couple of hours til dinner. Is there any place specific you would like to go..?"
"Nothing in mind."
Alicia sighed- the same answer as always whenever they had a day off. "It's too dark and cold to stay outside for much longer...I guess we better just go home for today." Also meaning she would have to cook up something...
Car Ride To Alicia's House
Approximately Three Minutes From Destination
Driving a car with a passenger was fun...supposedly.
Driving a car with no music and a silent passenger was practically as boring as no one being there at all.
Alicia knew falling asleep while operating a vehicle was dangerous, but at this rate... "...How do you want to spend the rest of your life?" A conversation must be initiated or else she would. "Now that you know Albert wasn't the cause of everything..."
"I don't know." Dr. Sartre answered plainly. "It's fine the way it is." Being a surgeon was really all he could do. "...Unless..." Was she meaning...
"This is you life. You shouldn't continue like this if you're thinking I'm a train-wreck..." Death took those close to her- and her life was probably not far from its end now.
There was a weak laugh from the surgeon. "Am I any different?"
"!" Dr. Rosellini glimpsed at the passenger.
An ex-convict.
His life was ruined as much as hers.
"I guess not." Alicia smiled at herself. "You don't resent everything that's happened so far?" All of the events were based on her own past- he had nothing to do with any of it. "It's not that I asked you to be part of it."
"Not as much." CR-SO1 then grew quiet. It was completely dark outside- the car's headlights were the only source of light.
"I heard the hospital is having some sort of celebration later this month. We can think of our futures then." Now that she really thought about that, it seemed the worst of her problems were over. Everything felt to be going downhill.
As the car was going down the road on which the house was, it started to slow down.
"?" Dr. Sartre looked over to the driver. "What's wrong..?" She was holding her left arm as if she just got shot.
"I don't...know..." The pain felt like a broken bone was being moved. "(Argh- this is worse that usual...)" Alicia was able to make it to the driveway before releasing the wheel.
"We need to get you inside-" The surgeon got out of the vehicle and went to the driver's side to get the keys. "Hold on-" He couldn't do much with the sky black- but he was able to unlock the front door.
Alicia's House
Alicia painfully walked inside and fell onto the carpet with no warning. "It's the virus..." She uttered as the other doctor quickly turned on the lights.
He lifted off the right hand that held the left arm to see the cause of the problem. "! (There are a patch of black veins...it doesn't seem to be growing in size though...) Is this..."
"I won't die from it..." Her words were reassuring, but doubtful when seeing so much pain coming from it. "That's the mutation...the original virus should be able to overcome it." Alicia slowly sat up. "...It's been happening a few times already..."
"What..?" CR-SO1 paused. "(This happened before..?)" He didn't recall the deceased ex-husband mentioning this- so... Alicia was now living with no longer predictable virus. "Are you sure..?"
"Some of the them should already be back to normal..."
The surgeon looked back at the black patch- she was right. "...(It's starting to diminish in size...)" He couldn't explain what was happening- but it appears to no longer be a problem. "...Is this a...chronic symptom..?"
"You could say that...it's been happening ever since I came out of that last operation..." And was worse every time. "It only happens where I was injected at long ago...left arm." Dr. Rosellini stood up, letting out heavy breaths. "I'll rest for a bit..." She went up the stairs wondering how she can cook anything with the other surgeon now concerned. "I'll be fine...it isn't life-threatening...so I'll live."
Dr. Sartre watched as she went into her room; he finally realized the danger of the virus. It was man-made creation; it cost numerous lives to create such a monster- and she had to be the one to hold it in her. Mutating non-stop, a cure was impossible. It was living a life where any second you could die...
Days Later
Morning
Dr. Cunningham's Office
"RONI. This is the last time I'm saying this." Gabriel exaggerated every word of his next sentence. "Quit. Being. An. Encyclopedia. Period!" He would enjoy spilling his coffee on his computer now- but he already finished it.
"Doctor Cunningham, it is my duty to-"
"No- it's not your job. Your supposed to listen to me- and I'm telling you to shut up, so do it!" And why does RONI have to use a feminine voice anyway? "I would love it if one day you don't say a word-!" In any moment, he was about to run out that door and file his third complaint for the week.
Oh- what coincidence, the door was actually opening.
"Hey doc! How's it going?"
Great.
"Joshua..?" Gabriel looked away to avoid showing his face of 'why now.' His clenched teeth almost went through the cigarette. "Uh...I'm busy...so...(Come on, 'Master of Deduction'...find your way out of this...)" He used every excuse in the book- from bathroom break to paper drop-off.
"Doctor, your next appointment is not until-"
"Yeah- I know RONI, the next appointment's gonna be here in like a minute." Trying to sound serious, lying was his best bet.
At the doorway behind Joshua appeared Tomoe- Gabriel reached for his desk in time to avoid falling over in his chair. "Dr. Cunningham, I have your-"
"Perfect timing, Tomoe- (Still can't get over that vanishing act...) Take the kid off my hands; you can leave the papers there." Gabriel pointed to the low desk. "I got lots today..."
"Dr. Cunningham-!" Dr. Tachibana could not object- she was being asked a favor. The papers were quickly placed on the desk next to the pile of cigarettes. "I-"
"Joshua- go have fun with that doctor." Gabriel motioned the boy away, darkly smirking to himself at his luck.
Joshua moaned as he walked up to Tomoe. "Alright..."
Dr. Tachibana whispered, "What a father you are..." Now this would prove to be a problem- she had an operation. "...Come on, Joshua..." She hoped to run into someone along the way.
Lobby
Dr. Rosellini was in an errand of dropping off papers to the Chief. Sadly, most of her time spent in the office was paperwork- operations to be held after the holidays. "...? (Is that...Tomoe..?)" She saw Tomoe looking around, then spotted her.
Dr. Tachibana dashed to the doctor with Joshua far behind. "Alicia-! I have a operation scheduled- do you mind taking care of Joshua until Dr. Cunningham is no longer occupied?" She had only two minutes till the operation; it was urgent.
"Well..." Tomoe looked desperate. And those papers can wait. "Alright." With her agreement, the endoscopic surgeon said 'thank you' and vanished, leaving Alicia with a small scare.
Joshua, who just stopped running from his long chase, asked, "Nice to see you again, doc! So...where did the other doctor go..?" He looked around and saw no one else in the vicinity.
"Uh...(No operations for me until lunchtime...) Well...Dr. Tachibana told me to watch you..." She heard another groan from the boy. "Doctors have their jobs to do..."
"How come you're never busy? What kind of doctor are you?" Joshua asked. It's always been a chain of doctors that Joshua gets passed around- first Gabriel, then Tomoe, and sometimes he ends up with Alicia.
"Actually- I'm just as busy as everyone else...my scheduled operations just happen to be later today...I'm a regular surgeon..." Even with all those licenses...
"Nuh-uh! You have way more books in your office than Gabe's! You have to be more than that!"
Joshua's interjection stunned Alicia. "(He's good as his father at deduction...) Well...I forgot a lot." Pitiful excuse, but enough to clam the boy down. "...I know the best surgeon in the hospital, you met him before, too...wanna see his office..?"
"Can he teach me how to be a doctor?" Joshua's eyes sparkles with excitement.
"Not all in one day- but I guess he can show you some pointers..." Time to test what Dr. Sartre learned from all those books he's been borrowing. "...But be nice to his stuff, got it?" He also spent lots of time on the sorting process of his office. Alicia received a strong nod from the boy. "This way..!"
Dr. Sartre's Office
"Dr. Sartre?" Alicia said as Joshua and herself stood at the doorway. "I found a student."
"What..?" CR-SO1 flipped over the papers he was reading and saw the boy behind Dr. Rosellini. After hearing Joshua's short statement of 'I wanna be a doc, too,' he asked Alicia, "What am I supposed to do..?"
The girl had a smirk on her face as she told the surgeon of her true intentions. "...I want to see the look on that diagnostician's face after we teach Joshua a few things..."
Alright- sounded like a great plan for her, but how was he caught up in it? "And how am I to...benefit?" Dr. Sartre questioned as he remained in his office chair.
Dr. Rosellini lost no confidence with her smirk. "You spend all day in your office sulking over lost memories. Albert was the one to teach you when you were young, right?" The surgeon gave her one nod as his reply. "Then..." She pointed to Joshua, who was marveling at the tons of shelves in the office.
"Very well..." CR-SO1 then went deeper into the idea's flaws. "Exactly what do I teach him..?" Medical science stretched quite far.
Alicia shrugged as she walked up to a nearby shelf. She turned her head and cued, "Joshua?"
"Huh?" Joshua was scanning the titles on the bookshelves. "I get to pick..?" He paced for a few seconds. "...Oh- I wanna know what you guys use in the hospital! Other than needles and...'ste-tho-scopes'..." He had problem pronouncing the last word. "Any cool stuff?"
Dr. Sartre asked once more, "Which specialty..? There are more than one type of doctors..." He saw Alicia was being of no help- she was analyzing the collection. "What are you doing..?"
"Since the word 'cool' is based on opinion-" She pulled out an textbook-sized reference book. "Here. Use this." She threw it for the surgeon to catch- gladly the distance between them was short. "Let Joshua choose what's considered 'cool.'"
"!" CR-SO1 was astonished was the unexpected throw; he managed to catch the book with both hands from his chair. "...This could...be of use..." And the book turned out to be a collection of data of many tools used in medical science- with pictures.
Joshua ran over to the surgeon. "Wow- do you get to use all of that if you become a doctor?" He seized the book from him and began flipping pages. He flaunted some photos of the MRI and CT imaging machines. "Hey- I got to go through these!" He began reading. "'Magnet-ic Re-son-ance Imaging?'"
The doctors exchanged sighs.
"What? That's what it says!" Joshua was slightly discouraged, but more determined at his goal. "I'm gonna be a doc one day, just wait and you'll see-!"
Construction Area
Miles From Resurgam
Correction- was.
In the eyes of Maria Torres, it was a huge engineering mess. "(Damn, what the hell are people thinking these days..? They think they can just build something and expect it to stand?)"
First responders from various hospitals were racing into the scene to the injured. Rescuers were scattered around in teams trying to find survivors in the rubble. Maria- was madly yelling around her crew to load as much as they can into the ambulances.
"Dr. Torres! Chief Patel said-" Darnell Sellers was the only member to get in the paramedic's way.
"I know-! She said to only bring in so many! But those other lazy bums don't give a damn about their jobs, so we need to bring them all-!"Maria shouted as she prepared to get into her recently-loaded ambulance. "Ignore the Chief- we have lives to save-!"
Darnell looked to the side- she had some truth to her words, many of the first responders acted like interns. But what shocked him more was Maria ignoring them- usually she would assault them. "...I'll call for reinforcements!"
"Tell them to bring in the other teams and more ambulances-!" Dr. Torres yelled as she was about to drive off. "Forget the other hospitals- just save as many as we can!"
Dr. Sartre's Office
Somehow the subject was changed when Joshua started telling his story of when he was being diagnosed.
"'I'm full of lots of stuff'..? You said that...?" Alicia was more interested than CR-SO1 this time. "Joshua...coughing up blood is not a good sign at all..." Especially the time when she herself did the same. "...And at your age..." She turned to the surgeon. "He had Wermer's Syndrome? That's pretty rare..."
"You know what it is..?" Joshua never really caught onto the name. "Well, whatever it was- I'm all better now-!"
"Even I don't know much about it..." Alicia heard a 'same here' from the surgeon.
"...(Was that the operation where the needle was dropped..?)" Dr. Sartre began mumbling to himself. "(That diagnostician also offered a handshake as well...but...tricked me at the end...)"
"So...what happens if you lose too much...blood?" Joshua looked at himself- his navy blue shirt looked a lot like the one he wore long ago. "Is is really that bad?"
Alicia was surprised the boy didn't know. "...It takes a lot of blood loss to die...but...you really don't need to know any of-! Wait..." She then ran to a window. "Ambulances...?"
"...Let's go-" CR-SO1 said as he and the other doctor reached for their lab coats.
Joshua looked at them worriedly. "Oh- you're both busy now..? Who am I going with next?"
The surgeons glanced at each other. Every doctor would be busy- who would be able to watch the child?
Dr. Rosellini was first to come up with an answer. "Joshua, come with us."
"What?" Dr. Sartre hoped he was mistaken with what he heard. "We can't-" They aren't allowed to bring him into a crisis like this. At least...not with out parent's consent.
"Tomoe told me to take care of Joshua until Gabriel is done- leaving Joshua here is going against the favor." Alicia strongly stated. The staff of Resurgam did much for her already- she can't fail them now.
"But what can he do..?" CR-SO1 continued his argument. "This situation is not for a child to handle." He went on. "Where would he go if we had to operate?"
"Are you suggesting we leave him in the office?" The girl fired back. "There is...one thing he can do." She turned around to the boy. "Anyone can help- even children."
"What are you-" This was a hospital- letting a child run around was irresponsible.
Joshua interrupted, "Help? What do you want me to do?" He never thought this would happen- was he being told he can actually help save a life?
"I saw almost ten ambulances out there- there are going to be many to treat. You may not be able to operate- but you can point out those who need the most attention. Look for those with the most blood and wounds." Dr. Rosellini glanced at the surgeon for any objections. "We're going to need all the help we can get."
The boy looked at Dr. Sartre. "Come on! I know I'm not really a doctor- but you gotta let me help!" His amber eyes were filled with courage- this was his chance.
"...It's not my decision to make. It's yours." CR-SO1 then left the room.
"!" Joshua looked at himself. "...I get to choose...?" It's usually 'no' this and 'no' that with adults...but these doctors...
"He's right. It is your choice to make." Alicia followed the surgeon out into the hall. "...(Like it was with me...)"
"...Yeah." Joshua curled up his fists. He repeated what Alicia said. "'Look for those with the most blood and wounds'...Okay..." He dashed out the room not long after the doctors. He whispered to himself, "This is gonna be a piece of cake-!" His mom and maybe his dad (he thinks all adults are the same) might say 'no,' but he'll show them.
Resurgam First Care
Outside
Chief Patel was ordering around the staff outside. "We got about twenty- Let's hurry and treat them!" She then noticed the number of patients that were stuffed in the ambulances. "!"
Dr. Cunningham was one of the many who counted. "You call this twenty?" More like forty. Looks like Esha can't count- or someone else didn't.
The doctors already scrambled through out the courtyard to treat the victims. Esha spotted Maria and yelled, "Maria! What happened to my order?"
"There were so many! I couldn't just leave them lying there!" The paramedic shouted back as she unloaded her ambulance. "Forget you order!"
Esha open her mouth to object, but Hank said, "Don't worry- if we all work together, we can save them..!" He went to a victim after Dr. Tachibana firmly replied 'yes.'
But then the three paused as they heard a child's voice yell, "Hey- Doctor! This one has a lot of blood on him!" They turned around to see Joshua at the scene and the surgeons already beginning treatment.
"Foreign objects...he's hemorrhaging severely, we have to remove these..." Alicia realized with the number and speed of the paramedics, they didn't have the chance to treat much. "I'm going to need gauze, forceps, gel and some tape..." Luckily, she was able to bring a first-aid kit with them. "Joshua- keep looking..!"
"Got it-!" The boy ran through the huddles of victims. "...(This is harder than I thought...there are a lot of people that are hurt...) Hey- over here!" His call got Dr. Sartre's attention.
"Joshua..?" Tomoe stood stunned; she never imagined Joshua at this situation. "Why...is he...?"
Dr. Freebird kept watching and came up to one conclusion. "He's just helping..." Helping and operating was a completely different story for a child.
Esha quickly turned back to the situation, "What are you guys doing?" She ran over to a victim nearby with a first-aid kit. "Hurry and help-!" Her command got the two moving. She then saw Dr. Cunningham arriving to the scene. "You idiot- quit standing and move already!"
"I'm moving..." Gabriel was already in the rush of the crisis and hardly noticed his son running around.
About Ten Minutes Later
"So many..." CR-SO1 could've also said 'so much,' since there was blood hemorrhaging from every patient he went to so far. "What happened..?"
"Everyone has some type of foreign object in them...and there are some with twisted appendages...did something fall..?" Alicia was in the middle of taping up some wounds. "Joshua?"
The boy was deciding with one was worse- guy with lots of stuff, or lady that had blood all over her arm..? "...These two!"
"Two..?" Alicia ran over after finishing up with the previous victim. "...(I should treat the woman first... that's a high amount of blood she's losing...)" She checked for the pulse first. "...(Her pulse is still there...wait-!) Cardiac arrest- I need the AED-!"
Dr. Cunningham was nearby-he just successfully resuscitated his current patient. "Here-!" he chucked the AED to the girl, who caught it and immediately began locating the device.
"(Now-) I got a pulse." She then got some gauze to remove the blood from the wound. "Good job, Joshua. That was close."
"Huh? Don't you mean-" Gabriel thought the kid mistaken his son's name for his. But when he turned his head away, he spotted Joshua. "Wha- what's he doing here...?"
Oh, oh. His favorite doctor caught him in his tracks. "I'm just helping..." Joshua weakly stated. "If I'm gonna be a doc one day, I gotta at least help!" His voice grew stronger with the confession. "Right?"
"Geez." Gabriel rolled his eyes. "You're never gonna give up on the dream, huh kid?" He finished up on his patient and got up to move to the next. "Don't do anything stupid, got it?" Trying to avoid unnecessary emotional words, he held back any encouragement. "Err...who next..?"
Alicia noticed the diagnostician's hesitation and said, "Hey Joshua, anyone else for Dr. Cunningham to treat?" She then saw Gabe's face- somewhat in a smile.
"Yeah- this way, doc!" Joshua sprinted to another victim. "This one-!"
"You know I can't run like that..." Gabriel complained as he made his way to the boy. "I'm getting old..." He couldn't help his grin at seeing the kid so eager to help.
Later
Lobby
Somehow, the seven doctors and Joshua ended up in the lobby after treating all the victims and transporting them.
"That's it...we got all of them." Maria let out a heavy breath- that adrenaline she had was now gone with the last patient.
Dr. Tachibana did the same and asked, "What happened that caused so many civilians to get injured..?"
"I don't know the exact details, but it was a construction mess-" The paramedic sighed, "I think...the building collapsed with a bunch of people nearby and inside." She clenched her teeth. "It was huge. It fell on the busy sidewalks and traffic."
Dr. Freebird changed the subject. "Well, we saved them. Good work, everyone." He looked at the boy standing next to Alicia. "You too, Joshua."
"Really..?" Joshua couldn't help getting embarrassed. "I just pointed the really hurt ones out..."
Gabriel gestured the boy over, saying, "Now, kid...we gotta call Lisa, she's late." He then walked away from the crows with Joshua following.
Maria then whispered to the others, "So...who got the kid running around like that..?"
"That would be me..." Alicia slowly brought up. "...I couldn't have Joshua stay behind...so..."
"Hah-" Maria wasn't the only one with a grin on her face. "Smooth one. I guess kids are good at something..." She shrugged and walked away. "Later." She wished she got to see Gabe's reaction- that would be a Kodak moment for her...
Tomoe also smiled cheerfully hearing the truth of Joshua's actions. "Well, I believe we all deserve some rest now." She also left the group. "Oh- and I already sent Hanzou to deliver the lunches..."
"Thanks.." Was all Alicia could say at seeing everyone's satisfied words. She was preparing for a scold or two, but instead everyone acted as if they didn't mind. Perhaps because everyone knew of Gabriel and Joshua's current position as father and son?
Hank also showed a smirk on his face. "Goodbye then." He began walking in the direction of his office.
"Lunch?" Alicia asked as she and the other surgeon were left alone in the lobby.
"Right." CR-SO1 responded. "...There's...nevermind."
"?" Dr. Rosellini tilted her head. "Is something the matter..?" She waited for a response.
Dr. Sartre looked at her then raised her head. "I just started to remember...some things..." His vague answer gave the girl a awkward smile. "Forget it...we both have operations later..." He turned around to the hall where their offices were. "Let's hurry." He received a 'yeah' from Alicia. He then looked back and asked, "Are you satisfied with what you just did...?"
"You mean Joshua..?" She then smiled at the surgeon. "Yeah- Gabe's face showed me it was all worth it." She walked past CR-SO1. "He's lucky...you know?"
"!" The surgeon watched as Alicia continued going down the corridor. He could only imagine what was going through her mind right now.
As a former mother...to be able to see the diagnostician and his son together...she must be content yet envious at the same time...
Sheesh- it's been awhile since I did Retirbution...sorry if it got choppy at times- I was having an emotional breakdown with some of it. And an OC death hurts. If you guys read the last extra- even if you didn't get the joke...you can tell it's gonna be sad later on.
I can do one more chapter before hitting the Xmas subject (actually, you'll see some of the Xmas and new year influence in the next chapt.)
My extra:
Did you guys ever notice there's a special moment for each pair of characters (with some exceptions...):
CR and Maria: When Maria slammed him to a wall or Rosalia's picture at the orphanage.
CR and Tomoe: The slip by Tomoe and CR catching her.
CR and Hank: The talk at the old ward.
CR and Gabe: The bad handshake or the dropping of the needle.
CR and Naomi: Before Alyssa's operation- that assurance CR left Naomi when she got the phone call of death.
Maria and Tomoe: There was a pic of Tomoe getting hugged by Maria on the booklet...I think. I forgot everything else...
Maria and Hank: The talk about superheroes.
Maria and Gabe: The Joshua argument or the helicopter scene.
Maria and Naomi: When Naomi was showing Rosalia symptoms at the flower field or Maria's words at the last operation.
Tomoe and Hank: The search for survivors during the bus crash.
Tomoe and Gabe: When Tomoe almost shot Gabe.
Tomoe and Naomi: At the end- the summarization of the characters' endings.
Hank and Gabe: When Hank ditched Gabe at the shower.
Hank and Naomi: ?
Gabe and Naomi: Either the false teddy bear present or Gabe in dumpster.
In Retribution:
CR and Maria: When Alicia was shot- twice or when Alicia was being operated on.
CR and Tomoe: There will be a time...later.
CR and Hank: The 'bloody rose' operation dealing with the nerves..?
CR and Gabe: Whenever Gabe brings up the subject of CR not leaving his office or hospital.
CR and Naomi: The 'bloody rose' bio-attack.
CR and Alicia: Too many. There's one very special event later.
Maria and Tomoe: Conversation over Rosalia's picture.
Maria and Hank: ?
Maria and Gabe: Way too many fights. Especially the one at Tomoe's party.
Maria and Naomi: I guess...when Naomi was revealing Alicia's identity?
Maria and Alicia: Any emotional conversation that involves these two...
Tomoe and Hank: They had a lot of small talks once and a while.
Tomoe and Gabe: Whenever Gabe freaks out about Tomoe's ninja skills.
Tomoe and Naomi: ?
Tomoe and Alicia: Endoscopic operations together. There's one other event later.
Hank and Gabe: Conversations about Gabe. They'll have a lot more later.
Hank and Naomi: ?
Hank and Alicia: There were only a few moments...
Gabe and Naomi: The phone calls.
Gabe and Alicia: The rooftop act. And this chapter.
Naomi and Alicia: The 'bloody rose' bio-attack and there will be one conversation later.
Yep. Help me out here. Think of it as a little quiz...
I'll attempt that third story later. Still gotta think a little bit.