Chapter 9:
"Eh? So that's how it is", Gitano tried to contain a grin from her face.
"Well, yeah. I mean if Nightingale's satisfied with it then"-
"I-it's more than enough. Thank you... Doctor", Nightingale suddenly spoke up, cutting off what the Doctor was about to say.
"I'm still glad you joined us, Nightingale", he slightly bowed towards her. "Now then, it's Specter's turn".
"Y-yes..", she responded, putting down her bacon poked by a fork.
"Hehe, come to think of it. Meeting Specter once was pretty odd in itself", the Doctor retorted while he begun to recall.
And from there, the Doctor began to story-tell that time when he had first met Specter. It was at some point somewhere by the time the Doctor had gone out of his office once. He recalls it somewhere by sunset already, and as he had just walked out from buying some food from a shopping mart, he had an odd feeling that something or someone was approaching. Hurriedly, he ran back to Rhodes Island, trying not to falter while he cupped the two paper bags around his arms. But as he arrived by the entrance to the establishment, he felt a chilling touch run up his spine. He turned back to see if anyone was playing a trick on him but no one was there.
He sighed in relief, and then looked in front as he noticed some form of movement. It was Kal'tsit; the last person he'd see walking by the entrance since she's too preoccupied to even see the sun. "Kal'tsit, what's up?", he greeted her, but ignored him instead, still walking past him.
Annoyed, the Doctor turned to Kal'tsit, "Hey, what's the big i-"
He paused. His eyes widened as something, or rather, someone was standing just by the entrance. Of course, Kal'tsit was unfazed by whatever it was by the two large sliding doors but still, she felt a kind of worry run within her. Just a few steps more near 'it', and she decided to stand and compose herself.
"I'm pleased you came and accepted our 'invitation'", she calmly spoke, unfaltering.
As the sun slowly set, the figure that once seemed to be shrouded in an ominous darkness and peculiarity began to fade away. The Doctor even though he saw a flash of the red dot on what looks to be 'its' eye but dismissed it nevertheless since he was more focused on what or who it was. Little by little, the cloak that once hid them in their own slowly took form. The Doctor could finally see who it was. The mysterious character wore black headwear, similar to that of a nun's, and then a black and gray dress. Also similar to that of a nun's. She somewhat stood out once her complete figure fully appeared. But what seemed to stand out the most was the long circular chainsaw that she had no problem carrying. She even looked like she's more or less attached to it.
The woman in black slowly bowed in front of her, and when she saw the Doctor just behind Kal'tsit, she even bowed to him politely. Her expression grew slightly from being calm and composed to a deteriorating sign of fatigue. Eventually, her knees could no longer carry her weight and they gave in. The chainsaw that she once proved to be as lighter than a feather as she carried now fell down the metallic flooring, making a loud clanging sound that vibrated throughout the hallway. Kal'tsit made in just in time before she even hit the ground while the Doctor abandoned his grocery on the floor for a moment to assist as well. They both looked at each other then frowned. It seems that they both had the same thoughts in mind; 'what happened'.
A medical unit was then called to the entrance to pick up the collapsed lady who is now brought to an emergency room using a hospital bed. She was still breathing, one from the staff unit noted. It was only that she passed out from a prolonged kind of fatigue they weren't sure of. Although tending to her might prove to be difficult, Kal'tsit said. She commented, "Something is unusual about her".
Kal'tsit and the Doctor were now the only ones left by the entrance, still shaken by what they just witnessed. The Doctor then tended to the grocery bags that he left on the floor; he was lucky that they weren't stepped on by the staff once they came. Kal'tsit on the other hand dismissed it instead and began walking away, back inside Rhodes Island.
But before she could take a few more steps out of the Doctor's sight, he questioned her, "What do you mean by invitation, Kal'tsit".
She stopped midway, taking not another step. "She's on your hands now". Then she continued to walk off.
Confused, the Doctor asked again, "What do you mean 'on my hands now?'". But he didn't receive any answer after that, nor did she even tell him what was it about. All that stood at that time was secrecy and peculiarity. That was when until-
"Am I too... weird, Doctor?", Specter interrupted before he could even continue.
"O-oh. Weird... doesn't exactly describe you", he thought. "Just odd I guess".
Gitano then butted in, "What the Doctor means to say, my dear, is that you are... just extraordinary".
"Like... abnormal?", Nightingale connoted calmly.
"Not like that!", exclaimed the Doctor and Gitano.
Then he pondered on what would be a more appropriate word for Specter's character. He began, "What I- or what we mean is that even though Specter might have these eerie qualities, I still think she's pretty normal in a sense".
What the Doctor said might have made it a bit more confusing for the three of them, but it did sound pretty convincing. Not in a sense that it was just a white lie for Specter to feel a bit less self-conscious of herself though. With that, Gitano seemed to be a bit delighted about what the Doctor thought. Even though she is supposed to be the one somewhat comforting her since she's the one babysitting. She even chortled shyly.
Nightingale passed it off nevertheless; she didn't seem to mind it but for so long, the Doctor could slightly tell that she was smiling on the inside. By that time, she had already finished her meal and all that's left is to listen to the Doctor's tale. And so, the Doctor continued.
After the following days of the arrival of the mysterious 'nun' at Rhodes Island. Kal'tsit personally sent him her own records and character profile. The Doctor was just enjoying a cup of coffee that time too while he stared out to the Lungmen high-rise buildings. Rain was pouring that time so a cup of coffee would have been a nice treat. Then came Kal'tsit, crossed-arms and all, still grumpy-looking.
She fixed the short stack of compiled papers near him and dragged it to him across the desk by her hand. It looks like she wants him to look at it urgently. "What's this?", he slowly places down the mug he is holding.
"It's a recruitment file, what else could it be?", she frowned.
"Riiight..., but who's?", the Doctor fixes his chair as he takes a look-see in the contents of the file.
"Take a guess".
Reading through the first page and then the after, he started to become more and more bewildered. His eyes moved from left to right, trying to catch what was in the papers. He even tried to re-read what he is even reading. Until he reached the last page. It was a much thicker piece of paper than the rest. A paperclip rested on the top left corner, holding a clear square photo of someone. Someone, he is very much familiar with.
"In other words... you're enlisting her in my squad?", the astonished Doctor placed down the file in disbelief.
"To put it simply, you're taking care of her".
"But we can't just deploy her all of sudden", he protested.
"We're not going to deploy right now, but she will be enlisted under your command. By then, she will be deployed".
"You've seen her records, right? She's mentally ill, it is even noted her by Miss Silence", he flipped through the papers to show her the part where the mental and physical capabilities section are found.
Unconvinced, she lowered down his hand holding the piece of paper. "The only way for her to receive treatment is for her to carry out her service. And by services, I mean assisting Rhodes Island the best way she can. In the frontlines".
Truth be told, it's the only way for operators who are infected with oripathy to continue receiving treatment. And for most operators who dedicate themselves to Rhodes Island, are the ones who are in urgent need of medication. That's why the Doctor usually pitied most of them, especially operators like Popukar. This time, it was a matter of whether a rather 'disabled' person could even stand against a large mob of Reunion. The Doctor just felt defeated. He casually turned to his left, facing the large windows once again. He tried not to show the gloom towards the sudden decision but Kal'tsit just saw right through him.
"No good feeling about it now. It's bound to happen either way", Kal'tsit remarked, before she walked out of his office.
And then he was left there in his room, contemplating on Kal'tsit's decision. The following days later, the Doctor, along with Amiya, arranged an appointment for Specter, whose name was of the mysterious nun he reviewed on, in order to officially include her under the Doctor's squad. It took a while for the arranged day of the appointment due to Specter's well-being continuously being monitored so that she wouldn't bear much of a burden if ever something happens to her. But once the day was set, everything will depend on Specter's interview.
When the day came, the Doctor decided to wait outside of the Reception Room to spot Specter if ever she was to get lost on her way to the specified room. However, it was already not needed that when he saw Specter's same headwear that she usually wears poke out from a crowd, he also saw someone similar right next to her. Somewhat like brown feathers stuck out from their hair that bounced up and down as the person walked. Eventually, it was Silence who was accompanying Specter who had just done her daily treatment in her room.
Specter seemed to stay quiet. However, Silence just did the talking for her instead. And while the interview is going to begin or as it will go on, she insisted to stay inside to monitor Specter if she is to have a sudden episode. The Doctor reluctantly welcomed them in, first was Specter then came in Silence who nodded at the Doctor while she entered. He confused her with that gesture but passed it off as something she would do out of nowhere. Seating behind the desk beside Amiya, and now Specter and Silence facing both of them, the former began to check and process Specter's records from the lab rooms.
Since the Doctor had already seen Specter's records, it was then up to Amiya if she was qualified. Ever since that time he saw it, he really thought that she isn't exactly fit to be on the frontlines with a mental disability. Something that Kal'tsit could have thought through clearly.
After finalizing through all the papers, Amiya set down the filed papers that the Doctor once read and then faced Specter who just sat in front of them looking nervous, or maybe even emotionless. Amiya looks like she is deep in thought. Maybe she's thinking the same thing as the Doctor; that Specter can't be brought in a war zone. But as soon as Amiya spoke out, it wasn't what he expected.
"Miss Specter, you're qualified to be under the Doctor's squad", she said.