ACT I - REBORN
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CHAPTER I - CONSCIOUSNESS
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ONE WEEK LATER…
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To say Howard's body wasn't in shambles would be an irascible understatement. For the past week, he had endured a constant barrage of surgeries, biopsies, examinations and transfusions one could imagine. Thankfully, The Artifact had been completely purged from his system thanks to its rather rude exit strategy when it comes to calling it quits on his body.

It was assumed that even the finest deities of hell and whatever Shepherd dictated above would envy him regarding the amount of torture accompanied by despair seasoned by a slight bit of optimism through it all that he had endured. Fortunately, for him, Clarissa opting to work with Renee proved to be the saving grace that everybody needed, considering Howard had inadvertently uncovered more about the apes than ever imagined to the point where even Clarissa was immeasurably impressed with his sleuthing abilities.

For the past week, Howard had been treated inside of a hospital that was owned by the Caresworth's, which were a sister family to the Bloodsworth's which weren't doused in such bad press. Truth be told, Clarissa may be a murderer, a maniacal and sociopathic one at the very least, yet she still had a heart and sought to provide funding to her sisters since the very moment she had taken up the dynastic throne.

She may have committed unspeakable acts of evil, yet the fact that she was working to ensure that evil was washed down in other parts of the city proved to be helpful on this day. Was the hospital constructed to house the snobbiest of rich thugs who wish to extend their lives or reshape them in any way possible..? Yes. However, Clarissa had inadvertently kickstarted one of the largest healthcare revolutions to fall onto Vancouver since providing hushmoney to the Caresworth's regarding what sort of clients they were caring for and why.

Renee felt uneasy taking a seat directly adjacent to a murderer who had gotten him into this situation to begin with, especially when it comes to the tests alongside the determination Howard had to escape, yet she had no other choice… Was she seriously going to venture beyond the wall without permission from the higher elites with her own medical supplies, stumble across Howard and revive him whilst The Artifact still leeched off his body? Absolutely not. For this week and partially for the rest of her life, Renee would be dealing with the daughter of Lucifer himself.

Yet, to her, that dealing was worth it. She was able to continue her job as a journalist as well as a P.I in training, so long as she focused her work and her energy on the big shots that sat inside of their towers forged from the paws of the poor alongside her objective of toppling them from power. Unfortunately, she would always remain torn regarding the situation considering she had opened up a direct gate which could lead to Clarissa taking the throne with her entire crime dynasty as the autocrats of Vancouver. When she factors in the fact that Clarissa is known to be a rather well-dressed snake in polar bear flesh regarding her promises, her hope for actually completing her objectives fades; with her only true hope remaining inside of the memories and the shimmers that emerged from Howard's fur.

Rather shameful for Renee was the fact that she had to be shoved out of the way at this exact time of day, 4:30 PM, by Nurse Caresworth herself to redress Howard's bandages. It hurt seeing her own partner in such a predicament to the point where she had gotten onto her knees and begged Clarissa to be with Howard as much as possible ever since the incident occurred. Of course, Clarissa begrudgingly accepted with the rather ominous proclamation that Renee would one day owe her for everything.

In stark contrast to other days, Caresworth noticed something odd about Howard… He wasn't relying on the ventilator which filled his muzzle any longer, if anything, it seemed as if he were trying to breathe independently through the anaesthetic. Caresworth swore that she had balanced out the anaesthetic against Howard's own tolerances yet the vitals alongside the resistance measured by the ventilator proved that Howard was beginning to awaken earlier than anticipated.

"Ladies and gentleman," Caresworth rotated her crystal gaze to Renee's forest-green eyes, then Clarissa's steely hazel's as she rotated to Belle's rather deceptive eyes which seemed to change with the lighting. She was a scientist, so she wasn't going to put it past the fact that Belle could be wearing some sophisticated contacts as she landed on Larry's silver eyes which were eagerly anticipating the awakening of his almost-forgotten friend. "It appears our patient, Howard Lotor, is starting to regain consciousness. His vitals indicate that he is in good health, the ventilator also assures me that he is starting to breathe independently. Unfortunately, our dear friend is unable to open his eyes thanks to the ventilator straining them shut but I can ask him through the squeezing of his hands… Or someone could volunteer," Not a second passed before Renee's emerald eyes shimmered underneath the gaslit spotlight above as she caught Nurse Caresworth's gaze as they both nodded at one another.

"Howard… I know you're in there. It's Renee. If you can hear me, please gently squeeze my paw," Silence fell over the crowd for three seconds felt like too much. As Renee brought her muzzle together to ask again, Howard started squeezing down on her paw before softly dragging her arm forward. "He's awake, everybody!" For the first time in a week and a half, Renee cracked a smile as Larry celebrated with a loud "WOOHOO!" whilst Clarissa and Belle merely smiled whilst clapping their hands. "Howard. If you want the nurse to remove your ventilator and if you wish to breathe freely, please squeeze my paw three times to say yes," Without needing to wait the agonising amount of time, Howard was compelled by Renee's soothing voice as he squeezed her paw three times; warming it for the first time since they had met those fateful weeks ago.

"Well, this development states the obvious. I will withhold the withdrawal and reapplication of the bandages for an hour. They were replaced during the middle of the night due to some stitches being removed, he truthfully won't be needing them for a while. Howard is breathing by himself, he's awake… It's time for me to power down the ventilator and to remove it from his respiratory system," Everybody except for Clarissa stood on the edge of their toes as Nurse Caresworth, as the tall polar bear she was, loomed over the ventilator as she pressed the few buttons necessary to power it down. "Vitals look good so far… Oxygen saturation is in the high nineties, blood pressure is reading as stable considering I could not get a numerical read and his pulse is eighty-two and gently rising from its previously bradycardic state of fifty-six. I'm sorry, Mr. Lotor… This is probably going to feel very uncomfortable," Credit where credit's due, Caresworth gave Howard some time to brace for the fact that he was going to gag on the ventilator as she gently removed it from his trachea and his muzzle before dislodging the brace that permanently shut his eyes.

Of course, Howard gagged, yet that was to be expected before he started coughing up a storm in its place. Everybody watched on in anticipation, including the nurse herself, as he took his first authentic breaths without use of an external device in a week before his eyes fluttered open. Before him, Howard found comfort with Renee being on his left and his long lost friend Larry being on his right. Down by his feet were Clarissa and Belle, respectively… The only person missing other than Nurse Caresworth was Anatoly.

"Renee? Larry? Belle? …Clarissa?" Howard was bewildered by the mysterious line-up of characters before him. "Wait… Renee and Clarissa are on the same side? Belle? You're here, too? Larry? - Am I dreaming? Did I wake up in some strange place in the clouds..? - No. I'm alive, aren't I?"

"Long story short, a lot has happened in the past week. You've been fighting for your life, Clarissa and I have cut a deal to tackle larger problems following your revival… Larry was looking for me inside of the park the night that I sent that Geezer your way and so he's here, he claimed to be your old university buddy and Belle is here primarily to ensure that you still aren't being held hostage by The Artifact. She's also here to celebrate that you're alive and well, I guess," Renee glared a powerful laserbeam into Belle's, knowing full well what sort of barbaric torture that her Howard had endured whilst in her care… At least, that's what she was calling Howard ever since she had seen those fateful three words scribbled onto the last note he sent back to her.

"What's… The Artifact? Who are you people? I only recognise… Larry and Renee. I know Renee, I met you at The Bite but- I don't remember what happened from there… It's like it's been erased from my mind. I know that we spent time at your place but- that's all I remember. I know we were investigating Clarissa and at one point, she held me at gunpoint… Agh, my memory is a mess," Howard shook his head in a futile attempt to grasp his own reality. "Larry, I know you from university… I found you in that alley, you've really been through the wringer, haven't you? Ah, what else do I remember? Wasn't there some sort of live butchering operation Clarissa was running, that's what we were investigating, right, Renee? What happened from there? I don't really… Recall much," His peers found it odd how he had core memories tracing to Renee alongside Larry yet had forgotten about the process that led him to The Artifact, almost as if it had wiped Howard's own memory of its existence in the process of leaving his body.

"Listen, the last thing I want to bring back is the scars from the past but… We broke into the top science lab in Science City. You held a man named Eddie at gunpoint, who later ended up exposing you to The Artifact, A parasite that took control of your body whilst manifesting itself as a tumour on your back, You ended up taking refuge with Larry for a while, you were then held hostage by Belle as she experimented on you and you escaped behind the wall in an attempt to survive… I found you practically dead on the floor and that- ahem- that will always haunt me," Although Howard was unsure of how to feel about Renee's situation, he was very convinced that she was telling the truth considering the web of bandages that concealed his back like a soggy shell.

"Ah… I remember, the last part of our case was sneaking into Science City, which I thought was a crazy idea to begin with. You sent me on my way and well, that's where my memory ends; with me departing alongside Anatoly and grabbing a gun, which I assume I used on Eddie based on your description. The Artifact, though? I've got no clue what that is but it sounds scary. It's not… Still living inside of me, right? Belle? You look like a scientist, considering you're dressed in a lab coat; are you sure that I'm free from it?" Howard had many questions to answer and his situation soon became a balancing act to those involved. Everybody wished to bestow answers upon Howard yet didn't wish to overwhelm him with the truth simultaneously.

"Affirmative. You have no discernable trace of The Artifact in your system… As for your mind, we cannot truly be sure if you're aware of its presence nor the ability it wielded. Considering the ability of this particular specimen to wield the power of mind control, there is a very real possibility that during its self-expungement from your body, it ended up erasing all thoughts relating to its existence and therefore has manipulated your mind into forgetting about the events that occurred relating to it," Howard tilted his head at Belle, who merely let off a sigh before simplifying everything. "Long story short, The Artifact no longer exists. You are unaware of it as it erased your memory, the only evidence of it other than our documentation are the scars on your back. We eradicated The Artifact using a special device which broke down its molecular structure and atomised it, rendering its existence as nullified," Belle resumed her sciency tangent without even realising it as Clarissa stepped forth to shed some light onto everything.

"Greetings. I know you regard me as a murderer, I can sense distrust within your eyes and that's okay with me; I do not expect to be forgiven. Belle is saying that you were the home of a parasite which was destroyed after it left your body in search of a new person to manipulate. Unfortunately for it, we got to it first, destroying it whilst myself and Renee tended to you… Speaking of which, Renee? You should enlighten your lover here regarding our partnership," Renee let off a tremendously large blush, soon followed by Howard as the pair of them briskly exchanged eye contact before paying attention to Clarissa. "Very well. Shortly following your disappearance, I invited Renee to The Bite with a proposition. She would destroy all of her information and case files on me whilst pledging to be my business partner in return for rescuing you as well as toppling the apes in the hope that we will be able to earn our freedom once more. I have been enlightened by the bigger picture. Although some may not understand the full story, there is a reason why I did such barbaric things-"

"Because you're fuckin' an ape?" Howard loudly responded as Clarissa merely let off a disappointed sigh.

"I was using him and unfortunately, all men in the ape society which to get inside of your pants for a woman to get in your way… Which leads me to my first point and the main reason why myself and Renee decided to work together. We've seen the effects of systematic racism, discrimination as well as the profuse inequalities that plague our society. Mr. Lotor, you may not assume it just yet and it may be hard to convince you of this but you are the first P.I that has successfully gained any form of insight on ape society whilst having the determination to do so. My kingpins and thugs could only get so much information out of them," Howard's brow fluttered as it rose into the air all the while Renee continued to gently reassure him by squeezing his paw. "The flesh eating thing was obvious. However, them paying hush money to Eddie, who's nonchalantly playing both sides to benefit himself whilst undermining the operation I have with Belle and a few others? Despite your experience with The Artifact being rather… Traumatising, to say the least, this does lead to the question of whether or not the apes have more weapons like this that are aimed at society. You are instructed to rest but just know that I am thankful for your wakefulness, considering soon you may have another objective of far greater concern that lands on your chest," Clarissa's cell phone began to ring, prompting Howard to raise his arms and cover his ears thanks to its high pitched tonal buzzing which reminded Howard of an artificial car's brakes slamming against the tarmac.

"Ms. Bloodworth speaking. Mhm… Okay. Really? It's that urgent? Can't someone else handle it? Oh, not that bigot! Okay, I'm heading back to the bar, just don't let it burn down in the meantime!" Clarissa begrudgingly hung up whilst remaining stoic, her orange dress remained rather frivolous and flamboyant when Renee was dressed in green, Belle in white and Larry in black. "Excuse me for taking off at a rather inconvenient time but I must tend to some urgent business back at The Bite. Howard, I do not expect your forgiveness, yet I trust that time will heal all wounds. Thank you for your time, I look forward to meeting you again when I clear some time on my schedule," Without being able to say another word, Clarissa rather bombastically exited the room, leaving Howard with Caresworth, Belle, Larry and Renee.

"Finally, we can have a normal chat! How are you holding up? You seemed pretty sick since the last time we spoke, Howie," Larry inquired, keeping a stern eye on Renee. He had always been somewhat sceptical about her since the very beginning; then again, Howard did have a funny taste in both sides of the gender spectrum back during their university days.

"I will admit, things have been better; but I'm not entirely calling it a completely sucky experience, if you get what I mean? I think the worst part about this is the fact that… Well, I don't want to put a damper on a good time or anything but the only thing I know about this so-called Artifact is the fact that it's responsible for killing Anatoly. It's the only thing I remember about that thing… Just Anatoly's dead body flopping down with a hole pierced through his heart as I collapsed alongside him," Howard let off a slight shudder when recalling the memory, feeling the presence of his lost friend above him; merely grateful that he was alive and well. "I'm gonna miss you, Anatoly… I'm just sorry that had to happen to you, yet I know whatever is up there is guiding you to all of the loons and booze a beaver could desire," Howard's eyes went from looking up towards the ceiling to gazing upon Larry once more.

"Anything been happening whilst I've been out? I can tell it's been a while since I did any case work or well… Lived," Howard's rather blunt attitude blended with his wit well to create a rather rambunctious blend of character.

"You just got zombified by a damn parasite, spent a week in a coma and were traumatised by the death of your best friend and you're asking me what's going on in the world? Howard, I've always respected your easier-going attitude on things but what the fuck?"

"Believe it or not, I've had food poisoning that's left me out for longer than this," Howard's joke amidst the adversity earned some dry laughs out of everyone, including Renee; who had seemingly been so caught up with her concerns within the past week and a half that part of her had doubted that Howard's mentality would persevere. "Seriously, come on, people! Got any news for me? It's been ages since I've heard about anything beyond these walls! Yeah, that's right, sometimes I'd wake up and hear your voices discussing me- how can you talk about me for so long? I'm not that interesting! - Any new inventions, scandals, methods of entertainment?" The rather persistent raccoon seemed to be serious about his questions, then again, nobody could really blame him for wishing upon even a sign of some form of normality given what his body, his mind alongside his spirit had been through ever since he took that seemingly unassuming case about a cheating otter.

"Remember that guy you harassed a long while ago when staking out The Bite? I think his name was Bo? - He finally got caught dealing adult mags to minors and got six months of jail for it, plus his selling permit got revoked!" Larry felt like Shepherd himself at that moment, considering Howard had seen Bo as a moral enemy ever since Howard was asked to look into his operation personally before finding no damning evidence despite working his hardest. "That dicknose finally won't be dealing his degenerative magazines to minors who really don't know a lot about that stuff! Plus, you finally got your retribution against him!"

"Retribution, you say?" Renee inquired all the while Belle fell to the back of the line, almost feeling as if she was being ignored thanks to the rather turbulent yet vague history she held with the raccoon sat before her. "What did Bo do to you that was so bad?" She innocently asked, not expecting the answer which was destined to fall beneath her whiskers like an unseasoned pie.

"Ah, it wasn't what he did to me that was personally bad… Oh, no. It was the things that he did to minors. You see, he was charged with sexual assault and for threatening a sixteen year old that didn't wish to solicit her body to him. Yeah, the case was fucked up but Bo somehow had a way with manipulating the families of those involved. You see, this lady was unlucky to have her mother as a very popular customer. Bo threatened the poor girl into dropping the case because she had a habit of sneaking out at school, something Bo would pick up on but, then again… It's a little creepy for a large bunny to be selling outside of a school, don't you think?" Larry and Renee simultaneously nodded their heads whilst Belle finally found a way into the conversation.

"A rabbit you say? You know what, I might've actually heard about this case before. I never used to work a typical position in science, I have Clarissa to save for partially saving me from the… Monotony of traditional scientific work; yet I remember looking into this case personally a while back as I considered it sickening how one of my own kind could do this. If you want to know something or perhaps dig up this case from beneath the dusty pile then you can always borrow my laboratory, considering we have a bunch of incriminating evidence stored on the database that could be used against him now that he has no one defending him. Then again, if you don't wish to beat a guy when he's already down on the ground then I can completely understand that," Belle may have attempted to make small talk or perhaps offer some closure to Howards case, yet instincts got the better of Renee and her scepticism shot through the roof. Not only had Belle refused to properly introduce herself, she was immediately insisting on the exhausted and bruised raccoon to revive a case from the dead.

"You do realise you're talking to a poor soul who just got out of a coma that was partially caused by your experiments depriving him of the energy that he needed to survive or get to safety… He could've died because of you and you're sitting here, trying to march him around like a workhorse? How fucking dare you!" Renee shoved Belle against the wall, soon holding her there by the neck with her emotions coursing throughout her bloodstream. "You know what? You're damn lucky Howard doesn't remember the utter shit you put him through or else I would've had your head a long time ago… Pity that I must work with you and that your head remains attached to your head. Let him rest, he's got more pressing matters to worry about other than playing tag with ghosts," Without a second thought, the vixen relinquished her hold on Belle, who found herself clinging onto her neck as she gasped for breath.

"That's on me! So sorry, Renee!" Belle had a reputation for being relatively spineless, especially to those who could command their authority and enforce it upon her. "I'm going to make myself scarce and useful by analysing the latest results from Mr. Lotor's tests. Enjoy your conversation, everyone," Feeling intimidated thanks to Renee's energy flowing through her veins whilst also tackling with a cloud of self-loathing, Belle soon made the room vacant of her presence as she went off to analyse the latest alongside final biopsy tests she would get of Howard's flesh whilst abruptly shutting the door behind her in a flurry of brief rage which focused on herself as well as her destructive habit of loathing most of the things she's worked for.

"Renee? Are you feeling alright? What's with the aggressive attitude with Belle? Sure, it was a little impolite for her to ask but she's a new face in my eyes and she hasn't done much wrong," Renee had no choice to bite her lip during times like these, especially when she was well aware of all of the wrongdoing Belle had conducted in her endless quest for knowledge on behalf of Clarissa and the apes. "Did she do something wrong?" Howard innocently asked, still slightly dazed by the fact that he had been sitting in a coma for a week.

"She… Ahem," Renee thought comprehensively about answering her partner's question. Of course, she could reveal the truth to him alongside his curiosity but at the same time, she wished not to disturb the relatively brittle amount of peace Howard had ascertained when greeting the realm of the living. "Let's just say I have a very potent reason as to why I dislike her and leave it at that… Personal rivalry sort of stuff. You understand, right?"

"I can get that, I assume you two are not the best of friends. The same goes with you working for Clarissa… At least ease up on the gaze with Larry, Renee. He hasn't done anything wrong, I know that he's been helping me from the start; he's the reason I had the clues necessary to get into The Bite to begin with! It's just a shame that we're now working with the butcherer and it's most likely keeping me alive… As well as keeping us employed. What's with that, may I ask? Why did you team up with Clarissa?" This is where the inevitable heartache would confront Renee. She remembers the same conversation that she had with herself a week and a half ago when pouring herself that green tea… Everything reminded her of him.

"She had vital intel on the Apes as well as their corrupt practices, yet it would take a lot of time and patience to break them down. It was all about building a greater case, not against her but the government itself

," Despite providing some extremely enlightening evidence, her vague tendencies did not assist Howard; especially thanks to his scepticism and his wit leading the charge as he merely raised his eyebrow. "What? I'm telling the truth!"

"Or was it your route to finding me?" He cheerfully asked, prompting Renee to let off a blush as she choked on her words, attempting to stammer out an answer when her mind would usually remain clear of any doubts she had for herself. "I know you're smart, I know you're cunning, I know you're quite charming. I knew from sneaking around and looking at your cork board that you had enough evidence not only on Clarissa to get her arrested but to turn in a multitude of top dogs… Yet, you couldn't do it without me for some unknown reason, so you chose to cut a deal with Clarissa to come and rescue me. Unfortunately, it now seems as if you've given Clarissa a direct path to the throne which governs us all… But all in the name of finding your best detective, right?" He wasn't sure if it was the anaesthetic working its magic on him, but he found himself winking at Renee all the while Larry let off an amused giggle.

"Looks like you've solved this case, detective," Larry sarcastically quipped as Renee stood in place, awestruck for a brief moment as her tail rustled behind her back. Eventually, time would take its course on her body and even she was able to regain her composure amidst the silence, only to have it shattered once more.

"Hmm, I wonder what sort of case I've solved, Larry. Have I solved the case of Renee wanting her best detective back or did our foxy friend over here become a little infatuated during our case work?" Howard locked eyes with Renee directly, unrelenting with his gaze as her composure melted down before him. "I'm just playing with you, Renee. Unfortunately, despite all of the sentiment, I do know you're a woman who knows how to manage personal and professional above all else. I know you're most likely flustered thanks to me being able to speak, yet alone retaining this wit which got me into The Bite to begin with and to us meeting on that fateful night… Ah, yes, I read a little too into that love story I bought from the bookstore a while ago, apologies for making you uncomfortable."

"Oh no-no! You didn't make me uncomfortable at all! If anything, I think it's kind of reassuring that you see that sort of quality within me. Yes, I do try to balance personal and professional but if I'm being honest? You really do know how to blur the line with your wit as well as your charm," Renee realised she was flirting with Howard under unfavourable circumstances, shook her head and attempted to steer herself to another topic. "As for things happening in the world. One of the finest apes in the Ivory Tower itself was prosecuted recently due to embezzlement. There's no doubt that the court will get this case to stick considering this is one of those apes which were born into royalty and never were thankful for it, therefore they have no friends. It may be a crack in their ranks as well as a dent in their armour but that's another crack and dent that Clarissa and I can exploit. Furthermore, the prices for The Rogue have dropped by 50% thanks to the explosive success the business is witnessing in the profits margin and inflation is starting to stabilise now that the Apes are spending more time trying to bribe the press as opposed to investing in their megastructures," Renee mentally patted herself on the back for doing the job which she knew all too well, which was informing others as well as collecting information for herself.

"That's interesting. Heck, maybe I'll take you and Larry to The Rogue sometime soon as a little bit of a reunion tour. I know I'm not out of the woods yet and Clarissa will most likely be breathing down our necks to do something other than celebrate the fact I lived through one of her associate's experiments but I always take the weekends off… I get super tired after working those five days, if anything; I'm tired a lot more than I'd like to admit. Most of my life has been spent being tired," Howard's attention was caught by Caresworth, who gently cleared her throat as she nonchalantly walked forward and started removing part of his robe to tend to his bandages. "I thought you didn't have to worry about this 'til later?"

"You reminded me that it's Saturday tomorrow and I could do with clocking out early, considering I have been working hard with keeping you alive and such. Oh, if you want some information as to why you're sleeping so much or at least tired more than you should be… We diagnosed you with narcolepsy relatively easily after talking to Renee. She always commented on how you seemed to be soldiering through sleeplessness, even during the night in which you first met. However, she was also aware that you were no insomniac. We looked into your history after Renee contacted your mother about your disappearance over the wall and she commented on how there was a family history, so hopefully that brings you some clarity," Caresworth elaborated, bringing some much needed closure to Howard's mind rather nonchalantly. "Now, please, turn onto your side and I apologise if this stings… We've got to make sure that you're healing nicely and without issue."

"Do what you've gotta do, Nurse Caresworth. I'm not going to stop you now that I'm awake as opposed to being a lifeless hairball of flesh," Howard nonchalantly rolled over, astonishing not only Renee and Larry but Caresworth herself. "What?"

"Dude, you've been in a fucking coma for a week and you just casually rolled onto your side as if you just finished having the slumber of your life. We thought your nerves were shot and you were paralysed… You can move your body?" Howard rolled his eyes thanks to Larry's bewilderment as his hand cruised up from his side to high-five Larry. "You want a high-five?" He shyly asked.

"Of course! I can move my body like I just woke up on Renee's sofa… I'm a little sore as well as stiff here, there and everywhere but I've got full control over myself. I can even do that weird thing with my eye, look!" Howard relinquished control of his left eye, allowing it to bounce around the inside of his eye socket to Larry's horror. "I've got no clue why or how I can do that but it's been one of my talents since university. Why? Were you thinking that thing paralysed me somewhat because it was connected to my neck?" Howard was mostly inept regarding medical knowledge, yet even Caresworth had to admire the fact that he was exhibiting the symptoms of being a jack of all trades yet a master of none.

"Your neck contains a vast array of nerves that communicate between your brain, your spine and subsequently the rest of your body. Think about it as a highway with a gigantic convergence point. The majority of your energy was being drawn by The Artifact and the bare minimum was allowed to travel to your body as it grew itself before being exterminated. We had to perform two rounds of 24-hour surgery on your spine as well as your nerves to reattach everything. Accompanied by the skin grafting which I am about to reveal, it appears that… You've healed excellently so far!" Caresworth peeled back the surprisingly clean tissue to reveal a patchwork of stitches that lined Howard's shoulders alongside gigantic scabs that ran across his bald shoulders, which were already beginning to root some fur inside of the lesser-affected areas.

"I've got no clue what that means beyond the fact that you're surprised that I can move my body… And I assume you're going to warn me about not doing any sort of intensive exercise," Howard turned part of his head gently to ensure none of his stitches or staples popped out of place as he smiled at Caresworth, who was busy rapidly yet gently pressing a herb-soaked towel against his back which reminded him of the cold outdoors during the winter.

"How did you know that? Did that thing give you the ability to read minds or something?"

"Nah, was just in hospital a lot because I wasn't the best at riding my bike when I was younger… Or skating back when I thought that was cool. I got a lot of breaks, bruises and scars mainly across my arms as well as on my right knee, which took a lot of the abuse when I wanted to sneak out of the house and forget about my burdens for a while," Howard took a moment to take a breath of fresh air to ensure that his time on his side didn't become a pity party before going back to a piece of news that Renee had delivered to him. "Hey, Renee? Was that ape that was arrested in his own Ivory Tower known as Ananas? He's like, one of the only apes that I paid attention to as he founded a band that I liked back when I was in my early-twenties."

"Murdoc Ananas? Yeah, that was the guy; he has a band?" Renee's interest was thoroughly piqued, as was Larry's as he sought to answer Renee for Howard considering his shoulders were starting to sting thanks to the treatment Caresworth was giving him.

"I remember him talking about it a bunch yet he never revealed the name of this mysterious band… Fortunately for you, Howie here really does suck at keeping track of his belongings as well as his cassettes. They're called the Apez and if I'm gonna be honest with you, Howard got me into ape rap which was a genre I never knew I would be interested in. You should take a listen, I've still got two of his cassettes in my bag somewhere; some of the few things I vowed to never let go of," Howard thanked Larry with a reassuring thumbs up as Larry continued his tangent on his behalf. "I did some research using my terminal before, you know, financial stuff happened but they talk a lot about their struggles with being rich. Yeah, it's not the best considering a lot of people consider it a privilege but Sir Ananas was the only one who managed to hide all of that inside of the lyrics of his songs, it's a shame he got charged for… What did he get charged for, again?

"Embezzlement. Dude got caught stealing from one of the higher ups. He's lucky that he didn't get the death penalty considering he was donating it to charity," Renee answered, finally taking a seat next to Howard after standing for hours as Caresworth finished cleaning his back. "You know, I'll give credit where credit is due. I wouldn't ever desire or dare to wish upon myself the misfortune of being born an ape but it seems like he was one of the only people who had some insight into the inner circle of the elite whilst also expressing the struggles of being an ape. Sure, you're born into royalty and wealth automatically but that's not necessarily a good thing. You're prone to being antagonised by the world whilst also being ostracised by those below you for hanging high on the fruit tree. I mean, I would say it's not their fault but they're the ones who had their grandfathers and mothers wage war against the Old Order to gain control… Seems like they're forgetting the wisdom of their forefathers, which is ironic," Renee would've continued speaking if she didn't sense that Howard was in excruciating pain from the wrapping process of new gauze and bandages.

"Isn't that to be expected? We evolve to adapt to our environment whilst passing down our knowledge genetically through instincts… Something like that, at least, I'm no rocket scientist. I doubt one would pass down the knowledge of some false god as well as the rich quite literally eating the poor," Whilst Howard impressed Larry with his subtle knowledge in the field of philosophy throughout the stinging of his spine, Renee couldn't help but clench her fist and wonder why on earth seeing Howard hurt by those supposedly caring for him enraged her. "Still never going to get over that night, or the day where that shop owner confessed about not wanting to be thrown over the wall as punishment. I'll admit, it's scary, but you're telling me the Ape Society as they call themselves are using the wall as a threat? Doesn't that just give people the choice of being set free?"

"Aha, that's where they get you. They just send you to a region of the wall which is riddled with landmines and the traps their secret agents have made. Yeah, I admittedly did some snooping around Clarissa's terminal and she admired my tenacity when I came clean about it. So long as all of the information shared inside of these walls stays in that position then we have an ability to truly speak without restraint. Anyways, you get thrown over the wall, you get executed by one of the traps by nightfall and they recover your body and frame it as an attempted escape that went wrong… You somehow managed to climb over part of the wall that wasn't boobytrapped and survived until The Artifact exploded out of you. The fact that you managed to survive that in the first place is inspirational but I think I am going to tuck my tail between my legs now," Renee's voice soon faded to silence alongside the rest of the room as Caresworth finished patching up Howard, instructing him to sit up with a simple hand gesture before adjusting his hospital bed, ensuring that he was able to sit up comfortably instead of inadvertently straining his muscles.

Before long, Caresworth reached into a nearby drawer and pulled out a device which would measure Howard's blood pressure all the while she pressed a button that allowed her to track his vitals ever since he woke up. As she strapped the blood pressure monitor around his arm, she analysed his vitals before marking them down inside of her pager as being adequate and healthy. Not long after, she pressed a button tied to the blood pressure monitor, initiating its activation phase as it unleashed an ear-piercing beep before inflating. Upon its inflation and deflation cycles, Caresworth concluded that Howard had advanced function of his limbs, was healing nicely and his vitals were stable.

"Mister Lotor. I have extremely enlightening news. You are recovering remarkably well, therefore, your recovery phase has now ended. We will be placing you into an observation state which shall last approximately forty-eight hours and aim to have you out of here by Monday morning. Unfortunately, we cannot do anything about the catheter nor the lack of food considering the cafeteria has closed. However, you may have my sandwich which I never ate for lunch… Peanut butter and jelly, hope you're a fan," Caresworth delicately handed the sandwich which was wrapped up in clingfilm to Howard as she turned her attention towards Larry and Renee. "Visiting hours will conclude in ten minutes, I recommend you two make haste before leaving Howard for the night; unless you plan on sticking around," Caresworth cast her rod regarding the proposition yet nobody bit onto her bait.

"As much as I am delighted by this news, I do acknowledge that I have a life to live and I am still opening my case. I am not an official P.I but I'd say Howard's grasp on the job has inspired me to do my own work in his absence. I promise to be here at 8:30 AM sharp tomorrow, Howard," Renee softly placed her paw around Howard's own once again as he gently nodded in acknowledgement.

"But it's the weekend? Aren't you going to live your life instead of sticking around in a hospital room with a guy who can barely work, let alone do anything?" Howard inquired with sorrow filling his stomach, either that was the peanut butter and jelly sandwich or those were real emotions as Larry turned to him with a soft yet reassuring smile plastering his muzzle.

"Oh, buddy… I know I've got stuff to run through down near the unofficial docks surrounding the Labour District but I promise to be here before noon breaks. We could never leave you behind, especially when you're recovering so well!"

"Thanks, guys! You're the best!" Howard chipperly responded before unleashing a gigantic yawn into the world. "Man, I am getting a little tired. I'm guessing this is what a coma and a lot of anaesthetic does to you, huh? It makes you a little loose when it comes to the tongue, perhaps makes you feel like a sack of potatoes and part of your wounds still feel a little numb but you know they're still a part of you. I'm guessing that means I need to get some rest, right?"

"Probably the best for you, sport," Caresworth gently pat his head whilst paying attention to the crowd nearby as Howard leaned back into his pillow and Renee tucked him in gently. "Alright, I'm going to dim the lights. If you wish to be in his company as he drifts off to sleep then that's fine by me. I am going to head downstairs to help the staff with another patient considering my buzzer is going off but I recommend leaving as soon as possible considering the doors downstairs close in ten minutes," Caresworth advised the both as she finally pressed the button on her pager which acknowledged the requests of her superiors, soon bolting off towards the elevator.

"Yeah… I best be heading home, if you can call it that. I've got a dinner to throw tonight in his honour. Although he may never remember, Howard really did make an impact on the community with his generosity to the point where people barely acknowledge the fact he had a tumour on his back. Wait a minute…"

"What is it, Larry?" Renee was intrigued by the shaking of Larry's head as he tried to refocus his gaze.

"Now that I think about it… It's really hard to remember if he had anything on his back at all. I know that he did but- the only thing I really remember is its texture and what it looked like. I ain't got a clue how I would describe it other than grotesque," Larry sharply responded as he headed for the exit. "Hm?" Yet, he was held back by Renee tucking on his clothes.

"Odd… It seems like you're forgetting about it entirely. I wonder if that's a property it holds. I should probably write that down in my notepad before leaving. Apologies for holding you back, have a wonderful day wherever you may end up, friend," Renee relinquished her grip on Larry's clothes, allowing him to travel on his way as he casually walked down the quartz corridors of this fine establishment. "Hm, how do I put this into words? Aha! People… Appear to be forgetting about The Artifact. I've observed forgetfulness within Howie about the whole event, as if he remembers the case before he visited Science City. Perhaps The Artifact has some form of ability to erase the memory of those it came into contact with, even if it was just within its vicinity-"

"You're… So smart, kind, funny and thoughtful, Renee… Heh, still working this case even though you deserve to relax?" Howard kept his eyes closed the entire time, yet it was evident through his dreamy smile that he was aware of Renee's presence. "Be easy on yourself and… Try not to neck down too much gin! Be responsible! Don't… Don't end up like me, with my soggy ass on the floor relying on you to take me home that one night! Speaking of night… Goodnight!" Howard raised his paw to point at Renee, softly bringing his hand across her ears before inevitably falling asleep.

"I'll be responsible, Howard… Sleep easy, I'll see you in the morning," With nobody around and with absolute certainty that Howard was now unconscious following a worthy conversation with his peers, Renee leaned forward to deliver a soft kiss to his forehead all the while she closed her notepad. "I'll be thinking of you, but I do really need to ask myself why I felt like punching Caresworth when she was caring for you… I guess I don't like seeing you in pain,"