"This has to be a joke, Kal'tsit! You can't be possibly telling me that...!"
"As you've heard." Calmly answered the lynx as she took a sip from her coffee. "I won't be authorizing a rescue mission."
Right across her desk was the Doctor, standing with his gaze locked onto her. He had gone to her office to present his plan and get her to accept it... but, as one could see, it hadn't gone quite as well as he had expected.
"But Kal'tsit! You were in that room with us; we all heard the woman's message! We have to send there..."
"Doctor." With stoic face, the lynx stood up from her chair, and without rolling her eyes from him said. "That transmission came from a region deep in Ursus, one which is dangerously close to the frontlines... Conducting a mission of such scale there is very risky... and what's more, from what we know, it may well be the Russians trying to lure us into a trap."
"You think I don't know the risks?! I do, Kal'tsit! I understand it'll be a tough mission, but we have to do it. Someone sent us that message calling for help, Rhodes can't just ignore it and sit idly by...!" He suddenly slammed his fist against the table. "Kal'tsit, please! Just give me the authorization and I'll...!"
The lynx let out a sigh, and only after the Doctor had finished did she give her answer.
"I'm sorry Doctor, but my final answer is no. There's nothing else left to discuss, you can leave."
Her words left the Doctor in outrage. He wanted to stay and make her reconsider her stance... but then he realized it was futile. It didn't matter what he said to her, Kal'tsit wouldn't change her mind.
Without saying any word, he turned around and walked away.
/ /
Outside Kal'tsits office, Amiya stood next to the door waiting for the Doctor to finish his meeting. That's why, upon seeing him blow the door wide open and storm outside the room, she ran towards him.
"Dokutah! What happened?!"
Without even noticing her, the Doctor walked past Amiya while muttering something to himself. With a worried expression on her face, the young cautus went after him, disappearing between the halls...
X-X
Back in the office, Kal'tsit was exhausted from the argument minutes prior. Letting out a deep sigh, she walked back to her desk, and with an audible bump let herself fall on the chair.
"Good Lord..." She closed her eyes and simply sat there, enjoying the calm... but at that moment a robotic voice broke the reigning silence.
"Dr. Kal'tsit, my sensors are picking up abnormal levels of stress in your vital sings. It's everything alright?"
The lynx couldn't help but emit a low grunt.
"Ugh... yeah, I'm fine, PTRS."
"That's a relief to hear. Your argument with the Doctor was very intense, so I was worried it had affected you in some way."
"Me getting affected by that?" She scoffed. "Don't be silly. It's just that I'm tired of everything, nothing else..."
For a brief instant, it seemed like the IA assistant had gone silent... but then it suddenly spoke.
"If I may, Dr Kal'tsit, there's something I can't quite understand. Why you did you deny the Doctor's request? I've performed an analysis of the transmission, and the voice there matches perfectly with *********'s. It's genuine."
"Yes, and that's just why I've said no." Replied Kal'tsit in a sincere tone. "The fact that it's her sending this message... it's disturbing. I've been with her enough time to know how she does things. Her actions are very discreet and unpredictable, but always done in solitary, without any outside help." She paused. "Sending a message of this type is not like her at all."
"Is it bad, Dr. Kal'tsit?"
"Yeah it is, because it means that she's in terrible danger... and whatever made her call for help, it must be very bad."
The machine emitted a noise barely reassembling a hum of agreement.
"I understand now. Something very bad could happen to the Doctor if he goes there, he even might die."
Kal'tsit tossed and moved uncomfortably in her chair. The possibility of running into whatever was after her was very present, and PTRS couldn't be more right about it; if the worst were to come, this would end very badly... The only idea of him dying was enough to make her feel pain in her heart.
"That's my worst fear. He could end up getting killed... and I can't allow that. We need him more than ever, he's our only chance of possibly winning the war. If he dies... then Rhodes Island is lost." Letting out a deep sigh, the lynx turned her gaze towards the setting sun. "I just hope he won't do anything stupid..."
X-X
"Do you remember that time we went to the lake?"
Before his eyes, a breath-taking scenery appeared. Great groves surrounded the area, and the setting sun's light dyed the calm waters of the pond reddish orange.
"I've got vey fond memories of that day. You and I were going for a walk in the countryside. Everything was as usual, but then you said you wanted to show me a secret place if yours. I ended up accepting, and so you grabbed my hand and together we went inside the woods. I wasn't sure where you would lead me, but when we arrived at the place, I was left amazed by its stunning beauty."
He slowly turned, and standing right next to him was her. Long, dark brown hair fell down her shoulders, and the smile that adorned her pretty visage was one full of warmth and kindness.
"We stayed there for a long time, talking while we admired the lake... it was very fun. I could even say that it was one of the best moments of my life..."
Suddenly, she walked aver to him and grabbed his hand. Their faces were mere inches away.
"I whish I could stay with you a little bit more, but I have a duty to fulfill... but I'll say this. No matter what happens in the future, someday we'll meet again... Henry."
Everything became darkness.
The Doctor woke up from his slumber. He had his entire forehead covered in sweat, and his heart was beating at an abnormal rate. "What the hell was that...?". He tried to remember the dream he'd just had, but his memories of the event were just too blurry. However, what he did remember clearly was the image of the woman. He still could feel her voice reverberating in the deepest corners of his head.
With a grunt, the man raised his head and looked at the time. The digital clock showed it was midnight. "Ok... I need to get some fresh air". With that in mind he stood up, put on a warm coat and headed for the door. Just before opening it, though, he spotted his helmet on a nearby drawer. He thought about putting it for a brief moment, but soon he decided not to and left the room.
X-X
It was a calm night, the Doctor had to acknowledge. The crescent moon shone high in the starry sky, and from the landship's top he could see the endless wastelands disappear on the horizon. He could only think to himself, "So quiet..."
"Doctor?"
Taken by surprise, the man turned to the mysterious voice. To his relief, he was met with a familiar face.
"Uff... you almost gave me a scare, Amiya. Why you've come here at such hours?"
Behind him, the young cautus couldn't hide her worried expression.
"I was sleeping, but I got woken up by noise in the hallways. I saw it was you, so I decided to go check if you were alright."
"I understand..." Letting out a sigh, the Doctor turned his gaze back to the barren plains. Amiya didn't say anything, she just shifted a bit closer to him. For long minutes they stayed like that, standing in silence and immerse in thought. Suddenly, Amiya spoke.
"Dokutah, I can feel something's troubling your heart... Do you want to talk about it?"
"... Yeah." His tone was very off. "I've been trying for days to organize a mission to go search the person behind the transmission. I got on my knees, I begged her... but in the end Kal'tsit didn't give permission."
"I heard Warfarin yesterday talk about it..." The cautus paused for a bit. "Dokutah, I don't understand. Why you're so interested in this? Is there something special about her, the woman of the message?"
"Well, I- I don't understand why, but... I think I've met her before." Upon hearing these words, Amiya's eyes went wide. "I know, it's a very bold claim. I don't have any memories of that woman... but, somewhere deep in my mind lies the certainty I know her."
Amiya's rabbit ears dropped.
"I had forgot your amnesia..."
"Right." He put his hand to his forehead. "If I only could remember...!"
"Dokutah." All of a sudden, Amiya grabbed his hand and stared directly into his eyes. Very few times she had seen him without his helmet on, but now that he wasn't wearing it the young cautus could appreciate the scarred face of the caring man.
"Dokutah, listen. I understand how you're feeling right now. A mission to rescue her would be very dangerous, you could even get killed; Kal'tsit is right about that..." A sad smile appeared on his lips, yet at the final moments he heard. "...but I don't agree with her decision. Rhodes Island was founded on the idea of helping those in need, Infected and no Infected alike, and right now that person needs our help! Even if we face a great danger, even if we risk death... me and the rest of Rhodes will be there for the people!"
The Doctor was left speechless.
"Wow... thanks, Amiya. This means a lot for me."
"I'm glad I can help you, Dokutah."
Seeing her cheerful visage made him curl his lips into a faint smile. However, he then realized something important he had overlook. The happiness in his face suddenly vanished.
"Dokutah?"
"Amiya, I appreciate your support, but I'm afraid it's for naught. Kal'tsit still won't allow us to leave the landship."
"Then we'll go alone, just the two of us." She boldly said.
"A solo mission? But Amiya, if something happens to us, then Rhodes would lose two of its most important members!"
"I'm sure there's something we can do..."
"There's no need to come down to such plan, guys." Both Amiya and the Doctor were startled when they heard those words coming from behind. They slowly turned to the voice, and there leaning against the wall they saw Matt and Will, fully dressed in combat gear.
Doctor was the first to speak.
"Matt, Will! Since when you arrived here?"
"Good question." Answered Will. "We didn't get to hear the full conversation, but at least we were on time for the final chunk."
"That's right." Said Matt. "Your plan to go alone into hostile land to save that woman is risky, to say the least... but if I agree on something is that Amiya's right. The old grumpy cat may say whatever she wants, but I won't stay idly by while someone is getting hunted down."
"Okay." Said the Doctor. "That makes us four... but it's still not enough."
At that moment they heard another voice.
"Oh, so you need people? Well, I can solve that."
The four rolled their gazes to the side, to watch the slim figure of Talulah rise from the shadows. Amiya spoke.
"Miss Talulah, you're coming as well?"
"Yes, little bunny." She answered. "Me and eight of my best men."
"Oh..." She said. "Thank you for helping us then."
"Nah, you're welcome. Besides, I wouldn't be able to stay here while this dummy over here risks his life in the field." Replied Talulah while as she pocked Will's cheeks.
"Tal, you know I can take care of myself!" He pouted.
"Mhnn... We'll see about that~." She smirked.
"Alright." Intervened the Doctor. "Now that we have enough people, we can set out on the mission... but if I'm honest, I think we should bring someone from Rhodes as well."
"But who?" Asked Amiya. "I don't think anyone would want to face Kal'tsits wrath..."
"Leave that to me." Sentenced Matt.
X-X
On the next morning, a huge mass of people had formed before Amiya's bedroom. All of the operators had worried expressions on their faces, and many where whispering among themselves.
"Where's Amiya? I haven't seen her anywhere..."
"I don't know, she might be still sleeping..."
"Why the hell is everybody here?!" As if they had been struck by lightning, all of the operators turned and saw Kal'tsit standing before them. She spoke again with her commanding voice. "Anyone mind explaining what's happening?"
"Well..." One of them muttered. "It's already past 9 AM, and Amiya still hasn't left her room..."
"Ok, let me handle this." That said, the lynx walked over to the door and knocked. "Amiya, are you awake? It's me, Kal'tsit."
No response came. She tried again, this time with more vigor.
"Amiya, there's work that needs to be done. Please wake up."
Nothing, only silence.
"Tch, what a pain..." Kal'tsit reached for her pocket and took out a master card. She put it on the lector, and instants later the lock opened with a ping. She didn't even hesitate and rushed inside.
"Amiya, it's time... to..." She came to a halt.
Her room was a complete mess. Wardrobes were wide open, clothes littered the floor, and her personal belongings were all lying around. Walking among the disaster, the lynx soon noticed a small note on top of her bed. She picked it up, but the more she read, the more her eyes twitched in anger.
"Doctor, you... You... YOU FUCK*NG IDIOT!"
Her cry of fury was heard on the entire ship.