Kal'tsit walked towards the medical bed and turned on the lights above it.

As the photons hit their eyelids, her patient slowly awakened.

She rapidly blinked her eyes, trying to protect them from the burning sensation.

When that didn't work, she tried to bring her hands to her face. But with help from Gavial, Kal'tsit had managed to secure Operator Elysia's arms and legs to the bed before she had woken up.

Elysia's body twitched on the bed as she struggled against her restraints.

''What-''

Before she could object further, Kal'tsit explained what had happened as she moved the light away from her face.

''You hit yourself on the head with a food tray in the cafeteria and fell over. Luckily, you didn't hurt yourself. Do you remember that?''

Fluorescent lights hummed beyond her face in the ceiling.

She took a few panicked breaths before answering back:

''Yes. I doubt a thin metal sheet could do much damage to this body.''

This piqued Kal'tsits interest as she walked closer to the bed with a notepad in her arms.

''Not 'your' body but 'this' body? Am I not talking to Katerina?''

That was interesting. Kal'tsit took a mental note of that phrase.
That was troubling.

The one in control of the body didn't answer right away, as if trying to check something without moving.

''No. I don't think she is up right now. Maybe that was too much...''

Kal'tsit noted something down and asked another question.

''Katerina said last time that both personalities experienced everything together. Why is today an exception?''

This one was important.

The look in Elysia's body tensed. Whatever it was in there, it was now taking this situation more seriously.

''Usually, yes. We do experience things together. It might be because of mental shock. Regardless, she is not awake.''

With clinical judgment, Kal'tsit examined the body before adjusting the bed so that they could sit upright.

''Would you prefer me to call you by your chosen Operator name: Elysia, or something else?''

The body licked her lips. The sterile and dry air had dried them out.

''Call me Elysia. We agreed upon that name. Might as well use it.''

''Well then, Elysia. This is the first time we get the chance to speak to you without the presence of Katerina, so I will change my questions to ask you some things personally. Would you be okay with answering some of my questions?''

He knew it. This would happen if ever he was alone inside this body. To be tested.
Studied.

He looked down at the metal clasps.
He didn't have a choice now.

''Sure...Depends on the question?''

The body sounded unsure.

It hurt him when this happened. When he spoke. A woman's voice, different from the one in his mental image when the thought about stuff escaped the lips of the body he inhabited.

''If you could forcibly take over her body at will, why haven't you done so until now?''

He was expecting something worse, but this was an easy question.

''Because I didn't need to.''

''What was special this time?''

He thought about it for a few seconds. Maybe the easy question wasn't so simple to answer after all.

''How do I say this... Imagine not being in control akin to suffocating. Drowning. In the beginning, you can hold your breath, but as time goes on it starts to hurt if you breathe again for air. Usually, she would let me take those breaths by giving me control from time to time-''

''And I am guessing that she hadn't this time around?''

''Correct. I thought she was trying to get rid of me but now I realize I might have overreacted."

The hands turned into fists under the restrictions before slowly relaxing.

From the outside, it looked like a baby learning its motor functions.

Kal'tsit kept inscribing things to her notepad. He couldn't see what she was writing down.

Before she could ask another question, the body spoke up:

''Do you remember what you told us last time? I don't know exactly what I am Kal'tsit. Maybe you are right. Maybe I am mere false memories and a false personality created by some originium crystal within her brain. But I don't want to disappear-''

The last part was almost a whisper.

''No one does...''

Kal'tsit grimly looked at her notebook as another medic walked into the room. It was Gavial.

''How is she looking Kal'?''

''Not very good. It appears that her personalities have begun to fight each other openly for control. Even Gloria's case wasn't as bad as this.''

Gavial crossed her arms in front of her chest and laid back on a medical cabinet.

''Maybe you should take her off of active duty for some time. Increase the amount of therapy sessions she gets?''

At those words, the body panicked.

''Don't do that!''

It quickly shouted.

Kal'tsit merely raised an eyebrow, questioning that outburst.

He meekly responded under the cold gaze.

''I felt her frustrations at the fact that she hadn't done anything recently. If you take her off duty it might make her even worse.''

Kal'tsit opened both eyes wide at this as if she were shocked.

"You're asking me to believe a second identity, unverified and unstable, is qualified to assess another patient much less the primary identity?"

She looked at the body suspiciously.

"You aren't that capable. Unless your goal here is to gain an advantage over the original personality-"

He quickly shook the head left and right and closed the eyes in protest.

''I am not! Why would I make the situation worse? We share one body!''

Gavial interjected:

''You didn't care about that when you slammed-''

''That was different. I needed to take a breath. A few breaths of my own. When I was satisfied, I was going to give her body back.''

A moment of reflection in the silence.
An idea. A Plan.

''Doctor Kal'tsit. May I...speak with you honestly?''

Acknowledging the request, Kal'tsit put the notebook to her side and gave him her full attention.

''I am listening.''

The fingers of the body brushed against each other, trying to feel something. Anything.
Itself.

This didn't go unnoticed by the two medics.

''I know this is her body. By all definitions, I am the sickness within.''

The body sighed.

''I can understand why she doesn't want me. I can accept that. But my goal has never been to get rid of her by taking over. Because even if I was created by this body, this body doesn't feel like it is mine.''

He flexed the unfamiliar muscles. They responded as they should. But they weren't his. They never could be…

"Every moment, every twitch. They remind me that this isn't natural, that this may not be my body."

The tension within the fibers of the body slowly relaxed as he finished messing around.

''And I say this not just because I do want to keep existing. But she needs me. The one of us who isn't in control can feel what the other feels during that time. She isn't doing too well.''

Kal'tsit stared deep into the eyes of Elysia. She could see it. Something was different from their last session. Katerina was not there. It was Elysia.

''She is lost. She wants to do something. Be of use. If you hospitalize her and treat her as if she is broken beyond use. She won't take it too well. And I... I don't want to struggle for this body until only one of us remains.''

It was as if the body was trying to bury itself into the sheets of the medical bed.

He was being sincere.
But he wasn't sure if the medics would listen to him.
If they'd bite the emotional surrender.

That's what he wanted them to believe.

What a harsh reality Terra was. It was even worse than the life he had once lived. Or thought he lived.
Who knew his prayers would be granted... He never expected it would be like this.

The medics looked at each other and the body of Katerina.

A silent argument between the medical staff took place. One he didn't hear or understand. But by the time they were done, Kal'tsit was the first to speak up. Gavial shook her head in defeat.

''I am sorry to say Elysia, but the worsening of your health is of medical concern.''

The body winced. He regretted opening his mouth.

''We will take this as a top priority for both you and Katerina's sake. We will notify medical staff and other operators of your worsening SPD. I will bring today's incident to the Doctor. They will be the one to decide whether to put you under medical care or not.''

Could have been better, could have been worse.
But knowing the Doctor... Elysia thought the situation would be just fine.

That tinge of true relief was enough to stir something.
He realized what it was.

''Kat is waking up. I'll give her body back now.''

He said as the body went limp and the eyelids closed.

It was a surreal experience to this day. No matter how many times he did it, it still felt like the weirdest thing he would ever do.

He let go. It felt like falling backward through cold water.
The body stilled and woke again with different eyes.

Her body suddenly jolted up. Elysia was gone.
Katerina had returned.

''Awh my head... Where am I?''

Gavial was the first to answer this time.

''You are in medical. Do you remember the accident you had with Elysia today?''

Anger. That was all she felt at first.

Once again, he had done something to put her in a worse situation than she already was. If it wasn't for the fact that he had-

'Sorry. You left me no other choice.'

The man replied inside her head.

'YOU!'

Inside, she was still angry. But the outside of the shell told a different story.

After all, unlike Elysia, she was disciplined.

''Was he in control? What did you talk about with him?''

A different tone of voice. It was obvious who was who once they opened their mouths if you had the chance to hear both speak independently of each other.

Elysia spoke with a certain air. Cocky yet careful. Dramatic, more expressive.

Katerina was less emotional. More refined. Disciplined. On point.

Kal'tsit answered:

''We spoke about your worsening mental health and Split Personality Disorder.''

'WHAT? What did you tell them?!'

She was furious. Had he? He wouldn't dare.

She couldn't tell but he was calm. Ready. Expectant.
He had prepared himself.

'Keep listening.'

''We were going to take you off operator duties until you showed improvement but after speaking with Elysia, Gavial and I decided that we will bring the final decision up to the Doctor.''

'YOU…. Huh?'

The anger was still there, but bewilderment was creeping up.

''However, regardless of that outcome, you will start taking more therapy sessions from medical staff. And we will give a notification to fellow operators and staff of your mental health situation.''

...

''Understood.''

It could have been worse. She had also gotten notifications in her short stay here of fellow operators suffering from different medical conditions.

But it didn't feel good to know that everyone might look at her as if she was…

How long would it take until the rumors spread? Until there were whispers attached to her name as she walked around, did her job.

She couldn't deny it.
If she had just listened to him maybe this wouldn't have happened.

But.

It was still unfair, this was her body.
He was the one causing the problems, she was just trying to live what was left of her life.

'I apologize.'

His quick response surprised her.
This asshole was capable of apologizing?

Maybe he was. But she couldn't tell if it was the truth.
Was he lying? To appease her?

Maybe that was why he had easily given her the reins… So that she couldn't figure him out. Sly bastard.
He didn't react.

Gavial slowly began removing the metal bindings from Katerina's wrists and ankles.

She slowly got up from the bed and examined her fingers, remembering the feeling of controlling them as she stretched.

It reminded her of how it felt to not be in control. As if there was a fire eating away at her body.

At first, it was warm, not much of a problem. But the more time he spent in control, the hotter and wilder the flames got as they seared her organs and flesh.
That's exactly what it felt like.

The two medics watched closely but couldn't find any more faults from the outside.

If only they could see…

Kal'tsit decided to end today's session here. They had passed the final medical test by not immediately fighting each other. For now.

Gavial helped Katerina get up as Kal'tsit started to escort everyone out of the medical center.

''I want you to go to your room and rest for today. Don't worry about your duties for now, you will rest until we reach out to you.''

Katerina adjusted her coat, ears twitching.

Her left ear, it hurt. The tip of it had been chopped off in Chernobog.
The culprit didn't say anything, choosing to stay silent.
Another one of his failures.

Katerina slowly walked away from the two doctors after giving her goodbyes.

They walked in silence, both thinking of what to do, what to say.

Her hand instinctively went to her sword, resting on its hilt.

As her boots stomped on the metal hallways on the way to her dorm, Katerina was the first to question Elysia.

She tried her best to do damage control.

'What did you tell them exactly?'

Elysia thought for a while.

'I told them what they wanted to hear.'

'What?'

'A strong one such as yourself wouldn't understand. It's a secret technique invented by the weak to topple the tyranny of your kind.'

She couldn't help but smile to herself at the absurdity of his words. They had caught her off guard.

'Stop doing that. It becomes impossible to understand what you are saying when you try to sound dramatic.'

She swiped a card to open the door towards the shared area of the dormitory wing they stayed in.

'I am serious. What did you say?'

Her face betrayed no other meaning. It was true.

'Alright. How about this then: They are doctors and our bosses. They want you, sometimes me, to be healthy and for us to be more efficient workers. I told them how to do just that.'

Her face morphed in confusion, a tinge of embarrassment as she sighed.
The exhaustion was clear in her breath.

'I hope you didn't tell them something embarrassing...'

She walked into the shared room but there wasn't anyone there today. That was to be expected, they were probably still working their shifts.

'Eh. Don't worry about it. Just wait for the good news. Consider it my apology for hitting you in the head today.'

She was tired. Too spent to pursue her rage any longer.

...

Her stomach rumbled as she stood in the doorway.

'I'm going to get some snacks.'

He laughed inside of her head again.
It was a teasing one, but...
At least it was sincere this time.

'Be careful. You might get fat at this rate if you eat too much.'

She may not have had the energy and will to fight. But two could play his game. It was time for her to strike back.

'Then I will just have to train more in the morning to burn those calories. Maybe you should do my exercises for me tomorrow. You could understand how it feels accomplish something then.'

Elysia was irritated that his words had not gotten him the response he was expecting.

'You're so boring for enjoying swinging that big sword and working out all day.'