Story Reader / Floating Record / ER08 The Long Goodbye / Story
I hear we're getting another batch of newcomers today. You always get so excited at times like these, Professor.
Of course, seeing all these young people so talented and passionate about medicine... I should cherish these moments before retirement.
Could this be your secret to staying young—oh! Good morning, Dr. Little Wan! Still sporting those dark circles under your eyes, I see!
Surprised by the unexpected address of "Doctor", he turns around with a sheepish smile.
Morning... No need to call me "Doctor". I'm still an intern.
You're still "Dr. Little Wan" for now, but once you get your certification, you'll be "Dr. Wanshi". Actually, you've been interning at Star of Life for quite some time. When do you think you'll get certified? Have you decided on a department yet?
Hm... I'm not sure yet. I haven't really thought it through.
Hippocrates glances at the ID badge on Wanshi's chest.
So you're the star student that every department's fighting over? The "Multitasking Monster", the "Exam Deity"? The one who's so dedicated he'd evolve past the need for sleep—Wanshi?
Don't just blurt out those silly names like that...!
...?
What else? "Study Hall Gate Keeper", "The Wish-Granting Machine"?
...Me?
Wanshi points at his own face, feeling somewhat puzzled.
That's not all. I heard you're shadowing a pediatrician? If this affects your final decision, you might want to reconsider—pediatrics is exhausting work.
...
Also, remember to balance work and rest. Keep burning the midnight oil like this, and you'll age faster than you'd like.
Um... Sorry to make you worry.
I'm not "burning myself out"—the doctor who used to take care of me here did the same thing.
...Go on, get back to work.
If I keep talking, your supervisor will come looking for me.
The white-clad figure nods and hurries away, while Hippocrates bows his head to prepare his materials.
We never have enough time to chat. Professor, how's Wanshi doing? He's one of the top students in medical school, you know.
Nothing particularly unusual... Just a young one working too hard because they're overeager.
What's he in such a hurry for?
What's pushing Wanshi?
Every time he looks at his reflection, he sees the dark circles under his eyes—a reminder of his desperate pursuit to absorb every bit of knowledge within reach.
Why? Is it the desire to become a pediatrician like Melvie, to repay and inherit what has become an irreversible regret?
Or is it because he sees his younger self in these children at the ward, and genuinely wishes for their swift recovery?
Or perhaps it's because every moment he allows himself to relax, he's reminded that Pelo and the others are still fighting on the ground?
He isn't sure, but he remembers Shorthalt's advice.
If you don't know what to do next, focus on what's right in front of you.
For you, it means attending medical school and saving lives after graduation... There's always more to learn, always more work to do—you won't have time to think about anything else.
...
Let's take it one step at a time. Become a doctor first... Or better yet, why not become an even better doctor than Melvie?
Don't overthink things. Just become a doctor first. Just open the ward doors one at a time... That's enough.
Wanshi pushes open the ward door.
Ah! Wanshi is here!
I got here first! Wanshi, I saved up two wish cards yesterday! Though I haven't decided what to trade them for...
I got one too! I'm gonna trade it for the newest Mecha Girl stickers!
The once-quiet ward suddenly springs to life as children well enough to walk gather around.
Who gave you all these wish cards while I was away?
The nurse walks over.
Since you were finally taking a break yesterday, and these kids were behaving so well, the doctor on duty handed out some cards on your behalf. Maka got two of them, too.
Wanshi looks at the only boy still confined to bed in the ward. The boy smiles at him gently and points to two colorful cards beside his pillow.
Maka was especially quiet during his IV drip, and even reminded the nurse not to forget the medicine. Vivian was just as good—she stuck to our agreement of watching only two episodes of Mecha Girls before bed. They've both been very responsible.
Thanks for taking care of everything.
After Natalie leaves, Wanshi walks around the ward with his hands in his pockets, making a show of mysterious inspection before finally stopping at Maka's bedside.
Now, let me see—who's been the most well-behaved? Andy? Vivian? Or could it be Maka?
He calls out to each child one by one, then dramatically pretends to have a sudden realization.
Oh my, looks like everyone's been working hard on getting better! Well, in that case...
How about I give everyone a piece of candy?
He reaches into his "treasure chest" pocket, and reveals an assortment of hard candies. After placing one by Maka's pillow, he lets the other children pick their favorites from his hand.
The children's cheers bring forth the most relaxed smile on the young doctor's face.
...
...Without a goal in mind, it's better to stop overthinking and focus on what's right in front of you. Just like this—put on the coat, open the door, and bring a bit of joy to the children.
May I have another piece?
Maka whispers.
...
Wanshi?
Wanshi snaps back to reality.
Yes! The nurse said you were the best behaved yesterday. Have another one. Which flavor would you like...
Is something bothering you, Wanshi?
When Dad's worried about something, he makes the same face you're making right now.
Oh, I...
Maka's condition isn't looking good.
Natalie pinches the bridge of her nose as the quiet examination room makes her drowsy. Beside her, Wanshi quickly flips through Maka's medical records and, for once, without his usual yawning.
...Born with a congenital condition... multiple surgeries with limited success... No strenuous activity before the next operation.
Modern medicine has come so far, yet there are still diseases that remain beyond our ability to cure.
Nothing we can do but our best, I suppose—yawn.
The professor's handling this case, so don't worry too much about it. You should get some rest—they've got you working the night shift again...
It's fine, I'll head back after the professor gets here. I'd like to hear the professor's treatment plan for Maka—it'll be a good learning opportunity for me.
The professor specifically asked us to make sure you get some rest... I heard you fell asleep in your office chair again the other day. How many days have you been working non-stop this time?
Wanshi shakes his head, deflecting the questions about himself as he turns to the final page.
What's Maka's family situation like? Do you know what exactly his parents do in Babylonia?
His hospitalization and surgeries require a lot of resources, and things may stay this way for a long time—possibly years.
If his family is struggling financially, I can help apply for a fee waiver...
Maka's father is his only remaining family, and he volunteered for modification to fight on the ground.
The casualty rate among military Constructs has never decreased. If his father falls too, the Youth Center will assume custody of Maka.
...
Understood... Let's focus on treatment for now.
Sorry, Maka. I didn't mean to worry you.
I want to help you, Wanshi! Yesterday, the nurse asked me to fetch her terminal, and I did a great job!
Fantastic! I'll make you my assistant.
If I'm your assistant, will you give me more wish cards?
Are these wish cards important to you?
Wanshi watches as Maka's expression grows uneasy, realizing that the child hasn't used his "Anything I Want" cards in a long time.
I heard Dad's "long-term mission" is over, and he'll be back in a few days... How many wish cards would it take to get one day outside? I want to spend a day playing with Dad. If I don't have enough... could I maybe get an "advance"?
Maka pulls out his colorful wish cards from his pocket, carefully aligning them one by one, each card pristine without a single bent corner.
Have you talked about this with your dad? You're scheduled for surgery this week, and you'll need time to recover afterward.
No...
...
Wanshi bends down to meet Maka at eye level.
How about this: we'll wait patiently for him to return, then we can discuss when you might be discharged, okay? For now, just listen to the doctors and nurses, focus on your recovery, and I'm sure you'll be able to leave with your father in no time.
Maka nods.
The wish cards... I don't need this many.
Wanshi takes a few colored cards from Maka's hand and returns the thick remaining stack to Maka's pocket.
This will do.
He tucks the wish card retrieved from Maka into his pocket before turning to perform his routine check on the other children.
Suddenly, the terminal rings, and the screen shows someone who hasn't been in touch for a long time.
...Pelo??
Pelo has been on a long-term mission on the ground. Why would make contact now?
The call connects promptly, but the screen shows nothing but darkness.
Pelo? What's wrong?
Bzzz—you—
What? I can't hear you clearly—
The other side seems to be saying something, but the static makes it impossible for Wanshi to make out a single word.
Soon, the communication is forcibly cut off.
...
As Wanshi attempts to establish communication again, Natalie comes running in.
Is Wanshi here?
Natalie? I just...
Wanshi points at his terminal, but Natalie cuts him off. She glances at the bedridden Maka, anxiety evident on her face.
Wanshi, come with me, now!
What?
It's Maka's father! His unit requested mass emergency medical support just hours ago!
What's the exact situation?
No idea. Everyone in Construct Maintenance is so swamped and can't spare even a moment to explain things properly.
Just yesterday, that child said his father's long-term mission would end in a few days... He even told me their travel plans in such detail...
...It might not be that bad. I'll go check. Could you please ask the professor to come back?
Without time for further instructions, Wanshi dashes to the Star of Life emergency center.
He rushes down the long corridor and opens the emergency stairwell door—he knows the shortcut.
The artificial sunlight feels as warm as ever, and the window—the one he once had to tiptoe to peek through—remains unchanged.
It was here, as a small child, that he first glimpsed the other side of their world—frantic Constructs and doctors rushing about, and broken Constructs being wheeled past.
Is it still the same as back then?
Many years have passed since that day as he turns his gaze toward the window once again.
All because we had to save those dawdling refugees, we got ambushed by a pack of Corrupted! We'd just met up with another team, and now... Great! Everyone's gone, just like that!
Do you know how long we were stuck on the ground? We finally had the chance to return to Babylonia... and now look what's happened... How many of us are even left?!
It's pointless... No use talking about it now...
He can't make out what the Constructs are saying, but their expressions are all too familiar—anger, grief, confusion... The maintenance doctors still rush about just as before.
—Exactly like it was back then.
Pull up the stats for this Construct version and check for any internal cavity damage.
Let the auto-maintenance kit treat the external wounds and stop the vital fluid loss... No, prepare for vital fluid transfusion right away.
Professor, we're running low on vital fluid. He needs far too much.
...Rescue operation in Maintenance Room 6 has failed. Clean up the quickly and bring in the next one.
There are still so many outside...
The professor's face shows even more signs of exhaustion.
Look for the severely injured ones—damage rates between forty and seventy percent.
But some are worse—
Resources are stretched too thin... There's no point bringing them in—this isn't an execution chamber.
I can help!
A young man in a lab coat stands in front of Maintenance Room 6, announcing to the professor and assistant inside.
...
The busy professor spares him only a glance before returning to their emergency procedure.
Connection cable. Now.
The assistant swiftly hands over what the professor needs.
...Professor Chiron, I've completed the Construct maintenance course, and you personally approved my basic Construct maintenance certification.
I can handle two emergency procedures at once through remote maintenance... I've practiced countless times on medical equipment!
Aspirator.
Professor, I know him. He excelled in Construct Maintenance class too, even if his experience is limited to medical simulators...
That much I'm aware of.
Wanshi stands at the entrance of the emergency center, speaking rapidly. For a fleeting moment, he feels like a child again, only as tall as an adult's legs, with his view filled by the hems of white coats.
...
Will there be another "Pelo" standing there? Could it be Maka?
...
Professor Chiron, I won't take up any maintenance room space—I can work outside. Please, let me take care of the lightly injured Constructs, you...
Please... save those with "over seventy percent" too...
Professor Chiron "wastes" another second on Wanshi.
...Start up a remote maintenance unit for them, and bring in those Constructs who can still sit up by the door.
I'm on it!
Wanshi can't even remember how many maintenance procedures were performed that day.
His hands, covered in vital fluid, never stop working.
The remote maintenance cables feel like they've fused into his head. The pain numbs everything else.
Repair, maintenance... turn around and there's another Construct lying there in pain, then more repairs, more maintenance...
No different from humans, really—when a Construct's bionic skin ruptures, it creates the same bloody, mangled mess.
Stay still and bear with it for a moment. It'll be over soon.
It hurts so much...
I'll help you. It'll be alright.
You wouldn't understand. Cough, cough. Every time I come to this damned place, I—agh!
Wanshi's vision blurs black. His hands slip, applying too much pressure—vital fluid seeps from the wound anew. His remote maintenance kit misaligns by an inch, drawing a cry of pain from the Construct.
Sorry...!
Disconnect him! Now!
The throbbing in his head vanishes instantly. Wanshi slumps to the floor, as if his very soul has been sucked from his body.
Hff...
That's enough, stop.
Not yet...
As if answering Wanshi's determination, more Constructs come running through the airlock connecting to the emergency center, carrying new patients on stretchers.
Three minutes, Professor. Give me three minutes and I'll be rested enough to hook up the maintenance kit.
Wanshi takes a deep breath, pushes himself up from the ground, and rushes to check on the new patient's injuries.
Elevate the chest cavity, but don't touch the neck! Careful now.
The Construct's injuries are severe. His face is completely disfigured, but one can still tell he underwent modification at a young age.
Lift carefully... Yes, like that.
...Wanshi?
The Construct holding the injured person hesitantly calls out Wanshi's name.
...! Sien? Is that you?
Wanshi recognizes this veteran Construct—he served in the same squad as Pelo's parents. After their incident, he helped take care of Pelo.
You still remember me...
Sien closes his eyes in pain, looking more worn out than ever.
Another mission gone wrong...?
Another... Yes, yes, it's happened again. This time it was his turn.
...?
Wanshi freezes for a split second before sharply looking back down at the nearly destroyed Construct.
Vital fluid has stained the Construct's synthetic hair, obscuring what was once a distinctive color.
...
I... I can't bear to watch this happen in front of me anymore...
...
A gasp ripples through the crowd, and Chiron looks up—
A Construct slumps dejectedly on the ground, having laid down the critically wounded patient in his arm.
The white-haired doctor kneels beside the patient, shouting for medical equipment while applying pressure above the amputation site on the patient's leg.
Get me the maintenance kit!
It's too late, Wanshi.
Wanshi holds the maintenance tools, but can only watch helplessly at Pelo's wounds—both old and new, covering his body, each one more horrifying than the last.
He's still so young... What about a Recall? Yes, we can still perform a Recall!
He has no vital signs...
No... there must be a way...
Wanshi wipes his face with his hand, but instead of clearing his blurry vision, he only manages to smear vital fluid near his eye.
The world before his eyes turns crimson red, his hands trembling to the point of near spasm, but nothing he could do would make a difference now.
The lifeless Construct lies before him. Through his chaotic thoughts, Wanshi grasps onto a single memory—he realizes that this is the very place where they first met.
Back then, Pelo was crying and calling out for his mother while innocently exposing the young doctor's lie.
Your mother will be fine. She's just severely injured and needs to enter stasis.
Stasis? Construct stasis?
Yes. Our current medical technology can't restore her mobility right away. She needs to stay in stasis for a while before she can be treated.
...For how long?
Hmm... many years? Maybe after you grow up... How old are you now?
Seven and a half.
Then in eight years... eight and a half years. Maybe when you're sixteen, she'll wake up.
...
...I can wait.
Wanshi chokes back tears and lowers his head, releasing his hand from Pelo's wound—no vital fluid gushing out anymore.
Sixteen.
When you underwent the modification... you were still too young...
Why did it take me so long to understand...
We've blown things up, we've made our noise—none of it matters anymore. Everything we could do was useless. Let's end this. I'm going in for modification this month.
Why? It's just going to the ground, there's no need for modifications, right? And certainly no need to rush it...
No! It IS urgent!
...?
The sooner the better. I'm done waiting.
...
He'll never turn sixteen...
Pelo made his choice—to never confront the moment when the lie would unravel. Perhaps this way, he could die while still holding onto hope.
I'm sorry. I'm sorry...
Guilt is etched across Sien's face as M.I.N.D. shift warnings begin to sound. Several nearby Constructs carefully escort him away.
Wanshi pays no attention to Sien's departure. His head hangs low. His hair, damp with sweat and vital fluid, droops across his forehead as he appears to be in prayer.
...Won't someone lie to me too?
