Story Reader / Floating Record / ER08 The Long Goodbye / Story
That evening, Wanshi, now a seasoned member of the Construct Maintenance Department, meticulously inspects his tools alongside Professor Chiron as they both check their protective suits and prepare for the next operation.
How are you finding the work here, Wanshi?
The head of pediatrics visited yesterday. He said you're working harder than ever, and warned me not to overwork you. He threatened to take you back to his department if I don't look after you better.
I'm doing fine. I want to contribute more, and you've all been incredibly helpful, guiding me through every step of the maintenance process. Besides... everyone here works incredibly hard.
Don't overwork yourself. Your health is paramount. Pushing yourself to the limit will only hinder your progress in the long run.
Chiron leans against the closet door, bracing himself.
Let's go. We're lucky today. Only two minor procedures left, and the patients aren't seriously injured.
Oh, right, Professor.
Wanshi hands him a document.
While organizing the files, I found some strange documents that seem related to Construct Recall. Could you help me understand them after the surgery...
Chiron furrows his brow as he takes the documents.
Were you alone when you were organizing the documents?
No, why?
Chiron secures the documents in the cabinet.
Forget this ever happened. Don't tell a soul.
Don't look at me like that. This isn't some kind of shady deal. Though... I have to admit, your ability to uncover these things is quite remarkable.
Maintenance Station Four is yours. Now go!
Professor!
The assistant bursts through the door with urgent news.
There's a Construct outside... She...
What's happening?
Her limbs are severely damaged, and she's showing signs of severe M.I.N.D. deviation... You need to see this.
The assistant looks visibly shaken, struggling to continue.
Wanshi's usually cheerful assistant looks utterly distraught. There's no time to question it. He rushes to the maintenance room with the rest of the staff.
Another "Special Construct", huh?
"Again"...?
Wanshi, who has been trailing behind Chiron, finally sees the Construct lying on the maintenance table as Chiron sighs.
!
A young "girl" Construct lies on the table, her limbs shattered, a metal pipe protruding from her chest.
She forces her eyes open, a trickle of vital fluid escaping her lips, her gaze fixed stubbornly on Wanshi, as if he's her only hope.
Ugh... H-help me... Cough...
Don't worry, we'll save you. I'm setting up the connection maintenance equipment now.
The doctors are already at work in the maintenance room, connecting data cables to the "girl" Construct's frame.
Melvie had warned him about these "special" Constructs.
Their suffering is unimaginable. But those who created them were indifferent to their pain.
They are a product of tragedy.
...
Pass me the aspirator.
Wanshi examines the Construct again, only to find she's unconscious on the table. Perhaps reaching this point pushed her beyond her limits.
This is happening too fast...
The M.I.N.D. monitor alarms are blaring, the readings fluctuating wildly. Everyone's breaking into a cold sweat.
Standard protocols are useless now. With this level of M.I.N.D. deviation, we need to brace ourselves for the worst.
What if... what if we try a Recall? There might still be a chance to save her.
Wanshi's hand instinctively reaches for the Recall activation device.
Slap!
Don't activate the Recall.
Chiron slaps Wanshi's hand away, his face hardening.
Professor! We don't have the resources to save her.
Forget the resource drain. Her M.I.N.D. is too unstable for a Recall. It would shatter once activated.
...
We should probably mark her down as deceased... But let's give it one last try.
No... I need to find another way.
Wanshi utters a familiar "no". Last time he said that, Pelo was already beyond saving.
He constantly replays that day in his mind, wondering what he could have done differently to save Pelo.
Every sleepless night, he replays the events, searching for a different outcome, a way to save him.
Get that metal pipe out of her first! Then, extract her artificial heart!
Why?
I need to perform an external heart repair.
Wanshi fiddles with his gloves, his eyes drawn to the damaged artificial heart.
I have a background in clinical medicine. While this is vastly different from treating humans... I have to try something...
Professor, we...
Leave it to Wanshi. Everyone, follow his instructions.
Thank you, everybody.
Remove the tube. Now, widen the incision at the sternum and extract the vital fluid from the chest cavity... Yes, that's it.
Guided by Wanshi, the night shift attempts a "maintenance" procedure unlike anything they've ever performed.
Despite their rigorous medical training, they strive to understand and follow Wanshi's instructions.
Their efforts seem to be paying off. The Construct's M.I.N.D. deviation has stabilized, though it remains dangerously high.
Isolate the main circuit. Prepare for external circulation.
The assistant recoils as he opens the Construct's chest cavity. Her human-like appearance still unsettles him.
She looks... like a child... She should be in a Cultivation Center, right?
...
Professor Chiron finds himself gradually pushed aside by the flurry of activity, finally setting down his maintenance tools.
I'm leaving it in your hands.
Professor? Where are you going?
I'll check the other two maintenance rooms. Follow Wanshi's instructions.
Professor...
Open the main circulation line. Begin the vital fluid transfusion! You, monitor the M.I.N.D. fluctuations in real-time!
Understood. I'm on my way, Wanshi.
Chiron steps into the hallway. The motion-sensor lights dim behind him as he walks, conserving energy.
Chiron suddenly remembers a scene from the emergency center years ago. A child, with startling directness, exposed an intern's lies. Later, he saw that same child in medical school, excelling academically.
And there he was, defying orders, stubbornly trying to save the critically injured Constructs in the Maintenance Department.
Please... save those with "over seventy percent" too...
And then, just now...
In a situation like this... I have to try.
...
When was the last time... I said something like "I have to try"?
When did he lose that unwavering determination that Wanshi embodies?
Was it that afternoon when the fire raged?
Finally... Finally! We've got the data we need!
Chiron! Our team won't be disbanded, and we get to keep the lab...
The colleague in front of him is crying tears of joy, clutching the latest experimental data and examining it repeatedly. Chiron recalls that this colleague wasn't even this excited when his daughter was born.
Aren't you pleased?
The colleague excitedly pats him on the back.
I'm happy for sure. After all, I've been your assistant for all these years...
As the heavy pats continue, he forces an awkward smile.
He never sought fame or fortune. He used a minor research breakthrough to find refuge at the Zelenograd Laboratory, surviving the initial chaos of the Punishing.
Having reached middle age, all he wants is a stable place to make a living.
A few years ago, I wouldn't have understood this feeling at all.
What feeling?
Now I understand this feeling of wanting to do something for humanity.
Yes... Every step we take now has a purpose. Perhaps one day we'll overcome the limitations of these clumsy remote connection pods. Perhaps we'll even achieve Recall...
It's a tragedy that those who perished in the connection pods, and the Constructs lost in battle, won't see this day.
It's worth it. Everything is worth it.
Their sacrifices won't be in vain... Chiron, transmit the data to Babylonia now.
The information exchange with Babylonia continued for over a month, until that fateful afternoon.
As usual, Chiron hurries to the testing grounds, recorder in hand, only to spot a small figure lurking in the shadows.
Tsk, typical.
Whose family are you with?
F-family?
What are your parents' names? Did you get lost?
I don't have parents.
Chiron steps forward and leads the child out from the shadows. Only then does he see the source of the boy's terror: he's a Construct, his legs bound by restraints.
What's this?!
The children avoid Chiron, often being quite rude to him.
What's there to be surprised about? Isn't this all your doing? You people in white coats are all rotten to the core.
That's impossible... Who brought you in here?
No idea. Someone bought us and brought us here.
Four vials of Immune Serum for a test subject like me.
Where are they keeping you confined?
The boy points casually toward the other end of the corridor, indifferent to whether the people in white coats would catch him again.
As an assistant, Chiron has never set foot in this dimly lit corner before.
Trembling with disbelief... and even a glimmer of hope, he steps into this place for the first time.
...
This can't be happening...
The kids huddle together, looking like lab rats from the Golden Age.
The white coats are back. Hide! Or you'll be next.
They're testing everyone's M.I.N.D. stability today. No one ever comes back from those tests, right?
Chiron stares at the child who spoke in shock. The other children fall silent as someone enters the room.
Chiron?
You? You knew about these test subjects?!
...Everyone knows. You just don't have the clearance.
They're human beings! They're just children!! Since when did you have the right to treat them as test subjects?
In these harsh times, their right to be considered human is something that must be granted by others.
Human rights, huh? I've been your loyal assistant for years... Are you telling me the data I've been sending to Babylonia came from experiments on children?
So this is the truth behind your "perfect" results? Your "successes"?
This is outrageous... Everyone knows that protecting the next generation is paramount for the survival of humanity!
This is a matter of the greater good.
Chiron gently reaches for the boy's hand, but the child recoils, his eyes filled with disgust far beyond his years.
Don't pretend to be nice... You're just like them, wearing those white coats.
...
The experiments continued as usual that day.
Chiron still can't figure out if Babylonia's researchers truly failed to notice those suspiciously perfect data points, or if they knowingly turned a blind eye.
He no longer cares to figure it out, for he had already made the most resolute decision of his life back then.
Aided by accelerants, the flames violently engulf the entire research lab.
The fire engulfed the entire facility, destroying all the equipment and the containment rooms where the infected "test subjects" were being held.
The Corrupted escape their containment, attacking the defenseless researchers.
Chiron waits for the Babylonia rescue team to arrive, then discreetly slips the salvaged Access terminal into his pocket.
He always considered himself weak, but exposing the scandal was the most resolute act of his life.
Since then, whether captured by the military or working in the Construct Maintenance Department at Star of Life, the all-consuming rage that once consumed him has never returned.
He's seen firsthand how this scandal has ruined lives, including Melvie's.
Melvie seeks him out when she hears he's been transferred to Construct Maintenance Department.
As Melvie enters, Chiron shuts down the equipment.
I saw it. I didn't make any major breakthroughs, just like you, but some of the interfaces... I'll never forget them.
Are you still researching M.I.N.D. technology?
No, I'm just trying to confirm a few things.
You mean Recall? Do you really think we'll ever see that happen?
I heard Wanxu went to the ground... Are you helping her care for the child? Don't tell me you're using this as some kind of atonement.
I'm not here for parenting advice. I need to ask you a favor.
I hope he pursues medicine one day. When that time comes, I'd appreciate it if you could keep an eye on him.
I find it hard to believe you have no ulterior motives.
This is my ulterior motive. A stable life as a doctor in Babylonia would suit him well, and he has a natural aptitude for medicine.
What do you need me to do for him?
If he chooses a different path, I'd appreciate a letter of recommendation from you. As his temporary guardian, I should maintain some distance.
Certainly. If he's qualified for an internship, should I recommend him to the Construct Maintenance Department?
No, he should avoid this field entirely. He shouldn't have anything to do with Constructs, M.I.N.D., or anything related.
I thought you craved the thrill of self-sacrifice, always yearning to save people on the ground. I never expected you to be so invested in something like this.
You're right, I was planning to volunteer for ground missions before Wanxu entrusted the child to me.
But seeing children... having them around... It's completely different.
You want to protect them until they can stand on their own. Chiron, only then do you truly understand the preciousness of watching a child grow up—knowing how many never get the chance.
Melvie's tenderness is unexpected. Chiron wonders if her time in pediatrics has changed her.
You'd do anything to protect them, even if it means facing the worst. Their futures are bright, and anyone who threatens them... they're all jerks.
I don't understand. When we started using children in experiments, we lost our future. Our civilization is doomed. Even the children raised in the "Greenhouse" and the "Garden" offer no hope.
That's not an option.
Don't think this is virtue signaling, even if you don't understand it now...
One day, you'll see Wanshi grow up, and you'll see the next generation of children. Then you'll understand.
It was a beautiful morning.
The Star of Life welcomes new talent... All of you are elites of the medical school...
Uhh...
Wan—shi—! How dare you sleep on a day like this?
Wake up and listen to the department introductions properly! Don't go picking some weird department without thinking it through.
Natalie vigorously shakes Wanshi's shoulders, drawing the attention of students in the seats around them.
Yawn... I was doing some practice questions last night... Which department did you apply for?
I want to go into pediatrics, but my preliminary exam results were just average. Not sure if they'll take me... I might have to rotate through other departments instead.
One by one, professors from each department take the stage to outline their internship programs.
Wow, look at all those credentials... I wonder if I'll ever become someone like that...
Natalie's eyes sparkle with enthusiasm. The hairpin she received from the Cultivation Center still adorns her hair, showing signs of age.
Wanshi types on the terminal, occasionally glancing at Natalie. When Natalie notices, he quietly puts the terminal away.
Why do you keep staring at me? Just spit it out!
It's nothing much... I just wanted to ask which department you're thinking of joining...
That's definitely not what you wanted to ask! You've already dedicated your heart and soul to the noble pursuit of medicine!
Natalie makes an exaggerated gesture of offering oneself to the heavens, arms raised dramatically.
Who asked exactly? You're a terrible liar. Everyone can see it on your face.
Fine, it was Pelo. But keep my name out of it.
When did Pelo ask you to speak to me?
Six months ago
Six months ago... he asked you to check on my preferred assignments, but he hasn't even sent me a personal message. All I get are those group messages.
He's been busy lately. I heard the elite squad is recruiting, and he's interested in joining.
Oh, please. You're only interested in Star of Life because of Aunt Melvie. But what about him? He's off fighting a war, risking his life?
He...
I know. You don't need to tell me.
Let's keep listening to the professor.
The professor of the final department slowly makes his way to the stage, looking down at the sea of fresh faces before him.
I am Professor Chiron, Head of the Construct Maintenance Department.
All eyes in the room fix upon the gaunt professor.
Those of you interested in interning at the Construct Maintenance Department should be mentally prepared for what's ahead.
You must steel yourself to witness death regularly. Your mental fortitude may need to surpass even that of the Constructs themselves.
...
Chiron studies the faces before him—young and curious, most of them knowing little about Constructs.
Chiron holds no expectations.
Working in Construct Maintenance has never been a desirable position. Like every year, this department will likely attract no volunteers—he'll just wait for the list of students reassigned here.
Professor, I have a question.
But this year is different. His attention is drawn to a young man in the crowd, whose friends keep nudging him while whispering amongst themselves.
This young man, with heavy dark circles under his eyes, is the same boy who, during career track selection, had indignantly shoved Chiron's "recommendation" back across the table.
His features have softened from their youthful tension, his shoulders broader than before—all traces of childhood gone. Chiron can't help but study these obvious changes, realizing this is no longer the same boy who had once stubbornly insisted on searching for Wanxu on the ground.
The young man makes that most timeless of human gestures—raising his hand high into the air.
Professor Chiron, you're one of the authors of the medical school textbooks. I would like to ask why you haven't updated the treatment plans for the latest Construct models this year, when you usually do so promptly?
You're the one who scored highest on this year's basic certification exam?
I am.
We've made some changes to how we revise textbooks this year. Feel free to stop by my office if you have any questions.
Chiron delivers these final words and steps down from the podium.
For the first time, someone watches Chiron go, their gaze lingering long after he leaves the room.
For the first time, someone actually seeks him out for advice on Construct maintenance.
Wanshi, you should consider an internship at Star of Life.
Which department interests you? Just not Construct Maintenance.
Just not Construct Maintenance?
So I was your first choice?
The young man falls silent for a moment, lost in thought. Then, he gives his reply.
Yes, I wanted to work in Construct Maintenance first, and Pediatrics second. I even interned in the Neonatal Unit. Well... I'm happy to work anywhere I can help people.
Professor, I want to go to the Star of Life—I want to save lives.
When Wanshi's golden eyes meet his, Chiron finally grasps the meaning of Melvie's words.
Despite the uncertainties that lie ahead, these young people remain dedicated to their current responsibilities.
They work tirelessly, their future brimming with promise as they pave their own way.
They deserve to be "raised up".
The lights cast a dim glow in the night.
Chiron paces the hallway for hours, restless. He finally decides to head back to the maintenance room, hoping against hope that Wanshi's plan might somehow save that "girl".
Rounding the corner, he's met with a surprising sight: a group of doctors are lounging on the floor, chatting amongst themselves, instead of tending to the restrained "test subjects".
Hmm... Wanshi, you wouldn't believe the types you find here in the maintenance room of Constructs. Some are just in it for the military perks, and others see it as a stepping stone to a job at Cosmos Industries... Plenty of people talk about saving Constructs, but few are willing to put in the work.
Yeah, I got it.
I once saw a child in tears, pleading for their Construct mother to wake up... The emotional impact was devastating. I almost transferred out that very day.
The assistant avoids Wanshi's gaze, the memory still vivid. Those fragmented pleas... He lived in constant fear that that child, with hair the color of bruised plums, would appear at his door one day, asking for a mother.
Tragically, the child met the same fate as the Construct mother—death.
Constructs are frontline soldiers, Wanshi. The damage we see here is far beyond anything a human doctor would ever encounter. No wonder most people can't handle it for long.
We've never had a case like this before.
Not only did you give up a promising career in pediatrics, but you genuinely treat maintaining Constructs as if you're healing patients.
Take tonight, for example. Everyone was ready to abandon hope... even Professor Chiron.
If Constructs ever stand as equals with humans one day, you'll certainly be remembered as one of the most earnest pioneers who made it possible.
Wanshi listens quietly to the assistant's words.
Um... it's not quite like what you're saying. I just... want to save everyone, that's all.
Wanshi?
Oh, Professor... you're still here.
The doctors fall silent as the professor approaches.
How's the patient?
They point towards the maintenance room, their eyes lighting up.
The maintenance room door remains closed, and the only sound is the steady beeping of equipment.
We've done our part. The module repairs can be left to the next shift.
Let's take a break. This is our first time handling a case like this... Say, Wanshi, if you're planning to publish a paper on this, mind adding me as a co-author?
...
In the light, Chiron observes them. Everyone else is roughly Wanshi's age—a generation raised in the gilded cage of Babylonia's artificial prosperity, except for the assistant.
Chiron struggles to find the words, his lips trembling slightly.
What is there to say?
Should he confess that his long-lost faith, courage, and hope for humanity has been rekindled by what he once considered a lost cause?
Or that he finally understands—there are countless Melvies, dismissed as fools, who dedicate their lives to nurturing... to raising up the next generation of humanity?
A thought consumes him, growing larger with every passing second.
He has kept Babylonia's secret about Recall for years. Every attempt to confirm it has led him to the same chilling truth: it's a lie.
He never tried to expose the truth, believing it would be futile. He thought nothing would ever change.
But Wanshi... this child is opening his eyes to new possibilities.
What if... he allows Wanshi to forge his own path?
Will Wanshi repeat their mistakes? Will he follow in their footsteps?
Will he make the same choices?
Will he ultimately meet the same end?
...
Professor, you should get some rest. We'll head back to the dormitory soon.
The assistant and others rush to help Wanshi to his feet.
Wait, Wanshi. Can you stay for a moment?
Huh?
I need to talk to you. Come to my office.
Chiron turns and leads Wanshi into the silent night.
It was the moment that shattered the silent night.
The whistleblowers have been arrested. We're now examining the captured human for injuries.
I can't believe a professor would do something like this.
From the prison transport, Chiron watches Wanshi walk away from the airdrop platform, a free man.
He raises a finger to his lips, signaling silence.
He must take the fall. Wanshi must remain free.
He told the truth about the Recall to Wanshi that day in the office. Wanshi was clearly in denial—he probably didn't even register the last few words.
The Recall Project was officially disbanded years ago. Every single team was shut down. The rumors of its success? A collective lie, carefully crafted to maintain social order.
Wanshi.
You're like a newborn, untouched by the world, pure in your essence.
Melvie once called you "redemption for many". I never meant to hurt you, Wanshi. I simply wanted to see what you were capable of.
Blinding light fills the room as Chiron enters, momentarily disorienting him.
Ugh...
The intense light and the surge of excitement transport him back to the fire at the Zelenograd Laboratory.
"What a glorious day"...
Several "staff members" enter the room, their eyes fixed on the traitor who tried to expose the truth about Recall.
How will I die?
If I had a choice, I'd rather die from overwork.
