Lucy: Pedra from the St. Pavlov Foundation has passed down an order to the LSCC.
Lucy: We need to release Jerry Wilson, Mesmer Jr.
Mesmer Jr.: Is that part of the plan?
Her question is neutral, her expression unchanged.
Lucy: Their statement read, "Please release Jerry Wilson at the appointed time as per the St. Pavlov Foundation's request," so I believe it is.
Lucy: You seem a little puzzled.
Mesmer Jr.: I'm not.
Mesmer Jr.: It's just that I have quite a few matters to deal with. But I'll be sure to follow their request.
Mesmer Jr.: I'll take my leave now, Madam Lucy.
She closes the door, her footsteps hurried.
Lucy: ...
Lucy: Did I understand her incorrectly, Simone? Was she not "inconsistent" with her usual self?
Assistant Simone: You're right, Madam Lucy.
Assistant Simone: Something was a little off.
Lucy: Yes. She seemed to be expressing what we call "emotion"—surprising. I always considered Mesmer Jr. to be an employee who followed logic and reason.
People are still hauling broken machines around the rehabilitation center. It is a chaotic scene.
Mesmer Jr.: This will need to be submitted to the LSCC for further dismantling. Its recyclability is questionable.
Mesmer Jr.: And please, don't let Medicine Pocket find out about this machine. I'm not filing another secondary accident report on their behalf.
LSCC Staff Member: Understood, Ms. Mesmer Jr. Alright, folks, let's get this thing into storage before they see it.
Before long, all the machines in the corridor have been cleared.
Mesmer Jr. sits on a chair, taking in the emptiness.
There is no ticking, no beeping, no steady breathing. The new receptionist sits at the counter.
Mesmer Jr.: ...
Patient Cobb: I stepped into that same river three times.
Mesmer Jr.: ?
Cobb's voice echoes from a nearby ward.
Patient Cobb: By the second time, people had quit leavin' their homeland. The tailor started weavin', and the blacksmith lit up his forge once again.
Patient Cobb: I sold the foal and my lover's jewelry and went back to that river.
Patient Cobb: Without a penny to my name, I scraped that riverbed—tore my flesh and nails apart for my dyin' lover.
Patient Cobb: One grain, two grains—there wasn't much gold left in that barren land.
Patient Cobb: The townsfolk all said that Little Cobb had become Old Cobb.
Patient Cobb: Yeah. He sure did. There weren't no Little Cob no more.
...
Jerry Wilson: I warned you! I warned you all!!
Blood laced the shattered glass in his hand. It wasn't his.
Dorothea: splutter
The point of the shard was dug deep into her neck, blood pouring down it and over Jerry's clenched fingers.
Mesmer Jr.: Dorothea!!
Jerry Wilson: Just let me out of here, and no one gets hurt! You! You heartless bastards!
Jerry Wilson: You Foundation fools want me to obey, follow your orders, be a boot-licking dog!
Jerry Wilson: But not one of you has ever accepted a single one of my requests! So let this damn human murderer pay with her blood!
Security personnel closed in on him.
Mesmer Jr.: I-I don't understand. All that has nothing to do with us! We're only responsible for your treatment!
Jerry Wilson: So let's make a deal.
The man stepped back, suddenly realizing that his foot had been bound by a wire.
Security Personnel: Now!
COMBAT
The gurney carrying Dorothea was rushed down the corridor.
Mesmer Jr.: Dorothea! Dr. Dorothea!!
The child paced beside the gurney, her chest soaked with blood.
Rehab Center Staff Member Danny: Her vital signs are weakening. She needs a blood transfusion immediately!
Rehab Center Staff Member Danny: Damn it! Why'd he have to wake up now? We don't have the staff to deal with this.
Rehab Center Staff Member Danny: Fisher! Fisher!! Get another surgical team over here, now!
"Could you ... reduce the dose of the anesthetics today? I think I'm ready to dream."
"Let him dream."
Mesmer Jr.: ...!
It was supposed to be a quiet night.
Dorothea: cough Junior ...
Her voice was weak, her lips trembling.
Mesmer Jr.: Dr. Dorothea? Danny! Danny, she's regained consciousness!
Dorothea: Come ... closer ... cough I ...
The squeaking of the turning wheels and the fervent chatter in the room drowned out her weak voice.
Mesmer Jr.: Stop talking, Dr. Dorothea! Your throat ...
Dorothea: N-No, child, come closer.
Mesmer Jr. leaned close.
Only she could hear what she would say next.
...
Rehab Center Staff Member Danny: Mesmer Jr., we need to enter the operating room.
Rehab Center Staff Member Danny: You have to let go of her!
The gurney slammed through the operating room doors.
As the doors closed behind them, Mesmer Jr. was left alone on the other side.
Mesmer Jr.: No! No!!
Tears poured down her face as she collapsed to the ground.
After a long while, a comforting hand rested on her shoulder.
Rehab Center Staff Member Will: What did she say?
She didn't respond. She just silently watched the flashing red light.
A stack of medical records and consent forms lie on Mesmer Jr.'s lap.
The room is silent. She is alone.
Mesmer Jr.: Jerry Wilson ...
Her pen pauses.
She stares at that name in silence.
Then signs her name at the bottom.