Dream Remedy

Whoaaaaaa! Future cities are huuuuuge!!!

It's amazing, right? I still haven't gotten used to it myself.

This place has the biggest buildings you'll ever see, carriages that move by themselves... There are just so many marvels of engineering to see here.

I wonder what kinds of medicine they've managed to develop...

I guess as a healer that would be pretty interesting to you, huh Sazanca? Do you make medicine yourself?

Of course! And I'm always testing out new ingredients for their potential uses.

I want to create a world without death, and that means I have to make the most of every opportunity I get.

Haha! Well, we're all counting on you.

Somebody! Anybody! We need help over here!

That doesn't sound good...

We'd better go check it out.

Hey, is everything, , Wh-What happened here?! You're wounded!

I'll be fine, but my friend, he...

Leave it to me!

How're you feeling now? You're still feverish and that blow is gonna leave a nasty bruise, but the herbs I picked up outside Ratle should help both symptoms.

Y-Yeah... I can already feel it working.

Thank you so much! We were so lucky a doctor was close by.

Wanna tell us exactly what happened?

We got into a scrap with a synth, that's what. It was too much for us and we had to retreat.

We were so close to taking it down, too...

I see... Well I'm just glad you're safe. That's what's most important.

Are you sure you're alright, though? It looks like you got wounded, too...

I did, but luckily I had some stanching salve and analgesics to treat myself. Problem was we didn't have enough left over for him.

..."Stenching salve"? "Angel sticks"?

Never heard of 'em! You've got some pretty interesting names for medicine in the future, huh?

Huh? The future? I don't know about that, but some of the medicine used by synth hunters like us isn't available on the open market. Maybe that's why you haven't heard of them.

Any idea where I could get some? I'd love to try out that salve...

Huh? But you aren't even wounded...

No problem there! I can just make a small incision on my forearm, and...

You can't be serious!

But the curiosity will keep me up at night if I don't test it out...

Forget it! There's no way I'm allowing you to hurt yourself just to test out some medicine.

Hey! Don't be like that!

You've gotta test this kinda stuff to see if there are any harmful side effects! I do it all the time with my herbs!

Oh, you're researching herbal medicine? I could see how that would be important when you're working with natural ingredients.

But like I said before, that medicine isn't available to the general public. It won't be easy to get your hands on. Supposedly there's an old shipping container in the Industrial Ruins that's full of the stuff, but...

, How do we get there?

It's west of the city, out past Route 99. But the thing is...

Root ninety-nine! Got it! I'll be right back!

H-Hey! Where are you going?! It's dangerous to go alone!

Hey! Wait a second!

You sure it's alright to let them go? That place is crawling with synths...

That's what I was trying to tell them... The one that attacked us might even still be there.

Well, we owe 'em one for helping us out. Let's back the good doctor up, shall we?

This is a lot different from that other city, huh... Preeetty dark around here...and scary.

Wh-What the, ?! What the heck kinda bug is this?!

INTRUDER! INTRUDER! NOW ENTERING ALERT STATUS!

D-D-Did it just t-t-talk?!

TARGET THREAT ASSESSMENT: HOSTILE SWITCHING TO ATTACK MODE!

Somebody save meeeeeeeee!!!

...They really got me good. It's going to take time to recover.

, GYAAAAAAH!!!

Lifeform detected?! Damn! Are they already here?! I don't even have enough time to hide!

Huff...puff... This should be...far enough... Wheeze...

EEEEEEK!!! Now what?!

I've gotta stand and fight... I don't have a choice!

It's no good... My legs refuse to move... I must've pushed myself too hard earlier. I guess this is the end...

U-Uh... Are you...wounded?

Huh?

It looks pretty bad... But don't worry! I can patch you up!

S-Stay back!

H-Huh?! How am I supposed to help you, then?!

Aren't you scared of me?

Well, I mean, you DO look a little scary, but...

...The idea of leaving you to die of those wounds is a whole lot scarier if you ask me.

You're pretty strange for a human...

Anyhow, I'm starting treatment. I brought plenty of medicine.

Did you hit your head on the way here or something? What good is human medicine to me?!

C'mon, don't be like that. This powder here is more powerful than you think. You'll be good as new in no time!

It comes from a mineral commonly found in the Vasu Mountains. I've tested it plenty of times on myself, so there nothing to worry about, promise.

Hmmm... It doesn't look dangerous...

Of course it's not! Why would I try to hurt someone who's injured?!

You really don't know anything, do you? Look, that medicine isn't going to help me. Our bodies are totally different from humans.

Then what do you usually do when you get hurt?

We don't "get hurt" so much as we get damaged. When that happens we have to either repair or replace our components.

Kam-poh-nents?

Our body parts basically. We can replace them with new ones whenever they break.

Seriously?! That's actually possible?!

Well, I'm a mass production unit, so it is for me. It wouldn't be so simple for a specialized unit.

W-Wow! That's amazing! You're basically immortal!

Hmmm, I'm not sure that's the word I'd use...

Think of all the secrets I could learn from that body of yours!

Please! You gotta help me out here! Lemme examine your body! For science!

Hey, keep your hands to yourself! I don't know how much I trust you yet.

...This is bad. I can't repair it. I'd need a full replacement.

You'll be okay though, right?

Not really. My leg motor is completely wrecked. I was hoping a simple repair kit would do the trick, but the entire circuit board is fried. There's probably a replacement somewhere here in the ruins, but I can't go find it if I can't walk.

So if you can get this "circus board" or whatever you'll be okay? Want me to go find it for you?

Why would you do that for me?

Because I'm fighting for a world where no one has to die anymore, and that includes you.

Now where can I find this kam-poh-nent?

Through the door over there in a container in Area B.

Perfect! Then I'm on the hunt!

...She IS a human, right?

Sazanca! Where are you?!

There she is! Hey! Sazanca! Over here!

Aldo! Finally caught up, did you?

I was really worried when you ran off alone like that, you know.

Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you.

Are you still planning to go further in?

Yeah. There's somebody who needs my help.

Like who?

I found someone who was injured and couldn't move, so I agreed to find something for them.

Apparently it's some kinda crazy medicine that will heal them instantly! Amazing, right?!

Ah, so that's what happened. Well we better hurry up and find it, then.

This place is pretty dangerous, so how about you let me take the lead from here?

Sure thing! Thanks, Aldo!

So what kind of medicine did they ask for exactly?

Ummm, I think they called it a "circus board" or something like that.

Huh? What does the circus have to do with medicine?

Dunno, but they said it would make them good as new.

It's incredible, isn't it?! This future medicine is really a dream come true! I'm so glad you brought me here.

S-Sure. I'm happy if you're happy.

They said it would be in a container around here somewhere...

Well, there's a lot of random junk in here. Did they tell you anything more specific?

Hmmm, what was it they said again? ...Huh?

WHOA! Look at that!

What is it?!

This one is full of clear bottles!

This stuff has gotta be future medicine, right?! I should try it out!

Let's see here... Spindle oil... Cylinder oil...

Nah, this definitely isn't medicine. ...And it smells terrible.

Sniff, sniff... Aww, c'mon! It's not THAT bad!

Doesn't even hold a candle to the nutritional supplements I make with coelus liver and snot nose milk!

I'd rather not even know...

With great risk, comes great reward! ...FOR SCIENCE!!!

H-Hey! Don't, !

...... Wh-What is this stuff?

It tastes pretty bad, but well, the stronger the taste the stronger the effect I suppose...

Are you...okay?

...UrRRrrrGGgLe!

I knew it! This is bad! You've gotta get it out of your system!

I-I think I'm gonna barf!

TARGET ACQUIRED! NEUTRALIZING!

Gyaaaaaahhh! Why does it have to be noooooow?!

Uh-oh!

There you are!

You're those two from before...

Yeah. We were worried, so we followed you.

...And it looks like it's a good thing we did.

Urgggh... My stomach...

She drank some kind of oil she found in the container!

Poor thing! Here, take some of my stomach meds.

Phew... That was close. Thanks!

I can't believe such a tiny little pill could be such an effective delivery system! This is going to revolutionize the future of medicine!

Uhh, I'm pretty sure pills have been around for centuries at this point...

, Wait a second! You're already better?!

Yeah, my body's used to this kinda thing. I have to try out a lot of suspicious stuff during my research.

O-Oh, is that so...

That's right! But I'm always up for a challenge, even if it backfires more often than I'd like to admit...

But hey, failure has it's own lessons to teach, right?

With passion like that I wouldn't be surprised to see your research lead to a medical breakthrough one day.

Thanks for helping us out there.

No problem. Were you attacked?

Oh, you better believe I was attacked! Those bug things are all over the place in here!

They scream incomprehensible stuff at you as they chase you around... It's terrifying...

Oh, those? Those are security search bits. They can be pretty dangerous.

Now let's get out of here before the synths find us.

Cynths? What's that?

Huh? How could you not know what a synth is?

Uh, er, umm... Well, you see, Sazanca's from out of town, and...

All you need to know is that they're dangerous, they hate humans, and it's our job to hunt them down.

Sounds scary...but I met someone that got hurt in here. I agreed to find them some kam-poh-nents, so I can't go home before that.

Someone was injured? What do they need the components for?

I dunno, they just said something about a "circus board".

Ah, a circuit board. Most vehicles need them to operate in conjunction with their motors, so I'm guessing they need it to escape.

I see. That explains why you were digging around the containers, then.

Here. These should be what you're looking for.

Oooh! So this is the miracle medicine that person told me about!

Medicine? Well, yeah, I guess to a machine this would be something like medicine.

I'm an experienced mechanic, so I might be able to help you out with whatever it is you want to repair. Can you take me there?

Sure, thanks for offering! Let's go!

...How long am I really planning to wait here?

What am I thinking trusting a human? For all I know she could have just gone to look for her comrades so they can destroy me.

We're baaaaaack! I got the kam-poh-nents you were looking for!

And you better appreciate it, too! There were all these horrible bugs chasing me around, and...

Y-You really came back... Maybe it's time I started rethinking some things.

Huh? What do you mean?

...From the very beginning I had doubts about fighting the humans. Now that I know there are people like you out there, people who don't hate us and only want to help us, maybe that's enough for me.

Sorry, but I'm a little lost. Did you get in a fight with someone?

Yeah, but I didn't start it. The humans came for me, and I fought back in self-defense. I realize now that might not have been the best decision. I think I might finally be able to start believing in humans a little more...

Get away from that thing!

Hunters?! But why?!

Sazanca! Are you alright?! Did it hurt you?!

Huh? No... What's your problem? What're you drawing your weapons for?

Everyone needs to just calm down. Now's not the time to be fighting amongst ourselves.

This place is dangerous. There are all these weird bug things and supposedly there's even something called a "cynth" lurking around. They're bad and they attack people.

So let's just get you patched up and get out of here, okay?

Get ahold of yourself, doc! That thing IS a synth!!!

YOU! You tricked me! I can't believe I was stupid enough to trust a human!

Whaaat?! I didn't trick you! This has gotta be some kinda misunderstanding!

It disgusts me to have to stoop this low, but...you leave me no choice.

LISTEN UP! Don't you dare take another step or the girl gets it! Don't blame me if I have to...k-kill her...

WHAAAAAAT?! I just saved you and now you're gonna kill me?! What a jerk!

Damn... Now what?

Eeek!!! It's those stupid bugs again!!!

When it rains it pours!

Could their timing be any worse...

SITUATIONAL ANALYSIS: ALLIED UNIT IS ASSISTING INTRUDERS. REGISTERING AS DEFECTOR...

ELIMINATING TARGETS!

Whoa-whoa-whoa! Hold on a second!

Did that thing just protect Sazanca?

But why would a synth, ?!

...I was never planning to hurt you. I'll buy you some time, so get out of here!

No way! You're coming with us!

I'm afraid that's not possible. My legs have been completely destroyed.

TARGET SURVIVAL CONFIRMED! RE-ENGAGING!

Here it comes!

If he can't get away then he really might die this time...

...And there's NO WAY I'm gonna let that happen! I'll take these things down, so just try and hold out a little longer!

It's over...

We'll deal with the synth ourselves. You two should get out of here.

Deal with it how?

We'll disassemble it and then scrap the parts. That way it can't pose a danger to us anymore.

Th-That's so cruel! How could you?!

What are you saying? We're doing this for your safety, too, you know.

Forget it! It's not happening! I'm saving him, and that's that!

I get it. You take a lot of pride in your work as a doctor. But that thing attacked us, remember? Who's going to take responsibility if it hurts someone again?

He didn't attack you, he was attacked BY you! He told me that he was only acting in self-defense.

And now you want to tear it apart while it's too weak to fight back?! It's just wrong!

...I'm with Sazanca on this one. Think you can let him go?

You can't be serious...

I promise I'll save you. This is the kam-poh-nent you needed, right? Let's see... Where should I... Oh, whatever! I've just gotta do it!

Hey! He's starting to move!

Never thought I'd see the day I got repaired by a human. I owe you one.

...We can't just let that thing go! It's too dangerous!

I'M dangerous?! YOU'RE the one's who tried to kill me!!!

STOOOP! Whatever happened between you in the past should stay in the past!

Look. One mistake doesn't have to be the end of everything. You can fix this, and even if it doesn't work out right away, you can always keep trying.

, But that's only if you're still alive to do it.

......

...Let's just go.

, But!

I'd have been dead without her help. We owe her at least this much.

...Alright.

I'm sorry... Thank you.

Just doin' my job. But where will you go?

...Deep in the ruins, I guess. I'll need to lay low for a while.

Well... Be careful.

The world would be a better place if there were more people like you in it. That goes for both the human world and the synth's.

Equal treatment for all, huh? You're a good healer, Sazanca.

No one deserves to die, and I'll do whatever it takes to make sure they don't.

Well said.

Come to think of it, didn't we come here to find medicine? Did you find what you were looking for?

Urk... I forgot all about that. We didn't find a single thing...

But I did learn something suuuuuuper interesting!

Oh yeah? Like what?

I found myself a whole new topic of research!

I'm gonna try to find out how to turn myself into a cynth!

...Please tell me I misheard that.

Did you know that cynths can change out their body parts when they get sick? How cool is that?!

They're basically immortal!

I wouldn't go that far. I've had plenty of run-ins with the synths before, and I don't think it's nearly as simple as you're making it sound.

It's gonna be amazing! It's basically a miracle cure! It's gonna move medical science forward by generations! I can't wait to get started!

...Well, I guess I might as well let her dream...

UGYAAAAAAHHH!!! WHY ARE YOU STILL HERE?!

Not again!!! Hold on, Sazanca! I'm coming!