Raidian (6-star)

[Code Name] Raidian

[Gender] Female

[Combat Experience] 10 Years

[Place of Birth] Ursus

[Date of Birth] Feb 21

[Race] Liberi

[Height] 159cm

[Infection Status]

Originium crystals distributed across surface of body, confirmed Infected by medical examination.

[Physical Strength] Normal

[Mobility] Standard

[Physical Resilience] Standard

[Tactical Acumen] Excellent

[Combat Skill] Excellent

[Originium Arts Assimilation] Excellent

Elite Operator Raidian previously worked on communications support for Babel, and led the establishment of Rhodes Island's communications system, providing the necessary framework support.

Imaging tests show the indistinct outlines of internal organs, obscured by abnormal shadows. Originium granules detected in the circulatory system. The subject is confirmed to be infected with Oripathy.

[Cell-Originium Assimilation] 5%

Originium crystals can be observed on the surface of Operator Raidian's body.

[Blood Originium-Crystal Density] 0.19u/L

Under normal circumstances, Operator Raidian diligently follows the Medical Department's instructions in taking her medication and using her Arts in moderation, providing a sterling example for other operators to follow... Under normal circumstances, that is.

[Operator Raidian's Personal Profile]

Native of Ursus, Elite Operator of Rhodes Island. Able to perceive electrical signals through Originium Arts.

Current scope of duties includes communications, intelligence processing, and field operations. Noted for her gentle and polite demeanor.

Graduated early from Marynin Girls' High School to study neuroscience at the University of Deity Grypherburg. Regularly participated in research and fieldwork during her studies.

[Permission verified... full profile unlocked]

[Ursus Patrol Unit Report (Fragment)]

Serafina Ivanovna Petrova is no longer in Ursus territory.

Investigation and a raid on Petrova's residence has confirmed that she is in dereliction of her duties and expresses clear sympathies for the Infected. She had ■■■■■ assisted ■■■■■.

Documents retrieved during the raid reveal that Petrova made contact with Leithanien five months ago and formalized their cooperation one and a half months ago, in exchange for a safe escape.

[Audio Log]

'Petrova? I think I remember the name...'

'Ah, yes—the girl from Ursus!'

(Rustling of clothes. The speaker seems to have shifted postures.)

'She always had a smile on her face, even when she was fleeing Ursus. (A soft sigh.) I had... some personal connections that got me work from the Kurfürst, which involved sneaking her out from right under the nose of the Patrol Unit in exchange for some sort of list she had.

'Wasn't an easy job, but it wasn't the first time either.

'Still... she was a little different. When we were at the border, she spent a long time looking back. I asked her if she missed her home, but she said she was thinking of her old workplace—weird, isn't it? Who on Terra would love their work that much?

'Never mind. I guess she was a workaholic. She did well in Leithanien. Maybe the best of anyone I've smuggled. She fit in well in Leithanien, but she didn't like the place.

'The last time I saw her, she was with a group of refugees heading to Kazdel...'

(Brief silence)

'I don't know why she gave up a nice apartment to get mixed up with a bunch of refugees. It's not exactly an easy path, and I wouldn't be there to escort her... There were rumors later that she joined some group by the name of 'Babel'. Not sure if they're true or not.

'But she never really cared where she lived. She was like that since her Ursus days.

'Strange girl, really.'

[Operator Registration Update]

Operator Raidian originally joined Babel at the invitation of Theresa while in Kazdel. She provided invaluable communications support to Babel units on Kazdelian battlefields, at great burden to herself, significantly increasing Babel's operational flexibility.

Raidian stayed at Rhodes Island after the Babel Incident, and began participating in field operations at Whitesmith's recommendation, joining the ranks of Rhodes Island's first elite operators.

Overall, there were two causes for the incident.

The first was the suspension of the stool races due to both the dangers and the toll they were taking on the work stools, resulting in a void in entertainment offerings.

The second was the increase in gatherings for dining and drinking amongst the elite operators. While there is always someone or other away on a mission, these gatherings are highly valued by the operators.

Sometimes bets are made over a drink, usually involving some sort of skill contest. Some are fine, some are silly, absurd and inexplicable. The latter kind always sees more participants, and it is more likely that someone will lose their heads, causing things to spiral out of control.

Blaze shouted her approval when Mechanist proposed an unconventionally-powered robot arena for the third time. Misery pondered the idea quietly, shifting his eyes between a bottle and the ground, but Raidian put a hand on the three of them—at the same time—before Misery could do anything.

One of the perks of having four hands, apparently. A witness recalls that she even used her fourth hand to flip the meat on the grill and put it on Mantra's plate.

'The meat's getting burnt,' she said.

'I have a better game for you, if you really want to play...' She continued, 'A competition that involves philosophy, fate, probability, and challenging yourself.'

No one knew if she was drunk. She continued to wear her familiar smile, with no change in her complexion.

Was she drunk? The rest exchanged glances in silence, trying to get their alcohol-addled brains spinning... Could it be? That Raidian, who always unfailingly delivers drunkards to their dorm rooms after a long night of partying, and provides them hangover patches the next day?

Mechanist coughed and asked her what she had in mind. She drew back all her hands and said, dead-pan, 'Rock-paper-scissors. Loser has to write mission reports for the winner, for a week.'

It was only when someone lost eight times in a row despite showing nothing but rock that people began to suspect that something was not right. Was she using her Arts? Did their bioelectrical signals betray their own thoughts?

Finally, the long-awaited scissors appeared.

'Hehe...' She leaned back against her chair, her speech slightly slurred. She was undoubtedly drunk. 'I... win... yay...!'

[Maintenance Log, Dendie and Axie]

Feb 11. Dendie submitted for inspection.

Request: The bearing on the second joint of Dendie's middle finger is not moving smoothly. There seems to be some kind of foreign object, possibly gravel or broken glass. Please be careful of sharp objects when performing maintenance.

Engineering Comment: Examination complete. Broken glass removed from joint. Did this have something to do with the beaker explosion at the lab yesterday? You didn't have to get involved... However, the auto-adjustment function of the robotic arm, designed to keep it from getting stuck, didn't seem to be working. You should bring Axie in too when you have time.

Feb 13. Axie submitted for inspection.

Request: Brought Axie as requested.

Engineering Comment: Done. Also lubricated the joints so it'll stop making that creaking noise.

Request: Come to think of it, I'm naturally right-handed... Maybe that's caused more wear and tear on Axie. Perhaps I should add another right hand to make things a little easier for it...

Engineering Comment: Four arms are not enough for you? The best you can do, IMO, is stop taking on too much missions.

Mar 20. Dendie and Axie's regular checkup.

Request: Haven't had any tough missions lately, so I haven't brought them in for a while. Thank goodness—I feel like I've been troubling you too much last month. Anyway, I'm going to make a report now and I'll just leave the gift on your desk. Happy birthday.

Engineering Comment: I'm sixteen! I'm not a little girl anymore and I don't need storybooks! Fine. Never mind. The repairs are done, and I put the stickers that Rosmontis left on it. I also applied special tempered films on the stickers so they won't peel off and are waterproof now. Even a direct hit by a bullet would only leave a small dent.

Mar 27. Feature upgrade for Dendie and Axie.

Engineering Comment: I'll come and get Dendie and Axie from you tomorrow.

Engineering Comment: You said you wanted to add a bubble spray to the medicine dispenser? I didn't have time back then, but now I have an idea...

Engineering Comment: By the way, it's not a thank-you gift for that storybook!

Request: Generally speaking, efficiency and clarity is expected in communications, but I still manage to understand what you mean.

A child once asked Raidian, 'Can you hear my thoughts through electrical signals?'

It is a question that many have asked, if not out loud. In theory, they might understand that electrical signals do not communicate the finer nuances of thought and emotion, but this question keeps popping up from the bottom of their hearts, as irrational as it may be.

'Of course not.' Raidian crouches down before the child as she examines the knee they had accidentally scraped. 'It's nothing that powerful. I'm not a mind reader, you know?'

'But you can always tell where I am, and what I need. When I'm sad, you always find me and try to make me feel better.' The child gazes at her, eyes wide open.

They used to call her 'Mind Reader' behind her back, those who feared her.

She had her own room in the interrogation department during her time in Ursus. Guards would bring her 'suspicious individuals', and they would tremble in their chair as though facing a monster. She would then close her eyes and feel the chaotic electrical signals dart through the room, flashing like a screen full of static.

Anxiety, high adrenaline levels, increased body temperature, unsteady electrical signals.

It's fear... no. Don't speculate on emotions. Analyze information. Determine truth from falsehood. Focus on facts, not feelings. That was her job. She was no 'Mind Reader', but the military's lie detector, a convenient tool.

Raidian opened her eyes and saw the old woman cowering in her chair, coughing, trying to pull at her hand. She could sense the old woman's facial muscles twitching, and tears flowing through the valleys formed by the wrinkles on her face.

'She's telling the truth,' said Raidian. 'She doesn't know where those Infected are.'

For the first time, she decided to be 'Raidian', not 'Mind Reader', not a lie detector.

'I don't need to be able to read minds for that,' said Raidian, as she wrapped the scraped knee in bandages. 'I notice what you need, how you feel, and everything else, because I care about you.'

'Come on, let's head to Medical together.' She stood up and gave the child a hand.

'But... weren't you going to check on the medicine in the mailroom?'

'There's no rush. We'll go to Medical first.'

They walked in the direction of the Medical Department. Behind them, Rhodes Island-stamped packages were stacked up in the waiting area, including personal letters, commercial goods, private documents, supplies for trading, and humanitarian donations.

They all had a destination and a recipient, be it Columbia, Kjerag, Rim Billiton, or Ursus.

Welcome back, Doctor.

Perhaps you'll be surprised to read this card. Perhaps your long slumber has clouded your mind, making you forget your name and where you are. There is no need to worry. Trust that this is a place you built, where you once stood, with people who stood side-by-side with you. People who share your ideals... people who miss you.

Your slippers are on the left side of the bed. Your favorite bedtime book is in the drawer on the left. If you have headaches or nightmares, there is powdered hot chocolate in the drawer under the nightstand. They always help.

I'll have someone leave this card in your room, perhaps with a flower. I know you would probably prefer a snack—like a box of cookies or some liqueur-filled chocolates. Well, I do worry about your dietary habits, but I'll leave one of those two for you.

Try to exercise self-restraint and spread it out over a number of days, rather than finish it all in one go.

Anyway, I'm glad you're back. That's all I wanted to say—welcome back, Doctor.

—Raidian

You find this card on your desk along with a dried flower, a box of liqueur-filled chocolate, a box of butter cookies, and a small jar of sugar cubes.