Arknights story · Critical Phase Transition
17-7 Unbalanced Reason
As Amiya searches for medicine, she is led to a patient suffering from an unknown illness by an unfamiliar creature. She brings the patient to the local clinic and encounters Hierda there.
1 scenes, 394 lines
1. Before Operation
394 linesHow is the Generalik?
He's sleeping.
Is he out of danger?
Yes.
In that case, you should get some rest too. I will keep watch.
Thank you for all that you've done for the general.
No... I simply try to give comfort to everyone who needs it.
I'm not tired. I think there might be other people here who need my help.
I would like to go out and find them.
We cannot deny your requests... but the Generalik's orders were for you to remain by his side.
He will not be happy if he wakes up and finds that you are missing.
I promise, I won't be away for long. Please, give me a chance... a chance to do more, in order to enrich my soul.
Very well, but please be careful.
The city is currently taking in additional Infected. We cannot guarantee that these ruffians will not cause trouble.
I'll be careful.
Please, my friend is in bad shape! I need to get medicine!
As I said, there is a strict curfew in place here.
Either you submit a request and wait for a decision, or hand the patient to us, and we'll transport her to receive treatment.
But you don't allow anyone to go with! There's no time, I have to—
Not before sunrise. It's the rules.
......
Purr...
Huh?
Now go back.
What that—in the bushes behind you?
That sort of trick won't work—
*roar*—!
Target has been spotted in Naberezhnaya, near the Third District.
Ponjal. Reinforcements are on their way.
Wait, is that really—
Backup! I need backup!
The soldier quickly turns around and calls to his comrades near the building.
Amiya takes one last look at the shadow darting through the bushes, and takes off in the opposite direction.
—I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
I got held up checking the boilers, I'll go home immediately—
You will be detained and fined for violation of curfew.
Do not attempt to resist.
Please, I have to go to work tomorrow—
—
(I have to avoid the searchlights. But why is there such a strict curfew here?)
(I hope I can find more medicine for Arts overload reactions...)
(Raidian...)
The city of Zelgrad feels dark, even with lamps on both sides of the streets, as though neither the twin moons nor the stars shine upon it.
Amiya dashes along the side of the street, dodging the ever-present searchlights, looking up at the signs on the buildings.
*Whimper*
(Rubs against Amiya)
(Tugs at Amiya's skirt)
Purr!
The 'cloudbeast' in the shadows keeps tugging at Amiya's skirt, trying to pull her towards a nearby alley.
Looking in that direction, Amiya sees that there is an area of shadow that the searchlights do not touch.
A figure sits by the wall in the shadows beyond the searchlights' reach, hardly human anymore.
What little skin is visible through the bandages that almost completely cover his body shows a shade of eerie, translucent green.
Skin and muscle tissue on his arm are forming small clumps like moss and peeling off.
All he can do is wrap his arm in more bandages, as though hoping it will slow the departure of his skin and flesh.
(Hoarse wailing)
Wh-What happened to you?
Mur...
Mur... where are you?
Purr...
Mur? Is this its name?
The light from the searchlights finally allows Amiya to see the 'cloudbeast' clearly.
—?!
*sniffles*—
The strange creature growls softly, as though confirming that Amiya has found the man, then disappears into the night.
I can't see... I can't see! Where are you, Mur?
...Mur—!
The twisted figure stumbles towards her, his soggy flesh making a sickening sound underneath his bandages.
He does not realize that he would reveal himself to the searchlights if he took one step further. Amiya dashes forward and stops him.
Look out—!
Who?
Who's there...
Amiya catches the man as he collapses. He emanates the scent of a rotten bog as his limbs twitch.
It is the scent of death.
Mur... Mulka!
All of you...
...left me...
Will never, see again.
Will never...
'Will never see again.'
In the man's confusion and pain, Amiya once again touches the emotion that causes her pain.
A black crown appears above her head.
As she touches his consciousness, she sees a small cabin, a woman and child who never returned after leaving home, a cloudbeast leaps from the window sill—
And a man who brought back a monster.
'The collapse in the new industrial district caused nineteen deaths and thirty-four injuries at a nearby school.'
'...We express our deepest regrets for the accident. Compensation has been issued to those affected...'
I won't open the window again, Mur. I won't give you another chance.
Purr?
I won't open the door again...
I won't open it for anyone.
You and I will be the only ones here.
Forever...
'...An experimental animal escaped from the industrial district. Anyone with information should call the Department of Livestock at 10103. A reward is being offered...'
Purr...
We'll never leave each other. They won't take anything else from me.
Yes, that's it...
Kirill!
Kirill! Are you home?
I haven't seen you at the factory in a week. Are you alright?
If you are, go talk to the supervisor and get formal approval for leave, okay? They won't let me do it on your behalf—
Kirill...
If you can hear me, remember that you can rely on us.
We're a community, remember?
......
Your condition, 'Mur', and that voice outside the door—
What's all this about...?
Oh—
(Oh no, they found me!)
(I must buy time, try to get this patient out from here.)
(He's unconscious. I have to hurry—)
Target acquired.
Do not attempt to resist.
Third District patrols, in position.
(I can't get caught right now. I have to figure out what's going on with this man. This could be what Zelgrad is trying to hide—)
—!
(I remember now. That woman at the transfer area was saying something about dust and infection. Now I see a patient with strange symptoms... yes...)
I'm sorry, I must—
Do not attempt to resist.
Do not—
You there! Follow me!
This way!
The streets are empty... but the underground is much busier.
Is this where the Infected was pointing me to?
Go get help, we need extra hands—
Oh. What are you doing here, kid?
Is something wrong?
The pub owner Prokhor is dead! Looks like a robbery-murder. His body was found in the sewers. Who would have thought something like this could happen in Zelgrad?
The sewer cleaners found him. We need more people to haul the body up, and then we'll report it in the morning...
Oh, why am I even telling you this, just make way, I need to get help.
I'm no help when it comes to something like this... sorry.
It's alright.
(Is this where they found the body?)
(There's someone here...)
Excuse me—
You found someone?
A kid? What are you doing here? Where are your parents? This is no place for you.
I would like to ask for directions. Can you point me to people who need help?
People suffering from Oripathy, or other kinds of illness and pain...
Weird kid... I guess you're looking for a hospital? Someone in your family got sick or hurt?
Hospital...
That works too.
Well, you'll only get arrested if you go outside now. But there's a place I can point you to if you need a doctor urgently...
She'll treat anyone, as long as you have money.
......
'Go out the steel door with a red circle on it, and take the path without street lamps or searchlights.'
'Keep going until you reach a wall. Crouch down and shove at the wall until you find a spot that's loose.'
'That's the door that leads to an abandoned factory, where you'll find the clinic and doctor you're looking for.'
Doctor... doctor...
Painkillers, please, give me painkillers! I'll give you all the factory scrips I have! I can't take it anymore, I can hear the rocks grow beneath my skin—
The doctor said not to rely on medicine until the pain reaches a certain threshold. It'll keep you from developing resistance too quickly, and make the meds last longer.
Just hang in there... we've got to get back to the factories after we get our meds for the day. You need to rest while you can.
I can't stand...
You're just imagining it! You're hurting so much that you can't feel anything. Let's see what degree of pain it corresponds to—
Hey, I think you're allowed meds now.
Quick, ask—ask for me!
Please, allow me to help.
Who are you?
I don't care who you are, just help me—please!
What are you talking about? We don't even know who she is—
Hierda walks forward and takes the hands of the Infected on the stretcher in her own.
Tiny Originium grow from his ice-cold hands and legs. They can cause such lingering pain that death easily becomes preferable.
What are you doing? I'm calling for the doctor. Doctor! Doctor Nadezhda Pavlovna!
*pant*... *pant*...
Wait... your Originium is changing color?
I can't do much, but I can at least stop the pain.
...Is he dead?
No, I think—
What are you calling... dead...
Blyat! I thought—I thought you had gone to heaven already, you lucky bastard!
It doesn't hurt anymore... thank you.
I don't know who you are or how you did it, but could you help that guy over there too?
I apologize on his behalf. He might be a rude mudak, but he was only worried about me.
Hey!
Of course.
This is what I came for...
She speaks softly as she takes the other Infected's hand.
A warm, dazzling light surrounds the Infected. He feels himself rejuvenated and even stands up from the ground.
This is amazing... I got better all of a sudden! It's better than any medicine! How could this be?
What are you—
Oh, Doctor Nadezhda! I-I'm not saying your medicine's bad! Not at all!
Uh...
Doctor Nadezhda...
(Is that the doctor the man in the underground layer was talking about?)
Hierda turns around to see that a door has opened at the end of the corridor.
The fluorescent white light of an operating room shines through the door, where a masked middle-aged woman wearing a white coat and gloves is standing.
Doctor...
The doctor shakes her head, wipes her hands with a towel and puts on her gloves again, before waving Hierda over.
So you're that one they say removes people's pain with Arts.
You know of me?
I thought you might come. I've already lost a bunch of patients thanks to you.
You may have cured their ailment, but you've also cost me a large chunk of my income.
I thought you were a doctor...
Does a doctor not need to eat? Besides, legally speaking, I'm not a doctor anymore. My license was revoked. I'm working unlicensed now.
I'm trying to make enough money to get my license back. What do you think I should do with someone who's ruined my livelihood?
I regret it, but I can't just stand by and watch when there are patients who need my help.
Seeing the girl's nervous expression, the face beneath the mask seems to relax.
Just a bad attempt at a joke. Don't mind it. The atmosphere here is depressing enough as it is.
But I am curious how you manage to do it. You have such incredible Arts, yet all you do is travel and preach like the Yurodstvo, without charging a single coin?
I can't explain my powers... but please understand that I mean no harm.
Well, you certainly look cute, but I'm not in the habit of trusting someone who gives without asking for anything in return.
What are you here for, little bunny?
Doctor Nadezhda! I have an emergency here!
Never seen this one before, but he's in bad shape—
Huh? You're here too, Hierda?
Oh... it's been a few days, hasn't it? You seem to be in better spirits now.
Enough chit-chat, let me see the patient.
......
Put on protective clothing immediately, Borislav, and prepare the surgery room.
Gotcha!
......
...Belay that, take a dose of metabolism inhibitor right now, and try to get in touch with Tonya.
I'll deal with the surgery myself.
Hierda hears the patient's weak, pained cries as the bed is pushed past her.
She instinctively reaches out, hoping to give her usual help, but fails to give the patient any comfort.
Hierda follows the patient as he is pushed into the operating room, but she could do no more than let go of the hand in front of the operating room door.
Thank goodness...
Did you find this patient?
I should... thank you...
Just doing what I can... are you a doctor here?
The patient's condition is very unusual. It's not like any Oripathy I've seen before... I'm not even sure if it's Oripathy at all.
Do you know—
No, I'm not a doctor... I wish I was.
But I can't heal them. What I can do is so limited...
I'm sorry, I got ahead of myself. I take it you are a cleric?
It's alright, I didn't notice either... that you're so sick too.
You mean my condition...? How can you tell?
No, you're not like the others... you're very ill, but you're not seeking salvation, and I shouldn't do anything for you...
But how do you endure it, when you carry so much pain with you?
I'm sorry, I don't understand—
The diminutive Cautus casts her gaze towards the operating room.
I feel pain... a lot of pain.
I thought I didn't feel pain anymore, but I still feel such heavy pain when I see these people suffer...
Why... why does God make people suffer?
Why does she put such trials upon them... is suffering God's law?
Amiya is perplexed.
The Cautus before her seems even younger than her, but there is a sort of altruism with her that seems incongruent with her age.
Even without the black crown appearing, the Sarkaz King's power links Amiya's consciousness with her counterpart.
She does not sense any strong emotion, only a disjointed cloud, or a roiling ocean. The endless sorrow in the girl's consciousness threatens to swallow her.
Amiya is not willing to delve any further.
But my understanding is that this is not in line with Lateran law—sorry, I don't mean to offend your religion.
I don't think any suffering has to be inevitable. The pain imposed upon us is something that we should fight with all our strength.
To help those who are suffering and defeat the ones inflicting the suffering... that's what we should do.
But there are always people who can't be saved.
There's always suffering, with no end in sight... does what we do really have meaning?
Do you not despair?
......
Perhaps.
I would have been crushed by despair, if I were on my own.
But I'm never by myself, never have been...
Someone once told me of her dream, of her vision for this land... when people will overcome their differences, and Terra becomes a home for everyone.
Her dream has inspired and united many people. I have borne witness to the legacy of that dream, and I'm certain that people will continue to carry it on.
I don't know how to completely eliminate suffering, of course. I suppose that's something only 'God' can do.
There may be no end to suffering, but hope continues to live on.
A home for everyone...
......
How is he, doctor?
Where did you find him?
First District, in an alley by the factories.
It's quite far from Kirill's home.
He must have known that he didn't have long to live, and he didn't want to be found by people who knew him... poor Tonya is still looking for him.
Do you mean...?
I've done all I can, but his basic biological functions have completely failed... all I can do is mitigate his pain in some measure.
......
Is there anything we can do?
Even the most miraculous Arts cannot reverse total failure of biological function.
But feel free to try to ease his pain with your Arts, if he wakes up.
Did you find medicine, Amiya?
Closure—
I just found a doctor. Give me a moment.
Doctor Nadezhda, do you have medicine for Arts overload reactions here?
Arts overload reaction? What are the symptoms? Weakness in the limbs, or brain fatigue?
She lost consciousness... we don't have enough emergency medicine. Can we get some from you?
Lost consciousness? That sounds serious...
I can't just give you that sort of medicine without ascertaining the patient's condition. I'll come with you.
Alright...
Doctor—
Metabolism inhibitor for you. I wasn't joking. Stay behind and help him, if you're willing.
There's no obligation. If you don't want to help, you're free to leave on your own.
Borislav will be bringing Tonya over. She's been looking for the patient. There'll be someone taking care of him.
Oh, and... Amiya's the name, right? Take a dose of metabolism inhibitor, since you've been in contact with that patient. Not that it's much more than a placebo, given how little we know about this sickness.
Alright, let's go.
...Wait!
Amiya... that's your name, right?
Yes.
My name is... Hierda.
Maybe we'll meet again—
Where is the patient? Lead the way.
O-Okay—Sorry, Hierda...
...Will we meet again?
Hierda walks into the operating room after the others have left.
The disintegrating patient has been moved to a bed, surrounded by transparent tarp sheets as a temporary quarantine measure, making it hard to see clearly.
Hierda walks closer, and sees that the patient's chest continues to rise and fall underneath the new bandages.
Ugh...
You're awake? How are you feeling?
...It hurts...
......
Help me... help me.
I-I can't end your pain. I tried, but I couldn't liberate you from your pain like I do with the others—
Ugh...
Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?
Argh—ugh...
...Kill...
What did you say?
Kill...
Me.
Kill you...?
I can't see... Mulka.
My Mulka—
You can't get up—
*cough* *cough*!!
You need to stay still and conserve your strength. Using up your energy now will only make it hurt more later.
Do you need something? I'll help you.
*cough*...
I went to where we first met.
I saw you sitting there with a cloudbeast in your arms.
......
How strange, when you're already gone...
...Ugh...
Argh—
Sir!
What do I want...? I want to die...
Kill me. Don't give me any more hope.
Don't let her see me as I am now...
......
No, maybe... maybe I can—
She cannot describe her sudden impulse. Does she want to fulfill his wish, or help him live on less painfully?
There is no act of resolve. Hierda simply reaches out again and places her hand upon his heaving chest.
(I ask you to grant another wish.)
(May your blessings be upon all of us equally.)
(Even if Oripathy is not the reason for his pain, even if he could not know your name...)
......
I hope, from the bottom of my heart, that you will be far from pain.
The skin, a sickly green covered in red blood, peels off like moss. The soft flesh beneath has hardened.
Orange rocks begin to replace what is left of the man. Hierda's eyes go wide; she has never seen a transformation like this before.
Finally, a small smile appears upon the patient's face.
...If you see 'Mur'...
Help me...
Thank him for his companionship.
......
What did you do?
I... I didn't—
I don't think I was seeing things.
Please explain—what did you just do to this patient?
The young man deftly brushes the dead body to one side with his sword, takes a silk handkerchief from a servant, and begins to wipe away the blood from the blade.
......
So, tell me...
What do you mean when you say you don't know where she is?
...We sent someone to follow Gospozha Hierda, but we lost track of her after she entered the underground residential layer.
We began searching for her immediately, and we have narrowed down the search to an illegal Infected squatter zone that we have been trying to eliminate.
We believe that Gospozha Hierda went there to... perform her miracles.
Perform her miracles... Hmph. Who told her she could hand out blessings like that? Does she think everyone deserves this salvation?
Generalik! We found an illicit gathering in the Third District while pursuing the assassin!
These Infected are in violation of curfew, and attempting to resist arrest. They may be a diversion for the assassin—
Your orders, sir?
......
Both the Third District and the main urban area where Gospozha Hierda might be are not far from here.
'Might be'?
...In fact, we are certain she's there.
Then we'll go to the Third District.
It's too late... he's dead.
We saw it! This girl used Arts on him, and then he died!
The youth gives Pavel a wave off.
We do not wish to harm someone who is unarmed. We would appreciate it if you could provide us with information that demonstrates you are not hostile.
I didn't harm him... I just didn't want him to continue to be in pain.
The doctor could not treat his condition, and I couldn't save his life.
He was sick? What sort of illness?
I want to know too... I've never seen it before.
The youth steps forward to the side of the bed, carefully examining the dead patient's terrifying cadaver...
The expression does not change in the slightest.
This validates our hypothesis. Whatever secret the Army is hiding in Zelgrad, it's killing the people here.
Zelgrad is not paradise for the Infected. We must tell people the truth, and get them out of here.
You're right, but how are we going to get the word out when we have a hard time getting the group together?
You... want to take the people here away?
I have friends here who will believe me... I can contact them, if you're willing to take them with you.
We would love to be able to trust you, young lady, but how do you prove that you can be trusted?
...I can tell you about the Generalik's troop deployments here—
What's happening?!
We didn't alarm any soldiers on our way here!
Maybe somebody else caught their attention.
No time for analysis. We pull out according to plan.
As for you, young lady—
...I'll come with you.