Liberi Reader

How's progress, Closure?

The last thing I need is another core system control failure.

Well... Heh, since you had to bring it up, I might have run into a little problem.

Even with the tricks you taught me, the encryption methods used by many of PRTS's programs are almost incomprehensible to a normal brain, and my decoder isn't fully compatible yet.

We may not be able to shut the system down before the Doctor arrives on the ship.

Try again.

If you're not confident about getting it done, then we'll go to the contingency plan... cutting off power to the entire ship.

Leave it to me!

Seems like you're still keeping a lot of secrets, though.

I've never seen anyone make you so nervous.

...That's not important.

What's important is making sure nothing happens to the ship.

Ascalon's report says the Doctor looks like an ordinary person. A pretty decent one, too, who picked up a stray little Cautus and carried her all across the land.

Do we really have to be so on edge?

It's not the Doctor that I fear.

Then what is it?

You don't need to know yet.

Wipe the Doctor's boarding records. This is for the safety of both the Doctor and Babel.

The others don't need to know that the Doctor exists until the Doctor and Theresa have reached a conclusion.

Alright, alright, I'll work at it.

But I wonder why you seem to care a lot about this Doctor at that same time that you're so on guard over the whole thing.

I've got it! The Doctor must have dirt on you!

Don't bother, you won't find it.

Come on, why so serious?

What about the girl?

Same conclusion, no change.

I cross-checked all relevant Rim Billitonian records and had Scout check with informants inside the Military Commission.

Amiya's background comes through clean.

Her parents were killed when the convoy transporting the laser mining module got attacked. The attack itself was purely coincidental.

No one knew they were transporting Sarkaz-related cargo, and the Military Commission wasn't involved.

She must have gotten Infected in the mess. If not for the Doctor, she'd be spending the rest of her life suffering in Rim Billiton.

I'll handle the girl's examination and treatment once she's on board.

You're still concerned about her?

Yes, I am.

She's too young, and she hasn't had proper treatment since contracting Oripathy.

Oh, that kind of concerned.

I don't want the Doctor's kindness to be the reason for delaying her treatment.

Plus, Theresa would call her a gentle child who has the right to choose her future.

Amiya. Amiya.

Mm... let me sleep... where are we?

Doctor... Doctor?

The Doctor's here.

Wake up, sleepyhead. You're almost home.

Home?

Haha, that tickles, don't do that, hehe.

Whoa!

Wh-Who are you?

I'm Theresa.

Theresa... the Doctor talked about you...

Oh? What did the Doctor say?

I don't remember... I was having a great carrot cake at the time, though.

Theresa should smell nice... be really warm and sweet...

What about now? Is she as you imagined her?

Yeah... smells good... warm and sweet... doesn't smell like carrots, though...

Not fully awake, I see. Heh.

Will you come home with us, Amiya?

Home... yeah... okay...

Thank you, Theresa. I didn't expect you to come pick us up personally.

Looks like you're not quite all-knowing, Doctor.

You have much to learn when it comes to childcare, at least.

Sure enough.

You look different from when you left, Doctor. How was the journey?

I saw a lot and learned a lot. There are plenty of interesting things on this great land.

I also met Amiya... it was a miracle that I was able to save her.

Amiya. She's even cuter than your letters said. Poor girl, but fortunate, in some way.

Her condition is getting worse. I needed to bring her in for treatment.

How has Babel been, in the time that I was away?

Not quite smooth sailing. We have a lot to deal with, but not everything needs to be handled right away.

You must be tired after your journey. Get some rest.

Thank you, Theresa.

Amiya, we're home.

Hmm... Doctor? Did I fall asleep?

Oh, Amiya. You're awake.

Why don't you come down? Theresa will get tired if she has to keep holding you.

Will you hold my hand, Amiya?

Doctor...?

It's alright. Theresa is my friend. You can trust her. You'll be spending a lot of time with her from now on.

Okay...

Is this Babel?

Yes.

It's so big... even bigger than those mining plates. So this is where you used to live.

I spent a long time here... a very long time.

Is this your home?

......

Yes, Amiya, this is the Doctor's home. Right, Doctor?

...Yes.

It's your home now, too. Will you let us help the Doctor take care of you?

Alright... I'll go wherever the Doctor goes.

Amiya. You're Amiya, aren't you?

Yes...

Thank you for protecting the Doctor throughout your journey, Amiya.

Thank you... Dr. Kal'tsit.

Will you fetch Theresa? We need to do some checks on you.

Will they hurt?

A little. But the Doctor's letters called you a brave girl.

Will the Doctor be with me?

Of course. The Doctor has some things to do first, though.

......

It's alright, Amiya. Just wait for me here in the ward, and I'll be back very soon.

...Okay.

You'll need to do a full checkup later too, Doctor.

Alright.

...Doctor.

Yes?

Do you plan on leaving again?

No, I think I've traveled enough.

If you've made up your mind, I'll respect your decision.

If nothing else, you're concerned about Amiya's health... even though she was a complete stranger to you.

There is no fundamental difference between these new lives and us.

...I'm glad.

Glad that you chose hope, in the end.

Welcome back, Dr. {@nickname}.

How is Amiya?

Blood Originium levels are high. Currently available inhibitors are not sufficient to stabilize her condition.

We need to develop new drugs... I need time and resources.

Babel's are yours to use, Doctor. We're happy to share our research on Oripathy with you.

What can I help you and Kal'tsit with in exchange?

This is not a transaction. It's one of the core missions of Babel, to do everything in our power to help everyone suffering from Oripathy.

Since the day that Kal'tsit woke you up, I was convinced that you would help with all of this, just as you helped Amiya.

Thank you.

Now, perhaps, I have a chance to ask you this question, Doctor.

How do you view this land, Terra?

I don't think it's my place to judge.

There's no such thing as superior or inferior civilizations. It took a long and hard journey for Terra to evolve to where it is today.

Add to that the sick joke that Originium has played on life...

You said that Originium did not develop the way you expected.

It wasn't supposed to bring such suffering.

(Mumbles in her dream)

I sense that you are keeping secrets, but there's nothing false about the sorrow coming from deep within your heart, the sorrow that I can't understand.

I want to fix this mistake, but I'm powerless to do so...

At the end of the day, civilizations largely progress in similar ways. It all comes to an inevitable endpoint, however bright its light shines at its peak.

But Kal'tsit said you didn't give up hope, even in your final days.

I had many friends, even in those last days, who faced difficulties far greater than you can imagine, with courage and hope that is every bit your equal.

But they failed and faded away, without exception.

......

We haven't known each other that long, Theresa. I want to know: Why do you do all this?

What is the end that Babel seeks in compromising with the Military Commission?

......

There's something I want to show you, Doctor.

We had to ask you about Originium, sooner or later. That's why Kal'tsit woke you up.

Please, come and see the results of my... brief time at work.

We're almost there...

This place is barren, even by the standards of a Catastrophe-heavy region. But Closure has spent time and effort to maintain this dangerous little trail...

A forked trail in the midst of Originium formations. You're not keeping any fewer secrets than I am, Theresa.

A King of Sarkaz has to have a few secrets, right?

Don't tell anyone what you see here.

......

Doctor?

Why... why this flower?

Oh... there's no particular reason. I just happened to come across it outside the valley when I was looking for a good place for my experiments.

A pure coincidence.

Kal'tsit said it had a name. 'Snow-in-summer'.

But it's adapted to changes over the years. Perhaps we could give it a new name.

What do you think, Doctor?

......

I...

Can you hear me, Theresa?

I'm listening. I was giving the Doctor a tour of our...

Urgent news from Kazdel.

It concerns Victoria.