The Following Excerpts of the happenings of the Third and Fourth Year of One Oslar Kanin Dezzi, will be an hour by hour view of a fifteen hour shift of an emergency medicine Doctor.

  First however, the Island of Cymbal needs to be established, as much has happened in two years; When Dezzi first arrived. The settlements on the island were sparse as previously mentioned. Sitting a top the trees, being amidst the thicket, few hamlets and villages sitting across the island. But now? The Island that was known for its doctors and medicine amidst rural country, was now quickly expanding into a large metropolitan island. Cities sprouting across the island quickly. Outside company’s, organizations, and even ones from internal villages struck upon a massive reserve of resources within the island.

  On one side of the island, was now no longer a dead and rotting Cymbal Forest of massive hollowed out trees. But a massive sprawling city scape that went coast to coast. Only stopping a mile or two from the coast of the massive lake in the middle of the island where the hospital sat.

  The other side, once a thriving but reasonable stretch of wilderness sparse in villages, had been completely evacuated. Corporations coming in, buying out the land and using it for mining and resource allocation and collection.

  Spots of large automated machinery could be seen across the horizon. Noted by there smoke stack, lights blaring even at midnight, and sounds of construction and stripping at all hours if even as a dull hum.

  What did the Hospital get out of this?

  Nothing.

  When the Hospital was built, it was a separate piece of land and counted as its own municipality in the loose form of governance in the Island (Which the Hospital itself was the de facto head of.)

  Meaning when the new authorities came in, they could not technically buy out directly in the standard way as the other.

  The Solution they had? Attempt to get the management and senior officer of operations, Previously one Dr. Lodge serving as temporary advisor and Management Head, was only temporary until the true head, Dr. Amelie Hardgrove, returned. Her family had originally been the ones to build the Hospital. And it wasn’t until her great grandfather shifted the intention of the Hospital to become a form of Profit gain through export of Doctors to islands in need, Training, Schooling, and paid treatment.

  When Lodge served as temporary lead, He had scrubbed many of the numbers to ensure people got treatment. Including student debts. Including for Dezzi themselves.

  But now? The dial had been turned to eleven. Hardgrove was now being pressured constantly to get corporate patrons on their side, and increase better margins that then paid Doctors and got better machines and research funding. Most of all, to gain more money into the pockets of those few patrons who got a cut.

  The only thing stopping a total buy out and tossing Patients to the wolves, was a piece of paper that had been expertly drafted and even sealed with approval by the World Government themselves that said: So long as Doctors are directly employed by the Hospital, they will continue to hold themselves a stake in the operations of the Hospital.

  Meaning that the Doctors, the notable ones, must be convinced to sign their names on the go ahead. Attendings specifically being the ones holding the most weight in their signatures in the eyes of patrons and legality.

  Now, with the Island so severely changed, filled with business, economy, and people.

  Meant a harsh spike in patients constantly coming to the one Hospital that knows how to handle them.

  HOUR 1

  7:00 to 8:00 am

  Dezzi slowly opened their eyes. Furred hands coming to wipe their eyes of their sleep. Arms stretching to the side as a string of high octave sigh released from their lips. Dezzi’s blue hair had grown out to be just mid-length to their neck. Side shaven slightly Rabbit Ears twitching as they heard off in the distance the vague sounds of a low rumble.

  The island was rich in high purity content iron. Perfect for steel production that was then used for more building and construction. This time a deeper sigh coming from the rabbit minks throat.

  Tossing their legs over the bed of their dorms mattress, spotting that Doyle was already gone. Security had been increasing in pressure due to complications in the ER waiting room, assault on Nurses and Doctors from disgruntled and unresponding patients. One in four Nurses, Assistants, and Doctors experience violence upon them.

  They slip on their black scrub pants, compression shirt over their torso, followed by their black scrub top. Slipping on their easy on sneakers, they then tugged their jacket off the hook near the Dorm door.

  Tugging it on, the door closed behind them. Their stethoscope, a colorful bright purple and decorated with pins, including a hand made pin of the Red Sash jollyroger, on the length of tube; went over their neck, hands restfully hanging onto it as they walked.

  The hall was tiled with blue and grey squares. Walls a warm color. Distinct from the rest of the Hospitals sterile colors.

  Hopping down the length, they turned down to a stop. The entrance directly to the Main Desk was blocked off by intense cleaning. Janitors sweeping and mopping liquids of mysterious origin.

  “Ugh…” Dezzi’s head fell. An idea suddenly came to the front of their mind. Looking off to the side, they saw the stairwell.

  With a hard push, the heavy door opens. It wouldn’t lead directly to the ER, but it would lead to–

  A cacophony of sounds filled their rabbit ears as they opened the heavy door from the cool stairwell into the Emergency Room Waiting Room. Affectionately, and sarcastically by many, referred to as ‘Chairs’. Row after row after row of Seats filled the tight knit carpeted area. Lights blaring above as well over a hundred people sat shoulder to shoulder, and back to back. Chairs lined next to each other as a secondary row pushed against the backs of them.

  Every seat was filled. Leaving many standing, leaning against walls, and against the floor.

  Across from the massive set of three double doors that seemed to never go for more than mere minutes without opening, was a set of desks separated by a barrier of bullet proof glass. Three women sat in chairs behind them, speaking, writing and placing bracelets on the new arrivals. Gauging their severity, and putting sending them either to sit down or head straight back.

  Everyone would hopefully be seen. But when its in order of severity and other factors to health. Many waited hours to even be screened.

  “Annie?” Dezzi briefly squeezed past a patient. The woman, middle aged with streaks of stress greyed hair on her temples, looked to the mink. “Ah, Dezzi! Go on back!” She said, pushing the buzzer to unlock the door right next to her for the Doctor to slip into. Doors locking as it closed again.

  The noise of waiting was replaced with the sounds of EKG’s, Distant murmuring, and speech of nearby Physicians. Stark white with yellow painted ceilings, spread wide, curving into different sections; from stairs leading to the next floor, to immediate Operate Rooms, Triage and various other rooms.

  In the middle, with a woman behind the desk, blonde hair tied into a messy but tight high bun, was Rosa. The head Charge Nurse. A ring leader of sorts. Alerting doctors of incoming patients, conditions, and updates. A large board behind her, stark black with white letters that formed text, a flapping and clicking noise accompany the letters shifting.

  An analog split-flap board. A form of display that had numerous rotary ‘plates’ that had all single digit numbers, symbols, and letters to spell out patients, rooms their in, and in few words their ailment and condition.

  “Dezzi! There you cmere hun.” She spoke in a brief, affectionate accent. “We’re swamped today. And we need to start clearing rooms. Landover just clocked out. Night shift is clearing out. And the morning rush is bound to be coming in. Ambulances are already out on Call. Bound to break through anytime now.” She said briefly looking to Dezzi, down to charts, and then up at the board.

  Dezzi’s eyes danced across the board. Immediately analyzing and spotting harshest and easiest, quickest treatment. Sprains, aches, minor wounds, unknown ailments. But Dezzi’s mind went to another place, a place that if it was cleared out, would allow for the next wave of immediate severity to come through.

  “Whats the Clinics looking like?” They crossed their arms. Ears twitching as they locked into focus. Rosas eyes shot up in surprise. “Oh right right, swamped. Just like the rest. You’re a Registered Nurse Practitioner. You can treat, discharge, write prescriptions and get them going on their way! Nurses have been dealing with them mostly and telling them to wait.” She said with a quick nod.

  “I’ll head up there. Let Lodge know where I am when he gets in.” Dezzi said with a nodd. Lodge was nearly 24/7 Doctor. Of his own volition. “Got it- Hey!” She said quietly before shouting to catch Dezzi’s ear, spinning around they locked eyes again.

  A smile came of her worn, tired and crow feet ridden eyes as she said “Good luck up there! Do your best!”

  For a moment…She almost looked like Dr Oslar…

  With a smile back, Dezzi nodded enthusiastically. “Right!”

  Foot steps clashed against the stairs as the Mink rose to the next Floor. Clamoring disappearing to an almost unsettling quiet Glass doors and walls lined the Hall before wrapping in a dead end, the same for the other side. The entire floor was dedicated to these patient rooms.

  Dezzi had a few options when dealing with Clinic Patients. If Minor, Reassure, give advice and send home. Mild; Treat, give advice for the weeks following and insight with directions, and discharge. Serious but non Emergency, Treat, Follow up in the same day, and either send them to another floor for care, or Write them Prescriptions, Medicine, and Treatment to adhere to before Discharge.

  Each room had a small holder where a clip board with written information given by the patient or retrieved files if they had a history in their system. Which many did. Along with this, were descriptions of ailment and issues, how long, how much it hurt, when did it start, and symptoms.

  Dezzi picked a random room. One in the middle on the Left Wing. Picking the Clipboard and File along with it.

  “Mane Erik. 42…History of Heart Disease, Smoker, Drinker, 6’7, 310 lbs…BP and Temp normal, Ox irregular. Diminished Bilateral breathing on left side…Hah..” They sighed and pushed the door open. Alerting the large, barrel chested man with thick salt and peppered brown beard with a shaved head sat. Wearing a flannel shirt rolled above the elbows.

  “Good Morning. I’m Oslar Kanin Dezzi, Registered Nurse Practitioner, and I’ll be overseeing you.” They walking to a sink, quickly tapping the soap, washing their hands and drying them with a clean rag from a drawer before tossing it away into a laundry bin for cleaning.

  “Woah…” The mans hoarse gravely voice spoke with a hint of astonishment. “A Mink. I aint ever seen a mink before…Let alone a Doctor one.” There wasn’t a hint of prejudice in his tone. More surprise and perhaps ignorance.

  It didn’t even sway Dezzi. “Indeed. But Minks and Humans have the same issues. Medical and Otherwise, and I assure you I am more than capable!” They said with a smile that reassured the man.

  “So. What brings you in today?” They sat down on a swivel stool across from the man in the elevated bed, slightly angled bed.

  Clearing his throat, fist over his mouth, he began “Augh…I don’t know Doc. I woke up late last night with chest pains, and my heart just kept thumpin. I had a smoke. Usually that calms me down.” Dezzi continued to watch with no reaction but an attentive look.

  “But nothin’. Started coughing up black shit. Started getting hard to breath. Everytime I stood up, the room began to spin. Got kinda hard to walk, but I was able to take a Motorcarriage over here.” Cymbal had many Taxi Services in the form of Automobiles, cheap and rudimentary, to take people to and from. Many traveled out this way to the point where many Taxi’s actively waited near the Lot.

  “Thats not good, but its not unheard of. Lemme just take a look at you really quick to go over myself.” They said, standing a pulling the stethoscope from around their neck.

  “I already had a Doc look at me? Why I gotta do it again?” The man said with irritation. Dezzi’s mind immediately clocking it as potentially due to injury and stress from the issue.

  “It’s just to make sure nothings happened in the mean time. Best to do it since the body changes quickly.” They said. Putting the man at ease.

  The thrumbing was intense. Normal, but fast. ‘Heartrate Tachycardic.’ They moved to behind the man. Putting the dial against his back. “Breath in as deep as you can, slowly.”

  Fabric Rustled when the instrument adjusted to the other side. “And out.”

  “One more time.” Dezzi spoke calmly.

  “And out.” A wheeze came from his throat. Causing the man to cough briefly. “Ack Ack! Mhm. Damn.” He said under his breath.

  ‘Discontinuous Lung Sounds with Crackles, Breathing Bilateral. But Dysnea.’ Dezzi though again. Closing their eyes. They let out a quick huff through their small flat blue nose.

  Pulling the scope over their neck, they placed their palm against the Back of the main. “Tachypulse…” They murmured. The man not hearing them as an aura enveloped their hand.

  It was in the shape of green rings, semi translucent and glowing faintly that covered their hand in parallel horizontal lines. New sets of rings covering their fingers when the rings reached the ends of their palm.

  A small, fast ring, faster than what most people can see, pulsed across the mans body as if tracing across his surface area before returning back up to their palm. A small twitch coming to them.

  Tachypulse. A Tool Type Firmament that produces a single pulse into a target, and then identifies back to the user the information present. Requirements being, they need to at least have knowledge of what ever information present coming back to identify it intrinsically. Perfect for a doctor with as encyclopedic of information of the body as Dezzi.

  Moving their hand away, it disappeared. And with a quick glance of observation Haki, their eyes covered Small lightning streaks at the corners of their eyes, irises shifting to an icy purple, they viewed a perfect X-Ray of the man. Far better than any other use of the typical Ability. They saw bones at a near microscopic level, muscles, small glowing lights traveling up and down the body. Nerve Signals to be exact. And their organs in fine detail. If in a pale purple tinted image of them.

  The mans lungs seemed to be ‘blackened’ in areas with splotches like paint against wet canvas. The Lungs themselves had a faint twitch to them that told Dezzi all they needed.

  It took only a few seconds to do in total.

  “Okay. Mind if I take a guess at where you Work Mr. Mane?” Dezzi stepped back in front of him.

  A curious look came over his face. “Uh, yeah sure?” His eyes shot away and then back to the Doctor.

  “You work in the Iron Mines. Specifically Deep, near the Machines Boring and Strip Mining Correct?” Dezzi sat down. Hands on their knees. Looking to the man with a partial worried look.

  “Uh..Yeah. Actually. In shaft 43.” His face held a look of bewilderment.

  “As I thought.” They closed their Eyes for a moment and releasing a contemplative sigh. “You have acute inhalation damage. Fine particles from the machines you work by are stuck in your lungs. Causing them to inflame. Leading to a build up in Mucus on the inner walls and making you wheeze when you breath.”

  The man was understanding. Most of it. Most rarely needed to have Doctors, when explained as well as this to ‘be translated’. But there was a curious look of missing understanding that Dezzi read easily.

  “Meaning your job made you sick. In a pretty nasty way. Its why you’re short of breath, dizzy and your heart won’t stop racing. Your body’s tryin’ to fix itself, but its having trouble due to age, severity and pre-existing damage due to drinkin and smokin.” The mans eyes narrowed. He wanted to say and accuse the doctor of telling him how to live his life. A Reactionary feeling. Especially when tied to habits. But he swallowed it.

  “Is there…Any way to fix it?” He asked. Eyes darting to the floor where his hands held one another.

  “Yes. There is. I’ll perscribe you anti-biotics, and write you a Doctors note to call off work. It should clear up in as little as a few days. You’ll start hacking up more of the the ‘Black’ Stuff you mentioned. Which is just your Lungs clearing themselves out. Should be good to go back to work in as little as a week.” Dezzi offered a soft smile.

  “A week? Ugh…I can’t afford to miss that much…Rents due and I’m already scrapin’ by…” He shook his head into his palm. ‘Who knew movin’ here would be such a hassle…Supposed to be better…But I guess it beats a pirate infested island…” He said breathlessly.

  Dezzi offered again a sympathetic nod. “Yeah. My only advice when you return is to wear a mask. No matter what anyone else says. I’ve had other workers come in complaining about how others say it lacks masculinity.” They stood and began to write out the slip.

  The mans eyes locked onto the mink as they finished, handing them the slip covered in cute flowery lettering that was quick, but messy. “But theres no masculinity in being stupid.”

  The Man huffed a chuckle. He was going to retort. But a cough that wracked his lungs made him double think before returning the smile. “Yeah. Thank Doc.”

  “Of Course. Feel free to head down the stairs to the right. Not the middle, and leave through the front Desk. Theres a Pharmacy in building that can get you your Antibiotics before you leave. Just…Don’t look at the bill.”

  “Uh wh-” He began.

  “I’ll cover it.” Dezzi affirmed, before turning and opening the Door. But before they could leave, the man spoke up.

  “Hey, Doc?” Dezzi turned. “How’d you do that? Figurin out all that so quick? Some Mink power of yours?” A genuine question.

  A smirk spread across their furred face. “No. I’m Just a really good Doctor.”

  HOUR 2

  8:00-9:00am

  Another Clipboard was swiped from the holder and backing up into the glass door, Dezzi entered into the room where a mother and daughter sat. The child was up on the bed, knees in her chest. Both of them looked deeply dishevled in the hair. Both messily put up into ties and buns. The mom wore what looked to be overalls and a loose undershirt. The girl wore a small dress that looked to be just ever too big on her.

  Dezzi immediately spotted the fact that it was clean, but frayed at the edges. Telling them that it was supposed to be grown into.

  “Good evening! I’m RNP Dezzi. And I’ll be looking over you today.” They washed their hands, sliding the folder on to the sink counter. Another rag was tossed into the bin, foot pressing down onto the pedal, opening the metal container.

  “Hello Doctor. I haven’t seen you here before? Are you usually here this late?” The mother asked, Dezzi flipping through the file. Quickly reading. 4’2, age 13, 25kg. That made Dezzi’s eyes Narrow. Heightened BP and heart rate. Ox normal. Breathing nominal. Describes constant pains in lower abdominal area.

  A whine from the girl caused Dezzi’s eyes to look up. “Yes. I am. And I am not a Doctor. I’m still in school, working for my Doctorate. Should be finished up any day now.”

  “Really?” The Mother asked. “But youre here alone. Usually theres Nurses?” She asked.

  “Well. Between you and me?” They leaned forward. A coy smile on their lips. “I’m probably overly qualified for needing it. But…Politics of the Hospital Require me to have 8 inches of paper naming me. Head Doctor here? Hardgrove? Doesn’t even have a Medical Practice Degree. But a buisness degree. But we call her Doctor more than I get called it officially.”

  Her eyes widened. “Oh my!”

  “Are we safe here?” The mother instinctively reached for her daughters hand.

  “Oh yes. Don’t worry. I say that to say, I’m here. So you’re in good hands. Both of you are.” Dezzi said resting their hands on their scope. “How long have you two been waiting? You said late. It’s only 8:15 in the morning.”

  “Ough…Jeez. Really?” The mother wiped and rubbed her eyes. “We’ve been here since…10 pm?”

  That alarmed Dezzi, severely. “10 pm? Yesterday? Has anyone come by to see and check your daughters vitals beyond this?” They gestured with the folder before sitting it down and pulling the scope from their neck and into their ears. Gently moving the Child into place as they put the diaphragm against the girls chest.

  ‘Heart Rate Tachy, 105 bpm. Sitting here shouldn’t be that high.’

  “Breath deep for me.” Dezzi said. Listening to the mother as she spoke “No. I understand that you are all very busy, and I didn’t wanna be a bother.”

  “And out again.” Dezzi said. ‘Breathing Bilateral, clearly, no wheezing or trouble. A bit shaky. Most likely due to high heart rate.’ Gently Dezzi pressed on her abdomen, against the soft thin muscle. The girl winced in pain lower their furred hand traveled, topping just at the hip.

  ‘Tenderness and pain in upper and lower abdomen. Worse at lower. Diaphragm expansion normal. Hands aren’t shaking that would indicate infection…’ One more

  “Lean forward for me sweetie.” Dezzi asked, putting two fingers just below the jaw. Hard lumps were felt. Eyes hardened as they felt it. ‘I do not want to use Tachypulse. I need to solve this without it…And I think I understand just whats happening.’

  “When was the last time you ate?” Dezzi asked. Hand on her stomach, right over it as she spoke. Feeling if there were any abnormalities. “Uhh…Mommy?” She looked.

  “We eat about once a day. Bread, Cheese, meat when we can. We live out in the country.” The Cymbal forest. Some have contracts with the companies for food production. Others don’t. Meaning they were very often food scarce.

  “Any vegetables? Fruits? Getting good fiber?” They asked.

  “Sometimes. We have a small garden. And go into the city when we can to sell what we get. I used to have a Maid job cleaning some the floors of the Skyscrapers. But then the company brought in those immigrants during the push.”

  The Push. The term used for the massive influx of outside people. Just like Mr Mane had mentioned. In fact. Many of them have even been noted to be escapees in some form from Styx. Laying low. They were good people. Held there without trial and waiting for processing until Leroy caused the breakout three and a half years ago.

  It meant very, very cheap labor the companies could barely pay holding over their heads open warrants and bounties for escapees.

  “Makes sense…” Dezzi sighed slightly. Pulling the tube back over their neck. Standing up they walked over to the wall where a button sat with the label ‘Emergency Call’ and pushed it. A soft buzz coming. A small shutter opened just above it, inside was a sleeping Den Den Mushi that opened its eye stalks to look up as the voice of the Charge Nurse down stairs answered.

  “Nurse Rosa Here, State Emergency.” She said in a professional tone. Dezzi whispered to the snail, that then transmitted the voice to the connected snail on the floor below. The Hospital was attempting to move to more electronic based Telecommunications. But Den Dens were cheap and Reliable.

  “Right. I’m sending a bed up now.” A soft ‘Gachack’ came from the Snails mouth noting the dead air of Rosa hanging up.

  “Miss?” Dezzi said. Turning around and lowering their head slightly. Ears furling.

  “Yes? What is it? Is it something serious?” She had a worried look in her eyes as she searched Dezzi’s furry face for any information.

  “I’m afraid so. Your Daughter is going to be taken up to surgery right now. She is suffering from severe stomach ulcers due malnutrition. On top of that…Her Appendix is on the verge of rupturing and needs to have surgery to remove it.”

  “If not.” The mothers face began to tear with mist. “It could rupture and release toxins into the blood…And…Then its a ticking clock to make sure she gets antibiotics or her heart and brain will fial…” Dezzi spoke bluntly.

  The mother Gasped. Dezzi’s ears twitched as they heard the wheels rolling against the tiles. “Is…Is My daughter going to be Okay?” She stood up. The Daughter began to see the distress and began to cry in pain. The Doctors eyes locked to her.

  “She will be. Follow the Nurse.” Dezzi said. And suddenly, they disappeared! And with a blast of wind that shook the womans clothes, so to did her Daughter!

  ‘They’re too far away. But a good 100 miles per hour should be fast enough.’ They said. Traveling up the stairs and up to the 5th floor of surgery in mere seconds. They had made sure to not let the Girl be affected by the speed.

  “Nurses needed in OR 2!” Dezzi called out. Placing the girl onto the bed, the Rooms were always stocked. ‘She’s ruptured. Now. I need to get that out and get her on a Antibiotics drip before any more can get into the blood stream. She now has 24 hours or she’ll go to septic shock.’

  Dezzi’s hands glowed with a soft blue flame. Good Medicine, their Kata, allowed for Antibacterialization on anything they touched including themselves. Meaning they did not need to be smocked.

  Grabbing the scissors, clicking the overhead lamp on and pulling it down, they began to cut the Dress open and free her from the fabric. “Doctor? Whats…Whats going on?” She whined between cries of pain.

  “Nothing you need to worry about sweetpea. I’ll make sure you get taken care of okay? Just please sit back alright? Your mommas gona be in here shortly!” They said gently pushing their head down, before rushing to one of the cabinets.

  ‘Emergency medicine. Don’t have time to get to the pharmacy for a specific combination. I can do the math in my head. 4’2, 25 kg means I need Bupivicane. At 4%...that would be 1.7 ml.’ The grabbed the accurate bottle and a syringe.

  They hooked a fluid bag up onto the hook, drew it down to the tube and IV. “Breath for me one big in and out on three okay, and you’ll feel a small pinch.” The girl rapidly nodded and breathed exaggeratedly in and out.

  Xray allowed them to see the vein clear as day, placing it in perfectly into the hand. “Count down from ten for me please.” They offered a soft smile to the girl who could only be described as mortified.

  “Uh T-Ten…Nine..” Dezzi pushed the Medicine. “Eight…Seven…Six…” They pulled the pump. And twisted the nob to allow the fluids to flow. At the same time three nurses, Danse, Carlos, and Sabrina came in.

  “Dezzi?” They asked in surprise.

  “Appendix rupture. I’m pushing 4% of 1.7 ml of Bup for anesthetic. I need antibiotics from Pharmacy to prevent sepsis and a Caloric contents back pushed post surgery. She weights 25kg and only 4’2 from Malnutrition.”

  “1.7? Thats a lot?” Danse said walking over and continuing to hook the child up to EKG and PulseOx.

  “Yes. Its local anesthetic, but it’ll keep her conscious momentarily so we don’t shock her. And we can begin operating. We can run General in a moment. It was purely to ease pain as I cant get Fentanyl or an Opiate in her at this weight with out it being a specific concentration and that could take hours to mix.”

  “I injected it right into the area of affect.” Dezzi continued.

  “How? We don’t have that kinda tech in here to-” Carlos asked only to be interrupted. “I can see it.” They said bluntly. There’d always been rumors since dezzi showed up about ‘Powers’ they had. But rarely did anyone understand just what it was.

  And they enjoyed that mystery of leaving them in the dark.

  “Sabrina.” Dezzi said. Looking at the EKG.

  “Yessir?” She responded. “Not a sir.” Dezzi said bluntly. “I need you to go to pharm and get General Aesthetic for a peds at below standard weight and Antibiotics for sepsis. Now.”

  “Right.” Sabrina was a Nurses assistant, meaning this was exactly what she was meant to do.

  “This is gonna go over you face okay?” Danse said to the Child as he got Ox going through an elastic band connected to a plastic mask. The girl could barely nod. The numbing agent working well.

  “Dezzi, we can’t operate on her until she’s under Gen-” Carlos, the Operational Assistant said. “And theres no Surgeons available. This floor is swamped, and the others aren’t Clocked in yet should we call-”

  Before they could continue, Dezzi spoke first. Interrupting them. “No. We’ve got this. A standard adult already has a 50/50 chance with a septic infection in the early stages. Thats bumped up with our meds. But this kid is underweight, underage, and already has internal wounds from ulcers. Her immune systems guaranteed weakened.” As they spoke, Dezzi began to spread out papers for surgery.

  “Prep iodine around lower ab.” They said, still ordering Danse as they continued. “Even if we get Dr. Cudder up and he’s as on time as he can be. Thats still almost an hour. He can’t run at 100 mph like I can.”

  “Prep tray.” Dezzi said to Carlos now, As they themselves got surgical instruments out of the cabinets on the opposite side of the room. A glass cabinet that held boxes and baskets of stored tools in plastic and paper. Including a single bag of O Neg.

  “Tray prepped.” Carlos answered. There was nothing else they could question for Dezzi. That had confidence in the Doctor.

  The OR doors opened, and Sabrina entered, holding multiple IV bags. The cloudy thick plastic of one, filled with dark greyish liquid, was the Calorie drip. Filled with vitamins, Calories, and other Macronutrients needed to get her off the knifes edge of starvation.

  “Hang the Calorie Bag on the hook. We’ll hook her after surgery. Sabrina?” Dezzi nodded to the Glass IV Bottle they had. Popular medicine hadn’t yet moved to more convenient packaging but was still as effective regardless of container. Puncturing the seal and connecting it to the drip, Dezzi connected the tube to the secondary IV Carlos had placed amidst their conversation.

  “Sabrina, start Gen anesthesia.” They gestured to the IV with a three way valve allowing for an outside injection without needing another tube. With a twist of a knob, one flow stopped, and the large syringe filled with pale green liquid was Plungered in.

  Dezzi’s eyes locked to the childs chest and nose. Watching as the fast paced breathing slowed to an ambient raise and fall. Eyes suddenly relaxing, lids hooding her eyes. Unfocused and glazed over.

  “She’s out, Scalpel–” Dezzi raised their hand to Carlos. “Heartrate still Tach.” Danse called out.

  “That narrows it down…” Dezzi’s eyes darkened as they too gazed at the monitor. Watching the red line spiking up and down quickly on the black background.

  “Starting incision” They said. Stainless steel blade pushing into the pale skin of the child. Pin prick of red forming from the cut. Steadily it began to flow as Dezzi cut the skin. And through the muscle. Red shifting to a slightly brighter hue from deeper vessels. Yellow spotted the skin sparsely.

  ‘There should be more subdermal fat in her stomach. This little?’ They shook their head gently.

  “Hook the skin, I can see large intestine.” Dezzi said. Hands starting to stain red as they reached up. The purple rubber gloves smearing against the lamp as they pulled it down for better lighting.

  “Pulling.” Carlos said. A small hooked instrument snagging the skin and holding it up. Shoving the spider webbing of veins and connective tissue against pink flesh. As they looked back down, Their eyes widened.

  The appendix. A small ‘tail’ like organ that is connected to the end of the colon is supposed to be small. It was what was known as an vestigial organ. An organ or piece of the body’s system that no longer serves a purpose in modern life. The Tail bone, Appendix, etc no longer had a use.

  But when the Appendix was enflamed? Filled with refuse and waste, it could swell and threaten to release all of the toxins. They kidneys usually are the ones flushing such thing out.

  They Human body, is a fickle beast however.

  This childs appendix was not just enflamed. But was nearly triple the standard size and had, just as they suspects, burst. Dark blood pulsing from the rupture. White fluid of Platelets and white blood cells attempting to fight the infection vehemently. Like a squad of soldiers ambushed on all sides in a flood of opposition.

  “Fuck…” Sabrina swallowed dryly. With a blink Dezzi’s head shot up, nodding to Danse. “We need to start a Saline Irrigation and Suction of debris. Theres clumped dead cells already leaking.”

  “Carlos, Hemostatic Clamps. Reach in and clamp at the top of the Appendix, just right at the edge on the Intestine, while Danse irrigates, I’ll clamp the bottom and continue removal.” Dezzi said, looking over to Monitor, heart rate still nominal.

  After handing the Clamps to the Mink, Carlos and Dezzi both reached in, doing exactly as needed. Sound of liquid running filled the air as Danse squeezed a large curved nozzle container of Saline, other hand sucking the thinned blood and toxins out.

  “Scissors.” Dezzi placed the Scalpel down, hand reaching out. Quickly, they snipped the flesh of the organ. Blood spilling. Slowly, skillfully, getting as close to the clamp as possible.

  “Appendix removed.” Danse said, pulling organ out and setting it and the clamps in a tray. Metal clattering as it did.

  “Begin sutures.” Dezzi said, setting the instruments down and leaning back. Their eyes locked while the others crisscrossed the threading. Irrigation finishing. The only blood now in the open wound was the typical color.

  With a final snip of scissors, thread was cut. Leaving the lower abdominal right next to the hip was stitched with blue. A flat piece of gauze taped down.

  A knob twists, and the antibiotics began to drip and flow. They didn’t even need to hook the Blood Bag. Sabrina twisted the valve, and then the Calorie IV flowed.

  “Ha…Phew…” Dezzi placed their hands on their hips. Head hanging forward. A sigh of relief leaving their mouth. The sound of rubber snapping, that for just a moment sent an image of Leroy through their mind, tossing the gloves away and snatching the face mask off.

  “Heart Rate lowering. 95 and steady. Antibiotics hit her system.” They spoke softly. “Get her to a room. I need to go back to Clincs…” Hands rubbed their eyes as the undressing Nurses gave Dezzi a surprised and strange look.

  “Back to Clinics? You can just be over this patient until another can take over.” Another snap of gloves.

  A heavy blink, their shoulders heaving up before lowering slightly. “Yeah. But we need those clinics cleared out. Besides, kids stable. And you can practice your bedside with the mother." Dezzi nodded to the feet that barely peeked into view across the hallway. The mom had passed out. Having laid down to rest her head.

  HOUR 3

  10:15-11:00 am.

  Dezzi clicked a pen light off and tucked it back into their pocket. The iris dilating back to normal as the Man in front of them struggled to not rub their eyes. Lids a dark pink with debris that was like grains of sand of a yellow hue crackled at the edges of their eyes.

  “Yep, just like I thought.” They scribbled onto a paper. “It’s pinkeye.”

  Still struggling to not scratch his infected eye. “Pinkeye? You mean the thing people get from playing butterfly kisses with peoples asses?” He crudely stated.

  Dezzi gave the man a side eye as they handed them the slip. “Yes. Fecal matter into the eye causes the form of bacteria that infects the eye with pinkeye.” The man took the slip.

  “Have you been down below? Or having people fart on you, skin to skin?” It was an absurd question but one that made the man recoil. “What? No! Of course not! I have a pet at home. Sleeps on the pillow.”

  “And probably they rubbed their bottom on it. Don’t feel bad they probably did it to show affection or something. Not to smear crap particles on your pillow.” They tapped the slip.

  “Go down to the front of the Hospital. Give them that and they’ll get you eyedrops that will help clear out the gunk, antibiotics to kill infection, and gently sooth the irritation so you don’t have the urge to itch.” The mans eye twitch, blinking quickly to relieve even a bit of the itch.

  “Right. Thanks doc…” Dezzi washed their hands and walked out of the room.

  Male, 19…5’5. Complaining of genital pain and discomfort. Dezzi rolled their eyes and backed into the room.

  Repeating the same preamble as before. The teen began to describe their issue. “My dick! I don’t think it’s working! It wont get goin’ ya know what aI mean?” The man was exacerbated. Waving his hands, eyes frantic.

  Dezzi, just held their hands together. Looking up at the teen through their brow with an unamused but mindful look on their furred face.

  “Whats goin on Doc???” He finally finished after what felt like 15 minutes of rambling.

  Breathing deeply, and exhaling a sigh. “Do you smoke? Drink? Take medications?” They tilted their head to the side.

  “Uhh….I take this blood pressure meds? My family has hypertents or something.” He scratched the back of his neck. It was a scratchy and rough sound. Dezzi’s ears twitching. “Hypertension?” They stood.

  “That may be possible but. Let me see you hand.” They asked snapping gloves on and holding the Teens hand. Looking over their hairy arms. There was a texture to them. Almost like hives. A rash. Moving behind the man, they brushed their long hair out of the way from the back of their neck. Revealing deeply scratched and reddened rash against the skin.

  “Oh–” A pattern like a bullseye spread the across the skin. Red and enflamed rings with a large dot in the middle of the neck where a small brown shape that looked almost like a mole sat. But with their expert eyes, and not even a use of supernatural powers, they could tell it was–

  A tick.

  “Hmmm….” Narrowing their eyes. They began speaking “Do you spend a lot of time in the woods on the Jungle side of Cymbal?”

  They teens gaze looked over their shoulder. “Uh, yeah? Why?”

  Tensing their thumb and index, claws popped out of the tips of their fingers. In a blur their hand snapped forward and snatched the tick out of the skin. Leaving nothing behind from the speed.

  Putting it in front the teens eyes, they continued. “Tick.”

  “What…The fuck!” He recoiled.

  “Your low libido is caused by Lyme Disease. A disease thats spread by tick bites. If you were in the south most section of the jungle, theres a known area infested with ticks. As the rest of the jungle does not have them. They are hard to spot.” Wiping tick into a piece of paper, the Pirate Doctor tossed it into the bin.

  “Is– Is there a–?”

  “A treatment?” Dezzi answered for them. “Of course. You don’t have it to bad. I doubt you’ll suffer any of the worst symptoms like Meat Alkergy–”

  “MEAT ALLERGY?!" The teen sudden screamed. Blowing straight into the Minks ears. Head craning to the side from the intensity.

  “Ah– yes…” They rubbed their ear. “Red Meat. Like Steak. Not White meat like Poultry. But I doubt you have it. The treatment is simple.” A scribble of their froggy novelty pen dashed across the paper.

  “Amoxicillin. Taking either by injection or pill–” Another interruption. “Pills.” The man said bluntly. “No needles.”

  “Alright. Take this, don’t go to the Pharmacy, in Pip City theres a pharmacy that gets shipments of medicines every month. They sell them cheap.” Far cheaper than the Pharmacy's ludicrous upcharge. Dezzi did not want to have this poor kid wringed out of money.

  “Alight.” He nodded. “Thanks Doc.”

  “Of course” A gentle smile spread across their lips.

  Female, 6’3, age 45. 125 lbs. Reporting stuffed nose and coughing with drowsiness. Backing into the door yet again, the moment they turned to see the woman, Surrounded by tissues. Struggling to blow her nose, eyes hazy.

  “Kaff KAFF!” She coughed harshly. Scratchily. Their head hung forward. “You have Hay Fever. Red Eyes, Running nose, struggle blowing and getting rid of mucus, scratchy cough. Get home, drink water, rest.”

  They began writing the rest. “Take a teaspoon of Honey. Sip of warm tea. Eat Berry fruits for Vitamin C. And if you have soups, eat slowly. The steam will open your nose more and the Carbs will give you energy to fight the allergy. Keep windows closed, and rest.”

  The woman was flabbergasted. It all sounded right. But such a quick diagnosis. With such confidence. She really didn’t have the mind to question. She only nodded, mouth agape.

  HOUR 4

  11:00 am - 12:00 pm

  ‘Bowel pain, trouble sitting down, loss of appetite…’ Dezzi sighed again. Shaking their head from side to side before pushing the glass door in and drawing the curtain.

  “Good Morning, I’m RNP, Dezzi. Can you please give me a run down of your symptoms?” Dezzi fained scratching out notes on the page. Instead filling their time with drawing cute caricatures of animals on the corner of the folder.

  Bowel pain. Lack of movement. No passage of stool in two days. High Carb Diet. No history of Lactose intolerance or allergy. That was all on the File. Dezzi knew exactly what it was before even entering into the room.

  “Okay. I think I understand whats going on and have a solution.” There was no ‘think’. They knew. It was a near 100% certainty. They didn’t even need to use their super abilities to look inside of the man.

  “You’re constipated. Everything you are describing explains it perfectly.” They peaked out of the curtain and into the hall. Looking from side to side. A question of ‘Whats constipation?’ behind the mink.

  Eyes widened as they spotted who they were looking for. Akari. Akari was a Registered Nurse. Had no want for doing more like Dezzi. They were a petite man, about 5’4. Short hair. Lean, wide hips, large legs and thin hands. Perfect for dressing wounds, stitches, and a good soft face for bedside manner.

  “Psst! Akari! Get me the stool softener from the Nurses Station!” Dezzi whispered, loudly. Catching the mans attention. “Oh! Right!” He hurried off down the Hall. At the end hall way, in to opening to the multiple hallways for other patients waiting rooms, was a large desk carved into a corner of one. About half a dozen nurses should typically be there at any given time. At the lowest, 3. But there was only one currently.

  And that was a Akari, now approaching. Walking behind the desk, and opening a cabinet on the wall with a dozen typical, non descript medications.

  “Here.” He handed the bottle to the Doctor moments later.

  “Thanks!”

  The woman still holding her abdomen looked at Dezzi with confusion. “Constipation–” Dezzi began. “Is where your stool” They saw the look on the Womans face. “Poop.” That got through.

  “Has built up, and stiffened. Becoming to compact from your diet. And now makes it hard to pass. Let me guess. You could pass once. But it hurt a lot huh?” They cocked a brow.

  “Ye-Yeah…” She looked away with a flustered look. Embarrassed from the private information being guess.

  “No need to feel embarrassed. Its natural. Here.” Dezzi poured the white pink liquid into a glass, small. Looking almost like a liquor shotglass. But with measuring lines on the side. Clearly medical.

  “Drink this.” They handed the tiny cup to the woman, who sniffed it with suspicion. With a soft nod. Dezzi turned to the sink, and turned it on. The liquid traveled down her throat, followed by a recoil. It tasted like dull chalk!

  “Here. Water.” Furred hand raised to hand the pre-prepared cup to the woman, drinking it down slowly in relief. “The stool softener should work for the next 14 hours. And you should be able to pass the backup no problem.”

  “Watch the amount of Grain you eat. Bread, Pastas, that sort of stuff. Eat a balance of Meat and Vegetables and you won’t have this problem again alright? You can leave when ever!” The woman had a look of surprise, watching as Dezzi walked out of the room.

  Ears twitching as another Nurse, Barbra, rubbed her face. Dezzi could feel the intense emotion coming from her meager aura. Picking up the pace, Dezzi spoke up. “Barb. Whats up?” The mink whispered, hand on the womans arm, looking over their own shoulder to the patient observation room she’d just come from.

  Barbra was a 12th year nurse at this Hospital. Her hair tied into a tight braid down her back. Tired bags under her dark brown skin. Crows feet at the corners of her eyes.

  “Right as I clock out. Go into do a standard check up, Woman. 30’s. Came in for her six month. And reported chest pains…” Barb shook her head in disbelief. Eyes gently closing.

  Dezzi nodded slowly. Gesturing for Barb to enter into the observation room with them. Silently. The two entered the dimly lit room. There was no patient in here. The woman was on the other side of one way mirror that lined the upper half of the cement brick wall.

  The woman in the room looked, normal. By all external observations. But the fact that a wheel out X-Ray machine, a large, clunky, top of the line piece of equipment was nearby. Now off. Worried Dezzi.

  The sound of warbling plastic caught Dezzi’s attention back to Barb. Thin blue sheets clicking into place against the wall mounted light box. Illuminating the piece.

  Dezzi…Chewed their lip. And crossed their arms. The Mammary X-Ray, showed a large breast. But the internals of it. And deep in the tissue, almost in the ‘Heart’ of the fat and tissue. Was a massive, walnut sized spot.

  A Tumor.

  Dezzi’s eyes closed slowly. “Its metastasized.” They murmured. “Yes.” Barb did the same back. “How far? Bone? Muscle? Cardiac?”

  “Lung.” Barb said bluntly. “She also reported being recently short of breath on her runs.”

  “That explains the Chest pain. Looks like it’s attempting to reach musculature.” Dezzi said. Pointing at the streaks. “I thought those would be vessels for such a large breast? Thats what Radiology thinks too?”

  “No. Look at the shape.” They took two strides. Pointing with their furred hand. “Almost looks like a vessel. But it streaks slightly. Thats the tumor.”

  “You mind?” Dezzi asked picking up her file on the counter. “By all means. You have higher authority, don’t need to even ask. Closest to attending on this floor.”

  “Whose supposed to be on this floor right now?” Dezzi kept their eyes on the paper, turning their head to speak toward Barb.

  “Right now its supposed to be Dr. Benedict.” Dezzi side eyed that name. “Benedict? Really?” Dezzi rolled their eyes.

  Dr. Benedict wa a bit of a infamous name in the Hospital. He was about 94 years old. But by his own account was still in practice cuz he had another 30 years. That wasnt the most outrageous. Oslar was 140’s and in excellent health.

  No. The infamous thing was not his age. Or his mental aquity, which despite age, was excellent.

  It was his methods.

  Dr. Benedict was the type to prescribe morphine, Mercury, and other Hermetic and Alchemical solutions and Salves, Balms, Vigors, and the like. The type to use leaches. But not for understandable reasons, but for anything about ‘Bad blood’

  He had tenure. Was the first attending to sign the Hospitals take over for the outside Corporations. Thus, he was tolerated. Put in low risk places. He knew medicine. Well. Extremely so. But his reliance on long and recently disproved remedies and medicine was holding him back.

  “Has he looked at her?” Dezzi asked. Scratching their blue hair.

  “Well. You know Ben. He doesn’t sign anything unless he deems it necessary.” A pen clicked, and Barb scratched her hair line.

  “Yes. And he’s notorious for over looking the ‘More fair of the sexes’” Dezzi smirked and made a mock of the accent he had. A posh sounding one.

  “Heh.” Barb chuckled out. But the light hearted energy left quickly as Dezzi held their hands in front of themselves. A sigh leaving their blue nose. “I’ll tell her.”

  Barb didn’t say anything. Letting Dezzi leave the room. A quick glance over her shoulder to the one-way. Watching as Dezzi walked into the Room.

  “Good morning.” Dezzi said. Smile spreading across their face.

  “Oh my!” The woman said. She was fit. Lean. Narrow waist. Slim sharp face. Strong legs. Short brown hair. Fair skinned. A large chest. Something that certainly had gotten her glances many times. But now. The mink knew the horrors that sat in the tissue.

  But the smile never faltered.

  “A mink! It’s been sometime since i seen one of you folk!” She said graciously. “Really?” Dezzi offered small talk. “Who was the last one? I might know them!”

  “Oh please, Doctor. I know all minks don’t know each other. Same with Fishmen. Just like humans.” She offered an amused look.

  “Caught me!” Dezzi raised their hands in a comedic defense, before clapping them down on their knees. “Andy. A Stallion. My Husband.” Dezzi’s ears twitched, eyes widening. “He has…Beautiful black mane. Loves going for runs with me, but he’s always faster. Lush and soft dark brown coat. And his face. Jaw line that may be equine, but can cut diamonds!” She smiled and looked away.

  “We’ve known each other for a long time. Used to live out in the Forest. Nice little hamlet. His dad moved here for farm work. Now after the farm was bought up and his dad passed. We moved to Pip. It’s nice.” She smiled more melancholically this time around.

  “Heh.” Dezzi smirked. “Andy seems like a nice guy. So–” They began, cutting the chatting at the right time.

  “Chest pains? Trouble breathing? Did come in today because of that or?” Their brow furrowed. Feining a lessened sense of worry. “Oh I came today because of my standard 6 month. I always try to do my best with my health. Vitamins. Diet. Body health that sorta stuff.”

  “Then I started having some pains in my chest. Thought it was just me not stretching and–” She gestured to her chest. "Back pain now in the front. Ya know.” Dezzi nodded along.

  “And I started getting my check up every six months now. Dr. Benedict has been the one seeing me mostly. I don’t have a Doctor. So he’s been the one seeing me.” Of course he was. Busy attendings. Physicians stacked with their own patients. Any one that doesn’t have a regularly assigned family medicine doctor or physician. Anyone available takes them.

  “You see–” She breathed in. “I brought it up today because. I just wanna make sure its nothin’.” She shrugged. “Me and Andy. We aint gettin’ any younger and we’ve been thinkin’ about…Tryin’ for kids.” Her eyes stayed lowered on the floor.

  “Ms–” Dezzi began.

  “Mrs.” She corrected. “Mrs. Bakushin Francy.” The Doctor Nodded. The smile faltered for only a moment. The Wife did not notice.

  “Francy. Barbra, the Nurse that saw you and gave you an X-Ray has asked me for a secondary consultation.” Francy nodded with curiosity. “I see. Was wondering where Dr. Benedict was.”

  “You’re physical health is great. Everything seems fine. Blood Pressures Great. Heart Rate, Oxygen, Vitals. Weight for your age. Everything seems good.” Francy began to smile at the words.

  “I feel like you’re goin’ to say ‘But’.” She nervously chuckles.

  Dezzi’s smile fades. Eyes furrowing tightly. “Yeah– Theres a big but.”

  “What is it?” Her heart fell for a moment at the anticipation. A pang of pain in her chest.

  “You’re vitals a good. But. The Xray has shown something— Surprising.” Dezzi slowly nodded their head as they got each word out. “In your left breast. There is a ‘Mass’. About the size of a walnut. A tumor.”

  Her eyes began to mist. Hazel irises glistening. “Whats that mean?”

  Of course. She’d probably need an older world. “You Carcenoma. And it has grown. Very, very large. It has…Invade the rest of your breast tissue. And seeped into you bones and muscle. The reason why you have…Been having difficulty breathing is not back pain…”

  Both of their eyes watered. “It has spread to your lungs. Metastasized. Spread.” Francy’s hand slapped over her mouth. It was hard to understand but that word. Carcinoma. It was like hearing ‘death’ or ‘venom’ to her. Specifics were beyond her but she got it.

  “Dr. Dezzi?” Francy choked out. Moving her hand slowly. “Am…Am I going to die? I don’t know what this means. I have so many plans, I was gonna start a new job. Oh god what am I gonna tell Andy-” She began to unravel. Tears streaming.

  Dezzi reached forward. “Mrs Bakushin. We are going to do everything we can. Right now…It’s not looking great. But it is our duty to do everything we can. Okay?” They nodded slowly to try and calm her.

  It was hard for her. But she nodded along.

  “What has Dr. Benedict done for you? Has he said anything about this at all?” Francy shook her head. Breath shaky. “N-no. I mean. He looked at my chest all the previous times. More that I usually get done. But I told him about my plans and he said ‘a healthy teat is a healthy mother’ said something about a minor abnormality thats normal apparently I kinda couldnt understand what he was saying.” She attempted a chuckle.

  Dezzi bit their lip. Trying to steady themselves. Dr. Benedict knew. “What has he given to you?”

  “Umm…” She thought about it. Pondering for a moment. “He gave me this…cream? Small tin. Uhh I have it with me–” She reached over to her bag and pulled out a small tin. Similar to a balm. Dezzi gently pulled it from her offered out hand and untwisted the cap.

  The smell hit immediately. Acrid. Chemical.

  Arsenic.

  ‘Arsenic against the tissue at this stage causes breakdown of cells and membranes. Weakens the immune system and can cause tumor cells to increase growth. There was already a slim chance of survival…But this– In her system the entire time?’ Dezzi thought in their mind.

  ‘She doesn’t have even a month left to live…And she doesn’t know it because her body is killing itself, sped up by this balm, and damaging her nerves. No wonder she looks normal. Her body literally doesn’t know what to do and acts ‘normal’.’

  Twisting the cap back. Dezzi’s eyes shaded. As they looked to the womans chest. Their kata would give them a better look than any X-Ray…

  But they couldn’t look more than a moment.

  It was just…Black.

  “Doctor?” Francy attempted. “Well…” Dezzi began. “This uh…Changes things. This balm has had adverse effects than what was anticipated and it’s caused The likelihood of successful treatment to…plumet.”

  Her eyes narrowed. “Wa-Wait what? You just said.”

  “I know. I was hedging a bet. But–” Francy couldn’t handle it any more.

  “Hedging a bet?! What the hell do you mean hedging a bet?! Am I going to die or not? What kinda Doctor are you? Don’t you have answers?!” She began to raise her voice and yell.

  “Mrs. Bakushin, please. I had not known about the Balm. Its not listed in your charts. But–”

  “But what?! Dr. Benedict said it was going to help me! He said it would! He was confident it would. But you don’t even know? Wheres Dr. Benedict. I wanna see him.” She became hysteric. Emotions flying through her mind at a thunderous pace.

  “Francy please. We are going to do all we can. We’ll make sure that you can rest, help you ease–” They tried. But it was cut off.

  “Ease? Help? Help me what? Die?! I just–” Both of them suddenly stopped. As the door opened.

  The grey haired. Balding. Spectacle wearing. Hunched over form of none other than–

  Dr. Benedict, Entered the room.

  Dezzi stepped back for a moment. Benedict speaking with that posh accent, through silky pitched throat. “Oh my dear. You are in hysterics!” He said simply. The womans eyes lightning up slightly. “Dr. Benedict–”

  He interrupted her. “Whats wrong, Woman. Here for another check up? Whats the matter? Has their been chest pain?” He said. Dezzi’s eyes narrowed. Of course he’d know there would be at this stage. But he assumes its fine.

  “Yes. I’ve been applying the balm daily.” Dezzi closed their eyes as Francy spoke. “Dr. Benedict–” They began.

  A old, wrinkled hand rose. Silencing Dezzi. “I think you’ve done enough my Caprian College." Caprian…Caprian. That was the old word. The formal, legal, and antiquated biological term for Minks. Piscine were Fishmen. Humans had one too, it was Arnaquia. Similar to Monkey. Denoting humanity.

  And Caprian…Was the closest to slur without saying it…

  “Are you are of her Cancer?” Dezzi forced out. Eyes locked on the ground.

  “Her Carcinoma? Yes. It is normal and treatable. Her feminine humors are merely out of balance. Most likely caused by her hysteria. Its nothing serious” Francy began to smile. Hand coming to squeeze the affected breast. Breathing out slowly.

  “Dr. Benedict you gave her Arsenic. It has damaged her–” The mans patience wore thin. “Ma’am please. You have done enough. I do not know why you are up here. I appreciate the help, but you and me both know you are better suited for the Nurses Station.”

  “The temperament of your people suits such a station. Don’t take it the wrong way.” That was it.

  Dezzi cracked their index with the bottom of their thumb.

  In a blur! Dezzi crossed the room! And slammed Dr. Benedict against the wall! Shaking the entire confines of concrete! “Thats enough out of you, you fraud! First you insult this woman and every woman like her by not giving her the care necessary because you just sum it to some…”

  Francy looked with horror for a moment. And Dezzi let the words rip from their throat.

  “Bullshit!” They swore. Actually swore. For the first time in their life.

  “Then you give her poison! Know about her Cancer! And could have left in the hands of people that actually know what the hell they’re doing! You call yourself a Doctor and yet you have killed this woman before her body even knows it! Poisoned her! Allowed a hard, but treatable illness to now be her death!” The hands tightened. Lightning crackling.

  “Mock me! Insult me! My Identity and my race all be you believe in some utter nonsense! And yet who would they call if you were bleeding out? They’d call me? Not just because I’m a more adequate doctor than you’ll ever be. But because my blood. My Caprian Blood. Is perfectly compatible and would save your life…”

  “No matter what you believe!” Dezzi barked. Teeth grit.

  “All because you have Tenure! And you signed to sell out this hospitals souls and wish to damn ever patient in here! Who knows all the people you’ve murdered…”

  “By letting you stay….” Knuckles tightened to a vice grip.

  A sudden slam sounded out! Dezzi looked over their shoulder! Francy now laid on the ground! Collapsed! “Dezzi!” Barb called out, now in the room followed behind by Doyle, Security.

  “Dezzi!” Doyle said. But Dezzi was already moving. Releasing Dr. Benedict from their grasp. Racing across the room and falling to their knees in front of Francy.

  “Get a cart! She’s going into Cardiac arrest! The Arsenic weakened the Cardiac Muscle and finally put her body in shock!” They put their fingers to her nose. “No nose breath! Breathing Brady!” Dezzi began chest compressions.

  “A Laceration to her Chest wall should fix the Hysteria induced Ghasly!” Benedict offered. Attempting to move closer, but a swipe of the doctors hand, a blast of Conduit Ice chilled the doctor in his path.

  “Doyle get him out of here! Dr. Benedict If I ever see you on Hospital Grounds again, I will gladly show you why you believe all minks are Violent and why we have the proportional strength of mammals! I expect you to have your resignation by the end of the day!”

  Dezzi continued compressions. Four inches deep. “Barb!” Dezzi yelled. Snapping Barb back. “Crash cart, now!”

  “Fuck it…” Dezzi swore again. Flattening their hands and pushing against the chest at the right angle they called. “Clear!” Her body jolted. They held compressions. No pulse. “Resuming compressions.”

  Akari rushed into the room with a bed. “Dezzi!”

  HOUR 5 12:00- 1:00 PM

  “One two three!” Akari counted before helping Dezzi lift the woman carefully up onto the bed. Quickly the wheeled the bed out room. Barb following behind “Dezzi cart!”

  Dezzi grabbed the Defib and hopped onto the lower rail of the Cart, setting the device next to Francy. Quick turns of the Knobs, Akari continued to push the bed that now also deftly carried Dezzi.

  “Clear!” Pushing the red buttons on the paddle the charge attempted another forceful restart of the heart. With their observation They watched as the heart still did not resume Cardiac Activity.

  “Nothing!” The Cart crashed into the Emergency OR. White lights blaring around the white sterile room. Dezzi hopping down and resuming compressions. “She needs to be intubated. Now!” They ordered to Akari.

  CRACK!

  Something gave in her chest. “Dezzi! I think you just broke a rib!” Akari said using the Largynoscope, a hooked tool that was used to open the way into the Esophagus. Once open, Akari pushed the endotracheal tube down into the Trachea

  “She’s technically dead right now. I’d rather brake 12 more if it meant bringing her back to life!” Dezzi said, watching as Barb now came in and hooked Francy to EKG. “Bag her!”

  They glanced to Akari. Bringing out the squeezable bag, Akari pulled the hook out and connected a blue bag. Beginning squeezing. Completing intubation and starting to force air in and out of her lungs.

  “Holding compression!” Dezzi called stepping back. The beep of the EKG’s lack of activity was deafening. “Attempting Defib.” Another shock. No activity.

  “Push a dose of 2 mg of Epinephrine, diluted in 10cc, through intubation.” Push. Push. Push. Dezzi continued. Barb got the solution out quickly and begin the exactly ordered .

  “Flush with 20cc saline. We attempt Defib again in 60 seconds.” Barb nodded. Akari continuing bag breaths.

  “Hold compression!” Dezzi called out. “Beginning Defib.” Shock. A Jolt of the body. Muscles tensing. No spontaneous activity of the heart.

  “Restarting compressions.” Their eyes focused. Watching the womans lifeless closed eyes as they pressed deep into their chest. Forcing her heart to pump.

  “3 minutes passed. Now push 3.5 mg of Epi. Flush with 20cc saline.” Another push. Another flush. The ekg did not begin its steady pulse in tune with the heart. Sounds of syringes clattering. Bag decompressing.

  A maelstrom of noise. And it was the only thing Dezzi could hear.

  “Dezzi….” Barb slowly shook her head side to side. “You know that if we bring her back…Its just gonna happen again.”

  “If I let her die now it’ll be murder at the hands of and attending. If I bring her back. He gets malpractice and license stripped in the best case. But she lives and we give her time.” Sweat began matting their blue hair and white fur.

  “Time to let her husband see her alive…Time for anything. Any amount of comfort in life. Even if it means while being intubated. I’d rather her body fail and her pass than having a sudden arrest from the stress of and news of two doctors fighting.” Hsss…Hsss…The Bag continued.

  “Holding!” Nothing.

  “Clear!” Another jolt. No Spontaneous cardiovascular activity or breathing.

  “Dezzi you know we can only do this one more time. We’re pushing a final third dose of max allowed.” Akari shook slightly.

  Dezzi resumed compression, Epi pushed. Flushed. Another rib. ‘Neurological damage happens at a max 7 mg of Epinephrine. We’re allowed 3 total attempts until we need call it.’ Dezzi thought. Tears welling in their eyes.

  “Holding compressions.” Their jaw left handing. Trembling while the machine did not register spontaneous activity….

  “Defib. One more time! Clear!” They screamed. A jolt. Tensing body.

  Nothing….

  Akari looked to his watch…And almost began to speak. Dezzi was breathing hard. “Push 300mg amiodarone, I’m resuming compressions.”

  “Dezzi-”

  “As acting physician on this floor that is an order. Push 300, now!” They demanded. Hands beginning to glow with good medicine. Forcing its way into her heart. The medicine being forced to push was a potent drug, a last resort.

  They were dumping supernatural energy into it. This was another last resort. There wasn’t 100% certainty that the positive energy even if the muscle was repaired. It would restart…

  If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  With their aura. They began to discharge a controlled amount of Electro shock into the heart directly at the right perfect voltage…

  “Phew….” Arms began to burn.

  “Holding compressions….” they stepped back. Tears welling. Eyes closed shut…There was no signal…

  Beep…

  It sounded like a ghost. A false auditory hallucination from a hope of what they all wanted to hear. Dezzi’s eyes shot up. There was nothing on the EKG. But all eyes were on it.

  They all heard. It.

  Beep beep…

  A chill ran down their back.

  “We have spontaneous circulation!” Dezzi declared. Eyes shooting to the other two nurses. They didn’t waste a moment! “Resuming compressions!”

  Push, push, push, push! Four inches deep. Release. All they down. The heart forced to to move and pump blood. Precious blood filled with medicine.

  And it was…A perfect storm.

  “Holding…” Dezzi’s hands didn’t leave the chest. But a different sound. One that could fill a country with jubilation.

  Beep Beep. Beep Beep. Beep Beep.

  “We have heart rate. 75. BP: 110 over 75.” Barb pulled her scope into her ears and listened. “Breathing bilateral! Quiet though. But its there. Sustainable.” She shook. “Remove tube?”

  “Yes. Get her on Oxy.” They folded their arms. “Push a dose of morphine for pain when she wakes. She’ll feel the soreness and aches from defib and cardiac arrest. She’s out…”

  Dezzi released a decompressive sighed. “Hah…She’s alive…She’s alive…”

  “Get her bed upstairs. Somebody contact andy. A horse mink in Pip. Her husband. Somebody– I’ll tell him the news…She’s got…a month most…” Dezzi shook their head slowly. And then nodded.

  HOUR 6

  1:00pm-2:00pm

  Dezzi walked into the room. Family consultation room. Private.

  The wails of a man with 12 horsepower lungs shook the room as the news was delivered to him. No one could see them. No one could hear the words or the way Dezzi delivered the news. In the end. Such news could not be received in any other way regardless of how or who said it.

  By the time Andy got back to his wifes room. His face was stained with streaking tears. Eyes, ever filled with love for his wife, never leaving her. Holding her hand as she was still unconscious.

  Dezzi’s eyes shut as they inhaled. And exhaled.

  HOUR 7

  2:00pm - 3:00pm.

  The Cafeteria of the Hospital was a large blue ceiling-nd. White tiles. Black circular cafeteria tables with connected round seats. Nurses. Family Members of Patients. Staff. Doctors.

  Dezzi got the usual. Yogurt, Ranch and Veggies, and an Egg Sandwich. It was always a pain to pay for the lunch for the Cafeteria. They only got an hour at most for lunch. But ER always technically had only 25 minutes.

  Fingering through the coins from their coin bag; a tiny Orange Cat with bright eyes and large ears that flapped off the sides. Waku Nakuchan, a popular cutesy brand of merchandise. Cartoons, Picture Books, Manga, any and everything of ‘Nakuchan’ a cute Orange striped cat that gets into a variety of Antics and trouble. Much like an Orange Cat does.

  Inside, there were only a few Coins. A Darker Brown Coin with a Berry Seed on it. A ‘Pelly’. When the Red Sashes were sailing. Pelly rarely mattered. They dealt in the highest Berry Notes when with Treasure or buying and Trading.

  Kirk once explained the money to Dezzi and Leroy. Raven filled in the rest. There was denominations from a 0.01, 0.05, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 1, 5, 10, 25. And Bills that started just like coins from 1 to 25, then 50, 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000. Raven said that each of the images on the Notes and Coins were all places from the World Government. People. Celestials. Marines. Imagery.

  All Dezzi had was a few pelly and a five berry note. Filled with swirls and line work; number 5 in opposite diagonal corners. A blank circle in the middle as all notes did. A thick neck man with a large birthmark on his head with a comb over and large mustache. Georgiana Holm. A Politician that organized the initial leaders that formed the World Government. He represented them all then, and now.

  Dezzi poured it all out. The Cashier fingered through the Coins. “You’re one short.” The young woman in a fishnet hairnet said.

  “Ugh…” Dezzi groaned. Patting their pockets and shaking the coin pouch.

  Nothing.

  “I don’t got anything. Cmon? Please? It’s just one pelly. I’ll pay you back when I get paid.” They pleaded to the Cashier. She was young. And it was not that big of a deal to her. She rolled her eyes “Fine whatever. When you get paid. If you don’t go covering Bills again”

  That was why Dezzi had no cash. Most Doctors and Nurses that lived at the Hospital in the Dorms had little they had to pay for besides personal necessities. Dezzi on the other hand…Wracked up quite a Debt.

  But they thought it was better them than the Patients.

  Clicking the door open to the roof through the steel stairwell, Dezzis eyes squinted from the rays. Hand coming to block for all but a moment before registering the figure that stood at the Ledge of the Hospital

  “Whatre you doin up here?” Dezzi asked. Lunch pale in their other hand. Designed with Nakuchan. Now a tad more grumpy and coy as the series progressed.

  “Could be askin the same of you.” Lodge asked. Not even looking at the Doctor behind him. He held his hands in his pockets. He was precariously at the edge. Beyond the railing. Looking at the wide, still and glistening blue water of the lake the hospital sat in the middle of. Sun high in the sky.

  “Don’t tell me you’re thinkin about throwin yourself over that ledge…” Dezzi said. Eyes softening. “Today of all days, and on my shift? Not cool dude.” Dezzi leaned against the railing. Watching as lodge leaned forward. Watching again. “

  “Or I might just have to stab you my self!” Dezzi gave a coy cattish grin. Poking their sharp knife like claw out. Lodge smirked, shaking his head in return.

  “No. Just thinkin. Theres always a reason to comeback over there…But I’m havin a hard time thinking of one now.” He relaxed his shoulders, head hanging. Sigh yet again releasing from his lips.

  “Its the job that keeps on given. Grey hairs, Chaffing, Ulcers.” Their eyes looked back at Lodge. “Suicidal Ideations…” Dezzi leaned under the Railing and walked up to the Ledge. “But.” They sat down. Legs dangling off the edge.

  “But its also the Job people rely on. Without us they won’t get better. We wont learn. Get better. Help more people. Public Servants right? Whats the point of doing all of this is if its for anything other than to heal people and make the world a better place one step at a time.

  “Hahaha!” Lodge chuckled. Slowly lowering himself down to sit next to Dezzi. Legs dangling over the edge just the same.

  With a click. The pale opened and they saw the freshly purchased lunch. “You remind me a lot of her you know that?” Lodge began to speak. Dezzi’s ears twitched and looked up to the other doctor. Finger pointing at themself.

  “Yes you. You’re so much like Oslar. That same optimism. And the same pessimism. The skill of it too.”

  Crunch. Dezzi bit onto the Celery stick.Lashes batting. “I say this because…How much longer do you plan to fight here? You don’t have infinite time. You’ve got a year left. Earn Doctorate. Finish your training. And then you head back out to a life of Piracy.”

  Lodge held the edge. “Why not just keep a low profile? Let it all pass. Just do your thing and keep leave?”

  Crunch. Dezzi thought for a moment. Why did they? Cymbal was a temporary place amongst hundreds of other places they’d go with their Captain, Leroy. But wasn’t that the exact reason?

  “Thats the problem. This is my thing. I grew up along time seeing what people not being able to get the treatment they need because of money. Because of access. And even when they did…” Their legs stop kicking. Thinking to Drumvolc. After the Blackbeard attack, all the people that were left with such little care because the Doctors were killed and it was up to only Dezzi and Oslar to take care of them. They couldn’t possibly let it happen again.

  Lodge just nodded. “Doesnt help that now your in a precarious edge of things. Hardgrove. Patients. Studying. The Board. Patrons.” He turned to look finally. “Benedict.”

  “Ugh.” Dezzi tossed a carrot off the edge. With more strength than anticipated, causing it to be casually hurled a hundred meters. Where it was then snatched from the air by a large trout. “You heard about that did you?”

  “Of course I did.” Lodge said. “You don’t spend so long as temp head and not be the first person to find this stuff out.”

  “Not to say the old cook quack doesn’t deserve it. He did. But you know now, Hardgrove will attempt to use this against you to prevent your signature. She’s got 25 of the 27 attendings in the hospital. Three on each floor. She needs one from every for the Clause. The only ones left are vets and rookies. And I’m no Longer a technical Attending.” Lodge couldnt be so long as he was Temp. And once leaving Temp he was roadblocked from becoming Attending again.

  “5 Attendings have been let go.” Counts on his fingers. “2 Vets. Total Career of 35 years. 3 Recently post Residency Attendings.”

  “Damn shame Hedge Cymbal Trauma Medical Teaching Hospital ejected such sound minds so quickly. I tried everything. But they used all the loops holes they could. Distance. Lack of In house Education. But you?” He points.

  “You not only live here. You study and work here. Along with Residency. Meaning by technicality and Legality. If with your outstanding Debts, unless they somehow got a Debt Collector to come after you. Which would be a hard thing to do given security. They don’t have legal jurisdiction to enter property if they are barred by security.”

  They idly spooned at their Yogurt. “Unless they get a bounty hunter to come after me. I do still have an Active Bounty on my head.”

  Another harsh breath. “Yes. That is the biggest one. Luckily. Cymbal isn’t yet a World Government Affiliated Nation. Meaning Marines aren’t present here unless they get a call from the nearby base. Which…Now days the Jackboots have been getting more and more islands to sign pacts and protection agreements. Which means there aren’t patrols searching for suspect descriptions. But there are people who may recognize you.”

  “Though, why would they want to snitch on their doctor who just paid of their debt. But that doesnt stop if someone calls in a bounty hunter, or CPA on this island” CPA was on cymbal as apart of a ‘Developed Island Liaison and Communication Agreement’...” He waves his hand.

  “Enough of that. That aint gonna happen. Enough people trust you and that Poster, even with your full name doesn’t have ‘Oslar’ on it. Nor a good photo of you.” Dezzi smiled.

  “Well thats because I was a Monster at that time. A Little medicine I concocted.” Dezzi’s feet resumed kicking as they chewed on their sandwich. “I believe it.” Lodge answered back.

  “Any way. Come by Office Later tonight. Just make sure its before you get off your shift.” He tapped the minks shoulder. Slowly swivling around to face into the roof before standing up with some pain. Popping a pill in his mouth and leaning on his cane once on the other side of the rail.

  “Just know. With all that noise about Benedict? Just don’t let Hardgrove corner you. If you do, it’s over. She’ll use everything in that conversation to get you put down a peg or out.”

  Closing the lunch pale Dezzi responded. “Not if Benedict knows whats good for him.” Small smile over their lips once again, when Lodges voice caught their ear. Eyes lighting up as they looked behind their shoulder.

  “Kid, I’ve taught a lot Doctors at this place. Hundreds Probably.” He glanced behind to Dezzi. “And by far…You’re the best one I’ve ever seen. Just remember that.” As Lodge finally disappeared, Dezzi could feel their eyes begin to haze.

  HOUR 8

  2:00 pm - 3:00 pm

  “How could this happen…” Andy said, holding his Wifes hand, Francy gently awake. The painkillers doing their magic. Relaxing her and putting her at ease. “Honey…It’s okay. Please don’t worry too bad…” She tried to ease him.

  “Not worry? Fran, you’re- You’re gonna die! He squeezed her hand. “Is there nothing we can do-” Both of their eyes looked to the door. Dezzi entering past the threshold.

  “Doctor..!” Fran smiled softly. “I was worried I wasn’t gonna see you again!” Her voice was coarse and rough. “I try to check up on people staying. Make sure they’re alright.” Dezzi offered a gently look to the two.

  “How are you feeling?” Dezzi clasped their hands together in front of themselves as they walked toward them. “Heheh…Could be better…But I’m as good as I can be now that Andy’s here” She looked over to him. Squeezing his hand this time. His hands, large and covered in a short but thick layer of fur just like all minks. Giving their hands a soft, and almost skin like feel despite being covered in hairs; Looked massive compared to Frans. Dwarfing hers. Andy’s thumb ran over his wifes knuckles.

  “Doctor.” He looked up. Finally addressing his fellow Mink. Dezzi met the gaze. “When can she leave? I think it’d be best for us to…Be at home.” Dezzi’s ears twitched.

  “Well. She’ll have to stay overnight at least for observation. Make sure she doesn’t seize or have another Cardiac Event.” Andy scratched at his finger in his lap idly. “After that it’ll be up yo your wife when she wishes to be discharged.” Dezzi glanced to Fran.

  “However. The Hospital does offer Hospice.” Andy’s confused look told Dezzi they had to explain. “Hospice being assisted care until the patient passes on.”

  “Nonsense.” Andy said roughly. Eyes narrowing as he nodded his head. “She should be in a familiar place. Not needing to be stuck here, in a place filled with Death.” The words however made fran wince.

  “Babe…I–” Andy leaned forward to try and hear his wife. “I–I Don’t want to Leave. I want to stay here…” She let go of Andy’s hand, resting both of her own in her lap.

  Andy gave a confused look. Utter bewilderment. “What? What?! Why? Why would you want to stay here? Not go home. Be with me–” Fran suddenly cut her husband off.

  “Because you shouldn’t have to live with my Ghost!” Her eyes had began to well up. Frustrated and convicted expression covering her face. “You’d loose sleep, looking at me all night making sure I’m breathing. You’d let yourself fall apart trying to help me. And then you’d wake up one day, and I won’t be moving. Or I’ll be reading. Or-Or Gardening! And you’ll just find me there. Gone! I don’t want that! You don’t need that! Neither of us do!” Her voice pleaded.

  “Don’t be stupid!” Andy snapped back. His own tears falling and darkening his fur. “I’d gladly do it! Make sure you’re okay! I’d get all you need! So we can live at home until-”

  Fran interrupted again “I Die? Then what? All that money? All that care? Only for me to be…Haunting the house we loved together! I don’t want to spend my final days corrupting my home– Our home!” She was sobbing now. Both of them.

  “Watching myself struggle…Looking at everything with” She struggled to find the words. “Disdain. Unable to love it like i used to as I wither! Resent it and myself” If she went home. And slowly died. Weakening day by day. The home she loved. Wanted to raise children in and grow old in. Would instead be just another struggle as she worsens. And then everything around her. Everything she loved, even if there was no machines and assistance just for her; would begin to look spoiled.

  Unable to enjoy it the same as before…

  The two just cried. Andy didn’t even try to argue. Head shaking, those glorious long silky strands of mane hair wisping through the air at the movement.

  After a time. Dezzi reached their hand out and touched the Husband and Wifes that were stacked up on each other. The two finally realized that they still had another presence. Both wanted to apologize, but Dezzi spoke too quickly.

  “Andy, you can go home. Get what ever you and she needs. Bring it back. The Hospice Rooms are spacious. Have equipment in them. A patient bed, and a fullsize mattress both of you can use. Theres also running water for showers, standing and sitting. Along with the tub able to be filled for a bath.” They looked back and forth between the couple. Nodding along slowly as their eyes softened.

  “You can have what ever you want in them. For as long as it takes.” The Doctor pat the twos hands before withdrawing theirs. “I’ll leave you two to continue discussing. I’m glad you’re awake fran.”

  Dezzi began to walk when Frans voice called out. Snapping around, worried something was wrong. Fran held a wide, toothy but tired smile to them. “No. Thank you Doctor. For everything. Even back there with Dr. Benedict. I see now that you were right. And I was foolish…Just…” She paused. Eyes suddenly hardening “Let him get whats comin’ to him for what he did.”

  Dezzi gave solid nod of confirmation back. Door opening and shutting gently. Leaving the two alone.

  The Burst Appendix kid, was still not awake. At least when Dezzi went to visit her Next. The Mother was however. Stroking her daughters hand slowly.

  Her eyes lit up, and she crossed the room quickly before falling to her Knees and wrapping her arms around Dezzi tightly. “Doctor! Oh Doctor! Thank you thank you thank you! I don’t know what I’d do if you hadn’t…” She began to cry into Dezzi’s jacket. But they did not mind as they wrapped their arms in return.

  Later, though Dezzi would not be able to see it. The kid would eat a meal with a wide, satisfied look on her face for the first time in months. And with a full stomach. Dezzi would receive a gift from her as thanks in the form of a crude drawing done in Crayon.

  Hour 8

  3:00pm - 4:00pm

  “Dezzi!” Akari says, jogging up to the Mink hand handing them a clipboard. “Yes? Whats up?” Dezzi pulled the wood into their hands and looking it over. “What’s this?”

  “Clinic over in room 15, His heartrate is way to high. Breathing sound good but is elevated. But I can’t seem to figure out whats going on with him.” Dezzi’s eyes beamed over the words on the page.

  35 Years old. Average healthy weight. 179cm. No history of problems with the hospital. But has been overseen by Dr. Lodge in the past. All seems good. Notes from him said that patient is anxious.

  “Hmm.” Dezzi let out. “I know whats going on.” They said handing the clipboard back. Akari nodded and followed along.

  Upon entering the room, the patients appearance revealed the rest. They were clean shaven. Shirt pressed. No stains. Nails cut short. Almost too short. The Mans legs bounced.

  “Good morning Elis. I’m Oslar Dezzi, RNP. I’ll be looking over you today.” They rubbed their hands together and sat down on the swivel chair in front of the man. His hair was finely kempt.

  “Mind telling me whats brought you in?” Dezzi asked, offering their hands open.

  “Uh. I started to have a really high heart rate? And then I started to shake. And sweat and my heart started beating really really fast.” Dezzi’s eyes raked over the patients face again. There were bags beneath the eyes.

  The Rabbit leaned forward. Hands put together gently as they asked. “How have you been sleeping Elis?”

  As if on cue, Elis rubs his eyes. Dezzi noted the blood shot eyes. “Uh– A few hours? But I wake up all the time cuz of the fuckin’ Machines.”

  “Machines?” Dezzi’s ears drooped, eyes softening as they tilted their head to the side.

  Elis shook his head. “Yeah the–” He waved his hand as if attempting to point in the vague direction of the source. “Crushers. They mine the loose rock and boulders for Ballast rocks for ships. They’ll crush and leave the shafts, and then use what evers left in it.”

  It was Dezzi’s turn to shake their head this time.

  “Elis” Dezzi started. The man looking up through tired eyes. “You are experiencing extreme sleep loss. And I can almost guarantee that you are also having severe Mental Anxiety. Those two do not mix well…” They shook their head again.

  “Sleep loss? Anxiety? Is that really it?” Elis seemed suspicious. In part because of the sleeplessness.

  “Yes. The heartrate, history of worries when here, and as well as constant high Pulse. It shows that when you come, its normal. Then half way through, probably due to the noise of the Hospital or the Medicine and the like, you’re heartrate spikes. Showing a trigger for anxiety.” Their voice was low and comforting. Nodding along slowly.

  “And if you keep waking up. That means that you’re not able to enter deep sleep which is when your brain heals itself and rests. Short bursts can give energy and relief, but constantly it stops having any benefits. You need deep restful sleep for a few hours.”

  Elis frowned. Lips creasing. “Whats the solution?” Dezzi shook their head side to side gently. Hand coming up to rub the back of their neck. “Easiet solution is to get home and try and sleep, and medicine could be the wrong option due to this specific circumstance you have right now.” They gestured softly with their hands.

  Dezzi leaned back, and turned around. Running their feet across the ground to reach the door, peeking out to speak to Akari momentarily. And not long after, he returns. And with a gentle click, the door shuts and Dezzi rolls back over.

  “Do you know how to brew tea?” They asked. Elis nods. “Good, let this steep for about twice as long as normal. And drink slowly, about thirty minutes to an hour before trying to sleep. Take some cotton or malleable wax, and put it in your ears. Not do deep, don’t want you coming back for an ear obstruction. And it should help you keep calm enough to get to sleep, and stay asleep.”

  Dezzi tapped the tin, it was dark green with a hand painted woman on the front with a cup of tea steaming in her hand as she had a relaxed close lipped smile. Around scrolling swirls and ornamental etches around the words ‘Lovely Leaf’ followed by a subtitle ‘Brought to you by Cutters Inventory Stockhouse’ Cutters Inventory Stockhouse. A Sub-Company off The Larger; Cutters Trade and Company, was one of the largest manufacturers for a variety of consumables and items. Wholesale, and smaller retail distribution and creation. C.T.C doing the former, and The Stockhouse doing the Latter.

  “Camomile.” Dezzi said. Handing it over to Elis. “If you feel anything, feel free to come back anytime. Its why we’re here after all.” Dezzi smiled to them, and signed off of the discharge papers and giving Elis a wave as the left. Handing the Discharge to Akari who nodded and mouthed a thanks.

  Hour 9

  4:00pm-5:00pm

  It was officially night. But not the start of the night shift.

  Dezzi rubbed their face with both hands across their small sharp features. Ears drooping as they did so. Fingers pushing against the bottom of their lids and they released a small sigh.

  “Phwubub!” They quickly shook their head back and forth, ears flapping as they regained composure. “Six Hours Left.” They looked left and right as they continued down the hallway. Hands resting on their scope around their neck.

  ‘No sign of Benedict…Or Hardgrove.’ Eyes darted around. Looking from left to right, ears twitching as they attempted to listen in and see if they could hear the recognizable footsteps of either.

  Shoes squeaked as they stopped. Eyes shutting gently to focus their energy. Streaks of Lightning etching against their fur, denoting their full complete usage of Observation Haki. Purple shimmering eyes glowed when they reopened. Irises skidding around and snapping from place to place. Looking through the walls, seeing the full outlines and basic skeleton and glow of their own Auras.

  ‘Hunched…Hunched…Hunched…Wide…Wide…Wide.’ They repeated again and again as they attempted to spot where the shapes matching the descriptions of Benedict and Hardgrove respectively. Their neck snapped down, gazing to the ER Below.

  Nothing.

  Craning up, hands still on their scope, so many floors above, and the bustle of bodies moving around. They needed either go one at a time or…

  “Oooh…phew…” Dezzi breathed steadily. Eyes shutting again as they let their aura leak. With the help of texture, they were able to make their Aura visibly appear invisible Something that had little use in combat, but trying to not be seen in a scenario like this was another.

  Nothing but a loose haze like heat sent outward. They allowed it to expand, and fill more and more of the rooms, the halls, floor after floor, like a mist trailing and traveling up the stairs, permeating through walls, and flooding the entire hospital, all one hundred thousand square meters of the property and building. Even going past the furthest walls and covering the small mound of earth that the Hospital Grounds sat upon in the middle of Cymbal Lake.

  Dezzi then applied observation haki through this immense ocean of Aura. In a fraction of a moment. All the information of everything, everyone, everywhere; in on and around the hospital property flooded into their senses.

  Distinct outlines of the peoples shapes, sizes, outlines, auras, and skeletal structure came into view from that same birdseye view granted within the minds eye when upon focusing on locations with Observation.

  They went floor after floor. One by one. Hallway after maze of Hallway until they spotted them. Hardgrove, the large, tall and wide woman. But also…The much shorter benedict!

  “What the…heck?” they said aloud. ‘Whose that with them?’ Dezzi pondered the shape that sat in front of both. Hardgrove had an object in hand and seemed to be talking to them. Ears twitched as they heard all the sound of the Hospital that was immediatley around them. Unable to truly hear the entire hospital but in a background buzz granted by their exception Rabbit Physiology.

  ‘Unless…’ Their face twitched. Nose wincing as more aura poured from their core. Flushing into their ears. Have enveloping them in raw aura of mist. They twitched insistently like insect wings attempting flight. The Haki boosting their ears, but with fine tuned concentration that was certainly a advantage of that same mink genes, they began to cancel out the rest of the sounds of the hospital…

  As if like tuning a radio, going through wave after wave as a sound slowly comes into audible focus. They could hear the Doctors conversation! It was echoey. Slightly muffled and diluted from distance but was clearly understandable with no trouble.

  “Yes! If you sign, It’ll ensure that you are given a higher position of authority in the Hospital. And will make sure that this hospital will have higher satisfaction ratings, which we can then provide to outside patrons to allow for grants for more funding.” She spoke so easily. So confidently. The deeper end of feminine tone giving it a base and authority of her own.

  “I understand that Doctor Hardgrove…” The Questioned began, Dezzi suddenly realizing who it was! ‘Doctor Greaves!’ A Senior Physician and Attending. He’d always been outspoken against the decline of the hospital and focus of Profit through Health Medicine.

  Greaves continued. “I don’t feel comfortable with providing my signature. It just doesn’t feel in the spirit of Medicine. To only allow a specific type of patient in, within types of pay ranges, just to get them the attention provided to them that they deserve.” Dezzi could watch as the short hair, black swooped hair and fair skinned short doctor shake his head.

  “Well don’t you care about you patients satisfaction? Think about the amount of times we have repeat patients. Clearly they weren’t satisfied. And need more help. When we could be providing better to them once with fewer resources!” She urged. Voice insistent, convincing and dominant in the conversation. Benedict Nodding along. Giving nothing but presence and moral support.

  “I do but…” He almost began again with another worried look, only for Hardgrove to cut off his thought. “Then thats what this signature is for. Think about it. If we can help one patient perfectly. Isn’t that better than treating a dozen partially? That one person could make sure more people dont get sick in the first place or can do much more with their lives.”

  There were long moments of silent contemplation from Greaves…When an Audible Sigh came from them. “Hah…Okay. Fine. I’ll do it.”

  Dezzi’s eyes shot open, aura dropping, and a spike of adrenaline coursing through them as they dashed perhaps a bit faster than they should have. Leaving a windtrail and whipped around papers and rattled windows as they suddenly came to a stop. Peaking around the Corner to see Benedict, Hardgroves Pale skinned and old sagging features adorned on her wide pink curving sharp glasses on a beaded chain handing over the clipboard. Both Doctors that were looking for Dezzi had their backs turned.

  The sound of the scratching of a pen against parchment, even without the boosted senses, was deafening. One final ‘Shrooke!’ of the ending signature sealing it…

  “Hngh!” Dezzi winced. Pulling them selves back around the corner and out of sight. Sweat beaded and matted their fur. The strain and drainage of Haki usage finally slamming into them. Shortness of breath washing through their chest as it heaved.

  “Crap…” Their teeth clinched and eyes furrowed tight. Trying to get their composure as their legs felt like jelly. Shaking and buckling under even their light 56kg frame. They could hear the footsteps approaching. The head of shortcut and whaft back hair of Hardgrove came into view, eyes looking away from Dezzi as Benedict looked to her. The two continuing a conversation, smiles on their satisfied faces.

  A gust of wind flushed against them! Suddenly causing them to recoil slightly! “What in the blazes was that!” Benedict said. Hand coming to his head to keep his combover in place.

  “Oof…” Hardgrove shook her head as the stair well was empty. Devoid of anyone or anything but cold stone walls. “Must be a sudden draft! Ventilation needs an upgrade.”

  “We’re one signature closer to making sure we can.” Hardgrove chuckled, nodding along at the sentiment.

  Dezzi was back down a dozen floors again. And back to the Clinic. Standing right next to the far north hallway where an elevated section of the isle the building was on raised up and connected out to Pip. Allowing people to walk right in. A small desk waiting for them, where now Akari sat, suddenly widening his eyes as the gust of wind followed the appearance of Dezzi leaning back against the wall next to the large double glass doors. The two dozen chairs of the clinic waiting area was in far better shape than the ‘Chairs’ of the ER. They saw that much when searching…

  “Yeesh! Dezzi you alright?” Akari asked, still leaning back in sudden shock from the speed. Dezzi’s shoulders rose and fell at a steadier pace now. Hands behind their back while their head hung. “Yeah…Yeah I’m good now…Just needed a second and some sunshine.” Their eyes glanced to the amber beams shining through the glass doors.

  “I’d be even better…” They crossed their ankles. “If it wasn’t for the fact that Hardgrove just got another Signature…”

  The Nurses eyes…just settled. Breathlessly speaking “Well…Shit.”

  HOUR 10.

  5:00pm - 6:00 pm

  ‘A Dozen partially healthy. Or one well treated…What a load of crap.’ Dezzi thought to themselves. ‘One patient treated perfectly doesnt mean those others don’t exist. It just means you’re choosing to ignore them so you can feel better about yourself…’

  ‘Hospital is barely able to treat one patient without some deranged lunatic poisoning one. Officially putting our Patients healed in the NEGATIVE. Even without, we’re having a tough time treating a singular person well enough.’ Their eys shut as they were lost in their thoughts.

  ‘Wouldn’t need to if they just hired more Nurses, Doctors and Specified Field Physicians. But nooo…They have to go and fire half of the new Doctors and anyone seemingly unfit with in their skewed definition…Only so much you can ask from them anyway with such little pay.’

  Dezzi shook their head quickly, leaning off the wall. A quick scratch to the back of their head. “Sigh…” They breathed in slow and back out. Their composure regained. Akari keeping their eyes on them as they started walking. Leaning forward to call another patient before giving a side comment.

  “Take care out there Dezzi, Okay?” Dezzi nodded. Looking back to the Patient that just got called up. A man, older side of things. Elderly. ‘Funny.’ They began to think to themself. ‘I dealed with Pedes and now Gere.’

  “Sir. If you’d come with me I’ll take you right back!” The man had a hunched over look with a cane. Small spectacles hanging low on his beaked like nose. “Oh– What was that dear?” He adjusted.

  Akari sat forward and spoke up. “This is RNP Dezzi Oslar, they’ll take care of you!” The mans brow rose. “Ohh okay. I couldn’t quite hear to well. Thank you young man.” He gave a small smile to Akari. Dezzi chuckled.

  ‘He called Akari ‘Man’, yet called me dear…I don’t even wear make up!’ They touched their long lashes and naturally darker lined eyes. Making it seem such. A Small Feminine Quality. But then again, Dezzi’s overall figure was quite androgynous. A bit of masculinity here from one view, the sharp cheeks and cut jaw. Feminine with their smaller and round and angular face.

  Dezzi went about the Triage as normal. Bloodpressure, Breath sounds, Heartrate, SOAP Notes; Subjective Info from the Patient, Objective measurable facts from the patient and observation from the Physican. Assessment of what the most likely cause is. And Plan for treatment and care.

  They had to get a few tests done, and go to labs. A quick urine sample from the fellow and a Trip to the Xray room and contacting Radiology three floors up for the Radiographic Paper.

  They could have taken a blood test, but didn’t want to take too much of the Elderly Mans time. And with a quick use of Tachypusle, they determined Prognosis.

  When the Xrays were developed, they understood the Diagnosis Proper. Directly in line with their Prediction.

  The Man had Late Stage Osteoporosis. The loss of density and strength in the bodies bones. Which was why he needed a cane, though he didn’t realize it. As well as explaining the incident of he described of falling on his hip. And where the fracture in the same region was caused by.

  Blood revealed an altered white blood cell count. Extremely common with this disease, and Urine showing a high level of Calcium from the bones loosing density and the chemicals flushing through the kidneys and out via urine.

  Dezzi quickly provided a set out plan of pain management, physical therapy either at home or on the 10th floor of the hospital, which they found ironic. And medication script for swaying and better care.

  ‘Hows about that for a perfectly treated patient, Hardgrove.’ They smirked to themselves as they left the room.

  However. At the same time a specific Conversation was continuing to happen between Dr. Hardgrove, Degree in Business and Finance. Medical Experience: Certified CPR, and mandatory first aid. As well as Dr. Benedict, Medicinae Baccalaureus and Apocatharacy Naturalism. Medical Experience: 75 Years of Working in the Medical field amidst the onset of ‘Age of Panacea’ the era in which medical sciences and fields, Dentistry, Surgery, Physical Health, Medicine, and Pharmacology and the advancement of Germ, Disease and Bacteria. A shift from the view of Miasma or ‘Bad Air’ as the cause for ailments. But the idea of Humors and Hermetism persisted, even to this day after starting in the ‘Age of Remedy’

  “Do you know where Dr. Heartfila is?” Hardgrove asked. Her loud short heels clacking loudly. The dark pantyhose she owre made her legs appear like shadows as he strode quicker than the older doctor. Purple blazer and blouse wrapped tight around her large form. She could be considered fat. But truthfully given the broadness of her shoulders. It seemed more like sturdy. Flat Matte dark blue knee length skirt followed her movements.

  The Medical White Coat she wore flapping gently.

  Dr. Heartfila, Degree in Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics Care Along with one in Family Care. She had always been so busy with all of the former fields in the hospital, having been the initial attending on the Second Floor for Clinic. Medical Experience: 15 Years and Tenured. Having gone to school and train under the Blackwell Society of Medicine. A tall woman who could be spotted by her typical Medical White Coat, Black slacks, red slip ons, and Pink simple blouse tucked in gave her almost always away. If not that, her platinum blonde hair perpetually in a top bun would. Always stuck like a pin cushion with pens.

  Rumor had it she kept an emergency scalpel and dose of epinephrine in there somewhere. But she took great care to not have them be sulled by being in such a place.

  “No. I don’t. She’s also a streak of yellow where ever she goes.” Benedict said. “A Very, Mercurial Nature about her.” He said more in the sense of swiftness than temperament.

  “We can check Family Medicine again on the 7th Floor when we get the Chance.” She finally looked down to the Shorter Doctor. “What of Dr. Kanin Oslar?”

  “The scamp is still around here somewhere. Probably still in clinics. He won’t sign.” He said. Hands behind his back. It seemed even though Dezzi hadn’t frozen them but given them a nice chill and layer of Frost, he still hadn’t quite recovered.

  “I know they won’t. But if we can corner her we may be able to find something out and give us some sort of cause for their exception or exemption.” The clacking continued as they pressed the button to the elevator. Down to the First Floor where the large reception, waiting and office area sat along with the Pharmacy.

  “What of my assault? I could call the Marines?” The two continued through the large open section. Large dark pillars with two on each side framed the main walk way to the collection of secretaries at the front behind a bullpen of a desk where dozens of predominantly women sat, receiving messages by mail, payments, radiofacsimiles or RFAX/DenFax, printing out through Den Den Mushi connected to printers and some more sophisticated machinery to print it without from direct connection. Den Dens, despite being strange thing even to many who were used to it; that is, carrying a living snail around in their pocket capable of long distance communication, were perhaps the most reliable form of communication quickly besides things like News Loos, Traditional Mail, Delivery Pigeons, Telebats or Parracords.

  But all they needed was Minimal Vegetation, Did not Defecate or expel waste, as any unused sits in their bowels in a preservative mucus until they begin digestion again, Water. And finally, Sleep. Its wonder they never went extinct, but moving so slow and having a life span of 26 months in the wild, meant they birthed a whole lot of babies. But when under the care of Islanders, they can live for years.

  The Perfect Livestock.

  “You know as well as I that because of the fact we aren’t technically apart of Cymbals Proper, and that Cymbals itself isn’t affiliated. The most they could do would be to come out in the incident of a violent crime, outstanding bounty, immense civil unrest or serious investigation.” The two stopped. Hardgrove handing a handful of Coins to a News Loo for the Paper.

  “News Loo?” Hardgrove idly said. “We usually don’t get them this far in. They learned to stay away after so many decided to land on the water and get eaten.”

  “Yes…And it might not be the best idea to call in the Marines for this. Or go to the Embassy in Pip with the CPA.” He flipped through pages, licking his finger as he went. “It’d cause too much of a stir. Having him get taken out publicly could do more harm than good for the reputation of the Hospital.” The Quack continued, reaching the interesting articles of piracy updates, reports and bounties being updated. Mentions of the Disastrous Generation, captures, and the like.

  “So…What? We poison her, or hire someone to handle them?” She whispered down low to the Doctor.

  Benedicts eyes narrowed at the paper. Adjusting his bifocals slightly to read better. “Perhaps….Or maybe a—”

  “Bounty Hunter?” He said. Paper rustling against his hands as he raised it to Hardgroves eyes. “Look Familiar to you?”

  HOUR 11

  6:00pm - 7:15pm

  KANIN “The Electric Blur” DEZZI WANTED DEAD OR ALIVE. BOUNTY: ? 41,621,140

  THE WORLD GOVERNMENT IS OFFERING A REWARD FOR ANY INFORMATION THAT LEADS DIRECTLY TO THE CAPTURE OF THIS INDIVIDUAL. IF YOU HAVE ANY INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT NAVAL AUTHORITIES.

  The Attached Secondary information was as follows for all Bounty Posters, Printed on the page that contained the bounties. Despite Usually only being posted with the Picture alone.

  THIS SUSPECT IS CONSIDERED TO BE DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY ARMED. REPORT ANY SUSPECTED ACTIVITY OR PROFILE ALIGNMENTS AND SIGHTINGS TO NEAREST NAVAL MARINE SAILOR OR PERSONNEL.

  INSTATED BOUNTY OF INDIVIDUAL IS A REFLECTION OF THEIR STRENGTH AND CRIMES WHICH MAY INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO; PIRACY, MURDER, THEFT, TREASON, CONSPIRACY, SEXUAL CRIMES, HAZARDOUS INFORMATION, VANDALISM AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. RELIABLE INFORMATION REPORTED ON SUSPECT ARE SUBJECT TO A REWARD 5% OF TOTAL BOUNTY.

  ANY INDIVIDUALS PUBLIC OR PRIVATE HAVE A CIVIL DUTY TO TAKE ACTION IF THEY SEE THIS INDIVIDUAL. AND DIRECT CONFRONTATION AND CAPTURE WILL BE REWARDED THE TOTAL BOUNTY SUM BY TWELVE.

  DEATH OF SUSPECT BY PRIVATE OR PUBLIC INDIVIDUAL WILL HAVE A QUARTER OF TOTAL SUM DEDUCTED.

  REPEAT INDIVIDUALS, PROFESSIONAL MERCENARY OR FUGITIVE RECOVERY AGENTS MAY FACE INCREASED DEDUCTIONS FROM REWARD SUM AND POTENTIAL CHARGES OF THEIR OWN GARNERED IN THE COURSE OF CIVIC ACTION.

  Hardgrove Recoiled as she read it through. “The Electric Blur, Name unconfirmed and suspected to be ‘Kanin Dezzi’ ‘Cannon Desi’ or ‘Conin Dex’ is described as a Pirate of Unremarkable height, shorter than the average person, of non human race, with large ears and notable blue coloring in some form to their person. They are reported to have extraordinary speed in excess of gunfire, call upon lightning from their hands, and shift their size. Temperament observed to be aggressive, determined, and fanatical in their pursuits.”

  They both gave a look to one another. Benedict continuing from where she left off. “Associated with The Notorious Red Sash Pirates…” A shiver went down both of their spines. A feeling of electricity in the air.

  “Red Sash Crew?” Hardgrove asked. “The Terrorists?” Everyone knew who Red Sash and The Crew was. Even if they didn’t read the news regularly or partially…They saw the headlines. Saw the reports. Terror, Destruction, all with a smile and a streak of red around the waist.

  “The fellow who killed a Lord…” Benedict said with this sense of reverence of the crime. Hardgrove said her own comments. “They say its a crew of Demons…Theives, Fishmen, Violent Swordsmen, Rapists…The Captain himself a literal Devil. The Devil…” She gulped. Loudly.

  “Possibly worse than even Gold Roger himself…”

  “Keep reading…” Hardgrove murmured.

  “Their crimes include, Piracy, Assault on Naval Authorities, Possession and Dissemination of Hazardous Information, Destruction of World Government Property, Destruction of Naval Property, Treason, High Treason, Conspiracy, Kidnapping and Release of Wanted Individuals.”

  They both attempted to swallow. But their throats were like the dunes of Arabasta. The first to make a noise was Hardgrove, who rose a hand to her mouth and cleared it. “Ahem…”

  “So…Marines are Certainly not a option. But–” A huff released from her thin lips. “I do have to wonder. Is that Oslar Kanin Dezzi? The Description and Picture on the Wanted Poster. It could be a coincidence. And she’s Dr. Oslars kid. I don’t think that’d be something they’d leave out…”

  Benedict rubbed the bald top almost as if to sooth himself. “I’m surprised I didn’t know that The Marines and Government payed the bounty listed just for information. Guess it makes sense…Such a small price for such dangerous people because its meant to be given to many not just one.”

  “Get serious Dr. Benedict!” Hardgrove rose her voice, looking over her shoulder to make sure that no one heard. With a satisfied nod, she returned her gaze.

  “If this is Registered Nurse Practitioner Oslar Kanin Dezzi…We have to what ever we can to get rid of Her without Drawing Attention.” Benedict thought for a moment. The money the reward would bring into the Hospital if they reported directly…But more pragmatically without, going through a bounty hunter. Would get rid of their immediate issue of the signature first–

  Only a few minutes later. Both were in Hardgroves office. The room was enormous. A Slate flat design of greys and blacks with a large desk next to a enormous floor to ceiling window. Bookshelves lining the walls, decorations of objects and trinkets. A large oil painting of her self sat clearly on display against the left wall.

  There was a local Contractor Group. It was where many of the Security for the Hospital were pulled from. These were the people you called for when Patients had outstanding debts, they needed some form of low level personnel to achieve something. Boone Contractor and Hiring Service was the Name.

  “Heya Hardgrove. Watchya need this time darlin’?” A gruff voice spoke from over the receiver of the Den Den Mushi. A Special dark black and blue shelled snail of grey bumpy flesh. The Eye Stalks and mouth morphing slowly into the recipient on each of the ends. Hargroves voice gaining her dark brown eyes, and wrinkled features. While the mans voice had a scowl, harsh downward eyes and stubble across the flesh.

  Such a strange way that the evolutionary adaptation these Den Dens gained to visually deceive predators by taking on the appearance of previously seen faces. Tied to their telepathic link between each other to alert danger, find mates depending on specific signals, and all the signals around, giving calls through each other when connected. Thats what the ‘Pere pere pere’ they vocalized was when Calls came through. As is the ‘Gachak’ when a call ends. A vocalization of potion and to their mates meant for when they were close, as opposed to the forceful end of a call via external receiver or being put into darkness as if like a magpie.

  “Boone. You used to be a Bounty Hunter…Right?” The sound of creaking was head as the man kicked his feet off his desk and leaned forward. Voice layered with intrigue…

  “You askin’ me to come outta retirement?” Boone asked more like a statement than a question.

  But Hardgrove's uncharacteristic pause in processing a response gave Boone his Answer. “KENKENKEN!” He laughed, the Snails mouth opened wide, revealing its teeth and bellowing loudly.

  “Who is it?”

  Kentucky Boone. A man once notorious for his reputation as a bounty hunter. Brutal, Strange, Esoteric in his applications, methods and rumored powers. In terms of the internal bounty hunter ‘rank’ that the decentralized nature the occupation used regardless, was of Viper. The highest rank. Said to have brought in nearly 6250 Pirates and Rewards. With the Record of ‘Slips’ or Rewards brought in being none other Rango Scotch at 25,000.

  Dezzi rushed around as they Carried a patient in their arms. A Large man with a shaved head and scruffy beard. “Akari! I need a bed!!” They slowed to a stop. Akari shooting up from behind the nurses station now.

  “What happened?!” He responded, Dezzi hopping around on their feet trying to look around. There were no beds on this floor for anything like this or to handle it. “DKA! 35 Year old with Ketone Breathing, Sudden weight loss, and dry skin.”

  Dezzi bit their lip. “Ugh!” They groaned, letting their aura cover themself and Mr. Candey, And with as much speed as they could accomplish, they traveled the over 100 meters of distance to ICU upstairs in only three milliseconds.

  “Phew…” Dezzi exhaled. Setting Candey down, and immediately being the Code. “I need nurses!” Dezzi screamed. The Nurses at the Station suddenly rushed over to the room they had just thought was empty.

  “Oslar?” Drez asked as they came in with another Nurse, Nurse Trish. “DKA. I Need a Dialysis Machine. Whats the status of the one up here?”

  “Busted. Was busted 3 months back.” Drez said. Trish already coming up to check eyes, breathing and continue setting up Care. “Gah! Shoot…” Dezzi said. “What about the old one?”

  “The Pump?” Trish asked. “Yes!” Dezzi said. “I need Insulin and IV Nutrients! Now!” They said as they continued to observe. Setting up an IV and getting all the electrodes placed for complex monitoring.

  Drez came back with a large pole with three flat legs to stand upon with one large accordion style pump contained in glass the left side, analog machinery and metal spread across glass and large tube in the middle with two tubes coming out of it. One that connected to the pump, and the other coming out of the Cylinder. Just like Original Blood Transfusion Pumps. Finally a box at the lower half of the pole, a brass tube from the machines at the bottom of the vial into it.

  Dezzi moved the Brass machine close to Candey, pulling the IV from the pump and placing it into this neck to the Carotid. Immediately the dark almost purple blood coming out. “Trish!” Dezzi said as she came back in with the bag and Bottle. “Connect the bottle of insulin to the curved bronze pipe on the back of the cylinder!”

  There was a curved neck at the back with a small opening to place the Bottle onto. Dripping in and flowing to the machine just below the cylinder. Trish then took the cable at the bottom with two cylindrical gold colored prongs coming out of a large conical plug and into the dual vertical holes for the socket.

  A buzz sounded as the machine began to pump. The gear at the bottom of the Cylinder began to spin ready to mix the Insluin. IV nutrients n pushed at the same time via a separate Drip, just below the IV that returned the blood.

  The pump shrunk in and expanded back out. Pulling and forcing blood out of the artery filling into the middle vial now more red than before and slowly trickling down into the next section, where a second gear shape spun in the opposite direction acting as a centrifuge.

  Then, slowly– Normal Dark Colored Blood flowed back in. It would need to be oxygenated by is own body…

  “Ha…Phoo…” They breathed. Drez had left and came back in with a new air tank. Dezzi nodding and watching, taking a step back as the Nurse wrapped the tubes around his ears and into his nose.

  Mr. Candey was stable, for now. The only thing to do now is to observe and wait. Dezzi leaned against the wall the same as they had in clinics. Ankles Crossed, hands behind their back. Staring at the EKG and read outs of his vitals. Trish too a sample of blood from the machine, and then one from near his wrist where it should be cleared.

  The blood work would take some time to do. But they would be here. Waiting for any updates and emergency changes.

  They looked to their small watch on their hand, meant for kids, adorned with Nakutan. But they loved it regardless. Time was 6:39pm. They let out a small breath. Shoulders relaxing.

  They listened to the EKG in the Dark room. It was almost a strange soothing noise as they lowered their head. Breathing slowly as they closed their eyes to think. Thinking back to the past two years. To the crew…Leroy. Everything that happened on Desmare.

  When a sudden blare snapped! They shot their head up! Ear as full attention!

  The EKG was spiking! Mr. Candey was going into shock! Body convulsing and jostling in small twitches. “CRASH CART!” They screamed so loud that the entire floor could hear!

  In a blur, Dezzi was on top of Candey, Flattening him out and performing compressions! Hands charging with electro, same voltage as before, and delivering their own electric shock to the Cardiac Arrest.

  “Mph! Mph Mph Mph!” They breathed. Four inches and more deep. Needing to push back the thinning layer of fat against his chest and ribs. Wheels skid across the hall, echoing against the cement walls as the Defib was rolled into the room by Drez!

  “He’s going into Cardiac Arrest! The lack of vitamins and the Acid in his blood is causing his heart to fail!” They said to Drez. Continuing their compressions.

  “Ready Defib!” They ordered, Drez nodding, rubbing the two paddles to work the charge as the electric whine came to life. “Clear!” Dezzi shot their hands off the skin. The EKG flared in a rapid beat and suddenly…

  Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep….

  “Flatlining!” Dezzi, with renewed vigor resumed compression. Going up and down. “I’ll get epinephrine!” Drez began only for Dezzis voice to stop them. A sudden rush of air washing over them. Stopping them in his tracks.

  “No! Epi could worsen it. He’s in DKA, any more sudden stimulant and introduced chemicals could cause the Metabolism to be shocked even more. We don’t need more Ketone. And any we push would get filtered back out by the Dialysis instead of lingering.”

  Dezzi bit their lip. “Clear!” Another harsh shock. Body stiffening before loosening. “No Res.” Quickly Dezzi checked his breathing. And in a flash brought their scope on, checking his lungs. “Apnea! No clear breath sounds. He need to intubate him!”

  “Drez do you know how to Intubate?” They asked. A simple nod, and Drez went to the cabinets, pulling the tools out, same ones Dezzi used before. It took only a short few moments while Dezzi continued compressions for the tube to go in. “Bagging.”

  Hee…Hooo….Squee…Swoo. The bag pushed air to the lungs.

  “Stay on bag. I can Defib myself.” Drez watched in awe as he saw the Mink Bioelectricity Electro send small shocks the exact same as the paddles. “Why didn’t you do that before?”

  “I did. But it needs to be precise, and I don’t want to do it and do too little or too much.”

  The Compressions continued. Seconds, Minutes, Time continued to pass. Dezzi not ceasing. Checking. No breath. No sudden cardiac activity.

  “Oslar.” Drez said. Bag slowing… “Don’t slow, keep going!” They demanded. “It’s been more than 20 minutes. And we’ve already did a number of shocks.”

  Dezzi shook their head. Forcing more, a slight crack of his rib sounding. ‘I can’t use Good Medicine…It wont flush the Acid out, or return the Vitamins…Even if I heal the heart, with no breathing activity…” Their lip bit hard enough to draw a trickle of blood.

  “Ha…” Pain flushed their face. Compressions stopping. Drez clicked off the EKG. Silence filling the room. “Call it.” The Nurse said.

  But Dezzi didn’t move. Their own thoughts filling their mind. The same words…

  ‘Call it. Call it Dang it!’ Their jaw trembled. Dryly they swallowed and checked their watch…

  “T-Ti-” They Steadied.

  “Time of Death. 6:55 pm.”

  Dezzi gave a small hop off the side of the bed. Head falling back. Tears watering their eyes.

  Trish suddenly re-entered the room. Paper in hand and a slight smile of accomplishment only to be torn away from her lips at the sight. Words still leaving her mouth. “I got the labs back-”

  “He’s gone.” Dezzi stated. Trish slowly traveled across the small distance. “Labs show that both blood samples have far too high acid content.” Her eyes continued to watch Dezzi walk to the other side of the room. “The Machine wasn’t able to clear enough Ketone from his blood. And it seemed like his Blood wasn’t oxygenated properly even back in…”

  Drez and Trish stared at Dezzi. Standing their. Head hung low, ears slouched. Dezzi…slowly gripped the machines pole. But they relented. A small shock traveling through the device. Sending a small spark from the parts.

  When their hand fell…The metal was left completely crushed with their imprint.

  “Machines Busted.” They said slowly. “We need to get repair in for the Real dialysis machine.”

  They just stared as they left. Hands forced in their hoodies pocket. But once the hallways clear. They zipped! Immense speed carrying them across the distance before the door slammed open.

  7:00pm

  The cool night air washed over Dezzi as they skid to a stop on the roof. Chest heaving.

  The Horizon was painted and smeared with dark deep purples and blues as the night quickly began to rise. Stars coming into view.

  Their hands gripped the rail gently. Tears flowing as they couldnt get the sound of the flatline out of their ears. Head shaking slowly, violently eventually. “Gah!” They sobbed out.

  “Haghhh…Hick…” Teeth chattered in their mouth as the tears stung their eyes. Lip quivering. Their legs felt weak. Hands couldn’t stop trembling even if they gripped the safety rail…Safety Rail. They saw the irony in it, as they lowered themself under it.

  And stood on the ledge.

  Dezzi slowly let their arms splay out. Letting the air wash over them. Eyes drawing closed. Tears staining their fur. Feeling the wind wash over them. Nurses cap fumbling off and clattering against the roof behind. Cyan blue hair fluttering in the breeze.

  Dezzi didn’t hear it at first until his voice sounded out. “You’re in my spot.” Lodge said. Cane resting against hooked over the rail. Leaning against it himself.

  Dezzi’s gaze shifted over their shoulder. “Lodge…” They whimpered out.

  “You know if you jump, it won’t do anything right? Strong as you are.” He said casually. “Oh…I know…They leaned forward precariously, arms held stretched out behind them. “But if I wanted to, It might make me feel better to hit the ground in rage.”

  “Wanna talk about it?” Lodge said. Ducking under the rail and coming to sit next to Dezzi as they continued to stand. Popping one of his pills from the metal box into his mouth.

  “I spent almost an hour coding a man in DKA Cardiac Arrest. Dialysis Machine was busted. So we had to use the old one.” Their hands slapped against their thighs, hands swaying until they came to a stop.

  “That old busted thing? Ha! No wonder he went into arrest. Guess he shoulda laid off the candy.” He sarcastically remarked. “His name was Mr. Candey. With an ey in stead.”

  “Laha!” Lodge laughed. “The irony is brutal for that guy.”

  “He died.” Dezzi didn’t look to him. “They do that.” Lodge retorted.

  “Insulin, Nutrient Drip, Dialysis, Air, Intubation, Electro Defib, Mechanical Defib…None of it worked…I didn’t–” They quivered. “I didn’t do enough.”

  The Senior Doctors eyes locked up to their student. “Sometimes it never is.”

  “I…KIlled him…” Dezzi’s tears began to return. Finally sitting down next to lodge. Hands in their lap head hung low. Lodge, sighed. Rubbing Dezzi’s back gently. “We all loose patients. Sometimes the people that come to us cant have enough given to them. Even if we had it all.”

  “Even if I could’ve done more?” Dezzi sobbed. “Especially even then, but you couldn’t do more. One day you may not be able to actually do enough or didn’t give it everything. And it’ll hurt. Sting. Always will. These people come to us so we can fix them. It feels like a betrayal when we don’t.”

  Lodge looked to them. Dezzi finally looking back. Big wells and blobs of tears in their large bright blue eyes. “But they came to us anyway. Because they knew we would do what ever we can. Even if its minor, even if its major. Giving them barely a scrap, or everything in the world. We do what we can. Doctors are human too…”

  Dezzi fell against lodges shoulder. Lodges arm holding them close. “We make mistakes. Missteps. But thats the thing. Just because you miss doesn’t mean you can take another step or do another take. Its why we call em that.”

  “More will die. For whatever reason. But everytime someone does. We should let it spur us on to do more, refine our practice and try our hardest to do what we can for the next one.” Dezzis lips spread into a small smile.

  “I’ve killed people before outside of medicine…” That got his attention. “I still feel kinda torn up about it…Im a doctor. Even if it was Mercy…”

  “Who?”

  “They were Zombies. Brought back by one of Barbary’s Crewmates Devil Fruit. Brought their Soul back from the dead to inhabit them. And their bodies then corrupted and puppeted or released back out on their own.”

  “Ha!” Lodge laughed. For a moment forgetting that Dezzi wasnt just a pirate. But a Pirate who was apart of one of the most infamous new crews in the world. “They unnaturally were forced back into their lives, as shambling bodies, controlled or let back onto the world. Even if they died violently, too soon, or peacefully living a full life.”

  “And youre beating yourself up that you put them down? Put them back to rest?” Lodge gave a confused look.

  “Cutting Cancer out hurts people. But it’s still medicine. Medically assisted death for sick patients who wish for their suffering to be put to rest, is still medicine. But its not malicious or malignant like the Tumor infecting them are.” Lodge shook his head as he spoke.

  “Mercy is medicine. And sometimes, its the only thing that can be done. But we know when, we don’t go around just cutting people or breaking bones when they have a cough. And sometimes, in the Extreme the Best Medicine is letting the suffering, or the thing causing it, end.”

  “And us Doctors are almost always in some form of the extreme. And its our job to honestly, medically, and even sometimes Morally, make the best informed decision. Thats what Doctors do.” They looked back out to the horizon.

  Watching as the sun finally fell over the Horizon. Dipping down, sun leaving the world.

  “Cmon. It’s officially night shift.” He pulled his arm back and nudged Dezzi with his elbow. Shifting around and standing back up. Dezzi waited for a second, thinking for a moment ‘I wonder what phase the moon is tonight.’

  Standing back up, still on the ledge, Dezzi looked to their Watch. 7:14pm.

  “Don’t lag behind! We gotta get your degree signed and officially handed over to you before Hardgrove gets Heartfillas signature. Hadn’t expected Greaves to sign. So we got until midnight for any new Attendings to be considered for signature.”

  “Right!” Dezzi said, slowly lifting their foot off the ledge–

  7:15pm

  When a blur snapped across the air! Rush of wind bellowing across the top of the Roof! Rails bending inward from the force! Lodge whipped around! “Dezzi?”

  Dezzi was gone.

  The doctors eyes snapped to the far off motion, seeing that Dezzi was currently in the clutches of a large man! “Dezzi!” They ran to the ledge, watching as Dezzi slammed massive punches that ruptured the air violently, sounds like cannon shots echoing in his ears.

  HOUR 12

  7:16pm - 8:00 pm.

  Dezzi’s palm, clad in Armament, slammed into the maw of the bounty hunter as they soared through the air, descending quickly, Hospital fading away from their view. Each of the minks strikes were as loud as thunder, shattering the sound barrier!

  “KAHAHA!” Boone laughed in their face as each of the tremendous impacts lurched his head to the side!

  THWAM! The Doctor and Bounty Hunter Slammed into the ground! Now nearly half a kilometer from hospital in mere seconds. Ground shattering! Concaving inward and leaving a sizeable dent in the round like an artillery shell!

  The two released from one another. Rolling across the ground. Dezzi’s claws popped, digging into the barren, sparsely greened earth. Forcing themselves to a stop! Dust rising in the air hid Boone from their sight. They hadn’t been able to properly get a look at the Hunter, too focused on striking his face and watching the hospital.

  The Minks eyes then widened to the size of saucers as they saw who stood before them.

  They did not recognize them perse, but there was an immediate recognition to the hunters physiology. Coming clear from the smoke, hand clawed to swipe away the smoke. Revealing Kentucky Boone in his full glory.

  He was, a Mink!

  A Fox Mink with Vibrant Orange and Red Fur covering his human form completely. Thin and compact just as Dezzi’s was. Body appearing animalistic with Vulpine features that seemed streamlined to match a Humans body. No double joined legs, or paws. But rather strong legs and five digit fingers coated in the same color just as a foxes would be. Long tail swiping from side to side behind them with that iconic white tipped fur like a brush dipped in wash.

  His face was scarred, his left eye marked harshly by webbing flesh and sealed over the socket. Ears damaged from previous hunts. His maw was greyed from age and stubbed with what would be look like scruff if not already mixed with fur.

  He was a surprisingly short. At only 6’. Tall for a fox. Compared to andy who was nearly eight.

  HIs outfit was adorned with a sleeveless, frayed edged leather vest that held a diagonal zipper across the chest. Studs against the chest, curving chains at each side just below the ribs, with small spikes on the shoulders. Boots spiked on the bottom for harsh stomps, and pants a tight leather with noticeable stitching accents. His hands donned with fingerless, studded gloves.

  “You’re…A Mink?!” Dezzi spoke in surprise, watching as Boones gloved hand reached to his neck where a large combat knife hung by a string. Snapping it off in a routined motion. Belted holter around his waist.

  “Yeah? What of it. I’ve hunted plenty of our kind, Kanin.” He said the name like with a sense of Familiarity. “I heard about what happened to that family. Wrangled up and sent of to the Holy Land. Shame really. Shame more that your my first hunt!” He ground his feet, lowering into a stance, Palm close to chest as he held his Knife out in reverse only for the Fox to then erupt from the ground! Shattering his foothold as he leapt towards the Rabbit!

  Dezzi had mere milliseconds to react! Muscles lighting up as they lurched backwards, the black singing through the air as it sliced! ‘Fast!’ The Mink thought to themself, the blade sent an arrant blade of wind slicing through the ground, a deep unnatural gash into the earth! “Shock Paw!” Dez clenched their fist, lightning cracking around their black hued fist! Delivering a devistating upward hook into the Fox’s stomach!

  “Hngrh!” The Hunter Winced! His opponents eyes widened, there was no outward shock of air! ‘He absorbed all of the force?!’ Dezzi thought “Electro? Really?” Boone mocked, fist slamming into Dezzi’s jaw! Flipping them through the air!

  “Our electro doesn’t affect our bodies or each others. Cmon girl!” He sneered before squinting. “No…Not girl. You’re a ditey aren’t you? I know our peoples culture. Even if it’s not exactly…Monolithic.”

  Boone in that moment remembered Mink relations. Ditey’s, or more formally ‘Enbey’ were Minks that didn’t align with a Sex or Gender. Mammals each had their own types of roles and sexes, and such different alignments in their units and species. Stack that variety onto the dimorphism of minks and their human nature. Minks quickly developed their own forms of Sexual and Gender Application. Many of which developed in Humans and were even spread by them. Half Woman, Half Man, Both, Neither, Something in between or unique. Changing.

  Minks, above their animalistic bodies, naturally strong bodies meant for strength and physicality with rural wild living, had strong bonds and social structures between one another. Who best fit what role and designation in units and communities. They weren’t a monolith, this was something that began ages ago and then reemerged again in separate communities and individuals. Self Expression, their strengths and weaknesses; That was what minks as a people were. Needed to be.

  “Ditey?” Dezzi huffed, eyes hardened as they smeared the trickle of blood against their mouth. “Oh cmon! You don’t have any idea about what our race is up to?” He rolled his eyes.

  “Well. We are pretty disseminated and spread thin…Out said of Anmalia of course.” He shrugged his shoulder. “I’m sayin’ you’re not boy or girl are ya, little rabbit?”

  ‘Tch…He recognized that quicker in a second than half the people in the Hospital did in 3 Years…’ The irony was not lost on them.

  “Yeah.” Dezzi stood back to their feet. Cracking their neck.

  Dezzis hair whipped behind them, ears flying back as they speed across the ground! Fist blackening in armament, and wrecking it straight into Boones snout! Bone rending as blood splashed out! “Gah!”

  ‘Little shit’s better than I thought!’ That first strike wasn’t everything Dezzi had, They had underestimated the older Fox in their initial blows!

  “Rapid!” Dezzi screamed, tightening their other fist, blackening it, and slamming their knuckles into the Hunter again and again! Landing hundreds of punches in a matter of a second!

  Pain wracked through Boone, deep snarl exposing his white and yellowed fanged mouth! Slamming his foot into the ground, his hand shot up! Catching Dez by the fist!

  “Vulp Crash!” A Strange Shaped jaw of a Fox formed around his clawed hand! Slamming it into Dezzi’s Stomach! He used the Modify ability of Firmament known as shift to shape his attack! Manipulating the aura and space into the object!

  SNAP! Jaw pierced into The Rabbits abdomen! Blood pouring as the were sent backwards!