HOUR 13

  8:00pm-9:00pm

  Alarms blared inside the hospital as Lodge had put the entire Hospital on Lockdown, The Chair to the ER and anyone with a non emergency Medical issue was discharged and told to go home, the Taxi’s outside, and various other forms of transportation. Leaving only Operations, Hospice, and Emergency Medicine continuing.

  “What in the blazes is happening?!” Benedict Demanded, still with Hardgrove as Lodge explained the situation. But Lodge did not disclose what was happening with Dezzi, just that a sudden attack from a Pirate hit near the hospital.

  The Hospital was in a buzz as people ran around to get the emergency under control and readied. Many of the Doctors were currently collected in the lobby. All standing around as Lodge took charge.

  Only for Hardgrove to attempt to interject with her typical passive and clinical words. Only for more worry to spread. Just for Lodge to take back over in his same cynical and sarcastic but reassuring tone. The Hospital will have to shut down early, take no new patients, and for only the most Intensive Care floors and rooms to be cared for. Any operations and labs will need to be rescheduled or done another time.

  “Wheres Heartfila?” Hardgrove asked Benedict. But he only shook his head. “I haven’t seen her down here. She may have already left.”

  Blood trailed through the air as they flew a tremendous distance! Another kilometer! And in a tenth of a second, Boone Appeared above Dezzi! Smile spread wide across his Vulpine face! Eyes harsh and filled with a predators gaze!

  He pounced!

  “Fanged Vulp!” He screamed, jaw latching down around Dezzi’s throat! The two slamming into the ground! Dezzi in their teeth, blood oozing out, Dezzi’s claws, coated in armament, attempted to open Boones Jaws of Life clenched around.

  “HRGHGH!” Boone growled! Suddenly ragdolling Dezzi brutally from side to side! Attempting to snap their neck and tear deeper into the flesh!

  “HAGCK!” Dez choked out a gagged scream! “F-Frost Paw!” They called! Frost covering their hand, Conduit Haki shifting into the frigid aura, condensed fog trailing behind while the Fist flew!

  SHWAM! Ice impacted and spread across the Foxes Maw! When a secondary, shorter distanced impact slammed and shattered the ice! Flesh bleeding and shattered off the side of the Fox’s muzzle!

  His jaw lurched open! Hands coming to grab at the second wound to his face! Dezzi rolled across the ground! Hand gripping at the wound in their neck! ‘No carotid lac, Trapezial and Platysma puncture…’ The thought quick how to stim the bleeding. Jamming their hand into their pocket, they pulled out a pad they kept in their just in case, and slapped it against their throat before using firmament to freeze it to the fur and skin. Their Rabbit Physiology could handle the temperature.

  Dezzi looked up, only to see that Kentuck was staring off to the distance. Facing east. He had let go of his knife. Blade pierced into the ground. His entire body was slack. Dezzis face shift to one of realization, neck snapping to the same direction, looking in realization…

  The Moon. Risen high up into the air…

  Was Full.

  Dezzi’s own Body in that moment felt loose. A sudden wash of lightness and rush of adrenaline flowing through their body. Back beginning to arch, arms locking out and chest heaving forward!

  Both of the minks began to undertake the transformation of Sulong!

  Both of the minks Bodies began to distend, stretch, shift and grow! Both of their muscles bulging, The Vulpines muscles staying enlarged, chest growing larger and wider, shoulders wide, arms large and trunk like. Waist narrowed while his legs gained length. His maw had lengthed, teeth growing to the length knives!

  Both Minks’ fur turned to a bleached white. Hair elongating. Boone gaining a length of hair at the bottom of his chin and out the corners of his nose like a goatee. Hair flowing deep down his back.

  Both of their bodies finished their transformation at near the same time. Crackling and glowing with Electro Constantly.

  Dezzi, standing there, completely within control. Having been in their Sulong form many times, from their own made drugs and Wringly.

  Boone however…Seemed much more faral.

  “AYEEEE!!!” He let out a call exactly like a Vulpine, calling loud into the night that even the hospital, the mines and the City of Pip could hear echo.

  With his tongue flying out, licking the blood from his Maw, he had an animalistic, primal look to his eyes.

  In a sudden crash! Kentucky disappeared! Crossed the distance of only a dozen meters in a millisecond! Before suddenly reappearing back in front Dezzi! Hand smashing into the ground, the ground cratering! As deep as a person, and as wide as a whale! Rubble shooting into the air! The ground form the sheer force, had been vaporized!

  Dezzi had leapt backwards! Dodging the strike before leaping straight into the air! Moving at Meteoric Speeds! Boones head snapped up! Letting out a snarl, preparing to leap up and snatch Rabbit!

  “Crescent!” Dezzi roared! Leg coating in armament, unconsciously infusing their Leg with Negative Flow of Conduit, a jagged aura streaking with black edges colored a vibrant white, pulsing and waving just as negative aura will.

  “MAKT MANE!” Dezzi soared back down, boosting their down ward speed by pure force of their muscles! Propelling them down ward! The impact was monstrous!

  Minks Sulong, meant to be a forced ‘evolution’ of sorts to put the Minks body to the highest possibly peaks of their Mammalian form enhanced with strength and shifted form flowing with electro! The peak of primal fury! A boost of 32 fold!

  Finally, a impact spread out of Boones body, too much force for his strong body to absorb. A massive torrent of wind shot out for miles around! The ground cracked for splits of a moment, before shattering! Erupting in a massive 100 meter crater, caving in a quarter of its width!

  The quake could be felt even the 5 km back at the Hospital, a tremor being felt by those inside, jostling loose cups of water on patients bedsides!

  “ACK!” Boone released a spout of blood from his mouth! His mind dizzying, The Negative Conduit making the pain worsen incredibly, the wound worsening, not by force but through the negative energy decaying the wound!

  His consciousness faded in and out, in that moment, Dezzi had experienced Haki Bloom! Suddenly awakening a brand new kata for their Conduit Branch! ‘Bad Dose’ was what they would call it!

  Negative Energy not just increasing pain, and worsening wounds, but forcing their body’s signals to flicker, inducing paralysis and causing them to black out…

  Unless they could fight against it–

  “Snare Hunt!” Firmament Aura radiated from Boones hand before shifting into solid Konseki Form! The form of a rope manifesting, a golden semi-transparent construct shooting out and tightening around Dez’s legs! A second object appearing, a large rod like a limb from a tree or pole shot past Dezzi! Snapping into the ground!

  Dezzi was hoisted upside down! Branch curved, the construct 6 meters tall, curved down, The Rabbit thrashing in the trap.

  HOUR 14

  10:00 pm - 11:00pm

  The Quake suddenly awoke a Doctor.

  Doctor Heartfila.

  She shoots up, looking around, the lights flickering beneath the slit of the Door. Where had she been? Where is she now…? She had been sleeping in the Doctors Bed, up on the 7th floor of Family Medicine. Having finished a double shift. Head hitting the pillow, and was dead to the world.

  None of the Chaos woke her. Her mind used to the buzz, and forcing anything worrying out so that she could rest. Until the quake.

  “Where? What?” She spoke in a soft, nurturing tone. Hand rubbing her head as she flips her legs off the bed quickly, feet sliding into her slips and yanking her White Coat on.

  In the Hallway, it was devoid of Patients. Door after door opened, and no one was inside. She wondered if she had overslept, but the lack of nurses at the station told her it was something more.

  Shoes clacked against the stairs. She had to check on her patients admitted to ICU. Her mind in a Haze of Worry. Thinking deeply, fearful for what must have happened.

  She Checked on Dezzi’s patient she had been put in care of as the Attending For Family and Pedes, Checked a few of the kids suffering from acute inhalation from their shift in the mines, The Kid who had been found in the Forest, starved only to realize they had run away from a bastard of a father in Pip.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “Damn kid.” Boone said, shaking his head slowly giving a distasteful tut of his tongue “Tut tut tut. You’re good. Really good. I know for a fact now that you are Definetly your fathers kid.” He wagged a finger. Firmament Aura forming into a long chain with a beartrap at the end, exaggerated and razor sharp.

  “The Heck you talkin’ about!” Dezzi demanded, thrashing in the snare. It was a Rule Based Konseki. It must bind around a limb, and has to be planted into the ground or surface to be effective, and Target must be unaware of the incoming attack. Once done, this allows for the Target to be caught in the snare, nearly unbreakable and preventing them from moving in the direction the snare is connected to. In this case, Dezzi could physically not bend up to reach their legs. Secondary ability was–

  Kentucky swiped two fingers through the air. Causing another rope to form, between their teeth, working as a gag to stop them from speaking. Slipknot connecting down into the ground by a smaller pole. Snare Hunt, once having a target caught, could have more snares places on the target where ever the user gestures.

  He stopped in front of the Rabbit, hands clawing at the gag. He took a knee to be at eye level, and just a distance away to prevent Dez from swiping at him. “Hush. Lemme talk.”

  “I never liked Hunting our kind. Always tried to avoid it when I could…” He seemed to have his wits about him again. Even while in sulong. “But you…That name.” He closed his blackened sclera, red iris eyes. Shaking his head again.

  “I knew your Dad, Dezzi.” Voice softened. “He was a Bounty Hunter on a Contract with the Marines.” Dezzi’s eyes widened. They never knew anything about their parents. Only the vague memories when they were 3, before the brand of the Flying Dragon, before being a slave on Holy Eden.

  “I worked with him. Fox and the Hare. Your Mom was a bunny. But your dad was a hare. You’ve got both of em in you. Her eyes, his jaw, his hair, her ears, both of their faces melded into one.” He scratched his brow with the back of his thumb.

  “I warned him about that…Doing all of that. Getting involved with the Marines.” He looked away for a moment. Dezzi’s thrashing had stopped. “And look where it got him. A Marine backed Slaver comin’ along to his family. Snatching him, his wife, his kid. Everyone else we both knew, hoisted away to the Holy Land or to be skinned for their fur in some Celestials Coat.”

  He’d lost his eye to Rango Scotch. But the invisible scar, of being tricked and having a sack thrown over his head, pelted with rocks by humans for fun. Left more in him than that Morph Morph Bullet ever could.

  “I resented him for that. I think I’ve been…Runnin’ away from it ever since. Chasing the thrill. The hunt. Taking pleasure in it, Slip after Slip.” He chewed his lip raw.

  “And when I heard it was you. Or might be you. I thought hell, why not get back into the Saddle after settling down into one of the most popular ‘Bustling New Islands’ and doing stupid contracting work. Racking in Berry. Seedy after Seedy. Switch after Switch. Counting my Pelly dutifully.”

  Another scratch. “But when I saw you on that roof. Teetering on the edge. Feeling alive, I saw your father. And knew this was my chance to take it. My revenge?” He questioned.

  “My Resent.”

  “But fighting you. Made me realize that she fought with the same fury probably. Your mom. Your dad too. For what? Community? Race? Child?” His jaws ground loosely.

  “And you did the same. Weren’t you. Never moving me towards that place.” He looked over his shoulder, Hospitals lights being the only thing glowing over the Horizon.

  “Sulong…Always let it take hold. Let me feel free. Myself. But that impact. The Conduit. I think that blink let me snap too. A brief moment to take control I know I always had but didn’t take. Didn’t…Trap in my hands.” He looked off to the moon, then back to Dezzi.

  He gazed down to the Beartrap. Simple Manifestation Type Konseki. And it disappeared into shatters. Fading away. “And thats why did it….Didn’t he? Marines. Not because he was selfish. But because that was the only thing he could do, thinking he could protect his community.”

  “Hagh…” He growled out a sigh. Shrinking down, and returning back to normal. Snap! His fingers clicked and the Snare released Dezzi. Falling with a thud. Their own form releasing as they relaxed.

  “Hngh…” The Vulpine groaned. Falling to his back. Legs slowly spreading out.

  The twos breath rose and fell in tandem from the dose of Sulong. Bodies sore. Aching. But wounds having stimmed.

  Footsteps crunched slowly. Approaching the Fox.

  Dezzi stood over them. Dried on their face, scuffs, cuts and bandage dried. Hooding torn. But they stood tall. Looking down to Kentucky Boone, ears relaxed.

  “Do whatever you want to me. Just…Do me a favor will ya? Make it quick.” His head rols back. Eyes locked onto Dezzi. Devoid of Emotion.

  His eyes relaxed as he watched Dezzi’s Hands glow. Vibrant golden hue. In that moment, his eyes looked away from the rabbit. Off to the moon.

  Dezzi dropped to their knees, and gently put their hands on the Fox gently. The sudden softens jolted the Hunter. Suddenly looking back to see the glow enveloping them!

  Good Medicine.

  “Unfortunate for you.” Dezzi looked to Boone. Lodge flashing in their mind.

  “I’m a Doctor. Not a Hunter.” The Conduit slowly started to heal the man. Bit by bit. The external wounds and any injuries. It wouldn’t fix anything, but would seal him back up and purge any minor ailments.

  Boone smiled softly. “Kahaha! Augh…” Dezzi continued. “Besides. I think I’ve cut you enough. But don’t make me cut you more.” They gave menacing smile. “I’ll do it to!” They continued their work.

  Boone shook his head. Murmuring out–

  “The Fox Mourns the Hares Death…”

  10:45pm

  Dezzi ran across the ground, back to the Hospital! Boones words echoing in their mind as they watched him walk off. ‘If ever you need anything. You know where to find me. I think I’ve had enough of this place…Need to actually do retirement properly…’ There was one thing on their mind specifically…And it would be underway shortly enough.

  Leaping off the ground, bouncing and bounding, they quickly cross the 5km in a few moments of exertion that tired them even more.

  Everything was in its right place…

  At the same time. Inside the Hospital Lobby…Hardgrove clapped her hands together.

  “Everyone! Please! May I have your attention! We haven important announcement. Not only has their been an update on the situation. And what ever had happened has been subdued and we have an all clear.” She suddenly held up her board. The Signatures.

  “We have our last signature!” Some people gasped. Other murmured. Some gave a few claps. Benedict of course, gave a hearty clap of celebration. “We can officially privatize the Hospital Properly. And give the care to those who need it the most! Our funding, from patrons, will now be a formal board of directors and Officers for the hospital”

  The Doctors and Nurses continued to look to one another. Heartfila rubbing her knuckles idly. After the sudden quake. And the worry…She felt this need to make sure the kids and families she saw would get the care they needed…even if it needed to be flawed. In her mind.

  “However. Unfortunately. There will be a change up in things. We will need new Doctors. And that may mean that some of you–” Her words were cut off as the front door slammed open!

  HOUR 15

  11:00pm-12:00am

  Everyone. Every face. Every set of eyes. Looked to the front door where Dezzi stood, door held open, night dark behind the stark white fur of the mink. “WAIT!”

  They breathed hard. “You don’t have my signature.” They said with all the confidence in the world. Eyes hardened. Glaring at Hardgrove and Benedict.

  A look of shock and horror came over the two ‘Doctors’ faces. Blinking to each other. Boone had told them Dezzi was handled! A weary look attempted to spread across the Administrators lips. “Heh…Nice of you to Join Us, Kanin Dezzi.”

  “But unfortunately. Not only is it past time for signatures. But you aren’t an Attending!” She spat the words with palpable, but passive venom.

  “Oh on the contrary!” The faces shifted to behind them, where Dr. Lodge kicked open the side door. “As of exactly–” He held a paper up to his eyes. Reading it allowed “2:38pm this afternoon, Dezzi here finished their Degree in Emergency and Internal Medicine, Making them M.D.”

  “And!” He twisted the knife. Watching the color fade from Hardgroves face as she slowed to the realization “As of Exactly 10:58pm , as per this Certificate Seal and Stamp says, with Witness of one Nurse Akari RN” He began to read the Certificate aloud. “This is to Certify that Oslar Kanin Dezzi, M.D. has completed Residency in Surgical ‘Slash’ Traumatic Medicine. And is here by appointed to the Position of ‘Attending In Emergency Medicine’” He finally lowered the paper.

  “Signed by Department Chair, Me, Program Director, Also me, and holding Executive Power of Head and Administrative Doctor in title, Signed by me.”

  The Room was left in shock. Some smiled, other nodded to one another. A slow steady clap began to rise. Cheering for the victory of the hospital, and their brand new Doctor.

  Dezzi crossed over to Lodge, Standing next to them. They had signed their name on the paper at exactly the right time, the moment they made it to Lodges office who had been waiting there. Knowing Dezzi would return in time. Pulling away Akari for witness legally. But there was no time to talk. The pen scratched, and Dezzi leapt from the open window to land back at the front door and interrupt.

  “Might as well tear that paper. It’s now…” He checked his watch “Damn near twelve. Well passed the due. And there was one attending you didn’t account for. Sorry Dr. Hardgrove.”

  A sudden slap came to the top of Dezzi’s head. Placing their cap back on, having fetched it off the roof after the initial attack. “Isn’t that right?”

  “Dr. Oslar.”