Meme Doc P.H.D
Paladin Ascending Vol 4 #2: Shattered
*Paladin base, 7:46 PM:*
Frantic noises and footsteps. The coverage of a sudden impactful event. Parts of the world are in shock, some cheer for him to recover, some cheer for him to die. But I know the board will not take this well, likely the fact regarding his condition.
Am I guilty. Yes, in the last few hours if I had to save a life. I am a doctor foremost, that is what I am most concerned with. In hindsight, a friend who you look after, but I have failed as an advisor and a teacher, let alone being a good parental figure. Everyone should have the guidance no matter what and when.
And here she comes. Alongside her own people. But her stride says everything. Disastrous, unprecedented. Raze is full of anger. Stern, emotionless, more colder too.
Raze: “What was everyone thinking? An attack? Gone unplanned? Do you know how much it cost us?!”
Edens: “It’s shit, I know. Causing a lot of messes, right, yes. I am well aware of what is going on. The agency's critical concern is---”
Raze: “You’d better find cleaning solutions, Remus. I cannot sit here and wait like the board does.”
Edens: “I’m taking the blood for analysis. I'm with the patient at all times. That’s all you have to worry about. And I’m giving the patient his constant check up—“
Raze: “We find the killer first. If you’re there, I need you outside. Others can take care of him. You won't really be needed much."
Edens: “For the love of god, stop interrupting me! If this presents as the last chance scenario you’re giving me, Antonia? What qualifes?! For goodness sake, I’m a doctor for life, I save people too! I keep the oath!”
Raze: “Fine. After all, he is the biggest priority. We cannot lose him. You monitor the patient and report back to me at all times. I do not care if you lose sleep, but if your dedication to medicine proves that is a reason then do your fucking job. And one last thing aside from the patient, focal matters will come to play soon....”
She scoffs and walks off, leaving me to deal with my temper. Again, I have never raised my voice in that manner. Calling out the Madame's name. We argue a lot, our rivalry runs long and deep--between two old people. But she has a point that I cannot fault anyone for. But me. I was there.
The weight of my shoulders in the last two days were heavy. Simply becoming more heavy. I’ve been missing my sleep, my brain capacity should have been down. Getting slow in my age when I’m older. I acknowledge that as a fact, and I should be retired. But when you're a workaholic, you don't get to choose. You are in for life.
I asked Navin to help me out for the occasion, filling him out on most things as he got into this giant craziness of a mess as well. Thanks to his assistance within the year, he knows us all, our adventures, experiences. Then he went knee deep into investigating while I took care of my former protege in the meantime. The team should know, given the friendly statuses...
***
Edens: “Mason? Can you hear me?”
Mason: “Y....yeah. I think so.”
Edens: “You’ve been in critical danger—seriously bad. Out for the last couple of days.”
Mason: “Much blood loss?”
Edens: “I gave some transfusion of my own, and extra blood bags to keep you alive. I’ve got something to tell you, but gotta make sure you’re ready...”
Mason: “Sure. Just help me adjust...ok, thanks. Have at it. Spill.”
Edens: “The campaign is taking a halt, and the polls will go on as usual, so you still have time. And we’re trying to find out who shot you. Navin's hard at work just like all of us. You're a priority, always.”
Mason: “Ok? What else matters that I am not worth losing? My diamonds from Kiev?”
Edens: “I'm not in the mood for making small talk or jokes. We're going to jump straight to the fact about your powers—you used it as a self defense mechanism on the day of the attack, it might have saved you, but it’s starting to eat you inside.”
Mason: “How long do I have? What’s the diagnosis?”
Edens: “Two weeks. I’m sorry, but it’s just…I hate to say it but it’s a big curse, you’re not like us with regular powers, I kept tabs on you every time and I’m trying to get a cure but now your condition has worsened.”
Mason: “That’s….that’s a lot to take in. Does Yvette know?”
Edens: “She does. She’s doing her papers on something else, I’m going to assist her. But I’m so sorry I let you down, bringing you news of this quickly…I had to. And to be honest, the board and Paladin is stressing me out, I can’t keep up for checks, you just gotta rest, ok? I’ll send someone in…”
Mason: "Right. Do your thing."
Remus leaves the room in a hurry, not even bothering to look at me in the eyes, and for our conversation he was darting off somewhere else, reading the digital monitors, the room, anything that wasn't my face. But here I am, just leaning up to stare at the ceiling and this entire tech glazed room. It wasn’t my private placed hospital room in the company, it was Paladin’s. Not that important. But the blunt truth hits me inside. I had to know everything.
My memories suddenly feel like glazed glass. Christ. The attack. My shoulders ache like hell when I try to move my body, which is strung up to wires and IV pods. Why does it feel like I’ve been shot in the head by something? I have so many questions and I’m one hell of a fucking piled mess.
I start to think about my younger sister. Yvette. The most important person in my life that I can grasp onto—like an anchor to a seriously sinking boat. But the feeling is too strong, when she’s away. My mentor gone too because of what he’s inevitably facing. My campaign…is it over? My company? Is it in ruins now? Would she run it with that ability?
So many questions. So little time. I…I need to sort things out and help my friends.
Before it gets too late because my days are numbered.
For the first time, mortality hits you so hard than a brick in the wall. It's not faking deaths. It's not gaming, not smiles and sunshines, none of that anymore.
The truth of reality is that I am really going to die very soon.
Very soon...
***
Paladin Ascending Vol 4 #2: Shattered
*Paladin base, 7:46 PM:*
Frantic noises and footsteps. The coverage of a sudden impactful event. Parts of the world are in shock, some cheer for him to recover, some cheer for him to die. But I know the board will not take this well, likely the fact regarding his condition.
Am I guilty. Yes, in the last few hours if I had to save a life. I am a doctor foremost, that is what I am most concerned with. In hindsight, a friend who you look after, but I have failed as an advisor and a teacher, let alone being a good parental figure. Everyone should have the guidance no matter what and when.
And here she comes. Alongside her own people. But her stride says everything. Disastrous, unprecedented. Raze is full of anger. Stern, emotionless, more colder too.
Raze: “What was everyone thinking? An attack? Gone unplanned? Do you know how much it cost us?!”
Edens: “It’s shit, I know. Causing a lot of messes, right, yes. I am well aware of what is going on. The agency's critical concern is---”
Raze: “You’d better find cleaning solutions, Remus. I cannot sit here and wait like the board does.”
Edens: “I’m taking the blood for analysis. I'm with the patient at all times. That’s all you have to worry about. And I’m giving the patient his constant check up—“
Raze: “We find the killer first. If you’re there, I need you outside. Others can take care of him. You won't really be needed much."
Edens: “For the love of god, stop interrupting me! If this presents as the last chance scenario you’re giving me, Antonia? What qualifes?! For goodness sake, I’m a doctor for life, I save people too! I keep the oath!”
Raze: “Fine. After all, he is the biggest priority. We cannot lose him. You monitor the patient and report back to me at all times. I do not care if you lose sleep, but if your dedication to medicine proves that is a reason then do your fucking job. And one last thing aside from the patient, focal matters will come to play soon....”
She scoffs and walks off, leaving me to deal with my temper. Again, I have never raised my voice in that manner. Calling out the Madame's name. We argue a lot, our rivalry runs long and deep--between two old people. But she has a point that I cannot fault anyone for. But me. I was there.
The weight of my shoulders in the last two days were heavy. Simply becoming more heavy. I’ve been missing my sleep, my brain capacity should have been down. Getting slow in my age when I’m older. I acknowledge that as a fact, and I should be retired. But when you're a workaholic, you don't get to choose. You are in for life.
I asked Navin to help me out for the occasion, filling him out on most things as he got into this giant craziness of a mess as well. Thanks to his assistance within the year, he knows us all, our adventures, experiences. Then he went knee deep into investigating while I took care of my former protege in the meantime. The team should know, given the friendly statuses...
***
Edens: “Mason? Can you hear me?”
Mason: “Y....yeah. I think so.”
Edens: “You’ve been in critical danger—seriously bad. Out for the last couple of days.”
Mason: “Much blood loss?”
Edens: “I gave some transfusion of my own, and extra blood bags to keep you alive. I’ve got something to tell you, but gotta make sure you’re ready...”
Mason: “Sure. Just help me adjust...ok, thanks. Have at it. Spill.”
Edens: “The campaign is taking a halt, and the polls will go on as usual, so you still have time. And we’re trying to find out who shot you. Navin's hard at work just like all of us. You're a priority, always.”
Mason: “Ok? What else matters that I am not worth losing? My diamonds from Kiev?”
Edens: “I'm not in the mood for making small talk or jokes. We're going to jump straight to the fact about your powers—you used it as a self defense mechanism on the day of the attack, it might have saved you, but it’s starting to eat you inside.”
Mason: “How long do I have? What’s the diagnosis?”
Edens: “Two weeks. I’m sorry, but it’s just…I hate to say it but it’s a big curse, you’re not like us with regular powers, I kept tabs on you every time and I’m trying to get a cure but now your condition has worsened.”
Mason: “That’s….that’s a lot to take in. Does Yvette know?”
Edens: “She does. She’s doing her papers on something else, I’m going to assist her. But I’m so sorry I let you down, bringing you news of this quickly…I had to. And to be honest, the board and Paladin is stressing me out, I can’t keep up for checks, you just gotta rest, ok? I’ll send someone in…”
Mason: "Right. Do your thing."
Remus leaves the room in a hurry, not even bothering to look at me in the eyes, and for our conversation he was darting off somewhere else, reading the digital monitors, the room, anything that wasn't my face. But here I am, just leaning up to stare at the ceiling and this entire tech glazed room. It wasn’t my private placed hospital room in the company, it was Paladin’s. Not that important. But the blunt truth hits me inside. I had to know everything.
My memories suddenly feel like glazed glass. Christ. The attack. My shoulders ache like hell when I try to move my body, which is strung up to wires and IV pods. Why does it feel like I’ve been shot in the head by something? I have so many questions and I’m one hell of a fucking piled mess.
I start to think about my younger sister. Yvette. The most important person in my life that I can grasp onto—like an anchor to a seriously sinking boat. But the feeling is too strong, when she’s away. My mentor gone too because of what he’s inevitably facing. My campaign…is it over? My company? Is it in ruins now? Would she run it with that ability?
So many questions. So little time. I…I need to sort things out and help my friends.
Before it gets too late because my days are numbered.
For the first time, mortality hits you so hard than a brick in the wall. It's not faking deaths. It's not gaming, not smiles and sunshines, none of that anymore.
The truth of reality is that I am really going to die very soon.
Very soon...
***