FutureBlog Chapter 12 by Pete Nicholls
Meet the Doctor!
Welcome to chapter 12 of FutureBlog! With Ryca still an uncertain member of Sato’s team, he decides to go after member number two in the meantime. Prepare to meet… the Doctor!
If you haven’t but want to, you can read all previous chapters on the Table of Contents! Or just start reading below and you should be able to make sense of it.
20221115 posted by Sato Nakamoto
Apologies for the long break—things have gotten a bit intense around here and I’ve been unable to keep up with my regular blog posts but, as I do like to tell a story in order, I’ll start back where I left off…
"You were a little vague in what you put in the description box of your appointment Mr. Nakamoto,” Dr. Hu said as we stood in one of the medical suites at the clinic she works at. After I left Ryca, I had made a quick appointment with my Health Official and had hurriedly filled out the form on my dev while walking and thinking about my investigation.
“Ah. Yes, well, I wasn’t entirely certain you would agree to my actual request.”
So, you don’t have a tumor of the…” she paused looking at the sheet of epaper in her hand, “…pinkie toe?”
“No, Doctor. Sorry about that. I should have at least come up with a better—”
“Not at all—it gave me a laugh. Honestly, I’m so bored in this job and it’s rare when we medical professionals get to laugh on the job.”
“Oh, good. I’m pleased you laughed at that.”
“Next time go with a tumor of the left butt-cheek.”
I cocked my head to my right, looking at her quizzically.
“Want to know why?” she began, “Because it’s a bigger pain in the ass.”
She laughed very hard at that joke. I tried my best to follow suit but it was challenging.
“Oh, my stomach muscles!” Dr. Hu said, exhaling hard in my face. “What can I do for you, Mr. Nakamoto?”
“Well, I’m investigating the 1619 event and I need to follow a lead down to the Machine Levels.”
“Really?” I was a bit taken aback by her simple reaction. I was expecting a lecture on the dangers of the M Levels.
“Y-yes. There is a suspect in the bombing that I have been able to track down, just past the 33rd level, but I had some close calls and was thinking that—”
Hu interrupted me. “How far, did you say? Did you say the 33rd level?”
I took a very large breath, nervous that she would react negatively to my next admission. "She lives below the 33rd in the M's."
"Below the 33rd?"
"Yes."
"And she... it must be just a temporary place to hide--the place you saw--it had to be just for now. Just until things calm down."
"What? Why's that, Doctor?"
"Well, because! If she lived down their permanently she'd have GS."
"That's true, but then--the room I was in looked lived in--like someone, a human lived there."
"Are you certain it wasn't simply an elaborate charging station for maintenance 'bots?"
"The place I saw--it was someone's apartment. Without a doubt someone lived there. There were things on shelves, sheets on the bed, and things hanging on the walls--decorations."
"Oh... very strange."
"Since when do maintenance droids hang wall art?"
"If this woman you speak of really does live down there, she must suffer from GS."
"Germ Syndrome--yes, I suppose she must."
"Exposure to the M's for more than 13 days usually results in the onset of symptoms."
"It's been longer than that since I first saw her down there."
"Perhaps she just sneaks down there at night.? Fascinating.". She seemed immediately intrigued—more intrigued than I think I’ve seen anyone before.
"Would you like to know for sure? Because I would."
She ignored my question, seemingly deep in thought. "What if she holds a cure for GS?"
“I hadn’t thought of that, but yes. She might.”
"When do we leave?"
“Are you sure? Don’t you have work? Patients to see?”
“Bahhh! This sounds far more satisfying than sitting around here waiting for someone with hypochondria to come in here and take pity on me. Besides! What if this person is somehow immune to GS?”
“Fair,” I said.
“So, when do we leave?
“What about your…” I didn’t want to say the word.
“My?”
“Your…”
“This isn’t about my…”
“Age?” It slipped out!
“You young kids! Who knows better about what I can do as a ninety year-old? You or me?”
I smiled awkwardly. “Uhm… well, you, I’d say.”
“So, WHEN do we leave, Mr. Nakamoto?”
“Well, it would have to be soon. Probably four days or so. Still getting my team together.”
“Who else have you got so far?”
“You’re it!” I said smiling. “Though, I believe I am very close to securing another member of my time. Have a meeting with her tonight.”
“Well, I’m the first, that’s nice. Four days. I should be able to get my things in order by then. Should I join you for this meeting tonight? Meet my potential cohort?”
“In my cl—” I almost said it. “No, no, I want to get her to agree first. Then we’ll meet up after I recruit one more person.”
“Sounds good, Mr. Nakamoto! I’m excited!”
“Don’t you want to know how long we’ll be down there?”
“Nohhh! I told you, I’m so bored! I need a vacation and this is it.”
Fair enough!
More soon...
Thanks for reading! The next chapter will be out in a week. My big trip was a generally positive one but it was a LOT and it was basically impossible to keep up with anything even after I got back. I almost had to do jury duty but that go rescheduled until next year, so I’m able to jump back into my work on FutureBlog. Please check out the new chat I set up for this substack! The chat is for subscribers only, but you can subscribe (for free if you want) here. Please sign up! I’m excited for feedback on FutureBlog! I’ll even tell you what I think of it so far in the chat. You can also let me know what you think via my contact page or just:
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