Part 47: Dream's End

I can finally post a music link!



...So you can't find any of their top management, huh? They've probably gone into hiding. Yeah, it's going well on our side, but we're having the same problem. Mercer isn't here. Right. Call me if anything turns up. *hangs up* Have the foxes all left their hole? Or...



He said he wouldn't talk to anyone but you... And I think he's one of the HOA doctors.

No points for guessing who it is.

...Me?
he looked African. Any chance you know him?
...It's Adel! Would it be alright if we talk to him alone for a few minutes?
That's fine, but he wasn't being very cooperative. Be careful, and let me know if you need us!



President Mercer... He isn't here. He's... looking for something...
Adel, the Hands of Asclepius has been ordered to cease all of its operations. And... I'd also like to make sure you get examined.
Dr. Tulba, there's a possibility that you've been infected with a new type of GUILT.
...There's something I need to say to you, Dr. Stiles.
...What is it, Adel?
It wasn't fair. I was born and raised in Costigar, where every day was a struggle to survive. I did everything in my power to become a doctor... but my skills were nothing compared to yours.
Adel, it's not a contest. There's no point in comparing us.
You don't understand! That's why I joined the Hands of Asclepius! My Healing Touch may be artificial... But so what!? Is that so wrong!?
Dr. Tulba, don't you realize how dangerous the new GUILT is?
You see, Dr. Stiles... President Mercer gave me what I wanted... He shared with me his secret.
...What is he talking about...?



Welp. Guess the game'll sweep "unfair opportunities" under the rug too.

The great silence--Sige--has changed me... I am a new creation!
...He's lost it!
No, Derek, it's the GUILT! It's affecting his mind! Be careful! Who knows what he'll do next!
Dr. Stiiiiles... Do you know what else the "Healing" Touch is good for...? It's also good for...



*Adel graps a scalpel*



Stop it, Adel! We're doctors, not murderers!
HAHAHAHA! HA... ha...!? ...Haaaa! *activates HT*
*gasp* Dr. Stiles!
Ngh...! Adel! You have to snap out of it!
Tch... What is this... sudden... PAIN! It... hurts so much...! Aaaaaghhh! *drops the scalpel* Ugh... *collapses*

We're saved!

Adel!?
Dr. Stiles!
Don't worry; I'm alright! We need to focus on Adel! ...What is this!? Angie, we have to operate immediately!
Yes, Doctor!



Dr. Tulba's affected area is the right lung, and as expected, there are chiral reactions.
The Neo-GUILT, "Sige"...
You've heard of it, Professor Blackwell?
Yes, it's a strain of GUILT that was developed here. It causes pus and hematoceles in the organs. Its very existence is a testament to why GUILT research was internationally banned. And so far, no one has found any countermeasures to use against it.
That's insane...!
Angie... Please continue with the briefing.
Y-Yes. We have only one objective for this operation:

• Eliminate the new type of GUILT.

...How are we supposed to accomplish that, though? We don't know anything about it...

The same way as usual: Trial and Error

Still, we have to cure him! Remember what Adel said when we left Costigar? He wanted to help people suffering from diseases and injuries... He wanted to restore his country! I won't let those desires just fade away like this!
...You're right, Doctor! Let's save Dr. Tulba!
I'll support you to the best of my ability.



Operation Video


Before we begin... Father, is there anything you can tell us about what we need to do?
Angie, Derek. Both of you have a wealth of experience with treating GUILT. Just believe in yourselves. I'll help you out as best as I can. Together, we'll find a way to treat it.
...Understood!



Just like always, make sure to top off vitals before treating all the initial wounds.

*The usual convulsion occurs*

Convulsions...! Chiral reaction is rising!
It's coming... Sige is going to reveal itself!



The convulsions have stopped... But multiple lacerations have formed!
Sige has arrived, but it's probably hidden within the organ. Find it with the ultrasound!
Understood! Doctor, use the ultrasound to search the area!

As we look for it, you'll hear a noise every time Sige bumps into the lung's edges. Vitals will drop by 1 every 2 bumps. The drain is negligible. For now.



Don't take too long to find Sige, though. While submerged, it'll create hematoceles. You REALLY don't want them to suddenly burst during the chaos that'll ensue after we expose Sige.

That shadow is Sige... Make an incision to force it to the surface.
Alright, go ahead, Doctor!



Wh-What did it do!? The operation field turned completely white!
Sige released the gases it was creating within the organ! ...We can't continue the procedure if we can't see what we're doing...
But, Father! We can't just leave Sige alone, either! We're going to have to--
Improvise! Derek! Grab that air compressor! Use it to disperse the gas!

If your DS mic isn't working properly, then you get to listen as Sige moves a lot faster and watch as the vitals quickly drain away without being able to do anything about it!

If it's working, though, you'll find that you'd have to multitask as the best time to raise vitals is while blowing the gas away.



GUILT strain 6: Sige (Silence)

If Pempti is a test of endurance, then Sige is a test of speed. Befitting its effects, Sige acts very quickly. Sige operations ends quickly; either with its or our defeat.

Bythos is a test of both, by the way. That one's still the hardest GUILT.

Sige confirmed! The gas has completely cleared! Look! Sige is running rampant at a tremendous speed!
...The source of the gas seems to be the wound where Sige appeared from. First we should treat that wound with a synthetic membrane to stop the gas from leaking out again.
Right, but after that, how can we attack Sige if it's moving around so quickly...?
We'll need to find a way to stop its movement! Derek! Try using different tools to see if any of them are effective against it!

Sige move MUCH more quickly now, which means his vital drain is actually very dangerous. Not to mention that it'll create pus, which in turn create inflammations.

That gaping hole is going to release more gas if we let it be for too long. So let's just patch that up real quick before trying everything...



It stopped moving!?
It seems the effect of the antibiotic gel restrains Sige's movement... Alright, use the antibiotic gel to stop it from moving and then cut straight into the main body!
Understood! Doctor, use the scalpel!

That gel really does work for everything . We don't HAVE TO use the gel, but good luck cutting Sige without it.

After we cut it, Sige will submerge again and repeat the process. It's very easy to immediately find it again, which is good because even with all the chaos when it's exposed, it's even more dangerous while submerged.

Eventually when we expose Sige the noise will be different. It's...more numerous

It's still releasing gas...! But something's different...
...It seems to have created a clone of itself.
A clone!? So it can just replicate itself!?
that's right. When it senses a threat to itself, it creates clones as a defense mechanism. I don't know what will happen if we touch the clones... But the fact remains that there is only one main body! Be cautious, and only attack the main one!



Yes, the clones hitting the lung's edges also drain our vitals. We REALLY want to go through this part as fast as possible.




I'd use HT here, but for some reason the game won't accept my panicked star. This happened to me a lot in my NB/SO playthrough, but it's a first in this game.



*More convulsions*

It's the end of Sige...



Chiral reaction is negative! Treatment of Sige is complete! I'm so glad we were able to save Dr. Tulba! Well, Doctor, please treat the remaining wounds and move onto closing him up!

I don't know how I managed to survive that...

Anyway, all that's left is the usual closing up.

I hope... that Dr. Tulba will return to his usual self after this...
Your efforts won't be in vain. He'll go back to normal, Angie. At least, that's what I believe!
Professor Blackwell...





Obviously the gas count only includes the ones that occur because we didn't close the hole fast enough.

Getting the time limit should be easy. Well, easy as in "if you're past that time limit, you're probably dead."



Huh...? Dr. Stiles!? Nurse Thompson? ...! I--
Don't worry, Dr. Tulba. You're OK now.
We successfully extracted the GUILT from inside you. You may have slight memory loss, though...
...No, Dr. Stiles. I remember everything. I... I can't believe all the things I did to you...
It's alright. Your mind and body were being affected by GUILT.
...That's no excuse for what I did. Those feelings were already there... deep down inside me. I... don't deserve to be a doctor...
That isn't true, Dr. Tulba. We all have our weaknesses. But we overcome them, and move on. We have to look toward the future. So please, don't think such things. You can't give up now.

That's the closest this game has to a central theme.

...But, I don't have the Healing Touch anymore...
That's not what's important. You have the desire to save people. As long as you have that, you'll be a great doctor.
...You really think so?
...I do. We're doctors, because we don't give up on our patients, no matter what the circumstances. ...And I made you a promise that I would return you to Costigar as an accomplished surgeon. Adel... will you let me keep that promise...?
Dr. Stiles... Thank you. ...I'm sorry for everything...

This'll probably be more impactful if the game don't give us operations where Healing Touch is absolutely mandatory



I'm glad it ended without any major chaos.

I guess the doctors' mass collapse isn't considered a major chaos

Yes, that's a relief.
It's too bad they weren't able to arrest President Mayuzumi, but--

*Phone rings*

Oh, hold on, Dr. Chase. My cell is ringing... Hm, it's restricted... Hello...?

Mercer: "Heather..."

Father...! Where are you!?

Mercer: "...Don't ask that. You must know already. I can't let myself be taken in yet... Heather... I have a favor to ask of you."

...What are you talking about!?

Mercer: "If... If Tracy ever wakes up... Take good care of her for me. I'll be counting on you..." *hangs up*

Father...!? Father!!