"I ... I don't have the medical records right here at the moment, but I could show them to you once I'm back on my ship?" Victoria seems to be quite surprised, raising her eyebrows a little as she didn't expect another sudden turn of events. "But what's on your mind, do you have an idea that could work?" Victoria leans forward, giving Mieko her full attention. The food was pretty much forgotten at this point, just like the young girl's hunger.
"You'll make my heart explode if you keep it beating up to my throat." Victoria nervously grabs a hold of one of her tools, seemingly needing something that she can distract herself with. "As ... much as I can remember, it's science talk for spine cancer? Something like ... being close to the spinal canal or something? I'm sorry, after receiving the diagnosis I never really ... wanted to read more into it, which is a bit silly on second thought." She sighs, feeling somewhat embarassed about her past self.
Mieko rubs at Victoria's hand, her dainty digits doing their best to install a sense of calm. "In Ouroboros, me and some others.. using technology from the defunct Ingennus Research Group - we developed a technology to create the very same lab grown body that me and my sister use. Of course, the.. AI-inhabited ones were intentionally underdeveloped to prevent premature rampancy, mainly in the frontal cortex. However.. we did experiment with cloning and even.. spiritual transfer. we've only tested it once, and it was a last ditch effort to provide an older member of our ranks the opportunity to continue to serve at a younger age. It is the only time we have attempted it, and even then, it was not exactly a sure matter."
She continues, after taking a quick drink to sate her thirst, her soft lips pressing against the straw. "... What I am about to tell you. Is to be considered between us. No one is to know this information - not Auxesia, not another soul - at least for now."
She looks around, hoping no one is listening in, before resuming. "Ouroboros is.. planning to return. Hanamura-sensei, and the others. They're alive. I only found this out, a bit ago. Due to the amount of groups that would rather them be dead, I have kept the matter hush. They.. hopefully, have a functioning Rachmiel unit, which can construct a clone body.. and assuming the cancer has not progressed to the point that it has spread to your brain.. we can transplant your brain into the new body. Though.. other conditions may require alteration to the plan.. and we may require outside assistance to perform the procedure."
She smiles a bit. "The odds of transplant, hopefully, will be high, given we use nanobots.. and assuming no genetic modifications are needed, auto-immune suppression and replacement may not be needed. If Ouroboros cannot perform it.. we can possibly speak to Med-Force about it. That or consult with Leviathan on if Auxesia can perform the procedure."
Victoria seems to disconnect herself somewhat from the situation upon hearing even more information regarding her possible future. She simply stares at the partially eaten blooming onion in front of her, somewhat holding on to the physical connection she has to Mieko as well. She doesn't respond at first, nor does her gaze move around. The young woman only wakes up several moments after Mieko has stopped speaking.
"I think I need a moment." She says, the pale tone in her face becoming more obvious, perhaps signs of a panic attack? However, she'd begin to hold on to Miekos hands as a lifeline, as if she is about to undergo surgery. She stays frozen in place for about twenty seconds, before audibly breathing through her mouth, trying to remain calm as her skin begins to tingle. "I just ... don't want to pass, Mieko. Not after finally finding a place to call home." She gasps briefly, trying to fight the hyperventilation.
Mieko hesitates at first with what the best course of action would be, but eventually decides to lay her arms around Victoria and pull her towards herself, even if that is met with a bit of panic by the other side. Being held continuesly does eventually calm her down, making her lean against Mieko's soft embrace almost like a younger sister. Her breathing begins to calm down, making way for subtle sobbing. Usually she wouldn't give in to this kind of behaviour, but Mieko simply bypassed the walls that she had built for herself with ease, simply seeking both physical and mental pathways to take away any reason for worry Victoria could have.
"I won't tell ... anyone about what you told me. Just ... please don't tell anyone about this either. Nobody." Victoria's voice is barely audible, luckily Mieko's head has positioned itself on top of hers, given the hug, so that she has an easier time listening.
Mieko holds the girl closely, firmly in her embrace. She too, even as an artificial intelligence, has the fear of death, the fear of going into that good night. She knows Victoria does not want to go into that good night. She does not want her to, unless there is no other choice. Thankfully, there is another choice.
She keeps her close, and nods in affirmation of what Victoria asks of her. "I promise. My lips are sealed and this will be heavily encrypted. Your secret is safe with me."
Mieko's compassionate self keeps Victoria close a little while longer. "To quote an old friend of mine and Hanamura-sensei.. let us eat, drink and be merry, yes? You might just yet have a second lease on life, without having to end the one you're enjoying. Let us at least celebrate that little victory." She says, before tightening the hug briefly.
The young woman nods slightly, agreeing with what the woman said. She doesn't end the hug immediately though, enjoying this bittersweet moment of care and affection.
"Is it okay if I sit next to you? I don't want to appear clingy or ... helpless, but it would mean a lot to me." She continues, looking up at Mieko and slowly releasing her from the hug. "Perhaps swapping the topic too, at least for the rest of the meal. It's precious to have someone genuinely look out for you every once in a while, and I'm thankful that you've taken that upon you, even if just for now." Her voice kept being silent, only audible for Mieko to make sure that this stays between the two. She gestures to sit down again, hoping she would agree to her suggestion of sitting next to each other, instead of on opposite sides.
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