The silence of Yuki spoke louder than words. She was not ready for any kind of inquisition type of treatment. For a minute silence reigned, everyone looking grim and not sure how to act. The quiet time was interrupted by a cheerful female voice from the door that had just opened.
- "Konnichiwa! You must be the captain of "Zuiryu", Shimamori-sama. Hakimemashite, I am doctor Kitagawa, yoroshiku onegai shimasu. I will be taking care of you today".
A short woman in a long white coat with youthfully messy short hair and a spark in her eyes stood before them. Despite the appearance, she had the ID of the medical bay chief doctor and probably had seen a lot given Fort Wakkanai's position. Dr. Kitagawa gave a brief squinting look of evaluation at the four, finally resting her eyes on Yuki:
- "In your request you indicated one of your crew members needed a thorough examination. I guess, that would be this young lady.". - she then addressed Yuki Sinon directly with a note of encouragement: - "Don't worry, this procedure is absolutely painless and very normal on this station. You have nothing to worry about - we have some of the best doctors in Kusari here. Now, what would be your name and how would you describe your feeling right now?""
Fort Wakkanai
Somehow, she heard the doctor. She heard her voice but there was no reaction from Sinon Yuki. Her eyes was ''looking'' at the doctor's feet. Then, out of sudden, Sinon said one word. ''Fear.'' She answered to the question how she was feeling. Her voice was empty of emotion.
But even if she heard Kitagawa, in her head, she was still blaming herself and at the same time, the visions of the recent events continued to torment her. The visions were more horrific and she heard a voice. Half artificial. The voice was saying: ''You worth nothing. You are weak. None loves you.'' And it reapeated again and again.
Doctor Kitagawa started walking around Sinon, almost prodding her, and flashing light into her eyes.
- "Hmmm, seems like she has suffered a mental breakdown. Have there been any stressful events recently that might have affected her state?".
- "She was engaged into a combat which did not go the way everyone expected". - Shimamori abruptly answered. - - "There are also suspicions it might have affected her physical state, hence this check-up. I would kindly ask you to proceed with it."
The doctor continued energetically jumping around Yuki not paying much attention to marquess' words.
- "Yoshi, I cannot come to a conclusion without further examination. We will need brain waves scan, MRI...". - Kitagawa started mumbling under her nose and taking notes on her tablet. - - "Sinon-san, please proceed with me to the examination room. The rest of you can wait here."
Shimamori nodded to the guards as they followed Sinon and addressed the doctor:
- "With all due respect, Kitagawa-sensei, but I would insist on the guards being present during the examination for your own safety. Mental breakdowns are known to cause violent outbursts, and with her augmented limbs and martial training she can overwhelm you in a split second. Besides, Sinon-san is not against, isn't she?"
Fort Wakkanai
The woman raised her head when the doctor got closer. Her eyes showed emptiness. When the doctor was done with flashing the light, Sinon let down her head and looked at the ground again. Her thoughts were disturbed with the recent events and with the blames she was saying to herself. Her thoughts broke when the doctor told her to follow her. The guard who was helping Sinon to stay on her feet almost loose his stance when Sinon began to do a step toward the other woman. He did not expect Sinon to move by her own.
The woman did another step toward the doctor. She was walking like a zombie. Her movements were slow and took a lot of energy. When she was near the doctor, with her right hand, she took her hand like would do a child with her mother when they walk together. She was now at the left side of the doctor. Sinon wanted to say something but couldn't. In normal circumstances, she would say: ''Yes.''
- "Normally, we do not allow armed guards inside but by the looks of you you have your precaution reasons...". - Doctor Kitagawa made a pause looking in the eyes of Shimamori - "Yoshi, let us proceed, minna-san. Right here, please"
Yuki Sinon and the guards followed the doctor through the hall into a large bright room with bulky equipment apparently designed for scanning of human body.
- "Let us begin with the nominal procedure. Please, lie here". - Kitagawa showed at a bed located inside a large coil of machinery and sensors and sat at the control panel. - - "This device will conduct a 3D scan of your body to check the integrity of your body as well as presence of foreign objects, tissues, or tumours."
Fort Wakkanai
The woman seemed to not react. She was looking at the bed and nothing more. Some guards were getting low in patience. Then, Sinon looked at the doctor. It lasted for some long seconds. Somehow and strangely, her thoughts stopped. She was getting to reality. Lack of patience, a guard forced her to lay down on the bed that Kitagawa showed earlier.
Once laid on the bed, the guards decided to tie her on the bed. Because they did not want any incident, it was the best thing to do.
As the coils of the machinery started to swirl, the control panel beeped with many signals to the amusement of doctor Kitagawa.
- "The readings are nominal, nothing abnormal, at least physiologically".
The swirling stopped with a booping signal, indicating the end of the procedure. The guards looked at each other and sighed with relief.
- "Now, Sinon-san, I will run the MRI and brain waves tests. Just relax and lie calmly. You can close your eyes if you want to".
Doctor's fingers ran over the control panel with a grace of a pianist and once again the machinery started to swirl, now in the upper part of the device.
Fort Wakkanai
Because she was already laid on the bed and tied, she did not move. Like the doctor said, physiologically, Sinon Yuki was alright. But the problem was psychic. Because she was ''controlled'' by something, her psychic has been transformed and because she used all her will to get out of the control of the alien, her mental state was completely smashed. At her current state, the healing seems to be impossible.
While the MRI was running, the data indicated that she was elsewhere. In her head, there was a lot of activity. Same events were repeating endlessly and the blames as well. Though, the only things would make Sinon to react would be hearing names of dear people or watching a specific person. But if we put that aside, Sinon was completely useless for the job. Only patience and time would tell if yes or no Sinon will restart working for the clan.
Her best place where to stay is here. Of course, since Shimamori was a marquess, he has other things to take care and of course, because of his position, it would be wise to let two guards with the doctor.
Dr. Kitagawa stood up and made a sign for the guards to untie Yuki.
- "Sinon-san, if you can hear me I have a good and bad news for you. The good news is that your body is as fine as it can be, given the circumstances. The bad news is you mind seems to be not in order. The waves of your brain are showing abnormal pattern, and your neurohormonal balance is off. Throughout my practice at Fort Wakkanai I have seen enough cases like this. We both know what is the reason for such a state of yours..".
Kitagawa looked at the guards and took a few notes.
- "Some people make a recovery from this "mind flaying", the others lose their minds for years if not permanently. It is too early to say to which group you belong. Regardless, I am obliged to inform the KOI of all incidents like this and you being Lord Shimamori's retainer makes no exception. You will be transferred to our ward with specialization on cases like yours. You will be monitored and taken care of for at least two weeks. I will inform Shimamori".
Dr. Kitagawa approached one of the guards and whispered:
- "The KOI agents are on their way. Until then, I will kindly ask you to stay your guard here. They will take care from then on. Here, take this data and give them to Lord Shimamori afterwards. These contain the detains of the examination ".
Fort Wakkanai
She heard a female voice. She felt being on a bed. She would like to say something but she couldn't. Her eyes were always showing emptiness. Even if she was not tied anymore, she did not move a bit. Just breathing. With a lot of efforts, she turned her head the way to see the doctor. Again, with a lot of efforts, she tried to reach her with her right hand but she was too far. Giving up, the arm lost all the strength within it and her hand was almost touching the ground.
A tear from her right eye was going down. Her mouth opened up but nothing came out. Was she crying? Did she want to say something? No one could tell but only interpret what they might think to know.