A day in a Healer’s office 2.

A day in a Healer’s office 2.

A tall and slender female mechanick (sentient robot) activated a recording device as she sat at her desk in her office and began to record. “My name is Z-Sparks of the Planet Digitex. I am a multi-species healer specializing in younglings and pre-adult citizens with extraordinary issues. Today, I will be seeing and interviewing several such individuals…”

The first group to come in was led by Gore of planet Dylax. He was of the warrior class and a known verbal rival of Vada whom I had spoken to the other day. Gore was tall, very muscular, with grey leathery skin and piercing yellow eyes with a slit pupil. He entered confidently, his eyes scanning the room. Finally, he turned to the door and nodded. His friends entered cautiously.

Gash of the warrior class was half Gore’s size but just as muscular. He had black leathery skin that had red and orange stripes in crisscrossing pattern. His eyes were red with slit pupils. Only he walked with an air of caution.

Venom of the warrior class was as tall as Gash and just as muscular with black leathery skin and green piercing eyes that lazily scanned the room as he approached my desk.

Pyra of the science class was the shortest of the group, a third the size of Gore. She was slender, doll like with tan leathery skin and beautiful swirling markings. Still, I knew she hid a surprising speed and strength within her.

Gore spoke gruffly but politely. “What is the nature of this session, esteemed healer?”

I smiled patiently. “You were summoned here to tell me about Vada of the youth diplomatic core.”

Gore huffed. “Did he finally choose his class or was it chosen for him out of necessity?”

One of my eyes widened, my people’s version of a raised eyebrow. “Ask him. What I need to know is your insights on Vada’s ability to perform in this class.”

Gore sighed. “Vada is very capable if you can get him to focus on a single task. However, he has this fantasy of learning all that is learnable and that is dangerous.”

Gash nodded in agreement. “His mind is constantly wondering and he spends endless hours on studying, even while participating in recreational activities. He is going to burn himself out just to prove himself.”

I jotted some notes onto my data pad. “Do you all believe he is on the path of a mental burn out?”

Venom nodded, his slit nostrils flaring slightly in frustration. “Vada would make a fine warrior, scientist or diplomat but he cannot be all those things at once. Such characters only exist in fantasies.

Pyra sighed. “We do not hate Vada but he is in desperate need of a reality check and words alone do not reach him.”

One of my eyes widened. “What of Vada’s sister, Ripple?”

Gore gave a genuine smile. “Ripple has great potential if she can only get over her shyness and low self-esteem.”

Pyra nodded in agreement, also smiling. “We pick on her, sure but it is no more than the usual hazing we all had endured in our own youth.”

I nodded. “Have you considered a different approach?”

All four turned to each other, uncertain to which I smiled. “There will be an open invitation for all to showcase their skills before the self-defense forces. Those who do well will be reregistered as warrior class.”

Gore’s smile widened. “Vada is a bit of a know it all and show off. If his skills are half of what he brags…”

Venom smiled as well. “He will be registered as a warrior class where we can help him.”

I smiled. “Thank you for your time. I hope this session was helpful.”

The next group to enter were five members of The Fold. They were each featureless, like a fleshy mannequin, wearing white ropes indicating the diplomatic class. Their combined voices echoed within my mind. “We assume we have been invited here to discuss Diron of the undetermined class.”

I nodded. “He is a unique case.”

The five representatives nodded in unison. “Indeed he is but he is not the only case.”

This surprised me and it showed as my eyes flickered between colors for a moment. “Please explain.”

The five representatives turned to each other. I knew they were debating on how to respond. Finally, they spoke. “Diron was the first to exhibit true individual thinking. At first, we thought it to be an anomaly but others began to surface.”

I was silent for a moment, taking in what had been said. “How is The Fold reacting to this?”

The five let out a sigh. “We are evolving. However, as you are aware, evolution is a slow, dangerous and unpredictable process. Our actions are to slow the rate of panic among The Fold.”

One of my eyes widened. “Is Diron aware of this?”

The five members shook their heads. “Diron has shielded his mind from our outward thoughts; they overwhelm him.”

I sighed, shaking my head. “Talk to him verbally. He seems to react better when the voice he hears is not in his head.”

The five members turned to each other and then to me. “We will take your suggestion into consideration.”

With that, they bowed to me and left my office.

The next group to enter my office were a tutor, an instructor and a trainer who were all assigned to Princess Kyteen of Purrearth. They each took a seat in front of my desk. “The queen had ordered you three here to discuss your thoughts of Princess Kyteen. I assure you that this not an investigation but a quick evaluation of her overall mental health.”

The tutor, named Minx, was an attractive adult Neko snow leopard who was in charge of Kyteen’s education. “Princess Kyteen is a very intelligent child. However, she is also very observant and has empathy in spades.”

I nodded. “She wants the commoners to have a better life.”

Minx sighed. “Yes; and it is a noble desire but she is too young to grasp the enormity of the task she thinks she wants.”

The instructor, named Saber, was a grizzled old humanoid saber toothed tiger who was in charge of teaching Kyteen self-defense. “Princess Kyteen is a fast learner. She has mastered many forms of defensive and offensive arts. However, her gentle heart often betrays her.”

I widened one eye. “She holds back?”

Saber gave a rueful grin. “No, she does not. However, she is easily tricked into backing off if her opponent shows any sign of weakness which many had come to take advantage of.”

I nodded. “Which is cheating, if I remember the rules.”

Saber nodded in return. “Yes, it is; but that will not help her in a real fight if it comes to that.”

The trainer, named Leo-pard, was an adult humanoid leopard who was in charge of teaching Princess Kyteen the art of hunting and survival without modern technology. “Princess Kyteen is one of my greatest pupils. She took to survival like a fish to water.”

I widened a single eye. “However…”

Leo-pard sighed. “However, she has been asking for the advanced training which she is too young to participate.”

Minx sighed. “We all adore Princess Kyteen but she is in too much of a hurry to grow up.

I smiled. “Thank you. I will inform your majesty, the queen, you have all been very helpful.”

The next group to walk in were Era’s councilor, Echo-Vex; Era’s doctor, Nova Vex; and Eva's school coach, Cortex Vex. They were triplets, each looking and sounding exactly the same. They all resembled Teranors, looking like pale mannequins only with the exception of having facial features. They were among the oldest Mechanicks; experienced and wise.

Echo-Vex was first to speak. “We are aware of what this session entails. Era is curious and full of wonder. However, she is also cautious to a fault due to her near full deactivation incident shortly after she was born. This paradox makes her shy and inward drawn. It takes time for her to trust.

Nova-Vex nodded in agreement. “Add to that the ability she had developed shortly after that incident and she has a fear of being harmed. She believes that if she is harmed, she may harm others without realizing it.”

Finally, Cortex-Vex spoke. We are aware that Era thinks poorly of us due to how harsh we are in our training. Still, it is a necessary step as this power she possesses will inevitably grow with her as she ages.”

I sighed. “Is Era aware of this?”

Echo-Vex sighed. “We have tried to explain the reasoning behind our teaching methods but she is too young to grasp the potential risk and heavy responsibility her power brings.”

Nova-Vex shook her head. “Era has the power to ‘talk to’ and even control insentient machines. How long will it be before she can make these machines sentient…”

Cortex-Vex silenced Nova-Vex with a glare. “This is bigger than her, than any of us…”

That was when I shook my head. “You are afraid. Maybe not of Era but of the power and influence she may gain as she grows older.”

The three Mechanicks rose to their feet and left the office without a word. I sighed, again shaking my head. “It is a good thing her father put a protective watch on her.”

The final group to enter were three members of the medical core. Dr. Whowel (Who-well) Chief medical scientist Dr. Quackery and Lead surgeon Dr. Crane. All aware of Atrace and her crusade to eliminate illness everywhere.

Dr. Whowel was a short, stout owl like person with large yellow eyes and large ears. “Atrace has made many attempts to persuade me to take her on as an apprentice. However, she is too young and far too eager.”

I widened a single eye. “Too eager…?”

“Those who show heavy eagerness to learn often have something to prove. That type of behavior can cost lives.”

Dr. Quackery, a tall humanoid duck with an elongated beak for a mouth nodded. “Atrace also repeatedly tried to persuade me to take her under my tutelage. However, while I finder her goal to be admirable, she will only be torturing herself into madness. Illnesses cannot be cast away with a magic wand. It takes time, research, and a lot of grief before any illness is defeated.”

Dr. Crane, a slender crane like humanoid sighed. “Please do not think poorly of us, Dr. Z-Sparks. Atrace is a highly intelligent and highly motivated individual. However, she lacks the patience to truly learn even one branch of medicine. If she were to just to select one branch of medicine, we would all be honored to teach her.”

I nodded. “I understand. Your concerns for Atrace are genuine. I have suggested she take a break from her studies and learn the art of diagnosis. The ability to determine exactly which illness effects a patient and recommend the right doctors.”

The three doctors turned to each other before bowing to me and quietly left my office. Once they were gone, I allowed myself a low sigh of relief. “I need a vacation…”