[A warm sensation courses through you as the memory plays within the crystal, and the woman with white hair speaks up.]
...Your NIMPH has been removed, as you have requested. There were no complications in the procedure; you should be able to take the field if you need to in the next few days. As you've requested, I did not go 'poking around your brain' for anymore than necessary.
Splendid work, Cecil. [Dorothy checks herself over briefly, nodding her head in some form of approval at least.] I will be expecting much of you in your contributions to Eden, going forward. I do not want a single Nikke who passes through these walls with their NIMPH activated, if they intend on staying with us for an extended period of time. The Ark would be far too excited to get their ungrateful hands upon what we've built, and frankly, the sooner they rot? The better.
[Cecil doesn't say anything in approval nor denial of that, at least. But something in her brows knit momentarily, and she does speak up.]
Of course. But Dorothy...you're certain that you do not want any sort of enhancement to your memory?
...I told you once before, that I do not want you anywhere near my brain until I can be certain you've discarded your loyalty to the Ark. [Dorothy's tone is harsh, and something almost threatening despite the smile on her face. Her eyes have gone dark, cruel almost.] Why exactly are you insisting on trying? Do you want me to leave you for dead?
Considering that I built this structure, aren't you being a little rash?
[Dorothy glares sharply at Cecil, and in an instant and with strength that far exceeds what Dorothy has been capable of here, she grabs Cecil by the throat and holds the much taller woman in the air, her expression shifted to a sneer.]
You would do well to know your place. I could figure out in time just how to keep everything operational, and you'd do well to remember that.
...Dorothy, you only have five more years of memory left in your brain.
[The words from Cecil's throat come out tight, and Dorothy seems to pause, her expression shifting to one of shock for a moment as Dorothy lowers Cecil to the ground.]
W--What? But...there's no...
Human brains were not meant to live for as long as this war has continued for. [Cecil pauses, her gaze averting.] ...You were never meant to live for this long, and the human brain cannot keep up with so many years. It's a wonder you haven't had to start deleting memories now, but that isn't going to remain the case for much longer.
[Something goes blank in Dorothy's expression.]
...And if I were to start deleting memories now?
...That isn't going to work how you want it to. But depending on how much you delete, you could get another couple of decades. Nothing more than that, however.
...I see. So this revenge mission has a time limit, then.
Very well. [Dorothy releases Cecil, her expression still blank, but...] You are dismissed. I will find a way to deal with this myself.
...Very well.
[The two women separate after that, and the large pink crystal shatters to reveal the way to the next destination. It's still lit, but it seems...dimmer, almost.
cw: memory issues
...Your NIMPH has been removed, as you have requested. There were no complications in the procedure; you should be able to take the field if you need to in the next few days. As you've requested, I did not go 'poking around your brain' for anymore than necessary.
Splendid work, Cecil. [Dorothy checks herself over briefly, nodding her head in some form of approval at least.] I will be expecting much of you in your contributions to Eden, going forward. I do not want a single Nikke who passes through these walls with their NIMPH activated, if they intend on staying with us for an extended period of time. The Ark would be far too excited to get their ungrateful hands upon what we've built, and frankly, the sooner they rot? The better.
[Cecil doesn't say anything in approval nor denial of that, at least. But something in her brows knit momentarily, and she does speak up.]
Of course. But Dorothy...you're certain that you do not want any sort of enhancement to your memory?
...I told you once before, that I do not want you anywhere near my brain until I can be certain you've discarded your loyalty to the Ark. [Dorothy's tone is harsh, and something almost threatening despite the smile on her face. Her eyes have gone dark, cruel almost.] Why exactly are you insisting on trying? Do you want me to leave you for dead?
Considering that I built this structure, aren't you being a little rash?
[Dorothy glares sharply at Cecil, and in an instant and with strength that far exceeds what Dorothy has been capable of here, she grabs Cecil by the throat and holds the much taller woman in the air, her expression shifted to a sneer.]
You would do well to know your place. I could figure out in time just how to keep everything operational, and you'd do well to remember that.
...Dorothy, you only have five more years of memory left in your brain.
[The words from Cecil's throat come out tight, and Dorothy seems to pause, her expression shifting to one of shock for a moment as Dorothy lowers Cecil to the ground.]
W--What? But...there's no...
Human brains were not meant to live for as long as this war has continued for. [Cecil pauses, her gaze averting.] ...You were never meant to live for this long, and the human brain cannot keep up with so many years. It's a wonder you haven't had to start deleting memories now, but that isn't going to remain the case for much longer.
[Something goes blank in Dorothy's expression.]
...And if I were to start deleting memories now?
...That isn't going to work how you want it to. But depending on how much you delete, you could get another couple of decades. Nothing more than that, however.
...I see. So this revenge mission has a time limit, then.
Very well. [Dorothy releases Cecil, her expression still blank, but...] You are dismissed. I will find a way to deal with this myself.
...Very well.
[The two women separate after that, and the large pink crystal shatters to reveal the way to the next destination. It's still lit, but it seems...dimmer, almost.
Proceed?]