()||9<黑屏1>0,10BGM_Empty: ()||8<黑屏2>GF_EV9_Story:...Late at night, in the Commander's office at the Griffin base. +There is a long line of Dolls standing outside the door as the heads of each department wait for their duty assignments. +Thanks to the supplies provided by Havier, roughly 50% of the Dolls in the Griffin base have been rebuilt, enough to sustain basic operations for the base. +However, my inbox is still full of pending work requests... M1903(10)Springfield||:Commander, this is a list of the discrepancies between the manifest and our actual inventory. I've sent a copy to your inbox and filed a copy in the system. ()Commander||:Alright, I'll look at it right away. M1903(12)Springfield||:Are you sure you don't need a break? You don't look well... ()Commander||:It's okay, I'm fine. ()||:Springfield looks like she wants to say something else, but in the end she decides against it and simply leaves the office. G36Mod(0)Gr G36||:The canteen has submitted its ingredients purchase list and budget for approval, Commander. Please take a look at it. ()Commander||:Alright, I will. ()||:A pile of documents suddenly collapses and Gr G36 stacks them back up again before leaving the office without a word. NPC-Helian(0)Helian<通讯框>||:Commander, I.O.P. is asking for confirmation of receipt for the most recent batch of supplies. ()Commander||:Hang on, where did Springfield's list go... ()||:I dive into the pile of documents and rummage through them... ()Commander||:Kalina, help me ask Springfield about her comparison list. ()||:The only sound in the silent office is my rummaging through files and folders. ()Commander||:Is there a flash sale on? +Don't get distracted, Kalina! ()||:The person who ought to have appeared by my side with a smile on her face still hasn't shown up yet. ()Commander||:...Kalina? ()||:I look back and realize that there is nobody behind me. +The only things in this massive office are work documents and my dejected self. ()Commander||:...How could I have forgotten, Kalina's on leave. ()||:I reach past the documents on my desk for my coffee mug, planning to gulp it all down. However, the mug is empty save for two or three-day-old coffee stains. ()Commander||BGM_Empty<黑屏1>:... ()||<黑屏2><回忆>GF_Memorial:...Several days ago, during a regular checkup for the human personnel at the Griffin base. NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina||:Commander, we're the only ones who haven't gone for our checkup yet! ()Commander||:Right, another routine physical... +Let me take care of the work I have on hand first. NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina||:Commander, don't keep burying yourself in work! Your health is important too, you know! +(Coughs) ()Commander||:I'm fine, but you haven't been feeling too well yourself, have you? +It seems like you've been coughing for a long time now. Are you showing symptoms from your time in the sub base? NPC-Kalin(6)Kalina||:I'm fine, it's just a small cold. NPC-Kalin(3)Kalina||:Anyway, don't change the subject! Go for your checkup already! ()Commander||:But there's still so much work to do... NPC-Kalin(8)Kalina||:I'm here, aren't I? I'll help share your burden! +Now go, it won't take long! ()||<黑点1>:At Kalina's urging, I reluctantly go for my checkup. ()||<黑点2>160:Two hours later, the checkup is complete. ()Commander||:It turned out well. I told you, I didn't need it. I could have approved so many documents during that... ()Kalina||:... ()||:Kalina's checkup ended long ago, and now she's curled up on a tiny chair in the waiting area. She seems to be asleep. ()Commander||:Kalina? ()Kalina||:... ()Commander||:Are you asleep? ()||:As I see her tremble slightly in her slumber, I take off my coat and drape it over her body. ()Commander||:I can't believe you could actually fall asleep in a tiny place like this... +You must be exhausted from all the work in last few days. ()||:Kalina remains soundly asleep and does not respond. +I sigh and gently run my fingers through her hair, but I feel a burning heat rise up through my fingertips. ()Commander||:...A fever? You need to see a doctor. NPC-Kalin(7)Kalina||:No...no shots... +Must...work... ()Commander||:This is no time to be stubborn. ()||<黑屏1>BGM_Empty:I ignore Kalina's drowsy mumbling and gently scoop her up in my arms before hurrying over to the doctor's office... ()||<黑屏2><关闭蒙版>GF_EV9_Story8:I open Kalina's medical report again. I don't know how many times I've done this already. +The harm to her body inflicted by her sustained high fever has been converted to numerical data, which are seared in my mind. +Self-reproach. Guilt. Regret. +A complex mass of emotions writhes within my heart, gnawing at my soul like a swarm of ants. ()Commander||:She's going to get better... +The doctor said that Kalina can be discharged soon, provided her condition doesn't worsen. +A petty little sickness like this won't beat someone as tough as her. ()||AVG_doorknock_wood:Knock knock knock—+Someone is politely knocking on my desk from behind me. NPC-Helian(0)Helian||:...I thought you had passed out, Commander. Why didn't you take my call? ()Commander||:I didn't notice... ()||:I hurriedly shove the medical report into the depths of my drawer. ()Commander||:What is it, did some urgent work come up? NPC-Helian(0)Helian||:Firstly, I'm here to remind you to send the supply receipt confirmation I mentioned earlier. +Second... +The schedule for the Sangvis training ground has been cleared out. ()Commander||:Huh? The Sangvis training ground? Why? NPC-Helian(0)Helian||:Judging from Kalina's work diary, the Sangvis training ground is being temporarily used as a Paradeus special drill area due to a lack of suitable venues. ()Commander||:The Paradeus special drill... +Right, I understand. NPC-Helian(0)Helian||:Mm. I'll be going, then. ()Commander||:Thank you. NPC-Helian(0)Helian||:Please take care of yourself, Commander. ()||:Helian looks at my face with a worried expression of her own. She sighs and leaves. ()Commander||:... ()||:I look through Kalina's desk and find the Paradeus special drill program that she has compiled earlier. +The early phases of the program are almost complete. After that, all that remains is to carry out several rounds of statistical analysis. ()Commander||>:Kalin, once you get back, I'm going to show you that everything is still running smoothly, the way you left it. ()||<黑屏1>:I tighten my grip on the program sheet in my hand. Kalina smiles at me from the picture on the desk.