Author’s note: Same news as before, Charlotte Tapp, the lovely illustrator for this project, has declared she is willing to take art requests for content that has to do with the NAUTILUS story. If you wish to see anything in particular, leave a comment below. This is a continuation of last week’s article, which was the 10^th installment of this story. Any comments are welcome. This is an episodic story, which means you the audience have an opportunity to influence some things. If there are any events you want to happen or prefer to avoid, do say so. This tale may just go in that direction. Now, back to the story.

For the entire time Vise was in that room, Kyumi heard an endless stream of complaints and swears coming through the wall. His lung capacity is rather impressive. When the sounds finally died down, the door opened. Little Heartsease was standing there, still wearing its lab coat, though now covered in several splotches of blue blood. It stared up at Kyumi, slowly growing more frustrated with him for some reason.

“I don’t think you can talk to him.” Vise speaks up. As Kyumi peers into the room, he sees Vise is still prone on the table.

“…”

“I don’t know why, I’m not a biologist.”

The small, agitated doctor huffs and lightly stomps its foot. It makes its way farther down the hall before motioning at Kyumi. Vise hobbles out of the room, wearing his hoodie over a hospital gown and supporting himself with a crutch. “Come along, big guy,” Vise says.

After a short walk and some struggling on Vise’s part, they head down a set of stairs and into a cellar. The room is stark white with blinding lights hanging from the ceiling. Several countertops and cabinets are rife with jars, vials, and more. The most noticeable piece is the cervine laying on a table in the center of the room, wrapped up in what looks to be a bed sheet. Heartsease approaches the creature, stops for a moment in thought, grabs a stool from the corner of the room, then proceeds to use said stool to climb onto the table. It pulls the blanket off to reveal the creature’s back. Leaning in close, Heartsease’s head appendages extend outward, rubbing along the cervine’s spinal region. Sharp points extend from them and pierce the nape of the creature’s neck, causing it to cry out in sheer, ear-splitting agony. Vise winces at the sound while Kyumi has no visible reaction. The screaming fades. The cervine’s head turning to look at the two of them.

“I’m sorry for such a display,” says the cervine in a nasally voice. “But now I am assuming you are able to hear me. Yes?”

Kyumi nods in affirmation.

“Good. Now, I should explain I did not just kill this being. He was an unwanted narcotics dealer, and a gift to me as payment for removing him.”

“A gift and payment are two separate things,” replies Vise.

“In my line of work, they are one and the same.”

Taking in the situation, Kyumi realizes that these appendages from Heartsease granted it control over the nervous system of its victim. The cervine itself is unable to do anything, having been turned into a puppet. If Heartsease can maintain this control over a large distance somehow, then it makes sense why Vise referred to the first being they met as Heartsease. Who knows how vast its network is here in the Quarantine District. Is this creature the reason it is quarantined? What role does it have here in this society? Why does it seem to know Vise and why is he okay with receiving help from one that can remove his volition? So many questions. He hesitantly raises his hand.

“Yes…?” Asks Heartsease in an equally hesitant tone.

“You, what are?”

“You’re one to talk. I can’t talk to you through my conventional means. So what you?”

“Title Kyumi Del’Tari is. Name Kuu—”

“We can answer this later, Heartsease, just introduce yourself.” Vise interrupts.

“One, rude, Vise. Two, I am Heartsease of the now-fallen Necnon Turba Empire,” it says dismissively. “I am an interrogator for hire. If you want answers from a particularly troublesome individual, I can get you them for a fee. On the side I run this quaint, little clinic.”

“Bad job doing? Quarantine District is. Quarantine not good is.”

Heartsease quirks a brow at Kyumi as it resumes speaking. “I am only going to explain this once, so listening carefully. This is called the Quarantine District due to the stigma of my species. Of which, they are rightfully cautious. They were not the most polite when they showed up on the doorstep of the NAUTILUS. But, I like to think of myself as far-removed my species. And seek to better myself, and others, while I live here. I’ve built a reputation for myself as a kind of underground ‘healer’,” it makes air quotes using it's own limbs from behind the cervine. “Take for instance Vise’s ass.”

“You mean my leg?”

“Whatever. You were screaming about your butt long enough for me to think that was the most serious injury you had. Sadly, the pole is still lodged firmly up there.”

Vise narrows his eyes and grumbles incoherently.

“Truth be told, I am probably the most qualified individual to patch somebody up that will actually do it. The healthcare system here is dreadful. And by that I mean nonexistent. Only recently, I am having some trouble keeping up with all of my patients. Because somebody raided my last medical shipment,” the cervine said before Heartsease made it slam its head into the table. “I do take care of people who are in dire need. So I need my medication.”

Kyumi turns towards Vise as Heartsease begins to insult the cervine. “Morrow us sent, goal shipment retrieval. This employer is?”

Heartsease perks up, “Wait, you were sent to help me? Oh, this is perfect! Wonderful, wonderful!” It pries the spikes out of the cervine’s spine and hops off of the table, looking for something. The cervine, however, continues speaking in a cheery tone. “The name of the bastard is Ygnuwe.” Heartsease hands Kyumi a large cylinder. “Bring me his head.”

Author’s end note: Part 11 is now completed. Another show of appreciation to Charlotte Tapp and all the work she has put into this project. Again, criticism and comments are encouraged. Next week will be part 12, stay tuned!