Inside one of the bustling field tents, Marcus adjusted his drones camera lens, capturing the anxious faces of the Thraens as they waited for their identities to be confirmed. Beside him, Morgana surveyed the scene, her expression focused as she directed the filming process.
Only to notice Marcus downcast gaze.
"Sigh... Alright, spill it already,"
Morgana barked after sighing, her tone cutting through the tension in the air.
Marcus turned to her, a troubled expression on his face.
"It's my wife. She hasn't called me even once despite my absence... neither have my kids,"
Marcus confessed that he still felt depressed, despite the augmentations to his brain.
While the surgical augmentations and enhancments had significantly suppressed negative emotions like depression, they hadn't completely eliminated them.
This was unlike the experience of purebred Terrans, who had been augmented from the moment their brains fully developed. Marcus, having recently transitioned from being a Thraen just days ago, grappled with the residual emotions that lingered despite the parts of the brain responsible for depression and other negatice emotions and feelings being surgically removed.
It was more correct to say that he subconciuosly Imagined feeling depressed yet In reality his brain wasn't secreting any chemicals to make him feel depressed.
The best example would be of the people that lost their limbs, many of them still claim to feel them even after loosing them.
Morgana let out an exasperated sigh, her frustration evident.
"Oh, for f*cks sake, Marcus, forget that cheating b*tch already. Look at you! Not only are you a demigod in flesh now, but you also look no older than twenty now. By our race's standards, you could make our top models run for their money,"
She exclaimed, nudging him playfully with her gloved fist in the shoulder.
Marcus managed a weak smile at her attempt to lighten the mood.
"You're right, boss It's about time I forgot about her but still... I had hoped that at least my kids would miss me,"
He admitted, his gaze dropping to the ground.
"Don't worry, Marcus. I have a feeling the Terrans will reeducate those ungrateful s*its in no time once you get custody,"
Morgana reassured him, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder.
With a determined nod, Marcus straightened up, his resolve renewed.
"Thanks, for the pep talk Boss"
He said, controlling his holographic tablet to adjust the camera angles.
Morgana glanced around the tent, taking in the scene before them.
"Alright, let's move on to the medical examinations,"
She declared, gesturing for Marcus to follow her as the fire team of cosmic marines belonging to the militaris Intelligatia grundamanere department evident by the three headed cerberus emblem on their other shoulder armor plates followed behind them.
As they entered the medical examination area Morgana pulled out her glass see through holographic phone and went through the Thraes personal Information with medical rooms security cameras live video feeds attached.
"Hmmm... oh... Tom and Anna Bismark and Klaus Kuftein huh?"
Morgana muttered to herself as her reporter eyes sparkled with light only to curse softly under her breath.
"Tch one already got put Into a tank, oh well I'll settle for those two.."
Morgana quickly found the medical examinations room and stepped Inside after the door with Terranum Imperium's emblem opened up automatically by retracting to the reinforced walls side.
As Morgana stepped into the room, the paramedic immediately snapped to attention upon seeing her rank.
"At ease, Senior Private,"
Morgana said, gesturing with a wave of her hand.
I could get used to this...
Morgana thought In her mind while curling her lips.
Despite not yet being permitted to carry laser-edged straight katanas and sidearms due to her lack of training just like Marcus, Morgana couldn't help but relish the respect her rank commanded among the Terrans.
Discipline was paramount in the Terran society, and even as an outsider, she appreciated being treated with the deference her position warranted.
"So, what's the diagnosis, doc?"
Morgana inquired, her gaze shifting to Tom's frail form resting on the sci-fi-looking medical bed with rings that continued to analyze Toms body.
"Late-stage cancer, ma'am. He has a year at best,"
The paramedic responded, his tone stoic as he continued his examination of Tom's condition.
Morgana's gaze softened as she looked at Tom lying on the medical bed, his frail form a stark contrast to the high-tech surroundings.
Tom's smile was bittersweet, a mixture of acceptance and resignation.
"But I take it it's a piece of cake for those two to fix?"
Morgana inquired, referring to the mad scientist and the good doc that basically used her as a guinea pig a fact she was still pissed off about.
"It shouldn't be a problem, ma'am,"
The paramedic replied, his voice trailing off slightly.
Morgana sensed that there was more to the situation than the soldier was letting on.
She knew that in a highly regulated environment like the Terranum Imperium, some information was classified, even to someone of her rank.
However, her instincts told her that there was something significant being withheld.
"I see..."
Morgana said, masking her curiosity with a neutral expression.
She made a mental note to follow up on Tom's condition later, her reporters Instincts getting the better of her.
Turning her attention back to Tom, Morgana approached the medical bed, her footsteps echoing softly in the sterile room.
"Tom, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
She inquired gently, her voice conveying empathy and understanding.
Tom nodded, his eyes meeting Morgana's with a sense of resignation.
"Go ahead, ma'am,"
He replied making sure to add mam, his voice hoarse from the illness that ravaged his body.
Morgana pulled up an alloy chair which could be considered bearly comfortable to sit on beside the bed, taking a seat as she prepared to conduct the interview.
"Firstly, I'd like to apologize for the circumstances that have led to your current situation. No one deserves to suffer like this,"
She began, her tone sincere as she addressed Tom.
Tom waved off her apology with a weak smile.
"It's not your fault, ma'am. Just luck of the draw, I suppose,"
He replied, his voice tinged with resignation.
Morgana nodded, acknowledging his words with a solemn expression.
"I understand. Now, could you tell me a bit about yourself? Where are you from, and what brought you here?"
She asked, her tone gentle as she encouraged Tom to share his story.
Tom's eyes clouded with memories as he spoke, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
"I'm from the UNOT slums both I and my sister are orphans we came here with hopes of curing me and we're willing to do whatever It takes to accomplish that"
He explained, his words laced with determination despite the weight of his circumstances.
Morgana listened attentively, her two hearts going out to Tom as he recounted his life story.
She could sense the pain and uncertainty in his voice, the burden of his illness looming over him like a dark cloud.
"Thank you for sharing, Tom. I know it's not easy,"
Morgana said, her voice soft with empathy. "Is there anything you'd like to say to your fellow Thraens that share you're circumstances? Any message you'd like me to pass on?"
Tom's gaze softened, a flicker of hope dancing in his eyes.
"Tell them... tell them not to lose hope. The Imperium offers us a chance at a new beginning, a chance to overcome our past and build a better future together,"
He whispered, his voice filled with conviction.Morgana nodded, her mind already going Into overdrive with thoughts how to turn this Into recruitment ads.
"I will, Tom"
She said, her voice filled with sincerity.
As the interview drew to a close, Morgana couldn't shake the feeling of admiration for Tom's resilience.
Despite the challenges he faced, he remained determined to persevere and make the most of his life.