The Systemic Lands

Chapter 236: Day 522 – Viewpoints 19

Naran

“Clarissa,” I greeted her as I entered her office and closed the door behind me.

“Naran, a surprise to see you. I thought you were off enjoying the city,” Clarissa replied. I sat in the chair across from her.

“I could use your advice,” I said. Clarissa moved the papers she was looking at to the side and then stared right at me, giving me her full attention.

“What is it?” Clarissa asked.

“I was thinking about retiring, or taking an extended break,” Naran said.

“Are you asking me if you should do that, or what Michael will think?” Clarissa asked.

“Both,” I replied.

“Well, why do you want to stop going out there in the first place?” Clarissa asked.

“I…lots of reasons. Michael talks about how this is forever, but I don’t want to fight for forever, you know. It is exhausting and the risks. After the issues with the void affecting my mental state, I am not sure,” Naran said.

“Well you came to me for honesty not for hugs. Is that right?” Clarissa asked.

“Yes,” I said after a moment of hesitation.

“Good. Then listen well Naran. Suck it up. If you want to retire that is your choice. We both know Michael would bend over backwards to let that happen. But you are one of the few anchors he has. If he dies or wanders off, then this, all of this will go up in flames,” Clarissa bluntly replied.

“That isn’t fair. I put in my time. I just, everything is exhausting,” Naran said.

“Exhausting. You stuck with Michael for strength. If you stop now, you will never catch back up. Like I said, suck it up buttercup. I tell myself that every single day. You think I get vacations or breaks?” Clarissa asked. I shook my head.

“Good, you realize the answer to that question. You just want to vent, fine. But don’t expect me to be a shoulder you can cry on. We have mental health people for that,” Clarissa replied.

“I guess, I just wanted to talk a bit. You really are a bitch, you know that?” I told Clarissa.

“Good. This city is held together by careful administration and the threat of Michael. I don’t have time for the capacity to worry about your feelings,” Clarissa said.

“You worry about Michael’s opinion,” I countered. She gave me a look like I was stupid.

“Yes, since my life is on the line every single day in this job. You are probably the only one he would let off scott free if you did something to really piss him off. You aren’t special Naran, just in the right place, at the right time, and made the right decisions. I can count at least six people who would seriously take your position in a heartbeat as Michael’s right hand,” Clarissa said.

“I don’t want that position, they can have it,” I muttered.

“Tough. Do whatever you want. But stop being stupid and complaining. Now was there anything else?” Clarissa asked. I wanted advice and I got it. Even if it was advice I didn’t like.

“No,” I got up and left the room.

Clarissa

Naran was just having a mood and people said women were moody. I shook my head and looked back down at the report from one of the hunting camps. I let out a sigh and set it to the side.

Time to deal with the drama and sort this out. I couldn’t risk Naran going soft. If it wasn’t one problem, it was another. Interpersonal drama was nothing new, but when the people having a minor breakdown were your nuclear weapons, it required a bit of a personal touch.

I rang a bell on my desk and a runner quickly entered my office. “Send for Doctor Yang to my office. Priority one,” I said. The runner nodded and rushed off. Priority one, meant right now. Priority two was within the same day. Priority three was a return message. Priority four was no reply needed.

It was a system I had developed along with runners. I checked my schedule. I rang my bell again. Another runner quickly entered my office. “Cancel the meeting with Doctor Katz, no need to reschedule for now. Priority four,” I said. The runner nodded and raced off.

It was annoying that I wouldn’t be able to review his progress and what he had talked to Michael about, but Naran’s drama was far more important. I sat at my desk and closed my eyes to think about the best way about handling his meltdown.

It was less than ten minutes later that Doctor Yang entered my office a bit out of breath. “You said it was urgent?” The older woman asked as she closed my office door behind her. At least she didn’t complain about having to reschedule and knew if I told her to come right away the situation was important.

“Naran, Michael’s teammate is having second thoughts about going out and fighting monsters and exploring,” I said.

“Why?” Doctor Yang asked.

“Stress, mental exhaustion. Possible void wind issues exacerbating the problem. I told him to suck it up and stop complaining, but I am concerned,” I explained the situation.

“That would be a bad thing because?” Doctor Yang was too new to understand the higher-level dynamics of this city.

“Michael is the glue that holds this city together through the threat of violence. Naran is one of his only friends and people able to fight at his level. If he leaves or quits, there is a huge risk of Michael becoming unbalanced,” I explained. Doctor Yang stood there and thought over what I said.

“You want me to talk with Naran?” Doctor Yang finally asked.

“Yes, but I can’t force him to do anything. You will have to approach him yourself,” I replied.

“That is not ideal, he will know, you sent me,” the Doctor said.

“Yes, he will. I don’t care. You are the only qualified mental health specialist. I do not exaggerate that thousands will live or die depending on his choices. We may live or die. Do you understand Doctor?” I wanted to make things clear so there were no misunderstandings.

“I understand. The personal power imbalance, I will seek him out,” Doctor Yang said. I rang the bell. The office door opened.

“Escort Doctor Yang to Naran, priority four, classified,” I told the runner. The runner nodded and the Doctor left my office. All high priority people’s general location was tracked in the event of an emergency they could quickly be reached. It helped there wasn’t much ground to cover in the inner city of Purgatory.

Back to assessing people for promotion to Union teams based on their reports and feedback. I looked back down at the paperwork.

Doctor Yang

I was escorted to a small sitting room on the second floor. Naran was there idlely looking out a window at the plaza. The runner quickly left. I knocked on the open door.

The man turned to look at me. There were stress lines around his eyes and his posture was slumped. Not what one would expect from the second strongest person in Purgatory. “Can I come in?” I asked.

“Who are you?” Naran asked. I smiled gently.

“I am Doctor Yang. Chief Administrator Clarissa asked me to speak to you.” The man let out a sigh and waved a hand a bit. I took that as acceptance and entered the room and took a seat a short distance away.

“So, come to talk to me,” Naran said defensively.

“If that is what you want. But also, to listen. There is some concern about your mental health,” I said.

“If wanting to quit and not fight anymore is a sign of poor mental health, then you clearly got your degree at clown college,” Naran said. I internally winced. I needed to get this man to keep fighting, which was unreasonable, and we both knew it.

“Why do you want to stop? Trouble out there in the wilderness?” I asked, hoping to get more information to work with.

“Just tiring and there is little to no progress. Michael thinks we are moving forward, but even he acknowledges the reality of the situation. This is going to go on forever. I don’t want to fight forever. I was forced to in Truth, and now I was forced to with Michael to get strength. At this point, there is only an endless grind left, with my probable death,” Naran replied.

“I take it you have given this a lot of thought?” I asked.

“Yes. I can easily retire after one or two days of grinding. Enough points to live on for a long time. But to get stronger, I will have to grind for years. Years. Michael might be okay with that, but I am not.”

“If you aren’t grinding as you call it, what do you want to do?” I asked.

“No idea. Just not fighting. So, Doctor, is this where you tell me that I need to go out for Michael and his mental health?”

“I am not going to lie and say that isn’t a concern. But grinding doesn’t have to be the focus. Have you thought about hobbies?” I asked.

“Poetry, but I can’t remember it all. Nothing else to do,” Naran said.

“What did you like to do before coming here?” I asked.

“Some video games. Lots of TV. None of that here. The plays are meh, and the board games people are making are bland,” Naran answered.

“Well, you just need to keep looking. The complaints you have are valid. A lot of people have them about work. You just need to set boundaries and get some hobbies.”

“Hah! Set boundaries. Grinding means killing monsters for 16 hours straight. And exploring is a risk every second. I saw a level 4 zone. We are screwed. Totally and utterly screwed. It is fine. Just go. I appreciate the advice, but it is nothing I haven’t thought of already,” Naran said.

“Very well. Just one last thing. Please don’t hesitate to come and speak with me. Everyone can use someone to talk to. Even if it isn’t me, don’t hesitate to find someone. But not Clarissa, she can be a bit…much,” I said.

“Hah, you got that right. Thanks for the advice doc.”

“Your welcome Naran.” I left the room. Hopefully that had helped, but there was no guarantee. That was the tricky part about mental health. People had to come to their own realizations. You could guide and suggest, but without medication, everything was in their hands.

“Oh, excuse me,” I said as I bumped into a guard.

“No problem miss. Why don’t I escort you to your destination,” the guard said.

“I am just leaving,” I replied.

“Oh, well I can escort you to the entrance. What do you think of the public plays being done?” The guy was just a bit friendly, and there was no need to be rude. So, I didn’t say anything as he walked with me to the entrance.

“I haven’t had the time unfortunately. Mental health is quite a problem around here and there are non-stop emergencies.” It was exhausting being the only trained mental health professional in this city.

“Ah, I can understand that. You must hear quite a bit.”

“Nothing as interesting as you are imagining. Most people are just sad about losing their lives from Earth,” I replied.

“Indeed. Well, this is the exit. Take care Doctor.”

“Thank you, I didn’t get your name?” I asked. But the man had already turned and left. How rude. I shook my head at that behavior. I would have thought he was interested in more, but apparently not. Since I didn’t want to break doctor patient confidentiality, he was probably annoyed. Well no need to worry about such a person.