'Sometimes' Oslar began 'Sometimes the best you can do for someone. Is nothing.' Dezzi's breath began to quicken. 'What? Nothing?! Nothing!! H-How could you say that!'
She let out a soft breath. 'Sometimes, it's nothing. Theres no help to be done. Sometimes, life reaches an end. And theres nothing that can be done except to let it continue it's course.'
'And other times…' She pulled back the for, and tucked it behind her pistol so that she could draw it out, the simple flintlock resting on her thing as she sat kneeling 'They're in pain. Pain that cannot be helped. No matter the medication, or treatment. Or anything.' Dezzi looked dumbfounded.
The deers shallow wheezes echoed next to them. 'And the only thing you can do. Is ease that pain.'
'It's called Mercy.'
Tears had begun to dry up. But the confusion was still there. 'M-Mercy?' They asked. They'd read it in a book and When they scoured the dictionary.
'It means Kindess. Specifically showing Kindness in a moment where all other options would say otherwise. But listen close, Dez.' She reached out a hand, and lightly held the minks small hand
'Sometimes, the best kindness you can do for someone. Is– Something hard like this. Now it is not' She put emphasis on the word 'Something that is done all the time. But sometimes, in life, there are extreme moments where something extreme is necessary for helping and healing other. And in this case. That Kidness–'
'Is to stop this deers pain, so that it no longer has to suffer. As Doctors. Decisions like these are ones we have to make. We are educated, and some would even say enlightened in our knowledge of medicine. And to use that, sometimes. Pain is necessary.'
The Young doctor couldn't look as the gunshot shattered the quiet winter island. They couldn't stop crying while it happened.
Dezzi. Even after years. Didn't understand. At least in terms of when it came to helping people, and how mercy could be in the form of ending a life. They'd come around to understanding that life sometimes was tragic with animals, and the best thing to do was to lay them to rest.
They'd even gone hunting and hunted animals themself. And even beyond that, they'd also started training to learn how to fight and utilize electro.
But now, after realizing themself, working through their past. Accepting themself for who they were, and being totally unashamed. But that question returned.
'Doctor…I know you said that it was something every Doctor came up against. That they had to deal with and make a judgment call. I don't know if I can do it…!' They slowly rose, hand grabbing at their abdomen as Slingblade breached the dust
"You, Sickle Guy…" Dezzi began. Slingblade stopping and tilting his head. Dezzi's eyes narrowed at this response "Are you in there? Are you alive…Alive?"
They were wondering if he had any sentience. The others seemed mindless, but the ones that seemed big were different. The response that came surprised Dezzi
"If you call this being alive." Sling spoke in a gravely medium tone "If you're gonna ask if 'Are you still in there! Think about what you're doing!', Don't We've heard that a dozen times. At least those that are tough enough and skilled enough to be given freedom."
"Freedom?" Dezzi questioned. "Oh great. You're gonna catch me monologuing like that one bitch in the log cabin on Crystal Lake island…Whatever. I guess I can play with you first in words. It's the best part to see the fear in their eyes as they realize whats going on…"
"Most of those creatures you see out there? All huddled together? They're called In Chained, Masses of mindless bodies, given simple orders. Roaming and Destroying in herds."
"But me? Those that can talk? You can tell by the eyes…" He brought a finger to a sagging eye, glowing a silvery green. "Those with a green glow are still in there. Fully aware of every, agonizing, moment…."
"Those ones, are known as the Grateful Dead." Sling Smiled
"So…If, you were killed?" Dezzi asked "My soul would be relinquished back to…Wherever I ended up. I don't remember. As are all the others. Another Death just means being put back to where you came…" He gave a nasally laugh
"Are you crazy?" Dezzi asked, face skewed into a look of disgust and bewilderment. A look that gave Sling what he wanted "Thats the look I wanted."
"I'lll say this kid. We're all mad here…" With a rotted toothy grin, Sling leapt forward in a direct dash towards Dezzi who didn't begin to move! To occupied in their mind!
'They're Dead! It'd be mercy no? Like I thought?? But they can think, they're alive again. Is it my right to take that?'
The Sickle was mere inches from Dezzi's eye when– Clang! The sound of metal reverberating sounded through the air!
"What you doin'!" Kale asked in a concerned tone. 'It's not like them to be like this' The Swordsman thought as they had effortlessly redirected the sickle, knocking Sling back, where arms sprouted from the ground and the corpses body, locking him in place as Raven appeared in front of him
"I…" Their shoulders slackend "I don't know if I can do it…I made a promise to do no harm. And…The only way to fix him…Is to kill him…" Dezzi's jaw began to quiver.
"So what?" Kale gave a blunt answer "You're a Doctor. Sometimes Doctors have to make hard choices." The Swordsman fully face the mink, The IV in hand
"But I made a promise…I said that I'd never take a life…" Dezzi's eyes began to tear up "But you're not. They aren't alive anymore. Even if they have their souls and faculties back."
"Just look at 'em" Kale said with a point to Slingblade. "You call someone that's been brought back from the dead like that is Alive? Skin rotting, teeth coming out? They're a soul in a shell."
"But…What about Eddie?" Kale grimaced "Who? Oh. The Skeleton. Didn't he literally say that he Was Undead. But it was the power of his fruit that brought him Back. He wasn't forced to, like they were."
Raven put a hand on Kales shoulder. Causing him to give a 'what' look "Let me speak too. You handle him" Kale accepted with a shrug, going to occupy the cadaver
"Dez…" Bending forward and putting her hands on her ripped black pants. Dezzi looked up. Still tearful "I know it's hard. And that rule you have. That morality. That choice, that despite the crews own tendencies, you abide by your own. While also respecting your own."
"Yeah…I know why the others do. 'Rules of Swordsmenship' and all that about putting your life on the line. And, the people we fight usually suck so, I uh– I don't hold resentment, and have even thought it's been for the best. But…That doesn't change that I–"
"That you have your own." Raven interrupted, finishing their thought "You're right. It doesn't. But, you're a Doctor. And sometimes…"
Dezzi was now the one to interrupt. "A doctor needs to make hard choices…"
"I knew a doctor once. Amazing Doctor. And she talked about how there were rules of Medicine, and being a Doctor. And that sometimes, those rules need to be broken or bent, so that a patient gets the best care and kindness they can have."
"This won't change who you are. Unless you let it." She knew all too well about letting something change her for the worse
"An Extreme Case…" Dezzi muttered, Raven Smiling. "A hard call that needs to be done for the safety of the crew, and for the poor people that have been wrongfully brought back, and to stop those that were once dead already…"
"Okay." Dezzi looked dismayed for a moment, before looking up and with clear eyes and raised ears, gave a smile. "I know what I have to do."
It was quick. The two Pirates moved out of the way, and raven let go of the Corpse. Slingblade rejoiced. But Dezzi's smile caused him to sneer, only to see the look change into a narrowed look of focus.
"So you finally came around huh?" Sling questioned, spinning his sickles in front of him one time, the blades connecting and sparking
"Yeah. Extreme cases require clear judgment." They leaned forward, Slingblade doing the same. 'It won't change unless I let it. I'm a doctor. And this is what needs to be done. Do no harm…But do not allow injustice. Thank you Doctor, for teaching me Mercy…'
"Hrah!" Sling blade yelled, Dashing forward! But in one motion, Dezzi's body flickered with bright blue electricity as they leapt forward, dashing past their opponent! And skidding to a stop!
"Shock Blur!" They held their hand out, electricity pulsing as the single powerful blow. Rendered Slingblade back to where he had come from. Freeing his abused soul.