"There's a medical bay on the ship, top-notch equipment, and professional staff. It'll meet your needs. Is something wrong with your health?"
Du Feld invested heavily in MADS for prestige. A researcher dying mid-journey would be a loss.
Science was a money pit, and since Du Feld covered the big costs, he didn't sweat the small stuff.
"No, but that girl's heart isn't good. I promised to fix it."
"The Fur Tribe girl? Valve defect or vascular issue?"
"Congenital heart disease. If not for her Fur Tribe physique, she wouldn't have lasted. I was planning to take her elsewhere for treatment soon."
Sorbet Kingdom's medical facilities were subpar. Their operating rooms? Surviving surgery was a matter of luck.
"I can help. I'm a doctor too, with some expertise in tough cases. An open-heart surgery is manageable, but have you found a suitable heart?"
Vegapunk excelled in medicine, tackling complex diseases. The issue was the heart source.
The human body was fragile yet resilient. A robust heart was hard to replicate, and rejection ruled out most options. Even if compatible, surviving rejection and ensuring quality of life were hurdles.
"I don't recommend a transplant. Conservative treatment might extend her lifespan. Fur Tribe hearts are hard to match due to their unique traits."
Despite shared blood, Fur Tribe hearts differed from humans', with dual respiratory systems and electrical abilities.
"You misunderstand, Director Vegapunk. I never said I was looking for a heart."
Vegapunk's concerns were irrelevant to Oran. The issue wasn't tech or heart sources but Sorbet's primitive infrastructure.
They couldn't even produce basic parts, and the workforce lacked the skills for advanced production.
If someone could make bricks, Oran could teach them to build walls. Problem was, they didn't even know how to dig clay for bricks. Developing here from scratch would take too long—Kate wouldn't survive.
Heart sources were scarce even in peaceful, organized places. Donors were rare, functional hearts rarer, and post-transplant issues persisted.
Killing for a heart violated Oran's principles, and he didn't need such crude methods.
"Don't fixate on flesh. Machines are an option."
A Hextech heart was Oran's plan for Kate's condition.
Piltover's timeline had precedents: Camille's heart, replaced for power; Orianna's, for survival and her father.
Excessive modification risked humanity, but it wasn't uncontrollable.
"Machine? Frankly, no device can match a heart's decades-long performance."
"That's because you don't know, Director. You're trapped by your own knowledge—a scientist's worst sin."
Vegapunk froze. Oran's words exposed his recent rut: tackling future problems with known methods, hitting a dead end.
His mind didn't linger on it, but Oran's insight saved him time.
"I've heard humans can't imagine what they've never seen. All fantasies stem from known experience.
An artificial heart isn't in that category. I think it's easier than imagining a nonexistent color.
Since you've agreed to my terms, I have no issues. You're staying a few days—I'll wrap up my work here."
With Vegapunk accepting his conditions, joining a research-friendly group was a no-brainer.
World Government scrutiny post-voyage wasn't a concern. No member had seen Oran's true face. The only Celestial Dragon who did was dead. Most escapees from God Valley didn't know his name or appearance.
At God Valley, Oran wore a gas mask, and now sported a new hairstyle and ditched his glasses. In a face-blind world, this was ample disguise.
The World Government knew little of God Valley's chaos—pirate crews left no trace, not even a stone. Tracking was near impossible.
News of God Valley had faded, thanks to government cover-ups. They couldn't issue public bounties without evidence.
With their efficiency, by the time they found anything, Nika might be dancing.
After confirming intent, Vegapunk showed Oran the ship's medical bay. Satisfied with the setup, Oran found Kate and explained his plan.
"Oran, you're saying you can fix my illness?"
"I told you from the start—it wasn't just comfort. The plan's recently finalized. As I said, a Hextech heart will replace yours.
I'm confident in the surgery. Soon, you'll run freely. But there are critical details to discuss first."
After explaining the procedure, Oran's expression grew serious. He was sure of its safety, but the Hextech crystal's unpredictability was beyond his control.
Seeing his gravity, Kate's eased mood tensed again. She thought she'd accepted her fate, but facing the choice shifted her perspective.
"For the positives: I tailored the Hextech heart to your Fur Tribe traits, enhancing your electrical control.
I've named this model Zaun Firecracker."
(End of Chapter)
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