In the center of the room was a long, long table; Ami could guess how this was set up. On the side she was sitting, were younger doctor’s whom she could presume had favorable views of Splicing, (after all, her mother was on that side of the table, and in the seat closest to her).
Then on the other side of the table were older doctors, (mostly men). People you could tell had been doing their work for twenty years-plus, EASY! Ami got the distinct feeling that these people weren’t going to be open about Splicing. It was mostly a ‘fad’ concerning the younger generations.
And finally, at one end of the table, between the two sides, was a much older doctor that Ami recognized. Dr. Denbe Yeijiro, one the oldest doctors at Tokyo Hospital; a man who started his career shortly after World War II.
Ami sat straight in her chair, as the elderly doctor stood up. This was it.
“My fellow colleague,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “It has come to my attention that Splicing is catching on faster than we could have anticipated. Already, we’ve got patients who are getting Spliced, or have had emergencies that included the life of someone who’s been Spliced hanging in the balance.”
“Far too many,” Came the comment of one of the older doctors, a Dr. Sunada if Ami wasn’t mistaken.
“You can’t help it though,” Said a younger male doctor from across the table. “Kids love this Splicing stuff. Pretty soon, you’ll be finding more kids Spliced more often than not.”
“Exactly the point,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “It’s the reason why we’re holding this meeting today. We need to figure out how to treat these people.”
“Why would it be hard?” A young female doctor questioned. “I’ve treated a few of the Splicers dubbed as ‘Cosplayers’. They seem to take to treatment just as fine as any other patient.”
“That is to be expected, Dr. Temko,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “But that is because they are of mostly human physiology, so our modern medicine can be put to use. The problem comes from Splicers who take more drastic steps, such as the ‘Furs’, ‘Scalies’, ‘Insectoids’, and don’t bet me started on the ‘Chimeras’.”
“Yes,” Dr. Yamahata agreed, trying to adjust his wide girth to fit more comfortably in the armrests. “I had to deal with performing surgery on a Canine Fur who had a gallbladder infection. It felt like I was using a roadmap of Greece to find my way through downtown Tokyo!”
“I know that,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “But from the medical charts, it seems you made it through with flying colors.”
“I got lucky,” Dr. Yamahata said seriously. “While organs were then sized differently and moved about, I only had to work in one section of the body which was still mostly human.” The older and fatter doctor frowned. “But what about next time!? What if I have to do something more drastic? I could possibly fail and get sued for malpractice because I couldn’t find my way through some freak’s body!”
“Dr. Yamahata, please!” Dr. Yeijiro said. “They may be people with lifestyle choices that I personally wouldn’t recommend, but they’re still people!”
The overweight doctor didn’t apologize for his outburst, instead pointed out, “It would still mean my reputation as a doctor would be on the line.”
“If I may interject,” One of the younger male doctors spoke up.
“You may, Dr. Ushiba,” The man at the head of the table said.
“Thank you,” Dr. Ushiba said. “As many of you know, my wife, Dr. Kinuye is a veterinarian at a small animal hospital here in the Ueno District of Tokyo.”
“Yes, very nice to go there for cherry-blossom viewing,” More than one doctor commented.
“It is,” Dr. Ushiba admitted. “But to the point, my wife checks health, regulates diets, and performs minor and major surgery for many pets. I believe some of her knowledge and techniques could be of value to some of the surgeons we have on staff.”
“Preposterous!” one of the older doctors shouted. “You expect us to take advice from a veterinarian!?”
“Actually, that’s not a bad idea at all,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “Their expertise of animals might become of major use.”
“With a few of the Splicers, mayhaps,” One of the older doctors admitted. “But not with all of them! What about someone with a bear? Or a lion? Or a panda? Hell, what about a whale!?”
“Well, Dr. Hachirobe,” It was Ami’s mother that spoke up. “Perhaps we need to make contact with more than veterinarians. Perhaps we need to make some calls to the zoology experts at the local zoo?” She suggested. “And perhaps calling to the United States to get a hold of someone acquainted with Marine Biology wouldn’t be bad either.”
The other doctor stared at Ami’s mother for some time. “Excuse me, Dr. Mizuno, but are you daft!? You’d wish to turn this hospital into a three-ring circus?”
“And what does THAT mean?” Dr. Mizuno asked dangerously.
“You want to know what it means?” Dr. Hachirobe barked out. “Think of it. Doctors, Vets, and Marine Biologists!? With so much going on at once, it would be mind-numbing.”
“And even IF we tried such nonsense,” One of the older doctors butted in, “It STILL won’t help us with these Insectoid Splicers. I mean, how the hell are we to be expected to treat some people, who sometimes have exo-skeletons that are denser than our tools!?”
“Then how about we add Splicing as a form of treatment for those with physiologies beyond our current comprehension?” One of the younger female doctors, a Dr. Ushida suggested.
“Oh, not THIS again,” One of the older doctors grumbled.
“Hey!” Another of the older doctors stood up. “I thought we were going to leave THAT concept out of this meeting!”
Dr, Yeijiro raised an eyebrow at that. “Perhaps it may need to be addressed though,” He said seriously as he turned to the brunette doctor wearing glasses. “What are you suggesting, Dr. Uchida.”
“Think about it,” The woman said. “If we use Splicing as a form of treatment it will make all the problems and concerns about surgery on those who are Spliced a rather moot point. I mean,” She stopped to consider how to best convey her ideas. “Splicing has been documented about helping problems with certain health issues already. What about applying the DNA of animals with high regenerative abilities to patients who’s physiology is unknown, or would be rather difficult to perform?”
The man at the head of the table scratched his chin. “Go on, Dr. Uchida,” Dr. Yeijiro said. “You’ve got my interest.”
“Well, sir, with a body that can regenerate damage done to it, surgeries considered nearly impossible and highly risky would be made as simple as cake,” The woman said excitedly. “A surgeon could go in and remove half a person’s brain or heart if there was a large cancerous growth there, and not worry about most repercussions. A person may be able to regenerate said organs on their own with no problems at all, which makes our jobs and the ability for patients to return to their normal lives, MUCH easier. There’d be no hassle, no risk of major complications, no-”
“Morals!” One of the older doctors shouted as he stood up. Pointing an accusing fingers, he demanded to know, “You want to turn out patients, those who have the trust to place their care in our hands into MONSTERS? Have you gone INSANE, Dr. Uchida!?”
“Here, here!” Another of the older doctors said.
“You tell her, Dr. Terakado!” Another of the older doctors said in agreement.
Before Uchida could answer, one of her fellow colleagues came to her aid. Standing on her feet, the woman slammed her hands down. “No, Dr. Uchida not, Dr. Terakado!,” Ami’s mother said seriously. “This would not be changing people into ‘monsters’ as you so eloquently put it. This would be just Splicing people with the DNA of an animal with highly regenerative physical capabilities for a little while. They would not be forced to stay Spliced.”
“Oh, Dr. Mizuno?” Dr. Terakado. “So, in your expert opinion,” He snorted, “It’s okay to turn more people into freaks as long as it’s for ‘a little while’?”
The woman frowned. “In my expert opinion, I think you should shut the fuck up, you old fart!”
From her seat in the corner of the room, Ami gawked, (as did numerous doctors of the staff). Who knew her mother could be so fierce.
Dr. Terakado gaped like a fish out of water. However, before he could respond, Dr. Michi Mizuno continued.
“You sir,” Dr. Mizuno said as she pointed an accusing finger at the older doctor, “Are more worried about losing your house in Aspen rather than look out for what’s best for your patients. The only thing you’re truly worried about is losing your big, fat paychecks you receive from performing complicated surgeries that would be made such child’s play, that the butcher at the local deli could execute them without fear, since a person could just heal themselves after the problematic condition in the body is removed.”
“You, Dr. Mizuno, are out of order!” Dr. Yeijiro said. “This meeting is to hear both sides of the discussion, not try and shoot someone down with accusations!”
“Funny,” Ami’s mother said. “You didn’t say that whenever the older members of the staff just called us names or questioned our sanity, now did you?”
“Dr. Mizuno!” Dr. Yeijiro shouted. “One more outburst like that, and I WILL have you evicted from this meeting. Now apologize to Dr. Terakado and sit down, so we can continue like civilized people!”
“I’m not apologizing to him, when you and I both know that it is the truth.” She golared at the entire senior staff. “All of these men here are worried about being replaced or losing their importance.” Dr. Mizuno said. “But I will sit down.” And sit down she did.
The young blue-haired girl listening to all this was in awe of her mother. Wow. She never knew the woman had it in her. “Go Mom!” Ami thought proudly.
“Well, to continue,” Dr. Yeijiro said, seeing how both sides were glaring at each other now, with the senior staff especially glaring hard at their star pediatrician, Dr. Mizuno. “We still need more suggestions as to how to treat our patients that have chosen to get themselves Spliced.”
“Well, here’s an easy idea,” One of the older doctors said. “Since the Vet might know so much about them, why not have them sent there?”
“Dr. Yumeki, if that was a joke, it’s not funny,” Dr. Yeijiro said.
Smirking, the older man asked, “Who said I was joking?”
And before Ami knew it, the whole board-meeting had become a screaming match; her vocal recorder couldn’t differentiate anything, and she was getting a mix of letters on the screen of her laptop.
Still, one thing was clear to the Senshi of Mercury. Her mother may have just nailed what the true problem was.
“Yeesh. That enough Kobe Steak, Artemis?”
“Hell no!” *CHOMP*!
“You people really do eat like animals...”
“Good God, I never knew Mom had it in her.”
“Really. Heh. Either she had a liking for the boy, or Else she plans to scare him.”
“What was that?”
“Nothing, Yuuichiro! Nothing!”
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(Posted Tue, 26 Oct 2004 22:37)
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