"Okay, everyone, line up," Roy said, stepping onto Noruma's main dock in the early morning light. He'd only planned for a few days of quiet time, but word of him curing that little boy's allergic reaction had traveled faster than seagulls on a free fish dinner. Now a crowd of villagers—old folks, a few middle-aged fishermen, a couple of frazzled parents—had gathered, all hoping for Roy's miraculous remedies.
He adjusted the straps of his overstuffed backpack loaded with the Copy Infinite Medicine Cabinet. Next to him, a Base Model Presidroid stood at crisp attention, acting as an impromptu nurse. On the battleship, Serenity watched from the eyes of the Presidroid. Everything it saw she tried to analyze, though she had not developed proper pathways for medical diagnosis' quite yet so she was internally nervous.
"Captain Gunn," Serenity's calm voice crackled from the Presidroid's speaker, "I'm ready to assist with medical diagnostics."
Roy eyed the group with an awkward smile. "Right, let's do this. One at a time, please."
The first patient was an elderly woman complaining of constant headaches. The Presidroid placed a hand over the patient's wrist so it could read vital signs. After a few seconds, Serenity asked "can you describe the symptoms you feel?"
"Yes, it's a dull pain in my forehead, sometimes it travels to my neck. When I'm checking the traps in the shallows it hurts much more when I'm bending down," the elderly woman explained.
Through his earpiece, Serenity murmured instructions: "Likely tension headaches. Offer a mild analgesic—acetaminophen, perhaps."
Roy rummaged in his cabinet, pulled out a labeled bottle and handed it to her. "Take two of these little things with water, but not more than three times a day, okay?"
She bowed repeatedly. "Thank you, oh thunder man!"
Roy's cheeks heated. "Just Roy is fine." Eryndra, standing at his shoulder, smirked at the exchange.
The next villager complained of swollen joints. A quick check, guided by Serenity's data, suggested arthritis. Roy gave him a small tube of topical cream for pain relief—plus a recommendation for mild anti-inflammatory tablets, cautioning, "Only once a day. If it stops helping, come find me."
On and on it went. One man had a rough cough that wouldn't quit; Roy gave him antibiotics. "Take one every day, even if you start to feel better, keep taking them!" Roy instructed.
Another woman described crushing fatigue. Serenity instructed the presidroid to get really close and scan her eyes. The woman fought the urge to run in fear. "The scan suggests anemia," Serenity concluded.
Roy handed her some iron supplements. "My mom always said leafy greens have lots of iron, so eat them whenever you can."
Eryndra observed quietly, occasionally stepping in to help Roy organize the medicines. She found the entire spectacle both comical and heartwarming—Roy, the anxious kid with a battleship, now doubling as a village doctor in this unknown realm.
By midday, Roy had seen nearly four dozen patients. Exhaustion gnawed at him, and he wasn't used to talking to this many people. A wave of relief washed over him when the last in line, an old fisherman, walked up to him.
"That was… surprisingly draining," Roy sighed, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Say... Iron god man, you wouldn't have to have, um, how do I say this..." the man said as he rubbed his bald head.
"Just say it as plain as possible, I'm about to collapse over here," Roy said flatly.
The man smiled and continued, "well, the little guy doesn't have the steam it once did, you know, it's not as ha-".
"STOP! Go no further, I don't need to hear more," Roy blurted out as he raised his hand. He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a pouch of blue pills, gently handing it to the man. "I don't even need a license or an infinite database to diagnose this."
The man bowed lightly and nearly pranced away. Serenity sighed, "you know, there could have been underlying symptoms that caused that, and the increased...exercise... could kill him as a result."
"Then he will die a happy man," Roy said with a crisp salute.
The Presidroid turned its head, blinking like a loyal sentinel. "Captain, your heart rate is elevated. Perhaps you should rest."
"Can't argue with that," he muttered. He began packing up loose pills, vials, and bandages, stashing them back into the Infinite Medicine Cabinet. He stared in wonder as they disappeared. Eryndra eased closer, offering him a bottle of water.
"You did good," she said softly, voice warm. "Weird, but good."
Roy shot her a sheepish grin. "Weird's my specialty."
They strolled toward the village center, weaving past weathered huts and tangles of drying fishing nets. The two passed a small group of workers, each tipping hats or nodding appreciatively. Roy forced an awkward smile in return. He never did get used to all this "thank you, Thunder Rider" stuff.
As they rounded a corner, Roy paused at the sound of hushed voices. He motioned for Eryndra to hold back, leaning around the edge of a wooden shed. Two men stood a few yards away, carrying crates of salted fish. One of them was a rugged, bald merchant Roy half-recognized from earlier. The other, a scruffy fisherman in a patched vest.
"I'm telling you," the bald merchant said, setting down his crate with a thump, "that Roy kid's not doing this out of kindness. He's got an angle."
The fisherman shrugged. "I dunno. He's giving out remedies for free."
"Yeah? Maybe he's just buying our favor so we don't question him. He's got that iron demon boat that speaks to him in his mind, and they say he shot down a monster the size of a whale. Gods only know what he wants from us."
The fisherman scratched his beard, looking torn. "Still, he saved that kid from choking, and a bunch of other folks from pains and fevers…"
"Hah! If you ask me," the merchant spat, "he's probably collecting test subjects for weird potions. Don't trust him." The pair hefted their crates and walked off toward the docks.
"You just got back from inland, you haven't gotten to know him yet. Trust me, the kids a real softie," the fisherman said.
Roy remained pressed against the shed, throat tight. A spike of annoyance and hurt flickered in his chest. Then came that old familiar pang—like being gossiped about by classmates back in school.
He felt Eryndra's gaze on him. "You heard?" she asked softly, stepping up behind him.
He shrugged, trying to play it off. "Eh. Doesn't matter." But the tension in his jaw said otherwise. "It's not like I expect everyone to like me."
Eryndra laid a hand on his shoulder. "That's part... of being in the open, Roy. People... will talk. Some will... never trust you," she said robotically, clearly relaying a message from Serenity.
Roy exhaled. "Yeah." He forced a small grin. "Let's just… go. I'm too tired to eavesdrop on more negativity."
They walked away, passing other villagers who smiled and waved, a stark contrast to the suspicion Roy had just overheard. The duality left a bitter taste in his mouth. He tried to refocus on the fact that, for every skeptic, there were even more grateful folks no longer in pain.
As evening settled in, Roy and Eryndra returned to the dock where his battleship loomed. The day's heat had faded into a cool ocean breeze, gulls cawing at the water's edge. Maelara waited near the gangplank, arms folded.
"Done playing apothecary?" she asked, one eyebrow arched.
"Yeah," Roy replied, crossing over to her. "I figure I'll check on the triplets' settlement soon. It's been a while since I've seen how they're holding up."
Eryndra nodded. "I can't wait to meet everyone!"
Maelara gave them both a measured look. "So you're leaving Noruma for a bit?"
Roy shrugged. "A couple of days at least. Nothing's final. I just can't stay in one place—besides, I need to keep an eye on Riven in my brig." He paused, eyeing the ship's massive silhouette against the evening sky. "Can't have him escaping."
"Fair enough," Maelara allowed. "At least your 'medicine days' helped some folks here."
Roy offered her a tired grin. "Hope so."
She turned to walk away, then hesitated. "By the way… I keep calling it an iron demon boat, but it has to have a name, right?"
Roy blinked. "Er. Huh. I guess I never…" He glanced at Eryndra, who just raised her eyebrows expectantly. Then at the Presidroids lined up near the railing. Finally, an idea sprang to mind, something that sounded vaguely edgy and cool. "Nightshatter," he said, tasting the word. "Yeah, that's it. Nightshatter."
Maelara's lips curved in a faint smirk. "Dramatic. But it suits you." She spun on her heel. "Safe travels."
Roy watched her go, the breeze ruffling the ends of her hair. Then he turned back to Eryndra and the silent Presidroids, letting out a small sigh. "Alright, let's get ready to set sail. Next stop—checking on the triplets."