Planetes
2.d. Awakenings

Fifteenth century. An abandoned place in Santorini, Greece. There is a formless black hole that somehow left hanging in a place that seems to be a former gallows.

The hunchback had long been ignored by people and considered that the barking was nothing more than trash. Until one day the stake was broken and the lump fell into the sea with a loud noise.

[Dark. Chilly. Where is this?]

Neptune doesn't know where he is. All he knew last time was that his body was burning fire from a lightning strike.

I don't know how much time has passed, Neptune doesn't know. He lost his count.

The noise nearby greeted the sense of hearing. I don't know what it is, Neptune doesn't know. Only some he could catch.

They said that his body was on fire and that he seemed to be alive. Then after that his body was taken out of nowhere.

Neptune's head felt heavy, not to mention that something was restraining his movements. Slowly, he opened his eyes. This room is full of white cloth and the smell is a bit strange.

Where is she? With limited movement, he saw that his entire body was wrapped in bandages. In his heart, Neptune was grateful that he was still alive. Although there was a sense of regret that he had committed a sin that was out of nowhere.

Neptune could not remember what he was doing before he fell on the coast of Santorini at that time and the last sight he saw was only lightning that burned his body. And then it was all dark.

「You're aware? Thank goodness, your life can still be saved!」

This man used a language he did not know, but once again Neptune was able to understand one or two things. What came to mind in this person—appears to be a woman, was conveyed to her like a clear clanking of bells.

Neptune was about to open his mouth and sit on the bed, but as the pain spread and made him inevitably groan in pain.

[Geez, it feels like being stabbed by thousands of needles!] Neptune is also.

「Ah, don't move much first. Your injury is quite severe, but miraculously you can still survive.」

The woman immediately understood the condition of her patient. Neptune rests his head back on the pillow.

「You may I know? Because there is no one item that shows your identity other than a strange tattoo on your pectoral.」

The woman knew Neptune had not been able to answer her question orally, so she gave a piece of paper following a pen. Neptune was puzzled, did he have to introduce his real name? But, he did not want to be dragged to the gallows anymore.

(Elliot)

That's the name he wrote on the paper offered by the doctor. Somehow he saw the name paper that was displayed a bit far from him. But Neptune's eyes were that sharp.

「Elliot only? No surname?」

(Yes.)

Back Neptune—from here we call him by his new name, Elliot, writing down the answer. Once again, he could only know a piece of two-term word from the mama.

「Wounds like that you must have been traumatized, yes. Don't worry, I'll take care of you, Elliot! Oh yes, my name is Michele Corvisart. Just call me Michele, yes!」

That was the first time Elliot got to know a medical professional who later inspired him to become a doctor. It may not be worth mentioning as a hospital. But at least adequate enough to just treat patients who need treatment.

After Elliot recovered from his injuries, he felt that someone was calling him. Call her? Right, even indirectly. Except through telepathy.

Elliot's twin legs then bring themselves to the direction of—laut? The beach was found, right?

"Who's there? Why call me?" elliot's voice breaks the silence— is not really quiet actually, because there is the sound of the sea waves pounding.

It felt like he knew this figure, but at the same time he did not recognize it. For some reason, he felt afraid when faced with this figure. But his twin legs did not move from his position.

「That gaze.... You don't recognize me, Neptune?」

"So, you recognize me?" Elliot gasp. "Who are you really?"

「I am Poseidon, God of the sea.」the person who introduced himself as Poseidon paused his speech before continuing the conversation. 「Once good of yourself.」

The sentence successfully made Elliot round his eyes perfectly. What did he say? The other himself? Not that Elliot did not understand the syllable, but he was confused. For this figure of Poseidon bears no resemblance to him at all.

"I don't understand" Elliot seemed utterly astonished and didn't know what to react to but to ask him as he was now. "What do you mean you're my other self? We don't look like twins."

「Not twins, Neptune.」Poseidon breathed. His power is stretched out and holds Elliot's head. 「I'll help you remember.」

A blinding blue light filled the place and made Elliot unable to see anything but the light. Moments later after the light disappeared, various events in the past flashed in his mind and made him instantly hysterical.

"YAHOOOO!!!"

To his surprise, Elliot fell on the sand and his face paled. His hand held onto his face and cold sweat flooded all over his body.

"OARRRGHHH!!"

That memory is not a pleasant memory. A memory in which Neptune imposes punishments for the citizens of Greece and Atlantis. Get them all killed in the murk.

Poseidon looked at Elliot with pity. He knew full well that these memories were not what Neptune wanted. However, he must transfer those memories because Elliot as the embodiment of Neptune must remember his purpose of coming to Mayapada.

「Have you remembered, Neptune? Have you forgotten your purpose in coming to earth?」

"Where may I forget, Poseidon. I came here to protect earthling from Mother's men's attacks."

「But what you're doing is not protecting them. Except destroy them. So, why do your actions contradict the mission you are carrying? Which is correct?」

Poseidon's words made him fall away. Longtime. He knew very well that he should not be carried away by emotions and carry out such mass destruction. Moreover, many of them were good people who knew nothing.

Elliot felt a sin. Even dying will not make up for it. Fortunately, he did not die while being punished at the gallows at that time, but with what could he make up for all his mistakes?

"What do I have to do to make up for all this, Poseidon?"

「Think about it yourself. I don't think the gray wisp in your head is just ornamental, is it, Neptune?」

Finish already. He now felt cornered by the words of Poseidon.

「I'll see you again, Neptune. See you later.」

"Tung—"

Too late! Poseidon had already stepped into the water and disappeared in the middle of the ocean. Leaving Elliot who still seemed confused.

Now he had awakened in a time far from the time when he was doing the extermination. What then? What's he supposed to do?

Elliot's heart felt more relieved when his twin legs stepped towards the treatment hall. Helping those who are sick and wounded by war.

—connect