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I've not had the chance to bring it up. However, a while ago I added some competitive programs to the training simulation room. They're meant to give people another healthy outlet for conflict and hostile energy as well as improve skills as matched by an opponent.

There are several games as well as the option to customize your own. There are also two settings. One "honest" where cheating will absolutely not be tolerated. One "deceptive" where cheating is so long as the AI referees don't catch you and you don't cause serious harm to your opponent. Surprisingly, both have their merits.

This is also a reminder that you can get hurt in there. It is possible, so ask a Med Bay staff member if to come along if necessary.

That said, I'd like to speak to someone on the medical staff if you have the time. At least I'll have a better idea of who people can request aid from while I'm at it. But I understand with recent changes you might have to wait.

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[Kaz turns off the simulation then, letting the man disappear. In this case, there was no real end until someone told it to turn off, but that's good enough.] Nice work. [He commends her.] I can see you're already pretty well practiced so you should be very quick about picking up anything.

And....

Your staff?

[His brow knits. Probably something he's going to have to hear about. He's not used to these things mentioned in relation to healing.]

[ The man disappears as does the shape she'd been kneeling on, but she catches herself before her other knee drops to the floor and moves to stand, dusting her leg off. Her smile is the epitome of an eyeroll, brows drawn up where they knit together and one corner of her lips quirked higher than the other. The typical "mom's telling me how nice I look for school pictures" exasperation, even as she gives him a tiny curtsey. ]

You're kind to say so, Mr. Miller. It's all right to say I'm rusty.

As for my staff, have you ever heard about nanobiology or nanotechnology? I was one of the leading physicians in the field back home. The long and short of it is that I have very tiny robots that can help heal others. There are older versions of the technology in my body and I heal on my own, though not as quickly as those my staff makes. And those ones break down and disappear after a few hours.

It is fairly instant, but the body can only handle so much before it rejects them. There are pros and cons. Needless to say, you won't need to worry about me being hurt for long.

[ She'll do a bit of stretching to limber up properly, now, since she'd been dumped right into the simulation without any work put in first. And she'll have a look around the training room. It seemed quite spacious. ]

I should think it goes to say if you ever need assistance, my technology and skills are yours.

And your performance was still good for being rusty. If I place someone under stress and they push through I'm going to tell them they did well with it, and I won't stop until they do well enough to deserve the compliment.

[Because what's the point in putting forth one's best effort at the time and then being told that they're no good? Absolutely none. He'll run people ragged if he can. But it's important.]

[Though his only reaction to the nanotech is behind his glasses. Knowing what he knows now, the idea does make him a little uneasy; no fault of her own. But Solid Snake warned him of how nanotech has been abused by PFs in the future, by the military lifestyles that commit them to war only, rivalries as a business to carry them through.]

[Realistically he knows this isn't the same thing, but it makes him apprehensive.]

In my particular case keep them in reserve unless I'm really badly injured. It's better to keep them in reserve to people that aren't as experienced, especially with how they're encouraging us to ration things.

[That's as good an excuse as any, and he's not quite ready to reject them entirely (which is a positive development considering he took so long to accept artificial limbs). But he does want to avoid a reliance on nanotechnology himself, especially after telling Big Boss that he shouldn't allow it into Outer Heaven at all.]

[Big Boss is his own level of stubborn compared to Venom Snake. Kazuhira doesn't lack his own level of determination, also, much to everyone's frustration.]

I'm pretty good at muscling through. I went ten days without my arm and leg waiting for rescue. Smaller injuries are nothing.

Then you're leagues above most who take up instructing others. I'll do my best to earn your time.

[ His viewpoints and way of going about his instruction were realistic and down to earth, and really, she's not certain she'd ever find his like again. Funny how this place was pulling all types together only for it to work out in strange little ways. Even if he gives no hint of his feelings about the nanotech, she's already aware of the stigma. Had been her entire career, working with them. It was why she'd doggedly protected the technology, patented it hellishly carefully and ensured that she designed it all with a short lifespan (so as not to walk off having been healed and study the mites to study later), to "melt" into organic material easily absorbed by the body, and to absolutely ensure her technology was only used for healing. No weaponizing, no abuse to keep soldiers going right back onto the field. Just enough markers to have the body reject it at a certain point, but still enough to stabilize fatal wounds.

The moment he (very gently, she notes) denies the offer, she will follow up just as easily. ]

Understood. I assure you my bare hands are just as capable; most things shouldn't come down to needing the nanites, but they are often quicker and cleaner depending on the severity of the wounds. I appreciate your forethought.

[ Her tone is kind; she's not offended or hurt by what she simply takes as apprehension due to that sort of a stigma. As it stood in her when, she and very few others used it solely to help, but so much dust had been kicked up over foreign technology in one's body for the military that the way she takes it— no matter how diplomatically he'd worded a polite turn-down for her— is exactly in that vein. She doesn't push, nor does she defend it. With his followup, though, her demeanor shifts. She had been a student soaking up his instruction, but she's bounced back into a doctor. Her eyes never drop to his arm or his leg at the mention; not out of pity or an attempt to hide her notice of them but to give him her full attention with the information. ]

I'd believe it; you struck me as a strong person to begin with. Ten days is a long time not to give up hope, and here you stand to share your knowledge and expertise with me.

[ She was a field medic. Angela knows better than anyone what sort of mental and emotional strain those sorts of situations put on someone who's lost a piece of themselves. Suffered through the atrocities of war and torture. It is no small accomplishment and her pride for this new acquaintance swells up in her, tinted her words just the slightest. Angie is a doctor and a researcher and a pacifist, but above all she's an optimist. She finds positivity and hope in the smallest and darkest places. Just as Kaz nurtures his students as an instructor, so too does she nurture her patients and her friends.

With her light stretching out of the way, she'll go to gather up her gun and her staff to hand to him. Gun first, which operated on energy rather than bullets. Lightweight and well-balanced. Then the staff, significantly heavier than it looked at first glance with the heavier head. The nanomite production technology encased into a compact design. So long as it remained functional and she remained able to use her hands to create a new one, she would never run out. It's a fairly infinite resource. ]

You were interested in my weapons?

[Miller, you wanna get up? You're embarrassing yourself.]

[Revolver Ocelot was right in some cases. As much as he hinges his strength on his ability to tolerate pain, in that slaver's outpost he had to hinge his rescue on a man that bothered to put him down even as he was scraping his way off the floor. She comments that he's strong, and even he's trying to claim he's strong there, but right now he's hyper aware of how weak he is.]

[Ocelot's right. He's not strong yet, but he'll get there. He has to be to get what he wants.]

[He doesn't respond to the compliment. Instead, buries the reaction in a very earnest evaluation of whatever's on his screen. He'll deal with it later. There's always later. On to business.] So, I can start with an akido oriented program. And CQC I can show you myself. Depends on how close you want to allow yourself to get to an enemy. CQC is effective but only really works when you're right up on someone. Akido is only slightly better.

So it might be a good idea to teach you some dodges and deflections against different fighting styles first so you can move in quick. Sound good?

[ Angie is no stranger to people avoiding compliments or hiding their reactions in other tasks; she recognizes it for what it is and only gives a quirk of a smile as she waits, watching him work at something on the MID. She'll set her staff and gun down beside him to observe later. ]

I would like to learn multiple ranges; deflecting mid-range, regular close-range, and I'm already fairly experienced with longer ranges, whether it's by staff or gun. I'd only learned a few disabling moves that allowed me to escape before and I'd like to expand that in any direction.

That sounds perfect; thank you. I'm ready when you are.

I'd actually like to see how you fought with your staff. [He does like seeing how other people handle their weapons. It's a pretty good hobby around here.]

Speaking of which, if you can get a stun weapon or a tranquilizing weapon, I hardily recommend them. We have an armory department.

[And once he's talking about those, that moment of sadness goes right out the window. Mild pride takes its place; he knows what he's good at.]

Alright. It's simple enough to throw an enemy off balance, like I showed you. Have you ever had to chokehold or knock out an opponent?

However you see fit to proceed.

[ At the mention of weapons, however, she seems a little hesitant; a stun weapon seemed a bit brutal, but a tranquilizer... ]

I suppose this is the part where I tell you I'd rather not hurt anyone more than necessary; I've been described as a "staunch pacifist" before and even if I laugh about it, it isn't too far from the truth. If any options exist before causing someone pain or disabling them, I will take it. A tranquilizing weapon may be a good compromise though. [ It's a silly thing for someone with a gun to admit, but it is her last resort. When things come down to life or death, and even then, she won't kill someone unless absolutely and desperately necessary. She'll seek to disable, shooting shoulders or hands, legs; nothing fatal, but enough to stop someone. His demeanor returns to something more comfortable and she eases in response to it, wondering if she hadn't said something wrong when she'd slid some praise his way.

It was clear he hadn't taken it too well, but all she could do is continue on normally and see how he responded. It isn't her place to pick at him when they've only just met, no matter how invested she may be as a doctor. Right now, he isn't her patient. ]

...Which would mean unfortunately, I've not had to place a chokehold on anyone. I have knocked a handful of people out with my staff or the butt of my gun, but...

[ By hand, without anesthesia involved? She only shakes her head and looks a little apologetic. ]

Then you're definitely going to want some form of stun weapon. Even if you knock someone unconscious immediately, it's going to hurt later. Sad thing that comes with fighting, even if you take someone down without killing them, you're briefly taking away their agency.

So at least consider the fact you're allowing them to live a pretty good gift. With no lasting damage outside of a sense of discomfort.

[But he doesn't sound judgmental. He'd rather leave people alive.] Try not to feel too guilty about it.

This isn't so bad. I'll render an opponent, give you a demonstration.

[He sets about doing that, starting up the program and putting another of the same sprites up. This time he positioned himself behind him, crept up, and yanked him down into a crouching chockhold.]

Okay come here. [He grunts.] So you can see exactly how tight I'm holding him.

That is fair enough. I'll look into them, then. [ It isn't acquiesced with much joy, but she'll incline her head respectfully and in thought. He certainly isn't wrong; all of his points are valid, brutal yet honest. With the latter bit of encouragement, however, she'll give him a lopsided little smile. ] I'll try not to let my bleeding heart get in the way then.

[ It's admitted with a laugh in her breath and she adopts the "insult" far too easily. He sets about rendering his opponent and she'll help insofar as keeping the man's attention on her when Miller sneaks up behind him and takes him down with ease, dragging the simulation right down into a crouch with his arms locked about his neck and shoulders. With the invitation she'll step up close and lean over, blue eyes wide as she takes in the technique, leaning over to peer at the man's neck. It's the easiest point to see the strain and where he places the most pressure between his bicep and brachioradialis muscles, pinching almost perfectly about his throat and carotid arteries. ]

It all depends on the opponent's size and your own muscle strength, of course, but how long should it usually last?

[ This poor simulation dude's probably wishing he had the chance to just stay in the 80s at the rate he's getting his ass handed to him. ]

[He's been in the same position as this man, years ago. With an arm around his throat, feeling his body slip towards unconsciousness. It happened many times, but that first time- with the demands that Big Boss made. "You're breaking my neck!" Kaz'd said. "Do you want to join me? Or do you want hari-kiri for real this time? I'll even be your kaishaku."]

[He probably shouldn't remember that fondly, should he? No. How stupid was he to think Snake would ever magically go from being the man that pinned him to the man that just understood he needed someone to be gentle with him, to help him out of helicopters, to pick him up off the ground when he stumbled. No, Big Boss would have kicked him until he stood, and offered no congratulations for the accomplishment afterwards.]

[Wandering minds and all that.]

You hold it until you feel their body start to go slack. [Miller calmly says, lowering the man down when he starts to go limp.] Not too long, and not too hard. You don't want the throat to swell. Just for them to lose consciousness. [As a doctor, he guesses she already knows what throat swelling means.]

[After he drops the simulated man, he rubs his own throat in a memory of a real pressure, a ghost of empathy, before he goes to start up another one.] I'll let you take the next one.

[ It may just be a simulation, but the moment she sees the man go limp and Miller is lowering him to the ground, Angela is reaching over to brush her fingertips over the man's temple and easing his head to the floor. Even for a man that doesn't truly exist, she's a gentle soul. And she gets the feeling they'll be getting a lot of use out of him before the day is done. Even his hair felt real when her fingertips scuff over his ear and it's all the harder to imagine that it's only a simulation, the minute shift of his expression almost something like pain (but not really, and her brain certainly knows better), and then she's straightening herself back up and offering Kaz a hand back to his feet.

For now she has to set those silly thoughts aside. She can't always be a bleeding heart. Still, she has to approach this calm and collected; specifically to avoid squeezing too tight and causing any damage to would-be attackers beyond the simple act of unconsciousness. Especially once she sees Kaz rubbing at his throat and she imagines he's had a similar experience. ]

I understand; I think I've got it.

[~~She's also probably one of those people that would restart a game from the last save if her character's pet died.~~ He notes the empathy, the kindness, and so long as it doesn't make her hesitate, as long as it makes her more effective in saving lives and not a compromise in what she knows she might need to do, he doesn't mind. Unlike some other men he's worked with.]

[Having some sort of kindness or idealism is fine. Even if it's occasionally necessary to disregard it as an endgoal.]

Alright. I'll give you some space and reset the simulation.

[He dusts himself off and that poor man flashes out of existence. Next moment he's wandering around again, his back to her.]

[ ~~YOU HIT THAT NAIL ON THE HEAD.~~ Her compassion doesn't usually come between what needs to be done and her own desires, even if she may need some time after the fact. She's not so bright-eyed and naive to believe that violence could be completely avoided. That death could never be an option. She knew these things were necessary, but she didn't have to like it.

This, though. With Gabriel on board and what he'd already done to those dear to her... She would take all she could get. Even if the off chance came up she would run into him, at least she would know she'd done all she could to protect those around her.

There's a soft hum of acknowledgement and she's nodding to him, patting her hands together a few times to keep them dry, keep her grip clear. Their last iteration fades out only to be replaced by a dreamier version; same man, but he seemed to move slower. He wasn't as aggressive.

She's a bit thankful, really, because he's out of her reach and she has to take out his knee to knock him off-kilter before she can reach up and even attempt it, struggling for a moment as he'd tipped to the left almost violently as she'd kicked the back of his knee and used her weight on her foot to keep his shin pinned to the floor. He tries to get his hands up to his neck and fails before she can close an arm around him in a close replication of Kazuhira's hold, but her arms are thinner, too low at first until she can shift enough and get her other arm to lock about her wrist.

The real struggle is trying to hold onto him like one of those bucking broncos in the old western bars in Hollywood when he struggles and tries to hunch forward to drag her over him. She can't quite squeeze him tight enough for it to work as quickly. ]

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