Patient Name: David Terrance Hartan
Date: 08/23/XX
Session No.: 1
Session time: 45 Minutes
Additional Info: Patient recently had negative experience involving previous assigned psychoanalyst, aproach may be difficult(see data file for more information)

Notes/Exerpts

Can't say I've had many opportunities to delve into the minds of war veterans amid the numerous people I've been called upon to [s]deal with[/s] [s]treat[/s] help, so having Mr. Hartan in my office seemed like a welcome change to the [i]norm[/i] as it were. Despite having looked at the file, I found the pictures to be insubstantial as a reference to what actually came in the door. Usually my eyes are drawn to a patient's face as soon as they enter in order to get a good impression of what I'll have to work with, but with David I found the way he entered somewhat distracting from any expression he may have had upon opening the door. My door has the knob on the right side coming in, so normally I find patients either open it with their left hand or give a quick twist with the right. David entered with the right hand, but didn't let go of the knob as the door opened. It almost seemed like he was tripping or about to trip the way he placed against his arm, but he seemed fine the moment he let go. I probably should have checked his face right then, but once again my eyes met with something else of interest as he stood up strait; his left jacket sleeve was hanging loose. I feel a bit stupid having overlooked that particular physical detail in his file, but it's not like many of the details were all that clear to begin with. Something as noteable as a missing arm is quite a tremendous flub though, and nothing here even states the reason as to why he's short one appendage, in fact there's not a single clearly stated reason for ANY of his war wounds. I would find out later why that was.

D: "Is this _____'s office?"
X: "Yes mister Hartan. Please step in and have a seat."

I got a good look at his face now, taking note of the patch he had over his former left eye. I could make out the initial incredule and dubiousness as he hesitated to move forward into the room. He paused to glance over at the certifications I had hung on the wall before settling into the chair I had opposite of mine at the desk. I continued to observe his gaze as he looked around the room, a suspicious expression crossing his face as he analyzed the world around him.

X: "Is there a problem mister Hartan?"
D: "No, none at all"

He seemed relieved as he finally turned to look me in the eye[s]s[/s]. I smiled and decided to pull out his papers to go over his history. At first he seemed alright as I went over his early life, he even cracked a smile as I mentioned an incident involving him on a runnaway power mower. Then as things leaned into the realm of sketchiness his face lost any sense of joy and he began drifting. Most of his family had been noted as having all died at the same time, the result of some unknown cataclysm that destroyed his farm. He entered service with the United Earth Millitary Forces and after a monthlong training course was deemed fit for frontline duty. There were a number of gaps after that, giving basic descriptions of a few battlefronts he'd been on, then it just cut off to a long blank line and a short sentence that said 'Last opperation: Team repoorted MIA for 2 weeks'. I glanced up from the file to check his face again. Blank and distant.

X: "Mister Hartan?"
D: "Hmm?"
X: "I don't suppose you could clarify what some of this means?"

He leaned back in his seat, taking a deep breath then let out a long sigh.

D: "I'm afraid I can't."
X: "Why is that?"
D: "Vows of silence... to those who let me live."
X: "Those who let you live? Who all is that?"
D: "Vow of silence."

He waved a finger toward me as he sat up strait again. Most other people might be annoyed by these kinds of things, but my profession you learn to deal with these types of obstacles.

X: "Mister Hartan... David, I'm not here to judge any decisions you made or the people you know, I'm here to help."

He turned his head away so that I couldn't see his eye, but I could still make out the frown.

D: "That's what my last shrink said, and I lost Kietsu-chan thanks to him."

Upon saying this he muttered something in Japanese. I could make out 'baka', but I wasn't sure who or what that was refered to. The name Kietsu-chan struck a note and I took a second to flip to the recent report the file came with. Kietsu Hazumu was a named victim in the incident with the previous psyciatrist, and furthermore was David's God daughter. From what I read she hadn't been harmed by the time arrests were made and after all was said and done she was released back into David's custody. So...

X: "What do you mean when you say 'lost'? Are you refering to the kidnapping?"

David tilted his face back toward me a bit, a distinct sadness in his eye.

D: "Not necessarily."
X: "Oh?"
D: "Those papers mention her mother, Farsea, right?"

Actually it was written as Falsha in the notes, but that was probably a translation mix up. I nodded nonetheless.

D: "Well... after everything was over... she and I didn't part on good terms."

Ah, I could see where this was going. This seemed like as good a time as any to get into his background a little.

X: "Could you tell me about your relationship with Farsea? How you met? How you got be the godfather of her child?"

He turned to look me in the eye again and I gave him a reassuring smile. He looked up thoughtfully then sat back in his chair, taking a deep breath.

D: "I met Farsea when I was about... five- maybe six years old. She was the daughter of one of the truck drivers who handled crop shipments. She's not much older than me. About half a year, maybe less, but it's pretty close. She would come along with her father every once in awhile to see how things went down. I remember we specifically met after I got in trouble for putting paint in dad's coffee... I was stupid, thought it was milk. Anyway I ended up having to help my sister move some of the shipping crates back and forth from the truck and that's where we had our first encounter. I remember she was really talky back then, always asking why or how the workers did things. Being the bull head I was then it bugged the hell out of me how she had a question for any given occasion. I think she was the main reason I became such a smart ass over the years, just so I could have an answer for anything that came out of her flapping lips. Somehow it became like a game between us, every time she and her dad came by, I'd go out and help with the loading so I could be in earshot whenever she asked questions, just so I could give her a strait answer. She seemed to make fun with it after awhile, coming up with new querries for me to conquer. After... maybe 4 years, I kind of gave up trying to be factual and just spouted random nonsense. Like she'd ask 'how do planes stay in the air?' and I'd answer 'because they're made out of balloons' or some shit like that. She'd call me out on the lie, but she'd still laugh every time and I got a kick out of it."

He stopped to chuckle to himself for a few seconds, which ended with a short disappointed sigh. I'd hoped to get more out of him before ending the session, but time was running short already, so I tried to see if I could get to the point.

X: "So you were friends? Is that why she made you Kietsu's God father?"
D: "I guess so. I didn't even know I was a Godfather until she called to have Kietsu spend some time with me."
X: "How did that happen?"

That blank stare into space came up again. For a moment I thought he'd lock up on me and I was about to call the rest of the session off, but then he muttered something in Japanese again. I listened to the tapes again and got a rough translation.

D: "[Across the sea, weep not or pity, but remember the name. Why only that?]"
X: "I'm sorry mister Hartan, but I can't understand you."
D: "She stopped coming by as we got older... then we met up again in high school. I started devloping deeper feelings for her... feelings I never told her about. Some time before graduation she mentioned going on a trip to meet an online friend. I wsn't sure what to think or tell her at the time, so I let it go hoping I'd get the chance to talk after the celebration. Then a few days later marked the begining of the fourth war... when my life slipped into a downward spiral."
X: "You mean-"
D: "Yep... I was so overcome I didn't even think about her. Then just over a week ago I get a vid call in the middle of the night. After twenty years, she finally finds me again... I almost couldn't believe it! Of course I don't think she knew what to expect, but then I didn't either. Still, the shock of seeing your oldest childhood friend all grown up and missing certain extremities... must not be a pleasant experience."

I was a bit dissapointed that he skimmed over the events that led him into service, but given the time I let it slide.

X: "So she called you up after all this time to have her daughter stay with you?"
D: "Sort of. Apparently after meeting her foriegn friend she struck it off with him and they ended up marrying and had a kid. At the time she wasn't even aware I'd been to war and back, so she named me as a god parent."
X: "She didn't even think to call before now to tell you this?"
D: "I guess it slipped her mind? Either way we spent most of that night exchanging stories, eventually leading to her dillema involving a business trip. Probably was her plan all along now that I think about it, but she was having trouble booking a hotel for both her and Kietsu-chan, so I offered to let her stay with me for the week."

It was at this point I had to cut him off and end the session. I say this about quite a few of my patients, but David is quite a facinating individual, and also rather mysterious. I hope next time I can get a clear understanding of the story behind recent events, and perhaps get some clear insights into how exactly a man like him managed to bring down a crime ring like that!