Nadine has been quiet throughout, preparing for her part in this experimental drama. While she's practiced, in as much as she can for something like this, since Viktor first reached out, it's still the first time she's performed invasive surgery on a real living patient. There's pressure here that she's rarely felt since taking up a healer's mantle. She's held lives in her hands before, including the lives of those she cares about, but there's a big difference between applying a tourniquet and stitching up a grievous wound and this.

Not to mention the surrounding circumstances. Working in secret, in the dead of night like a mafia doctor.

But the steps of preparation help calm her. There's a ritualistic familiarity to it. The intensive washing, the tying of headscarf and leather surgical apron. The laying out of tools, some of which have never before touched living flesh. As she finishes setting out all that she needs she tries to reach that calm place where distraction and nerves fade away. All that matters right now is the patient, and what she can do for him.

And she can do this. There's no room for any doubt now.

"Okay."

Just like they practiced. With a deep breath and steady hand, Nadine leans in and begins.