Blurred

Blurred
This room is a mess...but it's comfy.
Level No.	7-1
BPM	?
Patient(s)	Mark Booker Unmentioned (Memory, self-treated): Edega
Other Character(s)	Paige (unless if she was fired) Ian (only if Paige was fired)
Pager
Pre-clear	Patient's condition has shown no improvement so far. New procedures should be utilized.
Post-clear	Patient has relevant medical experience, and should be consulted on the specifics of his care.
Ranks
S	perfect, just like the old days
A (7)	great work, just like the old days
B (13)	tough work, just like the old days
C (20)	stress-inducing, just like the old days
D (28)	disastrous, just like the old days
F	traumatic, just like the old days
Act 7
← 6-X Boss Fight 2-XN Bitter Times →
Gabe kept this room exactly how we decorated it, huh?

Blurred is a level in Rhythm Doctor. It is also the first and only non-boss level of Act 7.

This level introduces Holdshots and ECG Shortening (only the former is tutorialized), and expands both Mark and Edega's story, by revealing they worked together.

The track is made by SKARBA, originally as a personal project.

Synopsis

TBA

Transcript

If at least one note was hit in the ending sequence of 6-X:

	Good morning!
	Hey, it took a few weeks, but I finally finished something I was working on for a while!
	I've expanded the rhythm internship program!
	Since we're, uh...more understaffed than ever...I figured this could help the hospital out.
	I've started reaching out for more interns who can work remotely.
	Rhythm Nurses...Rhythm Counselors...even Rhythm Security Guards!
	So long as someone has a computer and an internet connection, they can take a job here. Just like you.
	I know it's not ideal, but...ever since Ada left...
	The few of us left here got saddled with a bunch of new responsibilities, running up and down the halls.
	And it doesn't seem like the hospital is going to start hiring again any time soon...
	...so this was the best solution I could come up with!
	I've been working on the defibrillator to figure out why we haven't made any progress with Mark yet.
	And when I'm not doing that, Edega keeps pushing me to make progress on his "Miracle Defibrillator" machine, whatever that's supposed to do.
	I'm exhausted. On top of all that, even at home I've been staying up all night working on something that will-
	Whatever, I'm just rambling now! You know how busy it is here. It's time to try out the new treatment on Mark!
	Let's go check on him in the Medical Records Room before I pass out or something.

If all of the notes in the ending sequence of 6-X were missed:

	Good morning!
	We've been able to keep Mark stable and comfortable for a while, but still no progress on his condition.
	Today might be different, though! Ian said something about a new feature for the defibrillator.
	Hopefully this new one will be more effective. Your last treatment didn't seem to solve anything.
	Anyway, what have you been up to?
	...
	Whoops. My reflex to try to make small-talk is unstoppable, apparently.
	I'll just talk about myself, then.
	I saw a movie the other night!
	It's been forever since I've managed to find time to do anything.
	I wanted to go with a friend, but our schedules never line up.
	So I went alone, but... what are the chances, I saw Logan and Hailey there!
	It was cute. Must have been their first date!
	Bizzare movie choice, though. It was one of those prestiege horror flicks, with all the award buzz.
	I had to keep my eyes closed half the time. Hopefully they had more fun!
	Anyway, let's go help Mark, shall we?

	Hi! Before we start, I gotta introduce you to the new defibrillator.
	Check it out, the Rhythm Defibrillator version 0.8.4!
	...
	Okay, so...yeah, it basically looks the same.
	But feel it!!! I swapped them all out to have authentic Japanese arcade buttons!
	They have a new glossy exterior, one millimeter of pushback travel, and are durable for up to five million lifetime presses!
	And, uh...it's also fitted with a new treatment that will save Mr. Booker's life. That too.
	The old defibrillator seemed like it was ineffective at treating his symptoms. It was strange.
	So I came up with this new treatment.
	There's still a lot of research I need to do about how rhythm treatment works, how it can be most effective...
	...but Edega keeps getting me sidetracked with all his demands.
	He keeps pushing me to make it into this perfect "Miracle Defibrillator." It's not very realistic.
	He thinks we're going to be able to "rebuild cells from scratch" or something.
	Speaking of which, you'd think he'd be here to check out the improvements, but I haven't seen him.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...it's probably for the best.
	Oh! I, uh...forgot you were here. Mark, right?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	It just means the accommodation I asked for is being honored. At least he can do that right.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Besides, I, uh, prefer the quiet. It's giving me a chance to catch up on my backlog.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Speaking of which...listen, intern. I've been reading up on this "rhythm treatment" stuff.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	The principles of it are interesting. I think I have an idea of how you can apply it to my condition.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Let's test it out on myself again.
	Uhh...usually we've got a guy for that, he's like this farmer who-

Single-Player:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

I'll be getting it in high doses in a minute, I might as well know what I'm getting into.

Two-Player:

	Oh, there he is!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	This is the guy you test things on? What's he being treated for?
	Everything, to be honest.

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Now, according to the documentation, you'll see my pulse slide across the screen just like when you've performed "Supraventricular Tachycardia Beats."
	(Where did he...wait, that's just my notebook!)
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	As with any other "SVT Beat", you'll hear a pulse and defibrillate on the second beat.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Except...when you hear this special cue...
	Zoop!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...you'll hold the beat instead of pressing, up until when the next 'Get' cue would be.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	So, to be clear...you're holding the beats, not tapping them. Got it?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	It says "If the intern doesn't remember, tell them it's like that time with the buff guy on the old-timey train." That mean anything to you?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Now, as much as I'd love to flip through this cover-to-cover...
	Hey!!!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...let's practice.

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

That's your cue! Hold the next beat!

Any held beats missed:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I think we should try that again.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	When you hear the cue, remember to hold down the next beat!

Any held beats missed again:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

Hmm...we'll try again. It's tough, but you'll get it.

Both held beats hit eventually:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

Excellent! Looks like you've got it!

Both held beats hit on first try:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Wow. It's like you were born for this.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Let's try some faster beats, then.

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	There's a note in here with like a hundred circles around it, it says "DON'T PANIC, JUST FOLLOW THE RHYTHM OF GET AND SET."
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	But you probably knew that already.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Good luck!

Some misses:

	That... could have gone better.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Another time, then!

Most beats hit:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

Well done!

All beats hit on first try:

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

You're way too good at this...

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	That should be everything you need to know.
	Hey, you forgot what I wrote in the corner!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...the doodle of your MMO character?
	Th-The other thing!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Oh right!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	While you're holding a held beat, any beats from other patients nearby will be automatically caught!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	So if you see a beat that will overlap with it, just keep holding!
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Let's try it!

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]

Great work, intern! You must be getting paid the big bucks.

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Well, that was fun. Here's your notebook back, by the way.
	Thanks. Well...I guess that handles the tutorial?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Hey, am I allowed to read to keep my mind off things while receiving the treatment? I've got a book club meeting coming up.
	Reading would be the most normal thing any patient has done while we've defibrillated.
	Alright, good luck!

(If at least one note was hit in the ending sequence of 6-X, Ian will replace Paige, indicated by their lines being in the same position.)

Intro

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	It's weird being back here.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	No matter how much I keep my hands and my mind busy, that weird sterile smell...
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...it instantly takes me back to when I worked here.
	W-wait, what?		Wait, what?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I think an attack is coming. Stay focused!

Intermission

	Did you say you used to work here?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Yes. Straight out of school.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I think I was around your age.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Gabe and I graduated together. We did our rotations together.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I considered him a friend.
	(I've never even considered Edega having friends. Wow.)		(I guess even Edega had friends, huh?)
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Doing rotations while studying for exams...it was exhausting, but fun.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I followed Gabe into specialising in cardiology. Just to continue working with him.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Eventually, I couldn't keep up anymore.

Outro

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	He expected more and more from me...until he pushed me past my breaking point.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I felt hollow, like I couldn't muster the energy to help him. Or help anyone, really.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	When I told him I was quitting medicine altogether...
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	...it was like he pretended I never existed.

[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Hm. Seems like it's stabilised for now.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Your new treatment idea must have worked. Thanks.
	N-no problem...		Glad we could help!
	But wait, you're saying the reason you asked for that accommodation...
	...is because you used to be friends?
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Yeah. It's better if...I don't hear his voice.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I burnt out. Harder than I thought I could ever burn out on anything.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	It wasn't just that I didn't want to be a doctor. I didn't want to do anything anymore. I felt lost.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	There were days where I fell asleep and wished I would never wake up.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	That was when the chronic condition set in. And when Gabe stopped talking to me.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	After long enough, I was fine with it. I didn't want to run into him either.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	When I was a little kid, I used to bury my nose in books when I wanted to shut the world out.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I guess old habits don't change.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	If I collect more and more books, then there's always something new to read. Something new to distract me.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I tried to forget my old career and ignore what it did to my body for as long as I could.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	Believe me, I wouldn't step foot back in this place unless my life was literally on the line.
[[|640px|class=pixelart]]	I'm in your care now. I'll keep my fingers crossed that you figure something out.

If Paige was fired:

	Alright! New defibrillator is working just fine. Things are finally getting under control.
	What's next? Let me check if the Rhythm Nurse intern added anything to my calendar...
	...wait...oh no. I completely forgot about the rehab meetings.
	Ada was doing daily meetings to check in on Cole and Nicole on their recoveries...I, uh, haven't done a single one since she left.
	Whoops.
	Aghhh...t-this is gonna be so awkward, but I guess I should run by their rooms and see-
	Ian. I asked for a progress report on the Miracle Defibrillator. Come with me.
	...y-yes sir. I'll be there.
	(Intern, can you go check on how Cole and Nicole have been doing?)
	(I feel like I haven't heard from them in forever so, uh...they might not be doing great.)
	(Good luck! I owe you for this!)

If Paige wasn't fired:

	Alright, at least we were able to help a bit for now.
	I'm concerned about how his condition has been progressing. He looks weaker every day.
	But...no time for that! We need to move on.
	Hey, intern, can you help me check on Cole and Nicole?
	Last time I saw them for one of their rehab meetings, the mood was...tense.
	I wonder what happened.
	Let's go make sure they're okay.

	Imagine my surprise when the new patient wallowing in the dusty old Records Room was Mark Booker!
	I remember him! The kind of guy that would really light this place up with his smile.
	That time between Mark quitting and Ada joining... those were The Dark Ages for sure.
	I was just talking to him this morning and he remembered me too!
	We used to trade books back and forth. He'd make me read some fancy-pants classic literature and I'd make him read some sports history.
	I can't remember a single word of Pilgrim's Progress or Don Quixote, but I'll never forget how excited he was to give them to me.
	I wish we could've re-united under happier circumstances, he seems like he's in rough shape. You better fix him up!

Trivia

• If you have a S- rank or higher at the part where Edega pretended Mark never existed, he will look away from Edega and leave.
  • Else, Mark will dissapear. This is the last non-boss level story-wise
    • This could mean that the S-rank cutscene is Mark's perspective, while any other rank's cutscene is Edega's mind.