Several nurses entered swiftly, their steps echoing against the sterile floor, and carried Sulastri towards the laboratory.
Zein turned, his gaze lingering upon the bed where she had lain, and spoke with measured gravity.
"And for the initial management of Mrs Sulastri is..." His words trailed into the silence once she was no longer in sight.
Zein faced Dr Iman, Dr Bagus, and Dr Hendra. His tone calm yet precise, each syllable carrying the weight of authority.
"First, we must stabilise the condition of her skin! I recommend the application of a medium‑class topical corticosteroid to suppress the active inflammatory reaction!"
"We shall begin with mometasone furoate 0.1%, applied thinly twice daily upon the affected areas!"
"Yet, considering the likelihood of a concealed autoimmune response, I intend to add a topical immunomodulator as the next stage of therapy!"
"Prepare tacrolimus ointment 0.03%, and we shall observe the response after forty‑eight hours!"
Zein continued, his voice steady, his eyes unwavering, "Next, I require a light infusion of isotonic fluid, such as Ringer's Lactate, to maintain systemic hydration!"
"Do not forget, severely damaged skin may lead to a continual loss of micro fluids!"
Afterwards, Zein cast a glance towards Dr Bagus, "Provide also a non sedating oral antihistamine, such as cetirizine 10 mg, to control the itching without inducing drowsiness, so that her already disturbed sleep pattern is not further unsettled!"
"We must safeguard the skin microbiota as well! Do not employ harsh antiseptic soaps!"
"Use a pH‑balanced cleanser, free from SLS! I shall send a special formula which I once devised in the laboratory!"
"And lastly, systemic therapy! I shall not proceed directly to oral immunosuppressants, for we have no certainty as to which mutation is presently active!"
"But prepare a low dose of prednisolone as a reserve, should an acute flare arise within twenty four hours!"
Zein paused, drawing a breath, then fixed his gaze upon the three doctors.
"Do not overlook the psychosomatic factors! I shall request the hospital psychiatrist to provide light counselling sessions! Hormonal imbalance and stress may intensify the cellular reactions of her skin!"
Dr Iman scribbled swiftly, Dr Hendra nodded in agreement, and Dr Bagus looked upon Zein as though beholding a rare professor from another age.
"All these therapies are but provisional until the laboratory results are revealed! Afterwards, we shall design a new protocol, fashioned specifically for Mrs Sulastri's condition, a protocol never before recorded in any journal!"
Zein exhaled deeply, his eyes sharp yet filled with conviction.
"Ensure also that this journal is published to every doctor in Indonesia!" He declared with firmness.
"This is new knowledge, a new approach, and I shall bear full responsibility should I be mistaken!"
Zein paused, his gaze steady upon the three doctors before him.
"But remember this well!" His voice deepened, carrying a weight that silenced the room. "Never include my real name in that publication!"
Dr Iman, Dr Bagus, and Dr Hendra nodded at once, obedient and humbled, their pride and ego dissolved entirely.
They stood only in awe and submission.
"We shall carry out all your instructions, Doctor!" they answered almost in unison.
Widodo, unsettled by the strangeness of it, at last spoke, though his tone was cautious.
"If you do not wish to use your real name… then whose name must we include, Doctor?!" He asked carefully.
The three doctors also inclined their heads, waiting for Zein's reply.
Zein fell silent for a moment, lowered his gaze, then looked back at them. His voice was firm, resonant with meaning.
"Write my name as… Doctor Z!" He said slowly, yet with unwavering resolve.
"Doctor Z…?!!" The four exclaimed together, as though hearing a name conjured from another world.
Zein nodded with conviction, "Indeed! Doctor Z, and nothing more! Let this work be known not for who I am, but for what I leave behind for the world!"
At last they agreed, and hastened to their duties with solemn responsibility.
In the midst of their anxious vigil, they awaited the laboratory results for Sulastri, results that might well alter the course of medicine in the nation.
And sure enough, two hours later, when the findings were revealed, the room was seized by astonishment.
Data upon data, displayed upon the monitor, confirmed with absolute precision the analysis Zein had already foretold.
The mutation was real. And it was no ordinary mutation, but one that had advanced to a higher stage.
"This is madness!!" cried Dr Iman, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How brilliant is Dr Zein, truly?!"
"Indeed!!" Exclaimed Dr Bagus, pointing at the screen. "The results are exactly as Dr Zein predicted! Remarkable!"
"Doctor Z!" Declared Dr Hendra with solemn voice. "From this day forth, Doctor Z shall be his title of honour!"
The three doctors exchanged glances, then nodded in agreement.
Without hesitation, they began the initial treatment for Sulastri, precisely as Zein had directed.
And the results were visible to the naked eye.
Not only did they show signs of significant improvement, but they also carried immense hope, though the healing was not yet complete.
At once they set about drafting a scientific journal upon this rare case of advanced mutation, a record that might forever change the course of medicine.
For three days and three nights, Dr Iman, Dr Bagus, and Dr Hendra laboured without pause.
They worked in unbroken focus, accompanied only by the sound of keyboards and the rustle of printed sheets.
Their eyes were red from sleeplessness, yet their spirit never faltered.
They knew that what they were producing was no ordinary journal, but a new milestone in medical history.
Throughout, they received direct guidance from Zein.
He provided not only technical explanations of the advanced mutation and its management, but also comparative charts, microbiological data, and predictive models of its potential spread should it spiral beyond control.
Each paragraph completed was read aloud in turn.
If even a single error was found, even a solitary letter, they would return to the beginning and correct it.
They left no room for mistakes.
They understood that this journal would be read not only by their colleagues in Indonesia, but also by the international scientific community.
"If there is even the slightest error, the credibility of Doctor Z could be questioned!" declared Dr Hendra, underlining a sentence he deemed too weak.
"And we cannot disappoint Doctor Z! He has entrusted all of this to us!" replied Dr Iman, his voice heavy with responsibility.
Dr Bagus added references from international journals on genetic mutation to strengthen their arguments.
They scoured older literature, compared similar cases, and wrote their conclusions with the highest precision.
Every explanation, every term, every figure had to be exact.
And on the third day, as dawn approached, they gazed upon the monitor with expressions of satisfaction. The journal was complete.
A masterpiece destined to shake the foundations of medicine.
And upon the title page, the name of the principal author was written, simple yet profound: DOCTOR Z.