After the arrival
Aug 20, 2009 16:28:16 GMT -5
Post by Adrian Veidt on Aug 20, 2009 16:28:16 GMT -5
(This is set about twelve hours after the arrival, which is in another thread.)
"Can you try moving it again, sir?"
There was a tiny mechanical whine as artificial muscles flexed and the two new fingers and thumb bent and then straightened again.
"Very good."
The doctor at Veidt's side finished fitting the waterproofing exterior shell over the new digits, and then leaned back to view the result.
Veidt's hand had been effectively divided in half, with everything from the space between the ring and longest fingers over toward the thumb replaced with an experimental bionic implant. The contrast was startling- the implant's outer shell consisted of a series of interlocking, flexible hard plastic pieces that bent and moved when the underlying mechanisms did, but gave the strange impression that Veidt was wearing half of a red gauntlet.
"Within a year or so, we should have a synthetic skin to cover it," the doctor said hesitantly. "Until then, however-"
"It's quite all right," Veidt interrupted.
The doctor and his pair of assistants exchanged looks as Veidt lifted his hand to examine it himself. He gave his fingers another experimental bend, and then nodded, apparently satisfied.
"The lack of sensation, however, is most likely permanent," the doctor said quietly.
"I thought it might be. Never mind... there are worse things."
He turned his palm toward himself, ran his left thumb along the flush line where his flesh met the outer shell.
"Gentlemen, you have outdone yourselves. At this rate we'll overtake GeneCo within the year."
"If you need any assistance-"
"I can assure you, I'll be quite all right."
Someone handed him a pen and a slip of paper, and he signed his name as easily as he had before.
"Well done, gentlemen," he said. "Well done."
"Can you try moving it again, sir?"
There was a tiny mechanical whine as artificial muscles flexed and the two new fingers and thumb bent and then straightened again.
"Very good."
The doctor at Veidt's side finished fitting the waterproofing exterior shell over the new digits, and then leaned back to view the result.
Veidt's hand had been effectively divided in half, with everything from the space between the ring and longest fingers over toward the thumb replaced with an experimental bionic implant. The contrast was startling- the implant's outer shell consisted of a series of interlocking, flexible hard plastic pieces that bent and moved when the underlying mechanisms did, but gave the strange impression that Veidt was wearing half of a red gauntlet.
"Within a year or so, we should have a synthetic skin to cover it," the doctor said hesitantly. "Until then, however-"
"It's quite all right," Veidt interrupted.
The doctor and his pair of assistants exchanged looks as Veidt lifted his hand to examine it himself. He gave his fingers another experimental bend, and then nodded, apparently satisfied.
"The lack of sensation, however, is most likely permanent," the doctor said quietly.
"I thought it might be. Never mind... there are worse things."
He turned his palm toward himself, ran his left thumb along the flush line where his flesh met the outer shell.
"Gentlemen, you have outdone yourselves. At this rate we'll overtake GeneCo within the year."
"If you need any assistance-"
"I can assure you, I'll be quite all right."
Someone handed him a pen and a slip of paper, and he signed his name as easily as he had before.
"Well done, gentlemen," he said. "Well done."