Upgrade [edit]

Upgrade

By Scott Keith Hess

An event in the history of The Bleeding Roses

Rain, on a day like today, it just had to rain.  School was out, and I was on my way to get an upgrade.  Earlier, Dad had said that he had a surprise waiting for me at the hospital, a shiny new set of parts, cutting edge he’d said.

"Anna!" I stopped walking and turned around, only to see Tesla running towards me.

"Wait up," Tesla gasped, as she stopped beside me to catch her breath.

"Whats up Tes?" I shifted my shoulder as the bag I was carrying started to slip from it.

"Can I go with you? I want to see you get your upgrade," Tesla was looking to major in cybernetics, much like my dad had.  She would want to talk to him too, geek out about the advances in cybernetics, and the roles that they, as doctors and technicians, play.

"As long as you don’t spam the web with what upgrade I got, 'OMG a DIY kit, liek totally lame powers o.O'," I didn't need the people at school freaking out about what brand I get.

"You know me, I'm a wall," she mock flexed, and made that look, the one that was a total liar’s face.  I knew very well that Tes was completely unable to keep a secret.  I was convinced that it wasn’t in her genetic makeup.

"A wall?” I returned her face with my face, the one that meant, ‘I’ve known you too long for that to work,’ “Whats it made of, croutons?" Tesla just looked at me.  It was uncanny, Tes’ ability to actually show emotion on her face as the emoticons she so loved, right now, "XD" was plastered all over it.  Obviously I let her come along regardless, she was my best friend, there really wasn’t even a doubt that she would stay behind.  Tesla practically floated along behind me as we walked through the parking lot.  If she had been a dog, I was certain that she would have flown away into the stratosphere due to the energy of her tail wagging.  That, or her ass would have lit on fire.

As we walked, I wondered how well she would handle riding with me again.  Last time she had almost puked in her helmet.  As my bike came into view, I turned to see the look on her face, as I’d hoped, it was priceless. Her face went pale as the blood drained from it, right into the pit of her stomach, I was sure.  I on the other hand, felt amazing.  The simple knowledge that I was getting rid of these awful medical prosthetics made me feel like cooling fluid was circulating through every vein.  Dad said these new parts would be more responsive, but really, what I was most excited about was the new look.  The sterile, rounded parts of the hospital tech was boring, and didn’t match anything I wore. The sky-blue frame and green rubber-covered joints meant that every shirt I owned was long sleeved.

My bike was big, very big.  Dad wouldn’t let me buy one unless it was a tank, and had me change over to mid-grade Grinder-pilot rated cybernetics, not a lot mind you, only what it would take to be able to ride the bike with improved performance.  The synchronization with the bike that the Grinder parts gave me, allowed me to better balance while riding, and in all, ride with more efficiency.  Most people who tagged along for the ride ended up sick, but if they could only see things the way I did, they would understand me better.

I unlocked the bike’s saddle bags and donned my jacket and helmet.   Tesla just stood there, already looking a bit queasy.  I handed her my extra helmet and she put it on as slow as she could.  Before getting on my steed, I pull the cable from its instrument panel, and run it to the connection on my neck.  Syncing with my bike changed things, the way I felt, the way I saw, the way I experienced and perceived the world around me.  It felt like I had been pulled into a lucid dream, my body began to feel numb as I took my position.

"Alright, lets go Tes," she hesitated, standing firmly on the safety of the paved ground, but soon slid onto the seat behind me, gripping me like I was a pillar of safety in a storm, holding on for her life.  All there was to do was punch it, and the bike pulled out of the quickly emptying University parking lot, and hit the freeway.

We arrived at the hospital in record time, for some reason the streets weren’t as cluttered as I was used to them being.  We parked in the underground garage, and took the elevators to level seven of the hospital, cybernetics and prosthesis.  The floor was extremely active, everything happening at once, all hanging in a delicate frenzy.  It seemed to me to be much like carefully synchronized dominos, moving together, but never touching, fragile enough that if even one person slipped, beautiful, and terrible chaos would ensue.

"Oh, why hello Anna," it was Barbara, the receptionist, who woke me from my thoughts.  She had looked up from her monitor to see Tes and I standing at the mouth of the elevator, my friend still searching for her land legs.  Barbara smiled softly, as she was apt to do, as we walked to her desk.

"Looking for your father are we?" she asked, her voice was sweet, and comforting.

"Yeah, I'm getting my upgrades today," I responded, I felt myself swelling with pride at the thought.  The happiness was almost more than I could handle, and it showed in my smile.

"Oh, well good for you,” from anybody else I wouldn’t have believed they really cared, but Barbara was different, I knew that she was really happy for me, “You'll be surprised when you see what they look like, you’re really in for a treat!" she smiled as if she were keeping a big secret.  It made my anticipation that much greater.

"Your father, Dr. Nicholas is in the middle of a big project at the moment, but his break is coming up soon.  We'll start you in room 706, down the hallway on the left" she stood from her seat and held my hand, though the gesture was kind, it was lost in the prosthetic somewhere along the way.

"Remember, if you and your father ever need anything, I'm always here for you," It was just Barbara being Barbara, but I was tired of the ‘in need of sympathy,’ image I somehow emanated everywhere I went.  It had been years, but no matter what I did, I could never seem to adequately express the fact that I could very well take care of myself.

"Thanks Barbara," I said, rolling my eyes, the tone and manner expressing that I was upset by the show of sympathy for me.  Barbara, ever kind-hearted, simply smiled her soft smile, and took her seat once more.  Tesla and I strolled our way over to the room, and tussled a bit over who got the comfortable seat in which to wait for my dad, I lost, and ended up sitting on paper covered examination bed, which crunched every time I moved.  It wasn’t long before the door opened, and my father walked in, seriously considering a clipboard.

"It’s... cancer.  I'm afraid, we'll... have to remove the head," he said, looking up to grin at me as he shut the door behind him.

"Oh Dad, think your a funny guy huh?" Dad smiled at me, his cheerful demeanor slipping only a notch, and only showing for a moment, when he saw that Tesla had tagged along.

"Why hello Tesla, would you mind terribly if I asked you to wait outside for a bit," Tesla sprung from her seat and headed for the door.

"Nope, not at all Dr. Black, as long as I can get in on Anna's procedure!" I rolled my eyes and leaned away, my futile attempt at hiding, Dad looked over at me, and I nodded in acceptance.

"How about a front row seat,” Dad smiled, warily this time, “we'll hold it for you in the theater." Tesla bounced on her heels, giddy with excitement, before practically flying out the door in obedience.  Dad sat down across from me, he looked exhausted.  He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes and the bridge of his nose with his forefinger and thumb, a clear sign he was frustrated.

"You okay Dad?" I ventured, stretching my metal limb out to him and letting him grasp it, his grip firm, though my metal hand couldn’t feel it.

"It’s this project Anna, its kicking my ass.  I've told you about my work, most of it you shouldn't know.  But this..." he slumped his back, and exhaled deeply.  Whatever it was that he was working on, it was beating him up.  Inside and out.

"I love you Anna," he looked at me, his face was both stern, and soft.  It was open, and showed some of the sadness that he kept inside. It was the face he made when he was serious.

"I know Dad." I said.  Softly squeezing his hand with my own.

"This one is a girl, she's... so young, so frail looking.  Marcus just sees her as a platform for scientific progress, a new set of parts to work with.  We’re... we're turning her into a machine, a monster, and... I'm part of the development," I spotted a tear on his face, I wrestled my hand from his and wiped it away, unable to feel the rough stubble beginning to cover his face, it was longer than I knew he liked it.  Another sign of his physical and mental stress.  I got off the bed and sat next to him.

"She's younger than you, I cant even imagine what life she lived before she got here, and I’ve tried as hard as I can not to imagine what life she could have lived had she had the chance to."  He breathed deeply as he spoke, and raised himself up to lean backwards in his chair, his hand once again moved to his eyes.

"Where is she Dad? Can I see her?" I wanted to try and better understand it all.  Better support him.  After all, he was all I had as far as family.  He had always been there for me, always smiling.  I tried to smile now.

"Her torso is complete,” he sighed, and sat up, “her arms are done, down to the elbow right now.” turning to me, I saw the decision made through his eyes.  “Once your upgrades are complete, and the physical therapy is dealt with, she'll be done, then I’ll let you meet her." He had regained his composure now, he set his glasses back into place, as well as his business face.

"I'm sorry my darling, but I won’t be able to oversee your upgrade this time.  This project is too high a priority for any of us to take on other work until it’s completed.  I’m sorry, the project began on very short notice, I wasn’t able to receive leave.  I'm leaving you in Vincents hands, you know Vincent, he’ll do good work." I didn’t like the idea of Dad not doing my work but this didn’t seem like something I could argue with him over.

"If you have to,” I felt disheartened, and looked away for a moment.

"I do, the only other option would be to postpone the upgrade.” Dad knew what my response would be.

"Yeah,” I smiled at him, “That’s so not happening. Oh yeah! Barbara said that you have a big surprise for me," he smiled.  Standing, he walked to the room’s counter, and pulled a large metal briefcase out of the cabinet.  My heart was beating hard, he turned it around.  The case read 'Dark Blood Works: Model 88 "Stampede"’ My organs almost jumped out of my throat, it was the exact model that I wanted.  It was childish, but I still jumped for joy, hugging my father, maybe a little too tight, as he quickly set the parts down on the counter.  Seconds later Tesla barged in, no doubt because of the shouts of joy and thank yous that were streaming from my mouth, and joined in the celebration, but not before sending out a mass message.  The nurse entered the room amid the din, likely unsure of what to do

"Um, Dr. Black, we're ready for your daughter now," she decided to interject.  Having to raise her voice a bit and knock on the already open door.

My dad was the only one to notice the nurse, and responded, "Thank you nurse.” embarrassed, I let go of my father, so that he could continue to speak to the nurse.  He gestured at Tes, and adjusted his glasses in one fell swoop. “This is Tesla Watchman, she would like to observe the operation.  Be sure to let Vincent know." The Nurse nodded her understanding and escorted Tesla and me out.  I gave my dad another quick hug before leaving the room.  

Me and Tesla spoke as we made our way to the operating room, not about anything specific, just random chatter, things from school, fashions, thoughts.  Eventually we turned down a hall which was much less trafficked, a single woman stood in the hallway, waiting outside a closed door with one of those indoor cigarettes, the end was glowing a light purple.  She was dangerously twirling a knife between her hands, stopping to admire the weapon now and again before continuing to pass it gracefully through her fingers, and between hands.  As we walked past her, time seemed to slow. She looked me straight in the eyes, there was a break in our contact as her knife passed into view obscuring her eyes.  For what seemed to count into minutes, all I could see was her silver hair, with hints of yellow and green reflected from the lights.  When our eyes met again, Tesla nudged me.

"Hey are you even listening to me?" she whined?  Feeling under-appreciated for the falling of some story of hers on deaf ears.

"Oh, sorry Tes, Daydreaming I guess," I looked back and heard a faint call from the room the woman was guarding.

"Ed, c'mere please," the voice called, the woman deftly slipped the knife away, making it seem like it simply disappeared between passes, and left the hallway.  

We soon made it to the operating room and I changed into the medical gown which was set out for me.  Afterwards, I simply stood, looking at my reflection.  Both legs, an arm, most of my internal organs, a single eye, and my ears, all of them made from plastic and metal. I held my prosthetic arm out, if I concentrated hard enough I could make it stand still.  If I ever forgot, it would twitch a little, sometimes when it left my mind completely it would have a tendency to more than just twitch, ranging from a gentle nudge, to a full swing of the arm, or a kick.  Part of it could be blamed on Tes, part on myself, for letting her experiment on occasion, it didn’t make the already finicky parts better.  All the sleep I'd lost because of it all.  After this my insomnia will be a thing of the past.  There was a knock on the door, as well as an announcement.  It was an announcement which I was certain heralded the beginning of my new life.

"We're all set to begin."