Chrome Symphony - Chapter 2

Renk and Atlas helped Duncan up and they followed Jess, Shell, and Elise.

Walking a few blocks from the bar, Elise directed them down a long alley way to an odd-looking extension of one of the buildings. Inside, there was a long staircase leading two stories underground to yet another heavy looking door.

"This is going to be a little rough," Renk told Duncan as they hobbled down the stairs carefully. Once they reached the bottom, Elise must have signaled someone inside because the door opened for them.

Inside was a state-of-the-art facility. "THIS is a street doctor's lab?" Renk asked. "It's one hell of a setup. Honestly, it rivals the ones we have in..." Renk stopped himself from divulging too much information. It was clear, however, that he was impressed.

After Elise and the doctor spoke for a few minutes, one of the doctor's assistants looked at Renk's minor injuries and stitched up one of his wounds and applied fresh bandages.

Duncan and Shell sat in the maintenance seats and began discussing upgrade / replacement options with the doctor's cybernetics technicians.

"Looks like you have good connections in the underground," Atlas said to Elise as he waited for the others to finish their treatments. The technicians had already started to remove Duncan's busted leg and fit a newer, more modern leg. He was starting to look a little less like a museum exhibit.

"Duncan's going to look less like an archaeological dig brought back to life," he said, chuckling.

It looks like these people work hard trying to survive, even without the blessing of the government. Atlas remembered how helpless the people were as they tried to migrate to space. His squadron five years ago inadvertently trapped a large group of illegal migrants in a space shuttle as a fuel tank exploded, killing them. The memory was one he tried to forget. Seeing people in the underground helping each other reminded him of their humanity.

Atlas sat down. "I'm reminded of why I respect street doctors so much," he commented to Elise.

"Anyone with a legitimate degree or two who can actually do this sort of s*** deserves respect," Elise replied. "Of course, Dr. Uzuki's got some...funny hobbies, which is probably part of why she's got this little family business. Let's just say that android receptionists aren't usually all dolled up without some sort of reason." Though in this case, the reason was probably that the doc enjoyed treating her android as a giant doll. It wouldn't stop Elise from giving her a hard time about it, though.

"Anyway, your people are in good hands. It's a solid clinic, and the Doc used to do a hell of a lot of cybernetics work with Vector, before things went sour and she skipped out with her killer robot there." She gestured to the same android manning the receptionist desk, dressed in some very fancy frilly clothes.

"Anyhow, shouldn't be too long before everyone's fixed up, unless they're really got to go under for some major work. Which, outside of that knee, I'm not sure was much of an issue to begin with." Elise shrugged. "After that, well, it's up to the lady with the money, now isn't it," she asked Jess.

"Whatever you people need, within reason. I'm not paying for solid gold cybernetic limbs or anything like that, but make sure you get fixed up so that you're potentially combat-ready," Jess replied to Elise.

Jess walked over to Duncan. "Especially you, old fella. I'm going to need you able to run and jump, so make sure you're feeling like a spring chicken before we leave this place."

Jess then walked over to talk to the doctor. "As long as your rates are reasonable, please give these people the best treatments. I'm counting on their ability to help me."

The doctor responded, "Sure, Miss, my rates are reasonable but I'm not the cheapest in town. Elise doesn't associate with cut-rate doctors."

Jess nodded. "Let's keep this on the low: I'm the daughter of the head of Crest corporation. Do a good job and... let's just say you're going to benefit in a big way. My father's life is on the line, after all."

She noticed the doctor's facial expression change to a mixture of enthusiasm and nervousness. Jess added, "I can tell you have a good operation going on, here, so I'm willing to put my faith in you. Mostly everyone else in the underground has failed me but I have a hunch here."

Jess went back to her seat and waited patiently. When the work was done, Duncan and Shell had been fitted with new, state-of-the-art limbs and were trying them out. Renk also walked out of the room in which he was treated.

"Feeling better, Reggie?" Jess asked him.

"That's Renk, Miss Price," he responded.

"Oh, yeah, right."

She walked over to Duncan, who was doing some test exercises. "One more thing, Mr. Sorenson," she said to him. "Give me that cloak of yours."

"Huh? Well, sure, here you go," Duncan responded.

Jess took a needle and thread out of her pocket. She sat down and repaired the tattered cape.

"Here, now it's much better," said Jess, handing the cloak back to Duncan. "This should hold up for the time being."

She eyed the group, now back in good condition. "Everybody good to go?" she asked as she paid the bill at the front desk.

"The bill isn't breaking the bank," she told them. "Still, I'm going to expect you all to earn it."

Duncan tested his new hardware. Both of his legs had been swapped out along with his forearms and hands. The old hardware had been locking up from time to time and, after the blast in the storm sewer that morning, his old left knee would no longer function. Now he could do cartwheels.

"This is amazing!" he exclaimed. "I haven't had this kind of mobility since I was 40!"

Inspecting his newly-patched cloak, Duncan noticed that it was still dirty from that morning's activities. "Thanks, Miss Price. I should still get this thing washed soon."

Duncan walked over to Shell, who was also testing out her new hardware. She was twirling around and performing various martial arts moves, giggling with delight.

"Enjoying your new gear?" he asked Shell.

"It's so light!" she replied. "I feel a lot stronger, too."

Shell took a few playful jabs toward Duncan, testing his reflexes. "Ah! A little sparring should be in order. How about we go outside and try a few things, just for fun?" he asked her.