Just an author's note here! I appreciate the feedback, but please keep anything... overly critical to yourself. I do possess knowledge of grammar, so that's not really the kind of feedback I need/want. Also, to a certain reviewer, please note that Colress is not a doctor. He does not know everything that our modern specialised doctors will know. Lastly, I realise the sexist thing was a bit random, and I apologise. Writer's block produces some strange sentences.
"Just get it over with... whatever your name is," Cynthia said in a bored manner.
"It's Colress," I replied, "I only tell you this because I want you to know my name in the event that this experiment goes... downhill."
She frowned, understanding more or less what I meant.
"Let's hope it doesn't," she said, "At this point, I want to see what happens. You've intrigued me."
I raised an eyebrow. This isn't quite what I expected. Despite my surprise, I didn't pause for more than a few seconds. With wings and scalpel in hand, I flicked on the medical light above the table where Cythnia was tied down. It lit up only the centre of the room, revealing protruding edges and jars to play with the imagination. Shattered glass was piled in ominously in the corner.
"Now we can begin," I announced, probably louder than necessary.
"What are you going to do? Blind me to death?" Cynthia asked sarcastically.
"Funny Cythnia. No, this was the only bulb I had," I replied, "I've been out of money for a while."
"How'd you get the Vivillion, then? Don't tell me you traded away one of your precious Pokémon."
"I'll just say that I currently owe someone quite a bit of money."
She laughed a little bit.
"Who doesn't these days?"
This earned a bit of a smile from me, but it faded as a bit of a realisation hit me. Someone might come looking for the former Champion. I couldn't believe that I of all people hadn't been careful enough. At this point, the only way to know would be to ask her, and I couldn't imagine why she would tell me the truth.
"You said you were on vacation," I said, "Were you with anyone?"
"What's with this sudden concern for my social affairs?" Cynthia replied.
She gave me a strange look when she said this. It seemed to be full of many things, but mostly fear and confusion. Sarcasm must be her way of dealing with it. I mentally took note of this, expecting that it might be useful later if the experiment succeeds.
"Anyway, why would I tell you anything?" She asked.
I slammed my hands on the table.
"Quit stalling, Cynthia! I need answers, and I need them right now. I can't do this if someone is wondering where you are!"
I inhaled sharply, knowing I had screwed up. She would have no reason to tell me the truth, not now.
"I'll tell you," she said to my surprise, "If you tell me one thing."
"Damn it! What do you want to know?"
My anger was beginning to surface, which hadn't happened for years. She sure had a way of getting under my skin.
"Calm down, Colress. I just want to know what kind of science you do."
My anger dissipated almost instantly. No one had ever cared to ask me that before.
"It's mostly mechanical and electrical engineering, actually. I did a little bit of biology in school, but not much. I wish I had done more. I loved it so much."
My whole body had relaxed, and so had hers. This was perfect, as I had just remembered from my biology course that a flood of adrenaline was bad when it came to experimental surgery. Unfortunately, I couldn't remember how long it took the adrenaline to drain from the body, so I would either have to keep her relaxed by chatting, or I would just have to risk failure. Any normal person likely would have picked the first option, but I was in a unique situation. I was low on both money and time, meaning I just had to finish this as soon as possible.
"So, is anyone with you?" I asked coolly.
"Yes," she replied, equally coolly, "Another Champion. But he won't be back for a long time."
My eyebrow practically raised itself this time. However, as intrigued as I was, I had to proceed right then and there.
"Now, Cynthia. Just close your eyes and relax. I promise this won't take too long."
At this point, it looked like the reality of the situation had finally sunken in for her. This was going to happen, and there was no way out of it. With what appeared to be a feeling of loss and despair that she was no doubt unused to, she closed her eyes.
Carefully, I set down the pair of Vivillion wings and my scalpel and readied a pair of scissors. With one hand, I pushed down gently on Cythnia's back. With the other, I began to cut away the clothing around her upper back and shoulder blades. This was also done with care, as I had no wish to expose her in any unfit way. I wasn't a monster.
The soft black fabric came away with surprising ease, leaving a properly large patch of skin exposed for the procedure. After disposing of the patch I had cut off, I grabbed a roll of plastic and a roll of duct tape. I was no doctor, so I decided to go about this much in the same way as one would paint a machine. Over the fabric of her shirt, I placed the plastic in a sheet and cut out a hole in the same shape and size as the exposed skin. I taped it down with the duct tape, and then I was ready. I could begin the procedure now that the blood wouldn't go everywhere.
I picked up both the scalpel and the pair of wings once again, and I began to proceed with the experiment.