Rift 25
It is now one month later
Everyone was in Medical because today was "The Big Day."It was a day Lex had been working hard for for months.
"What can we expect?" Rick asked her as they all watch Lex applying electrical leads to mostly the head of her new body.
"What?" Lex had been so out of it as she worked. This body, except for the darker hair color, looked so much like what she used to look like that she found it a little eerie.
"What can we expect? What do we do if something goes wrong?" Rick and Lex had talked about this but he really wanted the others to understand just what she was risking.
"I'm not really sure. The directions simply tell me what to do. As to what to expect…" she paused for a moment. "Based on when I was transferred from being a hologram in a computer somewhere and into an NS-5 body, I can expect some initial disorientation. So much so that I will most likely not know how to even walk.
"I've gotten so used to being a Robot, as you call it, that it'll take time to figure out how to get my body to do what I want. I'll have to adjust to a completely different set of connections. I might even be blind for a time." Lex was worried about a lot of things. However, with even just the idea of being human again… she wasn't going to allow anything or anyone to stop her. Certainly not her own fears.
"For how long?" Kate was concerned for her.
"Hours, days, weeks, I don't know. Think of it as me being a baby and having to learn what to do. Even to talk. Hopefully the learning curve won't be too steep. I have after all, done all this before." Lex had high hopes that having been human before would help her even if it had been over 3 centuries ago.
"And when something goes wrong?" Kate was still worried for her and by the look on everyone's faces, so were they.
"The body is alive and should stay that way. Nothing's really happening to it. It's all up to me to adapt to being in a biologic again. Either this will work or it won't." It was an all or nothing event.
"Meaning you could…" Kate couldn't finish, plus Alexis was standing next to her. She couldn't say "die."
"Hopefully not." She really did want to live. "Help me, please. You need to remove my chest plate." Lex lay down in the chair next to her body. She'd shown Rick what to do since he had some basic working knowledge of the B-5 units. "Now remove the cover plate." Lex watched Rick work. Once he was done he stepped back so everyone could see. "This is me. The second memory core that has been hidden away all this time."
It was thin, it was flat, and it looked to have ridges that radiated out from a central point. It was also a silvery blue color. "Hand me the cables." Lex accepted each one and attached them to different locations as her stepsister had directed. "Now strap me to the chair." It was part of the directions. She could only guess why.
She was quiet since there was just one thing left, well two things actually. "I need you to turn me off first. This will kill power to my primary memory core and its memory won't bleed into my secondary memory core during the transfer.
Once that's done, simply press that button." Lex nodded at the computer cabinet that was between her and her body that both of them were connected to. If she was being honest with herself, she wanted to be shutdown and strapped to a chair. It meant she couldn't chicken out at the last second.
"Lex?" Kate didn't know what to say. If everything went south it meant she was dying right in front of them.
"I love you, all of you. Never forget that. I've lived a long time and it's been a pleasure, a true pleasure. I wish you luck with finding the right door." Lex closed her eyes and tried not to be frightened. Even if she was.
Except nothing happened so she popped a single eye open and found no one had moved an inch. "Turn me off, please," Lex asked them again only to be surprised when Alexis climbed up on her lap.
Lex was strapped down so she couldn't move. "Lexi? …Luv you." Alexis wrapped her arms around Lex's neck. The little redhead knew something was happening and everyone was far too serious to her liking. What little she understood was that her friend was going somewhere.
"I love you too, Alexis. You're an amazing sister." Rick picked her up and off Lex's lap then handed her over to Kate.
"Ready?" Rick asked.
"Thank you, Richard Castle." If anything went really wrong Lex was hoping the next face she saw was her real father. He managed to do it somehow, so possibly she could, too.
"It has been an honor, Alexis Harper Castle." Rick reached over to the console and turned her off.
Kate walked over to the computer. "Push the button, Alexis." Rick and Kate had talked and Jim had agreed. It should be Alexis who gave Lex new life. It was after all her body, her clone.
"Hit the button, pumpkin." They all watched as Alexis hit the button with all the force a four-year-old could muster.
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Alexis had refused to leave. She had even gone into a full-blown tantrum in an attempt to get her way. She had hit the button and her best friend had never moved again. Her daddy and mommy had tried to get her to see reason. But all that did was get her to physically fight back. She was convinced that hitting the button had done something to her friend. It was all her fault.
Alexis was right where she wanted to be. Rick and Kate had caved in and let her stay. She was all alone in Medical, fighting to keep from going to sleep. Her bodyguard was only a few feet away this time.
Jim, though, was more of a parent than Rick and Kate were used to being. Besides he had experience with little girls having tantrums to get their way. He was sitting just outside Medical and could lean his head to one side just far enough that he could actually see Alexis sitting there. Fighting the good fight to keep from falling asleep. He knew that the second she lost and he was sure she wasn't going to wake up, he was going to pick her up, take her to her parents, and put her into bed. Jim knew her bodyguard wasn't all that far away, either. Although his was out of sight.
Alexis blinked her eyes open and chastised herself for falling asleep. "Lex…is?" That voice had her jumping out of her chair and rushed over to her B-5 friend and looked her over.
"Lex?" Alexis looked her over from head to toe. But her eyes were still closed and she didn't move, even when Alexis reached out to touch her hand that was still strapped down.
"Lex…is," the voice persisted, which only confused her. She looked over at the lady that was lying close by. The lady that until just today had always been in a tank of water. Her eyes were open and Alexis thought that was new. "Lex-is?" This time she saw her lips move. The little girl rushed over to stand next to her. Then she saw her fingers move so Alexis placed her hand on her hand and felt her fingers curl around hers.
The lady said her name once more. "Hi," Alexis replied softly.
Alexis watched her smile back at her. "Hi," she responded just as softly. "Where…mommy?" she suddenly asked.
Alexis grinned, let her hand go and ran for the panel near the open door. She jumped up to hit the panel. "Mommy! Mommy!"
"Alexis! Are you alright, honey? I'll be right there." Kate dropped what she was doing right up to the point when Alexis answered her question.
"Lady's awake, Mommy!" Alexis sounded so very excited and she didn't see her daughter run back to the lady. Nor did she see her dad get up and come running into Medical after he had heard Alexis yell that the lady was awake.
Kate stepped over to a wall panel. "Babe, Alexis says Lex is awake!" Kate started running and never heard Rick respond that he would be right there.
She'd long since learned where most of the rooms were and didn't need the lights to tell her how to get there. She managed to get there before Rick and was a little surprised to find her dad already there. In fact he was holding Alexis and was talking to Lex.
"LEX!" Kate ran up, still breathing heavily since she had sprinted the entire way. She fired off a number of questions. "How are you? How do you feel? How is she, Dad?"
"I think I'm fine," Lex answered with a slightly raspy voice.
"She's still a little drowsy and was slurring her words at first, but she's getting better," Jim said.
"Is it you? I mean all you?" Kate knew the risks of what Lex had done.
Lex was all set to answer when huffing and puffing, Rick came charging into the room. He stopped next to Kate. "Lex! How do you feel?"
"A little dizzy, no pain, can't seem to move much."
"You did warn us that you would need some time, possibly even learn how to walk," Rick reminded her.
She wiggled her fingers and her hand barely rose before setting back down. Kate took her hand and smiled at her. "Give it time, Lex."
Lex tried to make a joke since no one saw her leg move even after she had tried to do just that. "Looks like running a marathon is out."
"We'll have you running laps on the track in no time," Rick assured her.
"Alexis was here alone?"
"She threw a temper tantrum and wouldn't leave." Kate had never seen her act like that and it was unexpected.
"Alexis?" Lex did her best to look at only Alexis.
"Sorry," Alexis said contritely while still in Jim's arms.
Then Jim told everyone his little secret. "She wasn't really alone. I've been camped out just outside the entire time."
"Thanks, Dad." Kate leaned in to kiss his cheek. She took the moment to chastise Alexis. "And you, don't ever do that again. That was not the Alexis I want to ever see again."
"Sorry." Alexis was actually only a little sorry. She had done it because of her friend so she was only a little sorry. "Lex?" Alexis pointed behind Jim at the Lex she knew who still hadn't moved.
Lex had seen it. "I'm here now, Alexis. Put her down please, Jim." He complied and put her down. "Climb up here, sweetie." Neither Rick nor Kate thought it was a good idea, but neither of them said anything to stop her.
"Hi Alexis." She was gratified that she could feel Alexis climb into her lap. Lex concentrated on making her arm move so she could touch her, could hold her. Rick and Kate saw Lex grit her teeth and then watched her arm move slowly till it was holding Alexis. "I'm here now, Alexis," she promised. Then she thought she remembered something. "Did you press the button?"
Alexis nodded. "She hit it pretty hard, actually," Rick boasted.
"That's my girl!" Lex smiled widely, using her arm to try and push Alexis down while doing her best to raise her head. It was just enough to give Alexis a quick kiss.
She relaxed and began crying. "Don't cry." Alexis placed her hand on Lex's face.
"I felt that kiss," Lex told them. "My first in such a very long time. So very long." She found that she couldn't stop them. It had been just as long since she had shed any tears.
Alexis wiped them away. "Don't cry," the little redhead said again.
"Happy tears, Alexis, all happy tears."
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A few days had passed since Lex's transfer. She had begun transitioning from just liquids to a soft diet which would eventually allow her to have solid food. She'd also had electrostimulation of her muscles to help strengthen them in anticipation of being able to soon try standing, then her ultimate goal – walking.
Kate and Jim helped by moving her arms and legs for her to also help strengthen her muscles. She was getting stronger but it was so very frustrating. She wanted to be able to walk NOW, dammit. Not weeks from now.
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Several weeks had passed and Lex was still restricted to Medical. Kate, with or without Alexis, and Jim were taking turns to make sure she stayed there.
"Is it getting better?" Kate inquired as she watched her walking around. It looked pretty good, but Lex had complained a few days ago.
"Some, but it still feels like I'm walking through deep muck. Like a swamp or something. Every move I make is a struggle." Lex intentionally flexed her fingers quickly. "Some things are easy while others are more difficult." She was disheartened. She thought she should be doing better by now.
"You were a B-5 unit, of course you feel different. You have real muscles now, Lex. You're not a robot any longer." Kate could easily see the difference between a human body and a robot body. Hell, her old body was still actually strapped to the very same chair even after all this time.
Lex's face lit up. "That's it!" She started smiling. She was sure she had the answer. "You're a genius, Kate!"
"Thanks… I think. What did I say?" Kate did see what Lex thought she saw.
"Physical therapy. I need physical therapy. Exercises, stretching, weightlifting. Everything that a person would need after trying to recover from a major accident or debilitating illness. Only in my case my muscles have never actually been used. I only just grew them. Help me to the exercise room, please?" Kate quickly found that she was supporting most of Lex's weight. Lex was barely shuffling her feet. It took a little longer than normal to reach it. Fortunately it wasn't all that far and they were able to use the elevator instead of the stairs.
An hour later Rick came into the room and joined his wife. "How's she doing?" Rick asked. They both stood off to one side and watched Lex balancing on a large ball with her arms spread wide as she rocked back and forth on her belly.
"Pretty good actually. She found a physical therapy routine and memorized several of the routines after a few minutes. She's rolled around on the floor, stretching her legs from side to side. She's held a ball and moved it around in front of her in a circle. She's even used these bands that stretch in both hands. She was a little slow at first, but she's getting the hang of it. She's lagging a little, though. Probably getting tired. She's done a lot already." Kate was impressed. As far as she was concerned, Lex had done a lot. If they had bothered to ask Lex she would likely say next to nothing.
"Sounds good. I was thinking of starting dinner and wanted to ask what you wanted." Rick watched as Kate's eyes opened wide as a thought struck her.
"I think it may be time for Lex to start solid food. She hasn't eaten any in centuries."
"Simple, healthy food it is then. See if you can get her to stop soon. I'll be ready in about an hour." Rick leaned in to quickly share a kiss. He straightened up. "We can set up a table here in the exercise room. That way she doesn't have to overtire herself just to eat."
"Where's Alexis?" Kate didn't see her.
"Your dad has her in the pool. Which is another place Lex should be. Swimming is perfect for physical therapy. Water resistance. Maybe we can all hit the pool after eating." He gave her another quick kiss and left the two of them.
It was an hour later and Kate, Rick, Jim, and even Alexis were just sitting there with their food in front of them, watching Lex shovel food into her mouth. "GOD, I'd forgotten how good food could taste," she mumbled with her mouth full. She was holding the fork in her fist, not really using her fingers like normal. Rick recognized it right away. It was how Alexis used to hold her fork when she was younger.
Lex stopped and looked at them watching her. "What?"
"Nothing…nothing at all." Rick started eating which got the other three to slowly start.
They watched as she reached and fumbled, trying to get seconds. She kept shoveling food into her mouth. "Lex, you need to slow down. You're going to make yourself sick. And you're going to need to go on a diet if you keep this up," Kate warned her. "A moment on the lips, forever on the hips."
She stopped, her fork poised to take another bite. Then she set it down. "You're right. I'm going to need to learn willpower all over again." She lamented the trials in store for her.
"I need to relearn a lot of things. Remember to drink water, remember to exercise, remember to use… tampons. I don't have any clothes. Where did you get these?" She gestured at the clothes she was wearing.
"Those mostly belonged to the wife of first lieutenant Micael Speight," Rick said.
"Your bra and panties are from Janice Allen while your shoes were Professor Hicks'." Kate also told her they'd had to mix and match to get what she was wearing.
Lex started chuckling. "I need a bedroom; I want to take a bath..." There were so many things she needed to get used to doing again.
Rick smiled. "Already taken care of. We'll start moving clothes, shoes, and other things around to fill your room after dinner."
"Including makeup and other stuff." Kate grinned, remembering what Lex the robot had slipped into her clothes she had left her when Kate and her father had been brought onboard.
Rick, Kate, Jim, and Alexis escorted her to her room they had chosen for her. Each was carrying a variety of things for her that they set on the dresser to make things easier for her. Rick, it had turned out, had to carry her when her legs gave out after barely making it out of the exercise room.
"We'll get you more tomorrow, but this should do you for now," he told her. "And I expect to find you in medical tomorrow for a complete physical. I'll let Kate handle the more…delicate areas." He began blushing which Lex found amusing.
"Thanks guys." She started feeling tears well up. She had friends and she was human again.