Chapter Seventy-One – Progress

Mai stretched with a wince, bending over all the way to touch her toes. Naru stood beside her in case she needed him, but he was relaxed. It had been over six months and Mai was very much healed. She was still in some pain around the cybernetic spine patch. A few inches of her own spine had been replaced with an android replica. She didn't know how Kamski had made it work, but somehow it was running on her body heat and blood flow. The spine was connecting her brainstem and nervous system, and the damaged ends had been replaced by nanites. It was an experimental procedure at best, but it was working well.

"Are you ready to go?" Naru asked patiently as Mai slipped into some indoor slippers. They were going for a walk around the inner garden. It was hard to believe all of this existed beneath the Kamski estate. It was like there was a whole Cyberlife lab down there. Correction, this is a Cyberlife lab. She thought as she took the hand Naru offered her. He linked their fingers and guided her down the corridor.

"When do you think we'll be leaving?" Mai asked curiously as they headed into the garden. Everything inside was artificial, down to the sunlight from above. The breeze was synthesised too, though it felt real enough as it tossed Mai's honey locks. Naru was hesitant to answer. He didn't really know himself.

Since arriving they had been mostly left to their own devices. Kamski had come to see them a handful of times, mostly to ask Mai questions and collect data. A nurse android checked on them twice a day to bring food and take readings. The Chloe android had come in a few times to make sure they were comfortable. Aside from that there had been no news. No one had given them any details about what was happening above ground, or told them about Mai's condition or anything. They only knew they were allowed to walk around because no one had tried to stop them.

"I don't know…Your physical recovery seems to be in the final stages. Perhaps if the pain lessens a little more?" He suggested, knowing that the medication Mai was taking was still a high dosage. She nodded her agreement and reached for the back of her neck self-consciously. She could feel the smooth plastic beneath her fingers. It was neat, the way her skin sat around the edges. She had no idea how it was possible, but the skin was sealed to the plastic as if it were a part of her body. It was now a part of her body. She didn't want to think about what would happen if it shorted out or got damaged.

"Maybe…What if the pain is permanent though?" She asked, something she'd been trying not to dwell on. Naru's brow pinched at the suggestion. It was something he'd also considered. The pain had lessened somewhat since Mai had first awoken, but the continuous throb was there, and that was with painkillers. It would likely be unbearable without the relief. Mai still woke in the night sometimes, screaming until Naru pulled her into his arms and replenished the pain medication for her.

"I…hope that isn't the case." He replied, unable to offer any assurance. He wasn't a doctor. They sat on the edge of an artificial stream, more like a huge circular pond. Mai slipped her shoes off and dipped her feet in the water, enjoying the coolness. She smiled as a large golden fish swam up and butted her toes. Naru crossed his legs as he watched the fish. "Either way, we should ask someone soon, we can't remain indefinitely." He added, watching Mai nod. If it weren't for the nurse coming and going she would think they'd been forgotten.

"Will you stay with me? Even after we leave?" Mai asked hesitantly as she looked at her hands, toying with her fingers on her lap. She felt Naru's attention on her, piercing blue eyes examining her for her reaction.

"Of course…I intend to remain at your side for as long as you'll have me…If you don't want me to." Naru suggested hesitantly, relieved as Mai turned to face him and gripped his sleeve tightly. His expression softened at the way her hazel eyes showed her deepest desires. For as long as he could remember she'd never been able to hide her feelings. Right now her eyes screamed that she needed him, that she was scared and uncertain. He rested his hand on hers assuringly.

"I-I don't want you to leave, but I know you're quite new…I'm not special, and after a while you might realise you can do a lot better than plain-Jane running a coffee shop." She added in an annoyingly self-deprecating tone. She looked away from Naru's frown, and way he tilted his head as if he didn't understand. "You're probably not even a year old yet, you've got a lot of living to do before you get…tied down." She continued, watching Naru nod his cautious agreement.

"I am a little over a year old at this point, and you are correct. There is much I need to experience, but…I would very much like to gain those experiences with you." He confessed, enjoying the way Mai's cheeks flushed pink at his words. Her reactions never tired him. She was almost hesitant as she leaned a little closer, her shoulder barely brushing his. He slipped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer, until her head was leaning on his shoulder. He closed his eyes and rested his head on hers, enjoying her warmth.

"Are you sure you weren't secretly one of those domestic boyfriend models?" Mai teased lightly.

"Positive…This is a special program I compiled just for you." He insisted in a serious tone, smirking as he felt Mai huff her amusement. He idly fingered the light white cotton of her dress, clothing that had been provided for her by the hospital. I suppose this place is a hospital of sorts…Naru thought, though he knew it functioned more as a science lab. It seemed rooms had been set up and altered especially to deal with their human patients, or rather patient. The other person, an android, seemed to have moved up into the main house.

"Sorry to interrupt…" A familiar voice apologised, the pair looking behind to see Kamski standing there with his hands in his pockets. "I've been reviewing your progress, please, step into my lab." The older man invited as he gestured towards the exit. Naru didn't really feel it was an invitation, more an expectation that they'd do it. Mai allowed Naru to help her up, wincing at the effort before slipping into her shoes.

Kamski wasn't exactly imposing, nor was he intimidating in the physical sense. He was arrogant, Naru knew that much, and a little self-absorbed from what he'd seen of the place. He was stamped all over it. It was his eyes that got to Naru though, the steely gaze that slowly worked on picking you apart circuit by circuit. The man was never more focused than when he was in front of a machine. Unfortunately that now extended to Mai as well.

"You've mentioned pain. Could you describe it for me?" He asked as he had Mai sit up on an examination table. He remained in front of her for now, his undivided attention upon her. Mai thought about it carefully, thinking how she could word it.

"It's like…a sharp stab…It can happen around the edges of the skin, but I also get it inside…only sharper and thinner, like a string shooting through my spine…I also get this aching throb right here, at the base of my skull." She replied timidly, reaching over her shoulder to touch the very top of her spine. Kamski nodded thoughtfully, his expression giving nothing away. He turned over her words before slipping a finger into the collar of the gown and tugging it lightly.

"May I?" He asked, proceeding to step around to Mai's back and untie the strings at the neck. He opened the back of the gown, but didn't need to push it down. He was gentle as he teased and fingered the warm human flesh. He pressed, feeling the firm plastic beneath. There was no give in it. This was a solid plastic spine replacement that had been seared to her real spine. It wasn't made to move, although the sections allowed it to twist and shift as a real spine would. "Alright, everything feels fine…Your latest x-rays are promising. Your body has started to fully accept and integrate the new spine. Your nervous system may take a little more time to adapt, hence the pain. I want you to keep a record of it over the next few weeks, just to make sure the pain level is decreasing." He added as he looked across at Naru. Androids were excellent for keeping records, so he had no doubt the NA200 was up to the task.

"How often? And what scale?" Naru asked dutifully.

"Perhaps four or five times a day, and that I will leave to you. You could have her describe the pain, or assign the pain levels a number. So long as your method remains consistent it shouldn't be an issue." The scientist replied, almost able to see how that unit was thinking. Right now, behind the NA200's eyes, it would be opening notes, looking up scales, and planning a schedule. Its LED flickered yellow as it worked on the problem quickly. "And make sure her pain medication remains consistent. Any changes will affect her pain scale." The human added, although Naru had already taken that into consideration. As Kamski watched the android and human interact he was amazed. To think his own creations could inspire such trust and affection in some humans. It was rather humbling. Thinking of affection and androids, he realised he'd meant to speak to Chloe about progress on redesigning the Cyberlife business model.