Ren was surprised with how seriously Viktor took his request for apprenticeship. At first he assumed that he would be apprentice in name and nothing more; an empty title to make him feel content. But early the next morning, Viktor had sent Mary and Percy to drop off a sizable stack of books at his room. There were books on engineering, mechanical maintenance, chem-tech, hex-tech, and human anatomy. It was all more than a bit overwhelming, but luckily Viktor had included a note detailing which chapters to read from which books and in what order to read them in.

Additionally, Viktor had requested that Ren be present anytime he was augmenting someone. That arrangement however, didn't last long, as every time Ren watched an amputation, he went as pale as a sheet. Viktor allowed him to sit out of the more intensive operations (for now) but still demanded that Ren observe any work on upgrading existing augmentations. Ren agreed and, before he knew it, Viktor was having him assist in certain aspects of his medical work, such as administering injections, cleaning the equipment, and stitching up surgical cuts.

Between trying to make a heroic name for himself, the observations, and reading, Ren found that he had lost most of his free time, but also that he also didn't mind it too much. He accepted the challenge and reveled in it. The education Viktor was offering him was greater than anything he could have afforded in his old life. He was determined not squander the opportunity fate had provided him.

Two weeks after his apprenticeship had begun, Viktor called Ren into the operating room. A man with both his legs replaced by augmentations sat up on the operating table. Ren had assumed that Viktor had summoned him to observe another procedure, but much to his surprise, that was not the case.

"What are you doing today?" Ren asked, "Small updates? Replacing one leg? Both?"

"None of those things," Viktor answered.

"None? Alright, then what?"

"Observing."

"Observing?"

Then a realization hit Ren.

"Oh," the boy sighed, "Oh, no. Really? I don't think I'm as ready as you think I am, Doc."

"I believe you are more capable than you assess yourself to be. You now perform the majority of your own augmentations maintenance, do you not?"

Ren nodded.

"His augmentations are not as complex as yours is," Viktor continued, "If you are able to repair your leg, you are able to repair his. I will also be watching closely. If I believe you are going to injure him or compromise his augmentations, I will step in. Does that ease your nerves?"

"Only a little."

Now it was the man on the table's turn to voice his unease.

"I thought I was getting legs tuned up by you," he said, "not some untrained kid."

"He is trained," Viktor retorted, "by me, which is better than if he went to any academy here in Zaun. Furthermore, I am not asking for monetary payment for this procedure. Your payment will be allowing my apprentice to practice on you."

"Alright, I guess," the man grumbled.

"Hey, for what it's worth, I got this thing because I couldn't pay him either," Ren said as he offered a weak smile and lifted his own augmented leg.

Ren's patient said nothing. He just let out a sigh and reclined back onto the table.

"He does not need any anesthetics for the first half of the procedure," Viktor informed Ren, "so we will begin when you are ready."

"Crystal. So, what exactly am I doing?"

The man on the table let out a frustrated groan.

"You are replacing both of his augmentations with my creations," Viktor instructed, "his sockets will need to be modified to accommodate them and you will need to ensure that the nerves, muscles, and wires all connect appropriately."

"Oh, is that all," Ren commented nervously.

"Yes," Viktor replied, "that is all. You will find the augmentations on my workbench."

Ren put on his most charming smile and turned to his patient.

"Just relax," he said, "I'll be with you in a moment."

He scurried over the workbench and picked up one of Viktor's augmentations. He turned it over in his hands, both to examine the machinery and put off dealing with the patient. But as he dawdled, a sense of calm came over him. The design of the augmentation was familiar to him.

"These aren't too different from what I've got," he commented, "a little bit simpler and less fiery, so less cool, but they're close."

"That is because they are based off your augmentation," Viktor informed, "this version was designed for accessibility. It will provide its wearer with the improved balance and mobility of the Project: N limb, but without any of the combustion aspects that may prove dangerous, and costly, for the average Zaun citizen."

"So in less wordy words, a leg for the people?"

"That is one way to put it."

"Crystal."

With renewed determination, Ren returned to the operating table. Beside him, he pulled the rolling cart carrying the tools and machinery he would need for the procedure. He looked over his patient's legs.

"These look like they run off a chem-battery," he said, "have you shut them off?"

The man on the table nodded.

"Excellent," Ren said, "this should be over quickly then."

Ren reached down and began removing the old augmentations. After having grown accustom to how lightweight his own limb was, Ren was surprised by how heavy his patient's were. The weight did appear to have its benefits though, as the legs were in surprisingly good condition. There were a few dents and scratches, but not much more beyond that. Ren knew this came at a cost though. With as much care as he could, he pulled back the pants near the socket to reveal the skin above. Ren restrained himself from wincing at the sight. The skin was purple and bruised and it was likely that the heavy augmentations had caused the man considerable discomfort daily. But after today, that wouldn't be the case anymore.

In confident silence, Ren worked on his patient. He knew how the socket would need to look to accommodate Viktor's design since it was nearly identical to his. The procedure continued without incident, just as Viktor expected it would, and soon the sockets were ready for their new legs. Before attaching them, Ren gave the new augmentations a final examination. Everything moved as it was supposed to, they were clean and sterile, and Viktor's maker's mark was stamped at their base. Yes, everything was as it should be.

Without further hesitation, Ren connected the limbs. A small smile graced Ren's lips are he saw the knees and ankles twitch as they connected with the wiring. He was about to declare his work a job well done, but he felt Viktor's hand at his shoulder.

"Did I do something wrong?" he asked.

Viktor shook his head.

"No," the scientist responded, "but I do not believe you are finished. The augmentations are connected, yes, but why stop with simply replacing the legs when the connections with his muscles and nerves can be improved as well?"

He handed Ren a surgical mask and a set of gloves. The boy's eyes went wide.

"I didn't think I would be doing any of the cutting," he stammered.

"Not yet," Viktor corrected, "go, sterilize yourself. I will open the location behind the socket and disconnect the previous wiring, but you will aid me in attaching the new wiring."

"Oh, okay, Doc. If that's what you think is best."

"It is."

Ren put his brave face back on before looking at his patient again. The expression on the man's face told him that, though Viktor believed Ren's aid was the right choice, he clearly did not agree. But, he bit his lips and kept quiet so as not to jeopardize his free upgrade. Even without any doubtful words, the man's expression was enough to make Ren's confidence evaporate.

He shuffled his way over to the room's sink and vigorously scrubbed his arms. In the background, he could hear Viktor speaking to the patient, checking to make sure that the area around his sockets were numbed from the local anesthetic and explaining what it was that he and Ren would be doing. Ren let out a deep sigh before putting on the gloves and mask.

"You're not doing the actual slicing. Relax," Ren tried to reason with himself,"The Doc wouldn't let you do this unless he knew it was something you could do. Or it was something he knew he could fix if you screwed it up. Ugh, just calm down. The first part was easier than you thought. Why shouldn't this be?"

Returning to Viktor's side, Ren saw that his mentor had already cut into the skin at the base of the socket. He beckoned Ren closer. As Ren peered over his shoulder, Viktor explained in detail what he was doing and why. Viktor made it all look so easy.

When the old machinery had been removed and the delicate muscles and nerves prepared, Viktor stepped to the side and held out his surgical equipment to Ren. It was with great reluctance that Ren stepped forward to accept the tools. He stared down, looking between the tip of the tiny blade and the exposed muscle.

"Wow, have they always been this sharp? Oh man, you gotta calm down. Look, he's done most of the work and he's right here. He won't let you hurt this man. Come on, Ren, focus."

Despite his best efforts, Ren couldn't stop his hands from trembling. Again, he felt Viktor's hand on his shoulder.

"You are still nervous," Viktor stated plainly.

"Just a bit," Ren sighed.

"You cannot operate on him with shaking hands."

"I know that."

"Do not touch him. Let me get something for you."

Viktor went over to his medicine cabinet and returned with a vial of silvery beads and a clean syringe.

"Do you know what this is?" Viktor asked.

"That's the stuff Moyna buys from you," Ren answered.

"Yes. She uses it to suppress her fear."

"I get what you're offering, but I'm still not sure about messing with my emotions."

"It is only temporary. Its effects wear off in less than half an hour. I will not force you if you are unwilling but-"

"I know Doc," Ren interrupted, "you're just trying to do what's best." Ren took a deep breath before continuing, "I trust you. You can give it to me, but I don't want to make a habit of this."

Viktor nodded and prepared the syringe.

"There is no shame in accepting aid," Viktor said as he pierced the skin behind Ren's ear, "my inventions are for the benefit of the people of Zaun, and that includes my stubborn apprentice."

"I know. Thank you."

Ren once again looked down at his hands. With each calming breath he took, they began to steady. The thoughts that troubled him seemed to slip from his mind as his fears abated.

"Why was I so worried? I can do this. I'm far more skilled than most my age. Nothing will go wrong. I can do this. I can do this."

With his mind at ease, Ren returned to his task. Steadily under Viktor's direction, he began the process of improving the connections between flesh and machine. Not a quarter of an hour passed, and the procedure was finished. The incision was stitched shut and the area cleaned by the time Viktor's suppressant was wearing off.

As Ren cleaned the operating table, Viktor helped to ease their patient onto crutches and handed him papers detailing care instructions for the new augmentations. He directed the automatons to escort the man from the factory, leaving him alone with his apprentice.

"You did well," Viktor complimented.

"I did adequate," Ren grumbled.

"It was your first time. Your confidence will grow with time and experience."

"If you say so."

"I do. When you have finished cleaning, meet me in the training hall. I will have some selected readings for you so that you may be better prepared for the next subject you assist me with."

That ended Ren's self-deprecation for the day, and the rest of the evening was spent in amicable study.