Augmented

Ren grit his teeth and forced a smile. Although he was very truly happy, the pain in his leg was beyond distracting. Unlike his last limb, through which he felt nothing, he could feel the new machinery against his muscles. The sensation was new and raw. Ren dared not look down at the swollen joint, so he kept his chin up and kept smiling.

"Your fake smile is less flattering than your genuine one," Viktor said as he filled a syringe.

He injected it into Ren at his swollen joint and steadily drained the solution so that it may lubricate the connections and ease the pain.

"You may be tempted to move it," Viktor continued, "don't. The mechanisms in this limb are superior to those of that peg leg you were wearing. Even the thought of wanting to bounce your knee, that slightest twitch, could have this limb moving. For now, you will sit still and I will tell you how to maintain this limb."

"Thanks, but I want to figure it out by myself," Ren said, "taking things apart is how I learn to put things together, you know."

"You will be doing no such thing. This limb is an investment and I will not be risking its safety to the fingers of an inexperienced child."

"Child? I'm sixteen! And inexperienced? Any Zaunite worth their weight in scrap knows how work with machines."

"Yes, and an infant rolling a toy tire is utilizing a simple machine. But this limb is nothing like a toy, so you will listen, N-12."

Ren huffed, but made no further comment. He half-heartedly listened to Viktor lecture about the importance of every little piece and how they all connected. The other half of his heart was still brooding over being referred to as a "child." What finally did catch his attention was the realization that his stump no longer hurt. Ren held his breath and watched intently as he attempted to move the limb's ankle. It responded.

"It's moving!" Ren exclaimed, cutting off Viktor.

He placed his fingers around the ankle and wiggled it again. His smile swelled in earnest as he felt the metal gently move beneath his fingers.

"Of course it moves," Viktor stated, "I wouldn't waste my time giving you a limb that was as stiff as a board. This augmentation is extremely sensitive and should take little more than a thought to cause movement. However, I had asked you not to move it."

"I know and I'm sorry but, come on, how could I not?"

"With self-control."

"Okay, look, I'm sorry I moved it, but I'm just beyond thrilled to have a limb that moves again. Please, keep explaining. I'll listen this time till everything is crystal."

An unseen frown crossed Viktor's face but he continued on. The boy was going to move it anyways it seemed, so he may as well direct how he moved it.

"I want you to try a simple movement," Viktor said, "Think about moving your toes."

"But the end of this doesn't have any toes."

"Do what I said."

Red shrugged his shoulders but did as Viktor ordered. A look of wonder came over him as he saw the bottom of the foot raise and lower little pillars.

"They will mimic the foot's muscles and their ability to create balance," explained Viktor, "although they are not identical to an organic limb's ability to balance, they are superior to any other robotic limb, even my own."

"So this is better than what you have," Ren asked as he continued to watch the pillar's movements, "you didn't seem like the type who would give anyone better tech than yourself."

"That is because it is not better. Its reliability still is not 100%. There is a chance your new limb may explode, melt, or lock down. It is a small percent, less than 5%, but still it would be wise of you to listen when I teach you how to maintain your limb, N-12."

That was a lie. The actual chance of failure was less than 1%, but the terrifying thought of having his augmentation explode under him had Ren regretting the lack of attention he had been giving Viktor.

"Yeah, totally," Ren said confidently, "like I said, I'll listen good and be all ears, but right now, I'm ready to get walking."

Ren dropped himself from the table before Viktor could object. He staggered for a moment as he found his footing. The connection area throbbed angrily, but this pleased Ren. The throbbing came from the movement of his leg, from how the ankle bent, how the pillars adjusted balance, how he could feel the muscles around his knees moving. He walked with the gait of toddler to where his crutch rested.

"What are you waiting for?" Ren asked as he began to shuffle for the door, "I'm ready to go for a walk. Come on! Let's go, anywhere in this city."

"You enthusiasm is noted," Viktor replied, "but if you walk anywhere today, it will be around factory only. That augmentation is a costly investment on my part and I will not have you walking around Zaun without you knowing how to defend it first."

"Hey, I'm a sumpsnipe, remember? I can hold my own against a few thugs. I wasn't born yesterday."

"No, but your leg was completed yesterday. And it will not be pickpockets after that limb. It will be tech thieves looking to steal my progress. They will rip it right off you if they can, but I won't allow that to happen."

"Didn't know you cared about me that much," Ren said with a huff.

"Your new limb can be a powerful asset in a fight," Viktor continued, not dignifying Ren's tone by buying into his jest, "and I will show you how to use it. Come, if you are so eager to walk, you should be just as thrilled to fight."

Ren nodded.

"I can agree to that," he said as he followed after Viktor, "I did notice a lack of spikes on the leg though, so how else am I supposed to attack? Does it shoot a laser or have a hidden blade in the toes?"

"Spikes are unnecessary," Viktor replied, "what I installed is better. Your augmentation possesses a strong power source, a hexcrystal. It will produce a large amount of energy, similar to my laser, but rather than focusing that energy into a thin line, the energy is spread out. It will be as though you have a rocket on your foot."

"Alright, a rocket, and one powered by hextech no less! I can roll with this," Ren smiled, "rocket kicks. Hextech rocket kicks!"

"Yes," Viktor commented dryly, "I will be teaching you how to preform rocket kicks."

Ren stopped in his tracks.

"Are you serious? Just want to make sure. I couldn't tell if that was sarcasm or not." he asked.

"I am always serious," Viktor responded, "rocket enhanced kicks would be an ideal way for you defend yourself from thieves who are after my creation. Your self-defense training is important."

"And I still have dinner to look forward to after this. This day just keeps getting better."

Viktor opened the door to the training room.

"We shall see if you still possess that energy when we are done here."

"I can't wait."