2 – Doc Katz

Tony watched Addie take another bite of her sandwich, enjoying the gusto with which she attacked the dark bread and marinated veggies. A thin slice of cucumber slid out and hung from her lips, slapping her chin, and she slurped it up before wiping her face with a well-used napkin. She saw him staring and smiled. "Messy!"

He nodded, picking up one of his few remaining potato chips—his sandwich was long gone. "Good, though. I don't know what that sauce is, but I love it."

"I know, right?" She took a long pull from her soda pouch, and after she'd swallowed, she added, "Are you still hungry?"

Tony shook his head. "Not really." He leaned back, but his wobbly plastic chair threatened to collapse, so he quickly leaned forward again. They were sitting outside of a sandwich shop called Bobo's Big Witches. Tony could see the sign from his seat, displaying a logo featuring a cartoon witch on a broom and holding an overstuffed sandwich. They'd picked the lunch spot because of its proximity to a chop-doc they'd never visited before—a guy who was advertising a second-hand arm that Tony was very interested in.

As if she'd picked up some of his mental wavelengths, Addie asked, "Do you ever wish you hadn't sold both of Malik's arms?" She was talking about Malik "the Grinder"—a banger who'd had a grudge against Tony. He and his buddies had tried to jump him and Addie and wound up dead for their trouble.

Tony tilted his head to the side, narrowing his silvery eye as he considered. "Nah. They were too big for my frame and, honestly, they weren't much better than this thing." He held up his malfunctioning black plasteel prosthetic. "Stronger materials, I guess, and probably bigger batts, but still kind of…industrial. You know?"

"Yeah." She picked up her sandwich, preparing to take another bite. "I guess they were pretty distinctive, too."

"Yep."

"So, what's good about the one we're going to check out?"

"It's a Bose Dynamix model. You familiar?"

"What? With that company?" Addie shook her head.

"They're known for high-end cybernetic limbs. It's more than just good quality, though. This arm is one of their Ares models, and they're made to be modded. The guy didn't list the details on his ad, but there's a good chance it'll have some additional functionality."

"Like what?" Addie pointed to his mechanical arm. "Like that hook thingy you broke?"

Tony snorted. "I didn't break it! I think the mechanism got bent, and then it got stuck in a semi-released state, causing the batteries to bleed off. I can get them to take a charge, but it drains too fast. I guess I could try to fix—"

"Oh, stop it! I wasn't saying you should keep your old one! Gosh!" Addie pushed her foot against his knee under the table, and Tony grinned.

"You're too easy."

"Oh really?" Addie's gentle pressure on his knee fell away as she pushed her chair back. "Well, you're not! Come on; let's go talk to that guy before you get cold feet and decide to try to get that old, junky thing working again."

Tony stood, gathered their trash, and threw it into the recycler. Then, he followed Addie as she led the way to the corner. The traffic was light in that part of the Blast, at least at that time of day, and Addie took advantage, hurrying across the street behind a passing automated delivery van. When they reached the other sidewalk, she wove between the people walking by and pulled open the door to the little office building there.

Inside, she paused by a directory display, and Tony looked over her shoulder until the name he was looking for flashed on the screen: Doctor Sam Katz – Suite 212. "That's him?" she asked, pointing.

"Yep." Tony led the way to the little elevator and pushed the call button.

"When we're done, do you want to schedule our SOA appointments?"

As they stepped into the elevator, Tony shrugged. "I guess we could." They'd spoken about the subject a few times, and she knew how he felt. Their exam for tier eight had been easy—almost as easy as tier nine. Tier seven had been a little tougher; they'd had to declare roles, and Addie had chosen reconnaissance, despite her burgeoning spark skills. Even so, she'd only gotten a couple of role-specific questions. Tony had a feeling that the local office would be harder on them for tier six. He was almost certain they'd get a practical exam.

"Well, don't be too enthusiastic!"

The elevator shuddered and jerked into motion, and Tony shrugged. "I've been thinking about it. I think you should revise your role selection. You can still be a recon specialist, but you could list infiltration as a secondary."

"Infiltration?"

Tony nodded. "Yeah. Eventually, they'll try to stump you with a difficult practical. Maybe not on tier six, but soon. With your Dust abilities, you'd be able to brute force most kinds of infiltration."

"What if they use a Dust suppression field?"

Tony chuckled, shaking his head. "Those things are expensive, and I've never heard of the branch SOA offices using something like that."

Addie shrugged as the doors dinged and slid open. "Sounds fine to me. Does that mean we can get it over with? The sooner we've got our tier-six credentials, the sooner we can start looking into you-know-who."

"Sure." Tony put his arm over her shoulders and steered her out of the elevator, following the signs toward 212. She was eager to start gathering intel on Eric and Jen, and he understood why; it was impossible to fully relax and enjoy life with that…situation hanging over them. Still, he was self-aware enough to know he'd been dragging his feet. It was easy to say they needed just a bit more of a bankroll, just a few more connections, some better equipment, and more practice with Addie's Dust abilities. Stalling meant he could pretend for a little while longer that everything was good.

A glass door revealed Katz's office, and Tony could see that the waiting room was empty, with a very bored-looking receptionist sitting alone at the counter, staring into space. Addie pulled the door open, and he took hold of it, ushering her through. When he followed, the receptionist blinked a few times, then focused on the real world. "How can I help you?"

Tony stepped around a row of empty plastic chairs to approach her desk. "Saw an ad for an arm the doc has for sale. Thought I'd check it out and see what he'd charge to install it."

"Is that right? You saw the ad on the local net?"

Addie answered for him, "Yeah. The Blast Pages."

"That's great!" the young lady said, beaming. "That was my idea!" She looked up at Tony. "I'll let the doctor know you're here, but, just FYI, Sam is short for Samantha."

"Ah! Well, thanks for the heads up."

She nodded, adjusting the fit of her designer specs, sliding them up on her nose. "Do you mind having your PAI interface with the clinic AI? I just need some basic patient information and verification of funds."

Tony nodded. "Go ahead, Nora."

"Connecting," his PAI responded smoothly.

"Thank you. I see a new connection. That'll just take a moment. Take a seat, and I'll let you know when the doctor's ready. I'll be right back if you need anything." With that, she stood and slipped through a back door.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Tony and Addie sat down, and he took in the spartan décor. Other than the plastic chairs and two empty end tables, he saw a few ads for popular cybernetics brands, two potted plants—synthetic—and that was it. "Wonder if the doc's new," he muttered to Addie.

She nodded, wrinkling her nose. "Seems like she hasn't had much time to decorate."

"I mean, for a chop-doc, the place isn't bad."

Addie held up her finger, her eyes going distant as she looked at something on her AUI. After a few seconds, she looked at Tony, shaking her head. "She's not a chop-doc. JJ says she's had ads for a full-service family practice for a couple of years. The cybernetics ads are newer. Seems like she might be expanding her operation to pick up some more business."

Considering the lack of customers, Tony could understand why the doc might be trying new avenues of business. "Huh."

He stretched his legs out and leaned back, but before he could get comfortable, the receptionist returned. "Doctor Katz will be with you shortly. She's just finishing up a virtual consultation." Even as she spoke, a chime sounded, and she hurried back to her seat, clearly looking at something on her AUI. "That's her. She's ready." She pointed to another door beside a large, synthetic fern. "Just go on through."

Tony stood and took a couple of steps, but then realized Addie wasn't with him. He paused and looked at her questioningly. "Coming?"

"Oh! You don't mind?"

Tony stared at her for a moment, trying to see if she was teasing him, but she looked utterly innocent. "Why would I mind, you weirdo?"

Addie beamed at him, leaping to her feet and following him over to the door. "I didn't want to presume. A doctor's visit is kind of personal, isn't it?"

Tony pulled the door open, motioning for Addie to pass through, then he followed. "It's not like I'm here to have her check out a suspicious lump."

Before Tony could wonder where to go, a woman appeared through a doorway down the hall. She was probably middle-aged, slender, and had her gray-brown hair pulled up in a bun. She waved, motioning them forward. "Come on back. How are you? I'm Doctor Katz. Shepherd, I presume?" She held a hand out to Tony, who shook it in his bulky mechanical grip.

"That's right."

"And who's this? Your wife? Sister? Grandmother?" She laughed, winking at Addie.

"I'm Ember. We're…partners."

"Perfect! Welcome. Come right into my office." She gestured to the door on the right, and Tony stepped through to find a modern-looking office with a crystal-glass desk and two black synth-leather chairs arranged before it. Again, there were some synthetic plants, and very few decorations, but the space was clean, the paint looked fresh, and Tony began to wonder if the lack of clutter was more a matter of the doctor's preferences than any lack of effort. "Sit down, please. Can I get you something to drink?"

Tony glanced at Addie. She shrugged. "I'll take a drink."

"Perfect. Sparkling water okay?" The doctor stepped over to a row of white cabinets and opened the bottom, revealing a drink dispenser. "I had this installed when I opened the clinic. Thank goodness I have some calorie-free options, or I'd have gained ten kilos by now. It makes delicious coffee, too, if you'd rather something warm."

"Water's fine."

The machine started to hiss, and then Katz looked at Tony. "And you, Shepherd?"

"I'm good, thanks."

Addie moved to sit down, and Tony followed. "Not typical service for the Blast," Addie said.

"You mean you aren't offered refreshments at most chop-docs?" Katz laughed and walked over to Addie with a plastic cup of fizzy water. "Well, I'm new to the Blast as of three years ago. My family's from Jersey—District Nine." She pulled out her chair and collapsed into it with a sigh. "That feels good. So, Shepherd, you saw an ad that caught your eye?" While she spoke, Tony couldn't help noting how she looked his arm up and down, and then settled her gaze on his right eye.

"Yeah. The Bose Dynamics arm."

"Ah! A nice piece. I picked it up at a certified biotech exchange. Are you familiar?"

Addie shook her head, but Tony thought he knew. "Isn't it basically an auction?"

"Exactly! It's not open to the public, however. You have to have an active medical license and a biotech reseller permit to participate. I only mention this because I want you to know that the arm is legitimate; I didn't get it from a back-alley chop shop. I have all the paperwork."

Tony shrugged. He didn't care all that much, especially if her "paperwork" was only going to jack the price up. "The listing didn't say anything about the size. Before we waste any more time, do you think it'll work for my frame?"

"Oh, absolutely. It's a standard "athletic-large" size, which is what you look like to me. I have all the accompanying hardware, which lets me make fine adjustments. One thing, though: are you planning to replace that industrial model with it?"

Tony nodded, thumping his plasteel fist on the arm of his chair. "Yeah."

"Well, you know the Bose model is a full limb, right? I'd have to amputate the rest of your natural arm."

Addie leaned forward. "You have to? Can't you install part of the arm?"

Katz shook her head. "No, I'm sorry. The limb is a high-performance model; it doesn't have a truncated modification, and it requires supporting hardware at the shoulder that interfaces with the rotator cuff muscles and the proximal humerus and scapula. Without those supports, Shepherd would be at risk of damaging his shoulder—or even his spine—if he tried to use the arm's full strength."

Addie's hand was clutching the arm of her chair, and Tony put his hand atop it. "It's fine. I figured I'd have to do the full thing."

She glanced at him, and he could see in her eyes what she was thinking. She thought he'd lost too much already, and now he was giving up some more of his flesh. She wouldn't say as much, not in front of Katz, but he smiled and squeezed her hand again. "Seriously. When you see this arm, you'll realize it's better this way."

"I was going to say the same, Ember," Katz interjected. "This model will be quite an upgrade for Shepherd, and having a unified arm tied seamlessly into his shoulder will be much more…elegant than a partial prosthesis attached at the elbow like his current hardware."

Addie glanced down at Tony's black plasteel forearm. "Seamless?"

"Oh yes. The Bose Ares line of cybernetic prostheses comes standard with synth-skin shrouds that integrate the mechanical elements with the host's flesh. It'll look like Shepherd was born with that arm—no scars, no exposed, raw flesh. I'm sure you've seen plenty of examples of work like that just walking around the Blast."

Tony knew what Addie was thinking; his current mechanical arm had a very ugly merger with his flesh. It was hidden most of the time by a rubbery cuff, but she'd seen him roll that down to clean the scarred-up, often rash-covered flesh of his upper arm. He changed the subject, "I was hoping the arm might have a few factory upgrades. Your ad didn't specify."

"Ah, I see you're familiar with the line. Just a moment." Katz's eyes flickered and stared into space for a moment, then she nodded. "It's enhanced for speed and has a full-coverage, sensory-active shell. It has bays for two utility add-ons, but they're empty. I'm sure you know what they mean by utility, yes?"

Tony smiled, nodding. "You can get weapon mounts and other things—mono-filament fibers, lights, data jacks."

"That's right. If Bose doesn't make it, chances are you can find an aftermarket add-on that'll do just about anything you want."

Tony was sold, but he didn't want to act too eager. He shifted to the edge of his seat, like he was getting ready to stand. "Well, I just wanted to confirm that information and make sure you still had it available. I've got a couple of other options I want to look into before I make a decision. Is the price in your ad final?" Her ad had listed the arm for 95k—a king's ransom for him and Addie, but it was a damn good arm. If he tried to buy one new, with the options Katz had mentioned, it would cost close to double that amount.

"I might have some wriggle room in the installation fees, but I can't promise it'll be here next time you stop by."

"What kind of wriggle room? What are we looking at to install it?"

Katz smiled, shrugging. "I have some minimum expenses—biohazard disposal fees, autosurgeon certification fees, etcetera. Let's say 7k and I get to keep that industrial model."

Tony knew it was a hell of a good deal. He also knew that it was about half the money he and Addie had managed to save, and they'd be running into a lot of expenses as they began trying to push into other districts, taking on higher-tier jobs. He started to stand, figuring he ought to at least sleep on it, but then Addie did her usual Addie thing.

"We'll take it."

Katz clapped her hands. "Perfect! I'll start prepping."

Tony glared at Addie, but he couldn't be upset, not when she smiled at him the way she did. He sighed and leaned back in the chair.

"Shepherd, I'm going to give you a special beverage I want you to drink. It contains nutrients and nanites that will accelerate your recovery." Katz walked back to her row of cabinets, opening another that contained a small stainless fridge. She pulled out a red aluminum can and brought it over to him. It was ice cold. He looked at the label: Redline Regen – Nanite Recovery Formula.

Something about being handed a questionable cocktail triggered some paranoia, and Tony looked up at the doctor, his silver eye hard, his chrome eye glowering with its amber glow. "Ember's gonna sit in with me while I'm on the table."

Katz smiled, looked at Addie, and winked. "Partners! I wish I had someone I could count on like that." She looked back at Tony. "Not a problem, Shepherd. You sit here and relax. Drink that beverage, and by the time you're done, I'll have the arm and the autosurgeon prepped."

"All right." Tony watched the doctor walk out of the office, and then he popped the tab on the can. His nose was instantly assailed with a strong cherry scent, and Addie licked her lips, looking up at him. "Jealous?"

"I get water, and you get a magical cherry drink?"

Tony snorted softly, sipping the liquid. It was too sweet for his taste. "I'd give it to you if I could."

"I know." She glanced toward the closed door. "Are you nervous?"

"Me? Pfft. Why would I be nervous when I've got you looking over me? I pity any idiot who dares to mess with me."

Addie grabbed his hand, entwining her fingers with his. "That's right. I'm excited to see your new arm. I'm excited to know you'll be able to feel things with it. Won't that be nice?"

Tony nodded, clenching his heavy mechanical hand. Currently, he only had sensation on the black rubber pads on the fingertips. He took another sip of this drink, then leaned back in his chair, savoring the warmth of Addie's hand in his. "Yeah, that'll be nice."

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