Chapter 1.2.8 — Minor Surgery

Between Emmett’s excitement for his quick-connect system and his senioritis, Emmett’s Friday classes positively dragged. It took all his willpower to focus on his lectures that morning.

‘Just two more months’ had become Emmett’s mantra.

Life after college would be a whole new set of problems, but anything would be better than this.

Emmett’s first class, Product and Process engineering, ended with Professor Quinn reminding them that their rough schematics and write-ups for their final project were due next week. She took too much pleasure in the reminder—smiling widely behind her comically oversized desk like a movie supervillain. The only thing she was missing was a cat in her lap.

Judging by the faces of the other students as they filed out of class, they all felt similarly: Like movie heroes strapped to a conveyor belt slowly approaching a laser or a bandsaw.

Machine Design passed a little quicker, but not by much, and as soon as it was done, Emmett jogged the rest of the way across Eastside to get to the lab.

~

Emmett met Clara and Dr. Venture in the hub of section 002, the mechanical wing.

Venture must have seen the barely contained excitement on Emmett’s face because he smirked and said, “Alright, alright. Let’s see what you came up with.”

Emmett asked TINA to put his schematics on the wall monitors. All three of them regarded the schematics as they appeared.

No one spoke, and Emmett grew self-conscious. He must’ve made a mistake somewhere.

Eventually, Clara ran her hand over her buzzed hair. “You came up with these in one night?”

“Yeah,” he said, carefully watching their expressions.

Clara pulled the beanie back over her head. “Not bad.”

Emmett scoffed. “Do you even know what you’re looking at?”

“Not really, but it looks good.”

Meanwhile, Venture scratched the stubble on his chin and glanced intently from one design to the next.

Finally, Venture said, “TINA, overlay schematics of Emmett’s arm. Run simulations for ease of integration, mod swap times, structural integrity…”

“I started running simulations when Emmett shared access to the schematics. I have now completed them. Rail system number three is the superior design.”

A flash of surprise crossed Venture’s face. “You already ran simulations?”

“I assumed you would request them. I’ve also included scores for future adaptability and system expansion.”

“Well, then… Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“...Can you show the simulation results for all four systems?”

“Yes.”

Graphs and readouts appeared on all the screens—so much that Emmett initially felt overwhelmed by the sheer amount of data. But he relaxed as he took it in; TINA had done a good job of organizing it.

Schematics for each quick connect system hovered at the top, while results of each simulation were listed below. Thankfully, TINA had highlighted the winning results for each.

Each of the four systems was superior in one category, which didn’t surprise Emmett. He’d designed each system with that in mind—rail system one was the fastest for swapping mods out, while system two was designed with structural integrity in mind. In contrast, system 4 was rated the best for ease of integration, which Emmett hadn’t entirely foreseen and decent in several other categories.

Interestingly, rail system three was only rated the best for future adaptability and system expansion. Second fastest in mod swap times, and a slight third in structural integrity. Unfortunately, its final score was abysmal—it would not be easy to integrate into his current arm.

Clara was still looking over the results intently, but Dr. Venture seemed to be thinking of something else entirely.

Finally, Venture asked, “TINA, explain your reasoning for choosing rail system three.”

“I have calculated Emmett’s future potential as the most important factor. Integration into Emmett’s current prosthetic is a onetime difficulty, mitigated by surgical oversight from my system and Dr. Venture’s expertise. Once integration is complete, it ceases to be a factor, and so is the least important factor.

“System three’s scores in mod swap time and structural integrity are only marginally worse, but suitable. The prosthesis is roughly equivalent to the ratings of a Class Two super. If Emmett manages to grow stronger and surpass Class Two, then he will need a new prosthesis and an entirely new mod system. Until then, his own strength and speed are the limiting factor, not the rail system.

“With those factors accounted for, the best course is to allow the most possible options for mod development. This will allow Emmett to adapt countermeasures for a variety of threats until he is able to use raw power.”

When TINA finished, Dr. Venture pushed up his glasses and cleared his throat. “I can see no flaw in your reasoning. Please prepare a guidance simulation for Emmett’s surgery.”

All of the screens went blank, except for the one showing the design of rail system three.

Emmett stared. This was it—the next step toward becoming more.

Clara met his gaze with an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

But as excited as he was, he felt apprehensive, not just of the surgery, but of the uncertainty on Dr. Venture’s face.

~

They stayed in the hub of section 002 for Emmett’s surgery, under Dr. Venture’s reasoning that he wasn’t operating on anything biological. For the second time in two days, the two of them were huddled over the holographic table.

Clara wanted to be present for the event, but she sat on the far side of the room with the news playing silently on the monitor while she scrolled on her phone.

She said the whole process was ‘too weird’ for her.

Emmett felt much the same way. His right arm was on the table, the skin peeled back and the metal sheathing removed. Two vice grips held his arm in place—one on the wrist and one around the elbow. The impact shield, whip, and concealable pistol sat on a nearby table.

There wasn’t any blood, and Dr. Venture had attached diodes around his upper arm to block the pain and pressure sensations, but…

Well, weird was an understatement. Emmett couldn’t look at his mechanical arm directly for more than a few seconds at a time. He wasn’t sure what specifically he couldn’t handle—the actuators and gears both looked nothing like a human arm and reminded him too much of a human arm. Maybe if Emmett could study it without his stomach turning, he could figure it out.

Either way, it was his arm that was peeled open on the table.

Most of the surgery, Emmett followed along by watching the holographic display above the table. Even that was eerie, though.

He felt like a mad science experiment.

…Which, in a way, he was.

Emmett shivered and was glad that his arm was locked in place. Emmett swore he could still feel Dr. Venture poking around in his arm.

Venture glanced at him sideways through his safety goggles, and Emmett forced himself to sit still.

“How’s it going over there?” Clara called out.

“Fantastic,” Emmett replied. “You should try it sometime.”

“No, thanks. I prefer to keep metal on the outside of my skin.”

Dr. Venture set aside his current tool and grabbed a tiny vibrating saw.

Emmett swallowed dryly. “Is it too late to get my own exosuit?”

Venture grumbled and leaned closer to his arm. He was starting to cut out something metal, and Emmett couldn’t look close enough to figure out what. Instead, Emmett tried to keep talking.

“TINA sure seems to think that I’m going to keep getting stronger.”

Venture replied, “You mean you weren’t just in here thinking about chopping off your other arm?”

“Gross,” Clara muttered.

Emmett smirked. The thought had crossed his mind. “I just didn’t expect it.”

“Why not?”

“I guess that most supers don’t get stronger. They might learn how to use their powers more efficiently, but that doesn’t mean they jump a whole power class.”

Clara spoke up from across the room. “Some do.”

Venture sighed as he worked. “You’re both right. Most cases of supers growing stronger are really just them developing new techniques or using their powers more efficiently. It’s similar to weight lifting—most early gains aren’t from strength, but from the body's central nervous system learning to work cohesively. Though there is quite a bit of evidence to older, more practiced supers becoming stronger over the course of their lifespan, it’s not enough to jump from Class One to Class Four or even Three. Then there are some elder creatures, like vampires, that really do get stronger the longer they live…

“There are cases of genuine power increases, though. Gnosis mutagens, for example. Mechanical prosthesis and power armor, or magical weapons and armor. Most magic is unique in that it can be learned. There are old stories of elementalists that sought out places to become more in tune with their element; the old master meditating on top of a mountain—”

“Or in a volcano,” Clara added.

Venture chuckled and changed tools. He alternated with screwdriver, pliers, and a miniature hand-held welder to attach the new rails.

Venture continued, “Of course, then there are powers that fundamentally alter a person or disconnect them from who or what they are. Powers like dream surfing, reality manipulation, and shape changing. The more they’re used, the more flexible the super becomes… the more they forget who they really are.”

“Power comes at a cost.” The words tumbled out, and Emmett wasn’t quite sure where they’d come from.

But Venture nodded. “Yes. Yes, it does.”

As the silence dragged on, Emmett started focusing on his arm again, and subsequently remembered just how much he did not want to focus on it.

“Why were you surprised at TINA running simulations on the rail system before you asked?”

Venture glanced at Emmett, but didn’t miss a weld. “TINA is a highly advanced bundle of algorithms. ‘Impressive’ doesn’t do her justice. She can learn and process data about a subject faster than most government A.I.’s…

“But one thing she doesn’t do is do things without my direction.”

“She has automations, though,” Emmett said, tentatively.

“Yes, she does. But who do you think set those up?”

“You did.”

Venture nodded in agreement, and Emmett realized that Clara had put down her phone and was listening to their conversation now.

Emmett pushed his luck. “So, what does that mean?”

“I don’t know. I’ve worked with other AIs that spontaneously develop new capabilities based off of their old programming. Similar to a super learning a new technique. The power hasn’t changed, it’s just a new application.”

“But this isn’t that?”

Venture sighed. “I don’t know. I’ve been working on someone’s arm all afternoon.”

Clara stifled a laugh.

~ ~ ~