It was this sign that met everyone who visited Human Upgrade Clinic.
After standing for several minutes in the queue, I was heared my name"Mister Harvy, right? It's good that you arrived on time" - Said the woman is incredibly beautiful appearance, I would say even a puppet. Then she pointed me to the corridor and gave me some kind of a ticket with the name of the specialist with whom I will need to meet.
After 20 minutes of meaningless wandering along the corridors and looking at half the people for half of the bionics, I still found the door I needed, and when I entered it, I was in a kind of stupor:
Throwing his feet on the table, the professor watched the channel "Life". He sipped a small sip of coffee, next to him in an ashtray, smoking a cigarette.
There was a fly in the frame. Increased by a hundred times, it was like an alien monster. Against her background, the presenter read the news: - .. "After that the ecologists officially confirmed the information that the Sinaps-7 virus, developed by geneticists, destroyed in addition to the populations of bloodsucking and synanthropic insects, the population of flies of Drosophila."
The picture on the screen changed to some sort of dismemberment, the professor turned off the telescreen and turned to me and said:
- Is not it, amusing ?! - What exactly?- Not understanding about what, I'm talking about, I asked him. - Drosophila entered the history of science, serving as the main object for studying the role of chromosomes in the phenomena of heredity. The results formed the basis of many scientific conclusions about the laws of heredity, the study of which deals with genetics.- He extinguished a cigarette and added:"We destroyed the flies that have prolonged our lives."
From the back room came the assistant, pointing with her hand to the chair, she suggested I sit down and asked:- Tea? Coffee? Something stronger?
From the previously taken away giant giant fly, my throat really dried up, and I agreed to tea.And as soon as I sat down in the armchair, the professor asked me at the top of his voice:
- Have you come here to drink tea? Or do you and I have a more important topic for discussion?!At that moment I realized that the professor was not so kind as, I thought at first glance. - Yes you are right. I'm not here for tea. I was interested in your brochure ...I took out a form from my pocket that said:
Welcome to the H+ Clinic
We can make you harder. Better. Faster. Stronger. Human evolution is not simply something we can achieve by waiting for it. No, it is a pursuit that must be siezed when you have the chance. We have the ability to create powerful machines and technology. Combining that with the human physiology, we can ascend to the next great step of human evolution. Through transhumanism, we can become the elites of humanity.
Pilots wishing to make themselves into a 'better human' may visit this clinic and undergo the medical procedures to 'upgrade' themselves. However, as part of a new Core protocol, it is mandatory for all pilots of Templar rank and above to undergo cybernetic augumentation. Stemming from our many technological breakthroughs in the field of bio-technology, we have created various upgrades you can apply to yourself. The procedures are quick and painless, and the end results will allow you to weild awe-inspiring power.
Currently, on offer we have:
• ARES-class external visual augmentations - Enhanced eyesight, visual-based reflexes. • ATLAS-class cybernetic arm(s) - Enhanced arm strength. • HERMES-class spinal regulators - Enhanced overall reflexes and speed. • DIONYSUS-class fluid regulators - Sleep less, eat less... drink more. • And many more to come!
- Most of all attracts attention ARES-class external visual augmentations - Enhanced eyesight, visual-based reflexes.And I would like to know how much this device will cost for me?
The professor threw his gaze to the assistant and she without words understood that it was required of her, and she immediately asked for my ID. Taking it in her hands, she retired to the room from which she had previously extracted. The professor asked me to stand up and follow him to the next room, in which there is a diagnostic checkup. Going into that, and the first time I saw such a highly technical medical development, it was not robots, and not people ... What is between this.
- Please take off your jacket and put Mr. Harvy in this capsule, you need to pass some tests."There will be a little pinching". He added with smile.
I climbed into the capsule, the assistant entered the office and returned my ID, which as it turned out to use all the services of the clinic is absolutely free. Together with this, she gave me a tablet on which there was consent for the operation, and an agreement that I will not show a complaint to the clinic, in case of force majeure situations that may occur due to my fault with the implants.
Several modifications of the"ARES"improvement were presented... Some looked like implanted lining to the eye sockets, which did not suit me at all, and some were hidden in the cornea, but the price of them was of course just cosmic. But since my ID covered all expenses, I chose the version that is not visible with the usual look. Only the so-called "Mods" could outwardly determine the presence of this improvement in humans.
After my confirmation, the capsule began to close and the temperature of the air began to drop sharply into the flesh until the moment I inhaled it was already hurting. My heart began to beat faster, I was already beginning to think that something had gone wrong. At that time, through the transparent glass, screwing up my eyes, I could see how incomprehensible objects like large spiders slowly approached the capsule. To my fright there was no limit, but in the eyes it was already dark ... The hands did not move ...
It seemed that I turned off for a moment, after my eyes closed, but glancing at my watch, I realized that more than 5 hours had passed. These spiders, whom I saw, turned out to be simply mobile operating machines, which were also slowly moving away from the capsule I had been in all this time ...
- How are you feeling? Falcon?The professor asked.
Glare in my eyes prevented me from concentrating normally on anything. And the lungs ached so, bud-then I was beaten by a crowd of corsairs.
- How are you feeling?The second time the professor asked again - Fine, does this feeling in the lungs remain so? Does "ARES" successfully installed? - Mr. Harvy, you are officially pumped!Said the assistantThe guarantee for the implant is 90 years, but I do not think that people live in clash, unlike us.After these words, I realized that the professor and his assistant were long gone. they are half the car, with human consciousness.
- While "ARES" not calibrated, you need some time to adapt and get used to some of the visual distortions that you may be seeing now. After that you will need to re-visit the clinic, so that we can more correctly adjust its work. You can get up and dress.
I slowly got up, I was still swaying and felt some discomfort and pain in the balance, bud something was pulsing inside. But this feeling did not stop me from getting back. At this time, the professor and his assistant were already waiting for me in the first cabinet. Going to the first cabinet, the assistant gave me some more agreement for signing, which I could not really read, and said that it was only "formalities". I was given some "instructions for use," the professor approached, silently shook hands, sat back at his desk and turned on the "Life" TV channel.
I already turned in the direction of the doors, as the assistant called me: - Mr. Harvy, your transport is already waiting for you. - Thank you, but I did not cause anything. - This is a service from the clinic, you are our special customers, and we value you.
Walking back along this corridor, I went out again at the reception desk, the girl smiled sweetly and invited me to visit the clinic again. I thought to myself that I would definitely return. And not to change something in yourself again, but to see it again.
To my astonishment the transport was already standing near the central entrance, it was fully automated and there were no people in it, which more than suited me. I had time to think about her ...
The last thing I saw in the rearview mirror when I left was again this sign, which met me first.
After a bit more than six months, the day has come for the planned prevention of implants - there is one more procedure unknown to me. The day, as always, began early in the morning with a workout, a light breakfast and beautiful weather outside the window. In general, it was long ago for me to come to this procedure, because sometimes I simply can’t see on one eye, then with the other eye, or there are interferences that come through. But as we always think - it will pass by itself!
Two hours later, it is time to move towards the clinic.
Moving in a high-speed elevator, I got the idea that it was better to call a taxi, but for some reason I threw it away. Remembering that girl at the reception, I wanted her to show off in my vehicle. Yes, yes, I love to show off.
Leaving the garage room, the battery showed a small charge, but fortunately, there was a self-service station on my way for a modest 20 credits. The morning traffic jams always annoyed me, but on this day I was infuriated even more, because I don’t like to be late. Having spent forty minutes in the queue at the station, I still managed to replace the battery, all thanks to my "favorite" tourists. Leaving the station, the right eye again hinted to me that you should not be in a hurry ... "I cannot be late, if I do this, that young lady might think that I am not responsible."
The fate of the villain
After driving a few kilometers I heard the sound of an ambulance siren. The computer immediately warned about some serious accident in front and suggested that I slow down, which I naturally ignored. You know how it happens ... You work, you seem to be doing the work that is necessary for all of humanity and you remain intact, while other people die falling from a stool?
After a while, I was shaken by a shiver from an incomprehensible sense of danger and not knowing what was happening. Suddenly this happened...
The final
Police pursued suspected terrorists and their vehicle crashed into me. The vehicle immediately blocked all the doors, and the cabin was filled with an incomprehensible gas, which prevented me from giving normal breathing. My legs were clamped and there was no way out, I was just waiting ... You might think that I was lucky that I survived. But there is another side of the medal, I was left nobody needs, without legs and without having met her again.
End of recording.
Domino Harvy
Ex Core Paladin, Sword of Imperium
Ex Hunter, Sex Symbol, Killer.