Trevors didn’t take his eyes off the screen. “I didn’t.” Before Dr. Calloway could open his mouth in a retort, his colleague continued, checking his watch. “However, I believe he ought to be here any minute.”
The corner of Calloway’s mouth curled in a sneer. “Well, he’s three weeks late already. What’s another few minutes?”
Dr. Trevors didn’t reply. He hunched over diagnostics, still occasionally glancing at the news reports on his datapad. Calloway busied himself with digging through any of the slightest anomalies detected during the weeks of testing. He knew each miniscule malfunction by heart, and he was more than assured the problems had been fixed, tested, re-fixed, re-tested, and re-everythinged a dozen times.
There was truly nothing to do but wait.
An hour passed in the dullness which followed, and finally the neurosurgeon arrived.
Dr. Calloway’s irritation had deepened significantly during the period of waiting, as contemplation of already- solved problems didn’t hold his attention very well. When the escort of soldiers filed out of the elevator, his face was fixed in an angry scowl.
They moved quickly, taking positions around the isolation lab and standing at attention. Two more men stepped out, one wielding an air and expression of military authority along with the markings of high rank. The other was a short, bald man who carried a cryo-container labeled
Calloway immediately disliked both men. Military personnel often seemed so short-sighted and arrogant, and the expression on the surgeon appeared so damnably smug. Without saying a word, the surgeon made it seem as though the entire project, all of Calloway’s hard work, was of his doing.
“Surgeons…” the doctor muttered, turning back to his work.
The two men cycled through the arduous security, and after several moments, the door to the lab slid open.
“Greetings Dr. Calloway, Dr. Trevors,” the military man spoke in a crisp tone. “I’m Colonel Pierce, and this is Dr. Ymarin.”
The surgeon gave a thin smile and a nod, all but ignoring the other two doctors before moving toward the table. “This is the one, yes?” he asked in a nasal tone. “Hm. Brutish. IVAN, is it?” He peered down his nose at the body on the table. “Was it really necessary, doctor, to craft him with an Old Earth eastern-European descent?”
An involuntary growl, almost inaudible, escaped from Calloway’s throat. He spoke in a scathing tone. “We seemed to have a surplus of
Ymarin shrugged. “I apologize my rigorous and very important schedule could not easily accommodate this small diversion.” Calloway’s scowl deepened.
“Gentlemen,” Colonel Pierce interrupted, “I believe it would be best if we focused upon the task at hand.”
“Yes, yes.” Dr. Ymarin waved a hand in dismissal. “I have many pressing matters to attend to. Dr… Calloway, is it?” He cocked his head. “Could you see to it that my payment is processed? I would like to avoid any unnecessary delays once the work is completed.”
Calloway bared his teeth. “Listen here, you little—”
“I’ll contact the boys upstairs to take care of it Dr. Ymarin,” Trevors cut in, barely concealing a smile at Calloway’s expense. “You’re going to need Dr. Calloway’s assistance for the procedure, anyway. I’m afraid the implantation process, though fascinating, is a bit beyond my own expertise. All I can do is watch.”
“Hm. Indeed.” Ymarin eyed Calloway. “Well? Are you just going to stand there with a dour expression, or are you going to make yourself useful?”
Biting back a retort, Calloway stepped towards his diagnostics console. Hiding his amusement, Trevors moved out of the room, heading toward the office to make his call. The colonel stepped to the side and held a passive, watchful expression.
The two remaining doctors continued to snipe at each other as they set about the task. Ymarin cracked open the cooling unit and gingerly extracted the final piece of Ivan. Calloway took a brief moment to marvel at the human brain. Normally so small and unimpressive, this particular organ crawled with cybernetic enhancements. Metallic parts spewed from every inch of the gray tissue, a cocoon of brilliance and technology. Trevors stepped back to the observation glass as they began the work.
The task was arduous. The brain fit snugly within the neosteel confines of the skull plate, and Ymarin, with a surgeon’s deftness, connected each relay. As he did, Calloway ran diagnostics and electrical currents through each to ensure proper coupling. Every one took time to attach and time to verify, and there were many.
Calloway and Ymarin fell into silence, ceasing their posturing and focusing upon the work. A begrudging respect fell over Calloway as he observed the surgeon’s amazing steady hands and flawless progress, not that he’d ever admit it.
Finally, the last connection set into place, and Calloway confirmed it as functional.
“Well, I must say, doctor, your performance was adequate,” Ymarin said as he flicked his gloves into the waste receptacle. “I have several pressing appointments yet today, but I admit I’m curious to see whether or not this brute will actually function.”
Dr. Calloway ignored the surgeon, excitement coursing through him.
He shouldered his way past Ymarin and set about affixing the skull plate, complete with a thin dusting of hair on top of the synth-flesh. A few moments and a brief electrical stimulation later, the skull plate nestled in place, and the skin sealed itself together. The slab of technology was finished, awaiting activation.
Calloway stepped back, almost in awe of how Ivan appeared as innocuous as an unconscious or dead human, minus the obvious anatomical indicators. He turned towards the colonel. “Are we cleared for a demonstration?”
“Yes, doctor, please proceed.” Pierce gave a sharp nod.
“Step back,” Calloway said to Ymarin.
“He’s not going to bite, is he?” The surgeon smirked.
Calloway snorted. “His energy output could vaporize your body and this facility in less time than it would take for your arrogant and feeble mind to realize its imminent demise.” With a shocked expression, Ymarin opened his mouth to retort. Calloway held up a hand. “This is more delicate and dangerous than simply connecting nerve tissues. Please step back.”
With an offended scowl, the surgeon moved to the side and looked on. Dr. Calloway, heart hammering, approached his creation.
Upon Ivan’s chest, digging prongs into the synthetic flesh, he placed a device. “The ‘on’ switch,” he said, a nervous energy cracking his voice. “It’s needed to activate the reactor gradually. To avoid overload.”
Sweat beading on his forehead, he stepped over to the console. After a few button presses, Ivan’s reactor came to life, warming slowly. Tiny fluctuations stabilized as the energy device hit minimum output. He dialed an increase.
An audible hum filled the air along with the subtle stench of ozone. Pierce tensed, reaching for the butt of his side arm. A bluish hue crackled over Ivan’s body as the flesh absorbed and dissipated the energy which surged through him. Ymarin watched the unmoving body with amazement as Calloway dialed another increase.
The humming swelled to a low drone, a rumble which rattled inside the skulls of those present. Dr. Calloway’s vision blurred, and his eyes watered. Ymarin worked his jaw up and down, as though trying to pop his ears. “Is this normal?” he asked, tones of fear in his inflection.
Clenching his vibrating teeth, Calloway said, “Yes,” and dialed the final activation.
Luckily, the power-up test had already been conducted more than once. The process of gradual increase was determined and solidified, so there was no real danger of any manner of vaporization as long as Calloway handled it appropriately. The only possible trouble would be if the casing and brain tissue was not constructed or calibrated properly. All of Ymarin’s hard work would be liquefied inside the skull plate, leaving a hideous, stinking mass.
The drone settled, and the hue faded away from Ivan’s flesh. Calloway wiped a sleeve across his forehead. “Any second now,” he murmured.
“For what?” Ymarin asked, impatient.
Calloway shot him a glare and held up a silencing hand. He turned his attention back to Ivan, unblinking and holding his breath.
