“… essure…”
“… non-critical… hypovolemic… administrating… 1.3L… type S – Symbiote.”
“Stella… fine…?”
“Procedure… uccess…”
Unrecognizable voices spoke through a muffled filter. A ntal haze clouded Stella’s consciousness as sensation slowly returned. It began with her fingertips and ended with a faint throb where her eyes should be.
“Where…?” Stella murmured groggily.
“Ahhh! Stella! Please don’t sit up just yet!” Aster exclaid.
A band of flesh wrapped around Stella’s waist. The bed she lied on was a quasi-living entity called a Symbiotic Bed. They were indistinguishable from a regular bed when properly covered with quilts and pillows.
The Symbiotic Bed functioned identically to electronic hospital beds from Earth with the addition of autonomy. Indeed, these beds could function without the input of the user for the sake of their health.
Because anesthetic had the tendency to alter a patient’s state of mind, the Symbiotic Bed was fitted with a restraint module.
“Mn. You’ll pass out.” Ignis calmly said.
Several wet, cute splats followed. Stella raised a hand to the ache on her face and was surprised when her fingers brushed against layers of bandages. What entered were two slis with uniquely shaped caps. One had a giant red cross, and the other a pen.
“Mm. Thank you Sli N.5 (nurse). Please inform Sli N.7 about the success. Have Sli A.8 (Administrator) prepare the paperwork for Sli HA.1 (Head Administrator).”
“Gwaaa!”
“Sli C.8 (Chart), prepare to chart.”
The second sli produced another cute sound as a thin trail of goop plucked the pen from its head. It then began scribing down whatever Ignis recited as it made a (OwO) face.
“Vitals stable. Orbital cavities occupied by Symbiote Specin (Eye) 373.1 and 373.2. Aqueous humor at stable internal pressure. Virtuous humor comprised of specialized Gelatin Cells – G-5. It can withstand substantial pressures.”
“For… Snap?” Stella asked, her hand resting on the bandage.
“It can help with high Quants of ambient gravity. Corrosive resistant. Shockwaves will not have an effect either. Mn. Created with longevity in mind with delayed adaptation.”
“Delayed…?”
“You’re still growing. It would be unideal to have to constantly perform surgery just to have your eyes replaced.” Ignis wore a warm smile as she moved to Stella’s side.
Then, as another sli carrying a tray of food wandered in, she took a bowl of sliced apples and placed it into Stella’s hand.
“Mn. Humans aren’t machines.”
“… Yup. I’m very sorry. I always compare it to the way we lived in…”
Aster’s grip tightened. She hadn’t let go since the operation began.
“It’s ok. We’re not there anymore. How do you feel?”
“It’s aching.”
“Ignis…? Is that a bad thing?”
“Please do not worry. The ache is normal. You can only remove the bandages when the ache is gone.” Ignis assured.
Stella breathed a sigh of relief as she lightly rested her head on Stella’s legs.
“… It was a success. Stella… Does it hurt anywhere? Are you hungry?”
“A little…”
“You’re hurt!?”
“No no no! Hungry!”
“Ahh…”
Aster cald down after shooting up in shock. She darted her head at both Ignis and Stella, stuck between asking Stella where she was hurt or if Ignis could help. Thankfully, nothing was wrong with Stella. She was simply going through the motions.
“I apologize. I’ve been so worried.” Aster breathed. “I lost sleep for nothing.”
“You knew? Um… How long have you known for?
“I’ve known for a while.” Stella admitted.
A strange pang of heat hit Stella as she felt Aster lean in. The girl took an apple slice and brought it to Stella’s lips.
“It was planned…”
“Mhm.” Stella softly humd. “Here’s an apple.”
Stella’s lips parted, but it was not to eat the apple. A faint breath slipped through her teeth. She tried to find the words to speak, but an unbearable pressure weighed on her chest.
“Can I ask why they did it for ?”
Guilt.
Survivor’s guilt.
She, of everyone else that could have received the sa treatnt, was chosen over them. Why her? What did she do to deserve it?
The tumultuous thoughts were like knives, and every ti she tried to dissect this question, it felt like those knives were being driven into her chest. Stella was no more than a blind child with a damning aspiration to beco the sa thing that preyed on people.
So why am I given so much?
Just as the thoughts threatened to spill over, a sweet taste filled her mouth. The apple slice slipped through her lips with an audible pop, and she instinctively began chewing.
“I think you’ll have to ask them that yourself.” Aster laughed. “We don’t have to be suspicious anymore. You know that.”
“… I do.”
“But you can’t help it, can you?”
“Um… I’m sorry. I-It’s not suspicion though! It’s… um… I think?”
“Mn. I understand you completely.” Ignis said with a deft nod. “We should get you prepared. The commissioner wants you walking.”
“That’s right. Your benefactor.” Aster humd.
“… I already know who it was. I’m… I dunno how to think. I’m supposed to be happy. Really, really happy. But… I’ve been given so much already that I don’t know if I’m allowed to keep receiving gifts–”
“It’s not good to keep thinking about this and that. Just be happy that it is.” Ignis grabbed two slices and shoved them into Stella’s mouth at once. “There. You’re shut up. Follow .”
Stella could not believe them. Though she had been living in the Nexus for months now, a part of her instinctively expected to be struck whenever she asked too many questions. Her life as a blind, young girl in the Triple Paw Complex led to a life of constant loss. She never had her organs stolen. Stella was never seen as suitable for organ extraction.
Indeed, the Reorganizers did not see her as valuable. It was both a blessing and a curse; a blessing because she did not have to worry about losing her body parts. But a curse because she didn’t know what it ant to feel valued as a human being.
But that would also be a lie.
Because Aster was there.
Her friends were… until.. until…
“… Aha… Ahaha…” Stella giggled to herself. “Ah…”
“No crying.” Ignis ordered, sensing the tears building in the corner of Stella’s eyes, even behind the bandages. “The lacrimal duct isn’t fully seated yet. If you cry you’ll end up vomiting your tears.”
“E-Eh!? I-I won’t cry!” The hairs on Stella’s head stood up on all ends sohow, forming rabbit-like ears. “Promise!”
“Please don’t tease Stella so much.” Aster pouted. “Is she allowed to walk?”
“She can. But if she requires it, I can have the Gelatin Wheelchair called over.”
Aster wore a slightly strained smile. The na didn’t resonate with her, whereas Stella was infatuated with a wheelchair made of gelatin. Ignis suddenly frowned as her tail swiped the notepad from the nearby charter sli.
“Mn. Annoying.”
“I-I’m sorry?” Stella apologized, mistaking her sudden annoyance on her slowness to choose. “I-I’ll walk! Right now!”
“Not you. Nav. Grrr. She just compared to Frost.”
“Isn’t that a good…” Aster didn’t dare finish her sentence. The glare on Ignis’ face intensified as her eyes glowed a slight red.
“My naming sense. Nav thinks I’m just as bad as Frost. Gelatin sounds nice. Squishy and soft. Isn’t that right, Squishy Wishy 301?” She poked the cheek of the charting sli which made a blushing (>w
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