Dentist in Training

It'd been a year full of new experiences for Ashton as Novembers end of year exam season rolled around. Everything he'd learned had been mounting to this point. Countless hours of lectures combined with unfathomable amounts of study. He'd sacrificed so much to get this far. All of it weighing on his final exam.

Failure to pass this first year final exam would see him rejected from the course entirely and left to pursue a different university route. In any normal dentistry unit you'd simply try again next year but not this course. You had to prove yourself competent without a measure of a doubt and demonstrate a commitment to understanding safe practice.

This of course wasn't without good reason. It was just one of the many tight restraints placed on the introduction of Body Modification Technology (BoMo-Tech) to the medical field. Ensuring only those who had been rigorously trained and tested were allowed to operate it was the only way to cut down the government's red tape.

The technology itself was by no means new, having been invented over 10 years ago. Though access to it had been wardened off only to the most highly skilled of government approved researchers. It was from these researchers studies that the technology's application to medicine was realised. Before long its benefits to medicine were undeniable and mounting pressure from the public seemed to reach a tipping point.

But in order to roll out the tech medical practitioners were required to be trained from the ground up. The first wave of classes were to be conducted with very limited numbers so as to maintain control over the techs rollout.

So when Ashton's high school careers councillor offered him the opportunity to become a trailblazer practitioner of the new tech he jumped at it. Putting in everything he had. Sure, it wasn't a renowned life saving medical position like a neurosurgeon but dentistry was more than he could have hoped for based on his grades. And besides, just the ability to use the tech opened countless doors in the future.

— — —

Ashton approached the campus examination building. His breaths were short as he raised his hand to open the front door. The handle ever so slightly rattling as Ashtons hand jittered uncontrollably.

"Room 155, room 155, room 155" Ashton repeated his examination room over and over under his breath as he began walking down the corridor. The front door creaked as it closed with a thud behind his back.

Either side of the corridor was lined with doors to operatory rooms. The term he'd been taught to call a dentists office. Whilst these rooms were intended for learning they by no means lacked anything you'd find in a formally licensed, functioning dental practice. So much so any normal person wouldn't notice a difference.

As Ashton nervously continued his way down the hall he glanced into each room through a small window on each door. Inside every operatory he could see an examiner and a faux patient. Whilst he couldn't see the examinee there was a live feed video monitor streaming their perspective. This only served to increase his restlessness, it wasn't long now until that'd be him. Failing this exam simply wasn't an option.

Ashtons steps slowed as he neared room 155. The closed door stood before him dauntingly. Through the window he could just barely make out the exam scheduled before him still in progress. Whilst taped to the door was a note.