Vertebrae (In Progress)

Chapter 4: Exercising

  The next morning was a Wednesday. I was off of work so I decided that I would work with my new abilities. My alarm clock woke me up. I HAAAATE that alarm! I groggily decided to turn off the alarm clock without touching it. Unfortunately, combined with my lack of practice and my irritation towards the alarm, the poor machine that was only doing its job was reduced to sparks, shards of plastic, wires, and a spring or two. I'd need to replace that.

  I got up and changed. My new coils, or "branches" according to Vert, got in the way quite often. I had to keep focused or the branches would try to button up my blouse before it was officially on. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath after I was dressed, prepping myself for a long day. I sat at the table and tried to make pancakes. I did it with my eyes closed too, hoping that it would help me concentrate. I imagined the pancakes sliding towards me, ready to be eaten, but when I opened my eyes I was disgusted by the mangled mess before me on an upside-down plate. Maybe eyes closed wasn't the greatest idea.

  I tried to remember what Vert had said. "Think of them as an extension of yourself," or whatever. I watched as one of my branches carefully carried the plate to the sink and slowly rinse it off. I began reshaping how I say it all. I was the one cleaning the plate, not the metal coil. Unfortunately, the idea didn't appeal very much. I would really rather be all human than part machine. I sighed and accepted it because there really wasn't a way I could fix it. It was as if the very acceptance of such a concept straightened out all the kinks. The branches felt more "me" then alien. I finished washing the plate and dried it off. I sent out a second and a third branch to start breakfast. I stood in the center of the small kitchen where I could better see what I was doing.

 The pancakes were whipped up easily and cooked just the same. I slathered them in syrup and ate them happily. I stood in the front room and fed Stinky from afar. The thought of being able to reach things way above my usual reach made me giggle. Stinky glanced curiously at my new appendage and munched away at his meal.

 A thought occurred to me. What if I could do more than just reach things and make pancakes? Doctor O had said that the Iunctium was able to hide more of itself within itself. I thought for a minute and then tested this theory. I had my three coils stretch to the walls and then I sent out as many more as I could. More and more of the branches shot out, stretching my blouse and creating a forest of horizontal vines. I couldn't even see through the mess. The only difference I felt in the Vertebrae was one of a lighter feeling. I retracted my new arms and thought about this for a bit.

 What if there were other things I could make other than coils? I experimented with that inkling. I pulled a coil to my face. It leveled a foot before my eyes. The tip with round and harmless at appearance. I pushed at it mentally and it became pointed. Out of instinct, I pointed away from my face. I turned it so that it was at the same height but it pointed to the right.

 I molded the branch into several different shapes. I had a star, a heart, a blade, a spear, and a spiral. I pressed at it and it became a bulge. Five more tendrils popped out and became fingers. I scratched my nose with it and patted my hair.

 A third thought danced through my head. Vert had said that he was there to be a guide and teach the user to properly use the Vertebrae and its Iunctium functions. What if there were other things to be learned? I chewed on my nail out of nerves but made up my mind quickly anyway.

  "Vert?" I called. "Automatic mode, please."

  "Sheesh," Vert's voice rang through my head. "It took you long enough to figure all that out!"

  "Yeah, yeah," I replied. "Anyway, what else is this contraption supposed to do?"

  "Well," Vert shot back. "Its supposed to be on the back of a creature from a very far away planet. I do believe you are asking what the Vertebrae can do."