Recombination

Chapter 8

I doubt the elevator ride was very long, but when an A.I that is nearing the end of it's lifespan is talking about how fascinating paint peeling is on your way down....well let's just say it's not on my top ten things to do.

"I really thought blue would d-d-dry up first! It looked so promising but then r-r-red managed to steal the victory from both yellow and blue! I just c-c-couldn't believe it!"

"Amazing." said Lyra dryly.

"That's wh-wh-what I said!"

The doors opened revealing the all too familiar setting of glowing blue light pods surrounded by cold white smoke. Lyra shivered and got close to me.

"This place gives me the creeps."

"I get what you're saying." I said to her. "There's a sort of thin veil here, between life and death."

Bin guided us to the command center. While we walked along the rows of pods we peered in some of them. All of the vitals were displayed individually on each of the translucent front coverings of the pods. They showed a green line going up and down, a good sign according to Lyra.

When we got to the top of the command center there was already a metal tray with a needle, alcohol, band aid, and two small vials.

"How did you get this ready for us?" I ask. "I don't think you have hands do you?"

"I have my ways." said the A.I smugly.

There was a sink in the command room that surprisingly still had running water, and clean water at that. Lyra washed her hands in them, then she put on latex gloves from a nearby small box. She came back with the metal tray.

"You are in luck, Jack-"

"Jack?" asked Bin. "My data tells me his n-n-name is Gregory Case. I am usually not incorrect."

"Oh I just call him that to make fun of him. It's an inside joke."

"Ahh. Humans are so s-s-strange."

I was about to agree with Bin but decided it would be smarter if I stayed quiet.

"Anyway you are very lucky I was a doctor. This used to be a regular wednesday morning for me." She started rubbing alcohol on my shoulder. "Now you are going to feel a prick followed by a sting. Don't uh....fight or flight on me. Just relax and let it happen. It will be over before you know it."

I felt the pain but it was small and insignificant, an afterthought as Lyra gave me a reassuring smile.

"You are doing great."

Before I knew it the drawing of blood was over. She put the bandaid on my shoulder. It wasn't very necessary since my regeneration made quick work of the wound, but I didn't tell her that. She seemed to enjoy the thought of playing a part in the healing process. Lyra handed over the vials into a small hole that had opened up in the wall. She put them inside and the hole closed itself.

"They will be so ha-ha-happy to study that when they wake up."

"We should get started on that shouldn't we?" replied Lyra.

"Oh yes! You are c-c-correct."

Bin shepherd us to the front of the command center where a host of all sorts of buttons, dials and switches were laid out over a sort of table. Bin then went on to explain that despite his eagerness to release his masters, an override of his original parameters was necessary. This can only be done by humans.

"It's simple really. Just press the red button.....then the blue one, then the green one, switch that one from off to on, turn that dial 30 degrees, then press the blue one again, then....."