The off switch was relocated in the recent 2.2 upgrade – from inside the left thigh, to the forearm, complete with protective casing.
It was a commonly held misconception that Androgyne would be readily available for home use by the year 2110. Due to its violent and erratic nature, it was sold to USARIC by Manning/Synapse for $10 bn for exclusive space exploration use.
The lab technician continues to eat his meals through a straw some sixteen years later…
Wool ar-Ban spent a good hour or so chasing Jelly around the mid-section of the vessel. The cat had had a good work out and felt fatigue start to set in.
Jelly found her way, quite by accident, to Botanix. She clawed at the glass door, wanting to get into the vast green playground that tempted her from the other side of the screen door. It was an area she remembered well from the tour of the ship.
A place to play.
Wool stepped after her and placed her hands on her hips. “You want to go in and see the plants?”
“Meow.”
Jelly ran her claws along the glass a second time, demanding satisfaction.
The door slid open before Wool had a chance to explain to her new feline friend that it might not be a good idea.
“Jelly,” Haloo emerged from behind her computer terminal and chuckled as Jelly darted through the first row of plants. “Oh, my. She’s a curious one, isn’t she?”
“Thanks for opening the door, Haloo,” Wool said, sarcastically. “We’ll never catch her, now.”
“Ah, she’ll be fine,” Haloo watched Jelly rummage around the soil, looking for something to kill. “The exit doors are closed. She can’t get lost in here.”
“How is everything?” Wool asked.
“Still turning carbon dioxide into oxygen if that’s what you mean.”
Wool took in the impressive view of various plant life. The rows were illuminated by a set of powerful lamps hanging from the ceiling.
“Would you like some fresh H2O?”
“Yes,” Wool followed Haloo over to a unit in the corner of the room. “Jelly’s tiring herself out. She’s already had a go on my inner-suit.”
“Got some sharp claws on her, huh?”
“You could say that,” Wool inspected her sleeve and tugged a string of fabric away. “She must be thirsty.”
“Call her over. I’ll fix a saucer for her.”
Haloo pressed a button on the machine and held a paper cup under the nozzle. The unit hummed to life and released a jet of ice-cold water.
“Here, get your lips around this.”
“Thanks.
Wool took a sip and felt a shiver roll down her spine. “Mmm. That’s crazy good.”
“I know, right?”
Jelly snaked in and out of the bamboo plants. She bent over and patted her knees “Jelly? Come here, girl.”
“Meow.”
Jelly was too preoccupied with her new playground to obey any orders.
Haloo shook her head and giggled. “How on Earth did she pass the obedience test?”
“No idea.”
“This is silly,” Haloo stood up straight and removed a paper cone from the holder. She slid her fingernail under the glue and fanned the paper out, bending the edges around the outskirts. “Maybe she’ll respond to this.”
Haloo held the makeshift paper saucer under the water nozzle and filled it half way.
“Ooh, you’re good,” Wool chuckled. “I’ll have a refill after you’re done with her.”
“Sure,” Haloo set the half-full paper saucer onto the floor and squatted in front of it. She clapped her hands together and whistled. “Jelly? Come, get some fresh.”
“Meow.”
Jelly knew exactly what was on offer and ran out from the plants. She screeched to a halt on her paws and helped herself to the water.
“Good girl,” Haloo smiled, aiding Jelly’s drinking session by rubbing her back. “You’re such a cute little thing, aren’t you?”
“Don’t let her charming exterior fool you, Haloo,” Wool laughed and refilled her paper cone. “She’s a vicious little thing when she wants to be’
“Yes, but she’s our vicious little thing,” Haloo giggled and ran her palm over Jelly’s head as she drank from the saucer. “When is she due for installation?”
“The Infinity Claws operation only takes twenty minutes, but she’ll need about two hours of R and R after we’re done.”
“How’s her paw-eye coordination?”
“Did you see her entrance a few minutes ago?” Wool licked her lips with excitement. “It’s spot on.”
“Aww.”
Haloo couldn’t resist Jelly’s adorableness. “Such a good little girl, aren’t you? Yes. Yes, you are.”
Jelly purred loudly as she sucked down the last drop of water.
“Come here,” Haloo scooped Jelly under her stomach and cradled her in her arms. She looked down at the cute face staring up at her.
The light from the lamps reflected across Jelly’s eyes. Haloo brushed her thumb over the cat’s face, feeling the soft, voluminous fur.
“Beautiful creature, you are. So healthy. So alive.”
Wool smiled and tossed the paper cone in the recycle bin next to the dispenser. “She’s the most perfect cat I’ve ever met in that respect. Not a blemish. Absolutely nothing wrong with her. A truly unique specimen.”
“That little boy back home must be missing her,” Haloo said, finding it difficult to tear her eyes away from Jelly’s face. “I feel sorry for him. What was his name?”
“Jamie.”
“Yeah, I remember now. Jamie.”
“He knows she’s in good hands. We’ll look after her.”
“Yes, we will,” Hallo moved her nose onto Jelly’s and kissed her on the head.
“Meow.” Jelly rubbed her face on Haloo’s and licked the ends of her hair.
“Oh. She doesn’t do that with me!” Wool said, pretending to take offense. “Well, well, well… talk about allegiance.”
“Ha,” Haloo chuckled, pulling Jelly’s mouth away from her face, “Well, it could be because I have cleaner hair than you.”
“Dry shampoo?” Wool snorted held out her hands, “I doubt that. Can I have her back, now?”
“Sure.”
Haloo passed Jelly back to her. The cat licked her lips and got comfy in Wool’s arms.
“Swing by Medix when you have time. Don’t be a stranger.”
“I will,” Haloo smiled and waved at Jelly. “Bye-bye, sweetie. Have a good operation.”
“Meow.”
A metal boot slammed to the floor.
The laces tightened across the tongue of the boot and squeezed shut. The foot stomped onto the ground three times.
“Pure titanium, that is,” Jaycee said, looking down at his leg. “Absolutely impenetrable.”
Baldron Landaker stood beside him, impressed with his colleague’s footwear. “What’s that got to do with weapons?”
“This.” Two barrels swung out from the sides of the boot and armed themselves. “Stand back.”
“Okay.”
Jaycee lifted his knee and aimed it down the shooting gantry.
BLAM-BLAM-BLAM-BLAM!
Two bullets fired out alternately from each cylinder and hit the silhouetted mannequin target. Bits of plastic flew in all directions. Even at a clear fifty-foot distance, the boots provided a remarkably accurate shot.
Baldron wafted the bullet residue away from his face and pulled the creases out from his inner-suit. “So, if we come across any tangos, we just shoot them with our feet?”
“No, the footwear is for me. I just want you to know I have them.”