Operation 002 - Just what the doctor ordered

[autoerotica]

[Phone A - Filtered to Hol Horse]

Mr. Horse? This is Dr. Aston with a follow-up call. I was wondering if you'd have the time to stop by my house so I can check on your progress? I know you seem to have fully recovered, but it's best to be safe, is it not?

[Phone B]

So, I have to ask, does anyone know how these postal deliveries arrive? I mean, yes, I received a package, as I understand is the norm, but I'm very concerned as to how the second item I received was already installed in my basement. Considering that the house is very well locked up when no one is home...

[Sigh.] No matter, I suppose.

Anyway, I have to say, working with humans has been an illuminating experience. Even as a medical professional, I rarely had interactions outside my own race back home. We weren't exactly the sharing type, and I can't say there's ever been a reason for an organic to ever need our assistance. Which, of course, leads to every experience here being new and exciting.

What puzzles me, though, is how resilient you humans are, in the face of having some of the least durable bodies I've encountered in my long history. Your internal skeletons can only maintain integrity under a certain amount of weight, and before then, many of your organs would fall prey to irreversible tears and ruptures. Your skins do next to nothing as far as protection goes, and your muscular systems...

And yet, your sheer force of will helps you survive even in the face of those odds. I find it strange that whatever forces designed you, would sacrifice physical toughness for an indomitable psyche. It's curious to no end.

Perhaps that's what I miss about working on my own mechanical brethren - everything was simple and easy to understand. Certainly, our systems were interconnected, but you could easily isolate a problem and replace a part before anything vital was affected. At this rate, I feel I might get rusty as far as the simpler workings of a synthetic being.

[Chuckle.] And I would hate to get rusty.

Comments

Phone A

[emperor_cowboy]

Yea? ... curious 'bout them injuries. Must've been somethin' t' do with th' town since... they healed rather quickly.

Ya sure a check up is necessary?

Re: Phone A

[autoerotica]

Indeed. Which is why I feel a check up is absolutely necessary. We need to ensure that the speed of their recovery didn't have any unforeseen side effects, after all. I've done some reading, and occasionally injuries that appear to heal perfectly may, in fact, have complications down the line.

Better to ensure that nothing's going wrong now, than to encounter a problem later, right?

[emperor_cowboy]

I... well I suppose. If ya say so... this won't take long, will it?

Phone B

[photonicfighter]

[Dakki was almost going to ignore this strange and long-winded new voice, but then came the "you humans" part and then "mechanical brethren"... And now he had her attention. Non-humans had to be befriended! Or at least humored until proven to be unpleasant.

A feminine, slightly synthesized sounding voice comes over the wires.]

This town's medical technology is very primitive. There are worlds where humanoid bodies can be repaired in similar ways to what you've described. Mine's one of them.

Still... I suppose that doesn't improve matters now...

[autoerotica]

Is that so? True, it doesn't help right now, but still...

[Oh, he notices that synthetic tinge in the voice.]

I do not believe we've been introduced, my dear. Dr. Kurt Aston.

[photonicfighter]

It's an interesting point of trivia? It speaks well for some of the worlds out there?

[She ends that with a small uncertain sound.. but her tone is back to bright and pleasant when she next replies.]

I don't think we have, Dr. Aston! I'm Dakki Sigal.

Phone B

[stupidsexydate]

Yanno, if you need a refresher course on human physiology, I'm available. I don't think we've met, but I'm Dr. Akira Date, one of the doctors at the hospital. If you wanna talk shop, that's all good too.

[autoerotica]

No, I'm afraid we have not, though I've seen your name once or twice at the hospital. I would very much like a refresher; the physiology is so alien to what I'm used to that I'd rather keep it fresh in my mind.

Dr. Kurt Aston, at your service.

[stupidsexydate]

Nice ta meetcha Kurt. I'll definitely give you a refresher course. Come by when you have time and I'll give you a few lessons and a couple of supplementary things to read up on.

Phone

[ooeeooahah]

Dr Ilsa Higa, here.

There's a good bit of philosophical theory on that - much of it centering on humans developing the intellectual and personality traits to make up for losing claws and heavier bone structure.

[autoerotica]

Hello again, doctor.

Indeed? I suppose it would make sense. Sometimes I wish that the files I had access to back in my own world weren't so woefully slim on the topic of humans. I can certainly appreciate them more than I thought I would.

[ooeeooahah]

I got some of my textbooks recently, but we have to see if Quinn can find something to read the discs. Typical Mayfield, they send my discs but no reader.

When they send my psychiatry texts, I'd be happy to share them.

[ phone b ]

[electrowhipit]

... "Mechanical brethren"?

[autoerotica]

Well, yes. My species. Robotic organisms.

[electrowhipit]

Funny- I was training under the medic we had back home, and instead of making me a doctor when I got here, they made me a mechanic.

Phone b

[yamaxanadu]

The package is simply a symbolic item for the most part, when it comes to things being returned. But considering the method of this town there is no place private from the ones in charge here.

Humans are interesting in their will and are unique in many ways. Their ability to innovate and create make up for their lack of protection physically.

[autoerotica]

Interesting. Not that I'm arguing with the results - I had a very valuable piece of equipment delivered and installed. But it's still unnerving to know that locked doors mean nothing to them.

I will agree in that regard. Since becoming acquainted with their species, I've come to appreciate their innovations in art and aesthetics, at least.

[yamaxanadu]

It is only to be expected, they did trap us here in this manner after all.

I know them very well myself, yet I am still sometimes surprised by some of the things they are capable of.

B)

[begintheoperation]

[Oh boy! A colleague!]

Indeed, but there is a great deal of growth available to the human form~ With the proper equipment available it is very possible to replicate and even alter the DNA for assorted medical and scientific purposes~

I do agree that the drive to live in humanity is amazing~ Sometimes the body is willing to go on even with the person gives up, but that's where doctors are needed~

[autoerotica]

Indeed? I wasn't aware that the human body could be modified in such a way. This is something I'll have to look into more.

I see. My species has that level of will, but with purely mechanical bodies, it's much easier to keep the body from reaching that point. Then again, when a spark fades, it's gone for good with us.

[begintheoperation]

If I had access to my lab notes, I'd be happy to share them with you~ But that doesn't seem possible right now~

Purely mechanical bodies~ How do you reproduce or recover from injury? Do you have to repair it as you would any other technological device?

[Phone B]

[quickly]

I dunno, but I heard some'a our stuff's at the dump.

[There's a pause while Scout thinks about what this ... robot? has said over the phone.]

Hey! I met some robot dude here before. You know him? His name was uh ... Gatt, I think.

[autoerotica]

The dump? That's an odd place for it to go...

...

Gatt? I'm afraid I don't know that name, sorry.

[Phone B]

[pnshandnslv]

[He growled as he answered and listened carefully.]

Perhaps you should find yourself a new toy.

[autoerotica]

Perhaps, perhaps. Could always use some new entertainment...

Oh! That does remind me, my friend... I have a new toy that may be of some use to us, once I refine it a bit.