Leon laid on the table and after settling in, the machinery injected him with a sedative, forcing him to quickly fall unconscious. All 20 subjects from Group C had initiated their surgeries.
Leon and all the other subjects of group 3 lay unconscious on their respective tables. The machinery around them initiated and began cutting into them, while also injecting them with various liquids. The injections caused some of them to twitch, sensing the movement the tables deployed restraints that locked them in place. For those who choose the titanium/tantalum bone replacement, they had it even far worse. For them the machines multi-tasked to complete both stages of the project. For the ones who chose boron carbide grafting, regardless of pigmentation, their skin began to redden. They were the most reactive and constantly spasming. Several of the boron carbide graft subjects had already set off alarms in the medical equipment.
As for the pandora beast organic metal subjects they showed no reaction at all. Even the monitoring equipment was recording normal readings. As if the experiment hadn't even started.
Leon wasn't among the lucky organic metal subjects, nor was he among the unlucky boron carbide subjects. He floated in limbo as a special case. When making his decision Leon attempted to choose both the tantalum and titanium bone replacement. This was not a normal option, but after several attempts, it was finally approved by Cassius and Nora. Leon's procedure was the most unique one because of this, and he was under the constant observation of Cassius and Nora.
They watched as large needles filled with silver liquid drilled into his bones, deploying the liquid. The screens showed the liquid mixing with his bone marrow, the person himself seemed dead to the world during this process. There was no voluntary or involuntary movement from him at all. His chest was at some point cut open exposing his heart. A net-like sleeve was stitched around and onto the organ and all the tubes around it. Another set of needles injected a clear liquid into his veins. This time the screens Cassius and Nora were looking at showed the internal situation of Leon. The clear liquid was sticking to the walls of his veins causing them to expand and harden. They were able to view it though because there were also nanobots inside the liquid. The nanobots moved through his veins exiting where they could to reach muscle, connective tissue, they even began releasing even smaller nanites that search out nerves.
It was at this point that Nora began to realize something was wrong. She brought out a small tablet and began swiping through pages of information and pictures rapidly.
"Do not bother looking for it, I have decided to modify this experiment in particular," Cassius said to her never moving his focus from the screen.
"You've arbitrarily decided to not only change the experiment, but you also forged my consent to this. We are supposed to be partners in this yet you are ignoring my role in this project," Nora replied through gritted teeth, while her body quaked in anger.
"We are not partners in this project. I made that clear in the beginning when I introduced us and the project. I specifically stated you were assisting me and would be overseeing the medical aspect of the experiment. I have never once referred to you as a partner. Partners are inefficient in projects of this magnitude, conflicting ideas and battles of ethics will only hinder the completion of the project. They have all agreed to this despite the dangers of death, that one in particular even tried to undergo both surgeries. The mortality rate of his experiment was already increased, my additional modifications change nothing. If you have a problem with this you can launch your own project after the completion of this one."
Despite the very indignant and rage-filled look on her face, Nora did not respond to Cassius. Even if she had wanted to it would've been impossible as some of the surgery were in their final phases. The restraints on the subjects that were completing their surgery. The first one, surprisingly, to get up was Yumisa. Not only that, but she seemed to have instantly recovered from the surgery. Cassius, Nora, and the other subjects that were starting to awaken watched as she did a series of stretches and light exercises. The other subjects watched her through narrowed eyes, she was running and jumping with no problem while they were in agonizing pain all over. Some of the subjects were even crying either from the physical pain of the surgery or from seeing the ones who hadn't woken despite the halted machines. Of the 20 members of group 3 seven passed away during the surgery and four would be permanently crippled from this day forward, leaving nine remaining from group 3. Eight had woken up and were in recovery in the room, while the final member was still on the table undergoing his surgery.
Leon found himself in a strange environment, he was in a dark space that gave birth to blurry images every few seconds. He tried to look around but was unable to control himself. His view was drawn to certain images, and it kept getting increasingly faster.
'A spaceship? I've never seen that model. a city on fire. Lizardmen? Bodies falling from the sky.'
Leon could barely keep up with the images he was seeing. Ultimately he entirely lost track of them and watched as they flashed like strobe lights. Then suddenly the dark space brightened to the extreme becoming white. There was an indistinct figure far in the distance. Although he couldn't see much he could tell that it was staring at him. Finally, everything went black again, before he found himself staring at a familiar ceiling.
"This phase is over you will all have a few days rest to recover before coming back for the final stage. Those of you who have not completed stage 3 are restricted to your rooms, you are not to strain yourselves until completion of all surgeries," Cassius said.
Medical assistants were attempting to transfer Leon to a stretcher, but it was proving difficult as even with five people they couldn't lift him. While they were still figuring out what to do with him, Cassius spoke once again.
"Leave him there, I want to keep him for further observation."
The assistants nodded to Cassius and moved on to carting out the other members of group 3, who couldn't move on their own. Leon was left still staring blankly at the ceiling as his mind raced. He was still trying to make sense of the 'dream' he had. He hadn't even acknowledged the changes to his body yet.
"Leon Lawson this would be the second time we're meeting. I'd like to speak with you about your new abilities and enhancements."