"Keep it up people, I need to see those legs moving. The last half of the group will have to run another lap." Jennifer shouted at the new recruits that ran around the outer wall. With her hand on her left hand on her hip, her right was in a sling that was made to help her get used to her severed hand.
It had been a week since the funeral, as well as three days since she woke back up. When she had finally awoken, she found herself in Nix's lab during her routine check up. Upon seeing her arm severed and one eye had been blinded, she fell into a deep depression almost immediately. After some comforting words, Nix showed her a project that brought hope back to her. For now, she stood in the hot sun of the afternoon, having been assigned to train the new recruits alongside Vela and Junker. These two would train them on basic techniques, with Vela teaching close combat and Junker teaching how and when to use their rifles or pistols. Thanks to the new tables that was made by the four recruits in the lab, the new recruits were given basic weapons to train with until they were assigned their own.
Nix told them that this process was not only to teach them discipline, but also to have the recruits cherish their equipment more than themselves. The four of them quickly agreed to this, with the last instructor being Sasha. She was off duty currently to allow the recruits to allow the recruits to recover their Mana safely. She was brought in every other day to teach them how to circulate their Mana properly, as well as train those that were aspiring mages like herself. Though she had little knowledge of magic, she was still the most-versed in spells within the village, causing the training to fall on her shoulders. She spent her days off reading tomes her people managed to bring, translating them for the STELLAR system to make the training easier.
While Jennifer was watching the recruits disappear behind the wall in the distance, she recieved a call from Sheeva, asking her to return to the lab. She excitedly told Vela and Junker to train the recruits as usual, reminding them to make the last half run first, before sprinting off into the village.
People around her were in a bustle, sharing stories, eating food, some even packing unneeded stuff for the plan a few weeks from now. She ignored these people as she sprinted past them, narrowly dodging a few that were walking across the street. As she spotted Drevid, she waved her arm and called out to him.
Drevid, who'd stayed by her side whenever he could these days, gave her a warm smile and opened his arms for her to jump into. "Hello love, today's the day right?"
"Yep, Sheeva just told me they'd finished." She giggled like a little girl as she held him.
After she'd finally let go, Drevid resting his hands on her shoulders and gave her a worried look. "Now remember, I'll be by your side the whole time okay? If you don't want to follow through with this-"
"Drevid, please. Nix not only promised it will go well, but has shown us proof multiple times on your request. Plus, this is a good way to show everyone who's lost hope that they can still live a normal life." Jennifer reassured the Vyrin before kissing his cheek. Grabbing his hand, he led Drevid to Nix's lab with a bright smile. "Now come on, they are waiting for us."
Drevid could only sigh and shake his head with worry as he was pulled along. After giving a nod to Tu'Rai and Stoll, who were on duty today to guard the entrance to Nix's workshop. After an exchange of greetings and luck, Stoll opened the door for them to allow them inside.
Inside the lab were now 6 tables. Though five were against their respective walls working on various new pieces of equipment made from the Stone Keep soldiers armor, the last table was sat squarely in the center. Thankfully, the room was big enough to allow two people to walk around the sides of the table. A bunch of metal arms made of the newer metal were all arched at the ready for the two to see. Around the table stood Nix, Sheeva, Ju'Shal, and the four who were brought in as the new recruits.
"Welcome you two, are we all prepared for the prosthetics?" Nix asked as she leaned against Ju'Shal. Everyone knew that Ju'Shal was the one to hold Nix together on the way back to the village last week. Though to see how fast they were progressing in their relationship, it was rather comforting above everything else. Whereas Sheeva was a great support as her daughter, they all knew Nix needed a strong shoulder to lean on during tough times. Of course, Ju'Shal was still a bit shy, but she was easily able to hold Nix's shoulder as her tail waved happily behind her.
"I'm ready." Jennifer nodded quickly as she began to take her top off. The procedure was explained before hand to her on multiple accounts. First, they would have to cut up to her shoulder to make sure the right nerves were connected to the prosthetic. The same would be done with her head after the removal of her eye. Once the Mana Wires were successfully connected and tested, the machine would slowly print the prosthetics onto her like it was making armor. This process would take at least an hour normally, but Nix wanted the procedure to last at least a few hours to make sure everything went smoothly.
Nix then nodded to everyone else, who began moving to put on their equipment. Unlike Ju'Shal, who would sit at the desk and be overwatch for the village, the rest got into their armors to make sure germs weren't spread around for Jennifer's safety. Whereas Nix wore armor made out of the Dragon Steel, Sheeva wore her mother's old armor that was modified to fit her. Nix didn't want to use the new metals on her daughter, as she feared her child would one day wish to join her in battle. Instead, she had decided to use her old armor not only to help the child adjust, but to have a deeper connection with her at her own level. Sheeva happily accepted this, as she felt wearing her Mother's old armor would bring the two much closer than before. It was also because she now felt she had to compete for Nix's love against Ju'Shal at every turn, though she could never tell Nix this.
As Jennifer took her bra off to reveal her rather impressive chest, everyone around the table couldn't help by eye the woman. Va'Rish were known for their beauty, but to see it up close was definitely something else. This continued until Ju'Shal's glare made Nix shiver. She'd felt it before, and knew well to quickly switch modes from her past.
"Alright everyone, you've all gone through this simulation multiple times. If you follow as the system tells you, this will all be a piece of cake." Nix spoke as she cleared her throat, gesturing the smirking Va'Rish beauty to lay on the table.
Ju'Shal huffed and turned back around, making Nix sigh and droop her head a bit. She was in for it, that was certain. These thoughts quickly faded as she shook her head and turned to Sheeva. "Alright Sheeva, it's your turn. Drevid, you'll be sitting next to Jennifer the whole time. You are allowed to hold her hand, but any interjection from you will get you sent out."
Drevid nodded as he watched Sheeva turn around to grab a syringe. He then made his way to the chair that was placed for him, taking the cloth mask that was offered and slipping it on. Sitting down, he reached up with shaking hands and gave Jennifer another worried look. This made the half naked Va'Rish roll her eyes with a chuckle.
"I'll be fine Drevid. Nix has never once led us astray, I doubt she would let this happen if there was a chance I'd die."
"I know I know. It's just...I'm sorry I know you want this. I'll be here the whole time okay?" Drevid swallowed as he squeezed Jennifer's hand.
"I love you Drevid, I'll see you when I wake up" Jennifer gave him a reassuring as Sheeva pierced her other arm with the syringe, causing a deep sleep to wash over Jennifer.
"I love you too. I'll be there when you wake up." Drevid nodded as he watched the Va'Rish slip away slowly into her slumber.
After a few moments of watching the scanner, it reasurred her that Jennifer was asleep, allowing her to take a deep breath and nod. "Alright everyone, commence the prosthetic surgery. Make sure your suits keep you cool so sweat doesn't block your vision. We only have one shot at this."
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Night had settled by the time Jennifer had slowly woken up. Above her was the blue hued wooden ceiling she had fallen asleep under. Unlike before, the metal arms that were there to operate on her had now disappeared into their slots. After blinking a few times, her habit of rubbing her eyes came back to her, bringing up her right hand to rub them. She then Instinctively turned her head to look at the stub she had grown familiar with, only to find the lower half of her forearm was now holding a black metal hand. She was amazed at how it looked like her hand that she had lost, bringing a tear to her right eye.
Wait, I can see clearly now?
She quickly sat up and looked down at her hands, blinking a few times in astonishment. After a few moments, she closed her right eye to look through her left, seeing more easily in the darkness of the room compared to before.
"B-by the God's, I can see clearly. And my hand, oh God's, it worked, it really-"
She was interrupted by some shushing as a familiar hand reached up to grab her left hand. She then shut her mouth to turn and look at Drevid, who's eyes were red from the excited crying he could not stop. He gave her a bright smile and held his finger to his lips before gesturing behind her.
Giving a nod, she turned around and closed her right eye to see better at what Drevid pointed at. At the desk was Sheeva, who had the new chair laid flat so she could sleep peacefully with a blanket and pillow to comfort her. What she saw next almost made her weep in happiness as she covered her mouth with her new hand. Of course she was happy to see Drevid as soon as she'd waken up, but this sight felt much better to her than that.
She'd only remembered Nix as the powerful, yet easily broken woman since she came to the village. She'd witnessed her uncaring emotions, her deep depression, the coldness she'd exuded to the new people, her excited nature at her creations, as well as the deep fury when Nix saved her. But now, she had finally witnessed the happiness she'd hoped for the woman since she had decided to stay with them.
Next to the desk against the wall, sat Nix and Ju'Shal curled up together in a blanket. Nix's face had a warm smile on it, softer than any she'd seen given to anyone, even to Sheeva. The woman was clinging tightly to the Wolf-Kin as their tail beat softly against the floor in her sleep. The two looked so at peace, making her feel like a proud mother that watched over her happy child. She hugged Drevid as he stood up and cried softly, feeling like a heavy weight had been lifted off of her shoulders.
As the two held and wept happy tears, Striker stepped back into the room silently. He was looking down at the tablet he was given, going over some stuff before he looked up and say that Jennifer had woken up. He went to wake Nix up, but was suddenly frozen in place by a sudden pair of eyes on him. Looking over slowly, he saw both Drevid and Jennifer glaring at him, Jennifer's new black eye seeming pierce right through his soul. The two slowly shook their heads as a warning before gesturing for him to be silent and go to them.
He swallowed hard and gripped his tablet before taking careful steps towards them. He was lucky that the floor was made of stone, as he felt the slight patter of his feet brought more and more hatred from the couple. He figured they would be excited that the surgery was a success, wanting to wake Nix up immediately and celebrate. Now, as he finally stepped up to the two, he felt he was standing infront of the parents of the woman he'd proposed to only a few years ago as they glared down and judged him. "U-uhm, h-how do you f-feel Miss Jennifer?"
"Keep your voice down, do you want to wake those two?" Jennifer ordered in a hushed whisper.
"If you dare wake them, I'll skin you myself." Drevid followed up in the same whisper, making the Gnome feel more and more lost.
"But Nix said to-" At least he was whispering now, but his words seemed to have brought on the opposite effect he was hoping for.
"But nothing. We will wait until Nix is awake." Drevid shooed him as he tilted his head to watch the two sleep.
"You go and take a nap. There are more important things right now." Jennifer did as Drevid did as she watched with him.
Striker tried to complain with a contradicting face, opening his mouth to say something before immediately closing it from the harsh glares he'd recieved. Deciding it was better to keep his life, he quickly nodded before taking careful steps to his room. It was better to survive now and suffer Nix's wrath later. At least then he had a chance of survival.