It was Lillian. Her voice came from inside a large tube. Her body, blown apart in the explosion, had been pieced back together, though only a small portion. Her barely functioning brain floated in the liquid, tubes and wires connecting to it. "Sophia must've cried a lot, huh?" she added with a soft sigh.
Zack approached the tube, his expression serious. "I'll ask you one last time," he said, ignoring her question. His voice was cold and direct. "Are you absolutely sure you want to live like this?"
Lillian's face softened as she fell into quiet reflection. "Sophia's father passed away early," she began after a moment. "The weight of the family business fell on me, and I never had time to be there for her. Even when the apocalypse came, I failed her..."
"Stop." Zack cut her off, his voice sharp. "You know that's not what I'm asking," he continued, leaning closer to the tube. "The funeral was perfect. Everyone was there. Sophia believes you're really gone now. She's finally accepted your death." Zack's eyes narrowed. "Why not let it end there? Rest in peace. Do you really want to end up like Gers? What happens if you show up one day, looking like this, and tell Sophia you're still alive?"
His words were blunt, cutting through any illusions of hope. Lillian was silent for a long time, her face clouded with emotion. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady despite the tears forming in her eyes. "You're right," she said softly. "But I still won't change my mind. No matter what I become, as long as I can protect Sophia... I'll do it. I'm willing to give up everything for her."
Zack sighed. "Fine," he said after a pause. "But I'm warning you now," he continued, his tone cold and unyielding. "After the transformation, I'll have complete control over you. Your thoughts, your actions—everything will be under my command. My orders will override even your own will." He leaned closer, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "Theoretically, I could even make you harm Sophia. And you'd do it without hesitation."
Lillian smiled faintly. "I trust you," she said simply.
Zack's brows furrowed, caught off guard by her confidence. "Don't misunderstand me," she continued. "You may be ruthless on the outside, but you're kind at heart. You'd never hurt her."
Zack glanced at the monitor beside the tube, where a scrolling display of her brain's thoughts was being processed in real-time. "Ahem," Zack said, his expression darkening. "You do know I can see what you're thinking, right?"
Lillian froze, "Let's just get on with it," she muttered, changing the subject quickly.
Zack shook his head, he slipped on his lab coat. He adjusted his gloves and pushed Lillian's culture chamber under the robotic arms. Nearby, two shelves were lined with pre-made artificial mechanical organs that looked eerily similar to their human counterparts. "How can you be so sure I can keep you alive?" Zack asked, his tone calm but probing.
In truth, he wasn't the one performing the transformation. The real work was handled by the robotic arms overhead and a swarm of nano-mechanical insects designed for delicate procedures. "Do you think I had a choice back then?" Lillian said, forcing a faint smile despite the situation. "But I figured if someone like you can create such advanced exoskeletons, then maybe—just maybe—you could pull off something like the Vanguard organization and bring me back."
"Let me make something clear," Zack replied flatly, adjusting the console. "I can't resurrect people. All I'm doing is salvaging someone who isn't completely dead."
As soon as he finished speaking, the robotic arms sprang to life, moving with mechanical precision. Lillian's eyes flickered with fear as the robotic arms descended toward her. "It's not too late to change your mind," Zack offered, pausing the process with the press of a button.
"No! I don't regret it!" Lillian quickly protested, though her voice wavered. "It's just..." She hesitated, glancing nervously at the machinery around her. "For such a big procedure, are you sure you don't want to give me anesthesia first?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant but failing miserably.
"You won't feel anything. Your pain-conducting nervous system has already been severed," Zack said, not looking up from the console. "But if you're scared, I can knock you out."
"I'm not scared. Just get on with it," Lillian replied, attempting to sound brave.
"Alright." Zack nodded and resumed the procedure.
The robotic arms moved again, carefully picking up mechanical components to begin the transformation. As the first tool neared her, Lillian clenched her eyes shut and blurted out, "Okay, I'm scared! Knock me out! Do it now!"
Zack sighed, pressing a blue button on the console. "You know," he said dryly as she slipped into unconsciousness almost instantly, "the procedure hasn't even started yet."
With her finally out cold, Zack's expression grew serious. "Ego, is it ready?" Zack muttered, focusing entirely on the task at hand.
"Sir, the foundational blueprints for synthetic human anatomy have been compiled. I've integrated existing knowledge of bioengineering and nanotechnology with data extracted from pre-collapse archives. Additionally, extrapolated models from experimental neural-interface research have provided pathways for augmenting brain-machine integration. The synthetic human model relies on three critical components: the neural bridge, the artificial organ network, and the bionic exoskeleton. Shall I detail the construction sequence?"
"Go on," Zack said, crossing his arms as the holographic display shifted to a three-dimensional schematic.
"The neural bridge acts as the central interface between Lillian's organic brain and the mechanical systems. It's composed of ultra-thin graphene nanowires, which are flexible yet conductive enough to handle the brain's complex bioelectric signals. These nanowires will connect to the neural nodes implanted in the mechanical body's core systems."
"Sounds straightforward so far," Zack muttered.
"The artificial organ network," Ego continued, "utilizes synthetic mechanical components designed to replicate essential functions. Unlike conventional prosthetics, these organs are modular and equipped with integrated nanomachines to maintain functionality autonomously. Finally, the bionic exoskeleton uses a Ultralium alloy for strength and durability. This material is resistant to corrosion and capable of withstanding extreme environmental conditions. The internal framework incorporates shock absorption and kinetic redistribution systems to handle high-impact scenarios."
"Good, let's start the process than." Zack ordered. Several hours later, The transformation was nearly complete. The final mechanical component clicked into place, and the lifeless body on the table gleamed under the sterile lab lights.
Except for the brain, Lillian's body was now entirely mechanical or synthetic. The cost of the materials alone was astronomical, but Zack didn't care about the price. There was still one critical piece missing: "Bionic skin ready?" Zack asked.
"Production complete, sir," Ego replied.
Zack nodded and removed his gloves, stepping aside to drink a cup of chlorophyll juice while the sterile cabin completed its work. When the notification chimed, Zack placed the empty cup down and walked to the cabin. Through the observation window, he saw the finished product—a perfectly sculpted female body.