Sanjay carefully transported the ten medical robots to the newly built hospital, his mind racing with anticipation. This was a crucial step in his plan—an advanced medical facility that could treat his people efficiently. As soon as he arrived, he connected the medical AI to the hospital's main server, its digital presence spreading through the system like veins carrying lifeblood.
One by one, the robots powered on. They were built with titanium alloy bodies, designed to endure even the harshest battles. Functionality took precedence over aesthetics, so while their exteriors were primarily white, patches of exposed metal hinted at their durability. As they came online, their mechanical eyes flickered to life, scanning the environment. Then, in unison, they turned to Sanjay.
"Welcome, Administrator," their synchronized voices greeted, acknowledging him as their owner. Their connection to the AI allowed them to immediately assess the hospital layout and integrate with its systems.
Sanjay took a moment to appreciate the facility. The hospital followed a standard architectural blueprint: emergency trauma rooms, an operating theater, an ICU, a body scanning room, a health machine room, general wards, five private rooms, a supply room, a pharmacy, a blood bank, and even a morgue. However, not all the equipment was in place yet. He would need time—and resources—to fully equip it.
The blood bank required a synthetic blood manufacturing machine, a costly investment. In this era, not just blood but even internal organs could be synthetically produced, but both technologies were heavily regulated and required expensive licenses. Perhaps he could reach out to Raghav. His underground connections might help acquire these without drawing too much attention. Or maybe Maya would have insights on what could be legally purchased.
For now, he had secured two of the most critical pieces of medical equipment: the body scanner and the health machine. The body scanner, though expensive, was a one-time investment. It used energy-based scans to detect abnormalities without needing additional consumables.
The health machine, however, was a different matter. Not only was it exorbitantly priced, but it also required a special liquid to function—one that cost a staggering 100,000 quarks per liter. A full recovery could demand tens of liters per patient. He had managed to procure a few hundred liters of the liquid along with blood pouches, but he wouldn't use them unless absolutely necessary.
To furnish the hospital, Sanjay had relied on his industrial 3D printer, rapidly producing beds, chairs, and other essential items. Within a single day, the ten-story building had transformed into a fully operational medical center.
Around him, drones whirred through the air, meticulously cleaning every surface to maintain sterility. The medical robots moved systematically, inspecting and sanitizing the equipment. The AI was in complete control, overseeing everything—from automated doors to patient monitoring and surgical procedures. It was an autonomous system, capable of running without human intervention.
But now came the real test. They needed a patient.
Among the ten thousand people under his care, accidents were inevitable. Someone, somewhere, would get hurt. He decided to call Nirav, one of his most trusted men, to inspect the facility. It wouldn't be long before they had their first real case.
A few minutes later, Nirav arrived at the hospital. He glanced at the large sign above the entrance—"Hospital"—written in bold letters, but the meaning barely registered. As he stepped inside, his breath hitched.
Strange mechanical beings moved in all directions—some gliding across the floor, others hovering in mid-air, and a few walking on two legs with an eerie grace. His instincts kicked in. Without thinking, he raised his military-issued rifle, aiming at the nearest machine.
"Nirav, stand down!" Sanjay's firm voice cut through the tension.
Nirav hesitated for a moment, then, recognizing Sanjay's authority, slowly lowered his weapon. His pulse was still racing.
"Sir... what are these things?" His voice wavered, his mind struggling to process what he was seeing. This was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
Sanjay smiled slightly. "They're healers. They can treat most injuries."
In this era, doctors were no longer called doctors. They were healers. And now, Sanjay had brought the future of healing into his world.
Nirav hesitated, his eyes narrowing in distrust. Healers were supposed to be human, not these cold, mechanical beings.
"Do we have any injured soldiers?" Sanjay asked, his voice firm.
"Yes, sir," Nirav admitted, shifting uncomfortably. "Our instructor was accidentally shot in the left leg by a cadet."
Sanjay's eyes widened. "What? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Nirav lowered his head, his voice tinged with embarrassment. "Sir, it only happened a few hours ago. One of the workers—who's a doctor—has been looking after him."
"Bring him here immediately. We can't afford to lose an instructor," Sanjay ordered, his tone sharp.
Instructors were the backbone of his forces, seasoned soldiers who had survived countless battles. Losing one to an accident was unacceptable.
Nirav nodded and rushed out of the hospital. Within minutes, a team of soldiers arrived, carrying the injured man on a makeshift stretcher they had assembled using techniques learned in their VR training.
As they reached the hospital entrance, two medical robots emerged—one pushing a wheeled stretcher. The soldiers recoiled at the sight of the inhuman machines, their instincts screaming danger.
Before panic could spread, Nirav swiftly struck one of them on the back of the head, snapping them out of their fear. "Get a grip! Put him on the stretcher!" he barked.
The soldiers complied, gently transferring the unconscious instructor. His leg was hastily bandaged with cloth to slow the bleeding. One robot immediately began checking his vitals, while the other swiftly pushed the stretcher toward the trauma room.
Inside, a team of medical robots was already in place. They moved with flawless coordination, wasting no time, no hesitation—every action executed with precision.
As Sanjay and the others approached, a robot blocked their path and the doors slid shut in their faces. Sanjay frowned, torn between wanting to observe the procedure and knowing that interfering might put the patient's life at risk.
He hesitated for a moment before issuing a command. "Iris, activate the trauma room cameras."
Iris, had unrestricted access to all systems. Within seconds, a live feed appeared on Sanjay's interface. While Nirav and the other soldiers paced anxiously outside, Sanjay had a clear view of everything unfolding inside.
He watched as one robot skillfully attached IV fluids and blood packs, another connected monitoring wires to the patient's chest. Two more swiftly cut away the bloodstained fabric, exposing the wound. The rhythmic beeping of the machines filled the room, chaotic at first but gradually stabilizing into a steady rhythm.
Minutes passed, tension thick in the air. Then, Sanjay saw one robot carefully dress the patient in a hospital gown, while another adjusted the stretcher's position, ensuring all monitoring equipment was secured.
The doors slid open, and the waiting soldiers instinctively crowded around.
[Please make way for the patient.]
[Please make way for the patient.]
The mechanical voices rang out, prompting the group to part. One robot stepped forward to address them.
[The patient is stable for now but has lost a significant amount of blood. We are moving him to surgery immediately.]
With that, the robots continued their swift, calculated movements. Sanjay watched in astonishment. The way the robot conveyed the information—it almost felt human.
Iris chimed in, explaining, "The robots are programmed to provide updates to reduce anxiety among patients' families."
Sanjay exhaled slowly, nodding in approval. "That's actually a brilliant feature. I won't have to worry about people panicking over their loved ones anymore."
The soldiers exchanged uneasy glances after hearing the robotic creatures speak about their instructor. Their gazes quickly turned to Sanjay, seeking reassurance.
"Everyone except Nirav, return to your posts. I'll stay here and keep you updated," Sanjay ordered, his tone firm. He knew their presence would only create unnecessary chaos.
The soldiers frowned but didn't dare question a superior's command. They saluted Sanjay and reluctantly left.
Once they were alone, Sanjay turned to Nirav. "What do you think?"
Nirav hesitated before speaking, his voice laced with tension. "Sir, do you really think the instructor can be saved?"
Sanjay sighed, understanding his concern. "We can't be sure yet. The robots are performing surgery now. We'll only know once it's done."
Nirav nodded slowly, his worry evident.
They both took a seat in the waiting room. The cool air from the AC hummed softly, offering some comfort amid the tense atmosphere. Sanjay kept his eyes glued to his interface, watching the live feed.
The patient was first taken to the body scanning room, where an advanced scanner assessed his injuries in just three seconds. Then, without wasting time, the robots moved him to the surgery room.
Inside, the robotic surgeons worked with astonishing precision. Tiny wire-like instruments extended from their hands, delicately maneuvering into the wound. Every movement was calculated, every action executed flawlessly. There was no hesitation, no wasted motion—just pure efficiency.
Within five minutes, the entire operation was complete. The bullet had been extracted, the wound cleaned, and the sutures perfectly placed.
Sanjay was impressed. These machines were truly built for warzones—where humans wouldn't dare to tread, they worked without fear or fatigue.
Technically, he could have used the health machine to heal the instructor instantly, but he wanted to test the robots' capabilities first. Thankfully, the operation had been a success.
Once the surgery was over, the robots carefully transported the instructor to the ICU for observation.
Nirav, unaware of the procedure's completion, jumped up as soon as he saw the robots wheeling the patient out. Before he could react further, one of the robots stepped forward and addressed him.
[The patient is stable. He will remain under observation for a few days. You may visit him starting tomorrow.]
The instructor remained unconscious, still under anesthesia. Nirav, processing the news, let out a deep sigh of relief.
Then, turning to Sanjay with wide eyes, he whispered, "Sir… I can't believe this. I thought he was either going to die or at least lose his leg. But he's completely fine!"
Sanjay smiled, pleased with the outcome. "Nirav, from now on, if anyone is injured or needs medical attention, bring them here."
Nirav nodded, his respect for Sanjay growing. He now understood the value of every life in this remote settlement. Out here, where no merchants or outsiders dared to come, every individual mattered.
Sanjay leaned back, already planning his next move. He intended to build a shopping district—something that would attract people and business opportunities. While he couldn't sell food due to his agreement with Rajiv, there were plenty of other goods he could offer.
And once the merchants caught the scent of profit, they'd come running.