1173. Post-Surgery
“… essure…”
“… non-critical… hypovolemic… administrating… 1.3L… type S – Symbiote.”
“Stella… fine…?”
“Procedure… uccess…”
Unrecognizable voices spoke through a muffled filter. A mental haze clouded Stella’s consciousness as sensation slowly returned. It began with her fingertips and ended with a faint throb where her eyes should be.
“Where…?” Stella murmured groggily.
“Ahhh! Stella! Please don’t sit up just yet!” Aster exclaimed.
A band of flesh wrapped around Stella’s waist. The bed she lied on was a quasi-living entity called a Symbiotic Bed. They were indistinguishable from a regular bed when properly covered with quilts and pillows.
The Symbiotic Bed functioned identically to electronic hospital beds from Earth with the addition of autonomy. Indeed, these beds could function without the input of the user for the sake of their health.
Because anesthetic had the tendency to alter a patient’s state of mind, the Symbiotic Bed was fitted with a restraint module.
“Mn. You’ll pass out.” Ignis calmly said.
Several wet, cute splats followed. Stella raised a hand to the ache on her face and was surprised when her fingers brushed against layers of bandages. What entered were two slimes with uniquely shaped caps. One had a giant red cross, and the other a pen.
“Mm. Thank you Slime N.5 (nurse). Please inform Slime N.7 about the success. Have Slime A.8 (Administrator) prepare the paperwork for Slime HA.1 (Head Administrator).”
“Gwaaa!”
“Slime C.8 (Chart), prepare to chart.”
The second slime produced another cute sound as a thin trail of goop plucked the pen from its head. It then began scribing down whatever Ignis recited as it made a (OwO) face.
“Vitals stable. Orbital cavities occupied by Symbiote Specimen (Eye) 373.1 and 373.2. Aqueous humor at stable internal pressure. Virtuous humor comprised of specialized Gelatin Cells – G-5. It can withstand substantial pressures.”
“For… Snap?” Stella asked, her hand resting on the bandage.
“It can help with high Quants of ambient gravity. Corrosive resistant. Shockwaves will not have an effect either. Mn. Created with longevity in mind with delayed adaptation.”
“Delayed…?”
“You’re still growing. It would be unideal to have to constantly perform surgery just to have your eyes replaced.” Ignis wore a warm smile as she moved to Stella’s side.
Then, as another slime carrying a tray of food wandered in, she took a bowl of sliced apples and placed it into Stella’s hand.
“Mn. Humans aren’t machines.”
“… Yup. I’m very sorry. I always compare it to the way we lived in…”
Aster’s grip tightened. She hadn’t let go since the operation began.
“It’s ok. We’re not there anymore. How do you feel?”
“It’s aching.”
“Ignis…? Is that a bad thing?”
“Please do not worry. The ache is normal. You can only remove the bandages when the ache is gone.” Ignis assured.
Stella breathed a sigh of relief as she lightly rested her head on Stella’s legs.
“… It was a success. Stella… Does it hurt anywhere? Are you hungry?”
“A little…”
“You’re hurt!?”
“No no no! Hungry!”
“Ahh…”
Aster calmed down after shooting up in shock. She darted her head at both Ignis and Stella, stuck between asking Stella where she was hurt or if Ignis could help. Thankfully, nothing was wrong with Stella. She was simply going through the motions.
“I apologize. I’ve been so worried.” Aster breathed. “I lost sleep for nothing.”
“You knew? Um… How long have you known for?
“I’ve known for a while.” Stella admitted.
A strange pang of heat hit Stella as she felt Aster lean in. The girl took an apple slice and brought it to Stella’s lips.
“It was planned…”
“Mhm.” Stella softly hummed. “Here’s an apple.”
Stella’s lips parted, but it was not to eat the apple. A faint breath slipped through her teeth. She tried to find the words to speak, but an unbearable pressure weighed on her chest.
“Can I ask why they did it for me?”
Guilt.
Survivor’s guilt.
She, of everyone else that could have received the same treatment, was chosen over them. Why her? What did she do to deserve it?
The tumultuous thoughts were like knives, and every time she tried to dissect this question, it felt like those knives were being driven into her chest. Stella was no more than a blind child with a damning aspiration to become the same thing that preyed on people.
So why am I given so much?
Just as the thoughts threatened to spill over, a sweet taste filled her mouth. The apple slice slipped through her lips with an audible pop, and she instinctively began chewing.
“I think you’ll have to ask them that yourself.” Aster laughed. “We don’t have to be suspicious anymore. You know that.”
“… I do.”
“But you can’t help it, can you?”
“Um… I’m sorry. I-It’s not suspicion though! It’s… um… I think?”
“Mn. I understand you completely.” Ignis said with a deft nod. “We should get you prepared. The commissioner wants you walking.”
“That’s right. Your benefactor.” Aster hummed.
“… I already know who it was. I’m… I dunno how to think. I’m supposed to be happy. Really, really happy. But… I’ve been given so much already that I don’t know if I’m allowed to keep receiving gifts–”
“It’s not good to keep thinking about this and that. Just be happy that it is.” Ignis grabbed two slices and shoved them into Stella’s mouth at once. “There. You’re shut up. Follow me.”
Stella could not believe them. Though she had been living in the Nexus for months now, a part of her instinctively expected to be struck whenever she asked too many questions. Her life as a blind, young girl in the Triple Paw Complex led to a life of constant loss. She never had her organs stolen. Stella was never seen as suitable for organ extraction.
Indeed, the Reorganizers did not see her as valuable. It was both a blessing and a curse; a blessing because she did not have to worry about losing her body parts. But a curse because she didn’t know what it meant to feel valued as a human being.
But that would also be a lie.
Because Aster was there.
Her friends were… until.. until…
“… Aha… Ahaha…” Stella giggled to herself. “Ah…”
“No crying.” Ignis ordered, sensing the tears building in the corner of Stella’s eyes, even behind the bandages. “The lacrimal duct isn’t fully seated yet. If you cry you’ll end up vomiting your tears.”
“E-Eh!? I-I won’t cry!” The hairs on Stella’s head stood up on all ends somehow, forming rabbit-like ears. “Promise!”
“Please don’t tease Stella so much.” Aster pouted. “Is she allowed to walk?”
“She can. But if she requires it, I can have the Gelatin Wheelchair called over.”
Aster wore a slightly strained smile. The name didn’t resonate with her, whereas Stella was infatuated with a wheelchair made of gelatin. Ignis suddenly frowned as her tail swiped the notepad from the nearby charter slime.
“Mn. Annoying.”
“I-I’m sorry?” Stella apologized, mistaking her sudden annoyance on her slowness to choose. “I-I’ll walk! Right now!”
“Not you. Nav. Grrr. She just compared me to Frost.”
“Isn’t that a good…” Aster didn’t dare finish her sentence. The glare on Ignis’ face intensified as her eyes glowed a slight red.
“My naming sense. Nav thinks I’m just as bad as Frost. Gelatin sounds nice. Squishy and soft. Isn’t that right, Squishy Wishy 301?” She poked the cheek of the charting slime which made a blushing (>w<) face. “Cute names for cute creatures… It’s my Atelier. If Nav hates my naming sense so much, then why doesn’t she make her own.”
“I think it’s amazing!” Stella exclaimed, instantly dispelling Ignis’ scornful look.
“Mn. You have good taste.”
“T-thank you! And… Um… was Frost… here earlier?”
Ignis raised a brow as she looked over at Aster. It should have been impossible for Stella to tell. The main reason was because Frost had used a Cognition Filter to hide her presence. It was not perfect, but it should have worked well on Stella, as she was both a child and lacked any eyes to detect Frost.
“Was it her scent?”
“I didn’t smell anything.” Stella responded. “I just felt it. Like how sometimes I can feel my surroundings!”
“From a human, no less.” Ignis muttered to herself. “Descartes 3 said you might be…”
“Hm?”
Ignis shut her train of thought down and sighed.
“Mn. I’m overthinking it. Actually… This is even better. Are you ready to see the world?”
“Yes!”