Sign of the Dragon (Tatsu Yamada Book 1), Niall Teasdale [books for 20 year olds .txt] 📗

the first production unit. I want any problems picked up and corrected before I roll this out for general consumption. The chip on the table has the necessary software and production specifications to carry out those checks. Don’t forget it.’

‘I know I should be noticing the missing brain and the space where most of her guts should be,’ Sachiko said, ‘but she just doesn’t look right without breasts.’

Izanami covered her mouth with a hand to hide a giggle. ‘Those will be added during the skinning process. They, and the stomach cavity, are mostly padding. We use a silicon-based gel to give a realistic feel. Miss Nakano? I understand Tatsu asked you here because you may be electing to go through the same process. Have you any questions?’

‘Well,’ Mika said, frowning, ‘I suppose I want to know about the brain. It’s separate from the body?’

‘To make things like this possible,’ Tatsu said. ‘If you want to upgrade to a new chassis, it’s a lot easier if you’re not messing around with flesh. When you go total cyborg, they put your brain in an armoured case. When you change to a new chassis, it’s just a question of swapping cables and plumbing, and latching the case into the new base.’

‘Much easier and safer,’ Izanami said. ‘There is always some danger to transplanting a brain into its case. Swapping to a new chassis is as safe as… swapping out the processor in a computer. You’ll see. That part will be done in the open.’

‘Some of it won’t?’ Mika asked.

‘Yes. The initial part will be handled in the tank here.’ She pointed at the large, rectangular tank with its opaque walls. ‘Even if it’s all artificial, watching someone’s flesh being dissolved by nanomachines is not an especially pleasant sight. We’ll do that behind the curtain, so to speak.’

‘Speaking of which,’ Tatsu said, starting to take off her clothes, ‘I think we can get this started. I’m sure you can answer any questions anyone has while I’m out.’

‘I’m sure I can, yes.’

Somewhat to Sachiko’s disappointment and Nakano’s relief, Tatsu walked around to the back of the tank to continue undressing.

‘Doesn’t it hurt?’ Mika asked. ‘Having your skin stripped away, I mean.’

‘She can turn off her skin receptors,’ Izanami replied. ‘The main problem with this procedure is the claustrophobia. There’s a period where she can’t interact at all with the outside world. All of her senses are cut off entirely and she can’t move. Some people panic. Of course, they can’t do anything to harm themselves, but it can cause issues when they’re reconnected, and some develop psychological problems if it takes too long.’

It only took a few minutes for the stripping process to happen. Then a robotic arm extended down from the ceiling, dipping into the tank and returning a minute or so later with what was obviously Tatsu’s brain case. It was a metallic, brain-shaped lump containing what was, when it came down to it, the real Tatsu Yamada. On its underside were a couple of connectors, currently without anything connected to them. Two smaller ones dimpled the front of the case.

‘The underside connectors handle the main data feeds from the body,’ Izanami explained, ‘and the support feeds. Oxygen and nutrients in, waste and carbon dioxide out. The two connectors at the front are the feeds from the eyes.’

The arm lifted the brain case across to the new body. Smaller manipulators lifted cables out of the chassis and began locking them in place.

‘And that’s what I’d be,’ Mika said. ‘A brain in a metal case.’

‘Yes,’ Izanami replied. ‘Though I’d argue that what you are now is a brain in a bony case. Your chassis is organic instead of synthetic. What is you moves on into a cybernetic state.’

‘I suppose that’s true…’

With the connectors locked in, the case was locked into the chassis and, for the first time, Tatsu looked almost complete. ‘Now for the messy part,’ Izanami said, and several metal limbs extended up from the base of the cylinder dragging hoses with them. Almost immediately, they began spraying semi-transparent gelatinous material over various parts of the skeletal frame. There was little wastage, but some of it did end up glued to the cylinder walls, dribbling down before setting into streaks. Sachiko began giggling. ‘It is a little funny,’ Izanami admitted.

‘It looks like something out of a hentai,’ Sachiko said. ‘It’s even got tentacles spewing the goo.’

Mika began giggling too. ‘I have no idea what you mean, of course,’ she said, ‘but you’re right.’ Her brother’s cheeks coloured, probably at the thought of his sister watching hentai. ‘How does it know what shape it’s supposed to be?’ Mika asked.

‘Nanomachines,’ Izanami replied. ‘The answer is always nanomachines. Except when it’s not. The gel contains nanobots which collectively know how they’re supposed to form up.’

‘So I see,’ Sachiko said. Two of the sprayers were pouring large quantities of goo out over Tatsu’s chest and, against what one might expect given gravity and physics in general, breasts were forming. Sachiko started giggling harder.

She just about had herself under control when the colour of the goo changed, and it was apparent that the skin was now being formed. Once the skull was covered, another arm extended from above and began pressing hair into place, rapidly forming Tatsu’s usual style. It took about five minutes before they were all looking at a stark-naked cyborg who looked far too real and detailed for Nakano. He turned his back.

The arms withdrew and the cylinder was lifted upward into the ceiling. Tatsu opened her eyes, looked around as though checking that everything was working, and then stepped down from the platform. ‘Anyone would think he’s never seen a naked woman before,’ she said.

‘He’s being a gentleman,’ Mika replied.

‘Mm. So, what did you think? Has this scared you off? Either of you?’

‘Not me,’ Sachiko said.