Page 40 of Proslo

“Xeranos, activate medical protocol two,” Michik ordered.

“That turns off the viewscreen on their side so they won’t be distracted by our presence,” I informed my bride.

“So we can see and hear them but they can’t see us.”

“Correct.

“Injecting the first dose of nanites.” Michik took a hypospray from the surgical tray and pressed it against our daughter’s neck. Within moments, the nanites had mapped out her heart and the surrounding muscle and a hologram display above her prone form showed their work as they began the delicate task of disconnecting her heart. At last, Xeranos spoke. “The organ is ready for retrieval. Deactivating the nanites.” the hologram winked out.

Michik held a gloved hand out and Lithir passed him the laser scalpel. Michik made quick work, Betty whimpered as he pulled our daughter’s chest open, glancing away for a moment to try to compose herself. I forced myself to keep watching as the pair worked efficiently, removing the damaged organ and placing it in a container to be disposed of. A senior trainee medic whisked it away and Lithik removed the newly grown one from a sealed stasis unit.

“Such a small thing between life and death,” Betty said, looking once more.

Michik placed it within her chest, carefully positioning before removing his hand.

“Xeranos, reactivate nanites.”

Another hologram appeared, this time showing in detail the veins and tissue growing together.

“That is amazing,” Betty whispered.

“Inject the second set of nanites,” Michik told Lithik, who obliged.

“Those are to boost her immune system and help repair any other body damage she might have as a result of her weakened heart.”

“Then one more for her teeth,” she said.

“And her bones,” I confirmed.

“Organ replacement complete,” Xeranos said.

“Inject the third,” Michik said. Before our eyes, her ribs knit back together.

“It does look rather like sorcery,” Betty said as the skin began to heal over the now repaired ribcage.

“Activate medical protocol seven. The heart only.”

“Protocol seven activated.”

The hologram showed us her heart as blood began to move through it.

Everything looks normal,” Michik said, reading the reports scrolling along the hologram image. “Remove the rest of the stasis field.”

“Heartbeat and blood pressure normal,” Xeranos reported.

Michik removed his mask and smiled. “Another success. We’ll move her to a recovery room and let her wake up on her own.”

“Thank you,” Betty said tearfully.

I swallowed around the lump in my throat. “You have my eternal gratitude.”

“She’ll be in Recovery room 3-B in the pediatric wing. You can come see her as soon as we have her situated,” Lithik replied brightly.

Our viewscreen returned to its normal bare wall state.

“Our baby girl is whole,” Betty sobbed.

“Whole and healthy and will live a very long time.” Tears rolled down my own face. “Come, let us go. We can see her for ourselves now.”