Post by Rasp on Jul 11, 2006 6:15:08 GMT -5
Just over a week later the last of the bandages came off. Tony was sure that people were not meant to heal that fast. He'd once cracked his ribs falling out of a tree and it had taken over a month to fully recover. Perhaps it was something to do with his recently modified genetics. Perhaps, he suddenly thought with a burst of excitement, he could now heal with incredible speed! He barked a laugh at his own foolishness and shook his head; what sort of power would that be? He wasn't really a fighter, he'd be Constantly Beat-up Man.
He examined himself in the mirrored wall, noting that whatever it was that he'd done to himself he'd really been trying hard. His entire torso was criss-crossed with scars, some only a few inches long, while a couple stretched from shoulder to hip. His hair was also sticking up in daft looking tufts on the sides of his head, a leftover from too much time in bed. He smoothed the rogue hair down and looked at himself again.
He'd certainly seen better days.
He turned away from his scarred reflection and paced the room. Muscles were still a little tight and every so often a bit of him would twinge painfully to remind him that he still wasn't completely healed. He still hadn't seen Mr. Lensherr again, but the medical staff assured him that he was following his progress closely. Anthony figured Mr. Lensherr must be a very busy man.
As if summoned by his silent musing the door slid open and admitted a pair of white-suited medical staff.
"Good morning Miss," he stared at her I.D. badge, "Daniels, and Mr. Bradley. Is it time for the days examination already?" Anthony had tried unsuccessfully to get one of them to crack a smile for the last two weeks. He was starting to suspect that the facility was run by androids but that didn't stop him from trying.
"No Mr. Jenkins, no examination today, you are being moved." Miss. Daniels replied smoothly.
Anthony almost jumped out of his, somewhat scarred, skin when the woman added a tight lipped smile to the end of the statement; the machines could learn! He smiled back. "Moved? Where too?"
"You have healed sufficiently and have displayed enough control to be allowed a room outside of the medical facilities, we will take you there now."
Outside the medical facilities! Anthony would have jumped for joy if it wouldn't have been painful and likely to end in another stay in this very room. Instead he bundled up what remained of his possessions; a cap and a watch, and followed them out of the room.
Eight seconds later and he was totally lost as the pair lead him through a series of identical corridors that branched off into even more identical corridors.
They eventually arrived at an elevator and Anthony was hustled inside. The place looked like it had more floors than the Empire State; it was either really tall or went a long way underground. Tony offered up silent thanks that he was claustrophobic. With that thought still in mind the elevator accelerated up the shaft.
They emerged many floors up into a corridor that was much friendlier than the identical metal ones of the medical area. A plush carpet covered the floor and trailed away out of sight around a corner. Doors lined the hall on either side and it was towards one of these doors that Anthony was propelled.
Inside the room was nicely appointed, but not luxuriously by any measure. It was nicer than his old apartment though, Tony noted with a small smile. The rear wall was occupied by a large window, the view obscured by folding blinds.
"Welcome to your new accommodation Mr. Jenkins," the Bradley robot intoned as he left and closed th door behind him.
"Er, thanks I ... " Tony started to say and then realised he was addressing an empty room. He shrugged, moved over to the window and twisted on the cord that controlled the blinds. They slid away obligingly revealing the sunny jungle vista outside. Anthony gave a small whimper and closed the blinds again.
"It HAD to be jungle didn't it," he said and set off to explore the rest of his rooms.
He examined himself in the mirrored wall, noting that whatever it was that he'd done to himself he'd really been trying hard. His entire torso was criss-crossed with scars, some only a few inches long, while a couple stretched from shoulder to hip. His hair was also sticking up in daft looking tufts on the sides of his head, a leftover from too much time in bed. He smoothed the rogue hair down and looked at himself again.
He'd certainly seen better days.
He turned away from his scarred reflection and paced the room. Muscles were still a little tight and every so often a bit of him would twinge painfully to remind him that he still wasn't completely healed. He still hadn't seen Mr. Lensherr again, but the medical staff assured him that he was following his progress closely. Anthony figured Mr. Lensherr must be a very busy man.
As if summoned by his silent musing the door slid open and admitted a pair of white-suited medical staff.
"Good morning Miss," he stared at her I.D. badge, "Daniels, and Mr. Bradley. Is it time for the days examination already?" Anthony had tried unsuccessfully to get one of them to crack a smile for the last two weeks. He was starting to suspect that the facility was run by androids but that didn't stop him from trying.
"No Mr. Jenkins, no examination today, you are being moved." Miss. Daniels replied smoothly.
Anthony almost jumped out of his, somewhat scarred, skin when the woman added a tight lipped smile to the end of the statement; the machines could learn! He smiled back. "Moved? Where too?"
"You have healed sufficiently and have displayed enough control to be allowed a room outside of the medical facilities, we will take you there now."
Outside the medical facilities! Anthony would have jumped for joy if it wouldn't have been painful and likely to end in another stay in this very room. Instead he bundled up what remained of his possessions; a cap and a watch, and followed them out of the room.
Eight seconds later and he was totally lost as the pair lead him through a series of identical corridors that branched off into even more identical corridors.
They eventually arrived at an elevator and Anthony was hustled inside. The place looked like it had more floors than the Empire State; it was either really tall or went a long way underground. Tony offered up silent thanks that he was claustrophobic. With that thought still in mind the elevator accelerated up the shaft.
They emerged many floors up into a corridor that was much friendlier than the identical metal ones of the medical area. A plush carpet covered the floor and trailed away out of sight around a corner. Doors lined the hall on either side and it was towards one of these doors that Anthony was propelled.
Inside the room was nicely appointed, but not luxuriously by any measure. It was nicer than his old apartment though, Tony noted with a small smile. The rear wall was occupied by a large window, the view obscured by folding blinds.
"Welcome to your new accommodation Mr. Jenkins," the Bradley robot intoned as he left and closed th door behind him.
"Er, thanks I ... " Tony started to say and then realised he was addressing an empty room. He shrugged, moved over to the window and twisted on the cord that controlled the blinds. They slid away obligingly revealing the sunny jungle vista outside. Anthony gave a small whimper and closed the blinds again.
"It HAD to be jungle didn't it," he said and set off to explore the rest of his rooms.
