Machine Man (serial)

Carl opened the limo door and I emerged into bright sunshine to two dozen Better Future employees lining the path to the lobby. When they saw me, they began to clap. Carl lifted me into a waiting wheelchair; there were cheers. As he pushed me past the crowd, they put out hands for high-fives. I saw a woman from Human Resources who had never made eye contact with me before, not once, and as I passed she whispered, “You’re an inspiration.” I didn’t understand what was happening.

Inside the lobby, Cassandra Cautery waited with folded arms and wet eyes. “Welcome back.” Her voice was choked with emotion, like I was her son, returned from war.

“Thanks,” I said.

She walked alongside as Carl steered me through security. The wheelchair didn’t set off any alarms, which was odd. Or maybe it did, but the guards had been instructed to let me through anyway. “I’ve taken the liberty of expanding your staff. What do you think of that Jason Huang? I left him, in case he’s a favorite, but really, his metrics are average.”

“Jason’s okay.”

She put a hand on my shoulder. Carl took the hint and stopped pushing. Cassandra Cautery looked into my eyes. She was so short, we were almost level. “It would be no problem to get rid of him. Permanently.”

“Jason’s fine,” I said.

Cassandra Cautery nodded. “I just don’t want anything to slow you down.”

“From making prosthetic legs.” I felt it was important to clarify.

“Yes,” she said. “Or furthering your project in any way that makes sense to your beautiful, brilliant mind.”

31.