Machine Man (serial)

“Carl was in an accident,” Lola said. She saw something about the way the Versitor was strapped around Carl’s shoulder she didn’t like, and began fooling with it. “He’s not allowed to talk about it, but… well, obviously it was traumatic.”

“An accident,” I said.

“And it’s so lucky, because there are these amazing prosthetics here. I was just telling Carl, the technology today, losing a limb, even an arm, it doesn’t have to be a disability.” Her fingers ran over Carl’s bulging shoulders. I had to say, Carl was ripped. He had muscles in places I had only seen in anatomy textbooks. It made no sense to me that someone who put this much work into his body would want to remove parts of it. “It can be an opportunity.” She smiled, one hand resting lightly on Carl’s shoulder. “What you’ve gone through, Charlie, how you’ve turned your experience into a positive, that’s exactly what Carl needs to hear right now.”

I glanced behind me. The guards were still in the corridor, alert but not attempting to drag me off anywhere. So apparently I was to be contained, not captured.

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Lola said, and headed for the doorway. I stepped in front of her. She looked at me, eyes wide with surprise.

“We need to talk,” I said.

70.