Machine Man (serial)

“We’re calling these the Contour Threes.” Cassandra Cautery gestured, like a model on a game show. Only instead of a car or a set of steak knives it was a pair of black titanium legs with cloven hooves. My throat constricted, because it was like my old legs had come back to life. “Don’t ask what happened to Mark Two. The Threes are basically a revision of the original Contours, upgraded for strength and with an improved tactile interface. Oh, and there are some bug fixes. Did you know the Contours couldn’t handle stairs?”

I unclogged my throat. “Yes.”

“Oh. Well, that would have been useful to know before our Model Two tester ended up at the bottom of a stairwell.”

I tried to wheel myself forward, and was reminded that I only had one hand. The lab assistant came to my rescue, sliding me within touching range. There were a lot of parts around me here in the Repository, parts on shelves and parts in foam packing, parts under tantalizingly sheets of translucent plastic, but I couldn’t take my eyes off the Contours.

I said, “I want to put these on.”

“Yes,” said Cassandra Cautery. “There is just one tiny issue.”

141.