You Lay On The Padded Diagnostics Table - Slowly Coming Back Online

you lay on the padded diagnostics table - slowly coming back online

>c://programs/os_25/diag.exe

>running - - -

you feel a hand on your hip - you flinch

a voice, soft and calm responds "hey hun - welcome back - sorry, did I startle you? gonna run the diagnostics suite while I check out the damaged circuitry in the - sorry, in Your lower back - that okay?"

you tilt your head slightly up - enough to see their face with one eye

>processing - - -

>processing - - -

>access granted

they smirk warmly at the readout, and proceed to press down on release toggle hj_1 and your hip socket pops open - releasing the tension in your leg - you heave an involuntary sigh of relief

"just relax hon ~ we'll get this all sorted right quick"

they slide open panel h1_p5, which hisses as the air wooshes out of the compressors - they tug on a diode and it springs free from the magnetic clasp - holding it up to the light - you see flits of colorful dots play across the table - a sound of broken glass from across the room - which probably means they've chucked the diode in the reclaim bin

they slide open a drawer above you - rummaging around thru diodes, making a sound not unlike ice-cubes - and sliding the drawer closed again with a shuff

they place their free hand on the small of your back - a comforting gesture - bracing to press the new diode into the slot - with a little effort it snaps back in - magnets latching it in place - something reconnects and you can feel your toes again

>h1_p5 diode operational

>processing - - -

>connection re-established in:

>l1_f1_t1, l1_f1_t2, l1_f1_t3, l1_f1_t4, l1_f1_t5

>execute flexibility test

you stretch and wiggle the toes on your left foot - they chuckle - you stop moving your foot

"no! sorry - your toes are cute - I'm glad they're working again"

a blush creeps up your traitorous cheeks as they press panel h1_p5 back into position - a single staccato hiss signaling its re-pressurization

>c//admin/features/cheeks/blush.exe - off

>processing - - -

>an error has occurred

thankfully they're preoccupied trying to get the hex screws out of the 5 corners of panel lbl_3 to notice the error message before the screen clears - screw 5 falls to the table and the lift the panel off - an odd cold sensation creeps into your spine - they suck air in thru their teeth - usually a bad sign

"okay - this is going to be just fine - I'm gonna have to reroute a few of there wires til the replacements come in tomorrow, so don't go running around after this, alright? only normal walking speeds til we get all -"

your lower back spasms, contorting your spine and hip - something sparks and the flash lights up the ceiling

"- of This sorted out . . . I'm gonna get you set in the ultrasonic bath after this and then it's straight into bed, alright?"

you nod - your lower back must be worse than they expected - but they're doing a great job of not showing it

>c//admin/features/mobility/run.exe - off

>processing - - -

>run feature disabled

>[note: in case of emergency - this feature will automatically reactivate - continue?] Y

you lose track of time listening to them soldering away behind you - the hot sensations fluctuating as they move from spot to spot - and suddenly they're spraying the area down with the conduction gel

"alrighty hon - we're gonna get this panel back on in a jiffy and then right into the bath, yeah?"

you nod

they've got the panel back on in a flash - pressing down on release toggle hj_1, popping your hip socket closed again - gently reaching under your knees and torso - picking you up off the padded table

this ultrasonic is going to feel soo good ~