You do not wake up in so much as you are thrown into wakefulness.
There are lines dancing across your vision, wider than eyes were never supposed to see, code and diagrams flickering in and out. It happens all so fast, and yet you catalogue the information at leisure. You look around, not even needing to turn your head, the room full of bright lights and wires.
Someone stand in front of you- white lab coat, think leather gloves and protective googles. The scientist- the inventor you had interviewed last night. And yet- it’s Wednesday, 7 pm, far, far after you had that interview. It’s been almost a week. You don’t know how you know that date and time.
The inventor claps, grinning wide. “Aren’t you looking nice! Any issues so far?”
Any issues with what, you wanted to ask, but your mouth didn’t move. A crackle of static responds instead, wordless. It came from you.
“Right, right, just give yourself a moment, let all your systems come online.” The doctor said, and you raise your arm to sign something at them-
Why the fuck is your arm made of metal.
You’ve raised your arm, yes, but it doesn’t look like your arm. It’s shiny and metal, covered with subtle detailing, and definitely mechanical. It’s not your arm, and yet, when you clench your fist, the fine metal digits follow along with you.
“What did you do to me?” You asked in a voice entirely too flat, too mechanical, for this situation, voice box crackling to life.
“Upgraded you~” the doctor replied in a sing-song tone, smiling like a madman. “Don’t you remember that lovely talk we had? Where you spilled every little insecurity about your body? Where I offered to make it all go away, so long as you signed on the dotted line?”
You would shake, or panic, or any one of the typical responses people have except you feel an eerie, but comforting sort of calm overtake you. “Yes, but I was intoxicated.” You clarified, everything far, far too clear to be a nightmare. “That’s not legally binding.”
The scientist shrugged. “Well, that doesn’t really matter much. It’s not like anyone can give you back all that old flesh. You’re stuck like this now, and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a plus.”
You look down, neck whirring quietly as you do so, getting a good look at your new torso, chassis and legs. Hesitantly, but smoother than would ever be possible for a human, you grope at your middle and your legs, trying to get a feel for them. Regrettably, there is very much feeling in the parts, and your brain- or is it a processor now?- registering the weight, temperature and force of your hands touching your new body.
“Smooth as can be~” Said the scientist, fiddling with a wire connected to a port on your body, every wiggle of the electrical cord making something indescribable spark in you. It’s all so sensitive, so new, and you felt a little overwhelmed. “You’re fully equipped with nothing but top of the line tech.”
“Why? Why would you do this?” You asked, and your voice did not waver, though static did bleed through. Strings of logical paths ran through your mind, possible motivations calculated and determined.
“Why not?” The doctor replied flippantly. “Now, let’s start familiarizing you with yourself- ideally, I’d like you ready for the conference in half a year, but I’m willing to wait longer.”
The doctor cackled a bit, grinning wildly. “Oh yes~ you’ll be my prized invention. Oh, the waves we’ll make when I show off that it truly is possible to do a human/mechanical mind transfer without keeping the brain intact! And without prior preparation on the side of the human to boot! Now, anyone with a terminal illness, or anyone who simply wishes for it, can be transferred into a much, much better body without years of training.” They leaned in, gripping your shoulders, and your mind catalogued the weight, timespan, warmth, the everything of their touch. “You and I are going to change the world.”
They ran a finger down a seam in the middle of your chest.
“Just imagine… we’ll show up to the conference, people gawking, investors praising us and inspecting you, finding no imperfections whatsoever- only improvement. They’ll run their hands over you, marking down each and every detail. You’ll be amazing.”
You didn’t want this. You didn’t. But when the doctor described their vision of the conference, all the ways you would be manhandled and posed, ogled and exhibited-
It was like something fell into place. Because even if you didn’t really sign up for this, there was a terrible, traitorous part of you that found your new body beautiful. You’d had it for not even an hour, but the smoothness, the efficiency, the lack of pain- it was entrancing. And the idea of showing it off, well, it did something for you.
Despite the horror, you could still feel a slowly mounting feeling of anticipation. And you wondered what it would feel like, when the eagerness overcame the fear.