Unknown --- Complete [ adding some things ]

Part 2

"How?"

"I came to this planet as an opportunist not a doctor." the man laughed, "I follow the instructions on the screen. My first prosthetic I created was for myself."

He raised his right hand and waved. It was clear with darkened lines throughout -- Robert realized they were meant to represent veins.

"It's my second. I've learned to deck out these suckers to look as human as possible or not so. I went with not so. Scares the new recruits. But for yours I went with more life-like because this is your first rodeo with it."

"Thanks."

Aleks pulls the leg up the upper portion and thicker pieces have a more life-like look to it to his surprise. He touches it, and it is soft, slightly warm as if they yanked the bits from an actual person. The foot, however, did not look like a person's foot but a piece of metal.

"We can fly to different planets. We still are a bit ancient with prosthetics. But it's great for this life condition. Your lot will be heading north. It's rocky that way so I wanted something that would secure your transportation. It's waterproof and you can climb well enough with it."

"Well enough?"

"Y'see, we will be fitting this and then sending you off."

"I don't get a learning period? To adjust?"

"No, sorry, mate. The thing is, we don't have enough food this way. Winter here is tough and you all need to get to your station to adjust."

"So it's a learn as we go then." Robert tried to lose the disappointment out of his voice. The man winced.

"It's what I did. I lost a leg and my hand. I had to swim to shore. I had one great officer, Dalisay, who pulled me to shore. He brushed me off, fixed me up and then moved me on my way. That's my job now, getting y'all patched and moved on."

After a moment of silence Aleks urged Robert to sit up.

"Now, this must fit tightly but not too roughly for you. You tell me if there is pain. You tell me, OK? Don't just "deal" we may be pushing you on your way but pain and hinderance ain't what I'm here for."

Robert nodded.

"Walk."

Robert stood up , it felt weird but it was comfortable enough. It felt more like someone's flesh was pressing against him, not his own. He told Aleks this who told him he'd adjust eventually to it and when they get to their station -- he could print off anything to make this better for him.

"Best part of this it is wobble and waterproof." Aleks laughed. "If you're naturally clumsy though like me, wobble proof don't mean shit."

"Should I run?"

"I wouldn't advise it. It's a steady trip up north. You shouldn't have to worry about running. It's pretty peaceful up here."

"From what everyone says it's quite competitive --"

"You won't be murdered or chased by your colleagues, Robert. It's more of resources to maintain the amount of people."

"I vaguely remember hearing someone say leave me in the water."

Aleks shrugged at that, "The mind not fully awake can be quite imaginative. My first week up here, I dreamt I was being ate by sharks. There aren't any sharks here."

"No sharks? Then what's in the water?"

"From what we can tell, nothing. Same as in the land." Aleks looked at the screens then nodded to them, "Your vitals are pretty stable for such a traumatic incident. Every year the medical gets better. It's wondrous."