Mechanical by Bruno Flexer Read Free Book Online

visible except the matt black surface skin of the fingers and the hand.
                Though delicate and precise, Tom felt something in the humming of the hand movements. There was power here, an unparalleled strength.
                "Lieutenant Riley, we are now going to enable your left hand. I'll take you through the movements test."
                Tom followed the lab-coat person's orders closely and in a short while, he gained control of both of his hands, his arms, his legs and his head. He was still attached to the scaffolding, and even though most of his limbs had been released from the scaffolding, it still held him tightly. In addition, he could see a thick cable connected to something on the back of his left arm. The Serpent's left arm, he corrected himself.
                "Very well. We'll now enable your speaker. Try to say something, Lieutenant Riley. Do not ask a question."
                Tom tried but nothing happened. He tried blowing air, making a sound, and forming and shaping lips that weren't there.
                "Lieutenant Riley, please do not take too much time. We are taking too much time here as it is."
                Tom tried to relax. He had to talk through the Serpent, not with his mouth and lungs that were hibernating inside. He tried to concentrate.
                "Sir," Tom said hesitatingly. His voice was obviously artificial but not unpleasant. Just low and synthesized. "Yes, Sir," he said again, more confidently. "Sir," he said for the third time, this time with full confidence. The machine voice filled the hall and bounced off the walls to reverberate for a few seconds before fading out.
                "Very well, Lieutenant Riley. Please keep your voice volume under tighter control. Now, we're going to try testing your equilibrium. Feel up to it?"
                Tom started forming a response but the lab-coat person spoke first. "Great. We will remove the scaffolding, but be careful. We have monitoring equipment attached to your left arm."
                Tom craned the Serpent's head to see, but his left arm was still held by the scaffolding, and all he could see was the data cable snaking away.
                "Lieutenant Riley,” the lab-coat person now said, raising his voice a little.
                The scaffolding was removed, and Tom took one step ahead. He didn't think of stepping forward, he just controlled his legs, making his left move, followed by the right. It's just like moving with my own body, Tom thought.
                The Serpent moved, making Tom's perspective change. A clicking noise coming from below attracted Tom's attention. The long, curved claws on the Serpent's feet clicked again as they unfolded on the concrete floor, ensuring that the Serpent stood perfectly balanced.
                Tom turned the Serpent’s head so that he could look at his left arm still attached to the scaffolding. Now, two techies removed the metal restraints around his arm and Tom gently freed it.
                "Be careful with that cable, Lieutenant Riley. We still need it," the lab-coat person said. Tom watched as a tech person lifted a laptop that was connected to the cable and then turned to the back of the Serpent's left arm. There was a small display there, bright schematics dancing  on it. A black armor panel was folded on Tom's arm away from the display. A host of connecting sockets rested there, one connected to the data cable that was already attached to the laptop.
                "This is your arm computer along with various data and power ports. You need not concern yourself with the diagnostic or administration menus, Lieutenant Riley," the lab-coat person said, noting the direction of the Serpent's head.
                "Arm computer, Sir? Touchscreen activated?" Tom asked and moved his right hand over the back