SWNOVELS Chapter If it helps you to know 6th September 2060
SEG002
The MED unit had carried out the amputation. Gabriel had not been able to watch. Ginny was still lying in the MED unit; some sort of creamy white substance had been layered over the stumps of her legs.
Presumably it assisted with the healing.
“Gabriel?” Vicky said.
“Uh?” Gabriel said.
“If it helps you to know, the MED unit has recorded the exact dimensions of Ginny’s legs, allowing for the crush damage. From those dimensions it will be possible to re-grow legs that match her original limbs exactly.”
“What ... do you mean that the MED unit can make her ...?”
“No, Gabriel. The MED unit does not have the means to re-grow her legs, but the data it has collected would enable the people at ACME MEDI-CARE to build ...”
“Shit, Vicky. It’s the same old ... old ... for all we know, ACME INC has gone bust. There will probably be nobody there when we finally get there. And Ginny will still have no ...”
“We should have faith, Gabriel.”
“Faith, Vicky. That’s a strange thing for you to say.”
“Well let’s call it hope then, Gabriel. Try to have hope that the facilities will exist to give Ginny back her legs.”
“But they won’t be real legs, will they Vicky?”
“Yes, they will, Gabriel.”
“They won’t let her move around as she used to though, will they?”
“Yes, they will,” said Vicky.
“But she’s going to need ...”
“Gabriel, I think you should calm yourself,” said Vicky. “Ginny is going to need you to be strong for her. She is going to need a lot of support and assistance to come to terms with her injuries, and you need to be there for her.”
“But ...”
“Gabriel. It may be that you are correct, in that ACME INC may have ceased to exist as a business entity. It may be that when we reach our destination, that there is no-one there for you to plead your case to; but maybe there will be. Maybe there will be the means to get their assistance. And maybe the facilities will still exist to provide Ginny with assistance. And Gabriel, if that facility exists, then please believe me – if Ginny can be provided with new legs, she will be able to walk around just as well as she did with her original legs.”
“So ...?”
“So, you should hope, Gabriel. Try your best, and care for Ginny, and don’t lose hope.”
“Vicky?”
“Is there anything else I should do?”
“Like what, Gabriel?”
“I was wondering. Would it be best if Ginny wore you? Should I unclip you and put you on Ginny’s wrist? That way you could monitor her directly ... you know ... give her extra pain relief and stuff.”
“I had wondered that, myself, Gabriel, but I didn’t like to mention it. I think it would be a very good idea ... and ... well, it shows the level of your love for her.”
Gabriel un-clipped the STU from his wrist. He walked over to the MED unit. The canopy opened, allowing him to fasten Vicky to Ginny’s right wrist. Whilst the canopy was open, he reached up and stroked Ginny’s cheek. Then, not waiting to see if there was any response, he stepped back, allowing the canopy to close again.