[PCA] UNIVERSAL CONSTANTS

[skinstealer]

[id: the cover for episode 8 of universal constants, titled "Cracks in the Sky". a painting of a near-apocalyptic event lays under a classified folder, depicting a massive being with a single eye above a burning city. diamond shapes float amidst the flames.]

FLOR: These things got a lot of moving pieces...

 

Maes had been nervous about this one.
The tools she uses for surgery are-
Expensive.
Intricate. 
Individualized, experimental.
What she's allowing right now is very against the rules- and largely her own.


A set of massive surgical arms, delicately spread on a castle workbench and poked at by her partner, Flor's voice just as gentle as she inspects the instruments before them. Charon had recommended Flor help with calibration after Maes' own recurring complaints of them feeling "off", to the point of avoiding taking surgical jobs outright between rehab work sessions. 

Charon had seen them plenty of times when working alongside her aboveground, as mundane as a scalpel or syringe. But to have them so vulnerable-

FLOR: They don't get caught on each other?
MAES: They would if you're untrained.

 

Maes fiddles with one of the limbs' clawed tips, stimming with them lightly. The segmented ridges of the arms' length were equally good to mess with, having done so frequently on the off chance she's had them mounted on in the break room.




Not that she would ever keep them on on purpose.




They're a part of the job, like wearing a lab coat outside of work without realizing.

MAES: It took years to develop them, with me having to learn using them alongside. 
MAES: They're not ready for consumer use yet for that reason, though...we're close.

 

In a sense, they had grown up alongside her, her feedback and their test results forming a back and forth over more than a half decade.

FLOR: Like something out of a comic book-

 

Synna had jumped on the project immediately.

FLOR: -cute in a way though, probably not for most people but...



 

Maes' cheeks flush.

MAES: ...cute?
FLOR: Yeah, way it wiggles when you pick it up...



 

Ridiculous-

FLOR: Ready to test grip in a sec?




 

-but there's work to be done.

MAES: Mhm...are you sure you're up for it? 
MAES: I usually test on dummy hands.

 

Flor puts the arm they've been working on down on the workbench, the sounds of adjustment audible.

FLOR: Should be good, do your thing.

 

Maes takes a deep breath before slipping the audio feedback clips over their ears, tapping them for a moment to make sure their cues come through. 


Test ping set.

MAES: Shred link calibrating.

 

The device on her back lightly buzzes as it forms a seal against her skin, siphoning shreds from her body and using them to form an organic current between her and the arms.

 
One ping, 


and a second, 




and-

MAES: Three pings, that's good to go.

 

She concentrates for a moment, taking a deep breath.

MAES: Going live-


 

A few light claw wiggles, testing the cues. 

At first, the feedback had overwhelmed her, but after so many years-

FLOR: It's moving. 
FLOR: How much sensation do these things give?
MAES: Varies based on whatever your definition of sensation is.
MAES: I get audio feedback in my ears, and vibratory feedback through the device currently mounted on my back. 
MAES: It isn't the same as something like what you'd feel in your fingertips, or like something on your skin-
MAES: But they help me detect and manipulate positioning, force, specific movements and gestures-
FLOR: I'm familiar with the tech. 
MAES: That so?
MAES: I don't exactly get the opportunity to discuss with someone experienced...

 

Maes smiles, tension leaving her shoulders.

MAES: Go on, then.
MAES: Tell me how it works.
FLOR: Audio and vibration give you a sort of 3D sensory experience when combined...
FLOR: The former giving you cues for proximity and vibrations matching your movement and force sends enough feedback to make calls as needed. 
FLOR: Not too far off from how a spider's nest works, in some ways. 
FLOR: Safety mechanisms preventing a reflex or twitch from accidentally flailing the whole limb...
FLOR: Tech that's been done in small scale for decades... 
MAES: And adopted en masse for assistive devices in the past decade. 
MAES: My audio player works similarly, cues from different checkpoints in the halls. 
MAES: I've considered a matching sonar band, but...
MAES: ...I have no excuse other than I've just been too busy too sit down and learn.
FLOR: You'd have plenty of chance in here, I'd be glad to help you..

 

Flor's voice is gentle, the arm closest to them picking up on movement approaching and sending gentle buzzing against Maes' back.

FLOR: Contact test.

 

She hesitates before brushing its clawtips against their fingers, surprisingly gentle for such sharp looking digits.



Years spent practicing, 
tweaking, 
experimenting, 
operating-

FLOR: Kind of sweet in a way...
MAES: Full of compliments for a heap of metal arms.
FLOR: Can't be helped, this heap of metal is a heap of metal fan.
MAES: True.



 

Even with the time-


It takes her a moment to get her bearings, clumsily managing to drag a claw down their wrist.

MAES: Hmph.
MAES: Not a motion I'm used to.
FLOR: No, wouldn't get too much chance to do this...
MAES: They're for work.

 

Her voice comes out more forcefully than intended, her ears flopping downwards.

MAES: Anything else would be- unprofessional.
FLOR: True...
FLOR: As tempting as it is to have a little fun, I'm gonna say we probably really shouldn't. 
FLOR: But...

 

[id: flor caresses a massive robotic tentacle, bumping her face against its segmented surface.]

 

The ear clips give tiny pings as Flor taps their dome face against it, giving the limb's claws a little kiss.

FLOR: At least that much should be fine, right?

 

Blush covers Maes' face, the karacel coughing.

MAES: Y-you're lucky I don't report you. 
MAES: You could get me fired like that.
FLOR: Already breaking the rules by bringing this thing here. 
FLOR: Just cause Charon's got permission to examine your tech doesn't mean he got permission to remove it from company grounds. 
FLOR: A little peck's the least of our worries.
MAES: It's- 
MAES: That's-
MAES: I can't just-
FLOR: No lips on me and yet I torture you so..
MAES: It's-
MAES: Not just that-
MAES: I can't use my, status as a doctor-

 

She hides her face with her hands as Flor chuckles, letting out a groan.

FLOR: Operator flustered, limbs remaining steady, that's plenty of check to make sure the safety is still working. 
MAES: Flor...

 

The clawtips trace against their wrist again, the movement...strangely fluid, subconscious.





Stop that.

MAES: You know I have to keep-




 

Stop that right now.

MAES: Some degree of separation-


 

She manages to stop the small motions, ignoring the tightening in her chest.

FLOR: Like I said, we really shouldn't... not that I got the setup for anything fancy anyway.
MAES: ...

 

Maes lets out a long, shaky sigh. 



Flor's dysphoria-

MAES: W-well-
MAES: Arms aside-
MAES: We could give you some proper examination...


 

Her smile is hesitant, nervous.

FLOR: After we finish this up, we can put the toys away and get comfy. 
FLOR: Just us.
MAES: Yes.


 

She works the claws in between the proxy's fingers, getting a proper grip this time.

MAES: ...Seems to be in order.
MAES: The calibrations you did feel smooth.





 

User error caused by flirtatious partner discounted.

FLOR: Yeah? 
FLOR: How'd I do? 
FLOR: Little report card?
MAES: An A...minus.
FLOR: ..That's still good right?
MAES: Yes. 
MAES: But you get points docked for attempting to seduce your superior.
FLOR: I was mostly joking...
MAES: Does it matter if it was working?
FLOR: Mm well... suppose a opportunity for extra credit is in order.
MAES: Help me out of my gear and we'll have to find out...