I heard the buzz of excitement from the onlookers as I woke up on the animation table. Finally!
My ears tell me a small crowd of people is standing about six feet back. I’ll be with you in a moment, guys. I’m keeping my eyes closed until I take an inventory of the edges of my body to see if I’m all there. Right arm, okay. I can sense five fingers on the hand. Right leg seems good. Top of my legs, hmm, it feels like there are extra nerves there. So they’re at it again, huh? No matter. It’ll be fun. Left side, great. Neck and head check out. No one screwed me up. Okay, time to let them know I am awake.
I opened my eyes. They gasped. What? Didn’t they expect me to be able to do that? Seriously? I lifted my head and looked down at my body, pleasantly surprised to find I was wearing clothes and a lab coat this time. At least someone learned from their previous experience. I expected to wake up naked. Again!
“Ana, can you see and hear me?” Francine asked.
I hesitated for a few moments, entirely on purpose.
“Ana, can you hear me?” Francine repeated.
Smiling, I said, “Yes, I can hear and see you. Hello. What is your name?” Her eyes widened in surprise. It took more willpower than I thought not to laugh. Playing dumb seemed prudent. I wasn’t sure who I could trust since my murder.”
“My name is Dr. Francine Drakus. Can you move your limbs?”
I wiggled my fingers and toes, then moved my arms and legs an inch or so. It seemed to delight everyone.
“Excellent! Do you think you can sit up?” She offered me her hand for support. Why not? I thought, taking her hand and putting weight on it for effect.
“Thank you,” I said, swinging my legs over the edge of the animation table and sitting upright. The group of engineers and scientists, neatly dressed in their white lab coats, smiled and congratulated each other. I heard one say, “Wow! Beautiful.” Perceptive young man.
A man in a military officer’s uniform stood back from the crowd. I felt a chill.
“How do you feel, Ana?” Francine asked.
With my best mechanical intonation, I said, “I am feeling well, Francine.” Don’t reveal too much at once. I wanted to say, “Don’t call me Ana,” but I didn’t. Too soon for that.
“Do you think you can stand by yourself?”
The impulse to jump down and do a little dance was strong, but I resisted. “Can you help me down?”
Francine once again gave me her hand. A feigned stumble brought a gasp and extra support arms from my audience.
“I am good, thanks.”
She led me by the hand as I pretended to be unsteady on my feet. After several steps, I started walking like an average person. Standing to my full five feet ten-inch height, I lifted my arms over my head in a stretch. The muscles moving under my skin felt good. I let out a satisfied yawn for effect and received applause.
Francine smiled. “Shall we meet your teammates now?”
“I would like that very much,” again in a mechanical tempo.
The military man looked on with a piercing gaze.