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Toes — Description
Amenii’s toes twitched, not a controlled or even quadrated twitch, but a spasmodic jerking that sent tingling sensations back up to her brain.
‘Easy! Easy!’ The tec called out from behind the screen. ‘Your focusing way to hard – just try and relax.’

‘Simple for you to say.’ Amenii muttered, ‘Your legs don’t feel like a thousand hot needles are invading them.’

Oblivious of her comment, the tec continued to punch in a string of commands and to her relief the pins and needles sensation ebbed slightly.

‘Okay, try it now.’

Drawing in a deep breath Amenii focused on her toes again, willing just her largest toe to move. Come on, come on, she thought as her pads jerked again in a spasmodic response to her efforts. The tec looked at her disappointedly, clearly not impressed with her efforts.

Last week she had been here, she was strength training with Ubiesoft industries, trying to recode the muscles in her legs to respond to the fine electrical impulses from her prosthetics. As best they could tell she was able to handle basic functions as a whole, but Mr. Ubie insisted they take the project a step further.

‘Ms. Oakwoods, when I told you over a year ago that I would give you back your legs, I meant it.’ He insisted, as he had his tecs install the latest prototype onto her amputated legs.

The last model she had been equipped with appeared on the outside almost indistinguishable from her real legs. Though to those who payed close attention, could see that her toes did not move on their own, and would only adjust if pressure was applied to the surface they were in contact with. One of the students in her molding class had noticed that detail, and it had bothered her ever sense.

Mr. Ubie, demonstrating his ability to read minds had called her in less than a week later with his newest design, one that would do more than connect to her leg. The latest design, like the one before it directly interfaced with the end of her amputated legs, and with a series sensors running its length was designed to mimic the impulses to her brain allowing her finite motor control like never before.

So far there had been mixed results. Mr. Ubie insisted that the technology worked, but it would take time for her to learn how to control it. And with there being limited to no data to work with, Amenii found herself in the R&D department almost four, five times a week so they could run more tests.

‘Focus, Amenii.’ The tec urged. ‘Just one toe.’

Focusing with all her effort, Amenii envisioned her big toe moving independently. Only to have her toes jerk again in a singular spasm and fall still again.

From behind her a large familiar hand ran down her back, causing Amenii to tense – when had she gotten here? Cranking her head back, ‘Nera!’ she exclaimed happily, the tests temporarily forgotten.

‘Buns.’ Nera said as means of reply, thick fingers working over her bare back to massage the muscles there. Letting out a deep sigh, Amenii let her tense back relax, she had not realized just how tight she had become.

‘How’s the training coming?’ Nera probed cautiously, hand never stopping. ‘Can you pick up a pencil with your toes yet?’

Amenii gave a huff in response, ‘No, I can’t seem to do anything with them. Every time I try, they just seem to want to move on their own. It’s like the programing is wonky or something.’

‘The programing is fine.’ The tec spoke, looking up from his terminal. Then muttering in a hushed voice. ‘It’s the operator were having issues with.’

Amenii shot him a dirty look and was about to shoot off a nasty barb of her own when Nera cut her off.

‘I want to try something.’ Her voice calm and soothing as her hands working over Amenii’s back. ‘Do you remember when we went to the beach a few years ago? The hot sun, the breeze was rolling over the ocean. We were sitting on the warm white sand eating ice cream cones.’

Thinking back Amenii could remember.

‘Yeah, you were wearing your green two piece – the one with the frills.’

Nera smiled, ‘That’s the one, and you had on that stringy one, the one with the bottom sash.’

‘You mean the one you couldn’t snap?’ Amenii grinned back at her.

‘That one.’ Giving Amenii’s backside a little smack, causing her to blush as the tec looked away, clearly wondering if there was going to be a lesbian orgy on his lab table. Ignoring is incriminating look, Nera pushed on, working her thumbs into Amenii’s back. ‘Do you remember how warm the sand felt, how we ran our toes through it? Letting the little granules work in-between the pads.’

Amenii closed her eyes and remembered that day, it had been a good day, letting the memories wash over her as Nera worked to unclench the tense muscles in her back.

From across the table the tecs eyes went wide. The readings had gone green, very carefully he shifted as to peer over his screen to the table Amenii lay on. Her toes were wiggling, rolling in a slow repetitive motion, and in perfect sync.

Favoring Nera a silent nod of approval, he began compiling the data.