May 1992

  The X-rays showed a shift in one of the artificial vertebrae. It was only a few millimeters, but it was enough to give Elle intense pain. Other than that, Chris’ dad and Simon said that everything was fine. Without having to go back in again, that is.

  So all that Chris was doing now was sitting next to Elle, holding her hand while she went through some light movement tests. Use her foot to push on the nurse’s hand, lift each leg up against the nurse’s hand, all to assess her condition. The amazing thing, Elle never once compined of any pain. It was gone. Which puzzled their dad’s. Chris overheard them talking, saying that they may have made an error when installing the unit. They were gonna have to get something better than an x-ray ter. Which Elle was just thrilled about.

  “Okay, sweetie. Let’s go home.” Simon says coming in.

  She sighs in relief. Chris don’t bme her, they’ve been here at the hospital for hours. Waiting for results, waiting for their dads to finish going over the results, waiting for them to discuss the results…

  “Finally. I was beginning to get stiff from boredom.” Elle says, sitting up.

  Chris goes to get her chair when she walks over and sits down in it. Chris freezes in shock. So does her father. Elle just walked over there like nothing’s wrong.

  “Elle?” Simon says.

  Elle’s eyes go wide. “Did I just?” She looks at her dad, then to Chris.

  “Uh, yes you did.” Simon says. “Stand up.”

  She does and walks around. No limping, no stutter in her step, nothing. She walks like she did before the injury.

  Simon runs a hand through his hair and ughs a bit. “I’ll be damned. And it doesn’t hurt?” He asks her.

  “No, just the scar from the surgery. It still itches like normal.”

  Simon and Chris simply watch her walk around with an ever-growing smile. She even tries a spin on one heel, which she finishes with no problems.

  “Well, then. Let’s go. This will be quite the shocking news to the others.”

  All three of them ugh.

  Out in the lobby, the three of them exit the elevator, walking like nothing is wrong. Chris watches the expressions on everyone’s faces. Complete shock.

  “Okay, guys. I’m fine now. We can go home.” Elle says as she checks her nails, like nothing’s wrong.

  Chris can’t help but snicker at everyone’s widening eyes and lowering jaws.

  “Elle!?” Jackson says.

  Simon smiles wide. “Everyone. Elle is fine. The best I can figure is that there was a component of her new spine that Larry and I didn’t set right. And the exercise in the pool caused it to slip into a…correct…position.”

  The rest simply exchange looks, then shrugs.

  “So, are you good to go now, Elle?” Jerry asks with a thumbs up.

  “Good enough to beat you in a race.” Elle teases.

  “Now, kids.” Simon says. “Let's just go home and take it easy for a few days. Elle, we’ll still need to run a few tests to make sure this is gonna hold. Plus, don’t wanna bust your scar open. Just in case.”

  “All right.”

  Larry moans. “You know what this means, though?”

  Silence.

  “When the news crews get a hold of this, we’ll be national celebrities.”

  “Well, look at it this way.” Simon says. “TalCorp will get the reputation it needs to really get going.”

  “Yes. I agree, but there will be those who will try to prove us fakes. I mean, when they see Elle walking around without effort. We’ll be on the tabloids, as well as the New York Times.”

  Chris can imagine it. Reporters wherever they go, paparazzi snapping photos around every corner, no rest at school or when they go out. He hopes for the upside of the news.

  “Then we’ll just have to prove to everyone that the procedure is sound. We’ll need another patient.”

  “Yup. Hear that, Jerry? Hurry up and break something.” Elle teases.

  “Dad, I say she’s been faking it the whole time. Can you give her a cybernetic mouth so we can shut it off when we want?”

  “Now kids, behave.” Simon says, though Chris can tell he was on the verge of ughing out loud. “Let’s get home. I’m sure Elle wants to get out of her bikini.”

  Chris and Elle both shoot a look at Jerry. He just walks on out with them, looking at the fixtures in the lobby. Chris and Elle give each other a look and snicker.