literature

Bionic Student - a Preview

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Literature Text

After the refinement of artificial organ growth, ethics have begun to grow into debate. What was once a near certain chance of death, brain damage or loss of function is now only a slight chance – most organs and body parts being able to be replaced within days instead of the impossible dream of months. No more amputated fingers from circular saw accidents – new ones are now stitched on; no more failing livers or hearts from years of abuse – new ones are surgically implanted and function normally. Even small portions of the brain – now capable through neuron moulding in MRI technology – can restore one's memory or higher functions that were lost up to years beforehand. Humanity can now bite back at death, keeping thousands each day from its door.

However, humans are not yet immortal, and though one could theoretically be brought back from death with continuous treatment, the rights to choose death over the suffering that comes from treatment comes into question. When should one be able to choose when to die? When they cannot be restored to their original point of health? When death is the only option? Whenever life gets them down? Even though the questions have existed for ages, they apply more now than ever.

What also comes into play is testing. With the reduced risk of death, more people choose to face the risk for the sakes of money and furthering science, and for more extreme experiments. Should they be allowed to do this, when in the past it had to be made sure through animals? Most say yes, as they can generally be restored to full health if something goes wrong, but others – more outspoken members and groups of society – force the opinion that they shouldn't. However, most governments have already allowed these sorts of testing to take place, especially when they are heavily monitored to make death and harm minimal.

* * *

It has been ten long years since Stellar-C – a major testing corporation focused to furthering medical engineering – have completed the product that made them famous: the wireless nerve. A two-part wireless receiver/transmitter setup to link major nerves that had been severed, this device had been used countless times to allow the paralysed to walk and live normal lives. Though they had been improving and implementing these devices for the time, they also wanted to do more. They wanted to be able to make cyborgs.

Their design for a cyborg was unlike the convention – robotically-enhanced limbs integrated with human muscles and organs. Instead, they planned on using bionic limbs as a model, including an original design for a bionic head.  Each part would be controlled almost directly from the brain using their wireless nerve design, which would be housed alongside the rest of the body's major organs in a compact organic life support system. The person would be in complete control and act entirely as they would if they weren't a cyborg, except with realistic and removable bionic limbs. They planned that it would not only draw attention to human-robot intergration, but also to help further the refinement of existing bionic arm designs.

However, they just needed someone willing to take part and become a cyborg...
Don't let the name of the series fool you, this isn't going to be some "Bionic Woman" type thing. No, this is going to be that series I was talking about in my DA journal - the replacement to MagiCont focusing on a university student adapting detachable body parts to her normal life.

I was originally planning on having an actual story as my preview - one which focused on the key part of the cyborg's design: the wireless nerve device. However, a brief moment of inspiration struck me when I was cooking spaghetti, and I quickly finished it before racing here and typing out this introduction an hour and a half ago.

Just to let you know, this is actually going to be the start of the first story, which may be at least 2000-3000 words long. In fact, judging from the above 534 words... it may turn out to be about 5000, if not more. Well, I do have a lot of time on my hands with Christmas coming up... we'll see what happens.

Oh, and if you can somehow think of a better title, please tell me. It took ever since the start of the project just to think of "Bionic Student".
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fastbreak333's avatar
I like where this is going. Keep it up!