The Nano Age

There is decent amount of swearing in this bulletin!

       Manaka

   My alarm goes off, jolting me from bed. I groan as I feel the lumpiness of the research station’s bed. How did I even fall asleep in this thing? I roll out of bed and put on a turtleneck and some pants. I wash my face and put on a little make-up. I love lipstick. I look at that lab jacket that makes me look like a pharmacist whenever I wear it and put it on. Damn, this jacket is ugly. I stretch and sigh, exiting my little room thing, and saying hello to the Ajakon scientists that I pass. Suddenly I bump into one of the lab assistants of that crazy Doc from Greece. “Ah, Manaka. Perfect. You’re expected in Dr. Kalogeropoulos’ office.” Sh*t. “Of course, I’ll go to her office!” I groan internally. Not Kalogero. She gives off this feeling of absolute wretchedness. I make my way to her office. I knock on her door. “ Dr. Kalogeropoulos?” “Come in,” she replies. I inch my way in, concerned. I look around her office. “Sit down. Regular tests, you should know it by now.” I sit down, awkwardly. “I know most of them.” “So, sit there and don’t move. I’m gonna inject you with a new serum. Don’t worry, it’s not dangerous.” she rummages around in her drawer and pulls out an… interesting-looking syringe… what the hell is it? I shift in my seat, worried. She shoots an annoyed look at me. “I literally just told you, to stop worrying.”  I narrow my eyes, but I sigh and pull up my sleeve. As she injects my arm she says something that chills me to the bone. “When you wake up again, be prepared to feel different.”, I yelp, “Wait! What!?” Just… I… can’t… oh… 
  MOTHER- I wake up with the force encompassing the ENTIRETY OF ANTARCTICA hitting my face at once. That F**KING old hag drenched me with an ICE BUCKET. Sh*t feels different. I shoot a glare at Iris “WHAT DID YOU DO TO ME?” “Made an abomination out of you like I’m getting paid to.” I tilt my head, “What did you do? Dr. Kalogeropoulos, what the f**k did you do.” “I replaced some of your organs, bones, and skin and put a chip in your brain. What do you think?” I… Everything feels… wrong… This feels wrong. “What did you do to me…” “Did I calibrate your hearing sensors wrong or are you deaf? I just told you.” I growl in anger and fear, “I still have ears no? I heard what you said, it was a rhetorical question.” “Walk around and try not to destroy the office. Any damages you do come out of your paycheck.” I stand up, and my body feels out of wack. I try to move and fall over, “Ow-” The hag turns to look at me. “You’ll get the hang of it quickly. Just think of how badly you wanna kill me right now. Maybe rage will motivate you.” I stare at Iris, I read her name off her stupid nametag. I attempt to stand up and try to punch her, but my body tremors and I fall over. Mother... I try to stand up and brace against the wall, my brainstem must be messed up. The old b*tch looks at me and smirks. “Don’t you just really wanna punch me square in the face?” I growl, brace against the wall, and flip off Kalogeropoulos. “Love you too girl.” she retorts. “You know you modified a 16-year-old girl,” I shout at her, pissed off. “Ababab. I modified a 16-year-old girl under government orders. There’s a difference.” I wince, still pissed off, “I better get paid for this.” “Don’t take that up with me. I’m not responsible for that.” I groan in pain and try to leave, “I’m going back to my room.” “Enjoy some rest.”
  After a couple of days, I am slowly getting control of my body… this is awful. I limp my way to Dr. Kalogeropoulos’ office. “You wanted to see me?” “Still in pain?” she shoots. I spitefully return “Still being an annoying b*tch?”
“Unlike you, I get paid for it.” she snaps as she throws me a pill bottle, I pop one into my mouth. “One a day. Those painkillers are strong enough to kill a dog.” I nod, I am still pissed at her. “I am absolutely annoyed at you, I hope you know that, I thought you were going to do normal check-ups.” “Honey, this is a government-sponsored clinic in the interior of a mountain. What did you think we’re doing here?” I sigh, annoyed, “When I started interning for the ACTRC, I didn’t think that I’d be turned into some cyboric b*tch.” “That's why you read the fine print.” she pulls out my work contract which says that they cannot guarantee safety from body mutilation or changes to organs. God damnit. “Ha ha, very funny.” “Feels like a comedy show doesn't it? Unfortunately for you, there are no hidden cameras though.” I sigh. “I hate this.” “You can request one of those shark things at HR if you need it.” Iris spat. I glare at Iris, “I already have 7 of the smaller ones.” “They give the fat ones out for free.” I sigh and walk away, going to HR, tripping or limping occasionally. As I make my way there I get stopped by a bunch of scientists. “Ah, Manaka. How’s your work?” I glare at the scientist, “I am in f*cking pain.” “I heard Dr. Iris has good medicine against pain.” he offers a reassuring smile, and I grimace. “I can only recommend it.” I sigh, “I have had quite enough of Dr. Iris.” “Something happen between you two?” he ignorantly asks. I wince and sigh, “Don’t ask.” I walk away faster. I can hear sounds of middle-aged confusion and disappointment from behind me. I wince and apologise before walking away to HR. “Ms. Manaka. What can I do for you?” the guy at the counter greets me. “Can I please have 4 Medium-Large Blahajs?” “4? That's a lot. I’ll see what I can do. Just fill out this thing here really quick.” He hands me a clipboard. I sign it quickly, “I need all the Blahaj love I can.” “I’ll take a look at how many we have in storage.” Whew. I need some Hajs. I go to my room, being an obedient b*tch. I sigh, unamused about how my life took a 180-degree turn within seconds. God. I’m a f**king labrat. A knock on my door sounds loudly throughout the room. I open my door to see the dude from the counter enter with two giant stuffed sharks between his arms and one on his head. “Didn’t have 4, they’re going like fresh meat. I got you all I could.” I smile at him, “2 is enough!” I point to my collection, “I love these things” “Well, you have 9 now. Enjoy your time with them.” I cuddle with all my sharkies and go to sleep. I guess this is my life now… 

       Iris
   I sort the cabinet to the right of my desk. Pills, more pills, some tools, papers, pens. Everything I could need regularly is in here. A robotic voice sounds out: [Eriko Manaka has reached 34% of her full potential with her new implants.] I can’t say I can’t understand the girl. This brain implant, frankly, sucks. But on the other hand, it’s my job and I’m getting paid. From Greece to Japan in 20 hours. Can’t say it’s the comfiest ride I’ve been on but it sure beats being a street nurse. [Manaka has fallen asleep.] “Yeah, thanks creepy mind voice. Mind not stalking a minor for like, 20 minutes?” I’m complaining to myself again. As per usual… [Apologies, Ma’am, would you like me to recall your memories of Atlas again?] “Go !@#$ yourself creep. How about you go into maintenance mode and load a software update instead of harassing me every 15 minutes?” [Maintenance mode on.] “Thank !@#$.” I sigh. I need a coffee or something. Manaka walks in blearily, looking tired, but awake. “Aren’t you, like, supposed to be sleeping?” I glance at the girl. She glares at me, “Yeah, but the stupid nanotech you shoved in my brain woke me up.” “And you expect me to do what about that exactly?” Manaka scoffs in a very teenager-y way. “I don’t know, you’re the one who put the damn wires in my head.” “Doesn’t mean I’m a user manual.” She rolls her eyes ostentatiously, “You’re certainly the most qualified. Besides, you shaved my head for this sh*t.” “If it’s any solitude for you, you look much better without hair covering half your face like an angsty goth. I’m sure you can see much better too.” Manaka looks quite insulted, “My hair isn’t-... wasn’t…” She shuts up and sighs, leaving the room, looking more tired than when she entered. “Remember to take your pills.” “F**k you.” “Not at work you won’t.” I sarcastically reply. Quite proud of that one. Manaka lets out what I think is a choked-out laugh, coughs, and shuts the door, presumably going back to her room. [Doctor Iris Kalogeropoulos may I remind you that having your way with a minor is a punishable offense] “May I remind you that torture is a crime against humanity?” [The Geneva Convention is a checklist, Ma’am] “You certainly know how to make someone wanna paint the room with their brains.” [Suicide is also prohibited] “Yeah, yeah. Whatever. I’m getting a coffee. Go !@#$ yourself, robo-!@#$.” [If you want me to !@#$ myself, you would have to ma-] “One more word and I’ll bathe with a toaster tonight. If I go, you go too. Keep that in mind.” [Of course, ma’am.] “I hate you. I hope you know that.”

        Manaka
  Dr Kalogeropoulos is weird, I sure as hell know that. I stop listening to her conversation and shake my head. I stop recording with my nanotech stuff and go back to my room, watching it over a couple of times. A one-way conversation. This sh*t’s interesting. I could get used to this.