"Oh, boy, I can see this a mile away. It's a girl, isn't it?" guessed Jon as the coffin-like case was dragged off the shelf.
The tall raven-haired Dr. Emily Blunt smirked as she unlatched the case and revealed its contents. It appeared to be a lifeless petite Japanese girl of about twenty years, plus or minus a bit, vacuum-sealed in plastic. "I can understand if you're reluctant to undergo such a radical change, but I'm afraid this is how it has to be if you want to work with me."
Jon emitted a reluctant grunt.
"Where's your sense of adventure? You know we can save a scan of your human body and build you a replica of that a few years later after business gets rolling. I'll tell you what-- I'll make you a deal. If you do this and keep working for me, I'll pay your tuition for continued education if you go for a degree in humanoid technology. Then you'll be qualified to manage this place. At that point I will make you a man again-- if you still want it then," offered Dr. Blunt.
"Damn-- that's quite tempting," Jon admitted, thinking about it. "The hell with it. You have a deal, ma'am." Jon took Emily Blunt's hand and shook it firmly.
"Excellent, Mr. Madison. Since my clinical wing will not be operational for at least another month, we'll have to take you somewhere else for this. I assume you have a general knowledge of the preparations -- the main operation is preceded by a week of daily one-hour brain-mapping sessions."
"Okay, just so long as I'm free take the GED exam on the 13th."
"I'll mention that when we set up your appointments. Thank you so much. I believe you will be a great asset to my business. Our business, soon," assured Blunt. "Good day."
"I can't believe I just agreed to that," muttered Jon, taking out his phone. "Wait 'til Karyn gets a load of this."
Karyn had been off shopping when she received Jon's call. She did not need to carry a cell phone; all synthetics had that kind of equipment built into their heads.
Ready for me to pick you up? thought Karyn. Jon would hear Karyn's voice as if she were speaking normally.
"Yeah, I'm over at Blunt Reincarnations, let me read you the address," replied Jon. He read off the address from the business card he got earlier.
Ooh, I think I know where that is! Did you get a job?
"Yes I did. And I got offered a, uh, path to becoming manager. There is a caveat, though," Jon asked.
What would that be?
"I kind of have to spend the next few years as a cute Japanese chick."
Why?
"The boss isn't ready for the expense of giving me a brand new body, and this is the only refurbished one she has at the moment."
Awesome. I'm looking forward to this. I'm almost there.
