"That was their idea, of course," said Dr. Takeda. "I was against it, but unfortunately I'm not the one who makes the decisions around here. As much as I hate to admit it, you're probably going to respond that way to quite a few pre-programmed stimuli."
"This is not what I signed up for!"
"I know that, and I am very sorry. If I were able to, I would help you. But given that the suits are always watching here in the compound, I dare not overstep my bounds."
Jon mulled over that phrasing and tried to decide if the doctor was trying to tell him something. His reverie was interrupted by the doctor changing the subject.
"Well, regardless, I think it's time to begin your training for real. Are you ready?"
Jon nodded. "What do I do?"
"Start by imagining yourself getting lighter -- floating upwards, like a balloon."
Jon concentrated. He bit his lower lip and furrowed his brow. But nothing happened. After a minute he stopped.
"I'm sorry, doctor. I don't think it's working."
"Don't worry! That was just the calibration run! Now that we've mapped your neural pathways, I'll just switch it to live mode, and..." he tapped another button, then grinned at Jon. "Try it now."
Jon concentrated again, and suddenly felt a strange tingling feeling in his left breast. Which was decidedly weird, given that he didn't actually have a left breast. But apparently that's what the neural interface was supposed to handle. A few moments later, he saw that he was starting to float gently off the floor! It was working!
