"If I don't get the surgery done now, can we do it later?"
"It'll take some time to recalibrate the systems, but yes, that's theoretically possible."
"Okay. I'll do the suit for now, then. I don't think I'm up for any permanent changes yet."
"All right, that's your decision. Would you like to see a prototype of the costume?"
"Of course!"
Mr. Smith led Jon down another hallway and into another lab, before stopping at a door in the wall. He paused dramatically, then pressed a button next to the door. It slid upward, revealing a primary-colored costume on a mannequin.
"Wait, this looks like a girl's costume. So... it's going to be modified, right?"
"I'm afraid not. The female proportions suit the needs of the technology very well. The inertial dampener and gravity nullifier go here," he said, pointing at the costume's breasts. "The secondary control webs are situated around the hips, at an ideal distance and orientation for controlling the fields. The repulsors for flight are the perfect size to fit in the high heels of the boots. And the neural web can be integrated into a wig to hide its appearance. All in all, it's a simple and effective way to include all the technology without compromising the heroic look."
"But--"
"Plus, we feel that the appearance of a female superhero is much less likely to cause societal disruptions. In other words, it's less threatening."
"Isn't there something else you can do?"
"My superiors and I are set on this. We can make some minor cosmetic tweaks, but if you want to be a hero, the female-styled outfit is non-negotiable."
Jon sighed.
