Mei needed a bit of help to get back up to her feet, but the examination was pretty standard compared to the post-mission exam she had gotten used to – until Angela got out the cardiac monitor.
“You are not certified for long engagements – and I wouldn’t expect you to make it with your current fitness – so I’m not putting you through a full soldier’s certification. But one theoretical concern, since even your current flexibility is unnatural, is that your circulatory system could be messed up in the progress. So we need to monitor that a few days, get some control data, and I’ll be damned if I’m just going to rely on nanite statistics for that. I” Mercy paused, not sure of what reaction she was going to get, “I need to see skin.”
Mei disrobed quickly – not that her top was overly heavy for the Mediterranean climate (even if she kept a jacket around her waist for the more aggressively air conditioned rooms of the base) – but she kept taking clothes off.
“That really isn’t-” Angela started.
“Doctor Ziegler, if this is a control, you should not overlook any data,” squinting with her glasses removed, Mei leaned close, “I need not wait until I’m a corpse to study.”
“It’s just… I usually anticipate slightly more… modesty. Are… there any fetishes I should be aware of?”
Mei shrugged. Then got a concerned look on her face. “There was a dream a few nights ago of me being between Wilhelm and… Doomfist. Whatever his name is. As they charged each other.” She paused.
“And?”
“Oh, I handled them both.” She licked her lips, “Oh, in the dream, you understand. I didn’t leave anything out of a report.”
“Was this before or after your last mission?” Angela’s and was noticeably twitching as she started to write a note.
“Before. Weeks before. Very memorable though.”
Angela cleaned the skin and slapped a dozen electrodes to their assigned spots on Mei’s chest, confirming their radio signals on the cardiac monitor, willing her mind not to elaborate on that image as hard as she had the images of many battlefields.
She then instructed Mei through several stretches, both with and without her assistance, to put the woman’s flexibility to numbers. She was somewhat pleased to learn Mei’s hips were complete outliers compared to everything else, which seemed numerically average for someone of Mei’s rounded build.
“The electrodes stay on – keep this on your belt, or a nearby table, or the bathroom counter.” She handed Mei the cardiac monitor, “It will start beeping if it loses a connection, and it will get annoying. You can shower, no swimming. Try not to stretch any more than usual – but if you do, hit this button so I can take a closer look for any issues. Get dressed, we’re done for today – you can check in tomorrow, if you feel you need to, but keep the electrodes on for a week.”
It was a normal week, most things considered. Mei caught up on experiments, visited the practice range with her colleagues – trying not to give into the occasional burning between her legs. She wanted to feel that stretch again. She really wanted to feel it. Just in case, she hit the button. The monitor gave a satisfying beep of acknowledgement.
The most acknowledge the box got was a pat on the shoulder from Wilhelm, “Ah, we are all there once in a while – myself, a few months ago. We will all live to fight another day. Now, head up those stairs…” It was just another day – an exhausting day – at the range.
In her free time that week, Angela did some research. Or, at least, she printed out a lot of paperwork, patching together exercises from diverse and somewhat arcane sources.
< What’s your lead?
> Wouldn’t you like to know
< Yes. Yes I would. I just payed you how much on your word? Unless it’s going to compromise you – which I doubt it, giving you’re talking about an organization currently on worse legal standing than T, I doubt – at least give me your lead.
> Fine, fine. I’ve got a transcript from Mercy and Mei in a consultation. Sending… And yes timestamps have been scrubbed. It was a few weeks ago. Believe me, there are developments.
A few minutes pass with no messages.
< Fine. I suppose, of all people, the field doctors could have kept this quiet. Nobody questions what they do to themselves.
> Right? Right? Who watches the watcher shit.
< And it’s ongoing?
> For the chinese chub? Yes. I don’t like how the cheese is writing things, though. Some of the medical hoooha is above my head, sure, but I’m missing something.
< Which is why I’m not paying full price now.
> I am an honest, modest thief.
< Just give me a copy of the nanite codes she’s running for now – full dump, not just checksums. I can make some progress on that while I wait. That should be easy for you?
> If you want EVERYTHING everything, we’ll have to take her out for a few minutes during one of their little missions. I can get you the baseline low temp and high temp codes, over that is hazard pay and equipment fees.
< I see. I think I can arrange something. You can be anywhere in a week?
> I can. Let me know.
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