CHAPTER 1.14 – “The Whole Girl”

CHAPTER 1.14 – “The Whole Girl”

Location: Koruch Ship – Storage Bay

Date: NTC 1446.07.15

The air in the storage bay was dry, dense with the tang of metal and scorched dust. From the far end of the heat tunnel came the grinding of wheels and the stuttering scrape of metal on metal.

A small drone emerged from the narrow tunnel mouth, slowing to a crawl as it reached the edge. Its wheels squealed faintly. Resting atop its mechanical hand was the final piece of its cargo.

Merry’s head.

Her skin was scorched, darkened by the tunnel’s searing heat. Wisps of smoke curled upward from her singed hair. Her face looked oddly peaceful—her eyes open, lips parted ever so slightly.

Then she blinked.

“Looks like we’ve started…” she whispered, her voice dry and barely audible.

The drone’s motor sputtered and fell silent. Its grip released, and Merry’s head slipped from the mechanical palm.

“Clack-clack-clack.”

Her skull struck the metal floor and bounced three times before coming to a rest. She didn’t flinch. Instead, she exhaled faintly, lips twitching into a small grimace as the burns on her face began to heal.

She stuck out her tongue and pushed herself slightly with the muscles in her neck. Her vision scanned the floor.

Roughly two meters away, she spotted it—her upper torso. The exposed edge of the severed body glistened faintly with cauterized tissue.

“At least the cauterization worked…” she muttered.

Piece 1: Upper Torso – Left Side

Merry pressed her chin to the ground.

She curled her neck and shoved herself rightward.

She even used her tongue to push forward.

Millimeter by millimeter, she dragged herself closer.

Slowly… she began to slide toward the torso.

Her movement was minimal, but she didn’t give up.

She panted with spit-laced breaths.

At one point, mucus dripped from her nose onto the floor.

Two minutes later…

She reached the rib-shaped, curved part.

Left chest.

It was complete up to the start of the shoulder.

Merry pressed her chin to the edge of the torso.

She strained the muscles in her neck.

There was a crackling of cartilage.

Then, she shoved her head into place.

As the edges of the wound met, the flesh quivered.

As if recognizing itself.

Muscle fibers latched together.

Reconnection had begun.

Her left cheek twitched.

Her eyes widened.

She took a deep breath.

Her voice was raspy,

but at least now, her left lung could breathe.

“One down…” she whispered.

Piece 2: Upper Torso – Right Side

Her right chest lay just beside her.

She figured this part would be easier.

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Merry lifted her neck.

Pressed her chin down and slid her head leftward.

She tried to align the right piece of her ribcage

When her cheekbones met the spine, warmth spread inside.

The rib ends clicked into place.

“Two.”

She lay on the ground with her now-rejoined upper torso for a few seconds.

Then slowly turned her neck.

Her shoulders could move again.

“This regeneration...” She thought. “Why does it always work?"

She continued to catch her breath as she searched for her next piece.

“People always said it was a mutation, a miracle or a curse. But I don't know what it is.”

Then she shook her head, pushing those thoughts from her mind.

For now, she had to focus on the task at hand.

Piece 3: Right Arm

The right arm was beside her head, turned upside down.

Its shoulder joint faced upward.

Merry tensed her torso, trying to rotate.

She leaned sideways, pressing herself down.

Tightened her neck, pushed with her chin.

The ribcage locked onto the right shoulder joint quickly.

Flesh and bone connected in two seconds.

The arm twitched on reflex.

Fingers trembled.

Merry with a smiling face “Welcome back, right arm!” she said.

Piece 4: Left Arm

The left arm lay about a meter away. Using her newly restored right arm, she pushed herself up slightly.

Crawled forward with her elbow. She reached it in seconds.

She grabbed her left arm with her right hand. Pressed the wounds on the arm and shoulder together.

When the wounds touched, the flesh trembled slightly. Flesh, bone, and muscle joined within two seconds.

Both arms were now under control.

“Four for four. Let’s go…” Merry said to herself cheerfully.

She planted both palms and pulled her body forward.

Piece 5: Mid-Torso (Abdomen)

The abdominal section lay exposed, facing the ceiling. Merry hurled her upper body onto it, pressing rib to gut. The spine aligned, muscles gripped, and organs began to hum.

Warmth spread through her core.

“Ahhh… I can feel it… the organs are syncing…”

Her liver pulsed. Her stomach churned. Intestines writhed into alignment. Circulation returned.

But she wasn’t whole yet.

Piece 6: Lower Torso (Pelvis)

The lower torso lay on its back, almost aligned with the abdomen.

Merry grabbed it with both hands and pulled it closer.

Pressed the wounded edge into her torso.

There was a brief shiver at the contact point.

Then her hip muscles relaxed.

The connection was complete.

“Six. Legs are next.”

Piece 7: Right Leg

The right leg lay parallel to the ground, lined with her pelvis.

Merry used both arms to rotate herself.

She lifted her waist slightly and slotted the leg into place.

It joined in two seconds.

Merry narrowed her eyes slightly, wiggled her toes and ankle.

She mumbled with slight uncertainty.

“Doesn’t feel like a perfect fit. I’ll deal with that later.”

Piece 8: Left Leg

The left leg was a bit farther away. Merry crawled over to it.

Then she picked it up. Pressed the cut ends on the leg and pelvis together.

There was a subtle twitch at the contact point. The nerve ends seemed to search for each other, then the muscles locked in.

And just like that, the last piece was in place.

She was whole again.

For several seconds, Merry lay flat, breathing quietly. The chill of the floor clung to her skin. She shivered.

She was still naked. Still recovering.

But she was back.

Compared to the training she’d endured on her home planet Yonja, this was nothing.

She took a deep breath.

The metallic scent filled her nose.

Her body felt numb.

But she was whole again.

Slowly, she rose to her knees.

Pressed her toes to the ground.

Pushed herself upright with her palms.

She wobbled at first.

Her knees trembled.

But she stayed upright.

She didn’t fall.

She lifted her head.

Steadied herself.

That familiar smile returned to her face.

“And that’s that! Merry is back!”

She gave a playful salute.

Then turned and walked toward the exit of the storage bay.

Her first step was a bit of a hop.

The second, more solid.

By the third, she’d found her rhythm.

Now her steps were firm and grounded.

She was fully recovered.

Her eyes gleamed with one simple thought.

“It’s payback time.”

She stopped just before the exit.

The corner of her mouth curled up—mischievous, maybe even dangerous.

Her fists clenched.

“Now it’s my turn.”