Ameira was swimming though a pool. Wait, no she was meant to be swinging her sword. It was obviously that cheese's fault. The detective was wrong. A helicopter ride sounded very nice. But the rat was complaining to her. 200 atoms wasn't good rice.

She woke up.

Why can't I feel my arms? Or my leg?

"You're awake. And lucky to be so. The amount of surgery it took to piece you back together was ridiculous. Even with cutting off your arms. You better have insurance, cause that ain't a cheap process."

Only one thought was in Ameira's mind. She moved her burned and half gone lips to form three words.

"I... want... join." Her throat exploded with pain from just those words. Thankfully, the nurse understood.

"Join the TEARS? Are you sure? That's not a decision you want to make lightly."

Ameira thought it over. She thought about how her life would be. A woman with no arms and one leg. Almost certainly fired from her job. Her home would be seized. She'd waste away, as a homeless wretch. Artificial limbs were an option, but just one would cost her entire savings. Regrowing limbs? The cost was so far out that thinking about it made her bank account hurt. Only the elite could do that.

"Yes."

"Well, it's in your rights, and we have a recruitment agent because of cases like you. Some people don't see the point of life without movement. I don't judge, and I'll go get her. But please, rethink this. I don't want to see your soul join them." The nurse got up and left the room. She entered a few minutes later, a TEAR behind her. The TEAR whistled.

"You look like shit. I see why you want to join up. There are some preliminary scans I need to run, to test your compatibility with the system. If they go well, we can begin the process when you get to the Metal room." Ameira heard the unspoken words.

If not, I'll be an armless noodle for my hopefully short life.

The recruiter walked behind her and pressed something cold and metal behind her head. It made a beeping noise, and the recruiter removed it.

"So, good news. You can join! Bad news, you're marked as a unique."

"What... mean?"

"Okay, so there's three classifications that be the outcome from this test. Unsuitable, which means you can't join, usually because of brain damage, or something wrong with your biology. Suitable, which means there'll be no fuss in transferring you. And Unique, which is, well, unique. It means there may be side effects in the transferal process. They range from minor bugs that get fixed, to helping advance research. So, not bad, and maybe good. It's unique."

Ameira's brain decided that was too much information and it was time for another nap and promptly shut off again.

The nurse turned to the TEAR.

"Sorry, she's in a bit of a delicate state. It's surprising how she could even speak. I'll alert you when she wakes up again."

"No need." The recruiter handed her a tablet with a form on it.

"Usually, we take a DNA sample as well as fingerprint and voice confirmation of signing up. Thankfully, the regulations make exceptions for this scenario. We just need DNA and voice confirmation. Just record reading the thing, smear a bit of blood on the screen, and get her to say, 'I agree'. After that, bring it down to me and I'll do the rest."

"Okay then."

"Thank you."

Some time later, Ameira woke up. The nurse didn't notice her as a heart monitor beeped in the background. She rattled her foot, alerting the nurse.

"Nice to see you awake again. Don't speak, I'll explain what you need to do. I have to read this all out to you, so listen up. After it, you just need to say 'I agree' and then I'll bring it down to the officer's office. You ready? Just rattle your foot if you want me to repeat something." Ameira listen as the dizzying array of barely understandable legalese jargon was unleashed on her.

Forfeit all monetary sums, possessions, and personal items? That's extreme.

After the mildly boring speech was over, Ameira said the last two words she would most likely ever say as a human.

"I agree."

And I truly do.