What followed the meeting was meticulous preparations and thorough evaluations by world renowned doctors and scientists. it paved the way for a procedure that hovered at the nexus of possibility and uncertainty.

Another step forward for mankind.

Of course, There are no rewards without risks.

And I agreed.

Hoping I would succeed. If not I would be a martyr and my family would get a fat wad of money.

…

Speaking of my family, what would they think?

I didn’t even tell them about my circumstances, my meeting and the procedure.

Would they understand?

It is hard to think of them when I was fighting myself in a cage called my consciousness.

I want out of this spiral of darkness.

To support them and find purpose again.

If I learned anything from this experience.

A life without direction is miserable.

…

…

I wanted to live again.

…

…

…

I viewed feelings as weakness, and what irony that I connected to my darker feelings due to the accident.

But the future seemed bright I guess it is time to jump to it.

….

I will spare you what happened in between as it was 2 years of rigorous testing and planning.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

It is now 4 years since my accident and today 1st of December 2037 is the day of surgery. It will take 3 days in total.

I was given half a day to be with my family before being transferred to the private facility where the procedure would happen.

My family still don’t know what will happen.

I just told them that I will undergo a procedure.

They know something was going on, something very fishy.

I guess it was because my mood over the time has been less gloomy.

More vibrant.

Back to the old Alex that they remember.

Or it could be the frequent weird tests or days where I asked them not to come (I was being transported around sometimes flying around the world).

I also started providing them with some of that money I mentioned.

Not all of it mind you.

Imagine going to your mom and giving her 100k or some mind boggling number all at once.

She would think I was selling my organs or even worse. I know how far and dark an imagination could go.

Hehe.. the look on my mothers face was priceless, a mother who is struggling to support a family alone, receiving support from her son when she wasn't even expecting it is precious, it is like I lifted the world from her shoulders.

I teared up then and there.

I can leave this world and I would still be content.

I gave her 20k and made it an automatic transfer to her every month with the same amount. My siblings received 3K each and I told them not to tell each other and consider it a gift.

It should cover the rent of the house and whatever they would need. That is 384K a year. More money than what my family ever had.

I know they will figure it out and they will tell each other soon, but when it happens I would either be gone to another plane or still breathing sack of bones and metal mind you.

I can tell them then or If I die they get it all anyway.

…

I am now in a gown.

The operation theater had 3 different tables with 6 different robotic arms.

Renowned surgeons from around the world controlling these arms.

The arms moving fractions of Millimeters, such a precision is what is going to control my life.

And then the sedative was introduced into my system. It felt ethereal. I was disconnected, but still awake. I couldn’t move anything, not even my eyes.

The operation theater became a stage for a daring performance—a symphony of precision, technological prowess, and unwavering determination. The machines whirring and humming as they moved cradling and determining Alex's fate.

Again a tiny boat in a rough sea.

….

I was keenly aware of the gravity of the moment, but I was still scared. The lights and sterile surrounding as well as the drapes painted a clinical canvas upon which the fusion of human vulnerability and technological innovation unfolded.

And then I saw it.

The AI chip. A marvel of programming and human advancement found its home within my head, bridging the chasm between flesh and machine.

A jolt went through me, mind you I didn’t feel it but my body jerked and my muscles tensed for a second.

The synchronization of man and AI.

The summary after that was straight forward.

Metallic ear and ear parts was inserted on the right,

Metallic eye… yeah I am what you would call a true cyborg now that I have an AI as well.

then the I was moved to different table and my spine was meticulously reinforced with carefully placed metal braces and even a supportive metallic ligaments that are nestled next to my injured ligaments.

Each incision could throw me to the next plane.

Another sedative was administered after the spinal surgery.

As I was fading.

My overworked mind was shutting down and I felt strangely at peace.