When I wake up I stay in my bed to relax for a while. I had a decision to make, and it was important. The two main ways to replace my arm were to either get a cybernetic limb or to have a lab grow a new one in a vat and attach it. I was partial to having a flesh and blood hand, after all, that's what I was entirely used to. However, the idea of attaching a cybernetic limb wasn't without its charms. I could think of quite a few ways that it could come in handy, though I especially liked the idea of a potentially hot-swappable limb. The only downside I could imagine is I'd have to start using my left hand to masturbate. No way a cold metallic hand would be enjoyable, plus just one glitch and I'd rip it off!

Laughing to myself at that absurd thought I sit up in my bed and carefully scoot over to the edge to sit. I look at the nightstand where my computer rests and call out to it, "Hey Celeste, wake up Jerilda and tell her I'm ready to get dressed."

"Will do, Captain."

It had become something of a fun ritual for me to wake up Jerilda and make her come dress me for the day. I was honestly going to miss seeing her blushing face every time she had to help me change my underwear. I'd completely and utterly abused my condition to get her to help me in as many ways as I could think of from dressing to helping me scrub down in the shower. Normally I'm not that much of a sadist, but her cute blushes and reactions just made me want to keep doing it to her. Just having one more day of teasing her is why I decided to get the cube examined before getting myself a new arm. Sure, missing my dominant arm was extremely inconvenient, but teasing Jerilda totally made up for it.

It took about twenty minutes for Jerilda to finally arrive in my room, she'd taken her sweet time waking up and getting dressed. Since today was the last day I would be able to tease her I decided to take full advantage of it. First I had her help me shower. Her complaints and blushing while I made her scrub my naked body were just plain adorable. After that I had her help me get dressed, while it was true that I didn't need huge amounts of help showering I definitely needed help getting dressed. Given more time I'm sure I could have adapted to the situation and done everything myself like many who lost their limbs in reality could. I just had a wonderfully shy slave to tease and chose not to adapt.

Once I was finished teasing Jerilda and feeling a little melancholy about having to find a new excuse to tease her with in the future it was time to head out shopping. I essentially had two choices I could make when it comes to replacing my arm. I could get a vat-grown clone arm that was basically an exact duplicate of the one I lost, or I could get a cybernetic arm. I'm repeating myself here I know, but in the end, I've decided that I want to go for the upgrade and get myself something awesome. So with Jerilda and Nania in tow, we head into the orbital.

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I have to say the outside of the orbital doesn't do the interior any justice. From outside in space, an orbital just looked like a giant tin can floating in space. Giant meaning several miles wide and several miles longer. Orbitals are the biggest things in space, with the exception of colony ships. It's the interior of the orbital that's truly impressive. The whole inside is hollowed out and filled with greenery and water. It's almost like an inside-out world. Jerilda and I, as the resident newbies, stare in awe at the scenery while Nania just smiles at us from the side.

After taking in the breathtaking view of the inside of the orbital we take a taxi to a section of the oribital dedicated to the sale of cybernetic parts. The area is almost like a cluster of multiple small hospitals, each selling a variety of augmentations, cybernetics, and replacement parts. In my case there's a special catch for getting a replacement part, namely, it has to be of Suverian design in order for it to not kick my ass. Lucky for me with Celeste's help finding a place that carries Suverian replacements isn't an issue.

The store slash hospital we've come to looks like a cross between a car dealership and a clinic. The walls, floor, and ceiling are all pure white, but sitting in stands all over the main room are various models of replacement limbs. Some look slim and simple, others look like hulking masses of metal designed for death. There are also several variations in between those two extremes. As we're browsing a salesman in a lab coat approaches us with a friendly smile, "Welcome to Valtek Cybernetics, I'm Dorren. How can I help you today?"

I turn to face Dorren and give him my best smile while I lift what remains of my right arm and wave it around, "Oh, just in need of a few parts here and there."

Dorren gives a slight chuckle at my really bad joke and nods, "Well you've definitely come to the right place. Do you know what you're looking for or do you require assistance?"

"I definitely need some assistance. Couple of things to note though. First, I'm Suverian so anything you recommend for me has to be of Suverian design. Second, I'm a traveler and tend to get into rough situations so whatever I get has to be durable.", I reply.

Dorren nods, "You came to the right place then. We have an exclusive contract with one of the predominant cybernetics firms on Suvas so we'll be able to get you exactly what you need. Since you get into rough situations I'd suggest a military model. They're slightly more expensive but they're tough as can be and pack quite a punch. If you don't mind we should start with an examination of the damaged area so I can offer further advice."

I nod and he leads me over to a scanner. It reminds me of the one Grizmok used to scan me for the Artificial Personality setup. It only takes a couple of minutes for Dorren to do a detailed scan of my stump and shoulder. As he looks over the scans he rubs his chin and thinks. After a bit, he speaks up, "From the looks of it your shoulder is okay, however, I would recommend a full arm and shoulder socket replacement. Military grade cybernetics weigh a fair amount and it might cause some discomfort, or even pain if we just graft it onto what's left of your arm."

I think about it for a minute and then nod, if I was going to do this I might as well go for broke. I speak up about some of the thoughts I had, "I had some thoughts on possible options and I hope you will tell me if they're available or not. First, I was thinking I would like a replacement limb that I can easily hot swap. That way I could carry a variety of models for different situations."

The technician, salesman, doctor, whatever he is nods, "Oh yes, that's quite easy. Many models offer that. After all, it would be quite a bit of trouble to have to go into surgery every time a cybernetic limb was damaged no? Are there any other requirements?"

I think for a moment and shake my head, "I may come up with something else after seeing a few of your recommended models."

Dorren leads me over to a holographic display and types in the information I've given him to filter out all undesirable limbs. When he finishes a large collection of thumbnail images appear on the display, each showing a different model of a cybernetic arm. To me, a lot of them look the same, but I'm sure there are slight differences between them that can't be perceived by the naked eye. As I look Dorren begins to explain what those differences are. Some are minute, like the metal they're made from. Since they're all shiny and chrome looking seeing the difference in metal with the naked eye would be impossible.

I turn to Dorren and ask, "Is it possible to get an arm that looks like a real arm? You know, all fleshy and such."

Dorren nods, "Certainly. If you want it to have a synthetic skin coating with nerve replication and conduction while maintaining a matching look we'll have to go with some of the slimmer models."

He uses the filter again and the number of options drops. We spend the next hour discussing the various merits and demerits of different models before I select a couple of different limbs. In the end, I select four different arms. The first arm is what you might call a basic model, at least as far as extra functions go. It had enhanced strength, was made with a titanium structure surrounded by adamantine plating and uses carbon nanotubes for electrical conduction. The second arm was basically the same but had a small compartment built into it where I could store a small weapon that could be released on a spring loaded bar so it would pop right into my hand. The third arm couldn't be coated in the fake flesh to match my usual appearance but the hand could split into multiple smaller digits that would allow me to work on constructing and repairing items faster.

The final arm was a full on military monstrosity. It was thicker, bulkier and larger than any of the other arms. Just having it attached would be plain as day. However, it offered the absolute best in physical protection. The entire arm was made of reinforced adamantine, supported a mount for anything but the absolute biggest guns, and included an expandable shield made of adamantine. The shield could be deployed out to six feet, providing full body cover. It even came with a slit that could be peered through the sight enemies. And the mount could be swiveled so the mounted gun could be aimed at said enemies. It was like having a deployable pill pox with only a single wall.

The first bland arm was actually at the suggestion of Dorren. Originally I just wanted the one with the hidden compartment, but Dorren advised I get the bland one just in case I had to go somewhere with stringent security scans that would be suspicious of me having an arm with a hidden compartment. While not illegal by any means of the word, it was still considered by high-security places to be suspicious. The multidigit arm was for crafting, ship repairs, and ship maintenance of course. And the last arm... well that arm was just for fucking shit up plain and simple.

All told the four arms, two with synthetic flesh and two without as well as the shoulder socket replacement, came to a little over one point one million credits. It was fucking expensive as hell, but they were all military grade models. The most expensive was the shield arm, clocking in at over four hundred thousand credits. But I wasn't going to complain about the price. After all the assholes who blew off my arm were paying for the replacements. I decided against having the store do the surgery, I didn't want to spend more credits on them. Instead, I was going to take what I had left and buy a slave with medical training. After the payment was processed I had them set to deliver the packages to the CR Spectrum.

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The slave markets on the orbital are far better organized than the last market I visited where I bought Jerilda. Celeste was able to search through their public records showing up the various slaves they had for sale. Unfortunately, a slave with excellent medical credentials is hard to come by. There are basically only two ways to become a slave, debt or crime. Since doctors tend to make a fair amount of money only a degenerate gambler like Jerilda might be turned into a slave. As for committing a crime, who better to make a murder look like an accidental or natural death than a doctor?

Still, there were about a dozen possible slaves for us to select from... okay I lied. There are seven possible slaves to select from, I excluded all the males. Call me a chauvinist or misogynist or any other term that ends with "ist" you want. But you tell me who would look better in a nurses outfit, a man or a woman? Now doctor aside I also needed to get additional crew for the ship. I needed at least three more people, after the doctor, to man the weapons stations and the defensive station. Our previous run-in with the pirates made it abundantly clear that we were woefully understaffed.

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First though had to be the doctor, she would likely be the most expensive and the most difficult to obtain so I wanted to get her while I still had a fair amount of credits. The store we stopped at first was an extremely high class looking place. It was really more like a high-class hotel than a place you would think slaves were for sale. I guess there's still a class system even with slaves. Once inside we are greeted by one of the employee's who gives us a look that clearly says we don't belong. I straight up ignore it and proceed to explain what I am looking for and why I am here.

Our first stop, this place, had three female doctors all with extensive experience. At least according to their advertisements. Since every other place only had one we came here first. The employee leads us to the first doctor. She's a human, an actual human and not just humanoid. She's a bit older, probably in her fifties or so, and has a little over twenty-five years of experience in a couple of medical fields. She's an excellent candidate and priced to sell at two-hundred and fifty thousand credits.

The second doctor is a bit younger, in her thirties, and only has a few years of experience. However, the experience she does have includes working on a battlefield and cybernetics. Both of those make her extremely qualified to be helpful on the ship. The third doctor is the oldest, in her seventies, and is immediately passed over. Her main area of expertise is pediatrics and since we have no children on board, and never will, she's useless. We return to the first two to get to know them a bit better.

I interview the older one first. Her experience really is vast and in several fields. However, none of those fields include cybernetics which is what I need right now. The doctor in her thirties doesn't have nearly as much experience but does have the skills I need so I'm in a quandary. Do I go with the older more experienced doctor that doesn't have experience in the field I need or the younger less experienced who does? Fuck it. I buy both of them for six-hundred and fifty thousand credits.

Yeah, its crazy expensive. However, I got two excellent doctors that can cover pretty much every situation we could run into. Miriam is fifty-two years old, human, with black hair, and wise looking green eyes. I'm pretty sure that back in the day she was a knockout. The second is Jastina, she's Aatvarian. According to Justina, Aatvarians used to be humans. But about a millenium ago they broke from the human race in the search for perfection. They used gene therapy to weed out all the negative genes in the human genome. Things such as medical conditions and birth defects have been completely wiped out from their society. Along with rooting out the weaknesses of the race they meddled with other things to make themselves faster, stronger, and smarter than a regular human.

Along with all that genetic screwing around it ended up that Aatvarians were inherently better looking than humans. Even at the age of thirty-two Jastina still looked like she was a teenager no older than eighteen or nineteen. She had long light blue hair and dark blue eyes that matched her pale skin perfectly. I'm not even going to go into detail about her figure, let's just say 'goddam' and leave it at that.

Neither of them were slaves because of violent crimes. Miriam was enslaved because of a malpractice suit that she lost. The damages were extreme and her insurance refused to pony up. So since she couldn't pay she was sold as a debt slave. Jastina opened a clinic after she graduated and it ran well for a few years. But for reasons she doesn't know her clients all stopped coming. She couldn't keep up with the bills and debt from the purchases and was forced into slavery to pay off those debts. While I had some concerns with Miriam's malpractice, the fact is if she did kill me on accident I would just be back a little while later.

Also, in case it isn't obvious at this point, both of them were NPC's. I specifically avoided Traveller doctors because I need one that will always be in the game so they're there when I need them.

After finalizing the purchases and taking control of both of my new doctors. The salesman has become rather polite since I dropped more than half a million credits in the store and informs me that there will be an auction tomorrow to sell off slaves that haven't sold for extended periods of time if I'm looking to make more purchases. Since my funds have mostly dried up after my shopping spree the last two days I decide to wait until tomorrow before I go and purchase more crew members.

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After we make out way back to the ship I bring everyone to the cargo bay and turn to address Miriam and Jastina, "Okay ladies listen up. First things first, Nania, Jerilda and I are Travellers. Keep that in mind if you get any funny ideas about me having any 'accidents' during any surgeries you have to perform. Second, Miriam you are the head doctor. The exception to that though is if we are in an emergency combat situation or when it's something outside of your experience, in which case Jastina becomes the head doctor."

Both women remain silent, as they have since I bought them, but nod in response to my commands. So I continue, "We have a fully stocked medical bay that the two of you will be sharing. We also have a lot of empty quarters so feel free to pick one for yourself. If there are any supplies we need that I did not order already then please kindly inform me. I look forward to working with the two of you."

Both women continue to remain silent but nod in acceptance. I let out a slightly disappointed sigh. After that, I lift my stub and wave it in the air while pointing at the crates of delivered cybernetic arms, "First order of business for you two. Jastina you will be attaching my new arm. Miriam, you will be helping as her assistant. Also, you two will refer to me as either 'Master' or 'Sir'. I expect you to answer when I ask you a question. Understood?"

"Yes, Master.", Jastina's low sultry voice.

"Yes, Sir.", Miriam's slightly dry British accented voice.

Nodding at their replies I walk over to the delivery crates and select one of the cybernetic arms, the flesh coated one with the hidden compartment that will allow me to carry a concealed weapon. I turn to look at Jerilda, "Jerilda, carry this one to the lab, also make sure you carry the shoulder socket in the other crate."

As part of the packages, I got the shoulder socket included in the price of the four arms. My shoulder and shoulder socket will be completely removed and replaced with the cybernetic socket. With the new cybernetic socket, I can have the arm detached and replaced with relative ease. I won't be switching my arm in the middle of combat, but any mechanic could remove my current arm and replace it in about twenty minutes. Jerilda does as I said and grabs both crates to store them in her [Utility Belt] to take to the medical bay.

After we arrive and Jerilda unloads her cargo she leaves me alone with the two doctors. I gesture to the crates, "Jastina you will be in the lead for this. I need you both to work together and replace my entire right arm and install my new shoulder socket. They both nod and give proper replies. Jastina moves over to the crates and examines them. After reading the labels she lets out a low whistle, "Master, when you go for something you go all out don't you?"

I grin at her, "I bought you didn't I?"

She chuckles and gives me a grin back, "I get the feeling things will never be dull with you around, Master."

I walk over and sit on the operating table before giving her a smirk, "You have no idea."

After examining what they will be replacing my limb with the two of them expertly explore the entire medical bay and catalog the items it contains. I bought the full suite and at least some of all the available supplies necessary for the races I had on board at the time. I'll need to pick up more for the two new additions and additional crew later. The only problem with having so many different races, they all need different kinds of medical treatment and react to chemicals differently. One races pain reliever was another races poison. Well, not quite that severe, but even just my own race would react very badly to the medical nanites of another race.

When they finish looking over the medical supplies Miriam addresses me, "Do you have any medical conditions we should be aware of, Sir?"

I shake my head, "Only that I am Suverian. Just used the appropriate items for me and I'll be fine. Just remember, even though I am a traveler and you can't kill me for more than a few days, I'll still get righteously pissed if you do kill me. Even if it's an actual accident.."

They both nod so I continue, "Alright, let's get on with this. Tell me what you need me to do."

Since she's the lead Jastina answers, "First you need to strip off at least the upper half of your clothing. After that, we can turn on the clean room protocols and kill all the bacteria and viruses in the room and render it and everything inside sterile. Once we have you have two choices. We can either apply local anesthetic or put you completely under. I advise we place you completely under. While it's not common, jolts along the nervous system can happen and will cause intense pain. Master."

I wave my severed stump in the air, "One of you will have to help me get undressed."

Miriam starts to walk over to me when I remember a certain grey alien girl I loved to tease. I hold up my left hand to stop Miriam, "Better idea." I grin wickedly and address the air, "Celeste. Let Jerilda know I require her assistance in the medical bay."

"Right away, Captain.", Celeste's voice replies from a speaker in the room.

Jastina tilts her head to the side, "You have an AI?"

I shake my head, "No, Celeste is only an Artifical Personality, but the ship's computer is exceedingly powerful for this size of ship so she's a bit smarter than one installed in just a portable computer."

Jastina nods and a few moments later Jerilda enters the medical bay. I grin broadly at her, "Jerilda, I need you to help me get undressed."

Jerilda gawks at me and then gestures to the two doctors, "You have two perfectly good slaves in here with you! Why did you need to call me all the way back over here for this, Master?"

I give her a complete shit-eating grin, "Because you know how to do it best."

Jerilda sputters and mutters but really doesn't have much choice. Just to make things a little harder for her I remain sitting on the operating table so she's forced to get closer to me to do what I've asked. Grinning evilly at her I spread my legs so she has to move between them to unbutton my shirt and strip off my clothing. Jerilda blushes furiously the entire time, even more than when she dressed me this morning. I think the audience watching quietly in the background is making it, even more, embarrassing for her.

Still, she's dressed and undressed me a few times now so she's an expert at it and it only takes her a few brief moments to get me stripped from the waist up. When she starts to unbuckle my belt I tap her hand to stop her, "Sadly there's no need for that this time."

Jerilda lets out a long sigh of relief and steps away from me while gathering the clothing up, "Well, if there's nothing else Master."

I swear if looks could kill the daggers she's staring at me right now would kill me dead. When she's free I am so going to pay for this. Worth it. With the stripping done Jerilda once again leaves. I turn to face Jastina. As interested as I am to watch the two of them slice off what's left of my arm and cut out my shoulder socket I've decided to go completely under. After relaying that to them I ask, "How long will I need to be under?"

Jastina thinks for a minute and then shrugs her shoulders, "Between six to eight hours. We'll keep you under as long as necessary to complete the procedure. After which you will require some physical therapy to get used to the new limb."

I nod and address the air once more, "Celeste, inform Nania that I am going under for my replacement limb surgery and that she is in charge while I am out."

After that, I lay down on the table and look over at the two doctors, "Alright let's get this over with."

With that command, the two of them go into action. First, both of them get the necessary garments on for surgery, which amounts to aprons, gloves, and masks. After that Jastina activates the clean room protocol. The door to the medical bay gives a hiss as it hermetically seals, then in a flash green light floods the room constantly. The light kills everything that could possibly cause an infection and sterilizes everything on the fly. As long as that light is on you could be in this room with the deadliest airborne disease and never catch it.

Miriam walks over to one of the cabinets and pulls out a dermal patch. It's loaded with drugs that will knock me out. After she places it on my arm she speaks in her dry voice, "Count backward from ten, Sir."

I close my eyes and begin to count as I feel the drugs already entering my system and fogging up my brain, "Ten... Nine...Eight..."

You are Unconcious.