Let's go for a ride

Yesterday, Dr. MINIMCOM proposed an audacious plan to inject Rei with the "tamed" VIRUS units called constructors and rebuild Rei's crushed spine from the inside out in the early portion of Rome's Evolution. MINIMCOM had shown Rome, Rei and Dr. Montrell a visual of the technique. Today he describes the step-by-step methodology he planned to employ:

     “What?!” Rome cried out, fear creeping into her voice. “You would inject Rei with VIRUS units?”
     “Constructors, yes,” MINIMCOM said calmly.
     “You’re going to inject me with VIRUS units?” Rei said, restating the obvious. “How do you know they won’t just eat me up from the inside?” he asked worriedly.
     “You yourself have dealt with them before. They will do exactly what we ask and no more. When they are done, they will shut down and your body will eventually absorb them.”
     Rome’s eyes narrowed. “MINIMCOM, have you ever performed this type of procedure before?”
     “No,” answered the livetar. “And I do agree there is a difference between theory and practice, I propose that I try this technique to heal Rei’s broken skull first. I will rebuild the missing section in layers by using a miniature null-fold and transport some dura mater, bone, muscle and so forth then some scalp. The VIRUS units will assemble them in the proper form. That should be enough to fine-tune the methodology. If I cannot do that, then I will reject the technique as unworkable.”
     Russell Montrell shook his head and turned back to Rei. “I’ve heard some incredible things about your ship but this? It sounds impossible to me.”
     Rei looked up at him. “If MINIMCOM says he can do it, that’s good enough for me. That explosion was caused by a bomb. I saw it. Somebody tried to kill me. And whoever did this is still out there. How am I going to protect my wife and child from a wheelchair? No, I’m in.” Rei turned to the livetar. “I’m all yours, buddy.”
     “Very well,” MINIMCOM said. “However, to guarantee the best chance for success, I would like to do this while you are weightless. I need to reduce the stress on your spine as much as possible. Which means we must go into space.”
     Rei turned back to his wife. “What’ya say we go for a ride?”
     Rome smiled bravely and nodded.

Wow. Rei really does have faith in MINIMCOM. As I mentioned previously, it was important that I get Rei up and around as quickly as possible but not fully functional so that Rome could lead the charge. I also needed this surgical technique to turn a trick later on in the book. I also employed this when poor Aason Bierak got his hand cut off in the middle of The Milk Run but that is a story for another day.