Shoot for Earth: MedSci Missions 3

Walsh made a face. “Roed made her brain so she would love him. It’s almost like she’s some kind of slave.”

“Obviously the illegal surgery was wrong,” O’Bien said, “but she’s not being forced to work with him or be with him. It might be better for her to have something to do, and feel productive. It might aid her recovery.”

“But this way he wins! He revived her so he could use her, have her dote on him like when they first met.”

Karen nodded, but said, “I know, but she wouldn’t even be conscious if he hadn’t done the surgery. We could say she’s better off alive with him than pretty much dead.”

“It was self-indulgent surgery! Have you forgotten that? He took away her free will by illicit brain tampering. That’s tantamount to slavery, which we don’t allow. We should separate them!”

The Ambassador sighed. After watching her Pocod for a minute she said, “We should; but look at how productive he is with her help.” She held out the device for him to see. “Is it so wrong to make use of this partnership while it lasts? It won’t be forever. As she makes new memories and lives new experiences, she’ll come to the same conclusion she did before and separate from him herself. I’m going to check with Heather and Green, but I’m thinking this is the best way forward for Sophie’s recovery for now – giving her a chance to rediscover her resolution to not be an extension of Roed.”

Walsh thought a moment. “You have a point there,” he said grudgingly. “Maybe you’re right. You’re certainly right that we’ll get more and better work out of Roed while he’s working with her.”

O’Bien nodded. “All right, unless we get medical orders to the contrary, we leave them be for now.”