*Capital Restitution

Intro: Moose and I have seen several shows that has the idea of one life for another.

Jarren helped attach the cables to the table. “Are you sure you want to test this out on a human? We could always try on something else, you know, a pig or something.”

“If it fails then we are no worse off than before,” Dr. Hansen said even as he ran through the checklist on his clipboard.

“Don’t let anyone hear you say that or they might try and get out on cruel and unusual punishment.”

The doctor frowned and made an adjustment to one of the valves.

“Don’t worry, our patient has no intention of backing out. Which is why I chose him.”

Jarren finished his task and stepped back. It looked like a torture device with all of the needles, fluids, and straps. But Dr. Hansen was the leading expert in his field of exo-life-transmittal. He was the only scientist involved in this study. Jarren had been lucky to be chosen as his intern, which he now knew meant pack mule.

“You won’t be able to be in this room during the procedure. I expect you to be monitoring in the other room.”

“But I don’t know how this works,” Jarren said.

“You don’t have to. If something looks like it is going wrong unplug everything.”

The door opened and Jarren was escorted to the adjoining room. He’d helped set up the cables in this room as well. A similar table stood in the middle of the room but he didn’t have a control panel, just gauges. He took out book and sat in the corner while he waited.

An hour later a young girl was brought in on a gurney. The nurse helped Jarren move her to the table and strap her down. She didn’t move and except for the heart monitor she was plugged into Jarren would have thought her dead. Dr. Hansen came in a minute later and directed Jarren where to insert the needles.

“Don’t forget, if something goes wrong, just pull everything. Destroy the equipment if you have to.”

Jarren, the nurse, and two guards watched the proceedings. Prisoner #9201837 was escorted into the room in chains. The guards only removed the restraints after Dr. Hansen secured him to the table.

“Any last words?”

The prisoner turned to Dr. Hansen. “Tell her I love her. Tell her I always loved her.”

“Of course.”

Jarren moved to stand by the girl and took her hand. He gave it a squeeze. The nurse came up but Jarren waved him away.

“Stay back until the process is over,” he said even as he let go and took up position to watch the gauges.

When Dr. Hansen started the machine Jarren looked away. The girl let out a whimper.

“Stay back,” Jarren said even as the nurse took a step forward. The whimper turned to a groan. She let out a shriek and Jarren grabbed the cables. With one last cry the girl’s back arched and she fell still.

The only sound was the heart monitor, beeping.

Jarren looked back at the screen which showed the prisoner being zipped up in a body bag.

“Daddy, I want my daddy.” It was hoarse but clear and Jarren turned to the girl she was struggling against the straps. Even the guard helped released the buckles as Jarren removed the needles.

Dr. Hansen who stood in the door and talked with the warden.

“I’ll get the paperwork started to get the machines in the other penitentiaries.”

Dr. Hansen wiped his cheek and turned away. “I’ll release the blueprints for production.”

“Where’s my daddy?”

Jarren wrapped her in a blanket and handed her to the nurse. “He loves you. Don’t ever forget.”