Josh stood before the mirror, watching her reflection. Her eyes were cold and mechanical, a ring of fuchsia particles flowing around the lens to form an artificial iris. Lines of fuchsia had formed between her fur, and she could see a HUD.
“How do you feel?” Cherry’s voice came from within her head, rather than a nearby speaker.
Josh didn’t respond right away. Her gaze remained on herself, and how she had changed.
Cherry sighed. “Take your time, Josh. You’re still recovering.”
Josh closed her eyes. “Recovering is stretching it...” She responded. “I’m still trying to process the fact that I’m still alive.”
“That’s fine.” Cherry responded. In the HUD, the overview of her systems was highlighted. “Your sister being quick to alert for help is the reason you got away mostly without permanent harm done.”
“Without permanent harm?” Josh looked at the markings. “I’m part machine, Cherry. You said it yourself when I woke up. My neural grid is cybernetic now. Everything except my brain had to be replaced.” She was upset.
Cherry went quiet, the AI thinking.
“But ofcourse you would see that as normal.” Josh said, looking at herself again. “I did not mean to shout at you, Cherry. I just got pulled back from a dark place. I was...”
“Scared?” Cherry asked.
“Putting it mildly, yes.” She shook her head. “That feeling of dread from feeling your body vanish. Feeling nothing as all you sense is void. You want to fear, but the body does not respond. You want to scream, but there’s no air to find. I thought I was dead, only to wake up like this.” She shook her head.
“The medic team first wanted to put you in a fully synthetic body.” Cherry replied. “A technology we know works.”
“But mother objected, didn’t she?” Josh stepped away from the mirror.
Cherry chuckled. “Yeah. Decided to try Renard’s experimental system instead, saving your body too. I hope you don’t mind.”
“My mother’s mission is to save everyone. Provide the technology to make life good. If I can help with that, I will provide the data needed to improve this technology.” She nodded, closing her fist. “And I hope you don’t mind me prodding around the systems. I mean, it’s my body after all, and this tech seems to have the capabilities needed for me to fully take control of my life the way I want.”
Cherry laughed. “Oh yeah, absolutely. I have provided the access needed for you to modify the system and even your own body as you wish. Your life is truly your own now.”
“Good. Thank you.” Josh nodded. Her eyes flickered as a holographic projection appeared and made them appear normal.
“I’ll get out of your head now.” Cherry replied. “But call me if you ever need any help.”
“I will.” Josh stretched, preparing to head out.

A small piece to show what Josh usually sees. Seeing that she has an active HUD. The drabble is based on when she woke up from the procedure that saved her life, following someone trying to kill her with a neurotoxin-laced coffee.

Art by  TaiomiFox
Josh belongs to me