Regular Doctor's visit and progress report

[command_dot_com]

As any mother and expecting mother will be lecturing you about, it's important to get regular check ups withy our doctor, especially if the your family has a history of pregnancy complications.

Ofcourse, considering that everything up until now has been going just fine, no bugs or errors, this cycle's visit to the doctor's office is really a formality. Mairi's started to look forward to talking to Mr. Scanner.

Comments

[mendanddefend_archive]

There are a couple of unusual things about this cycle's checkup, though. One of them being that the father is in attendance. Bob didn't have Game duty this cycle, and he's been wanting to see one of Mairi's 'conversations' with the scanner firsthand.

[nofileext]

He should see how the mednomes giggle over the energy output graphs from those same 'conversations'.

"All right, let us boot up the scanner... stomach, please," Phong tells Dot.

[command_dot_com]

Someday, when Mairi is old enough to be embarassed by such things, Dot will take out those energy output graphs and recordings of the 'conversations' and show them to their little girl.

Settling into the chair, and shortening up the bottom of her shirt-skin for the scanning process.

"Now Mairi, behave. Mr. Scanner needs to see how you're doing.."

[nofileext]

"Curious," says Phong, bringing the sensor close to Dot's abdomen. "I had thought you would be larger by now. Did she not compile recently?"

[command_dot_com]

"Yes, she did... I know I felt her level up..."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"It wasn't a big change, though," Bob notes. "Shouldn't she be about ready for a major upgrade soon?"

[command_dot_com]

Okay, Mr. Doctor-Sprite-Man. Move that scanner soon, or Mairi's really going to screw up the readings with a barage of pings that make no sense what so ever.

[mendanddefend_archive]

:: Shush, Mairi, :: chides her father. :: You need to be quiet or the scan won't work. ::

[nofileext]

Hey, it's what you came to hear, Bob.

Anyway, the sensor's moving now. "Indeed," Phong says as he works. "That last upgrade should have been most significant." He extends his neck to look over his shoulder at the output screens. "I see no signs of ill health..."

[command_dot_com]

Bing!
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.
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Bing! Bing! Bing!

Sorry, Phong. It looks like Mairi's trying to talk to Mr. Scanner again.

"Mairi, stop pinging the scanner sweetie..." Dot says mildly exasperated. Honestly, the baby's keytool abilities are getting a bit tiring.

[mendanddefend_archive]

:: Mairi, be quiet! ::

...that probably isn't going to help.

[nofileext]

Phong adjusts a dial on the scanner and gives Dot's stomach another pass.

"Oh, dear. Most of the usual upgrades are behind schedule... but... I think this may be to allow for other aspects of her development."

[command_dot_com]

"Other aspects of her development?"

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob knows what Phong is talking about.

So does Glitch.

"The keytool code."

[nofileext]

"Correct... Glitch." The difference in tone is unmistakable, once you get used to it. "Her more... unprecedented readings have definitely increased, more than enough to account for the delayed development in the usual sectors."

[command_dot_com]

"Alright... so what does this mean to her health?"

Hello, mother and womb of the child right here?

[nofileext]

"Please remember that we are in unlogged territory here. However, to make an educated guess based on Bob's past scans... nothing. She seems entirely well. She may simply be expected to... take a little longer than usual."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Any idea how much longer?"

[nofileext]

"I am afraid not. She is the first of her kind" (he glances at Bob) "to be born. We are lucky she has behaved fairly normally until now. It will be interesting to see how her development and abilities differ from the default."

[command_dot_com]

"Interesting is one word for it." Is the dry comment.

Neither of you are bearing the darling alpha version.

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Come on, Dot, don't be like that. We're taking good care of you, and nothing's gone wrong yet... there's no reason to think anything will."

[command_dot_com]

Bob, it's not that she thinks you're not capable. It's a five-hour old survival habit of expecting things to go wrong, because they generally do, mixed with the fact that it's her format to worry.

"Bob, I love you, but you're not the one getting kicked on a regular basis."

[mendanddefend_archive]

"Then I'll just have to lie closer to you on the bed."

[nofileext]

Phong peers at them over his pince-nez. "If you please?"

[mendanddefend_archive]

Bob looks up from the impending snuggle. Oh, that's right, they're here for a doctor's appointment, aren't they?

"Uh, sorry, Phong," he says as he steps back.