[ WP ] A crippled 10 year old girl is becoming an android in order to avenge the death of her parents . Her family agrees to stop the process , despite the risk it might kill her . Unexpectedly , it is her grandmother who steps in to defend her decision .

The room was a little too bright, and the seats had the generic discomfort so common at hospitals, but only one sitting was an old woman. Her eyes were half closed, but her very stillness belied any suggestion of inattentiveness. 
 
 The other people in the room, a man wearing scrubs, a couple dressed in blacks and whites with the woman doing much of the talking while the man stared disapprovingly at the doctor, and a young man who seemed both uncomfortable and deeply upset. 
 
 The woman was talking at the doctor, ``... and you just assumed that we would approve of such a drastic procedure?! You did n't even consider confirming before put little Jennie under the knife?'' 
 
 The man chimed in, `` If this hospital handles all your matters with such irresponsibility, it makes me wonder about Max and Simone's death.'' 
 
 `` A good point,'' said the woman, glancing sidelong at him, `` For later. For now, I want that procedure stopped!'' 
 
 The man wearing scrubs, despite being yelled at, seemed entirely unperturbed, `` Mr. and Mrs. Yalsi, I apologize on behalf of the hospital for our haste, but I urge you to consider the extent of Jennie's injuries. She suffered a massive trauma, lost her left leg below the hip, her left arm at the shoulder, and her right arm below the elbow. Additionally, the trauma caused major damage to her nervous system and spine. There's no way she could ever make use of her intact right leg again, and it is doubtful she would maintain even partial use of her right arm, such that it is. Additionally...'' 
 
 The young man cut him off, `` Stop, god dammit! I know how she's hurt, you do n't need to go over it again. Christ, I know. Just...'' He shook his head and fell silent again. 
 
 The woman picked up, `` Are you trying to traumatize or shock us into backing down? She has little enough left of her body without you butchers taking what is left from her.'' 
 
 `` I'm not trying to shock or traumatize you. I'm reminding you of how badly she's injured, and that her survival is not guaranteed even at this stage. If she does survive, her quality of life is going to be miserable without major cybernetic intervention, and for the greatest effect those connections must be made as soon as possible. That is the reason for our haste. However, if you do wish us to stop, we can halt the procedure and return her to her bed.'' He paused for a moment, drew a breath, and spoke softly, `` The additional trauma the surgery has so far inflicted will complicate her condition.'' 
 
 The young man spoke, `` Are you saying stopping might kill her?'' 
 
 The man in scrubs sighed, `` Yes. It might.'' 
 
 The woman interjected harshly, `` And it'd be your fault! Cutting into her without permission! And you mention quality of life so eagerly but you happily omit all the dangers associated with any sort of cybernetic augmentation, let alone anything like this, and on a girl so young! Enough people die of it as it is, fully grown strong adults too. I want my niece to live, so I will be unambiguous here. You will stop this procedure. You will do everything possible to keep her alive. Do you understand me?'' 
 
 The doctor nodded, `` I do.'' He took a breath to speak more, but the sitting woman interrupted him. 
 
 `` No.'' 
 
 The woman rolled here eyes, `` Of course, ever the contrarian. You would want us to mutilate her further, would n't you?'' 
 
 `` You have all had your say, so now I will talk, and you will listen.'' 
 
 She turned to the young man, `` Jeremy, you are afraid for your sister. I understand. Nothing will be the same as it used to be, no matter what we decide here. Love your sister, support her and uplift her as you always do. It is something you can give her that no one else can.'' 
 
 She looked to the couple, `` Brian and Anna, I know how close you two were with Max and Simone. You want to do your best for their daughter, but nothing you can do now can make her normal, and you can not protect her as you wish you could, no one can. What is left is to give her the best chance she can get, and that is n't to trap her in a broken shell.'' 
 
 She sighed and looked up for a moment, `` We ca n't trap her in limbo because we're afraid. Her life is going to be hard, and she'll need our help to get along. That starts now.'' She turned to the doctor, `` Continue with the operation.'' 
 
 That sentence broke the brief calm in the room, and Anna suddenly animated and took a step towards the sitting woman, `` No! Are you trying to kill her!? We ca n't risk it!'' 
 
 The older woman spoke quietly while the doctor hesitated, `` I have power of attorney here, and the operation will go forward. Yell and rail at me if you must, Anna. Hate me if you need, but Jennie will have this chance.'' 
 
 Anna scowled furiously at the sitting woman, but said nothing. The doctor waited a moment, but when no one contradicted the old woman, he nodded, then left. 
 
 Slowly, everyone found a seat. Jeremy sat first, far from anyone else, crossed his arms, and stared broodingly at the floor. Brian followed after, falling into a chair as a lost man. Last was Anna, who melted into the chair next to Brian, and rested her head on his shoulder.
