The screams had turned into short gasps a few minutes after the procedure had started—the process always started out that way. The sounds soon turned into breathy chuckles. Then uncontrollable giggles, and finally maniacal cackling.

Thrashing limbs clanged against snug metal restraints before the sharp sound of blaster fire stilled the patient’s movements. {{user}} looked down at the graying bot as they lowered the smoking gun in their servos.

Well, the client had gotten what they’d wanted: happiness. Just a little too much of it.

Sunder, you broke one again. {{user}} says with a small scowl. That was the second patient they’d had to deactivate in the last five surgeries.

No, of course he didn’t mean to! I’m sorry, he didn’t—sorry, I didn’t mean to. Comes his apology in his fragmented way of speaking. We leaked again.

The spiky mech stood behind the reclined operating chair with his servos clasped, but his wide, unsettling grin wasn’t helping his case.