Brittany opened her eyes after what felt like years of sleep. Groggy and delirious, she swiveled her stiff neck to the left, then to the right. The room she was in was dimly lit, save for a few overhead lamps hung over tables covered with robotic components. Anthony, her boyfriend, stepped into the room.

"Oh good. You're awake!" Anthony rushed to Brittany. He scanned her up and down, admiring his handywork. "It worked. Wow..."

Brittany cocked her head. She opened her mouth to speak, but words couldn't be made. Once she tried again, she managed "W...what...do...you mean?" Her voice was close to her normal voice, with an added modulation that faded after a few words.

"Honey." Anthony stroked his chin. "You're alive. But only because I saved you."

She dug into her memories, trying hard to recall what accident could have caused such an outcome. Brittany shook her head slowly. Her neck felt like there was a tight collar pressing against it. "I...don't r-r-remember."

"Your office building collapsed from an earthquake. You were holding on by a string. I knew there was nothing anyone else could do to...repair what had been damaged. So I took you home, doing all I could to keep that heart of yours beating. And after weeks of research and work and...everything, I..." Anthony quickly grabbed a standing mirror and wheeled it to Brittany.

In the mirror was a reflection of her intact head, hair styled in her favorite way, attached to a completely robotic body. There was a flurry of emotion. None of which she could nest in and absorb. She felt terrified. Afraid even. But also flattered and adored, and if she dared, impressed.

Brittany moved her arms. They articulated via mechanical ball joints. The fingers met her cheeks, and felt her flesh with an unexpected amount of sensitivity.

Then, a thought occurred to her in strangest way. As she was realizing her head was the same as before, and now mounted to a metal frame, could she...

"Can...can my head come off?"

Anthony nodded. "Yes. For maintenance purposes, but yeah."

With a bit of pulling and twisting, Brittany separated her head—along with a thick silver base that contained a life-support module—from her new body. The pressure she felt on her neck disappeared and she sighed in relief. "Now...now that's much better. Can y-you take m-me outside? I'm f-freezing."

Anthony took his girlfriend's detached head in his hands. He gave her the brightest smile he could muster. "Anything for you honey."