"And here is where our magic happens!" The grey-bearded man said enthusiastically as he ushered me into the large, open space. Dozens of white coats jumped from station to station as their latest project inched closer to completion.

As an investor, I had my doubts about what the small-time robotics company had to offer that none else could, and that mindset followed every step I took deeper into the facility. The area was sterile and clean with little to no clutter. It could put a hospital to shame. "I expected it to smell a bit more...metallic."

The older gentleman chuckled. "No, no, we barely use any hard metals, or alloys for that matter." They stepped around a privacy screen, and on the workstation that was hidden behind it, sat a woman--seemingly naked except for the lab coat emblazoned with the company logo--and beside her, a disembodied foot strapped into a pink heel. Dr. Struo picked up the dainty body part and held it out to me.

My hands began to shake as I took it, caught off guard by how realistic the foot appeared. Not only did it look real, but it felt as if someone had naturally detached it from someone's body. I choked on the words I intended to say, but managed to mutter, "That's...this is unexpected." It didn't reflect my true feelings. The female foot I held was breathtakingly soft, with blemishes that elevated its quality into something I knew no other manufacturer could achieve. My eyes drifted to the feet of the woman who stared at our exchange. The features were unmistakably identical.

"As you could already tell, our creation process is meticulous and complex, using only materials and components that mimic the organic composition of the human body. Everything from internal structure, to wrinkles and subsurface temperature, all regulated from individual processing units housed within. Go ahead, take it out of the shoe! The toes even have true-to-life print patterns."

I swallowed. My resolve steeled just enough to keep me from the flood of intrusive thoughts. "Uhh, no, that's not necessary." I said sheepishly as I handed the foot back. "We can, umm, move on."